Pads & Panels

Title: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Book 1 Collector’s Edition

Format: 7-Disc DVD

Producer: Nickelodeon, Paramount Home Entertainment

Season Rating:

DVD Set Rating:

Review by: Chris Park

Tying into M. Night Shyamalan’s film adaptation, Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Book 1 Collector’s Edition is a repackaging of the first boxed set of the series, “Water,” with a couple of new additions. Inside this set is a preview of “The Art of the Animated Series” book that is being released through Dark Horse Comics, as well as a new behind-the-scenes documentary of the show’s three seasons. It’s interesting, because the extra bonus disc isn’t like anything else found in the boxed set, and actually feels much more professional than any of the other extras. (more…)

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Chris Park spent an entire week running around Los Angeles to cover the Electronic Entertainment Expo. One of his stops was Nexon America’s booth to check out the publisher’s latest free-to-play games, including an in-depth look at the upcoming Vindictus. Park reports… (more…)

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Let me lay down a precursor this whole pondering: I like the Sony PlayStation brand. Since the original PlayStation, to the PS2, PSP, PS3, and PSPGo, I have supported the brand with my interest and my wallet. That said, the most recent news of the PlayStation Move has led me to a few thoughts that I hope you’ll read.

It’s very simple for the general internet population to either support or bitch about the PlayStation Move. With all the coverage that the announcement had at GDC 2010, including hands-on, video that wasn’t allowed, and opinions, the PlayStation Move has once again caused fan boys and haters to take their respective sides about the new product months before its release. (more…)

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We love games, and we love writing about them here at Pads & Panels. We love it so much that no matter how much we get up on the site here, it’s never enough to quench the thirst of gaming journalism for some. That’s why our latest segment of Pads Around the Internet sees even more great articles published at other sites by our writers. Here’s the best of what’s related to Pads & Panels’ interests.

Bill Jones

The Weirdest Things in Video Game Hell

iPhone Game Pricing

Age of Zombies Review

Chris Park

Dragon Age: Origins Awakening Review

Metal Slug XX Review

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International Review

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Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender

Interview with: Onrie Kompan

Interview by: Chris Park

West Coast correspondent Chris Park found himself interested in the subject matter of Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender, with Issue #1 of Onrie Kompan’s new comic series, which tells the tale of the Korean admiral in his first bombastic naval battle. He was a little hesitant, though, about the introduction of the character, and had questions about what directions the historical fiction series would take. So Park exchanged emails with Kompan last week to discuss his new series. (more…)

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Title: Darwinia+

Platform: XBLA

ESRB Rating: E

Publisher: Introversion Software

Developer: Introversion Software

Rating:

Review by: Chris Park

From the very start, the first thing that sticks out in Darwinia+ is the 1980s computer graphics look. The player attempts to save the Internet’s Darwinian population from a computer virus that is killing off the inhabitants. The real-time strategy gameplay is blended with frenetic combat and collecting to save the universe inside the Internet. While it may look simplistic, Darwinia+ requires thinking ahead, and looking through the entire level before starting will only benefit players later on. Containing both Darwinia and Multiwinia, Darwinia+ was an overlooked RTS game when it originally released half a decade ago, but comes alive on Xbox Live Arcade. Darwinia+ will interest RTS fans more than casual gamers. (more…)

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Title: Age of Zombies

Platform: PSP Mini

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Halfbrick

Developer: Halfbrick

Rating:

Review by: Chris Park

With a mixture of River City Ransom-esque graphics and a ¾-top-down perspective, Age of Zombies does what a PSP Mini title should do – be quick and be fun. With Age of Zombies, it does two things – lets gamers kill multitudes of zombies attacking in constant waves, and provides a horribly fantastic plot, complete with one-liners from hero Barry Steakfries. Using the analog or D-pad for movement, the face buttons for directional firing, and the left shoulder button for the secondary weapon, Age of Zombies provides a compact and enjoyable experience that rivals the fun of a PopCap game. The story of Steakfries going through time to kill zombies and save time is secondary to the simple fun of running and gunning around the levels, grabbing weapon power-up and surviving through the different types of zombies. For PSP owners, the 21MB download is well worth the time and money, especially with a survival mode that only extends the game beyond the story mode. (more…)

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We love games, and we love writing about them here at Pads & Panels. We love it so much that no matter how much we get up on the site here, it’s never enough to quench the thirst of gaming journalism for some. That’s why our latest segment of Pads Around the Internet sees even more great articles published at other sites by our writers. Here’s the best of what’s related to Pads & Panels’ interests.

Bill Jones

BioShock 2 Review

Dapple iPhone Review

Chris Park

KORG-10 DS Plus Review

Resident Evil 5: Lost in Nightmares Review

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Title: Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender

Publisher: Onrie Kompan Productions

Writer: Onrie Kompan

Artists: Giovanni Paolo Timpano, Adriana De Los Santos, Joel Saavedra

Review by: Chris Park

The historical fiction of the Korean Admiral Yi Soon Shin isn’t one that many would be familiar with, as Korean history in general isn’t something studied with much depth in college.

The first issue covers Yi Soon Shin’s first naval battle against the invading Japanese army, commanded by Todo Takatora, after the Korean army’s defeat at the Battle of Chungu. It also explores his relationship with the other naval commanders of Korea. Issue #1 feels like a quick glimpse into the world of Yi Soon Shin, but does little to explain anything about his past up to that point, other than a sidebar on the first page of the issue. (more…)

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Title: SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3

Platform: PSP

ESRB: T

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Slant Six Games

Rating:

Review by: Chris Park

There was a movie in the 1980s that could be considered the essence of action movies of the decade.  That movie is Navy SEALs. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 has the overall theme of Navy SEALs, except the four-man team in Fireteam Bravo 3 stop a fictional Eastern Bloc army and rescue the President of a county without little problem. The game is a fun third-person shooter for the PSP, among some of the easiest to control, but after completing the game it felt like there wasn’t enough for the single-player experience. (more…)

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