Pads & Panels

Title: “Drake’s Fortune Multiplayer Pack” DLC for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Platform: PS3

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Naughty Dog

Review by: Bill Jones

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is an absolutely fantastic game. It’s so good we gave it the #1 spot on our list of Best Games of 2009. So it’s hard not to want more. And given, it impressed more on the side of its fantastic story integration in the single-player campaign, but its multiplayer mode happens to be a lot of fun as well, so as fans we’ll definitely settle for more on the multiplayer side of the game. “Drake’s Fortune Multiplayer Pack” as its name implies brings gamers back to the first title with two new maps inspired by the first game – The Flooded Ruins and The Facility. The former features the focal point of the Customs House, and it’s smart to keep a vertical eye on enemies. The latter is almost symmetrical, working around a U-Boat in The Bunker. It’s fantastic for elimination games. The $5.99 total package also includes six skins based on characters or variations from the first titles, as well as 12 new Trophies. (more…)

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Title: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Original Soundtrack

Format: CD

Publisher: Sumthing Else Music Works

Review by: Bill Jones

Everything about Uncharted 2: Among Thieves screamed big-budget Hollywood blockbuster. Not the least of those things was its bombastic soundtrack that rivaled the likes of films like Pirates of the Caribbean, from its memorable new rendition of “Nate’s Theme,” to its airy flute work that helped bring its lush locations and sense of adventure to life. The original soundtrack collects more than an hour of Greg Edmonson’s stellar compositions across 23 tracks. Every second of it feels big, and is just as much of a joy to listen to outside of the game as in. It’s a no frills release, with one disc and a simple fold-out insert with credits and a few screenshots, but the music alone is more than enough reason to pick up this CD.

For more info, www.sumthing.com

Pads & Panels received a copy of the CD courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.

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#1 – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)

Publisher: Sony – Developer: Naughty Dog

Our Review

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Should I have given Uncharted 2 a perfect score? Probably. It is something I wrestled with while writing the review and since. I felt that some of the minor problems present in the game were exaggerated due to the core experience being so solid. When a game is as great as Uncharted 2, it’s that much more painful to be pulled out of the experience. Still, there’s no denying that Uncharted 2 is by far the most standout game of the year, and one of the titles that many will cite as a highlight of the decade. For anyone who loves their games driven by an entertaining, integrated story that could only be told in the video game medium, it doesn’t get better than Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Naughty Dog has officially set the bar for the blockbusters of the video game realm, and there is, hands down, no better title deserving of the top spot. –Bill (more…)

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Pads & Panels will be giving away the next two rounds worth of prizes for the grab-bag contest today! Entering is easy. Users can earn one entry by commenting on the Uncharted 2: Among Thieves review, which goes live at 10 a.m. Central Standard Time today! The winner will be chosen at random by all entries received on that review before 11:59 p.m. Central Standard time, today, Oct. 13, 2009. For the second prize, users can earn one entry by commenting on the Brutal Legend review, which goes live at 2 p.m. Central Standard Time today! The second winner will be chosen at random from all entries received on that review before 11:59 p.m. Central Standard time, today, Oct. 13, 2009.

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Two of the year’s biggest games release tomorrow – Naughty Dog’s PlayStation 3 exlusive, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and the lastest from Tim Schafer and Double Fine, Brutal Legend. Just wanted to give readers a heads up that we will have reviews of both posted tomorrow!

Also, we’ll have the next round of our grab-bag contest  to coincide with the reviews tomorrow!

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Chris Park is acting as our correspondent in his spare time out at E3 in Los Angeles this week. After waking in San Fransisco at 1 a.m. and making the five-hour trek to the Los Angeles Convention center today, Park sat in on the Sony Computer Entertainment Press Conference. Then he did a hands-on at the Southpeak booth with two of the publisher’s upcoming titles, before a little wandering. He also took some photos of the event. Park’s report follows… (more…)

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