Dear Bioware,

Back in 1998, I rushed out on Christmas Eve to pick up Baldur’s Gate at FedEx so that I could play it over the holiday. Looking back, it is still one of the best, most exciting RPG experiences I’ve ever had, and it was eventually overshadowed by its siblings, Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. But ever since you abandoned the 2-D Infinity Engine, your games have been declining in quality.

Yes, I know Neverwinter Nights was designed to be a toolset, and the campaign that came with it was meant to show would-be game developers what they could make, but the fundamental play mechanics were flawed. It was like you forgot the strategy and party-management elements of Baldur’s Gate and churned out a 3-D Diablo clone.

And then there’s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, so beloved because it was a Star Wars licensed game that didn’t suck. But overall, it was a shallow, dumbed down version of Baldur’s Gate in 3-D — those of us who spent hundreds of hours of your old games couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the lack of depth. Jade Empire was a total misstep, but then you promised us Mass Effect — a scifi RPG to rival Baldur’s Gate, a monstrous XBOX 360 exclusive that would make us all believe in you again.

Despite all the hype and good press, I have to say that Mass Effect was a dumbed down and simplified version of Knights of the Old Republic — not exactly strong praise. The party system is even more bare bones than KOTOR — making me wonder why it was even included. Why have party members you can’t micromanage? Yeah, you can tell them who to shoot, but it’s so cumbersome and so weak, that you might as well just let them run into to walls on their own without giving them orders only to see them do the same.

Sure, you’ve got some pretty nifty dialogue trees, but without the gameplay to back it up, it’s just a choose your own adventure story. Every second I play this game, I think back to how Baldur’s Gate made me believe that the world was real — and made me care about each and every one of its characters. BG’s Minsc is still the finest NPC ever made in an American RPG, only to be rivaled by the evil droid in KOTOR. There’s no one here like that. I haven’t played BG in about five years, but I still remember Imoen, Minsc, Jaheira, and Aerie — I can’t say the same for ME, a game I played a few weeks ago.

I haven’t even gotten into the broken game engine with its frame rate problems. Any first person shooter as many hiccups as ME would be taken out and shot by the fanbase, yet the players all praise the genius of ME despite the fact that it runs like a dog.

I wanted to like the game — I really did. But at the end of the day, it’s just not very good. Oblivion, which came out shortly after launch, is still the superior RPG. I could play that game for the next ten years and still find new things to do and enjoy. Mass Effect, not so much.

Ah, the DS. It’s the best selling game console in the world, yet rarely gets the respect its rich library, innovative gameplay and pleasing industrial design deserve. I picked up a DS Lite in 2007, and have had many enjoyable hours of gameplay on the handheld system, including experiences that surpass the biggest games on more “hardcore” systems.

As always, my best of the year list is generated from games I first played in 2007, not necessarily games released in 2007.

5. Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat

The stylus seems a natural mouse substitute for first person shooters, and although the control scheme can be a little uncomfortable until you get the hang of it, COD4 on the DS manages to be a surprisingly good translation of the excellent console/PC game of the same name. Featuring a side story to the main COD 4, the DS version offers many of the COD signature elements on a handheld — buddy AI, scripted events, rail-gun shooter levels and even a one-on-one battle with an attack helicopter.

The graphics are comparable to N64 shooters, and the gameplay surpasses even that of N64 classics like Turok and Goldeneye. In fact, had this come out on the N64, it would been thought of as revolutionary. It may not be as good as modern shooters on the “next gen” systems, but it’s a damn fine portable version. Definitely worth picking up for shooter fans.

4. New York Times Crossword Puzzles

It may not sound exciting, but having 1,000 New York Times crossword puzzles available on your DS is certain to help pass the time in a doctor’s waiting room, on the subway, or on a flight to Hawaii and other annexes to Hell on Earth. Featuring a slick presentation, mostly excellent handwriting recognition (the game doesn’t recognize my “L’s” very well), and an awesome “Monday – Friday” mode, this game is great for crossword puzzle enthusiasts and novices alike.

New York Times Crossword Puzzles is not be the sexiest title on the DS, but it’s one of the most indespensible.

3. New Super Mario Brothers (2006)

What took Nintendo so long? New Super Mario Brothers is an update of the classic 2-D sidescrolling Mario Brothers games using 3D graphics — and the result is nothing short of amazing. Featuring great music, challenging levels inspired by classic Super Mario Brothers, as well as new powerups that turn Mario into a gigantic Godzilla-like plumber capabale of destroying everything in his path, as well as into a tiny tiny Mario who can get places the bigger versions can’t.

Easily the best Mario game since Super Mario World. Highly recommended.

2. Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass

The direct sequel to Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker, Phantom Hourglass features the cell shaded graphics and south Pacific universe of its Gamecube sibling. In terms of gameplay, it is definitely a cross between the Windwaker and A Link to the Past, combining the best of the 3D Zeldas with the best of the 2D.

The innovative part of the game is that it is completely controlled with the stylus. Link is moved by moving the stylus across the touch screen, and foes are hit by swiping the stylus at them. It’s simple and elegant, and makes for a fun game. Notes can be made on your map, to help you solve many of the games puzzles.

The dungeons and puzzles are pretty similar to other Zelda games of the past, and there is not much new ground covered. However, it you’re looking for a Zelda handheld experience that rivals that of the main Nintendo consoles, then look no further than the Phantom Hourglass.

1. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

I was frequently harassed by my online friends for the many hours I spent playing Bejeweled on XBOX Live during the first year of the system’s life. Because of that, I was not surprised by how thoroughly Puzzle Quest pulled me in with its mix of classic Bejeweled gameplay and deep RPG elements and strategy. Puzzle Quest is a gem matching game, where matching gems boost different types of mana. Once you have enough mana in the right colors, you can unleash attacks on AI opponents, who are competing with you on the same puzzles.

It’s hard to describe, but once you get past the learning curve, it becomes clear just how brilliant Puzzle Quest is. Weapons, armor, magical items, companions and character attributes all help you to succeed on the game’s puzzle boards, particularly against higher level companions who can be quite challenging to defeat.

The single player game is so good that I largely ignored the rest of my DS and XBOX 360 collection once I got it. The only downside, is it just supports Multicard Multiplayer — single card and online play are not included, which is a big drag. It would be great to compete with other players online for items and experience. Hopefully they will include this feature with the inevitable sequel.

If you own an platform that supports it — DS, PSP, XBOX 360 or PC — then you have to get Puzzle Quest. It’s easiest one of the best games of 2007, and certainly my favorite on DS.