Operation Sports:

Holiday Picks and Hidden Gems

Sure, Xbox 360™ is the hottest thing around, but that doesn't mean your original Xbox® has stopped working—in fact, 2005 brought some of the best titles that the Xbox has ever seen, and I'd bet you have a gamer on your wish list … so it's a good thing you stopped by.

Of course, we've all heard of Madden NFL 06, NBA 2K6, and many other "big name" games, but there are many top-flight titles that didn't garner enough press this year—and if you haven't played them yet, you're missing out on some savory holiday treats.

Here are a few games for Xbox that may have flown under your radar, but really belong under your tree:

Burnout Revenge™
If you've never played a Burnout game before, shame on you! On the other hand, it's never too late to start.

Vertical takedown!

The latest incarnation of the amazing franchise adds more speed, more tactics, and more adrenaline as you battle with your opponents at 140 miles per hour down busy (and obstacle-laden) streets. If that's not enough for you, try the spectacular and outrageous Crash Mode, where you try to cause as much damage as possible in what's certainly one of the most enjoyable multiplayer gaming experiences (online or off) available anywhere.

Burnout Revenge is pure exciting fun, and it just happens to be one of the best-looking titles on Xbox to boot. It's a "must-have" for any Xbox gamer's library.

MotoGP 3
This realistic motorcycle simulator is more popular in Europe than in the States. They have good taste on that side of the pond! MotoGP 3 blends exciting game play with true-to-life mechanics and physics to provide an engrossing experience. A rock-solid frame rate keeps the action blazingly fast, and after watching a few of the cringe-inducing crash animations, you'll try much harder to stay on the road.

Redefining road rash.

For the more casual bike fan, stunt mode and street races keeps things interesting (without having to know how to properly adjust a suspension). Smooth-as-silk Xbox Live® play is the cherry on top.

College Hoops® 2K6/NHL® 2K6
If you're a sports gamer, then you know that 2K Sports offers unparalleled sports simulation titles for Xbox, and this year, they released two of their best yet. College Hoops 2K6 takes all the pomp, pageantry and excitement of NCAA basketball, and ramps up the realism with detailed recruiting along with real-life coaches and their strategies.

Think you're ready to square off against North Carolina head coach and defending National Champion Roy Williams and his Tar Heels? Find out here—with hundreds of college teams in the game, it's a safe bet that your favorite school or alma mater is well-represented.

He's a brick wall!

For those who prefer their action a little more … chilly, there's NHL 2K6, the best hockey simulation on the market. Taking into account all the new NHL rules and regulations, NHL 2K6's On-the-Fly Coaching and Pro Control gives you absolute command of your squad, and robust online leagues lets you take them around the world.

Already thinking towards February and getting excited about the great international matches in the Olympics? Well, NHL 2K6 even has 16 national squads and all the international rules included, along with great historical teams. Want to see if you can pull off the "Miracle on Ice" yourself? Play as the 1980 U.S. Hockey team and square off against their USSR rivals. NHL 2K6 includes everything but the kitchen sink. If you're a hockey fanatic, you can't be without this one.

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat™
OK, so it's not a sports game, but we armchair quarterbacks have other outlets, too. In Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, team play is everything. Learn different roles and stick with the plan for success. An innovating "hot-swapping" feature allows you to toggle between soldiers all over the field to better achieve your objectives.

Perhaps the best war game ever made.

Battlefield 2 isn't your standard "run-n-gun" game, either—you spend a lot of time driving patrol boats, piloting helicopters, motoring around in Humvees or blasting through defenses in tanks. Loaded with different ways to play, single-player mode is fun, but Xbox Live play is even better. Grab some friends and defend your stronghold in one of the most innovative and fun games of the year.

From Russia With Love™
I admit it … I have a soft spot for James Bond games. I grew up watching Bond movies as a boy and, like so many others, I always imagined myself in his adventures. Well, here's my chance. Generally following the plot of the classic 1963 film, control 007 as he saves the world with guns, gadgets and girls once more.

Sixties cool.

This game's got style to burn, and with all-new dialogue recorded by the one and only Sir Sean Connery—the original James Bond—you'll be immersed in the world of Classic Bond like never before. It's high-tech nostalgia served with a twenty-first-century Xbox flair—what's not to like?

World Poker Tour™
You can't get away from poker … but who wants to? World Poker Tour plays a mean game; the Learning A.I. system will pick up your patterns in a hurry, but with in-depth stat tracking, you can find your weaknesses and adjust. This isn't just Texas Hold'em, either—the game has 14 different varieties of poker, and many of the rules can be customized to your liking.

Play against professional poker players like Evelyn Ng and Erick Lindgren in real venues, with the full World Poker Tour TV presentation, including the show's announcers Mike Sexton, Vince Van Patten, and Shana Hiatt.

Don't know much about poker? World Poker Tour has an extra bonus: a large variety of tutorial videos about poker itself. It's a game and an education all in one, and when you're ready, you can go online with Xbox Live and play poker with fellow card sharps anytime, anywhere. The best part? World Poker Tour retails at a bargain price, so it's a perfect stocking stuffer.

Xbox is still in its prime, so don't miss these hidden gems. They'll provide the gamer on your shopping list with hours upon hours of fun, and you'll get to save the holiday. After all, you don't have to be James Bond to be the hero …

Article by Shawn Drotar, Managing Editor, OperationSports.com