Winter video game preview

It’s nearly December and game publishers are pulling out all the stops, releasing titles that have been in production over the year-and UVSC’s trusty college newspaper has complied a list of some of the more anticipated titles to help guide those shopping around for the ultimate gifts of game this holiday season.

Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) -The game that’ll make the Wii all the more enticing, and this early on has already been hailed as one of the best Mario games to date. The formula remains the same: Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach and our brave plumber has been charged with rescuing her. This time, the battle has been taken off of one planet and Mario fights goombas and troopas on many planets, hurling himself around space, gathering up stars to rescue the helpless princess.

Assassin’s Creed (XBOX 360, PS3) – A stealth/action game set in the year 1191 during the Third Crusade, the player adorns the mysterious character known as Altair, who is charged with different missions of covert espionage that requires the player to act fast and be fast, lest Altair faces the guillotine. This title is from publisher Ubisoft, the folks responsible for the Splinter Cell franchise, so expect a lot of hi-def sneak-and-destroy action.

Crysis (PC) – Crysis is a first person shooter beamed down from the PC gods themselves. The game takes place in the year 2020, when earth is on the brink of alien invasion. The playable character is part of a US Special Forces team investigating a strange occurrence on a remote Pacific Island; your means of defense are wits, a nanosuit of immense power, and weapons that feel more life like than ever before. Graphics are superb, action is intense, and the gameplay is engaging. The only bad thing that can be said about this game is that it ends.

Blacksite: Area 51 (XBOX 360, PS3, PC) – First person shooter based around that ominous part of the world, Area 51. Aliens, the kind that don’t want to phone home but destroy yours, are taking over. The demo was promising, but time will tell if the game makes good in the finished product.

Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (Wii )- A rail shooter that goes through locales found in Resident Evil games 0-3, as well as provide more depth to the story as we know it. Looks a lot like House of the Dead. The Wii zapper is recommended for this title.

Uncharted: Drakes Fortune (PS3) – Sony looks to have a fantastic exclusive title on its hands. Uncharted is a combination of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, complete with acrobatics and mysterious treasure. The graphics are detailed and pretty stable, and the action should provide some of those white-knuckle thrills that we’ve become accustomed to from our action/adventure movies.

Rock Band (XBOX 360, PS3) – Guitar Hero taken to the next level. Now you and your buddies can rock out with a microphone, a bass, a guitar and a drum set. This looks to be the ultimate party game. Most of the tracks are master recordings from the musicians themselves that players will be imitating-so, that really is Axl Rose’s voice that you’ll be singing along with.

Guitar Hero 3 (XBOX 360, Wii, PS2) – The popular franchise ups the ante with more tracks and more rockin’ riffs, and offering Slash as a playable character. It is recommended that one get it on the XBOX 360 if they want online multiplayer capability (which means you can rock out with your friends from all over the world).

Unreal Tournament 3 (PC) -Those who enjoyed Gears of War have Unreal to thank for providing a kickass engine. The next installment in the series looks to be an impressive one, and much fragging and team death matching will be had for all.