The holidays are approaching, and as such Shacknews thought it might be handy to help you out with the shopping, at least assuming you're shopping for other people who like games. And hey, if you're not shopping for anybody, here's a bunch of great stuff you can buy all for yourself, you miser! True, this may be a bit "late," (but what does "late" even mean, really?) but am I to believe you haven't been procrastinating? Well, with the guidance of the Shack, you can now get on with your life thanks to this handy games buying guide delineated by platform. For more detail and opinion on a particular game, click the screenshot or game title to be taken to that game's ShackReviews page. Without further ado, let's get to the PC.

PC

Last year saw a lot of really big games on the PC, with a number of particularly anticipated sequels such as Doom 3, Half-Life 2, and Unreal Tournament 2004, as well as of course the juggernaut of World of Warcraft. This year seems to have held up pretty well in comparison though, which a good showing of high-profile original titles in addition to the expected run of sequels. And, of course World of Warcraft continues to be an unstoppable force. Let's just say that World of Warcraft and I had to spend a bit of time apart this summer. Things were getting a little clingy. Anyway, here are some PC games released this year that might look good under some sort of nonspecific tree, or possibly in a large sock hanging above a bunch of flaming wood.

Sid Meier's Civilization IV
Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K Games
Not much needs to be said about Sid Meier's Civilization series; it pretty much set the standard for its style of turn-based global conflict, and it's stayed at the forefront of it. The first game consumed my life and is as responsible as anything else for turning me from somebody who like games to a hardcore PC gamer. Many reactions to the fourth game peg it as the best yet, so for strategy fans this one seems like a no brainer.

F.E.A.R.
Developer: Monolith
Publisher: VU Games
Monolith's F.E.A.R. takes effective and relentless horror atmosphere and blends it with incredibly cinematic gunfighting, the likes of which are surprisingly rare in gaming, and particularly in FPS games. It's sort of like a much more frightening Max Payne with much less dialogue and in the first person. If you're looking for something very atmospheric and engaging (and scary, I can admit it!), F.E.A.R. might be your game.

Battlefield 2
Developer: Digital Illusions CE
Publisher: EA Games
Developer Digital Illusions scored a hit with its original Battlefield 1942 and spinoffs, offering online multiplayer action on a startlingly big scale with the player able to jump into tanks and planes alike. Battlefield 2 reprises that gameplay while putting everything in a more modern day setting and updating the graphics. Be warned, however, that while the game experience has been smooth for many, it has had its fair share of bugs for many players, turning some off to the game.

Guild Wars
Developer: ArenaNet
Publisher: NCsoft
There have been several studios founded recently by former Blizzard employees, and ArenaNet was one of the earlier ones. The company is home to several members of the Diablo team. Taking a cue from Diablo II's not-really-an-MMO-but-it-sort-of-is structure, ArenaNet came out with Guild Wars, an MMO that's not quite an MMO (but more of one than Diablo II). There's no monthly fee, much of the game takes place in instances, and there's a heavy emphasis on character customization.

Quake 4
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Quake 4, developed by Raven rather than id, has taken some flak for being less than astonishing in today's evolved world of first person shooters. It's true that the game doesn't really reinvent any aspects of the genre, but it does present an enjoyable and immersive single player campaign as well as old school multiplayer very reminiscent (VERY reminiscent) of Quake III Arena.
This game is also available on Xbox 360, but most reviews of that version recommend steering clear of it in favor of the PC.

Age of Empires III
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
If, for reasons beyond my comprehension, you are not a fan of that whole Civilization thing--perhaps it is only strategy of the real time persuation that sets your gaming loins afire--but you still feel the need for a new edition of a long running strategy series, there's always Age of Empires III. The third game in Ensemble's pseudo-historical franchise is set in the North American colonial era rather than the more traditional cultural hodgepodge of its predecessor, but the gameplay remains essentially intact and it all looks quite pretty.

Fable: The Lost Chapters
Developer: Big Blue Box/Lionhead Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
PC gamers who didn't get a chance to check out last year's Fable for Xbox can now pick up Fable: The Lost Chapters, a port of the original game that's been outfitted with an added epilogue chapter. Fable is a fantasy RPG that's heavily focused on character customization and morality, though many who had been following the game's development for years ended up a bit disappointed at its failure to follow through on certain expected features. That said, the game is a fairly short but very enjoyable roleplaying adventure with great visual design and tons of little touches that really make the world immersive and memorable. Don't go into it expecting anything revolutionary, and you should have a good time.

The Movies
Developer: Lionhead Studios
Publisher: Activision
Designer Peter Molyneux is nothing if not ambitious. With his latest effort he presents a game that's part The Sims, part tycoon-style management game, and part movie creation tool. The player is put in charge of a 1920s Hollywood film studio and is tasked with building it up into a movie empire by managing actors, crew members, construction, business, and of course the films themselves. Thankfully, Lionhead has structured the game such that you can pretty much automate the parts you don't want to do; those who just want to manage the studio can have scriptwriters take care of writing the films, and there's also a sandbox mode in which players can just make movies using the in-game editor. For examples of what can be done with the editor, check out the community site.

World of Warcraft
Developer: Blizzard
Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Ok, so World of Warcraft came out last year. However, chances are that if you know enough gamers, a few of them might have an affinity/addiction for Blizzard's foray into the world of MMOs. For them, consider World of Warcraft prepaid subscription cards, available from many of the same places games are sold. If you yourself play and are looking to introduce someone else to the wonders of Azeroth, know that many retailers are running holiday specials on the boxed version of the game, and Blizzard is offering rebates of up to $30 for existing players who buy the game for their friends.

Continue to the next page for the PS2!

PS2

The PlayStation 2 continued its reputation for delivering a broad range of games. There's usually something for just about everyone if you look hard enough, and here are some ideas to get you started if you're shopping for somebody (or yourself) who owns Sony's home console.

God of War
Developer: SCE Studios Santa Monica
Publisher: SCEA
This year saw a few games which proved that the PS2 still has more graphical juice left than many expected. One of the more talked about such titles is God of War, from Twisted Metal designer David Jaffe. Set in mythical ancient Greece, the player as Spartan warrior Kratos is charged with killing Ares, the son of Zeus and god of war. The game has been universally lauded for its relentless and aborbing action, smart storytelling, solid art direction, and for basically just being a whole ton of fun.

Resident Evil 4
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
It took 10 months for Capcom's magnum opus to end up on PS2 as well as GameCube, but if you don't have a Cube and haven't played Resident Evil 4, you owe it to yourself to put this game on your list immediately. While it remains true to the Resident Evil tradition in various ways, the gameplay is completely overhauled, putting the player in a gorgeous full 3D world that's absolutely packed with excellently-paced action from start to finish. This game does not let up.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Developer: Level 5
Publisher: Square Enix
In Japan, few game releases can come even remotely close to matching the frenzy of a new Dragon Quest, but the series doesn't carry quite the same weight in the West. That said, RPG fans have been quick to name Level 5's Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed Kings one of the best RPGs in years, from its clean and charming graphical style, sense of humor, and gameplay that's old school yet well-developed gameplay.

Guitar Hero
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: RedOctane
I struggle to determine just why veteran rhythm game developer Harmonix's Guitar Hero is such a fun and addictive title. The game is played with a large guitar shaped-controller, which clearly adds some novelty, but I already play real guitar--so why is this so much fun? I think the answer is that Harmonix has crafted gameplay that is the perfect blend of musical gratification--being able to "play" a whole roster of classic guitar-centric rock songs--and genuine challenge that ramps up at the perfect rate. The learning curve is just steep enough that you'll have to really work to improve, but you won't want to stop.

Shadow of the Colossus
Developer: SCEI
Publisher: SCEA
Among certain circles, Shadow of the Colossus was one of the most anticipated titles of the year. From the internal Sony team headed up by Fumito Ueda, the same team responsible for the critically acclaimed yet commercially unsuccessful Ico, Shadow of the Colossus pits the player against a series of intimidating yet breathtaking and somehow sympathetic colossi. The game shares many attributes with Ico: its solitary atmosphere, muted color palette, and "boy saving a girl" premise--though the skillfully woven world of Shadow of the Colossus leaves more room for moral ambiguity in that premise than was present in its predecessor. To anybody who wants evidence of the emotive power of games, or who wants to see gorgeous art direction, or who just wants something differnet: get this game.

Soul Calibur III
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Namco's flagship fighter made waves when it was announced that it would be coming exclusively to the PlayStation 2. Soul Calibur III doesn't really bring much new to the table, and it unfortunately continues to lack online play, but it certainly maintains the series' quality, which certainly doesn't suffer from any lack of high regard. Basically, if you need more Soul Calibur, you'll be picking this up.

We Love Katamari
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi didn't want to make a sequel to his acclaimed debut title, but considering Namco would have made it anyway, it's lucky for us that he ended up working on it. The game basically takes everything that was fun about its predecessor and adds more. While it's not the most groundbreaking sequel, it will no doubt please any Katamari fan looking for more and is still completely accessible to those who have never picked up safety pins and skyscrapers with a bumpy adhesive ball. I mean, really, who doesn't love Katamari?

Ratchet: Deadlocked
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: SCEA
Insomniac has won widespread acclaim with its Ratchet & Clank series of platformers for PS2, even working in a popular multiplayer mode, and the studio kept its reputation for gun-based platformy goodness with Ratchet: Deadlocked. It doesn't overhaul the franchise but it's another well polished adventure with a continued focus on the wacky guns that are the hallmark of the series.

Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
Developer: Sucker Punch
Publisher: SCEA
With a few exceptions, the PS2 remains the platform of choice for interesting character-based platformers, and Sucker Punch delivers the third game in its sometimes overlooked Sly franchise of cel-shaded heist adventures. Critics and audiences seem to think the series is improving over time, so if you're in need of a family friendly platformer, this might be a good bet.

EyeToy: Kinetic
Developer: SCE London Studio
Publisher: SCEA
Sony's EyeToy series, which makes use of a USB camera to track users' movements as a control mechanism, isn't necessarily a massive hit among the hardcore segment, but its simple and straightforward gameplay (which frequently involves whacking imaginary stuff in midair with your hands) has a wide potential audience. EyeToy: Kinetic gets a little more specific. It provides its users with a fitness regimen that can be "played" on a one-off basis or as part of a 12-week program. It's obviously not for everyone, but it's pretty much the only thing like it out there.

Continue to the next page for the Xbox and Xbox 360!

Xbox and Xbox 360

Microsoft was at the forefront of a lot of hype this year due to the launch of the company's Xbox 360, which officially begins the next generation of video games. Despite some reported hardware problems which Microsoft seems to be dealing with quite efficiently, the Xbox 360 got quite a positive reaction for being a well thought through system with a particularly good online component and a lot of potential. The main problem is simply that it's just about impossible to find the thing. Microsoft's attempts at a sort-of-simultaneous worldwide launch have left both North America and Europe needing units badly. If these supply issues can be worked out, however, the system looks to do quite well.

But first, the Xbox. There were plenty of releases this year despite the incoming 360, and current Xbox owners should be reassured to know that at least for the immediate next couple months there are just as many, if not more, Xbox releases as Xbox 360 releases. The system still has some legs. Here are some gift-worthy titles that popped up this year.

Xbox

Ninja Gaiden Black
Developer: Team NINJA
Publisher: Tecmo
Team NINJA's unforgiving ninja action game was one of the Xbox's showcase titles in 2004, and in addition to being a player favorite it was also renowned for being very, very difficult. There were even free downloadable "expansions" over Xbox Live that offered even further challenge. So, Team NINJA decided to follow all of this up with a package collecting all the material released for that game and then making it even more difficult. That package is Ninja Gaiden Black, and it's available for a rather reasonable price ($29.99 retail), making it an easy buy for somebody who has yet to be manhandled by Ninja Gaiden but still attractive to those who managed to master the game in its original form.

Far Cry Instincts
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Far Cry was one of last year's best PC first person shooters (and one of my overall favorites in recent years), and somewhat surprisingly it seems to have passed the transition to the console world with flying colors. Far Cry Instincts, developed by Ubisoft Montreal in conjunction with original developer CryTek, differs in certain ways from its PC cousin. There's less of the completely free-roaming aspect of the original, but the game compensates by slowly putting more emphasis on direct combat. Far Cry Instincts also features what must be the best FPS map editor you can get on consoles, with a community that's produced some pretty impressive creations.

Forza Motorsport
Developer: Microsoft Game Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Forza Motorsport is basically Microsoft Game Studios' answer to Gran Turismo. Unlike many other Xbox racers, this game builds its reputation on getting all the fiddly technical bits right, and it won universal acclaim for its effort. The game is playable over Live, which is always a plus, and is a pretty complete package for anyone who prizes realism over, uh, arcadism in racing games.

Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Midway
Unreal Championship 2 is probably the best console iteration of Unreal yet, and if nothing else it definitely brings some new gameplay to the table. While a first person shooter at its core, the game has an extensive third player mode for use with hand to hand fighting. Rather than melee attacks being relegated to pistol whips, the game has a full on fighting system. The third person perspective can be used for shooting as well, but I preferred to drop back into good old FPS for that. UC2 was published by Midway, and in something of a bizarre crossover, Mortal Kombat character Raiden makes an appearance in the game as an enemy and unlockable player character. Go figure. Try this if you're looking for a fresh take on the genre.

Burnout Revenge
Developer: Criterion
Publisher: EA Games
Burnout Revenge is a multiplatform title, but I'm including it here because of the convenience of playing it over Xbox Live. If you don't have an Xbox, get it on PS2. Burnout Revenge takes Criterion's excellent crash-happy racing series and improves on it even more. Racing is a blast in, feeling more like a 200 mile per hour brawl on wheels than a typical "race." One is as aggressive as possible in Burnout. Then, of course, there's the signature Crash Mode, which has the player orchestrate traffic pileups of wonderfully destructive proportions in an attempt to cause the most amount of damage. If you're looking for a less-realistic racer that'll help you let off some steam, Burnout Revenge is all you need.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
Developer: Oddworld Inhabitants
Publisher: EA Games
Series creator Lorne Lanning's favorite Oddworld game is Stranger's Wrath, released at the beginning of this year, and at this point it looks like it might be the last one given developer Oddworld Inhabitants' move away from the games industry. Don't worry about giving this to somebody who isn't familiar with the prior games; this game makes a pretty clean break. Unlike its adventure ancestors, Stranger's Wrath is a shooter with an interesting twist: you make use of what is quite literally "live ammo," small creatures you load into your weapons. This provides for all sorts of interesting combinations, as different creatures have attributes that change the effect of your weapons. Despite great critical reaction, this game was very overlooked; consider giving it a shot.

Xbox 360

Xbox 360 Premium System
Manufacturer: Microsoft
If you want to play Xbox 360 games, you'll unfortunately need to actually track down an Xbox 360. Them's the breaks! At this point, that may or may not be possible to achieve by the end of the year depending on if Microsoft's mysterious supply reinforcements finally make their appearance, but if you do manage to find a store with some 'boxes, do your best to secure a Premium System. That model will run you $399, whereas the hard drive-less Core System is only $299. You'll regret trying to save some money if you go for the latter, however, when you realize that you'll need a $40 memory card to save your games anyway, and if you start downloading demos and trailers or games from Xbox Live Arcade you're going to need more storage--at which point it's $100 for a hard drive.

Kameo: Elements of Power
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Despite having to overlook a few minor art direction issues, Rare's Kameo: Elements of Power has shaped up to be my favorite Xbox 360 launch title. As the female elf Kameo, the player has the ability to acquire various animal forms, each with their own unique abilities. For example, an armadillo form named Major Ruin encases Kameo in a huge spiky ball that crushes her enemies and launches off of ramps. Due to the constant shifting of powers with the various forms, the game keeps its not overly complex gameplay from becoming tired.

Condemned: Criminal Origins
Developer: Monolith
Publisher: Sega
Condemned will be heading to PCs eventually, but for now it's exclusive to Microsoft's machine. Developer Monolith seems pretty into the whole suspense/horror shooter thing recently. Following up on the very well-received F.E.A.R. for PC, the studio has delivered this interesting take on the genre. This one's less of a first person shooter per se, though; in addition to shooting there's a significant close combat system making use of a variety of blunt found weapons. The game has received high marks for its creepy atmosphere and interesting gameplay, and it's definitely one of the more unique titles to launch with the Xbox 360.

Perfect Dark Zero
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Perfect Dark Zero, Rare's prequel to its N64 hit Perfect Dark, has been well reviewed, but many--myself included--have less than glowing things to say about the game's single player campaign. In fact, the game has its share of shortcomings in various areas. That said, there's a strong multiplayer component, with a good variety of gametyppresees and weapons, and solid and compelling gameplay. It could stand to have a few more maps, but hopefully Rare plans to deliver those through Live eventually. All in all, if you're looking for an engrossing single player experience you might be better served elsewhere, but if you just want to battle online this is where most of the shooting action on Live currently resides.

Project Gotham Racing 3
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
The third title in Bizarre Creations' vaunted racing franchise was one of the launch titles Microsoft was most banking on, and it doesn't seem to have disappointed. The game has received universal praise for its great visuals, exhilerating sense of speed, and solid online component featuring the GothamTV system allowing for users to watch specific races live around the world. PGR3 is definitely considered one of Microsoft's stronger launch offerings.

Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: Various
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
I may as well admit it: I've spent way more time on the various Xbox Live Arcade titles than I have with any of the actual retail launch games. With classics like Gauntlet and new shoot-em-ups like Bizarre Creations' Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved only $5 a pop, it's hard to turn them down. Oh, and this stuff is fun, not just cheap. Last week I played Smash TV with a fellow Shacker for hours over Live, and I recommend that to anyone. Every game has a free downloadable demo too, so you can always feel confident about where those five bucks are going. New games are being added all the time, too. The classic Robotron 2084 arrives one of these days, and a few independent developers are making use of the system as an alternative delivery method for their games.

Continue to the next page for the GameCube!

GameCube

Resident Evil 4
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
For reasons I can't explain, I was a little late to the Resident Evil 4 party. Now that I've arrived, I couldn't be more glad that I did. If you're looking for a relentless and expertly-crafted action experience, Capcom's reinvention of its classic horror franchise is hard to top. This game gives the series a much-needed overhaul, with an over-the-shoulder perspective and a control mechanism that's limiting enough to make sure you're never feel too safe yet robust enough that when it comes down to it you can handle just about any situation. This is one of those games most gamers really should play.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
The Fire Emblem tactical RPG series, from underrated developer Intelligent Systems, has been around for quite some time in Japan but only just recently made the trek to the West in the form of two excellent Game Boy Advance titles. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance takes the franchise to home consoles for the first time on domestic shores, and while this entry won't bring any big surprises to Fire Emblem fans it is a solid title that still delivers the same addictive gameplay and depth found in the series' portable iterations.

Killer 7
Developer: Grasshopper
Publisher: Capcom
Killer 7 is a game that is so strange in so many respects that it is tough to simply recommend it to any broad group of people, but it's such a fascinating thing that I couldn't help but include it. The game features a syndicate of assassins called the Killer 7, each of whom may or may not be nothing more than the physical manifestation of a split personality of the wheelchair-bound aging leader of the syndicate. And it only gets weirder. The much-debated controls put the player literally on rails, allowing only forward motion, U-turns, and choices between different forked paths. It takes some getting used to but it is what allows the game to retain its stylish and cinematic quality. The plot too is bizarre in the extreme, featuring heavy doses of convoluted political intrigue in a story involving a religious cult. If you want something really different, Killer 7 definitely fits the bill. This game was also made available on PS2.

Battalion Wars
Developer: Kuju
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer Kuju was working on an original strategy action game when Nintendo contacted the studio and asked if they'd like to turn the project into a spinoff of Intelligent Systems' excellent Advance Wars strategy franchise. Kuju agreed, but somewhere along the line the game lost its Advance Wars moniker and became it's own Wars of the Battalion variety, but the game itself seems to have turned out fine. Battalion Wars puts the player in command of land and air forces and provides the ability to insantly jump into any friendly unit at any time. The game plays like a third person shooter, but with more strategy involved as you order your troops around enemy lines. It's hurt by a lack of multiplayer, but the campaign is a lot of fun.

Super Mario Strikers
Developer: Next Level
Publisher: Nintendo
Nintendo tapped Next Level Games, responsible for the well-received Sega Soccer Slam, for Mario's latest sports outing. The main criticism of the game, oddly enough, has been that doesn't feature as much of the usual Mario sports trappings: wacky fields, tons of characters, and so on. That said, the gameplay seems like a solid arcadey take on soccer, which is pretty much what you're looking for in this kind of game.

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Developer: Genius Sonority
Publisher: Nintendo
If you know of a young tyke (or perhaps an older tyke--don't worry, I won't tell) who just needs that Pokemon fix, you'll probably be needing to check out Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness on the GameCube, as it's the only "new" Pokemon adventure to hit domestic shores this year. Only the second Pokemon title for the Cube, Gale of Darkness takes a more RPG-ish approach than last year's Pokemon Colosseum for the same system, with a bit more emphasis on the story. Like pretty much every Pokemon game, it doesn't add or change much, but by this point I imagine fans don't really expect anything else. Me? I haven't played a Pokemon game since the first one in 1998, so what do I know?

Continue to the next page for the DS!

DS

In all honesty, the DS simply blew me away this year. I have never in my life had my opinion about a console change so drastically and so quickly. The machine had a strong launch in terms of sales but a very lackluster game selection, and though I expected it to do okay due to Nintendo's hold on the portable market I didn't actually see it doing great, and I certainly didn't care about it whatsoever. The whole dual screen thing didn't do much for me. Well, fast forward to E3. I spent literally an entire day at Nintendo's booth playing great DS games and eating quite a few words/hats. The system was purchased the next day, and since then it's been nothing but a stream of quality games that's only been getting better. I've long since got over the shock of the system not sucking, now I'm busy being shocked that the great releases keep coming. Here are a few of what I see as the most worthwhile releases of the year for DS.

Mario Kart DS
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Mario Kart series director Hedeki Konno took back the reigns of his favorite franchise with Mario Kart DS after skipping out on the rather disappointing Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN), and it shows. Mario Kart DS is a fine return to form, offering what is probably the best Mario Kart game to date, and I don't say that lightly. The game features some of the best tracks from every prior game, and matches them with an equal number of entirely new tracks, some of which are among the most impressive yet. The game actually has a huge amount of stuff to do in the single player mode, which is unusual for Mario Kart. Most importantly, however, it marks the series' entry into the online world, as one of the "launch" titles for Nintendo's online service. Online play is limited to racing (no battle mode) but the actual playing experience is as tight as can be, with great netcode and a 60FPS framerate that never dips. Get this game.

Advance Wars: Dual Strike
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
If you've played either of the Advance Wars games for Game Boy Advance, you basically know what to expect here. It's turn based strategy that's easy to grasp yet with a well crafted difficulty curve that ramps up just enough over the course of the campaign to keep the game challenging and fun throughout. Though it doesn't reinvent the series, this entry offer by far the most value for your dollar, with absolutely tons of options for both the various single player modes as well as for local wi-fi multiplayer, including many new to the franchise. Strategy fans should give this one a look.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Dawn of Sorrow continues in the gameplay tradition some have described as "Metroidvania," referring to the tendency of modern Castlevania games to take a Metroid-like approach in structure--most notably, this takes the form of the game having one huge interconnected map littered with sub-bosses and ways to improve your character, rather than individual "levels." It's a formula that has served the series well since the acclaimed Symphony of the Night on PlayStation, and many feel that Dawn of Sorrow approaches (or even rivals) that title for the role of best entry in the series. Oh, and it's impossible to overstate how invaluable that second screen is for an always-on map in a game like this.

Meteos
Developer: Q Entertainment
Publisher: Nintendo
Following up on the excellent Lumines for PSP, Q Entertainment released another falling-blocks puzzle game in the form of Meteos. The two games draw many comparisons but while Lumines benefits most from its wonderful presentation, Meteos is all about the ridiculously hardcore gameplay. It was designed by Kirby and Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai in a one-off collaboration with Q Entertainment, where studio head Tetsuya Mizuguchi produced the game. It even has a bit of the trademark Mizuguchi gameplay/music interactivity. I've said it already but I'll say it again: this game is hardcore. It is not for the weak. I don't mean that disparagingly, but if you don't like to be consumed and/or destroyed by your puzzle games, just leave this on the shelf. It seriously destroyed about two months of my life. And I loved every minute of it.

Kirby Canvas Curse
Developer: HAL Laboratories
Publisher: Nintendo
So, you're not so sure about the whole stylus and touch screen thing? Just a gimmick, eh? Kirby Canvas Curse takes the touch screen and uses it as a totally essential gameplay mechanic in a game that wouldn't be possible (or at least fun) any other way. You control Kirby throughout various levels of platforming by drawing paths with the stylus which he will follow. Like most great platformers, it features a simplistic mechanic with depth that emerges as you become accustomed to the game. Portables tend to be home to dozens of palette-shifted 2D side scrollers, but this is one that does something different and is entertaining the whole way through.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Developer: Alphadream
Publisher: Nintendo
Partners in Time is the followup to Alphadream's acclaimed 2003 RPG for the GBA, Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, a game renowned for its interesting gameplay mechanics and a pleasantly affecting and humorous script. The sequel literally delves into the past of Nintendo's plumber duo, introducing the pair to the baby versions of themselves from the past. This odd team of four traipses around the past and present of the Mushroom Kingdom. The game maintains the unique interactive nature of the turn-based battles common to other Mario RPG outings, and the whole package should satisfy those looking for more after Superstar Saga.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Capcom brings its long running series of courtroom adventures to non-Japanese territories for the first time with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. You play defense attorney Phoenix Wright, a rookie lawyer out to make a name for himself. You basically act as a detective too, scouting crime scenes for evidence yourself before you head to trial. In court, the goal is to expose the lies of the prosecution's witnesses by pointing out contradictory testimony and presenting evidence. It's not the most challenging thing you'll ever play but it succeeds through surprisingly well-written dialogue and memorable characters. It's also quite lengthy, which makes up for the obvious lack of any kind of multiplayer.

Nintendogs
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
This adorable interactive puppy simulator is one of the flagship games for Nintendo's new portable, and was responsible for huge spikes in system sales in Japan. It reached similar success upon its arrival in North America and Europe, though in the face of so many other great DS games (see: this list) it hasn't made huge waves with hardcore gamers. Where it has found its audience is with, well, just about everybody else. Loads of anecdotal evidence suggests that if you have a significant other who has so far resisted your repeated attempts to bring the gift of gaming, this might be the Trojan horse you need. It's also a great way to show off the capabilities of the DS; you can pet your dog with the stylus, call it by name and order it to do tricks with the microphone, and interact with other "dog owners" by way of the system's local wi-fi capabilities.

Animal Crossing: Wild World
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
The third game to take advantage of the DS' internet capabilities, Animal Crossing: Wild World brings the oddly appealing family-friendly town simulator over from the GameCube. The gameplay stays pretty much intact: there's still no "goal" other than to simply enjoy living in your custom village, collecting and selling things, interacting with your neighbors, adding to your home. With the ability to visit friends' towns over the internet, however, the game achieves a much broader and more obvious appeal. Who doesn't want to go over to his buddy's place and be a jerk by chopping down all the trees?

Continue to the next page for the PSP!

PSP

Sony's entry into the portable console market has taken some flak this year for quite simply failing to follow up on the launch with a solid library of games. It's definitely a valid criticism, but when it comes down to it, the system has a very different focus than for example the DS. It's a gaming platform, true, but it's best utilized by those who will appreciate it equally for its range of multimedia capabilities as for its gaming capabilities. After all, at least in North America, UMD movies for the system have been selling about as well as the games themselves. That said, in terms of gaming, the system seems to be best suited to literally being a portable console in that it frequently does quite well handling versions of games available on PS2, something a system like the DS is definitely not as suited for. If you don't have a PS2 or if you simply like being able to take that style of game on the run, there's plenty available for PSP.

Lumines
Developer: Q Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
The most notable exception to the PSP's general tendency towards console ports is Q Entertainment's wonderful falling-blocks puzzle game Lumines, designed by studio head Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Rez and Space Channel 5 fame. It launched with the PSP and many still consider it the best reason to play games on the system. The gameplay is solid, but what really sells the game is its presentation. Several of Mizuguchi's prior games feature integration between music and gameplay, and Lumines does as well, as the music's intensity varies with your ability to get rid of blocks. If you're shopping for somebody who has a PSP but doesn't have this game, your work is cut out for you.

Wipeout Pure
Developer: SCE Studios Liverpool
Publisher: SCEA
Wipeout has traditionally been one of the more respected names in the futuristic racing genre, a genre that seems to have been in the decline over the last few years, and Wipeout Pure is a solid addition to the series. Another launch title that's managed to hang on for a while, Pure has a good presentation both in terms of visuals and audio and if you're into the sort of "soft" handling that one expects from a futuristic racer, you should have a great time. As far as I know, it's also the only PSP title to make use of downloadable content, which is a nice touch.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Developer: Rockstar Leeds
Publisher: Rockstar Games
By this point, you either know Grand Theft Auto or you don't. You either like it or you don't. The series has seen three bestselling main entries this generation all structured around the pioneering GTA3 formula, and Liberty City Stories is a faithful adaptation of that formula to a portable system--which by anyone's standards is no small feat! This entry doesn't really add much new to the single player experience, but if you've gotta have more Grand Theft Auto, this is what you need. The game does add local multiplayer for up to six people, which is a new feature for the series. It's not really a make or break feature, but if you have some buddies around, hey, why not?

Burnout Legends
Developer: Criterion
Publisher: EA Games
Ok, remember when I was talking about Burnout Revenge back in the Xbox section? The same basic points apply here. Ludicrous sensation of speed + lots of destruction = fun. Seems like a pretty airtight formula to me, and there's local wi-fi multiplayer for up to six people. Legends is more of a compilation of the best stuff of the first three games in the series (hence the name), not an actual portable version of Burnout Revenge, but that's basically a technicality. The stuff that makes Burnout fun is here, and that's what you need to know. Oh, and this game also exists on DS, but that version wasn't even made by Criterion and, honestly, let's just forget it ever happened.

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee
Developer: Clap Hanz
Publisher: SCEA
Okay, so it may not be the highest-profile title around, but many PSP owners cite Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee among their favorite games for the system. It's presented in a lighthearted visual style, but the golf gameplay is fun and deep, offering both accessibility (like pretty much every other golf game out there, you've got the three-click powerup swing control scheme) as well as plenty of challenge for serious players. The game also has local multiplayer for up to eight players in a variety of modes, including tournaments, matches, or putting challenges.

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo
Developer: Zipper Interactive
Publisher: SCEA
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fire Team Bravo is the latest entry in Zipper's Sony-exclusive third person tactical shooting series. In this one, rather than commanding a squad, you'll command a partner as you duck and shoot your way through a variety of locales. Part of what makes it a notable PSP release is that it takes advantage of the system's online capability, which has been something of a rarity among PSP games so far. In fact, with an optional headset accessory, you can make use of live voice chat over the internet. If you've been impatiently waiting for a good shooter to surface on the system, here you go.

Continue to the next page for the Game Boy Advance!

Game Boy Advance

Nintendo was sure to note when the DS was released that the new dual-screened system was not a replacement or successor to the Game Boy line. While it's only natural that certain franchises will move over to the newer hardware (Advance Wars made the switch, and Pokemon will do so next year), Nintendo still managed to ensure that there was a stream of new releases for its hugely lucrative GBA.

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Fire Emblem is another Intelligent Systems franchise, along with Advance Wars, that took an inexplicably long time to actually make it over to Western shores. It's lucky for us that they finally did. Like its predecessor, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is a tactical RPG in which a carefully planned strategy is paramount; every unit you control is a named character--there are no generic soldiers--and if one of them dies, he or she is actually dead for the rest of the game. The game autosaves every time you complete an action, so in those cases you must either restart the whole battle or just accept the loss. It adds a lot of personal investment in the game, and while it's frustrating for some I've always loved how accountable the game makes one feel for failing or succeeding in each battle. This is definitely a great game to consider for patient tactical folks.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Developer: Flagship
Publisher: Nintendo
Capcom's internal developer Flagship has been handling the portable Zelda titles for a few years now, and while the studio's Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons for Game Boy Color were great games in their own right, they didn't seem to me to quite hit the Zelda bullseye. With The Minish Cap, on the other hand, Flagship has delivered a fantastic Zelda experience that is fit to stand alongside the greats of the series. I feel justified in recommending this title to anybody who has any affinity for Zelda-style adventuring.

Gunstar Super Heroes
Developer: Treasure
Publisher: Sega
In today's games industry, hallowed developer Treasure is one of the few remaining bastions of quality 2D action gameplay. The independent studio has taken a break from its usual policy of no sequels to deliver a followup to the classic Genesis title Gunstar Heroes. Gunstar Super Heroes isn't the longest game around, but it delivers the intense action-packed gameplay one expects from a Treasure sidescroller. It also pushes the GBA hardware to the absolute limit, which may not sound like much given the system's rather modest capabilities, but some of the visual effects the developers have squeezed out of the hardware are extraordinarily impressive. Old school action fans, take notice of this game.

WarioWare: Twisted!
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
The WarioWare franchise is certainly one of the more bizarre yet pleasant surprises in recent gaming memory. This iteration, the second on the series' native Game Boy Advance turf, continues the basic gameplay structure of stringing together hundreds of tiny minigames into one long fast-paced sequence. Each minigame has a simple action that must be performed within a few seconds, after which the next one will follow immediately. It's disorienting at first but soon becomes addictive. Twisted! makes the whole thing even stranger by adding in a gyroscopic sensor to the cartridge, so in almost all cases the game is actually controlled by physically rotating the system to correspond with what needs to be achieved on screen. There's also a built-in rumble feature. Anyone looking for something totally different yet very well-developed should give this a shot.

Mario Tennis: Power Tour
Developer: Camelot
Publisher: Nintendo
If you've played either of Camelot's Mario Tennis offerings for N64 or GameCube, you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect with Mario Tennis: Power Tour, which translates surprisingly well to the more limited GBA hardware. In addition to the exhibition match mode, which allows you to play isolated games as one of the Mario universe characters, there's a new career mode as well. As a student in a tennis academy, you'll gain levels and stat points as you attempt to become the best player around. The actual tennis gameplay is slightly less fast paced than the GameCube version, but this works well given the much smaller screen. Other than that, the spin mechanics and power moves are intact, allowing for the signature competitive yet Mario-esque tennis experience.

Pokemon Emerald
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
Pokemon Emerald is largely made up of the content from Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire, so it's probably not the most essential buy of all time, but considering it's the only portable Pokemon game that was available in North America this year, it's hard not to include on this sort of guide. Consider yourself alerted: this game exists.

Continue to the next page for multiplatform releases!

Multiplatform

Of course, there are plenty of worthwhile games that shipped to multiple platforms, and we wouldn't want to forget about them! Here are some of the ones that you might find worth buying.

Psychonauts
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Majesco Games
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC
As the creator of such classic adventures as Full Throttle and Grim Fandango as well as being involved in the creation of The Secret of Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, and Day of the Tentacle, Tim Schafer is definitely one of the more interesting designers out there. His reputation for games with well-developed characters, insane visuals, and memorable dialogue was upheld when the long-delayed Psychonauts shipped this year for PS2, Xbox and PC. Putting players in the role of young psychic Raz, the game is a character-driven platformer in which the player actually enters the minds of other characters in order to get to the bottom of a conspiracy-laden plot. This allows for some of the craziest looking levels you'll ever see, with constantly changing visual design that stays fresh throughout the game, as well as frequently sinister undertones as the player uncovers what makes the game's characters tick. Then there's solid platforming gameplay and a fantastic original score to boot. Psychonauts is a game I would implore just about any gamer to try out. Don't let the colors and exaggerated proportions fool you, this is not a game intended for kids.
Psychonauts was originally an Xbox exclusive, and as such it was tailored for that platform. If you play it on PC, try and do so with a decent game pad.

Need for Speed Most Wanted
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Games
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Xbox 360, DS, PSP, GBA, PC
In the eyes of many racing fans, Need for Speed Most Wanted is something of a return to form for a series that, like so many others in recent years, got a bit too caught up in being eXtreme rather than necessarily focusing on all the things that made the series great. For one thing, as the title suggests, the cops make their return in Most Wanted. While playing through the single player story mode, they'll take umbrage at your reckless disregard for posted speed limits and give chase. As you try to evade them, they'll keep piling on more squad cars and obstacles, and that's where much of the excitement of the game lies.
Visually, you'll get the most out of Most Wanted with either the Xbox 360 or a high-end PC. Beyond that, you've got your standard graphical heirarchy of Xbox > GameCube > PS2. Reviews seem to suggest steering clear of the three portable versions if possible.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC
Ah, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the game that launched a million lawsuits...and pieces of attempted litigation...and federal investigations. Yeah, it's probably safe to assume you're familiar with this game. This year, the biggest GTA title yet made its way to both Xbox and PC. And this game is indeed big. By the time I'd had my fill of nonlinear automotive action, I think I had only gotten halfway through the story. It was fun while it lasted, though. There is simply a mind-boggling amount to do in this game, and it's polished to the same degree as any of the other GTA3-based entries in the series. Just, for the sake of the industry's reputation, don't buy this for your five-year-old, okay?

Call of Duty 2
Developer: Infinity Ward
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: Xbox 360, PC
Despite the seemingly endless sea of World War II shooters that's been threatening to drown the industry in recent years, Infinity Ward's Call of Duty stood out as a particularly arresting and powerful experience thanks to its well-crafted scripted events and tense atmosphere. Call of Duty 2 doesn't stray too far from that, so while it probably won't surprise you all that much, it will provide a solid and immersive World War II experience. The game looks gorgeous, and follows up the first game's award-winning sound design with more more excellent presentation in that area.
Either version of this game should suit you well, though of course you'll be missing out on mouse and keyboard controls with the Xbox 360 version.

The Warriors
Developer: Rockstar Toronto
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS2, Xbox
Rather surprisingly, Rockstar Toronto's game adaptation of cult 1979 film The Warriors actually turned out quite well. Set in the gang-ridden streets of New York circa the late 70s, you are a member of the Warriors, and you get to partake in 10-20 hours of beating people up, smashing and stealing stuff, and learning more about the people and events featured in the original film. The icing on the cake is that it has co-op mode, a stupidly rare commodity in today's gaming environment, making this game the perfect gift for somebody with whom you like to game.

Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was one of my favorite titles of 2003, excelling in almost every way. The followup, Warrior Within, stripped the series of much of the charm that defined Sands of Time, turning off a lot of fans of the first game--including original Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner himself, who was not pleased with the more extreme aggressive edge of Warrior Within. With The Two Thrones, many reviewers have noted that the series has stepped back a bit, returning to some of the elements of the first in this sub-series. It has certainly been better received than its predecessor. I haven't played it yet, and in all honesty I don't really think I'm going to, but if you've enjoyed both of the previous games in the series, or you were a fan of SoT willing to give it another shot, you might consider Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones.

Continue to the last page for sports!

Sports Games

Look, I'm going to be honest here. Aside from certain extreme sports franchises like Tony Hawk and SSX, or more accessible sports titles like a few of the Mario ones, I don't play sports games. Ever. It's probably the one genre I am utterly unqualified to speak on. Sorry about that. So for the sake of convenience and to minimize credibility lost, I'm just going to list a few of the titles recommended by critics as well as by Steve and Maarten, who both do play sports games.

World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International
Developer: KCET
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC

NBA 2K6
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Sports
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360

NHL 2K6
Developer: Kush Games & Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Sports
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360
Most reviews found it difficult to recomment the Xbox 360 version of this game considering its graphical improvements are not nearly significant enough to justify paying three times the price ($60 for Xbox 360 vs. $20 for PS2 and Xbox).

Madden NFL 06
Developer: EA Tiburon
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Xbox 360, DS, PSP, GBA, PC
It is worth noting that Electronic Arts signed an agreement with the NFL this year, making EA the exclusive developer and publisher of officially licensed NFL video games.
Most reviews indicated that though the visuals of the Xbox 360 version are much more impressive than the current-gen versions, the game is decidedly inferior, due to a number of important missing gameplay features and a crippled franchise mode. Try and play it on another platform if possible.

MVP Baseball 2005
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC

Fight Night Round 2
Developer: EA Chicago
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
The GameCube version of this game includ