Don't wait any longer if you don't have this game -- THPS 2 is the most fun and solid purchase any Playstation owner can make.

There is one thing that did stand out at all times: the story, which is undeniably one of the most fun rides you'll ever have in gaming, and one of the most compelling cast of characters to go along with it.

With increased detail running at a higher resolution and maintaining the same frame rate, it quite literally leaves the arcade version for dead. That's 640x480 at a constant 60fps.

It may look, sound, and play like the previous game, but it offers up pure, unadulterated fun like so few games can ever hope to achieve.

There is one thing that did stand out at all times: the story, which is undeniably one of the most fun rides you'll ever have in gaming, and one of the most compelling cast of characters to go along with it.

Super Mario Galaxy is an out of this world experience that is spectacularly amazing in every imaginable aspect. It creates a constant sense of wonder that manages to permanently transplant a grin on my face while playing. Even when I died I was smiling. No game has ever done that to me before and it's truly a testament to how perfectly fine-tuned it is.

By whatever standard you want to apply, Red Dead Redemption II doesn’t just build on the accomplishments of its already impressive predecessor, it eclipses them. Much like the first Red Dead Redemption was unquestionably one of the high-water marks of the last generation, Red Dead Redemption II will be remembered as one of the most impressive achievements of this one.

All in all, Grand Theft Auto V is one of those majorly hyped titles that actually delivers.

Nose/tailslides, nose/bluntslides, varial flips, a multitude of new grabs, expanded inverts, lip tricks, manuals, and more realistic switch skating are all included.

You can combo off of everything in this game. Seriously I mean everything! Cars, people, sidewalks, buildings, rails, ramps, stop signs... The list goes on and on. The funny thing about all this is Neversoft's Highest Score screen shows a high score of 9.4 million. Yes, my jaw dropped too.

There are some nasty frame rate problems at times, which is mostly the factor that keep this from an A grade, but don't let that stop you from picking up Rare's latest.

The single player GTAV experience is so fulfilling that I didn’t expect to ever really get involved much with GTA Online. It didn’t take much to suck me in though, and it can be an addictive and fun time waster depending on who you roll with. I’ve spent a fair share of time online, and although it’s been slightly shaky here and there, nearly everything that Rockstar Games has promised is more or less working.

The best game to hit any system in the past few years. No game has captivated me more or been more fun than Metroid Prime in a very long time.

Silent Hill 2, ICO, Devil May Cry, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 are all must have titles in their own right, but with that said, I've had the most pure, unadulterated fun with Grand Theft Auto III than any other title this year.

This latest entry to Mario certainly helps prove that single player experiences still have a place in an industry where games as a service seems to be the norm. I managed complete the game in about 20-30 hours, a robust post-game will keep the me coming back for more. Coupled with Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, it looks like Nintendo will need to clear some shelf space when end of the year awards are named by the gaming press. If you don’t have a Switch, I’d encourage you to get one immediately before the holiday rush begins. This is an experience you should not sit on.

The game most easily comparable would be "Half-Life," but even that just pales to the overall scope and vision of Halo.

This is in my opinion the best football game ever.

Where it goes beyond a typical first person shooter is in its story telling. The graphics engine is so realistic that you feel like you are participating in a movie. The character's facial animation is incredible. It's done so well, you can get a sense of how the characters are feeling.

No doubt, future updates and optimizations will be patched in, but for what we've got right out of the gate, there's a lot going on for the PC crowd this time around.

Everyone will play it differently, and have a different experience. Some like myself will find it drenched in tension and atmosphere, having run into many a situation where the poop was scared out of me. Others, like a friend of mine, will claim that its intuitiveness, combative freedom, and creativity puts it above the spiritual predecessor "System Shock 2," and wonder at how convincing the whole affair can be.

Overall, GoldenEye, while being a good corridor shooter, is a corridor shooter, nonetheless. I have no problem with Nintendo releasing quality games, but I think it's time they expand the horizons of the system a little.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is everything you could ask for in a videogame: immensely satisfying and challenging gameplay, a great story with likable characters, a stunning audio-visual experience, plenty of replayability, and by the time the game ends, the feeling that every dollar spent on buying the game was well worth it. [Grade = A+]

If first person shooters and other action games leave too much to be desired when it comes to story, pace and atmosphere, RE4 will be refreshing.

You get 5 outstanding games that give you a little bit of everything, action, story, puzzles, multiplayer, and just flat out addictive content. If you own a decent PC, a 360 or a PS3...you would be doing yourself, gamers, and the wonderful developers a great injustice by not buying The Orange Box. Not only is it possibly the best bargain in gaming history, but arguably the best FPS experience of all time.

You get 5 outstanding games that give you a little bit of everything, action, story, puzzles, multiplayer, and just flat out addictive content. If you own a decent PC, a 360 or a PS3...you would be doing yourself, gamers, and the wonderful developers a great injustice by not buying The Orange Box. Not only is it possibly the best bargain in gaming history, but arguably the best FPS experience of all time.

This is a series that deserves its own place in gaming history and while there will always be comparisons of where it originated from. It's nice to know that there can be a story told in space that is so epic, so intelligent, and so rewarding, that doesn't have to have the word "Star" in its title.

I’ve absolutely enjoyed my time with Elden Ring, and while I’d say my expectations were high prior to playing the game, those expectations have certainly been met or even exceeded along my journey. It feels like a culmination of everything FromSoftware has accomplished in the genre so far, offering up a robust world with tons of exploration married to the unique combat we’ve come to expect from their previous titles. I can’t necessarily say that there’s enough changes here that will appeal to people who have bounced off of Souls games previously, but it’s such a great looking (and playing) game that I think if you enjoy action-RPG’s in the slightest that it’s still worth a shot. And of course if you’re already a FromSoftware fan, then I’d imagine you’re already on board, and I can safely say that you won’t be disappointed.

If you're looking for just one RPG to pass the time with this year (and probably next), Skyrim is definitely it.

As a whole, ["Separate Ways" is] an excellent bonus that features far too much content and gameplay to be considered gimmicky or tacked on.

Does all this add up to make Baldur’s Gate 3 the best game of the year? That’s hard to say at this stage, given the insane number of genuine GOTY contenders we’ve had so far this year – to say nothing of those that are still scheduled to arrive over the next few months. But notwithstanding all that, it’s clear that it’s certainly on the short-list as one of the top contenders.

All in all, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an amazing game and I still cannot get over the fact that I have already come up with three Game of the Year contenders and it’s only halfway into the year. This game is incredible and despite it not being the Zelda I remember, it’s one that will be added to the great memories in a way more than Breath of the Wild. My buddy and fellow editor Tyler said it best. “BotW was the early proof of concept and TotK was the final vision.”

One aspect that has been improved upon greatly in Wind Waker is its story.

Everyone will play it differently, and have a different experience. Some like myself will find it drenched in tension and atmosphere, having run into many a situation where the poop was scared out of me. Others, like a friend of mine, will claim that its intuitiveness, combative freedom, and creativity puts it above the spiritual predecessor "System Shock 2," and wonder at how convincing the whole affair can be.

A great game from a gameplay standpoint but fails pretty badly when it comes to the story. As a result, even though I've given it an A-, it turns out to be one of my biggest disappointments of the year.

There's no new content here, but you still have two absolutely fantastic games that have seriously impacted the future of gaming. You can't go wrong.

I usually complain that many single player games these days do not have much in the way of "replayability". That is one aspect where San Andreas sets the bar so ridiculously high, that I can't imagine any non-GTA games coming anywhere near it for years to come.

Puts the word sequel to shame. Rockstar Games has really taken the time to put together a game that not only fits in perfectly in the GTA universe, but ups the ante for itself and others as well.

LittleBigPlanet is a beautiful, happy, extremely eye-pleasing game that will put a smile on anyone's face who plays or merely watches it. Like Sackboy himself, it's impossible to not find the game both attractive and aesthetically pleasing.

They've grown up again, giving players a more mature role to play as a man fighting to save his family rather than for more selfish reasons, and layer the story with a bit of human condition which hasn't been well-reflected up until just recently in video games.

The problem is that the ending feels more like a mission briefing than a conclusion. Secrets are revealed, the final battle is set, the music swells and then bam, credits.

GT3 doesn't disappoint. The AI could be better, but everything else kicks too much ass to worry about it.

It's easily the best game I've played so far this year on the N64 (although Banjo-Tooie might be a strong contender) and will remain one of my favorite games for a long time to come.

The game hits all the right notes and proves that Naughty Dog really knows how to design interesting, gorgeous and enjoyable games.

A masterpiece and a AAA launch title for the Wii. The dungeons are fun and the puzzles, while sometimes difficult, always make sense. The scope of adventure and exploration cannot be matched by any other game.

If you were ever on the fence with trying the original Hades, or thought Supergiant Games couldn’t possibly outdo themselves after the first game, then you owe it to yourself to check out Hades II. This year has been stellar when it comes to great games, and Hades II still manages to stand out from the pack for me. It’s an absolutely fantastic follow-up to the original and one that shouldn’t be missed.

As for recommending the game to PS4 owners, it's pretty obviously worth checking out — most definitely for those who skipped out on the PS3 version for whatever reason.

They've grown up again, giving players a more mature role to play as a man fighting to save his family rather than for more selfish reasons, and layer the story with a bit of human condition which hasn't been well-reflected up until just recently in video games.

Portal 2 has enough appeal to welcome any gamer no matter what type they claim themselves to be. The end result is a gaming experience you will not soon forget.

To me, the biggest perk Astro Bot has was being able to see my son play and love his time with it so much. He was engulfed in the world immediately and finished the story before I did. He also compared it to Mario Odyssey, which he shares the same love of it as I do. This was a game that continued the Father/Son bonding we have been building in gaming and even came to my rescue on one those difficult challenge levels I mentioned above. Despite the ease of picking the game up, mastering platforming is a whole other challenge and my son was up to the challenge. Seeing him finish the levels I spent 20 minutes trying to pass is one of the coolest nerd dad moments I have had. In short, I cannot boast about this game enough and plan to chat more about it on Pressed For Time in the near future, so stand by. Astro Bot is well worth the price of admission and will be a great gaming option for all ages with the Holidays coming up quickly.

It just does everything in the most solid way possible. An intriguing storyline, characters you actually care about, tried and true FF gameplay, a memorable soundtrack, beautiful, polished graphics, and not many crazy "systems" to learn and master.

It's well worth picking up, and even if you missed out on the original, there's no reason you couldn't pick this one up and enjoy it just as much as the rest of the fans, making it one of the more accessible "hardcore" FPS experiences out there.

Kratos’ new beginning is full of heart, loaded with action and is easily one of the best games of this generation.

Even if you aren't interested in the online portion, Activision and Neversoft have still nailed down another extremely solid sequel to the Tony Hawk franchise.

Incredible amounts of detail and animation fill Devil May Cry, and even some of the simplest effects (such as the humble lens flare) are put to jaw-dropping use. The frame rate is constant and solid 60 fps, with almost non-existent slowdown.

It's epic, very difficult at higher levels and offers stunning visuals. Online, the ranking system is just as, if not more addictive than Halo 3's, and custom classes and abilities add another layer to each match.

It's Madden's inherently deep replay value that makes the game a real value for the dollar. Couple that with excellent pass execution, solid football strategies and integration with rosters from the graduates of NCAA 2002 and you have very deep, solid, although somewhat aged game of professional football.

Arkham City is huge, filled with secrets, and if you're a big Batman fan you'll love all the appearances tossed in, both for the good and bad guys. The addition of a New Game Plus mode also provides an astounding amount of replay value, and if you're any kind of completionist, you'll spend dozens of hours exploring the city for every little secret it contains. It's easily one of the best titles I've played all year.

It's like nothing you've ever played before, and should be considered an instant classic by anyone with an appreciation for good RPG's.

The game plays wonderfully -almost to a literal pick-up-and-play extent.

With airtight controls, improved defensive and offensive AI, more animations, a deep and rewarding franchise that allows you to actually own a team this season, John Madden football looks to big in a great position to continue their reign as the undisputed champs of video football.

But every once in a while you have a game so mindblowingly good-looking that the gameplay, good, bad, or somewhere in between, just doesn't matter. Say "Hi" to Gears of War.

The game will provide you with more content than you can possibly handle, and is one of the few games on the market today that’s actually worth the full $60 price tag.

There’s not much to give an opinion on here, as much of the change implemented is visual and quality of life. It’s a welcome update, and if it’s been a while since you’ve played or if you’ve just never gotten around to it, now is a great time to do so. The Witcher 3 has been in a good place for a while, but these upgrades further cement it in it’s spot as one of the all-time greats.

It's epic, very difficult at higher levels and offers stunning visuals. Online, the ranking system is just as, if not more addictive than Halo 3's, and custom classes and abilities add another layer to each match.

It's a fight worth finishing so if you haven't already, get out there and do just that.

I consider it one of the best games to be released in the past 3 years.

Without a doubt the best the stealth genre can offer... One of the best games I have ever played.

There's honestly a 30+ hour expansion with a great deal to do aside from the main quest, and if you dig The Witcher, you already know it's worth jumping into.

I came away from God of War: Ragnarök very impressed with what the team at Santa Monica Studio were able to put together, and I think you will be too. It’s a fantastic sequel to one of the better game releases on Sony hardware in the past decade, and delivers fully in every meaningful way, making this a true showcase game for current-gen hardware. It also doesn’t skimp out in the gameplay department, offering up lots of hours of enjoyment, while pacing itself out in a way that puts a lot of other open-world style games to shame, keeping you hooked throughout. I’d highly recommend checking out God of War: Ragnarök when it drops on November 9th, you will not be disappointed.

I admit that I doubted Capcom's ability to continue their fear effect *snicker* with the Resident Evil franchise. But it seems that they are not only becoming bigger and more graphically intense, but more engrossing as well. With the crisp new 3D world, the wonderfully modeled characters, music and sound effects to die for (couldn't help it), and a story line that takes you on a 2 disc ride of suspense, what else do you need? Well, maybe better voice actors. Steve's voice was grating on me throughout the first half of the game. But other than that, this game is a must own Dreamcast title along with Crazy Taxi, Soul Calibur, and Dead or Alive 2.

The visuals are cleaner, more vibrant, and oozing with a slick presentation. The audio is, to coin a phrase from Good Times, "Dy-no-mite!"

It's well worth picking up, and even if you missed out on the original, there's no reason you couldn't pick this one up and enjoy it just as much as the rest of the fans, making it one of the more accessible "hardcore" FPS experiences out there.

Kojima wrapped everything up in a nice little bow and gave it to us as a parting gift. Your questions get answered, your heartstrings get pulled, your mind gets blown, and you finally get the closure you've spent the last two decades earning.

The real reason to pick up this version over last year's are the presentation upgrades.

The complete package, and I believe it’s the best game on the PS2. The gameplay is gripping and the story is so good, my wife wouldn’t let me play through the end of the game without her present.

One of the most amazing aspects of this game is how the world responds to your actions. It is very open ended, and the decisions that you make during the course of your adventures directly affect the outcome of the entire game... One of the greatest RPGs that I have played thus far.

This game looks amazing. The character models and animation are clearly the cream of the crop...If you're not completely sold by now, then the Kumite will definitely put you over the top.

With airtight controls, improved defensive and offensive AI, more animations, a deep and rewarding franchise that allows you to actually own a team this season, John Madden football looks to big in a great position to continue their reign as the undisputed champs of video football.

Still, despite some evident flaws, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a game you should be playing. It’s one of the few open-world RPG’s that manages to excel at not only giving you an expansive world to explore, but at also giving you plenty to do within that world.

Damn near flawless in almost every way shape and form. Brilliant visuals, ear pleasing audio, highly addictive game play, and enough modes and tracks to keep you busy for months on end.

In a game where the amount of content is similar to the overwhelming amount of stuff in Japan on one's first visit, and that already managed to waste away hours on end before online play was included, it's safe to say that Super Smash Bros. Brawl has one heck of a lifespan.

Basically the developers took everything that was right about GT and multiplied it by a factor of ten in GT2.

With an enthralling story, complex characters, interesting gameplay and gorgeous visuals and audio, The Last of Us Part II is probably one of the most polished videogame experiences out there and it’s pretty easy to give it a great score and call it a day. But honestly, thanks to the intense pace, mature subject matter and stressful situations, it may not be for everyone.

Despite having “cleared” Hades a number of times, and having defeated the same bosses over and over again, I keep coming back for more, and a lot of that comes down to just how much damn fun the game is to play. So yeah, Hades is absolutely worth a purchase, or a second purchase even, on these new platforms. You absolutely owe it to yourself to check it out, and I can confidently say that you’ll not be disappointed.

The best way to enjoy this game online is to forgo rank matches, find a few real life friends that have the game and a few online people that share your interests and play with them.

A great GTA game that culls as much from the older titles as it does from the new ones.

All in all, I found the new additions introduced in Tetris Effect: Connected to be well worth playing and experiencing. The new Connected mode was an experience with Tetris I’ve never had before and is a must-play for anyone interested in Tetris at all.

I can't think of a single negative thing to say about it, and it's definitely in the contender for Game of the Year.

It’s one of the better roguelikes out there, and makes for a great action-adventure in general, with an engaging story, excellent writing, beautiful music, and some amazing art to go along with it.

If you purposely waited those extra months in hope that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 for the Xbox would be the definitive version, you made the right choice.

I genuinely cannot find a real fault with this game. Sound design is incredible, the visuals are stunning, the story exceeds all expectations, combat and puzzle design manage to remain true to what fans would want, while also seamlessly translating themselves to the VR space, there is humor, there is horror, everything comes together and creates the perfect Half-Life game. This is the game that VR was waiting for, this is the game that VR was built for, and if you have VR technology, you owe it to yourself to play this game. If you have been waiting for the right game to come along and make the VR purchase worth it, Half-Life: Alyx is it.

It’s a well-crafted experience that’s certainly more than the sum of its parts, even if those parts are by and large pretty damn good. It’s a satisfying and intriguing experience from top to bottom, and something that’s well worth checking out.

The story of Braid is definitely open for interpretation, and there's subtext aplenty for players who want to debate what the story could possibly mean. It's definitely ahead of the curve for most videogame plots, but it's not integral to actually enjoying the game either.

Super Mario 3D World is a master class in platforming fun, and deserves every bit of praise heaped upon it.

God of War was a masterpiece when it was released and raised the bar for what a game like it could be. It is one of the best games of that generation and sits somewhere in my top 10-20 best games of all time. This new PC port fires on all cylinders and elevates this already great game to further greatness. I experienced no issues with my entire playthrough, the game never crashed, I did not find any bugs or glitches, and the performance was always exactly what I expected out of the systems I played on. I cannot recommend both the game and the PC port highly enough.

Every course and environment in SSX is stunning.

So if you've had the pleasure of playing the game previously, rest assured you'll have an equally hard time putting it down on the Vita, much like the original on PS2. And for new players, I envy the ability to go into this game fresh again, because it's really one of the best RPG experiences of the past two console generations. For either or, previous Persona 4 players or newcomers, this is one Vita game that can't be missed.

I’m absolutely in love with this game, and if you haven’t given it a shot yet, I think you’ll find a lot to love about Persona 5 too. It’s not a huge departure from Persona 3 or 4, but there’s been some noticeable changes and improvements made that do make a difference, all of which are for the better. The dungeon variations, the stealth mechanics, and even the ease with which you can navigate the overworld map are noticeably better than before. So even if you’ve felt a little lukewarm about the series up until now, I’d still urge you to give Persona 5 a try.