Assassin's Creed ll
Assassin’s Creed ll is Ubisoft’s follow up to the fastest selling new IP in video game history, Assassin’s Creed, and is available to buy at prices from £39.99.
The game uses the same gameplay style as its predecessor but now there are added features with a stronger emphasis on open-world exploration, greater interaction, nonlinear gameplay and more variety in missions. There’s also a new improved in-game economy. The protagonist, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young Italian noble come assassin, is also more clearly delineated as a character. In fact he’s a bit of a lady’s man who possesses a certain panache and some endearingly human traits.
The location is new too, set against the beautiful backdrop of Renaissance Italy in the 15th century, the action follows an epic story of corruption, conspiracy and brutal murder as Ezio strives to exact revenge for the deaths of his family members.
As in Assassin’s Creed, the story revolves around the Animus, the machine that views the memories of the ancestors of Desmond Miles in 2012, who comes from a long line of assassins. The action features some challenging experiences as through Ezio, the player becomes a master assassin and learns how to brandish weapons, disarm enemies and use their weapons against them, helped or hindered on the way by real-life historic characters. These include Machiavelli, Pope Alexander Vl and Leonardo da Vinci, who acts as a kind of Q figure from James Bond, providing miraculous inventions such as flying machines to assist Ezio to use on his mission.
There’s a welcome return to free running with added swimming and flying. With a more deeply and finely tuned combat system players roam through Venice, Tuscany and Florence using a host of new weapons created by Leonardo including swords, poison blades, miniature firearms, cutlasses, maces, spears and daggers. There’s even a database that gives information on historical figures and landmarks. It’s a game that combines an absorbing storyline with superb graphics and thrilling action and it’s waiting to be played by you.
David Bowie features in new Lego Rock Band
Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment has announced that the legendary rock star David Bowie is being immortalised in a Christmas edition of the blockbuster video game LEGO Rock Band, to be released in November 2009.
The chameleon-like performer has reinvented himself several times, but never previously as a mini LEGO figure and now, sporting a dapper shirt and 1980’s style mullet, he joins the illustrious list of stars and performers who’ve featured in the interactive family music action game in the past including the father of punk rock Iggy Pop who also provides the voice-over in tutorials.
The game is compatible with the existing Guitar Hero and Rock Band equipment and allows up to four players to use instrument controllers to play lead, bass, drums and vocals on well-known rock songs. Players can use Lego bricks to customise their mini-figurine avatars and notes are represented by coloured Lego bricks.
The whole family can metamorphose into rock gods as they as they attempt to play guitar, drum or provide screaming vocals on classic rock songs like Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love a Bad Name,’ Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’ and of course, Bowie’s cool 80’s classic ‘Let’s Dance’ as well as favourites selected with the younger audience in mind including Elton John’s ‘Crocodile Rock’ or Ray Parker Jr’s ‘Ghostbusters’. The idea is to successfully complete the songs to earn Lego studs which may be used to enhance players’ avatars, vehicles, entourage and “rock den”. There will also be a chance for competitors to demolish buildings and summon up storms with their demon playing and vocal prowess. With a new Super-Easy mode added for young players the game works across the generations and unites families.
LEGO Rock Band will be released on Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and DS on 27th November 2009.
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Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks featuring our hero, Link, brings us a new adventure with a new story, puzzles and a new mode of transport - a train. Take care along your route and watch your speed - obstacles and enemies lie in wait to derail you but you have an on-board cannon and whistle to protect you against your foes and scare off animals in your way.
Accompanying Link through the dungeons is a Phantom, a suit of armour that responds to his commands - players can control him with touch screen technology and the brave companion can walk through fire or lava, be used as a platform to carry Link above dangers, or even block Link from harm. Link uses a variety of new items and weapons, including the Whirlwind, which players activate by blowing into the microphone of the Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system. As with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, players can draw notes on the in-game maps using the stylus on the touch screen.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is released 4th December.
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Professor Layton Release Date
Professor Layton is a puzzle and adventure game series from Nintendo DS. Join the Professor and his young apprentice as they enter the curious village of St Mystere, where they must unlock puzzles, solves riddles and reveal secrets.
Now the two intrepid mystery solvers have stumbled upon yet another adventure - the death of Professor Layton’s mentor, Dr. Schrader. Was it the mysterious Pandora’s Box, rumoured to kill all who open it? Professor Layton and Luke find a clue that begins their adventure: a train ticket for the Molentary Express.
Professor Layton’s and Pandoras Box is released for Nintendo DS on 25th September.
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Walk With Me! Release Date
Walk With Me! is a family friendly personal training programme from Nintendo DS. Track your daily routine with the Activity Meter then after your session, wirelessly beam the data from the Activity Meter to your DS/DSi and hey presto - Walk With Me! converts it into numbers of ’steps’ so you can accurately record your exercise routine and results, while Walk With Me! gives extra tips and advice. You can also set yourself targets based on your results and record your satisfaction levels with your progress.
For the first time you can use your Mii character in a DS game to represent you which can be wirelessly downloaded from your Wii. If you do not have a Mii character then you can create one within the software.
A big feature of the game is that you can track up to 4 people’s activity per cartridge enabling comparisons with family members, friends or colleagues.
Walk With Me! is released for Nintendo DS on 5th June.
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Indiana Jones Release Date
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings is the third in the series of games developed by LucasArts. Set in World War II, the adventure takes place just a year after The Last Crusade and almost 20 years before The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Now you can crack Indy’s whip using your Wii or engage in strategic gun play, daring escapes and awesome chases (including elephant, white water rafting and byplane chases). Use your brains to conquer the challenging terrain, not only in ancient lands but also on the streets of San Francisco.
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings is released for Wii on 12th June and will also be available on PS2, PS3, Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.
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Mystery Stories Release Date
The number one PC download game, Mystery Stories has now come to Nintendo DS. Our story starts on a deserted dream-island somewhere in the Caribbean. The biggest adventure of your life is about to begin. You take to the search and find a dark secret, the key to the biggest treasure trove known to man. Next we’re off to Berlin and with over 40 different locations this is one intriguing hidden object adventure game.
There are over 180 levels of play and 1,100 objects to find with great story-lines and stunning graphics. Mystery Stories is released on 29th May for Nintendo DS and DSi.
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Assassin's Creed II Release Date
Historical gameplay in an epic story of power, betrayal and revenge. Meet the young noble, Ezio Auditore de Firenze, of Florence, Italy and ancestor of Desmond Miles, who lost his family to a feuding rival clan.
Truth is Written in Blood…
“I will seek vengeance upon those who have betrayed my family, and uncover a conspiracy bigger than I could have imagined. I am Ezio Auditore di Firenze. I am an Assassin.”
With 20 new weapons designed by Leonardo Da Vinci, including access to his flying machine, Ezio is now also able to swim, allowing the game to feature the canals of Venice as hiding spots and for means of assasination by drowning.
Assassin’s Creed II is released for XBox 360, PS3 and MS Windows on 13th November 2009.
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Modern Warfare 2 Release Date
The sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is released under the shortened title, Modern Warfare 2 in November and will continue the CoD storyline.
It’s now several years since the conclusion of Call of Duty 4. Sergeant “Soap” MacTavish has returned as a non-playable character, and has been promoted to captain in the Special Air Service. MacTavish leads an elite commando unit to counter a new Russian terrorist group. Locations for the missions vary between the mountains of Russia to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The first person shooter will be released worldwide on 10th November for PC, PS3 and XBOX360.
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Pokemon Platinum Release Date
Pokémon Platinum is an enhanced new version of Diamond & Pearl. A grand new adventure, it is set in the Sinnoh region of the Pokémon world which is a brand new Distortion World, where the normal physical laws of the universe do not apply. The characters have been given new outfits to cope with the extreme cold temperatures of their new world and our heroes return including Giritana and the rare and exclusive appearance of Shymin, previously only available on Pokemon Diamond and Pearl.
Marvel at the special features which have had game reviewers lavishing high praise on this new release:
“Pokémon fans probably won’t be found wanting with Platinum. Even after you finish up the main quest, stop messing around with the Battle Recorder, and clear out the Battle Frontier, you’ve still got side quests and contests to keep you busy. And once you venture back down the Pokémon rabbit hole, you won’t be coming up again for a while.”
Pokemon Platinum is released for Nintendo DS on 22nd May.
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