Product Description

Fast. Essential. Take care of yourself with the card for PlayStation 2 that can save game positions, various controller settings, high scores and much more. A handy carrying case will keep the gunk and junk off the card. The Memory Card is thinking when you're not. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: PlayStation 2

Reviews (223)

You need one.
A must have for anyone who owns a PS2, with this you can save your game files so you can continue playing. They are compact and strong. Highly recommended.

Building another Terminator
Using the technology from this 8MB Memory Card (left over from the dead Terminator), you should be able to construct another Terminator robot and send it through time.

If you create a bad Terminator robot, you should definitely soup it up like the A-Team van, with some crazy special powers that will help it destroy mankind.If you create a good Terminator robot, just make it like normal (and P.S. thanks for saving mankind).

good, not great
The official 8MB PS2 memory card is good if you have only a couple of games.otherwise you need to buy more than one.It is said that it runs 200 times faster, which isn't entirely accurate (usually about 185 times, but 200 is supposed to be the max).I bought this thing used for $17 dollars.That's expensive.If you have an oldr model of Playstation, it would be better to shell out $100 for Final Fantasy 11/hard drive bundle.The hard drive is 40 gigs, which is 5,120 times larger than this memory card.If you have a slim ps2, you can't use the hard drive.In that case, buy the 2 pack memory cards from Sony. It runs from $32 to $40, so get that package.Overall, a fast, reliable card, but Sony needs to produce larger cards.

be aware
ill tell you it is a good memory card but over time it will erase everything if you action replay max and if you use it on the getaway game it will erase every thing so if you have it just to let you know that

THIS IS A GOOD MEMORY CARD
MEMORY cards are quite dear and hold 8 blocks of Memory,games like The Sims ect. take up alot of Memory space so saving other games are more difficult to save,i do Prefer The GameCube memory cards b-cs they have more space so ide often have to delete memory from Magic Gate 8MB(8 Memory Blocks) to save my newer games.The PS2 is backWards Compatible with its predcessor`s games,PS ONE wich is very useful but PS2 is a different console and PS2`s Memory Card`s can`t save any PS ONE game(and PS1 Mem. Cards can not save PS2 games)So ide recommend that if you are buying PSX games for a PS2 to buy/Make-sure you have a PS ONE memory card if you i am concidering getting a PlayStation 1 Memory Card for my PS2 so i can save these PS1 games ime concidering buying;WWF In Your House,WWF WarZone,WWF SmackDown! 1,WWF SmackDown 2:Know Your Role!(I am a WWF/WWE fan),GTA1,GTA2,Driver 1 and Driver 2 and all of these games are popular and very fun to play thats Y ime gettin a PS1 Memory Card and And these games though PS2 games are more Fun now and better graphix.Only get a 8MB card if you have&play 8 games.JOHN CENA AND RANDY ORTON are the best WWE superstasrs!!!!1 ... Read more

Reviews (32)

NES
Widely considered the best system of all time. Has hundreds of great games, including Metroid, The Legend Of Zelda & The Legend Of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Final Fantasy, Super Mario Bros. 1, 2 & 3, and countless others. I highly recommend this system.

Nintendo Sweeps the table on Video Games!!!
Nintendo Really did well on this system
This system has some of the best classic games I can think of including: Super Mario Bros. #'s 1, 2, and 3. RBI Baseball. Tetris, Zelda, and a ton of other games. This system is also very family friendly. No really grphic violence or stuff.

Educational games are also availible. (Younger Kids LOVE Ernies Shapes and Grover's Numbers). Some games teach good hand eye coordination and shooting skills too, just get the famous classic Duck Hunt, and buy the NES Gun.


No matter what your age, NES has classics for you.
The system itself is a work of art too. 2 controller plug-ins ( I Think I heard that there was some way to make that 4 plug ins). Good for many hours of family fun.

There are some cons though:
-The RF Modulator (The thing that connects the NES to your TV)
is pretty hard to figure out ( There is something that you can buy to make AV outputs for you Nintendo, but that is normally not included with it).

-The cartridges have the tendency to get a lot of dust in them. (Fix this by blowing in the bottom of the cartridge)

- And it is a little hard to find good support for it too. Although a lot of times you can fix it with a little brainpower.


But altogether I would recommend this awesome Nintendo to anybody, any age.

4 1/2stars altogether

- The classic, the best, the only
-- Brandon about the NES

Nintendo NES is Still the Best
The 8-bit NES System takes you back to a simpler time.A time when graphics weren't overwhelming and violence wasn't as prevalent in video games.(Yes, of course there was some, but not to the extent of, say, Grand Theft Auto and it's ilk.)The games are easy to comprehend and play.They're also easy and cheap to find at thrift stores.All you have to do is clean them up and pop them in.Many web sites offer PDF downloads of the manuals/instructions as well so don't worry that you don't get the game mint in the box.The system and games are easy to maintain.Anyone with a phillips head screwdriver and a q-tip with a dab of rubbing alcohol can keep games and system clean and blink-free.New 72 pins can be easily installed for under 10 bucks - then your old system will play forever.I particularly like the Role Playing Games and the ability to save games for future play.Super Mario Bros. 3 is by far the best (and one of the toughest) video game ever created.Enjoy it!Relive your youth or show your kids what video games were like "back in the day."

I love it
I'm only 13 and my grandma has the NES system, but i'd rather play that than play my x box. There are some great games for that system. Like star trek next generation, kirby nightmare indreamland, RBI baseball. techno bowl. i love it. i'd trade my xbox for that system any day. im really 13

you need this for duck hunt alone
duck hunt is probably the best game ever but then you add in the other titles from this system and you have to get this system. man i loved duck hunt ... Read more

Product Description

More than ever, Chessmater® 10th Edition delivers on its promise to make you a better chess player. The program will improve your game regardless of your level of experience. This landmark edition provides the largest upgrade ever to the features and graphics of the franchise. Whether you are new to Chess or a tournament-level player, Chessmaster 10th Edition allows you to master history's greatest game.

Features:

• The new Chessmaster Academy.At the Academy, International Master Josh Waitzkin will personally walk players through the basics of chess, plus introduce a variety of simple strategies for dominating your opponent. The Academy also features the best attacking moves as taught by noted chess champion, Larry Christiansen.
• A totally revised interface.Clean, clear and easy-to-navigate, this all new interface represents the biggest upgrade to the look and feel of Chessmaster in over seven years.
• Full-featured online chess module.More than just a place to play chess live with other players, Chessmaster online allows players to establish rankings, create tournaments, utilize teaching tools, and join a thriving chess community.
• More fun for the whole family.Features such as, animated chess sets, a variety of whimsical 3D sets, and simple and efficient learning tools, makes chess more fun than ever. Younger players and chess beginners will appreciate the specialized section just for them. As players improve, the game suggests an appropriate AI opponent.
• A comprehensive chess engine.Wise enough to teach an absolute beginner and powerful enough to defeat a grandmaster, experience the all-new edition of the King engine - the brains behind the best-selling brand in chess.
• Intermediate and advanced player options.Seasoned chess players can test their skills against ranked AI opponents, set up tournaments and simultaneous exhibitions, and survey ... Read more

  Features

  • Intermediate and advanced player options; for ages 6 and older
  • Chess teacher, mentor, and ultimate opponent with intuitive user interface
  • Chessmaster Academy teaches the basics, plus a variety of simple strategies
  • Animated chess sets; whimsical 3D sets; simple and efficient learning tools
  • Full-featured online chess module; comprehensive chess engine

  Reviews (50)

  I concure with my fellow chessmates.
  Although this game is STILL better than most other chess games, the "little things" is what brings the quality down...such as: installing the cd in the disk drive every freakin ....freaking time that you want to play the game..Too many features..buttons and screens to choose from. and ...I am not the most computer savy person...So, they would need to take that into consideration......also, why is it that the lower players are so freakin strong all of a sudden!!! (Little josh w..and a few other players around his strength level are a joke)......Finally, my advice is to wait about 2 or 3 years to buy it....or wait until it shows up at a pawn shop!!
  

  UBISoft messed up on this one
  I have owned every version of this product since Chessmaster 5000. Sure Fritz is stronger and has a better reputation but for ease of use and flexibility, you couldn't do better than Chessmaster. At least that's what I thought until I laid my mitts on the piece of #&$@# that is the 10th edition.
  Boy, did UBISoft miss the boat. First they stop you from playing the game without the CD. Come on! What's up with that? The old mode of refreshing your installation every 10 games or so was inconvenient enough. And now I absolutely must have the CD in my drive to enjoy a game of chess? UBISoft should pay attention to the competition. The makers of Fritz know better.
  But the major annoyance is that this program is as buggy as hell. It crashes all the time and there is no consistency in gameplay. One minute the program is absolutely slaughtering you, the next minute it makes the dumbest move possible. After a couple of months fiddling with the damn thing, I uninstalled it and went back to playing the 9000 version and Fritz.
  I'm giving UBISoft one more chance. If the next version they turn out is as crappy as this one, then they have lost me as a customer permanently.

  Be VERY careful!
  All of the warnings here are completely accurate, the "security" features on this thing are AWFUL.There is a good chance, esecially if you have a newer machine (which you need for the enormous amounts of memory this thing takes), that you won't be able to get the game to run at all.I was only able to get this product to work after reading the helpful reviews on this site--luckily, I do have a non-writable DVD drive I was able to install with.If you don't have a non-writable drive, you're completely out of luck.I also went through the supposedly optional registration process that appears to be not-so-optional.
  
  I cannot tell you how frustrating it was trying to get Chessmaster to run--the "support" line is utterly useless.The guy I talked to didn't seem to know anything about the security device probelms this product has and didn't even hint that a writable drive or lack of on-line registration might be the problem.
  
  I did eventually have success getting Chessmaster X working, and to be honest, I have been enjoying it.I have found one thing that really bothers, me, though: the 'personalites' play MUCH stronger chess in rated games than in training games.Really, really, REALLY, stronger.Personalities I'm beating with no problem (and no help from blunder alert, or chessmaster hints, or taking back moves) kick my butt soundly and quickly in rated games.

  S-U-C-K-S
  All the bad things other reviewers have said about this excremental fraud are true.Some of the good things said are true, too.But does the good outweigh the bad?Let me put it this way: If customers were allowed to test-drive this loser-program before paying for it, Ubisoft would be bankrupt in no time flat.
  
  No, no, don't believe me....--Go ahead.Buy it.Join the rest of us suckers.Misery loves company.
  
  :)

  Dont even waste your time
  I wonder what the hell UBI was thinking.
  
  First of all you always need the cd in your drive to play...retarded. what if you have a tablet? are you going to carry that external cd drive with you everywhere just because you want to play chess? what if your running on battery power? are you gonna drain your laptop battery just cause you want to play chess?
  
  secondly forget about even trying to backup this cd. the amount of copy protection on it ...
  
  and upon all this the engine is faulty! a lot of times my opponent makes moves that are obviously wrong and that any chess amateur could see.. even when the ratings are in the 2000+ ration. This software is a total waste of time.
  
  dont even bother to use the only gameplay... have to enter a 16 digit cd key everytime you login. get fritz instead!!!! ... 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

Get your hands on this sophisticated USB-camera-enabled device that lets you interact with images that appear on the screen without the use of a controller. ... Read more

Features

• Comes with twelve mini-games, including: Wish-Washi, Beat Freak, Kung Fu, Soccer Craze, Boxing Chump
• Can also be used to instantly create personalized video messages
• Funky Playroom feature (visual effects) and multiplayer options make EyeToy the perfect party peripheral
• USB digital camera makes the player the "star" of the game; camera unit is 2.25" tall by 2.25" wide by 3.5" deep
• Motion-tracking technology instantly translates body movement into on-screen interaction

Reviews (145)

asome
I kerp on thing the EyeToy camera was dum but when I played It it was cool.My favrite game is kun-fu.

Decent fun..
This ' game ' is decent fun. It's VERY innovative and capable. ( I've heard of it soon being able to hook up online and you'll be able to chat with people. ) This game is just repetetive. And a workout! There are times when at the end of the day when I played this when my arm was about to fall off. Buy this though if you want a strange, original, yet obvious idea, ' game ' . You most likely will not be too dissapointed in your first few outings with it.

A Priceless Treasure for the PlayStation 2
EyeToy: Play is really fun game for the PlayStation 2. It's one of the top ten reasons why the PlayStation 2 is the BEST gaming system in the whole world (at least in our opinion). It allows you to play a variety of old school arcade-style minigames while being able to see yourself on your very own television set and create your own backgrounds through the USB camera. It does this via a motion-sensor detector, which means that no controllers are required. The minigames are broken down into 3 levels of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard. They allow you to choose from a variety of characters, and they never get old. Some of my personal favorites include "Boxing Chump", in which you box a robot-like opponent for points; "Rocket Rumble", in which you blow up as many rockets as possible turning them into fireworks before they exit the screen, "Soccer Craze", in which you are given three chances to keep a soccer ball in the air with your head or hands; "Wishi Washi", which consists of you cleaning windows; "Beat Freak", in which you catch floating CDs by beating them into a four-sided speaker sytem; "Mirror Time", in which you mimic the actions presented in a series of mirror directions; and "Ghost Eliminator", in which you play a ghostbuster in charge of exterminating ghosts simply by waving your hand over them. Additionally, each game comes with a training guide, so as to eschew confusion on how each game is played. There's also a playroom, which allows you to do things like swim under water with different colors of fish, pop bubbles, play with falling snowflakes, perform crazy actions while the computer mimics them, or see the background environment with no effect. In each of the games, it is possible to obtain a high score (as with most other old school arcade-style games). In doing so, it can take your picture by having you pose for a photo.

EyeToy: Play is also an ideal choice for a fun way to exercise. You can blow off steam in "Boxing Chump" (makes good anger management), or practice some dance moves in "Disco Stars." It offers some very pleasant music at the selection menu and in each of the games (which kinda sounds like the Agent 9 levels in Spyro 3) and combines this with a solid gameplay experience. In short, this is just one product that no self-respecting PlayStation 2 owner should be without (this is PS2 exclusive by the way). Now, if only they'd release EyeToy Play 2...

The KAB ratings -

Fun Factor: 10
Replay Value: 10
Graphics: 10
Sound: 10
Gameplay: 10

Overall Evaluation: 10 Perfect!

Reviewer: Baron

Interesting idea, but poor quality for the money.
The Eyetoy is an interesting idea in videogames... a camera that actually maps your movement onto the screen. I love the idea, and I love that the technology now exists. However...

For the amount of money involved, Sony could have invested in a higher quality camera. The image is too fuzzy to be satisfying, the unit detects light and dark spaces poorly, and adjustment is a pain. Though the camera is a fun toy, it need stweaking before I can take it seriously as a lasting accessory.

Even works on a computer as a webcam!!!
My kids loving playing all the games with the PS2 and if you look online search for eyetoy drivers and this little gadget works as a webcam. I use it with Yahoo messenger and it works great... I have windows XPsp2 and you just plug it into one of your pc's USB ports and you are good to go. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mario Kart 64, one of the first games released for the Nintendo 64platform, is an updated translation of the very popular Super Mario Kart for theSuper NES (SNES). And while the game clearly takes full advantage of the graphicspower and speed of the N64, a few components that made the original so compellinghave been left out of this release.

Still, Nintendo's expertise at sucking players into the game world is strongly evident, andMario Kart 64 offers enough challenges to keep players (especially casualgamers) entertained. Placing a familiar Nintendo personality behind the wheel of asputtering kart powered by a 50, 100, or 150-cc engine, the game lets players racecomputerized opponents or up to four other players on a variety of well-designed tracks.Because karts lack the power and speed of race cars, drivers must focus on collectingpower-ups and nonlethal weapons rather than negotiating hairpin turns on two wheels.Grabbing and using on-track items is the heart of the game's fun: a strategically-placedbanana peel sends the unlucky victim into a spin, nailing an opponent with a turtle shelllaunches their vehicle skyward, and a rocket provides a quick boost to near-breakneckspeeds, if only for a moment.

The multiplayer mode provides enormously chaotic fun for up to four players--flip it onat a party and watch the guests congregate around the screen. --Eric Twelker

Pros:

• Well-designed tracks
• Simple controls
• Strong multiplayer appeal

• Computerized opponents sometimes pull off questionable feats

Features

• New set of courses and racers
• Slick 3-D graphics
• For 1 to 4 players
• Kart racing with the Mario Brothers
• Collect power-ups and nonlethal weapons to get ahead

Reviews (168)

Amazing
This was the first 'Kart' game quite like this.. there isn't any 'Kart' game like this either outside of the Mario franchise. If you think you can find a better Karting game out there, I'd like to see you find it and show me, because from my finds and plays, this is the only game that is worth playing. From DK to Bowser, Peach to Toad, this game has most of the characters that have been involved with Mario in some way. The graphics are great for its time, the sound is fun, the worlds are colorful, the idea is great. Who wouldn't like this game- at ANY age? I'm not sure, but if you don't, you amy need to see a doctor. This is the best Kart game ever, and the best Mario Kart game ever.

Awsome!
This game is so fun. I gave it 4 stars because there is'nt much 2 do. I think this is #1 graphics. Buy this game.

One of funnest games on the N64
Mario Kart 64 Launched with the N64 and it sure did good with the sales but Ultimatley this is disapointing.Mario Kart Succeds in graphics departure but Fails at the boring over and over gameplay that you indure in the game.Don't get me wrong this is a great game but it just pretty much fail to fun factor.Back when I got this game when It first came out I simply loved it but after the next day it kind of got boring for me.The game is great but fails with the overuse of boring driving and nothing exciting happens.If it were up to me I would have addes some really cool Driving maze level(yeah it does sound lame but what ever)

In Graphics the game is simply superb.It really does make the N64 a really good lookin' system.The level desighning and great setups make it one of the better looking N64 back in the days when it was still popular..It truly does make some Ps games look like crap.

The sound is pretty average...ehh I rather not go into that..

NOW.......The gameplay..
It just get's boring after awhile and nothing special happens and the single player is pretty short.But cool......
And that's pretty much it.

The Multiplayer is pretty fun.I had a blast playing it with my friends.It really is fun but like I said before...Nothing special.

When it all comes down to this.The boring yet kind of fun gameplay, Great Graphics but doesn't help gameplay, Really fun MP but still fails to succeed in fun factor(well atleast to me)

I give Mario Kart 64 a 3.4 stars out of 5

Lates..

terrible
This is a mario rip off of REAL racing games.Also the stupid cartoonish karts go 14 mph.

good for N64
I'd recommend buying it used to save some money.The tracks are nice and the game play is all right.It's just not the same as playstation racing games though. ... Read more

Product Description

In the multiplayer game, Four Swords, between two to four players take on the roles of young adventurers who answer a challenge from the Triforce. They must brave the dangers of multiple dungeons in a quest to find the Master Sword. Their strength will be tested by fierce monsters, their wisdom tested by complex puzzles, and their courage tested by having to cooperate with each other to overcome obstacles. ... Read more

Features

• Talk to all sorts of people and creatures to gain information about how to move forward in his quest.
• Fight enemies and battle through dangerous and complicated dungeons to recover key objects that open new areas.
• Wield swords throw bombs, perform dash attacks, lift and throw, and push and pull objects; acquire items that give additional abilities.
• In Four Swords, face puzzles that require the cooperation of two or more players to solve. They can exchange items, but they also will be competing to pick up as many Rupees as they can to increase their individual scores. It's a unique blend of cooperation and backstabbing.

Reviews (124)

A Great Game
I've always loved A Link To The Past.It's not too easy but not too hard.The graphics are good and it has a nice storyline to it.It's just fun!I only have one complaint about this game for the GBA (and it's a big one):
This version of the game comes with a new game, The Four Swords.The only problem is that it's a MULTIPLAYER GAME!I know multiplayer games are enjoyable for some people, but not everybody knows someone else who also has this game, so many of us are not even able to play the game, which sucks, because from pictures I've seen, it looks like a lot of fun.There should ALWAYS be a single player option!
Okay, I'm done whining now.

Jake Klingelhofer Gives this game two thumbs up!
This is a GREAT game. It takes a while to beat but is very fun and not very hard. it isn't really easy like Zelda: the Minish Cap, but not insanely hard like Zelda: the Wind Waker. A fun continous game with good music, good characters, and it's GREAT
all around. ON a scale from 1 to 10, i would give this game a 11!

Bugger Zelda, revive "Battle Of Olympus"
Zelda was a copy of Battle Of Olympus IMO. Both games very simmaler, and if you like Zelda you'd love B.O.O.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past on Game Boy Advance is an identical port of the classic SNES game of the same name. What separates these brilliant Zelda adventures other than the Game Boy Advance's version being portable is that the GBA version also includes a Capcom-developed multiplayer game entitled Four Swords.

In Four Swords, up to four players can play together for a mix of cooperation and competition, solving puzzles, gathering Rupees and trading items. Fans of the Zelda series receive two great games for the price of one in this must-own GBA title.

On the surface, it looks like Nintendo went the cheap way out by simply converting the admittedly outstanding Super NES adventure The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past to the Game Boy Advance as the system's first official Zelda product, pretty much pixel-for-pixel in graphics and note-for-note in sound. It's a fantastic game in its own right, but the GBA has proven time and again that it has significantly more potential in capabilities than the Super NES ever did, and a conversion of an early generation 16-bit title hardly impresses on a technical scale. But put that thinking aside, because the developers didn't just put out a simple port for Zelda fans; the secondary selling point of the game cartridge, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords is a deep, thoroughly designed, and absolutely fun multiplayer experience that's based around the established Zelda gameplay mechanics. It's here that the cartridge really shines, and makes the purchase of the game an absolute necessity for Zelda fanatics and GBA owners alike.

All Zelda fans should know exactly what they're getting into with the Game Boy Advance conversion of A Link to the Past. The original game released back in 1993 for the Super NES is still revered as one of the best games released in the series, even among the more recent 3D releases on the Nintendo 64 system. The game takes place way early in the admittedly wonky Legend of Zelda chronology. As the elfish adventurer Link, players head off into the huge overworld to rescue the princess Zelda from the castle dungeon; as players save her from the lock-down, they learn that an evil wizard Agahnim has put the land under a cursed spell, and it's up to Link to grab the Master Sword and break it. But anyone who is familiar with the story, or Legend of Zelda games in general know that this is only the beginning of the adventure...
The Game Boy Advance game is a 100% accurate port of the Super NES game, right down to the pixel. The GBA game uses all of the original art assets from the game released in 1993 for its graphics, which admittedly look a bit dated to today's standards and what the GBA can actually pull off. But it remains extremely faithful to the original, which will definitely please videogame purists; any slight alteration of the original game and you could definitely hear all the fanboy comparisons to the original SNES version. The only real changes in gameplay are alterations on where certain non-essential objects are located; a tree that always dropped a rupee gem when rammed now unleashes a fairy, which eliminates the exploitation of unlimited funds from the original game. And, of course, the screen resolution means that the GBA has to scroll a bit more than the Super NES version did, but the original SNES game didn't require any real long-distance action, so this "cropping" does not hinder gameplay at all.

And while the music isn't quite as "crisp" on the GBA system, the handheld hardware does a wonderful job pulling off all the audio from the classic. But, just as Nintendo couldn't leave the past Super Mario games alone, the company insisted on adding to the sound effects by giving Link grunts, shouts, and yells, lifted from the samples used in the previous N64 adventures. It would have been a decent inclusion had it been used sparingly, but man, it gets annoying when every slash of the sword results in an audible grunt from Link. Every single one. It's cool that Link now lets out a yelp when he falls off a ledge or bites the big one, but a shout every single time he uses his sword? Yes, after about five hours into the quest your mind may grow used to this sound effect, but as it stands, the developers should have gone easy on the Link yelps.

But it's the gameplay that matters, and even today Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past holds its own as one of the best-designed action-adventure games ever created. For those not quite familiar with the way the Zelda design works, A Link to the Past features a huge overworld with several dungeons in which players will have to shove boxes, trigger switches, and destroy enemies in order to progress to the end where a very large boss creature sits and waits to crush Link into a pulp. These dungeons are pretty much the core of the Zelda gameplay, and it's these areas that give the game most its challenge. Each dungeon (there are at least a dozen of them in A Link to the Past are both extremely fun and, in many cases, extremely frustrating...but in an amusing sort of way. This game was the first Zelda game to utilize alternate-world travel; players will have to hop back and forth between the light and dark world to solve puzzles and get through certain challenges. There are times that, yes, you'll get stuck, so taking a step back to figure out the best (and usually only) course of action in the specific area is definitely encouraged. When all is said and done, A Link to the Past is a lengthy 20 to 30 hour adventure for folks who don't remember every little element from the SNES version. Those with the upper hand with prior knowledge of the classic adventure can probably breeze through it in a dozen. But whether you're a newbie or veteran, you haven't seen anything yet.

The secondary game option, Four Swords is an absolute must-play. Anyone who puts this cartridge away after completing A Link to the Past will be missing out on one of the best system link games ever created, and it's this mode that will set the watermark for what the GBA's game link support can pull off. Four Swords isn't a simple rehash of A Link to the Past's graphic engine in a multiplayer deathmatch, no sir. This is a completely separate game development that shares only the cartridge in which A Link to the Past sits. Four Swords occurs during the same time structure as the upcoming Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for the GameCube, which explains the completely changed character sprite structure of Four Swords. In the game, players must rescue Zelda from the clutches of the evil wind sorceror Vaati. But the challenges ahead are impossible for a single adventurer; to assist Link in his quest to rescue the princess, fairies use the power of the Four Swords to duplicate the hero...four times the Link. Silly premise, I know, but all you have to know is that each player controls a different colored Link.


The Four Swords is essentially broken up into four different areas, each with its own network of dungeons. The first dungeon is an expansive tutorial area that explains the varying items and how they work in the other three different areas. The level design Four Swords varies between standard Zelda fare to absolutely brilliant use of cooperative gameplay mechanics; this isn't a simple Gauntlet clone. Game designers have worked in many of the ideas from past Zelda games, from triggering pressure switches to shoving statues and lifting boulders. But many elements must be done in unison with one, two, or three other Links. Massive boulders blocking the way, for example, require all Links to work together to lift and move off to the side. Some creatures can only be destroyed if two players work together -- one cool creature in particular must be pulled apart to eliminate, with a Link on either side yanking in opposite directions. There are several items in the game that must be utilized to get through, and players can only hold and utilize one item at a time; whatever item they were holding at the time they picked up a different item is dropped in place of the new item. Magnet Gloves can get players across chasms if they aim at a magnetic block...and they can even grab onto distant Links by latching onto their magnetic Shields, pulling them across the hole as well. And the Gnat Hat is an interesting addition, as players who wear the hat will shrink to the size of a bug (basically a couple of pixels tall on-screen) in order to pass through tiny tunnels or across bridges and platforms that a normal Link couldn't fit. The game's full of all sorts of objects that require solo as well as cooperative techniques to get through the extensive challenges. What's more, the game design is intelligent enough to only offer dungeon designs with the amount of players in the network in mind. So, even though the game allows for up to four players to cooperate and compete in the dungeons, the designers realized that this wouldn't always be the case; if only two or three players are in the current network, it will only put forth challenges that only two players need to cooperate...which means, no four-player puzzle elements will enter into play.
This mode is where most of the development time obviously went, because everything about it, from the graphics, sound, gameplay, and interface, are done superbly. This multiplayer mode even incorporates extras that are earned in A Link to the Past; if a special sword technique is earned in the main single-player adventure, it can be used by that player in Four Swords. And those that complete the entire Four Swords adventure can unlock original dungeons and mini-quests in A Link to the Past, unique to the GBA game. So, if the fantastic multiplayer gameplay isn't enough encouragement, the extra quests in the single player adventure should seal the deal.

The link support is near flawless; it keeps track of all four players in the chain no matter how far back or ahead of the pack they go, and it also allows for a decent number of enemies to appear on-screen at once. The action will slow down on occasion when rupees spill onto the screen in a large amount, but from a technical standpoint occasional slowdown in a four player chain during not-so-intense moments is perfectly acceptable. It's an amazingly fun multiplayer experience, even if it tries the patience of everyone in the network chain. Everyone will be yelling at each other from not working together, or accidentally knocking someone off the ledge, or stealing each other's rupees. Even though players will be working together to complete the dungeons, ultimately, they're working against each other to earn the most rupees to collect the level's medallions. And as chaotic as that sounds, this element is one of the many reasons that makes Four Swords such an awesome mode that should not be missed by anyone.

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is definitely one of, if not the finest games released on the GBA. While some Zelda fans might be a bit bummed that Nintendo didn't offer Game Boy Advance owners something new to sink their teeth into, they have to realize that the company did do exactly that. Yes, the main package is simply the same Super NES game repackaged for play on the Game Boy Advance, but in all honesty that's only half the package. And offering one of the greatest action adventures in portable form isn't exactly a downside, either.

Four Swords is Nintendo's way of giving gamers something completely new and different in the Zelda environment, and it's one hell of a good time in each play through. This mode is an adventure in itself; it just requires the effort of grabbing one, two, or three other friends to join in the quest. And that's the only real downside to this mode: trying to get a party together to take advantage of this thoroughly-designed experience. It is a slight shame that Nintendo didn't offer just a sliver of Four Swords as a single-cartridge multiplayer mode, even if it was just to offer a scaled-back demo version of the entire Four Swords adventure...but considering how good this entire package is, it won't be hard to find players with a copy of their own.

comment
I don't own this game and i have never played it (though i might buy it) i just wanted to point out that in one reviw someone did not know anyone with the gam it doesn't solve your cable problem but you only need one game pack to play multi player on GBA (note this only applys when your using other GBAs no other GBs will work) ... Read more

Features

• Play with a team of up to six characters, each with unique skills and powers
• Strong 2-D graphics
• For 1 player
• RPG fantasy adventure
• Collect the 108 stars of destiny to defeat the evil prince

Reviews (73)

251.51 for a cd?
I think Suidoken is great game, i highly reccomend all their work, but unless they plan on delivering the cd via viking boat themselves, the price is a bit too steep.

I'll assume the price is a error, and this is my half-assed attempts at humor.

So, once it's fixed do yourself a favor and order it.

A great game but.......
Suikoden 2 is a great game, and I'm glad I grabbed a copy way back with the guide, maybe I should sell my copy and take a tropical vacation. Seems that these rare games are developing into collectors items more than games now. If you really want to spend $100+ on a game your bordering on nuts,but buy suikoden part 1 cause its vital to fully enjoy this game. However this game is beautiful, deep, and captivating. I have played it thru several times, you can even load your original suikoden data if you gathered the 108 stars in that game to add storyline and events to this title. Greatest Rpg series ever a must for a true rpg fan/collector.

New type of RPG
I ran across this game (...)right when it first came out, and I picked it up more as a fluke than for any other reason.I am glad I did.Graphically this game is in 2D, but it is done very well.Each person is easily recognizable, and there expressions come across quite clearly (with emotions appearing above the characters heads in little bubbles!).

As far as normal random battles goes, suikoden is fairly straight forward.6 people can join in fights, with a front line and a back line.Different people have different weapons that have different attacking abilities.Ie. weapons like bows can attack the enemies from the front and back row, staffs can attack only the front line of enemies, but they can be positioned in either your front or back row, and swords/axes can only hit the front line of the enemy, and only from the front line of your ranks.

One nice ability for later on is the option to choose 'let go'.If your party is crossing an area of the world map, or if you are re-exploring a dungeon from much earlier in the game, the option to 'run' is taken away, and the option 'let go' is placed there instead.Basically it is a means to escape the tedium of random battles that wouldn't provide enough experience of money to make the time of fighting it worthwhile.Plus it works 100% of the time. :)

The most interesting part of the game though is that fact that it incorporates more than just standard random battles, it also has full army battles that involve most of your fighting party members broken up into groups of 3.Each group has its own attack, defence, and special abilitys.Most of the time the battles are very enjoyable, however there are a few battles that rely on luck, so you just have to keep plugging away at them for a while until you finally manage to beat the enemy.

Also the game features a third battle system called duels, which are (just as the name emplys....) 1 on 1 duels.There aren't that many duels during the course of the game, and they are conducted in a rock paper scissors manner.

The best part of the game though is just playing through the story and becoming the hero of legend.Nothing is quite as satisfing as walking through your castle (which starts out run down and dilapidated and ends up quite spectacular) and talking to all the various people that have come to live there because of their firm (and very vocalized) belief that YOU are the one person capable of being a hero.

Suikoden may have a funny name, but it is a game that you would be a fool to bypass.

MUST PLAY
Betrayal between a country and its armed forces. loytalty between two friends, cant overcome ones loyalty to his country. This is Suikoden II. One of the all time great playstation games. the story line is basic just as the first one is. but there is more to do here in the land of highlands than in the scarlet moon empire. the castle really takes form and you can have cook offs and also fish with yam koo and tai ho (yep they are back). with many characters from the first suikoden included you will have hours of fun in this game. also yuber makes another mysterious appearance in another installment. this is a must play and its worth the $100 dollars you are going to spend to get it.

Final Fantasy???Suikoden!!!
I have to count myself as one of the skeptics when it came to an RPG with 108+ characters.And I definitely never thought an RPG series could ever hold ranks with Final Fantasy.But the moment I finished the first Suikoden I was a believer that there could actually be an RPG that surpasses Final Fantasy--at least in some aspects.

Okay, so the graphics are 2D, but it was back in the PS1 days.But the graphics are NOT what makes this game so amazing--It's the story.The STORY, because it's worth repeating.

The Story (Repeated for the Third time) deals with familiar themes of family, friendship, loyalty, etc...But it's the level in which they are handled, and the skill at which they are portrayed that makes this game really special.Who can forget the final scene, the duel between the Hero and Jowy.I don't even want to say much more because I'll ruin it for those who haven't played it.

You just won't get the opportunity to play another game like this, and for those who haven't bought this title already, good luck.It's expensive, because it's EXTREMELY rare.If I didn't own it already, I would gladly pay the $99 asking price though, because it's the story you will want to experience OVER and OVER and OVER again.It takes what I LOVE about the first Suikoden and brings it all to something even better in Suikoden II.

Oh, and this is worth mentioning.The whole Luca Blight Battle Sequence had to be my most favorite RPG moment in both story, scene progression, and battle play.It was SO AWESOME!Just remember to level up good before it and use the power of the "Tank" characters.

I'm just a really big fan of this series (can you tell?) and I could go on all day about how good this game is, and how it's worth playing, but I won't.I'll leave it up to you.But in my opinion, it's worth the money, BUY IT NOW!That is, of course if you can open your mind to 2D graphics, and throw away your old Final Fantasy ways (The Magic System is Totally different--No Lit3 or Cure4's here).(LoL) ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Originally released in 1981 by Konami, the Frogger arcade game isconsidered an all-time classic. Since then the property has been transferred toseveral owners, many of which tarnished the Frogger tradition. Now, backin Konami's hands, the little green fellow brings back everything people lovedabout the original arcade game, but with a modern twist.

Frogger's Adventures: Temple of the Frog pits Frogger against the evilMr. D, who has stolen the mystical elements that nourish the hero's marsh.Frogger must make his way through 15 levels spanning six environments in orderto find the elements. After every few levels, he must engage in a boss fight.Like in the arcade original, Frogger spends most of his time hopping left,right, up, and forward, but in this version he must deal with more than movingcars and snapping crocodiles. The game's levels feature all sorts of perils,such as mazelike conveyer belts, spiked floors, and crumbling platforms. Thereare also 32 different types of enemies standing in his way. Among the fewdownsides of the game are its short length, the lack of variety-adding options,and the fact that the coin system that allows you to reach the last level iseasy to fool.

This is a great example of how to properly update a classic. The simple gameplayof the original Frogger is intact, but the developers have added cleverlevels, bright graphics, and modern game mechanics to the mix. This game is sureto please longtime Frogger fans, as well as create some new ones.--Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Easy-to-learn gameplay
• Levels add a new twist to classic Frogger moves
• Four in-game save slots

• Lack of options
• A bit short
• Coin system is easy to cheat

Features

• Jump, glide and tongue-flick through 15+ levels in 5 different environments.
• A cartoonish action/platform game with an element of puzzle solving, Frogger expands on simple, yet addictive gameplay to catch players of all ages.

Reviews (36)

I HATE THIS GAME
This game is so stupid! I would leave it in the trash! Luigi's mansion is better.

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVED THIS GAME SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! It is origianol, interesting and really really fun! It has 5 cute little worlds, and 15 levels. It gets really hard over time, but as soon as you get familiar with all of the controls and enimies, it isn't as hard as it seems. A little hint: On parts of the 2nd earth element level, move fast! Don't think, move fast! It helps! I finished the game in about a week, and my favorite places were the sea world and temple levels. Buy this game now, it totally rocks!

PLEASE....
it sux. never get it. u just hop around getting smashed by things. i played it once and hated it. im srry for the ppl who have it!!!

too easy and not original
this game is too easy and im a twelve year old, its not original and doesnt have the kind of thrill and excitement its just k nothing special,if i were u i wouldnt waste my money and would by super mario advance games instead, theyre much better

The Most Fun Frogger Yet
I thought this game was very fun.The first level is easy ,but once people try the second level they think it is hard.(Most of the levels have the same type of moves so once you get the hang of it its not so hard.)the temple is the best part in my opinion.The graphics are also pretty good,and the music is great.Some people say that the game is impossible to beat, but that's not true.I've beaten the game the whole way through until the end credits.Overall I thought this game was challenging,addictive,and very fun! ... Read more

Reviews (622)

Open Mind
Hey guys.I love this game, flat out.It has great characters, a good plot, a good system, and fantastic music.A lot of people think that the game is boring, or maybe they don't like the plot, but I think that those people need to just give it a chance.This was the 7th Final Fantasy I have beaten, and now I have finished 1-9, and this game is in my top four.

There are some problems with this game, but I don't think they are very critical.Most of them affect the first couple hours, but they are nothing toreally have too big a problem with.First of all, the begining is slow.There are about 4 battles in the first hour, and you finish only about 20-50 in the first few hours.Also it takes a little getting used to to get into the gameplay.Characters gain magic and abilities based on what equipment they have on.

Anyways, I put this in my top list of games, which are in order of which is most important to play

Final Fantasy VI
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy VII
Earthbound
Final Fantasy IX
Chrono Cross
Xenogears

Play those RPG's and you will have experienced the best games ever made.

This is to the people
Look, I realize you are entitled to your opinions, as am I.So, let me get my two cents in.This is to the people who do not like FF( because only mages can use magic(like cure, fire, etc.).Stop complaining!Not only can Garnet and Eiko cure, but Amarant uses Chakra to cure, Freya uses a skill to cure, and so can Quina.This game DOES return to the roots which has only certain characters use magic.It makes it harder.Now, to those who claim this game is childish because of certain things.I am twenty-four years old, and I like this game a lot.My friends like this game.Even my twenty-eight year old brother likes this game.None of us think it is too childish.
To those who complain about the storyline, claiming a thirteen year old could do better.I've read the fan fictions people of such age write about the Final Fantasies; trust me, they ARE NOT BETTER.If you think you could do better, try it.By the RPG Maker, and DO IT!Betcha can't, though.If thirteen year olds COULD do better plots, you would think that such companies as Square Enix would hire them.Duh.

Great Game, despite all other opinions
First of all, I'd like to point out that I haven't played many other Final Fantasy Games, so I'm not going to compare them.

On to my thoughts about FFIX. It was the first real RPG Playstation game that I ever bought and it's the one that got made me love the genre.
Plot: 4/5 Great plot, however they fail to really explain some crucial details (for example: why does Zidane sees Garnet's memory?). A little more explanations would be nice for my lack of brain cells.
Characters: 5/5 You really do get attached to Zidane and Garnet, you laugh at Amarant's oblivious and cynical nature, and just want to shoot Thorn and Zorn. The point is, the characters are interesting and have a personality.
Gameplay: 4/5 At first it's hard to understand how to train the characters and use different accessories to learn attacks. However, once that is settled, the gameplay is great. Also, it took me forever to realize that pressing Select on the world screen brings up a map: VERY USEFUL! You'll get lost if you don't use it. Other than that, good gameplay.
Graphics: 6/5 :) Gotta love the grahics. Squaresoft created different cultures/architectures for each different country. Gaia is absolutely gorgeous. The FMVs are amazing. Two thumbs way way up for the graphics.

Overall: Though it required a lot of time training to beat Kuja and the final bosses, the game is really fun. The minigames range from "fun-for-two-seconds" (Jumprope Vivi) and "takes-forever-but-gotta-love-it" (Chocobo Hot and Cold) and the game itself is great, long and never boring. Five stars out of five it is, then. Great way to get yourself in the world of Final Fantasy.

Possibly the greatest game of all time.
Yes, i admit that I have taken risks in writing the title of this review sincem after all the title was highly opinionated, but here me out. Ill look at it from a reasonable angle.

When Final Fantasy IX (FF9) was released, it was very differant than it's predecessors, Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII. It had gone from a harsh 'sci-fi' feel to a soft 'fantasy' feel. The main character was not a silent and melencholy introvert. And overall, the game had a very prelavent tone of charm and whimsy, whereas VII and VIII had, for the most part, more depressing tones. Like I said, very differant from its predecessors.

For anyone who doesnt like simple RPGs, this isnt for you. Everything in this game has been made slightly more simple. No Junction or Materia systems here. Every character has unique abilities that only he/she/it can learn. While I enjoyed VII and VIII's systems, XI's felt more believable. Believe it or not, this simplification adds some serious challenge to the game. Because not everyone can learn 'cure' or 'revive' you will have to be careful on forming your groups. and since you can't junction switch at all, you'll find that keeping all of your characters at high levels is a good idea. You cant simply put 'curaga' on someones hp and have it skyrocket. youll have to do alot of levelling up. This doesnt mean that Final Fantasy IX is impossibly hard. In factm if I were to rate its difficulty level, I would say it was 60%.

these differances in abilities add to the very well written characters. Each character feels alive, and you believe what it says. In past final fantasies some characters, although important to the story line, just didnt feel real (Cait sith, anyone?) but in Final Fantasy IX, each character seems 100% believable. Their dialoge matches their personalities seamlessly. some scenes which have no importance to the story are written in just to make you 'feel' the character. Such as when Eiko scolds Vivi for looking the wrong way and vivi says "I was just looking at the mountains".

And then you have the games visuals. Are the graphics breakthrough? no. What you have in Final fantasy IXs visuals is emotion. For example, when playing Final fantasy VIII and you look at a floor tile, it just looks like some-old floor tile. But in Final fantasy IX when you look at a floor-tile,you feel a story behind it. It looks unique to each culture's lifestyles and beliefs. You feel a bit of what the "tile maker" felt when creating it. Yes, every blade of grass in Final Fantasy IX is a work of beauriful art.

One mustn't forget the music. Final Fantasy IX lives up to the high standard of its predecessors when it comes to music. Each song is beautifully well written and perfectly placed. Cooky and silly songs play where there is a village of quirky dwarves, sullen and sad music plays in a destroyed city, and so on. Some people (myself included) would get tired of certain songs after awhile in the past final fantasies. For instance, in FFVII when I was in the gold Saucer, although the music was good, it did get tiresome and I muted the volume. Same with Finl Fantasy VIII in Balamb garden. But with Final Fantasy IX i would often just sit and listen to songs re-loop so that I coud hear and feel them again.

The storyline in Final Fantasy IX is beautiful. I wont say anything to ruin it, but trust me. Its amazing.

Out of all this, why do I say that it is possibly the greates game of all time? Well, i'll explain myself.

Does anybody remember Halo? No no, not Halo2. Halo. just plain Halo. It was revolutionary. I remember that everyone played it. everyone who had an XBOX owned Halo. (partially because after awhile XBOXs started coming with a copy of Halo, but still) it was a great game. But now, with the arrival of Halo2, it has just faded out. Even big fans of the origional have said 'Man, there really isnt any reason to play the first halo anymore." Sadly, this is how it is with alot of games. Beautiful and wonderful games slowly fade out when shiny sequals come out. Yes, Final fantasy IX felt some of this when Final Fantasy X came out, but still many many fans play final fantasy IX because of its greatness. In other words, Final fantasy has lived on despite the release of more advanced graphics and things like that.

So, I urge you,(haha, I sound so devoted) if you havent played Final Fantasy IX before, play it. Make sure you buy it, because Ive been noticing that its harder to find at Game stores than it used to be.

Finally, ill leave you with one thing. You may hate this game despite everything i've said. Guess what, people are differant. If you try this game and for some unearthly reason you loathe every second of it, well then at least you gave it a shot.

Not a masterpiece, but still a great game...
I wouldntgo as far as to say FF9 is as good as the recent FF games,or most of the games for that matter, but it is still a great game. The atmosphere of this game is a far cry from FF8's romantic, adult atmosphere. Everything is more comedic and cartoonish, but the graphics are still up to par with recent RPGs, but not very innovative. (They basically look the same as FF7 or FF8). Anyway, I'll break this review down...

Graphics- 9/10 Like I said, they are up to par with games of its time, but are not very innovative. Then again, the Playstation is very limited graphics-wise. But that's what I love about the Playstation one, the games were not all about graphics, unlike the PS2(I am not a fan of PS2 at all, or the recent FF titles.)Anyway, the character designs are a lot more old-school, especially the black mage which looks pretty cool.

Sound- 7/10 This is one of the low-points of this game, the sound isn't that amazing. FF4, 6, tactics, 7, and 8 all have amazing soundtracks, not to mention 5 as well, but this one just doesn't amaze me. After playing through this game several times and mastering it several times, I still don't really remember any tracks in the game. FF8's soundtrack blew me away, so I was hoping for the same here. The only highlights for music are on the start screen, and the world music is pretty good, as well as the battle music.

Gameplay- 10/10The setup is pretty good, making you choose abilities from items that are equipped and learn them. The junction system in FF8 was in my opinion, one of the most innovative systems ever for a video games. This games isn't very innovative, but it's still a great idea that is fun to do. Also, there's synthesis shops now, where you combine items to make armor. (much like FF8s weapon system, except now you can also buy weapons and armor as well.) Overall, this game has a great system that is a lot of fun. The card game isn't nearly as fun as FF8's in my opinion, though. In ff8, you collected cards and then could card mod them, which was also an amazing idea, but in this game the cards seem to do absolutely nothing for the player, other than giving them knowledge that they completed the game 100%, and achieved the highest card collecting level, which is also pointless. Overall, the card game is just a lame re-hash of FF8's Triad game, so dont expect a blast playing cards here, look to ff8 for that.

Controls-10/10 Basically the same controls as in every other ff game. Now there's an exclamation mark which appears over Zidanes head if you are near an item, which was a pretty good idea.

Story- 6/10 This is the games biggest weak point. In my opinion, FF9 has the most forgettable story out of any FF game. Sure, it has its high points( The idea of having summons attack the town was a great idea,and was pretty sweet to watch) But other than that, it didn't leave me feeling amazed. FF4, 6, 7, 8, tactics and heck they all had great storylines, but FF9's is pretty lame. You go after some little guy wearing a thong, and thats about it, it isnt deep like the other titles, although at times it may appear that way. It wasnt the worst storyline, but definitely not up to par.

Overall- 8/10 I have spent a good deal of my life playing this game, since it took a while to master my characters levels and find all the items, and it was definitely worth it. This is a wonderful game that all RPG fans should play. ... Read more

Product Description

While planning the perfect vacation on Dinosaur Island, things go awry for Mario and Luigi when they learn that Princess Peach has been kidnapped again by the ever-diabolical Bowser. Being chivalrous plumbers, Mario and Luigi set out on a massive adventure to rescue their long-time friend. To reach their goal, they'll have to crush Bowser's evil Koopalings and solve some of the most challenging puzzles they've ever faced. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: Game Boy Advance
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Action/Adventure

Reviews (251)

Polishing a classic
There's pretty much a debate on the best Super Mario game: Super Mario 3, Super Mario World or Yoshi's Island(but you control Yoshi instead). Some might say Mario 64 but the lack of gameplay moves doesn't hold a candle to the many gameplay mechanics each one of the 3 provide. So we delve into one of them: Super Mario World.

Story: What little story there is. As usual, Princess Peach gets kidnapped(I swear that b**** needs bodyguards or take up karate or something). So it's up to Mario to save the day as he traverses worlds in caves, the chocolate level, underwater and in the air.

Graphics: This is Super Nintendo graphics so granted these aren't stunning anymore. But it does have a nice vibrancy to it and the variety of the levels adds some nice changes to the scenery without being too repetitive.

Sound/Music: I often call Nintendo good support music. Besides the Mario theme, nothing is really hummable yet it doesn't feel out of place. They added some voices for Mario and Luigi which as usual get annoying.

Gameplay: I remember playing this on the SNES and I was so happy I cleared all 96 stages, got the Star Road finished, the secret areas and everything. Now I have to do it again, ugh. All the levels are here with some minor tweaks.

It was this one I believe they introduced one of Mario's famous sidekicks: Yoshi, the green dinosaur who likes to eat anything and s**t it out and makes eggs that he can fling at people(only in Yoshi's Island and maybe some others). He also turned into a different colored Yoshi depending on what he ate. So red turtles gave him abilities to shoot fireballs while one enabled him to fly and another gave a slight earthquake quality when he bounced.

Mario 3 wins in turns of transforming Mario. In 3, he had the tanooki suit(that raccoon), the frog suit, that shoe, not to mention the fire flower and the leaf, capable of making him fly. With this one he gets the fire flower and the feather, giving him a yellow Superman cape where he can fly. It's different than the leaf cause that just made him soar straight up while here you can fly across. He can glide down by just holding the button while in 3 you had to repeatedly hit it.

The Mario Advance ports are great for us old school gamers who remembers playing Chrono Trigger, Uniracers and Final Fantasy III(officially VI but that's another story). Don't forget about Mario 3 and Yoshi's Island too.

This is an old classic, but it cannot overshadow Mario Bro 3
The game is good and then some. There is so much to do, you may never do it all.
The story is that Peach is not in the witness protection program and gets kidnapped once again. You and Luigi must save her.
On the map you can alternate between Luigi and Mario just by a press of a button. All in all, it does not matter. The game is no harder or easier. Luigi has a better jump but is slower than Mario.
In the levels your goal is to get to the end without dying. The twist in this game is that any red dot on the map means there is more than one exit. And many of them are hard to find. Upon finding them, you are able to gain access to a different path on the map.
This is a must. You will see dotted lines everywhere in a certain color. What you must do is find a certain special exit and you get to go to a block palace. They will fill in the lines with blocks that match the colors. Now these blocks give you access to new places and sometimes save your life.
Running around in the levels, you get four different powerups and they vary from mushroom to stars. If you had Mario before, you know what they do. The new addition is Yoshi. He can add an extra hit to your life and eat enemies and more! Plus, by special exits, you can go to star world. Beating a level there the right way will give you access to a new yoshi. Some will turn enemies eaten into fire while others can fly when they have any enemy in their mouth. They appear at random
The bosses can be brutal. Each boss either has three or four hits. You must find the special way to beat them. This will be easy, but causes you to keep readjusting throughout the game.
You may never do everything.
You need help to do everything. So buy a strategy guide.