Pads & Panels

Title: Battlefield 1943

Platform: PSN (Also on XBLA)

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Digital Illusions CE

Rating:

Review by: John Gustafson

It is World War II… again. As much as it feels like this war will never end in games, Battlefield 1943 pulls off a win amidst the glut of similar titles crowding the scene. That win is due predominantly to this being a downloadable title.

Battlefield 1943 is a 24-player first-person shooter following the tried-and-true Battlefield formula of soldier, vehicle and aircraft combat. Players fight on the U.S or Japanese side of the conflict, selecting to play as an infantryman, rifleman or scout on one of three large maps. Each map features varied terrain suitable for the diverse action, making it easy to jump in a jeep or tank, drive to the airfield, jump in a plane, touchdown on the docks and ferry a boat. Each vehicle controls differently, but the aircraft are, hands down, the most difficult to master, requiring players to rack up a bundle of frequent flier miles. (more…)

Title: ‘Splosion Man

Platform: XBLA

ESRB: E

Publisher: Twisted Pixel

Developer: Twisted Pixel

Rating:

Review by: John Gustafson

Twisted Pixel’s April Fools Day joke-turned fully-realized game ‘Splosion Man launched with the dubious honor of being the first title in this year’s Xbox Live “Summer of Arcade” program. As Twisted Pixel’s sophomore Xbox Live Arcade release after the well-received The Maw, ‘Splosion Man is an original side-scrolling platformer featuring a hysterical cast paired with addictively polished gameplay. (more…)

Title: “Steel & Titanium” and “Flash & Thunder” DLC for Killzone 2

Platform: PS3

Publisher: Sony

Developer: Guerrilla Games

Review by: Bill Jones

“Steel & Titanium” and “Flash & Thunder” each offer gamers two new multiplayer maps for Killzone 2 fans to frag each other on online. While two maps per pack might seem below the industry standard for shooter downloadable content, at least one of the packs offers two extensive battlegrounds and some tweaks to gameplay, and they also run a bit less at $5.99 a pop. (more…)

From Comic-Con Part 5 – TMNT San Diego Galabunga

By Sarah Kumley

We found the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ rockin’ Party Bus (which is touring around the United States) about a block from our hotel. Aboard the bus, there is a museum of TMNT toys and memorabilia from the 1980s and ‘90s. Many of the action figures and toy vehicles I remember playing with when I was a kid. The figures featured on the bus are even still in their boxes. On the outside of the bus, people could play the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up video game and even meet Raphael. (more…)

Title: The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul

Writers: Grant Morrison, Paul Dini, Peter Milligan, Fabian Nicieza, Keith Champagne

Artists: Tony Daniel, Ryan Benjamin, Freddie E. Williams II, Don Kramer, Jason Pearson, David Lopez

Publisher: DC

Rating:

Review by: John Gustafson

The Immortal Ra’s Al Ghul. If there is one villain in Batman’s rogue’s gallery that matches the Dark Knight’s intelligence and combative skills, it is Ra’s. Having cheated death for centuries with the use of his Lazarus Pits, Ra’s and Batman have a rather unique relationship with a mutual level of respect for one another’s abilities and character, but an inevitable destiny to be the end of each other. (more…)

From Comic-Con Part 4 – Robert Kirkman Panel

By Bill Jones

Robert Kirkman, the creator and writer of Image Comics series The Walking Dead, Invincible and The Astounding Wolf-Man, held an (almost) solo creator panel Friday afternoon at Comic-Con International 2009.

Kirkman wasted no time, with a jokingly nonchalant “whatever” attitude about talking to fans about his upcoming plans, in showing pages from issue #66 of Invincible, which Kirkman said will return to its “probably the best superhero comic in the world” slogan, only without the “probably.” Kirkman said he is planning for an oversized issue and a return to the red and yellow color scheme.

Following an Invincible run-through, Kirkman announced that issue #25 of The Astounding Wolf-Man will be the last. Everything is building to a point that cannot be topped in the current storyline, and with plans to continue Invincible and The Walking Dead for a long time, and an interest in exploring new projects, it is time to end the series, Kirkman said. He noted that is likely Wolf-Man will get a “complete” edition.

“I’m very excited to end the book on my own terms,” he said. (more…)

Title: The Walking Dead: Compendium One

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artists: Charlie Adlard, Tony Moore, Cliff Rathburn

Publisher: Image Comics

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

With The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman and his artist company don’t reinvent the zombie apocalypse saga. Kirkman is still mostly playing by the tried-and-true rules of zombies in the footsteps of films by George A. Romero, but he doesn’t need to turn the concept on its head to make it work. The blurb on the back cover of Compendium One (comprising issues #1-48) is the first indication that Kirkman knows exactly what a zombie story is all about.

“In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living.” (more…)

From Comic Con Part 3 – Ratchet & Clank Community Event

By: Bill Jones

Sony Computer Entertainment invited us out to the Legends Room at the Hard Rock Hotel Wednesday evening for the Ratchet and Clank Community Event, featuring Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time, the upcoming second disc-based installment of Ratchet and Clank on PlayStation 3. (more…)

Title: X-Men Trilogy Pack

Format: 9-Disc Blu-ray

Studio: 20th Century Fox

The X-Men Trilogy Pack is a sleeved-set that comprises three cases, one for each of the first three X-Men films, each with three Blu-ray discs. Due to the nature of the separate films, John opted to review each of the films and their features separately, but the trilogy is ultimately purchased in one boxed set.

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Comic-Con Part 2 – Preview Night Floor

By Bill Jones

Holy crap, Batman! – It is the first thing that comes to mind after preview night at Comic-Con International. Preview night was…something else. Overwhelming might be one word. Exhilarating another. But pure, unbridled chaos seems the best description for the exhibit floor Wednesday night. (more…)