This week in games: Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood slays critics

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Platforms: X360, PS3, PC

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

It seems like just last year we were sinking ourselves into the
rooftop-climbing, pope-punching world of stealthy medieval thriller
Assassin's Creed 2...and that's because it was just last year. In a remarkably quick turnaround, Brotherhood, the latest in the series, drops this week. While it's not exactly a sequel, it certainly carries on where 2 left off -- and it's gathering some stellar
reviews to boot.

Dishing out a rare perfect 10, Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell clearly loved the game. Calling it "one of the best games of 2010," he praises its execution of the oft-trodden open-world concept.

"Never before have we seen a game whose open world is so densely packed with
things to do while maintaining such high quality," Bramwell writes.
"Whatever your particular taste, you simply cannot run from one area to
another without encountering something else that you want to stop and
do."

The game's single-player story falls short of the previous game, says Games
Radar, but its sneaky multiplayer is good enough to turn in another glowing review. "You're tasked with assassinating another player, while some other player (or
players) is also hunting you," they describe -- and the "uniquely fun"
results come in for high praise from many outlets.

IGN's Cam Shea isn't quite as impressed as most, but still awards the game an 8/10. "The game doesn't advance the wider narrative very far," he says. "The new mechanics don't really add a great deal and the mission designs rarely explore new gameplay
possibilities."

According to review aggregation site Metacritic.com, however, the score's a sturdy 90%. That's pretty much identical to Assasin's Creed II's performance, but Brotherhood's handful of perfect scores from notoriously picky sites like Eurogamer and The Escapist
carry extra weight. If you were a fan of the last game -- and plenty of
you were -- go ahead and sneak this into your Christmas wish list.

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Also Available This Week:

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

Platforms: X360, PS3, PC

The long-running Need for Speed series goes back to its roots this year. In
development at Criterion, the studio responsible for the Burnout games,
Hot Pursuit depicts the eternal struggle between iconic, luxury sports
cars, and the Five-O, in glorious 3D.

Platforms: Yahoo! Games

This medical time-management game is a hit with critics. Step into the shoes
of Dr. Allison, and find out why as you explore its gripping,
emotionally involving storyline.

Download from Yahoo! Games

Platforms: X360, PS3, Wii, DS, PC, iPhone

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Boasting a more grown-up approach and many of the movie's stars,
EA's take on the Deathly Hallows (part one) launches this week, pitting
the wizard against Voldemort's minions in a third-person shooter. Look
alive, muggles.

Get More Game Details | Buy From Amazon

Platforms: X360, PS3, Wii

Well received by critics on the Wii earlier this year, reimagined classic
NBA Jam hits the PS3 and Xbox 360 this week. Boomshakalaka, indeed.

Platforms: X360, PS3, Wii

This high-tech spin on the exergaming trend bundles a wireless heart rate
sensor, so you can see just how effective your workout is proving.

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Platforms: Wii

There ain't no party like a Pac-Man party, because a Pac-Man party don't
stop. Actually, this Pac-Man-themed minigame-fest probably stops when
you turn off your Wii.

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Platforms: Wii

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