Big Guns

The Big Guns of Console Gaming

Soon, the games we have all been waiting for will be ready for our grubby little hands. With the amount of hype surrounding these recent releases, it’ll be difficult for most video game fans to sit idly. Well, here they are, the games that we have all been waiting for.

Gears of War

Xbox 360

Gears of War is one of those first-person shooters you can’t get away from. Aiming to be the next Halo, Gears if war packs quite a punch. While the screenshots that have filled the net show plenty of death, destruction, doom and general gloominess, the finished product provides a lot more than what the demo clips have revealed to us. Gears of War is filled to the brim with exciting gameplay options, including co-op and multiplayer modes. With an intuitive and fun-to-use cover system and great single player modes filled with exciting boss battles, Gears of War is certainly the shooter game to buy this holiday season. This is one of the games that you just have to play to understand, as the mountains of hype surrounding it don’t do it justice. Really.

Final Fantasy XII

Playstation 2

If reviews and scores mean anything to you, it may be reassuring to hear that Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu gave Final Fantasy XII a perfect score. Gamespot and similar websites have given the game similarly high scores, which leaves no doubt in most gamers minds that this is truly the sequel they have been waiting for. While some have been put off by previous installments, FFXII seemingly addresses all those negative vibes this time around. With a heavily updated combat system including a new feature known as the “Gambit” system, the developers seem to be trying their best to make the fight scenes memorable and exciting, which is welcome news. It may seem boring at first, but it should really grow on you as the game progresses. As far as voice acting is concerned, the game is stereotypically sub-par, but the game’s interesting storyline and characters more than make up for it. Visually, the game is probably the best-looking PS2 game to date, and that says a lot. With an overall package that comes together surprisingly well, FFXI certainly delivers. If you are any kind of RPG fan, you owe it to yourself to check this game out.

Splinter Cell: Double Agent

Xbox 360 (also available for Gamecube, Xbox, and soon PS3 and Wii)

I’ve always liked the Splinter Cell series, especially Chaos Theory. My only complaints with the series have rested in the tough-as-nails requirements for you to follow the mission to a T. With Double Agent, UBIsoft seems to cater to those who found its predecessors to be a little too strict. Sam Fisher returns in this installment, with an interesting plot twist involving some confusion as to whether or not he is working with the bad guys. It’s a great storyline to follow, and the plot and delivery works. Double agent does have some downsides however, specifically in the multiplayer department. Those who were big fans of the Mercs vs. Spies game may be disappointed in the fact that the Mercs have been significantly nerfed, yet somehow they become pretty overpowering in some aspects of gameplay. The game is still lots of fun; just don’t expect more of the same from multiplayer. Visually the game is great, and although it does seem a bit short, the exciting gameplay and storyline and the inclusion of a fun multiplayer mode should make up for that.