GTA IV is the kind of title every gamer must have in their collection to justify their title as said gamer. It's near perfection in all areas, and in all honesty, I won't be reaching for my copy of GTA III anymore whenever I need my fix.

It's rare to find a game that encompasses a teaching tool as effective as Rocksmith, with virtually no negatives to observe, while still being enjoyable to play. Though for the first day or two you'll feel some pain in the tips of your fingers as your new guitarist callous' begin to form, it's a small trade for the skills, abilities, and pride you'll feel as you level-up as a genuine musician. Nothing beats learning useful and fun real-life skills, especially when it's with something as cool as an electric guitar.

It's rare to find a game that encompasses a teaching tool as effective as Rocksmith, with virtually no negatives to observe, while still being enjoyable to play. Though for the first day or two you'll feel some pain in the tips of your fingers as your new guitarist callous' begin to form, it's a small trade for the skills, abilities, and pride you'll feel as you level-up as a genuine musician. Nothing beats learning useful and fun real-life skills, especially when it's with something as cool as an electric guitar.

It has not only a fun and engaging single player mode but also a robust multiplayer mode that can keep you busy long after you've played the game.

Make no mistake, BioShock is a masterpiece, as pure a gaming experience as exists today.

It's very hard to describe a Civilization game in great detail without starting to ramble. If you take nothing else from this review, know that Civilization V is more inviting, fun, and engrossing than any lengthy description can truly convey.

As great as "Morrowind" was (and it was difficult to imagine better), Oblivion is a game that does everything ten times better. It also makes playing any other game out there seem trivial.

As great as "Morrowind" was (and it was difficult at the time to imagine better), Oblivion is a game that does everything ten times better. It also makes playing any other game out there seem trivial. Oblivion is not just a game, it's an experience.

The amount of polish, dedication, and heart put into this game by Blizzard shows why they are one of the best developers out there today. No matter who you are, if you consider yourself a gamer, you need to play StarCraft 2.

In closing, if you have a Wii, you should have Super Mario Galaxy 2. It's one of the best games on the system, and is likely the best game in the series.

Make no mistake, BioShock is a masterpiece, as pure a gaming experience as exists today.

While many of the features that Forza Motorsport 3 brings to bear are nothing new to the racing genre they all come together in a fantastic package.

The game is just as fun as the original if not more so, and rocking the guitar is really addictive. The addition of Widescreen/Progressive scan for those with HDTV also makes the game look better than ever.

But overall this is an incredible package that is without a doubt already a contender for game of the year.

Assassin’s Creed II is one of those few games that manage to be both intimate and epic.

A new twist on the shooter genre, amazing graphics and a top-notch presentation are only the starting points for a game that stands, bar-none, as the next-gen title to beat in the future.

But overall this is an incredible package that is without a doubt already a contender for game of the year.

Assassin’s Creed II is one of those few games that manage to be both intimate and epic.

Heavy Rain is an amazing title, flat out.

Overall Space Marine is an awesome experience. The game lasts for about 12 to 15 hours which is just long enough. Due to the well paced story and well handled upgrades to your equipment this running time gives you just long enough to mess around with all of the goodies before it's time to move on to the multiplayer.

Overall Space Marine is an awesome experience. The game lasts for about 12 to 15 hours which is just long enough. Due to the well paced story and well handled upgrades to your equipment this running time gives you just long enough to mess around with all of the goodies before it's time to move on to the multiplayer.

Although the sequel suffers a little from being the middle game of the trilogy and the stepping stone of the (hopefully) grand finale, Mass Effect 2 is extremely well polished and improved from its predecessor in almost every respect.

Now, what did I say before…ah right: Orange Box is a great package, filled with excellent games that are instant classics, and is a must-play for any gamer that enjoys a solid story, polished gameplay, and a great deal.

Easily one of the best real-time strategy games on the market to date. With a heavy emphasis on tactics, cover, and unit management, playing means thinking strategically and not just sending in units to perish.

Everything in this game is perfect, including the excellent characters and graphics, and the realistic sound effects. Half-Life is not a game, it is an adventure.

If you own a Wii, you owe it to yourself to discover or rediscover one of the scariest and flat-out best games ever made.

As far as first-person shooters go, this is one of the best on the market, and is something anyone that’s sure to interest anyone who has dabbled in the genre.

Minor quibbles aside, we here at GamingExcellence have never been so happy to be so enraged. It's a great day for gaming when we can welcome id Software back into our living rooms and computer desks. RAGE is an easy candidate for the best game of the year, and was well worth the wait. Don't miss it.