Product Description

Raz must develop and unleash an arsenal of paranormal powers, including telekinesis, firestarting, clairvoyance, and his most powerful weapon of allthe ability to launch himself telepathically into someone elses mind, and run around in the demented amusement park of their imagination. Raz takes on their inner demons face to face, wrestles with their nightmares, and digs up their secret memories. Ultimately he must enter the mind of his worst enemy and destroy his dark plans at their source, wh ... Read more

Features

• Explore 13 incredibly unique levels--three set in the real world and ten set inside fantastic mental playgrounds and horrific dungeons of dementia
• Rise up in rank as you collect figments of imagination, sort emotional baggage, clear out mental cobwebs and crack open memory vaults
• Complete special training missions to learn the power of Levitation and the ability to focus Razs mental energy into a powerful PSI Blast
• Rank up to earn additional psychic powers including Telekinesis, Invisibility, Pyrokinesis, Clairvoyance and Confusion
• Put your thoughts to useRaz can grab the thought bubble over his head and pull it down around himself as a shield, hang from it like a hot air balloon, or jump on top of it and ride it around like a skateboard

Reviews (4)

Stunning, deep, funny, gorgeous - just great!
Psychonauts was purchased solely on the Tim Schafer name. I loved Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle and of course the Monkey Island range and so picked up this game as soon as I could without reading a single review.

First Impressions
After sitting through the various fun cut sequences (useful in getting you aclimated to the weird style of the people in the game), I was off. The initial control method borrows heavily from 3D platformers such as Donkey Kong 64, Banjo Kazooie and of course the Mario franchise and so whilst I felt at home when controlling Raz (the main character), I was somewhat concerned this game was nothing more than 'another' platformer.

But the game was fun and had lots of collecting so I plodded on in the apparent cutsy world of Psychonauts... As the game progresses, however, a much darker more interesting story unfolds. One which has you jumping into people's minds where you see their fragmented thoughts and the vaulted scary emotional baggage contained inside. This, along with the unique fighting control had me hooked. Sure I wanted to collect everything - and there's lots of collecting to do - but I also was genuinely fascinated by how the story was going to play out.

Controls
Psychonauts uses the usual third-person control of left thumbstick for movement and right thumbstick for camera. You can assign your offensive moves from a skillset of 'psych' powers to the R, white and black buttons. Fans of Zelda's Wind Waker will recognize that tidy way of ensuring you have the essential fighting tools to hand when you need them. Aside from the occasional auto-camera fubar, the controls are solid.

Graphics
Now this is where things get interesting. This game has some of the most varied and colorful graphics I've seen. When you get to the Matador's mind you'll see what I mean; it's like someone put a blacklight in my TV. And since a large portion of the game is played out inside people's minds the game is freed from logical imagery or even realistic forces (such as gravity). A guard that you enter has this bizarre paranoid mind for example; it's a rolling upside down/sideways forward world that's amazing to play on and so good to look at. I really cannot fault the in game graphics or the unique style. My only complaint on this front is most of the cut scenes are in-game rendered (that's good), but one or two are movies still using the game's engine. When these sequences appear it has the graininess of obvious compression and can break the spell of playing. Small point though.

Sound
What you'd expect in a zany game - ochestral one minute and Benny Hill the next. Sound effects are put to good use and the voice over acting is stunning. Everything fits perfectly.

Overall
I love this game. I'm not done with it - I'm about 70% in and I've been playing for 12 hours or so. I have taken the time to try to get a lot of the collecting done so if you whiz through it, it may be a quick affair. But this game deserves to be savoured - no other platformer on the XBox has this depth, humor and gameplay. It's got everything - it's a text adventure, a platformer, a shooter, a pinball game and a movie and it all blends perfectly. The puzzles are harder than the end of level bosses and that's the way it should be -there is no button mashing to win in this game. It's on par with epic game's such as Zelda Ocarina or Mario 64... and if these sorts of games appeal to you then you'd be doing yourself an injustice by not buying this one!

Great game with huge environments
Even when you play just a little of this game you will love it. First of all the humor is great (even though a little crude but who really gives). The environments are huge and when you find secret rooms you can get things that actually help in the game instead of some games where all you get are extras or small movie clips.(The game does have extras too though.)The game almost has no flaws in its gameplay. The game gives you a surprise many times. I also like that sometimes you can choose from a selection what you are going to say to somebody else. Just like in KOTOR. Even though the game is solid I think the 50 dollar price tag is a little too much. So if you have $50 in your pocket and you want adventure video game you mussssssssssst get Psychonauts.

Psychonauts - Clever, Imaginative, Fun!
Let me start off this review by saying that I play a lot of different videogames, and owe allegiance to no genre in specifics, which is why I'm not going to compare this game to others.There are a variety of aspects that the game has which make it awesome, and I will cover these individually, in seperate paragraphs.

First off, creativity.This is not a spoiler, so have no fear as I progress.The game revolves around a ten year old child with psychic abilities by the name of Razputin, or "Raz".Without his parent's knowledge, Raz sneaks into Whispering Rocks Psychic Summer camp, a secret government training facility for young psychics.Once discovered by the camp counsellors, he is informed that his parents have been called, and will pick him up in a couple of days.Until then, he is not allowed to participate in any psychic training or activities.Of course, this doesn't stop our young adventurer from doing exactly that, and this is where the game begins.The game invites you to actually explore other character's minds, usually to help them solve an internal problem (frequently due to insanity), and each of the levels creatively reflect that character's problems.For example, you are invited into the mind of Fred, a distant relative of Napoleon, who has a split personality disorder as a result of continually losing strategy games to one of the inmates at the asylum.As you enter his head to kick Napoleon out and restore Fred's sovereignty of his mind, you are invited to play a game of strategy versus Napoleon's embodiment in Fred's mind.

Humor: I have to admit that I have been particular to Tim Schafer's sense of humor ever since playing Grim Fandango, and this game made me laugh a lot. For instance, at one point in the game you find yourself in the mind of a former high school wrestler.The walls inside the sewers of his mind are decorated with high school lockers, and one passageway is designed as a gym shower room, at which Raz remarks "Man, I feel like I'm back in High School...Which is wierd, because I'm only ten years old"The game is full of clever little side comments which make the game a blast to play, and the interactions with the other characters are constantly amusing (My favorite character is a psychic camper by the name of Mikhail, who is from Russia and has an obsession with finding a hairless bear)

Gameplay: I like the style of gameplay a lot.This is one of the first platformers I've played in a long time that seems to actually get everything right.If it's possible, you just have to try.If it's not possible, then there's no way to hack around it until you're supposed to.Some games tend to screw this up and allow the impossible, and it's nice to play a game that has a good environment to it.Moving on, the control system is nice.You move with the left analog, adjust the view with the right analog.You can assign three psychic powers (out of a possible 8) to hot buttons, and the game pauses while you assign them (you assign by pushing right on the d-pad).You can pull items out of your backpack, which never gets full (which doesn't break realism because at any given time you only have a max of something like 13 items of small-medium size).The game allows double jumping, which I usually think is cheap, but Psychonauts excuses it by defining it as an innate psychic ability which can be improved once you get the active psychic ability "levitate".The only thing I disliked about the gameplay was the fact that when you tried to target things, you had to be fairly close to your target, which seems silly when the main reason you would target something in Psychonauts is to use a ranged weapon like Psi Blast.

Sound/Music: This game has an awesome soundtrack.Every mind you invade seems to have the perfect music written for it, from the Mexican-themed "Black Velvetopia", to the Godzilla-like "Lungfishopolis".I'm not really an expert on describing music, which is why this part is going to be short, but let it be known that the music is just as awesome as the rest of the game, I just can't describe it owing to my own deficiencies.

Graphics: This game uses the xbox's graphical potential fully.I experienced no lag at all while playing, and yet could see clearly that everything was richly textured, high on polys, and gorgeous to look at.The graphical style is a little cartoony, which is something that I love in videogames, but I understand it is an acquired taste, so that is something you should definitely be aware of.In addition, each mind uses the game's graphics slightly differently, and gameplay varies a lot from mind to mind.For example, the earlier mentioned "Black Velvetopia" has a somewhat inverted color scheme, as if the world was being viewed under a blacklight.

So here we go with a final summary, which is probably the only thing most of you readers will read anyways.
Creativity: 10
Humor: 9.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 8.8
Graphics: 10

Overall: 9.5 - This game is one of the best games I've ever played, and is one of the best out there for xbox.Get it! :)

One of the best so far this year
Everytime Tim Schafer creates a game, I know it will be a blast.Having been on a roll starting with The Day of the Tentacle up through The Grim Fandango, each game has been delightfully intelligent, creative and an overall wonderful experience.Psychonauts is no different.In fact, it is one of the best games I have played not only this year but in a long time.

The setup is that there is a camp for psychic children who feel different in the outside world.At the camp, the counselors teach children how to harness their power to become Psychonauts, psychics who actually enter people's minds and sort out their problems.Because of this setup, each and every world is completely different from the others.Connected to a hub world of the camp, each real "level" is a person's mind.And each mind reflects the person's personality, fears, phobias etc.For instance, the beginning level is that of your drill instructor.His level is a warzone complete with mines, air plane drops, explosions, barbed wire etc.

Tim Schafer's touch is also evident in the characters who are actually characters.They all have a personality and are very emotive.I haven't laughed at a video game so hard since Conker's Bad Fur Day.This game is hillarious.From the kid who practices looking through a peep hole in the day to get practice for when it's filled with girls to trashing a town Godzilla style, the game has it in spades.However, there are some surprisingly disturbing moments in the game that are also darkly humorous.Because you have psychic powers, you also can do some pretty cool stuff from pyrokinesis, telekinesis, levitation, invisibility, etc.These moves help you progress through the levels and pick up hidden items throughout the game.

Graphically, the game is awesome on the Xbox.The levels are done in vivid colors and with a wonderful cartoon style.The campground seems alive as there are creatures walking your path.From squirrels, crows, pigeons, lizards, bears, etc, the world seems populated and just feels real.You can tell a lot of time and effort was put in to make this game come alive and it works.The game is presented in 480p, for those interested.

Aurally, the characters are voiced to perfection.Some great voice actors have been employed and it really helps create characters that are lovable.The only audio glitch I've noticed is that sometimes my speakers will "click" as voices come in or as the sound changes sometimes.The game is also presented in 5.1 surround in game.

Since the game is a platformer, all of the standards apply.In the real world and in each person's mind, there are a ton of things to collect.In the real world, there are arrowheads that can be pulled from the ground that represent cash.There is a scavenger hunt also going on that will earn you rank (which gives you new powers) and there are cards that can be formed as more rank.In each person's mind, there are also different things to collect such as emotional baggage, mental cobwebs, figments of the imagination and safes which you much punch open to reveal some of the person's past.Some of these slide shows are funny and some are actually kind of sad as you see how these people came to be who they are.I list these items to collect just as a note that the game definitely exhibits all of the charms of a platformer.But there actually is a reason to collecting everything and they fit together in this humorous world.

The game moves quickly and besides one or two intstances of panning that had the game do a wave type pattern, it is perfect.My recommendation if you play the game is to take your time talking to everyone.It helps flesh out the story and if you listen and keep making rounds after each world you will see minor breakups, makeups, humorous instances involving squirrels who tell one kid to kill everyone, and plain funny dialogue.Take your time with this one and you will definitely be rewarded.

This game is great, it's just what I was looking for.It helped remind me why I play video games.When a person can create such wonderful worlds and allow you to play in them, you realize why you play games.It is so creative.Where else can you be chased by a giant fish, rage across town as a Godzilla-like creature, be in a disco world where you must race, pin-ball style, wage war against a Napolean complex and set fire to squirrels?If you want a creative and fun video game that will take approximately 10-15 hours of your time, then this is definitely a must buy.Sure some say the game is too easy and relies on platforming cliches but honestly when you are having this much fun, does it really matter?Why quibble over small faults when you will genuinely have a complete and utter blast playing the game?I absolutely cannot recommend this game enough.And unfortunately, it's one of those games that will end up like Ico or Beyond Good and Evil where no one hears of it and no one plays it.Don't let that happen.Play this game because its games like this that the industry needs to keep creating.

A must buy.Creative and excellent. ... Read more

Product Description

EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 2 continues to deliver innovative gameplay via the analog Total Punch Control mechanic, allowing gamers to throw multiple punches, block, bob and weave with complete precision and control. Packing in more fearsome punches, players can now dominate the ring with the all-new EA SPORTS Haymaker allowing gamers to knock down their opponents with one devastating blow by adding extra power to each punch. Every hit counts in the game with powerful punches inflicting dynamic ... Read more

Features

• The EA SPORTS Haymaker: Unleash the power of the punch. One crushing blow will knock your opponent straight to the canvas, but miss and you're in trouble.
• Total Boxing Control: You now have total control of your boxer with 360 Sticking and Moving and the ability to punch and block while dancing around the ring.
• Create a Champ: Using the analog sticks for total precision, create and train the ultimate champion by transforming his skills and physique.
• EA SPORTS Cut-Man: You take an active role in recovering from a beating by tending to a swollen eye in the corner between rounds.
• Dynamic Punch Impacts: Each punch pays off with stunning visuals that reflect the effect of each blow. Your fists have never felt so powerful as injuries affect your fighting abilitiesa swollen eye prevents you from blocking, and a broken rib impairs your punching ability and mobility.

Reviews (28)

And In This Corner, the Undisputed Champ!
EA's Fight Night Round 2 does a great job of mixing simulation depth with arcade-style fun.As a result, you can decide how in-depth you want the game to be and play it to your tastes, giving it very broad appeal.

The depth shines most during career mode, where after signing on to an upcoming fight, you get to control your prep both in and out of the ring.For instance, you begin by picking your entourage, from trainer to cutman to even ring girl.Each one will provide different benefits to your performance during the big event, but as any pro knows, they also cut into your take of the prize money.You've got to budget yourself wisely or else you'll end up getting title shot with no money to hire much-needed help.Next, it's on to training, where you select from a menu of mini-games that can boost your attributes for that fight.It's a good idea, but the training itself isn't much fun.Finally, you can equip your fighter with new gear to help boost his abilities even further (and to just look cool) before stepping into the ring.You can even buy skills like new finishing punches, taunts, dances, etc.Of course if you just want to get on to the toe-to-toe action, you can also bypass all of this prep.

Once you're in the ring, you've got an unprecedented amount of control.The left analog stick controls your body movements while the right controls your punches.Many of the more devastating blows are triggered by a series of right-stick movements, i.e. pushing to the right then quickly rolling down and then up for a right-handed haymaker hook.So much was made of this punching scheme by other reviews, but I was completely frustrated by it for the first week or so.Then, just like riding a bike, I suddenly got the timing down and now I love it.The punch controls feel very natural and have a realistic sense of timing, i.e. they prevent you from just repeatedly hammering on your opponent like the old button-press setups too often allowed.Blocking and defense also uses the right-stick in conjunction with one of the shoulder buttons, and is just as deep - you can block, parry, counter and also sway/duck to make an opponent miss.And when you get him to miss, look out because he'll be wide open waiting for you to deliver the knockout blow.

Speaking of knockouts, the game adds a great touch when either you or your opponent are getting close to going down.The screen gets tunnel-vision and action starts to move a little bit slo-mo;the audio is muffled like you're underwater.It's meant to simulate being punch-drunk and it works.If you can clinch your opponent, you'll usually regain enough stamina to get back to normal, but if you time it poorly, he'll just level you as you approach.

Between the rounds, you have a set amount of time with your cutman (assuming you paid for one in your entourage).He can work on swelling and cuts to try to keep you on your feet for the next round.You've got complete control over what problems he fixes and what part of your face he works on.You've got to instruct him well, because the damage in the game is very realistic, i.e. as your left eye swells more and more, you'll be much easier to hit on that side and better opponents will absolutely take advantage of this.

Visually, the player models and action animations are very good.The overall look of the game is a bit dark, especially the background environments which sometimes seem fuzzy or murky.You're treated to slo-mo replays of the biggest hits throughout the entire fight, and they are extremely detailed - actually, possibly too detailed.I was surprised by how bloody a lot of the action can become.Coupled with the jiggly swagger of the ring girls, this game definitely earns the "Teen" rating.

The announcer is fine, with plenty of sound clips to mix in so that he doesn't get repetitive.

There are modes for quick fight, career mode and create-a-boxer.Many current and recent pros are represented.The create mode benefits from the same depth that EA put into the other aspects of the game, and you can create some really interesting characters.

Overall, this is an exceptionally deep game - far and away the most thought ever put into a boxing game.From the control in the ring to the mini-games in the training facility to the gear shop where you get decked out, you'll feel like you're vying for that undisputed belt.


PROS
*Once mastered, punch control allows for great action
*TOns of depth with career mode and create-a-boxer
*Good boxer models and very smooth animations

CONS
*Steep learning curve on punch and block controls will frustrate some
*Opponent AI is generally good, although most boxers will still fall victim to a "wild man" offensive strategy
*Bloody fight visuals and bikini-clad ring girls make this not the right choice for everyone's kids.

SOIA1979 "Totally Sweet" is a geek
don't listen to SOIA1979 "Totally Sweet"

this game rocks.i've played it non stop for over a month.amazing!!!

THIS GAME IS A K.O.
im actually above 13.Anyway this game is awesome the graphics are perfect.they got classic players like Muhammad Ali,George Foreman,and some more classic players.They also got alot new school players.The sound is great.The gameplay is awesome.The controls are hard to learn at first...it took me like 1 or 2 hours to get a hang of the controls,but i got used to them.Its (...) its worth it all!I dident like boxing that much but now i love it after i played this game.Its improved alot sense the last fight night game.They got haymaker on this game its were a boxer puts all his power in a punch.When a round is over on this game your boxer probly will look beat up pretty bad so you can heal your boxer a little bit were you can lower the swelling and stop the bleeding.Also when you get knocked down in a fight you have the count to 10 to get back up so you have to stop the dizzyness somehow to get back up it gets more harder every time you get knoced down.The matches can get pretty intense,especially when the two players are about to go down.The story mode is fun you customize your own player and can buy new gear for him when you get the money.But when you get to like the age of 30 or 40 you will just start loosing and your whole career will go downhill and it hurts more when you have some titles and someone beats you and they take over.So BUY this game it rocks you will not regret it!

Fight Night Part Deux
'Fight Night Round 2' is an improvement upon the original.I won't go into to its many updates because they've been done in every other review here.But my problem with this game, as with all boxing games, is that there is never any 'science' to the sweet science of boxing.

Though it has many more bells and whistles, 'FNR2' is just like every other previous boxing game in respect to the use of defense.You can climb the ranks and bash the crap out of opponents and really never have to put up your guard.You can throw 300 punches a round and though you'll get tired, you can still pretty much keep raining down the fury on opponents.The addition of the haymaker was interesting, but is much to easy to land.In real boxing, when a boxer throws a wild punch he'll very rarely land it.Usually, he misses and gets beat on for trying.But not in 'FN2'.You can throw haymaker after haymaker and rarely have to pay the piper.

Now, I'm not totally bashing this game.It is fun to play, the graphics are excellent(especially the damage on fighter's faces), the cornerman in between rounds is also a nice addition, and the replays are usually pretty brutal.All in all, 'FNR2' is a fun game.Is it worth the $50 price tag?Probably not.I'd recommend waiting till you can find it for $20.

fightnight
yo yo baby yo baby yo,

this game IS the realest deal!
i love the music in the menus, i love the character creation and the thousands of possibilities it offers. the analong punch controls and KOs, it is so realistic. all day i think about fightnight and the awesome things i can do with it. I can't wait to play it for the first time.

number one fan,
BusterCard

P.S. I havent played fighnight 2004 either but it still is the realest squad ... Read more

Product Description

Madagascar is the only game that lets players enter the world of four hilarious Central Park Zoo animalsa personality-packed crew made up of a lion, zebra, giraffe and hippo. Players must master each animal's natural skills while adventuring through the exciting city of New York and the dangerous island of Madagascar, interacting with other ... Read more

Product Description

EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 2 continues to deliver innovative gameplay via the analog Total Punch Control mechanic, allowing gamers to throw multiple punches, block, bob and weave with complete precision and control. Packing in more fearsome punches, players can now dominate the ring with the all-new EA SPORTS Haymaker allowing gamers to knock down their opponents with one devastating blow by adding extra power to each punch. Every hit counts in the game with powerful punches inflicting dynamic ... Read more

Features

• All-New EA SPORTS HaymakerOne-punch knockdowns are now a realityyoure always one punch away from flooring your opponent, but miss and youre in trouble.
• Total Boxer ControlYou now have total control of your boxer with 360 Sticking and Moving and the ability to punch and block while dancing around the ring.
• Create A ChampUsing the thumbsticks for total precision, create and train the ultimate champion by transforming his skills and physique.
• All-New EA SPORTS Cut ManCounter the effects of damage, and keep your fighter in the bout by taking an active role between rounds.
• Dynamic Punch ImpactsEach punch pays off with stunning visuals that reflect the effect of each blow. Your fists have never felt so powerful as injuries affect your fighting abilitiesa swollen eye prevents you from blocking, and a broken rib impairs your punching ability and mobility.

Reviews (13)

stick and move!!!
The parry system is a problem but i can get by ok... My main gripe is the cpu throwing haymakers. The cpu will close in on you and swing until you fall which utterly crazy but other than that it's a great game! if you can get past the haymakers and find the right strategy against the parry you'll be able to school anybody and cpu like Winky Wright did to Felix Trinidad!

Just play the game.
If you are like me, then you may be tired of people sharing their lists about the pros and cons of every game they play. Rather than giving you a play-by-play analysis of the game, I will ask you one simple question: Are you looking for a fun game with high replay value? If your answer is "yes," then you will definitely enjoy Fight Night Round 2.

The Bottom Line: This game has a great career mode, and the boxing action is fantastic!

I agree with naz's review
overall the last game was better than this new one the fighting in my opinion feels glitchy and i feel the game doesnt run as smooth as the last one although the graphics have improved thats not enough to make me like this one more than the first ...id wait till the price drops on this one if your still interested in buying anyways..because over all its still an ok game

Great Game With a Few Monumental Flaws
Fight Night round 2 is so frustrating because this should have been a game that was head and shoulders above every other boxing game created so far as well as almost any other sports game out there. It is still a good game but falls far short off the greatness that was so easily within reach. Here's my take on the many highs and major lows:

Why is the Game so Much Fun...
a) Punching control/delivery, movemnet, and response to punches landed are wonderfully delivered. Graphics are top notch, and the soundtrack while not quite as good as the previous version in my humble opinion isn't bad.
b) The create a boxer mode has tons of possibilities and offers hours of entertainment as you create a boxer that can look like almost anything you can imagine (within reason off course!!) and fight your way to the top in different weight classes.
c) Playing with a friend (or foe!!) isgreat and for boxing fans, this is probably as close as you can get to living the dream of big time boxing without actually getting your block knocked off.
d) Different add-ons, like tattos, different types of apparell, ring entrances and cute ringgirls can make for an ecclectic colorful boxer and entrance.
e) While it doesn't appear to really have a direct impact to the outcome of a match, the cuts, briuses, as well as the cutmen in your corner make it seem realistic and remind you that your boxer is taking or dishing out a grand beating as the case may be!!!
f)You can now protect your boxer while he is moving foward or backwards. Great addition.
g)A boxer in trouble can now clinch to stop the pummeling!!!

EA Missed the Boat...
a)Parrying a punch which was included in the previous game was quite interesting. If it was pulled off correctly, it gave the parryer a slight opening to land a punch. Even when you did parry a punch a quick opponent could escape damage if you weren't quick to strike. When a punch is parried here (FN Rd 2) the boxer inexplicably drops his hands down to his side, and literally sticks his head out for about 2-3 seconds!!!!!! This is completely asinine!!!!! Also as soon as the AI is close to being knocked out, 8 out of 10 punches you throw are going to be parried. So a person is more able to defend himself when he is close to being knocked out?!?!?! Oh behave!!!! Yeah that makes a lot of sense.

b)Inclusion of the HAYMAKER: while this might have seemed like a good idea, it definitely did not translate to anything positive in this game. In fact I will go as far as to say that this is the single most negative, and worthless addition to the game. It single handedly destroys, and downgrades the game play against the games AI. It is understandable that especially in the heavyweight class, a single well placed punch thrown with the full force a boxer can muster could knock an opponent out. However there is a reason boxers don't go around throwing HAYMAKERS. You can see them coming from a mile away, you can't throw them in combinations, and they wear you down really fast. Neither one of these apply to the AI in this game, so you have a situation were an opponent throws HAYMKERS in a rapid stacatto fasion!!!! Totally rediculous!!! Combine this with the previously discussed parrying flaw and a fight against a fairly competent AI oponent would go something like this: You throw one punch it get's parried and your boxer puts down his hands and sticks his head out, boom, boom, boom, you get hit by 3 haymakers. This is repeated over and over (AI never tires of throwing haymakers off course), till either you get knocked out or you dance around your opponent till the match ends, afraid to throw a single punch.

Have you all noticed that anytime a game maker introduces a special move; especially difficult for a human to complete, which has the propensity to drastically change the outcome of a game, that game invariably becomes a mess. This in no exception.

Playing this game with a friend hides it's worst flaws, and here the game really shines as it can provide hours of fun and entertainment; beating each other sensless without actually loosing any teeth. However playing against the AI at any serious level is indeed a lesson in futility, which quickly becomes distracting. Perhaps EA got lazy and took the easy way out towards the end who know?.....

Some improvements from the original version...
So, I rented the game before I bought round II. I don't think the developers did enough to justify a part II to an awesome original release. If you think you'll be blown away by the graphics just like you were with version 1, think again. I liked the gameplay [which has not changed, thank god]. I didn't see many enhancements besides closeups of KO's and better sound management. Other than that, the fighters are the same, no new editions. The graphics have improved, but not as much as one would have expected. I would not pay full price for this game... I think the used market on this will be very cheap once the release has been around for more than a month or two. I like version wayy better. ... Read more

Product Description

Defy gravity and stretch the world of arcade football to the skies with NFL STREET2. NFL players are free from their real-world constraints to dominate the streets one stylin move and one field at a time. Raise your game to the limits with up-the-wall passes, off-the-wall catches, and highlight-reel wall jukes that are sure to solidify your place as footballs greatest urban legend. With New Exclusive STREET Events, head-to-head wireless gameplay, NFL superstars and legends playing both sides o ... Read more

Features

• Exclusive STREET Events: You wont find STREET Events like STREET Slalom, Style Standoff, and Style Point Challenge on any other platform.
• Wireless Head-to-Head Action: Quickly find and challenge other players to some hard-hitting Exhibition Modes and STREET Events from across the room via Wi-Fi.
• Party Play: Up to four players use a single PSP unit to compete in game modes including 2 Minute Challenge, Jump Ball Challenge, and more.
• Off-the-Wall Intensity: Defy gravity with off-the-wall catches, wall hurdles, and wall end zone dives, or create open throwing lanes with up-the-wall passes.
• Show Off Your Style: Make stylin no-look one-handed grabs, or celebrate a winning score with one hand as youre pulling down a tough catch with the other.

Reviews (6)

Matrix FootBall
NEVER BRORING!!!
No complicated passing, no struggiling to get open, just run up a wall or something to get open! Just hit a button above your recivers head to pass.
Great release for the PSP, this game is sure to keep you hooked throught every mode of the game.
Graphics are amazing! This may not be realistic, but it's more fun this way!

5 Stars From the_truth!

Brought Back Memories!!!!!
I grew up playing footbal in the street. I wish I had this much fun. Very good game, brought back memories of my youth...just wish I could have done half the stuff that's in this game. From the jumping off walls to the very entertaining Gamebreaker 2's. If you ever played football in the street, this is a game you should get.

PLEASE TELL ME THE SONGS THROUGH A REVIEW
I know this is great game I havent bought it yet please though if anyopne knows list them

Throw on your best *bling* and let's get it on!!
NFL street 2 Unleashed is a beautiful, brilliant example of what Sony's new baby the PSP has to offer. It combines hardcore gridiron action action, with gameplay as smooth as butter. There are many types of game modes to choose from including: Own the city, where you must create your own pimped out player, pull together a team from your hood, and dominate the streets one field at a time. Be sure to choose your players wisely. The game is also accompanied by hot new tracks from some of your favorite hip-hop artists. The fun never really ends until your eyes shrivel down to grapenuts, or your battery dies. (Pesky battery.)

huh
well the gameplay is ok graphics not so good, and is really hard. Get only if diehard fan of series. ... Read more

Product Description

This time around, more emphasis is placed on the paper abilities of Mario and his friends. He can turn sideways to slip through cracks, fold into a paper airplane to fly, roll into a tube, and much more. He can also use tons of items like hammers and thunderbolts. ... Read more

Features

• Timing Action Commands help you dodge or inflict damage, and impress the crowd to give you power for super attacks.
• Fold into a paper airplane and take to the air, turn sideways to slip through narrow passages, and roll into a tube to bounce to safety.

Reviews (123)

Paper Mario is fun
if you liked the first game get this, paper mario is one of the best non sqaresoft rpg for gamecube it has tons of fun things to do and you get to go on after you "beat" the game! (the arena is the best =D)

THE BEST GAME EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is the best game I ever played.I also played the nintendo 64 version of paper mario to.Every one must get this game.

A kiddy game that adults will actually laugh at? Wow.
Back in the Nintendo 64 days, Mario, Nintendo's mascot, was in the uber-successful Mario 64. And pretty much since then Nintendo's been trying to have it's "sequel" or successor. They did that with Mario Sunshine but it probably wasn't what we had in mind. Paper Mario was released then and it had Mario and Co. as 2D characters in 3D backgrounds so Mario was essentially paper-thin literally. We now have the "sequel" to the original and it vastly improves on the original.

Story: One would be pretty stupid to try and think the Mario storylines were deep or original. Princess Toadstool is kidnapped and Mario must save the day by beating Bowser. Well Toadstool has been kidnapped only it's not Bowser's fault. This apparently ties into a treasure map and the mysterious Thousand Year Door.

Graphics: Basically with these kind of games like Wind Waker is that they're beautiful only on a different level. Nowhere near the brightness of Mario Sunshine, the realistic ultra-detailed Resident Evil 4 or the brilliant level design of Metroid Prime but it more than captures the essence of the game.

Sound/Music: Maybe they learned that Mario Sunshine's voice acting was pretty bad so Nintendo isn't even bothering. You still get Mario's "let's-a go!" or "oh yea!" and some other voice samples but nothing full speech. The music isn't immediately catchy but it fits.

Gameplay: All games come down to this. Paper Mario's "gimmick" is that it revolves around, yes, Mario as paper form. In this form he can fold himself into a plane and fly to a far platform, squash himself and launch himself into the air or squeeze through tough spaces.

The battles in Paper Mario unfold on a stage with it's own audience. This probably one of the most unique ideas to come in a long time. Basically battles are like Paper Mario and Superstar Saga with timed presses and dodges and you get a cast of characters to be your battle buddy.

The audience however plays a key part in everything. Let's say you're not showing off your extra damage attacks or not using cool moves then the audience goes down and some members will even through rocks at you. However, if you're the fan favorite they'll throw goodies on stage. There is also stage elements like the stage can collapse or these spiky guys can randomly fall from the ceiling. This isn't a press A constantly RPG, you'll be busy.

One of the big pluses is the dialogue. The dialogue in Paper Mario 64 was downright horrible. Here, it can actually be downright funny. My ever favorite Bowser line: "Crystal Stars you say? They sound like world conquering tools, I want them!". And Luigi doesn't join you on the quest but he has his own quest to tell you about should you go chat to him.

It's sad that games like this get past over for others which is a shame cause this is one of the Gamecube's must-play titles.

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS GAME ROCKS LIKE ANYTHiNG!!! I love all of the chapters!!!! I could play this game a thousand times!!!!!

The Best Mario Game Yet!
This game is a ton of fun if you are into platform games.
There are loads of partners (7 to be exact) to choose from and each partner is unique! You have to collect 7 crystal stars and a long journey has to be taken for each one!

The problem is that when you are talking to someone who is telling you what to do, it takes for ages!

You get different abilitys such as Plane, Roll etc. and they are all briliant!
I think the best bit is the battles, you have to fight bad guys when you bump into them on the field mode! Each crystal star gives you a star attack and they are all fabulous!

If you like platform games and/or fighting games then this is the game for you! ... Read more

Product Description

While other WWII games have sugarcoated the war experience, Brothers in Arms is based on a true story and will immerse gamers into the gritty, uncensored and emotionally-charged side of war. The game puts you in the shoes of Sgt. Matt Baker, a D-Day paratrooper squad leader, and asks you to lead the squad as you balance their lives with the success of the mission. The true stories and historical events you experience on your perilous journey take you through real battlefields meticulously recrea ... Read more

Features

• One of a Kind: Brothers in Arms is the only first-person tactical shooter set in WWII.
• Real Military Tactics: Intuitive and easy-to-use squad controls appeal to both the hardcore and mainstream gaming audience.
• Real Soldiers: Featuring a cast of more than 20 characters, each having a distinctly unique personality, appearance, and style.
• Revolutionary AI System: Allies and enemies use the standard operating procedures of fire and maneuver to flank and kill their foes.
• Unprecedented Authenticity: Historically accurate and detailed battlefields, events, and equipment recreated from Army Signal Corps photos, Aerial Reconnaissance Imagery, and eyewitness accounts.

Reviews (35)

Excellent WWII FPS
This is easily one of the best games available for XBox, provided you're already 18 of course, if not stop reading this and instead buy a sports game or something for the Gamecube, since those guys at Nintendo seem to be the only ones really concerned in making games aimed at younger audiences, really. Anyway, in this game you'll find the most realistic WWII experience yet for any console, and playing as a member of the 101st Airborne is simply exciting, the game is just pure realism. That being said, the game can get painfully difficult in the latter levels, even with 4 difficulty levels (3 available, 1 unlockable), though notso much as impossible. Well then, what's this game made of?

The Graphics:
Ah yes, one of the most interesting parts of any game. I won't rate based on a scale, I'll rather point out the main aspects.The way the characters are modeled is scary; their facial animations and body movements are the real deal, with no noticeable blur, pixels or polygons. The scenery is exactly the way you've seen it in say..."Band of Brothers". There's no "pop-up" at all, and the environmental objects are meticulously deatailed, right down to the number of leaves on trees. The only downsides are the sporadical frame rate hiccups.

Sound:
Play this game with Dolby Surround to trully hear the thunderous explosions and rocking gun sounds. These true-to-life sounds enhance the experience by much, and they all are crispy clear and recorded from their real life counterparts, just fire the BAR and you'll see what I mean. This great sound is only marred by a few sound bugs which randomly freeze the sound of a gun firing.

Control:
Just as mentioned in my favorite gaming magazine, the XBox controller is perfect for FPSs, and this is no exception. Moving around is piece of cake, as is issuing orders to your soldiers, and the precision aiming is the best thing that they could've thought of; the enemies' "supression indicator" feature was a clever thing too, it's helpful in knowing when to move, and adds to the realistic experience. Bad spots: later on in the game, when things get heated up, issuing orders can get a bit chaotic. The "situational awareness" mode isn't as useful as it could've been, and a free movement option there would make a big difference.

Topping it all are interesting unlockable extras,which toghether with the above mentioned things, make this game a top choice that's not to be missed by FPS or action game fans, if you don't have it yet, get it immediately, it's an exhilirating experience.

PRETTY GOOD WWII SHOOTER
Oh joy, yet another WWII era game with their antique weapons!That's what I thought when I saw this.I mean why did we need another WWII action game?But hey, surprise the heck out of me but this one is fantastic!In this game you play Sgt. Matt Baker a member of the Airborne rangers taking place at the dawn of the Normany invasion as you jump behind enemy lines into the French countryside.EAch mission level begins with a narration by your character and wonderful cinematics that bring a movie-like feel to the game which I really love.

The variety of missions involves capturing towns, taking out tanks and machine gun positions, etc.You can control various infantrymen and even your own tank and following traditional military manuevers to carry on to success.The combat is fast-paced and exciting.Aiming is a bit haphazard though.There are times when you'd swear you hit a guy with a kill shot and he keeps on trucking so that is a bit of a problem and the main reason I drop my rating down to four stars.

Graphically the game looks great with terrain features culled from actual locations in France (not that most of us would know this, of course).The character models are very good and move smoothly.The sound is very strong as well as the din of battle is almost deafening in surround sound and very authentic.The narration while perhaps being a bit on the overly dramatic side still lent some authticity to the game.

The game can be played online in multi-player mode but I really have not played it much online.

Awesome game with minor flaws!
Brothers in Arms brings gaming to a whole new level with tactical squad commands! The graphics are great and make you feel like you are actually in Normandy. Situational Awareness view lets you make the best decisions possible. The guns look and sound authentic. However, sometimes the game makes a strange noise that sounds like a machine gun that lasts the whole level.
Overall, I'd give this game an A-. Hope you buy and enjoy this great game!

Best game.....EVER
BUY THIS GAME!!!!
Gameplay-100/10-Amazing, i mean AMAZING gameplay, First person TACTICAL shooter......Havent seen that in a while, aye!Supress, Flank, and KILL!!!!!!!YAY how fun, Great controls that flow with the game, control up to two squads(Assualt Team, Fire team)
And control, yes yes its exiting...TANKS!!!
Graphics- 99/10- Amazing Graphics. although theres mouths dont move MUCH when they talk its still all GREAT. When you shoot the water, it will splash up ie: when you shoot dirt it will fly up, so on. Amazing level design(i havent gotten to play multiplayer yet so i'll have to get back to ya'll with that later.
Sound-99/10- AMAZING, MUSIC FITS CUTSCENES PERFECTLY!!!!!!!!... So on. they curse ALOT.... like so much a sailor wood hang hisjaw slightly open....But none the less it fits the game perfectly
Replay value-???/10- im still beating on round 1!!!!!!!
multiplayer-????/10- Sorry :(, i dont know yet i'll get back to you when i do
Addictivness-100000000000000000000000000000000000000000/10.
Hasnt left my Xbox yet( most likely mever will!!!!!!)
Overall-101/10- Buy this game, trust me, you wont be dissapointed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Best WWII shooter of all time has arrived
Since most military games are based on WWII, its hard to find a game that stands out from all the others. What brothers in arms brings that other games dont is its unit-command function. You place the command icon on a location, and the team you selected will move to that location. If you place it on an enemy, your order is to attack him. This really gives you controll of your squad.

The graphics in the game are good, maybe even great. True, the textures are kinda blah but what makes this game impressive looking is the grass. The grass sways in the wind and reacts to explosions (not on the ps2, not enough processing power on the ps2 to do that) The character models are also incredibly detailed. They in no way look cartoony like in Call of Duty, instead it will remind you Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers.

The sound is great. The guns sound great. To increase the realisim, there is no music during the game, only during the menues. When the music is there, it is good. The actual dialog spoken during the game can be kinda bad. The voicees during the battles are good, but in the beginning of the maps, they seem kinda flat. But overall its good.
This game would be nothing without its unique gameplay. The FPS elements are done well, but the squad controll is the best part.

Overall, Brothers in Arms, in my opinion, is the best WWII shooter to appear on the X-box. Get it before the war is over.

Concept- Make the difinitve WWII FPS on the X-box and succed

Presintation- 9.6 Box art is good, menues are good. It really takes you back to 1944.

Graphics- 9.0- The textures could be better, but the foliage and character models look great. Some slowdown and skipped frames hurt a little, but not much.

Sound- 9.2- Battle sounds and battle voicovers are good, actual dialog is hit or miss.

Gameplay- 9.7- Great, Hits the ocasional hiccup, but is generally perfect.

Entertainment- 9.6- Verry entertaining, only bad thing is it gets hard. Even on the easy difficulty. Even if you are a veteren FPS player like me, you will die alot.

Replay Value- 9.4- Multiplayer only supports 4 players, but the battles seem bigger due to the fact that each person can controll 3 man AI squads. Its...interesting, but good non the less. ... Read more

Product Description

MLB® 2006 features numerous gameplay enhancements for the upcoming season. The all-new Branch Point Technology (BPT) provides seamless fielding transitions and smooth base running; the all-new PlayMaker Fielding Marker provides better fielding interaction with your player attributes with your skill level in order to make the play; all-new Release Point Pitching helps determine your ability to hit spots in the strike zone; a deeper Franchise Mode; and an all-new Career Mode where you call the shots. With returning gameplay favorites including EyeToy™ functionality and online playability through 989SportsOnline.com, MLB® 2006 promises a true-to-life experience for every pitch, hit, catch and throw from the moment you step onto the diamond.

Features:

• All-New PlayMaker Fielding Marker merges your fielding skill with player attributes and ultimately provides challenging defensive interaction for you to play flawless defense.
• The all-new Release Point Pitching and Confidence Meter will impact your ability to hit your spots and paint the corners. As your confidence grows or diminishes, so does your ability to pitch effectively.
• For the first time in any Career Mode, you actually can call the shots. Discuss playing time with your manager, demand a trade or negotiate your salary; the decision is yours.
• The deepest Franchise Mode available just got deeper with the all-new Morale System where player morale is tracked on virtually every levelsalary, playing time, batting slot, team performance, you name it.
• Experience a completely unique commentary experience in every game that adapts and reacts to real-time actions and situations with all-new Progressive Audio.

Features

• All-New Branch Point Technology (BPT) Only BPT gives gamers the ability to field the ball and pre-load a throw with seamless fielding transitions impacted by footwork and momentum. This new technology is also used for base running allowing smooth and fluid transitions from a run or slide.
• All-New Pitcher Confidence MLB 2006 brings baseball fans the ultimate duel with a revised pitcher/batter interface by binding player rating attributes with a gamer's skill. While easy to pick up and play, yet difficult to master, MLB 2006 is a game within the game. Additionally, Pitcher Confidence plays a role in a gamer's ability to hit spots in the strike zone, while frequency of mistakes will impact the confidence level of a gamer's hurler, making it more difficult to hit paint the corners
• All-New Fielding Zone Marker With an all-new fielding interface that brings the player attributes together with the user's skill level, players will really need to make the play. In the past gaa player with the Franchise Mode Player Editor.bats, check swings and more.
• AAA / AA Minor Teams & Stadiums MLB 2006 features 60 teams and 5 stadiums from the Minors.
• Old-Time Players & Stadiums Unlock and play with Silver Era and Golden Era players like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, then play in old-time stadiums like Forbes and Polo Grounds.

Reviews (30)

More frustrating that fun.
This game is just full of holes. The loading takes way too long, the career mode takes months before you see results, the game freezes at the worse possible times, and it's just bad times.
For instance, I tried career mode over the last week. I built a guy, did alright, played around for an hour, and the game froze up. I tried it again the next day, played for an hour and tried to save, froze while I was saving. Just 3 minutes ago it took the typical 3-5 minutes of random loading, and froze the second the loading bar was full.

AND ANOTHER THING, the game designers seemed to focus more on pointless features like 10-year contract bonuses and pitcher confidence, and less on actual hitting/pitching. I can't count the number of times my bat went right through a ball for a strikeout. There are also random glitches that cause balls to break the laws of phyisics to get strikes.

This just seems to be a Murphy's-law kind of game. It WILL freeze at the worst possible time, you WILL strike out in the most important situation, and you WILL want to pull the CD out of the machine and punch it into powder.
PS: It's not just my CD that freezes up, almost every person who's reviewed as noticed it.

It's so annoying
The games whole setup is awsome but almost every time I play it the game frezzes. I'm in the middle of my franchise and it frezzes on me. Its sooooo cheap and annoying.(I was winning too!) I just don't see how such a great game has sucha big issue. So annoying! Geeze! I just can't belive it. But anyway, sometimes it freezes while it's giving me a tip or just freezes out of nowhere and my ps2 screen goes pure white. I can still hear all the sound and everything but it's either white or not moving at all. You can get the game and enjoy it but suffer some major issues. Or you can just wait until you see something else you like. But on my opinion I sorta wish I don't have it and havemething else.

Game Freezes!!!!
Do not buy, listen to everybody when they say the game freezes!!!It always does.Dont waist your time, and especially your money!

MLB 2006
It is a good game, but it is a little to cartonish for me. I am glad you have Mark Elis on the game. I liked the graphics and the game play

Game Freezes
Sony...read one of these reviews why don't ya? Every single person who has written a review says that this game freezes...and so do I. Jeez! I've been a faithful fan of MLB since it came out, but this game is so frustrating! I'll get into the 8 or 9th inning and wham...the game freezes. It locks up, so you can't play it and have to restart. I've even won games and been in the process of coming back to the main menu when it freezes.Never again will I buy this game. Never never never never never never.



If Sony would just fix this problem the game would kick butt!!! ... Read more

Features

• Massively popular online RPG
• 10 races and 15 classes with unique abilities
• New race, class and areas
• Hundreds of new items to acquire and trade
• For 1 or more players

Reviews (16)

Eh
Alright, I had my sare of addiction towards this game and it was actually awhile ago, but I'll try to explain what I liked about this game.

From the start of this game, you'll most likely notice the very bad graphics that are displayed... or maybe the bad sound.. or maybe the decent number of people online at one time

Well, i think this game was the best game in the world to me at one time, I had a level 27 Warrior Halfling ( Hobbit ). But simply, I stopped playing ebcause I stopped paying the 10$ a month. And after that, a few months leter i went to the computer version, Everquest II. ( see my review for that. )

There are some good things about this game. It is online so you can play with other players, it's overall a fantastically made RPG, ( in my opinion better than FinalFantasy by a long-shot. ) And improvements over the first one for the PS2, there is a new Race. ( The Ogre. ) and new class. ( Alchemist. ) There are also some new areas to explore, with new creatures. The team also updated you're leveling, so instead of the highest level being 50, it is now 60. The final thing that was updated, was a very very slight update in graphics. They are hard to see, but they are there. Anyways, if you do play this game and begin to like it, trust me; your hours will be FLYING by. My summer in 2003 and part of 2004 was gone before i knew it. ( I played the first one too. )

Anyways enjoy yourself with it. This game can be enjoyable to you, or a piece of junk.

Good game but.......
It would seem SOE has turned their back on this game.It is a good game,It needs a lot of updates,and definitely a NEW expansion!!Overall this game rocks,but customer service is horrible!Talk to anybody who plays this game,they love it,except for the way SOE treats us as customers.Be prepared for lots of xp grinding,which can get tedious after a while.But xp grinding is not unique to just this game.There is plenty to do on frontiers for a newbie...but beyond that it's past time for a new expansion.I think SOE needs to remember they do have other games and customers other than those on EQ2.I also play regular EQ,so i am a fan of the series,SO....I think the future of eq frontiers is uncertain,have you seen it on the shelves anywhere?That in itself speaks volumes.So let the buyer beware!GOOD game,bad support,uncertain future.

Need no life to play
Everquest is a valiant attempt at an online rpg hypbrid but is far too encompassing for its own good.One must have no life and play constantly to really get the most out of the game and advance.I like the characters and idea but i just cannot get into it, i am looking forward to similar games with what i feel will be better online capabilities and better enjoyment and value. I would recommend Capcom's Monster Hunter or even the obligatory FF but that one has monthly fees whereas Monster Hunter is free.

Just Read
(...) i am 16 and i dont want to go though that stupid sign up thing. Anyway..... This is a great game but it comes at a price u do have to pay (...) but its well worth it. Be careful of everquest because it is very addictive some ppl play it for days straight. In fact a lot of ppl call it Ever Crack. Its such a fun game dont wry but be contious of what time it is because hours go by like minutes.

Can you improve on perfection?
Surprisingly, the answer is, 'Yes.Yes you can.'

The original EQOA is the best of the overcrowded MMORPG herd.It's simple and fast paced, inexpensive and addictive.From a technology perspective it does amazing things on a PS2 without a harddrive.When I first played it, I couldn't imagine making a better RPG without waiting for the next generation of consoles to come out.

But SOE did it.EQOA: Frontiers is that better RPG!It's the same shared world as the original- both sets of players can fight side-by-side.Most of what SOE improved on are the little things, things that you'd never even notice until you played both.The imagery and music is better.There are ambient effects like fog and raining brimstone in the right places.The skies and the weather are just a little bit more present and real.

Best of all, though, your character is more customizable with better textures and an absolutely fantastic 'Class Mastery' system that lets you choose what path you want to take to power.Even within the same class and race, two characters can end up with very different strengths and weaknesses.

Add all that to making what is already a huge online landscape even larger, and you have more than a great game.It's an achievement.

And so I'd have to say that EQOA: Frontiers is my new pick for the finest of the MMORPG genre.Start with the original if you're skeptical- it only costs as much as a month's subscription.But mark my words, you'll end up buying the upgrade to fuel your addiction.

And when you do, you'll be impressed.Very impressed. ... Read more

Features

• Gorgeous hand-drawn artwork and voiced dialogue bring the world of Stella Deus to life!
• Over 50 hours of tactical gameplay including side quests such as the Catacombs of Trial!
• Effectively manage your characters to launch devastating Team Attacks!
• Customize your inventory by fusing and creating items!

Reviews (6)

Poor effort...
This game was a great disappointment.I am a huge RPG fan, and have been unhappy lately with the offerings.Everything is "action" RPGs...real time combat, so many movies your sould screams with impatience, lots of button-mashing tricks to perform, you can beat a game without ever learning a strategy deeper than "hit the attack button."I have been pining for a decent RPG with turn-based combat that forces you to THINK.This game was not it.

The Plus:
No random encounters.Random encounters can be fun, but many games just have TOO many.I swear, I've played games where you beat an encounter and then fall into another one less than two steps latter.That can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to solve a puzzle or advance an interesting part of the story.Stella Deus eliminates that frustration.You fight when you want to fight!

Combat scenarios are great.Not the best animation, but I like the AP concept.Cool movement, especially use of the terrain.

Fusion.Other games have similar concepts, but this is REALLY easy to use.Intuitive.

The Negative
This could have been made over a decade ago.Non-interactive environments (actually, no "environments" at all, except in combat!).Fairly weak storyline.Easy to beat.Side quests are short (some less than a minute) and boil down to one or two quick battles or, even worse, you pick a quest and the game seemingly randomly tells you if you succeeded or not.BOORING!

I figured out an easy way to level up.Take a weaker character (not too much weaker, or the other characters will dodge all his attacks).Put him in the first level of the catacombs with a bunch of more powerful characters.I have found that a character killing a character two levels higher will earn about 50 exp.You can level up pretty quick.On the first level of the catacombs, after a few levels, you can ignore the opponents (they always miss) and just concentrate on having your party murder one another.Spero can die in the catacombs without ending the game (as long as one of your characters survives).You can level up pretty fast this way.Even if your characters are the same level, you can still level up faster by just murdering one another in the catacombs than just about anywhere else.

If your levels are five or more higher than the bosses, strategy is no longer required.You'll pound on 'em!

All in all, a poor effort.One star.

Its about time
I've always liked SRPGs, but they're just aren't enough of them. Especially for the PS2. FFT is the best I've played, but I'd proprably put this right after it. Disgaea was fun with outrageous levels, but I wouldn't want to do that again. {2 much work} Lapucelle and Phantom Brave didn't really do much for me. The reason I instantly liked Stella Deus more than the nimon ichi {don't know how to spell it but u know who I mean} games is because of the story. Its no FFT, but at least its worth hearing. Disgaea was comedy driven, but Phantom Brave insulted me with its kiddy simplistic story. Stella Deus gameplay wise, is solid. Its not as complicated to learn as the others, but it isn't shallow either. Instead of set turns, its all a matter of AP.
Example: The more armor you wear, the more weight, hence the more AP will be spent on each action. The only promblem I have is the afore-mentioned lack of enemies. Cool bosses, every now and again, but mostly the same old enemy classes. Unlike FFT where you didn't see certain classes until later in the game, Stella Deus decided to show you all of them pretty much right off the bat. Also, {and for some reason none of the reviewers seemed to mention this} the graphics are the best I've seen in an SRPG. I know thats not saying much, but its true.

Mediocre effort.Tactical RPG fans need more depth.
Seeing the same 5 enemies over, and over, and over, with the occasional "guest appearance" is not my idea of depth, or replay value.
The battle system is well thought out.(even if it hasn't changed since Hoshigami)Instead of a move and then an action like every other TRPG out there, you have 100 AP (action points) to spend every turn.You can either use some of this to move and some to for an action in the traditional way, or you can move just a little bit, but not enough to place your next move after the enemy, and then basically get a free quarter turn.Also good is that you can attack as many times as your AP will allow.Some characters, if not moved, can get in upto 3 attacks a turn.
Now I will say that there is some depth to customizing your characters, but not nearly enough.Maybe if the game had come out BEFORE Final Fantasy tactics I'd have been fine with it, but it can't hold a candle to FFT's job system.To say nothing of Disgaea and Phantom Brave.
The whole item combination system is nice, but the recipes are a little too arbitrary.That is to say there's no logic as to why you would get any specific outcome.(cloth armor + herb = lance???)It's trial and error and that's it.
The quests are similar to Final Fantasy Tactics but even in that simple regard the game comes up short.The quests give either a fight or some info.
The big problem here is that after playing games with insane amounts of depth like the aforementioned FFT, Disgaea, and Phantom Brave...
Well this game just doesn't measure up.
Not only that, but those same 5 enemies you see over and over?They're also what your mercenaries look like.
Whoohoo.
Also there's a blue haze over the screen during battles and it gets annoying.Yeah I understand that it's the 'miasma', but I'd still like to see the games visuals sans blue fog.
So.Solid but not something you can really sink into.

Basically next gen hoshigami
Fans of Atlus' PS1 Tactical RPG Hoshigami are doubtlessly going to find alot to like in Stella Deus.

It's very much stylistically similar to Hoshigami with a few interesting tweaks such as Fusion - combineing two items to make 1 unique item (think bow + axe = cloth shirt?)and much more indepth character developement.

What i really liked about Hoshigami was it's unique twist on turned based combat - the ability to speed up a characters next turn by taking no action or little action. Stella Deus brings the same kind of strategic depth by also utilizing the same feature.

Another important point to make is that so far i've found Stella Deus to be one of the more difficult tactical RPGs i've ever played. Despite spending a fair amount of time leveling up i've had to resort to cheap tactics in a few battles. (such as getting a boss to chase one character while pumbeling him with arrows for an hour from an elevated position)This does alot to hurt the overall experience.

In short there are alot of other tactical RPGs for the PS2 i would recommend over Stella Deus (such as Disgaea Hour of Darkness and Growlanser Generations)but if you especially liked Hoshigami or want something a little different then Stella Deus is definately worth checking out.

The best since Final Fantasy Tactics
Granted it's not FFT yet it's the best Strategy RPG out there right now. the gameplsy is just fun, the grphics and the art design are pretty smooth and accomplish well on getting the player in the feeling of the game. The story is not as complex as FFt but its still pretty good, being far more serious than that of games like Disgaea or Phantom Brave.

i fu like SRPG's I highly recommend it.
a review from a fan to fans. ... Read more

Product Description

A new role-playing legend is bornimmersing players into the vampire underworld of modern-day Los Angeles. As a recently sired vampire, you must first follow the rule of the Prince, the de facto leader of the vampire clans. But as your story unfolds, you soon realize you have more choices than first appeared. Who will earn your allegiance? Who will you betray? Who will you eliminate? What path will you take in the World of Darkness? ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Mature
• Genre: Strategy/RPG
• Mission: Set foot into the dark world of vampires in this rich RPG/first-person hybrid.
• Platform: Not yet available

Reviews (59)

Interesting game with a good scare factor!
I am not what you call a vampire fan or even know the difference between different secs of vampires but I thought this game sounded interesting so I bought it at half price (I waitedawhile from the intital release date to buy it) and began my journey into the darkness of L.A. California.............

What did I think???

It is a game genre that I am not familure with at all. Before buying this I played a lot of FPS and RTS war games even a flight sim here and there but never a horror game and one about vampires to saythe least so my review may not mean much to the hard core fans but coming from outside of this game genre I thought it would be interesting to review my initial output fo the game since I am the least bit partial to the genre.

Graphics are very good but not like HL2. I like the way they did the interiors in buildings with such vivid imagination but the outdoors need some work. Lighting was good in certain areas like the Mansion upstairs (Light House strob light was cool) but the game is mostly very dark which looking at the theme it is expected.

Gameplay is where a game makes it or breaks it and as far as I am concerned VMBL made it. A typical RPG in third or first person with a good story line and acting. An example of this is when your doing favors for Treasa at the Asylum and she freaks out on you tryng to kill her other personality (Janus) which you think is her real sister all along until she shoots Janus and nothing happens to her? This was very weird but interesting because I never have seen this type of scene in any game as if they just through it in to surprize you! The combat part of the game needs a lot of work but for what the game claims to be an RPG, this is expected.

Horror is where this game earns the full 4 stars for me. That is why I bought it and why most people buy this type of game for the scare factor if there is one so did I get scared? Yes, I did! Never have I been afraid to play a game (come on I'm 30 years old and grew up watching the Shining) but when you play through the Hunted Mansion level with the lights out, downstairs alone and the sound way up, you will get scared like I did! Trust me! I loved that Hunted Mansion because you did not know what was around every corner and the sounds you would hear there were very errie!

Overall the game is a good scare in some parts but in others a good story and plot to follow along with. I did not finish the game as of yet (I am stuck in downtown L.A. map at the Skyline Hotel level trying to find this women to talk to but can't get any access to the hotel rooms to find her and my hacking points are not up to speed to break into the hotel security system) so I am just giving you a half-way-through the game review but it's the intital impression the game gives that counts when judging it not the ending of it!

My advice, if you like horror genre games and a little scare here and there buy this game! If you want a FPS action game like HL2 look else where please! If you just like a good story line and plot that is a little out-there then this is the game for you! Heck, buy it and see what you think reguardless of what anyone here says in there reviews of the game. You won't regret it, trust me!

Ohh and I almost forgot, you will be afraid!!!!!

Great game practically destroyed by bugs
I have never come across a game like "Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines." (which from here on will be known as "VTMB") It's really two games in one: on the one hand, it's one of the most buggy games I've ever played, with an error or problem every other second. On the other hand, it's perhaps one of the most fun RPG's that I've played in a good while.

VTMB involves you selecting a vampire from a group of different vampire classes, (basically, every kind of vampire that has graced literature or the silver screen) naming it, customizing its stats, and then entering the game. You're a young "childe," practically thrown into the world of vampires overnight. From here on, you'll be getting missions regarding a central narrative that involves clashes between vampire sects, lust for power, and the end of the world.

It's a very amazing world that you enter, and the cast of characters has never been as interesting! From the charismatic but flawed Prince LaCroix, the educated Beckett, Ji Wen Ja the travel agent for the Underworld, (because he "sends so many people there") the stripper with class Velvet, or the film producer Isaac Abraham - you won't forget too many of these characters, no matter how hard you try. Voice acting and writing on this project was well done, and (like the characters themselves) many lines will stick in your head. My personal favortes were, "I'm like a book - all you have to do is run your finger down my spine and crack me open to see what I'm all about" as well as "I'm going to forget that because I still remember remember impertinance vividly" and "Too many of us might set them off like fundamentalists on contrary opinion." At times it was too easy to recognize when the same voice actor was doing another character, but this is mostly in the minor characters and extras.

Yet there are A LOT of problems with this game. Some of it bugs, some of it found in the gameplay itself. Problems I noticed were:
1) Typos in the subtitles. Jack wonders what's up with LaCroix and that "powedered wig" of his. Isaac explains that the film is "damamged."
2) Sound Crash-to-Desktop. I've found that sometimes the game would lock-up when a character was about to say a certain sound file, then the game would crash. I searched online and found a cure for this problem: reinstall the game, patch it, and play it again. (backing up save files and using them won't ruin it) While this solves the problem, it shouldn't be an issue in the first place.
3) Odd sound errors. On more than one occasions zombies, when you aggro them, will give off police aggro cries.
4) Serious downtime issues. Loading nearly kills this game, and evertime you enter or leave a building and go to another part of LA you have to wait for the game to load. In Chinatown and Hollywood it loads rather well (albeit still too long) but in Santa Monica and Downtown it gets unbearable. Considering bigger games like "Morrowind" have wonderful loading times, I wonder what the issue could be.
5) Lag-like states. Sometimes when a lot happens - or sometimes just in general - the game acts like a lagging online game, skipping or pausing. It gets especially annoying in combat.
6) Animation errors - One time a cinematic never finished because a character didn't go where he was supposed too and the game was stuck with him in that position, so the event wouldn't trigger. Also, when people run from you they sometimes slide and then skip across the level. (again, a lag-like state)

Still, with all these errors and problems, I still have fun with this game. Granted, when I first started playing VTMB the problems made me stop playing it for a while, but when I retried it and got into the storyline I was hooked. I've spent many hours playing this game, getting into the quests and deeper into the plot. Troika lives up to their name in dialogue, and like the superior "Arcanum" you can selected either good, minimal, or bad responses to characters as you talk to them, and depending on how you respond take the conversation any which way or change the way the character feels about you. You can also determine your allegiance to the different factions, as you could in "Arcanum." You can also use many different skills, including seduction, intimidation, persuasion and others, many of which can be used in conversation. Replayability in this game is very high, and I found myself making different characters from different races with different skills, just to see how each one could play out in the storyline.

So what's the bottom line? Well, your best bet is to wait until the game is cheap enough to just give it a try. ($20 or under, depending on your expenses) If you can be patience with its shortcomings, it is a decent RPG that will be well worth your time. Well, if the loading time doesn't take up most of that.

this is a frendly rateing i haven't goten a chance to play
i only have one peace of the puzzle but from what i've read and seen on the sight it's going to be a great game

"Clunky" is the best description, compromises gameplay
Being a fan of the earlier Vampire Redemption, and just having finished Half Life 2, which uses the same game engine, I was expecting an amazing experience.I did read about a couple of bugs though, so was willing to cut this game some slack and just wanted to enjoy the Vampire experience again.However, the game is really clunky, by which I mean less than smooth.The first clue to a lower quality product was in the opening cinematic when there is a scene of 3 vampires walking away from an execution, and their bodies don't move up and down - they just sort of float away.If this were a vampire trait fine, but it appears to be the programmers taking a shortcut. . .Also, the game needs to load new levels very frequently.Go into a building or down a staircase, etc. and you can expect a new level load.Two or three loads per level would be ok, but 6 or 7 to get from one side of town to the other is too much. The environment is also much less interactive than in Halflife 2.When you go beat up some drug dealers, you can't break any of the lab.Hitting the table where they are making the drugs just brings a smashing sound, the table is intact, and the drugs on the table stay undisturbed.Likewise, don't count on any windowbreaking, as the window will just show damage but not actually break if you hit it.Finally, the voice acting is not great, but is less of an issue.The subject matter and character stats, experience, etc. are good, but the design issues drag down the enjoyability of the game.All in all a good bargain game, but not one to buy at full retail price.

A very good vampire RPG!
I have to admit that I hesitated a good while before buying Bloodlines, because of all of the reviews that mentioned bugs. However, I liked the screenshots and the vampire theme and decided to give it a chance. At least with the patch installed, I really enjoyed the game and found no significant or show-stopping bugs. It looks great, the NPC are very interesting and well developed, and the quests can be funny, dark, and quite elaborate. The game, even with the patch, does have a few technical problems as well as some other flaws.However, if you like vampire stories and role-playing games, then Bloodlines is definitely worth a try.

Gameplay: Character creation (you can be 1 of 7 types of vampires) is interesting, allowing you to customize a male or female vampire that has been recently sired.You have several choices of abilities and skills, but character creation is not as deep as in some RPGs like Morrowind.During the game, you earn experience points that you can use to increase certain skills, attributes, or disciplines (your vampiric powers).This system generally works well, but don't expect to max out many of these areas by the end of the game (thus, choose your character-development path wisely).

The game is rather linear in progression, although there are a number of side quests and your character is allowed to solve some quests in 2 or 3 different ways.Movement and combat are much like typical first-person shooters, and melee weapons are much more powerful than guns (a good sword will take you through about the whole game--I like the shotgun, though). There are a few good scares in the game (such as a haunted hotel and an encounter at a park), but the developers missed a lot of great opportunities to really scare players. Overall, the story is a very good one, and you'll meet some fascinating characters (like VV, Gary, Jack) who have great dialogue.The quests are well done and often multi-layered, but there are a few areas where things get bogged down, such as when you are trying to reach certain bosses.You often have to go through an hour or two of encounters with their minions in order to reach them.I have only played the game through once as a male Toreador, but I think I did about all of the side quests, in addition to the main quests.There was only one quest in a graveyard that I found too frustrating to complete, but thankfully it was an optional side quest.

Graphics: The graphics look realistic (based on the Source engine), but I didn't get good framerates walking around the 4 cities. There are some long load times between levels, which improve drastically depending on how much RAM you have (I would suggest at least 768MB).The four cities are all very well rendered, but a bit small.Character models look good, as do most animations, but many models are repeated.Overall, you'll need a good video card to enjoy the game thoroughly.

Sound: There is a lot of good atmosphere in this game, thanks to some good music, great voice acting, and ambient sounds.I am not into heavy metal music, but it just seemed to fit well in this game's gothic scenes.However, even with the patch, there are still some sound issues, especially occasional studdering (increasing my RAM seemed to improve this a bit for me). Also, the game crashed to desktop about 8 times.

Replayability/Value: Overall, I am very pleased with this game. The game will last about 40 solid hours the first time through.In my view, there is not much replay value here. While it might be interesting to try another vampire clan or the other gender, there's not much difference in how the story unfolds.There are at least two alternate endings, but the difference is only about twenty seconds of cutscenes.Still, if you like role-playing games, first-person shooters, and vampire stories, then I highly recommend Bloodlines.I hope there's a sequel.
... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft (X-Box) (K86-00013) Xbox Controller S (ST) ... Read more

Features

• One 9.8 foot cable with inline release
• Six analog buttons with 256 levels of sensitivity
• Two analog pressure-point triggers and one eight-way directional pad
• Two vibration feedback motors
• Two expansion slots for memory cards or other accessories (sold separately )

Reviews (27)

Worth Buying, But Wont Last Forever
This configuration is definitely an improvement over the original controller. You're thumbs wont have to streatch for those white and black buttons. Also, they buttons are flat instead of rounded, so you wont start hurting after punching them hard after a while like the old ones. The only thing that sucks about these is the joysticks are made of hard, sharp-edged pieces under a thin rubber cover, whereas the old ones used one round plastic piece. What happens is that, after you've been pushing the joysticks back and forth for a while, the sharp under piece cuts through the rubber (I hate it when I tear my rubbers) and starts cutting into your thumb. It should last you about 6 months to a year before they tear apart.

Notice something...
This is probably the most comfortable controller for the xbox on the market- if you're just starting to play the xbox.The original controller was way too freakishly huge, (says me, and every xbox review i've seen), but the S seems just right.The greatest testiment to this is the fact that they don't even sell the big ones anymore.

The only people i wouldn't recommend this controller to are people who are already used to the tank-of-a controller that the originals came with.The two controllers, while they look similar at first, have a completely different feel, and it won't be anything like you're used to.Just look at the other reviews.The only people who gave the S a bad review (1 star, 2 stars) are people who have gotten themselves used to the original.

Good Controller
There really isn't much to say about this controller other than it's just as reliable as the origional Xbox controller, except smaller.Now for me this just happens to make all the difference in the world.The normal sized Xbox controller was much too big.I don't happen to have the largest hands in the world and that controller was uncomfortable and difficult to use.The S controller fits much better and is less painful to use.Plus I can't blaim the controller anymore for sucking so bad at a game.

Why the heck am I writing a reveiw for a controller... IDIOT
okay first of all small controllers rock big ones are too big and smalls pause, back, black, and white buttons are in a better position , big ones however are both high on the topand way in the middle of the thing the s controller way the buttons are right next to your thumb in an easy to remember place I am saving for an xbox, xbox live , counter strike, fable, halo2 ,carrying case, and an extra controller right now i play my bros box I play counterstrike all the time when ever he lets me I was playing the game onces with this guy named suicide maniac (good guy played and talked for 3 hours on humans vs bots) after playing he offered to be my freind on the game my bro let me say yeah (say yeah like little john) he knows I was on my bros x box and he knows me as InFer0 1337 my bros name but when i get the xbox no way that will not be my name it will be Spullkrum (dont ask about the name there is other weirder names out there and this one isnt theres names like nekuska and crap like that) he wont recognize me at first but i will explane and he will beleive me by my strange atatude and to prove I am the the guy he knows I will talk about the stuff that went on between us for instance some guy named chumb kept kill killing us on cs (it was a bots vs humans game so he was on our team) we killed him on the beggining of each game before he got us me and suicide were freinds with another guy i thing hi name was the chuck and there was another guy cant remeber his name though eventually chumb ran away from us he ran into the groop of bots(who are programed to stick together in a big group) and he got slaughterd helplessly (the freak) any way small rocks BIGGYS SUCK!!!!!! (by the way i'm shorter than most my freinds by 4 inchs.) :) (I am NOT a girl this is my moms e mail address)

A very reliable Xbox controller
There are many gamers who tend to carp about the size of the Xbox controller. If their hands are too small then I tell them to go play PS2 or stop complaining. I think the old Xbox controllers were a bit big, but these new ones are just fine.

The controller itself is excellent and has many buttons that give you a lot of control. I really like how the triggers are positioned, and how there are two joysticks. The buttons feel like quality materials, and don't make noisy sounds when you press them. Once you get used to these controllers you will really like them and then you'll find PS controllers to be small. These controllers come with long cords that let you sit pretty far away (about 9 ft), so I would discourage purchasing a wireless controller that may not operate correctly and will take batteries. Why do you want to stray away from the TV anyway? You may not see the TV well enough when playing Halo. Plus wireless controllers drain your batteries. So stick with this classic controller and you will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description

Karaoke Revolution Volume 2 expands upon the original game in the series, featuring seven new characters, three new venues and more than 30 new character outfits making it even easier for gamers to step up to the mic. Choose from a hit-filled catalog of well-known rock, dance, pop, and R&B tunes, including songs such as Every Breath You Take, Friends in Low Places and I Will Survive. Compatible with any PlayStation 2 headset/microphone peripheral, the games proprietary voice recognit ... Read more

Features

• New multiplayer Medley Mode, new characters, new venues, and more
• Dozens of unlockable outfits and other bonus items
• For 1 or 2 players
• Sing along to 35 brand new songs using a microphone or headset
• Vocal analyzer rates the pitch and rhythm of your vocals

Reviews (18)

This Game Is Awesome!
I think this game is really fun!!! I have Volume 3, and My cousin had volume 1 and now has volume 3, and we both think that this game is really fun. For people who love to sing like I do, This is one of the best video games ever. My friend and I play for hours. I haven't played volume 2 yet, but by looking at the list of songs that are on the game, I think it would bea lot of fun! I REALLY recommend this game!

Not As Good As Volume 3 But Still Fun
I have a few comments.First, I'm quite ticked that they have I'll Make Love To You on the disk.I would have given this disk a 5 out of 5 if it weren't for that one thing. We play this game with a 9 year old and an 11 year old.They do have it censored by saying "I'm going to take off my charm" or something instead of "off my clothes."But it helps little. (Volume 3 I have *no* complaints as far as the kids go for song choice on the disk.)

The songs to choose from for karaoke competition are as follows:
Song List (all below are "originally by"):
1) Baby One More Time (originally by Britney Spears)
2) Born to Be Wild (originally by George Thouroughgood and the Delaware Destroyers)
3) Every Breath You Take (The Police)
4) Friends in Low Places (Garth Brooks)
5) Genie In A Bottle (Christina Aguilera)
6) Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis)
7) Here Without You (3 Doors Down)
8) Hot Stuff (Donna Summer)
9) I Believe in a Thing Called Love (The Darkness)
10) I Will Survive (Gloria Naylor)
11) Irresistible (Jessica Simpson)
12) It's My Life (No Doubt covering Talk Talk's version)
13) Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield)
14) Lady Marmalade (Patti LaBelle)
15) My Girl (The Temptations)
16) Papa Don't Preach (Madonna)
17) Rock and Roll All Nite (Kiss)
18) Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)
19) Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
20) The First Cut is the Deepest (Sheryl Crow)
21) Toxic (Britney Spears)
22) Virtual Insanity (Jamiroquai)
23) We Are Family (Sister Sledge)
24) White Flag (Dido)
Those are the songs listed on the back.Also included on the disk:
25) Cry (Waterfront? Kim Marsh? I don't know)
26) Drift Away (Doobie Brothers)
27) I Hate Everything About You (Three Days Grace)
28) I'll Make Love To You (Boyz II Men)
29) I'm With You (Avril Lavigne)
30) I've Got You Under My Skin (I have no idea. So many artists have covered this.)
31) Let's Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
32) Miss You (Aaliyah or Mariah Carey??)
33) Perfect (Alanis Morissette I *think*)
34) The Joker (Steve Miller Band)
...And I think I'm missing one because the back said 35 songs. Oh well.

Sometimes we let our 9-year-old be on the Easy level, and that helps him to do just as well as we do."Adjustable difficulty levels ensures that anyone can be a karaoke star," it says on the back of the box.And it's true.

The songs were recorded as close to by the original artists as possible, and they did a great job with that. The First Cut is the Deepest is pretty much the only song that really, really doesn't sound like the original artist (Sheryl Crow). But it still sounds pretty good.You sing along and choose how loud you want your own voice versus the recorded voice to be.It works really well that way.Sometimes I wish I could hear my own voice more through the speakers, but I think that is our own setup.

I do indeed recommend this product to others.Volume 3 is the best, though!! :)

Fantastic concept, just not for me
As a big fan of the Bemani series of arcade music games (such as Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Freaks and Beatmania), I was pumped when I heard about the first installment of this game.It's basically DDR for your voice.

However, as I soon found out, my voice apparently doesn't work as well as my feet, and even though I didn't have too much trouble passing songs, hearing my own voice through TV speakers was more than a little discomfiting.

Still, when KR2 came out, I decided to give it a second chance.I was sorely disappointed at the lack of new material, though.All the songs are new, but there's not much in the way of interesting genres... only pop, a few country songs, a few oldies and a stale rock song or two.More troubling, there's only a few new venues - the rest are repeated from the first game.

The first game has an option to load an expansion disc.This game should have been made an expansion disc and we all could have saved $20.

But don't listen to me.If you love singing, you will love this game, and you'll play it all night like I play DDR.If you don't like singing - don't bother trying.

upset yet thrilled buyer
i bought kaeroke revolution2 from bestbuy.com and the handheld mic from amazon.com... a week into my play, the mic started acting up and now is broken.. i do not recommend the handheld mic

Great Game!
Karaoke Revolution is a great game. I don't have volume 1 but I decided to buy volume 2 because it looked like it had more songs that I know.You don't need volume 1 for this game to work.I may buy it later to get more songs.But I think they should have a way for you to upload more songs into the game.This has a great mix of contemporary and classic songs.My socom logitech usb headset mike works fine with this game.(At first I tried the talk net internet headset but it didn't work with this game) I really like using the headset because you can dance around and really get into singing the songs.This game is great and easy to use for everyone.I play only a couple of ps2 games so i'm that great at a lot of games but this game is great for everyone. ... Read more

Product Description

As the new ER intern at Chicago's County General Hospital, your career starts out easily enough as you treat a manageable number of patients sporting minor cuts and bruises. However, your skills are quickly put to the test as the stakes escalate into full-fledged ER emergencies. As well as taking on these medical challenges you will have to deal with hospital politics, make decisions on gut-wrenching ethical dilemmas and establish personal relationships - even romances! It takes more than medica ... Read more

Features

• Full real-time 3D environments and characters with 360° camera rotation
• Based on the top-rated television series ER
• Features voice talent and 3D likenesses of Noah Wyle, Mekhi Phifer, Sherry Stringfield and others from ER
• Simple, yet elegant, strategy role-playing system and controls
• Designed for fans of the TV show and enthusiast gamers alike

Reviews (1)

Average game
If your a fan of ER this game puts you into the ER as an intern making life and death decisions.Overall the game is pretty short and the interface at times can be annoying to use. ... Read more

Product Description

Cordless Action Controller ... Read more

Features

• Mini receiver plugs directly into console
• Experience the freedom to play anywhere you want and eliminate cable clutter in your living room
• Highly reliable 2.4 GHz radio-frequency technology delivers precise control with no lag and a range of 30 feet (10 meters)
• Smaller, lighter, more comfortable, and more familiar than other controllers
• Requires 2 AA batteries (included) to achieve 50+ hours of battery life with vibration on

Reviews (45)

Perfect Cordless controller
I've had this for almost a year now and I don't use any other controller but this.
Battery lasts so long - even though I let it sit there for long time and every time I come back to play, it's still good. Definitately it lasts 50+ hours easily.
This is definitely built to last. My 18month old daughter has dropped this controller number of times and it still functions 100%.
There seem to be little lag, but I can't ask for more on this great cordless controller.

This is the best PS2 controller available.
I am huge believer in 1st party peripherals for consoles, I find them invariably higher quality and more compatible with other hardware. That said; this wireless Logitech controller is by far the best controller available for the PS2.

Quality ****1/2 (4.5)

The controller feels great in your hands, the materials seem to be of the greatest quality. I have owned this controller for 6 months and I think that it actually feels better today than it did when I first bought it. My only gripe, and the reason for the 4.5 rating is that the D pad seems somewhat flimsy and doesn't have the solid feel of the Official Sony Dual Shock PS2 controller.

Battery Life ***** (5.0)

Incredible, this controller takes 2 AA batteries and they last a long, long time, in fact I have logged over 100 hours in a game (without rumble feature) and the batteries are still going strong. This is in addition to about 25 hours in GT4 with the rumble feature turned on.
The manual states that the battery life is 50 hours with the rumble feature on, I think that for the first time in history, a manufacturer has low-balled the battery life of a product.

Overall, this product is a more than capable replacement for your PS2's Dual Shock controller, and it's wireless! I absolutely love the clutter that this wireless controller eliminates, and I now have great respect for Logitech products. This is THE ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE accessory for your PS2.

Almost perfect!!
This is a great control, the batteries last long (I think even more than 50 hours without vibration) and it works almost perfect. I would have given a 5 star if the X bottom didn't stay pressed down (sometimes) when I am playing. Maybe is the logitech design that the X bottom doesn't work always right. The orignal ps2 control, in the right, the bottoms( square, triangle, circle and x) are on a flat surface and that's why it works great. But this logitech design, the surface is not flat that's why the bottoms don't work as good as the original ps2 control. They should design a better control, but with flat surface for the bottoms to make it as functional as the original ps2 control.

Best replacement controller - cordless or otherwise
I'm glad Logitech fixed the D-pad functionality with this new controller. I had an older (corded) Logitech controller where it was almost impossible not to generate a diagonal move when all you wanted was a pure up/down/left/right input. It made fighting games and even some shooting games impossible to play. Fortunately, this model doesn't suffer from that defect. The buttons and joysticks have a good crisp feel with slightly (and I mean very slightly) more dead space under the buttons than the standard Sony controller. By this I mean that fraction of a mm that you have to push down on the button before the plastic 'cap' engages with the sensor under the button is little bit bigger. I got used to making more definitive button pushes to adjust for this.

With the AA batteries in it, this unit has got pretty good heft. It's bigger size makes it more comfortable for adult hands than the stock Sony controller. The additional weight is actually a nice feature because the controller feels stable under my thumbs without my needing to squeeze as much with my other fingers. The plastic also has some texture to it (unlike the smooth, glossy plastic on the Sony controller) that also makes it easy to hold onto. Those two features mean less hand fatigue since you don't have the grip the controller so tightly which makes for very comfortable extended gaming sessions.

I've been using mine for about a month now and have never noticed any lag or glitchiness in its response. This is a great relief to me since the room is full of other wireless gizmos like cell phones, cordless phones (also 2.4GHz) and wireless routers. Works great with the 'shooter' type of games (SOCOM, Splinter Cell, etc.) that I like to play online. The first set of batteries (included) is still going strong even with the vibration function on. This is a great controller for the PS2.

Greatest Third Party Controller Made
I read these negative reviews on this controller, and I honestly wonder why theirs doesn't perform flawlessly like mine does. Us military guys are known to break everything and go through equipment like its nothing. I have yet to manage to break this controller or find a flaw. It's fallen from my desk countless times, I spilt a drink on it, even my rucksack fell off my bed and landed on it and there was no problem with it. As long as you maintain the batteries in it (50 hours should keep you goin for a while if you are a casual gamer, and if you're a hardcore gamer then you should be used to spending money). Another note to mention is not all wireless routers will interfere. My router is aprox. 6 inches away from my PS2 and still the controller functions as you would expect. If you need a controller don't waste time getting the sony dual shock when Logitech has a surperior pad. ... Read more

Features

• Assume control of a diverse and powerful army of soldiers loyal to your cause
• Persuade powerful enemy heroes to leave their evil armies and join your growing cause
• For 1-4 players over link cable
• Marshall your forces and draw your steel -- the legendary Fire Emblem roleplaying games have arrived on the GBA
• Defend against usurpers and assassins as you aid young lords on their quest against evil

Reviews (118)

Best GBA RPG Ever!
For those of you who were disappointed over Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls, this game will let you have peace in your heart.Although it is not made by SquareEnix, it still shares some of the elements of FF:Tactics Advance.While the story is as far out as the FF series, it still retains a lot of the plot twists and suspense that the other games have.

For of you who haven't had the chance to play any of these games allow me to introduce it to you.Intelligent Systems, the people behind Advanced Wars and Paper Mario, have released an RPG based off the Japanese series Fire Emblem after Super Smash Bros. Melee introduced Marth & Roy and the people begged for it to be released (including me).This game is not like SSBM in any regards, its totally different.You play on a grid where you move your units around and attack your opponents.

I am a big fan of grid based combat, so I went and bought this game as soon as I could.It has so many great elements to make a game good.The thing that might shock other people, as it did me, as that as soon as one of the characters dies, they're gone for good, unless of course you want to restart the level.This adds a huge amount of stratergy to the game.Some of the characters that are weak would normally make me care less if they died, but in this game, they give you their background, and each has their own dying phrase.The other thing is, your ending will be changed a little if any character dies.

The sound is spectacular, some of the best orchastrated music I've heard on a handheld.Conversations can drag on a little sometimes, but that can be ignored by the music and the excellent storyline.

It starts out as your basic fairy tale about a girl finding out she's a princess and so on.But then later the game takes on a much darker tone, which I don't want to spoil for those who haven't played the game.Oh, and the other nice feature is the ability for your weapons to have 'health.'Its similar to that of Dark Cloud's system, but different.If you use a weapon too much, it'll break.THe other neat feature is the extra chapters that can be obtained in various ways.

So overall, the game is pretty awesome.I suggest that to everyone who has a gba, to pick this one up even if they hate these games.

PROS
- Excellent Storyline
- Great stratergy elements
- The Battle System works extremely well
- The music is some of the best on a handheld

CONS
- Dialogue can drag on sometimes, but it isn't too bad.
- The Tutorial is extremely annoying, but if you skip it, you miss part of the storyline.
- Losing a character and starting the level all over can be quite annoying when you get to longer levels.

Yawn. Been done and done heaps better.
Remember Shining Force I and II? Remember? Those turn based top-down view rpgs on the Sega Mega Drive with cool characters, heaps of cool magic and detailed combat animations?

Well those were classic sega games that came out a full DECADE ago. Compared to those strategy rpgs of yore, Fire Emblem (this the 7th in the series) makes NO PROGRESS WHATSOEVER.

It has lacklustre character designs, an overly wordy plot, a simplistic and boring combat system, a lack of difficulty and an annoying "support" feature which is somehow the developers attempt at adding replay value to this game.

Overall, to the utter newbie whose only prior experience with these kind of games was with Advance Wars(which is arguably a better game than this one), Fire Emblem might seem like a solid choice. I agree, it IS a solid choice. It is also, however, a throwback of a game. A disappointing retread of gameplay that has been done bigger and better(on lower end systems I might add).

How to begin? I will make a short comparison between this game and Shining Force II, which many of you have already played. Let me remind you that:

*SFII had more exciting animations. In Fire Emblem, most of the art went to the character portraits. When it comes to the top-down graphics in battle, as well as the battle animations themselves, this game looks extremely poor for a GBA game.

*SFII had more varied character designs.FE's characters might look "pretty", but are pretty much all same-ish anime fare, color-coded hair and all.

*SFII had HEAPS more: weapons, armours, spells, items. It was much more varied. Compared to this, all FE has going for it is a nice little "weapon triangle" system and your token herbs and potions. Not very exciting. In SFII you could cast spells like gigantic lightning storms which affect entire areas. In FE the magic works just like a weapon. You attack one square at a time. BO-Ring.

*SFII had BETWEEN-COMBAT exploration. In FE, it's pretty much battle after battle. Consequently the plot is FORCED to be told in huge CHUNKS pre and post-battle. Not very immersive.

*SFII was fun and worth replaying. Just go try it. In FE however, any semblance of replayability is in the form of placing different units next to each other and wait turn after turn in hope of getting new support combos. Wheee.

It seems abit ridiculous for me to compare this hand-held game with a console game, but bear in mind that the console game in question came out more than 10 years before this. The game boy advance is both graphically and performance wise better than the Mega Drive in every respect. Why can't Intelligent Sys. make a game that fully utilises its potential?

An Intelligent Nod
I have yet to play Advance Wars 1 or 2, Intelligent Systems' modern war/strategy series for the GBA, but I can venture an educated guess that Fire Emblem shares a lot in common with it.Fire Emblem is a strategy RPG reminiscent of the Shining Force series for the Genesis, but it's been forever for me to make detailed comparisons of the two. Fans of Shining Force, Ogre Battle, and/or Advance Wars will probably find a lot to like.

Fire Emblem will be fairly easy for those experienced in these kinds of games.Most of the challenge presents itself in keeping your combatants alive, because if they are killed during battle, you won't be getting a chance to get them back.Not even a chance to revive them from defeat (unlike, for example, the popular Final Fantasy Tactics, where you had up to three turns to revive a fallen comrade).This can present a problem if you don't use tight and well-thought out tactics, because the enemy will always jump at the opportunity to kill the weakest party members within range.Fortunately, there's an ability to "rescue" other members, and even pass them off to others in your group.Anyway, I think it's pretty neat that you can't get them back.It adds an urgent dynamic to the game and forces you to really think your moves through.After the first part of the game, it even tells what the characters who didn't make it to the end went on to do with their lives.Some followed the party (although injured and unable to fight), while others went their separate ways.

In battle, it is prudent that you search out the most advantageous terrain (forests, forts) and engage from there.Also, weapon selection is an important factor, as certain weapons are good against some, bad against others.Rounding out the standard and borrowed strategy-RPG elements is the class system, albeit a limited one (nothing on the scale of an FFT or Tactics Ogre; more like Shining Force).Your units can advance in class with a specific item after reaching level 10.

One thing worth mentioning in Fire Emblem is that enemy forces, on some battlefields, are concealed within fog or darkness.The limited visibility adds another layer of danger to the combat, which can be partially alleviated with some items.However, this element only somewhat succeeds.I wonder if the developers could have made it where the limited visibility worked both ways, where the enemy had no way of knowing where you are, and would occasionally stumble into a big pack of your units (I wonder, but I think I know the answer to that one).More importantly, a stealth element is missing in the game, perhaps the ability to sneak up on an enemy without them knowing about your approach.

So, what drives all this fighting in Fire Emblem?The first part of the game has you controlling Lyn, a young woman from the Plains of Sacae, whose family was murdered by bandits, and who is of royal lineage in a far off Kingdom.Her journey takes her to the castle in search of her ailing Grandfather, in order to stop his vengeful brother from usurping the throne.But we find out that this is just a small part of a bigger scheme.Big surprise, huh?The story is ok, and the characters are ok, and the dialogue and writing might be the strongest aspect.However, there's nothing remotely profound or emotional in the melodramatic delivery of the game's story, but that's the norm for video games. Oh well.Instead, you end up developing an attachment to the characters for how well they fight in battle, cheering them on during encounters and hoping they don't get killed. The game succeeds in this.

A Final Fantasy Tactics this is not.It's not dynamic or deep enough in both its gameplay and story and sentiment.However, I'd argue that it's slightly better than Final Fantasy Tactics Advance for the GBA.Both games are derivative of what has come, but Fire Emblem's not stepping backwards--only nodding to the past.

Very good strategy/rpg title for the GBA/DS
This game is an excellent strategy title for your Gameboy and will give you dozens of hours of gameply. (My first go through the game was over 24 hours total)

The characters are all pretty much interesting in this game and there are tons of them to pick and choose on missions. The variety of the units and their personalities are what make this game so enjoyable.

And if a unit dies then its dead. No 1-ups or resurrection in this game. If your character dies then be prepared to never see them again.
This really keeps you on your toes as wounded units need rescuers and backup.
However, this can be a pain to play a mission for over an hour then have the boss kill them in one hit, thus causing you to start the level over again...

All in all this is simple to learn, yet highly entertaining game. Pick it up if youre missing some a challenging and engrossing strategy game.

Saved games reset - *sigh*
A fun strategy game overall, but has a major flaw - I can't stand any game that does not let you save anytime you want.I know this game allows you to save at anytime, but the game auto saves for you at the last turn, so that when you die you cannot revert to where you originally saved.I know the designers of Fire Emblem did this so to make the game more challenging or "realistic", so that players can't "cheat" by playing from that save point over and over again, but it actually makes the game more annoying and frustrating.If you character dies, by lets say a way to powerful and out of balanced mini boss attacking you and killing you with one shot, you have to start the whole stupid level over again.

Otherwise, this game would have received 5 stars - trust me, you'll get frustrated and annoyed the 100th time you main character dies, and you are forced to play the level over again. ... Read more

Product Description

Furious Ming Furious Ming represents the quintessential light and fast martial artist. He may not be the strongest, but he attacks quickly and with more finesse than most.The starting combat style for this character involves quick dodges, lightning punches, and liberal use of Focus mode. Several weapon styles are available for Ming, but he favors light weapons over heavy axes and the like.Wu the Lotus Blossom Wu the Lotus Blossom represents a balanced and sensible approac ... Read more

Features

• Roleplay as a martial arts master.Choose a character with a unique appearance, a custom voice set, and a powerful combination of ability scores and fighting styles.
• Innovative fighting system: master fighting styles and mystical powers.You begin as an accomplished student, a graduate from the respected school of Master Li but your education has just started. As your character develops you choose which styles to enhance your warrior on the path to becoming a living legend.
• Epic adventure in a lush world based on mythical China.In the ancient and mysterious Jade Empire, you train under your master's watchful eye and learn powerful martial arts and mystical powers. Your journey has just begun into the unknown and deadly world of flashing steel and supernatural terrors.
• Build a living legend, recruit followers and agents, and send them on missions across the Jade Empire.You can't become a leader without followers to lead. Your decisions determine the rewards that you receive, and who shares in that glory.
• Battle monstrous creatures.The path to peace is never easy. You face terrors from this world and beyond with only your iron courage, your perfected skills and the weapons you carry. Study your opponents carefully: their weaknesses are few.

Reviews (16)

Ranks Right up there with KOTOR
Well I beat this tonight after non-stop gameplay these last several days (I'd say about 20-30 hours of gameplay with side-quest completion). I must say I quite enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who liked KOTOR. They are similar in a lot of aspects, but at the same time gives you a fresh new RPG with many new things to discover.

The side-quests are quite enjoyable and proved to be much more creative and thought out than the "help with this person's problem and then give them money to get back on their feet." The story was also very good and their is a twist similar to the one in KOTOR, but completely caught me off-guard. It really did pull the story together though.

I will give this a little review in the aspects of the game for those interested--

--GAMEPLAY--
Decent gameplay. I'd say the actual progression of character is very cool. As you play and become stronger you get more power to your weapons and styles of fighting. The voice acting is superb and throws you right back into the classic witty KOTOR dialogue we love so much. There is humor, action, and story. The only downfall is there really is no love story. The combat is a little repetetive after awhile but as your weapons are upgraded, the more your enemies are decapitated and spirt blood from their necks, giving the game a kind of Kill Bill aspect. Very cool for those who love the splatter of blood. The characters are also memorable and stick with you throughout the game, each with their own story and purpose in the game. The only hinderence in gameplay is that it sometimes would glitch on itself when you talked to someone and the words didn't come out and then it would freeze up. This probably happened 4 or 5 times throughout my gameplay. Although this could just be an effect of my Xbox getting older.

GAMAEPLAY: 9.0

--GRAPHICS--
Bioware really maxes out on the graphics this time around. I noticed a bunch of improvement in character movement especially, leaving behind the looped and annoying gestures of KOTOR characters. The characters can point you in directions, kneel down, stretch their necks, motion embarassment, hassle you by pointing... the list goes on and on. And the setting is absolutely spectacular. Each place has a completely different feel to it, from the Ancien Dirge Chinese temples to the grassy and welcoming environment of the Two Rivers Martial Arts School.

GRAPHICS: 9.5

--SOUND--
The sound is simply EXCELLENT! The colorful music score done by Jack Wall (JackWall.net) is awesome, always having that rich flavor of the eastern culture. A CD is in the possible works and I will be getting one if it is released. And the sound effects themselves were very well done. Bioware commented that there were over 2000 different sounds created in a recording studio to get all of the sounds perfect. They really outdid themselves on this. Next to KOTOR, this is the best video game score I have ever heard.

SOUND: 10

Overall I would strongly recommend this game to anyone who is thinking about getting it. It's definately worth the money.

Also there are 3 different endings to the game instead of the standard two. One ends on a light note, one ends on a dark note, and one ends on a more compromising but ultimately dark note (perhaps could be called a failing note). I could watch all 3 in one game too, because if you change your pivitol decisions near the end of the game, your alignment can do a 180 on the outcome (including the last few lines of dialgue with the enemy which gives you the third ending).

Anyway really loved the game and would give it a 9.5 overall.

_Max

A Compelling and Immersive Game
I could never quite connect with role playing games.I'm intrigued by the adventure and strategy, but spreading 317 experience points across 30 categories for the 5 members of my party isn't my idea of a good time.And the turn-based combat of the typical RPG leaves me feeling detached from the action.

When I read that Jade Empire eliminated a lot of the number crunching and offered real-time combat I thought I'd give it a try.To my surprise, I really liked it.To my astonishment, it became my favorite game.

Jade Empire gave me an experience I haven't had with a game in a long time, a constant urge to find out what happens next.Not a few times a level, but every minute.

Jade Empire is set in a mythical ancient China.The beautiful world of the game is filled with ghosts, demons, monsters, pirates, bandits and mysterious imperial assassins.

When you start the game you're training at a martial arts school.You're told that the emperor has tinkered with the supernatural balance of the world to end a drought.This has terrible consequences, and because of your past you're the only person who can fix it.

A disaster throws you out on your quest before you find out exactly what you're supposed to do.This is how the game hooks you.From the beginning, you're never sure if the people and beings you meet want to help you or stop you.You're constantly faced with ambiguous situations and it's up to you to decide who to trust.

Each chapter takes place in an area with exotic locations.You'll be in a village lined with lotus blossoms and ornate temples one minute, then exploring haunted ruins with giant statutes and ghosts the next.

As you explore you'll come across a wide variety of people and creatures.Each has a unique story that could give you needed information, a quest, or result in combat.

You'll come across the ghosts of two children with a story so heartbreaking that you'll likely accept their quest, even though it takes you off the main story.In another area you'll enter a building filled with people.You soon realize they're not humans, but something very creepy.

The game isn't scary like a Resident Evil or Silent Hill, but there are plenty of shocking twists and turns to keep you interested.

Then there's the combat.Jade Empire has some of the most immersive combat in a video game.

After the first chapter you usually face four to ten enemies at once.Each offers different dangers.One may be using magic to throw fireballs at you.Another may be swinging a sword.The group may include an eight-foot monster wielding a huge mallet.And the leader might have the ability to stun you if you get in range.

The moment fighting starts your enemies try to surround you.You'll spend your time leaping and rolling to stay in a good position while countering their attacks with appropriate martial arts, weapons or magic.

During the battle, you have to keep your eye on the enemies' health bars while monitoring three status bars of your own.Your health bar drains with each hit.The magic bar depletes as you use magic or the heal button to restore health in mid-combat.The focus bar depletes when you slow time Max Payne-style or use a weapon.

One more addition to the strategy of a battle is your follower.You select a follower from a list that grows as you move through the game.Your follower can constantly replenish one of the three status bars or help attack.

All of these factors combine to keep your attention riveted on the action from the moment the combat starts to the moment you defeat the last enemy or are defeated yourself.

Jade Empire's combination of exotic locations, surprising twists and immersive combat result in a game that grabs hold of you and never lets go.

The game isn't for everyone.If you really like dividing experience points into dozens of categories Jade Empire isn't the game for you..The combat in the game offers a lot of strategy but is simple.If you're hoping for another Ninja Gaiden, keep looking.

If you want a role playing game with a simple interface, a compelling story and immersive combat give Jade Empire a try.

Everything Fable SHOULD have been--and more!
BioWare is certainly proving themselves an asset to Microsoft and the X-Box. Even if you didn't like KOTOR personally, you've got to give them credit for creating a Star Wars RPG that wasn't completely despised by fans. Jade Empire is a game that shows how nicely they're polishing their abilities.

Usually the good/evil (or compassion/indifference, which is a bit more accurate here) is interesting, but before now I'd never been compelled to attempt both paths. Jade Empire presents you with enough hints to really make you curious about how the game changes depending upon your choices. Certainly there was nothing in Fable or even KOTOR that really made me that interested in finding out what the other path is like.

The battle system is one of the fastest and most fluid I've seen yet. Increasing your speed or damage in an ability makes a noticible difference, more and more so as you gain levels. There's enough diversity in the different martial styles to keep them from getting monotonous, and I wouldn't assume at this point that I've even found them all. There are only two weapon styles, long sword and staff, but they also move fluidly and fast. Certain enemies are immune to certain means of attack, so you can't depend on a single one to carry you through the game.

BioWare is beginning to show some improvement with their graphics. Some of the textures are still too flat, but the movement is better and the colors are very rich and realistic. The character design is also more diverse and more interesting than KOTOR. Having six different starting characters to choose from is a definate plus, too.

Where a game like this often flags is the plot--such as Fable. JE doesn't suffer that ill-begotten fate. The story is compelling, with some unexpected twists and turns. It has a great deal of depth, with interesting bits and peices about the history of the Empire scattered throughout. The makers of Fable claimed that the choices presented in their game left little room for a good story, but JE proves you can have your cake and eat it, too.

Knights of the Old Republic: Kung Fu style
I've loved most of the Bioware games over the last several years.Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, the Baldur's Gate series and all the spin offs based on that same engine by Black Isle.So while I hadn't really tracked the development or feature set of Jade Empire, and I haven't been playing many games at all the last year or so - I decided to pick it up.

So I got it home, tried it out, and got into the old pattern of a week-long, late-night playing spree until I reached the end.

It was good.

The characters and writing were pretty decent.The quests were pretty varied (although I got really sick of ghosts and spirits by the end).The dialog was funny at times.You had choices about whether to be good or evil throughout the game.It definitely had an Eastern flavor and philosophy throughout.There were some really original segments and nice cinematic sequences and some fairly well-done plot twists.But overall I'd say the story and characters were just decent - not as good as an average novel.Not quite as good as Knights of the Old Republic.And not innovative - still plagued by the same issues that have affected previous games in the genre (e.g. no real freedom to make choices to avoid big plot quests or go in your own direction, not much subtlety in the good/evil choices and rewards given for being either as good or as evil as possible, smashing barrels and boxes and urns around towns and houses to find loot without any consequences).

Where the game really shined was in combat.Your character is skilled in Kung Fu, and starts with 2 fighting "styles" that he or she can switch between at any time.Each style is relatively simple in it's own right.There's a basic attack.You can sequence 2 or 3 attacks in succession before needing to pause a second.You can block.You can "power attack" which takes a second to warm up and leaves you open to regular attack - but can break through an enemy's block.And there's an area attack that knocks foes down but doesn't really hurt them.And you can roll and flip around to evade enemies.That's it.So basic strategy is "rock, paper, scissors."Block beats regular attack - power attack beats block - regular attack beats power attack (during warm up).

So in the beginning of the game you get used to this strategy against one opponent or a few at a time.But before long you start learning new styles.There are new "martial" styles (different forms of kung fu), there are support styles which tend to hinder opponents and set them up for finishing combinations, there are magic styles that usually let you blast enemies at range, there are weapon styles, and there are transformation styles (which let you become a big baddie of some sort for a short while to kick some butt).

Each of these styles has the same categories of moves described above... but very different versions.E.g. with the dire flame magic style, the basic attack fires a small flaming projectile at your enemy, the power attack fires a large flaming projectile that immolates the enemy for a time and makes it impossible for him to attack back, and the area attack summons a dragon to breath flame in the area.

So the core mechanic of the game stays fresh throughout, since you're continually collecting new styles, trying them out, learning their strengths and weaknesses, and investing your limited pool of points into improving the ones you like best.Then at some point you start to really experiment with the "hamonic combinations" in which you have to use a support or magic style, get someone with the slow power attack, then quickly switch to a martial style and hit them with another power attack to finish them off and produce a power up.This can be fun, and it very efficient when fighting large groups of enemies at once.

I have to admit - at times I really felt like a bad-ass kung fu master during the game.Start with my "Flawless" staff style, then switch to "Spirit Thief" to suck up some of their spiritual energy, then flip over their back and use "Thousand Cuts" for some quick punches, then finally to "Stone Immortal" to encase my enemies in rock.The switching between styles is very fast and natural - and before too long I became very familiar with many of the styles, and I could recognize and name the styles that foes were using against me.This really brought scenes of kung fu movies to mind such as "Ha - you don't think you can beat me using "Leaping Tiger" style do you?" or "Ahh, Tempest style.You must be a master who follows the way of the closed fist - and I must take care to avoid your vortex area attacks."

And in the end - that's what makes a game memorable.The way it made you feel when you were playing it.This game made me feel like a Kung Fu master in a way that straight fighting games with never could.


-Mike Arcuri

A Great RPG Adventure.Some Hints Added.
Jade Empire is a third person RPG has an immersive storyline and lots of interesting sidequests .If you take the time to read all the diologuefrom as many charachters as you can find and also do as many or all the sidequests ,its about a 15-20 hour game. I finished the game in about 4 days. But you could easily stretch out the game into 3 weeks or more. There's about 5 different types of fighting styles that your player can use and upgrade that are grouped into different catagories. There's Martial Style which is a unarmed fighting.There's Weapon style with swords ,axes,spears,etc. There's Magic syle.There's Support style ,example, slow enemy or paralize. And finally there's Transformation style.Also Most Ghosts or Spirit enemies are immune to swords,spears,axes or weapon styles.Demons are immune to support styles and some martial styles. You realy have to experiment to see which enemies are immune to particular styles. The fighting system is very easy ,its free form you can lock on and switch targets by pressing left or right trigger ,or free target by pressing both triggers at same time. You can perform whats called harmonic combos by starting with certain styles & ending with another style.The charachters target ring will turn yellow when you have started one. Although its possible never having to use a harmonic combo .I beat the game never doing one.I loved the White Demon Martial style its good for taking out ghosts spirits,I wasnt a big fan of Legendary strikeit didnt seem as strong for some reason and I had it maxed out.There's tons of choices to make as far as fighting styles go in this game.You get to upgrade your fighter as you progress in the game. The choices you make you will either choose Open Palm (good) or Closed Fist (evil). To get Closed fist points you do have make evil type choices.Sometimes they will try to trick you into thinking that it isnt evil or a bad choice.The dam for example by destroying the dam controls you continue the towns suffering and make it a continued haven for drunk sailors and harlots,thats what the merchant wants ,he sells wine. But by fixing the dam you heal a town thats already been suffering for awhile already,by renewing there shipping abilities and access to food(fish).But first do all sidequests and xtras before fixing or breaking the dam, you'll greatly need to.You have alot of different power up abilities,that you canobtain by reading scrolls or searching containers for them,or buy the upgrades from different merchants,or you get certain fighting styles by either doing open palmed(good) or closed fist(evil) choice from certain teachers. Its not too hard of a game with the right fighting styles you can be deadly.The fighting system is pretty smooth free form ,you can sidestep,jump over the enemy hit em in the back , & block most attacks,pretty much free form do anything thers's no real restrictions.After defeating certain demons you then can Transform into there image &there fighting style and kill your enemies. The Jade Golem or Red Minister are very powerfultransformation styles ,but you dont get either until later in the game,definatly save some upgrade points for one of thosestyles.The graphics are pretty good in this game nice details and they get better as you go.I think there are three different endings ,I saw 2 of them just remember to save before the important decisions & battles.Before you start the game you can choose what character you wanna be either Strong Style,Magic Style,Fast Style, or Balanced style. You gain followers as you progress in the game that can either fight with you or be a support where they wont fight ,but they will replenish your Health,Chi,& Focus while you are in battle. You can have only one charachter with at a time,but you can switch them out at any time.Some negatives about this game are the load times while doingquests,especialy in the Imperial City there are lots of load screens when you go to different parts of the city it can get a little annoying.Also when you talk to anybody the talking animation isnt that great or interesting ,like other reviewers stated I also found myself quickly reading the text & not looking at the 'talking heads'. But for the most part definatly one of the better RPG'S out.If you like KOTOR part 1 , Morrowind or Fable.Definatly try this game out. Here's some good strong powerful style choices for an Open palmed(good) player.Martial style: (White Dragon) Weapon style: (Crimson Tears) Magic style: (Stone Immortal stronger with open palm player) Transformation style: (Red Minister almost unbeatable or Jade Golem very very powerful and looks great)Support Style: (Paralyzing Palm or Spirit Thief).These are just some of my favs styles,some people will be better or worse with different styles because there gameplay style might be different than mine.To get the Crimson Tears(advanced dual sabers) Talk to KHANAin the Imperial City Arena ,after you talk to everybody in the arena,you must tell her of the plans they want (you) to poison her,but tell her you will not poison her and you will fight her Honorably in the Imperial Arena,she then will train you in the advanced version of the dual sabers called Crimson Tears after you defeat her in the Imperial Arena Bronze Division.Its a deadly dual sword that is very powerful maxed out. Also save as many weapon upgrades as you can because you get a limited amount you can only max about 4 total. Concentrate on upgrading White Demon & Crimson Tears, & Either Red Minister or Jade Golem . Those will help in the tougher boss battles.The Support styles arent even needed ,there helpful but not neccessary. To defeat the Emperor switch to a different style then he's using.Example if he's using a weapon ,say a sword,then you switch to unarmed (Martial style).etc. Because he's immune to whatever style he is equipped with and he will quickly change his attack to match your style, he will then be immune,so you change your style attack again. Good Luck. ... Read more

Product Description

Fox McCloud and the Star Fox team return to engage a grave new threat in the air and on the ground

Several years after disaster was narrowly averted on Dinosaur Planet, Lylat Central Command detects a new threat spreading throughout the galaxy. The Star Fox team is sent in to eradicate this growing menace, but what begins as a standard combat mission quickly takes a dramatic turn. Legendary team members Fox McCloud, Slippy Toad, Peppy Hare and Falco Lombardi join forces to form the most formidable team in the history of this celebrated series: the Star Fox armada!

• Soar through space and gun down an armada of strike fighters in your Arwing, roll over hostile terrain in a heavily-armored Landmaster Tank or bring the hurt to the enemy on foot!
• Wage war with your friends in four-player split-screen battles featuring intense vehicle and head-to-head combat. Hop in an Arwing and duel over the skies, punish your opponents with the powerful Landmaster Tank or duke it out on foot with automatic blasters, sniper rifles and shoulder-launched rockets.

Features

• Take on strike fighters in Fox's Arwing and command a heavily armored Landmaster Tank
• Weapons including automatic blasters, sniper rifles, and shoulder-launched rockets
• For 1 to 4 players
• Space-combat action game
• Join Slippy, Peppy, and Falco to counteract a growing galactic threat

Reviews (33)

This toy ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is the best Star Fox game EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has exellent graphics, great voices, story plot, and they began right where Dinosaur Planet left off.

It has versus mode, 1-P, and an unlocable mini-game.

In one player(1-P) you can ride in the Landmaster, Arwing, on run on foot with weopons like grenades, sniper rifles, machine guns, gatling guns, rocket launchers, nad sensor bombs(mines)on planets like Katina, Corneria's capital,Fortuna, The Aparoid Homeworld, Fichina, and an abondoned gangster base. The goal is to rid the Lylat System of the Aparoids, an species bent on ruling the universe.

In vs. mode, you can go on Titinia's desert, inside Zoness' sea base and a lot more!

*Warning Spoiler ahead!*

In versus mode, you can use more weapons and unlockable characters such as Wolf and Peppy.

On Corneria's capital, Fox lets his guard down and is surrounded by a squad of Aparoids.He spots Wolf in the sky and runs for it. He trips and falls from the top. Wolf saves him and joins Fox's side.

Okay the rest, well, just buy the game and find out!

Bitter disappointment.
What a let-down this game is.Seriously, is it too much to ask for a solid flying game like Star Fox 64 was?I mean getting out and walking around shooting things is great and all, but this is a STAR FOX game, and the last thing I would buy a Star Fox game for is to run around and blow things up, especially when there are other games out there that fulfill that type of game play so much better.I was expecting the bulk of this game to be spent flying around in an R-Wing....boy was I wrong.

Do yourself a favor if you've never bought a Star Fox game before, go to a pawn shop, get a N64 and buy Star Fox 64.You'll thank me when it's over.

Solid!
Fox has done it again. Nintendo always revamps its games and this is no exception. Graphics are good enough to make Starfox: Adventures look like Starfox 64! Beatiful explosion effects and lasers. Sound is beautiful, gameplay is simple to learn but hard to master. I love this game, and I reccommend it to Starfox veterans or those fresh out of video game boot camp. Speaking of military stuff remember 4 player combat, because someday you'll hear some dude screaming "Remember the Titanian planes!" and then hear his Arwing get shot down.

Okay
I was about to give this game a 1 star due to frausration in the levels ' but i decided to let it slide ' now im a beginner to the starfox games and i saw starfox assault on the shelves so i picked it up today i played it and the levels and gameplay are confusing as hell you ll here a character call out for help but you ll half to shoot down the enemy who is after them but sometime the enemy is invisible from the attack making it impossible to hit even the ground enemies are sometime invisible from getting hit ' maybe its because im a beginner but i doubt it ' and the levels are hard and difficult ' But if youre new to the starfox games get starfox adventures first because i think fox is not in no annoying wing

Fun game, but disappointing story mode
I do agree with most of these people that this is like the halo for gamecube. The game was a bit of a disappointment to me though. Single player mode sucked. The voices weren't done very well, they weren't very enthusiastic about when they reminded me about the weak point of that easy boss, and the whole story sucked. It didn't even make sense. They would say the same line over and over and over and over again until you just want to beat them up. And you save them way more than they save you. You save their life, and they give you a stupid bomb. The multiplayer mode though was no disappointment. It was done very well and I liked how you unlocked stuff. The more matches, the more fun. And you feel very happy when it's a neck to neck match and you finally shoot your opponent to their doom. There was a wide enough variety of weapons to be able to have differnet strategies. And the graphics are beautifully done. I recommend this game to people who like multiplayer games, but definetly not to those of you who play story mode all the time. ... Read more

Product Description

The ruins of an ancient Martian civilization have unlocked the secrets to teleportation, and the UAC will stop at nothing to harness this world-altering technology. As part of a marine detachment sent to protect the facility, your duty seemed simple enoughuntil the invasion. Now, in an epic clash against pure evil you must fight to understand who is with you, who is against you, and what must be done to stop this nightmare from reaching Earth. Built on ID's revolutionary new 3D graphics engine DOOM 3 draws you into the most frightening and gripping 3d gaming experience ever created.

Features:

• Never before seen detail with Real-time lighting and shadows
• Real-world physics and killer AI
• Battle in team or Deathmatch-based multiplayer modes

Features

• Multiplayer action for ages 17 or older
• Battle the forces of Hell in this epic clash against pure evil
• Realistic physics; revolutionary new 3D graphics engine
• Real-time dynamic lighting and shadows
• Visually stunning; ever-changing environment

Reviews (9)

Game of the year
This is one of the best games ever. I used to play the original Doom on the PC years ago, so when I saw this I had to grab it. Game play is excellent. The graphics are out of this world. The online multiplayer game play is great as well. This game runs wonderful on my Power Mac G5. My system specs are as follows:

Power Mac G5 1.8ghz single processor
3gb of RAM
256mb ATI graphics card

Fun, scary shooter...!
I am running Doom 3 quite well (with a tweaked CFG- check out http://www.tweakguides.com/Doom3_1.html for the best Doom 3 tweaking guide I've come across, some tweaks are heavily beneficial!) on the following setup:
MDD G4 1GHz/1GB RAM/OS X 10.3.8/Radeon9800Pro GPU- the gameplay's more than acceptable in speed and absolutely gorgeous.[From what I've been reading and based on my experience] the GPU plays a major role in the performance of Doom 3 so I would definitely not have attempted this with a lesser graphics card.

If you're okay with getting creeped out (well you wouldn't be interested in this game otherwise, right?) I'd highly suggest playing this game with the lights out and a pair of headphones on (the sense of immersion given via the audio in this game is hair-raising!).Doom 3 plays audio and visual tricks on the player that'll make even the most hardcore horror movie buff spasming in reaction at least a handful of times- it's one thing to watch... it's another to get the sense of "being" there... and no 'scary' movie that I've seen in the last few years has made me jerk in reaction as much as Doom 3 has in the last week I've been playing it.

The visuals are stunning... even tweaked a bit extra for performance- some options (like bump mapping) which add/retain realism simply MUST be left on to avoid the game looking cartoon-like.

All in all... if you're running a setup with (at least) a similar configuration to mine I'd highly recommend Doom 3- IF it's your cup of tea.

NOTE:This game does not utilize multiple processors- so don't think a dual 867MHz G4 would perform as well as my 1GHz G4. :P

Most incredible, in many ways
Upon arriving at Mars, the ambiance is a style of nerve racking I have never experienced with any other game.It gets started with a few employee interactions which sets the mood nicely.After some initial exploring, the action begins with a bang!It is quite a good thing that you start with some kind of light weaponry.

This is where the game become very dark.Lights flicker, broken pipes steaming, and there is a sense that something is immensely, dreadfully really wrong.Nothing could be closer to the truth.Nearly every encounter (so far) has startled me!!It is quite shocking how quickly these animals can move and shock you, especially with the flickering lights and the quickly opening doors.Encounters with zombie humans can be easy when they don't have heavy weapons.

The pace of the action is manageable.if you plan each movement, you might stay alive.The level of difficulty is nearly perfect.Enemy mutants increase their difficulty in a measured pace which pushes the game play in just the right way.

The graphics, of course, are stunning.This is an understatement.As far as simulating humans, newly every game has imperfections which you can see that get in the way of realism.This game is the most accurate human movement I have seen ever.It is VERY convincing, only adding to the tension.Bump mapping makes the scenes impeccable.There are so many details that it is hard to fathom just how much work ID put into the game to make the scenery realistic.Lighting, textures, bump maps, and geometry is just astounding.

The real "shocker" for me is not all the praises above. The icing on the cake is the sound.With some decent speakers and a sub, the sound will grab you.The sounds are perfectly timed and very, very realistic.The ambient sound alone could make you tense.The screams heard through the walls are chilling.

Overall, the experience is both amazing and VERY nervous.

For more eeriness, play this game only at night in dark rooms.Also, don't play this right before going to bed, you might have bad dreams.;-)

Excellent game - will run on lower spec machines
If you're willing to ratchet down the settings to low, you CAN play this game on a newer eMac (1.25 Ghz G4), iBook and possibly the new Mac Mini.I've been playing this on my eMac and aside from having to knock the visuals down a bit (bump mapping can be enabled for better visuals with little overall sacrfice to the frame rate), the game plays very well with an acceptable frame rate and no odd crashes or problems.

An excellent, tense, first person shooter for those who like to take their time and think their way through games.Rather than enduring constant frantic firefights, the player is forced to take a slow approach.The environment and sound effects all serve to heighten the overall sense of tension and dread, and it'snot uncommon to become startled at the sight of movement in the shadows or some loud noise.Excellent atmosphere with plenty here to keep you playing for weeks!

Real Requirements
Actually, the recommended system requirements (which is really what matters) are:
osx 10.3.8
G5 processor
2 GHZ CPU
512 MB memory (should probably be at least 1 GB)
Radeon 9600 w/ 128 mb of video memory
dvd drive
If you dont meet these specs or near these specs, I agree with the earlier poster, don't give your opinion on this game.Sorry to be such an A**hole.:) but its true. ... Read more

Product Description

In this sequel, players contend for control over the original Zohar in an attempt to unravel its mystery and defeat the threat of the Gnosis. Customize your characters using over a hundred different skills and take control of a deeper, more evolved combat system. In Xenosaga EPISODE II, humanitys champions must depend on their will to survive in a battle for the holy grail, which could lead to their salvation or their destruction. ... Read more

Features

• An extensive experience system features over 100 different skills to customize characters to the players preference.
• A new and improved complex battle system utilizes team combination attacks, a refined boost system, double team attacks and a zone attack/break system. The turn-based battle engine requires even more strategy and provides a deeper challenge.
• Shion, KOS-MOS and other favorite EPISODE I characters return with more mature,refined character designs and all new mechs.
• Hours of dazzling cinematics are complemented by high quality English voice acting.Complex philosophical themes add depth to an already sophisticated, dramatic storyline that could stand on its own as an intricately woven masterpiece.

Reviews (32)

Namco's got guts releasing a mediocre game after the hype
In all honestly, how could a game series take this big of a step backward? I mean even the best or most average of game series' take a while and a few bad sequels to degrade to such a point (example Mega Man X5~X7). How could one even work on the development team with a straight consciousnesses knowing you were developing and planned to release such a inferior product? These are the questions about Xenosaga II that keep me up at night...

But seriously (no I don't say up at odd hours of the night pondering about what Xenosaga II could have, should have been), for as great as the original was and the amount of hype this game received, Xenosaga II is a perfect example of a 'almost' complete bust.

First off, the game is way to short. I was really surprised I was on disc 2 after 7 hours of gameplay. I'm not quite sure, but does Xenosaga II use dual layer DVD's like the first Xenosaga, cause if it does and that's all they put on the first disc, that's pretty sad. It's almost seems they put it on two normal DVD's instead of a dual layer disc just to give the player the illusion that because it's two discs it must be along game. Nice marketing tactic guys, gamers aren't as dumb as you think...

Xenosaga II's battle system is absolutely horrendous; it's up there with Legend of Dragoon's battle system in my book (I love to bash that game to no end). Expect to die a few times and spend a few hours taking a severe beating (especially if your battle party is surrounded by enemies ~ that's the definition of fun!) until you get the hang of it. Add to the fact the longer you take to enter a command, the more likely the enemy is going to boost and slap you around in the next turn. To add to this atrocity, add the fun of constantly stocking and boosting attacks in conjunction with airing and downing a opponent to cause any kind of reasonable damage. Then add to that fact not all characters can damage airborne opponents. Combat in Xenosaga I may have been a little basic and simplistic, but at least it was easy to pickup and learn, you almost need a degree (or a really good guide) to get anywhere in Xenoaga II. Oh, and don't get me started on the Mech or E.S. combat. While character combat is confusing to no end, E.S. combat is so pathetically simple it makes the gear combat in Xenogears look good in comparison.

As for side quests, add another point to the lame column. 35 sub quests helping complete strangers out of their stupid, insignificant daily problems they won't remember a week from now while the fate of the universe swings in the balance of your quest's success. Yeah sure, that sounds like fun as well. If I don't like to help complete strangers within the real world with their problems, what makes game developers think I want to do it in a video game? Come on!

Graphically, Xenosaga II is pretty much the same as the original, which makes me wonder why they hyped up that part of the game so much? Do they think gamers are so fixated on that lone aspect of a game, they are willing to forgive flaws in execution and gameplay? I mean, you can take the most graphically gorgeous game, and if the gameplay stinks, the game as whole suffers. Xenosaga II, as a game, proves this theory without a doubt.

As for sound or music, you actually better off turning the volume off, unless you're viewing a cut scene. Most of the music is pretty bad (a slim few interesting tracks do exist), and the voice acting is decent, outside battle that is. In battle, the voices make you cringe, where talking "Star Ocean: The 2nd Story" sound bite territory here. MOMO has to be the worst, the first time you hear her say "I'll lend support" you just want reach though the TV screen, or hope she reaches puberty before the series is over.

On the plus side (yes, their is a plus side ~ surprisingly) Xenosaga II's story continues on the rich tale from the first game, even if it seems a little touch and go, and they seem to focus too long on certain characters (the first disc is basically Jr. and MOMO centered); the second disc plays like "hey, we forgot about the core of the story, let's go find the Zohar".

The bottom line, if you like the story, you should play Xenosaga II, despite all it shortcomings. Actually, I'd recommend renting the game instead of buying it, it's short enough, and it'll teach the developers a very meaningful lesson. If this game becomes a greatest hit, like the original, I'd be very suprised (but it probably will just because I said that).

Playing this game is like channeling saidin.
The story is Good.The movies are always entertaining, and the story is always interesting.It never reaches the emotional depths that the last game did.There seems to be a greater emphasis on making the whole thing more...unrealistic.The first game presented a believable future - all the technology was explained, things behaved realistically, etc.That's all thrown out in this game...it might sound strange, but it seems to be more "Japanese" than Episode 1.Characters now swordfight in a Samurai style and shout things in what sounds very similar to Japanese.They shoot lasers out of their swords (and it's never explained why).There's even a character that wears samurai-ish robes.It destroys any believability this universe had.

Also, I'm personally disappointed that the game focused so much on Jr. (couldn't stand him from the first game), and not so much on wonderful KOS-MOS, who's not even present in the first half, and barely says two words in the second.And this is a Very Good Thing, because some of the voice actor changes were not for the better.Shion's VA is improved, but KOS-MOS's was a huge downgrade.

The music is also terrible compared to last game's.Episode 1 marked the first time I ran out and bought the soundtrack to a game.The beautiful orchestra and haunting chorus from that game have been replaced by forgettable boppy tunes, with maybe one decent melody in the whole thing.

Now, one to Dark One's taint = the gameplay.The battle system is easily the worst I have ever seen in any RPG.Ever.They aren't random - the enemies are onscreen.This is the One and Only Good thing.When you do touch an enemy, it takes a strangely long time to load.Your characters appear, one-by one.Then the monsters appear, one-by one.Sometimes, you'll be surrounded by the enemy.Other times, you'll surround the enemy yourself.This is Completely Random.Even if you attack an enemy from behind, you won't start the battle at the enemy's back.Which is too bad, as Back Attacks do more damage, and every time you enter a battle, you'll be desperate to scrape up as much damage as possible.

There's no such things as Powerful Moves here.You're forced to hit an enemy in specific "zones", which you do by hitting Triangle or Circle (did I mention the moves you do have no titles?Bye-bye, Moonlight Serenade or Spell Ray).Hit Triangle/Circle in the right order, and you get what's called a Zone Break.Now, you have to Boost your other characters in so they can damage the enemy while it's in this "break" stage.You boost the other characters by having them sit there and Not Attack during their own attack phase.

You are FORCED to do this - while some enemies do have special weaknesses, they're not exactly mind-blowing helpful for the majority of enemy types.Instead, you have to do the Zone Break, or all of your moves will do about 20 damage...to a creature that has 5,000 HP.And there's still 3 other creatures in the battle, all with 10,000 HP each.

Sound fun to you?Admittedly, once you DO get an enemy's weakness down, and get a Zone Break in, then Boost all of your characters in a row to take advantage of the enemy's weakness and the zone break, you can rack up huge damage.Sometimes it's even enough to take a single enemy down - and it only took 10 minutes to build up!

So, yes, the battle system will corrode your soul.Expect every battle to last at least 5 minutes, and that's if you're quick and know what you're doing.Meaning that you've already fought this enemy before and have either memorized it's Zone Break and weaknesses, or you've taught one of your characters a Memory skill.

And here's another embarassing part of the game.Every single character can learn every single skill.This completely destroys any individuality the characters had.KOS-MOS still has a couple special skills only she can use, but they're not nearly as impressive as the classics from the first game.Instead of being awed by what your characters are capable of, you cooly assign specific skills to each character based on what attributes you want in each battle.If that sounds fun to you, it's not.Many of these skills are useless, and characters will repeat skills that are helpful.

It's possible to "unlock" new skills and Double Attacks (two characters team up to attack) by undergoing the torture that is the game's sidequests.You run around, doing good deeds for people.These good deeds are very loosely explained, and very often involve playing fetch from place to place.I didn't even attempt it.

Other things that will leave you a blackened husk inside when the game is done: The puzzles in the dungeons.Oh how I wish my mind could let me forget them so I could live again.Unfortunately I can't, and so I will always remember shooting boxes to form a bridge, shooting boxes to clear a bridge, and shooting boxes of a specific color that explode other boxes of the same color around them.To form a bridge.

In conclusion, let me just say that I hope Episode 3 is better, or I will go insane.Or the Red Ajah will come for me in the form of Final Fantasy XII.

Nothing on the original game!
Xenosaga Episode I Der Wille Zur Macht, was a breakthrough in gaming!It had deep characterization, a deep storyline, innovative battle system and a soundtrack that blew you out of this world!It was a plot driven game with an intoxicating storyline.Episode II doesn't compare to the original in very many ways at all.Things have been changed that shouldn't have been changed, and in all essence, it's more like watching a season 2 of a declining TV series.

Xenosaga Episode II isn't a bad game.It's actually really good!It's just that it suffers from the sequel syndrome.The first one hit a level that was so high, and now this one has to compare.Either you'll be quite surprised by where it goes, or quite disappointed.

The game opens up with a flashback of Chaos being sent to Miltia with a realian named Canaan to see why all the Realians have gone berserk.Chaos and Canaan meet up with only one who still seems to be in control of himself.General Jin Uzuki, and to prevent spoiling more, let's just the say we rejoin our main cast from the first game in mere moments.

Where as Xenosaga Episode I put an emphasis on storyline, Episode II seems to put an emphasis on character development.It does a fairly good job too.You'll learn more about these characters, and be able to cope with them.Unfortunately, if you haven't played the first game yet, it's all mysterious to you.

A few things about the gameplay have changed.The battle system is refined just a bit.Now enemies are in "zones".Either Zone A, B, or C.Depending on the zone they're in they could take a lot of damage from your attacks.You can also knock them in the air, or down on the ground.You can also link attacks together to perform devastating combinations.Characters attack using points.If you decide to "stock" (by defending) you can attack more times in one turn.

Xenosaga Episode II is not an easy game.You can't just mash down on buttons and expect to win battles.There does need to be strategy involved.Without strategy, you'll more than likely lose.

The character raising is different.In the first game, you had Ether Points (Magic), Tech Points and skill points.In this one you only have ether points to improve your magic skills.Truthfully, that's sad since all your characters learn the same skills, and once you've learned everything (being that there are no Tech points and Skill points in this one) you'll have a bunch of Ether Points sitting around begging to be used, and they never will.

The graphics in the game have been updated from the first one.I personally didn't think this was neccessary.They tried to make the characters look more "human" and I personally thought the anime look of the first game was just fine.Some of their actions look a little strange, mostly because the dubbing of the game to English was terrible, but otherwise, the graphics are smooth and rich.KOS-MOS looks the nicest out of all the characters.

The voices, for whatever reason, have also changed.I was not too fond of this.The voices from the first game were perfect. These voices are either superb, or they're terrible.MOMO for example, has a terrible voice actor, while Chaos has a fairly good one.

The music is no where near as good as the first game.Actually, to be truthful, the music in this game is forgettable, and you won't care too much for it in the end.It's not the first one.

There aren't as many cutscenes as the first Xenosaga, and while the story is intriguing, the cutscenes don't flow quite as well.Also, it's sad to see this game isn't as long as the first one, and there aren't as many secrets.I thought the game would have more secrets than what I got.

It's also very disappointing with what you get from having a save file at the end of the first Xenosaga.Just a bunch of skills and whatnot.Nothing more.No impact on the story or anything.Really, the save file is useless.

Xenosaga Episode II does work, but it's sad that it can't live up to the first game.It had potential to live up considering how long it was in development, and what the first game gave it to go with.I just wish it could've fallen through.

If you loved the first Xenosaga game, pick this up.You won't regret it, but you probably won't remember it as well as the first game either.

Well Done
I thought the first game was so-so; the 2nd much better.The combat is simpler to understand but more complicated to use - you start with all the fighting techniques you're going to get.Its up to you to figure out which characters and combinations of attacks work well in a given situation.Its a bit confusing until you get the hang of it. Bosses are a bit more complicated - you need to mix up the attacks of more than one character to be effective.There's always one major weakness to be uncovered.

As far as the series - well, the story doesn't end here - if anything, it gets more complicated.Only a few loose ends are resolved, and several new ones are added.

After the game ends, be sure to save - then continue using saved data.The game continues with a huge side quest that's not series related but has a story all its own.

Over all - there's room for improvement, bt I'd say its better than FFX2.

A BIG dissapointment
Oh my. What has namco done?! To me Xenosaga II was such a dissappointment and a heartbreak! I impatiently waited for a couple of years with high hopes after finishing the first one for the second part of the series. I found Xenosaga 1 to be a wonderful game. The music was great (it was performed by the Boston Orchestra), the graphics were good, the storyline really enthralled me, and I fell in love with the characters and found most of their voice actors perfectly fitting. In fact, it still remains as one of my favorite games.Then, when the store got Xenosaga II, I immediately shelled out $55 to get it. I started it, got a little far in the game, then stopped because it was so mangled. They changed the characters looks, which was fine by me, but then they changed their VOICES. My god.
KOS-MOS' new voice actor sounds like she's bored throughout the game, I don't know WHY they didn't stay with the old one.
Shion's voice is now whiny and annoying, she's sounds like a total snob. The old voice sounded kind and soft.
MOMO's voice is now REALLY annoying, before she was just somewhat annoying.
Chaos' voice is actually MUCH better, I like his, it now really suits. All the rest of the characters voices are the same, which is good.
The storyline got very mangled, and is now even harder to follow without the word database from before. I just don't see why they got rid of the UMN stuff...
THE BATTLE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY HORRIBLE. I have NO idea why they decided to do that. They also messed up the techs, the skills, and items. They make it much more complicated than it should be. I sincerely hope that this system will go back to the much appreciated old one in Xenosaga III.
The music was DISGRACEFUL! IT sounded like they went on the internet and got a whole bunch of MIDIs! Either that or horrible elavator music! It was NOTHING like the sweet tones of the Boston Orchestra! I had to hit mute on the parts with no characters talking.
So, overall, this game was, well, a failure next to the first one. I grew bored of this game after only a little while and found myself wishing I hadn't spent my money on it. The game has been sitting in the same spot for a good three months now, since I got so bored with it. Be aware this is only my view of the game, so maybe YOU would actually find it to be the best game out there and worth the price. Either way, I hope you pick the decision that's right for you :)
... Read more