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10. Forza Motorsport
Releases: April
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Microsoft Game Studios
Why it made the cut: At the Xbox conference held a few days before E3 2004, Microsoft announced Forza Motorsport, their foray into the racing simulation genre. The game attempts to seamlessly blend all genres of racing into one. It seems to be Gran Turismo’s greatest competition of the year. If you are a jaded racing fan, be sure to pick this game up.
9. Star Wars: Republic Commando
Releases: March
Publisher: Lucas Arts
Developer: Lucas Arts
Why it made the cut: For over two decades, Star Wars fans and gamers alike have been playing as their favorite characters from the original trilogy. Countless games, some great and some downright awful, have allowed millions of people the chance to control the force as a powerful Jedi or pilot a fighter craft in an epic battle among the stars. The same applies in this game, with much more tied into it. Now a squad-based FPS, gives the fans even more to look forward to. Be sure to pick up your copy 2/03/05.
 8. Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict
Releases: March
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Epic Games
Why it made the cut: I was fully prepared to hate Unreal Championship 2 and knock it as a sluggish Unreal Tournament 2004 port. After all, Unreal Tournament 2003 started out as Unreal Championship—an Xbox exclusive shooter but then was switched to a good shooter for PC, which was then rushed to Xbox in time for Xbox Live’s launch. The game had unresponsive controls, lagged horribly and overall just wasn’t as much fun in comparison to the other games in its class. Make sure you pick up your copy March 1st, 2005.
7. Pariah
Releases: May
Publisher: Groove Games
Developer: Digital Extremes
Why it made the cut: When I was gearing up to go to E3 I started hearing about this game, extremely interested by what seemed to be a lot of great polish. When I finally got to play it, I approached its area were all of the staff handling the game weren’t even paying attention to passer-bys rather being stingy and play the game themselves! When I finally got one of them to pay attention to me and I played Pariah, the game left a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth which I am sure can be sugared up more just in time for it’s late 2004-2005 launch. The game is a new entry into the every growing FPS genre that seems to just be getting better and bigger every year, this year specifically having some offerings that actually match Halo. The release date is still TBA.
6. Kameo: Elements of Power
Releases: April
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Rare Ltd.
Why it made the cut: If you follow press buzz that went around during last year’s E3, Kameo presented less than a spectacular showing. This year’s E3, however, was quite a different story when I picked the controller up and began to play the game. You start off as an abominable snow-man creature with icicles sticking out of its back. The creature can pick an icicle spear out of his back and then, by pressing the left trigger, can switch to a first person view and take aim at an incoming enemy. Hitting the shelves soon, be sure to pick up your copy.
5. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Releases: March
Publisher: UbiSoft
Developer: UbiSoft Montreal
Why it made the cut: Splinter Cell has one of the most popular series in the gaming industry. There are loads of new games from the Tom Clancy novels that are hitting the shelves before June, but the one game that really stands out among the rest is Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. Chaos Theory features many new ground breaking things ranging from weapons to new online game modes. I’ll certainly be picking this title up in March, and I’m sure you will too.
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