Welcome to the PDG November 2011 Video Game New Release Highlights
By PDG Staff
Lord of the Rings: War in the North (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
November 1, 2011
“With his far reaching rich hand Sauron might have done great evil in the North. Yet all that has been averted because a handful of heroes stood in his path.” – Gandalf the White
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is a co-op Action RPG that immerses you and your friends in a brutal new chapter in the War of the Ring. Snowblind Studios is in the unique position of drawing inspiration from both the literary and film rights to world of Middle-earth, allowing players to bloody their axes on a wide range of deadly enemies and traverse both established and never-before-seen locations. The result is a journey that is both epic and intimate, familiar yet unexpected.
Key Features:
* Action Meets RPG – Intense, visceral, and satisfying combat. Rich, layered, and impactful character progression. In War in the North, you get both. Find and equip the best loot, upgrade your hero using a wide range of skills and items, and feel the intense satisfaction of rushing into real-time battles with friends by your side. Fight through the brutal realities of the war on all fronts that were brought to life in the lore. Immerse yourself and make your own mark on Middle-earth.
* Co-Op at its Core – Build your own fellowship of three heroes to confront the growing army in the North. The survival of your group and all of Middle-earth depends upon your uniquely skilled heroes working together. You must fight together or you will die alone, and these high stakes make the experience of playing together both socially engaging and incredibly satisfying. The first time you rescue a friend who has been grabbed by a troll and is desperately yelling for help, you will understand what we mean.
* An Untold Story – While much attention and focus has been placed on the journey of the One Ring, the assault on Middle-earth hits all corners of the map. War in the North turns our attention towards an integral part of the storyline that is grounded in details within the books and various appendices. This is not someone else’s fight. This is your own effort to forage a way through the dark, dangerous, and unknown landscape, defending all that is yours. This is your war.
Cabela’s Survival: Shadows of Katmai (Wii, PS3, Xbox 360)
November 1, 2011
Put your survival skills to the ultimate test in the heart of the hostile Alaskan Wilderness. Cabela’s Survival: Shadows of Katmai puts you face-to-face with the unforgiving forces of nature. You’re injured, isolated and stranded with no hope of rescue. Forced to scavenge for gear and hunt for food, you’ll confront some of the world’s most dangerous predators – and they’re just as hungry as you are. Do you have the courage and skills to be the last one standing?
Travel through breathtaking mountains and thick, contiguous forests in search of shelter. Hunt for game, but be aware that you are being hunted as well. Battle the frigid elements, relying on primal instincts to find safety and make it out alive. Challenge up to three friends in co-op, hot-seat and head-to-head multiplayer shooting galleries.
Key Features:
* Extreme Survival – Pit your wits, skill and endurance against merciless cold, impossible terrain and an ever present threat of starvation.
* Lethal Predators – Face some of the world’s deadliest predators who see you as their ticket to survival in this harsh and unforgiving environment.
* Survival Galleries – Be the last one standing in intense shooting galleries featuring boss face-offs, melee combat and a genre first mix of 1st and 3rd person combat.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3)
November 1, 2011
A search for the fabled “Atlantis of the Sands” propels fortune hunter Nathan Drake on a trek into the heart of the Arabian Desert. When the terrible secrets of this lost city are unearthed, Drake’s quest descends into a desperate bid for survival that strains the limits of his endurance and forces him to confront his deepest fears.
Key Features:
* An interactive cinematic experience that blurs the lines between games and Hollywood films.
* Nathan Drake’s journey will put you through new challenges and take you to stunning locations around the world, from a derelict chateau in France, to the merciless Arabian Desert.
* Epic single player campaign with evolved signature Uncharted gameplay.
* A new breed of Action Adventure Multiplayer that brings the exciting cinematic elements of the single-player campaign, into the multiplayer.
* Experience the thrill of Uncharted in stereoscopic 3D.
* Starhawk Beta voucher card included with all Uncharted 3 copies.
* Includes 4 Behind-The-Scenes Features free on Uncharted 3 disc.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PC, Wii, PS3, Xbox 360)
November 8, 2011
Global warfare is raging and the battle will begin on November 8th, 2011 when the cultural phenomenon Modern Warfare returns with the worldwide release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the newest installment in Activision Publishing, Inc.’s #1 first person action series and is being developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games.
* The best-selling franchise in XBOX 360 history is back.
* The definitive multiplayer experience returns bigger than ever.
* Special Ops co-op reinvented with all-new survival mode.
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
November 11, 2011
The Empire of Tamriel is on the edge. The High King of Skyrim has been murdered. Alliances form as claims to the throne are made. In the midst of this conflict, a far more dangerous, ancient evil is awakened. Dragons, long lost to the passages of the Elder Scrolls, have returned to Tamriel.
The future of Skyrim, even the Empire itself, hangs in the balance as they wait for the prophesized Dragonborn to come; a hero born with the power of The Voice, and the only one who can stand amongst the dragons.
The next chapter in the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls saga arrives from the makers of the 2006 and 2008 Games of the Year, Bethesda Game Studios. Skyrim re-imagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.
Key Features:
* Live another life, in another world – Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.
* All new graphics and gameplay engine – Skyrim’s new game engine brings to life a complete virtual world with rolling clouds, rugged mountains, bustling cities, lush fields, and ancient dungeons.
* You are what you play – Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.
* Dragons return – Battle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
Saints Row: The Third (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
November 15, 2011
Years after taking Stilwater for their own, the Third Street Saints have evolved from street gang to household brand name, with Saints sneakers, Saints energy drinks and Johnny Gat bobble head dolls all available at a store near you. The Saints are kings of Stilwater, but their celebrity status has not gone unnoticed.
The Syndicate, a legendary criminal fraternity with pawns in play all over the globe, has turned its eye on the Saints and demands tribute. Refusing to kneel to the Syndicate, you take the fight to a new city, playing out the most outlandish gameplay scenarios ever seen. Strap it on.
The Saints Row series is constantly striving to provide the most over-the-top and insanely fun open-world gameplay with no holds barred.
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (PS3, Xbox 360)
November 15, 2011
When a man has won all his battles and defeated his enemies; what is left for him to achieve? Ezio Auditore must leave his life behind in search of answers, in search of the truth.
In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of the legendary mentor Altaïr, on a journey of discovery and revelation. It is a perilous path – one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.
In addition to Ezio’s award-winning story, a refined and expanded online multiplayer experience returns with new and additional modes, maps, and characters, allowing you to test your assassin skills against others from around the world.
Key Features:
* Become Deadlier Than Ever – Take on the lethal skills of a wiser, more efficient and deadlier Ezio. Swiftly eliminate your adversaries by deploying a new arsenal of weapons and abilities, such as enhanced free-running and hook blade combat. Experience new levels of gameplay customization with bomb crafting, and use heightened Eagle Vision to overcome your enemies and the environment.
* Test Your Skills Against The Best – A critically acclaimed multiplayer experience gets even better, with all-new team modes and unlimited replay value.
* Experience Revolutionary Gameplay – Explore the farthest reaches of the Animus as you uncover the mysteries of Desmond’s past while gaining insight into what the future might hold.
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
November 20, 2011
One of the most storied franchises in history soars to new heights. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword shakes up the tried-and-true adventure game formula and marks a turning point for the franchise. The introduction of full motion controls enabled by Wii MotionPlus technology synchronizes player movements with Link’s actions while offering the most intuitive play control of any game in the series to date.
Key Features:
* The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword boasts the most realistic sword combat of any game to date, turning every encounter into a challenge of both brains and brawn. Wii MotionPlus technology accurately translates the angle of every sword slice, effectively putting Link’s blade in the player’s hand. Analyzing enemy attack and defense tendencies and counteracting with precise swings of the sword provide a satisfying experience that blends puzzle-solving with a new and distinctly unique combat system.
* Explore a massive, multilayered world that seamlessly blends soaring exploration in a sea of clouds with intense ground-based adventuring that blurs the line between the main world and traditional Zelda dungeons. Link soars through the skies on the back of a noble bird and dives beneath the clouds to the continent below in an epic quest that lays the foundation for the events in the critically acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
* Prepare for intense puzzle-solving as only The Legend of Zelda games can deliver. Exploration of the forests, volcanoes and deserts requires players to think on their feet as they solve puzzles, overcome obstacles and escape deadly traps. Once they find their way to each dungeon, they are confronted by even more puzzles guarded by fiendish enemies.
* The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword redefines the traditional Zelda framework and introduces an arsenal of items, upgrades and rewards unlike any game in the franchise to date. The adventure guides players into, out of and back to dungeons and areas they’ve already completed. Along the way, Link gathers a massive inventory of peculiar items and resources that can be used to upgrade many of his weapons and equipment.
Serious Sam 3: BFE (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
November 22, 2011
TIME AND PLACE ARE SUBJECTIVE – BOOM! That was the sound of Serious Sam 3: BFE news dropping. Croteam’s Serious Sam 3: BFE is a glorious throwback to the golden age of first-person shooters where men were men, cover was for amateurs and pulling the trigger made things go boom.
Serving as a prequel to the original indie sensation, Serious Sam: The First Encounter, Serious Sam 3: BFE takes place during the Earth’s final struggle against Mental’s invading legions of beasts and mercenaries. Set against the collapsing temples of an ancient civilization and the crumbling cities of 22nd century Egypt, Serious Sam 3: BFE is an exhilarating fusion of classic twitch shooters and modern gameplay features.
“Serious Sam 3 is about pure fun and unfiltered action,” said Davor Hunski, chief creative officer of developer Croteam. “We wanted to expand on everything gamers love about the series while adding some genuinely unique new features to really enhance the mayhem Serious Sam is known for.”
WWE ’12 (Wii, PS3, Xbox 360)
November 22, 2011
WWE ’12 will celebrate the rebirth of the iconic and authentic simulation franchise through a bigger game, badder presentation and better gameplay than ever before, delivering long-awaited critical improvements to the core gameplay experience, the most creative and extensive feature set to date and a visceral, edgy and polished presentation.
Key Features:
* Predator Technology – Engage in the WWE experience like never before through a dynamic gameplay system that looks, feels and plays better than ever before. The brand new Breaking Point submission system, new Attributes and control layout, as well as major changes to Momentum and Stamina systems make for the best WWE gameplay to date.
* Dynamic Presentation – Observe impressive visual changes to gameplay presentation, including new animations, camera positions, lighting arrangements and significantly improved rendering, all delivering an authentic and striking representation of WWE programming.
* WWE Universe 2.0 – Embrace the virtual WWE experience through new and more impactful elements of unpredictability, as rivalries, alliances, matches and spontaneous action will dramatically evolve based on individual player decisions.
* Create & Share – Develop and customize Superstars, entrances, finishing moves, storylines, Highlight Reels and all-new, to-be-announced capabilities in the franchise’s best-in-class creation suite.
* The Road to Wrestlemania – Explore in the franchise’s popular story-based mode through compelling new storylines and major gameplay improvements.
* Extensive Roster – Compete with WWE Superstars, WWE Divas and WWE Legends from one of the largest rosters in franchise history, including John Cena, Randy Orton, The Miz and Alberto Del Rio.
