Its synthesis of control, design, graphics, and scores of real-world cars cannot be beat. Winning the war against "Gran Turismo" is not going to be done by a game that shamelessly apes it; PGR2 has its own style and own aims, and to my mind is the more appealing of the two.

It's deeper, has more flexibility, it's more engrossing, and it's even easier to modify and expand. But there's something else here as well, something that can't be measured. Sims 2 is simply a lot of fun.

Cataclysm effortlessly mixes the casual focus of Wrath of the Lich King with the decidedly more challenging endgame prospects of classic WoW.

Some may find the story too obtuse, while others might take the route of PC graphical snobbery, but rest assured that there is no other like Half-Life 2 for the Xbox, which has now become my all-time favorite title for the system, and a massively strong contender for the Xbox game of the year.

The overall depth and lasting appeal to be had in NCAA Football 2003 is unmatched by any game, on any platform, including its big NFL brother.

But just like Clover Studio's God Hand -- from which I'm convinced Kamiya took some pretty big inspiration -- it's a flawed-yet-brilliant masterpiece that deserves to be played in spite of several glaring weaknesses.

One of the absolute greatest games you will ever play. With gorgeous graphics, sounds, and environments it's easily one of the most aesthetically pleasing as well. The level and puzzle design is absolutely brilliant as well.

This is the Xbox 360's first "Halo"-style killer app, and it's one that we'll all be playing for a long time to come.

World of Goo's mix of ingenious physics-based puzzles and witty, colorful presentation make it a game almost everyone should check out. It goes by fast -- you can get through most of the puzzles in 5-6 hours -- but for $20, there's little excuse not to check out this World.

But if you're one of those RPG players who detests games that require you to do anything more than navigate menus, or if you were hoping for some genuine innovation from Nintendo, Superstar Saga will have you barking up the wrong mushroom.

Absolutely the best skating game for the system. The PS2 is the best at THUG life, and you owe it to yourself to insert your own digital presence into the game and take your skittles to the online arena.

There's very little in Bowser's Inside Story to not like. It's great to look at, the interaction between the "inside" and "outside" worlds is well thought-out, the mini-games and interactive battles are always a treat to play, and it's probably the funniest Mario & Luigi game yet.

If you weren't a fan of Grand Theft Auto IV (or the franchise in general), The Lost and Damned probably isn't for you. While it features more of what made the game great, it also makes some of the same mistakes as the original (though we do love that the replay feature has been improved to take you to a mid-mission checkpoint). However, if you loved GTA IV, it's pretty safe to say that you'll have a great time with the first piece of DLC.

The brilliance of NBA Street Vol. 2... is that it retains the elements of the sport that translate well into the video game world, ditches the ones that don't, and makes the entire experience into a great game instead of a mere simulation.

One of the most unique -- and enjoyable -- strategy games we've seen this year.

To my surprise, Insomniac was able to add just enough tweaks and twists to last year's formula to turn a somewhat generic-feeling character action game into something that actually holds my attention...Not the ultimate platformer, but it's definitely the best one coming out this holiday.

Yes, Fallout 3 is a lot like "Oblivion" (with guns!), but it's a superior game in nearly every way, as it features a more engaging storyline, impeccable presentation, and hundreds of hours of addictive gameplay. While the jury is still out on whether or not hardcore Fallout enthusiasts will accept the game as part of the storied franchise, Fallout 3 is a must-have title for most RPG fans, as well as one of the finest games of this generation.

It has great graphics, exciting gameplay, and a solid online mode. If you can skip over the slightly gimmicky modes and stick to the excellent Franchise mode, you'll be happy that you whipped Mr. Jackson out at the game store.

Easy and approachable enough for the DS' vast install base of casual users but rewarding and challenging enough to satisfy the hardest of the hardcore Zelda fans. Somehow, magically, it succeeds on both counts. Phantom Hourglass isn't perfect, but it's one of the best experiences, casual or hardcore, available in gaming today.

The “floater” goals from the red line and blue line are very, very annoying.

With improved and deeper gameplay, this sophomore baseball effort ranks along with the best the company has released.

What's most important, though, is that the classic, exciting Tony Hawk gameplay is still very much in evidence. Taken in its own right as a GBA game, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 soars high.

With intuitive controls, tons of strategic depth, and lots of worthwhile single-player game modes, this is a seriously enjoyable game with serious legs.

Ine of the most unique, funny and satisfying games of 2007, and we can't wait until Valve produces more of it.

The nonexistent load times, unlimited draw distance, and non-linear level design go far to establish Jak & Daxter as a classic, but there could have been more innovation to cement its position.

The voice acting doesn't come off as well as the music and sound effects...you've heard these lines all too many times before, and this time i[t] comes off about as convincing as when "fan boys" try to imitate their heroes at a sci-fi convention.

Light years ahead of "GameBreaker 2001," and, for all its faults, is still a game that most PS2 owners -- myself included -- will thoroughly enjoy.

The graphics on the PC version are by far the best.

You'll come away from Deus Ex with the sense that you could actually be a real anti-terrorist agent in UNATCO. Well, maybe. I wouldn't advise quitting your day job.

It manages to exhaustively deliver everything that made "Burnout 3" so fantastic while adding small tweaks that make its predecessor an immediate item for trade-in at your local game store.

Simply gorgeous. From both a design standpoint and a technological one, Orta is one of the richest experiences you can have involving both your Xbox and your eyes.

A worthy, entertaining addition to the Half-Life saga, even if it's a little more inconsistent than its predecessors. It's got plenty of the action, puzzles and set pieces that's made the series so successful to date, and that formula hasn't been tampered with.

It gives you tasty side dishes of RPG and adventure gaming to go along with the action genre. Add on top of all that the excellent production values, impressive voice acting, tight script, bonuses like Commentary Mode, and a reduced price.

If you only buy one more PlayStation 2 game before retiring the trusty system to that dusty closet, make sure this is it.

SCEA has made enough visual tweaks to keep its already-authentic representation of baseball atop the heap for another year. With a few more tweaks to the Franchise mode and an expansion to the surprisingly enjoyable new practice mode, I see no reason why this baseball series won't sit on top for the foreseeable future.

Subtle and clever...The game, like its predecessors, is about addiction. Unfortunately, it does a great job of it.

While releases from Acclaim, 3DO, Sega, and EA have done reasonable jobs in the past, MVP Baseball 2004 may come the closest yet to replicating the action on the field. It looks spectacular and I could easily use the same adjective to describe the gameplay.

While titles like "Aggressive Inline" and "Mat Hoffman 2" come close to competing with THPS3, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 blows them out of the water...[but i]t seems very strange to me that this game didn't have official Xbox Live support.

It's inevitable that Limbo will be compared to 2008's Braid, but I think this game's sum takeaway is more in line with Portal -- an intricate and internally consistent world that communicates itself through simple mechanics and a creative, minimalist structure on which to hang events that happen to a vulnerable protagonist.

This is a classic game that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as "F-19," "Longbow 2," and "European Air War."

What makes the multiplayer so much fun is the constant balance between being the hunter and the prey. Stalking enemies around the map is a lot of fun (even when I end up on the business end of a blade before I can make my kill), and patience has never been so important.

This is a marvelous game in terms of artistry, sound, and yes, even gameplay, despite being hamstrung by the poorly implemented Celestial Brush controls. Despite the headaches you'll undoubtedly experience, it's still worth playing Okami on your Nintendo Wii.

So, while Chinatown Wars is a solid, entertaining title for the PSP, it simply lacks the oomph and "oh wow!" factor that it had on DS.

The hero's newfound voice adds an emotional impact and resonance that the original game sorely lacked, and I genuinely wanted to see Isaac conquer his inner demons nearly as much as the outer variety. In such an intense game (one of the most intense I've ever played), it's funny that the quiet moments were the one that really stood out.

With the trophy-style attributes, some great little secrets to unlock, and the highly amusing two-player stuff, it's pretty hard not to fall in love with those cute little Pikmin.

Simply the best action football game available for any system.

Even with its great new controls, decent story and amazing visuals, there are some annoyances that have bled through from the other games...The biggest offender is the way the game streams new levels.

Is it compelling enough for Flight Simulator 2000 owners? Your mileage may vary, but for the graphical enhancements alone, I'd have to say yes.

Even lacking that [online] option, WE 8 stands as the best soccer game of all time. It looks fantastic and plays out of this world.

Easily the system's best multiplayer FPS, with a surprising amount of single-player action.

To Guild Wars 2's credit, its issues do little detract from the immensely rewarding experience of the whole. It doesn't overthrow the conventions of the MMORPG, but it presents them in fresher and livelier packaging than its competitors.

It really can teach you to appreciate the nuances of racing and may even renew your love of cars. For a game like this, we think that's the best compliment we can give it.

Although it doesn't quite match the lofty excellence of the original Deus Ex, it's a much better game than Invisible War and a welcome rebirth for a brand that many – including me – thought was long past its prime. Not quite a classic, but definitely worth your money and time.

From the somber motif for the frozen Russian villain ("nooo-cleee-ur-WIN-ter!") to El Diablo's sassy salsa beat and Alchemiss' raucous beach blanket/surf punk riffs, Freedom Force's musical stylings are every bit as lively as its graphics and storyline.

A slightly reduced retail price and the cool unlockable stuff make VJ for PS2 one of the best buys I've seen all year. It offers something great for those of you that already Joe, and something truly epic for those of you that don't.

The defense upgrades bring a lot of welcome strategy to the game, and the new AI is simply superb. Its amazingly deep, well thought out franchise mode is the best I've ever seen, while the basic gameplay still can't be beat.

In some ways, GTR 2 can be compared to a harsh old sensei. He's hard to please and treats you roughly, but if you pay attention to him and learn his ways, you're sure to become a true karate master. Not everyone will meet his requirements or even want to endure his challenges, but those who do will be rewarded.

A game that could keep anyone busy for a long, long time. Although it's got plenty of excellent features, it's ultimately the storytelling that makes it an instant classic, a game unlike any we've played before. As is the case with many great books and movies, you'll want to know what happens to the characters after the game ends, and one can't help hoping that all of their American Dreams comes true.

A vast improvement from recent Total War missteps, and revitalizes the glory of the original Shogun, while adding so much new and interesting content that you might not even remember said original. And this one, finally, does right by newcomers, making things as easy and as polished as a game of StarCraft II.

The simplified interface elements, great campaign, and much-improved map and information screens make this the most accessible Total War yet, and a great place for those unfamiliar with the series to get started.

Platforming at its best.

I really wasn't enjoying it much at first, but once I got to the later levels, the lightsaber combat and Force powers made it a ton of fun.

Best of all, Bungie just announced that all of the new maps will be introduced to their Matchmaking playlists sometime next week. You don't want to be the only kid who can't play, do you?

One of the finest FPSs ever created. Thanks to a combination of sharp visuals, teeth-rattling sound effects, and tricky enemy AI, you'll be on the edge of your seat from the moment you're dropped into combat until your dying breath.

It manages to exhaustively deliver everything that made "Burnout 3" so fantastic while adding small tweaks that make its predecessor an immediate item for trade-in at your local game store.

This game stays truer to its roots than any other currently surviving hit game series from the 80s, and it's all the better for it; it shows us that radical rethinking isn't always the key -- that developers can preserve the look, feel, and soul of a series across decades.

Oddly, I suspect that those less-versed in the Metroid games will get more enjoyment out of it, as it will seem more original and less stale.

But the manner in which all the little pieces were brought together to create a whole that is truly greater than its parts is a tribute to the design skills of the team at Shiny.

While AoM sports a new graphics engine and three unique factions, on the whole it plays very much like its predecessors. Too much like its predecessors, if you were hoping for a truly different game experience.

Though the Pikmin really don't have the individuality that Pokemon developed, you really do start to care for your little guys as the game progresses.

From the new Trick Stick system to the amazingly deep career mode, nearly everything added to NBA Street V3 works perfectly... [T]his may very well be the greatest basketball game ever made, arcade or otherwise.

It ranks right up there with recent classics such as "Baldur's Gate," "Fallout," "Arcanum," and "Planescape: Torment" in terms of sheer enjoyment, and is a game every role-playing fan needs to own.

Fable II presents you with difficult, meaningful decisions that shape the development of the world around you. You'll experience life from a young age and see your character grow up to become a powerful force in Albion. Whether or not you become a force for good or for evil is completely up to you.

The biggest difference between 2K3 and its competition, though, is the game's physics. Players move like they're actually on ice.

If you love, like, or are even lukewarm on the band, grab it. Playing through the songs you've likely heard for your entire life gives you a new appreciation for the level of musicianship and songwriting on display. Somehow, Harmonix found a way to make the greatest band of all time even better.

What makes the multiplayer so much fun is the constant balance between being the hunter and the prey. Stalking enemies around the map is a lot of fun (even when I end up on the business end of a blade before I can make my kill), and patience has never been so important.

When it was first announced, I thought Left 4 Dead 2 was nothing more than a glorified expansion. After having spent hours with it -- and many more to come -- I appreciate the sequel's major and subtle differences.

The inventive and highly entertaining competitive multiplayer mode just adds to the experience, and we're looking forward to seeing what Valve's got planned for the game's future. Out of all the titles that have shaped the Year of Living Cooperatively, this may be the best experience of them all.

The inventive and highly entertaining competitive multiplayer mode just adds to the experience, and we're looking forward to seeing what Valve's got planned for the game's future. Out of all the titles that have shaped the Year of Living Cooperatively, this may be the best experience of them all.

When it was first announced, I thought Left 4 Dead 2 was nothing more than a glorified expansion. After having spent hours with it -- and many more to come -- I appreciate the sequel's major and subtle differences.

Perhaps the best enhancement to be found in NASCAR 2002 is the audio. It is light years ahead of previous installments in the series.

The biggest difference between 2K3 and its competition, though, is the game's physics. Players move like they're actually on ice.

By combining stunning visuals, an entertaining (and challenging) combat system, and one of the best stories in recent memory, the folks at BioWare have somehow managed to create yet another brilliant game.

The most notable disappointment is the lack of any online content. Yep, only PS2 THUGers have the ability to map their own face into the game and play multiplayer sessions online. But still, THUG for the 'Cube remains one of the best games you'll play this year.

I can't remember the last time I played a racer this challenging and difficult to master. It's no picnic, but the rewards are plenty for those of you with the will and determination to keep on winning.

If you missed it the first time around, or were waiting for the inevitable PC version, you won't be disappointed here.

From the new Trick Stick system to the amazingly deep career mode, nearly everything added to NBA Street V3 works perfectly... [T]his may very well be the greatest basketball game ever made, arcade or otherwise.

The best arcade racing game available for the PlayStation 2.

The writing is top-notch, the characters are awesome, and the extra activities will keep you busy far beyond the 10+ hours it takes to beat the story. Most impressive (at least to me) is the way the game portrays the relationship between the two male leads. They genuinely care about each other, even while bickering and arguing like an old married couple. If that isn't the true definition of friendship, I don't know what is.

What better way to make good use of your new DS system (with its lacking library) than by popping this game in? It looks absolutely stunning on the DS's screen.

One of the best single-player campaigns ever makes this a great expansion to the Homeworld series. A "must-buy" game.

This is, quite simply, one of the best games of any genre available for the PC (and even the Mac!)

While NCAA Football 2005 could use a bit of a graphical overhaul, and the running game still needs some help, the additions of Homefield Advantage and the Matchup Stick really add a lot to the game.

Online play isn't an option here, and the training mode is nowhere to be found. While the core game is still fun, there is little reason to choose the GameCube version unless the little purple box is your sole game system.

It's totally new and different. There's nothing else like this on the market. And it's a PvP fan's dream. But the big thing that pushes Guild Wars into must-have territory is the fact that there's no monthly fee.

Most definitely qualifies as art -- exquisitely horrific, body-slam-your-emotions, tears-on-your-keyboard art. It is a near-perfect conclusion that may leave you emotionally gutted.

It feels funny to say this about a 13-year-old developer with a portfolio of work that includes Half-Life and Counter-Strike expansions, stellar squad-based WWII shooter franchise Brothers in Arms, and the original Borderlands, but with Borderlands 2, Gearbox has arrived as a real blockbuster studio. Right from the toe-tapping "Short Change Hero" opening cinematic, Borderlands 2 stands out as Gearbox's magnum opus, and one of the most memorable and fun gaming rides I've ever been on.

With the addition of online gameplay to the best soccer engine in the world, Winning Eleven 9 is worth a purchase, but it still somewhat feels like the American release of last year's "Winning Eleven 8: Live Wire" more than its own standalone game.