Weekly video game releases: 'Medal of Honor', 'Just Dance 2,' 'Fallout: New Vegas'

(All rights reserved - Electronic Arts)

Popular purchasing choices continue to line up in October, as the Bad Company 2 studio works its multiplayer magic on Medal of Honor, Ubisoft returns with another Just Dance on the Wii, and Fallout: New Vegas pulls role-playing fans back into the radioactive wastes of post-apocalyptic America.

Medal of Honor (360 PC PS3)
Release: North America, October 12. Europe, October 15.
Age Rating: Mature (ESRB) / 18+ (PEGI)

Part of a series that started the trend for military shooters on consoles, 2010's Medal of Honor is set in 2001's Afghanistan. That modern-day non-fiction setting has caused controversy, despite MoH spokespersons emphasizing their respect for soldiers. Whether the game can hold its own against established genre giants remains to be seen - new installments in the Call of Duty and Bad Company series are just around the corner. The PS3 version includes a remake of 2002's Medal of Honor: Frontline.
Price: $59.99 / €69.99 (360 PS3), $59.99 / €49.99 (PC)
Limited Edition / Tier 1 Edition: $59.99 / €69.99 (in-game items, beta key for Battlefield 3)

Super Scribblenauts (DS)
Release: North America, Oct 12. Europe, October 28.
Age Rating: Everyone 10+ (ESRB) / 12+ (PEGI)

This sequel to 2009's innovative and award-winning Scribblenauts promises improved controls and an overhauled level-editing suite. The adventurous Maxwell is again on the trail of Starites, and the player not only directs his movements but also conjures up crucial puzzle-solving items by spelling out their names. In Super Scribblenauts, extra descriptions are added for an even more imaginative approach - choose whether that dragon, knight, troll or telephone should be tiny, stinky, or multicolored.
Price: $29 / €39

Just Dance 2 (Wii)
Release: North America, Oct 12. Europe, October 15.
Age Rating: Everyone 10+ (ESRB) / 3+ (PEGI)

Out a month before the Xbox 360's body-popping Dance Central, Just Dance 2 for the Nintendo Wii has 45 party-friendly tracks both old and new. On the set list are Katy Perry's "Firework," "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!, "Hey Ya!" by Outkast, Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out," "When I Grow Up" from the Pussycat Dolls, and even Elvis's "Viva Las Vegas" along with versions of "Crazy In Love" and "Jungle Boogie." Game modes include dance offs, battles, duets and workouts.
Price: $39 / €39

Fallout: New Vegas (360 PC PS3)
Release: North America, October 19. Europe, October 22.
Age Rating: Mature (ESRB) / 18+ (PEGI)

Venture out amongst the inhabitants of New Vegas's radioactive wastelands to track down a stolen courier package and its secrets. Looking almost exactly the same as its predecessor is not necessarily a bad thing, given the high praise for Fallout 3's grand vistas, but storyline and characterization are equally important in this sort of game. Look out for reviews to see if New Vegas is up to scratch - with development duties handled by the studio that started off the iconic Fallout series, it's hoped that this will mark a return to form.
Price: $59 / €59 on 360 or PS3, $49 / €49 on PC.
Collector's Edition: $79 / €89 (inc. poker chips, playing cards, graphic novel, 'making of' DVD)

Vanquish (360 PS3)
Release: North America, October 19. Europe, October 22.
Age Rating: Mature (ESRB) / 18+ (PEGI)

Platinum Games returns with a fast and furious shooter that combines elements from the company's Japanese staff's previous stellar titles ( Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, PN03, God Hand, Resident Evil 4). In Vanquish, the US Government's most gruffly athletic scientist is equipped with a super-speedy suit of shapeshifting armor, and takes on the entire combined might of an invading force aboard a solar energy space station amid scenes of non-stop action and epic boss battles. Along with Enslaved and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, this could be one of October's surprise hits.
Price: $59 / €59
Limited edition: €89 (inc. figurine)

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 (360, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii)
Release: North America - October 19 (360 PS3), November 2 (PS2 PSP), November 30 (Wii).
Europe - October 8 (360 PC PS3), November 26 (PS2 PSP Wii).
Age Rating: 3 (PEGI) / Everyone (ESRB)

Once king of the hill and now launching yearly attempts to wrestle back the populist crown from FIFA 11, PES 2011 has a fine pedigree. Like FIFA, it improves the way control, stamina, and goalkeeping are handled, adjusts player animation; added to that is a stadium creation mode and an increase in tactical options. European reviews indicate that this latest PES is still a little behind FIFA but offers more in the way of strategic tweaks and lays the groundwork for further improvements in future.
Price: $59.99 / £49.99 / €69.99 (360, PS3); other versions less.