Game Informer Issue 164

Alternate cover:

Features:

• Letter From the Editor: My Holiday Wish list (Andy McNamara gives his list of the real and fantastical gifts he wants for the holidays)
• Dear GI (Reader Letters, Responses and Artwork)
• The PlayStation 3 Primer (An extensive overview on the PlayStation 3, including info on its downloadable games, peripherals, and an interview with Phil Harrison, president on Sony’s worldwide studios)
• The Halo Wars Begin (Microsoft announces new Halo RTS to be developed by Ensemble Studios)
• Spheres of Influence (Chart that tracks which games are coming to which consoles)
• The Calm Before the Storm (Article on the low sales for the XBOX 360)
• To Ten: Games We Want to Play on the Virtual Console
• Debate: Does the XBOX 360 Led Matter (Debate between Matt Bertz and Matthew Kato)
• Interview: Martin Tremblay (Interview with the president of worldwide studios at Sierra Entertainment)
• Classic GI (History of Castlevania)

2006 Holiday Buying Guide (GI’s picks for the best games, movies, toys and other gaming and tech gifts for the holiday gift giving season)

Cover Story: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (PS3, 360)(Having made a splash with the first Advanced Warfighter on the XBOX 360, Red Storm now attempts to surpass the quality and acclaim of the first game)

Previews:

• Skate (PS3, 360)
• Rogue Warrior (PS3, 360)
• Mass Effect (360)
• Half-Life 2 (PS3, 360, PC)
• Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (360)
• Alan Wake (360, PC)
• Crackdown (360)
• Superman Returns (360, PS2, XBOX)
• Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP)
• Viva Pinata (360)
• World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC)
• Full Auto 2: Battlelines (PSP)
• Afterburner: Black Falcon (PSP)
• Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (DS)

Multiplatform Reviews:

• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (PS3, 360, PS2, XBOX)
• WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 (360, PS2)
• Need For Speed Carbon (PS3, 360, PS2, XBOX)
• Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (PS2, XBOX)
• The Sims 2: Pets (PS2, GC)
• Justice League Heroes (XBOX, PS2)

PlayStation 2 Reviews:

• Bully
• Guitar Hero II

PlayStation 3 Reviews:

• Resistance: Fall of Man
• Genji: Days of the Blade
• Ridge Racer 7
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire
• NBA 07

XBOX 360 Reviews:

• Gears of War
• Call of Duty 3
• F.E.A.R.
• Splinter Cell: Double Agent
• FIFA Soccer 07
• NBA Live 07
• Tony Hawk’s Project 8

PC Reviews:

• Dark Messiah Of Might & Magic
• Sid Meier’s Railroads!
• Star Wars Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
• F.E.A.R.: Extraction Point
• Neverwinter Nights 2

Nintendo DS Reviews:

• Final Fantasy III
• Elite Beat Agents
• Yoshi’s Island 2
• Pokemon Ranger

PSP Reviews:

• Gun Showdown
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
• Gitaroo Man Lives!
• Lumines II
• Medal of Honor Heroes

Quickie Reviews (Short, one paragraph reviews):

• Thrillville (PS2, XBOX)
• Capcom Classic Collections Volume 2 (PS2, XBOX)
• Tokobot Plus: Mysteries of the Karakuri (PS2)
• dotHack//G.U. Vol. 1 Rebirth (PS2)
• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (PS2)
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Dark Crusade (PC)
• Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs (PC)
• Mage Knight Apocalypse (PC)
• ParaWorld (PC)
• The Sims 2: Pets (PC)
• Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2 (PSP)
• EA Replay (PSP)
• Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (PSP)
• Gunpey (PSP, DS)
• Mage Knight: Destiny’s Soldier (DS)

Secret Access (Cheat codes and strategy guides):

• Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (PS2, XBOX)
• Scarface: The World is Yours (PS2, XBOX)
• NBA Live 07 (PS2, XBOX)
• Saints Row (360)

Retro Reviews:

• Mega Man X4 (PS)
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (PS)
• Rosco McQueen: Firefighter Extreme (PS)