Tech Manifesto

“Call of Duty 2” (Rated T, $59.99). This stunning visually intense game better be on your holiday list! The World War II epic is the best first-person shooter available so far on the 360. In a recurring theme, it costs $10 more than the PC version for no good reason other than it comes in an Xbox 360 lime-green plastic case. But it’s an impressive display of the Xbox 360’s power: it ran smoother on the $400 console than it did on my $2,500 gaming PC.

“Condemned: Criminal Origins” (Rated M, $59.99) This unique, thrilling action title shows the true power of Xbox 360 with some incredible, groundbreaking graphics. As FBI investigator Agent Thomas, you spend most of your time cautiously creeping through dank, abandoned subway terminals and other unsavory buildings filled with urban decay and murderous sociopaths who like to lunge at you from dark corners.

“Kameo: Elements of Power” (Rated T, $49.99). Kid-friendly and graphically rich, this is the platformer Microsoft Corp. should have packaged with every new system. Instead, you get to pay $49.99 for this short but fun action game starring heroine Kameo. She has the nifty ability to transform into dozens of nasty monsters, handy for battling monsters and overcoming obstacles.

“Perfect Dark Zero” (Rated M, $49.99 for “regular edition,” $59.99 for “limited collector’s edition”). This futuristic shooter stars gadget savvy secret agent Joanna Dark in a rather confusing tale of corporate espionage. Don’t buy this for the solo mode - online multiplayer combat with a cool arsenal of weaponry is what makes this game fun.

“Project Gotham Racing 3” (Rated E, $49.99); “Need For Speed Most Wanted” (Rated T, $59.99); “Ridge Racer 6″ (Rated E, $59.99). This trio has some of the best-looking sports cars available for any video-game system, with a slight edge going to the photorealism of “Project Gotham Racing 3.” “Need For Speed Most Wanted” has a hackneyed story but uses a cool mix of computer graphics and full-motion video actors. “Ridge Racer 6″ will appeal to those seeking a less-than-realistic arcade-game approach to high-speed pursuits.

“Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie” (Rated T, $59.99). A long-winded title for a good but short game based on director Peter Jackson’s new film remake. Films have a sordid history of translating into horrible video games, but this one manages to break the mold and even lets you play as Kong, though not nearly enough.

“NBA 2K6” (Rated E, $59.99); “NBA Live 06″ (Rated E, $59.99). By now you’ve heard about the gee-whiz special effects on Xbox 360 basketball games, like realistic sweat and characters who look like the real thing. “NBA Live 06″ looks a bit better, but gameplay is what matters most in a sports title. By that measure, “NBA 2K6″ is the champ while “NBA Live 06″ is the last-place loser.

“Madden NFL 06” (Rated E, $59.99). Visually, it’s as if you’re controlling a real NFL game on the television screen. But don’t let the dazzling graphics fool you: “Madden NFL 06″ sacrifices many features found in versions for older-generation consoles, yet costs more.

“Quake 4” (Rated M, $59.99). The creators of the monster-infested “Doom” games offer a similar blood-soaked, first-person shooter. “Quake 4″ looks great, of course, but there’s nothing new here.

“Amped 3” (Rated E, $59.99). “Amped 3″ presents snowboarding as a cutting-edge lifestyle instead of a mere sport. The sensation of sliding down steep, powdery slopes is convincing. I just wish the controls weren’t so, um, flaky.

“Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland” (Rated T, $59.99). This latest game from skateboarding’s superstar looks a bit better on the Xbox 360 than it does on older systems. Otherwise, it’s the same game, just costlier. Are you seeing a pattern here yet?