But Rare has once again pulled the rabbit from the hat and proved that intelligent game design, charming characters, a grand story, and a next-gen audio and visual presentation is the foundation for an enduring title that should be part of every Xbox 360 game library.

Walks a fine line between serious sim and classic Blitz action and maintains a perfect balance from start to finish.

The changes that have been made to the FF game system are fresh but still similar enough not to alienate old-time FF fans.

Larry makes the transition to next-gen console perfectly and creates his own little naughty slice of niche-genre pie. If you love to laugh you'll love this game.

Shrek Forever After is easily the best Shrek game I have ever played on this or any previous generation system, and is one of my top three "movie games" of all time.

You simply can't imagine what Treyarch has done with the franchise until you see Call of Duty 3 in action. You'll wonder how they got all that game into an Xbox. They have really mastered the technical horsepower of the Xbox and advanced the series in every single way.

Not only has the bullet-time system been refined, the audio-visual presentation is flawless and the additional of a second playable character and tightly integrated story makes this one of the best action games of the year.

It's nice to see a slew of exotics alongside sport compacts. The newest Need for Speed may be the most wanted of the season, being one of the best racing games for now.

NBA 2K12 is a great simulation with a lot to offer, from street pick-up games to World Champion classic teams. Hopefully the lack of current rosters is temporary. NBA 2K12 is an improvement over last year, but only a slight one.

A deceptively cool game in that it hooks you almost immediately with its approachable controls and intuitive building-block combos, not to mention the sheer artistry of the graphics and animation. Then once you are entranced the game gets harder, but by then your skills are more than up for the task.

The obvious staying power is in the multiplayer potential whether you gather some friends over for a local foursome or take your skills online for an Opti-Match or enter an XSN tournament.

Flower is the best $10 you can spend on your PS3. It is the most relaxing, soothing, and otherworldly experience any console has ever seen, and only the power of the PS3 can bring something this original and breathtaking into your living room.

A landmark achievement in game design starting with the addictively fun core gameplay, instinctive controls, then rounding out the package with gorgeous visuals, stunning special effects, and professional sound work.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a great game for kids, teens, parents…heck…everybody is going to love this game. I literally couldn’t put it down for five hours until I absolutely had to go to bed and then it was the first thing I played when I woke up until I finished it.

Merges an epic, and oft-times emotional story with challenging gameplay and realistic horseback riding and mounted combat.

The level of challenge and degree of difficulty ramps up smoothly over the course of the game, and all passage of time will slip by, as you become immersed and even hypnotized by the dazzling graphics and stunning music in Child of Eden; one of the most original games I've ever played this year on the PS3 and certainly a perfect fit for the PS Move.

The gameplay is intuitive and accessible to gamers of all ages and skill levels and the interactive environments and charming level design will delight and fascinate all who play and even those who watch somebody else play.

UNO is a fantastic game perfectly suited for the Xbox 360 that will delight kids and adults, the same people who probably already play it with real cards.

If you’re a Guild Wars fan, you really should pick up the best expansion of the series so far. New players who are interested in Guild Wars should also start with Nightfall, considering all the improvements ArenaNet has made.

The audio presentation gets a serious boost with more ambient sounds coming out of every speaker in a crisp, clear Dolby Digital mix.

Easy to pick up and impossible to put down (except to flush the toilet), you'll be totally hooked from the moment you pick this game up until the day you "think" you've mastered it, and even then your quest for perfection will compel you to keep playing until the day you die.

Double Agent is fun, exciting, intense, and definitely a great send-off title for the classic Xbox. What it lacks in 360 visuals it more than makes up for in substance and gameplay and that is what ultimately counts.

There are a lot more good lessons to be learned in Bully than bad ones, especially the importance of time management, actually attending classes, and even getting an after school job.

Enslaved is an amazing ride that no action gamer should consider missing.

NBA 2K11 is the best basketball game I've ever seen.

wipEout HD is easily one of the top five, if not top three downloadable games this year. If you’re a fan of the series then this is the best version yet, and if you’ve never played a wipEout game before, strap yourself in and prepare to be amazed.

The ability to use updated roster files from the modding community is another great addition to this game as well.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River isn't the most accessible military FPS game out there, but it certainly is one of the most realistic you'll find on the console if you're up for the challenge. Obviously, sim purists will want to play on the PC where sharper graphics and finer mouse controls will prevail, but mission for mission, and for overall gameplay, both solo and co-op, Red River is a great ride for those with the tactical precision and patience to play.