It’s absolutely amazing how many good games are coming out right now. If you’re a gamer, this is a golden time — a veritable renaissance of gaming. The industry is rapidly expanding, as gaming gets more and more mainstream. To hear about Ben Affleck’s love of Doom or Dave Navarro’s obsession with Grand Theft Auto is becoming less surprising. The games right now sure don’t disappoint. Probably the biggest headliners are the following…

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) — if you haven’t heard about the controversial crime-sim GTA, you must be living on a different planet. The most recent installment, while not redefining gaming, offers the solid, open-ended gameplay we’ve come to know and love. The cities are bigger than ever, as is the 90’s blacksploitation element. Expect to see many conservative groups and getting upset over this one.

Halo 2 (XBox) — the eagerly anticipated sequel just shipped, with over a hundred million dollars in initial day sales. Such a release is an indication of just how far the gaming industry has come. Something like one in four XBox owners picked up this game, spending many a sleepless night playing on XBox Live.

Half-Life 2 (PC) — the physics in this game are going to astound you. Oh, that, and the intense graphics, story, and gameplay. Six years in the making, stolen by hackers, and now, finally released, PC gamers the world around are finally getting their hands on what may be the best fusion of good sci-fi writing and first person action available. This is also the engine that powers the most popular online gaming community, Counter-Strike.

Those are the big three, but what other games are you not playing in the mean time?

Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal (PS2) — if you’ve played the others in the series, you know how good this game is. One of the best platformers around, R&C3 provides the same great action you’ve come to expect, with the addition of multiplayer elements. If you’ve been dreaming about playing R&C online, dream no more!

Viewtiful Joe 2 (PS2, GC) — no one on PS2 played the first, but this is one of the best games on the platform. It’s certainly the most underrated game. The sequel promises to offer as tight and entertaining gameplay as the first.

Metroid Prime 2 (GC) — the subtly beautiful first person shooter is back to fight the legions of aliens, this time with a light and dark universe theme running throughout.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snakeeater (PS2) — the most famous stealth action game (yes, even over Splinter Cell) is back. Too bad its release has been overshadowed.

Thank God I don’t have all gaming systems. It’s tough enough to get anything done with just a PS2 and a PC. Yet, somehow I still long for the other consoles. The new Zelda looks incredible, as does the new Resident Evil 4. Plus, believe it or not, XBox’s online scene is doing way better than the PS2’s, I’m sad to say. If this is the face of gaming now, I can’t wait for what the future will bring. In the mean time, I’ll try to remember what it’s like to sleep at night.