It meshes impressive graphics with an inventive gameplay system, and uses them to push an amazing story in a refreshingly unique setting. Unless you faint at the sight of blood or you absolutely despise FPS games, you should consider this game a must buy.

The story is very good, but the gameplay execution leaves me wanting. A solid adventure game, but it seems to be coasting on the strength of its star.

Call of Duty 4 is the whole package – both a spectacular single-player campaign and one of the best multiplayer modes I’ve ever encountered in a FPS. It’s got some of the best graphics ever to appear in a videogame, some of the best sound and voice acting, wonderful controls, and plenty of variety to keep the interest up and adrenaline flowing.

An inventive, immersive thrill ride of a game with graphics above and beyond everything else on the market, top-notch presentation, and a multiplayer mode that will have you coming back for more, even if you were only in it for the single-player mode from the get-go.

It all comes down to the freedom to play the game any way you want, and that is something that Oblivion does amazingly well.

While Halo 3 doesn't force upon the player another tortuous romp through The Library, it does feature an agonizing substitute complete with seemingly endless waves of Flood victims. This--along with a handful of recycled locales in the final third of the game--is a lack of ingenuity in level design that sticks out sorely amid a slate of superbly conceived features.

The new content alone more than makes it a worthy purchase even for those who have played the original release. A year on, Ninja Gaiden is still an extraordinary game. Game of the Year? Insulting. Game of the Generation.

This is the best version of one of the best PS2 games ever made. Sure, the online mode isn't perfect, but even so, there’s more than enough here for any Metal Gear fan to feast on.

A great adventure game that does everything a game is supposed to do, and while the bad habits of Hollywood march in to gaming, it still is worth every minute. Kratos could kill his way through the Mushroom Kingdom and it would be entertaining.

A singluar game that proves videogames can be artistic. It must be played.

It’s still a life-sucking, hour-robbing masterpiece that can convert people who don’t normally play RPGs into die-hard game addicts.

On PS2 or Xbox 360, Guitar Hero II is a fun game. The Xbox 360 version just doesn’t match up to the promise of what it could and should be.

This is a great game all around, and the few gripes really don’t amount to much. Get some friends, get this game, and get rockin’!

Final Fantasy XII is flawed, and has all sorts of features seemingly designed to polarize fans. However, it is also a must-have RPG, and one of the best games of the year.

This game personifies all that is good about rock and roll - along with its excesses. Guitar Hero II does exactly what it says it will do, which is to rock your ass off (but instead of ass, it's your fingers).

Don't get me wrong, this is a great version of the game that improves upon the original. I just want to impress upon you that you won't have any new experience, beyond the Wii remote.

Absolutely - bar none - THE must-own game of 2007 on ANY platform. Mass Effect is damn near perfect!

So eventhough this game isn't the horrible likes of which Ghost Recon 2 was, it's still got its fair share of flaws in how short and monotonous the single-player storyline is.

Forza 2 is a great game for novices and gearheads alike. Play it simple or fiddle with every last thing you can – the game works both ways.

If you’ve never played a Burnout game, this isn’t a bad place to start, and if you’re a Burnout fan looking for the best version of Burnout Revenge, this is it.

New Super Mario Bros. is a solid platformer and a nice homage to the Mario series, but it's not Mario's big return to 2D gameplay like everyone thought it would be.

It’s not the most original game on the PS3, but it’s easily one of the best. This is a must-have in any PS3 owner’s library.

The most intriguing feature of the Rainbow Six: Vegas online experience is the Persistent Elite Creation: the player’s avatar in the online Rainbow Six universe.

A good game with several hours of gameplay and a great way to show off your fancy HDTV.

It's a rock-solid action game that looks spectacular, but if ports like this are really the best the PS3 is offering I'm a little concerned about the system's future.

Anyone who doesn’t think Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions isn’t worth owning just doesn’t like RPGs.

I love you, Bethesda. I eagerly await Elder Scrolls 4 and Call of Cthulu. Marry me.

Immediately becomes the best reason to own a PSP in ages. MUST… HAVE!

Syphon Filter Dark Mirror showcases all of the possibilities of the platform and executes them flawlessly.

Elite Beat Agents is a ridiculously silly music-rhythm game with a wacky song list, a laughably bizarre story, and fantastic gameplay. In other words, it’s just about everything a music-rhythm game should be, really.

This is a truly excellent game whose only real flaws are caused by the platform it’s on. Still, as long as this is only on the PSP, it’s a must-have title for both Metal Gear series fans and PSP gamers looking for a great action game.

This is the kind of game we were promised when the Wii was in development, and it is nice to see someone other than Nintendo deliver on those promises. Capcom has a real gem here, but you have to play it to understand.

Puzzle Quest does an amazing job bringing together the puzzle and RPG genres together in a game that is easily one of the best XBLA titles this year. Don't miss it.

Forget your opinions about the original Kingdom Hearts. Kingdom Hearts II improves on its predecessor in just about every possible way, and is a must-have title for Disney fans and Square Enix fans alike.

While dark and moody and supernaturally-tainted, Persona 3’s obsession with the day-to-day school humdrum of its main characters’ lives delivers some unique game play ideas, but also transform it into a love-it-or-hate-it affair. Recommended only for SMT fans.

The Shivering Isles is far from a perfect expansion, but it still gives players some completely new ground to tread that’s unlike anything else in the game, which makes it a must-have for anyone who enjoyed the original game.

A technically accomplished and truly involving first-person shooter.

Overall a solid sports title that surpasses EA's FIFA franchise.

A nice offering. As a first person shooter it come up a little short. It is, however, the best original PlayStation 3 game of the launch line-up.

The original Animal Crossing was touted as a game about social interactivity, but Animal Crossing: Wild World is even moreso.

It's more of a straightforward shooter, but it's still gorgeous and the best squad-based shooter for your money on the PS3.

This is yet another solid Castlevania game, but the series is starting to tire out thanks to a lack of worthwhile change. What changes this game does make simply don’t cut it, and while Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is still a decent title, it happens to be far too much like the last decent title in the series.

The best platformer on the PSP and almost the best title period on the console.

Frankly, this is, for better or for worse, exactly the kind of Pokemon game that we are all expecting. The storyline hasn’t evolved, the gameplay is unchanged but has had a few refinements, the DS’ touchscreen is liberally used, the game is playable online, the graphics are sharp but still evoke the GBA standard, and there’s plenty of new Pokemon to capture.

There is little fault to be found in this game as the fighting is balanced and there are lots of engaging aspects of the title that demand your time.

Once again, it’s apparent that Syphon Filter and the PSP were made for each other. While the game isn’t without its issues, it’s still a solid action title that actually feels at home on the handheld. Action fans with a PSP should consider this a must-have.

Own a 360? Like action? Like zombies? You need this game. Unelss you have a small standard television, because then you won't be able to read the text of what's being said.

Don't buy this game expecting an experience like the GameCube Metroid Prime titles. This is Quake with a thin layer of Metroid paint. But hey, that's okay if you like Quake.

While many were worried about this iteration changing the spirit of the title so much like with Warrior Within, it instead manages to take the best bits of both and create a wonderful hybrid.

Frankly, this is, for better or for worse, exactly the kind of Pokemon game that we are all expecting. The storyline hasn’t evolved, the gameplay is unchanged but has had a few refinements, the DS’ touchscreen is liberally used, the game is playable online, the graphics are sharp but still evoke the GBA standard, and there’s plenty of new Pokemon to capture.

Anyone looking for a more traditional FPS experience online will find this to be an ideal choice.

Good fun, while it lasts. The short single player campaign will leave you wanting more; fortunately, the fully-featured multiplayer delivers it. Watch that battery, though, as Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters goes big with draining your power as much as it does with gameplay and graphics.

An ambitious attempt at an addictive game, and meets expectations more times than not.

Out of the two Tom Clancy games for the PS3 I'd take a look at Rainbow Six first, but both are impressive shooters for all of your military needs.

Not a bad first-effort at an oddball game for kids, Viva Pinata holds appeal to all ages, but not to all tastes, given the niche nature of the title and the too-frenetic pace in the early going.

GT Legends may appeal more to hardened racers, but it may tempt the more inexperienced group of gamers too.

The graphics are simple, clear and bright, just the way you would want a puzzle game of this sort to be.

Not a perfect version of Tetris by far, but still a good one, and the online play should be enough of a selling point for anyone who's a fan of the game.

This game should please fans of the series (especially those that disliked the changes made in the second game), but it won't thrill them.

NBA 2K7 is now the undisputed best pro hoops game on the market! "NBA Live" wasn’t even close this year.

Anyone who can’t see the value in playing such a beautiful game online when there are no monthly fees required needs... therapy.

A masterful work.

Novice or expert, TOCA is your game. The sheer range of features and novelties make this game an absolute pleasure to play. Get it now!

Ultimately, the combination of familiar game mechanics, a lack of progression on the graphical side of things, and a story and characters that mostly fail to live up to the game’s predecessors all add up to a bit of a disappointment, and while the gameplay here is still very solid, this game is still difficult to recommend.

A solid contender for a spot in the Top 3 RPGs of 2006, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is a breath of fresh air in a world of play-alike RPGs.

Darwinia is certainly “unique” and “original”. It’s a shame it’s not very “fun”.

What could have been a generic puzzle game is made all the better by a layer of depth with the RPG elements. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a very fun title that can be played in short bursts as well as marathon stretches.

One could blast through the game in a few hours, but that would be missing the point. LocoRoco is meant to be a game where one sits back, relaxes, and enjoys a simple game to unwind with.

This year’s outing of MLB ’06 is a solid baseball game with plenty of features built in specifically to appeal to the PSP market.

Don’t be fooled by comparisons to Super Paper Mario – Crush is its own unique animal, and a puzzle game through-and-through. However, if that’s what you’re looking for, Crush delivers with a fresh concept, a solid presentation and some truly enjoyable dimension-twisting puzzles.

This is solid fighter slimmed down for you pocket. It doesn't hit it out of the park every time, but it is passable. The multiplayer is this games strongest suit, and with Wi-Fi it's better.

Crackdown manages to exceed expectations with its entertaining action gameplay; however, noticeable shortcomings prevent it from having long lasting appeal.

falls down due to graphical flaws that, while forgivable on PSP, just aren’t when it comes to PS2 titles.

Fight Night Round 3 is gonna knock you out—gorgeous graphics, awesome controls, and great gameplay. Porting over the same hard-hitting gameplay as found on Xbox 360, Fight Night Round 3 throws in an exclusive new mode and makes good use of PlayStation Network. Aside from lengthy loading times, there’s little reason to not enter the ring.

Gunstar Super Heroes is a wonderful game and deserves, nay, needs, to be in anyone's GBA collection.

Despite all of the new graphical features, Prey innovates little and borrows heavily from tried and true predecessors.

Pac-Man: Championship Edition is a surprisingly fun retooling of the classic that may even find fans in those that didn’t care for the original. It’s just a shame it’s a tad feature-poor and a little pricey.

A true classic, Rogue Galaxy brings Level 5 full circle in their growth as a developer; they have created not only the last great PS2 RPG, but one of the top five PS2 RPGs of all time!

Wario Ware does it again, still innovating and coming up with all kinds of crazy new ways to play games while delivering a solid, fast-paced, fun-filled package that’s the perfect fit for the Wii.

This game is so imaginative and fun, it can appeal to anyone, young or old, and regardless of whether or not you’ve ever played a Dragon Quest game or even an RPG.

Newbie or veteran, fan or critic, you will enjoy this game. Blood Money is frustrating enough to be challenging, but fun enough to keep you coming back for more. Best game in the series.

Deep career mode with tons of challenges; fun online features; a decent song list with more available as add-ons. What more could the next Eddie Van Halen, Edge, Eric Clapton or Oz Fox ask for?

Once you're done, start hoping with me that they will some day work out the licensing issues to do a Marvel/DC game like this so we can see Spider-Man and Batman pair up to bring down... oh, pretty much anybody. We can hope, right?

If you’re looking for a PS2 RPG with a unique personality, Odin Sphere’s the game for you.

Dangerous Waters plays to a small audience, the war sim market… but delivers the goods!

King Kong is one of the better action games you can buy.

Neverwinter Nights 2 is a strong single-player adventure thoroughly enjoyable in and of itself. That it will serve as a platform for endless mod gaming only makes it that mich more appealing.

The failings of Marvel Ultimate Alliance, which rob it of achieving videogame immortality, are far outweighed by the novelty of playing a game with so many comic book characters all in one game. It’s addictive fun!

Not having wires across the floor gives great freedom to the player and encourages stage antics, a great addition to any party.

It's a great core game with a few mediocre elements surrounding it.

Offers a few new welcome twists to the racing genre. The fully-realized island of Oahu is fun to drive around in and beautiful to see, and the many different missions make the game fun for different types of players.

There's absolutely no reason why anyone who owns Neverwinter Nights 2 wouldn't want this expansion, Mask of the Betrayer.

Doom does just about everything a port should do. Aside from a few missing options, this is the perfect console version of the game people have wanted for over a decade.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider Legend is the sequel we’ve all been waiting for since the original Tomb Raider hit PSone.

One of the few DS games that not only takes advantage of the platform but doesn’t try to shoehorn in use of every feature as well as having great gameplay.

College Hoops 2K6 is does almost everything well, providing a high-maintenance Legacy mode for the sim-obsessed and a sturdy online mode for those who just want to rip up the courts with their favorite college team.

Call of Duty 3 packs in more impressive features than any previous installment: gorgeous graphics and audio, an intense single player campaign, and a wealth of multiplayer options. Even if it isn’t the most original game, Call of Duty 3 is certainly one of the finest.

With EA Sports’ March Madness still only treading stale water, 2K Sports continues to innovate, staying ahead on game play appeal. College Hoops 2K8 for PS3 is the king of next-gen console college hoops titles.