A & E

From the outer reaches of our galaxy to the bustling social scene at a small Japanese high school, the best games of 2007 stand out from the pack with exceptional graphics and engrossing gameplay. Some thrilled us with immersive worlds; some gripped us with exhilarating action; others focused on sheer entertainment value. It was a blockbuster year for A-list titles, and ranking the Top 10 proved quite the challenge. Of the titles I reviewed this year that earned A's, here are best:

1. "Mass Effect": Massive in scope, epic in narrative, this addictive sci-fi shooter/RPG hybrid clinched No. 1 with its malleable storyline that reacts to the choices you make. With nuanced dialogue options, you can be the compassionate hero or the self-serving renegade. The game's most amazing moments always hit unexpectedly and with desperate life-or-death choices of game-altering consequence. Wipe out an entire species? Which crewmate do you rescue? The lives of a few or the greater good? Never has a game made me so think about the effects of my actions. And the customization of armor, abilities and appearance is outstanding -- you can even choose gender. "Mass Effect" is one giant leap toward the future of interactive storytelling. Xbox 360

2. "BioShock": The undersea dystopia Rapture redefines first-person shooters with its intricate plot and menacing and mournful atmosphere. The decaying, art-deco ruins of the once-grand city mirror what's become of its genetically enhanced inhabitants, now mutated into psychopaths whose bloodlust clouds the last traces of their humanity. "BioShock" weaves a fantastic mystery that slowly unravels the deeper in you go. It also throws a particularly nasty moral dilemma at you. Young girls called Little Sisters have within them a material that gives you power, but harvesting it kills the girl. It's your choice: kill her or set her free. How you play the game is up to you -- after all, it is just a game -- but when you're holding the child as she pleads for her life, it suddenly doesn't feel like "just a game" anymore. It's the most haunting horror-survival title on the market. Xbox 360

3. "The Orange Box": How much quality can you stuff into one package for $59.99? A lot: the horror-fest "Half-Life 2" and its follow-up episodes 1 and 2, the much acclaimed online multiplayer "Team Fortress 2" and the surprise puzzle hit "Portal." Everyone knows "Half-Life" is awesome, but "Portal" really took the "cake," so to speak, sparking off a cult-like following devoted to the Weighted Companion Cube. A.I. villain GLaDOS wins the prize for the most entertaining villainy, with her promises of cake and encouragement such as, "This next test is impossible," as she guides you through the increasingly hazardous challenges. The cake might be a lie, but this title is a must-own, especially if you need to budget your purchases wisely. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

4. "God of War 2": Not surprisingly, the newly crowned god of war from the first title has made some pretty powerful enemies on Mt. Olympus. Kratos returns in this sequel as a hands-on kind of god, that is, until Zeus tricks him and steals his power. From that point on, it's revenge -- Greek mythology style. This time, though, you can see the brutal trials taking their toll on the weary Spartan. "God of War 2" expands the same great blood-gushing gameplay, delving deeper into the legends and myths to create a battle royale complete with scheming gods, aerial pegasus combat and even more eye-gouging, head-ripping, gut-impaling action. It's truly divine vengeance. PlayStation 2

5. "Halo 3": Look past the hype and the super-long line of Master Chief fanboys and you'll find a top-notch game with tight controls that's armed to the teeth. The amazing diversity of weaponry alone deserves an A: the Spartan Laser, the Energy Sword, the Gravity Hammer -- stuff of genius. Plus, we finally get to finish the fight ... sort of. You can't help but get sucked into the "Halo" mythos while playing the game. Plus, the Flood still creep me out. And just when you thought "Halo" totally owned online play, "Halo 3" adds the Forge editor, which lets you customize the maps. All hail the Chief. Xbox 360

6. "Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3": In order to summon their persona entities to fight the shadow creatures, these Japanese high schoolers shoot themselves in the head. They're not using real guns -- these are actually "evokers" -- but they look real, which is completely mind blowing, so to speak. It's the craziest thing ever, but this hybrid dungeon crawler-social sim offers a lot more than shock value, like gorgeous anime-style graphics, evolving friendship storylines and a wealth of upgradeable abilities and persona powers. That first cutscene with the evoker, though, is riveting. PlayStation 2

7. "Super Mario Galaxy": Classic platformer action meets the multi-directional, Escher-inspired environments in this supremely delightful Wii game that makes smart use of the motion-sensor controls -- no spastic arm-jerking required. You can play it in short bursts, or you can dive into it for hours, but the more you explore, the more fun you'll have with the myriad unusual worlds. Finally, a Wii game you can enjoy while relaxing. Wii

8. "Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction": The first time you take control of Ratchet in "Tools of Destruction," it's visual overload. The detail, the vibrant colors -- your eyes need time to take it all in. But for all its good looks, it also charms with R&C's trademark humor, wonderfully fun gameplay and the bizarre bounty of fantastical weapons, including one that hypnotizes foes with a disco ball. It's a real showpiece for the PS3's processing prowess. PlayStation 3

9. "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare": Jack Bauer's got nothing on the U.S. Marine and British S.A.S soldiers you get to play while saving the world. The action propels you through at an intense pace as you infiltrate Chernobyl on an assassination mission, storm a charred Middle Eastern town and rain down death from above to support ground troops. The diverse missions keep you on your toes, and the scenes that unravel prove this is no run-of-the-mill war shooter. It's a grim reminder that heroes often go unsung and don't always make it out alive. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

10. "Stranglehold": This shoot-'em-up is a worthy sequel to the thrilling action movie that inspired it, "Hard Boiled." Everything in the game is destructible, which is quite a feat considering how much damage you wreak playing as Detective Tequila, voiced by Chow Yun-Fat. "Hard Boiled" director John Woo oversaw the game's production to ensure the same level of intensity and style as the film. And, boy-oh-boy, there are tons of slick moves to pull off: slow-motion standoffs, sliding down rails, swinging on chandeliers -- all while everything around you is getting blown to bits. It's the ultimate ballet of bullets for hard-boiled action junkies. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Honorable mentions

"The Darkness" -- Never a more apt name for the game that follows haunted mob goon Jackie to the bowels of hell. The sadness and wrath were palpable as your demon-possessed character lurks the shadows seeking revenge on both the mortal and immortal that stole everything from him. Although the game had some stubborn technical issues, several of the game's disturbing images still linger in the shadowy recesses of my system. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

"Guitar Hero II" -- I gave the second installment an A, but the third, "Legends of Rock" a B+. Perhaps the rawk is getting old? The titles are great for those who like to laugh at themselves and their friends, but let's hope it doesn't become a "Madden" or a "Tony Hawk" franchise, where it's same ol', same ol' with new tunes. "Rock Band" can't beat the finger gymnastics of "Guitar Hero," though, so for now, "Guitar Hero" is still the king. PlayStation 2, Xbox 360

"Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters" -- Here, robot sidekick Clank gets a "bigger" role, and it earned an A for maintaining R&C's high production values on Sony's sleek portable. PSP

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