Pads & Panels

#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…)

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Title: Tournament of Legends

Platform: Wii

ESRB: T

Publisher: Sega

Developer: High Voltage

Rating: Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

In May of 2009, High Voltage revealed Gladiator AD, a promising-looking and rather gory take on roman gladiatorial combat for the Wii. During the course of development, however, it eventually evolved into what is now Tournament of Legends.

Unfortunately, along the way it lost many of the things that made the original concept interesting. Combine this with the game’s numerous glitches and unresponsive controls, and the end result is a legendary amount of wasted potential. (more…)

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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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Title: Fate/unlimited codes

Platform: PSP/PSN

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: 8ing

Rating:

Review by: Chris Park

If there’s one thing that Capcom is known for, it is fighting titles. With each subsequent release, the foundation of Capcom’s experience shows and most of the time the company’s fighting titles are great.  In the case of Fate/unlimited codes, Capcom has released a game that both invites unseasoned fighting fans and the hardcore players to a game that has a deep combat system, but appears simplistic on the surface. (more…)

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Title: King of Fighters XII

Platform: 360 (also on PS3)

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: SNK Playmore, Ignition Entertainment

Developer: SNK Playmore

Rating:

Review by: John Gustafson

King of Fighters XII departs from the long running 2D fighting series with a number of changes to the roster, graphical presentation, combat system and addition of online play. Unfortunately in doing so, this reboot feels incomplete and littered with minor complaints and one major problem.

The three-on-three elimination team system remains, making a team’s selection order as important as ever and fighter selection a tactical decision. KOFXII has done away with many of the additions King of Fighters XI brought to the table, and introduces a critical counter system and guard attacks. (more…)

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Title: Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Platform: XBLA (Also on PSN, PS3)

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Backbone Entertainment

Rating:

Review by: John Gustafson

Before the demise of the North American arcade community, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was a soul-sucking, time-consuming, quarter-eating machine. Its legendary status in the fighting game community is well documented and its popularity is still strong, albeit less than it was nine years ago, as evidenced by the numerous tournaments held each year featuring the mash-up cast.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 saw releases on the Dreamcast (the best port), PlayStation 2 and Xbox before this new release for the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Old fans and continued players will be happy to know that Backbone went to the Dreamcast port for this update, and the quality shines. (more…)

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Title: UFC 2009 Undisputed

Platform: PS3 (Also on 360)

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: THQ

Developer: Yuke’s Osaka

Rating:

Review by: John Gustafson

The world of mixed martial arts, brought to the masses courtesy of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is undeniably a major fixture in sports, as well as entertainment. Yet, due to a string of underperforming and underwhelming forays in video games last generation, mixed martial arts has not cracked the medium like it has television and pay-per-view. UFC President Dana White knew the criticisms of the past and set forth, waiting for the right time to emerge with a new title that he felt would not only represent the sport accurately and favorably, but also emerge with a decisive and victorious win.

UFC 2009 Undisputed does not come out with a thunderous KO, but it does pull off a win more akin to a panel decision with its solid fundamentals and expert representation of the octagon warriors in battle. (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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Title: TNA Impact!

Playform: 360 (Also on PS3, Wii, PS2)

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Midway

Developer: Midway

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

TNA Impact! in many ways captures the feel of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. It features the federation’s major talent, a six-sided ring, Vince Russo-caliber writing (read: really, really bad but sometimes delivering an unintentional laugh) and Jeff Jarrett (the federation’s owner) fights like a superhero amongst men. (more…)

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