Pads & Panels

Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up

Platform: Wii (PS2)

ESRB Rating: E

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Game Arts

Rating:

Review by: Dan Braun

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up is a perfect example of cashing in on a popular franchise without having to do anything creative or fun. The game unabashedly flaunts itself as a game in the same fighting vein as the Smash Bros. series, but it is clearly an inferior title, due to lame voice acting, muddled animation and just a poorly-executed fighting system.

The game offers an array of modes, ranging from arcade beat-em-up to a convoluted story. Unfortunately, it all plays relatively the same, save for the addition of some terrible cutscenes that provide an abhorrent plot and an earful of some of the crappiest dialogue performances one would ever want to sit through. (more…)

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Game of the Month – April

Splinter Cell: Conviction (360, PC)

Publisher: Ubisoft – Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

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Splinter Cell: Conviction is arguably the best installment in the series, and definitely the most accessible. It allows players to tackle it as an action game, but rewards them for stealth execution. And Conviction is a case of the entire package being greater than simply the sum of its parts, with campaign, co-op and competitive multiplayer offering plenty of value.

–Bill (more…)

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It’s been way too long since we posted an edition of Trailer Madness. We guess that’s why we’ve got more than 10 videos comprising this post. You can always watch the videos as they’re uploaded on our YouTube account. Otherwise, we’ve got the latest recap of videos we’ve posted there, and highlighting this edition is Lost Planet 2‘s “Gears of War” video. Capcom also sent a Super Street Fighter IV promotional trailer our way. We’ve got two trailers apiece for Risk Factions and Shiren The Wanderer, and a whopping three videos for Blood Bowl. Things are rounded out this edition by new videos for bittos+, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for iPhone, Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll and Napoleon Total War. Enjoy!

Lost Planet 2 “Gears of War” Video

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Trailer Madness turns 10 today, in a manner of speaking. Lots of exciting new trailers. Capcom released a new Super Street Fighter IV trailer featuring the characters Guy, Cody and Adon. The Beatles: Rock Band has a new holiday commercial. Marvel sent new Astonishing X-Men and Super Hero Squad Show trailers our way. Ubisoft sent a Just Dance video our way, while Delicious Vinyl sent a smattering of DVDJ videos. And Machines Studios finishes things off with a few new bittos videos.

“Guy, Cody and Adon” Super Street Fighter IV Trailer

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Title: Street Fighter IV Original Soundtrack

Format: 2 CDs

Published by: Sumthing Else Music Works

Review by: John Gustafson

Without a doubt Street Fighter IV reinvigorated the fighting genre, as well as the 2-dimensional playing field. Equal credit also goes to its fantastic soundtrack, thumping and driving the combos and special attacks.

The Street Fighter series has one of the strongest pedigrees in regards to video game soundtracks, and SFIV sets the bar even higher. With its eclectic mix of trance beat, industrial grind, drum ‘n bass thumping and electronic, spinning this soundtrack not only sets an appropriate tone for the epic battles on screen but cannot help but influence the players. (more…)

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Capcom sent out an email addressing the many questions the company has been fielding about specs for Street Fighter IV‘s PC release. The game is expected in June. The specs are as follows…

————— (more…)

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Title: Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix

Platform: XBLA (Also on PSN)

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Backbone Entertainment

Review by: Kevin Haverty

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is the latest Street Fighter title in the series to get the digital download re-release. Unlike Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, SSFIITHDR’s visuals are redesigned to take full advantage of high-definition video and it looks jaw-droppingly sexy. (more…)

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Title: Street Fighter IV

Platform: 360 (Also on PS3, Arcade)

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

Rating:

Review by: Kevin Haverty

After 22 years, the Street Fighter series finally learns to count to “four” with the release of Street Fighter IV. And SFIV is closer to being a direct sequel to Street Fighter II than the alienating Street Fighter III was. Fans who were turned off by SFIII will feel right at home with the roster selection and gameplay of IV. (more…)

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