So, did you have a nice Christmas? Have you even had a yet? If so, did Santa Claus bring you all the games from your list you hastily scrawled onto a scrap of paper and stuffed into his mouth while you were sat on his lap at the local supermarket?

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Unless you're obscenely rich, the answer is probably no, because the latter part of 2009 has turned out to be yet another high watermark year for games. Unfortunately, we have more bad news for your bank balance. 2010 is shaping up to be even better, with a whole glut of gaming goodness fast approaching in Q1 alone. That's before the rest of the year's games begin flooding the shelves of your local emporium.

Start scraping those Christmas pennies together then, as 2010 promises to be a veritable banquet of delectable treats. To help the more discerning gamer however, we've rounded up our pick of 2010 thus far. Bon appetit.

1. 2

We were going to start our list with Bayonetta: Platinum Games' ultra mental title, opening the year in style when it finally hits on January 8th, but we've already covered that with our import review. Instead, our run down begins with arguably one of the year's most anticipated games and second chapter in a projected sci-fi trilogy of truly epic proportions.

At the moment, frankly nothing else can light up our anticipo-meter like can. We've played it twice already and had to be physically dragged away kicking and screaming each time like a spoilt toddler having his stickle bricks prised from his clammy paws.

Come January 29th though, we'll finally be able to get our hands on the finished game at long last, import our old Shepard over from Mass Effect 1 and embark upon yet another interstellar tale of intrigue.

2. Splinter Cell: Conviction

Sam Fisher returns for another bout of hard-edged stealth, this time without the aid of former employers, Third Echelon. With Fisher going rogue, there's a more improvised, rough and ready approach to stealth, sharing more in common with the likes of Bourne than Solid Snake.

That said, the will be left entirely up to you, so you're equally well equipped to enter a situation by taking a hostage, before shooting the rest of the bad guys with the game's brilliant new mark and execute feature.

Being able to interrogate enemies for information in interactive scenes is the icing on the cake as our hands-on with the opening scuffle in a public toilet demonstrated. You can slam your victim's head into toilet bowls, sinks and mirrors or just beat the living daylights out of him until he goes limp.

Trust us when we say with conviction that this is going to be very special indeed. SCC is slated for a February 5th launch.

3. Redemption

Starting life on PlayStation 2 after dumped the license, Rockstar's cult western-themed action title, Red Dead Revolver was - for those who played it - a brilliantly realised and fantastically quirky shoot 'em up.

Now almost five years later, has resurrected the IP and are busy creating what potentially could be one of the most intricate and detailed games ever conceived. It'll undoubtedly be the greatest Spaghetti Western game ever made, you can bet on that.

Bigger than IV and boasting the very same tech that was used to rebuild Liberty City, Redemption also has it's very own living, breathing ecosystem with animals and people going about their daily business around you. If you haven't already read our two previews, do so now. Mark our words, varmint - is going to be one of 2010's biggest and best games, that's for darn sure.

Our wagons will be heading west for April 27th 2010.

4. God Of War III

Since polishing off Chains Of Olympus on last year, we've been itching for more Kratos - more blood, more viscera, more blade swinging, arterial-slicing, brutal decapitation, more balls-out, gore-laden action.

If like us you're thirsting for another hefty dose of fluid and fast-paced slice and dice, carve March 2010 into your forehead, because that's when the God Of War franchise makes both a triumphant return and belated debut on the PS3.

Either way, you'll be tearing heads and limbs from torsos and fighting Hades in an immense battle to the death. That's the good news. The bad news? Word is, God Of War III is reportedly the last in the series. Sob.