The atmosphere is second to none, the action frantic and fun, and the ease of access means you can play the game however you want without being punished for it.

The story does waver when it matters most, and the planet-scanning and other hacking mini-games are quite the bore, but aside from that Mass Effect 2 is a game that doesn't seem to put a foot wrong. Riveting use of characters and your involvement in their stories really make this one you can't miss.

While a few bugs are evident, Skyrim is the most solid effort Bethesda has launched and it's an even more impressive feat given the scale and scope of the world on offer. A captivating land, filled with captivating people, does more than enough to keep us as gamers and fantasy-enthusiasts to keep us coming back for more.

Like the first game, you will be talking about the end of Halo 2 for a long time to come, perhaps for the wrong reasons though this time and many gamers will feel maybe a bit ripped off? But the fantastic moments in Halo 2 far outweigh the few flaws.

Superior storytelling, audio and graphics all come together to create one of the most enjoyable games in years.

Valve took a great concept, and turned it into an interesting, intellectual marvel that stopped the gaming world. They then took that marvel and made it better again. Portal 2 is an achievement in writing, and I'll be stunned should it be robbed of appropriate accolades. Not many games this year will be as funny, charming and intellectually puzzling as Portal 2, and that's no surprise – because it's so damn good.

Sequels this good rarely come along. To best a game as technically and thematically sound as Arkham Asylum takes some doing and Rocksteady have delivered in spades. It matches its predecessor's narrative finesse, and excels in every other aspect. What it lacks it 'whoa' value, it makes up for with a host of side quests, collectibles and nods to Gotham's history that is sure to keep any Batman enthusiast occupied.

Gears of War does exactly what it promised to do – have jaw dropping visuals, strong presentation, fluid gameplay, and integrated multiplayer (co-op at any time). Perhaps we're not justified in asking any more than that and to tell the truth all else is forgotten as soon as you get thrown into the game.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is one of those rare games that actually lives up to, and even surpasses, its own hype. Both the single player and multiplayer experiences are deep and engaging, showcasing an impressive variety of combat situations and intense, visceral action.

Billions of hours are destined to be lost online as it slowly takes over the world because the multiplayer alone covers the retail price, and features such as Forge and Saved Film only further justify the purchase.

Visually stunning, audibly amazing and captivating in solo and multiplayer, Chaos Theory is the crowning achievement of the Splinter Cell series which just gets better and better with every new game.

With its outstanding graphics, highly addictive adrenaline pumping gameplay and its terrific emphasis on carnage and destruction, this is not a game to be missed by anyone who has even just a passing interest in arcade racers.

Modern Warfare 2 is undoubtedly the single biggest release this year; not only in gaming but in entertainment, period. It delivers in a lot of areas; it has a campaign marinated in grandeur (even if it is to short) and a deep, engaging multiplayer facet (even if it is littered with connectivity issues).

The "real world" scenarios and plot in PT gives the game an edge that is frighteningly real and believable. The graphics and levels are better than the original, the audio is simply perfect and if it wasn't for the difficulty level would be almost flawless.

As a longtime BioShock fan, I was reticent in bidding farewell to Andrew Ryan's Rapture. Zachary Comstock managed to create a worthy replacement in Columbia, however. With Infinite, Ken Levine establishes himself as one of the powerhouses in storytelling in video game; as divisive as it is, the resultant discussion has to be seen as a plus.

Braid is a beautiful game and an amazing experience, and whether or not you think games can be considered works of art – or if it even matters – you simply owe it to yourself to play Braid.

I'll go ahead and say it, Street Fighter IV so far is the defining moment in the beat ‘em up genre this generation. Its technical brilliance is supported ably by a display of visual excellence and an abundance of things to do.

It isn't quite perfect, but no game of this size and scope ever really will be, and ultimately nothing can prevent Fallout 3 from being one of the greatest role-playing experiences on the console to date.

It improves on the original in almost every way, and maintains its legitimacy with an engaging and lengthy single player story.

Mass Effect 3 is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy that manages to put the best parts of Mass Effect 1 with the best parts of Mass Effect 2. Sure, it will never be as much an RPG as the title that started it all, but as a result the game is actually, surprisingly, more fun to play and feels like a very well put together third person shooter that is bolstered by an in depth customisation system for both your weapons and your skills.

It's not perfect, and it certainly is beginning to show its age, but the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series is well worth breaking a few laws to acquire!

Aside from a few misgivings about some of the track choices, I enjoyed absolutely everything about Guitar Hero II. The practice mode ensures there's always that option there to improve yourself and master the game on hard and expert and also provides a great way for beginners to get into the game.

The opponent A.I is excellent (with a few occasional exceptions) and everything from the handling and physics, the customisation options and the racing is presented in a superb manner.

The decision to take out LIVE compatibility is a major downer, but don't let that prevent you from playing one of the most superb NFL games on the market.

Despite the fact that some areas feel reused from 2004, and for some inexplicable reason Xbox Live support was left out of the PAL version, there is no doubt that Madden 2005 deserves its reputation as one of the premier sport titles available. If you love NFL gaming, don't wait, grab Madden 2005 now.

The combat is challenging but fair, and some of the physical puzzles may call for numerous attempts, and none of it is impossible.

ESPN however has a certain appeal that comes from its brilliant presentation and easy to grasp controls, the addition of the crib makes this one of the best sports games available for the Xbox.

As the multiplayer king that it is, it is safe to say that the machine has, again, risen. All I can say, in the end, is kudos Bungie and thanks for the memories; I have loved Halo.