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Best Puzzle/Rhythm Game

This category has continued to grow not only in popularity, but also in diversity. The resurgence of handheld gaming and new advancements in guitar controller technology make this year's puzzle and rhythm genre fresh experiences that were truly original. Our list of finalists this year shows off a winning diversity that proves the genre is thriving. The following five are our finalists for Best Puzzle/Rhythm Game of 2005.

Guitar Hero

Developer: Harmonix Music Systems
Platform: PlayStation 2
ESRB: Teen
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Guitar Hero plays fantastically, it has great music, and, for a change, it's a rhythm game that's accessible to beginners.

Lumines

Developer: Q Entertainment
Platform: PSP
ESRB: Everyone 10+
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Between the beautiful presentation, the innovative gameplay, and the excellent single-player and multiplayer modes, Lumines may very well be the greatest Tetris-style puzzle game since Tetris itself.

Meteos

Developer: Q Entertainment
Platform: DS
ESRB: Everyone
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One of the best DS games yet, Meteos delivers a unique and successful twist on the puzzle game formula.

WarioWare: Twisted!

Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Game Boy Advance
ESRB: Everyone
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WarioWare: Twisted! is a great game that any Nintendo portable owner can enjoy.

We Love Katamari

Developer: Now Production
Platform: PlayStation 2
ESRB: Everyone
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We Love Katamari delivers more of the same fetchingly enjoyable gameplay and whimsical humor that made Katamari Damacy so much fun.

And the winner is... Guitar Hero
Platform: PlayStation 2
ESRB: Teen

At first glance, Guitar Hero might not seem like much, especially if you're one of the handful of people dedicated enough to the genre to have played or imported games from Konami's Guitar Freaks series. But it doesn't take much time to realize that Guitar Hero is much, much more than a clone. It has an attention to detail that makes all of the cover songs contained on the disc almost as great as the originals. It has a song list that spans many generations of rock, from Jimi Hendrix to Franz Ferdinand. And it has a nice, sloping learning curve that lets new players get their feet wet with the easy version of "I Love Rock & Roll," while tougher players can work their way up to something truly villainous, like Ozzy's "Bark at the Moon" on expert. Toss in a whammy bar, and you've got 2005's best puzzle/rhythm game, by a long shot.