In Stores This Week: Video Games

Multiplatform:
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (360, DS, Wii)
Assassin’s Creed Revelations (360, PS3)
Bejeweled 3 (360, DS, PS3)
Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion (360, PS3, Wii)
Heavy Fire: Afghanistan (PS3, Wii)
Need for Speed: The Run (360, 3DS, PC, PS3, Wii)
Pictionary: Ultimate Edition (360, PS3)
Rayman Origins (360, PS3, Wii)
Saint’s Row: The Third (360, PC, PS3)
Udraw Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat (360, PS3, Wii)
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (360, PS3)

Microsoft:
Disneyland Adventures (Kinect)
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (360)
Jurassic Park: The Game (360)
Kung Fu High Impact (Kinect)
The Price is Right Decades (360)
Victorious: Time to Shine (Kinect)

Nintendo:
ABBA You Can Dance (Wii)
Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy (3DS)
Beyblade Metal Masters (DS)
Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic (3DS)
Fossil Fighters Champions (DS)
Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (Wii)
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut (DS)
Zumba Fitness 2 (Wii)

Sony:
Carnival Island (Move)
Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends (PS3)
EyePet and Friends (Move)
Get Up and Dance (Move)
Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest (Move)
Plants Vs. Zombies (PS3)

For over the top, crazy, open world action, you’ve got to love Saint’s Row: The Third. The series started as a heavy competitor to Grand Theft Auto, especially San Andreas. But as Rockstar has moved their franchise into a more serious role, THQ has gone completely the other way. Now you’ll be base jumping onto jets, then surfing on the roof of it, Teen Wolf style. After diving off the jet in your weird Japanese cat creature outfit you’ll start pummeling pedestrians with a large, purple dildo bat and steal someone’s motorcycle only to jump it through a billboard. And that’s all before the zombie apocalypse starts.

If you’re liking the HD remakes of last gen games, XBox’s biggest to date is Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. This is, arguably, the game that put Microsoft’s console efforts on the map. It’s also, arguably, responsible for the modern generation of first person shooters.

With all respect to those other games, how can you seriously be excited for anything besides Assassin’s Creed Revelations. There are some very top shelf games out this season, but this one is in my top three, right alongside Arkham City and Uncharted 3. I’ve loved every game in this series – including the slow and repetitive first title and that bizarre PSP entry – and I’m so stoked to see how Ezio’s story ends.