Okami is a game that demands to be experienced. Amaterasu would wish it so.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion pulls off a miracle – it's deep enough for the hardcore ES fan, but designed in a way that even the average player can get into it without too much intimidation, though it can be overwhelming at first until the basics are grasped.

There’s not much more to say than if you love shooters, you need Gears of War 2.

Literally one of the biggest games ever created and it will take you weeks or even months just to see everything it has to offer.

Why is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas such a great game? To put it simply, the game is huge. It has such a variety of things going on that almost everybody can find a part of it that they enjoy.

God of War III, despite the final level's disappointing gameplay, felt immortal during every other hack-and-slash minute.

Putting aside the lack of online multiplayer, frustrating DLC structure, and lack of wireless controller, GHII still merits recommendation for most users.

Gamers who experienced Nate's extraordinary journey to find Shangri-La in 2009 should recognize the familiar gameplay, but still welcome this new adventure with open arms and a Sully-sized hug.

What is appealing about Anomaly: Warzone Earth is its value for money. For as little as $1.99 you can have a visually stunning tactical game that's as good as any on PSP or DS. As far as iPhone games go, it's certainly one of the top ten available, without question.

Rock Band also doesn’t go where Neversoft took Guitar Hero III; namely, it doesn’t have any boss battles with celebrity rockers or frantic weapons-based multiplayer mechanics. Harmonix, however, outperforms its former franchise when it comes to the graphics.

It is not only the best simulator on the market, it is the best racer period.

A masterpiece of epic proportions. From the innovative battle system to new ways of leveling up; the game gets a hold of you and never lets go. With roughly 50-100 hours playtime, Final Fantasy XII is an experience that you’ll never forget.

The game has issues, and isn't a huge improvement over Forza 2 (aside from the really good front end presentation), but it's still a fun and lengthy simulation of racing for those of us still into that stuff.

The practice mode is surprisingly more than a throw-away experience and the track list is not surprisingly full of some of rock n’ roll’s best songs.

Rayman Origins is a rare beast, both as a side-scroller and a clever game with a ton of heart. This is a game with a sense of humor and a sense of joy. Fans of the genre would be fools to miss it, as would anyone who appreciates artistic and eccentric game design, or who wants a non-traditional but extremely solid multiplayer title.

Visually, Metroid Prime 2 is amazing.

One solid game, and definitely one of, if not, the best music game this year. Mixing heavy metal riffs with the coolest American made controller yet, Guitar Hero is much deservedly rising to a cult status already.

On its own, the campaign is a bit short (though still excellent), and the multiplayer is a fun diversion but not as deep as a traditional online shooter, but combined, it's one of Sony's top online and offline games.

After the first game turned out to not be as good as expected, the interest in a sequel waned, but AC2 did a great job of redeeming itself and with any luck those who were turned off by the original will at least give the sequel a try, because it truly is a greatly improved game.

Is Metal Gear Solid 3 the best game of the year? Yes. Is Metal Gear Solid 3 the best in its series? No.

Resident Evil 4 is just as entertaining today as it was two years ago. It is one of those truly addicting games that one can play over and over again into the wee hours of the morning. The Wii edition is without a doubt the definitive version of this classic.

Exquisite, peerless, and redefining video games as we know it.

For those eight hours, as long as you haven’t tired of playing as the Ghost of Sparta on your last-gen PS2, you’re going to entertained by this handheld epic and you’re going to really enjoy seeing what’s on the back cover of the game manual.

Although the new areas are largely designed for levels 1-20, they provide a refreshing pace after going through the Alliance’s starting points about five times.

The diversity allowed by Mass Effect's character creation and leveling system is also a superb addition to the squad-based combat and keeps thing fresh as new character are introduced or removed from your squad.

For those who have not yet experienced the Adventures of Kratos, the God of War Collection is a no-brainer, and probably the best overall value on PS3 this year.

While the Gears of War 3 campaign will be better remembered for its variety and pacing than dramatic heft, it's the send off the Gears series deserves; one with enough content to keep it in our minds and disc trays for months to come. Whether you're craving some closure on the saga of planet Sera, or simply want as much multiplayer bang for your buck until Modern Warfare 3 arrives, you owe it to yourself to play Gears of War 3.

The “killer-app” for the DS. With it's finely tuned gameplay and insanely high production value, this title will make a worthy addition to any DS library.