Even after several years, this exquisite Xbox entry is still a pulse-pounding and amazing experience that begs to be replayed multiple times.

There is extensive use of lighting, shadows, and sounds. There is nothing like the howl of an evolved head-crab zombie to completely freeze a player in his tracks. The giant spidery Striders never fail to be both threatening and awe-inspiring.

While RE4 has a spectacular opening, the game's plot is at times as boring as a shambling zombie, and while the developers did a marvelous job with the game's graphics, its memorable boss battles, and some of the gameplay mechanics, the emphasis on action somewhat demeans the overall experience, leaving me to conclude that while Resident Evil 4 is one of the greatest games ever made it's by no means a perfect one.

There are points that the game could've looked a little smoother. But it's still a remarkable experience, and the bonus goodies (namely "Separate Ways") make this a must-own. Evil has never been this good.

No GameCube owner should miss this game. If you don't own a GameCube, rent one with this game. There are no excuses for not playing it. A new level in 3D adventure games has been set.

Once again, Rockstar Games and Rockstar North have changed gaming as we know it...The variety of missions in San Andreas is staggering, as there's literally hundreds of varied tasks that will help you gain respect.

Living up to its unbelievable hype, Bungie's masterpiece features an engaging story, a satisfying single-player campaign, some of the most impressive graphics ever seen in a console title, and new gameplay features like dual-wielding, vehicle boarding, new weapons, and advanced AI.

Bethesda's "Morrowind" is a great videogame, but its successor, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, does exactly what every sequel should do, which is taking its predecessor, beat the hell out of it, and leave it for dead. This absolutely marvelous videogame is not only the premier visual show piece for the Xbox 360 hardware, but it's also tremendously enjoyable to play.

It's also a lot more difficult than its predecessor, so if you didn't feel challenged enough by the prequel, this version promises to bludgeon the hell out of you.

Bethesda's "Morrowind" is a great videogame, but its successor, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, does exactly what every sequel should do, which is taking its predecessor, beat the hell out of it, and leave it for dead.

I wanted to give Chaos Theory a five-star rating like its brother before it, I really did. But something held me back, probably the lack of so many co-op maps or something about the way the gameplay didn't jar me like it used to, as excellent as it remains.

Burnout 3: Takedown's drivers are vicious and just as eager to snatch victory from you as you are from them, and it takes a matter of skill to really survive, not to mention keep in the race. Some rookie drivers may be frustrated by this, but I for one appreciate the challenge.

One of the most entertaining value packs in videogame history.

While the game may be brimming with the kind of content and challenge that may make younger and weaker gamers cringe, those hungry for something with meat on its bones will feast on the fantastic gameplay, breathtaking presentation, and impressive extras.

Civilzation delivers all the gameplay that fans expect from the series, although some of the more subtle details from previous games have been scaled down.

A gritty, top-notch, five-star effort that redefines stealth action gaming- again. If the single player missions don't keep your questionable video game skills in check, then the online multiplayer most definitely will.

The battles are fast-paced and frenetic as ever, the programming is rock solid, the graphics are eye-popping, and blood is spilling all over the place.

The PC version, long in waiting, takes advantage of system abilities to give you an immersive game that will leave you friendless, jobless and girlfriendless from the first time you play until you finish the game.

Although the modifications are great, the game just seems to have some signs of wear and tear with its shift to Xbox. But don't let the minor downgrade fool you. This is still a gangster's paradise.

Combines not only technical prowess and fine-tuned gameplay, but pleasure as well, making this the new standard for the competition. Word to the other companies: this is the reason your registered users are dwindling.

The difficulty level has arguably been cranked up a notch, but with a little patience and perseverance, the game is a joy to play. Add to this a new graphics engine and an even more engrossing Master League, and winning becomes the operative word in the game's title.

Serious fighting game fans will be hooked after they see how deep the gameplay is, while casual gamers will enjoy the fast-paced action and extra modes of play.

The best game made this year. It combines every necessary element to achieve one of the most innovative and entertaining games ever created.

One of the most beautifully crafted digital creations of any sporting event - period!

Besides the online problems, that are getting better, the game is one of the best football games ever made.

This game is not only visually overwhelming, but intellectually, too. This is not for the casual gamer, or for people who only have a few hours a day to play. Instead, it is for those armchair generals who enjoy both the slower turn-based elements of games like Civilization and faster paced real-time strategy games.

The sequel features improved graphics, a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, new weapons, suits, and visors for Samus to use, as well as a host of menacing creatures to blast and puzzles to solve.

Madden NFL 2005 is my favorite NFL football game of the year and it sacks "ESPN NFL 2K5" in the backfield for a loss. Not a huge loss though.

With a boisterous song selection that's truly worthwhile, a two-player mode with limitless appeal to jam out, and addictive gameplay, it's quite simply the best rhythm/music game since the original "Dance Dance Revolution."

The animation is superb, showing detail in the smallest of characters, and the environmental damage modeling is superb! The level design is outstanding.

Something you look back on and think to yourself "I was lucky to be a part of that experience."

The presentation itself is stunning, but it's the battles with the colossi themselves, in which no two are the same, that will make your journey that much more breathtaking.

It reminds us of what hardcore gaming is really all about, and digs deep into our senses as we rip from room to room, collecting items and slashing the living hell out of whatever moves in an attempt to prove your ninjahood and uphold the honor of your fallen clan. It isn't perfect, but what it has to offer shouldn't be ignored.

The available maps are enormous, and the player is overwhelmed by the feel of modern warfare as jets race across the sky, choppers hover overhead, and tanks roll across the roads.

Offers the complete racing experience, with phenomenal graphics, the world's finest cars, exciting gameplay, and the best Live implementation on Xbox. This is without a doubt my favorite racing game ever.

Perhaps the biggest draw to the new Sims is the fact that your Sims can now grow old and die. This transforms some of the open-endedness found in the original game to one that is significantly more goal oriented.

The gunplay and unique physics have been perfectly recreated and the game is still one of the best that you'll play, but the inferior hardware means that none of it looks nearly as good as it does on the PC, and some unsightly frame rate hiccups mar the ocular experience.

Pushes the brand further with exciting, realistic combat action, either solo or with a squad; outstanding graphics that put the 360 to good use; and multiplayer options for both the co-op crowd and those who just want to shoot everything.

The story, filled to the brim with elegantly executed wit, is engrossing to the point where it seems industrial strength adhesive is connecting you to it.

Fast-paced action, excellently integrated stealth, and even some well-tuned platforming blend to make a cocktail that suits many tastes.

Significantly better than the previous installment, and it's one of the best baseball titles I've played in years.

Unless you've harbored a fantasy all your life to be a Captain of your very own submarine, you probably won't derive too much enjoyment from this exceptionally hardcore simulation.

One of the best GCN titles released to date.

Viewtiful Joe has the kind of gameplay, graphic presentation, and overall appeal that you seldom see in games anymore, and it deservedly belongs in your library.

The environments are fantastic and smooth, the gameplay is refined, and the aggressive AI could very well have you for lunch.

In the year that has passed since Criterion redefined destructive racing with the insanely addictive Burnout 3: Takedown, they've hunkered down and done their homework, and the result is the even better Burnout Revenge, a game that doesn't just kick your ass, it hands it to you on a fine silver platter.

At a scant four hours for this gamer, the great experience of the game is extremely short-lived. After the straight ports we're used to from Nintendo and their GBA development, Metroid: Zero Mission is a breath of fresh air (even for a "remake"), but it shows there's still a way to go.

If you thought "Fable" and "Knights of the Old Republic" were the best RPGs the Xbox had to offer, you need to think again. Jade Empire is the new king of Xbox RPGs, and it doesn't look like anything will be releasing this year to top it.

Compared to past 2D Zelda titles, Minish Cap is bursting with personality and detail. Little touches, such as the expression on Link's face and accompanying scream as he rides a mine cart, his disheveled hair, the smart-talking Ezlo, the creative new gadgets and detailed environments help to give the game a certain charm.

The game is about as deep as they come, boasting advanced unit AI, a multitude of options, all the unit details anyone could possibly want, an astounding ballistics physics engine and literally hundreds of hours of play time.

The classes are well balanced, and there is an impressive list of spells and skills available to players to pick and choose from.

The 360 version does have a couple of new goodies going for it, including a nice twist in the online play, a few new crash scenarios, and a high-resolution gloss that brings out the best in the 360.

Forget about the delayed FPS juggernauts of "Half-Life 2" and "Doom3," and spend your hard earned dinero on a game that is as spectacularly beautiful and brilliantly executed as any FPS ever.

Simply put, it's the most gorgeous Xbox game ever released. In fact, it's damn near photo realistic.

Even with its lackluster Arcade Mode, and the lack of online play, Gran Turismo still conveys what it has always been known for: The Drive of Your Life. There is no question that this is the most expansive racing title available.

Nothing has changed too much from the first title, but I spent over 100 hours with it, and thanks to the new editions that Intelligent Systems did include, I'm likely to do the same again.

The kind of game that makes hardcore Nintendo fans get on their knees and weep in sheer joy over the eighty new levels of new 2D Mario action...The visuals come in scorching hot, with gorgeous 3D bringing the old school into a new school setting. Sprinkle in some minigames and multiplayer modes, and you have a system seller.

There's certainly a lot to dig into if the game sucks you in, be it the attitude presented by the story and characters or the sheer craziness of the microgames. There's also some underlying statements being made about the business of games, and they are presented in a light and comical manner but seem to hold weight.

Prince of Persia includes innovative new gameplay features, jaw-dropping graphics and camera work, and a 'boomin' soundtrack, which all combine to give players of all levels and tastes hours and hours of fun.

The Trick Stick by itself enhances the gameplay to a higher level, and the bulking-up of the Street Challenge mode is certainly going to keep solo players busy, along with messing around with extra characters.

Everything about it, including its dazzling sound effects, gritty visuals (that feature a phenomenal "down the gun sight perspective"), chess-like gameplay, and its variety of missions really elevates it above the competition.

Fans of the arcade version of Tekken 5 will be happy to see a near flawless port of the game, complete with all of the customization aspects of the arcade game. In addition, you'll find your standard fighting game modes of play, plus an in-depth practice mode, and all three original Tekken arcade titles. Hands down, this is one of the best fighting games available for the PS2.

The enemy artificial intelligence is top-notch, so reloading a level never plays out exactly the same way twice, and the sound design is superb.

It'll tickle your brain (OK, not literally) and put a smile on your face.

It's not the most sophisticated puzzle game on the planet, but it's definitely one of the most addictive, in part because it has a solid gameplay foundation, but also because its numerous modes and extras are all worth checking out.

Hands down the most features-packed golf game ever, as well as the best golf game of the year.

A much improved follow-up, with an appreciative career mode, thunderous and inventive gameplay, and the kind of presentation that will knock you on your ass.

A painstakingly polished product that plays magnificently and has plenty of delicious eye candy to sweeten the deal. It's a racing game that has both beauty as well as the brains to match.

The idea may be twisted, but the execution is purely logical fun.

With the new team action introduced in the game, could it have been too much to ask for a multiplayer game?

If the video game world was one big butcher's block, then Doom 3 would obviously come down to being one tough piece of prime rib. The game packs lots of hideous monsters to bring down and does so in a beautiful package, with the kind of sound and visuals that push the Xbox to its very limits.

The most comfortable fighting game for the handheld yet. Despite some slight issues with the control scheme, the game still delights with its arcade-faithful presentation and its various modes.

ESPN NHL 2K5 isn't the perfect hockey experience but it's damn close, especially with the gameplay touch-ups that make it a much better game and the visuals to make you long for hitting the arena and feeling the cooling power of the ice.

The quest itself is one of the longest found on the GBA to date. Gamers will be keeping this cart in their GBAs for a long, long time.

A game that takes first-person shooting action, third-person platforming adventure, and a little bit of tactics, throws it into a digital blender along with a fluid storyline and undoubtedly good presentation, and comes up a bona fide winner in the hunt for Game of the Year for 2005.

Bursting at the seams with variety.

Dark Age of Camelot can be said to be the best MMORPG to have come out since "EverQuest." It's more updated, adds more in depth with the universe your in, and for 10 dollar a month, it's a steal.

The quintessential gaming flick it is not, but Advent Children still satisfies, both to fans and casual viewers.

Great on looks, but low on gameplay. Players generally have little motivation to go through the single player campaign more than once, but the first experience is certainly a great one. However, the multiplayer is very disappointing.

To be called the "PGR 2" of rally racing is quite some praise indeed, and that's exactly what Rallisport Challenge 2 is. Highly recommended.

As definitive as the street racing brand gets...at least, for this generation.

There are a few stunning moments (i.e., the whole train sequence), but in the end there simply isn't anything innovative about the single player game.

The presentation is wonderful, with revamped graphics that look better than they've ever been thanks to a wider view of the field.

Episode 1 puts together a fantastic game not by necessarily introducing anything new, but by forcing players to focus more on using their wits than their firepower. Although, firepower helps a lot too.

The Special Edition probably won't be for everyone (namely those who already destroyed the game on hard), but it's still recommended for its abundance of additions, including the ability to play as Vergil and the insane Bloody Palace mode.

A welcome comeback for the series, packing tons of superb gameplay quirks amidst a gorgeous presentation and multiplayer options that, while slightly limited, still offers hours of brutal, fun play.

An RPG that will make you think, and keep you busy for hours on end. Now clear your schedule for the next month, and pick up this game.

The quality of this year's edition is unparalleled, especially when it comes to the heaping amount of modes included (Race For the Heisman in itself is stellar) and the gameplay that EA Tiburon has been working on for years to perfect.

The RPG for those of us that dislike RPGs. It's easy to play, funny, absolutely gorgeous, and filled with plenty of good old fashioned Nintendo fun. Also, the soundtrack is amazing.

Double Dash!!'s multiplayer craziness is unrivaled and one of the most fun games on the GameCube.

Simply put, is a great expansion to an already great game. You'll have all the elements of stressful fun: Running through explosions, shooting tons of enemies, and experiencing a variety of World War II situations right at the front lines.

A breath of fresh air that has restored faith in platforming adventure titles. Within the first three minutes of gameplay, one realizes just how funnily bizarre this title is.

As an Action-RPG the storyline is outstanding, but the gameplay falls a bit short. This is primarily due to how overly easy the game is. You can run through the entire game using nothing more than the basic attack button, and your assistant characters suffer from poor AI.

Anyone with either an interest in a refreshing take on the classic platform genre or simply looking for something different will definitely find complete satisfaction in this one. Truly a must-play.

The crashes look as great as they always have, even with a little lack in detail here and there. The sound is plagued by some bad EA Trax picks, and, unfortunately, you're not able to play your own songs from the PSP.

Most of it feels brought over from last year's model, and not touched up enough to really appeal like it should. It feels more like a ground-rule double than a line drive.

The AI has been fixed up a little bit so that they react and take cover quite often, and will even act aggressively to encourage you to push forward.

It doesn't all quite come up roses (QB Vision isn't all it's cracked up to be), but Madden, EA, and Tiburon still know how to produce a marvelous game of football.