2) God of War II
It actually surprises me somewhat that this game is so high on my list, but when I compare it to the other games in my top ten and ask whether I prefer it... yes, I do. It is simply the smoothest game I have ever played, even more so than the game above it. It's incredibly visceral and yet never disgusting, because everything fits so perfectly within the setting. I love Greek mythology, and GoW bastardises it a a little bit but it still tells a highly original story within it. The environments are beautiful, the puzzles are surprisingly cerebral, and the combat is simply fantastic like all God of War games. I think it's the characters that really put it above the first and third game in the series for me, but I love everything about it.
(Former) Lead Moderator and (Eternal) VGC Detective 
