Past Weeks Big News

Hello all! Sorry our news is two days late but that's just because we have been busy with the Holiday Gamer Gift Guide (which you should check out) and due to the fact that this week had some huge trailer releases because of Spike's VGA's. Now enough with the stalling and lets get straight to it.

Naughty Dog showed off their new IP called "The Last of Us" showing off stunning visuals, interesting characters and an apocalyptic setting. All of this is definitely worth checking out in the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLGxubfC1Ik

Epic Games also showed off a new IP named "Fortnite", a Minecraft inspired game that blends cartoonish graphics with crafting and survival gameplay. Check out the trailer here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GSfjeYVpkQ

Lego: Batman is getting a sequel! Boxart in a new Lego set showed off work from the game including the title. The title is Lego Batman 2 DC Superheros and features the likes of more than just Batman but other DC characters such as Superman. No trailer has been posted.

Elder Scrolls V Skyrim is already getting DLC as Bethesda announced that the DLC will feature massive content that should keep the players occupied for a long time. Also it's good to point out that the first 2 DLC packs will be exclusive to Xbox Live users 30 days before PS3 owners.

Men in Black 3 received its first official trailer and it doesn't look all that impressive. NNandMR is sceptical but we'll let you be the judge of that by visiting the trailer here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLHTASPjQMo

In the spirit of unimpressive trailers G.I. Joe 2 Retaliation also came out with it's first trailer and looks as bad as the first. All action and no story, but if that's your thing check it out here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTrIVfnTi8Q&feature=related

And that's about it for this weeks big news guys! We thank you for tuning in every week to check out what's new and as always if you have anything you want us to check out/review either comment the blog or tweet us on Twitter @NNandMR

Holiday Gamer Gift Guide

Hello all! Welcome to New News and Movie Reviews' Holiday Gamer Gift Guide! This time of year can be hard for parents and others who don't know what to get people really good gifts so NNandMR is here to help! We've created a guide that will help you find that fantastic gift no matter who the person is!

We start for the person that has either an Xbox 360 or a PS3 because we were graced with many many good 3rd party games. Elder Scrolls V Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City, CoD Modern Warfare 3, Dark Souls, Battlefield 3,  LA Noire, Portal 2, Saints Row The Third, Assassins Creed Revelations and Metal Gear Solid HD Collection.

For viewers that only have an Xbox 360, here's some exclusives that they are sure to be happy with, Gears of War 3, Forza Motorsports 3, Halo Combat Evolved and The Gunstringer (only on Kinect)

The PS3 had a very good year as it also received many exclusives that are worth checking out, Uncharted 3, Killzone 3, Resistance 3, Infamous 2 and Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One. Great job this year Sony.

Unfortunately the Wii didn't receive the same treatment as the other consoles because this year was a big let down with Nintendo. The only game I can actually recommend to someone would have to be The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword. Better luck next year.

Sports fans don't feel left out! There were a ton of great sports games this year like NHL 12, NBA 2K11, WWE 12, and Fifa 12. These are sure to put a smile on your face.

For parents that don't want to get their kids violent games, we have also come up with some great kids games such as Rayman Origins (All systems), Kirby's Return to Dreamland (Wii), Mario Kart 7 (3DS), Super Mario Land 3D (3DS), and Sesame Street's Once Upon a Monster (only on Kinect).

So there we go! Our finest picks for all too share. Hope it helps people get great gifts this year and as always, stay tuned to New News and Movie reviews in the next few months. January is going to be a big month for us because we have been holding a lot of reviews till after the holidays. Happy holidays to all!

Past Weeks Big News

Hey all, first of all NNandMR would like to sincerely apologize for our lack of posts this week. This is because of our main and only writer having phone issues (which he writes on), so it is hard to get our major content out. Were hoping to resolve this issue soon. Also, because of the lack of content from the past week, New News and Movie Reviews has decided to post our Holiday Gift Guide this week so stay tuned! Now onto the news.

Disney's new movie John Carter received a new trailer this week, showing off powerful and impressive CGI. John Carter looks like it's going to win audiences around the world when it releases March 9th. To view the trailer click the link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlvYKl1fjBI

Reports have been coming in about the latest Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim patch claiming to make the game run even worse than before. Bethesda has said that it involves corruption issues that were leaked and are working on a solution to this problem. NNandMR recommends anyone that doesn't have the patch to not download it as it can corrupt save files.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 is getting a huge new Dashboard update that will bring a fresh new look, upgraded Kinect support, Hulu Plus and ESPN to American customers, and search technology with Bing Microsoft's search engine. The upgrade will hit Xbox Live on December 6th. Microsoft also plans to add a ton of new features with 3rd party developers coming in later December.

Epic Games, the studio behind Gears of War and the Unreal franchise, is planning to show off a brand new game at this years Spike VGA's. Epic has stated that it will be an entirely new IP and like nothing we have seen before.

Game of Thrones is finally being put to Blu-Ray/DVD. HBO has revealed that the set will come out on March 6th 2012  and will cost 79.98 for Blu-Ray and 59.99 for DVD.

Well, that's it for this weeks new news. For all your movie/tv/videogame info make sure you subscribe to us on Twitter @NNandMR and remember about out Holiday Gift Guide coming this week!

First Impression: The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

When The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was first shown off at last year's E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) the motion controls completely didn't work and everyone (including me) was sceptical about the art style and design. As the game came closer and closer to the release date my excitement grew. Every trailer or preview showed of something new to the Zelda franchise and to motion control in general. The game is now here and after playing with it for a couple of hours I am very happy with what Nintendo put together.
If I were to describe Skyward Sword I would say it's a mix of Ocarina meets Windwaker meets A Link to the Past. Yes I know that sounds crazy, but Nintendo has carefully crafted another fine Zelda game that (so far) can hold up it's weight with the best of the series. The art style is brilliant and something to be wondered at. The first time you see Skyloft you will be amazed at what the Wii actually produced. All enemies, items, chests, trees, boulders, hell everything works with it! This is by far the best looking game on the Wii.
At first I stumbled to grasp the controls, as they are different from Twilight Princess, but after no more than 10 minutes I was sword swiping, dodging, and manoeuvring like a pro. The new stamina meter is a great addition, making Link more agile and fluid but contained as you only have a limited amount. The full sword control works just as Nintendo promised and it makes each enemy different and more challenging than previous instalments. I will say that the item/equipment menu systems are a bit confusing and the camera does feel a little loose but that's usually the case in the beginning of every Zelda. It's safe to say that the folks at Nintendo are the kings of motion control.
It's weird to say but one of my favourite parts (so far) of the game is the music. Every area has some new song to offer and when you find yourself in a fight the music will also change. It is a small addition but it makes a big difference and had me very excited, especially when your going toe to toe against a boss or mini boss. I'm really excited to hear what the later levels are going to bring because if they are like any of the tracks I heard, there is no doubt in my mind that I will be happy. This is the best Zelda soundtrack to date.
With so much content packed into this game it is hard to choose what to talk about. The game developers added many tweaks to the Zelda franchise like upgrading weapons and items, riding a big bird instead of Epona, aiming is now different thanks to WiiMotion Plus, and how you get around the games landscape is faster and easier than all other Zeldas. Even how you progress through temples/dungeons feels different, but it is a good different as the game is now less linear than previous Zelda games. All these tweaks are a nice welcome addition to the franchise and I hope to discover more of them when I fully play through the game. 
So what's the First Impression? The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword is not only one of the most intriguing Zelda games, but one of the most intriguing action/adventure games of all time. The more you play the game the more you don't want to stop. It was hard to pry my hands away from the controllers and it has now become the game I am most looking forward to this holiday season.

Past Weeks Big News

Hey guys! It was a big week for the entertainment industry and especially for TV. The Walking Dead had its mid season finale, Dexter had another fantastic episode and Hell on Wheels keeps producing quality episode after quality episode. On the movie end, The Muppets reboot came out (our review is also out) and so did Hugo, Martin Scorsese's latest film. We hope to have a review of it in the coming weeks.

It was also a big week for Nintendo as The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword became the fastest selling Zelda game of all time. The Black Friday sales has boosted the game to the top of the series. The Wii and Nintendo 3DS also received excellent sales numbers from the Black Friday sales so kudos to them.

The "Mad Max" movies are receiving another trilogy. Director and writer George Miller has stated that while writing the upcoming 4th movie "Fury Road" they developed a second story, and a third. Tom Hardy is rumoured to play Max, and Charlize Theron is set to play the female lead.

The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim has received a patch soon to help PS3 players cope with freezing issues. Many gamers have said that while loading previous save files or backing up saved files the game has a tendency to freeze causing some loss of data. The patch will also fix other minor bugs and help the game to run more smoothly.

NNandMR would also like to say sorry for the lack of posts this week. With all the new things coming out, it has been hard to keep schedule with all our shows. We will post our Walking Dead review either Tuesday or Wednesday, and we will also have an overall post about our thoughts on this half of season 2. That's it for the past weeks big news guys! As always, if you have any Movie/TvShow/Videogame you would like us to check out give us a comment or contact us on Twitter at @NNandMR

The Walking Dead Ep 6 Review

Another week, another mediocre Walking Dead. This weeks episode "Secrets" was one of the better ones this season but still yet again does not compare to season one. Yes guys, I know, I'm repeating myself but this is an issue and it must be discussed but I will save the whole rant for the mid-season finale. Now onto the review.
"Secrets" felt different from most eps this season as it had subtle changes that made me actually enjoy this episode. We start off with Carl (who is now on his feet from his surgery) stealing one of the guns the crew has. He gets caught causing Lori to get into a fuss. Looks like it's time for some gun training but not for just Carl, but for the whole group. The scene was cool and showed off some nice camera angles but ended too short. Andrea appears to be the quickest learner as Shane thinks she is ready for the advance lesson.
Those lessons are cut short as Shane mentions Amy (Andrea's sister). This insults Andrea and makes her storm off. Shane apologizes and asks her to join him on the hunt for Sophia. She says yes and they are off to a nearby housing complex. This was my favourite part of the episode, they get overrun by zombies and Andrea finds her zen in all the chaos. Headshot after headshot, this was a cool scene that reminisced of season 1. Good job. Also on the way home a little bond forms between Shane and Andrea. We then get our second sex scene of the series but don't expect anything too graphic as we are left to imagine the rest of it (sorry guys its TV).
Back on the camp, Glenn and Maggie go for another run into town to get medical supplies (morning after pills) for Lori. This also gets interrupted by a zombie (yeah guys TWO zombie scenes) and has Glenn beating the everloving crap out of it. When they arrive back at camp Maggie freaks on Lori for asking them to go get medical supplies and leaves in complete rage. When Glenn confronts Maggie she says she doesn't want him (Glenn) to turn out like the others in the group. She kisses him passionately then leaves Glenn with a very confused look on his face. At first when she does get the morning after pills from Glenn she takes them, but then she runs to the field and forces herself to throw them up. Sarah Wayne Callies' acting was fantastic this week and she has become one of my favourite female actors on TV. Rick walks into his tent and notices the pill box and runs off to find Lori. He finds her and this leads to a very strong scene from both Andrew Lincon and Sarah Wayne Callies. The emotion and passion they both drew makes me totally believe in their marriage. Well done to both. Rick learns about the pregnancy and how Lori and Shane slept together, words are exchanged and cut to credits.
I'm not really sure what to say when it comes to this weeks Walking Dead. We did get two cool zombie scenes (makeup teams definitely deserve awards this season), and we did get brutality and headshots, but the story still hasn't progressed in any major way giving us a lot of filler and unnecessary content. It's times like this when I wished AMC stuck to the story of the graphic novels. I did enjoy Andrea (Laurie Holden) and Dale (Jeffery DeMunn) this episode, usually I can't stand either, but the writers found a nice groove of making them different. From Andrea taking down a horde of zombies to Dale trying to tell off Shane, the characters are progressing. That's what this first half of this season essentially is.
We have Rick learning that sometimes he has to make hard decisions, Daryl becoming more caring and likeable, Shane becoming a huge asshole, Andrea becoming almost fearless, and Lori having the revelation with her pregnancy. It is quite dull compared to last season but you can't say AMC isn't trying. That's why I keep giving the show good ratings, because compared to other TV shows The Walking Dead can still deliver quality content and it still is one of the best and original shows on nowadays . That is why this weeks episode "Secrets" was enjoyable, but be warned, my expectations are set high on next weeks finale.
8.6/10

The Muppets Movie Review

It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight! The Muppets are back and their return to the big screen is nothing but magical for fans young and old.
The story follows two brothers Gary (Jason Segel) and Walter(Peter Linz). The boys come from a small town (ironically named Smalltown) where they live a happy normal life. All that changes when they take a trip to LA with Gary's girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) where they find out that Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), a wealthy oil tycoon, wants to tear down The Muppets Theater and turn the site into an oil rig. OH NO! They find Kermit and inform him of the evil scheme and it's up to them to reunite the old gang and put on one last show to raise the money to buy the theater back themselves! 
So what does one get when you have James Bobin (writer/director of Flight of the Conchords) as a director, and Jason Segel and Nicholas Stroller (writers of Get Him to the Greek), topped off with The Muppets? A surprisingly funny and fresh take on a fan favorite. I was skeptical at first when I saw the cast and crew being filled up with R-rated comedy stars but not even 5 minuets into the movie, a smile was put on my face and it never left.
Jason Segel put dedication and hard work into reviving the Muppets and it all pays off as this has become one of my favorite family movies of the year. Catchy songs, cheesy Fozzie jokes, simple plot, great acting, heartwarming moments and charm. The movie is full of it and it felt great to see the whole gang back together. From Gonzo to Rat to Kermit to Animal, they're all here and just as you remember them. Jason Segel is fantastic nailing each and every scene being hilarious as always but also able to provide tear jerkers in other scenes. Amy Adams is simply charming although her character seems to get dropped during the third act. Chris Cooper was fine but felt like he overacted in many parts.
The story was fantastic and felt just like the old Muppet movies, Segel really did the series justice. The movie has charm and will have you cracking up often. It's quite funny to see the Muppets poking fun at the movie, I got a kick when Fozzie said "Wow, that was such an expensive looking explosion! I can't believe we had that in the budget". The songs are catchy as I said previous but they also can draw laughs from the audience. Usually every singing movie has one song that is just too cheery or is just overkill but The Muppets doesn't take itself seriously and uses it to it's advantage, Gary "I got you flowers, ooh, sorry they got damaged in that last dance number". The pacing is spot on and there isn't a moment when the story feels like it's dragging on. The film is just done really well.
As for complaints with the movie, I don't really have any. I did find the audio not syncing with the lips during two songs, Chris Cooper could have done a better job as the main villain, the Kermit/Mrs.Piggy subplot lacked some information that might confuse younger viewers, and there were a few jokes that felt out of place considering this is a kids movie at heart.
Overall if you have to go take your kids to go see a movie make it this one. The Muppets is one of those movies that has something that can appeal to audiences of all ages. Muppet fan or not it's well worth the watch as it was crafted with heart and care for the original material. 
9.0/10

30 Minutes or Less Movie Review

Hey guys! It's time for NNandMR's first official movie review. With all the good shows and video games that have been coming out it has been hard to find the time to review a movie that I wanted to see. Well I finally found one and with it coming to Blu-ray and DVD on November 29th it just seemed like the perfect time.
When I saw the trailer for 30 Minutes or Less I thought it looked pretty funny. Just another harmless comedy that would give you a few laughs and not be anything special. I just gave the whole film a watch and I rather enjoyed what I saw so here's the review.
30 Minutes or Less stars Jessie Eisenberg as our pizzaboy protagonist Nick. An average guy just working a crappy minimum wage job. As you can probably tell his life isn't that exciting, but all this changes when he is kidnapped and wakes up with a bomb strapped to his chest. He is told by Dwane and Travis (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) that he has 10 hours to bring them 100,000$ or they will explode the bomb and the movie is off!
I figured I was going to like the movie when I saw actors like Danny McBride and Aziz Ansari in the trailers but I wasn't expecting to like it this much. It really took me by surprise. Raunchy humor, sex jokes,and foul language, it's all here. But the good thing about the movie is that they're all done well. Nick Swardson and Danny McBride are hilarious together and there were only a couple of scenes that didn't have me chuckle at least once. Danny McBride does feel like he always plays the same character in every movie, but it seems to work in his advantage here as he plays the character quite well. It also helps that he has Nick Swardson beside him. I've always enjoyed Nick's humor (haven't seen Bucky Larson yet) and love his stand-up comedy so it was great to see him paired with McBride. They work well together and both do a good job in the movie.
Our other duo shown off is Aziz and Jessie. Aziz is also someone I usually find funny in a movie and he doesn't disappoint here. He plays the best friend Chet well although his acting is sometimes off in scenes and he can ramble on in a joke but he can still provide a laugh which is all I was looking for. Jessie Eisenberg is very good in this movie, when he has the bomb strapped to his chest he genuinely looks scared, he can show emotion well. The thing that surprised me in this movie is how funny he can actually be. Yes he was good in Zombieland but other than that he is usually the same neurotic nervous loser. 30 Minutes or Less gives him a chance to be funny and it shows. Jessie and Aziz have great chemistry together and make a great duo. Good job on that casting call.
Although the main actors are good most of the side characters are just unappealing. The love interest Kate (Dilshad Vadsaria) is alright in the acting department but her character just feels so underused. Same goes for all the other side characters. You get meh acting and characters that you will grow no attachment for but its fine as there not really in the movie a whole lot.
So what do you usually look for in a B-list comedy. A few laughs, weak story, crappy acting, and most highlight jokes that were given off in the trailer right? Well 30 Minutes or Less is one of those movies just done with more polish. You will find a lot of laughs, the story is more developed than you think but still has holes and is predictable at points, solid acting from the main characters but weak from the others, and an overall feeling of just having fun. If you go into this movie with normal expectations you will enjoy it. If you go in with a sour mood or with high hopes expect to be bored. It's a good time and is at least worth the rent to watch with friends.
7.8/10

First Impression: Doctor Who

"Who are you?" "I'm The Doctor". After a week of watching I have grown to love those simple six words. This week's First Impression is Doctor Who and god damn what an impression it left.


Doctor Who was a 1960's British television series that was famous for its ground-breaking science fiction and originality. It was canned in 1989 as the views started to slow down disappointing many people but in 2005 BBC decided to bring it back and since then it has gained a very large and die hard fanbase. Many many people have been telling me to watch it but I never had the time to get into it and the show just seemed weird to me. I never saw the original so I didn't think I would be interested in this one. This was a big mistake as after watching a bunch episodes I cannot stop.


The show follows "The Doctor" a time lord who has the means and will to go wherever and whenever he pleases in time and space. This plot gives the story endless amounts of possibilities and makes every episode new, exciting and a joy to watch. Remember when I say wherever and whenever I really do mean it! From Charles Dickens to the first people on Mars to the end of the world, The Doctor goes as he pleases visiting anyone he wants.


Most shows I watch nowadays do take a while to get into but not Doctor Who. After the first episode I was deeply intrigued by the strong protagonist and wanted to learn more and more about him. I honestly haven't seen anything like it! The die hard fans are right and I can see why they love it. With all the stuff I have to watch/play for NNandMR I find myself wanting to skip it all so I can dive deeper into the universe of Doctor Who. It really is a thing of wonder. The writing is cool and snappy and most episodes do have different writers giving more strength to that "fresh" feeling I was talking about. The Doctor has a great sense of humour to him and reacts really well with all the characters he encounters. He's kind and lovable, if your not charmed by him you have no heart. Side characters are all quirky and witty in their own way but aren't nearly as cool compared to The Doctor.


I don't really have to much to complain about either. I would say that some characters get drafted to the side because The Doctor is so awesome but I can't get mad at someone for creating a fantastic character. Some CGI looks a little weak for the time and some of the side characters have very cheesy acting, but if you look past those minor problems you will find a deep and enriching storyline like nothing you have ever seen. Seriously check it out.


So what's the First Impression? Doctor Who is an incredible scifi series that impressed me to the point that it was overwhelming. I can't say too much because I have barley scratched the surface of this beauty, but lord knows I cannot wait to fully experience all The Doctor has to offer.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Ep 5 Review

As you all know I haven't really been a fan of this season of The Walking Dead. It has been full of slow story development and just plain boring content compared to last seasons action packed epic. I have explained why this is in previous reviews but honestly, I feel like I'm just making excuses for it now.
This weeks episode "Chupacabra" was better than most episodes this season but still lacked the action and suspense that made me attached to the show in the first place. I really hope that AMC can somehow step up the pacing now that we enter the second half of the season. Enough with that tho, onto the review.
This episode starts off with a flashback bringing us to Shane, Lori and Carl, before the initial takeover of the zombies. It also shows how they met up with Carol, Sophia and Ed who was still an asshole even before the apocalypse. We are shown a scene where the government is dropping napalms down on a city while Shane and Lori watch in horror. I would like to see more flashbacks that show the characters fleeing from their hometown and seeing zombies for the first time, but this was nice as well.
Back to the farm where the gang continues the hunt for the still missing Sophia. They split up into groups to cover more ground and they're off. Rick and Shane pair up together and have a nice little scene in the woods together, it gave us more info on their back stories and it also shows us the differences between the two. Rick is a good leader but lacks the discipline to make the hard decisions for the group, something that Shane is willing to do (killing Otis to save Carl).
Now onto Daryl, whom most of this episode focus' around. Daryl takes one of Hershel's horses so that he can go to the top of the mountain ridge to get a birds eye view of the ground, this gets interrupted as the horse gets scared by a snake and sends Daryl tumbling down the side of the mountain leaving him with an arrow through his side and stranded at the bottom. When he tries to climb back up he falls yet again injuring him further. It seems like all the falls gets to Daryl's head as he starts to hallucinate that his brother Merle is with him. They have a very weird heart to heart that ends with Merle's hallucination being a walker. Daryl soon wakes up and goes straight to zombie killing. This scene was very cool because it shows us how tough Daryl actually is and the lengths he will go to to survive. He makes an ear necklace from the walkers he killed and its back to climbing where Merle returns to antagonize Daryl yet again. This brings Daryl to a state of rage which does lead to him making it to the top.
When Rick returns to the camp he gets in trouble with Hershel. It seems that Daryl never asked to borrow a horse and Jimmy (one of Hershel's men) never asked for Hershel's permission to join the hunt for Sophia. In my opinion it looks like the writers are just trying to find ways for Hershel to kick Ricks group out so the story can progress. The only problem with this is that the group isn't going to go anywhere until they find Sophia, this is the main thing holding the whole story back from getting anywhere.
When Daryl returns to the camp Andrea mistakes him for a walker and shoots at him, just grazing his head and knocking him unconscious. This was also another thing that just felt like it was added to give Hershel more excuses to kick the group out. It looks like the writers are waiting for the mid-season finale to kick the group off the farm. It's a good and bad thing, it makes me have faith for the second half of the season, but it also makes me angry that they wasted most of the first half dealing with things that could have been solved in two episodes or less. 
Onto the end of the episode, Maggie and Glenn's relationship seems to be growing as they plan to have sex again. Glenn leaves Maggie a note telling her to meet him in one of the barns but Glenn gets more than he bargains for when he finds the barn full of walkers and then cut to credits.

Chupacabra was one of the better episodes this season but it was still full of filler and didn't progress the story in any major ways. I did enjoy the fact that most of the episode was centred around Daryl because it made me realize how much he has actually changed since last season. He has come from the big huge jackass, to a caring man and one of the strongest members of the group. I enjoyed seeing Merle again because Michael Rooker put up a hell of a performance. I also liked Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) a lot more this episode as he was actually funny and did provide support to other characters. Hershel (Scott Wilson) is beginning to get on my nerves as he is now being written off as the cranky mean old man, and I still can't stand Andrea (Laurie Holden) because she continues to be the dumb blonde that won't listen to anyone.
Still not a big fan of this how this season has been turning out but Chupacabra gave me some hope that this season will get better.
8.5/10

Past Weeks Big News

On November 20th, Nintendo released "The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword". The game has been receiving amazing reviews from critics and casual gamers being called the BEST Zelda of all time, strong words we know. NNandMR will have our review of Skyward Sword this holiday season so stay tuned.

Facebook, the worlds biggest social networking site, has been plagued with hacks this week as many users have stated that they have found pornographic images on their news feeds, as well as being bombarded with spam links on  their wall. Anonymous, the internet group that took down the Playstation Network, was supposed to have a Facebook raid on the 5th of November but never followed through so could this be the attack we were warned about? No comments from Facebook or Anonymous have been released.

Brave, Disney and Pixar's new film, received its first full length trailer this week and it looks spectacular. Hopefully it will make up for the train wreck that was Cars 2. To check out the trailer click the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEHWDA_6e3M

Our reviews for last weeks Walking Dead episode was postponed due to schedule issues but expect to see the review, along with this weeks review, in the coming days. NNandMR also plans to have Dexter Ep 8 review up this week. Our Hell on Wheels reviews will also come out this week but expect those to come out near the end of the week.

Expect all our big game reviews (Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword, CoD Modern Warfare 3, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception) near the end of the holiday season.

NNandMR will also come out with a Holday Gift Guide early December to help you give that special someone the perfect gift!

That's it for this weeks Big News, if you want New News and Movie Reviews to review any movie/TVshow/Videogame drop us a comment below or give us a shout on Twitter at @NNandMR 

Dexter Season 6 Ep 7 Review

Dexter has really been shining this season. Episode after episode Showcase can still deliver quality tv that interests their viewers. After last weeks episode's insanely big cliffhanger re-introducing us to Dexter's brother Brian, The Ice Truck Killer, I grew a strong excitement to see where the writers were going to take us.
This weeks episode "Nebraska" took a fresh new turn on the show. Dexter has always been guided by the ghost of his father Harry but after Dexter disobeyed Brother Sam's last dying wish of forgiving Nick he has a new ghost by his side. Brother Brian. He has been mentioned many times this season but I always thought it was the writers giving shoutouts to people that have been watching Dexter since season one, but bringing him back in full form?! This was a treat to all Dexter fans.
The episode starts off with Deb giving us some strange news. Trinity has killed his wife and daughter. We know this can't be true as Dexter killed Trinity in season 4. Seems like Trinity's son has been taking up his father's trade. Looks like Dexter's taking a road trip!
This episode seemed different from all the other episodes this season. What most don't realize about this episode is that it was actually a filler episode. No major plot twists and moves, just good ol' Dexter doing what he does best. Hunting and killing.
The Miami Metro Dept. wasn't really used this episode. We barely saw Batista, and Masuka and Anderson were only in one scene. What the hell! Deb and Quinn had a nice little moment together that finally brought closure to their relationship. The Department got one step closer to finding The Doomsday Killer by finding the woman that Travis let go in the previous episode. They also found out that the Professor's accomplice is a former student of Gellars. 
Speaking of Travis and Gellar, they were barely used either! Travis has been with his sister since the previous episode and has stopped working with Gellar. Gellar goes to her house in hopes of making Travis return but leaves empty handed. The final scene they are in is when Travis returns all of Gellar's items that were in his possession, hoping to bring him closure. 
Dexter and Brian arrive in Nebraska and find Trinity's son Jonah. when Dexter confronts him Jonah tells him that he saw his dad beat his mother. He then fought with his dad eventually making him run off. When he went upstairs he saw his sister in the bathtub classic Trinity style. Dexter knows the story is bull but he has to know one hundred percent because of Harry's code so its off to the crime scene. Dexter investigates where Trinity supposedly beat his wife and is caught by Jonah. Dexter confronts him and Jonah admits he killed them along with Dexter admitting he killed Trinity. Jonah then runs off. Brando Eaton, the kid who plays Jonah, wasn't really convincing as he was in season 4. I was disappointed.
Dexter runs into trouble at the motel he is staying at because of finding the owner's pot farm(another pot reference eh guys?). Because of this the farmer steals his knives and forensic kit. Dexter is healed up at gunpoint by him so he stabs the man with a pitchfork. It was self defence but it also went against Harry's code something that Dexter dosent do too often. He hides the body in the wheat silo nearby. It was a scene that was shot very well. Now that he is out of the way its time to get Jonah. 
Dexter is on his way to find Jonah when he gets a call from Jonah himself, saying he wants to meet Dexter in a hardware store. Dexter arrives there and finds Jonah with a big gardening hook. Some words are exchanged and Jonah charges at Dexter. After a single swipe, Dexter has Jonah in submission with the hook around Jonah's neck. In final desperation Jonah tells Dexter the truth about his mother and sister. That his sister was driven to suicide by his mother and that was the reason he killed her. Dexter let's him go and tells him to start over. Brother Brian wasn't too happy with this and the two have a mental battle. Dexter wins and drives off home. 
There is a nice ending scene as when Dexter arrives back in Miami, Harry is waiting on the side of the road for him. Dexter picks him off and drive off into the Miami sun. The episode was all about closure. Deb and Quinn had it. Jonah had closure with his familys death. Travis tried to gain closure by giving the Professor his stuff back and Dexter learned that he isn't all dark.
This episode was different on many levels as Dexter did things he usually doesn't do. Brian really has an influence on him. He has sex with a random woman on the way to Nebraska and steals her gun. He drives recklessly in the night while shooting the gun. Finally he kills the pot farmer. Fantastic job to Christian Camargo on playing Brian. He brought a lot of humor to the episode yet was tense and angry at the right scenes. This weeks episode was almost a tribute to old school Dex fans, from Brian's one liners, Jonah's first line being "Hello, Dexter Morgan" (Trinity's line in S4), to Dexter saying "Bye bye Biny" when he wins the mental battle. Trinity and The Ice Killer both reborn? Good job.
"Nebraska" could have been improved by showing more Miami Metro and other characters besides Dexter, and no real story advances were made. It lacked the depth and content that most Dexter episodes have. Not to say the episode was bad, it just wasn't the high quality we have seen in most of the episodes this season. It was filler but it was filler done well. Brian put Dexter's trip to Nebraska as Dex having fun, and ya know what, I had fun watching it.
8.9/10

Hell On Wheels Series Premier Review

This fall AMC releases its new original series Hell On Wheels. It's been getting me pretty hyped with its sneak peaks and trailers in between Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. Now its finally here and AMC is bringing the old west back and there doing it in style!
Hell On Wheels takes place in Washington 1865. The time of railroad expansion, something that hasn't been done for a while. It feels fresh especially when your tossed right into the story seeing a man getting shot in the head in a confessional booth. This is also where the audience meets the protagonist, the sly gunslinger Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount). What a nice way of AMC showing us the dirty grimy ways of the old west.
The credit intro was also done well, it was paired with excellent music that feels like classic western soundtracks from classics like old Clint Eastwood movies. Great job to the editing team. 
The story expands as we then meet
Thomas 'Doc' Durant the wealthy business man in charge of the railroad played by Colm Meaney who by the way delivers a fantastic opening speech. Kudos on that one sir. We are also shown how harsh Doc can be when he screws a man out of 150 shares, half of what he was supposed to get. I'm excited to see how mean he can actually get as he is an interesting yet charming character.
The story returns to Cullen on a train meeting the two Irish Twins Sean and Mickey McGinnes (Ben Elser) (Phil Burke) who are a funny pair together. Their role as brothers is very believable and they do a good job together. The train ride ends and our protagonist enters one of the construction sites of the railroad. AMC creates a beautiful and stunning environment filled with fantastic set pieces and extras that give the west a grand look and style. We also meet Ted Levine's character Daniel Johnson, the one handed, foul mouthed, wreckless drunk who is incharge of the entire site. I thought he was quite funny and played his character well.
The show also brings the action in one of its subplots involving Robert Bell (Robert Moloney), the designer of the railroads who is very ill, and his wife Lily (Dominique McElligott). The camp site they are inhabiting gets attacked and raided by the natives. The attack ends Robert's life and leaves Lily running for her life with the plans for the railroad. This scene was fantastic, David Von Ancken can direct action very well. Not too many camera cuts, and cool angles show that AMC can produce quality action. Makeup and visual effects make the Natives believable and scary and I can't wait to see more of them this season.
Back to the railroad, Cullen gets put in charge of looking after the Black rail workers. We meet Common (Elam Ferguson), a black rail worker who hates whites and is just trying to make it in the world and his friend Willy (Jessie Lipscombe) a man who has accepted his place as a low level slave. They disobey the rules by getting a drink early because Willy is in dire need of water. Johnson spots this and beats Willy senseless. 
After during dinner, Cullen tells a tale about how he lost his wife. We are then introduced to the true storyline of the show. Cullan is out to seek vengeance on the men who raped and murdered his wife. Johnson is one of those men, he also realizes who Cullan is and takes him out back to kill him. He says he is sorry for what he did to Cullan's wife and that it wasn't his idea. There is another man behind the true motive. Before Cullan can find out who it is Common comes out of nowhere and slices Johnson's neck. What a great start to a series.
AMC did a good job bringing the westerns back to tv. It gives you a nostalgic feeling like your watching old westerns but has style and flare that makes it shine like something new. Be warned that some of the dialogue is hard to follow because the show tries to stay accurate with the time setting and it is boring at some scenes, but this is only episode 1. I have faith that the show will improve. Acting is great but some characters (the priest) feel weak compared to everyone else. The main story (Cullen looking for the men) was hard to grasp at first but by the end I was fully aware of what was going on. Great start and I'm looking forward to see what AMC has in store for the rest of the season.
9.3/10

"Community" Review of Season 1 and 2

As TV shows go nowadays, I really can't find myself being attached to a regular network sitcom. The Big Bang Theory can get a chuckle outta me, but to be honest, there hasn't been a network show that has me attached and anxious for every episode... until now. 

Community is one of those rare shows that can have 7 main characters all interesting and funny in their own way. I haven't seen a group dynamic with so much chemistry since Friends. Bold words I know, but after watching the first two seasons of the show I can safely say that this is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. Seriously guys, by the end of season one I was in love.

The show follows seven characters: the witty, self-conscious, douche with heart Jeff (Joel McHale), Pierce (Chevy Chase) the wealthy crazy old racist, sweet preppy teen Annie (Alison Brie), Troy (Donald Glover) the self-absorbed jock, Sherly (Yvette Nicole Brown) christian the mother of two, Britta (Gillian Jacobs) the high school dropout, and Abed (Dani Pudi) the lovable film nerd. They all attend Greendale Community College and form a study group. This study group forms into a friendship and this friendship forms into a family. The show also does a great job with its side characters, from Star burns to Senior Chang to Magnitude, they're all funny! Season 1 does a great job introducing you into each main character. By the end of the season you will see each character grow through their own change as a person. They will each have their own episode that primarily focus' on them and by the end of the season you grow a love for each of the characters in their own quirky way. 

Season 2 focuses on a bit less story and a lot more funny. Each episode has the gang getting into new and creative shenanigans that are guaranteed to have you laughing almost every episode. When talking to friends about the show, every other line coming out of my mouth was "Remember the time when...." The show just sticks with you.

Acting is fantastic across the board because like I said before, the group just has fantastic chemistry. Troy and Abed are hilarious every time there on the screen together. Jeff could charm the pants off of anyone, and if you can't crack a smile at Pierce's lame jokes you have no sense of humour. Great to see Chevy Chase comes back in such a big way. Also good to point out that Ken Jeong's outrageous style of comedy fits perfectly in the show. Dan Harmon has done a great job creating something new in a boring TV world.

Finishing both seasons and working through the third season, I did find some weak/dry episodes but most were a riot. The first couple episodes are slow but its only for the purpose of story/character development. I found the character of Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) to be very annoying but the rest of the cast makes up for it. Also if you’re going to watch the show expect many pop culture references, I'm a fan of that humour but some viewers may be turned off. 

With all the mediocre and bland shows on tv it seems like the only good shows are on primetime HBO, Showcase and AMC. It’s really nice to see something that can stick out. Community is one of those rare shows that grip you after five episodes and is well worth the watch for anyone looking for something new, fresh and original. Let's pray it gets renewed for a fourth season because it is well deserving of it.

9.2

Past Weeks Big News

The release of the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. This highly anticipated game was release on November 8, 2011. It sold over 6.5 million copies in the US and UK alone, within the first 24 hours. It has been released for the following platforms; Xbox, Playstation, PC, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo DS.

The release of the game; The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Skyrim was released on November 11, 2011. (11/11/11) An official number has not been released as to number of copies sold, but the game did hit a total of 231,593 online users within the first 24 hours. It has been released on the following platforms; Xbox, Playstation, PC.

iphone software version iOS 5.0.0 has had many complaints about battery draining. Apple came out with an update (iOS 5.0.1) that was supposed to fix the battery bug. But has according to iPhone users, has failed to do so.

“Steam” is a social networking, multiplayer gaming platform developed by Valve Corp. New info released on Thursday November 10, 2011. By Gabe Newell, founder and CEO of Valve, confirmed that his website Steam has been hacked! The website’s security breach amounted to great data loss, and possible stolen account information. It is greatly advised that all Steam users watch their account and credit cards closely, and immediately report any signs of activity not influenced by you. 

Gears of War 3 Review

When I originally got my xbox it only came with one game and I had no more money to buy new games. So I played a game that started a love for an entire franchise that I hold close. That game was the original Gears of War. Remembering the first rev of the chainsaw bayonet and then watching it slice someone in half, that was an image I loved and soon grew used to. With a new cover system, tight controls, cool campaign, killer multiplayer, and gore factor that went above all other games GoW 1 revolutionized the modern 3rd person shooter.

The game received a sequel that set out to polish and shine the original formula that GoW 1 made popular. Epic Games did not succeed in all aspects of this goal but still managed to deliver another great gaming experience with Gears of War 2. Now the third and final instalment of the Delta Squad Trilogy is here. There is no doubt that Gears of War 3 is easily one of the most anticipated games of the fall season, as a huge fan of the series I must say that this was the game I've been exited for all year. With a great multiplayer beta in April and fantastic advertisements Gears 3 has built the hype level to the max for me and god damn it did not disappoint.

Gears of War 3 takes place 2 years after the second game as the COG (Coalition of ordered governments) is now broken up and humanity is getting closer and closer to extinction. You play as Marcus Fenix, leader of Delta Squad. Your set with the task of saving humanity from the Locust and a new threat that has emerged named the Lambent. With this story, Epic Games delivers one of the best cinematic experiences in any campaign with gorgeous graphics, fantastic scenery, and glorious huge set pieces that make Gears feel like no other.

The game starts off with a nice dream sequence that brings you up to pace with the Gears storyline. It also gives you a chance to adjust to the small control and gameplay tweaks. Soon after this, you are tossed right into the action as the story starts off with a huuuuuuuuuuuge bang! The whole campaign just gives the player a sense of excitement making it hard to turn away. Great boss moments, fantastic battle sequences, epic on rail segments, and moments where you truly believe you are in the last struggle for humanity. Gears is a triple A blockbuster done right and it knows it. Campaign has cool story moments for each character that keep the player interested and makes it feel like you’re not just going from room to room killing bad guys. The final boss fight and ending cinematic did lack the "wow factor" that the rest of the game achieved and I was disappointed with how it ended. Overall campaign was a treat for all Gears fans and put a nice grin on my face for the whole time (besides the last 10 mins).

Multiplayer is also returns and it has been revamped and tweaked to perfection. Epic really took the time and dedication to bring their A game as this is the best the multiplayer has ever been. Dedicated servers, multiple game modes, custom load outs that you can now switch midgame, cool weapon skins and a whole batch of characters to choose from. Fantastic maps that come to life with interactive sequences like the sandstorm in Trenches or watching half the landscape sink into water in Overpass. With no choke points in maps and areas that bring you clutch battles, Gears just feels great. Team Deathmatch is a great new mode as it gives the game more appeal to newcomers of the series. Epic also keeps new content coming as they plan multiple DLC updates (one that already came out), weekend events, and special game playlists that has brought me many hours of joy. Epic has demonstrated all their hard work and devoted service to their fans.

Horde mode returns in the form of Horde Mode 2.0! Now with buyable turrets, defense fortifications, decoys, a chance to unlock a silverback and a boss wave each 10 waves. Epic is also providing updates and DLC to add to Horde fortifications. Expect to be spending many hours with friends on this one. Another new mode in Gears 3 is Beast Mode. It takes a spin on Horde mode as in Beast you take control of the deadly locust from tiny tickers to full grown berserkers. Destroying human fortifications and tearing a heroes arm off and beating him with it will keep you satisfied for a long time. Rounds are also short on time so it makes players act quick and think. The whole mode feels short with only 12 rounds but its still fun and I played through it multiple times.

Campaign is gripping; it had me on the edge of my seat for all of it except for the ending. Multiplayer is the best it’s ever been bringing the hard-core fans what they wanted and still making it easy get into for newbies of the franchise. If you've never played a Gears game now's the time to start. Horde and Beast also show a tremendous effort from Epic to bring the player more things to do in the Gears universe. After you beat the campaign there's still stuff to do like tons of easter eggs and awards. Its solid game making at its finest.

It's not all good as Gears still has problems. Many will complain about the "Sawed-Off Shotgun" and its strong power, some creatures make the campaign very difficult in some moments especially on Insane. Beast feels like it could have had more depth to it and voice acting can get very cheesy as one liners fill every cut scene or clip and the ending being a big letdown.

Gears of War 3 has to be my favourite entry in the franchise and my favourite third person shooter of all time. It’s got problems but they can easily be overlooked as Gears gives you so much quality content that doesn't get old. It feels good to go back and revisit this one. Epic you did the fans justice.

9.5/10

First Impression: CoD Modern Warfare 3

New News and Movie Reviews is proud to present its new segment "First Impression"! First Impression is when we take a look at something new for a couple hours and say our initial thoughts before our review. Tonight the game first featured is Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3!

MW3 is one of the most anticipated games of all time, and to be honest, I wasn't that excited for it. When the original Modern Warfare was released it was a blast. The campaign felt fresh and I still have memories of late night multiplayer matches. MW2 had a great campaign but lacked in multiplayer as there was many holes in weapon balance and many choke points in maps no matter what the game type was. But all is forgiven as Modern Warfare 3 is here and makes up for most of the mistakes it predecessors had.

While playing 4 missions from the campaign I experienced many Michael Bay-like scenarios while everything blew up around me. You get seduced into moments that reminded me of the original MW campaign. MW3 does do a good job of making you feel like your experiencing world war 3 in all of its epic battles. The campaign brings you into epic gunfights that make you choke under pressure and actually makes you think on the spot. I haven't felt an FPS this exiting since the original MW. I'm also glad to see the developers using building schematic or a full blown map re enhancements from the previous CoDs. It gives you a nice sense of nostalgia and shows that Infinity Ward still cares about the hard-core fan base. IW is still using an old engine to run the game but it isn't noticeable as the game looks good and runs at a solid 60 frames a second. It’s not a huge upgrade from previous CoDs but it can still rival most new games on the market.

Multiplayer was fun and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. IW has added a whole new batch of content to the Custom Classes and gives you the freedom to play the way you want. Be a lone sniper with a Barrett .50Cal and camouflage, or grab an AA-12 shotgun and go in guns blazing. It's really up to you. New Perks make the game easy to hop into for newcomers, and Death Streaks have also returned with perks that do help you get out of a slum but don't feel overpowered. Strike Packages have also been redone as they are now split into three categories: Assault, Support and Specialist. They feel more controlled than the previous titles, but you still may find yourself being killed over and over by a pave low or AC-130 every now and then. The game does a great job of appealing to noobs yet it has a layer of depth that the hard-core vets of the series will love.

Special Ops is back with 16 new missions and a new mode called Survival Mode. Essentially, its Infinity Ward's take on Horde. Waves and waves of increasingly difficult enemies come to attack you and it’s up to you (and a friend if you choose) to fight them off. It's nothing ground-breaking but it's a good way to sharpen your skills while having fun. The actual Special Ops missions feel like they weren't really focused on during development. While they are diverse and fun to play, they just lack the depth that the campaign and multiplayer had. It's worth a play but I can't see myself really wanting to play them again.

So what's the First Impression? Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 delivers the same gameplay that the series is known for but adds a layer of polish to the formula that the others lacked. I will definitely return to finish the campaign and play more multiplayer. I didn't think it was worth all the hype but I enjoyed the time I had with it.  

Dexter Season 6 Ep 6 Review

As you should know by now, I am loving Dexter's 6th season. With every episode the excitement in me seems to rise and this weeks episode "Just Let Go" continued the rise and dropped one of the biggest shockers of the season yet.
The episode starts off with Dexter stalking his new prey, Travis, through a flee market. This is interrupted by Deb giving Dexter the news about Brother Sam being shot. As soon as Dex hears the news he is off and running to the crime scene. Its nice to see Dexter caring for someone he has only known for a short period. It shows the impact Brother Sam has had on Dexter.
The next scene brings us to Deb and her changes as Lieutenant, she is now feeling neglected by her friends and soon I think it will eventually lead her to a breaking point. She also gets reamed out by LaGuerta (Lauren Velez) who I still can't stand. I'm glad she is getting less screen time and I think the shows better without her.
Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Batista (David Zayas) are actually used well this episode as they uncover more clues about Professor Gellar from the box they discovered last episode. This cascades into conflict as they need to bring Clarissa(Mariana Klaveno) (Quinn's one night stand) back to the station for questioning. During the questioning tensions arise and it ends with Clarissa storming off and yelling about her and Quinns night together. Deb overlooking the questioning sees this and flips out on Quinn with anger yet class besides the four Fbombs she drops in a sentence.
Its nice to see Deb being used frequently in the show as she still remains one of the best actors and characters on there. I also enjoy the fact that she is seeing a therapist, the short 3 minute scenes give her room to grow and also show a sensitive side without being boring. Jennifer Carpenter was fantastic in all her scenes this week and deserves a lot of credit for it!
For once this season I also found myself liking Detective Anderson (Billy Brown) this episode. Having his own scene without other main actors and the fact that he flamingoed a guy (hand cuffing a mans wrist to his ankle) may make me change my mind about him after all. He also is the one that tracks down Brother Sam's supposed killer and takes him down in a short yet cool gun fight. In the killers house they find a security disc that shows Brother Sam being gunned down in the shop.
Dexter quickly catches on that Miami Metro has pinned the wrong guy as the actual killer is Nick (Germaine De Leon) from the auto shop. A nice little twist but was way too predictable.
Our next scene is Travis preparing the woman for his and Gellars next murder. During this the woman begs and plies to Travis telling him that "she knows he's a good person". We then cut to Travis visiting his sister as he feels lonely and insecure. It was also surprising to see that later in the episode Travis let's the woman go which I actually didn't see coming.
Now we get to the highlight of the episode. Dexter is called down to the hospital by Brother Sam and on his dying bed he tells Dexter his last wishes which is to forgive Nick for what he did. This scene was brash, emotional, and compelling as it was hard not to be sad watching Brother Sam pass. Once again great job to Mos Def and I am very sad to see him go. This also puts Dexter in one of the hardest moral dilemmas he has ever gone through.
Deb decides to throw a housewarming party for herself which brings us two things, a very douchy and drunk Quinn, and a new relationship beginning with Masuka's lab assistant Louis (Josh Cooke) and Dexter's maid/babysitter Jamie (Aimee Garcia) who is also Batista's sister. The two things conflict as drunk Quinn hits on Jamie one too many times and gets himself punched in the face by Batista ending the party and the scene.
When the official word is given about Brother Sam's death Dexter leaves the hospital and as he is leaving he meets Nick and asks him to go for a ride. Dexter brings him to the place where Brother Sam baptized him and confronts him with what he knows. Nick then shows his true colors as he celebrates Brother Sam's death because he has noone to prove he did it. When Dexter sees this he violently grabs Nick and drowns him in the water. Man was it awesome to see Dexter lose control and rage out, but that's not even the best part. As Dexter walks out of the water he is greeted by the spirit of his brother Rudy the Ice Truck Killer. Then credits.
Man oh man I can't express how well written this episode was. The writers keep bending every characters morals and testing their judgment to the point where it's hard to guess what they are going to do. Seeing Rudy again was also a huge shocker and it finally makes sense why he has been mentioned so much this season.
Looking back I can't really find anything that I didn't like about this episode but I wouldn't call it the best episode this season, it just felt like it was missing something. The majority of the episode was slow and some points felt dry and LaGuerta showed up, but in the end the good outweighs the bad and Dexter is still one of the best shows on TV.
9.2/10

Batman: Arkham City Review

In late 2009 Batman: Arkham Asylum came out and to many peoples surprise it was fantastic, being regarded as one of the best superhero games of all time and one of the best games that year. To noones surprise after the success of the first game, Rocksteady had been planning a sequel. Two years later Batman: Arkham City is here and it has out performed its predecessor in every single way.
Being a big fan of the first game, beating it many times, getting every Riddler trophy, doing every combat and stealth challenge, and getting almost every achievement, I was anxious to see how Rocksteady could improve on a game I believed was close to perfection. Now that the game is here and I have sunk many many hours into it, its time to weigh in on one of 2011's most anticipated games. I am glad to say, Batman: Arkham City reaches and surpasses every single expectation I had.
Arkham City takes place 6 months after the original. Hugo Strange has taken over the Asylum and has moved it to a sealed off part of Gotham, now called Arkham City. Super criminals, thugs, murderers and hoodlums are set free to roam as they please making the city a criminal playground of destruction. The story starts you off as Bruce Wayne speaking to the public about how out of control Arkham has gotten when Hugo Strange's men kidnap you. Your tossed into Arkham City and it begins.....
Arkham City throws you right into the action but does a fantastic job of teaching you the combat through mini tutorials that also engage you in the story at the start of the game. Once all that is complete, you call upon Alfred to send a Batsuit in and the real fun begins. The first time I saw the initial scope of the city I was shocked. Rocksteady did a fantastic job with the look and design of the landscape from Jokers Factory, to Hugo Strange's tower, to the underground sewers. An entire city is open to you with no restrictions, if you can see it, you can go there. You are Batman, this is your city and you are free to roam around as you please.
Arkham City's campaign was one of the greatest and original campaigns I've played in a long time. The story tosses you a new supervillan to deal with every now and then keeping things fresh and interesting without making the player feel overwhelmed. Fan favorites like Joker, Two-Face, Penguin, Mr.Freeze and Bane are all accounted for along with villains that only die hard batfans will know like Deadshot, Black Mask and Solomon Grundy and tons more still make an appearance. The first two acts are a nonstop rollercoaster ride, the third a little slower to bring the player up to speed with what's happening and then finally the fourth and fifth act are a riot bringing you an epic conclusion and one that you won't see coming.
Gameplay and controls are tight, batclawing and gliding around the city feels smooth and natural, combat is fast fierce and fluent, puzzles are challenging yet fun, and stealth feels like its gotten a complete overhaul since the first game. Batman has a whole new batch of gadgets to play with as well as some upgrades to ones that were in the previous game and its worth pointing out that even Detective Mode works and looks better than it did in the original. Batman can also receive upgrades that give you new combat moves, armor upgrade, and stealth abilities.
The campaign will last you around 8-12 hours with all other side missions taking over 50+ hours to complete. The only reason I finished the campaign so quickly is because I could not put it down, and I wasn't surprised when after I beat the game and looked at my clock it was 3 in the morning. With so much to do its hard to pick what to talk about. Combat challenges, stealth challenges, tons of side missions involving great villains, over 400 Riddler challenges which have also gotten a huge upgrade this time around, and a separate campaign for Catwoman who also has her own upgrades and Riddler challenges!
Presentation is astonishing with great cutscenes, perfect pacing, and fantastic voice acting featuring the voices of Kevin Conroy, Nolan North and Mark Hamill returning to do one hell of a job as Joker. The attention to detail is phenomenal as Batman gets bloody, bruised and cut along the way, and every building has life to it. You can even eavesdrop on the criminals patrolling around the building and hear what there saying. 
Really, there's not a thing I didn't like about the game. There were minor camera glitches every few hours but it's nothing that made the game unplayable. Other than that the game is perfection.

In today's market, if your going to pay 60 bucks for a game, you will want to get your moneys worth. Batman: Arkham City is one of those rare experiences that engages the player and makes them feel like they are the person they're controlling. Playing Arkham City you feel like you are Batman. No scratch that, you ARE Batman along with all the badassery that comes along with it. If you are a Batman fan you need this game, if you own a 360 or PS3 you owe it to yourself to AT LEAST rent it. Batman: Arkham City is easily the best superhero game of all time, one of this years greatest games, and one of the best experiences I've had in all my gaming career. Great job Rocksteady! You deserve this.
10/10