Reach is the most spectacularly euphoric hello and goodbye in gaming history.

I can’t name another game in this genre that attempts to inject this much humor into the gameplay that never falls flat.

Team play innovations, graphical supremacy and the thundering roar of enemy jets combined with persistent stats all work together to really put you There. There being any one of the varied, immaculately crafted maps, each available in 16, 32 and 64 player sizes.

I hesitate to say, at this early stage, that this is actually a better game than either Fallout 1 or 2, but it very well may be; at the least, it is game-of-the-year material.

Certainly the best of the trilogy. It is a highly refined experience, an exceptional showcase of the growing experience of the team at Epic.

The best superhero game to date. It captures everything that makes Batman who he is with some fluent yet brutal combat and clever stealth action.

As one of the most critical Nintendo fans around, it's nice to see a game come out for the GBA that's original, pretty, fun, and doesn't involve any one of their stupid mascots.

Castlevania means well, providing marvellous visuals and setting a superb atmosphere. But it suffers from hideous amounts of revisiting.

Super Mario Kart is still the best Mario Kart ever, but Mario Kart DS is remarkably close to edging past the original in almost every way.

Minor annoyances aside though, Assassin’s Creed II is a superb game. Ubisoft have clearly listened to the reaction to the first game and have gone out of their way to remedy its problems.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is by far the best expansion of the set, and though it stumbles in its speedy progression from 80 to 85 and the Archaeology profession is boring and repetitive, the bulk of the content feels vast and polished.

Bayonetta is a spectacular game. The combat is truly exceptional, taking the baton from games like Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden and blowing them out of the water.

Despite being hampered by a well meaning, but ultimately interfering, plot, Far Cry 3 has evolved into a decadent, playful and exciting title. Be it quality programming, dumb luck or a mixture of them both, the game plunges you into a thick, gloopy world of sugary gameplay, shimmering visuals, intoxicating audio as well as a great deal more. It's long, stupid and buckets of fun - just what you need to burn away the winter blues.

The minimalist approach and stunning atmosphere elevates the game above the many generic titles surrounding it on store shelves. However, the game would have been more unique if the puzzles didn’t involve so many of those boring boxes and levers.

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter is stunning, exciting, fun and exhilarating to play, a great example of the 360’s power and online service and an essential title for all Xbox 360 owners.

The adventure is lengthy, the characters are entertaining, and this is truly a game that you’ll want to keep in your pocket for any free minute you find yourself with. DS owners should not miss out on what could certainly be the best handheld RPG of 2009.

It boils down to this: if you have GTAIV on the Xbox 360, buy this expansion. If you don’t have it on the Xbox 360... apologies. In a perfect world, it’d be available on all platforms, but sadly, politics wins out.

It's beautifully made with attention paid to every aspect of its visual and musical presentation.

To say that 'this is the best FIFA' yet' has become a cliché, but again it's undeniable. The series' momentum continues and there's no doubt that EA have yet again outdone themselves.

From a strictly footballing point of view, FIFA 10 has once again cemented the series’ position as the football game of choice by succeeding in taking the genre forward as EA Canada – seemingly by themselves these days – comes ever closer to capturing what is so alluring about The Beautiful Game.

Whilst I prefer the simplicity of EA Big's title, ESPN has got me hooked on the professional side of football, if not only to fill up my virtual house full of football clobber.

An invigorating blend of old and new, classic puzzle-based adventuring spliced with a user-friendly, touch-screen interface, and finally, a sparkling re-invention to a formula that has been mostly untouched ever since Shigeru Miyamoto’s original recipe came to light twenty long years ago.

This game has it all; the gameplay is solid and far more balanced than those of previous games, the many characters both return and make memorable debuts, and wide variety of new weapons, features and gaming modes will keep you coming back to quench your thirst for mass destruction. Accordingly, this game blows the competition out of the water.

One of the most inventive, original, and down right entertaining games you’ll play this year.

The pitching/hitting interface is excellent and teaches players how to throw and hit in an intuitive and natural manner.

Episode Two is an absolute must-purchase for any FPS fan. It’s an amazing experience from beginning to end. I truly cannot think of a way to improve this game.

It doesn’t just copy a certain plumber’s early adventures verbatim like so many before it – some of them excellent in their own right – did, but seeks to plant the seeds of growth that the genre has lacked for so many years in showing that, by imprinting its own identity on a well weathered template, incredible things can happen.

With all the lackluster console-to-PC ports in existence, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay absolutely towers over the competition. The fascinating commentary mode and bonus level improve what was already a stellar game.

Look, folks. If you have any interest in RPGs, you need to play Persona 4. Period. It’s one of the best titles available on the PS2. In fact, it just might be the console's swan song.

A haunting, tragic experience that no one should miss. Some of its dark luster is soured by a few of its bold design choices, but neither of which ruin its resounding accomplishment.

The journey to restore the world’s vitality is long and enjoyable, filled with memorable characters and scenes.

Super Meat Boy is overflowing with content that no other release can match and I wouldn't be surprised at all if it brings home Game of the Year accolades from many publications.

It may not rock the boat as much as it did on DS, but Chinatown Wars is still one of the finest examples of handheld action on the market.

Dead Space 2 provides an innovative and haunting gaming experience; it competently continues on the foundations laid by its innovative predecessor and serves to massively expand what is already a popular cross-media franchise.

With tons of new levels, characters, and treasures, this game will have you coming back for more, even after you've paid off that debt. They've taken everything that we've held dear about the original, and expanded it throughout, making a more complete game and creating something that is a pleasure to play.

Another exceptional addition in a long line of shooters. While it does put a new spin on certain elements the basic principle of play is the same as its predecessors, proving that massive change doesn't always trump simple refinement.

Despite my gripe with the animations in multiplayer, Civilization V is the perfect entry for the series' debut in the current generation of gaming.

A game for everyone, young or old, casual or hardcore. It's an easy game to get into and an easy game to latch onto. The levels are inventive, colorful and varied, constantly providing a new experience at each turn. It's a fun, polished game, but then it's a Mario, and I'd have expected nothing less.

There is no denying that Corruption lacks the substance that made its prequels so awesome. Despite the near-perfect motion controls, the experience just isn't as exciting anymore.

Is Guild Wars 2 a revolutionary MMORPG? Not quite. It is, however, a good game and some of the best value per dollar spent currently available.

While the visuals leave something to be desired, they're easily overlooked thanks to the brilliant job the developers did with the actual gameplay. And really, isn't that all that matters?

This is a superb game, one of the finest games that I've personally played in years.

It's the experience of playing the game that demands attention, because there is very little quite like it. It's a strange and unusual game that plays in a familiar manner to explore an unfamiliar world, and it's worth exploring. As long as you don't mind dying a few times to get there.

A triumphant game. It's wonderfully complex and detailed, and vibrantly decorated with historical trappings that will satisfy anyone with a passing interest in military strategy. While the presentation and multiplayer are a little rough around the edges, there's more than enough content to make the game a more than worthwhile experience.

Regardless of any latent, potentially ethically inquiring core, however, this is a strategy title that triumphantly captures the essence of oppressive and authoritarian leadership in conflict, in the process achieving - on the surface and indeed for most players - exactly what it sets out to do.

This is without a doubt a sports game worth experiencing and one which feels both utterly unnecessary and entirely essential at once during this year's lockout season.

Wipeout HD alone is a superb game, but when paired with its Fury expansion it becomes a near perfect package. For a cheap bargain this is ridiculously essential which represents possibly the greatest value to be found on the PS3.

While releasing Persona 3 for a third time might seem like a little much, P3P is more than different enough to be a fresh and interesting PSP title.

While I did get some enjoyment from playing it, especially the first 20 hours or so, I’m left craving something more substantial, probably something that invloves the words "Fantasy" and "Final".

One of the most incoherent, bat-sh.t mental videogames ever created has just got itself some clarity – magical.

Demon's Souls may make you throw controllers. It could possibly make you hate everything you've ever loved. It will probably make you yell curse words very, very loudly. It's also some of the best fun to be had on the PS3.

It successfully manages to humanise a bunch of polygons in ways that few games can. The inclusion of your dog, the accessible combat system and the trail are all things which make it enjoyable to play, but it's the humour and way in which your hero interacts with the rest of Albion which will really keep you coming back for more. Fable II is ambitious and inclusive, but this time Lionhead's audacity really has paid off.

Left 4 Dead 2 is an insanely fun co-op and competitive online experience, and that’s a great similarity to have with the original.

Ridiculously absorbing and criminally addictive.

It’s not nearly as methodical, subtle or intelligent as their other IPs, but Left 4 Dead dives head first into the abyss covered in blood, guts, bile – every horrible bodily fluid you can possibly think of, and comes out of the other end smelling like roses.

It is a much more refined game than Left 4 Dead and an improvement in every way.

It has a story done perfectly, and the action is slightly above tolerable, so most of the serious problems can mostly be overlooked. This game comes recommended, whether you like martial arts films or not.

The challenge of this game will bring out the best or the worst in a gamer, a true test of ability and skill. All of this is given to us with a great story, memorable characters, vivid settings, all wrapped up in a presentation that's second to none.

Though Citadel Action News rarely provides an editorial stance, we believe that all citizens across the galaxy should support Commander Shepard and his mission.

Dark Souls is hard, but it succeeds - once again - at never feeling overwhelmingly cheap, or plain stupid.

It’s an eight hour thrill ride with only a few poor missions and GTAIV’s dated gameplay holding it back. For the relatively cheap price it should be a must buy for any GTA fans, particularly those with a fondness for either Vice City or San Andreas.

Definitely a notable improvement over last year's offering and the new Home Field Advantage feature is marvelous, but the recycled visuals and mere handful of other additions may deter those who already own 2004 from purchasing the game.

Fez is quite a game, especially for people who look for interesting atmosphere and setting in their games.

Borderlands 2 successfully maintains every aspect that made the first game such a surprise hit and improves upon them in all the ways that matter.

Perhaps my favourite part of Football Manager 2006 is the adaptation of the match engine into today’s defence-minded tactics. Teams are now more likely to play 4-5-1 and will often change tactics throughout the game, keeping you on your toes. It’s amazing once again at how you can swing a game with some simple changes, like setting a forward to run on the ball more in an attempt to coax a defender on a booking to challenge him and get sent off.

For strategy fans, World In Conflict is an absolute must. It delivers pure action, but on a level that forces players to make intelligent decisions on the go.

Despite the incongruous nature of Human Revolution's bosses, they remain a minor – but noticeable – blemish on an otherwise fantastic experience.

It reintroduces us to an antihero on a quest for personal salvation, a cast of memorable characters, massive levels, remarkable gameplay, and one of the best presentations that the DS has to offer. It’s that kind of combination that makes for a truly excellent experience.

L.A. Noire is a fairly dull detective game unnecessarily superimposed on an open-world. Most of the time players spend while playing L.A. Noire is doing things that are boring, mindless, rote.

Let me make this clear, through capitalization: ANY GAME THAT DOES NOT SAVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU KILL A BOSS AND SEE THE ENSUING CUTSCENE HAS A BROKEN SAVE-GAME SYSTEM. I don’t care if it’s supposed to make the game more intense, it’s stupid, moronic, ridiculous, pointless and otherwise detrimental to the overall quality of the game.

Dishonored may not contain the depth of Skyrim or the unrivaled beauty of Uncharted, but it does present something new, innovative and engaging. It makes the player think about the effect their choices, both in terms of narrative and gameplay, may potentially have on the world around them.

It's intelligent, rewarding and challenging and with any luck it will find the audience it deserves.

Persona 3 FES is a very good JRPG which stands out from the crowd by having a unique setting and lots of sass and style.

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection is more than a convincing argument to upgrade from your old PlayStation 2 copies. It's an essential title in the library of anyone interested in narrative-lead gaming.

If you're part of the majority of fans who just want to skip straight into the online modes, there's no question: Battlefield 3 is stellar. The same can't be said for the rest of the package, so people uninterested in internet warfare would be best advised to stay away.

There's a quote that sums up the portable version of Mirror's Edge succinctly. A French writer once said that, "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

Dead Space 2 is a superior sequel in pretty much every way. Just like Dead Space before it, the game isn't subtle and grabs your attention from the start.

It strives to be a big, all-encompassing cyberpunk adventure, and it wholly succeeds.

An excellent game and a thoroughly enjoyable experience, but unfortunately the game is far too short. I don't say that too often, but I was left craving more out of the title.

This is one of the few times where a sequel overshadows its predecessor. Even though the Advance Wars series will be seeing some time on the Gamecube sometime in the future, Black Hole Rising is still a blessing of wonderful quality, floating in a sea of mediocre ports and lacking games.

In many ways it feels ahead of its time and once this technology becomes accepted as an industry standard, L.A. Noire will no longer feel as significant. Until then, it's a testament to Rockstar's ability to create characteristically rich worlds with top-notch production values and is also a pretty good homage to film-noir.

There are no truly wrong instances in this game that jump out, and many of the problems are just minor enough that they can be easily forgotten about after you actually get into the game and begin to enjoy it.

All criticism aside, this is a title that winds away the hours and, for the most part, is a joy to play. What I first considered to be a silly, childish story turned out to be a true portrayal of what most players will go through learning the ways of Peggle, in that you have to be patient, disciplined and sometimes lucky, too.

This game should prove fairly easy to those of us who have grown up with previous Mario titles; the levels are incredibly short, the difficulty is fair at best, and the whole thing seems to need a bit more fleshing out.

Stands strong as the top survival horror game of the decade.

If you are a basketball fan, get this game.

Dark Souls provides an amazing experience through a fantastic world, and it demands your patience and control every step of the way.

Paradise is a success because of it's originality within the Burnout series. Innovation isn't always EA's strong suit, but much like "skate," Paradise is an all-new concept that pays off, big time.

It might seem obvious but if you’re not a fan of The Beatles then The Beatles: Rock Band probably isn’t for you. I’m certain it can garner in some new fans, but if you’re buying it because you’re a Rock Band fan then you’ll be left disappointed.

It delivers everything that you expect from a Call of Duty release, and it does that very well. The campaign strikes a perfect chord and there's not a single dull mission in the bunch, every minute filled with bravado and bravery as it steadily rises toward a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

The gameplay has been honed to near-perfection, showing that a tactical approach doesn't necessarily lead to more complexity.

It's an intelligent game, but also one that acknowledges that action needs to feel satisfying and brutal, just as much as stealth needs to feel tense and crafty.

As with all the best expansions, The Old Gods doesn’t just give you more of the same. Instead it takes an excellent core system, and adds a set of rules and changes that give you drastically different ways to play.

Mario Kart 8 is the end result of years of refinement. It zeroes in on exactly what we want from Nintendo.

It creates a creepy, disturbing atmosphere that is often unnerving, and combines that with a deep and engaging combat system that is simply one of a kind.

This latest installment of the series not only strengthens the franchise as a whole, but also offers so much to both longtime fans and fighting game fanatics alike.

A must-own, a must-play, a must-have or whatever generic must-“word” or must-“phrase” that you’ll find plastered on a game box. From start to finish, this is a tight experience that will challenge and entertain you unlike any other FPS of 2005.

The story feels disconnected and isn’t as strong as its predecessor but the gameplay has been improved upon for a much more enjoyable and fluid combat system.