2006 releases

EA is finally coming out with The Godfather, a game adaptation of the 1972 classic, which is probably the biggest attraction in the 2006 lineup. You enter as a "soldier" and you are given missions as you work your way into the upper ranks of the mafia. Actors from the film have lent their voices for the game as well. Unfortunately, Al Pacino does not voice act for Michael Corleone. The game still promises plenty of GTA style action. The next big thing is a release by the little known SuperXstudios, a unique game called Wild Earth. The goal of the game is to make your way through the Serengeti as a photographer. Judging from the available screenshots, the game has spectacular graphics. An eco-friendly game, but it might not be captivating enough for gamers who require more action. Action, will surely be delivered by the realtime strategy game based on the Star Wars universe called Empire at War. This Lucasarts-Petroglyph release has already attracted a large pre-release fan following. There is another token Tomb Raider and Tom Clancy release each, as well as an adaptation of The Apprentice television series. Pretty unsure about exactly what these games will have to offer.

There are three big expansion releases slotted for the next year. Sierra is coming out with Empire Earth II: The art of supremacy, the strong point of the game being the development of a civilization from the remote past right into the distant future. There is also the much anticipated Half Life 2 expansion, titled 'Aftermath', which will explore the storylines of characters other than Gordan Freeman, which means we'll learn more about Alyx and the G-man. Another episodic release for the series, this expansion is set between the events of HL2 and the heavily anticipated HL3. Swat 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate is also going to be released next year, one of the most realistic police games around. So realistic that you are supposed to bring in the baddies alive when possible instead of simply shooting them down.

On the downside, Halo 3 is releasing only for the X-box console, and we'll have to wait till 2007 for the next installment of Unreal Tournament.