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Sony and Marvel actively developing Spider-Man 4

In a new interview with The New York Times, Marvel’s Kevin Feige and Sony producer Amy Pascal confirmed that development on a potential Spider-Man 4 has already begun.

While Pascal previously announced that another Spider-Man trilogy was on the way, those statements have been reported to be premature. However, at least a 4^th movie is looking more and more likely.

Feige said, “Amy and I and Disney and Sony are talking about – yes, we’re actively beginning to develop where the story heads next. Which I only say outright because I don’t want fans to go through any separation trauma like what happened after Far From Home. That will not be occurring this time.”

The separation trauma Feige refers to was the previous end of the partnership between Sony and Marvel that was eventually renewed. It looks as though the two studios don’t plan on ending that partnership anytime soon.

DC’s Blue Beetle movie shifts premiere plans from HBO Max to theaters

Warner Bros. and DC Films’ Blue Beetle movie is shifting its premiere plans. While originally being developed for HBO Max, the film will now get a theatrical release on August 18^th, 2023.

Blue Beetle will star Cobra Kai’s Xolo Mariduena as the Jaime Reyes version of the hero, who gains superpowers when he encounters alien armor. It was one of a number of DC films being developed for streaming, which include Batgirl, Zatanna, Static Shock, and Black Canary. The move suggests that the studio has gained more confidence in Blue Beetle’s ability to perform well at the box office.

Splinter Cell remake in development

Ubisoft has greenlit the development of a Splinter Cell remake. Led by Ubisoft Toronto, the game will be rebuilt from the ground up using their Snowdrop engine to deliver new-generation visuals and gameplay, and the dynamic lighting and shadows the series is known for.

Unlike Ubisoft’s signature open-world spaces, you’ll play in small, linear environments. The company wants to meet present-day gameplay expectations, but is also aware that the original Splinter Cell was appealing because it rewarded stealth players who demonstrated patience and planning.

The game’s creative director characterized this remake as a solid base for the future of the franchise, meaning that if you aren’t thrilled about the thought of a remake, this could lead to true sequels moving forward.

Mega Man movie in the works at Netflix

IGN is reporting that Mega Man will soon be coming to Netflix in a live-action adaptation of the classic Capcom video game franchise.

The project, which has yet to be confirmed by Netflix, is reportedly still very early in development. IGN is basing their news on the fact that the film’s production company let the information slip about the partnership during a recent website update.

A live-action Mega Man movie for 20^th Century Fox was first announced back in 2018 just days after the release of Mega Man 11, so the claims aren’t completely unwarranted.

Gotham Knights series in development for The CW

The CW is looking to expand its DC universe, as three writers from Batwoman are working with the network to develop a Gotham Knights series. However, the project is not a Batwoman spinoff, nor is it linked to the upcoming video game of the same name.

The logline for Gotham Knights reads, “In the wake of Bruce Wayne’s murder, his rebellious adopted son forges an unlikely alliance with the children of Batman’s enemies when they are all framed for killing the Caped Crusader. And as the city’s most wanted criminals, this renegade band of misfits must fight to clear their names. But in a Gotham with no Dark Knight to protect it, the city descends into the most dangerous it’s ever been. However, hope comes from the most unexpected of places as this team of mismatched fugitives will become its next generation of saviors.”

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Sora from Kingdom Hearts is the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter

Nintendo has finalized the roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by revealing the final DLC fighter, Sora from Kingdom Hearts.

Sora is nimble and a skilled airborne fighter, but he’s very light, so it’s easy to launch him. His special abilities include fire, lightning, and ice magic attacks and a vertical spiral move that’s a bit like Link’s spin attack.

The new stage that will arrive alongside Sora is Hollow Bastion, in which you can see Maleficent’s castle from the first Kingdom Hearts in the background. Rather than including music with close ties to certain worlds in Kingdom Hearts, the team decided to pick central themes from the series for the nine song list additions. Also, if you have Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory save data on your Nintendo Switch, you’ll get “Dearly Beloved – Swing Version” as a bonus song.

Sora, Hollow Bastion, and the song list will be available on October 18th. The content is part of the Fighters Pass Vol. 2, but you can also buy it separately.

The Kingdom Hearts trilogy is coming to Nintendo Switch

Square Enix has announced that all three Kingdom Hearts main titles will be making their way to Nintendo Switch.

In celebration of the iconic franchise’s upcoming 20th anniversary, Square Enix will be releasing cloud versions of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + ReMind on the Nintendo Switch in the future. All three titles will be available to purchase individually or as an all-in-one Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece collection. No official release date or pricing has been confirmed as of yet, although fans will likely get more information as it gets closer.

It’s worth noting that since they’re cloud versions, you’ll be streaming the games, so an online connection is required to play.

Ubisoft announces free-to-play battle royale Ghost Recon Frontline

Ubisoft has announced that they’re working on a new battle royale game set within the Tom Clancy universe. Ghost Recon Frontline will be a free-to-play game that will pit you and two other teammates against more than one hundred other players.

Frontline will move the series away from its traditional third-person perspective to a first-person one. In its signature Expedition mode, you and your team will need to find three pieces of intel scattered across an island map. You’ll then later need to extract that information by calling in an airlift. Other teams can ambush you during this crucial moment and steal the data you fought so hard to obtain. Unlike other battle royales, the playspace won’t get smaller as the match progresses.

No launch date has yet been shared for Ghost Recon Frontline, but the game will release on Xbox Series S & X, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Stadia, Luna, and PC with full crossplay.

Lionsgate nabs Clerks 3, Tom Clancy’s XDefiant, & John Wick’s The Continental – 2021-07-19

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Lionsgate acquires rights to Kevin Smith’s Clerks 3

Lionsgate has acquired worldwide rights to Kevin Smith’s Clerks III, which is in pre-production in New Jersey and will begin production next month.

Smith has written the screenplay and will direct, with all major cast members from the first two Clerks films set to reprise their roles: Jeff Anderson as Randal, Brian O’Halloran as Dante, Jay Mewes as Jay, Smith as Silent Bob, and Rosario Dawson as Becky.

In Clerks III, following a massive heart attack, Randal enlists Dante, Elias, Jay, and Silent Bob to make a movie immortalizing his life at the convenience store that started it all.

Smith said, “There’s a saying from the Tao that goes something like ‘To be great is to go on. To go on is to go far. To go far is to return.’ Thanks to Lionsgate, we get to return to where it all started with almost the whole cast that started it all! And for the first time since the first time we ever made a movie in 1993, we’re shooting the entire flick on location in New Jersey, as an ode to both the enduring allure of cinema and the resourcefulness and lunacy of its storytellers. Years ago, Dante and Randal made me a filmmaker – so now it’s time I return the favor.”

Ubisoft announces Tom Clancy’s XDefiant, a chaotic free-to-play FPS

Ubisoft is making a new free-to-play shooter set in the Tom Clancyverse called Tom Clancy’s XDefiant. It’s pitched as a “high-octane,” 6v6 multiplayer first-person arena shooter.

Developed by Ubisoft San Francisco, Tom Clancy’s XDefiant promises realistic gunplay with personalized classes, represented as factions with special abilities. Those factions (Echelon, Outcasts, Cleaners, and Wolves) are inspired by other Tom Clancy games, like The Division, Splinter Cell, and the Ghost Recon series.

On top of deep personalization and customization, gunplay is a top priority. XDefiant will feature an ever-growing arsenal of authentic weapons and attachments, with Ubisoft San Francisco crafting every weapon attachment for precise, satisfying gunplay.

An early gameplay test will launch Aug. 5, and interested players can register at the game’s official website. While the game is still early in development, its creators are saying that your feedback is essential to make this game great.

Tom Clancy’s XDefiant is coming to PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, with streaming versions for Amazon Luna and Google Stadia. Ubisoft has also promised cross-platform play.

Starz sets John Wick prequel The Continental as 3-night event series

After initially announcing it as a spinoff series to the Keanu Reeves-led John Wick films, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Starz and Lionsgate Television are now redeveloping the long-awaited project The Continental as a three-part prequel. Each installment of the event series is expected to be 90-minutes long and will premiere over the course of three consecutive nights.

The Continental was first announced in 2017 by franchise creators Chad Stahelski and Derek Kolstad. The titular hotel was introduced in the first installment of the John Wick films as a safe haven for assassins and has been a primary location in the franchise.

Set 40 years before the events of the films, the upcoming prequel centers around Winston, who will one day grow up to be the character played by Ian McShane in the Wick movies. In the prequel set against the backdrop of 1970s New York, fans will find a young Winston as an up-and-coming hitman hotel proprietor who, along with others, creates a haven for unsavory types.

Production on the highly-anticipated fourth installment to the John Wick film is also currently underway. John Wick: Chapter 4 will again see Keanu Reeves returning as the unstoppable hitman and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 27, 2022.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Damien Cranshaw and Booster Greg

The Geek Generation – #278 – E3 2016

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Electronic Arts:
  • Titanfall 2
  • Madden NFL 17
  • Mass Effect: Andromeda
  • FIFA 17
  • Fe
  • Battlefield 1
• Bethesda:
  • Quake Champions
  • Fallout 4
  • Fallout Shelter
  • Skryim: Special Edition
  • Prey
  • Dishonored 2
• Ubisoft:
  • Just Dance 2017
  • Ghost Recon: Wild Lands
  • South Park: The Fractured But Whole
  • The Division
  • Eagle Flight
  • Star Trek: Bridge Crew
  • For Honor
  • Grow Up
  • Trials of the Blood Dragon
  • Watch Dogs 2
  • Steep
• Nintendo:
  • The Legenda of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Microsoft:
  • Xbox One S
  • Gears of War 4
  • Killer Instinct
  • Forza Horizon 3
  • ReCore
  • Final Fantasy XV
  • The Division: Underground
  • Xbox Live
  • Minecraft Realms
  • Inside
  • We Happy Few
  • Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
  • Tekken 7
  • DeadRising4
  • Scalebound
  • Sea of Thieves
  • State of Decay 2
  • Halo Wars 2
  • Project Scorpio
• Sony:
  • God of War
  • Days Gone
  • The Last Guardian
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • Detroit: Become Human
  • Resident Evil 7: biohazard
  • PlayStation VR
  • Farpoint
  • Star Wars Battlefront: X-Wing VR Mission
  • Batman: Arkham VR
  • Final Fantasy XV
  • Call of Duty Infinite Warfare: Ship Assault
  • Crash Bandicoot Remastered
  • LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Death Stranding
  • Spider-Man

The developers of the game had this to say:

“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche [Let them eat cake]! We have been working on the new Assassin’s Creed for more than three years and although we weren’t quite ready to show you our full vision for a next-gen only AC, it seems Abstergo are trying to force our hand! So here’s a true first look at in-game footage from Assassin’s Creed Unity. Stay tuned – we’ll have many more exciting details for you in the months ahead!”

Assassin’s Creed: Unity is set for release later this year on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Pre-order now to get the Ultimate Fellowship Pack.

Also, Ubisoft has announced that the game will be available on PS3 starting November 19. Details on the PlayStation 4 release have yet to be announced.

In development for nearly two years, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is being spearheaded by one of the veteran Assassin’s Creed teams in Ubisoft Montreal. The game will be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Windows PC and other next generation consoles.

“With the new hero and new setting we are creating the boldest and most unique Assassin’s Creed game yet, while still respecting the pillars of the franchise that have made it such a fan favorite,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is based on a true, harsh and exciting part of a legendary era and will thrill longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag tells the story of Edward Kenway, a young British man with a thirst for danger and adventure, who falls from privateering for the Royal Navy into piracy as the war between the major Empires comes to an end. Edward is a fierce pirate and seasoned fighter who soon finds himself embroiled in the ancient war between Assassins and Templars. Set at the dawn of the 18th Century, the game features some of the most infamous pirates in history, such as Blackbeard and Charles Vane, and takes players on a journey throughout the West Indies during a turbulent and violent period of time later to become known as the Golden Age of Pirates.

Gameplay is based upon the franchise’s proven tenets. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag features a vast open world with more than 50 navigable locations. Combat combines the weaponry of the Assassin’s Order with armaments of the era, and rewards both daring and stealth. And the series’ acclaimed multiplayer experience is more varied and ruthless than ever.

Customers who purchase the game on PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 can download 60 minutes of additional gameplay via the PlayStation Network after the game’s launch on October 29th.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: DJ Moore from The Reel Conversation

The Geek Generation – #123 – The Reel Conversation

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• Geek Outs:
  • Star Trek Into Darkness
  • Bryan Singer’s casting tweets
  • Legends of the Knight
  • Batman cowl
  • Ratchet & Clank HD Collection
  • Rise of the Guardians
  • Whose Line Is It Anyway? is making a comeback
• Freak Outs:
  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2
  • The Walking Dead
• Game: Top 3
  • Top 3 Guilty Pleasure Movies
• Obscure Movie Reviews with SuperFan Chris Tong
  • The Horde
• News/discussion:
  • WWE game license goes to 2K
  • Ubisoft announces Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gets renewed for third season
  • Uncharted 3 multiplayer goes free-to-play
  • Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX coming to PS3 this Fall
  • The Hobbit: There and Back Again moves to December 2014
  • Ninja Turtles pushed back to June 6, 2014
  • Megan Fox joins the cast of Ninja Turtles
  • Bruce Willis says a sixth Die Hard movie will happen
  • Matt Smith to star in Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut
  • Illumination Entertainment to animate How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • Sandra Bullock to voice lead in Minions
  • Deadpool game set for Summer 2013 release

Additional links:

• The Reel Conversation: thereelconversation.podomatic.com
• The Reel Conversation on Facebook: facebook.com/TheReelConversation
• The Reel Conversation on Twitter: twitter.com/TheReelConvo
• ReevzFX: www.reevzfx.com

Full details will be announced by Ubisoft on Monday, March 4 at 6 p.m. CET.

Leaked imagery and information suggests that the game is set in 1715 and stars a pirate assassin named Edward Kenway, father of Haytham and grandfather of Connor from Assassin’s Creed 3. If this is true, it marks the first time that the franchise is taking a step back in time instead of moving forward as it has been with prior titles.

The box art also reveals that the PS3 version of the game will feature 60-minutes of exclusive gameplay, similar to how the PS3 version of Assassin’s Creed 3 received the Benedict Arnold missions.

They followed up the announcement by showing off some open world gameplay footage which you can watch below.

Perhaps Ubisoft is hearing the same from others, as Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot told IGN today that the “all-new Assassin’s Creed hero, within an all new team and time period” will be “another major leap forward for the franchise” when it releases some time before April 2014.

“It is the benefit of multiple teams working on multiple chapters of the product,” Guillemot said, “each getting several years to make their versions of an Assassin’s Creed game.”

In this Assassin’s Creed III weapons trailer, watch as the newest master Assassin destroys his opponents using any means necessary — and keep an eye out for his hidden blade as a whole new combat system delivers more intense, gut-wrenching battles than ever before.

Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation introduces a cunning new assassin. You’ll play as Aveline, an Assassin of mixed African and French heritage. She uses her skills, instinct, and weaponry — including a machete, poison-dart blowpipe, and duelling pistols — to hunt down and eliminate her enemies.

Feast your eyes on a richly detailed world, thanks to an all-new game engine featuring groundbreaking physics, animations, and a new combat system. Outmaneuver your enemies in the Louisiana Bayou with an innovative tree navigation system, then eliminate them from above with deadly precision. Dive deep underwater as you search lost Mayan treasures, but stay alert; the hostile wilderness and humid swamps are full of menacing animals.

The World Premiere Gameplay Trailer of Assassin’s Creed III is finally here.

Some words about the trailer and new Assassin Connor from Ubisoft Community Developer Gabriel Graziani:

Okay, now that you’ve been properly introduced to Connor, our new Assassin, there are a couple of things in this video that I’d like to call your attention to.

Firstly, there are the basics of Connor’s character. He is a brutally effective Assassin, taking down his targets with speed and dexterity. Note how he flows across the battlefield, moving from one kill to another in a seamless, unbroken pace until finally finishing his target with vicious grace. There’s also Connor’s Native American/English heritage, which adds complexity and richness to his motivation.

On top of the incredibly fluid combat, Connor is generally more agile and deft in his movements, easily able to employ all of the trademark maneuvers of the Assassin. Now, however, Connor can travel through the trees as effortlessly as he sprints across rooftops and, for the first time in the Assassin’s Creed series, barrel through open windows, using building interiors to obscure his escape!

We also get a peek at how Connor will interact with some famous historical figures (who’s the guy with the cigar?) as well as wildlife in this trailer, showing off just the tiniest fraction of the vast living world the Assassin’s Creed series is known for.

There’s still so much more to reveal, but all that will have to wait. There’s still so much more to reveal, so stay tuned! Assassin’s Creed III launches on October 30.

Which robot from pop culture, TV, movies or comics would you like to shoot and why??

The best answers will receive a free voucher code to download one of many in-game items for Shoot Many Robots from the Xbox Live Arcade. These items include:

• Wide-Nozzle Toast-T
• Tutu
• Fluffy’s Revenge
• Gnoming Missile Launcher
• Atlantean Deep Freeze
• Battleship Cannon
• Astronaut’s Helmet
• E.V.A. Pack

[UPDATE: I apologize for any confusion, but it seems the codes are not for the complete game; they’re actually for in-game items. You’ll need to purchase the game itself to make use of these items.)

For more chances to win, follow us on Twitter @GeekGeneration.

(Make sure to use a valid e-mail when commenting or I won’t be able to send you a code. Contest ends on March 16 @ 10:00 PM EST)

After a Best Buy employee supposedly leaked promo images for Assassin’s Creed 3, Ubisoft has officially released the box art for the game and announced a release date of October 30th, 2012.

After the box art reveal, Game Informer also stepped up and posted images to tease their upcoming cover story on the title, in which more details about the new hero will be revealed.

The front cover:

The full wraparound cover:

A limited-run special edition cover crafted by acclaimed comic artist Alex Ross:

Alex Ross full wraparound cover:

The released images, in combination with some early details from Game Informer, confirm suspicions that Assassin’s Creed 3 will take place in the latter half of the 18th century during the American Revolution. Weapons appear to include a bow, gun, and tomahawk, with the hatchet blade carved like the assassin’s crest. Also, this new assassin wears items of Native American heritage along with the traditional white assassin’s robe featuring a bald eagle on the beak of his cowl.

For the past three years, we have lived in the past life of Ezio Al’Auditore di Firenze. Ubisoft concludes that which it began in 2009, and it looks like it’s about time for a definitive Assassins Creed III, and not more sequels of a sequel.

Ubisoft has been cranking out Assassin’s Creed games for the past three years, trying to innovate both gameplay and multiplayer experiences into a unique package. Revelations, the third installment in the story that started in the second game, and followup to Brotherhood, returns again to the now all too familiar gameplay of the Assassin’s Creed series. Some “hits” and some misses, Revelations could have been a more ambitious conclusion to the current story arc, but overall, misses the “mark” by just a bit.

Story: Revelations begins pursuant to the events of Brotherhood. Desmond Miles is trapped in the Animus, yet is able to directly access the memories of Ezio thanks to the help of Subject Sixteen. The whole interplay between Desmond and Sixteen had a strange Tron-like feel to it since both are stuck in a digital world. In classic literary tradition, this, more than any other series entry, is a frame story, with Desmond’s story framing Ezio’s, and Ezio’s framing Altairs’ flashbacks. The Desmond bit being a smaller part of a complex story, the meat of the game is Ezio’s memories. Now in Constantinople, probably the heart of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500’s, Ezio is on a quest for the five keys of Masyaf. These access five memories of Altair (who you also play as in flashback sequences) and the secret he has buried in Masyaf long ago. Couple this quest with the turmoil in Constantinople that the Templars have brought to the city, and you are thrust into the final chapter to ensure the Templar menace is stopped. Is this for good? Far from it, as by the end of the game, shocking, albeit cryptic revelations are made.

Gameplay: While the story for Revelations was intriguing for the most part, the final chapter for both Ezio and Altair left me wanting. The gameplay is petty much the set of standard modifications made in Brotherhood, with two notable additions. The “hookblade” replaces one of Ezio’s hidden blades, and allows him to “zipline” through the city and execute a rollover move in combat (sadly, didn’t use this once). Hookblade = useless addition. The other innovation is the ability of bomb crafting, enabling the player to craft various types of bombs for the purposes of distraction or combat. This is an interesting addition to the franchise as a whole and breaks up the monotony of the gameplay tasks as you can create bombs out of many different materials, with differing payloads and effects.

This brings us to combat. Sadly, the game has soured me on this aspect. Fundamentally, the combat has not changed since the last entry, but the enemies have gotten more difficult (Janissaries, in particular, the elite Ottoman guard) requiring a mix of pistol, poison, and blade to be utilized in tandem in combat. This disrupts the flow of combat in my opinion, as well as your ability to create kill streaks successfully.

Two additions that were added that really detracted from the game, and definitely DON’T belong in the Assassin’s Creed world are Den Defense and shop upgrade notoriety. An addition to Revelations is the optional (yet annoying when you have to) Den Defense. Depending on your notoriety level, Templars will attack one of your reclaimed dens, at which point you must play a poorly executed tower defense mini game where you assign troops to rooftops to defend your den. This mode might be a great addition to multiplayer, but not the single player campaign. Take note that player notoriety increases when you purchase shops and faction buildings also. I would buy two buildings, then have to reduce my notoriety before it got into the red zone. Reducing it is a chore in itself, with the only ways being bribing a herald or killing a witness (witnesses only appear when your notoriety is very high). Unfortunately, the lollygagging back and forth between buying and bribing hurts the game flow. On the topic of purchasing, by the games end I had not purchased any landmarks in Constantinople, hardly purchased any weapons, and instead of classic art this time around, any of the books available at booksellers. Money collection in this installment, with shop prices soaring, was a lot more difficult to utilize and collect than the last two games.

The Masyaf key quests and high powered action sequences were amusing enough to keep me playing, and Revelations shines when it comes to the Altair flashback missions because we finally find out more about this enigmatic man, at least enough to keep this gamer satisfied. The Desmond sequences (accessed by collecting Animus fragments in the world) leave a lot to be desired, with poor first person platforming. If you really want to find out about Desmond’s past and earn a few trophies, go for it.

Graphics: For a three year old engine, Revelations still looks good compared to most other games. Constantinople and the Bosphors are beautifully rendered, as are the facial expressions of characters. We have come a long way since the original game. Cutscenes, sadly, are mediocre at best with a lot of choppiness and skipping on a few. As good as it looks, the engine shows its age. 3D was added this time around, but time for an upgrade.

Sound: Music has always shined in the series and there’s no exception here. DTS sound would have been a good addition, but the digital gets the job done. The soundtrack builds upon the music from the last game, with subtle changes here and there. The typical combat sounds are present as is the always comical din of the crowd when you climb a wall or barrel through someone escaping from a fight or chase.

Overall: The culmination of this chapter in what is arguably one of the “top 5” franchises in video games right now is not quite the sharpest blade in the vambrace. Ezio’s blade, however, still shines with purpose. I have no real gripe with Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, I just desire a polished, definitive sequel. This game played like Assassin’s Creed 2.75, and as stated left me wanting more. It is essential playing if you want to see where the story goes for Ezio and Altair, yet it is more of the same of what we saw in Brotherhood. The den defense and notoriety were found to distract this gamer from the tasks at hand, and add a level of frustration I never felt before in the series. Nevertheless, these small gripes aside, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is a decent pickup, especially if you have been playing the series from day one. Jump once more into the animus before Assassin’s Creed III comes along to decide the fate of the world in what will hopefully be an all-out clash between Templar and Assassin.

(Note: PS3 owners will get a copy of the original Assassin’s Creed on their Blu-Ray disc. Also, Assassin’s Creed: Embers is a 20-minute short film detailing what happens to Ezio upon finishing the game.)

[xrr rating=8/10]

Pros:

+ Still great visuals

+ Bomb crafting adds a layer to the game

+ Well researched story

Cons:

– Den defense

– Useless hookblade addition

– Poor notoriety system changes

Sony Pictures is in final negotiations to adapt and distribute the bigscreen version of Assassin’s Creed, landing the film rights in a bidding war after Ubisoft started shopping the property around Hollywood the last several months.

Through a new division called Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the video game company wants to maintain more creative control over the development of its games for other platforms rather than broker traditional one-off licensing deals with studios, something that proved key during the bidding process with Sony.

“The entrance of Assassin’s Creed into the Soulcalibur universe is a historic meeting of two of the most revered and influential game series,” said Olivier Comte, Senior Vice President at Namco Bandai Partners. “Ezio has captured the imaginations of millions of fans around the world, and it will be very exciting to see how his lightning fast moves stand up to the mighty swordplay of Soulcalibur’s finest.”

“We are thrilled to see Ezio enter the world of Soulcalibur, as we believe the values of both brands fit together” said Geoffroy Sardin, EMEA Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Ubisoft. “We think that this partnership will bring a great new gameplay experience to both Soulcalibur and Assassin’s Creed fans”.

Ubisoft announced via the PlayStation blog that the PS3 version of Assassin’s Creed: Revelations will include the full version of the original Assassin’s Creed game on the same Blu-ray disc. The catch is that there are a limited supply of copies that will include this bonus, so pre-ordering Revelations is your best shot at getting the original game.

Here’s the full statement from Ubisoft:

Hey there PlayStation Assassins! We have something exciting to share today: thanks to a special partnership with PlayStation and the incredible storage space offered by Blu-ray discs, we are offering a full version of the original Assassin’s Creed for free if you’re one of the first to buy Assassin’s Creed Revelations! Supplies are somewhat limited, however, so you’ll need to act quickly (pre-ordering might help ;D) in order to get a copy of the original Assassin’s Creed included on your Assassin’s Creed Revelations Blu-ray disc.

As you know, Assassin’s Creed Revelations will see Ezio follow in the footsteps of the legendary Assassin Mentor Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad on a quest to understand the true nature of what it means to be an Assassin. To prepare you for this journey, we thought it might be a good idea for you to have the game that started it all on-hand just in case you needed a quick refresher on Altaïr’s history.

Vittoria agli Assassini!

Also, following the traumatic events of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Desmond has a lot to figure out… so much, in fact, that he must take a journey deep into his subconscious.