One of the most significant changes lies in the combat. The awkward auto-aiming of previous titles is replaced by a useful cover system and excellent lock-on aiming. The usefulness of the cover system cannot be overstated.

Excellent graphics, gameplay and variety are definitely SMG's strengths, though it's certainly not perfect. The game may feel a little too easy for most gamers, as you only need to collect 60 stars to complete it and many of the boss battles are very simple. Also, the auto-camera, which functions great most of the time, does have a few hiccups at certain points.

Bioshock has got everything that a great triple-A title needs, and it’s got it in spades. Intense combat, amazing and deep story, beautiful graphics, awesome sound – yes please. Add to that the level of customization and the multiple endings, and you’ve got something worth talking about.

Regardless of whether you enjoy first-person shooters or not, The Orange Box is one title that every gamer must experience. If you buy one game this year, make it The Orange Box.

Bioshock has got everything that a great triple-A title needs, and it’s got it in spades. Intense combat, amazing and deep story, beautiful graphics, awesome sound – yes please.

Fans of the series will be delighted by the recurring themes, but may be soured by a strong sense of repetition.

In the end, Gears of War isn't perfect, but it does what it does so incredibly well that you just can't help but love it.

The combat is all very smooth and familiar, and feels like a return to an old friend. But, when placing this combat into the intensely long Subspace Emissary mode, it doesn’t quite mesh.

Company of Heroes has revitalized the concept of what an RTS can be, positioning it as a contender for game of the year. Strategy gamers rejoice!

Accompanying all of the great gameplay and astounding visuals is an amazing score. The music behind God of War II is as epic as any other component, and it serves to make the game a much more intense and immersive experience.

This game is just absolutely beautiful, and I can’t wait to see what types of things this will inspire over the next generation.

Every objective feels fresh, and enjoyably chaotic, because more than anything, Modern Warfare illustrates the constant state of FUBAR that war often is.

Guitar Hero II is one of the greatest games ever created. It's innovative, addicting, polished and just plain awesome.

Xbox Live support is great here as well. Online play is great, and you can jam with a band halfway across the world, which is seriously technically impressive. The downloadable content support is fantastic as well, even this soon after the game’s been released.

There will likely be some songs you don’t like, but jamming along with them just might give you a whole new appreciation for the subtle nuances of classics like "Cherry Pie."

The new Wii controls definitely make it worth plaything through again. At $29 there’s almost no excuse for not picking this one up, especially if you’re looking for the best demonstration of the Wii Remote yet.

What makes this type of play so much fun is the fact that the levels are so huge.

Just a very safe outing for the series. There are no major chances taken and it shows.

Not that it isn’t fun, but aliens are a little -too- human, even the really really weird ones. These problems are thankfully not nearly big enough to drag Mass Effect down, as in reality, they amount to little more than petty but necessary gripes about an otherwise great title – it’s a fantastic experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a phenomenal Zelda game, pure and simple. The creative minds at Nintendo have managed to take classic gameplay and infuse it with all of the Nintendo DS’ unique capabilities to create an adventure for Link unlike any before.

Minor issues with the presentation and level design prevent it from achieving its full potential, yet it's still an enjoyable experience.

It’s loaded with extras and great touches that push it over the edge of greatness, so much so that the bland graphics are quickly forgotten.

The outstanding combination of tight gameplay and a first-rate presentation make it a great game.

While this game is pretty shallow in terms of content, it still becomes a great pickup for some mindless fun and destruction.

While this game is not perfect, it comes close to touching it on several points, and absolutely nails it on the story. This tale is gripping the whole way through, and has the value to be revisited over and over again, just like any DVD movie on your shelf.

Ubisoft has corrected past mistakes, much too their credit, and have delivered one of the strongest Rainbow Six games yet.

There are some programming errors on the game that some veterans find game breaking. Any simple moves such as throwing a stone during battle, causes this relatively long slow down.

Sins of a Solar Empire makes no apologies for being ambitiously massive and deep.