Welcome to the Stick Skills weekly preview for October 31, 2011. According to my friends list on Xbox Live, it seems like just about everyone is enjoying some Battlefield 3.
A word to the wise though – and I found this out the hard way – the controls for parachuting seem to be changed from Bad Company 2. Instead of holding down the jump button in midair, players now have to double tap it in order to avoid splatting on the ground like a spec-ops raindrop. Don’t wait until you’re too close to the ground though because your parachute won’t be able to catch enough air, and most importantly, don’t listen to the guy who says it’s the power switch on your console or PC.
One individual who seems oblivious to the concept of altitude safety happens to be subject this week’s biggest release. Nathan Drake has hung from trains teetering on cliff tops, and can seemingly jump from multiple-story buildings and platforms all without even needing a band-aid, and I wouldn’t expect these feats of nature to let up when Uncharted 3 hits shelves this Tuesday for the Playstation 3.

The third entry in the acclaimed franchise will take Drake to the Arabian Peninsula in search of treasure in the lost city, the Iram of the Pillars. In addition to deciphering clues left behind by T.E. Lawrence, Drake crosses paths with the ruthless leader of a secret organization that also wants in on the goods. Not surprisingly, Uncharted 3 has received rave early reviews, and is looking like a must have for Playstation 3 owners.
Read further on for our complete list of game’s releasing this week.
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This Week’s New Video Game Releases:
Tuesday, November 1
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Lord of the Rings: War in the North (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
You didn’t think that in the massive LOTR universe, the only interesting happenings were those that involved the Fellowship, right? Neither did we. War in the North stays true to Tolkien’s Middle Earth lore, but follows the battle to defeat Sauron’s lieutenant, Agaundaur. Players will get to explore never before seen lands in northern Middle Earth, team up cooperatively, and customize their characters in this promising new RPG.
Cabela’s Survival: Shadows of Katmai (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
Motion Sports Adrenaline (Xbox Kinect, Playstation Move)
Batman: Arkham City Nightwing Bundle Pack (DLC for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC)
Just two weeks after the launch of Batman: Arkham City, the game is getting it’s first downloadable content pack. Players can now play as Nightwing for the game’s challenge maps, two of which are the pack also adds to the game: Wayne Manor, and Wayne Hall. It’s definitely worth a look for those who have devoted themselves to justice.
NCIS (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii)
It’s everything you love about NCIS…in a video game! Wait a second, what do people love about NCIS? My 60-year old neighbor lady has a thing for Mark Harmon, but I’m not sure it’s that kind of game. Looks like we’ll have to wait for the reviews, which, with all do respect probably won’t take the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to decipher.
NASCAR Unleashed (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii)
Sonic Generations (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
Goldeneye 007: Reloaded (Xbox 360, Playstation 3)
Goldeneye 007: Reloaded is Activision’s latest attempt to put an HD shine on the classic game that was a true benchmark for multiplayer first-person shooters back in 1997. It’s also an update on the 2010 Wii title, Goldeneye 007, which was met with mostly positive reviews. The game features a brand new engine and 16-player online multiplayer. For those who still have fond memories of marathon splitscreen sessions on the Nintendo 64, it should certainly make for a tantalizing new “View to Kill.”