Season of Sequels
Sequels are the safety net of the gaming business. Obscene amounts of money are pumped into their creation safe in the knowledge that the return will be worth it. This usually makes for technically impressive games with little in the way of originality. These will be the big sellers this year whether they deserve it or not.
Fallout 3 (Bethesda Softworks, $59.99: PS3, Xbox 360, PC) The best of the sequel bunch and strangely unlike its universally praised predecessors. Somewhere between a role-playing game and an action title but all postapocalyptic mayhem.
Gears of War 2 (Microsoft Game Studios, $59.99; Xbox 360) A very slight improvement on the original. Chain-saw bayonets still included for that loved one who demands a certain amount of gore.
Resistance 2 (Sony Computer Entertainment, $59.99; PS3) Buy it for the monsters and machine guns; keep it for the online and cooperative gameplay.
Need for Speed: Undercover (Electronic Arts, $39.99-59.99; PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC) Four-wheel thrills never seemed so unimpressive. Keep the racing game you already have.
Fable II (Microsoft Game Studios, $59.99; Xbox 360) Not worthy of its hype but the best role-player of the season, regardless.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (Microsoft, $39.99; Xbox 360) A solid sequel for the younger set with an inspired vehicle creator.
Guitar Hero World Tour (Activision, $59.99-189.99; PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) This series continues to ride the holiday hype from last year. Get the game or the entire band kit. The main gripe lies with a lack of downloadable tracks that are glaringly available with its competition, Rock Band.
Saints Row 2 (THQ, $59.99; PS3, Xbox, PC) Stick with Grand Theft Auto IV, unless you think GTA is too serious. Then perhaps the zany, free-for-all action will be right up your alley.
This article appears in December 12 • 2008.
