Incredibly different from anything else on the market, thanks to a great blend of gameplay styles and wonderful combat. Fairly linear however, and uneven difficulty can make some bosses frustrating.

Long after finishing the story the multiplayer will still hold its enjoyment. It offers a drastically different experience from all the other Live action games, making it probably the newest reason to subscribe to Live.

Burnout Paradise has taken several huge gambles in altering the already-winning formula of the franchise. For the most part, Criterion and EA have a winner on their hands.

The end result is an engrossing racing experience - one which draws upon both the simulation and arcade ends of the racing spectrum and balances them perfectly in order to provide the most enjoyable rally racing experience on the Xbox.

If a gamer gives DQ IX a chance, the odds are stacked that it won't leave the DS cartridge slot for countless hours.

The undisputed champion of boxing games is Fight Night Round 4.

Heavy Rain transcends the current definition of a video game and blazes a beautiful, artistic trail with a psychological thriller that features shades of Hitchcock.

In short, Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are excellent remakes of the Gold and Silver pair of games.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the latest in a long line of grade-A Nintendo side-scrolling platformers. Loads of warm nostalgia mixes with fresh level design to form the most fun you'll have with the Wii this year (and probably well into 2010, too).

It mixes together some very well-designed elements, such as its battle system, level design, puzzle design and its funny, charming storyline.

When we first started playing Zack & Wiki, we found ourselves instantly liking the adventure. There's something undeniably fun and enthralling about this point-and-click adventure.

With the most polish and highest production values yet, DiRT 2 should be taken out for a test drive by everyone.

In short, Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are excellent remakes of the Gold and Silver pair of games.

Resistance 2 is perfect example of epic storytelling at its finest. It innovates the FPS genre with a unique twist on co-op modes and large scale, and its 60 person fragfests breathe excitement into the title. It does fall into some conventional FPS trappings, like linear level design, but you can't fault the game too much because the entire experience from front to cover is so polished, you can practically see your reflection when you look at it.

Not only gorgeous, but is also one of the most realistic sports games to date.

The game translates well on the PSP and is almost an exact carbon copy of the technical achievements brought forth by its bigger brother.

If you consider yourself a gamer and fancy the online stores, there is no excuse not to play Shooter.

GRID does a brilliant job of balancing the depth of simulation racing with the pure fun of arcade racing, and the result is as intense as it is accessible.

Insomniac has created another Ratchet and Clank to top the last one.

This is a no-brainer. PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe is one of the best games on the PSP.

Unreal Tournament 3 for the PS3 is easily the closest a console has ever come to capturing the look and feel of a true "twitch" FPS.

As an expansion pack, Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles never feels like it’s going out of the way to impress, and that’s because it’s not. Still, because the underlying formula behind the Elder Scrolls series is so irresistibly fun, we can’t help but love the game.

If you're a diehard sports gamers and/or in love with the fundamental basis of the American version of the game of baseball, then you're in for a ride.

If you want a focused single player game with a heavy reliance on strategy that blends genres in a unique way, you need to play Chronicles.

Resistance also is amongst the best storytelling this genre has probably ever seen. It's all told through documentary-style narration that takes itself very seriously.

There isn't any question that Bash Party is one of the best games on the Wii. It is that simple.

Capybara Games needs to be commended for taking a franchise that nobody cares about any more and turning it into something that deserves undivided attention by using an innovation, beautiful art and smart game design to keep the gameplay addicting.

While Madden NFL 06 has a few nice extras, for the most part, it feels like Madden 2005 Version 2.1. Sometimes being uncontested isn't such a good thing.

If you are serious about getting serious with fighting games, BlazBlue is the first game you need to check out.

Mercenaries can simply be described as unadulterated fun. Every facet of the game contributes to the overall experience, creating a game that is far more than the sum of it's parts.

With the endearing characters complete with hilarious personality, unforgettable gameplay, depth, style and the all important "X" factor, Patapon only delights.

Dragon Age is a cinematic masterpiece that incorporates action at all the right spots to keep you firmly interested and dedicated to saving the world from the Darkspawn. You can't go wrong with Dragon Age.

Perhaps Trials HD should be named "Holy crap, I'm doing flips while things are exploding and I can't put down the controller because I'm having so much fun" since Trials HD sounds rather boring compared to what the game actually entails. Trials HD is one of the must haves for your XBLA collection.

A greater story, more memorable characters, and improved combat options make KOTOR 2 another intergalactic trip you'll thoroughly enjoy.

This Guitar Hero might be on its first World Tour but it is assuredly world class.

NCAA has managed to satiate a lot of different palettes, while expanding outside of the confines of the console to provide a potentially richer experience for gamers who choose to take advantage of the new online features.

For this gamer, it has taken valuable time away from some full-featured titles, not to mention the rest of the Xbox Live Arcade lineup.

Fight Night: Round 3 has graphics that are reminiscent of a Square Enix film, sound that is rich and realistic, and gameplay that is intuitive and painfully addictive.

There is a very satisfying mix of competitive and cooperative gameplay. And because of the way that the level design, puzzle design and all four Links work together so greatly, the end experience is a truly entertaining and enjoyable one.

Don't hazard anymore guesses, Joe Danger is a must own on the PSN.

Quite frankly, it's the best RPG to grace a Nintendo console since the Super Nintendo glory days.

Regardless of some small faults, when it gets down to it, if you're at all into skateboarding, you simply have to play Skate.

Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is essentially the same as previous installments, with some good upgrades and bad downgrades.

More than ever before, Madden looks, feels and plays like any given Sunday. If you purchase one football game this decade, this is it.

This is one of the most difficult games you'll play this year and that's a compliment.

While Madden NFL 06 has a few nice extras, for the most part, it feels like Madden 2005 Version 2.1. Sometimes being uncontested isn't such a good thing.

Anyone whose interest ends at the single-player or the co-op campaign could potentially set the game aside after a little as five hours. Those who fall in love with the new gameplay will find more than enough reason to return to the shadows.

Project Gotham Racing 4 feels like an update to Project Gotham Racing 3 more so than a full-fledged sequel.

Tatsunoko vs Capcom is a solid entry in the Vs Capcom line and certainly worth experiencing for die-hard Capcom fighting fans, but has a few little rough spots that could have benefited from extra effort.

MLB 08 is the best edition of a baseball game to come across the home console plate in recent memory.

The content, excitement and sheer amount of fun re-imagines Lara Croft in a way that will ensure she remains a powerful force in gaming for a long time to come.

The game has always looked amazing, and now they’ve taken it up a notch by giving more detail to each character, especially Sam, and environments.

What this game will be remembered for is the ability to bring down the rain and watch buildings as they buckle from extreme destruction, all the while having a huge grin across your face.

More than ever before, Madden looks, feels and plays like any given Sunday. If you purchase one football game this decade, this is it.

This Guitar Hero might be on its first World Tour, but it is assuredly world class.

The best game currently out for the 360 and one of the best fighting games ever made.

It is hard not to like LocoRoco 2. It relishes in a happy mood and does its best to spread the happiness to everyone that picks up the game.

SCIV takes the existing winning formula and carefully adds new elements to make this edition the best edition ever.

Indeed, though Fable has been continuously compared to the likes of "Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind," this is not Morrowind. It is much more linear – more so than that title and even Bioware's 2003 hit, "Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic."

For those fans, it's a blast from the past chock full of nostalgia and other fuzzy feelings. Unfortunately, new players with an ever-growing backlog of games that are begging to be experienced simply won't have the time to enjoy Monkey Island 2.

Someone must have switched to regular coffee because Guitar Hero 5 is fresh and reinvigorates the series with outstanding presentation value and entertaining modes.

Super Stardust HD one-ups "Geometry Wars" on every front, and as such, should be a game that keeps players coming back for a long time. Seven months after the PS3's launch, it sounds silly to say that one of the best games for the system only costs eight dollars, but it might be true.

While the game is overly easy at times and some of the level design isn't as likable or memorable as past Paper Marios, we absolutely recommend Super Paper Mario. It's a great Wii game that just about anybody can enjoy.

But is Professor Layton a puzzler or an adventure game? It doesn't really matter, because visiting the Curious Village will be the best vacation you'll have in quite some time.

While it's a lot of fun to play and provides quite a bit of replay value, the horrid save system and some other minor annoyances keep Dead Rising from rising to the status of instant classic.

The best addition to The Two Thrones is Babylon itself. Gone are the lifeless vistas of ancient palaces and forgotten islands. Babylon is a living/breathing city filled with a fearful populace oppressed by an enemy army.

Yet another remarkable production by the skilled developers at Intelligent Systems. The series finally returns to the console realm, and its radiance should incite anyone to do one thing: cross the path, and never look back.

Boom Blox might not be the blockbuster, cinematic video game that many -- including myself -- expected from the mind of Spielberg, but that doesn't make it any less fun.

Far Cry 2 is a great FPS once you get by the control system.

Make no mistake about it, Fight Night 2004, is by far the best boxing game ever. Period. The new total punch control system adds an unprecedented amount of realism to the genre without sacrificing any of the fun.

Final Fantasy IV is another DS masterpiece.

A cocktail of equal parts exhilaration and terror, F.E.A.R. excels in every facet of game design. The definition of a must-play title.

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is a must buy for any fan of the 2D Castlevania games or for anybody looking for a solid action/adventure experience.

The best part is that Sucker Punch created a game that invites you to explore the world and makes it hard to leave.

The improvements made to the Battlefield formula have changed the way future Battlefield games will be judged. Right now, the only company to be with is Bad Company.

Call of Duty: World at War is an excellent shooter.

All in all, Tiger Woods 11 is a great choice for fans of the sport, and a good time is guaranteed whether the player is a golf buff or a complete newcomer to the sport.

A “play-it-safe” sequel.

Blast Off is yet another game from Halfbrick that shows that PSP Minis can be cheap and be just as entertaining and well done as games that cost thrice as much.

It's not refined enough as an action game to contend with the likes of Gears of War, it's been usurped in the survival horror category by the stellar Dead Space, and it's such a deviation from the franchise's foundation that it's almost certain to alienate a large contingent of diehard fans.

Things are not quite up to the standards of Sands of Time, but this is easily the second-best of the three next-gen Prince of Persias. Not bad. Not at all.

UFC Undisputed 2010 one of the deepest fighting games on the market, one that is every bit as nuanced and competitively sound as the likes of Virtua Fighter and Street Fighter.

Tri is a compelling game. Despite the problems with the controls and camera, those are small bumps in the road to a grand quest that is engrossing enough to sink hours upon hours into.

If you've been a fan of 2K's NBA series this won't be a disapointment. Don't expect much more then a good game of basketball though.

The remedy to a lot of gamers out there that want the control of "NBA Street" but the entire NBA roster and the pro ball experience.

While The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction isn't a long or involving game, what is here is fantastic and deserves a look.

Even if you aren't a fan, it is undeniable that GH: Metallica is the best version of the Guitar Hero franchise to date, from a technical standpoint. GH: Metallica is guaranteed to exceed your expectations.

Developer Grasshopper Manufacture went above and beyond in creating a game that features some tightly packed pacing and fun, mature gameplay that the Wii doesn't see as often as it should.

With a solid mix of new meets old, Devil May Cry 4 pushes the series forward. Featuring a good balance of challenge and amazing gameplay, Capcom has produced another great installment to the franchise.

Above average, but nothing really innovative that left me in awe.

The big takeaway is that DJ Hero reinvents how music games are defined by the innovation brought forward and, in the same stroke, revitalizes the genre with a fresh approach.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is the best DS RPG.

When you have a formula that works, all you have to do is tweak it to make it better. That's exactly what RavenSoft did, and the results will not disappoint.

Skate 2 takes the great start that Black Box and EA got with Skate and elevates it a few notches.

And there you have it. Gearbox has conjured up something special, and it's not just another Brothers In Arms sequel.

No matter what you may think of adventure games, Indigo Prophecy is a stellar example of what a great game plays like. It's accessible to anyone who can hold a controller, and will have you hooked from beginning to end.

Simply put, Half-Minute Hero is the perfect game to take on the go. You can play in very short spurts, or you can sit down and play for a good hour and still feel satisfied either way.

This year's version of Madden isn't just good - it's legendary. Madden NFL 11 boasts a host of new features, but the most dramatically noticeable are the vastly improved running and receiving games.