Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Hardcore Gaming

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I’m starting to get the feeling that casual video games are going to take over the world, or at least dominate this holiday season, as they have the pest few seasons. But what about the rest of us – those of us who don’t view gaming as just simply a hobby, but as a way of life? We all have one or two of those gamers in our lives, and chances are the readers of this guide are mixed 50/50 between people looking for gift ideas of the hardcore gamer in their life and hardcore gamers who are just looking for something to gift themselves. Well, regardless of what category you fall into, here’s our list of games hardcore gamers will love to receive this holiday season.

Demon’s Souls (PS3 – $29.99)

Demon’s Souls is definitely one of the most difficult games to land on the PS3 since the console was released back in 2006. Trust me when I say this is one of the most ruthless games in recent memory: you’ll die a lot, and the penalties for dying can literally induce periods of controller-throwing anger.

Gamers are lighting up video game forums with frustration in the fact that they can’t even finish the first level in this old-school RPG, so if you’ve got someone in your life that likes to brag that they’re part of the hardcore crowd, hand them this game on Christmas and tell them to prove it.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (PC/Mac – $39.99)

World of Warcraft players are nothing if not hardcore (we’ll save the jokes about WoW players not having any lives for those who have nothing productive to say), and the latest expansion from Blizzard changes many mechanics behind one of the most successful MMOs in gaming history. Revamping the leveling system for those between levels 1 and 60, Cataclysm newcomers to the franchise a fresh, streamlined MMO experience, and tacking another five levels to the previous level cap of 80 gives WoW veterans a new challenge to tackle.

It should be noted that Cataclysm requires World of Warcraft, World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade and World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King to play, so don’t buy this unless the gamer you’re buying for already has the three previous titles.

Call of Duty: Black Ops (PS3/Xbox 360/PC – $59.99)

Honestly, everyone is playing Black Ops this season, and everyone will be for quite some time. If the gamer in your life spends a lot of time playing first-person shooters online, you really can’t go wrong with Black Ops. There really isn’t much else to say about this title – if your gamer plays first-person shooters, Black Ops is pretty much a sure thing…

Halo: Reach (Xbox 360 – $59.99)

…Unless the console they own is an Xbox 360, then you’ve got a difficult decision to make. Halo: Reach has been praised by many critics as the quintessential Halo title, and serves as an excellent ending to Bungie’s ten-year run with the series. The multiplayer for both Reach and Black Ops offer a dynamic experience that never seems to get stale. The gamer who has an Xbox 360 will be a very happy gamer should they find either Reach or Black Ops (or both) under the tree on Christmas morning.

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (PC/Mac – $59.99)

In some countries, StarCraft II simply isn’t just a game, but rather a sport. Laugh all you want, but multiplayer matches in StarCraft II get heated fast and quickly separate the chumps from those who are playing for keeps. Blizzard Entertainment are famous for making games that grab players for the collar and don’t let go easily, so don’t buy this for your gamer unless you’re alright with not seeing them for days on end.

Fallout: New Vegas (PS3/Xbox 360/PC – $59.99)

War never changes, and neither does the Fallout universe. But that’s okay with fans of Fallout, as New Vegas gives gamers more of what they want: a post-apocalyptic sandbox where the winner-takes-all. Fallout: New Vegas is for the gamer who wants a seemingly endless amount of things to do, because this game always seems to have a surprise or two hidden away in a corner you’d otherwise pass over. New Vegas also sees the series return to its some of its PC roots – something that some gamers claim was lacking from Fallout 3 – so really, there’s something for everyone with this title.

God of War III (PS3 – $59.99)

If you’re a PS3 owner, you owe it to yourself to play this game. I mean, the game opens with Kratos scaling Mount Olympus in order to engage Zeus in a battle to the death, and it somehow manages to escalate from there. Closing out the epic trilogy that started with the original God of War way back in the days of PS2 (remember those?), God of War III is a game that should not be missed by any person who is a fan of awesome.

Gran Turismo 5 (PS3 – $59.99)

Speaking of games PS3 owners owe it to themselves to play, Gran Turismo 5 definitely lands near the top of the list. After waiting for six long years since Gran Turismo 4, Gran Turismo 5 gives players another installment of the super realistic racing experience gamers hold so dear. With car list numbering over 1,000, Gran Turismo 5 offers racing fans and car enthusiasts alike an experience that will keep them occupied for quite a while.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (PS3/Xbox 360 – $59.99)

Castlevania games have always been big hits with gamers…just as long as they weren’t in 3D. 3D Castlevania have always seemed to miss the mark, but Lords of Shadow is the first to get it right – so, so right. Whether or not the person you’re buying this for is a fan of Castlevania, this one is sure to be a hit so long as they can recognize the value in a good Action Adventure game.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (PS3/Xbox 360 – $59.99)

Assassin’s Creed games have always been known for masterful story-telling, which, when combined with a Medieval setting, make for a great gaming experience. The first two Assassin’s Creed games make a great, cheap gift for anyone who has never played the Assassin’s Creed series, but Brotherhood adds something missing from the first two: multiplayer, and damned fun multiplayer at that. The multiplayer component has been lauded by critics as revolutionary to online play, so if you’re buying gifts for someone who spends a lot of time playing online multiplayer, they’re pretty much sure to have a good time with this title.

And there you have it, these are the games we think any hardcore gamer would love to find under the tree this year. Since they’re hardcore, they probably already have one or two of these games, but you should be able to find a couple they still need to add to their collection. If they have all ten, well, maybe you’d like to introduce them to the world of casual gaming? Or maybe get them a nice phone for the holidays instead?