Posted Sun Nov 9, 2014 at 08:46 AM PST by Brian Hoss
Smack dab in the middle of the biggest release stretch of the year.
'Assassin's Creed Unity' does the one thing that can really revitalize what is on its own still a compelling third person action/stealth/historical extravaganza, it adds four player co-op. Not unlike the upcoming 'Far Cry 4', the promise of co-op has already been demonstrated by Ubisoft to be a game-changer.
Aside from the killer cop-op, there is of course the deadly, strife riddled setting of the French Revolution, which, along with a new engine, has made this 'AC' a new gen only title.
This past summer I made the case for 'Halo: The Master Chief Collection' as "one of most ambitious anthologies ever produced. And now the is finally here along with that 20GB day one update, which has shrunk down to 15GB. There is even a new launch trailer that is more than happy to remind players of the significance of the franchise and the very games that are just about to be made playable in 1080p on the Xbox One for the first time.
This anthology is a steal at $60 even for non-fans. Not only does it include 'Halo: CE Anniversary,' the new 'Halo 2: Anniversary,' 'Halo 3,' & 'Halo 4,' but also the 'Halo: Nightfall' digital series, and perhaps most importantly for some, 'Halo 5: Guardians.'
'Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham' might have one the more understated titles of the holiday season. Traveller's Tales, not satisfied with just Batman or even just Gotham, has gathered the Justice League and the Legion of Doom in a team-up that spans the galaxy. Now that may sound over-the-top, but players should expect to leave earth behind, and to bring with them a horde of DC icons as well as several cultish characters like polka dot man. In some ways, the game is very 'Batman Brave and the Bold,' but with each character and story built out of Legos and available to open roam outside of the story.
One key with the game is how different planet in the game have turned the gameplay on its head. With the PS4 and Xbox One's overhead, the team has gotten more ambitious, making larger, more dynamic worlds that have then been brought back to the older platforms as opposed to the other way around.
During the past several months, Ubisoft has stoked the fires for the next-gen only 'Assassin's Creed Unity' and left 360 and PS3 owners feeling out in the cold, but there is hoep, 'Assassin's Creed Rogue' looks like a great reason to enter the fray on the older platforms.
The game features what 'Unity' seems to be lacking, ships, oh and one other thing, playing as an Assassin hunting templar. 'Assassin's Creed Rogue' is being developed by Ubisoft Sofia.
Konami's 'Pro Evolution Soccer 2015,' aka 'World Soccer: Winning Eleven 2015,' is finally ready for the new generation. 'PES 2015' is the first installment of the long-running soccer/football title to grace the PS4 and Xbox One, but this year will also still see versions for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
'PES 2015' is underpinned by the FOX engine, and the expectation for both the game's visuals and physics on the new consoles is at an all-time high.
Sega is bringing not one but two new Sonic games. The first is the 'Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric,' which, shockingly enough, is based on the TV series. The game offers an interesting mix of 3D and 2D play, plus the ability to play co-op. Lyric the Ancient takes of the role of villain, and it will be interesting to see how the somewhat particular Sonic fan base feels about the this offshoot.
Like its Wii U brother, 'Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal' is based on the TV show, but unlike the Wii U game, the 3DS installment is entirely sidescrolling style. Impressions place this entry as a great way to rekindle past Sonic glories, and it might just be a hit for Sega on the 3DS.
The PC version hit last May, but at long last, the 360 version of 'Tropico 5' will be available for potential console dictators. (Check out the review here.) The biggest feature in the new installment is multiplayer, but that doesn't mean that running an island nation is any less of a joy in single player. A PS4 version is expected next year.
You can find the latest info on all of these releases and more linked from our Video Game Release Schedule.
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