Note: I’ve linked each game’s title to its TSA review or the article most pertinent to that game. Hopefully this will help serve as a recap for some reviews – and games – you might have missed throughout the year so far.
It’s a fortunate situation I find myself in, as we careen headlong into the coldest, darkest months. Just as the outside world becomes frigid and bleak I find myself with potentially the quietest month of the year stretched ahead of me and a large (and growing) pile of games to play.
You see, I have missed a few of the big titles. Even a couple of games that I was really keen to play have passed me by as I was kept busy with other review commitments. I’ve missed Fable III and Call of Duty: Black Ops thanks to the Kinect coverage. I didn’t get around to finishing God of War III because I was busy with Mass Effect 2 and Final Fantasy XIII. As great as it is to be able to play lots of games and call it work, I often miss out on my most anticipated titles because I’m busy with something else.
So what am I planning to do with my December? Well, I’ve got some racing to do with GT5 and I’ll pick up Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit as soon as I can justify the time it will take up. I can’t spend the whole month behind the wheel though, so Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Vanquish and Call of Duty: Black Ops are sure to be a welcome salve for my action itch. I’ve even got God of War: Ghost of Sparta ready and waiting in case I get left in the car while my wife tries on handbags or whatever it is women do for hours on end in Next.
Auditorium HD and Flight Control HD will satisfy most of my urge for smart puzzlers and casual games but I’ve also got Plants Vs Zombies sitting, half finished, on my iPhone and Bejeweled 3 is appealing quite a bit too. I might even try to make time to finally finish New Super Mario Bros. Wii and start Super Mario Galaxy 2 (I know…). Metroid: Other M, Epic Mickey, GoldenEye 007 and Donkey Kong Country Returns all came out (or are about to) on the Wii this year and I’ve missed them all so far – something I’m keen to remedy as soon as possible.
I’m really keen to get back into StarCraft II and I just picked up Football Manager 2011 for a bargain price too. So my PC will see some gaming love this December, before the inevitable Steam Christmas sale mugs me again and I spend January wishing I had time to play all the games I’ve bought for next to nothing.
I’m keeping an eye out for RUSE and The Fight at good prices so I can use Sony’s magic wands a bit more and I’ve got Dance Central for Kinect if I ever manage to get drunk enough to play that with a group. I’m also looking into some of the fitness software (aside from The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout) for all the motion control systems for January, when I will inevitably need to shed the extra weight I fully intend putting on over the holidays.
So, with TSA’s Game of the Year discussions going on behind the scenes and a long, dark month (ending with a festival of gift-giving!) just upon us, we’re interested to know what you’re looking forward to catching up with and what games would you recommend to others for the holiday period?
Sympozium
I really want to buy Sonic Colours, DK Returns and Dead Nation but I need to save until I’m off for the Christmas holiday’s thats pretty much it for.
Easily Monster Hunter Tri if not Monster Hunter Portable 3rd lololol Goty (well psp and wii respectfully)
Peco
I’ve been living in Saudi Arabia for the last few months without any consoles so my backlog has increased somewhat! I look forward to getting stuck in when I get home. I’ve been pretty much just been playing FM11 over here, and it’s awesome, obviously.
Origami Killer
currently i have castlevania, ensalved and blur which im yet to complete, plus i still havnt done all the sam and maxes
Dany2Step
finish sam and max buddy. best thing ive had off psn so far and i dont even like point and click games.
Dany2Step
psplus i mean.
Rocket_345
Same i’m stuck on the 2nd episode so haven’t bothered to play it since.
rht992
the only two things i’ve got are red dead redemption undeadnightmare and Castlevania but its so so so dragged out i’m not sure i’ll even finish it (first time i’ll be doing this on ps3)
KeRaSh
My backlog includes Red Dead Redemption, Just Cause 2, AC2 + Brotherhood, NFS: Hot Pursuit, Medal of Honor, Dante’s Inferno and then some…
gideon1451
I don’t have enough money to afford a backlog, sadly enough, so I’m not going to bother.
rainydays458
Dragon age origins. The game is way to long, and you need to play it though a couple of times to get all the trophies.
solidsteven
It’s not to long but i agree with you about the trophies. Poor CB had to stay up all night just to review it. He won’t be happy with reviewing DA2 as that is supposed be even longer.
SpikeyMikey23
I cant sleep so im going to list the games I have with unfinished single player modes and games ive spent less than 3 hrs on.
Brutal legend, f1 2010(aint finished a season) bioshock 2(not opened) modnation,ff13, red dead, eat lead, megadrive collection, lego batman/indiana jones,fallout3, bourne, gta4,opflash,rachet tools.,mirrors edge, pop, valkyria chronicles, farcry2,mgs4, gt5,bloodstone.
And xmas games: moh, enslaved, ac:b, god of war trilogy. Im gonna need 6months off to get through that lot. Plus Q1 has lots coming out. Out of 60+ boxed games, ive only finished 26. Pisspoor
bunimomike
I’m looking forward to starting the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Each one has gone from strength to strength and I’m finally ready to dive in. Will start the first one over Christmas.
I need to finish off the new Lara Croft game but that’s easy (and a relatively short title). Great fun, though. Especially over Christmas if you have someone to play co-op with. Local co-op being awesome fun.
Michael
Manhunt.