VG Blog installments:
So Many Video Games, So Little Time
Assassin's Creed (PS3, 360, PC)
Future VG Blogs
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction (PS3)

VG Blog is, simply put, where I discuss anything video game related. Previews, reviews, my own game progress, etc. Hope you enjoy.

Today's entry will be Assassin's Creed, an upcoming game and series for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

"Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." - Hasan bin Sabbah
Assassin's Creed is a third-person action game. The setting is the year 1191, during the Third Crusade, in the cities of Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus. You take the role as Altaïr, a member of the Hashshashins. The objective of the game is to locate [At least 9] targets whom are propagating the Crusades, eliminate then, and then escape with proof of their death. The characters you must assassinate are all actual historical figures (Although they were not necessarily assassinated).

Altaïr himself is a spiritual man, the son of a Christian and Muslim, and the name Altaïr means "The Flyer". He is a shamed assassin, seeking to redeem himself. There is much speculation over who Altaïr truly is, due the mysterious sci-fi twist apparent in the game. Throughout gameplay demos, death was met with a high-tech game over screen with words like "Shutdown", "Genetic", and "Memories", leading many to speculate a genetic memory plot.

Gameplay itself looks similar to a open-ended Prince Of Persia, but actually handles quite differently and uniquely. Instead of having one button for jumping, one for fighting, one for climbing, and the like, the controls correspond to Altaïr's body parts, and are context sensitive to his surroundings. Running toward a wall and pressing the "legs" button will cause Altaïr to jump over a wall, while pressing the "arms without weapons" button will cause him to vault it, for example.

Battle is mainly based on a reactionary fighting style. Though Altaïr has access to a sword, crossbow, throwing daggers, and a personalized mechanical dagger concealed on his wrist, the focus of fights will be to react to your opponents' strikes and counter them with your own, varying one-hit moves. As you will mostly be outnumbered, this system becomes a necessity.

Another major part of the gameplay will be centered on your acrobatics, and you can do so in many ways. Just about every area of the game is interactive, with the most popular activity the ability to climb just about any building you see. Altaïr can also leap buildings, perform "Leaps of Faith" to quickly, quietly, and coolly get to ground level, and perform other Pakour/Free-Running moves in both pursuit and escape.

Another aspect to the game is "Social Stealth", allowing Altaïr to blend in with the crowd. Altaïr can walk with a crowd, mass together with a group to observe something, or even sit and relax next to a fellow citizen. The masses can also be your enemies, however, by getting in your way during a chase, drawing unwanted attention as you climb, and turning against you should you attack them.

Assassin's Creed is one of the most anticipated next-gen titles on the way, and has already won multiple awards as an upcoming game and for its trailers. It s speculated to be released on November 9th on all three systems, though only the month has been guaranteed.

Links:
Wikipedia
Official Site
IGN
GameSpot
GameTrailers
Trailer #1
Trailer #2
Trailer #3
Trailer #4

VG Blog installments:
So Many Video Games, So Little Time
Assassin's Creed (PS3, 360, PC)
Future VG Blogs
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction (PS3)

VG Blog is, simply put, where I discuss anything video game related. Previews, reviews, my own game progress, etc. Hope you enjoy.

Will hopefully be made tomorrow. Doing one every week was crazy for my lazy schedule. I'm debating what games to mention, actually. As I said, I have an ton to discuss and talk about. Mostly mainstream though, but both new and old.
The guaranteed ones, in no particular order:

Assassin's Creed
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto 2
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VII
Devil May Cry 2
The Legend Of Dragoon
The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 5
Shadow Of The Colossus
Viewtiful Joe
Donkey Kong 64
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Golden Sun
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Okami
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
Spore

Feel free to comment if there's any you'd like to see first. I doubt anyone is holding their breath for a new one, but I'm glad some people have enjoyed it. Thanks.

VG Blog installments:
So Many Video Games, So Little Time
Assassin's Creed (PS3, 360, PC)
Future VG Blogs
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction (PS3)

VG Blog is, simply put, where I discuss anything video game related. Previews, reviews, my own game progress, etc. Hope you enjoy.

On the docket today: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction, an upcoming game for the Playstation 3.

First, some history.
Ratchet & Clank is a platformer and shooter series, the brainchild of Insomniac Games, which began in 2002 with the first installment, aptly named Ratchet & Clank. It is a Sony-exclusive series. The series generally involves platformer-style jumping, puzzle solving, and shooting. It is a "funny" series, with jokes around every corner, usually in the form of incompetent villains and ridiculous weaponry. The series has 7 games in total. They are:

Ratchet & Clank (PS2)
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2)
Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile (Mobile Phone)
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)
Ratchet & Clank: Deadlocked (PS2)
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction (PS3) (Upcoming)

Ratchet is the main protagonist in the series, and is a creature known as a Lombax (Similar to a bipedal Bobcat). He is a born mechanic, and throughout the series becomes a pan-galactic hero. He is skilled in countless forms of firearms and weaponry, and travels with his friend and sidekick, Clank. Despite being a Lombax, he knows nothing of his race or past.
Clank is Ratchet's closest friend and sidekick. He was created by his "Mother" (A super computer) to stop the evil plan present in the first game. He has a strong moral code, and is the more popular of the duo.

Now, with the backstory done, to the game itself.
Ratchet & Clank Future sees the two heroes relaxing on Metropolis, when an invasion occurs, the target appearing to be Ratchet himself. The story will reportedly explore much of Ratchet's origin, as well as the origin of the Lombaxes themselves.

The game also returns to it's platforming roots, an element that was strayed and near-eliminated in the last console game, Deadlocked. Other than this, the game will retain all its standbys. You'll travel from planet to planet, utilize a vast and ridiculous arsenal of weaponry, and cause ultimate destruction.

Confirmed weapons for the game:
Groovitron: A projectile that , upon impact with the ground, creates a disco ball and plays funky music, forcing all enemies to dance, effectively stunning them.
Tornado Launcher: Throw a tornado that sucks up all enemies, controled by the Sixaxis controller.
Pyro Blaster: You're typical flamethrower weapon to burn enemies.
Fusion Grenade: Basic flashy damaging grenade with splash damage.

As well, Clank will be once again playable in the game, and the classic RPG elements will return, allowing you to level up not only Ratchet, but your weapons as well. The "Callenge Mode" will also return, allowing you to replay the story with all your weaponry and Bolts (The game's currency), in order to gain further power.

All in all, this installment in the series is looking exceedingly excellent. The graphics are top-notch and weaponry is shaping up to be quite a unique arsenal. The return of platforming is the greatest appeal to me personally, as well.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction is estimated to hit stores on October 2nd, 2007, exclusively for the Playstation 3.

Links:
GameSpot
GameTrailers
Trailer #1
Trailer #2
Wikipedia
Insomniac Games

I like it. It'll take some getting used to. I'll have to get some new signatures, profile pictures, and now a page header made (Assuming the folks at the NewGrounds Sig Makers don't mind), and all that. Once the new help section is all set up, I'll have to get used to the new levels and images and that.

But I like it.