So we are all surfing the interweb these days to either drool over things we want or to look for cool things to get friends. Remember before the internet (I’ve already lost half of you) when you had to go to stores and just look for some random crap to get someone and it always was weird. You’d end up at Sharper Image wondering if your friends and family would like an automated juicer/dildo with a built-in radio.

BUT NO MORE I SAY!!

Now, this is my list. 99% of you don’t know me so I don’t expect a gift from you… or do I? Instead, use this list if you have a male gamer from the age of 21 – 25. Something on this list will probably appeal to them.

1) XBOX LIVE POINTS

Guys love Xbox live points (girls probably do too, but fuck them lol, this list is for me). If you don’t know what these points are, let me fill you in. Xbox Live is the online service your child/friend/family member uses to play Call of Duty or Halo on (or other games). Remember how annoying it is for them to spend all their (or your) money to buy stuff for their games? Well, if you get them Xbox Live points they can use them to buy their new map packs, digital games, etc. And buy them at least 1200 Microsoft Points. Any less and you look like a cheap ass.

2) A gift card for Movie Trading Company (Vintage Stock in some areas)

Movie Trading Company sells good movies, games, cd’s, and accessories for the former, for damn cheap. A gift card for 30$ could go a long way, let your loved ones pick their own entertainment without you insulting their taste, and be more thoughtful than just a few dollars in an envelope.

3) Energy drinks

This might seem like an odd gift, but chances are high that your gamer friend has had many an awesome all-nighter with his friends that were fueled by energy drinks and video games. The trick to this gift is finding an inside source to tell you which energy drink they hate. For some reason, individuals love Red Bull and hate Monster, or love Monster and hate Red Bull. Some sidestep both completely and drink Bawl’s. If you can find out what they prefer, feel content knowing you have helped the recipient get together with friends and make new memories.

4) A gamer headset

This one is like a gift to yourself if you have a husband, child, or room-mate who plays games really loud. With a headset, all the music will play through the ear pads giving them a better sound system for gaming then they most likely have (they will be able to hear what direction people are sneaking up on them with) and giving you the gift of silence (other than them screaming obscenities into the mic lol). You would imagine these are really expensive, but not really. I have a great pair of TekNMotion that I got for thirty dollars and sound great and are comfortable. They aren’t wireless, but I only play a few feet from my Xbox so it isn’t an issue. People toss around certain names like Turtle Beach or Astro, but those are really the sports cars of headsets. If they don’t have a headset then they will be more than pleased with a sedan, so to say. If they want the Ferrari they can shell out on their own for one down the line. Be sure you buy a headset for the correct system (Xbox, PS3, PC).

5) An arcade stick

If your beloved gamer plays a lot of fighting games like Street Fighter, Tekken, Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur, etc they will greatly appreciate an arcade stick (if they don’t already have one). You could end up shelling out seventy to 100 dollars for a good one though (they will be called Tournament Edition), so only look into this purchase if you have the cash. The alternative is if they have a special panache for fixing electronics, modding (taking out the parts and replacing them with better ones), or customization. If so, then get them a MadCatz arcade stick as they are easily customizable and don’t require any soldering to change the parts. Be sure you buy an arcade stick for the correct system though (Ps3, 360, PC, Etc).

I hope this list helped you in some sort of way. If you have any questions or suggestions post a comment below and I will help you out ASAP.

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9.0

REVIEW | Salt and Sanctuary

by Guest Contributor on February 11, 2019

Salt and Sanctuary seamlessly combines fast, brutal, and complex 2D combat with richly developed RPG mechanics.

PAX South 2019: Splitgate Arena Warfare, World of Horror, JackQuest, and Disjunction

by Colby Sites on January 25, 2019

PAX South 2019 preview of Splitgate Arena Warfare, World of Horror, JackQuest, and Disjunction

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REVIEW | Spider-Man PS4

by Kyle Neely on September 14, 2018

Spider-Man on PS4 is now Sony's fastest selling title of all time. With 3.3 million copies sold in the first 3 days, it seems that Sony has an unparalleled hit on their hands! Read on to find out why!

B+

Review | Re-Exploring No Man’s Sky Next

by Ocho on August 17, 2018

We delve back into No Man's Sky after not touching it since it's 2016 release to see what has changed and if it's worth playing again.

REVIEW | Downward Spiral: Horus Station

by Sub-Cultured on June 17, 2018

Embark on a thought-provoking mystery in single-player or co-op deep in space with Downward Spiral: Horus Station!

I’ll admit it. I’m a Sony fangirl. The only reason I ever bought an XBOX was because it was a limited edition Star Wars package that was made to resemble R2D2, right down to the beeps. And was subsequently my most expensive impulse buy to date, considering I’ve only turned it on twice.

With countless lackluster titles piling up around the house while I continuously revert to old favorites time and time again, I was worried that not only was I never going to get any use out of this XBOX, I might lose hope to come across new immersive, story based games period.

Enter Dust: An Elysian Tail, the 2D action RPG Xbox Live Arcade game that got me excited to play video games again.

Because every once in a blue moon there comes a game so masterfully crafted that you just need to take a moment to stop and drool a little bit. (Hint: Here’s your chance. Watch the Launch Trailer. And don’t forget to wipe your chin.)

Armed with a C-3PO controller in my hand and a promo code to download this unreleased title, my expectations were demolished the moment I set proverbial foot into this intriguing world. An embarrassing amount of time was spent listening to the hauntingly beautiful music of the title screen (very Final Fantasy-esque) as I tried to deduce what kind of animal my new protagonist Dust was. Rabbit? Racoon? Super mega awesome ninja fox? Whatever Dust is, his form is flawless.

SO MUCH CUTE.

A colorful cast of characters decorates the backdrop of Falana as you follow Dust on his journey to reclaim lost memories and learn the origins behind his deeply voiced yet inanimate sword, Ahrah. Rounding out this strange trio is the spunky Fidget, guardian of the awesome mentor sword and also a tiny flying cat thing that breaks the 4th wall and my tolerance for cuteness. Literally, it shattered into a trillion tiny pieces that may or may not have been rainbow colored.

The beautiful art style combined with an old fantasy feel make this game a wonderful conglomerate of the best attributes of every game I’ve ever played without becoming overbearing.

But forget all that flimsy visual stuff. As pretty as it is, stellar graphics do not necessarily mean quality gameplay. Made with the seasoned and the starters in mind, the combat system in Dust is easy to pick up on – without that feeling of being handheld that a lot of RPGs beat you over the head with anywhere from 1-40 hours in.

The intro doesn’t drag as you are immediately thrust into battle, learning attacks and evades in a manner that keeps you on your toes yet never crosses the line into babysitting. Though Fidget’s hilarious cry of “BUTTON MASH!” midway through the tutorial seems to fit in with the thought process of some adventure games, hacking and slashing wont get you very far. The combos you learn are used not only in combat but also in puzzle solving, which ends up making prowess a necessity and subsequently rewards skill level. Pressing X and Y will show off Dust’s skills with the blade while B controls Fidget’s feeble firepower, but careful timing can combine the two into the move “Dust Storm” where you’ll bare witness to some of the sickest looking combos I’ve seen in a long while.

It’s hard to put a finger on my favorite aspect of Dust: An Elysian Tail. From the enthralling storyline to the beautiful backtrack, every piece was lovingly crafted and reflects a sense of harmony and balance with one another. Never do the characters seem out of place in their beautifully painted surroundings, the writing fits each personality to a tee and, coupled with the brilliant voice acting and superb score, makes it one of the most believable and effortless sounding RPGs to date. And don’t get me started on the banter between Dust and Fidget. Genius.

Final rating: 9/10. Which comes as a bit of a shock to my picky standards. For the perfect mix of old and new that I thought was unattainable in one game, Dust: An Elysian Tail is exactly what I’ve been waiting for.

With a reminiscent feel of games past, Dust: An Elysian Tail will be available for purchase on August 15th via XBLA.

Thank you, Dust, for being the sole reason I don’t regret impulse buying an XBOX.

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Gaming

9.0