Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Premium Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Sakura Wars is part of a long running series that, from what I have recently learned, was pretty prominent on the dreamcast and on into the PS2 era due to hybridizing dating sim elements (relationship building, player choosing responses to text prompts similar to KOTOR, and rewards/detriments for not building some kind of relationship with the other players) with solid srpg gameplay.That was a long sentence.Anyway, this is the latest installment of this game.I am not a fan of the series by any means-the previous games are all in Japanese, and I don't plan to learn that any time soon.So why did I pick this one up, and rate it so highly?

Two reasons-PS2 releases are getting more and more scarce monthly (and I love my black box), and the sheer novelty of the game.I have been at this game for a number of hours and so far, I don't regret the purchase in the slightest.

The graphics are solid (with still shots that change to reflect facial expressions and changes in situation), the voice acting is entertaining (and, if you get the premium pack, you get the full Japanese voice as well as the American on two separate game disks-that's right-YOU GET TWO COPIES OF THE GAME), the amount of engagement during conversations varies from button mashing, keeping meters up trying to be convincing, and other controller-based mini games (so you really can't get too bored with it), the transitions between fmv, conversation screens, and in game activity are really well handled, and the combat is awesome.The first fight took me nearly an hour, starting as a ground-based assault and moving to a space battle above the statue of liberty.This is where the relationship part of the game pays off, as my strong relationship with one of the other characters let us pull of a wicked group attack.Pretty ambitious stuff here.

One last note on the combat-I have to be honest here.One thing I hate about SRPGs in general is the grid-based movement and attack system.People don't move in plus signs.SW lets you move free-form, spending points for movement in any organic shape you want, in any direction you want.In the ground battle I was talking about, I had one of my party slip around the enemy up some stairs and attack from the side while the rest of the group used long range attacks.Very satisfying feature and added a lot to my sense of engagement with the game.Your space battles are done very similarly as well, though limited somewhat by dimensional space.

My only real gripe with the game is how long it takes at times to get to the action.But the setup work you are doing beforehand with party interaction makes sense, so this complaint is minimal at best.

Like I said earlier, the field is getting pretty empty in terms of PS2 games, with original releases being even more scarce.I figure if enough people buy this one Sony will get the idea of continuing this sort of thing for its loyal fan base.BUY IT-I am loving seeing this one at the top of so many best seller lists right now (even if I know the reason behind it).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Premium Edition

Product Description:
Sakura Wars: So Long My Love is a single player strategy role-playing game (SRPG) and the first game in the popular Japanese Sakura Wars franchise to be released in North America. The game features both an exciting and fast-paced mech/air battle system and a unique, sim-based storyline. This in-depth storyline allows for character interaction that plays a major role in the progression of game action as the players interactions with various characters in the game can ultimately change the story content and even the final outcome. In addition, the PlayStation 2 Premium Edition contains several extras, including an artbook, poster and limited edition packaging.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Premium Edition now ?

Tactics Ogre Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I must confess, I bought this game only because I had played Final Fantasy Tactics and loved it. Desperate for a strategy/RPG fix, I got TO because many of FFT's creators had worked on it. But just because it preceded FFT does not mean it's not as good...on the contrary, it actually is more fun and absorbing than its slickly polished descendant.
Let's start with the bad news. Tactics Ogre was originally released for the Super NES, and it shows. With small, blocky sprites and the inability to rotate a camera (because the background is also 2D), TO won't be winning any graphics awards anytime soon. The in-game speech portraits are nice, though.
Tactics Ogre can also occasionally get monotonous - the most common culprit being the constant need for training. There's also a special 100-floor (!) dungeon that is not for the faint of heart.
Now the good news: The story is absorbing. TO takes place in the island nations of Valeria; you play Denim Powell, a young member of the Walstanian ethnic group. He, his sister Kachua, and his friend Vice are determined to lead Walsta out from under the oppressive hand of the ruling Gargastan. They're helped in this aim by a group of exiled warriors from Zenobia: the heroes of the first game in the Ogre Battle Saga. Eventually the scope of the conflict widens to include the rest of Valeria, and culminates in a bitter struggle for the High King's throne and for the power of an incredibly powerful magical artifact. TO's story would be its strongest point...except for one thing.
The gameplay.
Dear God, the gameplay. It's like a sundae smothered in hot fudge, chocolate sprinkles, whipped cream, and with a cherry on top: wonderful, but occasionally overkill. TO's gameplay is definitely deep; while it doesn't have the huge list of jobs and abilities that its descendant, Final Fantasy Tactics, does, I can't help but feel it's without a doubt more complex in terms of strategy. With over a dozen sidequests, not to mention three distinct paths through the game (each of which has its own special characters to get), there's no question that TO has even more replay value than FFT. And that's really saying something!
Tactics Ogre is definitely a game not to be missed. While Atlus is no longer making the game, if you can buy a used copy, do!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tactics Ogre

Want to read more honest consumer review about Tactics Ogre now ?

Civil War Battles: Campaign Atlanta Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The HPS Civil War Campaign Windows games are the best games available for both the gamer and historian.Each game covers one campaign or area, providing a series of historical and hypothetical battles.The battles are played as single games or linked into a campaign with losses and advantages carried forward.In campaign mode, players have to consider "tomorrow" and cannot just attack everything in sight.In campaign mode, decision points determine the direction the campaign takes, while battles determine the decision points.This provides for almost unlimited replay ability as no one campaign will ever match the last one.

Game scale is set to the pace and command abilities of the 19th Century.Each turns is twenty minutes during the day and one hour at night, about 120 yards per hex.Units are regiments, very large regiments can be two counters, artillery units are two gun sections, leaders and supply wagons.

Formations are critical and leaders exist starting at brigade level.Brigade leaders benefit by being in the command range of their division leader, who benefit by being in the command range of their corps commander.These rules, force command cohesion by penalizing players that break up commands.Line, column, limbered, unlimbered, mounted or dismounted enhance movement or combat and require planning and preparation.Having a regiment in the wrong formation will mean you cannot fire, take more casualties or move slowly.

Movement starts at about two miles an hour for an infantry regiment.Terrain, roads and formation increase or decrease this rate.

Combat results in losses and fatigue.Fatigue makes units susceptible to disorganization or route.Disorganized units are less effective and more likely to route.Routed units run from battle and will not fight until rallied.Leaders can rally units and have the best chance of doing so within their command.

While this may sound complicated, it isn't and one set of rules is used in all the games.This is not to say that the games are the same and one approach works in every game.The experienced armies of the Gettysburg and Atlanta games are very different from the green armies at Shiloh.The more open area in Vicksburg presents cavalry opportunities that do not exist in Atlanta.

134 stand alone scenarios and 96 campaign scenarios

5 different campaigns for a varied campaign experience

Historic battles include: Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Pickett's Mill, Dallas, Kolb's Farm, Kennesaw, Smyrna, Peachtree Creek, Ezra Church, Sunshine Church, Utoy Creek, Jonesboro, Allatoona, and Atlanta

"What if" battles include: Chattahoochie River Line, Siege of Atlanta, Sherman's advance, meeting engagements, and many variants of both historical and "what if" scenarios

The largest map yet featured in the ACW series. Over 100 miles in continuous length north to south.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Civil War Battles: Campaign Atlanta

Product Description:
Civil War Battles: Campaign Atlanta lets you decide the outcome of a duel between two determined generals in the American Civil War. It's 1864 and the Union forces are ready to make a final drive into the Deep South. General William T. Sherman advances to destroy the Confederate Army of Tennessee & capture the city of Atlanta. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston planned on using Georgia's difficult terrain to inflict heavy losses on Sherman's forces.
Johnston's plan nearly worked - but after brutal combat, Sherman prevailed & struck a major blow against the Confederacy. Now you can refight the entire 120 mile march to Atlanta with Sherman, or face the invaders with Johnston at places like Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, even Atlanta itself. Your choices will decide the fate of Confederacy. Fight well and bring victory to your chosen side!

Want to read more honest consumer review about Civil War Battles: Campaign Atlanta now ?

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I will be objective and critical in my reviews.

This game is a true sequel to Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.

-An example of the game. Imagine: your forces (about 18) and your computer ally (about 20) vs. enemy (about 60). you have to defend the castle entrance (you have long range attackers) and the only way for the enemy to go there is through the stairs. You block off both sets of stairs with your strong melee guy with an archer/mage behind for long range support. The enemy is approaching, then both of you are at a stand still, but they attack the one blocking. Your HP is slowly draining from the close and long range attacks by melee, arrows, and/or magic. You need to heal him/her now (or you'll lose that character in the game). If you use a Vulernary (HP potion), you could get attacked by an enemy with 1 hp (which you could have defeated if you attacked instead of healed). If you have a priest heal you, an archer could shoot over your character and hit your priest (who has very low max hp and defense stats). If you attack, you may defeat one more, but what will take it's place? What would happen if I did this, or that, or... What would you do?

PROS:
-Customize the strength, material, weight, and other stats of weapons
-Objectives are interesting and challenging: DEFEND THE CASTLE, ROUT THE ENEMY, DEFEAT THE BOSS, SURVIVE FOR X TURNS, DEFEND "PERSON", AND MORE.
-Story, although not always presented well, is very engaging
-Even just reading the scrolling story is very interesting
-This game is really fun, it's gonna eat up your free time.
-Challenging strategy game. Really makes you think
-If you wanna keep all your characters, you will appreciate the challenge
-About 45 hours of gameplay, not counting the unlockables and how many times you will reset the game because you realize you made a wrong move. (this is a good thing by all means). So this means about 100 hours in real life. Great length and depth.
-Difficulty is appropriate, definitely not too easy and there are MUCH harder levels
-Gameplay is just as it was in FE:POR, it's simple, yet complex and very effective
-The cutscene movies are very well done
-Music is orchestrated, sounds great.
-Gamecube controller compatible

CONS:
-Like I said, about 75% of the cutscenes are scroll and read types
-Not enough movie cutscenes, which make the game seem more sub-par
-I'm NO graphics-nut, I'm a GAMEPLAY-nut, but the developers could have stepped up the graphics to have more detail There's more graphics potential in the Wii than the Gamecube, and they didn't improve other than progressive scan and 16:9 support. I think the developers were just lazy in the graphics area.
-I have to reset the game to go to the main menu from the battlefield, come on, this is just poor development. Disappointing.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
PERSONALLY, I REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE THIS GAME.
Those reviewers and critics giving this game a bad rating most likely aren't strategy-fans. Not everyone likes strategy games, but those who do should give this game high marks.
-If you like strategy games, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS GAME.
-If you are new to the strategy genre, get the prequel to this game FIRE EMBLEM: PATH OF RADIANCE (ALSO WELL DONE) first.
-If you do not like RPG strategy games, I don't recommend this game because this is a true RPG strategy game.
-If you are a graphics-nut, this game will disappoint you.
-If you are a gameplay-nut, you will really enjoy this game. I did.
-If you liked FIRE EMBLEM: PATH OF RADIANCE, don't hesitate because of the other negative "CRITIC" reviews, it is really, really worth it.

-TO RESPOND TO THE CRASHING INCIDENT IN THE THREE STAR REVIEW: I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY A PROBLEM WITH THAT PARTICULAR PERSON'S WII OR MEMORY CARD BECAUSE MY CLEAR DATA FROM FE:POR TRANSFERED FINE WITH NO CRASHES.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

Product Description:
Mad King Ashnard. His country of Daein suffers under the rule of the war's victors. Now, a small band of freedom fighters struggle to end the long, dark night of Daein's oppression. Micaiah, Sothe, and a host of others-the infamous "Dawn Brigade"-rally under the banner of Daein's long-lost prince to bring a new day to this ravaged land.
Command the Dawn Brigade and learn the story of their struggle. Then, gain a new perspective by joining Ike and the Greil Mercenaries as they watch Daein's battles spread throughout all of Tellius!
Shape your army to suit your strategy by choosing from dozens of unique characters. Will you use close-range attacks, like the brash Edward's sword, or will you attack from afar using Leonardo's bow or Ilyana's lightning magic?
Build support relationships between your characters-as their relationships grow, so do their strengths as they fight together on the battlefield. Guide your army wisely, because if a character falls on the battlefield, he's lost forever!
The best-selling strategy title makes its Nintendo Wii debut, with 16:9 widescreen support, newly added for the North American version, bringing you a truly epic experience.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn now ?

Battalion Wars Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Battalion Wars which is a game that combines strategy and action to the point where it's one of my favorite games.You take the role of a commander and command your battalion from the direct control of a unit.You can order your units to follow you, attack an enemy unit, move to a certain position, defend a designated spot, and much more.You don't have to worry about aiming since you can lock on to enemy units and you can also roll to avoid incoming fire.Each mission puts you in command of a battalion of units and you have to complete certain objectives and secondary objectives such as capturing a capture point or rescuing a group of soldiers.You can change the unit you're controlling whenever you want and you can order individual units at a time.You don't have to worry about ammo except for reloading and your weapon overheating from firing too long.I hate how the game is so short because you can beat it in about 6 hours or so and the missions aren't very long either.But the good part about it is that time really flies by when you're playing through them.One time I started playing at 6:40 and when I was done playing I thought it was 8:00, but I looked up at the clock to find that it was 11:00.The bad part about the game is the imbalance of difficult and easy missions.In campaign the number 2, the first mission is kind of hard if you don't know what to do while the last mission of it is almost impossible to lose.Most of the missions can be beaten by taking a single unit(I mean like a bazooka or mortar veteran) and blowing everything up and this includes the last mission.I would like to see a multi-player in it though.It's short, but a good game and I hope to see a sequel.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Battalion Wars

Product Description:
Battalion Wars takes the popular turn-based startegy game, Advance Wars, and brings it to your GameCube. In this fast-paced, 3D, real-time combat game, it's the end of the 21st century and a global conflict has erupted between two superpowers. Their armies are at a standstill, weakened from years of constant battle -- when a despotic warlord makes his move. Weakened and frightened, the two largest superpowers call a truce and unite to face a new threat to them both. That's where you come in. You're an experienced commander leading men of both armies into battle. Can your small force use pluck and guile to overcome the forces of darkness, or will both nations fall under the boot heels of a madman?

Want to read more honest consumer review about Battalion Wars now ?

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Final Fantasy Tactics was without a doubt one of the greatest Playstation games out there.Starting off as a cult classic it became a big success when it was released later as a Greatest Hits package.Ten years later and Final Fantasy Tactics is still one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made.

Of all the Final Fantasy games, Tactics has arguably the best story out there.It's full of emotion, political intrigue, fantastic characters and it's very deep.If this is your first trump through Final Fantasy Tactics, prepare to be dazzled.It's still one of the most absorbing in the series.To the point where you'll be sad to leave when the whole thing is over.The game is also backed up by a fantastic new translation that out does the original and makes the world of Ivalice come alive.The translation alone may actually warrant Final Fantasy Tactics The War of the Lions worth a buy even for those who played through the original game.

It's the gameplay that makes Final Fantasy Tactics a treat, though.Thanks to the job system, customization is nearly endless.Before each battle you can assign jobs to your characters.Each job has specific traits about them and can greatly affect how you perform in battle.Mages have devastating magic abilities while Knights are strong physical attackers.They also bring their own unique abilities to the table.Because there are so many job classes to choose from, there's a lot of experimentation you can do.As you master abilities you'll also be able to mix and match.You could have a Squire casting white magic, for example provided you've learned some of the white magic abilities.

As battles progress you gain experience.You pretty much gain experience after each and every turn, which is nice.Not only do you gain experience but you also gain job points to help you master the abilities in your job class.It's pretty simple stuff and you'll be surprised at just how fast you can learn abilities here.

Final Fantasy Tactics provides its own challenges, though.Not all your enemies are taken down easily, and if you don't take advantage of the opportunities to improve your characters abilities you'll be overwhelmed before you know it.When they say Final Fantasy Tactics, they're not kidding.Sometimes little simple mishaps in your strategy can cost you a battle.Not only that, but even doing things such as casting spells you must be careful with because if any of your characters are in range, they'll be struck by that spell.You also have to be quick about reviving characters otherwise you lose them forever.If your first plunge into Final Fantasy Tactics was with the GBA version released in 2003 you'll be in for a rude awakening.

There is also a multiplayer thrown in there.You can work with a friend or battle friends.First there are melee battles where you can battle up against friends and then there's the Rendezvous Battles where you'll team up with a friend.These let you get some rare and hard to find items that are otherwise unable to be obtained.

While Final Fantasy Tactics is a great game, it certainly doesn't do as much in the technical department as it does in the gameplay.The game itself doesn't really look any different from the game released ten years ago.There's little, if any, enhancement to the graphics at all.For the pleasure of story, however, there are some pretty cool cutscenes thrown in that are incredible looking.These cutscenes are truly artistic and in depth.While those cutscenes are beautiful, it's a shame Square-Enix did little to update the games other visuals.Despite the cool cutscenes, though, there are some slow down issues in battle.

Music wise, though, Final Fantasy Tactics easily has some of the best music in the series.It's still memorable to hear and can still give many video game soundtracks a run for their money.While the voice acting isn't as good as other video games, they add a lot of depth to the cutscenes.

Surprisingly, there are quite a few differences outside of the translation to Final Fantasy Tactics The War of the Lions.New characters such as Balthier appear.There are new missions exclusive to the PSP version as well as the multiplayer aspect of the game.While there aren't a huge assortment of new items and abilities, you'll find War of the Lions takes a much longer time to master than the original.

Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions is a great re-release of a great classic.While it's still a good game a bit more could've been done to update it.The technical issues will probably annoy some fans, but for the most part you're getting a good game.Even if you have the original, this one is worth a look.

Pros:

+A fantastic storyline
+Beautiful soundtrack
+New job classes
+Good cutscenes
+Addictive gameplay
+Tons of customization
+The New Translation is far better than the original, making even the experience of the story completely different for those who went through before.This alone makes the game worth a purchase for those who already went through it and enjoyed it once before

Cons:

-Will be difficult for newcomers
-Some technical issues with the graphics and sound
-Not much of a graphical update at all, it looks just like the original Playstation version

Click Here to see more reviews about: Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

Product Description:
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions PSP

Want to read more honest consumer review about Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions now ?