A flurry of highly anticipated games have hit the shelves just in time for holiday shopping season. None of these titles should come as a surprise. They are all sequels of very well received games with an established, loyal following. Fans of the Zelda, Elder Scrolls and Call of Duty games have not been disappointed, and these latest games are scoring major points with the press as well.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

The editors at IGN.com are raving about the latest addition to the incredibly popular and iconic Zelda franchise: Skyward Sword. In addition to awarding it the coveted "Masterpiece" perfect 10 score, the reviewer also claimed it is not only the best Zelda game, but also the best Wii game ever developed. Fans of this action-adventure genre are sure to be dazzled by the long-anticipated origin story revealed in the game. Skyward Sword is a key puzzle piece in the story unveiled throughout all of the Legend of Zelda games, taking us to the very beginning of Link and Zelda's journey.

Even though the story line of the Skyward Sword is significant to long-time fans of the Zelda games, new gamers will still enjoy the story on it's own, without the context of the rest of the Zelda universe. The graphics and motion-controlled combat are impressive and fun, staying true to what gamers have come to expect from the franchise. The only downside of this game is that it's not available on any other console than the Wii. A new copy of the game costs $49.99, $10 less than the average new console game.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Although The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim didn't receive a "Masterpiece" rating, no other game generated as much buzz in the gaming community. It could be that the greater accessibility of Skyrim, available on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms, is the cause, but my money is on the impressive and innovative game-play. The Skyrim game has a lot of improvements on the already popular Elder Scrolls series.

The notorious clutter is eliminated or minimized and character development is simplified without sacrificing fun or personalization. Instead of assigning skills to the characters, players assign one of ten races with unique bonuses. At $59.99, this Roll Playing Game (RPG) is a great bargain, offering countless hours of gameplay and a massive fantasy world to explore.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

This popular First Person Shooter (FPS) does not disappoint fans of the franchise. It's not the most impressive FPS game on the market, but the game play is incredibly fun and addictive. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 offers the same, if not slightly improved, visually spectacular destruction.

The battlefields are filled with sense-bursting explosions, firefights and buildings burning before your eyes. Although it might not be a huge draw to the more delicate gamers, that doesn't seem to be a huge obstacle for sales. The game is listed at $59.99 and available on PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS.