Video Game Reviews by Jeb Haught

DEVELOPER: Ubisoft

PUBLISHER: Ubisoft

SYSTEM: Sony PlayStation 3 (Xbox 360, PC)

PRICE: $59.99

ESRB RATING: Mature

REVIEW RATING: 4.0 stars (out of 5)

Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed" series has managed to impress fans of both stealth and action ever since its inception. While most third-person games excel at one or the other, this series combines sublime sneaking abilities with excellent swordplay and then adds a great storyline. Unfortunately, the fourth game in the series, "Assassin's Creed: Revelations," hasn't aged nearly as well as its main character.

Ezio Auditore returns as the main character, but it has been several years since the events that concluded his last outing. The brazen assassin has grown older and wiser, and now sports a salt-and-pepper beard that covers his wrinkly face. (I was half expecting him to dive right into a Dos Equis commercial!) Thankfully, his adventures take him to new stomping grounds, and after this adventure, Constantinople will never be the same.

Although the game starts off with a slow tutorial that follows Ezio as he escapes from the Templars, it quickly transforms into the familiar open-world game-play the series is known for. Sneaking in the shadows throughout the years seems to have had a negative affect on Ezio, because his kill animations are more bloodthirsty than ever!

New to the series is the hookblade, which lets Ezio latch onto overhangs and even slide on zip-lines. While this is a great addition to the series, it makes the enjoyable climbing ability take a backseat to quickly zipping around the city.

Also new is a variation of tower defense, called Den Defense, where Ezio must instruct his underlings to reinforce certain buildings, build barricades and hide on rooftops in order to stop Templar attacks on his property. Too bad the line of sight is so limited or else this would be a fun mini-game.

Thankfully, an excellent multiplayer component makes up for some of the shortcomings found in "Assassin's Creed: Revelations."

'Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest'

DEVELOPER: Zindagi Games

PUBLISHER: Sony

SYSTEM: Sony PlayStation 3

PRICE: $39.99 (PS Move required)

ESRB RATING: Everyone

REVIEW RATING: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

Created by the same company behind "Sports Champions" (which is still my favorite PS Move game), "Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest" combines several elements from the former title into a cohesive game.

Despite the similarities, though, "Medieval Moves" doesn't play like a series of mini-games strung together by a lackluster story.

Life can't get any better for adventurous prince Edmund — that is, until the nefarious sorcerer Morgrimm turns everyone in his kingdom into skeletons! As the only resident able to think for himself (thanks to a magical amulet), Edmund, the skeletal prince, who calls himself Deadmund, sets out to defeat the evil sorcerer and return the undead townsfolk to their former glory.

Although this game is full of action, players don't actually control how or where Deadmund walks. I suppose that's because it requires the PS Move controller, and it's difficult to combine the in-depth action with character movement on motion-based controllers, but it severely limits game play.

Thankfully, the action isn't so limited. Players can swing their swords in any direction and watch it happen on-screen while blocking incoming attacks with their off-hands. Although it can be challenging at first, these abilities quickly become intuitive. I also like the ability to whip out a bow and shoot enemies from afar using the same natural motion that real archers use. It's very satisfying to shoot enemies from long distance, especially when they fall from high ledges!

Eventually, alternative abilities become available that include flinging throwing stars and using a grappling hook. Throwing stars can be used more quickly than the bow for close- to medium-range enemies, and the grappling hook lets players reach otherwise unreachable areas. It's also fun to use.

"Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest" becomes repetitive in long play sessions, but it provides smooth controls and a great alternative to PS Move mini-game compilations.

REVIEW SCORING SYSTEM

5 stars = Must-Have

4 stars = Very Good

3 stars = Above Average

2 stars = Bargain Bin

1 star = Don't Bother

RATINGS KEY

Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

E: Everyone

E10-plus: (Everyone 10 and older)

T: Teen (13 and older)

M: Mature (17 and older)

To find out more about Jeb Haught and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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