With the Xbox360 in it's second year, and the Wii and PS3 both in their first, 2007 is undoubtedly the first chance of all three consoles to shine and show gamers their worth. The answer, for the Xbox 360, is a lot, if you don't mind getting a replacement console every now and then, while the answer for the PS3 is not much, despite an empty wallet and a shoddy conversion or five. The Wii, still the most wanted console despite now being it's second Christmas, continues to deliver nothing but promises and licensed tat, and while there's no denying the appeal of the console or it's respective technology, it's certainly not the gaming experience many of the gaming audience were probably expecting.

That said, altogether 2007 has been a fantastic year for gaming as all three consoles (along with regular competition from the PC) continue to battle, the winner, of course, always being the gamers and consumers alike.

Crackdown (X360)
As the first opportunity to take part in the Halo 3 public beta, and with a big-ass sticker on the front of the box emphasizing so, looking back, Crackdown for the X360 maybe wasn't bought for all the right reasons when it was originally released- always overshadowed throughout it's lifetime by that ever infamous four-lettered H-word. But beyond being a mere part of the hype-machine, Crackdown is one of the finest first-party games available on the X360.

While the game certainly conforms to the run & gun gameplay that the X360 audience is fond of, the game completely revolutionises the new-fangled sandbox genre that every game wants to be. Here, there is no story, cut-scenes or missions, instead, only a list of objectives lie in place that can be tackled whenever you're ready, allowing for freedom both physically and rather literally. But Crackdown places you in the shoes of an altogether different kind of game character, in essence, you're a superhero- equipped with the ability to lift up trucks and jump storeys, and with this comes a long overdue update and refresh of the platform genre- a twenty-first century update of one of videogaming's oldest genres with a living breathing city your playground. Turning structure, gameplay, and character abilities on their head, there's no denying Crackdown's innovation to both the sandbox genre and gaming in general this year.

Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Super Mario 64 was originally released in Europe in 1997, forever changing both the platformer genre and 3D gaming in general. Since then the technology and ideas have been bested by numerous titles, but the sequel to it for the GC, titled Super Mario Sunshine, would do little to improve either the formula or idea. Fast-forward to the Nintendo console of 2007 with a backlog of non-gamer titles, and Nintendo have a lot of work to do if they're to entice their long-term gaming fans.

Somehow, Nintendo manage it, and Super Mario Galaxy is easily the only killer-ap that the Wii has. Bringing the platformer genre into the domains of space is the title's biggest innovation, but more than just a refreshing change in setting, it completely alters your preconceptions of both the genre and videogames. Asteroids and planets allow for a fully three-dimensional experience, and the impact of the first moments of '64 are almost certainly included here, and then multiplied by a hundred. As ever the freedom included is absolutely immense, but the game also shares the rather easy-to-accomplish accolade of being the best-looking Wii title there is out there. That said, as with the rest of the game, particularly the sound, the visuals here and charming, full of depth, and most of all, contribute significantly to the overall experience. To use a rather horrible and cheap pun, it is out of this world.

The Orange Box (PC, PS3, X360)
Bringing together one the best single-player videogaming experiences (and it's two subsequent DLC episodes), the best online multiplayer of this year, and the most wickedly satisfying puzzler in ages, the game of the year is undoubtedly The Orange Box. Released by Valve, it is a single disc of everything that makes the esteemed developer's titles so good to begin with, combining all the different and unique subgenres of the first-person-shooter into one single package of absolute excitement and value.

The main depth of the collection naturally comes from Half-Life 2, and it's following Episode 1 and Episode 2 chapters. Now three years old and in an entertainment medium of constant change, there's no denying that HL2 isn't quite the visual charmer it once was. Regardless, it's environmental art-direction makes up for this almost alone, and what the game loses in visuals, it makes up for with both depth and enjoyment. It is immersion at it's finest, with the game's story taking place in front of you, and not in a pre-directed cut-scene that the industry somewhat unfortunately prefers. The dialogue, the characters, and the plot itself, ever fantastic and engaging, while the actual gameplay and content supplement it all oh-so nicely. The two episodes that accompany continue both the story and gameplay in new and imaginative settings, pushing an idea graciously further than required, thankfully, still making it immensely enjoyable and satisfying.

Portal, the other 'third' of the collection is the seemingly opposite. Set in overtly clinical science chambers, the game is more than a FPS in that there is no shooting, but rather, a puzzler. Given a weapon capable of creating entry and exit warpholes you're set about the task of completing #19 different test chambers, guided on your way by the AI voiceover and with no explanation or reason why, other than, rather notoriously, 'cake'. What starts off so incredibly simple and niche soon becomes a sinister trawl through ever more fiendish and dangerous rooms, ending with a battle against your enemy. As with it's HL2 sister there is a story here too, and while it does take a backseat to the more involved gameplay and structure to an extent, there is no avoiding it here whatsoever, as the last level will show you only too well. Theoretically it isn't even a story per se, only the one you make yourself, but with of the most darkly sinister dialogue spoken in a game (by your AI friend) it is there purely for your consumption, and consume it, you will.

The remaining disc-space is taken up by Team Fortress 2. Forget what the media's been gaffing about all year regarding Halo 3, because this is without a doubt the online multiplayer title of the year. Structured and based around a class-system consisting of Medics, Demomen, and Heavies, the game forces you to work together with others if you have any plans on winning. Naturally, each class has it's own strongpoints and faults, but the composition of these classes is what drives the game forward as the title suggests. But beyond this, the game features one of the most iconic, bizarre and surreal art-directions in a long time, and while it doesn't contribute much to an extent, the ensuing cartoon violence and dialogue is an absolute joy to both watch and be a part of. And it makes sense- if you're going to have a FPS with detachable limbs and heads, why not make it cartoon-esque? Maps, game design and the HUD itself benefit also from the simplicity of the game's visuals, and while the title is certainly a contrast to all the other macho shit currently within the FPS genre, it is certainly all the better for it.

Not just one game of the year, but in essence, five, and all equally successful and enjoyable in their design and experience. As an overall package it is the most complete collection of titles ever presented, and at £40, New Year sales will be rendered insignificant. Awesome in a box, this is it.