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These games aren't necessarily our picks for "Best Games of the Year," although most of them would certainly be in contention for those awards. These are simply the games that we recommend for gift-buyers looking to purchase presents for the gamers in their lives. Some major games, such as Assassin's Creed II and Left 4 Dead 2, aren't on this list. That's not because we think they're bad games. It's because we haven't had a chance to play them yet. With a few exceptions, we've played everything on this list and can personally recommend it. Read on for more!
Multiplatform
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Batman: Arkham Asylum
Publisher: Eidos Interactive / Developer: Rocksteady Studios / ESRB: T / MSRP: $59.99
The first great game of the fall, Batman: Arkham Asylum proved that the Caped Crusader was a great video game character after years in the gaming ghetto. A great Zelda-style adventure with lots of replay value, Arkham Asylum is perfect for adventure gamers and comic book fans. The PS3 version ships with exclusive Joker challenge maps.
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Follow the biggest band of all time from their early days to the end of their career in a (sanitized) retelling of their career. It won't make you feel like one of The Beatles, but it will make you feel like you were there for the glory days of Beatlemania. The game ships with 45 tracks with full albums available as DLC. If you're new to the music game genre, there's a deluxe bundle with instruments available as well, but that will set you back around $250. Available for Wii as well as 360 and PS3.
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Publisher: 2k Games / Developer: Gearbox Software / ESRB: M / MSRP: $59.99
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I seriously almost didn't include this on the list. After all, most serious gamers have already bought this. So gift-givers, make sure your loved one doesn't already have this game before you buy it. It's the biggest game of the year - that's all you need to know. Oh, and a special note for parents - this game is intended for players 17 and up, for very good reason. Know your ESRB ratings! |
It's expensive and strange, but it's also one of the freshest entries in the music game genre in a long, long time. DJ Hero is a great gift for fans of DJ culture or music gamers in general.
Xbox 360 Exclusives
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Publisher: Microsoft / Developer: Turn 10 Studios / ESRB: E / MSRP: $59.99
If you like cars, then there's something for you in the game. A massive love letter to driving, Forza 3 is one of the biggest, baddest racing games ever. Drive your way in the cars you want to drive, create your own vehicle graphics, and head online to see who's the best driver on the track.
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ODST's campaign is probably the weakest of any of the Halo games, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of enjoyment to be had in this package. Not only does it include every map and gametype from Halo 3, but it also includes Firefight, the four-player co-op mode that's Halo's biggest addition since online multiplayer way back in Halo 2. Firefight alone makes ODST a must-own title.
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It may be an Xbox Live Arcade game, but even so Shadow Complex is one of the best Xbox 360 games of the year. A surprisingly deep, gorgeous game, Shadow Complex melds classic Super Metroid gameplay with Unreal Engine graphics, a compelling story, and plenty of reasons to go back for multiple playthroughs. Buy it for a friend on Amazon.com or just give them a Microsoft Points card.
PlayStation 3 Exclusives
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IIt's punishing. It's challenging. It's 2009's biggest cult hit. Atlus's Demon's Souls has earned rave reviews and a devoted fanbase thanks to it's dark story and compelling RPG gameplay. The limited edition is already gone forever, so don't miss your chance to own one of the PS3's most acclaimed third-party exclusives.
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IThe first two God of War games collected onto one disc with upgraded graphics and a reasonable price - what more do you need to know? Oh, it includes a demo for God of War III. If you haven't played these excellent games, now you have no excuse.
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Uncharted 2 has gotten a lot of attention lately, but earlier this year Sony released another really great exclusive: Infamous. A super-powered open world game with electrical abilities and Assassin's Creed-style climbing, Infamous was one of the best games of the summer. It'll be every bit as fun during the winter.
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Wii Exclusives
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Like the God of War Collection, the Metroid Prime Trilogy is a great opportunity to catch up on some classic games. Both of the first two Metroid Prime games have been redone with Metroid Prime 3's motion-based control scheme. With three great games on one disc, this is easily the best value out of any game on this list.
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Mario returns to the classic side-scrolling action that made him a star, and he's brought his friends with him. For the first time ever, you can play four-player co-operative Mario. New powers, new level and new gametypes make this the clear standout in the Wii catalog this holiday.
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It was released a few months ago, but Punch-Out!! is still a great choice for the Wii gamer in your life. Sure, it's pretty much a better-looking version of the original NES game, but why mess with a good thing? Experiment with multiple control schemes to discover what playstyle you like best.
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This one should be a no-brainer. It's Wii Sports, with both new and classic mini-games, as well as Nintendo's fancy new Wii Motion Plus add-on. If your family still plays Wii Sports more than any other game, this is the present for you. There's even a bundle that includes two Wii Motion Plus peripherals.
Check back tomorrow for Day Two of our Holiday Gift Guide!
Tags: Features, Holiday Gift Guide
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