Well, in just about two weeks, the year 2007 will be upon us, with a massive list of killer-app titles for all three next-gen consoles, the two competing portables, and yes, even the PS2.
However, as we begin to say goodbye to this year, it is good to look back on all the great games that we've recieved this past year.
Thus, without further adieu:
Xanog's Console Game of The Year Awards 2006
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Best Action/Adventure Game:
Okami (Playstation 2) & The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
This year has brought us many great Action/Adventure games, but only two truley stands out from the pack, and those are Okami and Twilight Princess.
Employing one of the most unique concepts this year, solid gameplay, a lengthy campaign, plenty of puzzles, a creative graphical look, and a good sense of humor, Okami is a perfect example of how a game can be both solid and unique, and is definetly recommended for anyone that wants something new.
The Legend of Zelda franchise has always been one of the best in gaming, and Twilight Princess is (unsurprisingly) one of the best games of the year. With all the things you'd expect of a Zelda game, plus some you didn't, and one of the best uses of the Wii's controls, Twilight Princess is a must own title for all Action/Adventure fans.
Runner up: Bully (PS2)
Best Role-Playing Game:
Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
The Final Fantasy series has always been one of the highest in quality, as far as RPGs go, with great stories, gameplay, length, etc. Final Fantasy XII brings the series back for its final iteration for the current-generation, this time with completely new (yet still solid) gameplay, a brilliant story, and extreme length. Once again, the series lives up to its namesake.
Runner up: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, Xbox 360)
First-Person Shooter:
Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)
Ratchet & Clank creator Insomniac is known for its extremely diverse aresenals of weapons, and Insomniac's latest game, Resistance, combines innovative aresenals with top-calibur FPS gameplay, delivering one of the best, and most innovative FPS in years.
Runner Up: Battlefield 2142 (PC)
Third-Person Shooter:
Gears of War (Xbox 360)
After one year out on the market, the 360's killer-app title has finally arrived. As the first game to use the Unreal Engine 3.0, Gears is both one of the most visually impressive games on the market, and one of the best performing. The gameplay is also holds up well too, with smart AI, a great cover system, and some of the coolest chainsawing sequences ever. Multiplayer is great too.
Runner Up: Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (PS2)
Fighting:
Tekken: Dark Resurrection (PSP)
The Tekken series has been one of the best fighting series ever since the release of the original game in the series. Dark Resurrection finally brings the series portable in true form, and delivers everything that fans of the series and fighting games in general would enjoy. With a gigantic roster of characters, multiple modes of play, sweet visuals, and great gameplay, Dark Resurrection is a solid game.
Runner Up: Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max (PSP)
Other:
Rayman: Raving Rabbids (Wii) & Guitar Hero II (PS2)
Rayman returns, this time, not as a platformer, but as a brilliant collection of mini-games designed specifically for use with the Wii-mote and nunchuck attachment. With great mini-game concepts, excellent use of controls in many different ways, a good deal of character customisation, and a great sense of humor, Rayman: Raving Rabbids is a great game to show off your Nintendo Wii.
Last year, Harmonix and Red Octane released Guitar Hero which took the gaming community by storm. It offered up some of the best rhythmic gameplay in years, along with one of the best liscenced-soundtracks ever. This year, they did it again with Guitar Hero II which takes the original game, further improves it, and adds yet another awesome liscenced-soundtrack. High replayability and great multiplayer.
Runner Up: Wii Sports
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Playstation Portable GoTY:
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Metal Gear Solid finally goes portable! After almost two years of waiting Playstation Portable owners finally have a true version of one of gaming's greatest series. Borrowing heavily from this year's earlier release of MGS3: Subsistence, improving on that formula, introducing a whole new squad-based form of gameplay, a great story that continues the story of Big Boss, and bringing some of the best visuals ever to grace something on the small screen, Portable Ops is a MUST OWN for pretty much anyone who owns a PSP or enjoys the Metal Gear Solid series.
Runner Ups: Killzone: Liberation, Tekken: Dark Resurrection
Nintendo DS GoTY:
New Super Mario Bros.
NSMB takes a tried and true formula of a 2D side-scroller, and mixes it with 3D graphics, and some crazy new abilities to make an experience that is overall, very enjoyable for all ages.
Runner Ups: Final Fantasy III, Yoshi's Island DS
Playstation 2 GoTY:
Final Fantasy XII
The Final Fantasy series has always been one of the highest in quality, as far as RPGs go, with great stories, gameplay, length, etc. Final Fantasy XII brings the series back for its final iteration for the current-generation, this time with completely new (yet still solid) gameplay, a brilliant story, and extreme length. Once again, the series lives up to its namesake.
Runner Ups: Okami, Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Guitar Hero II
Playstation 3 GoTY:
Resistance: Fall of Man
Ratchet & Clank creator Insomniac is known for its extremely diverse aresenals of weapons, and Insomniac's latest game, Resistance, combines innovative aresenals with top-calibur FPS gameplay, delivering one of the best, and most innovative FPS in years.
Runner Ups: Fight Night Round 3, Call of Duty 3
Xbox 360 GoTY:
Gears of War
After one year out on the market, the 360's killer-app title has finally arrived. As the first game to use the Unreal Engine 3.0, Gears is both one of the most visually impressive games on the market, and one of the best performing. The gameplay is also holds up well too, with smart AI, a great cover system, and some of the coolest chainsawing sequences ever. Multiplayer is great too.
Runner Ups: Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Nintendo Wii GoTY:
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda franchise has always been one of the best in gaming, and Twilight Princess is (unsurprisingly) one of the best games of the year. With all the things you'd expect of a Zelda game, plus some you didn't, and one of the best uses of the Wii's controls, Twilight Princess is a must own title for all Action/Adventure fans.
Runner Ups: Rayman: Raving Rabbids, Wii Sports
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Now, after reading all that, you are probably very eager to learn what my choice for Game of The Year 2006 is, however, let's look back at some games that didn't make it into my lineup:
Just kidding!
Xanog's Game of The Year 2006:
Final Fantasy XII
Honestly, there are very few faults in Final Fantasy XII. It, like almost all of the games in the series, is of the highest-calibur of gaming excellence, blending gameplay, graphics, ease of controls, length, story, customisation, great musical score, and pretty much everything else that could possibly make a game great.
Runner Up:
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
For my choice for Game of The Year, it was a very tight race between FFXII and Twilight Princess. Both are from some of the greatest, and longest lasting series in gaming, and both deliver what their names would make one hope for. The only reason why Final Fantasy XII ended up beating Twilight Princess was due to its better story (although I cannot really fault this game for its story).
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I thank you for taking the time to read my choices for GoTY 2006, and look forward to th upcoming year, where I'm almost 100% certain that it will be even harder to choose which games deserve such a title.
Feel free to post any comments that you would like, below.