Fall video games: old favorites, new sequels

By Chris Bower
Tech Editor:

As fall rolls around, the video game designers start rolling out the new releases. Sequels to many favorites are in store.

The future is black. Or at least that’s what it says in the numerous “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” trailers .“Black Ops II” is the ninth game in the “Call of Duty” series and the third in the “Black Ops” line. It takes place in the future and as such, comes with new, futuristic weapons like sniper rifles with X-ray scopes and the quad-rotor MQ-27 Dragonfire Drone, seen in various “Black Ops II” trailers. It also introduces the choice element (choose what tact to take in missions), which is a first for the “Call of Duty” series. “Black Ops II” is available for pre-order in three versions. One is Standard, just the game plus downloadable map Nuketown 2025 (“Call of Duty” fans will know). The Hardened and Care Package versions are basically the same (one perk is Nuketown Zombies; Nuketown full of zombies). The only difference is that the Care Package comes with a remote control Dragonfire Drone. Standard is $59.99, Hardened is $79.99 and the Care Package is $179.99. Prices are the same for Xbox 360 and PS3. “Black Ops II” pre-order is available now and the game comes out on Nov. 13. Visit here for more information.

“Assassin’s Creed III” (these game developers love Roman numerals) is the fifth game in the “Assassin’s Creed” series and takes a similar, but different tact. In all of the “Assassin’s Creed” games, you play as Desmond Miles, a descendant of the Assassins. Miles uses a device called the Animus to live the memories of previous Assassins. These Assassins are the main characters Ezio and Altaïr. The prior games took place in Renaissance Europe. The main antagonists were the Knights Templar and they still have a role in “Assassin’s Creed III.” In the new game, Miles uses the Animus to relive another Assassin’s memories. The new Assassin is Connor, a Native American from the Mohawk tribe in Colonial America. That’s right, “Assassin’s Creed” is coming to the Revolutionary War. Lucky for us, Connor is on our side. “Assassin’s Creed III” is available for pre-order (with all sorts of goodies) now. Game alone is $59.99 and Limited Edition is $119.99. “Assassin’s Creed III” comes out Oct. 30. Visit here for more information.

“Borderlands 2” is the second game in the “Borderlands” series. The games take place on the planet Pandora (not the one from Avatar). The plot is that a large corporation abandons Pandora and leaves it to various people who want to strike it rich. They hope to do this by finding the Vault, which is fabled to be filled with alien weapons. Another, supposedly larger vault is said to be on Pandora, which attracts new “vault hunters.” The vault hunters are the playable characters in both “Borderlands” games. There are four characters in the first (which appear as non-playable characters in the second) and five in the second and they have different classes with different abilities. The more you play a class, the more you can upgrade that class’s abilities. “Borderlands 2” came out on Sept. 18 and there are three ways to buy. They are just the game ($59.99), the Deluxe Vault Hunter version ($99.99) and the Ultimate Loot Chest (around $300 on Amazon). Visit here for more information