Product Description

There has never been a better time to buy the game everyone is talking about.The Sims Deluxe Edition combines into one premium edition the most popular PC game of all time, The Sims, as well as the top-selling Sims expansion pack, The Sims Livin' Large, and a host of all-new exclusive features and content. ... Read more

Features

• Includes:
• The Sims: Create an entire neighborhood of Sims and run or ruin their lives with the full version of the best-selling PC game of all time. Help your Sims pursue careers, make friends, and find romance - or make a complete mess of things! Open-ended gameplay gives you the freedom to set your own goals and chart your Sims' destiny.
• The Sims Livin' Large: With over 125 additional items, five additional career tracks with 50 additional jobs and a cast of wild characters like the Grim Reaper and the Genie, this best selling expansion pack puts your Sims into outrageous situations and settings.
• Sims Creator: Recreate every Sim you can imagine with this powerful tool that allows even the novice users to customize every detail of how their Sims look. Even put your own face in The Sims!
• 25 plus Exclusive Objects

Reviews (183)

Would be five stars except for Sims 2...
This pack contains the game that started it all.Here, even more room is made for individuality and creativity.

What do we learn from the Sims?

1.Deferring gratification is essential for a "win."
2.Money isn't everything - but it isn;t evil, either.
3.Energy is limited but renewable.
4.Balance is crucial.Spending all time and energy on one thing is rarely good in the long run...

Wonderful, wonderful game.

Boooooooooorrrrrrrrring!!
I've heard so many people rave about the Sims over the past couple of years that I finally decided to break down and buy it. This is one of the few times that I have to say I honestly have no idea what the big deal is all about.

The Sim is a "people simulator". You create little people, plop them down in a house and control thier lives. You buy them clothes, furniture, make them meet people. Just about everything real people do. And that's basically the problem.

The thing I that I found least entertaining about the Sims is that the whole game revolves around what I call "micro-managment". Every last little detail you have to scrutinize. Though some might find this appealing, I found it tedious and boring. It makes me feel less like I'm playing a game and more like an accountant. The game is also quite slow paced. Even if you speed up time, the game can move too fast and then you can really lose control over the game.

The gameplay consists of a "point, click, and watch" formula for gameplay. You click on an object, your Sim person will walk to it, use it, and then go back to being idle. After time if you develop a pattern the Sim person will do things on his own, but that takes a while. After endlessly pointing and clicking and watching, I started to do things like try to set my Sim person on fire, or not have him go to the bathroom for a while. It is rather fun to torture your Sim person but it wears thin after a while.

The graphics are good. The Sims speak in some kind of jibberish. And there's lots of Sim skins available for download on the internet.

All in all I'd have to say that I really don't get this game. Maybe it's because I'm more used to games like Metal Gear Solid and SOCOM that I have trouble playing a game of this type. I tend to like having more direct control over the outcome of a game. The Sims made me feel like I'm a spectator. I'd have to say pick this up only you find a really good deal. Otherwise it's best to take the $20 you were going to spend and pick up something else. Sorry, but this is one I can't recomend.

simy
this game is simulated life.Why is it "fun" to do the dishes in a game, but not in real life?who cares?it is!so, but now or die now.

simulated people
The Simms stands for simulated people.A simulation is like the real thing but on the computer.You dont move around a maze like Mario.YOu have to take care of you're SIMMS PEOPLE!!You have to feed them and give them windows and jobs and make them go to the bathroom.It's like your a scientist whocontrols the experiment which is people. And notice didnt say you are GOD Peo-PLE so you cant get made at me.

Now some warnigns about the game.Peoplewho play the Simms like to talk about wht there simms did that day and who they met and how they are doing.YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU'RE SIMM OR THEY WILL DIE PEO-PLE!!!!iF YOU THINK YOU CAN PLAY IT A LITTLE BIT and put it away then it is not for you.Go get Halo Half life or another first person shooter!!Part of the fun of the simms is being with people who now about it and want to talk to other people abbout how there Simms are doing!!!

Also it is very addicting!!!!

ALo you can kill your sim by putting them in the pool and taking the ladder away!!!

Kinda Fun, but mostly ANNOYING!
Overall, the concept of this game is fun and the writers had some really good ideas and it's funny in some ways. But what I HATE about this game is that you spend more than 70% of the time making them go to bed, eat, and go take a bath/shower!!! Like, I get it, but enough already... They have so little energy that you never have time to do anything fun. One or two activities, and they're down on the floor. WHAT?! Ha, don't even bother getting them a job b/c you will see them again...Just stick with the cheat codes. If this game did not have this one flaw (ie energy would last longer) then it would be awesome. I'm buying Sims 2 and I really hope that this will not be as big a problem!!!! Grrrr.... ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Set in the interval between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, this first-person adventure lets you step into the role of the galaxy's most heavily armed bounty hunter, Jango Fett, as you track a renegade Jedi across the galaxy, collecting information (and bounties) along the way.

In addition to Jango's trademark dual blaster pistols, your armor bristles with gadgets and weaponry: darts, flamethrower, blowtorch, scanner, cable snare, and--of course--a missile-launching jetpack. Use this arsenal to battle hordes of uncooperative guards, fend off rival bounty hunters, scale precipitous skyscrapers, and capture fugitives--dead or alive. The basic controls are surprisingly easy to master, and you've got enough armament at your disposal to fight your way out of almost any situation. Still, some finesse is required: as fun as it is to walk into a room and blast everything in sight (and it is fun--especially when you're the one wearing the jetpack), you may discover when the smoke clears that the guy you just fried was worth twice as much alive. Oh well...

The complex storyline is revealed by extended cutscenes that let you rest your thumbs while Jango follows up the next lead. (Star Wars fans will appreciate the quality and detail of these scenes, as well as the fidelity of the story arc--namely how Jango is chosen as the model for the clone troopers in Episode II.) And anyone familiar with the Lucas Arts suite of games will not be disappointed by the superior graphics, music, sound effects, and fully realized characters and locations. The pace of the game is up to you: methodically seek out the secrets of each level, or ruthlessly blast your way to the big payoff. --Maile Bohlmann

Pros:

• Impressive graphics and rich detail
• Excellent scripting and voicing
• Nice balance between action and strategy
• Controller setup is intuitive and easy to learn

Cons:

• Long stretches between save points
• Climbing sequences can become redundant
• Weapons must be holstered to use scanner, leaving you vulnerable

Reviews (79)

pretty good game
When you first start to play this game, you'll be amazed on how different is. Instead of running around with a lightsaber slashing people in half, this game lets you pulverize people with pistols, missiles,grenades,and an assortment of deadly weapons. It will provide countless entertainment(like watching people run around on fire) along with fustrating puzzles(it takes a long time to find out what to do).

A real downside of the game is the weapon system. you get cool weapons, but you mainly ues the pistols for the entire game. Also, some of the graphics are kinda bad.I remember I missed a guy with a sniper rifle and the game count it as a hit....wich was good. The extra bounty system is pretty cool, but it really doesn't affect the game that much.

Overall, it is a game that is worth your money.

Oh how I wish for a sequel to this awesome game!
This was the second game I ever got for PS2 and I just love it. I still go back to it after several years for nothing more than the thrills and good times it has to offer. Bounty Hunter isn't perfect but it is one of the better Star Wars games I've played and its a great third person shooter. I remember how much the graphics, cutscenes, effects, sound, and dialog blew me away a couple years ago and all I can do today is appreciate all these things more. Every time I play the game (I've played it a lot) I find new things to mess around with, whether it be small rodent creatures to blast or secret areas containing heavy weapons. The worlds are immerse with detail and most are actually almost beautiful. The explosions and laser blasts that fill the levels all look great, as do the characters, who's lypsyncing and motions are excellently executed. The action gameplay is fast paced with a very high frame rate. The sound design sounds as though it was taken directly from a Star Wars film. And most of all, the story is very entertaining, from your first encounter with the villanous scum Meeko, to your stealing of Slave 1 from an astroid prision, to meeting Tyranus. The story takes you all around the galaxy and be prepared to meet up with some familiar characters such as Zam Weesel. Many have complained about the game's repetetivness and lousy camera and I will admit that the camera tends to work a little strangly at times, but it certainly can be controled and is not something to get all worked up over. Bounty Hunter's action has never boared me and I find it's controls to be intruative and easy to use. Star Wars Bounty Huter is an excellent game with high production values and many good things going for it, I truely hope Lucas Arts releases a sequel for it because it is one of the best games I have ever played. Thanks for reading.

Overall? Mediocre.
I got thorough this game in a short while considering how long it's taken others that I know to get through it. During that time, however, I didn't have a life.
Though many got frustrated with this game I did very rarely. I'm the kind of person who loves a challenge and has a very high patience level.
In Star Wars I've always loved the Bounty Hunters, they seemed very interesting and were fun to study. I had to struggle a lot to find any information about Jango Fett and this game helped, it goes rather in depth with Jango Fett.
According to some of my sources some people like to 'feel' like a bounty hunter, if that's your only reason find another game, only on one level do you actually 'feel' like a bounty hunter.
I enjoyed this game mainly for the challenge, the levels got harder and longer as I progressed, I struggled with my last few. You often have to find very small ledges.
The graphics were well done in some parts, very bad in others. Sometimes Fett would become part of the scenery for a moment and then come back into sight so I tried not to get to near to objects.
If you like a challenge I suggest this game, but only if you're a Star Wars fan. To those with small amounts of patience, may I suggest another game?

Lets ruin a good concept shall we Lucasarts?
I got this game at my local Gamestop for $14.99 used, I had looked at the Amazon.com reviews, and they where good, I looked at the Gamespot.com reviews, and they called the game mediocre,
and they where right, the games concept is original, and the weapons are cool, but the gameplay just doesn't follow through, part of the reason is its excruciating difficulty, I spent 45 minutes on one level, and the only level I really enjoyed was Corusant, because you felt like you where really a bounty hunter, and I had to use cheats to get to that level.
This game could have been great, I mean come on what Star Wars fan Doesn't want to fly around as Jango Fett, collecting bounties before he gets his head cut off, the game needed many things, like difficulty settings, and being able to fly Slave 1.
The animations are very well done, but the neatness of the weapons, and the animations where not enough to keep me from returning it.

An Average Action Game...Hardly Anything More
After seeing Attack Of The Clones, the idea of a video game that might have some more background into the character Jango Fett appealed to me. Sadly, this game didn't live up to the expectations I had. Bounty Hunter is basically a cross of platforming, Star Wars and quick gunslinging thrown together into a strange result.

In the game you play Jango Fett [Of course], in the days before Episode II. Sure, Fett is able to scan crowds for bounties, swoop down on his jetpack and claim his money. Its an interesting feature, but the game's long levels are mostly a combination of tricky jumping platforming with the aid of a limited fuel jetpack. Fett is able to fly with his jetpack and utilize a wide variety of Star Wars weaponry including his trademark dual blasters, gauntlet flamethrower and toxic darts and a sniper rifle [Among others including special blaster guns that you find scattered throughout the levels].

The gunslinging atomosphere in the game is basically just flying around and shooting blaster bolts at everything in the room. Half of the time, when engaged in large firefights and using Jango's blasters, you can hardly see what is going on and end up firing bolts randomly until nothing is left in the room.

The storyline does put a little backbone and support into Jango Fett's story such as how he became to be the template for the Clone Army and how he met Count Dooku and Zam Wessel [You know, his assistant in early Episode II].

The graphics for some of the major cutscenes in the game are pretty good and detailed, though those that take place in the game are pretty poor. Plus, in several situations you find yourself sniping Tusken Raiders around Tatoonie and exit out of the first-person scope view only to find some large desert creature in the process of draining your health. This game is definetely not worth purchasing, but it may prove valuable for Star Wars fans. My reccomendation is to rent it first though. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

he its cool
Hey karl jorden u are right arc the lad collections is the bombardi but it did not come out for snes my cousin got this the day it cam eout and sold it when the last disk messed up on him at eb games retailersi automatically jumped to disk 2... when istarted playing mind you. but i know how are looks but it was not n snes it proves i am right go to gamespot and see its original released date, back in the day japan.. did not get mad when underpar games went on the systems i means ony did not care..but i know a lot of developers whom wanted to develope stuff for psx and ps2 when psx was almst done and ps2 is now in 2004.. i read that they said.. that they do not want no more little kid game son the system lol not like that.. i mean no more graphics like shining force.. it was a game they wanted on ps2 shingi force or to move subpar grpahic remakes to ps2 and psx in tis dying days was rejected.. iread it some where... so you can say they were invisiably fired...

but people here it is http://www.gamespot.com/finder/findgames.html

it was not on snes..rbably was going to it and got postponed for psx i guess over there theres my proof.

i ad not seen it in 3 ears this game iw a snot far in part 2 my cosin ticke dme off... heard es buyin it agian though...

cannot give it a solid like rating..

Awesome collection of strategy/RPG's...
Arc the Lad 1-3 was originally released by Sony. Arc 1 was released when the PS One first came out, in 1996/1997. About a year later, Arc 2 came out, then Arc 3 followed in 1999. The problem? They were never released out of Japan. Luckily, Working Designs, the company responsible for bringing out Lunar and Lunar 2 with great extras, has brought all 3 of these games out of Japan, with great packaging like the Lunar series.

Arc 1 is pretty short. You could finish it in about 10-15 hours (20+ if you do all the side quests), but it's still a lot of fun. Arc 2 continues the great story, and is a whole lot longer. You could spend anywhere from 50-100 hours on Arc 2. And finally, Arc 3. They took the job system from Arc 2 and made it the main part of Arc 3. Although not as serious, and more lighthearted, than the other games in the series, Arc 3 is still pretty fun. My favorite is Arc 2, then 1, and finally 3, but they all provide hours of fun and entertainment.

Also included is Arc Arena, which allows you to fight other monsters with monsters you capture in Arc 2. This was kind of fun, but I didn't really get into it.

The packaging comes with a hardcover instruction booklet (over 100 pages), a memory card holder, a "Making of Arc the Lad Collection" cd, and more. If you're a fan of strategy/rpg's, don't miss out!

Something that's fun again
I'm only about 1/2 to 2/3 done (I think)with the second game, and I already feel that I've more than got my money's worth.It's not terribly complicated, I've gotten a lot of amusement out of strange things, like looking at the bathtubs with different caracters, the game play is FUN. You don't have to be an ace player, mastering obscure button patterns, and there isn't too much conversation or graphics, JUST GAME!

Arc the Genius, sayeth the Genius...
Arc the Lad isn't a game that everyone will like because there isn't very much exploration. You don't control your character very much at all outside of battles and you have to get caught up in the dialogue in order to enjoy the story and the game. Arc the Lad's best feature is the battle system. The battle system is defiantly unique, of course there are a number of games that use a system that is similar but Arc the Lad came out before those games, it was an SNES game when it first came out in Japan mind you. As soon as I fought my first battle I loved this game and it reminded me of Shining Force, and once I met Tosh I was sold. Great start off to the series even though the last boss is extremely easy.

Arc The Lad II is better than Arc the Lad, and yes I have beaten it (for that reviewer who claimed not very many people have beaten it). The spells look better than Arc the Lad and you get to capture monsters and have them join your team. A complaint I have about the monsters is they cannot equip armor and so cannot keep up with your human party members. But with monster Arena you can fight with your friends (assuming you don't spend all your time on Amazon and do have friends) with your monster and so still keeping them up on levels is pretty important. This game is tougher than the first, it has more puzzles and tougher enemies plus the level you can level up to is insane (I have no idea what the max is but it is over 150). This game introduces the Hunter's Guild to Arc the Lad lovers where you take up jobs and go after wanted monsters all for money. Most of the cast from Arc the Lad joins up with your party and you can fight with them, if you've beaten Arc the Lad you can use convert and your characters from Arc the Lad will be at the same level with the same weapons you last left them at. The transition between games is extremely smooth thumbs up to this game! Sometimes the battles do get annoying but bare with it man... it's a good game, now shut your complaining.

I must admit I haven't beaten Arc the Lad III , so I think I'm entitled to my opinion about this one. Man I love the character Lutz but everyone is so mean to him, Alec (the hero) is suppose to be his best friend and yet he joins the others in picking on him they should realize that Lutz kicks all their [butts] and they should shut up cause he's the best character... Ahhh that felt sooo good Ok. enough about my Lutz raving. The game is better than the other ones. You meet a lot of the cast from the first and second game but it's rare for you to fight along side them, none of them join your party. But that's ok cause you fight with Tosh for a while (he's not at the same level I left him on GRRRRRRR) The plot revolves more around the Hunter's Guild than the second one and you're introduced to other Guilds.... Not sure if I like the other guilds or not I rarely use them but hey if you like that type of thing I guess. The magic looks good and now instead of capturing monsters you turn them into cards where they'll do one move and disappear, hey I'm not complaining I think it looks pretty cool myself. Anyways this game is awesome with the awesome battle system all the Arc the Lads have... So great stuff here... Did I mention Lutz is awesome?

Overall Arc the Lad satisfied me especially its battle system. The Arc the Lad series (though I haven't played the fourth one) flows together better than any video game series I've ever played.

Hmmm, overated, and not joking
Alright this review is going to reveal the truth about arc the lad. No there isn't any spoilers, but I will spill out the real details.

Arc the Lad 1: Great game. Really short. But really fun, after you play it once it isn't as great, but still I loved the battles and the 2d graphics worked great.

Arc the Lad 2: Ok its got alot more in it. You can change your weapons, more spells, tons of characters, monsters to control, yet sadly fails. The reason being? Noone actually plays to the end. Most of these people reviewing probably haven't gotten to the second half of the game. The first part is great. Then the battles start to get more frequent. The third part is enormously filled with meaningless battles, one after another. Then we reach the final areas. Tons of battles in which the reward is a new plot twist, you now must go to some random town and enter a doom tower filled with 30 levels of battling fun! Ok so you beat the tower, then split up in some ice area, 2 groups, thousands of battles. So you reach the final dungeon(s). Ok you walk up some stone blocks... now your going to HAVE to fight 5 consecutive battles in a row. Then go into this place and search for like 5 switches or something, it wasn't clear. I fought 4 battles going into a house and coming out, then realized there was nothing in there. I walked up to it, entered battle, went inside and battled, entered a room to find nothing, left the room and battled, went outside and battled. In these battles you are outnumbered. You just use your magic and take them down in about 3 hits. The magic starts to get real annoying after you see it thousands of times. Ok so you find the switches, guess what, you have to go into this creepy lair and fight some bosses, great. Overall the game really slumps. Most of the reviews here just say that arc the lad 2 has more then arc the lad 1 and is better. Sure arc the lad 2 starts great, but I am WARNING you, you will probably just stop caring by the end.

Arc the Lad 3: I got to the final dungeon and quit in arc the lad 2, then arc the lad 3 was popped in. I did not load my data because, well, I never finished arc2 to the dead end. So you basically are a hunter. The Cast seems dry compared to the original. Still the 3d seems appropriate, because most games are 3d now. It isn't better then what you can find anywhere else. Just go play a game like final fantasy 7 or legend of dragoon and you will be more satisfied. But arc the lad 3 seems kind of a blend of arc1 and arc2, with some today standards thrown in.

Arc the Lad Monster Arena: Pointless, you load in some monsters from arc the lad 2. I used a monster throught the whole game in arc2, yet the monster was still 10 levels behind all my other characters. Monsters are pointless, you have like 30 different good characters to choose from. This game just has some battles, and buying of stuff. Don't worry about it.

Extra: The book is kinda cool, considering its hardback. The little stand things are not really needed. The memory card holder will probably never be used. But the analog covers seems kinda okay, but feel weird. The making of the games is not really a blast either, its just showing you how they do stuff that you will never be able to do.

Overall the games are not that satisfying. If arc1 was released alone for like 15 dollars I would get it. But it is really short. So do not spend your money on this product. Borrow it from a friend, play arc1, then return it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're still suffering the lingering effects of Pac-Man fever, you'llbe excited to hear that Namco's Pac-Man Collection repackages theinfectious original with three other Pac-Man-themed games in a new anthology forthe Game Boy Advance.

Pac-Man Collection contains the original Pac-Man, plusPac-Attack, PacMania 3D, and the never-before-seen-out-of-the-arcadePac-Man Arrangement game. Pac-Man plays like you remember, andlike Namco Museums's picture perfect re-creation of Ms. Pac-Man,it features spot-on control, graphics, cartoon cutscenes, sound effects, and,best of all, music from the coin-op (who can forget that opening theme?). Assuch, it's easily the best of this collection.

PacMania 3D is basically a 3-D version of the original, and is just aboutas uninspired now as when it came out. Pac-Attack is a cool variation onsuch puzzlers as Tetris and Columns, and as such it's perfect forhandheld gaming. Pac-Man Arrangement is an odd little game that playsmuch like the original but adds weird power-ups that, for example, make yougigantic.

Because Pac-Man Collection is a perfectly emulated package, there isn'tmuch to gripe about, save that Ms. Pac-Man is a far, far better game thanthe original, and you'll have to shell out more money if you want that one. Butfor retro gamers on the go who also want to track down ghosts and eat powerpills, this package is sure to sate your hunger. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Perfect graphics and sound
• Perfect controls
• Pac-Attack is a fun Tetris variant

• It's missing the best Pac game, Ms. Pac-Man
• Pac-Man Arrangement and PacMania 3D aren't really great games

Features

• Platform: Game Boy Advance
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Strategy

Reviews (49)

WARNING:DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME!
OH MY GOSH..THIS IS THE WORST GAME IN GAMEBOY GAME HISTORY!
BE AWARE!

baddddddddddddddd
its bad , dont get it, pac-man arangement is retarted and so is pac-mania, pac-attack is fun until after awhile it gets boring dont get it it a waste of money.

Pac-Man Collection
THIS IS IT , Like the Monkey on Donkey Kong Country 2 is on the LOOSE , The pellit chomping Smiley is back in 4 of his greatest adventures. He chomped his way into everyone`s heart for many years, and now " HE`S BACK " This game is worth the price and is loads of FUN, So everyone ENJOY.....EngineMan Eric

Great collection!
It's a nice collection of Pac-Man, Pac-Man Arrangement, Pac-Mania, and Pac-Attack. I'm STILL trying to beat the original! Pac-Attack, 100 stages, gotten through about 30. I already beat Pac-Man Arrangement and Pac-Mania. The easiest was Pac-Man Arrangement, then Pac-Mania(could've been easiest if it wasn't for that 3rd level!!! Levels 1, 2, and 4 are easy though), then Pac-Man, then Pac-Attack.

If you don't have a GBA or DS, GameCube and Xbox has Namco Museum. Pac-Man and Pac-Man Arrangement are there. Pac-Attack is unlockable by getting 25000 points on Pac-Man. Pac-Mania, 20000 points on Ms. Pac-Man. Remember to save it!

Pac Man Fever
I grew up in the 80s playing Atari and arcade games.So when I purchased my new Gameboy Advance SP, I immediately wanted to buy Pac-Man.I definitely was not disappointed.The cartridge contains 4 different games.The basic Pac-Man game is a good replica of the arcade version, replete with Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde.It can be played in full-screen or scroll version.The full-screen version is a bit small, but I find the scroll version difficult to play as you cannot see what the characters are doing on other parts of the board.

PacMania 3D and Pac-Man Arrangement are variations on the classic Pac-Man.Pac-Man Arrangement is my least favorite of the 4 games.Although the board is colorful, the floating dots add nothing.I also find it somewhat confusing, and it's difficult to control.PacMania 3D is enjoyable and includes several 3D worlds.You can make your Pac-man jump, and the ghosts have great menacing glares.

However, Pac-Attack is definitely my favorite game here - a brilliant variation on Tetris.Like Tetris, the falling blocks must be arranged.Some of the blocks contain ghosts and some contain a Pac-Man, and the goal is to arrange the ghosts so that you can eat them.It's pretty addicting.Overall, I'm really enjoying this collection.Most highly recommended.
... Read more

Editorial Review

The game that launched the Nintendo 64 system stands the test of time as one of the first andbest exploratory action/adventure games. Guide the legendary plumber through an incredibly vast magicalworld with never-before-seen movement and camera-angle freedom. Mario's got the moves with graduatedspeeds of running and walking, jumps, super jumps, bounce attacks, swimming, and more. The more youplay, the more moves you'll discover.

This industry milestone game lets gamers play at their own pace, encouraging them to explore new nooksand crannies of its many levels with a Zen-like approach where the journey is as important as the goal.Other N64 games such as Zelda, Banjo-Kazooie, and Donkey Kong 64 all owemuch of their inspiration to this gem of a game. A showcase for the system's graphics and processing speedcapabilities, Super Mario 64 is a must-have for any N64 owner. --Jeff Young

Pros:

• Huge world makes for enduring game experience
• Plenty of room for replay
• State-of-the-art graphics for its time
• Imaginative levels keep you guessing, and helpful characters act as an in-game tutorial

• First-generation game doesn't feature as much texture or detail in graphics

Features

• Restore peace in the Mushroom Castle
• Enter paintings that lead to a variety of words
• Retrieve power stars
• Battle a variety of enemies
• For 1 player

Reviews (227)

Super Mario 64
This is the greatest game of all time!This game is very challenging and it has great graphics!This Game has tons of levels,secret levels,and secret passages!Plus It has a boss for almost every level!This is the 4th game I ever bought. bought it in 1999.What makes the game unique is that it takes a long time to comlpete.You have to collect 120 stars and beat Bowser 3 times!I've had this game for 6 years and it's still my fanorate!Buy this game it would be a shame not to.Especially since it has great 3-D graphics

one of da best videogames of all time 4 nintendo
this was my second game i brought after buying blast corps which was my first game Super Mario 64 was a game made from heaven da graphics are off da scale with mario look some real u would want 2 eat him and ask 4 seconds please and da music has some remix from da earlier mario days during da original nintendo game system da levels are simple 2 hard not really that hard if you work hard 2 have fun you won't be disappointed at da very end of da end when you get 120 stars not 70 stars you get 2 c mario's green friend not yoda yoshi who looks uglier than mario party but it is a pleasure 2 see him but sadly u can't ride on top of him like da earlier days he is there 2 run his mouth 4 a couple of mins if u read his messages and give u some extra moves 4 mario 2 use and 100 marios so mario can have more lives than cats because some of the levels in the game allow mario 2 fail continously and after yoshi does that he leaves after yoshi leaves and goes 2 da waterfall u can now fly outside da castle as much as you like u can even stay on top of da castle as long as u like but beware if u jump 2 many times on top of da castle da u will go a dark room nside peach castle which will allow u 2 have no other choice but 2 restart da game so use mario new moves from yoshi wisely now when you finish da first half of da game which is having 70 stars you get 2 c mario's ugly girlfriend peach but u need 2 beat da hard browser on da final showdown on da very top of peach's castle n da videogame when u beat browser he will turn into a big bright star that big star is full of all da stars you have capture n da previous levels and then you wil turn into supermario man this is my favorite part of da game mario use his cap with wings and flies like superman but he is da fatter version of superman and is missing yellow on his clothes but da yellow is da star so u can say he is da next superman (tip of making mario da fatter version of superman put him next 2 a yellow star with his cap with wings on his head take a picture and you will c what i am talking about when mario looks just like superman)anyway after mario grabs his wing cap and puts it on top of his head he will fly right down 2 peach and they will renite but only 4 a limited time because u don't want peach with mario every step of da rest of da game u would eventually get so upset u would want 2 kill peach instead of da other enemies like browser oh yeah n da middle levels of da game n da basement of peach castle n da room where u c a liquid painting i love da level because mario can transform n2 like a power ranger like character (or like da characters from dual heroes if u ever played da game u understand what i am talking about) he looks cooler n liquid suit plus he can breathe underwater but his fat weight and da liquid suit keeps him from floating above da water but it is still very cool 2 c i no most people including myself don't enjoy fail but mario makes failiing fun he really does because if u fail from high places mario will scream (like a r2 from star wars three o like a girl u pick which 1 makes u laugh more) all da way until he hits da bottom somethings he will hit head while he is still scream and you will c yellow stars not da stars that mario captures but da yellow stars da give cartoon characters a head aches and when u finish da game and have nothing else 2 do and it is late at night during da weekends play mario and put him n volcano levels da have 120 stars and with 100 lives 2 c him fail l00 times and record it on tape 2 make u own cartoon of mario making a fool out of himself u can call it 100 ways of kill super mario but all jokes aside this is a great videogame and will be enjoy especially 4 people who r big super mario fans like myself

one of da best videogames of all time 4 nintendo
this was my second game i brought after buying blast corps which was my first game Super Mario 64 was a game made from heaven da graphics are off da scale with mario look some real u would want 2 eat him and ask 4 seconds please and da music has some remix from da earlier mario days during da original nintendo game system da levels are simple 2 hard not really that hard if you work hard 2 have fun you won't be disappointed at da very end of da end when you get 120 stars not 70 stars you get 2 c mario's green friend not yoda yoshi who looks uglier than mario party but it is a pleasure 2 see him but sadly u can't ride on top of him like da earlier days he is there 2 run his mouth 4 a couple of mins if u read his messages and give u some extra moves 4 mario 2 use and 100 marios so mario can have more lives than cats because some of the levels in the game allow mario 2 fail continously and after yoshi does that he leaves after yoshi leaves and goes 2 da waterfall u can now fly outside da castle as much as you like u can even stay on top of da castle as long as u like but beware if u jump 2 many times on top of da castle da u will go a dark room nside peach castle which will allow u 2 have no other choice but 2 restart da game so use mario new moves from yoshi wisely now when you finish da first half of da game which is having 70 stars you get 2 c mario's ugly girlfriend peach but u need 2 beat da hard browser on da final showdown on da very top of peach's castle n da videogame when u beat browser he will turn into a big bright star that big star is full of all da stars you have capture n da previous levels and then you wil turn into supermario man this is my favorite part of da game mario use his cap with wings and flies like superman but he is da fatter version of superman and is missing yellow on his clothes but da yellow is da star so u can say he is da next superman it is like u r watching da next God after defeating da devil n da videogame(tip of making mario da fatter version of superman put him next 2 a yellow star with his cap with wings on his head take a picture and you will c what i am talking about when mario looks just like superman)anyway after mario grabs his wing cap and puts it on top of his head he will fly right down 2 peach and they will renite but only 4 a limited time because u don't want peach with mario every step of da rest of da game u would eventually get so upset u would want 2 kill peach instead of da other enemies like browser oh yeah n da middle levels of da game n da basement of peach castle n da room where u c a liquid painting i love da level because mario can transform n2 like a power ranger like character (or like da characters from dual heroes if u ever played da game u understand what i am talking about) he looks cooler n liquid suit plus he can breathe underwater but his fat weight and da liquid suit keeps him from floating above da water but it is still very cool 2 c i no most people including myself don't enjoy fail but mario makes failiing fun he really does because if u fail from high places mario will scream (like a r2 from star wars three o like a girl u pick which 1 makes u laugh more) all da way until he hits da bottom somethings he will hit head while he is still scream and you will c yellow stars not da stars that mario captures but da yellow stars da give cartoon characters a head aches and when u finish da game and have nothing else 2 do and it is late at night during da weekends play mario and put him n volcano levels da have 120 stars and with 100 lives 2 c him fail l00 times and record it on tape 2 make u own cartoon of mario making a fool out of himself u can call it 100 ways of kill super mario but all jokes aside this is a great videogame and will be enjoy especially 4 people who r big super mario fans like myself

Excellent,but
Okay,the game is very addicting. The sound,graphics,gameplay is all great! But I discoverd something else funer. Super Mario 64 DS. That game is way better. This game is good but that game is something you can't keep your eyes off. Remember when you finish the game and eyerything to do and ther'es nothing left to do, well this DS game has mini games. They are very addicting and fun! You can draw on this as well. The adventure mode takes longer folks. You can play as Yoshi,Luigi,Mario Wario. In The beginning of Super Mario 64,you could just walk in. But thwe DS version is different. You have to collect a rabbit to get in. There is more room's in this castle too with more levels. Instead of collecting 120 stars. You have to collect 150. If you don't have enogh money for a DS and the game but have a N64,dust off the original and have some fun. Or go out and buy your DS and game. Get whatever. You have to play this though. If you don't think I'm right,then you will be sorry.

Best Mario game in the series!
This is the best Mario game I have ever played! One of my favorite levels in the game is the flying sky level. If you like Mario and you never played this game,play IT!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Train Simulator takes the obsessive realism ofMicrosoft's best-of-breed Flight Simulator games down to earth. Sixreal-world rail lines are included from throughout history, includingthe Flying Scotsman line of 1920s England and the modern OdakyuElectric Rail commuter line in Tokyo. Attendees at the National ModelRailroad Association's August 2000 convention marveled at the game'spainstaking attention to detail. But this game is not a model railroadgame; it simulates the real thing. The game's developers traveledacross the world with cameras and microphones in order to authenticallycapture the trains in their natural habitats. Train Simulatorlets you experience the world's greatest trains in all their glory.

Train aficionados can drive the train, run the rail yard, or dive inwith the terrain editor and create the rail lines of their dreams. Oryou can just sit back, relax, and admire the beautiful scenery anddreamy click-clack of the tracks. --Andrew S. Bub ... Read more

Reviews (143)

Great game for train lovers!
If your a train lover you will probally like it alot! IT allows you to be right up with the controls of many locomotives, it has superb graphics and great sound. If you are looking for realism this is the game for you. The sounds of the trains are exact and there is doppler effect. For those who don't know how to drive a train there is tutorials that teach you how to operate steam, electric and diesel locomotives. If you don't feel like driving you can take a train ride and be the passenger. The scenery is fantastic it looks just like it would in real life. The passenger trains are very fun to drive, beacause you on a tight shcedule and there are many hazards along the way such as animals on the track, wheather, damaged track, broken signals and more. It also provides the challenge of freight trains. Also there are hundreds of downloads and add-ons for it! So if you like trains and realism I highly recomend this game.

Bad, bad, bad
Unless you need something to put you to sleep, you can skip this one.Given, It was originally published in 2001, so the graphics could be much better, but in the end this is just a very boring game.Essentially, you get to drive a range of different trains, but there is none of the strategy you find in something like Rail Road Tycoon.

Great fun
I purchased this game a couple of years ago, after the initial release. For one reason or another, I ended up getting rid of it. But I just had to re-purchase this game. It was a little cheaper this time around, considering the game has been out some time already.

My decision to purchase this game, twice, should reflect how much I enjoyed this game.

I personally like to play a "free" activity, and my favorite is to take the steam engine on the Northeast Corridore tracks. When driving any of the trains, play with full manual controls for the best effect.

The steam engine has a slightly steep learning curve, but it's definately worth it. Twisting the valves, opening the firebox, shovling coal, all these things (when done manually) can lend a great sense of realism to the game. To the point where I can imagine myself sweaty and grimy, sailing ~60mph trying to keep this infernal contraption from derailing! And yes, make sure you turn derailments ON, and switch to an external view as you realize, with horror, that you just cannot make that curve...

Superb Experience-Gotta love Trains
I totally agree with the Customer from Idaho and others - it really gives you a real life experience, and can bean"addictive" experience
I run it on Windows 2000 and have no problems of downloading and crashing.I hesitate to say but have the impression Windows XP doesn't have enough "steam" for it.Also you need a good graphics/video card.My real joy is driving the steam trains - Deisels don't have the same degree of difficulty - !!!! Ever slid back down a steep gradeor gone nowhere with a Deisel.

Train Sim.
I really enjoyed this game. When i first bought it i had a little problem installing it but that was on behalf of my computer. The game is very realistic, it clears your mind, and helps relax you. There are some challenging parts but what game is fun when you can beat it in the first hour you play it. I gave this game 5 stars because i really like the softwear Microsoft makes. So if anyone is interested in Trains then this is one of the best games on the market money can buy, and not to mention this game is cheap. ... Read more

Product Description

Since the Beginning of Time the forces of Order and Chaos have been engaged in an eternal struggle to decide the fate of all Creation. That struggle has now come to the Mortal Realm... And neither Man, Demon, nor Angel will be left unscathed.Diablo, Lord of Terror, and youngest of the Three Prime Evils, awoke from his long sleep beneath the dark earth. Setting in motion a grand scheme to free his exiled brothers, Mephisto and ... Read more

Features

• Five all-new character classes with unique attributes and abilities.
• Four different, fully populated towns complete with wilderness areas.
• Multiple dungeons, caverns and crypts in every town for players to explore.
• Expanded world filled with all-new quests, weapons, spells, armor, monsters and non-player characters.

Reviews (533)

Best of the Genre
Diablo II is a helluva lotta fun.I'm not so much a single player person, but a multiplayer person.The gameplay is well thought-out and engaging.The plot is corny, but, then again, this is an RPG.

The graphics are kinda mediocre, but the gameplay makes up for it.The expansion is a must.Playing online is incredibly addictive, which I don't like, but I get a kick out of it.What makes this game is the interaction in multiplayer.

(...) is easy to use.They catch a fair few cheaters.

My main complaint is that there are many lamers.There is a group of people that buys duplicated items of the internet at like 10 dollars a piece.This is what I don't like.There are other people that hack accounts and steal characters and equipment, and that is just lame.Thankfully, this has not happened to me, although my brother got hacked a long time ago.

Even so, the fact that your account might get hijacked just adds to the reality that it is, after all, just a game.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

The single player is a lot like the multiplayer.It is a good way to learn how to start out independently.In fact, the multiplayer is like single player, but just with more people.(surprise)

There aren't many glitches, and there is skill involved, up to a point.

Buy this game.It's worth your money.So is the expansion.

Great game!
Diablo 1 players. Yes, I know you have suffered, but Diablo 2 fixed all their problems and this game is 700 times better! Get it!

Learned some lessons from DIABLO, but quests more restricted
DIABLO 2 can be summarized as "like DIABLO, but more so." DIABLO 2 has more locales, more varied scenery, more (and more elaborate) AIs, more control over developing your character's skills, more types of characters to play, better play balance, and so on.

Like the original, DIABLO 2's settings are (mostly) randomly generated, so that with the exception of some set-piece areas (like the Skeleton King's lair in the original), no two games follow exactly the same map. DIABLO 2 has four acts covering 5 locales (including Tristram, the setting of DIABLO). Each act has very different climate/geography and monsters differing accordingly.

You're following the trail of the Wanderer (the hero of the first game) as he locates the other Prime Evils, Diablo's brothers, before leading you into Hell and the final confrontation with Diablo himself. The settings in general have much greater variety and eye candy, and include outdoor segments as well as dungeon crawls.

Act I is a generic-Europe setting, with a lesser-demon Level Boss rather than a Prime Evil. Act I most closely resembles the earlier stages of the original DIABLO, and contains references back to the original, as the player's task is to help the Sisters of the Sightless Eye. (The Rogue from DIABLO was a member of the order; your closest-equivalent player character in DIABLO 2 is the Amazon, who has a different backstory.)

Act II is a desert scenario, with a sort of Egyptian flavor to the tombs, and a different, more formidable type of undead. Act III, by contrast, is a rainforest, emphasis on poisonous insects, water monsters, and fast-moving little AIs with blowpipe attacks. Act IV's revamped version of Hell is much more larger and elaborate than that in the original, with an assortment of demons and new attacks. The succubae weren't retained, but as a tradeoff Act I has hordes of renegade Rogues.

Many of the AIs have been revamped to make them tougher and to give them more distinctive appearances. While the distinct colour schemes were retained, the details are more elaborate and they're tougher opponents. The carver-type AIs now include shamans, who in addition to their own magical attacks can raise the fallen. Animated skeletons on higher difficulty levels may now have mages as well as archers with them.

That's one of the biggest changes from the original. Monsters not only regenerate after you've cleaned out a level (even lesser "unique" monsters, though not Level Bosses that have to be killed to end an Act), but many monster types can raise the dead or harvest energy from corpses. There are also delayed-action attacks, as poisons and antidotes have been added.

Other changes from original:
- Multiplayer and single player now use the same limited set of quests, rather than single player having a random selection of a larger set of quests.
- Play balance on character abilities now includes active and passive skills, differing by character type. Not just any character can learn spells.
- In addition to mana and life, player has stamina. While you don't have to eat or sleep as in, e.g. DARKSTONE, you either have to pace your character, stock up on stamina potions, or be content to move slowly.
- In addition to Town Portal spells, each Act contains a set of fixed waypoints, and the player can return to earlier Acts if desired.
- Towns are more elaborate. Apothecaries selling potions are now separate from magic sellers, and at least one NPC per Act can "gamble" with you. You can hire and equip NPCs who will follow you and fight what you fight. If they're with you, your experience points are divided with them, but they level up and become more formidable over time.

Some lessons learned by the designers:
- Local smiths can upgrade weapons, e.g. installing runes or gems in them. Partway through Act II, a quest item allows you to combine multiple gems of the same type to get a single gem of a better grade, so strategy is a factor.
- In town/camp you have a chest in addition to the inventory on your character's person. Items in the chest are safe, but if you're killed and resurrected, anything you were carrying has to be retrieved from the body. Since you're fined a large amount of your total gold when you're resurrected, you're motivated to scavenge your own body anyway just to get some of it back.
- Partway through Act I, you revisit Tristram and rescue Deckard Cain, who now has enough gratitude to identify items for free instead of gouging you.
- Some unique items now come in sets (e.g. helmet, breastplate, gauntlets) that are stronger together than apart, and mostly effective for specific character types (e.g. bonuses apply only to a paladin). Strategy comes into play: is it worth saving an item in the hopes of acquiring the rest of the set?

In summary: the thing I miss most from the original is the randomized quest mix on single player. The active/passive skill system is interesting enough to make up for restricting the player's ability to create super-powerful spell-casting Rogues and the like.

As in the original, even in single-player a game can't be saved in multiple states; you can only have multiple characters working through different scenarios. In multi-player, items can be transferred between characters by drop-and-switch, but that's about it.

nothing tops this
there have been many trys by different developers to copy the play style of diablo 2.they are no doubt good but they are NOT diablo 2.diablo 2 has the best story, fun factor, sound, cinematics, addictiveness and replayability.i stopped playing this a long time ago because i was hooked on starcraft but i am going to start a new character tonight just to see how fun this game is again.my previous barbarian only got up to lvl 46.i've been playin WoW and have a lvl 60 alliance human paladin but there is not nearly as much loot as there is in diablo 2, thus making many characters look the same.(to the post below- all mmorpgs require a fee to play...its what basically gets them paid to make updates, fix the servers, etc.)cant wait to start diablo 2 again!

Another increible Blizzard's production
Lord Of Terror
When Diablo came out almost 4 years ago, it was the surprise hit of the 1997. One day there wasn't Diablo, the next it was on store shelves, and the day after North American productivity plummeted 25%. Although Blizzard liked to classify it as a RPG, it wasn't really one. More like an action-RPG, since so much of the game relied on reflex and mouse-clicking. The story development was slim and roleplaying aspects non-existent. Yet the simple, addictive gameplay hooked us all and had us begging for more.

After years of development, a few promises, a few leaked features and dozens of delays - Diablo II is here. The Second Coming of Hell and another dip in all IT stocks came to my desk less than a week ago, and grudgingly I accepted the job of reviewing the game.

For those of you who've been in a timewarp the past 5 years and never heard of Diablo or Diablo II, let me give you a brief rundown on both.


Diablo
Diablo was a game where you played a hero of one of three character classes - Warrior, Sorcerer or Rogue. This hero operated out of a small town called Tristram, underneath which Hell itself was opening up. At first simply trying to clear the local corrupted Cathedral of vermin infestation, the hero soon discovers that something much more sinister is afoot. Hence you keep going deeper and deeper through the game until you discover that none other than the Lord of Terror himself - Diablo - is at the root of all the problems. You see, he, along with his two other brothers - form the Three Prime Evils. They got banished from Hell by lesser evils and then rampaged around the world until they were captured in soulstones given to mortals by the angel Tyrael.

Through 4 different dungeons having 4 levels each you fought, died, and recovered your own corpse. You'd restart the game when it got too hard to gain xp in easier areas, and go back in again. It was all about getting to the next level, getting the next spell, getting the next better weapon or armor. It was simple to the point of being idiotic. Click the mouse to move somewhere, then click-click-click-click-click at some monster until it dies, and move on to kill more. That's an over-simplified description, of course - but the point is that Diablo was extremely addictive.
... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Step into the stylish shoes of teen supersleuth Nancy Drew to crack thecase of the haunted mansion. As Nancy, you'll hang your hat in San Francisco,where you've been invited to help a family friend renovate a historic Victorianhome. Some strange things have been happening in the old house--could it bespirits from the past, or just shifty characters on the make? Use yourmagnifying glass to search the place from top to bottom for clues. You'll findtrap doors, personal papers, keys, tools--all sorts of spots and items toexplore or hang onto for later use. You never know when you might need a paintscraper or crowbar to help you out of a bind. To fill in some of the gaps, talkto characters in the game, and choose your responses to their questions based onwhat you want to know.

Play Message in a Haunted Mansion in one of two modes: new or youngerplayers can sign in as junior detectives for more simplified play, while oldpros can log in as senior detectives for serious sleuthing. Once you're in, youmay never want to leave--the graphic detail of the Victorian-mansion setting isstellar. The Chinese-influenced décor is authentically and exquisitelyreproduced, and many elements can be highlighted to better focus on the level ofdetail. (Those interested in Victorian interiors will be especially pleased.)Also realistic are often-overlooked touches that add a true-to-life ring, suchas photos of family and friends on the wall, and sunglasses kept in the kitchendrawer. The sound effects further add to the sense of realism and heighten theair of suspense. You'll hear doors and cabinets creak open and shut, hauntingcries, and loose chandeliers swaying overhead.

This third installment in the popular Nancy Drew interactive series (a follow-up to Stay Tuned for Danger and Secrets Can Kill) is successful not just for its design and production, but forits thoughtful features that keep players hooked, even as things start to feelhopeless. When you're in a bind, you can call home or old friends Bess andGeorge for help. And if you make a game-ending decision, simply pick up rightwhere you left off before the terminal mistake by utilizing the Second Chancefeature. There's even a self-updating journal in Nancy's suitcase that recordsclues as you find them, to help you keep track of all the facts you unearth.And, of course, you can save your game after each session--no backtrackingthrough clues you've already found, or conversations you've already had.

Our only complaint: the game takes some time to install, which can be hardto stomach if you've played the previous Nancy Drew games and are as excited toplay the third as we were. But once you're in the game and can see the wealth ofwhat awaits, you'll realize that it's worth a lengthy installation. A niceimprovement over previous games is the inclusion of a tutorial to explaingameplay to new users. (Ages 10 and older) --Leah Ball ... Read more

Reviews (579)

Yawn
I've got to say; you have to have an interest in ancient culture to play this game. It gets pretty boring otherwise. Also, I am stuck at the part of the cave where you have to answer what Pacal was afraid of. I tried talking to the hospital-bound what's-his-name, but he didn't know and now the hospital is closed, apparently never to open again. This must be a glitch of some sort and it really annoyed me! This game is nearly impossible so you HAVE to use a hint website--overall, I think, the worst of the Nancy Drew games I've played so far.

The Final Scene
I loved Final Scene so much!!!!!!!!!Well if you have never played Nancy Drew be aware there will be alot of traps!!!!!Well Final Scene is really about Nancy and a school reporter Maya Nguyen.The setting is at The Royal Palladium Theatere.I promise you will be hooked to this game,i know because i have solved it.You will never guesswho it is!Most of the rooms have lots of secret passage ways so be aware!Oh yeah they have millions of Secret Passage ways!The music is increidble!The game is timed on the 3 day!Because of the demolition.You have 3 days too find alot of clues well not in real life but in the game!!!!!!!!!Nancy Drew Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My DDI review!
I have to applaud the creators for the greatest gaming experience I have ever known in my short life!If this was a movie and I was Epert and Roper I'd give it ''two thumbs up''.You as Nancy are vacationing on a tiny island in the San Juan Island chain.But before you can kick up your feet for a relaxing day,Katie,the woman you're staying with's boat is vandalized!Who did it,and how is it tied in with the baby Killer Whale who showed up in the channel?That's the mystery to solve in Nancy Drew:Danger on Deception Island.

Nancy Rocks!!!
Ok I've played and finished all the games and am awaiting the new one.These games are great!!!They are suspenseful and fun for girls 10 & up.The Final Scene is one of my favorites.I reccomend Ghost dogs of moon lake, Secret of Shadow Ranch and I also liked Danger on Deception Island.If you like puzzles and mysteries, you'll like Nancy Drew computer games.

NANCY DREW RULES!!!!!!
I love the Nancy Drew games!The first one I ever did was Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake. It was a challenge and so real it's frightening! I had to look up a few cheats for a few challenging parts but it was so hard to get away from the screen! The next Nancy Drew game I did (Treasure of the Royal Tower) was with a friend I had over. We were glued to the screen for hours! We solved it, and were very surprised to see who the culprit was!Now I started Secret in the Scarlet Hand, and I am probably halfway done with it. I suggest you get all three games, because they are addicting, and such a blast!I will be doing the Curse of Blackmoor Manor next. Oh one more thing, animation 5 stars, fun 5 stars, and customer happiness 5 stars! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Another title to add to the Star Wars gaming shelf, The Clone Wars picks up where the movie Episode II: Attack of the Clones leaves off. In fact, the very first battle in this game re-creates the climactic battle in the movie, with you leading the clone army and blasting every droid in sight. Not big on strategy, Clone Wars is your basic arcade-style shoot-'em-up game. If you liked Star Wars: Starfighter, this game’s for you.

You control the Jedi leading the Republic's clone army, sometimes fighting as Anakin, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, or other familiar Jedi as the war takes you from planet to planet. As the leader, you may issue squad commands to teammates, allowing them to act independently and assist you in your mission. Your ships and weapons are varied, giving you the pleasure of piloting everything from zippy speeder bikes to the impressive Republic Gunship. Soar over ice fields and desertscapes, or maneuver through labyrinthine galactic scrap yards, leaving robotic wreckage behind as you blast through enemy ranks. And every so often you actually get to use your lightsaber as well.

The game is fun to play, the controls easy to master--but you won’t find a lot new or challenging if you’re an experienced gamer. Also, unlike its sibling, Bounty Hunter, the graphics leave a bit to be desired, but luckily this aspect of the game doesn’t detract much from the gameplay. The pure pleasure in this game lies in becoming a part of the Star Wars universe. And, of course, blowing up robots. --Maile Bohlmann

Pros:

• High-intensity play
• Fun, classic Star Wars music
• Four multiplayer modes

Cons:

• Silly voiceovers
• Graphics aren’t very detailed and color palette is limited
• Plotline is threadbare
• Overall, not very challenging or unique

Reviews (29)

I realy want this for myself
The game is great.You can fly or drive so many different ships.Its awesome.The best mission is where you evacuate a ice planet before its taken over.The multiplayer options areeven better.

very repetative
It seems to me, with very rare exception, that for the last ten years, 80% of the Star Wars games that are released are all (basically) clones of the old 'Rebel Assault' PC title.Dress them all up anyway you want, but when all's said and done, you're really playing the same game.

You will have several different vehicles to pilot as well as being on foot, but the whole game's plot is essentially the same: finish the level as fast as you can without getting killed ... that's it.There's not a lot of strategy involved past that, that's about it.Frustrating part is, they could have stuck to the mold and still added a little variety.For example, how about letting us pilot one of those AT-ATs for a little while?

The one thing that I had hoped may be a saving grace would be the animated cut-scenes between levels, but even they were a little sub-par.Aside from the animation being (at best) average, there were too few of them.Even the ending animation scene was only about a minute or two!I finished the game and that's all I'm rewarded with?

I'll also answer the question that I know at least a few of you have.No ... this game will not lend any hints to what may be ahead in the new Episode III and does nothing to advance the plot of the prequel trilogy.They may have been able to sell a few more titles if this game was a little more tied to the plot of the movies.The recently released 'Enter the Matrix' game as a terrific example to what I'm talking about.On a side note, it was nice though to see an old character from the comic books named Ulric Qel-Droma make an appearance.

So, as been stated before, if you liked Rebel Assault (I or II), Starfighter, Bounty Hunter, and Jedi Starfighter ... etc etc ... then this is probably going to be right up your alley.One the other hand, if (like me) you're getting a little burned-out on this style of play, this isn't going to do ANYTHING for you.

Very simple game
I was so excitedwhen I bought it, howewer I finished this game in just 1 week!!. I mean the last game I played was Final Fantasy and I spend more than 5 months to finish it. So this game is very very short.

a must have!!!!!!
alright i got this game for christmas but i was antisipating its arrival i saw the trailers for the game i read the reviews and it seemed to be great,AND IT WAS!!!! i put in the game and POW!!!!!! it happened!i was amased i loved it i was hooked on clone wars.but let me tell u about the game u play as anikan skywalker,obi-wan kenobi and mace windu,the first black guy since lando caleruseom lol.your mission stop dooku from bringing back an ancient sith wepon af mass destruction any ways you play in vihicles like repulic tanks,staps,in one mission you get to pilot an aat,also a speeder and a repulic gunship well what did i studder A REPULIC GUNSHIP!!!!!sweetness!!!!!! A MUST HAVE FOR ALL STARWARS FANS ALIKE!!!!!!!!!

Too short, too easy. 3½ Stars
When my wife bought me my PS2, I naturally wanted a Star Wars game for it and at the time my choices were Bounty Hunter and Clone Wars. I chose Bounty Hunter and while the game play was very repetitive- run and gun- it did provide hours of game play, great voice acting and superb cut scenes. A few of the missions, such as Tusken Canyon and Gardula's Lair were very tough, but ultimately playable. Everyone else I knew who had a PS2, Gamecube or Xbox kept telling me I should have bought Clone Wars instead, that it was a better game, that it offered more and varied missions than simply running around shooting everything. Well, I have Clone Wars now, but I am at something of a loss as to how it could be perceived as `better'.

Firstly, the object of both games is to run around shooting everything in sight. The major difference between the two is in Clone Wars, you drive vehicles whereas in Bounty Hunter, you're on foot. Essentially, the game play is the same- run and gun. Admittedly in Clone Wars you do get different vehicles from the TX-130 Republic Fighter Tank- a hover craft with guns and missiles; a Speeder Bike; the AT-XT, a precursor to the AT-ST- missiles and guns, plus a plasma shield. My favorite, the Republic LAAT/I Gunship with its multi-rockets, rapid fire blaster cannons and wicked continuous beam lasers, and the silliest one yet- the Maru, which is kinda like a big tauntaun with dual blasters mounted on it. However, regardless of what you're in the job is still basically the same.

Count Dooku, along with his allies the Trade Federation, the Galactic Banking Clan, the Commerce Guild and the Separatists armies are waging war across the galaxy, and looking for an... wait for it... an ancient Sith artifact, (surely not! -ed.) Don't get me wrong, I like ancient Sith artifacts, but given the volume of Star Wars stuff I have read, there have been an awful lot of them. The game begins right in the middle of Attack of the Clones- with Mace leading the infiltration into the Geonosian arena escorting transports full of Jedi, destroying anti-orbital cannons and finally using a Republic gunship to take out Techno-Union and Trade Federation Core Ships. Next, it's on to the planet of Rhen Var to evacuate it before the Trade Federation invades.

Then to Raxis Prime- a junk planet and the location of the Sith artifact, the Dark Reaver- the first mission of which is an irritating speeder bike chase where the terrain frustrates, because places that look clear of debris seem to have invisible walls that damage your bike and prevent you from going forward. Next it's on to one of the moons of the Wookie homeworld, Kashyyyk where Dooku plans to test the Dark Reaver- a tough mission as Anakin attempts to escape the life-leaching field of energy. Back to Rhen Var for some fun gunship missions- lots of stuff to shoot as you fly around attempting to bring down the planetary shield so the Republic forces can invade. Finally, all forces converge on the planet Thule, the planet where Dooku has set up the Dark Reaver, which resembles a giant segmented sphere that sprays out purple energy. You must also defeat Dooku's bounty hunter henchman, Cydon Prax.

Graphics are pretty good, but the PS2 really starts to strain when there is a lot of stuff going on around you and it starts to drop frames making for some pretty choppy visuals. Plus, if you get too close to objects and vehicles, the texture quality is quite low, as is the polygon count. For the most part I found the architecture, vehicles and visuals to be quite pleasing, especially on the planets Raxis and Thule. Mission maps, while pretty linear, are quite large, giving the player lots of places to go. Sound quality is excellent, but pretty standard effects for a Star Wars game- I did encounter some music problems where it seemed as though that part of the audio track was skipping. The big downside for this game with me was the fact that I finished it in less than 15 hours- less than half the time it took me to complete Bounty Hunter. Then going back to try to get as many bonus points to unlock extra features took perhaps another five.

DVD Extras include unlocking four two-player maps- big deal, playing games split screen just doesn't interest me. A unit viewer that enables you to look at all the 3D models from the game, a `making of' video, the quality of which is so lousy that it's annoying to watch, a jukebox function that lets you listen to music from the game, and a sketchbook of some very nice concept art. Plus you can watch all the cut scenes whenever you want. I must admit, Matt Lucas, who does the voice of Anakin almost convinced me that it was Haydon Christensen until I checked the booklet to make sure. LucasArts games can always be counted on to provide lots of little extras making their games a good value for Star Wars geeks like me.

A good game? Yes, it's a good game, just too darn short for my liking, plus I like a little more meat to my stories and game play. It's probably better on the Gamecube or the Xbox and would have been better on the PC, especially when it comes to graphics. ... Read more

Product Description

At the far edge of the Lylat system, a lush planet is in turmoil. Once a primordial paradise, Dinosaur Planet has been torn apart by an evil dinosaur named General Scales. This monster has caused sections of the planet to be ripped up and flung into low orbit, and his legions of mutated dinosaurs are running wild. It's been 8 years since the best pilot in the Lylat System, Fox McCloud, defeated Andross, and Fox's team has since disbanded. So when word of Dinosaur Planet's plight reaches General Pepper, it's Fox alone who must shoulder the burden. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: Nintendo GameCube
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Genre: Action/Adventure

Reviews (277)

4 and 1/2 stars
Starfox Adventures is a great game, though not without its faults. Dinosaur Planet is being taken over by the evil General Scales. It's up to the Starfox Team to get him out of there!! So the great Fox McCloud sets off to accomplish just that. Along the way, you will interact with interesting characters and the plot takes a few twists and turns. Gameplay consists of finding items-do this, pull that, kill him, etc, etc. Some of the puzzles can get pretty arduous, however, so I reccomend buying the strategy guide. The game goes above and beyond in terms of length, clocking in at about 30 hours for the average gamer. To top it all off, Rare went above and beyond and made the graphics B-E-A-Utiful!!Buy!!

Starfox SUCKS!
Starfox 64 was great. But now they have gone to this "Use your crappy magic staff" formula. And guess what? It was a BAD idea! What happened to getting in your ship and blasting the hell out of everything in sight!?!? You use magic powers in some dino-land, with crappy magic going on! Fox uses blaster rifles, and the arwing! Not magic staffs and ancient dinosaurs! This is a very very very boring game! Fox, whats up with the magic staffs??? THis is like taking away Arnold Swartzenegger's AK-47 and giving him a lollipop! DO NO BUY.

A Different Kind Of Fox
It always becomes as a surprise about just how much Nintendo puts out there for so many of their delightful video games. Yet, with all of those characters to choose from, some of those remain as cult classics. In 1997, Nintendo hit the nail on the head with the revolutionary Star Fox 64. The game was not just groundbreaking in the game, but also for the player it was groundbreaking because you could feel what the game is like. Nintendo has tried it again with a different kind of Star Fox. This one seems more as if Fox has joined the cast of The Legend Of Zelda, rather than made it as a game of his own. No matter for Fox and Company, because they still have made it a great game to undergo.

Star Fox Adventures for the Nintendo Gamecube, is a different kind of Star Fox game. The idea of the game is to restore the Dinosaur Planet, Sauria from fatal destruction from the villainous General Scales, and the even more foolish, Andross. The game places Fox, trying to do whatever it takes to save Krystal, a young war fighter from General Scales, with the help of Tricky, and a mighty staff that can do just about anything. The graphics and the sound on the gameplay are just amazing, and gorgeous with every beautiful detail. The storyline also hits a home run as well, with each nook and cranny told beautifully. The control does function quite well as well. It is very simple to operate, and the gameplay is very well put in itself.

While some may feel that Star Fox Adventures isn't worth the challenge as it is with Star Fox 64, or the recently released Star Fox Assault for the Nintendo Gamecube, the game is really a well worth one for anybody who wants a challenge for the Gamecube. I suggest this as a add-on for anybody who is into the feel of Fox McCloud.

Graphics: A-

Sound: B+

Control: B 1/2+

Fun & Enjoyment: B

Overall: B 1/2+

Starts out fun but becomes boring
When I first got Star Fox I thought it was great! It was fun, hard, interesting and cool. Then when I got towards the end it got boring. It really is a bad game. If you are someone who starts to like a video game then doesn't like it you will not like this video game. I would not recommend this to most people.

Exceptional (the soundtrack especially)
As you probably know from some of the other reviews above, the storyline centers around dinosaurs and putting the planet back together. Gamers who come at this looking for another sci-fi shooter will be sadly dissapointed, as this game stalks Zelda in playing style and genre. The graphics are all exceptional (some of the best!) and the music is absolutely sensational (particularly the scores in places like Thorntail Hollow, Cape Claw and Krazoa Palace) The voices are well done and acted within a realistic sense and not over dramticized. The only complaint I have is that twice when I moved the camera, these colored lines would cover 60% of the screen, clearly a bug from Tricky's programming.(Tricky is your dinosaur companion for the game.) Otherwise the programmers convey a seemless world, with a changing landscape and history. The varying tribes- the Snowhorns, Thorntails, Earthwalkers, Cloudrunners, Redeye, Hightops, Lightfoots and Sharpclaw are well presented, with even a few miscallaneous and very nasty raptors thrown in. Two storylines abound when Fox must collect both the four Spellstones and eight Krazoa spirits and then return them to their rightful places. While this leads to quite a bit of temple-trotting, it doesn't feel tedious as the programmers mix things up to keep it interesting. Overall, this is what people mean when they talk about a quality game. ... Read more

Product Description

Battle a cosmic evil across space and time in Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. From swords to guns to mind-warping spells, you'll use an array of weapons in this epic adventure that unfolds over thousands of years. A new style of psychological thriller, the adventure gets even more frenzied as you battle your own dwindling sanity. Made in USA. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: Nintendo GameCube
• ESRB Rating: Mature (17 and older)

Reviews (196)

Most under rated game in modern day history
Eternal Darkness for the gamecube is by far the most under rated game in the modern day.

When I first purchased the game, I thought it was a resident evil rip off. I was wrong! Eternal Darkness is by far more better than Resident Evil.

I gave eternal darkness a 5 star must buy game.

The storyline is just perfect and should make a movie out of it. The villian Pious Augustus is one bad cat. Great voice acting that grabs your attention.

Eternal Darkness ranks next to Metroid Prime as the best game on the Gamecube. ED actually gives Resident Evil a run for its money.

This game sometimes just gets plain weird, this is what makes it scary. Play this game 2 in the morning and turn off all the lights. Your in for a time of your life.

Flawless
I sold my gamecube to my cousin but for this game I'll buy GCube system again. I miss it to play a lot. It is the best of all.

A highly original concept executed brilliantly
Nintendo likes to stick to the tried and true methods for their games. There have been at least 30 games that involve Mario or Luigi, 10 that involve Link, 10 that involve Donkey Kong, and 7 or 8 that involve Samus. And, don't get me wrong, that's not necessarily a bad thing, each successive game has brought new innovations to those games' respective genres, but the characters themselves are starting to show their age. Eternal Darkness is a fresh look for Nintendo that they really needed. Before I start, I'd just like to say that Eternal Darkness is NOTHING like Resident Evil and is not technically of the survival-horror genre (Melee weapons are your best bet until you get real far in the game, so you don't need to worry about ammo).

Eternal Darkness starts in modern times in Rhode Island, but you'll spend most of your time as different characters during different time periods, everything from a Roman centurion over 2000 years ago to a Canadian fireman during the Gulf War. Although each character you play as live during different time periods, all the levels are set in one of 4 locations: A temple in the Middle East, a temple in Cambodia, a cathedral in France, or the Roivas mansion in Rhode Island. As you play through as each character, you'll be able to explore new areas that previous characters didn't have access to. Every character has the Tomb of Eternal Darkness, which enables him or her to cast spells. You'll find new items that allow you to cast new spells as you progress through the game. Your characters have physical properties to a certain extent. For example, if you swing a sword or run around for an extended period of time, your character will be panting for breath. They can't attack or run as fast until they can recover. Depending on your character, your speed and stamina will be affected. Max, a heavyset character, is quite slow and loses stamina easily. Ellia, a young girl, is very fast. Michael, a firefighter, is in great shape and can run and attack without losing much stamina.

Also I should warn some people that Eternal Darkness has lots of gore. So, if you don't like your kids playing violent games, you probably won't be too eager to let them play this one. Anyway, you'll get different weapons depending on the time period you're in, but for the most part melee weapons are the most effective thanks to Eternal Darkness's combat system. You can specify if you want to attack your enemies (namely hordes of zombies and the like) in the head, arms, or torso. If you use a melee weapon and cut off their limbs, they're basically harmless (unless they are the "singing" zombies who have a nasty habit of exploding all over you). Eternal Darkness does have some puzzles in it, but nothing too difficult; it mostly focuses on combat.

But, the most interesting gameplay element is the sanity meter. This is an awesome concept that as your character fights the baddies, they slowly go insane. The only way to recover lost sanity is to kill more enemies, use spells, or enter the trapper dimension. As your sanity drops, some crazy stuff will start to happen. I won't spoil any of the good effects, but they include: the walls bleeding, entering a room on the ceiling, and a statue head that turns to follow your movement. There are times that you might accidentally (or in some cases, purposefully) throw your controller because of the sanity effects. I know I did >_>.

Eternal Darkness looks great. The character models are nice, animation is smooth, and there are no slowdowns whatsoever. There are a few things in the background that don't look too good, but you'll be focussed on everything else around you. Eternal Darkness takes place in the dark, so there are plenty of lighting and shadows throughout the game. They all look great, but you'll have to play this game in the dark to reduce glare, otherwise you can't see a thing. If you were too scared to play Resident Evil or other games like it in the dark at night, get a friend over for when you play it.

Eternal Darkness doesn't have much music, but it doesn't need it. There are good sound effects for everything and great voice acting, but it's when you lose sanity that the sound really kicks into high gear. The ambiance is great when you start to go insane. Again, if you were too scared to play Resident Evil or other games like it with the sound up in the dark, get a friend over for when you play it.

Overall, Eternal Darkness is a highly original game that Gamecube owners can be proud of. Unfortunately, Nintendo didn't market the game well, so most people I know hadn't even heard of it until recently. Eternal Darkness is creepy, innovative, and, most importantly, fun. You'll have fond memories of some of the sanity effects for years. I believe that if you own a Gamecube you should own this game. Definitely in my top 5 Gamecube games.

One of the bestever.
When nintendo seemed to be doing everything wrong, in comes eternal darkness. Easily one of the best games for the cube, not to mention one of the best games around. Eternal Darkness has a very well done backstory to it. All aspects of this game are great.

The controls are easy to learn, as are the tactics in the game. Although things were easy to learn in this game, they are challenging to be good at. The cut scenes move the story along nicely, and effectively change depending on which of the three ancients you picked at the beginning. The insanity cut scenes are a very pleasant addition.

Another thing the games did well was being scary or creepy. The insanity cut scenes have no warning, and will give you a good scare. An insantiy cut scene happens when your insantiy meter runs out.

You also have a health and magic meter in the game. The magic meter is there because as you progress through the game you'll learn new spells from the three ancients. Each ancient can defeat an ancient, but is defeated by an ancient also. That is an important thing to remember in the game.

All the playable characters are brillanty done. Weapons that reflect the time that they are in. Not to mention they move according to their attributes, which makes it realistic. Like when you play Maxillion Rovias, he's fat and slow. So when you play him, you can't out run enemies. That's where your skill comes in.

There is no doubt that this is a 5 star game, also there is no doubt that this game is a classic.

AWESOME GAME
This game is so FRIGGIN Wicked! I haven't stopped playing it since I bought it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Get ready to dance the night away with all-new songs and game modes in this sequel to Dance Dance Revolution. Players can save and edit dance steps to create their own dance routines. The special workout mode allows you to have fun shaping up while also tracking the calories you burn. And you can re-create the arcade experience with Konami's Dance Dance Revolution controller. The game includes more than 50 high-energy songs in a variety of genres, including pop, disco, Latin, techno, and house. It also features a completely redesigned interface and new graphics, plus a special edit mode that allows players to customize dance steps for every song, develop player-specific routines, and trade dance patterns with friends. Also included are new songs never released in the Japanese version. Burn up the dance floor with two-player modes, allowing players to dance cooperatively or competitively. Multiple options and difficulty settings make Dance Dance Revolution Konamix easy to learn for people of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

AWSOME!!!
DDR Konamimix is very, very, very, ect. fun!! It is great for working out and losing weight!!!!! I was introduced to this because my school had it!!! belive it or not the princable lets us play with it all recess!!!! I am planning to by this game to enjoy it more that ever!!! YAY!!

DDR<333
Only problems with Konamix, to me, is that it's not set up like the arcades (which is where I play half the time) and "basic" mode is the same as light on the other games (thought it would be standard). Other than that, it's great.

As for accessories, I got one of the really thin mats and it quickly got destroyed with friends who don't know how to pick up their feet and the mats would get scrunched up into a pile. So, I invested a bit more in a mat with a 1" foam insert and now, I'm putting forth a bit more to get a metal dance mat.

(I put 1 star for educational, because the most I see you getting out of it is a good work out and foot/eye coordination...=/)

Tight Game, but its missing something
I hate video games, but DDR is to good to be considered a video game. This game has helped me build stamina and quick thinking skills. DDR Konamix has an awesome song list with the original Paranoia and this is the only US release which features the very complicated Orion.78[AM-EuroMix] So why would I give it four stars? Because you can't use speed modifiers.[x1.5,x2,x3,x5,x8]
I know most DDR fans don't really care something like that, but some songs on here are impossible to do with only one speed.

This game is still a good buy, but I recommend DDRMAX or DDRMAX2 over this one.

A full fledged hooked on game
This game Rocks! For ps it has great graphics. And as an owner of the whole set of DDR games, you should listen. I like Yuni and Emi personally. Take my advice, get the game.
If only I had a memory card for ps.

Great fun and workout!
This is a fun game! Every day at an arcade I see many kids there playing this game!They simply love it!I highly recommend buying this game! There are 52 songs to try! Theres even a workout mode so you can actually see how many calories you burned!GREAT! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Lunar 2: Eternal Blue is old-school role-playing goodness at itsvery best. From the story to the simple battle system, it doesn't bore playerswith the details that can make newer role-playing games unbearable. No, Lunar2 won't impress anyone with its likewise old-school graphics, but that's notthe point. This game is fun.

The story in Lunar 2 doesn't take itself as seriously as otherrole-playing games, which contributes to the fun. The game's hero, Hiro, and hissidekick Ruby must help a young girl locate the goddess Althena. The quest turnsout to be long, spanning three disks, most of which hold full-motion videocutscenes.

The video sequences in Lunar 2 are probably the best part. They mixJapanese anime with computer graphics and are completely stunning. The in-gamegraphics, on the other hand, are ported straight from the 16-bit Sega CD, with afew enhancements, so those who like eye candy should consider themselves warned.--Robb Guido

Pros:

• Light and fun
• Super movie sequences that mix anime and computer graphics

• Outdated graphics

Reviews (101)

FLAWLESS!!!!!!!!!!
This game is really something else. the scheme of the battles are quite tactical and where you really have to think whats going on the the game. its amazing how that characters talk during the cut scenes, you really know what is going on. it exceeded past their first game Lunar: Silver Star Story complete. i cant wait to try thw one for the game boy advance!!!!!!!!!!!

FLAWLESS!!!!!!!!!!
This game is really something else. the scheme of the battles are quite tactical and where you really have to think whats going on the the game. its amazing how that characters talk during the cut scenes, you really know what is going on. it exceeded past their first game Lunar: Silver Star Story complete. i cant wait to try thw one for the game boy advance!!!!!!!!!!!

THE GREATEST GAME OF ALL TIME
when i first played this game i was amazed even though it was sorta poor graphics not the best graphics but still good onesthis game is a old school rpg i figured out about this game my friend brought it over and he was playing it so after he was done playing i wanted to try it when i first played most of the beginning of the game i was amazed i got pretty far then my friend left after a week or so i bought lunar 2 eternal bule complete i was amazed of the story of the game and how you battledthe key to playing and beating most bosses on lunar 2 is haveing tacticsif u can do that u will have a lot more easy time beating the game well that's all

To be played into the wee hours of the morning.
The games of the past truly are marvelous accomplishments.They know nothing of the modernized games we have today, and their quality is more focused and mature.With the harness of gaming graphics pretty non-existent in Lunar, the game has more power and depth, and certainly more room to grow than recent titles do.With each passing moment, Lunar does not become old and boring, it just becomes more charming and impressive.Lunar is a game that only gets better in time.
Since Lunar is a relatively old game, it was free to run with a complicated story, rather than just display some appealing eye candy as you drag a character through another repetitive task.The fact that Lunar is so different than other games is what really drew me to it.Here you are, in a massive world, with a hole mess of party members, when you realize that you've just embarked on an unforgettable and hilarious adventure that you would be foolish to hope to find in any other game.Lunar's story is touching and it doesn't insult you with the old cliché's and stereotypes.Just when you think it's all over, you always seem to find another important task at hand.When you finally DO finish this game, your left with an indescribable feeling of accomplishment and you finally understand just why everyone loves this 'old-school' game so much.
Lunar's charm washes over you completely from the moment you insert that first disc.It's filled with characters that you just love to interact with.When your away from the battlefield you don't always find yourself worrying about what boss is next, sometimes you just want to talk to the townspeople and see what hilarious thing Ronfar or Ruby or ANY of your party members will say.It's great that there's an rpg out there that's not all 'business', Lunar is just plain FUN!!!
Lunar is a light-hearted, but DEAD serious game, and you can always appreciate what's going on.In one scene you'll be laughing your guts out, then the next second your back to business when something HUGE happens!!!The game is soo exciting, and it's just awesome to play it.
If there is a thing that Lunar lacks, it absolutely makes up with it tenfold with it's laughable dialog, interesting story, and massive amount of extra goodies.Lunar is a game that you'll love forever, and you'll never EVER regret playing it.So, if you haven't already experienced what a true rpg can be, don't waste another precious moment, PLAY LUNAR!!

Great no matter what!
Whether your a long time resident, or a new-commer into the magical world of lunar, you have to admit that it was A LOT more than you expected!LUNAR may bea quite an old game, but that doesn't mean it's charm is in any way outdated.If you ask me this game just gets better with time.
I actually played this game before I played the first one--which is also an awesome game.You can play these games as a set, or idividualy, it makes no difference, you'll love em just the same!!^-^
I won't go into explaining the story, everyone else has already done that for me.You look at all the reviews this game gets and they're all either positive or they're negetive and nobody votes for them!!It's pretty obvious that this game is very crowd pleasing.And with all it's little quirks, it's just a pleasure to own it.
Anyways, I played this game like two years ago now, but i'm still not tired of it, and I don't think I will be any time soon!!Oh and by the way if anyone has information on the infamous "lunar 3" PLEASE PLEASE e-mail me, I'll really apprecieate it!!!

~have fun!!! ^o^ ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Pok&eacute;mon Crystal is to Pok&eacute;mon Gold and Silver what Pok&eacute;mon Yellow is toPok&eacute;mon Red and Blue. It features severalminor upgrades from its predecessors, but in essence it's still the same game.The classic Pok&eacute;mon formula of adventuring, collecting, and battling isat a series best with Crystal. This is one of the best and most addictiverole-playing games for the Game Boy Color.

The most notable feature is theselectable female trainer who has her own set of animations and backgrounds.This is a great option for female Pok&eacute;mon fans who were previously stuckplaying the game as a male character. There are also subtle improvements to thecell phone system, HM moves, and prebattle animations. Rival trainers' phonecalls are now more plentiful and pragmatic. HM moves, which are requiredthroughout the game, are available at the push of a button--you'll no longerhave to navigate menus to use these moves. Lastly, seeing a Pok&eacute;mon's newanimation makes encountering new creatures more fun than before.

If youhaven't played Gold or Silver yet, Crystal is definitelythe way to go. If you've played those previous games, Crystal has onlyenough new features to justify a purchase from Pok&eacute;mon fanatics. Thisgame is compatible with the link cable, Game Boy printer, and Pok&eacute;monPikachu 2. It's playable on Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance only, and can beplayed on a television using Pok&eacute;mon Stadium 2 and a Transfer Pak.--Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• New female trainer
• Prebattle animations are cute
• Lots of subtle improvements

• Too similar to Gold and Silver
• Mobile phone features not in the U.S. version

Reviews (254)

Crystal ?, You betcha!
After the new gold and silver, Pokemon Crystal might be one of the greatest games Pokemon created. Unlike all of the revisions and new versions of Pokemon, You might want something better. What crystal allows you to do is that it is the only game to capture 90-95% of johto Pokemon wild.More things is that crystal was the first pokemon game that allows you to choose if you are a boy or a girl. You can make Pokemon hold items.You can also play in real time. After 150 Pokemon, you might think there is more. Well there is!! Crystal also includes 2 dirfferent types of Pokemon, steel and Dark. It was also the first to have these types. Bad things about crystal also means it seem to be a long game that might take forever! But can you handel 16 gym leaders through the game? However, the greatest thing Crystal can do is that you can get legendary Pokemon before the game. the badest thing for crystal is that you need to trade 27 out of 250 poke'mon.That's the number doubled of red blue or yellow!!

In all, this is a great game for long trips inside a airplane or a car.

This is really Awesome!
I like the crystal, gold, and silver line better than all the rest of the pokemon games. 1.) you have to get 16 badges, which include Jhoto, the new world and Kanto, the old world. Kanto is 4x harder too. 2) no more annoying legendary birds! 3.) eevee gets 2 new evolutions, Espeon (the best one) and Umbreon (the average one.) you can be a girl too!

My All Time Favorite
For people who have started to read my reviews I am a all time gamer, and this is my all time favorite game. This game is LOADED with stuff to do, figure out puzzles, capture pokemon, win battles and more! Here are the good and bad in my opinion:
Good
-Loaded with stuff takes a while to play (a good thing)
-So many pokemon to catch and raise
-The battles bring out the true trainer in you
-The pokemon now make noises and move when summoned
-You can choose gender
Bad
-Sometimes you can get very stuck
-Some of the puzzles need the game guide to figure out in my opinion
-The graphics aren't as good nowdays
Note that all the pokemon games are good and that I think this game appeals to all ages.

I wish people would stop writing bad reviews about Pokemon
I have grown up with Pokemon. My whole life has been spent growing up on Anime and Manga. So, I feel at home playing these games, but, this review is for G/S/C, yes all 3 of them. THESE GAMES ROCK!!! If you get bored by this game, you probably are, well, picky. Yep, picky. I mean, if you, like I, are a true Pokemon veteran, you would know that it is Nintendo and Gamefreak's duty to create a third Pokemon game that includes more than its predecessors. All Pokemon games are deeper than they look, you just have to play them long enough. Sometimes, if you train and put effort into these games, you will be satisfied and weirdly enough, attached to your Pokemon. I keep a special case full of all of my favorite GB/GBC/GBA games, and these are in it. So, who cares if Crystal is the same as G/S, these games are good enough that you can change the course of everything. So, if you are an RPG fan or a fan of the show, or anybody who plays video games (well actually, I'd say most video gamers are people who have grown up around them, so, if you didn't, this is not for you) this is the game for you. And now, for my trademark ending *Peace Out*.

"I had to see the city with my own eyes" Tidus, Final Fantasy X
P.S. There is no GB/GBC/GBA game better than the Pokemon games (ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

This is the best pokemon game
This is really the best pokemoin game, nothin' to do with Blue/Red versions, it has more things to do than Silver and gold, The story is the same, but there's some differences.
a) New female trainer (Named Jenny, Mariah, Kelis or Blu)
b) New puzzles and chambers at the Ruins of Alf
c) Suicune is easier to catch
d) When you reach to certain point in the game an ol' man gives you an egg that may contain a shiny pokemon like the red Gyarados, something like a yellow Marrill
e) More detailed graphics
d) New battle tower, ubicated near of Olivine City
Overall, the story doesn't change at all, but there's more things to do, Another thing that like me is the time.
You can set the clock as the real time. It's very important, beacause you can get pokemons only at night, or day
I wish Ruby and Saphire had a clock... ... Read more

Product Description

Born into a famous thieving family, young raccoon Sly Cooper must recover his family's heirloom, The Thievius Raccoonus, which was stolen and divided among a marauding gang of intruders. Joined by his friends Bentley and Murray, Sly will have to exercise all his cunning and stealth to locate the book's many sections, scattered across a far-ranging landscape. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: PlayStation 2
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Action/Adventure

Reviews (121)

Exelent Game
I've had this game for a couple of month's now. It's a great game overall, there's really nothing wrong with the gameplay, audio graphics and it never gets boring. The only thing that could be changed and was changed in sly 2 is that you don't really have any freedom in roaming around the enviroments. I reccomend this game to anyone but you should buy it with sly 2 and the upcoming sly 3 (Supposedly coming out in fall 2005)

Wow What A Great Game!!!
This is a great game!!! It is easy for anyone to become addicted to! It is one of the very few games that I have gotten all the way through. If you are looking for a GREAT game for PS2 grap Sly Cooper.

Great action game
Sly Cooper is a game that could have easily escaped all notice- at first glance it probably looked too cartoonish to some older gamers, and the game play may have turned out to be a bit difficult for some kids.The game evidently took off though, and its success is certainly deserved, as its a very entertaining gaming experience.The gameplay is basically "linear" - you run straight through the missions without a lot of side missions - but the graphics are so impressive it seems a bit more complex.The game looks great, and gameplay is challenging without being maddeningly difficult (with the possible exception of finding some of the bottles).Overall, this game is well worth checking out, along with its more complex sequel.

Sly Cooper pulls off a slick operation...
I first saw previews for this game in a magazine and thought the "cell-shading" graphics looked cheap and unprofessional. By the time the game came out, I couldn't wait to buy it. I recieved the game as an A Honor Roll present, and it was excellent. The graphics are incredibly smooth and all-out amazing. I now actually prefer this style to the traditional 3-D graphics. The shadows amazed me.

I loved to play this game because the controls are so easy to master it makes you feel light and quick. Many a time I felt like I was a light-footed, smooth-talking raccoon. Certainly, Sucker Punch achieved the thievy, quick-like action Sly should have. Another thing that amazed me was the storyline. The characters are perfectly placed and make you see the "bad" thieves because Sly is evidently a "good-guy with morals" deep down. Sometimes very deep down. The only thing was that I wanted more! The game really wasn't as long as most other games. Finding all 30 clue bottles in each of the levels wasn't extremely difficult, although some gave me trouble. Also, the music is exciting and intertaining, unlike so much of the annoying music we get on other video games. My personal favorite music was on the Panda King's domain :) The time trials were challenging, but not so impossible like collecting all the precursor orbs on Jak 2 and Jak 3 (bleh).

I was extremely happy when Sucker Punch came out with another excellent game, Sly 2: Band of Theives. I would strongly suggest buying both of them, as the first one is a kind of introdution of all characters and getting Sly's book back, and the 2nd is more involving with a much more complex storyline. Both of the games were excellent, but this one just wasn't long enough. 5 stars for the pure fun and excitment, 4 stars because it was just a little too short. Another thing, you DO NOT need to buy any guides whatsoever to complete this game. Have fun exploring all the interesting worlds that Sly visits on his exciting journeys.

I like it
Sly Cooper is a sneaky raccoon who is trying to steal back his family's book, Thievious Raccoonous. He has to go through dangerous challenges to get back his family's book. He is in love with Inspector Fox. She is a fox who is after Sly Cooper. Sly Cooper is a fun game. I enjoyed playing it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

It’s a pretty bold claim but for many, Mario Party is the best multiplayer game series ever. No need for guns or complicated role-playing elements here--Mario Party is fun because it’s simple. The original N64 game created an entirely new subgenre--an unlikely combination of traditional board games and lots of ultrasimple arcade titles. The idea is that you travel around the board trying to collect stars, which must be paid for with coins, and you get coins by competing in minigames, which occur at the end of every round. These minigames generally don’t last longer than a minute or two, and many are based on old Game & Watch titles. There are over 50 minigames in Mario Party 4, and each involves either a free-for-all, two players against two, or one against three (depending where you land on the board at the end of your turn). These can involve anything from skydiving to basketball dunking, or car racing to hide-and-seek, to name a few.

Admittedly, this basic description of the gameplay might not sound too exciting, and indeed if you’re playing with less than three human opponents it can be pretty tedious. But play it with the full complement of non-virtual rivals and the game’s infinite capacity for cheating, backstabbing, and ganging up allows it to completely transcend the humdrum sum of its parts. There’s nothing terribly new in this third sequel except that the graphics are much improved and the minigames are all new, but that really misses the point: get this game out at Christmas instead of Trivial Pursuit and you’ll wonder how you ever got through the holiday without it. --David Jenkins, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Features

• Choose favorite Nintendo video game characters and compete in a series of contests to win the birthday present.
• Take advantage of the Mini-Giant system - players can use items on the boards to grow larger or smaller in order to access different areas of the game boards and trigger special events.
• Bump, whack and bang away in the newly introduced Tag Battle, which lets players pair up in two-man teams and compete at collecting stars.
• Set a handicap that allows players of all ages and abilities to compete against each other.

Reviews (137)

I love Mario.
I love every Mario game known to man and this one rocks!!!! (I
actually don't like Mario Party 6 but that's it)!!! I played this game 2 summers ago all the time!!! This is a good game and it has really good graphics. I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!!

slightly dissapointed but hey who cares!
I'm Espio and I love all of the mario party games from 1-6 but Mario Party 4 is one I was dissapointed in. First lets go through some downsides. Its quite slow compared to some of the other games,some of the items are...well...chee-seey and some of the boards are not so great.Hey now for good stuff.Shy-Guys board rocks!plain and simple,the mini games are great and the graphics well their boss! So if your a big fan of the series like me then get it it's cool but if your looking for your first Party then I recomend Mario Party 1 or 2.

Love this game
I love to play this at frieds houses!The mini games are the best.It's the best one in the Mario series!

Sorry Mario, but Mr. Insanity is crashing this party.
This game functions and no more. If you want to Mario Party, I would recommend all three for the N64.
First I will wail on the graphics. They are good and smooth. It does not feel like the characters are made of polygons. But everything is empty. Eye candy is good, but we need more. The board maps are like a empty field.
Sound was a big thing in the first three parties, but has become weak. The annoucer was a big part, but seems uninterested. Music is WAY too simple for what the first three had.
Gameplay: Functions but is uninteresting.
Game: It's your birthday and some guys want to throw you a party! Yes, the stories may have been weak in Mario's parties, but you do not care. You go from map to map with six in all. What you do is collect money and try to buy some stars. The one with the most stars wins the game. In between rows of die you play a mini game. Which destroyed this game into so-so. They are all creative, but they many have the same controls. I bet there are more than three games there that ask you to hit the A-button as fast as you can!
Overall, this game functions. And you should look for an N64 for Mario's older parties. I am not going to review them, but I strongly recommend the first three.

A Game That'll Keep You Asking For More
To start out with, I'd like to say that I only have Mario Party 2 and Mario Party 4. To me, 4 seems better board-wise, but 2 has funner mini-games.

Mario Party 4 introduces, instead of the normal Toad hosts every game formula, different hosts for each board. The boards in this game are spectacular. Ranging from tropical soirees to haunted houses, Mario Party 4 seems to excell in boards.

The only board I was a bit disappointed with was Toad's Midway Madness (an amusemant park board with a roller coaster you can ride, and the only board in the game hosted by Toad), and it's because of the first part. The tea cups- which alternate directions everytime someone rides them- can leave someone wasting pointless time running around in a circle for half the game. I like the tea cup idea, but not if it's going to send me in circles!

Goomba's Greedy Gala (hosted by Goomba) is a casino board, and in the earlier Mario Party games, there is always a board that is seperated into four different boards (for 1 it was Wario's Board, for 2 it was Mystery Land). This one is the board for Mario Party 4. In the middle is a roulette, and you spin it to decide which small board you're going to go to. If the ball lands on a star, you get to chose which direction you go in and you get 20 coins!

Shy Guy's Jungle Jam seemed like the most boring board on Mario Party 4, but in truth, it's actually quite fun. You can go in all sorts of directions, and you can have Shy Guy- the host of the board- flood the river which runs through the middle of the board, so players cannot cross it for a certain amount of turns. The biggest bonue of this one is the eagle, who can fly you from one point of the board to the other, and sometimes it'll let you collect coins on the way.

Boo's Haunted Bash is hosted by none other than Boo. This haunted board, instead of Mario Party 2's Horror Land, which is just a field full of monsters, is a haunted house, and it's probably the most creative. I enjoyed the ghosts. They looked like real ghosts (you could see through them), and the ghost train is a big advantage if you want to get somewhere fast. The see-through floors that appear only when Red Boos stalk the corridors can be annoying, but they make an excellent challenge if you're an expert player.

And to top it all off, Koopa's Seaside Soiree! This is my favorite Mario Party board yet, probably because it's hypnotic. You could sit for fifteen minutes just looking around at all the beautiful sites (made by Koopa, the host). The aquatic water is what fills most of the board. You can see fish swimming in it. Where the beach part of the board is, there are fruits sitting on tanning chairs. Koopa's Seaside Soiree isn't my favorite just because it's the prettiest, it's because the game is very challenging! The monkeys have you slip on banana peels, sending you in a random direction, and if you land on a question mark space in front of Koopa's resort, then you could end up paying a huge sum of coins while watching a tsunami tear the building down! You can also ride a fish to get to different points in the board.

There's also a Bowser Board too, hosted by his son, that's unlockable, but it's nothing much. The lava was nice looking, but it didn't give you many options on where you wanted to go when you got to a fork in the road. If you're mega and you pass Bowser you'll face him in a Mini Game, but that's all that comes to mind for this board.

The mini-games in Mario Party 4 are fun, but some can be a pain. Repeatedly pressing the A button over and over as fast as you can in games like Domination and Slime Time is really annoying, and sometimes you could waste all your energy for nothing. But other games like the skiing game (name, anyone?), Mario Medley and Hop or Pop are very entertaining.

Mario Party 4 has many bonuses that Mario Party 2 doesn't seem to have. The graphics, of course, but also the option to chose the amount of turns you get to have (10, 15, 20, and counting by fives all the way up to 50). Another is the custom mini-game mode, where you get to select a set of mini-games, and that set is the only set of mini-games that will appear at the end of each turn. This is nice for getting rid of those few horribly annoying games that you just can't stand.

All in all, Mario Party 4 is grand game, and is definately worth the fifty bucks! ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Games not realistic!!
I played the tournament Texas Hold Em poker and there is no way you can get pass the second round. You can have 3 of kind, and the other player would have 4 of a kind. You can have a flush, 2 other players would have a straight flush. This is what it is like almost every hand. Anyone who plays poker knows you don't see that many good hands out there.
Blackjack is way to unrealistic. If you have a 20 and the dealer has a 5 face up, he seems to always to get a 6, then a 10 to get 21. I played 10 straight hands, the dealer had 4 blackjacks and 6 20's. That is almost impossible for a dealer to get that lucky. And if you see the dealer has a king faced up, just surrender unless you have 21 because the dealer ALWAYS has another king down.
If you want to learn how to play the game, you should get this, but if you already know how to play, don't buy this, it is a waste of money!

I would give this game 3 1/2 stars
I bought this game for under $10 bucks which also included shipping.For that price, You can't lose!I was reading the reviews for Hoyle Casino 2004 which had all the worse reviews I've seen yet.The reason I bought Hoyle casino 2003 instead of the 2004 version is the fact that there really isnt much a difference.Plus with the 2003. I can play without having the cd in my drive. Which is a BIG PLUS! I was hoping to see if the Texas hold'em tournaments were gonna be like the world poker tour.SADLY ENOUGH IT'S NOT. They dont have a NO LIMIT game.It would of been exciting to go all in and see if anyone or a computer match it. But still can't knock sierra just yet.Because it is still fun.I want to try out the new drink system but only if they improve two minor issues.One: They have a no limit texas hold'em tournament and Two: CD optional if people want it in the drive. If you are in the market for a casino game.Get this version because you would save money.But still waiting to see what newer version will bring.So if Hoyle casino 2005 comes out.I'm reading reviews before I buy.Don't want to make the mistake by buying the 2004 version.

Hoyle's Casino 2003 - Best Ever
I recently purchased this from Amazon and received a manual along with it that I find very helpful as I'm new to Poker and Blackjack.The characters are so realistic and it's fun to listen to their conversations.
The first time I clicked on the AutoPlay screen to start playing I could hear sound but my screen went black. I have Windows XP Home Edition with DirectX 9.0. I was sure this was the latest version of DirectX, but when I went to Microsoft's Help & Support Center, on the list was the question did the screen go black. I then went to Microsoft.com and found there was an update called DirectX 9.0B. It took a little over 30 minutes to download this version. When I clicked Play on the AutoPlay Screen this time, the place where you hear what seems to be a frog croaking, it worked fine.
When some of the reviewers blame Hoyle for problems it could be Microsoft has an update that will make everything go smoothly. Hoyle creates extremely clever games and I'm very happy I bought this CD. The only games that can even compete with this are the Bicycle Card and Board Games which I also own. None of the other Casino games can even begin to compare to Hoyle's Casino 2003 in my opinion.

Lot's of fun and good practice
The table games are great and the play is very realistic. The players voices are a turn-off after a while so I play with the sound off. It is a great way to sharpen your skills before a trip to Vegas or AC. I had never played Pai Gow Poker but I learned from this software and look forward to trying it in a casino. The craps and roulette are fun too. I don't play slots in a casino so I don't use the slots on this either.Overall I think this is a good buy for some fun on the PC.

Fun Game
Very nice game. Graphics are well done.Facemaker is fun, and it uses the face I created in Card games without me having to tell it to go find it.The table games are well done, the speed of play is easily adjusted, graphics and audio are clear and crisp.There are so many gmes it is difficult to tire of this game.The slots could be a tad better, in that none of them are copies of real machines.Also the "feel" while playing them is not quite right.They are certainly playable though, as these faults are minor.I gave 4 stars out of 5, because the characters comments get annoyingly redundant very quickly.Of course, you can turn the character speech off if you want. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Game Boy platform (which includes the original unit, the Game Boy Pocket, and the Game Boy Color) came to market when most video game consoles had a life expectancy of just a few years. More than a decade later, the system is still going strong. How did the Game Boy successfully compete--and in some cases bury--an onslaught of faster, more powerful handheld and home console systems? Let us count the ways: affordability, a huge library of games that consistently made the most of the hardware's limitations, smart power management that extended battery life, and uncluttered controls. But perhaps it was the system's ultraportable design that allowed devotees to play video games around their schedule, making it the must-have system for kids and adults alike.

Now the Game Boy Advance (or GBA as people are already calling it) comes to us with power that would have been unthinkable back in the day. The portable's 32-bit RISC CPU runs circles around the former's 8-bit workhorse, allowing it to process program instructions much faster. What that means to everyday gamers is more intricate visuals, more simultaneous movement on the screen, and better sound. In fact, the often-annoying beeps and boops of old-school Game Boy titles are being replaced with digitized stereo sound. The extra processing muscle also means you can even network up to four Game Boy Advance units together, via the communication cable, for multiplayer fun off of one shared cartridge. Only two Game Boy Color units could link together, and each unit had to have its own copy of the game.

What's not being replaced, however, is the wide selection of Game Boy games. Because the Game Boy Advance system is backward-compatible, it will play its own line of colorful games--including such launch titles as Super Mario Advance, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Army Men Advance, High Heat Major League Baseball 2002, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2--as well as all of the monochrome and color games that have already been released for the previous Game Boy systems (nearly 500 in total). Players can view the older games in their smaller, originally square dimensions, or, with the touch of the shoulder button, expand the game to fit the GBA's larger screen. We tried enlarging the screen on a Game Boy Color edition of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 and found that Mr. Hawk was much easier to see.

When you first pick up the system, you'll be amazed at how lightweight it is. At fewer than 5 ounces and a little larger than a deck of playing cards, the system easily fits into a shirt pocket without any sag. The GBA's wider shape fits better into a wider range of hands. The former design too often pushed the left and right thumb knuckles together during gameplay. The new layout should be comfortable for all ages, and the center screen orientation makes it easy to see.

Game Boy Color owners will find the GBA's larger screen somewhat darker than they're used to, but that's because the screen is outfitted with antiglare technology. Like the old Game Boy Color, the color LCD is not backlit, so you need pretty good light to play by. Unlike that system, though, you won't be craning your neck and tilting the unit to see around the hot-spot reflection of the light bulb in your screen.

But you'll also notice the graphics. Sporting what's basically a redesigned SNES technology, you'll see things on the GBA that the big consoles do, such as scaling (making objects larger or smaller) and rotation effects--technological advances that will affect the look of everything from crossing a finish line to throwing a touchdown pass to crawling through a dungeon.

Some might argue that Nintendo could have tried to put even more power into this Game Boy Advance. After all, the 32-bit video game had its heyday more than five years ago. Perhaps, but after handling this new handheld, we're inclined to think that Nintendo wisely struck a balance between size, price, and power consumption. And considering how well the old 8-bit system weathered the decade's technological storms, we think the Game Boy Advance is here to stay, and we're glad. --Porter B. Hall

Unit Specifications

• CPU: 32-bit RISC CPU with embedded memory
• Screen: 2.9-inch reflective TFT color LCD
• Display Size: 1.6 by 2.4 inches (40.8 by 61.2 mm)
• Resolution: 38,000 pixels in a wide-screen aspect ratio (10,000 per square inch)
• Colors: 512 simultaneous colors from a palette of 32,768
• Size: 3.2 by 5.6 by 1 inch (82 by 144.5 by 24.5 mm)
• Weight: Approximately 5 ounces (140 grams)
• Power Supply: 2 AA alkaline batteries
• Battery Life: Approximately 15 hours continuous play

Features

• Platform: Game Boy Advance
• Includes Pokémon Crystal for GBA & GBC

Reviews (367)

Very Good
I used to own a game boy color, but i updated to a gba, for the better sound and graphics. I found that the ONLY downside is that it has no backlight. I am going to buy a gba light and sheild asap to fix that, and i will reveiw it too. I am just starting to collect games, as i only have one, but i am hoping it will be a long time before i get bored and get a gba sp. the price is good, but if you really want a good experience, and you have the money, get a Nintendo DS. My brother has one, and he enjoys it. The downside to a DS is they only have 3 or 4 good games out.

Good...........but outdated sad but true
The game boy advance is definetly better than a game boy color.Bigger screen, smaller game consoles, and better grafics.Why only 3 stars.Well, this system just can't compare to the new psp or nintendo ds.If you want a cheap gaming console, this might be the way to go. It is inexpensive and has lots of games.If you however don't mind spending a little (or a lot) more money than you should propably go with the psp if you are older or the nintendo ds if you are like under 12. Like I said this was worth it like 3 or 4 years ago but just like the game boy color before it, this system is getting old.

hello
this game boy sucks it close and it has horible graphics.you should get the nintendo ds

Great System after 3 years
I am here to say that I am not too big on the whole SP idea. I bought a Platinum SP about 2 years ago when they first hit shelves and I can't honestly say it was the greatest purchase I made. If you ever have time to kill, go on Ebay and compare what you can get a Regular Model for to what you pay for a SP. There is no comparison, for lack of a better word I'd have to say looking back on it that the SP was overhyped and priced. The controls give a sick feeling of clausterphobia and the light is something useful only to those that take long trips day-in and day-out. I recently was able to purchase a 3rd GBA system on ebay for the jaw-dropping price of $35.00, and the real shocker was that the system was BRAND NEW. The original GBA model had the SP beat in so many ways it is hard to look back on it and think what a mistake I made for ever buying the SP. This system is the complete deal, I wouldn't pay the listing price of $70.00 for it, but if you find a bargain like I did, go for it. The graphics are crisp and it too is small enough to just slip in a pocket, I wouldn't recomend storing it in a pocket because of the scratches it may cause. The light is the only thing that the SP has over the standard system. I personally believe that the GBA regular has better battery life than an SP. I am playing Zelda Minish Cap on a system that came out 3 yrs ago and is still running strong. Over the past years I've played it, I've played some of the best games on any console such as Metroid Zero Mission and Fusion, not to mention the Castlevania series which in my opinion ranks as one the best series for any system to date. With games like these becoming harder to find, it sure would be nice to find more regular GBA's on a store shelf...

Steller Handheld with steller line ups
Put it simply...this is a great edition to the nintendo franchise.Advance has a great line up of games like
Metroid Zero Mission
Advance Wars
The Mario Games and Zelda games.Awesome must have handheld for this year, and if you don't already have it get SP then!

4.9 out of 5...A great hand held to own.. ... Read more

Product Description

Take advantage of enhanced visuals, richer tactics and strategic gameplay as you build your fleet and engage in 3-D space combat. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Genre: Strategy
• Mission: Lose yourself in the sequel to the groundbreaking 3-D real-time space strategy game Homeworld
• Platform: Windows 98/Me/XP/2000

Reviews (146)

Very good game
This was one of if not the most fun strategy game i have played. It has an amazing story, unbelievable graphics, and an interface that once you learn it is relatively easy to use.
Tbe only reason i didnt give it a 5 is because it is so hard as to exclude this game from some of the less hardcore stategy gamers. The game does take a hit as well from not being able to order your ships into formations (an important part of any space strategy game) but it is more than compensated by just generally being alot of fun. Now i am a fan of space stategy games and i thought that the toughness of the game was an asset because insted of just building a huge fleet and crushing your enemys (satisfing but doesnt take much brain power) you could manipulate the battlefield leaving your enemy crippled and unable to fight back (buy controlling recource spots ect.) I do have to admit i went through a few mouses because i broke a few in sheer frustration. So in conclusion i highly recomend this game to you if u enjoy a tough but satisfing game and your not one of the "gamers" who like to boot up warcraft and put in all the instant build cheet codes. This game is well worth $20 and it was worth it to me when i pre ordered it in 03 for $60. BUY IT PEOPLE!!!

Fun?
I just have one thing to say: this game is as fun as you can throw it underwater with your wrists chained to some wall.Also, the interface and mere gameplay feels like an act of congress (looking up how to do things in the manual!)To be frank, don't by this game even if they would give you money in return!

Loss of The Real Concept!
Look, I've been a Homeworld fan ever since I bought it when it FIRST came out, it was beautiful, the graphics were just delightful, and the stradegy was complex to a portion where I can sit in a room, for 20 hours of non-stop harvesting and planning of an attack with a lil' math and algebra on the side.

When I started to play Homeworld 2, I was hyped, and ready to complete the saga in my world of stradegy gaming other than StarCraft, WarCraft, Age of Empires, and all those other fun stuff.

I began by downloading the Demo from Sierra, and I was full blown by the new graphics it had, though my video card was really acting kinda messy since it was the summer time. (Yeah seasonal changes make items work slower or faster.) Anyways, when I started to play the demo, I used the mechanism of the keyboard and controls of what Homeworld 1 had, lemmie tell you this, TOTALLY DIFFERENT! I can't believe my eyes of what I felt and seen! Everything; the whole concept has changed, the keys and etc. Then I saw that the stradegies have changed, and there were only 3 formation patterns I could only choose for my fithers, I'm like, WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THEY THINKING!? I really wanted to bust a few chops with my strategic mind... so then I thought to myself, eh, not bad, lemmie get the whole game and see what it's really worth...

Bought it, it's totally the same concept, doesn't relate to Homeworld 1, doesn't relate to ANYTHING LIKE HOMEWORLD AT ALL! I thought that they would stick to their story, but the whole thing changed... I was really mad about it.

The game-play suddenly became boring, just traveling with no real dog-fight, "Some destiny this is..." ok, maybe a few dog-fights, but the game just gets harder and harder *like any other game* But I'm looking at it, I swear to you, I would've beaten all these fools if I had all those formation patterns. This game has less stradegy in mind, and the shipmaking, is just build in bulk, something that a gamer would NEVER LIKE. Listen, usually, it's always great to build ONE AT A TIME... WHY!? BECAUSE HAVING THAT FEELING TO SIT ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT WAITING FOR THAT SPECIAL OBJECT TO BE BUILT REALLY SHOWS THAT IT'S A GREAT GAME. This however, was truly dissappointing... No wonder it was 20 bux. Not many people like it! For God's sake even Diablo 2 is 20 times better than this and the graphics can be as horrible as they want, but their game play is just completely mind blowing as well as the story line.

For all kids that love graphics, I suggest this game as a STARTER, but for gaming stradegy and story lines, I suggest that you should TURN BACK, THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE BUT A GAME THAT TAKES 20 HOURS OF YOUR LIFE JUST SITTING AND WAITING FOR NOTHING, BUT RUNNING AWAY FROM YOUR ENEMIES.

Even Homeworld Cataclysm is better than this. I wouldn't call this game trash though, but would've worth a lot of money if they knew how to bring back the story line as what they were before, but spiced up, with more allies and enemies, and probably if Sierra was lucky, deception.

Wonderful Game
Before I start, I would suggest anyone who gets this game be sure to download the patch that has been made available.This balances out units a little better (not too much, but a little) and also decreases the difficulty of several of the missions (they are possible to beat without the patch, but they are hard).

This game builds wonderfully over the orrignal Homeworld.It has made several improvements in how things are handled and also polishes up things in general.In addition, unlike the orrignal Homeworld the different sides have very different strengths and weaknesses that are readily apparent when playing them.

Some nice additions:

You no longer build single fighters, but rather build fighters in wings.So long as a single fighter in the wing survives you can send the fighter group back to a carrier or mothership or shipyard and have the unit returned to full strength.This makes fighter units much more useful and practical then the frail things they were in Homeworld.

Resource collection at the end of missions has been automized.You will no longer have to sit around for hours after missions sending harvisters out to collect resources for you.Once all enemy units have been defeated all resources in the map are automatically collected and added to your resource pool.

Subsystems.You can now build subsystems that give your ships interesting capabilities as well as target enemy subsystems.Large ships (such as battle crusers, carriers, motherships) come with some standard subsystems that cannot be completely destroyed but can be dammaged to the point that they no longer function.This makes hit and run type attacks much more useful then they were previously since you can use them to dammage enemy capabilities or cripple enemy ships, while allowing access to some nice abilities should you chose to build some of the more unique subsystems.

The ability to capture any ship in the game has also been added.That is right, capture ANY ship in the game.Including motherships.In addition, the units which capture enemies are much less flimsy so while they do still need an escourt they can be counted on to not die immediately.

Fleet formations have also been added.While there are really only 3 choises for fleet formations, they really do make it easy to use ships of different classes together.When used properly these formations are extreamly powerful, however you need to learn when to use a formation and when to break it up.

There are a few things I am less than satisfied with however.It is for these reasons that I am only giving it a rating of 4 out of 5.

The first major thing I was disapointed with was the reduction on the number of formations.I remember that with the orrignal Homeworld there was a large number of fomrations to chose from.I kept wishing I had access to some of those, particularly the claw and the sphere.While it may be argued that the addition of fleet formations makes up for this change, I couldn't help but wish that I had access to many of the old formations.

The interface is something I am not 100% satisfied with as well.While I will agree that it is definately a step up from what was used with Homeworld, it does feel somehow cumbersome.I guess it is a function of too many menues when it comes to building units and researching.Even in this respect it isn't too bad though.

Also, the 3D nature of space has largely been ignored.This problem still existed in Homeworld, though it was a little less noticable there since they did fairly often launch surprise attacks from above or below.Homeworld 2 largely just uses the horozontal plane when it comes to combat.Units controled by the AI simply will not try coming from strange directions, but rather take a head on approach.Thankfully I was able to find a group of people to play with online who were not burdened with this problem.

My final real problem with Homeworld comes with the addition of a new unit: the shipyard.The reason for this has to do with multiplayer where its importaince overshadows even that of the mothership once it has been built.It has more subsystem slots than the mothership.It is the only unit which can build battlecruisers.It has all the capabilities that the mothership has and more.From a stand point of game ballance I can see why this may have happened (the game designers didn't want players skipping ahead in the research tree right to battlecruisers), however I cannot help but feel that if anything the shipyard should be more of a smaller mothership with more limited capabilities.Somewhere between a carrier and the mothership.

All that said, the game is still a wonderful game.It contains almost all of the orrignal Homeworld's good points, and gets rid of many of its bad ones with the introduction of few flaws.If you like the idea of controling an intergalatic battle fleet then I would definately suggest that you pick up this game.The campaign alone would be worth it, but multiplayer is where this game really shines since that is where you will see interesting tatics that can be used once the pesky notion of 2D is forgotten.

Visually stunning but shocking game play
In light of completing Homeworld 2 twice, the review is a brutal truth of what the game is---a game so challenging, so hard, it just simply isn't worth your bother. Ordinary gamers will derive no enjoyment from this. In a manner of words: this is a game with spectacular graphics, breathtaking naval fleet warfare, all hampered by arduous game play.

Fifteen missions long, the average player will find themselves struggling by just the fourth, if you finished the third by the skin of your teeth. Rapidly changing mid-mission objectives, wave after wave of enemy forces, you'd better be up to the challenge of preventing your shipyard from hostile takeover to graduate to the real fun.

Then mission 4 hits you, hard and heavy.

Players are simply not prepared so early in the game, after such breezy missions, for one of such difficulty. Continual enemy attacks never leave you alone, never giving you a breather, to collect resources, to replenish your ragtag fleet. Don't grin that smile yet, that massive frigate assault will wash it away. There's no time to get a feel for ship classes, what works best against which enemy unit, to experiment on new technologies. Took a stunning number of weeks to beat that mission alone. Just concentrate on bombers and pulsar corvettes and she'll be right mate. Homeworld 2, it seems, is one heavy mission after another, broken up by occasional missions so quiet you could sleep through them. Those restful missions would be ideal to build your fleet to full strength and maximum unit numbers.

A detrimental mistake!

An unbelievable attribute of the game---the stronger you are, the heavier the next mission's enemy forces will be. The astounding stupidity of this is simply shocking. Try full unit limits from the tenth mission onwards, when enemy forces are already considerable, you'll see. This isn't so bad, really, but it makes hill into mountain.

Homeworld 2 is a RTS game of its own, nothing like Starcraft-type games. Even the hardest Starcraft mission gave you time to rebuild a weakened army, fix your base up. You could explore the darkened map, tease the enemy from different sides. H2 won't let you do that. This game demands strict obedience to the mission objectives. You play to fulfil them, not your own agenda.

Even more absurd, whatever forces you have left you begin with next mission. Scrape a mission too finely, and what are your chances of survival, really, when come the enemy hordes, and come in numbers they will.

What H2 steals from you is enjoyment. This is for the determined player. Who doesn't want a challenge in a game? But it's not fun. Move! You can't sit idle at any time; you can't split your fleet up, to feint at an enemy base from different angles. You want to live, keep all eggs in one fleet.

The menu controls are shocking. Mouse scrolling doesn't work in H2. It takes valuable time to position and drag the tab down the page. You can't even press ENTER or ESCAPE keys, only mouse commands. Such is the Idiotic Intelligence of the developers, that you can't authorise commands with an ENTER tap. The screen panels where you click to load or save games are so slim you really have to position your mouse precisely over them.

The method of saving is a joke. Strict alphanumerical order, the starting letter or number determines its placement in the list. It's better to save games chronologically, like Starcraft and Jedi Outcast. In-game auto-saving works against you; replay a mission, and you might re-save over it.

Where in the game booklet does it say docked strike craft automatically repair? A tiny offhand mention in the Vaygr Battlecruiser. How would you think to dock your fighters when you need them active at all times?

Absurd to target warship subsystems (engines, weapons, etc) when destroying the ship takes just as long. Absurd to capture an enemy ship, not only from your strict unit numbers, but the ship will always target your marine frigate. Played game twice, still can't get cloaking technology.

Like viewing a sphere of blinking red and green dots all game long? You'll spend considerable time looking at your radar screen; it's the only way to see enemy units and positions, and easier to select targets.

Graphics are awesome, ship details commendable. Mouse-wheel scrolling permits easy panning and rotation of the camera angle. Fun to follow a bomber group on their attack runs, or zoom right in at besieged warships about to be missile volleyed. High comp system will avert the occasional slowdown when camera-close to a ship going nova; exploding capital ships are cool.

Mid- and inter-mission cutscenes are simple but satisfactory. Fleet Command voices sounds too similar; Makaan is chilling as the Vaygr warlord, smooth and polite.

Game music will become repetitive. Only two tracks stand out: the oriental Hindu-like music of the Keeper missions, and that brief heavy battle track in missions 9 and 12. Hammered by endless Vaygr fleets, your heart pounding as you brawl for survival, why the damn hell did they finish after two minutes? Superb and haunting, they rapidly faded back to that mundane battle music.

There is nothing special about mysterious Sajuuk, the one hope of your homeworld. Can't spoil you here, but the game designers are criminal fools to make the guy just that. And if that doesn't inspire your outrage, behold the short, simplistic final cutscene of the game.

This is Homeworld 2. Visually stunning, rigid game play design. You'd do well to think long and hard before sampling this farce of fun. All fine and fancy to spout rave reviews and the shine the five-star flag, but honest and informative feedback goes a long way to whisper the truth. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Gauntlet Dark Legacy is the all-new iteration in the 3-D "hack 'n' slash" time-honored arcade classic Gauntlet franchise.

The revolutionary Gauntlet game design allows players to work as a team as they venture through eight dangerous worlds. One to four players can select one of eight different characters. Using force of arms and exotic magical powers, players vanquish creatures, search for treasure, evade traps, and embark on quests. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

THE BEST GAME EVER
THIS IS THE ONLY GAME I CAN PLAY SO FAR.I AM 23 AND NOT REALLY INTO VIDEO GAMES BUT THIS GAME WILL KEEP ME UP ALL NIGHT I NEED TO FIND A SIMILAR GAME LIKE IT SO MAYBE I CAN SWITCH UP OR SOMETHING I WISH THEY WOULD MAKE ANOTHER PART OR A GAME SIMILAR THAT GOES THROUGH BOARDS AND STUFF.I RECOMMEND THIS GAME TO ALL.IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY GAMES LIKE THIS ONE PLEASE EMAIL ME.

Great Game!
This is fun and easy game to play. There are many characters to chosse from. As you advance in higher level, the game is more difficult.This game will give you weeks of fun. Try it, you will like it.

EXTREMELY BORING
Well this game was pretty basic... a bunch of freinds all get to gather to kick evils butt. sounds fun right...WRONG. in this game all you do is toss projectiles at what ever comes your way. the only thing i enjoyed was the boss battles. hahaha all four players would be slaughtered! any way i dont reccomend this game.

Best long-term game ever
This game was a wonderful hit in my world. When I first got it, I was worried that it might get boring after playing it for days. I was amazed at the way it pulled me in. I didn't want to stop playing it. The only problem with it is you do the same thing again and again. The enemies don't really change much. This game is the best multiplayer game ever! I loved it. The boses make up for the normal enemies. There hard and fun. I love to go up levels. I've been playing the game for half a year now, and I'm not even half way done! When you go up levels, you get stronger and better. I'm almost at level 50! You get bigger and better every ten levels. Wonderful game. Rent it first, make shure that you agree. Then buy it!

Gauntlet Rules all Kingdoms on XBOX!
Well when me and my friends rented the game all i did was complain. "This looks boring" "lets rent a star wars game" but everyone told me it was cool. so we took it to my xbox and we just couldn't get off it! It is a 1-4 player team co-op game. I never new what a gauntlet was all i knew was that its just some arcade game. But know i am like a number one fan! Its so cool collecting gold to power up your character (that you chose at the begaining from 8 different ones) you also fight vicious bosses, zombies and other creatures. This is an interesting game because you are on your friends team to find all the sharms but at the same time there is alot of compitition againist your friends of who gets the treasure and whos this strongest whos the fastest and whos the on the highest level, whos weapon is the strongest and so forth. This is the absolute best sleepover game to stay up late and play. whats also cool is that u can't fall off cliffs your player will just stop! (AWESOME) I am so tirered of stupid games where i keep dying from cliffs.I think its fun for all ages and it is not super complitacated, the fighting part any way, So even my lil bro can come in and kill some zombies! This game is great! The only bad things are if u change your character in a game the new person is at level 1. And the plot is kind of odd but still an awesome game i got to go play it now seeya! ... Read more