Game Informer Issue 158

Features:

• Letter From the Editor: Three Thoughts (Andy McNamara talks about GI's new Sacred Cow Barbecue feature, the slew of new games in the magazine and meeting people through handheld gaming)
• Dear GI (Reader Letters, Responses and Artwork)
• Atari in Transition (Interview with CEO Bruno Bonnell on the issues and future of Atari)
• Top Ten: Rare RPGs You Need
• Letterman Digital Arts Center (A look at the home of LucasArts and Industrial Light & Magic)
• Scoring Gamerscore (Interview with Jerry Johnson, group program mananger for XBOX Live, about the implementation of Achievements in games)
• At What Price Power? (Article that explores paying for power-leveling in World of Warcraft and if it is ultimately worth the money)
• Debate: Are Micro-transactions Good For Gaming? (Debate between Matthew Kato and Adam Biessener)
• The First Annual Game Informer Sacred Cow Barbecue (GI roasts some of the most popular games in the industry)
• Interview: Brian Raffel (Interview with the studio head of Raven Software)
• Classic GI (History of The Elder Scrolls series)

Cover Story: Assassin's Creed (PS3)(Extensive look at Ubisoft's brand-new period piece that puts players into the shoes of an assassin during the Third Crusade, fighting against the forces of the Knights Templar)

Indiana Jones (360, PS3)(Taking advantage of LucasArts' new Euphoria engine, Indiana Jones is set to return to the gaming world on next-gen consoles)

Guitar Hero II (PS2)(Having taken the world by storm with the original Guitar Hero, Harmonix and Red Octane continue to push forward with the sequel, with new songs and modes)

Previews:

• Mercenaries: World in Flames (PS3)
• Destroy All Humans 2 (PS2, XBOX)
• Hellboy (360, PS3, PSP)
• SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault (PS2)
• Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway (360, PS3, PC)
• Ratchet & Clank (PSP)
• LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (PS2, XBOX, GC, PSP, PC)
• Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Revolution)
• Rayman 4 (Revolution)
• Too Human (360)
• Lost Planet (360)
• New Super Mario Bros.(DS)
• Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (PSP)
• Okami (PS2)
• Dark Messiah of Might & Magic (PC)
• World in Conflict (PC)
• Super Monkey Ball Adventure (PS2, GC, PSP)
• Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Revolution)
• NCAA Football 07 (360, PS2, XBOX, PSP)
• Battlefield 2142 (PC)
• Rule of Rose (PS2)
• Enchanted Arms (360)
• Dungeons & Dragons: Tactics (PSP)

Multiplatform Reviews:

• Hitman: Blood Money (PS2, XBOX, PC)
• Winback 2: Project Poseidon (PS2, XBOX)
• Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (XBOX, PC)

PlayStation 2 Review:

• Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny

XBOX 360 Reviews:

• Far Cry Instincts: Predator
• Major League Baseball 2K6
• Final Fantasy XI
• Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

PC Review:

• AutoAssault

Nintendo DS Reviews:

• Lost Magic
• Brain Age

Quickie Reviews (Small, one-paragraph reviews):

• 2006 FIFA World Cup (360, PS2, XBOX, GC)
• Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast (PS2, XBOX, PSP)
• Rogue Trooper (PS2, XBOX)
• Commandos: Strike Force (PS2, XBOX, PC)
• Monster Rancher EVO (PS2)
• Dance Factory (PS2)
• Real World Golf (PS2)
• Tao's Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal (DS)
• Ultimate Black Party (PSP)
• The Tower SP (GBA)
• Gradius Collection (PSP)
• Monster Hunter Freedom (PSP)

Secret Access (Cheat Codes and Strategies):

• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (360, PC)
• Far Cry Instincts: Predator (360)
• Driver: Parallel Lines (PS2, XBOX)
• Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII (360, XBOX)
• The Godfather (360, XBOX)

Retro Reviews:

• The Lion King (SNES)
• Chavez (SNES)
• Pandemonium 2 (PS)