The mods that will be developed with the Source engine will be some of the best games that we will play. Only the future holds what Half Life 2 can bring us.

Overall, the game has a solid atmosphere, which entirely suits the vintage 50’s style décor which is in every aspect of this wonderful game.

Among Thieves is not only one of the best games of the year, it's also the benchmark for action games to come.

As good as it is though, it isn't perfect, which shows that the whole concept of a wholly linear 3rd person "horror" shooter wasn't all that great to begin with. I put horror in quotes because the game never actually scared me once, but if you're a squeamish pre-teen who can't watch Jurassic Park without wetting the bed this might not be an experience you'll enjoy.

While it ultimately may be more evolutionary than revolutionary, Mass Effect 2 still sets a new, almost impossibly high benchmark for future games.

This is one of the rare occasions I have had a game of nearly flawless quality which sets new standards for both visual appearance and interactivity.

It is, in my opinion, the best single player experience available right now.

It scores high/perfect in all areas and is pure bliss to play. If you are old enough and you don’t mind dark, dark humor and 80’s nostalgia, then this game is most definitely for you!

The system works well, even if it is different from what you are used to. Stop whining, learn how to create a party for custom games and enjoy the benefits of the matchmaking system the rest of the time. It's not perfect but neither is the traditional server list model.

One of the most expensive games ever made, it is clear from the attention to detail, lavish visuals, outstanding acting, and rich story that the money was well spent. Red Dead Redemption is the best Western game ever made, and certainly one of the top games of this year.

In a year that has already seen the release of several incredible games, Call of Duty 4 sits at the top of the stack.

If I had to describe this game in one word, it would be "solid" – the weapons feel just right, the sounds represent impact perfectly, and the sound effects themselves are entirely suitable.

Oblivion is far from a perfect game, but I can think of very few titles that come as close. It’s among the very best in terms of gameplay, audio, and graphics.

Not only is it a game that will have you hooked from the moment you pick it up, but it is the best looking title available on any console.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was a powerful entry into the first-person genre and an example of how linear gameplay could be exciting.

Finally, someone has taken all of the elements every game in this genre needed and combined them into a beautiful masterpiece.

The sheer variety of adventures thrown in your path is stunning!

Single-player alone is so magnetic you'll be constantly drawn back. However, all the rewards, plus the technical feat of 2-8 player online really opens it up for endless replay value.

Honestly, in some ways Pandora Tomorrow feels more like a very good expansion than a sequel. It does improve upon a lot of things, but I do wish they'd include more game mechanics that we hadn't seen before. Even so, the game has an extremely cool feel to it.

If you want “twitch action” then this really is it. Unreal Tournament 2004 has an insane amount of content.

The company's philosophy-demonstrated again with StarCraft II-is that innovation and experimentation are less important than taking what's already successful and bringing it to near perfection.

In conclusion, the millions of Gears of War fans will undoubtedly be thrilled by the sequel.

If there’s anything wrong with Viewtiful Joe, then there is one thing. Viewtiful Joe can be very, very hard. It’s unforgiving at the best of times and makes no qualms about it.

It's great to see that the interface has been heavily reworked for the PC version - it could perhaps have been even more intuitive, but it’s great to see the amount of work that was done as is. The controls have also been tweaked nicely for the PC.

An absolute blast to play, if you can forgive it for not offering anything especially new to the franchise, and only if you can truly invest the time that it requires.

A remarkable roster of stars help voice many of the characters, and an important part of the era’s music has also found its way into the game.

The one single game I enjoyed the most this year. The graphics, the music (regular readers know that I'm not all that into music, yet THIS soundtrack is a definite buy if released), the level design, the fighting, the jumping, the story - I can't think of a single thing that leaves behind anything else but a good impression.

I would have liked to see a lot more made of the morality and revolutionary talk Doug Shetland brought up in the sole scene he and Sam confront each other with, because his character was really destroyed quite fast in a way that doesn't represent what he was to the series.

No other game so expertly combines a cerebral challenge with visceral thrills.

With simple yet addictive gameplay, a unique input device, above-average visuals for the genre, and a carefully crafted aural component, Guitar Hero’s hefty MSRP is the only obstacle in recommending this game straight out.

With its enthralling storyline and addictive gameplay, Resident Evil 4 is one game that should not be missed.

Crysis is one of the best first person shooters to be released this year, right up there with Bioshock and Halo 3 and drops action by the payload.

It has a surprisingly deep combat system, highly responsive controls, graphics to die for, and audio to both dot the i and cross the t.

As a Halo game it rivals the nostalgia Combat Evolved instilled in us nearly a decade ago due to fully realized online multiplayer components and customizability; as a shooter, however, it feels almost as dated in so much there's little separating the core experience from past iterations.

Easily the best online experience I’ve ever had. Even with a few shortcomings like a horrible in-game server browser and extremely long and boring load times, Battlefield 2 is still a step ahead of the rest.

It may be the gaming equivalent of upgrading from DVD to Blu-ray Discs since the core gameplay remains untouched, but whether you've played either of the God of War games or not, this two-for is the way to experience the classics.

Nevertheless, there are two ways to look at Gears of War 3: it's the best of the series; and, it's not a disappointing ending.

Just enough changes to make it worth purchasing.

Cutting down the "solo mode", story mode, kudos challenge or whatever you want to call it, and adding the huge multiplayer section, BC have made the game wider. Still, "MSR" and "PGR" are deeper in gameplay.

Half-Life 2 has impeccable style, an unrivalled elegance, and a frighteningly realistic aesthetic that no other game can even attempt to rival.

Its crazy-quilt story is balanced by stellar gameplay and visuals that sometimes clutter the screen, but usually do so with style and beauty. Bayonetta might not be the kind of girl you bring home to meet you mother, but she's a lot of fun to hang out with, flaws and all.

Racing, gliding, flying, grinding, spaceship battles, mining, collecting, space battles, arena fights, clashing mechs and little bots at your command – should be enough to keep you entertained for some time.

The game has its moments and they don't really last because the game is a bit short. It can be completed in less than 10 hours.

When all is said and done, Okami is a game that shows it's possible for a third-party title to be successful on the Nintendo hardware.

Overall, I am pretty impressed with Forza Motorsport 2 as there is more than enough content to keep anyone happy and the ability to change the difficulty is just great.

Fun. That is exactly what Viewtiful Joe is, worlds of fun. It might be a tad on the short side, but hey, time flies when you're having fun, right?

The perfect add-on for multiplayer Halo 2 fans. The nine maps and the critical update provide a refreshing experience and complement the game's online aspect perfectly.

The impressive presentation and intuitive gameplay make a surprisingly enjoyable WWII adventure despite this being part of a tired genre.

Although it is more of an action game at heart with RPG elements as second though, BioWare have yet again created a true work of art.

It may not be a ballad in the classical sense, but you're likely to find yourself singing praises for The Ballad of Gay Tony.

One of the best MMORPGs on the market today. Whether you are drawn in by the unique guild system, the intense PvP battles, or the even the visually stunning graphics, any gamer can find a reason to play Guild Wars.

The atmosphere, the realism, the tactical choices, the beautiful goals your players scores, etc. All this aids in making the game as good as it can be.

All in all, World In Conflict offers an awesome amount of bang for your Buck (or Quid if you’re like myself, or perhaps you’ll be spending Euros or Australian Dollars), features plenty of Kablammo! Kicks an awful lot of ass, shows the strategy genre a slightly alternative route and offers hours of intense, cringe inducing (in a good way – only because you’re imagining that poor sod you just nerve gassed) entertainment, suitable for fans of all branches of strategy, and is a fantastic ambassador for bringing in those who wish to start playing strategy games!

Whether you’ve repeatedly played through the Castlevania catalogue since the first game, or never before, Dawn of Sorrow is both a fabulous series ambassador and also one of the best Nintendo DS titles available.

I love the fact that someone has finally made a game that can look truly good and take advantage of higher-end PC hardware instead of going for less detail in order to allow more people with slower PCs to run the game.

Entertaining and scary elements make up a game that is familiar in its theme and within its genre, but it's also a title that has destructive weaponry, a necessity for skilled gunplay, and zero-G believability.

Here and there it's in need of some attention, but as a first attempt from a new studio, at a crowd favorite nonetheless, the groundwork is certainly there to build upon.

What essentially makes The Chronicles of Riddick such an excellent game is the awesome atmosphere that has been created.

The visuals are simply stunning, and you will be left wondering how the PS2 is capable of producing something some beautiful. The endless customization features and racing types will always leave you with something to do as well.

Though its gameplay is less successful or interesting than its presentation, LA Noire definitely advances the art of digital storytelling.

The graphics, the music (regular readers know that I’m not all that into music, yet THIS soundtrack is a definite buy if released), the level design, the fighting, the jumping, the story – I can’t think of a single thing that leaves behind anything else but a good impression.

Tekken 5's soundtrack is not groundbreaking by any means, but the music tends to fit the atmosphere just right.

But the fantastic graphics, sound, and firefights all blend to make F.E.A.R. an excellent game, though in order to enjoy the graphics and the game to its fullest, you must have a high-end computer system. In closing, F.E.A.R. is definitely one of this year’s best games.

In the end, BioShock 2 is a product more corporate than passionate.

The graphics hit the jackpot, the new cover mechanic is implemented fantastically well, and the setting provides a lot of color and tactical opportunities.

With its unique blend of simulation and arcade physics, Project Gotham Racing 3 is a beautiful game that will be certainly be played for a long time.

An astounding addition to the Grand Theft Auto catalogue, and it barely suffers from the supposed constriction to a handheld device.

Don't let it fool you though; the game isn't very child friendly at all. The later levels become extremely difficult and might require having to be replayed over and over which also helps extend the already lengthy playtime encountered.

Priced at 15 bucks, Vietnam occupies that middle ground between a full-blown sequel or expansion, and a less ambitious map pack.

A huge game, packed with levels, skaters, new tricks, tons of humor, and with gameplay that’ll challenge you to the end: you’re likely to keep playing this one for a long time.

Acclaimed for their Burnout work, under the Need for Speed banner, Criterion Games shows they can double-dip in a category and succeed with telltale execution.

Much of the immersion in Doom 3 is due to the incredible engine, and the amazing artwork... An excellent game, but it’s a bit of a shame that you can finish it in two days, after waiting for four years.

It does improve upon a lot of things, but I do wish they’d include more game mechanics that we hadn’t seen before. Even so, the game has an extremely cool feel to it.

More than anything, Heavy Rain is further proof that games have truly come of age and are a viable platform for telling stories that will haunt your dreams and color your days.

The best espionage game on the market today.

The story is intriguing, yet full of humorous interludes.

Though it sold millions of copies on release, and it's an entertaining, entirely competent game, Call of Duty: Black Ops would benefit from a little more ambition and outside-the-killing box thinking.

While it offers a unique, new experience to the platform, it is nothing that is groundbreaking but can still be fun to play through once just for the historical novelty.

The story is intriguing, yet full of humorous interludes.

The single player is tight and well done overall, the multiplayer adds tremendous life to the game with vehicles and some extremely well designed maps.

LittleBigPlanet was a stepping stone for console-based, user-created content with gameplay options that were on par with its creative offering. While the PSP release of the game may not be a direct port in terms of being a multiplayer social event, the essence of Media Molecule's “Play, Create and Share” mantra remains intact.

If you can live with the less gorgeous image quality then the PS2 version of this excellent game should suit you just fine.

When it is all said and done though, UTIII offers nothing new.

Gas Powered Games' version of a dream RTS--bigger, richer, longer, and more complex than just about any strategy game ever attempted. It is an audacious exercise in game design that in the main, works really well. It isn't as emotionally engaging as some games, but it does demand actual strategy and tactics, and it is a game that will take a very long time to master.

The best aspects of the first three Burnout titles have been combined to create the handheld masterpiece that is Legends. Even if you’re not an avid fan of the genre, Legends’ intuitive gameplay offers challenge right from the start and expands on an in-depth adventure throughout the vast racing world.

Every aspect of the game is a hit and blends together to create a worthy successor to Freedom Force.

Ghost of Sparta may not deviate from the usual God of War experience, but it certainly presents those core concepts which made the series a standard exceptionally well and with nearly untouchable graphical and auditory prowess on the handheld format.

The story is intriguing, yet full of humorous interludes.

The new features and modes aren’t mind blowing and even appalling in the case of Chronicles of the Swords mode, but they don’t take away what Soul Calibur does best: amazingly detailed fights.

This series has been one of the most intense and best played games ever. I have never felt the same about a game since Half Life 1. This game sets the standard of what any shooter game should be – it's A+ quality, inside and outside.

A fairly good RPG. Nothing stands out about it, nothing incredibly amazing has been done with it, but it is a serviceable and enjoyable game if you're a fan of the genre.

There's a fairly limited amount of strategy involved too, because a bigger katamari can't always access smaller areas, but most of the time you're just happily rolling your ball along without ever feeling bored, not even for a second.

From the lush visuals and sound, to the solid, stable gameplay mechanics, to the way in which Tolkien's world was so faithfully and respectfully brought to the PC, this is a quality experience.

While there will always be that nagging suspicion that more could have been done with the story (seriously, only 11 missions??), there are so many fun little things to explore that it really should be considered a success.

Overall, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is a well balanced and fun MMO, that has had one of the smoothest launches to date.

I definitely prefer playing this game in the core form rather than playing the scenarios but I suggest it for both of the interests.

Though some cutscenes still use their original assets, making for grainy, pixelated graphics and distorted sound, and you can't switch between series games without completely exiting from the disc, The Sly Collection continues to exhibit why good, older generation titles do well to bundle together in quality remastered editions.

For fans of Fight Night, everything they know and love about the series is still here, looking and controlling even better. For everyone else, the Champion mode is the game-changer, and it's hard to imagine anyone who is a fan of good storytelling not getting pulled in deep. Clichés or not, Fight Night Champion scores a KO.