Pads & Panels

Title: Red Dead Redemption

Platform: 360 (PS3)

ESRB: M

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Developer: Rockstar San Deigo

Rating:

Review by: Kevin Haverty

The Western is a dying genre. Kids aren’t outside playing Cowboys & Indians anymore. Western films have been few and far between, and recent ones haven’t been given wide releases. Unless of course, we count the recent adaption of Jonah Hex, but that crapfest would hurt the case for the Western.

A great reflection of society’s one time love for the Wild West and current disinterest in it could be summed up with Woody’s plight in the Toy Story series. Thankfully Rockstar dug up the Red Dead Revolver franchise and crafted an amazing Western experience with it in Red Dead Redemption. (more…)

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Title: Just Cause 2

Platform: 360 (PS3, PC)

ESRB: M

Publisher: Square Enix

Developer: Avalanche Studios, Eidos Interactive

Rating:

Review by: Kevin Haverty

How much gameplay is too much gameplay? How many collectibles are too many? Just Cause 2 tries to find the answer within the 400-square miles of the tropical island Panau. There are more than 350 settlements to discover and complete by destroying landmarks and picking up items. One-hundred and two vehicles to drive. Two-thousand seven-hundred collectibles. And 1,020 fuel depots to destroy. Just Cause 2 will keep games busy for quite some time. (more…)

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Title: Assassin’s Creed II

Platform: 360 (Also PS3)

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The original Assassin’s Creed was a polarizing game, no doubt about it. While the vast, open world with an incredible vertical landscape to scale like a crazed parkour athlete was enticing, the story was shaky at best, the environments always looked like more of the same doused in a heavy coat of bluish-white, and the combat was a tedious mess that slowed things down but could always be won by simply hitting “counter” at the right time. That said, the game showed promise of being a foundation for Ubisoft Montreal to build upon.

And build they did. (more…)

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Title: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Platform: 360

ESRB Rating: M

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Developer: Rockstar North

Review by: Dan Braun

Approximately one and a half years ago, Grand Theft Auto IV was released to almost universal praise amongst the gaming community. Despite this, some hardcore fans of the series felt that the game took itself too seriously and focused on the mundane and realistic, instead of showcasing the over-the-top (and often ridiculous) action and activities that have made the franchise so popular. For those who need the extreme, The Ballad of Gay Tony is a much lighter and more explosive foray into Liberty City that should have all GTA fanatics cheering for more. (more…)

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Title: InFAMOUS

Platform: PS3

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Sucker Punch

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

InFAMOUS opens with a blast, literally, the type of blast that decimates six blocks of Empire City and kills every living thing within the radius…except for Cole MacGrath. Instead, Cole finds himself charged with electricity and more powerful than anyone can dream. Whether he uses those powers for good or evil is entirely up to the player.

As the player guides Cole in third-person perspective around the sandbox of Empire City, things are in disarray. Factions are fighting in the streets, neighborhoods are in various stages of decay and, most importantly concerning Cole, is lacking electricity. As Cole carries out missions and brings electricity back to the city, he gains more powers to harness the electricity in new ways. (more…)

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Title: The Lost and Damned DLC for Grand Theft Auto IV

Platform: 360

Publisher: Rockstar

Developer: Rockstar North

Review by: Dan Braun

Grand Theft Auto IV’s The Lost and Damned expansion is a mediocre addition to an outstanding game, but it does have some decent additions and improvements that will appeal to gamers who are looking for a little more from the title. (more…)

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