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

Editorial Review

While it's basically the same game as the previously released Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue,Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition features enhancements thatmake it the best version yet. In all three versions, the player is on a quest tobecome the World's Greatest Pokémon Trainer, with exploration andPokémon battles (think advanced paper-scissors-rock) factoring heavilyinto the gameplay. While the game world is the same in all three versions, thePokémon you encounter vary from version to version; the underlying goalof collecting all 151 Pokémon can only be met by trading Pokémonvia Link Cable with anotherplayer with a different Pokémon version. (Players can also battle againstone another using the Link Cable setup.)

Pokémon Yellow follows the TV cartoon series more closely than theother versions. Your first Pokémon in Yellow is Pikachu, and hetravels alongside you as opposed to inside a Pokéball (like mostPokémon). Pikachu's mood can be displayed virtual pet style: keepinghim happy is important, as his mood affects certain events in the game. Inaddition to the inclusion of other TV show elements like Team Rocket, new battlemodes between players are available as well as a secret game called Pikachu'sBeach.

If you haven't played any of the Pokémon games before,Pokémon Yellow is the best place to start. But whilePokémaniacs will go gaga over Yellow's new features, lessenthusiastic veterans of Red and Blue may not find the extras tobe quite so special. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Best version yet of the highly addictive Pokémon game
• Pikachu's moods raise the game's cuteness bar to an all-new level
• Features new battle modes between players
• Includes Pikachu's Beach secret game

• Pokémon battles can be repetitive at times
• New features may not be enough for some Pokémon veterans

Reviews (153)

A Wonderful Game!
For whoever it was that asked about the difference between the colors, Red, Blue, and Yellow are exactly the same except that some Pokemon are available only in whichever version you get. Gold and Silver are completely different adventures, and they also have no differences except for the Pokemon. Crystal is the same as Gold and Silver except BETTER! :) Ruby, Sapphire, and, I suppose, Emerald have the same rule.

As for my review for this game, it's excellent! Even at my age, I have fun playing all the Pokemon games, especially this game, and I must tell you, it never gets boring! Every game is different, and each time you discover something new! I highly recommend this game, and the others!

Pokemon Yellow Rocks!
Pokemon Yellow is my best game yet! It's a challenging game, with 8 awesome gym leaders, your rival, (You can name him in the begining of the game) and Prof.Oak! (who will give you a bulbasaur,charmander,or squirtle at the start) All of this put together makes one mind-blowing game!

Yellow: the best game of the Poke'mon Saga
These are some great things about Yellow:

1: You can get all of the 3 starting Poke'mon.

2: You can get a Machoke from an in-game trade, but it evoloves to a Machamp after you trade with a girl in Route 5

3: Dragoniar, Pidgeiotto and Venomoth are some of the wild poke'mon you'll find.

4: Cathing both Scyther and Pinsir or Arcainine and Ninetales will be a snap.

Bad things about Yellow:

1: 13 Poke'mon you'll have to trade from Red or Blue.

2: Gym leader's poke'mon are at higher levels.

3: Barely there is any poision types that are wild.

4: Not much In-game trading.

Overall: 4 and a half stars

The mean clean fightin machine!!!
It is not easy to train pikachu in the frist place.If YOU ARE READING THIS REVIE DONT GET RED OR BLUE VERSION IF YOU HAVE THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I thought that they would be different but i got blue and it was THE exat same thing.On blue the boy was named Shawn.Shawn if your reading this THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm confused?!?!?
ok,first of all this game is super,but is it same as pokemon blue,or pokemon red , because i want to buy those but i don't know how they are,and what about pokemon silver,and pokemon gold,are they the same too??please let me know ,i'll be checking here every day.thank you




... Read more

Features

• You are Jedah, ancient spirit of the Dark World
• Overcome the souls of others to become ruler of the Dark World
• Choose from 18 horror themed characters as they battle in a tournament to the death
• Gorgeous, hand drawn animation
• For 1 player

Reviews (7)

Fun Game, If You Can Get Past The Choppy Animation That Is
First I'd like to say I enjoyed this game, while not as well known as the Street Fighter series the Darkstalkers series is by far more enjoyable. The cast of charactos is diverse and the animation is much like that of the Vs. series, Wacky and over the top. The downside is it's hard to appriciate on the playstation. When compared to the first darkstalkers on playstation the charactor animation actually got worse!!! It's choppy and even upgrading the speed to turbo you can still see the painfully obvious missed frames. That said it in NO WAY compares to the Sega Saturn Night Warriors (the second in the Darkstalkers series). Sure there are more charactors and some pretty backgrounds in this, but they also suffer from poor animation!! If you have a Sega Saturn just stick with Night Warriors, if not then this is the best your gonna get. It's sad how the playstation mars the graphix of 2-D fighters like this, If you can look past the playstations downfalls this is one of the most fun fighters to date.

Best Fighter Ever
What makes this game great is the character design! On no other 2D-fighting game will you find characters that look and feel more complete than on this game!!!

OH, and the moves are cool, too!!!

A GREAT Fighting Game
Oh, Capcom you are my savioir, I have Played every street fighter game, andthere Ok, but darkstalkers 3 is excellent, its like finding a diamond ina ruby mind, darkstalkers 3 is an EXCELLENT game, Buy it here on amazon, because i had to look high and low to find it

GOOD GAME
it's great the only complaint is that in arcade mode you get to fight about 8 people before the boss. it's all about horror. the characters such as Victor( frankenstein) demitri( vampire) john talbain( where wolf) sasquach( big foot). a good buy just after a while it gets boring but all games get boring after a while.

Darksyalkers 3
This is the best game in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!! I love it!!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

"Monty Haul." "Hack and Slash." If these names mean anything to you, you'll likeDiablo. The story is simple and doesn't get in the way of the action: the demon Diablo has set upshop beneath the cathedral on the edge of town, and it's your job to destroy him.

Diablo was and is one of the great PC role-playing games, and this PlayStation port holds true tothe original. You create your character--Warrior, Sorcerer, or Rogue--and take him or her up in experiencelevels as you hack your way down, level by level, to the bottom of the dungeon beneath the cathedral,where Diablo awaits. Along the way you gain a lot of cool magical artifacts, weapons, and equipment.These mystical tools define your character as much as or more than the obligatory character stats such asstrength, dexterity, and stamina.

The game's only flaws are due to its translation to the PlayStation. The controls can be difficult, especiallywith ranged weapons, and the two-player mode throws both characters on the same screen, often making itproblematic to negotiate the various rooms of any given level.

Complaints aside, Diablo is a solid hack and slash adventure game. You'd be either a fool or acoward to pass it up. --John Cocking

Pros:

• Great hack and slash action
• Magical goodies galore
• Classic dungeon crawl

• Awkward controls
• Frustrating 2-player mode

Features

• Develop your character's skill, attributes, and spells as you explore the dungeon labyrinth
• SVGA graphics and rendered cinematic sequences bring the horror to life
• For 1 or 2 players
• Explore a 3-D world of dark gothic fantasy
• Choose from a warrior, rogue, and sorceror, each with unique abilities

Reviews (23)

do u dare to open the gates to diablo
diablo is fun but let me talk to you about diablo,diablo is the devil but its always fun killing him but i got to wait wait untill june to get this game but i got all diabvlos on pc its an awsome game u get to choose your character from barbarian warrior mage and many more its an alright game dungeon does change places like i said its a fun game and i hope you buy it.

25 bucks?? WORTH IT!
Ok, I kept putting off getting this game because of having the PC Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction and I don't like paying 25 bucks for PS1 games.I usually try to go 15 bucks or less for them since graphics and gameplay are kinda off by today's standards of PS2.And even though I wanted it I felt like I would play it a few minutes and be sick of the controls and graphics.It is an excellent game and it's portable on my PSOne...if you're a fan just get it.The controls are tedious and annoying for awhile but after an hour or so it isn't so bad. It took me a little over 5 hours to get my warrior to level 13---don't know if that's good or bad (don't really care, either) but it was a fun five hours.

Diablo Ps1
Hack & Slash, Every time you play the game it's differen, becasue of the random dungeon design. Upgrade your character, loads of spells weapons armour, missions. You name it, it's got it. Great 2 player action as well. Brilliant!

Dare to Enter...
Diablo is pretty faithfully ported over to the Playstation, however the graphics aren't as clean as in the PC version of the game. But this game is still a worthy addition to your Playstation library simply for the fact that the dungeons, characters, items, weapons, etc. hold such a diverse amount that this game can keep you occupied for weeks and weeks. The two-player option is really cool, allowing you and a friend to tackle the dungeons together. Everytime you start a new game, the dungeons "randomize", so you won't find things in the same place as you did before. Sound is on par, however if you're used to the mouse in the PC version, the controls associated with the PSX will confuse you at first. A little practice is all that's needed to master it in no time. Overall, an excellent game, worthy of addition to anyone's library of Playstation games if they're into a good old-fashioned "dungeon romp".

Diablo's Quest
Join on a quest agaisn't Diablo, Lord of Destruction.
Diablo has ressurected on a small village and now you're the only that can make him die again. Go throw the dongeons and get experience, money, potions, weapons, spells,etc.. and prepare yourself to battle Diablo -I already killed him, and I can say that's no easy job.
This game shows some violence and shouldn't be played by sensible persons (+15).

This is the best game I've ever played. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Parasite Eve tells the story of Aya Brea of the NYPD on a case involving massspontaneous human combustion, mutating animals, and the mitochondria revolution. Sound fun?Confusing? Parasite Eve is both.

It begins when Aya is attending an opera at Carnegie Hall. The soloist bursts into song and theaudience bursts into flames. Somehow, Aya is the only attendee who isn't affected. Notsurprisingly, she wants to know what's going on. This curiosity, coupled with her duties as a policeofficer, grows into a full-scale investigation.

Parasite Eve's mechanics are simple, yet elegant. From combat to level advancement, thegame runs easily and smoothly, making it ideal for someone new to role-playing games (RPGs).Experienced RPGers should still enjoy it for its brilliant storyline.

Technically speaking, the game's graphics and sound are good, but not spectacular. The full-motioncutscenes are superbly done. Parasite Eve is a good game--there's just not enough of it.While it doesn't feel crammed together, the story seems to resolve quickly. Brilliant while it lasted,Parasite Eve left me wanting more. --John Cocking

Pros:

• Mutating dogs
• Involving storyline
• Elegant game mechanics

• Too short, and it's confusing

Features

• Numerous high-end CG movies take the player directly into pre-rendered game maps
• Based on the best seller science fiction novel by author Hideaki Sena
• For 1 player
• Sci-Fi horror roleplaying game
• Fight against dozens of mutated monsters

Reviews (103)

INCREDIBLY ORIGINAL
I have always wanted to play parasite eve because i have heard great things. When i first went through the first day, i couldn't believe it. Not only was i moved and stunned when i completed the game but i was certain that parasite eve was a gold mine. A story like no other, parasite eve is a natural in the field of originaliy and not to mention the story that goes along. An RPG Shooter will always be a great combination that squaresoft has created and i hope that there will be plenty more where that came from.

Parasite Eve Rocks My World!!!
Parasite Eve is the ultimate videogame ever created.When I was younger,my dad had it and I loved it!Unfortunately,it broke 4 years ago.After going through many different plazas and videogame stores,I finally found the last copy of the game on a website(by the way,it's not eBay).This game is the 6 day story of Aya Brea,a rookie cop,age 25.(Yes,I do remember,it was the greatest game of all time.)Also,there is a Parasite Eve movie.It takes place like 2 years or more before Aya is born,and it tells about Aya's mother,who had similiar Mitochondria Cells to Eve.I am a fiend,even though people do not know how I truly loved Parasite Eve.Now you probably think I'm crazy.Oh,and if you love Parasite Eve,you'll love Tekken 1-4.Tekken 5 is comin out next week,and you'll also love Death By Degrees and Resident Evil 4.Well,thanks for reading!Bye!

An RPG with very nice touches by Square!
I guess this game is sorta like Survival Horror meets RPG.The story is great, and the graphics and sound are way up there for the times!Sometimes I found the play control a bit stickey when searching areas for items, but the combat is a big improvement over the Final Fantasy turn-based system.I highly recommend this game for Resident Evil and RPG fans alike!

Thought-Provoking And Nothing Short of Spectacular!
Although PS1 seems to be something of the past now, it's always good to return to it to relive classic games, especially classics that are not on PS2. Parasite Eve is one of those rare finds where no matter how old it is or how many times you play it, it's as good as it was the first time.
Based on a popular Japanese novel (under the same name), Parasite Eve stars a young female cop named Aya Brea, whom, after witnessing a chaotic senario at an opera, realizes the existance of "Eve" who plans on "freeing the mitochondria's true powers." Aya soon gets entangled in the horrific adventure as she defends New York City from the approaching apocalypse.

The absolute best thing about PE is it's so intriging and thought-provoking. It makes you think, but not to the point where you're wracking your brain out, eather. The concept of the Mitochondrias may sound bizarre but in all respect gets your creative juices flowing in a plot that PE makes seem all too real. For a fictional storyline, I haven't seen such a realistic-fictional plot like this in a long time!

Pace is steady and smooth. Some parts will be more action-packed than others, but everything's balanced off very well. Music is brilliant and I find myself watching the opening all the time. Visuals are breath-taking, considering it's age. The field/battle graphics aren't worth a full five stars (maybe 4) but the cinematic scenes are, and it doesn't take you long to forget this is a game. You'll begin to think it's an actual movie. It's not unbearably long, either, so things are tight, cut to the chase, and leave you satisfied, yet wanting more. The characters too, are well-developed as far as depth.

Overall, Parasite Eve is one of those rare classics that are worth going back to. You definately don't get the privlege of playing a game like this every day. If you're a fan of Sci-Fi, horror, or action-genres, PE's for you. Truely amazing!

great sequl even if u have not played the first
i have not played thefirst pe i bet its a great game and this one is too the gameplay is awsome the storyline can be confusing but its still good the sound is good if u have played re games this is not spooky at all lolall of this can rival a ps2 xbox or gamecube game thats what i think its awsome its a must buy go get it ... 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

Editorial Review

If you can put up with the cutesy graphics, Grandia isone of the longest, most compelling, and most character-driven role-playinggames you'll ever spin in your PlayStation. By the time wefinished this massive quest, we really cared about the game'scharacters. (By comparison, our interest in Final Fantasy VIIwas focusing more on getting from one transition movie scene to thenext).

The main story line is standard role-playing fare. The powerful GeneralBaal has plans to unleash something of a Pandora's box on the world,and you can guess whose job it is to stop him. Grandia providesa world packed with colorful characters who are fun to talk to, and theunconventional combat system lets players pick and choose their fights.The characters in your party grow, as do their magical skills andweapons, meaning there's always some new accomplishment just around thecorner that keeps players adventuring long into the night. Role-playingfans should be overjoyed that this conversion from the Sega Saturnclassic was made, as it provides weeks of solid adventuring that neverbecomes a chore. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• An entertaining adventure with loads of interesting characters
• Characters, weapons, and spells all improve with experience

• Quirky, cutesy graphics won't appeal to everybody

Features

• Voice acting for critical story sequences
• 3-D polygonal environment
• For 1 player
• Fantasy themed role-playing game
• Turn-based combat system

Reviews (46)

Reminiscent of a lost childhood
I am an RPG player to the core. I only play RPG's and I tend to randomly pick them off the shelf at game stores and buy them. I have played and seen my fair share of depressingly bad RPG's.
This is how I happened to come across Grandia in my younger years. I instantly fell in love with the game. I do not look for graphics in a game (although good graphics are a plus), so this game was perfect for me. The story was decidely lack of some really new ideas, and the battles could be teadious. I enjoyed the humour of the game. Even when faced with grave danger Justin is calm and cool, at least he tries to be, just like any younger teenage boy would be.
The battle system was easy to use, and understand. Plus, the leveling up of your weapons and magic added a little twist to getting stronger.
I would definitly advice younger teenage boys to play this game if they wish to play a fun and interesting RPG. The story is easy to understand, the fighting is smooth yet challanging, and the love is to a minimum (which any teenage boy would love, no pun intended).
So, take a chance and play the game. Have fun, and if you don't like it then you don't, but if you do. Well if you like it then you have a game to play when you get really bored.

The Theme of Adventure
I heard some many things about the original Grandia that I had to get a copy. Since it was the beginning of the series, I just had to see what started it all. I was impressed with this one despite it being really old. All three of the Grandias emphasize something grand in there stories:

Grandia 2: Story
Grandia Ex: Battle
Grandia 1: Adventure

This game has one of the most original themes I've ever known. This game is all about adventure and the places you visit come from a long list of destinations. The game itself started the unique IP gauge battle system which had the most unique way of learning moves and spells: you have to a certain numerical level to get a new technique. Some moves and magic have two or three required values, making this one interactive RPG that will mostly emphasize training. Once you get a new move, using it or its related statistic increases its power level and activation speed. Also, when a weapon or spell type levels up, you get a boost in the related parameter (for example: if Justin levels up his staff, he gets a bonus of 2 HP added on to his max total as well as 1 point more onto his Vitality). Not a bad system at all, a bit reminiscent of Saga Frontier 2's numerical value Arts system. Game Arts should have kept this on for the other two games. Maybe they might bring it back for the third one.

The music is a definite highlight of this game, considering the great Noriyuki Iwadare composed it. His town and battle themes are amazing, especially Disc 2's main battle theme (my favorite battle theme of all time). There are entertaining and sad themes too and a romantic one for all of us who want something a little heartfelt. The voice acting isn't really as bad as everyone says. Justin and Sue are pretty much right on the dot with their ages (14 and 8) while Guido's semi-Italian speech is really cute. Milda's southern girl accent is nice and burly and Rapp definitely sounds like a kid who has no manners at all.

The story seems a little closely related to Grandia Ex in terms of the Grandia world having elemental spirits residing in it as well as the story of an ancient civilization where man tasted the paradise of supreme knowledge. Not bad at all.

The game spans two discs and has three sidequests of great difficulty on the second disc. Unfortunately, they are very easy to miss and have some sweet rewards inside. Plus, after a certain point, you won't be able to go back and do them, so pay attention on the second disc.

The flaw with this game is that is clearly not meant for the PS2 (because of the constant data flow during battles and dungeons). If you still own a PS1, it will save you all the frustration of infrequent and unwelcome freezes (especially if you haven't saved in a while). Also, the music tracks on this Grandia are cut somewhat in comparison to the Saturn version, which has them all, so you might want to hunt down the OST (which is even rarer than the game these days). All and all, a great beginning game for a hopefully long running series in the future.

this is a great game
it is a great game it's a fun and a long gameand if u think it's easy you think wrong i av completed the game three time and am not even bored and am doing it all over agen i wud by this games

Simple Clean Fun With a Price
Grandia is simply a gem.The cast of characters are a little predictable, but definitely distinct and unique from one another.It is a decent port from the Dreamcast, but I have seen better.
+ Level Up System:
You level up just like any other RPG with experience points after each battle.However, your weapon level up upon their usage.Each character can use up to three different weapons.Upon leveling up a weapon, something is leveled up such as HP, Vitality, Strength ect.This is the same for magic.Magic is first aquired by finding Mana Eggs and using them to buy magic.Afterwards, the more you use a certain magic, (Fire, Water, Earth, Wind) you level it up, giving you more skills.This makes leveling up a lot more fun, and even adds to the battles as you need to use certain magics to aquire new skill.

+Battle System
This is one of the best types of Battle System.First of all, it is a mixture of active time and turn base battle.Every enemy shares the same Active Time Bar.Once a character reaches a certain point, you have all the time you need to select your attack.Not only that, but certain attacks can affect the active time greatly, sending the enemy, (or your characters) backwards in the active time bar. OH!And did I mention there are NO random battles.The enemies run around in the screen with you, and you see them before you come in contact.Once defeated they disappear.Come close enough to them, and they will chase you though.

+Characters
There are a few characters that join and leave the party.However, there are two that stay throughout the entire game, (Justin and Feena).Each character has their own history, personality, and special movies.This still does not make for good character development though.They are highly predictable.The voice acting and even dialog script is laughable.Such phrases such as; "100,000,000 DEGREES!TAKE THAT!" and "OH WIND, TWIST LIKE A TORNADO!" seems a little cheesy for me during battle.

+Graphics:
The graphics are decent, but there's nothing special about them.The world is in 3D and the camera can be rotated.

+Story:
The story seems very cliche to me.A young adventurer named Justin wants to find new quests for himself.He's a troublemaker and later finds himself on the journey of a lifetime.He meets up with many new people and eventually realizes only he (with the help of his friends) can save the world.It is not very unique or at all intriguing enough, but many of the small side stories is what makes it interesting.

+Overall:
This is a great game!It's fun and well worth your money.It claims to give over a hundred hours of gameplay, but I beat it in 47 hours.Though the character and stories are weak, the gameplay is not.Grandia II is just as good, and with the hopes of another Grandia to follow, things should only improve.

Pros:
Great system for leveling up magic/skills
Fun battle system!
Good length for a game

Cons:
Laughable dialog and voice acting
Weaker story / cliche / cheesy at times
Very linear

^-^
Okay for starters.I am offical a member of the 1 member ABBA (anti Brain Bat Association).If you have played this game, found the optional dungeon, fought those little buggers at a lower level, you know why.(BABOOM)

Sorry.

The game is cool.Graphics are nice (not the best but better than some).The music is excellent.The voice acting is skippy but it works.The magic system can be difficult to figure out in the beggining and hard to level, but hey ^-^ there are places to level them without cheat codes.[For water, try standing in the green water at the tower and heal yourself.It does work, though it does take a few hours for each character--recommending Feena to level 99 water/wind.]

I love the game overall despite the bad voice acting.Nothing tops the original, I suppose.Oh, and who can ever pass up having their final boss fight inside of a coach-roach? ... 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

Amazon.com Product Description

Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land takes place in the peaceful kingdom of Duhan. One day, a sphere of light from the heavens shatters the evening sky. Thousands are killed and the kingdom is in ruins. Demonic creatures from the underworld have emerged and the Queen of Duhan has disappeared into the labyrinths beneath the castle. The labyrinths are said to hold the greatest treasures in the land, but will you survive long enough to enjoy them? It is now up to you to face the ultimate challenge! Will you find the queen in time to rid the kingdom of the evil that has befallen it? Fight on, brave warrior! ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Can't Stop Playing It, But Can't Stop Re-Starting It
I love this game.I love the mood of this game: spooky, foreboding.The gameplay style is interesting, and the way the customization of characters goes is something new.The story is original and kind of captivating.I pretty much love everything about this game.But, for some unexplained reason, I don't ever get incredibly far into this game.It isn't because it is too hard; something about it keeps making me take breaks, and then going back to play it only I've forgotten what is going on.This is an unusual case for me, but regardless.....I think the game is worth a look whether you are into the Wizardry series, or you just like RPGs.

i have still not made it to the bottom of the abyss
at first, i thought i had wasted my money on this game. i bought it and suikoden 3 on the same day and went about playing suikoden. i put this game off for months because it seemed clunky and i thought the character graphics looked silly. when i finally dug it out and started playing i found myself immersed in an interesting world.

true, the graphics are not the best they could have been but i still remember playing wizardry on the nes. for me, wizardry has never been about flashy graphics, it's been about exploring. the floor maps usually have multi-levels to them making them a touch more challenging than usual.

i simply love the way you acquire spells in this game and (though it took FOREVER) i have each of my six characters maxed out in all of them. even the rare ones. my husband was getting so tired of hearing the "explosion" sound from the rare spell combinations he had to go do something else. yes, truly, that part did drag.

but i love the combination attacks. at first, they take a bit of getting used to. however, after you get the gist (and as your players trust each other more) they are indispensable. and after about level five or six, they are necessary for survival.

then, once you beat the game, you get to enter the abyss. it's always random and i have still not yet been able to reach the bottom (i'm betting it's 100 levels). but who knows? the monsters are horrifyingly difficult in some places and combination attacks are essential.

beyond that, i enjoyed the interesting combination attacks you get when all of your characters are possessed. made it worth going out and just letting myself get possessed six times.

No, don't even think about it
Don't plan on it. It is bad. You will be in a bland environment, with graphics made for the N64, then you will be in a story that doesn't involve you or anyone! Awesome! Not only is there no motivation, but there is a boring game!

Take for example, save points. To save you have to leave, to leave you have to find an item or WALK back. When you learn about team attacks from this dude, he tells you all the different things then you try them. There is one that took me 3 hours to beat. It is called team defence. Every turn, 16 goblins would run at my guys, one time I tried attacking the goblins, but died horribly and had to redo my hour long work. Ok so then I tried again. This time when I did team defence, my girl would get lucky sometimes and hit something. it literally took me 2 hours just to do that battle. 3 hours because of the losing it and walking back.

Cons:
-The game costs money
-Battles are repetitive
-The environments are stupid. It is blocks. All blocks.
-You hit up, down, left, and right to do everything.
-The town is all text and stuff, there isn't any walking around.
-The game has such poor graphics that are some of the most boring and uninspired environments ever conceived in a game.
-The atari has better graphics than this game

Pros:
-The game is hard to find
-You get a receipt for buying it

didnt get the game at all
do not buy from this company I ordered 5 games and they all came in from different places just fine except atlus usa. I havent recieved the game and they have had a month to ship it the others came about 3 weeks ago.

One step up from the original series.
This game raises the bar from the previous Wizardry games.If you enjoy adventuring and creating your own fighters, this is definatly the game. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

In Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles, players can compete in single- or two-player mode as they fight off legions of battle droids, destroyer droids, assassins, and other creatures from the Star Wars: Episode I worlds. The game is scrupulously true to the Star Wars universe, with authentic characters, locations, and weapons. Gamers fight as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, or Mace Windu--all powerful Jedi Knights. Players will fight through 10 levels of progressively more challenging gameplay, gaining power boosts, new moves, and enhanced capabilities as they progress. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Very good game by Legolas.
Those negative reviews are W-R-O-N-G WRONG! This in fact is a
G-R-E-A-T G-A-M-E GREAT GAME! There 10 levels (so I read.) in this game. The best character mustbeWindu! he's NOT my favorite character but his performance is awesone! when you kill an alien-ish dude there sort of an "ugh" sound.(I think.) what stinks is that there's no save feature BUT there's dumb pass-code feature. This might something good to bring on that 5 hour trip to summer vaction :D

NO CONTROL
This game is really awesome in some ways but in other it stinks. For example: The weapons, characters and moves are sweeeeet. But you can bearly see what you are doing. The lighting is AWEFUL. This game may be fun to play for about 3 days but then the problems get in the way. This game also has almost NO CONTROL. The controls stink. Do not even think about jumping because it is impossible. Most of the game is based on jumping from platform to platform. There are little guys that stand on the platform that you can not kill from you current position so you try jumping and end up beening pushed off by them. Very Frusterating. The saving on this game is also a big issue. The game gives you codes that are like 5-15 letters long so they are really hard to write down and get correct. I was almost about to beat the game but the code I wrote down was incorrect so I LOST!!!!!!! Other than all that this game is pretty decent. Do not think I am a totally killing this game I just choose to state the problems. It just was not my favorite. So enjoy this game!

Terrible Controls
First of all, I am a huge Star Wars fan.That said... This game looks like it would be a neat game and I'm sure it would...IF the play control was decent, but it's not.This has the worst play control out of every GBA game that I've played so far.Jumping is nearly impossible to do accurately.That alone makes the game far too difficult and bothersome to play.Things happen to my character all of the time.For example: I want to jump out and to an angle to jump to another platform, but the dumb thing jumps straight up and then I fall straight down into a pit.End of Life.THQ should have spent more time making the play control better or not released it at all.This game is a real disappointment.

super great
this is one of the best games i ever.thelevels are very great I can play it all day long.You shold get this game today.

Believe me, Im a Jedi.........
This game is so cool. if you like most or all of the star wars games, then you'll like this game. ... Read more

Editorial Review

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

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

Aside from capturing wild Pokémon and evolving your own, you can catalog new Pokémon by trading with another Pokémon player using either a link cable or the Game Boy Color's infrared system. Pokémon gained through trades learn and evolve faster, and trading is the only way to capture all 151 Pokémon, since each Pokémon game (Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, andPokémon Yellow) has certain Pokémon missing. Of course, as a Pokémon trainer, you've "gotta catch 'em all!"--150 to be exact. So if you own Blue and want to have a complete set of Pokémon, you must find a friendly Red or Yellow owner and arrange a trade.

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

Pros:

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

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

Features

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

Reviews (126)

Blue = excellent game!!!
Pokemon Blue is a very good game to play at anytime. The unqiue part of Pokemon Blue is that it is a adventrous game. You play as a boy to capture pokemon and battle trainers. You have to trade pokemon with your best friend. These excellent features made kids love Blue!! They want to trade and collect pokemon!! Nintendo made this game, and we should give a great thankyou to Game freak and Nintendo for making this game!!!! THANKS!!!!!!

Gotta Ketch em all
Title: Gotta ketch em all

Pokemon blue is a great adventurous game. Once you set your fingers on the gameboy you won't stop. It's fun to give your pokemon there own nicknames and making them happy. Making new pokemon buddies, leveling them up to their full force, beating the gym leaders is so fun. The game can be perfected over and over again. Trust me its great! It tells it all by the five stars.
Vica Jean Manuel

Cool
In this game, you play as a boy collecting and battling creatures called Pok'emon.There are plenty of worlds to explore, Pok'emon to catch, rivals to battle, badges to earn, and items to find to keep you playing for a long time.It's one of those games that you can't beat in a day.Training Pok'emon can be fun, and also hard, depending on the level of your opponents.You earn money each time you beat another Pok'emon trainer, which you can use to buy items to strengthen or catch Pok'emon.The moves you teach your Pok'emon and what attacks you use require strategy, so it's not just random moves and thoughts.

My only complaint is that this game is almost unbeatable.To win, you have to collect all the Pok'emon in the game, which is just a few tens short of 200, if I remember correctly.A bunch of things are required to do this.You must have two Game Boys and two Pok'emon games, or a friend who also has a Game Boy and Pok'emon game to trade with each other, because there are some points in the game where you must choose between one Pok'emon or another, and whichever one you don't choose is impossible to get again in the same game.Also required is a Game Boy link cable, which you need to attach two Game Boys to trade.

So basically, it's going to be very, very, very hard to win, especially because everyone is past the "Pok'emon phase".So unless you have multiple Game Boys and Pok'emon games, and a link cable, you're going to have tons of trouble beating the game.I think the people who made this game purposely made the game this way so that kids would have to spend more money on Game Boy supplies.

Overall, I still like this game.I know I'll never beat it, but it's still a lot of fun.I can't say who I would and wouldn't recommend this game to, so I'll leave it up to you.Either way, I hope you're satisfied in the end.

I Ain't Feelin' 'Da Blues With 'Dis Game
Well If you like a simple game that can keep you on all day well then this game is for you!I got this game in kindergarden and ever since I LOVED this game!I'd come home from school every day and play it forever [yet I got to play my friend's Red Versiom every day on the bus.]In 2nd grade i did the Missingno. trick and no one knew it and I was the champ!My PKMN were at level 200 [!] and I kicked my Friends mewtwo's butt!Get now!You'll love having Missingno.!

Funny and nice until you finish it.
I own the Spanish version of this. It's just the same, but with booklet and texts in spanish, this is a very nice game and the first that I've got.(April '99) This game is funny and good, until you finish it, because when you finish it you just get the Pokemons that are not available and you finish it. Later? Restart it.
Pokemons not available AT THIS are:
ODDISH
GLOOM
VILEPLUME
GROWLITHE
ARCANINE
MANKEY
PRIMEAPE
ELECTABUZZ
EKANS
ARBOK
SCYTHER

... Read more