Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex: Human Revolution came out earlier this year and became an instant hit. Since it’s part of a series that dates back a full 11 years, it definitely appeals to the more matured gamers, but its action packed and well-rounded game play (save for a few awkward boss battles) makes it a great game even for those who never played the original Deus Ex. It’s best played on the PC, but it’s also available on Xbox 360 and PS3, and keep in mind that it is intended for ages 17+.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is a newly released game that will definitely be one of the top sellers this holiday season, and easily one of the highest rated and most anticipated games of the year. It is available on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, similar to Deus Ex: HR. Also similar to Deus Ex is its ESRB rating of “Mature;” however, it is far less graphic of a game in comparison.

Saints Row: The Third

Saints Row is a gritty third-person shooter about being on the wrong side of the law and caught in the middle of a gang war. Another ESRB “Mature” title, you can expect it to be much like the controversial Grand Theft Auto games. Like most games these days, it’s also available on multiple platforms, though it plays best on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Batman Arkham City

Arkham City is the first title on our list that does not carry the “Mature” rating. Instead, the ESRB has rated this one “Teen.” The game has received very high acclaim and is well liked by both teenage and adult gamers. Of course, you’ll probably want to have played Batman Arkham Asylum first, as this is a direct sequel. Again, this one is available on several platforms (even the upcoming Wii U sometime in 2012), but it plays best on the consoles.

Battlefield 3

This is one you’ll definitely want to get for the PC. As an online first-person shooter, the PC version offers the best controller options and server support. Even though it’s rated “Mature,” animated war-time violence and some strong language is as bad as the game gets (really more on the level of Arkham City). The Battlefield series has always been a fan favorite in the first-person shooter genre, and Battlefield 3 is no exception.

Don’t be afraid to get adventurous and wander over to our Video Game Section. There are hundreds of very highly rated games to give you great gift ideas, and be sure to keep an eye on our blog for even more great Holiday Helper guides to come.

Price

The price tag on a high-end gaming computer has always been a deterrent for those looking to get into PC gaming. When the PS3 Slim is just $300, why spend thousands on a gaming PC? Well, there’s a counterargument. We’ve come to the point where a computer is almost a necessity in every household, and typically speaking, if you spend about $300 more on a new PC (opting for a video card and CPU upgrade), you’ll be pretty well suited to play most high-end PC games as well. This round is a tie.

Graphics

When they first hit the market, the Xbox 360 and PS3 were both nearly on par with modern gaming PC’s in terms of video graphics capability. The problem is that consoles get stuck in the era they’re created in, while PCs see advancement every year. Over the past 5 years since the current generation consoles’ release, PC hardware has quadrupled in performance, leading to spectacular leaps in gaming visual effects. Point, PC.

Learning Curve

Gaming on a console is simple, just turn it on, pop in the disc, and start playing. On a PC, it’s not so simple. First you have to install the game; then you usually have to fiddle with a few settings, maybe install a patch or two…It’s not rocket science, but it does take a bit of an adjustment compared to the simplicity of console gaming. This ties it up.

Controls

Gaming controls are generally a matter of personal preference. For the First Person Shooter crowd, playing games like Portal 2 and Left 4 Dead 2, the aiming accuracy of a PC’s mouse and keyboard is the typical choice. Adventure gamers tend to prefer a gamepad like an Xbox or PS3 controller. The PC holds the advantage here, supporting many gamepads (including the Xbox 360 controller) as well as a mouse and keyboard. The Wii certainly gives the PC’s controller options a run for their money, but we think they still manage the win. PC takes the lead, 2 to 1.

Multiplayer

Online gaming is definitely the direction multiplayer games are taking, and the online world was essentially tailor made for the PC. Compared to consoles, online games on PC’s have more dedicated servers for smoother connections, better match making, and versatile communication options. Consoles are really playing catch-up hear; however, they do have one key advantage: offline multiplayer. All you need is an extra controller. For the PC, your buddy would need to lug over his own PC as well as his own copy of the game, and you’d need to be able to network your PC’s together. Each has their strong points, but this round is a tie.

Longevity

The key difference between PC and console gaming is how long your hardware will last. The best looking PC games also need the newest, fastest PC hardware. This means that awesome PC game you’re waiting for next month may not run on your 3-year old gaming laptop. Consoles don’t have that problem. If the game is made for your console, it’ll work, no matter how old.

Yeah, this means it’s a draw, but we feel PC gaming should come first for those who think they might be interested in computers for more than just gaming. If it’s only about the games, a console will do just fine.

1: Portal 2

Portal 2 is everything you could possibly love from the original Portal (like witty humor, exciting puzzles, and insane sentient robots set to make your life a living hell) plus an entirely new game mode: Cooperative Multiplayer. Portal 2 truly is nothing short of amazing. We just wish it were a bit longer; both game modes only last about 12 hours in total.

2: Dead Space 2

If you like suspenseful horror, the Dead Space series is for you. Dead Space 2 keeps the same gruesomely terrifying game play as its predecessor but with an added flare of more action. It also includes a fun, though somewhat limited, team based multiplayer mode for some extra depth.

3: Total War: Shogun 2

Shogun 2 is certainly one of the lesser known hit titles of the year, but it still turns out to be a very enjoyable strategy title. It combines both turn-based and real-time strategy together into a unique experience. It is often praised for bringing the Total War series back to its roots.

4: Crysis 2

Crytek games have always been praised for pushing the envelope of graphics performance, and Crysis 2 was no exception (though some wish Crytek pushed further than it did). Crysis 2 took the series out of the tropical jungle and into the concrete jungle and refined the game play experience. It also adds a critically acclaimed multiplayer mode that rivals Call of Duty’s Modern Warfare 2.

5: DiRT 3

DiRT 3 is the current leader when it comes to PC Racing Simulators. Even though it only focuses on Rally Racing, which disappoints some, it maintains a lot of widespread appeal with additional party modes, such as Zombie Infection and Capture the Flag. It also includes a new Hardcore Mode for dedicated racers who want to test their skill.

We also have many more PC games in our PC Games Category. Just sort by alaScore to help find the most popular.

Press Conferences

Before E3 even started this year, both Microsoft and Sony held press conferences on June 6^th. Microsoft went first, and unlike Sony and Nintendo, Microsoft didn’t have any new hardware to show off and chose to focus only on games. Starting with one of its most anticipated titles, Microsoft demoed Modern Warfare 3, following it with Gears of War 3, Mass Effect 3, and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Above all else, Microsoft showed how well these titles integrate with Xbox Kinect’s motion and voice based commands.

Sony’s press conference revolved around its NGP (Next Gaming Portable), finally giving it an official name: The PlayStation Vita. With demos showcasing its 5-inch OLED touch screen, rear touchpad, front and rear facing cameras, and Sixaxis motion sensing, the PlayStation Vita gained a lot of attention. It also features an industry first quad-core processor, capable of producing over 133 million Polygons per second, roughly half the performance of the PS3. Sony hopes to release it in time for the 2011 holiday season, and given its exciting start, the PlayStation Vita is expected to be one of the hottest selling devices this year.

Nintendo held its press conference on the first official day of E3 2011. It was all about the new Wii U, which quickly became the star of the entire E3 show this year. The Wii U brings a much needed hardware upgrade to the Wii, allowing it to display 1080p content over HDMI. Its graphics core has also been overhauled, which judging by the tech demo, now outperforms both the Xbox 360 and PS3 by a wide margin. But all of that wasn’t even the interesting bit. What really stirred things up was the new controller, featuring a 6.2-inch full color touch screen, accelerometer/gyro, front facing camera, and of course the traditional buttons. The built in screen allows for additional views when playing certain games, and even the capability to stream gameplay directly from the console itself, negating the need for a TV screen. The only downside to the Wii U is that it won’t be launching until at least April of 2012.

The Games

Games are always a big part of E3, and this year was no exception. Among the most popular titles was Duke Nukem Forever, which was finally released just the other day. Despite demanding the majority of the attention during E3, Duke Nukem Forever is receiving rather poor reviews now that it has launched.

Bioshock Infinite was by far the most loved and best received title at the event. It stays true to the feel of the original Bioshock, while introducing a stunning new environment (a city in the clouds), some slightly refreshed graphics, and optional extras (such as compatibility with PlayStation Move).

Other titles included Uncharted 3, one of the best looking games at the expo; Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, sure to become one of the best selling RPGs of the year; Batman: Arkham City, a potential candidate for Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year; Rayman Origins, a great blast from the past and worthy platformer; and Star Wars: The Old Republic, an up-and-coming MMO RPG.

If you are thinking about upping your computer’s graphics performance, here’s a list of some of the best dedicated video cards for popular price points.

Best GPU Under $100: AMD Radeon HD 5570 and HD 5670

The Radeon HD 5570 can turn just about any budget computer into a manageable gaming system, and at just $65, it’s easy on the wallet. It will play most titles with moderately high settings at 720p resolutions, and even 1080p for some. At just $10 more, the HD 5670 will give you about 20% more performance. The best thing about both of these cards is that they have very low power requirements, meaning it’s very likely that they will work in most commercial desktops.

Best GPU for about $120: AMD Radeon HD 5770 (and HD 6770)

The Radeon HD 5770 offers a perfect balance between price and performance, easily making it the best valued video card on the market. It can play most games at 1080p resolutions while keeping detail settings relatively high. The HD 6770 is simply a newer version of the HD 5770 and offers the exact same performance.

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Best GPU for about $180: AMD Radeon HD 6850

If you’re looking to get into some serious PC gaming but don’t want to spend some serious money, the HD 6850 is a great place to start. It’s capable of playing even the latest games at 1080p resolutions with nearly every settings maxed out. Nvidia’s GTX 460 1GB also offers similar performance, but the HD 6850 is generally cheaper.

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Best GPU for about $220: AMD Radeon HD 6870 and Nvidia GTX 560 Ti

Both the HD 6870 and GTX 560 Ti should be able to play just about any game at 1080p resolutions with the settings cranked up to the max. They’re even capable of playing some titles at 2560×1600, though may require some slightly lowered detail settings. Nvidia’s GTX 560 Ti edges out a bit more performance than the HD 6870, but it also costs about $25 more.

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Best GPU for $250 to $300: AMD Radeon HD 6950

Coming in both 1GB and 2GB flavors, the HD 6950 is about the highest performing video card that still carries a practical price tag. Expect to be able to play at 2560×1600 with detail settings maxed out for most titles, though you may have to settle for 1080p resolutions to play some of the latest titles maxed out.

Best GPU when cost isn’t an issue: AMD Radeon HD 6990 and Nvidia GTX 590

Once you go past $300, cost per performance becomes much less practical, making it difficult to recommend anything past that point, but if you want to play the most demanding of games at 2560×1600 with every feature and setting turned up to 11, regardless of cost, one of these cards is for you.

PC games are also excellent last minute buys since many of them can be purchased online as a direct download.

This means they’ll almost never be sold out, and you don’t have to worry about paying for overnight shipping (or any shipping) to ensure they’ll make it on time.

Direct downloads can be purchased through gaming portals like Steam or often found on the game publisher’s website.

But enough about all that. Let’s check out some of the top games this year.

Top Games for PC:

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty

Starcraft II is the long awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed Starcraft series. Even though the original came out over 12 years ago, it remained amongst the most popular real time strategy titles throughout the world. Why did it take Blizzard so long to produce a sequel? Because they wanted to make sure they got it just right, and they did.

Sid Meier’s Civilization V

The second most popular PC game on alaTest is yet another strategy game. Civ V is the latest installment of the popular Civilization series, started way back in 1991. With Civ V comes enhanced graphics, new features, and a completely new approach to the game play. It’s days of fun for both Civ veterans and newbies alike.

Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout is yet another old series getting a second wind. Last year’s Fallout 3 was an enjoyable return to the 1997 classic, but still left much to be desired for players of the original title. Fallout: New Vegas returns to the satirical roots of the Fallout series turning it into one of the best games of the year.

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is currently the second highest rated Xbox 360 Game on alaTest, and even though it’s the exact same game for the PC, it can’t quite compete with the top PC titles (PC really does have the best titles out there), dropping it down to fourth position on the charts. Still, Mass Effect 2 offers a in-depth storyline, excellent graphics, and exciting game play.

F1 2010

Gentlemen, start your engines! F1 2010 is the epitome of PC racing, putting you in the driver seat of your very own Formula One race car, racing on all 19 of the FIA Formula One 2010 Championships in near photorealistic beauty. Experience the thrill of racing in realistic dynamic weather conditions, moments after tweaking your car to peak performance.

All these games are just the tip of the iceberg. There are literally hundreds of highly rated PC games on alaTest, including The Sims 3, Battlefield Bad Company 2, Dragon Age Origins, World of Warcraft, EVE Online, Left 4 Dead 2, and many many more. Go ahead and take a look at our PC Gaming Section and decide which are your favorites.