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It is getting better. The following game is a definite improvement over the previous game. While I cannot say it is one of the best games on the console, I definitely feel like they are moving in the right direction.
Before I go onward, I wanted to state that I am one of the many people who disliked the first game simply because of how lazy the game developers were. They created a game that resembled a minigame and should have been worth $20, not $60. And yes, I am angry that instead of adding more maps to the first game for $10, they decided to scam us with another $60 game, knowing that anyone who wanted more from the first game bad enough would get the next game. Putting all of that aside, I will try to rate this game on it's merit alone, based on how it has improved over the first game and how it is as a game of its' own.
Graphics: Graphically the improvements in the game are slight. There are more infected shapes and colors. However, there are some problems as well. I notice certain infected, when killed, disappear, this was not a problem in the first game. The area you move in seems slightly more detailed. The best you can really say about the graphics is slighly more polished than the original.
Gameplay: Some may be happy to find that the feel of the game is the same. You can pick up one or the other and notice very little in the difference between the feel of the game or the feel of weapons that are similar between games. On the up side, you have access to melee weapons and a couple new weapons as well. Temporary upgradable ammo, chainsaws, grenade launchers, and katana's are a couple of the new weapons added to the game.
The levels are now wider (I can't think of a better word for it), giving you more space and less restriction on where you can go. This makes it easier to get lost, but also gives you a lot more to explore. There are a lot more random weapons and items in the rooms now, so you are always finding something, so you will often have to choose which melee weapon you have, weather you want a health pack or a defib(revive downed survivor), pain pills or adrenaline(increased speed), and what melee weapon you want. This tends to make levels funner and less predictable. (the previous game always gave you the same weapons and most of the weapon pops were like clockwork.
The game now consists of a couple different types of events. It is no longer an "entrench yourself until the horde is all dead"; and is now more of a "wait just long enough for the next door to open and floor it" kind of game. Some events require you to floor it to the safe room, with infected continuing to pop up the entire way. Some require you to shut off the alarm by making it to the shut off switch with infected constantly appearing until the alarms are off. One finale requires you to fill a tank of a car with constant zombie attacks. Any way you look at it, you have a lot more variety in the events, although once you finish an event the first time, obviously it doesn't change. But it does help each campaign feel truly unique.
Story: Possibly the #1 reason that this game made a higher score is the story. While it does not follow any intense story complete with backgrounds of characters, it is actually a story, as opposed to the last game. You follow these 4 characters from campaign to campaign. The campaigns actually move in chronological order, as you travel through there journey trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. It starts when all 4 of the characters meet on the rooftop of the mall, hoping for a rescue from the helicopters they were promised. When this does not occur, they continue to travel. They meet and greet in the first campaign, and each campaign after explains how their previous escape attempt eventually goes bad. You can follow the story from campaign to campaign, which I find to be the best part. The only thing I don't like is I haven't heard them come up with an idea of how to escape until the finale. They travel from safe room to safe room for no reason, and then in the finale, one of them just says, oh, let's do this! The previous game usually had them state an objective, like, "Maybe we can catch a boat at the docks", this one doesn't seem to give that direction.
Overall: So to sum it up, I think the game is an improvement over the first one. If it was worth $60 for you, you would buy it or would already be making plans to buy it. If you never have played it, want to know what the fuss is about, and don't rent games ever, then buy the first one, you won't be seeing too much difference here. If you own the first one, and are looking at getting the second, I would say that it depends on whether new maps, new objectives, and new weapons is worth the money. If I had to buy it again, I probably would, to appease my wife if nothing else. However, I felt it was an improvement, although a small one. The game designers were less lazy when making this one, but only just. | video-games_xbox |
Someone Finally Got It Right. Finally someone got a western game right. After years of wading through western wannabes, including the original Red Dead Revolver.
This game has everything that the others were missing, and none of the garbage that the others didn't need. There are no stupid boss battles, no enemies that take 10 to 15 shots to gun down, no killer midget clowns, mutant hillbillies (I didn't say that there are no inbred hillbillies), there's no hoodoo or voodoo, just plain ol' almost realistic western life. There is no awkward 1st person perspective to stumble around with, only in certain shooting situations, such as using the Gatling gun.
There are all sorts of cowboy escapades, hoping trains, climbing from inside a boxcar to the top and visa versa. There's bronco busting, bounty hunting, shootouts, rescues from kidnapping and hangings.
I notice some saying this is just Grand Theft Auto with horses; this is a Rockstar game, so yes, the formatting is very similar. IMHO, it has taken the best features of GTA and gotten rid of the worst. You can fast travel to and from just about anywhere. Along with this there are more save spots, not just "safe houses".
The difficulty level is set to a point, but you can change aiming abilities; this is much better than just making enemies tougher to kill.
Although this game keeps a lot of stuff realistic to a point, it does allow for some convenient detours from reality, such as being able to whistle for your horse from just about anywhere and have him come running. You can take a few shots, be almost dead, and get away from the gunfire to heal. This is better than finding some kind of a "health" hidden around the environment.
There are convenient, unseen checkpoints to keep missions from having to be repeated completely from the beginning. A game can be fun and challenging without being frustrating. One frustrating thing I remember from the last GTA was some missions that were long and having to listen to the same stupid conversation every time I had to restart the mission. None of that here.
Like I said, this is the best western game to date. This one should set the bar for how all games, not just westerns, are made.
Some people just don't like sandbox games; they prefer a "set in stone" linear game. This game is pretty intuitive, probably no need for a players guide; of course this is only my 3rd day of playing it. So far, this has been a great game! | video-games_xbox |
Worth the $60.00 - Pros and Cons. Picked up my reserved copy yesterday after work. I spent a few hours playing it last night when my wife was out doing the shopping. So far so good. The graphics are dramatically improved, and the attention to detail in every single pedestrian is excellent. Taking into consideration that I'm only 10% into the game, this might be premature, but here are a few pros and cons:
Pros:
- Massive playing territory.
- Excellent visuals.
- Interesting approaches to new interfaces (using the cell phone, using the internet, etc).
- Variety in vehicles.
- More realism in the AI modeling and behaviors.
- Nice multiplayer.
Cons:
- Graphics aren't up to COD 4 caliber (understandably for the geographic size of GTA IV).
- Difficult to understand the over emphasized accents.
- Sub-par vehicle handling model.
- Very difficult achievement points (XBox 360 only).
All said and done, the game leaves me wanting to play more. It's worth a purchase and I'm sure to enjoy playing through it.
Update September 26, 2008
While I have not major beefs against GTA IV, the only real annoyance I have with the game is how absolutely massive it is. For some, this might be a good thing. For others, such as myself, who are casual gamers, this can be annoying and frustrating. This last week I picked up the game for one hour of playing. I was only able to accomplish one small mission in that time frame due to the size and depth of the game. During that one hour period, I drove across two islands, had to out-run the police twice, was killed trying to beat the mission once, and in the end, finished just one, fairly basic mission.
I am a very, very, very casual, social gamer. I don't have time to sit with a game for hours on end. If you're like me, and you're time is limited, GTA IV might be a better rental - you'll enjoy the graphics, you'll enjoy the open environment, you'll enjoy the new options. | video-games_xbox |
Mediocre Alternative Controller (Updated. I bought this controller for the extra features and because I'm a big Mass Effect fan. I loved Razer's Naga Molten Edition mouse, so I thought I'd give them another shot. I tried to like this controller, but just couldn't. Granted, I have only had this controller for 3 days, I am seriously considering returning it. I purchased it directly from Razer.
Pros:
Extra shoulder buttons can be remapped to (almost) every button on the controller.
Adjustable resistance analog sticks do what they say.
Smooth, comfortable surface.
Aesthetically pleasing (LED lights, Razer design, "texture," N7 stripe).
Separated D-Pad buttons.
Action buttons are extremely fast and work like a mouse click.
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Cons:
Shoulder buttons cannot be remapped to the opposite trigger or bumper. For example, the right multi-function button cannot be remapped to the left trigger.
The knobs to adjust the resistance on the analog sticks are hard to turn. I feel like I'm putting serious strain on them every time I adjust them. I'm guessing this is why they broke for so many people.
When the analog sticks are tightened to increase resistance, they are unevenly tightened. Pushing my right stick to the left side is harder than pushing it to the right, and so on.
As a wired controller, it connects via... a wire. This isn't a problem on most devices, unless the wire is rigidly stiff and 15 feet long. It is clunky and excessively long. It wants to stay in one position, making it hard to bend to a new one, and it often irritates my legs.
The four shoulder buttons click way too loud. Some louder than others.
The triggers are very difficult to rapid fire with, even while holding them at the base for the shortest press.
The D-Pad buttons need to be pushed in about a mile to register. Funny, considering the fact that they advertised the exact opposite for the buttons on the other side of the controller.
The controller's vibration seems odd somehow. It is kind of loud and not very pleasant.
My PS3 analog sticks on my old Xbox controller spoiled me. I don't know what Microsoft was thinking when they designed the introverted analog stick, but they get painful during long sessions. This controller's sticks are of a similar design, but offer slightly more comfort. When you get used to having smooth, rounded PS3 sticks, these are still a downside.
The controller doesn't support chat pad attachments. Razer tries to glorify this shortcoming in the FAQs by saying we are here to game, not to chat. Too bad basic literacy is sometimes essential for gaming. Meanwhile, I am plugging a keyboard into my Xbox to send messages or redeem codes...
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As a side note, the Collector Assault Rifle is nice. At rank 1, it fits somewhere between the Phaeston X and the Revenant X in power. However, it weighs too much. It is fun, but nothing special. It isn't worth purchasing promotional items for.
So basically, what we have here is plenty of great ideas but very poor execution. The controller offers increased functionality in some areas (A,B,X,Y buttons), while completely disregarding possible implementation of those improvements in other areas (any other given button that doesn't use the "mouse" style, particularly the D-Pad). If you have money burning a hole in your pocket and would like a spare controller, go for it. Just don't expect anything great. If you want something efficient and reliable, go for the regular old Microsoft controllers.
UPDATE 8/1/2012: from 3 to 2 stars...
The controller's left analog stick stopped working about a month ago and I had to send it back to Razer to have it replaced. They replaced it and I only had to pay about $9 for shipping. I've read many reviews on various sites of other people having this issue as well. I'd avoid this controller unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket. | video-games_xbox |
I have become addicted to this game! YAYYYY. There are 143 reviews on here so I will not say anything but to buy this game! Buy it now! Give it three days, level up to at least 3-6 and go get Lincon's repeater from the history museum and this should give you arguably the best gaming experience ever!(The only reason it would not is if you really don't get into these role playing games. If thats the case you already know you shouldn't get it) '
It's ridiculously great if you make the right character. The character you make and the stats you put into it will make or break your game experience. I first bought this and I said it was horrible because I was swatted like a fly but I also didn't do any research into character building or how to start playing the game. Once I recreated my character and put the right stats in what and also looked to avoid the useless perks to put your points into, while getting the stuff that actually helps I am now trying to find reasons to leave the house..To some that may sound bad but to someone like me whom would rather immerse myself in gaming to the extreme rather then listening to people b/s, face booking or spending money outside, this is like fort knox of the game world....
You have to remember that this game is HUGE so unless you have the time to put into it and build your character you will just hate it. If you have patience and time you will love this game forever, it is soooo vast and the goty edition gives you so many perks from all platforms-dlcs
I now feel like Clint Eastwood post apocalyptic style, since I've gotten Lincoln's repeater I've been boss to the max.. Super mutants are putty with two head shots
I'm already planning on being addicted to Fallout: New vegas but get to let it collect dust and have it for later hardcore gaming! I love games that turn into so much fun yet are not borring within two days! For now being 30 and gaming is magic!(Hate getting games and realizing I would have had fun with them when I was twelve) I will enjoy my fallout experience while it lasts to be sure!
Update: WOW the depth is amazing on this and I haven't even finished almost any quests..I'm level 15 and have just been battling mutants, ghouls and raiders to my desire and I believe this is the best game I've played..I know to some this may be a tad gore infested but seriously the railroad gun that shoots railroad spikes sticking any limb to a wall with it just sealed it for me lol I almost died laughing when i realized why I was actually collecting railroad spikes only to then start taking mutants heads off with them pinning them to a wall..Oh not to mention a flaming sword that I happily set moriarty to flame with, making this monster out of a gas tank, pressure gauge assembly, pilot light and misc other garbage was just too funny...Bethesda has revived my interest in gaming again and to think I actually let this game sit collecting so much dust..I wish I had a gun that shot railroad spikes for real now hahaha
Update: I'm still going strong on this as I have started mapping the entire underground systems, wow so vast! It is so full of choices as to what you want to choose and how the game will turn out because of your choice. For instance I hired Jericho a mercenary to be my companion and I came across a ghoul named charon in underworld and to my surprise I was offered a chance to buy his contract for 1000 caps (If you have high charisma, if not it is 2000 so food for thought on making a charismatic player). To my surprise I was able to fire my current mercenary and watched as my new Ghoul companion wasted his former employer with his really mean auto shotgun in ghoul city with very interesting results, even resulting in a crowd of ghoul onlookers horrified by what charon did. This action gave me an entirely new gaming experience and it has helped greatly so If you get the chance to do this I recommend doing it.. Level 15 now and have zero money problems in game to the point of not having to scrounge for anything to sell, to make money anymore. Interestingly enough I ran into a dog that was fighting two raiders and to my utter surprise I was actually able to recruit him to be another companion after speaking with him(of course his responses were arff arff :)..I really feel like will smith in I am legend
One very interesting thing I was compelled to write was that I experienced a very odd occurrence in which I find that ghoul characters are very much hated by the in game npc's and it seems they are all very thoughtful characters so naturally I chose to help the ghouls in a certain game event in which I was able to bring both human and Ghoul together to agree on terms to live amongst one another..Well I received very good karma and also good dialog with both human and ghouls, the humans thanking me for giving them the chance to realize ghouls weren't so bad and the ghoul's thanking me because I got the (as they said Ghoul Bigot) humans to let them live their..I was very satisfied and I also received a mask making me appear as a radiated deformed ghoul (made my character look really cool) but after I returned some days later I walked into the tenpenny tower devoid of any human..Upon investigation I saw that the ghouls lied and actually killed off the humans, I was so angry that i was deceived by them that I killed every ghoul in the place.
These are the kind of things you will encounter in this game, it will twist and turn like a great suspense novel with you at the helm.. I made a decision based on my real personality of feeling horrified by a group of people that were treated so horribly but then finding out that I was betrayed and I caused the once happy place safe from terrible creatures to now being deserted of any life at all.. Imagine the choices you can make in a game like that....
This is a great game, I see many reviews judging it on a few hours of gameplay but without realizing that in order to feel the realism of this game you MUST play it to see it unfold.... PLEASE Do not listen to any review judging this game on a mere few hours of gameplay because it is like someone reviewing an 800 page book after reading 100 pages of it..You just can't do it, there is so much to this game that I am already level 15, yet have only discovered a handful of locations at a count of 72 hours of gameplay..72 hours and I haven't gotten to even scratch the surface.. I really enjoy just wandering the wasteland, enjoying the astonishing graphics and random encounters. I wonder..... Who will I come across next? What will I do? What will be the outcome of the choice I will make? Those choices could mean life or death for many...Astonishing
The visuals are marvelous, you will see half destroyed towns, shackles of once great monuments, mercenaries, factions, slave traders and very unique dialog pertaining to each of the different groups..I keep trying to go to this one place but am always side tracked by new unknown adventures, I would see the ruins of a town nearby and come across a family of cannibals but trying to mask their horrible nature..You get to choose upon situations like that on whether to do the right thing or leave it alone, the events were unrecorded as in if I chose to dispose of the cannibals I would get bad karma but could I walk away knowing I let a group of sicko cannibals get away with what they were doing.. the thing about the situation was that it was not a total obvious thing, the signs were very subtle and I actually had to dispose of them before seeing if my suspicions were correct..lets just say the results were very interesting(a little town called andale) ;)... Check it out to see what I mean, right near the ruins of fort independence...
Bethesda has made a true masterpiece here...Excuse me while I do some more exploring in the wastelands!!!! Enjoy!!!! | video-games_xbox |
Definitely one of the scariest and satanic games of all time. And of course... like anyone would say, this makes the perfect horror/1st person shooter.
Doom 3 takes place on Mars, where you, the main character(can't remember the name) are thrust into an underground base full of dark corridors and technical anomalies. It's kind of the same setting as Area 51, just a lot darker. Anyway, most of you know the story, and though there may not be much to spoil, I want to keep what happens kind of secret because it's the reason why you'll get so freaked out playing this. Which is also a good reason why some people may not want to invest in this one. Yes it is a hell of a lot of fun... notice I said HELL. But it is also very gory and sometimes disturbing. In some later levels, you begin to see places where possible satanic rituals may have taken place, and even people crucified to upside down crosses. For younger people, they might want to stay away from this one.
However, this stuff doesn't bother me, it's what makes the game great, and so scary! So lets talk about gameplay. Overall, it is very repetitive, you walk down a corridor, a pentagram emblazes on the ground, an imp starts tossing fire balls, you duck, oull out your shotgun, and blast away. This happens throughout the whole game, minus some levels and the incredible Hell levels. Which may I please take some time to discuss. The developers on this one have done a fantastic job of bringing Dante's Inferno to life. Of course the hell in Doom doesn't look how Dante described it, but it's everything what many of us would think this place of torment looks like. The walls break away to form bridges, and screams and moans can be heard through the blazing walls. Trust me, when you get there, you'll get chills up and down your body. It doesn't help to hear the great dark ones cackles either.
All the weapons are great, including a pistol, shotgun, machinegun, chainsaw, rocket launcher, plasma gun, chaingun, grenades, BFG, and the Soul Cube. The best arsenal to defeat satan's dark forces.
Graphics are also really good. The lighting is very technical and put to great use in this one. Lights flicker, come on and off in a matter of seconds, and show some demons doing some frightening things. There are even times where it's pitch black and you can see absolutely nothing, except for your flashlight in front of you and the sudden imp that pops up behind you.
By the way, what is such a big deal about switching between your flashlight and gun people. It takes less than a second to press the white button once and then again. Personally, having this process to do also adds to the game, and makes it even scarier.
In closing, I would definitely recommend Doom 3... I still have yet to finish some of the campaign, and I also have to try the multiplayer, but I've played every level and know what happens. Anyway, go buy Doom 3, lock yourself in your room with the lights off, shades down.... and jump into hell. | video-games_xbox |
Worth every cent. Saints Row: The Third is great. The full package brings all the DLC together (except for the Unlockable Pack, and the Bloodsucker pack.) These DLC were not included of course because not everyone wants instant cheats that cannot be deactivated like the cellphone cheats. There is a licensing issue with Xbox that causes some of the DLC not to register because if you install the Online Pass, the Bloodsucker Pack, or Unlockable Pack they will overwrite the full DLC "Saints Row: The Third- Pack: The First" file from the installation disc. In order to fix this delete the "Saints Row: The Third- Pack: The First" file from your hard drive. Next, plug in your Xbox formatted flash drive, install the online pass, or the bloodsucker pack and the unlockable pack (if you have purchased either) to your main hard drive. Then go over to your hard drive panel in the options menu and move the "Saints Row: The Third- Pack: The First" file to your flash drive. After this is done put in your installation disc for The Full Package to reinstall all of your disc DLC to your hard drive. This should fix your problem 100% and Saints Row: The Third should read your DLC files from both your hard drive and flash drive. Definitely DO NOT let this issue hold you back on getting this game if you plan to use the Online Pass or other DLC. It is a great game, and it's definitely worth it.
Notes:
*How to format a Flash Drive: http://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-360/accessories/usb-flash-drive
*Buy an official SanDisk Xbox 360 Flash Drive (Most other Flash Drives work as well, but this is recommended by Xbox) <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Xbox-360-Flash-SanDisk-SDCZGXB-016G-A11/dp/B003EV7ED8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Xbox 360 Flash SanDisk SDCZGXB 016G A11</a>
*If you have another Hard Drive plugged in to your Xbox that may work in replacement to a flash drive, but I am not completely sure on that. | video-games_xbox |
An awesome Star Wars game. The Good: Uses the Star Wars license for an original game, great combat system and leveling up is easy, the new conversation engine makes you decide the outcome, lots of different weapons and upgrades, great voice work
The Bad: Difficulty can really bring things down, items are too expensive to buy, graphics aren't anything special, constant loading is annoying
I've finally played KotOR after many years of hearing about it and I have to say its a wonderful game. Just because it's Star Wars doesn't mean it can be a good RPG. Bioware really went out on a limb here to bring the whole "choose the light or dark side thing". Conversations can steer your story by what selections you choose and depending on what they are you'll drift light or dark. The actual combat in this game though it pretty solid. You can choose from your SW weapons everyone knows.
You fight like in a real time RPG game but the fighting is done for you, and all you do is select what actions to choose. The level up system is easy to follow and very useful. The story is very unique in a sense that there aren't any of the old SW characters in here. It's completely original and I'm glad about this. I also love how you can upgrade weapons and armor by finding upgrade items and this will give your weapons new attributes and power. What might turn some players off is the fact that the difficultly can be extremely unbalanced at times and the constant loading is ridiculous.
The game's graphics are ok but nothing that pushes the Xbox too hard. You get to bring 2 different characters with you at a time and the game sports a transit map system where you can go back to your hideout or haven from where your at...the downfall is you can't do this when you are in a "dungeon" full of enemies. What really made this game frustrating was that all the items were so expensive and finding the money to get them was difficult and I died all the time. I never finished the game really since I got stuck about 25% through and couldn't get past it. If you like SW or are just an RPG fan you should pick this up and you won't be disappointed. | video-games_xbox |
A solid action shooter. WET is an action shooter from developer A2M. You've probably haven't heard of them, since they develop those Hannah Montana and Kim Possible games for the DS: games that are probably not fun to develop. However, they finally got their M-rated kick with WET, a fun little action game that will keep you entertained for a long while.
Gameplay: WET's gameplay is best described as a combination of two games: Stranglehold and the Prince of Persia Sands of Time trilogy games. Now, this actually funner than it sounds. The game's protagonist, a mercenary named Rubi, dual-wields a variety of firearms as she dives, slides, wall-runs and pole swings. The game's combat operates around a mechanic called "Acrobatic Slow-Mo," and while you are engaging in one of the above-said acrobatic moves, the games slows down, allowing you take out enemies in a 360 degree arc (where applicable). Since she dual-wields, Rubi usually targets one enemy automatically with one hand, allowing you to control her other. The whole package is polished, and while the collision detection could have been better refined, the games makes you feel like a expert assassin. She also wields a sword, which unfortunately only has a 3-slash combo (although you can use it on walls when you get the upgrade).
There are also few highway chase segments, which are some the coolest looking things ever. You'll jump around cars and trucks as they explode by you, defying death at every turn. Too bad there are so few of these.
Graphics: The graphics have been described as "lackluster." Now, they're no Red Dead Redemption graphics, but they work perfectly well for the game, and the game's environment's are actually quite detailed. The game's theme is highly reminiscent of "grindhouse," (think of Tarantino's Kill Bill), and as such comes with an optional film-grain filter.
Sound: According to the back of the box, the game features an "original 70's inspired soundtrack." The music is just as described, and is quite good. Most of the tunes are catchy and well-composed, and you'll probably find them singing their hooks long after you play the game. The sound effects are acceptable, though the gunshots seem a little muted, and lack the "power" you'd expect.
Story: The game's story is pretty weak, as you're doing a variety of "who-cares" missions for different people. Even the last level, and the ending, is not really satisfactory. There is one scene, though, that I have to rate as one of the funniest I've seen. (I won't spoil it, but it involves her, a bathtub, and a midget.)
Re-playability: The game is organized into missions, and there only a dozen or so of them, so an average gamer could beat in maybe 6-8 hours. The game features no online mode, but it has four difficulty levels, plus a special mode called "Golden Bullets," which is really fun to play once you unlock it (basically, it's a one-hit-kill mode). There are also the "Boneyard Challenges" which have a variety of gun-wielding challenges for you to complete.
All in all, WET is a solid game, and has a fun and unique combat mechanic. It never feels overused, and I find myself popping the game back in from time to time. If you've enjoyed such games as Devil May Cry or God of War, give WET a try. | video-games_xbox |
Amazingly Wonderful. I'm going to be brutally honest here, this is one of the best games I've had the opportunity to play in a long time. Now, I'm a huge RPG gamer and rarely buy games outside of that genre so I hold a pretty high bar for others and was not let down at all by this game.
Cautionary warning for those less informed (likely the reason they post warnings on hair dryers not to drop them in bathtubs / Darwin Awards) this game is not for children at all. There are drugs, questionable language moments, and generally obscene behavior all around. It's wonderful. :)
Enter Niko Bellic, an Eastern European thug fresh off the boat with an idealistic view of Liberty City. He quickly learns that life is not all its cracked up to be and slips back into the same mistakes he had made in the past and was trying to run away from. In general the game does glorify violence, materialism, and thug life but it also carries a strong message of defiance to them as well as you see as you progress through the story. You see love, betrayal, and the truth about the so-called wonderful life of organized crime. It's not as mindless as some in the media may try to portray as they review the game on a merely superficial level.
Pros:
1. The game loads very fast and there are very few loading screens beyond your initial loading of the game.
2. The difficulty is pretty well developed such that as the game progresses you find you have to plan out your actions more thoroughly to adjust to increased dangers.
3. It's fun to run around in the city and cause chaos even if you're ignoring the main mission.
4. Unlike Assassin's Creed (for example) the missions are all unique and each has exciting twists which help keep you on the edge of your seat.
5. The graphics and sound are amazing.
6. The in-game material such as the comedy show and television shows help make this world seem even more realistic --- I had a friend who spent a Saturday just watching the in-game TV even.
7. The multiplayer modes are fun when you get into them... (more on the cons though).
Cons:
1. The multiplayer lounge system is horrid --- the loading times to get to multiplayer are bad enough but sometimes you find yourself stuck waiting after a match is over and just generally it seems like a rushed addition to a perfect game.
2. The party mode loads you up in a fake world but it's a pain to invite people and a better interface similar to Halo's for partying would have been better (if you wanted to visit the world with your party why not just go into free play mode?).
In general the game is amazing and is worth the little it costs for such an experience. It's not a game for children and that's why it's rated mature so if you buy it for your child it's your own fault for not paying attention to the rating applied to the game. | video-games_xbox |
Probably the worst game, I've ever played. I barrowed this from a friend who hasn't played the game in months, and I asked him, why, what's wrong with the game? His response was "You won't like it and i'll even give you a month to try it out". Turns out he was right, within a week I gave it back to him, due to the unbelievable amount of bs this games subjects you to.
First off, The controls for this game are straight garbage! Let me repeat that! PURE UTTER GARBAGE! Seriously, who wants to spend precious time toggling through weapons during an intense fire fight? WTF! Saints Row got it right, all you had to do was press and hold the B button and you were able to select whatever weapons you had in your arsenal. What happened to simple controls, like Halo 3, where you press one button and you're able to cycle through all the weapon in your possession. I don't know if this happens to other players, but Niko sometimes takes off without me touching the controls, again the controls suck because of this. Rockstar, address this issue or all your fans will be running to other gaming titles!
Secondly, the load times for this game are abominable; the time it takes this game to load are INEXCUSABLE. This probably my second biggest complaint about this game, did they seriously test this game before releasing it to the massess?
Third, the driving is a complete NIGHTMARE! Regardless of the car you drive, one little slight movement of the wheel and you're all over the place. Last I checked I wasn't driving some 1100 HP twin charged supercar, am I missing something here? I mean what's the point of driving especially the bikes when they are undriveable? During missions where you're required to chase or run from enemies this is where you really notice just how bad the driving on this game really is. My goodness, I failed more missions due to the poor handling these cars provide you in the game. What were they trying to accomplish by making everything undriveable?
Next we have the running, hmmph! Talking about being unrealistic -- What's the point of running away from a guy if they can catch up to you? Let's be honest a heavy set man or woman weighing at in at 300 lbs has no business keeping up with a slim seemingly in-shape guy, come on, WTF! During an intese firefight with the cops, I ran because my life was low, and while I'm running I looked behind me, and get this; this fat cop is literally runnnig stride for stride with me, WTF? I guess everybody on the game has the speed of Usain Bolt, because out running people on here is a joke.
Since when did fighting become a community effort? You attack one person, and you're getting swarmed by 3 or more people, if things were like that in the real world then I would understand, but come on, how are you supposed to enjoy getting killed by average people ganging up on you.
Camera control, I think I've spent more time fighting with the camera control then I did with the bad guys, COME ON, this is by far the main reason why I stopped playing this game. Why can't the camera simply look where you're looking, not where it wants to look, for corns sake.
Missions: got old VERY quick, and are really difficult especially if you lack the patience as I do, and for what? To do another pointless bs mission, they really had no directions or true sense of accomplishments after completing them. The storyline, It completely didn't have any point to it, oh wait, it did sex, drugs, killing, racism and more of the same. Safe to say, I could have constructed a far better plot than this.
The good thing about all of this was, I didn't give Rockstar any money for this game, as I barrowed it from a friend, and I'm glad I wasn't in line waiting for this game or else I would have been severely disappointed. So hopefully my review will serve as a wakeup call to those seriously thinking about purchasing this game, cause it's not worth it. | video-games_xbox |
Jump Into Hell, Feet First!: A Decent Shooter from a Legendary Franchise. The Halo franchise is something of a legend for us gamers as it broke in the new generation of shooters with each passing installment. The franchise introduced the first real regenerative shield/health feature with incredible reloading animations (Halo 1), immense maps and an intriguing story (Halo 2), and an insane multiplayer that never gets old (Halo 3). The franchise then seemed to dip a bit with the only non-first person shooter (FPS) installment of Halo Wars; a decent game but lacked a general appeal to both the mainstream audience and Halo fans alike.
Then, for more than a year, Halo fans were teased relentlessly with a trailer for a Halo: Recon game that was supposed to take the perspective of a recon trooper. Later, Bungie and Microsoft renamed the game "ODST" and hyped up the game immensely. Like many Halo and FPS fans, Halo: ODST ("ODST") probably mystified you with the absolutely incredible live-action trailer that more resembled a feature film trailer than one for a video game. The hype was insane so the makers had a big pair of shoes to fill. Sadly, while ODST shows some promise as an FPS it falls short to take its place among its predecessors as a Halo game.
Let us begin...
Halo ODST, or "Helljumpers" as they call themselves, are an elite group of space paratroopers that get dropped in from low-orbit to trample their enemies. As "Rookie" you are explore the ruins of the mega-city New Mombasa 'investigating' the whereabouts of your fellow team mates by finding random objects and then learning everything that happened by looking at them. After examining said object the player flashbacks to the event leading up to the creation of the piece of garbage and you then follow the short-mission campaign. That is the ODST campaign mode in a nutshell as I beat the game in less than six hours.
To make up for a VERY short campaign mode, ODST includes a firefight mode similar to Left-4-Dead's survival mode, where you fend off wave after wave of Covenant forces until wiped out. My friends and I, disappointed with the campaign mode, played this for about ten minutes before deciding to try out the second disc that came with the game.
The second disc comes with a prototype or beta version of the next Halo game; Reach. We were hoping for a co-op campaign mode but, instead, were treated to a multiplayer-only version of the game... joy.
So, on to the pros and cons.
Despite my lacking enthusiasm for coughing up the full amount of coin for an XBox360 game that hardly held up its value, I do have some praise.
My first bit of praise pertains to the controls. I was impressed at how exceptionally well balanced the controls were. Once I quickly memorized the controls I was able to skillfully traverse across the very hazardous maps with little to no trouble on the Heroic difficulty (Hard mode). The aiming reticule was super-smooth to move around making aiming that much easier. Kudos to Bungie for making THAT a whole lot easier.
My next bit of praise goes to the heads-up display (HUD). The ODST visor has two modes. The first is a basic mode where you see as if your helmet is off. The second is when the visor is down and all points of interest, enemy outlines, and obstacles are outlined and shown while the brightness goes into a sort of night-vision. Naturally, this mode cannot be used in direct daylight. It is really cool to see this special mode and I can tell Bungie put a LOT of emphasis on the visor mode. It's fun to watch and makes finding your objective and enemies considerably easier.
One of the elements I was weary about, but ended up liking, was the music. Prior to the release of ODST I was informed that the music would be jazz influenced. Scared to death that it would sound like the last Soviet level in Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (it was atrocious, trust me), I began to shake my head. Fortunately, there are no saxophones that I could hear. In fact, the music seemed to deliver a more personal, if not more human, perspective on things. The battle music was pretty impressive as well, but I do miss the vocals that made Halo, Halo.
I can definitely tell Bungie went to a few extremes to balance out the game play, controls, and interface but this is where most of my praise ends as the hype made the expectations far too high. This is where I get out my trusty red pen and go to town.
The story had promise, but became incredible lackluster. There was a very short prologue, a very short intro, and a very short ending. In between you have a few decent cut scenes with some great interjected humor ("Get this thing off of me!"), but otherwise I was not, at all, moved by the story. There was VERY little, if any, character development making the participants nothing more than sound bytes.
My next criticism is the lacking focus. Unlike any other FPS, you start missions by finding the loose pieces of garbage in a very big map. After the first mission, you can explore fully and recover more pieces in virtually any order you choose. Bungie lauds this as an open-ended campaign of sorts but, to me, it jumbles the story and throws out any sort of focus whatsoever. It makes an already lackluster story even more confusing. On top of that, the tutorial explaining the New Mombasa 'lobby' is very confusing and the player will feel the "what the hell am I supposed to do" mentality several times before getting what to do. The missions themselves have considerably more focus but the Rookie lobby does not and it almost ruins the game.
This leads to my next problem, game length. Do Bungie and Microsoft realize that some of us gamers buy games to play offline as well? I bought this game, which was advertised on the back of the box to have 2-4 player co-op, at the midnight release to play with my two buds and my little brother in 4-player co-op and NOT online. Once we realized that you need system-link to play 3-4 player co-op (I bought the 73-inch Samsung for a reason!!) we then took turns playing the missions and beat the game in under six hours. Once I finished, my very sarcastic little brother turned to me, pat me on the shoulder and said, "Well, there goes (insert full XBox360 game price here) bucks!"
WTF mate?!
I can tell that Bungie and Microsoft intended OSDT to be mostly another only multiplayer game instead of a really good offline shooter. This is really irritating as most of us gamers play casually since we have full-time jobs, families, or both and do not wish to be cursed at by 14-year-old German gamers with too much time on their hands. The original Halo was an excellent balance, why can't ODST be the same?
To the defense of the makers, I will replay some of the missions but mainly so I can get my moneys worth out of ODST. The game was still excellent in many regards, however, the campaign mode should have been a WHOLE LOT longer with a more enticing story with character development. It was too much hype for too little substance.
All in all, a B- game. A worthy rental, but not worth the whole price unless you play online.
Peace out! | video-games_xbox |
Ignore the Complaints. I have been using Razer's gaming mice for the better part of a decade without a single issue. I have had several going as far back as the Copperhead and always found them to be highly accurate, adjustable, and durable. I used them for gaming and also regular internet and computer use on an all day, every day basis. Not. One. Issue.
So...I saw this controller and as an avaid Battlefield 3 player and fan of Razer's product I knew I would have to have it. I read the reviews and saw the complaints people had and then totally ignored them all. I got it and it is remarkable! It feels great, there are 2 new buttons (programmable), the 'start' and 'back' layout is different than an OEM controller, it is just barely slightly larger than an OEM but not enough to make you notice, the button presses are shorter and quicker, it is hyper accurate, the adjustable thumbsticks are easy to use and pretty sweet if you ask me, the button presses are shorter and quicker, the 2 programmable buttons are great, the backlit buttons are cool looking, and it comes with a nice 15' cord for those of us who's XBOX sits a fair distance from our favorite gaming seat.
It takes a little time to get adjusted to but for those who said they had a dead spot in the stick, I have not experienced that. Someone also said that the buttons make a loud, distracting, clicking noise and they do click but it's an ever so slight and quite noise that I don't know who would really have a complaint about it. I've also seen complaints about where they moved the 'start' and 'back' buttons to the bottom and took away the headphone port that works with some communicators. You will have forgotten about where they moved the two buttons after the first game you play with it and get used to it and let's be honest...no one talks on Live anymore anyway. Yes it has a cord but I tend to think that if a controller is going to be hyper-accurate, it will have to be plugged in so as not to lose any processing/transmitting power to the XBOX. As far as the cord goes, it is a nice heavy duty, braided, 15' cord. It's like push button start in cars...we've been plugging wired controllers into consoles for the last 30 years and all of a sudden a controller isn't worth it because it has a wire. Get over it.
All in all this is another A+ product from Razer who has my full support and recommendation for the products they make for gaming. I love this controller and I know it will give me many years of great use just as there mice have. Maybe it's the controller or maybe it's in my head but my ratios and percentages have already gone up in BF3 and I can't wait to play more tonight! | video-games_xbox |
Brilliant and Frustrating in nearly equal measure. Like many reviewers, I first came across a Piranha Bytes game with this Gothic series. Gothic 2 still strikes me years later as one of the great fantasy RPG experiences of my life. What was most notable about the game is that it was extremely difficult at first, as a low level character you are subject to being whipped by absolutely every creature that moves and in order to gain experience you had to take a much more tactical approach to improving your character. Of course by the end of the game you're quite up to the task, largely because your combat experience improves once you get used to the rhythms of it.
Gothic 3 followed, vastly different to 2 and quite a bit more inferior (I remember not being able to finish the game because of a bug) and then the three games in the Risen series. What these showed is a smaller company putting out second or third tier games, certainly well worth playing for the positives, but Risen 1 was particularly buggy and while each game improved in certain ways, I don't remember any of them in the same way I do Gothic 2. They were basically games to keep me busy in between A game releases. But I always hoped the company might release another Gothic 2 some day.
Elex is the company's newest game. I won't get into the discussion too much about the graphics other than to say that a lot of gamers really grade severely on them. To me they did an incredibly beautiful job with the tools they had, there's diversity, great verticality and the world is absolutely gigantic, probably a bit larger than anyone may have the patience for. The story has its missions, there are three factions with a number of specific missions both before and after you might choose one, missions related to companions and scattered side quests as well, more than enough to play for hours and hours. On top of this there are plenty of places to explore on the map that aren't mission related and are usually worth canvassing in order to dig up unique weapons. The missions are actually quite notable in that they are rarely black and white in the way they conclude and they all often have repercussions that affect the game later. At first I was impressed with this, later on as the game started to wind its way to its end I wasn't always left satisfied by the way things were going. I played to maximize the number of quests from all the different factions before I joined, but this made it harder in certain places to really know which factions you wanted to support vs the others.
The combat, quite frankly, is absolutely terrible. With Gothic 2 the combat was very difficult at first but by the end you had the hang of it enough to feel like your character had really grown. By the end of Elex you're certainly hitting harder with more damage, but I felt there were frequent examples of the character in motion hacking 180 degrees away from the target, too many times where a gigantic creature was coming up behind you while your target was locked on a lesser creature, with a lot of instances where it was really hard to break and run when you needed to when jetpacking isn't really an option. And no matter what your armor or skill level it was, it never really felt, until extremely late in the game (like when you're in the late 20s/30s levels) that you could absorb more than a few hits from anything (you spend the whole game guzzling health potions after almost every fight). I was really shocked about this when I joined a Faction and suited up at the very late levels, it didn't feel like it made that much of a difference. One wonders what kind of incredible game Elex could have been with a better combat system. This honestly should be the biggest focus of Piranha Bytes with the inevitable sequel. If they ever put together a great combat system with the rest of their skills they could make a new classic.
Finally (I don't think this will qualify as a spoiler exactly, but I'd skip this paragraph if you're extremely anti-spoiler), the company makes one of the biggest mistakes I've ever seen with the final battle. You can save anywhere you want in the entire game, but in this last fight you can't save and if you die you have to go through an incredible long conversation tree again over and over. I found this extremely frustrating even though after a few tries I ended up closing it, but if you go into it with a weaker kit I think this could have been absolutely maddening.
Overall if you're fantasy RPG fan this will be a game you'll want to check out but it won't be for everyone. It is very hard at first, I know there was a long stretch early on where I was having huge trouble levelling up. Like another reviewer said, make sure you grab a companion as soon as possible, it makes it much easier if only to take some of the heat off you. Don't worry about exploring at first, just run a lot if things are too difficult. Once you get away from the faction areas into the wilderness the game really shows its strengths with all sorts of places your curiosity will lead you to. You will see enemies you can't even imagine defeating but later in the game every enemy can be overcome. I still thing this excessive difficulty at the beginning makes the later game feel a lot more rewarding and it's one of the reasons I will always come back to Piranha Bytes RPGs.
Also it should be noted that this game has massive conversations with characters. It can also make the opening of the game extremely tedious if you're just hoping to get out and loot. It does give the characters a lot of depth and some realistic interaction, but by the end of the game I was getting so tired of taking 10 minutes per character I started skipping through the conversations. But also by that point I had gotten a little weary of the story. For all the care taken in specific missions, many of which have been well thought through, I felt the overall story was perhaps a bit too familiar. I would guess it's very difficult to eke out new territory in fantasy or science fantasy, so I wouldn't grade it too hard, but part of this is that not all of the voice acting is very good, it actually varies widely in talent. Also the lack of diversity in character races here should really be an embarrassment, but the character models are also all too similar. I remember at first thinking that most of the male characters looked like Bruce Campbell.
But overall I would say the brilliant aspects of the game outweigh the frustrating 60 to 40. I'll be in for the sequel. This is a wonderfully creative team overall and have done such great work on this game. I absolutely cringe when people fire games up for an hour only to come over to Amazon to rip on them, somehow ignoring the absolutely incredible creativity on display, as if the thousands of hours people put in on these things aren't worth acknowledging. Not me, with the caveats expressed I still had a wonderful time and found this was well worth the price. | video-games_xbox |
Its not as good as the fanboys make it seem. First off the game is gorgeous, free roam is great and the animations are fantastic. However, the game play lacks any depth what-so-ever. You basically hold two buttons to do all the action packed exciting stunts you see in the trailers and game-play footage. It requires no skill or attention. Its a simple game to play through in optimal role-play fashion. Its easy to beat dozens of opponents at a time without fail and its easy to assassinate the primary targets.
Lets focus on the free roaming first. All you do is hold two buttons and run into things, instead of your character colliding with the environment runs up walls/boxes/doors/whatever grabbing onto any protrusions scaling upward - ever upward with no effort from the player. That's the first disappointment, lack of effort for awesome interaction. On the other hand the automated action is easy allowing the most simple minded person to get into the game and feel like an acrobat or leet pro gamer - its poorly done. The game will target the nearest thing to jump to on occasion, or it won't target anything at all. Since its all automatic you're left sitting there like, "ok... what do I do since the game doesn't see the ledge above me from this angle even though it allows me to climb from here"? Its frustrating. Your character will randomly grab things in the complete opposite direction you're moving the joystick or he'll just sit there humping a wall instead of grabbing onto the ledge 2 feet over his head.
The next flaw is the fighting system. Its exactly the same as the climbing/running/acrobatics system so this will save some time and space. You hold a button do defend and add a button to counter or dodge. Or you can simply hit ONE button repeatedly to execute every attack combination in the game! Wow! How long did it take to develop that?? Clearly not as long as it should have since half the time nothing works. Honestly you're better off swinging randomly with the one button at whatever enemies are nearby because half the time defensive stances + dodge/counter do NOTHING. The single button approach you simply tap one button over and over and over and over and over and over, you don't even have to use the joystick to direct anything since the game likes to randomly target something new!
Still, its an ok game (6/10). Although overrated in my opinion, its worth playing since you can get it for $[...] bucks used. People who say its a 10/10 or 9/10 or 8/10 - I compliment for supreme patients or far more booze than I had when I played or I question their sanity/sincerity. | video-games_xbox |
These are good, but not perfect. Just like most people, I bought these so that my fiance wouldn't have to hear me on the nights where she had to get up early and go to work when I had the next day off.
The sound is good, but not AWESOME. I read the reviews here and talked to other people that used them and everyone said they sound AMAZING. I've got great ears for sound quality unlike many people and I didn't think these were as "amazing" as people were putting them out to be. They are good, but not great. If you play CoD4, you can sometimes tell when someone is running behind you but a lot of the time, you just don't know if they are in front or sometimes on your side. They have to be almost directly on your side for you to hear them just in the one speaker.
People have mentioned the "wires/sound being backwards". Well, everyone is use to having the mic on their right and ear force has changed it to have the mic on your left. Just something to get use to I guess.
Others have mentioned their batteries were being eaten a live, well BUY RECHARGEABLES. Some guy said rechargeables don't work but they do. This is what I bought:
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/La-Crosse-Technology-BC-900-AlphaPower-Battery-Charger/dp/B00077AA5Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">La Crosse Technology BC-900 AlphaPower Battery Charger</a>
They work great and you can use the AA's that come with it on your Xbox controller. This is a much smarter buy than getting the recharge tower for the Xbox 360 Controller Rechargeable batteries.
Another issue I have with this set is the sound cutting out. Other people have said, and others confirmed, that when there's a big explosion, the sound cuts out. This is true...sort of. When I first got them, I was playing on my couch almost directly in line with the sensor and everything was working perfectly. Then the next time I played, I was sitting on the floor, not in direct line (I was under the sensor) and I noticed that the loud sounds would cut out. So after noticing that, I started moving around and realized that you have to be pretty much dead on for it to work 99% perfect. By doing this, it shouldn't cut out and if it does, it is not really noticeable.
One thing that is annoying is when I turn these on, they don't "work" right away. I have to tap one of the sensors for these to start working. Annoying but I can live with it.
I've had mine for about 2 weeks now and I'm enjoying them. They are pretty good for playing CoD4 and if you have a wife, fiance, girlfriend or even family that you don't want to disturb at night, this is definitely the product to buy (unless you have $250 to spend, then get one of those MLG sponsored headsets).
So overall 4 out of 5 stars. | video-games_xbox |
Great Headphones, might be too much for most. So this is my first headset for the PC. It works as advertised. The headset itself is light, but quite sturdy. It fit my average sized head quite well, and the soft pads on the ear muffs fits over the ears. This is a much more comfortable position than having them rest against the ear itself for me. Very comfortable.
You need to know that you can purchase just the headset and plug the normal jacks into the Headphones and Mic ports of your sound card or computer. The cord is long enough to connect to the Front ports on the machine and remain in a normal seating position at a desk. If you need to connect it to the back of the PC, that will work as well but you won't be able to sit too far back from the desk.(not normally a problem for most people anyway)
The little Mix Amp unit needs an Optical Out from your sound card to work with the PC. This is provided in the packaging.
The Mix Amp connects to your PC. And then another unit connects to the Headset. So the Headset is NOT truly wireless. You can have the 5.8 Receiver unit as far from the mixamp transmitter as you want, but the Headset itself must be connected by wires to the Receiver.
[Computer]====[5.8Mixamp]~~~(wireless)~~~[5.8 Receiver]=======[Headset].
That said even with concrete walls I could walk into another room and still have clear audio from the Headset. So the signal is stable and strong. You need batteries for the 5.8 receiver box. The batteries only last about 5 hours of constant use. There is a USB cord that can charge/power the 5.8 Receiver Box if you opt for rechargeable batteries.
The supposed 7.1 audio part of the 5.8 Mixamp I don't get. If I plug the headset directly into my computer, and adjust my VIA HD Audiodeck settings I get excellent sound. I get separation, a surround effect, great bass and I can tune the equaliser however I want to. With the Optical Out digital connection I lose that ability to modify the audio. This may provide a 'cleaner' sound, but I'm just not hearing it. Maybe my ears have been damaged by clubbing or something. For me, I could have bought the Headset, and done without the 5.8 mix amp as I am sitting at my computer anyway. I believe it would still be necessary to connect the Headsets (which have just a normal headphones jack and a normal mic jack) to a PS3 or an Xbox360. I have not tried using the headset on either of these units yet.
For PC use, I think the MixAmp 5.8 is overkill. | video-games_xbox |
Great terrain deformation is wasted on generic gameplay. The Good: Great graphics, story has a great premise, terrain deformation is revolutionary, cool weapons and grenades,...sucky powers!
The Bad: Plain graphics, story isn't done justice, very derivative, cheap deaths
The hoopla about Fracture was the terrain deformation technology that Lucas Arts created to hopefully push next-gen games in another direction. The technology works and really changes the way games are played, but it's wrapped around a derivative, almost boring, third person shooter with a luke-warm plot, lame enemies, and cheap deaths. The story goes a little something like this: The world has finally gone too far with global warming and the USA uses terrain deformation to split the US of A into two parts so the northern polar waters can flow through without taking the country under. Knowing our testosterone induced government, both sides create their own little "nations" the Alliance (east) and the Pelicans...I mean Pacificans (west). A crazy lunatic, Sheridan, who thinks his ideas are better than every one elses' tries to use human modifications to take over the world. So agent Jet Brody (isn't that a girls name?) is sent in to do the one-man-army thing. While the story is really interesting it's never delivered properly and isn't utilized enough.
The game does have some pretty cool weapons...along with annoying ones. They are have weird abbreviated letter-number names, but you have a cool grenade launcher called the Black Widow that lets you detonate the grenades on your command. You have rocket launchers, a sniper rifle that only has two rounds per clip (what?!), a couple of different machine guns you get the idea.
Now you're probably wondering what this terrain deform-whatchamacallit is right? Well you have a tool called the entrencher and you can raise and lower dirt WOW?!?2!#$#! DIRT!!! Ok really...it's very helpful and you use it to solve puzzles, get up ledges etc. Another part of your terrain deform-whodawhat are your grenades. Some lower the ground, some raise it, and the coolest are the spike grenades. They raise a spike right out of the ground!!! You can use this to get to higher places, make bridges by pushing broken parts of it up, or kill enemies! I also have to mention that the game does have that shield recharging thing like in Halo (damn you Halo!! You've cursed us for life!!!), but your shield and melee power grows over time. You also have a cool stomping technique to crush enemies and comes in handy at CQC.
Now that all of that is out of the way the game is really cheap. They throw too many enemies at you and you can't really find cover since you have to make your own with your entrencher, but terrain can be lowered by shooting at it so everything kind of negates itself. You can freeze terrain with a certain weapon (who knows what it's called right!) and enemies then BLOW hit them and they EXPLODE! The game also has like a sucky engine where you can use a Lodestone (why that name?!) to suck enemies into one spot and pull debris on top of them. I also love the portal grenade that has this huge swirling sucky...power...that has a HUGE radius and kills everything! Now the enemies are pretty smart. They dodge grenades, get to cover, and will run away from you and melee you when you come too close. I have no complaints about the AI it's really good.
The visuals however are pretty damn good with lots of particle effects, high res textures, and great lighting. The game looks awesome, but everything still looks just plain. The enemies are always yellow (kind of reminded me of Haze and TimeShift for some reason), there aren't many different enemies, and everything is just too close to the real world. You fight in San Francisco then you move to snowy DC. It's very typical and nothing very awe inspiring. When it comes to multiplayer I can't tell you much because I didn't bother trying it since the single player bored me of this game. You can beat the game in about 6-8 hours and it's pretty darn short. This is a great rental, but for the love of god take your $60 and buy Dead Space, Silent Hill: Homecoming, or go pre-order Fallout 3 and Gears of War 2...just don't waste $60 on this game! | video-games_xbox |
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor Xbox 360 Review. I give Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor for the Xbox 360 a 2.5 out of 5 for the reasons I list below. No spoilers of any kind.
So I, like many of you, have yet to make the switch to the current generation consoles. However, I have been reading up on this game for months, eagerly awaiting its arrival. So far I have mixed feelings.
First, I had no problem whatsoever with the installation. Just make sure you are disconnected from the internet when installing disc one, like several reviews have mentioned. Installation took under three minutes.
I have now logged about 8 hours in the game. The gameplay is a lot of fun--if you are a fan of the Batman Arkham series, you will enjoy the combat in this game. I truly enjoy taking on swarms of orks and uruks, all the while using different combos and/or strategies to take them out. As far the the 'dumbed down' nemesis system is concerned, while I cannot compare it to the current generation consoles/PC version, I have been pleasantly surprised with it so far. I set a uruk captain on fire and purposely let him escape, and the next time I ran into him his face was burnt and he was not happy with me.
Like others have stated, the graphics are definitely sub-par, especially in relation to other relatively new games on the 360 (Grand Theft Auto 5 and Wolfenstein: The New Order immediately come to mind). The cutscenes look nice, but as soon as gameplay begins the graphics look very outdated and muddy. However, its the texture pop-ins and screen tearing that really affect the experience. I can live with the low end graphics, but when my character is standing still and the texture of a distant rock changes both shape and color (sometimes several times), that is just plain laziness on behalf the developers, particularly since the release date was delayed--one would think most of these issues would have been addressed. The load times, while not terribly slow (think Skyrim), do get annoying when you have to wait 5-6 seconds every time when exiting the menu.
Verdict: While the gameplay is fun, overall I am disappointed with the product. The game does not feel nearly as polished as other recent titles for the Xbox 360, and I do not believe this is a result of old hardware but rather apathy on the part of the developers. We've seen what the 360 and PS3 can do, and this does not live up to those standards. I still enjoy slaying orcs and watching the uruk captains battle for positions within the orc hierarchy, but not as much as I should be. If I could do it again, I would upgrade my system before purchasing this game, or at the very least wait until the title hits the bargain shelf. | video-games_xbox |
Perfection. I likes AC. I loved ACII. But this game really was my personal favourite. However, I've three HUGE complaints about it.
The Good:
The plot is amazing, and the setting is historical and gorgeous. I got this game without any prior knowledge about the plot. I wanted to be surprised. I didn't speak to anyone about it, I didn't Google anything. I wanted to be left in the dark. I did not know the name of the new character, I didn't know the main enemies, nothing. All I knew was the box art. When the game begins you play as Haytham and soon you discover you are not playing as the hero. It was so shocking to me that I was playing as one of the games villains right from the beginning. The way the game makes you think what he's doing is good and then completely twists it around blew my mind.
Once you control Connor the game continues to just be amazing. The game's difficulty was a bit too easy once you get used to the controls. Most of the hunting was quick-time events or instant kills, and hunting took up a lot of the game. The story isn't very long, it's just some of the grinding and side quests that drag the plot along. If you were to play the game without caring about Achievements/Trophies, side quests, etc, the game would only be less than ten hours long (the same flaw that Fallout 3 had).
I loved seeing all the real life historical figures in the game. George Washington, Charles Lee, the Marquis de Lafayette, Benjamin Franklin, etc. One glaring omission was James Monroe (I think he might have been in the DLC).
The Bad:
My first of three major complaints is that you can no longer really kill everyone. You can still kill people, but only enemies. I know some may consider it sick and twisted to kill innocent people, but it's a video game. Especially in ACII one of the things I constantly found myself doing was running up to some random person and performing a stealth kill just to see if I'd get caught. The difference and most likely the reasoning for the change in this new game is because Ezio wasn't quite the perfect hero. He was a womanizing, pickpocket who doesn't have the same moral code as Connor. Ezio wouldn't have a the same moral burden if he just stabbed someone. Connor is supposed to be the symbol of absolute goodness. He's a bit too good and never really does anything wrong at all, ever. He, unlike Ezio, isn't selfish, thinking of himself. So, I guess he never would just stab random people, but for me that removes so much of the fun of being an ASSASSIN!!! There is very little assassinating in this game.
My second complaint is a the amount of bugs in the game. Upon initial release the game was unplayable. There was a patch released immediately that fixed some of the more killer bugs but so many of the side quests could not be started, finished, they lock the game up, the game would freeze, there would be floating characters, sinking characters, things would vanish, things would appear, character models would go all crazy, people would be standing inside other people, etc. The bugs were so bad the game was terrible. There were some that as far to my knowledge have yet to be fixed (unless someone's released an unofficial patch.
And the Ugly:
The game killed my Xbox. The Xbox is already a flawed console, but when I got to the credits after beating the game there's a bit of a narration (a newscaster type voice over). Right when that voice stopped speaking the game locked up. Reset. I get to that spot again. The game locked up. Reset. RRoD. The end. Goodbye Xbox. I repurchased the game on PS3. No problems at all there. | video-games_xbox |
I had to put in another 5-star review: possibly the best video game ever. I have to rank this among the best video games ever made. Yes, it is a specific kind of gameplay that take some getting used to for those not accustomed to it, but the payoff is huge: incredibly rich combat that can be affected in a thousands of ways from choices you make in regards to character creation and development, inventory management, party configuration, tactics...I could go on-- but I'm telling you it is the coolest thing ever to know and experience that bad choices made at the beginning and middle of the game, can have a huge impact on how combat goes right through to the end. As you rack up the play-throughs, it is so satisfying to play the game more strategically, to develop your party's skills and abilities and manage your inventory with a view toward what will happen later in the game. As you get to understand the characters, understanding how to combine their skills is like an endless puzzle that can be put together in an infinite variety of ways.
In one play-through, I focused on purchasing only the very most expensive items in the game, scrimping and saving and never spending on any minor items, selling everything I could do without. I was able to purchase a handful of truly powerful items with some massive stats. This produced very different results than the first time I played, in which I quickly spent my money buying skill and ability "tomes" that allowed my character to advance more rapidly through the skill sets and stat progressions.
In yet another playthrough, I challenged myself at many points to use unlikely combinations of party members: all fighters, for example, or multiple mages, or multiple rouges--- rather than a balanced party, I had fun with creating imbalance.
Knowing that your success and failure in the game is almost purely mental-- that it is your intellectual choices in strategizing, planning, prioritizing, allocating resources, and making tactical decisions, is so much more satisfying than your average button-masher, where all that counts is quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination.
And all that would really be something, even if it were the only dimension of the game, but on top of that, you have an amazing story, which can take so many different turns based on how you play! The story is fully acted out, with amazing voices and real moments of drama, tension, and heartbreak. For example, in one game I had a lesbian relationship, in another my female character had a romance with a male, in another my male character had relations with three other characters--- each of whom demanded exclusivity, and I was forced to choose between them. In one playthrough, a particular character end up coldly betraying and trying to kill me, and in another, the same character sided with me and refused to betray me! This "choice" on his part was influenced by the loyalty I created with him through dialog and finding items in the game that were meaningful to his personal story.
So many things in this game can be different each time you play though, it is simply mind boggling. In my third play, I was still hearing tons and tons of dialog I had not experienced before. My party characters were having conversations that were related to choices I made that were completely different in one game than another. For example, in one playthrough, Morrigan (female mage) and Sten (male fighter) had an ongoing sexual banter with each other. This was completely absent in another playthrough!
All of the above fully explains why this game is a little lacking in the graphical detail. They simply couldn't fit it all in...there's no way to cram this much onto one disc. That being said, the overall art direction, and the direction of the scenes and whatnot is fantastic. It is just the textures and some of the dialogs that look a bit clumsy.
Wow, I could write about this game all day long. This is just the best. I'm so happy that Bioware continues to push the envelope with games that go way beyond the usual shoot-em/beat-em-ups. I'm also happy that this game is fully supported with dowloadable content and future expansion modules. Let me say: DO get the dowloadable modules Soldiers Peak, Stone Prisoner, and Return to Osatagar-- they make a huge campaign into a true epic, and they are fairly priced. And there's an full expansion module coming out in March 2010! I cannot wait!! | video-games_xbox |
Wow. Just. Wow. What a blast. Seriously.
This game is tons o' fun! Me and two buddies played some of the No Mercy campaign last night, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
First off, it's super easy to get right into a match. If you wanna just jump right into the action and don't really care where or with whom, no problem, it'll drop you into a campaign that needs some more non-CPU players. If you wanna join up with some friends and start a private-room campaign, no problem, it'll take a couple minutes, tops. They even put in a feature on the main menu that shows you what friends of yours are playing 'right now'. There's not alot of waiting in a lobby while people drop in and out; it loads up really quickly.
Second, if you're in a campaign with other people, you can actually pause without it really affecting the game for your character or everyone else's. If you get a phone call you have to take, or a pizza delivery man at the door, no problem, the CPU will take over your character while you watch the action. Then just jump right back in when you want. An excellent feature.
Yes, the levels could've been a little more soapbox-like, and these campaigns do seem to be a bit on the linear side. That doesn't really bug me too much simply because I'm too wrapped up in fighting off the zombie hordes. It would be nice to see a bit more free-roaming incorporated into some future campaigns (maybe as DLC, please Valve? pretty please?).
Overall, the gameplay is fantastic. I didn't notice any framerate issues, textures and lighting are really well done, enemies are tough, music is just right, weapons are great, and the atmosphere is top-notch.
Left 4 Dead is a co-op game in the truest sense of the word. You HAVE to work with your teammates. If you don't, you're as good as dead. It really forces you to use some tactical skills, and TALK to each other.
I honestly don't know who I wouldn't recommend this game to. I guess, yeah, if you aren't on Live (and honestly, if you have a 360, you SHOULD be), this may not be your cuppa joe. But for those of you who enjoy gaming with other people, like first-person shooters, and are ready for a fun challenge, get this game. Seriously.
Oh, and to anyone reading this who may have some influence: DLC for future campaigns and maybe some more characters would be VERY cool. I love what Valve has given us already...I just want more. | video-games_xbox |
Great new different kind of game, with a hint of GTA. This is my opinion / perspective.
First, it's a solid 4 star game. It Rocks and will keep you busy for a good 100 hours.
Now, people, we all knew this game would be over-rated, and it is. The GTA franchise is a monster now and fanboys will eat up anything Take Two/ Rockstar will throw at them. This is not a 10 star game Gamespot!
Perhaps this game is being treated unfairly because it's being compared to its predecessors and needs to live up to the "next gen" spec. To be appreciated, it shouldn't be judged by either or it will fall short.
Landscapes-
I feel they took the major landmarks and put them in, although most of them seem to be in the wrong place. You wouldn't be able to drive down the street you live on for example. However, the Bronx feels like the Bronx, Manhattan feels like Manhattan, etc. Which is great. (I live on Long Island). All in all, the landscape is damn near amazing!
Graphics-
I feel they did well considering the complexity of the environment. But to compare graphics to games like Bioshock, COD4, Halo3, GOW, etc. this game falls short. It is not quite "Next-Gen". Although the game is smooth, the lights from the buildings and bridge look great in the background, and when it rains (as well as the sun) it looks realistic on the road. The graphics are great considering the compromise for data and complexity.
Voices- there are no popular ones. Roman can get annoying, and Niko sounds like Shrek. Other than that, they are good. (We had Sam Jackson and James Woods last game, not to mention DTS discreet surround sound in Vice city).
Things I liked from San Andreas that are absent in 4:
As far as connecting with the characters, you cannot talk to them like in SA (good comment or negative comment)
Cannot change physical appearance
Clothing stores and apparel much more limited in 4
No territory wars in 4
No property to buy
No houses to buy
No planes, just a helicopter. (Which also means no air force with 6 stars)
The motorcycles are not as plentiful and varied.
Weapons! Where are they? You kinda have to buy em in this game.
Nothing to spend your money on.
More complex map in 4 but not as big in scale as SA
In SA, when aiming, you could switch targets much easier. Its clunky in 4.
Harder missions. The missions in 4 seems very easy.
You cannot recruit gang members to ride with you.
Things I like in 4 that are missing in other versions:
NPC's (civilians) are more varied, fat, skinny, homeless, rude, tough, a lot more cursing. More dynamic. I watched a man get arrested on the street and after he put his hands up he walked to a cop car that pulled up in the street and the cop put him in the back seat and then drove away. Much more going on in the city, in the background.
Changing clothes is much quicker.
The cell phone is a great touch.
The story is engaging and the characters are great.
The cars are much more realistic, and more modern (Chrysler 300) Although the game still has the glitch were there AI cars depends on the type that you are driving.
Rag doll physics (they way people fall when shot)
MULTIPLAYER! Free mode is going to be a blast!
Blood stains on cars where you hit people.
You can take the cabs/Romans taxi anywhere you want
"Street Ladies" are much more hidden (more realistic)
Warning level (identical to "Scarface") 1-2 stars is very easy to evade. 3 is tough. 4 or more is near impossible because its hard to outrun a helicopter and:
The pay n' Spray won't clear your wanted level if the cops see you entering.
Getting drunk.
They should have:
Included an option to buckle up
Made turning in cars easier.
Made a 3 star level in free mode the same as a 3 star level in a mission (much harder in a mission)
Left out the darts, bowling, pool etc. Boring. And stupid.
These are just some of the things I can think of. Overall, this is a great game that I will be playing for a while. I remember feeling overwhelmed with SA when I started playing it, and not so much with 4. It seems they got rid of the overhead (fancy actors and DTS, more fun side things) and gave us the basic scraps knowing that this game was gonna be huge no matter what. And everyone is drinking the Kool-Aid. While it doesn't quit feel "Next-gen" in appearance, consider all the data it takes up for the complexity. There are a lot of great improvements from the last and does leave you satisfied. However, these improvements do not overshadow the fact that they left out a lot of fun things from previous versions. I shouldn't want to play SA all over again, but I do.
Try to judge it as a distinct game made by Taketwo/Rockstar, not a continuation in the GTA series. | video-games_xbox |
Need For Speed Shifts. This is by far, one of the best games that I have ever experienced. The game has unbelievable graphics and the cockpit camera view makes it even more fun. I bought this game with the Microsoft Racing Wheel which I highly recommend because it really makes you feel like you are behind the wheel.
I am a Porsche addict, and this game provides you with a wide Variety. 2008 Porsche 911 GT2, 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, 2004 Porsche Carrera GT and 2007 Porsche Cayman S. As for the other cars, the games has:
Aston Martin
- Aston Martin DB9
- 2006 Aston Martin DBR9
Audi
- 2009 Audi R8 LMS
- 2008 Audi R8
- 2008 Audi RS4
- 2007 Audi S3
- 2007 Audi TT 3.2 quattro
- 2006 Audi S4
BMW
- BMW M3 E36
- BMW M3 E46
- BMW M3 E92
- 2008 BMW 135i Coup
- 2009 BMW M3 GT2
- 2007 BMW Z4 M Coup
Bugatti
- 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Dodge
- 2006 Dodge Challenger Concept
- 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10
Ford
- Vaughn Gittin Jr's 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT
- 2010 Ford Shelby GT500
- 2007 Ford Focus ST
- 2006 Ford GT
- 2006 Need For Speed Shelby Terlingua
- 1996 Ford Escort RS Coswortha
Chevrolet
- 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
- 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
- 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Honda
- 2006 Honda Civic Si
- 2000 Honda S2000
Koenigsegg
- 2006 Koenigsegg CCX
Lamborghini
- 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
- 2007 Lamborghini Murcilago LP640
- 2007 Lamborghini Reventn
Lotus
- 2006 Lotus Elise 111R
- 2007 Lotus Exige S
Maserati
- 2005 Maserati MC12 GT1
Mazda
- 2008 Mazda MX-5
- 2006 Mazda RX-8
- 1995 Mazda RX-7
McLaren
- 1994 McLaren F1
Mercedes-Benz
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
Mitsubishi
- 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
- 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR-edition
Infiniti
- 2003 Infiniti G35 (V35)
Nissan
- 1997 Nissan 200SX (S14)
- 2009 Nissan 370Z (Z34)
- 2006 Nissan 350Z (Z33)
- 2009 Nissan GT-R SpecV (R35)
- 2008 Nissan GT-R (R35)
- 2000 Nissan Silvia (S15) spec. R Aero
- 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)
- 1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
- 1992 Nissan 240SX (S13)
Pagani
- 2006 Pagani Zonda F
- 2010 Pagani Zonda R
Renault
- 2008 Renault Mgane RS
SEAT
- 2007 SEAT Leon Cupra
Subaru
- 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Lexus
- 2007 Lexus LF-A Concept
SCION
- 2008 SCION tC
Toyota
- 1986 Toyota Corolla GTS (A86)
Volkswagen
- 2008 Volkswagen Scirocco
- 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI
So, as you can see there are very nice cars in the game. And, like it's not good enough, the game allows you to customize the cars in hundreds of different ways. I recommend it completely. | video-games_xbox |
Best Game That Has Ever Been Produced. Ok to start off. Let me get something strait. This was not developed by Infinity Ward. But by Treyarch. And thats a good thing. Because IW (Infinity Ward) does a good job, but not good enough. NOTICE: the game physics are the same as COD 4. Thats because IW came up with some pretty good stuff. Like the health system, (thats like real life) and aiming down sight. But treyarch has so much more skill. Because they take what IW has thought of, and make it 10 times better. Like for instance, COD 4 had a great, intense, dramatic, awesome campaign. Treyarch with COD 5 made the campaign more intense, dramatic, awesome campaign. That is my intro, I will write the rest of the review on campaign, online, co-op, the bonus nazi zombies, and my outro
CAMPAGN: Well to start off the story is TRUE. yep true. treyarch is one of the only companies in the world who will take the time to find hundreds and hundreds of files from history. So much history, that this can be a fun way to learn about WW2. there is so much history in this game. that if you aim you're target at any allied person, plane, or ship. it will tell you the name of the person, ship, or plane. and what class it is. You play the role of two people, pvt. Miller and on the russian side, pvt. petrinko. (sorry if I didn't remember the name but it's something like that) And guess what? Those guys are real people, and everyone else who the game will say it's name. This is not you're average campaign, it's THE BEST. These guys have there history right.
ONLINE: Perfect for anyone who got exited about COD 4's multyplayer. Same physics, earn you're way up for better perks, guns, grenades, and attachments. Good maps, clean, fun, and barely any glitches. Plus get more maps from map packs 1, 2, and 3.
NAZI ZOMBIES: This is a new addition to the game. EXTREMELY addictive. you start of in a room with only a pistol. there are five windows with barriers. The zombies will start to brake of the windows. TIP: on rounds 1 2 and 3 only use you're knife. Every time you kill a zombie or rebuild a barrier, you get points. (these points are like money) This game goes on forever until you either die or quit. The strategy of this game is to earn 2000 points in the first room.
Then open the door with chalk writing that says HELP. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OPEN THE STAIRS IN THE MAIN ROOM. Anyway, in the help room, in the corner is a long rectangular box with two question marks on the top of it. This will be the key to the game. Its the Random Weapon Box. It costs 950 points. Keep using this until you have two decent weapons. You can also buy weapons from the chalk drawing on the wall, but those aren't as good as some of the lucky ones in the box. Anyway if you aren't satisfied with the two rooms you already have. Go into the help room and you will see a second set of stairs. OPEN THESE IS YOU WANT TO GO UPSTAIRS SO BAD! If you open the other ones it will make the game ten times harder. Overall fun bonus game!
Co-op: This is a fun way to enjoy the great campaign, but with a friend. NOTICE: you need two controllers to play co-op and some levels are not available in co-op.
OUTRO: Well as you can see, a worth while game. This game has been totally forgotten! With the release of Modern Warfare 2 No one remembers this game. One of my friends used to play this game all the time ALL THE TIME. But after MW2. He didn't even know what I was talking about. So I had him play it, and memories started to flow back to him, and he just got totally SUCKED. And with Nazi Zombies thats just icing on the cake. Plus all three map packs adds a couple years of enjoyment. Plus for the first time ever, you can reduce the graphic content in the options menu. And another first, in fall 2010 treyarch will release another call of duty, but this time.. about Vietnam. IW will no longer be in the call of duty productions. Don't take that as complete truth, thats just a rumor for now. But time will tell.
Over all a REALLY GREAT game! | video-games_xbox |
Will you still love me...when I'm 60gb. Just picked up the new 60gb sku of the Xbox 360 and have a few things to report. My main reason for getting this was mainly due to getting the RRoD on my first 360 (which was purchased when Gears of War came out). Microsoft, of course, sent me a replacement unit in March of 2008. However, the replacement ended up sounding worse than my original. The fan was louder. The disc drive was louder. I heard all kinds of weird chirps and whirs coming out of it, which was very distracting and irritating. Needless to say, I was not pleased.
I began hearing about the new mother boards and power supplies being shipped with the newer sku's and started to get intrigued. Could Microsoft finally be solving the dreaded RRoD problem? Supposedly, the newer mother boards included a smaller, 65nm chipset that produced less heat and required the fans to spin slower (hence less noise and overheating). Many of you have probably heard of the Falcon chipset or the Jasper chipset. Well, I can't really tell which one my unit has, but I can tell you there are some improvements.
The new 60gb 360 has the 175 watt power supply. It is smaller and lighter than the original power brick. The console does run a little quieter and cooler. I would not say that it runs whisper quiet, but it's not nearly as loud as my original or replacement unit. The disc drive runs a little quieter as well. According to the label, my unit was manufactured in June of 2008, so I assume it has the Falcon chipset in it. If anyone has more information about these chipsets, please enlighten me.
It comes with an HDMI port, which I really like. I will say that after I connected the console to my TV, the image seemed a lot brighter than with component cables. I had to turn down the brightness on my TV, but it looked fine then.
The console comes preloaded with several demos, including Pac-man, Geometry Wars, and several others I can't remember. It has a full version of Hexic installed. After I transferred my game saves and gamer profile, I had about 45gb of storage left on the hard drive. Plenty of room for other demos and whatnot.
Getting it connected to Xbox Live took no time at all. Set up was straight forward and easy. I certainly hope that this sku stands the test of time (at least until the Xbox 720 comes out). So far, I like what I see. | video-games_xbox |
This game was perfect. Starwars Battle Front II is a great game and any slight starwars fan would have no doubt about buying this game. On this game when you play campaign, Rise of the Empire, you start off as a Clone Trooper with your squad called the "501st" you battle just as you would in the movies. And instead of just taking over command posts and killing your enemys, like on the original Battle Front, the enemy has unlimited reinforcements so you better be quick because you only have a limited amount of troops and you now have objectives to do. Later in the game you turn into the Empire instead of the Clone Troopers.
This game is almost like the first one, except now you can take the battle to space! To win space battles grab anything you can, a fighter, a bomber, or a transport ship, just get over to that enemy star destroyer and do anything you can to get rid of your enemy. You can either bomb the star destroyer from the outside or go inside and destroy anything you can by blowing it up. If you take a transport ship and land it in the enemy hanger that transport is a spawn point untill it is destroyed.
On the battle field you have an opertunity to become a hero: Yoda, Obi Wan, Mace Windu, Darth Vader ect. Your hero does not last forever so you need to take advantage of the time you have by taking over highly guarded command posts or just wipeing
out the enemy. Your hero has a time limit that goes down slowly, but when you get hit it takes a portion out of the amount of time you can use your hero, and when you kill an enemy a portion is gained. All heros have a second attack besides their light sabers, some have force lightning, others have force push, or force choke, and all the heros, equiped with a light saber, can throw their light sabers. The jedi heros can run very fast if sprinting, which is very usefull if you need to get somewhere quickly, and don't have a vehicle.
Most of the weapons are still the same and there are new kinds of people you can be. Now instead of a reacon droid that your sniper or scout had before, they now have an auto turret, which is very cool and usefull when you need an extra gun or just somthing to guard a command post. The only small and very slight thing that disapointed me about this game is that you only can use flying vehicles in space and the planet Hoth, and that pretty much ruined Geonosis, But overall this game is still an easy five stars! There is no reason to rent this game just buy it because you'll be playing it by yourself and with friends all the time! | video-games_xbox |
A Very Nice Surprise. First I would like to say that my favorite types of games are Adventure, FPS, and RPG's (in no particular order), as I believe this makes a difference when reading one's review of a game.
I can say that this game really surprised me. I went into Singularity with absolutely no expectations, as I had heard nothing about this game. After about 30 minutes into though, I was hooked.
There have been a lot of comparisons of this game to others, and while I feel it does have many similarities to others it does not come across as a cheap imitation either. It definitely holds it's own. Now, having said that, if I were going to state any similarities, then I would say it's like Bioshock and Wolfenstein had a baby together, and they called it `Singularity'. I loved both of those games, and it's like Singularity took those and meshed them, for a new, yet familiar feel. The engine is the same as was used in Bioshock if I believe (the unreal engine). There is more of a FPS-feel than is in Bioshock, as this game has your more typical weapon options (compared to the drill in Bioshock 2 or perhaps the spear gun). This does not mean the weapons are not fun and full of variety. I loved them. There was a gun for everyone (Sniper, exploding darts, machine guns, shotguns, chain guns, pistols, grenade launchers, etc...), and each of these you can upgrade. Not to mention using these in combination with the TMD (your Time Manipulation Device) was fun as well. The flashbacks in time was like your Wolfenstein world, and the present was your Bioshock world (i.e. soldiers and more of a military feel in the 50's scenes, while in the present there were mutants running wild in an abandoned old settlement). The fact that your TMD is a pulsing glove-like item on your left hand only adds to the Bioshock feel, although the uses of the TMD are very different than those of your Plasmid's used in Bioshock (with the exception of the `telekinesis' in Bioshock and the `impulse' in Singularity - or at least that's what I `think' it's called - also similar to the gravity gun in Half Life - you can grab, pull, and throw objects that are far away).
The controls were easy to pick up on. Everything seemed very fluid and natural. I played it on Normal mode and found that there were challenging areas, yet nothing seemed just impossible either. Some areas/foes were much more difficult than others (to me this is how it should feel on normal mode). It had a nice mix of puzzles that took some thinking to pass, but were not ridiculously difficult to figure out (not `puzzles' really, you just have to sort out a way to manipulate the situation/area to proceed sometimes). The really enjoyed the graphics and environment, and I actually liked the gore...it added to the eerie feel of the game. I thought the enemies (the mutated ones) were well designed, pretty creepy critters. The different areas and foes gave you variations so you didn't feel like you were rinsing and repeating each area. It did well keeping things fresh and new. The story was great, very interesting, and the log's you find scattered throughout the world are good reads. They are not only interesting (the notes and recordings), but they really tell you more about the world you're in and help you understand more about the setting and people that were there as well as how things got to be how they are now.
I have to say my only complaints with this game are that I don't like relying solely on the auto-save process. I just like when I can save at any time and pick up from right there (as sometimes I have to quit playing unexpected and it's unfortunate if it hasn't `auto-saved' yet). The only other thing is I wish it had subtitles. If there is anything else going on in the room, I had trouble understanding some of my audio logs and such. I heard someone in another posting complain about the posters being in English (but with backwards R's and such) and that was disappointing to them since they speak some Russian.....but I would like to say I'm glad they were in English, as I speak no Russian nor do I want to try to translate a simple poster while I'm shooting mutants and running for my life. I like the quick-glance, see the sign in `English', and continue on my way. I realize it may not be the most realistic option, but this is a video game and I speak English. I'm not worried that the posters were unrealistic.....for God's sakes, I'm running around with a Time Manipulation Device welded to my arm!!!!!!
I also liked the hidden achievement for finding the `Lost' wheel.....nice and fun touch!!! '
Anyway, I give this game 5 stars overall because I thoroughly enjoyed playing it, feel it has a high replay value, and any complaints I had were small and my opinions only.
Thanks! | video-games_xbox |
Surprise surprise. This game is one of the very best Hero games available.. Guitar Hero 2, then Guitar Hero 5.. and that's really impressive to me.
Here's a rundown of pros and cons for folks looking to maybe make the purchase.
Pros
1. Party Mode is a blast, you enter into it.. no failing, just jamming.. Songs come to you randomly and people can jump in and out as they please, any set up you want.. 4 singers, sure.. 3 guitarists and a drummer.. fine. The thing I maybe like best about it though, is if no one is playing at all.. it still cranks the music over your surround sound.. very nice touch.
2. The set list is great, very diverse and very fun. Importing your downloads from World tour is a bonus, downloading songs off of World Tours disk(and Smash Hits to come later) is even better. Some of my early favorite tracks or artists: Judith, Deadbolt, American Girl, Band of Horses, Children of Bodom, What I got, Spirit of the Radio and King Crimson.. plus many many more.
3. The career mode is better, yet a lot more simple.. no longer are you trying to collect money, there is a challenge for each and every song.. Hit 300 kicks on Blue Orchid, 250 snares on They Say, these types of challenges made me want to play these songs, even though they were easier drum songs.. and it was fun to achieve the challenge.. I even played guitar and bass, to get complete some of the challenges, which is something I haven't done for awhile now.. as I had become all about the drums, until now.
4. The little things, the change of the drum set up(if you're like me, and use the Rock Band 2 drums, you'll know what I mean) The cymbals are mapped to what they are supposed to be now.. and that adds a lot of fun to the drums.. The menus are easy to navigate through, everything seems very seamless, which is very welcome if you've ever played World Tour. Picking and sticking with your own band is also very cool in quickplay.. unlike Rock Band 2 where your characters always change at random(unless you're in the tour) here you can select your band.. and they stay.. very cool small touch.
5. Many more, but I'll just end this by saying.. for the first time in a long time, I didn't want to go right back to Rock Band 2.. which means this game certainly is worth a pick up. Even by those that are Rock Band 2(only) enthusiasts.
Cons
1. I noticed this quickly.. its not as easy to pick the song you want to select as it should be.. yes, there is a sort function, and a lot of nice ones(drum intensity, or guitar, vocalist or bass intensity. Along with the normal genre and by band sort) but the problem is.. you have to hold down yellow to quickly get down the page, and it just doesn't work.. there is no way to look at each genre and select from there, so that was a disappointment.. Also, say you are trying to test yourself.. so you play Demons on drums.. you pass it.. you want to try the next one in line.. well, you start all the way back at the top again, and have to go through all of the songs(145 on my game with all the imports), so that's a little discouraging. Not a deal breaker, but.. a small pain.
2. The avatar integration is a little silly.. they just don't blend on screen.. sore thumb is an understatement(unless you have your whole band as avatars, then I guess it could be cool)
Honestly, I can't think of any more cons.. I'm sure some will come with time, but I just wanted to give people that were on the fence a heads up.. this game is much, much better then World Tour.. and feels like it added a lot of things that should have been there all along. Highly recommend. | video-games_xbox |
F- rating. Overall, this game is extremely lazyand offers nothing that works. The game literally CRASHES CONTINUOUSLY! The game has an 11GB day one update that DOESN'T fix ANY of the major glitches before patching!
Things the 11gb day one patch didn't fix:
Caw hair dye can't be used properly.
necklaces don't show up on Caw superstar or diva.
The locker room superkick has a glitched camera angle.
The breaker box spear omg has pixelation glitching.
Title belts can't be worn with jackets appropriately.
Ringside camera angles zoom way to far out.
Opponent can't be thrown off stage.
There are no new logos for create an arena.
There is no way to add logos offline from hardrive.
Frame rates during split screen tear and distort the picture.
Caw save names add 01 or 02 at the end; making something like this, bad blood '04 1.
Sweet chin music hit time is off sync with wake up.
Lighting in the outdoor arenas distort image.
Modern wwe logo is backstage for old school arenas.
No toggle for match rating hud.
Triple H 01 has hair going through his face durring his entrance.
Heavy frame tearing in any panning scene.
Title belts glitch durring breakout attack, especially when you try to place it back onto the ring from the outside.
And that all came about in less than half a day of gameplay due to patching 11gb on day one.
Not to mention the game copy and pastes 2K16 arenas and attires and adds nothing new. HBK looks exactly the same and basically any legend from 2K16 has been copy and pasted. I didn't even try universe mode or my career..can you imagine the glitches there? The visuals look nice but quickly become nothing when you see the garbage they hid beneath a fresh coat of paint. This is the worst WWE game ever from 2K. Simply garbage. Especially when you need MORE patching to fix this clearly broken product. Just steer clear if you are on the fence. It's such a major disappointment. | video-games_xbox |
Didn't live up to the hype. It was enjoyable for the first few days. The game revolves around you going to different planets and doing missions there. The problem is that these missions are extremely repetative; go here, kill grunts, shoot at big "boss" at the end and get a piece or two of armor. Random events usually involve you and whoever is sharing the map shooting some boss for 10 minutes till it dies.
Bungie branded this as being a social game but there isn't any voice communication that I have found.
The backstory seemed pretty solid, but that was not really expanded upon. Storytelling was garbage, this is coming from someone who loves a meaningful backstory and character driven plot. Most of the time neither I or any of my friends knew why we were where we were or the importance of what we were doing. Peter Dinklage seemed pretty amazed though (he had an alright performance btw). Overall, the story was kind of in the background, which made me drop any interest in the game significantly (I can only shoot the same enemy in the same area for a while before it gets old without any support from the plot). Atleast when Mass Effect and Halo made me kill hundreds of enemies for hours on end, they rewarded me with a sense that I accomplished something important and that actually matters, not a chest piece that's worse than the one I'm wearing.
Controls were good though. Shooting certainly felt good and the other actions you can perform were satisfying to pull off.
Graphically, this was awesome. Considering the Xbox 360 is at the end of the line, Bungie squeezed as much power as they could and the results were very impressive.
Online matchmaking though. I know this game is meant to primarily be PlayerVsEnvironment, but Bungie could have atleast tried to make the PlayerVsPlayer aspect not seem like a chore to even load into. Basically inbetween matches you're kinda just looking at your spaceship in orbit while the game sets up a match. This takes forever and when you have the requiered amount of people you gotta watch all those spaceships fly into the planet/map. Side note, the amount of cutscenes requiered to load somewhere, be it PvP or PvE, is ridiculous, around 2 minutes to go anywhere and scripted cutscenes that "drive" the plot are unskipable. The PvP is lacking in game modes, but since the focus is PvE I guess this can be looked over. Everyone's character stats are also edited to make matches balanced, but this doesn't fix the fact that the game still matches noobs with higher level players because since the players have similar stats matchmaking often ignores the amount of time each player has played, creating lopsided matches. Experience>Gear in FPSs, Bungie. After making pure gold with Halo's matchmaking system, you woulda thought they would have kept some of the people responsible for that with them, instead it looks like they left them all at Microsoft/343i.
Charscter customisation was alright, most players from the same class stand out agsinst each other, but you have to be level 20 to get cool looking stuff unless you want to rely on mediocre item drops.
You can also dance at any time, which I thought was cool and each race has a different dance, kinda redeemed the game a bit.
Overall the game had strong points, but all the stuff that should have been there (like a narrative) quite simply wasn't. I didnt't come in expecting a masterpiece, and I'm glad I didn't because the only time I see myself playing this in the future is when I have nothing to do online and need to fill a few hours, and maybe not even then because Battlefield 4 and Skyrim are pretty amazing. Maybe wait for a price drop because this game wasn't worth all the marketing and hype behind it. Maybe Destiny 2 will live up to the hype it will surely get.
Edit: Game also needs an Xbox Live Gold account and an internal hard drive. It also needs a 15 minute install and update before you do anything. | video-games_xbox |
The action RPG genre is redefined...again. BioWare has redefined the action RPG genre four years after releasing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic for the Xbox. This game builds on familiar themes of affecting the game world with the choices made within the game, main quest with hundreds of sub quests, NPCs with stories that tie together, space travel, and movie grade voice acting and character development. On top of that, they add voice read and text descriptions of the world three centuries from now. The backgrounds of technology, alien races, political situations (past and present), all meld together to form a world that is extremely thought out.
Until you play this game, you simply cannot fathom the scale of this game. The meld of an action game with RPG elements is perfect in this game. The action sequences are quick (especially with all the upgrades, RPG element) and the RPG elements are straight forward and are there to advance the story line.
The graphics and sound are pretty amazing even though there are glitches in both the graphics and sound engines. Though it would have been extremely time consuming to design unique worlds, BioWare did their best to vary the story line between missions on similar looking planets. The main world you explore which contains the Citadel (along with the worlds that advance the story line) are all fleshed out and extremely large. Exploring all of the Citadel and subplots from helping out NPCs will chew up days and weeks of your time. Every line of dialogue in the game is spoken.
The control scheme is walking in third person and shooting in first person. The menus are extremely easy to use (both weapons and abilities). I didn't run into any game glitches which would have caused me to restart a level or the game. I did run into a few instances where someone in my party didn't feel like walking with me towards the end of the game. This was fixed by walking back and gathering that person or re-entering a drivable vehicle in the game.
The weapons and abilities are varied. I played through the whole game using more of a marine character (rather than one that uses abilities). I am not sure if I'll be able to find the time to play through again with a character that uses abilities. If you have any interest in science fiction or the action RPG genre, you owe it to yourself to pick up this gem.
For both the hardcore and casual gamer, you can finish the game in under 40 hours or well over 40 hours. The choice is yours! | video-games_xbox |
Great Game for AC fans; vetrans might be turned off slightly. Being a vetran of AC1 and AC2, I know what is good and bad. Let's start with the good stuff: first of all, the maps in this game have expanded greatly from it's predecessor, with it's largest being Venice. There is a lot more variety in the missions as well: instead of five different missions (all the classic missions in AC1) there is now a larger amount of things to do in a mission. You still get the classic eavesdropping and stalking, but you also get chances to assist allies, upgrade your home base,and work with cool inventions by Da Vinci. The character is upgraded as well, for one thing, YOU CAN SWIM. Also, in AC1, air kills were more of an advanced kill technique and not really noted in tutorial. Now the air assassination is incorperated in the game more as well as other cool moves. Now there are somethings that kind of turned me off. I might be to blame partly, because I got really used to AC1 that the change might have been negative. Anyway, here are some problems: first off, graphics, specifically the characters themselves. You might not notice it, but the enimies you are fighting against show no emotion, their faces are literally blank. Also, they still haven't fixed much of the free-running that is sloppy, even seasoned vetrans have to contend with moves that require specific camera angles to pull off. Finally, the difficulty has changed dramatically. The counter-attack feature lasts longer, which is good for the first bit of the game experience, but it gets a little stale after some time. On the flip end, the have characters ganging up on you on some instances, ending up killing half of your health gone within a few seconds. The thing that really ticks me off is the health idea itself; instead of having it gradually rise like AC1, you have to BUY medicine to get your health back. The money idea has it's ups and downs, it brings more life to the game, but some items end up being overpriced.
Overall, this is a great game to own if you are an AC fan. Some old fashioned AC1 vetrans might be turned off slightly, but not enough to make you stop playing. For the vetrans, don't expect the game to be everything like the first, expect more and less at the same time. | video-games_xbox |
Needed Much More Work. Civil War - A Nation Divided, by the History Channel, lets you play as the north or the south. This first person shooter tries to immerse you in the gritty brother-on-brother fighting.
For people used to the fast paced guns and assaults of the various World War II games, Civil War can be a lesson in patience. When you take a shot with certain weapons, there's a long reloading sequence before you can take a second shot. For those who complain this is too long, it's actually a shortened version from how reloading worked back then. There are cannons to fire, covered wagons to hide behind, and explosives to set.
Civil War is an odd mix when it comes to graphics. On one hand, the fire graphics are pretty realistic, and the rippling streams beneath the bridges add a nice ambiance. On the other hand, there are clipping errors all over the place, with bodies mixing into each other and into nearby scenery.
The missions are standard wargame fare - kill off certain soldiers, blow up certain obstacles, get to certain destinations. The game, however, makes this challenging in ways which are not historically accurate. Somehow, people are able to shoot you from completely blocked vantage points. On the other hand, if you crouch behind a barricade, half the time they can still shoot you, because you absently seem to leave body parts (like your head) poking up over the top.
AI can be really awful. We've thrown a grenade at an enemy and he has completely ignored it (even though it literally bounced off of him) - he just kept reloading his rifle until the grenade exploded.
Buildings are indestructable - even with cannons - and are not properly proportioned. When you walk over to them, they're sized like hobbit houses. Odd ...
The sound is nice on the menus, but in-game it's just a lot of screaming and repetitive gunshots. It would have been nice to have some period music playing in the background.
Repetitive is really a common theme in this game. The maps are very linear. The comments made by friend and foe are repetitive. The animations are so simple and overused that you get the sense that you're fighting an army of clones.
There's no multiplayer at all, and even many months after the game was released, the downloadable content menu area does not provide access to anything.
If they'd spent a few more months on this game, it might have really been a lot of fun. However, the way it is now, you get the sense that you're playing a beta release. | video-games_xbox |
If you can get beyond the graphics, this game is amazing. Before I give my review, I want to give a bit of background on my credentials for reviewing this game:
I am a veteran gamer with 70k Xbox gamer points. Since receiving the game on release day I have played through the campaign entirely on hardened, partially on "ultimate badass", and put in significant time in the multiplayer. The immediate flood of bad reviews after release I believe was partially due to the reviewers not having sufficiently played the game enough to adequately review it or being simply turned off by the dated graphics.
I am also not in any way affiliated with any of the companies that developed this game, as I know there are mercenary reviewers out there that write positive reviews professionally. Personally, I rarely take the time to review a product or game unless I feel strongly about it, and the flood of bad reviews I feel needed to be answered with a balanced and thoughtful response, so here it is.
I will also say that I have been waiting for this game for nearly three years, and pre-ordered it over two years ago, so I had high expectations going into it. With that said, I believe that it was worth the wait, and here is why.
First, let me address perhaps the biggest complaint: graphics. The graphics are dated to be sure, they are rather blocky and the first two missions aboard the Sulaco really highlight this disadvantage. The graphics are not terrible, they are just dated and might shock players more accustomed to games like Gears of War or Dead Space. At the same time, the lower end graphics allow for some pretty nice features: split-screen playing (which higher end graphics typically don't support, GoW excepted) for both campaign and multi and very smooth playing as the xenomorphs. For gamers familiar with the attempts at playing xenos in the past (e.g. AVP 1&2 on PC and the more recent X360 AVP) this is usually the most awkward part of the game, the simple reason being that running on walls and ceilings at high speed takes a toll on graphics and often the interface gets difficult to manage and confusing to play. However, A:CM does an excellent job with the xenomorph play, in fact I would say it is the most natural adaptation of xeno play for any game I have ever played, and that is saying a lot as I loved the old AVP 2. Further, the graphics are actually quite excellent during the darker missions, particularly in the Hadley's Hope colony where the lighting and darkness really highlight the excellent xenomorph physiology.
Ultimately, as the graphics go, if you are a player that is looking for graphics on par with other recent releases such as Dead Space 3, then you might want to look elsewhere. However, if you don't mind a bit of old-school graphics in exchange for smooth gameplay, then A:CM is for you.
Second, the weaponry is not quite as customizable as I would have hoped given Gearbox's role in production. The weapons are all pretty basic (three rifles, SMG, two shotguns, two pistols) but the custom options are quite nice if few overall, as they can change the underslung weapon (shotgun, grenades, etc) on the rifles, and offer additional fire features that you unlock as you progress in level. I also would have liked to see potential customization on the legendary weapons (found in single player and connected to characters from the film) as the custom options end up making the regular weapons more powerful than the legendary ones after enough power-ups. On the other hand, in comparison with other comparable games from the past, these features are far and beyond previous games and offer a nice variability in play. The xenomorph (multi) upgrades are great and really add a lot of variability to their play, including different kinds of attack for the three classes (soldier, spitter, runner/lurker), different armors, skill traits, and appearance options. Thus while the customized options could have gone further, for this sort of game they are sufficient and really add a lot to gameplay.
Third, as to the single player campaign it is long enough to be substantial without getting repetitive. You play through the Sulaco (the original Aliens ship), Hadley's Hope (the colony), the crashed alien ship (codenamed Origin), and a Wey-Yu research facility. In all, playing through first time on hardened (experienced players should go straight to hardened as it is a challenge without being ridiculous) I put in about 8 hours or so which is a little more than Dead Space 2 (which I had replayed at 6hrs just before receiving this title). My only gripes are rather minor overall. First, I would have liked to see the powerlifter integrated into play more. You utilize it once to open a door and once to fight a big nasty xeno, but that's it. Second, and more substantively (spoiler alert) the final level is just a boss fight with the queen but it is ultimately rather lame as all you do is run from her, pull switches, and then wait for her to get in the path of a loading dock mechanism which you use to catapult her out of the ship. Not all that difficult, just a bit frustrating, and overall not the grand finale I was expecting. On the other hand, four player drop-in co-op (reminiscent of L4D games) is great and makes the "ultimate badass" difficulty (which is great) more feasible (by the by, hardened gamers will appreciate the lack of a HUD in the badass difficulty which adds an extra element of difficulty to the mix and makes the laser sight option all the more valuable).
Fourth, as I indicated earlier, the multiplayer is great. The marines and aliens are very well balanced and the four game modes are all great and offer significant modifications to play. The team deathmatch makes the aliens a little tougher so they can go toe-to-toe with the marines while the other three modes beef up the marines by allowing for teammates to revive fallen comrades while the aliens take significantly less damage (equal to single player). This makes for a great swarm feeling as the aliens throw themselves at the marines who try to stick together while achieving objectives of the game mode (destroying egg clusters in extermination, moving through a series of waypoints in escape, or fortifying an area against attack in survivor). All of the game modes are great and I really can't decide on a favorite. As I mentioned before, the lower graphics really aid in smooth gameplay in the multi, particularly for the xenos who are played from the third person perspective and have enhanced vision to be able to see all other players while the marines have their motion detectors. The effect is grand as both sides are trying to hunt the other and gameplay comes off as very natural and balanced. Aliens tend to try and surround the marines while the marines cluster together for survival (lone marines are an easy target generally).
In conclusion, this game is limited graphically but the limitations generally end there. Considering that this was supposed to be released a year ago (and that was after a long development) it is clear that Gearbox made the right choice by pushing back release in order to fine tune the gaming experience. The multi is among the best that I have ever played and for those that enjoy playing as aliens, this is THE game for you. I am also super excited that Gearbox has already launched the season pass meaning they will be releasing four DLC packs. I was worried due to the bad reviews that the game wouldn't get this support, but thankfully Gearbox is supporting it regardless and fans of the game, myself now included, are extremely grateful for their support and I look forward to the DLC releases.
Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 5/5
Single Player: 4/5
Multi-player: 5/5
Fun Factor: 5/5
Overall score: 4.5/5 (rounded down for consideration mentioned below)
UPDATE
Despite the general angst still being spilled over this game, I continue my support of it and the fact that I have had no issues playing online with plenty of full games shows that others are enjoying it as well. But I have discovered one point of annoyance which lowers my estimation of the game somewhat. At the time of writing this review I had only played split-screen co-op, but when I set down to play multiplayer with my wife we were dismayed to discover that there is no split-screen online compatibility (which would be great if they patched this but I find that doubtful). This means that the only split-screen support is for co-op campaign, no online campaign (as in you can't play with others online while playing split-screen) and no multiplayer, which greatly saddens me as I find the multiplayer to be one of the best I have ever played (I find most multiplayer games to be rather dull and unbalanced). As such, I will be purchasing a second copy of this game so my wife and I can play online (as we do with most online multiplayer games as very few have splitscreen capabilities) once it drops in price but I thought I would update my experience to forewarn those that expect (as I did) that the split-screen capability includes online play, which it does not. | video-games_xbox |
intercooler. "Alright I'm tired of Microsoft and Xbox users blaming the death of their console on the Nyko Intercooler.
Melting:
There has been some cases where the Intercooler will melt to the femal power jack on the Xbox 360 and render both the Intercooler and the Xbox 360 useless. The Nyko Intercooler EX has addressed these problems. The reason the 1st and 2nd gen Intercooler were capable of melting were because the power inputs were encased with plastic. With all that electricity circulating through the power inputs heat becomes a factor, you ever feel how hot the Intercooler male power jack gets? It can leave a burn mark on you. With all this heat and extended periods of gaming the heat starts to take a toll on the plastic and begins to melt it to the female power jack on the Xbox 360. The Nyko Intercooler EX has a male power jack encased with metal similar to the original power cord male power jack. Since metal melts at a much higher temperature then plastic the problems are extinguished.
Noise:
Yes the Nyko Intercooler makes noise, it's 3 powerful fans! 90% of the noise is hot air being moved away from the Xbox 360. Try increasing the volume on the TV or speakers and the noise will be washed away.
Power Stealing:
This is what makes me laugh, the majority of you guys think the Nyko Intercooler drains power away from the Xbox 360 causing component failure. When you plug in a wired controller, Ipod, or wireless adapter what do you think those do? Supply power?!?! The Nyko Intercooler in full operation takes up about 4-5 watts of power.
If you look beneath the ugly power supply unit for your Xbox 360 you'll see the output is 203 watts. The Xbox 360 takes up about 140-180 watts when in full operation. Need I explain more? The power supply is supplying additonal overhead power if the need a rises. Did you really think 3 yet powerful fans can cause stress to that big ugly power supply unit? If you did than you need to re-take high school.
Temporary 3 Red Lights:
Another reason to purchase the Intercooler EX is because with the first and second generation Intercooler the power inputs were poorly designed. The Intercooler's male power jack fitted perfectly but the female power input was poorly designed. When you inserted the original power cord into the Intercooler's femal power input immediately you could feel the looseness. The power cord wasn't able to be pulled out unless you squeezed the buttons but the power cord was able to move around in there. With the power cord moving around in the Intercooler's female power input it caused the power cable to lose contact with one of the metal power receivers which immediately turned the Xbox 360 off and the Xbox 360 began to display a false 3 red lights indicating it wasn't receiving enough power. Again with the Intercooler EX the power inputs both male and female are dramatically improved. In the Intercooler EX there is a release button which must be pressed along with pressing the original power cords buttons to release the power cord from the Intercooler.
Permanent 3 Red Lights:
This is where I get kind of frustrated. The majority of you Xbox users blame the 3 red lights on the Intercooler. They are more Xbox 360's dying without the Intercooler than with it. If your Xbox 360 died with the Intercooler attached most likely If you had never bought the Intercooler in the first place your Xbox 360 would have died much sooner. | video-games_xbox |
Bandfuse is Great!! (from a BF & RS & RS2014 owner. This is the first game that I've ever bought on release day (I bought RS 2014 3 days after release.) I've been playing BandFuse non-stop....
the tour mode is a lot like the original RS; but you play the same songs in different sets so you actually learn the song better instead of just trying to get through it to get to the next level - the set list is decent and a good variety from classic rock to pretty new stuff.
it also has challenges to meet or beat a minimum score that take a little bit of work - make you play better.
The horizontal music flow is fairly easy once you figure it out - I think it does a better job of telling you what fingers to use - RS makes you figure it out on your own; but RS does a better job of showing you what is coming up - i.e. shifting your hands up the neck to play the solo or interludes.
to compare BandFuse & RS as somebody that really wants to learn guitar:
I think BF beats RS in the technical parts of learning the songs cause it tells you what fingers to use.
RS has the guitarcade which is a powerful learning tool; I thing the technique challenges in RS are great - f only they would let you keep track of your score as time goes on. The technique challenges in RS are put together really well - I think they are better than BF.
BF songs don't change in difficulty like they do in RS - you select your level of difficulty before you start the song. It would be great in the tour mode if the more times you played the song (through your various concerts - if they would throw more notes at you so you slowly learn to throw in the notes the lower lessons leave out.
BF has a lot of different scales and it shows you the notes - RS has the scale games...
RS has a ton more songs and DLC - I haven't seen any DLC for BF yet. I was dissappointed that there is a lot of repeat content between the games - and no DLC for BF...but I suppose once a band has signed one agreement to be in a game; its probably easier for them to sign another one....I'm surprised actually that there weren't any non-compete clauses used by the companies to prevent bands from being in both games.
Tuning your guitar seems a little easier in RS.
BF uses different colors for your different fingers to show you technique/fingerings - RS uses different colors for the different strings... honestly I have not tried RS again since I've been playing BF constantly (its only been 3-4 days) so I don't know how easily I will be able to switch between RS & BF...
I'm guessing a little bit - I think if you already know fundamental guitar - you will like RS better because the song selection is so extensive ( you can import your RS1 stuff for $10) If you have absolutely no guitar experience I think BF will be easier - (the easy level is too easy for me) I only have limited guitar experience But I am playing the Level II stuff almost perfectly - it seems like there is a big jump between LVL II & LVL III - (maybe its just me...lol)
In summary: for individual songs BF wins; for the technique lessons/guitarcade and song selection RS wins.
as the reviewer before me put it: Excuse me while I go make my fingers bleed... | video-games_xbox |
Even with the flaws, you'll still have a blast. Just like the guy reviewed the game below, he's pretty spot on, although I think it's more fun than what he was describing. In a nutshell, if you want an NBA game this year, spend the 30 bucks and go with Live.
The Good
+ Tight, challenging gameplay. One of the best 2-player games I've ever played, get a friend and you'll have a ball.
+ Graphics are great. Wide array of dunks, player animations and great player likenesses. Stadiums are stunning.
+ Great sound. Bone crushing dunks, screaming crowds. Marv Albert sounds like he's in your living room announcing the game, best commentary I've heard in a sports game in awhile. Only ESPN competes.
+ The difference of playing on the road and at home is amazing, it's a whole different experience each and everytime you pick up the controller.
- Online play a bit choppy, especially during peak hours.
- Needs for more fast breaks, the computer seems to stop every break you attempt.
- No wide screen support.
Sure, ESPN NBA 2k5 is $20 bucks, but it's all about fun when it comes to games, and I simply have more fun with NBA Live. My buddy and I have been playing this game for months, we battle it out every weekend and the game never gets old. It's amazing how the game varies from game to game, and how playing at home and on the road affects the game greatly. You'll run into games getting beat by 40 points and then blast the road team by 20 on the next. The realistic momentum algorhythm really makes for realistic play and a must for NBA fans.
The game is incredibly fast paced, and NBA fans that know the players will catch on quickly to Live's realistic gameplay. The gameplay is very tight, graphics are spot on, sweet animations, incredible dunks, signature moves, and crazy action. People that complain it doesn't look that good are nuts, because I find it every bit as good as ESPN and almost better in other ways. I was a bit disappointed it doesn't support wide screen tv's, but even on a wide screen tv, you really don't noticed it's stretched out too much. The animations, player headbands, socks, tatoos, create a player, all loaded. Of course playing with someone else is the most fun with NBA live, don't think playing the computer will bore you, because within my season mode I'm up to 30 games and still can't get enough. When it comes down to ESPN and NBA live, it' boils down to fun, and although ESPN can hold it's own, Live still beats it because it's simply more fun to play, and that is what is important. | video-games_xbox |
This + xpadder = best gaming experience ever. I've always been tempted to get a gamepad for the pc. I'm not a huge gamer, but have always wanted a gamepad. The problem is if the game isn't specifically set for adding a gamepad, you can't use it. But here, there is a solution.
First off, this little guy connects four xbox wireless controllers at the same time. I just tried a multiplayer racing game with two of these controllers on and both worked flawlessly, read my motions perfect, and it was seriously as if I was playing it on the tv. No different.
If you *do* get this, I highly recommend looking for and downloading xpadder 5.3 (it's freeware). This program allows you to use the wireless controller as a mouse/keyboard combo. You can use one analog stick for mouse movements and control how fast/slow it moves and use the other analog for the up/down/left/right arrow. Then the rest you can set according...Enter, Left Click, Right Click, Scroll, Etc. You can then actually control your computer with the Xbox controller. So...now if you come across any game that doesn't have gamepad support...no problem. Open up Xpadder, set up your controller, and you are good to go.
This purchase, if you like to game on your computer...*especially* a laptop, this little doohiky will be great. No need to pack 4 wired controllers. Just this USB plugin and four wireless controllers and you can now play 4 player racing games, Halo, whatever with friends.
Also, games that say "Made for Windows" I believe are already set up.
I just got my wireless receiver today and it has not disappointed me. It works very well and I can fine-tune it if anything is off with xpadder. If you have a laptop and hate using that mini mouse bar...slap this on with xpadder and you are free!
So...buy one now (you may want to check some highly known auction site for a more affordable way to get this item...if you know what I mean)! | video-games_xbox |
Overlooked awesome multi-player party game. I have played 10,000+ games over last 30 years, and I am surprised that this game does not get attention for families.
If you have a mix of different ages with one being under age of 10, this is a must buy for up to 4 player game play.
The only annoying aspect of the game is if you have less than 4 players a mandatory robot player plays.
If they allowed an option to play only people this game would be perfect.
Other Must get kids games:
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Cloudy-with-a-Chance-of-Meatballs-Xbox-360/dp/B00242KDA4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Xbox 360</a> (3-6 year old, 2 player, easy and fun)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Toy-Story-3-The-Video-Game-Playstation-3/dp/B0038MUCPK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Toy Story 3 The Video Game - Playstation 3</a> (3-9 year old+, 2 player, FPS for kids)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Rio-Xbox-360/dp/B004NB1C54/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Rio - Xbox 360</a> (3-9 year old+, 4 player, 30+ Party games for kids)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Lego-Batman/dp/B000ZKBJY6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Lego Batman</a> (3-7 year old+, 2 player, puzzler, 3rd person shooter)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Disney-Universe-Xbox-360/dp/B0051875OU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Disney Universe - Xbox 360</a> (4-10 year olds, 4 player, fast action w/mini games, pure arcade play)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Rayman-Origins-Xbox-360/dp/B0050SYAQ2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Rayman Origins - Xbox 360</a> (4-9 year old, 4 player, arcade side scroll er)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/LEGO-Batman-2-DC-Super-Heroes-Xbox-360/dp/B006ZPAYGE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes - Xbox 360</a> (4-9 year old+, 2 player, huge world, action-adventure, younger kids need older player)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/LEGO-Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-Xbox-360/dp/B003O6E7O2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean - Xbox 360</a> (4-12 year olds, 2 player, nice variety of puzzle-gameplay, younger kids need older player)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/LEGO-Star-Wars-III-The-Clone-Wars-Xbox-360/dp/B0037UCTCW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">LEGO Star Wars III The Clone Wars - Xbox 360</a> (5-9 year old+, 2 player, RTS game for kids)
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Lego-Marvel-Super-Heroes/dp/B00B98HF1O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Lego: Marvel Super Heroes</a> (5-14 year olds, 2 player, younger players need to play with older player to navigate world, gameplay fan-tastic, low puzzles)
LEGO Lord of the Rings - Xbox 360 (6-14 year olds, 2 player, my son at 5 struggles but can play with heavy guidance from me, fun game, dad approved, low puzzles)
Minecraft - Xbox 360 (6-17 year olds, 2 player (can be large multiplayer) creative gameplay)
Rest of Lego games are all worth playing, if it wasn't for lego games XBOX would be a vast wasteland for kids under age 8. :) | video-games_xbox |
Finally an RPG with the whole package. It is rare in the current gaming generation to find a game that promises you the world and then actually delivers it. Bioware, a company known for its quality of depth and story telling, has done just that.
Let's begin with the story. You are given the opportunity to start with any of six origin stories all available to you at the beginning of the game. Which one you choose will ultimately alter not only the way the game plays for the first 2 hours but the way the world outside of the origin reacts to you as well. Any route you should decide to take will ultimately lead you to becoming a revered Grey Warden. From there you are swept up into a story of betrayal, greed, and morality with a dash of romance and lust on the side, all contained in a story that can last upwards of 80 - 100 hours for the exploration oriented.
Game play:
Those who are familiar with Bioware's past RPGs such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, etc... will feel at home with this game. The combat system is closest to that of KotOR for the original Xbox. Essentially you have A as your general attack button and you are then able to map any of your abilities to six quick-access slots (X, Y, and B, and then RT+X, RT+Y, and RT+B). In addition to the quick-access slots, you can hold (or toggle depending on your game settings) LT to bring up your radial menu which holds not only all of your abilities, but quick access to potions, poisons, traps, and inventory. You can also switch weapon sets from this menu. There is a slight learning curve but you will generally get a good feel the controls within an hour or two of playing. In addition to full control over any of your party members at any time, Bioware has included a tactics system that allows you to assign actions to your party members based on certain conditions. Making good use of these tactics can mean the difference life and death in any given battle. You start with 3-4 tactics per character and you can gain more slots are you level up. Each new slot can hold one condition and one action (ex. condition: ally health < 25%, action: use healing spell). You really feel like you are in control of your party.
Graphics:
This has been a strong point of contention for many who have been interested in this game. Honestly, no, the graphics are not other-worldly but they are by no means terrible or even bad for that matter. The details on the character models are above-decent and the overall art direction and composition is stunning. The main graphics issues fall generally in the outdoor background textures. They can at times seem flat. Though with that said, I personally have never found that they have distracted me or detracted in any way from my enjoyment of the game. Bioware's knack for immersion will most likely allow you to overlook any graphical maladies.
Sound:
The game definitely shines here. The ambient sounds throughout the game are great at really pulling you into your environment. Be it the sounds of drunken villagers in a tavern or the terrifying shriek of an ogre as you are about to impale its chest. The game does not disappoint here. The sound of a giant two-handed sword smashing against the armor of a possessed templar gives such gratification.
You can't review a bioware game without mentioning the character interactions. Every character in this game feels like a real person. They each have their own opinions, likes and dislikes. They will react differently to you depending on what you say, how you say it, who you are and what you are. Your party members in particular are very deep. They will bicker, disagree, and even fight if so inclined. They look upon your decisions with a critical eye and will approve or disapprove based on your move. If you push them hard enough, they may leave you or even fight you.
Overall, this game could not get too much better. Given the games few shortcomings, it displays a grace in story telling and immersion that is hard to find in modern-day games. If you're looking for that epic tale that will pull you in and make you laugh, yell, cry, smile, and everything in between, then this is the game for you. | video-games_xbox |
Very solid shooter with some minor issues. Call of Juarez: BiB is a great game for anyone who enjoys single-player first person shooters on the 360. It took me about eight hours to play through this game.
The environments looks fantastic and, if not anything else, are a great change of pace from most current FPS games. Most of the voice acting and dialog is pretty good (except for some from the Native American characters and a few lines of laugh-out-loud sexually-oriented dialog). The story is interesting and the McCall brothers are well developed characters (for a video game). Using some of the placed weaponry (canons, Gatling guns) is a lot of fun.
As someone who games quite a bit, I noticed that there are a couple of minor things that hold the game back a bit..
The quick-draw mechanic can be infuriating. Basically, your character stands on-screen for what seems like an eternity while you wait for a bell to ring, at which point you flick the right analog stick and fire, hoping to hit your opponent before he hits you. The main problem with this is that if you screw up, you reload the fight and end up standing there again for what seems like another eternity as you wait for the bell to ring. Another problem (which could easily just be me) is that by the time I got to the second quick-draw, I couldn't remember what controls to use because I'd been through a good 1.5 hours of additional regular FPS shooting and the game didn't bother to remind me in any way after I'd managed to lose the draw about ten times in a row.
Another issue is that auto-aim and sticky-aim can be turned on/off, but cannot be set to a specific sensitivity. Further, these settings seem to behave quite differently depending on which playable character is being controlled. I personally prefer to have little or no auto-aim, but it does help on some console shooters. This game either has it on full blast or not at all.
Lastly (and this is an issue in Call of Duty too), the computer players have better throwing AI than the NFL quarterbacks in Madden because they can practically throw dynamite into your lap from twenty to forty yards away without much trouble.
So, I would recommend that you buy this game for PC (if you are a hard-core gamer who prefers no auto-aim), or buy it for 360 once the price comes down to about $35. I have no comments on the multiplayer because I did not try it out and don't plan to do so with so many high profile FPS games coming out in the next two months. | video-games_xbox |
A typical sequel. So I just got Halo 2 today and spent the last three hours playing it. I haven't beaten it yet, but I think I've gotten enough to write a review on it. This review deals only with the single-player campaign; I don't have anyone to do multi-player with but I know that the original rocked and this one would rock even more in multiplayer.
My verdict? It's an improvement on the original, but that's all it is. Which is not a bad thing, considering how good the original was in the first place. It's not an improvement in the sense that GTA San Andreas is an improvement over both of the previous GTAs (much larger scope and range of activities) but it's more of a tweaking of what was good in Halo, fixing what was bad, adding a few more twists, and releasing it. To me, it still looks and plays like the original Halo, just with a continued storyline and a few new skills.
One thing that is most appreciated by me is the improved Marine AI, and the fact that I don't have to drive the warthog all the time. You can choose to navigate, or to man the guns and let the A.I. take you where you should go. The maps are a bit confusing, and there will be times where you won't be sure where you have to go. Just wander around a bit and you'll find out where to go, there are no time-limits to worry about.
I am still trying to get used to the weapons. The battle rifle is a fair replacement for the old assault rifle, since you have the submachine gun as a fully automatic weapon. Shotguns seem to shoot a bit slower and they feel..."softer" is the word that comes to my mind. Some say the needlers have been improved, i'm trying to see where that's the case. They don't seem to home in as well as they did in the first game, though they do seem more powerful. The new range of covenant weapons available are pretty impressive too, you finally get the Fuel Rod Gun and the Energy Sword :D sweeet...
All in all, it is a very good game but only because Halo was a very good game. If you liked the first one, you will like this. | video-games_xbox |
How do I hate this game; Let me count the ways. I have only one good thing to say for this game: it is visually stunning, one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. Everything else I have to say about this game is negative. The characters lack depth and bore the player to tears. Character's motivations are either unbelievable or non-existent. The dialog is even worse than the characters. It is repetitious, the obvious is stated over and over, and seldom contributes to the development of the plot or of the characters. We soon find ourselves wishing Chopin would just die and end it all.
In the beginning of the game we are told Polka can use magic, but she is terminally ill, since only terminally ill characters have magic powers. We expect Polka's magic to be a key factor in the game, but in fact, she never has need of it. Polka, as one of the lead characters, should also be one of the strongest characters. Instead, she is a powerless wimp, who ends each failed attack with the words, "I'm sorry." Since there are a total of nine playable characters, one soon stops playing her. However, it is necessary to level up all the characters, because the game will suddenly force you to battle using a character you have not chosen to use. By leveling up all the characters, we soon run out of necessities, such as floral bouquet. To replenish most needed items, we must get them from treasure chests, because the local shops do not sell them. Treasure chests are few and far between.
The battle system is horrible. In the later stages of the game, when we play a boss, the system attempts to make the boss more difficult to beat by constantly moving it in front of your player characters, so it becomes impossible to control them, because we can't see them. Each turn is time based. Nearly half of each time-based turn is spent approaching the monster, which has been moved away from the player character during the monster's turn. The monsters, of course, have distance attack, but only two of the player characters do, and their distance attacks are very weak. To replenish lost health points, or to revive a character during battle, requires that another character lose its turn. We are never allowed to know how many health points belong to the monsters, so we never know our status in relationship to them.
Then there are the musical sessions. Unless we read music our chances of success with them are slim and none.
These are just a few of this game's low points. Unlike the typical X-Box 360 game, Eternal Sonata is completely two dimensional. There are no side quests either. In my opinion, this game is not worth $[...]. Wait and buy it used at your local game store at a price appropriate to its lack of quality. | video-games_xbox |
Poorly Manufactured Product. This product is so shoddily manufactured that I simply cannot recommend anyone to buy it. A defective rate of 25%-40% is just inexcusable for any product. Microsoft has just extended their warranty to 3 years, but this still only covers one problem, albeit the most common one, the 3 Red Rings of Death. However there are still many other problems such as overheating and freezing while in use, not being able to start up at all, or the disc drive scratching your game discs and rendering them useless. There are still no solutions to a lot of these problems other than buying your own warranties.
Don't let the fact that this console is 200USD cheaper than the PS3 fool you. All the extra costs associated with repairing and maintaining it essentially makes it much more expensive than it first seems. On top of that, be prepared for extreme frustration when you the machine malfunctions in the middle of a gameplay session, or you lose your save data, or waiting for weeks for Microsoft or a third party to repair or replace your console. Do I even need to mention that talking to Microsoft Customer Service is bound to give you high blood pressure?
I've personally had numerous problems with this console and have now eventually given up on it. I bought a PS3 and it is working perfectly. I would HIGHLY recommend anyone looking for a similar, superior, gaming experience to go for a PLAYSTATION 3. It is now only 499 USD, and in many places, comes with great bundles or great giveaways like free Blu-Ray Discs or remotes/controllers. It has a defective rate of less than 1%. It is also much more feature-rich. An XBOX360 with all the extra peripherals needed to match the features of the PLAYSTATION 3 costs much, much more.
WARNING: Only buy this product if you want to play games exclusive to it, and are willing to put up with lots of frustration, pay lots of money to repair/maintain, and buy additional warranties for it. Although, even then, no one should be supporting such a poorly made product. | video-games_xbox |
Patience, not time, Important to Morrowind. Every review of this game that I have read is accurate to some degree. However, I think that there is one major (seemingly minor) detail that many people (both for and against Morrowind) overlook. Yes, this game does require an investment of time. A lot of time. But even more importantly, it requires a great deal of patience! Particularly in the first ten hours of play.
Like many other reviewers, I was drawn to this game because of the open-endedness of the concept. In fact, I actually bought my X-box for this game! And like many others, I jumped right in and have somewhat of a difficult time at first. I consider myself an RPG-savvy consumer, yet I was pretty frustrated with my first attempt. As many have said, the combat system is pretty difficult when starting out.
It is important to know the basics of combat for this game! Once I took the time (out of frustration) to read the manual COMPLETELY, I had a better understanding of what I was doing, and my second attempt has been wholly rewarding! It is important to utilize a weapon that your character is adept at learning, as all characters start off with a weapon of choice. If your character specialized in using a short blade, but you are using a medium blade, it will take a grueling amount of time of become any kind of threat to anyone or thing. If you use a weapon that your character is comfortable with, he/she will learn how to use the weapon quickly, and within a short time the frustration melts away (it takes a decent amount of time to become proficient with any kind of weapon, regardless if your character is geared towards learning that weapon).
Once your character is better equipped for combat (the first ten hours are the most trying, difficult period for someone to either love or hate this game), the game gets interesting very quickly. Uprgading armor and weapons is extremelly satisfying early on, as all weapon and armor upgrades are reflected on your character in excellent detail and graphics.
This game definitely requires a strong grasp of the complexities of RPG playing, and is not recommended for more arcade-style players. It was programmed to be as realistic as possible, and that includes learning combat and skills at a realistic, slow curve. The graphics are amazing, and those who stick it out through the difficult early portion of development will be rewarded with extremelly satisfying gameplay (the resolution of objects gets clearer, the closer you get to it... helpful for finding keys and other small objects).
Finally, it is important to note that you can switch between first and third person views. I am not a first person player, and toggling between the two was paramount to maintaining my interest early in the game. However, as the game progresses, I find myself rather enjoying the first person view due to the subtleness and detail of the graphics.
In review, I think that most people with the time and patience to try this out will find it an excellent game...as long as they manage to stick with it through the early going. It does not require a tremendous amount of time to play, as some have suggested (I only play on the weekends, two or three days out of the week). Definitely not for those without a lot of patience. Buyer beware; this game is very realistic, and to understand all the complexities of it, you should read through the manual before or early on in the game. | video-games_xbox |
Absolutely perfect for the FPS/PVP gamer. Not cheap, but then Astro products never are--not that it's a point of annoyance: quality costs. So, build quality is very good--not quite excellent, due to the percentage of plastic parts, BUT that's because metal parts are a personal preference of mine: the plastic is high-quality and well-molded and the overall design of the headphones reduce chances for breakage.
The headphones are extremely comfortable. They're fairly weighty, but you don't really notice because the construction has the headband resting on top of your head hanging the weight almost vertically downward rather than using the headphones themselves to pinch inward to hold themselves in place, making them uncomfortable. This is aided by really nice quality microfiber padding on the earpieces (changeable to leather with a mod kit sold separately).
The amp is larger than you'd think at first glance, but is similarly well-made when compared to the rest of the unit. Construction is tight and machining is good, producing a sleek and solid base unit. Dials and buttons are fitted tight and produce a pleasant amount of resistance when turned/pressed.
The mic is easily switched from one side to the other. Constructed from flexible plastic/rubber, it molds exactly to the position you bend it into and stays there indefinitely. It is solidly built and doesn't seem to be a structural liability sure to break in short order in the way that some mics on other products do. Another high-quality part.
Overall, physical quality is great. I wouldn't say these are heavy duty and some care needs to be taken with them--but then I'd suggest that ANY set of $200 headphones need to be cared for well and not thrown around the place with wild abandon.
As for sound quality? Wonderful. Best gaming headset I've ever tried. The Dolby 7.1 works so well that, no joke, when I first tried it out I took the headphones off to make sure I hadn't left the home cinema surround sound on. Absolutely fantastic quality and PERFECT for FPS/PVP gaming--after 4 days of ownership, I wonder how I ever did without them (I've noticed an immediate climb in my Kill/Death ratio in PVP and have also noticed an immediate and significant drop in the number of times people have been able to sneak up on me in-game). Bass is thunderous but distinct, mid is clear and present, and treble is very clear but not piercing. Proximity and direction of noise as delivered through the headset is precise and accurate. Due to the quality of the speakers, volume can be pumped up good and high without becoming in any way uncomfortable--bass doesn't distort and treble doesn't become tinny or shrill.
The amp adjusts and balances voice/game volume beautifully, meaning the days of straining to hear your teammates above the special-effects are over. As an Xbox One gamer, I don't have access to the control board that PC gamers have for this product, but I haven't found that it's hampered me in any way at all.
The whole thing is incredibly easy to set up (it's literally plug and play on the Xbox One), taking less than a couple of minutes for units to pair with each other, etc.
Overall, the only concern I have is the use of some plastic parts in the headset harness due to the possibility of breakage. That said, the plastic used is of a high quality and the headset design has headphones that swivel on a central metal post, meaning that if you pick the headset up by the ear-cups (but don't...) they swivel before any torque can be put on the plastic pieces. So, it comes down to personal preference rather than a genuine worry about damage.
Five out of five for what is a well-designed, sturdy, great quality, beautiful sounding gaming headset. Can't recommend it enough. | video-games_xbox |
Great overall headset. Better for solo play. I wanted to give this a review, as I didn't find any reviews that talked about the things I cared about. Firstly, This is a very well built headset, it has some heft, and generally it feels expensive. The fit is pretty tight. I have a pretty normal head and these are tight: I seem to be able to go about 2 hours before I need to give my ears/head a rest because of the pressure. All the controls are on the ear cups - which isn't ideal but after a few days of taking off the headset to see what button to push, you get used to it. You'll definitely need the manual to learn how to dial em in. The sound quality is VERY good- there is no doubt they are one of the best if not the best sounding gaming headphones you can buy. Plenty of bass. The noise cancelling is average at best - it doesn't compare to my bose qc25's. There is no crackling or interference at all - mine are dead silent. The mic situation is rather unfortunate - with the firmware update people can hear you just fine, but it sounds like you are far away from the mic. Not ideal, but it isn't like you cant be heard or have to yell like some people say on here. Now my least favorite part - the mic monitoring (aka hearing your own voice amplified in your ears to compensate for having the headset on) is AWFUL. Firstly, the mic monitor level can only be adjusted via the ANDRIOD only app - by default it is set to about 80%. Secondly, the level is never loud enough- with noise cancellation off you can hear yourself okay when the game volume is low, but if you want any volume it seems like there is no monitoring at all, and you end up screaming because you can't hear yourself. But wait there is more! If you want to run noise cancelling FORGET about hearing yourself: turtle beach won't let you adjust the level with this mode on. It is almost like talking with earplugs in. This was almost enough to make me return them in itself; seriously frustrating. If you play serious multiplayer - I bet this will be your sticking point.
The main reason I am keeping them is the sound quality and the seamless bluetooth integration. It is awesome to easily take calls or listen to spotify while you play. They sound great for music and calls work great. The charging dock rules as well.
good: Well built, Out of this world sound, bluetooth rocks.
bad: Mic is average, Mic monitoring is terrible. | video-games_xbox |
Mediocre pile of you know what. When I heard about the skill stick I figured, hey, most games are utilizing the sticks for more useful play. It was a great idea. But having checking AND shooting plus dekeing and spinning and slapshots fakes wrists. You get my drift. Half the time you hit the post or not even on target. Getting one in close quarters is almost impossible because your stuck jamming the stick forward hoping for something. And most of the time your stuck in the corner pressing pass to move it out of there and you are switching your player over and over again. Or if your going in for a check they randomly will slap at the puck like a slap shot. So much for realism huh?
My two biggest gripes are this. Glitches! I hit the puck into the net, it circles around the back then speeds out of the net and no goal. Instant replay clearly shows the puck deep into the net for about 2-3 seconds, no goal. Sometimes the puck will squirt past the goalie slowly and they will rush back as it goes over the line and put a glove on it. Instant replay again, shows its clearly over the line. No goal again! Sometimes a player on the opposite team will have the puck on their stick and it goes over the line. You guessed it, NO GOAL! How can it be that bad?? Oh yeah, EA Sports is doing it and they are the makers of Madden 07 where players run THROUGH other players. Plus with NHL 07 I've seen many times when you zoom up on a replay and theres a stick through the ice or the puck disappears or a glove through the ice. But of course your not close in the game so they think its okay to skimp.
My second gripe is the HORRIBLE, and I mean horrible, passing system. You have to point directly to the player you want to pass to. About half the time you will throw the puck down the ice and get an icing. If your so lucky to pass it to the correct person, it get intercepted. Plus you have about .2 seconds to pass it because the opposition is all over you. And mind you this is on ROOKIE! What do you think Pro is like?? Scary huh? There is several times I went to pass the puck and get it stolen and just curse the game to death. Its the most frustrating game I've played in awhile.
And could we at least get the players to act realistic? Half the time your teammates you don't control don't move toward the goal. I actually watch them move AWAY from the net. They skate away or just stand there. They miss passes, they stand BEHIND the blue line, and when they DO go toward the net they go over the blue line before you thus offsides. I want to strangle them for being retarded. When I go to pass to them why are they behind the blue line so then I get to wait while they come back from the blue line and most likely get the puck stolen while waiting while the other team flawlessly passes the puck up front.
Sound wise is also pretty poor. The announcers are pretty bland. Not really calling play by play. They often say things that never happened. Like saying a player got a goal so far this game when they only got an assist. Or saying the players name wrong. I'm a Buffalo Sabres fan and so far they have said a lot of the players wrong. Afinogenov is not A-fin-a-jan-ov. Its A-fin-a-GAN-off. Kotalik is not Coat-a-lick. Its Coat-a-leak. Hecht is not Heckt its He-sh. And theres probably many more I forgot. But come on, the Sabres were one game from the stanley cups and have won a ton this year, cant they say it right? And that's just Buffalo, there's probably many many more out there. I'd also like to add the soundtrack is very whiny emo. I like emo but this stuff is very very whiny generic emo/pop rock. And there seems to be about 10 songs on the game. So after awhile you'll be pressing mute. Plus after each period you get treated to the SAME song. I believe its called Of Montreal or something. Its annoying, at least switch up the song.
The only thing that saves this garbage is a good dynasty mode. Besides that its very frustrating and all my friends have tried and failed to learn the game and equally found the passing system to be almost impossible to navigate. If you want many times a game to be screaming at your screen "where was that pass even to???" then I say go for it! But me, next year I'll be investing in the 2k8 hockey franchise. Hopefully EA doesnt nab the NHL license too. | video-games_xbox |
Very, very disappointed. I enjoy fighting games from time to time, but I'm not serious enough to feel that I needed an arcade stick. I bought this instead because I heard that it was apparently so good for fighting games. Well....it isn't much better than the stock 360 pad. It might even be slightly worse.
Lets just go ahead and begin tallying the negatives.
-First, the d-pad may feel better at first for 2D fighting games, but if you're into 3D fighting games you'll quickly notice that the controller sometimes has trouble telling from down and down-forward. This can be extremely frustrating for games like Virtua Fighter where some moves require you to press down-forward twice.
-Next, you'll notice right away how crappy the shoulder buttons and triggers are. For some reason Hori decided that making the triggers smaller and harder to reach would be a good thing. I'm not sure if its just mine, but the right trigger has a very slight delay which can screw up various moves in games and makes the controller completely useless for first person shooters.
-Ah, first person shooters. Don't bother with this controller. The 360's stock controller is absolutely perfect for first and third person shooters. You'll notice quickly that the analog sticks on Hori's gamepad are extremely loose. I'm talking looser than the PS3's analog sticks. Yeah....
-Its wired. If you're reading this review you probably already know this. If this controller performed up to par, I'd say this is a non-issue.
-Its extremely hard to find and expensive.
-And last, if you have small hands you may find the ergonomics of this controller to be uncomfortable. It is a little bit bulkier than the 360's stock pad.
It isn't all terrible news, though, as there are a few positives. It has turbo functions for the face buttons.(not the shoulder buttons or triggers) It also looks very nice and the face buttons have a nice feel to them.
I've wanted this controller for a long time and now that I've finally got one, I am extremely disappointed. The only games I would recommend this controller for are 2D fighters and some arcade games. If you considered this controller because you thought it'd be better for 3D fighters, forget it. Consider an arcade stick if you have the money or just tough it out with the 360's craptacular d-pad. | video-games_xbox |
Bound by Flame: Interesting game that just seemed to run out of steam. Humanity is on the run. The Undead have conquered almost all of the continent. All that stands between the undead horde and complete victory are groups of ragtag human mercenaries and the till now neutral Elven kingdom. As the frozen lords, the commanders of the undead horde, gather their forces for the last fatal push against the Elven kingdom, a faint hope is discovered by the order known as the Red Scrolls.
With time running out and the undead threat rising, a mercenary group called the Free Blades is hired to escort the Red Scrolls to an ancient shrine. The shrine may hold clues that explain how the Frozen Lords obtained their power and more importantly on how to stop them. The story begins as the Free Blades reach the shrine, just ahead of the undead patrol that has been tailing them for several days.
The Story:
You are Vulcan. At least that's what you call yourself these days. Your past is something you would rather forget and that was the biggest draw to the Free Blades. No one has a past and the only future is the company. If anybody questions further though they may find out why you are the Free Blades explosive master.
Your assignment starts out simple enough. You are given the task to secure the area and prepare for an assault from the undead that have been stalking the company for the last several days. Of course the Undead don't follow anyone's schedule but their own and they soon attack, driving the company back into the shrine they were trying to protect. Eventually the company is forced to fall back to where the Red Scrolls are trying to unlock the secret of the shrine.
During the fighting, the ritual that the Red Scrolls were performing is interrupted. A sudden burst of energy rocks the shrine and everyone is knocked to their feet. Before you can recover you are engulfed by the energy blast and absorb... something. Without any time to think about what's happened a massive beast breaks into the shrine and begins to attack. You hear a voice in your head telling you that you have the power to defeat this beast, if you will accept it.
Not seeing any other choice you allow the power to flow through you and dispatch the beast with ease. Unfortunately, even with your new strength you can't take on a whole patrol by yourself. The captain of the Free Blades orders a retreat and you soon find yourself on the run again to a town that is so remote that most people have forgotten it. Hopefully this means that the Undead have too.
This is where the main story begins and this is where you begin to get an idea of who or what your unwilling and unwanted guest is. A demon of flame has been bound to you. It's bossy and insulting. It considers you in your current state to be just above useless. It also says that it can help you win the war if you'll let it. It just needs control. Of you.
Will you sacrifice yourself for the power to defeat your enemy or will you stay human and find away to beat the overwhelming odds?
It's up to you.
Game Play:
The game play in this game is interesting. It really does give you a lot of different options on how you want to play. When you start off you are more or less cast as a low level rouge, that is good with traps. That being said you are given the option fairly early in the game to customize your character with three different skill trees. My best advice here is to more or less dual class and be either a rouge / mage or a warrior / mage. If you try to focus on just one or try to keep them all equal you are going to run into to trouble later in the game like I did.
You are also able to customize your weapons and armor with the various resources that you find in the game.
The game also features a relationship system with your various companions. While it seems to be possible to keep everyone happy for a little while, towards the end of the game your going to have to make choices that have permanent consequences and can change the course of the story.
The game also gives you the choice of accepting the demon's power which can give you additional advantages / disadvantages. These choices also influence the path of the story and it's conclusion.
Combat:
The combat in this game is fun and you have the option of mixing three different combat styles to take on enemies. The combat reminded me of Dark Souls since rushing in swinging will generally get you nowhere fast. To win the battles in this game you have to learn the enemies patterns and their weaknesses. To help your odds somewhat your character has a crossbow and the ability to lay explosive traps as well. Don't forget them as a few "impossible" battles become quite simple with their use.
Controls:
For the most part they worked well for me. Sometimes the camera got a little wonky when there was a lot of action on screen, but that only happened a couple of times.
Graphics:
They looked good to me. There are some areas that can be a little bland, but overall they get the job done.
Sound:
No complaints from me.
Conclusion:
This is one of those games where I really liked the setup, but I ended up not finishing the game because I either leveled or choiced myself into a corner. This is also one of those games that I may replay one day to see if I can have a better run. The story in this game is really interesting and for the most part it is presented well.
I get the feeling that if the game had been allowed to bake a little longer and had a little bigger budget that allowed all of it's elements to be filled out a little more then this would have been a title worthy of taking on the Dragon Age's and the Dark Souls of the world. As it stands it's still an interesting story, it just seems a little slim in some places and transitions from plot point to plot point can be a little jarring.
My biggest problem with the game, and most likely its in the way I played it, is that it ground to a halt around the end. I just was not having any fun slogging my way through the last dungeon or two. It just started taking forever to get past the enemies and the story twists were not what I was going for. The biggest mistake I made was in the way I leveled my character. I was going for well rounded and that doesn't really work for this game.
In the end I do recommend giving this game a look. It falls in the same category as Dragons Dogma and Divine Divinity: DKS. Its a fun game to play if your looking for something different, just keep in mind that it has a few rough edges. m.a.c | video-games_xbox |
Nice Upgrade. Well, I needed another controller since one of my controllers stopped working as it should in chat ( voice was cutting out like it does with a bad internet connection ) and my kids dropped another of my controllers and after that incident, the right bumper had to be pressed in firmly to register the button press..
I contemplated just buying a used controller or just buying the standard controller that came with the Xbox, but the 3.5 mm jack and the wireless update software packed into this new controller convinced me to spend the few extra bucks and pick up this new controller.
3.5 mm jack - This is a much welcome addition to the controller. The chat adapters on my other controllers work well enough I guess but at times it's like the controllers quit recognizing the adapter and the chat will not work until I turn the controller off and turn it back on. I also don't really like the chat and game volume control on the adapter because you really have to tinker with the thing to get the game volume and the chat just right.. and for some reason if you turn the game volume down the chat goes down as well, it's really annoying.. Now with the 3.5 mm jack I simply plug straight into the controller and it just works flawlessly. I did have to go into the settings in the console and adjust chat and game volume but once that was complete there isn't anything else to be done. I actually still use my Xbox 360 Turtle Beach Black Ops 2 Tango Headset instead of my Turtle Beach XO 7 headset that I bought specifically for my Xbox One. You will need a 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm conversion cable ( one came with the chat adapters I purchased ) to get the 360 headset to work, but my Tango headset is of a much better quality all around than anything that has been released for the Xbox one yet.
When plugged straight in to the 3.5 mm jack ( with the conversion cable, and it's only about 3 to 4 inches long ) my headset works just as it did with my 360, all game volume and chat is controlled from my headset and nothing else. The game sound and chat are seamless now and works identically to the way it did with the 360. If you have a 360 headset and had rather use it than what has so far been offered for the Xbox One then this is a seamless answer. You will have to buy a conversion cable but they sell on amazon for around 8 bucks and are well worth it, just make sure the cable you buy supports chat and game.
Wireless updating - This controller supports wireless firmware updating and to some this feature will be attractive to some and not to others. All Xbox one controllers can be updated but require you to plug them into the console using a USB cable then downloading and installing the update while plugged into the console. With the new controller the console direct connection is no longer needed and can receive it's updates wirelessly. Although this isn't some ground breaking feature it is a nice addition and a welcome one.
Bumpers - the Controller bumpers have also been revamped, they are very sensitive no matter whether you press them from the top, back, side or bottom. the old controllers don't register the button press as well if you pressed it near the inside ( closest part to the Xbox guide/home button ). I didn't really have any issues with the bumpers on the original controller but some did and Microsoft answered with this super sensitive bumper that can be pressed from any angle.
This controller has now taken my number one spot as the best controller yet for any console, even my beloved 360 controller. All I need now is for Microsoft to release a Chat pad like the one attached to my 360 controllers ;) I cannot recommend this controller enough
Solid 5 out of 5 | video-games_xbox |
An RPG/FF fan's review. A new Final Fantasy has finally been released, and it seems SquareEnix has finally got the Japanese and English versions of the game released around each other, instead of waiting forever for a version of the game( FF13-2 came out December in Japan). They are also planning on releasing DLC for this game through 2012, but I'll get to that shortly.
Story:
The story in this game is phenomenal; it kept me wanting to continue to each node trying to figure out what was going on and how I can save each area. It's really cool going to alternate realities and different timelines, which really allows you to see how your actions have changed the world and what happens in time periods you normally couldn't go to.
When you load a save game you are presented with cut scenes on what happened so far, with the game loading in the background. This is so freaking cool and I hope many other games adopt this, instead of just text at a loading screen. Saving is a bit different from Final Fantasy 13; you can save at any time you want and the game auto saves at key moments. When you are in the Historia Crux, you can create save files ala Final Fantasy 13 style, and the last save file you choose is the one it auto saves on.
Most of the side missions have their own story arc that might require you to go to different era's to complete them, instead of just kill X monster like Final Fantasy 13. Along with that, at key moments you have a Mass Effect like dialogue option that pops up that allows you to ask a question to what's going on. Most of the responses are serious, but some are so random they just make you laugh. This all leads to one of the best endings I have seen in a Final Fantasy game.
Gameplay:
They really improved the gameplay over the last game. Paradigm Shifts are instant when you change them now, instead of playing an animation the first time you use it for each battle. Along with that the battle system is so much more fun than the previous game, and it feels more intuitive.
Monsters spawn randomly, but they show up on the screen like FF13, with the chance of preemptive strikes using a "Moogle Clock" that if you press A(X) and attack the monster while being in the green. You get rewarded with Haste and a minor stagger bonus, and its fun to try to pre-emptive strike everything in the game. They also made five staring battles more worthwhile due to the fact you get 200% increased drop rate bonus at the conclusion of the battle.
With Noel and Serah being the only characters you use in the game, you can capture a monsters crystal sometimes after you kill it. So you could have a Behemoth fighting right alongside you and it makes choosing the right role combinations more fun due to the fact monsters have their own strength and weaknesses even if they are the same role.
They also added something that is both fun and frustrating at times, and that is puzzles. Most of them add a nice little diversion when you are doing missions and are fun to complete. The ones that make it frustrating are the Time ones. Those got annoying real fast.
This game is the first one I have played that has a New Game+ during the game, and not after you beat it. After you complete each section a RB (R1) option pops up that allows you to restart the area back to the beginning, and you can switch right back to the completed version at any time. For me it's really awesome they added this, and I don't have to worry about missing something along the way when you can restart it after you beat it.
Soundtrack:
I found the soundtrack to be a great addition with mixes of the Final Fantasy 13 music, Singing, and orchestration. I think they continue to do a good job in creating music for FF with Nobuo gone, and I don't mind the addition of a song with lyrics as the main theme of the game. Its quiet varied throughout the game, and like so many other soundtracks, it makes the experience so much better.
I enjoyed the voice acting in the game, with none of the voices becoming obnoxious or annoying. Some of the minor NPC's have the same voices, but it's not that big of a deal. All of the sound effects are great, and it's cool to hear the attacking effects.
Graphics:
This game looks amazing. When it's raining the rain hits the screen along with a good looking raining effect (Some games get this wrong, but not this game); Along with that when it's snowing your characters are actually covered in a bunch of snow and it extends to the monsters when you get into battles. This was astounding to look at, and really makes you feel they are in a cold snowy terrain.
Like all other Final Fantasies out there, the cut scenes look beautiful. The people look awesome, and the fights they get into are over the top with amazing visuals of the fighting. It does have that Final Fantasy-ish look to it, but that just adds to the overall experience.
Verdict:
I know I wrote a lot in this review, but I wanted to convey the fact this game improves so much over the previous game; I also wanted to talk about the parts I really enjoyed in the fight, and that it didn't earn the negative things I have been hearing about this game. During 2012 they're planning on releasing a bunch of DLC, some of it is just outfits, but according to Square-Enix a bunch of enemies are coming to the Coliseum.
This game is great for any RPG fan (you will enjoy it more if you beat ff13, but you can still have fun with this if you haven't), and an awesome game for Final Fantasy fans in general. With there being no "new game key" you should buy or rent this game ASAP.
~ Written: February, 2012
Positives:
*Moogle weapon :D
*Crazy Chocobo remix
*Refined gameplay
*Amazing graphics
*Awesome RPG game
*Tons of side missions to do
*Great soundtrack
*DLC planned for the future
*Fun QTE's
Negatives:
*None
Achievements/Trophies:
It takes about 30ish hours to beat the game, but like 50-60 hours to fully complete all the achievements/trophies. Most of them are really easy to complete, but I recommended everyone to get all 160 fragments, to experience all the side missions and what not. No item collecting achievements in this game and you can't miss any of them due to the RB/R1 resetting. | video-games_xbox |
Sadly, the answer is no. Why Rockstar? Why? You took a glorious franchise and dragged it down into mediocrity. The innovation and freedom that was San Andreas has been stripped away. In previous titles, any question I had about what you could do was answered yes! Can I take a hairpin turn at 80mph using the e-brake? YES! Can I base jump off skyscrapers? YES! Can I ride BMX bikes, dune buggies, go karts, and jetpacks? YES! Can I wander the map at will without distraction? Can I steal a harrier jet and take out cars on the freeway? Can I customize my character? Can I steal a harvest combine and run people over with it? Can I buy houses and property? YES YES YES!!!! The fun of the GTA franchise was it's audaciousness, freedom and the ability to create and participate in over-the-top mayhem. Things like rolling down the Vegas Strip in a tank taking out everything you see. Sadly, this is no more.
This time around Rockstar went with realism. While it is a very polished title it's just not as fun as the previous installments. In their attempts to create realism they made gameplay a cumbersome chore. First of all, you move too slow. And I mean really freakin' slow. They did create the most detailed and beautiful urban setting in video game history but exploring it on foot is completely out of the question. you wouldn't make it two blocks before your cell phone rang and sent you off to do some chore of a date anyway. They must have spent a year or more designing Liberty City. It's truly amazing. I think they slowed everything down so you would notice the city but it had the opposite effect for me. Free roaming is no longer fun if I have to do it at a snails pace. You can't explore it at high speeds in a car either because high speeds equals a quick death. You ran the risk of dying during high speed driving in the previous games but it happens here a lot more often which adds frustration without adding fun. Flying through the windshield was funny the first time but it became a nuisance after that.
Gone are the wacky, over-the-top missions. No breaking into military installations to steal a jetpack. No planting explosives on an airborne jetliner then parachuting to safety. Wanna torch a field of weed with a flamethrower before the cops show up? Forget about it. Nothing here matches the innovation of the previous titles. This game is another "next-gen" casualty. All style and no substance. It's an OK game but I don't feel it lives up to the GTA name. While trying to make a realistic experience they removed the most important thing a game can have: fun. They created an amazing city but they made it a chore to explore. Personally, I'll take fun over great graphics any day. I hope we can have both someday. This game didn't make me lose faith in the franchise though. It's worth playing once and I have high hopes for the next installment. Visually it's great but when it comes to content this one is a big step backwards.
Edit: The story. Yes it's good. I'll give them that. It's a cut and dry revenge tale though and the suggestions that it compares to 'Goodfellas' or 'The Godfather' are ridiculous. Comparing this story to the masterworks of Coppola and Scorsese is like comparing Dr. Seuss to Shakespeare. Get real already. | video-games_xbox |
4 and a 1/2 would be perfect. I have to give props to this game for not only jumping the shark, but blowing it to pieces, snorting it's ashes, and then going on a drug induced rampage...on an alien spaceship...in the Matrix. In fact the final level is called Punch The Shark. That tells me that the people who made this knew they were going off the deep end with this game.
What I mean is that it's a crazy game. It puts you in the role of the President and throws you head long into an alien invasion. Then it puts you in something like the Matrix and tells you to go wild and destroy everything in sight. Seriously, that's like half of the missions in this game- earn money by destroying everything in sight!
The BAD:
Unintentional glitches- too many to mention.
Repetitive, boring side missions (some- not all).
The music changes constantly which is just distracting and strange. There is a glitch too where you can't turn it off.
The Good:
Graphics (some people don't like them- I loved them).
Some of the best cut scenes ever.
The humor is off the charts here- it's hilarious.
Super powers- lots of them and you can use them as much or as little as you want.
Destroying everyone and everything in sight within this huge open world Matrix-like environment.
Character customization is insane here! I actually played as an alternate universe Savage Dragon.
Some of the most fun and interesting weapons ever put into a game.
Some great DLC
Great gun and melee combat!
A lot of reviewers have said that there are too many outdated (I call them nostalgic) references. Okay, so what! I loved the reference to the Transformers animated movie and lots of others! Another complaint is that it's completely different from any Saints Row game before it. That's why I like it! A lot of the characters are the same apparently, but in a fun, hilarious, strange science fiction story!
There are probably a lot of little things not to like about this game, but most of it is just nit-picking. Overall this has become one of my favorite games, and I'm already about to start a new character. Even though I don't normally like sand box games of any kind this is one to truly enjoy despite it's flaws. | video-games_xbox |
FRAC \ TURE....KICKS \ . Following in the destructive footsteps of Volition's Red Faction, Lucas Arts' Fracture sets a new standard for enviromental manipulation. Raising and lowering the terrain to provide cover is cool, raising and lowering the terrain to control and corral your enemies is cooler. When you control the environment you control your enemies and what they do, if they hide behind a crate blast it away from them, if they hide behind a rock raise the ground they stand on and shoot them as they tumble over the it or lower it and crush them with it. It isn't very often that a game does something cool and fully realized what they could do with it but Fracture really went all the way with it's terrain deformation. TD is just as much a part of Fracture as bullet time is for Max Payne. Your entrencher will be as close a friend as your rifle and will get you out of plenty of hot situations. I could go on and on about the TD but I won't.
Fracture feels and plays a lot like Lost Planet so the controls are solid the aiming is pretty tight. The weapon selection is full of interesting tools like the torpedo launcher that gophers it's way under your enemy and explodes when you trigger it, or the 'deep freeze' that turns anything you shoot into ice. The vortex grenade sucks in everything in a fifty foot radius spins it in a tornado of debris and explodes. The 'rhino' shoots a large rock that rolls and seeks out enemies to crush. The 'mole mine' burrows in the ground, waits for enemies to come by, crawls after them and explodes. There is also a offroad vehicle, TDV-1, armed with an auto turret and a torpedo launcher used make ramps to boost over ravines. There are upgrades given to you that allow you to raise the ground and jump at the same time to boost you up higher and an augmented punch that blasts the hell out of enemies. In short the weapons are fun and useful.
The story is cool and flows well as you progress through the game. The characters are interesting and the voice acting is very good and features Kelly Hu as the pacifican scientist.
The only bad thing about the game is the enemies, mostly the Raptors, will throw grenades(in endless supply)at every opprotunity and even when you're only two feet away, thats just lazy.
Overall Fracture is a great game and does everything it sets out to do. Fracture is fun, creative, and practicaly without gameplay flaws. You'd be crazy to miss it. | video-games_xbox |
best football game ever, will NOT be disappointed. I recieved this game 1 day ago and have already played for 8 hours. This is simply the best NFL game I have ever. ESPN NFL 2K5 has picture perfect graphics, and is extremely user friendly if you the know the game of football. The game is very smooth and the animations of the players after the play, on the sideline, and the fans in their seats are pretty much flawless. The Halftime show is an extremely great feature,if you haven't played the ESPN NFL series the halftime show consists of stats of the game just like how ESPN has it, there is also the stats running across the bottom(very cool). Then Chris Berman runs through the biggest plays of the first half by showing you the full length of the play over again. You can also at any point of the game replay any play you would like. Another extremely cool feature is all the control you have over the game and players. There is about 15 different moves you can perform. You can choose what celebration you want your player to do after he scores a touchdown. Since this is ESPN's 25 anniversary ESPN chose the 25 greatest plays in playoff history, they tell you about the play then you can change history by changing the outcome of the game. What I think the coolest part of this game is the "CRIB" option. You start out with a house full of junk furniture and no quality in anything but you can transform it in your dream house by earning points to help buy leather chairs, fish tanks, a plasma t.v., team couches, darts that you can play with, a air hockey table, and much, much more. This feature is wonderful. You can earn these points buy completing tasks in games such as a 75 yard run by your runing back, or even just a pass completed to your reciever. This keeps you very entertained. I have just skimmed the top of this great game, so buy it, you will not be disappointed. It's at a great price of 19.99,(I believe it's worth 49.99)SO BUY IT!!! | video-games_xbox |
Excellent, great title. There's not anything more I can say here that hasn't already been said. This game is amazing and a great addition to the Bioshock franchise. It's kind of a game-changer as Elizabeth, your AI partner, is extremely fine-tuned and probably has some of the best AI in any game ever, especially for a 360/PS3 game and not a next-generation title.
The plot is about an alternate history version of the US and how a city run by a religious zealot succeeds from the union and rises to the skies using fictional quantum physics. You play as Booker, who is tasked to bring back a girl, Elizabeth, from the city of Columbia t New york. However, you soon discover the 1912 city full of White purists and Christian zealots is more dangerous than you thought and its ruler, Zachary Comstock, plans to one day declare war on New York, and in doing so, the US. The story only unravels more from there, leading to a good 12-20 hours of gameplay, depending on how much of a completionist you are and which difficulty you are playing on.
Elizabeth will find you weapons, health, and salts (used to fuel your bio-powers called Vigors in "Infinite") during gunfights and boss battles and she's extremely helpful, but not to the point of making things too easy. Elizabeth will also comment on things, sit or lean on objects, open up locked doors and safes, and find valuable items outside of gameplay as well, making her possibly the most realistic and fleshed-out AI partner in gaming history, to date.
The story, besides stopping the mad prophet Comstock, also involves fabricated memories, regrets, and alternate timelines made by choices. Those who play through the first time (especially those who didn't pay attention to the plot) may be confused by the ending, but the ending is really deep, albeit also a little stupid and convoluted, honestly. It's the kind of ending everyone will have an opinion on, good or bad. Kind of like the plot to any Christopher Nolan movie (only less over-hyped and easily praised by the stupid or gullible as a Nolan flick).
Anyway, just play the game. Buy it. Play it. Enjoy. It's cheap online now (though this gem deserves to be a bit higher) and the Complete Edition with DLC is only around $25. Just play it and have enjoy! | video-games_xbox |
A worthwhile sequel. My anticipation for this game was high, as I considered the first game to be easily the one of best computer RPG's I've ever played (and I've played a lot of them, going back to Ultima III on the Commodore 64.) I was not disappointed.
It is definitely a different game. The engine is largely unchanged, and what changes there are were for the better. The plot, though, is much more...philosophical, for lack of a better word. Perhaps its best to call this a more "adult" game. Not adult in the pornographic sense, but adult in the sense that story is simply more likely to be appreciated by someone who's past high school. Kreia, the game's "Mystery Jedi", presents you with some moral questions about whether your actions are really "good" that are really thought-provoking.
The game does lack the big shock revelation of the first. That could be viewed as a flaw, but I suspect having another "oh my gosh, you mean I'm really <fill in the blank>!" moment in this game would have felt like a cheap attempt to imitate the original.
Many characters return from the original game, though not all of them are playable. Fortunately, everyone's favorite sociopathic assassin droid, HK-47, returns and is playable. I personally would have liked to see the cantankerous old Jedi coot Jolee Bindo return, but I can live without him. The extraordinarily annoying Carth Onasi does return, but thankfully only in small parts.
The game's new characters are all entertaining, though there are none I felt particularly "attached" to, like I did with HK-47 or Jolee Bindo in the first game.
The worlds to visit are all interesting. I especially enjoyed Onderon, which took at least part of its inspiration from the classic movie "Casablanca."
There are some valid criticisms. Framerate does slow, almost painfully, at times. And again, by XBox standards, the graphics are unimpressive.
And there's rather annoying teasers for a sequel, unlike the first game, which ended firmly. Nothing is really left "dangling", but there's character statements near the end that imply there's one more story. Now, I look forward to KOTOR III, but teasers annoy me.
As to the obvious questions of whether its "better" than the original, that's hard to say. They're different enough in tone that asking which is better is like comparing Grand Theft Auto and Super Mario. Suffice it to say that it is equally worth playing.
When I reviewed the original, I said that it was almost worth buying an XBox just to play the game. It is definitely worth the price of the XBox to play both games. | video-games_xbox |
Does not live up to an "Assassin's" life. I too should have read these reviews before I got it, even though is older now and cheaper. I have not played the following one's but assume they can only get better as this one sorely disappointed me. I got an XBOX to play Red Dead Redemtion and that probably spoiled me because I thought this game would be similar [sandbox, weapons, large map to explore (only set in the middle ages instead of modernizing wild west.) The only pro's are the counter attacks and death scenes with the swords etc are cool and the general premise. The cons are numerous as many have been said: I'm only to "memory block 4", I think, and it is so tedious... you get to hate going to climb the buildings. Much of what drives you crazy is much stuff makes no sense: a) before you scan from the building parts are blocked out by what they use 'cleverly' (not) as memory blocked (but we'll get to that.)
b) no swimming, you'll drown, but you can dive 400 ft off a tower into some hay.
c) repetative missions (I mean they don't change to the assasination)
d) you have to watch long boring cut scenes (unlike RDR which are interesting and can be skipped if wanted)
e) you have to play as modern guy in old world.. I don't know why they just didn't make it a cool game set in past.
f) then every so often you come out of the Animus (the memory machine to play as ancestor) and you have to have boring conversations and they make you actually walk this guy around to go to bed, he can't even do anything but walk and lay in the bed and table, that you can control.
g) The assasinations which should be the most fun and cunning part are all scripted alot and come in little pieces. It is not like you get to plan them much like I thought... some are not even stealthy. There is very, very limited strategy/free thinking if any allowed at all.
h) as part of the game sometimes the memory sync goes out of whack and you can't control your player right which is frustrating when you want to flee and you are locked in fight mode.
i) the horse runs and rides like it is messed up (play RDR, they got it so right)
j) the landscape is and is not sandbox.. you really have to do the things and they all the same... no variation at all. You get a mission, have to ride out the gate to Kingdom and then do all the junk then it takes you back.. you talk with the master, get a new move.
k) the objectives and menu screen are confusing and map small.
l)You don't know really why you are doing anything (the stuff you gain from the confidants and pickpockts and informats seems right and he regurgitates it again at the burea when you check in but it seems such a goat rope.
m) I'll end here. It is basically like Elaine on Seinfeld with the bad sub card and so you want to keep going to win, but it is painful... I say rent one of the newer ones. I thought I'd need this one to catch up on the new ones but this one is so elementary it is like banging your head on a wall. It had great potential and maybe the new ones are better. I expected more lifelike horse, landscape (don't get me wrong, nice looking, even beautiful, but most places you can't even go inside or really deal with anyone unless they tell you to), and fighting,
Needs WAY more STRATEGY and way less tediousness (If it were necessary stuff like hunting in RDR, which is fun and gets you money for guns and ammo, would be worth it). This makes the assassin life seem almost akin to boring, and for a game set in that tumultuous part of history and that profession....it's a shame.
You'll feel like an assassin only when you want to kill someone from the routine play, and annoying long cut scenes. | video-games_xbox |
There are a lot of flaws with this game, not just the ending. In general, the gameplay is pretty good, but given the epic conclusion that we were promised by Bioware/EA, ME3 fails to live up to the hype. My main three grievances with this game are:
1. The Collector's Edition itself is OK, but nothing amazing. The "lithograph" they provide is nothing more than a small postcard. It's very disappointing. The soundtrack is provided to you as a downloaded ZIP file containing WAV files. You do, however, get the "day-one" DLC included with the Collector's Edition.
2. Bugs and flaws. No game is free of bugs, but there are some broken missions (which prevent the acquisition of war assets) in this game which Bioware has still not acknowledged, despite the fact that a very large number of players are reporting them. On PC, these bugs can generally be fixed by manually editing the savegame files, however this solution is not exactly an option on Xbox/PS3.
Additionally, there are some 3D model and animation flaws (particularly hands, on some characters). The map display is glitchy (sometimes characters remain on the map in a spot where they no longer exist).
3. The ending is where it all falls apart. There are plot holes in this game, as there are with any game, but the ending is a disaster. It is essentially proof that Bioware has fully "sold out" to EA, and has adopted EA's terrible standards as their own. It is an ending that was clearly rushed and was not at all creative. Worse, it completely ignores all of the decisions you've made not only in the past two games, but in ME3 itself (contrary to what Bioware/EA advertises). The decisions of the player have no bearing on the outcome of the game, and ultimately, whether you were full renegade, full paragon, or somewhere in between, you get the same exact ending.
Aside from these three main points, there are other issues such as clunky cover mechanics. Terribly boring and uncreative side-quests -- most of them are "go to (planet name here), scan it, and return with (artifact name here)." Seriously, you never even step off the Normandy. You just scan the planet, "retrieve" the artifact, and return to the Citadel to talk to the person who started the mission. The mission tracking system is also somewhat annoying. All of your assignments and missions are thrown onto one poorly-organized list. As missions complete, they stay on the list and sink to the bottom in grey text. The game, for whatever reason, defaults to putting your cursor on one of the lower, completed missions, so as the list grows longer, every time you open the mission log you need to scroll all the way up from the bottom just to see what quests are still pending.
As much as it pains me to say it, this game is a massive disappointment and was clearly rushed by Bioware/EA without concern for the finished product's quality. It is absolutely not worth paying full price for. | video-games_xbox |
Doing it Right. What a refreshing change of pace! The original Assassin's Creed barely made it into the gamer canon simply due to its remarkable and rather new playing style. AC set the ground work for many newer games and was revolutionary for its time. ACII blew it out of the water. However, ACII also never forgets its origins and tips the hat to Altair and his time in the Middle East. Now, however, the setting switches to Renaissance Italy.
Ezio is our main character, a charismatic, funny, woman-loving young man who is the exact opposite of Altair. Though, if you read all the materials of the Codex Pages scattered throughout the world, you can understand why Altair was so solemn. Ezio is naive to the world of Assassins and is happily being a child of the Renaissance with his family. Unfortunately, or fortunately, his life gets a bit more complex when his family is utterly destroyed by men in power. Thus begins his journey into becoming an Assassin.
As with the first video game, this one has two story lines weaving through it. The first is Ezio and his becoming an Assassin and taking revenge upon the people who murdered his family. The second is Desmond and his compatriot Lucy. After escaping Abstergo they are in hiding with two new friends and a shiny new Animus that looks more like a gaming chair instead of a plastic and glass table. Though both stories are important, it's clear that the more modern story is the one that is truly being sought. Much like Ezio's time, Lucy and Desmond struggle to figure out "what it all means," the Pieces of Eden, plus the attempt at decrypting Subject 16's final messages to the world. It is only through Desmond's genetic memory that these secrets will slowly be revealed.
The game itself is leagues beyond its predecessor. Instead of "flags" there are feathers to collect, along with Codex Pages for Leonardo da Vinci to translate, treasure chests with money, and glyphs that eventually help to explain Subject 16's discovery of "The Truth." The developers listened when the complaints came in about the first AC, and so ALL collectible items help in some way. Either to discover something profound, help to buy supplies and build up the Villa hometown that Ezio relocates to at the beginning of the game, or give upgrades to armor and weaponry. On top of this, there's SO much more to do and it's not so repetitive. You get to try out Leonardo's creations, assassinate in different ways, and fight in style. Missions are varied, different, and the assassinations are more seamless. You can hide in crowds or cause distractions and the best blessing of all is the Metal Gear Solidesque meter bars above guard's heads. You have TIME to get away and you know how much time you have before they notice you're an assassin or up to no good. The game, simply, allows for more finesse as should be an Assassin's way.
The controls are easy if you've played the previous game, but even if you haven't it doesn't take long to master. Trusting in Ezio is easier than trusting Altair to find his handholds and stick to it. And ready for this AC fans? You can swim. That's right, no instant deaths in the canals of Venice, thank the gods.
As for the graphics, they're STILL up to par for the most part, despite being made almost 8 years ago! The cut scenes are not exactly mind-blowing, but the grand portion of the game which is spent in the world are lovely.
All in all, the game knocks it out of the park. The developers were definitely fooling around with a fantastic concept in the first game, but this one helps see it to what has become a time-honored and loved series. It is intelligent in that it questions society, government, and power while also providing a game that will give a decent amount of time, challenge, and fun to your lives. | video-games_xbox |
Excellent, Fun Game, but has its flaws. Put simply, Dark Sector is a fun game. The game has unique puzzles that incorporate the various abilities of the glaive, this unique weapon that your character "Hayden" uses throughout the game. The glaive eventually gains an ability called "aftertouch", which allows you to steer the glaive toward your enemies or objectives by taking on the third-person view of the glaive itself -- you travel along with it, in slow-motion, until it hits its intended target...and better yet, you get to see the results up-close.
The game has really smooth gameplay, and I did not encounter any bugs, defects, or poor framerate issues. The voice-acting is superb, and the sound on this game rates as "one of the best" I have ever encountered. The controls are well laid out, and as Hayden obtains more and more abilities as the game progresses, the controls never become overwhelming or confusing.
The weapon upgrade system in this game is somewhat deficient. Once an upgrade is applied to a weapon, there appears to be no way to remove it. The "blackmarket" upgrade sites are few and far between, and once you swap out a weapon from your locker, you're stuck with whatever you have, until you either backtrack or get to the next location.
The environments in the game are a mixed bag. Ultimately, this game plays a lot like Resident Evil 4, in terms of the controls and the underlying game engine. At times, the levels feel like a mix of Condemned, Resident Evil 4, Tomb Raider, and sometimes even Bioshock. Some of the levels, especially the later ones, look much better than others, a sign that development may have gone off in several different directions until they brought the final game together.
The game has a good save system, so you won't find yourself repeating sections tirelessly.
The AI is not advanced. At times, it seems all the enemies just rush you. Some of the enemies have special abilities that make them more difficult to defeat. However, the enemies come at you in very predictable waves. By the time you're 50% through the game, you can predict the patterns. Melee combat is weak.
There's a loosely woven story that keeps the game moving along. The cut-scenes are well-done. What doesn't make sense, at times, are the number of bosses that appear in the game, which seem totally unrelated to anything that is going on from Hayden's viewpoint. Most of the bosses are extremely time-consuming to figure out -- they are puzzles themselves. There are no health meters on the bosses, so you never know if what you're doing is actually working.
From a replay-value perspective, you may be compelled to play the game at least twice, since completing the single-player campaign unlocks the "brutal" difficulty, worth an achievement. There are a few achievements dedicated to online play, which this game supports. However, the online population for this game has been very small.
This game has probably been overlooked by many gamers. The environments, bosses, and gameplay may seem dated, but the glaive and its unique abilities make the game rewarding and fun. I'm glad I picked it up. | video-games_xbox |
Some good ideas, but REALLY bad implementation. Hmm. I gotta tell you, I really wanted to like this controller. I really, really did. The mapping or the sprint and reload functions to extra buttons on the back is a great idea. Unfortunately, however, MadCatz implementation of this idea is a cheap, flimsy cash-in that you will be ultimately unhappy with.
Let me start with the good points (and there are only a couple), to get them out of the way. The "combat buttons" on the back are just a fantastic idea. They let you choose from some rather limited mapping options for some new buttons intended to be manipulated by your middle fingertips. I don't make much of an issue of the limitations to the mapping because, well, nobody has done it before and almost everyone that I can think of wouly map sprint to the left button (LB) and either reload (X) or switch weapons (Y) to the other. Being able to do all of these things without mucking up what you are doing with the sticks would have been great, but we will get to why it is not.
Second, the material it is made of is phenomenal. It is super comfortable and the raised grips on the sides give the controller a nice tactile feel and are not slippery at all, like the MS controllers tend to get.
Third, they look really cool. The backlighting and camo pattern is really slick.
Now, ON TO THE BAD!!!
First and foremost, the ergonimics are ATROCIOUS!!! It is so diffucult to manipulate the "combat buttons" that any benefit derived from their existance is completely outweighed by their difficulty of use. The L and R shoulder buttons are very difficult to get to. A huge hassle since the MS controller has them essentially resting under your finger and need only a slight roll or your knuckle to work. The wrist angle is all wrong. When you are using this controller you will feel like it wants your wrists to move in ways they should not. It is very uncomfortable once you have to start pressing buttons.
Second, the whole thing feels cheap. The D pad is muddy and has no tactile response at all. The triggers have not near enough travel or spring tension. The L stick button provides no feedback at all when the stick is pressed forward (which is the only time you would use it in this particular game).
Finally, and most unforgivably, it is CORDED!!! This is simply inexcusible. This may be MS telling them they cannot have some proprietary wireless tech or something, but it certainly is lame.
BOTTOM LINE: If you are a serious MW2 player you will look at this controller and want it. The features look really good on paper. Do not forget, however, that the stock controllers for the 360 are excellent. This is a great idea that falls completely flat in execution. Do not buy this thing. You will be disappointed (and your wrists will hurt). | video-games_xbox |
Great game.... still some bugs. This game is fantastic, addicting, and time consuming!
I just have to say to anybody to give it a chance. I played it for an hour or so when I first bought it in June and thought, "have I bought another game I'll never get my money out of in fun?" I shelved it for a few weeks and pulled it out July 2nd. Today is the 5th and I am about to start playing again. I'm already 30+ hours in.
You have to really make an attempt to get into it and get a true feel for it and you will click at some point. For me I would say I was probably 3-5 hours in and I started thinking, "this is a really good game." Once it clicks, you put it up there with your favorites if you like this sort of game.
My favorite games of all time are Fallout3 and Mass Effect. This game will certainly make my top 10 and maybe the five, depending on how things progress.
So give it a chance and it should click for you. I have not been this addicted to a game since the month of January when I put in my first 200 hours of Fallout3. I have since put in a total of 350 hours with two play throughs and now the DLC. I am really enjoying Sacred 2 and it is very UNDERRATED. Not overrated like so many things these days, but UNDERRATED. It is very much like Baulder's gate but even better.
Just give it a chance.
Having that said, there are some bugs and the fact that you cannot backup your game save via the console memory menu and copy to another device (same problem with Fable 2) concerns me since game files can get corrupt. Bug wise it is little things like getting stuck and having to fast travel or in some cases only use magic to get unstuck. I've had a few freeze ups (not many at all for 30 hours). Some strange issues with quests (having to go back in and out in and out, to get the NPC to respond correctly to talk an end to a quest). But they have a huge expansion planned and more DLC so I have no doubt they intend on fixing the bugs. | video-games_xbox |
Grossly Overrated. Left 4 Dead is essentially the perfect arcade game. Great for sucking up quarters by the dollar but little more than a few minutes of fun...
The campaign is easily wrapped up in about 2-4 hours depending on how good you are. There are 5 chapters that consist of you getting from safe house A to safe house B in route to escaping the city. There's multiple ways to get through the levels; though very limited. If you die the enemies in that level change. Where there was once no zombies, there might a swarm. Same can be said about other types of zombies appearing where they initially weren't the first play through. The graphics would have been solid 4 years ago but as it stands Left 4 Dead isn't even on par with graphics today imo. It looks like a 3-5 year old PC game. The surround sound is fantastic and gives you a great sense of direction as to where the zombies you want to be aware of are. And the story, what story? Aside from the opening scene there's no story to the game. It's simple, arcade bliss, get through the level, rinse, repeat, then at the end of the chapter 5 get rescued...
The real meat and potatoes was made to be in the co-op mode and that's where Left 4 Dead is worth playing; for a little bit. You and 3 friends, or strangers can play through the campaign and have a blast. But even with the level loadout changing every time there's only so little fun to be had. You spawn as random zombies when not playing as a survivor which mixes up the game play. The online can be fun but at the same time it just doesn't enough substance to make me want to play that much, or that often. There's really just a limited amount of fun and entertainment to be had online too.
Although it's short Left 4 Dead isn't a half bad survival zombie game. Just don't expect the horror to come along with it. The normal zombies are weak. Either just standing there, throwing up, or aimlessly wandering the city with the occasional bum rush heard charging you. There's a few special zombies that throw some salt into the game but even then it's just not enough. This game could be so much more, especially coming from Valve but at the end of the day Left 4 Dead really is a very shallow and grossly overrated game. It's not nearly as good as these, along with other reviewers are cracking it up to be. It doesn't have the story, depth graphics, and overall quality of a AAA game deserving a perfect score. Nor does it have much value unless you actually find the online component fun enough to play for more than a few hours at a time for a few weeks. Personally I think it would have made the perfect arcade title at $20. But as it stands Left 4 Dead is certainly nothing more than a great rental. Wish I could just get my $44 back from amazon.
I'd really love to give Left 4 Dead a higher score because it's a pretty fun game, has unique co-op/online component, and is actually a pretty decent zombie game (then again, how many zombie gamys are really out there?) but given how just much Left 4 Dead is lacking, and how shallow it is I don't feel comfortable giving it even an average score considering it's a $60 game. Just do yourself a favor and rent it. If you find it that good to where you'd actually play, and feel comfortable spending $40-60 on it then by all means, pick it up then... | video-games_xbox |
A friend of mine recommended the original American McGee's Alice. I purchased this for the PC.
I've been searching for quite some time for a game that kept me entertained as well as Oblivion (not even Skyrim could do that), or Fallout 3, or -- well, you get the idea. A friend of mine recommended the original American McGee's Alice, so I gave it a shot and enjoyed it. It had wonky controls and poor camera angles, but you can't expect much from a game that old. Fast forward to beating that one, it left me craving more. I'm so glad that I was able to find this one on sale.
Now, a lot of people were referring to this game as "visually stunning" - I am a very visual gamer. I love eye candy. The graphics are beautiful but not stunning. I had a lot of problems with textures not rendering entirely until I was walking past them and a lot of cosmetic glitches. None game-breaking like some I've seen (the "umbrella" glitch).
The gameplay is fun and intense, having to switch between weapons and enemies constantly, as well as random puzzles thrown in to keep you thinking (admittedly, the puzzles are fairly easy). The story line is amazing and there are plenty of little "side quests" and side items to snag if you are the one who likes to venture off. It gets really dark, REALLY fast, too - I hadn't expected it to be as macabre as it was, but it was definitely done well. Very, very well.
My only complaints, and these are due to the fact it's a PC version: it seems like it was ported straight from the XBOX 360 and still popped up with some of its controls when explaining how to do something (like hitting the "X" button when you're really supposed to hit space bar, for example). It can also be difficult to use multiple features at the same time (dash was very difficult to use while using your WASD keys, often times I would dash "in place" as the shift and w/a/s/d keys wouldn't register at the same time or near each other). The camera angles act up at times, too, and sometimes it makes it to where it is insta-death from a sudden flip of angles while mid-jump.
All in all, it's a wonderful game, and definitely was worth purchasing. I want to give it a 10/10, but the glitches/slight issues make me have to knock it down to a 9/10. | video-games_xbox |
What the heck happened. Wow....am I ever disgusted with this guitar system....I mean yea, for beginners it might be an OK tool to begin with, but after playing on a "real" guitar for over 20 years now, and especially a 12 stringer at that, I find that this plastic replica of a guitar very hard to get used to and exceedingly hard to learn from....
The original reason I bought the Fender Mustang RockBand 3 was to learn some new songs and to try my hand at single finger picking of songs that I very much enjoyed, and wanted to increase my repertoire in learning....
And low and behold, when I saw the song title listing, I got excited!!!!....So I ordered the guitar and the RockBand 3 game CD. Then I thought, wow, I can learn all kinds of new songs and then started to look at the other "RockBand" products....RockBand, RockBand 2, The Beatles RockBand....etc.....all had songs on that I so wanted to learn....and so I ordered them too....about $150 worth of game CD's and the Fender Mustang guitar.....
But when I started to open and installed those other "RockBand" products, they WOULDN'T WORK WITH THE Fender Mustang...the ONLY songs I could learn were from the RockBand 3 CD.....NO WHERE IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE GUITAR DID IT SAY IT WAS ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH ROCKBAND 3 GAME CD....what a freakin rip-off...
Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that I had gotten something I COULDN'T learn the vast number of songs that I had so desired, and as "advertised"...just the 30 or so songs from the RockBand 3 CD....and then the NEXT real $ pocket kicker overwhelms you....
You can "buy" additional songs for the RockBand 3 teaching system at a COST of anywhere from $20 a song up to over $100+ for any album......YEA, that's a real eye popper, isn't it? AND if you want to get the other "Fender Stratocaster" game guitar to play your other RockBand game CD's....well, that will cost anywhere along the lines of $150 up to $400+.....EYES any bigger NOW???? Marketing gimmicks are all the same....if it sounds to good to be true...it usually is!!!
What a freaking marketing disguise: ---> to "quickly" become "an accomplished guitarist".....there's NOTHING quick about becoming a musician folks....just plain 'ole fashioned BUCKS and practice....more $$$$$$$$$, and more practice then more $$$$$$$ and more practice, and then even more $$$$$$$ & a lot more of practice...
So, unless you're just beginning to play, and you have NEVER played on a REAL guitar, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS MARKETING DECEPTION to ANYONE but a beginner......just a raw beginner with some talent, lots of hopes and dreams, and quite a bit of bucks along with time and patience.... and then, if they have the patience, they MIGHT become the accomplished guitarist that this over-hyped disguised marketing system advertises.
My recommendation....seek out a REAL GUITAR and a professional that knows how to teach guitar....and be prepared to pay, because folks, there just ain't NO shortcuts to becoming a talented musical stardom prodigy!!!! Can I have my money back now??? | video-games_xbox |
Choppy camera work, fighting is a joke, menus are a mess - I had to cheat to play. On the back cover it lists a "quote" from someone that this game is "Oblivion on steroids". Given that, it's 100% OK to compare this to Oblivion (my favorite game next to anything GTA).
I felt this game was more like Morrowind - hard to control, far too much unmanageable info from NPCs, terrible fighting, and messy menus.
I know it's 2012 and this game came out in what, 2007? But Oblivion did too, and I would still play that excellent game today if I hadn't already won it to pieces!
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Let me break this down for you:
STORY: I have no idea what's going on. There's so much badly delivered dialogue and overwhelming amount of info, that I literally have no idea what is going on. I'm just going to kill bad guys. How about that?
GRAPHICS: The game itself isn't bad. Close ups when people talk is pretty bad. A lot of times, lips don't line up to what is being spoken (or don't move at all). But I find it to be really jumpy moving around. It's just not smooth.
VOICEWORK: A joke. Wow - everyone who trashed this in other reviews here is spot on! It's so terrible - just.... pathetic!
GAMEPLAY: It's OK to explore, but again, it's just not SMOOTH. And don't get me started about the fight sequences - they're terrible. First - you can't BLOCK. Second - fighting groups of enemies is just terrible - you can't single out your attacks or block so you just get pummelled. This is why I had to use the cheats - it's just a terrible, terrible fighting system.
MENUS: My least favorite of all time - well, one of my least favorite. It's not intuitive how you equip or sort stuff. Or use stuff, for that matter. And how many potions have I whipped through by accidentally hitting the bumper buttons while playing? Ugh!
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I could go on but I'll spare you. To sum up, it's not polished - it's kind of a hassle to play and explore - the story is muddled - menus are painful to use - the voicework is laughably bad. I'm glad I bought this for like three bucks or I might be mad! However: I DO enjoy it despite these numerous shortfalls! If you like RPGs and don't mind having to cheat, this game is perfect. | video-games_xbox |
Can see why people are die hard fans but fell a little short for me. Won't make this long winded. I'll just talk about the short falls for me.
It's everything the positive reviews state. Hard, engrossing, fresh, enjoyable, frustrating, etc. Nice change from the RPGs we've been fed for years (20+ years for me as a hard core gamer of all types).
Now the down falls.
If they were going for an ultra realistic (as much as fantasy can be) game, they nailed it to a fault. You're thrown into a game with absolutely no direction. After the quick training level the only direction you get is a guy stating you have to ring the bells at the top and at the bottom of the world. That's it!!! I guess if you were a warrior who was magically transported to a new world, that's all you'd have. But come on, this is a fantasy RPG. Throw us a bone. This world is so big it'd daunting with no help or direction. There are so many different places to go it's a little overwhelming.
No map....so you have to memorize everything (and this game is big)!!!! Where the black smith is, where the priest is to cure your curse, what direction to take to a particular area. Again, this world is so big even a partial map would help. You can spend three hours going into different areas and not be going in the "correct" direction to further the game. Exploring is fun in this game, but with the difficulty being fairly high you're bound to run into some creature that will wipe the floor with you...and then you're back to the fire which could be an hour away. You then have to trek all the way back not only to continue searching that area, but to retrieve the souls that you lost (hoping you don't die along the way). Just a simple map would be great. But again, a super realistic fantasy game this is...kind of a redundant statement.
Locking on for combat. You pretty much have to click the thumb stick to lock onto an enemy every time. It's very difficult to do any combat with out locking on...you'll swing wildly an more often than not miss which you really can't afford to do in this game. Now I'm ok with this, it makes combat more interesting with dodges, blocks, etc., but the problem is the same action centers your camera to where you're looking if not locking on. So if an enemy is off to the left a bit, but well within your field of view and the game doesn't lock on, you end up centering even farther away from the enemy. Doesn't seem like it'd be much of an issue, but it is when one or two hits can kill you. Especially with boss battles and you're running around a lot.
Frame rate. Lags a lot some times. Especially when multiple creatures are around. Not the games fault per say, but combination of devs and machine. Can get really annoying some times.
Lastly, just a general lack of explanation of anything. There are so many items, blood stains, places, humanity, ghosts, etc. which are not explained at all. Again, ultra realistic, but this is a game. Be prepared to use the internet a lot for advice, explanations, and direction. All my friends have said the same.
All in all, a great game. Nice change from the norm. The first was the same but maybe a little more difficult. There are more downfalls I could've wrote about but those were the biggest. I'd rate this 3.75-3.9 but not 4 stars. So much for not long winded. Have fun and prepare to die...wait, I've heard that before :) | video-games_xbox |
I give it a solid 7, with a lot of room to grow with post-release support. The game gets a solid 7 from me, with the chance to grow with post-launch support, and the possibility that this could be an evergreen title that EA constantly adds to for a few years. While none of that is for certain, it is definitely worth speculation due to the lack of a number in the title; where all other EA SPORTS titles have one.
First I'll start off with the bad. It is lacking something new for being the first title of the current gen. It's missing something to wow us like an online career mode or even online leagues. It is also missing features that were great in the last iteration of Tiger such as Country Clubs. The lack of a punch to start us off on the PS4/XB1 is what really kills the score.
The lack of courses I can go either way on. I fully understand the fact that these courses were completely built from scratch with the Frostbite engine; which in the long run was a GREAT thing. There are only 8 licensed courses to start, with the 9th coming for free in September. Hopefully they have a DLC model that will make the long-time fans of this game happy. Giving the first course free is a great start.
The last bit of negative is the fact that the player creation is very bare bones. While there is room for this to be patched and be better, what we have right now is not great at all. It would have been great to see them use the same tech that the NBA Live team is using for their face scans.
Now on to the good. This game is BEAUTIFUL. There is a fictitious, but realistic course new to the game called Lighthouse Pointe that is extremely beautiful to enjoy a round of golf on. The graphics are phenomenal, and so is the atmosphere surrounding the golf course. This is a notable step-up from the past.
The fictitious courses are we welcome addition to the game as they are beautifully designed. I talked about Lighthouse Pointe previously, and there is also the Wetlands that is set up almost like your municipal course back home. Then there are the fantasy courses such as Coyote Falls that is carved into the Grand Canyon, and Paracel Storm that is taken from Battlefield 4. As far as fantasy courses go, these offer a lot of fun, and since Paracel Storm is 18 holes of all par 3's, you can work on getting those aces.
The gameplay is not completely different from the past, but amateur mode has a new wrinkle where the putt preview is gone and the putt read line is in its place. This makes you actually have to execute a little better and the amateur mode is not a gimme in online play. Offline play though there is a blue line that actually guides you and teaches you were the ball will land taking wind and elevation into effect.
The swing mechanic in the Tour mode is great as your swing has mechanics and feedback that are affected based on your back and down swing. I have really enjoyed playing Tour mode a lot, but there is also a returning shot mechanic in the 3-click swing. That is the old school way to play EA SPORTS golf, and it was a challenge jumping back into that swing mechanic.
Going back and forth between the three difficulties will add a lot of variety to the game, but also you can create a custom set of rules to mix a balance between Amateur and Tour.
Night Club Challenge is the new feature in the game where it's basically an arcade mode with a ton of challenges to try to complete. I like this addition to the game as it teaches new users how to get started; while offering a great challenge to try to get three stars on each challenge. I created a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR8d7YJfUWE on how to 3-star the first 18 challenges.
Finally, while career mode is basically untouched, the career progression system is a great addition to the game for your created pro. Based on your performance in the round, some of your attributes will automatically increase, and the game will show that to you at the end of each round, but you can also select "personality types" such as power, up and down, precise, and etc. to mold your golfer. Each type will affect ratings for the good and the bad, and eventually you'll have four types you can select with about 24 to choose from.
Overall, Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR is a great base with a lot of room to grow. There is a lot missing from the retail product today, but hopefully we will see some growth with this product in the months after. | video-games_xbox |
Very impressed. This is what DA2 should have been . Very impressed. This is what DA2 should have been.
ETA: This is after a good 20 + hours of playing. Each area is very well done. It's not completely open world, like Skyrim, but each area has so much more to explore and investigate compared to DA and DA2. Each area is large enough on it's own that it can take upwards of 5 hours per area (and more, in some cases) do discover everything that needs done, cleared, killed and solved. The leveling up has been dumbed down a bit, but it still (in my opinion) better than DA2. You still control which areas you want leveled, but you don't get to level up your base stats. Instead, in your abilities, some abilities raise your base stats (cunning, dexterity etc).
Weapons are yet again very good (as in DA). You can modify and this time create them using the blacksmith's table. Something I don't like about the weapons, though, is that there is no way to easily switch from long-ranged to melee (and in my chosen class as a rogue, is something that I miss). Something else a bit frustrating is lock picking. You can automatically open anything except for few chosen chests, which require a special perk, that's found as an Inquisitor's Perk. Not something easily earned or discovered.
Character creation = amazing. You can change just about everything from the character's face. This is the type of creation that I've been waiting for. You have so much control over every part of the character's face that it's almost overwhelming. From adjust the minute placement of a broken nose, to the exact color of the irises (and I mean plural - you can choose 2 different colors - one for the inside, one for the outside, so as my husband made, you can make a demon-looking eye with red on the outside and yellow for the inner iris), it's perfect. My two issues are this - the hair looks much lighter in the game vs the creation. Dark brown hair is medium, and black hair looks either gray or dark brown. Second issue - you can't adjust body type. It's thin no matter what.
Aside from the minor frustrations, this game is excellent, I stand by the 5 star. If you like DA, DA2, and Skyrim, you are probably going to like this game. I know I do. | video-games_xbox |
No shortage of content but technical issues and lack of innovative tablet features makes NBA 2K13 on Wii U lag behind 360/PS3. Of the three major sports titles to release alongside the Nintendo Wii U it's NBA 2K13 that delivers the product that most closely matches the 360/PS3 version in terms of content. Yet while the tablet controller features are definitely useful they're also the least interactive.
The Wii U's tablet controller has two central functions. It can be used to display coaching options in standard games or MyPlayer statistics during MyCareer games. In the standard games the screen displays three columns dependent on whether the user is on offense or defense at the time: Defense or Offense Strategy, Substitutions, and Defensive Sets or Quick Plays. The coaching options can also be folded away so as to play 2K13 completely on the tablet without even needing to watch it all play out on the TV.
The functions work well and in a way that doesn't distract too much from the action taking place on screen. It's not so much a time-saver, as it's simply moving things from the D-PAD to the touch screen, but a nice convenience. The same goes for during MyCareer games as the screen displays expanded stats, teammate grade, and shot chart for the MyPlayer being controlled. The Gatorade Biometric Scan displays player's fatigue levels and streakiness when the tablet is tilted up. It's a clever feature but ultimately not all that useful during the course of a game.
Naturally it will take some time to get accommodated to the controls. The different mapping of buttons can be confusing for those used to playing on other systems. What is most difficult to get the hang of is having the right stick above and to the right of the buttons instead of below and to the left. It doesn't feel nearly as comfortable to use the stick for dribble moves with the buttons beneath. There are no alternate or customizable controller options offered.
In terms of graphics the game is respectable but far outclassed by the other HD consoles. First impression was that the graphics were fairly similar but after switching back to the 360 version the deficiencies on the Wii U became immediately apparent. The 360/PS3 version is far more saturated and detailed. The Wii U is even stuck with jerseys that don't move. The framerate also takes a hit on the Wii U though not unacceptable. Going back and forth between the versions makes the difference more noticeable. It's not nearly as bad as in Madden NFL 13 but not as fluid as FIFA 13.
Only All-Star Weekend is missing from the Wii U compared to the 360/PS3. All other modes including MyCareer, Association, Online Association, Blacktop, and MyTeam are present. Jay-Z's influence as "Executive Producer" is seen throughout the game and the Dream Team and other historic teams are all included. As far as can be identified all the gameplay improvements are found in the Wii U version. However without the presence of many people owning the game the online competition with standard quick games and the online-based MyTeam are are made practically non-existent.
It is currently unclear the level of post-release support that 2K13 on the Wii U will receive. The earlier released versions of the game haven't even gotten a patch yet so it's possible when that comes it will go to the Wii U in addition to the 360 and PS3. The Wii U does have the same court and jersey updates that have been released on the other consoles. Its roster update is one behind however as the currently available roster is from November 14.
Given that there is currently no DLC system in place for the Wii U there is no option to purchase "VC". The currency system is utilized on the Wii regardless and not having the ability to buy it outright theoretically would make the team-building MyTeam mode more balanced and enjoyable. However with just 20 people on at any peak times it is difficult to get any standard head-to-head game in let alone going to that specific mode for matchmaking.
One really annoying issue present since release is that manually saving any Association or MyCareer file stalls when "creating a save on the 2K Sports server". The only option then is to exit out from the game to the dashboard. This happens immediately after setting up a new Association or MyCareer as well as when overwriting a save or creating a new one. While the file is still saved locally not being on the server means in order to continue "VC" is converted to "SP" with no way to reverse that action. Obviously this needs to be rectified not just because of that but due to the necessity of quitting the game after a save. Modes like MyTeam and Online Association only autosave and appear to be exempt from this problem because of that.
***SUMMARY***
NBA 2K13 on the Wii U deserves recognition for almost completely matching the content found in the 360/PS3 version but in terms of performance it takes a step back graphically and in framerate. The tablet controller features are the least inspired of the sports games released with the system and though nice to have present don't provide any compelling reason to choose this version over the others. It's still a fun game offering good value for those who don't already own it on the other systems. | video-games_xbox |
Worth every penny. The xbox console might not be the most "famous" console on the market, but that doesnt mean that its not the best.
Graphics:
The graphics are superior to every other gaming console. Naturally, there are some games that don't show its muscle as much as others, this occurs in sony and nintendo systems as well. Overall, the graphics will make you feel part of the game.
Accessories:
Guess what? you don't have to buy a memory Card. Your xbox already comes with a sizeable hard drive (8gb) which feels like it never runs out. You can rip music to your hard drive, and play it while playing certain games instead of its own specific music.
yes, You must buy a dvd controller. the people who say its cheap must have forgotten about the hard drive and not having to buy a memory card. Simple trade off. Just think about it, for the ps2, you have to buy both memory card and dvd controller if you want to have the confort of using a normal remote instead of the ps2's gaming controller to do all the dvd functions.
Internet Capabilities:
Perhaps the best feature of the Xbox. Comes internet gaming ready, all that you have to do is pay a 50 dollar fee a year, THATS RIGHT, PER YEAR!. I do recommend getting the starter set the first time, its 70 dollars and comes with both a headset and a free game. While some people say that its not right because sony's internet is free, you must remember that unless you had the redesigned ps2, you have to buy a network card. Besides, the money for the online is worth it, giving you a permanent identity from game to game and a freinds list to follow you everywhere, so that you can invite freinds across games. This is something that sony does not offer, and will eventually copy.
Games
It is true that it has less of a collection than other consoles, such as sony and nintendo. But that doesnt mean that its collection isn't good enough. You will find plenty of games to satisfy your needs. And guess what, most games that are released thru all consoles, usually look the best on the xbox.
Controller
The original xbox controller is the stupidest design i have ever seen, and its good that microsoft changed it to come come with the smaller, lighter, and better Type-s controller. so theres no need to worry about that.
I had both systems, and i ended up selling the Ps2. I can say without bias that the xbox is a superior gaming console. | video-games_xbox |
One of a Kind. It doesn't take long after you start L.A. Noire that you realize this game is going to be nothing like you have ever played on Xbox 360. It is a slower, more story-driven experience and really puts a lot of effort into making you feel like you are in the game world. L.A. Noire uses a new technology that captures the actual actor's facial expressions and reanimates it on the character models. The results are fantastic as the character's movements and expressions are the most realistic I have ever seen in a video game. The only problem that I found with this feature is how ALL of the female characters looked.....really ugly. I'm not sure what it is exactly but even the characters that were meant to be attractive for story purposes looked terrible.
The casting of the actors and their acting was top-notch. Performances were convincing and I felt strong emotions towards more than a few characters. Story-wise, you follow war veteran Cole Phelps as he starts at the bottom on the LAPD after he returns from duty in WW2. As you play you will see Phelps rise up the ladder of the police force as you complete each case. The cases of the "murder desk" are particularly great with the last mission being a scavenger hunt across LA that stands out as maybe the best the game has to offer. After about 10 cases the interrogations and crime scenes do feel a little repetitive, but a lot of police work is repetitive so that is a minor gripe. My only complaint with the interrogations is that for 80% of them you know exactly what to pick, however, for the other 20% it is impossible to tell if you need to pick "doubt" or "lie." If you pick the wrong one you won't fail the case but you will probably lose a chance at a 5 star ranking and have to exit out of the game and reload to salvage the 5 star ranking. There are 40 side missions that you are free to do whenever prompted by the game during cases. These cases consist of gunfights, car chases, and....that's about it. I got bored after 15 of them and then abandoned the rest. Make sure you take the time to find all of the newspapers (13 in all), as they tell the overlying backstory of the game and are well directed and acted out.
Without any spoilers, I will say the end threw me a little off guard and I felt like I needed a little more closure. The Complete Edition comes with 5 more cases that are directly integrated into the game so you don't have to do anything extra to access them. Overall, I felt that L.A. Noire was a good game with some faults but I enjoyed my time with it and would love to see a sequel or another game like this in the near Future.
8/10 | video-games_xbox |
A flawed gem, but a damned fun one. Several months ago I somehow stumbled upon a magical fantasy land in which I actually had disposable income. Flush with riches, I decided to visit Amazon and actually make a dent in my gaming wish list. Among the titles I bought was a B-list German-developed fantasy RPG called Venetica. I finally got around to breaking the shrink wrap on it a couple weeks back and holy carp you guys, this game is so much fun.
You play as "I'm no adventurer" Scarlett, the Campbellian protagonist upon whom fate naturally foists a life of adventure when the village she grew up in is attacked by assassins. Plot happens and you find out you're the daughter of Death, or at least the guy who later became the current Death (apparently being the Final Guide is a temporary gig in this world), and there's a Snidely Whiplash in Venice named Viktor who twisted his metaphorical mustache and exploited a loophole in The Rules in order to make he and his buddies undead. Normally Death having living progeny would be a Very Bad Thing, but the whole thing with Snidely and the Undead Five threatens to throw an omnipresent spanner into ALL the works, and gee isn't it convenient that we just happen to have a hero girl who can sponge off daddy's power in order to go clean up the Immortal Council's mess.
The game is generally somewhat reminiscent of the first Fable. Combat is fairly similar; melee essentially consists of striking, rolling and blocking, while magic just costs straight MP and has a short casting time - either way, mobility is emphasized. Venetica doesn't have a fart-to-make-people-like-you emote mechanic like Fable did, which I think is a point in its favor, nor does it visibly keep track of Scarlett's morality. More to the point, being not-the-shiny-hero doesn't necessarily mean being a petty douche with a chip on your shoulder like it does in most western RPGs that try to work morality into things. Getting the villainous ending, as the game calls it, seems to be more about focusing on revenge for the murder of Scarlett's lover in the beginning of the game vs. punching starving orphans and flipping off kittens for kicks. Which isn't to say there's none of the latter, and the former isn't always handled especially well, but it's still much better than "destroy the Evil Sword of Doom or use it to murder your sister in cold blood Because Power!"
Fairly early in the course of the game you'll face the choice of joining one of Venice's three big guilds; the Hooded Wings, the Order of the Holy Seal or the Net of the Mask. The Wings are essentially an amoral delivery service; they deliver anything anonymously and discreetly for a sufficient price. The Order is, well, an order of warriors who are all about revenge and a "might makes right" philosophy. The Net is a guild of necromancers focused on the acquisition and study of eldritch knowledge. As with the quests, none of them are really painted in a solid moral light and it's up to the player to decide which s/he thinks is the right fit.
I said above the game is B-list, and I meant it. There are more than a few graphical glitches scattered about, enemies sometimes spawn in walls or environmental objects and it's possible for the NPC who takes you to Venice in the first place to disappear after you initially enter the city, meaning you can't get back to Creek Bay to talk to the spirit of the skeleton there for the achievement. The voice acting is generally of acceptable quality; the primary cast are all solid, if not necessarily outstanding, though minor NPCs sometimes switch voices mid-conversation. I've read of more significant, potentially game breaking bugs others have encountered, but I've never run into them myself; whether that's because they'd been patched by the time I bought the game or they just happen randomly I've no idea. Generally speaking, while the bugs are obviously there, none of them really detract from the overall experience.
In total, if you're a fan of CRPGs and don't mind going a bit off the well-beaten AAA path and dealing with the occasional minor glitch or bug, I highly recommend picking this game up and giving it a shot. | video-games_xbox |
The payoff will be the multiplayer. How much you get out of this game is really going to depend on why you are buying it. If you are someone who does not even notice that there is a single player story to accomplish, then I don't think you will be horribly disappointed. However, if you are looking for a decent sized single player experience, you are not going to get the payoff you are looking for.
I got MoH on release day (Tuesday Oct. 12th). I popped it into my xbox at about 8:30PM and played for a couple of hours. As I write this, that was only two days ago. I played for a couple of hours yesterday morning, then again this morning for about an hour - when I finished it! I played through on the "Hard" setting - the most difficult option I was given. I was stunned when the game ended. I could not believe that there was literally only about 5 - 7 hours of single player story line. The bottom line is that I was left unsatisfied by the single player. What it had was good, but I just did not feel like it had enough. The challenge on the hardest setting also did not live up to my expectations. It was just too easy. Finally, the single player game felt too much as if I was on rails. I understand there is a story and they want to move you through it, but I sometimes felt I was being led by the hand a bit too much.
I then jumped on to multiplayer. I like the ability to customize your weapon. In all honesty I have only played for about an hour on multiplayer, but I liked the maps (of the two I saw). Time will tell, but clearly, this is where the payoff for the game is intended to be. One nice addition is drivable vehicles. The "Combat Mission" mode I played involved clearing five objectives as the aggressor or defending against that assault as the OPFOR. These played well and felt very much like a similar mode on Battlefield: Bad Company 2. As you progress, you unlock more options for your load out. The potential variety here looks pretty amazing and I suspect that this ability to customize your in game avatar will make the game more interesting. Also in the good news column is that there is a "Hardcore" mode. Lets face it, there are plenty of annoying little trolls out there playing these games. I have found that heading right to the "Hardcore" option cuts down on those folks fast. This feature is also available for the two games I link to below. It is actually a pretty universal feature at this point.
GRAPHICS:
Nothing to write home about here. You are not going to be blown away by what you see. Frankly, the graphics look a little dated by todays standard. I noticed they used the Unreal engine and if that is what Unreal is serving up these days, it might just be time to update some code! Everything from the setting to the models of other people just don't look like what you would expect, quality wise, from a game released in 2010.
If you are just getting into first person shooters or multiplayer games of this type, there are plenty of other options that might please you more, for a lower price. Here are some suggestions:
- <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Battlefield-Bad-Company-2/dp/B001QXNBJM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Battlefield Bad Company 2</a> - This is a good one. Huge maps, vehicles, plenty of fun! You cannot go prone in this game, which is really one of my only complaints.
- <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-2/dp/B00269QLI8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2</a> - Smaller maps and no vehicles - but some real fun sniping. Oh, and a silenced .50 Cal sniper rifle... so you get some fantasy gaming in there as well.
Final opinion: I think this game can appeal to just about anyone in the market for this kind of game. If you are new to the genre or a die hard FPS fan, this is a decent game to get in your hands. Buy it for the multiplayer action tho, as the single player campaign will leave you hungry. | video-games_xbox |
Just a Regular Review. I got the game recently it has like 12 levels where you can get to travel to three different worlds [I forgot their funny names, I remember now, Parum, Mootab...i forgot the other]. So far I'm on 7th quest and each quest last roughly 30 minutes [Some I finish under 20] so overall the game is pretty quick offline. But there is an online mode which you can play online with other users; I haven't tried it out so I can't fill you in the details. There's also an "Extra Mode" which you can unlock after you do a certain amount of quests. Extra Mode is basically you get to be another "Guardian", other than the main character, Ethan [I know what kind of RPG name is thaT!!], and take on the quests you already completed with the Ethan. Unlike "Story Mode" which is the original mode you play with Ethan, Extra Mode never ends until you end it yourself. Extra mode is pretty nifty because you can create your own character from the hair to the clothes and even the voice is customizable.
Even though, the game is pretty fun and has a somewhat good replay value, I would suggest renting it first. I haven't played the rest of Phantasy Star sagas, so this one is my first so I can't tell you the differences and similarities
Cons:
-the buttons commands were hard to get use to
-too short
-stupid AI, stand around doing nothing, and when you leave to kill the enemy, they yell "where's Ethan!!"
-When the character's have conversations, the bubbles take up a good portion of the screen making it hard to see
-No pause button!! So if you left your game, let say to go the bathroom you have to make sure you clear out the area because can get attack and die [trust me on this on]
-Not much to explore in the planets, unless you prefer not to have a bunch of places that don't serve a purpose
-When you beat one of the 12 chapters they show the same cut scene from the beginning act over and over...it's pretty annoying
Pros:
-Big area maps w/ pretty scenery
-A lot is customizable; include Rank, such as Hunter, can buy clothes and change into them
-You can use almost any type of weapon you want and change it easily
-Nice cut scenes
-Nice futuristic look but as great as Star Ocean
-They put extra characters but the ones who you can't talk to disappear
-"The Buddy System", you can get to pick which characters you want to go with you on your side quests
-The three planets you get different distinctive shops, they don't sell you the same thing as the others
-Earn money pretty quick and spend it quickly
-Pretty easy to gain levels
-Enemies offer a good challenge, they don't die to easily and they aren't too defeat
-A lot of treasure to be found
-The made the chapters look like an anime or TV show, having a introduction on what the chapter is about before you play it, can be interesting for some or just a spoiler for some
-Synthesis ability, even though you have to find the boards before you can synthesis item and each board has a limit to how much you can synthesis
-When an ally is dead they resurrect themselves in some time
[That's all I can think of on the top of my head]
Overall I would say the game is good, but too short [But the online & Extra mode seems to show some promise]. I recommend people who haven't played the rest of the phantasy star sagas to rent it before, instead of regretting spending $60 on a game they didn't like. Great way of just spending time killing enemies, saving the world without much of hassle of needing a walkthrough | video-games_xbox |
The thrill is back, but it's not perfect. Sonic Generations is both a fantastic return to form and a massive step forward from the success of "Sonic Colors" for the blue blur. Classic Sonic's 2D platforming, like days of yore, is an intellectual exercise in mixing speed and precise jumping and receives the best reinterpretations of older Sonic stages. Modern Sonic focuses on speed and twitch platforming. Perfect timing is what can separate a quick shortcut from tedious platforming, and he has not shortage in style while doing all this. I worry, though, for the player who (rightfully) skipped "Sonic the Hedgehog" and "Sonic Unleashed," however, as his stages assume you can interpret his myriad tricks, like a series of mid-air flips that add extra points or the "drifting" sections where Sonic slides along a path rather than during the usual control scheme. Flaws included, however, Sonic Generations presents a Sonic that has taken the good from his less-than-spectacular outings, and it's wonderful to see Sonic Team finally coalesce these ideas into something that works.
There are, however, some parts of the game that are flat-out bad ideas and suggest a wealth of ideas that weren't cleanly edited. It would have been much appreciated that the extra missions (some of which are plagued with strange platforming controls or awkward mechanics like a "love ray" with a very limited range that disables shielded robots) were removed in favor for more levels. The only games represented here are Sonic 1, 2, Knuckles, Adventure, Adventure 2, Heroes, 2006, Unleashed, and Colors. Maybe more are reserved for DLC, but could there have been room for more? Sonic 3 seems an obvious choice, but when Classic Sonic must chase the goal post in a reimagined 2006 stage, it makes you wish Sonic Team could remake something from *every* game.
Finally, and this was a real sore spot for me, the final boss battle is entirely broken. Your friends have magically been radioed into the fight, but they nor the game suggest how to actually damage the boss. Thankfully, the core of the game is great enough that it might be okay to never completely finish this one, but it all just screams of poor design decisions and leaves a bitter taste that for all the good Sonic Team has done here, the elements that made most of the Sonic games from the past five years so bad is still present. | video-games_xbox |
I think this may be the worst video game I've ever played in my life. Let me preface with a couple of things. First off, I'm furious. I've been playing this game now for two days in "My Career" mode to learn & figure it out, and I haven't won a single match. Not one. Nothing. I've even gone in and set the game to its easiest settings and cranked reversals to where I should be murdering this game. Still nothing. It's the worst experience I've ever had playing a video game. The team who made this, and the people who, along the way, allowed this game to see the light of day should be fired from 2K Games. Secondly, I'm a HUGE video game player, I've had an Xbox Live account for over a decade and have hundreds (thousands?) of hours playing a variety of games from Borderlands to Skyrim to Battlefield to GTA... I was VERY excited to play this. I'm a huge wrestling fan and hadn't purchased a wrestling video game in probably ten years, but I have the WWE Network, and WWE did a great job of getting me excited to play (Pre-Ordered just to get Sting!).
Again, let me be clear, I'm not the guy who played 2K14 and created 250 CAWs with every single moveset meticulously pored over. I'm the guy who loves wrestling and video games and thought it'd be awesome to be The Rock or Stone Cold and lay the smack down on Ultimate Warrior and Sting. So I'm literally the most casual of casual gamer this game is targeting. I haven't owned one of these before so of course I went straight the tutorial... oh wait, there ISN'T a tutorial. Nope. No way to have someone even briefly explain to you how to grapple, move around the ring (how do I run?) how combinations are executed, how things happen in the ring... how to climb the ropes, etc. Nothing. If you're not familiar with the mechanics you are just out of luck and get to frustratingly teach yourself the basic mechanics of how to move around the environment on your own while getting your ass kicked.
Most frustrating of all is the HORRIBLE "reversal" mechanic. This idea that at seemingly arbitrarily decided nanoseconds during character interaction you have the briefest of opportunities to reverse what's coming, provided you can either use the Force or manipulate space/time. I've gone in and cranked these settings to the point where I should literally be able to reverse things every single time, but do you think that helped? I probably reverse a move 1 out of 20-25 times I'm provided a chance.
The resulting gameplay is an exercise in murderous frustration. The game simply is NOT fun. It's not even fun to lose, it's not fun to play, it's not remotely an entertaining experience.
If you're a hardcore player of these games and this is a routine purchase for you, then you're not the target of this review. You probably play these things in your sleep and enjoy them immensely. You haven't experienced anything that I've experienced and I'll completely acknowledge that. I'm just a casual gamer who thought this would be a fun way to vicariously live through some of my favorite wrestlers and spend some time dropping some Stone Cold Stunners on some Jabronies. This game is such a failure you can't even do that. If you're in my shoes and you're thinking about this as a diversion, look elsewhere. Giving this game 1 star is generous. Don't waste your money. | video-games_xbox |
Alright...No. Ive been a huge fan of RPG's for quite sometime now. As I became older FPS games were getting really tired for me. Run and gun games seemed to easy and didn't require much...brain power. Alright, heres the deal. The game starts out AMAZING and then a huge downfall right after you leave Vault 101. Oblivion was the best RPG to ever come out, and im still playing that game today. Fallout 3 has so many flaws I turned it in 2 days after playing it (I also completed the main story within that period of time...8 hours of gameplay or something?) The main story isn't that long. The traveling system is just annoying. You have to walk 400 miles from one place to another while you get attacked constantly by a bunch of mutant monsters and what-not. This game looks like a MadMax type of genre, so why couldn't they add some cool vehicles with barb wire and metal shields like something out of DeathRace/MadMax? You have to walk alllll the way back and forth from place to place to get something done. The game is besically, go to point A and do this and then return to point B. This game is getting so many great reviews and ratings its unbelieveable. Im sorry, but I just couldn't get into the game. I tried my heart out and it just didn't work for me. Again, every review ever made is based on someones opinion. Im sure a lot of people love this game. But ill tell you one thing, if you don't have a lot of spare time on your hands, you're not going to get anywhere in this game. It takes forever to get something accomplished. And when you die when you're in the middle of walking 400 miles to point B, you start back at point A. Yay I get to walk all the way back again!
All in all, the game is tiring. The only part I loved was when I blew up M******. Cant say the name bc it would be a spoiler. But that was awesome ill give it that much. Other than that, yeah I turned the game. Im glad I still don't have it, I got like $30 for it. | video-games_xbox |
Possibly the Greatest Arcade Racing Game of This Console Generation. If you want realism, play Gran Turismo or Forza. If you want to have fun.. play this game.
I've owned this game for years. I've played it with my dad, with guests, and with my wife. I've compared it to Blur, and Burnout Paradise, and just about every other arcade racing game under the sun. And I'm hear to tell you, this is THE arcade racing game of the generation. Well, maybe this and Outrun 2...
This game does absolutely everything right. It's crazy fun. There's a huge variety in event types (everything from passing semis spewing exploding barrels to dodging missles from a helicopter). The controls are outstanding for the most part. The graphics look like a game that just came out. the sound is fantastic. The tracks are loaded with shortcuts and little details (from wife fences to smash through to persistent changes to the courses like debris that gets left over and permanent route changes). The theme of the game is great and adds a lot of flavor. There's tons of car types to choose from (though you'll likely lean heavily to one type), the courses are all unique and imaginative, and there's both online and split-screen (with multiple screen split options) for multi-player.
One for the ages
I played this game to death and got bored. Put it on the shelf. And now a year later I pulled it out and played it again and it feels fresh all over again (I get the same feeling from GRID). Just when you think you've mastered everything and gotten bored, you can come back to this game later with a new perspective and enjoy it all over again. Granted, there are too many cars (if it had a quarter as many and just let you upgrade them it would have been better), the A.I. yo-yos and can be annoying when cars suddenly pass you at the finish line, but the power-up dynamic (drift to get power, then use it to wreck and alter the track) never gets old. You get used to the yo-yo A.I. and learn to exploit it (same your power for a RED and then use it to take out multiple cars at once; push hard on the final part of the final lap). The multi-player is fantastic locally and unbelievably fun online. And no matter how much times passes, the game is still fun to pull out and play a few events.
The only real downside to this game is that the studio that made it was dissolved by Disney. So if you want more, you'll have to do what I did and buy all the excellent DLC. Because a sequel is never going to happen (oh, what might have been!). If you buy one Arcade Racing game for PS3 or 360, make it this one. | video-games_xbox |
COULDN'T BE HAPPIER - THIS IS A FANTASTIC DEAL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. Our son finally reached the age where some of his favorite games were no longer as much fun on the iPad (e.g., Minecraft), and I was looking for additional ways to have fun interacting with him. He had a ton of fun with his cousin doing Hip Hop Dance Experience over Thanksgiving this year, so, 9 years after the initial release of the Xbox 360 gaming system, we finally took the plunge and purchased this system for him as a birthday gift from Amazon.
As usual, delivery was on time and everything was in perfect shape. This is the "E" console, and has both composite and HDMI outputs (we used the latter). This is a 4GB unit, so you should not plan to load and store tons of games. Given our admittedly limited gaming habits, I don't see this being too much of an issue. The console does, however, have two USB slots, each of which can handle a 16GB flash drive (32GB total additional storage). Because you can swap out flash drives, you can keep different games, profiles, etc. on the drives.
The 2nd-longest part of setting up the unit was pulling out my entertainment center and (re)connecting everything in a sensible way (I believe in cable management). The 3rd-longest part of the set-up was updating the console via Xbox Live (not a huge deal--there were bound to be some), and the longest part of the set-up was creating individual profiles for my son, my wife, and me. You can customize everything from skin color to facial features to clothing (down to the shoes your avatar wears), so we spent a lot of time getting our looks just right. All-in-all, setting everything up took about 2 hours, but it can (and maybe should) take much less time for the average person. Once done, we haven't looked back. The image quality for games will depend greatly on the game itself. Minecraft, for example, will always appear "blocky" but "Gears of War" was stunning. In order to "compare apples-to-apples" I put in a few DVD's, and the quality was extremely good (If you want to play Blu Ray movies, you'll need Xbox One). The bundles comes with a single wireless controller and two games (Kinect Sports: Season 2 and Forza Horizon), but we also purchased Star Wars Kinect <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Kinect-Star-Wars-Xbox-360/dp/B002I0HCNI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Kinect Star Wars - Xbox 360</a> and Minecraft <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Minecraft-Xbox-360/dp/B00BU3ZLJQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Minecraft - Xbox 360</a>, as well as an additional wireless controller (on sale for $35 at Toys-R-Us) so that at least two people could play everything.
As far as the Kinect unit goes, It occasionally took moving around a bit before a second person will be recognized by the Kinect unit, but only in the Star Wars game thus far. The Kinect has actually done a very good job keeping up with our movements once both people are recognized (there is a bit of lag time that was noticeable to my wife [former athlete, dancer, and model] but not to me). Only once did the Kinect just "shut down" on us, but this was after at least 3 hours of consecutive play. I've moved it and the Xbox console to where it can get better ventilation, and the issue hasn't repeated itself.
All-in-all, this is a fantastic gaming system, even if it is a little long in the tooth and its replacement is already here. Although the storage is limited, I knew this going in, and preferred to spend the money on the Kinect unit rather than a larger hard drive. Besides the cheaper price of the console/Kinect system, another HUGE plus of waiting almost 10 years to buy one is that there are LOADS of used games that are EXTREMELY inexpensive now (I picked up the entire Gears of War series for $15 at a local GameStop). The Xbox was the star of his birthday party, I've lost 3 pounds in a week with the Kinect, the family is having loads of fun, and I couldn't be happier with this purchase. | video-games_xbox |
It really does seem to meet the hype. I loved the first Halo. I have been anxiously awaiting the release of Halo 2 but I have kind of felt in the back of my head that there is no way that Halo 2 can meet the hype. Well I got the game yesterday and I have been very happy with it.
Pros:
1. I love that you can hop on an enemy vehicle when the they go by, punch them and throw them off. On the covenant "Wraith" you even have to punch through the top to pull them out, or throw a grenade in. I found that to be excellent attention to detail. You can operate more vehicles and there are more options when you do.
2. The Plot is very good, and you really want to watch the video in between levels.
3. The graphics are surprisingly much better than the first Halo. The videos are amazing and the actual game graphics have great detail. (In the Multiplayer mode there is a new "Blood Gulch" level. If you compare the graphics there is no comparison.)
4. The plot runs side by side, with an enemy covenant who is punished for loosing the battle (in Halo), and Halo blowing up. On some levels you play as the enemy covenant. (You can even be him in multiplayer mode.
Cons:
1. The game is a little too easy. I would recommend not doing it on "easy" or "normal" if you want a real challenge. You have a new shield that seems a little stronger and recharges a little faster. It is cool, but having previous skill from the original Halo, it seems easier than the first one.
2. You can't be black in the multiplayer mode. Not a big deal, but I always liked have my profiled character be very dark.
That is it. The game is a lot of fun! And it has renewed my excitement level for Halo. I think it is important to understand that the game is Halo, with new levels and a few new details. If you loved Halo you will love Halo 2.
P.S. There are a lot of reviews on Halo 2 from before the game was even released, so I realize nobody is going to read this, but the game was so exciting I felt a need to give it 5 stars. | video-games_xbox |
Stealth is Back. I am a big fan of the series. I completed every other installment at least once. I did Double Agent Twice and finished the Coop (which is a different story).
When "Conviction" came out, I read some reviews criticizing its stealth-ability and saying it is not the same as before. Thus, I wasn't so excited about buying it.
Now that I bought it, Splinter Cell is my favorite again. My comments below only cover areas that a lot of people are concerned about:
**Gameplay**
Game play is amazing. You can go stealth all the way and finish levels without being detected. You have to monitor enemy movements, positions to plan your attack. The mark and execute system is also a nice addition. It may seem boring in the ads and gameplay videos but it is not at all. First of all, it's cool and fits Sam Fisher (the character) as an executioner. Second, you really have to strategize using it because you only get to "mark and execute" once after every hand-to-hand takedown.
**Stealth**
A lot of reviewers did not like how colors faded as you went into dark places. I respect their opinions but for me, it didn't bother me at all. I think it's just a substitute to night vision. A way to know that you're in the dark without actually losing sight of your character. The game just doesn't want you to rely on one gadget for a long time (like Batman's X-Ray vision in Arkhum Asylum) and miss out on the good visuals the game has to offer.
**More to Play**
After finishing the game, you can still play as one of two other characters in "Deniable Ops" with new maps and challenges.
Also, just like in "Double Agent" there is a Coop Mode with a separate story and new levels. I play this with my little bro and its awesome.
There is also something Called "U Play" that requires you to go online. I didn't try it yet.
The only thing I didn't like about this installment is that, you cannot hide bodies that you've taken out.
**Bottom Line**
The game is excellent and as a fan of the series I was very much satisfied. Don't miss it. | video-games_xbox |
4.5/5.0: Destiny delivers gamplay and difficulty, short on story. This is an FPS (first person shooter) with watered down RPG and MMO elements added in. The MMO elements are a natural progression for coop within FPS games and in this one you can complete all story missions (except 1st) and all strikes as a team of 3 while Raids require 6. The perk system uses the RPG elements and the combinations are endless; it is much more comprehensive than perk systems used by many competitor FPS games. There is also a level system, but this is meant to control access to game content ensuring that the gameplay is linear in an open world environment. Once reaching the experience cap of lvl 20 (between 5-12 hours, lvl 30 is the true level cap obtained through means other than experience), the dynamics of the game shift as all game content becomes available to players and true character customization begins. The gameplay and balance is fine-tuned and feels almost perfect while taking on enemy AI that scales with difficulty and gets smarter as you progress through the game.
There are multiple game modes: Story, Special Coop missions (Strikes), open world exploration (Patrol), multiplayer (Crucible), and Raids which offer the most difficult FPS challenges in today's market through the combination of puzzles and high-level enemies. Bungie estimated Raids will take most people between 3-16 hours to complete - the first groups that went through managed it in just under 11 hours on normal difficulty. Multi-player is enjoyable but tough as nails and can be very frustrating to those who are used to other shooters like COD.
Many have reported disappointment over the story because it is not complete and has no character development. This leads to the feeling of being dropped in a gameworld that does not make sense and almost with no soul giving an empty feeling to those who are driven by storylines. My experience so far and how I relate it to is like the first season of the LOST tv show. You will have many more questions than answers and the more you search and analyze the world and the Grimoire cards (viewable on bungie.net) the more the story unfolds as well as present new questions.
Destiny is an online game requiring a network connection at all times. An XBOX gold account is required for much of the game, but a silver account (free) is just fine for completing the story and exploring. Destiny installs almost 6GB of hard drive space on the 360 when the game is started for the first time. This is the first game in a contract of 4 over the course of 10 years that was signed between Activision and Bungie.
To summarize: Destiny offers near perfect gameplay combined with unlimited character customization options that encourage exploration and playing on harder difficulties. The game caters to both casual players as well as hardcore audience offering a wide range of difficulties that peak at a level that has not been seen in FPS games and rivals other game genres as well. The story is a drawback to many and can leave players uninspired who require a good storyline to push them forward.
As of the time of this review, I have reached level 19 and have not left Earth in the storyline. Much of my play has been in multiplayer and patrolling earth and none of it has felt like grinding because of how enjoyable the gameplay is. | video-games_xbox |
An Improvement - But Can Be Better. Zumba is back with <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Zumba-Fitness-Rush/dp/B0061PAZUS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Zumba Fitness Rush</a>!! And what can be said about this sequel? Read on!!
The Cons:
Unlike it's predecessor, the developers decided to remove a crucial fun factor, online multi-player mode. That's right, you can no longer play online with friends in far away places.
Another issue that may affect a few people (especially those with epilepsy) are the constant flashes and de-focus in the game play. I found it quite irritating, especially when a new move was coming up.
The cue cards are a nice addition, but developers, if you're going add them, then put the whole routine of the move in there. It's like you put the move in but then decide to add something else to it. This option can be removed under settings.
In the manual it has a scale and tells you that you are able to edit, but I have yet to find where the edit option is or see the scale appear. You can only see Time, Technique and Calories Burned right now. If anyone sees the scale, please let me know where it is located.
Now for the Pros:
The navigating is great as you can use your hand, voice or controller.
The tracking has improved greatly.
The tutorials in learning the steps has improved as well.
All new music, routines and venues
Routine intensity go from easy to medium to high
The classes are fun and you will sweat your pants off big time.
Your choice of classes are Short Class (20 mins), Medium Class (45 mins) and Full Class (60 mins)
You can create your own playlist of songs (up to 12) and dance away without having to stop (you still have your choice of doing a single song as well).
It has a Dance Central type scoring system (the star system) and there you can get Nice, Hot or Zumba
It also shows the body part that needs work with a red silhouette.
So with all that said, would I recommend Zumba Fitness Rush? I'll say yes. Despite what it lacks, the pros still outweigh the cons!!
Enjoy, I know I will!!
Update: February 16th, 2012
After using it for nearly a week, I will say you will get use to the flashing which is Euphoria and they've updated it that you can now share on your awards on Facebook right from the game!! I'm loving it!! I can see this being my staple workout for a long time!! | video-games_xbox |
A must for fans if the franchise. This is exactly what I was hoping it would be to take the bad taste of Resident Evil 6 out of my mouth!
To clarify: RE6 wasn't necessarily a bad game. It just wasn't a very good Resident Evil game. That being said, fans of RE6 who go into this game expecting a ton of action & set piece moments will be disappointed. Although it isn't back to the series' roots completely it is definitely a step in the right direction! I will break this review into two segments. The base game & the extras. The score I give it is largely based of the base game but feel it would be helpful to include a bit of detail on the extra content.
Base Game:
The storyline is actually pretty good. It has a good enough plot to keep you invested in the characters with just the right amount of classic RE cheesiness peppered in throughout. The atmosphere is a huge improvement as there are a fair amount of instances where there isn't a lot going on. Which builds the tension & makes the battles that much better when they occur, much like the old school titles. The controls & mechanics aren't ground breaking but fit this game very well. A huge plus is the revamped dodge mechanic. The dodge mechanic in the original REV was very spotty at times. Thankfully this has been addressed in REV II. The sound is typical RE which isn't a bad thing. Raid mode makes a return with some changes. Admittedly it was very refreshing in the beginning but did lose its appeal once the novelty wore off. There is also an over abundance of RE6 themed stages in Raid mode 2.0, IMO. There are, however, a plethora of unlockables that range from alternate costumes to weapons & concept art. These unlockables will likely keep the hardcore RE fan coming back for more.
Extra Content:
My thoughts on the game mechanics & sound are the same as mentioned above.
The extra chapters aren't as good as I thought they would be. This has nothing to do with the story, however. The story for both actually tie in very well to the main campaign. It's the actual gameplay that isn't as compelling as the main campaign. Moira's extra campaign largely amounts to a story driven time trial. Where as Natalia's extra chapter is largely stealth based. Which is actually an awesome concept but there is little to no variation in what the player does through out the duration of the chapter. Causing it to feel as if it's dragging on at times. The extra character skins & stages are a nice addition. Although Wesker & Hunk are just character model rips from RE5 & REV I, it is still nice to have them as part of the Raid 2.0 cast. The stages from RE6 & REV I are beautifully recreated &, in most cases, a treat to revisit. As I mentioned before there does seem to be more RE6 stages than the game actually needed.
Verdict:
I give this game a 5/5. It has its flaws but for its price it is a great buy & must have for the avid RE fan. It isn't exactly the return to form that many hardcore fans wanted but it is a very large improvement over the last few entries in the franchise. | video-games_xbox |
Like the fighting, not bad story but a little short. The game story is not bad, of course, it would not make any sense (as some people complained); it is a video game after all. I love the character and her fighting style - think batman-like, only difference is not a one-button-fighting, something similar to Street Fighter game. The best part is the ability to create your own combos to either match your own style, or enhance the special effect. For example when fighting again invisible enemies, only stun special effect will work against them, you will want to craft a combo to shorten the cool down time. Or when fighting against enemy that damage you as you hit them, you will want a combo that regenerates health as you hit.
The game is very linear, no side quest with some minor path to find special flags, or health/focus patch. That is OK, but most of items are very rare such as health patch (to increase your health gauge). There is no leveling up system, your health gauge gains very little as you progress along. The fighting is pretty tough but addicted, not too frustrated (except for one fight), you must get your timing correctly. I play as mid-level (meaning you have to be a top fighter), I did not have any problem until toward the end where you have to fight two Johnny-like enemies - this is where my frustration increases - Johnny is the invisible enemy that requires stun effect to beat him, he can appear anywhere and kill you ... in about 3 hits. Now you have to deal with two of these along with 20 of their minions that never die. You cannot perform more than two hits before leaping out (else die), almost impossible to perform a 6-hit combo. As a result you can't cool down (special effect) or heal fast enough. Unlike boss fight, this one has no enemy health gauge (no idea of progress), no mid-scene (meaning you have to restart all the way from beginning if die).
Anyway, the game is very short. I wish it was a little longer. It does not have any place where you can practice fight skills before go on. You have no inventory or can carry any items (i.e. health kit). | video-games_xbox |
Can't fault Amazon,. Can't praise Microsoft. ***BUY A WARRANTY WITH THIS PRODUCT***
My experience with the product:
Very limited - it broke within 20 minutes of me plugging it in, due to a 'software fault'. I was informed by one person at Microsoft support this happens to 2%-6% of the xboxs which are produced and shipped.
I had done my research before buying an xbox and had been worried by all the faults which had been described in forums, and worried by the supposed lack of support from Microsoft. I made sure to buy a Squaretrade warranty with this product.
My customer services experience Microsoft/Amazon
Having received my xbox, I was of course excited. Within 20 minutes of me switching it on, I was presented with a error code, and was directed to Microsoft support. I then spent an hour on the phone with various different representatives who refused to talk to each other, leaving me to repeat my situation at length four times. I was told that I had two options: send the product to Microsoft and let them take a month fixing it, or ring Amazon and see what they could do, after which I was cut off by the final representative I spoke to - this was one of the worst customer services experiences I had had in a long time. No apologies about a faulty product, no admission of guilt, nothing.
I then rang Amazon and spoke with a representative who instantly set me up with expedited shipping and free collection of the faulty item, leaving me happy - and stunned at the stark contrast in customer services.
After this I then rang Microsoft back to complain at how I had been previously treated, to end up speaking, after 45 minutes, to a manager who offered me 20% off a gold membership (this is not a compensative measure, merely a deal xbox live is offering all disgruntled customers at the moment, $48 instead of $60).
Personally I see this as completely unacceptable compensation for this situation. When I asked for a customer services mangers email address, I was told they were 'not given out, outside the company'. When I then went on to ask for an xbox live email address, to submit a formal complaint, I was told there was no such email address. I was told I could physically write to the corporate address to lodge a complaint - which would do about as much good as shouting at the moon. I cannot believe that a multi-billion company like this has such a ridiculous customer support service. This has been my worst customer service experience EVER and I've only just got the product and used it less than an hour!
So, to sum up, I guess I'd say: I'm going to have an xbox, I'm going to pay for the memberships, etc, but Microsoft have left their reputation in tatters as far as I am concerned. Hopefully some competition will appear on the console scene soon, and customers will have somewhere else to go.
Amazon did a super awesome job and I can't fault them.
and finally...
***BUY A WARRANTY WITH THIS PRODUCT*** | video-games_xbox |
Turtle Beach headsets perform as long as their isn't a manufactured defect and continue to give you an edge in FPS alongside bet. From a basis of using headsets for console use for just short of a decade from Astro to Turtle Beach. Note after first experience with Astro's never went back. Turtle Beach headsets perform as long as their isn't a manufactured defect and continue to give you an edge in FPS alongside better immersion in campaigns. Started with X-12 MW2 and progressed from that point to XP 300 and XP 400. XP series for Xbox 360 was a wireless solution for a reasonable price when you compare the use any hardcore gamer utilizes the product. XP 500's and XP 500x were further developments which when used with factory presets functioned without issues for better sound and experience. Price tag for high end Turtle Beaches is high and will continue to be high due to the market and quality of the product.
Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 500X headset for the Xbox One is currently the only one offered from Turtle Beach. Best feature of the headset it is wireless. Following that basis set up for the headset after charging with provided cable is the same as XP 300, XP 400, XP 500, and XP 500x. Plug optical cable in and the transmitter and the console immediately recognizes the headset assigning it to the primary Profile. Battery life behaves similarly to the previous generation of wireless headsets for the Xbox 360. WIth that said typical battery life is stated at 12 or 15 hours; actual is 15-25 hours of continuous use. Note use is not with the volume maximized which personally would make my ears throb and trigger a migraine is quick secession.
Best Features:
Quick Start guide easy reference for presets and limiters.
(Note: where the XP 400 surround sound angles could be adjusted that option isn't available with the Stealth 500X)
Ease of set up as stated above.
Long Battery Life
Volume is stable and inputs unaffected by wireless traffic and other interference.
(Note: many reviews have stated that the max volume is inadequate. Reviewers must have suffered more damage than myself as the max volume would cause severe trauma if used for any extended period)
Minimal pressure on glasses
(Note: for any gamer who has to use glasses these are highly recommended. Previous XP 400 and higher put increased pressure on glasses for any extended period of gaming. With the Stealth 500X the pressure is minimal and not even noticeable after 12-15 hour period of continuous game play.)
Worst Features:
Headphone ear cups
(Compared to previous generation of headsets these ones are noticeably thinner and much shallower. Result is contact points along ear lobe and curve. Along with chafing from pressure on inner cartilage with extends for some genetic profiles. With that said the trade off of wireless with excellent sound mitigates the slight chafing which leads to slight hardening of inner cartilages skin.)
End Note:
Personally the product is well balanced with its optimal sound setting being the dynamic for both presets. The lack of pressure on glasses frames is a nice change of pace due to the lighter design form previous generations. The chafing from the design of the ear cups is unfortunate but reduction in size does decrease overall weight leading to reduction of pressure on glasses frames. From a trade off standpoint the chafing is minimal and the lack of migraines from pressure of frames is a welcome development. | video-games_xbox |
The best original Sonic game since Sonic Adventure 2. For a whole 10 years after the first Sonic game's release in 1991, the blue hedgehog saw what was more or less one success after another, with very few real flops in the Sonic series. Starting with 2004's Sonic Heroes, however, the series began a steady decline as far as quality games go. This started up the infamous "Sonic Cycle," which kept on for years to come. Finally, however, the cycle-breaking console release Sonic Colors showed that there was defnitely hope for the hedgehog to redeem himself in time for his 20th anniversary. Sonic Generations is proof that the hedgehog is back on top, and in the following review I will explain why (while avoiding any spoilers).
This game addresses most all of the complaints that players have made over the past 7 years or so and fixes them with flying colors. The first thing I noticed right away was that the entire voice cast had been replaced at long last, dropping the "4Kids" actors we've been sick of from the very start; Roger puts Jason Griffith to shame as the blue blur's new voice. In addition, many of the technical flaws from previous games have been taken care of, eliminating the all-too-familiar "I'm about to fall off a cliff," sensation we saw in games like Sonic Unleashed. Not to mention, the concept of beat-to-death gimmicks present in just about every bad Sonic game released to date has been done away with. Instead, the game allows the player to feel the high-speed, robot smashing experience we've missed for so long without any hassles. But more than fixing problems with past games, the original elements the game has to offer are what really knocks this one out of the Twinkle Park (bad pun intended).
Before I say anything else, I must state that the game's graphics are brilliant. The landscapes are beautiful, and the re-designs of the game's stages are done flawlessly. Also, unlike the horrible 2006 release, this game stays consistent with its graphics throughout the entire game rather than reserving the good ones for the occasional cutscene.
On to gameplay: The game alternates between Classic Sonic gameplay (reminiscent of the gameplay of such titles as Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic & Knuckles) and Modern Sonic gameplay (similar to that of Sonic Colors). Classic Sonic's gameplay steals the show, perfectly recreating the in-game feel of the Genesis classics while upgrading to HD graphics and updating some game elements. Modern Sonic's gameplay is incredibly fast-paced and, for the first time in years, thoroughly enjoyable. This gameplay takes many of the elements we all loved from Sonic Adventure 2 and combined them with the blistering speed of Sonic Colors and the awesome HD "hedgehog engine" compatible with the XBox 360 and PS3. Thanks to the awesome gameplay, the replay value is stronger than it's been since...well, Sonic Adventure 2.
The bow that ties this package up, however, and adds that dash of special that really makes this game memorable is the nostalgia factor. I almost felt a tear or two come to my eye upon seeing those familiar landscapes and hearing the music I had grown up with as a youngster becoming new all over again. The stages have been redone in such a way that allows them to remain the classic stages they are while, at the same time, becoming something completely new. There are mini-boss fights present in the game which throw nods to Sonic CD, Sonic Adventure 2, and *sigh* even Sonic 2006, and the game's legit boss fights will stun you with complete re-imaginings of boss fights from games past. I must say, though, that there could have been a great many more. Furthermore, once the game has been completed you still will have a whole slew of bonus missions and collectibles (songs, artwork, and even the ability to play the original Sonic the Hedgehog) to unlock.
Overall, this game was a massive success. The gameplay is perfectly executed and fresh, and the nostalgic stages are incredibly done. My only complaint with the game is its length; I managed to finish the game in 6 hours tops. There could well have been more stages and certainly more boss fights. I can only hope, however, that Sega takes advantage of a good opportunity to release DLC in the future by giving us more stages. Shortness aside, Sonic Generations cements in place an undeniable truth: Sonic is back! | video-games_xbox |
Asinine engineering, but fixable. Like others, I agree this pad is pretty good with modifications. I'll just list the design flaws first. The buttons are far too insensitive. It works by the plastic buttons flexing and the travel distance is too far, which is probably also a contributor to them cracking as has happened to some. Also, the foil adhered to the button to make the electrical contact with the sensor is, indeed, nearly worthless. It will wear or bunch up very quickly. The wire used to go to the sensor pads is very flimsy. After a week or so, I already had one break at the solder joint. Further, this could have been avoided by having them contact the side of the sensor instead of soldered on top, where they take some physical abuse from stomping. This is dismaying because it is not a cost issue, but a stupidity issue. I should add that the pad boasts of being capable of taking 600 lbs, and these flaws were evident with me and my friend, and both together, we would probably be about 380. One last thing--the middle of the pad and the corner buttons/platforms are too high. The company brags about "recessed" buttons so you can feel them. This is silly. The buttons are easy to detect regardless, and the raised metal makes for getting in the way of your foot pressing down, and even hurting it if your foot steps partly on the button, and partly on the adjacent platform. This is yet another example of something that really shouldn't be wrong with it because it would cost nothing for them to be lower (in fact, would be less material)...just complete devoid of intelligent design.
Anyhoo, the fixes. The sheet metal remedy otherwise referred to seems to be pretty good, except I actually ended up using 2 layers of the 26 gauge. 1 layer was still too insensitive for me, making the very difficult songs sure to miss notes. I ended up using brass, just because it's more corrosion resistant and a good conductor. 2 layers of it, cut in the exact shape of the sensor/foil backing, and I used contact cement to stick the layers together and to stick the metal to the button (after peeling off the cheap backing from the button). Epoxy will surely do the job if something stronger is needed. With this modification, the buttons work quite well, and the travel distance is greatly reduced, so it should also theoretically make a large decrease in the chance of the button deforming and/or cracking. I will say it doesn't seem to be perfect. There's a rare occasional note rip-off, sometimes when coming off the button, but I think that could be further amended with extending the foam under the buttons a little closer to the sensor (so part of the metal isn't touching in some random spot as the button is released--it needs to come up all at once). Side note--I recommend using a Dremel with the heavy duty cutting wheels (I went through 2 of them for this project) to cut the sheet metal, so you don't deform the factory flatness.
If the solder connection breaks, it can be resoldered, of course, but it's also simple to take some very thin brass (like on the sensor), and extend both poles of the circuit off to the side of the sensor pad, and solder to the side if to prevent it from repeat offenses. All the metal can be ordered online, of course.
As for the platforms, for the middle one and the two back ones, I unscrewed the metal covers, and used a planer to take off about 3/16" on them. I have a nice Dewalt hand planer which did most of it, and a chisel to get at the corners where I couldn't plane. This wasn't too tough work, because it's composite crap wood, but one must be careful to do the job evenly.
Remaining were the two buttons on top, which were too high and slightly in the way, just as the 3 inert platforms. These cannot be planed down because they are functioning buttons, not just wood. Fortunately, under the metal covers, there is a cardboard spacer inserted into it (with glue). The cardboard is about the same thickness as the amount shaven down, so it works out to remove them, and add a piece of sheet metal just as was done on the arrows (one or two here...doesn't matter much, but I used 2) to take up the travel that will still be there. Removing the cardboard isn't too tough if you have the tools. First, lay the button, face side down on something reasonably flat, and taking a chisel, carefully dig away a hole in the cardboard as a starting point. The glue is a bit stubborn. Be careful here or you will dent the metal. I had a paint removing heat gun...and my friend held it with oven mitts and heated the button from the top side, while I used the chisel to pull away from the aforementioned hole. You need to use the chisel (or whatever) to physically cut the stretchy strands of glue, but it will eventually come off without too much trouble. Then, cementing in a bit of sheet metal, the button works with a light press. It would work without it, but it might deform the metal button, and you otherwise have to press down a bit roughly.
So in short, if you have the tools I used, you might pay a modest amount more in materials to do this. I would still rather take a day and so modify this pad than spend the rather painful amount of money on one of the beastly full arcade pads, but boy, is it a fine example of how to do something badly.
I did find another option, but I don't have a welder so I didn't entertain it...but if you want something done right, do it yourself :-D ===> Go to google Ultimate DDR Pad and go to the inventgeek site -- Amazon doesn't seem to like links) | video-games_xbox |
So good I had to buy a spare. I've owned these since they came out. They're the most user friendly gaming headset I use. Skullcandy stopped selling them on their site, so I had to buy an extra pair just in case they wear out or I break them. I bought a usb switcher so that I can use these for both my PS4 and PC to replace the Turtle Beach headset I've been using for the PC.
Pros:
Two part wire
-One wire has the usb plug on one end and the controls/aux port on the other end.
-The other wire is just a regular aux cable, so you can use the headphones with a phone or mp3 player.
-I use these as backup headphones for listening to music on my phone.
Wire doesn't kink
-The wire covering is made of a soft rubber that doesn't kink, twist, and tangle up with regular use.
-Unlike my Turtle Beach headsets
Very comfortable
-No irritation at all after hours of use
Microphone stores neatly
-It doesn't stick out from the side.
-Just flip the microphone up and it stows flush.
Never had issues with getting them to work
Skullcandy has an excellent, easy to claim warranty, which is one of the main reasons I buy their headphones.
-Sure, they're cheap, but the sound quality is good enough to not sound bad.
-They look good and sound good, and If you break them, just send them in for a 50% credit.
-If they just stop working for some reason, they'll replace them for free.
Cons:
They're not top-tier
-They're mid-tier headphones, and they're the best for the price range, but they don't have any fancy features. I wasn't looking for any fancy features, though. They do exactly what they're supposed to do. I was just looking for a quality, stereo headset that wouldn't give me any trouble, and that's exactly what I got.
They're not wireless
-I wanted a wired headset, though, so that I didn't have to fuss with charging and connecting. I also didn't want to shell out the money for a wireless headset. The most user-friendly PlayStation headset I've [ever] owned was the official wireless headset for the PS3. I never had to mess with them at all, and they connected automatically every time. Unfortunately, they didn't work for the PS4.
They're going to break eventually
-It'll be a few years, but they will stop working, like an old hamster that doesn't run on its wheel as fast as it used to.
-You'll bend the wire a little bit while listening to music, and you'll hear that cracking, static sound, and you'll be like, "You okay, boy?"
-But when that happens, just use Skullcandy's lifetime warranty and get a new one. | video-games_xbox |
Not as expected. As most sequels, it was no where near as great as the first. The graphics did improve slightly and there was a more vast array of characters and sub-characters. One thing that was enjoyable was the entire idea of being in the "Big Daddy" suit at all times. The slight god-like feeling of invulnerability set it, then your were attacked by a Big Sister and reality came back to you.
I would like to separate this review into the 5 major points: Graphics, sound, gameplay, story, and overall.
As stated before, the game had improved graphics when compared to it predecessor "Bioshock". If you compare it to the graphics of it's time today, there was still some to work with. When the first Bioshock came out I was highly impressed with the graphic's smoothness and fantastic bitmapping speed, but the response from enemies when attacked or killed begged a better programing for it's "rag-doll" death effect. Overall graphic are a 3 star.
The sound I have nothing to really say about. It wasn't too bad, but it didn't dazzle me either. It was very average. Not as creepy as the original Bioshock was. I give sound a 2 star for it's lack of originality.
Gameplay was actually pretty good. I got a lot more than I expected I would from a sequel. The new features that you got from the Big Daddy really pushed this game up a notch. I really didn't like the new splicers, but the Big Sisters really did make up for it. Overall gamplay is a 4 star.
The story in my opinion kinda sucked. It really pulled from the old story and added a ton of crap. Why in the hell is all I kept saying to myself. Why the Big Sisters, why the new splicers, why the new crazy person? As a story in itself it was still pretty bad. I guess this is the best you can really expect from a sequel. I give story a overall score of 2 stars.
Overall this game was still a lot better then most people would expect from a sequel. So too the point, this game is a 3.5 star game. If you're a fan of the first game I definitely would recommend this game. | video-games_xbox |
Good Graphics - sweat looks like sweat. I have created several very long reviews on other sites, so I will keep this one in TLDR status:
Pros:
Good Graphics - sweat looks like sweat, skin looks like skin, the game looks like the actual game.
MyCareer - Although the voice options are limited (I don't want to sound ghetto or ghetto-er), I actually kind of enjoy the silly dialog. The game is a lot more immersive due to the random convos from players and coaches, as well as your agent.
Offense - Once you figure out the controls you can do pretty well, even with an entry level player with no VC spent. If you drop some $ on VC though it makes the game more enjoyable... which is also a CON. I am sick of paying for a game and then feeling compelled to pay more money to get the most out of said game.
Gameplay - This game succeeds at making sure you play the game as it was meant to be played. Don't try and be the only man on the court or you will fail. If you distribute the ball and play smart, you will get plenty of chances to shine and will gain the respect of your teammates. Over all this game is extremely fun, and I have a hard time putting the controller down.
Cons:
Defense sucks. Normally not peoples favorite part of the game, 2k isn't helping things at all. It's hard to maintain position, and guarding even 'sucky' offensive players can be challenging. They could take me to the rack 75% of the time. The offensive players feel like they have a forcefield around them and they are covered in vegetable oil to boot. The best option is to play the lanes but don't sag off too much because they will drain the open shot. The only plus side to defense now is steals... they require some thought now and are much more rewarding.
Assists - Maybe it's just me but my shooting guard gets twice as many boards as he does assists. It's an ongoing joke that my passes actually lower my teammates shooting % because even though the pass could be right on the money, they still find a way to miss the shot. Even layups. Even open layups. But... they will then proceed to get their own rebound and jam it or lay it up. I'm just sitting there like "wtf man, my assist." I could have 12 passes leading to points and only 3 assists. It happens regularly.
Defense again - Who the heck designed the little coverage arrow thing? Transition defense sucks because it will literally tell you to guard everyone on the opposing team, depending on who is furthest away. This affects your rating because no matter who scores it was YOUR MAN and you ALLOWED INSIDE PASS and you also ALLOWED PLAYER TO SCORE. "wtf man, my ratings" Sorry it's international caps day. It's just frustrating playing the best you can in a given situation and then getting punished for it.
Illegal Screen - Anyone who played 2k14 will know what I mean when I say that Illegal Screen is the new Kicking... It gets called at least 8 times per game on 12 minute quarters.
There are plenty of cons, but don't let that fool you. The Pros outnumber the cons by a long shot, I am just too lazy to list every little thing. I would buy again. | video-games_xbox |
Covers Campaing and Multiplayer. Campaign:
-Story was Great but the Campaign should have really explained the Halo universe more. I read all the books, and am familiar with the Halo canon so this was not a problem for me, but I could see how it would be very difficult for people to understand it without that knowledge, even having played all the games. Also, the terminal videos should be included as part of the campaign, not as extras because they explain a lot. The look of the game is simply beautifuly. It really mimics that feeling of wonder and exploration that was present in Halo: Combat Evolved. The enemies in campaign are unique and diverse, so fighting them always requires a strategy and not just spraying. The cutscenes are unreallisticly realistic... They are simply amazing. Some of my friends thought they had used live-action, which is not true by the way, it is all CGI.
Multiplayer:
Multiplayer is the part where this game really stands out. From a competitive view, it is not too great, because of the random oridnace, but from just a "fun" point of view, it is AWESOME! The randomness is actually fun, and provides a nice change of pace. The maps are all great, especially Ragnarok, the remake of Vallhalla. It is much faster paced by the way, but don't worry, it's still Halo.
Spartan Ops:
Dare I say it, but the story of Spartan Ops is actually better than the actual part where you play. I believe the story is actually better than campaign. It is very similar to Red Vs. Blue if you are familiaer with that. They have also been great about keeping up with releasing weekly content, and so far it's been great. Season 1 is over, and Season 2 is confirmed.
Forge:
With the recent addition of the new map Forge Island, which in 100% free by the way, Forge in Halo 4 is definatley something something unlike any forge before it. Definately would reccomend.
This game is really great everywhere, except campaign needs improvement. I would definately reccomend getting this game. | video-games_xbox |
And along came a Spider. I remember the first Spidey game I ever played. Spider-man for the PS1. It was a fun adventure and a great introduction into gaming. Some years have gone by and more spidey games have been released. Some Ok, some.... well... Then suddenly along comes Beenox. Does this company bring back good Spidey games? Keep reading and you'll see what I think.
Let's start with the story. Seems like a good cross of a comic book plot and a videogame plot. In the Amazing Spider-man Universe, Mysterio robs a museum in order to sell a mystical tablet online. Spider-man tries to stop mysterio but accidentally breaks the tablet. Afterwards, Madame Web appears and tells him that he needs to restore the tablet in order to keep reality from falling apart. The bad news, it's pieces are spread across 4 dimensions. Thankfully, he's not alone. And so, 4 sensational Spider-man search for the tablet fragments and encounter familiar enemies along the way.
As far as gameplay goes, I like it. Spidey, for the most part, controls how I'd like him to except when wall-crawling. Not a super huge issue, but it still breaks the pace a bit to focus a camera on an enemy and then have to readjust after moving. Some levels are pretty linear, but the levels are spread with with goodies, so it's not boring at all. It does get a bit tedious to fight a boss 3 times, but it's nothing too hard, so I'll let it pass. The music is atmospheric, but it's not very memorable. The voice acting... I think the voice cast gets center stage. This is the best part of the game. The cast is taken from various parts of Spidey's animated career including Josh Keaton from the Spectacular Spider-man, Christopher Daniel Barnes from the 90's Spider-man series, Dan Gilvezan from the 80's cartoons, and Neil Patrick Harris from MTV's animated Spider-man show. And David Kaye does fantastic as Mysterio. And Nolan North once again shows off a great Deadpool.
The only things I think that holds this back from being a great game are the fact that there is no free roaming in New York and the stealth mechanics in the Noir levels. Nothing that made me rage quit but it feels like they only work when they want to.
Other than that, I can't complain. I enjoyed this game. Does it bring back good Spidey games? I think so. Does it bring back GREAT Spidey games? I don't know about great, but it's still web-slinging fun. But ultimately...(no pun intended) that's just my opinion. If you want a clear opinion on it, check it out for yourself. | video-games_xbox |
Decent, could be better, but does work for us in Dance Central 2. I had high-hopes for the Zoom before it was even released; I wanted to make better use of the kinect, since I didn't have a large room, even rearranging furniture still didn't give me the 6x6 (I'd say more like 7x7) necessary for games. So essentially, the Kinect just collected dust, like I've heard several others say.
Anyways, bought the Zoom, and I have to say its not as awesome as I hoped, but its not quite as terrible (at least the one I got) as others say. First, you do need to be careful when putting on the Zoom, the Xbox must also be off before snapping it on. It comes with a "protective screen" which I didn't put on (wasn't sure if I'd keep the thing with all the bad reviews). The first few times the Kinect acted wonky about it, rotating up and down trying to find me. Finally, it just started working as it should, didn't really mess with anything, and it works somewhat like it says it should. It does allow the Kinect to have a wider/taller view, and works pretty well for the two games we have (Adventures and Dance Central 2). However, you do have to be actually fairly close to the Kinect, and it doesn't seem to be accurate enough to do 2 players. However, with one player, I only have to stand about 4ft back, and its great for playing and taking turns on Dance Central 2. Also, the Kinect couldn't identify who I was for the first few times, but finally seemed to learn who I was with the Zoom attached.
Keep in mind, just like for the Kinect itself, you need to have the "right setup". We have a lamp in the background which now, thanks to the wide view of Zoom, and it shines right into the Kinect so we have to turn it off. The tracking seems almost as good as the Kinect by itself, but it randomly decides to pickup other objects as well while using the Zoom, such as the floor being highlighted in Dance Central 2, no idea why its picking that up. But, overall, since I really only use it for the one game, its been worth the low cost. Microsoft will probably release their improved Kinect next year with the next console, so we have something to look forward to, lets hope they have wider-angle lens on the thing next time, and we'll try not to cry over spending $150 on a dust-collector. The Zoom works, somewhat, but it doesn't completely solve the Kinect's limitations. | video-games_xbox |
Satisfy your inner green guy. Parents: The content in this game seems absolutally fine for anyone roughly ten and up. The only reason I see it as rated teen is because this game requires a good bit of hand eye cordination sometimes. Aslo the hulk roaring might get to little kids who are still around the age where they still come up to you in the middle of the night to check there closets for monsters, but basicly if your kids can handel action cartoons like Ninja Turtles and Justice League they deffinately can handel this game.
Anyways...
I wasn't sure about this game when I picked it up. I don't know why, I hadn't heard much about it and I hadn't played many comic book based games besides the Spiderman based one on the Playstation. But I didn't see many other games at the rental store the kids could play on my XBox so I rented it out to see if it was okay.
It is, in my opinion, an absolutaly great game for almost anyone. The entire game was like a digital stress ball for me, you get to rampage to your hearts desire. I spent a few hours alone that week just ignoring the story chapters completely and just wrecking the huge city and desert military bases to game takes place in. Kids would also love it for the same reason they build lego houses and then smash them to bits with their action figures.
The story is a bit odd if you don't know much about the hulk already as it revolves around bruces quest for a cure in order to stop a second more evil and cunning Hulk Bruce Banner Discoverted growing inside him appropriatly named the Devil Hulk. The big green savage Hulk we all know and love also doesn't like the Devil Hulk moving in to Banner's mind, so it becomes more agreeable to suconicous orders Banner uses to get the child-like brute to do what he wants. Meanwhile a new baddie called the Abomination appears after one of the military general stupidly trys to recover one of bruce's failed "cure" attempts in the very begining of the game. All in all the story is okay as you go on, but you can tell they tried to stuff several comicbooks basic ideas into a game story only as an excuse to callenge you with bosses and other unique situations.
As far a gameplay goes, it's fantasic. The more damage you cause, the more smash points you earn and the more moves you can buy later too continue your assult on just about everything. There are mini games and secrets everywhere to earn even more smash points with. In fact, the only thing that's missing is a co-op or two player mode. As far as replayability goes, it's always there.
Anyway, I would recommended this game to a)anyone who has kids roughly around ten, b) anyone who likes third person, single player games and c) anyone one who has been stress out at work one too many times or feels like throwing a temper tantrum :). | video-games_xbox |
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