For video games, action is the name of the game this holiday season; or rather action games are what this season is all about. Music games are out of tune and racing games are spinning their wheels, but the action games continue to lock and load. This year's games bring players to other worlds, back in the time and on trips to places that never were.
And these games offer compelling storylines, fantastic visuals and bombastic sounds that will rock the living room, man cave, dorm room or wherever else you choose to deploy them.
While this doesn't mean that family-friendly fare wasn't to be found this year, the best looking and most compelling titles in action video games might require you to lock and load - and put the kids to bed early. Most of these titles are designed for adults (Mature) so take that into consideration if you're looking for gifts for younger gamers.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Activision, PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360)
This is the ninth release in the franchise and to say that this series is getting long in the tooth is a gross misunderstanding of what keeps fans coming back for more. In fact, Call of Duty: Blacks Ops II has become the fastest selling entertainment title to reach the $1 billion mark, beating even Avatar (the movie) to the milestone. In the first weeks of its release gamers racked up more than 150 million hours battling with or against one another online. In other words this clearly is the "game of the year" hands down.
And yet to get in on the action doesn't mean you'll have to play through eight previous games just to figure out what's going on. Not that it wouldn't be fun, but what makes this series so compelling is that you can easily jump in, load up and enjoy the carnage. But what really makes Black Ops II stand out is that this game isn't just the usual first person shooter in that everyone will experience more or less the same game. This one features significant elements of nonlinear gameplay and offers multiple endings. That means you can try it out again and be treated to a different story.
Unlike past games in the series that offered a historic or modern day setting this one jumps ahead to the near future, and includes robotics, cyberwarfare and unmanned vehicles along with other futuristic technology. Yet this is never overdone and gameplay remains true to the series. And while the single-player first-person shooter story line delivers that replayability, as with any CoD title that's only half the game, as things really can heat up online.
Rated: M (Mature)
Where to Buy:
Dishonored (Bethesda, PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360)
This game is one that is all about choice, or at least choice in how players make their way through this immersive first-person action title. As Corvo Attano, the Empress' legendary bodyguard, players are just back from a mission that could help cure a plague that threatens the fictional city of Dunwall. But just as Corvo meets with the Empress she is assassinated and he is framed for her murder.
This sets up an epic adventure to clear his name, rescue the princess and literally save the day. The twist here is that Corvo can complete the missions in a non-lethal mode, and the overall story and missions are modified based on violent or non-violent actions committed by the player. Likewise, missions can be accomplished through stealth or combat, or a combination. These various choices open new paths and alternative goals, offering a reasonable amount of re-playability.
This one includes voice acting from Susan Sarandon, Brad Dourif, Carrie Fisher, Billy Lush, Lena Headey and Chloë Grace Moretz.
Set in a fictional early-industrial age where magic seems to be giving way to technology, Dishonored offers a wondrous world that really does almost come to life. While a little predictable at times this one offers a story with a few twists and turns, where clearing one's name can be so gratifying!
Rated: M (Mature)
Where to Buy:
Assassin's Creed III (Ubisoft, PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360/Wii U)
An assassin's work is never done - or rather those repressed memories buried deep in the DNA of an ancestor can't be buried deep enough. The time jumping series continues as modern day hero Desmond continues to live out the memories of his ancestors - who just happen to be part of a secret society of assassins.
The latest uncovered memories are from the time of the American Revolution, and this calls up a Temple-infused story that evokes a bit of National Treasure. What exactly were George Washington, Paul Revere and Thomas Jefferson trying to accomplish and how were the Colonial Templars involved? Some family secrets are truly bigger than others it seems.
This game builds nicely on the past stories, even if the transition to colonial America doesn't present quite the same charms as the Holy Land during the Crusades or Renaissance Italy. But with more Rube Goldberg-esque scenarios to create and a variety of interesting twists and turns it is easy to see that in the world of Assassin's Creed the third time is the charm.
Rated: M (Mature)
Where to Buy:
Halo 4 (Microsoft, Xbox 360)
The franchise that established Microsoft's Xbox 360 was considered one of the best video game trilogies to date. But who said it had to be a trilogy? Given the fan reaction Halo 4 proves this series still has a lot of life left in it. The game begins in what is expected to be a time of peace following the prolonged war with the alien race known as the Covenant.
Now with Halo ring world destroyed and the war seemingly won humanity looks once again to exploration, but things don't go as planned. Fortunately the Master Chief, missing in action and presumed dead, happened to crash land on the planet Requiem, which becomes the center of a new conflict with an even more deadly alien menace.
Halo 4 promises to be much more than just the fourth title in the series, but is the first in a new trilogy of games that picks up the story and offers the promise of much more Master Chief action to come. As with previous Halo titles this one features a robust multiplayer mode, including maps that are not part of the campaign levels. This title also proves that despite being in its seventh holiday season the Microsoft Xbox 360 still can deliver the action.
Rated: M (Mature)
Where to Buy:
Far Cry 3 (Ubisoft PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360)
This is the sort of game that might make you want to invest in a better home theater system and game consoles. Not just because it looks breathtaking, but because the story and setting make that island on LOST seem like a true paradise.
While on vacation with a group of friends in the Pacific Jason Brody decide to take up skydiving and this results in them landing in different parts of a pirate-infested jungle island, where they are taking prisoner. As Brody you're the "lucky" one in that you escape from your captives but that just means having to take on armed thugs, free the island's natives from the pirates and possibly become a "king" or die a gruesome death in the jungle.
Unlike many of the other shooters today, this one also features role-playing elements including experience points, skill tree and crafting system that can change how you can play the game. Likewise, with a world that is about 10 times larger than past Far Cry titles this one is a far cry larger and that just means more time to enjoy your journey in this island paradise from the safety of the couch.
Rated: M (Mature)
Where to Buy:
007 Legends (Activision, PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360/Wii U)
Everyone has a favorite James Bond movie but imagine taking the best parts of 50 years of Bond and compiling it into a single adventure. That's what 007 Legends offers, including one mission of each of the six actors who played the British super spy and crafting it into a single game. This includes a little bit of Goldfiner, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Moonraker, License to Kill and Die Another Day with Skyfall to be released as downloadable content.
The game features the likeness of Daniel Craig (voiced by Timothy Watson) for all the missions however to provide a contemporary take on those classic missions. However, actual likenesses and voices of many Bond villains and Bond girls are here including Judi Dench as M, Michael Lonsdale as Hug Drax, and Toby Stephens as Gustav Graves.
Rated: T (Teen)
Where to Buy:
