Dan Zuccarelli says Pac-Man Championship Edition (X360): This may seems like a strange choice, but of all the “retro” XBLA games I downloaded this year, this one took a classic game and actually improved it. The morphing maps, speed changes and time limit may not sound like much but it adds a decent level of tension and makes it compelling to play over and over.

Nathan Smart says Peggle (PC/Mac): Plinko meets Pachinko meets Pinball meets Crossfire meets Unicorns. Christ died for things of this nature.

Kevin Alexander says Crackdown (360): What an appropriately titled game, what with the word "crack" in there. It took about an hour for this game to sink it's teeth into me, but once it did I was seeing agility orbs whenever I drove somewhere. When telling my friends about this game I used the words "GTA on steroids" and I still stand by that, just flip flop which side you fight for. Jumping has NEVER been more fun than it is in this game, to the point where it practically made the game the best platformer I've ever played. The driving was not too fun, but everything else was a blast. As a bonus this game probably had the best downloadable content packages of the year.

Grim Santo says Crackdown (360): I have much love for any game that makes me feel like a super hero. You can throw cars, jump 100 feet high and blow stuff up with big guns. No Super Hero is complete without a sidekick, and thanks to Xbox Live your friend can join you in the fight for justice.

Dexie Oblivion says Odin Sphere (PS2): Stunning hand drawn visuals. A haunting musical score. A deep, engrossing story. Odin Sphere, an action-RPG for the PS2, features all this and more, proving that 2D console games still have a place in the industry. While some may argue that the gameplay can be a bit repetitive at times, the great story, music, and truly epic, screen filling bosses more than make up for it. Each of the five characters plays with their own abilities and fighting style, making the repeat journeys through some levels much more fun the second time around. A definate recommendation to fans of 2D, old-school games.

Hawty McBloggy says The Orange Box (PC/PS3/X360): For monetary value alone, The Orange Box packs a tremendous bang for your buck. Numerous hours of entertainment are at your fingertips with the five games (Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One and Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2) that are included in this collection. The standout in this package is easily the mind bending puzzle shooter Portal. Innovative and original, this game (peppered with humorous dialogue) makes your brain work in ways you didn't think it could (and sometimes still can't). The mix of classics along with the arrival of something new and brilliant make The Orange Box pure win.

Jim Squires says Puzzle Quest (DS/PSP/X360/PS2): For someone who has always loathed Bejeweled, I took to Puzzle Quest like a champ. At first glance PQ really does look like just another Bejeweled clone but look a little closer and you'll find a surprisingly deep RPG-mechanic at work. Leveling your characters, giving them powers to use against your enemies, and ongoing storylines and quests make this one of the most addictive puzzle games to ever hit gamerdom.

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