The end of the year means DigitalJournal.com has some gaming goodies to recommend. We’re once again showcasing the year’s hottest gaming tech for a variety of platforms. Just don’t blame us if work productivity slows down because of these addictive games.
(Don’t forget to check out our past two Essential Digital Gear articles this week: tech for your home and tech for your office)
Kinect for Xbox 360 ($150 standalone)
After two weeks playing with this motion-sensitive peripheral for the Xbox 360, we didn’t lose much weight but we saw the future of gaming. This souped-up sensor can detect not only hand and arm motions (like Nintendo’s Wii) but also kicking and head butts, perfect for the simple soccer game on Kinect Sports. Playing Joy Ride lets you actually grab an invisible steering wheel, and the Dance Dance Central game can get your heart pumping as you flail around like a poor man’s Usher. We can only imagine the fun factor found in upcoming Kinect games such as Michael Jackson: The Experience and first-person shooter Codename D.
Call of Duty: Black Ops ($60)
Available on most platforms, the fastest selling Call of Duty game yet is well worth the price. If you can stomach the graphic violence and realistic deaths, you’ll be immersed in gameplay so vivid you can actually taste the smoke from a bomb blast. Kudos to Activision for including a variety of vehicles to control, such as jets and fighter boats. Being a foot soldier can get monotonous. Feel free to try out the zombies mode, which pits JFK against a horde of the undead. Might want to save this gift for the 19-over button-mashers.
NBA Jam ($50)
If you spent countless hours breaking backboards and throwing down fiery three-pointers in the original NBA Jam, the 2010 version will make you cry out “boom shakalaka!” The rosters are updated, even including the Miami Heat dream team. The game play is just like the old days, but the game modes are pretty cool. Our favourite is Domination, where you have to score from all areas of the court. You can even unlock characters such as mascots and Obama and Dick Cheney, although the Dems and GOP are difficult to unlock, we found. This game is highly addictive and perfect for four player action.
Sonic Colors for Wii ($50)
Nothing wrong with going old school once again: Sonic the hedgehog returns to 2010 in a Nintendo Wii game that’s nothing short of superb. Super-smart physics and excellent controls make the gameplay stand out from the others bells and whistles. Complicated level design will test Sonic fans who think they can just zip through mazes effortlessly. Also, the graphics are eye-popping, making this an ideal gift for a thirtysomething who wants a retro vibe with a high-tech look.
Angry Birds Seasons, Rage HD for iPhone ($0.99, $1.99)
Gaming is now being enjoyed on smartphones, and these are the two of the top sellers for iPhoners. Angry Birds is already well known for being an addictive puzzle that pits birds versus pigs. Developer Rovio recently released Seasons with a Christmas theme but there’s no gift of simple puzzles here; they can be quite challenging, especially when you get into the 10th level and beyond.
For a different feel, the first-person shooter Rage HD is addictive for another reason: gorgeous graphics and elegant gameplay, as you shoot ’em up against horrific zombies. Also difficult in certain stages, succeeding in Rage HD takes quick fingers and smart strategizing to navigate through the onslaught.
Any games or peripherals you recommend? What video game impressed you most this year?
