PS3
The overall experience remains one of the best in gaming, and Polyphony proves once more that when it comes to realistic racing, it's on a whole different plane than the competition. When you get through the distractions and it's just you and the open road, the game is poetry in motion. It's easy to lose yourself in the moment and just imagine for a second that you're really driving that super-powered beast of a machine and doing a pretty good job of it. It's these moments that make the wait well worth it and prove that no matter how long we had to wait, Gran Turismo 5 delivers.
Playing Heavy Rain is like watching a movie where you can alter the actions on-screen. The gameplay elements are a bit simple, but it's impossible to deny that the level of interaction is just right to get you engrossed in what is transpiring on-screen. Heavy Rain is more of an experience than a game, and as far as an experience goes, it does an impressive job and is truly unlike anything else on the market.
3. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a game that was designed with its fans front and center. If you've played the prior games, then Brotherhood is going to feel much like Assassin's Creed 2.5, but you're still going to love every minute of it. The gameplay has been polished, the story expands on what you already know and the multiplayer component brings a fresh twist to the series.
God of War III is an epic, satisfying end to a legendary series that helped strengthen the concept of the ultimate against-all-odds protagonist. It's 10 to 12 hours of power with a conclusion that gives the player a hint that there could be more to come. If Kratos' journey is truly over, I can honestly say I enjoyed the ride, consequences be damned.
Red Dead Redemption is one of the best sandbox games ever released and is an absolute treasure trove of freedom. You can spend your days as a hunter, a gambler, a bounty hunter, or whatever else comes to mind. It only gets better once you go online and play with other people, turning the entire world into your playground. In this respect, Red Dead Redemption has no equal.
Xbox 360
Black Ops is another game that shows why the Call of Duty franchise continues its stranglehold over the shooter genre. There's no question that Black Ops is a must-have game for both Call of Duty fans and shooter fans of any stripe. What's more significant is the divergent art direction and Treyarch's attention to detail in the cinematic narrative campaign. It's a sign of good things to come in the Call of Duty series, and it certainly lives up to the promise of a greatly improved and enhanced sequel to World at War.
4. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a game that was designed with its fans front and center. If you've played the prior games, then Brotherhood is going to feel much like Assassin's Creed 2.5, but you're still going to love every minute of it. The gameplay has been polished, the story expands on what you already know and the multiplayer component brings a fresh twist to the series.
Mass Effect 2 is an improvement over the original in almost every way. The characters and plot are interesting, the visuals are top-notch and complemented by solid art design and terrific voice acting. Mass Effect 2 is streamlined and simplified to the point where anyone can pick it up and play, while maintaining enough depth.
If multiplayer is your thing, Halo: Reach is a must-have title. If you're a hardcore Halo fan looking to flesh out the story and really want more of the same, then pick it up. Reach is fun, but it doesn't provide the same kick in the ass as your first time through the original Halo.
Red Dead Redemption is engaging, and the world feels more alive than in most modern open-world games. Multiplayer becomes a good, long experience best shared with friends, and the freedom found in single-player mode carries over to the online segment quite nicely. Fans would do well to pick up what can now be considered the best Western game out so far.
Wii
5. No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
While the original No More Heroes was fun to play if you could get past all of Suda 51's weird meta-joke gameplay designs and awkward segments, No More Heroes 2 is fun to play without any reservation. In almost every way, this is a far superior game to the original.
Bond is back, and GoldenEye 007 is the game that Bond fans have been waiting for. It's everything that was great about GoldenEye but successfully updated for a modern Bond and modern gaming. GoldenEye 007 is the best Bond game in years.
Kirby's Epic Yarn is charming, fun and easy to play, while well-designed enough that the lack of challenge doesn't become boring. The visuals are beautiful, and the art design is phenomenal. Few games are as flat-out fun as this one. If you're not afraid of a little cuteness, you must play Kirby's Epic Yarn.
2. Donkey Kong Country Returns
Donkey Kong Country Returns may not be the most innovative title on the market, but it makes up for that by having phenomenal level design, beautiful visuals and a top-notch soundtrack. The gameplay is incredible from start to finish, and DKCR even arguably manages to eclipse the SNES originals.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 could have easily been a cheap cash-in with a few lackluster additional levels, but it expands on the gameplay and adds enough new twists and turns to feel like a full-fledged sequel. The new power-ups and levels work wonderfully together, and we rarely felt like we were retreading ground that Super Mario Galaxy had already covered.
PC
Just Cause 2 is just so darn enjoyable. You can always take comfort in knowing that there's something to blow up just over the next hill, and sending a tower of flames into the sky will make it all better. This is also the perfect game for the ADD generation, as you can't walk 100 yards in any direction without running smack into something to do. This is pure, mindless fun and once you pick it up, it's near-impossible to ever put it back down.
Black Ops is another game that shows why the Call of Duty franchise continues its stranglehold over the shooter genre. There's no question that Black Ops is a must-have game for both Call of Duty fans and shooter fans of any stripe. What's more significant is the divergent art direction and Treyarch's attention to detail in the cinematic narrative campaign. It's a sign of good things to come in the Call of Duty series, and it certainly lives up to the promise of a greatly improved and enhanced sequel to World at War.
If you're fan of shooters, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 isn't a game to be missed. It's a big improvement over the groundwork that was laid out by the first title and manages to improve just about every aspect, and it's packed with plenty of armored thunder and riveting gunplay that forces you to think outside of the box by blowing it up with some friends.
Mass Effect 2 is an improvement over the original in almost every way. The characters and plot are interesting, the visuals are top-notch and complemented by solid art design and terrific voice acting. Mass Effect 2 is streamlined and simplified to the point where anyone can pick it up and play, while maintaining enough depth.
1. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
There aren't any radical departures from the original in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Though its gameplay mechanics are dated, they still hold up just as well as they always have. The changes, such as the new Battle.net and the removal of strict linearity of the campaign mode, round out the game quite nicely. The title is more of the same, but it's been polished to the point that it would be difficult to make it any more modern without losing the franchise's strong core. StarCraft II is a surprisingly full experience.