2006 is dead. The coffin of last year's gaming accomplishments lies ready for burial with a smattering of memorable titles fanned elegantly across its rich mahogany lid as a shining testament to the best 2006 had to offer. Conversely, and perhaps fittingly, the remaining mediocre and downright appallingly rotten games releases that occupied the bulk of the past twelve months are to be found cramming its velvet-lined interior to bursting point.

While 2006 wasn't the biggest or best year for videogames-with new predominantly hogging the limelight-it did produce some excellent software moments. Without sliding into the murky excessiveness of over indulgent recollection, 2006's highlights included the wolf-bound godly of Okami, the finger-bleeding addiction of II, the rib-crushing satisfaction of Round 3, the over hyped but suitably next-gen offerings of Gears of War, the quirky originality of LocoRoco, the fabulously fun-filled simplicity of Sports, and the effortless appeal and beauty of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

But, lest we forget: 2006 is dead. So join play.tm as we look forward to the future and examine what 2007 is likely to bring now that the next-generation combatants have finally taken to the arena of doom and are firmly embroiled in the battle for our collective cash.

Any "Hey, you forgot..." comments or criticisms can be freely added to the close of this layered preview, all of which will be actively read, carefully assessed, and then promptly dismissed out of hand.

Title: God of War II
Publisher: Computer Entertainment of America
Developer: SCEA Santa Monica
Platform: PlayStation 2
Release: March 13

Unlike 2006, any recent rumours concerning the premature death of the PlayStation 2 have been quashed with convincing gusto by Sony's stalwart of performance and popularity, thanks to impressive festive hardware and standout software releases. Indeed, games such as SquareEnix' epic XII (which was labelled "A work of progressive genius," by Edge magazine), and Level 5's Rogue Galaxy (a sci-fi action that PSM2 Magazine (UK) called "Wondrous and sublime") kept the 'grand old master' at the industry forefront throughout 2006, and II may arrive in March of 2007 as one more reason not to trade in the PlayStation 2 just yet.

Developed by SCEA Santa Monica, the sequel to 2005's critically acclaimed God of War sees muscle-bound antihero-and one-time Spartan warrior - Kratos sitting pretty (pretty?) atop Mount Olympus as the deserved victor in his quest to become the one true God of War. The story opens with Kratos watching on as his Spartan armies mercilessly ransack one Greek city after the next, and, soon enough, he once more suffers the wrath of the gods after choosing to ignore the Goddess Athena's pleadings for the slaughter to cease. In short, after unleashing his insurmountable rage on the ancient city of Rhodes, Kratos is stripped of his limitless immortal powers by Athena, shrunk back to the size of a mere man, and left to die at the hands of a towering re-animated Colossus.

However, it's highly unlikely that Kratos will fall so easily (because it'd be a mighty short game if that were the case) and embarking on an angry and gore-fuelled quest to alter his own mortal destiny soon becomes the only driving force behind the actions of the mighty Spartan.

Players can duly expect to experience the same brand of hard-hitting (M for Mature) blood-soaked action that was enjoyed (endured) during the first God of War, and all of it presented beautifully within superbly detailed mythological environments. Naturally, any such loving attention to detail evident throughout the game's levels are likely to be suitably counterbalanced by masses of death and destruction via Kratos' arsenal of melee and ranged weaponry - not to mention extremely impressive magic powers that will become more effective as the player progresses.

Wrap all this in the same intuitive control system, an intriguing storyline, Griffin-bound flying sequences, an array of seriously daunting boss encounters (i.e., Eurydale - sister of Medusa, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Barbarian King), and some of the most gruesome fighting action and finishing moves seen since - well - the original God of War, and SCEA's God of War II looks to be a sure-fire videogame deity. So, mark our words here and hold off on hawking your PlayStation 2 on eBay right now - you'll regret it if you do.

Title: Elite Beat Agents
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: iNiS
Platform: DS
Release: Nov 2006 in the US. TBC in Europe.

Although already available across North America, and rhythm-based Elite Beat Agents is certainly a title PAL gamers may want to add to their burgeoning 2007 wish lists (if they haven't already picked up an imported copy - remember, software is region free), and it's also yet another shining example of the innovative gameplay and cross-demographic appeal ingrained throughout Nintendo's handheld ethos, and subsequent market dominance.

Essentially, Elite Beat Agents is a follow up offering to the popular Japanese DS game, Osu! Tatake! Ouendan (OTO) - which was released in 2005. Quite simply, the Elite Beat Agents of the game's title replace OTO's heroically miscast (all-male) cheerleading trio and their quest to help people during uncomfortable social or personal situations. In the case of Elite Beat Agents, the three sunglasses-imbued, Secret Service-style characters embark on varied assignments (offered up by Commander Kahn) to help people caught in a bind through the medium of music. If only everything in life was so easily controlled.

The control mechanics central to the Nintendo DS see players tapping the handheld's pen stylus against musically synchronised rhythm spots that flash up on the console's lower touch-sensitive screen. To better illustrate the type of game Elite Beat Agents is, there is one particular level (Walkie Talkie Man) that sees the über cool rhythmic squad helping a shy girl to secure the affections of her footballing beau while she's also trying to perform babysitting duties at the same time. Another level has the Agents helping a lost dog to find his way home through a combination of hitchhiking and - you get the idea.

Ultimately, the game's individual story levels and player responses play out on the top screen of the DS while the bottom Touch Screen is used to tap and drag rhythmically encircled graphical icons in time with the story's popular musical accompaniment. Perhaps naturally, especially given that the gameplay is centred on the bottom screen, Elite Beat Agents may result in story monitoring being somewhat secondary to the frantic stylus action. However, the essence of the game's evolving difficulty (and light-hearted almost banal nature of its stories) should negate any sense of loss in a package that perfectly integrates the touch component of the DS.

Songs to, quite literally, tap along to in Elite Beat Agents include hot recognisable numbers such as ABC by the Jackson Five, Madonna's Material Girl, Survivor from Destiny's Child, Jumpin' Jack Flash by immortal rockers The Rolling Stones, pseudo punk queen Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi, and many, many others.

With the likes of Guitar Hero (PS2) and Gitaroo Man (PS2, PSP) occupying the mainstay of rhythm-based offerings - with Guitar Hero being a wildly successful release - the arrival of Elite Beat Agents finally gives the Nintendo DS crowd a little something to, um, sing about. Wait for its official European arrival or import a North American copy at your earliest opportunity.

Title: Mass Effect
Publisher: Microsoft
Deveoper: BioWare
Platform: 360
Release: March 2007

The mere attachment of BioWare's name to sci-fi action role-playing game virtually assures consumers of a memorable quality product - with portfolio gems such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, and Neverwinter Nights existing as glowing testaments to BioWare's developmental abilities. The only (slight) detraction that can perhaps be levelled at Mass Effect is that advance screenshots and trailers reveal it to be somewhat of a next-gen retread of Knights of the Old Republic. An undoubtedly impressive retread with a compelling storyline, revamped real-time battle system, expansive free-roaming galactic and planetary exploration, revolutionary characters and lip-synch, and stunning aesthetics, but a retread nevertheless.

In a nutshell, Mass Effect sees the galaxy's evolved life forms facing abrupt extinction from an ancient race of machines, which, according to legend, return every 50,000 years to wipe out any and all advanced organic civilisations. The player takes control of (a completely customisable) central character called Commander Shepard, the SS Normandy starship, and an elite recon squad - consisting of representatives from concerned races - to prevent the cataclysmic return of a nefarious enemy that kills without mercy. Furthermore, states that players "must act without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law" if they are to defeat a mysterious and extremely powerful enemy and avoid the complete eradication of mankind and all other organic life.

In terms of RPG flexibility, Mass Effect allows players to choose their squad mates, weaponry, armour, skill abilities, vehicles and customisation, character appearance, and plotline-influencing moral choices, while also providing different progressive character paths (soldier, tech-specialist, biotics-specialist) that deliver varied progressive and unique attributes to the overall gameplay experience.

The next-gen 'oomph factor' pulsing through Mass Effect means that players can travel across a sumptuous living galaxy, explore vast uncharted planetary systems and new worlds, investigate alien colonies, floating space wrecks, and many other enthralling environments. Within the wealth of environmental choice lie "astonishing photo-realistic graphics with innovative new dialog systems" where the player will be able to experience an astonishing level of character interaction through real-time conversations that showcase subtle facial nuance and emotion.

And, in a notable departure from BioWare's other RPG releases, Mass Effect offers up an integrated real-time battle system (that appears similar to the pause and command approach used in Pandemic's Full Spectrum Warrior), where players can actively utilise the individual strengths of squad mates to tactically overcome heated battles and perilous obstacles. Of course, traditional RPG parameters dictate that levelling up Commander Shepard's own abilities will see specific and often vital skills improved when issuing orders on the battlefield, which can lead to quicker and better aiming, more efficient and effective weapons use, and enhanced execution of special biological 'biotic' effects.

Whichever way you slice it, and regardless of the outward familiarities of BioWare's incoming Xbox 360-exclusive and it's hugely successful Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect is unlikely to be anything short of a resounding hit for Microsoft's next-gen platform and another seriously hard-hitting weapon in its armoury. If Games' Gear of War failed to draw in unsure consumers as a fully-fledged 'killer app' (and it did), then Mass Effect may just fill the gaping void while adding yet more pressure to Sony and its still slow-moving PlayStation 3.