Action, M, $49.99
Available Oct. 9
Ubi Soft
Gameplay: Not unlike the movie Memento, the plot for XIII unravels slowly and with suspense. When you wake up on a New England beach, your head is bleeding, your memory is gone, XIII is tattooed on your chest and there's a key to a safe deposit box in your pocket. Soon, you discover that you're a trained assassin, able to kill anyone that gets in the way of solving the mystery of who you really are. Based on a long-running European graphic novel series, the game employs a cel-shaded, cartoon visual style while maintaining its ultra-violent, first-person perspective.
Bottom Line: Many holiday releases are trying to emulate the success of current hits, but XIII stands out from the pack. It's incredibly innovative--that should be worth something. --Jon M. Gibson