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2015 has been a big year for video games.
As well as the increasing presence and excitement building over virtual reality, and how it will shape the future of gaming, there’s been some blockbuster titles too: the return of Fallout, a Star Wars game actually worth playing, Assassin’s Creed in London, and a reboot for Need for Speed.
There’s been a lot to shout about, so here is the ultimate wishlist to cover you this Christmas.
One of the big returning franchises this year, Halo 5 serves as the biggest Xbox exclusive Microsoft offered up in 2015. As a result they obviously want to make it a memorable experience in order to entice people onto Xbox One. There’s an intriguing campaign based around Master Chief and new character Spartan Locke, with questions hanging over whether the Chief is a war hero or a traitor.
But the real joy lies in the multiplayer aspect – with Warzone and Arena offering plenty of variety to the online part of the game. If you’re a fan of the classic Halo multiplayer, Guardians is a huge return to form and well worth your time.
Star Wars video games have had something of a tortured history. They’ve promised much in the past and delivered in some areas, but never truly universally-thrilled.
That could well change with Battlefront, which has the characters and settings to tug at the heartstrings of any fan of the series. The trailer shown at E3, and the genuine “oooh” it brought from the crowd at EA’s press event, proved that.
But you need more than promo hype, and Battlefront has some eye-catching mission modes too. The best of which is the hero vs villain mode, where up to six players can choose between iconic Rebel and Empire characters to face off, complete with some AI soldiers thrown in for good measure.
Destiny essentially wants to become on PlayStation what Halo is on Xbox. It helps that Destiny is made by the studio (Bungie) that created Halo.
This year’s big update is The Taken King, a huge piece of downloadable content (DLC) that drops an entire new story into the Destiny universe. There’s new planets to explore, as well as new sub-classes to the three warrior types and abilities and rewards.
The Black Ops offshoot of the Call Of Duty franchise has always explored some darker and more far-fetched aspects of warfare. The third instalment in this part of the series is no different, as the trailer shows – but thanks to the success of Advanced Warfare last year, a lot of that futuristic technology (and beyond) has found its way into this year’s Black Ops.
The result is adrenaline-soaked madness, and frankly, that’s exactly what COD is all about.
When Tomb Raider was rebooted in 2013 it breathed new life into a franchise that had become tired. A new, grittier telling of how Lara Croft become Lara Croft: Tomb Raider continues in this sequel, with Lara again taking an absolute beating from the environment (and those within it) as she embarks on her quests.
The increased survival aspect that this new version of the story brings is incredibly welcome, as you must scavenge food, supplies and shelter throughout the game. It all takes place within some stunning settings – Siberia among them – and it makes Rise a must-have title.
Another franchise that has felt tired in recent years thanks to seemingly relentless spin-offs and versions being pumped out.
Now EA has wiped the board clean and started again. The results are quite something; for one, Need For Speed is one of the most realistic-looking games we’ve seen on the current gen consoles. The cinematic aspect of the game’s cut scenes remains from the old versions, and this compliments the new look perfectly. In short, Need For Speed feels like jumping right into a street racing movie.
One of the most iconic gaming characters, universes and styles ever has been opened up to all in an unprecedented way. Super Mario Maker essentially gives players the keys to Nintendo’s design studio and enables players to build their own levels and challenges using almost any object from the franchise’s history.
These can then be shared with other players to test out. This is one big Mario love-in and that’s just wonderful.
The big news for Assassin’s Creed this year is the choice of location: Victorian London. Style and looks-wise then Syndicate was always going to score well.
The dual protagonists in the shape of siblings Jacob and Evie Frye also offer a new dynamic to the gameplay.
Arguably the most-anticipated game of 2015, Fallout 4 had been a long time coming, and having finally been confirmed at E3 this year, fans counted down to the release.
The open post-apocalyptic world is fascinating to explore, and there’s even a dog to keep you company.
Another hugely-anticipated sequel saw Metal Gear Solid go open-world for the first time as well. With a central base and then various missions to dip in and out of, the game feels different to its predecessors in many ways.
But the cinematic narrative and tactical stealth remains, and that of course is a huge advantage for players.
A bit of a curve-ball given the high-profile Fifa and Pro Evolution Soccer releases in the sporting category this year, but Madden remains arguably the peak of EA Sports’ annual line-up.
This year, the franchise career mode has an added owner level, enabling players to control things from the very top; even setting ticket and merchandise prices, and deciding to move cities if you so wish – but only if you dare, as that doesn’t tend to go down well with the fans.
