Amazon.com Review

American McGee is best known for his work on shooters like QuakeIII, but he split off from id Software recently and his first effort isAlice, a twisted romp through his own version of Lewis Carroll'sWonderland. The trick is that Alice, now older, is the lone survivor of ahousefire that kills her family. She's stuck in an asylum and must regain her ownsanity by returning to the madcap Wonderland she visited as a child. She's adarker person now, and, perhaps consequently, Wonderland is correspondinglydark.

The Queen of Hearts cruelly rules the land, the White Rabbit is tattered, theCheshire Cat sports a pirate earring and a mangy, emaciated look, and the MadHatter is even madder than before. Alice, armed with her characteristicpoliteness, athletic ability, and a large knife, must venture through thisdarkWonderland righting wrongs while thwarting the Queen and her army ofplaying-card guards.

The game itself uses an over-the-shoulder perspective and has Alice running,jumping, and swinging from ropes like a younger and primmer Lara Croft.Controlsare easy to use and aside from difficult jumping puzzles and an odd problemwhere Alice slides on surfaces, the game is easy to play. Wonderland here isdark, like a Tim Burton film, but still easily recognizable to fans of theclassic novel. If anything the game is woefully linear--there's only one pathand therefore no need to replay the game after you've finished it. The resultisa game that feels more constrained and conservative than its source materialshould have allowed, but the atmosphere makes for an exciting action-adventurenonetheless. Mature subject matter is strewn throughout, so always rememberthatthis isn't an E-ticket Disney ride. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

• Gorgeous, wicked graphics
• Excellent use of Carroll's famous characters

• High system requirements
• Very linear

Reviews (156)

A macabre twist to Alice In Wonderland
My brother, whom is very morbid, gave this game to me when I got my computer.I fell in love with American Mcgee's Alice.The way that all the character's looks are twisted to nightmarish quality makes this game unique in that it takes a childrens fairy tale and makes it into an adult fantasy land.The weapons were awesome and inventive: like the jacks, dice, and cards.When Alice comes across some red potion, it sprays in her face and she makes an anquished sound and turns evil, horns and all.This allows you to have extra power for a short period of time.The levels are complex and long to an extent.If you are not using cheat codes, it takes a while to beat one level.With the cheat codes you can become invincible, have every weapon and use it endlessly, and can float through walls to see the traps that are set for you.The Queen of Hearts is a disturbing image of what she is usually depicted and the graphics of the last level are just awesome.It would probably be impossible to beat the last level without cheatcodes.All in all, this is one of the best computer games that I have ever played, and I look forward to any other games that American McGee's comes up with.

Superfun in every shape form and texture!
Definitely, aside from Mcgee being extraordinarily prodigious in creating games tailor made for bloodthirsty people like moi, this game gets better as it progresses. Everything about this game enthralls me, the sound, the illustrations, the storyline and even the dialogue. It never fails to horrify me, yes I admit I played this game for almost a year, over and over, but I finished it only once. Why spoil the fun, right!? This one for you tokey!;) (fargo-boy)

Unique
This game is one of the greatest games ever made.The twistest story of Alice ever told that even Lewis Carrol would be impressed.Highly recomended!!

beautiful but a little skin deep
More 2 and a half stars for everything; a grudging recommendation.

Usually I write pretty long reviews, but i suppose this game is getting a bit long in the tooth so I thought I'd try and dash a brief one out for the small group of people who might be interested. I mean, its not that outdated.

This game is pretty interesting in a few ways, namely graphics and design, but it unfortunately has a lot of problems that make it not entirely fun, and it has a sad tendency to let down in places where it could really shine. Here is a brief look based on things that are important to me.

Story: D, there is an opening cut scene, also a pretty brilliant concept about how Alice is older, had a horrible tragedy, is struggling with sanity, is back in wonderland as a kind of subconscious or unconscious struggle for her mind. it is set up well, like I said the concept is great, however, they neglect to actually have a story of any weight or interest to match- it's all just find this person, defeat this creature, get this thing. I found it quite disappointing on this score.

Graphics:A-,these are strange and beautiful and a high-water mark in gaming. The color, tone, and inventiveness are really fun to look at. While they lack some of the detail current games are now capable of they still hold up pretty well on that score. I think my minus is mostly for the way the game itself can actually detract from the wonderful world construction of the game, and, well, they really went a little too dark with it, both in tone and feel, which i wouldn't mind so much, just, it's so typical.

game play: D-, not very fun, this is mainly a weird kind of shooter with puzzles. the puzzles are mediocre. The weapons, while graphically full of the dark whimsy of the game, are not a pleasure to use. You use something and have to wait, tic tic tic, to use it again, and that kind of timing is irritating. You have to be patient and use timing and it just does not suit this sort of game. Also, as the game is purely about advancing it tends to have a breathless quality far too much more than an exploratory quality which is a waste of the lovely design. Boss battles are tedious (I must admit I find that so all too often in games) and mostly involve run, employ correct weapon correctly, run, employ... and so on.

Difficulty: B-, sorry, cant remember too well- did this have difficulty levels? (Something I feel strongly about).I just remember that playing it was not too too hard though not exactly easy- and some fights and puzzles are a bit of a pain for not especially good reasons (oh, I can climb that ledge? unlike these other 12?), but there is a lot of health around, and I do tend to like games to be easier.

Dreariness factor:C-, the game lacks much release, relief or joyful factors. it's a bit of a dark game for all it's whimsy. Time spent with friends in the game is brief.

Characters:B,pretty well done, but a little brief, Alice is pretty appealing to play as. Pretty good voice acting. of course, beautifully designed.

chore factor: C-, like I said, getting ahead is not hugely rewarding without a good story or real light spots and getting from point a to point b can be a bit tiring, especially when it's a sort of non linear maze kind of approach (not a favorite of mine).

Technical issues: I really cannot remember any problems at all, not even minor. Of course, that's all subjective to different systems, but this seems pretty stable, works fine on xp etc.

Game saves: B, many a mighty game has been brought low by a poor game save system. Alice allows for anytime saves which I feel is mainly how it should be.

Product materials:B-,again I am trying to do this one from memory, but I think there was some neat stuff in the box that set up the back-story. The how to play guide was less great, but something- if I am recalling correctly.

Ooops, I guess that was long.If computer games were as inventive and varied as they should be I would seriously not be recommending this game, but because the field is generally kind of weak I think there are some points of interest and hope in this sort of game, and it might really be worth a try especially at the low prices you can get it for these days.

Best version of Alice
This game is great. I couldn't stop playing it and finished the game within a few days.
Alice should have always looked like this.
The weapons in this game came from different themes of the Alice in Wonderland we all remember. There's cards (card men), dice, wands (the Queen). Then others that weren't from the cartoon, but were really sweet.
Only get this game if you have a really good graphics card though. I didn't and a lot of things show up gray and are hard to see.
Also, don't use the cheats, this game is pretty simple once you get the hang of it.
Watch out for the ants. They seem to come out of nowhere. Well, that's how most of the bad guys in this game are. They're around every corner.
Great game! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Most attempts to tamper with the basic gameplay of Tetrishave fallen flat on their faces, but Tetris Plus is actually adecent take on the timeless classic. You can tackle a basic solo game ofTetris, challenge a friend in two-player mode, or go directly tothe best portion of the game: puzzle mode.

In puzzle mode, playerscontrol blocks as they descend from the top to the bottom of the screen.As they fall, you can spin blocks so that they land next tocorresponding colors at the bottom of the screen. Gameplay is just likethe original only with a few major twists. The bin that holds the piecesat the bottom of the screen starts out partially filled, while a littleprofessor character climbs on top of the stack. Your job is to clearlines of blocks so that the professor can reach the exit at the bottomof the bin before a spiked ceiling smacks him in the head. Two playerscan also duke it out in puzzle mode, sending cleared lines to theiropponent's bin. This isn't the best version of Tetris we've everplayed, but it does still manage to offer a lot of entertainment for itslow price. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Several types of play
• Good two-player mode

• Mediocre graphics

Reviews (16)

Classic Tetris with a twist
Well, almost. The developers added a few new twists, the most interesting of which is the puzzle mode. Each puzzle level begins with the professor standing on a different pattern of blocks. You've got to clear the blocks out from under him to get him to the bottom. If you don't figure out the right way to solve this puzzle, he climbs to the top of the blocks you're stacking up. The game's over when the professor and the descending spiked ceiling collide. This version of the game is entertaining and even challenging, although after a while you begin to wonder why you're trying to rescue a guy who insists on climbing to his death. Other new additions include an edit mode that lets you create and save your own puzzles. A split-screen mode enables two people to play Tetris at the same time without competing against one another. In the regular VS mode, you can still play the computer or a friend. As with most new puzzle games, you can send blocks to your opponents screen when you clear a certain amount from your own -- in this case, two rows of blocks cleared from your screen means two rows of blocks sent to your opponent. If you like Tetris and you1re looking for a familiar, addictive game, this is the answer. Tetris Plus hasn't revolutionized puzzle games, but it's still fun.

Probably the best Tetris sequel
Tetris became an instant classic when it was packaged with the Game Boy in 1989. But the most interesting thing about the game becoming so successful is the fact that it spawned so many sequels - each of which was unique in its own way. One of these sequels was Tetris Plus, in which the objective of the game was to save a professor from being smashed by a spiked ceiling, rather than scoring lines like in traditional Tetris games. How does this change of pace work out for the series? Read on and see.

PROS:
-The graphics here are much better than those in the Game Boy game of the same name.
-In addition to the new "rescue the professor" mode which is the main attraction of the game, there is the classic Tetris mode you should know and love.
-Like in most Tetris titles, there's a two-player mode (WELL worth checking out.)

CONS:
-The music, while very good, isn't nearly as catchy as the classical Russian music featured in the original Game Boy game.

OVERALL:
Overall this is a fine addition to the Tetris library. If you're a fan of puzzle games, then Tetris Plus is well worth checking out. Sure, it never got the recognition and popularity that the original did, but it's still excellent. Don't pass it by if you're a Playstation owner.

Tetris Plus
A very fun game if you have a partner play with you!!!

Great puzzle for children younger than 6 years
This is one of a kind. My three year old son is a master of Tetris plus puzzle game. My whole familly enjoys playing as much as I am, it is great

tetris plus
i enjoy the game very much it is agreat challenge, also helps you keep foccuse on eye an hand controll and also speed. i love the game ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This handheld version of The Two Towers will allow players to take control of five characters: Aragorn, Legolas, Frodo, Eowyn, and Gandalf the Wizard. Over 30 levels per character will challenge each member of the Fellowship, bringing the grand total to over 150 levels in the entire game. Linked two-player actionis possible via the GBA link cable. ... Read more

Features

• Platform: Game Boy Advance
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Genre: Action/Adventure

Reviews (90)

kick asssssssssss
this game rocks; i liked the ps2 version alot and i liked this almost; as much its really addicting; it kicks ass even if youre not a lotr fan; buy this game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patience
This game is okay. If you are a fan of Lord of the Rings and/or Action-RPG games then you might like it. Otherwise skip this game. The features, such as 5 characters and 100 levels sounds cool, but the game gets monotonous and very boring if played more than 15 minutes.


I sold this game. Yeah! I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!I sold this game. Yeah!



Sorry...couldn't help myself... Get Shining Soul II instead. It's much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good, but the character selsction sucks
This is a fun game, but why Eowyn? Why not Sam, or Gimli. This game would be awsome if the character selection was more like the ps2 version.

skull smashing
well I dont like that you can only swing your blade one time instead of combos.But this is a fun game to play even if you dont like LOTR you will enjoy it.You can also play as Gandalf,
Aragon,Legolas,Frodo,and Edowyn.Creatures pop up out of nowhere
and it gets you excited.You can pick up items such as super
swords or strong bows and equip them with your person.
You go up levels in the game by how many you kill and you
collect gems and use them to buy upgrade points.

Good game with a decent difficulty
This is a classic. As a devout LOTR fan, I was looking at LOTR stuff when I saw 'The Return of the King for GBA!'. I bought it after carefully reading reviews for FOTR, TT, and ROTK. Seeing that FOTR was not very popular and ROTK was declared "too hard" by many, I settled for TT. I'm glad I did.

TT is a solid game that runs pretty much along the story line (no Merry or Pippin!?). It is entertaining for those long car rides and if neither too difficult nor too easy. There are five different characters to choose from that employ a variety of strategies and tactics. You can be Legolas for the sniping attack, Aragorn for the hand-to-hand melee, Eowyn or Frodo for hit-and-run, and Gandalf, who can do just about everything.

I really enjoy this game and think it was worth every penny. It will keep the gamer occupied for quite a while and isn't too frustrating when you have to start over. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

"It's about nothing." --George Costanza, Seinfeld

Rarely has a game had so much hype: the cover of a national newsweekly, articles in every newspaper from L.A. to New York, comments that The Sims Online--or TSO for short--will save PC games from console-game encroachment. The Sims earned such attention because the concept was brilliant. The Sims was less a game and more a fun software toy, with no way to win. The Sims Online follows the same formula. Unlike other online games, TSO was specifically designed to not have traditional rewards such as gold, power, or magic items. There are no levels to attain, or princesses to rescue. Instead, players take joy in little victories--maybe your Sim cooperates with others, and all four of you manage to bake a pizza without burning it and then sell it. Or maybe you throw a party, and all the cool kids show up and have a good time. The core reward for playing the game is nothing... nothing more or less than the joy of playing.

Unlike the original Sims, where you created a number of Sims and controlled them all as a god, in TSO you create and control only one Sim at a time. This is a significant change, as you can't direct one Sim to perform a time-consuming task and then switch to another Sim until the task is complete. Instead, if you want your Sim to do anything in the game, you have to watch him do it in tedious real time (the fast-forward button, so vital in the original Sims, is gone). For example: when your Sim is sleeping, you have to sit and watch him sleep for the five minutes it takes him to refresh. This real-time aspect is excruciating. The game designers probably thought that a group of ten people, while watching their Sims work out in an exercise room together, would alleviate the boredom of watching Sims pump virtual iron by striking up a conversation (the chat aspect gets a lot of comment from TSO designer Will Wright). The problem is that unlike a chat room, where a topic or passion is already shared by everyone in the room, the only thing a player has in common with other folks in TSO is that everyone is watching their Sims power up. Such basic commonality doesn't spark quality conversation. The best you can hope for is some idiot inevitably commenting "nice grunt" or making some other silly sexual innuendo (often with *%$^@*# fake words generated by the much-needed obscenity filter).

If you're willing to put in the time, there's still the issue of paying month-by-month to access your Sim. For this reason, word of mouth, which caused The Sims to rocket from obscurity to the Best-Selling PC Game of All Time, is working against TSO. Casual game players loudly criticize the idea of paying for both a game and a game service, despite the fact that many of these same players are comfortable shelling out hundreds of dollars for cable, magazines, TiVo, and other monthly subscription-based entertainment services. The overall trend toward pay-per-month-of-play service is generally accepted by the hardcore gamers who play dynamic online adventure games like EverQuest, where gamers can see their monthly tribute at work in the form of fancy new spells and labyrinths. But TSO is a quietly suburban diversion for mostly casual gamers, filled with objects that are mundane by design. In TSO, you putter, you work out, you chat with others in the real world via your avatars. To put it another way: you live a slightly zanier version of everyday life, and frankly, that costs a lot already.

TSO still has the core elements that made the first game a classic: obsession with the minutiae of daily life, amusing content from the game designers, and the mind-bending thing that happens when you've been playing too long--that the real world starts to look exactly like The Sims. (Couch shopping caused that surreal "Is it Sims, or is it real?" experience for a friend.) TSO may still prove to be the Goliath the media predicted it would be thanks to the nature of ever-changing online games. Ironically, the monthly fees that bother so many new TSO players will pay for the improvements those same players crave. For example, EA plans to release new functionality that will allow players to design clothes and objects (a big hit with players of the original Sims).

TSO is fluid, and the game reviewed as it is at launch may be very different from TSO in a year, when the designers are able to respond to player requests. Even until that time, there are good things about this game. When your character is "greened up," dressed in disco finery and looking to hit it lucky with the dice, TSO can be a blast. But the tidal wave of hype may have done more harm than good for a game that has a simple, Seinfeldish heart. --Jennifer Buckendorff

Pros:

• Gameplay similar to The Sims
• Wide variety of social interactions, including a deep menu of dance moves
• Persistent online world lets you share the Sims experience with others

Cons:

• Lack of fast-forward feature is a drag
• At launch, too few in-game money-making opportunities
• At launch, game world seems empty--there's not enough to do
• Players of The Sims, used to easy money through cheat codes, may balk at having to actually work for in-game cash

Reviews (212)

3/10- Still Not Good
Ok I played it during the summer and might I say its the worse expiernence ever.I do have to say this game "HAS POTENTAL"The game designers can make it work.They just need to get off their lazy ass and create something desent. Short and simple well wait another year to probally go back

Sims Online is really fun...
I was pleasantly suprised when I played this game, normally I am more of a RPG guy, but this ame is crazy.A lot more creative than I was expecting.I loved it...getting it for the kids as an x-mas gift...

Making Magic vanising items
Has anyone have the same problem as me?After installing Making Magic, my iguanas and love birds dissapeared. I have also lost the ability to go to the comunity lots. Please e-mail me if there is a solution

It's much improved now
Many many changes have been made since the inital release.This should've been the version that was initially rolled out.More changes to come!

Mindless Chatroom with a few game elements thrown in!
TSO was and still is HUGE disappointment. Its merely achatroom with a Sims theme and ITS NOT WORTH the cost. I recently cancelled after foolishly paying for months of what is essentially a giant Sim Chatroom with some game elements thrown
to give the casual player the false assumption that they are playing an actual game when in fact they're only participating in an interactive chatroom.

Why can't Electronic Arts spend more time on making a really good game or two, rather than making a below average to horrible animatedchatroomthat has little to offer? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Grandia Xtreme, the first original Grandia title for PlayStation2, is a dramatic story-driven adventure featuring a sophisticated AI engine and deep character skill-development system. This new installment of the franchise features a highly refined battle system that captures the chaotic nature of group combat, and combines it with the elements of real-time and turn-based combat systems. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

ok, but much worse than the original grandia
i bought this game because grandia for dreamcast was one of my favorite games ever, because it was so simple and fun.grandia extreme however, was a major disappointment.though the graphics are a little bit better (the characters have mouths) and there is voice acting, the game itself had many flaws which prevented it from being enjoyable.i just liked to battle for the most part, and the battle system, which is why i like the game so much in the first place, is the same, which is a good thing.however, there are very few save points, and you could be running around for hours without being able to save (which you could only do in the village); some of the battles are pretty hard and you have to battle A LOT before you fight any boss, so theres a high chance of you dying and therefore wasting 1-2 hours of gameplay easily.also, you cannot upgrade skills or mana eggs, or even equip such specialties unless youre in the village which gets kind of annoying, since the actual equipping of these items take forever to get a hold of.another thing is the camera angle of the game; unlike grandia of DC, there is a very small area that you can see, it takes way too long to rotate view and it wouldve been a lot better if there were a button you could hold down to walk (or run) like in the DC version.as a result, playing this game, just moving around gives you a big headache.finally the story is just horrible, it made no sense and gets on your nerves; while the story of DC's grandia wasnt amazing, it was enjoyable. also the voice acting is terrible.i give it 3 stars because the battle system.if you just love to beat up on stuff, rent this game first.

I've had better...
Graphics. Fine, some load times are a little slow, but pretty normal for a PS2 RPG.

Gameplay. Interesting changes from the previous Grandia games. It's a little annoying that you have to be in town (of which there is only one), to change magic or skills, but all in all an enjoyable system. Bosses are actually challenging in this one. A few of them I had to play over again because I got whooped (including the final boss). As an aside, there are only 5 dungeons, of which 4 you are required to play through more than once to acquire all side quest items, and level up enough to actually be able to defeat the final boss.

Story. One word. WEAK. There is virtually no character background. You are not given more than a few snippets of how the "team" interacts with each other. At the beginning of the game, it was much more interesting. The different characters from different cultures who were once at war are thrust together to achieve a common goal. They fight and the hero, being the only one with virtually no national bias is named the leader (of course). But then we hear NOTHING about any of this for the rest of the game.

The whole Ranger thing was described so much better in the GAME MANUAL than it was in the actual game. You see, these Rangers, of which our hero is, are the only people who are able to travel through Geo Points. It's the only way to get out of dungeons and to get into certain ones. Anyway, Evann (the hero)'s father was also a Ranger, and at the beginning of the game he is not very good at doing the whole Geo Stream thing, and he is conflicted about it because his dad was apparently a great Ranger or something. But the thing is, once the gameplay begins Evann has abslutely no trouble using any Geo Point and nothing is ever said again about his doubts in his abilities.

We get these hints of character backgrounds and motivations at the beginning, but once the game gets going nothing develops of them. A handful of the other playable characters have personal feelings about the mission, as their lives were personally affected by it, etc., but once they have told their bit we hear nothing from them for the rest of the game. I got more of an insight into the characters' "character" from their battle behavior than I got from cut scenes.

And the cutscenes themselves were a bore. Once we get into the REAL mission (because there is always a REAL mission) it is just the same recycled garbage for the rest of the game. I don't think I will ever care to hear anyone ever say anything about "human individuality" again (this is an obviously anti-communist propoganda game, possibly made by the Japanese government to brainwash it's populace into fearing socialism, so it can continue it's post WWII tradition of comsumer culture and passive American attention, an idea that seems silly until you realize how sucky this game is, and how it obviously was developed by people who had no idea what they were doing, ie, goverment politicians).See, the ancient people of this world were trying to create perfection. Paradise on earth, (futuristic distopia? *nudge nudge*, eh?) you know the drill. So they experimented and created this being (Quanlee), who of course becomes the villain, because the only way he can make the world perfect is to make everyone his mind slave. Honestly, I started muting the game and not bothering to read the script anymore after the first ten times Dean Cain, er, I mean Evann started arguing with Quanlee about it (though I have to say, All-American voice actor boy, Cain, is the perfect choice for representing the Western World's symbol for Capitalism over Communism in this Japanese government's cautionary tale of giving too much power to socialists).

Oh, and the voice acting... I don't think I have ever played a game with worse voicework. Dean Cain, as we all know and not so much love for his Television role as Superman, sounded like he was reading the script for the first time when they recorded. He put pauses-where-pauses-shouldn't-go, and he EMPHASIZED-the-last-word-in-every-SENTENCE.

Luke, er I mean, Mark Hamill, did a much better job, though I stopped seeing Krutz, Kertz, er, Kroitz, yeah that's it, because after a while I started closing my eyes whenever he started talking and imagined The Joker from the Batman animated series. First, because that's the voice he was doing (yes, people, that was him doing The Joker), as it was impossible to avoid knowing this fact, and secondly, it made everything he said that much more entertaining.

Lisa Loeb. I liked her a lot more when I realized she did the voice of Lutina and not Diene. Not only was Diene terrible as a character (and as a name, "Diene?!"), her voice was also terrible. Lutina was a little better, and I can't blame Lisa for the fact that Lutina's character was under-developed and had weak combo attacks...

That said, the only redeeming characters in the game are the lovable Titto and Myam. Titto, as his name would suggest is a young adorable knife wielding elf who hits three, count em, three times every attack, instead of the standard two. He is the most honest and likable character when lame discussions are going on between the parties. He's kind of like the son you see crying when mommy and daddy are fighting. You just want to reach down and give him a big ol' hug and pinch on the cheek. Then there's Myam, who absolutely rocks. She is by far the most fun of any character in battle. Her pouty antics in storyline scripting aside, when she falls flat on her face after shooting her arrow attack, NEVER GETS OLD! And when the battle goes quickly and she is the one who does the final blow, her statement is priceless (I won't spoil it here, because I could not possibly do it justice in written form, all I WILL say about Myam's battle tactics is... "Vroom Vroom Vroom!").

And finally, Side Quests. Or should I say, Side QuesT. It's just the one, with no real point. You are charged with collecting sound bites (and incidentally ryo-ohki-esque animals called carros, who dance to music made from said sound bites) for a group of incompetent musicians who are incapable of composing anything worthwhile unless some teenaged Ranger brings them objects that make odd noises... After you beat the game another mini-game opens up (as well as another song to be made from sound bites, but we won't go into that here). Oh, yes people, the fun doesn't stop just because the evil has been vanquished (where did Kroitz go, anyway?), oh no. You get to keep going because Quanlee lost his heart, it's in music form at that... *rolls eyes* Ok, I lied, I got into it, but anyway, this mini-game is just that, mini. You get to go to Juston (possibly an allusion to the first Grandia game's hero, Justin, though he shares no other real similarities after the name and red hair)'s house and play an over-priced slot machine to never win under-valued items...

So, if Grandia Xtreme were a student in a class that I was teaching (keeping in mind I am not a teacher) and I gave it an exam, here is how it would score:

Graphics: 7.5 (average)
Gameplay: 8.0 (innovative but sometimes annoying)
Storyline: 8.0 (a suprisingly high potential)
Plot: -5.0 (when you get high marks for story potential and you don't follow through with a decent plotline you lose points)
Character Development: 0.0 (there is none)
Voice Work: 5.0 (hit and miss)
Side Quest and mini Game: 5.0 (virtually pointless, difficult and unrewarding)
Bonus Questions: 3 of 5 correct (I figure it would have to know some general knowledge to give it an edge in my grading criteria, as I do not like to use the grading on a curve method IN MY CLASS!)

Total:

~3.91 + 3 point bonus = roughly 7.0
-1 for dropping the "E" in "extreme"
+1 for being a pre-Squenix Enix game...

=

a whopping 7.0 ladies and gentlemen!

It passed, barely...

Fun, but a step down from its predecessors
First, the bad news.The story of this game is almsot nonexistent, and what is there is pretty dull the characters are all utterly one-dimensional.That's a huge disappointment, considering how strong the previous Grandia games were in those areas.Also, the voice acting is hilariously bad.
However, the combat is a lot of fun, and all the different stuff you can do to improve your characters is pretty addictive.It definitely falls short of previous Grandia games, but it kept me playing anyway.

Good RPG Series
ah yes i remember when i got hooked on grandia... i was 17 and a junior in high school.. it was xmas and dreamcast was still a system.. i asked for grandia II and i got it. popped it in and it consumed my life for the next 3 or 4 weeks until i beat it... i loved it. so i went on to purchase the first grandia and while i enjoyed the 2nd one better part one took about another month of my life. so then i didnt hear anything more about grandia until last year when i was working at a EB games and grandia xtreme was released. bought it and once again consumed a good 3 weeks of my time. this game is good but part 2 is the best of the trilogy. there is also a game boy grandia titled "grandia: parallel trippers" and while i am not familar with the story i know it is only avaible in japan... which sucks.. would be nice to have sometime to tide me over until grandia 3!!

More of an action game than an RPG.
Grandia 2 for the Sega Dreamcast was one of the best RPG games in recent years. So, it was without question that this title would be on my 'must-buy' list when I read about its release. I figured it would be at least as good as G2, and hopefully better, with the PS2's DVD storage capacity. Well, after playing for nearly 120 hours (longer than I have spent on any other game), I'm still not sure whether to reccommend this game.
Part of me is dissappointed, very dissappointed in the RPG aspects of this game. There is little, if any, storyline, and the characters are just typical anime kid stuff. The storyline in G2 was amazing. The scope of that game rivals any Final Fantasy game, yet the game itself was too easy. In Xtreme, the game is much harder, but the story is soo bad, they could have left it out entirely, and had a more interesting game.
So, what makes one put in 120 hours (and counting) into a game that is so uninteresting? The gameplay. The game's battle system is the best I've ever played. I've never been a fan of dungeon-exploring, 1st person style adventure games, but this game is different. The action moves along so smoothly, and the games system of levelling up is ingenious. You can complete each stage as often as you want, each time with tougher enemies, and build your characters stats to unbelievable levels. And yes, the bosses can be fought more than once as well. And when you think you've actually beaten the game, think again. All the dungeons gain a HUGE increase in difficulty and a new 100-level dungeon appears.
Overall, if you are looking for a fun game, that you will enjoy playing for weeks, I can't reccommend Grandia Xtreme enough. Just try to ignore the bad voice acting, and weak storyline, ok? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Newly optimized for GameCube, SpyHunter is a mission-based combat racing game based on the arcade classic. It puts you behind the wheel of the G-6155 Interceptor, the ultimate counterintelligence prototype vehicle. It's turbocharged and ready to go with 845 horsepower for lightning-fast speed. That's not all--there's an arsenal of futuristic weaponry and morphing abilities that turn the car into a speedboat, jet ski, or motorcycle. Basically, it's everything you need to undertake 14 high-adrenaline missions on wheels.

Should you choose to accept these daring reconnaissance missions, you'll travel to Panama, England, the Middle East, Venice, and other exotic locations around the world. Each location is rendered with a high degree of realism and provides recognizable landmarks and scenery. Throughout, you're the hunter as well as the hunted, pursued by enemies over land, on water, and in the air. Your mission is to take on NOSTRA, an out-of-control multinational corporation headed by an evil madman who's threatening the world.

As SpyHunter, you must always be ready for heavily armed enemy vehicles that lurk around every corner and strike at the first site of the Interceptor. But you have a steady supply of weapons trucks that load you up with machine guns, missiles, lasers, and counterattack weapons such as oil slicks, smoke screens, and cluster mines. Each successful attack gets you one step closer to revealing who SpyHunter is and what he's ultimately after. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

how could you do this to me?!?!
i honestly don't know where to start...
...grr!! ok, this game starts off all nice and smooth, then you get to like the third or fourth level... and suddently you're expected to be an expert. some of the rare (RARE!!!) cut-scenes have pretty good graphics, but the normal graphics are nothing to brag about. in some of the levels, they throw you into the middle of a giant horde of missel-toted cars, give you a vague decription of your primary mission, say things like "activate all targets" for your secondary mission, and expect you to do EXACTLY what they tell you to do... (oh yeah, and you only have 5 minutes.. have fun!) while constantly changing from boat to car to boat to car.....RRGG!
do me...uhm... and you a favor. go buy yourself a racing game, or a shooter game, or hell, buy yourself a real car with dual machine guns!! but dont buy this game.

Horrible, horrible frame rate
The game starts out great. The training missions are fast, smooth and fun. I have to assume that all the high reviews are from people who've just started playing it.

The problem is, once you start the actual missions, the frame rate seems to drop noticably, presumably because of all the extra objects the game has to draw. Not only that, but the frame rate becomes uneven, which makes targeting anything while on the move rather annoying. The pixelated graphics don't help, and the faux-3D is rather obvious.

When you compare it to (say) "Burnout 2", it's clear that very little effort was spent to get the game running acceptably on the GameCube. I've seen smoother graphics on PS2 games (I own both systems). Definitely one to steer clear of.

Cool game
[THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE GAMECUBE EDITION]

In 1983, the classic known as Spy Hunter was released. Though it is considered simplistic by our modern day standards, back in the day it was top notch. Like so many games in recent years, the company who created the game decided to give the game a major update. And now the result has arrived! Read on to see how this new Spy Hunter measures up.

THE GOOD:
This is a fast-paced driving and shooting game, and we know how many people love them! In addition to driving on land, your car will turn into a boat when it lands on water! Likewise, if you take too much damage, it will transform into a more compact vehicle. There are many missions, each one having its own objectives and hidden paths. This game is sure to impress a number of gamers.

THE BAD:
The resolution seems imbalanced. Some parts of the game (usually water) run smooth as can be, while many parts (usually land) are quite choppy. Likewise, the FMV cinema scenes are extremely fuzzy. Why? Also, it is extremely difficult to tell civilians from your foes. Plus, the game may be a bit too fast-paced for the casual gamer. And, of course, the game is a bit on the short side.

OVERALL:
Flaws aside, this is an excellent game. And in recent months, the price has been lowered drastically! If you own the system, there's never been a better time to buy this game!

WORST GAME EVER
This game was the worst game for GameCube I have ever played!All of the levels were too easy and everything about it was bad.

Horrible and Agonizing Gameplay
There is no question this is the worst racing game I have ever played. Extremely difficult and frustrating to play, its just NOT fun. I returned the five day rental after 2 hours of torment. Great racing games: F-Zero (Super Nes), F-Zero X (N64), Crusin USA (N64), Rumble Racing (PS2) (cheesy graphics but fun gameplay), Tokyo Extreme Racer (Dreamcast) (Fantastic graphics and gameplay). :) ... Read more

Product Description

Backyard Sports has 3 titles for 1 price! Football, Soccer and Baseball! ... Read more

Features

• Choose from 30 Backyard Kids and an all-star lineup, then turn them into hardball heroes
• In Backyard Football, you'll pick from any of your favorite pros -- kid versions of Jerry Rice, Steve Young, John Elway, Randall Cunningham, Dan Marino, Drew Bledsoe, Barry Sanders and more
• Set up your teams and go for 6 right in your backyard
• Fun graphics and animations when a Character scores or fumbles
• With Backyard Football, you can create a team of baseball superstars -Alfonso Soriano, Nomar Garciaparra, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and more

Amazon.com Product Description

This game lets you re-enact your favorite Dragon Ball Z battles by using high-intensity fighting cards to protect the universe. You can build custom decks from five unique card types and position your characters to move through level after level of combat. Start out as Gohan, train against Piccolo, then battle Nappa, Vegeta, and Frieza. You can even attain multiplayer and trading status, if you're fast enough, brave enough, and strong enough to defeat your enemies.

There are three different modes of play: story mode, multiplayer mode, and battle mode. The game faithfully follows the Dragon Ball Z story line from the Saiyan Saga through the Cell and Buu Sagas. You can build custom decks from Damage Attack, Beam Attack, Defense Support, and Command cards--and interact with your favorite Dragon Ball Z characters. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

SEQreview
There should be another version of this game which features a mode similar to story mode in which you assume the role of villians, not good guys. It should also have movie modes where you can be good and/or bad which allows you to play through sagas from movies such as "Tree of Might".

SEQreview
The game is great(for those who know how to play). Beam attacks work best on an opponent when in the air, so if you dont want to get killled by one, do avoiding or get on the ground. Now, for what I REALLY wanted to say. There should be another version of this game which features a mode similar to story mode in which you assume the role of villians, not good guys. It should also have movie modes where you can be good and/or bad which allows you to play through sagas from movies such as "Tree of Might".

Dragon Ball faithfully
This game is hard, but it's kick-(...).It follows the whole storyline of the series.From Piccolo training little Gohan all the way to Majin Buu.It's like all fighting games, except you draw certain "cards" allowing your player to do certain moves.It's awesome.

Bleh
What's with all these oh it's [SO] good and sweet and tight and awesome and incredible reviews? This game is pretty much only beaten in... "horribleness" by LOG. The only attacks which do any real damage are Vegeta's final explosion, final flash, big bang, and the other characters super moves. Super Kamehameha, not just regular Kamehameha. 3-6 stage attacks do about 3% damage to the enemy. Kamehameha can do pretty much anywhere from 7% to 13% damage to the enemy. The game also goes incredibly [SLOW]! It takes forever to get to your next attack phase and by then you're dead because the enemy can use their super attacks whenever they feel like it and they always ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS do more damage to you than you do to them and they CONSTANTLY dodge, block, or counter your attacks while you NEVER do. Sure it goes from saiyan saga to kid buu saga but, well, blah. What's the point of leveling up anyways? I have Vegito to lvl 5, the "highest" level in the game. (What's with THAT?!) And used all his power-ups on strength but he does about the same as like gohan at lvl 1. This game also gives you massive headaches and I wouldn't reccomend playing this game unless you're watching TV or doing something else to keep your mind occupied while the horrible slow enemy turns pass. Might as well shut it off after the first turn because you're dead anyways. I sold mine 2 weeks after getting it. For 10 bucks too. Buy Super Sonic Warriors. Now THAT'S a good game! Or LOG2, WAY better than LOG1 and certainly better than this thing. Bleeeh! I'm out.

Woah?!?................
Ok I got this game 2 christmases ago and must say Im so dissapointed!!!!!The idea is dumb,youuse battle cards and all you do is wait to be pulvarized by the impossible bosses and can like never use your special attack.The graphics suck and the battle idea is stupid.I have never wrote a bad DBZ review but this one.I wouldnt spend a dollar on it.Just get taiketsu instead thats much better.If you want a good Ps2 game get budokai2.Trust me I guarentee youll not like this game. ... Read more

Product Description

FIFA 2004 ... Read more

Features

• Complete, authentic FIFA soccer action
• Off the Ball control system
• Very smooth player movement and control
• Build your franchise and guide your club to the Championship
• For one or more players using LAN or Internet connection

Reviews (39)

disapointment
My first Fifa game was FIFA 96, and, every 2 years, I buy another. After seeing FIFA 2003 at a friend's house, I was really looking forward to the 2004's issue. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!!

The game is really slow; you almost have to shout for them to run; it keeps crashing during the match; the menus are some of the most confusing and useless I've ever experienced... Well, I hope EA Sports learns a lesson and puts the level of excitment (which was present on the others) back on the game, especially during the match: too slow, too complicated, not worth it.

The only good point are the new leagues.

Sorry EA, but get a clue!!!
I was so excited to get this game for my b/day, but was heartbroken when it wouldnt load on my computer. I learnt that EA is one messed up company! I called 7 different EA customer support lines before i actually used a voice changer to make my voice sound like a big man, not a kid. But anyways, the gameplay is horrendous! The fouls are totally unrealistic, you can go head on and slide tackle from behind, with not so much as a comment by ally mccoist on the refs contacts. (more on the voices later). But if you do the normal tackle, 80% of the time, you get some cheap foul called on you. And when i watch the replay, i see that my player came nowhere close to touching the other player. This really bites in online play, which isnt all that great. The off the ball control is pointless, because if you move a player open, once you send a ball to him, he gets magically covered! As for all the new leagues, that is a piece of crap! The all new leagues are like the minor leagues for the FA and Mexican league. They have 3 english practice squads! There is no international tournament that i have found, and you cant use real madrid in the club championship, because there is no club championship. Now my last irratation is the announcers. not to be rude, but what happened to the randy hahn, and brandi chastain. Its really hard to understand Ally Mccoist during gameplay, his scottish accent is so thick, it just sounds like a blur. I think this could have been a decent game, but the gameplay, menus, and overall rushed feel of the game ruin it. Id check out Winning Eleven 7, Its worth the extra 10 bucks. The lesson here, you get what you pay for!

Not worth it at all
I own 2003 and 2002 and this is a disgrace for a good line of soccer games. The menu is horrid, the gameplay is so slow and way to complex to be any fun. Not very supportive of hardware and had to go to alot of trouble to get it to work. Does not work in DVD drives. No controller custom config. This game is so crapy I would not recomend it to anyone, and im considering writing EA because they usually put out a good product. Waste of 20 bucks

Horrible game
There are many reasons why this game deserves a 1 star.The only reason why I did give this game a 1 star is because it has player names and a numbr of leagues.The graphics are weak, stats do not compare to other EA titles like Madden.Control of the players could have been better.

Unpolished product with hyper-aggressive copy protection
This refers to version 1.1 (patch 1.1) of the PC version of FIFA 2004. Maybe later versions are better?
First I could not get this game to run at all on my computer. EA's support pointed me in the wrong direction telling me that the my graphics card was not supported although I wrote them that the demo had worked fine.
After many hours of experimenting, surfing and exchanging the disk in the shop where I bought it, I finally found out that the aggressive copy protection used by EA prevented the game from loading on my DVD drive.

Thank God I found a hack on the Internet (nocd patch) that allowed me to run the game at all.

Next bad surprise: FIFA 2004 had beend advertised to have a controller configuration in patch 1.1. This is ridiculous: You can only configure the KEYBOARD! The default button layout for my joystick is very inconvenient, no fun at all to play like this. I bought another joystick (Saitek P2500) just for this game, but it was not properly supported either. Before you run out to buy the (only?) supported joypad for this game, a Logitech Dual Action Game Pad, read the reviews at Amazon about it: Unfortunately this joypad seems to have serious problems with the analog sticks at the time of this writing. I hope Logitech will fix this.

Bottom line: No way out for me. Invested about 50 hours to get this game to work properly for me without success. What a waste of time and money! I hope they will add proper joystick support in patch 1.2. Until then this game is useless if you do not like to control a football/soccer game with the keyboard.

It is obvious that this game was rushed out the door instead of giving the development team the time to do their job properly. Shame on the management and marketing of EA! ... Read more

Product Description

Experience a brand-new chess engine and play at the Grandmaster level! It delivers the most advanced opponent available on a home computer. An ideal introduction for the chess newcomer or a worthy challenge for the aspiring Grandmaster! ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Biggest bargain for quality chess program
Got CM8000 for the absolute bargain of $9.95 Australian (approx US$6) as bargain priced "NEW" software. Nothing for even five or ten times the price remotely compares.

Also have chessmaster 10th edition (V10) which runs on my better 256 Mb computer. But CM8000 will even run on my dinosaur Win95 Dell with only 96MbRam and 200MHz chip.

The look and feel of CM 8000 in my view is much better than than the "trying too hard to be modern" look in V10. You can immediately choose lots of skins and boards in CM8000 which have a classical beauty about them. (V10 by comparison has fewer 2D skins but more resource hungry 3D skins and you must "obey chess fuhrer's orders without question" and play a minimum number of games before you are allowed to choose a new one.)

You can also play CM8000 without inserting a disc after installation. (V10 is a bit of a pain in requiring you to insert disc 1 every time you play but most software companies seem to be doing this these days.)

Other reviewer have said how good CM8000 is. In truth it does have some minor flaws as some reviewers have pointed out but on balance I believe its pros far outweigh its cons especially at its bargain price. It is probably as good as anything else on the market (other than a later Chessmaster) under $100. So if you are a kid with a limited budget,have an old computer, or are just starting out in chess as a casual hobby then CM8000 will give you the most bang for your buck.

XP compatible, Won't be dissappointed
If you have a lot of hard drive space and lots of RAM, do the full install(about 900 MB total), you'll love it.

Chessmaster 8000 has at least 2 bugs...
a) The program is biased against white side:
It gives white a more PLUS score in a SYMMETRICAL position. Indirectly it FORCES white to play for the WIN at some extra COST.

After 1 e4 e5, it took 1.29 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 2 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 Nf3 with the score of .21. (Where 1.00 point is equivalent to 1 pawn.)

After 1 e3 e5 2 e4, it took 1.45 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 2.3 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 ... Nf6 with the score of .21.

After 1 d4 d5, it took 3.35 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 3.7 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 Bf4 with the score of .20.

After 1 d3 d5 2 d4, it took 2.55 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 3.4 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 ... Bf5 with the score of .20.

B) Search-depth extension has some bug:
Which causes the program fail to give correct or good positional evaluation.

--------------BK
----------BPBP--
----BB--BP----BP
--------WP------
------WPWP------
--BR------WKWPWP
----WBBQ--------
--WQ------------

In the above position, black just captured white rook at b3. It is white's turn to move.

After 1.31 minutes, search to a depth of 10 plies, and evaluated for 3 millions positions, it selected the move (white)Qxb3 with the score 0.98.

After 5.18 minutes, search to a depth of 11 plies, and evaluated for 11 millions positions, it selected the move (white)Qxb3 with the score -1.01.

First, the evaluation at 1 ply DIFFERENCE (from 10 to 11) caused a point-swing of 2 pawns! I EXPECTED a reasonable point-swing of 1/3 to 1/2 of a pawn. 1 point (or pawn) swing is too much, and 2 point swing is unreasonable. The search EXTENSION was supposed to extend when there is a LARGE point swing in an unclear position.

Second, at the standard rate of 3 minutes per move, the program could not detect this miscalculation. The positional evaluation is incorrect.

For this brief moment, white is up a pawn, but his king is exposed, while black king is secured. The harmony between black pieces wins the game, however is undetectable at a shallow search.

I have chessmaster 2000, 2100, 3000, 5000 and 8000. Their human interface are nice, more friendly than Fritz. But the two above BUGS cost chessmater 8000 one star.

Excellent
This chess software is superb.Josh Watzkin walking you through some of his classic chess encounters is one of my favorite parts of this game.You actually begin to understand what it takes to play chess at an elevated level.One part of this chess program I did have a problem with was playing computer players.Each computer player is rated and they play exactly at that level.What the computer cannot do, unlike a human can is make bad moves.The computer playing at a 1550 rated level plays it perfectly, unlike a player at rated at the 1550 level.A player at rated at the 1550 level may make a few moves at an 1800 level and then make a terrible move that a 1200 level rated player wouldn't even make.Humans make mistakes, whereas the Chessmaster does not.Except for this and the occasional crash (I am running the game on win2000, which is not a gaming platform) this game is excellent.I would buy it again if I didn't already own it.

Fine program, but still a work in progress
I have owned every Chessmaster since Chessmaster 2100, a charming little toy that ran on my old XT with an engine that played like a "D" player with poor positional judgment(!).Today's Chessmaster plays like something close to a Grandmaster.

It is a fine program with some annoying bugs, suitable for a wide range of players from beginners to master-level players.It is not, however, the choice of professionals.They prefer the elegant German-made Fritz since some of CM's features for the average player are of no interest to them.Unless you are a Senior Master level player however, in my opinion, Chessmaster is a better choice because of its many features.

Nonetheless Chessmaster 8000 is not much of an improvement on Chessmaster 7000.(You might want to read my review of CM7000 because some of the same comments apply here).In some ways CM8000 is a regression.For example, you can't run the program at all without the disk in your CD drive.Ouch!In CM7000 you could at least run the program for 14 days or 28 sessions before being required to insert the CD.Another problem is that the sight and music show after CM8000 loads always plays and you have to hit a key to get to the program.This is also a regression from CM7000 which allowed you to turn off this it-gets-old-fast "feature."A new bug occurs when you play a game at a fast time limit.The verbal announcement of moves is truncated so that CM's move is not announced.This is a bug that CM is aware of but hasn't fixed yet.Another regressive change is you can no longer pick the exact color of the chessboard.That feature has been eliminated, why I don't know.

The Think Lines window, though, has been improved.Now you can play over a game and see how Chessmaster evaluates the game without toggling between the Chessmaster mode and the player mode as in CM7000 and previous editions.Just click Chessmaster in the window and CM's thinking is always there.

The "mate in one" opening puzzle has been "improved" to offer avoid mate and find the pin and find the fork.This is still not anywhere near what it should be.At least a mate in two would improve, or even better, critical positions from master games could be featured so that the user could compare his or her choice with what was actually played.

The personality ratings are still a little high.One personality rated around 2200 on my machine often sac's a piece for two united pawns in the opening.Other personalities routinely give up a pawn and then some, but are also rated at around master-level."Natalie," rated 2296 on my machine, gives up at least a pawn in the opening and in general plays the opening like a "D" player, yet plays afterwards like a master.Not realistic!But as someone at CM pointed out, one of the interesting things about the personalities is that they have weaknesses that a human can discover and take advantage of.I think a little more creativity in creating the personalities would improve the program.I like eccentrics like "Vlad" who always answers almost instantly because he just doesn't search any further than about three ply.

The only player stats kept are those in rated games.Stats reflecting performance in EVERY game should be kept.It would required just the slightest effort on the part of the programmers to offer such a feature.And such a feature would be very revealing (and perhaps sobering) for the player.Every game should be counted as (1) Incomplete with CM's score given at the time of abandonment; (2) Won, lost or drawn.

An annoyance is that CM doesn't remember your place in the scroll windows.In other words, if you are playing through a long list of games it would be nice when you click "Load" for the window to open where you left off so you can just click the next game on the list.However what CM does is make you start all over again because it always opens the window to the first game on the list.

Another silly annoyance is when you're going from one mode to the other, the program ought to recall and use the chessboard and set that you have chosen.Instead CM uses its default and you have to choose all over again.

Here's what I think would be a significant improvement: Add some code that would assess a player's strength based on an analysis of every move played, so that a rating could be established with just a couple of games.To illustrate what I mean, consider that in any given position there are "x" number of moves.Of those moves, a certain number lose outright (let's say lose the equivalent of two pawns or more, all the way to possibly allowing checkmate).Some others give away somewhere between the equivalent of half a pawn to a pawn and a half.Still others keep the chances about the same, while others might result in an advantage.Since the program keeps a running "score" of the game, it could simply compare each of the human player's moves with a change in the running score and easily construct a hierarchy of achievement or lack thereof which could be converted into ratings.This could be turned into a feature that would assess a player's strength for just the current session.After all, we all have days when we are "on" and other days when we don't play so well.

I love the Chessmaster program perhaps because I am used to it and perhaps because when I was a young chess player there were no programs at all.It is a fine program, but it is still a work in progress. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Four newly discovered and previously untold adventures are revealed when the closest friends of the missing Lara Croft gather in her honor. As they reminisce about her past exploits, they learn new details about her life, as well as the lives of characters from her past adventures. Lara journeys from the ruins of Rome to the bowels of a German U-boat to the rooftops of a high-tech city in search of four ancient artifacts. The game uses the same graphics engine that was used in Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, but introduces new moves: tightrope walking, parallel-bar swinging, and a hand-to-hand stealth attack. An enhanced inventory system allows for greater combinations of a variety of weapons and items. Create your own adventure with the Tomb Raider level editor, which includes a tutorial level and all of the tools that are required to construct custom levels. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Great graphics, poor gameplay...
The first time i played TR Chronicles for the PS1, i found it not that interesting. Face it, the Rome levels are just not that exciting. I played and beat levels 1 & 2, then attempted 3, unfortunatly, it took me 2 weeks to figure out how to beat level 3, it was WAY too hard. And that's just one of the many things that make TR Chronicles fall short of being one of the best in the series. OK, so there's alot of pros, Lara can now interact more with the characters around her (instead of just shooting a weapon, she can now bash people over the head with crowbars & stuff), she can now open and search file cabinets for various items, and she can kick down doors (which she could do in TR Last Revelations but it's still a cool move). In addition to new moves, there are 4 massive adventures to be explored. But as with all pros, there must be cons, and unfortunatly, the cons are major. My first complaint is puzzles (particulary timed-puzzles) being WAY too hard. I couldn't complete level 3 in Rome (Colessium) for 2 weeks because of the timed-puzzle in the middle of it, i almost tried to give up on the game in all, but after i beat the Colessium, i found it not so hard. In adventure 2, which takes place on a Russian Submarine (personally my favorite adventure of the game), Lara must get onto the sub, dive under the sea, and collect the Sphere Of Destiny (i think that's what its called). Not only is the storyline fun, but you have alot of fun exploring the subs many levels and areas, but once again, a con came into play. I found the Deep Sea Dive level incredibly difficult, and it took me awhile to collect the Sphere and escape back to the sub. Adventure 3, takes place on a haunted island in Ireland, i really just didn't like this area, not only is it boring, but it is so dark its hard to see what your doing. Finally, Adventure 4, which takes place in the VCI Headquarters, is a partly fun adventure. But even with its cool graphical images of a high-tech city, its really difficult to complete the 3 levels involved (espicially since you on have the HK weapon). On level 1 of VCI, i found it difficult to get the Iris at the end, but luckily, i found a cheat (not too much of a cheat) where you can press the button, sideflip left, flip backwards, then press and crawl like your crawling off a ledge, you will go through the glass!! It took me awhile, but after that helpful little clue, i completed level 1 of VCI. Level 2 of VCI, Escape With The Iris, is incredibly difficult (espicially since you have no weapons), i found all the portions with the elevator shafts and that slide where you half to jump and swing off two poles very difficult, i could barely complete this level. And the final level, Red Alert!, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to complete shooting range #2, it took me 45 to 50 times to complete this one obstacle. Pretty much, i found TR Chronicles a cool game graphics wise, but gameplay is very difficult and sometimes annoying, if you want an all-out fun TR game that still has cool graphics, check out TR2 or TR3, just remember this one is just a sample of what will be on TR6: THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS for the PS2 & PC, coming soon!

don't read it if you don't want hints.
It starts out in rome the first level took a bit to figure out but now it's easy (for me). The other levels are about the same ecxept for the second where you have to kill the three headed dragon.
then comes Russia you start out by getting into the submarine after getting in, it gets tough. When you get to the kitchen figure it out
but be careful of the chef. Walk quietly around the stove and quietly up behind the chefs back and hit ctrl twice fast to hit the chef with your cowbar in his back, I'll leave you there. ...

Lara Croft Presumed Dead; Living It Up In The Past!
At the end of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, many fans were left devastated thinking Lara was gone for good. They need not have worried as Lara returned in November 2000 in Tomb Raider: Chronicles, the fifth installment of the most successful PlayStation game series ever. There was one slight problem - Lara was presumed dead! Tomb Raider: Chronicles contains four sections of different times of Lara Croft's life from the past. These four stages are titled Rome, Search For The Spear, Black Isle and VCI Headquarters. Each quarter includes three brilliant levels, except Search For The Speach which includes four. Whilst probably the worst game out of all five, Tomb Raider: Chronicles is still superb, proving the excellence of the Tomb Raider phenomenon. The Official UK PlayStation Magazine says of Chronicles, "10/10 - Lara's swansong on PlayStation is a triumph". They're not wrong!

The first section is Rome. As with all Tomb Raider games, the levels become harder and more challenging as the game progresses - Chronicles is no different. In Rome, Lara is attempting to acquire the Philospher's Stone. This adventure brigns her into contact with Pierre and Larson, who you will probably remember as the peksy guys who wouldn't die from the first Tomb Raider! The three levels in Rome are called Streets Of Rome, Trajan's Markets and Colloseum. All levels are superb, mainly because of the scenery. The sky is a deep blue and the sound is superb. You can hear the crickets chirping away and you can almost sense what the levels are like - early evening with fresh air and a cool temperature. I know, this sounds so strange but it's true! The second section, Search For The Spear is a lot harder and complex. In this second section of Chronicles, Lara is seeking the Spear of Destiny, an age-old artefact currently lying in the ruins of a wrecked and abandoned U-boat. She is not alone in desiring possession of this mystical object, however - a mafioso boss has heard of its power and wishes to harness it for his own nefarious aims. He has bribed the admiral of a Russian submarine to take him to the resting place of the Spear. Lara decides to hitch a ride. The four levels in Search For The Spear are called Base, Submarine, Deep Sea Dive and Sinking Submarine. This section is my favourite of the four because it's very exciting and has the best storyline in the whole game...

The game continues with Black Isle. In this third chapter, Tomb Raider: Chronicles follows an early Lara Croft adventure. After Lara overhears a conversation about spooky occurences at a nearby island, she stows away on a boat chartered by Father Patrick as he heads to investigate. The three levels are called Gallows Tree, Labyrinth and Old Mill. Throughout these three levels, Lara is completely without weaponry. Only your wits will protect your beloved Lara from the devilish shandes that haunt the Black Isle. These levels are set somewhere in England, but I'm not sure where. Even though it's always raining and is very dark and damp, it makes for an interesting and refreshing change from the typical hot desert/jungle style levels of previous Tomb Raider games. The fourth and final chapter in Chronicles, VCI Headquarters, is large and very hard! In one of the sternest challenges ever faced in a Tomb Raider game, Lara must steal the Iris - an object of immense power. Mixing stealth with brute force, she has to negotiate complex corridors, fight crack troops and even survive an entire level without a gun. Fortunately, she has Zip - an American hacker - on hand to advise her as she progresses. The fourth section is set in a New York tower block and the three levels are called 13th Floor, Escape With The Iris and Red Alert. All levels are incredibly tough and deeply frustrating if you fail to achieve the required task to progress with the game. Some sections on these three levels are downright scary (echoing footsteps when there's no one there and the sound of invisible laser beams that get closer), yet you will experience an immense feeling of success and achievement once you complete these final levels!

OVERALL GRADE: 9/10

All in all, Tomb Raider: Chronicles is a fantastic game. It's not quite up there with the superior excellence of Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2 and Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, but it's still a superb game to play. The game isn't very long - it took me less than a week to complete over the Christmas 2000 period - a lot shorter than the time it usually takes for me to complete a Tomb Raider game, which is usually in the region of a year! Compared to a lot of other PlayStation games, however, Tomb Raider: Chronicles stands head and shoulders above the rest. Buy this now from Amazon to complete your Tomb Raider collection!

Take a look at the cover...
because what you see is what you get. Is Lara a hip, Matrix-style gun-toting action adventure assassin? No, she's a solitary tomb raider doing (hopefully) fun, inventive puzzles in great, real-life locations. So as much as I appreciate new, exciting areas, put us in a situation she would actually be doing. She doesn't need to take on a bunch of villains and skateboard too...

Awkward Controls, Frustrating Camera...
Tomb Raider: Chronicles (TRC) features the lovely Lara Croft in her many adventures from Rome to a U-Boat to a high-tech tower complex.The game has one of the most awkward controls and frustrating adjusting camera angles since Danger Girl (that's a cheap game, and one should buy it simply for the art inside and NOT for the game or gameplay!).Anyway, one will keep on falling and falling...etc. and continously get blindsided by enemies for the most part.Additionally, Lara still moves like a tank with feet, instead of having fluid and sly movement.However, the stealth in the latter levels in particular is a welcome addition, being spoiled by the Metal Gear Solid series.The puzzles aren't too difficult, but they are very physical-oriented as opposed to mental-oriented (like Eidos' Fear Effect).The cinematics are okay, but they are rather short.My two favorite levels on this game is the U-Boat/Russian Base level and the Tower: Level 13 level.Both of these are reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid.Otherwise, this game is definitely for fans of Tomb Raider previously, but for newbies, definitely rent before you buy. ... Read more

Product Description

Players will control every position on their team, including three Chasers who try to score with the Quaffle, two Beaters who control the dangerous Bludgers, the Keeper who protects the goal, and the Seeker who chases the elusive Golden Snitch that must be caught to end the match. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Sports
• Mission: Take to the air in the game that allows players to experience the magical speed, power, and competition of Quidditch; the favorite sport of Hogwarts School for Witches and Wizards
• Platform: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

Reviews (23)

Lot's of fun
QWC is the only Harry Potter game that you don't have to worry about the story. It is only Quidditch. I think that World Cup is frusterating,but Hogwarts is extremly fun. Some of the special moves are really creative. There is a lot of stuff that you have to work hard to get. However, the quidditch cards can be annoying.

Pretty Good!
Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup has great animations. You can play as Griffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Japan, Geneology, Hoodlums, Boxers, ect. It is crap

Harry Potter Quiditch Easy World Cup
This game is kinda fun; in multiplayer. But the inadjustable AI level makes it to EASY. In perspective just unlock everything and then just play multiplayer.

BOTTOM LINE
Only buy this if you have relatives willing to play.

Good, but could have been better!
I was so excited when this game came out because I thought it will be very fun just like how quiddich should be but after I tired it at home it was just okay to me. I don't know about you but I am a huge HP fan so I don't know why this game wasn't so appealing to me as I thought it would be. I like the graphics and stuff in this game but if I were you, I would rather buy the Harry Potter 1, 2 or 3 computer game instead of this one. I mean, they have quiddich in them too just not so much like this one. It really irrates your eyes when you stare at the screen for so long chasing the snitch.

It's a good game but could been better.

An out of control game
This game is really fun and has good 3-D appearances, but sometimes when you are flying it sort of goes out of control. For example, you're flying up the field and you're aiming for the goal hoop opposite the keeper and you're about to shoot the quaffle through the hoop when you're player suddenly passes the quaffle towards the other team and the other team catches it without you controlling the pass. It just does it by itself. It can make you lose a game easily and instantly. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With its blend of action and deep RPG storytelling, Barbarian offers a satisfying adventure. The story is this: heroes of Barbaria have waged war since the dawn of time, ravaging the Earth as they battle with weapons and magic alike. Their motives are to stop the madness forged by the evil Zaugg and end his growing power. You will discover every character's massive story and goals through the battles in quest mode and choose from a total of 300 branches. Upgrade your character and enhance his physical and magical attacks, his ability to lift objects (and even other characters), his speed, and more.

In multiplayer mode, one to four players can compete simultaneously, with up to eight different fighters on the screen at once (requires PS2 Multitap). There are 12 huge arenas--with subarenas accessible during gameplay--10 customizable characters in a full 3-D environment, interactive objects you can use as weapons, a rich and detailed training area, and hidden assets for constant rewards. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A pretty good game.
I think that if you are a fan of the fighting genre then you should try Barbarian. While Soul Caliber or Mortal Kombat are hard with lots of keys to remember this is not so with Barbarian the game is really easy and some might find this a weakness. Now if you suck really bad then this game is highly recommended. It is probably the only way your sister can beat you. Heck someone who has never touched a controller can beat you. I really like the level designs and I think that the magic attacks are cool. The best however is that 8 people can be on the screen at once, 8! Even if you don't suck still at least rent Barbarian.

Fun for four
This is a game for a certain type of person. If you want to see blood spurting everywhere, don't buy this game. If you want an RPG to play alone, don't buy this game.However, if you want a fun game that you can play with 3 other people at the same time that won't make your mother turn pale, this is it.Fairly clean fighting with a minimum of gore (considering that the characters are slashing at each other with axes and swords), with the opportunity to have as many as 8 characters battling at once, it can be a lot of fun.The combos aren't hard to master, and the graphics are very sharp.You can even pick up nearby objects and hurl them at your opponents, which is a fun trick all in itself.

For a one person or two person fighting game, there are better, but for 4 people, this is an excellent choice, especially for under 15 dollars.You will get your money's worth.

An RPG? No way.
Barbarian is marketed as an RPG, but it's basically a really, really bad fighting game. The only RPG like element is that your character, in theory, advances as they go through fights.

If you like Barbarian, then you probably haven't played a realy fighting game, like DOA2 Hardcore.

This Game Is Great!
"Barbarian" is a great, and fun, video game for the Sony PlayStation2. The fighting moves the characters have are really cool and the graphics rock! I highly recommend this video game to anyone.

Don't even Rent it.
Honestly, I feel that one star is too high a rating for this boring title.I bought this game, took it home, beat it and returned it to it's case less than an hour later.That is no exaggeration.You play the story mode as one of the characters who ultimately kill the main boss for various reasons.The story is never developed and you never really understand what is going on.Worst of all, the fighting is terrible.All you have to do is learn your character's most devastating combo and you completely thrash all of your opponents.Also, in between scenes you must wait for loading and the screen has this annoying little skull on it that's moving it's mouth.Maybe I'm just crazy, but it seemed like it was laughing at me becuase I bought this game.Sometimes my eye catches the copy of Barbarian sitting on my shelf, collecting dust and I can hear the skull laughing at me. Seriously people, walk right by this one. ... Read more

Features

• 2 New Games - Rays & Word Searches - A newly created mind-bending game of logic and deduction, Rays will make its first appearance in Hoyle Puzzle Games. The long-time favorite - Word Searches, will also be included.
• High Score Board tracks top scores for proof that you're a pro - See your name in lights for the ultimate bragging rights. Do well enough in a game and you'll be offered the opportunity to put your name on the leader board.
• PDA Content - Backgammon & Mahjong Tiles - New PDA content to be included in Hoyle Puzzle Games, for both the Palm OS and Windows CE handheld devices.

Reviews (37)

It knows what you have in your hand!
This game is OK for the basics, but don't expect anywhere near a real experience here. I can't tell you how many times I get beat on the last card, with just one higher card, say a 9 high to my 8 high. Always with only one card higher! That's not real. Plus, too many of the players are idiots, while a few are otherworldly lucky. It's nothing close to a random draw, and that's what you need for a real experience.

This toy is so fun!
I first played this toy at my friends house and thought, "How fun!"Of course then I wanted the game for myself.When I bought it, I played every game and loved it right away.This game rocks!

Card Games is Great !It's from the experts.
Hoyle Card Games is a great way to learn the finer points or learn a new game all together.This CD is free of bugs; the graphics and audio are very good.Hoyle are well-known rules experts.

have to learn all over again
It takes some time to get used to the fact that you have to play it with the CD in.

Puzzle Game
I read the reviews and was thrown for a loop because 99% of the complaints were talking about card games.I was looking for review of the puzzle games and I found only a few.Puzzle is outstanding, addictive, fun, relaxing and frustrating.What more can you want? ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This is the third time that Midway has ported a Cruis'n coin-optitle to the Nintendo 64, and in three years. While the series has been acommercial success (nearly two million units sold), there's still nothing new tobe found. This is a shame--this is one series that could have benefitedtremendously from an overhaul (no pun intended).

Cruis'n Exotica is an arcade racing game in which players choose avehicle (be it a car, truck, or "other") and compete against various opponentsin a no-holds-barred trek across many varied tracks. If this doesn't soundterribly original, you're starting to get the picture: it's not.

Midway's Cruis'n Exotica features courses from across America, not tomention previous titles in the series(Cruis'n USA andCruis'n World).Thankfully, Midway went the extra step and crafted levels that literally gobeyond the familiar landscape, and genuinely qualify as exotic. Planet Mars,anyone?

Gamers have 30 different vehicles from which to choose (12 default, 18 to unlockby winning races), and include a police car, a 4 x 4, and a hippie van, to namebut a few. There's also a selection of drivers from which to choose (a baby,clown, alien, etc.).

With substandard graphics that seem to ignore the achievements that developershave squeezed out of the Nintendo 64 hardware over the past few years, this gamedelivers only mediocre gameplay and uninspired play mechanics. The N64 is nostranger to great racing games--the amazingRidge Racer 64 andBeetle Adventure Racing!have shown that the console is quite capable of delivering a good time behindthe wheel. While it's not a terrible game, by any means, Cruis'n Exoticasimply is superfluous. --Todd Mowatt

Pros:

• Plenty of new courses

• Mediocre gameplay and control
• Very little that's new, to distinguish it from other Cruis'n titles

Reviews (16)

Not the best but...
First let me say, read my reveiw for Cruisin' World. I won't say this game isn't enjoyable or that it has bad graphics. However, I do believe that Cruisin' World is better. I rented this game after looking for Cruisin World and finding that they did not have back in at Blockbuster yet. So I rented it thinking "Okay it's probably just as good." The problem is, the courses got tiring, the music was as well. And the entire game got an average of three stars because the second of the three, Cruisin' WOrld is the best!

the best game ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
best game ever even though where in 2004 and not 2000 this changed my life it made me jump of the walls theres this tokyo track where you can go on a plane runway in the night time also the graphics are sweet and I could not wait for it to come I'm going to give it five stars 10 points

ITS A CURSE!
Alright,I do give this game 5 stars,but beleive me,Its bad.The graphics are good.But the cars are cool,the bad thing about 'em is when unlocking rail there's only one more car to unlock,so don't have n64 life gone forever.What I'm saying is that this game is good in the beginning,and stupid in the ending.

CRUIS'N EXOTICA
It is fun in the beginning,but after you get all the cars, it is
boring.

CRUIS'N EXOTICA
It is fun in the beginning,but after you get all the cars, it is
boring. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

When Sony released the PlayStation2 last year, there were only a fewstandout games. One of them, SSX, brought snowboarding to people whodidn't even like snowboarding. Now, only a year later, PS2 fans get a new reasonto stay indoors during the cold winter months. SSX Tricky is the game,and it more than lives up to the moniker.

Tricky removes two characters from the previous game and adds five newones. It adds two new race locations to the already beefed-up World Circuit(Garibaldi and Alaska). The developers also added features to the older tracks,effectively making them new again. Tricky improves the graphics a bit andrefines the controls. The game even tweaks the basic gameplay by letting youupgrade your boarder's stats in races, but also forcing you to attempt andmaster the showoff mode. And EA improved the challenge by evening out thelearning curve. SSX tended to be a cakewalk until the later races in eachset, but this time your rivals get more intense and aggressive depending uponthe lap you're taking.

As in the first game, personality is everything. This is true not only in termsof voice acting, but also in how you treat opponents. The game has a few basicattitudes. If you block and attack characters too much, they'll remember andactively seek you out. If you help one or two of them, they'll become yourallies, warning you of danger or fending off attackers.

In many ways, SSX Tricky is only an upgrade of the previous game.Admittedly, the additions don't look like enough to justify buying the game allover again. But the changes are deep enough to change quite a bit, and they'lldelight even fans who are tired of, or who mastered, the first game. Maybethat's the most impressive über-trick of them all. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

• Refined controls and new tricks
• Excellent computer intelligence and challenge

• The graphics are only slightly improved

Reviews (145)

Best Snowboarding Game Ever
This game is excellent. Any fan of snowboarding will love this game. This game has the best qualities. The soundtrack is phenomenal, the voices of the characters are some well known people, the controls and graphics are excellent, and how many snowboarding games has a guy with a huge orange 'fro named Eddie(and he's voiced by David Arquette). This game is excellent I recommend this game to everyone.

Goin' back ol' school, Tricky Style
Wow!What can I say!I love this game tremendously!I love everything about it!Where should I start?

I first became addicted to this baby, when I was commuting up to 4 hours daily, and had very little free time.I needed a game that provided a quick pick up and go game play style, with a short learning curve. That's what SSX Tricky, or Tricky for short, provides.But it is not short on the fun.I love to play this game with my son, 3 ½, and we've actually been playing it together since he was about 1, almost 2.It is most likely his favorite game.(We play several together, including SSX 3, Gran Turismo, Burnout 2, and many others.)And the fact that he can pick it up and enjoy it, speaks volumes about the enjoyment of it.

His favorite character is Zoe.I love Kaori!It's kind of funny, because he believes Zoe to be a man, and gets mad when I call her "her."When we play doubles, he insists that we both play the same character.I think he likes it to be fair.Lately, I've been racing Kaori against his Zoe.

This game offers many levels of increasing difficulty, and at least 8 fabulous courses to race on.I like how you can ride snowdrifts in Arizona and Hawaii, among other more traditional cold mountain get-a-ways.When I play this on my 55-inch wide screen, and I fall down a mountain, I feel my stomach getting butterflies, because you really fell like your skiing down a mountain.A total blast!

The thing that I also like about this game is it is one of the few videogame DVD's providing a healthy supply of bonus materials, including: Behind the scenes with the character voices/actors; Jukebox, where you can listen to every song in its entirety; previews of other EA Big games; interviews with staff, etc.Would be nice to see more videogames doing this!

Two W's up!Big time!

One of playstation 2's best games
SSX Tricky is an awesome game. It's thrilling and challenging but easy enough so that children and adults alike can play. It's much better than ssx, and you can easily rack up points to score a top spot on the high score list. if you are not sure weather to purchase or not, i reccomend that you high-tail it on over to your nearest blockbuster or hollywood video and rent it. don't have a playstation? blockbuster allows you to rent the console as well. to rent a game is usually about $6 and the console is usually around $24 with a $300 deposit which you get back when you return the system a week later. i highly reccomend ssx tricky and once again, if you are not sure, try blockbuster or hollywood video. oh and some people might think that kids can't write reviews, right? well guess what, i just did.

Outstanding!
I bought a PS2 for my 10 year old last year and never had any interest in using it myself. Then I discovered SSX tricky. Awesome! From the soundtrack to the incredible graphics, from the gameplay to the characters, it doesn't disappoint. Best of all, the game is easy to learn, so newbies (including those of us who don't snowboard) can enjoy it right out of the box. You can zoom down the slopes, hit massive jumps, and pull off incredible tricks on your very first try.

Although easy to learn, it is tough to master and incredibly addictive. The advanced courses are very challenging, and no matter how good you get, you always want to take 'just one more run' to pull off better tricks or beat your best race time.

The game world is very realistic. You can ski off the course in search of a shortcut to the bottom, jump off cliffs looking for big air, grind on any surface (rails, fences, billboards...) and elbow your opponents in a race. There are traditional courses that look like a ski resort, but also courses through city streets (jump too high and you might hit a traffic light!), through untracked powder in Alaska, and an enormous terrain park.

There are multiple characters to choose from (male and female), each with a different personality. My daughter actually enjoys spending time putting different outfits on her favorite characters before each race.

I have also played SSX3, and there have been several reviews comparing the two. Here is my take:

1) Tricky is mode based- you navigate menus to select a course, choose racing or tricks, etc. SSX3 feels more like a day at the mountain, where you free ski over to a race, then to a halfpipe and so on. Which is better? It's really a matter of taste.

2) Tricky tries to build up rivalries between the characters. If you knock over an opponent, they develop animosity and gun for you in future races. Also, there is PG rated trash talk at the end of each race. I think the trash talking gets old (and repetitive) pretty quickly, but I enjoy the elbowing during the race, especially in two player mode :)

3) The music in SSX3 is more diverse, and you can customize your music as if you were carrying an MP3 player. As others have noted, SSX3 even seems to adjust the music to match your riding, with big crescendos when you land a jump.

4) I like the commentator in Tricky- he pumps things up. The commentator in SSX3 seems dull in comparison.

5) Tricky seems easier, especially for the novice. The first few courses are confidence builders, which is good for younger kids and adults who are only casual gamers, like myself. Also, tricky has a practice area where you can interactivley learn new tricks.

6) Tricky is about half the price

You can't go wrong with either version. However, I'd say Tricky is better for the budget minded, younger kids or casual gamers, while SSX3 is probably better for teens, serious gamers or hardcore snowboarders.

SSX tricky
i think ssx tricky is one of the best games ive ever played on. im 14 and people might think, oh shes only a teenager, its just a phase shes going through but no, i think its brilliant. it took me a couple of weeks to get into it and now i can stop playing on it!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Welcome to the dirt-grinding, real-world racing of 4x4 Evolution 2. You will explore, rescue, and compete through three new career modes. First pick a base truck in which to compete in a series of off-road races, then win fast cash to deck out your truck with a an inventory of more than 90 real-world parts to increase your power. There are over 32 expansive, outdoor courses set in a variety of locations around the world. Trek into jaw-dropping environments and mission-based adventures, including the search and rescue of a downed plane in the Grand Canyon and the discovery of a lost Mayan city in a Central American jungle. 4x4 Evolution 2 is easy to learn but hard to master, allowing for satisfying, long-lasting gameplay. The AI engine is diabolical and ruthless, crushing in your passenger door while overtaking you for the lead, and the spoils. There are 70-plus masterfully detailed sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and four-by-fours. You will be in control of a customized, high-horsepower, multi-thousand-pound beast, with such a realistic physics control system that the terrain is no longer beautiful scenery--it is the enemy. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Evolution 2 rocks
this game rules with all the different places to drive and all the different trucks to drive. This game also has great graphics.

One of the reasons I bought an Xbox
I Loved 4x4 Evo, so naturally i wanted to try version 2.Finally had an opportunity to purchase an xbox and well this game is darn cheap at costco so what the heck.
The game hasn't changed too much from the first version.Now teams are available which is a nice toucha nd the cars and track list is increased.
The same gripe I had about the first game still applies though.When you purchase an upgrade the computer automatically gets it.If you are winning races and thus earning money, shouldn't the computer have to do the same?Essentially, the rule of thumb is only mod your truck to things you need to be a bit more competative, but not to make a monster truck. Once you have everything you'd want in a truck, the computer is sure to beat you.
Where this game really shines is in two player mode.Computer can't cheat this way, and its just you and a buddy beating up a couple of trucks.Lets face it, its pretty fun to beat up your own SUV and not have to worry about repair bills.
The fully open courses also make the game very fun.In free drive mode, you can practice the courses, and plan for the short cuts which are mandatory if you want to win some races.
Definitely worth the price I bought it for...

cars or trucks?
4x4eveo2 is ok if you like trucks and racing. You can coustomize your car. The tracks are fun with shortcuts everywhere.

4X4 EVO 2
This game is bye far 1 of the best driving games out there with over 30 diferandt trakes and 40 differant trucks witch u can pute new parts on it and can see the differance. there are also the race tucks u an buy. overal this game is an eazy to understad and use altho i do wish they could have ford in there too.

AI opponents are invinsible - even after 100K of mods!
O.K. Godgames and Rockstar games did a few things right in this game - but ultimately they failed to produce a playable game. The load times are very lengthy. The menu is needlessly cluttered. In career mode there are 5 AI oppoenent vehicles. It is COMPLETELY impossible to out-accelerate the top car/truck regardless of mods - so the only way to get 1st-place is a lot of luck followed by a straightaway on the last lap - forget skills. For some reason it is TOTALLY impossible to nudge an AI oppoenent out of your way - forget everything you know about physics - going 110 mph and slam into an AI car - you lose he's fine - AI car going 40 and hits you - you are in the ditch my friend. Oh and lets talk about the shoulder of these race tracks! You can and will get STUCK on every little thing. Most games don't make you reverse from behind obstacles - they just penalize your speed - not this game. Trust me - this game deserve awards for its ability to cause needless aggravasion - shame on the Quality Assurance at Godgames and Rockstar games - this would have NEVER gotten by me! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Given its immense popularity, not to mention first-rate pedigree, it'snot surprising that Street Fighter EX3 is among the first PlayStation2titles. After the relative success of the first game for the originalPlayStation (PSX) and the disaster of the second, it'll be interesting to seehow long-term fans of the series take to yet another 3-D brawler with theStreet Fighter moniker. Even with classic characters--like Sagat, Blanka,Ken, and (of course) Ryu--back to duke it out, this might be one horse that'sbeen beaten to death.

In Street Fighter EX3, players will be able to take advantage of a newsystem that allows character switching at any time throughout the battle. Notonly will you be able to swap at will, but your dynamic duo also will havedouble-teaming tag combos to enhance an opponent's agony. This means that gamerswill face three other opponents, and have four incredibly detailed fightersbattling it out on screen at any one time in the ultimate handicap match. Takethem out, and one might ask to join as your sidekick. Form a stable of four, andall of you can take your turn kicking Bison's tail, as well as that of any ofthe other famous Street Fighter characters in the game.

The control is predictable, but that's what fans want... nay, crave. Supercombos, dizzies, and a number of other staple Street Fighter combos arehere and look incredible. Lighting effects are much more mature: the animatedsparks fly, and the pyrotechnics flame up all over the place. Character modelshave come a long way since the days of the first blocky Street Fighter EXgame. Although they still lack necks, these brawlers are seamless and welldefined. Their victorious poses rival any graphics that previously have beenseen on a console.

Not everything is peaches 'n' cream with EX3, however. The endings of theEX series always have been a bit lacking: all you get in EX3 is afrozen frame with text; then, while the credits roll, a little consolationprize: over 10 enemies onscreen at once, all wanting to put the boots to you.This isn't the "true" ending we'd hoped for, but it's a nice gesture (and itshows off the system's power).

Capcom is doing everything it can to make Street Fighter EX3 the fightinggame of choice for the PlayStation2; but, with Namco's Tekken TagTournament set to hit the market at the same time, it'll be a tough sell.Still, this is a Street Fighter game, and that alone justifies at least aplay. --Todd Mowatt

Pros:

• Switch characters at any time during fighting
• Seamless and well-defined character models

• Predictable controls
• Lackluster ending

Reviews (50)

OK BUT...
GREAT CHARACTERS,GREAT GRAPHICS,GREAT SPECIAL MOVES,GREAT GAMEPLAY AND GREAT SET OF OPTIONS BUT NOT ENOUGH DEPTH IN THE GAME LIKE-NO STAGE SELECT,FEW AND BORING STAGES NO STORYLINEMOVIE ENDINGS,ONLY 6 STAGES TO FIGHT AND NOT TO BE TO PICKY,NO MILD VIOLENCE(LIKE A LITTLE BLOOD!)KEEPS IT FROM GETTING 5 STARS. BUT CAPCOM VS SNK 2 IS THE LAST GOOD STREET FIGHTER GAME(BESIDES 3RD STRIKE ON THE COLLECTION)TO COME OUT AND THIS IS 100% BETTER THAN THAT GARBAGE FIGHTING EVOLUTION AND IF CAPCOM WANTS TO GET BACK ON TOP IT WOULDN'T HURT TO RELEASE A 3-D RIVAL LIKE CAPCOM VS NAMCO WITH CHARACTERS FROM SOUL CALIBUR AND TEKKEN BUT JUST A SUGGESTION.

i am hungarian
How can I unlock Evil Ryu?
How can I earn Bronze medal in party, stage 2?

Hogy tudnám feloldani Evil Ryu-t egyszerûbben, medál nélkül?
Mit kell csinálni a bronzért a 2. pályán partiban?

Fun Fighter
The graphics are not spectacular but this is a GREAT, fun, fighting game with lots of variety. The graphics are ok though and when you learn some of the better combos it really becomes addictive.The game was widely over looked and should not have been.

VERY FUN!
SF EX3 is the one fighting game you must have. The graphics are
cool. Fighting the other character or teams is challenging. If you beat the game don't stop. Each time you beat it, you get a new character. There are nine hidden characters to earn or
unlock. And just so you know, there are two other characters:
M. Bison 2 and Evil Ryu. I won't tell you any tips, you should
play it if you haven't. Trust me, you'll love it!

Why 16 Mega-Bites?? It's Not That Advanced......
Street Fighter EX3 is probably one of the best fighting games,but why 16 megabites? that's like,almost the whole frickin' memory card!! (I Think?)
Anyway back to the GOOD parts,S.F.EX3 has really good graphics and good controls,not to mention very good music.My favorite is Ken's.
The game does not really have a story but who cares,It's still REALLY fun to fight all those losers at the end!(hahahaha!)
The thing is,I was exspecting more of a challenge.
I beat the game in less than one minute!(seriously!)
Bison(Boss)Is Eaisier then Skullo!!(Skullo Sucks!)
Vega,Ken,and Ryu are probably the only kick A$$ guys!!
I don't think they sell this game in the stores anymore,it was #2 of the first 3 games that were for P.S.2!!
the 1st game ever was The Bouncer,then #3 was Tekken Tag.
You should probably order it from here,'cause i don't think amazon.com lets you "RENT" stuff.
sincerly,
kenny ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

For years, you've watched the conflict. Now you must make a choice. Whowill you be: commander of the imperiled Earth Federation or leader of thenotorious Zeon Forces? Choose your side, then prepare for the fight of yourlife, in Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon. Winner of Japan'sFamitsu Magazine Gold Award, Federation vs. Zeon is easy tocontrol and is designed as an exact replica of the arcade version but with moredepth and features. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

For Gundam Fans!
You gotta have this game if you are a Gundam fan.Heck, if you enjoy anime overall, you should own this game.It's exactly like the shows!

very fun
Not a bad game if you now the story of gundam or have player one of the other gundam games. The two player mode is not as easy as the one player mode. You can not jump into it and start playing. You need to now how to battle and learn the different moves. If you now that it is a lot of fun. It is a good game for the price.

Best Gundam Game I've Ever Played!
Great game period! The missions to play are great. Although there is not enough federation mobile suits to play as, but the ones that you get are great.

Ian's Review
this is one of the best gundam games i have ever played who ever plays this and is a gundam fan will no doubt love this game.This is one those games to were you can do almost anything of movement and attacking this is a sweet game buy it the second you see it

Ebay Rocks amazon stinks
this game gave me nightmares
it is an insult to all video games
it suks
it suks
it suks
it suks
rilly bad rilly bad

i cantbelieve the japanes like this game
anime suks just like this game this games should convince you not to buy the game this game this game this game this game this game ... Read more