Gamers, like most humans, tend to be partisans. They take sides when console wars erupt, choosing systems from Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony based on a vague sense of corporate identity, or an abiding love of a specific franchise (think Zelda, Halo, or the more recent Uncharted series). A smaller faction of gamers rally against consoles altogether, choosing the pricier, but usually more jaw-dropping capabilities of PC gaming. We're not here to address them — this a buyer's guide for gaming's mainstream, and specifically for anyone deciding on which system to give as a gift. Luckily, there are fewer choices today than there were even a year ago. Luckier still, we've laid out to whom the current gaming consoles are best suited, and what's in it for the gift-giver well past the holiday season.
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