Don't let the missing half-point fool you, Grand Theft Auto V is as good of a retail release you'll find this generation and an excellent coda to this generation for Rockstar.

It's blatantly obvious that the guys at Neversoft know exactly what they're doing.

This game is the absolute personification of what free-roaming means. You can do damn near anything you want, and more often than not you'll be rewarded for it. Sounds fun, doesn't it?

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves defines must-own.

A stunning, impeccable achievement in game design and execution, Batman: Arkham City is every bit as good as you've heard. And more.

This is the single best survival horror game ever made, besting even the Silent Hill series in raw visceral thrills. It’s not nearly as scary, but it makes up for it with an incredible story, tons of replay value, and a game length that’s uncharacteristically stretched for the series.

A weaker soundtrack and nagging problems with the interface take the game down just shy of getting a full 10, but this is the digital embodiment of a killer app.

The sound design is frickin' phenomenal... [and] this is easily the best soundtrack I've heard in a game.

This game belongs in every single PS3 owner's collection. It's that good.

Red Dead Redemption has its problems, and they are a shame. Thankfully, the game's heart and all the underpinning elements come together in such a way that you'll happily forgive the odd transgression as you gape at just how complete this world is.

A masterpiece.

The Last of Us merges very good gameplay with a peerless story and unequaled production values. While it just misses transcendent status you won't find very many games that are more worth the investment of your time.

Naysayers, take note: when Valve says they're committing to a platform, they do it. Portal 2 is a mind-blowing accomplishment not only in terms of a console port, but in a sequel that somehow, impossibly, manages to outclass even its predecessor.

The environments, the bosses, the combat, everything gels and meshes so perfectly, there isn't an action gamer out there that could call their library complete without this game. Not one.

It marries technology with control and keeps giving for weeks if not months after you first pick up the controller. It delivers a powerful single-player experience and an almost impossibly tense, utterly addictive online component and when the two are brought together... well, you're looking at your Game of the Year right here.

It's unfortunate that the game is a year late coming to the PS3 in a hectic season full of fantastic games, but it's still up there with the best of them and is most certainly worth playing if you haven't yet experienced it.

This is a game that deserves to be on every platform possible, and now, finally, PS3 owners can enjoy the sheer magnitude of BioWare's accomplishment for themselves.

If you ever dabbled in fighting games, you need to check this one out, and if you haven't, there's no better introduction than what Capcom has crafted here.

Both online and offline are perfect, plain and simple. This is a must-have title that just oozes quality from every pore. You are cheating yourself out of one of the best experiences on the PS2 if you don't own this game.

It should go without saying that this is a game anyone who owns a PS3 should buy, and it's probably no real stretch to say that people should buy a PS3 for this game alone. It's that good.

The Kumite and AI modes are ridiculously fun, and should you be one of the poor, unwitting souls that actually hooks up with a friend that’s purchased a copy, you can kiss at least a couple weekends (and likely a few weekdays) goodbye.

Everything it does, it does with aplomb, from kicking out graphics that just should'nt exist in this generation -- let alone on the PS2 -- to delivering a sense of speed, yet offering controls that allow you to keep up with the increasingly brilliant level design, to offering an suite of online modes that will make you fall to your knees in thanks of broadband. This is the very definition of a must-have game.

If I remember right, the last game I gave a 10 to was "ICO." GOWII is that caliber. It's polished, infinitely satisfying, offers a ton of replayability and bonus content, and is just plain fun to play. That is a 10 game to me.

This game looks just as well as it feels, with breathtaking views and intricate details throughout the different circuits.

It's not everyday that a remake of a game goes so far above and beyond the original to make it a must-play game in two separate generation, but today is that day. Truly, this is the RPG for people who don't care for RPG's.

Nothing short of the best snowboarding game videogames have ever seen, and while there are a few nagging problems, the presentation and execution of a massive, three peaked behemoth that you’ll try your damndest to conquer is pure gaming bliss from the moment you first drop onto the mountain.

Hands-down one of the best games every released. Not just on the PS2, but ANY system. Yes, it's that good.

This is the closest thing we've got right now to an offline MMORPG. That means a stupid huge amount of gameplay for the money, and with a huge story and hundreds of hours of exploration to be had, good luck finding a better value.

Extensive gameplay, tons of unlockables, gorgeous graphics and solid audio qualities all come together to deliver a game that is only millimeters away from gaming perfection.

I enjoyed Skyrim and I look forward to the DLC that we know is inevitably coming. If we looked at this honestly, though, this game probably should have been pushed back a month or so for more polish. It needed it and it still does.

It's awesome. Did you expect anything different? The story seems a bit all-over-the-place but the more you ruminate on it, the more it actually has an amazing context.

It's literally almost perfect.

Uncredibly polished, brilliantly designed and just plain <I>fun</I>.

Were Uncharted 3 any other game, if it didn't hit with dizzying highs to offset the abysmal lows, it would be infinitely skippable. Instead, compelling (but difficult) multiplayer and enough "wow" moments mean it's worth seeing, but not owning.

The delivery is head and shoulders above any other console RPG, and the overall experience leaves you with such a feeling of satisfaction that it's easy to dive right back into the game once you beaten it just to experience all the big moments again.

Don't expect it to have quite the same level of longevity as the first game.

Hardware issues are annoying, yes, but with a killer single player mode, great online multiplayer and the promise of dozens of individual tracks and complete albums, the game more than pays for itself out of the box.

Games that summon up emotions from a cold son of a bitch like me are incredibly rare... Journey had me grabbing the box of tissues by the time it was over.

I won't say ICO or Shadow of the Colossus are perfect games, but I will say unequivocally that they are so important that they should be played by everyone. Thankfully, Bluepoint and Sony are giving people the best way to do so.

Rarely do you find a package that contains so much nostalgia combined with original ideas for such a great price. Anyone looking to revive a classic series for modern sensibilities would do well to use Pac-Man CE DX as a template.

Add in the fact that Guitar Hero instruments work with Rock Band (and vice-versa), Trophy support and a ton of new music and you have a package that's every bit as attractive as the first game, if not more.

The original was a movement and this sequel is a revolution.

It should also be said that the recording that went into the tracks is fantastic. Harmonix did an amazing job of pumping the sound from just a stereo signal in a way that absolutely fills the room with rock.

I'm going to bite the bullet on this one and say that Up Your Arsenal does not top the standards set by "Going Commando." Don't, I repeat, do not take this as a sign of UYA being a bad game, because by all means, it is not.

The difference is that TMB just does it all better. Level design, graphics, weapons, vehicles, players&#133; they&#146;re all pulled off to such a perfect degree that it almost seems like the other games didn&#146;t even exist.

Technical hurdles keep the game from being as fluid and immersive as Ico was, but it's still a triumph of game design that ten years from now will still be recalled fondly. This is a game for everyone, and everyone needs to buy it. Now.

Peggle is one of those games with universal appeal.

It really can't be overstated how much of a technical accomplishment this really is.

If not for the harmony of the online experience married to the single-player game, Killzone 2 may not have been nearly as amazing. But it does have both components, and they make for one of the single best values of 2009. Buy this game.

A top contender for Game of the Year and beyond.

Just feels remarkably solid in just about every respect, and it has made strides in areas like AI and controls to elevate it to a level where it really does start to feel like real matches between real teams are being simulated.

It's an instant classic that will become a benchmark for originality, fun and old fashioned substance over style.

When I say it's the best sports game this year I mean it. Every time you play you'll experience something new and move towards accomplishing goals besides those that you score on the field. It's going to be hard for EA to top this one.

Broken down, each individual part of THUG (control, music, level design, graphics, sound) is better than the games that came before it, which should add up to the best game in the series. And yet, there&#146;s something intangible that just couldn&#146;t hook me like the older games did.

While Ratchet is less of a whiny little catbitchthing, the same sense of humor that the first game possessed permeates everything about the sequel, keeping it light despite more dire circumstances.

Fallout 3 represents one of the most ridiculously packed gaming experiences you're going to find this year.

From the way the game renders an entire world that you can explore from one end to the next without a single loading screen, to animation that literally trounces anything ever seen in any videogame, to game design that keeps things interesting despite being what some would call “just a fetch quest,” this is a perfect example of the next generation in videogames.

Simply put, it's the best Burnout yet, and after four games, it's amazing that each one can consistently blow the previous entries away. Revenge does, and it is indeed sweet.

An absolute must-own in every sense of the word, Chinatown Wars is a game with the single most important factor in any portable offering: every time you pick it up, there's always something to do. And after that, there's another 20 more.

What's really amazing about Okami is that it is just as good of a game today as it was six years ago when it was first released. An HD release that barely had to touch a thing to still be one of the best games available today.

With an intriguing Story mode, addicting Arcade battles, and a Challenge mode that truly puts you to the test, it’s no secret that the key features that made "GoldenEye" such a hit leaked its way into the TimeSplitters world.

It's just evilly fun, and it'll kick your butt and you'll hate it for being so hard, but it won't really matter, because there's enough charm and downright fun here to keep you coming back.

If someone ever tells you videogames aren't art, strap them to a chair and make them play Limbo. Yes, it's that perfect.

NBA 2K13 is the unrivaled (literally!) champion of NBA action despite some struggles with implementing a user friendly interface. Jump right in with you own player or run the court with any of the dozens of legends included.

With its unique blend of traditional JRPG combat with a social simulator that makes you juggle life between friends and school and work, Persona 3 is a game that will stand the test of time!

This was absolutely worth waiting for, and credit must be given to Squenix for releasing a game that bravely sticks to its guns in the face of all these ridiculously complex additions to the formula that Dragon Quest got right all along.

The series' gameplay has been refined and honed to a keen sharpness that few games can match in terms of overall quality, slick presentation and tight, responsive controls. This is a sports game for people who hate sports games.

It's a shoo-in for Game of the Year contention and will likely go down as one of the crown jewels of the PlayStation 3's exclusive lineup.

It's just plain fun. No other way around it. Criterion managed to bring back a series on the brink of collapse and make it into the best racing game of the year.

The best flight game ever made.

A few nits aside, this is a fantastic mix of old-school Deus Ex, old-school Metal Gear Solid, and a dash of Uncharted for good measure. A truly immersive experience that rewards creativity and variety in your approach to playing.

Well, Arkane, you did what so few games have done this generation: you got me to want to come back to play Dishonored annually. Very, very few games have that honor, but I just can't imagine ever getting tried of Dunwall. What a wonderful game.

If not for the inclusion of multiplayer (no, it shouldn't have been included), this would be the perfect package -- especially with Extraction, which may not have had its dues on the Wii.

If GT4 will be your first venture into sim racing, hold on, strap in and protect any valuable reproductive organs, as you’ll be blown away. It pushes the boundaries of realism and sim racing, while retaining the essential core of the franchise that has been built over the last 8 years. You won’t find a better value.

The single best game you can find on the PlayStation 3 right now, and at the end of the day, it's the best in the series. If you own a PS3, you need this game in your library. It is the absolutely definition of a must-have title, and right now is the front-runner as game of the year, hands down.

As far as sound effects go, they are some of the best ever found in a videogame.

Do not wait for the PSP2. Buy a copy of this game and the hardware necessary to play it as soon as is humanly possible. You're not going to see a better marriage of technical know-how, narrative inventiveness and holy-crap-I'm-playing-a-console-game-on-a-handheld-level awe on the system.

Few games combine tension, atmosphere, deep combat and interesting online play in a way that can even compete with Dark Souls.

A game that on every level, takes the previous conventions of an arcade basketball game and obliterates them, throwing innovation into places that didn&#146;t seem like they needed it.

Little touches like the ground or glass cracking underfoot when fighters go down hard are nice, but they don't stay throughout the fights and when huge chunks of stone go flying up and then disappear, it almost makes one wonder why they were included at all.

They took a big risk in doing something other than a cartoony platform and in many respects Uncharted is a success, but slightly sloppy gunplay and some absolutely infuriating parts of the game hold it back from being a true killer app. On sheer graphical merits alone the game is a must-buy, but as a complete game, we'll have to wait to see how the sequel turns out to know for sure if this is gaming's equivalent of an Indiana Jones flick.

The most flattering way to look at Bad Company 2 is as an intense online shooter with a slightly dodgy singleplayer mode included as a free bonus.

Rayman Origins embodies everything right and good about 2D platformers. If you want to be reminded why this genre took gaming by storm in the 80's and 90's, or you simply want to play a rare, honest to goodness video game, pick this one up ASAP.

The perfect example of what a game should be. With its rich cast of characters, deep gameplay, gorgeous graphics and wonderful soundtrack, R&C packs the ingredients to a perfect platformer and combines them perfectly.

One of the best first-person-shooters of the summer, if not ever for the PlayStation 2.

The crazy amount of depth afforded by Ryu's basic movesets, the stuff he gets from weapons and the things that are unlocked make the game so damned enjoyable that even when you're chucking the controller through a wall, you're itching to do it all again.

This game is a must have for any RPG-fan out there past and present because we still know Cloud make you guys cream your silkies.

Black Ops is neither a revolution nor a revelation, almost scaling to the summit of a stale genre, while not quite managing to plant the flag.

Sure, there are some targeting issues, but aside from that, this is a brilliant execution of the basic concepts on a system that nobody thought would be possible. This is the very definition of a must-have game, and the reason to own a PSP.

Hands-down the year’s best platformer. This is just a masterfully constructed adventure that drips with charm and ingenuity and never fails to keep you involved, entertained, and loving every minute of it. You can take our word on it: this one is a gem.

Though it's probably impossible to get a proper online fighting experience Dark Resurrection comes about as close as we can hope for -- and it's completely portable. Few games are this uncompromising, and every PSP owner needs this game. Yep, all of em.

BioShock 2 sets out to make a name for itself, and overall it does. It improves on the original's gameplay while telling two different stories across modes. The experience isn't as powerful at the end, but the Little Sister bond makes up for that.

A nice diversion that breathes new life into an older title, certainly worth the $15 asking price for those still playing regularly. It is a shame they didn't at least dabble with taking the levels out of the jungle and into the city though.

Modern Warfare 3 doesn't bring a lot of new stuff to the table, but it has refined single-player and multiplayer experiences to the point where they are as slick as any Hollywood production.

While it does more iterating than innovating this year, FIFA stands alone atop a somewhat small heap of competition to remain the soccer game you want if you only want one soccer game.

A solid game, no doubt. It provides a visceral, bone-shaking experience. Unfortunately, the changes made from FN2004 only detract from what was otherwise a very satisfying fighter.

Technically more of the same without any major advances to the series, something that keeps it from being a marked advance in what the first game started...If any one area of the game got the most subtle tweaks that made the biggest difference, it’s in the graphical overhaul.

I'm still rather amazed that this year have given us so many great fighting games, but none of them were as surprising and welcome as BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, which stays true to the old school while bringing something fresh that mixes it up.