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What A Gamer Would Have Gotten For Christmas In 2009
According toPeople Magazine, one of the best gifts for children aged 9-12 in 2007 was theHannah MontanaDVD Board Game. It includes clips from the show, oodles of trivia, and a bunch of other extras that any fan of the Disney Channel sensation would adore.
But as much as I loved to sing ‘Best of Both Worlds' in the bathroom mirror as a totally not closeted little kid, I had other plans for the festive period that year. As a gamer, I had to finish the fight, explore an underwater dystopia, adventure in the furthest reaches of space, and put a stop to an evil terrorist plot all from the comfort of my living room. What a Christmas it was.
Finish The Fight In Halo 3
TheXbox 360was beginning to hit its stride at the end of 2007. Gone were the harsh early years when the only things you had to play wereGears of WarandViva Pinata, and in their place stood one of many games that would come to define the generation.Halo 3was finally here.
My older brother was very normal, and developed a habit of snapping game discs we owned after completing them so nobody else could. Yes, even at Christmas time.
I grew up in a Halo house where evenings were spent having deathmatches with siblings as we battled for supremacy across Blood Gulch. The story of Master Chief defending humanity from the Covenant was a defining sci-fi story of my childhood, and to see it come to a heroic end during the Christmas period was a memory I’ll never forget.
Even today, if you fancy a cheeky co-op session while the turkey is cooking, dig out the Xbox and throw on the Master Chief Collection for a hot minute. Heck, why not get Nan involved to see if she’s any good with the battle rifle. I would, but my nan’s dead.
Admire Wet T-Shirt Physics In Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
On the other side of the console spectrum was PlayStation Triple Ballin’ which first launched in Europe back in March 2007. But considering the asking price, most of us likely didn’t grab one until Christmas at the earliest. Don’t worry though, there was bugger all to play on it.
But while it was thin on the ground in terms of exclusives, the PS3 came with a cheap and cheerful Blu-ray player and was perfect for showing your friends and family a bunch of pretty games which played like garbage. EnterUncharted: Drake’s FortunefromNaughty Dog, a gorgeous yet janky bit of fun in the sun that would define narrative blockbusters for years to come.
Other PS3 exclusives of the era included Warhawk, Genji 2, and Heavenly Sword. I was hard done by as a PlayStation kid, and still think getting Lair under the tree one year was a form of parental neglect.
I’ll never forget hurling obscenities at the jetski section or trying to figure out the gunplay that felt like Gears of War smeared with vaseline. What I remember most, though, is the physics you saw whenever Nathan Drake took a dip into the wet stuff. Clothing would stick to him just like it would in reality, all while it gradually dried out before your very eyes.
Take Blurry Photos With The Very First iPhone
Now it’s time for something completely different. 2007 was a transitional year for a lot of the technology we used as HD displays became more common and smartphones began to trickle into the market. The first iPhone was a paradigm shift, despite the fact that in 2024 it’s a laughably outdated handset which is only somewhat better than a PDA you’d ask your dad to buy from the Scholastic Book Fair.
Jokes aside, it was fascinating to witness how fast things were progressing as a teen back then, and how the games I played and machines I played them on were changing each and every day.
Flirt With Cute Blue Aliens In Mass Effect
Opening my copy ofMass Effecton Christmas morning will be ingrained in my memory forever. Mostly because the version my parents had bought wasn’t the official retail version, but this cursed Chinese bootleg with fake cover art and some bizarre screenshots on the back which definitely weren’t legit. The game worked though, and before I knew it I was popping plenty of cheevos as Commander Shepard instead of spending time with my family.
Christmas is always a weird one for me when it comes to video games, because the type of things I like to play are narrative-driven experiences where input from your Mum about why their child is flirting with a cute blue alien isn’t welcome. I’d rather do that in my room.
Quickscope Your Nan In Call Of Duty 4
There were so many good games in 2007 that I’m having trouble listing them all here, but I don’t think you can get away without mentioningCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. It wasthegame of the year, and one which would change how shooters would operate forever.
Here are some honourable mentions for the year because I don’t want this piece to go on forever: BioShock, The Orange Box, Guitar Hero 3, God of War 2, Assassin’s Creed, Crackdown. The list goes on…
On Boxing Day, hours before my family would get irresponsibly drunk and forget there were loads of kids to look after, I remember being blown away by the nuke going off in Shock and Awe. Speaking of blow, my older siblings were not afraid of pulling some out at normal family functions. I’m revealing far too much about my dysfunctional childhood here, but they’ll never read any of this so I’m in the clear.
When I played deathmatches against some of my siblings they would complain that “as soon as Jade sees me she shoots and kills me” like that isn’t the point of the game. Skill issue…
Playing Super Mario Galaxy
I wish I had a funny and/or cursed anecdote about this one, but I don’t, it’s just a magical little masterpiece of a platformer that is perfect for a festive play session.
Halo 3
WHERE TO PLAY
In Halo 3, Master Chief must again battle the Covenant and the Flood, this time rounding off the trilogy with a battle to end all battles.
