CRYSTAL WARHEAD game

TOP NO:5 game of 2008

Not quite a full fledged sequel but never feeling like a tacked on expansion pack, Crysis Warhead finds the perfect balance for fans of the first installment all the while adding just enough new material to keep new recruits interested.

If you're a fan of the original or if you simply missed Crysis the first time around, Crysis Warhead is a prime example of an excellent, if relatively short, FPS experience.

PROS: Amazing graphics, fast-paced addictive gameplay

CONS: On the short side, story is lacking

FALL OUT 3 game

Fallout 3 isn't just a fitting tribute to that legacy, it's one of the most persistently absorbing role-playing worlds ever created. The first two Fallout titles are classics in their own right but Fallout 3 might just be the best one yet. Heck, it might just be the best console RPG of all time.

It's deep, complex and tremendously addictive. From the amazing character development system to the engaging and satisfying combat, Fallout 3 has everything you could want in an RPG experience. Play this game. Seriously. Do it.

PROS: Deep character development options; huge open world with tons of quests; satisfying combat; dangerously addictive.

CONS: Poor partner path-finding; many characters share the same voice; third-person view is useless; some perks of questionable value.

GEARS OF WAR 2 game

TOP NO:3 game of 2008

Gears of War 2 significantly improves upon the original game in every possible way, addressing several key shortcomings that kept its predecessor from being a bona-fide classic.

Gears of War 2 is a terrific action game that deservedly resides in the upper echelon of console shooters, and is the best shooter to hit the Xbox 360 so far this year. Action gamers, you've found your next obsession.

PROS: Massive battles, superior graphics and sound, smooth controls, and addictive multiplayer game types (especially Horde)

CONS: Loose plot threads, more unanswered questions, some scenarios don't quite pay off

DEAD SPACE game

TOP NO:1 game of 2008

Dead Space is a riveting survival horror game, unflinchingly violent from start to finish. Blindly unpredictable and incredibly intense, Dead Space keeps your heart pumping the entire game.

Dead Space is a showcase piece of dark-side entertainment that rivals the marvelous designs of such games as Gears of War and Resident Evil 4. But be advised that it is definitely not for the queasy or the faint of heart. Still, if you can stomach its horrors, you will be rewarded with one of the best survival horror experiences ever created.

PROS: Great graphics and sound; huge enemy variety; solid controls; awesome weapons.

CONS: No shortcut to increase your health

GRID game

Codemasters' GRID proved itself as the little racing title that could. Armed with amazing graphics, a huge selection of vehicles and three enormous continents to race across (you read that right), GRID took the speedster scene by surprise by cranking up the racing experience to eleven.

Gorgeous, innovative, in-depth, and just plain fun, GRID was an amazing foray into the world of racing and while it didn't share a familiar franchise title like the Midnight Clubs and the Need for Speeds of the world, GRID more than made its mark with simply astonishing gameplay that'll keep your foot on the pedal for hours on end.

PROS: Best-looking racing game on the market; tons of variety with different vehicle classes, events, and venues.

CONS: No vehicle tuning; basic single player structure, plain multiplayer.