The gameplay is just as great as its predecessor was, but the amount of new content and features make it the far superior game.

The more lifelike direction that the team went in takes a little getting used to, especially when it comes to getting behind the wheel, but once you get over the learning curve, you're handed an amazing experience and hands down the best work Rockstar North has ever put out.

This may not be Mario’s first appearance on the Wii, but it is definitely his best so far. Super Mario Galaxy may be Mario’s best adventure since he was last jumping on the Super Nintendo over a decade ago.

It will challenge you, it will move you, and it will force you to make hard decisions. It is unbelievably immersive and tenaciously inventive. It is a game that sets the bar high for others to follow—for its art direction, narrative, and gameplay.

When all is said and done, Naughty Dog has done an amazing job of fixing any issues that the original game had for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves while adding more to make this a package that anybody with an ounce of interest should not miss.

Really, The Orange Box is a must-have game. There are few games that even begin to approach the value and quality that can be found here.

Really, The Orange Box is a must-have game. There are few games that even begin to approach the value and quality that can be found here.

The story is bigger and more personal, the combat and inventory have been refined for better execution and the overall presentation trumps the quality from the first game. Everything you could have hoped for in a sequel is made clear in Mass Effect 2.

It will challenge you, it will move you, and it will force you to make hard decisions. It is unbelievably immersive and tenaciously inventive. It is a game that sets the bar high for others to follow—for its art direction, narrative, and gameplay.

While LittleBigPlanet’s launch may have been a bit rough with the recall and such, the game itself definitely lives up to the hype with a very enjoyable story campaign and has almost limitless potential in the level creator tools for the community aspect of the game.

With a world bigger than you can imagine dozens of random odd-jobs for you to perform and a story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end, Red Dead Redemption sets the standard for what games will judge themselves on in the future. Never has a game been this immersive in both randomness and story moments, and the visuals and sound only add on to the beauty the game encapsulates for every player.

The game is not perfect and certainly could have been improved with updated visuals and sound effects, as well as possibly even a little more variety than the already interesting dungeons.

With a world bigger than you can imagine dozens of random odd-jobs for you to perform and a story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end, Red Dead Redemption sets the standard for what games will judge themselves on in the future. Never has a game been this immersive in both randomness and story moments, and the visuals and sound only add on to the beauty the game encapsulates for every player.

While at times the action can make you whiz by the environments, slowing down will allow you to take in the beauty of the environments. There isn’t quite the real-life detail as seen in the last game with Chernobyl, but Modern Warfare 2 has its own great detailing. And best of all, you won’t have any hiccups or lag.

It’s the best Call of Duty game so far and hopefully will spark other developers to follow suit by breaking out of the redundant World War II genre. It doesn’t matter what platform you get Call of Duty 4, all that matters is it deserves a spot in any action fan’s collection.

The story is bigger and more personal, the combat and inventory have been refined for better execution and the overall presentation trumps the quality from the first game. Everything you could have hoped for in a sequel is made clear in Mass Effect 2.

Visually, Gears is astonishing. It undoubtedly breaks all previous technological barriers with the use of the Unreal Engine 3.0 and raises the bar to a stunningly unprecedented level.

The standard has been set, and it’s been set ridiculously high. Whether it’s the fantastic production values or its nearly flawless gameplay mechanics, we couldn’t be happier with Oblivion.

It’s the best Call of Duty game so far and hopefully will spark other developers to follow suit by breaking out of the redundant World War II genre. It doesn’t matter what platform you get Call of Duty 4, all that matters is it deserves a spot in any action fan’s collection.

The story just isn't put-together well enough, the graphics are disappointing, and the levels have you constantly running back and forth. Yes, if all of these things were rectified, the game would be spectacular. But they're not.

The standard has been set, and it’s been set ridiculously high. Whether it’s the fantastic production values or its nearly flawless gameplay mechanics, we couldn’t be happier with Oblivion.

On the whole, Street Fighter IV is a fantastic achievement. It has a great fighting system, excellent visuals and decent audio.

Even if this is your second, third, fourth, or even your fifth time playing the game, the new camera angle adds a lot of freshness to the single player campaign. Not just that, but the online multiplayer is really amazing and it is clearly one of the best the PS2 has yet to get on the service.

While at times the action can make you whiz by the environments, slowing down will allow you to take in the beauty of the environments. There isn’t quite the real-life detail as seen in the last game with Chernobyl, but Modern Warfare 2 has its own great detailing. And best of all, you won’t have any hiccups or lag.

When it comes down to it, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots provides what may easily be the most memorable experience of this generation so far.

Not just the best game in the series–which says a lot on its own–but it’s also one of, if not the very best strategy games ever made.

In the simplest terms, Brawl makes Melee look like a demo sampler.

To put it in the simplest terms, this is an example of real-time strategy done right. It’s a blast to play, and a game whose merits any gamer or WWII buff can appreciate.

Returning to its violent roots serves the game very well, and fans of the original top-down style of the first two games in the series are in for a nostalgiac treat. And when all the aspects come together, it’s a terrific package you shouldn’t be without.

When it comes down to it, Braid's very much one of those artsy games with an impactful story that can be something for people to talk about for a long time, which certainly lasts more than the game requires to beat it.

Audibly speaking, the game, like the first one, is nearly flawless. The voice work is executed with such grace that they make you feel as if these characters are believable and a part of the time period.

On the whole, Street Fighter IV is a fantastic achievement. It has a great fighting system, excellent visuals and decent audio.

What Okami ultimately offers is a satisfying adventure with memorable characters, intuitive play mechanics, and an astonishing visual presentation. Simply, it’s a ton of fun to play.

So what you have here with Fallout 3 is a great addition to the series, even if you are a die-hard fan of Black Isle Studios’ work with the previous Fallout titles. It has some slight faults, but the quality of the rest of the package more than makes up for it all.

With an explosive single player, improved multiplayer, and an all-around polished feel, Gears of War 2 is better than the original by a large margin.

It’s the best Call of Duty game so far and hopefully will spark other developers to follow suit by breaking out of the redundant World War II genre. It doesn’t matter what platform you get Call of Duty 4, all that matters is it deserves a spot in any action fan’s collection.

A fantastic game that should be played by anybody with a PS3 that has a craving for some brutal combat and plenty of vengeance.

If you own the PS2 version of Guitar Hero II the ten extra songs and the downloadable content are still reason enough to look into the 360 version. The new guitar controller is also definitely worth owning.

When it comes down to it, Rock Band is a definite must buy game. If you’ve got friends to play with, it’s an amazing multiplayer game that is as much fun to play as it is to watch.

Like FFX, it does not fit in that well with the rest of the series from a gameplay or stylistic standpoint, but it stands up beautifully alongside the likes of the Chrono and Seiken Densetsu franchises as a high-quality Square Enix RPG in its own right, even if it isn't one of the greatest of all time.

It does a good job of easing people into the experience, and yet has all of the options to make the game as hardcore as you’d like. It’s a game that packs a lot of value into its two DVDs of content.

Without a doubt, Arkham Asylum is one of the best games of the year, and from the solid single player experience, amazing voice acting, rewarding challenge maps and a slew of nearly dozens of unlockable bios and collectibles, any fan will be hard-pressed to not give this game a try.

The game has been so well-made that it’s hard to even think of what can be added or improved to Guitar Hero III outside of a new soundtrack.

When it comes down to it, Rock Band is a definite must buy game. If you’ve got friends to play with, it’s an amazing multiplayer game that is as much fun to play as it is to watch.

It is definitely the most engaging RPG experience you’ll find on the DS and will continue to be played and praised.

Rock Band 2 is a solid sequel. Harmonix smoothed out most of the rough edges and added enough new stuff to warrant the full priced upgrade.

Rock Band 2 is a solid sequel. Harmonix smoothed out most of the rough edges and added enough new stuff to warrant the full priced upgrade.

Probably the best rhythm game of this generation and one of the best in the genre since PaRappa the Rapper came out. It doesn’t have the originality in its music that other games have had, but its control style and overall effect is far beyond what most people were expecting.

The Italian countryside was a perfect fit in both design and gameplay and many of the new features should keep fans entertained for quite a while. You simply could not have asked for a better addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

The Wii version of Resident Evil 4 is undoubtedly the best there is. It’s a great value at $29.99 for what you’re getting, considering it’s one of the best games around and that it adds some remarkably refreshing new controls that are far superior to the previous versions.

A superb game, one that surpasses "ICO," and no one should allow their eye to skip over it at their local game retailer.

Crysis as a whole is really a phenomenal game. One of the richest and most visually striking games ever made combined with a fantastic single player campaign that really never lets up after it picks up until it ends.

Chains of Olympus has been the most anticipated PSP title for quite a while now and while it feels like God of War-lite, who cares? No handheld adventure will ever compare to that of a console, but the PSP-adaptation is still pretty damn sweet.

MLB 10: The Show offers a great game of baseball that has a few rough spots, but has enough additions and enhancements to its biggest modes (Road to the Show and online multiplayer) to make it a worthy upgrade for fans and newbies alike.

If you can look past the lackluster single player campaign and spotty controls and set your sights on the obviously superior multiplayer component you will have yourself one of the best looking, and playing, games on the PS3.

The closer you get to the end, the more "nostalgic" it gets, if you want to call it that. There's really no question about this one. Just get it.

It may be difficult for some to overlook the new combat system, but once you get a grip on it, and look past the shoddy vehicular combat, you’ll find a game worthy purchasing.

The God of War Collection might be more of the same, but taking two of the best games on the PS2 and upgrading them to look like PS3 games can offer little arguments from anyone.

So what you have here with Fallout 3 is a great addition to the series, even if you are a die-hard fan of Black Isle Studios’ work with the previous Fallout titles. It has some slight faults, but the quality of the rest of the package more than makes up for it all.

Without a doubt, Arkham Asylum is one of the best games of the year, and from the solid single player experience, amazing voice acting, rewarding challenge maps and a slew of nearly dozens of unlockable bios and collectibles, any fan will be hard-pressed to not give this game a try.

With a flawed, yet fun, online mode, a great deal of single player modes, and enough courses to choke a horse, Mario Kart DS is almost infinitely replayable.

The Italian countryside was a perfect fit in both design and gameplay and many of the new features should keep fans entertained for quite a while. You simply could not have asked for a better addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

Fortunately, the game looks fantastic, better than most everything else on consoles, but the framerate takes some serious toles during some of the more graphically intense moments in the game and it almost makes it unbearable to play at some points. But other than that, the game looks, sounds, and plays amazingly.

If you have a passing interest in guns, military, the near future, Mexico, or good games, this is a must-own on all accounts. This is the first real system seller for the Xbox 360 and it’s safe to say it’s the first real game of the year candidate.

Rockstar has done a good job of giving fans more content to please their violent tendencies, and the characters and moments in The Lost and Damned prove to be just as memorable and enjoyable as GTA IV.

So what you have here with Fallout 3 is a great addition to the series, even if you are a die-hard fan of Black Isle Studios' work with the previous Fallout titles. It has some slight faults, but the quality of the rest of the package more than makes up for it all.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass pushes the envelope when it comes to taking advantage of every feature on the DS, and while many thought it would just turn out to be just another gimmick, Nintendo has once again proved them wrong and at the same time seems to have expanded the audience.

The game takes everything that was great from the phenomenal "Burnout 3" and not only improves upon those features, but builds upon them, creating a game that blows away the competition in its genre.

While not a lot has been changed drastically from last year’s game, MLB 09: The Show doesn’t mess with the great foundation and just focuses on fleshing everything out to go after the small things that can make good sports games great ones.

Before the silhouette platformer becomes a crowded subgenre, it's nice to have one game that sets the bar extremely high for the followers that are inevitably on the way. Limbo features a mix of platforming, puzzles, style, tension, and brutality that is a rare sight these days on XBLA or any platform these days.

Bizarre Creations has not only managed to give fans more of what they wanted, but provided more modes and co-op options to make Evolved 2 last a lot longer.

Proof that not all sequels are quick attempts to cash in; Corruption takes the already outstanding formula of the previous games and retools it into one of the most solid and rewarding experiences in years.

It has more of what made the first one great, and lots of new features that set it apart from the rest of the games in this genre. With its deep customization and hearty online component, Forza 2 will keep you playing for months.

As it stands, Grand Theft Auto IV is a rather poor port, but a fantastic game all the same.

The mix of spectacular graphics, marvelous sound, and solid gameplay easily make CoD2 one of the Xbox 306’s must have launch titles.

The game takes everything that was great from the phenomenal Burnout 3 and not only improves upon those features, but builds upon them, creating a game that blows away the competition in its genre.

It’s an extremely hard, yet very refreshing RPG that is of the highest quality you can squeeze out of a game like this.

The simple truth is that Plants vs. Zombies on Xbox Live Arcade is one of the best values on the entire service.

What Rez HD offers is an old-school feel with modern touches.

The combat system is robust, the amount of exploration is amazing, and the game looks and sounds beautiful. Combine all this with the game's masterful storytelling without hours and hours of dialog, and you have what's probably the best and most frightening role-playing game this generation so far-just in time for Halloween.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night packs a lot of value into its relatively small package. It has multiple endings, a second inverted and more difficult castle to unlock, as well as the ability to play as Richter Belmont once the game has been fully cleared.

Death design aside, Fable 2 has managed to improve on the original in every conceivable way.

Those of you who had doubts about this being just another glorified expansion need to stop yelling at Valve and give Left 4 Dead 2 a try, as it is incomparably better than the first game by a large margin.

It comes down to this: Left 4 Dead is a hell of a lot of fun to play.

It comes down to this: Left 4 Dead is a hell of a lot of fun to play.

Those of you who had doubts about this being just another glorified expansion need to stop yelling at Valve and give Left 4 Dead 2 a try, as it is incomparably better than the first game by a large margin.

Hardcore fans will enjoy this game immensely, but casual fans will likely find WE9 too difficult. Even though the game is not for everyone, it is still the best soccer game to date.

It’s a fun, addictive, fast paced, and fresh take on a very stale genre. This is not only one of the PC’s best this year, it’s one of the best games in the genre, period; and we’re talking in the infinite sense.

While this is a great upgrade from the games last year, it’s still relatively unchanged. However, if you’re new to this game, it’s a must purchase and among the best Xbox 360 games yet.

Offers the same classic style of previous Castlevania titles, replete with the outrageous bosses, fitting game areas, puzzle solving and platforming aspects which are perfectly harmonious with the new soul-gathering and returning level-gaining aspects of the series.

Overall, Dead Space is an extraordinary game with tons of shock value and action to whet any fan's appetite for some time, and with a campaign that lasts a steady 10-12 hours, that’s plenty of time to get lost aboard the Ishimura.

The new levels for the adventure mode and multiplayer will add more visual variety to those modes, though the new challenges are designed much more for Peggle veterans.

All in all, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is a return to form for the Ratchet & Clank series and it shows that not every graphical showcase has to feature stunning realism.

Peggle definitely makes the transition over to Xbox Live Arcade very well with the main game’s set of modes and two new multiplayer modes that makes it an easy 800 points, or $10, purchase if you enjoy the demo.

Splinter Cell Double Agent is a solid game with an excellent multiplayer component. Fans of a gripping storyline which includes intense action and "stealthy stealth" will no doubt enjoy this game.

It’s worth getting a DS, that’s for sure. But if you’re one of those junkies that doesn’t pay full price for a game because it hardly makes use of the system’s “capabilities”, then fine; be that junky.

Clocking at just under 20 hours (single player), Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is an exquisite game with high production values, airtight playability, balanced gameplay, and a fitting story to boot.

With all that being said Virtua Fighter 5 Online for the Xbox 360 is most definitely a buy. That is of course, if you didn’t buy it for the PS3 already. It’s arguable though. The added content and online functionality may be the push you need to make up your mind.