As the holidays approach, shopping centres are a battleground of faithful consumers, all dipping, diving and dodging through packed corridors in search for their own personal grail of giving.
It’s times like these that I’m all about one-stop shopping, which is why video games are the perfect gift. Twenty minutes in your local Future Shop, Wal-Mart or EB Games with a copy of this article and you’ll be back in your toasty car, a satisfied smile sliding across your face as you slip along icy roads with a Timmy’s double-double in your hand as a treat to yourself for having saved both time and sanity with a hectic visit to a mall.
For the adult gamer on your list, the choice is simple — Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. This follow-up to the 2007 blockbuster boasts the most realistic, intense action of any game this season, both online and off. If the gamer on your list does not already own it, you’ll be looking at one happy camper come Christmas morning with this treasure.
The epic Dragon Age: Origins was developed in Edmonton, by the world-renowned Bioware, and it is the must-have title for any fan of the fantasy genre, role-playing games or deep, enticing stories. While not as visually appealing as some other titles, you will get your money’s worth as the main storyline is huge with dozens of hours of side quests on top of the marathon that is the main quest. And once you finish the game, the variety in characters, gameplay elements and decision-making gives Dragon Age: Origins a replay value that surpasses any other action game of the season.
If the gamer in your life is looking for a fast-paced, action-packed experience, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is visually stunning and feels more like you’re playing through a Hollywood blockbuster than a video game. And right along with Uncharted 2 is another sequel, Assassin’s Creed 2, which allows gamers to explore a scenically sculpted world rich in history. Both of these games have been hailed as two of the most visually beautiful video games ever made. On life’s list of perfect gifts, either — heck, both — of these games would be a wise choice.
And who could forget the two plumbers who started it all? For Wii owners, Mario and Luigi leap again to the top of our list with the release of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Going back to its roots, the old-school level design is like coming home again while its co-operative gameplay adds a unique dimension to this classic franchise.
But the big daddy of gifts this holiday season is the gift of music. Now, personally, there are few experiences better than plucking money from ye ole money tree in my backyard in preparation for gift giving. If you have a money tree of your very own, feel free to shell out the $250 for The Beatles: Rock Band. Try to see the hefty price tag as an investment as the instruments can be used to play any of the eight Rock Band/Guitar Hero games on the market. Plus, there are few gaming experiences that will bring a family together like playing classic songs together as a virtual band.
Finally, with recent price drops making some consoles cheaper than Rock Band, video game systems are certainly an ideal gift. In a nutshell, the Wii is for casual and family gamers, the Xbox 360 is for hardcore online gamers, and the PS3 is for hardcore gamers who also love Blu-Ray.
