The Nintendo DS has advanced passed the level of a simple portable Nintendo and evolved into its own entity with a variety of uses and award-winning games unique to the system. The DS boasts a signature second screen, which can be used and manipulated with a stylus, offering a totally different gaming experience. If you have a Nintendo fan in your circle and they don’t have a Nintendo DS, this must immediately be rectified. If they do, help them get the most out of it with these innovative games.
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: The most sought-after Nintendo property isn’t on the Wii this holiday season, it’s on the DS. Spirit Tracks takes its hero, Link, through an exciting and dangerous new world bursting with puzzles and enemies. Along for the ride is a Phantom, a heavy suit of armor that can be moved with the stylus. Tap the Phantom and then tap where you’d like him to go, and he’ll go there. This is incredibly useful when Link must navigate through lava or other harmful terrain. Spirit Tracks takes further advantage of the DS with weapons like the Whirlwind, which is activated when the user blows into the microphone outlet. Truly an exciting entry in the Zelda series for those longing for more after beating Twilight Princess.
Scribblenauts: One of the most unique, creative and mind-expanding games ever produced. The only limit in this game is your imagination. The premise is simple: you play a little guy who needs to collect a star that may be across a lava lake or inside a cage. You can type any word – ghost, dragon, God or even Large Hadron Collider – and that object will appear on the screen. With a database of over 22,000 words, there’s very little you can’t do in Scribblenauts.
If you know a gamer on the go, a perfect gift for them is the Sony Playstation Portable, or PSP. The device has an extremely wide variety of uses: connect to the internet; collect, share and download music; watch videos, and plenty more. There’s also a great selection of games to go with it. If you know someone who has one, here are the best accessories to make the most out of their PSP.
God of War: Chains of Olympus: This game alone warrants getting a PSP. As Kratos, you must battle through a world steeped in mythology to ultimately destroy Ares, the God of War. Immersive gameplay and satisfying battles make this a must in portable gaming. The game may not take terribly long to beat, but it’s a fun ride that is immensely replayable.
Any Grand Theft Auto Game: The PSP proved to a fantastic outlet for the GTA universe. Whether its Chinatown Wars, Liberty City Stories or Vice City Stories, the series has transferred magnificently to the microworld of the PSP. Complete dangerous missions or explore the seedy alleyways of Grand Theft Auto. Either way is great fun.
LittleBigPlanet: The PS3 hit comes to the PSP with fantastic results. It’s a bit like Mario in that you navigate the hero Sackboy through brightly colored worlds filled with wacky enemies and environments, many with Rube Goldberg-esque complexity. Despite this familiarity, it feels like something completely new, bursting with energy and inventiveness thats’ a whole lot of fun.
RSP Deluxe Travel Case: Take all your PSP materials on the go with this convenient travel case, which can store a PSP, game discs, memory sticks, headphones and more. Features three huge pockets which are fully padded for extra protection. Easy to carry and comes in black and grey or grey and blue color schemes.
The ever popular Xbox 360 is still a favorite among modern gamers. Give them what they want this Christmas on one of the most sophisticated, well-balanced consoles available.
Grand Theft Auto IV: If you’re giving someone a 360, make sure this game is included. It ranks as one of the best-reviewed games of all time thanks to its pristine graphics, well-developed storyline and unbelievably expansive environments to explore. Gamers can ignore the outstanding plot and spend days exploring the city, stealing cars and helicopters and creating general mayhem. A true landmark for video games. That said, this is an adult game in every sense of the word, so you might want to stick with a Mario game for the little ones.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2: The most recent installment of the massively popular war series brings realism and excitement to the war genre. The single player option offers a gripping story, and the multi-player mode is simply unsurpassed.
Wireless controller: Another remarkable advancement for the Xbox 360. Instead of being restrained by a cord a couple feet long, the Xbox 360 wireless controller gives the player up to 30 feet of freedom. It’s energy efficient, too – the two included AA batteries last for up to 40 hours, with ample warning given for when the time is about to expire. Choose between white, black or red.
Wireless headset: Make your gamer’s experience truly immersive. The wireless headset lets you communicate with players from all across the globe during multi-player sessions. Coordinate attack patterns with your teammates or taunt your opponents with the sleek and simple wireless headset.
Xbox Live Starter Pack: Join the new wave of gaming! Connect with Xbox Live and play with gamers from across the planet. This starter kit comes with three free months of Xbox Live Gold, which includes access to free game demos, exclusive downloads, Facebook, Twitter and Netflix Instant Watch for Netflix members.
