It’s not the first Jurassic Park: The Game, but it might be the first to take the property seriously. The adaptation picks up the story of the mercenary team who were sent to the island to meet Nedry after he has stolen the DNA samples, and shut off the gates. When Nedry is killed and the gates are still deactivated, the team must try to escape the island—a part of the story which was not covered by the films. The game takes place entirely during the events of the first film, and so players should expect to interact with, or observe, some of the events of the film through play. The gameplay takes the form of an interactive cinematic adventure, which means that it’s going to be mostly cut-scenes and button pushing, with some problem solving and occasional puzzles to advance the plot. Most likely, very little button dexterity will be required. The interesting thing though is the new story, which, for Jurassic Park fans, will be worth playing the game just to see. Jurassic Park the Game is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (via PSN), Mac, and PC.
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is the new Assassin’s Creed game, which continues the story of Altaïr, Ezio, and Desmond. The gameplay will be similar to the previous games in the series, with lots of running and sneaking around. Also, expect base-jumping and back-stabbing—sometimes simultaneously. Some new additions include a new mission type: first-person sequences that take place in Desmond’s dreams and a new gadget: the hook-blade, which can be used for zip-lining and drawing enemies Scorpion-style (I’ll be happy if I get to hear him shout “Get over here!” once or twice when using it). Of course, players will continue to learn more about the conflict between the Assassins and the Templars through the game’s plot, which continues one of the most interesting and dynamic stories in video gaming history. Assassin’s Creed Revelations will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
XIII was an innovative first-person shooter with early cel-shaded graphics that made the entire experience feel like a comic book. When XIII: Lost Identity was announced, many fans of the original game were excited to get another installment—until they found out the it’s not a first-person shooter. Instead it’s a seemingly lame puzzle game set in the XIII world. Looks like there’s no reason to bother with this one.
The Icrontic Spotlight this week descends from the clouds of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The newest entry in the Legend of Zelda franchise revolutionizes the way we play adventure games once again. This is not hyperbole or marketing speak—the Skyward Sword controls are something which had previously only been experimented with and shown off, but now, here we’ve got them in a real game, with a real plot, which people really want to play. The addition of the Wii Motion Plus controller to the Wii a couple years ago was a move dripping with potential. We got Wii Sports Resort right away, and this game showed us that potential—immersive sword-wielding and bow aiming, realistic discus tossing and golfing, gripping para-sailing and dog-fighting, all things that would make great elements of a plot-driven adventure game. Since then, however, no games have been released to really take advantage of the technology. Skyward Sword represents the first serious attempt to use these compelling aspects of Wii gaming. Link, the classic well-equipped adventurer will have his sword, shield, bow, boomerang, grapple, bombs and various other tools to get through the dungeon-strewn adventure, and they will all utilize the Wii motion controls for a totally new gaming experience.
The story of the game is the same as always. Link has to save the world by collecting a bunch of gadgets and rupees and defeating monsters. Expect to see all of the classic Legend of Zelda races and characters, as Link travels back and forth between the cloud city and the surface locales while he explores the world. The Wii’s graphical limitations are the same as they were when the last Legend of Zelda game was released, so we’ll see no improvement there, but it’s one more step along the road toward fully immersive gaming. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is available for Nintendo Wii.
Following is a full list of this week’s announced North American releases:
Windows
- Afterfall: Insanity
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations- EverQuest: Veil of Alaris
- Girl with a Heart of
- Hearts of Iron III Collection
- Heavy Fire: Afghanistan
- Jurassic Park: The Game
- Minecraft
- Moto Racer 15th Anniversary
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Real Warfare 2: Northern Crusades
- Rochard
- Saints Row: The Third
- Sideway: New York
- Time of Fury
- XIII Lost Identity
Wii
- Abba: You Can Dance
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
- Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
- Disney Princess Enchanting Storybooks (uDraw)
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Fishing Resort
- Heavy Fire: Afghanistan
- Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
- Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2012
- Rayman Origins
- SpongeBob Squigglepants (uDraw)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- uDraw Studio (uDraw)
- Winter Stars
- Zumba Fitness 2
DS
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
- Bejeweled 3
- Beyblade: Metal Masters
- DaGeDar
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Escape Trick: Convenience Store
- Fossil Fighters: Champions
- Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut
3DS
- Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy
- Carnival Games: Wild West 3D
- Heavy Fire: Afghanistan – The Chosen Few 3D
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Shinobi
Xbox 360
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
- Bejeweled 3
- Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Jurassic Park: The Game
- Kinect: Disneyland Adventures
- Kung Fu High Impact
- Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Rapala for Kinect
- Rayman Origins
- Saints Row: The Third
- The Price Is Right: Decades
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
- Victorious: Time to Shine
- Winter Stars
PS3
- Air Conflicts: Secret Wars
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
- Bejeweled 3
- Carnival Island
- Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends
- EyePet & Friends
- Get Up and Dance
- Heavy Fire: Afghanistan
- Jurassic Park: The Game
- Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat
- Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Saints Row: The Third
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
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