C
hristmas approaches, and yet new console and PC titles continue to appear on store shelves. Sure, most of the big releases have already shipped weeks ago, yet there are still a number of compelling titles reaching retail channels just in time for the holidays. Regardless of your platform of choice, you're bound to find something that will tide you over until the new year.
Unreal Tournament III blasts its way onto PC and PlayStation 3 this week. Some are already hailing it as the best thing since sliced bread, though I'm wondering if these are the same folks who decided to actually purchase PlayStation 3s. Microsoft's inability (or downright refusal) to support user-created mods on the 360 is apparently keeping the title off that platform for the time being. I say it's a win for everyone: Sony fans get a great FPS, and everyone else can play the new
Halo maps and
Call of Duty 4.
PC gamers get yet another real-time strategy title, this one from some former staffers of Westwood Studios.
Universe at War: Earth Assault is published by Sega and gives players the choice to blow stuff up while controlling one of three unique alien species. Sounds familiar, I know, but it does promise 8-players online and a unique single player scenario mode. We need something to tide us over until
Starcraft II releases in 2015, right?
I don't hate the PlayStation 3 – heck, I own one. Still, I can't help but feel sorry for folks who rely on it alone for their console gaming fix. Two more multiplatform titles arrive late for the system this week:
BlackSite: Area 51 and
The Orange Box. Rumor has it that EA's internal developers weren't able to get
Half-Life 2 running particularly smoothly on Sony's black box, although
Portal should run as well as it did on other platforms. If any PlayStation 3 owners decide to act as guinea pigs, feel free to chime in on the forums and share your experiences.
For those who've already forgotten about the boxing game that was packaged with their Wii,
Showtime Championship Boxing attempts a more serious take on the sport. Wiimote-wielding pugilists will be able to duke it out as one of 14 fighters, or they can create and customize their own. Not sure how this one will fair for replay value, but the $30 price sounds about right.
Another
Wii Sports event is revisted this week with
Super Swing Golf Season 2. Last year's version presented an entertaining (albeit flawed) take on the sport. For those who like their courses arcade style and their characters anime inspired, this is about as good as it gets until
Mario Golf arrives sometime down the road.
Regardless of your platform of choice, one of these new releases (or a "greatest hits" release from weeks past) is bound to tide you over until the new year. Whatever your tastes or your console, happy holiday shopping!
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