Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Review

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(More customer reviews)If you like hack & slash dungeon crawling games like Diablo, then you'll like this game. It is the first game of this style for the Playstation 2.
In this game, you play as one of three characters. You will be given quests by other people and creatures. These quests take you thru dungeons, sewers, caves, castles, woods, and mountain paths and usually involve killing a boss enemy or finding specific objects. Along the way, you must kill (or run from) enemies while picking up items (dropped by enemies, found in treasure chests, barrels, etc.) that may be useful to you or that may be sold. Fighting is in real-time (not turn-based as in Final Fantasy). As you complete quests and kill enemies, you gain experience. This experience allows you the change your character's attributes and learn new skills/spells. There are numerous types of weapons and armor to be bought or found during the game. As the enemies in the game get tougher, your experience and improved weapons/armor allow you to still put up a good fight.
The graphics and audio are amazing. The movement of water as you walk thru it and the movement of the leaves on trees as the wind blows shows the level of graphic detail that they gave the game. Also, the detail on many of the creatures in the game is outstanding. Voices and music are great. As you walk thru the woods, you hear coyotes howling in the distance. As you walk on the mountain path, you hear chunks of ice falling in the distance. Controls are simple and intuitive. Every button on the controller may be used during a game, but you'll find yourself using them like a pro in just a matter of minutes. I really like that fact that my character can change between a melee weapon (such as a sword) and a range weapon (such as a bow) during battle with the simple push of a button.
Gameplay is great and is almost identical to that of Diablo II. Unfortunately, the game is too short. Your saved games tell you how long you've been playing. On the Easy difficulty setting, I completed the game in about 12 hours. However, if you enjoy the game, you'll probably want to play each of the three characters and take at least one of your characters thru the three difficultly levels. Completing the game opens up something called the gauntlet where you have 15 minutes and one life to defeat all the various types of creatures (not too easy). Completing the game also opens up an Extreme difficulty level. Completing the game on the Extreme level opens up a fourth character. Playing a two player game is also a blast. It's just like the one player game, but allows two players to work cooperatively.
Don't let the shortness of the game keep you from trying it. I feel that this is one the best games for the Playstation 2 right now.

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Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance takes you into the world of Dungeons and Dragons in a thrilling new action game!

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Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Review

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(More customer reviews)My experience with developer tri-ace's games dates back to the original Playstation era with Star Ocean:The 2nd Story. Like most gamers on this side of the world, this was probably the one of the first tri-ace titles that had and created enough of a buzz to form a niche of fans. The other game, which is credited with a simular yet even bigger buzz, was the original Valkyrie Profile.

Unfortunately, the yield from the initial pressing run of that game was so low (so tri-ace wouldn't lose to much if the game didn't sell or catch on) by the time I had heard the hype surrounding VP and wanted to give the game a try it was much too late... copies of the game were selling at astronomical prices on e-bay much like how sealed copies of Final Fantasy VII are selling now. Because of this I was ecstatic when a sequel - which in this case is actually a prequel - was announced so I could finally experience what I had missed out on the first time in one form or another. Granted, VP2 is not a complete carbon copy of the original, but the majority of the gameplay elements cross the game/generation gap, so in essence this game should probably give you an idea of what the original itself was like.

So, would I say that I was blown away or impressed by what I missed out with missing the original VP? Not really.

To start with, the game is simply beautiful. There are some dazzling effects, from leaves and grass waving in the breeze to various types of weather pounding some of the locals. This is what one should expect from a last generation PS2 title. Sure, every once in a while the battle camera might clip some polygons so it looks like your characters are standing on air, but that is so minor it doesn't matter. The only gripe I have is I wish the characters weapons changed depending on what they currently have equipped. However, since the character designs are so dependant on the default look of the weaponry, the above simply wouldn't work very well.

Combat is Valkyrie's claim to fame, much like it is in other tri-ace games like Star Ocean. This is a good thing, considering the amount of time you'll spend in battle mode leveling up the game's massive number of characters (of which only a handful are actually involved in the story, the others just seem to be there). At a quick glance, the battle system seems to be a button mashers dream, but like a good 3D fighting series (Soul Caliber or Tekken) those who know what their doing will always get further or have less difficulty as things can be difficult enough. Other combat related issues also sprout up: reviving an ally requires you to be near the ally's body and status effects are so not your friend - especially when the whole party is inflicted at once (especially with poison) *shutter* .

As fun as combat is, there are quite a few hitches to be aware of, such as wasting AP on a dash and getting nowhere because your party is caught on the edge of "something" in the environment or when party members become separated for the same reason, limiting your attack options until you take the time and go back and get them. This becomes especially aggravating when you're trying to finish battles as quickly and efficiently as possible to receive experience and crystal bonuses. The change from a 2D fighting environment in VP to a 3D one in VP2 works, but the above issues make you yearn for 2D battles of the original which would probably be devoid of these problems.

The game's skill system is another area that initially seems interesting and clever but quickly becomes quite cumbersome. You'll form rune words with your equipment and accessories to unlock new "potential" skills. Note the word "potential" in the previous sentence. Unlocking a new skill doesn't grant the character the skill automatically - only though battle can the skill be used and permanently learned. At first glance this is a good thing since it prevents abuse (think FFIX skill system here), but the player then quickly finds out it "may" (well, usually) take a long to learn said skill. Instead of being awarded a set amount of points towards your skills after an enemy defeat like in most normal RPGs, a percentage earned towards potential skills based on the average level of your current party and that of the enemy(s). Because of this you'll constantly be seeking out stronger and stronger enemies and you'll hardly ever find an "undeniable great place" to level up. You'll also be contending with the never ending equipping and unequipping of equipment while doing this and often means your party is usually far from wearing the strongest available equipment at all times - something that is usually a given in most RPGs.

Traversing dungeons is probably the most noteworthy aspect of VP2 after the battle system. The first few are a complete cakewalk and teach you the ropes, the later ones can really test you sanity and your brainpower. Correct sealstone usage and photon know-how go a long way towards completely clearing them of all their contents. Kudos to tri-ace for the awesome auto map feature - features like this need to become an industry/genre standard!

In the sound department, Motoi Sakuraba makes a rather subdued yet solid entrance, seeming to ditch his rather unique yet unorthodox style of composing. It's not until much later until you hear a piece and you know "yeah, that's Sakuraba, no doubt". The voice-overs are good, but at the same time just a few tiers above decent.

Valkyrie Profile 2 also falls victim to problems that are prevalent in other tri-ace games. Some moments of unbalanced gameplay creep up on the player as the difficulty goes up a few notches without much warning. The story is once again slow to start (is this even a surprise anymore with tri-ace games?), and some of the story twists you can see coming a mile away (the one revelation at the end of Chapter 3 was so freaking obvious!).

All this said is Valkyrie Profile 2 worth playing if you've never experienced VP? Yes. However, now having experienced it, I honestly think I could have had waited for a price drop instead of buying it on day it came out. Despite this, I still look forward to playing the re-release of the original on the PSP.

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Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria tells the story of another valkyrie sister that takes place hundreds of years before Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth. In this latest installment of the legendary RPG series, divine insurrection besieges the heavens. Invoking his power as king of the gods, Odin hastily reincarnates the spirit of rebel valkyrie Silmeria into Alicia, Princess of Dipan. However, unbeknownst to Odin, the spirit of the battle maiden awakens within Alicia, still seeking vengeance. Believing his daughter to be possessed, King Barbarossa of Dipan declares Alicia dead and exiles her to a faraway castle. Odin learns of Silmeria's awakening and dispatches the imperious Hrist Valkyrie to summon her spirit to Valhalla. Alicia runs in fear -- and Silmeria in defiance -- as they embark on a journey where nothing is what it seems and all hide behind a mask.

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Alundra Review

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(More customer reviews)Rpg's throughout the ages of cmputer and video gaming have come and gone.Many have silently slipped through almost unoticed however this is one of those that manages to remain in the memories of the people involved in the world of gaming oncomputers of all kinds.
When you say the word RPG games such as Zelda, Final fantasy and Breath of fire fly through the air.However this is one game that easily stands up to the challenge that these rpg classics set.
The game takes place in around a village named Inoa, where you play an elf-like character who shares the same name as the game's title.Taking the game mechanics you would find in an RPG like the Zelda series and coupling it with a plot as dramatic as a Final Fantasy Psygnosis and dream matrix made an all time classic here.The story is that Alundra was on board a ship named "the Clark" and it sunk during a storm, washing up on Inoa beach he is nursed back to health and is drawn into a saga that has been plaguing the village inhabitants for some time.
Within this village numerous people are falling ill and dying as a result of dreams being turned into nightmares by a demon named Melzas.The player finds themselves summoned by a guardian named "Lars" (no connection to the Metallica drummer!) to stop this demon.Sounds cliched?In a way I suppose you are correct however the dreams idea is turned into a beauty of its own when you find that Alundra has the power to enter dreams and change their outcome.Thus you find yourself treated to numerous psychadelic images before winding in a usually dark rpg type dungeon where the dreams prisoner must be saved.
Of course this would be of no use to the gamer if there was no gameplay and naturally for an RPG there is tons buried beneath the surface.At first you feel that is a basic and simple rpg, yet later on it is that fact that makes this game such a well crafted piece of genius.The difficulty in this game comes commonly from the difficulty of the puzzles.Expect to have to decipher lock codes, organise a makeshift stairway from nothing amongst the obligatory demon slaying.
The game also boasts some fabulous variation in locale, whether it is the aforementioned dark dungeons, volcanoes and of course large castles expect to find lots to do.What makes this game even better is that it is between the plains of linear and non-linear.While like all other rpgs you are guided by information passed on by the usually passive characters in the village, you find that there are tons of secret locations to uncover within the mammoth quest that is available.If you like the idea of unlocking portals, uncovering life extending gems or new gear expect plenty of variety within the quest ahead.
Of course the game is not perfect.The main flaw with this game is that commonly you find puzzles being basic ones where you have to jump onto switches or simply time the throwing of a barrel and jump into a room.This may sound unchallenging yet it does prove difficult quite often when you find the time limits being incredibly tight.This is plus point in that you have to work at it, yet it is a negative point as you can sometimes fall from these jumps and wind up right at the very start of the puzzle or worse the dungeon.
This is one game that only the patient should try, if you have a low flashpoint then you may wish to give this a miss unless you can stop the urge to snap the disc!Persevere though and you find in this game a true classic that was slated for being a mere clone, however this is a foolish analogy to follow and is a joy to play from start to finish.Highly recommended.

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DUNGEON SIEGE PLUS LEGENDS OF ARANNA EXP Review

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(More customer reviews)STORY: 2/10
GAMEPLAY: 9/10
SOUND: 8/10
GRAPHICS: 10/10
VOICEACTING: 7/10
CONTROLS: 10/10
INTUITIVITY: 10/10
COMBAT: 10/10
FRUSTRATION LEVEL: 0

Dungeon Siege is a most entertaining game that has been lost in the dank, dusty halls of video game antiquity. No one I've talked to had heard of it, yet after reading ancient reviews of the game, I went out on a limb and purchased Legends of Aranna (definitely the way to go; Microsoft included Dungeon Siege with its expansion). I was delighted.

I received the game on a quiet weekend and ended up playing it for three days straight, every spare moment. I still didn't get a third of the way through the ORIGINAL game!

I cannot honestly say Dungeon Siege has a great story; it's recycled, it's simplistic, and it barely makes an appearance in the game. However, where Dungeon Siege really shines is its pure and unadulterated hacking and slashing. Dungeon Siege removes most of the frustrations that can occur in a hack-and-slash game, and strips down the genre to good, clean fun. There are far too many features aiding in making the experience simple and fun for me to go into here, but as a taste, Dungeon Siege includes packmules to carry extra loot, a spell called Transmute that turns the loot you still can't carry into gold (so you never lose any of your delightful items!) and one of the cleanest and simplest levelup systems I've ever seen.

When you're through with the original game, and Legends of Aranna, it's important to note that there are many siegelets (small games that are built on the dungeon siege engine) available; two from the company, and many available at random sites on the internet. These can add many dozens of hours of gameplay to an already turbo charged product.

In conclusion, for those who like hack and slash gameplay, Dungeon Siege delivers an incredible amount of value at an incredibly small cost.

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Players return to the world of Aranna and start an all-new adventure in the Dungeon Siege expansion pack an addition to the popular Dungeon Siege PC title.

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MATRIX Starships Unlimited: Divided Galaxies (Windows) Review

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(More customer reviews)Unimpressive graphics and sound but that's not the point.
I wouldn't pay [too much] for this game but it is worth your time if you like a good strategy game.

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Build a space empire by choosing & using the finest starships, in this incredible space conquest game! / Rated T: Teen

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Strider 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I never played the original Strider, but I loved this game.Okay, so I could beat in under an hour, but I kept coming back for more.It is one of those games that you will return to after you beat it over and over again.It is almost too easy however, so it can be beaten in at least an hour.That is what keeps this game from getting five stars.Be warned that if you like spectacular graphics, you will be very dissapointed.However, this game proves that games with okay graphics can sometimes be the most fun.

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Dark Cloud 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Until I beat this game, I was playing it for about 5 hours a day, which is unusual for me. It took me at least 50 hours to beat it. I am a veteran 26-year-old gamer.
While the original Dark Cloud was sort of a Zelda 64 clone, this new one has many new innovations that make it a huge improvement over the first (which was a fun game as well, actually). The two most noticable improvements are the cel-shaded graphics and the fact that the weapons don't break permanently (good news).
The voice-overs are pretty good, although there are probably too many cut scenes. The combat is action-oriented, and fun, for the most part. All in all, this game is more deep and entertaining than you might think. There is not much to complain about, and it is a welcome addition to the Playstation 2 library!

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Shining Soul 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is heaps of fun.I could play for hours and hours and actually found myself doing just that.If you don't mind returning to town all the time to buy more health drops and to sell off extraneous items, this game is a must buy.The only qualm I had was that it seemed at times monsters could attack you from a diagonal but you couldn't hit them.Maybe just a bug or a quirk.Either way, fun, fun, fun.Finally, levels are easy to gain and the variety of weapons and items make the game a little more enjoyable.

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Shining Soul II takes you back to the beautiful and mysterious world from the original Shining Soul. The battles between light & darkness of the original game are now just legends -- but the darkness has returned. Monsters are appearing again, as the King announces a tournament of fighters. The warrior who proves his or her worth will lead the fight against the monsters. Can that warrior be you?

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Ys Seven Review

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(More customer reviews)As a huge fan of the Ys series who has played all the games chronologically, I can safely tell you that Ys Seven continues the amazing epic awesomeness of the series! The limited edition comes with a CD featuring music from Ys 7, an art book with amazing art from the three psp Ys games coming out, the game itself, and a cloth map! If you're not a Ys fan, you may find it odd that there is no "Ys" marked on the map... but this is only because you don't know the history x3 Ys is on there.
The game is a masterpiece thus far and although I haven't gotten to the end yet, I am close enough to say this game is well worth your money, even if you're not an Ys fan! I will be getting Ys (3): The Oath in Felghana as well as Ys I&II Chronicles, believe you me <3

[...]

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Warlords Battlecry II Review

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(More customer reviews)Warlods Battlecry II (Ubisoft, 2002?)
Warlords Battelcry II was recently damned with faint praise in the pages of Computer Gaming World as "the best realtime strategy game completely ignored by the public." Having now been caught in its grip for weeks, barely coming up for food and sleep, I'd have to agree.
Much of the problem, I think, lies with the game's demo, which gives prospective players no idea how the game actually works (the demo contains the tutorial encompassed within the purchased product to teach you how to do such things as move and build, but doesn't get into the game's strategy aspect-- which is what makes it so engrossing), and to top it off must be run with the game's most annoying character, the barbarian hero. After finding myself totally hooked on Warlords Battlecry for a few weeks after getting it free(!) from Computer Gaming World last year, I downloaded the WBC2 demo. About three minutes into it, I remember having downloaded it just after its release and finding it eminently forgettable; the strength of the first game caused me to pick up a cheap copy of this one when I found it at Half Price Books. It's the best videogame investment I've made since getting my hands on a copy of Lords of Magic back in 1997.
Twelve different races with a bunch more class/specialty combinations, loads of hero customizing, the occasional random map, and your ability (within limits) to define the strengths and weaknesses of your whole army as you go along make the game almost endlessly replayable You're liable to lose your first few heroes fast and furious when you start out, but once you get the hang of playing any given side (and the strategies for best using each are radically different from side to side, for various reasons), you can stop concentrating on just keeping your skull in one piece and start working on the more subtle aspects of offing the other guy before he overruns you.
Wonderful, and highly recommended. ****

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Secret of Mana Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is one of the best ever, on any platform, from NES all the way to PS2, surpassed only by Chrono Trigger.Unfortunately, the sequels to this game absolutely butchered it, removing all the features that made it great.However, despite what happened to future versions, gamers can still enjoy the original and best.
The graphics of this game are good, looking very colorful, stylized, and very rich, as if they were drawn and painted by hand, and your adventures take place in a wide, diverse range of environments, from caves to deserts to lush green wilderness and waterfalls.The music is wonderful, always inspiring and fitting the mood, from the eerie and strange song of Thanatos' castle, to the slow, wintry theme of the Ice Palace, to the heroic theme of the battle with the Mana Beast.The story is great with all of its plot twists, and it manages to be linear and coherent without dragging you along by the nose.The three characters are very likeable, especially that quirky little Sprite.
But, the gameplay!Despite all else, this is where the game really excels.Secret of Mana has been compared to Zelda because of its real-time battle system, but I believe it surpasses Zelda in all sorts of ways.Instead of one character, you now have three, and they can fight extremely well because of a wonderful feature known as the Action Grid.This allowed you to set all actions of a character, including whether they should fight aggressively, stand back and defend themselves, or use hit-and-run tactics (this works EXTREMELY well--watch your allies step in, whack the enemy, then deftly back-flip out of range before he can counterattack), and you can even set whether they will use their stronger special moves and what level of special move they should charge up to.This is the best idea for computer AI that I've ever seen in an RPG, and it was absolutely STUPID of Squaresoft to remove it from the later games.In Seiken Densetsu 3 (Secret of Mana 2, Japan only), your allies all mindlessly rush in and attack, even if the enemy is much stronger than they are, resulting in healers and mages in your party getting creamed in battles.In Legend of Mana, your allies are absolutely brainless, simply staggering around the battlefield like drunkards, only bothering to fight if the enemy happens cross paths with them.Another example of Squaresoft throwing away what was perfectly good in an attempt to be "new" and "original."The saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," comes to mind when I think of Squaresoft's latest games.
You have 8 different weapons to choose from, so there is a weapon for everyone's taste.Weapons are upgraded, and as they are upgraded, new special attacks can be learned.For your allies, their mana powers can also be made more powerful by use.
Some complain about the time delay between attacks, having to wait for the meter to recharge, but I think this is a good feature.It adds some strategy to the game and maintains its status as an RPG and not a beat-'em-up.You can also use your quick, weak attacks to simply distract an enemy while your allies hit them with mana power.
And, by far, one of the best features of this game is the multiplayer aspect.Three players can get together and control the three characters, and the fun never ends.
Simply put, among action or adventure RPGs, this is the best, no contest.Among RPGs as a whole, this is second only to Chrono Trigger.

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Product Description:
There is one force in the universe that keeps good and evil in perfect balance. It is called the tree of Mana. But a magic sword has tricked a young warrior into upsetting the balance, spreading evil throughout the land. Thus, the warrior must undertake a dangerous journey to find the seeds of the Mara tree which have been hidden for centuries. Only then can perfect harmony be restored. In this incredible adventure, things are not as they seem. Magic swords release evil as well as fight it. Treasure chests hold booby traps. Monsters are friends and friends are enemies. Dragons fly, weapons change. It's a world turned upside down that you must help the warrior make right. And the only way to succeed is to solve the Secret of Mana

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Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time (Collector's Edition) - Nintendo 64 Review

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(More customer reviews)Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
(1998)con., Nintendo 64, pub. Nintendo, dev. Nintendo EAD)

There are few things I could say about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that have not already been mentioned by critics, fans, journalists and Nintendo enthusiasts in some form or another at some point in time.The reason being is that Ocarina of Time IS (whether you love it or hate) one of the most praised, well-respected and highly regarded video games in the history of the industry.The game also remains my favorite video game of all-time.It is my intention to discuss certain aspects of the game that I find enjoyable, as well as a few of the facets of the game that I did not take pleasure in.This narrative is more of a personal reflection of the game than a critical review.Please keep that in mind while reading.Let's get stared!

The production/creation of this title was no easy task for our old friends over at Nintendo. Not only is there pressure enough in creating a title from the Legend of Zelda series, as a great portion of the gaming public hold the franchise in very high esteem and expect much for each new title, but the series had to also evolve and incur a drastic change from the familiar and successful 2-D realm to the (at the time) very new and unpredictable world of 3-D.Fortunately, Nintendo had some prior success in this transition process as their most famous and beloved mascot, Mario, had made the "jump" from the traditional and beloved 2-D platforming to the realm that is 3-D.Super Mario 64 launched with the Nintendo 64 console in the U.S. on September 25, 1996.The result? Most video games fans and critics, alike, refer to it as one of the greatest video games of all-time.

It worked for Mario, would it work for Zelda?

Mr. Miyamoto and his development team put a tremendous amount of time and effort into the completion of this game.It took some three years and a staff of over 200 folks to complete this daunting task.It had been 6 years since a Legend of Zelda console game was released (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past SNES-1992) and the Zelda fans were starving for a new title.After all the screen-shots, after all the articles and features, after all the hype and after many delays, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was finally released in the U.S. to the masses on November 23, 1998.

Was it worth the wait? You better believe it.

Critically and publicly acclaimed, Ocarina of Time literally changed the face of the gaming world and completely altered the rules, the mechanics and the overall style and structure of video games as we know it. The 3-D realm seemed a perfect fit for the style of gameplay fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise have come to know and love.It remained as faithful to its 2-D predecessors as it possibly could and enhanced, refined and completely polished the Zelda series and, in essence, brought the franchise into the future of gaming.It remains a truly magnificent accomplishment and an absolute most welcomed edition to this extraordinary series.

It is my strong belief and conviction that the quality of gameplay has always remained the most redeeming quality of any video game.In this day and age of progressively scanned imagery and (soon to be) high-definition quality graphics, along with orchestrated music, full-blown original/compiled soundtracks (comparable to those of major Hollywood motion pictures) all presented in glorious, THX certified (some do) digital surround sound (a lot do), I have always been of the opinion that the quality gameplay mechanics, which are the foundation for the success of the industry, of games would, in a way, "take a back seat" to the aforementioned aspects that seem to be dominating ALL forms of our entertainment.

Don't get me wrong.I'm as much of a tech nut as the next guy.I just don't want the gameplay quality to suffer as a result of "dolling" up the game.The game must be enjoyable. The game must be fun. I don't care how it looks, how it sounds or what the content is - if playing the game is not entertaining, if the controls are stiff, unresponsive and hinder the experience, if the overall gameplay mechanics are not up to par, I don't care how many copies of the game sold, it will be a flop to me.I firmly believe that Nintendo understands this concept.They believe the fact that solid, innovative gameplay is the key to a truly rewarding and fun gaming experience and they trust enough in their fans and the general gaming public to recognize this.Needless to say, Ocarina of Time is one of the best examples of perfection in terms of quality gameplay mechanics on any console to-date.

Playing Ocarina of Time is a joy from start to finish.It's the perfect blend of solid 3-D action/adventure/RPG elements with a superb fighting system, spectacular environments, nearly endless amounts of exploration, quirky and fun NPCs, challenging dungeons & puzzle solving, awesome boss battles, an incredibly well structured story and wonderful in-game sound effects and catchy, hummable songs that are enjoyed by me and others to this very day. *Hugs OoT Soundtrack*

It is a grand and epic game that completely immerses you in a way that no other that I have ever played. This sense of immersion occurs, whether you are exploring the brilliantly designed and unique dungeons, riding your loyal steed, Epona, across the immense Hyrule Field or gazing upon the magnificent and majestic Hyrule Castle.You feel right in the middle of the action and excitement. You become part of the journey; you become part of the quest.You, in essence, become part of the legend.

Gameplay

The controls and the overall gameplay are as close to perfect as I have ever experienced.Two essential innovations that require specific mention are the camera system and the lock-on targeting system.What can I say?They are revolutionary. Most in-game cameras can often become a nuisance. They obstruct, rather than help. The in-game camera in Ocarina of Time never misses a beat.It never hinders the player's progress or perspective and serves as a tremendous aid during your adventure.Bottom line: I have never played a console game with a better camera system than Ocarina of Time.

In conjunction with the camera, the lock-on targeting system proves essential to your enjoyment of the game and will prove very useful while controlling Link in battle against the assortment of different enemies you will encounter during your quest.You simply tap a button on the control deck (Z-button) and this action allows you to "lock-on" to any particular enemy (or NPC) you are looking to engage (or talk to). The camera will stay on your target, retaining its over the shoulder position and allows you to circle your enemies and slash at them while side-stepping, back-flipping and shielding yourself from the attacks.It makes for a much more enjoyable and satisfying experience.The lock-on targeting does NOT make the game easier or minimize the difficulty.It simply serves as an important "weapon" for the player that allows them to strategically outline an attack plan and tactically take on multiple enemies in an efficient manner.

Both are most welcomed and most appreciated additions to the series.I must warn you though - after experiencing the Ocarina of Time camera and lock-on targeting, you will truly be spoiled for the rest of your gaming career.

In addition to the camera system and lock-on targeting, Ocarina of Time also managed to redefine the controls of the 3-D adventure with their introduction of the context sensitive (B) button.There a many actions Link will need to utilize during his quest.You will need to: pull, push, crawl, read, dive, climb, jump, talk and myriads of other actions.The context sensitive (B) button allows you to perform all of these tasks effortlessly.When you happen upon a specific task that requires a certain action, the system will automatically recognize the action needed by flashing the word of the action on screen for you.For example, if you walk up to a sign, the action button, (B), will flash "read" on-screen. You need only to hit the (B) button, and you will be able to read the sign.Simple, yet very effective and very intuitive.All games should work like this.It's brilliant.

Lastly, I would like to give some mention to the overall feel of the game.I like to call it the, "go anywhere, do anything" feeling.If you see something during your travels, chances are, you can go to it and interact with that part of the environment in some manner. This gives the player a tremendous feeling of freedom and adds a new dynamic to the overall gaming experience.Great detail was put into the creation of the magical land of Hyrule, and it shows.

Now I get to nitpick

As much as I love Ocarina of Time, there are a couple things I may have done a little differently.These are incredibly minor, minor problems that I have had with the title.First off, I was a little disappointed that the original Legend of Zelda Overworld theme was not included in the game.It was substituted for the Hyrule Field theme. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Hyrule Field theme, but, I feel that putting the original Overworld theme in the background while traversing through Hyrule Field would have been perfect.Lastly (yup, only two) I wish there was an option to turn Navi off.At times, I found her incredibly annoying and her constant "whisens" always seem to come at the most unwanted times.But I digress, as Navi served an important role in the adventure.Because of her, we are able to "lock-on" to our targets.Navi flies over to the target and floats over their heads, allowing Link to...Read more›

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zelda rpg for nintendo 64

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Odin Sphere Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been an avid gamer since the Atari 2600 days. One thing I've noticed over those 2 and a half decades of console gaming is that almost always the best games for all of the systems come out at the end of the systems' life cycle. Look at the games the SNES had in its last year of life. Chrono Trigger anyone? And other games like Donkey Kong Country were displaying graphics that seemed inpossible for the SNES. I also remember playing a Batman game on the NES (forget the title)that came out as the NES was dying, it too had graphics that seemed impossible for the NES. One big reason this is is that by the time a system is about to be taken off the market, developers have had a lot of time to get to know the system's hardware and know all the ins and outs when developing games for it. Games have gotten more involved as years have passed, especially RPG's, so now the games that come out at the end of the newer system's life not only have the best graphics seen yet on the system, the developes have also had years to flesh out the story, combat and item systems. You'll understand this when you play the awesome Odin Sphere.

At its core, the game is an action/adventure RPG. You wander through areas going left to right and attack enemies in real time. It's a bit like the first Valkyrie Profile that came out for the PS1, but way more fine tuned. When enemies are defeated, they release spirits called Phozons that you can magically absorb into your weapon making it more powerful. All areas are set up in "Stages". When you get tot he end of a stage, Odin will drop a treasure chest from the heavens you can open to collect rewards. The cool thing here is, the faster you complete a stage, the better items the treasure chest will have. Also, the less damage you take within that stage will also grant you better items.

Speaking of items, you can get them in a variety of ways. There are vendors scattered throughout castles and battlefields, and you can also grow them. You find seeds all over the place, as well as sheep seeds and more. What you do is plant the seeds near some enemies, and defeat the enemies. Instead of absorbing into your weapong, the phozons will absorb into the seeds making a plant grow that will have various items hanging off of them depending on what seed you planted. It's a very unique concept. You can also cook in the game, and there's a fairly easy alchemy system you can use.

The story is all about Norse mythology, and the graphics that are hand painted reflect that. You have the option to play the game with English voiceovers or in the original Japanese with English subtitles. I selected the English option, and the voice acting is actually pretty good.

If you're a fan of RPG's at all, especially if you're looking for something that's different from anything else out there right now, Odin Sphere should be a game you should pick up as soon as you can. The game seems very involved, and it is, but the game also lets you select from three different difficulty levels at any time.

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In Odin Sphere, players enact the story of their world's end. A great kingdom named Valentine was brought apart by natural disaster and internal strife. As war broke out, the once-great nation became a wasteland. As a demon lord named Odin schemes to conquer it, a far-off sorceror plans to use ancient magic that will bring an apocalypse. As the nations struggle for control, the world steadily slips unknowingly toward its demise, ancient prophecies are ready to be fulfilled -- unless a young princess named Gwendolyn can stop the bloody feud between nations and fight for unity.

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Diablo II Review

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(More customer reviews)I swear, I havn't had a good night sleep since I got this and its not because I'm having nightmares, its because I can't take my eyes away from the screen.Complex but bang on story, good graphics for it's time, and I can't stop playing as I'm wanting to up the level for my characters.This game is sooo adicting and I'm not a RPG guy!

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After possessing the body of the hero who defeated him, Diablo resumes his nefarious scheme to shackle humanity into unholy slavery. You must put a final end to Diablo and his evil brethren.

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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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Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good game for everyone, especially for Tom and Jerry Fans. This game is really a good choice because it is very funny, and have very cool graphics. You have to help Jerry to not get chased by Tom doing a lot of crazy stuff like the famous mouse tramp in Tom's tail or cutting Tom's mustach. It's worth the money you'll spend on this game. Don't hesitate to buy it.

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Tom & Jerry: Fists of Furry extends the ancient battle between cat and mouse to the Nintendo 64. The game includes both one-on-one fighting and tag-team tournaments in venues modeled after classic episodes of the cartoon.Characters like Tom, Jerry, Butch, Spike, Tuffy, and Duckling will wail on each other with weapons including shovels, bombs, red-hot pokers, tennis rackets, furniture, and an assortment of fruit. Players can unlock new characters and battle secret bosses. Special power-ups add to the strategy.

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Paper Mario Review

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(More customer reviews)Gamers everywhere rejoice as Mario the most popular character in video game history-returns in Paper Mario, a brand-new adventure for your N64.
Paper Mario is filled to the brim with familiar faces, places and items, all presented in a fresh new light. As you guide the plucky plumber on his journey, you'll encounter such Mario mainstays as Boos, Bob-ombs, Koopas and Goombas. Most of them are enemies, but sometimes one will break ranks and fight by Mario's side. You'll also meet up with a rogue's gallery of old friends and foes, whom may include Bowser, Goombario, Kooper Koopa, Princess Peach, and Kammy Koopa.
Paper Mario is a game that has something for everyone. It'ssimple to learn and fun for younger gamers, yet complex enough to keep even battle-hardened joystick jockeys playing for weeks. Followers of the Mario craze will be pleased with the recognizable faces and worlds, while RPG fans can rejoice at the thought of one of the deepest and most customizable RPG's to come along for any system in a very long time. Add a gigantic world, hundreds of special moves, dozens of items, and some very funny dialogue and sight gags--the result is the Mario game we've all been eagerly awaiting.

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Paper Mario N64 Game. Paper Mario is the follow-up to Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars for Super Nintendo!

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