Good Games For Christmas?

Since nothing really interesting seems to be happening today (unless you count some lame overpriced scooter) I figured I'd throw this out. We've discussed christmas presents in general, but what about refining the subject to just video games? With Final Fantasy 10 not due out until the day after christmas, what new games are coming out? Please mention systems in your subject line. Personally I just finished Klonoa 2 and enjoyed it, I'm maybe half way through Grand Theft Auto 3 and am absolutely in love, and just picked up Metal Gear Solid 2 but have yet to break the celophane, but can't wait. On the PC side, The Sims Hot Date expansion pack is pretty smooth if your idea of fun is micromanaging an armada of virtual people. I hope a psychiatrist never analyzes my Sims style.

Comments

Civ III

[UberOogie]

This is a gimmie. Buy it, and you won't need another game, or TV, or food, for a vera, vera long time.

Re:Civ III

[UberOogie]

I certainly understand this sentiment. I had been waiting six years for this game. The CTPers were cheap ripoffs with pointlessly snazzy graphics. I bought a copy of Civ III on day one, and promptly got my ass kicked by the computer until I saw the note about starting the game at two levels below what you're used to playing at. I got frustrated and went off and completed Max Payne and Wolf 3D (both in under a week--not long games, but good games), and I came back to Civ III. And then I found the sucking of my soul returned. Some brief reasons why this is a great game:

Wars: Wars are much more realistic in this go around. They are much more difficult. You have to use actual planning and strategy and concentrate on specific goals (like one city).

Strategic Resources: There add an entire new element to the game, and give much historically realistic reasons for wars. You might finally find yourself sympathizing with the Japenese in WWII when you're playing the game and another civilzation will just not trade you for an important strategic resource you need that is just outside your borders.

Culture: This one kicked my ass to there and back and is the biggest change you have to get used to in the game, but the culture in the game accurately reflects the influence it has in the real world. One only has to look at the pervasiveness of American "culture" today to see how it really has an influence on geopolitics.

In all, it is much more realistic and deep advancement on Civ II. Take a step back and come back to it with fresh eyes. The hype and the wait probably did the same thing to you as it did to me.

PS2 / PC Games

[Captain_Frisk]

PS2 Wise I would recommend the following:

• Grand Theft Auto 3 - Amazing
• Metal Gear Solid 2 - Has its ups and downs, but pretty cool

Reviews have been good on the following:

• SSX Tricky
• Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3
• Ico
• Devil May Cry

PC Wise the only thing that I have played civilization 3, and its good, but might not be for everyone.

I'm also probably going to pick up the often discussed Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

In a related note, does anyone know of any good party style games for the PS2? I really enjoyed Smash Brothers on the N64, but don't want to pick up a new system just for the 1 game, so I was hoping that there was a similar, multiplayer, simple PS2 game out there my girlfriend might be able to play.

Thanks,

Captain_Frisk

Other choices

[ChaoticCoyote]

For those of us who aren't into anime (FF 10) or first-person shooters... ;)

Kohan: Ahriman's Gift , the most original and entertaining RTS this year.

Wizardry 8 , if you like party-based, heavy-combat, first-person RPGs.

Stronghold , a terrific "castle simulator" built by some of the folks who created the Caesar/Pharoah series.

Grand Theft Auto 3

[GregGardner]

CmdrTaco already mentioned this game, but he didn't give enough detail on it to convince people why it is such a great game.

Unfortunately it is only out for the PS2, but for those of you with a PS2 should seriously think about getting this game. The complexity and depth of this game is pretty amazing. And the graphics are a huge improvement from GTA1 and 2. That silly low-detail overhead view made playing the game too cumbersome. GTA3 got the graphics/interface right.

I have been playing it every spare second I have for the last month, and I am still only 36% through it according to the stats. And I believe that only relates to the missions. If you are bored with the missions you can always:

1) Try to get "stunt" bonuses by stealing fast cars, boats, or airplanes and driving them off ramps, bridges, buildings, etc.
2) Steal a taxi cab and play a little Crazy Taxi-esque game to earn a little side money
3) Steal a fire engine and go around the citty putting out fires for $$. I hear if you put out 10 in a row you get the flame thrower. (How does that work?)
4) Steal an ambulance and drive people to the hospital.
5) Steal a police car and go on "Vigilante Missions" where you track down criminals around the city and get cash for killing them.

Oh did I mention that this game is very non-PC and not recommended for people under 17? But man is it a lot of fun for those of us who are over 17.

Re:Civ 3

[Doomdark]

I know it's just matter of taste, but I thought Civ 3 was bit of a disappointment (or at least mixed bag). I loved Civ, Civ II, and have been happily playing CivCTP (since I bought a copy on Linux back when it first arrived... with enough patches it's even stable. :-)), but Civ 3 I bought few weeks ago is now collecting dust. It wasn't totally horribly bad, just not quite what I hoped for. Perhaps Sid is getting old or something. :-) (or perhaps I am)

The biggest problems were its instability (dunno why, perhaps it's not completely Civ3's fault, but Win ME kept on locking up all the time when running Civ 3), crappy gfx (I absolutely hate them compared to, say, Civ 2), non-usable UI (compared to what CivCTP or Civ 2 had... hey, let's make it more user-friendly by removing all "complexity", like menus...), and the fact that there didn't seem to be all that many interesting new features.

On plus side, it wasn't total rip-off (a la Settlers 3); sphere of influence (or whatever it was called) is a nice idea, movement restrictions are more varied (and interesting) now, diplomacy seems to have been improved, special resources are a nice addition... and perhaps there are more goodies if I do spend more time with it.

Hmmh. Perhaps I'll need to give Civ 3 a new chance during xmas break, after all. :-)