The moments that stay with you after the disc goes back in the box...

[This list contains spoilers for Mass Effect 2 and others.  Don't scroll down if you haven't played Mass Effect 2 yet and are planning to.]

From the release of Mass Effect 2 way back at the outset of the year, to the monumental success of Halo: Reach only a few short months ago, 2010 has been a year that hasn't failed to disappoint, delivering masterful games across every genre and every platform...

Mass Effect 2: Death Of Thane

With a surprising January release, Mass Effect 2 set the storytelling bar high, and was an immediate GOTY contender. The game as an entire package was a flawless mix of third-person shooter and story-driven RPG. As every quest was completed, the organic relationships with my team members were portrayed with such vibrant fluidity that it was difficult to fault the character interactions I was experiencing.

Throughout the final mission, my companion Thane was tragically and suddenly killed. The efforts and time I had put into getting to know Thane, building up a relationship and level of “trust” with the character were nullified in one fell swoop.

Games like Fable try endlessly to immerse you in character progression, and force the idea that you should care about what is happening around you: In Mass Effect 2, the sequences are so well crafted, that you don't realise you're caring about the characters until they are swiftly taken away. This subtle, subconscious approach to relationship-construction in games is something that Bioware took to a new level with ME2, and the final result is something head and shoulders above any of its competition.

Red Dead Redemption: "Far Away"

Red Dead Redemption was arguably the best game of the year, and the best open world game from Rockstar yet. The epic and cinematic storyline, which stretched across the frontiers of the Wild West, was both compelling and exciting, and the absolutely beautiful world that stretched out before you in every direction was nothing short of stunning. Throughout the captivating storyline you met some truly hilarious characters, both sinister and intriguing, and while the climax is both disastrous and moving, there was one moment that stood out far above the rest. As you first entered Mexico, riding on your trusty steed, passing across the border into the sunset-bathed canyons, Jose Gonzalez's “Far Away” gently faded into the mix with artful subtlety. This sequence was simply stunning, and the entire aesthetic of both visual flair and musical fidelity worked perfectly together in harmony to create a truly unforgettable moment.

Halo: Reach: Space flight

Reach was an absolutely massive release, earning a whopping $200 million in its first 24 hours on sale. As well as a historic date, marking the final Halo game developed by Bungie (the studio which has been sweetening Microsoft's console appeal since 2001), Reach was an absolutely stellar game, and one of the best value-for-money packages you can find on sale this year. Boasting an updated graphics engine and a campaign that was beyond anything, in terms of scale, that the team had attempted before, Reach managed to capture the epic last months of humanity's fight against the Covenant with intense detail. A pivotal moment in the storyline was when you finally got to take the fight into space, a first for the Halo series, and one that was so welcome that it stuck in my head for months afterwards. The beautiful and eerie sight of the planet under a night sky being bombarded by the alien invasion was one that distracted you from the intense action that was taking place - but which also put Reach ahead of the competition when it came to blockbuster first person shooters.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood: Looking down on Rome

Along with many others, I expected Brotherhood to be a flop. Everything about the game had the feel of a series that was beginning to be milked, and until I actually played the game I almost completely ignored its release. I have to openly apologise to the development team, because they truly hit the mark with Brotherhood, and it is definitely the best game in the series so far.

One of the best moments was when I visited the heavily-guarded, almost impenetrable Vatican City, climbing to the top of the Castel Sant'Angelo, teetering on the the top of the flagpole, gazing out upon Rome as the sun rose across the horizon...

Assassin's Creed games have always been beautiful, but Rome was such a perfect setting, and the historic landmarks felt incredibly natural in the context of the game. As you looked out across the world, it was instant visual proof of a studio that poured endless hours into the recreation of the city, and this passion for authenticity was reflected so well in-game that it was hard to fault on any level.

F1 2010

As a racing experience, F1 2010 was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. The thrill of hurtling around a chicane at 180mph in a Formula 1 car was something that only Codemasters could deliver to current-gen consoles in such authentic fashion. After hours of getting used to the unforgiving handling of an F1 car, I finally decided to brave the beast: Monaco.

Those who are familiar with the sport will know that the prestigious circuit at Monte-Carlo is a tightly wound sequence of short straights and sharp corners waiting to take out the unprepared with merciless ease. As I approached the first corner, with all assists turned off, I felt like I was really on the edge of my seat, having to concentrate 110% as I weaved in and out of the metal barriers, struggling to keep the car in one piece. F1 2010 re-ignited my interest in the sport, and anyone who thinks driving an F1 car is easy should definitely try this out before saying any more...

And the rest...

Compiling a list of the 5 top moments in such an incredible year was nothing short of difficult. You can't forget instances like the attempted assassination of Fidel Castro in the opening level of Call of Duty: Black Ops, the first time you witnessed the post-apocalyptic desert setting which made Fallout: New Vegas such an instant hit, or the sequence where a gigantic falling icon causes an entire lake to be crystallised in an instant in Final Fantasy XIII. Every player will have their own personal favourite moments which make these games the best they've played all year. The proof of a top quality game, are the different stories and memories you can share with your friends about your own experiences in that game world, and the way the different memories combine to form a collective experience.

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE HELP SUPPORT OUR SITE, AT NO COST WITH ONE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK 'LIKE' BUTTON BELOW: