HALO: REACH - Xbox 360

I actually wasn’t too keen on this, the presumably last Halo title from Halo creators Bungie. After watching some of the dev diaries on Xbox Live however, I know this is going to rock. Bungie are going back to the good old days of Halo 1, what made the Halo series what it is. I’m confident on Bungie creating a spectacular “single player” experience (even though the “single player” better include Co-op!), but it is online where Bungie really shines. Halo 3 is still in the top 3 of the “Xbox Live Activity” list being posted weekly at majornelson.com. That’s quite impressive. And even better; Halo:Reach’s multiplayer experience will blow it out of the charts. I’m really looking forward to this game as I’ve had a ton of fun with Halo 3 online, and had a blast playing HALO:ODST co-op with my girlfriend. Can’t wait!

THE LAST GUARDIAN - PlayStation 3

Not much has been revealed about this game from Ico/Shadow of the Colossus creators Team Ico. What I know: You’re the little kid. You have to control the big furry griffin-like dragon-being. It looks absolutely stunning, and I’m sure Team Ico will create a great game. Not so sure it’ll be released this year though. :(

ALAN WAKE - Xbox 360

It’s been seven years since Max Payne 2. Seven years since Remedy Interactive actually released a game. Seven years. That’s a lot of years. It’s been nine years since the first Max Payne video game. Nine years since Remedy Interactive actually released a _great_ game. Nine years. That’s a lot of years. (I’ll stop it now.) Remedy Interactive are back. Meet Alan Wake: the best-selling author with a severe case of writer’s block. His wife decided to do something nice for him. They went to the idyllic town of Bright Falls to get him back on track. Bad move. Things are going to hell. Wife disappears. Alan is suddenly trapped living out his latest masterpiece - a thriller he has no memory of writing. The story seems interesting enough, but it is the importance of light that makes this game seem kick-ass. Your enemies are extremely sensitive to light. Torches, flares and flash lights are all bringers of death in this psychological action thriller. I can’t see how this can go wrong. Unless the story takes a “it was all a dream” turn. If so: I’ll see you in Finland, Remedy!

SPLINTER CELL: CONVIVTION - Xbox 360 / PC

Sam. Fisher. Do I need to write more on this? Sam has gone rogue, no more Third Echolon. Now, here’s a challenge: Go to Xbox Live. Download the demo. Play through the interrogation scene in the bathroom. Come back and tell me you are not looking forward to this game. You are either A) Lying or B) Not coming back. It is due for release on April 13. It has split-screen co-op, multiplayer and Sam Fisher. I’m sold.

STARCRAFT II - PC / MAC

Hell. It’s about time.

The sequel to the twelve year old real-time strategy King: StarCraft, from developers Blizzard Entertainment. There’s no doubt whatsoever that this will be immensely popular, and for my own part I am really looking forward to getting a break from all the shooters that are being released these days. If thinking is for you, this game will rock your socks off. Blizzard are unable of screwing up, and this game will be no different. The online component is what will define this game, I am not so fond of being raped online by ten-year old korean kids though - I’m in it for the single player.

WoW:CATACLYSM - PC / MAC

I’ve stopped playing World of Warcraft. As has a lot of us. Like everyone else however, I’m coming back when the next expansion hits. Like I did with The Burning Crusade. Like I did with Wrath of the Lich King. I’m not sure how long this will be able to keep my interest though, the previous expansions had me going for a couple months until putting them aside. In Cataclysm however, we’re going back to Azeroth. Everything’s changed. Deathwing - an ancient evil - has risen, and with him being both ancient and evil: things are going to change. Most zones have been revamped and are ready for questing - all with new quests!

If you don’t care about the new class/races combinations, or about flying mounts in Azeroth, or the new level cap, or the new dungeons and battlegrounds, or the new secondary skill - there are playable werewolves in this! Yep, it’s probably going to be just as addictive as WoW always has been. Blizzard Entertainment: Dealing drugs since 2004.

Red Dead Redemption - Xbox 360 / PlatStation 3

Grand Theft Auto creator Rockstar Games presents Grand Theft Horsery: Cowboyland .. erm; Red Dead Redemption. This is basically Grand Theft Auto 4 put in a western setting. Unlike GTA4 however, this will be fun. Like GTA it’s a sandbox game with free-roaming abilities and a great story to boot! You are John Marston. You’re on a mission to kill or capture your old best buds and gang members. Or else your family gets it! Why are you on this dangerous mission? Who wants to hurt your family? The government of course! If the story sounds “meh” to you, you should skip it. Go hunt! There are over 40 different types of animals just waiting to be shot and eaten. There are also horses to be stolen. And trains to be robbed. Furthermore you could go gambling, cattle herding or arm wrestling. See? Like GTA 4, but fun! Out in May.

MAFIA II - Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / PC

Another sandbox game, but as the name reveals: this aint no horse-stealing western. This is mobster town. It’s the sequel to the fantastic Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven, and is set from 1945 to 1955. You’re Vito Scaletta, a world war II vet embarking upon a world of crime. If Mafia business isn’t your thing then this game probably isn’t your cup of tea, but the recreation of a 1950′s New York/San Francisco should still offer something for everyone.

The following trailer is from 2007. Expect the game to look a lot better when it hits the shelves in August.

Now I’m feeling confident that everyone will find something they love in this list, but if you need more here’s five games that very, very nearly made the cut. Click on them and be sent to wikipedia!

Crackdown 2

Fable 3

Split/Second

Blur

Dead Rising 2

Are you in rage about a game being left out? Leave me a comment!

# 6 – 10 These Didn’t Quite Make The Cut

Forza Motorsport 3. If you like cars and games there’s no need to look elsewhere. This is the best of the best, the top of the tops. A plethora of cars and tracks, combined with a much better single player experience than its predecessor(s) makes this car simulator a fantastic racing experience. Looks and runs great. The best Racing Sim to date.

NHL10 & FIFA10. Here’s a twofer. Say what you want about these annual sports games, but both these 2010 versions were absolutely fantastic. The feel of the game, the pace, the dedication. They both have it all. I couldn’t possibly choose between these, these are the two best sports simulators on consoles. It’ll be very interesting to see how the 2011 versions will pan out.

Uncharted 2. The only PlayStation 3 game on my list. And I’m not even sure that it deserves a spot. Granted, I haven’t completed it yet, so I’m assuming that it’ll be a lot better than what I’ve come across so far. However, Uncharted (1) was a really good game for me. It came to me as a green savior in my bleek brown-darkish-grey “next gen” gaming world. Uncharted 2 Among Thieves still delivers with a lot of green, but that’s no longer enough! Green lush forests aside, it is a solid game – this time also with an online component I’ve yet to try.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Simply put: The Single Player is fast-paced, action-packed, a lot of fun, but utterly short. It is in the multiplayer compartment Modern Warfare 2 shines. However, it doesn’t shine as bright as the first Modern Warfare did. The perks are better this time, the kill streaks rewards are cool – but the maps aren’t as good as they were the first time around.

Football Manager 2010. I am a sports junkie, and football in particular. I’ve spent an extremer amount of hours in this game – it is hugely addictive. The only PC game in my list, could just’ve easily been in the top 5, but the competition was too tough.

#5 – The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

From Xbox Live Arcade. The first installment of the games involving Guybrush Threepwood has been remade to utter perfection. The content hasn’t changed – the presentation has. The jokes are still funny, the gameplay still works and insult fighting has never looked prettier. This game is Complete. I eagerly await the remake of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge. Come on LucasArts, make it be! –Wikipedia.

#4 – Borderlands

Trine bought this game and we’ve played it an insane amount, both of us doing every achievement and every quest. Although the ending is very underwhelming, everything else is pure fun. I haven’t tried playing it solo, but as a local co-op game this is as good as it gets. Extremely satisfying – extremely fun. –Wikipedia.

#3 – Batman: Arkham’s Asylum

The surprise of the year. The combat in this game is so great it would’ve made top 5 on its own. Combine fantastic combat with great level design and the gadgets of Bruce Wayne’s hefty budget and  you have a winning recipe for a great game. Still playing it, and probably will for a long time. –Wikipedia.

#2 – Dragon Age: Origins

Everything I expected – and more. Developed by BioWare, creators of SW:KOTOR and Mass Effect, I was anticipating this for a long time, and boy did they deliver. The story is great, the world is huuuge (both in lore, content and size) and the diversity of game classes/races/story choices keeps me coming back long into 2010.  I’m unable to put this game away. –Wikipedia.

#1 – Assassin’s Creed 2

Ezio Auditore is my new hero. He has it all. And so does this game, it is a massive game. The fighting is great (although not as good as Batman), the story is good, the world is created with an astonishing amount of detail, the climbing is awesome, the side stories are very well executed — I could go on forever. I absolutely love this game. I spent ten hours straight completing it and gathering everyone of the 100 feathers spread across Italy. I couldn’t simply give this game enough praise, it is perhaps even one of the best games of the decade. Well done, Ubisoft, this is gaming perfected. Buy this game, now. –Wikipedia.

This actually turned out to be a lot harder than I expected. And there are sadly a couple of games I haven’t played. Brütal Legend being a significant one. All MMOs being others.

## Honorable Mentions ##

DJ Hero. Street Fighter IV. Left 4 Dead 2. The Beatles: Rock Band. Fight Night: Round 4. Resident Evil 5. Halo 3: ODST.

All great games I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with, however, for different reasons they quite didn’t reach the top. Even so; Resident Evil 5 is a beautiful game I’d recommend to anyone able to play it in local co-op.

There you have it, my list. And phew, this was really hard to create. If you feel I’m dead wrong, or if you agree, please do leave a comment!  Let 2010 begin!