Billiards comes to Xbox, Motor City-style, in Activision Value's Hustle: Detroit Streets. Players choose from two up-and-coming hustlers, Jack Stone or Kat Hudson, and lead their character up the underground ranks by winning games in some of the most "exclusive" clubs the city has to offer. Players can impress fellow hustlers with trick shots, but it's all about the green at the end of the day. By betting on themselves (and then actually winning, of course), Stone and Hudson can earn money for the professional equipment and stylish attire they'll need to hold their own against Motown's biggest players. The Hustle: Detroit Streets was developed by U.K.-based Blade Interactive, whose previous work includes the Jaleco-published World Championship Pool 2004. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

One of Sega's classic racing titles continues its new lease on life with OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, the follow-up to 2004's OutRun 2 on Xbox and in the arcades. The Xbox version offers 15 licensed Ferraris, including the F430 Spider and 550 Barchetta, as players race across 15 American-themed locales from the OutRun 2 SP coin-op game. New twists on the series include mission-based objectives, souped-up or tuned versions of the existing Ferrari lineup, and the ability to slipstream behind rivals. Players can also earn OutRun miles throughout each game mode to cash-in for vehicles, courses, and other surprises. Up to six players are supported online via Xbox Live in a choice of game types and options. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The sequel to 2000's critically acclaimed adventure game, The Longest Journey, Dreamfall initially follows the story of Zoë Castillo as she stumbles across a conspiracy that could spell the end of humanity. Yet young Zoë is not the storyline's only protagonist. The original game's April Ryan and new character Kian are also playable through multiple chapters, each offering distinct abilities and viewpoints in their respective worlds. Players will explore a futuristic version of Earth, a fantasy realm, and even the mysterious world of dreams while interacting with a wide variety of characters and solving puzzles from a third-person perspective.

Dreamfall departs from traditional adventure games in the degree of freedom afforded by the game design. Players are expected to interact with each world in multiple ways, whether it's through combat, stealth, or communication. Interpersonal dialogue can be courteous, rude, menacing, or flirtatious, depending on the situation and characters involved. The interface is also different from typical games in the genre, as the screen is largely unobstructed by icons, menus, or text. Each character has a field of vision that automatically highlights objects that can be manipulated. The entire adventure spans an estimated 20 to 30 hours of play, with multiple visits encouraged to seek out alternate endings, hidden areas, and more. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

This stealth-shooter places players in the first-person role of an elite Black Ops agent and arms them with the cutting-edge technology they'll need to accomplish their crucial mission. The experimental, artificially intelligent "Sentinel" combat suit provides a wealth of high-tech advantages, while the versatile OIWC assault rifle offers the functionality of six different standard weapons. Considering the raw power and cunning adaptability of this new military technology, these devices must not fall into the wrong hands, and the player's objective is to make sure this does not happen. When the military scientist who helped create the Sentinel equipment goes missing, players suit up and head to the Balkans -- the inventor's last known location -- on a mission to investigate the disappearance and keep the technology from a mysterious enemy. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Indeed a legend in her own time, Lara Croft returns to consoles in 2006 with a new look, a new game, and a new developer. Revamped physics and an enhanced control scheme allow for more free-flowing action, while graphical improvements present a redesigned Lara who is immediately expressive, more believably proportioned, and as strikingly attractive as ever.

Lady Croft's new look in Legend is based in part on 20-year-old British model Karima Adebibe. Lara now boasts smoother animations, a more realistic deportment, and a number of costume changes. The original Tomb Raider games were popular for their innovative blend of gaming styles as well as for their distinguished female lead, however, and this game is designed to return fans to the winning combination of 3D platforming, environmental puzzle-solving, and third-person shooting found in the blockbuster originals.

While the storyline of Tomb Raider: Legend is told around the series' traditional "tomb raiding" action, Lara must also adventure through modern city levels, proving her acrobatic skill set is as applicable to skyscrapers and cement as it is to unforgiving wilderness and ancient architecture. New equipment, such as the grappling hook and communication device, offer new abilities. A number of vehicles become available along the way, as well, for special gameplay sequences.

For the first time in the series, stalwart Eidos studio Crystal Dynamics (Gex, Legacy of Kain, Project: Snowblind) was developer of this Tomb Raider game, instead of the franchise's creator, Core. The designers at Crystal Dynamics have endeavored to apply their extensive experience in the 3D action genre toward reinvigorating one of gaming's most recognizable and beloved characters. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Spanish developer Pyro Studios' World War II tactical strategy series undergoes a significant renovation in Commandos: Strike Force, as the overhead 2D perspective from previous entries is replaced with a first-person viewpoint in 3D environments. Players can freely switch between three individual characters as they engage in a unified series of 14 missions in Norway, France, and Russia. Characters include Colonel George Brown, a spy fluent in German and a master of disguise, Francis O'Brien, a Green Beret specializing in heavy weapons, and sniper William Hawkins, who can pick off targets from great distances and is an expert diver.

All three commandos will be involved in kidnapping attempts, assassinations, hostage rescues, creating diversions, sabotaging installations, and more. One of the game's distinguishing features is the freedom to complete objectives in any order and in multiple ways. Players can decide to which characters to use in a given mission, which paths to take on the map, whether to use stealth or force, and other decisions. Authentic weapons from the time period include a choice of pistols, rifles, machine guns, and explosives, but players are also free to use more clandestine means of killing, from strangling to slitting throats. Online battles for up to eight players are also supported via Xbox Live in multiple game modes and a choice of customization options. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The only officially licensed baseball game from a third-party publisher in 2006, Major League Baseball 2K6 continues the sports series once known as World Series Baseball. Developer Kush Games has revamped the pitching, batting, and fielding interfaces from previous installments to address a number of issues. While at the plate, players can swing for the fences by pressing the right analog stick, dubbed the "swing stick," in different directions for stronger cuts or to push or pull the ball to various parts of the field. Players on the mound will need to master a new timing-based pitching system that involves tapping a button at specific moments to determine how close the ball will reach its intended target. Fielding now takes into account an athlete's momentum, allowing players to nudge or push the analog stick to jog or run. Stronger, riskier throws are also possible by applying pressure to the face buttons, while collisions can occur on the base paths as well as in the field.

To bring more realism into the game, the developers have added Inside Edge scouting data to mimic real-life tendencies of the hitters and hurlers in the dugouts and bullpens. By spending a specific number of Inside Edge "points" during a game, players can learn where to pitch a particular hitter or determine the likelihood a pitcher is going to bring the heat in certain situations. Other notable features include the ability to challenge umpire calls in an interactive mini-game, manage the team's morale through multiple seasons, and track a wide assortment of personal statistics through the VIP system used in other 2K Sports games. In addition to the standard season, franchise, and playoff game modes, Major League Baseball 2K6 includes the international teams and all-star lineups from the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Players can also take their favorite teams online via Xbox Live with support for stat tracking, buddy lists, and custom leagues. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers is a modern-day war simulation that incorporates authentic squad-based combat with real-time tactical maneuvers. As in its 2004 predecessor, Ten Hammers lets players assume the role of squad leader, issuing commands to multiple infantry squads through 12 levels of strategic action set within the fictitious Middle Eastern country of Zekistan. Although the Al-Afad regime was successfully ousted in the first game, players are charged with the task of restoring stability to a fragmented country that has several militias vying for power. Players are joined by a coalition of forces as they engage in urban warfare from inside the oil-rich city of Khardiman.

Each squad is outfitted with the latest in military weaponry, from grenade launchers to sniper rifles, but players can also call air strikes as well as command mechanized units like Bradley Tanks and Armored Humvees. The four-man squad can be splintered off into two-man "buddy teams" for added protection, and players now have the ability to enter interior locales to position snipers. Ten Hammers also lets players take control of an individual unit for precision shooting at specific targets. The Xbox version supports up to eight players in a choice of team-based scenarios, from destroying munitions and rescuing stranded soldiers to gaining strategic control of a monastery and disabling a radio communications tower. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Midway's streetball series continues with NBA Ballers: Phenom, which introduces two-on-two action and expands the story-driven career mode found in its predecessor. Once again the emphasis is on using an array of over-the-top moves to outperform rival athletes from the NBA. This time, however, players can explore a bustling Venice Beach, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills in an off-court exploration mode that involves talking with pedestrians and performing various quests. Players begin by creating a custom character and advance through a storyline that will pull them in one of two directions.

Through their interactions with hip-hop artist Ludacris or pro basketball star Chauncey Billups, players can build a life as a business entrepreneur or try to become a number-one draft pick in the NBA. Over the course of one week, which coincides with the NBA Finals in Los Angeles, players will participate in tournaments against real-life NBA stars, explore parts of the city to locate hidden diamonds or mascot heads, and complete shooting challenges, spelling bees, and even rhythm-based dance contests. Money earned from both quests and tournaments can be used to purchase clothing items, mansions, and other worldly possessions. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

As the title suggests, Far Cry: Instincts -- Evolution picks up where 2005's first-person shooter left off. Players once again slip into the well-traveled boots of protagonist Jack Carver, who is lured into an island heist by a comely vixen and then framed for murder. This kicks off a six-mission solo campaign that introduces three new weapons and an assortment of vehicles. Players will be able to subdue their prey with poisonous darts, pipe bombs, and Molotov cocktails, in addition to the armaments found in Far Cry: Instincts. New vehicles include armored pickup trucks, heavy transport trucks, and sampan boats. The game also features a complement of improved feral abilities and an enhanced multiplayer component. Xbox Live users can create their own maps with greater ease and with more varied designs, while an extra online mode called "Seek and Secure" involves finding and maintaining control of a station before time expires. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide