After all my praising, wishing, loving, and enjoying the games I have - as well as look at the positive sides of things on my blog here on Gamespot, it's time for me to do some real complaining.

In my opinion, 2006 has been a lackluster year for games in general. I've found that even with the release of three "next-generation" consoles, that I have not really seen one title that shouts at me - "I am doing something new!" Infact, in my opinion, the only game that's actually added something new to the table this year is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and even that pales in comparison to it's 2002 predecessor.

Sure, I've seen some ball-tightening, incredible, killer graphics this year. I've seen some great physics capacities, and heaps of gory games - but this amounts to nothing in my books - hell, I could do with graphics from 2002 - just as long as solid gameplay is still intact.

Where's the Half-life of 2006? Where's the Starcraft, or the KOTOR, or the Duke Nukem? There have been games this year that all try to emulate these games, but I just don't see them going down as "the greatest ever."

Anyway, enough of the complaining, because here's the good news. Perhaps you've noticed by now that none of the three of the games I'm getting this christams are from 2006, and this is for the reasons I've stated above. However, I'm looking forward to these excellent titles, from 2005, 2004, and 2003 to add to my gaming collection, three games that I've been looking for for such a long time, and finally I've found them, cheap, and in working order.

Star Wars: Republic Commando, as the Star Wars fan that I am, is a game that adds that tactical, and user friendly interface and gameplay that so many have been lusting for, while covering it in a great Star Wars glinty coating.

Thief Deadly Shadows is the part three of the original and the best stealth series, where you take on the part of Master thief Garret, and are thrown into a magical plot involving Keepers, Hammerites, and loot!

Finally, The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon is the final expansion to the Morrowind world, one that unfortunately I never got around to buying, but have finally found this masterpiece that reworks you into one of the most amazing worlds ever created.

I'm hoping and pleading that 2007 will be a better year for gaming. With the hopefuly arrival of STALKER, Half-Life Episode 2, C&C Tiberium Wars, Supreme Commander, Mass Effect, and some other exciting titles coming my way, 2007 is looking like a positive year.