Features

• Fight combinations of characters from all over the Marvel and Capcom universes
• Marvel characters include: Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine
• Capcom characters include: Street Fighters Ryu, Chun Li, and Zangief
• Choose from 22 characters
• For 1 or 2 players

Reviews (36)

A Quality Playstation port of the arcade
Don't listen to most bashing this game,most are only doing so because they are trying to compare this title Nose-to-nose with the perfect arcade and dreamcast versions.Indeed this version cannot compete with those but its still a decent conversion and a TRUE feat of the Playstation hardware,considering its limited abilities due to lack of RAM.

Flashback to around 98' with the release of X-Men Vs StreetFighter for the PSOne,indeed it was'ent too great.Nevermind the lack of tag team the characters also had a limited amount of animation and there was slowdown.The title was still very playable but they could've done much better.

Since then Capcom learned their lesson and fine-tuned the PSOne to run such games smoothly.Marvel SuperHeroes Vs StreetFighter was an especially nice port and so is MvC.

The graphics are colorful and flashy with most of the backgrounds and effects during supermoves retaining much of their animation.The characters themselves look great and are also given a nice amount of animation.The gameplay is Fast and fun with little to no slowdown of any kind,even during screen filling supermoves.

Had the game retained true tag-team play this title would definitly be a winner as the graphics and action are all Excellent.But unfortunitly even the best game developers can only do so much with the systems limited RAM.As in Previous Vs games the main battle mode only allows 1-on-1 fighting.Though its still very fun for those who can look past the tagteam gameplay.

However there is crossover mode-Which allows Tagteam gameplay with the only difference being that you have to choose the same two characters as the CPU.It can get old fighting mirror versions of your two fighters but the mode otherwise replicates the Arcade versions gameplay very well.

While its no substitute,this version actually contains features not found in the otherwise Perfect dreamcast version.The PSX port allows you to play as Onslaught in both normal and giant forms! Very cool. The game also lets you save and view character endings for later and there is a section that allows you to view and get a good look at each of the special partner characters like Authur and Unknown Soldier.

Overall Marvel Vs Capcom for the PSOne,is a polished,Nice-Quality port retaining about 85% of the Arcade version.If you have a dreamcast you obviously won't want to bother with this port but if you don't have a DC and own a Playstation/PS2,this game is still a fine substitute.

Awesome
Ok let me tell u now this game is awesome. I played it in a arcade and i got hooked and begged my parents to get me it off the net.And trust me when i got it a year ago rite off amazon it was not cheap (50 bucks!!)anyway this game is alittle different from the arcade because you dont have a team with two people its just another guy that does a little attack every time u call them in.SOme of u might say thats the best part and ur right but its still a great game get this game if u can!

Not all that great
If you've played any of Capcom's 2D fighter CPS2-to-PlayStation conversions lately, then you already know what to expect from the PlayStation version of Marvel vs. Capcom. While the arcade (and, subsequently, the arcade-perfect Dreamcast conversion) supplied a four-fighter tag-team battle, the PlayStation's RAM limitation limits the battle to two fighters. Also, many frames of animation have been chopped out, particularly those for larger characters. Marvel vs. Capcom is the latest incarnation of Capcom's Street Fighter vs. series. But here, instead of limiting the characters to X-Men or Street Fighters, Capcom has taken characters from all over the Marvel and Capcom universes. Marvel is represented by new additions like Venom and Onslaught, as well as fighting-game veterans like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine. Capcom's lineup includes Street Fighters Ryu, Chun Li, and Zangief, but also nonfighting characters like Captain Commando, Strider Hiryu, and Mega Man. The result is an ultimate (albeit a bit condensed) lineup of fighters from all over the place. This cross section of comic-book heroes and video-game characters gives the game a truly new and diverse feel, even if the gameplay hasn't changed too much since the last Capcom vs. fighting game, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.
Some remnants of the tag battle remain. You still select a second character, but that character's only influence on the battle is in the form of short, special attacks. The arcade game actually had you select three fighters, one of whom served as a helper character that you could call on at any time for a quick attack. Now, you select your main fighter and then choose if you want one of these helpers, or a second normal fighter that will join up with you and perform team super combos, should you issue the command to do so. To make up for the loss of the tag action, the ability to link multiple super combos has been added. This lets you really rack up the multihit combos and do a lot of damage to your opponent, to boot. Graphically, the game really doesn't look too bad, taking into consideration the limitations of the hardware. The game is colorful, and the backgrounds are nice. New to the PlayStation version is a quick zoom that occurs during throws. This is a little disorienting, and the characters get pretty pixelated up close as well. The audio portion of the game is troublesome. Everything sounds extremely tinny, and the trebley sound and music will get on your nerves almost immediately.If you're looking for the arcade version, you really need to go to an arcade or pick up the Dreamcast version. The PlayStation version may have the same moves as the original game, but the shell surrounding those moves is completely different. Rent this one first.

Old, but awesome
If you're going to waste your life playing 2-d fighting games, and can't find Marvel vs Capcom 2, waste your life on this game.It rocks.

Arcade Style Fighting.
Marvel VS Capcom is an arcade style fighting game featuring some of the biggest names from the worlds of Marvel and Capcom.Everyone from Mega Man to Spiderman.For someone who wants to just sit down and fight it out with some amazing moves, this is the game for you!I will admit that fighting the computer can be difficult at times.The special moves allow some characters to just cream you in 30 seconds or less.Other than that, the graphics are great, the sound is good, and the choice of characters is absolutely amazing.This is a must-have for any Playstation gamer. ... Read more

Features

• Add any of 25 different Six Flags roller coasters from 5 different locations
• Match wits against world leaders in a quest to build the ultimate empire
• Build, explore, conquer, and rule; new pathways, strategies, and tools
• New graphics engine provides stunning maps, animations, and graphics
• Create and run the ultimate amusement park with new rides and gameplay

Reviews (1)

kyle (andro)
listen to me! civilization iii is like, the best computer game out there (not game cube) and rctycoon is second. i don't have this set but I have civilization iii and the first rctycoon. If you like civilization iii, get the conquests expantion pack. something interesting is that these are two of the most addicting computer gaves ever. if i could, i'd play this game for ever if i could. these games are the best ever made by atari! ... Read more

Product Description

With a new magical, carnival-themed location, over 175 new items, and a host of quirky new characters, Makin' Magic is the largest Sims Expansion Pack ever. New gameplay includes making, gathering, and questing for ingredients to brew magic spell recipes. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Family
• Mission: Your Sims can now harness the supernatural, casting playful or mischievous spells
• Platform: Windows 98/2000/XP

Reviews (87)

Not the best Sims expansion...
I found magic to be very inconvenient and expensive to use.As in all other Sim games, it is hard to keep your Sim happy for more than a few days, and also make enough money to live off of.It is only fun to go to a premade house and play with the premade sims, but that's not the point of the game...

They should make this for the Sims 2
Sure, it will make #2 unrealistic, but it is a whole lot of fun! Imagine how great the graphics will be if this was a Sims 2 expansion pack! I could only imagine how many more spells and reactions there will be if this was made into a 2 expansion pack. But, being it is still in old school form, it is a pretty fun, pretty addictive game. I can't believe how much the price went down!

Get it while the getting's good. You won't regret it. It combines a sort of Harry Potter-type world, complete with roller coasters, mummies, a skeleton maid, and magic crystals.

Ouch
I'm so glad I don't own this expansion pack, but I was "fortunate" enough to experience it at a friend's house. I found it extremely silly. The Sims is already pretty fake (as in most expansion packs really don't offer a whole lot as it seems to in the store), with expansion packs building on this characteristic, but Makin' Magic overdoes it completely. Maxis and EA probably came out with this expansion pack after seeing such a huge response to spells and fantasy and magic in Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the like. In a way it clashes with Livin' Large. Both of them have "halloween" themes about them and the supernatural and blackmagic occuring. Through hearsay, the only things I can remember from the top of my head found in Makin' Magic is the ability for Sims to own a vineyard and something called MagiCoins. Also, potions can enable your Sim to be a rockstar instantly as well as make any Sim fall in love with yours.

I truly don't recommend this. It's as good as cheating by getting everything you want through brewing potions and such. It took me long enough to get addicted to the Sims, but this is so exaggerated. My Sims collection stops at Superstar.

Beware, your sims are witches and wizards, AWESOME!
this being the grand finale for the original sims, they made it grand! they gave you new powers, you can now control other sims lives completly, and not just the ones you create! you can cast love spells to make the process of love a little quicker, mind control sims to make them do as you please, transform gnomes and flamingos to come alive for an amount of time, and if someone annoys you, just turn them into a frog! you have all new items and and a new town. you can also do another spell that makes the game all worth it! if you have the sims 'Unleashed' you can transform your pet into a new sim to add to your family! it gives you new looks for your sims, and an all new currency! 'Magicoins' they let you buy spell items and new houses in Magictown that give you special powers and items you get in the regular game. this is by far the best expansion they have came out with!

Brilliant Idea!
Whoever thought up this one sure thought up a winner!!It's so fun to try out each spell.It sure takes a long time to get boring because you have to find all those ingredients!It takes longer than you might think.
There are also new objects and a whole other world- Magic Town- to explore!You can earn MagiCoins (to buy ingredients) by performing magic tricks and so forth for the crowds there.It's very cool.Just make sure those spells don't backfire on you! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

In Super Monkey Ball, you're in control of a cute little monkey trapped inside a transparent ball. The objective of the game is deceptively simple: tilt the floor with your analog stick so that your monkey ball rolls towards the goal. Your success is all in the thumb: the more you tilt, the faster the ball rolls. Just be sure not to fall off the edges! You can play with up to four others to see who can master the tilt and get their monkeys to the finish line ahead of the pack. ... Read more

Reviews (153)

The best game ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I played it twice and just had to buy it!! Everyone should like this game so just BUY IT!!!

Excellent Game
My family enjoys the Mario Party games, and are always looking for games that are similar in gaming style.This is a really comparable game with a lot of interesting ideas.There are many ways to play each with benefits.

There is regular play which is much like the old "Marble" game, piloting a ball up and down slopes, across narrow passages, until you reach the goal.It gets harder as you go higher in stages.In this method of play you can earn points to unlock more games such as bowling.

In party mode, you can race, fight, and play monkey target (my personal favorite).Monkey target is rolling your ball down a hill, and then taking off for flight at the end of the ramp.Then you navigate the ball through the air trying to reach one of the targets.Close the ball when you think you have good aim, and hope you stay on receiving points for where you landed on the target.

Definately a good game for a group of people, and entertaining enough to hold a solo player's interests.

not for kids who want to win
I had never heard of the Gamecube title called Super Monkey Ball before I walked into my friend's bedroom to find it sitting on the shelf.I proceeded to inspect the game case and eventually realized my friend was actually playing the game at the time.So I sat down and watched him for a bit before he eventually asked me if I'd like a go.I said sure and within 24 hours I owned this mother of a gem.

If you've never played this game or it's sequel, you are missing out on some serious fun.

For starters, there is a pretty good amount of things to do in this game, from the basic story mode, which is insanely difficult for the most part, to the mini-games, like bowling and flying.The games are fun and addictive, espescially with a friend or two.You will find yourself going round after round, rolling down a huge ramp only to be shot off the end and launched into the clear blue sky.You then open your ball up and use it as a glider to navigate your monkey through the air and try to land of score specific targets floating in the water.If you miss, you fall in the water and get nothing except a whining monkey, who is also drowning for a brief period of time.

I can't really say too much about this game that isn't just praising the fun level of it.There really is no story, you are just a group of monkeys and for some reason they are in balls.I really don't know the story behind that.

So go out and buy this game, or have a swarm of angry, monkey-toting balls on your hands...wait a minute, that doesn't sound right...

Wicked fun for everyone
So cool every one has a blast. You can race fight and all the time your monkey its so wicked cool!

It's great!
Hey everyone, I just wanted to say that supermonkey ball is a nice, safe and fun game. I really enjoyed the racing. I played it with my brother and we had a great time. This is a good family game. There are a lot of party games to choose from, and they are all fun. So if you were thinking about buying it you should, I promise you won't regret it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars 2002 lets you hurtle around the track at speeds in excess of 170 mph as you experience jaw-dropping graphics, realistic physics, and boundless white-knuckle action. You can compete on 12 real-world tracks from the World of Outlaws racing circuit and race as one of 24 official World of Outlaws drivers. The graphics are based on the award-winning Ratbag Difference Engine. Modes include single race, championship, and career. The game features spectacular collisions, damage modeling, and screaming 3-D directional sound, plus exclusive World of Outlaws driver interviews, racing footage, and DVD extras. ... Read more

Features

• Race as one of 24 drivers around 12 tracks at speeds over 170 MPH
• Choose from single race, championship, and career modes
• Enjoy screaming 3-D directional sound
• Unlock racing footage and other extras as you play
• For 1 player

Reviews (44)

DIRT TRACKIN' FOREVER!
WOW,This game is awesome. Hell with NASCAR, Dirt is where its at!
Power sliding thru the turnsand pulling wheelies down the straights makes this game the best racing one i've ever played. Can't stop playing it.Hope RATBAG makes future games with sprints or modifieds with guys like Pauch, Horton, Hearn, Brightbill, etc.....

Why I bought PS2
I am a big fan of "The World of Outlaws" and when I heard this game was coming out I went out and bought a PS2.I have yet to get tired of this game, endless fun and the best career mode to date.

The most intense racing game I've ever played!!
This was received as a Christmas gift back in December 2003, with the impression from the giver it wouldn't be received too well.Being a dirt track racing addict, having played Dirt Track Racing on Windows 98 by Ratbag, which this, in addition to Dirt Track Racing 2, must be made for a Playstation 2 (hint, hint) to keep the other dirt track addicts at bay; this game has every element a racing gamer demands.The graphics are outstanding, realistic sounds of the announcer, engine revving, crowd noises, options being numerous, and I just can't stop playing it.If your thumbs aren't calloused and numb, forgetting how to blink your eyes, and experiencing sharp pains in your palms, arms and your lower left side of your body because of the "leaning left syndrome" after a couple of hours of racing your custom sprint car, then this isn't the game for you.Racing games are supposed to be just as white knuckled induced as the real thing and this fits the bill.I can't describe how incredible this game really is. It's so good that I haven't even opened my other Playstation 2 games yet. You have to try it yourself, either by renting it first before you purchase it or buy it outright, to be a true believer as myself.So, you'd better get it now before it becomes obsolete and hard to find.

WoO Fun
I love this game its fun and easy to control the car. I own the PC version first and think of the two this is the best. the people at RatBag did a great job at this game. Real tracks, real stars, real fun.

Best game ever
Being a passionate race fan and driver of a dirt track stock car I have good experience and judgement to compare any race game too. This game is the closest to real life experience I have ever had. I literally haven't taken the game out of the machine since I bought it (8 months ago) and don't plan to until they release another Sprint Car or Dirt Stock Car game. (Hopefully with online capabilities) If you are a race fan or race participant at any level you must have this game. You will be blown away. GT3 doesn't come close. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

One of two new Zelda games for the Game Boy Color, TheLegend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages is geared towards the cerebralgamer, with its heavy focus on puzzle solving. The Triforce has alertedLink to trouble in the land of Labrynna, where the evil sorceress Veranhas possessed Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. Veran travels back in time,setting up events that lead to a world where evil dominates. It's up toyou to help Link stop Veran and set things straight.

Game mechanics and menus are similar to those found inLink'sAwakening, also for the Game Boy. As in almost every Zeldagame, you have to traverse eight dungeons and find eight key items. Theharp of time is vital to your quest--it's required to manipulate eventsand stop Veran's rewriting of history.

Although this game is extremely enjoyable on its own, you'll want touse it in conjunction with its sister title:Oracle ofSeasons. After you complete one game, you'll be given apassword that lets you begin with all your items, statistics, andprogress intact in the other. Certain characters will appear only byplaying both games. By using a link cable, players can trade items.Game Boy Advance users will find a store that's exclusive to them.

While this is an excellent game, it might be too complicated foryounger gamers or those looking for mindless fun. --Raymond M.Padilla

Pros:

• Dozens of crafty puzzles
• Great as a standalone; outstanding in conjunction with its sistergame
• Nice bonuses for Game Boy Advance owners

• Lots of reused sound effects from previous Zelda games
• Longtime gamers might find the story and level design contrived
• Be prepared for many puzzle-induced headaches

Reviews (103)

Best game ever
This game is awesome beyond all of the zelda series.It has a excellent story line and is perfect,.

Legend of Zelda:Oracle of Ages.......
One thing I absolutely despise about alot of Gameboy games, anymore, is how you have to buy them in twos just to be able to finish them. Such is the case with Legend of Zelda:Oracle of Ages & Oracle Seasons.Originally planned as a trilogy, this two-part adventure is exceptionally good which is why I highly recommend that you add them to your collection.
It all begins in Oracle of Ages. Veran(The Sorceress of Shadows) kidnaps Nayru(The Oracle of Ages). Because Link feels directly responsible for her kidnapping(as you find out while playing the game), he sets out to find her and save her. With the Harp of Ages, he travels between the past and present meeting familiar faces (some of which you'll recognize from Ocarina of Time)in his effort to make things right. That's when the storyline deepens and the fun truly begins. Rest assured, though, he's not alone in this one. Along the way, he enlists the help of Moosh, Dimitri, and Ricky.
Out of two games, in my opinion- this is the harder game of the two...but the most rewarding. I think Capcom did an outstanding job with their first effort in the Zelda series and I hope Nintendo continue to let them develop future installments for the Gameboy and the Gameboy Advance.
Again, I highly recommend you add these games to your collection. They're awesome.

The series just get better with every new game!!!!
I like Ages because it has lots of puzzles. I love puzzles better than fighting, so I chose this game as a favorite beacuse the storyline is really clear and has great sounds and graphics. I'm not saying Seasons is bad, though. The best part in when you link up, because you really get more out of your games. I would recommend Ages to anyone that loves puzzles.

ZELDA ROCKS
I have ALWAYS LOVED Zelda, and this is one of thebest of their games so far! I couldn't stop playing it!

Zelda almighty
It is surprising how every new Zelda game is fresh and distinct in its own ways, yet still maintains the Zelda charm. Oracle of Ages does just that. It takes the tried and true system of Link's Awakening and adds new gameplay, weapons, abilities, and increasingly clever (and often times difficult) puzzles. Come to think of it, this is probably the best Zelda on Game Boy. It's a little easier than Oracle of Seasons, which is good, and it has much more zest to it than Link's Awakening did. Of course, it has its problems AS A GAME BOY GAME, but the Zelda Game Boy series seems almost entirely separate from other consoles. And in that sense, Oracle of Ages is a must have. Ideal for those long, weary vacations. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

You have video games, but now you can move on to the next level with video game enhancement. Every time you get stuck on a level, can'tbeat a difficult boss, or run out of ammunition, GameShark 2 is there for you. Infinite health, infinite lives, all weapons, all characters,all vehicles, and much more--it's all yours at the press of a button. And, as a special incentive, GameShark 2 includes a bonus CD crammed with codes for your PS One. New codes are always available for every game that hits the shelves at www.gameshark.com. ... Read more

Reviews (106)

problems?
i've read alot of purchasers saying the gameshark 2 for the ps2 is a bad investment.if you asked me 2 years ago i would have agreed.through owning one original gameshark and all the version up grades (3 so far) i've found that it depends on both the version of your gameshark and your ps2.the first ps2 i bought died a year after i got it, i still don't know what happened but it wasn't the gameshark, it was hardware.the second one has last a year and is running great even with a gameshark plugged in all the time.be smart, read as much as possible on every purchase, and ask the people who own them and you can get the right information to figure out if this is an investment you're willing to make.point 1:the first two gameshark 2 versions were crap.the stalled out all the time, erased your memory card, and never played any code except the ones from the factory.version 3 was the first one with the keyboard and had absolutely no problems.point 2: the people that say the codes don't work now are using version 4 codes on a version 3 gameshark, more than likely.if you want something to stay away from i can give it, the non-sony memory codes are worthless, they will erase your memory when taken from their ports.there, i've given alot of ideas on what to do to keep your bum covered, have a great day.

wellllllllll
It has helped alot but I have gotten 4 errors before.
sllowage, drain, unbalenceness, and stalling.
BUT, when I was toggling with the system I put the speed & proformance (quality) to high and changed the version to 9.0.
and I haven't had a problem since.If you don't know how to do this I suggest you don't buy a gameshark 2.

Game Shark is no good!
After finding that the game shark really doesn't work as advertised. After reading instructions, no cheat codes seemed to work, and the performance of my PS2 went way down. I tried to return and could not get my money back and now am going to only shop where companies offer satisfaction guarantees.

I feel ripped off!

Listen Up
I got the gameshark for my PS2... my PS2 was working fine until I stuck this thing in here.Go to websites to get cheats... almost as good.I don't care what anyone says.This thing is NOT good for your systems.I spoke to a professional and he said the reason my PS2 stopped working was probably becuase of the Gameshark.... there could be no other reason... beside the fact that it is a poorly manufactured system (which I seem to disagree with).

Take a risk and this is still good to have.If you're lucky, it might not wreck your system.Look into it before buying it.

Anyway... to review it:

It has all of the cheats known to man.It is really cool, but remember the risk.

Good luck...

gameshark 2
listen to me, if you bought a ps2 in america after 1/4/04 in the US some versions of GS2 dont work on ps2. If you bought it before then it should work just fine. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

A long time ago, an awesome real-time strategy game set in Earth's pastnamed Age of Empires II was unleashed on an unwitting public. Almostimmediately, it took its place among the best games of its genre. GalacticBattlegrounds takes many of the elements that made Age of Empires IIso good and gives them a complete Star Wars makeover. The gameplay is sosimilar, it's hard to recommend it to anyone with a copy of AOE II.However, if you haven't played AOE II, or you're a hard-core StarWars fan, you might just find this game to be strong in the Force.

Battlegrounds offers you the chance to become a leader in deciding someof the most important battles of the Star Wars mythology. As in otherreal-time strategy games, you'll concern yourself with such things as keepingyour troops fed, advancing technology, and trade. And, of course, keeping yourbase from getting completely wiped out is generally considered a plus.

Among the few enhancements Battlegrounds makes to the Age of EmpiresII engine is the bigger technology tree (more stuff to invent and play with)and air and anti-air units (TIE fighters, X-wings, etc.). Most of the favoriteraces, machinery, and characters of the films are also well represented.Wookiees, Jedi, the Trade Federation, Darth Vader, Luke, and the rest of thegang (including Jar Jar) are all there for you to command in the campaign mode.Those looking to wage war in the battles seen in the films might be somewhatdisappointed, as many of the missions, while no less important, take placeparallel (and usually very close to) those shown in movies.

Thankfully, a few of the better-known skirmishes have been incorporated in thegame--just don't expect to significantly alter Star Wars history. Forexample, when controlling Imperial forces in the Battle of Hoth (the snow battlefrom The Empire Strikes Back), you lead your troops in an effort toannihilate Rebel scum before they can flee the planet. Can you change theoutcome of the battle seen in the films? Aside from losing your commander andimmediately losing the game, no. But the stories behind the skirmishes depictedthroughout Battlegrounds do fit well into the Star Wars myth andare usually fun. There are also quite a few standalone missions, a random mapgenerator, and tools for creating your own battles. It's enough to keephard-core Star Wars fans ignoring their earthly responsibilities for a good longtime.

Battlegrounds is, at its core, a modification of Age of Empires IIand it plays about as well as can be expected. Fortunately, despite its somewhatoutdated graphics, Battlegrounds' famous characters and locales add justenough Star Wars flavor to help make it a solid game in its own right.

Pros:

• Puts you in command of AT-ATs, stormtroopers, and Jedi
• Familiar Star Wars locales, characters, and music
• Uses the familiar (and very good) Age of Empires II interface
• Interesting main campaign that spans the films and goes beyond Return ofthe Jedi

• Outdated graphics lack definition and are rather flat
• AT-ATs too small, TIEs and X-wings hover instead of fly

Reviews (127)

Star wars galactic battlegrounds is awsome!!!!!!
Star wars galactic battlegrounds is awsome!!!!!! the game has good grafics and is fun to play. they teach you how to play in the menu.
to make it better you should get an expantion like star wars galactic battlegrounds the clone compainion.

Great game, but lacks a certain something
Let me preface my review by stating that I am an enthusiastic Star Wars fan, and bought this game because of it. The gameplay is fun and interesting and the SW locals are great; however, when compared to AOE II (the game from which this is derived), there is a slight lack of cohesion and balance. It is harder to find unit combos that work seamlessly together, and there are too many top-heavy units (AT-AT and the rebellion tank, for example) which don't cost enough to make (it is VERY easy to build 15-20 AT-AT's and steamroller across a map). The flying units are a mere annoyance, lacking any real power when faced with anti-aircraft, and a sheild generators and towers make uber-strong defensive combos that take eons to remove, especially in the face of defensive siege weapon emplacements.

To summarize: This is a good game, but if you are playing someone who has a similar skill level, prepare to be playing a LONG time.

Good game
I had a lot of fun playing this game. There really was only one problem. This would be that it is a total clone of Age of Empires 2. It is the AoE game engine set in a Star Wars galaxy. The units are exactly the same. For example, there is a unit in AoE that is called the ram, it is resitant to arrows and destroys buildings. In Star Wars there is a unit called a pummel. It is resitant to lasers and destroys sturctures. This sounds pretty similar, right? I suggest that you buy Age of Empires, and you love it, to buy this game. You should try AoE out first.

wonderful
I am an avid RTS gamer, and of course I fell in love with Starcraft the first time I played it. But SC does have its faults, namely the biggest one being it was too limited. I always wanted to load up with 100 or so carriers and raid someone's base. But alas, unit limits keep you from doing such a thing. But then I discovered Battlegrounds, and was satisfied. It has an even more detailed tech tree then Starcraft, and of course the unit limits were more forgiving, so I was able to take 150 at-ats and raid bases at my whim. Of course, its challenging to keep your base going long enough to do this, so the difficulty I had at playing SC never really left either. Of course, you could sit around and complain that the graphics arent 3d, the story mode doesnt have Starcraft's excellent cutscenes, well, to that I say, hard cheese. If you like Starcraft, Star Wars games, or just strategy games in general, this is worth the cash.

A good RTS with a star wars twist
this game is overall good, although it's hard to play the random battle mode well. the CPU's are either dumb as rocks or hard to beat but never in between. also it has easy to access online gaming but limited players unless you have the expansion. in the end, this game is a great star wars RTS but is very limited with out the expansion. ... Read more

Book Description

In the tradition of the multi-award-winning Star Wars: Jedi Knight, Star Wars, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast features rebel agent Kyle Katarn in exhilarating first-person action. Several years have passed since Kyle avenged his father's death and saved the Valley of the Jedi from Jerec and his band of Dark Jedi. Allowing his Force powers to languish for fear of falling to the dark side, Kyle entrusted his lightsaber to Luke Skywalker, vowing never to use it again. But when a new and menacing threat to the galaxy emerges, Kyle knows he must reclaim his past in order to save his future.

Players assume the role of Kyle as they employ a unique mix of weapons, Force powers, and the lightsaber in both single- and multiplayer modes. Jedi Outcast features expanded and enhanced use of the lightsaber, with new attack and defense moves. Tap into the powers of the Force, including jump, push, Jedi mind tricks, and more. Employ combat or stealth, depending on the situation. When a fight is necessary, be at the ready with an arsenal of weapons: stun baton, Bryar blast pistol, and blaster rifle, to name but a few.

Explore breathtaking Star Wars locales such as Cloud City, the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4, Nar Shaddaa, the smugglers' moon--plus some never-before-seen locations. Multiplayer options include capture the flag, free for all, team FFA, duel, weapons-only, and Jedi master. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

GameCube and Star Wars: Disturbance in the Force?
Can anyone tell me DEFINITIVELY why LucasArts, et al., are NO LONGER making games for the GameCube?Legos Star Wars and Sith are being made for GameBoy Advance/DS, but not for the 'Cube.What's up with that?

I've heard a number of things:

*Star Wars titles never sold very well at all for Nintendo, whose strength still lies in its Mario and Pokemon franchises, among several others.But not Star Wars games.And in 3rd place in market share behind both Playstation and Xbox, making a 3rd version of any Star Wars game was a guaranteed money loser.(Not so for GameBoy which still owns the handheld domain.)

*The new Star Wars games require more buttons on the controllers.The others have them, GameCube does not.

*GameCube has no game playing interactivity, though I fail to see this as a showstopper.

Your thoughts?I really want to play Star Wars games like Battlefront but unless I move to another platform I am SOL.Any guesses if Nintendo Revolution will address these shortcomings?

JAMES BOND MEETS STAR WARS
THIS GAME IS EXACTLY LIKE THE JAMES BOND GAMES. THE MULTIPLAYER IS WAY TOO GOOD AND THE STORY MODE IS VERY CHALLENGING. WHEN YOU SWITCH TO THE LIGHT SABER YOU GO INTO 3RD PERSON MODE. IT IS A VERY COOL GAME.

IF YOU PLAY MULTIPLAYER IT KIND OF STINKS WITHOUT THE FIRST PLAYER HAVING A LIGHT SABER. I ENTERED IN THE CODE FOR IT AND A FEW OTHERS JUST FOR MULTIPLAYER AND TO MY SURPRISE THEY WORKED IN STORY MODE. DON'T I REPEAT DON'T USE CODES IN STROY MODE. ONCE YOU GET UP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL YOU ARE CHALLENGED TO DUEL A LIZZARD AT THE END OF A LEVEL. IF YOU HAVE INVINCEABILITY ON YOU CAN'T LOSE TO GO ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL. YES, YOU HAVE TO LOSE THE BATTLE. YOU CAN'T TURN CODES OFF IN THE GAME SO WATCH OUT.

THEY WAY I DO THE CODES FOR MULTIPLAYER IS TO LET THE GAME LOAD THE LEVELS AND CHARACTERS. THEN WHEN YO GET TO THE MAIN MENU REMOVE YOUR MEMORY CARD. THEN ENTER THE CODES. IT WILL NOT STOP YOU FROM MOVING ON IN STORY MODE AND YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT MULTIPLAYER GAME GOING.

I MADE THE MISTAKE OF ENTERING THE CODE WITH THE MEMORY CARD IN AND HAD TO DELETE THE DATA AND START THE GAME OVER JUST BECAUSE I HAD TO BE DEFEATED IN A BATTLE. WATCH OUT.

THE GAME IS VERY GOOD. IT HAS SOLID GAMEPLAY AND A GREAT MULTIPLAYER. THE LIGHTSABERS COLORS CAN BE CHANGED AND THERE IS A BUNCH OF OTHER STUUF YOU CAN CHANGE.

JEDI OUTCAST IS ONE OF THE BEST GC GAMES.

FOR THE NINTENDO REVOLUTION IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY RELEASE A SEQUEL AND HAVE IT GO ONLINE.

IF YOU LOVE STAR WARS, YOU WANT A GREAT ADVENTURE GAME WITH SOLID MULTIPLAYER GET THIS GAME.

BY TEXX

BEST
This is the best game I have ever played and I very highly recomend it. Yet it is also rated Teen due to mild violence because your running around killing people yet itisnt that bad once you get past that.

THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
I'm 13, but it's easier to use the kids review....
This game is awesome! If you are a star wars fan, you have to get
this. You can do jedi arena and choose from like 6 games, like 15 places, and who knows how many characters! You can customize your character and change stuff such as lightsaber color, force powers and physical abilities. Sadly, there are no vehicles, but this game makes up for that in weapons. It's very entertaining to use grip and hold a guy up,....and then throw him down some stairs or a pit!!!! You can do multiplayer without 2 people, I do all the time and it's just as good, considering the
AI(artificial intelligence) bots. The bots make it very realistic, you can have tons of them and they make the battles fun, being so unpredictable. They will snipe you or sneak up behind you, and they respond to the weopon choices you make and such.Try this game, it's a great game, trust me!!!

Wonderful game
I don't understand why people give this game a bad review. Granted the single player story mode can be a little slow at times, and there is that one level where you can't be invinsible, because you have to be able to die at the end, but once you beat it, you can just warp to any level you want(I personally like to skip, Nar Shadda and go straight to Bespin), and once you beat it, you can play multiplayer, grab a friend or play alone, with 10 bots, there is a capture the flag mode where you can activate invulnerability go to the warring factions level and set human (1 or 2) against computer (1-10), but don't worry because you won't be totally invinsible, that map has narrow pathways and a deep hole under all the map, and you can be affected by force push and grip(you just can't choke to death, but at a high enough level it can be used to move people off a cliff). Now I seem to have forgotten my point, so I'll leave the desicion making up to those who do not have it, but I like the game, I've had it for almost 2 years, and few games could even be considered a rival to it for me. ... Read more

Product Description

Spaceman just crashed on a strange planet and he needs to find all his spacecraft's parts. The problem? He only has a few days to do it! Luckily there are hundreds of Pikmins with special powers that he can use to battle enemies. Features an incredibly lifelike environment. Even the most experienced gamers will enjoy playing this action-strategy game. Made in USA. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: Nintendo Gamecube
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Ages 6 and up

Reviews (265)

EXELENT GAME!
First off I'd like to say to anyone that says only violent M rated games are cool, then you're wrong in every possible way and you've fallen victim to the epidemic of violence and will most likely end up in some musty old jail cell for the rest of your natural lives (and if it's REALLy bad, maybe you'll be in jail for the rest of your unnatural life). Now about the game. This game is the most amazing game I've ever played. Ever. There is no game that can beat the absolute exellence this game exudes (but Earthbound for SNES comes pretty close). Anyway, heres the deal:

Environments

This is the best part about the whole game. You have everything in the environments you could ever want. When you begin a day, there's even the morning fog that gradually fades away as the day progresses! The water is extremely real as are the plants. In short, the environments are better than any known to man.

Enemies

Extremely clever and sometimes hard to beat. There is no one way to beat every creature, because every one of them requires a different method. Finally, no two creatures share the same attack patterns, making the game very diverse and strong.

Allies

The Pikmin themselves are the greatest thing about the game. Each "species" of pikmin has a different special ability. The blue are amphibious, so you can use them to take on challenges in water. The red are impervious to fire, meaning that going through a fire gyser for them is no problem. The yellow (which happen to be my personal favorite) can take on the dangerous responsibility of handling rock grenades and also can be throw the highest.

Difficulty

Another great aspect of the game. The difficulty is nice and hard, but not IMPOSSIBLE. One of the frustrating things about Metroid Prime is that the levels get to be impossible unless you look up a strategy guide on the web or BUY one at the store. With pikmin, you just need a good strategy and you can beat the game yourself.

Controls

Very simple. Took me a minute or two to get used to them and then I was on to the game. Not much to say about it, though.

Overall

Pikmin is one of the greatest games ever invented. If you see it at the store, get it. It's worth every cent and it will definately not disappiont you, you have my guarantee.

Childish
This game is stupid and childish If your like Michael Heim Grow up nintendo is for babys and mommas boys get the PS2 or Xbox Those have better games.
P.S dont you notice how 99.9% of all the games for the GCN are rated E and only one good game is rated M get the picture boys grow up.

I hated this game
I cant believe how stupid this game was...Its ridiculous. I am so relieved to have only rented it, and at that, I felt stupid and ripped off...
Just not my cup of Java!

I love this game,but it is a little hard!
I played Pikmin for the first just a little while ago,It's a story about this space man named Olimar(or something strange like that),and he crash landed on some triped out planet where there are these weird little ant like plants,who will help you find your missing spaceship parts.It's a fun game but it is a little hard and some of the monsters are creepy,but I still like this game,and you only have 30 days to find all your missing parts(30 parts in all).The first 10 parts are easy to find,the next 10 are hard,and the final 10 are veeerrryyy hard to find!The pikmin are funny so its kind of cute to watch them run around and pick up parts and stuff,so it is a good game,if not a little kiddy.PROS:There are a lot of parts that you can find in just one day alone,and the three kinds of pikmin are all very funny.CONS:Olimar says that he will not need all the parts in the game to go back to his home planet but I got 27 parts out of 30 and the ship still wouldn't work right,the camera gets very bad half way into the game,its easy to lose pikmin,the pikmin die WAY to fast in battle,only the blue pikmin have gills,and all of the easy to find parts are crap and Olimar can live without them,(like the cap'n seat,a very easy to find part)but I would still say to try out this game,it's worth around $15.00,so try this game!you may like it!

Great fun, but challenging.
The first thing I would like to say is that if you plan to buy this, you should get the accompanying strategy guide. If you don't, you'll find this frustrating. With the help of a guide, though, the game becomes charming and challenging.

First, the game is gorgeous for being released so early in the GameCube's life cycle. Sparkling lakes, peaceful meadows, and charred fire-pits all have a realistic, but still "painted" look to them. The music fits the environments perfectly, too; it makes you feel happy and sunny at times, cautious and aware at others.

The controls work very well, and generally you won't have trouble controlling your Pikmin (if you're not familiar with the concept here, it's that you have to control your Pikmin so that they can gather items for you within a time limit). You can separate them, clump them together, or throw them individually at the touch of a button. Most everything--unrolling bridges, attacking enemies, carrying items, etc.--can be done with a few simple commands.

Nintendo is indeed the master of the sense of accomplishment, and every time you grab an item, you'll feel proud of yourself, even if you used a guide like I did. You collect spaceship parts, and with every one you get, the spaceship will change in appearance. It starts out looking like a piece of junk, but as you proceed, it transforms into a top-of-the-line machine. You really feel like you're getting somewhere. The parts themselves are all interesting, from the practical (the geiger counter), to the whimsical (a giant piggy bank).

Enemies are simultaneously scary and silly. They're funny-looking, and include giant ladybug-like things and huge frogs; but the second you hear your Pikmin scream and see hundreds of little Pikmin ghosts rise into the air, you'll fear them. Not only do you need lots of Pikmin if you want to complete the game (and harvesting more takes precious time), but you get emotionally attached to them, making every battle tense.

Overall, this game is great fun. Grabbing the spaceship parts, defeating the enemies, and doing all the other necessary things to complete the game (harvesting more Pikmin, blowing up walls, walking through fire plumes, and such), is an engrossing challenge, and makes you feel "smart". It has something for everyone; tough strategy, intense action, and beautiful, whimsical environments to explore. I would reccomend it for anyone. This, people, is the Nintendo difference. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Featuring graphics that surpass even the amazing NFL 2K, Soul Calibur is the martial arts fighting game to end all fighting games and the game to get if you're a Dreamcast owner. Based on the arcade classic of the same name, Soul Calibur lets you choose to represent one of 10 fighters in a series of battles against your peers. If you can successfully defeat all of your opponents, you will then face the fiendish Inferno in a final showdown that will determine the fate of the world. Each of the game's warriors is armed with a different deadly weapon--sword, ax, stave, nunchaku, you name it--and an assortment of special moves all tailored to that specific weapon. The warriors include men, women, and creatures from all over the globe and from various mythologies. Each is brought to life with amazing motion-capture animation, which results in incredibly lifelike and realistic duels. If you own a Dreamcast or are thinking of buying one, do yourself a favor and add Soul Calibur to your collection. --Mike Ryan

Pros:

• Exceptionally lifelike graphics and animation
• Multiple game modes--1-player, 2-player, team, computer vs. computer, martial arts demo, and more
• Secrets and extra features will keep players coming back

• May be too violent for some parents

Features

• Arcade-style 3-D fighting action
• All-new game modes not included in the original arcade game
• 10 characters, all with full 8-direction movement and control
• Master unique moves and uncover secrets
• For 1 or 2 players

Reviews (262)

AMAZING
This is, without exception, the BEST FIGHTING GAME EVER MADE. PERIOD

Read the other reviews, everything positive said about this game is true.I know thats a bold statment but graphics, gameplay, story, modes, music, replayabilty is all EXCELLENT.


Don't listen to any Sony fanboys that are mad that Soul Calibur was a Dreamcast exclusive - It truly does live up to the "hype" (Its not really hype when its absolutely true, utterly amazing)

I hope you have the chance to enjoy the fighting game to end all fighting games.

A Huge Dissapointment
For The Love Of God Don't Believe The Hype! This game had so many people kissing it's butt it wasn't funny. I got it and it was a huge let down. Soul Blade on psone was better then this! Sure it's all pretty, but it's basically just a virtua fighter clone with wepons and smaller backgrounds.alot of the charactors are basicly the same (Astoroth&Rock/Mina&Kilick/Lizardman&Sophitia/Inferno&Edgemaster) The backgrounds while pretty are basically just the old 2-D backdrops used on the first 3-D fighters. The "innovative" world tour mode had been done in SFA3 already so that wasn't a huge plus either. Dead or Alive 2 kicked this things butt as did the painfull to play VF3. If you have either of those forget about this.

Way ahead of its time
This is the definitive evolution in fighting games.I grew up on Street Fighter, then switched to Virtua Fighter, Tekken, Guilty Gear, Powerstone, etc... but nothing has ever captured the essence of fun as much as the Soul Calibur series has done.This is the one fighting game that strangely does not turn off those who are not into fighting games.It is accessible enough to newcomers for them to just pick up and have fun with, yet at the same time, it holds the depth that will keep veteran gamers playing this for years as long as they have access to good human competition.The characters are not completely balanced, but that won't become noticeable until you actually play against really good people for a long while.Still, none of the characters are a waste and the variety of fighting styles are extremely well thought out and fun to watch.I especially like how they have an exhibition mode where you can just watch characters performed their motion captured katas by themselves in an empty ring.This game is simply beautiful in many ways.

Yes this is the greatest fighting game ever made...
I'm make this short and sweet.This is the greatest fighting game ever.And this is a DC exclusive and will forever be one of the best DC games ever.It has everything I love about fighting games.First off the visuals are just so juicy.Not as sharp as SC2 but still great visuals even for this time of the year.The game has some really great things added to this DC version such as a mission mode, it's like a story mode, what you do is buy art galleries to start new mission, trust me it'll keep you in for weeks especially since it's for EVERY CHARACTER!The game has some other neat things added to this game such as

Practicemode
Mission Mode
Survival Mode
ARCADE MODE, which you can unlock characters.

And some other neat things but I will tell you right now if you do have a Dreamcast don't keep it to dust and play GTA on your Ps2.You need this game for the Dreamcast.This is one of the reasons people got a Dreamcast....I got it as a gift from my aunt and took advantage of it by getting the games..And this gem was one of them.Listen..do your self a favor and get this game...heck even Gamespot gave this game 10 and it's extreamly hard getting a good score on this game..The visuals arn't as great as SC2 and that is pretty much the only thing wrong with it..Bottom line

Good
Superb Visuals on the DC
Great extras for the DC version
MISSION MODE ROCKS
Controlls are easy to get use to
Loads of play time and Arcade Mode is a blast

Bad..
Hmmm....Nothing

Ugly
Nothing...

GREATEST FIGHTING GAME EVER ONLY ON THE DREAMCAST!

I give it a 5 out of 5 stars!!

Lates

Still fun after all these years
Soul Calibur is the classic version of the arcade game, and is only available on the Dreamcast. For many, it's the main reason to buy a Dreamcast!

You get a nice selection of characters, both male and female, young and old. If there's a complaint about the characters, it's that the females tend to have VERY skimpy outfits that mostly show off jiggly breasts and lots of underwear. The guys tend to have fully covered bodies. Something's not quite even here.

There are a number of modes, between simple arcade mode, one on one combat, training demos, and more. As you play through the game you earn points, which let you unlock more secrets. It encourages you to go through the game as each character, learning their best moves and techniques. Each character has his or her own favorite weapons and combat style.

As with all fighting games, you have to get used to the violence. The characters are bashing each other with some rather nasty moves - and it doesn't necessarily stop when one person is defeated. I've seen my character kicked to the ground, the game announce my defeat, and then the enemy throw in a final, gratuitous kick. It's very discouraging.

The different levels are fun, with their atmosphere and backgrounds. The music is on the generic side and doesn't go themed with the world you're in, as more modern fighters tend to do. Also it is sometimes fairly easy to simply knock your opponent out of the ring and be done with it.

Also, on the sounds angle, there are only a limited number of things that the announcer says. So if you play a given character through an 8 round series of fights, you are going to hear the same thing over and over again.

That all being said, this is a true classic of a game and many people have become quite fond of the sequels. So if you're into inexpensive fighters, or if you're a Soul Calibur fan who wants to see where it all began, this is a must have! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Vagrant Story is one of those games that wows you at thestart--a big "WOW!" in this case--but maintains only a tenuous hook inthe long haul. In this mix of action/adventure and fantasy role-playing,players are cast as a Riskbreaker (think one-man army) namedAshley Riot, whose pursuit of a villainous cult leader takes him to themysterious city of Lea Monde.

The highly stylized graphics in Vagrant Story are easily some ofthe best ever seen on the PlayStation, and give the game a gorgeous,distinctive look to match its somber tone. Cinematic story sequencesblend in almost seamlessly with gameplay, which takes place in 3-Denvironments (viewed from a third-person perspective) that can berotated to provide the best angle.

Vagrant Story features a rich battle system that's built on bothstrategy and quick reflexes. In addition to character statistics,weapons and armor have detailed numbers of their own and can bedisassembled, assembled, or even combined to create new items. Hand/eyecoordination factors heavily into combat, as Ashley develops offensiveand defensive battle abilities that require perfectly timed buttonpushing in order to be used.

Unfortunately, it's all too easy to get bored with VagrantStory. The painfully linear gameplay here doesn't rise abovekilling enemy after enemy in room after room, and (oh boy!) solvingpuzzles by manipulating boxes. If not for the wholly intriguing (butsparsely littered) plot, one would be strongly tempted just to leaveAshley to rot in the catacombs beneath Lea Monde. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Highly stylized graphics
• Rich battle system
• Intriguing plot

• Shallow, linear gameplay

Features

• Good mix of action/adventure and fantasy role-playing
• Rich battle system
• For 1 player
• You are Ashley Riot, in pursuit of a villainous cult leader
• Highly stylized graphics and cinematic story sequences

Reviews (96)

Best Dungeon Crawler that i've played
If you want to know if this game is good or not without having to read paragraph upon paragraph just read this review. Bottem line is is that if you have some sort of Dungeon crawler fetish this is your thing. It's a dungeon crawler with heavy RPG elements and thats it. So if you like box puzzles (many many) and demons and such (many many). Not to mention that all you ever do is do the to of the above (no mini-games or diversion or nothing!) then this games for you (only one paragraph! ha:)

One of the Greatest Games Ever Made for Fantasy Fans
Recently on G4 Tech TV I was watching "Filter", and they were counting down the top 10 underrated games of all time, and to my amazement and joy, Vagrant Story was rated the #1 most underrated game ever. There could be no title more worthy, and it saddens me that it has a 4 star average here on Amazon, though it's not really suprising.

Vagrant Story was one of the final Square games to come out for the PS1, and went by almost unnoticed. I didn't actually play it until it was a couple of years old. The graphics are without doubt some of the best ever seen on the PS1. I wish we could have had voice overs in this game, but such things were still pretty uncommon on the PS1. The sound is very good, light on music and heavy on creepy, atmospheric sound effects that really enhance the feeling of being lost in the huge mazes of buildings, tunnels, and dungeons.

As it is, the dialogue is absolutely exceptional, and the story is complex, twisting, and really makes you think. Good and evil end up not being quite what you think they are. The story has a heavy emphasis on a religious, crusader/inquisition type group of characters, as well as incorporating sorcery and magic. I could never explain how great the story and characters of this game are...it's just magical. The world just sucks you in.

The entire game takes place in an old abandoned ghost town on an island called Lea Monde. It is one of the most phenomenal environments ever created for a game. Much of the game takes place underground in old tunnels, vaults, caves, storage areas, and a huge variety of buried rooms, but there are also many areas where you emerge and have to explore the city aboveground. The feeling of the game is very lonely, and the old abandoned town of Lea Monde is amazing to explore.

The amount of detail that was put into this game is just incredible, and it is evident at every moment just what a labor of love it was for those who made it. Not only is the game itself exceptional, but the plethora of details they incorporated makes it an all time classic. For example, on the map screen, every single room in the game (and there are a lot) has it's own unique name. There is one dungeon where every room (and there are at least 30) is named after an implement of torture! It's just great.

There is a huge variety of enemies, and an in game encyclopedia that fills up as you encounter them. Combat is very difficult, and it seemed to me at first even too difficult, but once you get the hang of it, this game has one of the most fun, and definitely most unique, combat systems ever devised. With each swing you take, you can choose where to aim on the enemy (left or right arm, legs, body, or head!), and depending on the enemy, armor, and what type of weapon you are using, you will have a different %chance of hit and damage. There are about 6 or 7 types of weapons (blunt, piercing, slashing, etc.) and a HUGE variety of different weapons within these categories. Within this there are different gems that can be attached to your weapons to make them more efficient against certain types of enemies, give them elemental attributes, etc.
Truly, this game has an almost intimidating amount of detail, but that's what makes it so great. You can armor all parts of your body, and every single weapon and every single piece of armor is customizable by combining lesser weapons and armor in workshops that can be found among Lea Monde. Materials range from course materials like wood and iron early in the game to silver and platinum materials later. Weapons have to be created and specialized in for different creature types. For example, I usually had a spear I used against dragons, a holy mace and a holy dagger for undead and zombies, and an axe that was most effiecent against humanoid creatures. Plus, you can actually name every weapon you create, which adds an awesome finishing touch to your arsenal.

There is so much about this game that is great that I could go on for another hour and hardly scratch the surface. This game is thought provoking, its deep, and it is CHALLENGING. Not for wimps! There is so much to explore, so many hidden features, such endless customization, this game just never gets old. And, it has a new game plus feature, so you can replay it with all the skills, equipment, and magic you've acquired. Damn, I didn't even touch on the magic...there is a huge variety of magic spells you can learn as well!
I've played through it probably 3 times over the past few years, and it remains fun every time I play, and I still haven't maxed out Ashley Riots potential.

This game may not be for everyone. It is hard, confusing, and very deep. But for those of you that love fantasy games, a good story, great characters and dialogue, tons of character/equipment customization, and a big challenge, give this game a try. You can get it for cheap now, and even though it's a little dated, it may be one of your best game purchases in quite awhile.

On a final note, I'm thrilled to know that the people who are responsible for this game and for Final Fantasy Tactics are the main creative force working on Final Fantasy XII right now. It should be phenomenal! I can't wait.

Both Good and Bad
I hardly even know where to begin when it comes to an overrated game that turns out to collect dust in my room.I bought Vagrant Story over a year ago.Tried it, like the battle system, and then found myself hating it.

The game play goes as follows: You start in a dungeon...there are cut scenes from time to time, but none of them make any sense...you run around by monsters and fight.You see the monsters as you are fighting them as there are no random battles.A menu pops up after you click near a monster such as, Head: 0, 100%, Right Leg: 2, 85% and so on.From there you choose which part of the body you want to attack.Sometimes you make NO hit points against the monsters because you have to work up your weapons for each type of monster.And it is impossible to make a master weapon against all monsters.More than one weapon has to be leveled up for different monsters, and many times weapons have to be changed in midst battle which is annoying.The other complaint I had in this game is that the only way you can heal yourself is either finding a save point or using a curing item.This doesn't sound so bad, but curing items CANNOT be purchased.Instead they only can be found fighting monsters.I never seemed to have enough curing items.By the end of the game, things still didn't seem to make sense.The conclusions were unsatisfying and overall pain in the neck.

The last complaint I have of this game is the feeling I got from playing it.The color scheme is bad.Everything was shades of brown or blacks and occasional greens and reds.It was a depressing feel to it, and it seemed like I never saw the light in that game.

However, I can still give this game some credit.I believe that it was an attempt of a good thing.There were bad qualities about it that if only fixed a little, this game could've been great.The battle system was actually fun at times, but when things got tough and a new type of monster approached, it took way too long to level up a weapon.
I thought for its time, the cut scenes looked nice.There are no special movies throughout the game, just a short one as an intro before you start your game up.

It is possible to enjoy this game.I found myself struggling through it, but I knew a couple who actually half ways liked it.It isn't a masterpiece in my eyes, but it had potential I think that didn't see the light of day.

Pros:
Innovative battle system
Well done cut scenes for its time
New Game Plus + feature

Cons:
Dull game, hardly any change of scenerybesides dungeons and boxes
Confusing Plot - (yet it was deep)
Bad color scheme: browns, browns, tans, green,and more browns
Annoying weapon level up system

Estimated time to complete game in a quicker runthrough: 20 - 30 hours.
Detailed gameplay estimated time to complete: 30 - 50 hours.

Wonderful story, lots to do and challenges Plus
Vagrant Story is the story of Ashley Riot, a Riskbreaker withsupressed memories.As you progress through this game you acquire memories, not only of battle skills and break arts but of your past.But are those memories of your family reliable?Were they planted, but by whom and why?VS's story will grab you by the throat, twist and turn and still have you wondering what happened at the end.
To some, the idea of making your own armour and weapons sounds tedious, but the reality of it is something else. It's great to see something you've created in action against a knight, a dragon a tough Boss.So take the time to read up on this part of the gameplay.
The graphics, although somewhat dated now, are still excellent.The music is captivating.I would, however, have preferred actors to play the character's voices and thereby imbue them with life rather than having to read every nuance and gasp.
My only negatives of this game are the slot-machine way of increasing skills and the beatability of it. Without a doubt it's the most difficult game I've ever played and, I felt, needlessly so.Don't get me wrong, I like a challenge, but I'm not keen on impossibility, which in all honesty I felt it was - in fact I couldn't complete VS game without cheat codes.And that, for me, was a decided negative and why I didn't award it 5 stars.
So if you like a good game with a great story that's a challenge to your skills as a player Vagrant Story will cover all that and more.

Most fun to be had on Playstation
For me this is easily the best game on playstation. Though we have moved on to the next generation of videogaming, it is hard to not go back to this game. The story is deep, the game mechanics are genius and the graphics out do all other psx games out there.

This game differs from your standard rpg in sense of how the game is played. There is no leveling up, no towns to visit, or world map to explore. Also the fighting system allows you to have total control. Knowing your opponent is key to beating them. The enemy is divided into classes and you must fight according to their strengths and weaknesses. For ex. if your opponent is a dragon you will have to beat through their tough scales or find a way around them and find a weak point. The enemies aren't your average cannon fodder either. They hit and run, cast spells and play keep away. They will draw into a corner and gang up on you or get you in the open area for an ambush.

With enemies that actually use brains and brawn you have to be prepared. This is where the game shines. The weapon and attack system. You start with your basic weapons and armor. As you progress you pick up better stuff and eventually be able to make new weapons and armor. Combining your old stuff you can literally make a new item. I've spent hours combining weapons and armor. Realistically as you use weapons and as your armor takes damage it loses its' strength. At the shops you can also make repairs to your inventory. The battle sysstem is tedious but fun once you get the hang of it. You draw your weapon and a sphere surrounds you. Depending on distance and SIZE of enemies and the range of your weapon you can target body parts. Taking out legs can slow and in some cases immobilize the enemy. Warning this does work both ways so protect yourself. You can cast spells on the fly by use of a quick pop up menu activated by pressing a few buttons. Also as you defeat more enemies you gain break arts, attack and defensive draws that will keep you alive in close battles.

My only complaint is that this game is not for everyone. Many will get bored with the slow beginning or find the weapon system to complex to get involved. Most of all that there is no voice acting. I personally favor the text reading but most will find that outdated. In any case this game is hard to fault once you really get involved and is hard to put down. It never got the publicity it deserved, so few will tell you that they have heard of the game. But do not let that discourage you by any means. If you can find a copy get it. If you have the patients to get through the first hour for mainly learning the gameplay mechanics you will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Nintendo first dabbled in video games during the industry's early years of the mid-'70s. Generations of successful gaming console releases through the years led to the much-hyped 1996 launch of Nintendo 64, a system that represented a giant evolutionary leap in video game technology. Within the first three days of launch, hundreds of thousands of gamers hunkered down with Mario 64, considered by many to be one of the greatest video games ever created. Even today, the system's excellent design continues to host an ever-expanding library of breakthrough games.

Nintendo 64's popularity among younger gamers is no surprise. Well-respected games featuring such long-lived and much-loved personalities as Mario (of arcade classic Donkey Kong fame), Zelda, and Banjo-Kazooie are easy to learn and offer enormous replay value. But times are a' changin' and the system's ever-growing library of titles has expanded into every genre of games imaginable, including games better suited for older gamers. In fact, some of the most acclaimed--in some cases, groundbreaking--games available on any platform today are packed onto N64's old-school cartridges.

Under the system's hood, its appeal to the young certainly didn't produce a less mature gaming machine. On the contrary, the 64-bit system boasts impressive graphics, stereo sound, and numerous accessory enhancements, including a high-resolution pack that boosts graphics to awe-inspiring resolutions.

Start your library with Goldeneye 007, Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, and Star Wars: Episode One Racer--these titles represent a decent start to any N64 cartridge library.

With the recent launch of Sega's Dreamcast system, Nintendo 64 is being left behind as the leader in video game technology. And with newer game systems featuring CD-based games, the system's expensive cartridge format is proving itself an archaic and unconventional storage format. But, at a sub-$110 recommended retail price for a console with two controllers, innovative accessory enhancements and a great library of games keep the system's rabid fan base satisfied, if not eager for Nintendo's next evolutionary step. --Eric Twelker ... Read more

Reviews (123)

The Nintendo that didn't have a fair go
Nintendo will never be out-done, just out-priced.

Nintendo started off making small hand held electroic games before creating the 8 bit system in the 80's. And when they released the Super Nes they had the 2 greatest home video game systems of the day. Sega never stood a chance because they rushed things just to compete with nintendo, where as nintendo took there time when releasing systems to make sure they where the best they could be. Only the people whose mothers bought them a Sega instead of a NES or SNES where the ones who would defend the Sega systems. But the segas where slow, graphics wernt as good and the sound was as bad as the game play handling.

Nintendo had completly beaton Sega in the market of games. But sega brought out an attachment for the Genises/Mega drive that allowed you to hook on a CD ROM drive to the machine. And nintendo decided to make an even better one to attach to the SNES. If you look on the bottom of a SNES console, you will see where it would attach. The CD Rom for SNES was being developed by Nintendo and Sony. But arguments arose between Sony and Nintendo and Sony seperated themselves from Nintendo and went solo on the project that eventualy became the Playstation!

The playstation was only twice as powerfull as the SNES. The snes was 16 bit, the PS was 32 bit. So ninetendo developed a 64 bit system, twice as powerfull as the playstaion, better graphics, better controll, and better potentiol.

But when the 64 was released, it did not get the fair attention it should have. Why? Because of the CD's Sony used. Not because they where better, not because they where slower, not because they where more fun...no... it was because people where buying them ripped / copied / burnt / bootlegged for a small price. And this still goes on today. That was the biggest reason why Sony was having more succsess then nintendo. Because those CD rom games where able to be copied and the cartridge of the nintendo was not.

The PS games only surpassed with slightly better sound, the 64 could play high quality sound, but it was up the games developer on wether or not to use up space on the game with sound or not. That is about the only advantage the PS had, sound, particuly just music. Some people say the controllers of the PS where better then the N64, but I preffer the 64, it did take some time to adjust to it, but that is personaly taste rather then anything.

The nintendo 64 suffered a blow when more game developers wouldnt make games for the 64 anymore