BEST VIDEO GAMES OF 2006.

Byline: Redmond Carolipio Staff Writer

It's been an interesting year for games. Here are my favorites of the year, in no particular order.

Gears of War (Xbox 360)

Living proof that plot and dialogue can be overrated. The only question is: Where's the chainsaw?

Anyone who played this might not have known anything about the ``resonator'' or who the Locust was, but within the first five minutes of the game, you stop caring. That's the effect the visuals have on anyone who sees it for the first time. Throw in awesome multiplayer (despite some microphone issues) capability and you have a signature title.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (Konami, PS2)

This game brought the world of Solid Snake into the multiplayer realm, and also introduced a new camera angle that freshened up an old title. This was gold for retro gamers as well -- the anthology of the original NES ``Metal Gear'' titles gives fans a look into one of gaming's great creative minds.

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (Xbox 360)

Perhaps the best-built game of the year. Sure, the graphics are outstanding, but everything in the gameplay works together seamlessly. This game was another step forward in the ``tactical shooter'' genre, and threw a curveball into the run-and-gun mentality of many console gamers weaned on first-person shooters.

Bully (PS2)

Beneath the noise of critics calling for the game's ban was an entertaining and somewhat chilling commentary on school violence. It's certainly the most socially relevant game of the year, turning fictional teen Jimmy Hopkins into an anti-hero that tapped into the psyches of of both adult and teen players.

Okami (PS2)

This is one of the most stylish and artistic games to come out in a long time. The title from the soon-to-be-defunct Clover Studios introduced celestial ``painting'' as an essential part of gameplay. Add in its colorful, cel-shaded look, and this game could be a legitimate case for gaming being seen as an art form.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Xbox 360)

I'm sure there was a story here somewhere in this massive role-playing game, but the legendary litany of side quests (and overall freedom) was what made this one of the first ``great'' titles on the 360. You can literally wipe out whole weeks just fooling around on quests that had little or nothing to do with the main plot.

Fight Night Round 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)

No sports game really made you FEEL the sport being represented quite like this one. The sweet science got the next-gen treatment as you saw sweat fly, blood fly farther and even skin ripple as you caught your opponent with a perfectly placed uppercut. It also did away with ``power meters,'' which means you had to read your opponent's body language (and face) like a real fighter to see how well you were doing.

Brain Age (Nintendo DS)

Surprised? You shouldn't be. This game really helped push the Nintendo DS into ``must-have'' status for people who wouldn't have even thought about getting into gaming. ``Brain Age'' was a blast to play, as the game made use of both the microphone and stylus.

Dead Rising (Xbox 360)

Who doesn't like turning zombies into a bloody cloud of mist? You could pick up anything from pipes to guns to lawnmowers and dish out feral, bloodthirsty revenge on hordes of the undead.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)

It almost feels like a cop-out to put a ``Zelda'' game on this list, but I have to. It's the most complete and well-rounded adventure game out there on practically any system. It also shows the refreshing longevity of a gaming icon. Many are already talking about this game in reverent tones.