Best of the Network this week

Thanksgiving is over, and it’s time to look back on the week in which we stuffed ourselves. Don’t worry, I feel guilty too. In order to distract everyone from the eventual weight loss they’re going to have to pursue, why not take a look at some of the best of this week’s news from around the network?

At Destructoid, it’s pretty obvious what the big stories and cool features have been this week — the Assassin’s Creed 2 review. Over at Japanator, we’ve kicked off our holiday shopping guide, with plenty of manga recommendations to help out your gift-giving endeavors. You should also be watching our video review of Evangelion 1.01. Tomopop has some nice goodies this week, but be sure to check out the ever-cute What Toys Are Up To column.

Destructoid

• Revisited: Gears of War 2, Pinocchio, and masculinity
• Review: Assassin’s Creed 2
• Destructoid staff presents: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
• Jeff Strain talks Undead Labs and its console zombie MMO
• Why No More Heroes HD could mean a Wii total victory

Japanator

• Japanator Holiday Shopping Guide: Manga edition
• JapanaTen: Top Ten Japanese things I’m thankful for
• Japanator Recommends: Evangelion 1.01: You Are (Not) Alone
• 80 days around Love Plus: Not really a confession
• Confessions of a (bad) fanartist

Tomopop

• What Toys Are Up To: Saber makes tea
• Tomopop Gives Thanks: What we’re thankful for in the world of toys and collectibles
• Tomopop review: Rotobox/Kuso Vinyl’s Celsius OG vinyl figure
• Custom Delights: Bayonetta comes to life in doll form
• Eye of Thundara, give me sight beyond sight into Cheetara’s–

Speaking of all this holiday gift guide stuff, if someone bought me this Tsugumi figure, I would love you forever. I want it so bad, but feel slightly dirty buying it myself.