The Christmas holiday is just about here, Santa and the elves are hard at work up north. This has been a big year of games and gaming and here are our suggestions on what to get that gamer on your list. And of course if you want to purchase any of the games below you still have a little time left to order from Amazon.com
Darren’s Gift Guide:
Xbox Kinect
Anybody looking for party gaming or having something to play when friends are over especially for the holidays should pick this up. With a bunch of potentional for the future it is worth grabbing.
Bioware RPG’s
If you have a little vacation time you can’t go wrong with picking up a Bioware RPG like Mass Effect or Dragon Age. It is bound to make you soak at least 45+ hours of gameplay in which could get you through the winter.
TurtleBeach Headset
If you like to play online games like shooters and have extra cash to spend TurtleBeach headsets are worth the price. It lets you hear all the little things that could potentially save your life and immerses you deeper into the game. The real reason I got mine was because I was sick of spending $30 everytime a cheap 360 headset broke in a variety of ways so I finally decided to put an end to it.
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
My favorite story of any title and they just keep on impressing me. Not to mention the nice addition of multiplayer that has a very innovative gameplay structure and offers even more content and fun.
Microsoft Points
You can never go wrong with Microsoft Points as a good gift. Arcade games,movies,additional content, etc all great things you can buy when you have some spare points. I know I picked up 1600 recently for the new Borderlands DLC and think I will be buying some extra content for Mass Effect 2 during winter break.
Andy’s Gift Guide:
Rock Band 3
For fans of music rhythm games Rock Band 3 is by far the best one available. The addition of the keyboard is a lot of fun and there are thousands of songs you can get. The new sorting options make it easy to find the songs you are in the mood to play. Harmonix has the best party game this year, but you can also learn to play guitar and keyboard in the new pro mode.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
With both a great single player campaign and amazing multiplayer the newest Assassin’s Creed is a great continuation to the series. There are not many games coming out between now and spring which gives plenty of time for this massive campaign. The single player alone is worth getting the game, but the multiplayer has a unique mix of hide and seek with knives. Ubisoft has already announced 2 free new games modes and maps are coming and they plan to continue to support Brotherhood.
Xbox Live Marketplace Points
With so many great Xbox Live Arcade games being released as well as DLC for almost every AAA title Xbox Live Marketplace points are a great gift for the gamer who already has every game they want. They come in $10, $20 and $50 pre-paid cards there is one for any budget.
Turtle Beach Ear Force X11 Headphones
These are great entry level gaming headphones that work with both the PC and Xbox 360. They allow gamers to hear themselves so there is less accidental yelling while still keeping the the game sounds clear and easy to hear. They fit comfortably for long play sessions and are built to be durable.
Giancarlo’s Gift Guide
Fallout: New Vegas
If you loved Fallout 3 and wanted more quests to complete, more places to explore, and more things to do, then you won’t be disappointed by this engrossing RPG/shooter hybrid. The game looks like a huge expansion to Fallout 3, but the added characters, locations, and future DLCs make the game an awesome choice for any gamer that doesn’t mind losing a few days behind their TV screen.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
A game for young and older gamers alike, Donkey Kong Country Returns gives players a platform title inspired by the SNES classic games with added unlockables and a a great co-op mode. It’s a classic trip down memory lane definitely worth taking.
Sonic Colors
I really enjoyed this title mainly because it reminded me how fun and fast Sonic games once were. The game returns Sonic to his side-scrolling roots but also keeps him current with the times as it mixes in awesome Wii graphics and nostalgic moments. The game may look easy, but if you like challenges, there are loads of extra secrets for you to discover.
Super Street Fighter IV
Adding what Street Fighter IV lacked, this game gives you more characters, more stages, and plenty of gameplay improvements that make this game a must-have for any fan of fighting games. The game is great to play with friends and also one of the most popular fighters for the Xbox 360 and PS3.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Following the success of Super Mario Galaxy, this game gives you more worlds to explore and adds new gameplay elements that keep it fresh and fun while offering classic nostalgia too. This a must-have for any Wii owner who’s ever played a Mario game. Play it and you’ll see why!
John’s Gift Guide
Red Dead Redemption
The latest hit from Rockstar Games take gamers to the wild west. This game is great in all aspects from the great visuals, brutal gameplay, solid story and fun multiplayer action, this is a must for all gamers, over 17 years old of course. Plus the more recent Undead Nightmare DLC is by far the best DLC ever released, it’s affordable and adds so much additional hours of gameplay.
EA Sports Titles
EA Sports had a stellar year, even though NBA got canned….. But the games that did make the cut are fun and still getting tons of play in my Xbox. Both NCAA and Madden were stellar improvements over last year, though NCAA Football is a notch better. EA MMA is an amazing fighter and really takes it to the competition, if your an MMA fan you’ll be blown away by the action, you’ll just have to deal with the non-UFC roster. If you are a golf fan this years Tiger Woods is well worth it, granted there is no Escalde racing mode, but this is a must for PS3 and Playstation Move owners. And last but not least, EA Sports released 2 FIFA titles, FIFA World Cup 2010 and FIFA 11. And both blew me the non-footballer(soccer) away. If you aren’t hardcore with soccer pick up World Cup, it’s not as deep but a ton easier for the non soccer fan to pick-up and have a blast with. If you have played FIFA titles in the past and love them, then FIFA 11 is a must the new systems in the game make it the most realistic ever.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
I hate World at War, and loved the Modern Warfare titles. But I’m happy to say Treyarch did well listening to feedback and giving us a game that blends all the good stuff of WAW and MW. While I wasn’t impressed with the single player action, the AI is horrid, the real hours of play and fun are the multiplayer action, and Black Ops has the most addictive and fun multiplayer action, from the normal multiplayer matches, to the new Wager Matches and the always fun Zombie action.
World of Warcraft Cataclysm
I don’t need to say much, but the latest expansion is great. From the new content to the reshaped worlds of Azeroth. The best part is exploring the old world players don’t spend much time in once they reach end-game. This would be a great gift of a WoW fan who has let their account expire, pick up the expansion and a game time card and your shopping is done.
Playstation Move
If you have a gamer who wants motion controls for their PS3 or Xbox 360, I say go with the Playstation Move. The games are so much more fun for gamers old and young, and the technology works and works well. No need to re-do a room, and no worries about the type of room lighting. Move just works and it works well, the games coming down the pipe are going to be a blast and lets face it, you need buttons!
