Assassin’s Creed Revelations brings to a close the saga of Ezio Auditore da Firenze after three Assassin’s Creed games featuring him as the lead character. To celebrate the end of this chapter in the Assassin’s Creed chronicles, Ubisoft have released a special version of their new game, the Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition.

For me Assassin’s Creed Revelations marks the end of a barrage of triple A titles that started with Deus Ex: Human Revolution way back at the end of August. Since then we’ve been treated to the likes of Dead Island, Gears of War 3, Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3, Skyrim and loads of other fantastic titles.

I’d reviewed the last two Assassin’s Creed games for Game Console back when they were released. I was even fortunate enough to be flown over to Oz for a face-to-face with Assassin’s Creed II‘s creative director, Patrice Désilets. My intension for the fourth game in the series, Assassin’s Creed Revelations, was to simply play though the game at a leisurely pace rather than actually review the game. The best laid plans and all that; as it happens, I’m actually going for the Assassin’s Creed review hat-trick. Look out for my Assassin’s Creed Revelations review on techday.com in the next week or so. Continue reading Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition unboxing →

I picked up a copy of the rare The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Collector’s Edition on the game’s New Zealand launch day. The box was as big a a house and whilst I unpacked I took some photos to share on stateofplay.co.nz.

I’m a big fan of The Elder Scrolls series, well,  Morrowind and Oblivion at least. I notched up over 160 hours playing Oblivion, but never finished the main quest line. Instead, I did what the box told me to do, life another life in another world.

I wandered, explored, fought and quested across the Province of Cyrodil, and loved every minute of it. The Oblivion Collector’s Edition was the first game that I bought for my Xbox 360 on the console’s launch night and I consider it to be the best game that I’ve played on the Xbox 360. Continue reading Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Collector’s Edition unboxing →

Like most dedicated gamers, I’m currently playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3. What’s interesting is the lack of negative press regarding the violent nature of the game. Where are usual calls from modern-day lynch-mobs for the game to be banned? Are we finally seeing an acceptance from the general populous that games can be exclusively made for, and played by, a mature audence…or is it the fact that the penny hasn’t dropped yet?

A couple of years ago, after the release of Modern Warfare 2, elements of the New Zealand press launched a mis-guided assault on video game violence which really pressed my buttons. Continue reading Retrospective: Vic B’Stard’s State of Play talks video game violence and MW2 →

Whilst I loved Batman: Arkham Asylum, I wasn’t too impressed with the collector’s edition of the game. Warner Interactive seems to have done things a little better this time for the Batman: Arkham City Collector’s Edition.

I reviewed Batman: Arkham Asylum way back for Game Console with the code so fresh that it needed a debug console to play (I’ve re-posted the review here) which meant I was left without a copy of my own. Having played though the game already, I was buggered if I was going to pay full price for the privaledge of a replay. I did end up getting Arkham Asylum on PC via a Steam sale. Later, I picked up a copy of the Batman: Arkham Asylum Collector’s Edition cheap from Mighty Ape (which, as mentioned above, I was less than impressed with). Continue reading Batman: Arkham City Collector’s Edition unboxing →

Whilst gleefully sampling the delights of Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3, I almost forgot about Assassin’s Creed Revelations launching next week.

My friends at Ubisoft NZ have sent me a trailer highlighting Ezio’s final chapter, as he ventures into the exotic city of Constantinople, and I though I’d share it with you. Continue reading Assassin’s Creed Revelations – Life in Constantinople trailer →