Watch Dogs - ctOS: Threat Monitoring Report Trailer

Hacker's delight

 

If this is where gaming is headed, then get me on board. Watch Dogs is a alternate universe Chicago where the Northeast blackout of 2003 is blamed on a hacker, prompting the development of ctOS, or Central Operating System. The system is a giant supercomputer that controls almost every piece of technology in the city where it operates. The game's anti-hero, Aiden Pearce, is followed by ctOS in this trailer while he takes down a mugger using a combination hacking skills, free running, and bullets. 

One thing about Watch Dogs, and other next-gen trailers for that matter, is how normally everything seems to function. You feel like you're truly in a city with this surveillance system, watching Pearce smoothly navigate through it without one hiccup. It's these technological advances that will take storytelling to the next level on the new generation of consoles. Hopefully Watch Dogs will be the first in a long line of new classics to come. 

Watch Dogs

PS3/PS4/PC/Wii U/Xbox 360

Release: Winter 2013

Publisher: Guillemont International

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft Reflections

  

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Gameplay Reveal Trailer

Argh matey

I was actually waiting for a Captain Jack Sparrow cameo in this trailer. I'm apprehensive to get really excited about Black Flag because we all did the same thing with AC3 and most of us were really disappointed by the end result. So yes, the pirate ship warfare, different gorgeous cities and the opportunity to explore ancient jungle ruins looks awesome. Hopefully it will come without the gameplay frustrations and poorly crafted missions that have plagued Assassin's Creed throughout its existence. Here's to hoping!

By the way, I didn't think Ubisoft could create kill animations that were more brutal than AC3, but damn I was wrong. There are going to be some cringe-worthy kills in this game, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
PC/PS3/PS4/Wii U/Xbox 360
Release: October 28, 2013
Publisher: Guillemont International Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Assassin's Creed 3: The Tyranny of King Washington - "The Betrayal" Debut Trailer

Man, that is a mouthful

So here's the thing that confuses me about what Assassin's Creed is doing. You have this amazing opportunity with the time period and a pretty intriguing alternate reality where George Washington takes over America as his own little monarchy. Why in the world would you suddenly be turning your main character into someone with mystical powers that turn him into an invisible eagle? Assassin's Creed is about being a human assassin... not a half eagle ghost. Call me narrow minded, but I feel like they could have done way better with this.

Anyhow, it will be interesting to see how this series continues to play out, and I am glad to see Ben Franklin getting a bit more play within the game. If you're a fan of the series, there's no reason to not extend the experience.

Assassin's Creed: The Tyranny of King Washing - The Betrayal 
PS3/Xbox 360/PC/Wii U
Release: Out now!
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal