The nine new maps are fantastic and certainly will enhance the multiplayer aspect of Halo 2, online or off.

Bigger, tougher, meaner, and more next-gen. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow fills every part of the Nintendo DS's two-inch screen with new bosses, levels, and dozens of backdrops that are drop-dead gorgeous.

I know...that is as near perfect as you can get but that is the way I see The Sims and the new expansion, The Sims: Vacation! I have all the expansions. I play the game several times a week for an hour or two...or three! As a consenting adult well above the age level determined proper for this game, I enjoy every aspect of the game.

There are so many new additions in this game that it will boggle your mind. This is one of the best looking games, much less an RTS game, that is out on the market currently.

A rich, dynamic program full of history and accented with multiple challenges that will keep any RTS player on his or her toes.

The complete mix of tight handling, great AI, realistic car tweaking and damage, awesome graphics and sound, multiple game modes, and a great story line definitely surpassed my overall enjoyment of "GT3."

The controls are nearly perfect. I have never played a driving game with such precise controls before.

Every single aspect -- the controls, the gameplay, the graphics, etc. -- has been improved 110%. You may not notice all of the improvements at first, but the game will suck you in immediately.

We’re talking about a game with great controls, absolutely gorgeous graphics and enough teams to make any gamer cheer.

On a slower machine, frustration sets in. But when played on a machine that allows the total scope of this game to shine through, it is a fantastic journey. Tough, you bet – but a lot of fun.

Vice City is one of those rare games that effortlessly combines atmosphere, engaging gameplay, and great graphics and sound to make a truly unique gaming experience.

It is incredible! I have not enjoyed a portable game this much since the Game Boy Advance's launch.

It's not just <I>one</I> element that turned the game into a masterpiece, it's <I>every</I> element – the controls (perfection), world design (unbelievably creative), combat (exciting and challenging), and enemy selection (unreal) are just a few of the reasons why this is PS2’s best first-party release.

The inclusion of real players and teams make Winning Eleven Eight International a welcomed update this year. Konami provides great control, awesome graphics, and enough options to keep any sports fan happy.

When you play this game with a room of other people, and you find yourself laughing at all the gags and references to old games, you’ll be in love with this XBLA treasure.

Playing with the Xbox controller is just as responsive and tight as the PS2 one. The gameplay in this is extremely tight, and the game overall goes by with more speed emphasized.

The game offers a smooth control scheme and even though I would have liked to have seen more powers in Joe's arsenal, its a blast to play.

A completely intense thrill-ride from start to finish, Call of Duty 4 grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go.

It offers some pretty fundamental improvements over the Xbox version and stands as one of the best PC RPGs out there.

With an easy control interface, and its incredible graphics, game play and sound, this program is the best in its genre, without a doubt. It is a joy to play.

With the additional features, cleaner graphics, and slick $49.99 price, it makes the perfect stocking stuffer this holiday season.

A shooter that's both powerfully moving and intensely exciting from start to finish.

Fusion is so good that if it weren't for the small, unlit screen, you wouldn't even be able to tell that it is a "portable" game.

Gears of War has easy to grasp gameplay with solid controls and tons of action. Plus, the weapons are great (you just can't beat the chainsaw attached to a gun).

With its great innovations, high level of polish, and great level design and objectives - not to mention the load of customization options - I simply couldn't put it down.

I was extremely surprised when I found out that there are over 70 songs in this game. Each year Neversoft crams more and more songs in their games, and it is amazing! The sound effects are also top notch.

Along with stellar sound effects, voiceovers, and groovy spy movie theme songs, No One Lives Forever 2 provides a feast for your senses.

This is a game that melds story and action, philosophy and insanity, gives pause for introspection while urging you along a designed course. It is the high-bar in the field, on one hand, but on the other, it creates its own genre.

A masterpiece.

A brilliant retooled classic.

Fallout 3 is a game that hits all the right notes and excels in being a role-playing game that wishes to challenge the genre to bring something bigger and better.

If it looks like a dream and plays like a dream this is the best dream I've had all year. The controls are solid and the arcade-feel just makes the Gamebreaker moves stylish and fun to pull off.

Game of the Year? Who knows. Experience of the Year? Almost certainly.

Bar none, one of the most satisfying ice hockey titles to grace the PS2 console so far. It really does come close to perfection in everyway and that is saying a lot considering the fact that last year&#146;s "NHL 2K3" was at the top of its game.

One of the best games of the year. Even before finishing Onimusha 2, I looked forward to playing through it again.

A terrific title; it is entertainment-rich, and one of those games that makes a mockery of time because it will fly when you play.

Hands down a classic.

The feel of the arcade makes a successful transfer into an exciting and forever entertaining game that teaches everyone to respect those time honored heroes: the cabbies.

A must have expansion pack for any gamer who owns the original game.

The game has improved leaps and bounds since last years version, which is surprising since it was done wonderfully last year.

The games are solid, responsive, and, most important of all, fun; but their similarities to previous titles holds it back.

Lives up to its legacy of having inventive courses, stellar multiplayer, and more replay value than any other racer in its class.

The best racing game of the year..."Gran Turismo 2" and "3" are just as good, but they are definitely not better than Splashdown.

This is one of the most action filled and intense gaming experiences that I have had to date.

At this point, NBA Live 2001 should be the only basketball game you need for some time to come. It offers a little of everything, and although it's certainly not perfect, you have to appreciate that EA didn't skimp on the details or merely repackage last year's edition.

Whether you've taken the journey before or have yet to play this unforgettable classic, you can't stop yourself from being consumed.

Reminiscent of the classic PlayStation originals while adding a healthy dose of fresh stealth and action moments throughout, this game will hook you from start to finish.

Some of the best online racing I have ever seen!

A resounding experience. It’s a charming and stunning game that should occupy about 20 hours of a gamer’s time with up to 50 hours of side-quests, odd jobs, and real-estate purchasing available.

The graphics are absolutely phenomenal, making Killzone 2 look obsolete in the process.

One of Aggressive Inline's most appealing aspects is the simplest (yet most brilliant) of them all: zero time limit. I could go on and on about how wonderful this is, but I don't think I have to.

One of the best Guitar Hero’s to date. It has a great selection of songs, bands, and not to mention, rock legends.

Nice to see a game that gets back to the basics of FPS genre with puzzles, storyline, TONS of killing bad guys, and end-of-level bosses.

Spell-binding, addictive, visually delightful.

It would have been a remarkable title a year into the life of the PS3, but as it is a launch title, it is even more remarkable. With incredible graphics, an evolving story, great action and weapons, Insomniac and Sony have nailed the launch of the game and system seamlessly.

Hmm, let&#146;s see: Incredible graphics, terrific sound, flawless game play and great multiplayer options must add up to a game that should be on any racing sim fan&#146;s shelf.

Incredibly intelligent AI, a wide selection of well-balanced weaponry and vehicles, and audio/visual to do the Xbox launch justice.

A strikingly deep racing sim that delivers on most of the areas where Gran Turismo 4 faltered and then some.

Mass Effect 2 is much more than a game. It’s an ominous sci-fi-mystery-action-epic that continues to provide thrilling moments around every bend.

The graphics in Splinter Cell are unsurpassed. The lighting effects are incredible, the character models look great, and the animations are realistic.

It’s a lengthy, massive adventure that, no matter how long it takes you complete, will still be met with the response, “I wish it could’ve been longer.”

One of the best games ever for the GBA, and one which will probably be the best game for the GBA this year.

Overall this is the best F1 racing game to date, every detail, has been covered. The game plays great, the graphics are top notch, the sounds are realistic, and the ability to tweak and adjust everything in the game is fantastic!

The great graphics, incredible physics' engine, impressive sound/music and engaging story line all add up to a classic game.

Even if you&#146;re not a subscriber to the Xbox Live service, this game packs quite a punch with plenty of modes and missions.

The shot in the arm that the series desperately needed, and stands as one of the premier shooters of this or any year.

With wonderfully solid controls, great graphics, enough game modes and enough teams to select, this game is one you should not miss if you love sports in general.

A completely intense thrill-ride from start to finish, Call of Duty 4 grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go.

Not only is the gameplay built from the ground-up for the DS, but the story is actually about something – not just orcs and elves.

With new content for newbies and veterans alike, The Burning Crusade is a complete expansion and one that no WoW player should be without. Hell, there’s enough here to make a whole separate game.

An utterly brilliant and addictive gem. With amazing missions, a great story and plenty to do in the city, this game is just non-stop fun from start to finish. Forget the DS; this game truly shines on the PSP.

Nothing you see and nothing you read can prepare you for this game. Beyond Good & Evil is a masterpiece through and through.

The whole idea itself was not only neat, but it was amazingly well executed and is not only fun ... but extremely addicting as well.

Simply put: Black Arrow is what you get when you take a stellar first-person shooter, add a perfect blend of tactical team management and an extremely addictive Xbox Live multiplayer game.

Features a fantastic franchise mode and a completely different 24/7 mode, making this game the two best basketball games available in one neat package.

And while it might be visually unassuming, Braid offers players an experience (and a message about life) that few games have ever dared to offer.

This game is hopping with hours and hours of fun. Once you play the game and win, you will find yourself going back to the beginning to start all over.

I admire Final Fantasy X's emotional and spiritual depth. There is never a time that we can't feel the pain and the struggles of our heroes.

Madden NFL 2005 doesn't really take this game to a whole new level but it does slightly rise above the amazing "ESPN NFL 2K5."

Offers a little something for everyone, from sweet gun fights to insane driving to killer fist fights. If you grow tired of missions, you won&#146;t get bored by just driving around looking for crimes to solve.

The graphics are beautiful, the monsters are unreal, and the gameplay is the most action-packed a survival/horror game has ever been.

With tons of content both online and off, stellar production values, and solid gameplay, Red Dead Redemption is an absolute blast to play, and a time-consuming one at that.

The game is definitely a contender for game of the year. If a possible AI patch would be released, then this game would be a 10+.

While the majority of the content is geared towards higher-level players, there is still a lot of fantastic content for any WoW gamer. If you’re a fan, then there’s no reason that you should not have this expansion.

One of the most enthralling games released this year.

Taut and gripping. The game is seamless and action packed once a mission is launched. The cutscenes are very well done and really set up the action.

It has to be the best golf game on the market today.

No gamer should miss out on this one.

Snake Eater isn't a breakthrough game for PS2 like "Sons of Liberty" was, but the graphics are still jaw-dropping. The lighting, shadow and weapon/explosion effects are unbelievable.

Despite having these RPG-like features, Aria of Sorrow is not at all an RPG! What it is, is an amazing, exciting, must-have game that'll keep you entertained for many, many years.

While some might say the game is short, you are going to want to play it over and over and over. Add to that the slew of unlockables in this game, and you have one amazing title that will keep you busy for a long time.

There is not a single-element of the Batman that this game doesn't nail, from the gadgets to the atmosphere and the combat. The action is thrilling and varied, and even the fetch quests are compelling.

I have never played a racing game on a portable system that had as much creativity and longevity as Wipeout Pure. Its addictiveness is indescribable.

The story will lure you in, the lack of load times will make the adventure seem seamless and the visual and aural treat will keep you in the game until you get to the very end.

Entrancing.

Bionic Commando: Rearmed is the perfect remake, retaining all of the things that made the original great, but making those things fresh again. For $10, this game is an absolute steal.

An awesome package. It's got great art, stunning visuals, immersive sound, responsive controls, RPG elements, great level and boss design, a challenging difficulty level, and slick, slick style to top it all off.

The gameplay is visceral, fast, and fun, the graphics and sound are incredible, and the story is so well conceived and written that it'll keep you coming back for more.