Top Ten PS2 Games for 2006

Even though the PS3 is here, the PS2 is still very much alive and kicking. Here are some of the best games that have come out for 2006.

Even as the world prepared for the arrival of Sony's Playstation 3, cutting-edge games have still consistently been cranked out for its predecessor, the Playstation 2 platform this year. Here are ten of the best PS2 games to come out for 2006:

1. .hack//G.U.

The .hack universe returns in another chapter, immersing you in the game as a player-killer hunter known as the "Terror of Death". When a famous player killer (or PKer as they're commonly known) shows up and defeats you, your world changes both in and outside the game. Greatly improved gameplay and a more open-ended plotline let you explore The World in various more ways than you could before.

2. Bully

Rockstar takes you back to school in the form of teenager Jimmy Hopkins. Your mother is off on yet another honeymoon (with yet another husband), leaving you to fend for yourself in a school full of bullies-not all of them students. Stand up to those who try to pick on you, solve classroom-based puzzles to advance, and explore the halls of the revered BullworthAcademy. Humor and intriguing gameplay come together to form this slightly offbeat but no less entertaining game.

3. Call of Duty 3

This new installment of the Call of Duty series finds you smack in the middle of NormandyBeach in WWII. Fight your way through a fully destructible environment, destroying your enemy's cover before they destroy yours and employing military tactics and strategy as you battle for your life. Multiplayer mode gives an extended shelf life for this game.

4. Kingdom Hearts 2

A sequel to perhaps the most unlikeliest of video games, Kingdom Hearts 2 once again blends anime with the magic of Disney as you further explore a world hovering between good and evil. Join your favorite heroes Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Sora as you try to stop an evil king, traveling through levels with stunning graphics and almost seamless animation. Even if you aren't a fan of Disney, the intricate storyline alone will draw you in.

5. Tales of the Abyss

In this roleplaying game you play the character Luke, recently returned home after being kidnapped several years ago. With no memory of his past he spends his days in his family's palace until he becomes entangled with the Order or Lorelei and a prophecy known as "The Score". Realistically drawn and with exciting no-barriers battle zones, you'll feel as though you really are in control of Luke's destiny-which, thanks to intuitive game design, you are.

6. The Godfather

Negotiate, threaten or otherwise claw your way to the top in 1940s New York as a member of the Corleone crime family. The perfect blend of fear and allegiance is hard to find, with character responding in different ways based on your own choices, but if you can manage it you'll soon find yourself one of the big fish. The gameplay is far from linear, allowing you to play however you see fit. Theatrical effects and voices from the original trilogy help bring the mobster environment of post-WWII to life on your console.

7. Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked

Based on the hit anime series, Samurai Champloo is the story of three unlikely friends searching for the samurai that "smells of sunflowers". Travel through the land of Ezo as Mugen, Jin or a previously unseen character named Worso Tsurumaki(after beating the game as Mugen and Jin. Certain items in the game will give you access to improved fighting techniques and new combinations. Featuring an innovative storyline with excellently developed characters, the game plays out like an actual episode of the series itself. Even if you've never seen the show before, you'll quickly find yourself enjoying the unique styles each character possess and the offbeat humor sprinkled throughout the game.

8. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

Ever wish you could bring together your favorite Marvel characters to create the best superhero team in the world? This game lets you make that dream into a reality as you assemble a team from over 20 superheroes, with well over a hundred more characters waiting in the fast-action game. Your decisions will alter the course of gameplay, for better or for worse, with several alternate endings. Offline and online multiplayer options extend gameplay beyond the single-player campaign to ensure hours of enjoyment.

9. Final Fantasy XII

The next chapter of the Final Fantasy universe doesn't disappoint. In a world where airships are a more common sight than birds, war is threatening to break out across the countryside. When Archadia invades neighboring Dalmasca, it's up to a princess and an adventurer with dreams of flying an airship to save the world from destruction. Final Fantasy XII features a greatly improved AI system using a new Active Dimension Battle system (different from the Active Time Battle system in earlier games), allowing for greater flexibility on the battlefield and better timing for your attacks.

10. SOCOM: US Navy SEALS Combined Assault

The SOCOM games continue with the release of Combined Assault, featuring more co-op missions for four players and online 32-player competitions. New vehicles and weapons are at your disposal as you track your enemy and defend your country. Enhanced AI has made your opponents more aware of you, which means you have to watch your step and be even stealthier than before. Customizable options with the Instant Action missions makes for a high replayability factor. Created with input from the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command, you can be sure this game will be as close to the real thing as simulations can get.