Gateway

Issue date: 12/14/07 Section: Arts & Leisure

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Best PC Game of 2007: Crysis

Crytek, developer of the jaw-dropping Far Cry back in 2004, has once again set the bar extremely high for all games to follow. Crysis, a first-person shooter game, puts you in the boots of a Delta Force operative named Nomad. His nano suit can augment strength, speed and armor as well as make Nomad appear invisible for short periods of time. The game makes full use of Windows Vista's DirectX 10. This allows for things like depth of field, waterfall mists, ambient occlusion or realistic shadowing effects on the environment, and the most amazing water effects ever produced in a game. If the graphics in this game are not photorealistic, then what is? Boot this one up and show your wussy Halo 3-loving friends what they are missing out on.


Best Real-Time Strategy Game of 2007: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts

The World War II shooters have become a staple in game releases on every platform for the last 2 years. However, last year's Company of Heroes was an excellent new addition in the form of a real-time strategy game. This year's sequel is even better. Not only does Opposing Fronts offer more diversity between the Allied and Axis powers, it also supports DirectX 10 visual effects. Smoke effects, explosions and realistic shadows are new benefits of DirectX 10 functionality. The difficulty is brutal, but it's World War II and nothing was easy then.


Best Action Game of 2007: Tomb Raider Anniversary

Let's face it. Every Tomb Raider game since the original Tomb Raider has gradually sucked more with each release. Then along came last year's hit, Tomb Raider Legend, and breathed life into the tarnished franchise. So, what could be better than the last game? How about the original game brought back to life with Legend's game engine. The game is a remake at heart, but you wouldn't realize it by the amazing visuals and completely redesigned levels, including all new areas to explore. The game has lots of unlockables, like new outfits and commentary, and gives you that warm, nostalgic feeling us long-time gamers love.


Best Adventure Game of 2007: Sam & Max: Abe Lincoln Must Die!

Ah, the good ol' days of the point-and-click Lucas Arts adventure games. There's nothing quite like the old school comedy of Sam & Max: Hit the Road, Day of the Tentacle and Full Throttle. That mindset is exactly what Telltale Games set out to both reinforce and disprove with the new episodic series of Sam & Max. Abe Lincoln Must Die! is the fourth installment in the series and is by far the most hilarious of season one. This episode is chock full of sidesplitting humor, a ridiculous musical number and the most preposterous car chase ever. Don't wait for Christmas; you owe it to yourself to purchase this game, if not the entire series, right now.

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