| Xbox 360 was the number one smash hit for | | | | protect the innocent. How far will you go to gain |
| Christmas gifts last year. The reasons are | | | | the enemy's trust? As covert operative Sam |
| obvious: more visual effects, better console, | | | | Fisher, you'll infiltrate a vicious terrorist group and |
| incredible action, and excellent game choices. This | | | | seek to destroy it from within. Carefully weigh |
| year again teens will be playing Xbox 360 games | | | | the consequences of your actions--kill too many |
| with their friends, comparing games at school, and | | | | terrorists and blow your cover. Hesitate and |
| buying, renting or swapping the new Xbox games | | | | millions will die. Do whatever it takes to complete |
| out this year. Here are some of the top picks for | | | | your mission, but get out alive. |
| Christmas 2006, in a variety of categories, such | | | | 6. LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - Action |
| as action, adventure, shooters, sports, and | | | | The war between the Galactic Empire and the |
| role-playing. Something for everyone. | | | | Rebel Alliance has left the galaxy far, far away a |
| 1. Gears of War - Shooter | | | | huge mess! But luckily with LEGOs, rebuilding is |
| Now this is what next-gen gaming is all about! I've | | | | easy! Play through the original trilogy, Star Wars, |
| logged over 13 hours of game time so far, and | | | | The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, |
| haven't even finished it, but that's because I'm | | | | as all three movies are re-created using LEGO |
| milking this baby for all it's worth. The campaign | | | | bricks. You can play as one of 50 different |
| experience is one to be savored, as there | | | | characters and can even get out of vehicles and |
| probably won't be anything like it again for quite | | | | ride on various creatures. |
| some time. Gears of War is one of those titles | | | | Our recommendation: If you liked the first Star |
| that comes around every couple of years and | | | | Wars game, this one should definitely be on your |
| raises the bar so high that it almost spoils every | | | | list. If you've never played the first game, then |
| game released in the next six months. | | | | this one must be on your list! So really, there isn't |
| This third-person shooter thrusts gamers into a | | | | any reason not to own and play this game. |
| deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic | | | | 7. Madden NFL 07 - Sports |
| battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a | | | | With Madden NFL 07, innovative rushing controls |
| nightmarish race of creatures that surface from | | | | allow you to control the running game like never |
| the bowels of the earth. | | | | before, with all-new jukes, cutbacks, and the |
| Gears of War is about teamwork in a big way. All | | | | distinct running styles of your favorite backs. |
| game modes, levels and scenarios are designed | | | | For the first time, in a football video game, you |
| specifically to encourage cooperative play, | | | | can step up as the lead blocker to create a hole, |
| whether it be with A.I. partners or human players | | | | and then take control of the tailback to smash |
| (with A.I. teammates designed with specific | | | | through, jump over, or tear away from any |
| strengths, weaknesses and personalities). Also, | | | | would-be tackler as you head for the end zone. |
| voice recognition will be available for players, and | | | | One fan raved, "Overall it was exactly what i was |
| voice chat to discuss strategy with your friends. | | | | looking for, ... the new features are all fun, and the |
| 2. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced | | | | individual camera view for every position in |
| Warfighter - Shooter | | | | superstar mode gave u a feeling of really playing |
| The face of war has changed with Tom Clancy's | | | | as the character. This will be a great game to |
| Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Enemy lines | | | | play alone or with a group of friends." |
| are blurred and there is no clear opponent. New | | | | 8. Dead Rising - Action |
| enemies and threats require a new type of | | | | Dead Rising follows the harrowing saga of Frank |
| warfare and a new kind of soldier. Enter the | | | | West, an overly zealous freelance photojournalist |
| Ghosts. | | | | on a hunt for the scoop of a lifetime. In pursuit of |
| In 2013, the U.S. Army will implement its | | | | a clue, he makes his way to a small suburban |
| Integrated Warfighter System. IWS combines | | | | town only to find that it has been overrun by |
| advanced weapon systems, satellite | | | | zombies. He escapes to the local shopping mall, |
| communication devices, and enhanced survivability | | | | thinking it will be a bastion of safety, but it turns |
| features into a fully integrated warfare combat | | | | out to be anything but. |
| system. Equipped with cutting edge weapons and | | | | In the intense struggle to survive the endless |
| communications systems, you will find yourself, | | | | stream of zombies, players have full reign of a |
| one of the Ghosts, immersed in a detailed | | | | realistic shopping center, utilizing anything they find |
| universe which is warfare of the future. | | | | to fight off the flesh-hungry mob. The variety of |
| One gamer exclaimed, "This game is a pure | | | | stores in the mall offers players an endless supply |
| showcase of next gen gaming. the graphica are | | | | of resources including vehicles, makeshift weapons |
| downright gorgeous and this actually helps to | | | | and more. Players encounter other survivors along |
| immerse you into the story. and the story is | | | | the way, and by helping them, acquire valuable |
| riveting enough to actually make you care about | | | | clues as to what has happened and how to |
| mexico city... do your self a favor and buy this | | | | survive. |
| game." | | | | I couldn't say it better than one fan: "Thousands |
| 3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - RPG | | | | and thousands of zombies to kill in a myriad of |
| Like earlier games in the Elder Scrolls series, | | | | ridiculous ways; tons of things to see and try |
| Oblivion is designed to present a living fantasy | | | | throughout the mall; great sense of style; a plot |
| world that gamers experience on their own | | | | that manages to be intriguing without intruding too |
| terms. The game is populated with over 1,000 | | | | much on the action; and fantastic sound effects." |
| NPCs, each leading a fully realized life, following | | | | 9. Saints Row - Action |
| regular schedules according to their individual | | | | Welcome to Stilwater, an open-world city with |
| wants, needs, and positions. Players are | | | | attitude, a city controlled by rival gangs, a city |
| encouraged to interact in the world as they | | | | you are about to take over in Saints Row. As a |
| choose, as noble heroes, greedy villains, or | | | | low-level thug in the Third Street Saints, you'll do |
| anything in between. The game's main story and | | | | whatever it takes to get the money and build the |
| its sidemissions provide plenty of fast-moving | | | | respect and power you need to muscle your way |
| adventure. | | | | to the top. Be careful, though. Your actions have |
| Advised one fan: "This Game Is Like Crack. | | | | consequences within the game, and around every |
| Massive enivornment; Beautiful graphics; Great | | | | corner lurks a new threat. |
| ambient music and sound; Totally engrossing | | | | Numerous vehicles are available to "borrow," |
| gameplay. This game is unbelieveable. If you like | | | | pedestrians can be slugged or robbed at gunpoint, |
| RPG's in the SLIGHTEST, buy it." | | | | and there are an assortment of missions to |
| 4. Fight Night Round 3 - Sports | | | | advance the game's primarily storyline. Some |
| Easily beating the competition, Fight Night Round 3 | | | | features include: fun, responsive driving controls; |
| brings the most intense boxing videogame | | | | excellent on-foot shooting action; impressive |
| experience ever to the virtual boxing ring. | | | | presentation, featuring amazing explosions and |
| Film-quality graphics establish Fight Night Round 3 | | | | great audio; and a well-written, well-acted story to |
| as one of the best looking and playing Xbox 360 | | | | compel you to keep playing. |
| sports games ever produced. The graphics | | | | 10. Hitman: Blood Money - Action |
| feature devastating punch impacts unparalleled in | | | | On the run from rival assassins, Agent 47 hops a |
| any game or film. | | | | plane to take care of business stateside in Hitman: |
| Outside of the ring, gamers can establish intense | | | | Blood Money. Players will guide Agent 47 through |
| rivalries through pre-fight events and trash talk, | | | | a number of locales, including New Orleans, Los |
| putting more purpose and passion behind their | | | | Angeles, and Las Vegas as he performs hits. It's |
| every hit. The visuals in Fight Night Round 3 are | | | | up to the player to determine the manner in |
| so excellent that they actually enhance the | | | | which a hit is executed, but the "rookie training" |
| gameplay. The gameplay has been revamped | | | | mode can show amateur assassins how to help |
| from what was already an excellent experience in | | | | targets have "accidents," by pushing the victim |
| Round 2. | | | | over a ledge or pinning him underneath a heavy |
| 5. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent - | | | | object. |
| Action | | | | The amount of money earned from completed |
| The bestselling Tom Clancy's "Splinter Cell" game | | | | jobs varies depending on the cleanliness and |
| takes on an entirely new direction. You play as a | | | | professionalism of the hit. Agent 47's paychecks |
| double agent for the first time ever in Splinter Cell | | | | can be spent in a number of ways including bribing |
| Double Agent. You'll take on the dual roles of | | | | reporters, customizing weapons with one of 15 |
| covert operative and ruthless terrorist, where | | | | upgrades, or paying pedestrians for information. |
| your choices of whom to betray and whom to | | | | Open-ended stealth action gameplay lets you |
| protect actually affect the outcome of your | | | | sneak around, or run and gun; beautifully crafted |
| game. | | | | mission set pieces seem appropriately big and |
| Experience the relentless tension and | | | | complex; large variety of realistic weapons; and |
| gut-wrenching dilemmas of life as a double agent. | | | | great combination of action and strategy. |
| Lie. Kill. Sabotage. Betray. But above all, save and | | | | |