Tis the season, summer has its block busters, but video games will always dominate the fall.  What better ways to spend time with loved ones over the holiday, than to be locked up in you room away from the insanity?  I really can’t explain the amount of enjoyment I get when I can tear through a new game on vacation from both school and work.  I’m sure many of you have gotten that warm desensitizing feeling from playing till you pass out, pausing only to steal food from your smaller family members.  To insure the maximum holiday cheer, I will share with you my list of must haves this fall.  Take caution when picking your games, as not to get quickly board with a dud and be forced to actually see your relatives.

Halo 3: Recon

This game, despite only being an expantion, has been highly anticipated.  It is a side story to the Xbox monster, Halo, and plans to challenge an otherwise jaded gaming community.  This bad boy has a new story following another branch of the Halo armed forces, the ODST.  These “Hell Jumpers” as they are called are the Army’s badasses that you could see

fall from orbit in pods and then jump out in a hail of bullets.  Unlike the Spartan, these men and women have no implants, genetic alteration, or MJOLNIR suits.  Instead, they have a hell lot of attitude and a lot of balls.  Having no over shield will seriously change the game play and there will be other physics changed to reflect a normal soldier’s physic.  In an attempt to even the playing field the troopers are given special visual enhancements that help them target enemies easier.  Another difference is the way the story progresses.  As a separated member in a squad, you must find your team mates by locating their pods and other information they leave behind.  When retrieving this info the other characters stories are played out, allowing you to try out each member and their specialized skills.  This new games and its map pack, finally allowing the unlocking of the recon armor, is sure not to disappoint. Ready for duty in September.

Bioshock 2

Snapping your fingers and being able to incinerate your enemies has its perks, but add a prototype Big Daddy suite and now you’re a Juggernaut!  The follow up from 2K is set to surpass its intense and great story driven predecessor.  The new game puts you in the boots of a plasmid test subject during the decline of Rapture.  As this new character, you now have access to new abilities and new weapons.  One thing I look forward to the most is the ability to go outside of Rapture and walk in the ocean.  There are also the appearances of new Splicers and a ninja version of the enemy Big Daddy, Big Sister!  This female is fast and vicious, able to damage the level causing all kinds of chaos.  Its not easy to shoot something that’s fast as a spider monkey and causes tidal waves to flood the room your in.  Renter Rapture in January.

Modern Warfare 2

I’ve only recently strayed from the path of futuristic shooters, but I have not been disappointed by the excitement that comes from fighting in real life settings.  MW2  places you in the position of fight or die and to test your mettle in a real life fire fight.  Taking place in parts of Russia and South America, you are a member of a squad that must complete its objectives, if American gamers are to keep their wonderful lives and freedoms.  If this is similar to Call of Duty, you more than likely take control of different characters as you struggle to overcome opposition in foreign lands.  MF2 will offer the ability to use current, real life, weaponry and other combat methods.  Aside of the equipment, there are other means to gain an advantage.  When playing multiplayer, each player can choose to take on different attributes.  Juggernaut gives you the ability to take more damage and Last Man Standing allows you to continue to shoot while you slowly die.  Prepare for battle in November.

In a world where gimmick games are taking over, it’s great to see some developers sticking to good story lines and games that are well put together.  Reservations are currently being taken for all these great games, so go pick your favs and be prepared for this year’s festivity.