Christmas.

Too late, we’ve said it now. It’s done. Christmas is a word that suddenly darts at you before you have a chance to properly think about it. A word that is suddenly thrown around from every business that stands to make some capital out of it. Still, the time of giving is seven weeks away, and it’s the reason why you’ve recently been subjected to a thunderstorm of crucial and impressive videogames.

This week s no different as two promising sequels, Gears of War 2 and Resistance 2, make it to the retailers. Elsewhere you’ll find another stab at the GoldenEye benchmark, as well as a unique take on guitar peripherals with PopStar Guitar. UK readers should also take note that LittleBigPlanet, Guitar Hero World Tour and MotorStorm Pacific Rift have made their way across the pond.



Gears of War 2

Epic Games
360
US Release: Nov 7
UK Release: Nov 7
Since its first unveiling back in February, Gears of War 2 has increasingly looked more like a Microsoft game than a title from Epic. The distinction is important; the sequel to the excellent system-seller has clearly received a staggering injection of support from its publisher through finance, consultancy and of course PR.

This is Microsoft’s new Halo, and the exhaustive trailers and walkthroughs and developer diaries want you to know it. Gears of War 2 has moved from a story about four hotshots infiltrating a base to a cinematic war of two worlds. Battles are frantic and gigantic, with set-pieces and vistas and big-bads all overtaking one another during play.

A game this important will never sidestep its roots. For Epic, Gears of war 2 has been a venture in refining its template to reach an ideal model, adding to its content but not to its concept, and paving the way for a final chapter.



Resistance 2

Insomniac Games
PS3
US Release: Nov 4
UK Release: Nov 28
Nothing says “bigger” quite like a boss fight with a 300-foot-tall leviathan. “Better”, however, is a description that requires a lot more talent and manpower.

But the Insomniac team do seem to have put their hours in. Multiple reviews state that Resistance 2 has addressed what was once weak and indifferent about its predecessor. Lavish production values have given the sequel a necessary touch of extravagance and impact, while the class-based 8-player online co-op and striking multiplayer capacity of 60 players may indeed become the game’s talking-point.

Like Gears 2 it wants to move forward in a straight line, and it already appears as though the formula has worked, with 1Up praising it as “an extremely well-assembled FPS, with an improved campaign, fun competitive multiplayer, and a damn neat take on co-op.” IGN too was upbeat about the game’s performance: “Resistance 2 is one of those games that manages to expand on its predecessor in every way … This is an exclusive that PS3 owners should be proud to have in their collection.”



Quantum of Solace

Treyarch, Beenox, Eurocom, Vicarous Visions
PS3/360, PC/Wii, PS2, DS
US Release: Nov 4
UK Release: Out Now
In Bond you’ll always have the foundations for a promising action game; smart gadgets, frantic action and multiple near-death experiences. Yet the truth of the matter is that, when the Bond franchise dips into the world of gaming, it lets itself down as often as the Star Wars franchise.

Quantum of Solace looks promising enough. It’s a dedicated FPS which has the Call of Duty 4 engine behind it for the capable platforms. Unsurprisingly for a game built by four development outfits for a simultaneous launch across six consoles, the reviews are a mixed bag. “Don"t let your good memories of a decent Bond flick be sullied by licensed tat like this,” warns Official Nintendo Magazine, whereas Videogamer describes the PS3 version as “GoldenEye for a new generation”. 

The Sunday Times’ 5-star verdict, however, deserves a special mention for using phrases such as “swish first-person adventure” and “dollops of espionage nonsense”.



SmackDown vs. RAW 2009

Yuke’s Future Media Creators, Tose
PS3/360/Wii/PS2/PSP, DS
US Release: Nov 9
UK Release: Nov 7
Though physical and often dangerous, wrestling is not a competitive sport in the sense that winning or losing doesn’t usually concern the performers. Quite rightly, ‘mission accomplished’ for any wrestler is an overly-excited or appalled audience. Yet wrestling games continue to simulate a straight fight, one where a cold and quiet three-count is the ultimate measure of progress.

It’s this fundamental difference in purpose that has forever hindered the wrestling sim. Still, while SmackDown vs. RAW continues to miss the point, the series has always been a solid outlet for hilariously depraved bodily harm. The latest version includes a refined tag-match dynamic, as well as the inevitable tabloid headliner of an inferno match (yes, the wrestlers try to set each other on fire.)

GamesMaster magazine was fairly positive about the game, though pointed to the familiarity that annual updates often suffer. GamesRadar says it’s “an example of evolution not revolution. It’s an improvement over its predecessor and, as ever, the sheer wealth of content is staggering. For anyone who already loves or loathes the series, this won’t be enough to change their mind either way.”



PopStar Guitar

Broadsword Interactive
Wii, PS2
US Release: Nov 4
UK Release: TBC Nov
Publisher XS Games’ spin on the guitar-game genre comes from its peripheral; a 4-key grip that hugs the Wii Remote while the nunchuk is used to strum, making it look like the evolutionary link between air-guitar and game-guitar. It’s important to note that, while the Wii version is bundled with two grips, the PS2 version has no peripherals at all, but is said to work with PS2-compatible guitars.

XS Games has promised its product will lean away from licensing rock and metal tracks, and provide pop fans with more to relate to. Yet by mixing artists like Rihanna with Bowling for Soup, it looks like that vision has been somewhat compromised.