Graphically stunning, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is, first of all, an interactive adventure, one that feels like a movie and even has a storyline of a movie. Most gameplay situations have been tailored in order to stun the player with originality and identification, and the end result is absolutely amazing.

Storytelling, atmosphere, playability, graphics, music, characters, everything in Mass Effect 2 screams the word KOLOSSAL out loud! This game, and this saga, deserve to sit right next to Sci-Fi classics such as Star Wars and Star Trek. Masterpiece.

It is quite evident that Rockstar have made a huge effort in creating Red Dead Redemption. And it was well worth it because this game boasts an incredible level of depth from all points of view: storyline, character design, structure of the environments, gameplay solutions, controls, multiplayer. Everything is just like we wanted it.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a masterpiece in terms of FPS gameplay and graphics. The different locations and the variety of situation you’ll encounter are often jaw-dropping. But it is also a controversial game for some extreme situations the player might encounter along the road.

God of War III puts a glorious end to an epic trilogy, introducing astonishing scenarios and original gameplay solutions. It is simply the best hack ‘n slash out there right now. A must-buy even if you’re not a fan of this genre!

Forza Motorsport 3 has finally become more than Microsoft’s response to Sony’s Gran Turismo. It is a mature and very realistic driving simulation, one that you will enjoy whether you’re a pro or a rookie of the driving genre. Excellent graphics, incredible sound samplings and all the fine tuning you want for over 400 vehicles are on offer. Hop in!

Super Street Fighter IV gets all the best from its predecessor and improves it. This is simply a must-have!

The result is outstanding: FIFA 10 is a spectacular football simulation, one all fans should never miss. The good job done on the previous edition has been expanded and enhanced in this new version, adding more realism than ever to all the gameplay and animation aspects. PES 2010 has just received its final warning.

Batman Arkham Asylum is a high quality product, and most importantly the best Batman game ever! In spite of the somewhat excessive fights one has to endure in the game, it has a well-crafted structure, greatly supported by sounds and graphics effects.

What happens when a dev team listens carefully to all the feedback they got from the community? Something amazing like Assassin's Creed 2! This game is so much more thorough than its predecessor, and it has so much on offer that you’ll never want it to end!

Bayonetta was a cult game since it was still just an embryo, and as such it is a controversial title. Fully based on an oriental approach to the gameplay and a hectic rhythm, in a bizarre mixture of graphical marvel and technical flaws, it is either love or hate at first sight. Actually, we quite liked it!

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is definitely one of the best RPGs on Nintendo DS ever made. An admirable plot guides the player throughout the whole game, introducing a complex system of characters interaction and a series of very enjoyable fighting sessions against incredibly huge enemies. This is a game destined to stay in your DS for quite a while.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars PSP has passed the test: the conversion from the excellent DS version to the less versatile Sony portable went smoothly. The loss of interaction given by the touchscreen was compensated by a clever use of combined commands, and by the addition of new, exclusive missions.

We've been waiting for Demon's Souls to come to Europe for what seemed to be an endless time, and the wait was well worth it!

Left 4 Dead 2 is simply a must-have for all survival horror enthusiasts. The new game modes and the usual mix of adrenaline and co-op gameplay is the living(dead) proof that a sequel doesn’t always have to change its original nature to be enjoyable, very enjoyable!

Grand Theft Auto IV The Ballad Of Gay Tony is a five-star add-on. The storyline is simply ravishing, some of the old graphics glicthes have been repaired and even the aim system has been finally improved. Actually, it would have deserved to be sold on shelves as a complete game, such is the amount of things to do.

The Beatles: Rock Band is a great tribute to music’s history. As such, it has an undeniably strong appeal that should suffice, alone, to obtain a wide consent. Fortunately, it’s a great game as well, with loads of extras and exclusive features such as the new replicas of the band’s original instruments!

More than a new chapter, Bioshock 2 appears rather like an expansion to the first iteration. In spite of its vibrant settings and an impeccable control system, you get the feeling of déjà-vu from the first minute you are back in Rapture. So why did we give it a high score? Well, we still love Rapture after all!

Perhaps NHL 10 won’t deserve to be remembered as a revolutionary step in this series history, but it should definitely be considered as a self-proclaimed sovereignty over the icy hockey fields. The graphics, the gameplay, the AI, the online mode, everything has been slightly but significantly improved, resulting in the best NHL simulation out there.

Simply stunning! Graphics, playability, sound, everything is at its best! Modern Warfare 2 is no longer the king. Long live the king!

Football Manager 2010 has maintained the same structure of the past iteration, still it has managed to improve its gameplay thanks to some minor add-ons that managed to reinforce that sense of realism all its fans have grown accostumed to. The interface and the graphics engine too have been greatly improved.

Fight Night Round 4 is a masterpiece of boxing simulation. Our vote didn’t reach 10 mainly because there are no real terms of comparison out there, and we would’ve liked a new career mode as well. Other than that, the new collision system, the real-time calculation of the boxers’ body weight and arms extension (not to mention the superb graphics!) translate into an as-close-to-real-as-it-can-get boxing experience.

Heavy Rain is a masterpiece, but of a controversial kind, because not every player out there will be ready to understand and accept its rather unique and innovative gameplay. More like an interactive novel than an action game, its stunning visuals and music have set a new next-gen standard.

New Super Mario Bros Wii is a return to origins. Although it was enriched by new graphics and some original gameplay solutions, it is a game from the past - in positive terms that is. All big N’s fans will enjoy this game, in spite of its difficulty.

Excellent level and character design, superb graphics (for the DS), sumptuous music, incredible longevity, good multiplayer and some good elements of innovation: you name it, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks has it! Just go and buy it!

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 pushes further the boundaries between simulation and arcade, giving as much importance to the car’s set-ups as to an easier approach to the driving experience, serving players a dish they can enjoy whether they are driving pros or simple beginners.

LittleBigPlanet PSP is a marvelous example of how a game should be adapted from one console to another even when there is a huge gap between the two in terms of processor. There is almost everything we’ve seen in the PS3 version here, all greatly adapted to Sony’s portable.

Fight Night Round 4 is a masterpiece of boxing simulation. Our vote didn’t reach 10 mainly because there are no real terms of comparison out there, and we would’ve liked a new career mode as well. Other than that, the new collision system, the real-time calculation of the boxers’ body weight and arms extension (not to mention the superb graphics!) translate into an as-close-to-real-as-it-can-get boxing experience.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes was a welcome surprise. By managing to assemble together various elements from multiple game genres and placing them in a non-original yet vibrant fantasy environment, its creators have tailored what we think is one of the best 2010 DS titles so far.

Dragon Age: Origins has it all! In spite of the unsatisfying graphics, it has so much on offer in terms of gameplay, storyline and longevity that it deserves to be played by every single GDR fan out there!

The Sims 3 proves more evolved and less repetitive than its predecessors. Given the graphics restyling for granted, we have found – and mostly appreciated – an improved management tool: forget the slow obsolete processes of the previous iterations and welcome a smoother gameplay, a wider freedom and an overall better experience.

One thing one could blame Guitar Hero for is its difficulty level – that is of course if you were an absolute beginner… Guitar Hero 5 is the proof that game designers do listen to players’ opinions: the game is now more adaptive to one’s skill level, welcoming casual gamers as well for the first time in its history.

Madden NFL 10 doesn’t leave anything to chance. All NFL fans will most certainly appreciate the work done in developing such a feast of graphics, gameplay, statistics, and presentations. The game is fun to play throughout, thanks to the easy to master but thorough tactics system.

An easier gameplay doesn’t mean a worse gameplay, especially when you have so much more on offer in terms of storyline, action, interaction and graphics. Splinter Cell: Conviction marks a new beginning in the Splinter Cell series.

If you have the Wii and love fighting games and Tatsunoko characters as well, you must get this game! Otherwise, you must still get Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars! Got it?

Red Faction Guerrilla uses its Geo-Mod 2.0 engine quite flawlessly, obtaining a stable frame rate and a good level of detail. Its wide support of animation routines recreates a realistic experience, especially when collisions are involved. Going around its open-world system destroying environmental elements is quite a pleasant experience of its own! This game came definitely as a nice surprise.

Sucker Punch Productions have done a great job with inFAMOUS. First they have created a proprietary engine, that manages – quite naturally – a vast and detailed environment, where particle effects and exquisite textures make you indulge on the surroundings more than you should; then they have put an action-packed game into it.

Unlike its predecessor, UFC 2010 Undisputed didn't cause us any astonishment. The graphics weren't much improved and the animation routines still show some of the past glitches. Hing said that, this is still an excellent game, enriched by a deeper Career mode and new fighting styles.

No More Heroes 2 is a violent yet elegant Anime-style fighting game, filled with action and supported by an intense storyline. Also, it has an impressive number of secondary missions and old-style arcade games.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is a game suited for everyone. With more than 150 among riddles and conundrums, it places you into a nicely drawn world full of extraordinary characters, with an involving story worth unraveling one puzzle at a time.

Split/Second is everything but an arcade driving game. It’s challenging, involving, entertaining varied, technically stunning and… fast and furious!

DJ Hero has won the bet! It is indeed possible to enjoy the “Guitar Hero formula” while scratching and mixing like a real DJ.

Need For Speed: Shift is a great racing game. At last! A top quality game from all perspectives, it can suite both expert racers and rookies. It is also quite involving thanks to the new cockpit camera views, and has a superb multiplayer mode.

Put an FPS, an RPG and a Sandbox game into a deep pan, mix gently and then add a pinch of Fist of the North Star and abundant Fallout flavouring. Stir and cook for a while then add cel shade graphics, plenty of blood and weapons and a solid multiplayer structure, and you’ll have Borderlands. Although at first it smells a bit like frozen pizza, give it a bite and you'll see that it tastes oh! so good!

UFC 2009 Undisputed is a deep sports gaming experience. Extremely realistic and aesthetically polished, it reproduces its 84 athletes with an extraordinary level of detail. Sweat, face expressions and movements are as close to reality as polygons and effects can be. It is not an easy game though, so expect to be spending quite a few hours on it before you can call your-self a true fighter!

The long wait since Battlefield 1942 was well worth it: Battlefield 1943 is real value for money. It is a quality shooter, finely made and highly enjoyable thanks to its gameplay solutions and the flawless on-line experience. It’s available via digital delivery, and it’s cheap!

Yet another expansion for Fallout 3, and yet another success! We particularly enjoyed the new settings and characters, and the fact that we did not encounter any glitch whatsoever. Unfortunately, the main story – well worth playing – and a few side missions won’t last you much more than 4 hours.

Far more than a simple expansion, Halo 3: ODST offers an intense gaming experience, and an unusual one too for a Halo game, with a well-balanced switch between action, exploration and strategy, where the player is always the main character.

Less to do and much, much more to see. Final Fantasy XIII preserves the usual depth of its storyline, adding stunning graphics and sound, which make this a game worth playing. Yet, the lack of any typical RPG action and the technical differences of the PS3 against the X360 version left us quite confused, if not upset.

Darksiders puts on the plate loads of action and a well-varied gameplay. The fact that most of its ideas and some of its characterisation and character design were inspired by other successful games – living little room for originality – doesn’t affect the overall fun.

Less splatter than before, and yet much more enjoyable, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 manages to save the NG series from oblivion. Good settings, good graphics, good animations, good control system, good AI, good gameplay. No need to add more.

In spite of the inevitable signs the long development times have left on its gameplay structure, Alan Wake is still one of those titles every psychological action-thriller game lover can’t miss out. But it is also an intense story, with a dense atmosphere, that any videogame lover should at least try once.

Dead Space Extraction is a clear example of how game portings should be made. In spite of the Wii’s technical limits in comparison to the X360 and the PS3, this game looks good, and most importantly it feels good, thanks to the control system excellent implementation. Although quite linear, its gameplay is like an offer you cannot turn down.

When the best improves, there isn’t much more to say other than go and get your copy of the darn game! At once!

The only reason why we didn’t give our best vote to this game is because it is closely related to an event after which the title could lose part of its attractiveness (there are no league teams and there is no substantial change in the multiplayer mode). Other than this, the best just got better! FIFA World Cup 2010 is just a few inches from perfection.

Blur was made to entertain. And that’s what it does. Its textures and polygons are clean but with no excess, while the frame rate is smooth and constant. Battling on the streets is amusing whether you’re in the career mode – thanks to a good AI – or playing against 20 other players online. Plenty of power-ups, speed and destruction at your service!

Although it is affected by old looking graphics and some technical shortcomings, Brutal Legend is still a game to be played and enjoyed throughout. Humor, action, open world exploration and an extraordinary sound compartment – more than 100 track by the most important Metal bands out there, and Jack Black’s interpretation – are well worth the ticket!

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is a quality product. It offers a thorough and interesting gameplay - albeit not so various - thanks to a considerable amount of collectibles and monsters. It does have some minor glitches here and there, but technically speaking it is worth the money. It also boasts an excellent co-op mode worth hours of shared fun.

Anno: Crea un Nuovo Mondo is a good strategy game for your favourite console. It may be not too innovative or deep, but its intuitive controls, a fresh look and a solid gameplay make it enjoyable for hours and hours.

In spite of its linearity and scarce longevity, METRO 2033 captures the player thanks to its strong, dark atmosphere and a gameplay that wisely mixes FPS and Action elements. Graphically surprising (especially the PC version), it’ll keep you playing for hours on end… like a good book.

Avalanche Studios took all the complaints about Just Cause and turned them into Just Cause 2, proposing a more vibrant and richer gameplay experience, though maintaining the same formula. The vast and marvelous Palau is definitely a place you gotta see… and destroy!

SEGA made good use of the experience made with Empire to improve its RTS formula, resulting in a more effective gameplay. Although Napoleon: Total War has its shortcomings – even with the AI – it still manages to keep the player involved throughout, thanks to its thoroughness and rather accurate historical setting.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey wisely mixes both action and simulation elements with realistic graphics and awesome effects. Thanks to that, it gives players an intense and realistic gameplay experience, including real flying techniques (with different difficulty levels) and an immersive WWII atmosphere.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is the state of the art for modern 2D graphics. Although it is a bit repetitive at times, it offers quite a few interesting gameplay solutions, alongside the possibility to play two different stories depending on which character you choose.

Although it is always quite difficult to judge a videogame that has no term of comparison other than itself, we can state the fact that WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 marks a big step forward for the whole franchise, introducing improved graphics, improved collision system and improved gameplay as a whole.

Better graphic, better environments, better textures, better animations, better effects... all in all, a better Tiger Woods PGA Tour. The tenth edition introduces several improvements and loads of new features, including the new rules introduced by the United State Golf Association, the Tournament Challenge, the Weather Channel, and a solid multiplayer mode. There are no real rivals for a direct comparison, yet this doesn’t make Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 anything less than a must-have!

NBA Live 10 has shortened the gap separating it from the winner’s glory… from NBA 2K10, that is. Its major assets are once again the incredible graphics and the excellent audio. Gameplay wise too, this is an excellent game and the feeling is that its rival is not so far after all. But all we can say for now is: maybe next year.

In a unique single-player experience, Red Steel 2 brings the player into a stylish Samurai-Far Western world dominated by violence. A clever use of the Wii MotionPlus, some fine cosmetics and the wise balance between shooting and fighting sessions are the keys of its success.

An old classic comes back to life for nest-gen consoles and players. A Boy and His Blob offers great 2D graphics and an original gameplay – even for the present standards – but most of all it is a work of art of rare sensibility.

Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny effectively manages to translate the home console experience into a portable one, preserving both the original gameplay and characters. Nice to play and to look at, thanks to the great graphics, it has a limited longevity, though.

The first thing you ought to know about Beaterator is that it’s not a game. The second thing is that it is not so easy to use. The third thing is that it’s an excellent alternative to most sequencing programs, and an excellent portable tool for making your own music on the go and share it with the world.

NBA Live 10 has shortened the gap separating it from the winner’s glory… from NBA 2K10, that is. Its major assets are once again the incredible graphics and the excellent audio. Gameplay wise too, this is an excellent game and the feeling is that its rival is not so far after all. But all we can say for now is: maybe next year.

Yakuza 3 is still a great game, in spite of the fact that it’s a whole year old, as some aspects of its gameplay and graphics sporadically show. The wait was worth it.

Rock Band Unplugged has managed to translate the home console experience into a “live” portable performance, adapting its control system to the PSP quite effectively. The tracklist is no lame either, with several nice songs included in the UMD and many more available for download from the PlayStation Network.

Gears of War 2: Dark Corners is nothing more and nothing less than a well-tailored Map Pack, yet it’s absolutely a must-have for all GoW fans. For your 1200 MS points you also get to play part of a previously cut scene from the single player campaign.

There are only a few shortcomings in Scribblenauts, but they are not enough to spoil an incredibly original gameplay, which will put the player face to face with his/her own imagination. In fact, the more imagination you put into solving its riddles, the more this game will surprise you, one level after the other.

Tropico 3’s gameplay hasn’t changed much since the first iteration thus making it difficult for the players to decide whether the new graphics is enough to make want to be El Presidente once again… But if you’ve never played at it before, this is a great chance!

Visually stunning, Tekken 6 introduces new characters, options and modes, alongside the possibility to customize your own fighter, yet without abandoning its successful gameplay formula.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy is a must-have for all FF fans, a dream come true after all those years spent wishing to see all the characters of this huge saga fighting one another! All other players too should play it, having in mind that this is also one of the best fighting games on PSP ever.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a great game, a fact that actually came as quite a surprise taken into account its numerous problems and delays. Enjoyable and immersive, it does have some defects such as the not-so perfect AI, but once you have put down the pad and turned off the console, you are left with a nice flavour in your mouth. A flavour mixed with the memories from the original movie.

What really hits you while playing at MotorStorm: Arctic Edge is the intense sense of speed, and the fact that it’s all happening on a PSP! This is a fun-to-play porting game, but as such it has also some limits: both the graphics and the AI are the victims the overall sense of velocity.

The dev team of Overlord 2 has focused a lot of its attention and efforts to getting rid of the tearing, clipping and aliasing issues which afflicted the previous game. The result is quite good: very nice environments, characters, effects and sounds. And a real laugh while playing!

Honestly, we didn’t expect to see the best Silent Hill since long right on the Wii, but here it is. Silent Hill Shattered Memories offers great graphics and atmosphere, but most of all it’s got an excellent gameplay.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 is not the turning point everyone’s been waiting for over the past year. Yet again. The scarce number of novelties, and the low level of innovation and realism, opposite to a gameplay engine in desperate need for a rethinking, eventually have turned THE soccer simulation into something closer to an arcade game. Strangely enough, a game we may still like, though.

Prototype had had to come to terms with some technical limitations in order to favour its open world environment and sandbox structure, but it did keep up the pace with and actually proved even better than some of the most spectacular productions, thanks to its Titanium Engine, which guarantees a solid frame rate throughout the game in spite of its unpredictable, hectic and fun-to-play gaming experience.

Rabbids Go Home is extremely enjoyable mostly thanks to its incredible sense of humour. It is also quite varied, offering many different gameplay situations. Graphically convincing, it’s definitely worth giving it a go!

In spite of its resemblance with Mario Kart, Sonic and SEGA All Stars Racing still is an enjoyable racing game, with the charm of SEGA’s characters still intact. It’s a pity we didn’t find our favourite ones, though.

War simulation games fans should be grateful to the Bohemia Interactive dev team. ArmA 2 is an incredible title, technically impressive, often a marvel for the eyes. Realistic, absorbing and immersive, it puts you straight into close-to-real war action throughout its 225 square Kilometers, villages, people and armies.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood represents a big step forward on many issues in comparison to the previous episode. It is not a top-class FPS overall, but it certainly has interesting characters and a nice atmosphere. Yet it could’ve been much better… In fact it suffers a few glitches and rigid gameplay.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising’s best assets are strategy and realism. It is not an easy game to play, as it requires time to be mastered, but the effort is definitely worth it if you’re after a real war simulator!

In spite of its linearity and scarce longevity, METRO 2033 captures the player thanks to its strong, dark atmosphere and a gameplay that wisely mixes FPS and Action elements. Graphically surprising (especially the PC version), it’ll keep you playing for hours on end… like a good book.

Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep offers a unique and rather original game experience. Pity, though, it is way too similar to its predecessor.

The Guitar Hero spin-off mania has hit the dance floor, positively introducing the pop genre to all its fans. Band Hero is a very enjoyable rhythm game, with great songs and loads of gameplay modes.

Structural balance, evocative graphics, inspired character design. These are just a few of Aion’s assets. It is a game that has definitely met most of the highest expectations we all had. As such it is possibly the best available alternative to some of the most important MMORPG out there, including his majesty World of Warcraft!

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising’s best assets are strategy and realism. It is not an easy game to play, as it requires time to be mastered, but the effort is definitely worth it if you’re after a real war simulator!

The constant frame rate and the shear number of players shooting at the same time on its vast maps don’t seem enough to compensate for the scarce level of graphics, textures, sound effects and game modes MAG has to offer. Disappointment.

Resident Evil: the Darkside Chronicle is more than we’d expected: a strong improvement since Umbrella Chronicles. The camera is far from being perfect and the level of details is poor. Yet it offer an enjoyable gaming experience.

Quotation forthcoming.