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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Kung Fu Chaos Review

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(More customer reviews)Not many good reviews of this game, but I don't think the reviews are being fair.OK.This game does have bad moments such as the multiplayer, but I think the single player mode is interesting and fun.For example, they have some mini games in between levels such as throwing the princess at other players to knock them down.Other mini games include catching as many stuntmens from the roof as possible while trying to avoid being hit by falling cows, tables, and chairs.There is some replay value because you need to complete some levels with 5 stars to unlock hidden levels or characters.If you don't believe me, just rent the game and find out for yourself.

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Product Description:
Kung Fu Chaos is the fun brawler game that makes you the star of your own kung-fu movie!

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Blade 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to say that i am completely byaste with this game as i have a thing for the old Blade. So in fairness i shall try to write a fair review without going into too much of my obsession with the man with fangs they call the Daywalker.
The game has faults, lets say it and lots of them. Graphcailly this is 5 years behind the times if not more and the repative nature of the game can irk some but its just so much fun to play.
For me this is gameplay over style and i really enjoyed the GAMEPLAY here.The very different combat system is quite good and takes very little time to adjust to and allows you to kick vamps from all directions.
I mean there aint much too it. Walk in a room and fight/or blast/or cut yah way through vamp baddies. Do this over and over again. However, some of the scenes are great. As mentioned one of the most memorable sets from this game is the disco and its a pity there ain't more like this cause it rocked. I guarrentee this will be yah favourite part of the game as you hear the music get louder and louder as you approach the floor.
All the AI disintercrates when killed like the movie and Blades one-liners are there.
The storylines (there all mission based) arent that exciting and Whistler gets annoying but once again the gameplay outweighs these few nuisnaces.
I won't say anymore cause its all been said but if you can pick this game up cheap do it cause its fun and you can play it once, put it away for a couple of months and then get it out again.
A faulty game but hell, its fun, has some of the Blade coolness and has some great music that will have you humming as you play...
So yeah, it has its faults but tis fun with a captial F. If u want graphically enhanced gameplay get Splinter Cell or Metal Gear Soild 2. If you want some fun without all the extras get Blade 2.

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Product Description:
Blade II is an action-adventure game that allows players to take on the role of Marvel's half-vampire, half-human superhero on a quest to save the human race. As Blade, players must make maximum use of his special abilities, weapons, and martial arts moves to stop the vampire nation's quest to create an all-new form of super vampires known as Reapers. The game's revolutionary multidirectional fighting system will allow players to take on blood-sucking enemies as they attack from all directions. Visual effects add to the game's realism as vampire foes are obliterated.

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Fatal Frame Review

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(More customer reviews)Ghosts are pretty scary.
I'm not talking about your "Casper the Friendly Ghost" spirits.I'm talking about your "corner-of-the-eye ethereal image" ghosts, the ones we all talk about in hushed voices over a cup of hot cocoa on stormy nights.Despite what scientists, religious fanatics or your mother may say, "ghosts can be very real ... and very scary."While fans of the horror genre may find their Resident Evil's or Silent Hill's staling, it'd be a hard press to find a single individual who wasn't disturbed, nerve racked or swear-to-death frightened of what Tecmo has done with such a simple concept as a ghost house. Fatal Frame mixes RPG gameplay with eeriness to create an experience like no other you have come unto before.
The story behind Fatal Frame is as follows:A young girl named Miku Hinasaki has ventured into the mysterious Himuro Mansion, the last known whereabouts of her missing older brother, Mafuyu.Mafuyu had ventured inside to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a certain renowned author named Junsei Takamine, who is Mafuyu's idol.Takamine's aim was to study the mansion's mysterious and bloody history, and, as you've imagined, neither him nor any of the members of his research team have been heard from since.You take the role of Miku, who, in the search for her brother, manages to learn all about the craziness going on at the Himuro Mansion and find out a bit more about Takamine and company than she probably wants to know.
As the game's main character, Miku, you will journey through the bowels of a haunted mansion in search of your lost brother with only a camera as protection.But not just any camera, mind you.Through an Onimusha-like upgrade system, you will be able to transform your poltergeist-friendly camera into a finely tuned spook-busting machine.Each ghost that you capture via your camera will net you a certain amount of spirit points, which you can spend on adding or improving functionality to your camera.Fatal Frame also delivers a very gripping psychological freak fest.The scenes of murder and ritualistic sacrifices are eerie and disturbing.The mansions long dead residents revealing themselves in grisly fashions at the most opportune moments (I swear they must monitor your heart rate through the controller) will keep your pulse racing at an unhealthy level, unless of course you're one of those jaded gamers made of stone who never flinches.
The graphics in Fatal Frame are just short of astounding.Interactive backgrounds, freaky grain-film filters, impressive Luigi's Mansion-quality dynamic lighting effects.Every object casts a realistic shadow on the background resulting in an almost frightening level of immersiveness.You'll see shadows moving as you walk, which adds in to the realism.However, don't expect to see everything in daylight or something; everything is dark and you'll have to look around with the flashlight.Also, while each character has an almost manga look to them and may not be uber-detailed like in Silent Hill 2, they still look sharp and contain elements of realism.The atmosphere is just breath-taking and although some areas within the mansion do look the same, the feeling of deja-vu is rarely noticeable.The whole package is pulled together really well to create a grisly environment.Excellent texture maps and a well-detailed environment immediately draw you into the game.
But what really stands out is the design and look of the ghosts. In fact, the ghost effects are awesome to behold.They fade in and out, and the visual effects when they are "invisible" is well done. You will find yourself shocked and horrified by what turns up when you least expect it.
The sound in Fatal Frame is anything but clunky.Using 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, it is composed mainly of an organic-ambience and strange ritualistic chanting music that would scare your little brother to death, if you were to record the samples onto a mini-recorder, put the device under his bed and hit play at full volume ... while he is sleeping.Ghosts will scream in agony as you film them and taunt you in the instances when they have the upper hand.Supernatural objects will resonate with a spooky hum as you close in on them, faint voices can be heard through long corridors, footsteps sound suitably different depending on the composition of what your walking on; all this equates to an audibly impressive, realistic experience that reverberates with resounding effect.But it was some of the voices that got my skin crawling the most.Whispers haunt certain corners while low demonic murmerings haunt others.Some spirits will taunt you while others will cry out in their torment, "It hurts ... It hurts ..."
Fatal Frame is a wonderful game that takes quite a lot of courage to play.You seriously do not know how scary this game is, and if you'll be able to handle it.Only buy it if you can stand in a pitch black haunted house screaming satanic verses in real life.It's a great game, but it makes most gamers run home crying to their mommy.Intense, but a definite classic.Buy it if your tough.

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Product Description:
Fatal Frame, a horror-adventure game, leaves its victims breathless as they become immersed in a world of supernatural spirits and sheer terror. Guided by her sixth sense and armed only with an antique camera, Miku sets out to solve the mystery of her brother's sudden disappearance. As the story unfolds, she discovers gruesome details about the Himura mansion's troubled past. The property and surrounding area have a dark history involving grisly murders, an evil cult, and restless spirits.

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Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure Review

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(More customer reviews)I had been waiting forever for this game. Obviously i had to get the special limited editiion. I liked all the collectible items such as the Development black book, the silver sharpie and the music cd. The game was really awesome, i liked the way you can switch the outlines and graff you do, and how you can change the colors of the graff you decide to put up in the in-game black book. Another cool part is that a lot of famous grafiti artists and rap artists that helped out in this game. Overall this game really reminded me of myself and made me want to go out and paint! It is also almost like an urban spider man with all the acrobatic moves and fighting you can do.

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Product Description:
Hip-hop artist Talib Kweli provides the voice of Trane, an outcast and rebel determined to establish his credibility in the politically oppressive city of New Radius, but who ultimately becomes the unlikely leader of an urban revolution. "Getting Up" offers players a unique combination of skills, including the sneak and street fighting abilities needed to battle through the city's rough streets and Get IN restricted areas; the dexterity and agility to scale any object in order to Get UP graffiti tags and spread the message of rebellion; and the ingenuity to evade, escape and Get OUT.

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JSRF- Jet Set Radio Future Review

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(More customer reviews)Jet Set Radio Future is the sequel to Jet Grind Radio on the Dreamcast and it is the epitome of a great game.
JSRF is set in 2024.A huge corporation has taken over Tokyo and bought the police.You play the skaters who are taking back the city . . . by tagging just about everything in sight.Okay, so it's not the most sophisticated plot in the world, but this is an amazingly fun game.
The gameplay is pure enjoyment.You pick a skater, then take on various sections of Tokyo, all of which are huge in scope, packed with human and vehicle traffic, and intricately designed.You'll find yourself grinding rails, staircases, power lines, and more.While grinding and skating, you pick up cans of spray paint, then use those cans to tag various buildings, vehicles, etc.Sometimes you are starting from scratch with the graffiti, and other times you are covering the tags of rival gangs.
In addition to tagging and grinding, you will find yourself fighting the corrupt police.You generally will come across the police in specific sections of the level or at the end, once you have completed all your tagging.To defeat the police you have to knock them over then spray paint their white uniforms, leaving them a huffing, puffing, multi-colored mess as they turn tail and run.Trust me--this is great fun.But don't slow down, or else the police will pile on you and drag you down and the chief, Hayashi, will take aim and shoot.(He's a bit crazy, and doesn't like you one bit.)Once your stamina is up, it's game over, so don't let the police drag you down.
In addition to the cops, you'll find yourself racing with fellow skaters to turn them into playable characters and battling with members of rival gangs, which often entails emulating a series of grinds.This is a nice addition to the gameplay and it helps increase the amount of playable characters.
There's so much more to the gameplay.Let me just say this: tanks.Oh yeah, the police want to take you down.And the grinding is not limited to flat surfaces.You can grind UP objects, which adds a nice dimension to gameplay.And believe me, you'll be needing to move up high to find all the tag spots.
The graphics are beautiful.The game sports a graphical technique called cell-shading, and the original Jet Grind Radio is the game that started this much-copied trend.This is also the game that does the technique the best.Cell-shading allows for 3D graphics that have a 2D look, creating something of a cartoon.Except this isn't kiddie stuff--we're talking a much more sophisticated, anime-type design in this game.The graphics scream cool, and you'll never get tired of staring at this game.
The music plays a huge role in the game, and there are about thirty tracks to listen to.The music is top notch, with beats that will stay in your head long after you've turned off your Xbox.The music, like the graphics and game play, is just plain cool.
Jet Set Radio Future is cutting edge, it's furious fun, it's hip and sleek and just flat out cool.Trust me, you will love this game.Buy it.Play it.Learn to love Sega, because they're the company that brought you this blessed work of art.

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Product Description:
You say you want a revolution? The setting is Tokyo, the year 2024. Freedom is a valuable commodity, and freedom of expression even more so. The thumping beats and mean streets of the original freeform counterculture skating game Jet Grind Radio are back in Jet Set Radio Future. Featuring unique comic-style graphics, new tricks, and hot tunes, Jet Set Radio Future brings the hip skate game into a brave new world. Choose a character, strap on your rocket-powered skates, and immerse yourself in living, breathing cities filled with opportunity. Along the way, you'll compete with rival gangs, be chased by cops, and perhaps discover something unthinkable. Join up with a friend and work together to reach new places, create new attacks, and perform astounding stunts. Wherever your adventure takes you, it's all about extreme skating, extreme action, and, of course, extreme style.

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NASCAR 2007 Review

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(More customer reviews)First, one thing needs to be put out of the way before I start this review.NASCAR Racing 2003 by Papyrus for the PC is a vastly superior game, that's pretty much accepted in the sim racing world.However, comparing NR2003 to NASCAR 07 or other releases is like comparing apples to oranges.Platform games are, in nature, supposed to appeal to a wider audience than PC games, which is probably one of the reasons why EA's NASCAR releases are not as realistic as they can (and really should) be.
All that said, I bought this game because I had recently got an XBox and wanted at least one game I could play on it.I have not played NASCAR 06, I was somewhat scared away by reviews of it, but I do own NASCAR Chase For The Cup 2005 for the PS2.Needless to say, I was disappointed (but not surprised) to see little difference in how the cars in the game looked.Same old same old.Playing the game is much like putting on an old pair of shoes.Even with my limited experience using an XBox controller and the format which to accelerate and brake, I was able to get comfortable quickly with the game and be competitive in little time.
Some gripes about the game, I really hate the fact that you cannot use single or double digit numbers when making your own custom car/truck.You can only use numbers between 100 and 199.Absolutely rediculous.Secondly, I hate the phony field filling cars that are in all the divisions, I always have.I don't think that adding a bunch of lesser known drivers would do anything but help the game.It would be fun to try to take Morgan Shepard's car to the Nextel Cup title.Also, it is pretty disappointing that there are so few real teams and drivers in the Busch and especially the truck series.And the lack of alternate paint schemes for Cup drivers is pretty disappointing too.
Continuing with the gripes, I fail to understand why the trucks still all look like a Ford F150.Why can't EA get the rights to make the trucks have their own shapes like the Cup and Busch cars do?It can't be that expensive if it is at all.Also, the fake sponsors in the game are just stupid.I never use them when making my own cars.Only real life sponsors should be in the game, not a bunch of phony ones.To round out all these complaints, I noticed that Nazareth Speedway is in the game.Unfortunately that track is no longer in operation, so having it in the game makes no sense whatsoever.We do get the wonderful Old Spice road course though (rolling eyes) but we don't get tracks like the Nashville Superspeedway, Kentucky Speedway or the road course in Mexico.It also would have been nice if EA could have added the new version of Las Vegas Speedway (even if it wasn't 100% accurate) and a repaved version of Talladega Superspeedway.
All that said, I still play this game and I have fun with it, even with the faults and inaccuracies this game has.If you've enjoyed the other releases of the past, then you'll more than likely enjoy NASCAR 07 too.

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Product Description:
NASCAR 07 makes you take risks, be rewarded, and become a champion. Use skill and instinct during the most intense race situations as you control the outcome by avoiding disastrous wrecks and flying debris. Every driver (and every race) takes on the characteristics of real-life NASCAR, from the aggressive style of experienced veterans to the reckless approach of the rookie drivers. With all-new speed blurring and realistic spark and smoke effects, feel your heart pump and your pulse race as the all-out drama and intensity of 190-mph racing comes at you like never before with NASCAR 07. Take on a new 1-on-1 time trial racing experience with driver Kenny Wallace to earn special contracts in the Fight to the Top mode

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Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Review

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(More customer reviews)I still remember when the original Prince of Persia came out. Not the Sands of Time, but the two-dimensional PC version from the nineties. It was one of my favorite games. The series dragged for awhile, and then they began the current trilogy by releasing the Sands of Time, Warrior Within, and now, finally, The Two Thrones.

It's necessary to talk about the previous two games for a bit, because The Two Thrones takes a lot from both of them. In Sands of Time, what I felt was the real strength of the game was the storyline, along with superb voice acting and graphics that were ahead of their time. The prince was versatile and very easy to maneuver. Although the game was rather short, it was a fun ride. The major complaint about that game was its fighting engine, which was, admittedly, a bit bland and boring. With Warrior Within, they greatly improved the fighting engine, adding all sorts of maneuvers and combos and two-weapon fighting, which added another level of fun to the game. What Warrior Within seemed to lack from the first game, however, was the atmosphere. The prince didn't have Farrah (from the first game) as a companion to work with, and other than with boss fights, there was little dialogue. It was a much....darker game. Bloodier, gorier, and the music was laden with Godsmack and all sorts of heavy rock which, although during a few of the battles I thought it made it fun, seemed out of place.

The Two Thrones took what worked from both of the previous games in the trilogy, and dropped what didn't. The fighting engine from Warrior Within has returned, and has been improved. In Warrior Within it didn't really matter to me if I had two weapons or not; in this game the prince is MUCH deadlier with a second weapon (and also seems to lose it faster). I kept on finding I was looking to pick up a second weapon often, which is something I liked. They also added 'quick kills' to this game, where if you can sneak up on someone it gives you a sequence where you have to press the slash button as your blade lights up--and it's not extremely easy. The window you have to hit that button in is short enough to give you a challenge, but not too tough. Plus, they have quite a few different animations for it, so you can't just get used to one pattern for it. Boss battles have a level of difficulty, but aren't too tough.

The storyline of this game is also done very well. They lightened up the atmosphere that was so dark in Warrior Within. Although it's definitely not a light-hearted storyline, the voice acting and lighting in general seems to have made it much...cheerier. The prince (as you can tell by all of the previews and the artwork on the cover of the game) is now, well, schizophrenic. His darker side--I guess you could call it his warrior within--is now a voice in his head, and the prince banters with his darker half constantly. I found myself looking forward to the dialogue as much as anything else in the game, especially towards the end of the game.

A note of caution about the story: there were two endings to Warrior Within. The second ending could only be unlocked by acquiring all of the health upgrades. The story to The Two Thrones continues from the secret ending, not the normal one. If you didn't get the secret ending to Warrior Within, you may be confused as The Two Thrones begins.

The graphics to this game are essentially the same as Warrior Within. The cutscenes are incredible, but there aren't too many of them; there are far more in-game cutscenes using the regular character models than there are videos. The character models aren't bad, but they're not great, either. I don't think I can really complain, but the prince looks, well, lanky sometimes. I guess 'awkward' would describe him well. It's not that he looks stiff, or anything like that, but he just, well, bends in a strange way here and there. You can't really blame the game for that, though, because with all of his versatility he ends up in all sorts of positions, and so for some of them not to look completely natural is (in my book) easily forgiven.

The prince still moves in pretty much the same way from both of the previous games. He can run along walls, climb anything, jump unnaturally high--you get the picture. He certainly has some new things he can do in this game, but not very many. What I find neat about this game (and the previous two) is that although a lot of the things the prince can do are COMPLETELY impossible, the animation is done in such a way that you *almost* believe that it's possible. Almost. His moves are believable, which is a real credit to the animations he has.

Not only has the prince become schizophrenic in this game, but he has taken it one step further--his darker half takes over quite often, completely transforming his appearance. His dark side is MUCH more fierce of a warrior, holding a weapon in his off-hand that is essentially a giant chain, which he is very proficient with. You'll find it extremely easy to defeat enemies when you play as the dark side, but there's one catch: the prince's health drains over time. It replenishes fully when you get a sand tank. This may sound familiar from Warrior Within, where the prince was a sand wraith for some time, but there is quite a difference with the dark prince. The sand wraith had unlimited sand tanks; dark prince does not. The sand wraith would stop losing health at a certain point; the dark prince does not. If you don't improve your health, the dark prince will die, so it forces you to be quick as you go through certain puzzles trying to get back to being the normal prince. In general this doesn't become too much of a problem, as there are sand tanks in just about anything you smash while being the dark prince, but towards the end of the game it got pretty difficult, especially if you haven't gotten many health upgrades (which I didn't).

There were also some chariot races that they added. They weren't extremely fun, but I didn't find them to be a burden, either. One of them was pretty difficult, and ended with the most difficult boss battle in the game, so it's a good idea not to use up all of your sand tanks on the chariot race (which I did) because you'll need them in the boss battle, or else you'll play that battle QUITE a few times, especially if you haven't gotten many health upgrades (which I hadn't, and it took more than twenty attempts for me to win that battle). What makes the chariot races difficult is there's no health meter; if you crash you die. The chariot was maneuverable enough that the controls didn't cause you to crash, but sometimes it was difficult to see what was ahead, and the difficult race was a few minutes long--pretty tough if you don't want to use your sand tanks (which, believe me, you don't).

I already mentioned the voice acting. The music has changed from Warrior Within to be more...arabian. It fits well with the atmosphere. I found that oftentimes, especially with the Empress of Time (who narrates the story) it was difficult to hear her, so you'll want to turn voice sounds all the way up and sound effects and music down to be able to hear everything. Sometimes she would begin narrating JUST as I went to save my game, and it would cut her voice off, so that I didn't hear what she had to say. It's not a huge deal--nothing she said specifically had anything to do with any puzzles or anything, but with the story being as good as it is, it would have been nice to hear everything.

I also found that I relied on the sands MUCH less in this game than in the previous two. Some of the powers I got I never even used. Call it a credit to the well-programmed fighting engine, call it a credit to the game giving you a good clue as to where it is that you have to go, and the controls following what you tell it to do. But other than a few mistimed jumps, or poorly-executed 'quick kills,' I rarely needed to rely on the sands.

Overall, I think this game--and series in all--has been outstanding. All too often the sequel to a game becomes old hat, just a bland remake of the previous version. The Two Thrones is not bland. You may get sick of some of the puzzles here and there, but the superb storyline told through excellent voice acting makes you keep on wanting more. If you haven't played the previous games in the series, I'd suggest you do so before playing this game. Although you don't need any of the knowledge from previous games to be able to get through this one, they don't put much effort in brushing you up on what has happened in the previous games. Overall, The Two Thrones provides a satisfying conclusion to a series that has been outstanding throughout and constantly improving. It's a shame that the conclusion to this game is so final; I don't think I could ever get enough of this series, but alas, this is the finale.

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Product Description:
Prince of Persia: Two Thrones picks up the incredible action and adventure of the series with an all-new chapter. The Prince has returned from his adventures with his love, Kaileena. Instead of the peace that he longs for, he finds his homeland ravaged by war and the kingdom turned against him. The Prince is captured and Kaileena has no choice but to sacrifice herself and unleash the Sands of Time to save him. Now a fugitive, the Prince discovers that past battles have given rise to a deadly Dark Prince, whose spirit gradually possesses him.

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Thief: Deadly Shadows Review

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(More customer reviews)I should preface this review by coming right out and admitting that I am a new Thief, not having played either of the earlier titles in the franchise.Sure, I had heard all the hype, the various glowing reviews and ravings of die-hard fans, but something kept me away.Not this time, feeling hungry for a new game, I saw that Thief: Deadly Shadows hit the store(s), and decided to take a chance.I'm quite happy to report that I'm entirely glad that I did.
I did have some concerns at first.For the first few minutes of play, I found myself thinking that it should have been a rental instead of a purchase.But I played on, gradually getting drawn deeper into the plot, into the city, and into the joy of slipping quietly in where you haven't been invited, and plucking some valuable trinket off a table, from inside a chest, or even off the very person of an unfortunate homeowner or passerby.But this isn't what really got me into the game.How smart my victims were did.Sure, I was a little over-confident at first.I'd boldly sneak around behind marks wandering through their own homes, I'd skulk in the shadows, or creep slowly and quietly behind them, lifting items that caught my eye as I went.But this person lives here, and when they pass through a room and a candlestick is gone, or a chair is slightly out of place from when you less cautious than you should have been and bumped into it, or when a door has been left ajar - they realize it.And they often realize they aren't alone.So you could imagine my surprise, not yet having an appreciation for the depth of AI, when my helpless victim became decidedly non-helpless, and started actively searching for me.But I'm Garrett the Thief, and when backed into a corner, I can put up a fight.So when the owner found me after I knocked a barrel on its side trying to quickly duck into a nearby shadow, and when he drew a weapon with the intent to cause me harm, I quickly dispatched him with my dagger.He was in the light, I was in the shadow, he knew roughly where I was, but I still had the advantage.I stood over my victim, enjoying the moment when I heard a scream.The scuffle had alerted someone else in the house who came rushing in, and upon seeing me standing over the body, shot straight out of the house.She hadn't just fled through, she had gone to get the town guards.So imagine my surprise as I'm casually walking towards the open door to leave, and in burst two guards with weapons drawn.They came right at me, and while I put up a good fight, they took me down.The last thing I saw was the `terrified' woman standing in her doorway again, watching the guards beat me down.
I really enjoyed Splinter Cell, and SC: Pandora Tomorrow.I think it was how much I enjoyed those that led me to finally give Thief a shot.But one thing always bugged me about those titles, as terrific as they are and were.Your enemies had the attention span and short-term memory of mentally disabled goldfish.If two terrorists are in one room together, and you snatch one up and drag him away, the other never notices that he's suddenly alone.Leave doors open, move things, do anything but show yourself or leave a corpse around, and they have no clue anything is amiss.Not so here.Guards have areas of responsibility.And when one is no longer at his post because you've clobbered him over the head with your trusty blackjack, and dumped him unconscious behind some bushes, his captain who may well be wandering around and checking up on his men will notice, and he'll investigate.
The game is outstanding, I am really enjoying it.I'm nearly done, and I've already decided that I will be playing it through again.There's so much to do beyond the main storyline, that there's really no way to get into all the little side plots and scenarios, no way to hit every house and business in your first go.Graphically the game is quite good.Not jaw-droppingly impressive, I would have liked to have seen this in 720p and widescreen, but still a solid visual presentation.The Dolby Digital sound is terrific.The depth of play, and the AI, are really what give this title legs though.
This game, in my opinion, is worth a purchase.Unless of course the idea of sneaking around just bores you to tears.If you're looking for a hack'n'slash, this isn't it.If you're looking for an intriguing storyline, exciting action, and even a few moments where you literally jump at your own shadow, then this is going to be a good time for you.Why 4 out of 5?I would have liked to have seen at least a minimal tie-in to XBLive.Not online play perhaps, given the scope of the game, but maybe expansion and bonus content (new missions, new equipment, etc.) that could have been added over time.I think that really would have gone a long way to put this title over the top in terms of re-playability.Also, I've been trapped (bug) inside or against objects a few too many times.An annoyance, and perhaps a minor one, but a piece of the puzzle when I had to decide upon a rating.To be fair, if we could give fractions of stars in our ratings, I'd give this as high a 4 as possible.
The cover art says it best."Tension-fueled stealth, variety of gameplay, advanced AI, dynamic lighting and shadow system."Yes, yes, yes, and yes.Pick this one up, you'll be glad you did.

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Product Description:
Thief: Deadly Shadows takes you into the strange world of Garrett, master thief. Rarely seen, never caught, he just wants to make a living. He's drawn into a Web of events that will destroy the world, unless he applies his trade for more than just wealth. Dynamic lighting system for realistic, dynamic shadows that enhance stealth gaming

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Voodoo Vince Review

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(More customer reviews)I have actually played the complete version of Voodoo Vince. I must say, this is a breath of fresh air on the shooter-heavy Xbox. This game has a high degreee of polish and personality from beginning to end. The gameplay, level design, puzzles, mood and even the music all work extremely well.
First, the character controls. Vince is really responsive and has almost no "laggy-ness." He turns, moves and jumps very easily. His basic moves are standard platformer fare: He runs, jumps, double-jumps, punches, spins and head butts his way through the game.
Vince himself is a hoot. The game is filled with sarcastic comments which make fun of other characters, Vince and the platformer genre. I thought the little animations Vince does when he gets bored were especially well done. His voice is sort of odd, sounding like that guy from the Man Show, but after a while it kind of grew on me.
Probably the biggest stand-out for me were the voodoo powers themselves. Since Vince is a voodoo doll, it okay to do bad things to him. Vince can get destroyed in all sorts of strange and funny ways. Some of these are "powers" which are basically highly animated smart bombs. Some are related to puzzles and boss battles, where finding a harmful, dangerous thing and turning it against Vince is how you beat the monsters. These are both clever and funny.
The levels are beautiful, and well designed. The platforming could get more tricky than I've seen for a while, but that's okay. Plunging into an unexpected pit had me a bit frustrated at times, but the game has a great auto-save feature which means you don't have to play very much over again if Vince dies.
There are lots of cool mini-games to be found in Voodoo Vince. At times, he gets to fly an airplane, drive a fanboat or jump around on a giant spring. There is even a totally insane boss battle where he rides a rat. I thought this gave the experience the right amount of variety and kept the basic gameplay from getting monotonous.
The game has a lot of in-game cut scenes, where Vince deals with other characters, gets his latest mission or some pay-off for doing something right. These were also superbly animated.
The music gets a special nod. It's mostly old-style jazz, but it changes over the course of the game perfectly to fit the southern, New Orleans setting. I don't think I've ever heard stuff like this in a video game.
The fact that this is a game which might appeal to younger gamers, plus the fact that it's on the light, humorous side means it might not appeal to some serious gamers. But I thought there was a lot to like in Voodoo Vince and I heartily recommend it.

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Product Description:
Voodoo Vince is a super-tough voodoo doll that you'll control on his Cajun-style adventure!

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Mafia Review

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(More customer reviews)My sister's boyfriend recommended me to buy this game, and as soon as I launched the Czech PC version of the game - which is the version that I started with - I found it totally amazing. I am proud of my fellow Czechs who were able to construct this game - a game chosen as the best game of the year 2002 (at least in many European countries). The amount of data (contained on 3 CD's) that the creators had to put together is shocking, and initially it seemed to me that a team of 20 people would need several centuries to finish this task. Well, fortunately they have used a lot of modern technology, for example a system to scan the motion of the real actors which is subsequently translated to the motion of the artificial humans, and therefore the task was doable. There are many hours of "movies" in between the different scenes, and there is a lot of audiovisual effects everywhere. The individuals in the game have pretty good artificial intelligence, and you will be impressed how realistic all these objects and their motion are (unlike the cartoonish style of GTA, for example).
The Lost Heaven City is a completely realistic city, designed according to the actual buildings in the New York City and Chicago of the 1930s. Everything seems to work perfectly in this city - including the gas stations, public transportation, banks, car races, ships, small airport, and so on. Imagine more than twenty squared miles of the urban architecture where everything responds in a realistic fashion, including many things that are unnecessary to fulfil the game's twenty main missions (e.g. you decide jump from the bridge in order to see the ship from another side). There are 60 different models of the cars - that you can steal on the street if you learned how - that were carefully copied from the real cars in the 1930s (but they were renamed). All these cars respect all the laws of physics and they are described by 100 physical parameters each. If you shoot at the car (or use some explosives), it's getting destroyed in a very realistic way.
Moreover, there are about 30 fan web sites dedicated to the game, and the people who understand computers well enough can have a lot of additional fun with modding the PC version of the game - changing the cars, textures on the buildings, music, sounds, and so on. The Xbox version does not allow you to do it, I guess, but it has other advantages over the PC version - it seems that the graphics is even smoother.
The game has a tutorial where you learn how to control Tommy (which is you). On the PC version, the arrow keys and other keys on the keyboard are used for motion (and changing the weapons, jumping, and so on) while the mouse allows you to change the direction where you look (or shoot), and this combination is very natural. You can practice as the taxi driver - you will learn geography of the Lost Heaven City after some time (the map is recommended). The main game has 20 main missions with 106 checkpoints or so where the game is saved, and afterwards you may continue with the "free ride extreme". Nevertheless, I needed about 50 hours to complete the main missions.
The story seems as a good piece of literature - you are a taxi driver who accidentally becomes a member of Mafia, and you are getting increasingly difficult tasks. Well, you will have to shoot a lot of people, but from a moral perspective, I am sure that at the end you will agree that being a mafioso is not the best (and easiest) option for your life - especially because your friend will betray you, and you will have to kill him. After the war, they will kill you anyway.
The game was banned in Italy for some time in 2002 because the authorities viewed it as a perfect textbook to become a criminal. The most natural audience for this game are almost definitely Americans like you, but the publisher company of the PC version did a bad job when they promoted this game in the U.S. and the success in the U.S. was much weaker than the game's achievements in Europe. Therefore you are sort of lucky to read this review. Mafia might be the best game ever (so far, as of January 2004), and it is much less known in the U.S. than it should be (so far). Don't get manipulated by the advertisements of less perfect games. Buy Mafia, and you will be impressed.

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Product Description:
In Mafia, you've been accepted into the ruthless Salieri crime family, and your goal is to rise to the top!

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Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been anticipating this for awhile. There's not a lot to it so I'll jump right into the juicy bits - first, it's nice they put the auto-update in the package for those who don't have Live, as the gameplay tweaks have a pretty noticable impact. But it's the maps we're really interested in, right?

CONTAINMENT - This map essentially plays like Coagulation; the big differences are the larger bases and the series of tunnels and ditches. The opening and closing base doors breed interesting strategies, and you've gotta love a map that has the Scorpion tank as a default vehicle. The explosives on this map only serve as a hazard for the vehicles, as they are too spread apart to be used as a defensive weapon against intruders on foot. The bright white snow makes active camo VERY effective on this map. It's a great 2 flag CTF map and will probably work just fine for other large team objective games.

WARLOCK - an INTENSE slayer map and average lifespans tend to be on the short side because of the small space and lack of things to hide behind. This sucks if you're a camper but I like maps and scenarios that force me to get comfortable with new strategies. There are no "power" weapons save for four shotguns, if they count, forcing you to use strategy to gun down your opponent on a level playing field as opposed to blowing them away with a bazooka from a distance. Visually superior to the sterile scenery of the original it was built from (Wizard in Halo 1.)

TURF - I've only played Turf in 1 flag CTF but it was pretty fun. The tight spaces are great for sneaking up on the opposition's base, and equally handy for staging ambushes. My only reservation about objective games on this map is that it is so small - with such short distances to run with the flag or bomb, a single slip up on the part of the defensive team will most likely cost them the round... games like this will probably be pretty short. However, that same small size will make it a fantastic slayer map. Sadly, there is no sword - perhaps Bungie knew I'd "pwn" this map into the ground if they included it [/joke].

SANCTUARY - A circular arena, and a fairly large one at that. This is probably best suited for 4 on 4 team objective or slayer games, leaning more towards assault variants. A visually and atmospherically pleasing map, especially on blue team's side where there is flowing water and a humongous tree. There is a sword but wide open spaces limit its usefulness. Again, a map more situated for medium sized objective or team slayer games, although I wouldn't recommend it for free-for-all slayer.

ELONGATION - A remake of Halo 1 map Longest. It is asthetically far superior to its predecessor, being based on the space station level of Halo 2's campaign with dials and knobs and lights and various things I will never, ever understand. Great lighting effects on the steel plated walls and a brilliant window view of the Earth and its moon. Removing the ladders was a smart move on Bungie's part - not only does it make climbing to the second level much less risky and awkward (and more realistic looking,) but it offers another tight space for close encounter skirmishes.The crates can be an asset as well as a liability as they offer cover and serve as stepping stones, but also make it more difficult to retreat. Great small team 2 flag CTF/assault and small or medium sized slayer map.

BACKWASH - Fantastic atmospheric effects on this one, which is based on the 343 Guilty Spark level of Halo 1. The fog is a tremendously significant element to this map as it hides the location of weapons and breaks up the outline of your opponents (which can also work to your advantage.) The soundtrack is very "lush" sounding, complimented by the amusing if also distracting hum of 2401 Penitent Tangent as it occasionally passes overhead. It's set up with two bases for objective games but lends itself the most to slayer varients, with the hunt-or-be-hunted vibe created by the vision obscurring fog and many trees.

GEMINI - Visually one of my favorite new maps, designed after the High Charity level on Halo 2's campaign mode. All the futuristic sliding doors and random noises are there, and the view of High Charity's core from the "back porch" area is some of the best scenery in all of Halo 2's multiplayer maps. Due to the small nature of the map, it probably won't make a great map for assault or CTF variants, but it's perfectly fine for slayer variants as well as oddball, juggernaut, et cetera.

RELIC - sort of a "storming the beach" style map designed for single flag CTF and assault. Unlike Zanzibar, the water is actually a hazard as you will 'fall to your death' if you swim out too far (something to think about when screeching around haphazardly in your warthog.) This is a very unique map with a very specific setup - the defensive structure is extremely difficult to gain access to as you must travel all the way to the back of it, on the opposite side of the island, to find a ramp, with lots of open space and few obstacles to hide behind inbetween. Also, there is a two way teleporter that can be activated from inside the base (a double-edged sword, as you can imagine.)

TERMINAL - Probably the busiest/most complicated map in the pack, it can be very disorienting before you learn where everything is. It is based on a train terminal somewhere in New Mombasa and the bullet train itself is a very important aspect of this map. No attack can be launched on the defensive base without taking the train into consideration, which deals out sudden death indescriminately. Your vehicle will not save you. After getting your bearings straight, this is a pretty fun map and a flexible one at that. It's complexity lends itself to large slayer games (at least 8 people because of its size) and the bases are designed in a lopsided fashion that encourages single flag CTF in specific.

And now the bonus content - I would not recommend buying this pack based purely on the bonus content. First, the cinematic is novel, and relatively well done, but ultimately isn't about anything. And it's only about 2 or 3 minutes long. The documentary is a lot better and covers each map individually, but in the end it is still too short for comfort - I'm sure there is a lot more to tell us and most of this information is available in the booklet as well, if you're patient enough to read it. Overall, the incentive to buy it comes down to permanence of ownership, since now that you have the disc in your hands, you can reload the maps onto your Xbox no matter how many Xboxes you go through or if your Live service goes kaput. A second, morally questionable, incentive is that I'm pretty sure you can use this to load the maps and game upgrades onto friends' Xboxes if you're having a LAN party and discover that one of the rotten b*stards doesn't have any of the new maps you want to play on (I'm pretty sure Microsoft installed a sort of failsafe involving registration similar to Windows XP, so said rotten b*stard probably would not be able to take those maps online.)

Overall, great purchase, great maps - Bungie did a fantastic job with these fun, unique maps and asthetically they have outdone the old maps by a LOT. One can only hope we will be blessed with another string of great map add-ons some day in the future, but with the immenant release of the Xbox 360, I'm not holding my breath. Soak 'em in.

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Product Description:
The Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack is a collection of multiplayer maps, with non-playable video content. Learn about your favorite game and play on all-new maps to add to the thrills.

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Fight Night 2004 Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is A+.By far, the best boxing game out and I've played them all. Don't be scared by the total punch control.It takes all but an hour or two to get a feel for it and it is so much more rewarding than button mashing your buttons so that you need a new controller every month.
Career mode is indepth.You start out with 4 fights a year, then down to 3 and so on until retirement.You have your choice of opponents and in some cases you will be presented the opportunity to schedule a fight against someone that is much higher ranked or lower ranked than you.Purses are realistic and increase as your ranking improves.The level of realistic difficulty is back and so is strategy.No more automatic first round KO's by going in and just punching non stop.If you try to do that here, you'll find yourself out of steam quick and needing to recharge and block punches to regain it.This game is not easily mastered overnight like Knockout Kings, or HBO boxing.
Use your money earned to buy different clothing, equipment, entrance gimmicks liky pyrotechnics, entourage (women in skimpy clothing that lead you into the ring).There is so much to this game.Before each fight, you will schedule a bout first.Next, you train.There are 4 different rotating training sessions.
1. Heavy Bag
2. Sparring
3. Combo Dummy
4. Hitting the Mitts
You will only be allowed to do one per fight and depending on your success...you will be given attribution points to improve your fighter.Note: Each session allows you to improve on 2 attribution categories.There are 8 total...IE.Power, speed, stamina, body, chin, heart, agility, cuts:
After training, you will go fight your fight.You can spend money on new attire, equipment etc in between fights.You can view your rankings, in depth rankings of other fighters.There are tons of unlockables that you will unlock as you win bigger fights opening up new sig punches, attires, entrance music, et in the fight store.
After each year, awards are given out and you will see a list of fighters that retired, which will be replaced obviously by fresh ones.
In between rounds, various stats will be shown, and they are different from round to round.Three judges score on the 10 point must system.
Last comment:Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but take my word for it, the soundtrack is not that annoying nor is the announcer.It gets old after awhile, but you would have to be nuts to not buy a great boxing game because you don't like hip hop. Trust me, neither do I!If you play any video game long enough the music gets old. Sorry If I jumped around a bit, but I wanted to give you as much detail as I could.If you are a die hard boxing fan, this is a must.

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Product Description:
Fight Night 2004 is the most brutally realistic boxing simulation you'll ever see. It brings players the feel of being of being in the ring -- with all its risks, uncertainties and surprises. Become a new fighter and work your way up the ranks - see if you can reach the top, then see how long you can stay there! Go online and see how you rank among the nation's fight fansCustomize your ring entrance show your personality, and win over & Psych out your opponent the crowd

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XB Spartan: Total Warrior Review

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(More customer reviews)The makers of the Total War series have released Spartan: Total Warrior as their venture into the genre of hack and slash games.Spartan sees the player assuming the role of a lone warrior who is fighting in the Spartan army against the invading Roman assault.The game's premise is simple, move from objective to objective while killing TONS of characters.The game can support literally hundreds of characters on screen at once.The player must use a blend of offensive and defensive tactics to survive.If you play on the hard difficulty, prepare to be humbled.Button mashing will get you nowhere.Even though this is a hack and slash game, the player will need to master the shield and proper spacing of enemies before attacking or you will become swarmed and overwhelmed.Once these basic concepts are mastered, the game becomes extremely fun.The battles and levels are epic in scale and you really feel like you are thrust into battle due to the great atmosphere.The game does suffer from poor voice acting and wierd music choices (ie techno during some battle scenes).The combat at times can seem somewhat repetitive, but the variety of melee and mounted weaponry somewhat eliminates this.Overall, Spartan is a great and fun game.The difficulty is challenging, but not imposssible so most gamers can jump into it.The levels have some good variety and the bosses present a fun challenge.I would recommend this game to action adventure fans who are looking for a new twist on an old genre.

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Product Description:
In the epic style of "Gladiator" and "Braveheart" you, as a bloodthirsty Spartan warrior, lead the charge with no fear or remorse headlong into massive cinematic battles where your only options are victory or death. In this combat action game, you control "The Spartan". Thrust into dynamic cinematic battles you are just one combatant amongst legions of allies and enemies. Turn the tide of battle with a range of weapons and skills to defeat an overwhelming tide of foes. Grow from novice warrior to awe-inspiring Hero and eventually Mythical Legend.

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Spy vs Spy Review

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(More customer reviews)Honestly, I have never seen a game that offers as many multiplayer options and strategies as Spy vs. Spy.And I play alot of Xbox Live games - so that's saying something.There is something for everyone in this game.My neice/nephew and I play it in split screen mode and have a blast.They think the traps are funny - so funny that they walk into some of them on their own just to see the comic aspects of it.Also, something to mention, is that it was easy for them to pick up and master (and they are only 9 and 13)!!

When the kids are gone, I just hop online and play other adults (and sometimes kids).I find that the gameplay changes alot when playing against other advanced players.Mainly, because there are so many strategies to use!You can trap safes, hideouts, attack players, etc.And the game modes are plentiful so you never get bored.We played the modern mode where you can set how much money you have to earn before winning, we played one where you get the Mad Logo and whoever can hold it the longest and rack up the points wins and we played it where you collect objects and have to run to an escape area to win.

The levels range from being small to large and you can play up to four people.I think there are a total of 8 levels to jump into in modern mode and then in classic mode you play in rooms instead of an open level.In classic mode it is alot more frantic which is cool and you get to use a map to see where your friends are.The map is also useful in this mode to see what rooms have been trapped and which ones have items in the safes.

Finally, there is a story mode with 8 levels and you get to unlock things like outfits for your spy.I got the clown outfit and it is just hilarious to use online.I have a big rainbow wig on; sure it makes me easier to see, but it is too funny.

Overall, a great 20 buck game that anyone can enjoy and it is quite different and fun to master compared to other online games I play, like Splinter Cell or Unreal/Halo.Those games are great too, but the strategies you get to use in this game are just too fun to pass up!

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Product Description:
Spy Vs. Spy is fast-paced cartoon espionage action. Taken from the classic rivalry that played out in MAD Magazine for decades, the classic comic strip gets a facelift with sharp 3D graphics and interactive game worlds. Become a White Spy or Black Spy retrieve top-secret information, while trying to outwit and outlast rival Spies.

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Indigo Prophecy Review

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(More customer reviews)There have been games throughout the years that have truly done something original, different and completely engaging.It always seems to be that these games fall by the wayside in terms of popularity which is a shame.Indigo Prophecy falls into this category as an original game with a fantastic premise and incredibly exciting gameplay.

Never before have I played a game that was so interactive in its story-telling.When trying to describe this game, I would point to God of War, a PS2 game in which there were scenes where you have timed button presses that would move forward a cutscene.It helped bring you into the story, the cutscenes so that it was you that were doing all of the cool acrobatic manuevers killing the hydra.Another game that used this to a lesser effect was Resident Evil 4, for example with the knife fight that you had to push buttons to keep Leon safe.Indigo Prophecy takes this idea and pushes it to the extreme.

IP is basically and incredibly interactive movie.It mixes the adventure genre, which is seldom seen on console, and movies and melds them into a cohesive and incredibly engaging story.It starts off with a bang as you immediately find yourself killing someone you don't know in a diner.You feel like you're not in control of your actions and as a result you have a body in a restroom and a policeman drinking coffee in the restaurant.What do you do?You're free to act from here on out.Do you leave the body and rush out?Do you hide the body?What about the blood?What about the blood on you?What about the knife?When you leave do you pay your bill?You can take care of all or none of the options above.And the story will be different, sometimes marginally sometimes drastically.Oh, and by the way, that cop sitting outside needs to use the restroom and soon the screen will split and you better be out of there before he makes it to the restroom.

This opening sequence exemplifies everything this game is about.Choices, story and gameplay all merged into one.But innovation doesn't end there.As soon as Lucas (the murdering protagonist) is free of the diner, you take control of two police detectives who investigate the scene.You can switch between the two on the fly and you have to find clues, make theories and basically do everything in your power to catch Lucas.Its this give and take gameplay, where you have to play one side against the other, that truly gives the game a sense of urgency and excitement.

Going back to the God of War example, when you have cutscenes in this game, you better not put your controller down.Gameplay pushes forward the story-centered bits as well.Whether its doing a simon says type control scheme to manuever your character past cars that are hurtling toward him, alternating between the L and R trigger as fast as you can to save someone who's drowning or using the R stick to make dialogue choices on the fly (you're timed) to hear all you can, the game makes sure to bring you into the story.Its very effective and really ratchets up the tension.

If there is one sore spot in the game its the graphics.While not bad, exactly, they don't necessarily push the Xbox in the way that this last year of Xbox life should.It looks like a first or possibly second generation Xbox game.Artistically the game is good.The characters in the cutscenes move really well and realistically.And there is never a moment of lag or skipping seen in a lot of games today.The character's faces have some nice emotion to them and the graphics aren't stellar, like I said, but they do a decent job.There's a ton of aliasing, however, which is sad.

Another sore spot is the controls.When you are in direct control of your character (i.e. actually moving them as opposed to having control of the cutscenes via button pressing) the game is pretty loose.It reminds me of playing the old Resident Evil games.You have the cinematic camera which causes some confusion as to which direction you should push your character.As a result, you will do a lot of figure 8s in the game which can cause a lot of problems when you have to hide the evidence because a cop is at your door and the timer is going down.Character animation while moving is also very stiff and a big difference from the cut scene animation.

The audio is terrific, however.While the box says the game does not run in 5.1 in game, I think it lies.My receiver lights up whenever 5.1 is being used and its always lit with this game.And it sounds like 5.1 is being used.The voice acting is absolutely wonderful and professional.Each voice matches the character and it helps enhance this feeling of playing a murder mystery movie.With voice acting becoming so important in games today, this is most welcome and really helps sell the game.Musically, the game also excels by using the very talented Angelo Badalamenti to score it.That name might not mean much on the outset but he has created scores to many Hollywood movies including most by David Lynch (Lost Highway, Mulholland Dr., Twin Peaks) but also Dark Water, Arlington Road, etc.The score is absolutely beautiful and moving; it really fits in with what is happening on screen.

What this game does best is meld the story-telling of a movie with the gameplay of video games.It exposes the limitations of both and yet uses the best of both to create an engaging, moving and very interactive story.For me, this game is a perfect building block for video games.I can overlook most of its flaws because it is so different, so exciting and so damn cool.It warrants a 5 star review simply because of what it did.I would most heartedly recommend this game to those who love a good story, like action adventure games and want to be impressed with what video games and movies can accomplish together.

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Product Description:
Indigo Prophecy is a paranormal thriller that lets you become multiple characters and view the experience from multiple viewpoints. Incredible film-style design pulls you into the story, until you're intimately immersed in the game. Your actions will affect the plot and create a scenario-driven, interactive experience.
New York City is stunned by a string of weird murders, all following the same pattern: Ordinary people kill total strangers in public areas. Lucas Kane becomes another of these killers when he murders a stranger in a men's bathroom. Covered in blood, Lucas regains consciousness with no memory of why he committed murder. He must solve this mystery before being incarcerated for life.Over 50 stuntmen and actors were used for the game, to create the most realistic, high-caliber, Hollywood-style action sequences

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Call of Duty 2: Big Red One Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Last year's Call of Duty Finest Hour was a totally new game, using a similar engine to Medal of Honor on the consoles. It didnt feel like the PC game in any respects really. People who complained then, will now be totally happy. Big Red One not only looks fantastic (near PC graphics), it feels and plays just as great as it's PC brothers. I feel a hint of Medal of Honor European Assault every once and awhile but this game is far more polished and thought out. The storyline is a major draw in, offering some great character moments. I read some of the guys that starred in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers do some voice work in the game, however I haven't picked up on it quite yet, although I've got some ideas. On thing is for certain...Mark Hammil (star of Big Red One movie from 1981) narrates this epic game and does a very nice job. I recently bought Brothers in Arms Earned in Blood for xbox aswell and if your asking me to make a buying decision for you I'd say...
1. Big Red One is more run and gun, Earned in Blood is tactical.
2. This game is far more family friendly, Earned in Blood ISN'T.
3. Both games offer unique gameplay and are both worth 50 bucks.
If your looking for a rich new experience that has the polish of a great PC game, please do yourself a favor and buy this game. There are at least 5 WWII themed games coming out for the Holidays this year and Big Red One is diffenetly a winner. The A.I. is revolutionary for a console game offering such epic action scenes. The weapons are standard fare in a WWII game, but are more enjoyable than ever, seeming more powerful. Levels are diverse and I was thouroly impressed with each one, the D-Day beach landing is a very special thing for me in this game as it was the recreation of this scene in Medal of Honor Frontline that sucked me into the WWII franchise. Activision and Tyrench's take on the greatest invasion of all time is incredibley intense. And yes I have managed to cruise through the game very fast. The Battle of the Bulge, as well as the early Africa levels are great, as are the Normandy levels (its just Normandy has been used so many times in videogames) The ending levels in Germany are very fun and you feel such a great sense of accomplishment after beating the game, which should take 12 to 14 hours. 10 out of 10. Thanks for reading.

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Product Description:
In Call Of Duty 2: The Big Red One, you'll experience the adrenaline rush and harsh realities of war as never before. The cinematic intensity of Call of Duty returns with more complete gameplay -- get to know your squadmates, and fight alongside them through an epic story of the most harrowing moments of WWII. As a part of America's most decorated and heroic fighting unit, The Big Red One, you'll work together with your squad to accomplish a variety of combat missions spanning North Africa, Italy, and Nazi-occupied Western Europe. Charge into battle together as Allied and Axis planes duel overhead, artillery explosions shake the ground and choke the air, and bullets and shrapnel streak past you and your squadmates. Experience war-torn Europe and Africa, from the blistering desert expanses of Tunisia and Libya to the beautiful yet deadly countrysides of Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany. Live a soldier's story, deeper than any you've experienced before! Intense Axis vs. Allies team-based multiplayer action

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