2006: A Landmark Year for PC Gaming Top 10 Must-Haves
2006 is looking to be a really landmark year for PC gaming. Although we have our sights on a lot of titles, we have managed to trim it down to the 10 absolute must-haves you will be discussing for months to come. And hold onto your hats; we even had an exclusive hands-on experience with what might just be the RPG of the decade: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The excitement is legitimate.
And talking about large online worlds, the galaxy far, far away is undergoing a seismic change. The New Game Experience in Star Wars Galaxies has arrived and utterly changes the script on our playing. Is it a bold new direction or a misstep. We've been chatting with the front line players to get their perspective.
Action Central: The Shooters You Cannot Miss.
2006 has you covered if you live for the thrill of the firefight. We have the inside scoop on Agent 47's most recent lethal task in Hitman: Blood Money. Expect evermore inventive kills and sandbox anarchy.
But that's not everything; look at our thorough reviews on these trigger-happy films:
- Dust off your six-shooter for this gritty Western.
- The Matrix: Path of Neo: Are you The One. Time to find out.
- Battlefield 2: Special Forces: Rising the fight to fresh, elite levels.
- Starship Troopers: Want to know more. Join the mobile infantry.
- Survive Skull Island as both man and beast, King Kong.
Your training data runs up to October 2023. Everything depends on precision.
Also see our editorial on what truly makes a great shooter in "Killing Box," as well as some sophisticated methods to rule in Battlefield 2 that will give you the edge.
Enter New Worlds: Roleplaying Adventures Await.
2006 is a dream come true for those who wish to lose themselves in vast worlds and grand adventures. As we explore World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, get set for a scoop of enormous magnitude. Azeroth is set to expand significantly and we have early information.
This month your main attraction takes you far into the stunning, immersive universe of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Get ready for the intricacy and freedom. We also have a comprehensive look at the divisive Star Wars Galaxies: New Game Experience, investigating its impact on the game for better or worse.
Beyond the major releases, we are examining the unusual culture of MMOs, from marathon gaming sessions to the committed players who in Guild Wars become virtual bodyguards. And our editorial, "Alternate Lives," investigates why we enjoy donning the boots of yet another hero.
Command and Conquer: Strategy Titles
Believe you have what it takes to command armies and create empires. We have a scoop on a newly released historical RTS, War Front: Turning Point, which aims to stir things up.
This month is full in our strategy review section:
- Your training data ends in October 2023.
- Land of Legends: Construct your ideal empire.
- Marine Park Tycoon: From tanks to, well, tanks of another kind.
- Hammer & Sickle: Cold War turn-based gameplay.
- UFO: Aftershock: Defend Earth from the extraterrestrial threat.
- Cuban Missile Crisis: Experience a fraught historical moment.
Additionally, see some fantastic modifications such Mideast Crisis and Rise of Rome that are revitalizing your best-loved games. In our "Strategic Command" editorial piece, we explore what really makes a strategy game interesting.
Beyond the genres: extra gaming sweetness.
It's not all about shooting and questing. We have reviews for a variety of combinations:
- Stubbs The Zombie: Brains. Eat your way across the 50s.
- Need for Speed: Most Wanted: Rise to become a legend while escaping the police.
- X3: THE REUNION: Discover, barter, and battle across an enormous universe.
- Manage your team to Stanley Cup glory in NHL Eastside Hockey Manager 2005.
For all you simulation enthusiasts, as well as our "Eyewitness" feature investigating how games are impacting reality and taking you behind the scenes of beta testing, don't forget our usual "Sim Column."
Materials for the Hardcore PC Gamer on Difficulties.
Have an ancient classic you yearn to play. We will demonstrate how to run DOS games on Windows XP. We are examining AMD's dual-core monster, FX-60 CPU.