Review Wednesday: Holiday Edition (Games)

Christmas is right around the corner as everyone is looking for that video game of the year that the gamer in your family would love.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch/Nintendo WiiU)

The next installment of the beloved franchise flips everything you know about the series on its head and changes up the game entirely. Link has been asleep for 100 years, he was awoken by a mysterious voice where awakes to a world of runs. He meets a man who helps him adjust before revealing Calamity Ganon has been sealed away in Hyrule Castle. He pleads with Link to defeat Calamity Ganon before he breaks free and destroy Hyrule once and for all.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild introduces and open world mechanic new to the series. The player has the option of which path they will take and at their own pace. This installment also does away with traditional dungeons, replacing them with smaller, but much more frequent Spirit Temples in which Link gains Spirit Orbs that he can use to increase his limited stamina and health. Link must also procure weapons from the environment instead of the traditional chest system in which the player normally keeps the item for the rest of the game. The series also introduces environmental elements and clothing which effect Link depending on the weather. For example, which approaching a snowy mountain Link will freeze to death unless he is wearing warm clothing or has eaten spicy food. In a thunderstorm, if link is wearing metal, he can be hit by lightning. Finally, the series introduces cooking as a way to replenish health and stamina instead of the traditional heart system.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild is the perfect game for the more experienced Legend of Zelda player or even a perfect introduction to series any gamer will love. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released on on the the Nintendo WiiU and Nintendo Switch on March 3, 2017.

Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo Switch)

The much anticipated Super Mario Odyssey brings Mario back into 3D which a new story and a brand new semi open world and a brand new mechanic. Bowser has yet again kidnapped Peach, but this time, he plans on marrying her. Mario teams up with Cappy, whose sister was also kidnapped by Bowser, and the duo travel from kingdom to kingdom in the Odyssey, a top hat shaped airship, to chase after Bowser and his minions “The Broodals.” The Odyssey is powered by Power Moons, the main collectable along the game.

Super Mario Odyssey introduced the cap mechanic. Mario is now able to possess certain enemies to progress both the main story and sidequest power moons. In addition to the main story there is numerous side quest moons; 999 Power Moons to be exact which promises a long and fulfilling gameplay experience with lots of replayability after the main story is complete. Super Mario Odyssey also introduces a purple coin in additional to traditional coins which both have a used for clothing. Yes, you can dress mario up in both cosmetic and plot driven clothing.

Super Mario Odyssey uses a nostalgic factor that allows series veterans to smile in awe as they play while not taking anything away from the series rookies. This is the perfect platformer that any game will love.

Super Mario Odyssey was released for the Nintendo Switch on October 27, 2017.

Cities: Skylines (Xbox One/Playstation 4)

Originally released on the PC in 2015, Cities: Skylines is my most played game on the PC with well over 100 hours logged within the past 3 months alone. Now with a console port released for both the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, console gamers can experience this beautiful city builder and manager from the couch. Cities: Skylines also has optional DLC to expand the game with new features such as snowfall. Cities: Skylines is the perfect game for casual and advanced gamers and is the perfect way to spend countless hours building and managing the perfect city.

Cities Skylines was released on the Xbox One on April 21, 2017 and Playstation 4 on August 15, 2017.