Holly Edition: Video games for the holiday season

Nintendo Wii

Wii Music

Wii Music is a unique title that compliments the innovation that is the Nintendo Wii. With Wii Music, gamers can play 60 instruments following on-screen instructions and pre-made rhythms and beats. Up to four people can each play a different instrument if they choose. The idea is similar to the smash hit Rock Band, but with more instrument options. In practice mode, a person and their friends can pick a hit song, change the style (for example: classical to reggae, jazz to rock-n-roll, etc.) and jam out until their heart's content.

Another unique game play feature is the Mii Maestro option. Players yield the Wii Remote/Nunchuk controller combination and can conduct their own symphony. How fast you move your arms back and forth really gives you the feeling that the dozens of on-screen band members are actually following your lead. The greatest part: the ability to play the classic Nintendo theme songs of The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario.

Instruments are operated with the Wii Remote/Nunchuk combination as well as the Wii Balance Board, which is included with Wii Fit.

Wii Fit

In this age of technology and absurd gym membership fees, people looking for another, more efficient way to stay in shape may have a new best friend in Nintendo's Wii Fit.

Let's look at the positives first: you do not have to leave the house to get in a solid round of exercise, the game keeps perfect track of every exercise you ever do with it, you can set personal goals and, this may not be a positive to all, the game will bug you when you miss a workout and forget about the game for a few days (an actual friend would want you to stay in shape too, right?).

Included in the $89.99 is the game itself along with the new Wii Balance Board. The board acts as your lifeline to the game. It tracks everything from your center of gravity while doing yoga exercises to your pre-and-post-training Body Mass Index (if you want to know) and even your breathing methods.

There are just so many unique training exercises and the Balance Board never feels obtrusive in doing any of them. Nintendo says there are more than 40 different activities and exercises, but Wii Fit will keep track of which ones you do the most and save them under the "Favorites" category for easy access.

Playing the game more and for longer periods will open up additional training options. The training categories are: Strength, Aerobics, Yoga and Balance Games.

Animal Crossing

Have you ever wanted to live in a virtual world where animals hold the same social standing as humans and converse accordingly?

Well, the world of Animal Crossing: City Folk will provide you with that environment and so much more. Take your personalized Mii and move him or her into the vibrant and colorful world that engulfs the characters of Nintendo's wacky life-simulator.

This is the third Animal Crossing game created by Nintendo and provides a living, breathing world that fans of the series are accustomed to. If you are new to the franchise, a word of advice, make sure to set a limit of play time per day because this game can be more addicting than, well, just trust me on that.

In this newest version, players still have the ability to go anywhere and do (just about) anything they want in the Animal Crossing world, but more creative options have been added to this release. Through Wii's Wi-Fi connection, gamers can take their characters to visit the towns created by friends living around the world.

Additionally, with the aid of the new Wii Speak microphone, players can talk to their friends whether they are sitting in the next room or across the country. Fishing, clothing and home customization, odd jobs, letter writing and the interesting conversations you have with the animal folk are still there so do not fret Animal Crossing fans.

If you are new to the series, seriously, this game will consume your free time if you let it. Be strong.

Xbox 360

Banjo-Kazooie Nuts and Bolts

Rediscover the world of Banjo the bear and Kazooie the Red Crested Breegull in their new surroundings on the Xbox 360.

Fans looking for more of the same from the Nintendo 64 versions: the creative atmosphere and unforgettable characters are still there, but this is a whole new bear-and-bird game. This Banjo-Kazooie title revolves around vehicle creation and customization this time around. Those looking for an Xbox 360-equivelant of Mario Galaxy or other adventure titles might have to look somewhere else. While there is definitely exploring to do and characters to talk to, this game is all about the vehicles. Design planes, cars and boats from scratch to overcome the obstacles and challenges littered throughout the game.

The world you explore is breathtaking. The colorful and detailed surroundings are what you would expect from a next-generation console game. There is also a lot to do here and the game will definitely give you your money's worth in play time, especially if you are into the Xbox Live thing. Some of the challenges in the game are trial-and-error, based on how you are designing your vehicle. If you need some pointers, check out the online community for helpful hints or watch other people complete the task you get stuck on.

Either way, the game play of Nuts and Bolts begs you to keep coming back.

Scene It? Box Office Smash

Tired of that know-it-all uncle who claims to have the supreme knowledge of classic movies? Or the sister-in-law that absolutely loves quoting movies no one has ever heard of?

Well, put them and the rest of your relatives to the test this holiday season in a friendly game of Scene It? Box Office Smash. The series originated in board-game form, but the Xbox 360 version makes use of wireless controllers and High Definition capability of the next-generation system.

Compete in up to four teams in classic movie trivia. You can even challenge people online through Xbox Live. There are 22 puzzle types that are bound to create competition between movie know-it-alls. To give the experience a more realistic game show feel, use the Big Button Pads that are included.

However you look at and play it, Scene It? Box Office Smash is a game for movie buffs who want to put their extensive movie knowledge on display.

Gears of War 2

The sequel to the smash hit Xbox 360 launch title, Gears of War 2 puts gamers back in the driver's seat on the road to saving the human race.

This game is not for the weak-stomached. Like other Mature(M)-rated games, Gears of War 2 features flying body parts and excessive amounts of alien and human blood and gore. Parents should exercise discretion on whether or not to let their children play this game. For those that do decide to reenlist in the battle against the Locust, you will find more of the same blasting and searching; searching and blasting, which is definitely a good thing.

Again, the game features an in-depth story that rewards gamers if they follow it closely enough. Seriously, the storyline that covers both Gears of War games is better than the average movie at the box office these days.

This game promises to be one of the top-selling holiday titles and one in which college kids will most certainly be playing online instead of studying for end-of-semester finals. Life is all about difficult choices.

Sony PlayStation 3

Resistance 2

Resistance 2 is to PlayStation 3 as Gears of War 2 is to Xbox 360. The original was a huge success at the system's launch and, now, with the holiday season approaching, a bigger, badder sequel is being thrown to the masses, some of which might still be hungover from their first Resistance experience.

But they will have a lot to look forward to here. After listening to the critics of what was hailed the best launch game for the visually stunning PS3 hardware, Sony stepped it up another notch to create one of the best looking and most detailed world's that have ever been witnessed in a video game.

The same that went for Gears of War goes for Resistance 2, too.

It is a violent and bloody experience and rated M for Mature for good reason. Battle the Chimera with a wide variety of weapons as you do your part to save the human race in this alternative history-themed first-person shooter.

LittleBigPlanet

In a game that is destined to be remembered for its creativity, LittleBigPlanet was a highly-anticipated game for PlayStation 3 that did not disappoint upon arrival.

The amount of customization of levels and characters can give players hours of entertainment. The game has a charm to it unlike anything else as the characters, known as Sackboy, Sackgirl and Sack person, bring the world of LittleBigPlanet to life.

The game can be as short as your want it to be. Honestly, you probably are not going to be interested in this type of game anyway if you do not want to fully explore the unlimited potential of customization. The game is a three-dimensional, side-scrolling game that allows you to design entire levels as they see fit. Players can then share their creations online with friends.

Needless to say, there is a lot to do on this Planet.

Mirror's Edge

The idea behind Mirror's Edge is very intriguing. Players take control of Faith, a "runner" in the future when the government has (almost) complete control of all information. Runners are the ones to deliver messages that are not for government eyes.

The fun playing as Faith is that you really feel like you are jumping from rooftop to rooftop or swinging around poles and through alleyways. It is almost like a dream in which you posses similar to Spider-Man's web-slinging powers.

Police officers try to stop you at all costs as you go through the main storyline, which involves clearing your sister's name after she was convicted of murder. Fight enemies in realistic hand-to-hand combat as you make your way through the breath-taking city in which Mirror's Edge takes place.

Even if it is not your type of game, the visual experience makes it at least worth a rental.