Yahoo! Games: Best of 2006 Awards

We scrutinize all of last year's releases and hand out the Best of 2006 honors.

By YVG Staff

Best Strategy Game

NOMINEES:

Battle for Middle Earth II (Xbox 360, PC)

Developer: EA Los Angeles
Publisher: EA

Half of what makes this game great is how well it captures the look and sound -- indeed, just the overall vibe -- of Peter Jackson's movies. But the other half of what makes Battle for Middle Earth II great is that it's a smart and innovative real-time strategy game. It's accessible without sacrificing strategic depth. It's action-packed without being overwhelming. And it's more than willing to let dramatic things happen. When so many RTSs are playing it safe and balanced, Battle for Middle Earth II gives you heroes and awesome Ring powers that will merrily sweep entire armies off the map without breaking the game.

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Company of Heroes (PC)

Developer: Relic Entertainment
Publisher: THQ

Making a World War II real-time strategy game feel original and new is no mean feat. Luckily, Company of Heroes' creator Relic is no mean developer. Relic ditched the genre conventions of staid graphics and dumbass soldiers, replacing them with a gorgeous-yet-functional 3D battlefield and infantry that actually had brains. The result was one of the best games of the year. 'Nuff said.

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Disgaea 2

Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Publisher: Atlus U.S.A.

This latest version of the 50-hour-plus tactical RPG magnum opus is just as good as its predecessor. With a new storyline, some helpful streamlining, and a few notable new tricks, Disgaea 2 is enough of an improvement that even fans of the original game won't feel like they're just revisiting the same territory. Don't mind the cutesy anime graphics; this is hardcore stuff! It ultimately comes down to managing tactical puzzles, with your custom built characters serving as the chess pieces in a thousand randomized battles, each with the promise of new treasures. If that doesn't get strategy gamers salivating like Pavlov's dog, nothing will.

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Galactic Civilization II

Developer: Stardock
Publisher: Stardock

What strategy gamer hasn't wanted to play Civilization in space? Galactic Civilizations II lets you do that, and it knows what you really want to do. You want to design your own ships, and watch them fight their stately battles against other ships. It knows you want to negotiate with aliens, threatening them and cowing them into submissions. It knows you want to claim the known universe with mighty space stations. It knows you want to terraform entire planets, and depopulate others with biological attacks. Stardock's smart AI, refined interface, and fancy new visuals make Galactic Civilization II the year's best turn-based strategy game.

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Metal Gear Acid 2

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami

To Konami's credit, they're taking the Metal Gear franchise into some unlikely directions. Perhaps the most unlikely is adapting Snake's sneaking into a collectible card game laid over a turn-based tactical game. It works even better in this sequel, with better cards and clear rules in place of the last game's muddled mechanics. The storyline is as impenetrable as ever, but there's nothing to pull you through it quite like the lure of collecting more cards and building the perfect deck. If you like collectible card games, this innovative approach finally came into its own with Metal Gear Acid 2.

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Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends

Developer: Big Huge Games
Publisher: Microsoft

The developers at Big Huge Games have crafted an incredibly meticulous real-time strategy game with a funky mythology that you can't help but admire for the sheer "huh?" of it all. Steampunk vs. Arabian mythos vs. Stargate-inspired MesoAmerican aliens? As you play, it all comes together as three distinct sides, each with its own unique twists. This is a triumph of real-time strategy design without equal. There may have been better strategy games this year, but none of them was built from as solid a design as Rise of Legends.