The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've always been told the "good things come to those who wait." Well, in this case a GREAT thing has come.
Like another reviewer, I also just recently purchased my 360 (just yesterday!), though I'd had Oblivion on order for months. I suffered a little buyer's remorse seeing as the $400 for the system really wasn't budgeted at the time I dropped it, but the second I started playing this game, it all seemed to come together.
I'd heard alot about some of the 360's launch titles bombing, and how everyone was still waiting for the "next gen-ness" of this next gen console. So, as a die-hard "Morrowind" fan, my biggest fear was that the hype for this title would match it against standards it couldn't meet. Bethesda has stepped up to the plate and knocked the ball right out of its skin!
Visually, this game is amazing. The grass, the flowers, the trees, the statues, the rocks, the ruins, it's all breath-taking; there's truly no point in trying to describe the visuals here- words simply will not do. The character creation has got to be one of the most meticulous processes I've ever come across; I spent about 40 minutes tweaking my guy's nose, eyes and complexion to get them just right! Long story short, if you invest enough time (because there are tons of features you're able to adjust,) you can most likely make a character that looks disturbingly like yourself...
The combat system is much improved from Morrowind, not to mention more realistic. There's blood now and the 'rag-doll' mechanics are the perfect addition- I didn't even realize I wanted rag-dolls until I chopped a guy down at the top of a staircase who then proceeded to tumble down the stairs and lay beaten in a lifeless heap. My jaw simply dropped; it's the little things. I also like that the magic is a bit more accessible now; you need not toggle between melee and magic stances which made for some awkward moments in Morrowind...
The music is perfect. Unlike the sole score in Morrowind that permeated the entire game from beginning to end, Oblivion sports musical themes of mysticism, nature, dungeons, danger, heroism and a bunch others as far as I can tell. I have yet to feel any need to even think about utilizing the 360's awesome custom soundtrack feature with this game.
While all the reading that turned so many people away from Morrowind never bothered me, I must admit that the fact that everything is voiced over makes for a much more engulfing experience. And I do mean everything! No matter which direction you may steer a conversation, the people you'll interact with are on the ball with pertinent, AUDIBLE responses. And don't forget to eavesdrop every now and again; I've been told that you can even pick up some quest by litterally over-hearing NPCs talking amongst themselves!
That brings me to the NPCs (Non-Player/able Characters.) Unlike Morrowind and every other RPG since time immemorial, Oblivion's NPCs do not wander aimlessly, in predictable patterns or stay still in the same place day after day. These NPCs have been equipped with an AI of sorts that has them live there own life (based roughly on a 24 hour schedule, I believe) and interact with there surroundings! They sleep, they eat, they leave their houses to go to market or hang out in bars!
Oh, and the Collector's Edition IS worth the extra $10; very much so! The manual discussing the history of Tamriel is quite an interesting, descriptive read, and I'll admit a bit of childish pride in owning an authentic replica of a gold Septim! But the real gem of the C.E. is the second disc devoted strictly to detailing the making of this epic game. I'm a huge fan of "behind-the-scenes" stuff; I'm often made to consider things I might miss or take for granted without truly appreciating the labors and details that obviously go into creating games of this magnitude. I came away with an even deeper appreciation for the folks at Bethesda.
I could go on, but I've rambled enough. The game is truly amazing and is a worthy exercise of the 360's potential. Fellow Morrowind fans, if you haven't played this yet, you have no idea what you're missing; this is everything we've always wanted Morrowind to be and more. I'll close by saying that if Oblivion is what we've got to see in a next gen consle only four months after its launch, I get goosebumps imagining what we'll see in the months and years to come.

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Product Description:
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the most richly detailed and vibrant game-world ever created. This new chapter uses next-generation technologies to create a fully immersive gaming adventure. After the mysterious and untimely death of the Emperor, the throne of Tamriellies empty. With the Empire ready to crumble, the gates of Oblivion open and demons march upon the land. To end this growing darkness, you must find the lost heir to the throne and unravel the sinister plot that threatens to destroy all of Tamriel. Special Collector's Edition includes: Pocket Guide to the Empire, Making of Oblivion Documentary and Septim Gold Coin.Next-generation graphics for lifelike towns, dungeons, and the most realistic forests ever created in a game -- optimized for high-definition TVs

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Soul Calibur IV Review

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(More customer reviews)If you've played any of the other Soul Calibur games, this game plays pretty much the same way. The reason this series is so much better than the other series out there I feel is the ability to, blow-to-blow, attack your opponent with series of attacks that do not involve memorizing a long string of commands like in the Tekken series. That said, this game is basically Soul Calibur III plus some small enhancements (outside of HD graphics) that I personally don't notice that much.

This is a really simple fighting game to pick up for first-timers, and there is almost always a character and a fighting style to suit your desire. Really, the only two very similar characters in the game are Siegfried and Nightmare, apparently for a good reason if you know a bit about the forgettable story.

Some specific notes:

Gameplay: Single player - A- ; Multiplayer (local + online) - A
First off, I don't believe games like these aren't really meant to be bought for single player. Clearly, you'd expect to practice your game in your time so that you can lay down the law against your friends on multiplayer modes.

AI is reasonably intelligent in this game, outside of being very simple in the earlier levels on the Normal difficulty setting. Higher up in difficulty, the AI plays defense very well, and this can get really frustrating, sometimes even forcing you to abandon normal attacks and to go for grapples, which for some reason the AI is pretty bad at countering.

Otherwise, when playing your friends, this is not exactly one of those fighting games that you can button-mash and expect to win. Definitely some skill and practice is involved, and the smoothness of the fights and the transitions from blow to blow make this THE fighting game to get.

Online gameplay is smooth and overall as good as the local multiplayer experience. I have not experienced any issues with lag or skippy gameplay. My only complaint here is how selecting "Quick Match" in ranked has the tendency to just match you with someone who has an open game. As a game creator, you can select the level of players you intend to play against. As a level 1 trying out the online game, I got put into too many matches against level 60+ and got slaughtered.

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Story: C
This is the the only reason I am giving this game four stars. For a game that seems to promote its story about the struggle between an evil sword and a cleansing sword (assuming I even understand it right), especially from the moment the trailers hit TV screens nationwide, this game does a terrible job of incorporating the story into the game. This said, most fighting games that even have storylines do terrible jobs at integrating the story into the game as well.

If you are looking for a fighting game with a pretty nicely integrated storyline, the best that I can think of are the WWE Smackdown series. In this game, the story consists of short cutscenes between fights that hint at the location of the next fight, and maybe short snide remarks that the characters say at each other right as the fight is about to begin (that in most cases don't even seem to make any logical sense together).

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Overall, this is a great fighting game to have. It's purely that and nothing more. Expect to play single player mode quite a bit in order to unlock characters and items. The real fun of this game really comes from multiplayer modes. I think that fronting $60 may be a stretch for this game unless you're really into this series.

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Product Description:
The world's premier weapon based fighting game franchise returns to deliver a true next generation fighting experience. Set to finally reveal the origins of the Soulcalibur saga, Soulcalibur IV features both new and familiar faces from across the galaxy, seeking the rival swords for vengeance, honor and salvation. In a monumental alliance, legendary Star Wars icons, Darth Vader and Yoda invade the Soulcalibur IV continues the series' tradition of reinventing, enhancing and breaking new boundaries. Now the world's favorite fighting game redefines the entire genre for the next generation of both new, and fiercely loyal Soulcalibur fans.

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Hitman: Blood Money for PC Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a big fan of the Hitman games, with Hitman 2 being one of top-10 favorite games of all time. So when I claim that Blood Money is the best Hitman yet, that's a big statement for me. The developers have taken everything that was great in the previous games and made it better.The levels are bigger, the AI is (slightly) improved, replay value is greater, and the game looks beautiful. There is still room for improvement, but not much.

Gameplay: Like the previous 3 games, you are cast as an assassin working for an agency that provides contracts. This time, all of your missions (except 1) are set in America, where you'll have to get to the bottom of a plot to destroy the agency. Unlike the other games, you're paid for each hit, and you can use the money to upgrade weapons, buy other items (like bombs, protective vests, health boosts, etc.), and lower you notoriety level. The payment are very generous, and I ended up with $2.5 million at the end of the game, which seemed rather excessive.Also, there is really no need to spend money on upgrading most weapons, since an upgraded silverballer and a sniper rifle will do just fine for any mission. Regarding notoriety, this is a 0-100 meter that goes up if you are seen while doing a job. You can bribe witnesses to lower the rating.It's an interesting touch, especially since the notoriety rating affects how the newspaper will report your actions and appearance after each mission and how difficult the next mission will be.

This game is more about stealth than the previous ones, and it's a bit harder to earn the highest ratings. I played on expert difficulty (which I recommend for most people familiar with these kinds of games), and you can't just blast your way through most level (or you'll probably end up dead).Anyway, doing so would take a lot of the enjoyment out of the game.The game is at its best when tension sets in and you're wondering if your disguise is working, or whether anyone is going to find that dead body you hid, or whether you can make it to the exit without tipping off the guards.Thankfully, this game adds a lot of new gameplay elements to make things interesting.You can hide bodies in containers, hide in closets, climb and scale things, take hostages, push people off ledges, and more. And finally, Agent 47 has a melee attack which is pretty potent.Of course, all of the old moves are there, such as poisoning by syringe, strangulation by fiber wire, death by sniper rifle, etc.All of the levels are large, so you'll have to do some trial-and-error runs to get a sense of where things are as well as the possible angles that you can approach the target(s). And since there are usually a few to several different ways to kill targets, the game has some replay value.

Since I have a thing for blowing people up with remote-controlled C4, my best rating was "Professional." To get the highest rating (which I assume is "Silent Assassin"), expect to work on a mission for a 2-3 hours (at least on expert difficulty or higher).Altogether, there are 12 missions which will take 25-35 hours to complete, if you are playing them as intended (stealthy).Generally, the AI is convincing. However, as in the previous games, there will be a few occasions when guards seem to know things that they shouldn't, or seem to not notice things that they should.

Graphics: The visuals are great, especially the environments. Las Vegas looks phenomenal, as do the White House and suburbia levels.The game has a very refined, stylistic quality about it. Character models are pretty good, but not vastly improved over the last two games and many are repeated.The game has many more animations, especially for Agent 47.

Sound: Everything works well in this department. Solid voice acting, nice ambiant sounds, and another solid soundtrack by Jesper Kyd. All of the weapons sound appropriate, but this is a game in which you want to be as quiet as possible!

Technical Issues/Stability: I played this game with the patch that came out right at the release date.I have had no problems: not a single crash, freeze, or hiccup.I was able to play smoothly at 1024x768 resolution with most settings on high (I have a P4 3.0ghz, 1 GB of RAM, Geforce 6600GT video card).The game is well polished.The manual is decent, and the first mission is a tutorial that will familiarize you with the gameplay.

Yes, this is indeed the best Hitman game yet (though Hitman 2 is still a sentimental favorite of mine).The game has a cliff-hanger ending, so I assume there will be a sequel.At least I hope so.If you like the Hitman games or stealth games in general, I highly recommend this one.

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars

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Product Description:
Hitman's back, drawing you closer than ever into his deadly world where staying anonymous, and being smart and totally ruthless are the key to a perfect execution.Lucrative contracts on the rich and powerful in high profile locations make killing for money good business.But when a rival agency enters the scene it's war, and only the best man will be left standing.

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My Sims: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Sims is a really fun game, and I play it when I have the chance to.It is a game where you create your own person from their voice to their clothes, and then create your own town by picking who lives in it and remodeling other peoples homes (and building your own).Before you do this though, you have to do a pretty long tutorial before you can play on your own.Also, the Prima Official Game Guide to the Sims is very helpful.It tells you who all the people in the game are, it shows you all the blueprints and tells you how to get them, and it also tells you about all the essences and where to find them.All in all, this is a really good game and I recommend it to anyone who likes building things or doing whatever you want in a game.

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Product Description:
Harvest every building block with our Essence gathering walkthrough.
Develop a town from a run-down train stop into a thriving community of town residents.
Unlock every town resident, including exclusive Uber characters.
View tasks in advance and be prepared for the wants and demands of town residents.
Obtain every design blueprint by becoming Best Friends with every character.

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Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me start this review by saying METAL GEAR SOLID for PSX is my all-time favorite game ever.And before that was my favorate game of all time, SNATCHER for the Sega CD was (both written and directed by Hideo Kojima).After the huge let down that was Metal Gear Solid 2, I was looking forward to this remake that would feature the same great gameplay mechanics as MGS2 with the same great storyline of MGS.Did this game deliver?Yes.Well...sort of.While the game has much prettier graphics and gameplay, there are some things changed where they never should have messed with perfection:

1.) My first gripe is the decline in voice acting.Naomi, Mei Ling, and Natasha have all lost their ethnic accents which gave them personality in the original, so now they just seem stiff and boring.The voice acting overall is just not as good, and I didn't like the tweaks made to the script.

2.) The absence of the classic music that made scenes so exciting in favor of that weird techno crap from MGS2.

3.)While I do like some of the extended cutscenes, such as the first encounter with the ninja, others are just ridiculously over-the-top, and too matrix wannabie.

4.) While the game does sport the much improved gameplay of MGS2, the level layouts are exactly the same and were not designed with these play mechanics in mind, rendering them pretty much unnecessary to use, with the exception of the first person view mode... which, as another reviewer pointed out, deletes certain challenges from the game.

Overall, it just doesn't have the magic or the soul that the original does.If you never played the original game, none of the above will bother you, so I highly recommend you buy this.For those of you who have played the original, it's worth a rental to play through with the spiffy new graphics, cutscenes, etc.But I'd take original over this remake any day of the week.If you want to play a remake that surpasses its original, I recommend the Resident Evil remake for the Gamecube.

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Product Description:
In Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, superspy Solid Snake infiltrates the GameCube for one of the most games ever! Twin Snakes is a complete remake of the legendary Metal Gear Solid, with updated graphics for better, smoother gaming. Prepare to save the world, in the game that launched a classic series and started the spy gaming genre!

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Mega Man Anniversary Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)NOTE - I have not played much of the PS2 version of "Mega Man Anniversary Collection", but I have noticed the controller is much easier to use than the GameCube's.If you're interested in this title, the technical aspects of both versions should be identical.

REVIEW
Just how much fun is it to play that old-school, side-scrolling, blue bomber anyway?These games have not lost their touch at all.Both gamers who suffer from incurable nostalgia (like me) and those of the next-gen consoles (like most of today's generation) can enjoy this compilation.

The basic premise for this series is that as Mega Man, you will complete from 4-to-8 stages (depending on the game), each with plenty of side-scrolling shooting your way through robot enemies and jumping exercises, and each ending with a Boss battle.You must choose wisely, though, because although you can finish them in any order, certain bosses' weapons have a distinct advantage over another.After defeating these foes, Dr. Wily awaits Mega Man at his castle, which will require every weapon you've just gained to progress.It is this freedom-of-choice that gives the "Mega Man" franchise such a proud place in gaming history.

What Capcom did right with this series is not incorporate too many new features that weren't already in the games.For example, you won't be able to Slide until the 3rd game, nor will you charge up your Mega Buster until the 4th game.These games are properly ported form their original versions.
Sure, there are a few touches here and there.There isn't as much framerate slowdown as before, a useless map is now added to the PAUSE Menu, and the timeline references ("20XX") match today's timeline ("2004").The best addition is a SAVE feature, that allows you to avoid those annoying Passwords, and just jump right where you left off.You'll lose you acquired Lives and E-Tanks, but the level-and-weapon status remains intact.

Many consider the first 3 games to be the classic titles.
The first "Mega Man" is still the hardest of them all.The enemies are unrelenting, and I've read that there used to be a Boss glitch that Capcom removed, forcing you to use your skills even more.Although basic in concept, the challenge is very unforgiving in some levels.This game is hard.

"Mega Man 2" is my favorite of them all, because the music is catchy as hell, plus the bosses and levels are expertly designed.For those who've played this game before, the fourth Dr. Wily boss is still a pain-in-the-ass though.

"Mega Man 3" is by far the longest in the series, as you'll battle 8 original bosses, then the 8 from "Mega Man 2", then tackle Dr. Wily's 6 stages of combat.This entry is also a little tough, because you're gonna have to be extra-smart to make it through this one.

Most fans consider the next three games ("Mega Man" 4,5,6) to be the money-making sequels.Back in the day, I would agree, but since the price of this disc is less than these 3 titles combined at original price, I won't complain.Also, they're so much fun that how can you resist the technical improvements.

The 4th game is when the powers and upgrades become more plentiful.Eight more levels await, and this time there are actually 2 castles to shoot your way through.This one holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first one I ever beat.

"Mega Man 5" and "Mega Man 6" share many similiarities.Both games start off with 8 robot bosses, then reveal the supposed enemy's castle of 4 stages, only to expose that Dr. Wily was behind it all, and give us a few more stages to battle through.The stories are a joke, but who's reading anyway.But neither of these games are bad at all, and proudly earn their spots in the classic NES sextilogy.

"Mega Man 7" was the SNES game that reinvigorated the franchise for many fans.Better graphics and sound quality, not to mention some unique bosses, gave this series some more life.To be honest, I think this game runs a little slower than my taste, as the NES games are much more faster-paced.Still, a worthy entry,

The 8th game was released on the PS-one, and to be honest, I haven't beaten it yet because the stages are truly mind-boggling in puzzles and challenging with their platforming sections.I'm having a great time with it, though, and eagerly await the concluding obstacles...

There are even two bonus fighting games that aren't too bad.They're both themed after the 8 previous games, and allow Mega Man, his brother Proto Man, and newfound ally Bass, to face off in classic Capcom 2D fighting.Think "Street Fighter" with "Mega Man" weapons.

Included on this disc are some bogus extra features that I could do without, but that's not why you buy collections like this."Mega Man Anniversary Collection" is all about the evolution of gaming.The action of these titles was deceptively simple, and I have no problem recommending this disc to anybody.My minor quibble with this game is that the GameCube controller's D-Pad is too damn small, but that's a problem I can overlook.I'm recommending people buy this collection of titles because they are all about gaming.You won't find "Metal Gear Solid"-like complicated stories, or "Final Fantasy"-like levelling up, or "Resident Evil"-like puzzles.All of those are great titles, but "Mega Man" is much simpler.All you need are two hands, keen eyes, and a hunger to execute these commands..."Run---Jump---Shoot".Can you do that?Good, now stop reading my review and buy this already!

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Product Description:
Mega Man Compilation disc, put together in celebration of Mega Man's 15th birthday. Paying tribute to Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune, Capcom's Mega Man Anniversary Collection anthology set will collect Mega Man 1 through 8 in a single package in addition to two arcade titles never before released in the U.S., Mega Man: The Power Battle and Mega Man: The Power Fighters. In addition to an updated soundtrack, fans of the blue hero will also find a cache of unlockable bonus features that include 30 minutes of anime (PlayStation 2 version), producer interviews (GameCube version) and a history of the series.

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Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Review

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(More customer reviews)This software was put together beautifully.The graphics are top notch as is the audio.My 3 year old enjoyed this software for the 8-10 times he played it.It would have been nice to have different levels that the kidscould progress to instead of the same game and the same 3 trains in the carwash and other games over and over again.This software is fun and it ispart of our library so that we can pull it out every few weeks.I wouldhave preferred something that held his interest for a longer period oftime.A nice touch is the ability to print out pictures of the trainseither in color or black and white for your kids to color.This partcontinues to be a hit.Despite my reservations regarding different levels,I still recommend this software.

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Product Description:
This software is BRAND NEW. Packaging may differ slightly from the stock photo above. Please click on our logo above to see over 15,000 titles in stock.

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Hot Shots Golf2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this game because I wanted a game to play with my friends who don't play video games as much as I do.The learning curve is pretty good and it can take less than a round to get a good grip on the game, but much longer to master it.As you play against different opponents and beat them you are then able to play as them.Going through the tournament season opens up courses and doing well gives some cool prizes.
Controls are simple, but you can do a lot with them.Spin and terrain play a large role in this game and really add a lot.Still, the best thing about this game is that it doesn't take long to get the hang of, so novices can pick it up pretty quickly.Also, because of its cartoonish look, it's a blast when everyone is drunk!
Single player of multi, this game is a lot of fun.

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Tomb Raider: Underworld: The Official Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is very informative and helps you greatly with the game.An added bonus is they have game artwork at the back of the book that is very interesting to look at.I felt this book really helped enhance the gaming experience and at such a good price its a must-have for gamers.

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Product Description:
The perfect companion for newcomers and experts alike
Hi-res google Earth -styled maps in never experienced quality
New supervisual approach for the Walktrough chapter. Tricky passages are covered in dedicated, illustrative sections. This reduces the need for the reader to search for and interpret text instructions
Features comprehensive step-by-step guidance, revealing the location of every treasure
All-inclusive Extras chapter helps discover all collectibles and other bonus features
Detailed information about the cast, a Synopsis and an Art section peppered with reams of exclusive artwork turn this guide into a coveted collectors item.
Digital, hi-res screenshots to illustrate playing tactics

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Command & Conquer: Renegade Review

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(More customer reviews)I can still remember the final battle of the original Command and Conquer from back in the '90's.What I thought would take a few hours ended up taking an entire evening.Defeating those wicked NOD guys was the most mind-numbing experience ever - I could still feel my brain pounding long after the final cutscene played.Getting up for work the next day was almost as difficult!
So, of course when Westwood announced they were going to make a first-person shooter based on C&C, I had to get it.I can tell you C&C Renegade is a worthy first attempt yet it does fall short compared to the current crop of shooters out now.
PROS:
1. Graphics - I'm surprised at other reviewer's complaints.Not the best in terms of detail or graphic quality, but still very good for a game of this size and scope.
2. Action - Very engaging.It's not a one-man show - you're usually thrown into the heat of battle with explosions all around you.Plus you get to drive a lot of the vehicles too.
3. C&C Theme - all the goodies, GDI Cannons, Tiberium Harvesters, Obelisks, etc...The sound effects are very reminiscent of the early games, it even keeps track of the number of NOD soldiers you squish in your mammoth tank.
4. Cutscenes - very cool.Just when I think Westwood is slacking towards the later levels they throw in a nice epic movie to watch between levels.
5. Music - Awesome!! (as always)C&C games still have the best soundtracks.
NEUTRAL:
1. Level Design - Yeah, it's Westwood's first foray into level design and it shows.But quite frankly it shows just how accustomed gamers have gotten to having everything linear; we expect to follow a straight line to the goal and never have to backtrack once!At least in this game you can pretend this would be more like a real world assault.Besides, we're doing everything from beach assaults to desert sieges to sneak attacks in cities, submarines and snow covered mountain bases. What's wrong with that?
2. Voice Acting - Decent.Our hero Major Havoc sounds more like Duke Nukem."You're going up against a whole squadron by yourself?""Yeah, doesn't seem fair does it?Maybe I'll shoot left-handed."Am I the only one who gets a little creeped out by the way they move their lips?
3. Weapons - All nicely balanced with the exception of the grenade launcher.This worthless weapon makes huge explosions that seem to leave the enemy unfazed most of the time.Is this thing on?
CONS:
1. Load Times - Ugh.Over 2 min to load a level!If you're killed or even if you restart the same level it takes just as long!It's so annoying you'll end up playing the easier difficulty settings just to avoid dying.Minus one star for this annoyance.
2. Enemy AI - Atrocious! As much as I'd like to be biased I have to admit this is one of the worst ever.I can round a corner, see someone crouched behind a box, pump about ten rounds into him and while I stop to reload, he goes back to crouching behind the box... uhhh hello?I'll pick off someone with my sniper rifle and the guy next to him will just stand there and wait for his turn.I smirk when I'm warned of "elite" enemy forces approaching as these high-caliber opponents basically run into my line of fire and take maybe a few more hits to kill.Doom had better AI.Minus one star for this (and that's being nice!)
3. System Requirements - Considering a game like Wolfenstein runs on my system without a hitch, I'm disappointed I have to minimize all the detail settings using my (fairly new) Geforce 2 Pro and even then the frame rates choppy.You're gonna need a 1.4 gig system and a GF3 at the very least to run this game smoothly.
To sum it up - C&C fans (with sufficient hardware) will find enough to overlook the rather major annoyances in the game.Hardcore action fans, however, will find plenty to nitpick about but may realize that, in spite of it all, it's still a really fun game to play.
Hope my review helped!

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Product Description:
Command & Conquer: Renegade is a fast-paced, 3-D action game set in the gripping Command & Conquer universe. For the first time, you can experience a Command & Conquer game up close and personal as you fight it out on the ground among the structures, vehicles, and weapons made famous in the original. You assume the role of Havoc, an elite GDI commando who fights and explores from a first- or third-person viewpoint.
Battling through exotic indoor and outdoor environments, you're free to use both brute force and stealth in your mission objectives against the evil Brotherhood of Nod. No longer are you playing with just a top-down view of the battlefield. Now the action goes on around you and in full 3-D. Explore on, around, and inside all the popular structures and units from the original Command & Conquer. What's it like inside the ominous Hand of Nod? Now you'll know.
Fast, lethal, and effective, Havoc is an elite force of one who gets the job done, whatever it takes. Put yourself in the driver's seat of nearly every popular vehicle from the Command & Conquer series. Use powerful vehicles to your tactical advantage in hostile territory. If you need more firepower or horsepower, hijacking a Nod Flame Tank might be the key to mission success.Create your own tactics. How you tackle the multiple objectives within each of the 11 diverse missions is up to you. Seek out the perfect sniping spot for a stealthy assault, or drive a 75-ton tank straight through the frontlines. Use the environment for a critical edge in combat. Remember, you are a renegade. You make the rules. And show your stuff in multiplayer mode. Engage in chaotic deathmatches or cooperative team-based modes, such as C&C mode. Call up a friend to help battle through a challenging single-player mission. Prove you're the best through Westwood Online's tournaments and ladders system.

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Jurassic Park: Dinosaur Battles Review

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(More customer reviews)I am basing my positive review of this game Dinosaur Battles on the following: 1) I am a parent of a 9-year old boy who loves dinosaurs 2) I want him to play games that are fun for him yet don't contain violent content or inappropriate situations. With regard to both of the above, Dinosaur Battles is a winner and I strongly recommend the game. The game is a 3D real-time action fighting game, on par in terms of graphics with console titles, yet available for the PC. The dinosaurs are very realistic(true to the Jurassic Park brand on the game) and they fight other dinosaurs on Jurassic Park Island. Even when the dinosaurs are defeated, they just slink off with their tails between their legs--there is no real violence and certainly no blood or gore that I see in other dinosar-fighting games on the market.
Another reviewer gave Dinosaur Battles a negative review, recommending some X-Box dinosaur fighting game instead. While everyone's entitled to their opinion, please keep in mind what's really important when deciding what software to buy for your kids. I don't know this X-Box game, but I'm almost certain that it is probably not designed to be fun and non-violent for my 9-year-old like Dinosaur Battles is. So make up your own mind--just know that I am glad I bought this game, it works great for me, my kid loves it, and I will be looking for other games like it in the future.

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Product Description:
Power up your army of supercharged dinosaurs to save Jurassic Park. An evil scientist with an army of equally evil dinosaurs has taken control of Jurassic Park. Battle them back with your customizable team of specialized dinosaurs--each with its own awesome fighting moves and cool combinations. Build your dinosaur army and dominate opponents to become dinosaur fighting champion.

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Pac-Man Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)I grew up in the 80s playing Atari and arcade games.So when I purchased my new Gameboy Advance SP, I immediately wanted to buy Pac-Man.I definitely was not disappointed.The cartridge contains 4 different games.The basic Pac-Man game is a good replica of the arcade version, replete with Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde.It can be played in full-screen or scroll version.The full-screen version is a bit small, but I find the scroll version difficult to play as you cannot see what the characters are doing on other parts of the board.

PacMania 3D and Pac-Man Arrangement are variations on the classic Pac-Man.Pac-Man Arrangement is my least favorite of the 4 games.Although the board is colorful, the floating dots add nothing.I also find it somewhat confusing, and it's difficult to control.PacMania 3D is enjoyable and includes several 3D worlds.You can make your Pac-man jump, and the ghosts have great menacing glares.

However, Pac-Attack is definitely my favorite game here - a brilliant variation on Tetris.Like Tetris, the falling blocks must be arranged.Some of the blocks contain ghosts and some contain a Pac-Man, and the goal is to arrange the ghosts so that you can eat them.It's pretty addicting.Overall, I'm really enjoying this collection.Most highly recommended.

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Product Description:
Pac Man Collection GBA

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Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)As far as value goes, this is superb. These games are really worth so much more than other games on the market as far as production value and depth go. They are absolutely timeless. Content-wise, this is certainly five stars.

You may be interested to know about this set however...

The games are not individually shrink wrapped. In fact, the shrink wrap didn't even cover the whole box set and there's an opening on the side which the games "bindings" are. I could almost slip out the games without messing with the shrink wrap at all.

Also, the first game is on a ps1 disc and you need a ps1 memory card or ps3 to save like A. Pintor said. "Metal Gear Solid" is still on 2 discs so the set is 4 discs total.

All the discs are black with white font. So they match as a set but look different than the original released version discs.

Each game has a pretty meaty manual as well that match the front and back of their respective game case.

yup, if you're missing just one game in this series, its worth picking up the set.

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Product Description:
Since its inception, the Metal Gear franchise has been one of the most successful game series on any console receiving worldwide recognition and praise. The franchise that pioneered the stealth action genre is back with Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection includes Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 for the very first time in one collectible package.

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Multi-Input VGA Box for DVD, PS2, PlayStation, Gamecube, XBOX, Dreamcast, Digital Camera / Camcorder and More Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought it to use my N64 (W00t, retro gaming!)on my monitor, since I don't own a TV.It has four mini RCA inputs (Standard DVD player and console outputs, one video and two audio) and one VGA input- one 1/8th inch audio (standardfor headphones/speakers) out and one VGA out.It has two other features, one button to change the resolution and a button for each input to change the input selection.The resolution settings are 640x480@60Hz, 640x480@75Hz, 800x600@60Hz, 800x600@75Hz, and 1024x768@60Hz.(I don't know why there isn't a 1024x768@75Hz option, maybe that's just too much demand on the machine.)If that's mumbo jumbo to you, just press the "RESOLUTION" button on the front repeatedly until you're happy with how your picture looks.

It's much cheaper than most mini RCA to VGA converters.I was told to expect about $100, and that is what I found for most of them, which seemed absurd to me.I think you will agree that this is a much happier price.I can have my N64, Dreamcast, Cube, and DVD player all hooked up to the same box and switch between them all by pressing their respective buttons, which is much quicker than swapping out cords.

But all is not happy.The picture's quality is noticeably reduced.The color is a bit off, and it seems a bit blurred as well, but that might be because I'm used to play my N64 games from further away on a TV much larger than my monitor, which might have made the image look sharper.You definitely do not want to hook up your XBox 360 or PS3 through this thing.I mostly play old video games, and you have to accept that the graphics suck anyway, so no big deal for me. Interestingly, I have noticed more of a problem with with color in Zelda than in Perfect Dark, and more of a problem with blurriness in Perfect Dark than in Zelda.I attribute the extra blurriness to more motion in the fast moving first-person shooter Perfect Dark and concentrating on other things and so not noticing the color being off.Where as in Zelda, I'm wandering around and taking my time to figure stuff out, so I notice the color being wrong (everything seems a bit more red, which is especially odd since I'm in the fire dungeon right now) but I'm not moving quickly enough to really notice the image blur.

Also, the resolution settings are not saved for each input, which is why I wouldn't plug my computer into this box if I could help it.I don't know for sure, maybe it doesn't mess with you VGA in, but I was happy that I use DVI for my computer, and so didn't have to try the little experiment.(So all of my mini-RCA things plug into my box which plugs into my monitor VIA a VGA cable, but my computer plugs into my monitor via my DVI cable, so to switch between my computer and my VGA converter box I just switch my input on my monitor.)

Because the resolution settings aren't saved, you'd have to manually change the resolution when you go from a N64, which likes a very low resolution, to a GameCube (Or any other newer console besides the 360 or PS3) which prefers a higher resolution.You could certainly get by without changing the resolution, but the picture really looks significantly better when at its proper resolution.(On a side note, if you want to see was Gears of War looks like at 640x480, this is how you could find out.)

As to the audio, this box adds a hum to it.It's really quiet, so if you're playing video games you'll only hear it during loading screens.Also, it's not a steady tone, or that "CHHHHH" sound that is annoying at any volume that you hear when your television's trying to get a station but can't.It's got a low, gentle oscillatingup-down to it, which I actually find rather pleasant.Makes loading screens more interesting for me.=D

I would buy it again for what I am doing, but if I were into PS3 or Xbox 360 gaming, or I had a Wii and was a real Nazi about picture quality, I would probably go for something a little higher-end.

Pros:
Affordable!
4 mini RCA inputs
Easily change resolution
Easily change input
VGA input
Comes with a VGA cable ( I already have a half dozen of these laying around, so I opened the box and went, "Ohhhhhh, great.")

Might be pro or con: Whether or not the box messes with your resolution settings for the VGA input.The small instructions sheet doesn't say, and I'm too lazy to figure it out.(If you really must know, shoot me a message. =D )

Cons:
Picture quality diminished a bit
Resolution settings not saved for different inputs
Some might find audio hum annoying

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Product Description:
The Multi-Input VGA Box is compatible with all game consoles or devices that use RCA connections.The Multi-Input VGA Box accepts any NTSC or PAL system video inputs and convert it into RGB output for any VGA Monitor automatically.The Multi-Input VGA Box also has standard 3.5mm speaker jack to computer speakers; and supports On-Screen Display for easy navigation.Features: * Connect up to four game consoles or devices to PC monitor * Accepts NTSC or PAL systems * On-Screen Display * Includes VGA Cable & AC Adapter

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Ed, Edd 'N Eddy: The Mis-Edventures Review

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(More customer reviews)My boys really wanted this game, but after reading the reviews here, I tried to talk them out of it, but they LOVE the show so really wanted to get the game.We bought it here and they LOVE the game! My boys are 8,9 & 10, and really enjoy games that are fun and silly.The only real bummer is that it is only a 1 player game- it would be perfect if it were a multi-player.

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Product Description:
Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures is a fun tag-team adventure where you'll control all three Eds. Experience all the outrageous fun in an interactive version of the show!

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Pirates of the Caribbean The Legend of Jack Sparrow Review

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(More customer reviews)There are a few sections in this game with annoying glitches.Some controls are a bit tricky to get a hang of and don't always work the first time around.You have to be positioned just so to make some of them work.I'm talking about environmental controls, such as opening chests, turning cranks, etc.The fighting controls couldn't be clearer, and add a lot to the game.It makes it seem like not just a hack-your-way-through-it kind of thing, because you get some good moves to work with (including one where you knee your enemies in a very sensitive spot, which is one we just never play in front of our young son because we don't want to give him ideas!).When Jack gets his bombs and Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann get their hatchets, it's even more fun.Every now and then, and I haven't figured this out, but there's a fish barrel to reload hatchets so that Will and Elizabeth are throwing fish instead of hatchets, but it does the same damage.I'm sure this was just the video game programmers having some fun.

The game is really a lot of fun!If you loved Pirates of the Caribbean and you like video games for their stories and for the fun of playing them instead of for a lot of blood, guts, and sex, you'll really enjoy this game.(In case that wasn't clear, there is no blood, guts, or sex in this game.)

I played for a while before I allowed my son to see the game.After I approved, he and my husband played for quite a long time and had a lot of fun with it.Now I have to sneak to get my play time!

The basic idea of the game is Jack Sparrow telling the events of Pirates of the Caribbean from his own point of view (with some embellishments, of course).In some instances, the other characters even comment on it."I wasn't here!"And my favorite one, when Will Turner started speaking a bunch of lines that were obviously Jack Sparrow kind of talk, and he stopped and said, "What is this you have me saying?"

So this game covers not just the movie, but extra things as well.You get to go to China (by the way: do NOT play the dragon chase scene in co-op mode... we only beat it when we did it single player), fight a pirate called Black Smoke James, and many other fun little extras.

I wish this game had a three player co-op mode!We love video games that make us laugh, and this one definitely does do that.

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Pro-Evolution Soccer 2010 Review

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(More customer reviews)For the record, neither EA nor Konami has made any innovative upgrades to their franchises for many years. Back when Konami wasn't releasing a new game every year, there used to be surprising innovations in the PES franchise. FIFA hasn't changed much in terms of gameplay since FIFA98. So both FIFA and PES are far from what they should be.

If you have been playing FIFA: there is little justification for you to switch. PES 2010 doesn't offer a much more enjoyable experience.

If you have been playing PES: This is the PES that you are used to and love, it's a nice upgrade from PES2009 in almost any aspect of the game.

If you have never played a soccer game before: Take PES, it has better player movements, tactical support, good AI (except for the refs and the goalies). It may lack the realistic feel outside the penalty area that FIFA is slightly better at, but it is much more exciting in the penalty area when it comes to passing and shooting for goals. Goals in FIFA are a bit more boring than PES goals.

Pros
* Slightly improved Become a Legend Mode
* Slightly improved online play
* Much improved Master League
* Much improved graphics
* Much improved tactics and strategy support
* Brit-pop heavy tracks

Cons
* Slow response for some moves and some parts of the field
* Brit-pop heavy tracks

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Product Description:
Pro Evolution Soccer is a video game built on pride, the pride that comes from making the most realistic soccer experience one can have within the world of gaming. Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 does not disappoint and this year, the voices of fans world-wide have been heard. Based in Japan, Winning Eleven Productions has instituted a host of anticipated changes that make PES 2010 the best yet. In PES 2010 you'll find yourself on the largest stage in digital soccer: The Champions League. Imagine you're in a 1-1 tie in stoppage time against Manchester United. You've broken their defense and are sprinting full throttle into a man to man match of wits and reflexes with Edwin van der Sar... Do you have what it takes to punch it in for the win?

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