Top 10 Games of 2006
By: Games Staff |
Monday January 01, 2007 |
| With the release of the next-gen consoles, we take a look at the best 10 games of 2006. |
| What an incredible year to be a gamer. That kind of sentiment seems to get thrown around a lot, and I've probably said the same thing at the conclusion of previous years, but it's true: 2006 had much to offer, and it felt like an even stronger year than 2005. Not only did it see the launch of the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3, but the Xbox 360 celebrated its first full year of existence with a heap of stellar exclusives.
Even if you're waiting to make the next-gen leap, there's still plenty to play on those old, dusty boxes. Well, one of the dusty boxes - the PlayStation 2. While the Xbox and GameCube quietly died away, publishers brought out their big guns for the PS2, releasing RPG classics, action favorites, and top-tier sequels by the truckload. As for the PC market... well, the Burning Crusade expansion for World of Warcraft got pushed into 2007, so I'd have to call it a down year of sorts. The Nintendo DS absolutely stole the handheld market this year, especially with the summer release of the beautifully redesigned DS Lite system. So long as Nintendo keeps pumping out the stellar Mario games (see list below), it seems unlikely that Sony will win this battle. Though the PlayStation Portable had a solid year, software-wise, gamers just weren't buying it. Sony may need to rethink their marketing plans (or redesign the system) if they want to get their PSP into the hearts and minds of American gamers. Regardless of how powerful or unique your new console is, it remains largely useless without a steady flow of incredible gaming experiences. Though the first couple months of the year felt painfully slow (especially if you had an Xbox 360), March brought us a duo of RPG classics (Kingdom Hearts II and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion), and the months that followed failed to disappoint. With the re-launch of the Games section earlier this year, we now have the staff and resources to present the first annual Static Multimedia Top 10 Games of 2006 poll. We had our writers send in their ranked lists of their favorite games of 2006, and below is the final list. All of these titles appeared on several writers' lists, and come with our highest recommendations. I've had a great run as Games Editor in 2006, but will be handing my post over to Eric Martin as of January 1st. I have a lot of faith in him and the quality of his work, and I fully expect that our video game coverage will both increase and improve in 2007. As we expand both our writer base and our reach, we aim to become one of your most trusted resources for gaming opinions on the net. Andrew Hayward Games Editor 10. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Xbox 360/PC) 
As the superb new addition to the Elder Scrolls series, Oblivion was a raging success in 2006. Explore the vast realms and undertake any and all quests available; save the family cat, or steal the crown jewels. From the perilous Oblivion gates to derelict dungeons all across Tamriel, hundreds of NPC's await your assistance. The characters, after undergoing a lengthy and detailed creation process, are then free to explore the enormous world and make a name for themselves. Will you be the notorious thief, blood thirsty assassin, or paragon of all that is good, striving to restore the king to his throne? Your decisions will shape your destiny. (Cortney Knox)
9. Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (PlayStation 2) 
This is a game that exemplifies graphic excellence. Among the many visual features are proportioned sprites with sharp designs and humongous weapons, layer-cake playing fields and crisp hand-drawn images for the dialogue segments. It's as much fun to watch as it is to play. Merging allows for unique levels of character customization based on player preferences. Level up the abilities that you want and make sure to merge your characters with classes that contain abilities that compliment your current ones. In addition, large amounts of items means large amount of dungeons (which means tons of variety). Playing through Disgaea 2 is kind of like discovering a surprise birthday party at every turn. An instant classic. (Eric Martin)
8. Final Fantasy XII (PlayStation 2) 
With a unique blend of classical and tactical RPG gaming elements, Square Enix reintroduces players to the world of Ivalice in Final Fantasy XII, the latest entry in the long-running series. Will you be able to fulfill your dream of a life as a sky pirate, or will you be swept away in the tides of a growing war? Will you be a warrior beyond measure, or a bearer of unimaginable magic powers? For the first time in Final Fantasy history, players can create completely customizable characters utilizing the new License Board system. Combined with a witty cast of characters, an in-depth story line, rich graphics, and breathtaking music, Final Fantasy XII creates a tantalizing masterpiece for any gamer's collection. (Paul Hebert)
7. Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2) 
Leave it to Disney to either tell great stories or re-tell existing classics. Any way you slice it, Kingdom Hearts II features a comprehensive narrative that is full of intrigue. Square Enix didn't modify their controls too much from the previous title, which meant that players of the original would be familiar with the feel already, allowing them to jump into the action without hindrance. The Gummi Ship levels actually added a degree of difficulty to the game and urged players to modify their craft. Even though the ending left a bit to be desired, Kingdom Hearts II was absolutely rewarding to complete. (Eric Martin)
6. Guitar Hero II (PlayStation 2) 
If I had to think of one game that I could get anybody to play - regardless of whether they gamed or if I even knew them personally - it would have to be Guitar Hero II. While the guitar controller may represent a learning curve to some, once acquired it is almost impossible to put down. People who have no artistic ability whatsoever (but who simply love music) will be rocking out until their ears bleed. This game has the power to bring people together, develop new relationships, and lower grade point averages - all in one night. If you have any ounce of rock appreciation in you, you will play this game with the ones you love and give them the gift of rock. (Rusty Bailey)
5. Okami (PlayStation 2) 
Okami is a game that may not get the kind of mainstream love it deserves, but it is among the best available for the PlayStation 2. Some detractors consider it to be little more than a Zelda clone, but when is the last time that Link defeated an eight-headed dragon by getting it drunk on sake and slashing it back to hell with a paintbrush? That's what I thought. The Celestial Brush makes this more than your standard adventure, but it was the visual presentation that really had me hooked. Drawing inspiration from anime (rather than other games), Okami has some of the best art design I've seen in ages. Though Okami was not my favorite game of 2006, it may have been the best. (Andrew Hayward)
4. Gears of War (Xbox 360) 
Gears of War is not the first game to be called "the next Halo" (remember Brute Force?), but to date, it is clearly the only one to live up to the hype. Not only is it the most visually impressive game I've ever seen (an HDTV should be required to play), but the non-stop action makes this one of the most intense single-player experiences available on any system - ever. Ten hours seems like an entirely fair length for a game of this sort, but you won't agree when you see the credits roll... and it's five in the morning... and you decide to start it again on the "Insane" difficulty level. Gears may not have the epic multiplayer content of the Halo franchise, but considering just the single-player portion, it's not just "the next Halo" - it's actually better. (Andrew Hayward)
3. Dead Rising (Xbox 360) 
Welcome to the Willamette Mall. Our helpful attendants are ready to sever your every limb in an attempt to make your visit as short as possible. Capcom's latest endeavor into survival horror takes a Sam Raimi-like spin in the zombie free-for-all, Dead Rising. You control photojournalist Frank West as he spends a bloody 72 hours with the walking dead as he attempts to gain the ultimate prize... the Pulitzer! From jugs of orange juice to semi-automatic weapons, you will use anything (and everything) to mow the corpses out of your path to journalistic fame and fortune. And maybe you'll save a bystander in distress... if there's time. (Paul Hebert)
2. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS) 
Our writers (and gamers around the world) apparently love nostalgia. Though New Super Mario Bros. had just one-third of the first place votes that Twilight Princess received, it found its way onto nearly every list - and was just one point shy of a two-way tie for game of the year. New Super Mario Bros. wasn't really a surprise success story; after all, Nintendo's been selling Mario to us in one form or another for 25 years. But it had been more than a decade since Nintendo gave it to us like this: an old-school, side-scrolling platformer that is nearly as great as the original Super Mario Bros. games. It put a big ol' smile on my face, and can likely do the same for you (if it hasn't already). (Andrew Hayward)
1. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GameCube) 
Link is back in his new (non cel-shaded) adventure and fans are ecstatic. Sure, you may have had to wait a year longer than expected, but who cares - Nintendo delivered and that's what matters. A near-direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess allows players to revisit that beloved land of old, Hyrule, in a much more expansive way than ever before. Epona, Link's trusty steed, is almost a requirement while traversing the broad field that we all know and love. Coupled with a dark (but delightful) story and a key new character, Midna, Twilight Princess is a beautiful tale that will live on in the hearts of Nintendo fans forever. (Rusty Bailey)
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