Canadian Gift Guide

There are two types of ‘gamers’ out there – those who stay up till midnight to walk out of Best Buy with the latest World of Warcraft, and those that wait until the next gift-giving occasion to request a handful of games. If you’re shopping for the latter, you might already know what games they’re interested in. And if you simply know that your grandson / granddaughter, niece / nephew, brother / sister, boyfriend / girlfriend, etc. etc. would simply *like* a video game – here’s my roundup of the top 10 most-buzzed about games this holiday season. I’m not going to try and do a major sell job on any of these, as I’m guessing you’ll know right off the hop if these are games your loved ones will love.

For The Military Man: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 – $59.99
The wildly popular Call of Duty series carries on with the latest installment of gun-slinging action, this time against Russian forces. Multiplayer mode still proves to be the draw for this perennial fave.

For The Football Fan: FIFA Soccer 12 – $59.95
Everyone is talking about the new ‘Player Impact Engine’, designed to replicate the real-life experience of playing top-of-the-line soccer with some of the world’s greatest players. Touted as the smartest sports game ever to hit the shelves, this is a must-have for any footballer.

For The Comic Book Hero: Batman Arkham City – $48
After  the smash hit that is Batman Arkham Asylum, the caped crusader is back to tackle new opponents with new weaponry – and a new player altogether. Catwoman is now a playable protagonist with her own storyline.

For The Sofa Adventurer: Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception – $59.99
This PS3-exclusive game is yet another threequel among this season’s hot new releases. On a search for the fabled ‘Atlantis of the Sands’, adventurer Drake and his mentor Victor Sullivan must grapple with a clandestine cult that’s hell bent on stopping them from succeeding.

For The Take-No-Prisoners Tyrant: Assassin’s Creed Revelations – $60
More adventures with master assassin Ezio Auditore, this time in Constantinople. Players will love the cinematic storytelling as much as the expanded online multi-player version of play.

For Full-On Potterheads: Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 – $35
The final four films in the Potter franchise get the Lego treatment. Expect better graphics and easier-to-use controls for little ones, plus tons of eye-popping (and wand-bursting) new sets for dozens of new scenes from the beloved series.

For The Hockey Fiend: NHL 12 – $59.99
It wouldn’t be a Canadian Christmas without some nod to our national sport under the tree. Enter NHL 12, the latest in a long line of top-of-the-line hockey games. New features include revamped player engines and ‘Go Pro’ gameplay, plus the Goalies get some special attention with extra interactions, including fighting. Extra cool? The outdoor Winter Classic is now a playable venue.

For Those Dancin’ Fools: Just Dance 3 (for Wii, Kinect, and Move) – $42.49
Shake your tail feather with grooves from yesterday (like 2 Unlimited’s 90s jam ‘No Limit’) thru to today (LMFAO’s infectious ‘Party Rock Anthem’) with this interactive game that’ll have everyone off the couch and trying to master some amazing dance moves.

For The Nintendo Devotee: The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword – $49.99
One of the coolest things about owning a Wii is you get console-exclusive games from their classic ‘brands’ including Mario, Kirby, Sonic, and yes – Zelda. This is the first time the game is entirely operated by motion control, making Link’s power that must more accessible.

For The Shoot ‘Em Up All Stars: Battlefield 3 – $59.99
The final offering in the ever-popular war-based game, this first-person shooter is propelled by its revolutionary DICE game engine, giving you one of the most realistic experiences on the front lines without ever leaving your couch.