Max Payne 2 The Fall of Max Payne Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Never has there been a crime game saga like that of "Max Payne". It has revolutionized it's genre of gaming. "Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne" is a mesmerizing follow up to the original. The first one set the standard and this second chapter followed the original very well. Once again the game has abreath- taking storyline filled with stunning visuals of brutal and mesmerizing action. This time we guide Max through the web of controversy revolving around his love interest Mona Sax. At the climax we see her perspective as we have the chance to guide her through the adventure as our battered hero is fighting for his life. The game holds your intrigue throughout and delivers a heart pounding climax at the end. After completing the detective mode you then test your endurance in 4 more intense perspectives of the crime epic of Mr. Payne. This one is an original along with its predecessor. The "Max Payne" saga will go down as one of the greatest and most influential games in video game history.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Max Payne 2 The Fall of Max Payne

Product Description:
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne brings back the film-noir and gritty gaming of the popular anti-hero, Max Payne -- a good cop who turns his back on the law, and goes after revenge. Cinematic twists and turn as you uncover an incredible plot and uncover the secrets of Max Payne's past

Want to read more honest consumer review about Max Payne 2 The Fall of Max Payne now ?

Dead to Rights Retribution Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Tellurye here with another review.This time 'Dead to Rights:Retribution'!

STORY: You step into the shoes and behind the badge as Jack Slate, a hard-boiled detective who's the most wanted man in Grant City.The story unfolds backwards, starting in the present, cutscenes bookend the chapters, and you play as Jack details the story to his friend.He and his dad get caught up in the middle of a conspiracy, city police and government corruption, and down right murderous deals.Nothing too epic, a good summer fun action flick.This is a remake from the first Dead to Rights, and in my opinion, the only one up until now, that is awesome!

GRAPHICS:The engine looks nice, though hard to show as the story takes place in one big rainy night.The environments are varied with great attention to detail, but lots of browns and grays.The lighting is cool, but again, the colors may make some feel they are playing the same level over and over.

AUDIO:The music is typical action style - no Metal Gear Solid orchestra for this one.But not cheesy acid rock either.Good pumping music that doesn't get in the way, nor is all that memorable.The voicework is good and the acting not bad, though sometimes the writing can be a little cheesy.The characters do make you care about them though, and they make you love the ones you are suppossed to, and despise the evil ones.The weapon and sound effects are decent, but run of the mill - not something that will engage your subwoofer all that much.But does offer nice 5.1

GAMEPLAY:Here's where its addicting, and a little frustrating.You have a plethora of weapons and grenades you can use, and on-the-fly-switching from gunplay to hand to hand combat is a breeze.Really shines there.The disarms are brutal and each gun has its own different tweak on them, but you can't do specific disarms like you could in the first entry into the series.The hand to hand combos can be a VERY long string of buttons.Not complicated, just long to remember.You might just make your own combos until a finish move button prompt comes up, of which plays out random killing animations.Not for the faint hearted.

What annoyed me was the developers were lazy in some aspects, such as lots of solid objects that you would take cover behind are not tagged as such, so you are taking bullets as you are wondering why the heck he's not ducking.Also, you almost RARELY see where an enemy's grenade landed, so you have to use sound cues to make sure you run in the opposite direction.In fact, I only heard the rapidly increasing beeping and didn't know if that was a grenade, or a bomb they had engaged the timer on.So, a couple of cheap instances, but not gamebreaking or unfair.Playable even on the hardest mode.I only died a few times.They put a decent amount of stealth into the mix as you get to contol his K-9 cop Shadow, which was neat how they implemented that.

OVERALL:This game is fun and brutal for winding down after a long day, or if you are just looking for some action.Maybe not worth $60, but definitely keep an eye out for it when it goes on sale.Not to mention, there are fun hidden things to find, interesting and challenging achievements / trophies, and unlockables such as concept art and cinematics.Whether you are a fan of the original or a newcomer to the series, this is definitely worth a grab as it has action 'Dead to Rights'.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dead to Rights Retribution

Product Description:
Dead to Rights: Retribution is an single player Action-Shooter game in which players roam the crime-ridden streets of Grant City with vice cop Jack Slate and his wolf-dog Shadow, doling out justice as they see fit. Featuring the ability to play as either Slate or Shadow, players mix brutal melee combat with diverse gunplay, explosive weapons and stealth animal like hunting techniques in this long-awaited follow-up to the original 2002 Dead to Rights game.

Story
No longer one of the great cultural and financial centers of the world,Grant City laid low below the dark shroud of widespread crime andcorruption. But there is still one among the citizenry who is determinedto exorcise the evil that has robbed the town of its former glory.He has pledged to both take back the streets from the gangs, as wellas dole out equal justice of his own design upon the white-collarcriminals who continue to bleed the city dry. He is vice cop JackSlate. Betrayed and hunted by the organization he once served, hewages war on a daily basis, armed only with a gun, his bare handsand his intimidating canine, Shadow. Together the two of them maketheir way through the underbelly of the city, only to uncover a shockingconspiracy that threatens to shake the world to its core.

Get 50% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Dead to Rights Retribution now ?

Hotel Dusk: Room 215 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The great thing about the Nintendo DS is that there is so much innovation to it.Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is a game that has been done time and time again, but on the DS they can take it to a new level, and strangely it works really well.For any gamer looking for a sophisticated, engaging story, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is right up your alley.It's engaging, simple, but still manages to be a complex game full of heart.Those who really enjoy Film Noir will also really get a kick out of this.

Kyle Hyde is a former NYPD detective.His partner was Brian Bradley.Under circumstances unknown Kyle ended up having to shoot Brian and his body fell into the Hudson River.The body was never recovered, but Kyle still believes that Brian is alive.Three years later, in 1979, Kyle is working as a Private Investigator for those unwilling to go to the police for help.A client has asked him to locate certain items left at the Hotel Dusk.Kyle, of course, accepts.As the mystery unfolds, Kyle begins to learn what really happened to his former partner.

Part of makes Hotel Dusk work is that it is very stylistic.Kyle is a likeable guy, despite that he's stereotyped into being the alcoholic ex-cop.His character really comes alive.And it isn't just his character that comes to life, it's all the characters that you talk to throughout the game.Each and every one of them is unique and distinct.Along those lines the dialog is really crafty and humanistic, to a point where you feel less like you're playing a game, and more like you're reading an engrossing detective novel.

To compliment the game even more, the visual art style is nothing short of fantastic.The character designs are hand-drawn, but they're uniquely done.Each character is drawn in a way that it says something about them.You'll be captivated by it.The environments themselves also look pretty good.The 3D models are pretty good looking.There aren't that many DS games out there that actually have a lot of 3D animation, so any time you get to see some it's a good thing.

The most interesting aspect about the game is the style which it is played in.You hold the DS sideways, as if it were a book.The primary control of the game comes from the stylus.You'll use it to navigate Kyle through the Hotel Dusk, and you'll use it to observe items and talk to people.It's simple, and it feels very much like some PC games of the past where you used the mouse to point and click.You'll find items you need to use all over the place.Of course this brings about one of the games few shortcomings.It's fairly linear, and you'll often find items well before you need to use them.At least most of the puzzles aren't hard, and they're not presented in a "Resident Evil" style fashion.So you won't be asking yourself questions like, "Why do I have to do THIS to get THAT?"The puzzles are completely logical and grounded in reality.

The good news is Hotel Dusk isn't about the puzzle solving and item collecting nearly as much as it's about the characters that play into the overall storyline.This is a very heavily story driven game, much more so than even most mainstream RPGs.You'll meet characters who will lie to you, and those who don't want to tell you things or give you little snippets.When you engage in conversation you'll often be given the chance to ask questions.You are, after all, a PI.Be careful, though.As a PI you need to ask the RIGHT questions.Asking the wrong questions can cause the game to end.So ask the right questions and get the right information.

This brings about another of the games few shortcomings, except this is a rather big one.The game is EXTREMELY dialog heavy.When I say that I'm not kidding.Some conversations can last for very long stretches of time.Not all of them are necessary, and it's even worse when you figure out what's going on, yet you've still got to sit through all the dialog anyway.To put it more simple it's like when a novel drags on for pages upon pages and a lot of what you read is irrelevant to the plot.Hotel Dusk doesn't veer away from the plot often, but it does ramble on and on about basic plot elements quite often.It can be frustrating, especially when you just want to play the game.Likewise, there's not a snippet of voice acting.I'm not saying the entire game has to have it, but it seems like at some points they should have had some.

Another thing that may turn a few people away.The story, while fantastic, is also pretty slow, and as much as I love games like this, you have to admit that those who love fast paced action adventure games will have a hard time getting into this, especially because the "point and click" formula is pretty dated.To a point, those used to fast paced action might be bored through this.If, however, you enjoy reading (as I do) then this is quite a relaxing experience.

Hotel Dusk is a fascinating game.Showing that some old school elements will never die.It's engaging, captivating, and is a well told story, complete with all the elements of a good story.It's a little slow at times, and it can also ramble, but if you're patient and stick with it, you'll be well rewarded in the end.

On the Positive Side:

+Unique storyline that's well told and engaging
+Fantastic character development throughout the entire game
+Simple to play, yet hard to master
+A good soundtrack to get the mood straight
+The Puzzles are not over the top, but instead are pretty simple to grasp
+Crafty dialog makes the game perfect for those who love to read

On the Negative Side:

-It gets off to a slow start
-No voice acting to speak of
-Some of the games moments are very dialog heavy, which can be very frustrating if you figure things out faster than Kyle does, and can be especially frustrating when it rambles

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hotel Dusk: Room 215

Get 36% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Hotel Dusk: Room 215 now ?

Max Payne Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Max Payne is definitely the best third person shooter ever made. The storyline, graphics, play control, arsenal of weapons, missions, cinema, music, the atmosphere, and the A.I. is more than I could ask for out of a PlayStation 2 game.
Let's start out with the storyline. Max Payne takes place in the grimy streets of New York with crime happening all over the place. Three years ago, Max came home to his house finding his wife and infant son brutally murdered. Essentially the murderers were looking for Max, but when they broke in they decided to seize the moment and make his life a living hell. After this horrific experience Max dedicates the next three years of his life to get hunt down and kill the murderers and any cost, even if it means that he'll be the most wanted man in America.
The graphics and the atmosphere in Max Payne are simply amazing and very realistic. Max and all of the enemies that he encounters all have their own unique details including mustaches, different colored eyes, scars, their clothing, etc. Everything looks like New York with graffiti all over the walls, trashcans on fire, and cars, subways, doors, and buildings drawn in exceptional detail. From the blood of your enemies to the fire from the Molotov Cocktails, everything is done perfectly. Plus you can interact with the environment in numerous ways. For example, you can turn on a vibrating bed, play a piano, get a drink out of a soda machine, turn radios and televisions on and off, look through hidden cameras, etc. Plus with a sniper rifle you can zoom from great distances and there is a camera where you follow the bullet until it reaches your enemy.
The play control of this game is very smooth. Moving around, aiming, and shooting in this game is a sinch. I got used to the controls in about 10 minutes and as you use them more and more they become second nature. Plus with an innovative slow-motion feature called Bullet-Time you can move at the speed of a bullet which is very effective in situtations where you are heavily outnumbered in a room or if you just want to surprise an enemy from a short or long distance.
There are several weapons you can collect in this game yo use against your enemies and they all of their own unique feature. Some of the guns are a Leadpipe, Baseball Bat, Pump-Action Shotgun, Sawed-Off Shotgun, Desert Eagle, Beretta, Ingram, Jakhammer, Colt Commando, Molotov Cocktails, Gernades, AK47, and a Sniper Rifle. Not only can you find these guns from dead enemies, they can be found in cabinets, display cases, inside of boxes, and in other hidden places. Plus, if you are low on health you can pick up Painkillers which reduce about a third of your damage. You can hold as many as 8 and you should use them wisely because they are sometimes hard to find.
There are over 60 diverse, mission-based levels in Max Payne that are very complex and fun to explore. Some if the missions include jumping off a building onto a subway, escaping from a flaming restaurant, sneaking onto a boat from an abandoned shipyard, eliminating 3 mobsters in a mashion, etc. Not only are these missions well-developed but they are fun and challenging as well.
The cinema in Max Payne is the best I've ever seen in a game. There are over 200 different scenes with excellent dialouge and superb voiceovers that it will seem like Max Payne is a well-made movie. Cinema scenes usually are between levels but sometimes if you find an interesting object in a level or if you encounter a devious mobster, you will get a short cienmatic dialouge. Watching these scenes builds and builds up suspense to for a show-stopping climax at the end of the game.
The A.I. of this game is so incredible that I was blown away from their superb reaction. The enemies get smarter and smarter as you progress through the game. If you are the type who runs down hallways, don't expect the enemy not to hear you around the corner. Plus if an enemy is all alone and you have a more powerful weapon than they do, they will call their friends for backup. If you decide to snipe someone from a long distance, they will immediately react but either shooting back at you or they will run and hide behind boxes to get a better shot at you.
The music and special effects in Max Payne does a very good job with blending in with the atmosphere. If you are duking it out with a mob boss or in a room with a lot of enemies with powerful guns you will most likely hear fast-paced music that will keep your heart racing and adrenaline pumping. But if your just walking through the snowy streets looking for weapons you'll hear a calmer beat.
All in all, Max Payne is one of the greatest PlayStation 2 games ever made and it has endless replay value. I've owned this game for about three months now and I still play it everyday. And to my surprise, it hasn't become boring at all. My recommendation is to buy this game as soon as you can. You'll become hooked very quickly, and you'll love it for all the reasons that I still do today.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Max Payne

Product Description:
Max Payne is the game where your life has fallen apart in a New York minute, and you have to get revenge before you can move on.Dark and gritty just went to a whole new level!

Want to read more honest consumer review about Max Payne now ?

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Overall, a very fun, and well thought out game.Plenty of action, epic boss battles, and wisecracking humor.They have nailed the look, feel, and music for each Spiderman involved throughout the game.The only downside is, (but doesn't take away from the game at all) is that there's no free-roaming.I loved it, and highly suggest it to any real Spidey-fan.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Product Description:
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is an action-packed adventure encompassing four dramatically different parallel universes, each with its own Spider-Man armed with unique strengths. Each stunning universe has its own detailed art design and thrilling gameplay with challenging skill sets to master in order to unlock powerful new moves. Explore dramatic, stunning environments, wield explosive new powers, and face epic boss battles against extraordinary foes. Experience the legendary Super Hero like never before: Four unique worlds. Four distinct Spider-Men. One unparalleled experience!

Get 1% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions now ?