When it comes to video game adaptations of graphic novel material, the industry has not necessarily been so kind. So it was with great surprise that The Darkness managed to make such a forthcoming and immediate presence within gamers minds, and the Xbox 360's early years. No one expected it to be good based on its origins and yet somehow they made it work and did so with panache and vigor. Flash forward to the year 2012 and here we are with the inevitable sequel: The Darkness 2. Expectations for the game have been raised high based on its predecessor's success, but will it live up to the hype or crash and burn? Is The Darkness 2 a worthy sequel or a pale shadow of its former self?

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If you've been following the Soul Calibur series for some time now, it will come as no surprise that another installment in the franchise has arrived courtesy of developers Project Soul. Being a more accessible fighting game than others in the genre means that Soul Calibur has always had its own intuitive gameplay that manages to be simultaneously easy to learn, yet difficult to master. But has Soul Calibur's fire been extinguished or does the soul still burn?

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So now that all the biggest and best games of 2011 have been released you might be wondering what else could possibly come next? As it turns out the remake of the original Halo is out (now renamed Halo Anniversary) and it has carefully snuck into this month's collection of AAA titles. Now the original Halo is considered by many to be the title that helped define the legitimacy of first-person shooters on consoles so its no surprise that this remake is greatly coveted by Xbox fans worldwide. But is this merely an HD update or have 343 Industries given us our first glimpse at a 'true' HD remake?

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Assassins Creed Revelations is Ubisoft’s second annual release in the series, and the last one to feature Altair and Ezio as part of the main stories overarching plot. The game promises that all the questions you’ve had about the series to date will be answered in one form or another. That you’ll feel a sense of closure after having beaten the game, and that you’ll be ready for the final entry in the series next year. Did Ubisoft answer these questions and provide the proper ending to two of the most beloved characters in recent history? Or has Ubisoft managed to make too many concessions in their effort to untangle the convoluted plot of the series?

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The most anticipated game of the year is finally here and the Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim looks to be every bit as good as its progenitor. Bethesda has been working on the game for about six years now and the fruits of their labour are now ready to be experienced by gamers everywhere. However one lingering question remains. Will Skyrim be the role-playing game of not just this year, but the entire generation, or is this fantasy-epic destined to merely play the role of game of the year? Is this the definitive western RPG experience or does it play second fiddle to all those that came before it?

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Activision's juggernaut Call of Duty franchise has always been synonymous with FPS's, thanks to its fun and addictive multiplayer that always excites fans all around the world. This final entry in the 'Modern Warfare' trilogy has been hyped throughout the year as the biggest and best Call of Duty to date. With an electrifying campaign and chaotic multiplayer Modern Warfare 3 hopes to retain its title as champion of the first-person shooter genre of gaming. But does Modern Warfare 3 have enough to offer this time around or is the series growing stale with age?

                 

So it has begun; Dice and EA's juggernaut first-person shooter Battlefield 3 has been released. Eager and willing to dethrone the nearly invincible Call of Duty franchise, Battlefield 3 aims to define the battlefield of tomorrow using the most advanced technology possible and the largest battles ever seen in a video game. But is Battlefield 3 just another pretender to the throne or is it the real deal?

                 

Batman: Arkham City is the sequel to 2009's terrific reinvention of the super hero genre of gaming, Arkham Asylum. The developers Rocksteady Studios have proven that they understand what it takes to make a memorable game, but have they managed to enhance and refine their previous experience this time? Will they be able to beat the sophomoric slump that has commonly afflicted most sequels on the market?