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.
The Saboteur is set in 1940s Paris
Pandemic Studios invites you to enter the covert world of the saboteur in a stylised 1940s Paris as you attempt to overturn the Nazi occupation and track down your mortal enemies in this revolutionary new game released on 4th December.
You will play in the character of Sean Devlin, a tough, Irish racing mechanic based on the real-life war hero William Grover-Williams seeking personal revenge after his friends have been killed, one by one, by the Nazis. With a bit of help from the French Resistance, British Intelligence and a full arsenal of weaponry, you’ll use your wits to track down high ranking German officers and officials, blowing up zeppelins, derailing trains and exploding bridges on the way.
Features of the game include The Vertical World which takes you up on to the rooftops of Paris; the perfect place to initiate surprise attacks, plus gameplay systems called Climbing, Sneaking and Stealth Kills to help you infiltrate the Nazis.
Will to Fight combines visual style with gameplay as the environment of Paris changes around you according to the success of your missions. In order to make the district brightly coloured and “happy” you must weaken German forces occupying the area. In doing so, the district’s citizens will also regain hope and assist you in your fight. Areas with low WtF will be dark with the exception of brightly coloured German flags.
You’ll be fighting your way from the top of the Eiffel Tower to the banks of the Seine, taking in the whole panoply of the city. With a RRP of £49.99 The Saboteur is not only a great game, it’s a great way to see Paris.
DiRT-2 plus DLC is on the shelves now
Codemaster’s exciting new driving game is the ultimate off-road racing with superb handling, exceptional visual and audio detail, exciting new locations and driving situations that can be played with multiple players or solo.
DiRT2 follows on from Colin McRae: Dirt and is the first video game in the McRae series since the Scottish rally driver’s untimely death in a helicopter accident in 2007. This time the game offers more in the way of graphics with details like water splashing on to the windscreen, slick vehicle handling and realistic crash sequences as with the screech of twisted metal, handbrake turns and roaring engines, you’re thrown from one event to another. One minute you may be in a rally cross event, the next you may be racing monster trucks or negotiating a point-to-point rally with a co-driver.
Taking place in real-world environments of Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, DiRT2 includes five different events: rally, rally cross, trailblazer, land rush and raid requiring mastery of different driving styles with canyon racing, jungle trails and city-stadium based events. Players can test their skills against the likes of Ken Block or Travis Pastrana – all the other drivers on the track respond to your driving method – ie if you play dirty and drive them off the course, they’re liable to hold that against you and give you a rough ride in future events. A flashback feature allows you to return to the scene of a crash up to three times so you can rectify your driving mistakes and difficulty levels can be altered before every event.
Codemasters have also released multiple downloadable content packs for DiRT 2 which can be used by players to customise and add features to the boxed game; the Access All Areas Pack for £3.19 which gives VIP entry to 100 events set on 41 tracks with access to X-Games events and their courses and The Trust Fund Pack at £3.19 means you can download and experience 35 killer rides and upgrade liveries.
With positive reviews from major gaming companies, DiRT2 is a white knuckle ride and a genuine test of your driving skills and you can buy it now.
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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Guitar Hero World Tour
Thwarted rock stars now have the chance to strum the air guitar to their heart’s content in the ultimate music game, Guitar Hero World Tour.
Players can use guitar shaped controllers to simulate the playing of rock music. An additional feature is the drum and microphone controllers allowing percussion and vocal possibilities as well as the original guitar, meaning that up to four would-be musicians can play at the same time. The idea is to hold down the correct fret buttons on the touch sensitive instruments or coloured drum head as the respective notes scroll across the screen … not an easy task, believe us.
Rave reviews have been received about the improved quality of the instrument controllers and a new customization feature whereby it’s possible to choose clothes, change facial and body structure and add tattoos and accessories to create your very own rock god.
The drum kit is pretty authentic too with three drum pads and two raised cymbals. A music studio means that you can compose digital music which you can later perform to a worldwide audience - if you’ve got the bottle - the Battle of the Bands game allows eight players to challenge each other to achieve global musical domination. On the other hand, if you’re feeling less brave, a set list of recordings from guitar greats like Van Halen, Linkin Park and the Eagles provides over 85 tracks for rocking the night away with downloadable singles and tracks.
PES 2010 release dates
Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has provided a tantalising foretaste of the amazing graphics to be featured in the up and coming PES 2010 title due for release on October 23rd on PS3, Xbox 360, mobile phone and PC.
A series of incredibly realistic images of members of several national football teams has to be seen to be believed with lifelike representations of the likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Steven Gerrard portrayed in all their glory - even down to blemishes, hairs on arms and weave of kit.
Gameplay will be all about real football simulation with more versatile goalkeepers and intuitive zonal defending with players constantly needing to look out for new ways to attack. The referees have also been revamped. Crowd reaction will be more realistic too with rumours that the Tokyo-based development team has tried to differentiate between crowds at home and away fixtures. Gamers can also now move several players at once and the individual talents of each player will be reflected in the way they play and will affect the way in which the other players react.
Taking the world of virtual football to another level, the development team has added a further degree of realism in the new lighting system where real-time shadows and weather conditions influence the game – in fact - all the realities of a UK football match replicated in grim detail - never mind, it could be worse - you could actually be there!
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The official box-art for BioShock 2 isn't yet available, here's a mock-up the fans came up with!
The original BioShock was one of the huge surprises of 2007, and finally, it’s time for the long-awaited sequel, BioShock 2.
Bioshock 2 promises to continue the deeply disturbing game-play from the original BioShock. This time around, you switch sides. Instead of re-visiting the role of Jack, you control a rogue Big Daddy. If you haven’t played the first game, this all sounds a little bit dodgy, but trust us, if the original BioShock - which turned the classical First Person Shooter (FPS) genre inside-out - is anything to go by, its sequel will be something quite special indeed.
This time around, the game doesn’t end once you’ve played through single player mode: Multiplayer in BioShock 2 will provide “a rich prequel experience that expands the origins of the BioShock fiction.”, according to Take 2 Interactive, who produce the game.
The game will be available on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and for Windows from the 9th of February 2010.
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MAG Release Date
In association with developers, Zipper Interactive, Sony Computer Entertainment presents MAG: Massive Action Game. A massive new war is coming, the Shadow War. MAG is a first person shooter game which takes gaming onto a new level. The game is focused on large scale military combat between 2 and 6 players, an online multiplayer game that takes things, according to the creative department of Zipper Interactive, a couple of generations further than seen before. They’ve created large scale effects, large scale battles so that you feel as you play you are part of a much bigger battle than just your own.
Based about 25 years in the future, the game encourages players to create their own stories with lots of characterisation.
MAG: Massive Action Game is released for PS3 on 27th November.
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Aliens vs Predator Release Date
Due for release in February 2010, Aliens vs Predator is released as a new video game, developed by the original team behind the 1999 release, Rebellion Developments.
- As the Marine, you’ll experience a claustrophobic and terrifying experience where light is your friend, but there’s never enough. However, the United States Marine Corps are humanity’s last line of defence, and as such they are armed to the teeth with the very latest in high explosive and automatic weaponry.
- As the Predator, you will stalk from the shadows and from above, passing athletically through the treetops to ambush your victims. Although equipped with an array of powerful, exotic weapons and tracking equipment, honour ultimately dictates that you must get in close and take your trophies face to face.
- As the most deadly species in the universe, the Alien offers you the chance to play as the very stuff of nightmares - the monster in the dark swarming forward with countless others, jaws like a steel trap and claws like blades.
- Play all sides off against each other in a series of unique 3-way online modes and go tooth-to-claw-to-pulse rifle in the reinvention of one of multiplayer gaming’s defining moments.
Alien vs Predator is released for PC, PS3 and XBox 360 on 26th February 2010.
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Dragon Age Release Date
From the makers of Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Baldur’s Gate comes an epic tale of violence, lust, and betrayal. The survival of humanity rests in the hands of those chosen by fate. You are a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians who have defended the lands throughout the centuries. Betrayed by a trusted general in a critical battle, you must hunt down the traitor and bring him to justice.
Dragon Age: Origins is a dark heroic fantasy set in a unique world. As the spiritual successor of BioWare’s popular Baldur’s Gate series of games, it uses a pause-and-play tactical combat system. Play in over-the-shoulder mode, or the more tactical top-down view. Dragon Age: Origins features a stunning amount of cinematic dialog. Players will be able to acquire unique party members. These party members will have their own motivations for accompanying the player.
Dragon Age: Origins is released for PS Windows, XBox 360 and PS3 on 20th October.
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