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The Best of 2006

1. <LI nd="3">Okami (Capcom, for the PS2) -- This utterly original adventure delivered a perfect blend of puzzles and action in a mesmerizing tale based on Japanese mythology. The gorgeous graphics, inspired by classic Japanese art, look like nothing else you've ever seen in a video game. <LI nd="4">The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks, for the Xbox 360) -- Two hundred hours in and I still feel like I haven't scratched the surface of this wide-ranging medieval role-playing adventure. With a compelling main story and hundreds of side missions, it's the first must-have game of the 360 era. <LI nd="5">The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo, for the Wii, GameCube) -- This Zelda is a satisfying combination of the familiar (clever weapons, diabolical dungeons) and the new (Link is now a werewolf!). We always anticipate great things from Zelda, but Twilight Princess delivers well beyond expectations. <LI nd="6">Gears of War (Microsoft, for the Xbox 360) -- The second must-have for the 360 is "Gears of War," a riotous shooter that pits a team of human grunts against an insectoid army. It's gory, scary and thrilling, especially if you enjoy slicing up aliens with a chain saw. <LI nd="7">Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Namco, for the PS2) -- The finale of the ambitious (some say pretentious) Xenosaga trilogy tackles religion, philosophy, metaphysics and more topics you wouldn't expect a game to address. It's really fun if you don't mind having your mind blown. <LI nd="8">Wii Sports (Nintendo, for the Wii) -- Nintendo's new Wii console has received a lot of attention from people who don't normally play games. "Wii Sports," which is packed with the system, is an effective demonstration of its motion-sensing remote, and I have yet to meet anyone who can resist playing once they see it in action. <LI nd="9">New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo, for the DS) -- The lovable plumber returns to his 2-D roots in this side-scrolling running and jumping adventure. A blast for those of us who loved the original "Super Mario Brothers," and a real challenge for just about any player, with dozens of levels and tons of secrets. <LI nd="10">Final Fantasy XII (Square Enix, for the PS2): I'm not completely sold on the new real-time battle system introduced in this installment, but it delivers everything -- grandiose story, lavish graphics and generous gameplay -- you expect from a Final Fantasy epic. <LI nd="11">LocoRoco (Sony, for the PlayStation Portable) -- Jellylike blobs ooze their way across colorful landscapes, splitting and recombining to get past obstacles. With its vibrant look and catchy soundtrack, it's the year's most endearing puzzle game.
2. Resistance: Fall of Man (Sony, for the PS3) -- Ratchet & Clank creators Insomniac Games juice up the Second World War shooter with alien invaders and flamboyant weapons. The best of the PS3 launch titles.

The Worst of 2006

1. <LI nd="13">25 to Life (Eidos, for the Xbox, PS2) -- The only way an urban gangsta can escape to a better life is by killing hundreds of cops. The goriest, most reprehensible of the street crime sagas trying to rip off "Grand Theft Auto." <LI nd="14">Torino 2006 (2K Sports, for the Xbox, PS2) -- Fifteen winter games, all made crushingly dull by this half-hearted attempt to cash in on Olympic fever. Designers, you have three years to create a decent curling simulation before the Vancouver games. <LI nd="15">Jaws Unleashed (Majesco, for the Xbox, PS2) -- Glitchy graphics, unnecessarily complicated controls and stupid missions take all the fun out of swimming around and chomping on innocent humans. <LI nd="16">Bomberman Act: Zero (Konami, for the Xbox 360) -- That misplaced colon in the title was indicative of this slipshod production, which turned a colorful, lively party game into a morbid, unplayable mess.
2. Superman Returns (Electronic Arts, for the Xbox 360, Xbox, PS2) -- The 1999 "Superman 64" is often called the worst video game ever. "Superman Returns" is a little -- just a little -- better.

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