Each year, we at Eggplante like to put together a little holiday gift guide to set everyone off on the right foot with their friends and loved ones. This year, as we’ve taken our sweet time deciding what to buy the people in our lives, we thought putting together a (really) last-minute gift guide made the most sense. Best of all, these things should all be plentiful in stock at your local tech and gaming enthusiast store. So here it is:
The Eggplante Really Last-Minute “Whoops, I Forgot to Get You Something” Gift Guide
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
The game had its fair share of launch woes, but the team at 343 Industries has made amends by offering some pretty great perks to affected gamers. Even without those perks (which would have expired on December 19th), the game is worth every millisecond of your (and your friends’) time; it received our highest review score to date, and with good reason.
Sunset Overdrive or Xbox One Special Edition Sunset Overdrive Bundle
Another strong title on Xbox One this holiday, Sunset Overdrive proved that you don’t have to take yourself too seriously to still be an incredible, rich experience. If you’re feeling extra generous, spring for the full console bundle, with its beautiful white Xbox One (and stunning matching controller) that is sure to grab eyeballs and score you some extra points with your gift recipient.
LittleBigPlanet 3
Coming off the critical acclaim of the first two titles (and its rather lacklustre Vita spin-off), LittleBigPlanet 3 didn’t do a ton to impress us at E3 2014, but the game is quite a handful of content and love from developer Media Molecule. That makes it worthy of at least a stocking stuffer, though the next thing on our list is even better if we’re talking value.
PlayStation Plus subscription
Want to give someone over $1300 worth of games but don’t want to spend more than $50? The PlayStation Plus subscription is easily the best deal in video gaming, with a ton of content playable on a PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, or PlayStation Vita, all for a ridiculously small fee. PlayStation Plus also allows PlayStation 4 users to play multiplayer content online, but that’s small potatoes when compared to the value you truly get by giving this as a gift. Worth. Every. Penny.
amiibo
With the Wii U finally gaining some traction thanks to games like Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Mario Kart 8 (both of which were highly recommended by our team), if that special person on your list already has the console, a couple of amiibo figures could be just the ticket. They’re great as collectibles, but also interact with the hottest Wii U games, and will be compatible with even more games going forward.
Bayonetta 2
The beautiful thing about Bayonetta 2 isn’t necessarily its graphics (which are indeed beautiful), but rather what it does for the Wii U as a console: it brought a unique, hardcore experience to what many see as more of a casual-gamer’s machine. The game also happened to be highly reviewed by Brent, and it is his pick for the Wii U game to buy this season. With that said, perhaps it’s wise to consider this only a gift for the more mature gamer.
Ultimate NES Remix
Some games are meant to be played over and over again, while others are meant to be … remixed into even more confusing versions of their original selves? Ehh, sure, why not. Ultimate NES Remix is one such game, and it does what it does beautifully. Here’s a title that playfully takes everything you know about Nintendo’s classic titles like Mario and Donkey Kong and forces you to rethink them in this new mashup.
Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire
On the go gaming, especially on a Nintendo console, wouldn’t be complete with a Pokémon game in your collection. Whether you’re buying this one for yourself, or giving it to someone on your nice list, Pokémon is always a good choice. Check out Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, too, as they are the basis for the Ruby and Sapphire remakes. It might also make sense to pick up a Nintendo 2DS while you’re at it.
Drones.
Yup, drones are hot right now. And with good reason: they’re a hell of a lot of fun, they can be used for everything from recreational to professional applications, and they’re totally badass. Parrot makes the most popular drones in a variety of prices ranging from just over $100 into the $300 range, and is exploring options for an even bigger, badder drone upwards of $500 for next year. Of course, there is the professional drone variety made by DJI which would be a great gift for a professional videographer or even aspiring filmmaker with goals to take their film career to new heights. Sorry, couldn’t resist that last one.
