Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams Review

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(More customer reviews)Most video games, especially those of the action/adventure genre, have you playing as some larger than life character.Some sort of secret-agent-ninja-commando-death-squad-special-forces-assassin type thing.Not Silent Hill 2.In this one, you are James Sunderland, an average person without special skills or training.
And you know what?It's a really welcome change from the norm, and it really helps the atmosphere of the game to not have that kind of action-movie nonsense infiltrating what it supposed to be a horror experience.
It begins with our protaganist inside a rest-stop on the outskirts of Silent Hill.He's contemplating the letter that he just received from Mary, his wife who he'd thought was dead for the past three years.He must venture into Silent Hill to get the answers behind that letter.
Not a bad opening storyline, and games like this rely most heavily upon story.Actually, calling this one a "game" is perhaps a bit of a misnomer--it feels more like an interactive experience.You *experience* Silent Hill 2 more than play it.
But, the gameplay aspect is there as well, in the form of monster battles and puzzles.One of the greatest things about this title is that it allows you to vary the difficulty of either of these aspects.You can set the puzzles from ultra-easy to ultra hard, and you can set the monster battles in the same way, or even set it so that you won't get attacked at all--just enjoy the atmosphere and storyline.You can really customize the game to your tastes this way.
The atmosphere is great.I like to play it at night, or on a gloomy winter day, with all of the lights off.Just make sure that nobody can sneak up on you, or you'll likely have a heart attack!Games like this are actually perhaps scarier than a horror movie or novel; the interactive aspect making immersion more of a factor.
This game actually isn't perfect.The interface is a bit clunky and, on normal setting, at least, the puzzles can be rather obscure.This can lead to puzzle-frustration, the Achille's heel of adventure games.You'll likely find yourself wandering around the same places over and over again, saying "what the hell?" when you have no idea what you're looking for or are supposed to do.But, when you finally do figure it out, it's a satisfying experience.Also, combat is pretty awkward, but, like I said, James Sunderland is just an average guy, so this makes some sense.
With these minor flaws, my real score is about a 4.5, so it gets five stars by default.
This game is available for both PS2 and Xbox.Either version is worth playing, but the Xbox version has slightly enhanced graphics and a side quest, which adds some game time and makes it the better version.
Silent Hill 2 is highly recommended to anyone age seventeen or older.

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Product Description:
With its Poe-like atmosphere, dense fog, pitch-black hallways, and a cryptic letter from a dead wife, Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams promises to surpass the paranoia created by its predecessor, Silent Hill. The sequel opens with James Sunderland, the series' average joe protagonist, reading a mysterious message that says, "Silent Hill, our sanctuary of memories. I'll be waiting for you there." More puzzling is that the note is signed by Mary, his deceased wife.
James sets out for Silent Hill hopeful that he'll find a trace of Mary. After an aborted attempt by car, James plunges into the dank fog and embarks on his quest by foot. Enter Angela, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to Mary, and who also beckons him with another curious message. It seems James can't go back; strange things are happening in Silent Hill.
Silent Hill 2 offers 10 new formidable foes, plenty of puzzles, and bone-chilling gameplay. The sequel's new story and characters promise to thrill and terrify. The visual and sound effects are amazingly detailed and macabre, and, if you're playing on a system with surround sound, you may find yourself keeping the lights on.
Note: This product description refers to the PlayStation2 version.

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Dino Crisis 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Dino Crisis was a great game in its time back when Resident Evil 3 was out. Now Capcom has released Dino Crisis 2! I like how in Dino Crisis Two you can hold you weapon out, ready to shoot while running or walking! That is very convienant for getting those combos in killing the dinos. Also I also like the idea of extinction points you recive you killing the dinos and bonus points for no damage, then you can us e them to by medkits, weapons, tools and essenital items proceed in the game. Each charector has their own set of weapons and tools, like the homing missiles for Regina and a powerful anti tank rifle for Dylan.The T-rex is back for some more bone crushing action, plus there is rumored to be an even bigger dinosaur than the T-Rex! Dino Crisis 2 is a non stop, dinosaur blasting action game.The dinos jump out of nowhere to get you and respawn at different places.
If you are a fan of Resident Evil or Dino Crisis, Dino Crisis 2 will not dissapoint you! It even has an Area game where you can buy Dinos at the end of the game and go head to head with your friends with your Favorite Dinosarus!

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Silent Hill V.2 Review

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(More customer reviews)THE SHORT: Great music from a great game, it covers the main themes and more recognizable stuff but doesn't have a lot of the more atmospheric, less musical tracks present in the game.

THE LONG: Along with great presentation and what I believe to be one of the finest overall stories in gaming, Silent Hill 2 is also memorable due to its music. This stands true to the series entire, as all those aspects make it what it is. But after the PS2 allowed for richer sound and before everything in the series began to stray just a bit with part 3, SH2 nailed the ambient tunes most proficiently.

The only problem is, not all of the music from the game is on this disc. It couldn't be, it would take at least two discs. I know because I burned the rest onto a cd and there were still some tracks left behind (more on that in a minute). But the important thing is, most of the music you'll remember from the game is on here: The gorgeous and haunting mandolin-rich opening theme, the tunes to some of the more tense and dramatic moments, and all of the ending credit themes are accounted for here (except for the Dog ending). It's the most accessible way to present the game's music to the mainstream public.

But that's where the one complaint comes in- so much of what makes these games unique is their gorgeous, purely ambient mood music. You know the stuff- most of it doesn't have a beat and it's the quiet but building stuff that you hear in the background as you explore. When James goes deep into Silent Hill's historical society, and its holes and underground prison, you're treated to a slightly melodic bit of sound that appears to be a man droning away in the darkness, his voice distorted as if just letting sound come out of his throat as he slowly contorts his yawning mouth. And there's more percussive stuff, the likes of which were expertly described as (and I paraphrase from memory) "a rumbling machine, similar to that of a washer and deep in an empty factory somewhere, which starts emitting a gravelly alarm until some creature comes by to apparently turn it off". This is the kind of rattling, distant distress noise that provides an undercurrent to the action in the game, and since it's designed to occur while James explores (or flees), some of it doesn't even turn into recognizable music until halfway through a twelve-minute piece. I'm guessing that this is why it wasn't included on the soundtrack.

But the good thing is, these tunes are available In mp3 format on at least one very helpful site that I ran across. While it wouldn't be right to list the name, the site owner was very responsible: He offered the tracks for others' enjoyment simply because they aren't commercially available, and refused to provide the ones that are, because he doesn't want to risk infringement or impede on the success of others' work. Because of this site (and there may be others but I didn't need to continue looking), the ambient score of the game is available as well.

It's hard to say which is better, since both the ambient score and commercial soundtrack each have several choice cuts on them. While I have more favorites on the score, it's music that is best listened to loud and alone or outside at night, preferably in uncertain territory. Trust me, it really causes anxiety. But then this soundtrack itself is a worthy purchase, since it is some good and recognizable music from a game full of good stuff. For example "Promise" is a sad tune of defeat and longing (which plays over one of the more dark endings) whereas "Black Fairy" captures the woozy, confused mix of emotions that main character James feels at the end of the game. Most of the pieces on this soundtrack, not the score, are more listenable or definable tunes. If you're interested, buy the one and download the other- they make a great set (I dubbed the second cd "Deeper Into Silent Hill"). Either way, you'll get a fix of some good old-fashioned music for the dark, and put together, you have pretty much all the music from the game- recognizable and ambient.

(On a side note, the Silent Hill film is currently being developed and the team is so far planning to use the game's original music from the score. Being that writer Roger Avery prefers Silent Hill 2, this soundtrack may be some of what is heard onscreen. We'll see!)

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Soundtrack for Japanese animated feature. All songs by Akira Yamaoka.

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Silent Hill 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Silent Hill 2 is a harrowing story that many people may not understand. The exposition sweeps us into the world of James Sunderland, who has received a letter from his wife, Mary, requesting a rendezvous in the resort town of Silent Hill. So what? Mary has been dead for three years. James isn't sure what to make of this, but he goes to the town anyway. Mysteriously, it seems abandoned, it is choked with a thick fog, and ungodly creatures lurk in the streets.
Silent Hill 2 is masterpiece of persisting psychological tension -- not a huge step beyond the original game, just a refinement to near-perfect horror. It is about the very essence of fear, captured in myriad qualities. The grimy visuals, the horrifying sound, the manipulation of your senses...
The designers behind this game knew _exactly_ how to evince fear in a player. They play on the fears a lot of regular people have...strange, dark places; darkness; weird sounds. Firstly, your vision often somehow restricted. Most oppressive is the ubiquitous fog sluiced in the town; in dark places, you must rely on a flashlight. Sound is also used effectively. James carries a radio that creates distorted noise when monsters are near. Imagine the uneasiness of the following situation: you are standing in a dark, narrow hallway, your flashlight shining ahead, revealing nothing. However, you are nearly deafened by the cacophony coming from your radio, and there is a fleshy thump of a demonic creature staggering around somewhere ahead.
The sum of these effects (visual and sound) is a pervasive fear that can be virtually suffocating. It goes farther, still. Random sounds can be heard as you explore. Maybe you'll enter a room and hear breaking glass. This puts you on edge, because you think it could be an attacker or just a random sound inserted to frighten you...there's no way to tell. Sometimes an area will contain a monster physically unable to attack you, but because of the darkness there is no way to tell. You will be constantly on alert because of the monster's sounds and the static of your radio. With the right audio gear, the game can be experienced in surround sound, which greatly enriches the experience. The music can be downright terrifying...although it is rarely music, actually. Often, it is just oppressively creepy atmospheric noise.
The visuals also work hard to unsettle you. Camera angles often impair vision, used to inject senses of claustrophobia or vertigo. Aesthetically, this design team is so deranged/talented it's scary. Grimy environments, decrepit buildings, messages written in blood... That's not so bad though. The truly frightening imagery appears later, where blood covers walls like paint, rusty iron grates cover abyssal pits, gruesome paintings adorn rooms, sheets covers walls and floors (why _is_ that so creepy?), and generally weird, sick stuff that eludes description. Silent Hill 2 has you exploring locales like an underground prison and a mental hospital, which let the developers show off their devilishly twisted creativity. The monsters are sick and bizarre, usually resembling fleshy, humanoid things smeared with red-black gore. Their movements alone are unsettling, with jerky, sporadic movements and attacks.
It's difficult to describe how all these elements factor into the experience. Let me try and explain my own thoughts... From the beginning, the game is unsettling, and it is relentless in its tension. As the game goes on, I found that it was becoming psychologically and even physically taxing to continue. Every encounter with a monster left me tired. It's not that fighting the monsters were difficult in gameplay terms, but their movements and sounds created a nearly paralyzing desperation. All of the twisted imagery, jarring sounds, and unending anxiety really wore me down. But it's just a game, right? Sure, but the guys at Konami tapped into virtually every conceivable factor that makes one afraid, and they mercilessly hammer at you. The visceral impact of this game is nearly incomparable.
The game is paced very well, from the tepid yet nerve-racking opening to the intense final hour, and the game is set up so you don't have to backtrack as much as you did in the first game. The puzzles are pretty easy (even if you put riddle difficulty on "hard"), but clever and disturbing in their own way. I don't think the game is difficult, but it _seems_ like it is, because it keeps beating up your courage.
Some have said Silent Hill 2's story is stupidly convoluted and weird. I would suggest those who make such comments have not bothered to think about the story fully. In-depth analysis reveals the story's complex brilliance. I encourage players to ask themselves: What is the very nature of Silent Hill -- how does it affect the people there? What is the connection shared between the humans drawn to the town -- and how is Laura different from the rest? What is the underlying cause behind the different monsters that appear? The answers lead to understanding. Having played and analyzed the story of the first game will help one's grasp of the second, as well. Silent Hill's story is so deliciously complex and open to interpretation that it beats not only most games, but also a wealth of good cinema and literature. Really.
Silent Hill 2 has four endings, as well as a fifth joke ending. Usually if a game has more than two endings I won't pursue them because I don't have the time, but my desire to more fully experience this game drove me to getting the four main ones. They are called: "Maria", "Water", "Leaving", and "Rebirth". Personally, I interpreted "Leaving" to be the happiest ending, but opinions may vary. "Rebirth" is particularly dark and twisted, available only after beating the game once and acquiring several secret items. The game can be beaten once in about 10 hours, but I think it's still a great value given the sheer intensity of the experience. Quality over quantity!
There is still much more I could say (I could write a book on the plot analysis), but I think I'm pushing Amazon.com's word limit. In short: this is by far the most frightening game ever. Don't pass it up.

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Product Description:
Gamers looking for intellectual horror will find it in Silent Hill 2. As the story opens, James Sunderland receives a letter from his wife telling him to meet her in the town of Silent Hill. The only problem is that she's been dead for three years. In hopes of reuniting with her, Sunderland explores the haunted town, where he has many terrifying and unexpected encounters. While the brilliantly designed monsters are indeed scary, it's the complex twists and turns of the plot that really produce the game's terror.
The gameplay is largely puzzle based. Much of it involves gathering clues and items to solve each puzzle. A few fights are thrown in, but these are quite easy, and are mostly used to show off the developers' bizarre creations. The level of both puzzles and fighting can be adjusted to match each player's skill level. Although its mechanics are rudimentary, the game's presentation is anything but. A heavy use of fog is the game's hallmark effect, greatly adding to the mood. Sound--both effects and music--alternates between eerie silence and sudden, shocking crescendos.
Although the graphics and sound are both topnotch, the real star of this game is the story. It's very rich and intricate--a sharp contrast to the banal scenarios that frame most games. Although the game is short (around 10 hours), players will want to give it another go to discover its multiple endings and secret items. Despite basic gameplay, Silent Hill 2 is an excellent choice for gamers looking for cerebral thrills. Parents should note that in addition to violence and gore, this game deals with such topics as suicide, homicide, and euthanasia. --Raymond M. Padilla
Pros:

Scary and stylish graphics
Excellent cutscenes
Effective sound effects and music
Original creature design





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Dino Crisis Review

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(More customer reviews)You and your team are dropped on an island in the ocean searching for a renegade scientist,but something is wrong, there is a large hole in the security fence, the guards have gone walkies and just when things lookedlike the could'nt get any wierder you are attacked by a very large, veryhungry dinosaur, what is going on here? Welcome to the world of DinoCrisis. Dino Crisis is the latest offering from Capcom, the makers of theResident evil series and although this is evident from the games look atstyle of play, it is not a bad thing.Resident Evil was the best of its typeand Dino crisis is better, the dinosaurs scare the life out of you and aredifficult to kill and look frightningly realistic, the puzzles are tough,but not so tough as you're tearing your hair out and flinging your joypadaround and for any body who has played any of the resident evil games easyto pick up. This is a game with style, imagination, wit and class, in shortit is the game Jurasic park and lost world should have been, anotherexcellent offering from capcom.

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Blood 2: The Chosen Review

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(More customer reviews)Blood II: The Chosen is a horror based fps with a good single player gameplay and a fantastic multiplayer gameplay. It is the sequel to Blood, one of my favorites. You play caleb an undead anti hero. In the first game set in the 1930's, Caleb served for a dark god Technoborg and his evil organisation cabal, when he decided to leave cabal he and his lover were murdered, caleb returned from the dead and took revenge by destroying technoborg and became the chosen one. Now it is 2030 a century has passed with the caleb wandering the earth mostly minding his own buisness. Now cabal has become cabalco and its leader Giddion wants to take revenge on Caleb. You as caleb must escape from Giddion and destory him. The gameplay is very good with more than 30 levels in four episodes, The gameplay is very good though not quite as good as the orginal. You can play as four charecters, play as caleb only he gets cutsences. The level design is very good from moving trains, haunted cathedrals, hovercrafts, catacombs, science labs, high rise buildings ect. The levels are very large and a lot of fun. Some of the levels are dark and scary just like the orginal. The selection of weapons are excellent, there are more than 15 weapons from beretta, shotguns, assault gun, snipper rifles, howitizer and telsa cannon which is my favorite. some of the weapons are not as good as the orginal, voodoo doll and life leech are not very powerfull here. A big dissapoinment is you cannot carry more than 10 weapons in your inventory.
Blood II is built on the lithtech engine, I played it on the Direct3D video mode and the game runs very smooth and the level loading was very good. The graphics and charecter animations are outdated today, sound recording is just ok. The creature animation is fantastic, There are lots of scary and well animated creatures. It is a funny game, Caleb is my favorite game charecter, He says a lot of cool one liners like "When you get to hell, tell them I sent you. You can get a group discount". There are lot of black humor in the game. It is a very violant game, It has lots of red fluid flowing and many nasty sences. Blood2's multiplayer or Bloodbath as called here is excellent, there are lots of well desinged maps. you can control your charecter by arranging points for speed, strength ect. Each charecter begins the game with ten weapons of his choice with full ammo. Unfortunatly the network code is buggy, but it is a great game on Lan parties. It has one of the best multiplayer gameplay ever. Blood2 is not as good as the orginal but it is a good game.
Finally I had a small problem with the game and almost everyone with Geforce based video cards may have that problem in Shogo and Blood2. The main menu will not appear or keep flickering. Turn the vsync to always off in the more Direct3D option...

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Product Description:
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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Resident Evil 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Resident Evil 2: Greatest Hits (2000). The re-release of the 1998 blockbuster sequel to Capcom's survival horror series.

When the Playstation first started out, one of the first games to put the system on the map was Capcom's first foray into survival horror games, Resident Evil. Aside from the earlier series Alone In The Dark, Resident Evil was the first game of its kind to really bring the survival horror genre to life, complete with various puzzles and zombie blasting action. Since RE1 managed to build up a solid fanbase, Capcom was soon called to make a sequel the following year. Initially, they had 60% of the game completed and it was supposed to be released in early 97, but the creators weren't satisfied with the way it was going, saying that "it needed a huge overhaul". So the original plans were scrapped, forcing the fans to wait longer. But come early 1998, the wait was well worth it when Capcom unleashed the new and improved sequel, THE must-own PSX game of 98.

RE2 was the first title in the series I played, and from the get-go, I was hooked. When I say that it's the best RE title to date, I'm not joking, as just about everything from the first game went through a MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT. I'm very glad that Capcom ditched their original plans so that a better sequel could be made. Now I'm not trying to turn this review into just gushing praise, but honestly there's so much to like about this game that beats out the original.

For starters, the graphics are VASTLY superior to the first-generation visuals of the previous game. The character models are much more detailed, the still-screen environments are more vibrant (but dark and pale enough to convey the game's atmosphere), and the crappy B-movie quality intro of the original is gone in place of excellent CG movies. The characters and monsters, while still somewhat blocky, are all brought to life much better now with numerous animations, such as head tracking, and physical gestures during cutscenes. Also, when your character takes damage, you can now tell how hurt they are by the way they walk. If they hold onto their side and limp on one foot, you know that they're close to death. In addition, the newer game engine allows many more creatures to be in the area at one time, like when you stumble into a room with 7 zombies.

Secondly, the sound is brought more into the front this time, with howls and screams of the monsters standing out more so than in the last game. It's especially noteworthy when something suddenly jumps through glass or breaks a wall. When this happens, you'll definitely jump out of your seat. As far as scares go, it'll certainly keep you on the edge until the end. Same thing with the musical score. Compared to the last game, the music is quite a bit more chilling and it seems to know just when something will come out after you. And most importantly, the voice acting is thankfully much better this time around. It's not perfect, but the dialogue and characters are very believable. For instance, Leon's character shows real determination, Claire is quite sympathetic yet assertive, and Chief Irons comes off as just plain creepy. These traits help distinguish the characters.

The story is also brought out very well. Just a few months after the events in the first game, Raccoon City is overtaken by the T-Virus, and nearly every citizen has been turned into a zombie. Two outsiders, a rookie cop named Leon Kennedy, and Chris Redfield's (from the first game) younger sister Claire, wander into the monster infested city. The two get split up from one another only to end up in the police station. They soon find more characters and monsters to contend with, and discover the deep secrets of the Umbrella Corporation as the game goes on.

The controls for the most part remain the same as in the first game, as do the menu options. You still have to backtrack often to "item boxes" to store items you can't hold in your limited inventory menu. This grows tedious, but oh well. I did find that the controls are a bit more responsive this time around. The characters have plenty of differentiation in gameplay, such as how Leon starts with the lighter, whereas Claire can open locks. Plus, both feature different weapon arsenals, so there are plenty of guns.

Perhaps the best aspect of the game is the alternate scenario options introduced for the first time. What this means is that if you started and beat the game as Leon, you then play through the same story through Claire's perspective, and vice versa. The alternate scenario takes place in most of the same areas as the first time, but this time you have to contend with the menacing 7-foot, trenchcoat wearing Neo Tyrant. The idea is that he's constantly stalking you and could appear at any time (this idea was perfected with the Nemesis in RE3). The scenario features might make the game feel shorter than the original, but technically you'd be beating the game 4 times to see all the different endings. There's also a few cool mini games and sidequests to unlock, so you've got plenty of replayability here.

About the only bad thing I can say about RE2 was the fact that the puzzles were a lot more simple and not very challenging compared to the others in the series. It's a minor flaw though and doesn't take much away from the game.

Overall, RE2 is an excellent addition to the series, and expands the original game to new heights. Since it's available on multiple platforms now, it's very easy to come across. NEW FANS SHOULD START HERE, OR ALSO THE GAMECUBE REMAKE, THEN MOVE ONTO THE OTHERS.

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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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Resident Evil Essentials (Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X, Resident Evil Outbreak, Resident Evil 4) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm real happy to play these games again. Not sure about Outbreak but Code Veronica X and Four were the best in the PS2 series! Period! Plenty of weapons and items to take it to every zombie you find! Good thing about Outbreak is it makes you think, not just blast. The others are the ones to satisfy the violence we play this game for.

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Product Description:
A compilation of games in the acclaimed survival horror series, Resident Evil. Featuring many of the series' top titles made for play on the system, this bundle includes: Resident Evil - CODE: Veronica X, Resident Evil Outbreak and Resident Evil 4.

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Silent Hill 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)I notice a lot of people have already reviewed & rated this game despite having not actually played it yet. I do own it (i live in the U.K. where it was released on May 23rd) & it's excellent. It's extremely similar to the 2nd game in terms of graphics & gameplay, which is a good thing as the 2nd game was extremely well done, & is one of the only truly scary videogames i've ever played. Part 3 lives up to this as well, offering a similar experience to the 2nd game, only with brand new characters, storyline & puzzles. A mention must go to the graphics. Like the previous game, they're excellent, with some brilliantly atmospheric lighting & shadow effects, which really help to suck you into the game. It contains some pretty gruesome images & the soundtack is designed to really amp up the tension. If you compare Resident Evil to a George Romero zombie flick then this can only be compared to something Clive Barker would have come up with. To sum it up, if you're a fan of the series, you'll love this, if you didn't like the first 2 games, then you won't like this one either. If you've never played a Silent Hill game, give this one a try, it's well worth it.

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Product Description:
Silent Hill 3 continues the series' trademark brand of psychological horror and terrifying gameplay. As a teenage girl named Heather, players must explore and unravel the mysterious connection between the god-forsaken town and her inner fears. The game features enhanced graphical detail, a more complex storyline, and even more grotesque monsters than the previous games.

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Silent Hill Origins Review

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(More customer reviews)When it comes to the Silent Hill franchise, I'm a pretty dedicated fanboy.I could probably dedicate several chapters worth of pages to each and every one of the installments, from the masterpieces to the mediocre.In the name of dignity, however, I'll keep my opinion on Origins, like the game itself, fairly brief.And the brief here is that Origins doesn't quite capture the same charm as any of the straight-to-console releases; it does, however, maintain the trademark feel and standards of the franchise, and it even adds a couple cool new things to the mix, making it a completely worthy addition to what is hands down the best survival horror series around.

Probably the most important challenge facing the developers behind Origins was the necessity to prove to fans that they could harness the very distinct feel created and maintained by Team Silent, the original group, throughout the four previous titles.It couldn't have been an easy task.One of the things that makes these games so successful is the incredible atmosphere.The horror found in Silent Hill is often psychological and always enigmatic, and there's a really deeply disturbing sense of pathos that elevates the terror from strictly visceral to a very emotional level.The original composer was on board, so the famously spooky music and audio effects were there to help bolster the effect, but the rest was up to the new guys.Well, they delivered.Origins feels absolutely genuine; the foggy streets, the shambling, crippled monsters, the radio, the peeling paint and the layers of rust and blood - every motif within the series is reproduced with meticulous care, and it just feels right.The gameplay is still the same, with the one addition of breakable weapons (a potential inconveniance offset by the sheer abundance of weapons lying around).This, then, might be Origins greatest accomplishment in relation the series as a whole - proving that an American team can take the creative child of a very tight, very Japanese team and do it justice by finding its roots, all of which bodes well for the upcoming Shiny-developed PS3 release of Silent Hill 5.

Of course, there can't be enough said for innovation, and Origins' incredible conformity to the series formula has the aforementioned downside of robbing it of that certain individual charm that holds up the other titles, even the controversial black sheep entry SH4. For the most part it plays as a great homage to the other games.It even attempts to cover the two overarching themes that have up til now mostly been handled seperatly - that is, the malevolent cult that resides within the town and its mythology (SH1 and SH3), and the physical manifestion of personal torment (SH2 and SH4).These two themes have done a good job of keeping the town itself suitably mysterious by begging the question whether the forces behind Silent Hill are driven by the demons worshipped by the cult or a more vague force that projects the subconcious of its victim into its twisted Otherworld.In trying to work both sides, however, Origins becomes somewhat muddied and the benfits of both themes are diminished.The focus on the protagonists dark past seem to be the intended focal point, but it comes off a a little bit of an afterthought.This point is perfectly illustrated by the Butcher, Travis's own version of Pyramid Head, who in Silent Hill 2 was meant to be a reflection of a particularly dark element of our hero's psyche.The developers attempt to recreate this with the Butcher, but the monster unfortunately lacks the development and plot integration of Pyramid Head and ends up looking like a weak imitation.Likewise, the cult aspects we're shown, which lead directly to the occurences of SH1, are extremely shallow.

On that note don't be fooled by the title:Origins is a prequel to the storyline covered in SH1 and SH3, nothing more.It doesn't attempt to explain the origins of the actual evil residing in Silent Hill, which is probably a good thing.The mystery is part of what keeps the town frightening.Plus, I think if any installment were to take a whack at a real origins story, a PSP title wouldn't be the one to do it.The scope is necessarily too limited to tackle such an important issue.

What Origins lacks, then, in forward momentum, it gains in a few nice additions to gameplay.The most noteable of these is the fact that, unlike all previous installments, the player has control over when the foggy world will switch to the nightmarish Otherworld.This is achieved by travelling through mirrors which display a reflection of the parallel world, which is a pretty savvy callback to Travis's story and one example of the psychological themes being handled effectivly.I wouldn't want to see this in any of the future titles, mind you, as nothing quite compares to being suddenly thrown unknowingly into a nightmare realm from which there's no short escape, but it does add a whole new element to the horror in Origins; the really ominous necessity to willingly throw yourself into Hell's open jaws.In fact, while playing the game I really tried to do everything I could to stay in the foggy realm as long as possible and make my stay in the Otherworld very brief.My really visceral reaction to having to enter the Otherworld really surprised me as to how good the game is at creating genuine fear.

Another gift Origins gives to the series is the addition of probably one of the very best environments in the whole series - the theatre.One thing that tends to plague the other games is typical of all survival horror, and that's very linear environments.Halls upon halls, all boasting rows and rows of locked doors, can get tired really fast.The theatre really avoids this problem and its wonderful for it.One part in particular, which involves a puzzle utilizing stage props from the foggy realm transformed into real locales in the Otherworld, is brilliant and probably the highlight of the entire game.Even the enemies here are great - dummies that at first seem innocently inanimate that eventually come alive to attack Travis by crawling along the ceiling - very creepy.

All in all Origins is a pretty small addition to the Silent Hill franchise, but a worthy addition nonetheless.It maintains the core qualities of the series while adding a few cool new things of its own.And while its additions to the cult storyline aren't really substantial or even essential, they do feel very organic and real, which is pretty impressive.If you're new to the series, definitely start with one of the other games - as I said, Origins' beautiful imitation cripples it from attaining the same immersive charm - but if you're already a fan, what are you waiting for?Get this!

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Product Description:
The renowned Silent Hill survival horror series continues on the PS2 with a brand new adventure that reveals many of the series most hallowed secrets. Assuming the role of a lone truck driver who becomes trapped in Silent Hill, players must escape the city's horrific inhabitants and confront the strange hallucinations that have haunted him since childhood. Featuring enhanced graphics, sound and control, Silent Hill Origins sets a new standard for this survival horror classic.

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NUBY Resident Evil Chainsaw Controller Review

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(More customer reviews)Call me a dork! I just paid 50 bucks for this little thing. I have been a big fan of the resident evil games for a long time, and I thought it would be cool to have this little piece of art work. Yes it works as a controler, but I would get a little messed up using it. I would recomend this to the fans, but not for someone looking for great control.The blood splater design is one of a kind and made differently for every controler. It comes with a nice little display case. You might just want to keep it in there, and use your regular controler.

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Product Description:
Designed with an actual Chainsaw in mind, this sculpted controller pays a lot of attention to detail and goes as far as having gory blood marks on the blade and the rumble feature for that realistic feel. The Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller can rest on its display stand, on top on your TV or trophy case. The collectable Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller delivers in eye-catching packaging. The gorgeous box looks exactly like a set of three-paned, doubled windows from one of the dark and dreary cabins so commonplace in the villages of Capcom's title. Clearly viewable through the windows is the chainsaw controller, which actually protrudes from one side of the box. The controller also comes with a display stand that holds the device in place. The stand itself features several bloodied rocks that are used as resting spots for the chainsaw. Meanwhile, a groove has been carved out in the stand to hold a single memory card. The chainsaw controller features a detachable cord that can be stowed in the bottom of the display stand when it's not in use. Includes display standCollector's item

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Resident Evil Deadly Silence Review

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(More customer reviews)When Resident Evil first debuted in 1996, it was an instant classic.This is THE game that is responsible for the genre, "Survival Horror" and ten years later, you can play it on the go with your Nintendo DS.

The story is almost known to everyone in the gaming world nowadays, but let's take a recap.The STARS Bravo Team has disappeared while investigating nasty murders in the mountains near an old mansion.The Alpha team has been sent into these mountains to find their comrades, and are immediately chased into this mansion full of horror.As Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, you'll have to survive the mansion and its terrors and unravel a conspiracy beyond belief.

Almost everyone knows the story, and on the Nintendo DS you'll find you can play through it in classic mode, rebirth mode or Wi-Fi mode.Capcom has been known for giving you different scenarios, and Resident Evil shows that perfectly.At the beginning you can choose to either be Chris or Jill.Chris can take more damage, although Jill has an easier time navigating the mansion, and gets some fairly more powerful weapons early on.

Classic Mode is basically the exact same game that was presented to us in 1996.Most--if not all--the regular enemies are still where they once were, all the secrets are unchanged and everything.If you still remember the game from ten years ago, it hasn't changed.Not at all.

Rebirth Mode is worthwhile, though.Upon playing it, there are more enemies in place, and from time to time when you enter a room you'll be in the first person perspective, fighting against an enemy that is creeping toward you.It is your job to use the stylus to slash at your enemy until he dies.At first this seems stupid, but it's actually really fun and intense.

The map is displayed on screen at all times, so unlike before, you don't constantly have to bring up the map.When you take damage the top screen also flashes, which is actually more of a distraction than anything.

Wi-fi mode, while great to have, really isn't as worthwhile as you might think.Everyone needs the game card.You can have up to four players going through a portion of the mansion.Whether you are cooperating or competing the objective is the same, to get to the goal as fast as you can.In cooperating, you both have the same life gauge and you both go at it on your own.In competative, you're both against one another trying to see who can get there the fastest.

However, the problem is that you don't ever get to actually see your partner.You're both going through these portions of the mansion but you won't run into one another, and that takes the joy out of it, really.So wi-fi really isn't worth it.

I must say, though, it's fun to play through classic and rebirth mode to check out the differences.While it is just a port, the differences aren't just small things you won't notice at all.

The controls are still a bit clunky.Yes, up is still going to be the button to move forward at all times.And if you're used to Resident Evil 4, it may be hard to go back to those fixed camera angles.So even veterans of the series may have to readjust.

The graphics aren't bad, but they are, for the most part, dated.They don't quite live up to the DS's potential, but they do look a little neater than they did on the PSX.The music is hair-raising, and is still your only warning sign of danger.Especially the sound effects of shuffling zombies, dogs clicking on the ground.This stuff sounds even better with the DS's stereo sound.The voice acting is still laughable, and I suppose that's actually amusing.The dialogue is so bad that it's classic.You'll be saying to yourself, "Wow, we've come a long way as far as voice acting and scripts are concerned."Again, if you just got off Resident Evil 4, this could be something that takes a moment to get used to.Still, the fact that you can laugh at the voices shows that the game really is a classic, as voice acting really has come a long way.

The major problems with this game are simple.It's a game that's already been redone.The Director's Cut and Gamecube versions.Also, it's a game where its age really does show.Can Resident Evil survive the test of time?The answer is, yes, it can.But unfortunately, a port might not hold true.In fact, if you've still got the original one (or the Director's Cut) it's hard to actually recommend this title to you.Rebirth Mode is great, and it's also fun to have it on the go, but there just isn't enough new content to it.It's a great game, and after ten years it's still a blast to play.But for Resident Evil's ten year anniversary, I was expecting more extras and secrets.Still, I'd say it is worth it.Pick it up, enjoy it, and relive the classic game that invented a genre.

The Good
+Classic Game
+Classic Story
+Interesting Puzzles
+The map is now displayed on the top screen
+New Touch Screen antics are really nice
+Graphics are smoother
+The Music is still really good
+You just have to admit that after ten years, the game is still pretty damn good!

The Bad
-The voice acting is terrible.Although, I like that you can see just how far games have come, you'll find yourself laughing in spite of the games overall serious tone.
-There just weren't enough new extras for this port.Yes, it's nice to have a rebirth mode, and it's nice to carry it around, but there could've been more extras thrown in here.

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Product Description:
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence is a DS-exclusive remake of the first Resident Evil game, with the DS's unique features in mind. Work your way through the classic storyline as Jill Valentine & Chris Redfield work their way through that well-known mansion. You'll find that there's no solace in a room that you think you've completely freed from zombie infestation.

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Run Like Hell Review

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(More customer reviews)Run Like Hell had me running to the video game store and impatiently waiting in line to buy this gem.
*Graphics-The graphics are simply amazing and vibrant.
The character models are life-like and realistic. Sometimes you can forget your playing a game and not watching an animated movie!
The cut-scenes really push the story along.
*Sound-I have my PS2 hooked up to my Surround System(and locked the doors from pesky compalining neighbors).
The sound is very rich and realistic. Each door opening and closing made me jump.
In some levels you can hear the "thumping"of the monsters footfalls, i nthe next room and you would think they would jump through the television any minute.
The best part is the live voice overs, with such great talents as Lance Hendrikson and Clancy Brown. Each character comes "Alive" with the voice overs.
*Control-Altho, I found the control easy to adapt to, the absence of a "custon Configuration" had me beating my head off the floor.
The only other confusing part is the "upgrading of weapons interface". Take your time and go over this throughourly, it could make the difference from starting over and over..
The main interface is good, and the "Aiming" is very precise.
*Replay-Like most "Survival Horror" games, you can only play them over so many times..I have 2 more levels to go till I beat the game, so I won't know what hidden secrets are i nthere till I finish..
*Final Words-Better then Resident Evil in many ways, but still sticking true to the Surival Horror premise. If you are a fan of this Genre, then run like hell out to your nearest game store and pick this up..
Unplug the phone, lock the doors, shut off the lights, buy your Girlfriend/boyfriend a new book, and prepare to "live" this game!!

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Product Description:
Run Like Hell puts you in a suspenseful sci-fi adventure. Your task is to try and stay alive to combat the danger that lurks around every dark corner. An intense story line keeps you on the edge of your seat. The game includes voice acting work by Hollywood talent, including Lance Henriksen, Kate Mulgrew, and Clancy Brown. Intelligent alien foes learn from your actions, becoming even more dangerous. The seven gripping chapters of action-packed gameplay work with the powerful game engine to bring characters, objects, and environments to life in full 3-D. The dynamic camera perspectives create a cinematic experience.

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Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix Review

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(More customer reviews)BACKGROUND (of my review). First of all, I'm one of those hard-core Resident Evil (RE) fans so the games I like tend to be "story-driven" RPG/action/adventure games; that is, a **character driven** plotline that develops a global objective(s), one becomes the character and searches for "stuff", with battles, puzzles, and other obstacles along the way.Hence, hearing the Fear Effect (FE) series fit this, and having read some positive reviews on Amazon, I bought FE1&2 at the same time.Discovering that FE2 was a prequel to FE1, I decided to play them in the chronological order they were staged, i.e. FE2 first.BTW, I'm glad I did, having just finished FE1 I was literally surprised and even saddened at the fate of some of the characters.Hence, if you're new to the FE franchise, I highly recommend you start with FE2.
GRAPHICS FE2 is stunning visually with backgrounds, characters, and other textures being very well rendered.The characters are rendered smoothly, and are done so very well with amazing levels of "emotion" portrayed. Indeed, the all around graphical experience is about as good as I can imagine possible, given the restraints of the aging Playstation's polygon processing capabilities.
CONTROLS & GAME ENGINE The game engine is adequate for the RPG aspect of the game, although at times during fighting sequences require "rolling" -- a button-pushing challenge -- that takes a bit of getting used to.Again, I don't want to mislead anyone, the controls are adequate, just not great.One aspect of the game engine I especially enjoyed is that the object isn't just to kill everything in sight, but rather using "stealth" to sneak up behind an enemy with a "one-shot" kill.This made the game intelligent and well as fun.Likewise, the puzzles were challenging but not impossible and actually made sense to the plot (a rarity in gaming these days).
VOICE ACTING FE2 possesses perhaps the absolute best voice acting that I have ever experienced in a game (one of my major criticisms of the RE series is its horrible to average voice acting).The script made sense and the performance of the voice actors who spoke it was in synch with the moment.This added to the realism and mature sensibility of the game dramatically.The voices perfectly matched the characters, and actors provided the proper vocal "inflection" the scenes required.
MISCELLANEOUS This is a "mature" rated game.Its "stars" are Hanna and Rain, two rather beautiful mercenaries possessing.... well lets just say modern preferences and a "past".Additionally, the middle-third of the game features them negotiating through a rather humerous but perilous cocktail party meaning they are wearing "light-weight" evening dresses.Again, the game's graphics were very well done :-)

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Product Description:
Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix is the prequel to the survival-horror game Fear Effect. Here you play one of four mercenaries in a team that has signed on to bring back the kidnapped daughter of a powerful Chinese executive. The adventure takes players through the chaotic alternate reality of Hong Kong, Hell's Kitchen in New York City, the formidable walled city of Xi'an, the lost tomb of the first emperor of China, and, finally, into the legendary mountain island of the immortals, Penglai Shan. A variety of melee and range weapons, such as brass knuckles, pistols, and heavy assault weapons, will help you take out increasingly combative henchmen.
The game allows you to play as any one member of the team: cover-girl assassins Hana Tsu-Vachel or Rain Qin, master operative Royce Glas, or greedy killer Jakob "Deke" Decourt. The game's variable ending changes with the disposition of certain in-game events, and other hidden features promise added replayability.

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Resident Evil Code Veronica Review

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(More customer reviews)Many people missed this when it came out on Dreamcast. It was later ported to PS2 with the addition of the Wesker Report. The PS2 version was called Code Veronica X, I guess the X stands for Xtra content. The bottom line here is I played the game on Dreamcast and it is one of the best RE games out there right now.
It is the first RE game to be featured in a fully 3D world, the camera follows you except in some areas where the camera is static for effect. It doesn't follow you like a chase cam, but instead the camera is situated somewhere in the room and follows you as you walk by and such.
Another benefit of the 3D engine is that you can have real time lighting from gunfire and explosions. The walls will light up when you fire your shotgun, pistol, etc. No to mention the light affects your character. If the room is dark then so is your character. Light sourcing enables a new realm of reality.
RE 4 coming to gamecube later this year is also featured in 3D. Since the Gamecube is much more powerful than the Dreamcast it looks like everything is prerendered.
Code Veronica is an excellent game and the camera is a lot better than in some RE games. I found only a few spots where you were taken off guard by zombies in tight corridors.
The environments are freaky and very well done. And of course the music is completely dark and forboding just like in the other games from the series. You will not be disappointed. Pre-order now and add this to your collection with no worries.

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Product Description:
Resident Evil: Code Veronica X is a sharper version of the hit game, Code Veronica, done especially to take advantage of the abilities of the PS2

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Resident Evil 3 Nemesis Review

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(More customer reviews)Resident Evil 3: Nemisis is a most enjoyable and thoroughly terrifying game. If you love a good scare, along with a really fun game to play, this is your ticket! Although you don't have to have played any of the previousResident Evil games to enjoy this, it would help. In any event, thescenario puts you into the heart of a town, Racoon City, being overrun withflesh eating zombies, ghastly mutated monsters and a big nasty killingmachine by the name of Nemisis, all of whom have one thing on their minds:Kill you and make it very bloody and painful. Luckily, you, playing underthe characters of Jill Valentine and Carlos, in respective portions of thegame, come armed with some heavy duty firepower and the ability to outrunall of your attackers, even Nemisis if you're smart enough. This gamedoesn't shortchange you when it comes to horror; you will have the williesafter playing this. I certainly did. It also delivers the goods on the gorefactor too, so if you're squeamish, better to stay away, or look away atleast when you open fire on the walking dead. There are also puzzles totease your brain, as well as a good storyline worthy of a major motionpicture. George Romero, director of the Night of the Living Dead, alongwith it's two sequels, would be proud of this zombie fest. On the downside,most of my complaints are with the storyline, more then anything else. InResident Evil 2, certain things were explained and you understood thesinister greed behind the Umbrella Company's virus that turns people intozombies. Here, there doesn't seem to be much motivation behind a team ofcommandos, of which Carlos is one, for entering the fray. Also, thecharacter of Nemisis himself is never explained, as no mention is made ofwhere he comes from or why he's obsessed with killing the remainingS.T.A.R.S. rescue team, of which Jill is one. In Resident Evil 2, you foundout that the behemoth who kept popping up to kill you at certain points wasactually a scientist who injected himself with the G-virus. No such motivehere for Nemesis, but in the grand scheme of this game, it's a minor flaw.So, if you're wondering if you should invest in this game or not, I sayYES! Fire up your Playstation, Lock and load, try not to get eaten, and ifyou get really scared, leave the lights on when you play this!Welcome tothe world of survival horror...

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Product Description:
Resident Evil 3 Nemesis for Playstation. Rated M for Mature.

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