Washington - Holiday tech shopping: Videogames for adults and children.
GAMES FOR ADULTS
Destiny
Get it: For something you can play for hours — or just a few minutes
Skip it: If your Internet connection isn't so good
$60 (about R600)
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Whether you're interested in a marathon session or just a short one to detox after a long day, Destiny has got the mission for you. This online multiplayer game is designed for all kinds of play, whether you want to wander lonely or storm Mars with your best buds. The game, set in a post-apocalyptic world where you fight the forces of darkness, offers essentially free rein to explore and enjoy. No matter how you play, you'll be able to engage with other players from around the world, giving the game a nice community feel. Still, there is a flip side: All the online play means that Destiny is frustrating if you don't have a reliable Internet connection.
Sunset Overdrive
Get it: If you like games with a little quirk
Skip it: If frenetic isn't your preferred pace
$60
Xbox One
Sunset Overdrive is a game with style — and a lot of it. If you had to describe this game in two words, they might be “neon” and “explosions.” But since we have more room, we can go on to describe how this new title from Insomniac Games offers a big ol' dose of crazy fun. Set in a world where an energy drink has turned much of the world into monsters, the game is infused with a sort of goofy joy that makes just exploring the world an adventure. It's not a perfect hit. The fighting can get a little repetitive, and, yes, occasionally the in-your-face humour wears thin. Overall, it's a nice new world you'll be happy to revisit.
Civilization: Beyond Earth
Get it: If you like the long game
Skip it: If you don't have a lot of time to devote to playing
$50
PC
If we found out tomorrow that we'd have to leave planet Earth, how would you choose to remake humanity? That's the driving question behind Civilization: Beyond Earth, which puts players in the shoes of human settlers on a far-off planet. The game, an evolution of the long-running historical strategy Civilization series, asks players not only to build a colony but also to make tough philosophical decisions about how to organise a society. The game lets you do that in any number of ways, including choosing how to deal with native species, making tough research decisions and playing diplomat with other settlers. The game is complex and occasionally slow, but it should appeal to the control freak in us all. Just make sure you've got lots of time to play.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Get it: For a serious, well-paced and thoughtful shooter
Skip it: If you prefer lighter fare
$60
Xbox One and PlayStation 4
The Call of Duty mega-franchise had started to show its age a bit. Even devoted fans were worrying that it was out of new tricks. With Advanced Warfare, however, Activision showed that it still has some spark, offering a game that's fun to play and interesting to think about, too. The game drops players in a not-too-distant future where warfare is the province of powerful private companies in control of high-tech soldiers in exoskeletons. As for the game itself, this is probably the fastest-paced installment we've seen in years, with an interactive environment full of pleasant surprises. Kevin Spacey — yes, that Kevin Spacey — caps it off with a great performance as a bad guy that you secretly love, all amid well-paced, exciting gameplay.
Grand Theft Auto V
Rerelease for new consoles
Get it: If you've loved the previous GTA games
Skip it: If you're squeamish about digital violence
$60
Xbox One and PlayStation 4
Grand Theft Auto V arrived in 2013, but an update for the latest consoles has hit — in a big way — just in time for the holiday season. It offers a first-person view that changes the game, bringing players even closer to the carjacking, shooting and entirely scandalous action. Rockstar Games has made a good-looking game even better on the new consoles, a particular plus for the expansive world the studio created for this title. Grand Theft Auto V is still a GTA game, though, and there's a reason it earned its “Mature” rating (for players 17 and up). Without spoiling anything, there's a lot here that's in no way suitable for children — and may make adults squeamish, too.
GAMES FOR CHILDREN
Skylanders Trap Team
Get it: For kids who play at home and on the go
Skip it: If you don't want to invest a lot of money in extra toys
$75
For a starter pack. Available on all consoles, Nintendo 2DS and 3DS. Toys compatible with tablet version.
The latest entry in the Skylanders franchise, Trap Team lets players capture the game's villains and reform them into (playable) heroes. The game is full of whimsy and jokes that will appeal to parents as well as kids. Like its predecessors, the game also has smart toys of the in-game characters that remember what you've done in past games and let you build a character over time. One thing to note before you buy: You don't need to buy more toys than the one included in the starter pack, but the game is better with them. There's also a tablet version of the game, for iOS and Android, which includes its own mini-game controller.
Mario Kart 8
Get it: For good old nostalgic fun
Skip it: If driving games aren't your thing
$60
Wii U
Lots of adults probably have memories of late-night sleepovers that involved racing around the MarioKart track; now they can share that with a new generation on Wii U. There's plenty of eye candy here, coupled with solid gameplay that should appeal to young and old gamers alike. Users can play together online or together from the comfort of their own couch. Nintendo stays true to its roots here, providing tracks with a lot of twists and turns. Some parts of the game do need work; it's not always easy, for example, to set up online matches. Overall, it's solid fun. Mario Kart 8 also works with, but does not require, Nintendo's “amiibo” toys — small figurines that store your stats no matter where you're playing and give you in-game goodies.
Super Smash Bros.
Get it: If you want a knock-down, drag-out evening with friends.
Skip it: If you'd prefer to play alone.
$60
Wii U
Custom-made for game night, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U pits up to eight players against one another for lots of cooperative fighting fun. The title, a console version of the same game released earlier this year for the Nintendo 3DS, has lots of familiar Nintendo faces, including Donkey Kong, Kirby, Pikachu, Link, Mario and Luigi. With lots of options for customisation, it's also a game with a ton of replay value. Nintendo devotees will get the most out of this game, which sets its levels in a variety of famous game locales. But you don't have to get all of the references to enjoy the fun. This title also works with Nintendo's amiibo toys, so you can take your characters on the road.
The Lego Movie
Videogame
Get it: If you love Legos and loved The Lego Movie
Skip it: If you can't stand a little monotony
$30
All consoles
It's hard to find someone who doesn't like Lego, especially after its big summer blockbuster. Kids who loved the film will be happy to step into the boxy shoes of protagonist Emmet and his friends, who are able to make what they need by pulling from the blocks around them. It's a neat trick — though this isn't the best title the Lego franchise ever came up with. The levels can get a little repetitive and boring — not a major concern for very young players but potentially frustrating for those a bit older. To paraphrase a line from the movie's theme song, not everything is awesome about this game, but it's still a strong contender for a Christmas stocking.
Little Big Planet 3
Get it: For hours of customizable fun
Skip it: If you'd prefer something a bit more fast-paced
$60
PlayStation 4
Now a standby for the holiday season, Sony's Little Big Planet returns with its third installment, offering a lot of familiar puzzle-based and platforming fun. As always, players create a highly customizable character, Sackboy, who acts as their avatar throughout the game's whimsical world. This year, the protagonist is joined by three new characters — the dog-like Oddsock, bird-like Swoop and the weighty Big Toggle — who all lend their special talents to the puzzle-solving. A few new tricks in gameplay, such as the ability to move light objects around the level to solve puzzles, make this version fresh enough to keep players engaged for a lot of fun, leisurely play.
The Washington Post