Gaming is a great way to spend the holiday season. It might even be one of the few times a year anyone has to finish playing all those games that were bought on impulse during the Steam Sale. Whether you are shopping for yourself or buying a present for someone this very short list should give you some ideas about where to start.
Continue after the break.
Razer Blade (Razer Blade 14 – RM6,999; Razer Blader Pro RM8,999 from Gamers Hideout)
As far as gaming notebooks go, there might be other which have more power or are lighter/thinner. Although it’s no slouch in the hardware department. Packing an Intel Core i7-4702HQ, 8GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M, this machine will easily run any game you would ever play.
That isn’t the point here. The point is that the Razer Blade is quite easily the most beautiful gaming notebook on the planet. The black matte finish with Razer’s trademark green highlights creates a visually pleasing design. It almost makes us forgive the 1600 x 900 display.
Nintendo 2DS – For the Kids (RM499)
When this was first announced, we thought it was a joke. A downgraded Nintendo 3DS with no 3D and no hinge. But it is cheaper and far more durable than the 3DS. That alone makes this a great idea for the kids because there are fewer parts to break and 3D usually just makes kids throw up in the end. Nintendo has also been remastering its old classic games for the new platform; which will make for a great time to share your favourite games with a younger generation.
Lego Marvel Superheroes – Not for the kids (RM150-155 console; US$29.99 for PC on Steam)
Lego Marvel Superheroes continues the excellent tradition of blending Lego humour and quirkiness with big name superheroes. With over 100 characters to unlock, this game may end up eating away more hours than Skyrim. It also brings a massive world to run around and have adventures in, which is pretty much all we could ever ask for in a superhero game; or a Lego game for that matter.
Also, Lego Stan Lee.
Pokemon X & Y – Not for the kids either (RM150-155)
While this title has been out for a while now, there is never a bad time to pick it up. Widely viewed as the best refresh of the franchise to date, it does away with all the minor annoyances of the past games. Key items are given to the player early on, and there is no time wasted on tutorials about using pokeballs. A great game to keep the kids entertained, especially if you just bought them a Nintendo 2DS. Adults shouldn’t be shy about picking this one up either.
FTL: Faster Than Light (US$9.99 digital download only)
Gone Home may have won best independent game at VGX this year, but nothing beats FTL: Faster Than Light for replayability. If you’re planning on staying in and playing games this holiday season, this is the game for you. Combining spaceship command with a roguelike adventure, FTL has you racing against time to defeat the rebel fleet. Each game lasts only about an hour, but the space sectors are randomly generated each time. Victory is also very far from assured.
Battlefield 4 (RM159-215; SGD76.90 – Digital Deluxe Version on Origin; SGD129.80 – Premium Membership Bundle on Origin)
Every list needs a high end game for the gamers to show off their rig. Battlefield 4 is currently that game. While there might be other games with nice graphics, there just aren’t as many people playing those games. The introduction of levelution adds a whole new twist to maps that are already large enough for newbies to get very lost in. If you really want to play BF4 at the nicest settings, you will want it on the PC; although it still doesn’t look too bad on consoles.
Love Letter – Family Fun (RM35)
An extremely low tech option, Love Letter is an extremely easy to learn card game that rewards logical thinking and mathematical skills. It also rewards dumb luck if that is your preferred method of attack. Simple enough for the kids to have fun, and it also requires enough strategy and planning to keep adults entertained.
