Tribes: Aerial Assault Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is a derivative (not a copy) of the Tribes series of games for the PC.The basic idea is the same: a team-based, online battle supporting lots of players (up to 16, depending on your connection), multiple game types and cooperative gameplay.While, in theory, this is an exciting and very entertaining mixture (and very successful on the PC), there are a couple of things, one very glaring, that bring this game down to a mediocre level.
First, the controls take a little while to get used to.Anyone who has played Medal of Honor: Frontline or Agent Under Fire knows the dual-stick First Person Shooter setup that Tribes uses.What's a little different is the aiming system.With the aim assistance on, your shots automatically lead your moving target.However, a lot of times they don't hit, and you can't manually adjust where you're aiming (unless you take assistance off--which is NOT an individual option in online play, the host must decide if everyone has it on OR off).
Also, even though the dual-stick FPS setup is similar to the titles mentioned above, this is NOT a run and gun game.This is a jumping and flying through the air with jetpacks and shooting people on the ground game.You have to conserve your jetpack energy or get stuck on the ground with rockets raining around you--not a good thing if you're trying to stay alive.This takes a WHILE to get used to.
The other problem, and this is the MAJOR one, is that this is a team-based game.Especially in capture the flag games, your team needs to coordinate together to set up and repair defenses, like guns and turrets, launch coordinated attacks with vehicles and ground troops, and maintain and stable group of defenders.This is a WHOLE lot of fun when it works right.I mean, it's probably the MOST FUN I'VE HAD WITH A GAME IN A LONG TIME!!!But that's only if you've got a team familiar with each other and who knows what each other is going to do without communicating with each other.Why?Because you CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.No voice support, no in-game chat, no chat in a lobby before games.This is inexcusable, and makes the game INCREDIBLY HARD for beginning gamers to get into.
So, to sum everything up, if you have a ton of patience with both games and annoying players, and you can go to clan/team websites and learn from advanced gamers and get into a team that practices (a bonus), this can become one of the MOST FUN GAMES YOU'VE EVERY PLAYED.However, if you can't spend a lot of time (I mean a LOT of time), getting into the community, which is HARD to do, it might not be worth the purchase.
P.S. a broadband connection is also HIGHLY recommended

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Product Description:
Tribes: Aerial Assault is the highly anticipated console debut of one of the world's top online PC action games, and will be one of the first games to take advantage of Sony's network adapter. Unlike other shooters, Tribes: Aerial Assault lets players fly in addition to running and jumping, for a true 3-D action experience that makes traditional action gaming seem stale and flat. Tribes: Aerial Assault provides an arsenal of futuristic weapons, exclusive vehicles, and boundless outdoor arenas in which to do battle.

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NBA Street Homecourt Review

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(More customer reviews)I've never before played a video game that made me laugh out loud.But this one does that and more.Sure, there are more realistic games out there.But one doesn't always want realism when one is playing a game.Sometimes one wants to breakdance on the ball to the tune of Herbie Hancock's "Rock-It," then leap off Shaq's back, land standing on the rim, and throw down a MASSIVE dunk that sounds literally like a bomb while the name of one's hometown flashes on the screen.I know it's not original (old fans of NBA Jam will know what I mean), but the brilliant idea of combining real-world playgrounds and NBA stars with the physics of fantasy games makes this a game anyone can love.

I haven't felt inspired to write an Amazon review for years.And I'm 40 years old.This game is straight-up SICK.

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Product Description:
Take to the streets, defend your homecourt, and showcase every move in your arsenal on your way to becoming a hometown legend in NBA Street Homecourt. Use an all-new ball control system to blow past defenders or rattle the rim with high-flying Jump-Off dunks as you defend your homecourt against the best the NBA has to offer

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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Essentials Review

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(More customer reviews)Picked up the game yesterday at a local Gamestop. Here are some initial impressions after the first hour of play.

Gameplay (7/10)

This is probably the most important department, and SC disappoints. It was clear from the start that developers had trouble mapping all the controls for Fisher onto the PSP due to the absence of a second analog stick, as well as the two fewer shoulder buttons (L2/R2). Movement is severely hampered by this physical limitation. You cannot rotate the camera while moving, which severely limits your ability to get a feel for your surroundings. In order to rotate the camera, you must come to a complete stop, hold the "O" button, and pan using the analog stick. On the positive side, Fisher has all of the classic moves from jumping, rolling, split jump, SWAT move, and more. I haven't tried all the moves but most seem to be there. Knife attack is also included. Another positive is that you can save anywhere; no need to wait till you reach a checkpoint. For some reason, there are no maps for you to follow, which forces you to run around quite a bit especially in dark areas.

Graphics (6/10)

The graphics were also disappointing, seeing how Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (SC:DM) was able to leverage the PSP so effectively. In the initial levels, the environment is really, really dark, so dark that it forces you to use the night vision goggles, which is fine except this view is extremely grainy (almost PS1 quality!) and does not enhance your vision much at all. Even at the highest brightness setting (PSP setting, not game; game does not provide brightness adjustment), it is STILL very dark. I cannot imagine playing this game in a bright room. I was in a relatively dark room, and had issues seeing most elements without using NV goggles.

There is noticeable tearing of the graphical elements such as walls; if Fisher moves too close to a wall, sometimes you can see right through it. In certain positions, you can even see through the back of Fisher's head and see his eyes! This was quite a surprise. I know a 6 out of 10 is harsh, but this is a Splinter Cell title; we have come to expect more than this!

Story (?)

Story in SC series has never been all that important or logical. This one is a bit different in that it takes place in the past when Fisher was a Navy Seal. I have not completed enough of the game to see the rest of the story line just yet.

Sound (8/10)

There was little music in the levels I have played so far; I expect it will improve. The sound volume seemed to be a bit low. The enemies whistle the same tunes that were heard in SC Chaos Theory or Pandora Tomorrow, which irritated me. I know this is a pseudo port to the PSP, but some new tunes would have been a nice change.

Replayability/Online (6/10)

As far as I am aware, there are no unlockables such as SC:DM offers, which limits replayability. There are 3 "bonus missions" in the main menu, but I have not tried these yet; these may require completion of standard missions first. Multiplayer is limited to ad-hoc only, and I do not expect to find much fun in this mode due to the quirkiness of the controls.

Final Score (7/10)

To sum up, this title failed to meet its potential. The SC series had set a high bar for the gaming industry, but this title failed miserably to meet its own standards. Do not get me wrong; there is much fun to be had here, despite the fact that the game feels rushed to market, is very much unpolished, and includes so many annoyances discussed previously. When compared to other action/shooter PSP titles in the market today, such as SOCOM and Syphon Filter, it simply does not compete. The absence of a playable demo also reinforced my original suspicion that this title was not quite ready for prime time.

Buy or Rent? First time fans should definitely opt for Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror instead. Long-time fans and/or SF:DM owners may consider renting first (if you can find it), or buying/selling after beating it/reaching end of patience with the bugs.

Update from March 27
After 3 or 4 hours, this game surprises you by getting much better. Once you get past the control issue, the game sucks you in with a high production value. I shall upgrade my rating to 8/10. A nice addition to the PSP collection.

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Product Description:
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Essentials takes players deep into the Splinter Cell saga. Experience all-new missions and objectives exclusive to the PSP, and discover the untold story of Sam Fisher through flashbacks to various missions from the entire Splinter Cell franchise.

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Diablo 2 Expansion: Lord of Destruction Review

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(More customer reviews)Many people complain about the high price of the Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction (LOD) Expansion set. To do so, I think, is to miss the point. You buy the game to play it, and its playability is what matters. People tend to think that an "expansion" merely adds a "10% more" to a game - but the fact is, LOD adds so much to the original game that you will probably never look back.Why would you give up a doubled stash? The 800x600 resolution pestered for way back in 2000 when D2 Classic was released? Instant switching between two sets of weapon/shield? New class-specific items, new uniques, greatly improved set items (gain bonuses as you collect each item, instead of having to complete them), elite items, runes (and runeword items), crafted items (i.e. make your own rares)? Two new classes (a druid who can summon creatures, cast elemental spells and shapeshift; an assassin who practises martial arts, lays traps and hones shadow disciplines), and an entire new act set in a wintry landscape (bunnies included)? Afraid to play alone? Don't worry, now your hirelings survive more than their first hit, and can be equiped with weapons and armour - they can even teleport when you walk too far! And some even have paladin auras! And they can be resurrected!How about little little details like: you can now reset the gambling screen at will; gambling prices scale with your level; a repair-all-equiped items button; blue items now get the most powerful prefixes/suffixes, giving them renewed value; click an item on the Horadric Cube to place it inside (you have to do it to realise the convenience); Act 2 Desert Warrior hirelings cast paladin auras; Act 5 Barbarian hirelings use Stun and Bash; town NPCs now sell more items; Act-end bosses can now be repeatedly killed for chance to find top items (in D2 Classic, great stuff only drops once); you can walk through your hirelings/minions (no more traffic jams in the Maggot Lair)... and the list goes on.Let's be honest though - everyone knows that the game code is not perfect; it has its bugs. Few games (especially of this scale) can claim to be bug-free. But despite this, the game is totally playable. I myself have not stopped playing D2 since June 30, 2000. The important thing to savour is the fact that the developers, Blizzard, are keen on resolving technical problems and gamneplay issues: think about it - Blizzard has released NINE patches to date. This may seem to suggest that the game is wrought full of bugs, but change your perspective - what it ultimately says is that its developer is conscientious enough to keep working at it. How many software developers can claim this level of diligence?Ultimately, the game is super-fun. As I suggested in my review of Diablo 2 (Classic), the game rewards all kinds of players, from the undiscerning clicker to the meticulous strategist - that is one of Blizzard's secret ingredients: allowing every style of player to find something that suits them in the game, and yet never fully satisfying them. I suppose that's why, after countless games, my wife is still trying to perfect her (deceptively simple?) mace-stunner barbarian...

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New Characters:Assassin -- The Order of Mage Slayers was formed after the Vizjerei survived the tragedy brought on by Bartuc and Horazon. Their purpose was to watch for rogue magi that may become corrupted by the forces of Evil. To be effective at this task they were trained in abilities that were not conducive to Demonic corruption. Living as rumor and myth to the general population, even other magi knew very little about this mysterious order. Their reputation was shrouded in mystery and t

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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Review

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(More customer reviews)fluid animation, intelligent gameplay, I really enjoy playing the game...
To all fans of Metroid, Castelvania , I recommend this one.

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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time takes you thousands of years in the past, for a supernatural adventure in the ancient world!

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Virtua Tennis World Tour Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this game because I enjoy tennis and figured I would probably enjoy a tennis game. The World Tour portion of the game is probably the most fun part of owning the game.

The World Tour - The Meat and Potatos of Single Player
Creating a player for the World Tour isn't as indepth as I would've liked, but it does a good enough job. You create both a male and a female character and can switch between the two to raise their stats. To raise your stats you must play mini games that increase your skills in serving, volleying, footwork, etc. You gain experience for the minigames and, depending on what skills you used more over the course of the game, your skills go up. Completed challenges give multipliers to the experience so it behooves you to win.

To raise money, you can play in tournaments. You start ranked last at 300 and then slowly make your way up as you win tournaments. Tournaments are much quicker than real life tournaments (thankfully). Most usually consist of a few "best 2 out of 3" matches. Doubles tournaments require you to spend your winnings on contracts and pairing up with some of the top tennis players. The computer controlled players actually did way better than me... which was kind of disconcerting.
The game was very entertaining from a tennis fan's point of view though there were two issues that I had with the game that keep it from getting that last star.

General Gameplay Issues
The first issue I had was the overall sluggishness of the interface. There was constant loading in every part of the game. Starting from the create a player interface to the world map where you choose what to do. And it just slowed down the process. It would've been nice if failed attempts at minigames would give you a prompt to see if you wanted to try it again instead of reloading the world map and having to reload the levels again. Though the fact that i would play the same minigame over 10 times in a row should show how addictive it can become. The slowness may be attributed to the firmware version 1.52 that i had installed (ver. 2.00+ is out), and I don't have another PSP to try the game out on.

The second minor issue I had was with the minigames. True, they're fun and addictive, but they don't really change much as the game continues. The levels remain the same. They just add a few more objectives and keep the time limits the same. Some just seemed extremely difficult given the lack of control you have in the beginning.. but they were still keeping me coming back for more so I suppose the issue isn't as big a deal. But the difficulty coupled with the loading times were an annoyance worth mentioning.

Conclusion
I recommend the purchase to anybody wanting a decent tennis game to play on the go (The tiny ball on the screen sometimes gets hard to track). Otherwise you'd probably be better off buying a console version of Top Spin (better graphics and faster loading).

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Product Description:
Virtua Tennis: World Tour, the arcade and home console hit, features three core gameplay modes: World Tour, where players travel the globe using a custom-created character to win cash; Exhibition, where players can take control of a pro tennis all-star for one-off matches; and Tournament, which puts players in knockout sessions where only the best will see victory. In addition, this fast-paced games also features a playable array of internationally renowned tennis pros in addition to a make-your-own player mode, exclusive mini-games, and original courts. Wi-Fi gameplay is supported, encouraging up to four friends to play together.

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2002 FIFA World Cup Review

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(More customer reviews)What a disapointment! I was extatic when i read earlie this year that EA was developping a soccer game specifically for the Xbox console, based on its fifa franchise. I should have known better.
Apparently folks at EA figured they could say whatever they wanted and not only develop the game for Gamecube and PS2 but also release these versions just before that of the XBOX.
More importantly, they also figured they could do whatever they wanted. Why bother spending a lot of time on a game that will sale no matter what, simply because it is endorsed by the FIFA and has the Japan-Korea logo all over it!
So instead of spending the time necessary to build upon the previous installments of FIFA soccer, they did the opposite, they removed many features and added a "bonus material" which consists of a video documentary about the coming World Cup (who cares? this is not a dvd movie).
Since this game focuses on the World Cup, it is no longer possible to select a club or trade players! Fair enough, but where is the training mode? Where is it said that because it's only about the World Cup, it is no longer necessary to practice free kicks or set plays! This is amazing considering EA had already this feature built into its previous FIFA versions. At the same time, EA is promoting the fact that the passing system and the air play game are more complex! The only reason not to include a much needed training mode? Being able to release another version, an "improved" one this fall!
More, for those of view who liked the strategy side of the EA franchise, like the ability to change formations and offensive and defensive style on the fly... forget about it, it's nowhere to be found on this game. Similarly, you can no longer put pressure on the ball carrier by sending your guys on him!
More, the dribling scheme is ridiculous! Overall, there are fewer moves available, and, worse, they are impossible to perform. Two of them require that you press the Y button at the same time as the Black button... sure, try it! And the ability to let the user configure the controller settings himelf? of course not, this would have required more programming!
I could go on and on, however you should get a pretty good idea by now. Yes, this game has cool graphics (which sports game on the XBOX hasn't?). Yes, World Cup offers a newly designed passing system (so did fifa 2002 on ps2). Yes, this game is the best soccer game on the XBOX (but it's basically the only one if you put aside the ESPN game which is to sports game, what curling is to winter sports!).
So my advice, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. Wait a few weeks until International pro soccer 2 and David Beckham's soccer game are released.
My rating: TWO THUMBS DOWN!

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Product Description:
This is the only officially licensed interactive game to use the FIFA World Cup marks, emblem, mascots, and stadiums in Korea and Japan. The game includes star players from the tournament, and the brand-new Air Play lets players perform tricks like headers and bicycle kicks with the touch of a button. FIFA World Cup Moments bring the drama of the Cup to life with replays, special animations, and an all-new music score. Tournament mode lets you play the entire FIFA World Cup, from the group rounds to the title game. New stadium environments include team colors, flags, chants, and pyrotechnics.

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