Product Description

Before J. R. R. Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, there was The Hobbit. Join Bilbo Baggins in his journey though Middle-earth. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Mission: Lead Bilbo Baggins through Middle-earth in his first big adventure
• Platform: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

Reviews (32)

An enjoyble game
From Hobbiton to Mirkwood,this game is really fun. The graphics are great,the music is great, and the quests are outstanding. However, the game doesn't follow the story all the time. The wepons you get are Sting,Stick, and rocks. The enviroments are amazing.

Happy Playing!

luv this game
I love this game.the only problems are that you can only save at specific points, and those points are not well placed.for instance, when you are fighting the spiders, when you get to the only save point, there is a giant spider about to kill you.also, the cutscenes get annoying after a while, and there are only 2 or 3 that you can skip. it takes a while to get used to fighting, but once you do, you can get past anything.what i really didn't like, though, was that the Ring has a meter, and once the meter runs out, you have to take the Ring off and wait for it to charge.when you are in the elven palace, it gets really annoying.overall, it is an awesome game, and i highly reccomend it.

Merely a Poor Console Conversion to make a buck
What the company did here is paid big bucks to get the movie name and rights to the characters, then no follow through.Not trusting the company is the reason for a demo.More demo's please.Recall the game, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"?Is was a beta for this game.Now they have better rendering on the characters, but they forgot to put color on the ground and walls.Everything is black.Super annoying.One player. "How do I get up there?"If you hate jumping games, you'll hate jumping games more that they don't finish making.Keyboard - Extra long jump Left-Ctrl key+direction key+jump key+you can't see because they didn't render the ground or the walls in act 2...it's black.Major design flaw (act1) with invisible barriers - If you push the butter churn to the fence near the hay stacks, standing on it to jump over, you can't jump back.You can physcially jump higher than the fence, but they never thought you'd do that and were using an invisible vertical barrier, so you couldn't get there in the first place.If you liked the book, don't purchase this game or you'll even find the book frustrating.

Good for kids... with some help
I've been playing this game with my six-year-old son.He loves it.He does need a little help sometimes.First, some of the puzzles are impossible for a child to figure out (and even adults, if you're not an experienced gamer.) Second, it can be difficult to know what to do at each level to get through it.What I did was to search the Web for a "walkthrough" -- a step-by-step guide for playing the game.Cheating?Maybe, but my son enjoys it more this way -- we get to be able to finish the game, and he can concentrate on the parts he can do well.

Not a PC game fanatic- but I loved this!
WOW!I am in no way a big PC game person.I prefer to play solitaire or go on cartoonnetwork.com.But when my younger brothers brought this home, I was definitely intrigued by the things you had to do in the game.

As soon as I got to play it, I was immediatly hooked.As an amateur, my brothers had to help me at several points, but I was able to figure most of it out on my own.I'm not a Tolkein freak, I just enjoyed the movies, so I can't complain about the storyline, because there definitely is one in this game.There is no bad language nor is there blood, which was a plus for me, as I am a female and I just don't enjoy those things.Of course you have to defeat villians, but it's not gross.

The graphics are awesome, too.There are excellent details and lots of movement.The look and feel of the levels all vary thus far, which makes it so the game doesn't get boring.

I highly recommend this game to anyone- even if you don't like PC games. ... Read more

Features

• PC from DreamCatcher
• ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
• Role playing game/Adventure

Reviews (9)

A very realistic, educational, and fun game!
I bought the first game in this series of two, "Riddle of the Sphinx" (Which I enjoyed very much by the way) and then I bought this game, "The Omega Stone". I liked this game very much because it is very realistic and it looks more like your really there than a 3D game. I also liked it becasue i'm very interested in ancient civilizations. You are able to visit 6 locations in this game; Chichen Itza (a Maya city), Giza Plateau (in Egypt), Stonehenge, Easter Island, the underwater ruins of Atlantis, and the Bermuda Triange. It takes place in the future, (2012 I think) and ends with you just saving a meteor from destroying the planet. The concept is that all these civilizations knew that this was coming and left behind clues and tools to help stop it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this game and would recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful adventure games, puzzles, and/or ancient civilizations. If you do make the choice to buy it, have fun and good luck! :)

A very realistic, educational, and fun game!
I bought the first game in this series of two, "Riddle of the Sphinx" (Which I enjoyed very much by the way) and then I bought this game, "The Omega Stone". I liked this game very much because it is very realistic and it looks more like your really there than a 3D game. I also liked it becasue i'm very interested in ancient civilizations. You are able to visit 6 locations in this game; Chichen Itza (a Maya city), Giza Plateau (in Egypt), Stonehenge, Easter Island, the underwater ruins of Atlantis, and the Bermuda Triange. It takes place in the future, (2012 I think) and ends with you just saving a meteor from destroying the planet. The concept is that all these civilizations knew that this was coming and left behind clues and tools to help stop it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this game and would recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful adventure games, puzzles, and/or ancient civilizations. If you do make the choice to buy it, have fun and good luck! :)

A very realistic, educational, and fun game!
I bought the first game in this series of two, "Riddle of the Sphinx" (Which I enjoyed very much by the way) and then I bought this game, "The Omega Stone". I liked this game very much because it is very realistic and it looks more like your really there than a 3D game. I also liked it becasue i'm very interested in ancient civilizations. You are able to visit 6 locations in this game; Chichen Itza (a Maya city), Giza Plateau (in Egypt), Stonehenge, Easter Island, the underwater ruins of Atlantis, and the Bermuda Triange. It takes place in the future, (2012 I think) and ends with you just saving a meteor from destroying the planet. The concept is that all these civilizations knew that this was coming and left behind clues and tools to help stop it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this game and would recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful adventure games, puzzles, and/or ancient civilizations. If you do make the choice to buy it, have fun and good luck! :)

Not for the impatient
Intersting game to begin with, nice scenery, simple puzzles, loaded easily onto my PIII pc.How ever moving the character from point to point no matter how close or far is a real challenge.Takes longer to move than to solve the puzzles.Sometimes it swings in one direction briskly, other times it is painfully slow, so slow you think the game locked up.There are cursors in the game not mentioned in the booklet, also there is a patch you have to look for and download to fix some things in the game.Moving to look up or down is tricky, easy to either swing past the object or take forever to get there.Some times trying to look at an object causes the character to move, then you have to go back and try again.The distances you need travel between some points is horrendous, and there is a lot of back and forth travel required.For me the worst part of the game was getting the character to move in the right direction.If you want a simple game, this is it. If you want one that is simple and easy to navigate, forget this one.

Tiresome
Isn't it weird how you feel tired when your game character has to travel and walk all over the place?That is how I felt in this game.A lot of walking through dark places, picking up inventory items and then travelling to a new place.I loaded the whole game so didn't have to swap discs but still had about a 1 1/2 load time for games on a PIII866.The worse part was my hard drive crashed and I had to start all over again.Made myself finish but really wanted to abandon it.Most annoying moment - the chemical mixture.I was bored, kept getting distracted and would lose count on the measurements.Wouldn't recommend as story line is not that interesting. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

It's not very often that a game aims to be fun and realistic while instilling a sense of personal involvement and responsibility. Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winners Circle does that within the theme of horseback riding. Players compete in such equestrian events as dressage, jumping, and cross-country, and learn the basics of caring for a horse. The game offers a practice mode, which lets riders master the controls and explore a course before entering events, and an adventure mode with large forest and island levels where players can play minigames or just simply explore. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Two Thumbs Up
As a young woman who has been showing, training, breeding, and riding horses since a very young age, it takes a lot to impress me when it comes to horsemanship games. When I opened up a Christmas gift to find this game, I inwardly groaned and said, Ewwww. Mary-Kate and Ashley. Later that day, I was glued to the Playstation. My parents had to drag me off of it to go to bed. Needless to say, I was very impressed.
Starting out in the stable, you can customize your own rider and horse, and set out to ride, whether you choose horse trials, three or single day eventing, horseshoe hunting, or a simple trail ride, you can be gaurunteed that you'll have fun. The game focuses around the 3-day-eventing, with progression in levels (you work your way up from beginner's circle to winner's circle) and new course layouts for each level.
A fun aspect of the game is the collection of ribbons you can win while trail riding, which can then be spent like money in the tack shop. While there's no tack in the shop, you can buy clothes for your rider, which (however girly it may seem) is rather fun. You can have a tweed coat for showing your chestnut horse, or a black hunt coat for a white horse. The possibilites are endless.
The trail-riding worlds (island and forest) are both huge, with beautiful scenery and landscapes. Each has several hidden minigames, but you'll probably just find yourself galloping aroung exploring. With the two-player option, you can ride with a friend, which is even more fun. The music that plays in the background for these worlds (also featured in horse trials and horseshoe hunts) is catchy and sugary.
The one thing I didn't like about this game is MK-A's voice overs, like "You're on the wrong trail" or "you missed a checkpoint" during the cross-country course. Can you say ANNOYING? Another thing is that, while caring for your horse, the rider will say stupid things like, when brushing the tail "someone needs to use some conditioner!" or when cleaning out the stall, "it's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it." I mean, is it really neccesary?
However, these are not trivial problems and if you love horses, you should definately purchase this game! It's great for those rainy days that you can't go out to the barn. Saddle up and I'll see you on the trails!

This game is so cool first time, but is too easy
This game is really cool is ur under 14 and love horses and riding. You can design and name ur own horse, which u can then ride in dressage, x country, jumping free ride. You can win ribbons and trade them for outfits and maps in the shop, and you can feed groom, and generally care for ur horse, to get more points in dressage. The only problem is, it's too easy, and i completed it within a week. Buy it though, coz it's worth the money.

FUN GAME!!
Howdy Horse Lovers! This is a REALLY awesome game! It's fun and it NEVER gets old, although it broke now cuz i played it too much...heehee. but i got it used anyways. im probably going to buy another one cuz THIS GAME ROCKS! i would DEFINITELY have ANY horse lover try it out! (BUY THIS GAME! ITS WORTH THE MONEY!!!)

great
I thought the mary-kate and ashely game was great it had alot of action packed thing it was awsome and i mean AWESOME

A good horse game
I enjoyed this game a lot. I like how you can create your own horse and compete in Dressage, Cross-Country, and Showjumping. There are a few things I dont think are the greatest. One: The charaters you choose from are UGLY! They say make a charater that looks like you. What, do Mary-Kate and Ashley think everyone is UGLY!?!?!?! I dunno. Two: If you accidently miss a checkpoint, the stupid voices will say 'YOU missed a checkpoint!' It gets SOOOOOOOOOO annoying! Third: In the tack show, I thought they could have done better. They didn't have any saddles, bridles no tack. Only clothes. No duh you can tell its a Mary-Kate and Ashley game.
Everything else, I thought was great. It may seem I hated this game, but i really didn't. Try it out for yourelf! You might like it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

While the Twisted Metal line of vehicular combat games has had unevenepisodes, the developers at Incog have thankfully brought the series back inblack, and it has never been better. Twisted Metal: Black pushes theenvelope in terms of graphics, gameplay, and content. It's a tremendous game,but parents should keep in mind that it carries a Mature rating from ESRB andits content may be unsuitable for younger players. Gamers old enough to handleit will be treated to a must-have game for the PlayStation2.

Twisted Metal: Black is one of the best-looking games on the market. Thecharacter design, animations, particle effects, and lighting effects are alltopnotch, yet the game still runs at a speedy frame rate--even in multiplayermodes. The game isn't all about looks though, as gameplay is very deep andcontains several modes. You'll want to play single-player story mode severaltimes just to see how the game ends for its numerous compelling characters. Eachcharacter has a story line that's simple yet captivating. More importantly, eachof the characters' vehicles has meaningful differences, so players are bound tofind a rig that fits their playing styles.

With its slick gameplay, interesting characters, wide variety of modes, andbreathtaking graphics, Twisted Metal: Black is the best vehicular combatgame yet, and, so far, the best PlayStation2 game of the year. --Raymond M.Padilla

Pros:

• Incredible graphics
• Deep gameplay
• Strong replay value

• Controls can be tricky at first
• Boss fights can be frustrating

Reviews (264)

IM GOING CRAZY JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!!!!!!
WOW this game rocks I dont know what else to say It is without a doubt the darkest one in the series let me give you a small taste of some of the characters

Sweet Tooth a demented clown serial killer who has finally been caught but on his exacution night he get a curse put on him by another character named preacher

Mr Grimm (my personal favorite) a veteran from veietnam while there him and his buddy benny are captured and put into a hole soon his buddy dies there is only one way for mr. grimm to survive.....

Raven her and her friend were subjects to a high school hazing but it went wrong resulting in her friends death she wants revenge.....

John doe a man that was struck by some sort of amneiseia all he has from his past life is the tatoos that coveer his body but looking at them you would think he was one nasty piece of work.

these are just my favorite characters but there are tons more of them but the story line isnt all that makes up twisted metal black there is also a numerous amount of diferrent cars that you can choose from not to mention tons of weapons

here is a taste of the gameplay:

imagine you are a guy on a bike you been sitting and waiting... then out of no where a icecream truck comes bashing through the window while in mid air it takes on a transformation into a man with an icecream cone in his hand then he starts shooting at you!! about fifteen missles collide with your bike you drive around a wall to avoid the other fiveyou are in pretty bad shape. you then reach into you pouch on the side of your motorcycle and draw out a sickle soon the icecream truck comes around the corner you start letting it loose with your machine gun that is on the passenger side car while fireing you throw the sickle youve been holding it collides with the ice cream truck and exsplodes the car blows up and a man runs out on fire. victory... good job only six more cars to go

this game as you can see is non stop action all the way through and it will make a good game to add to your collection

Multi-player really saves this game
Twisted Metal: Black is part of a long line of vehicle combat games that began on the PSOne.This one is the most advanced and complex of them all (NOTE: there is a brand new version for the PSP that I have not played yet); however, the game plays pretty much just like every version that has been released since the old PSOne days.The game is fun, but it almost feels like it is becoming dated.The plus side is you can probably find it for pretty cheap nowadays.

The game moves FAST and can be a little difficult to play at first.Unless you've played a Twisted Metal game before you will probably need to switch to the Easy setting against the computer until you get used to the controls and the speed of the game.The graphics are decent even by today's standards, and the levels can get to be pretty large and intricate, but you are going to be moving so fast to avoid enemies that you don't get much time to enjoy them.The music and lighting gives the game an eerie sort of feel that reminds me of the old Quake games.

In single-player mode you get three options:Story, Challenge, and Endurance.The Challenge and Endurance modes are pretty much just a practice for the Story mode, where you will spend most of your time playing individually.The gist of story mode is you pick one of a group of cars/drivers who has some problem that can be solved by winning this car destruction tournament.Being that the story has nothing to do with gameplay, and each story is of some deranged lunatic that follows the same pattern, you may get bored with the story pretty easiliy and just skip the screens to get to the action.Additional cars and levels can be unlocked in the Story mode, so you will want to spend some time playing it even if the story gets a little boring.

The real fun of this game is the Multi-player mode.You can play a 2-player co-operative Story game but I find it more fun to go head-to-head against others.There is nothing like challenging a friend to some violent car-destruction action (Or up to three friends if you have a Multi-tap).The Story mode can get a little repetitive after a while, but it's always a lot fun to destroy your friend's cars!

The Dark Side of Fun
Twisted Metal Black is the pinnacle of the series. For those uninitiated, the game follows the tortured and demented stories of several combatants, selected from an asylum to participate in some vehicular mayhem in order to get a shot at personal redemption, usual with a "twist".

The game is of the older PS2 generation, but still holds up in graphics and gameplay. The levels, cinematics, and plotlines are all expectedly dark and brooding, and you can adjust the challenge and difficulty according to your skill level.

As with every other game in the series, you have a host of characters to choose from, and each bring their own variety of strengths and weaknesses to the table. Coupled with the unique story, this adds to the replay value in that you're given a new adventure with a new set of skills each time you play. It won't take long for you to pick your favorite antihero.

The music and sounds are pretty standard by today's fare. Not much to report there.

The multiplayer is simply okay, for both at home and online. I didn't bother too much with it. However, the sheer amount of levels in the game, couple with the unlockables really expands the multiplayer experience when the single player loses its luster. Fair warning, make sure you have a large screen, because there's a marked difference between the single and multi-player experience in terms of screen space. It's noticeably invasive.

For the bargain basement prices this game goes for now, it's definitely worth a look for those looking for games that depart from the norm. This really is the best in the series, the action is chaotic, the stories and settings are neurotic, and if you're just a little bit twisted, and want a quick and easy (cheap) fix, check this one out. You won't be disappointed.

Twisted! Balck!
this is the best one ever made for sure. It is made by the makers of the first two. It's black. The game has a dark creepy feeling to it all. The storyline is this: calypso is making a new combat game, and decided to get serial killers for mental institutions. the drivers are more insane than of of the others put together.(Twisted metal small brawl had no insane guys, just retarded kids.) It is more dark, and funner to play than every other one made!

Graphics:Weather effects, interactive levels, neat cars and drivers. The game runs very smooth, and they are fast! The levels are dark with effects of all kinds.

Sound:The real weapon sounds and creepoy music are music to all ears! machine guns acually sound real, unlike the others from the gay versions. what could be better

gameplay:Very in-depth! the cars are huge beasts, with insane drivers! The videos are gory, with death. the revenge endings consume of alot of killing people while being held by force! the characters are gruesome. During the game, you'll meet new characters and old favorites in a dark crazy way. You'll meet everything from a possessed preacher, to a women with a doll face, a bride looking for her love, to a physco boxer with no face. The endings aren't about wishes, it' revenge now. Weapons are complex, you'll need to take time for getting good hits.

Replay:Great game you'll love to play. has a good value.

Overall, best car combat game ever. It's opposite is the rc twisted metal, which is a cartoon game

The Demolition King!!
The Demolition Game is back and is more crazy then ever. The thought of Twisted Metal ever getting better is thought as impossible but Black seemed to decieve that. At first when I heard the game was coming out I was thinkg oh another Twisted Metal whats the big deal? It is a big deal!! The deal is, is that the game is 50X better. First off graphics, gameplay, and systematic interplay is flawless. Every problem is fought out and playing the game is simple. The complex buttons from the previous games is demolished and easy and customizable controls are put in. Within the gameplay and storyline this game is indepth and makes you want to play forever. You can play for hours or days either way you'll love playing it. Some bosses get hard but is easily adjusted with settings with Easy Medium Hard etc. Their are several modes in which one could play in as well including Story, Endurance, Co-op (with 2 Player), Multiplayer battle(Up to 4 hookups) and a one player multiplayer (against CPUS). The game is fantastic. If you are unfamiliar with Twisted Metal or if your the biggest Twisted Metal fan out their or if your just looking for something new go for this game. Defintley a party game and certainly gives you the full appreciation of the game. If you are looking for replay value there is not much to look for except for new veichles and characters. So don't settle for any old game settle for the Demolition King Twisted Metal Black!! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Bad Software
Couldn't get to load on my XP-Pro System. Crashed my computer every time I tried something to get it to load.When I called the number for tech support, I was told that the free tech support expired and I'd have to pay for help. NEVERMIND! I returned software for refund.

GREAT FOR THE KIDS
I got a new computer, and the old games didn't work with it, so bought this.My granddaughter loves to play Go Fish when she comes over,and she was ticked to death to see I bought it for the new computer. I enjoy playing Euchre myself, so these games get a lot of use.

Hoyle Card Games 2003
Euchre:
I basically play euchre when my phone line is tied up.Otherwise I play on Yahoo!

Overall, Hoyle isn't too bad, but I find that even on the "advanced" setting, your partner is too timid, mostly by failing to lead trump on your call or order.However, they often order up from first with 2 bowers and no support, when they could have had 3 or 4 trump by passing for "next".

Also, 1st chair never donates.

Unrealistic loners, the computer often takes trick 1 with trump or off Ace, and properly leads the Right, but then leads offsuit to give the opps a chance to stop the loner.Even when holding JJ9, AK.

Pinochle:

In viewing the meld, you gain additional information that can be used later in the gameplay.The computer never makes use of this.Say your P in double-deck has 3 aces of diamonds (which you only know after the fact) and you make diamonds trump with a run (so the computer should know you have the 4th ace).You lead the Qd.Your P should play the 10 of diamonds and lead back at least 2 ace of diamonds before playing other suits.

Also, in the bidding, if you are in a game to 3550 and both teams have around 3000, you cannot count on your P to bid even if you have no marriage yourself.This is very frustrating because you now have to bid a lot more.I think it is so the player can have the glory, but I want the computer to play with the understanding that you must bid to win.

Canasta, Go Fish, Old Maid, You Name It!
The Hoyle Card Games are really great! There are many characters you can play against in the different games, with different personalities. The facemaker isn't as great as some other Hoyle Games, but I got used to the difference quickly. The only other negative is that only one person can play the gamesat a time, because otherwise you could see each other's cards. This is a really great game, though! I give it a thumbs up!

Hoyle Card Games 2003
I am satisfied with most games except for Bridge, the main reason I made the purchase. The players take far too long to respond and even longer to play their cards. It is so bad that I never even play bridge!
In hearts, the players make inappropriate comments when playing the queen of spades.
In gin rummy, you don't get a good look at the cards when the game is over.
Overall, the older versions are better for both the games and the characters. I look forward to reviews for the 2004 version to see if there is any improvement before I think of buying it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Welcome to the world of Pokémon, one filled with wild Pokémon and the people who attempt to tame them. You are Ash Ketchum, a boy on a quest to become the best Pokémon trainer in the world. Professor Oak, the leading authority on Pokémon, has given you your choice of three tame Pokémon in exchange for your helping him catalog and document every Pokémon in the world.

But to catalog a Pokémon, you have to capture it, by first beating it up with one of your trained Pokémon, and then hitting it with an empty Poké Ball. As your tame Pokémon gain experience in battle, their abilities improve and they earn access to new attacks. Sometimes they even evolve into more advanced Pokémon.

Aside from capturing wild Pokémon and evolving your own, you can catalog new Pokémon--the only way to gather some Pokémon--by trading with another Pokémon player using either a link cable or the Game Boy Color's infrared system. Pokémon gained through trades learn and evolve faster, and trading is the only way to capture all 151 Pokémon, since each Pokémon game (Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, andPokémon Yellow) has certain Pokémon missing. So if you own Red and want to have a complete set of Pokémon, you must find a friendly Blue or Yellow owner and arrange a trade.

Pokémon Red is packed with interesting characters, an ingenious story hook, intriguing strategy, and of course plenty of cute Pokemon, and it's easy to see how it started the Pokémania that is sweeping the world. --Michael Fehlauer

Pros:

• Gameplay and strategy that are fun for all ages
• Fantastic replay value
• Brilliant game design encourages players to meet and trade

• Hours of looking at the Game Boy's little screen may hurt neck
• Only 1 saved game per cartridge--2 people can't share a single game
• No difference between Red and Blue except for distribution of Pokémon

Features

• Play as Ash Ketchum, a boy on a quest to become the best Pokemon trainer in the world
• Collect all 150 red Pokemon
• Train your creatures and they will evolve into different types
• Trade Pokemon with your friends using the Game Link Cable
• For 1 or 2 players

Reviews (134)

Best of Gameboy
It has always been a great habit for children to exhibit and swap their card/sticker/toy collections with their friends in school. The premise of Pokemon -to collect and train pokemon - was the perfect fertile growing field to exploit the fascination children had with collecting things. The first exploit was the TV show, where the characters in the videogame were rendered onto the TV screen, and when that became popular enough, the creators rendered Pokemon into thousands of other incarnations. Pokemon T-shirts, teddybears, actionfigures, trading cards, stickers, watches etc were all created under the slogan: 'you've gotta catch 'em all'... Parents had a rotten time, that's for sure. And it was this capitalistic, persistent, and continuous explotation of the pokemon name which made the name synonymous with childrens toys. The pokemon legacy was ruined by this exploitation, and the videgame was largely discarded as a childrens fad. But before the TV show, the toys, the trading cards, etc..the game stood pure and unspoilt by the impending pokemon-craze which was about to accompany it. Everybody loved the game. Pokemon was revered.

In the game you play as Ash, whose one single ambition is to become the greatest Pokemon trainer in the world. To do so you must collect pokemon and train them in battle.To catch Pokemon you need to engage in combat with wild Pokemon (wild animals). You choose which of your Pokemon is suitable for the fight and deminish the wild pokemon's strengh little by little untill it becomes weak enough to be captured. Once caught, the wild pokemon will become loyal and obedient. There's no 'set in stone' rule when it comes to catching Pokemon, if you fancy the look of a Pokemon, then you capture it. Wild Pokemon are scattered throughout the game and they are the enemy you cheifly encounter.Some Pokemon are rarer than others...There are some which appear only once in the game, and when you capture those ones, it can be quite euphoric. A sense of loyalty can develop between you and your Pokemon as you travel through the harsh and perilous plains together.

To complete the game, you must collect all eight gym badges. It takes a long time to collect the badges, because the gyms are sporodically spread throughout the game. Gym badges are given to those who defeat the owners of gyms . Gym owners are professional Pokemon trainers who are hardened by battle experience, and thus, much harder to defeat than normal Pokemon trainers (normal Pokemon trainers are the ones you spend most time in conflict with).Between collecting badges and training Pokemon, you will encounter many RPG elements in the game, puzzles, dungeons, items, etc...The game is huge and difficult. On average the game takes about 25 hours to complete, and when it's over, itwill be remembered as a toilsome and edifying experience in the mold of Zelda:OOT

Great concept, but............
Pokemon was a great concept game that should've appealed to all ages, but really, the Pokemon culture and TV show and all that B/S completely wrecked it.Just look at some of the reviews here.Some of them include cliche stuff from the show such as the Rocket Team horse and "Go Pokemon."It's really sad to see a great concept game like this go down the tubes now with the new releases that tie into the crap pop culture stuff.

Anyway, it's a great game, but don't play it in public, hide in your room and never tell anyone.

CHARIZARD GO!
This is a great classic game.You begin as a new Pokemon trainer, and soon select your first Pokemon.The choices are Charmander, a fire type;squirtle, a water type;or bulbasaur, a fire type.Interestingly, three Pokemon you choose from are like rock/paper/scissors, charmander beats bulbasaur, squirtle beats charmander, and bulbasaur beats squirtle.Soon, you rival chooses his Pokemon(annoyingly, its always the one that has the type advantage, like if you choose squirtle he will choose charmander.You are then given the task of completing a complete guide of Pokemon by catching all of them.In order to beat the game, you only need the first 150 Pokemon, however, there is also a legendary number 151 Mew.You catch Pokemon by using one you already have to weaken it, then catching it with a Pokeball.Once you catch a Pokemon, you may use it to fight others, but you can only have up to 6 Pokemon at a time.Along the way, you will encounter other trainers you may battle.There are regular trainers, which you battle only for money, fun, and experience.However, there are also gym leaders, which are specialized trainers with stronger Pokemon than regular trainers in their area have.There are 8 in all, and once you beat them, you may then battle the elite four, who are much tougher than gym leaders and you have to fight all of them in succession.You also encounter your rival throughout the game.And he becomes Pokemon League Champion, however, once you defeat him, you become Pokemon League Champion.There are also troublemaking team rocket members that you can and sometimes have to battle as well.Their boss is also the leader of gym 8.I have found the gym leaders and team rocket members are actually exceedingly easy if you know what you're doing, however, the elite 4 is very tough, especially since you have to face them all toghether.There are also legendary Pokemon, which are considered to be part of the 151 total, and they are very rewarding but challenging to catch.Also, one cool thing is there is a lot of moves(although some are kind of stupid) and certain Pokemon have strengths over others.For example, fire takes out grass easily.However, you can beat the game just by having stronger Pokemon, however, this is actually harder than using strategy.Because it takes a great length of time to level up, while a skilled player can quickly catch a Pokemon with a type advantage.And to the guy who said he beat this game in a hour....if you think this game is easy, than you should quit playing videogames altoghether, because you obviously are such a great master of everything.Also, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BEAT THE GAME IN A HOUR!AT MINIMUM, YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT FOR AT LEAST LIKE 20 HOURS FOR YOUR POKEMON TO BE HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL TOO!Oh, wait, you must have used a gameshark.Wow, no wonder you are so good at videogames.But if anyone tells you they beat the game in a hour, they either cheated, found a big glitch, or both.Or else their exaggerating.But the only way the game could really beat that easy is if you had a strategy guide."Oh this game is so easy, I only had to read 50 books on it to beat it on the first try."GET REAL!IF THIS ISN'T A CHALLENGE, NOTHING IS!Overall, its a great game, but there are some annoying things.First off, to get all 151, you must trade with freinds, as neither red nor blue has every Pokemon, but they do combined.Most Pokemon are in both versions, but some are exclusive to either red or blue.Also, as you level up your Pokemon, they evolve(which is really more accurately described as metamorphises), and some only evolve by trading them with the same Pokemon with another player.Another thing is there is only one save slot. Finally, in the Japenese version, by getting the first 150, you get number 151,but in the US version you can only get them through Nintendo's promotions or by cheating.Hmm, giving Americans a raw deal, aye Nintendo?You know we buy into your promotions instead of demanding that you make stuff available in the games.In Japan, gamers would be outraged, but you know you can take advantage of us Americans?Okay, go ahead.But despite the fact that it isn't as good as the Japenese version or a perfect game, Pokemon Red is still one of my favorites.

From the Golden Days of Ninja Interactive Video Sporting
Let us be honest with ourselves. This is an old game. And yet it rocks most hard, say thankee. It's also highly addictive.

The point of Pokemon is simple: catch cute, little, animated talking monsters with magic, plastic balls, and use them to kick the living daylights out of the cute talking monsters of your enemies. So in truth, it's a lot like real life.

Plus, said monsters are fully changeable. You can give them a name, teach them special fighting skills, and even control how much they grow. This makes them much better than hamsters as pets go.

Plus, its got ninjas! I'm not only talking about a ninja master who uses Pokemon to duel you (I guess he never learned how to use shuriken or swords or stuff), I also mean you can name you Pokemon things like: Mifune or Hayabusa or Zatoichi or Swordsman with an Umbrella (that probably won't fit). Of course, you can also name it Winky-dinky-do, if it do please ya. But I digress.

Yes, Pokemon shows its age among modern video games. But so does Pong. And Pong is still mildly amusing. But without Pong, there'd be no Pokemom. And without Pokemon, there'd be no modern video gamage. And without video games, I'd have to actually face my family, friends and problems, and learn actual skills! So play Pokemon! It's better than Pong, and many other video games. Trust me. I've been there.

The Classics will always be the best
This was my first EVER gameboy game. I turned it on on one day and couldn't put it down for hours and hours. Some people think that it is childish and "dumb," but I can assure you that it is a great game that is fun to play. I don't have e-mail, which is why I am using the kid review form, but I am really 17. I can reccomend this game to anyone. Even my 81-year-old grandmother loved it. If you don't think that you can play games like this, you are wrong. This is one of the best games that I have ever played. I have tried the gold version and the Ruby and all of those other games, but I always go back to the original. The first 150 pokemon are the absolute best. ... Read more

Product Description

Spyro 2 is the sequel to the charming, family-friendly Spyro the Dragon adventure game. Spyro is the same lovable dragon, but his challenges are now larger and more complex. Help him fly and head-butt his way through incredible new 3D fantasy worlds with more puzzle elements and bonus levels. Made in USA. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: PlayStation.
• ESRB Rating: Everyone.
• Ages 6 and up.

Reviews (137)

SPYRO ROCKS!
I have all the Spyro PS1 games and they rock! The best PS1 games you can buy.
I have Gateway To Glimmer instead of Ripto's Rage though, but they are exactly the same but with diff names and covers.
All the worlds rock, and it's nice to see more friends to help Spyro on his way to beat Ripto- and when you finally beat him, the game still isn't over! How cool? There are many skill points to earn,a amazing new level- the cool Dragon Shores, and a permanent fireball!!
If you have a PS1, you have to play this game!

Spyro!
Spyro fun aholoic sweet game!!! Very fun but not hard, it can be very very easy but it is alot of tottaly wicked fun!

Great, but not Insomniac's Best
I was a little bit disappointed with this Spyro.Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome game, but Insomniac could've put a little more effort into it.With only three worlds and about twenty-one levels, this game may only be for true Spyro fans, but, I strongly encourage you to buy this game.

Spyro second adventure!
The first Spyro was great game already, but this game beats it by far. With loads of new features and tons of new characters, this is one of the best Spyro games out there. In this game you get to travel through 4 new worlds with over 30 colorful levels with your old buddy Sparx and your new companion, Hunter, the cheetah. You must collect over 14 tallismans and 60 orbs to finally come face to face with Ripto. Also in these game, meet Moneybags. He can open up doors or drop bridges for you at a "small fee". Some new features in this include some fun mini-games, the ability to swim, and some new power-ups like the super charge, super flame breath, and super flying power. Here an overview of the game:

+Improved graphics 8.5/10
+Challenging but not too challenging boss battles 8/10
+Autosave 10/10
-Not enough new abilities 7/10
-Levels are a bit small 7.5/10
-Storyline is a bit bland 7/10

Overall, a great Spyro game. It provides lots of entertainment and lots of fun mini-games, therefore, it's a MUST-HAVE!

This ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is awesome! From the moment I got it I have played it like a maniac! This is a MUST HAVE! ... Read more

Product Description

Guide Frodo Baggins and the characters of The Fellowship of the Ring through the villages, countryside and dark forests of Middle Earth in the Fellowship's great quest to protect the ring. Meet all the characters of J.R.R. Tolkien's first book of The Lord of the Rings and share in their journey and direct their actions. But you'll need all your wits and best strategy to elude the terrifying servants of the Dark Lord who seek to claim the ring for their own evil purposes. ... Read more

Features

• Missions require problem-solving as well as combat
• Gorgeous maps
• Play the greatest story ever written
• Introducing Legolas as a playable character
• Play as Hobbit Frodo, Magician Gandalf, Aragorn, or Legolas

Reviews (135)

easy if you have good coardination!
Ok the two towers and return of the king were games where you wasent solve anything just wars but the fellowship is amazing you get problems to solve and every detail is like in the book the music is really beutiful in the shire and it gets darker the more you progress like the atitude of the enviroment. The ringwraithes in the game are hard to get past you have to have keen eyes like me if you are going to get past the one on the bridge. The reviewer (Ian) was right the wargs do look like overgrown rats and overgrown skinny rats too.there are only a few properly designed wards in this game the ones in the shire and the ones in buckland dont forget the place where you meet tom boombadil and goldberry. If youv read the books you get pretty far on this game but if you havent you are going to have a tough time. The only complained I have is that I was expecting to play as the entire fellowship and that intro at the top is wrong you dont play as legolas in this game. and hes my favorite character. And frodo is the only character that can jump over all a good game.

Hmmm....
It's hard to say how good this game is.I'm stuck on the part where you have to sneak past the Black Riders, which is about 10 minutes into the game!It's so hard b/c they kill you and you have to start over!!! *cries*
But I think the game will get better once I can get past that part:)

"Here, have a cookie!" *shoves an imaginary cookie down your throat*

Great game, when your playing it
This games is fantastic for anyone who loves Tolkien's works, not the movies based on them. The story is from the books, so some of the scenes might be confusing for someone who has only seen the movies. The only setback to this game is that i doesn't take long to finish, if you work at it. The first time I played through the game, it took me about 11 hours. Now, some people might be thinking " well, you play games all the time, and you are crazy enough to review a game." Here are the ratings i would give it and the explainations.
Story: 10/10 What else could it be!
Graphics: 8/10 There are great graphics, but sometimes the camera is difficult.
Audio: 10/10 good blend of music and real life sounds.
Gameplay: 7/10 it can be entrancing at times, but some of the levels can become very frustrating.
Finally, this game takes some INTELLECT, and is not just a hack-away adrenaline rush game. And since it has been out for a couple of years, the price you get it at is a total bargain. This games should cost at least $25, but it only costs $15. Good deal!

Now that's Lord of the Rings!!!
Hello. The names DC and here on Amazon, I rate movies and video games that I own or have played before. I have to say that this is the Lord of the Rings video game to buy, a lot better than EAs LOTR video games. The game is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's first book in the LOTR trilogy, not the movie. Vivendi has done an excellent job with it, but there are a few things that I'd like to point out. First off, I wish there were more playable characters and two, there should have been more levels. Other than that, It's a great addition to any LOTR fan's collection. I had bought it two years ago and had beaten it but it got stolen. I'm recently borowing it from a friend and I'm going to buy it Febuary 1st. I giving it Five stars and recommend that you buy it since it's only 19.95.

A decent, fun trip through Middle Earth
With the movie trilogy finished, it's a pretty safe bet that a lot of people have forgotten about the games based on the books.With EA's uber success with thier game adaptions of the movies, poor Vivendi had the unenviable task of competing with thier own games that could not look or sound anything like the movies.It may have been too tough, because the second and third books were never made into games (what a shame).But we still have the Fellowship of the ring game to go through.

The Fellowship of the ring is a third person action adventure game that allows you to take on the role of Frodo Baggins, Aragorn, and Gandalf as you play through the story of the first Lord of the rings book, which means that you get to visit areas that are not in EA's game, such as the villiage of Bree, Rivendell and Lothlorien (granted, its only one room in the latter two, but they are pretty).You also get to meet Tom Bombadill, fight Barrow-rights, and even fight the Balrog!(which EA did not have until The Third age)

The gameplay here is very simple.You move your charachter around an enviornment while solving a task or a puzzle.You shoot projectiles, swing your sword (or stick), and can jump (only while playing as Frodo).Nothing too fancy or complicated.Perfect for young gamers or those who dont want to memorize dozens of moves.I personally loved playing as Gandalf, who gets to use magic to kill his foes (and lets face it, playing as Gandalf is going to be cool no matter what).

The fighting is simple as well.You can run up and attack with a sword, or weaken a foe from a distance by firing either rocks, arrows, or bolts of fire.You can also reduce damage by blocking.Thats it.No combos to memorize whatsoever.I do like this simple combat scheme, as you dont have to memorize lots of moves and try to recall them all in an instant.

You'll face lots of dangerous foes on your journey as well.There are lots of orcs, lots of wargs (but why do they look like oversized rats?), some rather mean towns-folk, the Nazgul, and the fiery Balrog.The AI of your foes is rather basic.Combat for your foes consists of running towards you ("Charge!") and swinging away.Orcs do try to block your attacks, but thats it as far as defense goes.I found that almost any foe could be beaten simply by running in circles, slicing at them one blow at a time.They would stand there, andy by the time they got around to fighting back, I attacked and stunned them again! Simple, and a little silly.

Thanks to the book liscene, you get to visit a lot of places in the game that were not in the movie based games.The green and happy shire, the slightly gloomy woods between the Shire and Bree, Bree itself, the troll-shaws, Weather-top, and Rivendell are but some of the places you'll visit on your journey.Every location is rendered well and the looks fit the atmosphere well.The shire is bright and cheerful while Moria is dark and forbodding (Skeletons on the walls are always good at conveying gloominess).

Graphics for the game are pretty normal.It's not flashy or wonderful, it just gets the job done.There are some great locations, such as the bridge of Khazad-Dum and the river Anduin that look really great.The audio is pretty good.The voiceovers are for the most part well done, but at times they feel very unenthusiastic ("Gandolf.No.").The music is quite catchy, especially in the Shire and Moria.

However, the game suffers from some big problems.There are no bonuses for finishing the game, aside from playing it again.The camera is tricky to get the hang of, but can be managed with practice.At some points the game feels a little amaturish (such as text that says "The next day"), as if the game were made by people who just finished gaming school and were unused to making games.

But in the end, I enjoyed my trip through the game.I thought it was fun, and had some great elements in it (such as fighting the Balrog in real time combat instead of an RPG battle).I personally recomend it, but you should rent before you buy. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

It's the future, of course, and you're stationed aboard the spaceship Van Braun, waiting for your first soldiering assignment. Luckily, the future resembles the best of science fiction from the last 10 years--something plucked from Blade Runner with pieces from the The Fifth Element (only with an AI-enabled computer/self-proclaimed goddess running the show).

The universe is run by unbelievably huge corporations, and in one of the biggest (TriOptimum), a hacker is breaking the rules. The result is SHODAN, a supercomputer whose beautiful, eerie face glimmers from the box's cover. The engine used for Thief: The Dark Project, ensures that System Shock 2 hums along on systems with the basic requirements.

With a superior plot and engaging, Asian-inspired aesthetics, System Shock 2 is a visceral, visual treat of a first-person role-playing game. All the devices that in theory seem stale and stupid come to life in this game. It's as if you could go back to the 1970s and take a vision of what the future would look like--and make it believable and cool. All the whirs and beeps and pulsing noises sound realistic. In addition, the designers have added in all the creepy elements we never wanted to have come true--such as the voiceovers that greet you when you're at the airport--only in this case, you're visiting the training sessions held by the United National Nominate.

Suffice it to say, the future of humankind is in your hands. With an excellent supporting cast and well-realized sci-fi visuals, System Shock 2 offers insight into an amazing new world order. --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Very good but hard, very hard.
Several things make this hybred shooter / RPG hard: First there aren't large piles of ammo available and most monsters only drop one bullet, shell, etc. You'll almost always be short of ammo, needing to resort to the default weapon, a wrench, especially on the early levels. You really will need to make every shot count. Additionally unlike most low ammo shooters, this game, while having some stealth elements is not stealth game. You sneak around some but there is the occasional large firefight you can't avoid. The last hard part is the slow rate that you acquire weapons and even after you find them, you can't carry them all. It'll take a long time to find and gain the skills to use better weapons and the limited inventory space means you'll be making some hard choices.

Not just a shooter, you find 'cybernetic modules' that you use to upgrade your abilities. Upgrades include the usual statistics (strength, agility, endurance, etc), weapon skills, psonic abilities and technical skills. The technical skills are the most important, you have repair and modify your weapons, research unknown items you find and hack into computers, security systems and other items. This hacking skill is most important skill you have. You won't enough modules for all the upgrades so choose wisely.

Aside from difficulty and RPG features the game provides a good story. Your path is fairly linear and there's a bit too much key collecting there are a couple plot twists.And while the space ship interior graphics are mundane, the sound design is excellent. You'll need a good speaker setup to hear things coming up behind you or in the distance ahead.

One disappointment: most monsters re-spawn. My preference has been to clear out an area and have it stay cleared.

I had no problems running this game on Windows 2000 although switching to the desktop caused a nVidia-based blue screen of death.

Best Ever, but...
This is my favorite PC game of all time. I've been playing since it's release (yep, I've got the original packaging and all). My only negative comment is not on the game itself but that it is almost a crime that no further games in this series were ever produced. I also have SS1 but unfortunately still have not gotten it to run correctly on modern PC's (damn DOS crap!). I still have not taken the wrench challenge on the highest level, too much dancing around with robots I guess..

Folks, this is as good as it gets.
I first played this game in Spring of 2003, by which time the graphics of this game were almost primitive. I stuck through the first few minutes to see what the game was like, and it wasn't long before I was sucked in to what is probably the best game I have ever played in my life. This game will scare you to death. It really makes me wonder why more games like this aren't made. Doom 3 actually took most of its style of play from this game. Its very much like Deus Ex, and in my opinion is actually superior. It has a superb storyline played out through emails and data logs with superb voice acting. The atmosphere will really sink into your skin, and when you hear the monsters hunting you down, you'll be ready to jump out of your skin! Be advised, this game is very difficult, and it takes time to get used to. It is not like a regular FPS, you simply don't have enough ammo to go around blasting everything you see. You have to be clever. Play this game, and you will not regret it. It's true that the later levels are somewhat dissapointing, but the game is still well worth it. Five Stars for this game. Oh, and make sure to check out the System Shock 2: Rebirth modification, which replaces some of the graphics with excellent high polygon versions. It really makes the game look ten times better! Just type the name System Shock 2 Rebirth into a search engine to find it.

Nothing else like it...
I bought this game after reading many reviews from people who consider it to be the scariest game ever made.I went out and bought a new pair of headphones and vowed only to play it at night with no lights...let me say that I now agree with all those reviews. ;)I've had many "OH, S***" moments with this game involving the mouse in the air and my character dying (and me having to take a 30 minute break while my heart rate slowly comes out of the stratosphere).

As far as the gameplay goes, the graphics look dated, but the game IS over 5 years old.The plot is very deep and interesting, and your enemies, SHODAN (along with Xerxes and The Many) are always sure to remind you of their presence.The ambient sound and voice-overs are very well done, and more than make up for the low graphics quality (not to mention the fact that most of the levels are very dark, adding to the ambience and hiding the poor textures).

You can go back to any part of the ship you previously explored, but don't expect it to be free of enemies.They respawn randomly, but the worst part is, the don't respawn very often...you'll be sneaking around every corner, and if you ever get lulled into a sense of security, suddenly a Hybrid will appear right behind you, and then it's over.Time to change your pants and drink some herbal tea to calm the nerves...

It is really in a genre of it's own, part RPG, part first person shooter, and ALL sci-fi horror.I've played scary games before, but this one takes the cake.Not recommended for heart patients or young children :)If you have never played this game, BUY IT NOW!!You WILL NOT regret it.

The scariest computer game ever made!
Complete and utter horror!!!!! That is the only way that I can describe this game. This game is mind-numbingly gruesome, terrifying tale of a world just beginning to crawl out of cyberpunk dystopia, only to have its latest scientific marvel plunged back into that hell.

SHODAN is back, and she wants you to fight her battle against her biological creations. You are caught in a deadly crossfire in the claustrophobic corpse of a starship, and you have no friend but yourself.

As the extremely complex plot twists and turns on itself, you are further plunged into an electronighmare which only intensifies until you finally discover the true horror of SHODAN's latest plans...

The gameplay is a brilliant hybrid of FPS and RPG, with a complicated RPG system making the game incredibly deep.

If you have EVER passed this game up, you deserve to die. This game is far more atmospheric than Deus Ex or any similar title and it is the most unutterably scary game I have ever played.

This will give you nightmares!

PLAY IT. NOW! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

SimCity 3000 is back, and it's bigger than ever! Maxis pulled out all the stops for this new version of the bestselling game, adding enough new customized graphics to re-create cities from around the world. The new European and Asian building sets serve up hundreds of new buildings that match the architecture of these diverse environments. From the Great Wall to the Berlin Wall, it's in there. Of course, you can still mix and match--freedom to run a city as you choose has always been the name of this game.

No addition to the SimCity family would be complete without some new methods for destroying your creations, and SimCity 3000 Unlimited has four more devastating disasters than the old version. You can re-create the movie Armageddon by unleashing large chunks of flaming space debris, smite your populace with a buzzing swarm of locusts, destroy seaports and coastal developments with a whirlpool, or uncork some toxic clouds.

The Building Architect, formerly available as a free download, is now packed on the CD-ROM. This 3-D architectural program lets users create the buildings of their dreams, from dilapidated outhouses to towering skyscrapers to works of modern art that are intended for pure decoration. Don't worry if you don't feel like using this powerful tool to create things yourself--the game comes with dozens of new ways to make your cities unique, and you can always head to the SimCity Exchange to download imaginative add-ons created by other users. The infinite expandability and infinite replayability of this game should keep would-be mayors completely occupied until they move to the suburbs of The Sims. ... Read more

Features

• All-new Asian and European building sets with hundreds of new buildings to choose from
• 13 challenging scenarios or create your own custom, goal-based adventure
• 4 new disasters to inflict: plague of locusts, toxic cloud, space junk, and a whirlpool
• 23 new landmarks: Helsinki Cathedral, Japan's Himeji Castle, and more
• Customizable terrain with scores of new options, such as snow, rolling hills, and a desert

Reviews (124)

Very Addictive
I find this game very addictive, and considerably better than 2000. I really like the News Ticker, which gives you great advice on how to run your city. It does take up a lot of memory, though, so it's a good thing my computer has so much. I've heard that it tends to destroy your computer, so if you don't want that to happen, here's my advice: Don't take out the CD until the program is done being exited, don't install it if your computer can't handle it, and when you do take out the CD, be sure to press Ctrl, alt, and Delete and close all tasks that sound anything like "SimCity."

My only complaints are this: it makes your computer run slowly, and when locusts hit your town, the sound effects don't ever go away.

Happy playing!

Great game in its day; rather old now.
This was a great game back in its day. However, it is old and dated now. It was a vast improvement over SimCity 2000 and the original SimCity, offering larger cities and maps and improved graphics and other details.

For all the reviewers who are being so negative, look at the system requirements. This game was designed for Windows 95 and 98, not 2000 or XP. Most games like that will not run properly under 2000 or XP (if at all). For those of you with 2000 or XP, I recommend SimCity 4 (Rush Hour or Deluxe Edition) instead.

Technology marches on, and it is critical to verify that your system meets the requirements of the software programs (and understanding that old programs may no longer work on newer PCs and operating systems).

4 stars for win 98, 0 for others
Like other reviewers, I've had problems with this game on both Win 2k and Windows XP. On 2k, the game installs and loads, but stalls on the first screen. On XP, the game installs but does not load.
I originally bought this in China (legally) and thought that this may be the reason. I used to play it on a Windows 98 machine until that machine crashed, and I had to upgrade to 2k, and have not played it since.
I also contacted EA Tech Support who insisted that this game is/was designed for Windows 98. They suggested I run the compatibility wizard but this was a failure.
Why they're still selling this game escapes me. Maybe they've corrected things on later versions though.
If you can get it to run, this really is a fun game. There are plenty of improvements from Sim City 2000 that I enjoyed, especially the more logical traffic and crime patterns, and the huge increase in map size.
All in all though, don't buy this.

simy 3000
this game is a city.you build roads etc.How is it that no one likes this game anymore?duh!the next one.It is sad that this game is not enough for people anymore.it should be.

Computer Problems
Do not buy this game. I was really, really excited when I bought it, but when my dad and I tried to install it, it didn't work. It just, instead, sort-of-ruined our computer. That made me and my sister not able to buy any more Sims games, which really stinks. Do not buy this computer-breaking game! I'm hoping that this reveiw will save your computer from Sim City 3000 Unlimited's horrible software (when I say horrible software, I mean horrible software). ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Tetris...What makes it so addictive?
I found "TETRIS" in the middle of nowhere and found it a brilliant addition to my very primative collection of games (i live for the old stuff). It is easy to catch onto the simple rules and very addictive. You can never WIN, but beating your own personal best is really good when it happens. I think that is also educational for that buff they call spacial awareness.

However, I would not buy it unless you can get a good price for it. You can get HandHeld games with original And Variations of the origianl "TETRIS".

Great Tetris Game!
I have both this game AND Tetris Worlds for Game Boy Advance, And I love them both as much as the other. Tetris worlds my not have a Battery Back-up, but it more than makes up for that with the extremely fun game variations and the classic tetris Music.
Tetris DX DOES Have a battery, but it's just basic tetris. I'm able to score at least 400,000 points regularly, so every time I top out I have to put up with that annoying rocket launch sequence, wheras with Tetris Worlds, when you top out, you can start the next game right away without having to put up with annoying rocket sequences. the bottom line: went I want to play Classic Tetris, I play Tetris DX. when I want Enhanced graphics and effects and Nostalgic Music, I play Tetris Worlds

Classic Tetris Dx
Tetris DX is a very fun game! You will be addicted to it in no time! There are many different things you can do to change the game settings. For example, you can change the music. You can also change the level you are on yourself, although I wouldn't recommend doing it until after you have become a very good player. There also many game modes you can play in, like 40 Lines, on which you have to get 40 lines without your blocks hitting the top, Marathon, on which you just keep going and going and going until your blocks hit the top, or Ultra, where you see how good you can do, except you only have 3 minutes to do so. The computer also keeps track of your best records and displays them when you are choosing your level. Tetris DX is an absolutely terrific game! I would recommend it to anybody! You'll have a lot of fun playing it. Thank you for reading my review. I hope it helped.

a cut above the previous version
This is the only game I play on my GBC, which I've had for just over two years now.The two modes I stick to are Ultra and Marathon.I mostly play Ultra because the rocket ship animation that comes up after you lose when playing Marathon can get annoying after a while.

The previous version only allowed you to move one space laterally for every space the piece dropped.Very tough.In my opinion, the nicest change in this version of the game is the ease you can slid blocks laterally.The one for one idea is gone.Here in DX, I've gotten to level 30 with regularity, whereas before in previous versions, I was lucky to get past level 20.

I'd recommend this game on that change alone.The fact you can keep records for yourself is just a plus.

A great game, if you can find it.
Tetris DX is an excellent game, but unfortunately it has become extremely hard to find.

Now that I have a Game Boy Advance, I was happy to find a Tetris game to replace the hard-to-find Tetris DX. If you have a GBA and want a decent Tetris game, check out Tetris Worlds.While it isn't as pure to the form as Tetris DX, it is well worth the price for some Tetris action. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Falcon 4.0 is a multiplayer air combat simulation set in the Korean peninsula with a real-time war in which you take the role of a single pilot in an F-16 jet fighter. Falcon 4.0's photo-realistic, texture-mapped graphics and detailed models of the F-16 provide one of the most realistic combat flight simulations available. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

F4 is THE benchmark combat flight simulator
Its been over four years since the release of Falcon 4.0, but it is still proving to be THE benchmark modern fighter simulator.

While the more recent fighter simulators (i.e., LOMAC) are being "dumbed down", Falcon 4.0 remains the most realistic systems simulation that a game consumer can find.

The learning curve required is not compatible with the arcade gamer.On air-to-ground sorties, you don't simply press one button to lock on and another to fire -- you have to use your fire control computer.The many types of radar and delivery methods will be daunting for the new player.

In realistic mode (after downloading the "SP4" freeware addon), expect to spend your first day with Falcon 4.0 just learning how to fire up your F-16 and get it running.From a cold cockpit, this is a systematic process with no less than twelve steps.Once you get it though, it'll be second nature.

As you are learning to master your F-16, the war is raging all around you.You are but a small drop of water in the ocean of war in the campaign.

Its unfortunate that this incredible simulator is faulted by bugs that cause infrequent CTD's (crashes to desktop).Downloading and installing "SP4" resolves many of the issues, but they still occur -- however less frequently.If it weren't for the bugs, this would merit 5+ stars.

Highly recommend.
Gigantic and imposing, 'Falcon' is more or less the last word in ultra-realistic, ultra-anal combat flight simulators, one which shot itself in the foot. After half a decade in the making, it came out two years ago to variable reviews - most praised the stunning graphics, the realism and the campaign, whilst bemoaning the monster PC required, and the mountain of bugs. Nonetheless, this is a product of quality and depth, something to which the passionate network of fan sites testifies. Two years later it still looks stunning (the horizon stretches away seemingly forever, and only the chunky textures look dated). The newer patches (multi-megabyte downloads all) fixed the bugs, leaving the world with a rock-hard simulation of an F16 locked in combat with North Korea.

Apart from the ultra-realism (just for example, you don't just have to fly waypoints - you have to do it *on time*) the campaign mode sets it apart from the competition - you're basically flying over a giant war-game, one that is played out in real-time (even when you're selecting ammunition load-outs and so on), and your actions, however small, play a part in the big picture. As you soar over the battlefield, you watch explosions ripple along the ground in the distance. The complexities involved in planning and administering strike missions can be daunting - thankfully, you don't have to, as you can just drop yourself into an existing mission.

Despite the ability to tweak the realism, this is still frighteningly complex to start with, even if you're a flight sim veteran. The relative antiquity of the F16, compared to such sci-fi aircraft as the much-simulated F22, contributes to this - if you're expecting to just press 't' to hit the nearest ground target, you'll be horrified at the array of radar modes, bombing crosshairs, and the insanely strange way in which you can't just press a button to drop a bomb - your fire control computer does that for you. Nonetheless, once you start to get the hang of it, it's gripping.

As in real life, the Other People fire back - and, often, your first warning of an incoming missile will be a loud bang, followed by a complete loss of control, a spin, a radio voice announcing an incoming missile, and a crash. It's not fair, but then again neither is real life. Flying low over enemy vehicles will get you shot to pieces, and with 510 cannon rounds you can't strafe them into oblivion. On the other hand, I can't think of another sim that lets you drop napalm over the enemy.

Also, I bought my first FS software to fly the number one freeware aircraft simulator on the Internet - The TR-3B Flying Triangle.I flew fighters for the Air Force in late Vietnam, specifically the F-111 and am rated commercial also. The TR-3B Flight Simulator for Microsoft's Flight Sim, is based on the writings, lectures, and TV interviews of Edgar Fouche who wrote "Alien Rapture." (See amazon)

Why? This is what the genius who developed it wrote: "For the experienced flight simmer on FS2002 PRO, I have developed this complete exotic amphibian TR-3B package, which is now available as freeware for download. It includes 3 models - the purple Astra, blue Locust and white Hellas - and as an extra 4th model the TR-3X with its own speedy attacker flight dynamics. The package includes TR-3B panel & gauges, noise cancellation sounds, fsuipc and special lights effects.

This TR-3B is a heavy tactical reconnaissance aircraft equipped with a magnetic field disruptor that reduces the weight by 89 percent (it is not the same as anti-gravity, though). It has been created for Microsoft Flight Simulator. All gauges are included.

The TR-3B can float like a speedboat at Mach 1.5 over water, fly like a heavy helicopter, like a bush plane, a business jet, like a military jet and lift like a rocket. Cruise speed is approx Mach 4.7 at FL340 and above, and approx Mach 2 at sea level. Service ceiling approx 69,000 feet ASL. Super stable.FSFREEWARE, SURCLARO, FSPLANET aircraft simulator sites have reported as many as 5000 downloads in one week!

I searched and read many many web pages about his book and the author, Edgar Fouche including; startfinish(put in the dot com.)biz/wiseClick on links for Fouche and Flying Triangle. You will find his full presentation, and the download links for the TR-3B. Get the Great TR-3B Top Secret aircraft simulator and X-Plane, which I highly recommend.

A phoenix that's rixen from the ashes numerous times.
Unfortunately, the author of the Gamespot review wrote it barely 2 months after Falcon 4.0's debuet, and a whole month before Microprose (its original owner) started releasing patches that tried to fix the problems.By the end of that year (December 7, 1999), the 1.08 patch had been released, and the game's code was relatively stable & bug free.

Of course, many have said that each patch, while fixing some things, actually broke other things in the source code.Sure, the last patch that was issued was a step in the right direction.Many thought, though, that it could've gone much further.Unfortunately, the original owner ceased all efforts with the 1.08 patch.Luckily, though, their efforts were picked up & continued by 3rd party modification groups (i.e. Realism Patch Group, eRazor, F4UT), and the code, bit & bit (through tons of turmoil), over the next 4 years, was fixed.

This is the best flight simulation I've EVER played!!The realism will BLOW YOUR MIND!!It's even better with the latest SuperPAK patch, and the Free Falcon & BMS add ons.They take Falcon 4.0 to new & exciting heights!!You will definately get your money's worth if you buy this game!!It just keeps on giving & giving!!

The benchmark by which they will all be measured
Summary: Fantastic flight model, incredible depth of simulation, amazing thoroughness of detail, beautiful scenery, fairly stable with 1.08 patch.Also, absolutely spellbinding on every level.The only jet fighter simulator better than this is classified.

Words simply cannot express the mind-boggling excellence of this simulation, or my level of satisfaction at finally buying, installing and taking on its challenge.
I'm a real-life pilot with over 2000 hours of small airplane flight time, and I think it's safe to say that I've got about 10,000 hours of "flight" time on classic sims such as F-19, F-117A, Janes WWII Fighters, EF2000, Mig Alley, Falcon 3.0, Janes F-15 Strike Eagle and FS98.I started "flying" on an Apple IIe in 1983, on the original Microsoft Flight simulator with a green screen monitor.Aviation, especially fighter aviation, has been an obsession of mine since I was 6 years old.If your profile sounds anything like mine, the simple truth is that Falcon 4.0 is your holy grail.
In the earlier Falcon 3.0, the people at Spectrum Holobyte pushed the outer limits of what the "casual" PC flyer could learn and do.In creating Falcon 4.0, the team at Microprose didn't just push those limits; they rammed right through them like a Durandal through runway concrete.Be assured, Falcon 4.0 isn't a game.It is nothing less than a full blown recreation of nea