ANGELINA’S MOST ANTICIPATED GAMES OF ‘06

Written by Angelina Sandoval

On the game front, 2005 seemed to have been quite a stellar year for video games and having braved through a few stinkers there were more memorable games that lit up our favorite console or handheld. With games like God of War, Shadow of the Colossus, Half-Life 2 and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, gamers certainly have their hands full. Nevertheless, the ever-watchful eye of this game girl has her sights set on 2006 and there are games that already have me drooling (which is the reason I walk around with a bib around my neck). Can you blame me, though? With 2005 being the year Microsoft released the Xbox 360 and Sony’s (cross your fingers) plan to unleash the PlayStation 3 in 2006, there’s a lot to look forward to this year.

There are certainly a number of games across the platforms that this girl has her sights set on and so I thought I would share a few of the games that have me eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Xbox

Last year seems to be the year that we finally were able to play games we’ve all been waiting for since they were announced on the Xbox a long while back (games like Doom 3 and Half-Life 2). This year we see a return of some favorites like Hitman: Blood Money, Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent. Yet it’s some original titles that have this game girl’s interest and there are some interesting games heading our way. There’s Bully, a Rockstar game that’s already sparking some controversy and the zombie killing game Bad Day L.A. from game designer American McGee (of Alice fame).

ANGELINA’S MOST ANTICIPATED XBOX GAME: BLACK - There are first-person shooters aplenty but BLACK is already looking like a gorgeous shooter with plenty of guns and bullets and all the things we love in a good first-person shooter.
 

Xbox 360

And so begins the chronicles of the Xbox 360, the next-generation console that is, as Al Pacino in “Scent of a Woman” says, is just getting warmed up. While we got a good taste of the gaming goodness this console is capable of bringing gamers, the upcoming games just look good enough to drool over. Among the games this gamer is looking forward to is World War II third-person shooter The Outfit (a game complete with destructible environments). There’s Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter and, for boxing fans, EA Sports Fight Night: Round 3. Now top that off with the GTA-like Saint’s Row, the demolition-styled racing of Full Auto and the next chapter in the Brothers in Arms saga, we can expect great games for owners of the 360.

ANGELINA’S MOST ANTICIPATED XBOX 360 GAME: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Not only does this game look amazing on the 360 but it also promises to be one of those unforgettable role-playing games with a lot to see, do and explore. As a fan of Morrowind, this one looks to already have all the goods that will surely top that Xbox favorite.
 

PS2

It seems that 2006 is going to be an interesting year for fans of the role-playing game genre on the PS2 and you can bet this gamer is happily anticipating this year’s lineup of titles. First, there’s SquareEnix’s Kingdom Hearts II, the sequel to Final Fantasy-meets-Disney RPG. Then add Grandia III, Konami’s Suikoden V and the strange yet interesting Shadow Hearts: From the New World, and the PS2 seems to have RPG fans covered.  On the action front, we can even look forward to Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (even though the series creator said that Onimusha 3 was the last game in the series).

ANGELINA’S MOST ANTICIPATED PS2 GAME: Final Fantasy XII - The demo that accompanied Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King was but a mere taste of what we can expect from a game that is surely destined to become a true epic. With interesting characters and better battles, this one has all the makings of an instant classic.

PSP

Sony’s handheld has come out swinging since it was finally released and 2005 ended with a number of memorable games as well as those real Must-Have gems (Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, anyone?). This year, however, seems to be the year that game designers will push the very limits of the PSP so we can expect great things to happen to our favorite portable gaming machine. There’s the sequel to Metal Gear Ac!d, Me and My Katamari as well as MLB 06: The Show  for all us baseball fans. Fans of RPGs aren’t left behind either because there’s Ys: The Ark of Napishtim. There’s also Daxter, a game that features Jax furry companion, as well as Mortal Kombat: Deception Unchained for all you fight fans. 

ANGELINA’S MOST ANTICIPATED PSP GAME: Gran Turismo 4 Mobile - Unfortunately, this one didn’t make it as a launch title for the PSP but word on the racetrack is that racing fans will get a chance to play a portable version of one of the best racing games ever to grace the PS2. As a fan of racing games and fast and gorgeous cars, this is a game that I cannot wait to pop into my PSP.

NINTENDO DS

The Nintendo DS had a couple of winners in the last few months of 2005 that gave us hope that the DS is capable of giving us some unique handheld games. This is the year, though, that will make Nintendo DS owners truly happy that they own the touch-tastic portable gaming machine. Having tempted us with a demo, Nintendo does plan to release Metriod Prime: Hunters. We can also look forward to Xenosaga I and II, as well as a sequel to the wonderfully original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

ANGELINA’S MOST ANTICIPATED DS GAME: Resident Evil: Deadly Silence - Fans of the survival-horror genre will have a lot to cheer about when Resident Evil: Deadly Silence is released. As a big fan of the series, it’s great to see a Resident Evil game go portable and even more so if its on the Nintendo DS. Promising to deliver a portable version of the original RE, it’s great to see Chris Redfield and Jill “the master of unlocking” Valentine on the DS.

THE PS3 COMETH 

Not only are there plenty of great-looking games to look forward to but there’s also a new console that, hopefully, will make its debut sometime this year. Yes, the Xbox 360 has given gamers a taste of what a new generation console can do but Sony has big plans for the future of all things PlayStation. There are already many plans for PS3-only games such as a new KillZone, Tekken and The Getaway. While not confirmed for 2006, we’re crossing our fingers that Devil May Cry 4, Resident Evil 5 and Unreal Tournament 2006 will be among the launch titles this year. 

ANGELINA’S MOST ANTICIPATED PS3 GAME: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - We’ve seen the Metal Gear Solid franchise go from the original PlayStation to the PS2 but, judging by the screenshots, Hideo Kojima’s new offering looks to be yet another interesting chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga. With what looks like an aged Solid Snake, this one has already captured this fan’s attention.

So there you have it, folks, just a small taste of the games we can expect in 2006 and the titles this game reviewer is looking forward to in the coming months. Whether you own an Xbox or a PSP, there’s something for everyone and you can count on GameZone Online to keep you more than well informed on all the games you’re anxiously waiting.

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