Pads & Panels

Game of the Year

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (360, PS3, PC)

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks – Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

The fifth game in the now well-established Elder Scrolls series, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a game that simply must be experienced. No other game released this year shares such a massive scope or breadth of gameplay. After an impressive initial sequence, players are drawn into a world that has a life all its own and in which the threat of savage dragon attacks looms against a backdrop of a bloody civil war.

Although players will find numerous quests available to them, it is oftentimes the random encounters in the game that are most memorable. Each is full of unique moments that will make for interesting discussions among fellow gamers, and this is truly one of Skyrim’s biggest strengths. The game succeeds in telling a compelling story but also gives the player just enough freedom to make each individual’s journey his or her own. Previous rough areas in the series, such as inventory management, have been given elegant solutions, while side quests are seamlessly interwoven in the main story. There are seemingly hundreds of places to explore. It all amounts in one of the best gaming experiences to be had. (more…)

#9 Mortal Kombat (PS3, 360)

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – Developer: NetherRealm Studios

Who would have thought that all this franchise needed to return to the top was to take things back to its roots? The ninth iteration of the notorious franchise ditched the comic crossovers and the gimmicky create-a-character modes and returned to form in spectacular fashion . The fighting returns to a 2D space, the fatalities are even bloodier and more over the top than in recent memory, the graphics are better than ever, but more importantly, the controls are rock solid and have that easy-to-pick-up, hard-to-master feel for which the series was once known. (more…)

Best of 2011 – Archie’s Music Picks

 

The Best

Evanescence – Evanescence (Wind-up)

Evanescence’s newest self titled album is more of a return to form rather than a reimagining of their sound. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as their more subdued last album, The Open Door, was a bit of a departure from what fans of the band’s breakout hit “Fallen” had come to expect. Songs like “The Change” are laced with the Amy Lee’s signature melodic vocals, heavy drum beats and rich guitar-laden tracks, all while maintaining a generally uptempo sound. While it’s great that the band has returned to their trademark sound, there are a few of songs that sound similar to each other. That being said, this is still a great album and a must-have for fans. (more…)

Chicago Foodcast

Episode 6: The Fire Down Below

Interview with Jim Nichols of Crosstown Pub & Grill

Running Time: 60:22

Chicago Foodcast

Episode Description: Chicago Foodcast finally returns after a long-awaited break for Episode 6: “The Fire Down Below.” In the aptly-named installment, Bill and Archie – joined by third wheel Eric Stuckart – travel to Naperville to check out Crosstown Pub & Grill, in the process taking on the infamous ghost pepper in the form of a sauce that requires diners to sign a waiver, Devil’s Sweat. Luckily, the restaurant offers up some damn good wings, so the process isn’t all torture for the trio. The episode also garners its name from this edition of Happy Hour, when the guys try Jim Beam’s new Devil’s Cut whiskey. Tying things together nicely, they use that as an opportunity to give a set of whiskey stones from ThinkGeek a run for their money. This edition of Snack Break features Bacon Hot Sauce and a special PSA on ghost pepper flakes. In “Hey, Fatty! Whatcha been eatin?” Archie talks Skrine Chops, Eric makes his first trip to Chick-fil-A and Bill does some home cookin’.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Music on the episode – Issac Graham’s “Heat Exhaustion” from Empty Vessels, courtesy of freemusicarchive.org. (more…)

Title: MLB 11: The Show

Platform: PS3 (PSP)

ESRB: E

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Sony San Diego

Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

With baseball season in full swing, it’s also time for baseball games to make their seasonal trek to consoles. With that, MLB 11: The Show is hitting the mound this year with a few changeups to the series formula. Past entries of the franchise have sometimes been short on additions and new features, but MLB 11: The Show assuredly slides home as more of an evolution than last year’s turn at bat. (more…)

Title: M.A.S.K.: The Complete Series

Format: DVD

Studio: Shout! Factory

Series Rating:

DVD Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

The Series

M.A.S.K. was one of my favorite series as a kid. I mean, we’re talking about an animated show about an elite team of guys that drove transforming vehicles that shot lasers. I don’t see how any red blooded American boy could have stood a chance against it circa 1985. I was therefore surprised to find out that the fine folks at Shout! Factory would be releasing the entire series on DVD.

For those not familiar with the show, the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand — I know, bear with me here — is lead by multimillionaire Matt Trakker to defend the world from the nefarious schemes of the evil corporation VENOM. Matt develops a series of power granting masks, as well as a number of transforming weaponized vehicles that all feature the latest in cutting edge technology. Laser cannons? Check. Anti-matter beams? Check. Missiles that latch onto enemy vehicles and propel them in the opposite direction? …Check? The writers of the show definitely weren’t afraid to get creative with the weapons or masks’ abilities, and that was one of the things that made it so entertaining to watch, even for a kid’s show. (more…)

Chicago Foodcast

Episode 5: “The Best EFFEN Episode”

Interviews with Jim Beam Global Spirits Master Mixologist Bobby “G” Gleason and Chicago mixlogists

Running Time: 48:20

Chicago Foodcast

Episode Description: Episode 5 of Chicago Foodcast is “The Best EFFEN Episode,” as Archie and Bill head to the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago for a big EFFEN bash, EFFEN vodka that is. The episode features discussion on top Chicago mixologists competing to make the tastiest concoctions with EFFEN, EFFEN Black Cherry and EFFEN Cucumber. Bill also sits down for an interview with Jim Beam Global Spirits Master Mixologist Bobby “G” Gleason, as well as three of Chicago’s top mixologists and bartenders. Sarah Kumley joins the guys for the episode, and brings Mike’s Hard Strawberry Lemonade for “Happy Hour.” She also displays her cupcake enthusiasm by making a batch of cupcakes from ThinkGeek’s new Zombie Cupcakes recipe book. On “Hey Fatty! Whatcha been eatin?” the trio talks Bleeding Heart Bakery, Park Grill, Meatyballs Mobile, SkrineChops and Owen & Engine.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Music on the episode – Al Duvall’s “The Day Bartender” (more…)

Chicago Foodcast

Episode 4: “Buzzed!”

Interviews with Elliott Beier of Owen & Engine and Eric McCrory of Samuel Adams

Running Time: 58:56

Chicago Foodcast

Episode Description: On the fourth episode of Chicago Foodcast, Archie and Bill drink a little too much at the top of the show when they decide to mix cocktails for “Snack Break” with syrups from Chicago’s Jo Snow, providing the episode with its title, “Buzzed!” They start by trying Jo Snow’s recipe recommendations of the Dutch 74 and Royal Chihuahua, but quickly branch out with their own recipes. Matt Peters stops by to create the Blue Bomber, while Archie’s drink idea seven years in the making makes its debut, and Bill creates something with Absolut Wild Tea and Plymouth Gin not appropriate for the episode description (parental advisory on this episode, folks!). Matt also takes Chicago Foodcast on vacation, discussing the meals he had a chance to have on his Hawaiian Honeymoon. Bill tells everyone to “got to hell” after fast food nightmares with Popeye’s and McDonald’s during “Hey Fatty! Whatcha been eatin?” The drinking continues when Bill and Archie visit Owen & Engine (2700 N. Western Ave.) during Chicago Craft Beer Week for the Sam Adams Beer Dinner. Before having dinner, they sit down for a chat with two certified cicerones, Elliott Beier of Owen & Engine and Eric McCrory of Samuel Adams for a great double interview to cap off the show. And yes, they remember recording this one, and stopping by Bleeding Heart Bakery for cupcakes and bacon-y things.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Music on the episode – Bloody Muffs’ “Fireworks and Beer” and Sea Monster’s “Gimme a Beer,” via freemusicarchive.org. (more…)

Title: Blacklight: Tango Down

Platform: XBLA (PSN, PC)

ESRB: T

Publisher: Ignition Entertainment

Developer: Zombie Studios

Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

A downloadable title with big aspirations, Blacklight: Tango Down is a slightly futuristic FPS that’s no slouch in the graphical department. Dashing good looks aside, Blacklight’s central multiplayer mode is fun and includes much of the standard FPS fare in its seven modes like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Last Man Standing. Much in the same way as many popular shooters like Modern Warfare and Battlefield, progression trough the multiplayer allows players to gain ranks and unlock new weapons in addition to armor customizations. While the game’s presentation hints at an overarching storyline, the scant backstory of the game is buried in two small paragraphs in the “How to Play” section. The only single-player mode available is the 1-4 player cooperative “Black Ops” mode that consists of short mission objectives that lack any narrative against waves of AI opponents. In addition, the enemy AI in this mode is out to lunch, with enemies that get stuck behind cover and routinely run to the same positions. (more…)

Title: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Platform: DS

ESRB: T

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

I was very pleasantly surprised by Capcom’s Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. It’s been some time since I’ve come across a DS game with this much charm, personality, and overall fun gameplay. In a twist of the normal standard, the game actually begins with the death of the main character, Sissel. He awakes with no memory of who he is and must quickly discover who he was before he died and the reason behind his untimely demise. Fairly early on, he discovers he has “ghost tricks,” special powers that allow him to influence objects in the living world and even rewind time to change the fates of the recently deceased. (more…)