Presented in glorious alphabetical order, New Media: Retail Roundup is your indispensible checklist of the home console and handheld titles arriving in stores this week. What will you be playing?

MICROSOFT Xbox 360 Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2

NINTENDO WU Nothing 3DS Monster High: Skultimate Roller Maze

SONY PS3 God of War: Ascension * Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 PSV Nothing

VARIOUS PC The Basement Collection * Chivalry: Medieval Warfare * Police Force 2 * Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 * StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

New Media: Downloadable Digest is your handy reminder of the downloadable titles released last week.

MICROSOFT Xbox 360 Brave * The Cursed Crusade * Dollar Dash * Harley Pasternak’s Hollywood Workout * The Walking Dead * WRC Powerslide * Zone of the Enders HD Collection

NINTENDO WU Nothing 3DS Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate * Legend of the River King

SONY PS3 Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers * Midnight Club Street Racing (PS2) * Midnight Club II (PS2) * Narnia Double Pack (PS2) * MLB 13: The Show * Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 * Tomb Raider PSV MLB 13: The Show * Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus with Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus II

VALVE Steam Angry Birds: Space * Dollar Dash * Euro Truck Simulator * The Showdown Effect * Sword of the Stars: The Pit * Tomb Raider

Available on 360, PS3 and PC l Published by EA l Developed by Visceral Games l Classified MA15+ l Supports 1-2 players

REVIEW IN BRIEF > Visceral Games’ survival horror trilogy comes to an end with a bigger campaign and a new co-op mode. Expect more levels, more missions and more to shoot, but fewer of the trademark scares. Publisher EA clearly wants to promote microtransactions in place of genuine DLC, which can leave a distastefully mercenary impression of the game. While much fun is to be had in this still exciting world, it’s now time for Isaac to have a rest.

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Despite the mixed reception endured by last year’s Assassin’s Creed III, it seems that Ubisoft isn’t inclined to give its open world stealth series a rest. Just as Activision has annualised its Call of Duty franchise, the French publisher now ensures that its biggest cash cow is ready to go each and every holiday season. The new instalment will be known as Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

Assassin’s Creed III headliner Connor has been shown the door after only one starring role (his predecessor received three). The new game will follow the adventures of Edward Kenway, a man described by Ubisoft as “a fierce pirate and seasoned fighter”. The action will take place in the West Indies “at the dawn of the 18^th century”.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is scheduled for release on 360, PS3, Wii U and PC. It will also be making an appearance on PS4 and “other next generation consoles”. The PS3 and PS4 versions of the game will feature an additional hour of downloadable content.

In this episode: PlayStation 4, Deep Down, Knack, Luigi’s Mansion 2, Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and much more!

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The Panellists: Erin Marcon (@ErinMarcon), Karen Jacobson (@KarenMJacobson), Peter Nickless and Joel Guttenberg

Music by Nathan Antony.

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