Great gifts for gaming grads

The hottest ticket in consoles is still on most gamers' short list of must have items.

The PlayStation 4's beautiful graphics, smart interface, blazing performance, near-perfect controller and better indie offerings give it a slight edge over the Xbox One as both consoles enter their second year.

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While the PS4 remains our overall preferred choice in the next-gen console race, the Xbox One's significant first-year course corrections make it a better deal than ever, and a much better bargain than when it first debuted.

Don't forget, regardless of which one we think is better, if all your grad's friends play on Xbox One, it will be first on his list.

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Maybe your game-addicted grad already owns an Xbox One or PS4. So why not surprise him or her with a Wii U?

Nintendo's console has overcome many of its original growing pains to deliver a unique gaming experience chock full of exclusive titles like Super Smash Bros. and Bayonetta 2 -- not to mention a long list of great downloadable retro Mario and Zelda titles that you can't get on any other current home console.

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The "The New Nintendo 3DS XL (pictured right) has improved 3D head-tracking, which is a big step up from its predecessor, and its performance boost makes a noticeable difference.

If the person you're buying for prefers the mobile gaming experience, the 3DS XL is the best Nintendo portable to get.

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The PlayStation Vita has come of age and become a refined piece of hardware and an excellent place to play a lot of games.

If your grad already owns a Playstation 4, the Vita will let him or her take those games on the road with this handheld.

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The bold Alienware Alpha makes good on its promise to meld the gaming PC and living room game console.

Grads who like the PC gaming experience over mainstream consoles will like that they can take their PC exclusive games to the living room. It even works with a standard Xbox 360 controller.

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If your grad is a cutting edge gamer, he or she is going to need cutting edge hardware.

One of the first laptops that can drive games at 4K resolutions, the Asus G751 is an expensive but capable alternative to gaming desktops.

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Meticulously designed for a very specific hardcore audience, Bloodborne (PS4 only) is a marvel along those parameters.

If your graduate is the type of player who looks for a challenge, this is the game for them.

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Does your graduate like first person shooter (FPS) games?

Battlefield Hardline plays more like a cable-TV cop drama than the traditional Battlefield military shooter, and the new approach is a welcome one. The narrative oozes good-cop-bad-cop cheese, but it's a fresh enough take on storytelling to make it a great choice for FPS fans.

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One of the most celebrated fighting franchises in all of gaming is finally ready for next-gen consoles.

Newly released Mortal Kombat X is the hottest fighting game on the market right now, with new characters and tons of gruesome fighting action.

If your grad is a Mortal Kombat fan, he or she will definitely appreciate this long-awaited next-gen sequel.

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