First Posted: 12/29/2014
The holiday season is upon us and this year there is an incredible amount of good games, far to many to mention here. There is something for everyone, from RPG, Racing, Shooters, and much more. Here is my list of my favorite games this holiday season.
Life Of The Party: Super Smash Bros – Wii U
Smash Bros is by far the best party game of the year. Not only is it gorgeous and a blast to play, but for the first time you can have up to eight players in one match. Everyone can play this game, from beginners to advanced players, there is fun to be had. There is a huge roster of 50 characters and a ton of fun game modes to keep you playing for a long time. If you are a Nintendo fan, this is a must buy because no game has as much fan services.
Best Personality: Sunset Overdrive – Xbox One
Bursting with color and attitude “Sunset Overdrive” is one of the most distinct looking games of the year. The game world is huge and there is a ton of things to explore and collect, and you are going to want to because the way you move around the world is a blast. You can grind, wall run and bounce on almost anything, racking up style points while you gun down evil mutants with some of the wackiest weapons around. If you are an Xbox One owner this is the exclusive to get this year.
Biggest Flirt: Bayonetta 2 – Wii U
The sequel to one of the best action games of all time, “Bayonetta” is a witch who uses four guns and magic to fight the forces of heaven and hell. The “Bayonetta” series is one of the most sexually suggestive games around but it’s not offensive because it more like a grindhouse exploitation film. The gameplay and controls are tight and precise, everything you do makes you feel powerful, new players can button mash and make it through the game but if you take the time to learn how to play you can make some truly amazing moves. The graphics are beautiful, the music is great, and the gameplay is some of the most fun on the market. It also comes with part one in the box, if you are Wii U owner and want a mature title this is a must buy.
Most likely to surprise you: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
“Call of Duty” games have been coming out every year for a long time but “Advanced Warfare” might just be the best in the series. Usually the single player campaign is an afterthought but this time around the story is great, thanks to the beautiful graphics and the acting of famous actors like Kevin Spacey. The addition of the new exo-suites really change the way you play, the speed is increased, and now, you can jump really high changing the verticality of the game. There are also things like heightened senses and drones that will point out enemy locations. The multiplayer is the real reason you come to a “COD” game and it is one of the best in the series. If you are a “COD” vet you will love this game and if you’ve experienced “COD” fatigue and skipped the last few, now is a good time to jump back in.
Biggest Over-Achiever: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Set in the time period between the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”, “Shadow of Mordor” tells a new tale of a ranger named Talion and his quest for revenge against the dark lord Sauron. The fighting is fast and rhythmic similar to the “Batman Arkham” series. Exploring the world is fun because of the parkour system similar to “Assassins Creed”.
The thing that makes this game so ambitious is the revolutionary new “Nemisis” system. Every orc you fight has a name, personality and back story. They remember each fight and gain knowledge and grow into real adversaries. This game sets the bar for what AI in games should be. The graphics and voice over work is incredible and the fighting is brutal and fun. “Shadow of Mordor” is the most technologically advanced game to come out this year. “Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor” is a must play for fantasy adventure fans and is my game of the year.
