Holiday Buyers Guide for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC

Just giving you a list of my recommendations on the best games of 2010 and what games you should buy for you're loved ones or yourself if you haven't already. This list will only include Xbox 360, PS3, and PC titles

Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360): A fantastic sequel and an RPG with both a great story and combat. While people who haven't played the first Mass Effect may feel lost with the plot, the information given is substantial enough that you can find yourself lost in this beautiful space opera.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, and PC): As long as you don't buy it used, this game comes in with a VIP code that gives you access to additional maps, while the first three map packs were clearly pulled from the game to punish those who bought the game used, DICE has offered continual support to one of my favorite shooters of 2010. People who have played Call of Duty might find this game overwhelming because of the giant battlefields, all of the vehicles, and the lack of "twitch combat", but anyone that pursues it and gets into it won't be disappointed

Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360 & PS3): Fantastic story, many things to do within the wild west universe, solid shooting, deep and interesting characters, and a decent multiplayer component alongside. This is one of the best open world games of all time, even though it doesn't take place in a bustling city like Grand Theft Auto. Plus there is the downloadable Undead Nightmare expansion that costs only $10 and provides hours of gameplay plus a new multiplayer mode.

Starcraft 2 (PC): the successor to one of the greatest RTS (real time strategy) game of all time (at least according to popular opinion). This game is the only one real good real time strategy game to come out this year. This game features a very fun and varied campaign, highly competitive, balanced, and fun multiplayer, and support for a variety of custom games in special game types online that are brought to you buy Starcraft's modding community.

God of War (PS3): This is a very short, but sweet single player epic. Badass, for the lack of a better world, describes this game. There is so much violence and destruction, but the game and the universe it encompasses is so beautiful.

Halo Reach (X360): There is no Master Chief this time around, but this game is still amazing regardless of his presence. The game follows the story of a team of six Spartan super soldiers known as Noble Six as they try to save their planet from inevitable destruction. While the single player is fun and features 4 player co-op, the real staying power of this game comes from the multiplayer. There is a co-operative mode called Firefight where you are supposed to stand you're ground against oncoming waves of the alien covenant. Besides co-operative multiplayer, there is a deep competitive multiplayer component that features normal maps and modified maps that use Bungie's Forge 2.0 tool. For those that have played the previous Halo's one notable new addition to the game is a little something called armor abilities, where Spartan's can use special abilities or equipment such as a jet pack, , a hologram, invisibility, and much more.

Civilization 5 (PC): While Starcraft 2 remains king of real time strategy this year, Civilization 5 and its predecessor have remained the king of turn based strategy, and it doesn't really change here. For those who haven't played the previous "Civ" games, you're objective is to lead a civilization and guide it to victory and prosperity by running and managing you're civilizations actions. It's actually not that complex of a game, and the new addition city-states add an interesting new factor.

Call of Duty Black Ops (Xbox 360, PS3, and PC): Another installment of one of the most popular series of shooters, this game had the biggest entertainment launch in history, and that is majorly because the game has such a fantastic online component and very fun competitive multipalyer along with the fun single player that plays out like a Michael Bay movie. Anyone that likes shooters should get this game, and I assure you that those who disliked Modern Warfare 2 will be happy with the changes and improvements made in this game.

This is, in my view my favorite games of 2010. However other games I would like to bring to you're attention are Assassin's Creed 2 Brotherhood and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, Super Street Fighter 4, Heavy Rain, and MAG. The ones listed above however, are my absolute favorite titles I have played this year.

Battlefield: BC2 Map Pack 7 and Vietnam

In other news regarding map packs, Battlefield Bad Company 2's new map pack is coming tomorrow which is free to Bad Company 2 owners that entered in the VIP code that came with the new copy of their game. The four new maps are Oasis, Harvest Day, Heavy Metal, and Cold War, and each of the maps are supported on all four of Bad Company 2's game modes. In even better news, we finally have a release date for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam (an downloadable expansion for Bad Company 2. It comes out on December 21 right during the holiday break. I have 3 weeks off during the Holidays and if I am not skiing, I will be online playing all of the great multiplayer games that came out this year.

Trailer for Battlefield: BC2 Map Pack 7: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/vip-map-battlefield-bad/707948

Halo Reach Noble Map Pack out tomorrow

If you aren't busy playing Call of Duty Black Ops or you're just looking for an excuse to play some Halo again, the Noble Map Pack is dropping on digital shelves on Xbox Live tomorrow. I have been busy lately playing Call of Duty Black Ops, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit multiplayer, but now with the new map pack I will have four games in which I can spend time playing. I am not sure I can even get to a reasonably high level in Need for Speed or Assassin's Creed 2 before Crysis 2 and Dragon Age 2 come out next year. And I haven't even replayed Fallout New Vegas yet and that game has a ton of content and stuff to do.

Here are gameplay commentaries on each of the three maps that are coming out tomorrow.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/66634

Shift 2 Unleashed Interview

With the recent launch of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, the next Need for Speed title is going to forsake its arcade roots, and Shift 2 seeks to be a racing simulator that competes to the bigger racing titles like Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo.

http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/needforspeedshift2/video/6284592?hd=1&tag=topslot;watchlink;1

Gran Turismo 5 Gamespot Now Playing

Gran Turismo is coming out tomorrow and here is an hour of gameplay as two Gamespot editors show you a little gameplay. I will warn you that the editor playing is not particularly skilled at this game so hardcore Gran Turismo fans will be annoyed by that. I personally don't care much for racing simulators because I don't like games that try to be realistic because realism isn't really that fun. I prefer racing games like Blur and Need for Speed where the driving is really smooth and easy, and you go at ridiculously high speeds while using special weapons to destroy your opposition, Arcade racers provide what I want from video games - fun. And while racing sims are enjoyable, it almost feels like my reason for not playing sports games. Why play a sports game when I can do the real thing? Arcade racers like Need 4 Speed and Blur are nowhere near the real thing, and that's why I play racing games like those. I am nonetheless, considering to buy this for my PS3, but I am not making any promises. Check out for an hour of gameplay on...

http://www.gamespot.com/shows/now-playing/?event=now_playing_gran_turismo_520101122&tag=topslot;img;1&hd=1&tag=hotslot%3Bimg%3B1

Gran Turismo 5 on shelves this week

So after 10 years of development Gran Turismo 5 is finally coming out on November 24. That's right, after the very successful Gran Turismo 4 on Playstation 2, PS3 owners will finally get their hands on the sequel they were waiting for. Let's hope that this game is PS3's beautiful answer to Xbox 360's Forza Motorsport. And while we are talking about this, lets look at a trailer to get the racing fans excited.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/title-cinematic-gran-turismo/707738

Bonus Round: The end of 2010

In this episode of the bonus round Shacknews’ Garnett Lee, Pach-Attack’s Michael Pachter and Hit Detection’s N’Gai Croal sit around and make their comments on the years end for the video game industry and voice their predictions on the future of Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony. Three out of four parts of the Bonus Round are not out, but next week the last part will be about the biggest disappointments in the game industry of 2010.

http://www.gametrailers.com/episode/bonusround/411?ch=1
http://www.gametrailers.com/episode/bonusround/411?ch=2
http://www.gametrailers.com/episode/bonusround/411?ch=3

What is Final Fantasy 13 Versus?

Final Fantasy 13 is actually a (or part of a) title held by three games. The first final fantasy was well recieved, but got criticisms for being linear in design. I for one, didn't finish Final Fantasy because I wasn't really into the story nor did I really like 6 characters that were prominently featured in the game. I personally didn't mind that it was linear, and I thought the game's combat system was clever. It was just that I didn't really have an urge to see a game that long enough to the end.

Nonetheless, Final Fantasy 13 Versus is a different game that's been in development independent of Final Fantasy 13, and unlike FF13, Versus is open world and it seems to have a more appealing story. To learn more check out this article

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/113/1135355p1.html

Dragon Age 2: Building on the Past preview

Check out this important interview that delivers the basic rundown of the plotline of Dragon Age 2, plus how you're actions in Dragon Age Origins will impact the game.

Black Ops day one sales set a new record

Last year, Activision said that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was the biggest launch in entertainment history, but within only a span of a year, that changed with a game called Call of Duty Black Ops. Within the first day, Black Ops has already racked up $360 million in sales, and sold 5.6 million copies in the first day.

So here is the question of the day...do you think the next Call of Duty game will be an even bigger entertainment launch than black ops, or will people realize that Call of Duty's formula has gotten stale? Sound off on the comments below.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6283887.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1

Star Wars: Old Republic - Warzone and Crafting

Old Republic is a new MMO that has constantly been having its release date pushed back. However because some of you are begging to play the MMO that could potentially dethrone WoW, check out this article and video interview on the new crafting system and the awesome PvP.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/starwarstheoldrepublic/news.html?sid=6283531&mode=previews&tag=topslot;img;3

Crysis 2 Multiplayer Interview

Check out this gamespot interview on Crysis 2. The simplest way to describe Crysis 2 is that this game is a hybrid between Call of Duty and Halo. The combat is quick and fanatic like both games, and you do play a super soldier. Unlike in Halo however, the guns are very precise and you will die easily like in any realistic shooting engagement. While Halo Reach does have something called armor abilities, the first Crysis game actually already had something of a similar nature where you could augment your armor to give you abilities such as super speed. One cool thing though was that you could immediately switch your armor on the spot as opposed to dying and selecting a different "loudout" like you would in Halo reach.

If there is one thing that distinguishes itself from Call of Duty or Halo its that the levels are very vertical. Since the game takes place in Manhattan, multiple battles will be fought through the city street and structures, you can get shot from anywhere and I mean anywhere.

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/crysis2/news.html?sid=6283599&mode=previews&tag=topslot;img;4

Battlefield: BC2 VIP Map Pack 7

Just when I was thinking that the map packs you got in Bad Company 2 was just a way to make sure you bought the game new, they are now realeasing a new map pack with a healthy dose of maps. Unlike the last 6 map packs, each new map pack came with 3 recycled maps that were only playable within specific game modes. The map packs themselves provided an incentive to buy the game new, and it was clear from the first few map packs that this was content that was held back (you didn't even have to download it, it was just unlocked). This time however, there will be four (semi) new maps that come complemented with their own game modes. Personally I love the Battlefield series for its large conflicts where you can pretty much do anything (fly a chopper, sneak behind enemy lines, destroy tanks, snipe long ranges, directly assault the base, or just goof around). This game has a great multiplayer component and I recommend that anyone who hasn't bought this game should give it a try. It's certainly not the run-and-gun game that is Call of Duty.

Map 1: Oasis
Origin: Battlefield: Bad Company multiplayer
Game modes: Rush, Conquest, Squad Rush, Squad Deathmatch

Map 2: Harvest Day
Origin: Battlefield: Bad Company multiplayer
Game modes: Rush, Conquest, Squad Rush, Squad Deathmatch

Map 3: Cold War
Origin: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 singleplayer
Game modes: Rush, Squad Rush, Squad Deathmatch

Map 4: Heavy Metal
Origin: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 singleplayer
Game modes: Conquest, Squad Rush, Squad Deathmatch

This will all be free of course.

Source: http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/66370

Little Big Planet 2 Creatinator Trailer

Little Big Planet 2 is a PS3 game that was a sequel to a platformer with a very powerful community. Essentially, Little Big Planet offered tools for players to customize their own levels and everyone else who had an internet connection and the game could get access to all of the fantastic player created content. As a result, the game had unlimited replay value because there was so much content being created. Now with Little Big Planet 2, players are not restricted solely to platforming levels, and can now choose to create many types of levels including racing, puzzle and role-playing games. New animation recording options are available and players will be able to create full-motion cut-scenes to go with their level design, manipulate the camera for both cut-scenes and gameplay, and record their own sound effects for use in the level. Costomization will be taken up to the next level.

This game was pulled back from a holiday season release and its now scheduled to release on the 18th of January. Here is a new trailer of one of many new items in LBP2 called the creatinator.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2pflXMBOAA

What is FireFall?

FireFall is a PC game that completely escaped my radar, but it was apparently aired during PAX 2010. It's an MMO shooter which has an artistic style similar to borderlands. The world is cell-shaded, and the graphics are really good by MMO standards. So far, it is apparently supposed to be free. There will obviously be a microtransaction system. The game looks completely amazing in concept and looks, and I look forward to learning more. Check out this awesome trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvsaaz1ZILA&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_345053

Asssassin's Creed Brotherhood Developer Diary 4

Check out the latest developer diary that explains the storyline behind the multiplayer and some unknown facts about what the templars are doing to fight the assassins.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/brotherhood-diaries-assassins-creed/707183

Battlefield Play 4 Free announced

In 2008 EA unveiled a free downloadable game called Battlefield Heroes, a free to play downloadable third person shooter for the PC. The game will incorporate certain elements from Battlefield 2 and Bad Company 2, but know one knows exactly what those new elements are. The graphics and the middle eastern combat is going to be there, and the game strives for a more realistic look as opposed to Battlefield Heroes.

Obviously since this game is "free to play" chances are that there will be a micro transaction system for those who want to unlock all of the goodies and level up faster. Learn more at...

http://pc.ign.com/articles/113/1132440p1.html

Also check out the latest trailer for the Bad Company 2: Vietnam DLC that is coming out this holiday season!

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/hill-137-battlefield-bad/707137

Bioshock Infinite Engine Improvements

The old Bioshock was game with both a creepy and beautiful atmosphere, and all of this was on the Unreal 2.5 engine. Bioshock Infinite is slated for a 2012 release and it's going to run on the Unreal 3 engine. However, the team at Irrational has modified the engine to accommodate their own game. To learn about the improvements made, check out this article at Shack News.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/66321

Shogun 2 Total War Story Trailer

Creative Assembly's latest Total War game is in development and I am surprised how much little coverage this game is getting. Shogun Total War was the very first "Total War" game created by Creative Assembly which was able to simulate massive battles with more than 1,000 troops on screen. Games like Medeval and Rome Total War were also well recieved, however the most recent games, Empire Total War and Napeleon Total War were not as well received. Both of those games were good in their own right but I found myself not as engaged with the most recent Total War games. However after many years, Creative Assembly is returning to their roots, bringing features like naval combat, naval sieges, enhanced models and graphics, and the same massive battles Total War fans have known and loved.

http://www.ign.com/videos/2010/11/03/shogun-2-total-war-story-trailer

Homefront Gamestop Interview

"The year is 2027. The world as we know it is unraveling after fifteen years of economic meltdown and widespread global conflict over dwindling natural resources. A once proud America has fallen, her infrastructure shattered and military in disarray. The USA is powerless to resist the ever expanding occupation of a savage, nuclear armed Greater Korean Republic."

That is basically Homefront, and as far as story is concerned, Homefront seems focused on not creating a singleplayer with a great story. As far as multiplayer is concerned, the only real highlighting factor that has been revealed so far is 32 person multiplayer. This looks like a typical FPS, but not much else has been revealed. Check back for additional coverage and specific details, as this game will be coming out next year February 22, 2011.

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/homefront/video/6283474?tag=topslot;watchlink;1

Dead Space 2 Ring around the Rosie Trailer

Dead Space 2 is a sci-fi survival-horror third person shooter, and it's a sequel to a positively received game. Some critics view Dead Space as the best survival horror game since Resident Evil 4. It's visceral, gory, scary, and thrilling. If you're a fan of survival or horror (or any combination of the two) then get it. It's $20 off Amazon.com, or just borrow it from a friend if he happens to have it.

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/deadspace2workingtitle/video/6283424/dead-space-2-ring-around-the-rosie-trailer?tag=topslot;img;2

Gran Turismo 5 gone gold

Numerous years of development, and one of the succesors to one of the most critically acclaimed racing franchises of all time is almost here. Despite being delayed numerous times over, Gran Turismo 5 is finally being produced as this is being written. Many people bought a pS3 to play this very game, so this is actually a big deal that this game is finally hitting shelves. What's a bigger deal however, is whether or not this game will live up to the hype. Check back for information on Gran Turismo 5.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6283427.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1

Black Ops Gameplay

An hour Call of Duty Black Ops multipalyer and an RC car montage. Combined with the great launch trailer, this is a good day for CoD fans.

http://www.gamespot.com/shows/now-playing/?now_playing_call_of_duty_black_ops20101101&tag=topslot;img;1
http://www.ign.com/videos/2010/11/02/call-of-duty-black-ops-best-rc-car-kills
http://www.ign.com/videos/2010/11/01/call-of-duty-black-ops-launch-trailer

World of Warcraft Cataclysm Design Interview

Check out the latest interview on how the Blizzard team has reformed the entire World of Warcraft experience. Despite the fact that Blizzard doesn't do much in offering new classes, Blizzard is devoted to make sure that the classes are balanced and everything feels great. This includes a major overhaul of the talent tree system, making the game more accessible to the casual gamer, and all of the new features added to the guild system.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/blizzcon-10-wow-cataclysm/706973

Xbox Live Fall Update

Microsoft's Xbox Live Fall update just became available starting today. In addition to adding support for Microsoft's new add-on peripheral Kinect, Microsoft is also bringing changes to the Xbox interface. New applications include ESPN, where you can get the latest footage and information on sports. Also there are new features for Zune including a new market place. Finally, Microsoft has also improved on the quality of voice chat.

http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/113/1131338p1.html

8 Things about Fallout New Vegas that would make Black Isle Proud

I have never played the old Fallout games, but while Fallout 3 was bringing the series to an entirely new area, Fallout New Vegas is more of a love note to those who played the old Fallout games. To learn why check out this article.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/113/1131020p1.html

Call of Duty Black Ops and Goldeneye 007 Launch Trailer

Tomorrow, the successor of one of the greatest shooting games in console history is about to be released tomorrow for the Nintendo Wii. In slightly over a week, Call of Duty: Black ops is going to hit shelves. It's just a shot away.

Call of Duty Black Ops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Ny1DGIsMc
Goldeneye 007: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqwaL6ohf8g&feature=sub