Pads & Panels

#3 Minecraft (PC, Droid, iOS)

Publisher/Developer: Mojang

After years in the making and developing a rabid fanbase, thanks to giving users who preordered the constantly evolving beta, Minecraft finally hit version 1.0 this year. The indie sensation gives gamers a randomly generated world to make their own. Dig up materials during the day and build a homestead and weapons to fight the monsters that show up at night, or hit up some of the dungeons and mine away for diamonds. Minecraft is whatever the player wants it to be. (more…)

Title: Rage

Platform: 360, PS3, PC

ESRB: M

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: id Software

Review By: Eric Stuckart

Rating:

After years of development and hype, Rage has finally hit consoles and PC alike, unfortunately with a resounding thud. It’s hard not to look at the game as a disappointment more than anything else, as it excels at doing everything in its power to underwhelm players, especially knowing how much potential the game has in its possession.

Given id Software’s penchant for developing games heavy on the action and gameplay with the least bit of emphasis falling on the shoulders of the game’s story — one need not look further than Doom for that — it should come to no surprise that the game’s story isn’t exactly the greatest. It wouldn’t even be much of a stretch to say that it makes that of Borderlands look fleshed out, but in Rage’s defense, that partly might be due to the design of the game. Much of the attention is clearly being directed to the visuals and the gunplay, which are far superior to much of the first person shooter competition out there. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to really make up for everything else that Rage has to offer. (more…)

Title: Brink

Platform: 360 (PS3, PC)

ESRB: T

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: Splash Damage

Rating:

Review By: Eric Stuckart

Since its release, Brink has been very divisive in the gaming community, and for good reason. It’s one of those games that has gotten pretty much anyone with any sort of interest in first person shooters either enrapt or enraged with what it has to offer. (more…)

Title: Doom II

Platform: XBLA

ESRB: M

Publisher: Bethesda

Developer: Id Software/Nerve Software

Rating:

Review by: Eric Stuckart

If Wolfenstein 3D was the granddaddy of the FPS genre, then Doom and Doom II were the cool uncles. The first Doom took the PC gaming world by storm back in 1993 when it first released, and ‘94’s sequel improved on the successful formula. Now, finally available on Xbox Live Arcade, Doom II is back with even more features than ever. The game was ported over with nary a hitch, but as an added bonus, this version of Doom II has a new chapter, “No Rest for the Living.” With great level design and intense amounts of challenge, this 9-level set stands on its own in the spirit of the original classic. In addition to that is multiplayer, which also features four-way split-screen local and online co-op, as well as the original deathmatch games. With the irreverent humor of every other episode, this is definitely one to pick up for Doom fans, except, of course, for those keyboard-only Doomguys out there. (more…)