Winter Preview 2011 – Video Games

 
For gamers, the fourth quarter is a religious holiday in its own right, and no matter Christmas, Hanukkah, whatever your preference or not, there’s more than enough to celebrate at this time of year – smelling a newly opened plastic case, feasting on the virtual goodness on your screen, raising a toast to your achievement points ticking over to new heady heights, rage quitting because a boss simply won’t die.

Okay, maybe not the last one; but if you or a loved one’s carol is whistling Saria’s Song from Ocarina of Time, then join me as I look to the big titles hopefully making their way to you before the year bows out once again.

 
Sonic Generations

 

 
Gamings first Hedgehog is back, and in two flavours. Of course the vanilla Sonic is the best Sonic, and any arguments to the contrary will be shouted down in the rabid fanboy scream you’d expect. Generations commemorates the 20th anniversary of the original game that spawned the franchise, and sees Sonic traveling back through his personal timeline (which you’re really not supposed to do, so sayeth the Doctor, but we won’t tell him) to save his friends and restore time, but the only way he can do it is by teaming up with his younger self. This notion blends the classic 2D gameplay with the modern 3D levels and takes in the sights of old stages in a tour de force of awesome. Well received by reviewers, this looks set to be the first truly get Sonic game since Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast.

Sonic Generations is released November 1 in the US, November 3 in AUS, November 4 in the UK and December 1 in Japan on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC with 3DS editions releasing later in the month for respective regions.

 
GoldenEye 007: Reloaded

 

 
Continuing the remake trend, the lauded and legendary N64 GoldenEye 007 is no exception, sadly. What should be applauded is that GoldenEye 007: Reloaded isn’t a straight, upscaled HD copy with higher res textures and character models like some other titles to have come out this year. The game, and to the story, has been brought up to the current Bond mythos with Daniel Craig swapped in for Pierce Brosnan and the plot revised to take place after the last movie. These revisions are mirrored in the familiar levels from the original game being altered and various gameplay elements coming into line with modern-day standards. And yes, the notorious multiplayer is back with all the perks you’ve come to know from online frag fests. Plus, achievements

GoldenEye 007: Reloaded is released November 1 in the US, November 2 in AUS and November 4 in the UK on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

 
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

 

 
Nathan Drake, it’s been far too long. The critically acclaimed action adventure PlayStation exclusive series that gives Indy and Lara a run for their money is back for its third outing that sees Drake and Sully, with Elena and Chloe in tow, in search of another legendary locale – this time, the lost city of Iram of the Pillars, trading in the snowy scenery of the second game for the baking desert. Certain refinements have been implemented such as a bigger number of character model animations allowing for an even more fluid experience, coupled with a simplified approach to the stealth mechanics which will please fans. Multiplayer also returns, and money made in single-player can be transferred over allowing purchase of weapons and upgrades. So what if it’s much of the same, the Uncharted games have been nothing short of extraordinary in both terms of gameplay and visual, and I’m not complaining about going back for thirds.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is released November 1 in the US and November 2 in the UK, AUS and Japan for the PlayStation 3.

 
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

 

 
FPS’ers are no doubt resembling Japanese schoolgirls, quivering at the knees with clasped hands and sparkly anime eyes while shrilly exclaiming “DO WANT.” MW3 is the direct sequel to the stupidly successful MW2, and sees the Russian Federation advancing their invasion of the mainland United States and well as now Europe, with the campaign seeing you get your gunplay on across the globe, big sights being set on the New York Stock Exchange – minus the Occupy Wall Street mobs – and London, including a controversial Underground excursion. Characters and voice actors return, but I know you don’t really care about them – Multiplayer on the other hand? Yeah. All the trappings make it over to the sequel, along with additions of new game modes and a revamp of the reward system. Best practice your faux-cough now, if you haven’t done so already.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is released November 8 in all regions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii and Nintendo DS. Japanese gamers will have to wait until November 17 at the earliest for a subtitle release, and until December 22 for a dubbed version.

 
Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection

 

 
You lucky American and Japanese gits. Us Brits and Aussies have to suffer and wait until February to get our tea-drinking-and-barbie mits on this hell of a compilation. MGS: HD Collection doesn’t take the Twin Snakes approach and rebuild the games, rather it just gets the HD upscale treatment. If there’s one series that I do not care that all the developers did was port with slight polish and resolution boosts, it’s this one. Included are Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker – the first two being the ‘director’s cut’ Substance and Subsistence versions. There is a limited edition available for both the 360 and PS3 with special packaging and an art book if you’re that way inclined, but don’t bank on getting one of the 4000 worldwide Ultimate editions that are/were a Zavvi exclusive for the UK only.

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection is released November 8 in the US, November 23 in Japan and bloody February 2 in AUS and February 3 in the UK on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Swines.

 
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

 

 
No joke, if you do not see a post or even a tweet from me past November 11, you can be safe in the knowledge that I am killing dragons and lumberjacking in Skyrim. Seriously. I just can’t. I can’t. Okay, I’m done. Taking place in the northern region of Tamriel from which the game takes its title, you play, well, whoever and whatever you like. Three different races of Human, three Elf variations, a Reptilian, a Feline and a Orc. Then you can customise them for hours on end before you even start roaming the fields. Then you choose what you want to be – a Mage (that’s me), a Warrior or a Thief. There’s literally so much I could say that it’d be an entire feature in of itself. Plotwise, Skyrim is in a state of civil unrest with the population split on wanting to be independent and the others wanting to stay in the Empire. Whoever you choose, you start – like previous Elder Scrolls games – as a prisoner who manages to escape and rise to the occasion to become a hero when you discover that the civil war is the last stage in the prophecy that tells of Alduin, the dragon god of destruction, coming back to the world. Skyrim is a beast and it will consume your time and you won’t care in the slightest. Personally, it’ll be my crack until I can play a Panda and get all zen. It’s going to be amazeballs.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is released worldwide on November 11 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

 
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

 

 
Who like genealogy? Who likes conspiracies? Who likes medieval open-world roaming, stealthing, jumping and sauntering around like a boss with retractable blades up your sleeves? Well, we’ve got the game for you! High off the giddy success of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, the fourth in the series sees the three relations – Desmond, Altaïr, Ezio – all playable, across time (err, ‘memories’) come together in the wibbly-sense to find the key to ending the Templar and Assassin conflict. It’s also a farewell of sorts as its been confirmed that this will be the last appearance for Altaïr and Ezio and the Renaissance era. Multiplayer and more gadgets and tinfoil-hats and flair and style than you could get da Vinci to shake a stick at, and a conclusion to an epic tale all follow.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is released November 15 worldwide, with a PC version following November 29.

 
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

 

 
Yep, it certainly is the most rehashed time of the year. Celebrating ten years (ten years, really?!) since the start of one of gamings’ most successful and iconic series, Halo: CEA goes right back to the beginning and also marks the first public outing for 343 Industries, the new developers that will oversee the series next trilogy. One nifty feature is the ability to switch between the new, remastered graphics and those of the original. There’s also Kinect integration which, well, is nice but not really groundbreaking. You can say ‘analyse’ and your HUD will, yep, analyse your surroundings and objects and stuff. Plus, you can say ‘grenade’ and it’ll throw one. Gimmicky. Also receiving the remake treatment are seven classic multiplayer maps that will sure to please Halo 2 fans. Oh, and co-op. Shooter fans will eat this up.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is released worldwide on November 15, exclusive to Xbox 360.

 
Saints Row: The Third

 

 
What originally started as a Grand Theft Auto wannabe clone, the Saints Row series has really come into its own and while I wouldn’t exactly say that it could stand toe-to-toe with GTA, there’s enough for both to exist equally. The Saints are now superstars in the wake of their defeat of the rival gangs and the Ultor Corporation, but that soon comes to an end when a bank heist goes awry and are imprisoned. They learn that they tried to rob from the wrong people and shenanigans are to be had from there on. It’s a different take having you start out at the top and then falling from grace – if you can even call it ‘grace’ – and truly allows you to be the “ultimate badass” who has a blast that the developers want you to be. Repercussions now play a factor in dealing with one gang can alter how others interact with you and what missions you might be able to take. Violent over the top action set in an open world with tons of character customisation. This one will be perfect for the upcoming post-holiday-lunch afternoon.

Saints Row: The Third is released November 15 in the US and AUS, and November 18 in the UK for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

 
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

 

 
It’s finally here… nearly. The next chapter in the Legend of Zelda series will no doubt, nay, will see the ‘core’ gamers dust off their Wii’s (stop it) after the casual lull of fail to embark on an adventure with Link once more. It’s been literally far too long. Despite the Wii U still being a ways off, you can’t help but feel that Skyward Sword could very well be the last ‘true’ game for the Wii – much like how Twilight Princess was for the Gamecube. If it does prove to be, then this will be a fantastic swan-song. Set long before Ocarina of Time, the game is a direct prequel and tells the story of how this very early incarnation of Link came to possess the Master Sword and explain the origins of Gandondorf, although he does not appear in the game itself, rather setting the scene for his appearance in OoT. Utilising Wii MotionPlus, the swordplay is a lot more refined to the point of being able to precisely slice enemies to the extent that it adds a tactical element to proceedings. Interfaces and items also see a refinement that no longer breaks the flow of gameplay, and not to mention that it’s the most gorgeous game that the Wii has ever seen. One for the fans and a story and world that I for one cannot wait to jump into.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is released November 18 in the UK, November 20 in the US, November 23 in Japan and November 24 in AUS, exclusively on Wii.