When you can finally crack a song that initially seemed far beyond your skill level, and not just play it but perform it - arched back, windmilling arms, grins and grimaces and devil-horn salutes - it transcends a mere video game. It’s interactive entertainment taken to an entirely new level.

The single-player campaign is shorter than other games of its kind — I stomped through it in about 8 hours. But it was so action-packed, I didn’t feel cheated at all.

The game is so consistently fresh, it's desperately hard to stop playing.

At the end of the day, however, you just can't beat the value being offered here and though it's not perfect, the sum of "The Orange Box" is greater than its parts.

Jade Empire is THE Role Playing Game to own on the Xbox, the best game on the Xbox period, and probably one of the best games released in the last 5 years. Are you sufficiently hyped yet?

Simply put, BioShock is a must for anyone who’s over 17 and has a 360. So far, this is the best game of 2007.

Rarely do games with this much fanfare actually live up to their talked-about potential, but Gears does something that almost none do - it exceeds the hype. It looks almost unbearably gorgeous, it sounds out of this world, it plays as smooth as butter but most of all - it's fun. Pure, unadulterated, blood-spattered fun.

Another technological feat which just adds to the frightening experience of RE 4 is the lack of load times. You won't be catching your breath waiting on a load screen. The action and suspense will be with you at all times.

It’s a huge game with an enthralling storyline and a huge mix of different gameplay elements that will keep players from ever being bored.

This could very well be remembered as the PlayStation 2's best game ever.

It’s a huge, solid package all wrapped up in a slick presentation with enough added features to make it a big step ahead of "2K6."

The great thing about Splinter Cell Chaos Theory is that it's just getting warmed up once you finish playing all by your lonesome. The Multiplayer aspect of it will easily quadruple your time with the game.

Is it possible for an expansion disc to qualify as contender for Game of the Year?

It's so realistic it makes me want to drivearound my block blasting the horn til' midnight.

Contrary to popular belief, Revenge is a dish best served hot. It's the best Burnout game ever.

The depth of what appears to be an initially incredible simple and one dimensional game is astounding as always with Mario Kart DS, and the delivered promise of online opponents only adds to the overall incredibly rewarding experience.

The game play is fantastic, intuitive and engaging with the best graphics I have ever been witness to in a PC shooter. If you love first-person shooters and are jonesing for something to play on your shiny new rig, this is the game for you.

While the story is an improvement on the first, the fact that the sequel is so much better means the story should have been great too.

A sprawling fantasy masterpiece that needs to be experienced to be appreciated.

It has a great mix of tactics and action, it has a cinematic, engaging campaign mode, and plenty of multiplayer fun to keep everyone on Xbox Live happy for a long time.

Whether you're starting a new franchise from scratch or simply playing a game of Dodge-the-Barrels, NHL 2K6 is a stunning addition to the world of sports games.

Best looking, best sounding, best playing fighting game on the PlayStation 2. Excusing the fact there’s no online functionality, if fighting is your genre of choice this is your game of choice.

A thoroughly engaging racing game with high production value and an extensive amount of replay. From the multiple game modes, to the extensive customization options to finally the numerous online options, there is an incredible amount of game to enjoy.

A gaming masterpiece that combines groundbreaking technology, atmosphere and all-out action. It's the closest you'll get to starring in your own sci-fi flick.

Even without the car crashes, Burnout 3: Takedown would have been a superb arcade-style racing game. But the incredible vehicular carnage makes it a thing of profound destructive beauty.

This is the most well-rounded DDR version yet and with Xbox Live downloadable content coming in the future, its appeal will last even longer.

The music will put you in the mood to hit that hole-in-one, and a taunting system that's customizable will be sure to annoy the heck out of your friends when you play multiplayer.

While the new look can be a little daunting to a guy who just wants to play a few seasons, it is definitely the most sophisticated simulation ever developed for a console.

Even without the car crashes, Burnout 3: Takedown would have been a superb arcade-style racing game. But the incredible vehicular carnage makes it a thing of profound destructive beauty.

The game is such a blast because you only have about ten minutes each day to prove that you really are as quick and sharp as you were the day before.

While the new look can be a little daunting to a guy who just wants to play a few seasons, it is definitely the most sophisticated simulation ever developed for a console.

While there are lots of competitors, there quite simply just isn't another football game that stands up to the standard Madden sets. If you love the NFL, you'll love Madden 2005.

Xbox users benefit immensely from the addition of online play, a feature that was noticeably absent from past games due to a tiff between Microsoft and EA.

Absolutely worth the purchase for old and new fans alike. There’s no reason why someone looking for a third person tactical shooter should opt for the original game (unless they’re looking to save a bit of cash), and fans of the first GRAW will find all the same modes, but with more customization options and ramped up clan support.

Top notch for the handheld market. The audio sports a lot of remixing of previous Zelda tunes, combined with all the new original scoring. It's standard Zelda fair -- which is pretty much the equivalent of saying it's great stuff.

Easily and by far one of the most addictive and fun online multiplayer games to come along in awhile.

It’s safe to say that any fan of old-school Mega Man games will love ZX. Whether you’re familiar with the series or not, though, be sure that this is a must-have for anyone looking for a superb platformer on the handheld DS.

Whether you're an old fan, like an intense new challenge or just appreciate a well-done video game, Ninja Gaiden has what you're looking for.

Sadly though the multiplayer only serves to bring down the quality of the game.

Speaking of navigation, another reason this game is so wonderful is that every last thing you do can be done using your stylus. Typing, walking, drawing, organizing – it’s just a tap or stroke away.

The use of lighting, reflections and shadows give the cars and tracks an ultra realistic look and an illusion of depth that just hasn’t been present in other racers. One caveat to this huge leap in graphical prowess though is that by pushing the PS2 to levels thought incapable of the system, there is a glitch that arises, called "stuttering" by most that’ve seen it.

The controls on the PS3 Sixaxis controller work extremely well.

The thing about Brothers in Arms which makes it stand out in this genre is its realism, and attention to detail. A painstaking amount of work has gone into re-creating what happened to the men of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II.

It ended just in time - the end of the game comes down to, more than anything, one big boss battle after another - and left us with a true feeling of accomplishment.

Smooth Moves is everything we hoped it would be and then some – it’s quite simply a must-have for any Wii owner.

Although it stays true to the Ratchet & Clank formula and doesn't try to get too creative, this is easily one of the best PS3 games so far.

A Kirby game that's fun and cool? Thanks to the innovative touchscreen control, you bet it is. A must-have for the somewhat under-represented Nintendo DS.

A surprisingly tight blend of action, exploration and story. It's just too bad it's over so quickly.

A great game made even greater through its translation to two more powerful platforms. But Xbox owners might be miffed that the long-anticipated improvements are in reality so minimal.

Disney has all the bases covered and then some to keep a child's interest as they work their way through an assortment of diverse levels.

This game truly has multiple paths with multiple choices to make that can affect the conclusion of the game.

Plain and simple, ESPN NFL 2K5 is Sega's best football game to date.

If you're looking for awesome graphics, revolutionary game play and realistic hockey, and don’t mind some sacrifices due to oddities in the game that EA happened to forget about and a lack of a major online component, this game is a hands down winner.

Everything that was great about Morrowind is here in spades, but with smoother gameplay mechanics, snazzier visuals and a faster-moving storyline.

Trigger-happy players and those who prefer stealth will both be able to enjoy this game, though those opting for stealth will get a lot more enjoyment in the long run.

Another amazing asset is that the opponents that you face aren't stupid. These are some top-notch, intelligent drivers! These opponents actually try to set you up to crash in a race.

It's all cute and Lego-y, yeah, but this is also a thoroughly charming, satisfying and faithful tip of the plastic hat to the original Star Wars trilogy. The Force is strong with this one.

With some of the highest production values seen in any game and more extras than you can shake a silenced tranquilizer gun at (all of which are on top of an amazing and improved single player game) result in a title that is easy to recommend and enjoy.

Gray Matter Studios, the makers of "Castle Wolfenstein," was hired to make this add-on, and has done an impressive job creating battle scenarios that are larger and feel more freewheeling than in the original.

So despite the course deficiency the 360 has compared to its cheaper and older rivals, EA has produced the golf outing they should¹ve released a year ago.

But given that we gave Half-Life 2 one of our very rare five-star ratings, it would be pretty tough to improve upon perfection. The mere fact that Episode One comes close to matching the greatness of the original is impressive.

Though it has the odd rough edge, Mass Effect pushes BioWare's trademark character development, dialogue and storytelling to new levels.

An absolute must for any retro gamer or PSP owner.

Aside from a few frustrating spikes in difficulty and a slower-paced final act, God Of War II is about as perfect an action game as you could ever hope for, and a worthy sequel to one of the PlayStation 2’s crown jewels.

A phenomenal game if it runs on your machine. While it is not exactly the dynamic battlefield that EA had hyped, it is one of the most enjoyable multiplayer first person shooters to come out in years.

It’s unfortunate that the Xbox controller can’t possibly be as accurate as a mouse (this game originally was released for PC a few years back) but you actually get used to it quickly enough.

The new A-10 Warthog will be worth the purchase price for many, but there is still enough here to keep any fan of Battlefield 2 amused for quite awhile.

It would have been nicer if the storyline was a little longer, but the ability to go back and replay the game, but choosing to be evil instead of good, or a spellcaster instead of a fighter, will allow you to enjoy this game for some time.

A sure bet on any platform, GTA on the PSP is the beginning of a portable revolution, setting the bar even higher for any future games that dare challenge it.

What's refreshing however in these times of relentless retro makeovers, is that despite the simplicity, there's considerable depth and longevity here, thanks to the varied outcomes of your every action.

The action is exciting and varied, the puzzles are challenging yet rarely frustrating and the environments are simply gorgeous.

In many ways, The Godfather is much better than "GTA". The producers have taken the "GTA" gameplay concept as a starting point and then made it their own by surrounding it with a well-established storyline that gives everything purpose and charm.

One of the best strategy game franchises gets even better with the addition of new DS-specific features and tweaks.

With its wide variety of vehicles, numerous tracks and racing modes and its undeniably addictive sense of speed, Burnout Legends is by far the best racing experience to be had on the PSP.

Other than its steep PC system requirements and the merely adequate multiplayer modes, it's hard to find any fault with this gripping gem of a shooter.

In the history of gaming, there are a few releases that warrant the cost of purchasing an entire system. 'Goldeneye' and 'Perfect Dark' for the N64 and the groundbreaking PS2 version of 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' are a few of those extraordinary titles. In my mind, based on its astonishing graphics and feral gameplay, you can now add 'Peter Jackson's King Kong' to that list of rarities.

Newcomers might want to try the first two outings in the series just to be sure they don’t get lost playing the third, but other then that small issue, there’s little to complain about.

The graphics, the sound, the level designs, the characters and their voice acting - everything about this game is truly terrifying and horrific all at the same time. Revel in one of the scariest video games ever made.

Achieves something many role-playing strategy games fail at. It provides a fantastically involving adventure strategy for those who live and breath RPG, but also allows those who just want the strategy to ignore the wrapping paper and get straight to the gift.

While the story and gameplay are identical, the PS3 iteration of Oblivion is slightly better than its Xbox 360 cousin from a visual and technical standpoint. Standing on the top of a tall hill and gazing at the landscape below is even more breathtaking than before, thanks to a greater level of distant detail in the environments. Loading times have also been shortened a bit, making transitions between areas a little smoother.

Double Agent's level design and scenarios will keep you on your toes while blowing your mind at the same time.

A few niggling flaws — or maybe just impossibly high expectations — keep Halo 3 from perfection. But on the whole, it’s a heartfelt and worthy conclusion to one of the most beloved video game series of all time.

A perfect merging of sneaking and shooting missions, Dark Mirror’s gameplay flows rapidly from scenario to scenario.

Although it doesn't bring anything radically new to the formula, The Sims 2 has enough amazing twists and tweaks to make it one of those rare sequels that outdoes the original in every conceivable way.

Sega's best football game to date.

More than any other release in the past, 'The Show' captures all of the intricacies and the essence of the great game itself.

While film aficionados will get more out of it than your regular Joe who will pay full price to see anything starring Rob Schneider, The Movies is for anyone who not only think they can make movies better than Hollywood, they know they can.

The only real fault with Resistance is that its inspirations are sometimes too obvious. It’s a little too much like Call Of Duty here or Half-Life there, and one of the later tank-driving segments feels like it was lifted straight out of the original Halo.

What really leaves all the other modes in the proverbial dust though is the free-roaming aspect of 'Cars'.

Utilising each of the five pikmin-type talents is fun; the pikmin are easy to command and control, and the multi-tasking with Louie adds a lot of depth.

Even if you only have a slightest casual interest in the greatest puzzle video game ever made, the stack of gameplay modes and the introduction of online play are completely reason enough to warrant purchase.

It's a treat to play something so fresh, and yet so (often frustratingly) familiar. Helmet Chaos strikes the perfect balance between its 20th Century lineage and gameplay for today.

The prettiest fighting franchise out there has grown some brains, upping the skill ante but also bringing a ton of online play modes and unlockable goodies to the table.

Besides being one of the best Xbox racing titles, RSC 2 is right up there with anything else currently on the market.

As one of the few distinct differences from the original, Lumines 2 features full, non-animated music videos as backgrounds on certain levels. The videos are pretty cool on their own, and yet actually add another degree of difficulty by being yet another visual distraction- something that should please veteran players of the first game.

The series could benefit from features such as other playable races or a crafting system, but you'll likely be so busy adventuring that you won't have much time for gathering herbs.

At present, this is the closest you will come to knowing what it is like to step inside a WWE ring. Here’s hoping THQ and the WWE will move past their business disagreements and continue producing superb wrestling games.

Though the story mode provides a compelling 12 hour experience, you won’t be rushing out to play through it a second time. Still, these minor gripes aside, The Darkness is one of the best games you’re likely to play this year. I’ve seen the light and it’s dark, very dark.