Some of the best video games to come out in recent years have been featured on multiple platforms. With most publishers going the way of putting their games out on all platforms, multi-platform titles never looked stronger. Here are the staff’s picks for the top five multi-platform games in 2009:

Art Green, Managing Editor: NHL 2010

EA Sports’ NHL 09 was probably the best NHL game I’ve played in recent memory. The developers refined the skill stick gameplay, added superb online options and more. With next year’s entry into the series, I expect them to continue and mine the formula that has worked by adding more interesting features and realism to the “Be a Pro” mode, (where you could create a player and bring him up through the ranks) continue to build off the great animation system, and add some general polish. Go Avalanche!

Nate Seites, Reviews Editor: Final Fantasy XIII

A new Final Fantasy! I go crazy over this series. When XII was released I walked out of my math class so I could get to the store by the time it opened. Square Enix is saying that FFXIII will take full advantage of the Playstation 3’s (and now Xbox 360) hardware, “providing tangible, intuitive controls while delivering seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and stunning in-game cinematics. The latest in cutting-edge technology has been utilized in development of FINAL FANTASY XIII, thus making this newest addition to the FINAL FANTASY series worthy of the title “next generation.” I’ll believe it!

Talor Berthelson, Staff Writer: Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 will surely be an amazing experience. Take the excellent formula from Resident Evil 4 and inject it with online co-op play and Chris Redfield. On top of that, the game will launch in March, which is considered a gaming drought month. I expect Resident Evil 5 to be a powerhouse on both systems, selling consoles and keeping gamers up all night. This franchise has always been stellar, and Resident Evil 5 will be no exception, mark my words.

Chuck Waltz, Staff Writer: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is pretty high up there when it comes to my list of favorite games of all time. I mean, I still play its multiplayer pretty often, so I’m obviously excited to see what they do to improve on this already amazing formula. Everything about the first Modern Warfare blew me away when it was released last year, to the point that for a while there I was seriously considering joining the Marines. But then I realized that would be crazy, so I bought some airsoft guns instead.

Denis Poirier, Editor-In-Chief: Alpha Protocol

Unlike console exclusives, multi-platform games are a dime a dozen every year, which makes it hard to select only one as being my most anticipated of 2009. However, there is one that stands head and shoulders above all the rest in my opinion, and that game is Alpha Protocol.

The game is developed by Obsidian, who is known for the Neverwinter Nights series and for developing Knights of the Old Republic II. It is described as “a role-playing game that eschews sci-fi and fantasy for a Bourne Identity-like world of high-tech espionage”, which sounds pretty damn good to me. I’m a huge sucker for sci-fi RPGs, so this one is right up my alley. Oh, and the trailers look pretty good too.