Top ten games to look out for in 2009

But with the ever-present phantom hawk of EU employment law sinking its talons yet deeper into our collective shoulder, we drop-kicked him back to his nuclear bunker to do what he does best - scouring the release schedules of the gaming universe to produce the definitive top ten games you need to be ready for in 2009.

10) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)

The first Uncharted was a fun action-adventure game from veteran developers Naughty Dog, and although nothing spectacular, was a solid game with an engaging story and lead characters. The sequel promises to make enhancements to the gameplay across the board, whilst continuing the entertaining story and improving the already great graphics even further.

9) Halo Wars (X360)

Strategy games have never fared well on consoles, but Halo Wars, developed exclusively for the Xbox 360, may well change that. Set in the immensely popular Halo universe, the game will undoubtedly be a success. However, the amount of work and care put into the development of the game means that it will hopefully be more than just a spin-off. The creation of a new, intuitive control scheme means this could be the first good console strategy game.

8) Killzone 2 (PS3)

The first Killzone was a disappointment. A few good ideas were wrapped up in a bug-ridden and unfinished mess, proving that games rarely live up to the hype. However, early impressions of the sequel seem all positive, with vastly improved gameplay to match the stellar new graphics. If developers Guerrilla Games learn from the mistakes of the first game, Killzone 2 has the potential to be fantastic.

7) God of War 3 (PS3)

Very little is yet known about God of War 3, but if it is anything like the first two instalments of the series then it promises to be good. Playing as angry Spartan Kratos, the player will once again square off against some angry Greek Titans in some of the most entertaining and rewarding action gameplay around. Add in the fancy new graphics that will come with the new generation of consoles, and God of War 3 is sure to be as fun as the previous games.

6) Starcraft 2 (PC)

Starcraft is one of, if not the, most successful RTS (real-time strategy) games ever made, and is still played by millions today, over ten years since its release. The game is so big in South Korea it is treated like a sport, with televised matches broadcast live on TV. It is fitting, then, that Starcraft 2 was announced at an event in Seoul. Made by Blizzard, the masterminds behind World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2 promises a return to the interstellar conflict of the Terrans, Protoss and Zerg, as well as the fantastic competitive play Starcraft is known for.

5) Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion (X360, PS3)

The undisputed king of 3D fighting games, the Tekken series has always been incredibly popular, and Tekken 6 has been a great success since launching in arcades in late 2007. This updated version will hit consoles later this year, bringing a selection of new characters as well as updated customization modes, and, most importantly for the die-hard, plenty of balancing and tweaks to the gameplay. Multi-platform for the first time in the series, Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion is sure to be a great hit online when it is released.

4) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 (PC)

Dawn of War, developed by RTS veterans Relic, was easily the best sci-fi RTS game of the last few years. Taking the incredibly well-developed Warhammer 40,000 universe as its background, the game was fast-paced and intuitive to play, with the great graphics and animations making it almost as fun to watch as to play. Dawn of War 2 looks set to continue the great gameplay, with more emphasis on actual combat tactics and less focus on resource management, promising less boring requisition-farming and more fantastically-choreographed combat. A co-op campaign and new races add icing to an already rather tasty cake.

3) Final Fantasy XIII (X360, PS3)

Final Fantasy is a series which needs no introduction. Few other series hold such reverence among gamers, and the anticipation for the thirteenth instalment is extremely high. Not many details are known yet, but from the pictures available it is clear that the stellar graphics the series is known for will not disappoint. Promising another epic story, developers Square-Enix have focused on their aim to fuse traditional gameplay with new elements worthy of the new generation of consoles, bringing the series into the future while retaining the feel of the classic games. Final Fantasy has always been the king of one-player role-playing games, and it looks set to retain its crown a while longer.

2) Resident Evil 5 (X360, PS3)

The Resident Evil series was growing slightly stale until Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005. Hailed as one of the best games ever made, RE4 set a new precedent for sheer quality, creating a new meaning to the "survival-horror" genre that had been the series' foundation. Now, four years later, the next instalment of the series looks like a worthy successor. Playing as old favourite Chris Redfield, players will once again have to try to survive insurmountable odds against zombie-esque madmen, as well as other more gruesome monsters. Long-standing fans will be pleased with the appearances of old characters and continuations of plot threads, but all players will be able to enjoy the trademark stellar gameplay. Add a new online-enabled co-operative mode and Resident Evil 5 should be very successful indeed.

1) Street Fighter IV (X360, PS3, PC)

Having had a couple of chances to play the already-released arcade version of Street Fighter IV, I can safely say it is nothing short of spectacular. Street Fighter II made waves when it was released in 1991, reinvigorating arcades everywhere and essentially creating the extremely popular fighting game genre. The series then faded into semi-obscurity with the extremely good, but less popular Street Fighter III. Now the series is back with a vengeance with its fourth main instalment, promising to mix the technicality of SF3 with the learning curve of SF2 to create a game that everyone, newcomer and hardcore alike, can enjoy. The arcade version is already a huge hit in Japan, and the console version promises extra characters and stages, as well as in-depth training and challenge modes '“ and full online functionality. The game is a dream to play and, while simple enough for new players, has a massive amount of depth for those who wish to master it. Street Fighter is the series that brought fighting games into the public consciousness, so it is fitting that it is bringing the genre back to its old heights, more than ten years on.

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