November has just started, though already we seem to have torn through many of the year’s biggest retail releases. Batman, Battlefield, Pokémon and Assassin’s Creed are all battling for spots in the top 20 chart, a battle which is only about to get that little bit tougher…
Call of Duty: Ghosts | PS3, PC, 360, Wii U | Tuesday
First out of the gate this week is your annual dose of modern military mayhem. That’s right, Call of Duty is back once again with a slew of new updates and a revised multiplayer component. It’s nothing ground-breaking yet, chances are, many of you braved the cold last night to get a copy.
Leaving Modern Warfare on the back burner, Infinity Ward has turned its attention to a new Call of Duty timeline, marked by rising superpowers and a global fallout. It’s a bold new approach to the series’ single player campaign and one littered with a number of memorable set pieces.
In terms of gameplay, however, it’s near enough identical to previous entries. Depending on your history with the franchise this could be a good or bad thing but once again the Call of Duty team find themselves in a sticky situation. Do they overhaul the mechanics and risk fumbling or do they rework an existing formula and risk stagnation?
You can read our full review of the title here.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate | 3DS | Friday
Having suffered a two-week delay, Blackgate will finally launch on Nintendo’s handheld this Friday. Developed by Armature, the studio that ported both the MGS HD Collection and Injustice to the Vita, Blackgate is a 2.5D counterpart to Warner Bros. Batman series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLxmeIPITjA
You’ll be embroiled in the same stealth and combat sequences though only on a smaller scale and without as much complexity.
The Vita version has been out for nearly a fortnight, picking up mixed reviews. Critics describe it as an interesting approach and one that is clearly respectful of the mainline series. However, many have also picked up on Blackgate’s pacing issues and the overall sense of emptiness when compared with its home console counterparts.
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games | Wii U, 3DS | Friday
Jumping on the Olympic bandwagon yet again, Mario, Sonic and the gang return in their fourth sporting adventure.
If you have played any previous games in the crossover series, you’ll know what to expect. Sochi 2014 will feature a host of iconic characters who either team up or go solo across sixteen unique events. These include Ice Hockey, Snowboarding, and Curling as well as the Skeleton, Biathlon, and many more.
Looks like it’s time to get your skates on.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy | 3DS | Friday
This week also sees the return of everyone’s favourite puzzle-solving mastermind, the ingenious Professor Layton.
In his latest adventure – only available on 3DS – Layton and his companions go in search of relics sourced from an ancient civilisation. Queue an ample dose of globe-trotting and over 500 touch-screen puzzles for good measure.
If our review is anything to go by, even after a cluster of sequels, it appears the Prof. has yet to lose his touch.