A new Xbox design, and a new Media Remote with it. When Microsoft announced the Slim Xbox 360, with a glossy case and black instead of the once proudly-displayed white matte finish, it only made sense that followup hardware would follow a similar route: slimming down and gaining a sleeker design. This holiday Microsoft released a few peripherals, one of which was the Xbox 360 Media Remote. I’ve used it since it a ton since IPTV through the Xbox became a reality, and it’s a great piece of hardware to own.

For comparison, let’s take a look at the original Xbox 360 media remote. It’s roughly the same length as the newer model, but is stockier, and has an overall larger feel. The white design is easy to see and matches original 360 consoles, but the size makes it inconvenient for a living room setting. It’s wider and thicker than almost every cable box or TV remote I’ve ever seen. Compare that to the Universal Media Remote, which is much larger and bulkier, and now you have a new king of remote controls by size alone.

The new model is thin and sleek. It combines the Universal Remote’s use-anywhere traits and the smaller size of the original Media Remote in an even smaller form factor. This new Media Remote is by no means thin at an inch thick, but it’s comfortable in the hand, far more than either two remotes before it. The button layout leaves a lot to be desired, however, depending on how you use it. As a universal remote the channel buttons are too low and video navigation (pause, play, fast forward/rewind, etc.) are too high. For Xbox 360 use, the button scheme is exceptional, though it feels better for the left hand than the right hand.

The Media Remote is much smaller than the universal remote. Unfortunately I've lost mine, so no direct size comparison

My bigger concern isn’t with the remote so much, but the lack of proper software implementation on the Xbox 360 itself. When watching TV through the game console, it’s impossible to switch to specific channels without going through the guide or flipping through one at a time.

The overall experience of watching TV through the Xbox with just the Media Remote isn’t as great as it can be. It can easily be improved in two ways: speed up channel flipping (right now there’s a 2-5 second buffer delay between channels), and allow for a more cable TV-like viewing experience. Today it just feels too slow and too cumbersome.

At just $20, it’s more expensive than most universal remotes but a much better option for Xbox 360 owners. Even if you just have the game console, new video apps like Crackle, and streaming apps like Hulu Plus and Netflix make owning the Media Remote worthwhile. Even if it spends most of its days sitting quietly on your coffee table, this remote is a solid, simple and worthwhile purchase that you can’t regret.

Editor’s Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom Line: A great remote that’s better than the original, and does everything you need for a good price.

Pros:

• Smaller, slimmer, better than the original
• Packs two prior remotes into one with a solid build and design

There’s one thing that Playstation 3 gamers have always held over the heads of Xbox 360 owners, and that is headsets. The PS3 supports Bluetooth, so any wireless headset of your choosing will work for both your phone and console. The 360, meanwhile, had only one wireless headset, from Microsoft directly, and it only functioned with the Xbox 360 (or a PC with the wireless receiver). Without building Bluetooth into the console, Microsoft solved the other problem: a multi-function headset.

The Xbox 360 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth is exactly that, a single headset with both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz built into a single device. It’s big and sleek with a glossy finish, and simple with just four buttons and a single switch. Power, connect (with the Xbox controller ring), volume rocker, and the Bluetooth/RF switch. There’s also a tiny sync button behind the earpiece.

This headset is huge. It’s more than twice the size of the Plantronics Marque M155, though the dark design doesn’t make it stand out obnoxiously, remaining large yet elegant. Until fingerprints collect on that glossy surface, that is. The large size poses another problem, one unique to most headsets: the earpiece is made to wear outside the ear. This design choice is good for gaming – after all, in-ear headsets block sound on the side they are worn on – but for standard use has no noise cancellation. Considering that the Wireless Headset w/Bluetooth is designed to work for and outside of gaming, this may prove too much for some consumers.

I tested the headset for both phonecalls and gaming, and there are two highs and lows of the device. First, switching between “game” mode and “work” mode is a simple flick of the switch. What makes it great is the coloring on the switch: when set for Bluetooth, the open section of the switch (see picture below) shows blue. When set for gaming, it shows green. I never had trouble between the two modes because of this. Second, the headset can get very loud thanks to the larger earpiece, and likewise has fairly good battery life. With on and off use I’ve managed a week of use before charging, playing on my Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and for occasional phone calls.

The lows may be the bigger worry. Once again, the size is a limiting factor because the it’s heavy. If you have sensitive ears and generally find Bluetooth headsets uncomfortable, this one will fare worse than most. I found it uncomfortable to wear after 30 minutes of continuous use, but then again I need very light sets. The second, again, is that the earpiece itself sits outside the ear. This makes the headset almost always feel like it’s sliding off even when perfectly stable, and not offering the level of comfort and security found on the traditional Wireless Headset or typical Bluetooth headsets.

The type of user who would be most interested in the Wireless Headset with Bluetooth is someone who owns multiple consoles and plays on both online, or someone who has a workstation that seats both consoles and a computer. The headset is made for the multi-tool user, the kind of person who is connected in multiple ways at once, through as many platforms as it takes. Playing on a PS3, 360, and switching between my iPhone, desktop computer, and a handful of Android phones was a cinch. Not only because most of the devices sit at one place – my workstation – but because the headset never leaves. It charges via MicroUSB like my wireless mouse, and remains on my desk with a small pile of regularly used peripherals. It’s the perfect multi-use gaming headset.

I’d prefer something smaller and lighter, because I personally don’t like heavier headsets, but even then Microsoft’s design is very solid. I recommend it to all but the most sensitive-eared users, and not to anyone who wants to just use it for telephony. The Wireless Headset with Bluetooth is made to be worn while still, seated. Not while walking about. The only thing that’s missing is a charging dock, which I’d gladly keep on a coffee table or my workplace to keep things tidy and organized.

Editor’s Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Very Good

Bottom Line: The Wireless Headset with Bluetooth is an excellent option for multi-console gamers who play in one space. Great for gaming, not good for walking around on the phone with. Bulky, with good battery life.

Pros:

• Good battery life
• Simple RF/BT switch
• Great to use with multiple devices and consoles

It turns out that Amazon was totally B-S-ing us with the release date of December 31st, 2012 for the game Kinect Star Wars.  Today, we learned that it will release April 3rd, which if you recall is what we “half expected.”  On top of that, we’ve also learned that it will include five dynamic modes, allowing you to control a Speeder Bike, fight Count Dooku and Darth Vader and even boogie (yes dance) to your favorite Star Wars inspired tunes.

With five dynamic modes – Jedi Destiny: Dark Side Rising, Podracing, Rancor Rampage, Galactic Dance Off and Duels of Fate – “Kinect Star Wars” makes it possible for Star Wars fans of all ages to delve into immersive Star Wars experiences. In addition to the previously announced Jedi, Podracing and Rancor modes, Xbox 360 and LucasArts have today unveiled new additions to the game, including:

New experiences within Jedi Destiny Mode, including:

Space battles:As you travel the Galaxy to face an evil that threatens to undermine the fabric of the Republic, you’ll engage with forces of the Empire in intense space battles

Speeder Bikes and Landspeeders: Pilot iconic Speeder Bikes and Landspeeders on your epic journey

New duels:Battle opponents like Count Dooku and Darth Vader on your journey to become a Jedi

New Duels of Fate mode, a battle-by-battle experience to sharpen your Jedi skills against the Dark Side.

New Galactic Dance Off mode loaded with Star Wars-themed pop tunes where those still honing their Jedi skills can take a break to battle Darth Vader on the dance floor or bust a move “Solo style.”

Additionally, the Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Kinect Star Wars” console bundle will feature an exclusive C-3PO unlockable for Dance Mode. With these new reveals and the ability to play in 3D,

But that’s not the only good news we have for those of you holding out for the latest Star Wars game.  Major Nelson let it be known that the Star Wars Xbox 36o, the one we told you about last July, will ship on the same day, with the game, a C3PO inspired controller, Kinect camera, a 320GB hard drive and Star Wars noises for $449.  If you’re so inclined you can preorder one from Amazon right now, where upon it will show up at your door neatly wrapped in time for Easter.

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There are controllers, and then there are controllers. Today, most of us just use whatever comes with the console, and nothing else. Microsoft or Sony did a tremendous job with their gamepads, but it has taken 3rd parties too long to match or better that quality. They just haven’t been as good. That finally changes in a big way.

The MLG Pro Circuit box is expertly crafted

Mad Catz decided to best the millions of man-hours and research put into the 360 and Dualshock controllers by aiming for the high-end consumer and not the everyman gamer. I’ve gotta say, the MLG Pro Circuit Controller fits that bill.

Available for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, the MLG Pro Circuit Controller shares the 360 gamepad’s shape, but what sets it apart is one feature: interchangeable parts. Faceplates are secondary. The d-Pad, analog sticks, faceplate, wrist holds, even the cable are all detachable, replaceable, and customisable. It may seem useless, but consider you’re a PS3 gamer who likes the concave 360 analog sticks. It’s an easy switch: twist the convex ones out, put the concave ones in, and done. The snap-on system isn’t as easy to open as they should be, more akin to opening a bottle of pills with that child-safety lock. Both the 360 and PS3 models are identical (save for the Xbox/PS button).

In the box is the controller, a set of analog sticks in both PS3 and 360 style, d-Pads for both, a 9′ braided cable that screws onto the controller, two weights (35g each), and a carrying case for all of the above. It isn’t wireless because it’s a pro-gamer controller. Wired controllers are faster, more reliable, are also the only ones allowed in tournaments.

I’ve been using the Pro Circuit for the past week and it’s a real pleasure to use, not just because it’s a good controller, but because of the interchangeable parts. I played through the Metal Gear Solid HD collection on the 360, but clearly the game was designed for the PS2′s Dualshock. For that game, I switched the d-Pad to the PS3′s and put it on the top left, put a 360 analog stick on the bottom left, and kept a PS3 analog stick on the right. For me, this setup was the most effective. Fast paced 360 shooters, like Modern Warfare 3, are easier for me with the PS3 right stick and 360 left stick.

In a sense, it’s like having both consoles wrapped into one. The only sad news is that because of licensing, there’s no way to get one controller that would work with both consoles.

But the Pro Circuit isn’t perfect. The face buttons are a bit mushy, especially so out of the box. They’re better after being broken in, but the style of the buttons may not appeal to all players, including pro gamers. The buttons have a lot of give, compared to the mouse-like buttons of the Razer Onza controller.

The Pro Circuit with both back panels, with and without weights

It’s also expensive. For $100, the Pro Circuit is an investment, one that may prove to save money. Like I wrote in my hands-on preview, I have a stack of working but worn out Xbox 360 controllers, four with completely worn out indents on the analog sticks. A set of analog sticks will be available for purchase for $15 each, which will make the controller worthwhile for the long-term. It just depends on your gaming habits. I just feel that Mad Catz is a little late to the controller game. If the Pro Circuit came out at least a year ago, it would have a much better chance to succeed and prosper. With today’s rumors of a new Xbox and Playstation within the coming year, even if the current controllers work with new consoles it limits just how well a new controller can do today.

Mad Catz will also put out additional parts for the Pro Circuit, including different style faceplates, different length cables, and potentially even different style joysticks. The MLG Pro Circuit Controller is a very solid gamepad, one with an exceptional switch system for analog sticks and d-Pads. I think that the Pro Circuit can be better over time, as more faceplate, palm rests, joysticks and d-Pads become available, though right now it’s still a great controller.

Editor’s Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Very Good

Bottom Line: The MLG Pro Circuit Controller is a great gamepad that thanks to interchangeable parts is highly customizable, more than any controller before it.

Pros:

• Comfortable gamepad
• Interchangeable parts are a brilliant direction for a gamepad
• A good long-term controller investment

The Star Wars brand will echo into eternity. Ok, it might be an exaggeration, but the brand is iconic and to this day could sell ice to eskimos. Unfortunately, the Star Wars video games, at least of recent on the latest generation of consoles has been lack luster. Hopefully that will now change as Lucasarts has finally announced the release date of Kinect Star Wars.

This game will incorporate Microsoft’s Kinect camera allowing gamers to finally fully emerse themselves in Jedi action without a controller. Players will be able to slice and dice their foes by cutting the air with a would be sword as well as move objects utilizing the “force” just by raising their hands in front of them.

Based on the demo video above, it looks like the game runs on a wire system, which means once you defeat an enemy you’ll automatically walk to your next destination, where upon you might be faced with a “force” task or jump that can be achieved by performing the correct hand or body gesture. At the end of the day it’s probably not the Star Wars game for the hardcore fan, but it should provide some much needed fun for those looking to blow the dust off their Kinect.

Kinect Star Wars will release December 31st, 2012 and is currently available for preorder from Amazon for $50.

Since that date is so far away, we’re half expecting the game to change as well as the release date (it doesn’t make sense to release it after Xmas).

Still pondering that Christmas gift for the gamer in the family?  Well, odds are, that is assuming they have any level of self respect, they’re a Portal fan. The game is a real head scratcher, and while we are anything but die hard fans, there are more than enough of you out there to warrant such a product as the Portal 2 Aperture iPad Sleeve.

This case fits both iterations of Apple’s tablet, but truthfully, it’s designed for the latter version.  Unfortunately, it won’t teleport you or your cousins out of your aunt’s harrassing reach, but it surely will please any Portal fanboy.  Aside from the fact that it’s an officially licensed Portal product, it features the Aperture Science Logo, a small outside pocket for storing your “test orders” and pencils, the same wonderful orange finish as Chell’s jumpsuit and wait for it, a rubber grommet allowing you to plug in your headphones while it’s protectively wrapped from harm’s way.

This officially licensed Portal sleeve will cost you $29.99.

Many would argue that Battlefield 3, without a shred of a doubt, makes Modern Warfare 3 look like child’s play when it comes to graphics and perhaps even that sense of realism we all pine for when it comes to an FPS. And while both games are compelling in an epic battle, blood shed sort of sense, nothing compares to this supposedly fan made Battlefield 3 video.  We say “supposedly” because its production quality is just that top notch, nailing it all the way down to the in hand weapon cycling.  Anyway, why don’t you be the judge for yourself and hit the above video.

It’s one thing to play with the fishes, another to take a swim with them.  Catch our drift?  But you’ll be doing neither with this bad ass Xbox 360 mod. Before you get too excited, though, you should know it’s not a working Xbox 360.  It’s been gutted and replaced with, you guessed it, coral and more.  In fact, it contains live fish, crabs, snails, and shrimp.

The maker, Spencer of Blue World Aquariums, didn’t toss everything out, though.  He used the original power supply and outfitted it with low voltage LED lighting that changes color.  And in case you were wondering, the water volume is just .45 gallons and the tank is made from glass, measuring 6″ long, 8″ tall, and 2.5″ wide.

It’s just too bad that the Xbox 360 doesn’t actually, or should we say still play games.  Because if it did, this would be the world’s most amazing Xbox 360 mod, as well as the most hap-hazardous to you and your surrounding equipment.

When I was a wee lad, I used to go over to my friend Dave’s house just to play wrestling games.  Back then we would watch WWF RAW and then switch the channel to WCW Nitro (I think that’s what it was called) before switching on the N64 to try and mimic some of the matches we had just seen.  When more than four of us were there is was a mad round robin game, where the losers were eliminated.  It was simple, it was fun, and it’s still probably one of the fondest memories from my childhood.  Now while I haven’t watched any wrestling myself in number of years, I find myself with a son who does just like I used to, and he wants to play wrestling games like I did as well – so how well did THQ do here?  Did it fondly remind me of days gone by?

The short answer is “not really”.

I’m normally the guy who likes games with a few miss steps in them – like the runt of the liter when you’re picking out a puppy.  I might not give those games the best scores, but I’ll let my readers know that I genuinely enjoyed playing them despite those flaws.  In regards to the single player experience here, that’s sadly not going to be the case.  For starters, the A.I. doesn’t actually do anything intelligent at all, but rather spams grapple the entire time you get close.  It’s the equivalent of playing a Mortal Kombat or a Street Fighter game against someone that only knows where the high kick button is.  It’s more than annoying, it’s downright boring.

Even worse, is when you go to try and do something with a partner, and they seem to want to make your help pointless.  I was in a match of the Miz and John Cena vs Kane and the Undertaker, and when the ref was down and I ran in as Cena to do his finisher on Kane, the Miz just kept walking up to him punching – effectively ruining any two one one bonus.  It’s simply mind blowing to me that things like this even happen in games today – especially in one like this with so much potential in the single player realm.

Modes like The Road to Wrestlemania could have been great, had they just worked on it a little more.  Maybe get some of the actual WWE writers to come up with the story next year to start, because the story here is an extreme yawn fest, and more predictable than if they had just included the transcript in with the game.  Not only that, but the action never feels fresh at all – like you’re doing the same thing over and over (and I don’t just mean wrestling).  Even the backstage brawls lose their excitement as soon as you realize there is only one backstage area.

Fortunately for THQ, this game does have a few saving graces.  For starters, the character models are pretty damn amazing to look at.  Modeling a character on a game after a real life person is always hard work (unless you have the crazy face tech of L.A. Noir at your disposal), and WWE ’12 does a decent job at it.  While the models might not look exact, they’re the best any wrestling game that I can remember has come to replicating real life.  That doesn’t apply to the wrestler entrances though, as a lot of the animations look sloppy, and the sound is kinda like listening to your television from two rooms away.

The wrestler creation mode is nice as well, with plenty of options for you to fiddle with if you want to make absolutely sure your wrestler is perfect for you.  I spent a few hours messing with it and was happy, but I’m sure someone with more time and talent than me could really make someone look special (or just like any old wrestler that’s not in the game).  The other really big thing for me, and the only reason I’ll keep coming back and playing this (because is SURE isn’t for the single player experience), is for the multi-player fun.

While my son is only nine, going on ten in two months, we haven’t had this much fun playing video games together before.  We tried loads of lame Kinect titles, and some of the pathetic Move offerings, but just sitting there with controllers was more of a bonding experience than those two “gimmick” systems could hope for.  We trash talked.  We pushed each other around.  At one point he threw a pretzel at my head to distract me and go for the pin.  Those moments, and those moments alone are what made me truly happy to be playing this game.  It also still has four player multiplayer, which means when his friends come over it’s gang up on dad when I’m around, or round robin battle royale when I’m not.

Editor’s Rating:

2.5 out of 5 stars

Fair

The Bottom Line:  Look, I know this game has more than its fair share of problems in the single player realm, but if you have a few friends to call over and have a couch war with, it’s well worth the money (it also has an online mode, but when I tried it that was down and I haven’t had a chance to go back to it).

Pros:

• The Create A Wrestler mode is very well done, and can lead to some nice looking players
• The graphics are really improved over any other wrestling game I’ve seen in the past, and the characters look “right”
• The amount of fun you can have in a room full of friends with this can not be quantified – words won’t do it justice

Cons:

• The A.I. is laughably abysmal – or at least it would be if it wasn’t so cheap that it made you swear every five minutes
• The story is just downright pathetic – were the writers found behind a dumpster?
• The intro sequences are literally painful to watch, and you’ll want to turn them off ASAP

You may have heard. Gaming is one of today’s most expensive hobbies. Games for major platforms like the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 cost $60 each, while Wii and PC games are generally $50 a pop. Mobile games are cheaper, but for big, cinematic experiences, players need to be sitting at their couch or at their computer, facing down hordes of demons, zombies or whatever else comes their way.

So what games can you get for your significant other, for your kids or parents, or for friends? We’ve got a great list of titles you should pick up, but just make sure they don’t already have it!

Xbox 360 Exclusive Games

Gears of War 3

It promised to be one of the biggest action titles of the year, and developer Epic Games pulled through on that promise. Gears of War 3 is an amicable conclusion to the Xbox 360 sci-fi saga, one that includes a fun, sordid campaign and several excellent multiplayer modes that continue to excite even months later. You don’t want to pass on this.

Forza Motorsport 4

Forza Motorsport 3 was huge, with over 400 cars and a disc just to install a ton of content. Forza 4 does all of that and more, with better photorealistic graphics, more cars and tracks, Kinect functionality, and the same great racing. If there’s a racing game to get this holiday, it’s Forza 4.

Dance Central 2

The original Dance Central was revolutionary; it took the dancing games we all wanted to enjoy on the Wii and made dancing in front of a TV fun. Whether it’s to work out, to learn some dance moves, or to make a fool of yourself at a party, Dance Central 2 ups the ante with two-players dancing side-by-side and a slew of new songs to get jiggy with. I wouldn’t call it kid-friendly; most of the tracks are fairly explicit (no bad words, but there is plenty of questionable content), though you’re likely to hear them on the radio nonetheless. Games like Dance Central are the reason to own a Kinect.

Halo: Anniversary

The game that brought the Xbox into the limelight returns, completely revamped with new HD graphics, online coop, and new game modes available in last year’s Halo: Reach. It may not look quite right to play the old classic with such updated graphics (I myself just love the old-school blocky textures), and the game isn’t an exact duplicate. Grizzled ancients will have new secrets to hunt and unlock while younger gamers who missed the original can give the game that started it all a serious go. For $40 it’s a great buy, even if you own the original Halo: Combat Evolved like I do because of the improved resolution and the chance to play it over Xbox Live.

Playstation 3 Exclusive Games

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

If there’s one definitive franchise for the Playstation 3, it’s Uncharted. The first title, Drake’s Fortune, was great, but had a lot of room to grow. The second, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, quickly became a fan favorite, and the third, Drake’s Deception, is a stunning cinematic experience. A stunning single-player campaign, a fabulously fun cooperative play mode and a different yet still bombastic multiplayer make Drake’s Deception a must-buy, for the few who don’t have it already. Because if you don’t, you are surely missing out. It’s one of the few games where you can actually enjoy watching someone else play, and never picking up a controller yourself.

Infamous 2

There are few games that inspire the feeling of “I wish I could do that in real life” more than Infamous 2, at least for me every time I see a power line. While the original was a strong game, Infamous 2 picks action up a notch and gives players not only several different massive cities to explore, but the ability to take on player-created missions, and even make their own. That, along with some very fun DLC, makes Infamous 2 a must-have.

The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection

Both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are incredible games, both ahead of their time and timeless. I sadly missed both when they released back for the PS2, but caught up and am so glad I did. Both of these games are just incredible, the kind that make you gape in wonder, that make you constantly feel astounded. Your kids may hate you because both games feel slow, with limited action going on at any given point of time, but few games ever manage to reach the level of sophistication and artistry these two do. Bundling them together with improved graphics is just a side bonus.

Great Multi-Console Games

Batman: Arkham City

The return of the Dark Knight this decade has just been astounding. First two (and soon a third) film, then an amazing game, and now a kickass sequel. Batman: Arkham City is not just a romp around a fine prison; it’s a full-scale town to silently stalk through. Arkham City is a definite best-buy for any player, not only because the game is just so fun, but because many gamers missed it in the flood of holiday games. Don’t let this one pass you by.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

It’s big. Everyone wants it. It’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. In fact, if you don’t already have it, the only question is why not? We loved it, all your friends are playing it, and unless you’re stuck in Skyrim (see below), there’s no reason Modern Warfare 3 shouldn’t be in your game collection.

Rage

As good and bad as some games are, few are as jam-packed with excellent content and top-of-the-line features as Rage. It’s got a lot of holes to plug, and a lot of minor gripes that will annoy. But I guarantee that it‘s not only an excellent first person shooter, but that it really pushes the bounds of what it means to be a shooter. Rage may not be the greatest game to come out this year, but it will certainly open your eyes to the possibilities of future games, and be exciting the whole while. Just don’t forget to save often.

Portal 2

The best puzzle game this year, period. It’s bigger, smarter, and has a deeper story than the original, plus room for two players with double the portal action. Coop alone makes Portal 2 a great buy. Free future updates only guarantee that you’ll want to keep it.

Battlefield 3

Modern Warfare 3 may own the multiplayer Rambo-style of gaming, but Battlefield 3 is for the team-players, the ones who will grab their friends for an hour-long bout against an equally intelligent group for serious, vehicle-filled combat. Battlefield is for console strategists. Feel free to run and gun, but unless that’s your specialty, your team can definitely use another great member of the crew. Be it.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

As a sleeper hit, Human Revolution isn’t quite the game that the original Deus Ex was, but that doesn’t take away from the game any. It pits players in the same neo-techno future, with body augmentations, incredible combat maneuvers, and multiple ways to play the game, including stealth, engineering, and soldier. It’s one game that’s easy to miss, but don’t. There is so much to do in the big city, it’s like a miniature RPG.

Rayman: Origins

Rayman: Origins is one of those really great games that everyone in the family can enjoy. The simple platforming is complex enough to remain entertaining for hours on end, yet with instant cooperative play with up to four players on a home console, it’s always a fun time with everyone racing and slapping each other all the way to the finish. If there’s one way to spend the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Christmas, or any family time together when you’re snowed/rained in, Rayman: Origins is it.

Dark Souls

Beware: this is for masochists only! Dark Souls, the sequel to Demons Souls, is an RPG with a difficulty curve that will either make you break your controller in frustration or feel right at home with the sheer insanity of this unforgiving game. If that sounds like the perfect gift for someone, either because they’d love it or end up breaking their game console in frustration, then this is a must-buy.

Saint’s Row: The Third

Saint’s Row: The Third is not what you’d expect from a massive sandbox game in the vein of Grand Theft Auto. It’s goofy, over the top in every way, and rombunctiously fun. So much so that I had to make up a word to describe it, because this game is insane in just about every way. That’s not to say you won’t love it…just keep it out of reach from the kids.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

Assassin’s Creed is one of the few game franchises where every game may feel oh-so-similar to the last, but even then the games are still so damn fun it’s impossible to put down. All of the Assassin’s Creed titles have just been incredible, even though Shawn and I may disagree on just how good. But there’s one thing we both agree on: these games are a blast to play. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations doesn’t quite take the franchise to the next level, still following Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, but it further unfolds the tale, both past and present, of the everlong struggle between the Assassin’s and Knights Templar. A blockbuster hit you won’t want to miss.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is the one game you’ve probably seen not only a handful of ads in larger cities, but new internet meme’s popping up daily about. In fact, you don’t have to go far to learn what Skyrim is, which is one of the biggest, most incredible RPGs to come out this year. Our own Shawn Kline loved it. A definite must have, but be warned: you probably won’t be seeing much of whomever you give it to. That may make it a great, or terrible, gift idea.

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection

There are few games that stand the test of time. Metal Gear Solid isn’t just one game, but an entire series that does exactly that. That’s why the game’s creator Hideo Kojima keeps making new ones even after consistently saying he’s done. That’s why years later people talk about the incredible experience they had in Snake Eater, or how they once ate Alligator meat in the game. Sure, it’s zany and over the top, but putting the Metal Gear Solid 2, 3, and Peace Walker in one bundle, in  HD, is just another reason to play it, or to buy it for the new generation that didn’t grow up with METAL GEEEEEEAR!

Own an Xbox 360? Know someone who does, or perhaps doesn’t but really wants to? Then look no further, because Gadget Review has you completely covered with Microsoft’s game console and all the exclusive titles you’ll need from this year’s lineup. To sweeten the guide, we’ve even included a handful of accessories that will make for great gifts this holiday for any Xbox 360 owner. Or for that good friend who hasn’t quite made the jump yet.

Hardware

Xbox 360 Limited Edition Call of Duty:
Modern Warfare 3 Console

It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is already the biggest game this year, and every one of your friends is playing it. Up the ante with the full MW3 Xbox 360, which features a 320GB hard drive, two custom-painted new (with the improved D-pad) wireless controllers, and of course the game. The stunning paint job worked wonders for the photoshoot, and it looks just as good in real life. Whether it’s for yourself or a friend, a big hard drive and an awesome-looking Xbox is the way to go. This bundle does not disappoint.

Xbox 360 Media Remote

The original Xbox 360 media remote was big, bulky, and matched the white and green color scheme of the original Xbox 360 design. So with the Xbox 360 Slim, which comes in a standard glossy black, comes a sleek, elegant and new media remote. Able to turn on any Xbox 360 without the need to sync, the Media Remote con completely control the Xbox 360 for navigating menus, controlling media playback, and taking over your TV as a universal remote. For that last feature alone, the Media Remote is great at a low price of $19.99. Add onto that all the streaming media you can get through the Xbox 360 like Hulu Plus and ESPN, and the Media Remote is a must-have for the family room Xbox 360.

Mad Catz MLG Arcade Fightstick: Tournament Edition

When it comes to fighting games, you don’t want to rely on just a gamepad, especially when the fight turns serious. You want a fightstick, a full-on arcade-style eight button+joystick setup that’s built to last. Mad Catz has had a few great ones over the past few years, and the MLG Arcade Fightstick: Tournament Edition is no joke. Full-size, full-weight, and full-power, the MLG fightstick is built with Sanwa buttons and joystick to give it that real arcade-machine feeling, that can handle any pounding from hundreds or thousands of people. So bang on this bad boy all you want, it’s made to last.

Xbox 360 Wireless Headset w/Bluetooth

Wireless headsets for the Xbox 360 are great, but they only work with the Xbox, nothing else. For users who only need the one, that’s great, but if you’re looking for a multi-purpose headset, or just want to use one for your gaming and telephony needs, the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset w/Bluetooth has you covered. With the flick of a switch it toggles between Bluetooth and Xbox 360 communication. This on-the-ear headset is comfortable to wear and works very well with both the game console and mobile phones, and it’s been a strange pleasure to use it for both. It’s for a niche customer base, and a solid piece of hardware that makes a great stocking-stuffer.

Kinect Sensor + Nyko Zoom

Kinect is quickly becoming the ultimate living-room experience, whether it’s for gaming or for shouting at your Xbox to change the channel or pause the movie. Kinect is changing the way we interact with our media, and this holiday it’s one thing no Xbox 360 owner should want to miss.

And for anyone who already has Kinect knows how frustrating it can be to use it in a small-ish room. Kinect is built for the family room, larger spaces with plenty of distance between the couch and the TV. But, like many of you, I don’t have such a family room. My media center is a rectangular-shaped box with a round-abound couch, a coffee table and 3-5 feet of space to walk. Kinect needs 8-10 between you and the TV.

Not with the Nyko Zoom. The Zoom is a simple set of lenses that pops over the Kinect to make the cameras see objects closer than they actually are, almost halving the required distance from the Kinect. It’s especially great for individual players because their space of play will suddenly be much closer to the TV, be much more defines, and helps cut those rare instances where the Kinect doesn’t read your movements properly in half. Kinect will change the way you use your Xbox, and Nyko’s Zoom will help make that change, specifically for gaming in more confined spaces, a much more pleasant reality.

Xbox 360 Wireless Speed Wheel

Okay, so it’s a wireless racing wheel. It seems like a joke, and perhaps is when compared to simulation-grade wheels from the likes of Logitech and Thrustmaster. But this racing wheel has one thing those wheels don’t: it’s always fun. Playing with the Wireless Speed Wheel is a constant struggle of holding the wheel upright, timing your turns and not taking the race too seriously. Sure, you can play Forza Motorsport 4 with it, or arcade racers like Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. But if you pull out this wheel when playing with friends, it becomes a ton of fun.

Mad Catz Gears of War 3 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound Headset

Even if you aren’t a fan of Gears of War, the 7.1 Surround Sound Headset is a great sounding surround headset. It sounds good, has a convenient one-cable solution, is USB powered and works on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Besides for the fact that it’s just a plain good headset, Gears fans will love the light-up skull earcans.

Xbox 360 Exclusive Games

Gears of War 3

It promised to be one of the biggest action titles of the year, and developer Epic Games pulled through on that promise. Gears of War 3 is an amicable conclusion to the Xbox 360 sci-fi saga, one that includes a fun, sordid campaign and several excellent multiplayer modes that continue to excite even months later. You don’t want to pass on this.

Forza Motorsport 4

Forza Motorsport 3 was huge, with over 400 cars and a disc just to install a ton of content. Forza 4 does all of that and more, with better photorealistic graphics, more cars and tracks, Kinect functionality, and the same great racing. If there’s a racing game to get this holiday, it’s Forza 4.

Dance Central 2

The original Dance Central was revolutionary; it took the dancing games we all wanted to enjoy on the Wii and made dancing in front of a TV fun. Whether it’s to work out, to learn some dance moves, or to make a fool of yourself at a party, Dance Central 2 ups the ante with two-players dancing side-by-side and a slew of new songs to get jiggy with. I wouldn’t call it kid-friendly; most of the tracks are fairly explicit (no bad words, but there is plenty of questionable content), though you’re likely to hear them on the radio nonetheless. Games like Dance Central are the reason to own a Kinect.

Halo: Anniversary

The game that brought the Xbox into the limelight returns, completely revamped with new HD graphics, online coop, and new game modes available in last year’s Halo: Reach. It may not look quite right to play the old classic with such updated graphics (I myself just love the old-school blocky textures), and the game isn’t an exact duplicate. Grizzled ancients will have new secrets to hunt and unlock while younger gamers who missed the original can give the game that started it all a serious go. For $40 it’s a great buy, even if you own the original Halo: Combat Evolved like I do because of the improved resolution and the chance to play it over Xbox Live.

Great Multi-Console Games

Batman: Arkham City

The return of the Dark Knight this decade has just been astounding. First two (and soon a third) film, then an amazing game, and now a kickass sequel. Batman: Arkham City is not just a romp around a fine prison; it’s a full-scale town to silently stalk through. Arkham City is a definite best-buy for any player, not only because the game is just so fun, but because many gamers missed it in the flood of holiday games. Don’t let this one pass you by.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

It’s big. Everyone wants it. It’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. In fact, if you don’t already have it, the only question is why not? We loved it, all your friends are playing it, and unless you’re stuck in Skyrim (see below), there’s no reason Modern Warfare 3 shouldn’t be in your game collection.

Rage

As good and bad as some games are, few are as jam-packed with excellent content and top-of-the-line features as Rage. It’s got a lot of holes to plug, and a lot of minor gripes that will annoy. But I guarantee that it‘s not only an excellent first person shooter, but that it really pushes the bounds of what it means to be a shooter. Rage may not be the greatest game to come out this year, but it will certainly open your eyes to the possibilities of future games, and be exciting the whole while. Just don’t forget to save often.

Portal 2

The best puzzle game this year, period. It’s bigger, smarter, and has a deeper story than the original, plus room for two players with double the portal action. Coop alone makes Portal 2 a great buy. Free future updates only guarantee that you’ll want to keep it.

Battlefield 3

Modern Warfare 3 may own the multiplayer Rambo-style of gaming, but Battlefield 3 is for the team-players, the ones who will grab their friends for an hour-long bout against an equally intelligent group for serious, vehicle-filled combat. Battlefield is for console strategists. Feel free to run and gun, but unless that’s your specialty, your team can definitely use another great member of the crew. Be it.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

As a sleeper hit, Human Revolution isn’t quite the game that the original Deus Ex was, but that doesn’t take away from the game any. It pits players in the same neo-techno future, with body augmentations, incredible combat maneuvers, and multiple ways to play the game, including stealth, engineering, and soldier. It’s one game that’s easy to miss, but don’t. There is so much to do in the big city, it’s like a miniature RPG.

Rayman: Origins

Rayman: Origins is one of those really great games that everyone in the family can enjoy. The simple platforming is complex enough to remain entertaining for hours on end, yet with instant cooperative play with up to four players on a home console, it’s always a fun time with everyone racing and slapping each other all the way to the finish. If there’s one way to spend the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Christmas, or any family time together when you’re snowed/rained in, Rayman: Origins is it.

Dark Souls

Beware: this is for masochists only! Dark Souls, the sequel to Demons Souls, is an RPG with a difficulty curve that will either make you break your controller in frustration or feel right at home with the sheer insanity of this unforgiving game. If that sounds like the perfect gift for someone, either because they’d love it or end up breaking their game console in frustration, then this is a must-buy.

Saint’s Row: The Third

Saint’s Row: The Third is not what you’d expect from a massive sandbox game in the vein of Grand Theft Auto. It’s goofy, over the top in every way, and rombunctiously fun. So much so that I had to make up a word to describe it, because this game is insane in just about every way. That’s not to say you won’t love it…just keep it out of reach from the kids.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

Assassin’s Creed is one of the few game franchises where every game may feel oh-so-similar to the last, but even then the games are still so damn fun it’s impossible to put down. All of the Assassin’s Creed titles have just been incredible, even though Shawn and I may disagree on just how good. But there’s one thing we both agree on: these games are a blast to play. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations doesn’t quite take the franchise to the next level, still following Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, but it further unfolds the tale, both past and present, of the everlong struggle between the Assassin’s and Knights Templar. A blockbuster hit you won’t want to miss.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is the one game you’ve probably seen not only a handful of ads in larger cities, but new internet meme’s popping up daily about. In fact, you don’t have to go far to learn what Skyrim is, which is one of the biggest, most incredible RPGs to come out this year. Our own Shawn Kline loved it. A definite must have, but be warned: you probably won’t be seeing much of whomever you give it to. That may make it a great, or terrible, gift idea.

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection

There are few games that stand the test of time. Metal Gear Solid isn’t just one game, but an entire series that does exactly that. That’s why the game’s creator Hideo Kojima keeps making new ones even after consistently saying he’s done. That’s why years later people talk about the incredible experience they had in Snake Eater, or how they once ate Alligator meat in the game. Sure, it’s zany and over the top, but putting the Metal Gear Solid 2, 3, and Peace Walker in one bundle, in  HD, is just another reason to play it, or to buy it for the new generation that didn’t grow up with METAL GEEEEEEAR!

On December 6th, Microsoft will roll out an all new Dashboard.  We’ve been told that it will bring the following features:

• New design for integrated Kinect and controller navigation
• New Beacons to play online with friends
• Deeper Facebook integration
• New Cloud Storage for Game Saves and Xbox LIVE Profile

We’re also hearing that this update will mimic Microsoft’s other platforms, such as the PC and Windows Mobile.  If you’ve got yourself a Kinect, you’ll be able to search the web via Bing using your voice.  You can also expect new apps for “televisions, movies, internet videos, sports and music” – we’re not sure what they mean by “televisions”, though.

Regardless of what other features the update brings, the new UI looks much cleaner and once again puts the PS3′s “live” experience to shame.

As I sit here with blood shot eyes, and cramped hands from my marathon sessions of playing on of the biggest games of the year, I have to do the impossible job of now writing about the beast – without going on too much.  My family complains that they’ve had less of my attention than the consoles these past two weeks (with all of the triple A games released that I was on deadlines for, how could they not), but in all fairness most of that missed time was the fault of Skyrim.  I know this review has posted later than those of other outlets, but when you’re told “You can post your review when you’re finished with the game” on a game that easily has over 100 hours of content – how do you know what “finished” really is?

Now let me start off on a rant here – yes, I know that Skyrim has glitches in it.  It’s an Elder Scrolls game, and more than that it’s a Bethesda game.  You know that going in – hell, you should just expect it.  Most of the glitches in games like this actually make some parts of it more enjoyable – like how much better is it to get your Speechcraft skill maxed by just talking to the same person over and over rather than search high and low for people to try and persuade.  It’s a single player sandbox game – you’re not ruining anything for anyone else by taking advantage of it.  I’m not going to slam the game for these little faults – with something this massive they’re just bound to happen.

With that being said, let’s get to the actual review.

Graphically, Skyrim is the most superior game to bear the Elder Scrolls name.  Rather than look like lumps of clay – or worse than that, blocks of wood – the faces on people finally look like real faces.  The hair still looks like someone put way too much sheen in it, but compared to what we were given in every other Elder Scrolls game, this is a huge improvement.  Another thing that struck me as looking amazing were the trees.  I know there was talk about them not using auto tree for this game, and it really shows.  The trees look like real trees (the faces look like faces, the trees look like trees, and the snozzberries taste like snozzberries)!  Just going back one iteration and playing a few minutes of Oblivion will show you exactly how much better things are now.

It’s not all snow in Skyrim either – while it’s true that there’s no lush tropical jungles, there are a number of places that look and feel like they’re in a season of Spring.  Sure you have places like Winterhold who’s very name screams permafrost (and the blizzard effects are definitely something to behold, but Riften has positively pleasant weather.  It’s that very variety that makes me wish that Bethesda could somehow acquire the rights and license to put out a game based on “A Song of Ice and Fire”.  I would be willing to throw buckets of money at them to get this going – but I digress.

Something else that’s changed from previous games – and in my opinion (though I’m sure not all feel the same way) for the better – is the level up system.  No more do you have to worry about which attribute you’re going to put points in – rather there are no attributes at all.  Now each skill has a number of perks that you can assign to them if your skill level is high enough.  Want to be able to smith your own Ebony armor?  There’s a perk for that.  How about combining two spells for a more powerful effect?  Yup, there’s a perk for that as well.  You get one perk point each level, and you stop gaining them at level 50 – so you need to plan out your perks well.  There’s no re-rolling unless you completely start a new character.

This lack of attributes means that one of the easiest ways to “break” the old Elder Scrolls games is now gone.  No longer can you fortify a single attribute to the levels of gods.  Also gone sadly, is my favorite way to break the old games – the Chameleon spell.  I used to rush as fast as I could to get the things needed to make a 100% chameleon enchanted suit – with that you could go anywhere and no one would ever see you.  It made exploring fun, and dying nonexistent.  That’s one of a number of spells they’ve removed though – and I guess it’s for the better.  Now if you want to really break the game, you have to exploit the inherit flaws in the Smithing, Enchanting, and Alchemy systems – something I won’t go into here since it’s very deep.

One of the problems with the new systems, is that while not all skills are created equal, the game treats them as such.  For example, I made a character and got their Speech, sneak, and Lockpick skills to 100 with ease – the perfect Thief.  This brought my level into the mid 20′s while I was attempting to do the Thief’s Guild quest, which was a very bad thing.  You see, the enemies scaled to my level, but I had no combat skills to match where I was.  Simply put, things would kill me in two shots while I had to beat on them for roughly five minutes a piece.  If it weren’t for the one summon spell I had, I would have never gotten anywhere.

Skill balancing issues aside, the combat is also not a high point for the game.  Oh it’s leaps and bounds better than any Elder Scrolls game that went before it – but it still has issues.  Bad AI pathfinding is the main one – there were plenty of times I would hide behind a pillar and move out to fire an arrow or two at a dragon, and when I went back behind my pillar the dragon turned into a two year old child playing a game of peek-a-boo, sitting there like it had no clue where I had gone.  Now the dragons in this game are ferocious to look at, mighty to behold, and damn well seem like they’re the biggest threat in any Elder Scrolls game, but they end up just being comedic relief.  Yes, I was playing on Master – for all those curious.

Even those negatives can’t bring down the story however, something that Elder Scroll games have always excelled at, and Skyrim is no different.  Not just one of the best narratives in an RPG I’ve played (besides Planescape), it’s one of the best narratives in any game genre I’ve played.  The overarching story is great, but there are so many tremendous smaller story arcs (such as the Thief’s Guild, The Companions, or The Dark Brotherhood), and even more good one-shot quests that you’ll find it easy to just get lost in the world.  Especially if you’ve played all of the other Elder Scroll games – it’s nice to see where the series is going.

I’m on my second play through now, and am finding new things all the time.  That’s not just because my first time through was a speed run for review purposes only – that’s because there’s just so damn much to actually find.  It’s maddening to me (and that OCD that I’ve talked about before) to see so many places on my compass that I have yet to discover.  I run to one, and there’s ten more to take its place – it’s a devastating cycle for my time.  Thankfully December is a veritable ghost town when it comes to games coming out, so I’ll be able to fully enjoy this at least one more time before Mass Effect 3 comes out.

Editor’s Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

The Bottom Line:  For RPG fans, this is definitely Game of the Year material – especially if you’re a fan of the Elder Scrolls; however this is a love it or hate it kinda game, so if you know it’s not your thing, nothing will probably change your mind.

Pros:

• A revamped leveling system allows for more streamlined play
• The graphics are out of this world for an Elder Scrolls game, and for any game of this type
• The narrative is top of the line, and easily puts this in my GotY list

Cons:

• The combat mechanics can be somewhat off – especially when fighting brain dead AI
• Your followers are just a brain dead as the enemies
• Skills need to be weighted differently to make it more of an enjoyable experience

You can get The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim from Amazon for $54.99 for the XBOX 360, or $57.99 for the Playstation 3

It’s been a hard last two years for Activision, though the game publishing giant never showed it. After Infinity Ward all but disappeared and a serious lawsuit between the developer’s founders against Activision for unreceived bonuses, a major portion of Infinity Ward’s staff left to create Respawn Entertainment, now working with Activision’s biggest competitor EA. After Modern Warfare 2′s lackluster single-player and cooperative play modes, there were serious concerns whether Activision and what was left of Infinity Ward could pull together a proper sequel in two years time.

Modern Warfare 3 not only puts those sentiments to rest, it blows them the hell out of this world.

Infinity Ward spokesman Robert Bowling was right when he said that MW3 is Modern Warfare‘s gameplay with Modern Warfare 2‘s technical excellence. Like the classic original, MW3 is a three-part masterpiece cut in two halves, a single player campaign and 16 cooperative missions playable solo, online or split-screen; and a deep, feature-filled online multiplayer made to last for months of continual play, if not years. MW3 is packed to the brim.

The single player campaign is a huge improvement over MW2′s mess of a story, which threw characters in and out of play on the whim of a single plot line, held like a thread for players to reach for but never get. Like teasing a cat with string. No,  MW3 offers a coherent story, well defined goals and characters, and understandable events that make sense. It doesn’t pack the overall punch of the previous two cinematically, with nuclear explosions in space and on the ground, or watching two men beat the stuffing out of each other while pulling a knife out of your chest. What MW3 does have is amazing action during gameplay, without quick-time events. That is a real achievement.

What MW3, which was co-developed by Sledgehammer Games, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software, does so beautifully is that it gives players just the right amount of combat. It doesn’t get boring, it doesn’t get tiresome, and you’ll never go “oh this again?!” Levels and areas are unique, cityscapes are vast and pretty damn impressive, and there’s a real feeling of grandeur at the scope of some segments. It’s not like God of War 3′s full boss-as-a-level or the urban jungle of Crysis 2. Instead, MW3 delivers very focused, very story-driven gameplay. There’s no player choice, but that’s not the point. The point is to have a ton of action sequences that kick ass, and that’s exactly what we get.

I’m particularly impressed with the cover system, or lack thereof. For years I’ve spouted that FPS games should use cover, albeit no game has done a good job at it. The three developers, however, have found a very simple trick around it: conform the cover to players. Now instead of cover fully shrouding players, it’s at gun-level. That means you can shoot over walls at actually at enemies, all while standing or crouching. Players can still get shot, but they’re much more hidden than in other games, where cover leaves players exposed when firing. It’s a wonder no one has thought of this ingenious concept before.

Cooperative play, once again called Special Operations (or Spec-Ops), pits one or two players in various missions with simple objectives. Free the hostages, capture the president, steal data, etc. Nothing too fancy, but every mission actually fits with the story’s overall plot in some fashion, although some don’t actually occur in the game. Players will be both the good and bad guys, will go in stealth and walking-tank body armor. It’s the closest thing, unfortunately, that players will get to full campaign coop, but even then Spec-Ops is tremendous fun. And those are only the missions.

Survival mode  pits two players against a never-ending wave of enemy combatants. Each new wave brings harder, stronger enemies with better guns, better armor, and more chemical and explosive devices. Suicide bombers, dogs with bombs strapped to them, juggernauts (remember those walking tanks? Yeah, you fight them), attack choppers, etc. Whatever you see in the game can come and bite you in the ass. Meanwhile, players have a full arsenal of purchasable items available, spread across three computers for armor, weapons and artillery. Each kill earns money, and specialty kills (head shots, melee kill, killstreaks, etc.) earn even more. It doesn’t take long for these teams of two to feel overwhelmed by the overbearing onslaught of weapons fire, and there is no end. Play on until you’re downed on any of the multiplayer maps.

Survival mode is incredible fun, so much so that I’m surprised that it’s only a two-player mode. Two players just aren’t enough, especially on larger maps. Considering how fun this mode is, and how it’s basically Modern Warfare’s answer to the bi-annual Call of Duty title with Zombies, it really needs to work with more than just two players.

Online multiplayer…with a few days of playtime, it’s hard to say just how good online play is. The game is made to last through the next year, and that’s very clear with just how long it takes to level up weapons. While in one night I managed to level up to 20, I couldn’t clear a single weapon even 10% through in that whole time, using it nonstop. Weapons leveling is just as important as personal rank, if not more important, because it opens up new features for weapons, such as weapon perks, attachments and camo. Unlike MW2 or Black Ops, it takes a long time to really unlock new weapons and get the most out of them.

Several new gametypes are included, though the standout is Kill Confirmed, a twist on standard Deathmatch. Players must not only kill enemies, but collect their dogtags before enemies get them first. Without those dogtags collected, kills don’t count. It makes the game a tug-of-war, where players have to keep an eye on both the enemy and their own teammates, to collect any and all tags. Because it’s easy to steal an enemy’s kill, as well as lose your own.

The perk system has also been upgraded to match three different playstyles. Traditional killstreaks (now called pointstreaks) can earn standard strike packages under the Assault class, where three perks can be gained and used by players as they get kills. The Support class doesn’t reset it’s pointstreak when killed, but has limited access to what perks are available, and none of them can hurt the enemy. Instead, the support class has access to reconnaissance and general support abilities, but no calling in airstrikes or missiles. Finally, the Specialist class starts with no perks, but each kill adds a new perk, so players can theoretically become a powerhouse if they don’t die and have a raging pointstreak.

Multiplayer in MW3 is excellent, plain and simple. I’m not a huge fan of the maps, and think that there are far better maps in the past few Call of Duty titles, though MW3 does have a few gems. Too few, however.

There is one major aspect of MW3 that was a disappointment; the score. Modern Warfare 2 was scored by the good folks at Remote Control Productions (the Hans Zimmer studio, which also produced the scores for both Iron Man films, Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, Inception, etc.), and there are several scenes that even now stand out in my mind because of the incredible music. MW3 had nothing of the sort. The score was simply there, simply good enough to move the game along but not enough to make any impact.

As I sit here, completing this review, my biggest thought is to just go back and have fun. That’s really what Modern Warfare 3 is, a good time, and it offers that excitement for all sorts of players. The solo campaign is a mad dash of action and shooting, with an exceptional normal difficulty and challenging hardened and veteran modes. Cooperative play meets two standards, mission play and the never-ending survival mode, a great way to kill 20-30 minutes and really test your skills. And to round it all out, a very deep multiplayer that will keep players enthralled, equally excited and passionate, for months, if not years to come.

Editor’s Choice

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

If there’s anything that can be said about the Assassin’s Creed games, it’s that each iteration is consistently better than the last; Revelations continues that trend by taking everything you loved about Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and expanding upon it.  As much as it saddens me to think that this is the last game with Ezio Auditore da Firenze and Altaïr Ibn La’Ahad in it, it is also quite a joy to see how their stories play out, and how they effect everything else.  While I’m really anxious to see where the series goes from here, this is a perfect swan song to send those characters off into the ether.

One thing that really surprised me about this game, was just how open it was.  In Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, you were artificially limited from going everywhere at the beginning – you had to wait until the story allowed you to get to a particular area.  Now In Revelations, it is in the third sequence where you’re giving free roam abilities, and boy do they mean free.  In short, I was 33% done with sequence three (about an hour in for “normal” people), and I had synchronized every viewpoint (except one – the only place locked off to you), bought every business and monument, recruited every assassin (and got them all to master status), and pretty much did everything a normal person would have waited on – curse my OCD.

Taking the time to do all of that will give you some of the game’s best weapons and armor, and really makes things easier in the long run.  In effect, Assassin’s Creed Revelations allows the player to set their own level of difficulty.  As I mentioned, recruiting assassins is also back, as are the missions that you can send them on – however everything there is extremely expanded upon.  Now not only can you send your assassin on random missions in various cities, but you can also lower down the Templar’s control on said cities, and take them over yourself.  Doing this gives you extra money every twenty minutes, and a steady supply of bomb creating ingredients.

Oh, what did I just say?  Bomb creating?

That’s right – in Revelations, Ezio can craft over 300 varieties of bombs to distract, incapacitate, or just outright kill your enemies.  Basically you can think of Ezio as the Batman of the Renissance – if Batman went around and just randomly murdered dudes.  Whether it be a caltrops bomb that explodes on impact, or a sticky bomb that blows up guards, or a tripwire bomb that spews gold coins to attract a crowd, you’ll have an absolute blast figuring out what works best in what situation.

Back to the recruiting of assassins, like before you need to control dens in order to gain more followers, and just like in Brotherhood you need to kill the den commander and light a fire to claim it as yours.  The big difference there now is that the more you do (buying property, killing Templars, etc), the more notoriety you gain.  Gain enough, and the Templars will randomly attack one of your dens.  When you go to it, you’re taken to a mini game that reminds me a LOT of a tower defense game – you send leaders on roofs, and then send other assassins in front of them to attack.  In order to facilitate this, you need to get morale points to spend (gotten from killing the attackers).  You have a number of different units at your disposal, and even barricades that you can build – however once you do it a few times chances are you’ll grow to hate this game.

Luckily, you can bribe heralds, or kill certain Templars to lower your notoriety – or better yet you can level an assassin to 15 and do a special mission for them, and then they will protect your dens for you.  It’s definitely a reason to get them leveled up as quick as possible!   Something else different about Revelations, is you don’t just have to worry about Byzantine Templars, you also now have the Ottomans on your ass.  The only saving grace is that they both hate each other as well, so if you can lure one group to another you can start a rumble and then just sneak on by.  Just try not to get caught in the middle, because when one group wins they will inevitably turn on your if you’re still in sight.

Yes Byzantines and Ottomans – Revelations takes place in the city of Istanbul (not Constantinople) during the time of 1511 A.D.  History buffs will know that this is around the rise of the Ottoman empire, and Ezio meets a lot of historical figures from this time (Prince Suleiman, and Manuel Palaiologos to name two).  The look of the area is a lot different to the Rome that was presented in Brotherhood – from the sun baked sandstone, to the giant bazaar atmosphere – and boy does it look good.  Not only has the gameplay mechanics improved from the previous game, but all of the graphics look a lot better – which is a feat considering how good Brotherhood really looked.

In the way of gameplay mechanics other than the bombs I spoke of earlier, Ezio gains a new weapon called the “hookblade”.  Basically a blade with a hook on the end (hence the name – genius, right?), it allows you to extend your reach when jumping (or falling), and adds some new flair to the combat combos you can perform.  The hook roll is especially impressive, and works great when you’re running from people.  Counter kills and counter grabs are also a breeze to pull off, and you’ll find yourself doing them in combos when you want to end combat quickly.

I didn’t get much multiplayer time in before writing this (because I was more interested in the narrative), however I did get to play some.  Most of it is exactly what you played in Brotherhood, however there is a new mode called Deathmatch.  In deathmatch, there’s no longer a compass to tell you where your target is, but rather a small box in the top right shows you who your target is, and it glows blue when you’re in the line of sight of them.  It’s a lot more difficult, because some of the maps are quite large, and it really feels like looking for a needle in a haystack (with other needles trying to jab you in the ass).  All in all though, the whole experience is just as fun as it was last time around, and it still feels like one big Turin Test.  One thing that was improved beyond a shadow of a doubt is the connectivity.  In Brotherhood I has issues out the wazoo with connecting to people, and even though there were only reviewers playing pre-launch, I never had any problems finding a match.

The last thing I feel compelled to mention, is how Ubisoft seems to be on board with the Playstation 3 on this title.  Not only did PS3 users get to enjoy the Beta for the multiplayer, but they also get the entire first Assassin’s Creed game for free on their Blu-Ray disc.  I know lots of developers are going the console specific bonus route, but it’s nice to see something that big as one.  Granted it’s a couple years old, but playing that made me remember where this series had its roots at (as I hadn’t even picked it up since beating it right after it originally came out).  I don’t want to get into a 360 vs. PS3 debate here, just letting you know that one has a definite advantage with this specific game.

Editor’s Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Perfect!

The Bottom Line:  This game epitomizes the way I want every one of my favorite franchises to be done with characters – everything shows a level of polish and detail that screams out to how much they care about Assassin’s Creed.

Pros:

• The game looks gorgeous – artistically, there is nothing that I would change one bit
• The voice acting is spot on like always
• Desmond’s sections, while odd, are a welcome and refreshing break

Cons:

• The den defense mini-game loses its fun very quickly
• Trying to remember which enemies were weak against which bombs made my head hurt
• Ezio and Altair are gone after this

You can get Assassin’s Creed Revelations from Amazon for $59.96

Ahh the gang from Stillwater is back again – how much we’ve been through together during the last five years.  We’ve seen them take control of their not so fair city from the likes of the Vice Kings, the Los Carnales, and the Westside Rollerz.  We’ve seen them Ultor Corporation to become the only dominant force left in Stillwater.  We’ve seen the highs and the lows of the stories of Shaundi, Pierce, Johnny Gat, and your own character – the Boss.  Throughout the previous two games, we’ve be exposed to a treasure trove of comedy gold both through random things happening in the game world, and through the scripted events and dialogue.  Everyone knew there was going to be a third, and it’s finally here – but does it live up to the standards that the first two set?

In Saint’s Row the Third, players again take on the role of “The Boss”, with plenty of backup from his comical crew – however this time the story departs the familiar city of Stillwater, and goes to the New York stylized city of Steelport (it even has its own Statue of Liberty-esqe monument).  From the very start of the game, you feel like a total bad-ass.  You’re thrown in the middle of a bank heist gone wrong, and you’re mowing people down like they were made of paper.  In short, you feel like “The Boss” should feel.  Throughout the next few minutes, you end up in prison with Johnny Gat and Shaundi (where Johnny waxes poetic about what the Saints have turned in to), and that’s where the Syndicate finds you.

The Syndicate bribes the cops to let you out, and then tries to get The Boss to turn over two thirds of the Saint’s territory in order to live.  Well if you’ve played the previous two games you know that the Saints won’t have any of that and a mid-air fight breaks out.  This leads to one of the craziest intro scenes I’ve played on a game in a long time (free fall gun battles for the win), and drops you off in said town of Steelport.  Now this all happens in the first twenty or so minutes of the game, so that should tell you how action packed it’s going to be right there.

I won’t get into any more plot, because while some of it you can see coming for miles, there are little twists here and there that are true joys to find out as they come.  What I can talk about though, is just how much fun this game really is.  If you’re not too worried about the realism of a game, and more about the fun factor – this is for you.  What other game has a special mode called “Whored Mode”, where you can be chased around by prostitutes in leather “geek suits” wielding long purple dildos.  Yes, it’s that kind of over the top fun that has been a staple of this entire series.

It’s not just the physical or graphical gags that get you though – there are some dialogue areas in Saint’s Row the Third that are true comedic gold – for example during one mission your character is driving with Pierce.  Pierce then proceeds to change the radio station to play Sublime’s “What I Got”, and both your character and Pierce engage in an impromptu karaoke.  Now the voice that I picked for my character was one that sounded much like Jason Statham, so you can imagine how that sounded (especially when he tried to beat box).  That’s just ONE specific instance – these things literally happen every few minutes though.

Another real big thing is the character creator, where you can literally change every part of your avatar – which can lead to some pretty crazy looking people running the gang.  You can also upload your created character to the community site, and download ones that others have made.  I’m sure before long we’ll see a lot of celebrity look a likes because of how much control you really have in the creator.  I’m sure if I was more creative I would have come up with one on my own, but I unfortunately don’t have an artistic eye for that sort of thing.

Inside the game itself, there are lots of fun activities for you to partake in while wasting time between missions.  For starters there’s a “Tank Mayhem” activity that’s brand new.  In tank mayhem you’re placed inside a tank, and then tasked with causing a certain amount of damage to things before the time runs out.  It’s pure bliss to sit there and just continually blow things up with no fear of death.  Then there’s “Guardian Angel”, where you have to drive around with a tiger in the back seat (The Boss’s reaction to this is saying: A fucking tiger?) – drive safe and you’re safe – hit something and the tiger mauls you; fun times.  Trafficking is another new activity where you ride shotgun with Pierce and protect him while he distributes “things” to buyers.  Old activities like Heli Assault also make a return.  In it (for those un-initiated) you’re placed in an attack chopper protecting Pierce as he makes some stops (at one point he stops at a gas station for food, and the dialogue that follows made me spit out my beer from laughing so hard).

While all of those activities are fun, it’s Professor Genki’s Super Ethical Reality Climax is probably the best of the best.  In this “game show”, the player has to run from room to room while avoiding traps, killing mascots, and hitting correct targets to earn money.  Once enough money is earned, the final door opens, and a Hunter (a super powerful hulkish brute) charges out to beat the crap out of you.  You can try and kill him for a mega cash bonus, or run like a scared little girl to the exit and escape with the cash you have collected.  All the while, two announcers spit our random commentary about your performance like you hear watching Wipeout or Takeshi’s Castle.  The whole experience is just surreal.

Unfortunately, with all of these positives, a few negatives must fall.  For one, there were plenty of times where the frame rate just chugged.  I was playing on a new 360, with the game installed to the hard drive, and while it only happened when driving a fast car on the highways, it was extremely noticeable.  I was literally skipping every two seconds.  Now if I slowed down or changed where I was driving it stopped, so it was more than likely a loading issue – but still it shouldn’t have been happening.  Also, while you have to activate an online pass with the game, there’s only two player co-op modes.  Even the Whored Mode is only two players.  I was hoping to get in a game of Strong Arm – but alas there are no competitive multiplayer modes at all in Saint’s Row the Third.  I understand the reasons for removing it, and that they felt like it would just be “shoe horned” in, but I would still have loved to give it a shot – especially with all of the different looking characters that could have been in it.

My final complaint comes with something extremely annoying in the game.  I would like to find whoever it was that thought it would be a good idea to give every enemy in a helicopter a laser sighted sniper rifle, and kick them right in the genitals.  Over, and over again.  I can’t tell you how many times I died to these cheap bastards.  What’s bad, is that when you’re clearing out a gang holdout, and one flies in because you’ve built up too much notoriety – then it shoots you in the back and kills you when you only have one guy left to take out.

Editor’s Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

The Bottom Line:  Saint’s Row the Third is an extremely fun game that is a welcome distraction from the ultra-realistic titles like Call of Duty or Battlefield – as long as you can get past the few annoyances, you’ll see just how wonderful of an experience this game offers.

Pros:

• EXTREMELY fun – you’ll be laughing your ass off through half the game at least
• Professor Genki is the ultimate mascot for a game – he should be plastered everywhere
• The voice acting and script work is all top notch

Cons:

• Frame rate can take a serious hit at times
• No competitive multiplayer options
• One hit kill snipers in helicopters?  Why not just give them RPGs while you’re at it

When the original Batman: Arkham Asylum was released a scant two years ago, it was not only the best Batman game I had ever played, it was likewise not just the best game I had ever played based off of licensed characters; rather I was able to put it up on my list of the top ten games I had ever played period.  Everything about it was fantastic – the combat felt and looked like Batman, the score was perfect and able to set every scene, the graphics were simply stunning – and while the story might have taken a few hits from some gamers, to me, someone raised on Batman comic books, it felt just like playing a graphic novel instead of reading one.  So what could the guys from Rocksteady do to the sequel to make it have the same effect – if anything?

Thankfully, Rocksteady didn’t in fact change that much from the first good Batman game in years – they obviously learned quite a bit from other companies that have made sequels to successful franchises turn out badly.  While I’m sure that’s going to lead a lot of people to complain that there’s not enough different, The saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” didn’t come around on its own.  Truly, the system they first put in was so close to perfect, that all they had to do was tweak some things here and there, and they would have landed in comic geek gold yet again.

Tweak they did then – combat is much more fluid this time around, with a lot more variation on moves.  So long as you’re not hitting buttons before you should, you can effortlessly move from attack to counter to special move.  The ability to use gadgets in with your combos is also quite nice – whether it be spraying some gel on the floor in order to gain some breathing room, to hitting someone with an electric shock to make him inadvertently shoot someone else, your gadgets are now a completely crucial part of keeping your combo string going.

Gadgets are one thing that Batman always has had in spades, so you know there were upgrades done to that system as well.  While I’m not completely sold on how they make you select some (two presses in one direction, but press a second too slow and you do nothing), for the most part it all works nicely.  Veterans of the first game will also be pleased to know that about 75% of the gadgets you end Batman: Arkham Asylum with are yours at the beginning of Batman: Arkham City.  Now that doesn’t include what I’m calling the Prologue – where you learn how Bats gets in to Arkham City, but the way they pull everything off there just works.

One of the things that I really found odd in the game, was that for some reason rather than beat the hell out of every villain around, Batman starts working with some.  Now the ideals are good (For instance, you work with Bane – yes, the same Bane that breaks Batman’s back – to take out canisters of Venom), but it just feels completely out of character for Batman to become an errand boy for villains that would just as soon kill him and be done with it.  I understand they were trying to give the player more things to do, but these are missions where the game wouldn’t have suffered if they had been left out.

I say the game wouldn’t have suffered if there were a few things left out to keep in Batman’s character, because there’s just so damn MUCH to do in Arkham city.  Let’s be clear here – Arkham City doesn’t encompass nearly as much real estate as a Grand Theft Auto, a Red Dead Redemption, or even a Saint’s Row , but it’s packed just as much stuff to do as each of those other games into a smaller space.  The setting actually feels like an urban sprawl with how it’s all set up – and that feels good.  There’s also cameos from SO MANY iconic villains here, that if you’re a real Batman fan, you’ll be going nuts.  While the first game had a lot of items laying around from other villains, this game has the villains themselves (but still retains the item hunt for good measure).

Speaking of villains back for a second helping, the Riddler is back, and that’s the one thing that causes this game to drive me CRAZY.  You see, I’m a bit OCD about getting everything done that I can in a game; so much so that I played Just Cause 2 for months just to 100% every freaking island.  So naturally when I see green and shiny Riddler trophies, I have to have them.  This lead to many times throwing a controller when I realized I didn’t have the required items to get them all right away, but it wasn’t a big deal as this game constantly shoved more of them in my face.  There’s just a ton of these things – 436 to be exact – and later on you’re rewarded by being able to do certain challenge rooms that made me think of the Saw movies.

Editor’s Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

The Bottom Line:  This is another solid Batman game, and while some things might not make perfect sense, it’s a home run in every other area that matters from graphics to sound to straight up game play mechanics – if you’re a Batman fan, you need to play this game.

Proc:

• Batman never feels underpowered for the sake of extending the duration of the game
• The new and improved combat dynamics make every fight a lot more fun than in the last game
• New gadgets are always a plus with Batman

Cons:

• Batman teaming up with villains to do things he could do solo is kind of silly
• Making specific Riddler trophies only for Catwoman ruins the flow of the game

You can pick up Batman: Arkham City from Amazon (or any retailer worth their salt) for $51.99

Just the first level of gameplay. It’s pretty damn good, and each level after (up to the fourth level, where I’m up to now) is even better than the last.

While I haven’t gotten there myself (too much coverage, too little time to play), I wasn’t surprised to see a familiar screen pop up before the game started, as you can see in the image above. I don’t know just how bad the level is (in terms of violence, morality, or whatever the Activision developers working on the game could cook up), but it’s there. Be ready to be disgusted, taken aback, and to hear complaints for awhile from self-righteous parents and videogame violence advocates.

Breaking: if you attended the Call of Duty XP event a few months back, stay by your door. FedEx is delivering boxes of Modern Warfare 3 (if you submitted your code to get the Hardened Edition online) today. Two copies just arrived at my house (one for my brother and myself), oddly from two different LA-based shipping centers, and now I’m playing the game. Stay tuned for your arrival if you were there, and if not, have fun standing in line tonight!