16 Dec, 2011
Perhaps one of gaming’s greatest years ever, 2011 has proven that it’s hard to pick what would define the ultimate Xbox experience. So much so that we had to involve not one, but two members of our intrepid team.
While there has been an abundance of triple-A titles to arrive especially in the latter parts of the year, let’s not forget that there have been some gaming greats in past years as well. What better platform than the Xbox 360 to showcase both the best of the old and new? With everything from the co-op shooter and downloadable titles to the essential that every Xbox owner should have, here’s our staff picks for what should be on your wishlist this holiday season.
Tabs’ Picks:
Gears of War Series (Epic Games, 2006 – 2011; $29.99 – $39.99)
Any game in Epic Games’ trilogy will suffice, although I would highly recommend sinking your teeth into Gears of War 2. For a third-person perspective on a shooter game, this series has a lot to offer. The active-reload system of the game gives bonuses to players that can time the reload correctly. An added challenge is actually placing emphasis on the greatest threat to your position. Do you shoot the Boomer coming towards you, or aim for the Theron Guard with the Torque Bow? Fans of the Unreal Tournament universe will definitely love the art style as well. Coupled with Steve Jablonsky’s epic soundtrack, any game in the Gears of War series should be sitting on Xbox owners’ shelves.
BioShock (Irrational Games, 2007; $19.99)
For a game in masterful story telling and a great artistic style, Irrational Games’ flagship series BioShock is one of the best games to own, period. The mix of action with subtle elements of horror will make players jump, but the moral and ethical questions presented in the underwater world of Rapture will have you stopping and wondering about the world as you progress through the story. The atmosphere created by the art style and music brings us back to a time of bygone years, and is almost a statement in itself. So please, do yourself a favor and buy this game. Or borrow it from a friend and play it. Or borrow it and pretend to keep forgetting to give it back.
Left 4 Dead Series (Valve Software, 2008 – 2009; $19.99 – $29.99)
Love zombies? Love co-op shooters? How about working in a team, or maybe even playing against each other to see who comes out on top? Left 4 Dead stormed onto the scene in 2008, and its successor was later released in 2009. In a genre fraught with zombie games, the Left 4 Dead games still stand out as a series that demands real teamwork in order to survive. Sure, holding off a horde is easy enough when you’re down a man, but once you’re the last man standing, the going isn’t going to be easy. Forget the shuffling zombies of Resident Evil fame — we’re looking at infected that are out for blood, and they want you dead. Featuring some of the best multi-player experiences out there, both games should be on any gamers’ shelves.
Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar Games, 2010; $39.99)
Rockstar Games is definitely deserving of their name with this western gem. With a moving story of a former outlaw trying to right the wrongs of his past, we’re literally dropped into the middle of a beautiful living, breathing world. Rockstar’s attention to detail with this title should be noted by everyone, both player and fellow developer. While this game is largely a single player experience, the cinematic qualities and beauty of the world make it a great game to simply sit down and watch. Woody Jackson’s poignant soundtrack compliments the mood well. Between action sequences and moments of tragedy, the music is a great fit to this game and is great to listen to as you traverse the dusty roads. The Undead Nightmare DLC is also a worthy expansion to the game, giving us all that zombie shootin’ fun we all secretly (and guiltily) love.
Bastion (Supergiant Games, 2011; 1200MSP)
This downloadable gem, also available on Steam, is perhaps one of the best Xbox Live Arcade titles to be released in recent years. Developed by indie studio Supergiant Games, Bastion features a unique progressive narrative style, a story of betrayal and self reflection, and an easy yet challenging style of gameplay. Darren Korb’s soundtrack to this unbelievably fun arcade title is the very cherry on top — labeled by Korb as “new frontier acoustic trip-hop,” the electronica sounds match the game in an oddly fascinating way.
Tom’s Picks:
Battlefield 3 (DICE/EA, 2011; $49.99)
The fight for number one first person shooter was a tough one this year. For me however, Battlefield 3 comes out victorious. Lovely graphics, open maps, tons of unlocks and simply awesome gameplay make it this year’s hottest FPS. If you’ve been sitting on the fence this Christmas then it is time to hop over and enjoy DICE’s highly anticipated and stunning installment in the Battlefield series. Oh, but if you haven’t already, you may want to purchase Xbox Live first, as multiplayer is really where this game shines.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Capcom, 2011; $39.99)
When you have a few friends over for one too many glasses of mulled wine on a chilly Christmas night, what better way to spend it than beating each other up as some of Marvel’s and Capcom’s finest? Fighting games are often associated with some of the more hardcore gamers out there, however we often forget what fun can be had with just a couple of controllers and a friend. With a couple of hours’ worth of gameplay under your belt even fighting newbies can have a blast with this game. With extras bundled on top of the original MvC 3, along with some game-altering tweaks Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom is simply a brilliant fighter. Dare you test your skill online against some of the games finest?
Halo: Reach (Bungie, 2010; $39.99)
Halo: Reach is possibly the finest example of the perfect multiplayer experience. Not only does Bungie offer up a plethora of multiplayer maps and match types, it also allows you to craft new maps, and even record your antics. Had enough of multiplayer action? Well, there’s always the impressive campaign to try out. Halo: Reach is one of the few games that scores high on every level, and for those of you looking for a brilliant title to absorb hours then this is the game for you!
From Dust (Ubisoft, 2011; 1200MSP)
From Dust was one of the few Xbox Live arcade titles out there to really grab my attention. Players must manipulate the earth, water and lava in order to help a village of tiny tribes-men capture totems and progress to the next world. It feels very much like Lionhead’s God-game series, Black and White, and is similarly a charming and fun to play title that is great to just sit down and relax with. The campaign can keep you coming back for more, and with extra challenge modes on top of that, From Dust can have players enthralled for hours. A good game to sit in with on this year’s cold winter nights.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Softworks, 2011; $59.99)
It would be almost criminal for me to construct a list of 2011’s most worthy Christmas buys and not mention this gem. Skyrim improves on almost every aspect of the previous Elder Scrolls title, Oblivion, and manages to pack in a seamlessly infinite number of gameplay hours. Venturing through and exploring the incredibly rich province of Skyrim, discovering a world packed with adventure, lore, and discovery. With more snow and magic than you could shake a staff at, you’ll likely be spending your Christmas fighting dragons in Skyrim this year.
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