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