Holiday Games Gift Guide – Xbox 360 December 23, 2012

The Holidays are coming pretty soon and I know that many of you may very well be opening up brand new gifts including a wide range of consoles and handhelds for the first time. However, with a new console or handheld comes the responsiblity to find some of the best games to get for it. The hope is to bring you a list of currently in print brand new games which are either some of the best for the platform or the best deals on the platform that you can easily pick up at the store for a reasonable price, pop it into your new gaming system and enjoy every second of it! So, in the time leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be posting a series of articles for each platform and handheld system currently on the market and tell you what are some of the must-have games for new console owners!

As we come to the final platform for this year’s Holiday Games Gift Guide, we’re going to be talking about the Microsoft Xbox 360. Okay, let’s get this out of the way first off, Halo 4 is probably the newest and biggest 360-exclusive release, and one heck of a great reason to get a 360, but after that game what other 360 exclusive games are out there that can be gotten for a reasonable price?

Halo 3, Halo 3 ODST, Halo Reach, Halo Wars – Like it or not, the Xbox 360 is the Halo platform, and with very good reason. The Halo games have been some of the most polished games of the past ten years. Halo 3 finished the fight. Halo 3 ODST may have a short single player campaign but that short story is one of the best stories (with some of the best music) of the series, and it includes all the downloadable multiplayer maps for Halo 3 on a second disc. Halo Wars took the RTS concept and made it actually work on a console, offered pre-rendered FMVs that rivaled some computer animated feature-length movies, and new Platinum Hits copies of the game will include download codes for all the game’s downloadable content. You can probably find all of these games for between $19.99-$24.99 US each.

Gears of War Triple Pack – Other than Halo, there has been no other exclusive franchise as important to the 360 as Gears of War, and with good reason. These games redefined what made for an action game. This bundles together the first two Gears of War games in one package. Sadly, Gears of War 3 isn’t included with this pack, but it does come with codes for all DLC for Gears of War 2, including several map packs and a deleted single player level. The downloadable map packs for the original Gears of War are all free. You can find this for $24.99 US.

And for those of you who have a Kinect to go along with that Xbox 360, here are some games I recommend which take advantage or require the Kinect.

Kinect Adventures – This will probably be the first Kinect title you play on the Xbox 360 and let me tell you that this game alone made my purchase worth it. It was a ton of fun going through all the different game types on the disc with a friend, trying to get the medals needed to unlock the later stages. Kinect Adventures is included free with every Kinect or Kinect-Bundled Xbox 360.

The Gunstringer – Made by the awesome guys over at Twisted Pixel, The Gunstringer is an amazing game which blends live action and 3D gameplay better than anything I’ve ever seen before. You control The Gunstringer, a mariachi puppet out for revenge against the gang that killed him. Oh and did I mention it’s hilarious too? The game also features a free DLC called the “Wavy Tube Man Chronicles”, and a voucher for the free XBLA Kinect game Fruit Ninja. The Gunstringer is currently $39.99 US.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary – The entire original Halo: Combat Evolved game, remade for the Xbox 360 with brand new graphics and unlockables. I know what you’re thinking, why would I include this game in the Kinect section of the list if it can be played without a Kinect? Because the game’s library feature, which allows you to scan objects, items and characters in the game and unlock encyclopedia entries in the game menu will only work for Kinect-equipped players. Oh and it includes the full multiplayer Halo Reach client on disc, and a download code that gives Reach players some new multiplayer maps to boot. If you’re lucky you can probably find the game for $29.99 US, but the normal price for it is $39.99 US.

And with that, we come to the end of this year’s Holiday Gift Games Guide. Wishing all of you a happy and safe holiday season!

Holiday Games Gift Guide – Playstation Vita December 22, 2012

The Holidays are coming pretty soon and I know that many of you may very well be opening up brand new gifts including a wide range of consoles and handhelds for the first time. However, with a new console or handheld comes the responsiblity to find some of the best games to get for it. The hope is to bring you a list of currently in print brand new games which are either some of the best for the platform or the best deals on the platform that you can easily pick up at the store for a reasonable price, pop it into your new gaming system and enjoy every second of it! So, in the time leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be posting a series of articles for each platform and handheld system currently on the market and tell you what are some of the must-have games for new console owners!

Well, keeping with the theme of covering the handheld consoles today, lets talk about the games on the Playstation Vita from Sony.

Assassin’s Creed: Liberation – A side story of the widely popular Assassin’s Creed series, this is the game that really pushes what can be done with this system graphically and features a whole new character, setting and storyline.  There are also some exclusive unlockables with this game for any players that have Assassin’s Creed III on the Playstation 3.  Twitch and I recommend getting the White Playstation Vita bundled with this game, as the $249.99 US WiFi model only bundle will practically get you this game and a Vita memory card for free.  If you can’t find any Vitas bundled with this game, the game alone costs $39.99 US.

Sound Shapes – The first downloadable title that I’ve included in the Holiday Games Gift Guide, I first demoed Sound Shapes back in E3 2011 and enjoyed it quite a bit.  It has a great soundtrack and addictive gameplay for such a simple game.  If you’re interested in picking it up, Sound Shapes is $14.99 US on the Playstation Store.  It is also on the Playstation 3.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss – This was the killer app launch title for the Playstation Vita and it just got a price drop.  I can’t think of any game I demoed on the Vita that captured all the cool features of the system’s touch screen better than Golden Abyss did.  It is so exciting to navigate Nathan Drake through all sorts of areas, and have the added effect of using the Vita’s touch screen and gyro sensors to climb, jump and shimmy from ledge to ledge.  Uncharted: Golden Abyss is $39.99 US.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories – The most recent release in the hugely popular Silent Hill series from Konami, this game brings a lot of new features to the table, and many of them are perfect for the handheld.  This game features a unique cooperative campaign you can play with your friends, giving you the chance to work together to solve challenges in the Otherworld.  It also allows you to fully customize your characters, giving you the chance to put your own personal stamp on the character you are playing as.  You can get the game for $39.99 US.

So there we have it for the Playstation Vita, some unique platform exclusives you should have no problem finding brand new in stores.  Stay tuned this weekend, as there is still one more platform that we haven’t discussed yet in the Holiday Games Gift Guide, the Xbox 360.

Holiday Games Gift Guide – 3DS/DS December 22, 2012

The Holidays are coming pretty soon and I know that many of you may very well be opening up brand new gifts including a wide range of consoles and handhelds for the first time. However, with a new console or handheld comes the responsiblity to find some of the best games to get for it. The hope is to bring you a list of currently in print brand new games which are either some of the best for the platform or the best deals on the platform that you can easily pick up at the store for a reasonable price, pop it into your new gaming system and enjoy every second of it! So, in the time leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be posting a series of articles for each platform and handheld system currently on the market and tell you what are some of the must-have games for new console owners!

I’m going to include games here for both the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, as both platforms are still in print and seeing new games. Also, don’t forget that the Nintendo 3DS is fully backwards compatible with all Nintendo DS games, making it practically two platforms in one.

Okay, so lets start off by listing some games that are out for the DS, and can be played on any model DS or 3DS.

Pokémon Black 2/White 2 – The only official sequel to a Pokémon game of any generation, this game is a direct sequel to the fifth generation Pokémon Black and White games. While the game has just been released, with the heavy sales that have been going on for these games this holiday season, I have seen prices for it as low as $34.99 US each, making it cheaper than a copy of Pokémon SoulSilver. If you prefer to play the original Pokémon Black and White games before playing the sequels, you can also find Pokémon Black or Pokémon White for $34.99 US each.

The World Ends with You – A sleeper hit from Square Enix at its release, The World Ends With You has gained a cult status on the handheld. It has a fantastic art style I appreciated a lot and a unique storyline. Since the release of the iOS version a few months ago, the game has been reprinted on its original platform, the DS. While there hasn’t yet been an announcement of a sequel some of the characters from the game do make an appearance in a game further down this list. If you can find yourself a new copy, I’ve seen prices for it as low as $19.99 US, but given its popularity you may have to pay as high as $34.99 US.

Okay, now lets talk about some 3DS exclusives. These will only work on a Nintendo 3DS or 3DS XL.

Mario Kart 7 – If you own a 3DS, you must own this game. It is simply the best game I have played on the platform. A continuation of the fantastic Mario Kart series the game has some of the best 3D effects on the system, fantastic controls, and some of the best race tracks (new and old) that I have seen on any Mario Kart game. You can also play the game locally with a friend or online and race worldwide. Mario Kart 7 is 3DS exclusive and can be bought for $39.99 US.

Resident Evil Revelations – Many critics found themselves disappointed by Resident Evil 6 for the consoles, but a lot of people found a lot to love in Revelations. This was no series of minigames or rail shooting sequences, this featured the full gameplay features of a console Resident Evil game, and it all came on a handheld device in 3D. Didn’t like the control scheme? It took advantage of the Circle Pad Pro accessory just in case you needed to have an extra thumbstick. Resident Evil Revelations is currently $19.99 US for the Nintendo 3DS.

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance – The first game to continue the Kingdom Hearts storyline since the release of Kingdom Hearts II back in 2005, Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance easily recaptures all the magic of the original Kingdom Hearts games, and looks stunning on the 3D screen. All the original game’s gameplay is intact, and entirely new features are availble, as well as new Disney worlds to explore. You can probably find the game new for $39.99 US.

Hope you’re enjoying the list!  More will be coming all weekend!

Holiday Games Gift Guide – Wii U December 21, 2012

The Holidays are coming pretty soon and I know that many of you may very well be opening up brand new gifts including a wide range of consoles and handhelds for the first time. However, with a new console or handheld comes the responsiblity to find some of the best games to get for it. The hope is to bring you a list of currently in print brand new games which are either some of the best for the platform or the best deals on the platform that you can easily pick up at the store for a reasonable price, pop it into your new gaming system and enjoy every second of it! So, in the time leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be posting a series of articles for each platform and handheld system currently on the market and tell you what are some of the must-have games for new console owners!

So lets talk about the Wii U. Given the fact that the system has only been out for a little over a month, it doesn’t have as big a gaming library as the other consoles do but it does have an amazing launch lineup with a wide spectrum of good games. If you just got a Wii U, here’s some great games to get for it!

ZombiU – This is without a doubt the third party killer app for the Wii U. I know it had a mixed reception from the critics, but to me it felt like the issues critics had with it were unfounded. It has a pretty steep learning curve, but this is a survival game, not an action game. The developers tried something new and I thought it worked. I also thought the game’s atmosphere was great, not that many games that can capture a great atmosphere like that. You can find it it for $59.99.

New Super Mario Bros U – This is the Mario launch title for the Wii U. A continuation of the highly popular “New” Super Mario Bros series, this game is a throwback to the classic Super Mario Bros platformers of the 2D era. This game is also great to play with friends. If you have some WiiMotes around, you can play levels together with four friends. If you were a fan of any of the New games or fondly look back at games like Super Mario World, give this game a look. It’s $59.99 US.

Nintendo Land – To me, Nintendo Land is just as important to showcase all the capabilities of the Wii U as Wii Sports was to showcase all the capabilities of the Wii was. There’s also games for all your favorite Nintendo icons. Zelda, Mario, Metroid all have their own park rides, and they’re joined by Pikmin, Donkey Kong, and Animal Crossing. Nintendo Land is included free with all Wii U 32GB Deluxe Editions. It is $59.99 US normally. Trust me, get the Deluxe Edition Wii U, its only a $50 premium over the 8GB model and that alone will cover the cost of Nintendo Land, saving you ten dollars and give you a Wii U with a higher memory capacity.

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition – If you’ve got yourself a Wii U, don’t get the Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition, this is the true Arkham City Game of the Year Edition. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition comes with ALL the previously released downloadable content for Arkham City, but retools all of its gameplay to take full advantage of the Wii U’s controller. In my opinion, out of all the multiplatform games that was released for the Wii U, this game takes advantage of the Wii U’s controller better than any other multiplatform game did. When you’re done, you’ll never know how you could play the game without it. The game also features exclusive armored suits for Batman and Catwoman, as well as access to the new B-A-T feature during gameplay, making Batman and Catwoman ever more devistating during battle. You can probably find the game for $59.99 US normally, but I’ve seen some stores selling it for $49.99 US for the holidays.

Hope you’ve been enjoying this holiday game guide! More articles will be coming all weekend! Got a lot more platforms coming up!

Holiday Games Gift Guide – Wii December 20, 2012

The Holidays are coming pretty soon and I know that many of you may very well be opening up brand new gifts including a wide range of consoles and handhelds for the first time.  However, with a new console or handheld comes the responsiblity to find some of the best games to get for it.  The hope is to bring you a list of currently in print brand new games which are either some of the best for the platform or the best deals on the platform that you can easily pick up at the store for a reasonable price, pop it into your new gaming system and enjoy every second of it!  So, in the time leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be posting a series of articles for each platform and handheld system currently on the market and tell you what are some of the must-have games for new console owners!

Whether you picked up a Nintendo Wii or a Nintendo Wii U, you’re going to find some amazing games for the Wii out there, all of which are compatible with the Wii U with the latest firmware update.

Wii Sports/Wii Sports Resort – This combo game which features both Wii Sports and its sequel Wii Sports Resort on one disc is included only with brand new Nintendo Wii consoles.  Wii Sports took full advantage of all of the Wii’s capabilities and the decision to pack it with all new Wiis was probably one of the best decisions that Nintendo ever made, as it got a lot of people to buy the Wii at launch.  A sequel was released some time later, which took advantage of the Wii’s MotionPlus accessory and got it to be heavily adopted by current Wii owners, so much so that the MotionPlus is now standard in all new Wiimotes and used in many Wii U games as well.  You can only get this game collection bundled for free with all new Nintendo Wii systems, which currently cost $129.99 US.  Separate, Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort are $19.99 US each.

Super Mario Galaxy – Probably one of the most addictive Mario games I have played in years.  A truly innovative game which harkens back to how innovative Super Mario 64 was back when the Nintendo 64 launched.  Now, Mario travels the entire galaxy, collecting stars, navigating planets and saving the Princess.  Seriously there is no shortage of content in this game.  With 120 stars to find in it, countless worlds to visit and galaxies to travel to, this game will take you a while to find every single secret nook and cranny, even if you have already defeated Bowser.  Since it was recently re-released with the Nintendo Selects line, you can get Super Mario Galaxy for $19.99 US.

Metroid: Other M – I know this game got a really bad rap when it was released but I enjoyed it quite a lot.  It had a gameplay style that harkened back to the original Metroid games.  By turning the Wiimote sideways, it felt like I was playing an NES game all over again, and when I pointed the Wiimote at the screen, it felt like I was playing Metroid Prime again.  In the franchise storyline, it follows Super Metroid (Metroid 3), and establishes the backstory mentioned in Metroid Fusion.  The graphics on it are some of the best for the Wii and while the storyline may be controversial it has some of the best cinematics I’ve seen.  If you just want to enjoy the story with some popcorn, it has an entire DVD style FMV theater option, which I wish more games had.  You can also get it really cheap, as I’ve seen prices for this game for as low as $10 US.

Super Smash Bros Melee – As I’ve mentioned in an article a long time ago, I simply cannot allow anyone to buy a Wii without picking up this game.  This has been considered by many to be the must have game for the Wii.  Featuring every single one of the characters that Nintendo made famous, it has the biggest roster of any Super Smash Bros game and, for the first time in the series, an entire single player campaign.  You can probably find the game for $29.99 US.

Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess – When you get yourself a Nintendo console, you expect it to have three staples, Mario, Metroid and of course, Zelda.  It’s hard to imagine that a game that was a launch title for the system would still be in print this far down the road, but, as The Angry Video Game Nerd put it, it kicks so much ass.  Like Super Mario Galaxy, Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess was re-released with the Nintendo Selects line and can probably be purchased for $19.99 US.

And if you’re already a Wii owner and end up getting yourself a Wii U this holiday, don’t forget, all your Wii’s purchased data and save games will transfer to the Wii U.

More platforms are still to come and because of that, even more guides are coming!

Holiday Games Gift Guide – Multiplatform December 20, 2012

The Holidays are coming pretty soon and I know that many of you may very well be opening up brand new gifts including a wide range of consoles and handhelds for the first time.  However, with a new console or handheld comes the responsiblity to find some of the best games to get for it.  The hope is to bring you a list of currently in print brand new games which are either some of the best for the platform or the best deals on the platform that you can easily pick up at the store for a reasonable price, pop it into your new gaming system and enjoy every second of it!  So, in the time leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be posting a series of articles for each platform and handheld system currently on the market and tell you what are some of the must-have games for new console owners!

Now we’re going to talk about some great deals on multiplatform games.  Now, it would be really easy to just draw up a list of all the new games that are out on multiple platforms and include new games like Far Cry 3, Borderlands 2, and Assassin’s Creed 3, but those games are brand new and are still going for full retail price.  While buying games like those are a no-brainer, here’s some games that are already out at lower prices and offer something extra special.  Get them now while you can and hopefully they’ll be on your platform!

Dead Island Game of the Year Edition –  Probably one of the most controversal games at release you owe it to yourself to pick up one of the most unique zombie games I’ve seen in recent time.  No longer are you fighting through a postapocalyptic urban landscape, you’re fighting your way through an open world sunny tropical resort paradise.  The best part about this is that all of the game’s DLC is included with this edition of the game, making it a really worthwhile purchase for those of you hoping to save some money.  You can currently get this game for the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for $29.99 US.

Zone of the Enders HD Collection –  Zone of the Enders is a franchise we haven’t seen in quite some time.  Released originally for the Playstation 2, the first game mostly saw sales as it included the first playable demo of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.  The ZOE HD Collection includes both the original game and sequel, The Second Runner, along with brand new HD support and animated intro cinematic.  It also includes the currently exclusive demo for Metal Gear Rising Revengeance on the disc, giving you a first playable look at that highly anticipated game two months before it sees a release.  You can get Zone of the Enders HD Collection for $39.99 US on the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360.

Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition – When Batman: Arkham City came out in 2011 it was not only the best superhero game ever made, it was easily considered one of the best multiplatform hits of that year.  Over a year later, over thirty dollars worth of downloadable content has been released for Arkham City, including extra character costumes for Batman and Catwoman, extra challenge maps, and an entirely separate downloadable content expansion pack.  Since all the DLC is included with the GOTY edition, this makes it a much better deal.  You can get the Arkham City Game of the Year Edition for the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 for $49.99 US.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection – The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection includes Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, and Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker.  The game’s original graphics remain intact, but the framerate is amazingly high.  For me though, the most important feature was finally you can play MGS2 and MGS3 in anamorphic widescreen, something I have wanted to do since I got my first HDTV back in 2005.  The game even allows you to transfer save games from either the Vita version of Metal Gear Solid HD Collection to the PS3 or the PSP version of Peace Walker.  You can probably find this game for $29.99 US on the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 or Playstation Vita.  Please note though, the Playstation Vita version does not include Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker.

Mass Effect Collection – This one is pretty much a no brainer.  The Mass Effect series has long been a staple of this generation.  It was a science-fiction universe presented in a realistic way.  It was a role-playing game but with a real-time battle system.  You could play it as an RPG or play it as a shooter.  The decisions you made impacted the entire universe and changed the story.  Originally released as an exclusive Xbox 360 game, their popularity grew and grew and each sequel saw a release on multiple platforms.  Now, Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3 are being bundled together and released for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.  In fact this will mark the first time the original Mass Effect game saw a release on the Playstation 3.  You can pick up the Mass Effect Collection for $59.99 US.

Silent Hill HD Collection – There has been a lot of controversy about this HD Collection’s release since it came out.  Featuring Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3, which were considered by many to be the best two games of the series, it may not have the framerate or polish as the original versions of the games do, but unlike the original versions of the games you can actually buy this collection brand new for a reasonable price.  Silent Hill HD Collection is out for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 and you can probably find it for $29.99 US.

Saints Row the Third: The Full Package – I was a huge fan of the original Saints Row when it came out, and loved Saints Row 2 just as much.  With games like Grand Theft Auto leaving a high bar to climb when it came to open-world action games, the Saints Row series solved all the problems I felt Grand Theft Auto had, and added in a completely absurd tone which kept me playing.  Saints Row The Third continues this tradition with a completely zany story, an entirely new driving system, and weapons I can’t even repeat here for modesty’s sake.  Now, with The Full Package, you get ALL the DLC included with the game with no extra charge.  Given the fact that it is currently only a ten-dollar premium over the normal edition of the game, and the costs of all that DLC, that makes The Full Package a great deal.  With the recent bankruptcy filing by THQ, there’s no word just how long this game is going to be on the shelves for.  You can get Saints Row The Third: The Full Package for $49.99 US on the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3.

Wow, that’s a lot of games across a lot of platforms!  And don’t worry, we’re not even close to being done.  Even more games are coming!