As 2005 passes on, so will the current generation of consoles, making way for the dawn of the next-gen systems, and the slightly premature birth of Xbox 360 this winter. (Hopefully, it'll still come out fully developed, with all its fingers and toes.) But it seems that PS2, Xbox and GameCube agree it's never too late to break new ground. Sure, there are the usual semiannual installments in kick-ass franchises like Burnout, as well as additional sequels and spin-offs to series we were told were ending last year, like Jak and Onimusha, but this generation of consoles still has a few surprises in store for us this fall.
Nintendo spends half its time in a nostalgic rut and half in a brainstorm of wacky innovation. This fall, the former comes in the shape of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the highly-anticipated, darker take on the boy in green. The latter comes in the form of Electroplankton, a Nintendo DS title that, like Nintendogs, is more of an interactive experience than a true objective-based game. By stroking a variety of sea creatures with the stylus, players will be able to produce different sounds, and ultimately music. If all that isn't enough for you, Nintendo's trusty mascot, Mario, is being shoehorned into every game from SSX to Dance Dance Revolution.
It's predominately sequels and spin-offs for PS2 this year. Aside from another round of B&E with Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, be sure to look for Jak and Daxter on the raceway, and Ratchet and Clank in the deathmatch arena. Those looking for something different should check out Shadow of the Colossus, a game consisting entirely of boss battles, combining puzzle and combat elements as you take on several magnificent stone beasts, ranging in size from huge to effin' huge. No matter what you're looking for, be sure to check out Resident Evil 4. It's the best game of the year. Period.
The best keeps getting better on Xbox. Top-notch titles like Doom 3 and Fable will be getting expansions, titled Resurrection of Evil and The Lost Chapters, respectively. Peter Molyneux, the creator of Fable, will take us to The Movies, a game that lets you experience and control every aspect of filmmaking, from staging a scene to throwing your star into rehab. If you're not yet an Xbox jockey, fall's a good time to switch. The Xbox 360 will be retailing for a mere $299.99, only $50 more than a PSP, in every electronics store in the world this holiday season.