As winter break is rapidly approaching, you may be thinking about new games to buy that will help occupy your time during the holidays. Here are five exceptional titles that will not fail to impress.
Pok̩mon X and Y (3DS) РOut Now
Pokémon is still going as strong as ever, and X and Y" are no exceptions. Each game offers the same experience that we all know and love and brings it to a 3D environment for the first time in the main series. Battles look beautiful with their new cell-shaded look that really helps bring battles to life for the player. The newest addition to the series are mega evolutions, which add a new evolution to specific applicable Pokémon if they are holding a mega stone. These mega evolutions boost a Pokémon's stats tremendously, giving a big advantage to those that use them in battle. There's also a new world filled with new Pokémon to capture, making this one game that will be hard to miss out on.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS) – Releasing Nov. 22
Link's newest adventure, "The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds," is the long awaited sequel of the critically acclaimed "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past," which was released back in 1991. Players will finally be able to return to this representation of Hyrule after all these years, and they will even have the chance to explore a mirrored version of it called Lorule that strikes a resemblance to the dark world of "A Link to the Past." Perhaps the most interesting addition to this game is Link's ability to transform into a flat drawing of himself that can stick to walls. By moving along walls as a drawing, it is possible to reach new areas and even go through cracks in walls to traverse between Hyrule and Lorule.
Super Mario 3D World (Wii U) – Releasing Nov. 22
Truthfully, there are few reasons to buy a Wii U at the moment, but it seems that Nintendo's Italian plumber will change all of that once "Super Mario 3D World" finally releases. Mario's next title looks highly promising, as the game is the first 3D Mario game to feature a true cooperative multiplayer mode. Players can chose between Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad, each carrying their own unique abilities. While Mario is easily the most balanced of the bunch, Luigi has the ability to jump high, Peach can float over obstacles for a short time and Toad can run really fast. The game's newest power-up transforms Mario and his friends into cats, granting them the ability to scale walls with their claws and attack your foes. There's also a unique cherry power-up that lets you control multiple clones of your character at once.
Call of Duty: Ghosts (multi-platform) – Out Now
Love it or hate it, Call of Duty is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. It goes without saying that "Call of Duty: Ghosts" is going to be one of the biggest games of this year. The game tells the story of a distant future in which the United States has become crippled as a superpower due to an invasion, and it's up to the remaining soldiers to take back their country by any means necessary. The game's combat is still as solid as ever, but it fails to reinvent the wheel in many new ways. Despite that, "Call of Duty: Ghosts" seems to be the perfect experience for those craving a new game in the series during this holiday season.
Killzone: Shadow Fall (PS4) – Out Now
Looking for something new to play on your new, shiny PS4? : Shadow Fall" seems to be the perfect answer for those looking for a great experience on Sony's next console. While most launch games on consoles tend to reuse old assets and engines in order to get content right out the gate, : Shadow Fall" starts from scratch and showcases what the PS4's engine can achieve graphically. The game also gets rid of corridor-based shooting in favor of more open environments. Not only that, but stealth is a prominent option in most cases along with the typical guns blazing approach. Both the open areas and options of stealth give players a ton of choice in terms of how they approach the battlefield themselves, making : Shadow Fall" look like one of the best entries in the series yet.
There you have it! It seems that no matter what console you own this year, there will definitely be something special coming out for it by the end of the year. Don't miss out on these games, as they offer something that you'll want to experience yourself.
avigna@ramapo.edu
