10 TOP GAMES OF THE YEAR.

IF you care at all about gaming, no doubt I'm about to offend most of you at least a little.

It's inevitable. A round-up of my best games of 2006 is guaranteed not to include the one you've spent all year playing to death - it's the nature of the beast.

And speaking of beasts.

In the Daily Record of January 20, I wrote the following in my lead review.

"On February 17, the Game of the Year will go on sale and from then on, I'm afraid, things won't get much better. Yes, I know we've still to see the PS3 and Nintendo Revolution. And, yes, I know there's more to come from Xbox 360. But it doesn't really matter, and Shadow of the Colossus is why."

Well, there have indeed been some brilliant games since then, and we've STILL got to see the PS3, but I stand by my original statement. Shadow of the Colossus raised the bar in terms of design and pushed us hard with its challenging combat mechanics, in a complete package that simply took the breath away.

It certainly proved there was still life in the old PS2 - and I can only wonder what a next-generation follow-up may look like in all its high-definition glory.

Anyway, here are my top 10 games of 2006 - if you agree, great. If you don't, well that's fine too.

1. SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS - SONY PS2

It's rare for a title to raise gaming to the level of art, but Shadow did just that. Its bleached landscapes, atmospheric lighting and mournful score were poetically beautiful. But it was also a superbly crafted action game with some of the finest monsters and engrossing action ever committed to disc.

2. LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS - NINTENDO WII

This may have been a late entry but always destined to be one of the games of the year. Fantastic use of Nintendo's innovative motion-sensing remote controller, which drives our hero Link through a series of adventures guaranteed to enchant and challenge. A true connoisseur's game.

3. GEARS OF WAR - XBOX 360

Brutally, bloodily awesome action from the most hotly-awaited shooter of the year. It didn't disappoint, despite having a fairly one-dimensional storyline. But who needs a story when full-on combat looks and plays this good?

4. FOOTBALL MANAGER HANDHELD 2007 - SONY PSP 

Thanks to it being a take-away, I probably lost more hours of my life in 2006 to Sega's superb football management sim than any other game. It got played everywhere. The 2007 version built on an already superb, absorbing 2006 season game.

5. THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION - MICROSOFT XBOX 360

On a big HDTV nothing has come close this year for visual brilliance' it's dripping in detail and awash with extravagant colour. If you let it, you'll lose weeks of your life to it. An enthralling game.

6.NEW SUPER MARIO BROS - NINTENDO DS

The power of the DS made it possible for new elements like the deforming terrain and 3D enemies, all of which created amazing gameplay and a "blimey, look at that!" factor to a legendary franchise.

7. LEGO STAR WARS II: THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY - SONY PS2

This one's in the list not so much on my recommendation - though I do love it - than my son's. He's seven and he finished it ages ago, collectibles and all, but keeps going back to it because a) it's Star Wars, b) it's Lego, and c) it's just brilliant.

8. TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS - MICROSOFT XBOX 360

Kerching! Close combat, squad-based tactical shooting in the bright lights and casinos of Las Vegas, with controls that are reminiscent of Gears of War, stunning visuals and heart-pumping action.

9. ROCKSTAR GAMES PRESENTS TABLE TENNIS - MICROSOFT XBOX 360

Surprise hit of 2006, in my book, for the amazing success Rockstar had in translating the speed, skill and physics of table tennis onto a console control system.

10. YOSHI'S ISLAND - NINTENDO DS

It's been an amazing year for the DS format, and the wonderfully colourful and cheery look of Yoshi's Island, married with simple controls and challenging gameplay, completely won me over. Charming, utterly charming.

This could easily have been a Top 20 list but you've got to draw the line somewhere, and so you'll notice there's no place in there for some great games, like Canis Canem Edit (Bully), Psychonauts and Kingdom Hearts II on the PS2, GTA: Vice City Stories on PSP, Viva Pinata and Prey on the 360.

You'll have your own favourites, no doubt, but whatever they are, I hope you've enjoyed your gaming in 2006 as much as I have, and are looking forward to another exciting year ahead.

Don't forget, by March the PS3 will be with us, and won't it be interesting to see how many of its titles feature in next year's top 10?

'Shadow of the Colossus raised the bar in terms of design and pushed us hard with its challenging mechanics'

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