Finding the perfect present for the gamer in your life can seem daunting. Here are some tips to help you pick just the right gift.
If you don't have any idea what games people have already, you may have to just ask them or someone who knows them well. It's not a lot of fun to buy a game someone already owns. Some games are exclusive to certain consoles, while others are cross-platform, available on several systems.
The good news is gamers usually like to talk about what they're playing and what games they'd like to have, and 2017 had such a bumper crop of excellent games that there are sure to be some gems players had to pass up on experiencing.
Whether you're shopping for yourself or someone else, here are some great titles you'll want to check out:
FOR NINTENDO SWITCH
The Switch console debuted in March, but it has already been a smash hit for Nintendo, thanks to a strong lineup of games and the console's unique ability to switch (hence the name) from home console to portable gaming device. The games Nintendo publishes for its console are generally family friendly but also fun for players of any age. Three of the best are:
• Super Mario Odyssey. Lauded as one of the best Mario games in years, this family-friendly action platformer features an open world, hours and hours of exploration and lots of replayability. This game is exclusive to the Switch. Help Mario rescue Princess Peach (again) from Bowser!
• Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Praised as not just one of the best games this year, but one of the best of all time, Breath of the Wild features open-ended, physics-driven gameplay that encourages experimentation and exploration. Available only on the Wii U and Switch, this is a must-have for the Nintendo die-hard.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Initially released on the Wii U in 2014, this family-friendly racing game comes to the Switch with improved graphics, added characters, new racing modes and all the game expansions from the original. Mario Kart is a staple of the Nintendo roster and features solo, co-op and online multiplayer play.
FOR PLAYSTATION 4
The Sony PS4 is the most popular console worldwide and has a number of titles that can't be found on other consoles. Unlike the Nintendo exclusives, the following games are for a more mature gamer.
• Horizon Zero Dawn. Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the most graphically accomplished titles of its generation, with amazing art design and gameplay. It's prehistoric and futuristic, set in a post-apocalyptic world where mankind has been reduced to a medieval state of technology and mechanical animals roam the earth. Want to use a bow and arrow to fight a robot T-Rex armed with a rocket launcher? Then this is the game for you, and it's only on the PS4.
• Nioh. Set in a demonic feudal Japan, Nioh is a brutally challenging action role-playing mashup of Dark Souls and Ninja Gaiden. Playing as an Englishman-turned-samurai, you'll cut down demons both large and gigantically monstrous from the breadth of Japanese lore. This PS4 exclusive is difficult and violent, but rewarding when success finally arrives. If it's too hard, though, there's an online cooperative mode so players can enlist help in their demon-slaying.
• Nier: Automata. This genre-bending action role-playing game might be a little more obscure than other titles in this list, but it was one of the most compelling games out this year with its tight play, superb graphics and existential storyline. Set on yet another post-apocalyptic Earth, the main character is an android in a battle against hordes of AI-controlled robots. Just when you think you've got this action-puzzle game figured out, it switches seamlessly from third-person perspective and top-down shooter to side-scrolling platformer and back.
It's got great replayability, too, with the story changing and advancing with subsequent play-throughs. It's available on the PS4 and Microsoft Windows.
We'll have more great games for Christmas in next week's column, so stay tuned.
ActiveStyle on 12/11/2017