I think the newfangled next-gen could still stand to learn a few things from the Xbox workhorse -- even if this is the platform's last triple-A title.

The backgrounds and gameplay are purely 2D, and the 2D and 3D elements blend together perfectly.

If "Resident Evil" was likened to "Night of the Living Dead," then think of Silent Hill 2 as "Twin Peaks," minus the damn fine coffee, but plus the atmospheric gloom and cast of insane deviants, with the entire mixture then taken out back into the woods, shot, hacked into small chunks, and buried.

There's never a strong sense of "oh, you picked the crutch character" that there are in other fighters. Instead, it's a pure fighting experience that gamers who've only played Tekken, Dead or Alive, or Soul Calibur will be able to jump in and appreciate.

Nintendo's most original game in years, WarioWare is a weird, fun little masterpiece.

In spite of framerate drops, inconsistent online multiplayer, and other serious issues that weigh it down, there's little doubt that the five games in this package exude Valve's attention to detail and show off the developer's talent for making great titles.

While there are still some control problems that keep it from being perfect, Sega's dominance on the hardwood continues. This year makes it a three-peat.

The game's shot variety, graphics, and online capabilities truly take tennis games to a new level. The things that prevent the game from being as perfect as Kournikova's... legs... are the load times and poor implementation of risk and drop shots.

Challenging. Addictive. Innovative. Accessible. Deep. Polished...after 30 hours, I'm still completely hooked. The customization options are a complete success, and I'm sure I won't put Tiger 2004 down until I've collected every trophy, medal, and item in the game.

The only way to get closer to pro hockey is to be drafted by an NHL team.

A nearly flawless conversion that adds more than it takes away... The transposition to Nintendo's controller is welcome, because the game now feels much more fluid and responsive.

It's not a flawless package; some of Paradise City's terrain could be easier to navigate with do-it-yourself waypoints, and the inability to restart a race is irritating. However, there's so much to do and wreck that you'll invest tens of hours in single-player before you even tap the d-pad to jump into the online experience. Paradise is undoubtedly the first must-own racing game of 2008.

For racing fans who want a perfect mix of compelling gameplay, unequalled excellence of presentation, and a few sore thumbs, WipEout Pure will not disappoint. Ready? Go...

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.

A very deep game, one that is bound to excite fans of Shogun along with anyone looking for another reason to stay up really late playing a turn-based strategy game.

[Microsoft] has blithely improved an already great sim by giving it a new angle, bringing in some really sweet technological improvements, and making it even more accessible.

How exactly did they manage to make Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 a better game? By making it more varied, and thus, more replayable. By far, the biggest upgrade to the game is the new GameFace II system, which allows you to create a player who looks like just about anyone you could possibly imagine.

Never gets complicated, it never gets boring, and it will probably remain the best sports game of the year -- especially in the eyes of those gamers not necessary obsessed with stats and realism.

It's a must-play game for anyone who loves the reward-based exploration and side-scrolling action of the side-scrollers of old.

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.

A game hasn't oozed this much style since the release of "Max Payne." The gameplay, the story, the graphics -- the entire presentation is topnotch.

Just about every aspect of the production is top-notch, from the stunning graphics to the realistic, graphic dialogue. Although there might end up being better Xbox games this year, you won't find a better WWII shooter anywhere.

Although it's true that the QB Vision system changes the game dramatically, it's not always for the better, especially when you're still trying to learn how to use it properly. If you can get over the steep learning curve (and trust me, it's a doozy), you'll probably learn to love it, as it makes the game feel much more realistic.

With its incredible graphics, breathtaking action and painstaking authenticity, Frontline is the best WWII console game ever released.

Dead Space is a solid realization of several of our favorite gameplay mechanics in a way that we've only seen in blockbusters like BioShock, Half-Life and Resident Evil 4. Its quality is undeniable and we have no reservation in recommending its potent mix of panic-inducing plotline, furious action and deep customization.

The huge, diverse cast and excellent fighting engine guarantee lots of fun fights for a long time into the future, and its pick-up-and-playability make it the best game to pull out for more casual company.

Unquestionably, one of the best shooters of 2005. The advanced graphics and physics create a string of firefights that are amazing to watch, and creative level design and advanced AI make them equally engrossing to play.

Not only is it the most attractive golf game ever to be released, it also features some revolutionary gameplay ideas that will likely be copied for years to come.