In a little over a week Christmas will be upon us and if you’ve got a Gamer with a Current Gen Console in your household then there is every chance they are wanting something for their PS4 or Xbox One. If you are unsure of what to get said Gamer then consider this my Christmas present to you; The creme de la creme of 2014 gaming, games that should be in any collection.
The best of Cross Platform (PS4 and Xbox One)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
I’m yet to see a negative review for Shadow of Mordor and there is a good reason for that. This game is an absolute masterpiece and delivers a level of gameplay that is near on unrivalled.
You’ll play as Talion, a Ranger who, along with his family, has been brutally murdered. Unfortunately for Talion he is sent back to Mordor and finds himself possessed by an Elven Wraith with a troubled past and unfinished business. Shadow of Mordor takes the combat system from Batman, combines it with the Assassin’s Creed style of getting around and improves on both in nearly every way. You’ll be able to scale the unforgiving terrain of Mordor with ease and engage in battle with an army of Orcs (if you’re game) in what is a seamless experience.
Where Shadow of Mordor really comes into it’s own is the Nemesis System of enemy progression. Enemies will gain XP and notoriety from engaging in battle with you. They will learn from past failings and use them against you next time around. Thanks to your Wraith skills you can also bend Orcs to your will and later on turn entire armies against their War Chiefs. This is a living breathing world that continues to change while you are off on other quests.
Shadow of Mordor is the game that Lord of the Rings fans have been crying out for for years but by deviating slightly from standard Middle-Earth lore creates a game that will appeal to more than just Lord of the Rings fans.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
If your loved one has become disillusioned with Call of Duty over the past few years then get them Advanced Warfare and see their love for the series come rushing back!
Advanced Warfare delivers some of the most photo realistic cutscenes seen in a video game and continues to blur the line between game and cinematic presentation/entertainment. You would almost swear that it is Kevin Spacey standing there on screen not a CGI rendered version of him.
The all new Exosuit adds a level of verticality to the series and is a more than welcome addition. The multiplayer here is a big step forward for Call of Duty and is perhaps the most balanced since the Modern Warfare days. Customisation is excellent and limiting how many skills a player can take into the map and the exist abilities on offer add a new level of strategy that allows players of all skill levels to feel like they are in with a chance.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare would be my pick for First Person Shooter of the Year and is a must own for anyone who loves the genre.
Grand Theft Auto V
Yes it has been out for a year PS3 and Xbox 360 but this controversial masterpiece has just made its way onto PS4 and Xbox One and is well worth throwing in the Christmas stocking.
GTA V is rendered in sweet 1080p and on current gen offers a brand new way to view the world of Los Santos; straight through the eyes of your Character thanks to the addition of First Person mode. Having been so used to experiencing GTA from the Third Person it can take a little while to adjust to First Person. Having the ability to set the camera to switch between First and Third person depending on whether you are crouched, driving or just walking around makes the transition very easy.
Los Santos and Blaine County are absolutely massive and on PS4 and Xbox One GTA V really shines. Even if your gamer already owns it on PS3 or Xbox 360 it is one of the very few games that is more than worth buying again if only to experience the world from an entirely new perspective.
The PS4 Exclusive
2014 wasn’t the best year for exclusives on the PS4, with the best still to come in 2015. Where Sony really delivered this year was providing a superior gaming experience for the cross platform games. Textures looked just that little bit better and games were consistently delivering crisp 1080p graphics while the Xbox One was having a hard time getting up to 900p. There was one game that stood out this year as a PS4 exclusive and that game was actually a port from PS3…
The Last of Us Remastered
Another game that has been upgraded from last gen but boy is this a good one! Packed with all of the DLC straight out of the box this is a title that is more than worth buying again.
The port from PS3 to PS4 has been flawlessly executed and ups the game from 720p 30fps to 1080p 60fps. This boost in graphical fidelity really does boost the gameplay; textures pop and there is a level polish on offer that just completely enhances what was already a killer title on PS3. The Dual Shock 4 controller improves upon the shooting mechanics and being able to map the triggers is a real bonus.
If you do buy The Last of Us remastered for your gamer loved one make sure you tell them to check out Photo Mode. Having the ability to take photos from the game allows you to look back and admire the beauty of The Last of Us long after you’ve finished playing the game.
So, just when we all thought The Last of Us couldn’t get any better they go and port it to PS4 and blow us away all over again.
The Xbox One Exclusives
It may have been thoroughly outsold by the PS4 but there is no denying that the Xbox One has had a stellar year when it comes to exclusives. Nearly all of them are worthy of serious consideration, however your money is not infinite and if it is can you please send me some! So with that in mind here are two standouts.
Sunset Overdrive
Made by Insomniac Games, Sunset Overdrive is an absolute must own and in my opinion the best game released on Xbox One in 2014.
Set in Sunset City you take control of a former Fizzco employee caught up in the Awesomepocalypse after the release of a brand new energy drink goes horribly wrong. Your character is fully customisable at any time during the game and can even change gender throughout as well. The weapons selection is classic Insomniac; unique and hilarious but still require some thought around what is best for certain types of enemies.
Sunset City has a good sized map that is colourful, vibrant and built a bit like a giant skate park and this is where Sunset Overdrive comes into it’s own. It’s like Tony Hawk Skateboarding but without the skateboards. This is a fast paced third person shooter that rewards you for continually moving. Nothing is off limits as you bounce, grind and wall run your way all over the city taking down the OD as you go.
There is so much fun to be had in Sunset Overdrive that it just can’t be passed up.
Halo: Master Chief Collection
All four Halo games in 1080p bundled into one collection for the first time ever. Need I say anymore?
Halo revolutionised the world of First Person Shooters and is synonymous with Xbox. The gameplay is the same tried and true Halo style that we have come to know and love so anyone who has played Halo in the past can pick this up straight away and get into it. Halo: Combat Evolved has been completely remastered but the star of the show is Halo 2: Anniversary. The cutscenes have been completely remade and delivers an immersive cinematic experience that still gets me excited when I watch them. If you’re in the mood for some retro gameplay then with the press of a button you can switch to the original graphics to see how far we have come since the days of the original Xbox.
Every multiplayer maps from every Halo game has been included here. Some of the classic maps from Halo 2 have been re-imagined and given a fresh coat of paint to create something bigger and better, a bit like a Directors Cut of a movie except everything included is actually worth playing.
With all content from all four Halo games unlocked right from Day 1 if you’ve got a Halo fan in your house they are going to love you for getting them this game!
Whilst not in the Top 2, I must give special mention to Forza Horizon 2. A visual feast of racing action and a must own if you have an Xbox Gamer in the family who loves racing!
So there it is folks, put some of those games in your Gamers’ christmas stocking and I guarantee they will love you for it, although they will probably be too busy gaming to show it.
Comments are closed.