Halo 3. Call of Duty 4. God of War 2. BioShock. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Mass Effect. The Orange Box. Super Mario Galaxy. Rock Band. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

It’s safe to assume that the majority of gamers have appreciated at least one of those titles. But what do those games all have in common? They were all released in 2007. It’s simple to forget that many of the hallmark titles we now recommend for gamers who haven’t yet experienced the wonders of the current-gen consoles were in fact, released last year.

But what of this year? Let’s see what we have.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, LittleBigPlanet, Gears of War 2, Rock Band 2, Fallout 3, Fable 2, Call of Duty: World at War, Dead Space, Mirror’s Edge, and GTA IV.

Truly, at first glance that list must seem impressive, but as we now know after getting the chance to test out the majority of the "blockbuster" titles we began salivating over so long ago, it really isn’t. That’s why I would like to respectfully ask the gaming community, where has the heart of gaming gone this year? While we have seen pseudo-innovation and the milking of certain cash cows until they’re drier than a desert, the games that have truly made us appreciate our collective hobby have been nowhere to be found this year. Many industry professionals and even regular people called 2008 the "year for gamers." I feel this couldn’t be any further from the truth.

It’s true that we have seen an abundance of new releases that SHOULD leave us feeling satiated, as if we have experienced some of the greatest instances of gaming ever, but as for me? I’m still feeling empty. Where has the heart gone to? This year brought a plethora of disappointments. It’s true that some of the releases were indeed impressive, but when you compare them on a wider scope, say, to what we saw last year, and especially to enduring classics, they pale considerably.