Thrilling, addictive gameplay loaded with tough battles and jaw-dropping moves that’ll lure even the most jaded b-ballers back to the court.

A basketball technician’s dream. Games against the CPU realistically mimic a real game, while scrimmages against friends received a boost of energy thanks to sped-up gameplay and better shot blocking. ESPN NBA Basketball 2K4 retains the top slot by just a hair.

Savage moves enable you to beat, stab, slice, and dice opponents with vicious violence that is sure to excite fight fans to unbelievable heights.

Has its own quirks - you have to be too precise about lining up your player with the ball at arm’s length, so you’ll often miss swings you know you should've drilled. Spins also don’t have as much effect as they should, and the powered-up shots and serves are more challenging than they should be.

The mix of true physics, newbie approachability, gameplay depth, and even a sly sense of humor makes Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 thoroughly enjoyable.

If you’re looking to play hockey of the NHL variety, to tackle pro challenges and use real-life strategies, NHL 2K3 will thrill you as much as watching your team heroically survive a five-on-three penalty kill.

This version of Splinter Cell disappointingly doesn’t measure up to the superior versions on the Xbox, PS2, and PC, although it’s still a decent mission for the GameCube.

Burnout Paradise offers one of the most intense racing experiences around. It won't wow you with a high degree of realism like Gran Turismo will but for pure racing action, it is one of the best titles ever produced.

The graphics are breathtaking, and the electronica soundtrack is well-done... The controls are impeccable.

There's an incredible amount of fun that comes from filing the shoes of some of the most inspiring musicians ever to walk the earth, and Harmonix captures this experience with same sense of magic that the Beatles were known for. It's well worth the price of admission, even if you forgo the replica instruments and stick to your stock Rock Band gear.

The kind of huge game that's easy to lose yourself in for weeks and months on end, sparkling with a ridiculous array of ways to play, great controls, and more unlockables than you can count. [Nov 2004, p.138]

Probably the single most annoying element, however, is the interface: a maze of endless menus. Let's just race already!

NHL 2001 takes this year's PlayStation Championship (against Sony's "FaceOff"), but it was a tight seven game showdown.

Essentially the same game with a slew of slick improvements, and gamers will have an absolute blast throwing down dunks while exploring its new features.

Bursting with awesome extras, Excitebike 64 should be more fun, but it just manages to be okay.

An engaging and action-packed title filled with the type of old-school arcade action that you just don't see too much in this day and age.

It will be yet another go-round on the same rollercoaster. And this time, to enjoy it fully, you won't have to measure up at a sign that says "you must be this obsessed with multiplayer to ride this ride."

Where "Full Spectrum Warrior" offered a fairly straightforward series of forking streets, Brothers' battlefields are big--so much so that you never feel bound by arbitrary barriers, wondering why you're funneling into forward fire when crossing the low wall on the left or the field to the right will take you well around it.

Kudos to EA Sports for not being afraid to juice the complexity factor of an already complex game. Rookies will have to pay their dues, but veterans get treated to a brand-new challenge. [Sept 2005, p.82]

Control is also nearly-perfect... The transparent controls allow you to concentrate on racing and blasting your opponents, and so the races are faster, more fluid and more fun.

Brotherhood is the best showcase yet for the series' formidable quality and range, with an excellent campaign and an equally intriguing online approach, and while I hope the next one actually answers some questions, I can't begrudge Ubisoft in the slightest for giving us one more memorable voyage with Ezio.

Riveting first-person combat set across a mesmerizing WWII landscape. A game this good is practically a recruitment poster for the PS2.

You've never played a fighting game or wrestling title like this. UFC is the best man-to-man combat title ever, on any system.

It's easily the best survival horror game since the masterful "Resident Evil 4" and it sets the bar high for graphics, sound, and scares in its respective genre. Dead Space is an artistic nightmare clearly designed for survival horror fans by a passionate and dedicated team of like-minded gamers. Just be sure to play it with the lights on. [Dec 2008, p.90]

An excellent game, better than it has any right to be. But the premium bonus content (including arcade-perfect ports of the first three Tekken titles, plus a spiritual successor to Tekken Force) catapult the entire package to "must-have" status.

Both a technical and narrative masterpiece, F.E.A.R combines elements of science-fiction and horror with a beautiful aesthetic presentation and incredible enemy A.I.

Seemingly does the impossible: It gives serious golf fans a deep sim while offering casual fans an approachable, gorgeous game with tons of play modes.

A fantastic marriage of styles, somewhere between "Beetlejuice" and "Tron"... It's a satirical, sardonic does of mind fun. [May 2005, p.96]

It's now been four years of exceptional releases since the introduction of the skill-stick and every year has been made steadily better, adding more and more features and refining them to such a degree that it should come as no surprise that NHL 10 is by far the best hockey game put out, a clear cut game of the year contender, and possibly the best sports game ever released.

Still, BioShock 2 not only re-captures the dystopian aesthetic, gripping narrative, and deep gameplay of Irrational's original, but it actually greatly improves on the BioShock experience as a whole, fine-tuning what made Jack's voyage to Rapture such a memorable experience two years ago.

Offers a ton of new elements to keep you glued to your screen for hours. Whether playing against the computer or online, "The Conquerors" improves an already fantastic game.

If you're patient and spend a good amount of time playing against the AI bots, your enjoyment of Tribes 2 will increase tenfold.

Take Diddy for a test drive and you'll be hooked. It's the smoothest ride you can buy this holiday season.

Furious flying, controller-melting action, gorgeous graphics, and weird adversaries launch StarFox 64 into the stratosphere.

EA Sports has been doing fine work on this series for the last few years, but everything until now only seems like groundwork for this years version. Small problems aside this is the best game of hockey ever made.

The best aspect of the game might be the way that satisfying play experiences come in bite-sized pieces. [Sept 2005, p.80]

Even if you don't consider yourself to be a big poker fanatic, you should give this game a shot; the RPG elements will suck you in and change your opinion of what a card game can be.

It's now been four years of exceptional releases since the introduction of the skill-stick and every year has been made steadily better, adding more and more features and refining them to such a degree that it should come as no surprise that NHL 10 is by far the best hockey game put out, a clear cut game of the year contender, and possibly the best sports game ever released.

Uncharted reminded me a lot of an Indiana Jones movie in that both are fun and enjoyable romps that are just good enough to make you forgive their respective weaknesses.

Rainbow Six: Vegas's gorgeous graphics, professional presentation, well-executed cover mechanic, and highly customizable multiplayer make it one the best first-person shooters on the Xbox 360. Heck, why beat around the bush: it's got my vote for Game of the Year.

WCIII: FT follows Blizzard’s pattern of packing their expansion packs with just as much gameplay and story as the core game it augments.

By virtue of simple, solid gameplay, Starcraft has managed to rise above a predictable approach and been-there-done-that mechanics, and the final product (much like "Warcraft II" in 1995) seems fresh and new.

I can't think of a better way to spend your online dollars -- Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is the best version of SFII yet, if not the best Street Fighter game in 15 years.

While it’s not quite as deep as the older SNES game, there’s still a whole lot to like, and with so many potential character customization options it’ll keep you preoccupied for many, many an hour.

The kind of huge game that's easy to lose yourself in for weeks and months on end, sparkling with a ridiculous array of ways to play, great controls, and more unlockables than you can count. [Nov 2004, p.138]

The most striking change is in the innovative control scheme--where you use the right analog stick to throw jabs, hooks, and uppercuts--which has now been slightly altered to enable you to fight more like a professional pug in the ring.

But the moral of the story here is, well-written scripts and addictive story modes never spell a bad time. The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is impressive, hilarious and downright worth your money.

Is PGR 3 the best racing game ever? Not quite, but it sure stands out as the most visually captivating. Even if you aren't a racing fan, the game is worth a try, just to see the Xbox 360 flexing its muscle.

It's the moment-to-moment excitement of each mission, helped along by the cool and unique objectives, that gives BFBC2's campaign an unforgettable edge.

The briskly moving plot and the unique battle system adds up yet another winner for Square Enix. [May 2008, p.82]

It gives serious golf fans a deep sim while offering casual fans an approachable, gorgeous game with tons of play modes.

R & C's innovation comes in the form of all those crazy, non-gimmicky weapons and tools. This is a complex, polished platform gaming machine.

With its innovative Geo-Mod technology that allows players to blast away the environments as well as enemies, and an awesome (and lengthy) storyline, this game packs in plenty of thrills.

When playing in a loud stadium, visiting teams face a rowdily vibrating controller, shaking screen, and players whose lack of composure causes bad plays. If you think you can handle it, you're in for a surpise - the overall effect is huge, really adding to the challenge in key moments like kicking a field goal. [Aug 2004, p.90]

Totally revamped from the ground up, and it shows. Great graphics and the best gameplay the series has seen in years.

Throughout the action, the controls handle sweetly, combining the depth of a large number of moves with smooth playability.

Once the action's underway, however, ESPN NHL is old school all the way in its approach to passing and skating, but it offers the most extensive array of moves, and everything just handles butter-smooth. For sheer playability, its controls rule.

With Story, Arcade, and Challenge modes offering a ton of high-octane single-player and multiplayer contests, this game has something for everyone.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma is the best version released so far and that's saying a lot considering how awesome the other versions were.

A decade after the original's release, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a faithful improvement on what is still one of the best tactical RPGs around. [Nov 2007, p.97]

Boasting fantastic graphics and awesome transparency effects for water and fog, Wario Land 4 pushes the GBA to its visual limits.

The updated controls and interfaces enable easy, intuitive access to the game's magic and combat systems. Bethesda has created not just a game but also a benchmark by which future RPGs will be measured.

This must be the first game ever to including a screen warning you to spin your game system around -- but not yourself!

The action here is more cerebral, emphasizing teamwork and accomplishing specific objectives over twitchy combat—it’s great fun.

And for some bizarre reason, scoring a "critical hit" on enemies instantly increases your capacity to take damage. Dramatic as hell, but ludicrous. Shogo should bring a smile to any anime fan's face, but even the Japanimationally challenged will find a solid, slick shooter with tons of replayability.

Even restrained by the PlayStation’s limited horsepower, the player models look reasonably good, and they move incredibly smoothly and with lifelike realism.

Street’s sensational gameplay deftly combines competitive hoops and slick moves and dunks without delving into the realm of Jam’s absurd acrobatics.

On a visual level, the game looks simply awesome. It's not quite as detailed as "Vice City" or "San Andreas," but it absolutely destroys the original "GTA 3."

Best viewed as a refinement on an already phenomenal product.

Action/adventure fans who dare to the take the plunge will find themselves drawn in to a compelling world of puzzles, traps, stealth, animal acrobatics, thumb-burning boss battles, and wise-guy humor.

I loved Osmos' ambient soundtrack, and I was impressed with the scope of some of the game's larger levels, especially when pinching to zoom out as far as possible.

Though Doom 3 is lacking in innovative gameplay, it more than makes up for it with amazing graphics, flawless sound design, and excellent storytelling. [Apr 2005, p.72]

Totally revamped from the ground up, and it shows. Great graphics and the best gameplay the series has seen in years.

Not only is the multiplayer game addictive as always, but you also get an RPG-ish one-player adventure to boot.

The depth and design of each stage, in fact, is what makes this game addicting to play—there’s so much to see and do in each level.

When playing in a loud stadium, visiting teams face a rowdily vibrating controller, shaking screen, and players whose lack of composure causes bad plays. If you think you can handle it, you're in for a surpise - the overall effect is huge, really adding to the challenge in key moments like kicking a field goal. [Aug 2004, p.90]

Tekken: Dark Resurrection is proof that the PSP is powerful enough to handle a super-speedy, high-resolution 3D fighter without breaking a sweat.

Despite the shortcomings, ESPN NHL 2K4 is the Cup champ because it really plays and, aside from the rather sluggish-moving players, feels like a hockey simulation should. [Dec 2004, p.144]

The generic blend of fantasy elements doesn't detract from the fact that this is a fast-paced, compelling, excellently designed strategy game. Try it if you found "Advance Wars" too simple and "Final Fantasy Tactics" too complex.

A unique beast, a first-person "shooter" that emphasizes brains over blazing guns. It's great to see Lorne Lanning and the Oddworld Inhabitants back in fine form & even if it's not quite the form you would have expected.

Each gameplay aspect has its own place, joyously gelling together to create a diverse but pleasant experience.

Aside from its unfortunate lack of two-player options, this is a complete package that controls beautifully and has production values that could easily rival that of the Wii version's. Even if you're not a huge NBA fan, this is a basketball game that can stand on its own based purely on the fun offered by its mechanics.

It will be yet another go-round on the same rollercoaster. And this time, to enjoy it fully, you won't have to measure up at a sign that says "you must be this obsessed with multiplayer to ride this ride."

The sheer scope of this game (to repeat it again: 12 races, 33 classes, 3 realms) and its incredible quality level make it a shining star in the MMORPG sky.

If you're the kind of hardcore NASCAR fans that will revel in the challenge of Career mode, you'll have an absolute blast with Thunder, particularly now that Tiburon has included a ton of in-game help and redesigned the interface to be massively more usable.

The swelling chase music, idealized world, larger-than-life story, and easy-to-master controls combine to cut through the clutter of some more pretentious games and deliver a sense of majesty and bravery straight to your heart.

TS2 is no "Halo," but it’s really, really close. For fast-paced and light-hearted FPS action, it takes a "Halo" to beat TimeSplitters 2.

Although the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions of the sequel have been available for some time, the Xbox version nudges ahead of the other two as the best looking of the bunch.

It's limited without feeling restricted, and at no point will you feel like there isn't enough content to keep you coming back. Most importantly, though, it's enough change to make something you've done to death feel fresh and exciting again. It reminds you why you were obsessed with it in the first place.

That I still loved the majority of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit despite those notable qualms should speak highly of Criterion's vision for this reboot, and coupled with last year's very sharp Need for Speed: Shift, EA's once-fading franchise has returned to a position of power.

Everything racing fans could want: solid graphics, tight controls, expansive courses, unlockable secret vehicles, and (of course) the multiplayer option.

The most striking change is in the innovative control scheme--where you use the right analog stick to throw jabs, hooks, and uppercuts--which has now been slightly altered to enable you to fight more like a professional pug in the ring.

Anyone who ever considered an action/RPG should run straight to the store and sell their souls for Diablo II.

A killer Hot Pursuit mode challenges you to evade marauding cops, and while the two-player split-screen mode suffers from a little slowdown, it's definitely playable.

A truly solid entertainment package with a wide variety of characters, cool gameplay, and a host of visual and audio candy.

The Witcher 2 embodies everything that's good about PC development, and everything that makes it, in my mind, the best platform out there. It tells a mature tale full of intrigue, mystery, and frustrating but satisfying combat, and while it is difficult (remember, there is no shame in playing on easy if you're having trouble; no one's going to take your gamer cred away from you for doing so), it's bound to please any RPG player who gives it a try.

An incredibly zany yet infectiously fun study of what happens when an irresistible force meets an an army of unmovable flesh-eating objects, Plants vs. Zombies proves that the masterminds at PopCap know how to take an original idea and run with it, producing addictive, and oftentimes hilarious results.

Give it a chance and you may find yourself having the most fun you've ever had in a virtual car. [Feb 2008, p.70]