The gameplay, levels, and sound definitely make up for the slight slowdown in graphics.

ESPN is incorporated seamlessly into the game, and it mostly works well, with solid pre-game coverage, a clean interface, and some slick graphic overlays in between gameplay.

Probably the tastiest part of the Killzone Cocktail is the Multiplayer. Imagine if Call Of Duty 4 and Team Fortress 2 had a baby, which they then abandoned and as a result had to learn a few new tricks to survive. That’s what Killzone Multiplayer is like.

It makes a great game that much greater, and unquestionably deserves a long-term, dedicated spot on any fan of this genre’s hard drive.

A towering achievement that surpassed my expectations on every level. While aspects of the game may feel familiar, this is the game that all the other before it only hinted at. Do not plan to play it just once. The world created here is to be explored different ways to find all the amazing goodness tucked away in its corners. Thirty hours after I began, all I wanted to do was build a new character and start again. It’s just that good.

Each class changes the game so drastically that when you grow tired of slinging lead in the alleys, you can always go spec ops or engineer for a completely new experience. The depth and quality here is just staggering, and you won't find a better multiplayer shooter on the PC.

Though it’s disappointing the presentation has taken a backseat in the development phase, Madden edges out "NFL 2K5" because, ultimately, it's the gameplay that matters after you've owned a football game for more than a couple weeks.

The ironically devastated world of Fallout has never been better realized than in Fallout 3, offering a vast landscape that is almost relentlessly bleak in its hopelessness. It's absorbing, immersive, paradoxically beautiful, and kind of depressing to play over long periods of time.

A lot of game even if most of it is just potential.

Great graphics and sound, top-notch AI, wonderfully entertaining dialog, and an impressive variety of gameplay all make this one of the best games of the year.

A great game. Harnessing the power of your enemy's soul at least superficially changes the ancient formula and incorporates a limited link cable mode for the bartering of souls.

It's the best original (nonport) GBA RPG to date, sporting stellar graphics, above-average sound, and a worthwhile experience (at least 20 hours of gameplay) that should make that next family roadtrip that much more tolerable.

Where "FIFA" feels like hockey with soccer players, Winning Eleven 8 feels like the year's first entrant for best sports game of 2005.

2D adventure gaming at its best.

Aside from the occasional texture glitch or stray enemy phasing into a rock (a problem easily solved with well-placed explosives), Far Cry 3 is a technically brilliant and expertly balanced gameplay experience that offers an immense amount of content and a high degree of polish. At the time of writing I have put nearly 60 hours into it across two playthroughs, and will probably play it a third time on PC later on. I suggest you do the same.

It has it all: harrowing missions, top-notch graphics and special effects, and convincing audio and voice acting. Few games in this genre approach the level of polish and design seen here.

Mario Kart DS shatters those expectations by being the best kart racing game ever released--handheld or otherwise.

One potential complaint with PGR2 -- the only one, really -- is the competing AI. While other drivers' performance is well scaled based on skill level, you'll find that these aren't the most imaginative bunch on the road.

Other problems, such as pathfinding issues will be painfully familiar to die-hard Sims fans. If a Sim places something like a pizza box in a narrow hallway, everyone will get stuck for hours of game time because they can’t step over it.

The moment Ico first takes Yorda's hand in his is as organic and human as anything seen in interactive entertainment. Sony has created a classic that is both a stunning technical achievement and a perfect example of a videogame as art.

The single-player game has a few rough spots, but multiplayer is flat-out fantastic. And let’s face it; the incredible graphics don’t hurt either.

This is as light and unpretentious as RPGs get. If the typical melodramatic RPGs make you laugh more than cry and you've grown tired of casting dragon destroyer +7, Mario & Luigi is just what the plumber ordered.

The new single-player mode may alter the experience for some, but the core gameplay still offers endless replay value if you just want to skate around while listening to an eclectic mix of punk, rock, and hip-hop.

Trials Evolution remains the best Trials experience available today and one of the best values on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The social competition between friends will continue to rage on long after you've made your way through all the tracks and keep you coming back to reclaim the top spot.

The 8-10 hour story mode alone would be worth a crisp Jackson, but the fact that it comes packaged with new rides, new music, new forms of entertainment, new side missions and a handful of new multiplayer modes is simply outrageous for that price. L&D is easily the most well conceived and well-executed piece of downloadable content ever, and it sets a new bar for interactive storytelling that won’t soon be matched.

The game is pick-up-and-play, it's beautiful to look at, and it raises the cultural precedent bar to backboard level. Even if you don't like sports games, you'll love this one.

There's not a single thing wrong with this game. The diligence and creativity that have gone into it should be carefully scrutinized by anyone thinking of working on a similar project. Do yourself a favor and play it.

The ironically devastated world of Fallout has never been better realized than in Fallout 3, offering a vast landscape that is almost relentlessly bleak in its hopelessness. It's absorbing, immersive, paradoxically beautiful, and kind of depressing to play over long periods of time.

NFL 2K5 has leveled the field of play significantly with its wallet-friendly price and killer presentation.

What makes a Zelda game Zelda? Whatever that might be, this game’s got it. Chalk up another success for a classic franchise, and another must-have for just about anyone that owns a Nintendo DS.

Those who became addicted to either of the first two Advance Wars titles will surely be hooked by this one, too.

The camera is sometimes unwieldy, and for some bizarre reason can only be rotated around Jak, not moved vertically, though there is a first-person view that lets you look around. Beyond that, however, Jak and Daxter is an excellent example of a 3D platformer.

In one stage, Imperial walkers are deployed into shallow water. You see the walkers' reflections in the water, and the sand beneath the water can be seen as well, with the walkers' feet crushing it as it lumbers up to the shore.

It's one of the best sports games on the PS2, and it's definitely the best college game around.

We're peeved at the ability to flick aside 18-wheelers like they're raisins on a table, but overall, you're going to have problems finding a more visceral, violent driving game.

With an excellent story, complex yet intuitive gameplay, and a dragon-size helping of extra features, the game is a joy to play. The only downside is that it eventually ends.

Aside from some minor quibbles, it’s beautifully made – an addictive game, an involving story, and a gorgeous piece of artwork all at once. While not perfect, Persona 4 is one of this year’s best RPG and another example of how even old hardware can still run some of the best games.

The entrancing music and compellingly complex but accessible gameplay are still unparalleled, making minutes transform into hours as your nights are dominated by the story of your civilization.

The new career mode adds a considerable amount of depth to the overall game, while a quick session has more twitch factor than ever before.

Strikes a careful balance between accessibility and the hideous complexity. And it looks good doing it.

As close to perfect as a game can be... In an age where the lines between non-action genres increasingly blur to support a more fast-paced direction, this is stealth gaming done right. An achievement made even more remarkable for pulling it off using a 2D presentation. If you play only one Xbox Live Arcade game in 2012, there is no better option out there than Mark of the Ninja.

Unique and captivating characters await you at every flower laden step. From combat to exploration, every action rewards the player with items, experience, or another breathtaking look at this gorgeous world.

We love all the changes to the gameplay in Pikmin 2. It's deeper, less frustrating, and ultimately, more fun. We dig the cave-like dungeons that require intense strategy and we're ecstatic over the new Pikmin types. It's a solid, charming game from beginning to end.

Where "FIFA" feels like hockey with soccer players, Winning Eleven 8 feels like the year's first entrant for best sports game of 2005.

What it lacks in compelling story, it more than makes up for in gameplay and character, and that's really where it counts.

More than anything, however, I have to say that Guild Wars 2 is just fresh. It's new, it's innovative and more than anything, it's a welcome change for fans that may want something different.

In addition to the amazingly detailed level of car customization you can do under the hood to affect car performance, Forza’s popular painting tools are back, with even more stencils and paint layers from which to craft amazing looking graphics.

Throughout the entire campaign, you can't help but feel that this is a comic book come to life.

Though it’s disappointing the presentation has taken a backseat in the development phase, Madden edges out "NFL 2K5" because, ultimately, it's the gameplay that matters after you've owned a football game for more than a couple weeks.

By playing it safe, FIFA Soccer 13 lacks innovation but this latest installment has helped keep the series at the forefront of video realism that you're pretty darn close from watching a live match, which is something you can't say about other sporting video games.

The slow pace and broad complexity make it a game for only those who like to swim on the deeper side of the strategy game pool, but if you aren’t afraid to dive in this game is not to be missed.

The game is flawed on so many levels (and in so many ways), that its occasional glimpses of greatness almost get lost in the Bespin Clouds.

Borderlands 2 is a better game than Borderlands in every imaginable way. Scoff at anyone who calls it a v1.5 update; this is really what a sequel should be. At the most basic level, you've got the same great experience that the 2009 game offered, only with much more depth and variety.

It’s by far the best of its kind, and the variable but fair enemy AI keeps the game fresh, especially on higher difficulties.

Thanks to careful balancing, rewarding pacing, and an excellent translation, Dragon Quest VIII is one of those rare games that's more than the sum of its parts.

While not without its minor shortcomings, Metroid: Zero Mission is damn enjoyable and perfect for blasting space pirates on the go.

From the moment DMX's "Party Up" plays in the background, you'll realize this is not your father's golf game. The action is fast, the commentary is rife with dry humor, and the desire to personalize your character is too good to pass up.

The balance between the powers, the factions, the troops, and the monsters lends the game tremendous depth and replay value.

Madden NFL 2002 not only plays an incredibly deep and solid game of football, but it showcases the system's versatility for handling a fast-paced sports simulation.

It's one of the few singularly unique titles to find its way to shelves this year and is truly great fun.

Of all the enhancements made in NBA Street V3, it would be remiss of us not to mention the visuals, which have moved away from exaggerated, cartoon-like players to a grittier, realistic look that better suits the game’s urban theme.

One of the largest and most richly detailed fantasy worlds ever to wear a set of polygons. There are literally hundreds of hours of gameplay.

Playing Fable II is an absolute pleasure. Between the combat, the humor, and the multitude of small details, I found it decidedly difficult to put it down to get some sleep or tape the show. Perhaps the one aspect of the game that will stand out above all else for me is that, for the first time ever, my wife — whose relationship to videogames is one of begrudging, ancillary necessity — actually sat down on the couch next to me and watched me play…for hours.

Immediate enough to attract casual hockey fans, or even those who don't care for or know anything about the sport. It also provides a deep level of simulation and customization for those who know and love their hockey.

Fast zombies? Check. Non-stop tension and intensity? Check. The quality of gameplay we expect from Valve? Check. When it comes to co-op multiplayer, Valve is consistently ahead of the curve and excellent at making games that force players to work together.

Fast zombies? Check. Non-stop tension and intensity? Check. The quality of gameplay we expect from Valve? Check. When it comes to co-op multiplayer, Valve is consistently ahead of the curve and excellent at making games that force players to work together.

A great basketball engine with improved physics and new moves, finely detailed and rich graphics, and modes both diverse and immersive all combine to make NBA 2K3 the best true representation of basketball out there.

Despite the lack of strife, Jade Empire does an excellent job of finding a nice middle ground between action games and RPGs.

As the videogame equivalent of washing down a pack of Pop Rocks with Coke, some will take the challenge head-on while others will listen to the naysayers. Either way, F-Zero GX is now the official barometer of hard-core gaming.

Computer owners are getting everything found in the Xbox 360 game, including achievements and online leaderboards, but with better visuals, smoother action, and a more streamlined interface. That the game rings up at a lower retail price and offers the first expansion pack as a free download is simply icing on the cake.

Of all the enhancements made in NBA Street V3, it would be remiss of us not to mention the visuals, which have moved away from exaggerated, cartoon-like players to a grittier, realistic look that better suits the game's urban theme.

Probably no other racing game this year will deliver as much heart-pounding fun.

The Minish Cap does virtually nothing wrong. It's an excellent and faithful Zelda game, and one of the best Game Boy Advance games to date.

Places its emphasis on subtle refinements over sweeping changes, which is what tends to happen when the gameplay is seasoned enough to already be considered a class act.

In many respects, NCAA Football 2004 is deeper than its NFL counterparts. In fact, it's the best football game currently available for the GameCube. However, if you own multiple consoles, the PlayStation 2 version boasts inferior visuals but rather impressive online play, and the Xbox version has noticeably better graphics.

Fez is a flawed work of genius, in a way. The base mechanics are lacking, glitches abound and yet the world -- so full of secrets and hidden puzzles -- is an utter joy to explore.

Casual gamers can feel free to jump in and play for a few hours a week without worrying about getting their money’s worth, while more dedicated players can spend hours and hours earning abilities for their characters through quests and recognition for their guild through tournaments.

With a gentler learning curve, an extra level, tweaked controls, and completely reworked cinemas, the PS2 version is the equal of its Xbox predecessor.

The visuals immediately draw you in, with some of the best motion-capture animation seen on the diamond to date, but the gameplay is what keeps you coming back.

A truly refreshing change of pace. It takes a lot of the waiting out of RTS games, but does so without sacrificing sound tactical decision-making.

Dawn of Sorrow has everything that makes the Castlevania series great: excellent platforming, exquisite level and puzzle design, gorgeous 2D graphics, and fantastic sound.

The multiplayer modes and incredibly powerfully map editor put Far Cry over the top. As great as the graphics are, they're merely a complement to the dynamic gameplay.

Despite lacking some tweaks that could have made the most horror-jaded gamers wet themselves, Dead Space delivers scares, gore and a truly disturbing gem of a game.

Even if you never played the original, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is turn-based tactics and management at its finest, and a perfect introduction to the genre...It's an exceptionally solid return for the series, and one that every turn-based tactics fan should experience.

Hidden beneath that glossy surface is a game that takes almost everything that's annoying with real-time strategy titles and fixes it. It's deep, yet accessible. It's action-packed, yet manageable. In short, it's everything you could ask for in a real-time strategy game.

Crowded races and difficult tracks unforgiving of the smallest mistake require dedication, concentration, high-end equipment, and lots of practice. Aside from these barriers to entry, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season looks and plays beautifully.

The three interwoven role-play threads in Persona 3 FES are so deftly sewn that it's easy to tune out the rest of the noise.

The quality of the motion capture, stadium details, and playbook bring you closer to a true ballpark experience than does any other game.

Burnout 2 makes other arcade racing games seem like "Driving Miss Daisy." You won't find a faster, more visceral racing game on the GameCube or any other platform.

In addition to standard team-based first-person shooter action, Battlefield 1942 incorporates the brilliant gameplay concept of vehicles and other machinery.

Great dialogue, visceral, vicarious violence, and a well-realized first-person experience might make you wish you could serve a little more of your sentence.

Blows by the competition like it was sitting on jack stands, and is the new high-water mark by which all other driving games will be judged.

Attractive graphics, endless gameplay, engaging strategy, new features, and multiplayer out the, ah, missile silo... what more do ya want, a parade?

With addictive, elegant gameplay, solid production values, and some serious longevity, the game is a class act and the perfect portable game.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is a top developer at the top of their game. The fact that a game this polished and expansive comes merely a year after the release of Insomniac’s "Resistance: Fall of Man" (the other great PS3 game) is nothing short of awe inspiring.

New Super Mario Bros. definitely doesn’t live up to the standards set by the games it apes, but there’s still no better sidescroller to be found on the DS.

Seldom has sound, vision, and control worked in such perfect harmony. Most players will find themselves wanting to play SH2 right after they finish it the first time.

There's only one thing a game that asks you to pick a nose can be, and that's one of the best handheld games ever.