Welcome to 2009! Chances are, you're probably still playing through some of 2008's best games, but that doesn't mean the game industry is about to give you a rest. A decade ago, almost all the big games would be released between September and November. These days, however, every month seems to bring with it a big triple-A game that deserves a spot in your GameQ.

Resident Evil 5 is easily the most anticipated game for the first half of 2009.

We’ve waited over 3 years for the PS3 exclusive Killzone 2, finally arriving in Feb. 09.

Rockstar breaks new ground with GTA4: The Lost and Damned, which requires the original GTA4 disc.

So, which games do I call out as the Most Anticipated of 2009? That's not an easy question to answer. As always, game companies are pretty coy in January about their plans for the holiday season. So, while we know there are some big games coming soon like Uncharted 2, Alan Wake, God of War 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Fight Night Round 4, and Brutal Legend among others, it's hard to pin down a lot of information or firm release dates. With that in mind, here's a look at six big games I'm pretty sure are coming during the first half of this year.

RESIDENT EVIL 5
Resident Evil 5 is coming in March, and this time it's not even on a Nintendo platform! Due on the same date for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, this highly anticipated sequel eschews Racoon City for Africa! You'll play as Chris Redfield in a story set 10 years after the events of the original game. Unfortunately, you still can't walk and shoot at the same time, but there is a big new feature: online co-op play for two players. Your friend can play as a new female character, Sheva. Visually the game looks phenomenal, and I have a feeling there's a lot we still haven't found out about plot twists and new locations. One thing we do know is that Resident Evil villain Albert Wesker will definitely be returning.

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV: THE LOST AND DAMNED
Here's a twist: 2009 may be the first year you'll want to re-rent a game so you can experience downloadable content. Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is an entirely new story set in Liberty City, and it will be available as an exclusive Xbox 360 download on February 17 (pricing is still to be announced at the time I'm writing this). You'll need the GTAIV game disc to play it, but it's more than just an expansion pack. At the Spike Video Game Awards I was honored to introduce the game's first trailer, which made it very clear that the Lost Biker Gang is front and center. You'll see new locations, drive new vehicles, and best of all, experience an entirely new storyline with new cutscenes. If The Lost and Damned succeeds, look for lots more single-player downloadable content in the months and years to come.

STREET FIGHTER IV
Capcom has an embarrassment of riches in early 2009. Besides Resident Evil 5, it's also bringing out one of the most anticipated fighting games of all time: Street Fighter IV. Coming to both the PS3 and Xbox 360 in February, Street Fighter IV doesn't try to re-invent the wheel with a full 3D game. Instead, it's what the developer calls 2.5D, and I must say it looks spectacular. The action is fast, fluid, and of course your favorite characters like Ken and Ryu are back. There are new character additions as well, like Crimson Viper and Rufus. Also, look out for a new move called the focus attack, which allows you to absorb an attack and launch a counter attack. If you are a fighting game fan, you really can't miss Street Fighter IV.

KILLZONE 2
It's about time! First shown at Sony's 2005 E3 press conference, the PlayStation 3 exclusive Killzone 2 is finally arriving in late February. The original computer-generated target video at E3 caused a lot of commotion, but three and a half years later I must say the game pretty much matches the video. The futuristic combat is breathtaking to watch, and Killzone 2 may even trump Gears of War 2 in terms of the Hollywood scale and scope of the battles. Add in online multiplayer, and I have a feeling that Killzone 2 may come from behind to surprise a lot of people. Visually, it's the most stunning first-person shooter I've ever seen and if the gameplay matches up, this could actually be the "Halo killer" that Sony needs.

HALO WARS
Due on March 3, Halo Wars takes the flagship Xbox franchise in an entirely new direction - real time strategy! There's no Master Chief and no first-person action to be found here. Instead, developer Ensemble Studios (known for the Age of Empires series on the PC) has crafted a strategy game that puts you in control of the UNSC forces 20 years before the events of Halo. You'll still battle against the Covenant, but instead of using just a couple of guns, you'll now have an entire army at your command. Strategy games have been difficult to translate onto consoles because of a lack of mouse and keyboard input for precision, but Halo Wars should be a solid attempt at reinventing the genre on the Xbox 360. Call in the Warthogs!

BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM
While the Dark Knight game appears to have been cancelled, the caped crusader will be back with an original game due in May called Batman: Arkham Asylum. Based on the comic book Batman, this is the dark, gritty game that fans have been waiting to play. Set entirely at Arkham, Batman will go up against the Joker and other villains in third-person combat (there are rumors you'll also see the Penguin, Scarecrow, and Mr. Freeze). Early previews have compared the game to BioShock and Chronicles of Riddick with its close-quarters feel. While combat will be a key part of the experience, you'll also have to be strategic and use Batman's gadgets and senses to avoid falling prey to Gotham's worst.

That's it for this month, but I'll be back next month with more inside scoop on the gaming industry.