Capcom

Capcom

Xbox 360

2006

Zombies. We know 'em, and we love to kill 'em. Unfortunately, there really aren't that many ways to just murder hordes of zombies in video games- until the creation of Dead Rising, that is. It does away with Resident Evil style, slow and bulky zombies. Instead, we get hordes of weak, stupid zombies. Then the game provides endless ways to kill them- chainsaw, baseball bat, katana, you name it, it's there. Zombie smashing has never been so awesome.

Namco

Namco

Playstation 2

2004

There is something to be said about simplicity. There is also something to be said about uniqueness. Katamari rates off the charts in both categories, and the result is a completely original, wholly addictive game that anyone can appreciate. Rolling a ball around has never been so fun, and the level designs are extremely clever and detailed such that there is a surprising amount of substance to such a simple concept. Oh, and the game's got style- which may be why it's oh so memorable.

Ubisoft

Ubisoft

Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC

2003

Beyond Good and Evil was a sleeper, but for those who played it, they found a very enjoyable action adventure game. Great visuals and audio, and gameplay components reminiscant of a good Zelda game came together very well. Yet probably most noteworthy as the game's story and social commentary, which went well beyond the boundary of what most games attempt to do, and is perhaps why the game stood out to me so much.

Ubisoft

Ubisoft

Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC

2004

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is the second game in the Prince of Persia Trilogy, following The Sands of Time. It took the great platforming that the first game introduced, and added in a whole new, deeper combat system. The result is a great adventure that most everyone should enjoy. Prince of Persia is the definitive name in great platforming, and Warrior Within holds that legacy through and through.

Microsoft Game Studios

Ensemble Studios

PC

2002

In a time where real time strategy games seemed to be all but perfected, Age of Mythology came along to tell us that a real time strategy game can still be highly enjoyable by offering some cool new units, and a lot of polish. This is exactly what Age of Mythology does, and remains one of the most coherent, well made real time strategy games since its release.

Majesco Games

Double Fine Productions

Playstation 2, Xbox, PC

2005

Psychonauts poses one of the biggest problems facing the game industry- How can a game that is so good, and receives so much critical acclaim, not sell hardly any copies? Psychonauts is a marvel of a game, from its enjoyable platforming sequences to its unforgettable cast and witty dialogue. Therefore it's unfortunate that the average consumer didn't even give this game a chance, not only because they missed out on a great title, but also because hard working and creative game developers didn't receive their due for this one. But I'm giving it to them.

Activision

Infinity Ward

PC

2003

World War II themed shooters are all too common in the modern video game market, but Call of Duty still stands as one of the best examples of the genre. The shooting action in the game is top notch, and level design is great. This was also one of the first WWII shooters that had you fight along side fellow soldiers, making the battles feel more like, well, battles. This game set the standard, which earns it a spot on this list.

Nintendo

Intelligent Systems

Gamecube

2005

The Fire Emblem series is one of Nintendo's flagship franchises, and Path of Radiance makes this list simply by doing so well what previous games in the series also did so well. It offers great characters, great storytelling, and great strategic combat- and combines them all into a package with more polish than most strategy RPGs even come close to obtaining. All of these aspects make Path of Radiance a sure fire pick for this list.

Vivendi Universal Games

Valve Software

PC

2004

As the sequel to one of the most beloved games ever made, Half-Life 2 had a lot of expectations to meet. Fortunately for us as gamers, it met pretty much all of them head on. The shooting was intense, the graphics were amazing, and the physics engine delivered on all fronts. In fact, this game is perhaps more of a technical marvel than anything else, which is why it makes this list.

Microsoft Game Studios

Bungie Software

Xbox

2004

Halo 2 set many sells records on its release, and after playing it you can see why. The shooting action that was so exciting in the original Halo is back, and just as exciting as before. While it doesn't do a whole lot that the original Halo didn't do, Halo 2 does provide a slew of multiplayer features (including online play) that have come to define how you make a great multiplayer shooter. What the original Halo did for single player shooters, Halo 2 has done for multiplayer shooters, earning it a spot on this list.