It’s faster, more dynamic, and more fun than the previous offering, and it does a better job of emulating its sport than just about any other game out there.

Valkyria Chronicles is an absolute gem that owners of the system are lucky to have. Even in this crowded holiday season of triple-A titles, this one somehow snuck in and stole my heart, and I found myself putting other games on the back burner to spend more time with Valkyria Chronicles.

With 400 original levels, new game modes and tools, and a robust level creator, Boom Blox Bash Party is in no way a cheap cash-in. It packs more content than most releases, and is a shining example of what developers should strive for in terms of multiplayer on the Wii.

It's a great game, toppling Puzzle Quest and Gyromancer for king of the genre.

The cheery music and shiny graphics may be enough to hypnotize you into having a good time and that isn’t really a bad thing.

While not for everyone, Dragon Age: Origins is absolute bliss for fans of the genre.

Additions fix some of the notorious flaws of the game, while others solved problems that most likely didn't even know it had. It's charming, simple, deep, and addictive, just like all of the games in the series before.

Trials HD manages to seamlessly combine elements from racing, puzzle, and platform games to make one of the most surprising gaming experiences of the summer. It’s everything you would want in a downloadable title: fun, challenge, replayability, and though it’s at the high end of the XBLA pricing spectrum at $15, it still feels like a great deal.

Nintendo played it safe this time, and it’s hard to blame them, but it still is somewhat disappointing that they didn’t go the extra mile and expand the game’s content. Nevertheless, Nintendo seems to have given fans exactly what they wanted, no more, no less.

Infinity Ward has managed to outdo themselves with this sequel, a tremendous feat in its own right. If the games of 2009 were stacked up against each other, there’s no question that Modern Warfare 2 would be incredibly close to the apex, fighting viciously for the top spot and, for many people, getting there and continuing upward. This is what gaming is supposed to feel like.

Probably the best entry in the series in the last five years. All the changes made to the way the game is played are big improvements, and even though it can be a bit too easy at times, NCAA Football 11 is still incredibly fun.

Joe Danger is everything I hoped it was. The game's incredibly fun, highly addictive, and offers a decent amount of replay value to those who wish to complete every last challenge, and stay number one amongst their friends on the leaderboards.

Warhammer Online is the first MMORPG since World of Warcraft was released that actually holds a candle to it in terms of content.

If you’re a fan of turn-based strategy, don’t let my little multiplayer rant deter you from picking up this game; it’s definitely a fun and interesting title, especially if you’re actually going to utilize the multiplayer modes.

While I won’t go so far as to call DJ Hero the greatest thing to happen to music games since the first Guitar Hero, it certainly is one of the more exciting things to happen to the genre.

Not only is DJ Hero 2 a better game, but it also has better music, better graphics, and is somehow even more addictive than the first.

A significant improvement and Neversoft’s best full band game yet.

It just misses being the football messiah many Maddenites are claiming it to be, but Tiburon has found a way to take their successful formula to the next level, creating a football experience that’s not only incredibly satisfying now, but has me looking forward to where they go from here.

Many will enjoy it for what it is, and others will hate what Ubisoft did to their stealth series. There's no doubt about it: Conviction is a massive divergence from the normal formula. Stealth takes a back seat, and the trial-and-error gameplay has been replaced with something much more akin to the recent Batman: Arkham Asylum.

There hasn’t been a hockey game this impressive since the days of the Sega Genesis.

Not only is UFC Undisputed 2010 the best MMA video game made to date, it’s also the most fun fighting game I’ve ever played.

Whether you’re a casual button masher who wants to kill a weekend on the couch with a buddy, or a hardcore twitch-warrior looking to spend the next year and a half digging into the guts of a fighter, Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom doesn’t disappoint.

What’s New, Beezlebub? is a fantastic ending to the series with few faults worth mentioning. Everything fans of the series love are here in ample supply, and there is really no excuse, barring not owning a computer, for not picking up the entire season if you haven’t done so already.

Highly recommended for anyone even remotely interested in the sport, sports games in general, or even games in general. It’s that good.

From the exhilarating single player campaign to the frantic multiplayer offerings, Relic has again achieved greatness, and it came from blending the ideals of traditionalist real-time strategy with the rapidly changing shooter market.

Its story might be a little lacking, but that shouldn't be enough to deter anyone from picking up Red Faction: Guerrilla.

Luckily, the plethora of new additions makes the nagging issues less offensive. It just misses being the football messiah many Maddenites are claiming it to be, but Tiburon has found a way to take their successful formula to the next level, creating a football experience that’s not only incredibly satisfying now, but has me looking forward to where they go from here.

At only $40, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift offers an astonishingly deep fighting experience and a huge amount of content.

Pure offers a massive amount of content for the money, and the online multiplayer, which features up to sixteen players, is as intense as any other racing game’s this generation. I cannot recommend Pure highly enough.

LocoRoco 2 is a pleasure. It lacks the depth of some of its contemporaries, to be sure, but in terms of sheer enjoyment value few games come close. It’s euphoric, and there’s more than enough content and unlockables to justify the $19.99 price tag.

Overall, while there’s nothing to draw in new players, fans of Lord of the Rings Online should find that the Mines of Moria are definitely worth exploring.

The additions that have been added work in the game’s favor and make it the best fighting game this generation. The customization, online play, and great game mechanics make this title a must-purchase for any fan of the series.

The game is far from perfect, that is to be sure, and it does little to further the dwindling fighting game genre. That said, the additions that have been added work in the game’s favor and make it the best fighting game this generation.

Even with the glitches, I absolutely loved my time with Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge. It's so good that I can't believe I missed out on it the first time around, but I'm glad that I got a second chance thanks to this reimagining.

Unlike some past episodes, I didn’t find myself lost or confused at any time. It appears that Telltale has found its stride and hopefully keeps everything moving well towards an inane and cataclysmic end.

The few complaints I had were pretty nitpicky, and the issues are outweighed by the number of good qualities. Obviously, fans of point-and-click games check this out, but even if you weren't a fan of the genre in the past, this might help to change your mind. Machinarium may not have gotten the attention it deserved earlier in the year, but it's never too late to play a fantastic game.

It has been a while since I have really enjoyed a new Guitar Hero game, and after the lackluster release of Smash Hits a few months ago, I didn’t exactly have the highest hopes for Guitar Hero 5. However, I was happy to be proven wrong, and found GH5 to be a significant improvement and Neversoft’s best full band game yet.

Production values are also through the roof in this DS title.

As any addicting game goes, you can lose hours in its flashy presentation or just play a few songs before going to bed at night. Either way you will get your moneys worth.

Nothing about the game really rings "Spielberg," so I am not too sure how much work he actually put towards the game. The multiplayer portion does bump up the value of the title, though, and the large assortment of different single player levels with different awards for completing it under different circumstances also goes far to make the game a definite purchase.

Far Cry 2’s gameplay is solid, and it works as both an open world game and a shooter. Its plot is light, but deep, and will make you rethink the way you look at real world conflicts like the ones represented in the game.

In this third pack of downloadable content, Gearbox more than makes up for the missteps of Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, emptying out Pandora's pockets onto the Vault Hunters in a big way.

Despite the technical problems, though, I found myself enjoying The Tomb of Sammun-Mak from start to finish.

It's remarkable how well Red Faction: Guerrilla holds together. Even in the most hectic of battles, with buildings crumbling on all sides, dozens of characters engaged in combat, and massive explosions sending debris flying through the air, there's rarely a graphical hitch or frame-rate drop. It's an exemplary title, displaying the power of the current generation in ways no other game has yet.

Fans of the original game owe it to themselves to pick up this extremely challenging remake, if only to test their skills.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this game, and there are so many things to love about it. Excellent visuals and sound aside, the gameplay is just as great as any Castlevania has been in the last ten years.

While it may seem like the game is being too lenient at the outset, you’ll be thankful for this method of play after a few hours. Nothing kills momentum like having to reload a save, and this feature prevents exactly that.

A solid first effort for a new franchise. The game’s overall package is a bit uneven, but it’s easy to strike that up to growing pains, particularly since this is Sucker Punch’s first next-generation effort.

Far Cry 2’s gameplay is solid, and it works as both an open world game and a shooter. Its plot is light, but dense, and will make you rethink the way you look at real world conflicts like the ones represented in the game. As with most sandbox titles, there is a huge amount of content, and there is at least twenty hours of gameplay in the single player alone.

an ordinary game on an extraordinary engine. The faults are mostly swept aside by the gameplay, which is taken straight from Call of Duty 4, and the multiplayer should be different enough to pull those stuck on its prequel away in favor of a change of location and weapons.

A fantastic expansion to an already wonderful game. It shares all of the things that made the original great, and while it doesn't work towards fixing the problems in the formula, it isn't really that big of an issue.

Though I thought Tiger Woods PGA Tour would never be better than it was last year, I was proven wrong once I spent some time with this year's version. The new swing types more than make the game worth the purchase, and all the game modes will provide hours upon hours of playtime.

The cooperative gameplay might not be what some expected or anticipated, but it’s hard to deny that it adds something unique to the series. The fear is gone. Entirely.

Not only is UFC Undisputed 2010 the best MMA video game made to date, it's also the most fun fighting game I've ever played.

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle doesn't quite reach the same standard the first game did, but it's still a lot of fun to play. It's not without its problems, and the head-scratching, but in a bad way, ending may burn some fans hoping for answers to the series' questions. That said, games like this don't come around too often, and I had a great time playing it.

Ultimately, Civilization Revolution gives back as much as you put into it. It’s a wholly satisfying experience whether you play alone or online.

The scope and scale of Spore is tremendous, bringing the story of life itself to gaming in a way that will not be replicated until a possible sequel.

It’s a miniature version, a smaller, quicker Battlefield, and one that is better suited for a downloadable title. Even with its faults, 1943 is absolutely worthy of a purchase. You’d be hard pressed to find a better downloadable game thus far in 2009.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is certainly more of the same, but I don't think anyone is going to complain.

Just Cause 2 doesn't have better shooting than Far Cry 2, better destruction than Red Faction, a better story than Grand Theft Auto, or better graphics than inFamous. What it does have, however, is fun, and what Just Cause 2 does, it does well.

Warhead continues this tradition, bur has a slightly more coherent and focused story, even better gameplay and even more impressive graphics.

An amazing game that blew away every expectation I had set for it.

The racing is simple, yet intense.

One of the more exciting things to happen to the genre. DJ Hero explores the one avenue left vacant since Beatmania, and not only provides a game that breathes a bit of life into a genre that had started growing stale, but one that’s also a hell of a lot of fun to play, in spite of the steep price tag.

There's a lot to do, and if you have the time to explore all there is to see, you can spend another 100+ hours in this world.

Is it still awesome? Is it still the best racing sim ever? Absolutely and absolutely. For many that ends the conversation. But taking a step back and just looking at it as a game, I have to say that in many ways it falls short.

Skate 2 may not have the jaw-dropping impact of its predecessor. It can’t. It is, however, a far more polished, robust and fulfilling experience than the original.

Borderlands is a fantastic beginning to what will hopefully become a great franchise. While it lacks certain elements that would have made it more memorable, the sleek gameplay and beautiful graphics represent a stellar example of genres melting together, something which too often fails in execution.

Half-Minute Hero is, simply put, brilliant.

This year's version of Madden doesn't take a huge stride forward, but it does take a few steps in the right direction. If Gameflow can be improved, and the defense is given the same level of attention offense received this year, Madden NFL 12 could be amazing.

Since there is no multiplayer, and much of what Vanquish does has been done before, I was a bit disappointed.

The minor innovations and improvements aren’t flashy or particularly sexy, but they definitely enhance the experience and are all welcome additions to the series.

It’s a miniature version, a smaller, quicker Battlefield, and one that is better suited for a downloadable title. Even with its faults, 1943 is absolutely worthy of a purchase. You’d be hard pressed to find a better downloadable game thus far in 2009.

The best in the series so far. The new area is a new world unto itself, and I would love to see Bethesda move further south in future installments if only to add more variation to the locales we’re allowed to visit.

No More Heroes isn't an amazing game, but the experience of playing it can be described as such. From beginning to end it maintains its humor and will consistently surprise you with a new plot twist and imaginative characters.

Firefight mode, in particular, more than justifies the $60 price point, providing some of the best multi-player thrills of the generation. It might not win any Game of the Year awards, but Halo 3: ODST is a fine game in its own right, and the single-player campaign should hold over fans for Halo Reach releases at some point next year.

Pure offers a massive amount of content for the money, and the online multiplayer, which features up to sixteen players, is as intense as any other racing game’s this generation.

With a huge amount of customization when it comes to which towers to buy and where to put them, you could find yourself playing through it over and over again. The lack of online co-op is deplorable, but the game is solid.

It’s presentation, mixed with the absurd amount of polish makes it a must own. Resident Evil 5 is a great conclusion to the series, and an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Another year, another solid effort from 2K Sports. NBA 2K10 maintains its dominance of basketball video games once again, and the developers are clearly not resting on their laurels.

It might not be the biggest MMORPG launch of the year, what with no new races or classes, but there's no denying the quality in The Siege of Mirkwood. It's a great addition to an already solid online experience, delivering more content for the loyal fan base and giving prospective players a great excuse to jump into Middle Earth for the first time.

A unique, refreshing, and strategic battle system unlike any other; it just takes too long to gain total control.

A solid football title that won’t shock or amaze anyone. It’s a by-the-numbers EA football experience with some new online features and a thin, college-flavored candy shell. It’s in no way a bad game, or even a mediocre one; it’s just that it fails to innovate in terms of gameplay.

Borderlands is a fantastic beginning to what will hopefully become a great franchise. While it lacks certain elements that would have made it more memorable, the sleek gameplay and beautiful graphics represent a stellar example of genres melting together, something which too often fails in execution.

To put it plainly, UFC 2009 Undisputed is not only the game that fans have been waiting for, but it’s also the game that the sport deserves. UFC 2009 is intense, addictive, and acts as a great showcase of how MMA is much more than the brutal bloodsport many detractors claim it to be.

The game looks great, there are a ton of little nuances football fans everywhere will love, and most of all, it’s fun to play. Despite some issues with the AI, I think this is the first must-buy Madden for next-gen consoles.

It doesn't have better shooting than Far Cry 2, better destruction than Red Faction, a better story than Grand Theft Auto, or better graphics than inFamous. What it does have, however, is fun, and what Just Cause 2 does, it does well.

So even though Darksiders isn't remotely innovative and is unabashedly a console port, it does have an entertaining story to tell, fun gameplay, and decent graphics.

There’s honestly very little to complain about with The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom. It’s challenging, but never frustrating, and offers some of the most satisfying and addictive puzzle gameplay in recent memory.

Without a doubt, it’s one of the best games on the PSP and possibly the best-looking.

Darksiders starts 2010 off on the right foot, and sets the bar for the rest of the year in gaming.

Battlefield doesn’t put a scratch on Call of Duty 4 in either the multiplayer or single player departments, but it doesn’t really try to. Bad Company refuses to let you take it too seriously, and the constant humor and over-the-top gameplay blend together well to create a unique experience.

For anyone looking for an interesting and different puzzle game, I highly recommend And Yet It Moves.

No matter what people call it, the game is a simple, masterfully crafted title that shouldn’t be ignored, and with the incredibly well optimized system specifications, a $20 price tag, and an imminent OSX port, it’s a game that should be purchased by anyone with a working mouse. God knows you’ll need it.

Recommending a game that doesn’t give gamers nearly as many options as a virtually identical game that came out less than eight months ago is tough, but people who missed out on EA’s yearly title, or those of you who only dabble in soccer titles every few years, will find plenty of charm and great gameplay in 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Technically, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword is an extremely impressive achievement, making the absolute most of the hardware on which it plays. No other DS game looks or plays like Dragon Sword.

The high moments are certainly high, and while it doesn’t have too many “lows” to speak of, the conclusion certainly fails to inspire any sense of satisfaction, making the previous hours of character development, storytelling, and foreshadowing feel weaker.

The combined gameplay styles work well together to provide players with enough variation that the game doesn’t become too repetitive, save for the times you’ll die and have to replay lengthier portions of the game.