Giving the Gift of Video Games

This time of year, you can't swing your arms without hitting some kind of "buyer's guide" for every type of holiday gift--and video games are no exception. That being said, how could I resist succumbing to the lure of offering my opinion on video-game based gifts. This is by no means a buyer's guide! It's just my two cents on a few games that might be nice to find under the Christmas Tree this year. Note: Since I am a Playstation 2 player, these ideas will be a little skewed to that system. Keep in mind, most good games are available for every platform. Need for Speed Underground - Simply put, this game rocks. If you have any interest in racing games, or if you have any interest in fun, this game is for you. Based on the sudden mainstream love affair with the import racing scene, the game puts you in the shoes of a newbie racer. You must participate in a variety of events of increasing difficulty to gain stylish upgrades to your car, as well as money and personal rankings. So, while you may start with a cheesy Dodge Neon, if you work hard, you'll be racing a completely modded Nissan Skyline with enough nitrous oxide to blow a hole in the world. Honestly, the amount of customization is staggering--from headlight styles to paint jobs and decals, you can construct the rice rocket of your dreams. And when you get tired of the "story" mode, the game offers a standard set of quick race modes. The graphics are top notch, and really give the feel of speed--somethign sorely missing form most racing games. The only gripe here is that some events can be ridiculously hard... so, if you're a casual gamer, don't be ashamed to knock the difficulty down to "easy"--you'll still have a a good challenge ahead. Final Fantasy X-2 - We all know that RPG's are not for everyone. Many of them require an inordinate amount of time and patience, and that's just to LEARN the play systems involved. If you've played any RPGs from Square, you know what I'm talking about. Final Fantasy X-2, while still very deep and complicated, attempts to make the genre a bit more accessible to casual RPG fans. It offers an engaging story, quick battles, and likeable characters. But, don't let the "bubble gum rpg" image the game fool you. Be warned: the game contains as many hours of playtime as any Final Fantasy installment before it, and goes one step further by offering gamers a suprisingly non-linear path gameplay that hasn't been found in many RPGs. If you're a fan of the genre, the game's for you. If you've never tried a real RPG, this may be your chance to get into them. That's the great thing about the game--it can satisfy both types of gamers. Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time - Unless you've been under a rock lately, you realize that this game has been getting quite a bit of hype lately. And while hype is usually not justified (see "Midnight Club 2"), this is not the case with Prince Of Persia. This game's apparently got it all: solid gameplay, a great story, good action, and quite possibly the best graphics of any game on ANY console (yes, including XBox) ever. The commercials really play up the "time control" aspect of the game, and while rewinding and pausing acton has been done before in other console games, it's really utlized well here. The game incorporates a good blend of puzzle-solving and combat, and is thankfully quite forgiving with respect to save points--in case you're continually getting your ass kicked. Everyone says this is the "it" game of the year--Who am I to disagree? Tiger Woods 2004 - Go ahead and laugh at me for talking about a golf game. I don't care. The truth of the matter is that this game is not only the best golf game that's ever been made, it's also one of the best sports game on any console out there. With every year, this series improves upon itself, and 2004's installment is no different. Sure, the game offers a great amount of courses and game styles, but what I find most innovative about the series is the controls. It's the only golf game that uses the real motion of the joystick to control your swing--as opposed to the traditional "3-click" method most other games use. And while this may sound a bit daunting at first, you'll get the hang of it in no time, and you'll be wondering why no one has ever done this before. Add to this the great new "create a player" mode, and you have a really solid package. Golf can be fun. Trust me. Dynasty Warriors 4 - Like to kick ass? Like to play games you don't have to think about? Like to beat the crap out of many, many enemies at the same time? This is your game. Don't let the ancient Chinese motif fool you--you can pop this baby in and start hacking away like there's no tomorrow. And while this may seem repetitive--it doesn't really get old. But, if you do find it a bit monotonus, the game does offer minor strategies, as well as combat stylings and a bit of a story. But let's call it what it is: One of the best beat-em-ups ever created, and with each chapter, the game keeps getting better. Sharpen that sword, and let's start slicing and dicing! Madden NFL 2004 - This game really doesn't need a review. It's basically the gold standard of football games--and it keeps getting better every year. If you are a fan of football in any way, shape or form (even yo Detroit Lions fans out there), this game is a no-brainer. This time around, EA offers an immensely deep franchise mode, for those of you who have a love affair with football and a massive amount of free time. If you want, you can even take it online and drive someone halfway across the world into the mud. While Sega's ESPN Football 2004 is also great, this one's definitely where it's at. Soul Calibur 2 - Anything that's said about this game is basically repetitve, so I'll keep it short. The first Soul Calibur game was the best fighting game of all time--no two ways about it. This one is better. You do the math. This game has something some of those high-brow fighters ('Virtua Fighter 4,' anyone?) doesn't have: FUN. Your average button masher can enjoy the hell out of this game. At the same time, this game is as deep as you want it to be: There's a great deal of combat strategies and gameplay modes to please any type of fighting game fan. And let's not forget that the graphics kick everyone's ass. Like most games of the genre, it's best enjoyed with a bunch of freinds who want a virtual ass-whooping, but you can indeed enjoy it alone. Buy it. Now. Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando - remember the days of 'Super Metroid' and 'Super Mario Brothers?' Well, I haven't been a fan of platform-type games since those days with the Super Nintendo system (which is still one of my faves). However, the first 'Ratchet and Clank' which came out last year made me a fan of the genre again. This one is apparently an imporvement, if that's possible--going the "more is better" route. Puzzles, gadgets, 50 weapons, great graphics, fun characters, and a non-stop cavalcade of destruction. What more could you ask for in a game? And for what it's worth, you gotta love those great commercials. Def Jam Vendetta - When I first saw the concept for this game, I was like, "what?" The idea of blending hip-hop stars and wrestling seemed ridiculous to me. Hours of gameplay and two cramped hands later, I was converted. The game is shockingly fun and addicting. What sets it apart from other wrestling games is what makes it great: The graphics are awesome, The gameplay is accessible, and the characters are somewhat more fun to play as than your average WWE star. It's just plain fun--and even moreso with a bunch of buddies on hand. How can you argue with a game that incorporates your in-game girlfriend as a gameplay element, and offers Maxim-style photoshoots as unlockable rewards when you win a fight? EA BIG has done it again--this game is much better than you think. There are WAAAAAYYY too many other games to mention here. The ones above are just a sampling. Because I didn't want to slight the other great games out there, here's a list of other top-notch titles. The consensus on them is that they are awesome, and if you don't want to be asked for receipts on Christmas morning, you'll do the right thing, and purchase them: - Jak 2 - Beyond Good and Evil - Tony Hawk's Underground - Socom 2: Navy Seals - SSX 3 - Simpsons Hit and Run - Castlevania: Lament of Innocence - ESPN NBA Basketball - Manhunt - Krash Nitro Kart Lastly, here's a list of popular, over-hyped games that are not as good as you've been told--and should be avoided. While they all don't SUCK, they haven't been reviewed well, and aren't nearly as fun as they'd like you to think they are. If you have any doubts, rent them first. - XIII - Backyard Wrestling - Rogue Ops - Spy Hunter 2 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - R: Racing Evolution - Tak and the Power of Juju That's it for now. Here's hoping you make the right decision when you're out shopping--because no one wants to be playing "Barbie's Horse Adventure" on Cristmas night. Okay, maybe SOMEONE does, but they aren't reading this site.

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