Video-Games to Purchase from 2017: Only the Silver Standard

To reach the golden standard in video-gaming in 2017 is no easy foot, as there have been so many potentials this year that it feels like almost a year wasted for gaming innovations. For those less appropriated with the current affairs of next-generation console gaming, there is a lot to be excited about on the PS4 and Xbox One this wintery festive season as we crawl our way into December, the final month for 2017.

The power of the PS4 and Xbox One are only bettered by their better half's, the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One Scorpio, the better of the half's enabling the ability to play games in full 4K 1080p graphics perfection, assuming of course that there is a 4K TV hooked up to the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X (Scorpio).

Reminiscing on the old gaming days: Remember back in 2005 when people still gamed on the PlayStation 2, the glory days for video-game sales success, as there would be a platinum sticker assigned to all of the games that sold past a certain amount. Then, the Xbox 360 has the classics stickers, but this by no means compared to the silver outer layer of the platinum disc box packaging that the PS2 had.

Today's gaming days: Well, there is no platinum covered boxes for the best of the best video-games for the year, and instead, video-game buyers are left to figure out for themselves which of the games are most worth having, or perhaps even giving as gifts to loved ones. On PlayStation 2, making a big deal about their platinum (best-selling) titles, is that it made shifting through the masses of games on the library as simple as it could ever be to know which games are going to be the most badass. Then again, this circles back to the marketing hypes for video-games that went as high as 2005, and now the internet is there is great volume to tell customers exactly which of the games are the best-sellers, and thereby most favoured by the mass audiences of console gamers.

It makes a person wonder, does anyone actually miss the platinum designed boxes that were made for the best-selling PlayStation 2 games? Maybe, but the digital age is taking over, and with it, the end of physical disc video-games, as more and more people switch to the far easier option of simply downloading the full-games from the online marketplaces, either through Steam (for PC), the PSN (PlayStation 4) store, or the Xbox LIVE (Xbox One) marketplace.

I for one, miss the platinum designed grey edged boxes that made the best PlayStation 2 games stand out on store shelves. Now, Amazon has the cog, and whilst they are at the staring wheel there is simply no need for specially designed PlayStation 4 or Xbox One boxes, as they have a game review network of mass opinions to make it clear which of the games are the best.

Here is the total list for the golden standard video-games in 2017:

• Call of Duty: WWII (out now - launched 3rd November, 2017)

That's everything. But, fear not for the world of next-generation console gaming in 2017, as personally, I hold the key to the golden standard extremely close to my chest, for not just any old video-game can be awarded the highest badge of honour. The golden standard, therefore has prominence in a small nutshell for the video-game marketplace in a single year, and in 2017, the only video-game to impress, and then impress some more on all fronts is Call of Duty: WWII.

In 2016, there were no golden games, and last years Call of Duty title, Infinite Warfare was a bleak gaming experience at best, and would have been awarded the bronze standard for gaming in that particular year. On the other hand, Call of Duty may have been shown in a poor light as of last year moving all the way back to 2010, the year when the Call of Duty title, Black Ops was released. Some would draw Call of Duty as being tired and worn out based on the past few years of franchise instalments, but 2017 has proven this not to be the case, because the one time Call of Duty goes back to its 'boots on the ground' roots, basing the game around the events of World War 2, the worn out time era for war strategies has once again put Call of Duty back on top. Figuratively speaking of course, as technically Call of Duty's sales from the past few years to indicate that they were already on top, having been the leading title seller since 2007 (all but excluding the years when a new GTA game is released).

The golden standard: therefore, the best video-game to release in 2017 is the one and only, Call of Duty: WWII, the first world war 2 shooter video-game phenomenon that majority gamers will have seen since the last Call of Duty WW2 era game, which would be 2008's World at War, a game released nearly a decade ago.

Now, we move on to the silver standard: Video-game galore. The silver standard video-games that have released in 2017 come in the bucketload, but as with the golden standard, there must only be the shiniest of the silver standard games that make their way to this list.

How to tell if a video-game is the silver standard (the sweet spot between the epic -golden standard, and the average - yet still charming bronze standard)? This list, as these are the video-games that stand out from all of the rest, through either an engaging story mode that comes with all of the trimmings, or perhaps a multiplayer experience that reels with excitement. There must be something super rewarding from playing the individual video-game to be awarded the silver standard, as anything less and it is either a bronze standard game, or come the worst, a none-standard game.

On this page, the silver standard video-games are making their debut, and with Christmas just around the corner, now would be the perfect time to nab yourself some of these silver standard games for pressies, all of which are uniquely designed, and super fun for one reason or another. If they lack that something special, then they wouldn't be awarded the silver standard, period.

Out now - released 14th February, 2017

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Unique selling point: The online side to this game is something worth talking about, as you pick an epic warrior to take into battle, and it is time to tear the other teams side to shreds.

Choose your character carefully, as each warrior comes with different unique abilities, and of course weaponry. There is nothing quite like the smell of warrior gods blood spilling on the floor on Christmas morning to get the gamers juices flowing.

Out now - released 7th March, 2017

Developers: Ubisoft Paris, Massive Entertainment

Unique selling point: Ghost Recon: Wildlands lets you pick and choose your missions from the map, and the entire game is an open world, making it more exciting to do things your way, and take as much, or as little time as you like to get the job done.

Open world games are bigger than ever before in 2017, and it has been a joy to play the third-person shooter, Wildlands, a game that offers so much - you simply cannot for the life of you remember the reason why you held off on buying it this long.

Out now - released 14th February, 2017

Developer: Rebellion Developments

Unique selling point: The sniper has become a popular choice among shooter games over the past decade, and it has only really been the Sniper Elite games series that has made it the one reason to own the games within the series.

Perhaps the most fun element to Sniper Elite 4 is the level of professional tactical shots that you can take with your sniper rifle, and it is never not fun to blow a mans limbs right off from their fully attached body. A gruesome way to take another's life, but sniping in Sniper Elite 4 is the best.

Out now - released 10th October, 2017

Developer: Monolith Productions

Unique selling point: Middle earth, the fictional world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, is still actively being used within the gaming medium, and the Middle-Earth series has been good up to this point.

Now, it is time to take different stronghold positions located around the map, and it is possible to use creatures and monsters to serve you using your dark powers to conquer every stronghold position situated in various sides of the map.

Out now - released 17th November, 2017

Developer: EA DICE

Star Wars: Battlefront II has not been all that well received by the larger gaming community, being deemed overall as a mostly average shooter title.

On the other hand, this is a Star Wars game, and that in itself makes it a desirable title. If you liked the first Star Wars: Battlefront title, which released in 2015, then this game will be of some enjoyment, and there have been some noticeable improvements to the games multiplayer, with there now being space battles.

Compared to the original Star Wars: Battlefront games, you know, the ones that released over a decade ago on the PlayStation 2, these were some of the greatest shooter video-games from the decade, and moving onto the next decade we have been graced with the presence of the return of the Star Wars: Battlefront series, and it is nothing like its PlayStation 2 predecessor counterparts.

Now, Star Wars: Battlefront is a next-generation console series (for the PC, Xbox One and PS4) that's key element is its multiplayer. The usual, a match with 6 v 6, with drivable heavy armoured vehicles, and the unlock Jedi heroes, this is a fun game if you are all about the Star Wars entertainment, and enjoy the scenery that is famous in the seemingly endless Star Wars movies.

A part of me wants to rekindle my love for Star Wars: Battlefront because of my days enjoying the PlayStation days way back in 2004 when they were still all the craze playing the original Star Wars: Battlefront series on the PlayStation 2 (these titles were developed by Pandemic Studios). In reality, the PS4/Xbox One/PC Star Wars: Battlefront series (2015-2017), is nothing like its counterparts from the past, as this series is now developed by EA DICE, the makers of the Battlefield franchise.

Having played Star Wars: Battlefront II (2017 version), the game is very addictive in its multiplayer, and there are some cool things that were not present in the first, except the loot box system in "Battlefront II" does seem to be broken. Not had all that much experience with the loot box system in Battlefront II, but if the internet has told us anything, it's that it truly sucks in the latest Star Wars warfront game, for ease of titling, "Battlefront II".

Out now - released 27th October, 2017

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Assassin's Creed is a third-person action-adventure giant among the video-game industry, and this is the tenth Assassin's Creed instalment, titled Assassin's Creed: Origins.

The setting is something that Assassin's Creed, as a franchise, is extremely good at doing, as by constantly changing the time eras that your lead character must travel back to, the game series always feels fresh and exciting. Assassin's Creed, or as I like to call it, "what-Prince-of-Persia-should-have-been".

Now, the setting is Egypt, and the time era should need no introduction, as suddenly we are being thrust back into the dark ages when Pharaohs ruled the desert lands of Egypt, and spread fear across great landscapes, with armies that stood above some of Europe's greatest forces.

Finally, the last and greatest video-game to have released in 2017, the uniquely golden standard Call of Duty: WWII, an ever so impressive World War 2 video-game that has once again proven that Call of Duty is the franchise that defines the standards for online gaming in 2017.

Out now - released on 3rd November, 2017

Developer: Sledgehammer Games

Call of Duty is the franchise king for shooter video-games, and 2017 has finally brought the best-selling first-person-shooter franchise back to its routes, and this is no less than yet another World War 2 epic, titled Call of Duty: WWII. "WWII" huh, as it is so commonly named here on this blog, now thats how you define the game for what it is simply about, cutting away all of the creative word plays, and instead (through being titled "WWII") get straight down to business.

Enjoy the history behind World War 2? Well, this is the one-stop game for all your fascinations with the WW2 US military campaign to take back Europe from the Nazi Germany regime. Like epic multiplayer action? Again, "WWII" has got it covered, as Call of Duty practically sells itself on its multiplayer mode alone, and this year they have brought something entirely new to the table - in the form of the newly added multiplayer game mode, titled War. Still, wanting more? Sledgehammer Games have all exits covered, as they even have a surreal Nazi zombies additional game mode, and this experience is unlike anything that the rest of the game provides, as there is no mistaking the classic Call of Duty zombies mode, and "WWII" zombies is almost as pleasing to play as Treyarch's original zombies works.

What are the other video-games that the people are talking about? Plenty, and that is the problem. We need to scour through the lesser standard video-game titles from 2017, and move directly to the ones that need hours upon hours of TLC to get the most out of these addictive and compelling games. So enters, the other mentionable silver standard video-games.

• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (awarded the silver standard)
• PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds - available on PC, and coming to console (PS4) in mid-December (awarded the silver standard)
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege (awarded the silver standard)

Any other video-game greats from 2017, let us know down in the comments section.