So for Christmas...

[Godavari]

... I'm probably going to get a game or two. The problem is, I've only entered the gaming scene recently and I'm kind of lost as to what I should get. So I turn to you, Escapists, to advise me. I have a few rules to lay out first:

1) Has to be fairly easy to get. (Preferably still in stores.)
2) Should be heavy on single-player modes and not multiplayer.
3) I want to avoid "crime/killing simulators," e.g. GTA, as much as possible.
4) No Halo, RTS (I suck at them), or just plain boring games.
5) My platforms are Wii, PS2, XB360, and a fairly crappy computer. XB360 is preferable.

So can you recommend me a great game?

 

[thiosk]

[HEADING=1]Christmas and christmas lists should never be discussed until black friday!!![/HEADING]

That is all.

And dragon age.

 

[iggyus]

Borderlands, Dragon Age: Origins, Assassins Creed 2 and Gears of War 2

 

[iggyus]

Mass Effect 2?

Yup that too

 

[101194]

Dragon Age: Origins if you haven't got it, don't look to see where this thread is going JUST GO BUY IT! *throws rage*

 

[JRCB]

Do you have Okami for the PS2? I recommend that.

And for the 360? Oblivion or Fallout 3.

 

[initialdelay]

My friend's copy of Forza 3 is the main reason I want a 360! It's great if you like more realistic driving games

 

[A Weary Exile]

Borderlands or Fallout 3 GotY Edition.

 

[ddq5]

Mass Effect 2?

Yup that too

Well the first one first, obviously. You'd need the story and it's only about $15 and the sequel doesn't come out until January. But my vote goes for both.

 

[Chipperz]

3) I want to avoid "crime/killing simulators," e.g. GTA, as much as possible.

Out of interest, why?

It can't be a problem with killing (let's face it, even sports games are getting in on the act with games like Blitz : The League), which means that there's a problem with crime? I only ask because Saints Row (and it's mildly better sequel) are actually surprisingly funny games with a decent anarchic "fight tha powah!" message behind them, and every GTA after III has been a well-written cross between Hollywood crime dramas and a general parody/pseudo-study of American culture of the period it represents.

If it's a problem with parents, use the previous paragraph and it'll make you sound really smart and GTA/Saints Row sound really good.

Also, if you're new to gaming, don't discount Halo based on what you've read on here - most people just enjoy trashing what's popular. Halo : Combat Evolved and Halo 2 are fun little shooters with a strong storyline and good pacing. Halo 3 was... Saved by the multiplayer... And I haven't played ODST, but I've heard it's good.

Beyond that, in order of importance...

Fallout 3 : Game of the Year Edition. If you get no other games this Christmas, Fallout 3 will at least keep you occupied until sometime in March, when you'll realise that you've forgotten about the outside world.
Borderlands. I can't, in all good faith, not suggest this game. Make sure you have friends. If you don't have any, kidnap a delivery boy and tape a controller to his hands. Remember - welding someone's hands to a controller creates a stronger bond, but can damage the controller.
Need for Speed : Shift. Personal preference here, but it's always been my favourite racing series.
Assassin's Creed ONE. I'm led to believe that the game will make no/less sense unless you've played the first one.
Gears of War (1 or 2, doesn't matter). Cinematic, ultraviolent ultrastylised, and a plot that makes no sense but it worth it if you're pissed/stoned/playing with a mate.

Also, if you can get your hands on a copy, try to find NHL Hitz 2003. It's not the most realistic Ice Hockey game in the world, but me and my mates had an absolute blast while we played it. Make your friends in the game. Give them all duck heads. Make yourself a raptor/pirate/ninja. It's hilarious.

 

[Godavari]

3) I want to avoid "crime/killing simulators," e.g. GTA, as much as possible.

Out of interest, why?

It can't be a problem with killing (let's face it, even sports games are getting in on the act with games like Blitz : The League), which means that there's a problem with crime? I only ask because Saints Row (and it's mildly better sequel) are actually surprisingly funny games with a decent anarchic "fight tha powah!" message behind them, and every GTA after III has been a well-written cross between Hollywood crime dramas and a general parody/pseudo-study of American culture of the period it represents.

If it's a problem with parents, use the previous paragraph and it'll make you sound really smart and GTA/Saints Row sound really good.

Also, if you're new to gaming, don't discount Halo based on what you've read on here - most people just enjoy trashing what's popular. Halo : Combat Evolved and Halo 2 are fun little shooters with a strong storyline and good pacing. Halo 3 was... Saved by the multiplayer... And I haven't played ODST, but I've heard it's good.

Beyond that, in order of importance...

Fallout 3 : Game of the Year Edition. If you get no other games this Christmas, Fallout 3 will at least keep you occupied until sometime in March, when you'll realise that you've forgotten about the outside world.
Borderlands. I can't, in all good faith, not suggest this game. Make sure you have friends. If you don't have any, kidnap a delivery boy and tape a controller to his hands. Remember - welding someone's hands to a controller creates a stronger bond, but can damage the controller.
Need for Speed : Shift. Personal preference here, but it's always been my favourite racing series.
Assassin's Creed ONE. I'm led to believe that the game will make no/less sense unless you've played the first one.
Gears of War (1 or 2, doesn't matter). Cinematic, ultraviolent ultrastylised, and a plot that makes no sense but it worth it if you're pissed/stoned/playing with a mate.

Also, if you can get your hands on a copy, try to find NHL Hitz 2003. It's not the most realistic Ice Hockey game in the world, but me and my mates had an absolute blast while we played it. Make your friends in the game. Give them all duck heads. Make yourself a raptor/pirate/ninja. It's hilarious.

Well since you asked, it is the parents. But their reasoning is backed up a lot by the fact that I have an annoying little brother who, in ninja-like fashion, sneaks up behind me and watches me play. Which means the parentals frown upon violence, language, drugs, and sex in my videogaming material. It's not about my maturity, it's about the bro's; and I don't think they'll buy anything with GTA or Saints' Row in the title.

And the aversion to Halo is that I play Halo 3 all the time at a friend's house (don't really like it) and I already have Halo ODST, which is actually not bad. Since Halo CE and 2 are so hard to find in-store (I'd assume) I ruled them out, and apparently Halo Wars was a sucky RTS, on top of the fact that I hate RTS's.

Anyway, thanks for the long response. That's really what I was looking for. I'm definately leaning towards F3: GOTYE, since I have and love Oblivion and they're both by Bethesda. Borderlands was already on the list, since I played that with a friend and it was really fun. Thanks for all the advice and well-thought-out points.

 

[Chipperz]

*snip*

Well since you asked, it is the parents. But their reasoning is backed up a lot by the fact that I have an annoying little brother who, in ninja-like fashion, sneaks up behind me and watches me play. Which means the parentals frown upon violence, language, drugs, and sex in my videogaming material. It's not about my maturity, it's about the bro's; and I don't think they'll buy anything with GTA or Saints' Row in the title.

And the aversion to Halo is that I play Halo 3 all the time at a friend's house (don't really like it) and I already have Halo ODST, which is actually not bad. Since Halo CE and 2 are so hard to find in-store (I'd assume) I ruled them out, and apparently Halo Wars was a sucky RTS, on top of the fact that I hate RTS's.

Anyway, thanks for the long response. That's really what I was looking for. I'm definately leaning towards F3: GOTYE, since I have and love Oblivion and they're both by Bethesda. Borderlands was already on the list, since I played that with a friend and it was really fun. Thanks for all the advice and well-thought-out points.

Ahhh yeah. OK, little brothers, there's no way to get around them. I did, however, think of another game that noone's put (and shame on them all!)!

If you haven't already, get The Orange Box. It's great because it's already five games rolled into one cut-price package - Half Life 2 (and Episodes 1 and 2) are, combined with Halo : CE, the forefathers of all modern FPSs. Team Fortress 2 is a fun little multiplayer game, although better on the PC than the 360 due to the PC version actually getting updates. Portal is a game which everyone should play through - 2-3 hours long, but 2-3 hours of perfect game design opposed to ten hours with 1-2 hours of really good gameplay which most games get.

Also... yeah. Halo Wars sucked. I still maintain that if you can find #2, it's worth a play. It just hit me that Combat Evolved was XBox only, and doesn't work on the 360.

 

[Godavari]

*snip*

Ahhh yeah. OK, little brothers, there's no way to get around them. I did, however, think of another game that noone's put (and shame on them all!)!

If you haven't already, get The Orange Box. It's great because it's already five games rolled into one cut-price package - Half Life 2 (and Episodes 1 and 2) are, combined with Halo : CE, the forefathers of all modern FPSs. Team Fortress 2 is a fun little multiplayer game, although better on the PC than the 360 due to the PC version actually getting updates. Portal is a game which everyone should play through - 2-3 hours long, but 2-3 hours of perfect game design opposed to ten hours with 1-2 hours of really good gameplay which most games get.

Also... yeah. Halo Wars sucked. I still maintain that if you can find #2, it's worth a play. It just hit me that Combat Evolved was XBox only, and doesn't work on the 360.

Good suggestions. And I think the Xbox Live Marketplace has the full Halo: CE port available for download...