| Xbox 360 was the number one smash hit for | | | | |
| Christmas gifts last year. The reasons are | | | | The war between the Galactic Empire and the |
| obvious: more visual effects, better console, | | | | Rebel Alliance has left the galaxy far, far |
| incredible action, and excellent game | | | | away a huge mess! But luckily with LEGOs, |
| choices. This year again teens will be | | | | rebuilding is easy! Play through the original |
| playing Xbox 360 games with their friends, | | | | trilogy, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, |
| comparing games at school, and buying, | | | | and Return of the Jedi, as all three movies |
| renting or swapping the new Xbox games out | | | | are re-created using LEGO bricks. You can |
| this year. Here are some of the top picks for | | | | play as one of 50 different characters and |
| Christmas 2006, and on into 2007, in a | | | | can even get out of vehicles and ride on |
| variety of categories, such as action | | | | various creatures. |
| adventure, first person shooter, sports, and | | | | |
| role-playing. You'll find something for | | | | Our recommendation: If you liked the first |
| everyone. | | | | Star Wars game, this one should definitely be |
| | | | on your list. If you've never played the |
| 1. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced | | | | first game, then this one must be on your |
| Warfighter | | | | list! So really, there isn't any reason not |
| | | | to own and play this game. |
| In 2013, the U.S. Army will implement its | | | | |
| Integrated Warfighter System. IWS combines | | | | 7. Madden NFL 07 |
| advanced weapon systems, satellite | | | | |
| communication devices, and enhanced | | | | With Madden NFL 07, innovative rushing |
| survivability features into a fully | | | | controls allow you to control the running |
| integrated warfare combat system. The face of | | | | game like never before, with all-new jukes, |
| war has changed in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon | | | | cutbacks, and the distinct running styles of |
| Advanced Warfighter. Enemy lines are blurred | | | | your favorite backs. For the first time, in a |
| and there is no clear opponent. New enemies | | | | football video game, you can step up as the |
| and threats require a new type of warfare and | | | | lead blocker to create a hole, and then take |
| a new kind of soldier. Enter the Ghosts. | | | | control of the tailback to smash through, |
| | | | jump over, or tear away from any would-be |
| Equipped with cutting edge weapons and | | | | tackler as you head for the end zone. |
| communications systems, you will find | | | | |
| yourself, one of the Ghosts, immersed in a | | | | One fan raved, "Overall it was exactly what i |
| detailed universe which is warfare in the | | | | was looking for, ... the new features are all |
| near future. One gamer exclaimed, "This game | | | | fun, and the individual camera view for every |
| is a pure showcase of next gen gaming. the | | | | position in superstar mode gave u a feeling |
| graphica are downright gorgeous and this | | | | of really playing as the character. This will |
| actually helps to immerse you into the story. | | | | be a great game to play alone or with a group |
| and the story is riveting enough to actually | | | | of friends." |
| make you care about mexico city... do your | | | | |
| self a favor and buy this game." | | | | 8. Dead Rising |
| | | | |
| 2. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | | | | Dead Rising follows the harrowing saga of |
| | | | Frank West, an overly zealous freelance |
| Like earlier games in the Elder Scrolls | | | | photojournalist on a hunt for the scoop of a |
| series, Oblivion is designed to present a | | | | lifetime. In pursuit of a clue, he makes his |
| living fantasy world that gamers experience | | | | way to a small suburban town only to find |
| on their own terms. The game is populated | | | | that it has been overrun by zombies. He |
| with over 1,000 NPCs, each leading a fully | | | | escapes to the local shopping mall, thinking |
| realized life, following regular schedules | | | | it will be a bastion of safety, but it turns |
| according to their individual wants, needs, | | | | out to be anything but. |
| and positions. Players are encouraged to | | | | |
| interact in the world as they choose, as | | | | In the intense struggle to survive the |
| noble heroes, greedy villains, or anything in | | | | endless stream of zombies, players have full |
| between. The game's main story and its | | | | reign of a realistic shopping center, |
| sidemissions provide plenty of fast-moving | | | | utilizing anything they find to fight off the |
| adventure. | | | | flesh-hungry mob. The variety of stores in |
| | | | the mall offers players an endless supply of |
| Advised one fan: "This Game Is Like Crack. | | | | resources including vehicles, makeshift |
| Massive enivornment; Beautiful graphics; | | | | weapons and more. Players encounter other |
| Great ambient music and sound; Totally | | | | survivors along the way, and by helping them, |
| engrossing gameplay. This game is | | | | acquire valuable clues as to what has |
| unbelieveable. If you like RPG's in the | | | | happened and how to survive. |
| SLIGHTEST, buy it." | | | | |
| | | | I couldn't say it better than this fan: |
| 3. Fight Night Round 3 | | | | "Thousands and thousands of zombies to kill |
| | | | in a myriad of ridiculous ways; tons of |
| Easily beating the competition, Fight Night | | | | things to see and try throughout the mall; |
| Round 3 brings the most intense boxing | | | | great sense of style; a plot that manages to |
| videogame experience ever to the virtual | | | | be intriguing without intruding too much on |
| boxing ring. Film-quality graphics establish | | | | the action; and fantastic sound effects." |
| Fight Night Round 3 as one of the best | | | | |
| looking and playing Xbox 360 sports games | | | | 9. Saints Row |
| ever produced. | | | | |
| | | | Welcome to Stilwater, an open-world city with |
| The graphics showcase devastating punch | | | | attitude, a city controlled by rival gangs, a |
| impacts unparalleled in any game or film. | | | | city you are about to take over in Saints |
| Outside of the ring, gamers can establish | | | | Row. As a low-level thug in the Third Street |
| intense rivalries through pre-fight events | | | | Saints, you'll do whatever it takes to get |
| and trash talk, putting more purpose and | | | | the money and build the respect and power you |
| passion behind their every hit. | | | | need to muscle your way to the top. Be |
| | | | careful, though. Your actions have |
| 4. Tomb Raider: Legend | | | | consequences within the game, and around |
| | | | every corner lurks a new threat. |
| In Tomb Raider: Legend, Lara Croft, | | | | |
| everyone's favorite dual pistol-wielding | | | | Numerous vehicles are available to "borrow," |
| adventurer, makes her way back to the lost | | | | pedestrians can be slugged or robbed at |
| ancient realms that guard Secrets of the | | | | gunpoint, and there are an assortment of |
| Past. You'll immerse yourself in a stunning | | | | missions to advance the game's primarily |
| environment of dangerous adventure and | | | | storyline. Some features include: fun, |
| exploration, as you travel through | | | | responsive driving controls; excellent |
| exquisitely detailed and perilous locales. | | | | on-foot shooting action; impressive |
| Lara has tons of great-looking moves and | | | | presentation, featuring amazing explosions |
| abilities; there are varied levels take you | | | | and great audio; and a well-written, |
| to exotic locations all over the world; | | | | well-acted story which will compel you to |
| excellent voice work and sound; great | | | | keep playing. |
| graphics with detailed, textured | | | | |
| environments. | | | | 10. Hitman: Blood Money |
| | | | |
| 5. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent | | | | On the run from rival assassins, Agent 47 |
| | | | hops a plane to take care of business |
| The bestselling Tom Clancy's "Splinter Cell" | | | | stateside in Hitman: Blood Money. Players |
| game takes on an entirely new direction. You | | | | will guide Agent 47 through a number of |
| play as a double agent for the first time | | | | locales, including New Orleans, Los Angeles, |
| ever in Splinter Cell Double Agent. You'll | | | | and Las Vegas as he performs hits. It's up to |
| take on the dual roles of covert operative | | | | the player to determine the manner in which a |
| and ruthlessterrorist, where your choices of | | | | hit is executed, but the "rookie training" |
| whom to betray and whom to protect actually | | | | mode can show amateur assassins how to help |
| affect the outcome of your game. | | | | targets have "accidents," by pushing the |
| | | | victim over a ledge or pinning him underneath |
| Experience the relentless tension and | | | | some heavy object. |
| gut-wrenching dilemmas of life as a double | | | | |
| agent. Lie. Kill. Sabotage. Betray. But above | | | | Money earned from completed jobs varies |
| all, save and protect the innocent. How far | | | | depending on the cleanliness and |
| will you go to gain the enemy's trust? As | | | | professionalism of the hit. Agent 47's |
| covert operative Sam Fisher, you'll | | | | paycheck can be spent in a number of ways |
| infiltrate a vicious terrorist group and seek | | | | including bribing reporters, customizing |
| to destroy it from within. Carefully weigh | | | | weapons with one of 15 upgrades, or paying |
| the consequences of your actions-kill too | | | | pedestrians for information. Open-ended |
| many terrorists and blow your cover. Hesitate | | | | stealth action gameplay lets you sneak |
| and millions will die. Do whatever it takes | | | | around, or run and gun; beautifully crafted |
| to complete your mission, but get out alive. | | | | mission set pieces seem appropriately big and |
| | | | complex; large variety of realistic weapons. |
| 6. LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy | | | | Great combination of action and strategy. |