Assassin's Creed 3 trailer revealed

In news that will excite fans of the excellent game Assassin's Creed, a trailer's been released this morning for the much anticipated Assassin's Creed 3 outing in the franchise.

Here's what the release says:

"Assassin’s Creed® III will hit store shelves on October 31, 2012, encouraging gamers to experience the American Revolutionary War not written about in history books. 

The largest project in Ubisoft’s history also introduces a new hero for the ages. With a development cycle of over three years and twice the production capacity of any previous Ubisoft game, Assassin’s Creed III is set to release on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Windows PC and is also in development for Wii U™ from Nintendo.

Assassin’s Creed III is developed by Ubisoft Montreal in collaboration with six other Ubisoft studios. Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin’s Creed III introduces a new hero, Ratohnhaké:ton, of Native American and English heritage. Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars.

Players become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylised and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date. Assassin’s Creed III spans the Revolutionary War, taking gamers from the vibrant, untamed frontier to bustling colonial towns and the intense, chaotic battlefields where George Washington’s Continental Army clashed with the imposing British Army. Assassin’s Creed III is powered by Ubisoft-AnvilNext, a revolutionary new game engine that delivers breakthroughs in visual quality, character models and artificial intelligence.

Assassin’s Creed III will feature a ground-breaking level of stunning graphics that bring Colonial America to life. “Assassin’s Creed III features the franchise’s most expansive setting so far, along with an exciting new hero and exponentially more gameplay,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “Whether you’re a longtime fan of Assassin’s Creed or if you’re new to the franchise, you’re going to be blown away by the scale and marvel of Assassin’s Creed III.”

Since their launch, four Assassin’s Creed games have sold more than 38 million units worldwide.

Watch the Assassin's Creed trailer here...

Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition - PS Vita Review

Released by SEGA
Platform: PS Vita
Rating: G

Tennis is exceedingly popular on gaming platforms - usually because it's so playable and easy to grasp; the virtual equivalent of grabbing a racquet and some balls and kicking into it.

So it is with the latest Virtua Tennis which is launched on the newest console, the PS Vita.

You've got the option to play as a number of big names from the game - and of both sexes. Be it Pat Rafter, Boris Becker or the likes of Williams or Maria Sharapova, there's certainly someone who you'll recognise as a major name in the game.

Using both analogue sticks and employing touch screen capabilities on the OLED screen, it's very playable and easy to dive in. Whether you choose to take part in World Tour, Exhibition, Arcade or practice games, there's nothing to stop you getting on court and into the action.

With crystal clear images of the talent involved both at the title, there's certainly been a lot of effort to make sure this is the excellent recreation of the sport. But it's when you start to be able to customise the characters and players that this truly begins to feel interactive and like it's embraced the possibilities offered by the VITA console.

Particularly the chance to play the game with touch screen capabilities offers up a little more freedom of gaming than before - while it takes a little time to get it 100% right, it's a great way to free up yourself from the side joysticks. Throw in the chance to take your player into the online world as well, and there's plenty of scope for making this sports sim a more social affair than a few drinks after the on the court action.

But if you're not after just the tennis, some of the mini games offered on the side are fun too. You get the chance to play bowling by firing your ball at the pins; or poker by smacking into the cards to create a full house - one of my favourites is the chickens game where you're charged with returning a volley, rounding up baby chicks and returning them to their mother. It's a little zany but offers you a break from the action of a tournament.

The only real drawback is through necessity - and that's the size of the screen. Granted, you can adjust the aerial views of some of the plays and replays take you in close to the action but it does feel a little detached as the camera floats above the game.

Ultimately though this is a nice mix on the VITA - it's clever enough to embrace the new technology but not stupid enough to abandon the gameplay which makes it so addictive.

Rating:

Journey: Game review

Released on PlayStation 3
Studio: thatgamecompany
Available on PlayStation Network

Sometimes, a game comes along which just blows you away, offering up the perfect mix of visuals and gameplay.

Journey is one such a game.

It's unique, different, visually amazing and creatively clever and yet everyone's experience of playing it will be different.

Let me back track for a moment though - and give you some details about what the game is about.

Essentially, I'm not 100% sure. Bear with me, I've not gone mad and decided not to reveal all - there's so much of this game which is open to your own interpretation.

You are a robed figure who starts off in a desert; a sort of Jawa-esque Arabian type figure who makes no sound other than various flute like noises or notes. When you start, a vast expanse of desert lies in front of you - you've nothing to do except walk around and follow some monuments in the distance.With only the sand around you, you could be forgiven for thinking what you see is a mirage, a joke from the gamers who've made this come to life. But the further you wander, the more you see over the horizon.

Aside from using the circle button to let out a sound or a prolonged burst of song, one thing aids our traveller - bits of cloth and tapestry floating in the air. By singing to them, they are attracted to the Journeyer and form a flowing sash on the back of the neck.That in turn, gives the Journeyer the chance to float and fly across landscapes and above ground. There's no speech or text in this game; it's simply about communicating in different ways and non traditional narrative which is addictive, inspiring and at times, profoundly moving.

All of this probably sounds a little insane - and to be honest, you can't really appreciate how wonderful Journey is without playing it yourself.

Graphically for such a sparse landscape and world, there's never been anything so stunningly impressive; each step creates ripples and dunes flow and ebb with winds as you negotiate them. The visuals are so eye catchingly bare that you're entranced; the simplicity is eye catchingly gorgeous and put very very simply, I have never been part of a game that has given such a sumptuous feast on the eyes by offering up so little. Msucially, the mix of violins and cellos give it such a wondrous sonic backdrop which compliments and nuances the whole experience.

Online, the game flourishes too - with other players showing up on screen without any warning. There's no dialogue between characters and much like any kind of tale, you're never quite sure if they're there to help or hinder - the real kicker of this though is they're not automated; these are others experiencing the same path as yourself. It's such a clever intelligent touch by the designers that it's a real reason to take it into the multiplayerverse.

I'm loathe to give away too much about this game - and not just because I've been asked not to do so; the reality of Journey is that the adventure is so uniquely challenging, so cleverly individual and so much fun to find out for yourself, it's almost a shame to have anything spoiled by it.

I can't recommend Journey high enough - it's a brilliantly original game which rewards you for as much you put into it; you define the game by your core philosophies and as such, each Journey will be as unique as every player.

It's only March, but I reckon, one of the games of the year has arrived - I really can't envisage anything else beating this for originality, gameplay, graphics or sheer experience.

Stunning.

Rating:

Frankenweenie trailer, Prometheus sneak peek - and the latest Hobbit diary

We're battening down for an horrendous storm here in old NZ - and it's supposed to be a great weekend for movie viewing.

Well, I second that - but as well as all of that, there's been some cool stuff dropping this week which I thought I'd round up here.

First up, the trailer for Tim Burton's Frankenweenie is now here. I've already talked about the love of animation of this - so I'm gonna let the trailer speak for itself. Except to say if you've ever lost a pet, you'd probably do the same.



The excitement's also growing for Prometheus from director Ridley Scott - and a very cool viral vid starring Guy Pearce has dropped this week - there's plenty of talk swirling that this film is a precursor to Alien - but feast your eyes on the vid and trailer below... I'm getting more psyched for this one, the more I see.



and here's the trailer...



Just finally the latest Hobbit production diary has been released - and it's brilliant. You'll need to sign up to Facebook and Peter Jackson's page for it - but it's well worth it.
Click here to take a look...

Underworld Awakening: Movie Review

Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Sandrine Holt, Theo James, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Stephen Rea, Charles Dance
Director: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein

Kate Beckinsale returns to the franchise as Selene with this latest outing in the Underworld series in 3D.

Following on from the events of the second Underworld film, (and ignoring a little Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) the human race has discovered the Lycan and Vampire races and decided, in true philanthropic fashion, to wipe them out.

Along with the love of her life, Michael, Selene is trying to escape "The Purge" and on the eve of getting out, she's knocked out and parted for him. The real kicker is she wakes up in a lab, thinking it's the next day - but it actually turns out to be 12 years later.

As if that wasn't bad enough, she's freed from the lab by something called "Subject 2". Believing that to be Michael, she tries to track him down as she's connected and able to see through Subject 2's eyes.

Only the surprises don't end there - and Selene finds herself with a new reason to fight to survive.

And there's a lot of things to fight against - both Lycan - and worse.

I've been a fan of the Underworld series - and not just because of Kate Beckinsale in a tight leather catsuit. It's been a good mix of action and story with a mythology being set up which feels natural and quite cool.

So I'm really disappointed to say that Underworld Awakening feels like such a massive blow on that front; it's great to have Kate back but the relative plot that there is in this film feels like it's been jettisoned by those in charge to lead as another set up for an action sequence/ shoot everything in sight. Granted, I kind of knew that was what to expect in this film but there's so much overkill of these scenes that it outweighs anything else. That's not to say though that some of the action sequences aren't impressive - Beckinsale oozes cool calm iciness as Selene as she gives it her all - and some of the fight sequences really do work, giving a sense of adrenaline and some overall goriness. However, the 3D isn't as successful with most of the film plunged in darkness, it's a little murky to watch.

Too much of the film seems like a set up for these scenes; granted, you don't go to an action fantasy film for reams of exposition and high end dialogue but a lot of this makes it feel as if a video game were being played out in front of your eyes - it would easily translate to a computer setting - the get out of the building alive sequence would be followed by a chase sequence; it's very formulaic and as a result, bitterly disappointing.

The film ends on the possibility of another showing up soon - and given the box office success of this latest, it seems inevitable. However, while I'll be back for another outing, I'll be desperately hoping some more effort's been put into the story and not just catering for a good solid action boy's night out.

Rating:

New Avengers trailer is here

Way.

Too

Excited

To type full sentences.

READ THE AVENGERS MOVIE REVIEW HERE

Here's the latest brand new trailer for the Avengers...out here on April 25th.

We Need To Talk About Kevin: Movie Review

We Need to Talk about Kevin

Cast: Tilda Swinton, John C Reilly, Ezra Miller, Ashley Gerasimovich

Director: Lynne Ramsay

Based on Lionel Shriver’s 2003 novel, We Need To Talk About Kevin arrives in Kiwi cinemas with critical festival acclaim ringing in its ears.

Swinton stars as Eva, a former travel writer, who’s now become a mother – to her son Kevin. Only Kevin has a way of acting up which really, really winds her up; be it either stubborn childish behaviour or refusing to engage with her, but opening up when his dad (John C Reilly) shows up.

Suspicious she’s created a monster, Eva’s years are tormented by his behaviour and those fears are compounded when she gives birth to a baby girl.

But Eva’s not prepared for what Kevin will do when he becomes a teen – and the effect it will have on their lives.

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a jigsaw puzzle of a film with pieces scattered around in the form of flashbacks, disorienting images and scenes of stark imagery which are out of sequence and may confuse some.

Initially, it’s quite trippy and confusing but most of those pieces do fit together (bar one sequence which sees Eva stumbling out of a courtroom, a media throng amassed around her every move) and it’s held together brilliantly by a stunning and compellingly nervy central performance from Swinton and in the teen years, Miller as Kevin (though even the child actors playing the kid do very well too).

This psychological tale of nature vs nurture will leave you with plenty of questions and while it sounds like a horror story from the above, it’s a well observed drama which is never anything less than unsettling throughout.

Rating: