2006 (Hitman: Blood Money, Bully, FF XII, LEGO Star Wars II and Mother 3 are released) WIP
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (NDS, 2006)
Subgenre: ARPG (see Dawn of Sorrow), Removes the touch screen elements besides an optional tap to make the secondary char jump, Optional collectathon element
Movement Mechanics: Triple jump of sorts, Flight via the owl form, High jump (can jump infinitely in mid-air)
Other: Non-castle areas accessed via paintings (can move back and forth - these segments are single entry point and generally more straightforward but you do backtrack into one of them to progress at one point and can do optional backtracking into a few others for items, these areas don't connect to each other), Small hub within the castle where you can take on optional side quests (a set of 5 at a time though after finishing a few of these you can come back later to unlock more), MP mode (boss rush) - however you don't play at the same time?, Boss rush mode (course 1 is unlocked from the get go and includes some enemies and bosses from DoS), One shop (still can't buy back rare items you've found and sold, adds more items as you spend more money and beat more bosses though you have to spend a lot of money it seems), You only swim at one point here and it's a boss fight
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Mega Man ZX (NDS, 2006) - WIP
ARPG-ish?
Other: Town hub?, Partially non-linear mission-based structure (choose from 4+ at a time after the early game, can only complete one mission at a time and have to activate them in the transerver room which leads to backtracking)
Gain transformations (biometals) w/ new movement abilities
Some areas/levels only have a single entry point
Basic world map system (only shows basic world layout and area names), Sub area maps show topography and doors but only while in them?
Start with z-saber and buster abilities gained in the MMZ series
Don't gain new weapons (no shield boomerang/rod/knuckle)
Can only see the full world map when going to a new location
Teleporters+save points (warp between visited ones, 3 slots per game; these also let you abort a mission) and regular save points (should've all been teleporters really)
Control config
Upgrade chips replace the Cyber-elves (they make some appearances but can't be used for buffs/upgrades here)
Constant beeping after finishing the objective in an area
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Within a Deep Forest (PC, 2006)
Subgenre: 2D Puzzle Platformer, One mine cart segment (charge jumps rather than bouncing here, very short though), Flip screen (instead of scrolling), One escort segment
Movement Mechanics: Bouncing ball avatar (similar to Cauldron 2 but more advanced, bouncing rather than jumping), Hover via air streams/wind (push back and then forward for a momentum boost)
Other: Hub area and levels w/ single entry points, 3 secret mini-games (accessible via the Secret Levels.exe application after they have been unlocked via found 4-digit codes or with a cheat)
Playthrough w/ commentary - Review - Mini Review
Subgenre: ARPG (see Dawn of Sorrow), Removes the touch screen elements besides an optional tap to make the secondary char jump, Optional collectathon element
Movement Mechanics: Triple jump of sorts, Flight via the owl form, High jump (can jump infinitely in mid-air)
Other: Non-castle areas accessed via paintings (can move back and forth - these segments are single entry point and generally more straightforward but you do backtrack into one of them to progress at one point and can do optional backtracking into a few others for items, these areas don't connect to each other), Small hub within the castle where you can take on optional side quests (a set of 5 at a time though after finishing a few of these you can come back later to unlock more), MP mode (boss rush) - however you don't play at the same time?, Boss rush mode (course 1 is unlocked from the get go and includes some enemies and bosses from DoS), One shop (still can't buy back rare items you've found and sold, adds more items as you spend more money and beat more bosses though you have to spend a lot of money it seems), You only swim at one point here and it's a boss fight
- 2 different playable chars that you can switch between on the fly after getting an item for it (shared HP & MP, the other char can also move along with you while being controlled by the CPU - then it uses MP as HP and is stunned if it runs out), Can also call on the other char to help solve basic puzzles (a button combo makes them stay put) or use a sub weapon then go away again, The secondary char also replaces the gear set switching from DoS
- Partially non-linear structure (there are sub areas accessed via large paintings within the castle which are generally more self-contained (few rooms that require abilities gained later on to explore (and backtracking to these is generally optional though you will want to get at least the sanctuary spell to get the good ending) and these sub areas don't connect to each other) in structure and you can only go into one of them at first, lets you pick between 2 painting sub areas after the first one but then only one for the fourth, can choose between 5 side quests at a time but these are optional - have to also come back later at times to make more quests appear if you don't finish all 5 available ones in order, some painting sub areas are almost linear (1/city, 4/forest, 5/dark academy, 13th street, nest of evil), when reaching the last four paintings you can do part of and exit the forgotten city one then play the second and third (fourth as well if you got the owl spell from the dark academy one) - at this point you can also fight the whip's memory boss whenever you want to)
- Very frequent save points (only one slot per game though, they also heal you and restore MP)
- Some environmental storytelling (witch who created the blob boss)
- Use-based skill progression for Jonathan (See Mega Man Zero) - allows for a damage boost when using sub weapons. Can be circumvented for some of the best sub weapons via the shop
- End game remixed painting areas in the end-game that you unlock and beat for the true ending (a bit like the inverted castle)
- Unlockable painting area if you get 100% map completion (recycled DoS and SotN bosses here)
- Some other interesting abilities (triple jump of sorts (can gain the ability to bounce off of the other char and then double jump), toad transformation, dual char/team attacks which cost more MP than sub weapons (similar to a super attack in DoS or item crashes in earlier games) - invincibility time during these though not against all attacks, owl transformation spell - flight, speed up spell (there are also such boots but their stats aren't great)
- Can make the player chars talk to each other via the pause menu for occasional gameplay or directional tips
- Same teleport system (choose where to go in the map view, teleport between visited warp rooms, frequent teleporter rooms) and you can also buy magic ticket items later on to teleport from anywhere, A few non-teleporter shortcuts
- Some sequence breaking possibilities (can do an unintended alternate double jump by tapping the screen and then switching chars to jump again)
- MP and HP upgrades are back
- Control config
- Can't hold more than 9 of each item at once - still OP though. More expensive potions but not quite expensive enough so from the mid-game onwards they become OP
- One hidden sub area (nest of evil - a battle arena, requires a map exploration rate of at least 888/1000%)
- Three different endings (best - save both the sisters and the shopkeep/good - save the sisters/bad - don't save either (ends the game prematurely))
- Some unlockables (richter and sisters modes, new game+ with partially carryover - see the wiki, magus ring, old axe armor mode, boss rush gear rewards)
- Some breakable walls (the item that shows breakable walls is an annoyingly rare drop by the peeping eye enemy though the stone circle spell can also reveal them as it damages walls (however this spell is a very rare drop), trial & error required to find them without this item)
- Altered enemy patterns and abilities on hard mode (besides you doing less damage and taking more from hits)
- The game switches out torch drops if you're maxed out on one resource (max MP for example)
- The sub areas inside the paintings generally aren't like Zelda dungeons in that you don't gain one new movement ability used to progress in each one (you tend to gain one at the end of them instead). Sub areas instead tend to have more platforming gimmicks in the style of the classic CV games (some like the first one don't really have this though)
- In a few rooms there are frequently spawning flying enemies
- Slowly regenerating MP - can be made faster if you get the magus ring by finishing all the side quests (a lot of work)
- No proper forward dash here - rocket slash sort of works like one but there's a charge time before each one. There's also the speed up spell though
- Static difficulty (means doing the desert after the circus makes that boss kind of easy for example)
- No HP/MP restored when leveling up however the HP and MP upgrades do restore these bars
- Quick save/sleep feature lets you quickly backtrack but only to the beginning of the current room so it's not that helpful (would've been better to allow starting at the most recently visited save point instead)
- New game+ (non-key spells don't carry)
- Dropped items disappear after a few seconds
- No crafting/fusing of weapons, no soul system and no Ghost/spiritual separation ability for scouting here (DoS). Can't stand on petrified enemies (could've been used for traversal)
- Can't place markers or notes on the map screen and it doesn't auto-mark points of interest
- Can't drop items
- New enemies do not appear in already explored areas (see CotM; not having them makes backtracking less interesting)
- No parallel worlds theme as it's done in DoS (can enter mirrors in DoS to explore the "other side" of certain rooms - an underused element which could've been further explored here)
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Mega Man ZX (NDS, 2006) - WIP
ARPG-ish?
Other: Town hub?, Partially non-linear mission-based structure (choose from 4+ at a time after the early game, can only complete one mission at a time and have to activate them in the transerver room which leads to backtracking)
Gain transformations (biometals) w/ new movement abilities
Some areas/levels only have a single entry point
Basic world map system (only shows basic world layout and area names), Sub area maps show topography and doors but only while in them?
Start with z-saber and buster abilities gained in the MMZ series
Don't gain new weapons (no shield boomerang/rod/knuckle)
Can only see the full world map when going to a new location
Teleporters+save points (warp between visited ones, 3 slots per game; these also let you abort a mission) and regular save points (should've all been teleporters really)
Control config
Upgrade chips replace the Cyber-elves (they make some appearances but can't be used for buffs/upgrades here)
Constant beeping after finishing the objective in an area
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Within a Deep Forest (PC, 2006)
Subgenre: 2D Puzzle Platformer, One mine cart segment (charge jumps rather than bouncing here, very short though), Flip screen (instead of scrolling), One escort segment
Movement Mechanics: Bouncing ball avatar (similar to Cauldron 2 but more advanced, bouncing rather than jumping), Hover via air streams/wind (push back and then forward for a momentum boost)
Other: Hub area and levels w/ single entry points, 3 secret mini-games (accessible via the Secret Levels.exe application after they have been unlocked via found 4-digit codes or with a cheat)
- Mostly linear (you can enter some of the sub areas/levels before you're supposed to but in all cases but two (one without sequence breaking) you'll just run into an ability gate/temporary dead end, two paths through the "that hover thing" level, some optional areas that lead to hints but you don't know it beforehand, can get the yoga ball before the glass ball)
- Multiple ball forms with different properties (for example: black/iron ball - heavy+less bouncy and breaks weak walls+no effect from wind, glass ball - bounces higher and moves faster than the pink ball+can pass through lasers but shatters if it hits solid ground or walls at high speeds including longer falls, ascent ball - button mash flight; Can switch between forms at checkpoints)
- Difficulty options (normal and hard)
- Frequent checkpoints/temporary save points (can jump over them) and a few save points ("menu rooms")
- Suicide command (Zillion) - Used as a sort of fast travel from levels back to save rooms here (can also teleport between a save point to the tutorial area and back but not between save points or visited levels)
- One hit deaths
- Platforming puzzles and logical (sort of) puzzles
- Optional tutorial area that expands with each ball form/material gained (sort of, some balls don't get a new segment here)
- One major sequence break possible (getting to the iron ball before the pink ball by jumping to the left off the mountain, early shadowlands via a glitch)
- Partial time travel/climate change theme (go to a different version of the hub area where it's winter and you can cross water)
- Kinda weird save/load and fast travel systems (no "resume game" option in the menu - instead you pick the area name of the area you were in and it continues from where you saved in that area which is kinda vague)
- Many neutral creatures but you can't interact with them (only with stationary NPCs)
- Can't attack enemies
- Glass ball form makes you feel vulnerable but the game takes it a bit too far, non-interactive dialogue
- Some non-persistent obstacles (breakable walls/floors)
- No control config and no built-in controller support (also can't fully map the game to a controller due to how ball selection and menus work)
- No message/quest log - pretty big info dump from the first NPC you meet if you go right in the beginning and others are in remote locations so you'll want to write their hints down
- No maps (and some identical level entrances don't have signs)
- No bosses
Playthrough w/ commentary - Review - Mini Review
Lyle in Cube Sector (PC, 2006)
Subgenre: Metroid-like, Collectathon aspect (several orbs for the upgrade to the cube spawning ability)
Movement Mechanics: Double jump (up to five times in a row in mid-air with an upgrade) by throwing cubes/blocks downwards similar to Klonoa
Other: Use found and spawned cubes to fight, Basketball mini-game
Playthrough (Speedrun) - Video Review - Mini Review
An Untitled Story (PC, 2006)
Subgenre: Metroid-like/Precision Platformer, Collectathon element (7 golden orbs to get into the last area)
Perspective: Side View besides two optional mini-games
Movement Mechanics: Double jump+extra jumps via mid-air energy points, Stick to and move on ceilings, Air stomp/downward air dash, Bounce off of certain enemies and objects
Other: Flip screen, Some shops and NPCs, Stat (health, defense, attack range) upgrades
Playthrough w/ Commentary - Review - Mini Review
Bunny Must Die: Chelsea and the 7 Devils (PC, 2006/PS4/PSV, 2016) - WIP
2D, Bullet hell elements
Perspective: Side View
Other: Chibi bunny suit girl avatar
Can only hold one weapon at a time (unlike in CV it's your main weapon)
Time slowing+stopping and reversing abilities (Sands of Time)
Map feature (shows layout, doors and some points of interest but no topography within rooms)
Parry system (time directional inputs with the moment of impact according to the direction something is hitting you from - Street Fighter 3)
Odd jumping (jumping without pressing a direction at the same time reaches higher and lets you attack enemies below but has poor horizontal length)
Unlockable second character (new abilities and controls)
Soldexus (PC, 2006) - 2D Igavania-like - WIP
Unlockable second playable character with different bosses (beat it)
Okami (PS2, 2006) - WIP
3D Zelda-ish Action Adventure (towns and dungeons, helper NPC, manual jumping as well as double jump and air dash moves), Minor stat distribution aspect, Wolf avatar, Enemy encounters in some areas
Perspective: TP view
Mostly linear structure ()
Learn spells that are used to transform the environment and progress (also used for some combat, symbols drawn manually on the screen similar to Dawn of Sorrow)
World restoration theme
Some unskippable cutscenes?
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Flushed Away (NDS, 2006)? - 2.5D, Side View, Mini-games, Boat segments, 2 different playable chars (Rita has a grappling hook needed to progress at times for example)
Death pits
Can't kill enemies
No handholding after the tutorial?
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GC 2006)
Subgenre: 3D Action Adventure, Music element (pitch and note length control but no time signature switching), Rapids/waterfalls canoeing segment, Some collectathon elements (the poe sidequest - find and kill 60 for an endless supply of 200 rupees reward (lame reward on GC)), need to find all 24 bugs to be able to carry 1k rupees on GC, five heart pieces required for each new heart here, tear of light collecting, forced collectathon quest before the sky temple), Some Okami-style enemy encounters, A couple of flight segments where you ride an enemy creature for a bit, Escort mission segment (on horseback so it's fast-paced), Snowboarding segment w/ manual jumping (can replay it as a racing mini-game later on), Boar riding segments
Perspective: TP view (FP aiming mode)
Movement Mechanics: Manual jumping with Epona and between rails with the Spinner, QTE jumping in wolf form, Swimming
Other: Fishing, Sumo wrestling mini-game
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Scurge: Hive (GBA, 2006)? - 2D, Isometric View
Scurge: Hive (NDS, 2006)? - 2D, Isometric View, same game?
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion & Knights of the Nine DLC pack (PC/XB360, 2006/PC, 2007)?
3D Open World WRPG (in-depth char creation, create your own class), Stealth
FP View
Horse mounts
Spells and skills for traversal/exploration (see the prequel?)
Starts with a tutorial w/ pop-ups
Fast travel points
More action/reflex-focused combat
Dynamic level scaling (not perfectly balanced)
Highly interactive environment
Persuasion mini-game
Quest markers
Fewer gear types
Forbidden Siren 2 (PS2, 2006)?
Subgenre: 3D AA/Survival Horror, Some platforming (context sensitive)
Perspective: TP/FP view hybrid (toggle)
Level-based and mostly linear (secondary objectives unlocking new levels, two endings, level select screen, basic hints/briefings before levels, can revisit levels)
9 playable chars (most w/ unique abilities - Akiko can see visions from the past, one can lay traps, two can use flares, one can possess enemies, one sees through others (sightjacking), )
Difficulty options
Optional map markers
Subtitles and JP voices options
Control config
Maps but no mini-maps
Unlockable mini-games
Gothic 3 (PC, 2006)
3D Open World WRPG (no arbitrary gates, can kill anyone)
TP View
Other: NPC schedules (day/night cycle), 2 factions (orcs and humans, humans are occupied and you can liberate cities)
Teleport stones - have to find them
Some spells and skills for exploration/traversal (Telekinesis?, Light, Fog (stealth), Soul Travel, Some transformations?)
Buggy w/o fan patch
Map and compass (no mini-map?)
Hard
Quest log and dialogue journal features
Highly interactive world?
Tooltips for nearby interactive objects - SS1?
Save anywhere
Night to Day - skip ahead and heal spell
Visual effect when hurt
NPCs tend to knock you out and steal your stuff rather than kill you if you misbehave
Can make NPCs and enemies fight for you
Sketchy (PC, 2006 (Demo)/2013 (Longer but unfinished)) - https://studiohunty.com/sketchy/
Outliers:
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (PC/XB360, 2006)
FPS/FP ARPG w/ Platforming (3 skill trees), Stealth and Trapping elements (can make enemies slip on ice or demolish wooden structures on top of enemies for example)
Level-based and mostly linear (two story choices)
No shops
Some spells for exploration and traversal (rope bow, telekinesis, highlight secret switches when still skill, ); Interactive environment (used for puzzles), Underdeveloped archery/ranged combat, Can stun and then disarm enemies, Many secrets, MP regen and you can gain HP regen, Mini-maps
Ys Origin (PC, 2006/Multi, 2017)
2.5D ARPG (sprite characters, fixed camera angles)
Bird's Eye View/Side View hybrid (a few segments)
3 different playable chars (choose before beginning), See the prequel, Basic swimming
Gain dash and double jump moves+wind skill that allows for a hover jump (also items for seeing hidden things and holding your breath longer underwater), Linear structure (some detours for items), Rough level scaling, Fast travel+healing+save point statues, No mini-maps
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2, 2006) - 3D/2.5D hybrid JRPG (3D battles in TP view - enemies move when you do, 2.5D location exploration w/ mostly 2D sidescrolling gameplay), Party-based combat w/ CPU allies?, Non-random encounters, Hub map
Gain some movement abilities? (short teleport/blink, can freeze enemies to use as platforms), Prequel story, Mini-maps
LaTale (PC, 2006) - 2D MMORPG w/ Platforming, PvP, Similar to Maple Story; Can/could gain some movement abilities but there's no ability gating, Attack combos, Level gating, Mini-maps
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (Multi, 2006) - 3D Action Platformer/AA (Small hub area w/ a shop - buy chars), TP view, See the prequel, Hub room w/ a shop (access all 3 first episodes based on the movies and create a character based on bought chars, can you go back and forth between episodes during a session?), More vehicle segments
No new moves gained for any char?
Raw Danger!/Zettaizetsumei Toshi 2 (PS2, 2006)? - 3D AA/Survival (Disaster Sim), Open ended w/ missions (Rescue, ), Basic dialogue trees w/ story choices, Stealth element, Crafting
Can't travel between locations freely?, Gain vehicles and tools used to progress (temporary vehicles?, need umbrellas to stay dry?, flashlight), Some NPCs can open certain doors found later on, Large-scale environmental effects and destruction, Some puzzles, Body temperate mechanic affecting your performance, Save points, Weight mechanic
Bully (PS2, 2006/PC/Wii/XB360, 2008) - 3D Open World AA w/ RPG elements, TP view, Chapter-based (map expands as you complete each one), Reputation/respect levels (nerds, bullies, preps, etc.), Race segments, Mini-games, Dating, Schedules, Stealth element
No ability gating besides combat moves and weapons?, Mini-maps, Fast travel via buses/skateboards/bikes/scooters
Tomb Raider: Legend (Multi, 2006) - 3D Puzzle Platformer/TPS, No more tank controls, See the prequels, Hub area of sorts (mansion which gradually unlocks) - Linear and level-based otherwise?, Semi-automatic jumps and grabs?, Less boxy environments and obstacles+physics, QTEs
Three tools for progression (flashlight, grapple, pistols?), Bullet time (slow motion), Fewer weapons, Can only carry 3 health packs, Still no maps?, Partially skippable cutscenes
Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm (PS2, 2006) - 2D JRPG/AA Hybrid w/ Platforming, Isometric View exploration/Tilted View battles (TB), Sandbox/Open World structure
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (PSP, 2006)(Remaster of the PS1 game)? - New cutscenes and presentation, See the PS1 game, Don't gain new movement abilities?, Time limit, TB battles?
Destroy All Humans! 2 (XB/PS2, 2006) - Open World 3D AA/TPS, Mission-based (mainly protection, destruction and infiltration), TP view, Crafting? (gene blender), Flying Saucer segments, Side quests
Some ability gating (body snatching - time limit), Mini-maps
Wild ARMs 5 (PS2, 2006) - 3D JRPG w/ Platforming, TD/TP View hybrid (TD Hex-based battle system), Collectathon element, Puzzles; Gain some abilities for progression in dungeons?, Can turn off encounters with an item
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent (Multi, 2006) - AA/Stealth Action, See the prequel, Partially non-linear (some story choices and you can do missions for two different factions (need to keep both sides happy but it's fairly easy on Normal?), three endings), Some more open areas with missions in daylight, Swimming and skydiving segments, 3v3 MP and Co-op modes (MP is less technical than the prequel?); Mini-maps, Have to wait in some missions (can't speed up time), Difficulty options, No shop?, Save anywhere, No revisiting of previous areas?
Hitman: Blood Money (PC/PS2/XB, 2006) - 3D AA/Stealth/Trapping (Assassin Sim), TP view/FP view hybrid, Larger and sandbox-style/open-ended levels/missions, Shops, Minor platforming; Lore via newspaper articles, Minor optional ability gating (disguises, explosives, ), Get penalized for going on rampages, Time limits between saves?, Maps but no mini-maps
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PSP, 2006/PS2, 2007) - 3D Open World AA, Two hub areas (islands), See Vice City, Swimming; No ability gating besides vehicles needed for some missions?, Maps and mini-maps
Yakuza 2 (PS2, 2006) - 3D Open World AA/Beat 'em up w/ RPG elements, See the prequel, Some QTE elements, Many fetch quests, Little platforming (context sensitive); No ability gating?, Mini-maps
Scarface: The World Is Yours (Multi, 2006/Wii, 2007) - 3D Open World AA/Crime Sim (see GTA), Dancing and decorating your mansion; No ability gating besides vehicles used for some missions?, Mini-maps
Dead Rising (XB360, 2006) - Open World/Sandbox Action Adventure/Hack 'n Slash (Zombie theme) w/ RPG elements (HP, inventory, gain moves - mainly combat moves), Mission-based (scheduled objectives), Time limit (72 game hours/7-8 real hours), Escort missions (can sometimes carry them), Cooking; Some gating via vehicles?, Few movement/traversal abilities or tools gained (zombie ride lets you walk on zombie crowds, gain japanese language ability for rescuing such NPCs, zombie walk=disguise), Weapon/item/vehicle deterioration (can boost their durability w/ items), Can start the story over while keeping your gained levels, Unlockable overtime and infinite modes, No mini-maps?
The Godfather (Multi, 2006) - 3D Open World AA/Crime Sim (see GTA) w/ RPG elements (skill point allocation), Stealth element; No ability gating besides vehicles used for some missions? (upgradeable movement speed - not required?), Mini-maps
Monster House (GBA, 2006) - 2D AA/Survival Horror, TD view, 3 playable chars - Can switch in certain rooms, Single dungeon (house) setting, No platforming (besides jumping down in a couple of spots), Dark rooms, Some ability gating (disguise, put out fires, DJ can climb, Chowder can push obstacles, Jenny can go into small spaces), Save+healing points, Basic maps (shows layouts and false doors), Die if one char dies, Upgradeable HP, Fast travel via an elevator you can activate
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Multi, 2006) - 3D ARPG/Beat 'em up, TD View, 24 playable chars, CPU allies that you can switch between on the fly, Some QTE mini-game battles, Co-op; Individual abilities are sometimes used to progress?, Semi-transparent mini-maps, Simple puzzles
Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand (PS2, 2006)(Remake) - 3D-ish ARPG (2D sprite characters) w/ Some platforming, Isometric view, Voice acting, See the SNES game; No ability gating?
ROBLOX (PC, 2006) - 3D Sandbox Creation Kit/Platformer/TPS/MMO/Action (a bit like Little Big Planet or Minecraft), TP View, Some games are basically clones of other games; Transformations and vehicles
Rengoku II: The Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N. (PSP, 2006)? - 3D AA/TPS, TP View, Hub area, MP mode; Mini-maps
Saints Row (XB360, 2006) - GTA-like Open World AA (Crime Sim), TP View; No ability gating besides vehicles?, Mini-maps
Monster Hunter 2 (PS2, 2006)(semi-fan translated) - 3D ARPG/MMORPG (real-time combat), TP view, See the prequel, Very little platforming (can climb ledges+vines and jump down), Hub towns?; No ability gating?, Worse drops in SP?, Maps and mini-maps, Seasons mechanic/cycle, Day/night cycle
Baten Kaitos Origins (GC, 2006) - 3D-ish JRPG (pre-rendered backgrounds besides the battles which are TB, non-random encounters), Some platforming?, Meaningless dialogue choices?, Hub map, Many side quests; Card mechanics
Tales of Destiny (PS2, 2006)(Remake, untranslated)? - Partially 3D backgrounds during exploration (automatic camera, sometimes static), fully 3D WM/overworld, See the original, Story changes, No platforming during exploration?
Ace Online (PC, 2006) - 3D MMORPG, Plane-based w/ real-time combat, Hub area (hangar); Mini-maps
Veggie Tales: LarryBoy and the Bad Apple (GBA, 2006) - 2D Puzzle Platformer?, Level-based (level select)
Wai Wai World (Mobile, 2006)(NES port/remix) - 2D Maze Platformer, Replaces two chars and their levels
Painajainen (PC, 2006) - 2D Collectathon/Puzzle Platformer
Knytt (PC, 2006) - 2D Collectathon/Maze Platformer
Akumajo Dracula Special: Boku Dracula-kun or "Devil's Castle Special: Kid Dracula" (Mobile, 2006)(NES port?) - 2D Action Platformer
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia (PS2, 2006) - 2D JRPG, Isometric View, Very little platforming
Brave Story (PS2/DS, 2006)(Untranslated, not the same as New Traveler for PSP) - 3D ARPG w/ platforming, TP View, Hub map; No ability gating?, No mini-maps
EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer (PC, 2006)(Expansion) - 3D MMORPG, TP view, Jumping but little platforming?, See EQ2
Blue Dragon (XB360, 2006) - 3D JRPG, Minor platforming (context sensitive?), TB battles, Non-random encounters
No platforming:
Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (PS2, 2006) - 3D AA/Hack 'n Slash, No platforming (no jump button), CPU ally (or 2-player co-op w/ a code), Level-based, Weapon crafting; Multiple playable chars - Only certain characters gained can reach certain parts of levels,
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP, 2006) - 3D AA/Stealth, See MGS 3, Recruit allies, No platforming besides jumping down? (can jump over some obstacles with the roll move), Some strategy aspects
Blood+ One Night Kiss (PS2, 2006)(Untranslated) - 3D AA/Survival Horror?, TP view w/ automatic camera, Chapter-based (Sandbox/open-ended areas?), 2 different playable chars, QTE finisher moves, No platforming?; Maps
Juka and the Monophonic Menace (GBA, 2006) - 2D Isometric AA, No platforming besides jumping down a few times?, Swimming, Crafting/Potion mixing; Tedious combat?, Minor ability gating (animate potion raises and lower platforms in certain spots, status potions used against enemies)
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (NDS, 2006)(RE1 Port/Remix) - 3D-ish AA/Survival Horror, TP view w/ fixed camera angles, Second screen is used for the map; Skippable cutscenes (including door animations)
Guild Wars Nightfall & Guild Wars Factions (PC, 2006) - 3D MMORPGs, TP view, See the prequel, No platforming?; Fast travel
Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan (PC/PS2, 2006)(Expansion?) - 3D MMORPG, TP view, Mounts, No platforming?
.hack//G.U. vol. 2//Reminisce (PS2, 2006) - 3D ARPG, TP View, No platforming, Flight-based battles?
.hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth (PS2, 2006) - 3D ARPG, TP View, No platforming, Flight-based battles?
Final Fantasy XII (PS2, 2006) - 3D JRPG (semi-TB battles - actions are on timers but can move around freely), Party-based (in-depth behavior system (gambits - if/then command strings); can manually order chars as well), Linear (optional side quests/bounty hunts in the mid-late game), No platforming
Mega Man Star Force: Leo & Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus & Mega Man Star Force: Dragon (NDS, 2006) - 2D ARPG, Isometric view, No platforming
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army (PS2, 2006) - 3D ARPG/RPG, TP view, No platforming
BOTS (PC, 2006)? - 3D MMORPG, TD view, No platforming?
Dragon Quest: Shounen Yangus to Fushigi no Dungeon (Young Yangus' Mysterious Dungeon) (PS2, 2006) - 3D Rogue-like RPG, TP view towns/TD view dungeons, No platforming; Semi-transparent mini-maps
Sword of the New World: Granado Espada (PC, 2006) - 3D MMORPG, TP View, Control up to 3 characters at the same time, Healing and basic attacks are handled automatically by the game, No platforming?, PvP in 3 layers (player, guild, city); No ability gating?, Get knocked out for a couple of minutes if you die?, Mini-maps
Dungeon Siege II: Broken World (PC, 2006)(Expansion) - 3D Diablo-like ARPG, See the prequel, No platforming
Final Fantasy XI: The Vana'diel Collection 2007 (PC, 2006)(Expansion?)?
Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC, 2006) - 3D WRPG (in-depth char creation), TP view (can pitch the camera to TD view), Party-based (real-time w/ pausing), Tactical element (gain a stronghold - a bit like Suikoden), No platforming, MP mode; Mini-maps
Rune Factory A Fantasy Harvest Moon (NDS, 2006) - 2D ARPG/Farming Sim Hybrid, TD View, No platforming?; No ability gating?, Stamina mechanic, Non-persistent dungeons
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Maihitoyo (DS/PS2, 2006)(Untranslated? - No video footage or screenshots
Brave Story: New Traveler (PSP, 2006)(Remake/Remix?) - 3D JRPG, TD view exploration/TP view battles (turn-based), No platforming
DragonFable (PC (Browser), 2006) - 2D WRPG, Tilted view, Mouse-driven exploration, No platforming?
Titan Quest (PC, 2006) - 3D Diablo-like ARPG, Isometric view, No platforming
Phantasy Star Universe (PC/PS2/XB360, 2006) - 3D MMO ARPG, Party-based (2 CPU allies in SP), See the prequel, Linear?, No platforming; No ability gating?
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology (PSP, 2006) - 3D ARPG, TP view, No platforming? (combat jumping only?), See the prequels
Lunar Knights (NDS, 2006) - 2D ARPG, Isometric View, Boktai spinoff, 2 playable chars, No platforming
Subgenre: Metroid-like, Collectathon aspect (several orbs for the upgrade to the cube spawning ability)
Movement Mechanics: Double jump (up to five times in a row in mid-air with an upgrade) by throwing cubes/blocks downwards similar to Klonoa
Other: Use found and spawned cubes to fight, Basketball mini-game
- 3 Warp shortcuts (room with three warp pads near beginning, not quite enough though), Can choose to save and quit anywhere to warp back to the previous save point with progress kept
- Only one save point (at your home in the beginning) - 3 warp points leading to near the beginning but you have to find them and after that there's a couple of areas without warps to them which leads to backtracking
- Partially non-linear (can get kick from the third area before phantom cube from the second one, can explore area 4 (purple one with meat eating plants) before area 3, can explore part of area 5 (grey) after the first boss, can explore part of the southeastern lava area before beating the second boss but need large block carrying to clear it and the sand area)
- Pretty well interconnected world
- Decent map system overall (Super Metroid-style; doesn't show where found upgrade items are though and you can't mark points of interest, no room topography shown)
- Starts off tough with no means to attack at first, lots of enemies, few health drops and low health and no checkpoints or save points besides where you start the game
- Some neutral creatures
- Slowly regenerating ammo/CP
- Can avoid most combat
- No breakable walls
- The block moving/stacking puzzle aspect is abandoned pretty quickly
- Don't start with full health and ammo after reloading (only 4 HP and half ammo)
- Keep finding items you have a full stock of (health when at full health for example)
- Can't carry blocks between rooms (no puzzle reason for it)
- Non-persistent green blocks (the ones that don't break from throwing them around) even within the same room and some issues with non-respawning blocks in various rooms - makes you backtrack to be able to retry a segment until you get the phantom cube ability
- Life and ammo drops from enemies disappear if they move off screen
Playthrough (Speedrun) - Video Review - Mini Review
An Untitled Story (PC, 2006)
Subgenre: Metroid-like/Precision Platformer, Collectathon element (7 golden orbs to get into the last area)
Perspective: Side View besides two optional mini-games
Movement Mechanics: Double jump+extra jumps via mid-air energy points, Stick to and move on ceilings, Air stomp/downward air dash, Bounce off of certain enemies and objects
Other: Flip screen, Some shops and NPCs, Stat (health, defense, attack range) upgrades
- Partially non-linear structure (can explore above the cannon segment near town before the third boss, various optional upgrades, can open a second yellow gate near the beginning as the first becomes accessible, can go to either the underwater area or the lava area at one point, can do the white wobbly area or the dark cave area after getting the ice shot in the underwater area and the ceiling walk ability near the beginning of the desert area, can do the rainy mountain area or the pink area after the lava cave boss+beginning of desert area, can do the wobbly white area before finishing the underwater area, can go to rainy mountain or the stone castle eye boss after all jump upgrades+yellow energy point ability)
- Frequent save points overall (one slot per game) which also heal you - these become less frequent in the late game
- Can teleport between found save points (ability gained early on)
- Some good puzzles and some decent ones
- Some interesting gimmicks (red mid-air energy points give you an extra jump but then disappear for a few seconds - similar to bouncing on enemies in SMB3/Sonic/Monster World 3), blue energy points temporarily turn into platforms when shot, heart gates - have to beat the current room or segment leading up to it without taking damage to get to the health upgrade, the blue ghost enemies)
- Decent map system (shows basic layout, where you are and save points+boss rooms, named areas), Doesn't mark room exits that you haven't used yet and doesn't mark items or other points of interest, Can't place map markers
- Generally good challenges leading up to items
- Completion numbers and stats screen (deaths, saves, damage taken or dealt) in the menu
- Some environmental storytelling (cave paintings, signs - could've been notes though which are actually used later on)
- Invincible flying enemy appearing on random screens after its first appearance (it kidnaps some NPCs you meet along the way) adds to the sense of vulnerability - similar to the ghost in Bubble Bobble
- Difficulty options (easy-masterful/very hard, affects how many gold orbs are needed to enter the final area (10 on very hard))
- Can farm for money from pots though it's kinda slow
- Money/crystal magnet ability
- Spikes don't do that much damage though it does increase over the course of the game and you sometimes can't get out of a spike pit without taking several hits
- Minor money grinding (yellow gates, can find a blue orb that increases money drops - SotN?)
- Can escape from some boss fights but not most of them
- Some mini-games (Rainbow catch - catch stars while falling and bounce on some objects+shoot to catch all of them, space invaders-like - decent, pseudo TP runner - ok), Two gambling mini-games (one hidden one which lets you win a money magnet and a health upgrade)
- Frozen enemies are destroyed instead of restored after the ice melts/breaks - enemies respawn when re-entering a screen
- Slow rate of fire and getting close to the object or enemy doesn't help - can't upgrade it
- Some notable cons:
- Gets very hard towards the end with fewer save points and a bunch of trial & error where a couple of mistakes means you have to restart from the last save
- Double jump isn't 100% reliable
- Unforgiving hit detection on the mid-air energy points you use to jump again in the air at various points
- Some trial & error tied to gaining one progression ability due to vague hints and various optional paths pretty much require a guide to find
- Some movement upgrades are too minor (slightly improved jump height and slightly improved double jump height) or feel like you should've had them from the beginning (ducking)
- Some annoying music (can turn it off though)
- Some bosses have overly long invincibility periods
- Unskippable cutscenes
- Invisible walls to the west and the east as well as in the "the bottom" area+invisibile roof in the sky at mountside area and pink area
- Some difficulty spikes and dips
Playthrough w/ Commentary - Review - Mini Review
Bunny Must Die: Chelsea and the 7 Devils (PC, 2006/PS4/PSV, 2016) - WIP
2D, Bullet hell elements
Perspective: Side View
Other: Chibi bunny suit girl avatar
Can only hold one weapon at a time (unlike in CV it's your main weapon)
Time slowing+stopping and reversing abilities (Sands of Time)
Map feature (shows layout, doors and some points of interest but no topography within rooms)
Parry system (time directional inputs with the moment of impact according to the direction something is hitting you from - Street Fighter 3)
Odd jumping (jumping without pressing a direction at the same time reaches higher and lets you attack enemies below but has poor horizontal length)
Unlockable second character (new abilities and controls)
Soldexus (PC, 2006) - 2D Igavania-like - WIP
Unlockable second playable character with different bosses (beat it)
Okami (PS2, 2006) - WIP
3D Zelda-ish Action Adventure (towns and dungeons, helper NPC, manual jumping as well as double jump and air dash moves), Minor stat distribution aspect, Wolf avatar, Enemy encounters in some areas
Perspective: TP view
Mostly linear structure ()
Learn spells that are used to transform the environment and progress (also used for some combat, symbols drawn manually on the screen similar to Dawn of Sorrow)
World restoration theme
Some unskippable cutscenes?
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Flushed Away (NDS, 2006)? - 2.5D, Side View, Mini-games, Boat segments, 2 different playable chars (Rita has a grappling hook needed to progress at times for example)
Death pits
Can't kill enemies
No handholding after the tutorial?
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GC 2006)
Subgenre: 3D Action Adventure, Music element (pitch and note length control but no time signature switching), Rapids/waterfalls canoeing segment, Some collectathon elements (the poe sidequest - find and kill 60 for an endless supply of 200 rupees reward (lame reward on GC)), need to find all 24 bugs to be able to carry 1k rupees on GC, five heart pieces required for each new heart here, tear of light collecting, forced collectathon quest before the sky temple), Some Okami-style enemy encounters, A couple of flight segments where you ride an enemy creature for a bit, Escort mission segment (on horseback so it's fast-paced), Snowboarding segment w/ manual jumping (can replay it as a racing mini-game later on), Boar riding segments
Perspective: TP view (FP aiming mode)
Movement Mechanics: Manual jumping with Epona and between rails with the Spinner, QTE jumping in wolf form, Swimming
Other: Fishing, Sumo wrestling mini-game
- Linear structure (Midna tells you to go back if you try to go to Hyrule field before the forest temple for example, can't go north of hyrule field once it opens up nor return to Link form to meet the golden wolf after reaching death mountain, etc.; some dungeons are also linear besides some optional chests) - opens up more after the third dungeon and gaining the ability to switch forms on the fly but you still have to do the dungeons in a set order
- One optional gauntlet dungeon (cave of ordeals in the desert) and some optional caves
- Gain a wolf form early on (dig (pass some wolf-only paths and find a few optional caves within stone circles), talk to animals and explore the twilight-covered parts of Hyrule (similar to the dark world in Zelda 3), perform more difficult jumps in certain spots, can learn scents to see trails leading to certain NPCs while in sense mode)
- Epona stays where you left her even if moving to another area and back+you can summon her in certain areas using special grass and the game automatically plays her song when interacting with it - later on you get an item to summon her with in more places
- Some new movement focused tools
- Can warp out of dungeons as well as back to the last room you were in using a bird that you can carry with you (have to find it in each dungeon, can't warp back to finished dungeons from the outside with it though), Fairly frequent warp spots
- Very good map system (togglable mini-map, three levels of zoom, show the basic layout+area exits+which door you exited last+dungeon doors(+treasure chests and the boss's location but you need to find the compass to see these as usual), ), Signs outside of houses, Area maps show the whole area as you enter them (helps you not miss details but lessens the sense of exploration a bit), Can't use map markers and the map doesn't show which doors are locked
- Three save slots per game (shows current stats, location and time taken; save anywhere though you're taken back to a checkpoint when loading (in dungeons you get sent back to the entrance), Frequent checkpoints besides this as well except for a few spots in the fields)
- Day/night cycle (OoT, each is about 8 mins long? (about twice as long as in OoT), some new enemies in some areas at night and houses in towns tend to be locked, time pauses while in towns; there's only a couple of ways to switch faster: go to the city in the sky and back and it switches to day/go to the twilight palace and back and it switches to night), No song of the sun (to jump to day/night anywhere)
- Fight alongside Zelda against Ganon (Wind Waker)
- Pretty good fortune teller hints (heart piece locations)
- More believable/immersive world (the world map isn't overly box- or oval-shaped finally, one pretty large town (castle town - plenty of NPCs moving around or doing other things here as well), the different "races" interact more with each other), Can throw rocks at NPCs but they don't tell you off (can also swing the sword and make some NPCs dodge it which is kinda funny), The game breaks from the "can't move items between dungeon doors" rule in the final dungeon, Breaks up the division between hostile and friendly areas at times with enemies appearing in towns (Zelda 3) and NPCs living in a dungeon, The dragon boss of sky temple interrupts your progress once during that dungeon (Shinobi ARC)
- Some additional lore delivered via the mailman on the field over the course of the game (besides quest-related info; his repeated cutscene should've been skippable though)
- Skippable cutscenes
- Partial control config (hold or toggle Z-targeting, have to map Midna to Z - could equip 3 items in WW)
- Some wolf paths get arbitrarily blocked off when back in Link form, Can climb some ledges but not other similar ones (similar issues with QTE jumping at times)
- Dropped or found hearts/rupees/ammo disappear after a few seconds
- More scripted events in-between dungeons
- Enemies (and fish) keep dropping items which you already have a full stock of
- No proper journal/quest log (the letters help a bit though and it's not much of an issue unless you take a longer break from the game)
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Scurge: Hive (GBA, 2006)? - 2D, Isometric View
Scurge: Hive (NDS, 2006)? - 2D, Isometric View, same game?
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion & Knights of the Nine DLC pack (PC/XB360, 2006/PC, 2007)?
3D Open World WRPG (in-depth char creation, create your own class), Stealth
FP View
Horse mounts
Spells and skills for traversal/exploration (see the prequel?)
Starts with a tutorial w/ pop-ups
Fast travel points
More action/reflex-focused combat
Dynamic level scaling (not perfectly balanced)
Highly interactive environment
Persuasion mini-game
Quest markers
Fewer gear types
Forbidden Siren 2 (PS2, 2006)?
Subgenre: 3D AA/Survival Horror, Some platforming (context sensitive)
Perspective: TP/FP view hybrid (toggle)
Level-based and mostly linear (secondary objectives unlocking new levels, two endings, level select screen, basic hints/briefings before levels, can revisit levels)
9 playable chars (most w/ unique abilities - Akiko can see visions from the past, one can lay traps, two can use flares, one can possess enemies, one sees through others (sightjacking), )
Difficulty options
Optional map markers
Subtitles and JP voices options
Control config
Maps but no mini-maps
Unlockable mini-games
Gothic 3 (PC, 2006)
3D Open World WRPG (no arbitrary gates, can kill anyone)
TP View
Other: NPC schedules (day/night cycle), 2 factions (orcs and humans, humans are occupied and you can liberate cities)
Teleport stones - have to find them
Some spells and skills for exploration/traversal (Telekinesis?, Light, Fog (stealth), Soul Travel, Some transformations?)
Buggy w/o fan patch
Map and compass (no mini-map?)
Hard
Quest log and dialogue journal features
Highly interactive world?
Tooltips for nearby interactive objects - SS1?
Save anywhere
Night to Day - skip ahead and heal spell
Visual effect when hurt
NPCs tend to knock you out and steal your stuff rather than kill you if you misbehave
Can make NPCs and enemies fight for you
Sketchy (PC, 2006 (Demo)/2013 (Longer but unfinished)) - https://studiohunty.com/sketchy/
Outliers:
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (PC/XB360, 2006)
FPS/FP ARPG w/ Platforming (3 skill trees), Stealth and Trapping elements (can make enemies slip on ice or demolish wooden structures on top of enemies for example)
Level-based and mostly linear (two story choices)
No shops
Some spells for exploration and traversal (rope bow, telekinesis, highlight secret switches when still skill, ); Interactive environment (used for puzzles), Underdeveloped archery/ranged combat, Can stun and then disarm enemies, Many secrets, MP regen and you can gain HP regen, Mini-maps
Ys Origin (PC, 2006/Multi, 2017)
2.5D ARPG (sprite characters, fixed camera angles)
Bird's Eye View/Side View hybrid (a few segments)
3 different playable chars (choose before beginning), See the prequel, Basic swimming
Gain dash and double jump moves+wind skill that allows for a hover jump (also items for seeing hidden things and holding your breath longer underwater), Linear structure (some detours for items), Rough level scaling, Fast travel+healing+save point statues, No mini-maps
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2, 2006) - 3D/2.5D hybrid JRPG (3D battles in TP view - enemies move when you do, 2.5D location exploration w/ mostly 2D sidescrolling gameplay), Party-based combat w/ CPU allies?, Non-random encounters, Hub map
Gain some movement abilities? (short teleport/blink, can freeze enemies to use as platforms), Prequel story, Mini-maps
LaTale (PC, 2006) - 2D MMORPG w/ Platforming, PvP, Similar to Maple Story; Can/could gain some movement abilities but there's no ability gating, Attack combos, Level gating, Mini-maps
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (Multi, 2006) - 3D Action Platformer/AA (Small hub area w/ a shop - buy chars), TP view, See the prequel, Hub room w/ a shop (access all 3 first episodes based on the movies and create a character based on bought chars, can you go back and forth between episodes during a session?), More vehicle segments
No new moves gained for any char?
Raw Danger!/Zettaizetsumei Toshi 2 (PS2, 2006)? - 3D AA/Survival (Disaster Sim), Open ended w/ missions (Rescue, ), Basic dialogue trees w/ story choices, Stealth element, Crafting
Can't travel between locations freely?, Gain vehicles and tools used to progress (temporary vehicles?, need umbrellas to stay dry?, flashlight), Some NPCs can open certain doors found later on, Large-scale environmental effects and destruction, Some puzzles, Body temperate mechanic affecting your performance, Save points, Weight mechanic
Bully (PS2, 2006/PC/Wii/XB360, 2008) - 3D Open World AA w/ RPG elements, TP view, Chapter-based (map expands as you complete each one), Reputation/respect levels (nerds, bullies, preps, etc.), Race segments, Mini-games, Dating, Schedules, Stealth element
No ability gating besides combat moves and weapons?, Mini-maps, Fast travel via buses/skateboards/bikes/scooters
Tomb Raider: Legend (Multi, 2006) - 3D Puzzle Platformer/TPS, No more tank controls, See the prequels, Hub area of sorts (mansion which gradually unlocks) - Linear and level-based otherwise?, Semi-automatic jumps and grabs?, Less boxy environments and obstacles+physics, QTEs
Three tools for progression (flashlight, grapple, pistols?), Bullet time (slow motion), Fewer weapons, Can only carry 3 health packs, Still no maps?, Partially skippable cutscenes
Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm (PS2, 2006) - 2D JRPG/AA Hybrid w/ Platforming, Isometric View exploration/Tilted View battles (TB), Sandbox/Open World structure
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (PSP, 2006)(Remaster of the PS1 game)? - New cutscenes and presentation, See the PS1 game, Don't gain new movement abilities?, Time limit, TB battles?
Destroy All Humans! 2 (XB/PS2, 2006) - Open World 3D AA/TPS, Mission-based (mainly protection, destruction and infiltration), TP view, Crafting? (gene blender), Flying Saucer segments, Side quests
Some ability gating (body snatching - time limit), Mini-maps
Wild ARMs 5 (PS2, 2006) - 3D JRPG w/ Platforming, TD/TP View hybrid (TD Hex-based battle system), Collectathon element, Puzzles; Gain some abilities for progression in dungeons?, Can turn off encounters with an item
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent (Multi, 2006) - AA/Stealth Action, See the prequel, Partially non-linear (some story choices and you can do missions for two different factions (need to keep both sides happy but it's fairly easy on Normal?), three endings), Some more open areas with missions in daylight, Swimming and skydiving segments, 3v3 MP and Co-op modes (MP is less technical than the prequel?); Mini-maps, Have to wait in some missions (can't speed up time), Difficulty options, No shop?, Save anywhere, No revisiting of previous areas?
Hitman: Blood Money (PC/PS2/XB, 2006) - 3D AA/Stealth/Trapping (Assassin Sim), TP view/FP view hybrid, Larger and sandbox-style/open-ended levels/missions, Shops, Minor platforming; Lore via newspaper articles, Minor optional ability gating (disguises, explosives, ), Get penalized for going on rampages, Time limits between saves?, Maps but no mini-maps
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PSP, 2006/PS2, 2007) - 3D Open World AA, Two hub areas (islands), See Vice City, Swimming; No ability gating besides vehicles needed for some missions?, Maps and mini-maps
Yakuza 2 (PS2, 2006) - 3D Open World AA/Beat 'em up w/ RPG elements, See the prequel, Some QTE elements, Many fetch quests, Little platforming (context sensitive); No ability gating?, Mini-maps
Scarface: The World Is Yours (Multi, 2006/Wii, 2007) - 3D Open World AA/Crime Sim (see GTA), Dancing and decorating your mansion; No ability gating besides vehicles used for some missions?, Mini-maps
Dead Rising (XB360, 2006) - Open World/Sandbox Action Adventure/Hack 'n Slash (Zombie theme) w/ RPG elements (HP, inventory, gain moves - mainly combat moves), Mission-based (scheduled objectives), Time limit (72 game hours/7-8 real hours), Escort missions (can sometimes carry them), Cooking; Some gating via vehicles?, Few movement/traversal abilities or tools gained (zombie ride lets you walk on zombie crowds, gain japanese language ability for rescuing such NPCs, zombie walk=disguise), Weapon/item/vehicle deterioration (can boost their durability w/ items), Can start the story over while keeping your gained levels, Unlockable overtime and infinite modes, No mini-maps?
The Godfather (Multi, 2006) - 3D Open World AA/Crime Sim (see GTA) w/ RPG elements (skill point allocation), Stealth element; No ability gating besides vehicles used for some missions? (upgradeable movement speed - not required?), Mini-maps
Monster House (GBA, 2006) - 2D AA/Survival Horror, TD view, 3 playable chars - Can switch in certain rooms, Single dungeon (house) setting, No platforming (besides jumping down in a couple of spots), Dark rooms, Some ability gating (disguise, put out fires, DJ can climb, Chowder can push obstacles, Jenny can go into small spaces), Save+healing points, Basic maps (shows layouts and false doors), Die if one char dies, Upgradeable HP, Fast travel via an elevator you can activate
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Multi, 2006) - 3D ARPG/Beat 'em up, TD View, 24 playable chars, CPU allies that you can switch between on the fly, Some QTE mini-game battles, Co-op; Individual abilities are sometimes used to progress?, Semi-transparent mini-maps, Simple puzzles
Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand (PS2, 2006)(Remake) - 3D-ish ARPG (2D sprite characters) w/ Some platforming, Isometric view, Voice acting, See the SNES game; No ability gating?
ROBLOX (PC, 2006) - 3D Sandbox Creation Kit/Platformer/TPS/MMO/Action (a bit like Little Big Planet or Minecraft), TP View, Some games are basically clones of other games; Transformations and vehicles
Rengoku II: The Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N. (PSP, 2006)? - 3D AA/TPS, TP View, Hub area, MP mode; Mini-maps
Saints Row (XB360, 2006) - GTA-like Open World AA (Crime Sim), TP View; No ability gating besides vehicles?, Mini-maps
Monster Hunter 2 (PS2, 2006)(semi-fan translated) - 3D ARPG/MMORPG (real-time combat), TP view, See the prequel, Very little platforming (can climb ledges+vines and jump down), Hub towns?; No ability gating?, Worse drops in SP?, Maps and mini-maps, Seasons mechanic/cycle, Day/night cycle
Baten Kaitos Origins (GC, 2006) - 3D-ish JRPG (pre-rendered backgrounds besides the battles which are TB, non-random encounters), Some platforming?, Meaningless dialogue choices?, Hub map, Many side quests; Card mechanics
Tales of Destiny (PS2, 2006)(Remake, untranslated)? - Partially 3D backgrounds during exploration (automatic camera, sometimes static), fully 3D WM/overworld, See the original, Story changes, No platforming during exploration?
Ace Online (PC, 2006) - 3D MMORPG, Plane-based w/ real-time combat, Hub area (hangar); Mini-maps
Veggie Tales: LarryBoy and the Bad Apple (GBA, 2006) - 2D Puzzle Platformer?, Level-based (level select)
Wai Wai World (Mobile, 2006)(NES port/remix) - 2D Maze Platformer, Replaces two chars and their levels
Painajainen (PC, 2006) - 2D Collectathon/Puzzle Platformer
Knytt (PC, 2006) - 2D Collectathon/Maze Platformer
Akumajo Dracula Special: Boku Dracula-kun or "Devil's Castle Special: Kid Dracula" (Mobile, 2006)(NES port?) - 2D Action Platformer
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia (PS2, 2006) - 2D JRPG, Isometric View, Very little platforming
Brave Story (PS2/DS, 2006)(Untranslated, not the same as New Traveler for PSP) - 3D ARPG w/ platforming, TP View, Hub map; No ability gating?, No mini-maps
EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer (PC, 2006)(Expansion) - 3D MMORPG, TP view, Jumping but little platforming?, See EQ2
Blue Dragon (XB360, 2006) - 3D JRPG, Minor platforming (context sensitive?), TB battles, Non-random encounters
No platforming:
Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (PS2, 2006) - 3D AA/Hack 'n Slash, No platforming (no jump button), CPU ally (or 2-player co-op w/ a code), Level-based, Weapon crafting; Multiple playable chars - Only certain characters gained can reach certain parts of levels,
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP, 2006) - 3D AA/Stealth, See MGS 3, Recruit allies, No platforming besides jumping down? (can jump over some obstacles with the roll move), Some strategy aspects
Blood+ One Night Kiss (PS2, 2006)(Untranslated) - 3D AA/Survival Horror?, TP view w/ automatic camera, Chapter-based (Sandbox/open-ended areas?), 2 different playable chars, QTE finisher moves, No platforming?; Maps
Juka and the Monophonic Menace (GBA, 2006) - 2D Isometric AA, No platforming besides jumping down a few times?, Swimming, Crafting/Potion mixing; Tedious combat?, Minor ability gating (animate potion raises and lower platforms in certain spots, status potions used against enemies)
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (NDS, 2006)(RE1 Port/Remix) - 3D-ish AA/Survival Horror, TP view w/ fixed camera angles, Second screen is used for the map; Skippable cutscenes (including door animations)
Guild Wars Nightfall & Guild Wars Factions (PC, 2006) - 3D MMORPGs, TP view, See the prequel, No platforming?; Fast travel
Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan (PC/PS2, 2006)(Expansion?) - 3D MMORPG, TP view, Mounts, No platforming?
.hack//G.U. vol. 2//Reminisce (PS2, 2006) - 3D ARPG, TP View, No platforming, Flight-based battles?
.hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth (PS2, 2006) - 3D ARPG, TP View, No platforming, Flight-based battles?
Final Fantasy XII (PS2, 2006) - 3D JRPG (semi-TB battles - actions are on timers but can move around freely), Party-based (in-depth behavior system (gambits - if/then command strings); can manually order chars as well), Linear (optional side quests/bounty hunts in the mid-late game), No platforming
Mega Man Star Force: Leo & Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus & Mega Man Star Force: Dragon (NDS, 2006) - 2D ARPG, Isometric view, No platforming
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army (PS2, 2006) - 3D ARPG/RPG, TP view, No platforming
BOTS (PC, 2006)? - 3D MMORPG, TD view, No platforming?
Dragon Quest: Shounen Yangus to Fushigi no Dungeon (Young Yangus' Mysterious Dungeon) (PS2, 2006) - 3D Rogue-like RPG, TP view towns/TD view dungeons, No platforming; Semi-transparent mini-maps
Sword of the New World: Granado Espada (PC, 2006) - 3D MMORPG, TP View, Control up to 3 characters at the same time, Healing and basic attacks are handled automatically by the game, No platforming?, PvP in 3 layers (player, guild, city); No ability gating?, Get knocked out for a couple of minutes if you die?, Mini-maps
Dungeon Siege II: Broken World (PC, 2006)(Expansion) - 3D Diablo-like ARPG, See the prequel, No platforming
Final Fantasy XI: The Vana'diel Collection 2007 (PC, 2006)(Expansion?)?
Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC, 2006) - 3D WRPG (in-depth char creation), TP view (can pitch the camera to TD view), Party-based (real-time w/ pausing), Tactical element (gain a stronghold - a bit like Suikoden), No platforming, MP mode; Mini-maps
Rune Factory A Fantasy Harvest Moon (NDS, 2006) - 2D ARPG/Farming Sim Hybrid, TD View, No platforming?; No ability gating?, Stamina mechanic, Non-persistent dungeons
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Maihitoyo (DS/PS2, 2006)(Untranslated? - No video footage or screenshots
Brave Story: New Traveler (PSP, 2006)(Remake/Remix?) - 3D JRPG, TD view exploration/TP view battles (turn-based), No platforming
DragonFable (PC (Browser), 2006) - 2D WRPG, Tilted view, Mouse-driven exploration, No platforming?
Titan Quest (PC, 2006) - 3D Diablo-like ARPG, Isometric view, No platforming
Phantasy Star Universe (PC/PS2/XB360, 2006) - 3D MMO ARPG, Party-based (2 CPU allies in SP), See the prequel, Linear?, No platforming; No ability gating?
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology (PSP, 2006) - 3D ARPG, TP view, No platforming? (combat jumping only?), See the prequels
Lunar Knights (NDS, 2006) - 2D ARPG, Isometric View, Boktai spinoff, 2 playable chars, No platforming
