Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga Review

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(More customer reviews)Having played most of the RPGs out on all three console systems, I had been looking into another time waster RPG that I could play that would not only keep me entertained gameplay-wise but also story-wise.There was a series I kept hearing about, Shin Megami Tensei.Two games have been released not even 8 months apart from each other, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne and now Digital Devil Saga.I quickly bought both.One I loved, the other not so much.

As it turns out, I tried playing Nocturne first and was completely and utterly frustrated at some design choices in the game.Not only that, but the story didn't seem to be going anywhere, so I quit playing it.I decided to give the Shin Megami series a second chance and tried Digital Devil Saga.All of my complaints of the first game were completely addressed in this game.

Let's start with the story.Digital Devil Saga incorporates a very dark story involving demons and human nature and computers into a wonderful package.The strengths of its story not only lie in the huge events that propel it along but also in some subtle areas.Character reactions that seem a bit over the top in the beginning make perfect sense the more you think about it.SPOILER: it's like the characters are experiencing feelings for the first time and therefore all of their actions and reactions may seem over the top because they are experiencing this heightened feeling for the first time.The story continues up to a climax that leaves the game hanging.Good thing the sequel comes out in August.

Another positive is that you are playing with static characters, humans who can transform into demons.These characters allow more a story format to follow since you have a full party that talks and acts on their own.It's also nice not to have to worry about screwing the characters up (like you could in the fusion system of Nocturne).

And this is a good thing because the combat system in DDS is exactly like in Nocturne.It's based on strength and weaknesses.Every character in the game (save for some bosses) have strengths and weaknesses and it is through manipulating these weaknesses that you can win battles.For instance, if a monster is weak against fire, you want to use fire on him not only to do more damage but to also give you an extra turn to attack.Each character gets one action but by using a weakness, the character only uses 1/2 of their action points.Conversely, enemies can use your weaknesses against you.It's here that you want to combat that.If they use an ability a character is strong against, it takes away their turns.By manipulating strengths and weaknesses, you can control the tide of battle.

I also like what they did with the abilities.Whereas in Nocturne, if you took a new ability you had to effectively forget another ability and it was lost forever, DDS fixes this by allowing you to learn abilities then giving you slots to choose which ones to equip.That way you never fret over having to "forget" an ability which might be the only key to your success later on.It seems like such a small thing, but the ability to customize your characters to battles really helps the game move along.

Speaking of abilities, DDS uses a system much like the sphere grid in FFX.Each character starts with certain abilities already learned from Mantras, and by learning beginning Mantras, you open up paths to bigger and better Mantras.You download Mantras from Terminals for Macha (the monetary system) and by winning battles you gain AP used to learn each Mantra.Afterwards, you can equip learned abilities how you see fit.This gives you a much more rewarding customization option than seen in Nocturne.

The graphic style is also like Nocturne and is real interesting to me.And the art style is also intriguing, the demon designs are inspired, especially the demon you and your friends can turn into.The music is pretty decent (you get the soundtrack album with the purchase) and the voice acting is decent.Once I realized why the characters were over-emphasizing every little emotion they have I appreciated it much more.In the beginning, it is a little jarring because they are talking about emotions in such a heightened, over the top, roll your eyes way.But it's all for a point.

I know that in my review I kept referencing Nocturne.I can't help it.The two games are so intertwined on so many levels that comparisons are impossible to miss.I also bring it up because there might be other players out there like me who couldn't really get into Nocturne and are on the fence with this game because of it.I think if you are new to the Shin Megami Tensei series and want to get your feet wet, try this game before you try (if you even want to try) Nocturne.It is more in line with a traditional RPG format.I will say that DDS is a truly exceptional RPG game with a dark and mature story that brings to life questions about humanity.And it solves all of the problems I had with Nocturne (you can see my review on Nocturne to see what I mean).Not only does it fix problems in Nocturne, but it stands in line with what are considered the pillars of the console RPG community.An excellent adventure with fun gameplay.If you like RPGs you should definitely give this one a try.

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Product Description:
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga collects the Digital Devil games that redefined role-playing in Japan, and updates them for an all-new experience and a new audience. You are seeking the path to Nirvana when you develop the power to change into a demon. Use this power to defeat your enemies and build up enough to storm Nirvana and earn a place in paradise.Discover special link attacks to unleash the power of your party

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Front Mission 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is awesome. It takes place in the not so distant future, where battle mechs called wanzers dominate the battle field. You are Kazuki Takemura(but you can change your name)and you work for a wanzermaking/testing company. You become trapped in a world wide conspiracy andyou must get to the bottom of it by fighting tons of battles in your andyour allies wanzers. The combat system is turn based and your wanzers canlearn battle skills such as tackle,zoom, or stun punch. Move your mech,choose your attack, and then sit back and watch the battle cinematics.Wonderful graphics and gameplay. A must have for gamers who love battlemechs, turn based games, or any type of gamer. Squaresoft did a lovely jobwith this game.

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.hack: G.U., Vol. 1: Rebirth Review

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(More customer reviews)I fell in love with the original Dot Hack series of games (Infection, Mutation, Outbreak and Quarantine) and when I heard they were coming out with a new series, I was very happy!I went out and bought the game the day it came out, and I have to say, I'm greatly impressed.

First off, the graphics are good.They're not the best, as Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria and Final Fantasy 12 are slightly newer with better graphics, but they don't completely suck.

Sound is pretty good too, but it gets very repetetive after a few hours of gameplay.The combat sounds are exciting and "pop", but the background music gets on your nerves.Especially the background music when you're in the first town, "Mac Anu", gets stale so fast.

The controls are easy to pick up.The R1 button can now be assigned different skills so, unlike in the first games, you don't have to open several menus just to use an attack skill.Sadly enough, though, you cannot assign healing spells to the R1 button.The camera control is somewhat better than the last game, but I feel it still needs work.

The voice acting is decent at best.Most of the characters show little emotion, or over-react their emotion to the point of making it rediculous.Just wait till you meet Gaspard, and you'll know what I'm talking about... The main hero is also rediculously one sided, getting frustrated at each and every event trigger in the game, and often for stupid reasons.If its supposed to portray how gamers react in an MMORPG, its completely off the ball, at least as far as I've seen (been playing Guild Wars and World of Warcraft for about two years.)

There are TONS of stuff to do in this game too.You can become part of a number of guilds, which opens various options to you as a player, such as special shops that allow you to make creative items, access to a faster mode of transportation, etc.You can also do a number of fun and interesting, if not repetetive, quests.The designers definetely tried to capture the MMORPG feel, but I don't think they accurately got it.Close but no cigar.For example, the towns are bustling with people, but oftentimes you'll see one person, turn a corner, and they'll be there again when they were running the opposite direction a few minutes prior.The town recycles the inhabitants over and over, so no matter how far away you get from a "player", they'll be right there when you go to a different district in town.

The story is o.k. as far as I've been.A lot of it feels forced, like the hero has to do this because the programmers made it that way, not because the hero "wants" to.It started out that way, but quickly took a dive.

I'm not impressed with the grading system after you complete dungeons and fields.You get graded on how many things you kill, sneak up on, boxes or other destructable items you destroy, how many items you collect etc.There is almost no explanation of that system that I've encountered, and I feel its useless.All you can unlock is extra words to create new dungeons and fields and useless items. Literally, I've had 50 health drinks, which is like a potion in other RPGs, since the first couple hours of playtime.I never use them, cause I don't take that much damage ever.

Thats another thing.The game's battles are entirely too easy!No one battle provides any sort of challenge.If you go to an area three levels higher than you, it gets harder, but the difficulty is masked in more hitpoints and damage capability, not true improved AI or anything.

All in all, however, the game is a vast improvement over the previous games.There are tons of unlockable stuff, tons of places to go, and you'll be entertained for hours on end.I would definetely pick this game up if you get the chance!

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Product Description:
.Hack G.U. Volume 1 delivers an epic, immersive RPG experience in the world of the hit sci-fi fantasy game and TV series. What if what you do as a player in a game impacted your real world? What is reality? .hack has pursued this innovative concept in the previous 4-part series where "The World" was ultimately destroyed. Years after the events of the first .hack series, "The World" was rebuilt. As a new player, you are saved on your first day in "The World" from several PKs (Player Killers) by a mysterious man. From this day on, you have dedicated your time to hunt down PKs. Word in "The World" is that the legendary PK you have been searching for has surfaced, and you must now set out to find "it". Your world is thrown into chaos when you finally encounter this PK, and are defeated by him!

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.hack, Part 1: Infection Review

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(More customer reviews)I normally don't do many reviews, but those posted here about this game so far don't really do it justice.
Dot Hack is the newest installment of the next generation of RPGs: live-action combat sequences, intricate plots, and complicated gameplay. You take the role of Kite, an eigth grade boy trying to discover why the online game "The World" caused his friend, Orca, to go into a coma. Split between the gaming world and "the real world" (which is represented by Kite's desktop), Dot Hack allows you to email in-game players, keep up with the news, and follow threads in an expansive message board that probably is the most creative way I've ever seen a game present its own instructions. After working your way through Kite's desktop, you then play Kite's character in "The World" (think a very big game-within-a-game).
"The World" is not unlike the Everquest style MMORPGs of today. You form groups, you trade with other players, you visit dungeons, you fight monsters, you find special items, and so on. Your parties rotate given who is willing to play and who is not; if you are friendly to your favorite partners, for instance, they will more than likely team up with you when you catch them online. Given that the game is entirely computer-based, this well-done simulation bettered my original expectations.
The game has its weak points, as well. Kite's character's class is not chosen, which is frustrating to those (like me) who find some of the other classes far more interesting. Also, the name-generated playing fields have the feel of those old-style random dungeon crawls for the PC. This gets old quick, but the well-done cut scenes and fields that actually advance the story are just enough to keep the game spinning in my Playstation.
Gone are the basic turned-based games with simple storylines; as a longtime veteran of RPGs, I appreciate and welcome this change. The innovative gameplay and absolutely fantastic storyline of Dot Hack (and its anime counterpart) has me looking forward to the rest of the series. Four stars.

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Product Description:
A 14-year-old boy named Kite is invited by his schoolmate Orca to play the online game The World. While playing the game, both Kite and his friend are attacked by an unknown monster. As a result, Orca becomes comatose in the real world. Despite his friend's condition, Kite continues to play, believing he'll find a way to revive Orca. While playing The World, Kite accepts the Twilight from Aura, a mysterious girl in white. Kite is transformed into an Outlaw player within the game, wielding the very same power responsible for Orca's condition.

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Front Mission 4 Review

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(More customer reviews)As a major fan of Front Mission 3 for the PlayStation I was excited upon hearing the news that Square-Enix was making a sequel to my favorite single-player tactical-strategy game.The only thing missing from Front Mission 3's excellence was great graphics.With the arrival of Front Mission 4 on the PlayStation2 I thought the rough-graphics problem would be solved and I'd have the perfect game.
Unfortunately life has a way of playing dirty tricks.Oh sure, the graphics are much improved over FM3 with greater detail and far smoother animation.But the colors are downright bland!Also, many areas in the game appear overly dark, making it a challenge to view the screen easily unless the lights are off.I suspect the developers were going for realism here.
The length of the game disappointed me as well.For the amount of time spent working on your characters' skills and statistics the number of actual plot-developing missions is minuscule.There are only 29 stages in all!By comparison, FM3 contained a staggering 128 stages played out through two scenarios!Admittedly, FM4's stages are bigger and take longer to complete, and there are simulator battles to play.But FM3 had simulator battles, too!
Now that the bad is out of the way let me let you what was good about FM4:
Graphics - already touched on this.MUCH better than FM3 except for the colors & lack of lighting.
Sound - the most refined part of FM4.Heavy, realistic, perfect.Great use of bass!
Music - very appropriate for the events onscreen.High quality.
Speech - the main characters now speak in select cut scenes and the voice-overs are extremely well done.The accents and voice tones are very accurate to their respective nationalities.No bad acting here!
Battle System - more involved than in the last game.The Link system adds a fun new level of strategy to the gameplay.New specialized backpacks increase combat options.
Customization - a slight increase in variety of weapons and parts.Better colorization options but the blandness + darkness at times makes it almost moot.
Control - takes some getting used to, but adequate.In a tactical, non-twitch game like this it's not a detriment.
Battle Maps - daytime shifting and weather effects add new depth to missions.Battlefields are significantly larger than in FM3.
Character Skills - no more randomness in acquiring new battle skills to help towards victory!Instead characters buy skills they want as they become available!The challenge is getting the funds needed to afford them.
And finally, FM4's greatest improvement over FM3...the chaotic E-mail/virtual net system is gone!
I'd have to say FM4 doesn't match the gaming experience FM3 gave.Don't get me wrong...it's a fantastic game for as long as it lasts.The plot is solid.Just don't expect as huge a jump in quality as I did or you'll be disappointed.

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Product Description:
Front Mission 4 offers the spectacular visuals and advanced tactical warfare you crave. It's 2096, and two young soldiers will decide the future of the world. Fight for the future in gigantic walking tanks!

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.hack, Part 4: Quarantine Review

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(More customer reviews)For dedicated dot hackers, the easiest way to describe the fourth and last chapter of this game is 'more or the same.'Once more Kite adventures into the many fields and dungeons of 'The World' seeking loot, experience, and trying to safe the world (the real world) from a virus gone out of control.This time, though,all the loose threads are drawn together, answers are provided, and the glow of a new day restores the shine to the gaming world.
If you are new to the game, you are likely to find Quarantine a bit difficult to play and confusing to understand.While it can be done, I think a very large part of the series' charm is the slow, game-by-game, building of character and story.With the earlier games now available at discounted prices the best strategy is to start at the beginning and work forward.Do not, however, try to play the games one right after another.Spread out, their similarity doesn't interfere with enjoyment.Taken all at once, it is quite possible to overdose on grunties.
If you have been following the series than expect no great surprises.Well, there are one or two, but for the most part everything is a natural progression from the previous games.While the plot undertakes some interesting twists, gameplay is pretty much a matter of bigger and badder.If you have been religiously leveling up in prior episodes then Quarantine will feel a bit too easy.If you have been getting through by the skin of your teeth then there will be some tough fights ahead.
I felt that Quarantine was a little too short, and not as spectacular as I expected.There is provision for playing after the game is complete, including an item challenge, and some familiar characters will suddenly become available.Unfortunately quarantine features a smaller set of monsters.Most often data bug variations of ones you have already seen.There is a little voice in my head that keeps telling me that Bandai would have been better off packaging this game in three episodes rather than four.
Of course, that means they would have had to find another way to deliver the Liminality OVAs.This last episode is excellent, providing a lot of information on the nature of the.hack world as well as an exciting conclusion.We see both the outside and the inside of The World in one tidy package.In retrospect, the game is the weakest link in the entire marketing package (I'm not completely sure about the manga either), simply because Bandai chose to leave it unchanged for four episodes.However, many of the concepts behind the .hack package are quite novel, even if a bit overplayed.This, it is an entertaining (if somewhat expense) way to spend a lot of hours with your Playstation 2.

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Product Description:
In this, the final episode in the HACK saga, play as the outlaw player Kite to finally unravel the mystery behind "The World". And this time it's against the clock! As events in "The World" continue to create havoc in the real world, CC Corp faces increasing pressure to move the game servers offlinemeaning certain death for all comatose victims. It's up to you now. Can you cure this virus and restore order in "The World?" And can you do it before time runs out for your friend, Orca?Find secret areas from the OVA to obtain rare itemsSimulated MMORPGDual Voiceover -Choose either English or Japanese for a totally immersive experience

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Phantasy Star Online, Episode I & II Plus Review

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(More customer reviews)If you like to play games for 200+ hours, then this is the game for you. There is millions of different items, weapons, and other stuff to find. If you follow the missions you'll discover a delightful story and characters. Enjoy!

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Product Description:
Phantasy Star Online I & II Plus collects the two classic online role-players and adds a world ofbonus content to reward its true fans! Enjoy thrilling turn-based combat with decks ofcards, and play essential Phantasy Star quests.Two downloadable GBA mini-games, plus Score Attack and Puyo Pop for never ending fun

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Phantasy Star Online, Episode I & II Review

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(More customer reviews)Hunting down Game Cube's only online title may be a chore that some people may not be interested in, while hunting down the broadband adapter is even worse... thankfully I found both, and had a credit card handy that day, and boy am I glad I did.
I was a fan of he Dreamcast original, and so when Episode 1&2 was announced for GameCube I was very happy. Regardless of what anybody has said about graphical enhancements in the past I cannot stress enough that there has been drastic enhancements to the graphics, to the camera, and best of all to the controller sensitivity, defending you character is so much easier because the game is a lot more responsive than its previous incarnations.
There are more character types to choose from, new strengths, new weaknesses, a few new monsters, etc, and it is plenty fun on its own without going online.
Sega also included the option for four-player action offline, which is also a blast.
There is one complaint I have for this game, and only one, the lack of a keyboard, or headset for communication. Despite the addition of hotkeys, conversation online is a big pain because typing through the control pad is too slow, and by the time I finish my sentence my comrades have already left the lobby. Nintendo needs to release a keyboard for the GameCube, even if it's only for PSO.
Be aware that this game is not out of print, its just that demand is extremely high, and during the next few months it may be difficult to find, but not impossible. Some websites are reporting that the product is discontinued, but this is not the case. The game is a lot of fun, and if you don't mind doing a little hunting for it it's well worth the price of admission. Hopefully this means Nintendo will get its act together with online games and start getting serious about an online plan.

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Product Description:
Play this award winning gaming phenomenon of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II with all-new modes and exclusive content. Play with the new split-screen feature allowing 4 friends to battle it out at the same time. Witness all-new character classes, weapons, items, enemies, quests and more. Episode II features an exclusive new full-length adventure.

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Star Wars Empire At War: Forces Of Corruption Review

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(More customer reviews)To say I enjoyed Star Wars Empires at War is something of an understatement.I enjoyed it a lot.It was the first game outside of a mod that allowed me to pit fleets of Rebels against Imperials in real time with a useful interface.I had a few quibbles with the first game, like lack of units, questionable Rebel ground units and a few others but overall I enjoyed it beyond its weaknesses.

Now that Forces of Corruption is out, I can write about what in it makes it both more fun and less fun than the game it spawned from.Lets start with story.

The story of this game does not fit into the lexicon of either the books or the movies.Had the forces of corruption run by your main hero Zahn really existed, I imagine the Empire would have come down on them like a ton of bricks.But that isn't important.The story does an awesome job of bringing in some of the wonderful aspects that litterary Star Wars has created, from the awesome character Thrawn to the witches of Dathomir.Having read the books this all came from I was overjoyed to get to see and use the new stuff.And in the campaign you will sooner or later run into almost all of it.

As for the actual missions and story elements, they do a reasonably good job.I never felt threatened during the campaign, with missions fun but not too difficult.The Zahn persona is compelling though a little cookie cutter for a mob boss villian.His fellow hero units are also fun.The best part of this expansion is, in fact, the campaign.

New Race:

And here is where thing get ugly.The new Corruption units are... just plain unbalanced.Their fighters are the second best in the game, behind the Tie Defenders in usefulness.But with their buzz bot special, which releases a cloud of droids to tear apart fighters or capital ships, they are a menace to any stationary battle line.The Skiprays, the new guy's bomber unit, is certaintly better than Y-wings or TIE Bombers, being able to defend themselves with turreted guns and pump out torpedoes fast.But even with the unbalanced fighters it wouldn't be so bad.Unfortunetly it does not stop there.The new "corvette" for Corruption is equal to a Rebel Corvette yet has the ability to shoot down incoming missiles AND torpedoes, meaning even as your bombers attack it, it will destroy them and protect itself from the torpedoes.This is worst when attacking a Corruption base.To stop unlimited corvettes I usually send in bombers to take out the hangers.But now, I can't get my bombers past the corvette and even the piddly few torps they fire get knocked down.The frigates are not as bad but still arguably overpowerful.In particular the Vengence Frigate, with its mass drivers, while having no shields, can kill fighters easily and shoot right through shields of bigger ships, a danger to Rebel ships in particular.Its special, like the hateful TIE Maulers, gives corruption players the untimate kamikaze unit.If you blow most the parts off a Vengence, it can run at you ships and explode, taking them with it.It is not fun when it happens.As an added insult, the heavy Corruption ship, the Keldorn Battleship has numerous mass drivers that mean you can leave the bombers at home seeings as you can use the mass drivers to destroy hardpoints and, in particular, Empire shield generators.And while the Galactic Empire and Rebels have(had) only one big ship, Corruption gets two "battleships" each able to shoot through shields.

The story on the ground is about the same.All Corruption vehicles and buildings are shielded so even their arty unit, which are supposed to be the weakest, can survive a heavy assault.And the main unit, an assault tank, weilds, you guessed it, mass drivers.So Rebel T2-B's and Empire Hovertanks be warned.Not suprisingly the Corruption infantry is equal to if not better than anyone elses.

Balanced?

Corruption does definetly hold its own on the battlefields.But it comes at a cost.Everything costs more to get and build.This should be a balancing factor but actually it is not.Corruption players who expand their holdings will get more money than they know what to do with, even if some of the upgrades for their units are so 20,000 plus dollars.None of these uprgades are uber important since most units work fine without them.

New Empire and Rebel Units:

For the Empire this add-on is a true boon.Until now, Empire infantry was near worthless.Rebel Infiltrators and arty tore through them brutally.But with 3 different Dark Troopers, one which reaps infantry and one which destroys vehicles, Imperials are deadly on the ground.Added to that the Jaggernaut troop transport is almost a tank in its own rights, being better armed than any other transport(a new unit type anyways).In the air the Imps have the new bomber type thing.Haven't played with it yet but it will mean Rebel air superiority is now in question.

In space the Imps have also grown stronger.The Executor, which replaces Vader as the hero, is a battle changer.While it doesn't move about the map eaisily it does sit on the map in such a way that no part of the map is safe.TIE Defenders make the best fighters/bombers in the game and the TIE Phantoms are stealth so you can attack deep into Rebel Space and take out unprotected space stations up to Lev 2 though it can be costly.The Arc Hammer is hardly meant to be used as a assault vehicle but it does hold its own.And with Thrawn flying his Imp Star and Piett flying his, the Imps have 4 heavy ships that are all heroes(though Vader DOES cost money).

Rebels:

This game was... unkind to Rebels to say the least.The B-Wings are great and all but are also Tech 5, meaning you actually get Mon Cals before you get B-wings.And the MC-30's I was so excited about are a truly awe inspiring unit, being capital class bombers with two heavy torpedo turrets.But again, they are class five and do little to help Rebels weakness in Frigates in early game.

Perhaps as compensation the new Rebel heroes are the best in the game.Luke and Yoda both make mince meat of anything, with Yoda leaping about like his Episode 3 incarnation.Rouge Squadron replaces Red and while their special does not destroy any one target, it does make them deadly for a few seconds.But for some weird reason Garm Bel Iblis is a ground hero.In the Timothy Zahn books Garm is a equal to Thrawn in tactics and flies around in a pair of Dreadnoughts.In the add-on he is in a tank type thing that a)gives the Rebels something tough on the ground for once and b) transports infantry.This is good because in the numerous Galactic Conquests I have played I never was able to build the Gallofree Infantry Transports I was supposed to.Which brings up another point. The Rebel Tech tree in Galactic is messed up somehow.If one goes to Tech 5 at game start, reasonably the Rebs still need to steal the top teir stuff.But if that is done, the B-wings and MC-30's at the tip top are lost and unbuildable.Starting at Tech 3 once got me Mon Cals at T4 but I could not build them.I figure this will be fixed but still... annoying.

There is tons more about this game that is new.If for that alone it is worth 30 bucks.But don't expect a lot of love online for the new race until they are somehow equaled out.

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Product Description:
In the best-selling Star Wars: Empire at War, you controlled an entire war for the Star Wars galaxy as the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire. Now, face off against them in Star Wars® Empire at War™:Forces of Corruption™. This expansion pack presents a new, unique point of view of the Galactic Civil War as, for the first time ever, you play as an aspiring Underworld figure. Corruption runs through your veins and drives your desire to become the most notorious criminal leader since Jabba the Hutt. The Rebels have just destroyed the Death Star, and the galaxy is in turmoil. In other words, it's just the time that you, an ambitious criminal genius named Tyber Zann, have been waiting for. Quench your thirst for power as you build and lead your own forces of scum and villainy. Spread corruption throughout the galaxy using new strategic gameplay elements to influence other factions, steal their funds, slow their production, spy on them and more.

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Space Empires V - Windows Review

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(More customer reviews)This is, by far, the best space strategy game. Be sure you patch it, otherwise it is very glitchy.
It is simple to learn, but there is plenty of room for depth. A few mechanics are strange, clunky, or over-simplified, but it is still easily the best out there.

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Product Description:
Space Empires V is currently the latest edition in the Space Empires series. This new chapter completely updates the UI and takes the player into a real-time rendered 3D universe. Watch space battles played out in glorious detail and realistic effects. Expand, Explore, Exploit, and Exterminate in a huge living-breathing galaxy. New features abound with political alliances between multiple empires, a top-down ship design system, a hexagonal movement grid, and many more. Due to player demand, the game is completelymoddable" and even adds a scriptable AI system to the mix. Space Empires V boldly takes the next step in the genre of space strategy.Completely customizable AI players -Create your own AI players with unique traits, styles, and speech.14 unique races to play or customize (or just create your own!)Randomly generated map for every game (or load an existing map).Complete game customization allowed by players (mods).

Get 67% OFF

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Star Wars Republic Commando Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this yesterday (3-1-05) the day it came out and have the honor it looks...to write the first real review of the game.

First, I have not yet finished the game, but after an evening of play I have enough impressions to provide some pretty solid feedback.

Republic commando takes a fresh look at the Star Wars universe and tones down the lighting and (finally!) adds some wit.Rather than describe the game again I'll give you my impressions on gameplay environment, and features I found good and bad.

Gameplay:

The controls take a little getting used to, but after about an hour or so they feel pretty natural.weapons are changed through use of the D-pad.Orders are issued to your commandos through the D-pad as well, but with the addition of the 'A' button being held.I found issuing orders to be fairly intuitive and easy to do.I found the commandos to occaisionally disregard my "undo" commands in order to get them to leave their sniping perch or the turret they were manning.This was rare though and although slightly annoying, easy to overlook.

Shooting is pretty standard.THe default look sensitivity is just about right for my style...true FPS players will probably ramp the sensitivity up a bit, but find that it's a steeper scale than say Halo 2.My only gripe with game play during the "campaign" mode is that they dump you immediately into the "geonosis" encounter (think of the end of Episode II) and with little to no time to get used to these controls you must shoot down flying (and rather agile) geonoshans.THis was a fairly steep learning curve, but not insurmountable.

Environment:

Gorgeous visuals.I can't say enough about that.The only "environmental" inconsistency that bugs me occaisionally is that the commandos are all clones...but they all have very different voices.In some respect I get WHY this is...the commandos all have very distinct personalities (except the one named FIXER...I have trouble figuring out what makes him unique) and the variety of voices helps in that distinction.

The AI responds intelligently and isn't over the top.And so far the environment has seemed dynamic enough to provide intense moments where you wonder where the next "baddie" may pop out, and then shifts into the natural FPS Chaos quite nicely.The fragility of your own health and those of the commandos requires you to keep them involved throughout the game, and that makes the game more cohesive for the feel they were going to.The "On-air" chatter that the commandos keep up is entertaining as well.

Features, Pros and Cons:

Pros: I like the use of the bacta healing stations that are interspersed through the environments.THis makes a nice departure from the "instant use" med kit.But better than this I like the ability to issue orders while on your death bed.If the bad guys kill you, the action doesn't stop.A menu pops up on your reddish blurry screen allowing you to tell the commandos 1.Keep going with current orders, 2.Stop what you're doing and revive me or 3.Load a previously saved game.In one instance I was able to allow the commandos to complete a level objective before they came to revive me...and then continue where I left off.This was cool.If your other commandos drop...you have the option of reviving them as well.

Another Pro is the dramatic difference in 'bad guy' units.Standard droids are as flimsy and weak as they are portrayed in the movie.The Droidica (rolly droids) are just as scary when they pop open and unleash a hail of gunfire.THe Super battle droids are as tough and imposing as they seemed in the movie and more than once I foundmyself wondering if perhaps a Jedi Lightsaber intervention might not be a bit more helpful in taking these guys down.

Then the genoshans who fly enter the picture...drawing a bead and successfully shooting a fast moving flying ..."stick bug" is HARD! but not harder than it has to be.

Cons:

Occaisionally I find myself managing the behavior of my commandos more than I'm actually working with them as a unit leader.My own shooting can contribute but when the commandos are not on the "same page" this can be a little frustrating.Over the course of the evening I developed an idea of when to apply a "move to waypoint and defend it" option vs. the "search the room and destroy the bad guys" option...one is more tightly controlled than the other....the search and destroy option will result in (once a room is clear of enemies) the commandos moving on when perhaps they shouldn't...instead perhaps they should heal up any health they're missing and THEN move on.

Also, one bug that I've had occur is the a commando getting "stuck".He could not move to join the unit and was simply stuck in one place.After experimenting by trying to kill and revive him and also by issuing other orders to him (or the squad) I moved on without him and fortunately made it through the level.It's only happened once, but I'm certainly leary for a second occurance.

One last 'Con': is that I didn't detect the possibility of a cooperative mode in the multiplayer options.I haven't checked in detail, but I find that playing the squad based games in co-op mode to be fairly entertaining with friends...and takes the pressure off of those who want to play but not necessarily competitively all the time.

Hope this was helpful

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Product Description:
Chaos has erupted throughout the galaxy. You ve been chosen to lead a team of elite Republic commandosstraight into harm s way. You ll have no time for setting up complicated commands and maneuvers. At your fingertips is one touch control of the most lethal weapon in the galaxy your squad. The only backup you have is each other. There is no room for error or fear. You ll need all your skills and training. You are considered the very best. Now prove it.FEATURES: Innovative squad-based action featuring an intuitive and straight forwardOne Touch Squad Controlsystem. You are the elite-of-the-elite in the uncompromising world of the Star Wars military. As a special squad unitin the Republic's Clone Army you'll engage in fierce firefights and intense action. Take a sneak peek at Star Wars: Episode III content including key locations new enemies including General Grievous and more. Embark on over a dozen single player missions that take you through a wide variety of military objectives. Encounter highly intelligent and varied enemies both new and original to the Star Wars universe. Explore unique alien locations including: the hostile planet of Geonosis the interior of a Separatist battle-ship a disabled Republic assault ship and the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk.MULTIPLAYER FEATURES: Out of the box Internet play with up to 16 players online or via Xbox Live. Multiplayer modes include Deathmatch Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag. Voice Communication enabled. Both multiplayer split screen and System Link capability for Xbox.Format: XBOX Genre:SPORTS/GAMES Rating:T - Teen UPC:023272325756 Manufacturer No:32575

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Star Wars: The Best of PC (Empire at War, Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Battlefront, Republic Commando) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For one cheap price, you can now get five Star Wars games that been released previously during the past four years. Most of the five games are still selling for $19.95 at most stores around the country so that make it a pretty good deal. The games in this collection are listed as:
1) Empires at War
2) Knights of the Old Republic
3) Battlefront (first one)
4) Jedi Knights II Outcast
5) Republic Commandos
For some one who never played any of these games before, this is a great deal. If you played one or two of these games, you still got three or four more so it still not such a bad deal. The package also gives you a free 14 day trial for on-line Star Wars Galaxies game.

My rating is based on two elements. For the fun factor, it based on previous reviews I have read on these games since ironically speaking, I was planning to buy some of the games in this package separately before spotting this package on Black Friday. The overall rating is based on the value of the package. I think no one will ever doubt that five great Star Wars games in one package is not a "Five stars" value.

Obviously, if you owned and played all these games already, this package won't be worth a wooden nickel. This package appears to be created for late comers like myself or people who always wanted to play but never had the chance due to time, money or other factors. For folks like us, this package should provides countless hours of entertainment at a relatively cheap price.

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Product Description:
"Star Wars®: The Best of PC brings the greatest collection of Star Wars® PC games together in one package.Featuring hundreds of hours and numerous varieties of Star Wars gameplay, Star Wars: The Best of PC is the perfect gift for yourself, or the Star Wars fan in your life.Whether it's action, strategy or role-playing, it's all here, and it's all Star Wars. Star Wars: The Best of PC features games from some of the most popular videogame franchises ever released.Combined, these games have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and, for the first time, are available in one box for only $39.99 (SRP).Included in Star Wars: The Best of PC are: Star Wars®: Empire at War™, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Battlefront™, Star Wars Jedi Knight™ II: Jedi Outcast™, Star Wars Republic Commando™ and the Star Wars Galaxies®: 14-Day Trial."

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Star Wars Empire At War Gold Pack Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I like Star Wars as well as your average 30-something red-blooded American male, but I am by no means a fanboy; in fact, I have found that most Star Wars related games in the past decade are kind of 'meh'. With that said, I loved the original Empires at War, it was a great game thatcombined a strategic game of planet conquering with two types of RTS games in which you fought for control of planets on land and in space - it didn't rest on the Star Wars Franchise to please the user, the Star Wars heroes, vehicles, and troops are just an added bonus. User created mods are freely available on the net, and that expands replayability immensely. I pulled it off the shelf the other day to find some of the new mods use the expansion - the original expansion no longer seems to be available from Amazon, but the gold package has both the original and expansion. The original was a great twist on the basic RTS style of game, and one of my favorites, gameplay-wise. Eye candy isn't as good as more modern titles, but gameplay has held up well. IMHO, the original game is still worth the price, and I'm sure the expansion just sweetens the pot.

Note that their cover art for this product is for the original game, not the gold edition; I was waffling on whether to buy it until I saw the customer pic, as it didn't seem the gold edition had the expansion and there is no mention of it in the product description. Per Lucasart's website, the gold edition does indeed have the Forces of Corruption expansion included (and looks like the second picture in the gallery). Thanks to 'JJAV' for the clarifying customer pic.

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Product Description:
Star Wars: Empire at War Gold Pack PC

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