November has seen the release of a plethora of highly anticipated games.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception for PS3 has proven itself to be a fantastic game, getting top reviews from all critics, including a once a decade 10/10 from IGN. The last game in the series, Among Thieves, improved on the stunning visuals found in the original Drake’s Fortune, and the third installment is no different. It combines familiar characters such as the protagonist Nathan Drake and his mentor Victor Sullivan with unpredictable scenarios. Unpopular elements from last game such as stealth mode and melee combat have been refined, but the shooting and the climbing is still there. Combined with the amazing plot, Uncharted 3 is not to be missed.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a great sequel to its predecessor, but also suffers from much of the same drawbacks. Though it still has amazing graphics and is incredibly popular, the charm is wearing off with each new Call of Duty created. The engine’s outdated, the singleplayer campaign features the same hordes running at the player, but somehow the slight variations manage-barely-to keep the game interesting. But of course, the multiplayer is what people are here for, with the same perks and upgrades. Modern Warfare 3 is a great game, but not a huge deal if it is passed up for a couple months.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has the same gameplay as the past Elder Scroll Titles, but also much, much more. It has revised the more annoying features in Oblivion, such as major/minor skills as well as reduced the number of them, getting rid of athletics, for example. Dragons patrol the skies, mountains loom in the background, and NPCs behave incredibly realistically. The basic format of sidequests is unchanged from Oblivion, which will engross players over and over. Even the hack-and-slash aspect is changed, allowing the character to perform what are basically fatality moves. Its stunning graphics, of course, are to be expected in an Elder Scrolls game. PC gamers suffer slightly since the interface was clearly recycled from the console versions, but the ability to extend draw distance more than makes up for it. A must-buy.
The newest Legend of Zelda, Skyward Sword is new in that it focuses on Hyrule’s past-previously uncharted territory for the series. Its cinematics bring players into the game like none before, and picturesque settings and powerful drama carry over from previous games. Combined with the Wii MotionPlus, Skyward Sword adds a new element to the game that only adds to play. Should people spend the $50 on it? Definitely.