I’ve got to be honest and admit that I’ve never heard of Space Hulk, but Swank-mo-tron seems pretty excited about it. I may have to check this one out just to see what could be so interesting it would draw such excitement from him.

But, on to things I’ve actually heard of:

For people that want their games to be punishingly difficult (read: no fun), Namco Bandai and From Software would like to present Dark Souls II. It was announced last week at the Video Game Awards. No details, release date, platforms, etc. came with the announcement. But at least you know it’s coming.

Another big reveal at the VGAs was The Phantom Pain from newcomer Moby Dick Studios. Allow me to save you the trouble of filtering through internet conspiracy theories. No, Moby Dick Studios isn’t real. Yes, this is Metal Gear something-or-other from Kojima. Here’s a quick rundown of the conspiracy “proof:”

• Moby Dick CEO Joakim Mogren; Joakim is an anagram of Kojima. M-OGRE-n is a reference to Project OGRE, an MGS-related project already announced by Kojima.
• Mogren is also the name of a soccer team in Montenegro, the locale for Metal Gear Rising Revengeance.
• The protagonist in the trailer looks like at least one of the countless versions of Snake we’ve seen in past games.
• Someone who looks suspiciously like Volgin from MGS3 is clearly seen in the flames. As is a man on a unicorn that seems to be Big Boss.
• Finally there’s the missing pieces of the title logo. My brain doesn’t work creatively enough to see, but the conspirators are claiming the missing pieces provide a sketch for the letters to spell Metal Gear Solid V.
• Oh yeah, this is the kind of weird shit Kojima likes to do.

A couple of preorder packs have surfaced Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us. What appears to be the “good” pack is a GameStop exclusive. This Survival Pack includes bonus XP for multiplayer, a multiplayer melee attack booster, extra starting in-game cash, customizable character items for multiplayer, and two bonus skins for Joel and Ellie that unlock after beating the single player campaign. Outside of that pakcage, “participating retailers” will be offering the Sights and Sounds Pack: the official soundtrack, a PS3 theme, and two PSN avatars (Winter Joel, Winter Ellie). More details on the multiplayer have been promised, but we don’t know when. they’ve simply said “before The Last of Us is released on 7th May 2013.”

Microsoft has announced a massive rollout of “over 40 new apps” coming to XBox Live. Of course, only a small percentage of those are coming to any one region. For the United States, the Karaoke and Maxim apps are rolling out now. The others will be coming by Spring 2013: All3M, Ameba TV, Flixster, Game Trailers, IndieFlix, Machinima, MTV, PBS, Popcorn Flix, Slacker Radio, The CW Network, and Vimeo.

According to Rockstar, they’ll be completing the PS2 era Grand Theft Auto trilogy on PSN today. That’s right, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, arguably the best and possibly the biggest, of the GTA games to date is finally coming to PSN. I still have my PS2 copy, but my backwards-compatible PS3 YLOD’d. I don’t have a price as of press time, but $9.99 is the expectation.

A couple of changes are happening to the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection with this week’s update. Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition and PSN puzzle-platformer Rochard are being added. By now the PS+ IGC has gotten so robust I can’t even decide what they’re rolling out to make room for it.

The next-gen rumors are so persistent, and they’re so obviously coming soon despite that lack of official announcements, I feel obligated to report a few of the latest “likelies.”

The next XBox is apparently called “Kryptos” internally. It will be running off a new AMD-produced chip, known as “Oban.” Apparently Oban is starting mass production about now, but serious quality issues are delaying high production levels. Presumably higher quality chips are in the works and production on Kryptos will begin at that time. Another reliable source informs me that there will be no name extension to the device when it hits retail, where it will be known simply as XBox. However, this may be related to the idea of moving to parallel release of an XBLA only version and a “gamer” version. The lighter version would run only apps like Netflix et al. It’s expected to be very low cost. Meanwhile, the heavier set would include a blu-ray disc drive and be targeted to those who want a game console, not a media center. Interesting ideas.

PlayStation 4 rumors have that device being internally codenamed “Thebes.” Other recent rumors have it being released as “Orbis,” a name that would tie it more directly to the Vita. Unfortunately, this device is also being rumored to use the same AMD “Oban” chip that is having production issues. That strikes me as odd. Certainly both manufacturers would want the best available tech, but using the same chip seems unlikely. I have two separate sources providing conflicting rumors about a release date. One source claims Sony is committed to being first to market – not counting Nintendo’s WiiU, obviously. That points to a possible release mid-to-late 2013. My other source claims we’re looking at spring 2014 at the earliest, which would be slightly behind the predicted schedule for Microsoft’s next box.

Keep your salt box handy, because these rumors won’t be stopping until we get the official announcements.

I’ve been a fan of the Space Hulk games and Games Workshop world for a long, long time. The original Space Hulk video game cause many sleepless nights for me and I’ve spent plenty of time looking for ways to play it these days with my Mac.

I’ve even been looking for the board game version and I can’t even find that.

But today, it was announced via the above trailer that there will be a new Space Hulk game and I couldn’t be more excited. And I’m not even a video gamer. At all. By any stretch of the imagination.

Here’s the scant details that have been released via the official website:

Based on the best-selling board game and set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Space Hulk is a 3D digital turn based strategy game that recreates the classic claustrophobic board game experience for single player and multiplayer cross-platform play between PC, Mac and on iOS.

Space Hulk is set in the isolated corridors and tomb-like chambers of an ancient vessel lost in the graveyard of space. Players lead a small army of fearless Space Marine Terminators to battle in a ferocious fight for survival against hordes of predatory alien Genestealers.

The main features are
Blood Angel terminator squad
Fearsome Genestealers with challenging AI
Thematic 3d environment
Single player campaign based on the “Sin of Damnation” hulk
New coop multiplayer levels against the Genestealer AI
Multiplayer head-to-head recreating the board game experience against a friend
Cross platform multiplayer between PC, Mac and iOS
Level editor with ability to share creations
Game expansions in the future as DLC

This game can’t come out fast enough.

Over the course of video game history, there are only a few game companies have stood the test of time. Nintendo, Sega, Konami,  and of course, Capcom. One of the best things about Capcom is the rapport they have with their fans. Case in point, the community-centric site, Capcom Unity and collaborations such as having fans contribute the soundtrack to their Street Fighter HD remake. What they just announced though? Well, that brings the gap between company and fans to it’s closest point.

That’s right, to celebrate the end of Street Fighter’s 25th anniversary and the beginning of Mega Man’s, Capcom has announced the aptly named Street Fighter X Mega Man! Conceived by Capcom fan Seow Zong Hui, this game was picked up officially by Capcom and fleshed out into a full game.  The best part? It’s going to be absolutely free! Check the trailer below and hear my thoughts afterward.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61-OMrOxyso

Well, that looks pretty cool. From first glance, it seems to be a Mega Man styled game casting various Street Fighters in the role of the normal Robot Masters, with everyone’s famous Blue Bomber gaining their various powers for himself! You can find out all of the details on the main site, and pop on over there on December 17th, to download some mash-up goodness!

And now, a bit of editorializing. Already on the Internet, people have been poo-pooing on this game. They’ve been calling it a stopgap for Mega-fans, and no real effort is being made to make up for last year’s cancellation of both Mega Man Universe, and the much lamented Mega Man Legends 3.  I’ll admit that these things bother me as well, but I’m sure as heck not going to say I won’t play an absolutely free game that is an obvious labor of love for both franchises. My Internet-enabled snark can only go so far, after all.

Honestly, I’m just happy that Capcom is showing they still care about one of their most venerable franchises, and despite their tight-lippedness, they do still care about their fans. I’m sure to be hitting F5 on my browser repeatedly come the 17th. What say you?

Let’s start this issue with a couple of exclusive DLC announcements:

Far Cry 3‘s incoming co-op DLC, “High Tides,” will be a PS3 exclusive. The DLC will include two new co-op chapters, “Jailbreak” and “Redemption.” According to Meghan Watt of Massive Entertainment, “These are the gang’s final moments, and we’re really challenging ourselves to go all-out. We’ve got new missions, tougher fights, bigger competitions, some great up-close time with your favorite characters, and explosive moments unlike anything you’ve seen before.” The DLC is coming January, no price has been announced.

Over on the XBox 360, the first major Resident Evil 6 DLC is a timed exclusive. Three new modes are being added: “Predator,” “Survivors,” and “Onslaught.” All three modes will be launching December 19th for 320MSP each, or 720MSP for the three pack. Coinciding with the DLC release, a free patch is being released that unlocks Ada Wong’s campaign, the No Hope difficulty setting, increased subtitle options, and extra camera options. No word yet on how long the exclusivity deal lasts, but the content is expected for PS3 early next year.

With the Mass Effect trilogy recently releasing (including the first game on PS3 for the first time) it’s easy to think Shepard’s franchise is complete. Not so according to Bioware. The somewhat disappointing “Omega” will not be the last DLC for Mass Effect 3. It’s “all hands on deck” at the developer as they’re working on new content that will see the return of everyone’s favorite fragile pilot, Joker. Composer Sam Hulick (who was not involved with “Leviathan” or “Omega”) has confirmed he is providing new content with “high potential for tears.” No word on release date or pricing, though I’d be shocked at anything other than $15. It’s worth noting that the same file hacks that prematurely revealed “Leviathan” and “Omega” also provided some clues that the next add-on will see Shepard return to the Citadel.

If you’ve been playing Assassin’s Creed III but haven’t yet downloaded the “Hidden Secrets” DLC, available with the Season Pass, DON’T! Glitches are part and parcel of modern gaming but add-ons that reset your story progress to zero are a bit extreme. Something is clearly wrong with the program as it has been resetting story progress, but retaining certain side missions and activity levels. According to one report, a player with 100% completion suddenly found himself at only 45% after downloading the DLC, and his save game had him in the earliest chapters. Other reports indicate the Naval and Privateer progress has also been reset. Ubisoft is already undertaking a fix for the problem and seem to have locked down the cause while trying to recreate the problem. “AVOIDING THIS BUG: Do not load your saved AC3 game while the DLC is downloading in the background. This appears to be the key trigger for this bug. You can do anything else you want to do, just don’t load up your saved game and play it while the DLC is downloading.” Seems like an easy workaround, just queue up the download before going to bed. Then again, I’m paranoid. I’d advise waiting for their fix to go live first.

Bethesda reports that they have cracked the problem preventing Skyrim DLC on PS3. All three current add-ons will be making their way to the Sony console eventually, but not in the order you would expect. “Dragonborn” has been the most well-received DLC to date, so they’ll be starting with that one in early 2013. “Hearthfire” and “Dawnguard” will be coming a little later. “Once [they] have a better idea of release timing and pricing, [they]’ll let you know.”

Irrational’s Ken Levine has announced a four week delay for BioShock Infinite. The game was announced back in 2010 for an October 2012 release. The push to February 2013 was disappointing, but needed to make the game “into something even more extraordinary.” The latest push, anopther four weeks to March 26th, is no less of a blow to excited fans, but newcomer Rod Fergusson (formerly of Epic) feels the extra time will change BioShock Infinite from simply a great game to a defining entry in the generation. Considering Levine and Fergusson’s history of releases, he’s probably right.

That’s all for this week. Come back on Tuesday for your next semi-weekly gaming update.

We’ve been without a VGQH for a while, but it’s been slow on the newsfront so you haven’t missed much. It’s still slow, so today’s edition will be fairly short as well.

Deathstroke was officially announced for Injustice: Gods Among Us last week. He’s Deathstroke, he’s awesome, and he’s in the game. Not much more to say. His inclusion should hint at Darkseid being confirmed eventually. I’m thinking he’ll be the Shang Tsung of this one. The game is scheduled for April 2013.

If you’ve been anticipating Capcom’s return to a favorite franchise with Darkstalkers Resurrection, you’re about to be disappointed. It’s still coming, but its XBLA/PSN release has been pushed back from February 7th to March 14th.

Get your salt shaker, because this rumor may require more than just a pinch. A Level Designer from EA Shanghai recently updated their LinkedIn page with the new that Dragon Age III will be delayed to 2014 and is now being developed for next-gen consoles. However, English is clearly the poster’s second language and there may be some information that was lost in translation. In support of this rumor, EA never announced the systems for the game, simply that it was being developed. Personally, I’ve speculated it was a next-gen title all along. As for the shift to 2014, whether it’s fiscal or calendar year could make all the difference in whether this is an actual delay.

Still have that salt shaker handy? Many gamers are claiming to have recently participated in a survey from Ubisoft focusing on the future of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Ubisoft has used surveys like these in the past, as recently as the development of Assassin’s Creed III. A few notable questions hint at what might be in store for the series, though I must admit to having know idea what to make of them asking about Uncharted 3.

• “If it was to become available next year, how likely are you to purchase the next Assassin’s Creed game?”
• “On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate your overall experience with the game Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3)?”
• “…possibility for a friend to join the game in order to help me at any time during the solo mode.” Possible answers for this were “Not interested,” “Nice to have,” and “Must-have.”

Hang on, don’t put that salt down yet. (This is what happens when news is slow, rumors become reportable.) After Guillermo del Toro’s inSANE was dropped by Volition and THQ through their recent disturbances, hope for the game has basically dwindled. Until now. Del Toro has reportedly been shopping the planned trilogy to new developers and has gotten a bite. This rumor is so vague as to not even have a name for who might have picked it up. But, the filmmaker has chops and any chance to see him bring the mind that created Pan’s Labyrinth to the game world has me hopeful.

Back to the facts, the retail edition of Telltale’s The Walking Dead has been postponed. It was supposed to be releasing today, but has been held back a week to the 11th. The five individual episodes are available for $5 each from PSN, XBLA, and multiple PC download services. A season pass is also available for $25. The retail version will be $30 for the standard kit, or $60 for a collector’s edition with the 48 issues of Robert Kirkman’s comic. And, in case you don’t already know, this game is amazing. There are some framerate issues and other odd glitches, but for interactive storytelling Telltale has definitely maintained this franchise’s tradition of triple-A quality. Buy it however works best for you, but buy it.

A bit of a slow news week, but thrifty gamers should take note. That hideous consumer-fest that is Black Friday is coming up and it’s usually a good time to find some great values. Especially if you don’t mind throwing a few elbows and kicking soccer moms. On the console front, Sony and Microsoft both have deals for serious saving. If you’ve been eyeing a new PS3, Vita, or XBox 360 this will be a great time to get in on bundles.

The PlayStation Vita has three bundles available for $199: Liberation (ACIII Liberation, white PS Vita, and 4GB memory card), Declassified (CoD Black Ops: Declassified, black Vita, 4GB memory card), and Batman (LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, black Vita). I’m feeling a bit slighted since I just paid $250 for a Liberation bundle a month ago, but that’s the nature of buying electronics. The LEGO Batman bundle is a significantly lesser quality deal. Not only is it missing the memory card, but the game has been out for several months and is extremely cheap in the used market (about $15, $25-39 for new copies). The other two games are new releases, still retailing at $50. If I’m recommending one over another I’d say you’d scoop up a Liberation bundle and get a used copy of LEGO Batman 2 as well. According to my sources, CoDBlOps: Declassified is awful – the single player campaign is roughly 45 minutes long. If you need one extra thing to push you over the edge on a Vita, PS Plus is coming to the device this week with several free additions to the Instant Game Collection for members.

Speaking of PS Plus, the PlayStation 3 Black Friday deal includes a free 30 day membership. It also comes with a 250GB Super Slim console, one DualShock 3 controller, and the inFamous collection and the Uncharted dual pack for $199. That’s four total games. Safe bet you’ll probably want an extra DualShock, of course, so those will be on sale for $39.99

Check your local retailers to verify they’re working with Sony’s deals; most mass merchandisers will likely be in line.

Deals on the XBox 360 are a little more retailer-specific, so some of them may just not be worth the effort, regardless of price. Wal-Mart will have a special, white 4GB edition bundled with Skylanders and a figurine for $150. Best Buy, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, and Newegg will have the 250GB console with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Forza 4: Essentials Edition for $200. Target, Amazon, Sam’s Club, Meijer, Kmart, and Microsoft Stores will have the 4GB console with Kinect and Kinect Disneyland Adventures for $200. GameStop has a 250GB console with Call of Duty Black Ops 2 for $250. RadioShack has the 4GB console with a wired headset for $170. ToysRUs has the 4GB console, no bundle but they include a $50 gift card, for $180.

If you’re just looking for games, Dance Central 3, Kinect Sports Ultimate, and Fable: The Journey will be $30. Forza Horizon is discounted to $40. Halo 4 is not on sale, but Target and Amazon will give you a $20 gift card for buying from them. Amazon also includes a $10 Instant Video Credit.

Ultimately, I think Sony’s offering slightly better deals on their hardware. But Microsoft wins the variety contest, insuring there’s a deal that’s appropriate for many different types of consumer.

Outside of consumer-centric discounts, there is a little bit of actual news this week.

Hitman: Absolution is releasing today, and it’s very exciting to get back in the shoes of Agent 47. Or, well, at least whoever’s shoes he’s stolen for his current disguise. This release will see the inclusion of a multiplayer element for the first time in the series. The Contracts mode allows players to “call the shots” on kills and challenge others to complete the task with their restrictions. As is normal for games today, an online pass code is included in the box with new copies. Those who buy used were expected to pay $10 for access. Square Enix has broken from the mold. They’ve determined that they’d rather see everyone who plays the game get access and will be patching in an option to get a free pass from the in-game menu. With user-created content, this is probably a better strategy. More people contributing will inspire more people to play. It does mean a few used buyers get a break, but it might also encourage fewer people to resell their copies, and inspire others to pick it up. Considering their concession, maybe you should buy new anyway, just to encourage their good behavior.

As you probably guessed from Gearbox’s Twitter feed being taken over last week, “Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage” DLC for Borderlands 2 is set for imminent release. And by imminent, I mean today. Look for it with your online service’s usual update this week. It’ll set you back 800MSP/$9.99 – or it comes included with the Season Pass (2400MSP/$30).

Rumors of the death of the Uncharted series have been greatly exaggerated. Well, maybe not greatly, but definitely exaggerated. The franchise is returning to PS Vita next month with the download only Uncharted: Fight for Fortune. Unfortunately, it won’t be the Indiana Jones-esque action-adventure we’ve come to expect. Instead, it will be a turn-based card game. Which is a fun genre, just kind of a weird combination. Gameplay is typical of the genre, where you’ll have cards featuring various heroes (or villains), artifacts, boosts, etc. You’ll want to deploy your cards both to defend yourself and attack your opponent. Defeated cards are removed from play and the game will end when one player’s health reaches zero. A new patch for Golden Abyss will unlock the artifacts you found in that game (which will be free for PS+ members with today’s update) for immediate use in Fight for Fortune. The new game is releasing next week, December 4th, for $4.99.

There are a few other updates to PS Plus this week. As previously reported, the Instant Game Collection will now include Vita games starting with Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Gravity Rush, WipEout 2048, Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack, Jet Set Radio, and Final Fantasy Tactics (PSP). In addition, Dungeon Defenders for PS3 joins the IGC this week, along with the first two Sonic the Hedgehog games from the SEGA Genesis. This isn’t the first time these Sonic titles have been free for members, but it is the first time since the IGC was born. A few discounts are also coming, inclduing a one year membership to Music Unlimited for $12, and Sorcery (Move) for $15. A few other SEGA deals have been announced, and Morgan Haro from the PlayStation Blog is promising some Black Friday deals will be announced today as well.

Microsoft’s XBox 360 has an interesting new option, streaming karaoke. Microsoft has partnered with The Karaoke Channel to create Karaoke on XBox 360. Other than the serious need for a much better name this looks awesome. You’ll be able to stream 8,000 karaoke enabled songs directly to your console. The available songs span decades and genres in much the same way you’d expect from a deejay’s portfolio at your local bar. Of course, not content to simply be iTunes for karaoke, the service will feature your Avatar singing, dancing, and interacting with various objects and on-screen people during your (horribly tone-deaf) performance. Connectivity with SmartGlass means you’ll be able to build and queue up your playlist with your friends at lunch before having them come over to perform at night. Most of your standard headsets and mics (wired or not) will be compatible. The service will have some free samples but the actual scheme won’t have you downloading individual songs. Instead, all of the songs will be streaming and you’ll pay for access in blocks (two, six, or twenty-four hours). That’s the perfect set-up whether you’re hosting one party or entertain constantly. Cost for the time blocks and an actual launch date were not announced, but it is expected within the next month. I can’t even guess how much Jimmy Martin of Big Movie Mouth-Off and Geek Show Podcast is going to have with this one.

There is no official news for the game yet, but Capcom has a filed a trademark (“Computer game software; Computer games in the form of cartridges, cassettes, discs or tapes; Video game cartridges; Downloadable game software; Downloadable computer games”) for something called Fighters of Capcom. The company’s seen its share of success with Marvel vs. Capcom, Street Fighter x Tekken, and other titles that mix up their characters in strange environments. Could this be the end-game, featuring all of their characters, a la Super Smash Bros. or PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale? We obviously won’t know until Capcom gives the official word, but that looks to be the case.

That’s going to do it for Video Game Quick Hits this week. No update this Friday. I’ll be enjoying my time off for Thanksgiving like everyone else. Also, next week’s early edition may or may not happen. It’s not entirely up to me. If you want it, please encourage the elk population to find their way into my scope early.

Not all ideas are created equal, I’m a firm believer in that. This idea happens to be better than the rest in this writer’s humble opinion. Salt Lake Local’s Fryza LLC, are working to create an 8bit skating experience tied to TMNT, Road Rash, Skate or Die and, TC Surf Sport that will make your mobile devices fly.

Currently they are sitting at $7300 of $15000 needed to hit their goal, and get this game to us by March 2013. The greatest part about the experience is that along with the game they’ll be launching a full skateboard line including: helmets, pads, decks, and clothing.

They will be releasing the game on Android, iOS, Ouya (who happens to be backing the project), and PC/Linux. Rarely are there Kickstarter projects that have such an incredible opportunity to open a gaming genre like this, and it’s rare that I gush about one. These guys are dedicated gamers, that want to see a genre they love succeed.

The story throughout this installment in the series is very easy to follow and makes sense. There is a twist at the beginning which throws many players off as it is unexpected and not a norm of the series. The game looks very good – the graphics are superb and help to create a sense of presence especially with the weather. Snowfall leads to slower movement, less animal activity for hunting and it is harder to see. Rain soaks through your clothing and it feels heavier, it is also difficult to see where you are climbing. Sunny days are the easiest weather to maneuver through as nightfall brings shadows and doesn’t allow you to see every possible path to take. The controls are easy to use and rather simple to learn. Players that are new to the series may need to read up on some of the controls because the tutorial does not explain everything. This is very surprising given that the first 30% of the game feels like a tutorial.

Assassins Creed III starts off gruelingly slow by adding a twist at the beginning, explaining Connor’s childhood and then preventing the use of the assassin outfit until Connor has proved himself. All of these tasks take a long time to complete and you won’t feel like the assassin Connor is until 1/3 of the game has past. Once you do get past that frustrating tidbit, the rest of the game is immersive and exciting. Boston and New York are the two cities that need liberation from British rule – and Connor is the man to do it. By liberating each area, a man or woman will join Connor on his quest to overtake the Templars. These become your assassins in-training which can be sent to any of the colonies to help liberate them. Living on the Davenport Homestead, Connor is in charge of bringing artisans to his community to help grow the homestead. With each artisan new crafts can be made, which can be sent on convoys to nearby stores and traders. Recipes for new crafts are also found in chests. Another collectible throughout the frontier are feathers, although an exact use for them in-game has yet to be discovered. Now, in my opinion, the best addition to the Assassins Creed series is the naval portion. Connor helps a man names Faulkner to rebuild a ship. This ship Connor uses on a couple of story missions to destroy Templar ships. Connor steers the ship away from rocks and debris while giving orders to fire cannons on either side of the ship, fire swivel guns, ducking for cover or simply ramming other ships head on. By ramming a ship that ship will take damage but will also provide the opportunity to board an enemy ship. Boarding ships are also exciting in that a battle ensues and treasure can be found. The wind dictates how the ship moves, so sailing with the wind at full sail is the fastest, but sailing at an angle into the wind at half sail will also move swiftly. As long as you don’t sail into the wind or take your sails completely down, you should sail quite easily. Connor’s new ship also allows him to visit new areas, aside from the colonies we come familiar with throughout the game. These new areas are similar to the tombs from Ezio’s games, where treasures are sought in ancient, sometimes underground, areas. The naval component of the game was truly the most entertaining addition to the series – and it has nothing to do with assassination.





Assassins Creed III should be classified as an action-adventure game as it rarely uses the stealthy aspects. Open conflict – fighting and killing guards in the middle of the street – is easier than running away and hiding the majority of the time. I do not fault the game for it, it is simply too easy to kill multiple guards at once when an assassin would normally run and take foes one by one. This is my perception of an assassin, however, so I won’t let it dictate how I feel about the game’s performance.

Connor’s character follows a plot that is easy to follow and understand. His childhood sets up the path he follows as an adult and the future (Desmond’s story) has a major impact on Connor’s conclusion. The player can return to Desmond from the animus at any point during the story, however there are only 3 times when it is necessary to play as Desmond. These levels, in my opinion, were what Assassins Creed followers have been waiting for in terms of a modern assassin game. Not only did Desmond’s levels take place in a modern setting, they were also very entertaining. Desmond’s story was cut extremely short in favor of Connor’s story, and the culmination of both was a bit disappointing.

The controls are easy to pick up, similar to the predecessors of the series. Free running still has issues now and again – running or jumping a different direction than what you are telling it to. Action buttons can also be frustrating when you have to be looking at the person or object from a certain distance before you can press the action button. Other than these few flaws, the game operates and controls smoothly.

The game is easy to play, but difficult to 100%. In order to reach full synchronization on most levels, there are specific constraints that must be met all in one playthrough – this means if you snuck past the guards safely but did not make it out in less than 3 minutes, you would have to play the level again sneaking past the guards AND under 3 minutes. This is only if you want full synchronization, however, and these levels can be replayed at any time. Additionally, there are cheats that can be unlocked by solving puzzles, however you can only get to these puzzles by completing the game. The puzzles require you to be online to solve them and are randomly placed – which means a walkthrough showing exactly where the pivots located is not going to help at all.

Overall, Assassins Creed III is a lot of fun, once you can get past the numbingly slow start. To finish the story, with minimal side missions, the game takes between 15 and 20 hours. There are lots of collectible items and entertaining side missions (crafting, training assassins, naval battles) that will keep you playing for hours on end, however. Word is upwards of 70 hours to find all collectibles – I am at 66% full synchronization and am currently at 25 hours. By including the thrilling naval side missions, assassination training and the crafting and trading of items, Assassins Creed III has a lot of replayability. Full synchronization also encourages players to replay, not just the epilogue, but the story missions as well. The naval missions alone serve as a reason to buy this game. For those who have rented Assassins Creed installments in the past should do so again, especially if achieving 100% in a game is not your style.

Assassins Creed III uses an autosave system, as do all of the games in the series. It is frustrating when going for 100% synchronization because levels have to be restarted at the last checkpoint determined by the game.

Multiplayer matches consist of eliminating a specific target before someone else does. There are also spins on this concept where you work as a team to eliminate the targets, steal an artifact from the opposing team and bring it back to base or free for all. New abilities have also been introduced including throwing money and wearing a disguise.

When taking a stealthy approach, the game is not very violent. However, whenever battles do take hold, deaths are gruesome and bloody. Since some battles cannot be avoided, the game is rated Mature for these scenes.

Assassins Creed III introduces some new abilities thanks to the new engine. The biggest abilities present are climbing up trees and free running across branches. Two of the major areas of the game are almost entirely forest, allow the chance to familiarize the new abilities.  In these new forest areas there are some wild animals that can be hunted in a manner similar to Red Dead Redemption. Animals killed with the hidden blade give pelts in perfect condition among other items (fangs, antlers, etc.). The animals sounds make up ambient background noises while the majority of noises heard are of Connor running and jumping. When open conflict is triggered, an upbeat and fast music plays until Connor can successfully escape or hide.





In the end, this installment in the series ended up being one of my favorites. It introduced the new concept of naval side missions that were thrilling to play and it continued telling the story of Desmond (albeit, not nearly as much as I would have liked). The beginning of the game is slow, its biggest flaw, but once you get past it the game shines. The conclusion of the story was disappointing, but the replay value due to collectibles and full synchronization is high.

As a Jet Set Radio Future fan, I anticipated the release of Jet Set Radio HD in September as a chance to visit the original game in the series. While there are a few significant differences between the two games, Jet Set Radio HD provides an easy to follow, entertaining and upbeat game with a similar universe to that produced in JSRF.

Jet Set Radio follows the story of the GG’s, a roller-skating gang in Tokyo-To. The narrator is Professor K, a DJ of the local pirate radio station. Tokyo-To is under a power struggle between Captain Onishima & the police, Rokakku Gouji & his Golden Rhino assassins and rival graffiti gangs.

It all starts with Beat, the rudie who decides to start his own graffiti gang. He quickly recruits Gum and Tab, and they begin the story by covering up enemy gang graffiti in Shibuya-Cho. Although the plot does not boast depth, it is easy to follow and allows for a pick-up-and-play type of game. There is no character development, yet the game supplies you with an excessive amount of characters. Each can be experimented with since they all have varying levels of health, graffiti talent and technique skill.

Gameplay consists of choosing a player and skating around one of four different areas of the city earning points based on grinding technique, spraying graffiti and completing a level within the time limit. Characters are able to jump, grind on rails, use a quick boost and skitch on the back of cars. Ratings are given based on your performance from best to worst: Jet – Nitro – Turbo – Engine – Motor – Pedal.  Better ratings lead to unlocking characters; better grinding and tricks lead to unlocking graffiti art.

Spraying graffiti is the most important element of the game. It requires players to pick up scattered spray cans across the map and use them to paint over rival gang graffiti. Medium and large size graffiti’s require the player to use the analog stick in a series of specific directions – as if the player is actually creating the graffiti right then and there. Sometimes this graffiti action gets tedious, especially when being hunted down by the Golden Rhinos or policemen.





Each level is given a specific time limit. Certain levels require your character to race against a rival to a specific spot and tag it before your rival. Other areas require the player to cover the city in graffiti before time runs out, or before the police catch up to you. Game overs result from running out of time or depleting your characters health bar – you can lose health from gunfire or from falling from too high. Health is recovered by picking up a red health spray can.

The game will auto-save following the completion of each level, however you cannot save mid-level or even in between levels. This is unfortunate for anyone trying to earn Jet rankings – replaying through the entire game is necessary if you didn’t get a high score on a particular story mission.

Accompanying each level in Jet Set Radio is an upbeat soundtrack of original songs. Musical genres include hip-hop, funk, electronica dance, rock and even some metal. Each song set accompanies the level effectively and allows for anyone just watching to be interested in the game.

Jet Set Radio boasts cel-shading graphics that compliment the game style and attitude flawlessly. The game looks and feels upbeat with bright colors, sharp contrasts and an electrifying flair.

Jet Set Radio HD creates a unique world filled with exciting gameplay and tons of unlockables. HD cel-shaded graphics look great and upbeat tunes offer a gameplay experience that is fun and memorable. Although it has no multiplayer component, Jet Set Radio entices both those who watch and those who play. It is a game that can be picked up and played any time while also providing a fun gameplay experience. Since it can be returned to easily and often, this game is definitely worth the buy, especially for those who have not experienced the Jet Set Radio universe yet. Jet Set Radio is available for purchase on XBLA, PSN or Steam for $10.

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If you’re a fan of online, competitive, team-based First-Person Shooter games but you’ve become a little bored with the oversaturation of the same basic formulas, Natural Selection 2 from Unknown Worlds Entertainment might be a welcome change of pace for you. Even more so if you’re a fan of Sci-Fi, and the Alien Quadrilogy in particular. Natural Selection 2’s aliens, the Kharaa, are not exactly xenomorphs, but the overall atmosphere seems heavily inspired by those films. And I mean that in the best possible way. Playing as a Marine, you feel like you’re clearing out the colony on LV-426. On the Kharaa side, you spend much of your time creeping around, trying to catch Marines out of position, and feeling very xenomorphy.

Hybridizing FPS & RTS

The Real-Time Strategy elements add another, unique aspect to the experience. If you ever played the original Natural Selection (a Half-Life mod), or the recent online FPS/RTS hybrid Nuclear Dawn, the theory is basically the same. One member of your team takes the role of Commander, directing the flow of battle, building structures, and researching upgrades for your team to make use of. For example, a Marine commander can up his soldiers’ armor and weapons, and eventually provide jetpacks and hulking, Avatar-style exosuits loaded with gatling guns. On the Kharaa, the Commander researches abilities for the different alien forms, and ubiquitous skills which allow each player to customize their little monster based on their playstyle. For instance, one they’re both researched you can choose between Celerity to move faster, or Adrenaline to increase your energy pool for extended ability use, but not both. It probably goes without saying that your Commander can make or break any given round.

Marines in the Dark

On the Marine side, you will frequently find yourself in pitch black rooms with nothing but a flashlight–and maybe a few more erratic flashlight beams from your freaked-the-hell-out teammates–to light your way. Then a skittering form creeps along the wall just outside your beam, but you lose it and its gone. You call out to your teammates, “We’re not alone in here,” and all hell breaks loose. A pack of quadrupedal, zergling-like Skulks drop off the ceiling, they start biting at your ankles and scurrying around faster than you can track; a pterodactyl-esque flying Lerk swoops through the room dropping poisonous gas on you and your squad. You try to fall back, but when you turn to flee, a bipedal Fade with blades for arms appears out of a cloud of mist and cuts down your last remaining squadmate. The last thing you see is an elephant-sized Onos charging toward you.

“That’s it! Game over, man! Game over!”

Hopefully you can use your imagination to see that scenario from the other side, too. (The Kharaa have a toggle to switch between normal and a pseudo-infrared/thermal vision, which means zero-light conditions are beneficial for them.) You should know, going into this game, there is a bit of a learning curve for the aliens. It’s a different type of gameplay than you’re probably used to (unless you played a lot of Aliens vs. Predator back in the day). Once you’ve gotten the hang of it though, playing the Kharaa skillfully can be an extraordinarily rewarding experience–not to mention exciting to the point of adrenaline-pumping. Marine-side, things are pretty straight-forward but still very enjoyable and occasionally terrifying: shoot guns, follow orders, build the structures your Commander throws down, and try not to die.

Commanding an Army of Monsters! Or Marines.

There is a lot for a Commander to keep track of, and unlike normal RTS games, if you screw up in this one, your units will probably start trash-talking you. So it’s a bit of a stressful position for someone without a fairly deep understanding of the game on both the ground- and meta-level. I wouldn’t advise hopping into the Commander seat for a while, since there is a surprising amount of depth to this game which only reveals itself to you over time. Luckily, all these elements are pretty well streamlined for the Commander. Instead of name-specific hotkeys–like “A” for “[A]rmory”–all the Commander hotkeys are arrayed in a consistent, four-wide/three-tall grid on the left side of your keyboard (from “QWER” down). So once you get the hang of each building or ability’s location in the menu, your left hand will barely move, allowing you focus on the battle.

Graphics, Sound, and Level Design

Besides being fun as hell, the game is very nice to look at too. The Kharaa models are unique and just the right blend of kinda-gross and fully-rad. Overall, the player models are good but nothing you’re going to be raving about. The real shine here is in the level designs. These are some incredible maps: strategically interesting and well-designed; beautiful and atmospheric; very complex, but each room is memorable enough that you’ll learn them well after you put some time in. Adding to the impressiveness, the levels also work really well in multiple states, such as: infested and non-infested, full-light, low-light, and pitch-black/powered-down. Map knowledge is a big part of the skill curve here–and its even harder to get a really good feel for the levels when you are sprinting through them as a Celerity-enhanced Skulk. But each significant room on the mini-map is clearly named and labeled, and there is a HUD element that keeps you informed of what room you are in at all times.

Sound plays a big part in the strategy and skill here, so it’s to Unknown Worlds Entertainment’s credit that the sound design is superb. Marine boots make an easily identifiable, metal-on-metal marching noise that echos around corners, and Skulks’ skittering, blade-like feet are equally recognizable. Marine welders produce a satisfying sizzle, while their structures and exo-suits make clangy, wonderfully metallic noises. Alien growls are fun and Zerg-like, their structures and skills make sickeningly organic little squeals and splashes and spits.

The Source be Open

As a final note for those interested in game development: Unknown Worlds Entertainment provides their entire game source for your use or perusal. They’re calling it the “Spark Engine.” There is a file in your Natural Selection 2 directory called “LaunchPad.exe” which opens up a link-bar with all the tools currently provided by UWE, as well as a couple guides and tutorial links. Of particular interest to budding level designers, the “Mapping Guidelines” lays out some really interesting tips on how the UWE crew thinks about their level design process. There is a 3D modeling program provided, but it is currently in pre-alpha state, and at present can’t hold a candle to the free-to-use Blender 3D, which has been in development for ages. Luckily you can import models from other 3D programs. They also included Decoda, a Lua code editor, a model-viewer (similar to Source’s Hammer tools), and a Cinematic creator. UWE has promised that they will continue working on these secondary products going forward.

Conclusion

Natural Selection 2 is an entertaining, novel experience with a rewarding skill curve, excellent level design, surprising depth, and an open source development model. All those things add up to a definite-buy if any of the above sounds appealing to you–especially since its only $25 USD, available on Steam.