As I mentioned in the last blog, I found myself writing a bit too much about how much I really liked each of the games on my Top 10 list this year, so I've been splitting them up. I posted my #10-8 picks yesterday (so check that out if you haven't), and today I have my #7-5 picks:

7. Call of Duty: Black Ops

You'd think that by the time you reach the seventh game in a series, things would start getting old. Miraculously, that hasn't happened yet with the Call of Duty franchise. The campaign in Black Ops kicks ass, from the great story, to the awesome set-pieces and locations, it's a true return to form for the series as far as the singleplayer component goes. Then there is the multiplayer. At this point not much needs to be said about the multiplayer component. With millions of people actively playing pretty much all the time, it speaks for itself. The Call of Duty franchise may be getting on in years, and in the number of titles, but it's still delivers the same old reliable white-knuckled action that it has been for a long time.

6. God of War III

The God of War games are some of my favorite of all time, and needless to say, seeing Kratos's rampage through to the end is a satisfying experience. The battle with Poseidon that kicks the game off is telling of the quality of the whole experience: the stakes are high, and the scale is even grander than ever. It's not an all-out adrenaline rush the whole time, however. The game slows down as you draw nearer to its conclusion, but the experience is no less satisfying, because these slower moments provide a look into the series' excellent protagonist. The fact that the game plays pretty much the same as its predecessors matters little because the production values are through the roof, and the ante is upped more than ever. God of War III is an epic conclusion to one of the greatest franchises in video game history.

5. Halo: Reach

Halo: Reach is Bungie's swan song (as far as Halo games go, anyway), and it's fitting that it's the biggest Halo game yet. Halo: Reach is easily the biggest game of the year, boasting such a huge amount of features that it's hard to know where to start. The campaign is a blast, especially played cooperatively, and there are some good storytelling moments that are a real treat for true fans. The multiplayer is bigger than ever thanks to the inclusion of Firefight, and Campaign to the standard Matchmaking modes. Then there's the surprisingly addicting theater, and the huge sandbox that is ForgeWorld. There's an overwhelming amount of stuff to see and do, and I found myself spending hours and hours with each piece of this huge game. Bungie put a lot of love into Halo: Reach, and it shows.