Best Main Character: Kyle Katarn (Dark Forces & Jedi Knight series) - PC, PSX, PS2, Xbox
Kyle Katarn is the best of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. He gets to fly around in a cool ship, swing a lightersaber, and he's got a hot chick as a side kick. He's pretty much the cooest guy in a galaxy far far away... The second game even had a pretty decent live action actor that made it feel like the first real Star Wars movie since Return of the Jedi before Lucas's Episode 1. If you want to know how cool Kyle Katarn is just play Jedi Knight and let the game go idle. The man will start to shave with his lightsaber. Yeah, his effing lightsaber.
Honorable Mention: Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) - PC, PSX, Saturn, PS2, GC, Xbox, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Best Story: Ico - PS2, PS3
Very simple, but full of heart. A boy sentenced to death and left to die in a castle starts things of. Luck saves the kid who later finds another prisoner, a girl. The two need each other to survive and escape. There's very little story telling and what is said is in a made up language. Somehow it tells that story better than games with hours of cutscenes and long winded exposition.
Honorable Mention: Enslaved - PS3, Xbox 360
Best Gameplay : Halo (Series) - Xbox, Xbox 360, PC
No FPS is as fun or plays better than even the decade old original. Each game has been an improvement where I felt no improvement was needed. The series started out great and it just keeps getting better. This is coming from a guy who isn't even into multiplayer. I pretty much just play the singeplayer campaings and love every second of it. I've played them all several times and I'm currently replaying them all again to get ready for Halo 4.
Honorable Mention: Portal 2 - PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Best Musical Score: Shenmue - Dreamcast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ1KVYUI2NA
The game has the most beautiful original score I have ever heard. I love video game music and have a lot of favorites, but Shenmue not only has a perfectly themed score, it also has one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever recorded, called "Shenhua". In college I took a world music class. In it we had to give a commentary on a favorite piece of music. I choose "Shenhua". The professor loved the piece so much he asked me for a copy of the soundtrack. At the end of the term he personly thanked me for exposing him to the musical and said that every time he listens to it he cries. A music professor who conducts the school's symphony loves Shemue's score. I think that says it all.
Honorable Mention: Rez - Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox 360
Best Setting and Atmosphere: Panzer Dragoon Saga - Saturn
The Panzer Dragoon games have one of the most unique settings you can experience in game form. Panzer Dragoon Saga fleshes it out into a living and breathing world. It's set in what may be a distant future or distant past and it's not entirely clear if it's Earth or not. That mystery is the soul of the series. It's both alien and familier, but always breathtakingly detailed. Long ago some calamity happened and all that's left are ruins and dangerious creatures created by an ancient civilization to control humanity. There's several factions waring for control of the ruins and the technological secrets they hold. You always play as a regular joe type of character caught up in the middle of these conflicts. Don't mistake this for a standard plot, it's all there just to set the theme and provide an engrossing atmosphere. The story itself is more there to reveal the world than just tell a riviting yarn. Even the 32-Bit era's weak 3D visuals don't dilute Panzer Dragoon Saga's beautifull world.
Honorable Mention: Tron 2.0 - PC, Xbox
Best Intro: Metal Gear Solid - PSX, PC, PSN, Dreamcast with Bleemcast, GC as Twin Snakes
Not only is it still one of the most cinamatic intros in all of gaming, but you get to play it. The credits continue to apear as you begin to play the game. It really feels like you're part of a movie. So cool.
Honorable Mention: Mass Effect 2 - PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Best Ending: Mass Effect 2 - PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Every decision you make in the game decides your fate. Who lives who dies and home much of your ship holds together. It's also a thrilling climax that rivals even the biggest Hollywood blockbusters.
Honorable Mention: Bioshock - PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Best Online Modes: Quake - PC, Saturn, N64, PSX
I don't think there's a more important online game that Quake. It set the standard in every catagory that all games even today are judged by. Smooth gameplay, simple interface, easy but customizable, moddable, and super fun.
Honorable Mention: Command & Conqure Red Alert - PC
