Holiday Gift Guide 09: Shooters

What’s a year in gaming without a good Shooter? Our favourite pastime is only made better by the tallying up of a sweet killing spree. Gone are the days of multitaps and numerous controllers lying around; us gamers do our fragging exclusively online. As the FPS genre grows we’ve begun to see that glimmer of beauty behind the smokey war-zone, an in-depth story that’s more captivating than the weapon you’re wielding. Yeah we love to shoot and kill but that’s not the point; all of the games below have pushed the limit once again in terms of originality and gameplay, and continue to do so every year. So without further ado, here’s our Gift Guide for 2009’s best Shooters, take your pick soldier!

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  Killzone 2

  PS3 | Price: $60 (£40)

  Released all the way back in February, how could we forget the beast that is Killzone 2. Probably the only true next-gen FPS I’ve played to date, it really puts players on the front lines. War’s still waging on against the Helghast and the ISA have launched an assault on the enemy’s homeland, Helghan. The jaw-dropping graphics are worth the price tag alone, and with a class based online multiplayer and DLC bursting at the seams, it’s more than enough reason to buckle up and get ready for one hell of a ride!

• 

  Halo 3: ODST

  360 | Price: $50 (£35)

  It’s hard to notice Master Chief is missing from this brilliant spin on the popular Halo series. Assuming the role of the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, after a failed orbital drop, the player wanders a desolate New Mombasa searching for comrades and unravelling the mystery of what took place prior to the crash. Bundled with all of Halo 3‘s multiplayer maps to date, Firefight and access to the Halo: Reach Beta next year, makes this a must-have on anyone’s Christmas list.

• 

  Borderlands

  360/PS3/PC | Price: $50 (£40)

  Before you’re thrown out into the wild west be sure to lock and load, for this is gonna be a bumpy ride. Playing alone, or with up to four players you take the role of a mercenary on the planet Pandora, in hope of discovering the fabled existence of The Vault. Drop in and out with friends with online co-op while you try and stay on your toes in this gorgeous, mind-blowing Action RPG. Amongst a ton of sequels this year, Borderlands comes out swinging as one of 2009‘s best IPs.

• 

  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

  360/PS3/PC | Price: $60 (£45)

  Fans of first person shooters will feel right at home with Modern Warfare 2. Once again you will be fighting an all out war and embodying different characters throughout the conflict between Vladimir Makarov and the Russian Ultranationalists. Delivering 3 dynamic modes of gameplay (single player, co-operative, and online multiplayer) and a truly engaging experience, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a solid choice for the holidays.

• 

  Left 4 Dead 2

  360/PC | Price: $60 (£40)

  Set during the aftermath of the first game, Left 4 Dead 2 takes us down South with a new group of survivors. Although a better game than last year’s, I’m not entirely convinced it deserves the “true sequel” title it’s been given. Saying that, you’ll have to work even harder to survive the infected, with more zombies on the loose, melee weapons and a newly added story-arc intact; Left 4 Dead 2 will see you and your friends through the holiday period, even if it does all seem a bit familiar.