This. :D

It has got to be CROSS EDGE.

Truly, I was never more joyed with a game than CROSS EDGE.

I mean, you can even change COSTUMES. And they even have a MOVIE for the costume changes! And the characters are mostly WOMEN! Truly, no game can top CROSS EDGE.

I have no idea I decided to capitalize the words I did.

Right but, more proximately, we are in a 3D-dominated era, with the flagship Mario in 3D, running around The Little Prince style.

Enter LBP, 4-player 2d platforming during the 7th gen.

Recall statements that Nintendo was eyeing LBP closely, and I think I remember the term 'worried'.

Then enter NSMB, 4-player 2d platforming later during the 7th gen.

It's just a fun observation, and I'll probably really like NSMB, but anyway I wasn't saying Sony or MM invented the idea of multiplayer platforming, just that LBP caused a big splash and was fairly soon followed by NSMB.  It's uncanny.  Hey Luigi, push that box over so Mario can jump on it!  Ingenious!   ;)

People are never gonna agree on something like this.

For me so far the best exclusive games are (polite suggestions for how to improve in brackets):

1 - Little Big Planet (less costumes more level packs with new items please)
2 - Uncharted (lose the QTE bits, sort out your villian a bit better and add coop and MP)
3 - Metal Gear Solid 4 (hire an editor)
4 - Flower (more levels please)
5 - Killzone 2 (stronger story, let me drive goddamnit, nice MP though)

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

@ reasonable, from the looks of things, Naughty Dog are doing everything you asked for aren't they?

Oh, yes...

I'm in the Closed Beta, and I gotta say so far I think the online is easily my favourite of anything I've tried this gen.

Now, I used to play a lot of online, going way back to Doom days, but of late I've found it boring and have only played most online sporadically just to try it out, so my views are probably not the most common.

Saying that, the MP in Uncharted 2 in the Beta is a blast.  One, its tactical and using cover, etc. works really well.  Running around in the open almost always ends badly.  Two, the graphics are great and rather than feeling generic it feels like Uncharted, only online.  Three, for once capture the flag makes sense!  I've always liked capture the flag type modes but of course the actual concept made no sense - now it does, because you're capturing treasure while others try and stop you.  Perfect.  Four, the coop is sweet.  ND should given Insomniac a big kiss for showcasing this approach to coop, because it works so well in Uncharted universe.  You take down bad guys, you have to climb, etc. and all the while working together as a team of adventurers.

So far I'm totally sold on the online element - for me it works terrifically and is just what I imagined.  Time will tell if it has enough depth/maps to really hold up for an extended period of time, but if the SP delivers like the online then I'm guessing Uncharted 2 is very likely going to be my personal GOTY.

Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted
Resistance 2

If we consider PSN titles, then I loveBurn Zombie Burn

mgs 4 of course