Pads & Panels

#10 Halo: Reach (360)

Publisher: Microsoft – Developer: Bungie

Our Review

Bungie may have bid a fond farewell to one of its most popular franchises in the form of Halo: Reach, but that’s not to say it didn’t leave the series with a bang. Described as “The Halo they always wanted to make,” this prequel to the series attempts to throw in everything but the kitchen sink. The single-player campaign, while somewhat shorter, is easily one of the best narratives Bungie has told in the series and eloquently brings everything full circle. The tighter scope also manages to make Reach more personal and engaging than previous titles in the series. (more…)

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Title: Fallout: New Vegas

Platform: 360 (PS3, PC)

ESRB: M

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Rating:

Review By: Eric Stuckart

There has been much talk of whether or not Fallout: New Vegas is really worth the time, effort and, most importantly, money. It’s been labeled little more than an ‘expansion pack’ by its detractors, and much has been said about Obsidian Entertainment’s inability to get rid of many of Fallout 3’s bugs and glitches in this installment. (more…)

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Title: Halo: Reach

Platform: 360

ESRB: M

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Bungie

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones and Dan Braun

The Campaign

Halo: Reach, Bungie’s farewell to the series, serves as a prequel to the core trilogy. Taking place in 2552, the latest game in the Halo series tells the tale of the fall of Reach, which leads into Halo: Combat Evolved. Or rather, it would do greater justice to the UNSC’s Noble Team to say Reach tells the tale of their heroic last stand.

Reach has served as the heart of UNSC military power, and in many ways is an Earth-like hub for the human race…and home to the elite Spartan forces. The Covenant have launched an attack on the planet unlike any other, however, and this could be the team’s chance to give humanity one final hope. (more…)

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Title: Singularity

Platform: 360 (PS3, PC)

ESRB: M

Publisher: Activision

Developer: Raven Software

Rating:

Review By: Eric Stuckart

I might not be the bravest soul out there when it comes to video games or movies, but if I have to shut it off for the night, the developers must be doing something right. Singularity started getting to me early on, and I must say I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Even though the game’s creepy vibe wore off, Singularity plays out like a compilation of gaming’s greatest shooter gimmicks of all time, and boy is it an enjoyable ride. But we’ll get to that in a moment. (more…)

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Title: Doom II

Platform: XBLA

ESRB: M

Publisher: Bethesda

Developer: Id Software/Nerve Software

Rating:

Review by: Eric Stuckart

If Wolfenstein 3D was the granddaddy of the FPS genre, then Doom and Doom II were the cool uncles. The first Doom took the PC gaming world by storm back in 1993 when it first released, and ‘94’s sequel improved on the successful formula. Now, finally available on Xbox Live Arcade, Doom II is back with even more features than ever. The game was ported over with nary a hitch, but as an added bonus, this version of Doom II has a new chapter, “No Rest for the Living.” With great level design and intense amounts of challenge, this 9-level set stands on its own in the spirit of the original classic. In addition to that is multiplayer, which also features four-way split-screen local and online co-op, as well as the original deathmatch games. With the irreverent humor of every other episode, this is definitely one to pick up for Doom fans, except, of course, for those keyboard-only Doomguys out there. (more…)

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Title: Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition

Platform: XBLA

ESRB: T

Developer: ACE Team

Publisher: Atlus

Rating:

Review by: Dan Braun

For lack of a better description, this bizarre first-person fighter is like playing a Salvador Dali painting, if it were written and directed by David Lynch. Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition is one of the most unique and creepily beautiful games available, and it is absolutely worth trying, despite some rather awful flaws. (more…)

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Title: “The Passing” Add-On for     Left 4 Dead 2

Platform: 360 (PC)

Publisher: Valve

Developer: Valve

Review by: Dan Braun

“The Passing” brings with it a nice tie to the original Left 4 Dead, along with some new weapons and game variants that will be a warm welcome to Left 4 Dead 2‘s multiplayer fan base. Chronologically, the episode takes place in the middle of L4D2’s campaign, some time after the events depicted in the first game. It opens with the new survivors chatting with the old about a potential escape plan, and progresses though a rather extensive level that ends with both groups participating in a climactic shoot-out/gasoline grab. The new level is well-paced, expansive and highly-detailed. It includes a new golf club and gun, along with the new multiplayer game types via “Mutations.”  Mutations change weekly, and include specialty game types in which items and settings are tweaked, such as unlimited ammo for chainsaws in one game type, or another in which health items do not spawn. These little changes should extend the life of the multiplayer significantly, and certainly seem popular with the online community. (more…)

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Game of the Month – March

God of War III (PS3)

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment – Developer: Sony Santa Monica

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It may try just a little too hard at the end to give itself some artistic relevance, but God of War III is the perfection of the balls-to-the-wall action that has become the standard for the genre, emulated by countless others. The “final” installment of the trilogy is all killer, no filler, bigger and more badass than the series has ever been, and still Sony Santa Monica found the room to try some new ideas along the way. A great “conclusion” to the epic story of Kratos.

–Bill (more…)

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Love Borderlands, but feel it’s just not long enough to satisfy your open-world, first-person shooter role-playing multiplayer urges? What’s wrong with you? That game is so long! Anyways, Gearbox Software and 2K Games apparently agree with you, because they’ve release three add-ons for the game so far. The first two are now available together on a single disc. We received a copy for review, but also made the mistake of buying a second copy. That’s to your benefit, as we’ve decide to give it away. We’re giving away one copy of the Borderlands Double Game Add-On Pack for Xbox 360, which includes the add-on content “The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned” and “Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot.” All it takes for a chance to win is commenting on some stories this week. (more…)

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Title: Toy Soldiers

Platform: 360

ESRB: T

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Signal Studios

Rating:

Review by: Kevin Haverty

Toy Soldiers kicked off the Summer Block Party on Xbox Live Arcade. At it’s core, Toy Soldiers is a tower defense strategy game, set during World War I, but allows the player to directly jump into the action to take control of units or vehicles in either first- or third-person perspective. All units are part of a miniature toy set, and battles take place in a wooden diorama in a child’s bedroom. The setting is topped off with old-timey tunes and a camera filter that resembles film in the pre-talkies era. The campaign is played from the perspective of the good guys fighting waves of Germans. Each enemy unit killed or destroyed earns cash that can be used to place more towers, repair damaged ones and upgrade to more powerful structures. After the campaign is completed, Campaign+ is available, which allows gamers to gun down the Brits for another 24 levels. Aside from Campaign+, Survival mode is also unlocked and allows players to take on endless waves of increasingly harder enemies. Multiplayer has the options of Xbox Live and split-screen, and pits players head-to-head, allowing them to play on offense and defense. (more…)

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