best of 2005

Resident Evil 4Nintendo GamecubeResident Evil 4 transcends the horror action genre with its cinematic approach. Considering your number-one kill tactic is a bullet to the brainpan, this game is not for the weak of heart. There are some human (not always zombie) targets, so it takes a little mental rewiring to get comfortable. The game […]

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006Sony PlayStation 2Wrestling fans are like the NDP: You have to throw them a bone every once a while to keep them pacified or they’ll take it to the streets. Finally, there’s a wrestling game that mimics the TV production values of the wrestling environment. The entrance, the lights, the glitz, […]

SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals Fireteam BravoSony PlayStation portableSOCOM is the first legit shooter for a handheld unit. The widescreen really helps, but it’s the approach to the shooter genre that clicks. The controls are 100 percent intuitive and despite a “lock-on” targeting feature, aiming and connecting are anything but a sure thing. In single-player mode, […]

Battlefield 2PCIn 2002, Battlefield 1942 became the paradigm for all action games, with its seemingly limitless detailed environments—whether running, driving or flying about. Set in the present day anda near future, Battlefield 2 has no storyline. Rather, players choose to fight as the European Union, China, a Middle East Coalition or the US, imposing will […]

Burnout RevengeMicrosoft XboxFinally, a game that rewards recklessness! If you have a penchant for destruction and don’t want a criminal record, Burnout Revenge is dynamite. The object of this super-fast, arcade-style racing game is to take out your opponents at any cost. Although purists of the racing genre will cringe at the gravity-defying physics of […]

Guitar HeroSony PlayStation 2Guitar Hero is a rhythm-based game like Dance Dance Revolution and Amplitude. The game comes with a half-scale guitar with five buttons on its neck, a whammy bar and “string” to pluck when prompted. The notes scrolling towards you correspond to the five buttons on the neck. Points are awarded for timing […]

Civilization IVPCCivilization is the flagship strategy game series and each new offering improves on its predecessor. World domination is at the game’s heart, but it’s the means, rather than the end, that matters. In Civilization IV you choose the time, the place and the culture you want to lead. If Napoleon is your guy, then […]

Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasSony PlayStation 2The latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto series outdoes its predecessors in every way. You can expect to get 30 to 40 hours of strong, character-based gang fighting with style to spare, fantastic dialogue and storylines. Spanning three west-coast cities, the maps are expansive and the soundtrack—just like […]

Legend of Zelda: The Minish CapGame Boy AdvanceThe bird’s-eye perspective characteristic to all Zelda GBA games is just right for the kind of dungeon scavenging and problem solving required for The Minish Cap. There are six dungeons to explore as well as a complex home base, so your progress is relatively easy to measure. Although […]

Ninja Gaiden BlackMicrosoft XboxWhether you’re a real ninja or not, you’ll agree that Ninja Gaiden Black is the best fighting game for any console. You’d be hard pressed to improve on the frantic action and precision required to succeed. For these reasons, NGB is also arguably the most difficult game to master. The controls are […]