Despite all its similarities, it offers so much more in terms of content and creativity. The sheer variety and unique twists on ideas make for some of the greatest platforming you'll ever see. You can go through whole stretches of this game and find something new and completely different in each passing level.

GTA IV may not have the best graphics, gunplay, A.I. or driving, but few other games have ever combined so many elements so successfully. It excels in creating a genuinely cinematic atmosphere, with writing on par with anything Hollywood can produce and action sequences that would sit comfortably in any movie.

The multi-surfaced design is a refreshing take on an otherwise stale gaming genre. The simple, responsive controls and steady learning curve ensure that any gamer, be they the child who gets this for his or her birthday or the weathered gaming vet, can sit down and give this game a spin.

Part of what makes the game so generally appealing is that, for the most part, it drops the nagging feeling of “good for an open world game."...Grand Theft Auto V is a good shooter and a good driving game with responsive character control. While some of the extras might be spread a little thin, there are no compromises with these central mechanics, which is a feat for a game of this breadth.

A spit-shined re-release of one of the most ambitious games of last generation is nothing to be flip about, especially with just how polished this version feels.

Besides the amazing cooperative campaign, playing with sixteen players via system link is the absolute most fun I have ever had with any multiplayer video game. You will be yelling, cursing and causing much ruckus well into the night during these frantic LAN parties.

As excellent as the storyline is, you could completely ignore it and still have an amazing experience.

BioShock is a title that gamers spend their whole lives waiting to play. Something that delivers on an absurdly high level in every department, and one that never dips in quality for the 15-20 hours that it lasts.

Among Thieves is unquestionably one of the most alluring and exciting titles to have ever graced a gaming platform.

I hate survival horror games. I've found them to be tedious and unnerving. However, there's something about Resident Evil 4 that draws me back again and again. Maybe it's the action-packed gameplay, the execution of the story, or even the wonderfully vivid presentation. Whatever it is, this game is something special.

If you haven't experienced the trials of Gordon Freeman at the hands of the Combine before, The Orange Box is an absolute must buy.

Though the overload of features and the hit-the-ground-running pace can be dizzying for some players, this approach is a smart move on Rocksteady's part. There is no better way for gamers to truly understand the Dark Knight unless we're placed in his boots and have the world hoisted on our shoulders.

The fabulous storytelling, innovative dialogue system and impact of your choices remains in full force, and that’s all you really need to make a great RPG: the actual role-playing. The commitment from Bioware in making this franchise the best it can be is astounding.

This game is more or less the latest version of a realm that has been long established and already seen. Yes, the story is darker, longer, and more character driven than anything before it. Yes, the dungeons and sidequests are remarkably well crafted. That doesn't mean that both seasoned Zelda fans and newcomers alike will enjoy the lacking difficulty and the other small problems that plague the game.

A magnificent hive of creativity and technical clout, and holds a world so open it frequently threatens to overwhelm. Skyrim is forever charming and consistently engaging, and will carve a completely different adventure for every player put under its dazzling spell.

The highest compliment I can pay to the already highly lauded Resident Evil 4 is this: it makes all other games in its genre seem utterly pointless.

It has such an enormous amount to offer (did I even mention the two player option?) and carries everything off with such confidence and style that it's hard to fault.

It has the right blend of intense gameplay, an intricate place to explore, several hours of gameplay, a great selection of 80’s era music, a wonderful (if not a little cliched) story, and one of the most memorable antiheroes to ever set foot on the gaming scene.

LittleBigPlanet is much more than simply a game or even a tool, it’s an experience. The sack people are an infectiously charming bunch and as soon as you’ve settled in you’ll want to stay for the foreseeable future.

Halo 2's Campaign mode is a luminous experience and testament of Bungie's rare talent for mixing gorgeous cinematics with captivating and fun gameplay segments, but it also serves as the concrete foundation for the game's multiplayer, making simple deathmatches, team skirmishes and CTF games that much more engaging.

Literally, there are well over 200 hours of gameplay in the Simulation Mode, even for a skilled player just to beat the game.

The Last of Us is a sobering conclusion to Naughty Dog’s relationship with the PlayStation 3. It is the studio’s finest game to date, marrying gameplay and fiction better than any of the Uncharted games. It’s sometimes haunting, sometimes beautiful, but more than anything else it feels real, and both you and Joel are very much vulnerable to it.

Mixing the classic Zelda formula with a more mature tale, Twilight Princess is an epic of the highest caliber that gamers will not want to miss.

The graphics may not be of the same caliber of other AAA titles, and the story may falter from time to time, but those are paltry excuses not to experience one of the best current generation games around.

Rockstar have redeemed themselves and there's no need to return to the city after providing this compelling argument against automotive transportation.

Indeed, this is both mathematical and storytelling art-work; it teams a gripping narrative with an inventive gameplay mechanic that makes for an excellent and unforgettable ride.

If there was ever a game that demonstrated quality over quantity, this is it.

The plot and combat could’ve been better, but its mode of storytelling demands your attention nonetheless as there’s no other experience like it and, for a good many, that means a lot of return trips to come.

Devil May Cry might be over six years old and arguably superseded by younger competitors, but if you want a classic, dependable and tough action-adventure with its finger firmly on the trigger then you can’t really go wrong with this awesome adventure.

Mass Effect 2 is a triumph of an action game, blending satisfying shooter levels with dark themes and hours of heated debate.

But once you look past all fan-worship and hype, you'll discover just how well the game stands on its own. It addresses the numerous flaws of the original version, and remedies it with a vastly improved control scheme and item menu.

A polished, precise and truly astounding title awaits anyone willing to dive in, and drink deep and become inebriated by the brilliance on offer. Astounding!

The dark storyline isn't fantastic, but the way it's presented certainly is. Gritty characters with a rare touch of humanity, intense combat that will leave you breathless, and some great multiplayer modes are sure to keep you hooked until the inevitable sequel comes along.

Cyrodiil looks absolutely stunning. Everything is bright and wonderful in the sunshine, birds singing, pigeons flocking, butterflies dodging about in the shadows, and then environments look damp, cold and miserable when rain rolls into town. The level of detail is quite breathtaking.

I can honestly say that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a superb accumulation to the series, incorporating just enough new additions to keep the hardcore happy and the new players excited.

It’s the incredible world-building details that draw you into the experience of Infinite, not the shooting, which makes its predominance a shame. Irrational have made a Bioshock that is smoother to play, but less fun to play around with; built on grander ideas, but less coherent ones. It isn’t a flawless second coming, but its almost peerless storytelling, imagination and attention to detail make it well worth playing.

Halo 3 may not be as innovative as its predecessors or have the best graphics on the Xbox 360, but it's an outstanding game and a fitting end to what's been a fantastic trilogy.

Essentially a renaissance for the fighting game genre. Its style and core game mechanics are so incredibly strong that they outshine the few missteps that the title contains. It’s familiar enough for someone who hasn’t played it in 10 years to pick it up and execute the same special moves they grew up with.

An improvement of an already sensational game. It’s got the stellar gameplay that made the previous title shine, as well as tossing in some great camera control and a few other modifications.

The single player, albeit disappointing, is still an excellent thrill ride and precursor to the main pull: the multiplayer. CoD4 cemented its place as one of the best online shooters going and Modern Warfare 2 builds on it, adding a plethora of new features that constantly reward and amaze.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will surely set the bar for this generations in terms of quality, and should be the benchmark for a truly great game.

It may not have the most complicated gaming plots ever, but the game makes up for it with some insanely fun and engaging gameplay and a ridiculous amount of blood and gore to boot.

It isn't one thing that makes Knights of the Old Republic such a masterful RPG, but a remarkable amalgamation of brilliant gameplay elements, jaw-dropping presentation and a huge helping of that special Star Wars magic.

An incredibly addicting, engrossing, and incredibly well-designed inclusion. No stone was left unturned as the developers crafted this masterpiece and if you’re a fan of the previous installments of this game, you’re definitely going to enjoy this latest edition.

This game takes the tried and true racing game formula and refreshes it with a system that rewards you for bad driving and poor sportsmanship. You can drive into oncoming traffic, cause accidents on purpose, and mess with anything that tries to get in your way.

Brawl is easily the most fun I’ve had on a Wii, and could be the most fun I’ve had with a game in ages. It’s just that good. There is just so much to do, and so many different and refreshing things added that it would be a crime not to at least take a look.

After experiencing Chinatown Wars, you have to applaud Rockstar. Not only have they presented their iconic city on a fashionably smaller scale, they have woven an intriguing story into the mix as well.

With ten different courses to select and multiple challenges for each (mostly time trials and score challenges), there's quite a bit to Pac-Man Championship Edition DX to keep players busy.

Braid in many ways is this year’s "Portal"; not in the obvious sense but in the way it has burst onto the scene snatching most hearts that have given it the time of day, with nothing but plucky charm.

At times the overwhelming similarities to the first game can be a little off-putting, but at the end of the day this is an action adventure of the absolute highest calibre, outstanding in every respect, and with some of the most awe-inspiring set-pieces and fantastic action sequences ever committed to a videogame.

While not as revolutionary as Mario 64 or Galaxy, 3D World manages to feel simultaneously fresh and nostalgic in a way the New Super Mario Bros. series never quite realized.

Working alongside a terrific soundtrack, some very cool voice acting, and a custom map building tool, the parts of Starcraft II that make it an enjoyable and addictive ride leave little to be desired.

While Street Fighter IV plays an expectedly brilliant game, the real surprise stems from its direction from a visual point of view that is nothing short of astounding.

While technically sound, even with its enhancements Persona 4 Golden is still a port of a PS2 game. There was only so much the system can do, so if you're expecting something that will utilize the potential of the Vita, you won't find that here.

SSX 3 offers an experience like no other, a rush that just can't be matched.

Despite the occasionally high frustration levels of Braid, the game is cleverly designed and often very rewarding.

This game has it all; it’s got a wonderful story, wonderfully memorable characters, fast-paced and fluid combat with a wide variety of demonic foes, hours of dungeon exploration, puzzle solving, various item collecting, a few lengthy sidequests, a slew of people and animals to help, and even a mildly annoying sidekick to point you in the right direction.

A big game that is worth sinking your teeth into, even if you have to close your eyes and hum every time you're reminded it's called Fallout.

As a sequel, you’d be hard-pushed to track down a game that is as brilliantly structured, nurtured and evolved as Gears of War 2. With a ruthlessly enthralling pace and variation of set pieces, this is an effortlessly superb package. I haven’t enjoyed a game as much as this since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which is surely one of the greatest compliments a title can get.

Mass Effect 3 is an action game with a side-helping of dialogue, and the finale might frustrate fans who have stuck with the series since the beginning - some might even consider it lazy. It's hard to knock the actual game; it's a great shooter and the dialogue is well acted and (mostly) well-written. Mass Effect 3 is one of the best marriages of shooter action and storytelling around, and it's up to the fans to decide if that's what they really want.

You can easily overlook occasionally frustrating controls and early 2000s graphics when the adventure itself consistently motivates you to want more and more for all of the nearly 60 hours it takes to complete. Skyward Sword isn't perfect, but it absolutely is not a game that should be missed by fans of the series.

But if you can work with the game’s difficulty and take the time to learn the characters, you’ll find that Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution is a fighting game second to none.

It’s rare that I get so excited over a game, but the interactive storyline, the solid gameplay, and everything else managed to make me a firm believer that the future of Star Wars will be bright one.

For those still unsure about the iPhone's gaming credentials, this accomplished racer is more than adequate evidence for the contrary.

There is a huge, jaw dropping world to discover at whatever pace you desire. Along the way you're free to author your own story, defining your unique character and experience through whatever style of play you prefer. When you're lost in its rich landscape and enthralled within its fiction, Skyrim thrives, and is truly unparalleled; it's when you take a closer look, you can't help but discover the seams holding this tapestry together.

While not perfect, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time offers a poignant, uncommon challenge. Its world awaits, rich, wondrous, indomitable. Will you overcome it?

The intense and difficult experience should be played by anyone who enjoys a good story. Even with an anemic singleplayer offering, the full game is worth a purchase for the multiplayer experience.

It takes everything that made the previous game so awesome and refines it. It continues the story, but it makes the effort to give more meaning to Kratos's journey and its eventual ending. It takes the previous established combat mechanics and makes them faster, tighter, and more fun than ever.

With the improved visuals, increased song count and the crucial addition of friend-bating online leaderboards, the 360 version is the best yet.

The carnival atmosphere makes Rock Band a total blast to play, or to even just watch, waiting for your turn. Even with the high price of admission, Rock Band is well worth purchasing.

There’s no question that this is the definitive version of Street Fighter IV. With a ton of ‘new’ characters and a vastly improved online component there are a number of great reasons to get back into Street Fighter.

Simply put, the creepy atmosphere is incredible. Forget those survival horror games full of cheap scares and dark alleys. System Shock 2 manages to frighten without succumbing to horror contrivances. Considering this game is six years old, it truly is an achievement. [Aug 2005]

On it’s own, it’s the best stealth game on the PC by a good distance, with "Thief 3’s" lack of features trailing some way behind. But as a sequel, it’s painfully under-developed.

A masterclass in game design. Through expert sound, storytelling and gameplay you are enwrapped into the world of Ivalice.

There's that visual layer to it, an efficient backdrop that contributes to a kind of combined audiovisual experience. Nothing is added which isn't essential to the design.

It has so much depth and aptitude that you'll find yourself drawn in for hours, which will quickly turn into days, months and, dare I say, years. There's been so much effort put into every single aspect of the game that it's hard not to admire the hard work of the developers behind it.

If you own an Xbox 360 and have even a passing interest in racing games, this is a no-brainer. If you own a 360 and have zero interest in racers, but love games in general, this is still a title that needs to be seen to be believed. If you don’t own a 360, Forza Motorsport 3 might just be enough to make you buy one, it really is that good.

Nothing short of brilliant. It has its fair share of highly frustrating niggles, but they are almost totally eclipsed by the real joy and excitement the game can conjure up inside you with such alarming frequency.

For all of you that are seeking a challenge and great adventure, give Prince of Persia a go.

No Time Left is a wholly satisfying and rewarding conclusion to one of this year's best. It makes a grand statement for episodic content.

Without a doubt, FF7 is one of the top Final Fantasy games out there. It is also one of the best RPG adventures of all time.

Chrono Trigger is worth travelling back in time for again and again.

Journey's worth playing for the unique experiences offered but the actual involvement with the mechanics isn't always engaging enough to match.

While nothing terribly new has made its way onto the new disc, the amount of songs more than covers the price of admission. And you won't even have to sit through any putrid local opening acts.

An awesome game. It takes everything fans loved about the previous installment, and amplified it ten fold to create another vivid adventure for one of Nintendo's most celebrated characters.

It may be nearly devoid of the exploration aspects that older fans appreciate, but it is still a game that all GBA owners can cherish.

There's also no doubt in my mind that the game will be supported with great DLC and amazing user generated content, but as a player who fell in love with the original's level design, as well as it's infectious personality, this sequel never quite met my admittedly lofty expectations.

With a highly improved and immersive questing system, a new profession to master, a largely PvP focused zone, a level-cap of 80, and a devious new class to play, fans of World of Warcraft will be greeted with a multitude of new reasons to sell their souls and their time to Blizzard’s outrageously successful online RPG.

It may lack substance in the long-term, but it provides an experience which is admirably oriented towards pure intuitive fun, presented in a way which is great to look at and humorous in tone.

This game has clearly been the result of a tremendously talented development team listening to feedback and giving gamers what they wanted - namely more variety and more depth.

It’s an amazing game, easily one of the finest in the Metal Gear family. Even if this weren’t a MGS game, it would still be one of the greatest currently out on any of the consoles.

While the WiiMote combat can be a little flaky, it still outclasses the clunky, unintuitive controls of the original.

Long stretches of riding across deserted, yet gorgeous, environments, punctuated by moments of sheer, adrenaline-pumping terror. The shockingly realistic animations (especially for your horse and the colossi), vast, streaming landscape, stirring soundtrack, and wistful story all combine with the game’s minimalist gameplay to create a videogame experience unlike any other.

It's a lengthy adventure full of personality, an endless plethora of weapons, and addictive co-op gameplay. Fans of the first game would be foolish to pass up another chance to visit Pandora and plunder the incalculable treasures therein.

The story is uninspired, but the actual game is a stunner.

From start to finish, the main element that propels Ninja Gaiden above all others in the action genre is the dazzling combat-based gameplay.

With an engaging story, outstanding visuals, and remarkable sound, Chains succeeds on so many levels.

Stands proudly as a solid game for enthusiasts and casual players alike. It has a fair amount of kooky characters, wonderfully fast-paced gameplay, a fair amount of extras, and great presentation to round it all out.