Go figure, a few weeks ago I made comments about the lack of any true Xbox 360 titles available. Chella added her opinion on the matter as well. Since then there have been a lot of good titles released. Oh well, time to backpedal again.

I mentioned Fight Night Round 3 in my last column, with visuals that gave us a true taste of the next generation of gaming.

Then came Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter. After finishing the game last night I can truly tell that this is the first game that can really only be done on a next generation console like the 360. Sure it is also available for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox Classic, but based on the Gamerankings.com scale, they are pale imitations to the 360 masterpiece. The whole environment, a massive setting in Mexico City, as well as the innovative Cross Com technology (featuring a working real time PIP camera), plus an intense single player campaign, cannot be imitated on current gen systems.

The only concern I might have with GRAW is the NPC AI can get somewhat retarded. On one mission I had to defend the Mexican President, and at times he would run right into my line of fire, killing him and aborting the mission.

Full Auto is also available now, and while I don't feel that it can truly define a next generation title, it does have its moments. For one, the combat racing does get intense at times. I've never been a big fan of the Twisted Metal series, but if it's done in a circuit racing or point to point racing system like it is here, then I can get along well with it.

And then there is the unusual Unwreck feature. While it does seem like a strange gimmick, it actually works out quite well. It might make the game a little easier, but not by much. The Unwreck feature is limited (albeit earned by causing destruction,) and later missions get rather tough. AI racers show no mercy with their weapons.

But of all the latest titles on the 360 that truly screams out next gen has to be Bethesda's Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Now I played the previous Elder Scrolls title on the Xbox Classic (Morrowind,) and while I found it to be way too open ended, it was still an impressive title. Now Oblivion might still be open ended, but it's now easier to get into the main quest, as well as all the side missions without any problem at all.

Whoever decided on the instant travel mode needs to be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award, as it saves a lot of time from mindless journeying. And for someone like myself who doesn't really get into role playing games that much, this is a big surprise to me.

A while ago, I got some heat from Bethesda about a previous title they released, Pirates of the Caribbean because I said it was responsible for bricking an Xbox. What happened was when I played the game locked up, and when I turned it back on, the system was dead. It turned out that I was wrong, but Bethesda wasn't happy with my comments. For that, I apologized for what I said and I'm glad to see that Oblivion far exceeds anything else that they have done.

In fact, with all the new titles that I played on the 360, Oblivion has taken over all of my time. While most of my time is spent trying to get my character updated (I'm only at level 9 despite playing for over 20 hours,) I was able to join both the Thieves' and Fighter's Guild, become a Grand Champion in the gladiatorial arena, destroy four Oblivion Gates, and have recently obtained an invite into the Dark Brotherhood of Assassins. And even with all this, I still have the main quest to finish!

Good thing the only Xbox 360 titles I have somewhat of an interest in is Major League Baseball 2K6 (which has been somewhat diminished because of how good MLB 06: The Show on PSP is.) Otherwise I would never get Oblivion finished!

CURRENTLY PLAYING: ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION (Xbox 360)

WAITING FOR: E3