My Favorite Video Games of 2006, Part 1

Well, the time has come for my most anticipated posts of the year: My Favorite Video Games of 2006. This year I have decided not to declare a definite favorite, so the games will be in no particular order. I will be doing a short post on each one, including a picture of the cover. (as always, swiped from Gamespot.com)

Unfortunately, in 2006, I was a bit disappointed in a few of the games that I played. Not that any of them were terrible, but there are several possible reasons for that disappointment. First, I had some pretty high expectations for some of the games, some of which were not met. Second, a couple were sequels that didn't live up to their predecessors. And third, a couple were prequels to other games that I had liked that weren't as good as the ones I liked. But, I still managed to greatly enjoy myself with most of them, and I will tell you about a few of the best.

Rayman:Raving Rabbids was the first Nintendo Wii game that I got besides the Wii Sports game that came with the Wii. The Rayman series of games began on the original Sony Playstation, but has since included games for just about every console that has been made since. Rayman is a funny, ficticious little critter that has no arms, legs, or neck. Just a body, head, hands and feet.

Previous Rayman games have always had a unique, offbeat sense of humor, and Raving Rabbids is no exception. In this installment, Rayman is kidnapped by a bunch of really dumb-looking bunnies (rabbids) who force him to perform tests every day for their entertainment. There are a total of five tests for each "day", and you are required to complete at least four of them to complete that "day" in the game. If you read my earlier post about the Wii, you will remember thewide variation of odd test that you are required to take: racing on wierd animals, rescuing little pigs and returning them to their corral, shooting bunnies with plungers, keeping outhouse doors closed behind bunnies, finding and slapping the bunny in a chorus who is singing off key, and many, many more.

For each day that you are successful in completing at least four of the tests, you are rewarded with a toilet plunger. (for some reason, the bunnies have a thing for plungers) After a couple of "days", rayman realizes that he can stick them on the wall of his cell and use them as a ladder to get to the window that is high up on the wall. And, after (if I remember right) 15 "days", you earn enough plungers to climb out to your freedom.

It's not the greatest game ever, but it is very entertaining, has lots of replay and muplayer potential, and makes great use of the Wii controller's motion sensing abilities.

So, it earns a spot on my five favorite video games of 2006. What will the other four be? Stay tuned to find out......