If you loved the first Super Mario Galaxy, you will adore the sequel.

"Grand Theft Auto IV" is a remarkable title, boasting not only exceptional online play, but a terrific main story that contains much finer dialogue and character development than previous games in the series.

It offers addictively fun gameplay, beautiful visuals and music, and delivers some truly memorable moments that will shock and surprise you. If you own a Wii, this is your Holy Grail and without a doubt should be for centerpiece of your software library.

Don't hesitate to download The World of Goo for the iPhone if you love puzzlers or simply well-polished games.

Bioshock does something that video games rarely bother to do: Break new ground. A combination of endlessly creative combat, mixed with a captivating story make for an experience that I can promise you've never had in any other video game before.

Portal 2 is everything a good sequel should be. It continues the story without repeating it, and adds new modes and features without mucking up what worked about the first game. And, most importantly, it still feels fresh.

Don't even hesitate about picking this one up. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is an instant classic.

If you haven't played the original Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2, you would be foolish not to pick this up immediately. It's an absolutely enthralling game that will easily last you 40 hours on a complete run-through if you are an explorer.

It's a rock-solid title that pushes the envelope and shatters expectations.

A phenomenal conclusion to the trilogy, offering an epic story that is more satisfying than the second game, action on a much bigger scale and a multiplayer section that has been improved from the immensely entertaining multiplayer of the second game.

It's still Grand Theft Auto when it's all said and done, and most gamers who can't soak into the series won't find a different enough experience to sell them otherwise.

In the end, I'm really judging my enjoyment level of Pac-Man CE DX compared to how addicted I was to the previous title.

Die-hard fanatics of platformers should download the demo of Braid and check it out before pulling the 1200 point trigger. The rest of the gaming population needs to wait for Microsoft to reduce the price or find some Marketplace points on sale before purchasing Braid.

If you are into real time strategy in any form, it's hard to ignore Starcraft II.

If you liked the previous God of War titles, you're going to feel right at home with this one.

While the lack of online tour mode is a huge letdown and the song selection is geared too much at younger generations, Rock Band is still above and beyond anything the Guitar Hero series has offered as of late.

While a few songs suffer from note repetition, the overall mix is robust and fun to play. For anyone who enjoyed Guitar Hero or Rock Band, Rock Band 2 is a no-brainer.

Chains of Olympus is a game of mythical proportions. The God of War franchise is rock solid to begin with but considering how well Ready at Dawn brought it to the PSP, I must admit that I'm stunned.

Killzone 2 is an awesome game that will grab hold of you and not let go for quite some time. The gameplay is fast and furious, the atmosphere is rich and deep, and all around the single and multiplayer features are fantastic.

If you loved all the other Halo games, there's little I can say to dissuade you from purchasing Bungie's last creation in the Halo series.

Mass Effect certainly has flaws, but it’s easily the most enthralling space adventure that’s ever been created for a video game platform. It honestly makes the Halo narrative look like amateur hour.

After a quick learning curve, one can experience the true satisfaction of a well-placed shot, and once in tune, FIFA '12 offers plenty of gameplay options to enjoy, including the now built-in Ultimate Team mode. Though it won't change any soccer-haters' minds as to the quality of the game, it will make the faithful very happy and offers a fun experience to the casual crowd.

As one of the most unique puzzlers that I've played over the years, Limbo's chilling atmosphere is an example of an incredible gaming achievement.

And in the End... It's the rare game that can be ported to a new system two years after its original release, nearly pixel for pixel, and yet still feel like a fresh new experience, but "Okami" is just such a game, thanks to an excellent implementation of the Wii controller on an already engaging game.

Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars is the biggest and most ambitious handheld GTA game ever, and the production values really show in the PSP port, with its vastly improved graphics and audio.

From start to finish Fable 2 is a great game that stands out as one of the better role-playing experiences on the current consoles.

You are looking at about 20 to 30 hours of gameplay in the single player story and more replay value if you enjoy the multiplayer mode. Highly Recommended!

In the end, Criterion did something that no developer has been able to do with the Need for Speed series in over 10 years; bringing the game back to its roots and making me feel like I'm still at that computer watching my brother.

While Visceral Games didn't push the envelope in regards to opening up the sequel to new twists on the gameplay, they did an excellent job of capturing the terrifying intensity of the original in addition to providing a more captivating narrative.

That being said, Deux Ex: Human Revolution is an enjoyable experience that in this case may work better as art than it does as a game. And I'll always find room in my heart for a game that strives for more, even if its reach ultimately exceeds its grasp.

Whether you're a casual fan or a Beatlemaniac, a Rock Band guitar god or a neophyte, Beatles: Rock Band is the game for you.

The bottom line is that like the world of "L.A. Noire" itself, the game is neither black nor white; it has its grey areas and it's up to the gamer him or herself to determine how those grey areas affect their playing experience.

All in all, for the slight faults the game has and the sometimes repetitive nature the game employs, you cannot deny that this is a stellar title and will do much to propel the series to future titles.

With the exception of the horrific online performance, NBA 2K11 is really an exceptional basketball title with a ridiculous amount of depth and a shockingly challenging AI.

There's little to nothing in NHL 11 to complain about. The quality of the presentation is fantastic and you can tell EA went to tremendous lengths to tweak the gameplay to improve the hockey experience.

Concentrated adrenaline comes whisked together with intricate level design and haunting atmosphere in Dead Space, which will probably pop up on many a Game of the Year list later this year.

Gamers who enjoy solid hockey games will definitely want to pick up NHL 09.

EA deserves a ton of credit for delivering not only the best golf game ever (on any console,) but a definitive Wii experience to be placed alongside the best first-party titles on the console.

This is easily the best NHL hockey has ever been on a console, and it sets the bar incredibly high for EA's next release.

Yes, it will sell like crazy this holiday season, and it's certainly not bad, but I find the game's potential to ultimately be more exciting than the game itself.

Overall, "FIFA 09" only appears to have minor adjustments to the game play, but they provide more responsive controls.

While the game isn't perfect, specifically in the areas of its deeply flawed Legacy Mode, it still manages to provide a boxing experience like no other.

The presentation is highly polished and little touches like the inclusion of the Rio characters as playable birds or the extra information included in the menus really help advance the core concept of Angry Birds.

Undead Nightmare is a great piece of DLC. A solid, well produced, and very funny single player story attached to an already stellar game engine, it's hard for any Red Dead: Redemption fan to pass this by.

If I had to pick out one glaring fault with Donkey Kong Country Returns, it would be the lack of classic controller support. Old school gamers will be disappointed that it wasn't included, but will be able to adapt to the new controls. However, the rest of the game really fires on all cylinders; dare I say, better than New Super Mario Bros.

Is "Black Ops" a game of the year? No, but it's still a very good game. Highly Recommended.

I can’t stress enough the great uses of the Wii’s motion controls in this game. Whether it’s something as simple as shaking the controller in time to a song to using the controller to simulate turning a lock, this game gets all the movements right.

An awesome game that is a must for every PSP owner.

If you are brand new to the Pokémon series, you are going to find Pokémon Black to be an incredibly involving RPG and darn entertaining if you enjoy the genre. It's definitely worth checking out and will probably keep you entertained up until the launch of the 3DS later this month.

While 1200 points seems like a hefty price for an Xbox Live Arcade release, this is actually the cheapest version (PC, DS, PSP) of Puzzle Quest: CotW in existence.

While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, A Crack in Time is definitely the best entry for Ratchet & Clank on the PlayStation 3.

While I'm not a huge fan of their material after the Black Album, the game is set in such a way that you don't have to play a ton of songs you dislike in order to progress, and there are so many classics here that even the most hardcore Metallica fan will love it.

The game is solid and even if you struggle at many rhythm games, you will find yourself easily overcoming the learning curve as you drum your Patapon army to victory.

From top to bottom Dragon Age: Origins is a quality adventure that’s worth checking out. The story and scope of the game are epic, the rich customization is appreciated, and the gameplay is a mix of familiar and new

The main problem with taking the series back onto the Playstation portable from the PS3 is that the series loses the grand depth that was created in God of War III. Sure, this is set in the timeline after the first God of War, but veterans of the series have already gotten used to the more complex combat system and epic bosses.

Unwound Future is the best title in the Professor Layton series, but you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't play through the first two games to learn about the main characters.

Sure you can still string together some amazing combos here, but you get a much large feeling of accomplishment when you do make that long line.

Fans of the NHL series are unlikely to skip an entry, for any number of reasons, including the roster and uniform updates, the online play or the simple lack of competition, and there's no reason to start now, as this version's tweaks offer a genuine improvement over last year's well-regarded title, once you adjust to the more realistic controls (either through practice or tuner adjustments.)

The single player campaign seems short compared to its predecessor, but that may be due to familiarity of the game's design. It really doesn't make any difference though as the multiplayer options are absolutely phenomenal.

DJ Hero is the ace up Activision's sleeve, simultaneously reinvigorating their music game slate while opening up a whole new genre to the mix (pardon the pun). And unlike the assembly line feeling of the Guitar Hero sequels, DJ Hero really does give a fresh spin (I can't help it with the puns!) on the music game world.

While I've been critical of Neversoft's handling of the Guitar Hero franchise, I must give credit where credit is due. Guitar Hero 5 has fixed 70%-80% of the problems I've had since III, and is easily the most fun I've had playing Guitar Hero since Guitar Hero II.

Sadly, Neversoft finds themselves unable to find that perfect balance with Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, cutting corners in places that really affect the feel of the game.

Soul Calibur IV brings the supremely balanced fantasy fighting to the next gen systems, with great success. There are a few drawbacks, such as the spotty online and the woefully inadequate storylines, but the pros far outweigh the cons.

The game excels at involving the player in the unsettling narrative and remaining unrelenting at making you fearful of every single step taken throughout the decrepit castle.

It's a solid production all around with some addictive gameplay and diverse fighting styles to tinker with. The addition of online play is key to the success of this title and it creates an unlimited arcade experience right from your sofa.

If you're a Call of Duty fan and were grimacing about Treyarch being involved with this installment, don't fret. World at War is a fantastic game from start to finish and the multiplayer is every bit as fun and addicting as Modern Warfare's.

An absolute joy to play and the variety of puzzles throughout the game keeps the experience fresh.

Thought it may be a sequel in title only, Far Cry 2 is a fantastic shooter worthy of finding a home in any FPS fan's library.

While the game has a smattering of problems such as poor camera angles and too restrictive level linearity, this reboot of the Castlevania franchise has an enthralling narrative, amazing boss battles and tons of replay value.

In the end, Ubisoft have pieced together an engrossing, intricately designed fantasy experience with Prince of Persia, one with a smooth and decadent sensibility that reflects on both its visual sumptuousness and meticulous framework.

Infamous is a well-realized game.

Thought it may be a sequel in title only, Far Cry 2 is a fantastic shooter worthy of finding a home in any FPS fan's library.

Out of the 48 Live Arcade titles that I digitally own, Bomberman Live tops them all.

Easily one of the best looking games on the Xbox 360, Crysis 2 falls a bit short on the 8 to 10 hour single player campaign, but flourishes in offering up very addictive multiplayer.

Guitar Hero used to be a pitch perfect game. Neversoft has not been able to replicate the level of critical success as Harmonix has, however, and World Tour is another disappointment.

If you're looking for a solid Arcade title to pick up then you could do a whole heck of a lot worse than 'Splosion Man. This game is a blast from start to finish and it's even better with friends.

A number of factors made this game a sales loser when it came out, but the passionate cult that gave it its high-quality reputation has a legitimate chance to grow now with improved graphics and a budget price as a downloadable game.

This is the best Formula 1 racer currently available, but that really wasn't hard considering the lack of competition.

Overall, I was pretty happy with Civilization: Revolution. As a longtime fan of the franchise, I hesitant to pay 60$ for a watered down version of a game I own more copies than I count.

Highly recommended if you love multiplayer matches.

Though the main challenge isn't that long, there's more than enough supplemental exploring included to give you your money's worth, and it'll be more fun and entertaining than the majority of what you've been playing lately.

Nero brings an awesome dynamic to the franchise. Combine that with Dante's parallel mission and the game is absolutely over-the-top.

The ideal market for this game would probably be shooter fanatics that have a low-brow sense of humor. Those easily offended or prefer more team based shooters need not apply.

Ultimately, fans of GT4 are going to find a great deal of value in GT5. Just don't expect to see the same advances that have been made in racing games over the last three years.

It's very easy to admire Child of Eden. The artistry of its sound and visuals, the simplicity of the gameplay, and the Kinect integration all combine to make a game that should be experienced by anyone who spent their hard earned cash on the device. However, its short length and various control snafus make it difficult for me to recommend it as a purchase. In truth, this feels like a very sharp, very polished Xbox Live Arcade game.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 is a fantastic entry into this series of games, and really restored some faith in what EA has been doing to the series.

Travis' journey upwards in the ranks of the UAA provided some of the quickest, most viscerally charged gameplay made available across the board. Its only faults lie in its decision to focus more on the luridly uncomplicated gameplay than further expansive depth.

The biggest fault of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is not a poor gameplay experience, but rather one that's over a bit too quickly.

The extensive single player career mode will have you playing for weeks on end. Unfortunately, the multiplayer design flaws hurts the replay value after the single player is completed.

NCAA Football 10 isn’t an earth shattering game, but is still very, very fun. For someone like myself who never watches football at all, it does a great job at sucking me in to the experience and leaving me thoroughly entertained.

If you've been waiting for a Madden that's going to be entertaining instead of frustrating, this is your year. I highly recommend the '09 edition!

In the end, it's hard for me to recommend Infamous 2. If you played the first one, you'll want to play this in order to get the conclusion to the story. However, the lack of real innovation may be a turn off, and makes the second go through a real chore. For those reasons, I'd recommend that players rent this one.

It's not pefect, but Outland offers a very satisfying gaming experience for those who are willing to stick with it.

Sadly, the Les Paul guitar controller does not work as well as it does on the 360, requiring an external dongle to work. It also does not work with previous Guitar Hero games, so fans of the other entries will have to keep waiting if they want to play them on the PS3.

Final Thoughts: "NCAA Football '09" could use some graphical polish and the AI isn't dazzling, but the game remains an entertaining time overall and the online dynasty mode should keep fans busy for the Winter months.

Fans of Splosion Man should purchase without hesitation, while newcomers owe it to themselves to jump, or splode, on in.

If you have a Kinect and are looking for a fantastic party game, don't hesitate to pick up Dance Central and start shaking your booty!

It's hard to improve upon a solid game when making the sequel, but Rare has done that and more with Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.