This Month in Gaming - November 2011

Your wallet is gonna hurt.

The past couple of months have seen a sharp ramp-up in the amount of big-budget, highly antipicated game releases as we gear up for the holidays. But many would say that no month is more tightly packed with such titles this year as November. It's time to warm up your game systems for a sure-fire top-selling war shooter, a sequel to one of the best RPGs of the last decade, a possibly great and original 3DS title (?!), the continuing tale of an assassin's lineage, and the newest iteration of one of the most storied franchises in the history of gaming.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 [PC, X360, PS3, Wii, DS] - November 8th

Battlefield 3 saw release at the end of October to critical acclaim and successful sales, but a truly telling statistic revealed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (from 2009) actually managed to host more activity on Xbox LIVE during its newest competitor's release week. And now we're going to get its sequel.

The success and longevity of the previous title in the franchise has led industry pundits to predict that Modern Warfare 3 will generate revenues of $1.1 billion in its first six weeks. That's as lofty as a figure gets, but it may actually be a realistic one in this case. It's available for all three HD platforms, and also the Nintendo Wii and the DS, so pretty much anyone will be able to play this game on Tuesday.

Hardcore gamers have mixed opinions on the direction this franchise has taken, but the sales numbers don't lie. The majority is quite pleased with the multiplayer gameplay that Call of Duty has hosted since the first Modern Warfare title, and all signs point to continued success with Modern Warfare 3. If you don't have it reserved yet, get on it, because otherwise you might already be out of luck on launch day.

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [PC, X360, PS3]  - November 11th

In 2006, Bethesda Softworks released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the Xbox 360 and PC. That year, it received numerous perfect scores from critics and players alike, and even today owns a Metacritic score of 94. It was famous for an incredibly large world with nearly endless gameplay possibilities that resulted in fans playing the game over and over again.

Five years later, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is finally coming out on 11-11-11. Touting the brand new Creation Engine, Skyrim is primed to once again redefine the open-world RPG. Bethesda's track record effectively lays claim to a series of games that command up to and over 100 hours of gameplay each, and no less is expected of Skyrim.

Fans who have been waiting for this title probably already have their calendars cleared, so don't be surprised if your RPG-loving buddy drops off of the face of the Earth for a few weeks following Friday. Skyrim is a game that many expect to contend for the Game of the Year title this year.

• Super Mario 3D Land [3DS] - November 13th

It's no secret that the Nintendo 3DS is starving for a top-notch, original title in order to finally start selling some hardware in a big way. Sure, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Star Fox 64 3D are excellent games, but they're remakes of games that many of us have already played ad nauseum during their heyday. So, whose iconic face have we yet to see on this new handheld console?

Mario, of course. And that's finally about to change.

Super Mario 3D Land is the title that many gamers have been waiting for before shelling out the cash for a Nintendo 3DS. It's another classic platformer starring your favorite plumber, and looks to be in the tradition of the award-winning 3D platformers that Mario has played protagonist in since the Nintendo 64.

It's hard to believe how this title could be anything but excellent. Mario games rarely disappoint, if ever, and this could be the game that the Nintendo 3DS needs to sell some units for the holidays.

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations [X360, PS3] - November 15th, [PC] - November 29th

The progenitor of the Assassin's Creed franchise was released to consoles four years ago to mostly positive but mixed critical reviews, while a rabid and loyal fanbase was born. Assassin's Creed II followed two years later and was universally received as a drastic improvement over its predecessor, earning consideration for end-of-year awards. Needless to say, the already-rabid fanbase spread like wildfire.

Assassin's Creed: Revelations will be out this month, and is said to complete the tale of the time-spanning trio of Ezio, Altair and Desmond. The expectations have never been higher at any other point in the franchise's history. A series that has become famous for surprising and shocking plot twists, fans are chomping at the bit to learn the complete story of the protagonists. And this will also be the first time that Ubisoft is releasing the PC version in the same month as the console versions, let alone the same year, so everyone will be able to learn the story's conclusion in 2011 regardless of platform.

• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword [Wii] - November 20th

Show of hands: Who remembers playing the original Legend of Zelda on the NES? If your hand is raised, it likely tickles your nostalgia to think of the gold-colored cartridge and having to hold in the "Reset" button while turning your system off. The series has continued strong for decades, releasing title after title and earning top marks across the board. The standard of excellence has been upheld in this franchise, and it looks to be as strong as ever with Skyward Sword.

Early critical reviews have awarded Skyward Sword with perfect and near-perfect scores, with one such publication (Official Nintendo Magazine) giving it their highest score ever, and calling it the "best Zelda game ever made." That's about as high as praise gets.

It's also one of the only anticipated Wii-exclusive games for the entire year, and there are many who expect it to be the popular system's last top-notch title. The Wii U is ready for release in 2012 and is primed to uproot the Nintendo Wii as we know it, so Skyward Sword could prove to be the system's swan song. Just in time for the holidays.

Feeling that ache in your wallet yet? If you've been able to stave off the temptation through September and October, good luck making it through November without picking up one of these. The good part is that you really can't go wrong this month. You're all but guaranteed to have a top-quality experience if you choose one of these games for your favorite console. And don't forget, one of them could make a really great holiday gift for that special gamer in your life!