Kikizo Christmas Gift Guide 2003

Of course you want the must-haves, but you'll also want to give (or get) something unexpected and new that might not have made it onto your list.

Along with the crème de la holiday crème, we're marking a special game in each category that you may not have heard of but we really think you'll enjoy. At the very least, these picks are guaranteed to be better than fruitcake.

Run, Jump, and Maim!

Almost anyone can enjoy a good action adventure game. But before you buy any of these titles, we're assuming that you already own the superb The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for GameCube and the multiplatform Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. If not, you direly need to get your holiday mitts on them.

Racthet and Clank: Going Commando (PS2) - Cute characters on an explosion-filled odyssey that's practically guaranteed to put a smile on your face. A safe bet for anyone's wish list.

Ratchet and Clank has proven more popular than Jak 2 with many gamers - a great Christmas gift.

Beyond Good and Evil (PS2, XB, GC) - Snap photos, drive a hovercraft, and beat your enemies down with your battle stick; a wonderful holiday variety pack.

Kya: Dark Lineage (PS2) - Underneath the kiddie-corn exterior lay masterful (and quite fun) level designs, brutal kung-fu moves, and a vast wind-themed world. By all means, give this one a whirl.

Vroom, Vroom, Vroom.

Or zoom, if you must. Everyone likes to live life in the fast lane every once in a while, making these games highly presentable to anyone. Try the multiplatform Need for Speed Underground if you're just not sure which console little Billy owns.

Mario Kart: Double Dash (GC) - Cooperative and competitive with two-man teams and backseat drivers. Anyone will play this game, everyone will enjoy it. It's a great reason to own a Cube.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! provides kartloads of fun and is a must for all GameCube owners this festive season.

Project Gotham Racing 2 (XB) - Looks great, feels great, tons of cars, and a blast to play on Live. If you own an Xbox, you'll want to own this.

Moto GP 3 (PS2) - Released early on in the year, this brutally realistic crotch-rocket racer provides a hell of a challenge if nothing else. Independent front and rear brake control make the experience unique.

Can't get enough Action

Action games scratch an itch that's always there. These games are guaranteed to hit the sweet spot.

Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (XB) - Fly the beautiful skies, become one with your airplane, and hone your dogfighting skills to toast your buddies online with Live.

EA's Return of the King is great for all fans of the epic trilogy.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (PS2, XB, GC) - Live out the massive melees of the upcoming film with this beautifully polished (but sometimes hellishly hard) playable spectacle. Fight alongside a friend with two-player coop.

Shoot it Up!

Fire in the hole! Gamers everywhere enjoy the universal past time of firing digital recreations of high-powered firearms. 'Tis the season to blow $%!# up, you know.

SOCOM II: U.S. Navy Seals (PS2) - Counter-terrorism at its finest on the PS2, even better when played online.

Rainbow Six 3 provides exemplary Xbox Live fun.

Rainbow Six 3 - Xbox owners looking for a realistic tactical shooter to call their own need look no further. And of course, "it's good to play together".

Metal Arms: Glitch in the System (XB, GC, PS2) - A tough as nails shooter in which upgradeable weapons, powerful vehicles, and some very clever little robots combine to provide rather Halo-esque thrills.

Final Round... Fight!

Fighting game fans are among the hardest of the hardcore, making them difficult to shop for. If they have these three, try the bargain priced, multiplatform Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance instead. They may just be too embarrassed to pay for the babes, blood, and brutality themselves.

Soul Calibur 2 (PS2, XB, GC) - SC2 has a great balance of looks, playability, extras, and enough depth to make this a game that keeps on giving.

VF4 Evo is probably the best fighting game ever - and costs a mere $19.99 for all U.S. gamers. Even at the UK's regular price, it's still a bargain.

Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution (PS2) - Disciplined fighting disciples will appreciate the incredible depth, and incredibly low cost make for an ideal gift.

Guilty Gear XX - If you know a fan of 2D fighters who doesn't own this game (perhaps yourself?), give them one 'X' short of their wildest dreams come true. Others will marvel at the deviant character designs and bitchin' metal soundtrack.

RPG Me!

If the RPG fan in your life doesn't have the solid but fancy-free Final Fantasy X-2 yet, they may just need some help giving over to girl power. If they own a GameCube, you have no other choice but Skies of Arcadia: Legends.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (XB) - Many would say it's the RPG of the year. Some would say it's worth the price of an Xbox. We say put it on your Xmas list, now.

The fantastic Star Wars: KOTOR will make a great gift for fans and non-fans alike.

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (PS2) - Quirky with a capital 'Q'-and several exclamation points. If they like leveling up, strategy, or just want to command a dark army of strangely cute demons, this is the game.

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (PS2) - Call it progressive, call it alternative, call it survival horror meets RPG. Whatever it is, it's likely that a lot of people missed out on this one. Won't you give this poor dragon a home?

Be a Sport.

People who enjoy watching sports enjoy playing sports. For the armchair athlete in your life, regardless of what platforms he or she owns.

Madden 2004 (PS2, XB, GC) - 2004 is possibly the Madden to end all Maddens, at least until next year. More and better everything and robust online competition.

Madden 2004 is arguably the best game of its type yet.

Tony Hawk's Underground (PS2, XB, GC) - Despite a somewhat botched story and driving sequences, it's more of the free-form skating that addicts anyone who touches it. Pick it up and head to the online thrashing grounds.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 (PS2, XB, GC) - Who would have thought a realistic golf game could top Mario Golf for sheer fun? Nintendo diehards will obviously still prefer the latter, however.

Assorted Treats...

Stuff it! In a stocking, that is. Games are like a box of chocolates, but we're going to tell you what you're going to get.

The Sims Bustin' Out (PS2, XB, GC) - Those wacky sims just got wackier. There's lots of nonsensical gibberish talk over the new careers, and there's an online mode. And of course, you can still kill 'em.

Fatal Frame 2 is scary and dark - just right for Christmas then.

Fatal Frame 2 (PS2) - Japanese style horror returns, and it's scary as hell. The story of two twins, a dark ritual, and a camera that can absorb the souls of ghosts is a contender for best horror title of the year. Expect shrieks of delight, then screams of terror when this one is unwrapped.

Space Channel 5 SE (PS2) - Who can resist the alluring rhythm-based gameplay and funky stylings offered up by Sega's Ulala? Well, maybe Lady Miss Kier, who's suing over image theft. But for the rest of us, the special edition is not only two games in one, it's quite affordable and makes a great stocking stuffer.

Justin Speer
Contributor, Kikizo Games