Sad but true, the launch of Sony's new PlayStation 3 was something of a fiasco -- one that continues, though things are getting better. Of the handful of titles made available in the traditional year-end/new-system flood, only a few stand out as "the next level" of gameplay. Fortunately for Sony, the PlayStation 3 is not the only system in the company's arsenal; the previous-generation PlayStation2 -- the best selling console of all time -- continues to sell remarkably well, even out-pacing the Xbox 360 in recent unit sales, thanks in part to it's effortless, poor-step-child price tag of just $129.99 USD, $134.99 Cdn. Meanwhile, Sony's $200 USD / $230 Cdn handheld system, the PlayStation Portable, really seems to have hit its stride with a healthy selection of top-notch games. Here's the best of the year-end PlayStation gaming blitz.

PlayStation3 Titles

Resistance: Fall of Man
From: Sony
Price: $69.99 Cdn | $59.99
Rated M for Mature

The team behind PlayStation2's charming and humorous Ratchet & Clank franchise has a dark side, and it looks like they've fully embraced it in Resistance: Fall of Man, the PlayStation3's flagship launch title. This elemental human versus alien fragfest sets the bar for PlayStation3 graphics and online play (its multi-player mode, supporting up to 40 players, alone has "Halo killer" written all over it). If you only buy one game to go along with your PS3 purchase, this should be it.

Fight Night Round 3
From: EA Sports
Price: $66.99 Cdn | $59.99
Rated T for Teen

Already a smashing success on Xbox 360, Fight Night Round 3 for PlayStation 3 one-ups its counterpart and proves that otherwise identical games can look better on PS3 after all, which Sony always maintained the would be the case, despite much evidence to the contrary. Freakishly better, all things considered, as boxing in Round 3 on 360 was already eerily lifelike, now all the more vivid in pugilistically punishing detail. Comparisons aside, it's a rock-solid, gloriously deep and feature-rich boxing sim all by itself, featuring champs and mopes of many eras.

Full Auto 2: Battlelines
From: Sega
Price: $66.99 Cdn | $59.99 USD
Rated T for Teen

Lickity-slick crash bang car combat, Full Auto 2 Battlelines struts the PS3's high-def stuff. It plays suspiciously similar to the first Full Auto game as seen on Xbox 360, but for the brand new PS3 version (more of a redux than a sequel) comes buffed up visuals, more hood-mounted weaponry on more futuristic, beefcake cars and some raucous online multiplayer smash-bang-shoot-'em-up gameplay. Though it's still slim pickins for PS3 games, Full Auto 2 Battlelines will keep you sated for a long-enough while.

Madden NFL 2007
From: EA Sports
Price: $66.99 Cdn | $59.99 USD
Rated E for Everyone

Madden NFL 07 will undoubtedly be looked at by many gamers as a means of distinguishing the capabilities of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation3 consoles. Sadly, they might be in for a bit of a letdown as the games for both platforms are virtually identical in terms of content and, for the most part, visuals. The one key difference is Electronic Arts' use of Sony's Sixaxis motion-sensitive controller, which can be used to, say, deke out opponents by pumping your wrists, or for faking a snap.

PlayStation2 Titles

Guitar Hero II
From: Red Octane
Price: $59.99 Cdn | $49.99 USD
Rated T for Teen

The world's greatest (only) air-guitar game is back and better than ever in Guitar Hero II. Now sporting "Dual Shredding" - which not only allows two lead egoists (guitarists) to go at it simultaneously but also have one layin' it down on bass or rhythm guitar while the other scribbles lead - you can jam along with a new crop of rock from the likes of Van Wailin' (Halen), Rush, and Gun n' Roses and save the world via the coolest controller ever conceived, which just so happens to look like a guitar. Rock on, little gamer dudes. Rock on.

Karaoke Revolution: American Idol
From: Konami
Price: $49.99 Cdn | $39.99 USDRated E10+ for Everyone 10+

Still with the interactive crooning of the Karaoke Revolution franchise, where your vocal prowess, pitch and cadences are monitored, measured and scored, Karaoke Revolution American Idol takes is all to the hallowed setting of Simon Cowell television (where your fashion sense is also scored). Cranks through the whole process, virtually, from auditions to the finals, complete with judges and their mostly lame quips and "little-pitchy" commentary. If you think you’ve got what it takes to become the next American Idol, you're probably wrong, but at least you can find out in the privacy of your own home. Please do so.

SingStar Rocks
From: Sony
Price: $54.99 | $49.99
Rated E10+ for Everyone 10+

Sony looks to break Konami's Karaoke Revolution genre stranglehold with SingStar Rocks. While a Revolution knock-off in most respects, SingStar Rocks ups the interactive ante by providing not one but two hefty microphones that jack into the PS2 via USB adapter, then allows a player or duo to sing over the actual recordings and videos of the actual artists being karaoked... uh karaokified. Butchered. Plus, we're talking bellow-in-shower, make-the-dog-whimper gems like Dusty Springfield's Son Of A Preacher Man, Coldplay's Speed Of Sound, Aretha Franklin's Respect and Gwen Stefani's Cool, which is pretty cool.

SOCOM: Combined Assault
From: Sony
Price: $44.99 Cdn | $39.99 USD
Rated T for Teen

The fourth in the SOCOM series best known for its incredible online multiplayer mode, this modern tactical shooter has an extensive, diverse single player mode that keeps the game interesting, intense and long-term playable. Actually the fourth in the SOCOM franchise, Combined Assault brings little new to the table and is starting to show its age. Still, as always, it's best online, and you should be too.

PlayStation Portable Titles

SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2
From: Sony
Price: $44.99 Cdn | $36.99 USD
Rated T for Teen

A military shooter has you going after terrorists, defusing bombs and rescuing hostages, SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2 features an incredible online mode allowing 8 vs. 8 action, complete with real-time voice chat. You can also hook it up via a USB cable to your PS2 where it will expand on SOCOM: Combined Assault (for PS2) with missions and tasks that are unattainable with just one or the other.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
From: Rockstar
Price: $59.99 Cdn | $49.99 USD
Rated M for Mature

What basically amounts to a side story of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for the PlayStation2, GTA: Vice City Stories for PSP still packs in a glut gratuitous violence and (im)mature content, just like fans of the series would expect. Harsh but polished, Vice City Stories is a testament to PSP's potency as a game console that happens to be portable.

Lumines II
From: Buena Vista Games
Price: $49.99 Cdn | $29.99 USD
Rated E10+ for Everyone 10+

Sequel to the puzzle-based game that, for a while, had the dubious distinction of being the best the PSP had to offer, Lumines II remains in fine form as a Tetris-like brain-teaser with numerous modes. It's not much different than the first Lumines - which is not a bad thing, all best-things considered -, it's just that there is a lot more of it.

Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony
From: 2K Games
Price: $49.99 Cdn | $39.99 USDRated T for Teen

The quintessential dungeon crawling hack n' slash game for PC makes its way to PSP as a different adventure but mechanically identical game, so lots of crawling through dark and dreary dungeons looking for hidden treasure and cruel weapon upgrades as well as hacking and slashing the requisite surplus of hackables and slashables.


Also See:

• Cream of the year-end crop '06: Windows PC games


• Cream of the year-end crop '06: Nintendo games


• Cream of the year-end crop '06: Xbox 360 games