The end of another fun filled year in gaming is coming to an end. With no other major game releases due out until the beginning of the year, we sit back and reflect on the year in gaming. For those looking for games to get for loved ones or themselves during this holiday season, this is a must read.
10. Dante's Inferno: You have to love a game that is adapted from an ancient epic poem. Dante's Inferno follows Dante, a soldier during the Crusades that comes home after the horrors he suffered and that he inflicted during the war, only to find his true love, Beatrice, murdered. Upon finding her naked body, her soul is taken by Lucifer into hell, and Dante's takes flight, diving into the pits of hell in order to save her soul. Fighting through the nine circles of hell, Dante faces hordes of demons and must confront his own personal demons, in hopes of either redeeming his soul or condemning it further by exacting his revenge. Full of similar game play to Assassins Creed and Prince of Persia, the game is stunning, both visually and in terms of plot, and despite the graphic violence, nudity, and sex scenes, the games story and game play far outweigh the negatives.
9. Mafia II: For those who love the Godfather and Sopranos series, Mafia II is a must have this holiday season. Following the path and career of Vito Scalletta, a soldier who returns from WWII and finds himself working for the mob in fictional Empire City. Players are able to live out the life and growth of a mobster, from shake downs and drive bys to assassinations and drug dealers, this game showcases the notorious lives of gangsters and good fellas during the 1940's and 50's. Set in a third-person shooter, the game showcases the lifestyle of the time, with classic cars, classic radio and songs, and snappy suits that scream Dean Martin.
8. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction: Theres nothing better than the espionage and action of a political, ex-soldier shoot-em-up. Players are immersed into the story of Sam Fisher, who for three years has grieved over the loss of his daughter and who has managed to stay off the radar from the shadow group Third Echelon. However, Sam finds himself brought into a hairy situation when he goes after the man he believes murdered his daughter. Going after the man leads to being caught into a political conspiracy between members of his own government and terrorists. This third-person shooter is amazing, with Jason Bourne like action and classic Tom Clancy plot that makes this game a must have.
7. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands: Its a tale as old as time in the gaming world. Ever since the Prince of Persia showed up in his original 2-D game, fans all over have flocked to the Princes world, fighting zombies, demons, and evil Viziers. In the latest installment in the series, gamers follow the Prince before he was introduced to the Sands of Time. Arriving in his brothers kingdom in order to learn how to become a leader, the Prince finds himself trapped in a city of infected citizens. His brother, who was fighting a losing war, decided to unleash King Solomon's Sands, a power said to hold the ability to defeat all those who stand in the unleashes path. The Sands, however, transform the soldiers and citizens into mindless sand creatures, and the Princes brother becomes possessed by a horrible demon bent on world wide destruction. The game play is solid, and full of non-stop action that is classic to the Prince of Persia series.
6. Dead Rising 2: Zombies have invaded pop culture once more this year. With the Walking Dead's major success's, as well of Left 4 Dead's hit add-ons, Dead Rising 2 was a perfect game to play during the holidays. Following motocross champion Chuck Greene, players find themselves trapped in Fortune City, a Las Vegas type of city that has been invaded by a zombie outbreak. Chuck, who has been framed for starting the outbreak, must clear his name, find the real source of the outbreak, and find the medicine that is keeping his only daughter, Katey, from becoming a zombie herself. Full of dramatic plots, heartwarming character development, and bloody carnage and game play, this game is a cult-hit, and a great game for the zombie lover in all of us.
5. Bioshock 2: Welcome to Rapture! The underwater city built by Andrew Ryan. Set 10 years after the first game, Bioshock 2 places players in the shoes of the first Big Daddy, who wakes up 10 years after being shot and killed by Dr. Sophia Lamb. When you awaken, you find the once marvelous city of Rapture has begun to be claimed by the ocean, with degradation and decay setting in throughout the city. Dr. Lamb's daughter, Eleanor, your little sister, is now grown up, and has awoken you so that you can free her from her mothers captivity and escape the city. You must traverse through the broken down city, face Big Daddies, automatic defenses, and genetically altered humans called splicers, so that you can stop the evil forces from taking over the city of corruption. Also added is the multiplayer aspect, which gives players a story related aspect, taking you to the time in Rapture's history when a civil war broke out, and the city was left in chaos. This game is breathtaking, with amazing visuals, creepy characters, and fast paced action.
4. Fallout: New Vegas: "Ain't that a kick in the head?" That's what all fans asked themselves when Fallout: New Vegas was first released. Set in post-apocalyptic Vegas, players find themselves in the shoes of the Courier, who is shot and left for dead by a Casino boss named Benny. When you awaken, you go in search of your would-be killers, and try and learn what was so valuable that it was worth killing for. Also, players make companions, help citizens of the Mojave wasteland, and find themselves caught in a war between two factions who vie for control of the Hoover Dam, New Vegas main supply of power. The game is full of action, rich plot, and fully developed characters, and a must have.
3. Halo: Reach: Welcome to Reach, humanities last stand against the alien invasion force known as the Covenant. Set between the aliens and Earth, Reach hosts a group of Spartan soldiers known as Noble Team. When a settlement goes dark, Noble Team goes to investigate, and learns that the Covenant has invaded Reach. You play Noble Six, the latest addition to the team, and the one man capable of fighting the covenant to the end. Everyone knows the Halo series, and how the fight for Reach ended. This game is the story of how the end came to be, and how one team gave their lives and fought valiantly to save what they could of humanity. This game is a must have for fans of the series.
2. Mass Effect 2: I have one name for you guys, Commander Shepperd. That's right, anyone who knows the story of Mass Effect knows Commander Shepperd. In the sequel to the hit game, Mass Effect 2 finds players in Shepperd's shoes once more, having died in an alien attack on his vessel an being reborn by the Illusive Man, the leader of a human organization who wants to find a way of defeating the Reapers, sentient machines bent on galactic destruction. Humans colonies have been disappearing all over the galaxy, and it is up to Shepperd to recruit a new team, and investigate the disappearances and fight the enemy aliens. From the creative minds of Bioware, this game is rich in plot, characterization, and game play, as you use your high tech ship to fly around the galaxy, investigating new worlds and finding a way to defeat a formidable foe.
1. Assassins Creed Brotherhood: History and action combine to bring fourth the best action-adventure game not only in the Assassins Creed series, but of the year. Players follow Desmond Miles, an assassin by blood and in training, who is on the run with his allies from Abstergo Industries, the modern day Templar order. Using a machine known as the Animus 2.0, Desmond is able to access his ancestors memories embedded in his DNA. Using the machine to find information on an ancient relic known as a Piece of Eden, Desmond recalls the memories of Ezio Auditore, the Master Assassin during Renaissance Rome. Players find Ezio returning to Rome after Cesare Borgia attacks his Villa home and leaves him for dead. Ezio goes to Rome in search of Cesare and his allies, so that the corruption and evil plaguing Rome may end. The Piece of Eden is the key to saving the planet from destruction by natural means, and using Ezio's memories, players must traverse through corrupt Rome to find it. Another reason why this is our game of the year is because of the addition of multiplayer, in which players find themselves working for Abstergo Industries, using memories recorded from test subject and having you train as Assassins from the Rennassaince era. The game play, weaponry, story, and characters make this game at the top of our holiday wish list, and both this blog and its affiliate, Rock on Request magazine, the Game of the Year.
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