The big Nintendo exclusive titles will all be out this fall except for one. Strangely enough Mario wont be gracing the Wii until early 07. But that still leaves Metroid and Zelda to be the must-have titles. I played the Wii at E3 and this is hard for me to say because I love Sony, but the Wii was my favorite new console that I played. It's fresh and just damn fun. It may not have as massive specs as the other consoles but don't let that fool you. Gameplay is more important in my book. Here are your Nintendo exclusive launch titles.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption – Nintendo – November 19th
-The new generation of Metroid as a first-person shooter has put out two great games on the Gamecube, but now it moves to the Wii. Same style of game as before but Prime utilizes the Wii controller to its full potential. This was the only Wii game I played at E3 because the lines were so damn long, but Prime 3 blew me away. The new motion-censored controllers may sound nerdy and lame, but they add an element of interaction that surpasses anything I have played before. Let Metroid Prime 3 blow your mind.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – Nintendo – November 19th
-Now we're talkin! Zelda finally returns to its more realistic graphics and scraps the cell-shading style of previous releases. Link looks like the true badass he really is. There is a Twilight Realm as well, in which Link transforms into a wolf. Zelda titles are always top-notch but Twilight Princess has the makings of a true classic. Also being released on the Gamecube without the motion censoring, Link will dominate Nintendo junkies this fall.

Red Steel – Ubisoft – November 19th
-Another Wii title that has been receiving huge buzz for its graphics and control is Red Steel. This first-person shooter lets you wield both guns and swords as you travel across both the US and Japan. Red Steel looks cool and if the controls are anything as good as Metroid, there could be more competition in the first-person shooter category than we thought.

Trauma Center: Second Opinion – Atlus Software – November 19th
-An obscure smaller title that was first on the Nintendo DS, Trauma center is a doctor simulation. Might be weird but the thought of performing operations with the controller sounds like it could be pretty neat-o.

Elebits – Konami – November 19th
-I really don't know what Elebits is all about, but I do know you have to find them using your laser tractor-beam gun. Looking like a crazy Pikmin, Elebits should be a good one for the kids.

Wii Sports – Nintendo – November 19th
-Nintendo is adamant about its Wii Sports line of games and the first set will be out at launch. Basic versions of golf, tennis, and baseball are giving people that competitive edge. With its kiddy graphics, players might be waiting for EA Sports games instead of Wii Sports, but again the kids will enjoy this little release.

With the horrid news of initial PS3 shipments being cut from 2 million worldwide to only 500,000 in both North America and Japan and no units shipped to Europe until 2007, Sony has its work cutout for itself. Promising to have over 1 million units in North America by December 31st still gives Sony hope for a large install base this Christmas season. For those who pick one up and can resist selling it on EBay for twice it's worth, here are the exclusive PS3 games available this fall.

Resistance: Fall of Man – Sony Computer Entertainment – November 17th
-Developed by Insomniac Games, Resistance looks to be a promising first-person shooter that will take advantage of the raw power of the PS3. Taking place in an alternate 20th century setting, Resistance will feature some highly detailed environments, a diverse arsenal, playable vehicles, and intense creature design. Fall of Man might look like just another shooter but don't overlook Insomniac's ability to make consistently fun games.

Full Auto 2: Battlelines – SEGA – November 17th
-Car combat returns in the next installment of Full Auto. Fully re-designed from the original, Battlelines could be something new, or a fancy version of the same-old. It does look pretty insane though. As it boasts fully destructible environments, everything from trains, signs, ships, and even whole buildings will litter the streets you race on. This game is obviously based on two factors: speed and destruction. Never a bad combo, Full Auto will be in the hands of the adrenalin induced action gamers this fall.

Genji: Days of the Blade – Sony Computer Entertainment – November 17th
-The sequel to its PS2 little brother, Genji 2 is some serious eye-candy. Genji follows the classic samurai-slasher formula such as Onimusha, a personal favorite of mine. While it is visually stunning, most of the PS3 games are as well. We will have to wait and see how the gameplay is but for fans of this genre, here is your game.

Warhawk – Sony Computer Entertainment – November 17th
-Warhawk is another PS3 super-hyped game for what it has been able to do in terms of processing power alone. Look for hundreds of planes in the skies as you battle in an all out war. Warhawk is a dog-fighting action game that also features the ability to battle on foot as well. At E3 Sony also demonstrated the PS3 controller's motion sensor with this title. Developed by our friends over at Incog Inc. who put out the superb Twisted Metal: Black on the PS2, Warhawk could be a blast.

*First Quarter 07 is going to give us Assassin's Creed by Ubisoft. This game is going to be a real gem as we follow an Assassin through The Crusades time period. Don't let this one get by either.

Now that the 360 has been out a full season, its time for Microsoft to stand firm against the new Nintendo and Sony consoles. Not much of a library of outstanding games has been built over the past year so we need to see 360 come through with some quality. Unfortunately most of the big 360 games are also being released on other platforms. Here are your exclusive 360 titles for this fall.

Saints Row – THQ – August 29th
-The GTA game for 360 this fall, Saints Row is a knockoff in every respect. The thing is that it's still a good game. Though unoriginal, Saints Row is still fun for fans of the genre. With it being the first open-ended original title for the next-gen systems, look for Saints Row to fill the void.

Forza Motorsport 2 – Microsoft – November 2nd
-Microsoft's version of Gran Tourismo returns with its second installment. For those who want a more realistic driving simulator than Project Gotham, Forza is your game. Delivering 300 cars, 12 player online races, and more than 60 tracks, it should be a no-brainer. Add to that amazing looking car/track models and support for HD televisions to round out the package. Shouldn't be missed for 360 racing fans.

Gears of War – Microsoft – November 12th
-This is it. The most anticipated game to arrive on the 360 so far. Developer CliffyB's newest original title running on the Unreal Engine 3 pits players against a hellish race of creatures trying to wipe mankind of the planet. A third-person shooter with blistering graphics and HD support makes Gears of War THE game to show all your friends. Insert a character that rocks an assault rifle with chainsaw attachment (yes, a brilliant idea) and we should be playing something special.

*As for after the new year, dont forget about Capcom’s Lost Planet. Slated for a First Quarter 07 release date, this is going to be a great mech/3rd person shooter.

With this fall possibly becoming the last season of the PS2 life, most people are going to be heading for the next-generation consoles. But listen up folks, the PS2 is not dead yet and its Fall 06 line-up is looking to be the best of all systems this year. Below you will find all the PS2 exclusive titles that should be filling stockings and sucking hours of our lives away.

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII – Square Enix – August 15th
-The new Square Enix shooter featuring Vincent from FFVII as the main character, Dirge of Cerberus promises to hook fans back into one of the best video game worlds of all time. Dirge takes place three years after FFVII and features great character design, production values, and a story that most fans will want to check out. Not too long of a game and minimal replay value should limit this title to die-hard fans.

Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra – Namco – August 29th
-The final chapter in the Xenosaga series should wrap things up nicely. This RPG also has some great production values but the fact that it is a trilogy should also limit it to die-hard fans. But for those who have invested the time to Xenosaga, this title should not be missed.

Yakuza – SEGA – September 5th
-SEGA's new GTA style action game places you in the worlds most deadly crime syndicate, the Yakuza. On a quest of vengeance against the organization, Yakuza is a third-personal brawler with plenty of story. Set in atmospheric Tokyo, this game should be the GTA clone to grab this season.

Okami – Capcom – September 19th
-Capcom's (Zelda killer� is the newest creation of their Clover Studio; the same team that brought us Viewtiful Joe. Okami features a very stylistic visual paintbrush look as well as original gameplay. You must bring life back to the land that has been sucked dry. Okami should be at the top of all PS2 owners list.

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria – Square Enix – September 26th
-Valkyrie Profile was released on the PS1 as an unknown title that received critical acclaim. This prequel is a classic side-scrolling action game with a unique battle system and some great visuals. Valkyrie Profile 2 could be a great sleeper hit so keep your ears tuned.

God Hand – Capcom – October 10th
-God Hand may just be one of the craziest/most unique games ever made, or it could be a total mess. This brawler follows the main character that loses his hand and comes into possession of the God Hand giving him extraordinary powers. Another Clover Studio release, God Hand attempts to mix violence and comedy into one strange experience. Good or bad, God Hand will be interesting to say the least.

Bully – Rockstar Games – October 16th
-The newest Rockstar release, Bully takes place at the newest location for a game – the schoolyard. Looking like GTA at private school, Bully could be an interesting twist on Rockstar's proven formula. Not much has been leaked about this game yet so keep checking up on its progress.

Final Fantasy XII – Square Enix – October 31st
-ABOUT FUCKING TIME. I haven't played a Final Fantasy game since FFX, which was released five years ago. FFX-2 doesn't count. I don't know what to say about FFXII. Buy it. A new real-time battle system changes the traditional turn-based style, but FFXII will be pushing the PS2 to its limits in every area.

Guitar Hero II – RedOctane – November 7th
-YES, Guitar Hero rules and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. Guitar Hero II boasts a brand-new track list as well as expanded venues and play modes. Multiplayer can now support one person on lead as well as another on either rhythm or bass. For those about to rock, Guitar Hero salutes you.

That's it for PS2 this fall but don't forget about both God of War 2 and Winning Eleven 10 this February. Aslo Rogue Galaxy is gonna be a kick ass RPG in January. PS2 still has some great times left in it for those willing to stick with her.

me an’ lil’ scrappy are homies now.

This fall marks the official transition to the next generation of console gaming. The Xbox 360 has been out for almost a year now, and both Sony and Nintendo's new systems will launch this fall (presumably) putting everyone on the playing field. With improved graphics and sound, are games becoming so in-depth and detailed that gamer imagination is becoming depleted or non-existent?

I began playing games with the NES in the 80's. Obviously we are nowhere near the 8-bit days of only twenty years ago. Are photo-realistic worlds and pristine audio and music really better than the pixilated graphics and beeping sound of old? I would argue that part of why I enjoy playing video games is because of the imagination they inspire in me.  The NES and SNES/Genesis era is considered retro by today's standards yet they were cutting-edge when originally released. We couldn't see every leaf of a tree react to wind or have real-time physics interacting with every object in-game. But we didn't need those things. Why? Because as a child we had our imaginations that filled in the blanks that game programmers couldn't create at the time. Two NES examples that stand out are the Super Mario Bros. series and The Legend of Zelda series. Super Mario Bros. had essentially one character, a basic storyline (save the princess from Bowser), and maybe five different types of enemies. Making that pitch for a game today would get you fired for even considering it. Why then was it so successful?

The Legend of Zelda was probably the first game that fully immersed me into a game-world. It was a fantastically huge landscape filled with mountains, lakes, deserts, forests, and dungeons. Link was the perfect hero whom also had to save a princess, but this time it was from Gannon. When created, the graphics and sound were top-notch but nothing compared to games today. How come I could be found running around the house hitting imaginary bricks with my head or defeating enemies with my sword and shield? It is because I wanted to be Mario and Link. I didn't want the adventure to end after I shut the power off. These primordial games sparked what I needed to fantasize new worlds and stories.Â

When we load up a game now, we get a world so intricate and detailed that there isn't room for imagination. Characters and stories are so intense that we cannot imagine how they will react in certain situations because it is all given to us. We play through the game being spoon-fed everything and when it is over we either say (that was a cool experience� or (that game sucked�. Most hardcore gamers that grew up with original Mario and Zelda are adults now. Maybe games have evolved this way because we have lost our childhood skill of imagination. Since we still want to escape our boring day-to-day life but lack the ability to do that, games have to do it for us.

There is still hope. In 2003, Konami released a game entitled Katamari Damacy. It became a cult classic within a niche group of gamers and I personally loved it. What did it consist of? Rolling a ball around and sticking everyday objects onto it in order to increase its size. The story? The stars were destroyed and each new (junk-ball� became a new star. Poor graphics relative to its PS2 platform, so-so controls, and a quirky soundtrack completed the package. Doesn't sound like much huh? Play it. Let your imagination run wild. Just like the basic Mario and Zelda formula; it works.

Another hopeful title is the upcoming Okami from Capcom. While this game does have quality graphics, sound, and controls, it has something else too; a unique moving-art visual style. Okami doesn't have realistic settings and characters but rather a cartoonish surreal world with a wolf/dog and fairy as main characters. A very original and imaginative feel can still be spoon-fed and succeed with these qualities.

Now, am I condemning games from here on out? The answer for me is no; I still love video games and will always be enthralled by them. The next generation of systems is an exciting question mark for me and I cannot wait to experience what they have to offer. In fact I think that most people, including myself, are in for a surprise as to how advanced games are going to be. I am not a child anymore and it is hard for me to return to such a mindset. I just hope that kids are still running around the house pretending to be Mario and Link like I once did.