The Most Anticipated Video Games of Holiday 2014
It’s been a full year since we’ve had all three major gaming platforms — the Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One — on the market, which means the industry’s biggest players are past the next-gen footing stage and ready to showcase the raw potential of these consoles, gearing up to launch their flagship titles over the coming weeks. Avid gamers have been thirsting over their holiday wish lists since E3 2014, patiently waiting for the latest platformers, RPGs, shooters, and sports titles to hit GameStop shelves. This year’s collection of games is even more promising with several new IPs and groundbreaking sequels set for release. Start saving those chips, as these are the videos games you’ll want to be splurging on this holiday season.
Super Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U (Nintendo)
Boasting the largest roster of any Smash Bros. title, the fourth entry in the chaotic fighting franchise looks to be the savior for both of Nintendo’s gaming consoles, home and portable. Aside from welcoming back the studio’s iconic characters, we’re also seeing a couple of new faces jumping into the virtual octagon such as Mega Man, Pac-Man and yes, the Wii Fit Trainer, Mii fighters included. Expect insane online play and high-res visuals on the Wii U, whereas the 3DS supports exclusive modes and extra controls to enhance the gameplay.
Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar Games)
We know, we know, the game came out last year, but not on the PS4 or Xbox One. Wreak havoc once again in Los Santos, only this time with more weapons, vehicles, and special missions. On top of updating the graphics to take advantage of next-gen hardware, Rockstar is also boosting the performance for its online component, GTA Online, to feature up to 30 players. No need to start from scratch as the studio announced in advance that all game saves will be transferrable from the previous console, getting players right back in the mix.
NBA 2K15 (2K Games)
Basketball season is in full effect and you’d be hard pressed to find a better gaming option than 2K’s award-winning franchise. This season welcomes a variety of gameplay upgrades, including 5,000 new animations, smarter defensive AI, team-specific play sets and more. Player ratings are more efficient with only four ballers hitting the over 90 mark, including cover athlete Kevin Durant. Several modes receive facelifts, such as MyGM and MyLeague, both offering innovative experiences as a general manager and player. The studio is pushing user-generated content with its NBA 2KTV service, which showcases the latest highlights and updates from the NBA 2K community.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Activision)
This holiday season’s biggest release ups the ante as it does with every annual release, bringing ultra-modern combat to your next-gen console. Set in the distant future, it’s on you to infiltrate a terrorist organization threatening the world with nuclear action. Utilize exoskeletal technology, hover bikes, and prototype weaponry in the single-player campaign, or simply take the fight online in any of the numerous multiplayer modes. As with all CoD titles, make sure to splurge on the premium version — in this case the Atlas Pro Edition — with ridiculously stacked goods.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Microsoft)
The original Halo saga compiled into one epic bundle, along with the Nightfall series and Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta, gives Xbox One the win. Microsoft has put together the ultimate game collection going into the holidays, even offering re-mastered versions of the original two titles with Halo 2: Anniversary featuring six re-imagined maps. Relieve the entire Master Chief story arc on the next-gen console at higher visual fidelity that runs at 60 fps. You can’t beat that offer for $60.
Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft)
Ubsioft’s critically acclaimed shooter franchise receives another wild sequel, placing gamers in the middle of a civil war on the fictional world Kyrat in an attempt to stop the maniacal self-appointing king Pagan Min. The developers took the criticism of the previous installment and made the necessary adjustments to better mesh the story and open-world gameplay. New creatures in the form of elephants add to the chaos as you’ll be able to ride them and charge enemies at will. Become absorbed in the bizarre narrative and map out innovative attacks in the air or on the ground.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby (Nintendo)
The long awaited remakes of the Game Boy Advance classics are headed to the 3DS and will display full-blown 3D environments. Gameplay changes are expected with both iterations tackling the Pokemon X and Y engines, plus the inclusion of Mega Evolutions spices things up. Secret Bases are also set for a return to accommodate Pokemon masters in their training. Expect specific monsters to be reserved for each version as well.
Dragon Age: Inquisition (EA)
Thanks to the popularity of the Dark Souls and Demon Souls franchises, action RPGs are becoming the new “it” category in gaming. The Bioware-developed Dragon Age series isn’t too far behind, featuring massively large environments, multiple playable races and tenacious boss battles that surely require team combat. Customization is expanded once more to broaden gameplay, whereas the combat systems — yes, there are two forms — has been evolved to help player positioning during battles. Step into the single-player campaign or join the four-player co-op mode.
LittleBigPlanet 3 (Sony)
Sony won’t be dropping many exclusives this fall, so consider this its killer IP for the holidays. Sack Boy returns and invites his crew of misfits to get past limitless user-created levels. The developers are placing a serious focus on teamwork, adding more layers to the gameplay experience that build on the sequel’s entertainment value.
WWE 2K15 (2K Games)
Despite suffering a minor delay, 2K Games is still expected to release its flagship wrestling title this year. The recent trailers for WWE 2K15 have been nothing short of astonishing. The graphics are so surreal that the wrestlers look life-like. 2K ushers in the new Historical mode that allows players to indulge in historical feuds between top-notch stars like John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and other infamous grapplers. Wrestling marks are already going bonkers over the pre-order bonuses, which include playable versions of both Hulk Hogan and Sting personas — so just imagine when the entire roster is fully announced.
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor (Blizzard)
This latest expansion includes a variety of new updates designed to appease the fanatical WoWer. Warlords of Draenor raises the existing level cap from 90 to 100, encouraging players to boost their character rankings. New dungeons and raids are all set, with the new Mythic raid becoming the hardest version to tackle. Other notable additions include player-built garrisons and upgraded player character models.
Assassin’s Creed Unity (Ubisoft)
The holidays aren’t official unless Ubisoft releases a new installment in its action stealth franchise. Unity brings us back to the French Revolution where players will band together with other assassins to serve justice in the only way possible. Many of the new gear elements and character customizations, like armor, weapons and more, will enhance the co-op mode where players can work together to complete missions. This combination of action and RPG blends well.
The Crew (Ubisoft)
An open-world online racer with awesome car customizations, beautifully rendered locations and engaging multiplayer missions, The Crew has enough horsepower under the hood to blow past Gran Turismo and Need for Speed. You can also pair up with other racers to form a four-player crew that wreaks havoc on the roads before stopping off in a specific city. This is all done through the game’s matchmaking algorithm, pairing racers together based on their skill level.
Bayonetta 2 (Nintendo)
Nintendo has been promising this game since the Wii U was officially unveiled two years ago, and it looks like Bayonetta 2 will finally see the light of day. Platinum Games brings back the fast-paced hack-and-slash action of the original, but stretches its imagination in terms of combinations and finishers that are now dubbed Torture Attacks. These place demons into infernal devices, and well, you can picture the outcome. Weapon customization remains intact, along with the outlandish characters and storyline.
Alien: Isolation (Sega)
Horror games are scarce this holiday season. Thankfully, there is one that holds real weight, and that is Alien: Isolation. Take on the role of Ripley’s daughter, Amanda, as she investigates the disappearance of her mother while transferring to the Sevastopol space station on a mission to find the flight recorder of the now-destroyed Nostromo. As it turns out, an alien has found its way onboard the ship and it’s on you to survive. No weapons — just smarts, and lots of hiding in dark corners. Trust us, it’s way more frightening and difficult than it sounds.
It’s been a full year since we’ve had all three major gaming platforms — the Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One — on the market, which means the industry’s biggest players are past the next-gen footing stage and ready to showcase the raw potential of these consoles, gearing up to launch their flagship titles over the coming weeks. Avid gamers have been thirsting over their holiday wish lists since E3 2014, patiently waiting for the latest platformers, RPGs, shooters, and sports titles to hit GameStop shelves. This year’s collection of games is even more promising with several new IPs and groundbreaking sequels set for release. Start saving those chips, as these are the videos games you’ll want to be splurging on this holiday season.