Gaming Holiday Gift Guide

Multiplatform Gift Guide (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3)

Batman: Arkham Asylum (360/PS3) – It would be fair to say that Arkham may be one of the best 5-10 games you can get for Xbox 360 and the PS3. It is beautiful, addicting and, most of all, very fun. It is not often that an ultra-hyped game can truly live up to the excitement that surrounds it, but Arkham really broke from the mold here.  Batman: Arkham Asylum is a title that every gamer should own and, coming from a relative newbie developer in Rocksteady Studios, it’s a title that every gamer can feel good about owning, too.

The Beatles: Rock Band (360/PS3/Wii) – In the end, the love you’ll take is equal to your affection for the music you’ll fake, so you might be wise to steer clear of Beatles Rock Band if you’ve already proven resistant to the band’s charms. However, the multiple generations of would-be Apple scruffs who have come to cherish the music of those four lads from Liverpool should greet the game with nothing less than the love with which Harmonix clearly labored. Best played with a bandmate or five, Beatles Rock Band is perfect for parties, but it’s also an ideal solution when you’re craving a more interactive alternative to yet another listen. Now, just wake me when I can mangle the medley.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (360/PS3) – There’s very little to find fault with in BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. Sure, the story is nearly incomprehensible, but beyond that this is simply a great fighting game. There’s tons of replayability, amazingly diverse characters, smooth and refined controls, and gorgeous graphics. If you like fighting games at all, BlazBlue is a must buy–it may even be the best fighter from this entire year, though there are sure to be some fans of other series that wouldn’t like to hear us say that.

Borderlands (360/PS3) – Borderlands is addicting and worth every minute you will spend in it. I just think that, with a few tweaks and adjustments in a sequel, Gearbox could create a serious Game of the Year caliber contender with their next outing. Even before that though, there’s no reason to skip out on Borderland–it controls well, it looks good, and the lure of more loot has me itching to go back and play even as I sum the game up.

Brutal Legend (360/PS3) – It’s the most metal game of the year–try saying another game is more metal than this, and some Headbangers will show up and personally show you otherwise with the power of awesome. The combination of Jack Black, a great script, a well-written story, the abundance of humor and F*****’ Ozzy Osbourne should be more than enough reason to go pick this up.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (360/PS3) – The best part of Modern Warfare 2 is that it is set the bar so high for FPS titles going forward. This game alone will change the expectations for games like Bad Company 2 and, better yet, Modern Warfare 3. This is the start of exciting times for FPS fans everywhere. If you have $60 and a Xbox or PS3, buy this game. You’ll be very glad you did.

Dragon Age: Origins (360/PS3) – BioWare’s latest tells a rich tale, with believable characters in an engrossing world. The gameplay, no matter how you choose to play, works well and is effective, and thanks to a long main quest and a countless number of sidequests and alternative endings, stories and party arrangements, the game can be completely different for you each time you play through. Most importantly, you will want to play through again, because the world of Ferelden is interesting enough to be saved more than once.

Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition (360/PS3) – One of 2008’s best has been repackaged in 2009, but this time with $50 worth of downloadable content at no extra cost. If you missed the game the first time around, then this is a must-own experience for any PS3 or 360 owner.

Guitar Hero 5 (360/PS3/Wii) – It’s a phenomenally fun music/rhythm game. The combination of stellar graphics and extremely solid game-play make the title a wholly playable and deeply enjoyable experience for both the casual living-room rockers and the seasoned fan. The setlist hits every genre, with pure-fun tunes scattered throughout. And the ability to import on-disc and downloaded tunes from World Tour and Smash Hits, though now expected, is still great. Guitar Hero 5 is by far the best Guitar Hero game yet.

Guitar Hero: Metallica (360/PS3/Wii) – Okay, so maybe there is one game that can stand up to Brutal Legend’s onslaught of metal, but at best, it ties, does not surpass. Guitar Hero: Metallica is a truly first rate music experience that contains much more in every department than any other out there except for The Beatles version of Rock Band.  If you call yourself both a fan of Guitar Hero and Metallica this game is absolutely a must have.  That said, metal-heads and those craving for a truly solid list of challenging, heavy riffs will adore this title as well.

Madden NFL 10 (360/PS3/Wii) – Madden NFL 10 is the most realistic and in-depth version of Madden yet. The game no longer just looks realistic, it plays and sounds that way too, which makes all of the difference in the world. It’s the best version of Madden that has been produced because of this, and with additions made to online modes like two-player co-op and online franchise, you will be playing it plenty.

NCAA Football 10 (360/PS3) – NCAA Football 10 provides a strategic football experience that is accessible to all levels thanks to its All-Play feature and the use of different play styles on both offense and defense. There are enough game modes to keep you in the game much longer than just the summer, especially with Season Showdown and an Online Dynasty mode. Even with Madden on the market, this one is worth a look.

Red Faction: Guerilla (360/PS3) – Like blowing stuff up? Maybe you want to try your hand at it with some explosive charges, maybe some rockets, or maybe some space-age weaponry? Red Faction has all of that for you and more, with an open-world, an abundance of missions, and loads of quality gameplay. If you’re feeling generous, pick up a points card so your giftee can get the Demon’s of the Badlands DLC as well.

Resident Evil 5 (360/PS3) – It’s strayed further from the traditional Resident Evil formula than even some of the spinoffs have, and while that may make some old-school fans upset, there’s still plenty to love about this title. You’ll play it more than once thanks to the upgrade system and the loads of collectibles; plus, it’s Resident Evil, you know you love it. With a DLC update on the horizon, now would be the time to snag a copy if you haven’t already.