The overall movements of the players are much more fluid and they don't look as stiff as in 2001.

Arkham City, on the other hand, is a game about saving a city, Gotham City, and the experience is all the better for it.

It’s rare for a single developer to put out two large budget-AAA games in the span of a few months. It’s rarer still that both games be so incredibly good, but with Mass Effect 2 Bioware has again re-affirmed its status as the premiere developer of games whose main assets have little to do with swords or assault rifles, but the stories and characters that bring games to life.

If the thought of playing Ocarina of Time anywhere and anytime thrills you, or if you haven't experienced it before, this is the title that's worth buying a 3DS for. However, if you've bought it three times before, or you've had your fill of Ocarina, there's not enough new here to warrant a purchase. No matter what camp you fall into, this is the definitive version of a truly classic game, and a blast to play, 13 years on.

You don't need to buy again if you've already played it, but for newcomers, it's essential gaming.

A lot of Gears is derivative, from the Pitch Black light gimmick to the sassy black sidekick to the "Saving Private Ryan cam" to the way the score apes James Horner's Aliens soundtrack. But Gears of War feels like a game built out of homages rather than creative bankruptcy.

What really makes it different is the level of immersion that is offered. It was so easy to start playing and only come up out of the game when the body’s demand to expel waste and take on more fluids became an urgent scream.

Infinity Ward may have taken a chance by modernizing the franchise, but the gamble paid off in spades. The game is one of the most gorgeous available for the 360 to date and the gameplay is absolutely fantastic, although it can be frustratingly difficult at times.

This is truly the perfect way for Bungie to close out the trilogy. With its fun, if a bit short single player story, four-player online cooperative support, tight multiplayer gameplay and unmatched customization options, Halo 3 lives up to the unprecedented hype.

The pacing in Oblivion is better; things get interesting much quicker which leads to a faster sense of accomplishment.

This blend of familiar gameplay and contemporary aesthetic lends incredibly well to the game, giving you the sense that it’s something wholly new, with plenty of nods to a bygone era.

With all the extra features including multiplayer, new additions to the camera and the classic MGS games, Metal Gear Solid 3: Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence is a must buy for the MGS series faithful.

Modern Warfare 2 has stepped up its game and it has been well worth the wait.

To be certain, this is the penultimate hardcore game. While it introduces a number of innovations, its core remains in tune with classic console gaming.

It is my firm belief that almost every mature gamer out there will find a lot to love in God of War. It never talks down to the player and the presentation is near flawless.

This really is strategy gaming at its very best and you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you skipped it. It's that good.

On a final note, the menu looks amazing. I know it really doesn't matter that much, but it really does. And it's customize-able! And that's not a bad thing. It's a good thing.

It was the first game on the system, and regretfully, it was also the only great game for the system that could stand the test of time.

Don’t buy this one and you’re probably passing up the most fun you’re going to have on your PS2 this season.

It’s hard to find a game out there for the Wii that provides more value for the money, or has more to see and do. The huge roster of well done, interesting characters combined with the wackiness of the in game items and the interactivity and challenges of the various stages packs the game full of memorable moments regardless of which portion of the game you decide to spend time with.

Don't pass on this one; it's the definition of the phrase instant classic.

The game play will be familiar to veterans of the series and is easy enough for newcomers to pick up in a hurry.

I can only hope that soon you can come here and take part in the fun. I will warn you though, that once you do, you won't want to leave.

In the Xbox's version, everything is silky smooth, while the PS2's is marred by jaggies...Aside from the annoying Xbox controller..., this is the version of the game to have for any true Tony Hawk fan.

With the famed versatility of the game engine, the amazing potential for quality third-party content has already begun to manifest itself, making it well worth the purchase and hefty investment in hard drive space.

Beautifully crafted and wonderfully realized, it is a shining example of the intersection between art and technology, love and loss, desire and despondence. It is, in one word, beautiful.

God of War 2 brings back all the things that made the first game such a huge hit, including an incredible battle right at the start of the game to set the pace for the rest of the way.

Don't get me wrong. Starcraft II is a fine game. It's just not great.