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Threw the baby out with the bathwater. I rated the original Rocksmith (2012) as a 5 This one swings and misses, badly.
I do not give a rating as an average as all categories are not equal.
The Good- improvements over Rocksmith 2012
+The lag between guitar and program is greatly reduced (very good thing, and very noticeable to those who played the original)
+ The instructional videos and instructions in lessons are far better than before.
+ The program does a better job of picking up notes, particularly techniques such as bends.
+ Addition of some great songs!
The Bad-
-Despite paying for the first 2012 version of the game and being able to immediately import all DLC songs that you have purchased, you have to pay $9.99 to import the original songs from the 2012 version. They have the right to do anything they want, but this just feels like a sleazy money grab (the game already recognizes that you have purchased the first one and imported your DLC.....)
-Career mode is gone. This put the fun into the game. In fact, it put the "game" into the game.
-Game is aimless. What do you do? Where do you start? And why? No one knows..... (ok, if you choose a song, on the lower part of the screen it will suggest activities that you can access immediately from that screen. However, it feels scattered and without direction)
-Very little feedback as you play. For a split second you see the note you just hit light up, but that is it, and honestly you are looking for the next note not at the very bottom of the screen. The old scoring at the top from 2012 and feedback popping up on the side of the screen are sorely missed.
- "Path" Now you choose a "path": lead guitar, rhythm guitar or bass. The only thing this does is limit your song arrangements to just: lead guitar, rhythm guitar or bass. If you want to play different arrangements you have to back out and change your "path". In the 2012 version you could choose a song and from there you could easily play several different arrangements to the song. "Paths" add nothing and limit choices.
- The menu. The menu from the 2012 version was in need of improvement. What 2014 offers is sheer chaos. Perhaps they felt that because the game goes nowhere, then the menu might as well be aimless.
Graphics-4.5
The graphics are an improvement over 2012. Everything looks sharper and better. I like the base white background more than I liked the original base black background.
Sound-5
One would hope to have impressive sound in a music game. Rocksmith 2014 meets sound expectations. I have a surround sound system on my TV and it is great with this game.
Career Mode-0
Gone. Does not exist. Preparing for an upcoming show was a driving force to log on and practice that day. The excitement and pressure of playing well in your show to earn encores and double encores was great fun. But they chose to take it all out. And with it goes the fun of the game and the intuitive guidance. They feature commercials referring to a 60 day challenge. It is not a game mode or feature of the game, it is just a marketing ploy that "recommends" playing everyday for 60 days.
Song List-5
Great new songs with wide variety.
Fun-.5
This game is NOT fun. It is purely a guitar lesson program. The 2012 version was fun because you were in a career mode and practicing to qualify for, then playing shows.
Summary
They claim you can learn guitar from this game. This is a learning guitar program, not a game. Sure enough the lessons are there. But learning is difficult when it is not fun. I played Rocksmith 2012 a couple hours everyday for two years. I have had Rocksmith 2014 for a week, and I have to force myself to play the game. The game is aimless, sterile, and frustratingly designed. Advice to people looking to buy: The mechanics work better than 2012, the song list is great, the fun is gone, choose for yourself. | video-games_xbox |
Excellent, but too advanced for some. I am a huge Just Dance fan, and I have all of the editions except for the very first one. After the huge disappointment that was JD2014 (I really hated that one), 2015 and 2016 brought the franchise back on track. JD2016 is especially good. Not only is there a nice, balanced mix of golden oldies, world music and new songs, the choreography and graphics are as good as they've ever been. I especially love how with each new edition, JD keeps paying homage to classic dance. In this one, there's a very clever dance in the style of old dance troupes from the 1930s and 40s, and it's great! There is also a surprising amount of ballet.
As much as I loved this game, I have to knock off a star for one major reason. The choreography is getting way too advanced. It's ironic I say that, because great choreography is exactly what you would want in a dance game. Naturally, you wouldn't want a game where all you did was just do the side step and lift your knees. The problem, though, is that the choreography has gone beyond the point of hard. It's now professional-level, to the point where players will have to know how to pirouette, leap around, tumble to the floor, and do fancy footwork. The couples dances are especially becoming too hard for a single player to play alone, because they involve lots of twirling, leaping, and being carried around by the other partner.
Also, because the choreography is so advanced now, many of the dances will require a high level of physical fitness, stamina and flexibility to do very well in. This is especially true of stuff like "I'm an Albatroz." It's all very intensive stuff, and I can't really see someone who's older or not really physically fit being able to complete it without getting winded or feeling it in their knees.
So I recommend this edition of JD2016, but with reservations for people who are looking for it to be the laid back, fun party game or workout game of the past. It's definitely not. Professional dancers and dancers in training will positively love it, but people who just want to have fun or work out are going to be absolutely frustrated. Players who like competing against other players online will also find this edition very frustrating because they'll be constantly beaten out by those who have dancing experience. | video-games_xbox |
A few days of the week I'll spend a good amount of time playing Meltdown. I've been enjoying this game fairly well. A few days of the week I'll spend a good amount of time playing Meltdown, I've played the other two game modes and I feel that meltdown is the most enjoyable as their is a skill in attacking your enemies in a way to distract them from your minions, but you also have to kill their minions.
They've done a few things to try and balance the characters, but the only two that i feel are actually overpowered are Marquis and Boulder. Marquis is rewarding to a player's skill in the sniping department, the problem is that someone who only plays snipers, will probably never miss a shot with him. And at high levels he can potentially kill you with one shot to the head on certain characters, even with full health and shields. While Toby can theoretically match his damage output, he has to charge his shots, requiring a bit more skill to use, but can never one shot someone like Marquise can. Boulder's shield is a bit too strong. If you do enough damage you can break the shield, but at high levels it can take 2-3 toons to it down, depending on your team and it also have a mechanic to renegotiate health when you hit his shield. Making the best way to deal with him, is to out maneuver him and not go after him, because of the damage required to put him down.
I could have given this game 3 stars due to balancing, but they have been working on it and have been releasing updates to try and balance the game, so I'll have faith that this will be a late Bloomer of a video game, give it a few months of updates and it should be fine.
Some people have been complaining about unit collision, personally that adds to the complexity of the game. Joe rushes in guns a blazing, gets his health knocked down and makes a retreat to regenerate full health and try again, sound familiar? Well now there's a chance that he didn't see the minions and when he tries to run, he has no where to go and gets gunned down for his poor choice of tactics. This is an important part to the game or else people would just try and kite all day every day.
The game is item heavy when you rank up in levels, but it's easy to farm items in the cheesy mission modes. Honestly the mission modes are more enjoyable in groups of two and serves to practice your character. They're ok, the witty one liners are good for a few play throughs, but once you get through all the dialog possibilities, I'd just crank up some music and go on a stroll with guns ablaze.
Back to the vs modes. I would probably enjoy capture as much as I enjoy meltdown if there were creeps coming to take the captures from both sides as they serve as good distractions. At first I preferred the incursion mode, but now it's just battle of the Marquis, in meltdown and capture there's too much canvas for him to cover it all, but the bottle necking in incursion means that if you can't keep constant pressure on him to keep his head down, he's going to have a nice collection of headshots.
I can go on about gameplay, but you can see the rest for yourself. This is just my main thoughts. It's not for everybody and the match's are typically evolving. You might get canned early on, but a few skill morphs can put you back in the saddle. | video-games_xbox |
Best game that I have played in a long time. First off, this game is a 4.5.
Am I the only one that didn't know this game came out? I never saw a single preview of it. Also, every site that I see just seems to describe it poorly, and I had no interest in it. Only after I saw a portion from Jess Chobot did I say that looks fairly interesting.
This game is basically GTA meets Assasins Creed I and Wolfenstein. It is sandbox like GTA, you get to climb around and do stealth kills like ACI, and it is a FPS where you kill Nazi ala the great Wolfenstein.
This is also a game where I dread Amazon's star system. Sure a 2.5 or 3.5 can be rounded up or down without much affect, but to me a 4.5 game is a 4.5 game. It is still a lot better than a 4, but not perfect like a 5.
CONS:
Music - There is virtually no sound track. You have one in your car and in the cabaret. That is it. It is also pretty poor music. At first I thought, "Well, this does take place in the 40's, so it isn't like you can put Metallica in there." However, I absolutely loved Fallout 3's music, so that isn't really an excuse. I found myself singing the music to that game all the time when I was playing it.
Voice - I have seen some complaints about the main character. Most people have a problem with his voice and that he is a stereotypical Irishman. Maybe they have never actually heard an irishman talk. It is pretty good. There are a couple french people that aren't that good though. Anyway, not bad enough to detract from the game unless you are just looking for something to complain about.
Replay - Not really any replay value, but you do have a lot of extra goodies to pick up. There are over 1000. This would be a slight con.
PROS:
Fun - This game is fun fun fun. Main missions and side missions are all fun.
Other - There are plenty of weapons and cars although you will find yourself just using one or two, so they could improve on this a bit. Plus all the cars you find laying around suck, so you have to use one of your own, but you can summon your own almost at anytime.
Perks - These are "achievment" like items that give your character bonuses, almost like a leveling system for RPG. They actually added more to the game than I thought they would.
Artistic Value - I can appreciate artisticness, but don't "need" it. When you start the game everything is black and white except for lights, and red. So, the nazi flags stand out. It is actually very beautiful. As you inspire the Parisians, those respective areas get their color back. It makes for a very beautiful and unique game. I actually enjoyed the black and white look. It also added to the time that this is in.
Conclusion:
I look forward to the second one. They definitely left it open for one. His last words are I'm just gettin started! I think with some improvement on the perks along with some more stealth features and maybe some fighting features would be great. Add some more good cars to be found on the streets. Maybe an extra weapon or two. I would like to see a slight bit more emphasis on stealth too. Basically, I think with a little work, this game could be perfect.
Anyway, if you are looking for an absolute fun game to play, this is it. It is the best of most worlds game type. I have read a lot of reviews that it doesn't do this or that good. Well, it wasn't meant to be an FPS, so the weapons may be "arcadish", it isn't meant to be an RPG, so the leveling system isn't that complex. I will say that sometimes, climbing can be a chore. ACII is supposed to kill this on that aspect, but I thought it was pretty comparable to ACI. It also has a great storyline as well.
This is a great gift to any gamer, and now that the prices are dropping, it is worth the price as well. | video-games_xbox |
Buying guide for Xbox One bundles. The console and controller may look and sound good, and the Xbox One has great games and features, but when compared to other bundles, there is little value in the Halo 5 special edition console. You pay a premium to get the custom console, a premium that doesn't seem to exist for the Forza custom console, which has a controller can can't buy separately, and so I rate this lower as a result.
I wanted to create a guide to help those interested in purchasing an Xbox One, since there are so many bundles, and offers change constantly. I'll attempt to keep this up to date as the bundles change. This is NOT a comparison to Playstation 4 or Wii U.
There doesn't seem to be a promotion for these currently (though there should be some for Black Friday). The new designation for Console with one controller and Console with two controllers just lets you toggle between the standard bundle and the bundle with an extra new controller at about full price. You'd actually save a few buck buying separately, so I wouldn't go for any of them (I don't expect any controllers, except the Elite, to be scarce this season).
A short list of features that may interest you, shared by all Xbox Ones (more details can be found in product descriptions and Microsoft sites) -
HDMI pass through. You can hook up an HDMI device to the back of an Xbox One to view the content from that device without changing inputs or leaving the X1 interface. This allows for split screen viewing and if a cable box or the official TV tuner, you can view the channel guide, watch TV, and set recordings.
It is backwards compatible with some Xbox 360 games. This is great for those with backlogs (like me...) or those who want to revisit finished games without having another console plugged into the wall/TV. In the fall, owners of publisher approved disc or digital 360 games will be able to play them emulated on the X1. Some X1 games also include their 360 precursors with purchase for play on the X1 in case you missed them. Gears or War Ultimate Edition includes all 4 Xbox 360 Gears games and Fallout 4 includes Fallout 3, for example. List of games and other info here -[...]
It will stream content to Windows 10 devices.
Xbox Live Gold now applies to households instead of individuals; meaning that multiple accounts on the same console can have access to the same features but have differing account restrictions (I.E. parental controls). So you can let your kids play Garden Warfare online, but not Gears of War.
External USB 3.0 storage. This is great because, 1) you don't need to open the console and replace a hard disc to add storage, just plug in and the X1 will format the drive, 2) even disc-based games have compulsory installs and can be upwards of 50GB each, eating storage space quickly, 3) external drives can be spacious and cheap, and last but not least, 4) USB 3.0 is actually faster than the internal hard disc interface. This means that a game on an external drive will load faster than one on the internal drive, usually by a significant amount.
The bundles-
The bundles can be split into 3 different groups based on time of release. The upcoming and current bundles include a newer controller that has a standard 3.5mm audio jack built in and output both game and chat audio through it (excepting the new Kinect bundles). Legacy consoles include an older controller without the standard audio jack (excepting the Forza 6 bundle) and shouldnt be expected to be widely available at the suggested price (and some I haven't included, due to their rarity at this point). There are no other functional differences. All bundles include a controller, HDMI cable, chat headset (with exceptions), and a 14 day Xbox Live Gold trial membership (paid $60/year service to play online and download the Games with Gold, a monthly rotation of full games you're free to download and keep (forever for 360 games and as long as you have Live Gold in active subscription for X1 games).
Upcoming bundles (with rating based on what you get for the money. Star and letter ratings are intended for the suggested price listed next to the bundle, not whatever current prices are.) -
Xbox One Elite 1TB bundle. $499. Includes a console with a 1TB hybrid SSD and hard disc for quicker load times for the items you access the most and the Elite controller, which has replaceable/customizable sticks, buttons, and triggers for the professionals or tinkerers. While the internal storage on this will be better than the standard HDDs in other X1s, the performance increase PROBABLY won't match external USB3.0 drives, due to the continued use of the SATA interface. There's little information about the size of the SSD partition and many hybrid drives don't allow you to choose what content is on which partition. The elite controller has been released to wide acclaim (modifiable professional controllers can easily go for twice as much), but is scarce at present. If you want the best/most storage and best controller out of the box, this is the bundle for you, but you won't get any games with it, or a headset, from the looks of it. B rating. Also note that this version releases earlier if purchased from the Microsoft Store or Gamestop.
Current bundles -
Fallout 4 1TB bundle - $399. Includes 1TB console, Fallout 4 game confirmed to be a disc (!), a download of the Xbox 360 version of Fallout 3, and a chat headset. B+ rating. Two open-world RPGs for grownups.
Rise of the Tomb Raider 1TB bundle - $399. Includes 1TB console, downloads of Rise of the Tomb Raider, DLC, and its predecessor, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, and doesn't appear to include a headset. Releases November 3rd. B+ rating. The Tomb Raider reboot from 2013 was pretty good and I expect the sequel will be even better. Great for adults who love action adventure. Amazon won't be stocking this one, unfortunately...
Kinect 500GB Bundle - $399. Includes 500GB console, the Kinect camera, a chat headset, the old model controller, and three Kinect-focused game downloads: Dance Central Spotlight, Kinect Sports Rivals and Zoo Tycoon. Finally another Kinect bundle! The X1 UI is made better and more easily navigable with the Kinect, and there are fun, energetic games to be played with it. A rating. Great for those who want to move and enjoy motion and voice controls, but it has little storage.
Holiday 1TB Bundle - $399. Includes 1TB console, Gears of War Ultimate Edition disc (as well as all 360 Gears games as downloads if you play online before the end of the year), Rare Replay disc, and Ori and the Blind Forest game download, the new controller, and doesn't appear to include a headset. Releases October 27th. A rating. Something(s) for everyone in this bundle, with 36 games included.
Halo 5 Limited Edition 1TB bundle. $499. Includes custom console with Halo sounds, and custom controller, with the Halo 5 Limited Edition (steelcase, guardian figure, game download and add-on content). Why a limited edition would come without a physical game is beyond me... It may not bother some, but it will upset many. This is a higher premium than the Forza 6 bundle (charging an extra $100 for an extra $40 package). For Halo aficionados/console collectors only.
Lego Movie 500GB bundle - $349. Includes 500GB console and the Lego Movie Videogame and no headset, apparently. C+ rating. Game is a cheap one and good for kids, but little value in this bundle compared to others.
FIFA and Madden 16 1TB bundles. $399. (I think these are being phased/sold out) I'm grouping these together because other than the type of football you prefer, they are the same. Both include either the latest Madden NFL or FIFA soccer game download and a year of EA access, a paid ($30/yr) service which allows Xbox One users early access to EA releases, extended demos with progress that can be saved if a full game is purchased, discounts on EA games, and free access to the Vault, currently 14 full games. Great if you like EA's games. A- for each. With the live Gold card and Forza Horizon 2 download (separate product pages) A rating.
Gears of War 500GB bundle. $349. Includes Gears of War Ultimate Edition download (as well as all 360 Gears games if you play online before the end of the year). This 500GB model includes the new controller, but does not include a headset. B+ rating. With the live Gold card and Forza Horizon 2 download (separate product pages) A rating.
Legacy bundles-
Forza 6 1TB Bundle. $399. Custom Forza-inspired console with racing sounds and custom (new, with 3.5mm audio jack) controller, and download code for Forza 6 and extra content, and a chat headset. A- rating, though some may not like the custom design and sounds.
Halo Master Chief Collection 1TB bundle. $399. Looks like this being phased out. Standard console, plus download code for the Master Chief Collection (the four numbered Halo games in a single package). B rating.
Halo Master Chief 500GB bundle. $349. If you can get it at the retail price, I'd consider it an A-, since the cost to upgrade storage to 1TB or greater is around or less than the $50 to get the 1TB model, and it'll perform better.
Keep in mind that the lowest prices and best bundles tend to happen around the winter holiday season, so unless you really want to get one now, you're probably best served waiting till around Black Friday, when multiple stores will be trying to entice you with lower prices and more pack-ins. This is especially true since Sony recently cut the price of the Playstation 4.
At this point, I think the best offer for the holidays for an X1 bundle will be for $50 off current price point, plus an extra game and second controller (Dell at least, will offer such a deal). The risk is availability and whether the bundle or extra game would be one you'd want.
Hope you found this useful. | video-games_xbox |
A little rough around the edges. I never really played any of Trion's games, not even Rift. So i was a little on edge when buying this game, mainly because it's an MMO...on the Xbox. But i decided to buy it anyway, 'cause i'm a risk taker, and live life dangerously. In any case, let's start by categories, 'k?
Graphics:
They're okay, honestly. I hear the game isn't overly demanding on the PC, but on Xbox it looks alright. Now, we are talking about aesthetics here, the world around the character. The actual characters themselves lack emotion - they're faces look stiff. And the animation in cutscenes could be better. The lip syncing is also off, not Dead Island off, but still pretty off.
Gameplay:
Some might call this game Borderlands, but in third person. That's really not too far from the truth. The game never really forces you into co-op, except for certain instances, and loot is nowhere near as common as BorderLands (and i want to stress this). Still it is fun with other people, specially in the Arkfalls.
Speaking of Arkfalls, the game has numerous events and side-quests. Some are meh, others are alright, but some events might happen too soon after one another. Arkfalls are pretty awesome though. You have two kinds: minor and mayor, the former which is usually a boss or the like.
The Gunplay, in my opinion, could be tighter. It feels like Mass Effect shooting and sense loot drops isn't too common, you might wanna customize your gun, which you can, but i'd still prefer more loot.
You have skills that you get from your EGO (which is like Cortana, but in the molecular level). You essentially have four "main" skills: Decoy, Stealth, overcharge, and blur. You can increase these skills, and i suggest you pick wisely (STEALTH IS AWESOME)
The game is also not very grind-y
Sound:
Nothing really stands out, the music is very ambient and kicks during battle. The Voice acting is okay.
Story:
Aliens come, humans don't like it, they fight, they reach a stale-mate, they live together, but the world is now very post-apocalyptic. It's the greatest story ever told sense The Pit and the Pendulum.
Verdict:
This game is a risk, and i went in expecting nothing. I got out pleasantly surprised. To most, this game will range in the 7-8 out of ten. And i concur, but this game is an mmo, it demands 10 gigs out of you, and it follows a TV show. So, basically, it'll probably have a lot of updates, probably. So far, i don't really know how the whole tv thing is going to affect the game and vise versa. If you feel like waiting and seeing how the game does, i don't blame you, but if you wanna go in now, i really don't see why not
12/10 - IGN
"It's okay" | video-games_xbox |
Xbox One, FAIL. Xbox One, FAIL!
As I unpacked one of the two family Xbox Ones I just purchased, a slight level of frustration ignited within me. I couldn't quite pinpoint why, but maybe it was when I was unpacking this huge brick with a monster thick cable attached ( they call this the Kinect). Or it could have started when I pulled out this other brick which was the power supply box ( even has its own CPU fan!). It could have started when I pulled out this corded 80's operator style headset with some large apparatus connection system at the end. Or perhaps it was this light, cheap looking controller with an old style slide on battery cover and a pair of free Duracell batteries. Nope, I then realized it had to have been when I unpacked the main console which for just one second, was reminded of the unpacking of my very first Beta player. I told myself not to worry, this thing is the next generation of entertainment. Maybe Apple just spoiled me with all it's slim gizmos, gadgets and tablets, I'll just have give this a chance I thought to myself.
So I then proceed to connect the Kinect, cable box, LCD and power brick to the console. "Xbox On!" I screamed. Nothing. Who was I kidding, I'm sure I have to set it up first. So I pressed the magical xbox globe....... and then It happened...... Not the Microsoft Windows thinking circle! I then remembered why I ditched Windows' computers for Apple in the first place. It's as if your being hypnotized not to tell time. It just kept going and going and then....bleep! I went through the set up and after an hour of waiting for an update to load and process on a 50 MBps connection, I was good to go. I just can't put into words the frustration I felt when I was trying to join friends and just get the thinking circle or the console just freezes up. "Xbox, unsnap!" They yelled. Huh? What does that even mean? I grew even more frustrated when I realized how much I paid for this "new technology of gaming". I mean, are the graphics even any better? I couldn't tell.
So as I was boxing up the two units to take them back... I couldn't help but think....WWSJD " What would Steve Jobs do". I really couldn't believe the lack of technology that is the $499 Xbox One. So many questions I had. Why was it so big? Apple can jam a computer server in a cube smaller then the xbox power supply. Why is the power supply so big and have its own CPU fan that never shuts off? Why the huge Kinect with its monster cable? Why the cheap head set? Why the cord? Why no Bluetooth built into the controller? Why no internal rechargeable battery in the controller? If the Kinect is so important, why wasn't it built into the console? Why was xbox so slow, lack of memory? Why only 500GB with having to download games. Why even have a disk drive then... or even BluRay for that matter? If cost was an issue, why not bundle an awesome sleek, slim base model and have customizations to add. I'm sure cost would have something to do with all this, but so does poor leadership and execution of the next biggest thing in gaming. Bottom line, I think they got a little rushed to get the new xbox out there which will hurt them in the end. Till they actually put out a superior new gaming console.....I'll stick with my old reliable 360. | video-games_xbox |
Absolute favorite game. This game's reviews really depend on who you ask. If you're one of those hardcore, action, heavy-fighting loving gamers, this game might not be for you, but if you're into the homey feel, lovable characters, and fantasy RPG games, then this might become your favorite game. It certainly is mine and I've had yet to find another game to amount to it (still looking).
PROS:
- The graphics are simply astounding and the voices are so accurate to the characters' personalities.
- Every character (except yourself) has a voice.
- You can look however you want.
- You can either play the main plot, the side stories, or live your own life in Albion.
- The. Characters. Are. AMAZING. I adore Garth and Hammer beyond BELIEF.
- Heart-string tugging referrences to the first game and the Hero's childhood.
- The fact that you don't need to play the first game to understand everything.
- Amazing backstory and game legends that will have you entertained, obsessed, and reading more for days and weeks after playing.
- The ability to completely go off the beaten trail and explore all corners of each map.
- Buy a house, decorate it, get married (to as many people as you want), and have children! You can even name your spouse (gender doesn't matter) or your kid and decide what gender your kid is (if you find out how).
CONS:
- Disappointingly short...
- Inability to talk to other characters.
- Inability to see your fellow heroes after finishing the game or returning to the Spire.
- It can jerk and freeze a bit, but not too much.
- If you're sensitive, you might cry for some of the sad stories in the game. For example, Oakvale's common reoccurance, Terry Cotter's Army, Rose, etc.
All in all, I adore this game. I like my easy-going, day-to-day games with graphics. The scenery changes: for example, it rains in certain maps, the trees and grass noticably sway in the breeze, the ocean waves crash against the shore, etc. It has many creatures and Lionheart didn't get lazy in any of the design. It adds in subtle funny things and plot twists. Myself, I have spent days on Fable's wiki page to learn more about every interesting nook and cranny of the game.
Definitely worth the money. You can learn how to make the story extend if you don't rush through it and enjoy it. | video-games_xbox |
I'm impressed - Non-Skater, New to Skate series. I'm going to compare this game a good bit to Stoked - a snowboarding game. The reason for this comparison is that they both came out at nearly the same time, they both have received similar reviews and scores, and they both use similar control schemes. Lastly, there are some things in common between snowboarding and skateboarding.
I purchased Stoked - and ultimately Skate 2 - because I was looking for something different. I was tired of driving games, shooting games, and there were no good RPG's on the horizon. I needed a change.
I bought Stoked because it was $10 cheaper. Bad mistake. I rented Skate 2, and ended up trading in Stoked (and a few other games) to purchase Skate 2.
The controls between both games are similar. Left stick "steers," right stick controls jumps and pivots and tricks. Of course in Skate you can push yourself around, in Stoked - well, you're just sliding down a mountain.
Skate 2 wins the comparo for a bunch of reasons. San Vanelona is a living town with pedestrians, traffic, security, and other skateboarders. Stoked takes place on a relatively-lifeless mountain, with some stationary onlookers at various "trick spots." Skate 2 is a "sandbox" oriented, whereas Stoked - though certainly not linear, still only lets you slide down the mountain, restart, and slide down the mountain again. If you miss a trick in Skate, you simply push yourself (or walk - a welcomed addition to the game no matter how awkward the controls) back up the hill and try again. You can even set a "waypoint" at the start of a hill, railing, obstacle, etc - and with the press of two buttons, return to the waypoint to try again. If you miss a trick in Stoked, you have to restart at the top of the hill, FIND the area you were in, and try again.
The control schemes seem a little easier in Skate - at least until you scan through the trick guide. Stoked is all about holding a button and moving the right stick in a certain direction. It basically requires memorizing a lot of button combos, or pausing frequently to check the instruction book. Skate 2 relies on a similar structure, but most of your stunts are done by moving the right stick in a specific pattern. The good news is that you'll often do A trick. It may not be what you WANTED to do, but you'll get points at least. I have not yet run into challenges were a very specific trick was required, though I have read that this may occur later. Skate 2 seems a bit easier to play as you can "fudge" your way through the challenges a bit easier, being creative as opposed to just checking off a list of required stunts.
As someone who is entirely new to the Skate series, and skateboarding games in general, I found Skate 2 very easy to get started in and enjoy. Moving around is very easy and intuitive. Learning the basics like ollies and grinds was very easy, and let me get a decent way into the game before I had to broaden my horizons. I also like how advancing through the game opens up "contacts" which allow you to do things like draining pools, removing "traps" that inhibit skating, and even requesting a little "muscle" to help with security. The various missions and "spot" challenges can be pretty fun, and though often times they require multiple attempts to succeed, somehow it never becomes very frustrating. I'm not a big fan of doing things over and over again, but maybe because it all happens pretty quickly, you can run the same challenge many times in a single minute - especially with the "waypoint" system mentioned above. I cannot tell you how easy that makes Skate 2 to play.
As fun as the challenges and missions and side-jobs can be, simply zipping around San Van is a lot of fun in itself. It's really a welcome changed in a sandbox game to be able to entertain yourself without shooting people or worrying about health or a "wanted level." Many times I'll find a railing that I want to practice grinding on, or a ramp that I want to practice jumping from. Drained swimming pools are incredible fun for flipping, grabbing ledges, grinding, etc. Skate 2 also gives you an awesome feel for your height, your speed, and your frequent-impending doom when you realize halfway to the ground that "this one isn't going to go so well..." But even the wrecks pay off though with the "Thrasher Hall of Meat," which adds a hilarious and even profitable twist onto bone-snapping crashes and accidents. Wiping out in Skate 2 makes me laugh over and over again. Never before has failure been so much fun.
Skate 2 is a great game that encourages creativity and is packed with lots of different things to do. It's entry-level access is great for new players and old fans alike. The controls could be a little tighter, the walking technique could be greatly improved, but most of the nuisances become pretty insignificant when you catch that air and nail the landing. | video-games_xbox |
A Great Idea that Needed a Little More Time on the Drawing Board. For the uninitiated, Rock Band takes the Guitar Hero concept and extends it by adding roles for bass, drums and vocals. The game is a lot of fun even in solo mode, but it really shines as a cooperative party game.
So in order to get the most out of the game, you need additional instrument controllers including these drums. At this time, there are no third-party drum kits on the market, so these are your only option. And while these do the trick nicely, there is room for improvement.
The kit includes four drum pads, a kick drum pedal, an adjustable stand, headset plug-in and a pair of (actual-size, wood) drumsticks. Setup is very easy, taking only a few minutes despite the Lego-esque, pictures-only instructions. The height of the kit is adjustable to fit anyone's height from kids to tall adults. However, the pads themselves are unfortunately fixed in position relative to each other, so you can't adjust their angle or move them around individually. Personally, I'd like to be able to set the cymbal pad higher than the rest or swap the hi-hat and snare to play cross-armed, but there's no ability to do this.
There are two main gripes about how the drum kit performs during gameplay: they're too loud and (at least some models) aren't sensitive enough. Lots of after-market mods are becoming available to dampen the harsh clacking sound that the pads make when you play - gum rubber or neoprene inserts, padding for the drumsticks, I've even seen people tie socks to the pads (check it out on Youtube). Expecting the worst, I was pleasantly surprised at the sound that it makes - it's not that bad assuming that you've got your TV at a decent level to begin with. Of course, this is the only instrument controller that naturally makes its own noise (high-pitched and hollow like a woodpecker) and your roommates or neighbors may feel differently.
As for the sensitivity, there are (so far) three distinct production series of the drum kit. Look on the serial number stamped underneath your pads to determine which you have. The 1st generation "EL" pads have hard surfaces, making it easier to play fast notes but also requiring more force for each hit. 2nd generation "QM" pads are softer and more sensitive, but also don't register fast hits as well. 3rd generation "SL" pads supposedly are the best of both prior gens, but are too new to really evaluate. The kit that I received from Amazon was an EL, but so far I've been pleased with their performance, i.e. I'm getting good response on fast notes but also not requiring a whole lot of force on the hits. So take the after-market craze for pad modifications worth a grain of salt and judge for yourself before buying anything to add to your kit.
There have also been reports that the kit breaks easily, especially the bass drum pedal. Honestly, I have no idea how other people are playing (abusing) their kits, but I don't see a way for the pedal to snap in half as a result of normal use. I'm playing hard/expert level drums with minimal pressure on the pedal and it's showing no signs of wear or tear. And in case you do run into problems, EA has a generous replacement policy for all Rock Band game controllers.
While setup and takedown are simple enough, the kit still takes up a lot of room even when broken down into its pieces. It can easily fit back into the retail box, and honestly, there's not much more you can do to reduce the space that it requires when stored. Even completely disassembled, it's too big to fit under any couch or chair that I've seen. So plan on either leaving it permanently on display or else losing about half of the floor space in a double-door closet when stowing it.
So is this the end-all-be-all of drum controllers? No. And judging from the popularity of the game and its like, there'll surely be newer and better versions available in the future. But in the meantime, this kit will provide you with hours of fun gameplay - it's guaranteed to always be the "me next" instrument whenever a group of friends gets together to play.
PROS
* Lots of fun to play - makes the most of the Rock Band game
* Pads have good sensitivity and responsiveness (better than I'd expected)
CONS
* Tick-tock sound of hitting the drums may annoy some
* Pads are fixed in place in relation to each other
* Takes up lots of space when not in use | video-games_xbox |
Great....for a month. Likes:
The A,B,X,Y buttons have a crisp, click when you push them that you can feel. This is a great feature and you probably don't realize how much that little bit of added button feedback helps. Basically, it's very similar to clicking you get on a mouse.
The cord is great. It's nice and long, and very durable. I've got it caught in my recliner mechanisms multiple times and it's still ok. There is a plastic woven sheath that protect the cable - not too stiff.
The skin or texture of the controller is great. It's rubber-like, but not cheap feeling. It does a good job at resisting sweat, and doesn't show that much wear.
Dislikes:
There are a lot of comments about ergonomics, but I found that this controller it a bit awkward and uncomfortable. The front triggers stick out further than the normal xbox controllers. That causes you to have to open your hand more. For example, stick out your left hand so it is on side with your thumb on top - your palm should be facing to the right. Now relax your hand and notice the "C" shape that is made with your thumb and index finger. When you put the controller in your hand, the space between your index finger and thumb is stretched more than the normal xbox controller. This causes some fatigue and pain after a while. It's different just enough that you notice. The controller feels larger than the standard xbox controller, and you can definitely tell the buttons are further apart in general.
Durability is a huge problem. I've bought 2 of these controllers. The first one, the right trigger broke about 1 month in. The second one lasted a bit longer, but the rubber pads on the top of the analog sticks began tearing and falling off. The left thumbstick click is also stopped working after about a month.
It would have been nice if they put the extra buttons somewhere else besides right next to the bumpers.
I hope they fix the issues in their next version. Right now, the only reason I would buy this controller again is because there is nothing better out there with the same features. I hope Razer wakes up and realizes that when something better comes along, this controller will no longer sell.
If you do buy this, GET A REPLACEMENT PLAN. With moderate use, you WILL be returning this controller in the first year. | video-games_xbox |
Really fun and unique game, though not perfect. Having finished this a while ago here is my personal opinion.
The main draw for this game is definitely the presentational aspects (visuals, music, effects), as well as its story.
Hands down this has some of THE BEST visuals I have ever seen in any game. That's speaking aesthetically of course; in terms of graphical power this is actually not too impressive, but the art design is amazing and definitely inspired. I had no problem with lower polygon counts as I was too blown away by the different This game's visuals really make the case of being able to have a great visual aesthetic without the need for high graphical power.
The music is exceptionally sublime, having the orchestral flair of something like Final Fantasy but still feeling wholly unique and all it's own.
The story is a really interesting take on the book of Enoch, a set of stories found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. This type of interpretation is something that doesn't come along often in video games, It can be hard to follow if you're the kind of person who just has to nitpick a plot or needs a full, concrete explanation of a story, but if you sit back and try to go at the game's pace it really will unfold for you.
The combat I personally enjoyed, but it is not for everyone. It's something that requires agile thumbs and quick reflexes in order to defeat enemies, and it can seem confusing on how the weapon system works but once you get it down it can feel like another reflex to switch weapons to fight the right enemy. The boss battles are pretty challenging too, and I liked how at random parts, some of the fallen angels would swoop down and fight you as a show of their power. That really drove home the point that these guys were nothing to mess with and really tough.
One thing I didn't like as much was the platforming. With how the camera stays in the same place for a number of things and is really hard to control, it can make some of the 3d platforming tricky at it's best and maddening at it's worst. There are sections where I lost a full checkpoint because I wasn't pixel perfect and kept missing the same jump.
Another drawback of this game is the fact that it has a $50 price tag but as a result seems bare bones for content. I've played this game on and off for about 2 weeks (how I usually play games) and finished the main story with about 12 hours on the timer. I know for some that would be a huge drawback, but I liked that this game didn't try to pad out it's story with needless sidequesting or elongated levels. One thing that I could have used though were some extra features, possibly a challenge mode or even a look at the game's development(cause I know I was interested in how this game came about). It has art and writings that you unlock through playing, but it still didn't seem like enough to warrant the price tag.
In all though, I definitely enjoyed my time playing El Shaddai. This is truly a work of art and even for it's flaws I definitely recommend it. | video-games_xbox |
Horde Mode Blows My Mind. Well the SP mode has its peaks and valleys , where some parts of it are great and some aren't so good. There's too many linear vehicle missions and simple 'walk through' missions where all you do is run through the entire level. But once you get to level just after defeating the reever and you have to defend Jacinto, the game takes on a new life of hectic action. But all of the single player elements pale in comparison to the AWESOME Horde mode. Do yourself a favor and try this mode by yourself offline on insane difficulty and you'll be treated to some of the best gametime you've had in just about all of your gaming life. Yes its that good. There's ever increasing levels of waves of enemies who increasingly try to outflank you and supress your position . Then once you get the feel for Horde mode go online and hook up with a couple players and take care of business. I'll admit I was at first very dissapointed with Gears2 in the SP , up until I got to Jacinto. But where the meat and potatoes of Gears2 is the online mode Horde. Love It!! By far one of the best modes of the year. If you can get to level 10 by yourself on Insane mode in Horde offline with bots ,your my frikken hero. Is the SP really that bad? Ehh ,there's some crummy vehicle flying,driving missions on rails, SNOOZE,but there are some moments of eye candy ,the game does look good,and like I said earlier its really kool once you get to Jacinto and you have to assault into the sinkhole. But I can clearly see EPIC spent allot of there time developing the co-op and multiplayer horde modes. Don;t get me wrong the SP is good ,just not great . What's Great ? Horde Mode all the way baby! Plus those of you who don't have online LIVE access can play all of the multiplayer maps against bots , just like Terrorist Hunt in RSV. Definitley a well polished gaming experience.
The only downside to Horde is sometimes it takes awhile to find a match , on average I wait 5-20 min for a match , BUT , Horde is such an awesome game mode I'd gladly wait 20min. Just ONE Horde Match I played recently lasted 3 1/2 hours!!! Holy Moly almost four hours for just one match , we made it all the way to level 41 before we finally got taken out. I cannot express how kool Horde mode is , it goes beyond the normal death matches as there's more of an emphasis on reviving your buddies and Horde tends to punish those who go out on their own witthout back-up. PLus the enemies flank with supreme agressiveness, if a enemy gets hit too much coming one way at you , you can see them change direction and eventually they'll be right behind you. What an awesome game! Buy it for Horde alone, its worth it. | video-games_xbox |
Really well done. I'll tell the truth, geek dad (me) for once was behind the times on this one. Usually it's me hyping my (now 6 years old) son up for something new and cool that's coming out. We've always enjoyed video game time together and normally we play one of the Lego games, or a movie property (if it's good, ala Kung Fu Panda). So, when we went to the store and he start flipping out of the Skylanders display I wasn't quite sure. The initial investment isn't that much greater than any current top tier game (Mario, Elder Scrolls, CoD) and for 69.99 you get a nice starter kit with 3 Skylanders, the portal, the game, stickers, web codes and a poster! I'll break this down into 2 pieces.
Part 1: The game play, as I was describing it to another parent what would happen if you threw Fable, Gauntlet, Diablo and a Lego game into a blender. I wouldn't put it quite on par with a Lego game (those are far and away the BEST games for a little one to learn on). Each character (more on this later) has an affinity (earth, fire, etc) and 2 abilities to start. You plug your magic portal, which works across platforms as it's standard USB. The only one it will not work with is 3DS which has a unique wireless portal. And it swirls to life with a magical glow. Once you start playing, you place your Skylander on said portal and voila! He's in the game. It's a great concept, and when playing with one person it works flawlessly so far. If you want to choose another character? Simply remove your current figure and put another in its place. There were some problems I've noticed in multi-player, as you have to use the same portal and it has some difficulty registering 2 or 3 pieces at the same time. With a little finesse it works, but I can for see problems when it's just the little ones playing. The game itself is bright and very colorful. A lot of fighting, but the "violence" is on par with what you see on most t.v. shows. No blood to be found here. Beyond that, the voice acting is excellent!
A few quick points.
1. The main quest can be finished with any Skylander. To unlock a lot of the extra's you need 1 Skylander from each affinity
2. All level, gold and items are saved to the actual toy. Yes, your story progress saves to the machine (xbox, Wii, etc) but the character stats and everything else saves to the toy.
3. The legendary challenges (certain side missions) cannot be done in co-op.
4. There is battling (think Smash Brothers)
Part 2: The toys. Oh the wonderful toys. Someone in marketing at Activision needs a raise. So, with the game you get 3 skylanders. They are each about 2" tall including their base. Each one comes with a trading card, stickers and a web code (as you can play with them online as well!) Please note, that in order to get to all of the optional areas in the game you will need more than what's in the starter kit. They also come in 3 packs (19.99) and single packs (7.99). Finally, they have "adventure packs" which include a new quest, accessories and a new Skylander (19.99) The toys themselves are painted in great detail and have very nice vivid colors. They do however, have NO articulation and do not come off of the base. Think of them more on the lines of a little statue than an action figure.
Overall I (and the little one) are very happy with the game. We're already heading out after work today so that he can buy another 3 pack with his allowance money. Who knows, maybe dad may get one for himself :D I think a lot will depend on how much they support the game as well. | video-games_xbox |
Bittersweet, haunting...an absolutely amazing ride. I first want to mention, that anyone rating this game low is only going based off the ending alone. This game as a whole does not deserve anything less than an excellent rating. Please do not base your decision on the expectations of others. ME is a fan-driven game. Bioware has listened and adjusted to the fans since first making ME. It is understandable as to why fans now feel it necessary to have the ending tailored. Give it a chance and develop your own opinions. I have my own thoughts on the ending. I'd love more closure after something as epic as ME3, but I really respect the creativity of Casey Hudson and the Bioware team. When you play this game, you will see without a doubt that they poured their hearts and souls into making this game. The Mass Effect franchise still is and continues to be my absolute favorite, hands down.
As a devoted ME franchise fan, I was literally blown away. During my ME3 experience, I laughed hard, I cried, I was nervous, I was overwhelmed, I was angry...it was a mixture of many intense emotions. Amazing how a video game of all things can bring these types of feelings out of anyone. Anyone who has played ME1 and ME2 understands how deep and complex these games are. Let's face it, ME3 brought a lot of passion out of their fans, be it good or bad.
Bioware created a one-of-a-kind RPG that has created a standard and raised the bar high for any future RPGs. It's not your average "go on a quest, kill some bosses, and then credits start to roll at the end". Bioware commands you to invest yourself into the missions and your character. The talented voice cast is amazing and bring such endearing characters to life. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and one of the best scores from the video game genre I have ever heard. The soundtrack really thrusts the game into high gear with a mixture of electronic and orchestral music.
I was very pleased to pre-order my Collector's Edition from Amazon. I truly look forward to more from Bioware and hopefully any future ME spin-offs (fingers crossed). No amount of negative feedback in the world can overshadow the exceptional quality of this beautifully written, epic, intense, and haunting addition to the Mass Effect trilogy. | video-games_xbox |
Average racing game with some flaws. I have long been a fan of video games and usually enjoy racing games. I strayed away from the Burnout franchise when I started playing the Need for Speed games. I decided to give this game franchise another shot and was not impressed too terribly much.
First I will talk about the positives of this game.
The music soundtrack is second to noe. It's great, I love it. I also like that the developers made it rather simple to switch tracks if you so desire.
The graphics are sharp, crisp, ad look fairly real. The city is laid out well, as much as a video game city can be anyway, there will always be those weird twists and turns but that's okay with me.
Some things I didn't like.
The camera angles are annoying at times, and terrible at other times. It seems that no matter how nice a game can look, developers keep screwing up the camera angles making it hard to see things. It gets frustrating very quickly.
The layout of the screen. There are so many things going on, that you have to look at the little map at the bottom of the screen, the compass at the top of the screen, that you are not really allowed to lose yourself in the game. The only time I was really able to 'watch' the graphics and appreciate the game, was when a friend was playing it.
The controls are average in terms of layout, but I would have liked the option of customizing them to how I like it.
Overall, this is a decent racing game, although, if I had to pick my current favorite is still <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Need-for-Speed-Carbon/dp/B000GPZSBK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Need for Speed Carbon</a> It offers the same free roam style of play, but has a much better story mode and crisper handling. And, it's cheaper. To me Carbon has more bang for the buck. Burnout Paradise seems to be full of promise but lacking on the follow through. | video-games_xbox |
Logistics I wanted to know before buying. Comfort - 5 stars. It's a little heavy but the fit is comfortable so it doesn't bother you. Get more comfortable after prolonged use.
Sound - 4.5 stars. Output to headphones is great. When connected to mobile, I'd like it to be louder. That's probably for my own good though, I've treated my ears poorly and don't have very good hearing.
Mic - 4 stars. picks up sound pretty well and the voicemoniter is subtle and doesn't echo. No static unless you're yelling and the mic is too close. Occasionally mildly cuts out when wired with my PS4. Idk if it's a network connection strength of the PS4 or the headset.
Ease of Setup and Use - 5 stars. Very easy and intuitive to figure out on any console. Note that you don't have to use the optical cable when using the USB, but if you don't the chat and game volume will both be controlled by one of the headset dials. This can be adjusted in the quick menu on the PS4, where there is a chat to game audio prioritizing scale in addition to individual adjustments. Dials and buttons make options very easy to feel for and and adjust.
Noise cancellation - 2-3 stars. What noise cancellation? It's not a feature that matters to me, but might to other people. Some sound can be heard by others when I'm wearing my headphones, (not more than average headphones on full blast,) and my mic picks up the rustling of my son building legos on the floor, if the chat volume is turned up, And the game volume is minimal, which I think is kind of cool but that indicates how the mic pics up all kinds of sounds.
Versatility- 5 stars. can be used wireless and wired on most devices even pc, mobile requires aux cord, PS3 has to be wireless. I also read that the headset works with the wiiu, though it is not optimized for it. You can choose to play all audio through headset or have the game music play through the tv, using the headset just for chat audio. There are only 2 other wireless headsets that I know of that are truely versatile.
Battery life - 5 stars. I've not timed it but it lasts forever. charging doesn't seem to take long.
Durability - I'll keep you posted. Reviews warn of the charge port coming out of place overtime. Maybe a bit of glue carefully placed could serve as a preventative if you notice it coming loose?
A lot of the flaws mentioned in the reviews are found in troubleshooting section on the product websight and are easier to resolve than you might think. (I was baffled why only one dial controlled game + chat, so that's how I came across it.) very helpful. I'll have to find the link.
I compared a lot of headphones that fit my needs for subtle appearance, versitility, battery life, and sound quality. Before choosing these, I was tied between these and the steel series Siberia 800 or 840s, but those are 300$+ headsets.
Overall not flawless, but more than pleased with all the functions you get for this price. I'm sorry to the folks out there that got defects. | video-games_xbox |
Definitely worth the couple of bucks you'd spend on a used copy. This is another CoD classic, however, as far as the single-player campaign is concerned, I believe that CoD, CoD 2, and CoD 2: Big Red One are put together a bit better (despite the fact that CoD 3 has much better graphics).
Here is why (keep in mind these are minor gripes that don't severely detract from the overall fun one can have with this game):
1) Some missions feature cutscenes throughout that actually pause the action. The dramatic acting (due to terrible script writing) is horrid. I think I understand where they were trying to go with this; similar to The Big Red One, they were trying to get you to "know" your squad. The weird thing is, The Big Red One actually succeeded in this without dramatic cutscenes. The cutscenes in CoD 3 are so melodramatic, pretentious, and out of place that they end up distracting you from the battle at hand rather than bringing a sense of realism to the battle. Regardless, I was able to simply tune them out so as to not negatively affect the realism of the battles.
2) There are a few graphical glitches with regard to the cutscenes that occur just before, during, and immediately afterwards. If you happen to be moving the camera at these times, it can cause the interface to react oddly further defeating the purpose of the cutscenes (to draw you in deeper to the irrelevant "story").
3) They included psuedo mini-games (I don't know what else to call them) for planting bombs, using mortars, and other activities. They involve having to rotate the right and left analog sticks and press buttons in sequence. I think those types of "mini-games" are essentially irrelevant and unnecessary. They certainly don't add to the "realism". Surely, your soldier would have been trained in the basics of planting charges if that was his responsibility on the battlefield and it would therefore be second-nature to him, right? Forcing user interaction besides clicking a single button (as it was in the previous CoD titles) becomes rather tedious. To me, it's no different than forcing you to move the analog sticks in a certain way and a certain sequence in order to climb a ladder (obviously, the soldier should know how to plant charges as much as he'd know how to climb a ladder... but if you're not going to force the user to perform some mini-game to climb a ladder, why would you force them into one to plant a charge?).
Those are my gripes with the game, and they are minor and barely detract from the fun one can have with this game. The positives include an excellent upgrade in graphics from its predecessors. I actually prefer the ironsight shooting to CoD 2, as well. It seems that your enemies go down a lot more realistically and require less bullets to do so. I also prefer the European campaign. The visuals are richer (more colorful, more interesting architecture, etc.) and the towns are a bit more claustrophobic creating interesting battle engagements. Had it not been for the minor gripes I listed above, this would have been a perfect sequel worthy of 5 stars.
Multiplayer is surprising quite fun, even in 2011. And, surprisingly, there are still other gamers who agree with me (because I never had a problem joining any team match games any time I logged on... at least up until Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 launched). With the addition of vehicles and no "killstreak" rewards (which tend to lead to individualism vs. teamwork), the multiplayer brought back a Halo 2 nostalgic feel. One where players joined a team match and instantly picked a role that would help the team and stuck with it... for the good of the team. It seems like an odd haven when you consider all of the later CoD titles where the objective is individual achievement (a narcissist focus)... even with the team matches.
If CoD could take the good features of the CoD 3 multiplayer experience and somehow translate them into their later titles, they would be doing a good thing in my opinion.
I would recommend purchasing this game used. I think there is enough here that would be worth the $5 or $6 you'd spend on it. The campaign is quite long (14 missions, I believe) and the multiplayer is actually quite fun, though I'm sure there won't be anyone left to play it after Battlefield 3 and/or Modern Warfare 3. | video-games_xbox |
The Godfather In Space. Bioware has yet again made another stellar game. Their story-telling and cinematic plot immersion is matched typically only by Square's omnipotent Final Fantasy series, in this gamer's humble opinion.
If you haven't played the first Mass Effect, I cannot recommend playing this sequel; although stand alone, this game is superior in most aspects to its precursor. It's just that you would be robbing yourself of the greatest assest of the galaxy of Mass Effect, its story! The Godfather In Space is what I've dubbed it.
Numerous upgrades and improvments to number 2 have been made over the first installment, along with (it pains me to say) some glaring weaknesses. Many of the improvments come in the form of much more immersive and challenging encounters with enemies, (especially on higher difficulties) [SIDE NOTE: For veterans of the first game, those who breezed through it in particular, I highly recommend your initial playthrough to be on 'Veteran' difficulty to enhance the challenge, no pun.] also more diversive envirnments that are unique in every facet. Gone are the tons and I mean TONS of cookie cutter spacecraft, bunker, and enemy layouts. Each encounter feels and looks different. Also improved is party and enemy AI, making each fight alot more fun, and not something you can just plow through without breaking a sweat. Stratigic use of cover and you own abilities is necessary for the most part. You also have more freedom of movement on the galaxy stage, physically moving your craft through the cosmos to your destinations.
The pitfalls of ME2 are not glaring at all for the most part, just an annoyance if you let it get to you, and if you lose sight of the 'big picture'... I will explain. ME2 takes a MAJOR step back (or forward depending how you look at it) in terms of inventory managment, item gathering, resource gathering, weapons and armor procurement, and customizability. In fact, you do not even have an inventory, and anything you could possibly get, takes an intangible spot on your ship or is a passive upgrade you can purchase for Shepard, his allies or the entire squad, which you will typiclly always buy with resources you gather (more on those later) Outside of the passive upgrades, there are BARELY a dozen different weapons in the game, with a few different heavy weapons sprinkled in for some variety. There is also no armor to be had, tinkered with, or bought outside of maybe a half dozen pieces you can get for Shepard which for the most part, have a minimal impact on gameplay. Every squad member shares the weapons that you DO collect, and automatically are equipped with the strongest version of whatever weapon they are capable of using, making outfitting your unit for an encounter completely nonessential, everything is typically done for you. Building your characters abilties are also incredibly linear and basically comes down to wanting one ability more than another, out of the maybe 4-7 you get TOTAL from game's beginning to end.
Now these different things can be seen as making the game seem to lack depth; a true and valid arguement. But does it affect the game in the 'big picture' we talked about earlier? No it does not. Some might say getting all of impractical nonsense out of the way paves the way for you to just concentrate on the real grabber of the game, its story, rich with character development. On the other end of the spectrum, some may argue that this game lacks attributes that makes a game an RPG, things that most RPGers know are staples of the genre: buying new and exciting weapons, magics, abilities, items for everything from healing to camping (lol), and statistic building. As I alluded to you earlier, I am of the former opinion; yes it aggrivated me early on, but just get past it, what does it really matter in the face of one of the best stories out there in this increasingly controversial, competitive, and cutthroat enterprise that is video games. I just like to show both arguements so those who want to may draw their own conclusions.
Nothing needs to be said of the actual story of the game, its plot, characters and locales; because any who are reading this article would be more than proficient in these catagories already.
So, like The Godfather I & II, both Mass Effects are not without some flaw, but masterpieces all the same, and are definitely worth the purchase.
Lets hope the last leg of this trilogy is better than Godfather III though. ;) | video-games_xbox |
San Andreas is still better. It goes like this:
1. San Andreas
2. GTA4
3. you choose
A. Realism is great but I think the thing that what makes GTA awesome is the fun factor, like the Wii has in this generation. They lost some fun factor here with vehicle handling, wonky controls and frustrating cameras during combat and chases. San Andreas is not realistic graphically but is much more fun to play and I feel the controls were better, that being said the cover mechanic is a nice addition to the realism of the combat in this game. I don't like having to babysit the camera more, like when I step into a car it does not snap into the forward looking mode until the car is going already. Also stealing a car is a much more involved and slow process here, taking some fun out of it. Car handling is more realistic but much less fun, if I wanted that I'll play my car sim games.
B. Replayability and Variety of Missions. I see playing this through 2-3 times missions only, San Andreas I played through 6-8 times. With 85 missions it's a lot but SA had over 100 and had a greater variety not to mention a much bigger world. The side missions in SA were more fun and varied. I find myself not interested in the side missions much like killing pigeons that will sometimes get you police coverage, so it's just the missions and out. There's just not enough wonder there to explore like in the previous games because there's nothing to do most of the time. The constant calls for eating/shows etc are annoying, this is not why I am playing and seems to have minimal to none as far as the story is concerned. Most missions are drive somewhere and kill someone granted but SA just had more situations and settings than this one. There is not the wonder factor, anybody remember the bigfoot rumor in SA? The value as far as gameplay is just not up to SA in my opinion.
C. Setting and Story. NY is cool but come on let's go to a new place. I think Chicago would be good as the midwest has been forgotten here. New Orleans would be cool, London even. Or a regional thing like SA had. The story is not as satisfying and epic as San Andreas' was. SA's story all fit together well. This story is mostly just a guy looking for money with annoying relatives mixed in. I'm about 50% done so this could change though.
Conclusion. This is a great game, the best sandbox in this generation of consoles so you should get it, but comparing it to the last one just leaves me wanting. Everybody knows that Gran Turismo 3 on PS2 was groundbreaking and the best sim on consoles but since then Forza and other similar games have taken it's place. I think GTA has not advanced much overall with this installment, just sharper graphics and that's too bad as that's not what made GTA great. So I think that, like Gran Turismo 3, GTA hit it's peak with San Andreas. | video-games_xbox |
Great New System with Some Great Improvements. This was my second Xbox 360 purchase. I bought an Elite three years ago from Amazon.com and had an amazing time playing it. I saw the Microsoft E3 press show, and had to have this new Xbox 360 Elite S. My current Xbox 360 is still running fine, but the improvements had me jumping for joy due to just the amount of time I play the system.
Thus far the system runs perfect. I keep the system horizontal to vent the heat better from the nicely placed side vent. The redesign shows Microsoft put some real thought into the issues that plagued past systems. The heat is now directly vented from the heat sink, instead of using a tube to push it to the back of the system to be vented. This new design uses one big fan, instead of two smaller ones. This single fan is surrounded with foam to help stop vibrations and stopping pretty much all the sound the fan makes, to make for a whisper quiet fan. The newly designed chipset doesn't get as hot or take as much power as past chipsets either. I remember having my older Elite on, and after hours of play the room temperature would literally be 10 degrees hotter. With this new system, the room temperature doesn't change at all now.
The new DVD drive is pretty quiet compared with the older drive. You can still hear the disc spinning when the game isn't installed onto the hard drive, but it's not nearly as loud as it used to be. With the game installed onto the hard drive, the system is nearly silent.
It now has touch sensitive buttons, which are a great cosmetic touch. It has a nice shiny finish that does attractive dust and is a finger print magnet, but still a nice improvement. The new Wi-Fi card is what so many people have been waiting for. It didn't really matter to me, as I have a router like less than two feet away from the system, but this is a BIG selling point for so many people and a nice improvement over having to put out another fee. The wireless card supports pretty much everything up to 802.11n.
The system no longer has memory card slots, but has had two additional USB ports added, for a total of five, which is a better option now that it supports flash drives.
The system is ready for Kenect, but I really could care less about it. It has one port on the back for the kenect camera system. So all you have to do is plug it into that, and you're ready to play. Other people may enjoy that more than me.
On some side notes, the new 360 doesn't support your old 360 hard drive. I transferred everything over with a flash drive. You can buy a transfer cable, but I would just use a flash drive or external hard drive. The system comes with a one year warranty and isn't supported by the three year RRoD warranty Microsoft gave to older systems. You can call Microsoft and extended it, but as long as you take care of it, I wouldn't recommend it, but that's up to you. Just keep it well ventilated and away from other heat sources. Also, DON'T move the system while playing it, as this can lead to the disc being scratched. If the game is installed though, the disc doesn't spin, so this is another reason to install games. I've never perosnally had this ever happen, but from my understanding it can.
Overall, if you don't have an Xbox 360 and are in the market for one, this is the must have SKU. If you do have one, it's really not necessary unless you really have some issue with your current system, or just really want this (like I did). It has a massive 250GB hard drive, built in Wi-Fi, 5 USB ports, Ethernet port, HDMI port, composite/component port, digital optical output, and Kenect ready port, all built into the system. It's here today and really is ready for tomorrow.
A final note about Amazon.com; they dropped the ball on me again, like they did before with skipping over me when I ordered my Elite three years ago. If you want your system faster, either get it another place or pay for shipping. If you don't care, get the free shipping from Amazon. If this is like a year or whatever from the release date, you have nothing to worry about. | video-games_xbox |
An all-in-one system that can only get better in time. I honestly didn't buy the Xbox One for playing games. The PC is and always will be the greatest gaming machine. It's common knowledge that when next gen consoles are released they are already far obsolete to the technology found on modern PCs. With that said, the Xbox One was purchased for the sole reason of using it as an entertainment hub, and it EXCELS at it.
I have the Xbox hooked up to my receiver and a Roku and I can control everything by voice easily, even during a loud movie. The kinect sensor is truly next gen technology as far as movement tracking is concerned. It's incredibly satisfying to ditch my harmony remote ($180 remote BTW) and just use commands like "Xbox On" which will turn on my TV, receiver, and Xbox. I literally don't use a remote for anything other than adjusting AVR settings. In this sense, I believe the Xbox is way ahead of the PS4 in terms of being future proof. Break it down like this: with the Xbox one you don't need an expensive Logitech remote, you don't need a bluray player, and you don't need a streaming box like roku/apple tv. That right there is over $300, not to mention that you can play games on it, albeit right now there are barely any. I think the Xbox is an excellent value over the PS4, hence the price difference.
As of today, early December 2013, there are small bugs and problems that will be easily addressed as the OS matures. Sometimes Kinect doesn't recognize what you say, but when properly configured its very rare. Most people who have trouble with Kinect voice have bad pronunciation or placement of the sensor. Like I said, when properly calibrated, everyone I know has no trouble with voice commands or movement recognition.
As far as OS there are too few apps, but obviously in time they will fully mature and we should start seeing 3rd party applications such as Plex. This is something the PS4 will never be able to accomplish. Oh, and I should mention that the apps that are currently available are VERY WELL integrated with voice search and aesthetics. Netflix in particular looks amazing on Xbox One and works flawlessly. I can even control it while I'm in a different room by yelling loudly.
Most people are going to disagree with this review based on several factors:
1) They are PS4 fan boys (I don't even understand what the purpose of being a fan for a particular product brings)
2) They hate anything to do with Microsoft (hating on Microsoft is what all the cool kids do these days"
3) They are frustrated with Kinect (improper calibration, poor pronunciation)
4) The current OS bugs (these will obviously get fixed in time
In short, the Xbox one isn't perfect as it stands today, but neither was the PS3, XBOX 360 and look at them now. It takes time to fully flesh out these systems. I would say if you are strictly into PURE GAMING then buy a PS4, it's 100 dollars cheaper and a much more simple gaming machine. However, if you are invested in the future and willing to go through some growing pains with the Xbox, you will be much more satisfied in the long run. I, personally, can't wait to see what the future updates and system maturity brings to the Xbox, that is what is most exciting to me, and that is something the PS4 lacks. With that being said, I believe both systems serve a purpose, you just have to decide what you need from a console. | video-games_xbox |
A Worthy Successor to an almost forgotten Franchise, Gears of War 4 improves on the basics and adds some new elements. On the subject of product code redemption: I purchased this through Amazon and received a game code which I promptly redeemed on the Windows store. Please note that Windows 10 is required to play the game.
On November 7th, 2006, Epic Games and Microsoft Studios released Gears of War, an Xbox 360 Exclusive that introduced the 3rd cover based shooter, in which the player character uses nearby rubble or fences to cover against enemy fire. In it, you play as Marcus Fenix, a prisoner recruited into the COG (Coalition of Ordered Governments) Army, facing off against an alien threat, the Locust, that nearly destroyed the world.
Now, 25 Years Later after Humanity has won against the Locust, a group of outsiders lead in part by J.D. Fenix, son of Marcus Fenix, Delmont "Del" Walker and Kait Diaz, attempt to raid the nearby COG settlement. However, when a series of unplanned events occur, J.D. must recruit the help of his legendary father in order to stop a new threat that may be worse than the Locust, as well as ward off the COG, which as become a dictatorship.
Players control J.D. Fenix in a 7 Hour campaign that mostly relies on cover-based shooting. While the mechanic has been done to death by other game companies and developers, the new developers of Gears of War, the Coalition, take what was so great from the original games and mix it up. They always place you, the player, in a situation and map that feels different enough with enough enemy variety that keeps you on your feet.
On PC, the game has learned its lesson from the poorly optimized Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and is optimized to pure perfection. I ran this game on Ultra at a smooth 60 Frames Per Second with few crashes or errors. The Pop-up textures were nearly non-existent and the water effects were spectacular to behold (though the game does have trouble transitioning between a gameplay visual and a prerendered cutscene in which I noticed a visible, though not terrible, drop in quality).
The game has a number of Multiplayer modes, such as King of the Hill and Team Death Match, as well as a variety of Co-Op missions, and the ability to team up with other players online to fight waves of enemies. PLEASE NOTE: While online play is available on the PC, all of the players must be linked through the Windows Store, which has a small player base. (Since then, The Coalition has announced plans to implement Cross Play between PC Players and Xbox One owners). (Also note the game features a large amount of optional microtransactions, which can go up to 129.99 USD. While In-game credit can be used to purchase "packs", items that have customization or "bounties" which help the player earn more experience through challenges, the amount of credits received per match is very minimal. )
Gears of War 4 feels like a return to form and will most likely attract many fans back to the franchise. However, newcomers may be alienated due to the familiar mechanic other lesser developers have done in the past. If you have a PC capable of running Gears of War 4 and don't mind that Windows 10 is necessary to run it, I absolutely recommend it.
If nothing else, fans will feel a bit of nostalgia everytime a chainsaw bayonet revs up. | video-games_xbox |
Good purchase but not for people who want to take it to a different region. The seller shipped the item promptly and I received the item timely. I live in India and bought this from Amazon US because my friend was visiting US and there was a big price differential between Indian version and this one. However, it was only after the purchase that I became aware that Microsoft consoles are region locked. The cosole comes with the power brick that can be used only in US ( or where the voltage is 110V). I had to buy a separate power brick in India which runs at 100-240V so even if I travel to US with it, I can use the same power brick. Cost me about $22 which stil left me with a lot of savings. But then I came to know about the games which are region locked which was the bigger disappointment. The PAL games available in India would not run on this one as this console's region is NTSC/U. Not all games are region locked but there is no info on whether a PAL game is region free or locked. the only source I could find was this [...] But not sure how reliable this one is.
So far, I bought PAL version of COD:Black Ops and GTA IV - Episodes from Liberty City and they both run fine. But NFS and Forza seems locked. So while I saved the mony on console, I have restricted myself with choice of games I can play. Of course I can download games from XBox Live but then I wouldn't get any discount like I would if I were to buy online.
At the moment, my apetite is satisfied with the 2 games I bought plus the 2 game that came with the console - Kinect Adventures and Kinect Sports 2.
The primary reason I bought a XBox over PS3 was the Kinect technology. I was blown away by this technology when I first saw the demo. PS3's move is ok but for some reason I liked Kinect experience more. My 3 year old kid can play the Kinect games andenjoys a lot. My wife also plays them to lose weight as it requires you to move a lot.
There are lot of things that I don't like about Xbox's Live requirement - including the fact that to use IE and YouTube I need to subscribe to Xbox Like Gold which otherwise I can use on my laptop without having to pay a single dime other than the broadband service provider. But it was not a dealbreaker as this is something nice to have but I have a laptop which I can connect to TV and use the same.
I have learnt that Xbox One is not region locked. I hope MS removes the lock on Xbox 360 too. | video-games_xbox |
NASCAR 07. First, one thing needs to be put out of the way before I start this review. NASCAR Racing 2003 by Papyrus for the PC is a vastly superior game, that's pretty much accepted in the sim racing world. However, comparing NR2003 to NASCAR 07 or other releases is like comparing apples to oranges. Platform games are, in nature, supposed to appeal to a wider audience than PC games, which is probably one of the reasons why EA's NASCAR releases are not as realistic as they can (and really should) be.
All that said, I bought this game because I had recently got an XBox and wanted at least one game I could play on it. I have not played NASCAR 06, I was somewhat scared away by reviews of it, but I do own NASCAR Chase For The Cup 2005 for the PS2. Needless to say, I was disappointed (but not surprised) to see little difference in how the cars in the game looked. Same old same old. Playing the game is much like putting on an old pair of shoes. Even with my limited experience using an XBox controller and the format which to accelerate and brake, I was able to get comfortable quickly with the game and be competitive in little time.
Some gripes about the game, I really hate the fact that you cannot use single or double digit numbers when making your own custom car/truck. You can only use numbers between 100 and 199. Absolutely rediculous. Secondly, I hate the phony field filling cars that are in all the divisions, I always have. I don't think that adding a bunch of lesser known drivers would do anything but help the game. It would be fun to try to take Morgan Shepard's car to the Nextel Cup title. Also, it is pretty disappointing that there are so few real teams and drivers in the Busch and especially the truck series. And the lack of alternate paint schemes for Cup drivers is pretty disappointing too.
Continuing with the gripes, I fail to understand why the trucks still all look like a Ford F150. Why can't EA get the rights to make the trucks have their own shapes like the Cup and Busch cars do? It can't be that expensive if it is at all. Also, the fake sponsors in the game are just stupid. I never use them when making my own cars. Only real life sponsors should be in the game, not a bunch of phony ones. To round out all these complaints, I noticed that Nazareth Speedway is in the game. Unfortunately that track is no longer in operation, so having it in the game makes no sense whatsoever. We do get the wonderful Old Spice road course though (rolling eyes) but we don't get tracks like the Nashville Superspeedway, Kentucky Speedway or the road course in Mexico. It also would have been nice if EA could have added the new version of Las Vegas Speedway (even if it wasn't 100% accurate) and a repaved version of Talladega Superspeedway.
All that said, I still play this game and I have fun with it, even with the faults and inaccuracies this game has. If you've enjoyed the other releases of the past, then you'll more than likely enjoy NASCAR 07 too. | video-games_xbox |
A Welcomed Change Frome The FPS Out There. First of all I've been playing games since Radio Shack put out Pong...yes, I'm a 43 year old gamer. I dig several different types of games and mainly it has been the Battlefield series since BF was only on the PC. Now, I really have to give this game 5 stars even though it has a couple of flaws. It is a very refreshing change from the other First Person Shooters (FPS) out there - Yes, I understand this is a third person shooter until you scope your rifle.
The mission will suck you in and the kill cam is awesome and I never every got sick of that. I played through the whole game, which I must say was short, but very enjoyable. I even bought the DLC, as who would not like a chance to shoot Hitler - be warned that it will take most people just 25 minutes to beat at a $10 price tag.
The game also allows for campaign co-op to where you can have a buddy play the campaign with you which puts a different element to the game, in other words some re-playability after you complete the game on single player. You don't get as many full kill-cam shots playing with a buddy but it is a lot more fast paced and it's cool to share in the awesome shots you make with a buddy.
Seriously, since this game is so different and well put together I had to give it 5 stars. I mean really, look at Sniper: Ghost Warrior - Sniper Elite V2 blows that game away in many different ways. The kill cam in this game is way better, the AI's are better, the missions are better, and you don't get hung up on the environment (at least I didn't). Both games do have issues with AI spotting you though; I mean the regular soldiers not snipers, from a good distance. It is a lot worse in Sniper: Ghost Warrior though. They will spot you in that game even though you are hidden. The only thing I can say about Sniper: Ghost Warrior that is better is that you sometimes have a cut-scene before a mission to show how you got to the area you are in. In Sniper Elite V2 you just all the sudden are right in a fox hole with German or Russian soldiers. With that flaw aside it's worth picking up for $50 bucks for sure.
Another cool element to the game is the challenges which are very tough alone and makes for a cool extra to test your skills with a buddy. It's a still from the Horde mode in Gears of War, but what the hell - it should be copied because it's fun and challenging.
If one of your hobbies is playing games a couple of times a week and you want something fun and different in the FPS campaign category (oh, and the thought of being a sniper is cool to you) - look no further, grab a copy of this game. | video-games_xbox |
Excellent Campaign, really a fun game. I recommend those who are tired of COD and/or Battlefield to invest the money for TC's Ghost Recon FS. I took a gamble on buying it and so far I am not at all disappointed. This game is so refreshing to play and so different compared to the senseless run and gun monotony of the latter games. Although this game claims to be more tactical than it actually is, you will not be disappointed with the campaign. I cannot really say too much on multiplayer or guerrilla mode since I haven't played them yet, however I would definitely give the game a solid 8.5/10 when it comes to fun and game play.
Some comments on the campaign. The story is pretty dull and lacks a decent plot or captivating dialogue, but this is easily overcome by the game play and style. It keeps you engaged and wanting to perform better in each situation. You can play each situation as tactical as possible, or simply barge in guns blazing where allowed. Certain levels will make you play tactically in which you cannot reveal yourself (which honestly just makes it way more exciting).
In terms of the difficulty of the game, I would have to say it was fairly easy. I played Veteran mode (which is medium in this game) and was able to complete it within 10 hrs. A solid 10 hrs might I add though.
I may have not included too many details on the game itself or its technicalities, but in all honesty pick this one up. You will feel a sigh of relief from all the tension of COD and/ Battlefield, not to mention that it is full 4 player co-op for campaign, guerrilla, and multiplayer.
This just means that if you have friends over your house or friends online who have the game, you will have way more fun playing thru campaign or any other game mode without having to worry about the stuff you have to worry about with other non-coop shooters.
I will admit though that paying $60 may not be fully worth the amount of content in this game, but either way if you are tired of all other FPS out there, you will not feel so burdened letting go of the money. If you do not have that much to front on a game that didn't need millions of dollars to be spent on marketing, then simply wait for used copies at lower prices.
Overall, this game is an excellent, fun, co-op, TPMS (third person military shooter) that will not let you down. You will probably end up playing through the campaign once by yourself and then multiple times with friends since it only gets more fun and satisfying as you get better. | video-games_xbox |
For a fan of the show, a must play. Otherwise, not so much. I love Falling Skies, and since the very first episode, I have yet to miss it. I have been saying since season 1 to PLEASE make a video game version of the show. If you watch the show, even if you are not an avid fan, you can see why a game version would be amazing. Though I feel like the makers of this game cut corners, and it is not as breathtaking as it could have been if a real studio had its hand in making it, it is still never-the-less a very interesting game. In a world ravaged by first person shooters and open world games, this game takes a different turn - a turn based style of gaming. You are in control of a squad- anywhere from 1-6 units, and you embark on missions, completing objectives, and spend each mission in a turn based style of gameplay. You begin each mission by moving your squad a few spaces, and then it is the enemy's turn. Enemies are not randomly appearing, but more like you need to "see" them. If you have moved all of your squad members up and have not encountered any aliens, then it is your turn. However, if you are in a combat situation, then you have a turn to move, attack,reload, take cover, etc. and then your enemies have their turn and so on. This is how the game progresses. It is not a open world game, but turn based. I will admit, the first mission or two I found quite boring and dull. But being such a huge fan of the show, I couldn't turn off the game and wanted to play it through. While I was somewhat bored and found this gameplay style somewhat tedious, within a few missions, I was quite engaged in the game and really enjoyed it. It is just that is is such a different type of gameplay than I was used to.
Something I found very interesting and enjoyable which adds a layer of immersion and customization in the game is that it follows the idea of the TV show. Between mission, you are at Base Camp, where you can do a variety of things. By completing missions, you can gain 3 resources (food, metal, and medical supplies). You can then use these supplies at Base Camp in the Infirmary, Workshop, and/or Armory to upgrade and research your squad. Armory allows you to train new recruits, manage their equipment, and research new things such as increasing your squad size. The workshop allows you to research and upgrade weapons, ammunition, grenades, armor, and the like. Infirmary allows you to upgrade and research medical things, like first aid kits, defibrillators, gauze, etc. Everything you can research offers increased bonuses or upgrades and can be used in the armory and equipped. I enjoyed this aspect of the game, and found it tied in well with the show.
Some important things to note about this game is that they provide you with a few classes of units; berserkers (LMG and rocket launcher), fighters (assault rifle), spiked kids which are basically the people who the Espheni captured and had their harnesses removed (machine gun), sniper (sniper rifle), and field medic which offer unlimited use of medical equipment. Each class has its uses, and weaknesses, for example berserkers pack a lot of firepower but are more effective at closer range. Snipers are extremely powerful, but very weak to enemy attacks, etc. I find this game to be better for older individuals, as since it is turn based, younger players will get bored easily, and may not comprehend the strategy aspect as well as they should. There also is a campaign but it did not follow the TV show's plot at all. Another thing to note is that there is not multiplayer or even any online option. It is a strictly single player game. If you are interested in getting achievements, the achievements for the game are almost impossible to miss and each one is worth 50 gamerscore, so it is also an easy way to boost your score. The graphics however, are not that great, they feel more like N64 type graphics which was kind of depressing, as well as text in the game is cut off. If you revive a fallen soldier, the text will say something like "James will survive, but we should get them to..." and then not end. Not a big deal and doesn't really affect the game, but I mean... it's 2015.
If you like the tv show, you should definitely play this game just because. It may be a bit slow in the beginning, but you will start to get into it within a few missions and especially if you find yourself researching new weapons or upgrading existing ones. The turn based style of play may bore some, but I adjusted fairly quickly. All in all, it was a decent game. If you are expecting something on the level of the mega-hits like Call of Duty or Borderlands in terms of play or quality, you will be severely disappointment. But it is a modest game for a modest TV show. However, I do feel it could have been an epic game if done with a bigger budget or better quality studio. For what it is though, it isn't bad and definitely worth your time. It also does follow the TV show in small ways like scavenging for materials or ways to outsmart your enemy, but the main plot is not the same. I also was upset that the game was picky with their main characters, you cannot control them, and sometimes they are a playable character for certain missions, but mostly it is random people you get to control. The game only really mentions Tom, Pope, Maggie, Anthony, and Ben. No Hal, Matt, Anne, Weaver... Again a bit of a disappointment. | video-games_xbox |
COLLECTORS EDITION IS BETTER THEN ORIGINAL HALO 2. Halo 2 is definetely my favorite game for the Xbox system currently. With amazing graphics, gameplay, sound, many weapons, vehicles and the best online play to ever hit the Xbox so far, halo 2 is is the most playable game ever created.
Halo 2 has a basic story, its just that Master Chief has returned and is once again trying to stop the covenant from taking over earth and all of the other planets. Master Chief is also trying to deny a weapon of massive power and one that would have a great effect on the world!
Even though this game has a simple story, the gameplay is unthinkable. I will break up my review into different categories listed below...
Graphics: One of the best parts of Halo 2 is definetely the graphics. The background detail is superb, the texture is smooth and clear. The water is also very well done compared to halo 1, but still not as good as some games have done. The cutscenes are worth bragging about, for example, when i was watching a halo 2 cutscene and my cousin came into the room he told me to "change the channel," as he obviousely thought i was watching television which i thought was kind of funny. The animations of your character reloading, moving and shooting are truely amazing as well, (you switch off from being the covenant and master chief throughout campaign) as it seems like a real movie like a previousely mentioned. Master Chief looks much cooler then he did in Halo 1, as he has a redesigned suit and many more guns with much better graphics. Although it seems like i am saying that the graphics are amazing, i do think that they could have done just a tiny bit of a better job on them just so that it could be one of the best games in terms of graphics to every hit the Xbox Console, that would be great! But all in all, the graphics are wonderful, and definetely not an aspect of the game to complain about, unless you are picky, wait, lemme refrase that, too picky!
Gameplay: There is one word, and only one word to describe the gameplay in this game. Fun! Thats it, this is arguably the best game on the xbox console, and there are many reasons to support that.
First of all, you are able to sprint at twice the speed that you could in Halo 1. For those of you who play Halo 2 you probobly do not see a difference really in the sprinting aspect. I didn't either when i first played the game, but after i played a lot of halo 2, and then played halo 1, you could definetely see the difference between the two in terms of the speed that you can sprint, which is much better then the first.
You are also able to highjack vehicles which gives the game a little "grand theft auto" them to it which is very fun to do. When your playing on Xbox Live, you get a medal each time you highjack a vehicle. (You get medals for each bonus thing you do such as highjacking, sniping, assasinating, etc.) Of course you could not do this in the previous halo 1 game so thats another difference between the two.
Another better thing in this game then there was before in the previous one is that the A.I is much smarter. For example, they can sometimes form a "short time alliance" with another enemy and they can swarm at you, or the grunts can hide behind corners and wait for you to come. The elites are also much better at dodging your shots which makes it much harder to hit them. Also, if you want your allies to drive a vehicle they can which you couldn't do in the first halo game. The only problem is that sometimes they don't show that they're smart by slamming into walls and you have to switch seats repetitively before they'll get there "nack" back.
But as a result of my gameplay review, it has changed a lot over the long and painful time that it took for the sequel to come out.
New Weapons: There are many new weapons in halo to and i will list them underneath. They include...(Keep in mind that the ratings are intirely my opinion)
BR55 Battle Rifle: 2x scope, burst shots, all in all its an ok weapon, not the best. Long range: 6/10, Medium range: 6/10, Close range: 6/10
Covenant Carbine: Basically the Covenant form of the Battle Rifle except that its not burst, its just a one shot fire. Pretty good though, as it can fire much faster then the battle rifle. Long range: 7/10, Medium range: 8/10, Close range: 8/10
Particle Beam Rifle: Covenant form of Sniper rifle, except that if you shoot two shots in a row it has to charge back up which takes a couple seconds, but i think its better then the sniper rifle seeing that if you have a good aim, you can finish your enemy off quickly! (Or ally, ha ha!) Long range: 10/10, Medium range: 8/10, Close range: 6/10. The reason why the ratings decrease is because the closer you are to your enemy, the harder it becomes to shoot considering that your aimer is unbearably small, so its hard to aim, even from a far distance, but it doesn't take that much skill to be able to snipe people from afar.
Brute Shot: In my opinion i hate this weapon. Only the brutes use it (in single player) and they can never kill me with it because it sucks. Its almost impossible to aim at anything moving from afar or even medium range. The only good thing is that the shots can bounce of walls, wooooopy! Long range: 1/10, Medium range: 3/10, Close range: 5/10
Covenant Energy Sword: Probobly the best weapon for close range is the sword. Even from medium range you can lock on to your target and unleash a super upercut attack which is a one hit kill unless your openent uses a cheap overshield, which i personally think they should take out of the game, seeing that whoever has the overshield cannot be stopped by one person unless the openent has a sword or a rocket launcher. Long range: 0/10, Medium range: 8/10, Close range: 10/10
Fuel Rod Gun: Ahhhh, i wish this gun was in multiplayer but i guess it would be way to cheap, considering the amount of ammo it has and that it is a one hit kill. But for single player it works mighty fine! Long range: 10/10, Medium range: 10/10, Close range: 10/10
Two other things i have to add is that you can dual weild certain weapons, but the only problem with this is that you cannot chuck grenades when you are dual weilding which kind of makes sense when you think about it. Also, the rocket launchers can lock on to vehicles which makes it much easier to destroy those cheap @$$ vehicle lovers!
Vehicles: I will now mention the new vehicles in Halo 2. They are...
M12G1 Warthog LAAV- Basically the same as the previous Warthog, except it uses a Gauss Cannon which is a one hit kill instead of the machine gun. (The previous Warthog is in Halo 2 as well.)9/10
Specter: Sort of like the Wraith, (Wraiths can be used in multiplayer now) except its faster and can hold three people, one for the plasma cannot turret at the back, one in the side seat, and one obviousely driving the vehicle. 9/10
Shadow: The vehicle that the covenant use, can hold up to 8 combatents depending on the species of convenant, an ok vehicle when your using it. It uses a plasma cannon like the rest of the other covenant vehicles. 7/10
Two more things i have to add about the vehicles are that the Banshee can now be used in multiplayer as well as the Wraith which makes multipayer much more fun.
Sound: A great game needs great audio right? Well halo 2 listened. From the classic halo chant, to the rather heavy halo 2 beat, comes wonderful sound and definetely good enough quality that you can just sit their drinking tea/coffee and listening to it. Well, i guess if your that obsessed with the audio, you can just by the soundrack right?
Online: Now comes the best part. The online multiplayer play. I have to say, i though crimson skies had the best online multiplayer play, but as soon as this hit came out i quickly regreted myself saying that. Basically, there are ranked games and unranked games, (unranked games are known as training games.) As you win ranked games you gain levels, you start out at level 1 and the last level is level 50, but i believe that the highest level right now is 27, so as you can see its extremely hard to work your way up once you get past level 20.
The different ranked games are as follows...
Rumble Pit: Up to 8 players all dualing it out against each other. Thit matchmake playlist can include normal slayer, all rockets, all swords, all shotguns, odball, or king of the hill. This is probobly my favorite kind of playlist to play.
Team Skirmish: Up to 8 players, 4 on 4, on a team obviousely. This playlist usually includes the different types of Capture the Flag, team odball, 3 plots or assault. Pretty fun playlist to play!
Team Slayer: 8 players, 4 on 4 against each other can include normal team slayer, team rockets, team swords, Fiesta Team slayer, team shotguns or team phantoms. Probobly runner up for my favorite playist to play halo 2 on.
Head to Head: Simple straight up slayer games 1 v 1 can inlcude normal slayer, all swords or all rifles. Very fun, and addicting especially when your winning.
Big team battle: Huge game, up to 16 players, 8 v 8 can include team slayer, different types of CTF, Assault, or land grab where you have to take over different areas of land. Very fun playlist as it sounds like, but can get very hard and boring considering that your dying a whole tun, especially when your playing on a smaller map.
Clan Battles: Basically, you can join a clan which in different words is like a club and you get your clan together and battle with them in different match types. Pretty fun, good for bragging rights. When your clan starts winning, it will level up.
In conclusion to my online review and whole halo 2 review, the online aspect is probobly the best part of this entire game. Its so much fun trash talking to your opponents and so addicting to play ranked games. You can also just play custom games where you can invite all your friends to play whatever type/map you want. You can also customize ever thinkable option which makes this game truely worth your time and money.
Halo 2 delivers excellent gameplayer/graphics/sound/online play which definetely makes the game a worthy $50. Halo 2 is definetely not one of those games that you are going to end up returning straight away after you get it, you'll be twice as addicted to it as you were to Halo 1! (Unless you don't have Xbox, and if you don't like halo, no offence, but theres something wrong with you.)
COLLECTORS EDITION:
With collectors edition, you get a ton of new features which includes a cooler looking game case, a "behind the scenes" footage of halo 2 and how this amazing game was made. It also includes Visualizing the story (Concept Art, Early Level Design From Script to Game, Narrated Storyboards and Character Tests. Also, the collectors edition includes bonus materials which has features such as trailers from halo 1 and 2, Cut scenes, commentaries, Inside Bungie, A bungie history, before halo, the making of halo 1 and Gameographies.
GET THE COLLECTORS EDITION, IT IS WORTH YOUR MONEY! | video-games_xbox |
Not what I was expecting at all. When I first saw a screenshot of this game, I absolutely despised it due to our beloved Spyro getting a major change in character design that looks like a mix between some sort of insect and a dragon, and due to the fact that Spyro is not the main character anymore. Being a true Spyro fan, however, I took the risk and bought the starter pack. After playing for an hour, my view of the game changed (almost) completely. I still find Spyro's character design to be horrendous, but I found the gameplay was not bad and the storyline good. One thing I found annoying is the absence of a jump. I don't get why they don't have a jump button for the PC/console versions. Besides the missing jump button, I was okay with the controls. Gameplay wise, you have two basic attacks: primary and secondary. As you play throughout the game, you can upgrade these attacks. Also, you eat to recover your health. Interesting. The graphics are good, childish in nature, but this game was made for children. Going through the first level, defeating bad guys was fun. And I like Spyro's charge in this game. And there is co-op. Just put another character on the portal and tada! The second character just pops up in the game! All without interrupting it! You can play co-op or head to head where you fight each other.
I like the idea that these little action figures can store data that is amassed in the game. You can hook it up to another PC/console and the data is still there, saved in the little Spyro. Not only that, but you can take your action figure and place it on another Portal of Power that is hooked up to a different console and still play it there! And if you switch characters, it doesn't interrupt the game either. You just switch characters in-game! This idea was incredibly ingenious.
I was thinking about just passing up on this game, and I'm glad I didn't. After so many games that could only be described as boring (in my OPINION), this is a fun game. The musical score sort of reminds me of the original Spyro trilogy soundtracks. Although, one thing I must state: certain places can not be accessed without a certain Skylander. This means you will need to buy at least 5 other characters, 1 for each elemental class you don't have. I would say buy the 3 Character Pack 3, Stealth Elf, and Sonic Boom. That will give you all 8 elements. That comes to about an extra $39.97. It's a lot to pay for a game, I know. If you're going to buy this game for Christmas, make sure you save enough to buy these extras, or if you don't feel like wasting your money, just go buy a different game. I had money saved, so I was fortunate enough.
I wouldn't recommend it to people who are too closed minded to try something new or people who are low on funds, but for those with the extra money and the open mind to try something new, I highly recommend.
I was really shocked with this game. Even though the developers screwed with the series, they did it in a fun way.
I realize that there is nothing about the plot up there. Well, basically you are saving the Skylands from Kaos. You are the Portal Master and must, using the Skylanders, defeat Kaos, an evil Portal Master. | video-games_xbox |
Below the bar. You'd better be a *BIG* star wars fan. [...]
By now, you've probably read endless descriptions of the game, so let me just skip to the detailed bits of my opinion. Star Wars: Battlefront a Star Wars version of EA's Battlefield 1942 and its inspired games. In that respect, this game is very sub-par.
The first thing I noticed about this game is that it barely went beyond the scope of the movies in terms of weapons or vehicles. Being loyal to a movie is all fine and good in theory, but it is a disaster in practice. Think of all of the great video games out there. How many of them have as few weapons as there are in a movie? NONE! That's because movies are about plots and flow of storyline with some shooting possible involved during a period of 1 to 2 hours. Video games(of this type) are supposed to provide endless hours of pleasure in flying, driving, and shooting! Sadly, not even all of the weapons and vehicles from the movies made it into the game! It's not like the makers of SW:BF even had to use their imaginations, there have been dozens of star wars video games that have introduced countess weapons and vehicles into the Star Wars universe like Jedi Outcast, KOTOR, and X-wing vs. TIE-fighter. If we had had these vehicles and a few other ones for practicality, things would have been much better. Instead, you'll spend the vast majority of the game shooting lazers and the occasional "special weapon". It's sad.... just plain sad... There are
- no capitol ships
- no artillery
- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -no space battles- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Perhaps it should be called ground wars instead of star wars.
- very few fighters/bombers.
- no effective heavy armor (vehicles)
- no decent anti-infrantry vehicles
- no teamwork classes such as scout/artillery group or spy/engineer
- no good suppresion weapons
- no decent troop transports
- no arial transports
- only mediocre close quarters weapons
- crappy sniper weapons
- NONE of the "new" and cool weapons that we've come to know and love from
all of the other star wars video games since the DOS days!!!
- no melee weapons of any kind. Miss a weapon from KOTOR or KOTOR 2?
Don't worry, you won't find it here!
In addition, the game just feels unpolished. SW:BF copied the whole
base capturing and score depleting mechanism used in Battlefield 1942 and sequels, but I guess they got too lazy or something because they didn't bother to copy the unique voice warning messages. It doesn't matter which side you're playing on, the voice message for "you're about the loose" is the same. This just isn't true for the Battlefield series of game? Am I being picky here? Well,.. on this one single point? maybe. To have point after point like this throughout the entire game? Well, it just feels like they barely scraped together something for fear that they wouldn't get to market a Star Wars vehicle/infrantry combat game out in time.
If SW:BF had come out several years before BF1942, I would be applauding it for creativity and how cool it is. Instead SW:BF came out several years AFTER BF1942 is one of it's clones that couldn't come close to keeping up. That's sad...
If you're a big star wars fan and you really MUST pilot an AT-AS or are
simply dying to fly a Endor speeder bike against an AT-AS. Go right ahead and
get this game. Just don't expect too much. If you're looking to
flying an X-wing or TIE-fighter in some series air-to-air or do some series
strafing, you might want to hold back. | video-games_xbox |
Decent shooter, nice cell shading. Overall it was a decent game with some really cool touches, but it lacked in many departments. For one, the multiplayer and XBOX live features are worthless. They really should have done a better job with the movements of players in multiplayer. Enemies run like chickens with their heads cut off. This game is basically a "lighter", cartoon version of splinter cell with typical weapons and a few gadgets. Its mainly a 1st person shooter with a few puzzles and hidden objects. The ending is terribly disappointing. They played the sequal card and the action just stopped. And you know by the sales of this game that there probably won't be a sequal made.
The graphics and comic book style was a refreshing change from the ultra realistic shooters out there, but that also made it harder to become immersed. The action was pretty good but it was pretty easy. Most levels I completed without much trouble, maybe die once or twice.
The weapons and gadgets were a little limited and not very innovative, but that was not a big deal. I think my biggest flaw about the game was the jerky, fast pased enemy movements. Its a video game and you definitely can tell when you see the way the enemies move. The enemy ai was alright although you could fool them pretty easy. I did like how if they spotted you, it would show a ? or ! over their head depending on how stupid you were.
The story is interesting and the black and white flash backs a cool. I loved the close up shots when you killed an enemy, really cool when you hit an enemy in the head with an arrow and they fall off a cliff screaming. You also have a sixth sense where you can see "tap, tap, tap" when someone is walking near you.
So that is basically it. The cell shading and comic book style are nice but the game is lacking in too many departments to be more then 3 stars. I recommend picking this game up used for $5 or renting. | video-games_xbox |
Close; not Quite. Dead rising finds you in the shoes of a reporter investigating a quarantined town in Colorado. You have little say in the opening part of the game: your character just kind of hops through cut-scenes into the first part. That lost a star immediately: I don't care for games that use convenience to move the story rather than player choice.
The point of the game, at first, is to survive a specific amount of time and collect evidence. When you collect sufficient evidence, your character will start to put the pieces together and learn what is going on in the town. Obviously, zombies are involved.
The game takes place in 3rd person and the controls are easy enough. When you're fighting hordes of zombies, it is a button-masher style of game. Switching weapons and checking your status is easy and straightforward. The game scores points with intuitive controls.
The story and its unfolding drama feel a bit weak and ad-hoc. It was hard to get involved. I felt led by the nose in this linear drama. The story seemed sterile, uninteresting, and just plain boring. The characters never impressed.
The graphics are great--sometimes too great. The gore is excessive in some plays, but I guess it's appropriate given that you're mutilating zombies with an array of insane weapons. The sounds are gut-wrenching and create a nice, horror-fest atmosphere.
The game is fun to an extent. I was expecting a stronger, more involving storyline, and was disappointed to find it very linear and uninteresting. Story points are revealed, but you have no idea what they mean until much later--I hate that concept of showing you something you can't possibly understand until the end. It's a game, not an indie film.
There's a ridiculous amount of carnage, which should appeal to gamers who enjoy visceral action. Anything can be used as a weapon: plants, skateboards, chainsaws, guns, lumber, golf clubs, etc. The mall that serves as the game's setting is alive and full of shops to explore.
All in all, this game is a decent buy for the price but don't expect too much. It's a slug-fest that will make you smile, but a story that will make you frown. | video-games_xbox |
The gameplay is killer on here with some great touches. Okay the first inside drive was a fun, but shallow game. The main thing that sets this game apart from the others is the amazing blend of arcade style and realism. The 2k series has this down best, but drive is a very close second. Basically every time I play this game I see something new, some new animation. This got me hooked and I picked up drive 03 for a steal.
Graphics: 4/5
Some people may disgareee with me, but the players all have this hunchback syndrome going on and some of these faces are just scary. However for the most part the graphics are detailed, have a very clean look to them and flow well. The areas are great, even though the crowds still leave something to be desired. The best part of the graphics is the animation, they have these movements down perfectly and you can tell the KG shot from a Williams shot. Also the Dunks on this game are just plain sick!!
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Okay this was the bread and butter of the first version and they did a complete overhaul on this game and the results are very nice. The gamespeed itself is nice on regular, you can adjust it though if need be. The passing system is deadly accurate on this game, be warned if you make a mistake you will pay for it though because the Ai is greatly improved defensively. However if you work the ball around and learn to use the special moves right you will be breakin ankles all over the floor. And oh yeah if you do not like the gameplay, there are a huge number of sliders and options to solve that. Overall this game is challenging and a blast to play, great job here. I know that Drive 04 will be great also.
Presentation/Options: 5.5 out of 5
The first drive was shallow, but not this one. Microsoft said they would add more and they were not kidding!! Wow is all I can say, it is not as much as Live, but is Damn close to the 2k series in terms of depth now. Here are some of the great things they added: A much deeper and better franchise mode, improved season mode, huge amount of sliders, some great new camera angles,great create a player, better menus for navigation and many others also. The music they play is very good, the whole menu system flows well, the options are easyt o find and adjust. This game is like a whole new version instead of an update, great job here Microsoft. This title proves they can make a great sports game.
Sound: 5/5
The sound on this game is great, from the commentators to the players. There is some serious trash talk going on here also, and the lines are great "One on one, take that fool" "You got no game!!" You hear the sounds of the sneakers, the bumps, pretty much everything. The best part of the sound though is the PA guy, they are complete smart [*] and say things that would be just embarrasing. It is a nice touch from the first game and was tweaked for this one, very cool.
Overall this is a game that slipped under many peoples radar because of Live and 2k3, both great games. However if you pick up the 2003 version you will not be dissapointed in the game at all. You have tons of extras, options, Xbox live play combined with great graphics and exceptional gameplay. There are a few minor potholes along the way, but the good far outweighs the bad here. You can buy this diamond in the rough for less than 10 bucks now, so if you see Inside Drive 2003 I would get it. You will not be dissapointed in what you get. | video-games_xbox |
The Game seems to be dumb down. <div id="video-block-RCWR5S8U3XBAS" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1Ntgn2FE2S.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91ylJnTx4lS.png" class="video-slate-img-url"> I have owned this game since March 2, 2010. If you own the previous game Supreme Commander Forged Alliance your probable going to be disappointed. The Ideal the new version of the games are always superior in map size, strategy, variety of units and structures is clearly wrong with Supreme Commander 2.
Pros. Ai works a little better then Supreme Commander Forged Alliance. Has some neat technologies like Flow field path finding (movement of units), Noah unit-cannon. The game runs fast and smooth, even for a very low end computer. The maps, units, structures look more real, even though it has a cartoonish look to it. It seems like I am always either scratching or losing a disk, with Steam all my software is in one spot. Makes moving my games to my next computer easy. There's a lot more patches with Supreme Commander 2, and with Steam it updates automatically.
Cons: The Game seems to be dumb down, the maps are very small.
** Maps. The largest multiplayer maps in Supreme Commander 2 is only a little bit larger than the smallest size multiplayer maps in Supreme Commander Forged Alliance. By comparing what you can build in both version, Supreme Commander 2 maps size are 5, 10 km maps( the useable space is less because they put a lot of scenery in it.) , compared to Forged Alliance maps size are 5,10,20,40,81 km maps. Total multiplayer maps in Supreme Commander 2 is 26 maps(no users made maps though) compared to Forged Alliance 56 maps, plus many more users made for it. Some of the maps do have certain unique look to them though. Some Supreme Commander 2 maps were taken from Forged alliance, but they are small, detail is ok to bad, and you are very limited what you can build on them! How the game was made, there probably won't be any new maps. The video I made shows some of differences, Fields of Isis map is being used for Forged Alliance and Supreme Commander 2.
**Economy. The game still has economy, but doesn't serve any real purpose anymore because the mass and energy you create goes into imaginary unlimited storage unit. Energy you use isn't the same like it was in forged alliance. For instance, shields you build taps its energy from a imaginary energy source. The energy you get from the power generators is like another form of mass, its only used to build things. In Forged Alliance has real touch of a economy, what things need power, where are the mass extractors. Where do I put the Mass Storage and Energy Storage units.
**Unit variety. The number of units and structures types have been reduced. In Supreme Commander 2 you no longer have Spy planes, Engineering Station, Air Staging Facility, Stealth Field Generators, Tactical missile defense, mass storage and energy storage units, Mass Fabrication Station that creates mass slowly. In Supreme Commander 2 you have only one type of Power Generators, mass convertors that create mass by pressing certain keys you can transfer some of your energy into mass at one time. New to Supreme Commander 2 is the Research Station, I think is a bad idea. In very short period of time you can have everything unlocked in the tech tree.
**Game Play. Mine hunting is gone. Even turning off the mass convertors at the begging of the game, it's like stretch out your main base, the maps are to small! Finding more mines and protecting them was part of the fun, gone now. You only have one type of shield now, it has a small shield area and it doesn't use any power now. In Forged Alliance if power generator got blown up your shields could go down. Maps are so small and so few, there is no longer any sneak attacks and only a choke point where you focus all your attacks. There is no real strategy any more, just build your main base and start building units. Even though I think the AI has been improved over Forged Alliance, the AI in Forged alliance is more difficult because the units, structures, maps are more complex and how you collect mass and energy. I heard that the creator of this game wanted to simplify the economy, but shields, large guns, nothing requires energy to operate, really? Forged Alliance Mod Manager has a option that determines how the resources are collected even one where resources mean nothing, amongst other things. You could have put a Mod Manager in Supreme Commander 2 , did you really think that would make things to confusing, really!
**Other thoughts. If you like a fast shooting game with very little strategy, then get this game. There are some new mods, about 4 new maps(no users made maps though) for this game. One of those mods they tried to make it behave more like Forged alliance. The changes are units and structures are smaller (so now you have the usable area as if it was a 20k Forged Alliance map) , it also brings back the drain-system of the economy that Forged alliance had. Still not the same you still have imaginary unlimited storage/energy unit and when the energy level goes down to zero, your shields doesn't go down. Since there is no mod manager in Supreme Commander 2, files are copied and overwritten so you will need to make backup of your files. This game seems to be made for the Xbox 360, by doing so they compromise the pc version. What made Supreme Commander Forged Alliance great, was the strategy , the large maps, and the modding community . They should have left the unit cap option into the game and let people make maps for it. I played Supreme Commander 2 for about 45 days, no new maps or mods came out then so I switched back to Forged Alliance. My major regret is that I bought this and falsely contributed to a statistic that might tell Square Enix execs that they did a good thing here.
**Suggestions. If you just play against other people and not the computer then get Forged alliance. If you just play the single player game then both games would be good. If you play with a friend against the computer on a multiplayer map, that would depend on the speed of your computer. If you have a dual core 2.6 GHz or slower processor, then go with Supreme Commander 2. If you have a dual core 2.8 Ghz or faster processor, then go with Forged alliance. If you get Forged Alliance use a search engine and download autotml1.1.1, Sorian 2.1.1 Ai MOD (this is a much improved AI), and cheating AI adjustment mod manager . Limit your AI land expansion to 3 and 3 sea expansion. More than one AI or a AI that has more than 750 units can really slow down your computer, it should have been optimized to use more than two CPU cores. It's seems like every two or three weeks there is a big sale on Supreme Commander 2, I have seen it as low as $5.00 dollars. Forged alliance price is about $8.00 dollars.
**Suggestions to the THQ/Square Enix. If you can't bring back big maps and a true drain-system economy to Supreme Commander 2, It would be nice if you would do something like a DLC pack for Forged Alliance. Even though the modding community did a good job making maps, mods, and made a great Ai for this game. They don't have the understanding in changing the source code and making use of a multi-core processor. Supreme Commander 2 should have been made for a PC and then make another version for the gaming console boxes with changes you think is necessary for it. When Supreme Commander 3 comes out, I am going to do a lot research first, I am not going to be fooled again! On the positive side, the people that made AI for Supreme Commander 2 did a very good job. | video-games_xbox |
Dead Island Xbox 360. I don't really understand why people give this game such bad reviews. I think this game deserves 5 stars easy. My friend borrowed this to me a for a while and I had a hard time giving it back. I do have one on the way from Amazon however. This game is almost all melee weapons. You do get guns a ways into the game but they AREN'T meant for zombies. The game does start off boring but once you give it a chance, you will be hooked on it. The graphics are just stunning and disturbing at the same time. When you kill a zombie by severing a limb or cutting off a head, blood squirts out and leaves a blood pool that forms over a few seconds. The main quest are actually pretty good despite what people say. The side quest however are a different story, you find yourself countless times fetching something stupid like a teddy bear, brand champagne, ect. The sound on this game is amazing even with a stereo, I think this game is best suited for surround sound however. The game is fairly easy in single player. I don't have any problems with it. You rarely get more then you can handle. The co-op is what really makes the game shine however. I would prefer playing with a friend though, that way he won't steal your quest rewards, weapon pickups, ect. You can in fact travel to places other then the resort island. There is a city area, which is the second and my opition it is the worse area. That is the only area you get over run with zombies. There are other areas but I am not going to spoil it. Also the weapons do degrade over time, so you have to repair them. The first weapons you get don't last 5 minutes though. When you get a little ways into the game however you can upgrade them to last longer. For example I have a Zed's Demise with a High Voltage mod and it last a good 30 minutes with a pretty good amount of zombie killing. You can also put mods on your weapons, such as a fire mod that sets them on fire with a critical hit. This is an open world so you can freely roam and kill zombies to your liking, and you can even run them over with a truck. Overall it is probably my favorite game. If you like zombie killing and an open world, this is your game. | video-games_xbox |
Microsoft is the Best Controller of Next Generation. First off I pre-ordered an Xbox One.
Compared the pictures of the Dualshock 4 and Xbox One controllers. Assumed the Xbox One controller was the clear winner.
So I went all in and cancelled my pre-order of a Playstation 4.
After demo machines popped up for the PS4 I tried the DS4 felt better than DS3. When I went to Gamestop today I went ahead and bought a Xbox One controller because you can always use an extra controller because Xbox One's 8 controller compatibility.
Microsoft dethroned themselves for best controller.
The Xbox One controller is different than Xbox 360's controller:
- RB and LB are not the same as the Xbox 360's RB and LB.
- RB and LB buttons are not all button (only the outer side works)
- Button Layout is small.
- Smaller right and left sticks
Good things about the controller:
- Better D-pad but not best(makes a nice clicky noise now)
- Shock feedback on RT and LT triggers. (which is a very nice touch and makes all other rumble products feel less responsive)
- Good Shape
- No battery pack bulging out
- Right and Left Sticks feel better with grippy sides
This controller is not a fit for me. When comfortably holding the controller my index fingers land in the middle to inner area of the RB and LB where it is not easy to press compared to the Xbox 360.
After trying both controllers. I am in need of a Playstation 4. With the better controller for my hands Dualshock 4.
Update:
After spending more time with the Xbox One controller it has grown on me. RB and LB are no longer a problem. I hit those with the middle of my index fingers which I used to hit with the tip of my index fingers. The vibration on the triggers is a nice touch.
The major difference I found comparing the controllers is the R2 and L2 of the DS4 pinch my fingers. This has happened to me with the DS3 and they still haven't fixed this. Although the DS4 comes with rechargeable batteries built in it has short battery useage. Though the DS4 has more features Xbox One's Controller seems to be overall a better designed controller which built upon an already great controller.
Ranking Controllers:
1. Xbox One controller tied with Xbox 360 controller
1.5. DualShock 4 (coming in close behind Microsoft's 2 controllers with many new to be discovered features)
3. DualShock 3 (because it isn't close to the DS4) | video-games_xbox |
VERY High Quality. I only payed $20 for this thing and I thought for the most part it was gonna be a rickety piece of plastic with screw holes in it. This was not the case at all.
The reason I bought this was to be able to mount it to either my TV or my wall when I need too (I move houses/change my room around a lot). This was one of the only products that did this within my price range.
Before I get any further, I'd like to make a note as far as the finish on the product goes. In the picture it looks like more of a flat black color. It is actually the chrome-black color that the new xbox 360s come in. It also matches my TV perfectly- Bonus.
Anyways, What I thought was going to be a piece of cardboard-plastic actually was a very high quality and well-engineered piece of plastic. It seems as though everything fits together so nicely and with very little gap and this thing was pretty well designed too.
I'll start with the packaging it came in from the mail and the box the product its self comes in:
The box came in one of those yellow envelopes that is lined inside with bubble wrap- ehh... When I opened it, The box had a bit of crinkle in it, but nothing that would harm the contents of it. The box even seemed thought out pretty well too. Everything inside was wrapped in bubble wrap and the mount comes with a 2 year warranty. all of the tools, plastic pieces, and screws are in separate plastic bags inside. It comes with 3 thick, square, plastic washers that have teeth on one side to lock the support in place on the mount. (It only uses 1 washer to screw in) The support arms (Comes with 2: One low profile one for small monitors and LED TVs and one for LCD/Plasma TVs) have brass nuts built into them where the screw will hold it on to the bracket. I currently have it mounted on my TV which is about EXACTLY 6 feet off the ground and it has been working wonderfully. The wall mount is also a very solid build quality though I have not yet used it. It even has a clip on the back the guides The wire for the Kinect sensor down to your console. The mount itself has good quality pads on it along with the supports. It is VERY adjustable and the support won't slide thanks to the interlocking washer with the teeth on the mount. It also has clips that hold the Kinect sensor in place.
Oh yea! it even comes with a mini screw driver. The only thing I would complain about is the length of the screws it comes with that hold on the support arm. They are very short. They work, but it would also be easy to over-tighten and strip the brass nuts or the screw itself. The mount is very sturdy.
I am REALLY impressed with the quality of this product. I would expect to pay $30-$40 for it.
The name of the company that makes it is "Kamikaze Gear". You know when you open up an instruction manual that is in different languages and English is usually the first page? Well the first language in this highly-detailed instruction manual is, I believe, German- Threw me off quite a bit. But the manual has 4 languages in it: German, English, French, and Spanish.
I highly recommend buying this! You can't go wrong! It shipped to my house in 2 days on standard shipping. and I live in a rural area. | video-games_xbox |
Why This is Great For Beginners. I am a beginner. No experience at all. I bought the bundle that had the guitar. The guitar that comes with it is a low end cheap guitar but in my opinion it's perfect for someone who knows nothing about guitar. This guitar is very simple. 1 humbucker, 1 tone knob, 1 volume knob. I've read alot of reviews of people bashing this guitar and I can see why someone with alot of experience would not like this guitar. I've read that this guitar won't stay in tune (bad tuners) and the pickups (humbuckers) are cheap. Maybe so, but for this game, I think it is perfect. The guitar is plugged up to the game anyway and is amp'd to the sound it needs for the song you are playing. so you're really not going to notice that it is not "perfectly" tuned. Unless you are great at guitar. (and if you are you won't buy the bundle)
But if you are planning to plug this guitar up to an amp and jam, you will probably find that it's not that great.
Ok, here's what most of us do...(what I did anyway).
We want to learn and play guitar. So we research, ask around, and go out and buy a real nice guitar (expensive) and sign up for lessons and after a few lessons and hours of boring exercises, we get aggravated and quit. sell the guitar for a loss and later we get the itch again and wish we hadn't. LOL.
Guitar is hard. Don't let anyone tell you different. Those boring finger exercise are CRITICAL for learning and this is where, in my opinion, this game rocks!
This game will not teach you music theory and alot of other very important tips and techniques. But it is great for finger muscle memory, fretting, shifting and other cool stuff. I believe this is a wonderful starting point that very well could get you ready for the next level. Get you over that "hump" if you will. Because it is alot of fun to play this game. When something is fun, you will more likely stick with it. And this definately is!
Been playing six hours and already seeing improvement. Very little mind you but any improvement is awesome! Motivation! That is the key. And this game definately will do that for you. Now don't get me wrong, it's still hard but this game starts off very slow and if you are doing well, it speeds up. If you start back sucking (and you will), it goes back down to easy. If you are having difficult with a certain section of a song, it has a riff repeater so you can pratice just that section. Has mini games that are designed to work on your finger exercises and develope muscle memory.
Lots of people complain about the track selection but these tracks were chosen for a reason, ease of play. It starts you off on a song that is designed for beginners and then builds from there. There was alot of thought put into these tracks and the progression of the play. If you are a beginner like me you won't mind the tracks so much. They're not that bad, I like em.
I don't know if I'd go as far as saying that this will teach you guitar, but It will teach you alot of techniques and get your fingers going where they should. I will say you will definately get alot of good from this and having loads of fun in the process.
If you are great at guitar, you *may* find this boring.
But for the rest of us, It gives us hope. I bought the bundle but the game works with any guitar.
This is what I don't like about the game so far...
Load times...Long load times. Hate waiting on it to load.
Tuneing every song.
The menu can be a bit confusing.
Wish the learning curve was more spaced out...seems like there is too big of a jump between super easy and to where it starts getting tougher. wish there were more inbetween if that makes sense. But then again that is what the riff repeater is for.
Overall, If you are brand new to guitar or have some experience, this is tons of fun and great exercises. Like I said, If you can master this game while haveing fun, In my opinion, you will be ready to go out and hire a great instructor and take off and not look back. No more quitting this time.
Oh and as far as the lag some people describe, for me it was opposite, set my tv on game mode. Had to use HDMI instead of av cables. There was lag with the av for me and none with the HDMI. I've notice others said the opposite. anyway
Great game/exercise tool.
Best advice I ever heard with guitar is..., "Stop dreaming and start playing".
Hope this helps.
Update:
Been playing for couple weeks now and still loveing this game. There is alot of room for improvement in the design of this game. like getting rid of the lives. and maybe putting string names on the colored coded blocks would help. Hopefully they will fix some of these issues in a upcoming patch. but even if they don't, still great and exciteing game. and one more thing if you buy the bundle as I did, do yourself a favor and go and get your guitar professionally setup. makes a world of a difference. | video-games_xbox |
New Mombasa by starlight. First off, that's pronounced Oh-Dee-Ess-Tee, fellow gamers. The game store clerks wish to punch you in the face when you attempt to say a game's acronym as an actual word. Trust me. Anyhow, "Halo 3: ODST" is a separate Haloverse story that strips itself of the series' iconic hero Master Chief. There are no super-powered Spartan cyborgs to pull humanity out of the fire in this one. Just you and your squad of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers standing between the hostile alien alliance known as The Covenant and the death of humanity. No pressure, though. The game was originally formulated as a mere add-on to <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Halo-3/dp/B000FRU0NU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Halo 3</a>, but eventually grew to full-fledged game status. This has offended a lot of sniveling whiners who ran out and pre-ordered their copies based solely on the typical Halo hype and then sobbed themselves to sleep because they have no concept of story and ran through the game with 3 friends on Easy difficulty and found it too short on action for the money they spent. Real gamers will find that while the price tag may be a bit high if you already paid for all of the downloadable maps and don't gather your friends together regularly to partake in the phenomenally fun "Firefight" mode. But if you plan on enjoying this game to the fullest, you will not be disappointed.
As a single-player game, "ODST" runs a bit short and may be less bang for the buck then one might hope for. However, the manner in which the story is told is absolutely phenomenal. You begin your ill-fated mission hurling towards the Earth (which has just been invaded by Covenant forces) on a special-ops mission. But something goes wrong and your pods are separated and crash in different locations all over the Covenant-occupied African city of New Mombasa. You wake up as a trooper known only as as "the Rookie" many hours after hitting the ground in the dead of night. From there you search the city for clues about the whereabouts of your comrades. Each time you find a clue (such as a fractured helmet or bent sniper rifle) the game flashes back to a different member of the squad and you play out the scenario as that character and witness the events leading up to the object finding it's resting place where it will be discovered hours later by The Rookie. In addition, there is another side story littered throughout the city in the form of 30 audio files that chronicle the adventures of a young girl caught in the middle of the invasion. It's quite enthralling and I found myself looking forward to finding more pieces of that puzzle even more then the main story. "ODST" is a masterpiece of storytelling in that rite and it's why a lot of people won't enjoy it. They prefer to skip past the story segments and run around with their friends teabagging each other along the way. To really experience the game as it's meant to be played, you need to go it alone and absorb the atmosphere,loneliness and ambient noise of the ruined cityscape. Half of this game is enjoying the tension of relying on cover of darkness, using your excellent night-vision visor to it's utmost, hearing the amazing soundtrack, and exploring the city looking for audio files or finding the best ways to get the drop on roving patrols of enemies or the entrenched Covenant forces.
Same old Halo gameplay here. That is to say it's as good as first-person shooters get. But since you are not a Spartan, there are differences. First off, no shield. Your armor can take a few hits before your screen will turn red, indicating that you are fatigued and are taking damage to your health bar. To recover, you must stay out of combat for a time. It's not a lot different from past games, but you can't take quite as much punishment. You also no longer have gravity-defying jumps or one-hit kill melee capabilities, and no more dual-wielding. Don't go jumping off any cliffs either. Wipes your stamina right out. You also get one new Covenant race -whose mystery turns out to be central to the story-, a brand new weapon in the form of a silenced SMG which quickly became a favorite of mine, and the extremely welcome return of zoom capabilities on the pistol. I was hoping for more of a focus on stealth aspects, but Bungie couldn't help but make most of the levels typical shoot-em-ups. This definitely diminishes Master Chief's importance as I felt I kicked as much or more tail as an ODST compared to when I played the penultimate Spartan. But I sure as hell did have a great time doing it. There's also plenty of vehicular mayhem to enjoy. They could have easily recycled the epic score from previous games, but instead they crafted a new one that is as good as any they've done. And that says a lot considering every Halo score is among the greatest in gaming.
Okay, enough about single-player. Games like <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Gears-of-War-2/dp/B000ZK9QD2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Gears of War 2</a> and <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Left-4-Dead/dp/B0025KZV7A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Left 4 Dead</a> gave us a new mode of gameplay where you are challenged to take on wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemy attacks and survive with a little help from your friends. Not to be outdone, Bungie has crafted their answer in Firefight mode, which can go on for hours at a time if you're good enough. If the campaign wasn't action-packed enough for you, get three buds together and get ready to be dropped in a very defensible position with a set number of lives (more can be gained) to endure endless waves of attack from every baddie in the game. Watch those snipers! The longer you survive, the more difficult the game makes it for you. It will start turning on "skulls" which make the game harder by decreasing ammo drops, empowering enemies, or otherwise making your life harder to keep. This mode is ODST's crown jewel, for sure. They've even added extra kinds of medals for you to earn based on your performance in battle. Firefight is unlimited fun and a FPS fan's co-op wet dream, plain and simple. If that still is not enough, the second disc of the set contains "the complete Halo 3 multi-player experience" which consists of every map ever made for the game and three brand new ones. 24 in all. That is a ton of maps and seeing as they run a few bucks apiece if you download them from Xbox Live that is a large value if you've been holding out. Even if you haven't bought Halo 3, you can join in the fun and madness of murdering complete strangers and then desecrating their corpse while they are forced to watch with all of the extra content using this bonus disc. If you are that guy, then this game is a steal. But I don't know that that guy exists.
Killer story: check. Awesome action: check. Multiplayer badness: check. New additions to the ever-growing Haloverse mythology: check. Incredible soundtrack: check. Yup; this is one fine game. Haters, keep on hating. Bungie gave the hardcore fans a treat with this. I'd have liked to see it priced about $20 cheaper, but I also want my very own Spartan armor and that ain't happening either. The fact is, I'm happy with this game in spite of it's brevity and the fact that I've already purchased most of the maps. If you've no interest in the story and mythology of Halo, I'd suggest you pass on this. The campaign is no challenge with 4 player co-op even on Legendary difficulty and there often are not enough enemies to go around so you will have to look for trouble to find it at times which will enrage many a fratboy. Firefight mode will still be a blast, but one can hardly be expected to shell out $60 for a single gameplay mode. And considering their is no matchmaking on that mode, you can only play it with people on your Friends List which is a pain. ODST isn't perfect, but it's obvious a whole lot of care went into it and it's a great experience all around. Plus, with a dream team cast featuring a <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Firefly/dp/B0000AQS0F/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Firefly</a> reunion of Nathan Fillion, Alyn Tudyk, and Adam Baldwin plus <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Battlestar-Galactica/dp/B0026RHR6K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Battlestar Galactica</a> sex goddess Tricia Helfer and voiceover mainstay Nolan North -who has provided the voice for Deadpool and various other animated comic book characters- who the hell can really complain? It's more Halo, and that's never something to whine about.
4 1/2 stars, rounded up for a new wrinkle in the series. | video-games_xbox |
50 FOR A 12yr OLD GAME?......ABSOLUTELY! . I'm not much of a gamer these days, but for this one game. I have approximately 50 games and this one has yet to be dethroned. There are games that you purchase and play once or twice and then trade it in. Not this one. Most guys I know, even friends of friends, have told me that they've played this five or six times and won't be trading it in anytime soon. The ones who have traded it in have ponied up the cash to purchase it again, because it is such a rush.
It starts out a bit slow, but that's for good reason. You better get familiar with the lay of the land and the shortcuts because once your name gets around, the heat is on and the cops can get extremely aggressive in taking you down. If you don't know the streets the cops may plow you into a tree or a stone wall when you choke from making a wrong turn into a dead end street or if you flip your car while being chased through the rockport prison facility.
***, SPOILER ALERT ***
What's it all about? You're new in town with a sweet ride. There is a group of street racers in town that, in their pursuit to be the best, cause measurable damage and cost to the city. This has caught the attention of the local police departments and they want it shutdown completely. They have a task force. The head of that task force is an unorthodox skilled driver and he's keeping tabs on you and anybody else street racing in rockport.
There's also a knucklehead who is threatened by your presence, because he figures he's on his way to being top dog. He starts barking, you both put up your pink slips and it's on. Problem is he drained your oil, your engine blows mid-race, you lose the race and your ride. Knucklehead points you toward the bus stop then uses your ride to dominate everybody in town.
You want your ride back and you want to put knucklehead on a slow boat to China. You have a little cash so you pick up a basic ride to get back in the game.
Turns out that the top street racers are ranked on the police departments blacklist. They are ranked on how much property damage they're causing in the city and how much damage they're causing the police department by running cops off the road, totaling the police cruisers and unmarked cars.
The more damage you cause and the more notorious you become, the more you move up the blacklist. In order to take on a blacklist member you have to have a specific dollar amount of property damage and the police have to have a specific bounty on your head. For instance, you have to cause $100k in property damage and have a $250k bounty on your head. Once you cause that much damage you have bragging rights and you can challenge the next blacklist member to knock him off the list and maybe even take his ride. Taking their ride is sweet because that's money you don't have to spend to upgrade your ride. If you don't spend your money wisely, you'll start to struggle, because the cops get progressively more aggressive and when you get taken down you get fined and it eats into your cash. Get caught too many times in your favorite ride and they'll impound it, so, don't get caught or you better have more than one ride and some cash in your pocket to pay the fines.
If you have driving skills, you'll be able to take down the blacklist members if you know your way around town and you know how to tune and handle your ride. The real challenge of the game is knowing when to taunt the cops to rachet up your stats, knowing when to lay low, knowing when and how to upgrade your ride and knowing how to outmaneuver the cops and take everything they throw at you which include road blocks, spike strips and SUV's that ram you head on to bring you to a grinding halt. When things get really intense they have to send out the eye in the sky helicopter so you can't hide or outrun them.
Earn money by entering challenges around the city. There are two ways to take on challenges. You can go through the menu, find a challenge and click "ok", but that's not the way to get the most out of the game. If you want the most out of the game, you should DRIVE ACROSS TOWN for each individual challenge, instead. Why? Because it's a blast to "try to make it across town" with twenty police cruisers on your tail. The chase can reach a fevered pitch and the cops want you in the worst way. If you have a herd of cruisers close on your six, then drive through that gas station just up ahead igniting the pumps so you can pick off several cruisers at once. They will however relentlessly double their efforts and send in the heavy-duty SUV's so take them through a construction site and bring the structure down on them. Plow through several roadblocks or make it past the spike strips by listening intently to your police scanner to stay one step ahead of them.
It's loads of fun and very challenging to keep a balance between being antagonistic & cocky and laying low while trying to conserve cash & keep the cops at bay.
When you get to the top of the blacklist, every cop in the county is after you, your safehouse is compromised, your on the run and you have nowhere to hide. Time to get out of dodge and head for Palmont City (NFS: Carbon). DRIVE!!!!!
Most of the videos uploaded on YouTube are at approximately 40% intensity even at heat level five because most people simply can't handle the intensity. The remainder of the videos are modified with aids and crutches which dilute the intensity of the unmodified original game. The greatness of the game becomes apparent when you remove all the aids and crutches before you venture out of the safehouse.
Once you finish the campaign there is still much to do as a single player. The challenge series can be very challenging and the "quick race" mode picks a random car in a random street race that you can play endlessly because you never know what you're going to get. Even with all of this, "Most Wanted" still has one last card to pull and that card is it's Ace of Spades. If you have a pair of brass ones, play it the entire way through with the map disabled and without using the speedbreaker. Disabling the map means you won't be able to see where the cops are, where the spike strip roadblocks are or where those Rhino SUV's are. This will test your reflexes and driving skills. It will also expose whether or not you've become a legend IN YOUR OWN MIND, because you need mad skills to be able to handle 20 angry cops on your tail, an ever present helicopter overhead and a spike strip roadblock just over the crest of that next hill as your tires screech in protest for more grip. Not using the speedbreaker will sharpen your reaction times and reward you with a true sense of accomplishment. Once you get used to playing without it speedbreaker feels like it's for the faint hearted. When you play the game from start to finish without the crutches (Speedbreaker & Map), your rosey cheeks will go pale as you start white-knucklin' your rosary beads. It is an edge of your seat adrenaline rush. I've beat the game five times without the crutches. It makes the game unbelievably intense and, as a result, the game never gets old. Many of you won't be able to handle the intensity, but for me it's the only way to play. My current record for a single pursuit (without the Cop Map and without Speedbreaker) is a bounty of $17 million with a Porsche Turbo. I'm trying to set a new record of $20 million with the Lamborghini Gallardo, but haven't exceeded $15 million with it thus far. When I do achieve $20 million with the Lambo, then I'll set out to achieve $25 million with the Mitsubishi EVO or Subaru WRX-sti.
Achieving these milestones with the game in its original form with zero modifications and zero crutches is probably the most challenging gaming experience you will ever have and $50 is an inexpensive investment for a game that will challenge you for years to come. The Need for Speed franchise offerings have been hit or miss after 2011, but the planets were in perfect alignment for NFS in 2005 and this game will forever be the best title that NFS released. If you've never owned an XBOX 360, I suggest you find one so you can play this game the way I suggested. If you've played this game years ago and enjoyed it, I'll bet you never played it running blind (no Cop Map) and without the Speedbreaker. That means you played it like an adolescent. Time to play it like an adult. That means that after an hour of being chased by angry cops and nearly reaching a bounty of $10 million, you'll be shouting at your TV and wimpering under your breath when you hit that spike strip you couldn't dodge in time (as you hear your tires burst and your $9.9 million bounty disintegrates). It also means that you'll be pounding your chest and bellowing at your wife "I AM THE MAN" when you pass $10 million and make it back to the safehouse bruised and battered but uncuffed by Rockports finest. She won't have a clue, but you'll know the truth and that's all that matters. "Five more minutes, honey, I'm almost done.....just five more minutes....." | video-games_xbox |
Yea...it's THAT good. LOVESIT!!! This is one of those adventure games that you just can't stop playing. The graphics are amazing, the sound is great, and the gameplay is incredible. It's amazing how fluid the prince moves in this game and how he controls. You can do amazing looking acrobatics, run across walls, and slow down ladders with ease and without complication. One thing I absolutely love about this game are the puzzles. They always make sense and although some are quite hard, they add a great depth to the game. They are all pretty similar in how they are completed, usually having to go from point A to point B. This is something I found great. I'm not too fond of games that have a great deal of backtracking involved; to me this ruins the excitement of the game. The combat system in the game is also a major plus. The prince can hold one of several swords, in which he can easily slash threw enemies with. Even though these are all great things, probably my favorite aspect of the game is the ability to go back in time. Let's say you accidently fall to your death in the middle of a pretty lengthy part of the game. What are you going to do?, restart and try all over again? No! You can easily just go back in time and try again from seconds before the death, that is if you have any Sand power left. All in all, this game is a great action/adventure title perfect for any gamer in the mood for a very fulfilling story and game.
Presentation
The story is great. The menus are some of the best I've seen and easy to track through.
Graphics
The graphics are amazing. The enviroments are stunning. This is just a great work of art.
Sound
The dialouge and voice acting is great. The music and sound effects fit the game well.
Gameplay
The gameplay is really what keeps me loving this game. The puzzles are very fun even though some can be quite a challenge.
Lasting Appeal
A pretty lengthy action adventure title that, once completed, can easily be repeated with just as much fun as the first time through! | video-games_xbox |
It is amazing to look at, but the gameplay is old and stale, with a few pointless new ideas. I'm sure many of the people who have played this disagree with me, because I've heard everyone else I know who played El Shaddai loved it, at least on Easy mode. It is a MUST to change it to Easy to get through, unless you are OK with dying many times especially during boss battles.
As I said, the game looks amazing, unique, and artistic. The story is based off some old Bible stuff or something I can't remember but if you are interested in that type of thing it will be interesting for you to see all the ways they interpret that story into a game. Has a lot to do with angels and God and Lucifer.
The actual gameplay seems pretty antiquated to me. Going through the levels you must jump to platforms and try not to fall. This is one of the oldest game ideas, called Platforming I think and El Shaddai doesn't even do it that well. You can't grab onto the edge of a platform so unless you are squarely on top of it you will fall and have to start from a checkpoint. I had to do this many, many times throughout the game. Just frustrating to me and a good way to make your game longer without doing any actual work.
Now, the meat of the game: FIGHTING. This, at first, is pretty impressive. Looks very cool. There are 3 weapon types and each of them has advantages over some enemies, so it is a good idea to switch to other weapons to fight different enemies better. This would be fine, but for some reason you can only hold one weapon at a time. So you have to steal a new weapon from one of your enemies to get it. This, at least for me, seems very tedious and boring. Why can't I just hold all 3 and switch to them as I need them.
I liked the arc the best.(The weapon he is holding on the cover of the game) So I rarely switched to another one because I just didn't like using them, even if enemies were weaker to them at times. If I could have just switched to them, it would have been fine, but since I have to steal them from an enemy, that means I have to steal my arc back from ANOTHER enemy, and that enemy may not always be around. The reason I like the arc better is that the other 2 weapons often sent me flying backwards or forwards with the animation of the attacks they use. This would often put me over the edge of a platform and dead.
OK, now the actual fighting with the arc is fun at first also. There are a few combos you can do and they are fun to look at. About the time I got to the 3rd chapter, they were stale to me. I wish you could learn more moves or something. And even on easy mode, the enemies start blocking and dodging almost every move you do pretty early on. This leads me to frustration and eventually relying on one or two moves that they have trouble dodging to get through the game. Which makes me even more bored since I only get to see these 2 moves over and over. This is ESPECIALLY true on the boss fights. THEY love to dodge and block everything you do, then hit you with something you can't block, and your dodge in El Shaddai is bad. You may be able to dodge something with it once out of 50 times. So I found myself jumping around like an idiot hoping not to be hit until I get close enough to hit the boss.
The first "monster" boss, a fallen angel who turns into a giant bat of sorts, is a prime example of how they love to constantly dodge everything you do until you've backed them into a corner, then they attack you so you barely even hit them. Frustrating is not FUN, I know they both start with F but come ON. This only gets worse as the game goes on. The difficulty as the game progresses is just how many moves the enemy can take and how many more they will block and dodge.
I managed to get through on Easy but when you do the ending seems rushed and anticlimactic. So you aren't even rewarded for all the work you did. The last part of the platforming leads you to 2 boss fights in a row then the anticlimactic ending where the one you thought you were going to fight the whole game IS NOT THERE. WOW.(THE princess is in another castle? but the game is OVER) You earn some new uniforms after you finish if you care to play through some more. Only one uniform actually does anything. You must get all of the Tear of Emanon things I think they are called in the game. Then this uniform makes you invincible. But other than the way you look there is no reason to replay it other than getting a better rank at the end of each mission or beating higher difficulty. And this game was SHORT. It took me 7 hours to beat. But like I described that was purely because of falling and dying and enemies who draw out a fight by dodging and blocking everything.
SO 1 point for Looks. 1 Point for Story. 0 for gameplay. 0 for replayability. Just rent it really. | video-games_xbox |
One of the best purchases I've ever made. I'll get to the point quickly; this game is excellent on all counts. And yes, you should buy it, especially if you're looking for the best Western experience in gaming. I won't go into detail about the gameplay mechanics (since there are plenty of others out there willing to praise Red Dead Redemption on that count), but I will try to show another side to the game, that of a thought provoking and heart breaking tale of inevitable change and forgiveness. It's an excellent example of how games can reach an artistic peak while still being down to earth and fun.
The setting is authentic, the action is entertaining, the characters are memorable (it doesn't hurt that they are also incredibly well animated), and the story is more engaging than most movies ever are. Taking place in the early 1900's, it is a game that contrasts the violent honesty of the Old West to the hypocrisy and unforgiving brutality of modern civilization.
The main protagonist John Marston is a complex character who keeps the details of his dark past close to his chest. As a consequence, the player is often left wondering what those details are. But this is for the best, because it spreads out the exposition of his character over a period of time, as opposed to just revealing all his cards early. What we know from the outset is that John Marston has been forced by Edgar Ross (a federal agent) into working for the government as it attempts to exert its so called "civilization" upon the Old West. Whether you play him good or bad (morally speaking), John never ceases to fascinate. He is a Valjean to Edgar Ross' Javert. The story of Red Dead Redemption is a surprisingly cerebral tale of law and grace. The word "Redemption" in the title is more central and intentional than you think. The game eventually takes narrative liberties that most games would never dare take, and while this different direction clashed with my sensibilities as a gamer, my concerns were short lived. The final sections of the game are among the most somberly beautiful experiences of any game I've ever played, and I won't soon forget them.
RDR is more than a game; it's a story that everyone ought to listen to at least once. Sobering, painful and bittersweet, it asks questions that the modern and postmodern thinkers both need to contemplate very carefully. Is progress as we've come to see it really progress? How was the West really won? Can past sins ever be forgotten by the law? What constitutes redemption as far as the government is concerned? Is modern society any less brutal than the Old West? Is civilization at any cost worth the price? The game asks these questions and more. It achieves a grace that films never can.
That all being said, RDR is excellent as a game as well. Like I said at the beginning, there are plenty of people willing to praise its gameplay mechanic choices, so I won't bother with that. But I will gladly emphasize that it is an excellent purchase (even the over the top/silly "Undead Nightmare" DLC is thought provoking in an "Inception" kind of way).
To summarize, buy this game. If you engage it on a less than superficial level, you will never be disappointed with this purchase. | video-games_xbox |
These Analog Coves are Great - For about a month. Can't recommend these things enough. The XB1 analogs are waaaay too small. My hands aren't even that big and I can't imagine what some big hand brute would be like trying to use them. These KF's expand your analog area and allow non-slipping off during intense sessions with the little bumpy things. They clip right on, stay on. For 12.99 these are amazing. I'd even recommend them with shipping if your not Amazon Prime. If you ever see them in a store for 10 or less, you'd be stupid not to buy the ALPHAs.
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2 Weeks after purchase 11/26 Update
I am downgrading the Alphas to a 4/5. They are still HIGHLY recommended and do the job. They don't fall off and help you play w/o slipping off. But the Rubber material is rubbing off like crazy! During each session I find myself blowing off the black rubber from the controller multiple times. For the price I guess I can't complain THAT much, but I still will. I'd expect them to stay as good as Day 1 for at least a month.
This is after 2 weeks - http://oi59.tinypic.com/muifcn.jpg
Below is a Day 1 Comparison
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2 Months after Purchase 1/30 Update
I am now downgrading these to a 3/5. Here is the big problem, the first week they were great. I like the extra analog pad, and at first glance (as I said) the price is great). But around month 1 I deciding it try the Grip-It Frogs Analog Covers for a kick. You get 2 black and 2 blue for about 5 bucks (and prime covered). Well wow if these things still aren't as same good quality as day 1, I ordered another 4, and I've taken off my Alphas.
It's not that the Alphas are BAD, it's just the quality of the rubber is pathetic. Why I would be willing to try them out again if Kontrol Freek upgraded their rubber quality, at this point I have to say if you want a grip on your sticks that LASTS., and to protect them Go w/ the Grip-It! s
They also fit on XB1, PS4, w/ ease, and even 360 with some work. They DO NOT fit on PS3. I don't know about other analogs I don't do old systems.
Link- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NSLGW2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Sorry Kontrol Freek, but THIS product doesn't last. I'm disappointed
For a KF product that DOES last - I recommend the Phantom http://www.amazon.com/KontrolFreek-FPS-Freek-Phantom/dp/B00FWWY1V0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422666154&sr=8-1&keywords=phantom+kontrol+freek+360
The Phantom puts up your sticks to make it easier to reach, but I only use it on the movement analog. Still, the I must've got that about 1/2 a year ago and it's still in perfect condition. Perhaps the alphas being slimmer is the reason it rubbs off. Maybe they use the same rubber for everything and just pack it up more depending on the style. | video-games_xbox |
Nothing like we've ever seen, yet it holds it's own. At first glance, the Xbox controller may look to most like it's to big, the buttons are all weird. Basicly, it's HUGE. And yet, as large as it is compared to PS2 and Gamecube, it may turn out to be the best. Here's why:
1. It's comfortable, solid, and just feels good in your hand. Those of you coming from a PlayStation to an Xbox, it's a bit of a change at first. Within a few hours of gameplay, though, it begins to grow on you. It's solid, spreads out your fingers. Sick and tired of having to quit after an hour's gameplay because of finger cramps? Not a problem on Xbox controller. It spreads out your fingers, making specific buttons easier to find (without pushing the wrong one). You could play for 6 hours straight, and though your eyes might be tired, your hands will feel great. The controller feels great in your hands, and with a slight adjust; you might actually prefer it to other controllers.
2. It's solid and reliable. Mine has been dropped dozens of times, been thrown to the floor, spilt on, and played for hundreds of hours. Still works like it's brand new. I don't know if Sony and Nintendo thing we're made of money, but I would rather by games yearly then replace controllers. Wouldn't you?
3. It grows on you. After getting my Xbox, and using the Xbox controllers, I felt almost uncomfertable holding the PS2 controller. I couldn't find the bottons, just couldn't get used to four triggers. As scary as it may seem now (take a deep breath), Xbox controller will win you over. You'll prefer it over others. You'll play for hours at a time without any discomfort. Quite frankly, you'll learn to love it.
Finally, it belongs to a great system. Counsidering getting an Xbox, yet afraid to buy one because of what friends have said. "It's huge", "Too big", "Piece of junk!". Don't listen. Their just ignorant. So remember when you play a demo with this wondeful controller at the store. It won't feel right at first. But play it for longer than 5 minutes, and you'll get used to it. A few days, prefer it. A few months, love it. A few years, charish it. Don't miss out, and get the better controller. And besides, their's always the Controller S for those who just don't like it. | video-games_xbox |
Decent game, but. I've read a lot of reviews for this game and it seems that there are a lot of mixed ones. Some love it. Some hate it. This review is just concerning the single player aspect of the game. I haven't played Far Cry 3 or any of the ones after that since I'm in the midst of trying to beat Far Cry 2 at the moment. The graphics for the game are very beautiful to look at. The controls for this game are actually better than on Far Cry Classic and Far Cry Instincts Predator (Having the iron sight zoom-in as LT instead of the right analog stick and having the gas and brake for the vehicles as RT and LT instead of pushing up or down on the left analog stick). Why anyone would map the iron sight zoom-in to the right analog stick is beyond me, but I digress. Sadly, the controls and the graphics are probably the only thing this game has going for it. The gameplay is okay, but the real problem is the AI, the lack of story and a certain "mechanic" that was implemented in the game to make it seem more "realistic".
So let's discuss the story. You start out by choosing from 8 different characters. Who you choose doesn't matter. They're all pretty much equal in stats. After that, an unknown character drives you to a building where the main villain "The Jackal", who's voice sounds similar to Kiefer Sutherland, taunts you, then escapes, and thus the story begins. Your main goal in the game is to find The Jackal and kill him since he is the arms dealer supplying all of the weapons to both factions at war with each other. And that's where the story pretty much ends. All you do is just go to the marker on your map to get your objective for the next mission and then drive to the other marker on your map where you're supposed to carry out your objective which usually consists of blowing up convoys, or killing certain AI's. That's all. No cut scenes or anything. Though, you can choose to talk to the mission giver after getting your objective by pressing Y, but it's pointless since they rarely say anything of importance. One thing though is to make sure you have plenty of time on your hands because driving from one mission to the next takes quite a while.
This is where the enemy AI comes in. The enemy AI is challenging but not too hard. It's fairly easy to kill them if you have an upgraded weapon or if you're using a turret on the back of a vehicle. The problem with the AI is that they respawn all of the time. There are several guard posts throughout the whole map (The map is pretty huge). You can choose to take out the AI in these guard posts and explore it for ammo and health packs which in return count as a guard post explored on your stats screen, however, it's not required to complete the game. If you do choose to take out the AI, leave for a couple seconds and then come back, they'll be standing there patrolling as if you've never even killed them. Another problem with the AI is that they seem to popup out of nowhere. You could be exploring or driving to you're next mission, and out of nowhere a couple of enemy AI's in a vehicle will appear driving towards you and just start shooting at you and trying to ram you, and all you want to do is just get to your next mission without having to waste ammo on the AI every couple of minutes while traveling from one place to another. The only way I was able to avoid this problem is by going off road or going to the bus stops. The bus stops in the game act as fast travel spots so that you can fast travel from one place to the next without having to bore yourself out by driving for a solid 10 minutes until you reach your destination. But the bus stops aren't all that great. You're not able to pick where you want to fast travel to. Instead, it provides 4 different maps for you to choose from, each of which take you either north, south, west, east or the center of the map. So, if you think that you'll be able to fast travel your way to every mission, think again.
Now the gameplay. The game plays like your typical FPS game. It takes all of the things from Far Cry Classic and Far Cry Instincts Predator and amps it up a tiny bit. The game also keeps track of everything you do such as how many activities you've completed (guard posts searched, diamonds found, etc), how many miles you've walked, etc. Though, it's not required to do every activity to beat the game. The only thing that is required to beat the game is to complete all of the main missions. There are a total 84 missions which includes 12 buddy missions, 40 side missions and about 32 main missions. So if you're a completionist, you'll be on this game for quite a while. The game plays off of a buddy system. Whoever you don't pick as your character in the beginning of the game will get thrown into the game as friendly NPC's. You can do missions for them and they can even help you out, but they can only help you if you're on your last legs. If your health meter gets depleted, you'll fall to the ground and the screen will fade to black for a second, and out of nowhere, your buddy is there to rescue you and help join in the fight until all of the bad guys are dead. After the enemy AI is done for, your buddy will wonder off and appear in the next safe house you go to. So don't expect to call up one of your buddies to go on a safari hunt with you any time you want, because it's not happening. Safe houses are like save points in the game. You go to them and you can choose to rest which effects the ever changing time pattern in the game (Day and night). But surprise surprise, you can't just walk into these safe houses and save your game. You have to unlock them by killing off the 2 or 3 enemy AI's that are patrolling it. Speaking of unlockables, you can also unlock different types of weapons by doing missions for the shop owners in the weapons shop. After unlocking them, you can choose to buy them or upgrade them by using diamonds. After buying them, you will now have an infinite supply of ammo for whatever weapons you've purchased which appear in the weapons cache building right next to the weapons store (Not kidding). Diamonds are used as money in this game. You can get them one of two ways. Either by beating main missions which the mission giver will pay you in diamonds, or you can find them in suitcases scattered throughout the entire map. Though for some odd reason, they like to place the suitcases in hard to reach places such as on the roofs of buildings and underneath bridges. But you don't have to tirelessly search in every nook and cranny for them because you are given a tool that flashes green when you're near a diamond. The closer you are to it, the faster it flashes. So my advice would be to get the tool to where it's flashing fast, then stand still and turn in a 360 circle until the tool is a solid green. Once it's solid green, the direction you're facing is the direction the suitcase is in. You'll know once you get close to it because it will give off a constant beeping sound until you've picked it up.
Lastly is the mechanics. There are a couple of mechanics in this game which are alright and excusable since it makes it a bit more realistic such as degradable weapons, damaged vehicles and needing to repair vehicles if they're too badly damaged. But one mechanic that is absolutely annoying is the malaria mechanic. During the beginning of the game, your character somehow gets malaria which affects him throughout the entire game. The only way to combat this is by taking pills. So you meet up with some guy at a church who gives you pills, and you only have so many until you run out and have to go back and get more. But this constantly goes on throughout the entire game. And it doesn't warn you when it's going to happen either. It does it randomly. You'll be driving down the road or in the middle of a gunfight and all of the sudden the screen will turn yellow. I realize that they were trying to make it realistic since the game takes place in Africa, and getting viruses is part of it, but this is a game. No one wants to have to keep dealing with stuff like that while their in the middle of a mission or exploration.
So, that's my long review of this game. It's a decent game, but it could've been so much better. If it wasn't for the lack of story, the respawning enemy AI, the AI constantly popping up out of nowhere and attacking you, the malaria mechanic and the amount of time that it takes you to drive from one destination to the next, it would've been a great game. But because of these problems, the game just becomes very tedious, repetitive and boring. I enjoyed Far Cry Classic and Far Cry Instincts Predator much more (except for the controls). They both had engrossing stories and great gameplay whereas this one falls short. This is one of those you either love it or you hate it type of games. If you want to save yourself the hassle of a rinse and repeat formula with strange AI and annoying mechanics, then skip this game. But if you can get past all of that, then give this game a try. You might like it. Who knows? | video-games_xbox |
The "Just Dance" series improves with every new release. I own almost every Just Dance game that's been released, and they're all fun, but this one brings some improvements that make this the best one I've tried yet!
For me, since I've only played this solo, the improvements make subtle differences, without changing the overall feel of the game. The graphics are a bit more realistic and more polished, the backgrounds add more details, the images that you're following look like slightly phased out real people, with smooth, fluid movements, and a polished, slightly frosted look to them overall. These minor adjustments make the game even better to me, while staying true to the game's original style, yet upping the ante just that little bit more. An example is the Marie Antoinette-esque costume that the character is wearing while dancing to Lady Gaga's "Applause". I'm sure it's quite true to the costumes La Gaga wears in her video, but it's that much more polished and realistic-looking as rendered here, and this is the case for each of the costumes I saw in the game.
Another clever little detail I enjoyed was seeing an actual background set, very reminiscent of "The Cosby Show"'s set, in the "Blame It On The Boogie". It just added that much more charm to an already great game, and overall series of games.
Whether you dance with these games solo simply for fun, for a workout, or for use at a party with three other participants, Just Dance 2014 offers plenty of options, and fun features. Points can be earned for a number of things, allowing you to unlock a variety of features, and I even got a few points added to my account when the game detected previous saves of my other Just Dance games on my system! Nice!
The song list, as always, has a little something for everyone from the tiny tot to the grandparents, and I can easily see this being a fun hit at holiday get-togethers! It just screams "work off some of that Thanksgiving turkey!" to me, all while being fun enough to forget that you're actually exercising!
I have a friend at work that has talked about taking a shortcut, and simply playing to video clips on a popular social video site where you can find videos of anything and everything, but for me, there's just so much more fun to be had in playing directly on console, knowing that YOU got that move right, and now, laughing to the video clips of yourself dancing (no matter how badly)! ;)
Just Dance was there before all the other dance games were, and there's a reason the series is still going strong! Just plain fun! | video-games_xbox |
An Inferior Rendition of an Otherwise Perfect Game. The original Soul Calibur debuted in the Arcade in 1998. And though it wasn't popular in the Arcade initially, it did have an enormous release on the Dreamcast. The original Soul Calibur is said to be one of the greatest games of all time. It's a shame then, that the XBOXLive Arcade game is more insistent on porting over the Arcade version as opposed to the Dreamcast variation of the game. The variation that was, by all standards, a far superior version. And more than that, the game was left in the standard 4:3 ratio.
That's not to say that any of this makes SoulCalibur in and of itself a bad game. The original game is still fantastic to this day. It is a marvelous game that any fan of the fighting genre ought to take a moment to play and get acquainted with because there are not many fighting games out there like it. It ranks highly among critics and fans for a reason (it is also one of the few video games to retain its five star rating on Amazon.com after all these years). This review isn't here to talk about the mechanics of SoulCalibur, however. Or how fantastic it is. It is here to talk about the conversion and how I feel XBOXLive Arcade owners aren't being allowed to have the full experience of the game in and of itself.
One of the reasons that SoulCalibur was so jaw dropping and defining upon its original release was because the home console release included so much more than the Arcade release. It included a lot more modes and things to do than what the Arcade could actually provide. There was more than Arcade. There was a survival mode and a mission mode to keep you going. There was also plenty of things given to you as a result of mission mode. You collected points to unlock Artwork. But Mission Mode is gone. This may not be a big deal, but this is sort of what really separated SoulCalibur from its Arcade Counterpart. The fact that there was an actual single player experience. And the missions were quite amusing and interesting. Players were actually working toward something by unlocking artwork. The Art Gallery is still here, at least and you get all the artwork, but it begs the question as to why they opted not to provide anything else. Granted it is XBOXLive Arcade, but we've seen some other games on XBLA that aren't specifically Arcade stylized in their approach. Games like Scott Pilgrim or Castle Crasher or the newly released Battleblock Theater all have distinctly console style things about them as well. SoulCalibur isn't a lazy port, it's just one that feels like it could've given players everything. The Dreamcast version isn't rare by any means, but the Dreamcast version is the only version where gamers can get the full experience of what the original SoulCalibur is. And it feels like the XBOXLive Arcade has taken that away.
We haven't even gotten into the things that would've been a nice touch that they nothing with. Yes, the graphics are HD but not going the extra mile to provide a 16:9 wide screen presentation is kind of lazy considering they had no problem doing this with other ports to the XBLA. Again, these are things that might not be so bothersome in the long run... but for much of this, it seems like it would be more worthwhile to find a used Dreamcast and a used copy of the game. You'd get more bang for your buck in terms of content and you'd hardly notice some of the more artistic changes. The original Soul Calibur is still a gorgeous game no matter how you slice it, and playing in Standard Definition is not going to change that.
What is more than likely going to disappoint many players, however, is that the port to the XBLA has no online support whatsoever. Other fighting games put on the Arcade were given online support to be able to play against anyone.
Soul Calibur is a great fighting game. One that should be played by everyone. It's just a shame that so much of the XBLA port is a very watered down version of the classic we've all come to love over the years, and that most of us still retain memories for. If you still have a Dreamcast, you're better off trying to find a copy for that system. If not, the XBOXLive Arcade is not the definitive way to experience this classic. | video-games_xbox |
Works well, good price, not perfect but does the job. My youngest daughter (6 years old) is fairly small (and short). She tries to play Just Dance 4 on the Kinect, but it does not recognize quite a few of her movements. After talking with people and consulting Xbox help forums and sites, most information said that the best placement for the Kinect sensor is above the tv, and I had mine placed below the tv. I looked for any solutions, and these inexpensive clips seemed like they might do the trick. Lo and behold, after getting this mount and hooking it up, Just Dance 4 recognizes most of her actions, and I've noticed increased performance myself when playing the sports and adventure games that I play!
As others have mentioned the Sensor does not clip onto this mount as easily as I would have liked--you have to put the sensor on the mount, then squeeze VERY FIRMLY one at a time on each side until you hear a very faint click. Once that is done, it will hold it very securely, but as I said you have to squeeze HARD. Also, the little "leg" that supports the mount on the rear of the tv has a horizontal adjustment (allows you to slide it to the rear for adjustment with the varying thicknesses of tv's), as well as pivot the leg. My tv is at a thickness (roughly an inch, give or take) that is not perfectly accommodated by the simple ratchet/click pivot adjustment, so the mount is either tilted slightly forward or back between 5 and 10 degrees. That is a minimal angle, but I would prefer flat.
The mount has thin rubber padding on the rear side of the front vertical lip, as well as on the bottom of the main "platform," and the full edge of the rear "leg" that is very sticky and aids well in making sure the mount stays in place and doesn't slide anywhere. Between the leverage of the angles and the rubber pads this is a pretty stable mount, and I trust it to hold my sensor, unless we experience a moderate or higher earthquake.
Pros:
-Better placement for optimal performance.
-Inexpensive
-Frees up space on cabinet, and lends a cleaner look.
-Probably several more pros can be named, but I think I've gotten most of the good ones listed.
Cons:
-Rachet/click on the pivoting leg is not fine enough for minute adjustments.
-FIRM pressure required to latch sensor to mount.
-Can leave fine scratches on tv if not careful.
All-in-all, very satisfied! | video-games_xbox |
XBOX 360 Elite is a good buy if you want HDMI. This review is to review the focuses differences that are not on a "standard" XBOX 360 and the Elite, and rate the system as a new purchase, not an upgrade or replacement to your current XBOX 360, but overall.
When the Elite was announced, the biggest thing that made this different than the other two versions: the HDMI output. When you play and use this, you will see it's not a new console. Almost everything about the Xbox 360 in white stands true for the Elite: It theoretically doesn't run cooler, or quieter, or faster, and you've already know that it is black.
Don't let the black paint job distract you; the only thing you need to ask is if it improves the video quality and after many reviews and hours using this machine, the XBox Elite's HDMI output is the pretty darn good, and the 120GB hard drive upgrade is nice for all that downloadable content that you have been picking up on th market place.
Should you buy it?
Gamers who have an Xbox 360? No!
Videophiles looking for an HD DVD player? No!
Videophiles looking to get into the Xbox Live video marketplace? Yes, but know that this thing is still loud.
Guys like me who are gamers and video geeks? Ya, this is for you. The fact that all that video and audio is being piped through a single HDMI cable is a bonus. I swear it's a touch cooler and quieter, and I could want it to be such, but reports say it is not.
When running the HD DVD player, using Tokyo Drift and the newly minted HQV Silicon Optics test disc--the rigorous test disc benchmarks showed the same flaws on both the HDMI and Component outputs. Jaggies That means the video processor between the older and newer Xbox is likely identical, or of identical quality. That's the processor, though. This isn't a high-end HD DVD player. As for the outputs and what I saw with my own eyes and confirmed with my camera. The HDMI's slightly better shadow detail showed itself. That detail might be lost on a lesser TV or the untrained eye. But remember that the component cables are limited to 1080i. So HDMI wins at full 1080p with no compromises, but with VGA cables you have a draw.
Playing games, Command and Conquer and Virtua Tennis yielded no differences between the 1080p signals of all three cables--except the strange washed out colors that the VGA cables sometimes show (GRAW and Gears of War, for starters). The HDMI again has that shadow detail boost that comes up over and over again. HDMI wins for a better picture, even though all cables do the 1080p dance with games.
Final Verdict:
It runs HDMI 1.2 (not 1.3 - the newest version), has the 90mm chip still, and only runs 5.1 Dolby still (no 7.1 yet), but with the larger hard drive, HDMI, and sleek styling, the 360 Elite is worth getting if you are just now entering the high definition video game market. | video-games_xbox |
Proves that good writing can save just about anything. <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dragon-Age-Origins/dp/B001IK1BJ0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dragon Age: Origins</a> was a real treat for me. I was absolutely absorbed by the lore Bioware created for it, and instantly fell in love with the characters with whom I eventually traveled Ferelden. On the whole, I almost liked it BETTER than even MASS EFFECT 2, because I felt like I was playing out MY story, not Shepard's story. That's a feeling I've not had since KotOR. But, similarly to KotOR, the production values of DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS felt last generation, which hindered the experience in many ways.
So, I was surprised to hear about this expansion so soon after the main game's release. I mean...when I first heard about this at the beginning of the year: barely two months after DA:O came out. I was concerned that this was just going to be a moneygrab by Bioware/EA, since...who has ever made an expansion that quickly? (Maybe EVERQUEST). Additionally, though Bioware have proven that they are the best at creating absorbing story/character-driven video games, they absolutely suck at DLC. (Pinnacle Station RAGE!)
Is this expansion worth buying? That's difficult for me to say. Hopefully my experience will help you make up your mind.
Chances are very good that this expansion will not snugly sync up with your ending from the main game. In my case, I had made it pretty clear to everyone that I was going to leave with Zevran to track down Morrigan. Then, I begin DA:O - AWAKENING to discover that I had apparently changed my mind and decided to become a commander of the Crown's army. A small scene to show how my character was drawn back into the fray would have solved this, but this is just one of many instances where your decisions from the last game have almost no effect on this storyline. (And to the poor souls who began the game wearing nothing but their underwear: my condolences.)
This was a major downer, and I am very disappointed that Bioware didn't put a little more time (god knows Bioware fans are used to the long development cycles by now) to make the transition much easier. Don't even get me started on the import system. It's not as fine-tuned as that of MASS EFFECT 2; it takes data from your last save point. I had started up an old save at some point on DA:O, so I began AWAKENING with my character at level 17. It was an hour before I had realized what had happened. EDIT: Just so there's no confusion, I was able to open up an "advanced" menu and select the right save file, but words cannot communicate the frustration involved with immediately replaying that bit again.
But that's not to say I hated this game; I enjoyed the story in AWAKENING and I REALLY enjoyed the new characters. At times, it felt like the best parts of DA:O. In addition to this, some new talents and specializations, a higher level cap and, finally, someplace to store equipment: I was a happy camper for a while. I also enjoyed having the opportunity to rule Amaranthine, and I wish that Bioware had expanded upon this a bit more. Carrying out prisoner sentencing in a fantasy setting has to be one of the coolest features ever.
On "normal" difficulty, getting all (but one) of the achievements, and completing almost every quest in the game, I enjoyed just over 13 hours of gameplay.
Was it worth $40? No, probably not. I think anyone who has reservations about this expansion should trust their instincts and wait for the price to drop. Bioware really should have taken the price down to justify the content, rather than place it at $40 and keep people like myself wondering why there isn't more. I don't exactly feel cheated, since I really did enjoy the expansion, but I paid just as much for the first 4 expansions of FALLOUT 3 and those actually felt like EXPANSIONS. DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS - AWAKENING feels like an episode: almost completely isolated from the last game in terms of both content and story.
There is much that can be loved in this "expansion" for fans of DRAGON AGE, but this should be a very clear example to Bioware of why some gamers insist on buying their video games used. | video-games_xbox |
A good system for the price. I am an engineer, so I like to put my electronic devices to the test. The Pioneer HTS-GS1 is a solid system for the price. If you own an Xbox 360 and you are on a budget, then this sound system is the right choice for you. I purchased this system and was able to install the whole system in less than an hour (I mounted everything to the walls using the included brackets). The sound quality is exactly what I expected it to be. I will admit that my ear is not as sensitive as some people's ears may be, but if you are that concerned with audio, then you will probably not be looking at a home theater in a box type of system. The sub does not go down all the way to the low end of human hearing, but it gets close enough. Some have claimed that it isn't powerful enough, but I will say that it is loud enough that if I wanted to anger the neighbors I could. There are several different settings and modes to play around with to get the sound just how you like it. There is also a microphone included to let the system automatically set up the different levels. This is a very nice feature. There was also ample speaker wire for the rear speakers. I was able to run the cords out of the way. There was approximately 30 feet of wire for the rear speakers (give or take a foot). I hooked the system up to my xbox 360. The sound was amazing. I played halo 3, and could hear people sneaking up from behind and could tell directionality of explosions. I then switched over to the media center functionality and watched an episode of the office which I had recorded. Everything works really smoothly as it should. The only reason that I am not giving this a 5 out of 5 is the remote. Don't get me wrong, it works. I programmed it to work with my TV without any problems at all, and it also operates the sound and the xbox flawlessly. It is just that the layout of the buttons on the remote itself are ridiculous. There is a cover on the bottom portion of the remote that covers several of the buttons used for adjusting the sound, and also the power button for the TV. If you want to use their remote for the TV, you have to slide back the cover on the remote. First the cover is flimsy and feels like it could break off if you aren't careful, and secondly the remote is almost 2 feet long with the cover slid back. That may not sound like a big deal, but when you have it in your hand it is extremely akward. I guess that you could break the cover off, but I hate to break something that I just bought. It doesn't seem right. There is at least a button to do every function that you want with you system. There are plenty of media center buttons, and buttons to control the TV. It is nice to have everything on one controller for a change, it just could have been laid out in a more organized/ergonomic fashion is all. Overall I would say that this system is a must for the xbox 360 owner who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a sound system, but still demands quality, or for the apartment/dorm dweller who doesn't have enough room for a really large/loud system (though this system is plenty loud in my opinion, I have no desire to damage my hearing). I hope that your experience with this system is as good as mine has been. | video-games_xbox |
No Fandom Required. I keep hearing that this game appeals to fans only, and I must disagree. I am not a fan of the whatsoever. I have seen a few clips and reviews to understand how it plays out, but Ive never had the taste for it to actually watch. However, I am a huge turn-based role playing fan. And I have to say, I adored this game and couldn't put it down. It added some unique gameplay elements that were just epic.
First off, each party member can select two moves- never saw that before. If you use an item or secondary ability first, you can use a regular attack or spell afterwards. Therefore, you can keep using mana potions to refill then cast a huge spell on every turn- until your stock is gone, anyway. The partner system is a lot like Paper Mario, how you can only use one at a time but can switch during combat along with the timed hits and defending. This makes combat very interactive and rich.
The customization is enormous, the spells unique and many, and the diversity of classes is really epic. One thing unique to this game is the open world feel. I rarely ever see that in a turn-based game, as they generally have you moving from plot point to plot point, whereas here, you can go pretty much wherever early on. Being a modern RPG, its very similar to games like the Mother trilogy (Earthbound).
The humor is often very against my taste and has at times turned my stomach, so if you're sensitive, you might have to look away a few times. The European release had several scenes censored if that tells you anything. I thought Deadpool was the crudest game I ever played, but this takes the cake by far. I found the music lacking, but the medieval tune you can get in battles did fit really well, and the sound effects were great.
The creativity in this game was astounding, from fighting Al Gore to Nazi zombie kamikaze cows (no joke). While the story starts out as a simple neighborhood, romp, role playing/acting adventure, things actually get really dire later on. Its a shame, though, that you cant change the gear on anyone but the main character, and there are far too many items that serve no purpose other than to sell for money.
One thing about the game just doesnt make sense, however, even in its own reality. The kids are pretending to be these magical characters, and the game never lets you forget that even in their world, its not real (like a character putting ketchup in his mouth on screen so he can seem to cough up blood). So the other role players you face just pretend to die and so forth. That being said, when you finally start battling non players, like hobos and rats, your powers still work as before, so I became confused as to whether their powers are really real or if everyone, including animals and zombies, are in on the game.
The controls were great except for one thing: selecting your moves. In every other RPG Ive played, you simply move from option to option to select your skill. In this game, however, the icon does not lock into place. For the first several minutes, I would get very frustrated simply trying to select the spell I wanted because the pointer kept sliding past it. I discovered by accident that its easy if you hold the joystick down in the direction of the move, but really, having the selector be 100% free moving was not convenient.
Overall, I adored this game. I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down for several hours; its that epic. Story was good, voice acting crisp, battles super fun, customization a blast, and the freedom to roam was a real treat for a turn-based game. Even if you're just a fan of RPGs you can and probably will love this, and this is coming from someone who doesnt enjoy South Park the show at all. Buy this game for an amazing blast (and I don't mean the grand wizards). | video-games_xbox |
Not a Bad Use of Money. Scroll to the bottom for the quick version of this review if you don't care about all my details. :)
Despite everyone always ragging on Windows and Microsoft in general, I happen to like them. Too few people realize that there is a distinction between Microsoft software (Windows) and Microsoft hardware (Xbox). While I will freely admit Windows has its share of problems, the only thing I have to complain about with the 360 is that it didn't work when I got it.
I graduated HS is May of 2008 and bought this little (actually its pretty big) gem as kind of a graduation present for myself. It was one of the more expensive thing's I'd bought up to that time (you'd be amazed how college will bump 300 or 400 dollars down to the bottom of your "Most Expensive Things I've Purchased" list, lol). Anyway, I have never been much of a gamer, but Halo 3 had come out around that time and I had the money so I figured why not? I bought the Xbox and received it a week later much to my chagrin.
What was the first thing that happened when I set it up? RED RINGS OF DEATH!!! I was not a happy camper. But, being the level headed individual I try to be, I called up the company I'd bought it from, TECHMIA, here on Amazon, I told them about my problem. While they weren't especially helpful or friendly, they told me to ship it back and they'd fix it for me free of charge. That was my other big complaint- that *I* had to foot the shipping bill to get it fixed when it should have arrived working in the first place. But that was TECHMIA's idiocy, not Microsoft's. The finaly bill for shipping it back via UPS was close to $15.00 if I remember correctly- not a lot but still relatively annoying when you just spent $400 of something that should have worked in the first place.
Anyway, I got it back in a week and a half or something and (knock on wood) it's worked superbly up to this day. I still think it was a good purchase despite the fact I don't game very much. My brother definitely puts it through its paces though in terms of gaming. Now that I've had it for 2 years, I'm thinking it might be time to get the new version since it has quite a few of the features this version left out like integrated WiFi, and a quieter disk drive. I will still likely keep my current 360 for the sole fact its been a trooper and is still kind of valuable to me.
Definitely one of my biggest gripes about this version of the 360 is that the disk drive is LOUD. Like, loud to the point of being distracting. It also generates a lot of heat but if you keep it in a well ventilated area (for me it sits upright against the TV out in the open) it's not a problem.
If you are new and looking to buy an Xbox, I would actually recommend starting with either this model (the Elite) or one of the older white ones. They will be MUCH cheaper now that the new version is out and they will still play all of the same games and do the same things as the new one with the exception of the Kinect which requires an adapter to function with the old version. Other than that, they work the same. If you are buying a 360 FOR the Kinect, get the new version. You'll save money by not needing to buy adapters and peripherals.
So, in short, Xbox 360 is good, avoid dealing with TECHMIA if you can, buy this version if you are a light gamer or don't care about Kinect, buy the new version if you want WiFi and Kinect.
Five stars. | video-games_xbox |
Epic no Doubt: Great Movie, Advanced Gameplay. I usually don't write reviews much anymore but I felt like this was worth it. I'd like to warn that this review WILL contain spoilers for the purpose of writing the review. I will try my very best to be as vague as I can with them.
I wanted to write this review before reading other people's comments on the games. Doing that tends to trigger my analytical part of the brain and then instead of thinking about the experience I enjoyed I start thinking about all that's good and bad past the adrenalin and emotional aspect of the game. That's a skill Bioware has, if they bring out enough emotion when it's all over you can get a conflicted feeling, and come out feeling Empty without knowing why.
On a "Gamers" level I feel this game is more like an Interactive movie with advanced gaming features than an Interactive Game with some movie features under Traditional game play (I played Traditional Gameplay under CASUAL as I am in it for the RPG experience rather than the Action of it). It seemed very focused on being cinematic, and while that can be good I felt like the MAJOR sacrifice to making it very cinematic and movie-like throughout was the sacrifice for player choice and communication. On a "movie" level this game was Awesome, on a "fun game" level, it was a step up for Bioware, but it has a lot of things to work out. If I were to rate this game a few months later I would probably rate the fun a 3 out of 5, and the game 4 out of 5 but as it is I just started playing and it's all still fresh and raw, what would be a 4 later after it all sinks in is a 5 now. Purely effected by my state of mind of having just experienced what just felt Epic.
When I started playing this game I did so making a list of Pros and Cons, as there were some gameplay features that frustrated me and others that didn't and other features that didn't make sense until much later in the game. But once you got to that ending that list I made didn't seem to matter anymore as my emotions by then had overrode my "Thinking" part of the brain.
In the game they do a lot of foreshadowing so you get the feeling early on that you're not going to make it through. You get a sense of dread/doom for your character, based on her/his dialogue choices and based on the people who are around you. You don't get that Triumphant feeling or "choice" feeling like you did in Mass Effect 2, and when you do get that option it's listed as renegade and treated as being in denial. You really will FEEL for your teammates. You don't have many personal choices on what to say even if you are playing Traditional, a lot of the choices are chosen for you inbetween dialogue options under Traditional and they often say the same thing anyway just in a different tone. What you're choosing is more like choosing the "tone" of what you're saying, and the tone of "How" you say it can effect whether you have to kill that character or whether that character sees it from your point of view. That's compassionate speech vs. aggressive. I enjoyed that Renegade/Paragon didn't appear to get in the way of my dialogue choices. I felt like while character development with teammates was much more developed when they did occur, they did not occur nearly as much as they had in other games, and I think in this case Bioware sacrificed intense conversations when they did happen and conversational choice for something it considered much bigger: Cinematics.
Loading screens were the first thing I noticed in the game way too long, and quests while they all had a great purpose were lumped together, so it got confusing trying to sort them out from Priority, Secondary, and Probing Quests (Other), the main thing was that EVERY quest you did in this game helped you, and at first I wasn't sure why the other Quests didn't tell me where their exact planets were in which system and then I understood that was part of the game, "find and seek". I felt like their "Find and Seek" system was a step up from their collect probes and drill for minerals for hours, but it did get a little tedious and old really FAST single player. I got to 3,000ish for galatic readiness (EMS) because I was bored of running to planet to planet mining and had done a lot of Quests. Yes there is the ability to go beyond 5,000 Galatic Readiness without multiplayer, and while it's easy, it's monotonous and not very exciting.
The ending I felt two things. Initially I felt awe over the story and the message behind it, what the writers had done, but I also felt ripped off and angry on a development level. This game was treated like an INTERACTIVE Movie, not like the traditional RPG I am used to with Bioware. There were lots of cinematics, not many skippable scenes if you played Traditional, and at the end of the game you have 3 choices ALL of them are the same with the effect that the colours changed and depending on your galatic readiness and a few other choices---it ends pretty abruptly, with the story showing you a brief image of what happened *right* after, but not telling you what happened to your characters. I wanted to know more about what happened to individual characters after, how they tried to rebuild, I wanted closure. At the way the game ended, even if you did live you'll never be reunited with your crew if they do survive. They were in different parts of the game and to my understanding, wherever you crashed that became your permanent home.
Bioware definitely made sure that A.) Shepard's story was over and B.) That THIS story was over, without giving us any satisfaction of an After story. I know I wrote my own "What happened" next just to satisfy wanting more details for the CHOICES I made.
So here are a list of summary Pros and Cons:
PROS:
1.) Great AI intelligence and combat.
2.) Casual gameplay is ACTUALLY casual, and not extremely difficult. This is a step up because in the past Casual felt like what was in the past considered "Normal-Traditional" with a tiny "ease" of play. So for those who hate combat, there is a LOT of it in this game, but under casual it's something that can be endured.
3.) Every Quest in this game had a purpose, there were no random and senseless quests that had no effect on the Quest at large, and doing every little thing helped.
4.) Priorities. You definitely got a sense of what your priorities were and what needed to be done, what your mission was.
5.) On the one hand you lose a bit of "player choice" in feeling like you are your character, but on the other hand the games dialogue options that were chosen were really good--goes back to it being more like a Movie than like a Game. Great movie.
6.) The political quests were very frustrating, immersive AND great on a roleplay and gameplay level, I for sure enjoyed them. That is you really felt like part of Shepard's own frustration in dealing with politics.
7.) Because character's didn't talk much they mostly initiated you, told you when they wanted to talk and when they needed you. On the downside these were typically some of the only rare few times you could talk, other conversations took place automatically. This for me was part con part pro. Pro for characters telling you when they wanted to talk, CON for the obvious losing more conversational options.
CONS:
1.) Going on a goose chase to "probe" could feel a bit tedious after a certain point, Single-Player. To the point where you get a dread and exhaustion that I feel should not be there when you're playing the game.
2.) Player choice was sacrificed for Cinematics (Movie-styled play) and that was playing under TRADITONAL RP, not under Story or Action mode. I had little choice over what my character said beyond tone direction, and wasn't even given a choice to rebel against my captains: My choices did not feel mostly mine, and Shepard often felt more possessed and less me than usual, more set in stone....my feelings and emotions were predetermined by Bioware in a more concrete fashion (Similar to a Movie).
3.) Loading screens, having to wait for doors to open, etc. were WAY longer than Mass Effect 2 on the Xbox 360 version and when counted could equal to a minute or more, which for me discouraged much traveling and even reloading to experience conversational points again.
4.) I didn't really get the feeling of...let me REPLAY this game right away after the game was over. I got the feeling of...I don't even want to play it again right now, the ending as great as it is...feels like it kills something inside of you. The battles to get there combined with loading screens are SO intense that when you finish going through another replay might be something that has to wait for some people, whereas for others like a rollercoaster they might go: Let's do it again!
5.) No skip options for movie scenes.
6.) Kinect was usually hit or miss for me, sometimes slower than manually doing it. But sometimes very fast and good like in dialogue options. Though I didn't tend to use it. I felt Kinect was cool at first, but it grew old, and at the end of the day I disabled the Kinect option as I don't usually have a desire to "Talk" when playing. Personal preference. There was no DISABLE option in the game, you either had to plug or be silent and definitely not read your choices out loud to yourself!
7.) Conversations feel heavy, many times a lot of the characters talked on and on and on and I just wanted to skip it but couldn't. I don't know what it is about this that made it too much. I still wanted to get the gist of the conversation--I didn't want to jump to the action and I didn't want to miss out (like Story vs Action), but in Traditional it really did play a lot like a MOVIE and less like a GAME even with full access to the options made available.
8.) The buttons for covering/ducking etc. were a little hard to control, when I was trying to duck or jump or roll, I would sometimes end up "covering". While I like that Shepard was VERY agile and could do more, it was hard for me to control.
9.) Quests were arranged in a messy fashion were confusing. When I wanted to open to go to Quests it immediately brought me to codex rather than Quests. Not fun at all.
10.) Not enough options to SAVE so I can replay critical portions during mission quests. I would have liked the ability to replay individual pieces of the mission and scenes, and would have been willing to save before specific battles, but I wasn't really given that choice in this game like in others and that was a bummer. (though loading screens really discouraged me from wanting even replaying it again). Would have been fun to see unlocked "movies" that your player unlocked at the end, since those scenes were really good.
11.) Disc swapping! This is not so much Bioware I think as it is discs current carrying capacity to hold large amounts of data, but it was frustrating in ME2 which had 3 swaps, it was even more frustrating in this game which had MORE than 4 disc swaps I believe (or at least it felt like it).
12.) Not enough exploration like the others. The only time I got to go on a planet like Thessia was to save it from reapers, I couldn't visit it before. Though the story to it was great when I did go (intense), I couldn't explore like before. This is part of the RP gameplay, theme of the movie/game. No time to explore when Earth is being invaded--but still. Bioware made a big deal about getting to visit and I never even got to really see it, or to revisit other places etc. I think "exploration" was taken down in exchange for "theme" which can be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask.
OVERALL, this game had a few features that were a step up in Gameplay but if I haven't said it before, it catered more to being an Interactive MOVIE than a GAME, and while it is advanced in some features in the area of others I think it's sacrifice was a step back in others. As an Interactive MOVIE this game was Epic, it was AWESOME, and it left me with feelings I cannot begin to describe, as a Game it was a bit frustrating and a stepback from what I'm used to. On the good side...Bioware knows how to move forward, and this game was well worth the $80 pre-order (you get a free From the Ashes DLC which is definitely worth it). No regrets here ! | video-games_xbox |
Turning Point. Turning Point: Fall of Liberty reminded me on many levels of the venerable Xbox title Freedom Fighters. At least, it reminded me of it while I was reading the box at Gamestop.
Freedom Fighters was an excellent game. I still play it now and then when I hook up my Xbox. Turning Point, unfortunately, is not an excellent game.
It does get points for being generally fun to play. Not amazing to play, but fun. Shooting Nazis never does get old. This is a rental game, I'd say. If you rent it for a couple of days, you'll have just enough fun to justify the five or so bucks you spent. If you pay full price, on the other hand, prepare yourself for severe Buyer's Remorse pangs.
My first warning that I was getting a half-baked product was in the opening video. It was stiff, disjointed, lacked any music, and seemed to cut itself off in mid-stride. Worse, it failed to do anything more than serve as a 30-second exposition. "Nazis are invading. Oh, the humanity! New York is under attack!" That's about it.
There is no real story. Well, there is, but you never feel invested in it. The lackluster, half-hearted videos between levels that are supposed to drive the story onward serve as little more than fluffy filler, lacking pretty much any sense of timing and drama. Apparently, you're a regular Joe named Carson, who is a high-rise riveter in New York.
Wait, just a second. I have to interject something. What is it about games, movies, and books all being set in New York? And why do we have to see the same landmarks every time? Are there no other cities on the East Coast where we could set a game? C'mon, throw in Boston or Baltimore or something. Anything. I'm sick to death of New York city being the setting of 90% of games set in contemporary times.
Ok, now we can get back on track. The setup goes like this: as this is an alternate timeline, Winston Churchill did not survive to lead England during WWII. Britain falls, and the Axis is victorious in Europe. Now, a few years later (they never say, but it couldn't be later than 1946 or 47. That's actually a pretty decent setting--lots of potential. Lots and lots of wasted potential, actually. So you're Carson, a regular civilian, and you're fighting for your life against the Nazi invaders, who are falling like snowflakes out of the sky all over New York.
The first level scored points with me because of its frenetic pace and heart-pumping explosions. Then I got my first weapon--the MP50 (an upgraded MP40) and went to work. Once I hit combat the negatives in this game really started to stick out.
To keep things simple, here's a nice bullet list of the things that frustrated me about the title:
--Apparently, helmets want nothing to do with corpses. Shoot an enemy in the leg, and his helmet will take off and fly across the room. This happens to every enemy with a helmet. (Admittedly, it's handy to know when they're really dead, and not just crouching, but it's a head-scratcher.) Why do the helmets spontaneously animate?
--The enemies will be in the same place every time you play through, so mastery of this game is little more than trial and error, learning where the big threats are. I had thought we'd moved past this kind of predictability.
--For a while I thought some Nazis hated each other, because they would shoot at one another. Then I realized that they weren't. They were all shooting at me, but for some reason some Nazis stand facing away from me while attacking. Others fire their rifles off into the sky for no apparent reason. These bullets DO hit you, somehow, no matter where the enemy seems to be aiming. They must be magical.
--Sometimes enemies will be standing right next to a grenade you've thrown and not die when it explodes.
--Nazis "appear." For instance, you can clear a room, move on to the next one, clear it, and--BOOM, you're dead. How? Well, a Nazi materialized in the room you'd just left and shot you in the back with a combat shotgun. Where did he come from? No one knows. Maybe through a vent in the ceiling or something.
--Bodies vanish. This is something else I thought we had moved past.
--Despite "being a member of the Resistance," as the game tells you, it would be far more accurate to say that YOU ARE THE RESISTANCE. Your allies do show up from time to time, but they are always waxed in short order and you're back to a solo show. They don't do much in the way of help, anyway. It's pretty much all on you.
--Carson, the main character, wears his construction clothes throughout the entire campaign. What, he couldn't find anything more appropriate for combat than jeans and a bright orange shirt that practically screams "HERE I AM SHOOT ME NOW."
--Oh, and Carson's weapons are so high-tech that they become invisible when you climb a ladder or inch across a ledge. (I'm not sure what the practical use of an invisible rifle is, but...meh.) You might be carrying a Panzerschlag and a Fallschirmjaeger carbine, but they just aren't there. Would it have been too hard to show the weapons slung on his back, or something? Of course, the second you complete the climb, the weapons reappear.
--There are serious clipping errors. Enemies will fire through vehicles in certain places and hit you. If you return fire, it will ricochet. It's a one-way deal, and you're on the butt-end of it.
--The HUD tells you which direction you're being attacked from. Or at least that's what it is supposed to do. The most recent example--still fresh in my mind--is when a Nazi fired a rocket at me. It passed by me on the right, hit a wall, and my HUD flashed red--telling me that I was being attacked from the left. So I spun left. No one there. Another rocket comes into the hallway. Now I'm being attacked from straight ahead, even though I'm looking down a completely empty hallway. Most of the time the HUD gets it right, but every so often...beware! BEWARE!
--Sometimes you'll find crates of grenades--a blessed relief, since you (in this example) don't have any left. So you walk over to get them and...well...you can't. It just doesn't let you pick them up. But the next time you come through that level, try it again. Sometimes it'll let you take them. Sometimes it won't. I have no idea how it decides whether or not to hand 'em over.
--Similarly, sometimes enemies, when killed, will drop their weapons half-under a table or something. When this happens, they're out of reach--even if you're standing on half the weapon, you can't get the ammo from it. In parts of the game where ammo is scarce, this can lead to your premature death.
--Only a bare amount of effort was put into some of these encounters and animations. Example: you come across a Nazi during his daily constitutional (i.e., a nice satisfying dump). What does he do? He looks up, surprised, and raises his arms to surrender. Normally at this point I'd just kill him, but on my second time through, I wanted to see what he would do if I just stared at him. Turns out, he just repeats that same animation over and over. Looks down. Looks up. Surprised. Hands up. Looks down. Looks up. Surprised. Hands up. And so on. This particular Nazi either has the attention span of a goldfish, or the developers were too lazy to come up with anything better than a six-second looping animation. (I'm guessing the latter.)
AND FINALLY
--This bullet point must be stressed, hence its separation from the list. The MP-50. What. The. Heck. Is the matter with it? 90% of the time, it works just fine. Other times, though, I'll step out into a hall, aim, and...nothing. It just doesn't fire. But that's not all. No. When this happens, the game also locks you into the MP-50 so you cannot switch weapons, you cannot reload, you cannot even get out of aiming mode. The one "cure" seems to be to throw a grenade, if you have one. I've been killed several dozen times because my MP-50 randomly decided to lock up and refuse to function. This happens often enough--about 1 in 10 aims--that you really come to hate the MP-50 and will refuse to use it. This problem--locking in the aim and locking the controls up--only ever seems to happen with the MP-50. It's never happened with another weapon. This is a very prominent bug as the MP-50 is probably the most common weapon in the game. It's the kind of easily noticeable glitch that only a half-baked attempt at a game would allow to stand. It's also the most frustrating out of any of the things I've listed, because it basically reduces you to a walking target (you can't sprint while aiming) until you manage to shake it loose by pushing every button on your controller randomly. The MP-50 will also occasionally lock up even when you're firing from the hip (not in aiming mode, in other words.) It's not as bad when this happens, because the weapon will do this up-down hiccup animation, and then be able to fire again. Still annoying, though.
Finally, though this game's settings and storyline are rather epic, the entire presentation feels flat and lifeless. There is no investment in the story. There's barely a story. And some of it I just don't understand.
If you found out that Germans were building an A-Bomb in London and you knew where in London their lab was, but you're in America, what do you do? Well, if it were me I'd get on whatever means of commo I had to tell the Brits what I knew, so they could do something about.
Not in Turning Point. No. In this game, the fate of New York City (again with that f-ing town) rests on your shoulders. Carson. The construction worker. They have this guy parachuting in like he's qualified Airborne, sent in solo against a heavily armed German garrison in the Tower of London. It just doesn't make sense. What kind of a Resistance sends over ONE PLANE carrying ONE GUY who HAS NO MILITARY TRAINING to save the world? A really stupid Resistance, that's what.
I was hoping for a scene like Freedom Fighters had near the end--that dramatic, blood-pumping scene where the ships and fighters are advancing across the ice toward Governor's Island, and that amazing music is playing, and you truly feel like the leader of a Resistance. Dozens of your fellow Freedom Fighters assault alongside you, and you really feel like you're in a battle.
Instead I got one plane, and one guy parachuting in like he's freakin' John Rambo with a grudge. Remember, Carson is a construction worker. He's not Delta Force. But apparently, the Resistance, in their infinite wisdom, chose to send Carson over trained soldiers. There wasn't any drama to accompany this daring assault, either.
So, let's review. Utter lack of an interesting story (but an *outstanding* concept). With a bare amount of extra effort, they could have turned it into something amazing. Add some more voice actors. Write some scripts. Treat your gamers to 3-5 minute cutscenes where you get to know your fellow Freedom Fighters. Toss in extra background info to set up the next challenge and you'll have an epic story of Resistance vs. Nazis. C'est la vie.
Numerous game glitches like clipping errors and Head's Up Display screwups abound. Those grenades that land at an enemy's feet and don't kill him. MP-50s that lock up your entire controller and lead to your death many, many times. And so on. Those things. Yeah. I guess they just skipped that whole quality assurance portion of development. You know, where they work out the bugs? They must have just shelved that step.
Okay, I think I've about covered all of the things in Turning Point that bothered me and detracted from the overall experience.
But you might notice I rated it two stars, and not one. Why, you might ask, given that you just listed a million and one reasons why no one should play it?
Well, 'cause it's not a non-functional, broken game like Two Worlds or Neverwinter Nights 2. Those two were so bad on so many levels that they were quite literally unplayable. Turning Point is NOT among that drek. No, in fact, alongside those previously mentioned titles, Turning Point starts to seem like Call of Duty.
Let's face it. Shooting Nazis is fun, even if you're doing it in a glitchy, slow-paced predictable sub-par shooter. And the environmental kills are fun, too. Lots of fun. Imagine kicking a Nazi in his jewels, then shoving him into a furnace and shutting the door on him. Or--in another instance, kicking the jack out from under a truck a Nazi is working on, crushing him. See? Fun!
So it's not ALL bad. It's just MOSTLY bad.
The Bottom Line: If you like FPS, and/or hate Nazis, this is worth a two-night rental. My recommendation is *not* to purchase it. It's not worth more than the five or six bucks you pay out at the rental store. | video-games_xbox |
Where's the fun. This game didn't improve upon anything that was available in the first game. Well, unless you include the multiplayer...which I wasn't able to play, because apparently I need a pass code that supposedly came with my manual, otherwise I have to buy another one. Sorry, but from what I read, there isn't much to the multiplayer on this game. There's a couple new monsters, but most of them are just slight variations of monsters that already existed in the first game. I found most of the battles in this game to be annoying, since the enemies would often spawn in front AND behind me. This is very problematic, since you can't run and gun, the monsters are much faster than you, and they usually take a few shots before going down, so this means that you're going to get beat-up quite often. Despite that, I actually didn't die very much in combat, and instead died plenty of times in the scripted, cut-scene parts. It sucks when I'm trying to see what button I'm suppose to be hitting (turns out, it's always the A) when the directions keep floating in and out of the screen. It's a good thing that I can see where I have to go with just the press of a button, because the game doesn't do a good job of showing or describing what you're suppose to be doing. I also fell out of touch with the game when I saw Isaac go through ridiculous situations that should of resulted in death; it's one thing to fight off numerous enemies, and it's another when you watch your guy fly super fast through space, numerous times, and narrowly avoid splattering collisions, only to land perfectly in a vent or something and come out fine. I don't know about you, but I want to play as the guy that earns his survival instead of gets it luckily handed to him. To top off my complaints, I never actually even finished the game. The last part of it is pretty annoying, and when I finally got to the last boss battle (or at least what I thought to be the last battle), I just couldn't handle being constantly swarmed by enemies. I went through the whole game thinking "man, I hope the next battle is funner" only to never have it happen.
I guess that does it for the complaints. The good stuff? Well...still nice graphics and scares. I just really wish they would have done more than copy and paste from the first game, tweak a couple things, and take out the fun :( | video-games_xbox |
Best SF Role playing game I've ever played. I typically don't have much time to play. Let me rephrase that - I don't get to play as much as I would like. If I had my way, I'd play video games two to four hours a day. But, I've got a family and a full time job. There's housework and yard work that needs to be done, and there are my many other pastimes that I would rather engage in.
My wife being one of them.
Anyhow, I recently rented the game Mass Effect for the Xbox 360. I like to rent before I buy to see how the game plays and to see if I can play it or not. It's that whole motion sickness thing that happens to me on the fairly regular basis when it comes to many games.
When I picked the game up, I thought I was renting a first person shooter. I didn't realize until after I finished the opening sequence that it was in fact, a very elaborate science fiction role playing game that had a first person shooter aspect.
I almost returned it, but since I was bored and didn't feel like playing my usual Everquest 2 on the PC, I decided that I'd give it a shot.
Within two days I ended up returning the rental and I bought a copy for myself. Yes, I enjoyed it that much.
Now, like typical role playing games, you get experience for completing quests and defeating enemies. This allows the character you play to level up, and by doing so, you gain more and more abilities to use, and it unlocks new skills as well.
Starting out the game, you can choose to play the default Character Commander John Sheppard. I discovered however after I finished the game, that you can customize your character. You can choose from six different character classes and you can play both male and female. There's even a female version of Sheppard.
Spare me your mock outrage, lets face it, tons of males out there like to play female characters in games. Look at Tomb Raider or various online multiplayer games.
I stray as I often to do.
To the meat of the review. First of all, the game is quite massive. Secondly, as you start, you have three levels of difficulty to choose from.
Now, you have your primary quest, which is to locate and defeat a character named Saren. He's got a wickedly evil plan to bring back an ancient foe from a bygone era to wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy.
There are literally dozens upon dozens of side quests that you can participate in. These quests range from your typical UPS (get item and deliver it), to search and destroy, collections and investigation. Just to name a few.
Also, you're not limited to a single planet. The quests, including the main one, take you across the entire galaxy.
I personally played out the majority of the side quests that I discovered.
I'm currently playing the game again, in order to finish off all the various quests that I missed.
As game length goes, after I beat the game I had played it for almost twenty-eight hours in total. I ended up getting lucky and I found the bad guy pretty much right off the bat, so that greatly reduced the game play time. Since I'm playing it a second time, I'll see how long it takes me to finish it. After all, I plan on doing all the side quests this time around.
Also, there are `badges' that you can unlock, forty to be exact. My first time through I only unlocked fifteen.
There were several really neat aspects to the game. All the various skills you possessed had special powers that could be used during combat. Some effected organic targets, while others could be used on the various robotic units you fought.
Even better, you could play an Adept, which gives you access to Biotics, or essentially Psionic abilities.
Now, you have all kinds of weapons and armour to choose from. You can use pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, grenades, and sniper rifles. As the game progresses you can find better weapons to swap out.
Also, to make things even better, you can get mods to use for your weapons and armour. Different types of bullets to use against different types of foes, modifications for your armour and even for your biotic abilities.
The game also possesses an economy system that allows you to sell weapons, armour and mods that you no longer use, and you can buy newer and better types depending on the world you are visiting.
Pretty much every item you get in game will come from various locations on the maps. Crates, safe's, etc... they can either be opened, or you can bypass the security on the items if your hacking or electronics is sufficiently high enough.
Even on your ship you can sell and buy. As the NPC says, he rotates the stock every so often so you get new items to choose from.
Travelling is pretty much controlled by your wireless controller, with the exception of travelling from star system to star system.
The combat is pretty much your standard first person shooter. You've got your crosshair to help you target, and depending on your skill level with a particular weapon, you may not even have to have the crosshair centered on the target at all in order to hit it.
You can also crouch, hide behind crates and walls to protect yourself from incoming fire and in some cases use items that are nearby as weapons to incapacitate or kill your targets.
On casual play, you automatically regenerate your health, but on standard or higher play mode, you'll have to be a lot more careful, as you can only heal by getting medi gel, which is found throughout the game or as a reward for finishing quests.
There are plenty of cut-scenes to keep you happy, and it is very dialog heavy. Some encounters with NPC's throughout the game take a great deal of time, especially if you ask all the possible questions.
And, you have two extra skills - Charm and Intimidate, both of which, depending on your skill level, can open up new dialog options.
The graphics are incredible! Well, with one exception. I found several times that the character graphics were a little washed out during dialog cut-scenes. They seemed off to me.
But, that shouldn't be a deterrent to you, the reader, from picking up the game.
Speaking of graphics, one thing that really surprised me was actual nudity near the end of the game. Nothing really major, or naughty, but something I didn't expect. Hey, I'm not complaining - I'm no prude!
The sound-effects were well done. Everything from the gunfire to explosions to the background conversations you could eavesdrop on as you wandered around the various levels and locations.
I even enjoyed the music that was playing in the background. For those of you like me, the soundtrack is available for purchase.
Finally, there were quite a few well known actors who did the vocals for several of the characters in the game. Seth Green, Lance Henricksen, Keith David, and Marina Sirtis - these were the voices I recognized even before checking the manual or reading the endgame credits.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. The game has to be good in order for me to play it a second, and maybe even a third time down the road. Most of the time when I play a game, I play it once to the end and that's it.
Not the case with this game.
5 out of 5 | video-games_xbox |
It's a Great Game - It's a Good 'Halo. I skipped 'Halo 4' and this was one of the 3 games I got with my Xbox One when I bought it. It was a pleasure to get back into multiplayer again and to see what 343 has done with the franchise. I have to say that I like it, although there is a lot that I dislike about it as well.
I was turned off by the "assassinations," which are just about the dumbest mechanic I've ever seen in a game. I just found out that assassinations could be disabled tonight and I did so immediately. When in a firefight against 3 opponents, I am stuck assassinating someone and my kill gets stolen mid-assassination and then I get killed by the other 2 enemies. Wow, great mechanic. The ground pound thing is pretty dumb, too - but I just don't use it. I played like 5 minutes of the campaign before I got bored with it, which is a shame because I used to love the campaign for this franchise. Additionally, the unlocks/armor upgrades are so sub-par that it's ridiculous. I just stuck with most of the default armor because most of what I've unlocked just looks so stupid. That's a real shame because it eliminates a large part of the incentive to play. However, the fact that that incentive is there to begin with is a great factor. They recycled some old maps and some of the maps look unfinished/unpolished and are disappointing to look at.
The multiplayer is as good as can be expected with a Halo game, if not better. I was pleasantly surprised and actually felt quite at home playing this game (which is great for someone coming from a heavy Halo 2 multiplayer background). They haven't come up with much new, but they don't have to because the combat has always been good and they're just tuning it to make it all better. And it works. I dig what they've done with the combat and I really enjoy "Warzone Assault" - Requisitions are a pretty cool idea, too - despite the fact that when I get armor I usually just want to sell it for more Requisition Points.
That's about it, I guess. I'm sure fanboys will talk trash about what I said because that is the nature of the beast and the danger of commenting on games. I have played Halo since it came out and I am employed in the game industry, so I tried to convey that passion for the game and knowledge of the product into my analysis here. It's a Great Game - It's a Good 'Halo'. | video-games_xbox |
Fun game, with a very serious caveat. I rented this game, and initially loved it. It was a lot of fun to play single-player campaign, and I played and re-played each campaign it at least 4 times, before even considering going online. The AI-controlled players are impressively capable, which makes single-player very enjoyable; settings in the game change constantly, which makes each playthrough very unique. The graphics look a bit dated, considering some of the modern games, but this is very much a non-issue.
The most serious problem with this game, however, is versus mode, which all things considered, is a lot of fun - two teams play, one team is the survivors, the other team is infected. The problem is that this mode is nothing short of an idiot/imbecile magnet, made much worse by the game's "vote to kick" feature. On any particular day, attempting to join a versus game results in getting kicked out about 75% of the time. Note that you don't have to actually do anything to get kicked out - joining the game is enough. In my experience, almost every call to vote results in a 'yes' vote, as most players do not care about the validity of the vote. Combined with the loading times between kicks, this is the most infuriating experience I've come across, since I started playing on Xbox Live.
If you usually join games by yourself, the kick-vote feature will be your worst enemy. If you have two idiots on your team (as you often do), you will not be able to kick out either one of them (majority is needed to kick someone out). And if you're playing alone (i.e. without friends) and someone calls a 'kick vote' usually no one will vote 'no', and you will get kicked out almost instantly.
Versus mode isn't the only mode that suffers from this - so does campaign. However, versus is especially worse, because you can only play it online. I planned to buy this game - instead, I just returned the rental, as its online replayability is ridiculously low. | video-games_xbox |
Rock Band Wireless Fender Wooden Guitar 360. I bought two of these when they went on sale, and they are filled with some seriously strong components.
Over time I've used the standard Gh guitars, and liked neither the clicking, nor the size and buttons. I switched to the RB pack-in and killed it off within two months, all the while feeling the strum-bar get sloppy and the whammy bar do the same as time went on. I then picked up the Mad Catz wired P Bass, (The wireless wasn't out yet). It lasted for 3 months, and then I went to a wireless P Bass which lasted 4 months. Following that I bought the Wooden Fender and have had it for 18+ months with no signs of wear even now. Even now there's no trace of a problem with the strum bar, the whammy bar, or the fret buttons.
An added bonus is since I'm already used to using a full size and weight controller, it made the transition to the Pro Squier easier.
This is an expensive controller if you don't pick it up on sale. But if you get one at the right price, it's a much better bargain than anything plastic out there. And it's drop dead gorgeous in either color. It feels and looks amazing and is worth every penny.
Buy it and you won't regret it.
As a side note some people complain about getting a fret button that's sticky. If this happens the button wasn't lubed right at the factory. It's and easy fix. Just use a q-tip and either silicone grease or petroleum jelly. I lubed one button on mine and have never had to do it again.
If you're like me and don't like a strumbar that clicks you can pretty easily change the switches out in this guitar. Replace them with two CH310-ND switches from Digi-Key for a whopping total of $3.58, (at the time I posted this originally). It's the same switch as is used from the factory just without the click. I have posted a vid on YT that shows how to replace the clicky switches with silent ones. You'll find the link to the vid in the comments for this review.
I also added thumb rests to both of mine since I play them as basses. You only have to drill one new hole in the pickguard since they are spaced well to line up with the ones that come pre-drilled in the T-rest. If you want to add one go to the search bar and type in, or copy/paste..
Fender P/Jbass Orig Thumbrest, Black
Have fun and long live RB. (Or your rhythm game of choice).
EDIT:
The stumbar spring on these will feel overly tight at first. Don't panic! They ease off after about 8 hours of play. | video-games_xbox |
This is wonderful. I have had this headset since April of 2016, and have loved it ever since. It is by far the nicest, most versatile headset I have ever owned. Because I have owned it for so long, I have compiled a list of attributes for the headset.
A quick tl;dr this is a high quality headset with limited cons, if you're looking for something affordable that works on most current platforms then this is the one for you.
Build:
It's hard to find a headset that actually feels sturdy anymore. It has a decent amount of heft to it. Most other headsets are made up mostly of plastic and, to me at least, feel like they're going to break if I'm not careful. I hardly ever feel like that with this headset. I've dropped this headset a few times on my wood floor while standing up, and it doesn't have a scratch on it! Not that I'm trying to say you shouldn't be careful, it is an investment.
The mic is amazing. I love being able to remove it and it picks up my voice no problem while minimizing the background sounds.
My only real complaint is that the band cannot be adjusted and is more of a "one size fits all" kind of thing, which could be troublesome if you don't have an average-sized head. It fits me rather well, though if I could raise the cups up a little more it would be more comfortable.
Versatility:
I have tested it on many different platforms, and thus have have found that it works with the Xbox One, Play Station 4, Wii U, PC, and on my mobile device. It comes with different cords (all conveniently marked with whatever it's meant for) and all come with small Velcro wraps that make tangles cords a thing of the past. I mostly use it with my Xbox One, and have found out a few things. Firstly, if you use any adapter other than the one you get WITH the headset you will not get the audio playback. I personally prefer this feature, and have just stuck with the Polk adapter. Secondly, if your audio starts to get distorted, seems to fade away, or echos, I have found just unplugging the cord from the audio jack generally works.
Sound Quality:
This headset definitely does not mute out all noise, but if you have a high action game or show going you won't be able to hear much over it. What I love is that when all is quiet and you're sneaking around in a game, you can hear the footsteps of anyone near you. Someone trying to sneak up on you? Sadly for them, you've already heard them and are laying in wait!
I think I've covered mostly everything, but to finish up I leave you with this: if you are looking for a headset that you can use with all of your different platforms, but doesn't cost an arm and a leg, this is the one for you. There are definitely better headsets out there, but I have found this one to be affordable and well built. I hope this helped! | video-games_xbox |
Look elsewhere. I was really excited about this game when I first heard about it. After the uncreative NFS Pro Street, NFS Under Cover was suppose to take the game back to its roots. The only problem is, I didn't expect them to go all the way back to the early 90's.
I started the game out, and right away I notice loading, loading, and more loading. Do you want to look at the map to see the next race, loading, do you want to go to your garage, loading, do you want to start a race, loading. Everything you do has a load screen...EVERYTHING. I managed to start playing and I was a little excited. That was until I took over the car. The cut scenes look good, but the game is a mess. There are problems with the frame rate, there are issues was the way the cars look, and the general graphics are poor. If they would have used the graphics from say NFS Hot Pursuit I would have been happier.
The main issue I had was the constant freezing. I finished the first race, but that was it. I could not start another race. Anytime I would pick anything, the loading screen would come up and freeze the entire game. A few times I managed to start a race, but the game would freeze during the race. I was more than let down. I was pissed.
Naturaly, I looked online for others with similar problems, and there are a ton of people. The freezing, frame rates, are all common problems. Some people have been blessed with the lack of problems, but others like me not so much.
One last note. After having the freezing problems, I installed the game to the xbox hard drive. After playing thru a few races I can say that this has, so far, fixed the freezing issues I was having. I am sure a patch will be released to fix most of the games issues, but the only patch worth waiting for is a better game.
11-22-08 EDIT
An auto update was released for the game which may fix some issues. As my biggest issues was the constant freezing, and I fixed that by installing on the hard drive, I am unsure as to what bugs got fixed. I can say the overall the game does not feel as fragile as it had at first.
11-24-08 UPDATE
After getting some time to actually play the game, I will discuss my additional thoughts. The game itself is a lot like the older NFS, where you have an open world with some street races and of course the police chases. The game, as described in another review, can be summed up as LAZY. You actually don't have to do any open world driving. You can pick races from the "GPS" screen, or you can race the closest event by hitting down on your d pad. I felt bad, because it really puts the open world usage to shame. I have not customized any part of my car yet, as its not as fun as it used to be, or should be. Also, anytime you purchase anything in the game it asks if you want to use "In game cash" or "Microsoft Points". I would hate to see how many points it would cost.
The open world consists of three "Cities" each with their own races, and groups to take out. The races seem repetative, more so than in the past. Most of the police cut scenes are the same, as are the begining of most every race. I have only progressed thru the first city, and am on the second.
ONLINE PLAY
I did get to play a few matches of cops and robbers online. I must say that this was very fun. The object is to "steal" the money and take it to your hidout before you get busted by the cops. There are up to 8 people playing, 4 robbers and 4 cops. The game is pretty straight forward, and easy to pick up on. I have not yet had a chance to play any other modes. Even though this is fun, I wouldn't pay more then $10 to get this mode. The game just isn't where it should be.
Based on the games progress I would re-rate this MAYBE 2-2.5 stars. However, if you are still not sure about spending the money, I would still wait. Had I have played a demo before hand, or rented the copy first, I would not have purchased. I have yet to recommend this game to anyone, and would still tell people to avoid this title. | video-games_xbox |
An actual gamer review. Briefly, my thoughts on the issue of the game's "appropriateness":
-Maybe the word "damn" isn't as generally taboo as it used to be, however up to this point the Sonic series has been, to my knowledge at least, squeaky clean, much like the Mario games. Even Sonic and other good guys use the word here. And kids still do go around imitating their favorite video game heroes, so it's not to be dismissed so lightly. I think having them use it was a bad idea.
-The "blackness" of the aliens has nothing to do with racism or Africans. The game is not racist in any way so shut up about it.
-This is the first Sonic-themed game where you fight against humans (besides Dr. Eggman), but even when you shoot them they don't die; they just lay there wounded and there's no blood.
-At first glance, one might think that this puts Sonic just a few steps away from "capping hookers" a la Grand Theft Auto. I'd say that's too alarmist and point out that Shadow is not the same character; Sonic says in the game that he "wouldn't be caught dead" with a gun.
Okay, now to the gameplay.
-Basically, this game plays like Sonic Heroes with guns. If you didn't like Sonic Heroes, you won't like this either (I obviously did hence the high score). Instead of having teams like SH, Shadow has a "mission character" who follows him and gives advice on how to fight enemies and beat missions.
-The guns are only semi-new to the Sonic series, since Tails would ride robots with gun-arms in the Sonic Adventure titles. Using them takes some getting used to, but soon became intuitive for me. I thought they fit okay with Shadow's character but I'm glad Sonic doesn't ever pick up a gun.
-Whether or not it "captures the feel of old-school 2D Sonic" depends on the level. Some of the levels are well-designed and succeed at this, and some are too cramped and frustrating, requiring trial-and-error to beat. You can pick your path through the game, though, so you can avoid the lame levels once you know them.
-The camera is needlessly frustrating to control, and this is what breaks some of the levels. Fortunately, you don't always need to worry about it, again depending on the level.
The storyline and production values are excellent, as we'd expect from the Sonic series. The voice acting is better than in Sonic Heroes but still isn't perfect.
The pro reviewers overreacted in my opinion when they said Sonic Team was losing the plot with this game. I say it's worth at least a rental from anyone who likes Sonic (and that should include everyone who's ever picked up a controller). But parents of <10-yr-old children should be wary of the "damnits." | video-games_xbox |
FINALLY GOT AN UPDATED 360. First, i just want to say i will be reviewing the console, NOT the game. I'm pretty sure the game is amazing, just look at the raving reviews on gaming sites. I am one of many 360 owners who purchased a 360 when they were first released. The old 360's had the infamous "Red Ring of Death" problem. I suffered through this TWICE with my 360. The first time Microsoft fixed it under warranty. The second time, i had to pay them to fix my 360...that sucked, THANK YOU MICROSOFT. I lost faith, kept my 360 on the shelf and purchased a PS3. After playing all the exclusive hits for PS3, i had to go back to playing my 360. PS3 isn't as fun online like Xbox Live. Through the years i upgraded to a nice 1080p flatscreen tv, but my 360 still was old. My PS3 was demoted to Blu-Ray player only status. I didn't want to spend the money on a new 360 when the RROD problems were still around. The slim versions were released. My 360 was so old it didn't have HDMI, or built in WI-FI like the newer Slim versions. I had to get HDMI, but still didn't want to spend the money. A couple of weeks ago my memory on my old 360 got full. So i finally started looking for a new 360. I came across this version....and wow, im glad i spent the extra dollars. I pre-ordered last month and waited.
I received my Gears 360 on 9/20/11 in the afternoon through UPS. Nice packaging, beautiful artwork on the controllers, and console. The best part is the 320GB of memory. If you have an old 360, upgrade ASAP. The new 360's are smaller and alot more quiet. Yes, this system does cost more. But its a limited edition, comes with Gears 3, downloadable character, add ons, two controllers,touch eject button,HDMI, 320gb of memory, built in WI-Fi, console Gears sounds, and just looks nice. I will make some of the money back by selling my old 360 with games. I transferred all of my content from my old 360 to the new hard drive using the transfer cable(not included). The process was easy, and transferring the licenses was simple too.
Upgrade if you have an old 360, this is worth it. If you need a partner in Gears 3, add me. Username ANIMOO. | video-games_xbox |
Great story/animation, poor game BIG disappointment for xbox. JRR Tolkiens "Lord of the Rings - Book 1 'The Fellowship of the Ring' storyline is closely followed in this Xbox adaptation (allows some Xbox magic with great sound track, music & above average graphics). The animation sequences between scenario runs are delightful with audio dialogue. The whimsical artwork used was nice, aimed at the younger audiences to reduce the blood/gore, slash/gash & the frightening darken minions of the Dark Lord.
That ends this great attempt to make a great game from the greatest fantasy trilogy of all time. Peter Jackson's movie trio lives up to JRR Tolkiens work with a few film adaptations to make each film a stand alone art form.
Summary; This game is best reviewed in the PROS vs CONS format to best describe the game players expectations of this XBOX game.
PROS - The background music is awesome. The animation sequences of the characters is quite good (great transition between scenarios). The characters voices & dialoque are very effective to the story being told. The games storyline is true to the author. You can SAVE OFTEN (and you must!!!!).
CONS - LONG & FREQUENT Game BOOT (loading) between scenarios. NO Middle Earth Maps to be used. NO mapping or auto mapping features (as in MORROWIND) (you must memorize quickly or die). This means NO REFERENCING for location. NO GOING BACK or EXPLORING. Limited Inventory features. THIS IS ONLY A CONTINUOUS SLASH/GASH GAME. You only play FRODO, STRIDER & GANDALF at specific check points (NO OPTIONS). (for example; Frodo from start to BREE. STRIDER from BREE to RIVENDELL etc. no other choices) LIMITED path advance (NO ROAMING as in MORROWIND). ONLY FRODO USES STEALTH. STRIDER & GANDALF MUST FIGHT or RUN or be KILL by EVERYONE (this is NON-STOP). Almost everything is resolved by killing, destroying or dying. (again only FRODO can use stealth). You must move quickly or die!! You must CONSTANTLY search for food, health & magic potions (this distracts the game player from reaching specific scenario goals). VERY FEW rest points to enjoy the game. CANNOT STOP or GO BACK AND EXPLORE MIDDLE EARTH!!
These are only the most frequent perks & annoyances while playing this game. It is to bad so much effort went in, the basic game is there, but the features are to limited to make this a [current price] must have Xbox library game. If you want detail, free roaming, the ability to be cunning, a great investment would be "MORROWIND".
I am truly disappointed in this Xbox games attempt to tell the "CLASSIC" JRR Tolkien "Fellowship of the Ring" story. See the movie, skip or rent the game. ENJOY. | video-games_xbox |
They do everything I need. Turtle Beach is a powerful brand; there is a reason they hold over 50% of the market share for console accessories and it generally has to do with the fact that they build solid, high quality headsets. With the announcement of the new Turtle Beach Elite 800X headset, we at Chalgyr's Game Room decided we would take a minute to share the love and wealth of some of their other gear, in this case the Stealth 500X for the Xbox One. Here is our take on this vaunted brand's oft-praised headset.
When I received the 500X I squealed a bit; there it was, a beautiful (if rather compact) box containing one of gaming's most popular brands and it was all mine. I popped open the box and just took it in; packed tightly into its shipping container, the 500X was sitting nice and snug with that new electronics smell. I loved it. Once I pulled out the few cables, receiver (did I mention it is fully wireless? Oh yeah, it is fully wireless and it is glorious), the headset and a few decals and the startup guide I was literally tripping over my coffee table in my haste to get it plugged in and charging. Fortunately the headset had about a 1/3 of the charge on it so I was able to plug it right into the Xbox One's rear USB port and the optical porta and I was on my wa.
The headset feels compact and tight; everything about it feels tense, like a beast waiting to be unleashed. The band is stiff, but pliable and never uncomfortable. The cups feel solid and are a little on the small side but after even four or five hours of The Withcer 3: Wild Hunt I felt no discomfort. The headset is gorgeous, with sleek lines, excellent accent piping, and feel solid and durable while maintaining a light and comfortable feel. Honestly Turtle Beach must have employed some sort of wizardry while building it as I have never seen/felt a headset that was both lightweight and heavy all in one, but the 500X is certainly that.
Even on the 1/3 charge I managed about 4 hours of gameplay before it died but I did notice that as the headset's battery came closer to no charge there was a definitive *click* in the audio; it was quite annoying but once I charged the headset and went back the following day to play some Battlefield: Hardline online I did not experience it again. (*UPDATE NOTE* After E3 finished I was playing some Gears of War Ultimate on the Xbox One and as the headset neared the end of its charge the clicking reappeared; I believe that it has to do with the headset not being able to adequately power the various modes, the wireless connection, the microphone, etc. and it is dropping the broadcast power to simply power the unit. It ONLY happens within the 5-10 minutes prior to the headset shutting off)
Within about five minutes of putting the headset on I could see why Turtle Beach is the market leader in console headsets; the 500X is rock solid and delivers some excellent 7.1 DTS surround sound and superior build quality. While there are numerous modes that you can set the headset in, essentially switching through pre-made equalizer settings, I did not find one that I loved more than the other (they were all quite nice), I personally could have gone for a little more bass, but to be fair I could always go for more bass.
Whether I was watching Avatar, playing The Witcher, or perusing YouTube, the Stealth 500X accurately recreates audio in crystal clear fashion. The real winner though? That would be the microphone. Most of the microphones I have tested for the Xbox One feel muted, shallow, or lacking any true depth of clarity. Not so with the Stealth 500X; crystal clean audio without the hiss or high popping of some of the more sensitive brands (PDP mics run a little hot) and when I would excitedly shout inot the microphone there was no distortion; it really is the best feature of the 500X (not to discount any of the other qualities though!).
Turtle Beach has had a stranglehold on the accessories market for years now and if the upcoming Elite 800X is anything like the Stealth 500X things will not be changing anytime soon. Their high manufacturing standards show in the rock solid and near-magical construction of the physical unit and the crisp, clean audio reproduction really do show that Turtle Beach has the gamer in mind when they develop and build their hardware and the Stealth 500X is an excellent representation of Turtle Beach's dedication to the gamer. | video-games_xbox |
Ok, not great. What exactly was wrong with Dragon Age Origins that needed fixing. I've had some time to mull this over and get over my initial disappointment at how incredibly different they made this game than the first one (which I loved). Now that I've played the whole way through and gotten used to the totally changed game mechanics I can honestly say it is playable and enjoyable for what it is.
Pros: If you are a more casual gamer, this game is probably much more approachable for you. I'm not sure why a successful RPG needs to be more approachable but for some people I could see this "App" version of the first game being more appealing. The graphics were at first startling in their blandness during the intro fighting parts of the game but as it went on they grew on me. Some of the new characters are pretty interesting. Varric in particular stood out and I ended up liking him quite a bit more than I thought I would. The button mashing combat got a "eh" reaction from me. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. But I suppose it does keep you a little more personally involved in the battles. I could see this being painful if you play as a rogue though.
Cons: I was disappointed by the removal of an origin story/race choice. I know it probably simplified development but come on. I hated the fact that nothing I did in DAO mattered even slightly. This was a big middle finger to loyal fans who played the first one. It also seems like nothing I did in this game mattered at all until the very end. The only choice that affects anything is the last decision you make. And while some may appreciate the simplification of the game mechanics, I was very let down by the lack of weapon/armor customization. My characters are pretty much stuck with what they start the game with. Using runes to update weapons was pointless as I was just going to find a better weapon on my next mission. Once runes are installed they cannot be removed, so you are basically spending resources fixing up a disposable weapon that will at most last you two missions. Most of the dungeons are modular. While this wasn't absolutely terrible, it also wasn't done very well. My in game map would show passageways and open areas I could not access because a door wasn't programmed to open for this particular mission. This was lazy and made a lot of the side missions fall into the "why bother?" category. The fact that you are stuck around one town for 99% of the game didn't bother me as much as it did some people but I wasn't super happy about it either. Also why did all the females in the game get the Barbie treatment? When I saw Flemeth at the beginning of the game I wondered who the heck she was. All female characters have pretty much the same exact ridiculous body shape. I like fan service as much as the next guy, but when every character looks the same nobody stands out. It also sends the message that if you are playing this game, you are a horny male that can't go more than ten seconds of adventuring without seeing a pair of D cups attached to a skinny waist (which also assumes we all enjoy the same female body shape). Along the same line, I didn't care much for the "Navi from Avatar" visual treatment the elves got. I'm not sure what was so wrong with their appearance in the last game that they needed to be modified so heavily but it was a little distracting.
Spoiler related complaints (you were warned):
Anders gets magically combined with Justice. I enjoyed both of these characters in Awakening very much but combined they are just a whiny annoying mess. What Anders does at the end of the game is something I would compare to a school shooting or a terrorist bombing: cowardly, selfish, stupid and totally lacking in any character, intelligence or common sense. This is something an indoctrinated or socially stunted moron does, not a pair of well developed worldly characters. Anders (and Justice) is reduced to a whiny teenager with a self absorbed, pathetically juvenile, entitled, "poor me" attitude. Thanks for ruining two good characters with terrible writing. I didn't even have to think about whether to kill him or not afterwards. The ending choice itself was a little crappy. There is no middle ground. Either you wipe out the Templars or your wipe out the mages. I for one don't like categorizing all people of a certain type into one group and exterminating them. This seems a little fascist and shallow (bad writing again).
Summary:
It may sound like I hate this game but that is not the case. Much like Mass Effect 3 and Halo 4, I'm just left wondering why a winning game format was turned into a dumbed down simplified sequel with completely different properties. Who asked you to dumb this down for us? The complexity and depth of the original was part of its strength as a game. All you do is tick off the people that already liked the series. Good luck getting any DLC or sequel money from me. This series is dead. | video-games_xbox |
Poor sound, poor support and severely disappointed. I purchased these for 2 reasons. 1. I have stretched earlobes and finding a headset I can wear all day (for work) that can accomodate the size of my earlobes is tough. These fit perfect. 2. There were plenty of good reviews.
After using this headset there is so much feedback. Despite adjusting settings on programs like TeamSpeak, Skype, GoTo meeting, and the computer (as well as the headset's settings) there has been no improvement. Thinking it was a Mac compatibility issue I tried it out on a PC for a while as well as the PS3, it was even worse. When programs were running (especially video conversion programs on the PC) it is as if I could hear them running through the headset. Not only that but after ~90 minutes of continual use, no matter what platform I'm using it on my voice goes robotic I'm told. I have to unplug it and plug it back in for the robot voice to go away.
Since I was out of the return/exchange time frame from Amazon I contacted Tritton (MadCatz) support themselves. They determined that they would need to warranty the headset out. During the process I was told that I'd need to mail the headset (I would have to pay for the shipping to them, even though they determined it was a manufacturing error) and that they would evaluate the headset and either fix or replace it. The process would take up to 4 weeks. I bought this headset not only for use with a PS3 but as my day-to-day work headset. Not having one for up to 4 weeks forces me to purchase ANOTHER headset to use in the meantime. So, I bought a "faulty" headset, and responsible for paying the shipping back to the manufacturer, and am left without one for weeks.
I'm so disappointed in this product because it was the only one I could find that fit my ears comfortably (try finding a comfy headset that accommodates 7/8" stretched lobes!), the sound quality is not as described and support puts the responsibility of paying for shipping (estimated about ~$10 for just basic Priority USPS, even more for UPS or FedEx) on the customer when THEIR PRODUCT is faulty.
Needless to say I'm done with the Tritton (actually manufactured by MadCatz) products for poor handling of a warranty issue. All they had to do was send a UPS/FedEx label for return with the RM and replace the product and I would have been a happy customer. Instead they've lost one for life. | video-games_xbox |
A golf game that struggles to make par. If you're wondering whether Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is a complete, realistic golfing simulation game that will hold even the most hard core of golf gamer's attention for months, the answer is an emphatic no.
Unfortunately, EA's golf game (26GB on Xbox One) just feels incomplete this year. Sure, there are three modes: Arcade, Classic, and Tour, yet none feel very robust. Some missing players, just 8 courses (including TPC at Sawgrass, TPC Boston, St Andrews, Whistling Straits, Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Royal Troon, Wolf Creek, and Chambers Bay), and tournaments (there is no Masters!) make this game feel nothing like being on the actual PGA Tour.
EA seems to be targetting a younger, less golf-obsessed audience this year. For instance, there is a course that has a Battleship crash into it during play, as if just plain golf would have been too boring. They also switched announcers this year, bringing in The Golf Channel's Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo. The commentary is a bit more colorful than usual, and it seems to be aimed at new players in general rather than people that know golf.
They also made the game easier to learn to play, presumably to appeal to new players. That is okay but it also means that once you get good at the game and master the controls, your basically done with the game and have no reason to play it again as it will just be too easy. There is no challenge to be had for hardcore golf gamers.
I do have to commend EA on improving the games graphics with the Frostbite Engine 3 and there are fewer load screens including no load screens between holes. I just wish they had the licensing rights and had built the game to feel more realistic and robust so that it would be something you could put significant time into.
As it is, this might be a good golf game for new players or younger players, but for seasoned golf game players, it is kind of disappointing. Hopefully they add to this game, even if it is through paid DLC. | video-games_xbox |
Great for positional FPS...Awesome Mixamp....Do not pay full price for headset. I got this combo used very cheap because I wanted the mixamp and getting the headset with it for less than a new mixamp just gave me a good backup headset to go with my hyperx cloudx's. After using both headsets through the mixamp, the clouds just sound better and I usually use them.....except for fps's...the open back and positional sound on the astro's hits me just right from some reason. The headset is very light and breathes exceptionally well. My cloud's (with the leather-ish ear pads for passive noise canceling) do require an alcohol wipedown after long sessions and these do not. I would still recommend this mixamp with clouds if you are buying new at full retail price...... but if you can find this combo for cheaper than that: get it......especially if you are just going to be using them for shooters. Also, make sure you update the mixamp with your PC first thing and look up EQ settings because the default is kind of bad. Also, turn off the "dolby surround" if you are playing a game that is only in stereo......it sounds very processed if the game is not surround.
I also used the TB 800x's for about a year and a half. They had a lot of features....but you will never use 95% of them. They sounded good....surround sound sounded surprisingly unprocessed.....noise cancellation was good but with a slight buzzing. They have a lot of clamping force and unless you have a small head: the hinge above one of the swivel points will eventually snap just taking it off normally. If you get that one, make sure to get a very extended warranty. The A40's feel very durable and the clouds feel like they will last forever as long as you don't catch the exposed braided wires that come off the earcups on anything.
My apologies for the length. This just the info that I wish I had over the course of my buying experiences. | video-games_xbox |
A nice Gem of a game but, has some downers. I never played the original xcom so I'd like to say first of I'm not a fan boy. I was however excited to check this game out when I watched the game play footage on YouTube. Its a turn based strategy rpg that takes you on a global war with aliens destroying cities on earth. You take small tactical squads into warzones or alien crash sites. Duck and cover, sniping and surpressing fire is the name of the game. Wether you're a fan of turn based strategy and RPGs or your just a casual gamer, most will agree that xcom is a joy to play but it does have flaws I hope my experience playing it will help you in deciding if this game is for you
First thing I noticed were the surprisingly terrible graphics. As new as the game is it looks like graphics from the switch era between generation consoles. but graphics are the last thing on my mind when it comes to games. Another bummer was the cartoony concept art. The look of the weaponry armor and some aliens looks ridiculously cheesy. Reminds me a lot of world of Warcraft IMO.
The game is frustratingly challenging at times. I spent a lot of curse words saying "I had 80% hit chance!!!! How did I miss????!!!!" These critical cheap issues will cause you to lose soldiers. While you can save and reload at any point you can reload your game....sometimes I will, sometimes I won't.
This can be a good or bad depending how I look at it. The game forces a narrative from a players perspective because the soldiers don't speak. Since the look and names of the soldiers are 100% customizable their stories and how they level up is up to you and your imagination. Some soldiers I got attached, and I'd reload if they died in an cheap way but if they took out 3 or 4 of those alien scum before being overrun I let them die with honor. Rookie soldiers had it the worst, if they got killed sergeant major "big bear" would say "better him than me". And I proceed to train a replacement FNG.
The combat in this game is incredibly satisfying. Nothing beats perching my highest ranked sniper on a roof blowing any aliens head off that tries to push on my assualt troopers. Medics hang back and pop smoke, provide covering fire and brave enemy fire to save a gravely wounded comrade. It sucks you right in to the game. The missions can be very unbalanced and 1 sided at times but winning a desperate firefight is really cool. Keeping up with Alien tech and keeping an elite squad in shape will help you overcome the difficulty, however I felt too overwhelmed at times and had to take day long breaks from the game due to frustration. I think the game should throw in easier missions from time to time but the longer you play the game the harder it gets,and I mean REALLY hard. The pressure is high, and the aliens will make you hurt.
One this I was really bummed about was no coop play. This game screams for it. It would be so much fun to play this with a buddy and support each other. I can't believe this game left it out. You can play against your buddy as aliens or troopers(or both) but it becomes dull after a while. I think certain games should be played with friends not against them. And this one had a great chance to take advantage of that recipe and didn't commit. Which is actually my biggest complaint about the game in general. More games need coop ,but I digress.
Xcom is a great game that anyone can get into. It's turn based at its finest. | video-games_xbox |
Wildly addictive, though frustrating at times. FarCry 2 is basically GTA: Africa. It's a sandbox style game with random missions scattered around the map, vehicles to steal, enemies to kill, and weapons to upgrade. Do a mission for the arms dealer and you unlock new weapons. Storyline missions advance the plot and give you in-game currency (diamonds), and various other quests reward you in other ways.
The missions rarely get any more complicated than "Go here and kill a guy", although in order to get to the guy, you usually have to pass through several roadside outposts full of other dudes trying to kill you. Every enemy behaves exactly the same, and can be defeated exactly the same way every time they attack you. This lack of variety makes these firefights more monotonous than challenging or exciting.
The seemingly odd selection of weapons adds a wealth of different options in dealing with enemies. In addition to the standard assortment of assault rifles, pistols and sniper rifles, there are also mortar cannons, flame throwers, grenade launchers and RPGs. With most of the landscape being brush or trees, sometimes it's smarter to take out a group of armed soldiers with a well-placed fireball than it would be to deal with them one at a time with rounds. Even better, like any good video game, characters love hanging out around propane tanks and barrels of gasoline. It's often easier to shoot two big yellow barrels than it is to pick off a gang of gunmen.
If FarCry 2 is to be looked at as a sandbox game, however, it's lacking toys. There are only so many ways you can combine the elements of the game into memorable moments. There are only a small handful of vehicles, and they all behave the same. Weapon-wielding enemies attack you exactly the same way every time. Enemies in vehicles spend the majority of their lives doing K-turns while you shoot at them.
The game is in need of a few tweaks, but in spite of its shortcomings, it is vastly addictive. It's the game you can load up and bang out a quick couple of missions in thirty minutes. It lacks the depth of similar games, but for $20, it's great bang for the buck. It would be easy to list off the game's shortcomings, but apparently these shortcomings aren't enough to keep me from playing. | video-games_xbox |
While graphics are not really next-gen, this game packs in a lot of content to satisfy hardcore rally fans. Sebastian Loeb Rally Evo is designed for rally fans from the ground up, and would mostly appeal to those people. There is not a lot of appeal to other gamers, but the game never wanted to be appealing to a wide audience.
The game offers a very large selection of rally cars to choose from, about 58 of them, which is much higher than in WRC 5 that I also reviewed. These cars are available from different rally eras, such as 70s, 90s, 2000s, and etc. There are 8 different rally locations and 5 rallycross circuits, which presents the player with a lot of variety. The game features day/night racing conditions, as well as different weather effects. The weather effects have an actual impact on the way a car would handle and the physics model of the game is quite realistic. This is not an arcade racer by any means. On the opposite side, however, the damage model is not exactly great. While the damage is detailed visually, it has a small impact on the handling of the car, but yet a completely ruined car after a crash won't go far. Graphics are not exactly great, they're quite poor just like in WRC 5, but car models are very detailed and look good. Sound quality is not too great either, and the cars could have definitely sounded better but it is not awful (there are games that have far worse sound).
There is a wealth of content in single player, with many different rally eras available, as well as inclusion of rallycross racing. Additionally, the game offers a complete career following real life Sebastian Loeb experience and cars, so the game lives up to its name in this regard. The AI is quite good in rally cross, and can be challenging sometimes, but never frustrating. The co-driver in rally is not executed well, always making mistakes which can lead to frustration, as a sharp turn can be told to be one that can be gone through at fast speeds and result in a large crash. The mistakes are not widely present however, so some may not even be affected by it. The difficulty is not very challenging, and seasoned rally fans would probably desire an even higher difficulty than available.
Sebastian Loeb Rally Evo definitely offers a lot of content to seasoned rally gamers, and people who are really interested in rally and enjoy it would get a lot of value out of this game. I can't really recommend it to an average gamer, as there isn't a lot of appeal, but it's a great game and might be worth checking out once the price goes down. | video-games_xbox |
Great Xbox One Headset. My wife purchased a pair of these for a Christmas gift for me. I believe she purchased them from Best Buy as the orange/white unit I wanted were not for sale here on Amazon.
I'm not someone who chats in-game very much, so admittedly, I can't really comment on the mic performance. I can say that the mic is retractable from the side of the ear cup and you can actively monitor your voice through the cans.
The first thing I want to mention is that when you initially set up the headphones with your Xbox One, you MUST update the firmware. Polk Audio includes a standard USB to Micro-USB cable that will allow you to do so. The USB cable connects to the Xbox and the back of the Xbox Controller. If you attempt to use the headphones without updating the controller, the sound quality will be choppy and full of static.
Once the controller has been updated, simply plug the headset into the audio adapter and go. The sound options are controlled by the adapter.
The sound quality is amazing - pretty much what I would expect from Polk Audio. They have been in the sound business for almost as long as I've been alive and know what they are doing. The audio range is balanced - almost reference quality. There isn't excessive bass like you get with the Turtle Beach offerings. As someone who has worked in sound design, this is very important to me. I want the in-game sounds to be as lifelike as possible, without being 'colored' or bass heavy. The sound IS NOT 5.1 or Surround, but to the best of my knowledge, there aren't any true surround headphones available for the Xbox One due to the system's "in controller" sound routing. That's fine though, because even in stereo, the sound-field spread is perfect and you won't tell the difference between these and 5.1 headphones.
The 3.5 connection wire is a little on the short side, but for the purpose of gaming it works fine. You can also use these headphones with any other devices with a headphone jack. I use them with my iPad Mini as well when I am gaming there.
I would recommend this headset to anyone who really wants to hear their games as they were meant to be heard. I did subtract a star due to the short cord and lack of true surround, although that isn't necessarily Polk's fault. | video-games_xbox |
Racing good, menus bad. This is a difficult game to rate and review. I could try to sum it up with "Racing good, menus bad," but that doesn't quite capture everything that needs saying.
First off, the good is good. Racing is a joy. The graphics in this game are downright beautiful. It makes Forza 4 look a little flat. The new opponent system with drivatars is a welcome change to the mechanical AI that always took the line or every so often made a blatantly scripted mistake. At lower difficulty levels the drivatars are pretty poor drivers, but they get better as you go up in difficulty. This adds a much more dynamic feel to the game and makes passing something more of a challenge as you determine how the car in front of you acts. The feedback in the triggers makes playing with a controller enjoyable. You can tell when you are on the throttle too hard and ease off until things smooth out. It's more like the feedback you get in a real car.
There have been a couple noticeable improvements to parts that aren't strictly racing. In rivals mode, you no longer have to end your lapping session to get a new rival. If you beat a rival the next rival gets set automatically, saving you from having to do another launch lap just to get up to speed. The use of liveries is also much improved. Buy a car and it will suggest a bunch of liveries you can use, no searching the storefronts required. Change them when you want. Oh, and the drivatars all pick out a livery to race with, so it isn't a field of manufacturer color cars anymore. It's a nice touch.
Outside of the racing, the rest of the game is a half cooked mess. Want to know which cars you own when you're buying a new one? Hope you wrote that down, because the icon showing it in your garage (that existed in every Forza past) is gone. Interestingly, the icon shows up when looking at your cars in the garage. Want to see lap and race times after you finish a race? Too bad, there's no race results in single player, though they do exist in multiplayer. Just finished a career race and want to do something else? Not before you load the next track and hear about it, you don't. Seriously, there's no quit to menu until you've loaded the next race. There's also no option to tune your car before a race, so if you want to load a different tune for the next track in career, you get to load the track, hear the blurb about it, quit to menu, load the tune, go back to career, load the track and hear the same blurb, again, and then continue racing. It was never this complicated in previous games and there was no reason to make it so. How is something like this overlooked?
The selection of cars and tracks is down from past installments. As a launch game and with redoing them to make the graphics pretty, I can accept that. But even there things feel unfinished. Take Forzavista, where you can explore the cars in the game. A number of cars have a generic voice talk about the car rather than the Top Gear commentators, and it's a quick little bit. You can then select various pieces to explore that don't even get that level of voice over, just some panning and maybe some stats that pop up. It doesn't seem remotely finished. That's hardly Forzavista as we came to expect it from Forza 4.
What hurts more is what is missing entirely. The car club is gone completely. It was fun having a shared garage and separate leaderboard in Forza 4 with my friends in the car club I'm actually a member of. But that's gone. The auction house is gone too, as is gifting cars. Seriously, I can't send a friend a car I'm done using or even let them take it out to set a hot lap. And free play seems to be missing big pieces too. Many of the cars are missing from free play. I get not being given credits or XP for using a car not in your garage, but if I want to drive the Lotus F1 car to see if its worth the 6 million career credits, let me.
Then there's the issue of the microtransactions. If I were to be cynical, I'd say the missing pieces of Forza 5 are missing explicitly to support the microtransaction scheme. Can't gift a car to a friend. They could grind to get the car themselves or maybe they'll just pay real money to have it. Can't buy cars cheap on the auction house? Pay to have it. Want to drive the F1 car without grinding for 6 million credits? You can for about $80. Since that's what this game cost in the first place, it's not exactly a microtransaction at that point.
You might say that's all choice and you can get the cars with a little effort instead of instant gratification or cooperating with a friend. Except that there's no longer cars awarded for leveling like in Forza 3 and 4 or in career mode in Forza 2. And the credits awarded for levels, at least at the lower levels, don't mitigate the loss in the least. The usual economy that allowed collecting a good number of cars has been diminished. The game formula was changed and I don't think it was for no reason at all. Plus there's all the places where you get the "opportunity" to spend tokens. If it wasn't so ever present it might not be so offensive, but there are screens that have the same "Press Y to level faster" in two different places and it comes off as abusive. Or you can use tokens instead of credits to buy upgrades for cars, not just on cars themselves. That this is all present while expected things like race results are missing makes me wonder what the priority here is. Throw in paid day one DLC and it looks like a money grab.
Overall, the core game play, the racing, is great. It is good enough that I can't give the game less than three stars. Most everything that isn't the racing is somewhere on the scale of annoying to abusive. The game could be great, but it certainly isn't in its present form. | video-games_xbox |
Great game but very repetitive towards end. I was amazed when I first rented L.A. Noire. It was a fresh new change for a Rockstar title. Putting the player in the role as a normal police officer who rises through the ranks to become a detective. Throughout the story, as you advance in your detective work you are given the opportunity to solve cases in every field of police work such as Homicide, Vice, Arson, Patrol, and Traffic. Homicide was my personal favorite because nothings more fun to solve a murder mystery.
Graphics:
Let's face it the graphics in this game are phenomenal, I felt at times that I was watching a movie because the face on each character matched the dialogue perfectly. The scenery and environment was also very well done and was obviously given much attention during development. When you get shot (or you shoot someone else), you can see where you were hit on the bloodstained suit which looks fantastic. Overall the graphics are superb.
Gameplay:
Very slow paced when you are evaluating a crime scene and looking for clues (which is the whole point of the game anyway). There are a lot of times when you go to question a suspect and instead of cooperating with you they decide to run and you have to pursue them, this is where the game gets exciting to give you a break from driving around to question someone or search for clues. There are also "side missions" where an officer may contact you on the radio for backup, and if you choose to respond then you will most likely be shooting down one thug or many. One thing I didn't like about the gameplay was that there were too many times where you had to follow someone in a car or in person. This is where it tends to get pretty repetitive.
Vehicles:
I loved how all the vehicles in this game were not made custom by the developers. Instead, all of the cars in the game are real life cars that existed in that time period. All made by real manufactures like Ford, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and more. The driving is a little touchy at first but you will get used to it after awhile. The collision between vehicles looks very convincing and the damage left on the cars is very life like.
Story:
The story is focused on Cole Phelps who is desperately trying to make it as a real detective. Not too much to say here but there are flashbacks of World War II where we learn that Cole Phelps was in the United States Marine Corp. and how that affected him overtime. I won't SPOIL anything but there is a conflict between Cole and his family in the middle of the game. The ending was very surprising and I didn't really like it as much just because of what happened but once again I won't SPOIL it.
In conclusion if you like to solve cases like a real detective would while facing many challenges on the way, this is the game for you. It is very entertaining from beginning to middle, and I say middle because once your past this point there is nothing new to uncover it's the same old crime scene everywhere which at this time you will have a boring attitude towards and want nothing but to get it over with. There are still twists and turns to help the suspense until the end but I think they could of thrown in a little more here to stop the repetitiveness. When you get to the Arson desk, Good luck not shutting the game off and taking a day break from it, it is the most boring crime desk in the whole game and if you don't know what Arson is its solving cases of fires being purposely started by someone in order to kill the residents inside a house or another foundation.
Awesome game but take my advice, rent it for 7 days, have fun, and be done with it. Because sadly its one of those games where after you beat the story there is nothing left to do but collect cars or replay previous missions. | video-games_xbox |
A-Rating. The Xbox One X in short is a great experience for any gamer! Here are the facts!
Pros:
1. Xb1X gives every game regardless of age a very huge increase in preformace.
It also completely removes frametearing on older games that had it.
2. Xb1X 4K bluray playback looks beautiful, see the pictures. I don't use hdr so the bug everyone using hdr doesn't effect me. I watch movies in perfect quality.
3. Native 4K gaming seriously ripped me out of my chair! The level of detail is unreal. Tombraider in native 4K is simply GLORIOUS!
4. Xb1X is beyond whisper quiet! This thing is Prius silent! It also stays relatively warm instead of hot.
5. The Scorpio edition packaging is super HIGH-END ! I felt like I was unwrapping a $500 console.
Cons:
1. Serious lack of 1st party games to play in native 4K.
2. Not "the best resolution, best framerates, no compromise." Experience I was exited for.
3. Games still crash when running HEAVILY demanding games. For Example, Wwe 2k17 still crashes when in creation mode for long periods of time.
4. Theres only 1TB of storage. Meanwhile, 4K assets are over 90GB! My Xb1S has 2TB..so not sure what happen there on the X.
5. Standard Xbox One X packaging is very cheap and entry-level. Dispite paying the same $500,You are given a marginally less premium unboxing experience.
Overall, this console is fantastic at playing games. And as an owner and lover of ps4 pro and switch, the X does beat the both in image quality on a noticable level. That said, I am still excited to play Spiderman on the pro..so this console changes nothing for me in that respect. If you buy the X make sure its for the RIGHT reasons. I personally like the pc level visuals,and truly enjoy 4K movies. While pc is always more powerful, remember that it also costs alot more to run games in native 4K..even at 30fps. The X is an amazing value for money, and I hughly recommend it to all. | video-games_xbox |
A Disappointing Return to Sin City. When the original Rainbow Six: Vegas was released, it took the gaming world by storm, quickly gaining a large number of dedicated fans thanks to its unique blend of first-person shooter and duck-and-cover gameplay styles, its groundbreaking online multiplayer, and its compelling storyline.
A year later, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 has hit with much anticipation from fans, and the results are largely a mixed bag. We'll start with the campaign.
The game's storyline is a bit of an unusual route for Ubisoft Montreal to take with its much-hyped sequel, opening with a prologue that takes place years before the events of the first one. It serves largely to set up the characters that will impact the narrative later on. From there, the game moves to the present, specifically a matter of hours before the original. The majority of the game serves as a prequel, and then the last two levels pick up during and after the events detailed in the series' previous entry.
In the game, you play the part of a grizzled instructor for the Rainbow Counter-Terrorist Organization named Bishop, who is called back into action when Las Vegas is brutally attacked by a large terrorist cell led by Irena Morales.
The campaign, while only about seven hours long, is a blast to play through. Although the story lacks the ability to draw you in like the first one did, and only the last level of the game feels like a necessary part of the Vegas storyline, the gameplay mechanics have remained largely the same, except for the inclusion of the ability to sprint, which comes in very handy when the enemy is raining fire down on you. The squad commands and cover system are unchanged, giving players a sense of welcome familiarity.
But the majority of Rainbow Six players are in it for the multiplayer, which is where the game is lacking. All of the multiplayer modes (team deathmatch, retrieval, etc.) return and have been mostly unchanged. The first disappointment players will notice is the lack of new maps. While there are a few, the majority of these are just updates of maps from the last few Rainbow games, with slight changes that are barely noticeable.
Another problem with the online play is that in team deathmatch mode, players are now respawned at a random location rather than having a set home base, making it nearly impossible to work tactically with your teammates, which is what the original Vegas game was famous for. Now the online play feels more along the lines of a run-and-gun rather than a tactical shooter.
Besides this, the online is extremely glitchy. I can't count how many times I've seen a random object floating in midair or how many times I've been pointing my weapon straight at an opponent and unloaded only to have them survive taking thirty rounds to the chest.
There is one change to the multiplayer that was a smart move on the developers' part, though. In the previous game, a player ranked up according to how many rounds they'd played. Now the ranking system relies on individual kills, making it judge the player off of skill level more than anything else. This also gives people an incentive to play all the way through the campaign, as kills against AI enemies also gives you points with which to rank up.
Overall, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 isn't a bad game, but in the wake of the original, one can't help but be disappointed. Even though the campaign is enjoyable, the storyline is hindered by its unnecessary need to be both a prequel and a sequel, and the multiplayer is (for the most part) an unfortunate disappointment.
Storyline: 7.5/10
Graphics: 7/10
Sound: 8/10
Multiplayer: 7/10
Overall: 7.3/10
Grade: C | video-games_xbox |
343 out Bungies Bungie. Halo has been a major part of my gaming life since I first played it back all those years ago. I got it for my birthday with my first xbox along with a few other games. I didn't initially play it either, I was more interested in some of the others. But when I booted it up a few hours later, it was the game that made me love the xbox. More than that, it was the only game I got that year that I continued to boot up for years. Halo will always hold a special place in my heart, as I'm sure it does for many gamers, as the first truly great shooter for a console. Bungie crafted a masterpiece of a game, and maintained that standard of quality with their subsequent sequels. So, when they finally passed the mantle of Halo off to 343 industries, I was understandably skeptical. In fact, I wrote it off when I first saw the trailer at E3 back in 2011. But in the time between that trailer and November 6th they swayed me. I saw gameplay, heard about the story and novels going with the game. I went from being done with Halo to being completely ready for more. But could 343 match Bungie, maintain the standard set, or even more interesting, could they surpass it? Well, yes, in my opinion anyway. Let me explain why.
Presentation ***minor spoilers****
I'll start with what is most important to me, the story. This is where Halo 4 truly delivers. Halo 4 begins with the return of Master Chief, awakening from Cryo sleep 4 years after the third game. The covenant are attacking them for some reason and there is an odd forunner planet sucking them in. On top of that Cortana, Chief's AI and companion through all the games, is starting to deteriorate due to rampancy. AI's start to think themselves to death after 7 years, and Cortana has been active for 8. This is where the strength of the plot is. The relationship between Chief and Cortana is put front and center, the space opera plot line, while also good, is secondary to the emotional story of Chief's desperate attempt to save Cortana from her inevitable death. There is a genuine connection between the two characters rarely seen in games. This is all conveyed through the outstanding voice work done by the entire cast, but particularly by Jen Taylor's performance as Cortana, who steals the show. The game is really more her story than Chief's. An interesting byproduct of the story is a role reversal of the two. Chief is now having to think logically and problem solve when Cortana's rampancy gets the better of her. In fact, all through the game she is getting him into as much trouble as the Covenant, or the new villains of the game, the Promethians, are. That brings me to the new villain of the game, The Didact. He is an ancient Forunner who is immensely powerful, worshiped as a God by the more fanatical sects of the Covenant, and somebody who has a great disdain for humanity. For the first time Master Chief has to face off against a villain who is more than capable of defeating him. The Didact is a threatening presence when he is around and you know defeating him will not be easy. Unlike the former antagonist, Truth, Didact has a clear and rational motive. He is ruthlessly efficient in executing his plans as well. I won't go into any more details, but needless to say the plot of this game is by far the best in the series. The characters grow, and feel real. The story moves at a good pace, never feeling too slow or too fast, and it really opens up so many possibilities for the future of the series.
Secondly, the Graphics for Halo 4 are astounding. I know I keep raving about graphics in my reviews, but I am just blown away by what the Xbox can do. Halo 4 is perhaps the best looking xbox game to date. The landscapes are vast and gorgeous, the structures interesting and detailed, the character look, move and feel alive. Facial animations are on the level of LA Noir and motion capture is spot on. Nothing feels stiff or awkard about any of it. To give you an idea, in the cut scenes with Master Chief, I knew exactly what emotions he was conveying despite the fact that I never saw his face. The Body language says it all. The game is colorful, vast and just stunning to behold. It is a great argument for more games that use more colors than brown and grey. *cough*Gearsofwar*cough*
As I stated before, the voice work is top notch in this game. On top of that the game's sound is amazing, There was obviously great care put into making sure all the sound effects for explosions, mele attacks, and the guns sounded good. All the weapon sounds were redone and personally I think it is for the better. The music for the game is also quite good, but unfortunately there are only a few memorable tracks as opposed to the past games having several. I was disappointed by a lack of the series' classics, including the main theme with the monks chanting, which is not on the main screen. That is a minor gripe, but I really missed it. Hell, I wouldn't mind if they would have just reused any of the main theme tracks from the first three games, but I digress. The music is still a cut above the competition, it just isn't the great and epic score that would normally accompany a Halo game thanks to Marty O'Donnell.
Gameplay
Halo 4's gameplay is pretty familiar, they didn't change much from Reach, in fact the controls are exactly the same except for a few button swaps. They are also air tight and 100% responsive. This isn't a bad thing. 343 had a lot riding on this game, and playing it safe was the right call. If they were to change too much fans might not be receptive, plus, keeping the feel of Halo mostly the same from Reach makes it familiar enough for fans to transition with ease. If I wasn't told that 343 was doing this game, I'd have thought Bungie made it. Much like Reach, the armor abilities are back, some returning, such as active camouflager or jet packs, and some new like the sentry turret or promethian vision to spice things up. Thankfully the useless or unbalanced armor abilities like the drop shield or armor lock are gone or improved upon. An example of these improvements is the sensible decision to make sprinting something any spartan can do at all times. It is no longer an armor ability. The AI in Halo 4 is top notch as well, especially on Legendary. The enemies are smart, they will try to out think you and often surprised me with how clever they got. The Covenant were familiar though, but what really got me was how smart the Promethians were. These guys go from deviously clever to cruel and ruthlessly unrelenting. This is all good, as despite all this, Legendary is very fun if you like a good challenge. The Arsenal in Halo 4 is as diverse and wonderful as ever. Though not every gun or vehicle returns, all of the best ones do. There are also a wide array of great new weapons to use. Every Promethian weapon is a joy to use, though they are for the most part very similar to the kinds of weapons you'd use from the human or covenant arsenal. I was let down by the lack of a flying human vehicle though. The Hornet and Hawks were so fun in Halo 3 and Reach respectively. Also weapons like the plasma rifle and sub machine gun were missed. Speaking of those guns, I am yet again disappointing that there is no dual wielding. That said, those are minor gripes, and the lack of some of those guns is perfectly understandable within in the context of the story. Theater is also back so you can take pictures and film events, it is pretty much the same, but this is a mode that didn't need to change, so it is quite alright.
The Multiplayer for Halo 4 is perhaps the biggest surprise for me personally. I have always loved Halo multiplayer, but I confess I've never been that good at it. Always been a single player kind of guy, but I love Halo so much that even if I was doing poorly I had fun. Halo 4's Multiplayer, however, is quite different. I found myself actually doing well most of the time. This is likely due to the fact that I can customize my load out. I start with a DMR instead of an assault rifle and can pick off enemies from afar while also being able to handle myself if they get close. I always wanted to be able to start with weapons like that, and with Halo 4's progression system, I can. Halo 4 does in fact borrow a few elements from Call of Duty, but it never feels like anything except Halo. The weapons you can start out with are just your basic automatic or semi-automatic rifles and pistols, as well as two of the 3 different kinds of grenades. It is insanely balanced so that nobody has an unfair advantage. Another addition is the option to call in weapons or power ups after you get so many points. Halo 4 runs on a point system so that everything you do gets rewarded, similar to Battlefield 3. Halo 4 takes what is great about modern day shooters and applies them to Halo to modernize it. These changes are for the better. Also, unlike Reach's leveling system, getting XP is not extremely slow and leveling up is worth it. Few armors feel out of reach and most anything These include things such as armor, emblems or stances. On that topic I actually found that I wasn't overly excited about a lot of the armor. Most if it is great, but I miss my ODST helmet. Sure the recruit helmet is very similar, but I feel like there was no reason why they couldn't bring all the armors back, and not just some of them. But again, that is a minor gripe that doesn't make the game worse. If you want to acquire any of that stuff you can with a bit of time, patience and skill. Speaking of which, like Halo's of old, the game isn't something that anybody can just pick up and be good at. You do need some skill to play, unlike CoD, which is so simplistic that anybody can do it. Usually if you get killed it is because the person got lucky, was better than you, or had better equipment. It isn't because of a lack of balance or over powered guns and perks. Most of the maps in the game are also quite good, my personal favorites are Haven, a map similar to Narrows from Halo 3, and Ragnarok, a remake of Valhalla. Spawn points are fair and wide spread. Unlike in games like MW3, you won't get spawn killed all the time because the maps are too small or spawn points aren't regulated enough. A great deal of care went into each map and it shows. The one potential down side is the mutliplayer requires 8 GB of memory off your hard drive, so just be sure you have enough space for it. Halo 4's mutliplayer is probably the best of the series.
On top of that, Forge has returned and is mostly the same, so much that a most of the building blocks and tools are exactly the same from Reach. They have new skins that are specific to the particular map they're on though, so it isn't like it's all the same thing no matter what. This isn't bad, but some variety would have been nice. This is kind of made up for by the addition of map specific items and minor improvements to the mechanics such as magnets, locking items and duplicating. These tweaks are nice, but not overwhelmingly imaginative and this forge is not the complete overhaul that Reach's was. Also, the Forge maps are great, but none of them are as big or as versatile as Forge world was and it is disappointing to see that they did not make an equivalent, or hell, just a remake for this game. So while I can't say Forge is a let down, it also isn't something I'm going to rave about. It is just mostly unchanged. Hopefully Halo 5 will allow 343 to really improve upon it in a significant way.
Finally, there is Spartan Ops. This is the replacement for firefight. Spartan Ops is a weekly series of missions that tell an over arching narrative while also giving you lots of things to do. The maps are mostly reused from campaign missions and it all really boils down to killing lots of enemies and pressing buttons, but I can't complain. It is more fun than firefight in a lot of ways. It isn't as monotonous, and the story line that goes with it is interesting enough. I look forward to new episodes every week. I do feel like I'm working towards something and playing with friends or even strangers is a lot of fun. It is a worthy replacement to firefight, though I think having both couldn't hurt.
So, all together, Halo 4 is a truly great addition to the Halo series. The story is emotional and well told, the gameplay is as solid as ever, graphically it is amazing and the mutliplayer is top notch. It is a triumph for 343 industries. The fact that they so bravely took the mantle of this universe and managed to delivered something truly wonderful is to be commended. Most developers would botch such an endeavor, but it is clear that Microsoft and 343 truly care about this franchise. The return of Master Chief is not just one of the best Halo games in the series, or even arguably the best, but it is also one of the best games I've played all year. Its problems are all so minor and often just personal preferences rather than legitimate issues. Halo 4 is a front runner for game of the year and if you are a fan of the series, or just a fan of shooters, you owe it to yourself to get this game.
10 out of 10
Pros
-Amazingly well told and emotional story
-Great voice work
-Fantasic sound
-Possibly the best Graphics on the Xbox
-Great enemy AI
-Vast and diverse array of weapons and equipment
-Major improvements on several gameplay mechanics
-Modernized Multiplayer that stands out
-Unlockables are within reach and easy to obtain
-Customization is vast and fun
-Spartan Ops is a great addition
Cons
-Forge could have used more improvements and additions
-The absence of firefight is disappointing
-Spartan Ops maps could use more variety so's to not feel recycled. | video-games_xbox |
So far, so good - definitely fun. I'm two rounds in and already loving it. It's a lot like Lego Lord of the Rings but a little different, too. I'm a Lego video game addict - so I will update as I go. Lego keeps setting up certain standards for their games and this game (so far) lives up to those lofty standards. The Lego dwarves are my favorite so far. A lot of them have "special talents" which are fun to play with. Will update later as I progress.
I've finished the first go around for all the events in the first movie. I love the added tweaks and am a huge fan of a big "roam" area - which this has. The Christopher Lee narration between the chapters is a nice touch. Much of the game play is just like LOTR - although you build certain things at little stations (which was introduced in Lego The Movie). I'm probably done for today - but it is still massively fun.
Edit update: I'm getting close to the end of the original play through. I think I have two levels left (not 100 percent sure -- just finished with Gandalf discovering Sauron). I should finish main game play tonight and then get to play with the free roam. I'm still really enjoying it (had to tear myself away this afternoon to go to work -- which is a bummer). There are a few different things in this that make it interesting -- including mining ore and collecting materials for trade. I can't wait to start getting some red bricks and doing the cleanup. A+ so far.
Edit update: I'm about 36.4 percent done now. The cleanup is extensive in this one -- which is what I like, so I have no complaints. Still having a great time. Think I'll probably really make some headway on the game on my days off this week.
Edit update: I'm more than 70 percent done now. It took me awhile to realize that this game was utilizing the Marvel Lego "three tasks" method -- which makes me stupid, I guess. Once you work through them, though, it gives you more characters to buy. Also, some of the tasks pop up later -- with not everything being available all at once -- like the Lego Marvel game, too. Still tons of fun.
Edit update: I'm at 92.4 percent done (with an eye on finishing this weekend -- I'm off Sunday and Monday). I think the biggest update on this game -- which I'm loving -- is that when you go back into level play for cleanup, you have the option of picking different portions of the level to enter at. So, if you are only missing one item -- you can jump back into the level at the point where you're missing something, and not have to play the whole level. The sublevels tell you where you're missing what. It's really awesome. I will make one final update after I beat the game -- which is mostly just a handful of cleanup items now (mostly races, which I'm apparently terrible at).
Okay, final update (probably): I still have three outstanding mithril bricks to claim. I need them to build the final mithral device to get the final red brick. Unfortunately, they're all at races that I'm having trouble completing. It's not impossible, but it is hard. I'm taking a little break and then revisiting it. I still love the game, but I am irritated beyond belief that I have three bricks still out there. Totally ticks me off. | video-games_xbox |
Excellent game play, great story telling, but. So, I just finished my second play through of the game yesterday, and have come to a number of conclusions about it.
First of all, I will say that the game is simply fun to play. Combat is quick, chaotic, and responsive with a lot of room for customization based on personal preference. Multiple strategies work and you must constantly change your approach based on the situation at hand, which keeps things interesting throughout. Outside of combat, exploration of the world is deeply satisfying as numerous secrets exist and the environment is vivid and brilliantly realized. In short, it is a pleasure to see all that it offers and does not feel like a resource-collection grind (which is really what it is).
The story, while convoluted, is steeped in history, science, and fantasy. The merging of real events and social issues with advanced yet retro steampunk technologies and fanatical religion combine to create an alternate reality (in fact, an infinite number of them) that challenges the player intellectually. The way the story is told, through character interactions, voxophones (audio recordings), kinetoscopes (short movies), flashbacks (and forwards, sideways) feels novel when taken together, although these individual elements are used countless times in other games. The main characters are developed with real emotions and actions that reflect them. Nothing I can think of feels cheap with the sole purpose of driving things in a certain direction dictated by the development team.
So, given these glowing recommendations where are my reservations?
The enemies, while varied, are for the most part not particularly ominous. The vast majority of them are men (and women) just like you. Unlike the twisted inhabitants of Rapture with their mutant powers and mutated forms, the foes you face in Columbia are not really scary. The threat is more from their sheer numbers than anything else. A few exceptions exist, and there are a few startling moments, such as in the warden's office, but I felt a distinct lack of dread for most encounters, which was not true for the earlier games.
Another (more significant) gripe for me is the main resource itself, which is money (Silver Eagles). This is vastly different, and less satisfying, than the resource system in prior games. Gone are little sisters and the choices you must make to harvest or save them for precious ADAM. Even worse, ADAM harvesting from a corpse is also gone. These provided some of the most memorable moments--protecting your little sister from enemies flocking from all directions while she painstakingly harvests ADAM from the corpse.
And this leads to my last issue--you have little choice in this game. Whereas in prior games, the choices you make throughout the game directly influence its conclusion; in Bioshock Infinite, everything is leading towards an inevitable conclusion. In fact, all of the major choices have already been made OUTSIDE OF THE ACTION OF THE GAME.
So, taken on its own, this is a great game. When compared to its predecessors, which is only natural given the fact that this is a series, I felt that a few things I wanted were missing.
Still, this game is worth your time and monetary investment. It's clear from the moment it starts that this game was a labor of love and a lot of hard work and creativity went into it. | video-games_xbox |
Great Game for Kids. I bought this to play with my 7 year old grandson. He already has all of the other Skylanders games and really wanted this one. It is a nice change up from the previous Skylanders games, with a new storyline and the addition of new characters and game pieces.
The Dark Edition Starter Pack differs from the standard starter pack in that you get two Trap Masters, rather than one; the dark versions of Snap Shot and Wildfire and a regular Skylander, Dark Food Fight. You also get three Traps versus two for the Standard Version, a Water Trap, a Life Trap and a special Kaos Trap (he is the main villain). You also get a game portal, game disk, poster, trading cards and a cardboard holder for your traps.
The main change in this version is the use of Traps. As you go through the game, you will meet certain villain characters who you can battle. When they are defeated, you "trap" them by placing the Trap which matches their element (Magic, Earth, Water, Fire, Tech, Undead, Life and Air) in a slot in the game portal and the villain is "transported" into the Trap. The trapped villain makes comments as you play from the Trap; it's pretty amusing and drove my dogs crazy trying to figure out where the voices were coming from! You can then play as a Skylander figure or as the villain in the Trap. You want to catch the villains as you play, because there are places in the game where you need the villain to complete certain missions.
Of course, being Skylanders, you need a lot more characters to complete all levels of the game than are included in the starter packs. You will need to have a Trap for all of the elements. You don't need more than one Trap for each, as you can swap out the characters in the traps when you need a specific one. You also need to get a Trap Master character for every element if you want to get into all areas of the game. I don't believe they are all available yet; at least I couldn't find a Magic one. You do not need to buy any of the regular smaller Trap Team characters or the mini characters. Any Skylanders you have from previous versions of this game will work fine and retain their power levels. Look for sales; I got a good deal on the Traps (buy 1, get one for a penny) at a local toy store.
This is a great game for kids and a lot of fun. Just be prepared to have to buy a lot of additional pieces for the best play value. | video-games_xbox |
Beginner RPG/RTS. Probably 5 stars for beginners, but only 2 for experienced RPGers. You fight with swords or with a ship(s). Only one technique is needed to be successful at either. Storyline is linear and the player is led by the hand through the sequence. Most of the "required" interactions are unavoidable. Few or no explorations of discovery are required. Not much to discover anyway. Talking with NPCs is pretty much a waste of time and quite dull. After spending a great deal of time and effort becoming skilled and adept at trading, it became apparent that trading was a complete waste of time. More money then will ever be needed is available through much simpler efforts encountered in the normal flow of the game. It can be fun to try out the various ships available but only one upgrade is needed to finish the game. You can take out a Corvette or Man-o-War with the ship that you start with. One ship actually works best for completing the game (with one possible exception). The graphics are good by today's standards. Player control and player movement are only average...difficult at time. It is a stretch to advertise this game as open-ended. One can deviate from the storyline but the usual scenario is that one discovers a lovely, secluded beach only to find that there is nothing to it except a lovely, secluded beach. Experienced RPGers will find one of the two best swords in the game before they even get to Redmond for their first quest. RPGers like to build their character as the game evolves. Only one skill in this game is important and can be maxed out quite quickly. After that, only one other skill seems meaningful and that is only in the "nice-to-have" category. There are few bugs but they can be devastating. Loading a previous "save" won't always solve your problem. One bug locked me up so bad the only way out was to unplug the computer. Even the power/reset button wouldn't work. One bug persisted throughout all 20(?) saves and the game had to be re-played from the beginning.
The game is simple and straight-forward. Graphics are good and sea-battles are fun until you figure them out. Not a bad start for those new to RPG/RTS type games. Experienced players will be frustrated because of the limited scope and absence of discovery and character developement. Battle tactics are not necessary except for one which is easily learned.
I recommend trying it out mainly because sea-battles are hard to find in the RPG arena or because one is new to RPGs. Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed. | video-games_xbox |
Easy RB2 drums fix w/ instructions, but faulty pad. I bought these as a replacement for my RB2 set that died after many hundreds of hours of use, which was likely prolonged by an aftermarket drum pad silencer kit. I really liked them, but they fell off after about a year from repeated striking. Instead of trying to figure out how to reattach the silencer pad that fell off I just went back to playing the regular drum head. However I had grown accustomed to hitting hard and I eventually cracked the drum head, which destroyed the sensor. Unfortunately, as a poor student buying a replacement set was out of my budget, so I had to break away from the game or just play guitar.
Eventually I grew restless and began looking for a solution, when I came across these. For less than $20 I thought I'd give them a try. When they arrived I was super stoked and I tried playing them on a flat surface as suggested on the box, albeit with my RB2 kick pedal, which is much sturdier. However, they float all over the place no matter what I put underneath them, which was really frustrating. I then found a couple of youtube videos which suggested using the RB2 stand and velcro. I thought this sounded a little flimsy, so I thought I would give it a shot with Gorilla Glue High Impact.
***WARNING*** ATTEMPT AT YOUR OWN RISK!! - I do not know if this will void any product warranties, but is likely. This solution is essentially a $20 gamble.
You cannot just remove the old rubber pads and attach the new pads because of the grey plastic rings, which were meant to hold the rubber portion of the pads down (although as we all know they don't do a good job of this). Without removing the rings there are not flat surfaces for the new pads to adhere too. The solution is to pry the old pads off the base. They are attached by rubber plugs which allow the drum heads to compress after striking. The red and green pads are in a + shaped formation like the cardinal points of the compass. You can push up on them from underneath to help pop them out of their hole. The yellow and blue pad use an X shaped formation. Their rubber plugs are not visible so you just have to pry really hard with two hands. Get your fingers underneath the rim on either side of the rubber plug and firmly pull upward. It feels like it is going to break, but it won't. The plug may stay seated but you can pull them out and reattach them to the bottom of the drum pad by removing the plastic retainer ring held in by really small phillips head screws. The pads will be attached to the base by the sensor wires, but I just pulled these out since I would no longer be using the RB2 drum controller. Once you have all the heads off you can take the plastic rings off which are held on by I think 8 screws of the same size as the previously mentioned screws. After the plastic rings are gone you should be able to pull the rubber pad off all the heads. There is also a felt liner underneath, which I removed as well, so that I ended up with flat plastic disks. This took about an hour for me, mainly because 9 of the 16 rubber plugs stayed attached to the base, so I had to mess with 36 tiny screws, however there was nothing difficult about it, just time consuming.
Now that I had relatively clean disks, I attached the portable drum heads to them. One mistake I made was to smear gorilla glue everywhere on the bottom of the pads. This was unnecessary, wasteful and damaging to the plastic. Gorilla glue (all super glues actually) will damage certain types of plastic. Apparently the plastic used on the portable drum heads is of this type. However, the plastic disks from the RB2 kit are not the same kind of plastic, so it does not affect them. The solution is to only apply glue to the rubber semi circles on the bottom of the portable drum heads. These were meant to prevent the drums from moving while playing, but as I already mentioned, they don't do a good job of this in my opinion. The glue will not effect them in any way. Apply the glue pretty heavily to the rubber and then line up the pad with the drum head and press firmly for about a minute for each one. I turned the drum heads so that the wires coming off would all be pointing towards the center of the drum kit. After letting them dry for a few minutes I then reattached them to the drum stand. To reinsert, just pop the rubber plugs back into their holes. I wrapped the wires around the drum legs and attached them to the drum controller which leaves it suspended between the legs. The controller on the drum kit is now defunct as all functions now run through the portable controller.
This solution worked really well! The pads don't always register every hit, but I was playing and that was what counted to me. I really like the rubber tipped drum sticks. Yes they are quite a bit heavier than the wooden sticks, but they are much quieter and give a little bit of bounce off the portable drum head, which has a smaller amount of travel in order to compress fully. I tried the old wood sticks too, and while I gained speed, they were extremely loud because you're essentially banging wood sticks on plastic. I also stuck with my RB2 pedal because as I said earlier, it is much sturdier than the little pedal that comes with the portable kit. I suppose you could get a splitter and use it as a double bass pedal, but I haven't tried it.
I was really happy for about 3 days. That is when the blue pad stopped working altogether. I have no idea why. I troubleshot it by plugging it into the green socket on the controller, but still nothing. When I plugged the green pad into the blue socket it worked and registered as a tom drum. I then pulled the blue pad off the plastic disk and noticed that the underside of the drum head had turned white wherever it had made contact with the Gorilla glue. The rubber was completely unaffected and neither was the plastic disk as I mentioned earlier. There are two small holes on the bottom of the drum head, but it did not appear that any glue got in there, nor was the plastic damaged beyond the color change. I think the more likely candidate is that the head just failed, like some of the other commenters have already noted.
I have continued to play with just three pads and a kick, but I play on expert and unless I go into no fail mode, I cannot finish most songs because of an inability to play the tom (blue pad). Because I have already learned in my troubleshooting that any pad will work that is plugged into the socket I may just buy another portable set and use them as spares should other pads fail. The colors won't be right, but I'm not looking at the kit anyways so that's only a cosmetic issue at this point in my opinion. But, as I said earlier, ATTEMPT THIS MOD AT YOUR OWN RISK!!
My overall rating of the product is 2 stars out of the box because of the issues with the drum heads floating, plus it is really hard to hit them when they are completely flat on a surface. The sticks are pretty decent, although heavy and the kit is wired, although the supplied USB cord is pretty long, but its just something else to have to mess with (I know... big deal). The drum heads themselves work pretty good, although they occasionally miss a strike, but I have not had any noticeable issues with double hits like others have mentioned. But that was all before the blue pad failed. Therefore straight out of the box I have to give this only 1 star.
Using the mod described above I would be tempted to give this an adjusted score of 4.5 stars. However, once again the failure of the blue pad lowers this substantially. With the mod and the pain of purchasing an additional replacement kit I'll give it 2.5 stars, if only because it has me back playing drums without costing me a $100. Sorry for those of you who think all these ratings are confusing, this is only because the value of the kit changed after a modification, and this is the kind of information I find useful when reading reviews.
Update: Just had one of my sticks break in half at the joint where they screw together... little disappointed as I wasn't hitting that hard. Good thing I still have my wood sticks. | video-games_xbox |
What's with all the bad reviews. I don't see why people are giving Velvet Assassin such bad reviews. Yeah, it's not an 'action' stealth game like Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid, but it holds it's own as being a WWII game that DOESN'T involve being in the frontlines.
I've been needing a stealth game for my 360 and Velvet Assassin fits the case perfectly. It's a surprisingly simple stealth game-for some this is good and others this is bad. If you're looking for a stealth game where you get to use gadgets and gizmos as well as climb up walls, use grappling guns ect...turn away now, for Velvet Assassin has none of this. Nope. In this game all you have are your wits to get you through.
You start out discovering that Violet is in a coma in a hospital. Where she is exactly, you don't know-but it's explained as you play along. You then enter memories of the first mission-which is basiclly a tutorial level.
Stealth is extremely simple. Stay in the shadows(and silent), and you're safe. Sneak behind an enemy and pull off as many silent kills as you can. Not only do these look sweet, but you can keep a low profile while doing so.
Firearms are based off real WWII weapons, and ammo for each one is EXTREMLEY limited, so you don't want to waste any shots unless you have to. I've read some reviews from people saying that they don't use the weapons...I seriously have NO clue how that's possible-I find myself needing to use them time and time again for silent headshot kills as well for blasting my way through enemies when the time is right.
You upgrade Violet by finding collectables in each mission. In some missions there are hidden objectives and precious collectables that will chalk you up with a TON of experiance points, so it's good to explore as much of the area as you can. Yes, gameplay is extremely linar-but that didn't bother me at all. I actually liked it due to the fact that whenever I play Splinter Cell I ALWAYS get lost and frustrated. Velvet Assassin dims down the 'frustrating lost' vibe by being linar.
Graphics are-I'll admit-not the greatest out there, but I'm not really one who nickpicks that sort of thing. I play on a standard 24 inch 480pi TV-and the game looks fine to me. Someone commented on the frame rate being bad, but I didn't notice anything. I guess if you're really picky about those sorts of things then you'd notice them.
The Morphine Mode in Velvet Assassin is pretty cool. Violet has the ability to use Morphine to stop time in all missions (except for missions 11 and 12) thus enabling her to pull off kills from the front or get the heck out of there. The screen glows white and Violet is in her nightgown (I'm not sure why...fits the mood, maybe?) with red blood cells floating everywhere. Weird...but cool at the same time.
The enviorments in Velvet Assassin are a mixture between boring and downright scary. The first mission is pretty boring. Once you hit the 'Third Man' mission things get sorta creepy. His mission 10 and you'll find yourself in a creepy little town where Nazis have killed and strung about innocent people. Mission 12 hands down has the scariest envoirment in the entire game.
This really isn't a problem as it is a surprise. I was rather shocked to see that Velvet Assassin actually has dead children in gameplay. It's nothing gory or anything by all means-but this is the first game I've played that actually has children in a village...ya know, where children should be? Every other game that I've played that takes place in a location that SHOULD have children-doesn't. This really did come as a surprise to me though. It's not bad, it's just unsual.
Personally I found Velvet Assassin to be quite fun. I was always eager to see where Violet would go next-and if she would ever wake up. (Oh, and her voice actor is really good) I enjoy the simple stealth system and found it fun to whistle-get someone's attention, and then stealth kill him for his stupidity. But I'm just the kind of person who has a knack for patience-and I don't need a flashy storyline to entertain me. Like I said, if you're looking for an 'action-packed' stealth game then I suggest you stay clear of Velvet Assassin, cuz this isn't the game for you. | video-games_xbox |
Much more complicated than Skyrim and too many creatures to constantly kill. I like this game quite a bit. I was a huge fan of Skyrim, played that thru several times and without cheating for the most part. Elder Scrolls though is quite a bit different. Its more complicated than Skyrim, so for me I've only figured out less than half the things. I'm at level 11 yet I still can't figure out how to do a lot of things yet like magica and enhancing armor which were so simple to do in Skyrim. Also at level 11, I still feel like Skyrim level 2 where every little thing can easily kill you. Some things I don't like, first you can't hardly get thru any quests without adding several more quests, then when you think your done with one it continues as well to something else. So I have a million open quests. Its much more difficult to figure out where to go and the maps are clunky. I would say thats my biggest gripe is figuring where to go and how to go there so that part is frustrating. In Skyrim you had roads for the most part, in ES you basically have to wonder around wasting time.
Then for instance on one quest, you have to kill these spiders and guys that are with the spiders, but there's about a 100 of them. You can't go 10 feet without another one or 3-4 attacking you. So you get tired of fighting these creatures constantly. This game would be more fun if I could play it with my friend, but our schedules don't align well. So having all the other people playing is kind of interesting but they don't add anything to your gameplay experience. So seems kind of pointless. Really they could likely make this game much better than it is by just simplifying it a bit.
Right now I just want to figure out how to do some of the stuff. Just trying to find some ore that I need is almost impossible, and my inventory is constantly full so I have to destroy something to pick up anything new and I don't really know which things are most beneficial to have. Also there's a few wondering merchants, but not many stationary places to sell stuff and nowhere to store stuff either. And one other thing is that like Skyrim you need some Soul gems, but I have yet to come across one in the game. So not sure what thats about. So as someone who was almost expert level in Skyrim (and Oblivion), it shouldn't be this freaking difficult to figure out how to play this game. The reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 3 is because most other games I've played aren't that great. I hardly buy new games now because so many have been just a waste of money. | video-games_xbox |
A great story drive slow burn.....(If you lust after TWD games give it a try. If you love Telltale Game's The Walking Dead games you should check this title out!
I think it runs circles around those two games
If you are a fan of WGN's Salem gets this game you'll appreciate it more and understand a great deal of it
The Story: is the selling point
It's a very competent story driven game...... (If you have a.d.d. this game isn't for you)
It's a story about Witches, Ghosts, Serial Killers, and being a newly murdered homicide detective
That can't move on until he solves his own murder
Controls: are pretty straight forward very responsive, easy to pick up and play
Graphics: it's a weak next gen title mostly due to Square Enix putting it out on cross platforms
the XBone and PS4 version's of this game suffered from that alone! It's a straight port from the 360 version the only major positive is the great audio
The audio is A+++ all the voice over cast is really good plus you have these cool "Ghost Stories" you collect pieces of them then when you get all off them you play the story and all of it's told to you from a different actor/actress (every one of these stories are flawless mostly due to the v/o actor/actress selling the story they could've gone the cheap route and had these be text) plus the game is decoded in DTS 5.1
The concept/idea of this game is very unique it's a point and click adventure but, it's not it's very easy to dismiss this game
but, you can't say it wasn't ambitious and tried to be different
I really enjoy this game even though it has minor flaws it's a real buried treasure! That deserves a second chance there's a hell of a lot there if you take the time to look for it! 9/10
P.S. If any gamer says this game sucks but, the two Walking Dead games are poetry in motion then they are a complete hypocrite and a W.D. fanboy that just has to gush over anything with that brand on it! This game isn't a series of down endings | video-games_xbox |
Look out. Three things concern me when it comes to buying a game, Graphics, replay value and fun factor.
I rated this game how i did because it has all three, while i know it hasn't come out yet i am convinced of this by the research i have done.
First the graphics, fire a rocket- see the trail, the light from the flaming exaust, the glass shattering in the side of the building as the explosion goes off, the dust from crumbling concrete, and chunks of columns as the building comes crashing down. I have seen all of these in the trailers available.
Lighting effects give explosions a new demension, muzzle flashes give away an enemy hiding in the alleyway... Particle effects are very well used and add to the scope of the world around you as it comes crashing down...
Next the replay value... Games by themselves tend to get old, AI gets repetitive, graphics can seem repetitive also... where do you get replay then? Playing with other people!!! Online play. With online death matches you can hone your skills and trim that mech into the perfict fit for your fighting style, lure an unsuspecting oponent into an alleyway and crash a building down on top of him, see someone rocketing up to a building top? wait till he gets close and destroy the building before he can land- watching him fall all the way back down ).
Finally the fun factor... need i say more?
This game gives the mechwarrior series the final thing it was lacking... ACTION. When you are in the midst of a city with huge buildings falling to pieces and attempting to get out of their way as well as fight as part of a team or a free for all against 5 or 6 other mechs... try to remain calm.
The third person perspective actually draws you into the game more than a first person would when you can see to scale all the dangers around you and the action turns fast paced you will feel it more than any other mechwarior to date... Enjoy ) | video-games_xbox |
Not as good as MVP but you'll have to get used to it. This games is miles BEHIND MVP 2005, but we'll have to get used to it because now 2k5 has the rights to MLB and MVP has given them up (or something like that, no more MVP MLB games will be made). When it was first released you would have had a reason to buy it (it was $30 cheaper) but now MVP and 2k5 are the same price meaning, skip this game and get MVP, but if you really care to know about this game I'll tell you (oh what a treat...)
First pitching,
The pitching in this game I find to be just as good, if not a little better than MVP's. You have many choices as how to pitch (Classic, Effot, K-Zone, K-Zone 2, and Meter) but the default (K-Zone 2) is the best. It's basically two dots moving and you have to allign them correctly. One controls the horizontal accuracy, the other vertical. The speed of the 2 dots changes according to the pitcher, confidence (a system which according to the players preformance changes how good they do things a small feature it makes their preformance go up or down just a little), and if they're in a pressure situation. On the higher diffuclty's a small mistake and the CPU will get a base hit and bigger mistakes 2Bs and HRs. The biggest mistakes result in a Slam Zone, which involves the pitcher and batter mashing the A button. If the batter gets the meter high enough up it will result in a HR, 2B, or even 3B. It's fun for a little bit but gets annoying, luckily it can be turned off
Batting,
Batting is a feature which MVP has a heads up on. In 2k6 you guess where the pitcher will throw it, a dead on guess or a bad pitch results in a Slam Zone (or increased chance of HR if Slame Zone is turned off). The closer you guess to the pitch the higher the chance of a base hit. But you can easily hit most pitchs and even on higher diffuclty's hitting is extremely easy. Also batting stances, swings, and animations can be really screwed up (the batter stands in the box ready to swing for like 5 seconds after the strike out sometimes whats that??)
Fielding,
This is were the game REALLY lacks. Animations (especially in the outfield) can just be downright funny. You can seemingly catch things not even Andruw Jones could get to, with someone like Jay Gibbons, and along with that you can easily drop a pop fly because jugding the ball's trajectory can be nearly impossible sometimes. Catching the ball and making dives feels, and looks strange and unnatural, while in MVP it is excellent. Throwing can be weird to as you can throw out runners from the warning track, AS THEY'RE GOING TO FIRST!!! What the hell!!!
Baserunning,
They've added a great feature, Base Burner were you control the runner and let the CPU control the batter (although you can chose to bunt, take every pitch, swing at every pitch, or be selective). You can get your lead, but the pitcher can pick you off if you go too far. And you can give the runner a speed boost by taping their base. When you are running at anytime you can give your runner a boost which is nice. Running is fine and the Base Burner is real nice
Presentation,
This is where the game really shines. The commentary by Joe Morgan (however annoying he is) and Jon Miller is great and the crowd is actually drawn like the players in 3D! Having the crowd yell taunts at batters is great, and fans yelling 'O Yeah' at Camden Yards after a HR; great! You can customize soundtracks for players, and stadiums (set songs for HR and base hits etc.) It dose all the little things that MVP overlooked.
Overall,
Hopefully 2k5 can make improvments in fielding in batting for next year but right now I'd still take MVP NCAA Baseball 2006 over 2k6 and its a COLLEGE baseball game! Its the gameplay that makes a baseball game great, not presentation (although MVP's certainly isn't bad). If 2k6 can combine their great presentation and add gameplay as good as MVP's it would make it the best baseball game ever, period. | video-games_xbox |
Not bad...even for MultiPlayer. A lot of people might hate me for this because most of the reviews on this game are against the MultiPlayer. I am not a die hard Call of Duty in a sense that I only play Multiplayer. I always found COD a great shooter game period. I am reviewing this as a true gamer and not a player that lives on COD multiplayer.
I am still playing the campaign right now and the story is alright. Honestly doesn't feel any different from the older MW games. The multiplayer is actually what makes this fun for me now. Over time I didn't like how maps on COD were getting smaller and smaller for multiplayer. I honestly didn't see the point of having a secondary weapon or score streaks if you were dying so quickly.
Bigger Maps:
Yes the maps are bigger but that is something I like. A lot of people mention you run into more campers with bigger maps and honestly, there doesn't seem to be anymore campers then there were in MW3 or BO2. As for other reviews saying it takes forever to run into other people...yes and no. Depends on where you spawn, it could be near where you got killed last and I like having open options of finding another way around to kill opposing players.
Lower health:
You die faster in this game but that is a change that I really enjoy. With so many people complaining about how fast you die, it made me feel there would never be a chance for me to get away. I have been shot a couple of times with a bloody screen and able to get away. It has actually happened more times then I can remember right now. Overall compared to BO2 and MW3 it does take less hits to get killed.
I never really enjoyed playing MW3 or BO2 when you would get a hit marker after hitting someone 3-5 times and they can turn around, bunny hop and dive to victory to kill you. Not realistic at all and seems like most of the people complaining are the players that play like that.
With the lower health pool it does bother me more because it seems like people die faster to bullets then they do explosions. I have hit people multiples times with a grenade or grenade launcher and they still live, but 3 bullets will take them out. Doesn't make sense to me.
Spawning:
This is one thing I agree that with other reviewers about. The spawning is pretty bad and you can spawn into enemy territory and die non stop a few times in a row. You can spawn on the edge of a map and not even a few seconds later you get killed by an enemy that happened to spawn right after you.
Gameplay:
It feels fun right now but maybe that is only because its new. But so far the changes are welcoming and adds more excitement into the Multiplayer for me. One of my friends is more of a COD multiplayer fan and he loves ghosts. Although he gets frustrated, he is enjoying the realism more in multiplayer more then ever.
Final Thoughts:
I recommend this game if you are not a bunny hopping/diving player for multiplayer because you will be upset. I can see why those changes would make older players upset, but honestly its a system that was broken before and people took advantage of it. If you happen to enjoy the story line/campaign in the older games. This was not really anything exciting for me since COD is just a recycled game with new levels.
Main reason I even play this game is because my friends like playing it. Its nice to be able to do a quick online match with a friend and can get a round done in 15 minutes or so. I gave it 4/5 stars because this is just the same thing we have seen in the past. It's a favorable review because I believe the MP is more fun then it has been in the past. | video-games_xbox |
EPIC. This game is awesome thats all I can say is that its so awesome. On a scale of 1-10 it's definitely a 10.
The game-play: I have only played maybe 2-3 missions on the campaign so I can't really review it as in-depth as I would like but from what I can see is that it is a ton of fun. Having the three other team mates where you can basically "tag and bag" your enemies with the sync shot is very handy and a great addition to the Ghost Recon franchise. GR breaks up the repetitive running and gunning game style that COD and other first person shooters have (not dogging on FPS because I love COD and all other FPS games as well) with a real "I am a Ghost" feeling through the game. Just in the first couple missions I have done over 20 successful sync shots and multiple stealth kills.
Gunsmith: Man oh man what isn't there to say about this part of the game. Before one mission on campaign I spent over 30 minutes trying out all kinds of different variations on a rifle that I was using trying to make it silenced putting a good enough scope to not make it a sniper but good enough for medium ranges, different skins, gas systems, etc. It was daunting and thats with only beating 3 missions, I didn't even have all the attachments and skins that I will get later on in the game I could spend hours upon hours upon even hours on the gunsmith mode just trying to make that perfect gun. If your a gun guy and you like video games this part of the game will take up just as much or even more of your time as it would to play through the campaign.
Multi-player: My Internet really sucks so I really have no way to play online with people. Can't really say anything about this.
Guerrilla Mode: Guerrilla mode is pretty sweet I won't lie me and my friend played on airstrip for at-least 5 hours and we barely got past level 37 with only 2 people playing it becomes quite the challenge to cover both the front and back without getting destroyed from the sides. Though we did have our difficulty there really wasn't a dull moment from start to finish on this mode though. The only gripe I can think of when it comes to this mode is that they really don't give you many guns that are even decent to protect yourself with. Other than that its all around great and a blast.
All round a great game I would give it 4.6 or 4.8 stars so rounding up to 5 stars! Great game and hours of fun! | video-games_xbox |
A Bioshock Fan Disappointed. The first Bioshock may have been the greatest game ever made (it was, at least, the highest rated video game in history). I cannot sing the praises of it enough. Bioshock 2, I thought, was pretty decent. What of Bioshock Infinite, you say? No. It fails epically ... in my humble opinion.
To be clear, I'm not criticizing anyone who enjoyed the game. Nay, I envy those people. This is simply a dead honest explanation of why I didn't find the game worth my time.
(I'll mention spoilers, but I'll warn you when I do.)
First of all, what did I like? The scenery was awesome. A floating city in the sky ... who could complain? The setup seemed very promising and even admirably highbrow for a video game. There were promising critiques of "American Exceptionalism" ... how Americans have worshipped the founding fathers and treated foreigners (Blacks, Native Americans, and Irish) as sub-humans. It was also admirable how the main opposing party (the Vox Populi) were portrayed as being another violent, unreasonable extreme. It makes the game ultimately critique both right-wingers and left-wingers, suggesting that the truth may reside somewhere in the middle of those extremes. That's something I can boldly raise my glass to.
But as the game progresses, those edgy themes quickly disappear, and it turns into a bad Star Trek episode. There's just a lot of time-travelling, alternate dimensions, and soiling of the space-time continuum that in the end, the story was so convoluted and unrealistic that it was impossible to relate to.
I was hoping to explore the mysterious, wondrous floating city of Columbia, but in the end, there were far too many impenetrable barricades and un-pickable locked doors that I felt very short-changed. You can get hints about the history of the city from scattered "nickelodeons," but they're all annoying, tedious, and worthless. There are the traditional audio diaries too, but somehow they weren't very compelling either.
In many ways, the game's storyline (I'm very sorry to say) had a striking similarity to that of Bioshock 2. Both games focus around saving a girl who possesses special powers and who happens to be the offspring of the chief villain and ruler of a steampunk dystopia. With the help of said supergirl's powers, you and she aim to escape a chaotic city, cutting your way through legions of crazed religious fundamentalists who follow the villain in blind faith and who regard the super girl as having almost spiritual significance (Elizabeth is called the "The Lamb of Columbia" whereas Eleanor, in Bioshock 2, is called "The Daughter of the Lamb" ... suspiciously similar, dare I say).
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(SPOILER: In both games, you are the father of the said super girl ... though, yes, in Bioshock 2, you're more of an "adopted" father)
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WEAPONS:
I was more inclined to use a variety of weaponry in the older Bioshock games when you could hold on to them all at once. But in Infinite, where you can only hold two (and always find enough ammo), which plunges this game in the sea of other current FPS's. I naturally held on to my two favorites, i.e. the shotgun and the sniper rifle. Honestly, did anyone appreciate this limitation?
Furthermore, the look of the weapons were run-of-the-mill. The weapons of the first and second Bioshock games had character. They were sexy. Not so much anymore.
In Bioshock 1&2, each weapon had 3 different kinds of ammunition. Not anymore in Infinite. One kind of ammunition for each weapon. Less Bioshock, more like everything else.
Instead of the original Bioshock tonics (passive superpowers, like automatically releasing a burst of fire when an enemy strikes you), you have "gears." However, you can only wear four at a time, as opposed to several dozen in the first games. I barely ever switched them (being satisfied with the first ones I found), and generally felt they were inconsequential (which was unlike my experience with the tonics).
Relatedly, there was a plethora of vending machines at every corner, oftentimes even bunched up together. Not very challenging. While there was a twisted logic in Rapture that vending machines sell ammunition, it was never quite clear why the ones in Columbia do.
POWERS:
The game did not live up to its trailers, as some of the epic battles depicted in the previews did not exist at all in the game. Furthermore, some trailers depicted telekinesis. Sorry. No telekinesis anymore in Bioshock. Very disappointing.
I never had the feeling of desperate survival as I had in the original Bioshock. Maybe the programmers at Irrational Games had become way too comfortable, resting on their laurels, feeling that the portrayal of real risk was unappealing to them. Maybe they were trying to pander to extra-sensitive focus groups. Heck, I don't know. All I'm saying is that is that it was way too "safe."
The only two "Vigors" (i.e. the superpowers that were called "Plasmids" in the original Bioshock games) I used was Possession and Devil's Kiss. There was no pressing reason to try and use other ones. All of them seemed overpowered and yet somehow worthless too. Again, another thing that made the game less exciting. And yet, I hardly used Vigors for most of game (until the end, I guess), since I was doing just fine with my shotgun and sniper.
ENEMIES:
The game seemed incredibly easy compared to the previous installments ... though toward the end it grew more challenging but in a more annoying than fun way. Similarly, the game was too short. I was looking forward to getting more "bonuses" ... but before long, I had beat the game. Now, of course there is the "1999 mode" which makes the game much more difficult (i.e. if you die once, you lose the game). Yeah, I suppose that would solve everything. However, I will say the last battle is somewhat disproportionately tough, and the thought of dying there and having to start all over somehow isn't exactly appealing to me. Furthermore, the idea of playing this game again at all is far from alluring. So 1999 isn't the magic solution to my problem, methinks.
Speaking of 1999, the enemy A.I. seems like it was programmed that long ago. Enemies acted very generically and rather brainlessly, contrary to advertisements. In the other Bioshock games, enemies seemed very unpredictable and thus scarier. In Infinite, they generally had the standard "run up to the player and shoot him" strategy. I hardly ever saw the enemies even run for cover. Also, enemies were decapitated way too easily, either from melee or bullets. It was kind of ridiculous.
Irational's efforts to find a spiritual successor for the Big Daddies was an outright failure. The Handyman just seemed like a tougher, cyborg-version of the Brute Splicers from Bioshock 2. The motorized patriots just had more "hit points" then rest of the bad guys. And the Boys of Silence were just the equivalent to security cameras from the first games (and easy as sin to get past). The Songbird, the big looming monster that keeps coming after you, was another let-down. I didn't find him very scary in the least.
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MINOR SPOILER: Furthermore ... you never fight Songbird!!! He's not the main boss or anything. Nay, he's an ally in the end. Sounds cool? Meh. I found the way you could use him in battle was very "scripted" and repetitive.
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In Bioshock 1&2, it makes sense why the people around you are acting all crazy, namely their constant use of plasmids poisoning their minds, plus the radical individualist, dog-eat-dog principles in Andrew Ryan's Objectivist society. In Infinite, it's never quite clear why people are so indescribably out of their minds. There isn't a chemical element to it this time ... just ideological reasons, and it's not quite believable. Furthermore, they never explain "Vigors" (equivalent to the original Bioshock "Plasmids"), and it was unexplained why the enemies hardly ever used them, despite how Vigors seemed very accessible to the general Columbian populace (whereas, in Rapture, there was a greater sense of scarcity of Plasmids due to the economic condition, so only those strong enough could get them I guess).
The "Crows" were the new Houdini Splicers, but they weren't that scary, since you could see where they were teleporting to. Very lame.
This game was all about big waves of enemies. Been there done that. I need something more at this point ... at least from Irrational who hyped up this game for years.
NOT HORRIFYING:
Where was that good old Bioshock HORROR? Yes, Bioshock 2 fell short in this category too. But I think Infinite was far more of a let-down.
Granted that a lot of the game took place in the open air, as opposed to the dark, musty corridors in a submarine city, but Irrational was insisting that they had still managed to make this frightening. So, I was open-minded and looked forward to see how they would accomplish a horrifying game given this innovative context. Alas. They did not accomplish it at all.
You could at least expect that they could create a sense of acrophobia, given the landscape. Nope. It was incredibly hard to fall. And if you did, you are immediately "beamed back" onto a ledge for some cosmically anomalous reason. You didn't get to enjoy the sight of a long, hair-raising descent. Personally, I was really disappointed at that.
I generally liked the Skylines, though I think they could have done more with them. Also, jumping onto a skyline was often graphically quirky. Often, it seemed that Booker would magically pass through the rails of a Skyline in order to get in the right place to hook onto them It just added a few more grains of salt onto the wound which was my experience of this game. (there were many times when the graphics were underwhelming at least, and I've heard this a lot from other people).
I was also open to Irrational's efforts to make the player's character a talkative one. I initially thought it would make the game less mysterious and thus less frightening, but I was willing to be disproven. Alas, I was not. Our character, Booker Dewitt, seems to know a lot more about Columbia than the player does. In the first Bioshock game, you have no idea what heck is going on (and neither does your character), or where you are, and it scares you out of your mind (something Bioshock 2 understandably fell short of as well). Booker, in my opinion, though rattled and schooled often, exudes too much confidence in his dialogue and consequently dissipates the fear and confusion that the player would otherwise have. It leaves nothing to the imagination.
There was also the issue that you can't save your game at any point but rely on periodic checkpoints. I was more frightened in the first Bioschock games where you COULD save at any point. But in Infinite, where you have to rely on checkpoints, I wasn't afraid at all. Somewhat ironic. I like saving when I want to! There is apparently no dramatic benefit to depriving the player of this. In fact, when you take it away, it gets annoying. And that's one of the keywords of this games: freaking annoying.
Also, there was always a "music cue" in the soundtrack to tell you when all the enemies in the area are dead. In the previous game, you're often in a state of glorious paranoia, worrying that a bad guy may still be behind the corner after a bone-chilling confrontation with multiple murderous psychopaths. Not at anymore. Alas.
In general, the space-time manipulation garbage was another thing that made things less scary. In the first Bioshock games, there was more a definite sense of limitation and, I guess, mortality. In Infinite, you are in a universe(s) where anything is possible ... it's infinite, baby! Mortality isn't a factor ... or something. Yeah. There's alternate universes. If you're dead in one, you still could be alive in another. Whatever. I don't really understand it ... and quickly ceased caring either way because all realism had been thrown out the window.
And of course, there is another thing that makes the game less scary than the previous games. Something that deserves another whole section or its own. One I feared might have (and did) ruin the game for me ... that thing called Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH:
I can appreciate the efforts of first-person shooters adding a female companion, as Half-Life 2 beautifully did with Alyx Vance. But I did not "fall in love" with Elizabeth as Irrational was apparently trying to do. She was just kind of "there." She was neither really useful nor particularly alluring (unlike Alyx Vance). What she did accomplish was to further ruin the game for me. She certainly made the game less scary (because when you're not alone, things are naturally less scary ... although somehow Half Life 2 still did a good job at this).
First of all, the game tried portraying Elizabeth as ... I don't know ... innocent and sheltered, which can be attractive. However, they weren't consistent on this. There was one of those "how could you kill those people" moments when she first sees you in action ... but after that, she's fine. It was just an excuse for her NEVER to pick up a gun and shoot back. Yes, if she shot back, then ... THEN ... she could have been useful (like Alyx Vance). But no, she didn't. So, she was just extraneous. Broke my heart.
Wait, you say, was she really extraneous? Well, let me put it this way: the designers were desperate trying to convince you that Elizabeth wasn't extraneous.
Her ability to throw you money and ammunition made things really easy. It felt like the programmers were saying, "See? Elizabeth is useful! She's totally not extraneous!" Yeah. I was convinced. Derp.
Elizabeth's Lockpicking skills seemed like another desperate ploy to make her feel useful to the player. Booker Dewitt is a former Pinkerton agent. You'd think he'd know how to pick a lock. Granted that Booker still needs to be the one to find more lock picks for the task. But, the sheltered, corset-wearing teenage girl does the actual lock picking in the end. Derp.
Whenever you died, Elizabeth would simply resuscitate you with a syringe of a mysterious wonder drug. During that time, you apparently lose some money and the remaining villains get healed. But really, it felt incredibly cheap. This was another thing that made the game less exciting.
Elizabeth would often run in front of my bullets and not be damaged. It was another effort on the part of the programmers to let the player know that she wasn't in the way.
I didn't like "Tears" ... they were also extraneous. It would have felt better if those things were just there in the first place, rather than be there in second after you tell it to be there. It ruined the 1912 Steampunk feel seeing these glowing halos of alternate universes cluttering the decks of gigantic urbanized zeppelins.
Are the bad guys never trying to kill her? Just ignoring her? Yes, perhaps they have orders from Comstock not to kill her. That sort of makes sense. But shouldn't they at least try to "recapture her" or something? Obviously not. Elizabeth has enough time to resuscitate Booker when he dies while the bad guys are just standing around taking some kind of desperately needed lunch break. While it was kind of nice not having to protect Elizabeth in battle, I couldn't help but feel that the player could've felt more emotionally invested if she was more ... I don't know ... vulnerable. They needed to find a happy medium between an implausibly invincible Elizabeth and an annoyingly vulnerable one. They chose the former extreme. Once again, she was just kind of ... "there."
Right after the last shot of an intense gunfight sounds, Elizabeth often launched right into an intense heart-to-heart conversation with Booker. It ruins the suspense and realism, as it makes you think, "Elizabeth is calm, that means we're safe." Ugh. You can do better, Irrational, can't you?
I thought the style of the dialogue in the previous Bioshock games fit their eras pretty well. Not so much in Infinite. Booker and Elizabeth sounded too modern, thus hurting the whole 1912 steampunk immersion experience. But, heck, who cares about that? Alas, I kind of do. Woe is me.
Also, Elizabeth's head was way too big. She was a ridiculous cartoon of a woman. Am I the only one who thinks this? Whatever. A matter of CGI taste, I guess.
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(SPOILER: Also, it turns out that she is, in fact, your daughter. So, you're not even suppose to be attracted to her. Right? Derp. Whatever.)
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ENDING:
(MINOR SPOILER: The last big battle was annoying and highly uncreative. In fact, it reminded me a lot of the last battle in Bioshock 2. Just waves and waves of bad guys. Totally mind-blowing.)
I was looking forward to a new dramatic moral set of dilemmas that Bioshock is famous for. There were two, maybe three, which weren't particularly interesting. Alas, they didn't seem to have any particularly significant impact on the storyline.
Without giving spoilers, I will just say the ending was so fantastically underwhelming I wanted to cry. They say that the game has a confusing ending. But no, it's completely clear to me. It's clear that it's a stupid ending.
Yes, the ending was stupid ... but even worse, it was LONG ... mixed with imponderable, quasi-spiritual, sci-fi riddles about which one cannot help but roll their eyes and have traumatic flashbacks of the Matrix Revolutions. Ouch. Sad but totally true. That's all I'm going to say about that. (hey, it's just my opinion fortunately.)
CONCLUSION:
You could say all this "character development" and "storyline" stuff doesn't matter because it's a "just first person shooter." But the thing is, Irrational was really trying to make it more than that (and I commend them for trying) ... certainly the first Bioshock game was more than an FPS, making great strides into higher artistic and narrative dimensions. But I was unsure how to treat Bioshock Infinite. It was obviously trying to have a compelling story, and so given that, it should be judged on higher grounds. And since it, in my opinion, failed to live up to such higher standards, I was quite accordingly disappointed. I just hope you have a different experience. I honestly do, my friends.
Let me remind you, that I think that first Bioshock game is the best game ever made thus far in our human history. I love the genius of Ken Levine and the other Irrational game designers. But this ... this garbage that they have given us ... is not up to snuff to put it lightly. They have played it safe. And they have played it lame. They have played it perplexingly mediocre. It may dazzle the common rabble for a time, perhaps. But in the end, its forefather will outshine it. It will be forgotten. At least, I hope so.
But this is just my opinion. Now it's your turn to destroy me. And I hope you are successful. Because I hope, somehow, that I am wrong, and people can enjoy and benefit from playing this game. Why on earth would hope otherwise?
I wish you well, my friends. I love you all. | video-games_xbox |
Call of Duty 2 (XBox 360. Let me just begin this review by going on record with the following statement: I'm just as sick of WWII first-person shooters as the next guy. Over the years, I've played so many of them that I feel like I could walk blindfolded from the beaches of Normandy all the way into downtown Berlin. Unfortunately, the bombed-out cities that served as arenas for some of the war's biggest battles have gradually blurred together into an unrecognizable grey mass. It just feels like we've seen the same things over and over again in these titles, yet people keep playing them for some reason.
While I'd be happy to see the WWII genre as a whole receive an honorable discharge, the fact of the matter is that some of the most innovative FPSs of all-time were associated with The Big One. The Medal of Honor series was the first to bring the war home, Battlefield 1942 let everyone in on the action, and the Brothers in Arms games made leaders out of players. However, it was Call of Duty that introduced "cinematic intensity" to the masses, assaulting their eyes and ears with the most realistic depiction of war ever seen in a video game. Now, Xbox 360 owners are getting a chance to experience the sequel, Call of Duty 2, a riveting and exciting game that already enthralled PC gamers last month.
Like the rest of the games in the series, Call of Duty 2 lets you see the war from several different perspectives. In the beginning, you'll play as a Russian soldier, doing battle in the bombed-out city of Stalingrad. Next, it's off to the North African deserts where you and the rest of the British Desert Rats will take on Rommel's famed Afrika Korps in both tank and ground combat. Finally, you'll storm the beaches of Normandy as an American, then battle your way deep into the French countryside. Although we're used to the series' lack of a real narrative, we were hopeful that there would be some sort of common thread running throughout the standalone missions.
Thanks to the Xbox 360's excellent controller, it won't take veterans of console first-person shooters very long to feel comfortable with the gameplay in Call of Duty 2. The default control scheme feels perfect right from the start, and there's a good chance that you'll be a genuine killing machine by the time you finish the brief tutorial that kicks off the game. You'll come to rely quite a bit on the triggers (which zoom and fire your weapon) and the two "bumpers" that control your smoke and frag grenades. While you'll find yourself using a lot of grenades throughout the game, your enemies will use even more, occasionally throwing littering the ground around you with them. Thankfully, there's a handy on-screen indicator that will show you where they are in relation to your position, allowing you to move a safe distance away.
The judicious use of grenades is just one way that your foes will attempt to outsmart you. More than just about any console game before it, the AI in Call of Duty 2 will do virtually anything to gain an advantage. You'll quickly come to realize that when they throw grenades, they aren't always trying to kill you. Instead, they may use them to draw you out into the open, where they can let their bullets do the work. If you're pinned down, you'll often see your foes hanging back for a moment before make some fairly advanced movements. They'll also react realistically to your attacks, moving to cover at the first crack of your rifle.
From the moment you begin the game, there's no doubt that Call of Duty 2 was designed to showcase the Xbox 360's power. The visuals are simply stunning, from the highly detailed textures to the smooth animations of the characters around you, and everything runs at a near-constant 60 frames per second. Sure, there are a few slowdowns here and there (especially during the perfectly-spaced autosaves), but you'll be so engrossed that you'll barely notice the blips. The weapons look particularly nice, too, especially when you use the iron sights to blow away your enemies.
As was the case with the other games in the franchise, Call of Duty 2 features some truly amazing sound effects. The guns rattle noisily when fired, each of them sounding completely unqiue. The voiceovers, though few and far between, are all very well done, particularly in the case of the Russian soldiers that are doing battle against "the facists." Rounding everything out is the game's score, which is just as sweeping and epic as any war movie.
Although the single-player campaign is fairly long, and offers a number of wide-open areas, Call of Duty 2 multiplayer action will be what keeps it alive for years to come. We've been testing the game for a few days now on Xbox Live, and while there are definitely some early problems with games being dropped, you'll have a blast when you're actually playing. In addition to Solo and Team Deathmatches and Capture the Flag, you'll be able to play objective-based games like Headquarters and Search and Destroy. Teams are definitely rewarded (with a win) for working together, something that's missing from many online games.
No matter how you feel about the WWII shooter genre as a whole, there's no denying that Call of Duty 2 is one of the finest FPSs ever created. Thanks to a combination of sharp visuals, teeth-rattling sound effects, and tricky enemy AI, you'll be on the edge of your seat from the moment you're dropped into combat until your dying breath. While there are still a few kinks to be ironed out on the online multiplayer side of things, you'll still have a great time playing with your friends. | video-games_xbox |
Read this if you are considering buying Warrior Within. This review is a little long winded, I apologize, but I feel the need to rant a little. Most reviews here are pretty positive, everyone can have their own opinion, of course, but consider this a warning if you are thinking about buying this game: not everyone will enjoy Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, and some people may even hate it.
I really, really wanted to like this game. I never played Sands of Time, but I like the old side-scroller Prince of Persia games and the idea of a good bloody hack-and-slash game is always appealing. Reviews on Gamespot and other websites were very positive. The only bad thing anyone mentioned seemed to be a new, darker tone that detracted from the game. Well, I never played Sands of Time, so the change in tone was meaningless to me. Reassured by all this good press, a couple weeks ago I went out and plunked down fifty bucks on the game and went home to fire it up. I figured I couldn't go wrong.
Well, I did. Given all the positive buzz, how could I suspect that this is one of the most tedious, frustrating, poorly designed games I've ever had the misfortune to play on Xbox? The "dark tone" is the least of Warrior Within's problems.
Let's see... where should I begin? First off, the free-form fighting system is hype. The combat sequences are flashy, but all you're really doing is stringing left- and right-hand attacks together by hitting the X and Y buttons repeatedly--little more than button-mashing. There's no real depth or technique involved, and it's often inadequate for the fights you face. Combat tends to be either boring or excessively difficult, depending on what type of enemy you're fighting and how many there are. The problem is exacerbated by the game's sluggish, poorly designed control scheme. The Prince has an excessively long recovery time and is generally slow in combat. You can't interrupt or abort your moves and attacks, which results in the Prince leaving himself open to long, unblockable attacks by his opponents, and he automatically "locks on" to any enemy in his field of view which makes it very difficult to pick up weapons and sand powers when you need them in combat. It also makes it difficult to simply avoid enemies, which you'll want to do after the millionth pointless swordfight.
Then there's the platform gaming. The jumping and acrobatics are sometimes fun, but generally frustrating. The camera angles seem to be chosen for cinematic effect rather than usefulness, and the camera is limited and difficult to control. I found myself dying or being forced to waste precious sand tanks frequently because I couldn't see where I was supposed to go, or it simply wasn't clear. This problem is worst during the "dahaka chase" sequences, in which you have to escape a monster that will kill you if you stop or slow down. In these sequences you often have to wait for the camera to get to the right angle so you can see where you're supposed to go, wasting precious seconds.
I found the level design generally dull and uninteresting. I know it's a matter of taste, but I don't think endless stone corridors that all look exactly the same are enough for a game in this day and age. There are some great outdoor areas, and the "garden tower" level is a pleasant departure showing what could have been if the developers had been more imaginative, but in general it's the same bland environments over and over. More to the point, it's often unclear where you need to go or what you need to do. This tends to be annoying, given that the game is almost completely linear. Perhaps the worst thing, however, is the checkpoint system. I am of the opinion that all games should have some sort of save anywhere feature, and this is a game that especially needs it. In this game the environments are dull and the player dies a lot, forcing him to replay the same dull environment over and over because he hasn't reached the next checkpoint/savepoint. Unfortunately, health and save points are few and far between in some parts of the game (this is especially true in the middle section of the game) while in others they are unneccessarily frequent.
All told, it's not a *terrible* game. The platform stuff can be fun, the graphics are decent, and the combat is aesthetically interesting. The game is very cool for the first few hours of play, until the novelty wears off. I have managed to play through to the last boss, and will probably finish the game soon if for no other reason than to get my money's worth. However, it could have been much, much better. It's surprising that in all the hype about it, I haven't seen much criticism along the lines I raised. It may be it's simply not my type of game--oh, did I mention it's glitchy, also?--but if you're considering buying it, I would strongly suggest renting it first. Whether or not some people enjoy it I think it has some major issues. You should not simply spend your hard-earned money and time on it without considering its deficits, which may ruin the game for you as they did for me. | video-games_xbox |
One of the best FPS' to ever see the light of day. To call Halo 3 eagerly anticipated is saying it quite lightly. Thanks to Bungie, the game has been more than worth the wait, and the end result is undoubtedly the best first person shooter to hit the Xbox 360 yet, and maybe ever. Picking up after the cliffhanger ending of Halo 2, Master Chief is in pursuit of the Covenant, who is hell bent and heading to Earth. You'll be happy to know first and foremost that Halo 3 improves on everything that has been seen in the previous two installments of the series, from the game's epic story to the overall gameplay mechanics. The story provides enough closure and answers many of the questions raised in Halo 2, and nicely ties things up while leaving enough room open if there ever are any more installments in the series. As for the gameplay, which is the reason enough to pick the game up even of the story were a disappointment, is everything you could hope for and more so besides. The single player campaign is lengthy enough to satisfy jaded gamers angry at the incredibly short length of Halo 2, but what even makes it more enjoyable is the four-player co-op mode, which can even be taken over Xbox Live. And yes, speaking of Xbox Live, the multiplayer options is where the real meat and potatoes of Halo 3 is to be had, but you already knew that. Besides the standard deathmatch modes, there are some new options, most notably Infection, which involves zombies trying to convert you. New map modes and options really let the player let loose with creativity as well, and result in an incredible amount of replay value that an FPS hasn't seen in quite some time. There are new weapons, brilliant graphics, solid voice acting, and the game isn't hard at all for new gamers to the series to pick up either. Yes, Halo 3 is finally here, and it's quite simply the best FPS to hit the Xbox 360 yet. Whether or not you'll prefer it over Gears of War is another story entirely, but needless to say, there is plenty here to keep you occupied for quite some time. | video-games_xbox |
IT'S BORDERLANDS!!! -ish. So having almost finished my first playthrough my first impressions of the pre-sequal are..."It's good...not great". The game does do quite a few things right. The addition of O2 which drains over time as you walk the lunar surface concerned me a little, but, I found I actually enjoyed the machanic-it is differnet, the double jump can be useful at times, and if one does not pay attention, an empty O2 tank can mean extra damage to the player mid gunfight (the kind of double edge sword that belongs in a BL title). the banter from several of the main characters had me cracking up now and again. The weapons and the combat are excellent as can be expected ,and, the loot tables seem more generous than in the predecessor which is fine by me.
That said the game is short, not only is it short, it FEELS short. Side quests not withstanding the pre-sequal feels about as long as tiny tina's DLC from BL2. This gives the story a very rushed vibe and hardly takes the time to develope the charicters. As an example the main villian is forgettable at best, she has a big intro, and not really much else to do with the game at all...there is a showdown, and an established threat but other than that she's a footnote. The taunts and wit of jack from bl2 over the echo added dimension to the character that just wasn't there for the pre-sequal big baddie.
Similarly to the primary antagonist the scavs where dull...how many of us remeber hitting a rat in bl2 with a fire weapon and hearing him scream "I SMELL DELICIOUS!!!" or comments from psychos concerning meat bicycles, their pounds of flesh, etc. these disturbing personality traits are hardly a presence in the pre-sequal (one exception being Jack...he's still got it) and I found that without these iconic doses of insanity I got bored faster. The humorous moments are few and really leave a void in the experience in my opinion as it becomes just another fps with a few gimmiks.
Still it is a borderlands title, and for the most part fits into the franchise well enough. With a bit of flare, and window dressing, and a touch more story, the pre-sequal would have been a contender to it's predecessors. but as it stands it is more a case of highly polished filler as we await the next title in the franchise. | video-games_xbox |
Quality Headphones. I've had some Turtle Beach headphones for years but they are breaking down and it was time for an upgrade. First let me get my gripes out of the way because from the other reviews it seems like everyone has had the same problem. When the headphones are first taken out of the box they are a little bit tight on the head. The elastic pulls the ear cups up and that makes it a bit uncomfortable. The first week I had to stretch them out and rotate the foam around the cup to make it fit better but after that they felt great. I suggest you tie a piece of string around the top of the head band part to break it in quickly or just do what I did and play a lot of video games.
Aside from that the head phones are great. The sound is amazing and the looks, what can I say these headphones are beautiful. The sleek design, the futuristic look, the bright LED colors, everything is beautiful. For the $90 price tag these are top of the line gaming headphones. The setup was easy enough for me. I plugged the USB into the XBOX and the audio jack into the headphones connector on the TV and it works great. Same thing with the computer when I listen to music, just plug in the USB and connect the audio jack to the headphones port and that's it. It works instantly right out of the box. I love the bass booster setting to really feel the action but my favorite is the surround sound. They call it Immersion and it really does immerse you in the game. It lets you hear everything, for example when I play Assassins Creed 3 the Immersion setting lets me hear all the soft footsteps around the corner or the redcoats talking in the next room. The sound is clear and both the highs and lows are crisp. Another great feature is the chat cross fade. This is great when you're in multiplayer and you have something to discuss with your group. The cross fade allows you to either listen to straight chat, or listen to the game without the chat, and every variation in between. You can pick the perfect balance of game play sound and multiplayer conversations.
All in all these headphones have great sound quality and amazing multiplayer chat features. The style is beautiful and bright LEDs give it a sweet look in the dark. The only problem would be the elastic on the top head band is a little bit too tight at first but you just have to break them in so they sit comfortably on your head. Overall for wireless headphones with a sound quality this good $90 is a great price and well worth the buy for any gamer. | video-games_xbox |
If this game was a Color, it would be See Thru. It's pretty much Forza 4. The graphics are a little better, but still not that crazy.
This game played a large part in me deciding to look around friday morning for the console at various stores. Turns out, it's not impressive at all.
The impulse triggers are nothing special. Don't go in thinking it's gonna change anything. It's just 2 more rumble motors in the triggers, so the controller shakes in more places. It will be utilized better in the future, but it's nothing special.
They incorporated micro transactions like never before. You can end up spending tons of money getting the cars you want without playing to earn them. That's cool and all, but the prices they charge are insane. You can tell they were more interested in ripping people off, over creating an awesome game. If that money went towards better games, it might be worth it to some, but we all know that's just money in the pocket for them. Now to be fair, places like game stop that make 100% profit off of used game sales are the cause of dlc and micro transactions, but it's still irritating.
The game itself plays just like previous forza games. Nothing new, nothing special.
They added drivatars which is like ai that plays more like actual players. It's ok, but not that noticeable. Once you pass everyone, you have to really mess up to ever get passed. So instead of the rubber-banding from previous racing games, it's just you driving off, gaining a bigger and bigger lead. Yeah it's more realistic, but it's not that big of a deal.
The tracks are ok, but i'm really tired of these racing simulators that have the same lame 10 tracks to race on over and over. Even with more variety, the game doesn't get better.
With all assists turned off, you can't total your car. You can make it shift gears slower, accelerate slower, have cracked glass, lose bumpers and your steering will pull to one side. That might sound like a lot, but no matter what, you can't actually total the car. I've never been able to flip my car either. Plenty of attempts, but it looks like Forza left that out again.
It's a racing sim that isn't very realistic. Yeah you can tune your car to your specs, but why bother?
I never felt all that interested in playing for longer periods to reach that next goal.
Buying cars isn't special. You can't sell cars, but you can delete them. WHAT!? Yeah it's pretty cool. You can totally erase a car from being yours without getting anything in return. IT"S THE BEST!
If you love Forza and small tweaks to the game, then this will be right up your alley. If you're looking for a cool racing game, look at need for speed or save your money and get the ps4. | video-games_xbox |
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