Give the game away
LIVING with a gamer when you’re not one yourself can be a pain at the best of times – but especially so during the festive season. And if all the extra time you’ve had together this year hasn’t converted you to the ways of the console, then the question hanging in the air is – what should I get them for Christmas?
In addition to the recent releases of the PS5, and XBOX Series S and Series X, 2020 has seen some great titles issued.
But what are they hoping to find wrapped up under the tree on the big day? Which game is the one they have their fingers crossed Santa will bring them?
If you’re looking to surprise a gamer this year, then allow me to give you some suggestions.
LAST OF US: PART II (PEGI 18) PS4 THIS hotly anticipated sequel took a long time to get here... and once you’ve played it, it will take a long time to leave you.
Set largely in Seattle, and taking place four years after the original, Last of Us: Part II is a story of revenge and it is not for the faint of heart.
It’s brutal, violent and absolutely compelling – visceral action that wouldn’t be out of place in the most gruesome of horror movie, and packed with plot twists that deliver punches to your gut.
Graphically, this game is stunning – the crumbling ruins of the city, deserted and overgrown offices, the threatening, shadowy woods – are a sight to behold.
Characters are exquisitely rendered, the voice acting delivered with so much heart that you sometime feel you’re watching a movie, not playing a game.
The Last of Us Part II is a masterpiece which transcends expectations. It is an experience not every gamer will want, but those brave enough will take part in a journey they will never forget.
■ Bargain buy: £28.95 from thegamecollection.net
ORI AND THE WILL OF THE WISPS (PEGI 7)
XBOX ONE, SERIES
X, PC, SWITCH
ANOTHER sequel that builds on the strong foundations laid down by its predecessor, Will of the Wisps feels comfortingly familiar without retreading old ground. The attention to detail is breathtaking, as much care taken over the distant background, as to close-up items in the foreground.
It paints a picture of a living, breathing world that you can’t wait to explore, and right from the off you are forced into getting to grips with the games’ controls, through intense combat encounters, and ducking and weaving your way through puzzle sections.
To make things easier, the ‘soul links’ you needed to save progress in the first game are replaced with a trusty old autosave system.
Don’t let the gorgeous graphics fool you, this game is challenging – particularly when it comes to boss battles. But your hard work pays off,
and success is rewarded beautifully.
Will of the Wisps encapsulates the perfect metroidvanian and cements the series as one of the most important games on the XBOX.
■ Bargain buy: £24.99 from smythstoys.com
TONY HAWK’S PRO SKATER 1 + 2 (PEGI 12) XBOX
ONE, PS4, PC TONY HAWK’S is rightly considered one of the greatest sporting games of all time – although past attempts to remaster it (2012’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD, anyone?) have failed horribly.
Pro Skater brought skateboarding out of skateparks, car parks and actual parks and into millions of homes around the world.
So the pressure was well and truly on developer Vicarious Visions to bring not just Pro Skater, but its magnificent sequel – Pro Skater 2 - kicking and screaming into 2020. The result is an absolute triumph. Visually it’s breathtaking, the skating environments rendered with rich texture and colour. The drops are now vertigo inspiring, the sunlight dazzling, the shadows deep and rich.
As for the skateboarding itself, none of the adrenaline pumping action has been sacrificed, and new tricks have been added from later franchise entries to help you boost your total as the timer ticks down.
There’s a hugely impressive roster of skaters to choose from, all the original characters bolstered by the addition of some new names. While the levels feel small by today’s gaming standards, it’s still incredible how contemporary Pro Skater feels.
Bargain buy: £33.85 from shopto.net
DREAMS (PEGI 12) PS4
ONE for the creative soul in your life, described as a ‘creation engine’, this allows players to bring their dreams to life... but that undersells its brilliance.
There are two aspects to the game – dream surfing and dream shaping. The former lets you explore the huge wealth of amazing content being created by players, while the latter allows you to create your own music, games, art, animation – whatever your heart desires, using the incredibly detailed in-game creation system.
The toolkits give you incredible control, from the environments, to the soundscapes, characters, and
even the in-game physics. You are navigated through the process with a hands-on tutorial, which you can rewind if you want to revisit steps you’re unsure of. There are even masterclasses from Media Molecule staff, who talk you through their creative processes – which is eye-opening and a little humbling.
Surfing is incredibly easy as you simply click on an eye-catching image and are instantly transported to another player’s world. I can only imagine how it would feel to be a kid playing this game, like unlocking a key to the future.
■ Bargain buy: £19.95 from thegamecollection.net
ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS (PEGI 3)
SWITCH NEW Horizons emerged as the unofficial game of the first lockdown – the cute hero we needed to save our sanity.
Selling more than 22 million games in its first six weeks, New Horizons has eclipsed the lifetime sales of all past Animal Crossing instalments.
Set on an island, you set about building a new community – helped by a few adorable anthropomorphic animal residents. Add to this the huge community of players you meet online, and you can’t help losing yourself in this wonderful game.
Peaceful, creative and utterly charming, this is just the tonic the doctor ordered after the year we’ve all had.
■ Bargain buy: £35 from asda.com