Amazon.com Review

In a world dominated by grim and gritty console games, it's difficult tofind a madcap adventure about the triumphs of a goofball would-be pirate. Yetthat's exactly what we have in Escape from Monkey Island. This PC portfollows the latest misadventures of Guybrush Threepwood as he tries to makesense of his ridiculous world. The PC-style gameplay consists of conversing,exploring, and lots of puzzle solving. Gamers who lack patience or who loatheMyst-like puzzles might want to skip this game, but they'll be missing onone of the most unique console experiences on the market.

The game's forte is clearly its style. Its dialogue, while sometimes lengthy, isoften witty and boisterously entertaining. Its characters and environments arebright and vibrant. Its puzzles--in which you often match wacky objects inbizarre situations--are straight out of a Looney Tunes cartoon. Few games canmatch Escape from Monkey Island's humor, and none of them are on thePlayStation2.

Although the character designers and animators were able to achieve a playfulstyle, some of the series' personality was lost in the translation from 2-Dsprite-based graphics to 3-D polygons. Still, there's really nothing else likeit on the PlayStation2. Gamers looking for something different or wanting totake a break from saving the world from cataclysmic menaces should give thisgame a shot. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• A unique, lighthearted, hilarious adventure
• Playful graphics
• Side-splitting dialogue

• Some puzzles are tricky, with unobvious solutions
• Myst-like gameplay mechanics may bore some players
• Some conversations are unnecessarily long

Reviews (41)

a GREAT game! .. but hard to sell :(
I absolutely loved this game!
The characters, the music, the art, the dialog .. it's all just done so amazingly well.
The worst part about it for me was when it ended .. I just wanted it to keep going.
I really, really hope they make another one.

Unfortunately a game like this is not easy to sell to the general gaming public. It's hard to advertise to people what is so great about it and because of that I would imagine that it's difficult to sell many copies.
I can only guess about the outrageous number of hours and the extreme amount of effort that must have gone into making this game.
I don't know how many copies have sold, but I don't think it's nearly enough to make up for the amount of work that went into it.

If you can manage to do so, I recommend playing all the other monkey island games first (in order) to really immerse yourself in the Monkey Island world.
Monkey Island 1 and 2 are pretty old so don't expect to be impressed with graphics or sound but they're both still great fun.
Monkey Island 3 (The Curse of Monkey Island) is a more recent release that is comparable to this game in quality .. even without the 3D graphics .. it too is a great game!

Monkey island: more fun than a barrel of monkeys... with one
4 star fun rating is because of all the game's bugs (little programing errors that they didn't catch) the only one i hit was in monkey combat, i couldn't get through cause it would freeze up and i would hav to restart the game (i don't know if it on cpu version i have ps2 version) it did it each time so i played to that spot again (like 5 sixths of the way in) and it did it AGAIN!!!!!!! te game itself is hillarious i used online guides for the puzzles i couldn't figure out. it has more bugs than what i found (looking on various websites makes it odvious) i rate it 4 stars because of the bugs.

Truly Original
I suppose you could say that I've been living underground, as this is the first exposure that I've had to the Monkey Island series. I bought this game based on the cover art and the concept. I was looking for an inventive game, and boy, did I get one. I've never encountered a game quite like Escape from Monkey Island, and it depresses me that it is the last game in the series. The puzzles are challenging, but only because they require thought. The jokes are incredibly funny, and they last through the entire game. Although I've never played any of the other Monkey Island or LucasArt games, I picked up on a lot of the inside jokes and laughed some more. The interaction with the settings was unique, as were the responses from other characters. The music was fitted perfectly to the theme, and was highly addictive without being annoying. The gameplay was slick. The graphics were sharp and colorful. The only drawback I can think of is the insanity of Monkey Kombat. I didn't like that I had to go online to figure out how to win Monkey Kombat and advance to the end of the game. The designers could have come up with something less involved in that situation, which is the singular reason why I gave the game only 4 stars.

Overall, this is a wonderful game. I highly recommend that you check it out.

Best series of games ever!
This is part 4 out of 4. I gotta say i've been playing monkey island ever since i accidently discovered it and i've been hooked. Believe it or not i learned a lot of things from it, like what "grog" is and a lot of other things. This game requires you to use your head and use found objects to create tools to escape all kinds of challenges. Part I was excellent Part II was pretty good too, part 3 (Curse of Monkey island) is probably my favorite. I'll be honest in Curse of monkey island i got to the very last challenge and I never completed it. It was quite hard and was taking sooooo long that i just quit the game...but the overall game is great and so humerous and helarious i love it. The best thing is you really can't die in the game unless you discover a secret way to. Another great thing is it usually has 2 different endings depending on which route you took during the game. I love it!!! And i want Part 5 to be released already!!!!! If you've never played this game, start with Part I (graphics are a little old and 2d but it looks classic) if you can find it in stores, that way you won't be confused with the story line! Part 3 (curse of MI) is more of a great cartoon look, and part 4 (escape from MI) is a 3d game which is kinda hard to control he tends to walk the opposite way you press the arrow key! You'll have to get used this one. Hope this helps :/

Nowhere near as bad as some make out to be
I've read many people's view of this game on the internet... and some treat it like the worst game ever made.There are some very mixed views as well.For instance, some say the puzzles are too easy, others say they are too hard.A lot of all time Monkey Island fans say this is not as good as the last three, as the point n' click method has been abandoned in favour of using the keyboard, and they HATE the 3d graphics.

In my personal opinion, this game is good.It's just as good as "The Curse Of Monkey Island" (the 3rd game), or perhaps better.It's also funnier than the last games, as there are tons of references to movies, especially "Star Wars".

This game starts off at where the last one finished, where Guybrush and Elaine get married and the demonically evil demon/zombie/ghost/pirate Le Chuck has been burried under a mountain of ice.When they arrive back at Mêlée Island after their honeymoon, they find that Elaine has been declared dead, and a new govenor called Charles L. Charles has arrived to take her position, and decides to destroy her mansion (but the catapult operator is absolute garbage at throwing rocks) Elaine needs to run for govenor in order to beat Charles L. Charles.Meanwhile Guybrush has to do everything his wife tells him to do, which results in various problems, like being framed for bank robbery and trying to win a diving contest.

The previous games' graphics were in 2D, but the 3D graphics here look pretty good, especially the detailed backgrounds.

The music is also great in this game.Some of tunes will get stuck in your head for weeks!

I give the game 4 stars, because of a few letdowns like the stupid ending and Monkey Kombat.

... 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

Editorial Review

A downright creepy "survival horror" title, Silent Hillsucceeds where most Resident Evil-inspired titles suck: keepingyou hooked and instilling you with fear throughout the game. Playersare cast as Harry Mason in his desperate search for his daughter, whomysteriously disappeared after their car crashed into a gully outsideof a desolate resort town.

The 3-D environments in Silent Hill are bathed in fog ordarkness, making its dismal setting all the more eerie; this alsoallows for some spectacular lighting effects when using a flashlight inthe dark. Granted, there are some pretty coarse graphics being obscuredhere, but it's a fair trade-off, considering the game's short loadtimes.

Silent Hill is played from a third-person perspective, viewedfrom both fixed and moving camera angles. As with similar games, theviewpoint can be awkward at times, especially during combat, which hereis so clunky that you should try to avoid it whenever possible--somethingyou should do anyway, as this isn't Tomb Raider.

Rather than resort to cheap scare tactics, Silent Hill featuresa gameplay twist that works very well with its limited visibilityenvironments. Harry carries a radio with him that crackles with staticwhenever the game's nasties are near, and continues until they're nolonger in the vicinity or have been killed off. (Enemies may requirefurther whacking when they're down, as they like to play dead.)Additionally, the supported Dual-Shock controller pulsates in aheartbeatlike fashion whenever you're moderately or seriously injured.--Joe Hon

Pros:

• Suspenseful story with bone-chilling gameplay
• Short load times
• Excellent lighting and fog effects
• Five possible endings add replay value

• Coarse graphics
• Clunky combat

Reviews (182)

Wat Better Than Resident Evil 2
If you like scary fun, shooting things and kicking thing on the floor, then you'll love this game! Silent Hill is a great addition for any survival horror fan's collection. Or just anybodies collection. While its almost as good as Resident Evil 4, people who still have a Ps2 or a working PSX, you should pick this up.The graphics might not be as good as Resident Evil,
it's still a must buy. It's the scariest game you will ever play
along with better camera angles, running and shooting, bloodier and scarier enemy design than any other survival horror game. If you play this with every light off in your house and your alone, keep a gun. Trust me, you will get scared. And you can use a chainsaw! How cool is that? You dont be a fan of survival horror games to enjoy Silent Hill. Infact, you dont even need to like video games to love or get scared by SilenT Hill.

The beginning to the best horror series of all time
Rating: A
Perhaps it was with Resident Evil that horror games began to rear their ugly head (pun intended), but it was here that psychological tension and true horror was established on the Playstation, as few can argue the tension and suspense this game, and all of the games in the series exhibit in terms of just staying with you long after you've put down the controller, and have crawled into bed for what you might have hoped to be a nice night of sleep. Although part two trounces this game in nearly every category, this game still stands the test of time, as one of the defining games on Playstation 1, as where RE reinvented horror, Silent Hill turned it on its head, and bludgeoned it with a rusty screwdriver, making you wonder where in the hell the creators for this game got their ideas in the first place. Basically the story in a nutshell revolves around Harry Mason, as he drives by the town of Silent Hill late one night, with his daughter Cheryl. Upon seeing a motorcycle cop pass him, it is only moments later, where he once again sees her bike again; but turned over on the side of the road. Upon looking back up a girl is standing in the middle of the road, Harry swerves to avoid hitting her, and the next time he awakens, he finds Cheryl gone, his jeep destroyed, and he is in a town encircled with mist and filled with dead ends that lead to nowhere in particular. Picking up mellee objects and guns along the way, Harry fights through hordes of demons (or are they really demons?) to find his daughter, and try to save her from the hellish town of Silent Hill. From a church to a school, and all the way to a hospital, and a mall, few places are left unturned in Harrys search for his missing daughter, as the mangled pieces of ths puzzle fall into place, the storyline becomes more and more disjointed until the bizarre final battle in Nowhere. A note to those that might play through the game, and be caught off guard by the seemingly strange storyline, that never seems to come together completely, play Silent Hill 3 to get the true conclusion of this games storyline, or simply head on over to GameFaqs.com and check out any of the storyline weavers over there, they are written impeccably well, and help to bridge the gap where you might be left wondering exactly what the hell is going on. Although the games battle system is a bit awkward, Silent Hill is more about atmosphere and storyline, which it exhibits in spades all throughout the whole series (once again part 2 being the pinnacle). If you enjoy this game, check out Jacob's Ladder, an excellent and disturbing movie, that hugely inspired this game and the series in general, this will also help you get a feel for the whole disjointed reality, nightmare scenarios present thorughout the whole series. All I can say to conclude this article is wait til these guys make a game on the upcoming generation of systems, as truly these crators are geniuses, that have mastered the craft of game making to an art form, and their works give you the same kind of horror and awe as looking at Francis Bacon painting, as we wonder just what the hell is beyond the abyss, awaiting us in the inner sanctums of our own dilapidated imagination, and dreams. Enjoy.

THE scariest video game ever created!!!!
Back in 2002, I had never really played any kind of survival horror game ever in my life.A friend of mine came over to my house and brought Silent Hill and the Playstation.I was just watching and I really liked how it had snow falling out in the town in the summer nonetheless, it looked like a really scary game.Then, months later, I borrowed this game from my friend and played from the beginning and didn't get really far because I really didn't know what to do.Finally, one night, when my friend was back over at my house, I was playing and he was sitting there watching and we were playing with surround sound, the lights off and no one else was in the house.From the very beginning alley, I was very scared!So I get to the school, Midwich Elementary School, and everything looks normal.My friend who was watching kept telling me that once I go through the Clock Tower, I will be back at Midwich Elementary and that it will be the same school but at the same time, it wouldn't be the same school and at that point, I was really starting to freak out.I had no idea what horrors were waiting for me!

I go through the Clock Tower and I hear these really creepy sirens, I'm to the point where I want to turn the game off but my friend was with me and kept telling me to move on.So I start to go into the school and once I'm in, I'm freaking out!All the floors were replaced by metal grates with nothing below them, the walls were like chained fences, everything covered in blood, pure horror and terror!!I was really scared by the visuals and the music.Something really creepy in the Alternate school is when you go into one of the bathroom's on the first floor, you end up on the second floor, creepy!!!Just everything that I saw and heard in every room and corridor scared me to death!!

I turned the game off after I was done in the school and couldn't sleep with the light off!!I did eventually play through the whole game and beat it but I have never been so scared playing a video game in my entire life!!!The really scary music and sound effects play a big part.But what's really scary isn't just the atmosphere, the music or visuals.It freaks me out thinking about why the town of Silent Hill is deserted and how Samael came along.If I think about this stuff before I go to sleep, a lot of times, I can't sleep.The Alternate Hospital, Alchemilla Hospital is another really scary place in the game that really scared me too but not as bad as the school.To be honest, when I first was going through the Alternate school, the way it looked, that's what I thought hell would look like, it was so scary.To this day, it scares me!Sometimes even with the light on, it's scary!!Even though the graphics aren't the best, this Silent Hill game scares me more than Silent Hill's 2, 3 or 4 and they have better graphics!!!I would not recommend this game to anyone who scares easily!

A very, VERY disturbing game...
I got "Silent Hill" as a gift, one of several that i enjoyed playing on the old playstation 1.I had played resident evil, parasite eve, etc; and enjoyed them all.But i really hadn't been all that frightened.

Then i started to play Silent Hill.

This game doesn't showcase the fact that it's SCARY or BLOODY.It presents itself as being purely eery- a cold, lonely sort of fear that pervades the game.The snow, the mist, the radio, and (interestingly enough) the somewhat characatured objects.Weapons, items, and environmental stuff all seem slightly out of proportion.

But the biggest shock, for me, was the "otherworld".Seeing what was just an EERY town turn into something like hell was overwhelming.And it's not an ostentatious hell (BLOOD!GUTS!TOOOOORRRRRRTTTTUUUUURRRRE!!!).It was extremely subtle, only small- but very dire, very effective- changes take place.And that's what makes the game so scary.There is no clear cut line between "Silent Hill" and the hellish otherworld, and that makes it so very frightening.To this day i wonder where the blackness beneath the chain-link ground leads...

And that's just the story.Gameplay is surprisingly fun, though rather simple.You will have a blast beating creatures with the manhole opener.You won't be all that stumped by the puzzles, although there is much to explore, and you have to pay great attention to detail to arrive at the best of the multiple endings.Gameplay remains the understatement, however, as this game manages an almost cinematic horror more than a party-worthy funfest.But this is ultimately much more rewarding in the end, especially when you can't fall asleep...

Wonderful atmosphere!
Harry Mason and his seven year old daughter Cheryl are on their way to the lakeside resort known as Silent Hill for a peaceful getaway when a mysterious teenage girl appears in the headlights.Harry swerves to avoid her and ends up crashing through a fence into Silent Hill.When he regains consciousness, he finds Cheryl is missing.The town seems to be completely abandoned, save for a few abominations scurrying about, covered in a thick blanket of fog, and it's snowing-in July.He spots Cheryl up ahead through the fog and calls out to her but she runs away from him.She escapes and he is now stranded in the town and is left to search for his missing daughter in a town that is periodically taken over by the otherworld, AKA hell.

If you think the town is creepy at first, just wait.It gets MUCH better.Skinned bodies are hung from steal fence walls.Faceless zombie children sneak up on you in the halls of the Midwich school, knives in hand.Everything is drenched in blood and guts.Screeches, banging on a piano, cockroaches the size of cats scuttling across the floor and nibbling on your toes, the body of a decapitated dog whose head has apparently served as a child's basketball lies on the ground, grunting gorilla/men tackle you and tear out your throat, nurses in the hospital pursue you with knives, the ghost of a little girl runs past, giggling, headless ragdolls are nailed to the walls, something in the room crashes but you turn....and noone's there.

Throughout the game, you'll eventually discover why the town keeps being invaded by the otherworld, who is holding Cheryl captive and why, who the mysterious teenage girl in the road was and why she keeps appearing, and you'll meet a few interesting characters including the eccentric, creepy old woman Dahlia Gillespie, a girl named Alessa who's past is truly horrific, a female police officer named Cybil, a gruff hospital worker named Michael Kauffman, and the sweet, frightened nurse Lisa Garland.

The game terrifies many, but it honestly didn't frighten me in the least, although I LOVED the eery atmosphere, the plot, and the characters.Speaking of which, the plot is one of the deepest, most involved video game plots you'll ever see.After playing the game, you'll probably need to read a plot guide off of gamefaqs.com in order to grasp everything, and even then, it's a bear to take in everything.The writers are geniuses and Dean Koontz and Stephen King would be proud to call the plot their own brainchild.

So how about the other three Silent Hill games?Well, I Silent Hill 2 was a fantastic game that I highly recommend (it doesn't tie in to the first installment's plot).I've played through 98% of Silent Hill 3 (which is a sequel to Silent Hill 1, so try to play 1 before 3) and it's good, but dissapointing compared to the first two.Silent Hill 4, I've only played a tiny amount of as a rental, but the opening movie was quite frightening. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

One of two new Zelda games for the Game Boy Color, TheLegend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons is the more action-focused titleof the duo. The Triforce has alerted Link to trouble in the land ofHolodrum, where the General of Darkness has kidnapped Din, the Oracleof Seasons. The villain hopes to transform Holodrum into a wasteland bychanging the order of seasons. It's up to you to help Link saveHolodrum by rescuing Din.

The game features more combat and fewer puzzles than its sister, makingit better suited for younger gamers. Its mechanics and menus aresimilar to those found inLink'sAwakening, also for the Game Boy. This is classic overheadrole-playing at its best. The key item in this game is the rod ofseasons, which allows Link to change seasons at will. For example, animpassable lake becomes a quick stroll by using the rod to changeseasons from summer to winter.

Although this game is extremely enjoyable on its own, you'll want touse it in conjunction with its sister title:Oracle of Ages.After you complete one game you'll be given a password that lets youbegin with all your items, statistics, and progress intact in theother. Certain characters will appear only by playing both games. Byusing a link cable, players can trade items. Game Boy Advance userswill find a store that's exclusive to them.

While this is one of the best Game Boy titles ever, a truly sublimeexperience can be had playing it with its companion title. --RaymondM. Padilla

Pros:

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

• Lots of reused sound effects from previous Zelda games
• Longtime gamers might find the story and level design contrived
• Your thumbs will get sore from all the battles

Reviews (124)

A Truly Amazing Game
I own both Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Zelda Oracle Of Ages. Both of these games Are truly amazing. I found Seasons to be a bit more challenging than Ages. If you are a first time Zelda player I would reccommend getting Ages and if you like it then get Seasons. I am on the final boss of Ages and it only took me 5 days to get to that point. But take into consideration that once I get a new game (especially a Zelda game) I play it non stop. So if you are looking for a more complicated, battle packed Zelda game then this one is for you.

I'd rather save Nayru, Oracle of Ages
I played Oracle of Ages first, and it was a better game, although both are worth playing.

When they say that Oracle of Seasons is more focused on the combat, they're not kidding!There were very few puzzles and, in my opinion, a lot of meaningless sword-swinging.Most of the bosses need to be hit by the sword many times and then they are defeated.In Ages, you actually had to use the item that you just got.Up to the boss, Onox, it is really easy.Getting from level to level was a little hard for me, but that's because I always overlook the obvious.Other than that, it went so much faster than Ages.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to defeat Onox yet.I can't even get past the second stage!I don't understand how a sword can't cut through him but if you use hero's skill it can!He's a chunk of rock! So the boss is HARD!

The Maku Tree isn't as loveable as in Ages.He just sleeps!Doesn't even hit on you...

As in all Zelda games, it's much more enjoyable if you take it slow (although it's hard in this one) and talk to all of the people in it.They have funny things to say!One of my favorite parts is Subrosia with the Like-Likes!They're so cute!So instead of traveling through times, you change the seasons and go through portals to Subrosia.Dancing there is great!It's a little easier than the Goron dancing, though they are both difficult.

About the seasons...it gives the game a lot more flexibility in how the levels can be arranged.Instead of having 2 ages, you get 4 seasons, each with different "hidden" parts.I really like how you can bounce on the flowers in the spring!And the people say different things at different times!It is fun!

You get to see many of the same characters as in Ages, the important ones as well as the town folk.And there are some different items.I especially liked the Magnetic Gloves and Roc's Cape.The level design is pretty straightforward and the dungeons are rather easy.

Overall, it's a good game to play, but you should definitely try it's companion too.I can't use the codes to link them yet until I beat this one, so I'll try!

Great music, as always!

Get this game and Ages, so that you can further your Zelda gaming skills!

A must have.
I am fairly new to games, and have only been playing them for about a year now. I heard a lot of good things about TLOZ series, and decided to give this game a try. Well, It sort of took a little while to grow on me, but I ended up loving this game. It is just good in every aspect. It can be very challenging, has a pretty good storyline, and is also quite lengthy. This is the first game I every played that took me longer than just 4-5 days to beat. In fact, I played it for at least a month before I beat it.

In this game you play as Link, the hero of Hyrule who was sent to the land of Holodrum to rescue a goddess named Din, who has been captured by the dark lord Onox. Din is the oracle of Seasons, and Onox plans to use her to his advantage; casting the seasons of Holodrum into chaos. You have to find eight essences of nature, by traveling through eight dungeons. These dungeons are filled with all sorts of challenges, and will require some thought. I was never stuck too long in a dungeon. However, getting to the dungeons can be a problem. Your "guide," the Maku tree, will give you a vague hint as to where the next dungeons lies. However, he will give absolutely no inclination as to the three or four things you must do to get there, which could include finding a rusty bell in a strange place, and then giving it to a pirate.

The dungeons themselves are great, although they all follow a certain pattern. Link must basically find his way through the dungeon, find a new item, fight a mini-boss, and then fight a big boss. Every single dungeon is designed that way, but its just a small thing. Don't worry, you'll be challenged by every single one.

The graphics are pretty good for a GBC game. The view is from the top-down, and you can see every character clearly, right down to there facial expressions.

The hardest part to this game is actually the bosses. It took me a week to beat the final boss of a game, and I never beat any boss in less than three tries. I have never played a game with such hard bosses.

The oracle of seasons is a great game. I loved it, and I bet you will too.

ok
I havent played many zelda games but this is the worst i loved windwaker but this is to hard i cant get far in the 4 dungeon with out being killed. in addition theres not much of a story just buy windwaker with the money u save :)

Oracle of Seasons Review
This game is totally awesome!I haven't beaten the game yet, I'm on level 6.Overall Oracle of Seasonsis not very puzzle-challenging.I have used a walkthrough for a few puzzles that are a little more difficult.The bosses are hard, but not so hard that you won't ever beat it, although I have spent a day or two trying to beat bosses, which I eventually do.All in all as long as you talk to many people and remember the important things they say, it isn't very hard to discover items or find dungeons.I rate this game two thumbs up, and I recommend you purchase it along with Oracle of Ages, which works together with Oracle of Seasons, but is much much more challenging. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Samurai Greatness!!!
Okay, long ago I played this game, for a very short time at that. Once for five minutes when a neighbor brought it over (and sadly I never saw him again) and another time on a demo for about the same amount of time. Then I bought this and it was AWESOMELY AWESOME! Then also when the sequal/remake of the game Samurai Legend: Musashi, it was JUST AS AWESOME IF NOT EVEN MORE!!!!!!!!! YOU MUST BUY THE GAME NOW! ALSO THE SECOND ONE!!!

This game is TOO AWESOME to describe!!!
This game is AWESOME!!! I played the demo of it, and as soon as I finished the demo, I knew I had to play the full version. So one day I rented it. It was a BLAST!!! I fell COMPLETELY in love with game!!! Oh! And I expect the same thing in the sequel. That's right, the sequel!!! It's due March 2005, and is called Musashi Samurai Legend!!! So if you liked the first game, expect HIGH hopes from the sequel!!!

A Fun somewhat challenging games
What may have turned many fans away (even me at first) about this game is that it is on the outside targeted towards children.While Final Fantasy always had a deep plot with strong characters, this one does not.Instead we get a game that is more in tune with that of a Saturday Morning Cartoon.

The story here is that an evil force is attacking the kingdom in order to take it over.The Princess and her council cast a spell to retrieve the Legendary Brave Fencer Musashi.They expect this tall muscular Adult Warrior and instead they get a child.Distraut at first they send him on a quest to retrieve his sword and release the five scrolls so that the evil can be stopped.

The gameplay is that of an Action RPG.You gain experience points in fighting but also on how you do things to a certain degree.You use your swords to fight but also your short sword can be charged and then thrown at your opponents to absorb their abilities.You may find that the weakest of creatures could have the most usuful of abilities, and vice versa.

This game is deceptivly deep and challenging.The Bosses are for the most part Hard, yet incredible to fight.Also just to tease RPG fanatics there is a Toy Collecting Mini game of sorts.You can remove the toys from the packaging but then their value goes down if you choose to resell the toys (take that Fanatics).Overall this is a great game to play and I am looking forward to the PS2 followup for sometime next year.If your not into Final Fantasy than give this one a shot, you may be surprised at how much you enjoy it.

A real review
I can't belive the reviews I am reading on this game, because I owned it, and I am writing this review to make sure that other people don't make the same mistake that I did.

We all love Square, but come on, sometimes they don't make the best games.The only problem is that their fans are so loyal that they won't let anything bad be said about even the few square game that are not good.Final Fantasy 5: bad storyline, I mean bad, fun gameplay, but none of the diehard fans will admit that it is a bad game.Musashi, same problem: horrible storyline, and I swear to god some of the most annoying side characters in gaming history.I wanted to kill the princess myself. She talks, *giggles* totally like this, and the worst, like thing, like, is that she like has audio of all her speeches *giggle*.And once you beat the game you probably won't come back 4 more.If you are under the age of 13 or 12, though, you might enjoy this game, so this review is dependent on age.

But really, before you dismiss this review, it is not the worst game, it is bad, but come on other reviewers don't recommend this game as a must have, u know it's not that good.Buy Vagrant Story instead, loads of replay value, probably the best story-line on the PS, and graphics and look are original, I've never seen a game like it, the development team broke up after it, so it will remain an anomaly.Or Parasite Eve 1, that's the closest I've seen a game come to a movie and still have gameplay and an actuall game included with it.Anyway, this is an honest review, I warned you don't buy the game, you most likely won't enjoy it.

MUY BEUNO!!
Considering that this is a PS1 title, this game is awsome!!! It has solid gameplay, beutiful sound, quirky sound effects, and cool charecter designs.Best feature, the Machine Gun Fusion... bratatatatatatatatatat!!! WHEEEEE!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

You are Solid Snake, a superspy who's half James Bond, half Snake Plissken, and you are mean. Your mission isn't terribly new (infiltrate a terrorist base and blow everything up), but the gameplay is: your numerous enemies are watching for you, and you are encouraged to sneak rather than simply charge in. Every level brings new challenges. You fight snipers, invisible ninjas, psychic warriors, and even an M-1 tank! As the father of the modern spy game genre, this game is an instant classic.

Your allies and superiors speak to you via a cool, implanted radio,monitoring your progress, offeringtips--but failing to give you the full story. The combination of a mysterious and engaging plot and high in-game tension makes this a thrilling ride. Campy humor also abounds as you rescue beautiful women, verbally spar with your allies, and blow up enemies in the bathroom. A user-friendly control interface allows for sniping, hiding, crawling, and running, and the graphics leave nothing to be desired. If you like espionage, spy movies, or just want to own and play a piece of gaming history, then this is a must have. Metal Gear Solid is one of the all-time greats. Game tip: Secretly attach plastic explosives behind an enemy, sneak out of the room, and see what happens. --Allen Stewart

Pros:

• Story well-integrated into gameplay
• Stealth favored over brute force
• Challenging puzzles

• Puzzles can be frustrating
• Torture scene too intense for younger gamers

Features

• 3rd-person shooter that launched a popular series
• Players assume the role of Solid Snake
• Emphasis on covert actions, rather than blazing guns
• Linear, story-driven progress
• For 1 player

Reviews (265)

This hasn't aged particularly well, but.....
After eight years without a new Metal Gear game, this franchise got it's third entry with Metal Gear Solid. The graphics have not aged well at all. Textures are very pixellated, animation is very jerky, and the framerate can get rather slow at times. The audio, however, has lots of great dialogue, combined with a catchy musical score.

The gameplay is based around stealth. You are Solid Snake, a spy working for a secret agency whose objective is to stop a device called Metal Gear, and save a couple of old guys. The story is deeper than that, of course, but in a nutshell, that's it. The controls, while laid out well, can be very unresponsive at times. The game itself is very fun (sneaking around to either get past or silently eliminate enemies), but is very easy to complete, and take away all of the cinematics and dialogue (12 hours of it all!), and you've got just three hours of gameplay.

Metal Gear Solid hasn't aged well at all, but is still very fun and happens to be a nice collector's piece for fans of the series. But should you start here? No, grab a GameCube and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (a next-gen remake of this) instead, then grab Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance on the PS2 or the Xbox.

Brilliant, possibly the best action game ever created...
Metal gear solid has the most complex and often perplexing storyline I have ever seen in a video game, hands down. It will always have you on your toes, literally. I have seen many movies, and I can honestly say this game has a better storyline than most movies. Here is what you need to know..

Graphics- 100/100 The graphics were top of the line when this game first came out, and even to this day they look great. There is so much detail to every aspect of the game, and even compared to most newer games, this game wins out. Back when I first played it in about early 2000 or so, the graphics were the best the playstation had to offer, and that's a year or so after this game came out, which is pretty astonishing. There is even a scene where Snake is in the girls bathroom, and there is a mirror which perfectly reflects everything. I mean, back when this game came out that was a pretty big feat both graphically and attention wise. Most games just don't pay the kind of attention this game does.

Sound- 100/100 Perfect. Just flawless. There isn't much of an actual soundtrack, but the music is incredibly atmospheric and will make you feel like you are Solid Snake, infiltrating a nuclear base. The voice-overs are the best I have ever seen in a video game. Solid Snakes voice over is perfect, and just about everyone elses fits their personality and there image. Otacon's fits him perfectly, so do Meryl's and Liquid Snake's.
Seriously though, this game has incredible sound and has never been surpassed by any action game to date.

Gameplay- 100/100 I have heard people complain about the poor camera views limiting the gameplay, but in my opinion, the camera views perfectly fit this game and the game wouldn't be the same without them. Sure, it would have been nice to have a first person perspective while using the weapons, but it's all the same to me. I think it is perfectly fine having to shoot enemies in a third person view, and it works better with the type of graphics that it has. When you are spotted, enemies will storm in from all directions to stop you, something that seperates this game from all others. This game gives you good reason to want to play it safe, but still allows you you have some action packed fun as well, if you want to take a chance that is. Also, this game has an incredible storyline but doesn't throw it in your face all the time. MGS2 drags the storyline on eccesively and bores you with excruciatingly long cut scenes and codec conversations. I remember using the square button to skip most of the cut scenes in MGS2. The problem with MG2 is that the storyline is too complex for the good of the game. I mean, much of it is pointless grubble and the game bores you by making you listen to conversations about crap that doesn't apply necessarily to the main storyline, making it a waste of time. This game, however, truly has a wonderful , complex storyline that you will WANT to watch and listen to. Every conversation and cut scene adds to the game flawlessly, so you will probably never get bored, although I am sure you will find yourself reading the codec conversations manually instead of listening to the people talk, since they tend to talk rather slowly and take up a bit too much gameplay.

Overall- 100/100 This game is as perfect as it gets, and I have beaten it at least 15 times, if not more. Even to this day it is a pleasure to play, and I don't think it will get old any time soon.

Metal Gear Solid
Well this is one game that I love playing and I always will. This game has it all, everything you would expect in a movie. Im talking about true military action which features, VR training, special weapons, and ofcourse the hero and the villains.

You are Solid Snake, and your mission is to find and eliminate the nuclear war head 'Meatl Gear Rex'. But beware, expect challenges through out your mission, be preared for antthing. Only you have been chosen to attempt this mission and you know you can do it. Prepare yourself for stealth action like you have never seen it before, and experience the life of a genetically born soldier.

The best Playstation game ever
Metal Gear Solid can be said in three words.Brilliant,Amazing, FUN!Metal Gear Solid is one of Hideo Kojimas finest.It has a very superb plot, Superb characters and lots of great dialoug.Metal Gear Solid was a very hyped up game in 98' and lived up to the hype.I simply loved this game.Metal Gear Solid has bin called by man fans and gamesites as one of the best PS1 Action games.I totally agree and I think it's not only the best Action game but also One of the best games ever created.It has a brilliant story line which I won't bring up since You can find time to read other reviewers since they pretty much tell you.The game is a stealth game.It pretty old Stealth game Acctually, the game is about 7-8 years old.I was one of many Fans to buy this amazing game when it first hit stores.Metal Gear Solid earns its 5 for these things.Story, Gameplay and Villans.The villans in this game are awesome.From the moment you get to the Ocelot fight to getting your hands on Rex You will love this game.Metal Gear solid Has bin one of the most Popular Playstation games and has spawned sequals(ala MGS2 and now Mgs3)And what makes Metal Gear Solid one of the best games is also the fact that Metal Gear Solid has one of the best Storylines in a game.Sure there are some plot holes in the series but Kojima did that for us(the fans) to make our on Theories and to guess and what not once the next one comes out.If you've had a Playstation for a loooong time and don't have Metal Gear Solid in your PS library Then I donno what the hell is wrong with you.

Metal Gear solid Sums up to these things
Best Story line in a game
Some of the best Graphics scene on the PS1(yes it's extreamly out dated but I still love the graphics in this game as it was the best in it's time)
Great Stealth action
Amazing Level desighn
My favorite....The boss battles(just awesome especially the finale with Rex)
Good Replay value..

Cons
NOTHING....
well I guess I should point out that this is a pretty short game.The first time through for me(since I looked around alot)will be maybe 8-10 hours second time through should take 5 hours or less.But that doesn't ruin the game at all


This game is a masterpiece, everything about it is amazing and it's even better then the remake(I thought it was)

It all comes down to Metal Gear Solid as one of the best Ps games ever and it totaly earns its...

5 out of 5 stars....Superb

Lates...

ROFLMAO
lol

cons:
torture scene too intense for younger gamers...

That idiot who wrote that must not have been aware this is a Mature rated 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

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

Reviews (26)

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com Review

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

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

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

Pros:

• Incredible graphics
• Deep gameplay
• Strong replay value

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

Reviews (264)

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

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

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

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

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

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

here is a taste of the gameplay:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Editorial Review

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

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

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

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

Pros:

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

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

Features

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

Reviews (134)

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

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

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

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

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

CHARIZARD GO!
This is a great classic game.You begin as a new Pokemon trainer, and soon select your first Pokemon.The choices are Charmander, a fire type;squirtle, a water type;or bulbasaur, a fire type.Interestingly, three Pokemon you choose from are like rock/paper/scissors, charmander beats bulbasaur, squirtle beats charmander, and bulbasaur beats squirtle.Soon, you rival chooses his Pokemon(annoyingly, its always the one that has the type advantage, like if you choose squirtle he will choose charmander.You are then given the task of completing a complete guide of Pokemon by catching all of them.In order to beat the game, you only need the first 150 Pokemon, however, there is also a legendary number 151 Mew.You catch Pokemon by using one you already have to weaken it, then catching it with a Pokeball.Once you catch a Pokemon, you may use it to fight others, but you can only have up to 6 Pokemon at a time.Along the way, you will encounter other trainers you may battle.There are regular trainers, which you battle only for money, fun, and experience.However, there are also gym leaders, which are specialized trainers with stronger Pokemon than regular trainers in their area have.There are 8 in all, and once you beat them, you may then battle the elite four, who are much tougher than gym leaders and you have to fight all of them in succession.You also encounter your rival throughout the game.And he becomes Pokemon League Champion, however, once you defeat him, you become Pokemon League Champion.There are also troublemaking team rocket