Assassin's Creed Continues Annual Release Plan

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We had heard that Ubisoft might take some extra time making the next Assassin's Creed but obviously, the lure of the annual payoff was just too enticing.
After Ubisoft reported their first-half earnings, CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that the next entry in the critically acclaimed franchise would arrive in 2012. Said Guillemot:
"I have the pleasure to announce today that there will be another full-fledged Assassin's Creed title next year. It will be another major release, and we will be communicating more about it in the coming months."
Assassin's Creed: Revelations drops next week; it finishes the story of Ezio, who has been the protagonist in each of the last two entries (Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood). Now, we've questioned theannualization of franchises like AC before, and we remain a touch concerned. I have nothing but high expectations for Revelations, and the series remains my second favorite of the generation behind Uncharted.
But how much can they really do in less than a year? How fast will the engine get old? How will the narrative suffer? Perhaps we should focus on the good side, though: a year isn't a lot of time to create freshness and innovative, but you can't really ruin anything in that span of time, either.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 review: Firing down the sights

The narrative around Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is competing at this point for attention with the game's content itself. This is the title that Infinity Ward was working on when the famous split between Activision and studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West went down. The game was subsequently developed by not one but three different studios from then on (and according to the game's credits, Neversoft and Treyarch helped out as well, which makes this practically an all-hands-on-deck effort for Activision).

And then there's Call of Duty Elite, and all of the questions about which of its online features would be placed behind the paywall. There are the comparisons to Battlefield 3, EA's similarly lauded shooter-blockbuster. This will undoubtedly be the biggest game release of 2011, following up two of the best-selling games of all-time, produced by some of the biggest traditional console developers around. All of that attention is distracting -- there's a lot going on with this game that has nothing to do with the game itself.

When you take away all of the sturm und drang of the franchise and its developers, what you've got left is just a video game. Just an experience, with a six-hour (or so) campaign, a deep and compelling multiplayer match system, and a set of co-op missions paired with a survival mode. The bombast which surrounds Modern Warfare 3 distracts from what's important about the game: It is, put simply, one of the best shooters around.

Modern Warfare 3 (11/8/2011)

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Hardened Edition, unboxed

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is finally out and available in stores, and if you're considering picking up the Hardened Edition (available in most places for $99.99, a mere $40 more than the standard edition), boy do we have a gallery for you to browse through. Below, you can see exactly what's in that box, including a collectible case, a "Limited Edition Field Journal" featuring sketches and materials associated with the game and its story, and the special card and manual that comes with the free year of Call of Duty Elite (and "Founder" status).

Sure, it doesn't have quite as many dragons as Skyrim's Collectors Edition, but that Call of Duty Elite membership will come in handy (not to mention it'll save you the $49.99 that you'd usually pay per year for the service's premium features). Enjoy.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Hardened edition unboxing

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Amazon offers more game Lightning Deals, plus $50 in credit with Xbox or PS3

Amazon is trying once again to lay claim to all of your money in a single day, with a set of video game Lightning Deals. If you're quick, you can grab the first right now: Phoenix Wright for $16.

Judging by the clues, following deals should get you Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise, Sonic Free Riders, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, and more. If you're not into the rush of extremely time-limited deals, feel free to take the day to think about buying FIFA Soccer 12. You can see the whole list of deals here.

If you need a console to play these impulse purchases on, Amazon is also offering $50 in credit with purchase of the 4GB Xbox, the Modern Warfare 3bundle and the 160GB PS3.

Europe's Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS is a magical artifact

We've never personally felt the need for a 3DS that plays only European-format games ... until now. Nintendo of Europe announced an absolutely lovelyLegend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D bundle, featuring some gold embellishments on the top, and gold accents to power icons and the 3D slider.

The bundle also includes a copy of the game, with an exclusive double-sided sleeve -- which means that if you import the set, you'll have at least one properly region-coded game. It'll be released on November 25, exclusively in Europe ... unless Nintendo of America would like to make an announcement today (please?).

Gallery: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS bundle)

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Deja Review: GoldenEye 007: Reloaded

We're of the firm opinion that your time is too precious, too valuable to be spent reading a full review for a game that was already reviewed many, many years ago. What's the point of applying a score to a game that's old enough to be enrolled in the sixth grade? That's why we invented Deja Review: A quick look at the new features and relative agelessness of remade, revived and re-released games.

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In the eyes of many, the original GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64 stands out as much more than a mere game. GoldenEye is a legend with a legacy all its own; one that cannot be substituted or replicated. Of course, that didn't stop Activision from making the attempt in 2010 with a brand new game with the familiar moniker of GoldenEye 007 for the Wii.

Mercifully, the publisher made the very wise (and legally mandated) decision to carry the franchise forward in name only. Rather than creating a direct remake of the 1997 classic, they crafted an entirely new experience that was surprisingly original while still feeling classically GoldenEye. The new game featured much of the style of the original while reimagining the story and characters and events in the modern day.

GoldenEye 007: Reloaded is the latest attempt to fill in the N64 classic's sizable tuxedo -- this time in high definition. Unfortunately, while Reloaded fits into the right suit, it seems that it's gotten a bit snug.

Metareview: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

We said that "Modern Warfare 3 is a great Call of Duty game, just as every other entry in the franchise is a great Call of Duty game." It's not perfect, but it's the best at what it does... and what it does best is make a whole ton of money. Here's what others had to say:

• OXM (95/100): "Sure, we can come up with a list of things we'd love to see from the series - whether it's a revamped campaign approach or a revitalized game engine and aesthetic - but when everything here is this well-executed and offers so many enduring thrills, it's hard to knock it too much. MW3 absolutely delivers."
• Game Trailers (93/100): "As attention spans dissipate, games like this strike the sweet spot of time spent versus reward gained. Yet there's also an extremely deep multiplayer experience where the changes seem minimal but pack a big punch. If you're expecting a huge departure from what's come before you'll be disappointed, but fans will get exactly what they're looking for. World War III shouldn't be this fun."
• Gamespot (85/100): "Whatever diversions or innovations may lie inModern Warfare 3's future, the competitive multiplayer still offers the same sweet satisfaction you've come to expect from the series. This is some of the best online shooter action around, and with the daunting challenges of Spec Ops and the exciting, globe-trotting campaign,Modern Warfare 3 stands tall as another great descendant of the game that changed a generation. "
• Eurogamer (80/100): "Whatever next year's entry brings, some measure of reinvention will be essential. For now, its exuberant blend of testicular bravado and blockbuster gloss ensures that Call of Duty retains its crown as the shooter genre's biggest, boldest rollercoaster ride for at least one more year."