What we are playing is a weekly column published on Sunday. Select members of the team talk about the games they’ve been playing over the past week and which they’re most looking forward to.

What We Are Playing

Nick Santangelo – The arrival of Christmas could mean only one thing: it was time to break the [easyazon-link asin=”B000TT2D0M” locale=”us”]Rock Band[/easyazon-link] instruments out of the closet and knock the dust off. It really is amazing how that game causes a room full of people to go from yelling “Are you guys serious with that crap?!” from the kitchen to crowding around the mic and yelling, “Do you have anything by [Favorite Band]?!” I also continued my quest to finish [easyazon-link asin=”B0056WJA6M” locale=”us”]Darksiders II[/easyazon-link] so that I can find the time to play some of the PC games I bought/was given during the Steam Holiday Sale. I’m about 11 hours in now, and I really like the game, but Vigil sure does like making the player collect three things. Repeatedly. Also, [easyazon-link asin=”B0050SYX8W” locale=”us”]Halo 4[/easyazon-link] multiplayer. Also repeatedly.

Chris Leggett – I’m rounding out 2012 on a retro kick. I’m replaying [easyazon-link asin=”B003O6E800″ locale=”us”]The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time[/easyazon-link] on my 3DS. And as a newly reformed Metal Gear fan, I’ve decided to revisit the game that put me off the series so long ago: Metal Gear Solid 2. So far, so good. I feel like Im in a better headspace to accept its crazy storyline for what it is now. On the XBLA front, I’m finally making my way through the fantastic Mark of the Ninja!

Matt Liparota – Although Christmas was good to me on the gaming front, this week only one game meant a danged thing to me: [easyazon-link asin=”B007WQOIGW” locale=”us”]The Walking Dead[/easyazon-link]. I wrapped it up just after the holiday and, beyond the shadow of a doubt, it is the best game I’ve played all year based on its narrative alone. Clementine is the breakout star of the year (although I think there’s room on that list for poor little Duck as well) and even days after completing it I find myself revisiting the game, decisions I made and that haunting final episode (including that confrontation near the end – a masterful piece of storytelling that forces the player to answer for the decisions they made throughout the game, good and bad). I can’t recommend this game highly enough – if you’ve missed out on the game so far, get out there and play it.

Ryan Thompson – I got the Rock Band 3 keyboard for Christmas — that’ll be next week. Over the holidays I see my brother, and the two of us throw down in [easyazon-link asin=”B0012N3ZXS” locale=”us”]Street Fighter IV[/easyazon-link] (I play Ibuki, Makoto, and Chun Li) and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (where I play Ryu). My brother plays Vega (Claw) in all of them, and his footsies are brutal. I’m holding my own as he prepares for EVO this summer! I also received [easyazon-link asin=”B008OQTRYW” locale=”us”]Sonic Racing Transformed[/easyazon-link] and the [easyazon-link asin=”B004HYK956″ locale=”us”]Skyrim[/easyazon-link]expansions for Christmas — I’m looking forward to playing them when I get back to Minneapolis.

Scott Baker – I’m out in Mexico vacationing with my family, so I brought my Vita along. I was saving [easyazon-link asin=”B0050SW8OS” locale=”us”]Uncharted: Golden Abyss[/easyazon-link] for this, and that game’s graphics have me floored. Gimmicks aside, it also plays like a solid Uncharted game. I hope the Vita can find its legs to live a long fruitful life, because it is the perfect handheld for me. I picked up The Walking Dead on sale this week so that is on my list for when I get back.

Nathan Bowring – I got a few games for Christmas, but the one I’m focusing on is Halo 4. Already put in a lot of hours in a few days, especially in the SWAT and Regicide game types. Haven’t touched the campaign yet, but plan to start that soon. Also started a co-op game of [easyazon-link asin=”B0050SYK44″ locale=”us”]Borderlands 2[/easyazon-link] with my sister. We’ve just made it to Sanctuary, and so far the adventure has been a (surprisingly hilarious) blast.

This year is almost over! What do you look forward to playing in the new year?