Multiplatform Titles (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Assassins Creed Revelations
This game will be more of the same Assassins Creed gameplay you have grown to love, and that’s ok, because if it isn’t broke you don’t have to fix it. At least in a single console generation anyway. Hopefully this series can continue to evolve and take more than a year off after this installment.
Sonic Generations
Don’t like Sonic much anymore after his jump into 3D? Sick of all of his lame friends? Then check out Sonic Generations, a game that combines the platforming of classic Sonic with today’s Sonic’s blistering speed. Last year’s Sonic Colors was pretty fantastic in my opinion, and if Sega has built upon that successful foundation I think gamers are in for a real treat.
Modern Warfare 3
Modern Warfare 3 offers all of the Call of Duty fast paced gunplay that gamers have continued to love year after year, without the balance issues that plagued Modern Warfare 2. Though the graphical engine looks a bit dated, expect the same slick action that the series is known for.
Battlefield 3
Sick of Call of Duty? Battlefield 3 offers fantastic graphics, realism in a way that hasn’t been seen before, a larger sense of scale, and intense vehicular combat that will shake up the first person shooter landscape this holiday season. If you have a high-end PC you already know this is the obvious choice this holiday season- enjoy those 64 player online battles.
Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham Asylum was fantastic, and this sequel adds more of everything. More ground to cover, more gadgets, and more sinister villains. If you like a good mix of action and stealth you can’t do much better than this. A definite must have for fans of Batman, and everyone else for that matter.
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
This long awaited sequel to Oblivion finally ditches the ugly bloom lit graphical engine that has plagued most of Bethesda’s games since. It looks absolutely beautiful, but can the gameplay hold up? My guess is yes, but not without the usual assortment of Bethesda glitches. Maybe they will have a patch out by Christmas, so all of you that open it for the first time that morning can play it as it was intended.
Be sure to catch the system exclusives after the break!
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland
Many of Kirby’s games have been centered around testing unique gameplay ideas for the past decade or so, so it is great to see the pink puff return in an honest to goodness platformer for Wii. The four player co-op is sure to be fun for the whole family. It is easy to get into for new players, but offers enough hidden secrets and extra modes to keep even the most seasoned Kirby fan entertained.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword has been over 5 years in the making and promises the epic adventuring and puzzle solving that the series that the series is known for, alongside a new addition, precise sword fighting made possible by Wii Motion Plus. This latest outing turns the conventional Zelda on its head, with a fragmented overworld, dungeons that will need to be revisited several times to uncover all of their secrets, upgradeable equipment, and new items that utilize the Wii remote in unique ways. This will definitely be a Zelda to remember, and a fantastic swan song for the Wii.
Xbox 360
Gears of War 3
Gears of War is back, this time with more focus on team combat than ever before. The online isn’t without its hitches, but chainsawing someone in half is just as fun as ever.
Kinect Sports 2
Need something to play on that dusty Kinect your girlfriend convinced you to buy? I can’t really vouch for the accuracy of the peripheral, but Kinect Sports 2 will be sure to bring you more of the same goofy fun you had last year.
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Wow, Halo: Combat Evolved is ten years old? That really makes me feel old. Anyway, this remake brings with it a beautiful fresh coat of paint and online multiplayer, something the original lacked. This is developed by 343 Industries, the guys behind Halo 4, so it might give you a good preview of what is ahead for Master Chief.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
The PS3 is home to several high profile sequels this holiday season, but this is the one no fan will want to miss. Drake’s Deception ups the ante once more, delivering one of the greatest PS3 action adventure titles yet again.
Resistance 3
If you like your first person shooters with an alien twist, you will likely enjoy Resistance 3. A bit more fast paced than Halo, Resistance offers epic large scale battles and a grittiness not found in Microsoft’s flagship title.
3DS
Super Mario Land 3D
The 3DS’ drought of games is officially over. Super Mario Land 3D is developed by Nintendo’s Tokyo studio, the same guys behind the fantastic Super Mario Galaxy games. This game is intended to be a return to Mario’s roots, made evident by the presence of the classic tanooki suit, and features bite sized levels perfectly suited for portable play. It also features some of the best use of 3D yet, with the added perspective helping to make tricky platforming sections much more manageable.
Mario Kart 7
Mario Kart on 3DS is sure to build upon the greatness that was Mario Kart DS, this time taking to the water and skies, as well as the roads. Online racing, classic cups, and the tilt controls that made the Wii version a blast to play, all make a return, ensuring this will be a blast for anyone looking for classic Mario Kart fun on the 3DS.