Naruto Ultimate Ninja: Storm Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Graphics - 5.0

This is actually the first ever Naruto video game I've played in depth.I was a big fan of the TV series a few years back, and seeing this game in all its HD goodness really brought back memories.NUNS uses a type of cel-shading that, for all intents and purposes, looks amazing in comparison to other games I've seen and even exceeds the art/animation quality of the anime.Colors, line detail, and shadowing all look fantastic for the characters.I was especially impressed at the fluidity of battles and fighting motions that seem to have been captured and digitally recreated to perfection.In contrast, the backgrounds are a bit dull, but even in the manga/anime, they were never that big of a factor in terms of art.Aside from that, this is easily the best looking Naruto game to date, thus far.

Audio - 4.5

NUNS offers a Dolby Digital 5.1 track in both Japanese and English.For a video game, I thought it was adequate considering that most titles these days are just now starting to delve further into higher quality audio.Directionality is fairly good, balancing music, sound effects, and dialogue mostly through the front sound stage, but also through the rears on occasion.Voices and sound effects are taken straight from the anime, providing a familiar experience to fans of whichever language they prefer.I believe I heard that the music was also composed by Toshio Masuda (the composer of the series' score), or at least someone from his staff, so that's another plus.The only problem is the Ultimate Jutsu glitch, where on occasion you'll hear this explosion sound loop in itself at the end of a battle.

Gameplay - 4.0

NUNS makes for a visual treat in terms of commercial fighting games.If you or your friends are fans of the franchise, you'll probably enjoy hours of fun fighting against each other with most of your favorite characters.However, the story mode leaves much to be desired.Basically, you run around Konoha performing ninja missions, most of them coming in the form of mini games, and then the occasional battle and even monster battles (which graphically speaking are the prettiest parts of the game).Story mode itself is fun at first.But with little diversity and no cut scenes whatsoever to advance the plot, one can only hope that, with their foot now in the door, Namco will improve on this flaw in future installments.

The battle system itself isn't really a "fighting game" in the sense of the usual suspects (Street Fighter, Soul Caliber, Tekken, etc.), but more so a button masher.Players can essentially have 4 items to use in-battle, one jutsu, one ultimate jutsu, and 1-2 support characters that can either combo or jutsu as backup.Don't let the button mashing be too big a concern, however.There are actually enough tactics you could use to make it a little more challenging when fighting someone who actually knows how to play.Unfortunately, most of my friends don't...But overall, it's still fun to play with friends, if not for the experience, then at least for the eye candy.

Packaging - 5.0

NUNS Limited Edition comes in a spiffy steelbook casing and includes the game, the soundtrack, and a limited edition Naruto laser cel.There is also a plastic slipcover with the PS3 and NUNS logos printed on the front and a small picture of Itachi on the bottom of the spine that goes over the case.The case itself has a picture of Kyuubi (Nine-tails) Naruto on the front and Cursed Seal Sasuke on the back.If your friends have tendency of not washing their hands, be prepared to wipe a lot of fingerprint smudges off the case after they leave.

Overall - 4.0

If you're a fan of the franchise and can spare the money, it's worth looking into, but only if you plan on having friends over on a regular basis.The visuals and audio are top-notch, but aside from the battles, the story mode just isn't enough as it becomes more and more stale after a while.Recommended for fans, a rental at best for the casual gamer.

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Product Description:
THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA!At last, the line between NARUTO Animation and Gaming will truly disappear! The No.1 Head-to-Head Fighting game franchise based on Naruto arrives on PS3 for the first time to reign supreme in the next generation of video gaming. Armed with gorgeous cinematic quality HD graphics, a revolutionary next-gen battle system, interactive multi-dimensional battle grounds and seamlessly explorable world of Naruto, Naruto Ultimate Ninja STORM will capture the heart of any Naruto fan! Your dream to LIVE AND BREATHE THE SHOW will come true!Master 25 Fully Transformable Warriors - Behold your characters transforming into powerful superior warriors in battle! All characters will possess amazing power that will expand the very scale of a battle to the next level!Experience Jaw-Dropping Cinematic Quality HD Graphics - Witness the cinema-quality animation comes to life in high definition. The line between Naruto animation and game graphics will truly disappear! Roam Freely On Dynamic Multi-Dimensional Battle Grounds - Prepare to battle on robust, multi-dimensional battle grounds. Take advantage of the unique characteristics of each battle field! Battle is no longer limited to flat ground surfaces. Unleash Your Ninja Dream Team - Form your own three-man dream squad to battle your opponents! Unleash your allies to defend you in battle, or order them to perform cooperative attacks against your opponents!Discover A Brand New Mission Based Adventure Mode - Challenge a total of 100 compelling missions in Ultimate Mission Mode and experience the original animated TV series storyline up through the Sasuke Retrieval Arc!Unleash Massive Secret Techniques on An Unprecedented Scale - Using the power of the PlayStation 3, you can now destroy your enemies with bigger, meaner, stronger and more cin¬ematic secret techniques than ever before!

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Warhawk Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been a gamer for a long time and have particularly been a fan of Shooter games especially on the PC. Somehow, online multiplayer shooters have never been my cup of tea. I have tried Battlefield series, Resistance and a few others.

The main reason is that even after putting in weeks I continue to suck at these games. Somehow, that stops being fun very soon.

However, I think I have finally found my Multiplayer addiction. I picked up Warhawk as an impulse buy and after just two days I am absolutely hooked.

The graphics etc. are pretty good. It has some issues with stats and online leaderboards. Lacks some lobby features. Some of these are going to be addressed soon, others we'll have to live with.

What makes this game one of the best I have played, however, is the gameplay. For the first time learning the game was actually fun. While I am pretty bad at it, I can still have fun being bad. It takes a few hours to learn the ropes. I suggest you download/read the manual and a few online guides. After that this game has me totally hooked. I am giving it 5 stars for it's mind blowing gameplay. Even the initial learning curve is hugely fun.

Pick it up if you like shooters. You will "Get" online multiplayer gaming with this.

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Product Description:
WarHawk Bundle with BlueTooth Headset PS3

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Sony Playstation Network Card - $50 Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchase this card and I sent it from amazon to Costa Rica, because I want the Map Pack 1, 2 and 3($9.99 each) from the Call of Duty WAW.

I tried to buy dollars to my wallet in the PlayStation Store (in my ps3 slim) with my credit card, that have the billing address in LA, California, but it didn't work any way.

So, I purchase it and now I can play the 3 map packs. There is true that we need to spend more money($5-6 to shipping, $3 taxes, $7 to bring to CR: $65 total) to get this card, but is the only way to get some add-on, games, themes or something else in the outside of US like Latinoamerica.

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Product Description:
The Sony Playstation Network Card can be used to download games, movies, and more from the Playstation Store. In the past, a credit card was required for purchases from the Playstation Store. With the new Playstation Network Cards, users can shop the Playstation Store without needing a credit card. These cards can be used in the Playstation Store on both the PC and the online browser of the Playstation 3.

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Yakuza 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)Back in 2000, there was a little unknown gem on Sega Dreamcast called 'Shenmue', which became a huge financial flop despite the universal critical praises.Its sequel only showed up in Japan and later ported to the original X-Box after Dreamcast's demise.Shenmue was the game that invented QTE (Quick Time Event) that are so frequently used by many games like Resident Evil 4, Heavy Rain and God of War series.

Yakuza 3 is the third installment of the popular Japanese action adventure game series by Sega that inherit all the characteristics of Shenmue series.But it is this installment that finally exceeds everything Shenmue tried to be in spades with so much more contents and depths.Yakuza series was understandably not well-known outside Japan at all due to its quirky and idiosyncratic eccentricity stemming from distictively Japanese culture.Make no mistake, this is one of the most popular game in Japan.With population half as big as the U.S. but so much diversities in different genres of video games (each game is targeted speficically for intended demographic rather than potential demographic as here in the U.S.), half-million copies sold is viewed as bona-fide success.With sensible budget and half-million copies means good profits and the next sequel.The fourth one has just been released in Japan.There have been tons and tons of games on PS and Nintendo consoles that never make outside Japan, and Yakuza series are one of the rare ones that are available here in the U.S.

Warning to fans of GTA or the likes and JRPG; Yakuza 3 is not a console RPG or GTA-clone, as many would describe it.It's a grand style action adventure game that indeed plays very much like JRPG but so jam-packed with contents that it put arguably all console RPG to shame and gives even the longest CRPG like 'Oblivion' or 'Fallout 3' some serious run for its money.Don't be surprise to clock in over 100 hours to unlock 100 percent completion percentage.Beside the main story, which gives you good 20-25 hours, the game is overflowing with substories and side activities.Plus you can always engage in street fight at certain points.On and all, if you ever played either of Shenmue, you'll know exactly what you're getting into.This really is 'Shenmue' reincarnated, so if you ever moaned about the demise of the series, pick this up without any hesitation.

Its fighting mechanics is Sega's own 'Streets of Rage' style beat-them-up brawler with some depth.Just don't expect more complicated fighting game like Sega's own 'Virtua Fighter'.But the actual fighting is much more brutal, violent, bone-crunching and over the top than the unrealistic arcady fighting games that let you shoot fireball from your eyes so you will have a heck of a time engaging in combat.It's really fun.

The story is thoroughly Japanese and also very realistic and real-life related like actual Japanese TV drama.The plot progresses via dynamic cutscenes and static dialogues.While each literation in the series offers a self-contain story arc but you would have much more emotional resonance if you've already played the first two on PS2. It also have many recurring themes overlapping from the first two.Luckily, the game gives you full rundown of the story of the first two games with cutscenes directly lifted from the PS2 games.

However, the game only offers Japanese soundtrack with English subtitle, due to huge cultural differences between Japanese and western nations, the game will be difficult to get into for a lot of people.Don't be surprised if you don't understand many of customs, references and logics.Pacing would also make things difficult for more casual gamers who are used to quick access and fast-paced run-of-the-mill action game.This is an action adventure game that heavily focuses on human drama.Episodic and sometimes brutal, sometimes poignant, but always humane and realistic, it requires you to read and reminisce a lot as a main character on the way.

Visual is indeed very impressive.Facial model is the most impressive aspect and on par with 'Heavy Rain'.The graphical style opts for photo-realism so everything is very real-life like.But the jagged character models and color imperfection signal that this is still a video game.While not exactly 'Uncharted 2' or 'God of War 3', this is one fine looking game.

Controversy surrounding the contents cut from the original Japanese version are indeed true.

Cut content from the western version of Yakuza 3 includes:

-"Loser" (Japanese theme song by Eikichi Yazawa)
-Wooing women in hostess clubs
-Managing a hostess club
-Mahjong mini-game
-Shogi mini-game
-Massage parlor mini-game
-Answer X Answer trivia game
-Convenience store magazine browsing (you can only see the covers)
-A handful of sub-missions all related to aforementioned cut contents (26 out of 126 substories to be precise)

The official explanation of the cut is due to the cultural gap between Japanese and westerners, Sega worried that it would not resonate as much with western gamers with the axed contents.I personally call this a load of crap for Yakuza 1 and 2 previously had massage parlor, casino, hostess club mini games.I assure you that the omitted contents really don't change the game at all.Only some of the extra side activities are cut and the game is already jam-packed with side activities.But it would be much nicer to maintain the integrity of the original work.

It's been a crazy couple of months for me.From belated port of 'Star Ocean: The Last Hope', revolutionary 3D adventure game called 'Heavy Rain' to highly controversial yet solid 'Final Fantasy XIII' and the return of the king in 'God of War 3', it really has been taxing on my budget.Now 'Yakuza 3' is another excellent addition to already impressive Playstation library filled with diversified entries, variaties and quality.With 'Fallout: New Vegas', 'Two Worlds II', 'Arcania: A Gothic Tale', 'God of War III', 'MGS: Peace Walker', 'Metroid: Other M', and possibly another Zelda, my urges and passion for CRPG and action adventure games will be thoroughly satisfied in the year 2010.

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Product Description:
Yakuza 3 is the next cinematic chapter in the prestigious video game saga offering an authentic, gritty and often violent story set in modern day Japan. Following the events of the previous game, Kazuma and Haruka (his adopted daughter) have left Kamurochoto to seek a new life in Okinawa where they manage an orphanage for children. However, their peaceful life is soon interrupted when a series of events unfold pulling Kazuma back into the shadowy past he thought he had left behind. Making its first appearance exclusively on the PlayStation 3 platform, the rich story and vibrant world of Yakuza 3 lets players engage in intense brutal clashes within the streets of Okinawa, and the pulsating and often dangerous city of Tokyo where only the strongest will survive.

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Ninja Gaiden Sigma Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I played this on the Xbox a while ago and thought this was an excellent game and there wasn't much room for improvement.

So far I've played this for a few hours and must say this game is DEFINATELY worth playing again. New levels, new bosses, new weapons, new scenery. But you probably knew all this already.

The biggest difference, at least to me, is the controls. They were excellent on Xbox, but this is WAY better. NG Black had a few frustrating jump sequences because camera would sometimes lose the perspective of the place you needed to see. This seems like it's been imporved a great deal. Because of tighter controls, action feels much faster, but at the same time easily manageable.

16:9 screen format is also a big improvement, since now it's not as easy for enemies to sneak up on you.

Wether you played this before or you are new to NG, or for that matter PS3 - this is the one to have. It's a difficult and lenghty game, but it's one of the best games I ever played (and I've played many since the original Atari)

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Product Description:
Superior graphics on PS3 Sigma version with enhanced colors and gameplay speed.Three brand new Chapters added to PS3 Sigma, totaling 18 Chapters.Rachel is playable character now including updated story line.25 new Missions in Mission Mode for both Ryu and Rachel.New enemies & 3 new Boss characters, totaling 70, with retuned & enhanced AI. New weapons including dual-wield katanas, double swords, Ninja magic, and others.New combos and special action moves such as running & fighting on surface of water.New destructible environments and items.New innovative six-axis controller functionality to assist in fighting enemies.Upload Karma scores on Playstation Network to compare leader boards.Additional content made available later in 2007 to further enhance the Ninja Gaiden Sigma PS3 experience.5 difficulty levels, including access to easier "Ninja Dog" level at any Chapter during game allows for playability for all skill levels of gamers.

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Star Ocean: The Last Hope International Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So this game actually only deserves four stars...but since I know some other moron will post the obligatory "Dis here game iz alredy on teh three-six-zeeero" and give the game a low score I bumped it up to five stars.That should cancel out exactly one dipstick.

On to the game!

Beautiful game.COMES WITH A FREE $(*@)(%! MOVIE!!Holy 'effing mother of Gargonzola the game takes thirty friggen minutes to get going.I know it's supposed to be an epic tale of survival and exploration but I MADE A SANDWICH in the time it took for the game to start.Sure, people joke and say, "...man, I could have gotten up and made a sandwich in that length of time."Yeah, well, not only did I MAKE the sandwich, I ate the damn thing too.Beautiful movie...but when it came time to move my guy around I looked at the controller with slight distrust."Hmmm..."Lo and behold the damn game was ready for me to play it!Battle tutorial!AWESOME!Ohh...nice and then I can explore the ship and then...AW F$$%!ANOTHER damn cutscene.

When we FINALLY have control for REAL, the camera is fluid, the controls are accurate (except when I "sprint".I don't know who stuck a N0S bottle up the main character's butt to make him zip forward like that but it's slightly retarded.At least make the damn sprint last longer.I have to keep having my guy make grunting noises like he's plowing the remnants of Thanksgiving dinner through his colon.*sigh*

Combat is very nifty.Again, nothing groundbreaking but this is an RPG for frick's sake, what did you expect?There's a little battle bonus board that you can add to by meeting special conditions in battle.A bonus battle feature where you can sneak around behind the enemy...the name of which escapes me at the moment.DIFFICULTY SETTINGS!!!Very very cool.It's one thing to have a difficult RPG...it's another to have to get your guys to level 27 before you can fight the first boss.The Japanese are all sadistic, I think.You get used to whacking all this little stuff and THEN comes captain octopus that absolutely spanks your monkey until bananas come out of your ears.So frustrating...and this game avoids those frustrations with an easy button.

The voices...ugh.The obligatory cute asian-looking girl with perky...er...attitudes and tight pants is entertaining for the first five minutes.Then you want to go and grab that stick with a hand on it from the concorde grape-jelly character who runs the item making machine and strangle her with it.The main character dude says the same...damn...thing...every...friggen...battle.You can switch them over to the Japanese voices and laugh at them for awhile...but then it starts to feel like you're in an airport and you've gotta switch back.

Menu can be changed from modern to classic.Modern being what I have heard was available on the 360 and classic being a bright anime/cartooney style.I prefer the anime style personally.

In the end, if you didn't try this on the 360 then I say give it a go.I LOVE RPGs and this one has already provided me with hours of pleasure.Seriously, don't be afraid to buy the game.It's pretty damn good.

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Product Description:
The year is A.D. 2087. In the aftermath of World War III, Earth has been ravaged and the population decimated by a deteriorating environment. The countries that survived have joined together to form the Greater Unified Nations and turned their eyes skyward...to space. Edge Maverick and his childhood friend Reimi Saionji are chosen as pioneer members of the Space Reconnaissance Force, which was created to seek out new worlds beyond the stars. Their ship, the Calnus, takes its place on the lunar launch pad along with four other starships of the first reconnaissance fleet. These ships - humanity's last hope - blast off one-by-one and sail into the awaiting wormhole that leads to the vast star ocean.And so, Edge and his crew begin their voyage in search of a new haven for humanity...and a second chance.

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PlayStation Move Controller Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Motion Controller and the PS Eye are the minimum needed to bring 'Move' to a any PS3 console. No exceptions. If you already have a PS Eye then the controller alone is the only purchase necessary. On the other hand, to fully enjoy certain games, you may want TWO Move Controllers.

It's hard not to be impressed by the Move. While I can't see how the Move's Motion Controller can become PS3's 'main' controller, I believe that it's going to find lots of good uses and hopefully in hard-core games and in the RPG games that I'm usually playing.SETUP

Press the PS button. If the controller is charged... you're done.

Of course, to do anything useful, you WILL need a PS Eye camera and maybe a game :). You CAN use the controller to navigate the PS3 XMB menus but it may take some getting used to - I am still reaching for the DualShock.MOVE'S MOTION CONTROLLER

The Wikipedia has a very thorough review of the technology inside the controller - impressive. It's probably worth going there to get an idea of what's under the hood.

From a user's point of view, the Move could be viewed as approximately the right side of the DualShock 3 where the motion tracking function is the R3 analog stick, R1 is the MOVE button and the R2 becomes the Move's T(rigger). You also get the 4 Square/Circle/X/Triangle, in a square (not 'diamond') formation, the PS button as well as the START and SELECT. So far, the most used buttons during gameplay were the MOVE and the T(rigger).

In addition, you get a wrist strap. At the opposite end of the microphone or thick wand-shaped Move there's a USB Mini-B port for charging and another port that seems to be proprietary - must investigate.

The controller is quite substantial as far as both size and weight - I like that and liked its being shaped in a way that makes it easy to grab and hold. Very much like a microphone or a very thick magic wand; NOT a remote control.

Based on my experience so far, Move's ability to track your motions far surpasses anything that I'm aware of in the gaming universe. Every single movement, up/down, left/right, toward/away and wrist rotation are accurately captured and almost instantly reflected on the screen and so is acceleration that would usually translates as 'force' in games such as sword fights or ping pong. In addition, there is haptic (tactile/rumble) feedback, a little too weak in the games I played so far, making the gaming experience that much more realistic.

I am not writing a lot about the Eye camera because... it's just there and it's not the subject of this review. For as long as it can see you, it simply does its part so that you may enjoy your game.PLAYING

I've tried so far everything in the Champions game and one puzzle game demo downloaded from the PSN. Our little girl is playing the Eye Pet demo and my boys are playing mostly the sword fight and the archery games in Sports Champions. Considering that Sports Champions is an early game, my expectations were not that high but, surprisingly, Ping Pong did meet my expectations. I've been playing real Ping Pong ever since I was 11 or 12 so I probably know what I'm talking about and the Move version of Ping Pong is GOOD. As for the others... sword fight, kids like it. Archery was okay, Bocce was so-so, Frisbee Golf not too bad. Three of the six Champions events benefit significantly from using TWO Motion controllers.

For the games I've played so far, this is NOT a couch experience. On the Sports events I was sweating after a few minutes and I had to get off the couch and stand up even when playing the puzzle because of its depth element. This is probably a good thing.

I am sorry for having to do this but, absent 'hard core' games, the only comparison I can make is between Move and Wii and... to put it VERY mildly, the Wii shows its age when placed next to the Move. Except for it lacking a built-in speaker, the Move controller is ahead of Wii in every single respect: precision, responsiveness, ergonomics. The fact that the Eye camera can and in certain games DOES track your body not just the controller helps too. Of course, the Wii has the games but the Move games should be coming fast so I'm not worried.MY RATING

It's 5 stars for the technical merit, ease of setup and for the overall experience. Hopefully, the games will be coming quickly and in good quality.

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Product Description:
PlayStation Move offers a new and innovative gaming experience for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system by fusing realistic, high-definition gaming along with accurate, intuitive control. Consisting of PlayStation Move motion controller, PlayStation Move Navigation controller and PlayStation Eye camera*, PlayStation Move enables sophisticated motion control and immersive gameplay only possible on the PS3 system. Concurrent with the release of the PlayStation Move components, both Sony and third-party game developers will release a slew of PlayStation Move compatible games designed to meet the tastes of casual and hard-core gamers alike.

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Heavenly Sword Review

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(More customer reviews)Heavenly Sword is truly an amazing and entertaining experience.My brother and I rented this game and played thorough it in 2 nights.It probably took us about 8-10 hours to get through since some of the bosses were a little tricky.What stood out to me the most about this game was its production value.I have never seen acting so good in a game before, and not just the voice overs.You really began to love the heroes in the game and truly hate the villains, one in particular.Much of this level of quality was due to Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings' Gollum, King Kong) who headed up the motion capture and voice recording as well as playing the part of the main antagonist in the game, King Bohan.

Everything was done so well down to the smallest detail, the level of quality was outstanding.The game looked great in game and during the cut seans.There were many moments where we had to stop playing and just take in the beautiful landscape.This is definitely a game to show off your PS3 system, I like the rope running sequence myself.

The game play was also top notch.It focuses mostly on melee combat and shooting.There is no real platforming to speak of.Switching between different fighting styles (speed, ranged, and strong) and performing counters was innovative and a lot of fun.As were the shooting sequences using the sixaxis to guide arrows and cannon balls were fun as well and a great use of the technology.Overall the controls were tight and worked very well for this type of game.

I would have to say that Heavenly Sword is up there with my most memorable gaming experiences and is truly an amazing game.If you own a PS3 you owe it to your self to buy or at least rent this game.You won't be sorry.

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Product Description:
Emotionally charged, stunningly beautiful, and delivering unprecedented dramatic character performance, Heavenly Sword™ showcases the power of PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. A dramatic tale of revenge sees Nariko, a fiery red-haired heroine, embark on a quest for vengeance against an invading King and his army. The story builds around the ancient Heavenly Sword, which once belonged to a powerful deity. It can never be wielded by a mortal without it slowly but inevitably draining their life-force.

When the invading King (played by Andy Serkis) destroys the warrior clan that guards the Heavenly Sword, the clan leader's daughter, Nariko, takes up the sword in a desperate fight for survival. Nariko must now pay the ultimate price as she embarks on one last mission of vengeance against the King and his army before her life is finally and irreparably overtaken by the omnipotent Heavenly Sword...

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Valkyria Chronicles Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Over the years, my interest in RPG's had started to wane to the point where I ignored some of them simply due to the time investment. While they're great games and all, they take so long to finish and with a busy gaming schedule this year, it's hard to sink another 40 hours into one game when you could've beat 3 others and had a raucously good time on their multiplayers. However with Valkyria Chronicles, not only did it look stunning but it had a unique way of fighting and seemed to have that certain "something" where you probably don't really know what you're getting into but you want it anyway. But we warned, this isn't an RPG to be taken lightly but like a lot of things, the more you put into it then the sweeter the rewards.

Story: It's a period meant to feel like Europe in the 1930 though with a couple changes. Europe's divided in 2, The Federation and the Eastern European Imperial Alliance or just simply Empire, the latter of whom tries to do anything and everything to get what they want. What they want is ragnite, a valuable and incredibly useful resource and where it's abundant is the small country in the middle, Gallia, who has ties to neither side. But when the Empire invades and with a strange, powerful race thought only to exist in legend for a weapon, it's up to Welkin Gunther, Alicia Melchiott and several others to bring down the powerful Empire.

Graphics: The team behind this game worked on the highly-praised Skies of Arcadia for the Dreamcast and while the art style and character designs are similar, Valkyria is really in a class of its own. Using Sega's Canvas engine, they decide to create a different approach to the visuals and while Okami was made to resemble a painting, Valkyria looks more like a drawing that's being animated at lightning speed and it's gorgeous. Kind of reminds me of the cutscenes for the Final Fantasy Tactics port for the PSP only more colorful. The 3D fighting visuals are also welcome and the "boom" and "ratta" visuals showing up when you explode something or fire your weapon has a great charm to it. It's not going for realism so don't compare it to tech-heavy games but what it lacks in realistic lighting and photo-realistic characters, it makes up for in style and art.

Sound/Music: Ditto for the music which was done by Hitoshi Sakimoto who did the Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story and Odin Sphere soundtracks though he's probably best known (positively or negatively depending on how you see it) as the composer for Final Fantasy XII. The soundtrack here is pleasing and there's some good themes but it doesn't really have any tracks that can stand outside the game but when it's on in the game, it's welcome. Using an option to change the language to Japanese or English and either or, the voice acting is quite well-done though some roles are either overacted or lacking in emotion but I didn't mind either tracks.

Gameplay: One can make a case that Valkyria's combat is a 3D version of a chess match, with soldiers and tanks replacing the rooks and queens but essentially here's how it works: a map reveals your position of your characters as well as known enemy positions. You then select who you want to control (which uses up CP, a certain amount of "moves" you can make your characters do with tanks taking up 2 of them), game switches to a 3D view and you can run where you want to go which drains an AP gauge and if you run out, you stop permanently till the next turn. Found in the stages are places that could make good cover such as sandbags. When you've found your spot, you can press R1 which brings up your targeting where you can aim where you want to shoot, throw your grenade or to use a first aid on members with low health and after your turn it's best to crouch and end your turn right away to minimize enemies firing back (which is unfair because they counterattack your attack in addition to when your attack is over so they're really getting 2 shots at you so it's best to end your turn quickly).

Here's where it gets fun: you basically have 5 classes from standard scouts with decent weaponry to long-range snipers (Marina is my preferred one due to her cute and deadly bad***ness), shocktroopers with assault rifles, lancers who are perfect for nailing tanks and engineers who can either replenish your ammo, fix/build places for cover or provide tank maintenance though they're more susceptible to damage. Knowing who to use and where to use them is key. Should a character lose all their health, they're knocked out but here's the kicker: they'll be gone forever unless you get a member of your team over, a cutscene will show a medic rushing in and that member is taking off the field, still able to be used later but gone for the rest of the battle. While you get many reserves anyway, it's probably best to keep your entire team alive.

Speaking of your team, you get 20 people to use in a battle unless stated otherwise in the battle so that can make levelling up tedious right? Wrong. Using the headquarter tab (the whole narrative is played out like a book with pictures on the page being your cutscenes/battles), you can level up your characters in an amusing drill instructor way but should you say level up your snipers, every single one of your snipers levels up as well and not just whoever you use the most. Your equipment can be upgraded for better accuracy, health and whatnot and your tank can be fitted with spare treads should the enemy blast yours off leaving you immobile or strengtening the range of your fire. But don't think this game is immune to grinding as it's best to click the Skirmishes tab and take on the battles which can be fought as many times as you want and it's not just recommended, it's almost necessary since enemies after a certain amount of time will positively own your *** so why not fight fire with fire and make your guys just as tough.

I know this fall and winter has been a particularly crowded season, especially those who own all 3 consoles and the 2 handhelds (like me) but I implore you not to miss Valkyria Chronicles. It doesn't have the advertising of Gears of War 2 or the recognition of the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII but this game is well worth tracking down.

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Product Description:
Valkyria Chronicles is set in a fictitious continent reminiscent of 1930s, Europe divided in two and ruled by the Empire and the Federation. The Empire has set its sights on invading a small neutral country called Gallia, which is situated in the middle of the two great empires. The game follows a hero named Welkin and his fellow soldiers of the Federation-s 7th Platoon that are fighting against the Empire, who is intent on unifying the continent under its power. The Federation discovers that the Empire possesses a secret weapon, known as the -Valkyria-- an ancient race with special powers thought to exist only in legends. With this new discovery, the fate of the Federation-s ability to win the war and a hope for a better future hangs in the balance.

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MotorStorm Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)THIS REVIEW COMES FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT ONLY COMPLETED, BUT WON 1ST PLACE IN 30 RACES ON MOTORSTORM.So I guess you can say I've played it a lot.

I've read quite a few of the other reviews so far, and most of them are written by people who just got the game and haven't really played it through yet, I would imagine.I've played it at least a hundred times, and I've got a different view point.I'll try to keep it concise, and I'll discuss the game's shortcomings first.

#1: THE SAME TRACKS OVER AND OVER AGAIN...After 30+ races, the tracks go from repetitive to out-right boring.I'm sorry, but there are only 7 or 8 tracks to race on.The change?except for a few of the races,you are forced to use a different vehicle each time.The level 1 and 2 races are fun, but by the time you get to the level 3 races, your opponents spend the entire race pushing you off cliffs and into rock formations, and everyone's vehicles are faster than yours.I really enjoy 2 or 3 of the tracks, but the others aren't to my liking, and I find myself cursing at the game as it forces me to run those tracks repeatedly.

#2:BLAZE YOUR OWN TRAIL?Hardly.Other reviewers have said that you don't have to follow the track; that you can go your own way.Not true. Each track has a "high route" atop cliffs, plateaus and mesas (for rally cars and motorcycles) a "middle route" across bridges, ramps, rocks and gravel (for any vehicle but a big rig) and "the low road" through the dirt and mud underneath all the bridges and ramps (for the mudpluggers and big rigs).At certain junctures of the track, you can choose one of two or three of these routes.During most of the race, though, you are bound to the route you have chosen.It's your job to learn the tracks and remember where those junctions are so that you can take the route appropriate for your vehicle.Big rigs and mudpluggers are a disaster on the high routes, and motorcycles and rally cars are useless in the mud.Other than that, you are following specified routes and there is no "free roam" during a race.If you go too far away from the track, you get the dreaded "WRONG WAY" text flashing, and your vehicle comes to a dead stop and immediately gets redirected onto the proper route, which most likely puts you into last place.

#3: SIXAXIS MOTION CONTROL...I still haven't figured out how to use this to my advantage.I am sure it has something to do with where my console is located in my livingroom with regard to where I am sitting with the controller, but the motion control puts my vehicle right into a ditch or the side of a mountain every time, like a jet ski with a broken steering cable.I have it turned off, as the game is just too difficult.I cannot navigate at all with it turned on.This is the PS3's first game to really utilize the sixaxis motion, so I am sure that all of us will need some time to adapt.Trust me though--the game is plenty challenging just using the traditional controls.

#4: NO MISSIONS, JUST TIMED RACES...In some games, you get a break from the timed race, like in the Midnight Club or Burnout games, and you get to race a course backward, or your mission is to run 20 cars off the road or cause a huge wreck.Not in MotorStorm.Your mission is the same across the board--win each race.It does tend to become monotonous at times.

Let me discuss the GOOD THINGS associated with MotorStorm now...

The graphics are the best I've seen on any game--bar none.The stunning detail is a major distraction in this game, as you leap over ramps and view monument valley while flying through the air. The wrecks are astounding as well.Sometimes, it's fun to choose and ATV or motorcycle and purposely cause huge wrecks.You get to view your body hurling through the air in slow motion with the ability to spin the scene around with the R stick.More often then not, your body bounces off of rocks and ends up being run over by another vehicle.Awesome!The jumps are amazing, too.Depending on your vehicle, you can control your tilt and wah in mid-air (which seems like an eternity, the jumps are so huge) to set up the perfect landing.

The vehicles are terrific.All of them react different to the different tracks, which makes the game truly challenging.As soon as you've mastered the motorcycle on the mesa race, you then have to compete in a race through the mud with a mudplugging jeep.Each vehicle has different acceleration, braking, turning radius and what I like to call "dent quotient."The bigger vehicles can take a real beating, whereas the ATV's and motorcycles might get hit by a rock and go flying into a rock formation in pieces.Very realistic.Also, your vehicle retains its damage until you wreck it; which means, you could smack into another vehicle, and then be racing with no doors and your hood flapping against your windshield the entire race.You can knock your wheels out of alignment, too.Your wheels will wobble until you wreck and get a new vehicle.Navigating the dirt buggies is likeriding on a constant trampoline: they just bounce everywhere, which is fun until you are trying to cross the finish line in 1st, you come out of a jump, and bounce right into a gravel pit and flip over.It's an insane ride that will have you laughing hysterically, albeit with sweaty palms.To make it even more stressful, you can change your camera view to "shoulder cam" (for ATV's and motorcycles) or "in cockpit" (for the others) where the terrain moves more than you do...it's dizzyingly fun!

Lastly, the controls are so simple, you'd think you were playing the Atari 2600.One button for gas, one for braking (which doubles as reverse also) one for boost, and one to knock an opponent off his bike (if you're on a bike) or peep your horn (if your in another type of vehicle).This makes it so that anyone can jump right in and start playing the game.

All of this leads me to believe that Sony Entertainment is leaving the door wide open for an entire series of MotorStorm games.Why make a game this good with different missions, tasks and tracks when you can string it out through 4 or 5 games?I guess I'm old fashioned--I paid $60 for this game right when it came out, and I'm staggered at the boring, old-school "win the race to open other locked races and vehicles" mentality.I bet that a MotorStorm 2 will be out just in time for Christmas, boasting more tracks, more vehicles and more missions.Get your wallet ready--we're all in for an amazingly fun, expensive ride.

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Product Description:
MotorStorm PS3

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MotorStorm Pacific Rift Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you tend to buy the first MotorStorm to get yourself familiar with the game than drop this idea.As good as the original MotorStorm is, it's no comparison to its sequel.MotorStorm: Pacific Rift is a great racing game, but more than just a racing game.The game was improved with even more alternative routes when racing.The graphic is excellent, and the interactions with objects such as smashing into a branch are more accurate.MotorStorm: Pacific Rift is also more realistic such as water cooling off your boost, and smaller vehicles not able to go to certain routes such as deep water.

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift has about 80 races, or more.All categorized into four distinct parts of the island: Earth Zone (basic land fields), Air Zone (expect lots of jump lifts), Fire Zone (lava lands), and Water Zone (beach etc).You will find about twenty-four races in each of the four zones.Some are basic races, some timed races, and some eliminator races where racers are being eliminated while racing (you don't want to be in the back).

You will also obtain points, and gain PS3 trophies for your performances in the game.Unlike its predecessor you are able to play in split screen with your peers if you have additional controllers.One of the many extras in MotorStorm: Pacific Rift is your ability to take pictures of your race (pause, and snap).The good thing about this feature is that you'll be able to snap a picture on any angle since you'll be able to move, zoom in and out, before snapping your pictures that will all be saved in your gallery.MotorStorm: Pacific Rift also has an improved online gaming where you can text/voice/video chat, and invite your PS3 friends who also own the game.

Cons: unfortunately absent in both the first, and Pacific Rift, there are no replays of your race.Hopefully this will be present if they make a third, but this shouldn't be a reason not to buy this game.

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Product Description:
The first Motorstorm wowed fans with its heady formula of brutal,unpredictable off-road racing, festival vibes and stunning Monument Valley desertscenery. Now, Motorstorm Pacific Rift takes you to a solitary tropicalparadise in the Pacific Ocean, ready for a whole new take on no-holds-barredracing action through thick swamps, dense jungle, towering peaks and steamingvolcanoes.

Unleash the storm again
Happy landings in the air zone.
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4-player split screen.
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The new Monster Truck class.
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Light up in the fire zone.
Viewlarger. Not just pretty backdrops to the action, these environments take center stagein challenging players with everything in Mother Nature's arsenal. Thick mud,tangled undergrowth, swift flowing rivers, choking volcanic clouds and searinglava pools all test the drivers to their limits and beyond. Expect a rich festivalof off road racing, along with a host of game modes and rewards. It's brutal,dangerous, relentless, and unpredictable and more than a game - MotorstormPacific Rift is a way of life.

Even More Vehicle Classes and Tracks
Pacific Rift ships with eight car classes: the seven from the original game (Bikes, ATVs, Buggies, Rally Cars, Racing trucks, Mud Pluggers and Big Rigs) all reproduced in new forms, as well as the new Monster Truck class. Big, but not as big or powerful as a Big Rig, Monster Trucks are surprisingly fast for their size and are able to roll over most other classes of vehicle and virtually any vegetation they encounter.

The game's list of playable tracks has also been doubled to 16 and are categorized along the lines of the elements and the different environmental zones are found on the island. These zones are:

The Air Zone - Tracks high up in the mountain and featuring lots of big jumps.
The Fire Zone - Track oozing with new land and pools of lava that come from the island's resident volcano.
The Water Zone - Here players will find courses laid out along the the beaches and other water sources of the island.
The Earth Zone - The typical rough, rocky mud-filled off-road courses similar to the tracks found in the original game.

Multiplayer Modes
In addition to the wild, anything goes singleplayer festival mode players of theoriginalMotorstorm game will remember and relish, Motorstorm PacificRift also provides addictive multiplayer modes for both online and local play.These include the same rampaging, music injected, 12-player online support asthe first game, as well as multiplayer options for local action up to four players.Play in local multiplayer modes are further enhanced by new four-player splitscreen functionality that when used in conjunction with the game's 720p HD videooutput ensures clarity no matter how fast racers are moving or how much mud theyare throwing up.

Key Game Features:

The Island - A brand new radically different location for the festival.
Unpredictable Events - Never the same race twice. Events will take place to change the race on a lap to lap basis.
Split Screen Play - Play with up to 3 buddies on the same screen.
The Monster Truck - An all new vehicle class added to the core vehicle selection for a total of 8 different vehicle classes.
Immersive Online Experience - A radical re-look at the whole Motorstormonline experience, focusing on ease of use and breadth of gameplay all whiletearing it up in races up to 12 players.
Improved Actions - A new level of control; punch, duck and ram using a new control layout.
Free-play - Race how you want by creating your own race tickets.
Photo Mode - Snap your greatest victory or your most visceral crashes and share them with the world.
New Rating System - It's not all about winning; it's also about how you perform.

Bells and Whistles: Tunes and XMB Functionality
As was the case with the original Motorstorm, the driving experience inPacific Rift can not be separated from the music that accompanies it. Thegame comes with a thumping 40 song soundtrack and players will also have the abilityto pipe in their own playlists saved to their PS3 the ability to access otherssaved on your PS3's Hard drive. In addition for players who want to relive theirmoments tearing across the island, the game also features PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar(XMB) functionality and Photo Mode. XMB lets plays create movies of their racesand access them from the PS3's main menu, while Photo Mode allows you to takesnapshots while within a race.

As you roll into the Rift, expect a rich festival of off road racing,along with a host of game modes and rewards. It's brutal, dangerous, relentless,unpredictable and much more than a game - Motorstorm Pacific Rift isa way of life.

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Killzone 2 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I play a lot of Resistance 2 and COD4 & COD:WAW. Resistance for its massive battles & COD for the great graphics and super tight play. Killzone 2 is a great blend of each.

There are a lot of complaints about the controls, but none from me. The guns are weighted and recoil as you would expect. The characters move like heavily armored soldiers carrying heavy artillary might. I could see it as an issue if it wasn't equal, but everyone is playing at the same speed and after a very short amount of time, I can say without fail that I am pretty quick with the M82 and plenty of online players that are far superior to me will light you up as quick as any game of Halo or COD.

As far as the graphics, online there is no dropoff compared to the single player. This is the best looking game I can remember playing. I had a difficult time going back to Resistance because it looked terrible after KZ2.

The single player game is ...about like every other signle player FPS that I can remember. Follow a line shoot guys, etc. I only played for a couple of hours to get familiar with the controls before playing online so I can't really speak as an authority on the single player.

The online game has all of the usual suspects as far as game modes go. The new exception is being able to string any of the five together that plays as single game. If you have a squad that you enjoy playing with, this is great. If you jump into a 25 minute game and get stuck with a team of half-tards, prepare to be frustrated that you have to wait 25 minutes to get credited with your experience. It's also worth noting that KZ2 has a similiar level up / xp system that unlocks various items like COD 4. It's about what you'd expect.The battles are awesome and where KZ2 really takes the cake for me is the whole package with 30 people at a time. My biggest complaint with COD4 is 12 player battles on medium sized maps. It is too easy for people to camp and the middle of the screen remain empty for extended periods - especially in hardcore modes where you are playing 1 shot kills.

Killzone 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel and doesn't really offer anything new in terms of gameplay. A similiar thing has happened with the fighter genre. You can only "play guns" in so many different ways, so the next logical step is perfecting the genre, and right now, Killzone 2 is at the top of the heap.

UPDATED:
I purchased the downloadable map packs, Titanium & Steel. One takes place on a moving train, the other in the cruiser shown at the opening of the game. The train is a sight to behold and a snipers dream come true as the action funnels to visible choke points and the map is very narrow. The Vekta cruiser is multi-leveled and circular in shape. It's a stark contrast to the rest of Killzone with bright lighting and vibrant colors. The pack cost $6.00 and both are fun to play. The only problem is not many people appear to have purchased. It is common to find lobbies with the new map pack OR the originals. They're great to see in motion, espcially the train, but not a mandatory purchase at all.

I have such a problem with connection, that I've found myself going back to COD4 & WAW despite preferring Killzone 2's gameplay. Not only am I frequently disconnected, but it logs the PS3 offline and occassionaly locks up the system and requires a hard restart. I've even found myself having to restart my router becuase it locks everything up and I have to reboot my connection. It is exceptionally frustrating to play partial matches and get kicked (especially the longer games) and pop in COD or Resistance and have no issues.

Finally - Clan battles. Ugh. Oddly enough, COD felt like you had to be in a clan to enjoy the game. In fact, it's almost mandatory (log into a match with just a bunch of guys versus a party and get ready to die...a lot, no level balancing). KZ seems to be the opposite. Clan battles have rampant cheating and cheapness you just don't see in the big open matches. I played in a couple clan matches and virtually every negative I'd heard about them was evident(not respawning in deathmatch, hiding the the radio in your base, etc.). I've had a much better time just going from game to game until I find a group that is competitive on both sides. The good rooms are typically set to automatically balance, so a room with a few good players on both sides can be as much fun as any clan battle.

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Product Description:
Get ready to take on the full strength of the Helghast war machine from a dramatic first-person perspective with Killzone 2 for PS3. From Guerilla Games, this much anticipated follow-up to Killzone for PS2 and Killzone: Liberation for PSP drops you right into the boots of battle hardened special forces soldier Sev. Set two years after the aborted Helghast assault on Vekta, the action opens with your ISA Legion squad deployed behind enemy lines on the Helghan's unforgiving home turf.


Motion blurs and studio-grade special effects bring battle to life. View larger.

First-person viewpoints and 7.1 surround sound keep you immersed. View larger.

Realistic lighting and detailed environments add a cinematic quality. View larger.

Smooth animation and improved AI give the Helghans a terrifying, realistic presence. View larger. Combat Lifelike AI and Inhospitable Terrain
Despite the smooth character animations and swift-thinking AI behind each individual Helghan, their planet itself may be the most deceptive opponent that you face. Unlike other game environments that serve as nothing more than a visual backdrop, the devastating Helghan climate takes a notable toll. And, worst of all, the Helghans know exactly how to use the planet against you.
The in-your-face perspective comes to life as you take aim with exotic new weapons and mainstays from the previous games, including the M82-G assault rifle. And you can now drive an array of rugged, sometimes strange, vehicles that expand the gruesome possibilities of war.
Guerilla Technology in a Terrifying, Realistic World
Guerrilla's unique visuals and deferred rendering technology ensure that even the ugliest situations on Helghan are beautifully lit. Ambient occlusion and accurate shadow casting from a variety of light sources combine with gritty textures, detailed environments, and studio-grade special effects to help complete the realistic, Hollywood experience of this first-person shooter.
Real-time cutscenes, full-screen anti-aliasing, motion blurs, and internal lens reflections all bring you into the fold and work to maximize the hardware capabilities of the PS3. And the audio experience is no less impressive. 7.1 surround sound capability lend a truly dynamic sound element to your experience, while audio occlusion with wave tracing means that you can hear the difference between indoor and outdoor firefights.
Chaotic Multiplayer Drama Online
While single-player mode lets you take on the unique challenges of 11 fully developed levels, online play lets you engage with up to 32 players at a time, bringing the gritty, realistic chaos of war to a whole new level.
Other multi-player friendly enhancements in Killzone 2 include in-game clan management, a match wagering system, and the ability to integrate new information and track friends and enemies with the community at Killzone.com.

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MAG Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Most of these reviewers, have it wrong.To approach this game as a modern warfare 2, on a larger scale, is completely wrong.

This is a tactical, team based shooter.And the quality and depth of the game is completely based on working together.

Kids who hop into these games, just running towards objectives, getting shot down, and then complaining about respawn times, are the ones that make this game poor and contribute to negative public opinion.

As far as gameplay goes, Zipper Interactive have proven that they are experts, and MAG is a showcase example of this.However, the depth in strategy to this game, may also (in a wierd way) turn out to be MAGs main flaw, as relying on 128 like minded, intelligent players to enter a game, is near impossible.Instead, of slower paced, tactic based games.All I have seen so far, is games that are very much chaotic, and individuals running by themselves towards objectives, with absolutely no communication and teamwork.

Having said that, this is not really Zipper's flaw.Besides, a few graphical hitches, and awkward weapon selection buttons.The game is a technical masterpiece and a very much needed addition to the playstation catalog.

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Product Description:
MAG is a massively multiplayeronline first-person shooter that is unique in a variety of ways. A PS3 exclusive,MAG allows up to 256 players aligned with different private militarycorporations (PMCs) to battle each other at the same time across a globalbattlefield. Within this persistent game world players engage in campaignand mission play that elevates their character from the ranks of a lowlygrunt, all the way up through the intricate command structure of the in-gameofficer corp. Along the way players players experience in-depth charactercustomization, a robust leveling system and large-scale MMO shooter gameplaythat makes MAG a game not to be missed by fans of the shooter genre.

256-player MMO shooter gameplay.
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A robust and flexible leveling system.
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A unique command system.
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A persistent battlefield game world
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Extensive character customization.
Viewlarger. Story
In the near future, governments are supposedly at peace, but a shadow war,fought by private military corporations, is raging. You, along with a myriadof comrades and enemies alike - up to 256 in all - are droppedinto this unprecedented war. To start off you must prove yourself as a memberof your 8-man squad, fighting for one of the PMCs. With enough experienceyou may even become an elite fighter or earn the right to lead a squad,platoon or ultimately an entire army of players. Can you, will you followorders? Either way your destiny and those of 255 other fighters awaits onthe battlefield of MAG.

Gameplay
In MAG players take on the role of a member of a private militarycorporation (PMC), in a fictional Earth future. Like most MMO games, aswell as some modern shooters, the ultimate goal of action is the levelingup of your character, in this case through success in combat against otherfactions made up of individual online players. At the initial level playerschoose the PMC they will be aligned with, the physical characteristicsof their character, initial available weaponry, etc. and hit the battlefieldwith other squad members within a persistent online environment. Alongthe way you will utilize a diverse skill tree to develop your character'sabilities and skills at tactics and weapons using experience points thatare accumulated in campaign and mission play in the name of your faction.These points are given out in various increments for all manner of action,whether that be objective completion, or individual actions in combat.Once characters reach a certain level they are eligible to take on commandduties. These duties range from leading an eight-man squad, all the wayto overall command of more than 100 online players. Orders are communicatedand strategy developed via voice chat and other functionality. Successin command positions allows for access to special "leadership bonuses"that not only can improve your abilities, but also in many cases, thatof the individuals and units under your command.

So, how does one give orders to human individuals online? Just as you would to AI (artificial intelligence) characters. The beauty of MAG is that players are free to ignore orders issued by superiors at any time. Experience point totals, the nuts and bolts of character leveling, are higher for successes achieved through orders that follow the chain of command though. War, especially that featuring multiple factions, can be fought in many ways, and in MMO gameplay world of MAG it's up to you to decided the path you'll follow.

Private Military Corporations (PMCs)
Bound by the terms of the terms of the Millennium Accord, which preventsdefense forces from crossing borders, nations with the MAG gameworld turn to the services of Private Military Corporations (PMCs) tosecure interests abroad. The leading PMCs compete for contracts acrossthe globe. Each of these maintains its own battlefield philosophy andapproach to military operations. It's up to each player to choose his/herloyalty. Some of the factions players can expect to see include:

Raven
Based in Vienna, Austria, Raven Industries, GmbH provides specializedmilitary services using precise, cutting-edge equipment and advancedtactical coordination. S.V.E.R. (Seryi Volk Executive Response)
S.V.E.R is based in Grozny, in the Chechen Republic. Unconventionalin their look and a fierce fighting style, S.V.E.R operative consistof former soldiers and private citizen, some with rumored criminalbackgrounds. Valor
Founded by former US Army officers, Valor Company, Inc. offers anexperienced team of veterans drawn from US, British and Mexican forces.The company is headquartered in the Alaskan wilderness.

Key Features

Massive Action – For the first time ever, fight up to 256 real players online.
Command Structure – Think leadership is in your blood? Use your advanced skills and experience points to take charge of your PMC's forces, becoming a squad, platoon or even army commander.
Unique Leveling System - A robust and flexible leveling systemawarding experience points for both mission-critical and non mission-criticalactions on the battlefield.
Persistent World – Missions and campaigns appear around the world as the missions ebb and flow.
Choose Your Faction – Three distinct PMCs to choose from, each with their own history, personality and style.
Customization – Customize your character as well as weaponry and pursue a wide variety of combat specialties from elite fighter to a general of an army.

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Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Nathan Drake is not typical of characters you see in videogames much lately.Nate doesn't look like he pumps iron, he won't win any sexiest man alive awards, and his unassuming ways make him enjoyable.Of course you may recognize the name Drake for the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake.Yes Nate is related to the famous explorer and now he is off to find the mysterious El Dorado(City of Gold).To say the least the journey will be unforgettable to most.

The story starts off more like a movie.On this quest you are accompanied by an attractive documentarian Elena and of course your comrade Sullie.What sets Uncharted apart from some many games is the cinematic approach is so seemless it makes it hard to seperate gameplay from movie watching.As your journey progresses you begin to realize you have many enemies.It seems Sullie doesn't live the cleanest life and borrowing money from a bad guy doesn't help.So now the bad guys are out to collect the debt by finding El Dorado.Although it becomes apparent that El Dorado is not a city of gold but a man of gold.

Without getting too much into the story it will definately leave you filling your aderaline need.The gameplay is incredible in this game.The enemy A.I. starts off slow and quickly progresses as you get further into this game.Enemies will actually out manuever you.If you don't plan out your attacks well you will find yourself dead.Although the battles are not the only thing you face in this game there are a number of puzzles that are not overlly difficult.What I do enjoy about this game is that it has a hint option.You can use it to help you in confusing spots.Although if you are more hardcore you will probably leave this option off.There are four difficulty levels and the toughest option is locked until you beat the game on hard.What is a first for a PS3 game is the reward system that is being used.There are 60 treasures that can be found througout your journey.On top of that there are objectives that you can try to complete.Some are simple like killing a certain amount of enemies with one of your weapons and others are more complex like getting a certain amount of stealth kills.

The visuals in this game are stunning and some of the best I have ever seen.What is good to watch is the incredible amount of detail put into everything.The jungle environments are lush and beautiful and the water effects are some of the best ever.Sometimes it is enjoyable just to stand and enjoy the beauty of the environment.Tree branches sway, clouds move, and leaves fly all over the place.This is as close to reality as I have seen.

If you own a PS3 this game is a must buy.To say the least it is one of the best games available on any console.The storyline is enjoyable and reminiscent of many great adventure movies.Uncharted sets a new bar on next gen games and hopefully others will follow with this excellent quality.If you like action and adventure and don't mind being the star of a playable movie then Uncharted should be on your list.

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Uncharted: Drakes Fortune PS3

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Infamous Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Infamous is a great game.Just how great it is depends on your taste in games.This is not a run and gun shooter like Killzone 2 or Resistance.This game is more a mix of a shooter with platform game elements.You play Cole who through some mysterious manner (explosion) has developed electrical "super powers".You are basically locked on an island ala "Escape from New York" style. You can scale buildings, poles, train tracks, almost any structure you can get your hands on.Scaling up the side of a building or up the beams supporting the train tracks is a lot more fun than I thought it would be.The best part of your super powers are your electrical abilities.You can zap enemies with lighting similar to Star Wars Jedi, you can throw "energy grenades" which are lethal and you can develop other powers.The powers you develop depend on whether you choose to be "good" or "evil".You get certain special powers down each path you take.If you help civilians and do other good deeds/missions you are basically taking the "good" path.If you decide to crisp the good old civilians like bacon and do "evil" missions then you go down the "evil" path.

This "good vs. evil" choice is actually implemented very well, much better than I thought it would be.I will be playing this game through a second time in order to see how the other path develops and ends.Overall the graphics are very good and the controls are pretty much spot on.I never had problems with targeting, etc.This is a great exclusive for the PS3.I waffled between giving this game 4 stars or 5 stars and ultimately decided on giving it 5 stars.I gave the game 5 stars because I felt the originality, story and gameplay were some of the best for a PS3 game.That's ultimately how I judged this, compared to other PS3 games since this is a PS3 exclusive.This is definitely one of the top titles on the PS3 and for me personally is one of my top 5 PS3 games.If you are unsure about this game I recommend downloading the demo from the Playstation Store as it is a good representation of the game's feel.

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Product Description:
A massive explosion rips through six square blocks of Empire City, leveling everything and everyone in its path.At the center of the blast crater a lone man stands up miraculously unharmed... gifted with incredible powers. From the creators of the award-winning Sly Cooper series, Sucker Punch brings you Infamous, the first open-world action/adventure title by SCEA, for the PlayStation 3. Players experience what happens when a real person suddenly starts developing super powers.Exact revenge? Protect the innocent? Maybe a little of both? These are the situations you'll face as you play inside of a richly interactive and organic living city.A place where your actions create broader reactions in the citizens and landscape around you. Infamous lets you unravel an evolving mystery, experience fame and/or infamy and battle powerful, iconic villains... all the while giving you the feeling of becoming a modern day superhero.

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Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time Review

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(More customer reviews)Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time is a great conclusion to the series, but the beautiful part about it is that you can play it without having played any of the other games before it.When you first pop in the disc you're greeted with a short movie that explains all of the events leading up to this game.Once that's over, you're up to speed and ready to roll.

The story is quite interesting, it's loaded with laugh-out-loud humor, and the characters are voiced to perfection.This rivals any of the Hollywood CGI movies that have come out in recent memory in terms of animation, story, humor, and the acting performances.

The game is loaded with variety.As Ratchet, you'll be flying around in your spaceship, in kind of an open-world setting, where you can visit various planets and moons in each space sector and accomplish side-tasks.The moons are spherical and come in two really fun varieties: platforming segments which will you remind you of Super Mario Galaxy, and shooting segments which will you remind you of Super Stardust HD.The planets are where the story actually takes place and you will explore much larger environments and meet new characters.In space, you can get into dog-fights with Dr. Nefarious' minion space-ship fighters, or you can meet up with various other space-travelers and help them with their requests.Your ship is upgradable, you just have to find little creatures called Zoni.There are 40 of them hidden throughout the game's universe, many of them are found by completing the optional moons.While roving around in your ship, there are also 4 fictitious radio stations to choose from.They all feature wonderful music of different varieties for different tastes, and DJs that will make you laugh out loud with their banter.

The weapons are ingeniously conceived, and you'll find yourself laughing when you see what some of them do.Humor is a big part of this game.But it's not all about humor.There is some serious gameplay here, too.Fun platforming, creative puzzles, RPG-like systems where your character levels up as he gains experience, granting him more hit points, and all of your weapons level-up with use, as well.Also, the weapons can be upgraded with parts that you find hidden around the universe, and some of the weapons can even be custom-painted.

Some of the best gameplay in this package comes from Clank and the new time-based puzzles.There will time-pads placed around the Clock at the Center of the Universe (the area that Clank traverses throughout the game), and you can record yourself doing things on these time-pads, then play back the action simultaneously while doing something else with your present self.In other words, you can set up recordings of past-selves to help your present-self accomplish tasks that would otherwise be impossible alone.The mechanics may remind you of a game called Braid.It's all very-well implements and often ingenious, always fun.

The game itself is rather easy to get through on the lower difficulties, it will be appropriate for children and adults alike who may not have much experience gaming.You'll get to see the whole game without much difficulty.But there are also Normal and Hard difficulties, which amp up the challenge, and seasoned gamers will find them more than sufficient to give them a fun time that's not too easy or too frustrating.This game is perfect for all-ages, it's appropriate for kids as well as adults, and I recommend it highly!

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Product Description:
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is a single player platform shooter that reunites Sony's famous space age duo for another comedic romp through the universe. The final game in the Ratchet & Clank Future sub trilogy, A Crack in Time answers many questions raised in the previous two games in the sub series, and introduces addictive and challenging new puzzle-solving Clank gameplay.

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Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well if there was any doubt that the PS3 would be able to hit a homerun and kick start the console those fears can be laid to rest as Insomniac delivers one of the finest games to grace any console.

Ratchet and Clank Future: TOD will go down as one of those games that changed the landscape for platform games. Why? Well for one if you have ever had the dream of wanting to actually play a Pixar movie this is as close as you're going to get. The graphics are nothing short of amazing and truly shows off the real potential of what the PS3 is capable of producing. If you have an HDTV set that can handle 720p or higher you are in for a real treat as your TV is going to be bursting with smooth frame rates, tons of characters on screen and loads of beautiful colors. It's just total eye candy at every single turn. You will be blown away.

The game play is smooth as butter too. Smashing enemies and blowing things up is a real joy in this game and the action never lets up, not for a bit. The game has a pace to keep even the most hardcore gamer on their toes moving faster then a Lombax with his tail on fire it just keeps the adrenaline junky satisfied. You will not get bored playing this game.

Humor wise this is one of those rare games will you be laughing out loud to. This is like I stated above playing a Pixar movie. Not only for the graphics but the actual content of voice acting and story line. It's just fun all the way around.

One thing I wanted to point out that had me smiling from ear to ear was the sound. WOW! If you have a 7.1 systemyou will be blown away by the uncompressed 7.1 PCM that this game delivers. This is what your home theater system was bought for and it really shines in this game. Totally immersing and very impressive down to the last bolt pinging across the room in glorious 7.1!

In closing this is without a doubt a must have game. This is the type of game that can and will sell systems. PS3 owners can breathe a sigh of relief that all the promise of the great next gen games that were coming for the PS3 have finally started to arrive and Ratchet and Clank is a benchmark of excellence that will be leading the way into the holiday season.

Enjoy!

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Product Description:
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction PS3

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