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Grand Theft Auto 4 for no other reason then the scale of the online component. That can not only manage sixteen players online, but also accommodate hundreds of non player characters moving at variable speeds in variable directions, but also move in three dimensions. Not merely street level, but underground to a couple thousand feet up in the air. Most massive online titles lack this versatility let alone run without a server. This is a major technical achievement.

Halo 3 for its innovative theater system. For those who do not know about the theater it is not a game film. Instead it is a total game recreation. Whether you appreciate it or not it lends itself to analysis, and to pure creativity. This feature has surreal utility that gives players a greater appreciation of the game.

Lost Odyssey for a fundamental industrial shift within Japan. Western developers have found great bonus from using third party engines a trend slow to be adopted in Japan, and it has hurt the industry in that country. This title was like a trail blazer.