November Videogame Update

If the games above are the entrée choices on this month’s menu, you may want to save a little room for dessert.

• Saints Row: The Third – Those still desperate for the long-awaited GTA V—whose trailer is debuting tomorrow—might be able to tide themselves over with this similar sandbox ‘you are the criminal’ adventure. This third iteration sees the Third Street Saints gang become icons, with product endorsements and stores to match. But finding themselves losing control of their base of Stilwater following a botched bank robbery, they have to claw their way to dominance and take back the city that was once theirs to control. Doing so will require working for and against other gangs in the game in main and side quests, and how you develop relations will affect missions offered and the ultimate ending. Unlike the previous titles, there is no competitive multiplayer, as developer Volition focused solely on a strong story campaign. (available November 15 from THQ for 360 and PS3; rated M)
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 – A popular off-shoot of the Street Fighter series has been this fantasy 2D brawler pitting both heroes and villains from the Marvel comics and Capcom gaming universes against each other to crown a champion. This iteration features 25 characters from each side, each ready to prove they’re the best. Marvel stalwarts Spider-Man, Thor, and Doctor Doom are back, as are Capcom’s Ryu, Albert Wesker, and Mike Haggar. There are also some great additions to the rosters: Marvel’s gains include Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, and Hawkeye; Capcom gets Phoenix Wright, Frank West, and Nemesis. (available November 15 from Capcom for 360 and PS3; T)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword – It’s almost hard to believe the Legend of Zelda series is over 25 years old, and while this is the latest title, it’s actually set prior to the events of 1998’s Ocarina of Time. Here, Link lives on an island chain above the clouds, but when he discovers the titular sword, knowledge that there’s land below the clouds is revealed and he sets out to learn we they were ever separated. The game takes advantage of MotionPlus technology, giving greater control to swordplay and archery, and is available as a bundle with the RemotePlus. Enhancements to make this Zelda game more user-friendly include a more easily understood map and the option to turn off the HUD to show more of the screen. Despite being three weeks away, early reviews are coming in and are already hinting toward ‘Best Game yet for the Wii’. (available November 20 from Nintendo exclusively for Wii; rated E10+)
• Super Mario 3D Land – Mario, now in his 30th year since debuting in Donkey Kong, makes the jump to three dimensional visuals with his latest family-friendly title. Given the well-publicized sales woes of the 3DS, his arrival may be just in time. If you’ve ever played a Mario title, you know what to expect: bright colors, lots of hidden secrets, and plenty of power-ups. The levels will be big—think ‘big enough some levels have binocular set-ups to scan the area’ big. The designers have said that the game takes the best of 2D platforming and open world 3D roaming from the franchise and blends them together. And if you’ve guessed the plot of game revolves around Mario rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser, give yourself a gold (invincibility) star! (available November 13 from Nintendo exclusively for 3DS; rated E)
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 – PSP and Wii owners finally get a taste of the soccer game that debuted for 360 and PS3 over a month ago. This game makes no massive overhauls over the 2011 edition, but still offers a large number of important tweaks to make taking to the pitch a more real-to-life experience. Goalkeeping will be better than before, and secondary players can be controlled, allowing you to control a player you’d like to pass to in advance of the pass occurring. Conversely, expect smarter defense from the AI when playing solo. Several European leagues are fully licensed (Ligue 1, La Liga, Evedivisie), while some other teams (such as Manchester United) are licensed on a piecemeal basis. Add for the first time, a Club Boss mode will be available—allowing control of several aspects of team ownership—joining the League and Become a Legend modes into a wrapped up package named “Football Life”. (available now from Konami for 360 and PS3, November 8 for Wii and PSP, and later for 3DS; rated E)

Jeff is currently playing Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception; follow him on Twitter at JKLugar.