Yahoo! Games: Best of 2006 Awards

• Best Action-Adventure Game
• Best Online Multiplayer Game
• Best Parlor Game
• Best Racing Game
• Best Role-Playing Game
• Best Shooter Game
• Best Sports Game
• Best Strategy Game
• Best Original Game
• Best Video Game of Year

• Best Casual Game
• Most Innovative Casual Game

WINNER:

Guitar Hero 2

Guitar Hero 2 isn't a massive improvement on Guitar Hero, but in one year, it's lost none of its insanely addicting and exalting appeal. Top that with many of the new features and among a year of great parlor games, Guitar Hero 2 is still an easy favorite pick.

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Editor Notes

How could it be anything else? Guitar Hero II is so much fun it should be illegal. Roll on 2007 - I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes next. --Mike Smith

I pushed for Konami to bring over Guitar Freaks. But once I played Guitar Hero I didn't look back, and shouted its praise up the Stairway to Heaven. It's unbelievable that this encore is even better. I love the song selection (am I the only Butthole Surfers fan out there?), which is bigger and badder this year. Additionally, I feel the tracks do a better job of teaching you how to improve as a player. Co-op cannot be ignored, as well, and has brought my wife and I closer together. I won't stop rocking until I master Expert mode -- or until I learn to play the real guitar. Whichever comes first. --Justin Leeper

The campaign does a much better job of giving you a sense of progression. The new practice mode is a welcome addition and an invaluable way to work your way up the learning curve to the more gratifying and more difficult levels. And the hammer-ons and pull-offs are considerably less finicky. And it's totally awesome to play co-operatively with your buddy, rocking out along the bass line. --Tom Chick

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