Army Men: RTS (Real Time Strategy) Review

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(More customer reviews)Army Men RTS at first seems to be just another addition to the Army Men franchise. However, once the player has delved into this deep fulfilling world created by 3DO and Pandemic Studios, one can not help but compare this title to an onion, constantly revealing new layers of wonder, while making the player cry with enjoyment in knowing that the feast waiting ahead will be greater than the splendor currently in front of them.
Andrews has directed this magnum opus with great gusto, and has counterplayed Payne's and Iarossi's superlative programming genius with Welch's undeterring artistic vision. Harding has leveraged the resulting combination to create believable, lush worlds that add to the outstanding gameplay flow.
I find the comment below me rather amusing, since it took quite an effort to get this game over a month before release. To just sign off with "it suxx0rs 3d0 lame" seems to be an unfair cop-out at what is potentially the best Army Men title I have played. However, the effort of procurement was definitely worth it. I recommend anyone with a vague interest in strategy, or even just wanting a relaxing blast-em-up pick up this title.
I will be honestly suprised if this title doesn't make many magazines "Best Of" awards. I have only one thing to say - Bravo, 3DO, Bravo.

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Product Description:
Army Men RTS is a deep and strategic adventure that doesn't intimidate like other real-time strategy games. It features an intuitive interface and is easy to pick up and play. Though accessible, the game forces players to think about how to strategically build and manage troops, vehicles, and buildings while fighting in an all-out war. Players can view the fully 3-D world with a changeable camera. Multiple ways to play include a reward-based campaign mode, special operations, and turnkey wars with great battles. You can even unlock secret "intelligence files" with good performances.

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Medabots: Metabee (Gold) Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is so cool. It is one of the best games ever. If you really like Role Playing Games than this game is for you. It has good graphics, good music, and it is SSSSSSSUPER fun. You may get stuck at point but just keep on trying and you will win.

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Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem Review

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(More customer reviews)There have been quite a few attempts at video games based upon Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos, but they never seem to make it to the market.Although Eternal Darkness is set within its own little universe, it borrows heavily from the mythos, and Lovecraft's influence is readily apparent.
The game begins when your character, Alexandra Roivas, decides to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding her grandfather's death at their ancestral mansion.Through an absolutely brilliant plot device, the player is able to take control of many of Alex's ancestors from ages past and several other characters from all over the world.Each of these chapters help the player piece together the mystery and reveal the hidden agenda of a group of extremely powerful and malevolent entities.
Gameplay is very smooth.Holding down one controller button allows you to lock on an enemy target, and with a flick of the control stick you can aim at specific body parts.Some baddies fall when they are decapitated, some you have to take apart limb by limb before they will fall.As with most third person games, camera angles are fixed and sometimes problematic, as you may find yourself being disembowled by some horror just off screen.
Combat is relatively well balanced, and the puzzles in the game find a way to be interesting without being terribly difficult.the graphics are quite good, many monsters can be on the screen without any noticeable slowdown.The monsters themselves are quite detailed and look great, but they don't vary a whole lot towards the earlier part of the game.
The magic system is very cool.You must find runes of power hidden throughout the game (often inside of monsters).Each rune corresponds to an alignment, an effect, and a target.By mixing and matching the runes, you can create many different spells.There's also a large variety of mundane weaponry to collect and to toss a beating with.
Each of the characters you control seem to have their own strengths and weaknesses.Some are excellent melee fighters, some excel at throwing spells.Some have a ton of health, while others are quite fragile.
By far the coolest aspect of the game (and the part that perhaps owes more than a little to Chaosim's Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game) is the sanity system.Everytime you undergo something hideously supernatural, you lose a little bit of your mind as you struggle to grasp the situation.This manifests as hallucinations, both visual and audial.You may get an unexpected phone call, or have a horrible vision of your own demise.This effect is truly very creepy.I've already had statues come to life and watch me cross an empty hallway.I've seen walls bleed, and bugs crawl across my television screen.There are several ways to regain your sanity, but sometimes it's just fun letting it fall a little bit to see how creepy things can really get.
Resident Evil may have been an inspiration for Eternal Darkness, but it is a poor comparison.This game is truly a wonder to experience, and definitely a killer title for the GC.It's worth every penny.

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Mega Man X Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)Mega Man X Collection(2006). A showcase collection to gather the first six Mega Man X games all on one disc, as well as the unreleased-in-America Mega Man Battle & Chase.

The reason for my review title stems from a grudge I had a long time ago. Most gamers from the 90s should remember a popular used game-selling company known as FuncoLand (now they are Gamestop). Well back in March of 1997, I saw listed in FuncoLand's catalog the fully priced MM:B&C. I was a very impatient kid back then who needed to have everything Mega Man, and so I quickly reserved a copy of the game before it was set to be released. I was really excited because it looked like it was going to be a pretty neat game, combining the classic Mega Man formula with racing. Unfortunately as it turned out, in a last minute action caused by Sony, Capcom was unable to release the game here in the US. So disappointed, then I demanded that FuncoLand return my money. They never did. I learned a hard lesson that day. And now, they finally decided to put the game on this Mega Man X collection, and having waited such a long time, I did not hesitate to unlock it. Unfortunately, I was majorly let down by what turned out to be a third-rate Mario Cart/Crash Team Racing clone that sucked for the most part. I can excuse the archaic graphics since I grew up with a PS1, but the game itself just seemed kinda... dull.

Ok, now that that's out of the way, onto the REAL reason to own this collection: the Mega Man X games! Yes, here Capcom decided to throw their first spin-off series to one of their top franchises, taking the first three games that originated on the SNES, and the second three that resided on the PS1, and left off X7 and X8 (due to the fact that those two games are widely available on the PS2, and so it would be pointless to include them).

Now let's look at each X game!

-Mega Man X
INFO: Here's where the series starts off, introducing players to the story of the reploids, Zero, Sigma, the new anime-influenced look, a rocking soundtrack, robot-ride vehicles, heart-tanks, and the armor collecting feature that lets X do things like dash, head butt, and supercharge special weapons.
MY THOUGHTS: Of all the X games, I find that this one and X4 have the most attention to detail in the little things. I'm talking about the features such as animations and things like taking out Chill Penguin's stage and causing another stage to freeze over. Very cool. It's an excellent place to start for beginners since the difficulty is not too terribly high. The levels are a bit sparse compared to the others (though not nearly as bad as in X4) but there are still plenty of secrets to collect, and being the first game, I can't fault it. The boss fights are fairly simple, but challenging enough for those who haven't played an X game before.

-Mega Man X2
INFO: The sequel brings forth a few new surprises such as the air dash, speeder vehicle, double charge shot, giga attack, and the ability to alter the ending based on defeating certain bosses throughout the game. It also featured a new graphics chip that enabled some interesting 3D wire frame effects to occur at various points.
MY THOUGHTS: While the first X game was great, here is where the series really started to shine, IMO. There was a lot more that you could do; the levels were just large enough to really house some secrets, and just small enough to provide plenty of nonstop action. It's considered a favorite for many fans. Plus, of the classic X games, this one just has a great feel to it. My only gripe with the original SNES game comes from the IMMENSE SLOWDOWN, which was thankfully fixed in this collection. Bonus points go to that.

-Mega Man X3
INFO: The next entry featured the ability to call in for Zero's help and play as him briefly, a more complex super armor-collecting system, and the ability to call on special robot-ride armor vehicles at certain points of the stage.
MY THOUGHTS: This one has always been my favorite, and to me was the series's definite high point. It's also the only game that I didn't have, considering how rare and expensive it was. As for the game, the difficulty is very high at this point and they give us a lot more stuff to do, such as find hidden stages and super armor pieces. No gripes here, other than the fact that they could have done more with the ability to play as Zero. But Capcom gave us a huge surprise here! They decided to take a game that was already great to begin with, and give the fans the previously "import-only" improved PS1/Saturn version that contains improved music, sound effects, and added anime cutscenes! How cool is that? If you buy this collection for JUST ONE REASON at all, get it for this nice bonus.

-Mega Man X4
INFO: The SNES was done, and Capcom decided to give the series a major cosmetic overhaul for the 32-bit generation, showing off with animation on par with the Street Fighter games. In addition, Zero could now be played completely for the first time, offering fans an alternate style of play to X's. Anime cutscenes run abundant here as well (though voice acted poorly).
MY THOUGHTS: X4 quickly became a fan-favorite due to the anime cutscenes and excellent blend of action. This new look inspired the creators to pay attention to the cool little animation details once again, and give the game a nicely polished feel. In terms of this, the game succeeds beautifully. Plus, the soundtrack is probably the best a Mega Man game's music has ever been. However, I'll be the first here to point the game's vital fault that everyone always seems to overlook: the stage layouts are a huge letdown from X3's, putting us back to X1's simplistic approach. Keeping the action tight is good, but not at the expense of completely linear and short stages. Not only that, but there aren't nearly as many secrets to find this time around. Zero's quest is fun, though nothing is really different except for the story and the melee-oriented play style. The good thing though is that being on a Gamecube disc now, the loading times are NONEXISTENT! (this is true of both X5 and X6 also). I might sound a bit picky, but X4 really is a fun game that serves as another great place to start, though it's also the quickest of the six games to be done with. In its favor, I'd say that this one, along with X2, has perhaps the best feel and atmosphere to it, which sadly did not carry on to the next two games.

-Mega Man X5
INFO: introducing a new countdown timer that alters the game's ending, multiple armor sets to collect, and the ability to upgrade different aspects of the player's abilities. X and Zero can both now be switched back and forth at any time.
MY THOUGHTS: It's typical of everyone to say that this is where the series started to go downhill and in many ways they are correct. However, X5 isn't as horrible of a game as people will get you to believe. For one, the stage layouts have improved immensely from the last game, and there are more secrets to collect once again like the 2 different armor suits. That's not to say that X5 doesn't have its faults. Quite the contrary: CAPCOM SHOULD HAVE RID OF THE MANDATORY INTERRUPTIONS THAT ALIA GIVES!! They had a chance to take off this major hindrance here and they blew it. If you're playing the games in order, this becomes especially annoying since all it does is provide "vital" hints such as "Don't run into spikes!" which do nothing but insult the player's intelligence after getting through X1-4. Also, X5 has ridiculously easy bosses, eliminating the need to "find the right weapon" when they can all be slaughtered rather easily by Zero's blade and the X-buster. And while the stages themselves are expansive enough, the designs seem a bit derived from X4's stages. These drawbacks make X5 my least favorite of the first six X games, but it's still a very worthwhile play if you can get past them.

-Mega Man X6
INFO: features a new "nightmare" system, a reploid-finding feature, the ability to wield Zero's saber with X, and a new control scheme for Zero.
MY THOUGHTS: Wow. I must be the only fan that doesn't hate this game with a passion. While I agree that it's FAR from a classic compared to the others, it does have its moments of brilliance. I'd say the perfect description for X6 would be "rough around the edges". It has some ideas that are perfectly executed, and others that fail miserably. For instance, I love the reploid finding feature as it adds more depth to the stages, and the alternate exits are a nice touch. On the other hand, the nightmare system was a horrible attempt to bring back X1's stage altering elements, which could've worked with some more time and effort, but it falls completely flat and should've been left out. Also, forget the story, as after X5 it becomes just throwaway garbage. However, I'm REALLY GLAD they got rid of X5's terrible drawback here. It's a very difficult game that should probably be played last, since the nightmare elements add so much harm to the stages that it's nearly impossible to go unscathed. However, if you can last through the randomness of the nightmare system long enough, you'll be treated to two of the best armor suits in all of the X games. How much you will like this game depends primarily on how patient of a gamer you are.

I was a bit worried at first about playing the games with the Gamecube's oddly distorted controller setup, but I quickly adjusted with no problems. Plus, you can switch the controls at anytime too, which is nice. There are some bonuses like early artwork for characters, secrets for each of the X games, and some of X3's remixed music. That's it though, so if you were expecting a cartoon like in the previous Mega Man collection, you'll be disappointed. I would've liked to seen some of the rejected ideas for...Read more›

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Product Description:
Mega Man X must thwart Sigma's army of renegade reploids and their evil plan of destroying the world. Faced with intense challenges, X, his robot partner, Zeroand Dr. Light must band together to intercept and prevent the forces that threaten total annihilation. Mega Man X Collection features a retrospective of X's humble teenage beginnings on a 16-bit system to its initiation into the 32-bit era. Players will be challenged to prove their gaming skills once again as they battle through each subsequent adventure while unlocking a host of bonus features and artwork.

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NFL Street 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is the best game I have ever played! buy this game if you like to be low on rules and hard on hits. If you like style
buy this game. If you don't like games with these qualites buy Madden NFL 06. Here are somenew features.
new features
own the city mode is so cool!
new street events!
you can bounce off walls and pass or juke!
Bad features
turbo runs out after player gets tired
in all this game is really good!

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Product Description:
Defy gravity and stretch your game to the skies with NFL Street 2. Receivers can now run off the walls, change passing lanes by running your QB up a building, and take advantage of eye-popping wall jukes and all-new hurdles. You better hold on to the ball because defenders fly across the field in ways never before seen in a football game. Players now descend on Bay City, an all-new persistent world to build their teams, their reps, and their battle plans one field at a time. Once you own the walls, you will own the city. Join pick-up games around the city and establish your reputation by recruiting talent from the neighborhoods you conquer as you begin your journey to become football's biggest street legend. The time to own the streets is now.

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Zoids: Battle Legends Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this game and cruised past the first 11 levels of mission mode as the republic and then once I got to the 12th...It wasn't pretty. Same goes for the battle mode. I got past the first 9 levels and then I had to face an ultra saurus pretty much alone because the "Partner" that you are forced to join with is incredibly stupid. The Ultra saurus can't be physically attacked because it has some electric force field on it so you get shocked if you actually make contact with it. Then your partner (being the dumbass that he is) just keeps on jumping right into him. Fortunately you can stop him from doing that by telling him to bombard the enemy but it's still very, very, very hard. Two player mode is really fun too because you can load customized zoids from your memory card into the game so that you and your friend can use your own zoids. Facing the computer is a joke though. Fists mode is alright, it's just VS. mode with a harder level that may have a hole in the middle or be on a plat form etc. I recommend this game to any zoids fan.

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Product Description:
In Zoids: Battle Legends you'll take on teh role of your favorite Zoids character. Join the battle for planet Zi and unleash devastating firepower to destroy enemy forces!

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NBA Street V3 Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this game, I love it so much I have it for XBOX too. The reason I have it for the Cube too is the fact it offers Mario Characters too, namely Peach, Luigi and Mario. Honestly, it's a nice addition for Gamecube owners as the other systems dont' offer any mascot players, but I'll tell you up front the different characters dont play any differently from the regular basketball players so don't expect anything from that regard.

Wouldn't it have been great seeing Mario heat up and turn red like he does on his classic Mario games? Maybe some special Nintnedo"ish" dunks that only Mario or Princess Peach could pull off?Maybe an added touch of a basket catching fire or having princess Peach float through the air to reach the rim like she does in her Mario expeditions.These characters are for visuals only, they do the same dunks and moves as every other player in the game, so don't expect anything different from that regard. Mind you, most people wont' care, seeing these guys go up against Iverson, Shaq, Kobe and old school players is a comedic treat for Nintnedo fans.

This game is well worth the price of admission and I consider it to be the best multiplayer game to ever hit the shelf. With 3 other game controllers, you can have up to 4 human players at once. Online would have been nice for Gamecube owners, but the ultra long street challenge mode and mutiplayer options will keep you busy for sometime.The street Challenge mode takes you through an extensive season to get your created player up to speed. You can earn new workout clothes, new jerseys, new socks, new shoes, new hairstyles, new jewelery, new hairstyles, and even change your body style. You can even go the female route if you want, it's a pretty extensive customization option the game offers for your pleasure.

As with the PS2 and XBOX versions of the game, the game has a wagon load of current NBA Players and old school. As with many, a massive disappointment is the absence of Michael Jordan in Vol 3. Amazingly Jordan was all through Volume 2 so many are surprised not to see him in Vol 3, I guess it had to do with licensing issues. Bummer. But if you can forgive that, the lineup is very extensive, so don't cry.Good music tuneage, annoying announcer as always, tremendous graphics, players look amazing, and the vast amount of trick moves, dunks, venues for the courts are extensive, you won't be disappointed. Buy this game if you own a Gamecube, you won't regret it.

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Product Description:
NBA Street Vol. 3 hits the pavement with basketball like you've never seen. It has over-the-top, larger than life 3-on-3 gaming like you'd see on the best street courts. Play as any of the biggest NBA stars and pull off hundreds of crazy moves and dunks that you'd never see in a regular NBA game. New Dunk Contest mode hits the street -- see if you can execute the big air slams, link together combos in mid-air and impress the three-judge panel

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Star Fox Adventures Review

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(More customer reviews)...The Story:
Fox Mcloud had beat Andross in the past adventure for the N64. This time he goes to an nknown planet filled with dinosaurs, and has to save a female fox named Krystal. He has to defeat huge bosses and the Dinosquads. With the help of Slippy Toad, Peppy Hare, and Rob the Robot, Fox will have to travel trough all the planet and save the day...The game has just a bit of the use of the Arwing. It's only use is to travel from place to place within the planet. So basically, the game is an adventure game.
You will also have a magic wand or stick to battle your enemies with huge combos and special powers.
I also know this game is an RPG (Role Playing Game), which means you will have to think. In a RPG, almost everything is interactable, which means you can talk with almost any character, and touch many things. So if the game is an adventure and also an RPG, this makes it an Adventure-RPG, just as Zelda (well actually Zelda is similiar, because Zelda is an Action-RPG).
The planet is huge, which makes you explore alot, and has lots of bosses in it.
What makes this game a must buy?:
The answer is quite simple: It uses the best techniques from an RPG, the best techniques from an adventure game, a great and world wide known cast of characters, has unbelieveable graphics and fighting tactics, has a great story-line, and the game is just a MASTERPIECE...Just remember the quality of games Rare makes, and you'll be happy to buy this title...

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Product Description:
Starfox Adventures for Gamecube MODEL- DOL-P-GSAE VENDOR- NINTENDO FEATURES- Star Fox Adventures Breathtaking graphics and an epic storyline propel this all-new spectacular from Rare and Nintendo. The despotic General Scales has unleashed powers that are literally tearing apart the once-peaceful Dinosaur Planet. With the survival of Fox McClouds home planet at risk, the intrepid veteran of Star Fox 64 and Super Smash Bros. Melee gets an urgent message to battle Scales and his vast army of cackling SharpClaws. Fox gets strong support from Star Fox Team members Slippy, Peppy and Rob. Unexpected help comes from Prince Tricky, the playful heir to the EarthWalker tribal throne. On the planet surface, Fox must rely on the mystical powers of a unique staff as he battles Scales minions, befriends peaceful plant-eaters and encounters eerie spirits that hold the key to the planets survival. Most intriguing of all is Krystal, a beautiful traveler from a distant planet. Rare and Nintendo have lovingly crafted the games incredible graphics, including gorgeous water effects and Foxs phenomenally detailed fur. For a sharper and clearer image, select the Progressive Scan option when playing on a TV set that supports that feature. The sound is top-notch, too, from the uniformly brilliant voice talent to the endlessly evocative music. This game supports Dolby Pro Logic II. Star Fox Adventures supports progressive scan on TV sets that have that feature. -- SPECIFICATIONs ------------ ESRB Rating : T for Teen Genre/Category

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Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Review

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(More customer reviews)I remember when the hype for the first Gamecube Metroid was buzzing.All the talk about the fps mode, all the sneers and the scowls regarding not actually being able to see Samus...and then the game came out.And maybe I'm just looking in the wrong circles, but I haven't met a single person who disliked the first Metroid Prime.It was, for all intents and purposes, a perfect game.

From what I've played of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (I'm a little stuck at 9% in the Agon Wastes, and gamefaqs doesn't have anything up yet), I can definitely say its much of that same excellence with a little more added on for good measure.Once again, the most impressive aspect of the game seems to be the environments.Best example I've seen so far is the lightening that pours from the sky in the Wastes...lightening which can actually hurt you in the off chance that it does hit you.And the array of new enemies doesn't hurt the overall look of the game.But the real outstanding feature are the light and dark worlds, which are the "echoes" referenced in the title.

Reminescent of Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, every environment has its mirror image.The difference is that Aether's other half has a little bit of a goth complex, and as a result the enemies there are not only darker, but stronger.The environment is inhospitable to even Miss Aran, who is forced to hop from Luminoth beacon to beacon to minimize time in the miasma.Such is the life of a bounty hunter.And honestly, it gets a little irritating, but that's probably my biggest complaint.I will also agree with EGM's Shane that the plot seems like more of a Rare-style fetch quest than the average Metroid game, and nowhere near the incredible Metroid: Fusion plot.As for multiplayer, the experience hasn't been amazing.Fun for a while, as most multiplayer games are, but if you don't have a full group of people, you're going to get bored pretty quick.

But look on the bright side.The cinemas are brilliant, better than the first game (especially when Dark Samus gets into the fray).I wish I could provide feedback on a final boss and an ending, but I've still got some ways to go, and with a game like this, I gotta be honest...I wanna take my time and enjoy this.

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Product Description:
Hunted by a mysterious entity and a warring race called the Ing, Samus Aran must explore the light and dark worlds of this doomed planet to discover secrets and augment her suit's weapons and abilities. And now, for the first time in the history of the celebrated Metroid franchise, up to four players can battle each other as they search for weapons, grapple across ceilings, and turn into Morph Balls to make their escapes.

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Sonic Adventure 2 Battle Review

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(More customer reviews)SA2B has to be one of the best games I have ever played. Here's why:
As soon as you play the first level of the Hero storyline (my favorite level), you'll be hooked.
With two storyline's and 180 missions to complete, you won't be done with this game for a while. There's even a secret storyline...
Multiplayer modes are insanely fun. While you can only play with 2 players at a time, the amount of fun you get makes up for it. There are many Multiplayer modes: Action Race, Robot Battle, Treasure hunt, Chao racing, Chao Karate, and Kart racing.
There are some pretty original ideas. You can grind down rails and slide down city streets on a snowboard while pulling crazy tricks off ramps.
The music in this game is unbeatable.
The storyline is very good, offering suspense, action, and even a few touching moments.
You can raise adorable little creatures called chao. You can even transfer chao from Sonic Advance into your chao garden.
BUY SONIC ADVENTURE 2 BATTLE NOW!!!

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Product Description:
Most Sonic the Hedgehog games are specifically for Sega related platforms but Sonic Adventure 2 Battle is an original game made for the Nintendo GameCube. Sonic and crew need to stop Dr. Eggman from his nasty tricks again. There's new characters brought into the Sonic universe! A mysterious dark hedgehog called Shadow and a bat named Rouge. The Sonic Adventure 2 Battle has been enhanced with graphics, doubling the framerate and now is set as a multiplayer system.

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Killer 7 Review

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(More customer reviews)Games have been described as art in the past.A game that comes immediately to mind is Ico, which oozed personality and landscapes that were both etheral and were just like a painting.Not until this game have I ever played a game that was almost like interactive art.

As far as I can see, if there was ever a game that was pretending to be an art house film, Killer 7 would be it.From the stylized, psuedo-noir/comic book/anime inspired graphics to the dark, brooding, and sex-laden story and the weird gameplay, you have the makings of an art house video game, as strange as that sounds.But does it work?In a word, mostly.

Going back to the art comment, each level in this game and each presentation of idea screams art.It's like passing surreal paintings in a museum.You pass one and go "whoa, that's weird."And you might pass another one that makes you want to tilt your head so you can maybe understand it better.And yet, you come up with a hint but nothing concrete.This game is like that, except that each level, each character each piece of dialogue is connected in a way a wall full of paintings usually isn't.

Normally, when a game puts style and story over gameplay, bad juju occurs.For instance, Xenosaga II was a great movie, but as a game it was horrible.In this case, I've known from the beginning that the gameplay would be as equally weird as the storyline.Suda 51, the game's creator, had been asked when Killer 7 was first introduced via some strange cut scenes how it would play.His answer was he didn't know.They had spent so much time and effort getting the feel and story of the game down, that they had no clue how it would ultimately play like.

Truthfully, I shouldn't like this game.And yet, somehow I do.So, how does it play?In a move that is a throw back to some of the early Sega CD games I played, you push the A button to move forward.If you want to turn around, you push B to do a 180.When you get to a specific junction that allows you do something other than move (i.e. an object or different hallways or rooms), you tilt the controller in the direction you want to go and push A.When you hear the satanic laughter of the Heaven's Smiles, you pull the R trigger and enter a FPS mode when you aim and shoot at the approaching time bombs.Hitting them in a yellow weak area is an instant kill that gives you the most blood.

Yes, blood.In fact, an interesting strategy system for leveling up involves collecting blood from fallen enemies.As you kill enemies, you collect blood which can be used to level up each of your personalities in areas of power, aim control, speed, criticals etc.So, you want to hit the yellow areas for an instant kill and for the most blood.

Basically, that's the gameplay in a nutshell. You move around incredibly linear levels, on a rail, set path and blast any and all enemies you find.Along the way, you'll come across various puzzles that require you to use your brain and sometimes a lot of luck to figure out.Since this is a Capcom game, expect some Resident Evil (the earlier ones, not the new one) type puzzles.

The game can be difficult in places both for your brain and for your trigger finger.There are some enemies, the giant Heaven Smiles for one, who are difficult to kill.Other enemies have to be shot in specific places or its exploding time.Remembering the various enemy types and how to confront them adds an exciting and sometimes difficult strategy to the game.When one of the personalities die, their head is left at the scene.You then have to play as Garcian Smith to collect the head to bring it back to life.This makes the game pretty "easy" in that it's hard to truly have a game over.However, this adds to the backtracking/repetitiveness as you have to watch a cutscene of your character's head, then you're back in Harman's Room, you choose Garcian, run back to the body, another cutscene, then you're back at Harman's room again to choose your personality and then you're free to go play again.

Honestly, though, the gameplay is just there to differentiate this from being a movie.The best part is the incredibly bizarre and truly disturbing story.In a (dis?)Utopian society where the world has reached peace and missles are shot off into the sky at each other in a sort of celebration that missles are no longer shot at each other, a new terrorist organization has taken hold.The Heaven's Smile has members who seem perfectly normal until they explode.Only the group Killer 7 can truly see them for the evil they are and annihilate them.

What is the Killer 7?They are the personalities of a Mr. Harman Smith, a wheelchair bound guy who seems to enjoy rough sex.Each of the 7 personalities have their own strengths, weaknesses and special abilities that make them absolutely invaluable to the missions.For instance, Kaede (the sole female) slits her wrists and baths barracades in blood in order to destroy them.Mask De Smith performs wrestling moves on plywood blocking a door.Kevin Smith can become invisible and invincible.Coyote Smith can jump to high areas and open any lock.Did I mention Kaede who slits her wrists?

If the last paragraph didn't clue you in, this is a rated M game.Which means it was created for those over 17.Unlike games like Conker (a game I love by the way) that use their M rating for South Park style humor, Killer 7 has many disturbing moments.Running into talking heads in dryers and other assorted places is just the beginning.As the game progresses, you will see and hear many weird things, from the nurse/sex slave? Samantha and her sexcapades with Harman to a blinded kid to the head that tells of its former, death filled life involving the cutting off of certain body parts to a rainstorm of blood.And then there's the cursing, the countless uses of the F word and various other four letter words.This is not a game for children.

There are some genuine problems with the game, however.Yet again, Nintendo hasn't supported those of us who have High Def, a wide screen or surround sound.The game isn't presented in HD or in Wide Screen format.It isn't even Dobly Pro Logic II like some Nintendo games released.And it shows.If you have a receiver, it will be odd hearing sounds coming out of far spaced left and right speakers.The quality of the sound isn't too great.The voice acting is genuinely good, but sometimes it's set at a tone that is much quieter than the music.Add to the fact that there aren't any subtitle options (except the scene specific ones where the characters speak in semi-gibberish) and you have a problem; especially since it's such a story heavy game.Speaking of dialogue, another sore spot is the fact that some of the characters constantly repeat things.There are three main characters you see in every mission, a red dressed thing (can't remember it's name), Travis and the information seller.Each time you talk to them, they start off with the same dialogue.For instance, the red dressed thing always says "Master.We're in Trouble.Big Trouble." or "Master.We're in a tight spot.A very tight spot.I don't want to say what type of tight spot."Dialogue like that.The first few times, it's okay but when you're done with the 15 hour game you will really wish you could hit A or something to skip through some of the dialogue.As is, you can hit start and skip ALL of the dialogue but since puzzle pieces, story and boss strategies are given, it's not recommended.

There are only 3 options in the Options menu, rumble, invert aiming and stereo/mono (do people even play games in Mono any more??).The problem is, everytime I continue the game, I have to change the invert aiming for some reason.Mighty annoying.

Overall, I'm having a hard time explaining this game.I hope I gave enough to give readers an idea of what to expect if they decide to rent/purchase this unique game.It's hard to qualify it as anything but an artistic expression.One does not play art usually.One views it, tries to gather some meaning from it, and moves on either changed or unchanged.This game is like that.It's very difficult (impossible?) to fully explain in any lucid way what this is.Besides what I've written above, my best recommendation is to play it.You can't get a feeling for it without trying it.This isn't Halo nor Final Fantasy where I can say it's this or it's that.This is something completely and utterly different, comprehensible and yet totally the opposite.

This is a game that will go down as a love it or hate it experiment.If the mainstream video game audience even hear about the game, I will be surprised.The Electronics Boutique I got mine from only ordered two copies, both preordered.And, those who actually do play it will either love it for the chances it takes, or will hate it for having the stiff gameplay.I happen to love it and I can't tell you exactly why.The story is interesting and very post-modern which is partly why I like it.And, for some reason, the gameplay that is so stiff is also an addictive situation.Either way you look at it, though, Kudos to Capcom for taking the chance and creating this dark masterpiece and experiment.In an environment filled with sequels and movie to game licenses, I have to applaud Capcom for releasing such a different, yet enthralling piece of art.Yes, art.

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Product Description:
Killer7 is the action adventure game of a hard-boiled taste. A player makes full use of small arms or special capability, making the character of seven "the professional killers with seven character" whom become hero Harman Smith and he has change, and confronts "man with hand of God" Kun Laon which aims at a national overthrow. They are the man who plans the world into fear of indiscriminate terrorism, the man who is going to stop the wave, and the revenge tragedy with which the life of two persons becomes entangled intricately. A view of the world thrilling at DAKU which the visual and individual character of art by cell shading performs, and the game style which was not until now are the new games of charm.

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Animal Crossing Review

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(More customer reviews)Thank god I got this as a Christmas present. If I hadn't, I'd be bouncing off the walls all through the school day waiting to play this dumb game.
Why a dumb game? Well, the concept is amazingly simple. You live in a little town (mine was christined Jamaica by my little sister in honor of our upcoming trip to the actual island) in a little house. You can fish, dig for treasure, hunt bugs, and do favors for neighbors (all of which are cute little animals that vary depending on which type of town you ended up with). You have to pay off the mortgage for your house. You can chat it up with residents, visit the local museum, or go shopping. If that gets boring, you can always decorate your house with the seemingly unlimited amounts of rugs, wallpapers, and furniture. Sounds kinda redundant, huh? It's not.
What really makes this game fun? Three things. First of all, the detail in this game is amazing. The towns residents don't just interact with you, they interact with eachother. Several times a day I'll walk into an area to see one character whisper something to another, resulting in either one or both of them getting extremely angry (you can't talk to them while they're like this!) They'll also give eachother presents, and gossip behind eachother's backs. Also, if you share the town with another player (I share with my sister) the town's residents will tend to favor one of you over the other (e.g., a hippo named Lulu loves bragging to me about my sister, showing me her letters, and gushing about favors she did). Secondly, the town is bursting with surprises. You may start a conversation with a character only to have them suddenly give you a gift. New characters may appear, to move in or just visit. My favorite is a disgruntled mole that shows up and spazzes every time I restart the game. Because how would you feel if someone just started your whole world over again? Finally, the real time aspect of the game is great. On Sundays a warthog comes through the town selling turnips. On Saturday nights a guitar playing dog cranks out tunes. On holidays, there are celebrations (for example, I recently got a notice about a New Year's bash at the wishing well). Want to visit a resident? If it's past their bedtime, you're out of luck.
So it sounds like a kid's game? No way. It appeals to little ones (Preschoolers will adore the simple things, like shaking trees, collecting seashells, and moving furniture), grade-schoolers (the museum curator spews interesting facts, and it's always fun to interact with town residents), and teenagers and adults (there's a surprising amount of strategy involved!). What's also great is that you can never "beat" this game. Like The Sims, you basically play until you get sick of it.
I strongly reccomend this game to ANYONE of ANY AGE. Very addictive and endlessly fun, this game is worth your money!

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Product Description:
Animal Crossing lets you cross over into a whole new world where you experience real-time exploration

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Star Fox Assault Review

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(More customer reviews)Nintendo has always found so many creative ways to revamp a lot of their classic games to the maximum. That definitely hits the mark very well most of the time. Back in 1997, when Nintendo 64 was popular, and with so many games to take it to the limit, Star Fox 64 was the most revolutionary game not just for the system, but defined the feel of vibrations that made you feel the game, thanks to the N64 Rumble Pak. Yet, Nintendo has tried to make lightning strike twice for the Star Fox franchise for quite sometime. They've tried it a few years ago with Star Fox Adventures, fairly well, and now it is about to be done all over again.

Star Fox Assault, the latest game in the Star Fox series goes through ten outrageous missions that take you on foot, in the air with the arwing, and in the tough landmaster tank. The story of the game deals with Fox McCloud and his team who try to destroy the plague of aparoids trying to destroy Corneria, Fortuna, the dinosaur planet from Star Fox Adventures Sauria, and so many other outrageous galaxies in the way. The graphics and storylines are remarkably delightful, and maintain to the game far beyond the previous Star Fox games.

The gameplay is great, but there are a few downsides to the game. One of them is the control of the game, especially on foot. If you haven't played Star Fox Adventures, it might be a little tricky at first to control Fox, Slippy, Krystal and Falco on foot in versus mode, and Fox in the story mode. However, it gets a lot easier along the way. Another disadvantage is that the methods of defeating some of the bosses in the game are ways of defeating similar bosses from Star Fox 64. One example is the Pigma aparoid in Level 5: The Asteroid Belt. The method of defeating him is a similar method of defeating the Area 6 boss from Star Fox 64. So for some, it does lack a few challenges here and there.

Overall, Star Fox Assault is a very delightful addition to the Nintendo Gamecube lineup, and is a joy for longtime fans of the Star Fox Series. I honestly recommend this for truly dynamic sci-fi Fox action. This is no aparoid of a lie.

Graphics: A-

Story: A

Sound: B+

Control: B

Fun & Enjoyment: B+

Overall: B+

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Product Description:
Fox McCloud and the Star Fox team return to engage a grave new threat in the air and on the ground! Roll over hostile terrain in a heavily-armored Landmaster Tank, or bring the hurt to the enemy on foot. Play solo missions or join the fight with up to three other players, or engage in four-player split screen battles

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Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Review

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(More customer reviews)On the field of battle, there are ultimately two outcomes: victory and death.Despite the fantastical setting, no series understands this better than Fire Emblem, where your slain comrades are beyond the power of any salve or spell to save.When you lose a loyal soldier-and you will-there won't be anyone to blame but yourself.

Besides the inevitable (but disappointing) transition to 3D, there are two minor tweaks to formula: the ability to push lighter units out of harm's way and the ability to earn bonus experience by completing a chapter quickly (eliminating the tedium of dispatching every enemy to level up).

Aside from some anime-styled cutscenes, the story is primarily handled through nearly immobile talking heads and huge amounts of text.To summarize: as the blue-haired mercenary leader Ike, you're charged with defending the sole surviving princess of a wrongly invaded nation.Soon enough you encounter the half-beast laguz, capable of becoming fearsome beasts in combat.(As in any good fantasy, real-world issues such as racism are treated within the context of the setting.)I found the concept of several diverse cultures uniting together out of necessity to be deeply redolent of the Suikoden series, which is high praise coming from me.

Still, any SRPG ultimately stands or falls based on the gameplay, an area in which Path of Radiance remains strong. This Emblem is one you'd be proud to wear.

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Product Description:
Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance leads you into the life of a young soldier who'll become a hero, in a world filled with political unrest and class struggle. Ike is inexperienced and untested, but he'll rise to the challenges he faces while the country of Daein invades the nation of Crimea. To make things more difficult, a new race called the laguz are aiding you in battle -- but humans and laguz don't trust each other, even though they fight together. It's a difficult time, filled with obstacles and dangers. Lead your mercenaries to victory and bring them back alive, in this challenging strategy epic. Work to form a bond with other units - talk with them after each battle to gain supportUse the laguz to transform into animal forms and dole out fierce attacks

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The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Review

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(More customer reviews)The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker...It was in development for 3 long years and it basically maxes out Gamecube's hardware capabilities (cel-shading is an extremely difficult effect for processors/graphic engines to handle).
AWARDS + REVIEWS
Zelda: The Wind Waker came out in Japan in December and is considered one of the greatest games of all time there. Famitsu magazine in Japan (the most reliable gaming magazine in the world..and every game is reviewed by 4 different critics) gave Zelda: The Wind Waker a perfect 40/40. Only three other games have ever gotten a score that high (Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Vagrant Story, and Soul Calibur). Famitsu says "Any pangs of anxiety you may have with the cartoon-shading look will instantly vanish once you play the game." Two of the reviewers actually said the game was so good that they cried in delight. In fact, Zelda has recieved only one non-perfect review in Japan and that was by Dengeki magazine (it got a 9.5/10) ..and Dengeki scores games so harshly that Zelda: The Wind Waker became the first game in over 3 months to get above an 8/10. In the US, PlanetGamecube imported the Japanese version and gave it a 10/10. Zelda: The Wind Waker also won Best Console Game of E3 (Gamespot and the Official Awards).
THE "NEW" ZELDA
The main difference between this Zelda and past Zelda's is that Miyamoto is no longer designing/directing it, and thus, the new director is giving it a much more epic feel. Everyone who has played the Japanese version has said that it definatly has the deepest story out of any of the Zelda's ever made - in fact, it is the first Zelda to have a true emphasis on plotline. Not only this, but this is also the first Zelda to have multiple continents and islands that you can sail to with a ship. The world is so huge that on a quick ship it can take as much as 15 minutes to sail from one location to the other (in Final Fantasy for comparison sailing from one end of the world to the other only takes about 2 minutes).
LENGTH
PlanetGamecube themselves gave the game a 10/10 and said the only problem the game had was that the world was TOO huge. This game will take you 40 hours to complete (if you are very fast and direct) but is filled with well over 100 hours of sidequests and other things to do. In fact, this game is probably packed with more sidequests than any game ever made.
CEL SHADING
Anyone who shys away from this game because of the graphics are definatly missing out. Those graphics are actually more difficult for a console to render and more difficult for developers to make than the great polygonal graphics we are all used to. Not only this, but I, having witnessed the game myself at a Nintendo Cube Club, have noticed that up close this game is beautiful. Do not be fooled by screenshots, they do not do the game justice. The animation in this game is amazing and at the Cube Club (a club containing over 20 gamecube games), Zelda definatly stood out as the one with the most impressive and flawless art design and graphics.
GAMEPLAY
The gameplay itself is very similar to Zelda: Ocarina of Time although with many enhancements and improvisations. Plenty of fighting, exploring, and puzzle solving. This time, however, the gimmick is wind rather than time (in Ocarina of times case). Wind is constantly blowing at a specific velocity and direction at any moment in the game. It effects everything - from how your boat sails and in what direction to which way Link's cap swings in the air. Many puzzles will also use the wind and there are items to manipulate it.
MUSIC
And then there is the music..the music of the new Zelda definatly makes one of the greatest gaming soundtracks in history. Classical Zelda tunes remade in orchestral glory and plenty of new songs as well. The music is completly orchestrated and if you have a surround sound setup..drools.
IMMERSIVE WORLD - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Perhaps the number 1 thing that people who have played the new Zelda comment on is that it is perhaps the most immersive game ever made. Link has about 20 facial expressions which all convey what he is feeling at any given time. All characters in towns have artificial intelligence (they dont just stand there or run around in circles like in most Zelda/RPG's)..rather..they have minds of their owns. If you (Link) walk around town with a sword..some little kids will follow you. If you go into a house and break pots the owner will get angry and chase after you. If you do something silly in front of people, they will laugh at you. And if you draw attention, people will look at you. Even the enemies have AI that makes the world immersive. Take out a bomb in front of a Moblin and they will run away - it makes you feel like the world is real. Seagulls follow your boat as it travels betweens islands. Zelda: The Wind Waker is the definative reason to own a Gamecube.

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Product Description:
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker returns you to the world of Hyrule as you travel the waves to tame the winds!Brilliant combat, fantastic facial expressions and beautiful oceans will immerse you in the land of Hyrule as you face Gannon!

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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (w/ Master Quest) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)To begin, I'd like to admit that I grew up on Zelda since the age of seven during the Christmas of '92 when I bought 'A Link to the Past' not too long after. I immediately became HOOKED!! When I was about nine, I gave the follow-up, 'Link's Awakening' a try (Yes, I've played BOTH the GB and GBC versions already now) and enjoyed it just as much. Finally, when 'Ocarina of Time' hit stores in '98, I was quite curious but a bit unsure if it would take away that good ol' classic feeling that I'd loved as a kid (I am a retro fan after all when it comes to gaming) so I decided to rent it for my N64. I wasn't in any way disappointed. Almost everything about the game resembled to that of the NES, SNES, & GBC originals, aside from the new and impressive 3D look.

The dungeons were fun and challenging, the puzzles were well thought out, and the bosses were simply SPECTACULAR! In addition, the controls were easy to master and you could practically do more than before. (With the 64-bit graphics, how could you go wrong?) But most of all, the musical score was one of the most beautifully composed works I'd ever heard and nearly brought a tear to my eye a couple times. I'd play the game for hours on end and never get tired of it. It's possibly THE greatest Zelda of all time and creator, Shigeru Miyamoto had truly outdone himself with this one. In 2003 when 'The Windwaker' was hitting U.S. shores for Gamecube, those who pre-ordered it would receive this awesome Bonus Disk. Fortunately, I was one of the many who could get it for free, and I must say that it's splendid to see the rebirth of a classic.

Despite some minor problems (e.g. the music may skip a little here and there) this is actually an excellent transfer straight from the N64 to the GC. In fact, it's almost better than what it used to be. For example, the picture quality is sharper and clearer than it once was and the graphics' animation is slightly improved over the N64 version. As a bonus, the game, 'Master Quest' is also included, which is the same story as 'Ocarina', only the dungeons are different and the overall gameplay is far more difficult than the original. (You may need to refer to a strategy guide for help on this one) Nevertheless, it's a special treat for those who are looking for an extra challenge.

I HIGHLY recommend this game(s) to any and all Zelda fans that haven't gotten the chance to try it yet. For those of you who've already played through and beaten it, you can relive the adventure all over again in 'Master Quest'. Be sure to pick this one up wherever you can find it because it IS a very rare and hard-to-find lost gem. Better yet, just buy a copy here off amazon.com. You'll be happy you did! :)

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Product Description:
2 Zelda games. Master Quest was only released on this venue.

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Resident Evil 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Do you want to know how much fun Resident Evil 2 is?
With a total of 4 different possible scenarios as Leon and Claire, 2 minigames involving a soldier and a piece of tofu, loads of replay value, some of the scariest moments you'll ever witness in a videogame, there's nothing to dislike about Resident Evil 2. Well, maybe the dated graphics.
But everything else makes up for it. You start the game as Leon or Claire. Depending on who you choose and what you do, you will slightly alter the story when you finish the game as the second character, ultimately making for 4 total ways to play the game, and 4 *slightly* different endings in total.
RE2 has some of the scariest monsters you will ever encounter, including the Licker, in his first (and only- so far) appearance in a standard RE game. And who can forget the infamous mirror scene... oh, you haven't played it before? Well what are you waiting for?
The Gamecube version has sharper resolution, however everything else about the game remains untouched (unlike Capcom's complete makeover of the original Resident Evil for Gamecube). So if you already own RE2 for Playstation, Nintendo 64 or Dreamcast, there's not much new here... but if you've never played it before, you have no excuse for not getting it... NOW!
Resident Evil 2... If the suspense doesn't kill you, something else will.

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Product Description:
Unlike Capcom's release of the original Resident Evil on GameCube, which was a revamped game designed to take advantage of the 128-bit platform, Resident Evil 2 is straightforward port of 2000's Dreamcast version with no additional enhancements to visuals, sound, or significant changes to gameplay. This game, along with Resident Evil 3, has been released with the intent to round out the storyline beginning with Resident Evil 0. For those unfamiliar with previous versions of Resident Evil 2, players take control of police officer Leon Kennedy or Chris Redfield's sister, Claire, as they make their way through a series of static, pre-rendered environments.

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