A chill is in the air and the leaves are starting to change color, which can only mean one thing: it's time to light a fire, put on some cocoa, and snuggle up with the love of your life. I'm referring to your Xbox, of course, and although its pointy corners might not make it the ideal cuddle buddy, it's got plenty of games that can warm your heart as well as your mind. Granted, not all of the titles are as anticipated as a certain first-person juggernaut, but there's sure to be something in here for everyone. So, without further ado, let's take a look at some of this fall's biggest games!



NHL 2005
Developer: EA Canada | Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 20

EA's venerable hockey franchise returns for its thirteenth season, and it's looking to take back the throne that it once occupied. Since last year's iteration had people complaining about the frustrating amount of hitting, the developers added some mechanics to open up the ice, allowing the game to flow more smoothly. There are also some new skating animations that let your players glide along the ice after they hit their top speed, making for more precise maneuvering, as well as an enhanced backward skating that's perfect for keeping your man in front of you.

Our Prediction: There might not be an NHL season this year, but there's still plenty of exciting hockey action!



Star Wars Battlefront
Developer: Pandemic Studios | Publisher: LucasArts
Release Date: September 20

Ever wanted to shoot an Ewok? You'll finally get your chance as you take part in some of the battles that shaped the Star Wars universe. While there is a single-player story consisting of loosely tied together conflicts, the online multiplayer is where the real fun lies. 16 people can choose to represent different sides on the massive battlegrounds, and the situations and locales are taken directly from the five movies (as well as the upcoming Episode III). It's the little touches that matter, though: turning a corner in Cloud City might put you in a carbon-freezing chamber, and you may even see some famous Jedis fighting by your side (or worse, against you!)

Our Prediction: Impressive. Most impressive.



Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
Developer: Electronic Arts | Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 20

While many consider last year's version to be the greatest golf game ever made, EA wasn't content to rest on its laurels. An upgraded "Game Face" feature allows you to create the golfer of your dreams, be they 8 or 80, as well as a custom swing that actually affects your play. As is the case in real life, you can now Tigerproof your courses, changing everything from the shape of the fairways to the depth of the bunkers.

Our Prediction: Do you have what it takes to beat Tiger (as well as legends like Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan) at his own game?



X-Men Legends
Developer: Raven | Publisher: Activision
Release Date: September 21

Get ready to kick some villain ass with Marvel's merry mutants. This action-RPG from Raven offers fast-paced gameplay in the vein of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, but with a super-cool comic-book style that draws from the Ultimate X-Men line of comics. Whether it's blasting baddies with Cyclops' optic beams or slicing villains with Wolverine's adamantium claws or tearing into fiends with Colossus' solid steel body, this game lets you do it all. The best part is that up to four players can select from the numerous X-Men available in the game.

Our Prediction: The single-player mode will be fun and the story will be enjoyable, but the four-player action is the best reason to get this game.



Dead or Alive Ultimate
Developer: Tecmo | Publisher: Team Ninja
Release Date:September 28

The Dead or Alive series gets no respect. It's graphically beautiful, but hardcore types tend to gravitate towards stuff like Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur. Poor (yet pretty) Dead or Alive!

However, Dead or Alive has a new ace up its sleeve this year, and it's a little thing called online play. Suddenly, a lot of people are starting to sit up take notice. Never before has such a big-name 3D fighter gone online, and the combination of stunning graphics, good gameplay, andXbox Live could be a wake-up call for the competition. Dead or Alive Ultimate sends out the call to Sega and Namco: Ignore us at your peril.

Our Prediction: While the gameplay seems very similar to before, the killer combination of best-in-class graphics and online play should make Dead or Alive Ultimate a popular favorite for a nice long time. When will its competitors stumble online? Tecmo's definitely upped the ante.