| Video game players are at the same time the easiest and the most difficult people to buy gifts for. The easiest because there’s always more games to be found on store shelves. The most difficult because many gamers won’t wait for Christmas to arrive before they’ll buy themselves the latest killer title.
Sports games are the biggest sellers, and there’s lots of choice for sports fans, including three versions of the National Hockey League. At the top are NHL 2K6 (publisher: 2K Sports; platform: PS2, Xbox; rating: everyone 10+), which offers better gameplay, and NHL 06 (publisher: EA; platform: GC, PC, PS2, Xbox; rating: everyone), which provides a more offensive-minded experience. Gretzky NHL 06 (publisher: Sony; platform: PS2, PSP; rating: everyone 10+) just isn’t at the same level as the others.
When it comes to basketball simulations, NBA 2K6 (publisher: 2K Sports; platform: PS2, Xbox; rating: everyone) edges out NBA Live 06 (publisher: EA; platform: GC, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox; rating: everyone) and NBA 06 (publisher: Sony; platform: PS2, PSP; rating: everyone), largely because of AI (artificial intelligence) programming – the players play like they would in real life.
With most other sports the decision-making is easier, because there is really only one choice: football is Madden NFL 06 (publisher: EA; platform: DS, GC, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox; rating: everyone), soccer is FIFA Soccer 06 (publisher: EA; platform: DS, GC, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox; rating: everyone), and golf is Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 (publisher: EA; platform: GC, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox; rating: everyone).
Non-traditional sports are among the pickings, too. Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland (publisher: Activision; platform: GC, PC, PS2, Xbox; rating: teen) lets you tear up the streets of L.A., and SSX On Tour (publisher: EA; platform: GC, PS2 PSP, Xbox; rating: everyone 10+) has you shredding the slopes as either a skier or a snowboarder.
For the nostalgic gamer, Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks (publisher: Midway; platform: PS2, Xbox; rating: mature) is filled with references to every other incarnation of the story (and the most fun is to be had playing with a friend in co-operative mode), and Frogger Ancient Shadow (publisher: Konami; platform: GC, PS2, Xbox; rating: everyone) regenerates the old arcade hopper in a light-hearted, 3D world.
Blowing things up will forever be a genre in the gaming world, and wartime is an ideal setting for explosions. Battlefield 2 (publisher: EA; platform: PC; rating: teen) is the best of the bunch, but is available only for PC. For console gamers, SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs (publisher: Sony; platform: PS2; rating: mature) makes better use of the online, multiplayer options than does Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (publisher: Activision; platform: GC, PS2, Xbox; rating: teen), but both games are big on the immersive combat experience.
The action-adventure setting is another place where carnage is key, and there are two excellent games that, while they aren’t new, are appearing on new platforms for the first time. Far Cry Instincts (publisher: Ubisoft; platform: Xbox; rating: mature), which was one of the best PC games last year, has been completely rebuilt to take full advantage of the Xbox capabilities, and Resident Evil 4 (publisher: Capcom; platform: GC, PS2; rating: mature), which was exclusive to Nintendo for awhile, appears on the PlayStation in a port that is as good as the original.
A couple of games exclusive to handheld platforms are worth noting. GTA: Liberty City Stories (publisher: Rockstar; platform: PSP; rating: mature) manages to capture the sprawling feel of the popular console games while looking and sounding great – it’s easily the best game thus far for the PSP. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (publisher: Bandai; platform: PSP; rating: teen) is a decent shooter based on the popular anime series, in which you alternate between four characters depending on the task at hand. Sonic Rush (publisher: Sega; platform: DS; rating: everyone) is a great, fast, side-scrolling platformer starring everyone’s favourite hedgehog. Trace Memory (publisher: Nintendo; platform: DS; rating: teen) makes clever use of the special DS features (the microphone and touch screen in particular) for solving puzzles and completing the adventure.
In terms of game platforms, it’s going to be difficult to get your hands on an Xbox 360 this season, and even if you can, the (minimum) $399 price tag makes it an extra-special present (although whoever you gift it to will be in your debt for life). But to compete with the release of the 360, Sony has dropped the price of their PS2, which makes it a good option, especially as it looks to be at least six months before we see the PS3 in stores. As far as portable gaming goes, Sony’s PSP is the fanciest option, but also the most expensive. When you’re in the store, overwhelmed by all the flashing lights, remember that there are more games available for the Nintendo DS, and it is the only way you’ll be able to play Nintendogs (publisher: Nintendo; platform: DS; rating: rating: everyone). |
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