But don’t forget we’re gamers, and you can be sure that if we get on two knees and kiss some ass, it’s not because we’re paid to, it’s because we’ve just played the kind of game that reminds us why we’re doing this in the first place.

Grand Theft Auto IV is not a perfect game, but it is fantastic through and through, from start to finish and beyond. It is so massive, vast and impressive that it is almost mind-boggling to imagine how much work must have gone into the game to come up with so much detail.

It’s neither perfect nor as revolutionary as some might make out, but it is one of the most progressive, gripping and downright fun games to hit the market in the last decade.

With something like 30 hours of outstanding single-player gameplay, plus a solid multiplayer mode and even a whole new audience being introduced to one of the greatest game series to have been produced, make no mistake, the release of The Orange Box is An Event.

It’s the game that shows just how powerful and capable the machine is of producing incredible games. It’s the game that at long last tops "Super Mario 64" as the finest platformer of them all. But, most importantly, it’s the game in which we can finally make Mario look like a bee.

It’s neither perfect nor as revolutionary as some might make out, but it is one of the most progressive, gripping and downright fun games to hit the market in the last decade.

Even if you rush through the story you can anticipate spending at least 50 hours to complete it. Rushing through is not as much fun, however, and you should take time to do the extra side quests, hunts, exploration, levelling up, etc.

On the whole, Half-Life 2 manages to be an incredible new game while still retaining that unique Half-Life magic.

It would be impossible to point out one area where it significantly outclasses its brethren, but from the choice of tracks to the game’s competitive spirit, it’s hard to imagine Bizarre Creations ever compiling a better package, or a better advert for racing on the 360.

The game combines the strengths of two fine RPG series, which for Fallout 3 means compelling narrative in a post-apocalyptic setting and immersive gameplay in a huge, open-ended world. All of this just leaves one question to answer: is Fallout 3 a contender for Game of the Year? And the answer: undeniably, yes.

The game combines the strengths of two fine RPG series, which for Fallout 3 means compelling narrative in a post-apocalyptic setting and immersive gameplay in a huge, open-ended world. All of this just leaves one question to answer: is Fallout 3 a contender for Game of the Year? And the answer: undeniably, yes.

It’s a sad state of affairs when games as majestic and perfectly constructed as Okami are ignored and world-class development studios such as Clover find themselves closed down after poor sales of their critically acclaimed titles simply because their games don’t feature enough guns or licensed music.

It’s brutal, beautiful and brilliant. God of War 2 gives gamers more of exactly what’s wanted: unashamedly blood-thirsty combat, an epic storyline and one badass anti-hero who doesn’t say anything without shouting it. You’re doing your PS2 a disservice if you don’t see it out with God of War 2.

We cannot emphasize this enough – if it’s not on your Christmas list, there’s still time. If you don’t get it from Christmas, don’t worry – just buy it your frigging self. If there were ever a game that was worth buying a console purely to play, this is it.

Jade Empire is a beautiful, resounding triumph, much like the strong, highly polished gemstone the game takes its name from.

Project Gotham is still a series plugging away in a league of its own, but this time in every sense. Absolutely astounding.

Much better than most other games on the DS. In particular it puts New Super Mario Bros to shame.

Now that it has arrived however, we can safely say that it's firmly up there as one of the best games released this year.

The astonishing array of imaginative and well implemented characters, along with the hundreds of unlockable items to discover, ensure that SSB Brawl is easily the most definitive Smash Bros yet, and the best game you can buy for the Wii. But forcing you to unlock half of the characters and stages, not to mention the unbelievably botched online options, only serves to frustrate everyone who foresaw the greatness that could have been.

If Colin McRae: DIRT was a sign of Codemasters regaining a foothold in the racing market, the latest Race Driver is evidence of the publisher taking full control. GRID makes the high points of its rivals feel like false dawns, and if what’s on offer here is a sign of things to come, we’re all in for a remarkable ride.

Not only does God of War have great gameplay, but the developers have done an awesome job with the graphics and flourishes of detail, and the sound, speech and music are all of the highest quality too.

If Colin McRae: DIRT was a sign of Codemasters regaining a foothold in the racing market, the latest Race Driver is evidence of the publisher taking full control. GRID makes the high points of its rivals feel like false dawns, and if what’s on offer here is a sign of things to come, we’re all in for a remarkable ride.

If Colin McRae: DIRT was a sign of Codemasters regaining a foothold in the racing market, the latest Race Driver is evidence of the publisher taking full control. GRID makes the high points of its rivals feel like false dawns, and if what’s on offer here is a sign of things to come, we’re all in for a remarkable ride.

It’s hard to describe every facet of Civ IV’s gameplay without writing an epic, but suffice it to say, this is everything Civilization fans could hope for.

It’s not perfect and there’s no real reason to prefer the Wii version over the Gamecube’s, but The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is every bit the masterpiece gamers have been craving for, and proves there’s life in the old wolf yet.

There's only so much we can say to convey the atmosphere that ICO exudes, and to try and communicate the feelings that the game brings about when played but, the truth is, the reality of playing (now there’s a contradiction of sorts, but we’ll stick with it) is largely indescribable.

A refreshing, immersive, massive, satisfying and hugely impressive game.

Subjectivity aside, on a pure bang to buck ratio Chaos Theory comes out tops, but as we're all too aware, there's no accounting for taste (or skill, you light-loving frag-fanatics).

Nevertheless, put the hype to one side, as WoW is still an exceptionally good game, and nothing less than a highly accomplished jewel in the crown of MMORPGs.

Gitaroo Man Lives! is a work of art. It’s Koei’s atonement for "Dynasty Warriors." It’s a masterpiece, one of the greatest achievements in video game history.

Gears of War isn’t a masterpiece of innovation: it’s a masterpiece of fun.

Rome: Total War is nothing less than awesome, and is engrossing enough to provide weeks of play at the very least.

A refreshing, immersive, massive, satisfying and hugely impressive game.

A refreshing, immersive, massive, satisfying and hugely impressive game.

It’s truly one of the most addictive games we’ve played this year, and teaches the mildly boring Port Royale 2 a thing or two about how such sims should be done.

It’s not perfect – there’s still the odd gripe here and there, and wheeling the same game engine out for the next instalment would be unforgivable – but SA is easily the most polished instalment of the series to date.

This is a huge, beautiful game that will draw you in, immerse you in another world have you talking about it with friends. It can be a beast at times, but once tamed, will serve you well. Even now we’re thinking of new ways to play and new things to try and desperately looking forward to BioWare throwing us an add-on shaped bone.

To experience it is to experience a conflicting mixture of belief and disbelief: belief at the immersive scenarios, rich detail and convincing acting, and disbelief at the jaw-dropping set pieces and hammer-to-the-head storytelling.

The new flag-bearer of a genre. Superbly paced with a supreme balance of thoughtful strategy and frantic firefights, the game stands up to repeated play even if you never touch the multiplayer or skirmish modes.

With its generous two new campaigns and refined online capabilities, there’ll certainly be no argument from us that it’s nothing less than an essential purchase.

Its music and visuals might not be to everybody’s taste, but it’s hypnotic, synaesthethic and addictive – even more essential today than ever. Melting your eyes, ears, hands and friends has never been so beautiful, or cheap.

To experience it is to experience a conflicting mixture of belief and disbelief: belief at the immersive scenarios, rich detail and convincing acting, and disbelief at the jaw-dropping set pieces and hammer-to-the-head storytelling.

You just want to continue and roll up a one and half kilometre katamari, picking up the White House, the Sphinx and Big Ben in the process, and listen to the incredible soundtrack again and again and again.

To experience it is to experience a conflicting mixture of belief and disbelief: belief at the immersive scenarios, rich detail and convincing acting, and disbelief at the jaw-dropping set pieces and hammer-to-the-head storytelling.

If you have a PS2 and don’t purchase and play both ICO and "Shadow of the Colossus," you’ll have done the gaming equivalent of going to a five-star restaurant and only eating breadsticks. It’s essential stuff.

An essential purchase, packed with great value and high quality content.

It's not perfect – there's still the odd gripe here and there, and wheeling the same game engine out for the next instalment would be unforgivable – but SA is easily the most polished instalment of the series to date.

It trumps the already brilliant original by being based on the classic trilogy of films and, in terms of gameplay, is the multiplayer co-op game of the decade so far.

It trumps the already brilliant original by being based on the classic trilogy of films and, in terms of gameplay, is the multiplayer co-op game of the decade so far.

Psychonauts is one of those games that truly stands out from the crowd. With its eclectic mix of styles and outstanding design, it’s likely to be remembered in the same kind of way we look back at games like Beyond Good and Evil.

The fact that Psychonauts isn’t on the radar as one of this year’s big releases is a major shame, as it is, quite simply, superb.

Battlefield 2 is a fantastic online shooter, and possibly one of the best we’ve played. The attention to detail, the features and the fantastically designed maps combine to make a brilliant game.

Patapon is far more than just a unique new mix of genres – it’s just so damn charming it could tell you kill a puppy and you would.

It trumps the already brilliant original by being based on the classic trilogy of films and, in terms of gameplay, is the multiplayer co-op game of the decade so far.

The story is deep and well thought out, the script at times dark, at times humorous, but always entertaining.

It's certainly not the game to convert anyone from one camp to the other. It delivers a new story, new features and kick-ass multiplayer functionality, but still has exactly the same gameplay as we've all seen before.

The fact that Psychonauts isn't on the radar as one of this year's big releases is a major shame, as it is, quite simply, superb.

There may not be more cars than can ever be theoretically driven to make it the Xbox's Gran Turismo, and it's not the deepest racing game, so Bizarre Creations won't be quaking in their boots in fear for the safety of their spectacular Xbox 360 sequel, Project Gotham Racing 3, but Forza Motorsport is an essential racing sim for Xbox gamers everywhere.

It trumps the already brilliant original by being based on the classic trilogy of films and, in terms of gameplay, is the multiplayer co-op game of the decade so far.

Yet again the series fails to become a proper racing game, with its rigid car physics and lack of decent opponents to face off against, but it’s still a fantastic and lengthy game in its own right.

On a pure bang to buck ratio Chaos Theory comes out tops, but as we’re all too aware, there’s no accounting for taste. On the PC version, only online lag issues mar an otherwise excellent experience.

It's not just a classic game, it's an essential purchase – no matter which version you decide to get it for.

The beautiful animation, the brutal, unforgiving and incessant combat and the raw badass-ness of Kratos are things we just can’t get enough of, and to have it all on the PSP gives us more reason to love Sony’s widescreen brick even more.

Slight irritations aside, Sports Interactive continues to be the pioneering force in making football management sims. So do yourself a favour; buy this game, stock up the fridge and don’t forget to feed the dog.

The epic feel, ease of control and attention to detail all round makes this a joy to play. You really won’t feel that you are playing a strategy game, but you’ll get the kind of rewards from it that only hours spent on a game like this can bestow on you.

The most important point, though, is that that unique blend of playground-style level design and narrative-driven play that was so very nearly exemplary the first time round has been greatly refined, and no longer suffers any flaws quite as game-spoiling as before.

Burnout Paradise is pretty huge, and hugely pretty. It doesn’t have the diversity in appearance of some open-ended games, but the previously mindless racing of past Burnout games has been brought into sharp and very satisfying focus.

It's not just a classic game, it's an essential purchase – no matter which version you decide to get it for.

While the single player game may have taken a couple of steps backwards, it’s still a big deal to have a game like this on a handheld, and an even bigger one to have a fully realised multiplayer mode.

The most immersive and beautiful FPS yet to appear on a console. The single player has great pacing, challenge and satisfaction, while the multiplayer is accessible and fun.

The humour from the original game returns in full flow, too. A lot of the dialogue is laugh out loud funny. [JPN Import]

Even if you already enjoyed the game two years ago, it’s well worth a second play through on what will undoubtedly be considered to be the definitive version of the Resident Evil instalment for people who don’t like Resident Evil. Blood, gore, violence, swearing and sensational controls in a mainstream game – everything “they” said the Wii wasn’t about.

For many, Rainbow Six will have finally reached the giddy heights of classic-status gaming, with Vegas retaining the series’ tactical edge but opening it up to a wider and more accepting audience. Ubisoft has taken a gamble, but ultimately it has paid off.

Pikmin 2 excels in every respect.

You just really need to know that it plays brilliantly, like an action-orientated version of more traditional MMORPGs. The scope of the PvE alone would justify the price, but the PvP aspect truly sweetens the deal to the point where you really can’t say no.

And most uniquely of all, the single-player-only game easily packs in around 30 hours of gameplay, making it extremely good value for money.

Wario Ware is a fun game, but above anything else it's a simple one.

As an FPS game, somewhat inferior, but as an interactive experience, simply unmatched.

As a handheld game, Lumines excels in almost every conceivable way.

No doubt a new title entirely rather than an enhanced re-release would have been more welcome, but less than six months in, Burnout: Revenge provides the Xbox 360 with some glorious moments of unhinged debauchery.

Whether borrowed, reworked or completely original, all the elements have been expertly crafted and put together.

Despite basically repeating a lot of the moves seen in the modern Prince of Persia games, Mirror’s Edge’s distinctive, haunting atmosphere, immersive first-person perspective and completely intuitive controls make it truly outstanding.

A classic title, but in some respects only just.

It’s a shame that more wasn’t done with the story, as the shallow characters and lack of moral depth sits in stark contrast to the hard work spent on some of the most impressive game technology we’ve ever seen.

Perhaps only a third party can produce a title that so glorifies a series that revolutionised cinema, because it’s Pandemic and not LucasArts that has created a game that lives up to the vast shadow created by the films.

It’s a shame that more wasn’t done with the story, as the shallow characters and lack of moral depth sits in stark contrast to the hard work spent on some of the most impressive game technology we’ve ever seen.

The soundtrack is better, the characters more convincing and, for our money, the racing experience just that little bit more enjoyable.

Perhaps only a third party can produce a title that so glorifies a series that revolutionised cinema, because it’s Pandemic and not LucasArts that has created a game that lives up to the vast shadow created by the films.

Guitar Hero may not be a universal pick-up-and-play party game in the way that, say, SingStar is, since there’s an initially steep learning curve, but for the inducted it’s a master in its class and no worse for a change of developer.

This game is just as addictive as it ever was, it’s deeper than it ever was, and you can fiddle away with more stats, tactics and other various twiddly things than you ever could. We can’t find anything major to complain about.

It’s an ambitious game, but, importantly, not an overly ambitious one. All the important elements – gameplay, graphics, story, audio – have come together really, really well, making it well worth at least one play through if you can get your hands on a PlayStation 3.

As a modern update to a classic and as an example of neo retro presentation, Space Invaders Extreme works and it works well. Taito has walked a tightrope between faithful and contemporary gameplay without the need for a safety net.

It does lack GTA4’s overall polish and sense of parody, but it at least doesn’t it take itself too seriously and there’s something to be said for absurd levels of comic violence. Crucially, what the game sets out to do best it does do better than the GTA series, and that’s depth of customisation, structure of missions and online co-op.

The sound of Jack's shallow breathing as he becomes increasingly frightened is very effective, and there is nothing quite as unnerving as hearing the growls and mutters of your pursuers as you hole up in some dark corner.

If it’s a great story with likeable characters (with the notable exception of Phoenix’s slightly annoying assistant he picks up shortly into the game) you want, then Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney will sink its claws into you and not let go until the judge’s hammer comes down on that final case.

Forget tennis elbow – the only tennis-related injury you’ll be complaining of from now on is Virtua Tennis thumb.

For music game veterans, World Tour is still well worth getting, but not exclusively so and not if you’re looking for drastically new gameplay. 2008 has definitely been the year of music games, and while this one is definitely among the cream, it’s no longer alone.

For fans of the genre, this is pretty much the only game you need, or will do for a long while, while for those who are just curious, now is as good a time as any for a little experimentation.