Games of 2005 Preview

Although we think 2005 is going to be all about the 'mini-me' console revolution - the larger counterparts have little to fear. Remember the GameCube? You'd be forgiven for ignoring Nintendo's beleaguered platform, considering its disappointing performance during 2004. But all that is set to change as the GC plays host to a raft of classic Ninty characters in the first quarter of 2005.

The hotly anticipated The Legends of Zelda Four Swords Adventures - a multi-player RPG (with full GBA interconnectivity) make an appearance in January. Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, a platform game where players tap a (bundled) bongo drum controller in order to give Donkey King different moves is set for a late February release; alongside Mario Power Tennis - a sports title that takes the Mario universe to the Centre Court, also due before the Easter Bunny starts dishing out eggs.

Star Wars fans should also rejoice. Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is set to touch down on Xbox and PC, swiftly followed by Republic Commando (for the same platforms). Meanwhile Lego Star Wars will be gracing both PS2 and GBA in addition to PC and Xbox. KOTOR II promises to be every bit as good as the groundbreaking original RPG while Republic Commando is shaping up into a cracking squad based first person shooter. After having a brief hands-on Lego Star Wars plays surprisingly well, doing exactly what it says on the tin; Star Wars in the Lego Universe.

But if sci-fi leaves you colder than an Ewok on the snowy plains of Hoth then perhaps a little conventional military action is more your style. Step up Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Solid Snake looks set to finally make his return and this time it's back to basics - survival, hunting and hiding in a dense Soviet controlled jungle. Climb trees, construct traps to lure animals for food and hunt down enemies in what looks to be one of the PS2 classics of '05.

Sam Fisher is hot on the trail of slithery Snake as he sneaks in to make his return in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. Offering both co-operative and versus multiplayer modes, more fancy gadgets than Q's workshop and the kind of unique graphical style that made the franchise so popular in the first place - we're sure to be spending much of '05 doing dodgy things in shadows.

Although if it's in your face gung-ho action that you're after then SCi's forthcoming Conflict: Global Terror should keep your trigger finger nice and loose. The next instalment in the Conflict series (which has previously involved Vietnam and the Middle East) has you and your elite Delta Force squad travelling across the globe in a tactical squad-based shooter style.

But we can't look at a year's worth of games without giving a nod to FIFA Street, a title that might just add something different to the football genre. Forget the typical 22 men, cheering stadium and blind referee. This game looks more like a Nike advert, with 4 on 4 games consisting of the world's top players showing off their skills. You can even get involved in one on ones, where you need to pull specific moves in order to beat your opponent. Yes we know it doesn't sound like the beautiful game we all know and love - but that's the point.

So with a raft of new GameCube titles hosting some of the company's biggest names, a plethora of new Star Wars games to coincide with the final film, high-class stealth action and EA's new direction with football, what else could we ask for? Ah yes, the PSP and Nintendo DS. January blues? In the world of games it's rainbows and pots of gold.