It smells like the holidays again, from the earthy aroma of fresh cut Christmas Trees to the sweaty scent of desperation the hard times have brought on to many hard-working people.
However, one thing you can’t escape (whether you’re rich or poor), is the gift of, well, giving. And we here at ASSIGNMENT X have compiled a bunch of nifty lists of expensive (and not so expensive) gifts that would be perfect for your geek-tastic, pop culture savvy recipient (or more likely a guide to the things that you may want to ask Santa for yourself).
So without further ado, welcome to ASSIGNMENT X’s 2010 Holiday Gift Guide:
VIDEO GAME EDITION
TRON: EVOLUTION
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99 – $59.99
Platforms: PS3, XBOX 360, PC
What is It? Want to find out what happened in between 1982’s TRON and the new TRON LEGACY film. This game hopes to fill in the gaps as you’re sucked into the grid exploring the universe created by Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) while battling programs on light cycles as well as using your identity discs.
Cool Yule Factor: Taking the idea of different experiences, on different platforms to the extreme, TRON EVOLUTION features one type of experience (taking place from 1990-2000 for PS3, XBOX 360 and PC, another one on PSP (which is set in 1989), one for Nintendo DS set in 1985 and the Wii version (called BATTLE GRIDS) set in 1988. Probably the most exhaustive simultaneous cross-promotion (and mythology building) for any film franchise in history. Now when will the original TRON arcade game be available?
CLICK HERE to purchase
THE FORCE UNLEASHED II
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99 – $59.99
Platforms: PS3, Wii, Nintendo DS, XBOX 360, PC
What is It? A sequel to amazing LucasArts game from 2008 which is set between REVENGE OF THE SITH and A NEW HOPE as Darth Vader’s new apprentice Starkiller escapes his clutches and goes on a whole new adventure in search of his identity.
Cool Yule Factor: While we love the LEGO STAR WARS games for their humorous authenticity, THE FORCE UNLEASHED is about as close to actual Jedi play that you’re going to get. The graphics are incredible and the game play perfect – especially for fans wanting to fill in some of the gaps between trilogies. LucasArts outdoes themselves again.
CLICK HERE to purchase
ROCK BAND 3
Platforms: XBOX 360, PS3, Wii
Suggested Retail Price: $49.99 – $59.99
What is It? The third installment of the music playing game that’s been giving GUITAR HERO a run for its money for the last two years. The song selection runs the gamut from hard rock (Anthrax, Queens of the Stone Age), classic 1980s alternative rock (Echo & the Bunnymen, Jane’s Addiction) to some truly bizarre and welcome additions like Tegan & Sara and the B-52s.
Cool Yule Factor: It’s not only the song selection that makes ROCK BAND so great, it’s the additions to the game each time out that makes it a truly immersive experience. This time, keyboards are added and it ups the game play to an even harder and more complex level.
CLICK HERE to purchase
DJ HERO 2 with TURNTABLE
Suggested Retail Price: $79.99
Platforms: Wii, PS3, XBOX360
What is It? Live your dreams of being a DJ with this great game that takes a different spin on the GUITAR HERO format. Instead of playing a guitar or using the controllers with the Turntable bundle you can rock out to tunes and follow the beats using a DJ’s favorite device. It is fun and the tracks include songs from Lady Gaga, Deadmau5, Kanye West, Chemical Brothers, Rihanna and more.
Cool Yule Factor: You can play how you want. Mix sounds together to make the beat sound how you want it in freestyle or play it as the developers wanted you to. Your choice and choice is a good thing.
CLICK HERE to purchase
FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS
Suggested Retail Price: $49.99-59.99
Platforms: PlayStation 3, XBOX 360, PC
What is It? FALLOUT 3 was a marvel of a game. Lasting more than 80 hours of game play you traversed over apocalyptic wastelands searching for the father that had abandoned you. Now you could do this either evil or good. In NEW VEGAS, the stakes are amped the game play is that much better. They basically took a good thing and made it that much better with new bad guys, a host of creatures and more.
Cool Yule Factor: The quest where you can either allow a bunch of mutants to blast off in a space ship to freedom or destroy it in a ball of fire. Decisions, decisions.
CLICK HERE to purchase
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99-59.99
Platforms: PlayStation 3, XBOX 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, PC
What is It? Activision may have screwed the pooch with MODERN WARFARE 2 but they made up for it with this gem of a game that is much more CALL OF DUTY 4 than it is MW2. With a host of guns, upgrades and modifications as well as the ability to restart your game when you max out your level, it keeps the game fresh in multiplayer mode.
Cool Yule Factor: You also get to play the zombie mode that allows you to fight Nazi and other crazy zombies in endless hordes. It is hard as hell but fun.
CLICK HERE to purchase
BIOSHOCK 2
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99-29.99
Platforms: PlayStation 3, XBOX 360, PC, PC Download
What is It? BIOSHOCK was a freaking awesome throwback to games gone by with a whole new world from the past that was submerged under water. But something went wrong and the futuristic achievements that were made there came back to haunt the inhabitants. This game continues those adventures by putting you in the role of one of the Big Daddies and giving you a whole new platform to work with.
Cool Yule Factor: Fighting the Big Sisters (a new character) and having to figure out the best ways to defeat them as they are probably the most bad-ass creatures in the game.
CLICK HERE to purchase
MASS EFFECT 2
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 – $59.99
Platforms: XBOX 320, PlayStation 3, PC, PC Download
What is It? How do you take an already great game and make it better? Offer more of what made it great and give a whole new storyline that incorporates all of the good stuff from the first game with new characters, new weapons and a host of new bad guys. In a word, it is fun.
Cool Yule Factor: Being able to choose your path and not have a linear gameplay is what made the first game fun, this take sit to a whole new level with more of that goodness.
CLICK HERE to purchase
RED DEAD REDEMPTION
Suggested Retail Price: $59.99
Platforms: XBOX 320, PlayStation 3
What is It? In a gaming world where everything is either modern warfare or space shooters, leave it to Rockstar Games to come up with a very cool free-flowing Western. Much like GRAND THEFT AUTO, you can pretty much do whatever you want and whenever you want. Do you want to wander off and explore? Go ahead but be careful of wildlife and bad guys. Still a compelling storyline awaits, when you are ready.
Cool Yule Factor: Now you can get an upgrade where you fight zombie hordes in the old West. Shoot outs outside the saloon just got a whole lot more interesting!
CLICK HERE to purchase
DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS
MARIO VS. DONKEY KONG - Mini-Land Mayhem
DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS
MARIO VS. DONKEY KONG - Mini-Land Mayhem
DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS/MARIO VS. DONKEY KONG: MINI LAND MAYHEM!
Suggested Retail Price: $49.99 (DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS), $39.99 (MINI LAND MAYHEM!)
Platforms: Wii (DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS), Nintendo DS (MINI LAND MAYHEM!)
What is It? Okay, so having both of these listed would make this a list of eleven, but since it’s all in the Donkey Kong family, let’s call an even ten and be done with it. For the Wii only, DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS has you playing the iconic ape as he goes in search of stolen bananas on his island. Meanwhile, MINI LAND MAYHEM! features Mario’s new theme park that is overtaken by Donkey Kong (he steals Pauline) and the player has to navigate through 200 mini-adventures to save her.
Cool Yule Factor: It’s incredible how far Donkey Kong has come from the 1980s arcade games, but these two video games bring back the sense of fun, adventure and playfulness that has always been the Donkey Kong universe. The intuitive nature of the Wii controller for RETURNS one-ups MAYHEM!, but there’s something to be said for the latter’s simplicity when it comes to game play.
CLICK HERE to purchase DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS
CLICK HERE to purchase MINI LAND MAYHEM!
CLICK HERE for the COMPLETE 2010 ASSIGNMENT X HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
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