Product Description

Super realistic and unbelievably exhilarating, Geoff Crammond's GRAND PRIX 4 on the PC takes this legendary series to new heights. Go ahead, test your nerves and experience the drive of your life! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Best racing sim... ever
I don't know why 'reviewer' J. Oglesbee goes on about F1 2002.This is a different game.

Anyway.. GP4 is simply THE best racing simulator I've ever seen or played.I don't know why people seem to have problems with the game.Admittedly you need to install the official patch to fix some of the bugs.But installation is easy.

The cars sits ON the track - it doesn't hover or float.When I first installed it, it was on my Athlon 750MHz with a GeForce 2 Ultra.Turning the detail down a bit gave me no problems, it ran well and gave a sense of SPEED.

With my latest upgrade, I've got an Athlon 2500XP-M with a GeForce FX 5900XT.The game runs beautifully with full graphic detail.

You can now buy this game in shops for around a tenner (around $15 I should think), and I highly recommend it.The only drawbacks are that they couldn't get the FIA licence to allow multiplayer over the internet (multiplayer over a LAN is possible though), and the fact that there will be no GP5.

do not buy it
This was the worst Running game I have ever seen.there is NO information on how to select any controller assignments.Options to leave a practice session would not work,it only returned me to the session.the patch was no help.tech support is worthless.After about 7 hours trying to get it to work I had no more time to waste and broke the cd in half and threw it all in the trash where this game belongs!

Grand Prix 4 - The best F1 Sim by a mile
This is not so much a review as a piece of advice. It's a real shame that so many people seem to have had serious trouble running this game. Up and running properly, its gameplay and graphics are breathtaking - it makes EA'S F1 series look and feel ten years old. However it seems to be only really happy running on Nvidia's Geforce 4 graphics. Next time you upgrade go for one of these, make sure you've got the latest drivers, fire-up GP4, and be amazed. If you want a full review, go to pcgamereview.com and see what I had to say there.

The only thing that beats this F1 game is the car itself !!!
This game is awesome!! Accurate detail, and if you have a steering wheel with forcefeedback, you will be hooked to this game for days!! Has over 10 different views, and awesome radio and engine sounds. Some people say that it doesn't feel like your going at 200 MPH, but there is no way YOU could control the car at that speed. But if you insist, all you have to do is download the PC Patch. Has all drivers and circuits from 2001. Also has a section on F1 setups, pitstops and engines. Has video to back it up! If you are a true F1 fan, you must get this game.

Great potential, but has technical difficulties
I got this game a while back after having eagerly awaited it for quite some time. Unfortunately, I couldn't really start playing it right away, because the computer I had at the time seemed to have trouble running it (or so I thought). I now got myself a new computer (P4, 1GB ram, Radeon 9700, 3GHz,...), but things didn't get much better.

Both systems had trouble with the graphics. With the Radeon 9700 for instance, the pit lane (the actual road) seems to hover 2 feet above ground, making the car look as if it was a submarine in surface mode. About 1 inch of the tire (the top) sticks out of the tarmac. So does the cockpit. I am always afraid that I might go over a bump, and the road might spill in, making the car sink entirely.

Seriously: These types of graphic problems aren't much fun. There seems to be some great potential. The pit crew seems to be animated great for instance, except they are in tar up to their hips. The cars themselves look great. The scenery and the road on the other hand appears to look better in F1 2002 (and I didn't like it much even there...).

For some reason, I also never get the impression that I am driving very fast. I can do lap times comparable to the ones I drive in F1 2002, but it still seems much slower. (And no, that's not because of the submerged mode... on the main course, I am above ground... I guess it works like water skis: Once you are fast enough, you surface...).

I also had difficulties on both systems to set up my steering wheel. Things just never seem right. There is not a lot of "direct feel" for the road here. In fact, the steering input seems to be translated in some weird fashion depending on the speed the car is driving at. While I could see why this is done, it appears to be done in a backward fashion. Going out of the pits, I can just barely turn out of the garage without hitting the far wall. On the road, it is very hard to "push" through turns, because the car always seems to have enormous understeer (no matter how it is set up... unless I am plain too stupid). Well, actually, I am not sure if it really is understeer, because although one can see the front tyres turn, they do not seem to turn quite far enough. But that might just be a graphics problem. Things get really weird in reverse: I can turn the wheel fully to one side, and see the tyres at an angle, but the car goes straight back! Hu?

However, all of this might just be configuration related. I see that other people love the game, and if I could make it through a lap without that damn understeer, I think I might like it too. Perhaps my other computer was too old, and my current one is too new (DirectX 9 and all...). Try it out for yourself, but make sure you can return it if you have to... ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Sticking firm to the old "if it ain't broke" philosophy, WestwoodStudios conjures up memories of the original Command & Conquer gameswith Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. The game is set just a few yearsafter the events of the original C&C: Red Alert, and opens with asurprise Soviet invasion of the U.S. mainland. Playing as the startledAmericans, you must cobble togethera resistance and beat the invaders back into the sea. Playing as the Soviets,you must quickly establishcontrol of your new domain, wiping out all opposition you meet.

Red Alert 2 is very similar to the original Red Alert, withsome visual enhancements andgameplay improvements brought in from the recent Command & Conquer:Tiberian Sun game.You still lead a small group of infantry and armored units in most missionsand you still have to assemble abase of operations in order to accomplish just about anything. This timearound, however, you'll have aslew of new units to build and command in the field--most of which are prettyslick. The American PrismTank, for example, can take out numerous enemy units with a single, branchingattack. On the Soviet side,Tesla Troopers and Psychics help make ground troops a formidable asset.

Another nice addition to the game is the ability to garrison troops insidebuildings. Because much of thefighting is on city streets, it helps to give your troops some cover fromtime to time. Also, there are anumber of special buildings that provide unique advantages once occupied byengineer units. The airportallows you to call in air strikes, for example, while oil derricks provide aresource boost for your warmachine.

Multiplayer support is still the calling card of this series, and fans ofpast C&C games will not bedisappointed by Red Alert 2's multiplayer options. The basicfree-for-all mode that the originalRed Alert made famous is still intact, but the alternative multiplayermodes are the real treat. InUnholy Alliance, players get access to both American and Soviet tech trees,while the naval war variantstarts each player off on a small island. In addition, the game includesspecial cooperative campaigns.

There's no denying Red Alert 2's charm, despite the lack of a funky3-D engine and the game'sreliance on ultracheeseball video cut scenes to tell the story (Kari Wuhreror no Kari Wuhrer). For fast- paced, real-time strategy action that focuses on quick, intense firefights onAmerican soil, no other gameholds a candle to C&C: Red Alert 2. --Michael Ryan

Pros:

• More frenetic real-time strategy in the C&C universe
• Tons of new units and capabilities on both sides of the conflict
• Cool U.S. settings for most missions
• Great array of multiplayer modes

• Not exactly a technical leap forward
• Video cut scenes are cheesy beyond description

Reviews (71)

good game (when lots a casulteis)
played this game online against a freind i was an allied team it was fun if you pick a good map were you can have land and sea battles on it think i broke the record for most units lost(it was a 3 hour game) 5332 for both sides allies are way better than soveits because i only lost 1032 units!!!!!! (most were tanks cause the soveits have stronger armored units) naval battle is also fun cause you have to have naval superioety i had 32 destroyers 9 aegis cruisers and 11 air craft cariors a good game but AI is pridictable (ecuse all my miss spellings)

Red Alert 2
This is the awsomest game! It is so much fun. It is easy to figure out, there are a lot of game options so you can set the game to your liking. The graphics are satisfactory, and if you have the right computer, the graphics will be very smooth. this game is good for beginners, or if you want a challenge, you can make it a lot harder. GREAT GAME!

exellent game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is a really exellent command & conquer
game. it is worth it; must to be bought!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Red Alert 2 Could not possible be better
Lets face it, in this world we see before our eyes, (the computer screen) the ongoing war will indeed go on between soviet and Allies, I would be surprised if; a few years from 2005 a red alert three would be released. Red Alert 2 is the perfect sequal to Red Alert, more guns, bigger bullets and a huge range of units and structures to choose from. Compare the allies to the new allies, again lets face it, in RA they were totally appalling, completely useless, they had poor defence ie: Anti tank turrets that were feeble against anything - even tanks. The Pill Box, which I gRANT you did chop up infantry nice and clean, but compare to the soviet flame tower, that thing could fry an entire army of soliders in one puff! The Soviets had Mammoth tanks, Heavy tanks, MAD tanks, tesla tanks, V2 rockets. Wereas the allies lord help them had what, light and medium tanks, artilery trucks (A kind of one-shot-dead sort of thing) rangers, and a chrono tank. thats - about -it. Now look...

Emerging from the ashes of close and some how, someway a victory the allies had a somewhat growth in there arsenal light tanks probable tossed in the waste basket and medium tanks being replaced with GRIZZLY TANKS, artillery replaced with PRISM TANKS, mwah ha ha. And of course the Weather control device. I personnaly think that the WCD came from the chrono clouds generated in the first game when you used the Chronosphere to much, its quite a possibility, the of course the chronosphere itself got upgraded alot, infantry in RA2 for the allies is enourmously better than the soviet, noe allies have dogs as well (Like they should have done in the first place.

RA2 skirmishes are to easy and predictable, even now playing against brutal enemy is generally easy, the only thing that makes a skirmish on RA2 exiting is if 4 odd nuclear warheads are smilling at you war factory with a kind of sinister grin. Incedentally A1 do build superweapons of all availiable. Unfortunatly the game creators havemade it so all computer teams, regardless of contry, construct the bases in more or less the same way, which is bleedin' boring. In RA you were at least given one heck of a challenge! Even on easy all teams fought one another (including you) sent masses and masses of tanks and men to your base, were talking here full scale attacks and they never quit they threw everything at you until they were completely whiped of the map. Ok they never built specially advanced technology but I don't think they needed to since they proove that braun is better than brain if you know what i mean. Thats the only downside to RA2. The rest...

Missions are far, far more exiting and interesting since the terrain for one thing is great, and well designed. In cities its not just a matter of blowing some base up its all about the capturing, infiltrating, rescuring, beating the clock, invading and well, blowing stuff up. My personal favourite mission is the first and last of both teams.

Naval war has also taking a major role in the waging canflict. Soviets now have a majority of ships including dreadnoughts, sea scorpions (naff) and of course transports that look like transporters not that werid thing from the first game. Allies have the bloomin mavalouse Aegis Cruiser, generally unbeatable S.T.A defence. and air craft carriers.

To sum up only skirmishes let down RA2 the rest is excellent and avengfull, also, another good thing is that ever country has a special different unit. *****

The Best ever!
If you are a fan of any strategy or war games i would recomend Command & Conquer Red Alert 2. From Americans to the Russians theirs superweapons and super detailed battlefeilds. You can play as the soviets and allied forces. I think this is the bes tcomputer game of the year.

your fried
The Z-MAN
... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is the PS2 espionage action game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty with new playable characters, new VR missions, and a few twists. There are over 350 new and moderately interesting VR missions that sort of fill in the gaps in the original game's story. There are also five separate "Snake Stories" that act as new missions. These take place apart from the main story, making them feel less like an expansion to the sprawling events in Sons of Liberty and more like an unconnected romp designed to pad the original game. Unfortunately, the "Snake Stories" lack the thrill, tension, and exposition that made Sons of Liberty so special.

The "substance" is nothing more or less than a collection of disconnected additions to the core game Sons of Liberty, which remains unchanged from its original release: you play as Solid Snake in stealthy espionage/assault missions, infiltrating the lairs of bad guys to take down nuclear-powered bipedal creations called Metal Gears. Snake has all kinds of tricks up his sleeves: high tech weapons, the ability to sneak around undetected--he can even flip over the side of a railing to hide (a "Grip Meter" counts down, increasing the tension and making you pray the enemy walks away). Both a boon and a detriment to the game is its reliance on cinematic scenes to further the convoluted plot. They're well-rendered and professionally done, but you'll seemingly find yourself spending more time watching the game than playing it.

Substance is worthwhile for anyone who doesn't already own Sons of Liberty. That goes double for Xbox and Windows gamers, because the game looks much better on those platforms than it did on PS2. For those who've already played the original, this reissue just doesn't add enough, pardon me, substance, to merit purchasing it again. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

• New modes and missions
• Graphics improvements on Xbox and Windows

• New content too sparse for players who already have the original game.

Reviews (9)

Sound fixes...
If you have staticy/glitchy sound in MGS2S for the PC:
1. Install the latest patch. (As above!)
2. Go to "Sound" in Control Panel.
3. Click the "Advanced" button in the "Speaker settings" box.
4. Click the "Performance" tab.
5. Lower your "Hardware acceleration" slider by one notch.
6. Try the game and it should sound fine now!
7. If you still have problems, try lowering it more.

This PC game is BETTER than the console versions!
For those of you having issues with this game, make sure to install Konami's 2.0 patch, EVEN if you have a nVidia card! It's marked as a patch for ATIs only but that's untrue! I installed it and I can now play it at full speed with graphics quality that's MUCH better than the console versions! (I have a GeForce FX5200) Wow, does it look great...

If you have laggy/glitchy graphics:
(...)

If you have staticy/glitchy sound in MGS2S for the PC:
5. Install the latest patch. (As above!)
6. Go to "Sound" in Control Panel.
7. Click the "Advanced" button in the "Speaker settings" box.
8. Click the "Performance" tab.
9. Lower your "Hardware acceleration" slider by one notch.
10. Try the game and it should sound fine now!
11. If you still have problems, try lowering it more.

12. Enjoy!

Good game
Metal Gear Solid was, unquestionably, one of the finest games even released for the classic Playstation. It was a surprise hit that took the world by storm. And when creator Hideo Kojima promised a sequel, gamers were ecstatic. And now the sequel has arrived! How does Metal Gear Solid 2 - The Sons Of Liberty measure up? Read on and find out! This will be a two-part review - one part covering the game, one part covering the extras of the "Substance" reissue.

-THE GAME ITSELF-
PROS:
-The most noticable improvement over the original Metal Gear Solid is the graphics. The first game had terrible, pixelated graphics which were a pathetic attempt at 3D. NOT SO HERE. These are some of the finest graphics ever experienced in a video game!
-Unlike the first game, you can now shoot from a first-person perspective. This makes hitting your targets WAY easier than in the first game.
-Other play control aspects are also improved.
-The game is divided into two quests - the first involves Solid Snake going aboard a Marine ship to photograph the new Metal Gear prototype - Metal Gear Ray. The second involves a new agent called Raiden (no relation to the Mortal Kombat character) infiltrating an ocean base.
-The game has a variety of cool weapons, items, and characters.
-The game uses the voice talents of Phil LaMarr - better known as Hermes from Futurama (he does the voice of Vamp in this game.)
CONS:
-The storyline in the Raiden quest is terrible. It adds so many plot twists as you progress, that after a while, nothing makes sense anymore.
-WAY TOO MANY CUT SCENES! I like cut scenes, but this game beats them to death! And if you skip them, you miss important storyline information!
-Many of the new characters destroy the "realistic" feel of the game. For example, Vamp seems more like he belongs in Konami's vampire-hunting series, Castlevania.

-THE SUBSTANCE REISSUE-
PROS:
-The game adds a number of VR training missions.
-There are also new sub-quests that let you experience the Raiden quest through Snake's eyes!
-The skateboarding mode is pretty cool - It's an actual skateboarding sub-game, comparable to the Tony Hawk series.
CONS:
-There just aren't enough new features to make people who bought the original version of the game want to buy this version.
-The original version of the game is a MUCH better value. Let's see. You walk into a store and see the original for $20 and this version for $50. Which would YOU choose?
-The skateboarding mode, while fun, isn't everything it could have been.

OVERALL:
Overall this is a excellent game, despite some flaws. If you've got a Playstation 2, just get the ORIGINAL version of the game (it's now a Greatest Hit.) If you've got an XBOX, this is the only version of the game available on it. This is also the only version of the game available on the PC. My final verdict is just to buy whatever one you own the system for.

Metal gear solid for PC
First off this is one of the best games for teh xbox and ps2 and now its on the PC!!! despite what ever you have heard for other sources and from other reviewsthey are mostly wrong. this game does play well on a non super computer
you dont need all the best graphics cards and such to run it.
i have an old dell with 256 ram and a geForce 2 ultra and it runs good enough for me and on the tanker level (the first level) i crancked up the graphics all the way and it runned like "buttuh"(butter) smooth as silk. and another thing people complain about is the "bad controls" tthey are NOT that bad sure a controler would be nice but i am not made of money so i stuck with the defult settings and itt works slick!!! one thing though press "enter" then press "down" to save andpress "esc" to quit DONT HOLD ESC!!! or the game starts getting wierd. if you wanna use rations hold "a" select rations then press "x" (all with default controls)

This game it's worth the effort!!!
UPDATE 7/3/03, SOLVE THE CONTROLS AND MOUSE PROBLEM!!!. At first I couldn't find how to use the controls, BUT after trying and testing several of the ones I own, curiosly the mouse and game pad adapts and works perfectly if you use a Microsoft pad or mouse. I guess this is logic if they basically translated the Xbox game for the PC almost directly.Unlike GTAViceCity where they go to great lenghts to rebuild everything so you have a quality product to play on the PC.

On the other hand, if you survive the technical difficulties this game it's really GREAT!!! Story wise it's amazing and something that I have never seen in video games before. Cinematics arevery detailed and with great music. I give it 3 stars because in this age pc gamers shouldn't struggle with incompatibilities issues, specially if you are using the latest equipment. ... Read more

Product Description

Control 100 ton Mechs while leading up to eight hired guns into the heat of battle in the quest for the all-mighty C-Bill in MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, the latest standalone installment of the critically acclaimed MechWarrior action-simulator franchise. And this time around, honor doesnt even enter into the equation - its all about the money. Get your fledgling mercenary company sponsored by some of most notable and notorious mercenary groups in BattleTech history and battle your way throug ... Read more

Features

• Money matters: Different missions offer different awards or cost a certain amount. And, for the first time ever in MechWarrior, players can bring up to 8 Mechs into battle if they have enough money.
• Dynamic single player campaign: Players can choose from over 40 missions across 10 different planets. How they play determines what other missions open up to them and how the game ends.
• Multiplayer improvements: Features 19 new multiplayer maps, including the brand new jungle environments, and 2 new multiplayer game types.
• More Mechs and goodies: Includes 10 brand new Mechs, 2 new weapons and 2 new electronics packages.

Reviews (41)

accually im 13 exactly but...........
Mech warrior 4 mercenaries is indeed a great game. Without however the proper extra http://mektek.net expansion packs the game gets boring. I would rate it only 4 stars without the mektek expansion packs. The new mechs from the free mektek packs ; theres over 15 new ones:
Anihilator
Warthog
Cyclops
Blood asp
mauler(modified) note: its just a change to make gameplay easier
Deimos
Stalker (with modified in second pack)
Awesome
Canis
Gargoyle
Zeus (mod)
Marauder
Thantos XT
Avatar (2nd pack mod)
Ares
rifleman
Black lanner
Grim reaper
Black hawk
Uziel (mod)
Gesu
Hellspawn (mod)
Hollander II
Strider (2nd pack mod brand new)
owens (mod)
Uller (mod)
urban mech (with mod)
Commando
Solitare
Brigand
Dasher (new fastest mech over 140 kph)
flea (mod)
--------------
wow big list up there all from http://mektek.net - all do not have spyware.

Online against others is where its at
The game senerios are great training and alot of fun.But I found the most satisfaction playing online with others. Working together as a team to try and beat another group of people on a different team. Online gaming is free once you have purchased the base game. There are several organized ladder leagues that have lots of people that want to have fun too. A good example is Mechwarriorleagues if you can find it.There you can find a ton of additional maps and patches for new mech types.
The game runs alot like a 1st person shooter, but you are piloting a giant robot like machine: a Mech. Because you are in a big "Mech" you don't die with 1 or 2 shots like alot of shooter games, which makes this a good LAN party game as well. Friends that have never played it before can join in and have fun without feeling that they are just another target for person that is more experienced at this game.

Mech Warrior 4-Now more complete than ever.
Mech Warrior 4 Vengence was a great game, with a solid plot, good gamplay, and great overall tilt. I have also purchased Mech Warrior: Black Knight and loved it-with more weapons, mechs, and overall destruction whats not to love? Mercinaries does the same thing. Not only added content, but a new story, way of play, added a second lance, and different strategy makes Mercinaries Mech Warrior 5.

Do yourself a favor and get Mechwarrior 2 Mercenaries
I play the actual board game and after playing this game I am disappointed.If you are into a huge arcade slugfest with little or no realism and wizkids abomination looks then get it.It's a game all about the bigger you are and the more ballistics you have the more kills you get.

They should have kept the game as a simulator but they changed it into a jacked up 1st person/3rd person shooter because of non BattleTech players who are too confused about controls and how a 'Mech actually works.So what you get is a dumbed down game with no real BattleTech in it (aren't energy weapons the primary weapons for a Mech anyway?So why are those so week.) but something that competes with all the stupid gundam.You can't even make some of the variants for the Clan `Mechs in this game or get into actual designing!

Fan of BattleTech?Get the board game, MechWarrior 2 Mercenaries because it is the greatest game I have ever played and MechWarrior 3 if you want something pretty close to the board game.Support the Classic BattleTech community, not a mainstream Microsoft butcher.I hope the money I put forth in this game will make MechWarrior 5 right, if it ever comes out...

One final thing, the most important thing is the Clan Technological edge over the Inner Sphere.Well, that does not exist in MechWarrior 4 and ruins one of the important BattleTech aspects.

Just played the game over again.
I recenlty got a new video card for my computer that let me view stuff at a 1024 x 768 resolution on my tv using the s-video cable so i stuck my computer in my living room and hooked it up to my tv and my surround receiver just to see what it would look like.

THIS GAME IS BEST WHEN USED WITH A REALLY BIG WOOFER.

Oh my god it was awesome.I loved this game when i played it the first time (by first time i mean completing it with all three allegences) but when you play it on a 600 watt system you can feel 1/8th of a mile away and on a 36 inch screen that makes big mechs feel big you add a whole different dimension of reality to it.If you have a s-video output on your video card go set your computer up in the living room. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Waiting for You...
They want me to rate how much "fun" Silent Hill 2 was, and it occurs to me, "fun" is an odd word to use here. Silent Hill 2 is deep, enthralling, disturbing, and highly addictive, but fun? Replace that word with any or all of the other adjectives I just supplied, and now we're in the ballpark.

It begins with James Sunderland, in a rest stop bathroom, on the outskirts of the peaceful little town of Silent Hill. He's come there looking for his wife, Mary. She's been dead for three years, or so he thought until he got a letter from her, telling him that she's waiting in their "special place." Like the other characters he meets along the way, James is drawn into the dark world of Silent Hill by a troubled past, which even he's not yet fully aware of.

James' journey will take him through foggy streets, through run-down apartment buildings, through the hotel where James and Mary once stayed together, through a dimly-lit abandoned hospital, through an underground prison with dripping walls and holes leading down, down, down, deeper into the earth.

Along the way, James will meet people as troubled as he himself. Angela, who is trying to find her mother in a cemetery, and who has experienced more terror than anyone should ever have to. Eddie, who jokes about killing people and who flirts with madness. Laura, the willful little girl who knew Mary in the hospital, during a time when James believes she should have been dead. And then there's Maria, who James meets in the park where he and Mary spent time together. Maria is physically Mary's twin, but her clothes and her manner is completely the opposite of that of James' deceased wife. Unraveling the dichotomy of Mary/Maria becomes one of the main points of the game.

The creatures of Silent Hill are, in a word, haunting. Even the ones most recognizably human are faceless, gore-streaked nurses in Brookhaven Hospital, and it only goes downhill from there. No shambling zombies or decaying canines in this game -- the monsters roaming the streets and corridors are twisted, misshapen, barely recognizable as anything but lumps of flesh with mottled skin stretched over them, spitting noxious clouds of gas or screaming and flailing their limbs at you. If they don't sound dangerous, think again...they'll surprise you over and over.

The graphics of Silent Hill 2 are first rate. The fog effects alone, as James first enters the town, had me marveling both at how good they looked and how effective they were in setting the mood. They swirl around you in eddies and drifts, and create a claustrophobic, uncomfortable feeling. All of the graphics have a similar effect, enhancing the overall mood of menace at every turn. Swinging shadow effects, gleaming reflections off the sheen of a creature's membranous skin as it shuffles toward you, encroaching darkness, rotting walls, streaks of maroon and ocher on floors and ceilings and clothing. Character animations and the cutscene movies are equally good, with expressive and natural movement.

The sound quality is one of the elements that really sets Silent Hill 2 above most other games. Voice acting in the game is some of the best I've heard short of The Longest Journey, with all the actors creating convincing dialogue for us. The sound effects set an oppressive mood throughout, with a few nasty surprises in store for the unwary. Walls drip, footsteps echo, voices mutter unexpectedly out of nowhere, and is that the soft shuffle of a dragging limb around the corner? The music adds further to this, mostly consisting of an undercurrent of ambient sounds, suddenly erupting in a storm of percussion, making you wonder what's coming down the hallway, just out of range of your light. Akira Yamaoka, composer and sound designer for all of the Silent Hill games, makes his presence known through the moods he helps to create through the sound and music in Silent Hill 2.

In terms of storytelling, Silent Hill 2 is rich material. Throughout the game I found myself questioning the reality of the story that was presented -- how much of this is "real," and how much is going on only in James' mind? As James descends more and more deeply into his past and the fears that it brings up within him, how much of what he's seeing can we trust? Is he insane with grief? Or is it something else? Why do Angela, Eddie, and Laura keep appearing? How is it that they don't seem affected by the town in the same way James is? And just who -- or what -- is Maria?

Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft were successful in the horror genre not because they were known for being the most shocking or the most gory, but because they knew how to set and maintain a tone in their stories; they knew how to instill dread in their readers, and how to keep it ratcheted up all the way through to the end. That's how Silent Hill 2 works as well. This isn't a game of one shock after another, it's a steadily increasing feeling of unease, of discomfort, a rustle beneath the skin that just feels wrong. Quite simply, it's the type of horror that creeps slowly up on you, captures your imagination, and won't let go. This is what good horror is all about.

If you like creepy, psychological horror, Silent Hill 2 should satisfy you. It's not a splatter-fest, but it's the kind of game that will get under your skin and stick with you, even in your restless dreams.

But don't be afraid. Silent Hill is just a nice little town by a lake, in the middle of nowhere. Why don't you go and see it for yourself?

They're waiting for you.

In my restless dreams I see that town...
You remember that joke in the Simpsons, "the answer to all three is fried green tomatoes" well Silent Hill 2 is my favourite, everything. Its my favourite game/movie/book/whatever. Its my best storytelling experience I guess, the greatest piece of horror fiction and interactive fiction of my lifetime. But its only a game I hear you cry. WRONG! THATS WRONG! Silent Hill 2 is experienced rather then played. This "game"(its more of a participatory quest really) made me scream out loud, not in fear exactly just in emotional overload. This is a rare work of art that is guaranteed to provoke an emotional and an intellectual response. It is one of a kind in the world of video games with its adult human drama and richly drawn complex characters. Most games are just "the martians are invading so just blow up generators A B and C". To me Silent Hill 2 represents the future of entertainment. A fully immersive artificial world peopled with real 3D individuals, a game that adroitly weaves and fuses the interactive gameplay elements with pure cinematic art in the form of second to none cutscenes. I could go on and on about this game but let me just say I've been playing video games for years I've played all the greats FF7 Metal Gear Solid Deus Ex etc and SH2 beats their ass.Tomb Raider has a wise cracking big boobed bond clone whereas Silent Hill 2s protagonist James is a man with levels, no two players will agree on how they percieve James throughout the course of the game, is he a innocent victim of more powerful forces or a detestable and cowardly villain. This sort of ambiguity is foreign to the usually rudimentarily plotted world of computer games. Like all the best works of storytelling Silent Hill 2 is open to interpretation. It deals with serious themes creatively such as suicide grief madness and death. This game scores full marks in all categories be it acting, graphics sound et al. It is a truly original and provotive work with layer apon layer of brilliance. From its deeply disquieting monster design, human forms corrupted and deformed beyond recogniton,its six unlockable ending four of which actually enhance your understanding of the main plot instead of being cynical tack ons for replay value, or its Francais Bacon meets Marilyn Manson asthetic Silent Hill 2 is a resounding success on all fronts. Most importantly of all you will mess your jockies playing this game and it will sometimes sit on your shelf unplayed not because youre bored with it but your afraid to walk the rusty corridors of Brookhaven or Toluca Prison again! BUY IT NOW!

Ehhh...Nothing new here...
I bought this game hoping to play a scary, exciting, action packed horror game, but was let down when I got through the first couple hours of game play. The game itself is well made. The graphics are decent and up to par for the year it was made, however, to me, the game has far too much"WALK AROUND LOOKING FOR CLUES" time and not enough "SHOOT THE MONSTERS" time. At first, I thought the game was creepy. The eerie sound effects and foggy atmosphere give the game player a truly on edge dread, but once you find yourself running in circles or trapped in the same area in search of clues that don't seem to serve any purpose it becomes a little boring and repetitive. Maybe I should have tried the game on HARD mode instead of NORMAL, but there didn't seem to be a lot of action throughout the game. If you want something spooky that has an overall gloomy and dark feel to it with only minimal action than this game might be for you. I found myself bored by it, but will give it 3 stars for the creepiness factor and the movie sequences, which I felt were well done.

So, what's it like? Well...
...try to imagine slogging your way through a Marilyn Manson music video, at night, with the fog machine turned up. *Way* up. Only the music isn't Marilyn Manson (more's the pity), but a mishmash of semi-creepy "theme" music and some hack's electric guitars.

There's plenty of hack and slash in this game, mostly because there aren't many guns and ammo is limited. Hand-to-hand combat (mostly with a big stick or a steel pipe) is the order of the day (or night, whatever). You'll thank your lucky stars for the map feature, since it's easy to get lost in this burned-out burg, and there's plenty of creepy-crawlies around. Thankfully, you can easily dodge most of them and focus on the battles you really *have* to fight.

This game kind of wears out its' welcome after you've beaten it two or three times, so get it cheap or just rent it. Otherwise you're better off with anything from the "Resident Evil" series, or "Silent Hill" 3 or 4.

Film Noire in a game
Silent Hill 2 does to disturbing what the original does for Horror.In SH2 you plat the role of James Sunderland, an emotionally shattered shell of a man who travels to Silent Hill after having received a letter from his dead wife.After stopping at a rest stop on the outskirts of the town, James descends into the darkness of his own psyche to battle the demons therein.

Gameplay:
This plays very similar to what you would expect from a survival adventure game with a slightly different, though equally enjoyable combat system.The interface is nothing to brag about, though it might be a bit awkward if trying to play through the keyboard.I used a Thrustmaster Dual Power gamepad that resembles the standard console gamepad complete with force feedback and analog sticks and was pleased with the response and familiarity.
Yet, what makes a Silent Hill game is the environment you play in.This game obviously takes place entirely within the confines of Silent Hill, both the actual and surreal.Upon entering the city, your first impression is the lack of residents.In fact throughout your quest you'll only come across a handful of the living who will either help or hurt your cause.That is part of the charm to this game.Konami knows that the best way to scare someone is to make their imagination do the work, and this game has that in spades.Whether it's day or night, blanketing fog or enveloping blackness will shrink your sphere of awareness to a bubble.Add to this Konami's use of uncomfortable camera angles and you'll be trying to peer around the edge of your monitor to save your skin.
Beyond the physical approach of trying to discomfort the player, the storyline adds a tangible psychological knife to cut into your comfort zone.In the original Silent Hill, the horror was surreal blood and gore, devils and cults.In this edition, the evil is human nature.You'll come across sociopathic murders, abused children, and suicidal personas to further enhance the feeling of wrongness that this game exudes.And that, my friends, is a good thing.

Graphics:
The motion capture in this game is great, and for being two years old, is has a spectacular lighting engine, which is of utmost importance since you'll spend most of your game with only a flashlight to cling on to.You even have the option to turn on the original noise filter from the console versions to add a little bit of old-time horror feel to it should you feel nostalgic.The textures are extremely well done considering it's a console port made for TVs and the effort put into just creating something that looks evil is outstanding.However, if you've played the original, it will look very familiar since they hit the nail on the head.

Sound:
Ahh, this is the one aspect that will scare you.As stated earlier, with the camera angles, you'll often hear something before you can see it.Heck, sometimes, there's nothing to see.Whether it's a whisper in your ear as you enter a room, or the thud-thump and the ensuing radio crackle of a monster lurking around the corner, you'll find your stomach leaping into your throat on more than a single occasion.The game even supports hi-fi 5.1+ dolby surround if you have the setup, though I prefer hi quality enclosed headphones for the ultimate in personal torture.

Overall:
Whether or not you've played the first one, this game is a must buy.With six endings and a mini-scenario to discuss the background of a character, it provides more than enough content should you want a replay.This is the kind of game you want to play late at night, in the dark, to truly experience the thrills that it has in store for you.Even if you're not one to get scared, you'll find it disturbing enough to suit your fancy.
... Read more

Reviews (20)

Good game, but campaign mode is difficult
I would recommend getting Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic over this game.It is basically Age of Wonders 2.5 and adds its own campaign with an easier starting gradient as well as new units, races, spells and balance tweaks.All of the single-player downloadable maps for AOW2 are still available and useable for Shadow Magic as well as new maps just for it.
Oh, and this is a turn-based strategy game if you didn't know already, kind of like a complex boardgame (think Fantasy version of Risk times 5) where the computer takes care of all of the complicated stuff.

Good, but lacking
After playing the original Age of Wonders (and becoming hopelessly addicted to it), I was ecstatic when AOW2 was released. I rushed right out and picked up a copy, hoping for great improvements to one of my now favorite games. Unfortunately that was not the case. While the graphics and audio are mildly improved, I felt gameplay took several steps back, at least in the single player campaign. The new units were nice and had a good variety between the different races. Unfortunately, the wizard/hero system that this game revolves around is terribly one dimensional - spell reasearch is your only real option, unlike the original where you had many different skills to choose from, so you could basicly make your leader/heros into whatever you envisioned them as being.
The single player campaign is fun to play through, the first time. After that it's gets pretty boring. Scenarios are fun, but I liked the campaigns of the first AOW, where you really had a choice in the direction the game went. You could start as good guy and end up on the side of evil, or vice versa. You be righteously good (as the Highmen), plain old good (as the Elves), run-of-the-mill bad (as the Dark Elves), or evil incarnate (as the Undead). This made for massive replayablity, which is lacking in AOW2 - You're Merlin and no matter what you do the game ends the same. The multi-player options are fine and might give more play options, if you like multi-player gaming (I don't, as I prefer to start a game and play at any time - not worrying about others schedules).
Overall, not a horrible game and fun for a while, just not up to the standards of the original.

Great game.
Great strategy games. One of the greastest strategy games ever made. You can choose between classic game play style where 1 person takes a turn at a time or RTS style where its all at once.
Other similar games: Populous, The Settlers Games, The Empire Earth Games, Civilization, Warzone2100, The Nations, and about every other strategy-empire building game out there that there is. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who owns a computer.

My favorite game of all time
I love turn-based strategy games, and this one is my favorite. I started playing in January and didn't stop till September, when I immediately bought the sequel, Shadow Magic. That should give you some idea how worthwhile this game is.

It's difficult to learn at first; in fact, I almost gave up on it. Finally I bought the strategy guide (the first time I've ever done that) and it was worth it. The game is not easy to win, but it is winnable.

The graphics are simply beautiful, the sound effects are good, and the storyline is acceptable if nothing special. The spells your wizard can learn are varied and fun, and so are the units you command. There's very little to criticize in the game because it is so wonderfully thought-out and executed. If you like turn-based strategy, do NOT miss this game. It's the best.

The addictive turn-based game that you have been looking for
There aren't enough good turn-based games out there, but there is at least one that is superior: "Age of Wonders 2".I found this game to be as challenging, enjoyable, and addictive as my favorite turn-based games of all time: "Civilization" and "Colonization".It has the perfect blend of economics, empire-building, advancement, and fighting that you need to make a great game.

Most strategy games of this type don't offer much in the way of tactics.Battles are usually somewhat simple affairs that you don't have much control over.One of the special features that AoW2 has is that you get to play out battles on the battlefield. When a big army of yours tries to capture a city, for example, the view switches to a blow-up of the city, and you command your units one-by-one.The battles are a lot of fun to play out, but you can put them on automatic if you get tired of them.Different units have different strengths and weaknesses, and advantages in certain situations. For instance, when I am attacking an enemy wizard's castle, I have my cannons smash the gate, and then send in the cavalry to race right to the wizard and take him out.Once you figure out how to conduct your units in battle well, you can formulate a high-level strategy for winning them.That is what makes this game such a rare perfect blend of strategy and tactics.

The game is somewhat complicated, but it is not tedious because of it.You can pick up general concepts and strategies and then dig deeper after that.That is why AoW2 is such a perfect mix of complexity and playability.The interface could use more hot keys, but other than that, it is great and it makes the game managable.

The game's fantasy setting is very well done.There are a lot of different races, and although some units are somewhat redundant, every race has at least one or two unique units that make it special.The maps are beautifully decked out in bright colors, and they never get redundant.That is saying a lot, since the single-player campaign has 20 big ones.The wizard portraits look great as well, but the units are kind of small and lacking in detail.The game doesn't look quite as pretty as say,Warcraft 3, but it still looks good.

Diplomacy is a somewhat weak link in "Age of Wonders 2", since most of your missions involve defeating one or more wizards, and diplomacy is almost pointless.That's about the only fault that I find in this outstanding game.If you are like me and you have been searching for that great turn-based strategy game, then look no further.Prepare for some sleep deprivation, and break out the Doritos: you're going to need them. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

i love warcraft 2 almost as much as warcraft 3
i love this game is really really good

here is my resuilts
overall -8
-graficks err whatever-4 really outdated
gameplay online-10 computer-3
controls -10 really easy love it
overall im sorry it is not that good im not good at writing reviews but hey i still play it and it is 2005 i really love it almost as much as warcraft 3 i am not a kid but i did not fealll like putting my name in...

Build Armies and defeat your enemies
Warcraft Two is a strategy and battle game.Not turn based, timing is of the essence in gameplay, building your farms, barracks, training soldiers and pesants to mine gold and chop lumber faster than your enemy in order to build your armies defeat the enemy.

However, I've found that computer opponents tend to be predictable, and so easy to beat.I've become practiced at playing the same scenario with one, two, three, four, and even five opponents.Because the computer generated opponents are fairly simple, they don't have much sense, and will get "stuck" at an obstacle, or rush blindly into traps.Still, with enough opponents the custom scenarios can be challenging and have you scrambling to keep up production of soldiers, catapults, dragons or gryphon flying fighters, and building walls of farms and cannon towers in defense of the onslaught.

Depending on wether or not you're playing as Orc or Human there are a few slightly different ways the individual charachters move or fight, and there are some entertaning speech recordings on all the charachters, just keep clicking them and they'll react with annoyance, or seasickness, or the secret of the sheep flock!

A classic game, and one which is still fun to play, and is often much more reasonable in price than many of the newer games out on the market today.Watch out when using cheat codes, as many of them will give the same benefit to your enemy as they do to you. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Orcs and humans have waged fierce battles across the scarred earth of Azeroth for many moons, with never an end in sight. In a move sure to make peons whimper and paladins pray, Blizzard is extending the carnage with WarCraft II: Battle.Net Edition.

Given WarCraftII's status and dedicated fan base, it's no surprise that the single-player game is untouched. The excellent Beyond the Dark Portal expansion set is included with the original Tides of Darkness, creating four campaigns and 70 missions that remain fun despite their age. The Orc and Human armies obviously have nearly identical strengths and weaknesses, but as in the past, the art and sound cues make them feel worlds apart.

The real selling point is the vastly improved multiplayer experience. Aligning WarCraft II with Blizzard's other titles, more than one hundred multiplayer maps now let you take the struggle for Azeroth to the free "battle.net" service. Setting up games is simple enough for an Orc to figure out, and you can play against (or with) up to eight human or computer opponents. No AI can match the challenge of a human player's unpredictability, and thanks to the worldwide ladder, you can fight tooth and claw for rank against players spanning the globe. --Jack Gardiner ... Read more

Reviews (68)

One of my all time favorite RTS games ever
Although Warcraft 3 and its expansion have come out within the last few years, I still prefer Warcraft 2 a bit more. Yes the game looks kinda dated now, but it is still a blast to play. The game was fun in that it never got too complicated or anything so that newcomers could always have a good time. The map editor was easy to use and the online play in the Battle.net edition will keep you busy for a while. Anyways, if you've only played Warcraft 3 then it might be difficult for you to enjoy this game since it is so old, but if your willing to look past the graphics then you'll find a real gem.

Oops
Great game.It looks like amazon actually posted a screenshot of warcraft I: Orcs and Humans, instead of a picture from this game.

Aging but still good
This game has definitely been around for awhile, but there's a reason it's still played.It's fun!The interface is easy to use, and the 'tech tree' aspect is fairly simple so that even people who haven't played other rts games should have to trouble learning it.

There are a couple of downsides to this game, though in my opinion they aren't much of an issue.One is of course that the graphics are definitely aging and nothing spectacular.It's nice to be able to quickly recognize your units so that you can make the best use of them (high detail can get in the way of that) but don't expect the graphics to wow you.Also, this game runs on a 2D engine, rather than the 3D engine that more recent games are using.

Secondly is that I wasn't incredibly impressed by the campaigns.They tend to get a little repetitive, so most of the time I find myself just playing a custom game.

Another similar game I might recommend instead of this one would be Starcraft.The graphics are slightly better, and the game is just as interesting.Then of course there is Warcraft III out now, which has a 3D engine and a couple of additional races besides human and orc.Aside from the things I mentioned, this game really is very good.I've been playing it for years and haven't gotten tired of it yet!

Best Game Ever- period!
Warcraft2 is an awesome game that has been around a lomg time...a classic. While some say that its graphics are aging, I love the undetailed, squat Orcs, among other things. Welcme to the World of Warcraft!!!

RTS legend.
This game is the first RTS game that I have played along with Starcraft and Lords of the Realm 2. But Lords of the Realm 2 (Starcraft is a whole diffrent stoty) didn't have what Warcraft had. The easy to get used to gameplay with great graphics in terms of running smooth, the very low system requirement, and the satisfaction of the Battle.net. I have not played this game since 2000 (Because my dad broke my CD. Read my Starcraft Battle Chest review.) so I don't know if anyone plays online now but all I know is that I had the most fun playing this game back in 2000. I remember the satisfaction that I had with my friends after beating the opponent with my ogres and the dragons. This game ran fine when I used to have Intel Celeron 400MHZ, 64mb ram, and 56k modem. So if you get this game right now, you shouldn't have any technical problems. Also this game is very easy to get used to with easy gameplay and great graphics for an outdated game. This game is definitly a must have if you are a RTS fan. You should know that Warcraft started it all. It started the great RTS gaming genre. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

A must-have for any FPS fan!
I'll say right from the outset that I'm not a really huge Star Wars fan, though I did enjoy the films. But I am a first-person-shooter fan going way back to Wolfenstein 3D, and I know my FPSs and I know outstanding level design. Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 has some of the best level design and by far the most memorable locations of any FPS I've ever played. Please don't confuse this with graphical splendor. Back in 1997 I was stunned at how good this game looked. Now it's 2005 and I've just now decided to play it again. And while the graphics do look ancient compared to modern games, I cannot describe what a rush it is to visit these old familiar 'places'. The sense of 'place' is so powerful, I felt like I was visiting real places I had actually been to before. It was like re-visiting real places instead of virtual ones. Look folks, if you are a graphics junkie, you've really got no business playing any game older than 3 or 4 years old. But if gameplay is your thing, this is your game. The levels are absolutely VAST. I have never in my life felt such vertigo when playing a game. And that includes all modern ones. As far as inducing vertigo goes, this game has never been challenged. Even Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy don't come close to matching this game's dizzying heights (or vast distances). The 'puzzles' are really quite logical and fit right into the game. Playing an old game like this is akin to watching an old movie. Sure, the technology is old, but the heart is still there, and both old and new can be enjoyed equally if you can accept each on its own terms. Replaying Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 has been a real treat for me. I just can't believe I waited 8 years to do it! Also, for reference, it runs superbly at its highest settings on my Windows XP w/ SP2, Athlon XP 2600+ with 1 gig ram, and an NVidia 6600GT w/ 128 video ram. Using a Logitech optical mouse and am have absolutely no control or video issues. In-game settings: 1600 x 1200 resolution, checked the box for 3D acceleration and turned on every option there is, including entering '32' in the 'Minumum Texture Size' box and checked the box for 'Back Buffer In System Memory'. Also increased view size to just short of maximum. Only problem I'm having is manually saving the game by exiting out to the save menu. When I save the game that way, the game will crash to desktop, but the save DOES work, so I just re-load the game and in 10 seconds I'm going again. QUICKSAVE however, works without a hitch, so that's what I use most of the time. Also, each time I start the game, I have to set the graphics options...annoying, but nothing to it, and well worth the small hassle to enjoy this game at its highest settings on a modern computer. Aside from the manual save glitch, it's VERY stable on my rig. I can play for hours with not a single visual problem. There are very few 'classic' games that run this well on a modern WinXP rig.

A classic...in it's time....
This is a review for Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight. Amazon.com is grouping all the 'Jedi Knight' games together which is a huge mistake, because all of them are very different.

There is at least a five-year gap between Jedi Knight and its sequel, Outcast. In this game, Kyle Katarn learns about his force heritage and must battle 7 Dark Jedi led by Jerec for control of the Valley of the Jedi. In all honesty, while this game was hailed as a classic and received many 'game of the year' awards during its initial release, it hasn't aged well. Most polygon-based shooters dont, and it's somewhat painful to look back on the rudimentary character models and textures (though the basic level design itself is still top notch). Outcast also improved on everything that Jedi Knight brought to the table, including a better lightsaber combat system and better implementation of force powers. I won't deny that the game was an absolute blast to play through years ago, but nostalogic value alone doesn't make this one worth picking up.

What DOES make it worth picking up though, is that the game featured an intricate story told through cutscenes with live actors. Everyone is shot on a bluescreen, sure, but the acting is mostly up to Star Wars standards, and it's worth buying to unlock all the cinemas and watch this cool Star Wars footage.

As a game, there's really no reason to pick up the original Jedi Knight anymore, but if you're interested in viewing the cutscenes, then this is an absolute must-have. I'm giving this game 3 stars because 5 stars, what it was worth upon original release, doesn't accurately represent the game today.

Best Game Since 1997!
As being a dedicated JK'er since 1997, I have to write a review for anyone out there thinking about purchasing this game.

First off, this game was way ahead of its time when it was first released. The graphic engine and multiplayer aspects dominated any competition there were at the time!

The never-ending contributions from JK players all over the world also make it one of the all time best games ever! The endless array of 3rd party levels and mods there are for this game are astronomical! Over the years, fellow JK Editors have found ways of updating it to make it play and look better. I am one of them. I have created a multiplayer level series for this game called The Dralloc Series (www.theddc.cjb.net) which shows exactly how much this game has grown!

With the utilization of new 3D graphic power, Jedi Knight really shines! The lighting and architectural abilities of the JK engine make absolutely outstanding visuals that make you think as if you were really there! (especially in Dralloc Levels)

The single player aspect of this game also stands out. Either ripping through it with a wide arsenal of high-powered weapons, or weilding your trusty lightsaber, you are also accompanied with several force powers of your choice. They really come in handy when up against the stonger, more difficult enemies!

In conclusion, this is by far one of the best First Person Shooters of all time! Definately worth the buy! Own a piece of Star Wars history today!

Still good in 2004
I recently got high-end computer that can play all the graphics-intensive games I've wanted to play for years, like Black & White and Neverwinter Nights.While I was buying those games, I also picked up this one because I'd been interested in the series for a while and was impressed by the reviews.I was a little concerned that it wouldn't even run properly on my new machine, but if worst came to worst I could always play it on the old one.However, to my great pleasure it does run on my computer (128Mb ATI Radeon 9700, 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4, 512Mb RAM, Windows XP), although it's a little hyper--I turned the mouse sensitivity all the way down and it's just barely manageable.The only problems I've had are that it crashes from time to time when I'm loading or saving a game--and restarting it takes less time than waiting for levels to load in some games on my old computer, so that doesn't bother me much--and the cutscenes don't play right--the sound is out of sync and after a while they start to skip.Otherwise, it runs beautifully.The graphics are a little dated (the water is the worst; it looks like shag carpet), but all things considered not terrible, and they don't in anyway detract from the enjoyment for me.In terms of gameplay, I love it.I've never been a huge fan of shooter games (Doom gave me nightmares when I was a teenager and turned me off to them for a long time), and yet of the half-dozen games I got for my new computer, it's this one that I can play for six or eight hours straight and not even realize it.I like NWN, I like B&W, but I love Jedi Knight.My favorite things about it: you can play in either 1st or 3rd person, which I find extremely helpful, because when I'm navigating a narrow ledge I like to be able to see my feet, but if I'm shooting an enemy who's just a speck in the distance, the 1st person crosshair is useful; I've never seen controls so thoroughly customizable; having a lightsaber kicks arse; Jedi powers kick arse; and I find myself using almost all of my weapons in different contexts, rather than always going with the most powerful weapon available--lightsaber is great for taking down a few enemies quietly, especially with its ability to block incoming fire; stormtrooper rifle is great for thinning out crowds, and in 3rd person because you don't have to aim it very precisely; thermal grenades are good for sneaking up on groups of enemies, especially from above, and for detonating mines; crossbow is good for precision sniping in 1st person; I use the railgun similarly to the stormtrooper rifle but it's precise enough to work better in 1st person; etc...So, all in all, a great game which holds its own against newer, more technologically advanced games.I'd recommend it to anyone.

Must have been "good" back in the day
I bought this game by accident. I thought I was getting Star Wars: Jedi Knight 2 Outcast. Turns out it was Dark Forces 2 (my fault for not reading the description more carefully). Even so, I can't help but be dissapointed.

Jedi Knight Dark Forces 2 is the sequel to Star Wars Dark Forces. It follows the story of Kyle Kataarn. A young Jedi straddling the line between the Light and Dark side of the Force.

I realise that this game is over seven years old. But still when held against games such as Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six (which was released the same year) this game looks graphically challenged. The characters are rather stiff and rigid looking and the environments are extremely bland. The gameplay fares no better. It esentially consists of running around blasting and hacking various non-descript bad guys (and later Stormtroopers) with little rhyme or reason. Occasionally there are Boss battles but those are often frustrating. Eventually you are rewarded with different Force powers, none of which seem to work very well. The controls will often have you fumbling to find the right key for the right weapon or Force power. Also, our man Kyle is not exaclty the heartiest hero on video game. He is often easily overwhelmed and collapses in a heap making you restart the level. The level map is not very helpful either.

All in all I have to say that the game's biggest downfall is it's age. It just hasn't held up well over the years. Unless you're a collector or a Star Wars fanatic, it's best to stear clear of this game. It wasn't very fun to say the least. Spend a few extra bucks and either pick up Jedi Knight 2 Outcast or even Jedi Academy. One thing Dark Forces 2 does is let you see just how far technically video games have progressed over the last seven years. Other than that there's not much reason to play this game. ... 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

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 nearly every significant function and capability of the General Dynamics F-16C Block 50/52, and of every sight, sound and situation that the real life pilot of that aircraft would experience in wartime.Name a system, a weapon, a readout, a