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First Posted: 11/4/2013
The Last of Us
Platform: PS3
“The Last of Us” is the most stunning game of the console generation; it is a true graphic marvel. It has one of the most intense stories ever in a game, and the gameplay is just superb. It has become one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time. “The Last of Us” tells the story of Joel and Ellie through their journey across the United States after the collapse of civilization caused by an infection that wiped out almost everyone. The road is a dangerous place; not only is it filled with hordes of infected people, but the real threat is non-infected humans looking to steal your resources. The story is intense and filled with very graphic moments designed to make you feel uncomfortable. It is a wild ride, and it is not to be missed by anyone who owns a PS3.
Rayman Legends
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Vita, Wii U
When it comes to platforming games, “Rayman Legends” is pure bliss. The level design is very smart, and the hand-drawn visuals are breathtaking. With new five player co-op, even more people can join in on the fun. Players can also connect online with friends through a variety of challenges to test their skill and speed and see where they rank on the worldwide leaderboards. There is so much to do in this game; you can play each level to find all the collectables, free the teensies, time trials, and much more. The Wii U version also comes with Mario and Luigi skins, which add a funny little twist to the game. The controls are very basic, but the level design, enemies, level themes, and soundtrack make the game feel new and fresh all the way through. “Rayman Legends” is hands down the best platforming game of the year so far, especially on the Wii U and Vita, because of its enhanced touchscreen controls.
Ni no Kuni: The Wrath of the White Witch
Platform: PS3
“Ni no Kuni” is one of the best RPG games out this year. “Ni no Kuni” is a heartwarming tale of a young boy named Oliver who embarks on a journey into a parallel world in an attempt to bring his mother back from the dead. Similar to “Pokémon,” he collects creatures along the way that he can train to use in battle. This game is an incredible collaboration between Level-5 studios and the classic anime creators Studio Ghibli; it has gorgeous animated graphics, like an anime that you can control. “Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch” combines beautiful animated visuals, masterful storytelling, and a sweeping score into an epic role-playing adventure like no other. It is a must-play for any RPG fan or anyone looking for a family-friendly game this season.
Tomb Raider
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac
Probably one of the best reboots of all time, the new “Tomb Raider” is amazing. It is a new start for the series, finally telling the origin story for Lara Croft on her first adventure. Lara isn’t the same character you remember from the older games; she is more fragile and real, and she has to learn all of her skills and how to survive on her own. “Tomb Raider” has superb physics-based gameplay and is paired with a heart-pounding story accompanied by some of the most technically impressive visuals of this console generation. “Tomb Raider” delivers an intense and gritty story into the origins of Lara Croft and her ascent from a frightened young woman to a hardened survivor. It is one of the best action games of the year.
Bioshock Infinite
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Mac
“Bioshock Infinite” is the continuation of the incredible “Bioshock” series. For the first time in a “Bioshock” game, it does not take place in the underwater city of Rapture. It has a new setting, a utopian city in the clouds call Colombia, and the setting feels so alive that it’s like another main character. The controls are very similar to the older “Bioshock” games, with the addition of some new powers, including the ability to ride on the high-flying sky rail system. The story is about a man named Booker; he is in major debt and must travel to Columbia to rescue Elizabeth, a mysterious girl imprisoned since childhood and locked in a tower. Now Booker needs to team up with Elizabeth to survive all of the interesting bad guys, warring factions, and political corruption. “Infinite” captures some of the same feelings of wonder and amazement of the first “Bioshock” game with its great graphics, tight and responsive first-person shooting, and an incredible story. If you liked “Bioshock,” this is a must-buy, but if you are just looking for a great FPS game, you should also check it out. It is a real contender for game of the year.
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
This is the continuation of one of the best games on the Gamecube, “Luigi’s Mansion.” Luigi is back on a mission to remove a bunch of stubborn ghosts from some spooky mansions, armed with his trusty Poltergust ghost-sucking vacuum cleaner. The level design is a great, and the gameplay is fun and addictive. The 3D visuals bring the mansions, ghosts, and surroundings to life, and players experience all the haunting chills and fun the game has to offer. There are several different types of ghosts that haunt the different mansions. Luigi must figure out how to defeat each one of them and find hidden secrets to unlock new areas and treasure chests, adding a lot of variety to the gameplay and keeping the whole thing feeling fresh and fun. This game is colorful, cartoony, and fun for people of all ages; the ghost catching and puzzles are a blast. If you are a fan of the original “Luigi’s Mansion,” you will love this game, and if you are new to it, you will find a really entertaining experience to have on the go.
Batman: Arkham Origins
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PC, Mac
Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, this action-adventure game is the third installment in the “Batman: Arkham” series. As the first prequel in the series, it takes place five years prior to the first installment, “Batman: Arkham Asylum,” and you play as a younger, more brutal Batman. Located in a free-roaming Gotham City, the Dark Knight is being hunted by eight deadly assassins on Christmas Eve. While it contains the best qualities of its predecessors, this also works against it in the sense that it’s very similar to those games, but if you have enjoyed the intense storylines of the “Arkham” games or just love Batman’s colorful rogues gallery, this game, which combines beat ‘em up action with puzzle solving, is a lot of fun.
Grand Theft Auto V
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
This is another open-world action game developed by Rockstar Games. While it is very similar to its predecessors, it’s loaded with a multitude of new features. The player follows three characters in San Andreas (basically California) through all sorts of crimes, violence, and debauchery. You can release all of your inner aggression and cause mayhem, or you can follow the missions and develop the interwoven storylines. A word of warning, though: if your kid is under 14, they should not be playing this game.
Hot this holiday season
Killer Instinct
Platform: Xbox One
One of the most exciting announcements from E3 was the return of Rare’s classic fighting game, “Killer Instinct.” “Killer Instinct” is one of the most acclaimed fighting game franchises, and this holiday season, it is returning as a next-generation game. Bigger and badder moves, amazing graphics, and insane combos will make the new “KI” one of the most exciting fighting games to come out this holiday season. There are rumors that this will actually be a free-to-play game, where you get one character free and can pay for only the characters you are interested in, though you can also get a full disc-based game. Either way, “KI” is going to be an exciting and competitive game and is a welcome remake of a classic.
Dead Rising 3
Platform: Xbox One
One of the best zombie-slaying series on the market is back for the next generation. In this Xbox One exclusive, anything can be a weapon. Explore the zombie-filled city of Los Perdidos and find a way to escape before the military wipes the entire city off the map. There is intense action and an incredible amount of weapon and character customization. In order to survive, you have to explore, scavenge, and fight in a massive open-world during zombie apocalypse. If you are familiar with the “Dead Rising” series, you know it isn’t all serious; you can still dress up in funny outfits and make silly weapons. This time, there is an option to turn off the clock, making it a less stressful experience. The graphics are stunning, the amount of zombies on the screen is absurd, and the action is intense. This is a must-play for any zombie fan.
Knack
Platform: PS4
Launch games are a great time to introduce new IPs such as “Knack.” Created at Sony’s Japan studios with the help of famed game developer Mark Cerny (creator of Spyro, Daxter, and Ratchet and Clank), “Knack” is a really colorful and beautiful-looking action platforming game exclusive to the PS4. “Knack” is mankind’s only hope for turning the tide against the invading goblin army; he starts out small, but by collecting relics, he can grow huge and powerful. This is old school meets next-gen with stunning graphics, but it still retains a retro feel. “Knack” will be a must-play family-friendly game for people buying the PS4 this holiday season.
Infamous: Second Son
Platform: PS4
The third game in the “Infamous” series, Cole MacGrath is nowhere to be found because this game takes place several years after the events of “Infamous 2.” In a new city modeled after Seattle, Delsin Rowe must use his superpowers to stop the Department of Unified Protection, a government organization that is hunting down all the people with super powers. When Delsin discovers his powers, he’s forced to run, searching for other superhumans in order to save those he loves from the oppressive D.U.P. If you are a fan of the “Infamous” series or would like to experience an open-world superhero game, then you will want to check out “Infamous: Second Son” on the PS4.
Super Mario 3D World
Platform: Wii U
The first 3D Mario game for the Wii U, “Super Mario 3D World” is similar to “Super Mario 3D Land” on the 3DS, but this time, it’s much bigger and has beautiful HD graphics. Not only does it look better, but there are some great new powers, like the cat suit, a duplicating ability, and the option to play as Mario, Luigi, Toad, or the Princess. Each character has his or her own special abilities, making each one play very differently. This will be the first 3D multiplayer game on the Wii U with four player co-op gameplay. If you are a Nintendo fan, this may be the most exciting game this holiday season and looks like a ton of fun for the whole family.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Platform: Wii U
There hasn’t been a new “Donkey Kong Country” game in a while, so it’s exciting to have a new entry on the Wii U. The new “DKC” game is a side-scrolling platformer and has beautiful HD graphics that show a crazy level of detail, such as Donkey Kong’s fur. This time around, Dixie Kong joins the adventure, and there are new swimming levels that let you move from the foreground to the background. The camera even changes perspective on certain levels to enhance the sense of motion and to deliver new experiences, such as cannon barrels that shoot the Kongs into weird angles. Another great addition is a cooperative multiplayer mode that lets two players share in the fun together. If you like the “DKC” games, this game should be a must-buy.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
This is the long-awaited sequel to “Link to the Past,” one of the most beloved games on the SNES. This time, Link can make himself flat and move along walls, opening up new ways to explore the world, new puzzles, and accessing locations Link couldn’t normally reach. The world is similar to the SNES version, but now you can use the touchscreen for maps and inventory. With beautiful, updated HD graphics, this is most anticipated Gameboy game of the season.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
Platforms: 3DS, Vita
“Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate” is a 2.5D game, more akin to a platforming game than the 3D home console version. “Blackgate” is a companion to “Batman: Arkham Origins” where players can continue the storyline of the console game and discover more of the story of Batman’s past. See what happens after the events of the “Arkham Origins” console game, told in an innovative side-scrolling presentation and through comic-style cut scenes. If you are looking for a “Batman: Arkham” game to play on the go, then you are in for a real treat. It’s not the same kind of game as the console versions, but it really is a blast to play.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC
If you are fan of the “Call of Duty” series, you already know why you are going to buy this game. For newcomers, this will be the first big shooter for the next generation of consoles. “Call of Duty: Ghosts” delivers a riveting, all-new gameplay experience built on an entirely new story, setting, and cast of characters, all powered by a new, next generation “Call of Duty” engine that redefines the series. It looks incredible with all new lighting and texture systems, and faster, more fluid gameplay. Multiplayer is why people play this series. In this competitive mode, you can now customize your soldier and have a female character to play. With over 20,000 possible building combinations, you can create the soldier you’ve always wanted. This time, the multiplayer maps are more interactive than ever; with major destructible set pieces, level environments are more realistic and immersive than before. This looks to be the best “Call of Duty” game so far, and it’s one to look out for this holiday season.