-- Scott Taves";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'Halo 3'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_Halo%203.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Microsoft", "226", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'Halo 3'
We knew “Halo 3” was going to be good. The question was how good. A global sigh of relief marked the game’s release as gamers dug into the trilogy’s stunning finale. Master Chief and his sidekick, The Arbiter, take the fight back to Earth in a series of “greatest hits” battles against the Covenant and the Flood. While there weren’t any gameplay surprises in the single-player campaign, the expansive outdoor environments and impeccable art direction looked jaw-droppingly cinematic on the Xbox 360.
Multi-player gaming reached dizzying new heights in “Halo 3.” Four-player online co-op injected new life into the campaign with a scoring system while a powerful map editor called Forge effectively guaranteed eternal shelf life for “Halo 3's” multiplayer. With Forge, players can be a Monitor with the ability to customize the selection and locations of weapons and vehicles. While “Halo 3” wasn’t revolutionary, it was close to perfect.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'ArmA: Combat Operations'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_ArmA.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Atari", "235", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'ArmA: Combat Operations'
For those of us who haven’t been in actual combat, playing “ArmA” is like a bucket of ice water in the face. If you catch one bullet, two tops, then down you go; no red haze, no hiding to get your health back. “ArmA” is distinctly more simulation than game and it’s definitely not for the casual gamer. The learning curve is steep, death is frequent and the gameplay is short on scripted drama.
A typical scenario: You’ll patrol an area where nothing happens. This goes on for so long that you’ll think that there’s something wrong with the game. Then, without warning, all hell breaks loose, bullets fly, you hear hectic radio chatter – and then, the battle’s over.
If you have the patience, this PC game is a deep, satisfying experience. There’s over 250 square miles of virtual territory to explore and dozens of aircraft and vehicles to master.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_CallofDuty4_2.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Activision", "240", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare'
The WWII “Call of Duty” series was getting long in the tooth and the decision to fast forward the combat to the present day couldn’t have worked out better. The game play has been revitalized with modern weapons, gear and a believable context.
The attention to environmental details borders on obsessive-compulsive: dilapidated buildings, foggy marshes and Middle Eastern dust bowls look nearly photo-realistic in this title for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The gameplay is impeccably fine-tuned: bullets go through sufficiently thin walls, enemy artificial intelligence is fiercely sharp, and the mission variety keeps you salivating for the next level. Beyond the sublime single-player game is some of the fastest, deepest, most addictive multi-player available.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_STALKER.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "THQ", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl'
Set in an apocalyptic alternate reality where the Chernobyl cleanup didn’t go according to plan, “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” puts the player in the boots of a nameless amnesiac. While you wander the expansive, inhospitable landscape one notion bubbles to the surface: “kill Strelok.” The thing is that you have no idea who Strelok is. Free choice abounds in “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” You can unravel the Strelok mystery by talking with other characters or take on RPG-style tasks to earn equipment, currency and open up new story lines.
No other game this year manages to mash-up RPGs and shooters as brilliantly as “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” The inventory management adds strategy and depth while the first-person shooter element gives the gameplay a shot of adrenaline. The radioactive wasteland and assorted mutant foes look dreadfully convincing on a well-equipped PC.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'Kane & Lynch: Dead Men'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_KaneLynch.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Eidos", "252", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'Kane & Lynch: Dead Men'
“Kane & Lynch” proves games can develop characters and tell a story every bit as well as movies. The crew behind the venerable “Hitman” series delves further into the anti-hero genre with this tale of two charmers: the death row mercenary and the delusional psychopath. Kane, the mercenary, is sprung from death row by his former crew of shady criminals and Lynch, the aforementioned psychopath, is assigned as his handler. Thus, this most twisted buddy tale begins.
Every aspect of “Kane & Lynch” is spot on. The voice acting is superb and the dialogue darkly witty. The game (playable on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC) oozes a rich atmosphere with a clear debt to the chaotic gun battles in Michael Mann’s classic movie “Heat.” While the single-player campaign is pure cinematic bliss, the multi-player mode really shines.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'Crysis'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_Crysis.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Crytek", "273", "397", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'Crysis'
The poster child for supercharged gaming PCs looks every bit as beautiful as it plays. Lesser computers may choke on “Crysis,” but those with the tech will be in sci-fi shooter heaven. Ancient alien life forms have been unearthed by scientists on a South Pacific island and the North Koreans can’t wait to get their mitts on the discovery. As a member of a U.S. special ops team, you’re tasked with rescuing the scientists and stopping the Koreans.
“Crysis” is set on a meticulously rendered jungle island which is later transformed by the aliens into a frozen wasteland. Vegetation, mud, ice and snow have never looked this realistic before. The game’s convincing sense of immersion – of being in a living world – completely succeeds thanks to the screaming-edge game engine.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'Ghost Recon 2: Advanced Warfighter'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_Ghost%20Recon2.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Ubisoft", "239", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'Ghost Recon 2: Advanced Warfighter'
The “Ghost Recon” series has always delivered stellar squad-based game play and “GRAW 2” (available for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360) is the most refined, deep installment yet. The Ghosts are a near-future special ops team who specialize in defusing politically delicate situations. This time, Mexican rebels are amassing near a new wall along the U.S. border and the Ghosts are sent in to poke around. The play style is cautious and deliberate – the run-and-gun tactic will inevitably end in a dirt nap.
The flying drone, new this outing, gives an invaluable bird’s eye view of the battlefield. Military tech freaks will love the updated Cross-Com 2.0 HUD, complete with video feeds from your squad’s perspective. Multi-player remains some of the finest available with maps that are well-tuned for up to 16 players.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'The Orange Box'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071217-oboxtf2-02-3p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Valve", "238", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'The Orange Box'
This “Box” is simply the biggest bang for your gaming buck – think quantity and quality. The contents read like a shooter fan’s fantasy: “Half-Life 2,” both episodic sequels including the new “Episode 2,” “Portal,” and “Team Fortress 2.” For the uninitiated, “Half-Life 2” revolutionized the FPS genre with a combination of ingenious, physics-based puzzles, epic action and deft writing. The sequels added characters you truly care about. Console gamers get a next-gen polish to sweeten the deal.
“Portal,” the surprise of the lot, is a completely fresh experience.You play a test subject armed with a device that creates a portal; you go in one and come out of the other. This simple concept turns increasingly complex as you navigate through some fiendishly difficult courses complete with gun turrets and toxic pools. All the while you’re accompanied by the disembodied voice of your host, an A.I. with some of the funniest dialogue in gaming history.
Multi-player fans will rejoice in the twisted Warner Bros. cartoon world of “Team Fortress 2.” The bold graphical style and nine character classes define the game’s world-class online action.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'Unreal Tournament III'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_UnrealTournIII.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Epic Games", "238", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'Unreal Tournament III'
The granddaddy of multi-player shooters is back – bigger and faster in every way. “UT III” features more vehicles, new expansive levels and the fastest, most frenzied battles anywhere. Both “Unreal” vets and newcomers will feel at home in the deathmatch and capture the flag modes, but it’s the new team-centric Warfare mode that offers a new level of strategic play to the series. In Warfare, the environments are huge and the action takes on an epic scale with vehicles and aircraft in the mix.
The Unreal Engine 3 editor is included in both the PC and PS3 packages. This powerful tool can be used to create customized characters, weapons, vehicles and game maps. Just don’t forget to hone your skills against some ’bot opponents in the single player campaign – online battles are fast and furious.";
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i++] = new Array("","'Metroid Prime 3: Corruption'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071217/071117_holidayGames_Metroid3.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Nintendo", "245", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Games_Bestof2007_Shooters[i-1].body = "
'Metroid Prime 3: Corruption'
“Metroid 3” challenges the notion that the Wii and mature, hardcore gaming are mutually exclusive. The Wii controller setup happens to be a natural for shooters, allowing precise aiming and movement.
These latest adventures of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran feel both familiar and fresh; Samus is still facing off against Space Pirates in her upgradeable armored suit, only now the gameplay is more absorbing with the motion-sensing controls. The Advanced Mode controller scheme in “Metroid 3” is the next best thing to a mouse and keyboard and the visual quality is nothing short of amazing, especially considering the Wii’s limited graphics horsepower.
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// END editorial data