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…)

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#4 Mass Effect 2 (360, PC, PS3)

Publisher: Microsoft – Developer: BioWare

Our Review

Mass Effect 2 has earned its spot on this list due its outstanding storytelling, rich characterization and exciting combination of adventure and combat. Additionally, Mass Effect 2 boasts an impressive musical score, a vast array of weapons and abilities that can be tailored to any play-style and a variety of ethical and personal quandaries that players must endure, which essentially guarantees a unique experience with every campaign played. (more…)

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#9 Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (360/PS3/PC)

Publisher: Ubisoft – Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is a direct sequel to Assassin’s Creed II, continuing the story of Ezio Auditore, and the major game mechanics are largely the same as its predecessor. But the changes made go a long way in making Brotherhood the Assassin’s Creed game we’ve wanted from the very start. Recruiting assassins and either sending them on missions or having them aid in big moments is a stellar addition, and the multiplayer elements bring the classic Assassins game to the digital realm in grand fashion. (more…)

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Title: Fable III

Platform: 360

ESRB: M

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Lionhead

Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

The team at Lionhead has taken great strides in making sure Fable III sticks out from the rest of the series, and for better or worse, they succeeded in doing so. Rather than lead players though the entire life of a hero, Fable III is focused on a certain period of the main character’s life. As the son or daughter of the hero of Fable II, the player is tasked with unseating a tyrannical older brother as the king of Albion and taking on the crown—and the responsibility it entails—for themselves.

Fable III sports a completely revamped interface, practically stripping menus from the game entirely. While ordinarily I would applaud attempts like these to further immerse players in the world of the game, here it’s so drastic that it’s sometimes more inconvenient than a menu screen ever was.  For example, hitting the start button will not pause the game, rather it teleports the player to a hub world called the Sanctuary. Here, players can change weapons, magic, quests, etc. The trouble is, while considerably more engrossing, physically walking around in the Sanctuary can sometimes feel more tedious than selecting desired weapons or spells from an interface. (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – For the Digital Download Fan…

By P&P Staff

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Super Meat Boy

(XBLA, PC)

This game is alternately heaven and hell for platforming fans, but it manages to toe the line well enough to always be stuck in that sugary sweet spot that makes it so addicting players don’t even mind dying a few thousand times in the game’s 300-some levels. Plus, the Xbox Live version is going to have regularly-updated free downloadable levels added, which only makes the game even better! (more…)

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Title: Fallout: New Vegas

Platform: 360 (PS3, PC)

ESRB: M

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Rating:

Review By: Eric Stuckart

There has been much talk of whether or not Fallout: New Vegas is really worth the time, effort and, most importantly, money. It’s been labeled little more than an ‘expansion pack’ by its detractors, and much has been said about Obsidian Entertainment’s inability to get rid of many of Fallout 3’s bugs and glitches in this installment. (more…)

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Love Borderlands, but feel it’s just not long enough to satisfy your open-world, first-person shooter role-playing multiplayer urges? What’s wrong with you? That game is so long! Anyways, Gearbox Software and 2K Games apparently agree with you, because they’ve release three add-ons for the game so far. The first two are now available together on a single disc. We received a copy for review, but also made the mistake of buying a second copy. That’s to your benefit, as we’ve decide to give it away. We’re giving away one copy of the Borderlands Double Game Add-On Pack for Xbox 360, which includes the add-on content “The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned” and “Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot.” All it takes for a chance to win is commenting on some stories this week. (more…)

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Hi, everyone! My name is Jason King, and I’ll be doing some reviews for you. I currently teach math and geography at a community college. It is wonderful being around students; they have wonderful ideas for new games that sometimes fall off my radar.

I’ve been playing video games since I was about 5, and reading comic books since I was in my teens. Playing Sid Meier’s Civilization I inspired me to get a degree in history and, for awhile, I taught high school history. I don’t know what inspired me to teach math, but I don’t think Puzzle Quest hurt! (more…)

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Puzzle Quest 2 Hands-On Preview

By Kevin Haverty

Seconds into the hands on demo of Puzzle Quest 2, there was a feeling of relief that gameplay was more like the original Puzzle Quest and far from Puzzle Quest: Galactrix. For the uninitiated, Puzzle Quest looks like an RPG, but combat takes the approach of a puzzle game. Matching gems in rows of three or more earns mana, which can be exchanged for attacks. Characters earn experience and gold to buy equipment and beef up stats.

The story and characters of Puzzle Quest 2 are completely new. Gamers get to pick from Sorcerer, Templar, Barbarian or Assassin, and investigate a mysterious castle after arriving in the town of Verloren, and try to take it back from the demon Gorgon. Graphically, the game looks much cleaner than its predecessor. (more…)

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Title: “Kasumi’s Stolen Memory” DLC for Mass Effect 2

Platform: 360 (PC)

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: BioWare

Review by: Dan Braun

The brief encounter in “Kasumi’s Stolen Memory” focuses on the not-so-elusive master thief, Kasumi, who hires Shepard to crash a “who’s who” party within the criminal underworld of outer space in order to obtain a precious item tied to her personal back story. The mission varies from the Mass Effect norm in the sense that only Shepard and Kasumi may participate. Additionally, the first half of the mission is more focused on dialogue and infiltration than battle, with the latter half making up for any perceived lack of action. This variation in mission types is really what makes this downloadable stand out, as the battle encounters offer nothing new, with the exception of Kasumi’s special abilities. (more…)

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