Fun and games at Christmas time part1

With a week left before Christmas Day, now’s the time to get some last-minute Christmas gift ideas for the gamer in your life.

A good number of big-budget games come out this time of year, in hopes of cashing in on the holiday spirit. I’ve put together a quick list of items that might be up your alley. Plus, depending on the proximity of your local video game retailer, you may even be able to avoid crazy mall parking and big-box retailers by getting these games elsewhere.

For the Nintendo Wii, you really can’t go wrong with the New Super Mario Bros., a franchise that Nintendo built its fortune on. Run and jump your way from point A to point B in a colourful world that’s fun for all ages. Similarly, Donkey Kong Country Returns brings more nostalgia to gamers who grew up with the lovable ape.

Golden Eye 007 breathes life back into a game that was released 13 years ago. Instead of Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond, you fill the shoes of Daniel Craig. The basics of the original movie plot have been preserved and updated — instead of using Bond’s watch, for example, you use a cellphone to scan documents and take pictures. Included is split-screen offline multiplayer and online multiplayer modes, which supports up to eight players.

The Xbox and PS3 have few exclusive releases between them, so check which system your giftee owns before you purchase anything.