First-Person Games

World War II Combat: Iwo Jima

World War II Combat: Iwo Jima

Platform: PC
July 25, 2006
Relive the storied Marine assault that landed foreign troops on Japanese soil for the first time in 5000 years. Scenarios and missions are drawn from actual events. 10 levels of single player campaigns that are full of ambient events such as mortar explosions, overhead aircraft and warning sirens that create a truly immersive experience. Use authentic WWII weaponry including KA-BAR Fighting Utility Knife, M1911 .45 Colt, M1 Garand, M1903A4 Springfield, Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), M1 Thompson Submachine gun ("Tommy" Gun), Mk2 Pineapple Grenade and the M2-2 Flamethrower. Multiplayer Action with up to 16 players on Xbox Live, system link or Internet (PC), and 4 player split screen. 10 Expansive Multiplayer Maps. 6 Game types including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, King of the Hill, Capture the Flag, VIP Escort, & Last Man Standing. Fully featured bots with adjustable difficulty levels for online, multiplayer and training modes. [Groove Games]
Metascore:
26
User Score:
3.4
Warpath

Warpath

Platform: Xbox
July 24, 2006
Three distinct races have converged in a virtual Eden, in the outermost reaches of the galaxy, each with a unique reason for settling this new world. Conflict is inevitable, victory is not. WarPath is a fast-paced FPS game featuring a unique single player mode that allows gamers to battle for control of different territories, with each providing distinct strategic advantages. Once players have honed their skills in the single player missions, they can jump online and let the real action begin. 3 different races to choose from, each with their own unique weapon load-out and appearance. 4 land-based vehicles. 8 weapons, the Wolverine, Tyrant, Long Bow, Judge, Vanguard, Vibro Blade, and EMAC, allowing for a highly diversified range of play styles. Upgradeable weapons that unlock more functionality and greater destructive force with each new level. UNREAL engine and Karma physics technology providing stunning visuals and effects. In single player practice mode, gamers can go up against 32 bots for an adrenaline-filled multiplayer simulation. 4 Modes of high-speed, intensely addictive multiplayer action - Death Match, Team Death Match, Capture the Flag, and Frontline Assault. 25 Multiplayer levels that take players across the diverse indoor and outdoor environments of Kaladi. Support for 2-16 players via LAN or Online, allowing battles to be intimate grudge matches, or all out clan carnage. Access to all the weapons and upgrades that players unlocked and mastered in the single player campaign.
Metascore:
53
User Score:
tbd
Painkiller: Hell Wars

Painkiller: Hell Wars

Platform: Xbox
July 24, 2006
You play as Daniel Garner, a seemingly regular guy who as just been killed in a horrific car accident. Trapped in a dark and unwelcoming world between heaven and hell, you struggling to uncover the reasons why you've been denied entry into heaven. Awaiting your purification, you must fight through a seemingly endless number of demon soldiers as you to attempt to stop an imminent unholy war.
Metascore:
68
User Score:
7.7
World War II Combat: Iwo Jima

World War II Combat: Iwo Jima

Platform: Xbox
July 21, 2006
WWII Combat: Iwo Jima lets you relive the storied assault that marked a massive historical event -- the Iwo Jima landing. Welcome to the fight soldier! You face 8 square miles of rugged volcanic island broken by the weapons of war and occupied by hostile Japanese forces. It's Hell on Earth but it's vital to American forces as a staging point. Your mission is to seize this island from a heavily entrenched enemy.
Metascore:
25
User Score:
4.9
Warpath (2006)

Warpath (2006)

Platform: PC
July 18, 2006
Three distinct races have converged in a virtual Eden, in the outermost reaches of the galaxy, each with a unique reason for settling this new world. Conflict is inevitable, victory is not. WarPath is a fast-paced FPS game featuring a unique single player mode that allows gamers to battle for control of different territories, with each providing distinct strategic advantages. Once players have honed their skills in the single player missions, they can jump online and let the real action begin. 3 different races to choose from, each with their own unique weapon load-out and appearance. 4 land-based vehicles. 8 weapons, the Wolverine, Tyrant, Long Bow, Judge, Vanguard, Vibro Blade, and EMAC, allowing for a highly diversified range of play styles. Upgradeable weapons that unlock more functionality and greater destructive force with each new level. UNREAL engine and Karma physics technology providing stunning visuals and effects. In single player practice mode, gamers can go up against 32 bots for an adrenaline-filled multiplayer simulation. 4 Modes of high-speed, intensely addictive multiplayer action – Death Match, Team Death Match, Capture the Flag, and Frontline Assault. 25 Multiplayer levels that take players across the diverse indoor and outdoor environments of Kaladi. Support for 2-16 players via LAN or Online, allowing battles to be intimate grudge matches, or all out clan carnage. Access to all the weapons and upgrades that players unlocked and mastered in the single player campaign. [Groove Games]
Metascore:
57
User Score:
6.3
Prey

Prey

Platform: Xbox 360
July 11, 2006
Prey tells the story of Tommy, a Cherokee garage mechanic stuck on a reservation going nowhere. Abducted along with his people to a menacing mothership orbiting Earth, he sets out to save himself and his girlfriend and eventually his planet. [2K Games]
Metascore:
79
User Score:
7.4
The Ship

The Ship

Platform: PC
July 11, 2006
The Ship is primarily a multiplayer, online murder game with a unique set of game rules. The Ship is owned by the mysterious Mr X and as one of many "lucky" recipients of a free ticket you arrive on board The Ship to find there's a catch to your luxury cruise. You are coerced into a brutal Hunt to indulge Mr. X's fantasies, under threat of death for not only yourself, but also your family. Your only chance to save yourself and your family is to play the Hunt and win. [Outerlight]
Metascore:
76
User Score:
7.1
Prey (2006)

Prey (2006)

Platform: PC
July 11, 2006
Prey tells the story of Tommy, a Cherokee garage mechanic stuck on a reservation going nowhere. His life changes when an otherworldly crisis forces him to awaken spiritual powers from his long-forgotten birthright. Abducted along with his people to a menacing mothership orbiting Earth, he sets out to save himself and his girlfriend and eventually his planet. Prey is serious, dark story, based on authentic Cherokee mythology. Themes of sacrifice, love and responsibility are explored and the story dives into emotional territory not yet explored by similar games.
Metascore:
83
User Score:
7.8
Terrawars: New York Invasion

Terrawars: New York Invasion

Platform: PC
July 6, 2006
Without warning, the world is overrun by an alien invasion. The Earth is in chaos. You are John Armstrong, a medical student drafted in to the National Guard. On a critical mission that may help turn the tide, your team is wiped out. Now success depends on you. Will you rise up to the challenge? [Tri Synergy]
Metascore:
24
User Score:
2.2
Urban Chaos: Riot Response

Urban Chaos: Riot Response

Platform: Xbox
June 13, 2006
Play as Nick Mason, an ex-US marine and part of T-Zero, the elite counter-gang unit. Specially trained in all areas of urban combat and armed with the very latest high-tech weaponry, T-Zero is all that stands in the way of total anarchy.
Metascore:
72
User Score:
8.4
Urban Chaos: Riot Response

Urban Chaos: Riot Response

Platform: PlayStation 2
June 13, 2006
Set in the not too distant future, Urban Chaos: Riot Response follows a year in the life of Nick Mason, returning from military service to find his home city ravaged by gang warfare. He is quickly enlisted into the ranks of the newly formed G18 Counter Gang Division; an elite enforcement unit granted special emergency powers over all other public services and tasked with securing the city and its citizens at any cost. With direct control over Paramedics, Police and the Fire Department, you must work together to save lives, property and your city. An innovative, voice activated control system issues orders to offer protection and tactical guidance in the fight for survival. [SCi Games]
Metascore:
73
User Score:
8.3
Half-Life 2: Episode One

Half-Life 2: Episode One

Platform: PC
June 1, 2006
Half-Life 2: Episode One is an all-new episode created by Valve that extends the Half-Life 2 single player adventure. The player reprises his role of Dr. Gordon Freeman, who must immediately face the repercussions of his actions in City 17 and the Citadel. Freeman reconnects with Alyx Vance and her robot, Dog, as they continue their support of the resistance's battle against the Combine forces. [Valve]
Metascore:
87
User Score:
8.7
SiN Episodes: Emergence

SiN Episodes: Emergence

Platform: PC
May 9, 2006
SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world’s most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe. SiN Episodes expands on the role of Colonel John R. Blade, a battle worn hero in charge of HardCorps, an elite strike force with a long history of conflict with SinTEK, a powerful multibillion dollar empire headed up by Elexis Sinclaire, a beautiful, brilliant, and ruthless scientist who is out to remake humanity according to her own twisted vision. Joining Blade on his mission are JC, a HardCorps hacker with a secret to keep, and Jessica Cannon, a fiery rookie who can find her way into any secure facility. SiN Episodes: Emergence features never before seen weapons, characters and environments along with a host of interactive options, paying homage to its predecessors, SiN and its expansion pack, Wages of SiN, which set a new bar for interactivity. [Ritual Entertainment]
Metascore:
75
User Score:
8.1
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Platform: PC
May 3, 2006
In 2013, the U.S. Army will implement the Integrated Warfighter System (IWS), evolving what we know as the modern soldier. IWS combines advanced weapon systems, satellite communication devices and enhanced survivability into one fully integrated combat system. The IWS program has been developed to meet these new threats head on. Now, it can be tested on the battlefield. Following an insurgence in the heart of Mexico City, the U.S. Army's most elite Special Forces team is deployed to the center of the conflict to regain control of the city. Greatly outnumbered but fully equipped with the IWS, this elite team is the first and last line of defense on the battlefield. They are the "Quiet" professionals. They are the Ghosts. Gain access to the future of military technology. Using a fully integrated combat system with cutting-edge weapons and revolutionary communication systems, gamers embody the soldier of the future. Based on actual U.S. Army research, the Ghosts give gamers a realistic view of how war will be fought in the next decade. Use the revolutionary Cross-Com, a communication device powered by satellite technology. Attached to the soldier's monocle, the Cross-Com provides full situational awareness and command of the battlefield. Command the Ghost squad and remote allied forces and drones, and direct artillery and air strikes. See what the squad sees and receive visual and auditory intel from allied forces and unmanned drones. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
7.6
Wild Earth: Photo Safari

Wild Earth: Photo Safari

Platform: PC
May 2, 2006
(Also known as "Wild Earth Africa") Featuring breathtaking landscapes from the African Serengeti National Park, Wild Earth is an adventure which allows players to experience the African wildlife in its natural environment. Players embark on various assignments, each of which feature different photographic objectives, challenging the player to explore the lush 3D world and take the best photographs of animals and environmental features. At the end of each assignment, an html article is created using the player's own photographs which provides additional in-depth information and insight. These articles can be printed, saved or shared. [Digital Jesters]
Metascore:
72
User Score:
6.6
Classified: The Sentinel Crisis

Classified: The Sentinel Crisis

Platform: Xbox
April 14, 2006
Assume the role a Black Ops soldier recruited by the US military's experimental Sentinel program. Your only tools are the intelligent Sentinel combat suit and the multifunction OIWC assault rifle, a weapon of unparalleled versatility and power. The military scientist responsible for the Sentinel Technology is missing in the Balkans. You must join forces with the Rebels to expose the enemy and locate your quarry before the Sentinel Technology falls into hostile hands.
Metascore:
41
User Score:
tbd
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

Platform: Xbox 360
April 11, 2006
Warfare-wage all-out war with the most extensive range of vehicles and weaponry ever assembled. An all-new story-driven single-player mode drops players deep into an action-packed war obscured by government sponsored propaganda, forcing you to choose sides and decide the outcome. Engage in online multiplayer action for up to 24 players on more than a dozen maps. The revolutionary new HotSwap feature in single player mode gives you instant tactical control. Pull every trigger on the battlefield to lead your army to victory. Clan support, VOIP, and a deep stat-tracking system help round out one of the deepest online console shooters to date. Take control of more than 30 land, sea, and air vehicles, including tanks, helicopters, and amphibious craft, and master more than 50 state-of-the-art weapons. Put on the uniform of one of four armies, each with their own unique arsenals and soldier classes including Sniper, Special Ops, Combat Engineer, and more. Complete each unit's unique Battlefield Moment to earn Battlefield Points and unlock rewards, including upgrades and promotions. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
77
User Score:
7.2
Commandos Strike Force

Commandos Strike Force

Platform: PC
April 4, 2006
In the most fearsome war ever fought, emerged the most fearless soldiers – the Commandos. Have you got what it takes to join the original elite Special Force in the World War II shooter Commandos Strike Force? In a new direction for the multi-million selling series, Commandos Strike Force takes you right into the heart of the action from a first person perspective. Take control of the three members of the Strike Force unit, each with their own play style. Switch between the Green Beret, always at the heart of the action with his expertise in combat and the use of heavy weaponry; the Sniper with his nerves of steel and expert marksmanship; and the Spy, stealthily striking at the heart of the enemy. However, it is your choice how you execute plans of attack by using the Commandos' unique skills. Set in war torn Europe amid the backdrop of World War II, you must take your highly trained group on a series of daring missions, deep behind enemy lines in France, Norway and Russia. Taking control of a Nazi-occupied town, freeing French Resistance prisoners and kidnapping a general are a few of the large range of missions. As well as a compelling single player campaign, the game features a variety of online multiplayer modes. [Eidos Interactive]
Metascore:
62
User Score:
7.1
Commandos Strike Force

Commandos Strike Force

Platform: PlayStation 2
April 4, 2006
In the most fearsome war ever fought, emerged the most fearless soldiers – the Commandos. Have you got what it takes to join the original elite Special Force in the World War II shooter Commandos Strike Force? In a new direction for the multi-million selling series, Commandos Strike Force takes you right into the heart of the action from a first person perspective. Take control of the three members of the Strike Force unit, each with their own play style. Switch between the Green Beret, always at the heart of the action with his expertise in combat and the use of heavy weaponry; the Sniper with his nerves of steel and expert marksmanship; and the Spy, stealthily striking at the heart of the enemy. However, it is your choice how you execute plans of attack by using the Commandos' unique skills. Set in war torn Europe amid the backdrop of World War II, you must take your highly trained group on a series of daring missions, deep behind enemy lines in France, Norway and Russia. Taking control of a Nazi-occupied town, freeing French Resistance prisoners and kidnapping a general are a few of the large range of missions. As well as a compelling single player campaign, the game features a variety of online multiplayer modes. [Eidos Interactive]
Metascore:
58
User Score:
8.0
Commandos Strike Force

Commandos Strike Force

Platform: Xbox
April 4, 2006
See if you have what it takes to join an elite team of commandos. Commandos Strike Force is a new WWII shooter that puts you in control of the three members of the Strike Force unit. During the game, you play as a Green Beret (an expert in combat and the use of heavy weaponry), a sniper (an expert marksman), and a spy (an expert in stealthy attacks).
Metascore:
62
User Score:
8.0
UberSoldier

UberSoldier

Platform: PC
March 31, 2006
At the height of World War II, with the outcome still very much in doubt, secret Nazi experiments are searching for a way to bring life back to the dead. This experiment, led by a ruthless Nazi general, discovers that the shock people experience upon death endows their minds with powerful supernatural abilities. After countless attempts, they finally succeed at raising the first of a new breed of warrior - the UberSoldier. [CDV Software]
Metascore:
57
User Score:
6.0
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Platform: PlayStation 2
March 28, 2006
In 2013, the U.S. Army will implement the Integrated Warfighter System (IWS), evolving what we know as the modern soldier. IWS combines advanced weapon systems, satellite communication devices and enhanced survivability into one fully integrated combat system. The IWS program has been developed to meet these new threats head on. Now, it can be tested on the battlefield. Following an insurgence in the heart of Mexico City, the U.S. Army's most elite Special Forces team is deployed to the center of the conflict to regain control of the city. Greatly outnumbered but fully equipped with the IWS, this elite team is the first and last line of defense on the battlefield. They are the "Quiet" professionals. They are the Ghosts. Gain access to the future of military technology. Using a fully integrated combat system with cutting-edge weapons and revolutionary communication systems, gamers embody the soldier of the future. Based on actual U.S. Army research, the Ghosts give gamers a realistic view of how war will be fought in the next decade. Use the revolutionary Cross-Com, a communication device powered by satellite technology. Attached to the soldier's monocle, the Cross-Com provides full situational awareness and command of the battlefield. Command the Ghost squad and remote allied forces and drones, and direct artillery and air strikes. See what the squad sees and receive visual and auditory intel from allied forces and unmanned drones. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
44
User Score:
4.4
Far Cry Instincts Evolution

Far Cry Instincts Evolution

Platform: Xbox
March 28, 2006
Jack Carver thought he'd found paradise. But when a gorgeous woman draws him in on a dangerous heist, their sun drenched days take a chilling turn. Hunted for a murder he didn't commit, Jack must draw on his most savage instincts to make his predators his prey. The ultimate predator evolves: Become stronger, faster and more powerful than ever with new and enhanced feral abilities. Power new weapons and vehicles: Destroy enemies with poisonous darts, Molotov cocktails and explosive pipe bombs. Take control of powerful new vehicles like pirate sampan boats, armored technical pickup-trucks and heavy transport trucks. Build an online paradise: Create custom maps to play and share on Xbox Live - backwards compatible with the original Far Cry Instincts. Updated and more customizable multiplayer: Includes the new "Seek and Secure" mode, as well as classic multiplayer modes - Chaos, Team Chaos, Steal the Sample and Predator.
Metascore:
78
User Score:
6.7
Far Cry Instincts Predator

Far Cry Instincts Predator

Platform: Xbox 360
March 28, 2006
Far Cry Instincts Predator features both Far Cry Instincts Next Chapter and an enhanced version of the original Far Cry Instincts game. Offering the kind of lush and deep natural environment true to the Far Cry brand, Far Cry Instincts on Xbox 360 captivates gamers with its enhanced graphical reality and gameplay. Giving gamers the opportunity to discover the Far Cry universe in an optimized, high-definition environment, the game takes advantage of Xbox 360's multi-core next-generation engine for improved performance. Gamers will experience advanced pathfinding and new enemy and vehicle artificial intelligence for improved chase scenes and more enemies on-screen at one time, allowing for more adrenaline-rushing fast-action sequences. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
78
User Score:
6.5
Metroid Prime: Hunters

Metroid Prime: Hunters

Platform: DS
March 20, 2006
Who is the Galaxy's Most Elite Bounty Hunter? Before Metroid Prime Hunters, the answer was easy. Now that six other ferocious bounty hunters have gathered to challenge Samus, the title is up for grabs. Engage in intense four-player deathmatches either locally or against players from around the world with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Battle with seven elite bounty hunters, each with unique alternate forms and specialty weapons. Customize your multiplayer matches with over 20 expertly designed arenas and seven intense modes of play. Unlock multiplayer features by completing an all-new single-player mission in Adventure Mode. [Nintendo]
Metascore:
85
User Score:
7.7
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Platform: PC
March 20, 2006
Oblivion is a single-player game that takes place in Tamriel's capital province, Cyrodiil. You are given the task of finding the hidden heir to a throne that sits empty, the previous emperor having been killed by an unknown assassin. With no true Emperor, the gates to Oblivion (the equivalent of hell in the world of Tamriel) open, and demons begin to invade Cyrodiil and attack its people and towns. It's up to you to find the lost heir to the throne and unravel the sinister plot that threatens to destroy all of Tamriel. In keeping with the Elder Scrolls tradition, players have the option to experience the main quest at their own pace, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore the vast world and make your own way. Numerous factions can be joined, such as the thieves or mages guilds, and each contains its own complete storyline and the chance to rise to the head of the faction and reap further rewards. Oblivion features a groundbreaking new AI system, called Radiant AI, which gives non-player characters (NPCs) the ability to make their own choices based on the world around them. They decide where to eat or who to talk to and what they say. They sleep, go to church, and even steal items, all based on their individual characteristics. Full facial animations and lip-synching, combined with full speech for all dialog, allows NPCs to come to life like never before. [Bethesda]
Metascore:
94
User Score:
8.3
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Platform: Xbox 360
March 20, 2006
Oblivion is a single-player game that takes place in Tamriel's capital province, Cyrodiil. You are given the task of finding the hidden heir to a throne that sits empty, the previous emperor having been killed by an unknown assassin. With no true Emperor, the gates to Oblivion (the equivalent of hell in the world of Tamriel) open, and demons begin to invade Cyrodiil and attack its people and towns. It's up to you to find the lost heir to the throne and unravel the sinister plot that threatens to destroy all of Tamriel. In keeping with the Elder Scrolls tradition, players have the option to experience the main quest at their own pace, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore the vast world and make your own way. Numerous factions can be joined, such as the thieves or mages guilds, and each contains its own complete storyline and the chance to rise to the head of the faction and reap further rewards. Oblivion features a groundbreaking new AI system, called Radiant AI, which gives non-player characters (NPCs) the ability to make their own choices based on the world around them. They decide where to eat or who to talk to and what they say. They sleep, go to church, and even steal items, all based on their individual characteristics. Full facial animations and lip-synching, combined with full speech for all dialog, allows NPCs to come to life like never before. [Bethesda]
Metascore:
94
User Score:
8.8
Battlefield 2: Euro Force

Battlefield 2: Euro Force

Platform: PC
March 15, 2006
The battle expands in the first booster pack to 2005’s hit game Battlefield 2. Take the powerful new Euro Force into action against MEC and Chinese armies as you battle for control of all-new Asian locations. The action escalates to a fever pitch with the latest high-tech vehicles and weapons including attack helicopters, battle tanks, assault rifles, and much more. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
71
User Score:
6.9
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 3 Dimensions of Murder

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 3 Dimensions of Murder

Platform: PC
March 14, 2006
Players work alongside Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows and the rest of the original Las Vegas cast to help solve intense cases and investigate crimes using cutting-edge techniques and real-world forensic equipment. CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder improves upon the successfulcore design concepts of previous CSI games, featuring an all-new,real-time 3D engine, enriched character interactions and animations, and longer, more immersive stories. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
67
User Score:
7.4
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Critical Hour

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Critical Hour

Platform: Xbox
March 14, 2006
This latest chapter marks the return to the franchise's roots by reintroducing the deeply strategic and tactical gameplay synonymous with the Rainbow Six name, while incorporating classic in-game elements such as vintage maps and weapons, all rebuilt using today's technology. Rainbow Six Critical Hour's storyline bids on nostalgia as John Clark retires and passes the torch to Ding Chavez. Chosen by fans, eight single-player missions from the original Rainbow Six and Rogue Spear games return, revamped with today's technology. Return to tactical gameplay: Through slower pacing and an enhanced combat model, strategic planning is the central element of gameplay. Advanced combat model: Choose your steps wisely as your actions could mean the difference between life and death. Weapon accuracy is affected by in-game maneuvers and events such as running, crouching, standing still or firing while injured. Rainbow Six Critical Hour comes equipped with a superior multiplayer experience, including the revolutionary Persistent Elite Creation (P.E.C.) mode, as well as the new and innovative Assassin and Free-for-All modes. Close-quarter battles: Maps in narrow corridors with non-linear level design challenge even the most tactical of gamers, increasing the importance of the infamous one-shot kill. From Idaho to Venice, Mexico City to Siberia, team Rainbow travels the world to serve and protect the innocent from terrorist threats.
Metascore:
54
User Score:
4.2
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Platform: PC
March 14, 2006
Fight in the theatre of war that changed the world forever. Battle alongside your compatriots on some of the most inhospitable environments of the Eastern Front in Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 RO places you in the most realistic WWII first-person multi-player combat to date on the PC, allowing the player to fight through some of the most intense combat of the war. You can play as infantry, using a wide range of infantry weapons, or crew one of the many armoured combat vehicles available in the game, from half-tracks all the way through to the most famous German and Soviet heavy tanks. You can engage the enemy with everything from your bayonet at close quarters up to the massive 122mm cannon on the Soviet IS-2. And if that isn't enough, find an officer and a radio to call in thunderous artillery strikes to shake the enemy loose. [Tripwire]
Metascore:
81
User Score:
8.6
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Platform: Xbox 360
March 9, 2006
In 2013, the U.S. Army will implement the Integrated Warfighter System (IWS), evolving what we know as the modern soldier. IWS combines advanced weapon systems, satellite communication devices and enhanced survivability into one fully integrated combat system. The IWS program has been developed to meet these new threats head on. Now, it can be tested on the battlefield. Following an insurgence in the heart of Mexico City, the U.S. Army's most elite Special Forces team is deployed to the center of the conflict to regain control of the city. Greatly outnumbered but fully equipped with the IWS, this elite team is the first and last line of defense on the battlefield. They are the "Quiet" professionals. They are the Ghosts. Gain access to the future of military technology. Using a fully integrated combat system with cutting-edge weapons and revolutionary communication systems, gamers embody the soldier of the future. Based on actual U.S. Army research, the Ghosts give gamers a realistic view of how war will be fought in the next decade. Use the revolutionary Cross-Com, a communication device powered by satellite technology. Attached to the soldier's monocle, the Cross-Com provides full situational awareness and command of the battlefield. Command the Ghost squad and remote allied forces and drones, and direct artillery and air strikes. See what the squad sees and receive visual and auditory intel from allied forces and unmanned drones. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
90
User Score:
7.9
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Platform: Xbox
March 9, 2006
In Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter you can play as a Ghost, the best trained and equipped soldier the US Army has to offer. The year is 2013 and an insurgency has broken out in Mexico City, and it is your job to infiltrate the city and attempt to restore order. You will need to rely on your superior equipment, weaponry, and training to succeed against a larger force of enemies. Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter also features both cooperative and competitive multiplayer.
Metascore:
66
User Score:
5.6
Black

Black

Platform: PlayStation 2
February 28, 2006
Join the world's most brutal and enigmatic strike force. The BLACK tactical squad operates under the cloak of complete anonymity and deniability to protect the US from threats foreign and domestic. It answers to no one, allowing it to carry out brutal and overt operations around the globe. From manipulating politicians to controlling intelligence networks and militaries, BLACK operatives are trained at the highest level in psychological warfare, espionage, and lethal arts. Go deep into the world of clandestine warfare as you use any means necessary to get the job done. Overt Action: BLACK operatives do not hide in shadows or sneak behind walls waiting for the right time to engage their foe - they destroy the wall, the enemy, and anything else that gets in their way. The Guns Are the Stars: An explosive arsenal of bleeding-edge weaponry lets you experience the awe-inspiring power of the world's most exotic lethal firepower. If You Can See It, You Can Shoot It: Reduce cities to rubble in a world where virtually nothing is impervious to your bullets. Get Your Blood Pumping—Adrenaline is your friend. Visceral, destructive action sucks you deep into the gameplay as you blaze and blast your own path through open-ended environments. Use destructible worlds and explosive objects to take out enemies in cover, frag multiple enemies at once, or just wreak massive destruction for its own sake. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
79
User Score:
8.4
SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate

SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate

Platform: PC
February 28, 2006
Crime is on the rise. More guns and drugs are appearing on the streets and the city is in crisis. SWAT is called in to take on a series of disturbances that eventually lead them to the root of the problem, an eastern European crime family that has taken up residence in the city. A final showdown will place legendary SWAT tactics against the most dangerous and ruthless criminals yet, the Stetchkov Syndicate. New features for SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate include: 7 new single and multiplayer player levels; Voice over IP - Built in voice communication between teammates; 10 Player Coop - Up to 2 teams of 5; New multiplayer mode - Smash & Grab; New weapons and equipment for both SWAT members and suspects; Stat tracking and ladders and rankings for multiplayer; Held commands - Orders can be held in single player until the leader gives the GO command; Unique Leader in Coop - Option to have only one person issue commands and lead the team. [Vivendi Universal]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
8.1
Black

Black

Platform: Xbox
February 28, 2006
You can engage in cinematic firefights through destructible environments in Black, the new first-person shooter from Criterion Studios. You can play as an operative in Eastern Europe with extensive access to the newest exotic weaponry that the world has to offer. As you blast your way through the urban environments featured in the game you can find opportunities to make "style kills," using your environment to take out your foes with explosions or falling debris.
Metascore:
77
User Score:
8.0
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

Platform: PC
February 16, 2006
Command Team Rainbow in their toughest mission yet. When one of your own is taken hostage, do you follow orders or do you break them in order to save the life of one of your own men? The next Rainbow Six title features a thrilling single-player campaign that has you playing as either the confident team leader, Ding Chavez, who never leaves a man behind, or as the team's arrogant sniper, Dieter Weber, who never misses a shot. The final result: a totally immersive experience - which becomes even more compelling when gamers go online to play against other fans from around the world, using voice chat to communicate with one another. New weapons and equipment: Complete your mission with all of the tools of the trade including new items like motion trackers, battering rams, and the deadly MTAR-21 micro assault rifle. Stunning graphics and ultra-realistic "ragdoll" physics deliver staggering realism and spectacular close quarter firefights. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
59
User Score:
6.2
WWII Tank Commander

WWII Tank Commander

Platform: PC
February 14, 2006
It's World War II, and from France to Germany, prepare to destroy the opposition and help free Europe from Nazi rule as you take command of a Sherman tank in General Patton’s Fourth Armored Division, Patton's best and most elite division. Cut off the enemy at the Brittany Peninsula, escort Allied convoys, and smash Nazi forces across the Moselle. Rescue hostages, relieve the besieged 101st Airborne at Bastogne, cross the Rhine, and drive German forces out of France. [Got Game Entertainment]
Metascore:
46
User Score:
4.4
Greg Hastings' Tournament Paintball Max'd

Greg Hastings' Tournament Paintball Max'd

Platform: DS
January 31, 2006
Assume the role of top pro paintball players including Greg Hastings. Use equipment from real-life paintball sponsors, realistic tourneys. Multiple field layouts and teams are there for you to tackle.
Metascore:
39
User Score:
7.4
Chrome SpecForce

Chrome SpecForce

Platform: PC
November 30, 2005
Chrome SpecForce, are an elite strike force unit of the FEC (Federal Expeditionary Corps), created with one sole purpose, to rid the planetary system of global hazards and crisis situations that endanger the Federation’s stability, or directly violate federal order. This elite strike force must undertake top secret missions such as high profile target assassination, espionage, infiltration and sabotage of enemy territory. Armed with the most up to date combat equipment, the SpecForce field agents are equipped with SPA4 Power Armour, along with various weaponry depending on their mission objectives. [Deep Silver]
Metascore:
62
User Score:
6.4
Battlefield 2: Special Forces

Battlefield 2: Special Forces

Platform: PC
November 21, 2005
In Battlefield 2: Special Forces, players will choose to fight as one of 6 different Special Forces soldiers – Navy SEALs, British SAS, Russian Spetznas, MEC Special Forces, Rebel groups and insurgents. Armed with the latest Special Forces weaponry, players can take control of any of the game’s 10 new vehicles to engage in major conflicts with up to 64 players. Additionally, persistent character growth allows players to continue to rise through the ranks. Battlefield 2 Special Forces takes the intensity and quality of Battlefield 2 behind the scenes of news headlines, showcasing the most elite and deadly forces in the modern military world. Using accurate Special Forces weapons, gadgets, and vehicles, these covert armies battle to control key military and strategic locations. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
77
User Score:
7.7
Quake 4

Quake 4

Platform: Xbox 360
November 18, 2005
Quake 4 is the first game to utilize id Software's revolutionary DOOM 3 technology. In the game, you are Matthew Kane, an elite member of Rhino Squad and Earth's valiant invasion force. Fight alone, with your squad, and in hover tanks and mechanized walkers as you engage in a heroic mission into the heart of the Strogg war machine. But, in this epic war between worlds, the only way to defeat the Strogg is to become one of them. Battle through early missions as a deadly marine, then after your capture as a marine-turned-Strogg with enhanced abilities and the power to turn the tide of the war. [Activision]
Metascore:
75
User Score:
6.9
Perfect Dark Zero

Perfect Dark Zero

Platform: Xbox 360
November 17, 2005
Brought to life in high definition, Perfect Dark: Zero challenges players to guide Joanna Dark on her journey to become the perfect agent. Years before the original "Perfect Dark," players assume the role of Perfect Agent Joanna Dark in a gripping story, with the action in this sci-fi thriller centered on espionage, conspiracy, and a mysterious global conflict. The game delivers unprecedented online action and flexibility, supporting upwards of 50 players online. Perfect Dark: Zero includes fully scalable environments, and complete online support with tournaments, rankings, and more. Players can choose between a story-driven single-player campaign and various multiplayer options, including four-player splitscreen and cooperative action, for infinite replayability. Combat enabled vehicles including jetpacks, hovercrafts, and motorcycles are also available. [Microsoft]
Metascore:
81
User Score:
7.2
America's Army: Rise of a Soldier

America's Army: Rise of a Soldier

Platform: Xbox
November 17, 2005
America's Army: Rise of a Soldier is the Xbox version of the tactical first-person shooter developed in conjunction with the US Army. You can create a soldier and advance him or her through an army career from recruit to leader of a Special Forces team. America's Army: Rise of a Soldier also includes online multiplayer, so you can battle up to 16 players over the Internet.
Metascore:
70
User Score:
7.4
Call of Duty 2

Call of Duty 2

Platform: Xbox 360
November 17, 2005
Call of Duty 2 lets players experience four individual soldier stories as they overcome insurmountable odds in multiple campaigns. Players have the freedom to follow each of the four storylines through for the ultimate character-driven experience, or they can engage in the historic battles chronologically for quick hitting action. Infinity Ward has also expanded the scope of combat to deliver a truly realistic battlefield experience. Squads now have the freedom to take on a variety of mission objectives, on expansive battlefields that allow for multiple paths and the ability to utilize actual combat tactics like outflanking and fire and maneuver capabilities. Call of Duty 2's new engine and A.I. technology set the stage for authentic squad combat and astonishing action. Concealment can be key as battlefield smoke or even deployed smoke grenades cloud visibility. Weather effects such as the dusty sandstorms of North Africa and whiteout blizzard conditions of Russia, for example, will keep soldiers glued to their bunkers. The team has also employed a state-of-the-art Battle Chatter System that brings the action to life as squad-mates bark out context-sensitive updates in real-time to players through an advanced A.I. system. [Activision]
Metascore:
89
User Score:
8.2
Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2

Platform: Xbox
November 15, 2005
The follow-up to Half-Life continues the intense action and immersive storytelling from the original and adds more realism and responsiveness. Once again, you play the role of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, and its populace dwindling. With your trusty crowbar and a variety of other weapons at your disposal, Freeman must rescue the world from the wrong he unleashed at Black Mesa.
Metascore:
90
User Score:
8.5
Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Platform: PC
November 15, 2005
Debuting for the first time as a PC game is Law & Order: Criminal Intent. A different game engine from the previous Law & Order games, Law & Order: Criminal Intent lets the player take on the role of Detective Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and experience the game from a third person point of view. With multiple cases to solve, the player will investigate crime scenes, search for valuable evidence and interview witnesses and suspects. Law & Order: Criminal Intent offers the player an innovative and psychologically oriented interview technique, to help with breaking down potential suspects. Innovative puzzles ranging from easy to mind-bending are woven into the compelling storyline. Before solving each case, the player must build a profile based on real-life criminal profiling techniques to help track down the killers. [Legacy Interactive]
Metascore:
56
User Score:
5.4
Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers

Platform: PC
November 15, 2005
Starship Troopers introduces a terrifying assortment of enemy bugs for you to destroy, with an impressive range of weapons at your disposal, from the classic M2 Morita Rifle through to the infamous nuke launcher. Over 300 of your arachnid foe's can be tackled on screen at any given time. This has to be played to be believed! Become totally immersed in immense bug-blasting battles in both famous action-packed scenes from the movie and never-before-experienced settings and stories from the Starship Troopers universe. [Strangelite]
Metascore:
46
User Score:
6.0
Operation Flashpoint: Elite

Operation Flashpoint: Elite

Platform: Xbox
November 8, 2005
Operation Flashpoint: Elite immerses you in realistic Cold War military situations. Not only do you control and command squads and soldiers, but also land, sea, and air vehicles. You'll have access to cars, APCs, tanks, and even military helicopters. The game's open-ended environments let you experience different kinds of gameplay, whether you're commanding a squad, driving tanks, transporting troops, piloting a helicopter, or taking on the role of a sniper.
Metascore:
64
User Score:
8.2
Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space

Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space

Platform: PC
November 4, 2005
Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space is a grand space opera that will take you from a down and out starship captain to an amazing intergalactic hero whose renown travels light speed ahead of you! Set in a randomly generated universe of endless possibilities, this single-player experience will let you explore new worlds, meet exotic aliens, discover black holes, witness the deaths of stars, encounter drifting space hulks that promise untold riches or untimely death, and much, much more! And all this happens in under thirty minutes or less! Although quick to play, Weird Worlds boasts a deep, feature-rich system that ensures each session is as fresh as the first play. Players start off with their choice of one of three ships to explore the universe with, each ship completely customizable through the acquisition of new components, either via trade or encounters. The majority of the game takes place turn-based style on the gorgeously rendered star map (always newly generated each game), and uses a simple one-click system that even your grandmother can quickly master. When your starship encounters hostile aliens the action moves to real-time, and while players have dozens of weapons and tactics at their disposal, the combat system manages to provide this great depth while still maintaining the highly intuitive system of play found elsewhere in the game. [Shrapnel Games]
Metascore:
79
User Score:
6.9
Rhem 2

Rhem 2

Platform: PC
November 2, 2005
RHEM 2 is an intricate pure-puzzle first person adventure game, and the sequel to the popular RHEM. Made for PC and Mac, RHEM 2 rejoins Zetais and Kales as they now explore a hidden city far beneath the earth?s surface. Like its predecessor, RHEM 2 features non-linear gameplay, non-violent story, and mind-bending puzzles. The game is set as a direct sequel in story and gameplay to RHEM. Having discovered entry to a hidden underground city, you will venture ever deeper as you explore a maze of clandestine caves, secret rooms, and intricate walkways, tunnels and water systems. As you marvel at beautifully detailed environments and solve clever puzzles, you must search for an enigmatic artifact that must be found and photographed before you return to the surface. [Got Game Entertainment]
Metascore:
75
User Score:
5.7
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One

Call of Duty 2: Big Red One

Platform: PlayStation 2
November 1, 2005
Experience a wide variety of missions on land, sea, and in the air, with the aid of over three dozen authentic American, Italian, French, and German weapons. Charge into battle together as Allied and Axis planes duel overhead, artillery explosions shake the ground and choke the air, and bullets and shrapnel streak past you and your squadmates. Experience war-torn Europe and Africa, from the blistering desert expanses of Tunisia and Libya to the beautiful yet deadly countrysides of Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany. You are thrust into the role and story of a member of The Big Red One, America’s most heroic and decorated infantry division. Experience the camaraderie of a single tight-knit army squad, bound together through the chaos of battle over the course of the entire game. Yes, you will suffer casualties; you must not suffer defeat. Through all-new AI and animation, your allies (and your enemies) just got a lot smarter. Your squad will now make better use of environmental cover and tactical Maneuvers, such as flanking, envelopment, and fire-and-maneuver behaviors. Hear your allies reacting to the events on the battlefield with contextually accurate battle chatter. [Activision]
Metascore:
77
User Score:
7.6
Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)

Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)

Platform: Xbox
November 1, 2005
This sequel to Star Wars Battlefront improves upon its predecessor with a variety of gameplay enhancements, such as upgraded AI, more than 16 new battlegrounds, and greater story emphasis. In addition to the rebel, clone, and droid warriors from the original game, you can play as a Jedi, complete with lightsaber attacks and force powers. Take part in land and space battles from the Star Wars movie series, and pilot a variety of new aircraft, including X-Wings, TIE fighters, and Jedi Starfighters. Star Wars Battlefront also includes online multiplayer modes for battling other gamers.
Metascore:
83
User Score:
8.8
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One

Call of Duty 2: Big Red One

Platform: Xbox
November 1, 2005
Experience the adrenaline rush and harsh realities of war as never before, get to know your squadmates, and fight alongside them through an epic story during the most harrowing moments of World War II. As a part of America's most decorated and heroic fighting unit, The Big Red One, you work together with your squad to accomplish a variety of combat missions spanning North Africa, Italy, and Nazi-occupied Western Europe.
Metascore:
78
User Score:
4.6
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One

Call of Duty 2: Big Red One

Platform: GameCube
November 1, 2005
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One is a World War II shooter focused on the actions of the US Army's First Infantry Division.
Metascore:
76
User Score:
7.5
Star Wars: Battlefront II

Star Wars: Battlefront II

Platform: PSP
October 31, 2005
Star Wars Battlefront II improves upon the original game's single-player experience with open-ended, mission-based objectives inspired from all six Star Wars films. The compelling storyline spans more than 12 new locations, many from Episode III, including volcanic Mustafar and the space battle above Coruscant. All-new classic movie moments complete the Star Wars Battlefront II experience, as players battle within the interior of the Death Star and visit Princess Leia’s blockade runner, the Tantive IV, as seen at the beginning of Episode IV A New Hope. In addition, at certain key moments within the battles, players can feel the Force as a Jedi. For the first time ever, Star Wars Battlefront II players can engage in space combat and, during the same battle, board enemy ships to attack from within. Starting on foot inside a capital ship, players can enter the spacecraft of their choice and travel into space to dogfight with the rival faction. From there, they can dock within the enemy’s capital ship, overtake the ship’s command posts, man its turrets to disable its shields and destroy it from within! Or, they can simply stay inside their own capital ship and defend it from attacks and enemy fire. The choice is theirs. The stellar online play that marked the original Star Wars Battlefront returns even bigger and better for Star Wars Battlefront II. [LucasArts]
Metascore:
69
User Score:
8.3
Star Wars: Battlefront II

Star Wars: Battlefront II

Platform: PC
October 31, 2005
Star Wars Battlefront II improves upon the original game's single-player experience with open-ended, mission-based objectives inspired from all six Star Wars films. The compelling storyline spans more than 12 new locations, many from Episode III, including volcanic Mustafar and the space battle above Coruscant. All-new classic movie moments complete the Star Wars Battlefront II experience, as players battle within the interior of the Death Star and visit Princess Leia’s blockade runner, the Tantive IV, as seen at the beginning of Episode IV A New Hope. In addition, at certain key moments within the battles, players can feel the Force as a Jedi. For the first time ever, Star Wars Battlefront II players can engage in space combat and, during the same battle, board enemy ships to attack from within. Starting on foot inside a capital ship, players can enter the spacecraft of their choice and travel into space to dogfight with the rival faction. From there, they can dock within the enemy’s capital ship, overtake the ship’s command posts, man its turrets to disable its shields and destroy it from within! Or, they can simply stay inside their own capital ship and defend it from attacks and enemy fire. The choice is theirs. The stellar online play that marked the original Star Wars Battlefront returns even bigger and better for Star Wars Battlefront II. Players can locate their buddies and track their stats as they battle alongside more players than ever (up to 24 on PS2, 32 on Xbox, 64 on Windows). [LucasArts]
Metascore:
78
User Score:
8.5
Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None

Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None

Platform: PC
October 30, 2005
In the classic story And Then There Were None, 10 people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to a lonely mansion on Shipwreck Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island, they are cut off from everything but each other and the inescapable shadows of their own past lives. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts. And one by one, they die... Agatha Christie fans, and newcomers to the genre, can look forward to a series of unexpected turns; although the storyline stays true to the original concept, players will encounter new plot twists. The first comes in the form of an 11th character, the player, a boatman who brings the others to the island and then is trapped there himself. To save the lives of the intended victims, the player must unravel the motives behind the murders and uncover the identity of the killer. If successful, he will spare not only the lives of the remaining guests, but also his own. [The Adventure Company]
Metascore:
68
User Score:
7.5
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Platform: PSP
October 26, 2005
Based on the critically-acclaimed anime series by the renowned manga artist and writer Masamune Shirow, this sci-fi first-person shooter offers wireless multiplayer action for up to four-players, including heated cooperative and competitive modes. In the futuristic world of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, crime knows no limits. Gamers can face off against cyber-criminals as members of Section 9, an elite group of secret intelligence operatives tasked to keep technological terrorists at bay. Players must use “Major” Motoko Kusanagi’s agility, her partner Batou’s strength, the rookie Togusa’s stealth, or Saito’s sniper skills to unravel the mysteries of Berutarube. Issue precise commands and orders to the sentient Think Tank, Tachikoma, to gain an advantage during heated battles. Customize Tachikoma with unique accessories and change the personality of the tanks with different commands. Choose from 51 different weapons; from hand guns to rocket launchers and sub-machine guns. Play wirelessly in head-to-head battles. Hack into enemies or surveillance systems to break down the terrorist cells. [Bandai]
Metascore:
61
User Score:
8.0
Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green

Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green

Platform: Xbox
October 26, 2005
Prepare for the Horror... A horrific plague breaks out and mobs of zombies are roaming throughout the tri-state area, killing people at random. You play Jack, a simple farmer who must rise beyond fear, and battle your way through hordes of terrifying undead who are bent on spreading the zombie plague. You encounter a mysterious man named Mr. Kaufman who has established Fiddler's Green, a fortified city, which holds the last of the living. He has offered you a special job, with an exceptional reward. An offer too good to turn down, but will you live long enough to reap the rewards? Based on the George A. Romero film, "Land of the Dead."
Metascore:
32
User Score:
6.5
Call of Duty 2

Call of Duty 2

Platform: PC
October 25, 2005
Call of Duty 2 lets players experience four individual soldier stories as they overcome insurmountable odds in multiple campaigns. Players have the freedom to follow each of the four storylines through for the ultimate character-driven experience, or they can engage in the historic battles chronologically for quick hitting action. Infinity Ward has also expanded the scope of combat to deliver a truly realistic battlefield experience. Squads now have the freedom to take on a variety of mission objectives, on expansive battlefields that allow for multiple paths and the ability to utilize actual combat tactics like outflanking and fire and maneuver capabilities. Call of Duty 2's new engine and A.I. technology set the stage for authentic squad combat and astonishing action. Concealment can be key as battlefield smoke or even deployed smoke grenades cloud visibility. Weather effects such as the dusty sandstorms of North Africa and whiteout blizzard conditions of Russia, for example, will keep soldiers glued to their bunkers. The team has also employed a state-of-the-art Battle Chatter System that brings the action to life as squad-mates bark out context-sensitive updates in real-time to players through an advanced A.I. system. [Activision]
Metascore:
86
User Score:
8.5
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

Platform: PlayStation 2
October 24, 2005
The first-ever Battlefield console installment drops players into the heat of battle on the high tech frontlines, entering a new modern era of combat with more firepower and new expansive environments. Armed with the latest modern weaponry, players can take control of over 30 vehicles, including tanks, helicopters and fast attack vehicles, to engage in major conflicts with up to 24 players in some of the largest online battles on the PlayStation 2 console. (Online play requires the PlayStation 2 console, a broadband connection, memory card, and network adaptor for the PlayStation 2). Voiceover communication is also supported via USB headset. Players will choose to fight for one of three military superpowers: the United States, the Chinese, or the newly formed Middle East Coalition. The game features large and detailed environments, from city streets to remote forests, in some of the globe's most notorious hot spots, allowing players to engage in multiplayer battles that could be ripped straight from tomorrow’s headlines. Battlefield: Modern Combat also includes over 70 state-of-the-art modern weapons and advanced weapon systems, including heat-seeking missiles and laser designated bombs. Additionally, with in-game success, players increase their rank and garner promotions in a persistent online world. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
8.4
Vietcong 2

Vietcong 2

Platform: PC
October 24, 2005
Vietcong 2 is a FPS set against the background of the 1968 Tet Offensive, in and around the ancient city of Hue during the Vietnam War. Brought to life through a gritty story compiled from first hand accounts and memories of Special Forces and Infantry servicemen stationed in Hue during the assault. [2K Games]
Metascore:
61
User Score:
6.0
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

Platform: Xbox
October 24, 2005
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat brings the intensity of Battlefield 1942 into the modern era with the latest vehicles and weapons systems available. In this first-person shooter, you'll choose to fight for one of three military superpowers: the United States, China, or the newly formed Middle East Coalition. Armed with advanced weaponry, you can take control of any of the game's vehicles to engage in major conflicts with up to 24 players online. Battlefield: Modern Combat features expansive environments--from city streets to remote jungles--all around the world.
Metascore:
80
User Score:
8.1
Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green

Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green

Platform: PC
October 20, 2005
Prepare for the Horror... A horrific plague breaks out and mobs of zombies are roaming throughout the tri-state area, killing people at random. You play Jack, a simple farmer who must rise beyond fear, and battle your way through hordes of terrifying undead who are bent on spreading the zombie plague. You encounter a mysterious man named Mr. Kaufman who has established Fiddler's Green, a fortified city, which holds the last of the living. He has offered you a special job, with an exceptional reward. An offer too good to turn down, but will you live long enough to reap the rewards? Based on the George A. Romero film, "Land of the Dead." [Groove Games]
Metascore:
36
User Score:
6.6
Serious Sam II

Serious Sam II

Platform: PC
October 19, 2005
The second generation Serious Engine allows Croteam to create characters with over 100 times more detail than the last Serious Sam iteration and allowed developers to create huge, lush environments and even crazier enemies than before, without having to scale back the gameplay in any way. With the capabilities of the new engine, Croteam will surpass the record set with the first Serious Sam for the most enemies on screen at one time. [2K Games]
Metascore:
74
User Score:
7.2
Greg Hastings' Tournament Paintball Max'd

Greg Hastings' Tournament Paintball Max'd

Platform: Xbox
October 18, 2005
Build Your Field - Design and play your own custom fields with the Field Editor. Selecting from three field sizes, thirty-seven different object/bunker types, and ten object textures/skins just gets you started. Now feature yourself in your own MAX'D world by placing your bunkers in an almost infinite number of positions and layouts on the field. You're the MAX'D designer, and the field is your gaming universe. Take the opportunity to angle your bunkers using the Rotate feature, tap the Mirror feature for the quick ability to add bunker symmetry to both sides of the field, and use the Size Editor to bring each bunker to your desired scale. Ready to pimp it to the world? Upload your custom fields on Xbox LIVE! to stake your reputation as an online field designer. Control Your Team - Mastermind your teammates' movements at the start of the game with the ground-breaking FPS feature - Breakout Manager. You can direct your AI teammates to break for specific bunkers, select teammates to ether run or shoot, and identify the critical Sweet Spot for your Break Shooters to target the other team and take them out early. Split Screen and Co-Op - Play up to four players on the same Xbox. Career Mode Co-Op lets you join with friends to bust up the pros. Or make them bow to your skills first-hand by taking them on head-to-head.
Metascore:
69
User Score:
8.3
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

Platform: PlayStation 2
October 18, 2005
Experience authentic WWII combat as Sergeant Joe Hartsock and lead your squad beyond Carentan to liberate all of Normandy. Taking online tactics to new heights, Brothers In Arms Earned In Blood offers more unique multiplayer missions and improved online support on PC and consoles! (Including the bundled addition of modification support for the PC). Earned In Blood features an all-new cooperative Skirmish mode that allows one or two players to take a tour of duty through a series of authentic and harrowing custom combat missions. Arm yourself with additional authentic weapons and command new vehicles like the M10 "Wolverine" Tank Destroyer. More Challenging and Dynamic Combat - the game features close quarter urban environments and a new, next generation artificial intelligence system. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
71
User Score:
8.0
F.E.A.R.

F.E.A.R.

Platform: PC
October 17, 2005
F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault and Recon), is an intense first person close-quarters combat experience with rich atmosphere and an engaging storyline. The story begins as an unidentified paramilitary force infiltrates a multi-billion dollar aerospace compound. The government responds by sending in Special Forces, but loses contact as an eerie signal interrupts radio communications. When the interference subsides moments later, the team has been literally torn apart. As part of a classified strike team created to deal with threats no one else can handle, your mission is simple: Eliminate the intruders at any cost. Determine the origin of the signal. And contain this crisis before it spirals out of control. [Vivendi Universal]
Metascore:
88
User Score:
8.3
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Platform: DS
October 12, 2005
(Known in Japan as "Gyakuten Saiban") Not everyone is innocent until proven guilty! Players star as a defense attorney, who must prove his seemingly guilty client’s innocence no matter how dire the circumstances may seem. The game presents twisting storylines and intriguing gameplay in a comical anime style. Players must collect evidence, weed through inconsistent testimonies, and overcome corrupt agendas to ensure that justice prevails. [Capcom]
Metascore:
81
User Score:
9.0
Serious Sam II

Serious Sam II

Platform: Xbox
October 11, 2005
Serious Sam II is the sequel to the offbeat first-person shooter, Serious Sam. You can explore more than 40 levels of the game, destroying more enemies than you can shake a stick at. Serious Sam II sports a brand-new engine, and brings back all of the irreverence and carnage of its predecessors. You'll also find new weapons, enemies, and mountable creatures to do battle with. Serious Sam also incorporates online play.
Metascore:
72
User Score:
6.5
Quake 4

Quake 4

Platform: PC
October 11, 2005
Quake 4 is the first game to utilize id Software's revolutionary DOOM 3 technology. In the game, you are Matthew Kane, an elite member of Rhino Squad and Earth's valiant invasion force. Fight alone, with your squad, and in hover tanks and mechanized walkers as you engage in a heroic mission into the heart of the Strogg war machine. But, in this epic war between worlds, the only way to defeat the Strogg is to become one of them. Battle through early missions as a deadly marine, then after your capture as a marine-turned-Strogg with enhanced abilities and the power to turn the tide of the war. [Activision]
Metascore:
81
User Score:
7.6
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

Platform: PC
October 6, 2005
Experience authentic WWII combat as Sergeant Joe Hartsock and lead your squad beyond Carentan to liberate all of Normandy. Taking online tactics to new heights, Brothers In Arms Earned In Blood offers more unique multiplayer missions and improved online support. (Including the bundled addition of modification support for the PC). Earned In Blood features an all-new cooperative Skirmish mode that allows one or two players to take a tour of duty through a series of authentic and harrowing custom combat missions. Arm yourself with additional authentic weapons and command new vehicles like the M10 "Wolverine" Tank Destroyer. More Challenging and Dynamic Combat - the game features close quarter urban environments and a new, next generation artificial intelligence system. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
84
User Score:
7.4
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

Platform: Xbox
October 6, 2005
You can play as Sergeant Joe Hartsock during the liberation of Normandy in Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. This sequel to Brothers in Arms: The Road to Hill 30 includes new single- and multiplayer missions, as well as new competitive and cooperative multiplayer game modes. You can also employ new weapons and vehicles against the game's improved AI.
Metascore:
85
User Score:
8.5
Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil

Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil

Platform: Xbox
October 5, 2005
Reload your weapons for the first expansion pack to Doom 3. In Resurrection of Evil, you'll return to the abandoned facilities of Mars to investigate a mysterious beacon buried deep in the ruins of an ancient civilization. This time, you can wield new weapons, such as the double-barreled shotgun, and control time and gravity to defeat your enemies, which include six new demons. The expansion also adds all-new eight-player arenas for capture-the-flag matches.
Metascore:
77
User Score:
8.5
Cold War

Cold War

Platform: PC
September 27, 2005
Cold War follows the story of a freelance journalist who finds himself in the midst of an international conspiracy that aims to control the U.S.S.R. Twelve hours after arriving in Moscow for a routine story, he has been stripped of all possessions, beaten unconscious and thrown into the KGB's political prison. Using only recovered weapons and improvised gadgets, he must now evade or overcome elite Soviet forces and defeat the conspiracy before he is sent to a Siberian prison camp or killed. Powerful and widely-recognized setting - mid-1980's U.S.S.R. Strong espionage/stealth gameplay - including gadgets like the x-ray camera. Interactive non-linear world: Accomplish objectives in multiple ways - find hidden paths, combine in-game elements to create weapons and traps, or silently eliminate opponents. Set in real Soviet locations, and is built around locations such as Lenin's Mausoleum, Chernobyl and the KGB's notorious Ljubljanka prison. [DreamCatcher]
Metascore:
64
User Score:
5.7
Far Cry Instincts

Far Cry Instincts

Platform: Xbox
September 27, 2005
After escorting an inquisitive journalist to a remote tropical island, Jack Carver finds himself stranded in paradise, hunted by an unrelenting team of highly trained mercenaries. As Jack, you must outwit hordes of mercenaries by using a variety of tactics. Make long-range assaults, set traps, commandeer vehicles, and even develop new skills and abilities to outlast the island's evils so that you can escape with your life. Discover new locations in single-player mode or build your own maps in multiplayer modes.
Metascore:
85
User Score:
6.0
Cold War

Cold War

Platform: Xbox
September 27, 2005
Cold War follows a freelance journalist who finds himself in the midst of an international conspiracy that aims to control the U.S.S.R. Twelve hours after arrival in Moscow for a routine story, he has been stripped of all possessions, beaten unconscious, and thrown into the KGB's political prison. Now you must match wits and strength against the powerful Russian enemy using only recovered weapons and improvised gadgets to eliminate opponents. Whether you choose to evade or overcome elite Soviet forces, you must defeat the conspiracy before you're sent to a Siberian prison camp or killed.
Metascore:
60
User Score:
6.4
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

Platform: GameCube
September 27, 2005
The next installment in the Rainbow Six series introduces a new single-player experience featuring advanced equipment and new storylines. This time, you can play as either Ding Chavez (the leader of Team Rainbow) or Dieter Weber (a sniper in charge of covering his team's movement). You must lead your counterterrorist unit into unfamiliar territory to battle a bioterrorist threat. Rainbow Six 3 also features online multiplayer modes, including the PS2-exclusive rivalry mode and the Xbox-exclusive career mode.
Metascore:
72
User Score:
7.8
Day of Defeat: Source

Day of Defeat: Source

Platform: PC
September 26, 2005
Day of Defeat: Source features multiplayer, team-based gameplay set in the WWII European theatre of operations. Players choose a role and tackle goal-oriented missions based on historical operations. Day of Defeat: Source takes the classic gameplay of the original Day of Defeat and improves the experience with Source, the advanced engine technology Valve created for "Half-Life 2." With this technology, DoD: Source offers state of the art graphics (including support for HDR lighting) in optimized versions of popular maps, plus redesigned sound and all new player, weapon, and world models. New features include: Completely updated maps to take full advantage of the Source engine replaces, integrated physics simulation for ragdolls and physically simulated objects, higher resolution textures throughout, bump mapping, specular lighting, and other graphic effects, all powered by advanced Source engine technology, completely redesigned user interface, all new voice, weapon, and ambient sounds. [Valve]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
9.0
Bet on Soldier: Blood Sport

Bet on Soldier: Blood Sport

Platform: PC
September 26, 2005
With a corporation-takes-over-the-world-style plot, Bet On Soldier allows players to do exactly what it promises with its title - that is, bet on the outcome of encounters with specific enemies. Before entering battle, players can wager on which particular enemy soldiers they are going to kill. When they encounter this enemy in the game, a duel will take place. Depending on the outcome, the player will either lose his stake or win a prize calculated according to his opponent's rank, his initial stake, and the length of time it took to win. Accrued credits can be used to upgrade the player's character, in order to challenge progressively tougher opponents. The engrossing single-player game provides the player with an array of Elite Champion AIs, whom you encounter throughout the many levels, each with its own distinctive personality, ensuring variety in betting tactics. This original angle on combat also forms the basis for the multi-player mode, which has a variety of classes available to the 32 players in each game. Each class will utilise the wide selection of weapons in its own specific way. [Digital Jesters]
Metascore:
56
User Score:
5.6
FPS Creator

FPS Creator

Platform: PC
September 22, 2005
Over three years in development FPS Creator sets a new benchmark in the game creation market by providing an easy-to-use yet highly flexible editing environment. As its name implies this is a tool for creating action-packed FPS games with no programming or 3D modelling knowledge required. Using an intuitive and visual Windows interface you literally paint your game world into the scene. A vast range of 3D elements are included allowing you to paint hallways, corridors, gantries, walls, doors, access tunnels, ceilings, lifts, transporters, ladders and more. Segments intelligently attach themselves to each other - paint two corridor pieces side-by-side and they'll snap together seamlessly. Switch to 3D mode and you drop in on your scene for pixel perfect placement of 3D entities. Place a light-switch on the wall and it'll intelligently control the dynamic lighting in the room.
Metascore:
47
User Score:
6.1
Myst V: End of Ages

Myst V: End of Ages

Platform: PC
September 19, 2005
Picking up immediately where the original Myst ended, players are presented the privilege, challenge and responsibility of restoring the lost empire of the D'ni -- an ancient civilization of people who thrived for thousands of years but later met with a great catastrophe. Like each previous Myst title, Myst V: End of Ages advances the graphical beauty and detail of its worlds with a fully immersive 3D environment. Cyan carefully crafted and combined elements of adventure, puzzles, storyline and gameplay innovation creating a worthy ending to the series. Myst V: End of Ages follows the Myst storyline to its conclusion -- closing the book on the Ages of Myst. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
7.6
Nancy Drew: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon

Nancy Drew: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon

Platform: PC
September 16, 2005
The Hardy Boys have invited you, as Nancy Drew, on a train ride out West hosted by beautiful and prominent socialite, Lori Girard. Lori has gathered the greatest minds in mystery to solve a century-old secret and the haunted train is their best clue. The luxurious train once belonged to Jake Hurley, who set out long ago to find the mother lode during mining mania. Shortly after the trip began, Jake's wife, Camille met an untimely end. Although her death broke his heart, Jake pressed on in his search for riches. Years later, Jake's train was found in Blue Moon Canyon with the engineer slumped over in the car - dead. Jake had mysteriously vanished. Climb aboard as Nancy Drew and see if you can uncover the truth at the end of the line! [Her Interactive]
Metascore:
77
User Score:
7.6
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

Platform: PlayStation 2
September 6, 2005
Command Team Rainbow in their toughest mission yet. When one of your own is taken hostage, do you follow orders or do you break them in order to save the life of one of your own men? The next Rainbow Six title features a thrilling single-player campaign that has you playing as either the confident team leader, Ding Chavez, who never leaves a man behind, or as the team's arrogant sniper, Dieter Weber, who never misses a shot. The final result: a totally immersive experience - which becomes even more compelling when gamers go online to play against other fans from around the world, using voice chat to communicate with one another. New weapons and equipment: Complete your mission with all of the tools of the trade including new items like motion trackers, battering rams, and the deadly MTAR-21 micro assault rifle. Stunning graphics and ultra-realistic "ragdoll" physics deliver staggering realism and spectacular close quarter firefights. New Rivalry Mode pits Rainbow operatives against trained mercenaries in objective-driven team-based adversarial gameplay. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
70
User Score:
6.8
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

Platform: Xbox
September 6, 2005
The next installment in the Rainbow Six series introduces a new single-player experience featuring advanced equipment and new storylines. This time, you can play as either Ding Chavez (the leader of Team Rainbow) or Dieter Weber (a sniper in charge of covering his team's movement). You must lead your counterterrorist unit into unfamiliar territory to battle a bioterrorist threat. Rainbow Six 3 also features online multiplayer modes, including the PS2-exclusive rivalry mode and the Xbox-exclusive career mode.
Metascore:
74
User Score:
6.6
Voyage: Inspired by Jules Verne

Voyage: Inspired by Jules Verne

Platform: PC
August 18, 2005
In this not so distant past, the far side of the moon conjured up the most fascinating theories. Even some of the world’s greatest scientific minds believed that our natural satellite had an atmosphere that could, and did, support various life forms. Based on the premise of Verne's novel, Voyage follows as a group of scientists create a space capsule with the intent of landing on the moon’s surface. Where as in the novel, their mission fails, leaving them floating high above the lunar surface, in this fascinating adventure, they succeed! As scientist Michel Ardan, players are able to wander the surface of the moon and witness the explosion of plant life at dawn. Soon they will encounter the Selenite City, the home of an ancient but highly intelligent race, the Selenites. With each step of the journey, questions arise as to the fate of the Selenite people: Did they deteriorate, like so many of the statues they left behind? Did they leave the surface to seek refuge in the center of the moon? Once players answer these questions, they may find their way to back to earth with news of their fantastic discoveries. [Adventure Company]
Metascore:
71
User Score:
7.1
Darkwatch

Darkwatch

Platform: Xbox
August 16, 2005
Darkwatch: Curse of the West blends vampire horror with western genres. Darkwatch is a secret strike-force that has a protected man from evil since the dawn of civilization. You play its newest and deadliest agent, Jericho Cross, an outlaw gunslinger hunting the vampire that bit him. Blast your way through an American frontier overrun by the undead using your arsenal of powerful assault vehicles, enhanced versions of Western weapons, supernatural vampire abilities, and your trusty undead horse. In this frightening version of the Wild West, you're never safe.
Metascore:
75
User Score:
8.0
Darkwatch

Darkwatch

Platform: PlayStation 2
August 16, 2005
The game introduces the Darkwatch, a secret strike-force that has vigilantly protected man from evil incarnate since the dawn of civilization. Their newest and deadliest agent is Jericho Cross, an outlaw gunslinger pulled into their ranks by an unfortunate close encounter with a vampire lord. To save the West, and his own soul from damnation, Jericho must hunt the vampire that bit him through an American frontier suddenly overrun by his undead minions. At his disposal is the advanced, deadly technology of the Darkwatch, including an arsenal of powerful assault vehicles and enhanced versions of Western weapons, along with supernatural vampire abilities and a trusty undead horse. Players will experience an action-packed "living West" in "Darkwatch: Curse of the West" with massive environments, non-linear missions, dynamic enemy and non-player-character artificial intelligence (A.I.) affected by a player reputation system, and precision gunplay with location-specific damage. [Sammy Studios]
Metascore:
74
User Score:
8.3
Geist

Geist

Platform: GameCube
August 15, 2005
As a spectral operative, you must search for your physical body, which is mysteriously being kept alive somewhere in an expansive complex. While exploring, you must collect the energies of indigenous spirits to help unravel a mystery and build your own power. You can possess a variety of creatures from human soldiers to dogs. You'll see the world in different ways as you travel through cracks, interfere with electronics, move objects, and more. Be careful--while some spirits are helpful, others are not. Defeat evil spirits with an array of weapons, equipment, and skills.
Metascore:
66
User Score:
8.0
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike

Platform: Xbox
August 2, 2005
This expansion pack enhances the gameplay of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 and offers you more maps, missions, and weapons. It also brings an exciting new 11-mission single-player campaign and expanded multiplayer content. Follow the Ghosts as they work in concert with a Kazakh military specialist to track down an evil Pakistani warlord and arms dealer!
Metascore:
84
User Score:
7.0
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down

Delta Force: Black Hawk Down

Platform: Xbox
July 26, 2005
In late 1993, the United States launched dual military operations in Mogadishu Somalia. Delta Force Operatives and Army Rangers were sent in to capture Somali warlords and restore order. As a Delta Force operative, it's your mission to join daring and intense raids against the oppressive Somali warlords in and around Mogadishu. Get ready for an intense combat--in solo missions or online multiplayer battles--featuring an arsenal of heavy weapons, military vehicles, and helicopters.
Metascore:
61
User Score:
6.6
Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock

Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock

Platform: PC
July 26, 2005
It’s 1930 and Nancy Drew is asked to visit Emily Crandall in Titusville, a girl whom Nancy knows only through a mutual friend. She and her mother had been counting on the generosity of their kindly but strange neighbor, Josiah Crowley, to leave them part of his estate to support the inn they own. But in his will, everything was left to Richard Topham, his ESP teacher. A contested will, a suffering girl, suspicious psychics – can Nancy solve the mystery before time runs out? [Her Interactive]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
7.5
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down

Delta Force: Black Hawk Down

Platform: PlayStation 2
July 26, 2005
Set in Somalia in 1993, Delta Force – Black Hawk Down is based upon and around the Operation Restore Hope and Task Force Ranger campaigns and follows members of the elite Delta Force and US Army Rangers as they participate in a number of daring raids against the oppressive Somali warlords in and around Mogadishu. Using the original PC version as a basis, British based developer Rebellion is redesigning the game specifically for the PS2. As well as a redesigned single player mode, Delta Force - Black Hawk Down will also have several brand new multiplayer features, including 32 player games online. NovaLogic has also teamed up with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from the PS2 version of Black Hawk Down will be donated to the foundation. The SOWF provides college scholarship grants, along with financial aid and educational counseling to the children of Special Operations personnel who were killed in an operational mission or training accident. [NovaLogic]
Metascore:
58
User Score:
8.7
Coded Arms

Coded Arms

Platform: PSP
July 6, 2005
Konami's first entry into the FPS genre, Coded Arms takes place in an abandoned virtual reality system and its portal site inside a giant computer network. The VR system was originally created as a combat training simulator in the event of an alien invasion. However, during the development of the simulation program, a major flaw was discovered and development was cancelled and left abandoned. During this time when the program was not monitored, it kept evolving within the computer network and eventually turned into a vast and brutal VR world populated with virtual alien invaders, dangerous computer bugs and the VR system’s own security bots. Players assume the role of a computer hacker who infiltrates the abandoned virtual reality system. Gamers use up to 30 weapons and power-ups that they discover while exploring the expansive single player mode. Coded Arms utilizes the PSP handheld system's wireless capabilities for multiplayer action for up to four people. [Konami]
Metascore:
59
User Score:
6.6
Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack

Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack

Platform: Xbox
July 5, 2005
The world's greatest multiplayer game just got better. Take the fight from the streets of Old Mombasa to the islands of Delta Halo to the very edges of the galaxy! The nine new maps included in this pack nearly double Halo® 2's multiplayer arena. Some battlefields feature tight-quartered, intense spaces designed for small-scale mayhem. Others are large-scale, interactive arenas with explosive vehicle combat--perfect for Split Screen, System Link or Xbox Live™.
Metascore:
89
User Score:
8.0
Battlefield 2

Battlefield 2

Platform: PC
June 21, 2005
In Battlefield 2, players will choose to fight for one of three military superpowers: the United States, China, or the newly formed Middle East Coalition. Armed with the latest modern weaponry, players can take control of any of the game's 30+ vehicles to engage in major conflicts with over 100 players in some of the largest online battles on the PC. Battlefield 2 features immense, richly detailed, destructible environments, from city streets to remote forests, in some of the most notorious hot spots around the world. Each map in Battlefield 2 adjusts in scale to support the number of players in the world, providing the ideal vehicle-to-player ratio and an optimized game play experience. Enhanced team play features allow players to enter the action on the front lines as part of a formal squad, or work behind the scenes in Commander Mode to direct the strategic assaults of their teammates. With in-game success, players increase their rank from recruit all the way to General and unlock awards, including new weapons, vehicle decals, medals, and more. Additionally, Battlefield 2 showcases an all-new game engine and physics system to bring the modern battlefield to life like never before. The new material penetration feature measures weapons' ability to fire through barriers based on their composition and players will need to know the difference between concealment and cover in order to survive. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
91
User Score:
8.4
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent

Platform: DS
June 13, 2005
As an aspiring 00 agent dismissed from MI6 for reckless brutality, the player is recruited by Auric Goldfinger in a ruthless war against Dr. No for control of the Bond underworld. Players wreak havoc as they make their unrelenting rise through the ranks of villainy. On globe-spanning missions of vengeance and demolition, players encounter such legendary Bond characters as Oddjob, Dr. No, Goldfinger, Scaramanga, and Xenia Onatopp. Gamers outwit villainous rivals and battle it out in the intense wireless multiplayer mayhem with up to seven other players using only one cartridge, a unique feature for the Nintendo DS. The game also features a robust single-player campaign divided into six missions. Players can exploit multiple weapon combinations through the dual-wield gunplay system, or go head-to-head, melee-style, by taking enemies hostage or knocking them out with one punch. The dual-screen display provides a gameplay window on the top screen and the heads-up-display (HUD) on the touch screen. The HUD provides vital intelligence to players and allows for them to check ammunition levels, hack electronic devices and weapons, decode security locks, and more. In the all-new for DS ‘Virtual Training’ mode, players sharpen their lethal edge and gain experience by defeating infamous Bond villains in order to earn valuable upgrades for their GoldenEye weaponry. Left and right-handed gameplay controls, plus stylus and thumb-pad play, take full advantage of the platform’s unique touch-screen capabilities. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
58
User Score:
7.4
Area 51 (2005)

Area 51 (2005)

Platform: PC
June 8, 2005
Featuring online play, Area 51 is set in the U.S. government's most top-secret and secure facility located in the Nevada desert. Players take on the role of Lt. Nick Cross, a hazardous biological waste specialist sent to investigate. During his investigation, Lt. Cross stumbles across alien creatures and becomes infected with a biological mutagen that eventually transforms him into something not quite human. To save the earth and himself, Lt. Cross must fight to solve the enigma of Area 51. Features extensive Single-Player Campaign: Battle through corridors of Area 51 and attempt to discover the secrets of the extraterrestrial menace before it is too late. Engage in an epic adventure through eight massive sections of a secretive complex. Equip yourself with more than 15 types of human and alien weapons and other equipment as you explore dark corridors. An infectious mutagen gives Lt. Nick Cross alien-enhanced physical abilities but is also slowly transforming him into an alien. Find the cure before it's too late and humanity is lost. Compete against your friends via a four-player split screen and system link through numerous multiplayer game modes including Death Match. Battle online where you can easily access the many systems allowing you to find your friends and set up your own matches. [Midway]
Metascore:
67
User Score:
6.3
Medal of Honor: European Assault

Medal of Honor: European Assault

Platform: Xbox
June 7, 2005
In Medal of Honor: European Assault, you'll join the effort to liberate Europe in 1942. As US Army Lieutenant William Holt, you must take command of a group of soldiers through battlefields based on actual WWII locations. In both single-player and multiplayer modes, your survival depends on your ability to master weapons, gather intelligence for future missions, and make smart choices.
Metascore:
72
User Score:
7.2
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