Microsoft monopolizes Next-Gen's (long) list of best games

BALLS TO YA I DONT HAVE ZELDA BUT I HAVE GEARS OF WAR. THERE IS NO WAY GEARS IS BETTER THAN ZELDA.

I have both - both are spectacular but I have to give the edge to Gears.

I have Zelda and Gears, and I do think Gears is better. On the other hand, I think this iteration of Zelda is weak, with the exact same gameplay and tacked on motion controls.

Zelda is better for a nice adventure


Gears is better because you can curb stomp alian bastards

*sigh* Hear comes the miles of fanboy-esque comments either with bias or lame exaggeratedness.

Anyways, I think Gears of War is amazingly overrated, I really just don't see how so many ppl actually enjoy it to call it best this year. Twilight was FAR more enjoyable then again I may have some bias myself since I though RE4 was overrated which shows me I don't like 3rd person camera angles.

Had a multiplayer ordeal with it yesterday and surprisingly most ppl ended up trying to play GRAW instead. The gameplay just feels repetitive for me and again the camera really takes me out of it, the gameplay is static and honestly unintuitive (With the exception of the duck-cover system which plain and straight rocks). But it's all opinions, I just feel it is very very overrated for what it is, I just can't see why ppl would like it so much.

But I must say this, Dead Rising over Okami?? Now you just have to be pulling my leg.

Yeah this Zelda aint that great and only Gamespot had the balls to admit it and face the wrath of the Wiihuggers.

Hey guys


yeah Zelda sucks

and so does the wii

i am super smart

I only own six of the top ten. My order would be:

1. Gears of War (360)
2. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, 360)
3. Dead Rising (360)
5. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
5. Guitar Hero II (PS2)
6. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (360)

I own both and Gears is better than Zelda.

Love zelda tough

Fuck the fighting that is going to happen between fans of zelda and gears, I'm just glad Okami is in the top 10.

I swear, us internet nerds are terrible people with our fighting over video games.

There s no WAY Gears is superior to Zelda.
Graphics aside, Zelda is just pound-for-pound better.
I also agree about Dead Rising not being better than Okami.

And I am the only person who thinks that Guitar Hero 2 just plain out sucks? I REALLY can't see the appeal of this game...
Although it's hilarious considering that all of the grunts in Sony's fanboy army having been screaming about the Wii's controller being a gimmick...

What in the world does a full guitar controller have to do with a wireless remote? I mean, honestly, what's the source of comparison there?

GH2 is a good game. You don't like it, that's fine. The end.

I have both and I also agree with GameSpots review of Zelda. It was a great game but Gears was better. If they had thrown in voice acting and better graphics then it would have been a toss up for me. I also did like Oblivion a little better then Zelda as well. 1=Gears,2=Oblivion,3=Zelda...

Oblivion gets rated higher up than Dead Rising....did the author of this piece enjoy a big bowl of Cracky Flakes before he put this out?? Dead Rising was 06's freshest and newest game to come out,PERIOD. Oblivion was good (even though Morrowind kicked it in the ass),but Dead Rising was millions better if you ask me.

i own both games and i have to disagree with thier list mostly with their first choice. Gears was hot but not better than zelda as an overall game. There were just to many good things in zelda they had going for more than in gears. Gears of war was like a summer popcorn flix were as zelda is like the epic summer movie.

Are these numbers based on sales or is this a critical list?

As far as quality games goes, Elite Beat Agents for DS takes a huge ol' dump all over New Super Mario Bros, yet doesn't even appear on the list.

@2 Orangecoke
Zelda's motion controls don't feel "tacked on" by any means, if anything the GCN version feels more square-pegged than the Wii version. Fishing and Aiming with your bow and arrow are far superior on the Wii version.

I still can't understand people's logic that the gameplay in Zelda should be different from previous versions...Why? For the sake of being different? If you think the gameplay in TP is the same as previous iterations, then you aren't paying attention to what's new...

Or, you're just a troll...

well obviously, the ps3 has barely been out a month

samfish has obviously forgotten that the Guitar Hero controller is not the PlayStation 2's main input device while the wiimote IS the main input device of the Wii. However, I don't really mean to defend Sony, as I really like the concept of the Wii's controller. I still have yet to try it out though.:(

I do not own Zelda, but played it at a friend's place...and it was OK, but nothing different than all the other Zeldas. Also the others on hand did not find it all that impressive. Now pop on Gears of War and people just start freaking. I do not know anyone who bought a Wii just to play Zelda, but I do know 3 friends who bought a 360 just to play Gears of War.

By the way, I think that Project Gotham Racing 3 with Force Feedback wheel should be in the list. That game just rocks with the MS Wireless Racing Wheel.

"seemingly dominated"?

Gee, could that be because the 360 has a year head start on both systems? Hmmm, I don't know, this one was awfully tough to figure out. Come on Stiq, you're better than that, I actually expected to see a comment like mine in there somewhere, although less sarcastic :)

@#17 hmmm...i wonder why people were going gaga over gow. could it be the awesome never been done before gameplay? cuz it sure wasn't the gfx's......

OOh ooh ooh. Can I get in on this? I have a big penis, so obviously my opinion matters more than all the other witty people here. And since I am secure about my manhood AND I have good grammar, I am sure that I will be able to convince people that my opinion, or rather, the facts that I am stating are indeed true and good. Furthermore, I do not even have to insult the intelligence of others, since what I say stands on its own by virtue of it being true. And since my broad sampling of the general population--which includes at the very least, 10 people of different ages and cultures--proves, without a doubt, that what I am saying is true, there is no need to argue contrary to my point. And thusly, nothing else needs to be said.

All I got's to say is W00t! NSMB is on the top 10! Nice! I won't pour oil into the flame war!

I don't really see the big deal with this list.

"*sigh* Hear comes the miles of fanboy-esque comments either with bias or lame exaggeratedness.

Anyways, I think Gears of War is amazingly overrated, I really just don't see how so many ppl actually enjoy it to call it best this year. Twilight was FAR more enjoyable then again I may have some bias myself since I though RE4 was overrated which shows me I don't like 3rd person camera angles."

I don't understand how someone complains about something and then decides to do it themselves. Its called hypocrisy mate, I think you should check it out.

How people are even attempting to compare the two games is incredible. They are two completely different genres trying to achieve completely different things. Its already been established that from somewhat neutral views both games are excellent. Therefore your PERSONAL likes and dislikes will now affect which one is better for YOU, no need to complain. This list is not and cannot be definitive for everyone, people who were humans, who have personal likes and dislikes complied this list so it can not be what you want it to be.

If you feel a list does not meet your standards that doesn't make it wrong and it doesn't make you wrong. it makes you human and not a robot. So why complain. The editors of this site DID NOT say its the definitive list and that it applies for everyone. Therfore no need to complain.

Instead be constructive and do your own top ten of the year. With that said...

1. Zelda Twilight Princess
2. Gears of War
3. Shadow of the Collusus (Came out in Pal in 2006)
4. Okami
5. Metal gear solid Portable OPS
6. Oblivion
7. Company of heroes
8. GRAW
9. Viva Piñata
10. Final fantasy 12

In my opinion, the storyline that drives zelda is the best I have ever seen. I do like the 'standard' package of a game (being challenging puzzles, lots of side-stuff etc.), but what really matters is the feeling I get.

I really have the feeling I have to hurry when someone is lying half dead on my wolf-ish back. I have the feeling I have to resque the children of my village, after they are swept away. I had the feeling that I should help those spirit-people...

I play video games for quite a while now...and I must say that this hasn't really happened to me yet. So for me, zelda is top 1.

For the record, I have played gears too, but didn't get immersed. However, I understand people who would rate it higher. I just want to make a point that you cant press your opinion on others...
Make up your own mind, and don't act like you need a list from an other site to form an opinion.

I enjoyed Gears of War for about ten minutes. I liked the game when it was on the PS2 and called Kill Switch. Nothing "innovative" or "new" except slightly better (not great) graphics and a tweaked cover system.

Uh - hey mykie , I'm not the guy who said the controls were tacked on :) I think it was the guy after me. I think the controls in Zelda are awesome actually.

I gotta say, I have more respect for the people who voice their opinions on this list (or any other story for that matter) in a rational and non-confrontational way than the people that waste time belittling other posters for having the audacity to discuss the topic at hand.

We talk about games here. What's the mystery about that, exactly?

Put Zelda at #1 and Okami at #2, and then the list is correct (see, this is what most of the comments should have looked like, not overblown explanations as to why Zelda or Gears was a sack of shit)

On the 9th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me
9 Styluses a drawing ($7*3=$21)
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2470683
8 Wiimotes a flying ($320)
7 SIXAXIS Tilting ($350)
6 360 Movies Downloading ($36)
5 Mod Chips ($500)
4 Alienwares ($9600)
3 SEGA Games ($160)
2 CELL Processors ($1200)
And 1 Nintendo Wii ($250)

I'm calling BS. There is NO WAY that Gears of War is better than Oblivion. None. I understand it being somewhere in, say, the top 10 ... but number ONE? Come on ... now we know the rest of the list is skewed and biased.

Thank you for putting this in perspective, Davinche.

I haven't played Zelda (nor am I ever likely to... haven't played one since the NES). Doesn't mean it's not a great game, just that it wouldn't be in my personal Top 10. And while I love Gears, the truth is that I only spent 100 hours on Gears including all difficulties and gobs of multiplayer.

Olivion? 250 hours and counting. For me, that makes Oblivion the better game.

I'll try and make this quick.

Zelda is far and away superior to GOW. I love how people complain about how Zelda's gameplay is the same as it was in the other titles (Which is incredible. What's wrong with it? Why is there a need to change it?) when GOW is just another alien shooter. I'd rather have a game that gives a far better gameplay experience than shoot more aliens.

There are many things wrong with this list, in my opinion.

1.) First, and most glaringly obvious is Resistance: Fall of Man being anywhere near the top ten. I understand that they maybe wanted to give a nod to the PS3 but just because it is the only good launch game anyone cares about doesn't mean you are obligated to put in the top ten, when so many better games have been released this year.

2.) Guitar Hero II is better than Dead Rising, New Super Mario Bros. and Okami? Well to each their own, but that just makes no sense to me, and I think all three of the latter games outclass Guitar Hero II in almost every aspect but multiplayer.

3.) Gears of War @ #1. If you are giving huge points to graphics and multiplayer, sure this is the obvious choice. But when looking at single player attributes I don't see how a 50+ hour single player with a completely new control scheme, items and characters or a 100+ hour RPG with incredible size and immersiveness both lose to a 10 hour campaign with pretty standard FPS weaponry and meathead personalities. But I guess some people really like chainsaw bayonets.

Gears has an online co-op campaign that affords, I think, more than 10 hours of entertainment and it is very high-caliber entertainment at that. Also a multi-player component to extend the longevity of the game for those who enjoy online competition. I also have to disagree with anyone who says the graphics in Gears "aren't great". Come off it.

The XBox looks like a smart little machine- powerful, affordable, and its got a nice online service, but I can't imagine buying one. As impressive as the games are technically, they don't appeal to me whatsoever. They're way too drab, brooding, and (geekily) macho- kinda like comic books in the 90's. There's just no variety, and I'm bored to tears by its offerings.

Gears and the Xbox 360 suck.

zelda= more than 100 hours of pure gameplay
gears of war= 7 hours and multiplayer

lol

I guess Davinche pretty much had it right. Anyone can find their own reasons why this game or that should be at the top.

No EBA? =(

I heart EBA.

"30. I'm calling BS. There is NO WAY that Gears of War is better than Oblivion."

Um, see, you can't really "call BS" on an opinion. You can agree or disagree, but you can't call their opinion objectively true or false.

@ 18. You are an idiot. The list includes all games that came out this year, not just on next gen consoles. See how there is a PS2 game and DS game. You sir, are a moron.

I'll defend it to my grave:

"As of the end of 2006, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess marks the greatest game of all time."

ugh. i think i threw up a little in my mouth joystiq.

only this site would slant the story to make it seem like the 360 is the bestest thing in the whole wide world!!

i own a 360, it's a really good console. i also own a PS3. it is also a really good console. but that's not what i came here to argue. once again Blake Snow demonstrates his ridiculous bias.

that 42% that Microsoft "dominates?" out of the 18 games listed under X Box or X Box 360, only 6 are exclusive to those two consoles. the other 12 are multiplatform, either for the PC, or other gaming platforms like the PS2, PS3, or PSP.

out of the 5 games listed for Nintendo, five of them are exclusive to Nintendo, with no other ports to other consoles whatsoever (unless you count Zelda, but that was a Gamecube game first anyway. doesn't matter).

out of the 6 PC games on that list, 6 are exclusive to the PC.

out of the 11 games listed under PS2, or PSP, 10 of them are exclusive to that platform.

stop trying to slant the news to make your preference look better and just fricking report it truthfully. jesus christ i'm sick of this crap from this site. i stopped coming here for a while because of that crap, then i came back, hoping things had changed, but nope, not with Blake Snow on the job!

Next Gen chose to ignore the fact that a lot of those titles are multiplatform, but that doesn't mean you couldn't inform *YOUR* readers that there was a slant in MS's favor to the story. but i expected too much from you. whatever.

edit: i also meant to put PS3 in my Playstation 3 figures. my argument remains unchanges, however.

Heres my list:
1-GoW and TP
2-Okami
3-Guitar hero 2
4-Oblivion
5-GRAW
6-Excite Truck(not even mentioned)
7-Resistance
8-Final Fantasy 12
9-Trauma Center(Wii version)
10-Company of Heroes
But that's just my list,and my opinion,so plese don't send comments saying how my list is wrong and yours better,thanks!

Bejeweled on my phone ruled 2006 every time i took a long dump at work

You guys are silly. Especially the guy comparing Gears of War to Killswitch on the PS2. I can see that if you have a 13" black and white television and you're borderline retarded you could try to force that comparison.

You guys cant seriously complain about Gears just because its not your favorite genre or because you dont like 3rd person games. Its a great game. By the way if it only took you 7 hours to beat Gears you may want to up the difficulty chief. Only play Hardcore and up or you're robbing yourself of a truly great experience.

My two favorite comments:

"I'd rather have a game that gives a far better gameplay experience than shoot more aliens."

So, by that reasoning a game can't have far better gameplay and alien shooting too? Call Sega and let thme know they should cancel their Aliens game as it can't have far better gameplay than any other game! (Or are you saying that no alien shooting game can be better than Twilight? I must be slow today)

"Twilight was FAR more enjoyable then again I may have some bias myself since I though RE4 was overrated which shows me I don't like 3rd person camera angles."

Funny that all of the pics of Twilight had me thinking it was a 3rd person game. I guess it's what, an FPS?

Anyway, I'm betting they're both mindblowingly cool.