Rock Band - X360, PS3, Wii

Rock Band is every wannabe musician's dream. A game that takes the four key instruments one needs to make a band a rock band (guitar, bass, drums, vocals), and builds a highly playable and intensely addictive game around them. To a degree, developer Harmonix got a head start on the process of creating Rock Band when it developed the first two Guitar Hero games, but whereas those games were all about the decidedly solo act of severe simulated shredding, Rock Band goes in an entirely different direction. The solo play has taken a backseat to cooperative multiplayer. This game is all about the act of performance as a band, getting a group of four people together and working together to get the highest score bonuses possible as a group, all while fake guitaring and realistically singing and drumming your way through more than 40 different licensed rock hits. The steep $170 price tag for the game and bundled hardware might prove to be a barrier for entry for some, and in addition, the hardware itself comes with a few flaws. But if you're willing to make the investment, Rock Band is a guaranteed good time for any music lover, and one of the best party games you'll ever play.

Official Website

Publisher: MTV Games
Developer: Harmonix Music
Genre: Rhythm / Music
Release Date: Nov 20, 2007 (more)
ESRB: TEEN


Gamespot: 90


Overall: 90
GameSpy: 100
CVG: 88

Overall: 93

Gears of War - Xbox 360

Gears of War blends tactical action with survival horror and thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Lead war hero Marcus Fenix and his fire team as they face the onslaught of merciless warrior fiends. A revolutionary tactical combat system and breathtaking, high-definition visuals from the Unreal Engine 3 immerse you in a horrifying story of war and survival. A.I. teammates are indiscernable from human players. Voice recognition and real-time lip synching heighten the experience. The battlefield is a lethal place. To survive, suppress your enemy with blindfire, take cover in interactive environments, or use weapons and teammates to outwit your foes. [Microsoft]

Official Website

PUBLISHER:	Microsoft
DEVELOPER:	Epic Games
GENRE(S):	First-Person Shooter, Action, Survival Horror
PLAYERS:	8
ESRB RATING:	M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE:	November 7, 2006

1UP: 100
Play Magazine: 100
Games Radar: 100
GameSpy: 100

Overall: 100

Justice League Heroes - Xbox

Justice League Heroes is an action adventure game with role-playing customization featuring Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna and other unlockable Justice League super heroes. Each hero possesses an array of character-specific, upgradeable superpowers resulting in unique controls and fighting-styles. Engaging in one-to-two player cooperative combat, gamers are be able to customize and master these superpowers as they travel through interactive and destructible environments spanning the farthest corners of the universe. [Eidos Interactive]

Official Site

PUBLISHER: Warner Bros. Interactive / Eidos Interactive
DEVELOPER: Snowblind Studios
GENRE(S): Action, Role-Playing Game
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: October 17, 2006

GamePro: 80
Electric Playground: 80
ZTGameDomain: 80
GameSpot: 76
Team Xbox: 68
Yahoo! Games: 60

Overall: 74

Final Fantasy XII - PS2

The story takes place in a world called "Ivalice," in an age when magic was commonplace and airships plied the skies - the Archadian Empire, seeking to strengthen its base of power, had been invading and subjugating its neighboring lands one by one- a fate which befell the small Kingdom of Dalmasca. Archadia's invasion and the subsequent death of the Dalmascan king prompted the Princess Ashe, the sole surviving heir to the Dalmascan throne, to take up arms against the invaders. In her struggle to oust the occupying Archadian forces and restore freedom to her people, Ashe must watch as many of her allies pay the blood price for that freedom. Though tempted to abandon all hope in the face of the Empire's might, her determination keeps her from succumbing before what would seem to be inevitable defeat. Then she meets Vaan, an urchin from the Dalmascan capital of Rabanastre. Vaan dreams of one day becoming a sky pirate, escaping the Empire on his airship. Vaan, Ashe, Vaan's friend Penelo, the sky pirate Balthier, his partner Fran and many more are on an adventure through Ivalice that traces the mysteries behind the Archadian Empire's invasion. Bringing with it a wide array of new gameplay elements, Final Fantasy XII will change the way players think about the Final Fantasy series. Numerous possibilities abound within each scenario, allowing for a less linear, more unique experience for each player. The game also supports Dolby Pro Logic II both in-game and during movie sequences, immersing the player in the middle of the action. [Square Enix]

Official Site

PUBLISHER:	Square Enix
DEVELOPER:	Square Enix
GENRE(S):	Role-Playing Game
PLAYERS:	1
ESRB RATING:	T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE:	October 31, 2006

Weekly Famitsu: 100
Play Magazine: 100
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine: 100
PSM Magazine: 95

Overall: 98,75