Holiday console guide 2014: Xbox One

If you’re looking for a great gift for a gamer, the Xbox One has become a tantalizing option this year.

The XB1 could reverse its fortunes in the battle for console market domination this holiday season for a couple reasons: It has many of the same games as its competitor, the Playstation 4. It has some interactive gaming options with the Kinect, a camera/scanner that lets people play dancing and movement games among other things.

Perhaps best of all, Microsoft has dropped the price on XB1 consoles by $50, making it cheaper than the PS4.

Most XB1 options come with a 500 GB hard drive, which means gamers can save more games, music and movies straight to the console. There are several console/game bundles on the market for $349, including “Madden NFL 15,” “Assassin’s Creed: Unity”, and “Sunset Overdrive.”

There’s some pretty good games to look into this holiday season as well:

 “Halo: The Master Chief Collection”: Rated M,

available Nov. 11

This huge release brings most of the “Halo” series to the next generation of Xbox. “Halo: Combat Evolved,” “Halo 2,” “Halo 3” and “Halo 4” are part of this game, as well as a multiplayer beta to the much-anticipated “Halo 5.” This is a game for older gamers due to its warfare and violence, but it’s a good title to grab for those players who can handle mature content.

 “Assassin’s Creed: Unity”: Rated M, available Nov. 11

This stealth-based game is part of an intriguing series based on history. If you have a gamer who loves interesting plots and complex stories, this is a great game to pick up. This is a rated M game, so it’s probably better for older gamers.

 “Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor”: Rated M,

available now

This game-of-the-year contender has many people absorbed in the Lord of the Rings universe once more. “Shadow of Mordor” takes strategy, stealth combat and a lot of baddies to kill and puts them together to create an incredibly fun, acclaimed title. Older gamers will likely get more out of this title, as it does have violent content.

 “LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham”: Rated E10+, available Nov. 11

The latest LEGO game promises to be a great time for family members. The LEGO series may have predictable gameplay, but it also has a lot of fun puzzles and multiplayer for families to enjoy. A good bet for gamers of any age.

 “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare”: Rated M,

available now

Odds are you’ve likely picked this up for your favorite gamer, but just in case you haven’t heard, the latest “Call of Duty” game has been released. It’s still a shooter, it still has adult themes, but Kevin Spacey plays an important character in the game’s campaign (read: story) mode and “Call of Duty” multiplayer is still pretty addictive. Definitely for older gamers, especially the online multiplayer.

None of these games trip your trigger? Check out titles like “Destiny,” “The Evil Within,” “Minecraft: XBox One Edition,” “Far Cry 4,” “Forza Horizon 2,” “Madden NFL 15,” or “Alien: Isolation” for more ideas.

—Look to the Herald over the next few weeks as we cover more consoles and titles for discerning buyers this holiday season.

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