Star Ocean: The Second Story Review

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(More customer reviews)After the linear-style of Final Fantasy and other similar RPGs (Which I love BTW), I found Star Ocean 2 a wonderfully refreshing experience. There are just so many options - starting from the beginning, you can choose yourmain character, which other characters you want and take it from there,eventually leading to one out of 86 different endings. It's true that theendings stem mainly from the different combinations of characters that gettogether in the end...but 86! What other game can boast so much replayvalue?
The item creation system is very unique - cooking, art, machinery,authoring, customising...it's all within your power. You choose the skillsand specialities the characters learn. They write books for the othercharacters to read, make better weapons, compose music and create delicious(or not so delicious) dishes. They can even combine their skills to makesuper specialities, which allow you to get better at cooking, publishing,etc, and my favourite - where all the characters sincerely call Barney, agiant white rabbit to cart you around the countryside. Hilarious.
Thegraphics IMO are pretty good. The 3D backgrounds are lovingly rendered,even including really cool minor details like your reflection on a pond orin a mirror. Nice. The characters themselves are 2D sprites, which looksbetter than it sounds - no hassles with fuzzy polygons or anything likethat. And Links has done a fine job (as usual) on the FMV - great eyecandy.
The battle system allows you to take a much more active role incombat situations. In active mode, you basically dash around and try tokonk the enemy without them hitting you. Fighting characters have Killermoves, which are special attacks that are assigned to the L1 and R1buttons. They look cool and wreak havoc on the battle field. For magicusers, the spell animation is nice too, and there is the interestingpossibility of combining spells by casting them at the same time, which canlead to greater damage if done properly.
If I do have any complaints,they are generally not the fault of the game, rather the people who weresupposed to be checking for bugs. Firstly it crashes - no game has evercrashed on me like this one. So save a lot. And there are little things,like the character voices getting mixed up - it is so funny to hear Precisyelling 'Parabola Beam! ' while Claude is doing Mirror Slice, and thewrong word appearing for spells. I guess I'm nitpicking.
As for the gameitself, I find some of the character's voices rather irritating. But that'sa personal thing. The music _is_ rather repetitive...they play the sametracks over and over, but even so, they still sound nice.
[I do have onelarge complaint, and this is that I had to import the game to play it,since it hasn't been released in Australia and doesn't look likely in thenear future. There _are_ serious RPG players here and it would be great ifthe distribution companies recognised that.]
Star Ocean 2 is a reallygood game, offering so much - a great battle system, memorable characters,beautiful graphics and a pretty darn good story. A must for any RPG fan.

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Breath of Fire III Review

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(More customer reviews)Being someone who loves RPG games, but sucked terribly at dexterity, I was always frustrated with never being able to find a game I could complete -- lack of coordination. This game is more of a thinking game, and while thereare some dexterity/coordination parts, it's not constant keypad movementsand doesn't frustrate you so much to want to quit. Needless to say, thehumor, the clever puzzles and the story line itself is great and I highlyrecommend this game. There are so many places to explore ... once throughis not enough!

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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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Ape Escape Review

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(More customer reviews)While I regard the Crash Bandicoot series the premiere platformers for the Playstation, I was pleasantly surprised with Ape Escape. Hunting down monkeys is such a hilarious concept it makes we wonder why nobody thoughtof it before. Overall, I found the game to be very well-designed, fun, andaddictive. The graphics, while not as pretty as Crash Bandicoot or Spyro,grow on you after a short amount of time. The developers made optimal useof the Dual Shock controller, more so than any other company. Control isperfect. I also found that, compared to many other 3D games, the in-gamecamera caused me very few problems. To make it easier for younger players,the game levels are littered with helpful hints. While not a huge game--itcan be finished in about a week--the three mini-games that are eventuallyopened up are a ton of fun and add longevity to the title. What I foundmost amazing is that each of the game's 204 monkeys has a unique name andpersonality. A tremendous amount of creative energy went into this title.You want to complete 100% of the game just to see every square inch of eachlevel. If I can find any fault with the game at all, it's that you mustcomplete the levels in a linear fashion. Other than that, it's an unusualand highly enjoyable platformer. Highly recommended.

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Einhander Review

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(More customer reviews)There's a reason why this game is held in such high regard among true blue shooter fans.Einhander has the trappings of a legendary game within its genre.Dazzling graphics, tight control, outstanding music and sounds, and a strong variety of weapons.They're all here, but that's not where the fun stops.There's also an art gallery that grows as the quality of your performance increases and an intriguing story, much different from the usual "an evil alien empire wants to destroy humanity, let's send one fighter pilot to stop all 500,000,000 of them" fare.In Einhander, you're on a suicide mission and you're painfully aware of it.Beautiful!
Einhander's visuals are beyond reproach.The backgrounds are vibrant and detailed without being garish or distracting, especially stage five.Ship designs are cool all around, and every enemy, from the mightiest boss to the lowliest peon, goes out in a blaze of glory when you destroy it, instead of merely blinking out of existence or disappearing in a bland red puff.
On the audio front, the sound effects are excellent.Launching rockets, shattering neon signs, and, of course, explosions.All well done.The intentionally emotionless female voice that addresses you after each stage is very credible, and the German commands you hear during boss encounters lend a terrific sense of atmosphere to the game.Moody and catchy techno tunes provide the musical backdrop and, for the most part, complement the corresponding areas perfectly.The operatic female vocals at the beginning of stage one clash very effectively with the destruction that ensues and let you know your ears are in for a treat from the start.And, the music for the sixth stage end boss (after the rocket with the time limit) is so rousing, you won't even care when he kills you 20 times in a row.
Eight special weapons are readily available and there's something for every taste, from the heat-seeking Wasp ("You can run, but you can't hide!") to the lightsaber-like Blade ("I don't need no Force to kick your sorry butt!") to the no-nonsense, wallop-packing Cannon ("JUST DIE!!!!").Plus, there are four others (each a sort of variation on one of the ubiquitous eight) hidden throughout the game.
Einhander's developers hit the nail squarely on the head (pun absolutely intended) where the challenge level is concerned.The game can get pretty rough, but it's the GOOD kind of rough.No shields or defensive power-ups are available (one of the game's very few flaws) so one hit will kill you, but it has to be solid, direct impact.Enemy bullets that travel at 2 MPH and just barely graze the little ball on the top of your radio antenna don't count.The last two bosses are tough to beat, and some of the earlier ones aren't exactly a cake walk either, but the only one that I think crosses the line between "challenging" and "frustrating" is the robotic ape mid-way through stage five.Oh, how I despise that banana-chewing abomination!
You get three lives per credit and nine continues for a total of 30 lives, though you'll earn an extra life or two along the way when you attain a certain score.However, there is one point in the game...the rocket you approach from behind...where, if you fail to defeat it within the given time limit, it's GAME OVER no matter how many lives or continues you have left!So, unless you want to see the "bad" (or should I say "worse"?) ending, I'd advise you to get yourself killed if it looks like you're not gonna get the job done in time.Then, you'll get another shot at it.
If proof was ever needed that 2-D games can still be plenty of fun, Einhander is that proof.I revel in the fact that it outshines many more modernized games on all fronts despite the old-fashioned 2-D gameplay.The only exception is the Wasp missile being able to seek and destroy on-screen enemies that have yet to align with your ship (and certain objects in the background, too...that's a hint).Some might complain about the lack of a two-player mode, but in my opinion the gloomy suicide mission aspect of the game would be jeopardized if it weren't played solo.With three ships to select from and no shortage of secrets (including two additional ships), the replay value is strong, but even if that weren't the case, you'd want to play it again and again anyway, because it's crafted with such tender, loving care and, on many levels, it's flawless.I have no qualms about calling Einhander one of the all-time great games for the PlayStation.Square would be well advised to re-release it (along with Final Fantasy Tactics and Xenogears).Don't hesitate to grab a copy if you come across one, as I for one am NOT selling mine!

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Product Description:
There's no denying that the space shooter isn't what it used to be. The once-thriving genre, championed by such classics as Gradius and Raiden, has boiled down to more of a nostalgic pastime. People just aren't as jazzed about blowing away hordes of alien space ships and racking up billions of points like before. While the occasional shooter still shows up every now and then, it seems like it'd take a miracle for a company to produce one that would rejuvenate the genre and renew public interest. Leave it to Squaresoft to accept the challenge. And while the fruit of its efforts may not be the miracle this genre needs for a complete revival, it's just about as good as shooters get. Einhander isn't particularly long, but shooters almost never are. The half dozen or so stages are seamlessly interconnected and demand just over an hour to plow through in total. Each stage - in fact, each part of each stage - grows progressively more difficult, such that you'll constantly face new challenges in the form of smarter, meaner enemies and more of them. Likewise, the mid and end-level bosses will constantly keep you guessing, as they tend to be both unpredictable and versatile in their attack styles. Even shooter veterans will have their hands full with Einhander, though multiple difficulty settings make the game accessible and enjoyable even for those whose hand-eye coordination isn't what it used to be.

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PSone System - Video Game Console Review

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(More customer reviews)All the people who write 1-star reviews NEVER played this system. They just write stuff to hopefully be one of the top 1000 reviewers...
Now for the real review:
I had a choice to make a year ago. Xbox? ps2? gcn? gba? dc? I had considered all of these. I decided to drop xbox and gcn becuase or their terrible game selection. I dropped dc when i heard it was discontinued. So that left gba or ps2. I also dropped gameboy advance because i had gameboy pocket, the original, and gbc. Right now they are deep inside my closet collecting dust.
After much research, I finally came to a conclusion to ask for a ps2 for the holidays. I added up all necessary harware accesories and games to see how much they all cost. A console, memory card, controller, and 5 descent games costs around 600 dollars. I dont know about you, but after my parents spending 600 dollars i dont think they will be geting me new games that often.
Looking even further, i decided to take a shot with the 7 year old ps1. I wasnt to thrilled with my choice. Now, im so glad i chose this.
Instead of 600 dollars (which buys only 5 good ps2 games, and the console), I used 200 dollars to get a ps1, all accesories, and 12 amazing games.
If you ask me, buy this cool machine. Wait 2 years until a ps2 drops, then buy a ps2.
oh ya, ps2 is going to be popular for a while becuase ps3 is going to cost 500 dollars :)

If your looking for some good ps1 games, check this list out. (its listed from my number one favorite, to my number 10 favorite)
1. Final Fantasy IX
2. Tony Hawk's pro skater 3 (4 is terrible)
3. Tekken 3
4. Final fantasy VII
5. Spyro-year of the dragon
6. Mat Hoffman's pro BMX
7. Gran Turismo 2
8. Resident evil 3
9. Metal Gear Solid
10. final Fantasy VIII ( lots of pacience needed )

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Product Description:
One of the most successful video game consoles ever created has been miniaturized! The lightweight PS one packs gaming into a portable, compact unit. The 32-bit processor delivers all the power, visual clarity, and extraordinary gameplay of the original PlayStation. With available accessories like the LCD Screen (for PS one) and Car Adaptor (for PS one), the PS one console lets you take PlayStation gaming to places it's never been. Of course, it plays CDs too!

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Hot Shots Golf2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this game because I wanted a game to play with my friends who don't play video games as much as I do.The learning curve is pretty good and it can take less than a round to get a good grip on the game, but much longer to master it.As you play against different opponents and beat them you are then able to play as them.Going through the tournament season opens up courses and doing well gives some cool prizes.
Controls are simple, but you can do a lot with them.Spin and terrain play a large role in this game and really add a lot.Still, the best thing about this game is that it doesn't take long to get the hang of, so novices can pick it up pretty quickly.Also, because of its cartoonish look, it's a blast when everyone is drunk!
Single player of multi, this game is a lot of fun.

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