Posted: Thursday, December 28, 2006 6:00 pm
This was a great year for games. Between the release of two new game systems, the near-retirement of two old systems and the Xbox 360 really heating up, I had a lot to choose from for my best-of-the-year choices.
I picked what I thought was the best game in each of eight genres, regardless of game system, then chose the game of the year from those picks. However, I did not include PC games; these choices are game consoles only (Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, GameCube). They are:
Best shooter: “Gears of War” (Microsoft, for Xbox 360, Rated Mature, $59.99). This was an easy choice. “Gears of War” perfects everything about the shooter genre, from its well-paced, duck-and-cover gameplay to its fun and varied weapons. It’s also one of the best-looking games on the system.
Runner-up: “Resistance: Fall of Man” (Sony, for PS3).
Best action/adventure: “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (Nintendo, for Wii and GameCube, Rated Teen, $49.99). Nintendo took its time releasing “Twilight Princess” because it wanted to get everything right. Nice decision — everything about the game screams perfection. The graphics are gorgeous, and the Wii version uses the motion-sensitive controls well.
Runners-up: “Okami” (Capcom, for PS2), “Dead Rising” (Capcom, for Xbox 360).
Best role-playing game: “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” (2K Games, for Xbox 360, Rated Mature, $59.99). Most role-playing games take a long time to play through because of their involved storylines and extensive character leveling. “Oblivion” contains easily double the time commitment of even the longest of RPGs, and every minute of that is outstanding. Besides looking and sounding gorgeous, “Oblivion” offers a deep, enjoyable experience.
Runner-up: “Final Fantasy XII” (Square Enix, for PS2).
Best sports: “Fight Night Round 3” (Electronic Arts, for Xbox 360, Rated Teen, $59.99). “Fight Night” takes the sports game to a whole new level, removing the on-screen life bars and using the thumbsticks to perform swings. It creates a lifelike experience that will leave your jaw aching in sympathy for the on-screen fighters.
Runner-up: “Madden NFL 07” (Electronic Arts, for Wii).
Best strategy: “Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II” (Electronic Arts, for Xbox 360, Rated Teen, $49.99). There aren’t a lot of options for strategy games on consoles, but “LOTR: BFME II” would have been the winner even if there were. It takes both a successful franchise and a complicated control scheme and makes them work well.
Runner-up: No runner-up.
Best racing: “Burnout Revenge” (Electronic Arts, for Xbox 360, Rated Teen, $39.99). Yes, this is a new version of a game that came out last year for the other consoles, but it’s still the best racing game of the year. Plus, some fixes were made to make it even better. Cars, explosions, pileups — what more could you want?
Runner-up: “Need for Speed Carbon” (Electronic Arts, for Xbox 360, Xbox, PS3, PS2, Wii, GameCube).
Best fighting: “Mortal Kombat: Armageddon” (Midway, for Xbox, PlayStation 2, Rated Mature, $39.99). OK, I have to admit, in a normal year, this would not be my pick. It’s not a bad game, but it’s certainly not great, either. But it was a down year for the fighting genre, and my first choice (“Dead or Alive 4”) actually came out last Dec. 29 and doesn’t count. So this wins by default.
Runner-up: No runner-up.
Best music/rhythm: “Guitar Hero 2” (Red Octane, for PlayStation 2, Rated Teen, $49.99 without guitar). This sequel builds on what was already a great game with a larger playlist and improved multiplayer options. It’s a blast rocking out to this one with a guitar controller.
Runner-up: “Elite Beat Agents” (Nintendo, for DS). I’m breaking my “no handhelds” rule for this one, as there aren’t many music games, and this one is great.
Game of the Year: “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.” This was a really tough choice. “Gears of War” put up a fight for this title, but as well done as “Gears” is, “Oblivion” is just as well done.
In the end, the wide expanse of things to do in “Oblivion” won me over. “Gears” has a much shorter life span, especially if you don’t like online play. You can’t go wrong with either game, but if I had to pick just one to name the best (and, hey, I do), it’s “Oblivion.” And lucky PlayStation 3 owners should seek it out for them sometime next year.
Runner-up: “Gears of War” (Microsoft, for Xbox 360).
Reach Aimee Green at 473-7326 or Aimee.Green@lee.net.