Team Buddies Review

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(More customer reviews)I've played a preview disk which a friend 'borrowed' from a friend and we played the game in one, two and four player modes. First off, the whole feel of the game is colourful and fun. At first it was easy to get a simple weapon and shoot til someone won, but then we started to find that therewas much more to it. Different strategies could be employed depending onopposing strategies and it soon became a battle of wits as much as purebrutality !One or two of us found the interface a little frustrating -giving orders to team members, controlling awkward vehicles etc, but Ifound this pretty easy to pick up and was soon whooping therebutts !Games that sprung to mind are Bomberman, Tetris (the cratestacking element) and even C&C, although it's not a 'God' game to thesame extent as you're involved much closer to the action. The fightingbecame manic and everyone got totally carried away with it, even though thepreview disk only had 4 levels on it, only 2 of which worked on 4playermode. I think the final game has 32 basic levels although I've heard thereare 64, plus some secret levels. I can't wait 'til it's out.

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Product Description:
Team Buddies is a truly twisted game. The object is to help thesesquat, cartoonish 3-D buddies collect colorful crates and bring them back totheir designated crate depot. Inside those crates, however, is a variety ofweapons, vehicles, and personnel to help wage war against other buddy armies.You'll see several different buddy types--medic, cyborg, commando, spy, eachwith different abilities--as well as 32 playgrounds in eight different areas. Asif that weren't enough, you'll also have to contend with a variety of bizarrebarnyard animals that will try to attack you or steal your crates.
Though you don't need a buddy to play Team Buddies--there are over 60missions against a computer opponent--the game supports up to four players in asplit screen, thanks to the separately sold Multi Port accessory and extra controllers. Battles are viewed inthe third-person perspective, with a binocular mode for the true tactician.

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Brave Fencer Musashi Review

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(More customer reviews)This game was SOOO much fun!I don't know why it never became more popular!It's one of my favorites.
A game very much like Zelda, Musashi is a young boy who is summoned to another land to save thekidnapped princess.To do so, he must find parts of the legendary swordLumina and break the spells cast over the five scrolls. Thus, Musashiembarks on a long journey.He strolls around town, shops at the localstores, climbs the nearby mountain, and, of course, has to defeat numerousmeanies.
Besides the obvious role-playing/puzzle solving fun, there isplenty of battle to be done with the enemies, which becomes very excitingwhen you can actually absorb the powers of just about any creature in thegame.There are also lots of little fun perks along the way, such as yourdance contest with one the head of the Leader's Force (how else wouldMusashi fight a girl?)
I would highly recommend this game to anyone whois interested in role-playing/platform combination games, especcially ifyou are a Zelda or Final Fantasy fan.This game is exciting,unpredictable, funny, and it will keep you up all night!

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Product Description:
Brave Fencer Musashi - Playstation: For 1 player.

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Romance of the Three Kingdoms VI: Awakening of the Dragon Review

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(More customer reviews)RTK VI is a further enhancement to the successful franchise.Now your officer's abilities change as they age and as they acquire experience.The maximum number of troops and officer can command is based on his rank (anda ruler's rank determines what rank he can bestow on his officers).Thereare now many more officers to interact with and the story behind the gameis given greater depth.The addition of short scenarios allows players tomeet objectives without having to complete a campaign game.The mainweakness is Koei's lack of documentation.Your officer's loyalty increasesas your prestige increases (by completing tasks asked by the emperor)-- butthe manual doesn't tell you this.You find out at a council that it takes6 months and 20000 gold to build a palace-- but not in the manual.Talkwith your officers to set up a council.The graphics are onlyincrementally improved.Overall, this is a solid addition for those wholoved Koei's previous offerings, but it requires some learning andpatience.

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Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals Review

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(More customer reviews)This game, in my childhood, was the beacon of wakefullness.I would awaken at 3:30 AM to play for four hours straight until I went to school where I would think about its greatness until I came home, only to play for another few hours.This perfectly describes its pull and incredible execution.The battle system was markedly improved over its limping predecessor, and the storyline served compulsion to the very end.This was a prequel of sorts to Lufia 1, and what a brilliant story it is.I wouldn't want to ruin the story for any prospective buyer, so I won't divulge any details, but take my humble word for it--this game is very worth your money and should be a part of anybody RPG lovers library.

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Product Description:
Lufia II is a prequel to the first Lufia game, Lufia and the Fortress of Doom. It follows the story of the first main character's ancestor, Maxim, and explains the origins of the war between mankind and a group of superhumans called Sinistrals.The story is centered around the hero Maxim, a swordsman from the town of Elcid who is born with a natural ability to fight and is destined to destroy the Sinistrals. Throughout his journey, he meets other warriors who are able to confront the Sinistrals as well. The game is a prequel to Lufia & the Fortress of Doom, set ninety-nine years before it, telling the story of how the Sinistrals first appeared in the world and the battles fought against them.Lufia II made a number of changes from the first game. Dungeons no longer have random encounters and there are hundreds of puzzles throughout the game, ranging from simple to extremely challenging. It also introduced new skills, such as a variety of weapons that could be used to stun monsters or solve puzzles, and IP attacks.

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Final Fantasy Tactics Review

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(More customer reviews)There are many indications of whether a game is good. Final Fantasy Tactics has at least two of those indications. 1) Although the Playstation 1 is in its Dark Ages, many last-second RPG's are using the Final Fantasy Tactics battle system. 2) The game had to be reissued, due to popular demand.
GRAPHICS: Grade of "A". Yes, they do look like they can be done on a Super Nintendo, but this game isn't TRYING to be graphically intense. Does Tetris need great graphics? Most certainly not, because it's a puzzle game. Likewise, FFT doesn't need good graphcis because it's a strategy game, where too much detail would possibly get in the way and be a distraction.
MUSIC: Grade of "A". Some people will tell you that the FFT soundtrack is the best videogame soundtrack ever. I don't know if I'd go that far, but I must say, the music fits PERFECTLY with the game. There are tons of battles in this game, but there is a LOT of variety in the music. Best of all, the music actually puts you in the MOOD to whip out that sword and cream those foes. Germinas Peak, Sweegy Woods, Back Fire, Boss Battle themes, are among my favorites.
GAMEPLAY: Strategy games can sometimes be synonymous with "difficult". And believe me, this game IS difficult. BUT NOT TO LEARN! Someone definitely had their hat on right when they made the intuitive battle system. Move, Act, or Wait are your three primary commands, and they become second-nature within an hour. Also, one can equip their characters with many pieces of equipment. This sounds tedious, but there is a nice feature called a "Fitting Room" that makes all the boredom of "Buy, Exit Menu, Equip, Go back to store, Sell" so much simpler. But what makes the game difficult are the battles. Some are ridiculously easy, but others will require some leveling up in the field, first. FFT brings back the Job system that was in FF5, allowing for a more-than-generous amount of customizability.
STORYLINE: This is where the game could use a little help. For one, the translation has speling errors, wordssmashed together punctuation problems, and sometimes I just don't understand what is going on. Materia-like crystals play a vital role. One thing that I found amusing was that nearly every between-battles sequence involves a death. To me, the storyline is just a peripheral. If you understand it, fine. If not, fine. You're here to fight battles and listen to the music, mostly.
FINAL: I'd give it 4.5 stars out of 5. One thing that this game has, though, is REPLAY VALUE. You can beat it in 30 hours, but you can probably play it another 30 times, no problem.

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Product Description:
In Final Fantasy Tactics you must guide your nation through a revolution while defending it from otherworldy forces!

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Die Hard Trilogy Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is awesome.Not to mention a great deal.McClane of the New York Police Department have to stop terrorists from seizing the Nakatomi Building in Los Angeles.You run from the first floor garage to the 40th floor stopping at the roof every 10 or so levels for aquick "save the hostages game."Then there is Die Hard 2, whichis a first person shooter that has McClane running around JFK Airportunloading on terrorists with weapons varying from a Beretta to a rocketlauncher.The only problem about that is that you don't control which wayMcClane goes.In other words it's just a track but it's long and verychallenging.Lastly, Die Hard 3.This car based game has it all. Pedestrians you can role over with your car, not to mention the windshieldeffect, other cars blocking traffic, and ambulance chasing.In this oneyou have to blow up bombs by getting there before the timer runs out andyou and New York city is blown to pieces.After you've completed the game,sit back and smile, because you just saved 2 major cities, and the UnitedStates, all from your home.After playing go to Amazon.com movies sectionand pick up the Die Hard Trilogy, you won't be disappointed.

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Product Description:
You are John McClane and you must fight your way through threeterrorist-ridden games in one. Creating 45 levels in all, this trilogy provideshours of gaming fun.
In Die Hard, you must save a high-rise from eminent explosion. The"vanishing wall" feature ensures McClane is never out of sight as he navigatesthrough obstacles, shooting at plants, walls, and anything in sight.
Die Hard 2: Die Harder leads you to challenge terrorists in a hijackedairport. Build your own arsenal varying in power, response, ammo, and auto firerate. The difficulty increases as your game progresses with terrorists at everyturn. The detailed 3-D levels and true bullet hits help draw you in to thisgaming action-adventure.
Die Hard with a Vengeance leads you into a crowded city besieged withhidden terrorist bombs. Speed through the city, locating the bombs while thedetonator ticks away. Drive over 15 different trucks to race to through arealistic New York cityscape. Be smart and be quick because time is running out.

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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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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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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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Parasite Eve Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to personally say this game is one of the best games Squaresoft has ever come accross.They also need to create more games like this one. An organism which is dubbed Mitochondria has been living within humans eversense the birth of Eve. Since all humans are descended from Eve it is onlya matter of time before this living organism breaks free. You play the roleof a rookie cop named Aya who is attending an opera on Christmas Eve 1997.The singer in the opera named Melissa makes eye contact with Aya and all ofa sudden people in the crowd begin to spontaneously combust. Followingthis, Melissa mutates and declears that Eve has been awakened and takesoff. From there on out Aya tries to figure out what happened at the operahouse and why her and Melissa are some how connected.
A thrilling storywhich brings the human imagination into a battle against not only a raceagainst time and mutations, but a battle against yourself.Seeing asthough the Mitochondria is in every human being on the face of the Earth,players can put themselves in that position, and feel as though they arebattling against themselves before there Mitochondria takes completecontrol over everything logic in their bodies.It also can make you thinkthis could happen in reality b/c of the Mitochondria is part of yourbody.
The best part of Parasite Eve is without a doubt the innovativebattle scenes. The Parasite Eve battle engine contains an excellent mix ofaction and strategy that has yet to be seen in any console game before.Just like Final Fantasy VII, Parasite Eve makes use of an action bar. Youcan't attack, heal, or use an item until the bar is fully charged. You canhowever during this time dodge enemy attacks waiting for it to fill. Youalso have a PE bar which will fill slowly throughout the course of thebattle. The PE bar allows Aya to perform special tasks such as healingherself or increasing her attack power. Overall, the battle system isextremely innovative and makes the game fun to play through. I don't thinki've played an RPG in awhile in which I've actually looked forward togaining experience and doing battle.
True to its claims, Parasite Eveoften looks sleek, inspired, and beautiful - like a good film. The scenerythroughout the game is composed of still 3D-rendered images of mostlyauthentic New York locales, and the quality and detail of these varioussettings is astounding. Whether you're searching through Central Park inthe middle of the night or rummaging through the slums early in themorning, Parasite Eve looks consistently real. The background art looks sogood that you will often find yourself admiring your surroundings insteadof forging onward in your quest. The various polygonal characters aren'tquite as sharp as the backdrops, but their motions and actions during plotsequences are expressive and believable. As Aya, you will have to shootyour way past scores of monsters, all of which are your typical mutatedurban animal variety and thence not particularly imposing. Though some ofthe boss monsters are both creepy and fearsome, like a particularly largeand ill-tempered three-headed hound, for the most part your opposition willfail to impress.
Even a discriminating connoisseur of CG cinematics wouldbe awestruck at several animated cutscenes over the course of Parasite Eve.While the cinematic sequences are never particularly long, they arefrequent and almost always amazing - all the more so toward the end of thegame. Among other things, you'll witness breathtaking panoramic shots ofNew York City, grisly deaths or even grislier metamorphoses, and even somegood old-fashioned military intervention. Though there's hardly enough CGhere to make up a feature-length film, there's plenty of the stuff to keepyou going all the way through. It's integrated seamlessly into the game andmakes key plot sequences much more dramatic and the entire game morememorable overall.The music also adds a dramatic effect that makes itseem even more real.They need to add this music to more of their sequelsto this game.
If Squaresoft works hard enough I honestly believe moresequels to this like the Nintendo's Zelda could be created but these wouldwithout a question blow Zelda out of the water.I truly think a movieshould be created about this game.Including part 2,3,4 whatever how many,following up on the "Ultimate Being".Also the music needs to beadded to the movies.
My overall rating:* * * * * out of 5 stars. Myoverall rating:10 out of 10 Would I buy a sequel: yes without a doubtWould I pay to see a movie about this:yes, of courseand I know otherswho would too.

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Action RPG

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Chrono Trigger Review

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(More customer reviews)Chrono Trigger remains the greatest console RPG ever made. The version on this new CD compilation is identical in play to the original, but includes several animated cutscenes (done by Bird Studios, producers of Dragonball/DBZ and owned/operated by Akira Toriyama, who did the character designs for Chrono Trigger as well) which are themselves worth the price. (In point of fact, the price itself is interesting; the compilation of Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 4 costs less than either of them did separately when first released.)
Chrono Trigger centers around the adventures of Crono (yes, that's the correct spelling), a young man whose only apparent unusual feature is skill with a sword; otherwise, he lives a rather ordinary life, getting his allowance from his mom, taking care of his pet cat, and, as the story begins, looking forward to the Millennial Fair. At the Fair, he meets with a pretty blonde girl, Marle, who wears an interesting pendant, and who as a stranger to his town asks him if he'd be nice enough to show her around a bit.
Things get strange when they visit the exhibit area of one of Crono's friends, Lucca, who's an eccentric inventor. Her invention mysteriously reacts to the presence of Marle's pendant, and Marle vanishes, leaving the glowing pendant behind. When Crono decides to follow her wherever she's gone and bring her back, he's catapulted into a time-spanning adventure which will take him from the present to 65 million years in the past, and thousands of years in the future, and eventually to confront a world-destroying monster which may, at the same time, have been responsible for the creation of Crono's own civilization. Along the way he will learn secrets of his world's history, gain new powers, and gather allies, ranging from the super-strong cavegirl Ayla to the technologically advanced machine-man Robo.
Chrono Trigger's greatest claim to fame was, and is, that it boasts many possible endings, all quite different, based on what decisions you make during the game. They're not all easily predictable, either, and at least one or two are rather creepy. It's also interesting in that, after a certain point, you no longer have to keep Crono in your party (most games have a set viewpoint character that you have to keep around). It's quite possible to finish the game with *ANY* combination of available characters.
Gameplay is, in my opinion, superior to that of any of the Final Fantasy games. For one thing, it avoids the "eternally wandering monster" phenomenon which makes overland travel in the FF series so damnably frustrating, while still allowing you to wander freely across the land and visit places, looking for clues, new things to buy, and new friends and allies. For another, the combat sequences are much more active than those of other RPGs of its same era, and include special techniques -- both for individuals AND ones combining the techniques of two or three characters at once. Once you beat the game, you have the option of using "new game+", which allows you to start with the same power, and most of the items, that you'd gained along the way the first time. This is useful for those trying to play through again, since it allows you to zip through combats which, the first time, took many minutes to complete. (it does, however, introduce a bit of cognitive dissonance, especially in the early parts of the game: "How the heck are they throwing ME in jail?! I have enough power to level this entire CASTLE by myself!")
The soundtrack of Chrono Trigger is unbelieveably good. Somehow, through the miracle of MIDI, the original game had 3 full CDs worth of music crammed on it, and the skill with which the MIDI was composed and produced made it sound, at the time, very nearly orchestral. Even today the sound isn't bad, and the re-done, fully orchestral version is amazing. Each major character has its own theme, and they're all excellent. Chrono Trigger's soundtrack still rates as one of my absolute favorites.
If you like console RPGs at all, this is one that you absolutely MUST buy, and keep enshrined somewhere. Now available as part of "Final Fantasy Chronicles", there's even more reason to own it, since it's cheaper now than it was when first released!

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Box for the very popular and semi-rare Chrono Trigger for the SNES!

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Final Fantasy VII Review

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(More customer reviews)I am an avid Final Fantasy player, having been a fan since Final Fantasy 1 for the NES, and having played each game since, including Japanese versions not released in the U.S. Final Fantasy VII certainly was nodisappointment.
Some other Final Fantasy games, such as 2 and 3 (Jap: 6),have better plots than VII; however, VII was certainly very close, and farexceeds the standards of most other RPGs. The plot in VII is morecomplicated than in its predecessors. Hordes of details are tightlyinterwoven in a magnificent latice. However, there are some scenes andcharacters that I will describe, for lack of a better word, as stupid.People who have played the game may recall Cate and the funhouse or Don'sHouse of Love.
The graphics are superb, and the game engine is great.Battle scenes are realistic, the scenery is beautiful, and well-renderedfull-screen MPEG videos are seamlessly integrated into the game. My onlyregret is that the controls in a 3D environment are a bit more challenging,especially if you're using the keyboard.
I can't say I like Materia orthe new magic system, whereby a person knows only the magic spellscorresponding to the limited number of Materia he or she equips.Furthermore, the game isn't nearly as challenging; I played it all the waythrough with only two deaths, and there are places to save the game allover the place, which means that even if you do die, you have as manychances as you'd like. The game doesn't necessitate purchasing any newequipment; the gear you find along the road will get you all the waythrough if you're good at battle tactics.
For the benefit of people whohaven't played a Final Fantasy game before, I'll describe the basicworkings. The game is an epic adventure centered around one character, butincluding about 7 others. It requires no coordination to play, since yoursuccess in turn-based battle depends on your strategy, not your timing.There is a good balance between the storyline and battle scenes, so youshould enjoy the game regardless of which you like best. The game is reallysomething, and it's fairly cheap. If you play one Final Fantasy game, makeit this one. If you play two, get a Super NES and play 3 (6 in Japan) aswell. Then play 8 or 2, or see if you can get your hands on 5.

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This software is BRAND NEW. Packaging may differ slightly from the stock photo above. Please click on our logo above to see over 15,000 titles in stock.

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Final Fantasy Chronicles (Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is actually two old-school console RPGs in one set of packaging. Why the collection is called "Final Fantasy Chronicles" instead of "Chrono Fantasy" or something like that, I don't know, but the important point is:
One of the two games included is Chrono Trigger.
Chrono Trigger remains the greatest console RPG ever made. The version on this new CD compilation is identical in play to the original, but includes several animated cutscenes (done by Bird Studios, producers of Dragonball/DBZ and owned/operated by Akira Toriyama, who did the character designs for Chrono Trigger as well) which are themselves worth the price. (In point of fact, the price itself is interesting; the compilation of Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 4 costs less than either of them did separately when first released.)
Chrono Trigger centers around the adventures of Crono (yes, that's the correct spelling), a young man whose only apparent unusual feature is skill with a sword; otherwise, he lives a rather ordinary life, getting his allowance from his mom, taking care of his pet cat, and, as the story begins, looking forward to the Millennial Fair. At the Fair, he meets with a pretty blonde girl, Marle, who wears an interesting pendant, and who as a stranger to his town asks him if he'd be nice enough to show her around a bit.
Things get strange when they visit the exhibit area of one of Crono's friends, Lucca, who's an eccentric inventor. Her invention mysteriously reacts to the presence of Marle's pendant, and Marle vanishes, leaving the glowing pendant behind. When Crono decides to follow her wherever she's gone and bring her back, he's catapulted into a time-spanning adventure which will take him from the present to 65 million years in the past, and thousands of years in the future, and eventually to confront a world-destroying monster which may, at the same time, have been responsible for the creation of Crono's own civilization. Along the way he will learn secrets of his world's history, gain new powers, and gather allies, ranging from the super-strong cavegirl Ayla to the technologically advanced machine-man Robo.
Chrono Trigger's greatest claim to fame was, and is, that it boasts many possible endings, all quite different, based on what decisions you make during the game. They're not all easily predictable, either, and at least one or two are rather creepy. It's also interesting in that, after a certain point, you no longer have to keep Crono in your party (most games have a set viewpoint character that you have to keep around). It's quite possible to finish the game with *ANY* combination of available characters.
Gameplay is, in my opinion, superior to that of any of the Final Fantasy games. For one thing, it avoids the "eternally wandering monster" phenomenon which makes overland travel in the FF series so damnably frustrating, while still allowing you to wander freely across the land and visit places, looking for clues, new things to buy, and new friends and allies. For another, the combat sequences are much more active than those of other RPGs of its same era, and include special techniques -- both for individuals AND ones combining the techniques of two or three characters at once. Once you beat the game, you have the option of using "new game+", which allows you to start with the same power, and most of the items, that you'd gained along the way the first time. This is useful for those trying to play through again, since it allows you to zip through combats which, the first time, took many minutes to complete. (it does, however, introduce a bit of cognitive dissonance, especially in the early parts of the game: "How the heck are they throwing ME in jail?! I have enough power to level this entire CASTLE by myself!")
The soundtrack of Chrono Trigger is unbelieveably good. Somehow, through the miracle of MIDI, the original game had 3 full CDs worth of music crammed on it, and the skill with which the MIDI was composed and produced made it sound, at the time, very nearly orchestral. Even today the sound isn't bad, and the re-done, fully orchestral version is amazing. Each major character has its own theme, and they're all excellent. Chrono Trigger's soundtrack still rates as one of my absolute favorites.
If you like console RPGs at all, this is one that you absolutely MUST buy, and keep enshrined somewhere.

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Product Description:
This old school compilation from Square includes "Final Fantasy IV" (known as "FF2" as a 1991 US SNES release which introduced the Active Time Battle system) and "Chrono Trigger" (1995's precursor to the wildly popular "Chrono Cross").Format: PSX Genre:RPG (VG)/Rating:T - Teen UPC:662248901015 Manufacturer No:9796

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Final Fantasy Anthology Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is actually 2 games with a bonus music CD.Final Fantasy 5 was never released in the US, although some people reading this may have played an emulated version.It is a good game even without the graphical flare ofFinal Fantasy 6.It has a job system and it basically follows classicSquare RPG format.Final Fantasy 6 is a better game and it probably setthe mark for all RPG's following it.It's graphics, although now outdated,are still colorful and good.The music is awesome, simply put.You'll behumming thesetunes at work or school all day.Every character hashis/her own special skill which is a nice addition.The Esper system iseasy to use and magic can be learned by all characters.The one point thisgame falls short of its SNES relative is loading time.It's not a bigchange, but it is noticeable....thats why only 4 stars.The new cut scenespick up a little slack for the slow load time.The music CD is good butsomewhat incomplete.There should have been more tracks on it.
Allthings included, this was MUCH more satisfying than Final Fantasy 8. Instead of releasing FF8, Square should have released this and made 8better.If you liked Final Fantasy for the SNES, get this!

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Product Description:
Final Fantasy Anthology incorporates two of the most beloved FINAL FANTASY titles ever published. First released as FINAL FANTASY III in the U.S., FINAL FANTASY VI brings back all of the qualities that made it the best selling RPG of its time, and adds a few bonuses unique to this re-release. The second title in this compilation, FINAL FANTASY V, is seeing its first ever release in the U.S. Featuring an innovative 'Job' system and a story that will take the player to different worlds, this title will finally show U.S. gamers what they have been missing.If you are new to the FINAL FANTASY universe, pick up Anthology as way of getting to know the series that has garnered the praise of millions. If you are already a fan, pick it up to relive the magic once again.

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Chrono Cross Review

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(More customer reviews)First, I must admit that I am not an avid video gamer, though I have seen others play plenty.I have played very few RPGs and even fewer held myinterest.However, when I played Chrono Trigger on an SNES emulator, I wasenthralled, finishing it within a week.When I discovered its semi-sequelwas coming out, I could hardly wait the ten months for it to be released inthe US.I ordered it in advance in April, received it the Wednesday itcame out, and played it nearly straight through to finish by Fridayevening.60 hours of gameplay and about 15 hours of sleep.To say theleast--it was all worth it.
First, gameplay-- It is one of the bestbattle systems that I have seen.It may seem complicated to begin with,but one becomes quickly accostumed to the strategies and nuances of theidea.In a game of chess, the rules are simple but the possibilities areendless.The same goes for Chrono Cross' element system.In addition,being able to see your enemies on screen allows you to fight when and whereyou want.This is a big advantage if you want to avoid them (if you don'twant to fight piddling monsters) or find them (to retrieve extra spells anditems).Cross pulls this off even better than its predecessor, ChronoTrigger.
Leveling-- I considered this such an important aspect of thegame that I gave it its own category!The reason: you can advance throughthe entire game avoiding nearly all monsters and still beat the game.Notonly is the focus on strategy (the types of spells, colors, and balancebetween physical attacks) in order to defeat bosses, but you only gain statbonuses during about five fights between each boss.Continuing to fightothers can help with items and extra spells, but does no good to"level up" your characters.I thought this a terrific idea. Your characters still become extremely strong towards the end, but notbecause of experience.It doesn't exist.Cross is plot-driven, notlevel-driven.
Storyline-- Speaking of plot, Cross' is pretty good.Itcan get convoluted at times, and having played Trigger is helpful, thoughnot necessary.Characters are surprisingly three-dimensional andeverything fits together if you think about it for long enough.The majorending(s) though, can be dissapointing and because of the plethora ofcharacters, very few of their pasts and conflicts can be resolved.But,all in all, you will enjoy it as mystery after mystery is solved whileother take their places.Like a good book, it's difficult to find a placeto put the controller down--you want to keep going.
Music--Outstanding.Better than many movie soundtracks I've heard, both inquality of composition and sound.I highly reccomend buying the soundtrackto listen to during the day, unless you want to leave your Playstationrunning while doing the dishes.Of course, it would be worth it to dothat, too.It's that good.
Graphics-- The people that made the FMVsequences were the same who did those FFVIII.The graphics ares similar tothose of FFVIII, in battle sequences, exploration, and the movies--but evenbetter.The colors and attention to detail make the entire game simply . .. beautiful. Let the game run and stare at it if you have to, it can be theonly way to appreciate the artwork.Plus, the spells have their ownelegantly simple quality.No spell is too long or extravagent, lettingbattles to continue smoothly.And the detail!When a character pullssomething from her pocket, the movements are very human and real.Theyleave footprints on the beach and the environment casts shadows as you walkthrough a dark cave or brightened room.Every detail draws you furtherinto the Chrono Cross world.
Do not rent this game--you should definitelybuy it.The developers of Chrono Cross claim it can be beaten in 35 hours. They're lying.It took me 67 hours total, including the few times I hadto go back to an old save point.And that does not include the amount oftime I will spend in the future finding the multiple endings and otherstoryline branches.(They are a total of 6 different paths you can take,each very different and effecting the outcome of the game)Buy thisamazing title for your Playstation and give Square a hand.Or even bow. They deserve all the respect you can give for this fine game.
-JeremyTollefson

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Product Description:
Featuring a story line developed by the creator of "Chrono Trigger" and "Xenogears" Chrono Cross has been christened the "Best RPG Creation" by its development team.Format: PSX Genre:RPG (VG)/Rating:T - Teen UPC:662248900087 Manufacturer No:9780

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Final Fantasy IX Review

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(More customer reviews)The last installment of the Final Fantasy series on Playstation reached stores nationwide in a very low-key manner. The anticipation and exhilaration that associate with the release of Final Fantasy games have obviously lessened. I uncharacteristically DID NOT pick up the new game on the first day it released. Honestly, I was not too excited about the release of this game due to 3 major reasons: 1) Square's quality of work has been questionable these recent years, 2) relatively short period of time has passed since we have seen FF8, 3) the Final Fantasy series has been evolving so much that I was not sure I would still get the same thrill I got when I played FF IV on SNES.
I was not a bit disappointed.
Right from the beginning, Square shows again that FF9 is a product of quality. Even though it has only been one year since the release of FF8, this new installment does not show sign of a rushed production. I could not help but notice and appreciate the amount of effort and passion that were infused into the game. I could say with FF9, Square really strengthens my faith in the FF series, wins my heart, and brings me back to the good old days.
Graphic is one of the first elements that attracted me. The color scheme is very well used to create a nice blend of the whole composition. I did not like the color scheme in Chrono Cross at all because everything is so bright and sticks out like an eye sore. Background, characters, and environment are very well designed in such way that you find unity and harmony. Needless to say, CGs from Square are always top notch, first rated, state of the art quality. The injunctions of CGs are proper, and served to extend the flow of events; nevertheless, they are wonderful eye candies that I cannot get enough of.
Sound, I agree with most critics, still plaques the FF series on the current PSX platform as unsatisfactory. By no measure that the sound is not good, we just think that it could easily be better, given the experience that the composer Nobuo Uematsu possesses, and the quality of music the PSX can perform. I have to say the sound is good enough for me, and I particularly enjoy the polished quality of various sound effects in through out the game.
Do not expect any revolution in the gameplay department. Square just delivers what you would have expected from a FF game. I could not see anything special about the battle system other than it is simple. Yes, people will still complain about the random battles. I did enjoy the employment of materia and junction system in the previous 2 games; therefore I hope Square could have incorporated something special to make the battle system a little more interesting. Mini games and side tasks that are scattered throughout the game are both interesting and fun to play with.
Overall, the game rocks! It has been a long time since I played a good and quality RPG or game on PSX, I greatly enjoy Final Fantasy 9. The story is nothing spectacular but is delivered and presented very well with nice flow of events and timely unfolding of plots. Bottom line, Final Fantasy 9 is great game that I enjoy playing. Graphic, Presentation and Value outweigh minor imperfection of sound and gameplay. Square has successfully perpetuated the legend of the Final Fantasy series.

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Product Description:
Dark times have spread over the world of Gaia. Four separate governing nations, some blinded by their short-sighted greed, some persevering in the name of justice, are battling on and off in a deadly game for power. One kingdom, that of Lindblum, headed by the honorable and trustworthy Regent Cid, finally decides to take a stand against the unspeakable massacres by the troops of Alexandria.

Enlisting the aid of mere bandits to kidnap Princess Garnet of the Alexandria Empire, for information and interrogation, Garnet and her bodyguard actually join Cid's cause, knowing full well the outlandish recklessness of the governing Queen, who counterattacks with an onslaught of warriors. Thus begins a crossfire that would engulf the world in something far worse than political standoffs.

Out of the band of thieves, one boy along with his entourage must battle his way through several awe-inspiring challenges to restore order and peace.

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