New Releases

Single-handedly take out well-guarded targets through a combination of stealth and acrobatic maneuvers in this anticipated sequel to 2007's Assassin's Creed. Featuring a new protagonist in a different era, you'll control a young nobleman named Ezio Auditore da Firenze in 15th century Italy, at the height of the Renaissance. After a tragic event befalls his family, Ezio trains to become a master assassin, looking to exact his revenge on those responsible. Ezio will explore three sprawling cities, countryside, and various small villages while completing objectives during the day or at night. Assassin's Creed II offers three times the mission types found in its predecessor, with more things to see and do within each setting.

Money is now an important part of the game, allowing Ezio to purchase weapons, clothing, armor, repairs, and decorative items for his Italian villa. Ezio can pickpocket people, search for hidden chests, and complete side missions to fill his coffers. Other key changes include Ezio's ability to swim and even soar through the sky thanks to friend Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine. The open-ended world also allows for more free-running, climbing, and leaping from great heights. Among the new weapons at Ezio's disposal are pikes, maces, war hammers, scimitars, axes, and twin wrist-mounted blades that can be used to kill two people at once. Updated combat techniques include the ability to grab, kick, head-butt, drown, disarm, or pounce on enemies. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, developer Infinity Ward aims to ratchet up the intense first-person gunplay, graphical verisimilitude, and deep multiplayer experience that won the original title wide acclaim from critics and consumers alike, while at the same time adding to the overall package with the new, fast-paced "SpecOps" mode. The single-player campaign picks up where Call of Duty 4 ended, with gamers once again descending into the shadowy world of terrorists, arms dealers, and nationless armies. Players take on the role of Sergeant Gary "Roach" Anderson, an elite member of the multinational Task Force 141 and subordinate of one of Call of Duty 4's protagonists, John "Soup" MacTavish.

Task Force 141 is on the trail of Vladimir Makarov, a maniacal disciple of Imran Zakhaev, who has used the death of his mentor as a means of expanding his own base of power. Missions find gamers working off sketchy intelligence as they battle whiteout conditions in the jagged mountains of Russia and Kazakstan, shuffle though expansive desert and cave environments in Afghanistan, and weave between City of God-like Brazilian slums, where misfires result in dead civilians and a failed mission. As was the case in Call of Duty 4, Modern Warfare 2 supplies players with the most technologically advanced weapons, vehicles, and accoutrements available, including SCAR-H rifles, snowmobiles, and heartbeat sensors.

The new "SpecialOps" mode brings gamers more than 20 fast-paced missions inspired by the frenzied mid-fuselage gunfight at the end of Call of Duty 4. Players find themselves racing snowmobiles, battling a huge number of enemies at once, or simply attempting to get in and out of a building without dying, and missions can be played solo, in local split-screen co-op, or online with a friend. Those looking for more online action can also take on the "Free-for-All," "Demolition," "Domination," "Search & Destroy," "Capture the Flag," and "Team Deathmatch" multiplayer modes.

The much-lauded RPG-like system of doling out experience points and unlockable rewards returns in Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer modes, but Infinity Ward has also included a number of new wrinkles to spice up the action. Maps are designed to be both more expansive and more vertical; weapons feature a variety of new attachments; new "Pro Perks" let players gain more stopping power, greater speed, or automatic health boosts; and gamers who manage to string together a number of kills gain access to the new "killstreaks" system, which lets them call for seven different kinds of heavy-duty support, including supply drops, helicopter gun attacks, and unmanned aerial vehicle strikes. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Assemble a band, brick by colorful brick, in this family friendly version of Harmonix Music's popular rhythm series. Featuring the same level of customization and whimsical humor found in previous LEGO video games, LEGO Rock Band lets you create your own band members, roadies, and even managers from a variety of individual parts. Completing songs and rock power challenges earn you studs that can be used to unlock additional venues, characters, instruments, vehicles, and items for your personal "rock den." Challenges involve achieving such offbeat feats as summoning storms, demolishing skyscrapers, and defeating a giant octopus with the power of music.

As with earlier entries in the Rock Band series, gameplay involves using supported guitar, microphone, and/or drum peripherals to rhythmically follow a series of cascading, color-coordinated notes. A total of 45 songs are included on the disc, all performed by the original artists. Tracks include "Crocodile Rock," "Ghostbusters," "Summer of 69," "So What," "I Want You Back," "Free Fallin," and more. Owners can also download other songs designed for the Rock Band series as well as export the LEGO Rock Band track list to Rock Band 2 for use in all game modes. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Infinity Ward's critically acclaimed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare comes to the Wii thanks to the efforts of Treyarch, known for its slightly less polished, if still highly competent, contributions to Activision's hugely popular franchise. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare -- Reflex Edition eschews the traditional WWII setting that had been the hallmark of the series, instead taking on the more nebulous world of modern warfare. Nazi storm troopers and kamikaze pilots have been replaced by a patchwork group of terrorists and insurgents, and traditional WWII weapons have been jettisoned in favor of more than 70 modern armaments. Though the story is a departure from the previous games, Modern Warfare -- Reflex still features intense mission-based first-person shooter gameplay that should be familiar to fans.

The plot centers on two megalomaniacal madmen who are fomenting unrest around the world in an attempt to cement their own power. Imran Zakhaev is a one-armed Russia nationalist who longs to return his country to a Soviet Union style of government by seizing a stockpile of nuclear weapons. Zakhaev has support from several divisions of the Russian army, but, knowing that the United States would quickly come to the aid of the Russian government, he funds a coup in the Middle East to divert attention. Led by Zakhaev ally Khaled Al-Asad, the Middle Eastern coup results in intense fighting which eventually leads to the launch of a Russian nuclear missile toward American soil. Players fight through this chaos as both Sergeant John MacTavish, a British SAS operative doing battle in Russia, and Sergeant Paul Jackson, a U.S. Marine fighting in the Middle East.

Modern Warfare -- Reflex Edition aims to capture the challenges of modern war by pitting the superior technology of the U.S Marines and British SAS against the cunning guerilla tactics of a terrorist group. In addition to close quarters combat, players will be called upon to perform fast-rope helicopter drops, provide air support from an AH-1 Super Cobra helicopter, call in precision air strikes, and man the turret of an AC-130 Spectre Gunship to engage enemy fighters from the sky. Gamers also join a two man sniper team on a flashback mission in which players head to the Chernobyl Zone of Alienation on a mission to assassinate a younger Zakhaev.

The Wii version of the game lets two players join forces to take on the main campaign, but it otherwise features the same expansive set of online multiplayer modes as its console cousins. Players will be able to choose from Assault, Special Ops, Light Machine Gunner, Demolitions, and Sniper classes, or create up to five special classes with customizable weapons and perks. Gamers can then take their fighters through a dozen different multiplayer modes like Free-for-All, Team Deathmatch, Search and Destroy, Headquarters, Domination, and Sabotage. Players who frequently battle online will be able to accrue experience points, unlock special weapons and gear, and eventually unlock Prestige Mode in which gamers can trade in their rank for special insignias. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Based on Walt Disney Pictures' 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog for Wii features 30 mini-games set within five New Orleans hub locations. Each mini-game supports up to four players for party-style competition. You'll participate in frog races, show off your rhythm in dance contests, play multiple instruments, and more. Eight playable characters are available from the movie, and you'll be able to earn collectible Mardis Gras beads to spend on fabrics, ingredients, and recipes. You can then use these items to create outfits for lead protagonist Tiana, cook Cajun food, and participate in various other lighthearted activities. Owners of the DS version will also be able to unlock bonus items by linking the two games together. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Gaming's most recognizable personalities return to internationally celebrated athletic competition in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Following their 2008-based summer games outing in Beijing, the two mascots and their corporately aligned teams head to Vancouver for the 2010 games, to do their best in cold-weather sports such as alpine skiing, speed skating, snowboarding, and bobsled. The game features all the playable characters that competed in Mario & Sonic's original summer games, as well as new personas, such as Metal Sonic and Donkey Kong. Each character is rated in three basic areas -- speed, power, and skill -- so different characters excel in different events. Players can also choose to play as a Mii character, and new options allow customization with winter clothing and accessories. A "Festival Mode" allows characters to take part in opening and closing ceremonies. The game features adjustable difficulty settings, and other options designed to make play accessible for competitors of all ages and skill levels, while still providing a challenge for console gaming experts. Olympic events in the Wii version of the game feature motion controls, with same-screen competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes. The Wii version of the game also allows players an option to use the Balance Board accessory in some events (although it is not required). Published by Nintendo in Japan and by Sega elsewhere around the world, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter is a side-scrolling action game in which players design and draw their own platform-hopping heroes, using the Wii Remote. As in the original Nintendo DS Drawn to Life game, players create their character by drawing an outline, adding color, and using guidelines to mark off the arms, legs, torso, and head, so that the hero may be properly animated in action. In The Next Chapter, players can also add game-world objects by drawing them directly on the screen, creating ramps and trampolines to help characters on their way (as in the Nintendo DS game, Kirby: Canvas Curse). To equip their heroes for the game's many challenges, players can design and draw more than 100 useful objects, as well, including weapons, vehicles, and tools.

A stifling shadow has fallen over the village of the good Raposa people, and in order to free them from the darkness, a brave hero must travel the world to find the Artifacts of Power. In order to meet this challenge, heroes must jump and puzzle their way through multiple environments, including a dangerous jungle, a land above the clouds, and a city of shadows. In addition to the story-driven single-player campaign, Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter's multiplayer modes feature sports-inspired mini-games, in which players can create their own teammates, and draw custom soccer, hockey, and basketball equipment for them to use in competition. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

The roguish fortune-hunter hero Nathan Drake returns in Among Thieves, a high-adventure follow-up to the original Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. In action, Drake employs a movie-set worthy of the most daring video game tomb raiders and relic hunters, with agile running and jumping, light hand-to-hand combat, and a noteworthy talent with small arms. These skills are put to use as the hero once again finds himself adventuring in the wilderness, facing a tricky location-based platform puzzles or vastly outnumbered by bands of violent, heartless bandits. The game runs on the developer's own engine. The character is designed to move with a smooth, realistic flow as he runs, sneaks, climbs, and fires his weapon from nearly any position -- behind makeshift cover, or even while hanging by his fingertips from high on a cliff face or treetop vine. The action shifts seamlessly from one scene to the next, with no loading screens.

In this adventure, Drake seeks answers to the mystery of Marco Polo's lost fleet. Great riches and wisdom are tied to the fate of ships and treasure that left China with the famous explorer at the end of the 13th century, but did not arrive with him back home at his final destination. Although Marco Polo took the secrets of the lost ships and crew to his grave, Drake seeks answers on a journey through history, to the fabled Himalayan valley of Shangri-La. The key to the mystery may be a legendary sapphire, known as the "wish-fulfilling jewel." Magical properties or no, the billions of dollars the stone would be worth in modern markets should be enough to make nearly any wish come true. In addition to the main single-player story, the game features cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes. Among Thieves was developed by Naughty Dog, the studio that created the original Uncharted as well as other successful Sony-system exclusives. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide