Release Archives: ... WEEK OF AUGUST 30, 2005 8.30.2005 Game of the Week Rebelstar: Tactical Command Developer: CODO Publisher: Namco System: GBA MSRP: $19.99 It's easy to forget about yesterday's technology once something new and shiny comes around, but owners of both the Nintendo DS and the regular old GBA should take notice with this turn-based strategy game. While the latest Advance Wars made its way to the dual screen wonder system last week, RTC may actually be the best portable strategy game around. If you've ever played X-Com on your PC, you'll know what to expect here. While some elements had to be toned down for the tiny screen - the controls needed to be completely reworked - most of the great gameplay has remained intact. This means the environments are not only fully 3D, but completely destructible as well. The story does offer the same cliche aliens attacking earth tale, but the gameplay should satisfy players who were left wanting after Square toned-down Final Fantasy Tactics Advance a few years back. NHL 2K6 Developer: Kush Games Publisher: 2K Games Systems: PS2/Xbox MSRP: $19.99 NHL '06 Developer: EA Canada Publisher: EA Systems: GC/Xbox/PS2 MSRP: $29.99 Gretzky NHL '06 Developer: Page 44 Studios Publisher: Sony System: PS2 MSRP: $29.99 I've clumped all these hockey titles into one concise paragraph because, to tell you the truth, I can't tell the difference between them. The most notable improvement from last year is a severe drop in price for EA's NHL series. I would love all sports titles to offer an upgrade price for the yearly release of sports titles, but with the new NFL monopoly and the ability to buy temporary happiness by surrounding oneself with gobs of money, I don't see other series following suit. Honestly, I don't know why they still churn these titles out. Everyone knows video hockey reached perfect with NHL '94 on the Genesis. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make Gretzky's head bleed. Rainbow Six: Lockdown Developer: Ubi Montreal Publisher: Ubi Soft Systems: GC/Xbox/PS2 MRSP: $49.99 It's funny, just after I make fun of sports games (which I actually thoroughly enjoy if you're wondering. I just don't like shelling out $50 every year) for offering only minor updates at an exorbitant price, along comes the newest installment in the Rainbow Six series. I thought people would have been tired of shooting terrorists by now, but I guess art imitates life a little too closely. Anyway, this version offers a darker storyline than ever before (maybe this will be the first video game noir, where the player is killed off before they are allowed to win the game) and the same gameplay people have been eating up for the last thirty seven years. Fans should scoop this one up right away. Who knows if you'll get another entry before the fiscal year is up.