Games of 2006 - Preview

There's a whole lot riding on Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. With the title being one of the Xbox 360's first big name forays into next generation gaming, it had better be good. Really, really good. Fortunately, considering the pedigree and the potential that the new platform can bring, it should be. Oblivion is the latest chapter in the epic and highly successful Elder Scrolls saga, a series known for its unique take on freeform gameplay that allows you to unravel the main quest at your own pace or explore the vast world and find your own challenges. The plot in the offing involves the mysterious and untimely death of an Emperor that leaves a throne empty and an Empire in disarray. As a natural consequence of these things, the gates of Oblivion are thrown open and out march legions of demons taking advantage of nobody sitting in Matron's chair. To turn the tide of all this wrongdoing, our hero has to find the lost heir to the throne and fathom the conspiracy that allowed the freak-show events to happen in the first place. But the story doesn't matter too much when the gameworld is so expansive and so inviting that you can pretty much do what you want. It's going to be huge in every way.

Black & White Creatures
PSP & Nintendo DS

Black & White Creatures could well be the premier good vs. evil strategy game for the new generation of handhelds. In-game advisors will help you train and nurture your own god-like creature to be the ultimate good or the ultimate evil. With 10 different creatures to mold, and eight different islands to call home, you decide whether the villagers you watch over should love or fear your presence. There's numerous game play modes: Single Player, Creature Quest, and a Creature Dance mini-game where you can teach your creature to bust some moves. There also specific DS touch screen features including custom tattoo design and 'God's Hand' stylus control to punish or reward your creature via specific stylus movements. And all this is in the palm of your hand - you'll never have another boring journey again!

Gears of War
Xbox 360

Tactical action meets survival horror - and served on a next-gen console, that's one tasty dish we just can't resist! Gamers control Marcus Fenix and his fire team as they pit advanced human technology against the overwhelming and horrific Locust Horde in this third-person tactical shooter. An interesting twist is the AI boast. The game is designed to be played entirely co-operatively, with either humans or CPU controlled team mates that will even respond to voice recognition. Coming from Epic, the development team behind the Unreal series there's little wonder that there's an Unreal Engine 3 sitting underneath the game - promising the kind of visual polish, attention to detail and awesome processing speed that gamers will be demanding from the Xbox 360.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
GameCube

Zelda and Nintendo are like salt and pepper, one without the other just isn't right. The forthcoming instalment, Twilight Princess, has been a long time coming - it was initially due before Christmas. But good things come to those that wait and there's every reason to think that this latest offering will be hitting all the right notes. Link, a young man raised as a wrangler in a small, rural village, is ordered by the mayor to attend the Hyrule Summit. He sets off, oblivious to the dark fate that has descended upon the kingdom. When he enters the Twilight Realm that has covered Hyrule, he transforms into a wolf and is captured. A mysterious figure named Midna helps him break free, and with the aid of her magic, they set off to free the land from the shadows. Link must explore the vast land of Hyrule and uncover the mystery behind its plunge into darkness. As he does, he'll have to enlist the aid of friendly folk, solve puzzles and battle his way through dangerous dungeons. In the Twilight Realm, he'll have to use his wolf abilities and Midna's magic to bring light to the land. Besides his trusty sword and shield, our hero will use his bow and arrows, fight while on horseback and use a wealth of other items. By all accounts it sounds like the most expansive, action packed Zelda title to date - we can't wait until Easter to get our hands on a copy!