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

Product Description

Travel through multiple game paths, taking control of the motion picture trilogy's heroes. Defend the walls of Minas Tirith as Gandalf; raise the Army of the Dead as Aragorn, LEGOlas, or Gimli; and more. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Mission: Return to Middle-earth in the only video game based on the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy
• Platform: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

Reviews (83)

The second best game in the world
This is one fun game! I could play it for 9 hours. The graphics are good. I think that the levels are cool.One problem is that some of the stuff didn't happen.I wish the orc bodies didn't dissapear.It would make it look more like real life.

The second best game in the world
This is one fun game. The graphics are good,and the combos cool.I could play 9 hours of this.The only probelem is that some stuff actuelly didn't happen. I like Aregorn the best. ButI wish the orc bodies wouldn't dissapear.

Cool Hack and Slash Marred by Major Flaws
And I actually bought this game twice...ouch! Once was as a gift for someone with a Mac, and once for myself on PC.

Had I known about the three major problems it has from seeing it on the Mac, I wouldn't have bothered to get it for myself, but alas, it wouldn't run on the Mac as that machine's a bit dated (the machine was almost three years old).

The problems this game has make it almost unplayable (at least on a PC not used as a dedicated game machine). Not only is this very unfortunate, but it's also a little strange considering the huge amount of effort that was put into the game's strong points: graphics, sound and animation. These are truely impressive. For example, the ghosts on "Paths of the Dead" dodge and move with surprising realism...well, despite the fact they're dead! Even the stride of the main characters has been faithfully reproduced. This is incomplete contrast with the game's three glaring flaws:

* Difficult and imprecise keyboard/mouse control

* Disfunctional autocamera

* No save function

This seriously leaves me to wonder whether any quality assurance was done on the PC port to test for overall playability beyond "o.k., it runs, ship it!" (This was originally designed as a console game.)It is virually impossible for someone to play this game and not notice these problems almost immediately. QA on the FX part of this game was obviously extensive...but what about playability?

The first problem (game controls), you can actually work around somewhat through practice, or pretty much completely by using a gamepad. So, o.k., that one's not fatal in and of itself. Still, this can sometimes leave you wondering if the character you are controling isn't a complete drunk.

The autocam behavior is more problematic. It can be quite frustrating to have boulders, walls and other objects come between you and the character you are controling during a battle, essentially making you fight blind. This can happen with opponents and allies as well, but at least they become semi-transparent so you can still have some idea of what you're doing. The camera--which seems to pay much more attention to providing a cinematic POV than the game player--also often does not let you see what your character is obviously seeing, which can result in nasty surprises, or just a plain inability to see where you are going/running. On top of that, the bad camera and character control actually add up. When the POV automatically changes, the character can unexpectedly start moving in a different direction, because character direction is determined relative to POV. Handy. This all makes the final flaw pretty much fatal....

This game has NO SAVES. That's right. No saves. At least not in a PC sense. Of course, the developers don't expect you to go through the whole game in one sitting (this is very considerate of them), but they DO expect you to go through a whole LEVEL in one sitting, however long it make take to get through it. Leave the field of battle before a level is finished and when you return you'll have to do the entire level again. Now, there are these areas in the game called "Checkpoints", but they DO NOT create a save file to let you return to that point in the game at a later session. They only let you return to the checkpoint if you get killed, but YOU CANNOT LEAVE THE GAME. Want to go to bed after finally defeating the King of the Dead? Can only get back to that NEXT WEEKEND? Well, you're going to have to leave the game running 'til then. Combined with the difficult controls and half-baked camera POVs, both of which can easily get you killed through no fault of your own, the inablity to "quicksave" is extremely frustrating. But the lack of at LEAST savefile generation at "checkpoints" is completely unforgiveable. Not to mention that even the "checkpoints" are pretty few and far between.

Given it's major flaws, one has to wonder, "How does this rate as a GAME in spite of its LotR 'skin'?" How would this game rate, with all it's strong and weak points, if it had been "The Adventures of the Billy the Bandit" (i.e., no connection with LotR)? Probably just 3 or 4 out of 10. It would have been noted in passing for its outstanding production values, then been left quickly and completely by the wayside because of it's lack of playability. And that's truely ashamed for a LotR title, especially considering that what's missing are really the smallest of things...but how important they are!

BUY THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a thirteen year old girl, and this is my favorite game of all time.I love The Lord of the Rings, and I have been waiting for this kind of game for a long time.You are actually fighting the orcs, trolls, and mumakil-not just sending people to fight them like you would in a stragety game.Here are some things I particularly like about it:

First of all, the levels you go through are in order of the events that happened.There is the path of the wizard where you get to be Gandalf, the path of the king where you can choose between Aragorn, Legolas, or Gimli, and the path of the hobbits, where you can be Frodo or Sam.There are 12 normal levels, and two bonus levels at the top called palantirs (whoever has read the books/seen the movies knows what a palantir is).

One of my favorite things is that after you finish all the levels, you get to go back and do them again and you get to be WHOEVER YOU WANT.There are also three secret characters who get unlocked if you beat the game and you can be them, too.There are 3 settings-easy, medium, and hard.The first level gives you instructions as you go, and the easier levels are near the bottom and the harder ones are near the top.

As for the fighting-it's relatively simple.The left mouse button is speed attack (used for unshielded enemies), right mouse button is heavy attack (used against shielded enemies-don't use this too much or you will be vulnerable), you use the a,s,d, and w keys to control where you go, parrying (blocking other attacks) is q, holding down shift and pressing the left mouse button is ranged attack (arrows, throwing knives etc.) and there are also some keys that you only use occasionally, like tab is jump back, Ctrl is physical attack (punch, kick, push etc.) and F5 is the special ability-with each character it's different.But this is only half of the fighting.

The other half is combos.You can buy upgrades and combos with experience points you earn in the game by killing enemies.Combos are when you press the keys in a certain order and something completely different happens that is very useful against enemies at certain times.One that is particularly useful is Orc Hewer-it is left mouse button, left mouse button, right mouse button.It is a powerful attack.There are different levels your characters can upgrade to and buy more upgrades.The upgrade-buying stops at ten, but the character can go up to level twenty (but it takes some time!).

This may all seem confusing at first, but when you play it for a while you get it all figured out and then you will appreciate how wonderful this game is.I know I have.If this game seems violent to you by the reviews, don't worry-it's not as violent as it sounds.If you love The Lord of the Rings and computer games and have a little patience and an open mind to this game, you will LOVE it.I guarantee that.

Happy Playing!

Download This Adaptor If You Have An Intel Graphics Card!
I've had this game for about a month now, and I've been complaining about it until I found this patch download.
When I first tried to install the game, it said that I needed to update my graphics card and I got really pissed off. A few weeks later, I found right here on Amazon, a review with a website to make the game work.
(...)
Now the game works fine and I'm happy. I gave this product three stars because of the trouble it has caused me, but at least there is a solution. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Fritz 8 is nice.
I guess Fritz 8 is stronger than chessmaster 8000 (GOOD). I have almost the whole family of chessmaster xxxx (from 2000 to 8000). Fritz 8 human interface is not very friendly or intuitive, maybe I spent too much time with the chessmaster series. I could not find the self-play mode in Fritz. The analysis of Fritz is very professional, it even uses the international symbols to grade the position. However I'd like to see another mode to give numeric values at each position like chessmaster, the symbol =/+ , +/=, etc. are not specific enough (at least to a detail player like me.) The user manual is hard to follow.
OK, 4 1/2 stars.

Worst User Interface Ever Designed!!
This program has a lot of features, however, it's pretty close to impossible to figure out how to get the features to work. I've never in my life seen a program with such a non-discoverable, non-intuitive, obscure interface.What is truly amazing about this program, is you can read the manual and still not figure out how to use the features!I've just spent 2 hours (including studying the manual) trying to figure out how to load a PGN file of some games that I've played to use the analysis features of the program and I still have no clue how to do it. Unbelievable.I've used several other chess programs and never had to even open the manual.I've used 100's of windows programs and this is clearly the worst interface I've ever seen.

Many Features combined with easy gameplay!
I don't know why someone would complain about bugs in this game because I have yet to find one! My guess is that the person complaing about them is using a pirated version of the software and thus his problems were created.

Anyhow, the game is definitly loaded with features (most of which are already explained by other reviews) but the one thing I wanted to emphasize is that this game actually helped better my game play tremendously!

Un buen juego de Ajedrez
La verdad, resulta sorprendente lo facil que resulta jugar.
Saludos Cordiales!
España

This Beast is Best
I have most of the top commercial chess programs in the world (Shredder, Fritz, Junior, Hiarcs, Chess Tiger, Deep Sjeng, Ruffian 2, Rebel and Chessmaster), and Fritz is my favorite program.I don't even use Chessmaster anymore.Fritz is a Chessbase product, so it is state-of-the art in all respects.I can't imagine why some of the other reviewers had some problems with it.Myself and my chess-playing friends have had none.

For those who are saavy about chess programs, yes, I admit that Fritz is the second-strongest program ... Shredder 8 (also a Chessbase product) is definitely stronger than Fritz, but if you aren't Gary Kasparov, who knows the difference?Besides, in my view Shredder suffers from several defects ... its principal variation (PV) in analysis can be complete rubbish (ie: hanging a queen for no compensation), although it's first move of the PV is always first-rate.Also, Shredder's playing style is "dryer" and more technical (e.g. boring) than Fritz.If you want a tip-top program that plays like a boring machine, grinding out wins, then get Shredder.If you want a program that will come at you like a doberman, then get Junior, Hiarcs or Chess Tiger.But if you want the best of both of these worlds, then get Fritz!

Hey, let's face it ... unless you are a Grandmaster, any of the top programs I named, on their top level, will tear you to tiny little pieces every time, especially when you're playing blitz.However, Fritz has many modes (like Friend, Sparring and "personalities") that can lead it to playing like you!There are dozens of ways to change or "dummy down" Fritz's play, and you can have fun with all of them.You can also use Fritz's GUI to play the many FREE winboard or UCI engines freely available on the Internet (I have about 3 dozen, but many more are available).So, it's like having a whole chess club at your disposal, and you can even have the various engines and personalities play each other in matches or tournaments, or help you play against Fritz.(I don't know about you, but I need help against the silicon beasts.)

One observation ... which program does Gary Kasparov (and other top players like Anand, Kramnik, Leko, etc) use and analyze with?Fritz.Did Chessmaster get a match with Gary Kasparov or Vladimir Kramnik?Nope ... only Fritz and Junior did.If Kasparov says Fritz analyzes the best, that's good enough for me!

Fritz's database is also very useful and it's GUI and many features are top-notch.Also, if you are a serious chess player and want to get the top chess database program, Chessbase, then Fritz will fit in seamlessly.How can you go wrong, especially at this discounted price?(Don't hold your breath looking for a discount at Chessbase...ha, ha.)

So the bottom line?Fritz is #1.Get it from Amazon!I did, and don't regret it a bit. ... Read more

Features

• An amazing lineup of create-and-control games in one package
• The Sims: design your house and populate the neighborhood
• SimsCity 3000 Unlimited: create every detail of an urban metropolis
• SimTheme Park: build an entire park and manage guest experiences
• The Sims Online: transform yourself into whatever you want to be

Reviews (5)

False Advertisement
All,

My son recently purchased The Sims Collection. I was with him when he placed the order so that I could handle the CC info.

This game clearly states in the ad that it will work with Windows 98/me/XP. NOT TRUE.

We received the game and upon installation,The Sims and Theme Park lock up his system (he has XP). I went on line and found that others have had the same problem.

I emailed Amazon to see if they will accept a return although their policy on software indicates they will not.

This is nonsense. Not everyone is a "techie" or a full time "gamer", You rely on the information provided by the COMPANY YOU ARE BUYING FROM.

Beware of one sided deals. With Amazon, they will suck you in with low proces..but then,...You buy it, you own it. If it doesn't work, tell your kids to deal with it and buy them another from someone that can accurately describe the products they sell and know the difference between 98/ME and XP.

Ben Holstein

bad
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.
this game sucks.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!
This pack sounds really good to me. It contains many good games in it. Anyone who is interested in at least one of the games, should buy this anyway!! I play "The sims" (one of the games included in the pack) and its wonderfull!A point I should mention - Sim City and Sim Theam ParkDONT WORk on XP!! (and as you notice, its half of the pack). Even if i cant use two of the games, I would still buy it. The Sims is A GREAT GAME!!!!

Great! especially the sims online!
I just got this and i was esspecially ecited to try The Sims Online. So i did, i tried the game and it is so cool! Ive met so many people and i am having a blast! The other games are ok, but The Sims Online is deffinatly my favorite. Even though you have to pay 10$ a month, i think once you try it you will realize it is very well worth it!

About the games in this pack.
Originally written 11-22-2003:I'm a huge fan of the sims and recommened that people should try playing it, however there are seven expansions for this game that have been released and now you can't find the second two expansions alone because Maxis has bundled the original and the first two expansions together for something like $50.If you want the sims I suggest you do that, though in the near future they will probably combine more expansions together.That and The Sime 2 is set to be released in the early Spring of 2004, with much better graphics and an overall updated appearance and better gameplay, no more Sims 1 expansions will be realeased as they are going to start expanding Sims 2 eventually.

As for the Sims online, I never got into that, even though I'm a huge sims fan.The reason being that you pay the money for the game and get, at the time of realease, a free two months to play online.But, after this time you have to pay like $10 a month to use it, since you have to play online and you have to pay to do so.

I have Sim Themepark and played it for a couple of months, it was actually quite fun, the graphics could have been better, but all in all it was decent, but once you play all the way through and buy everything it loses its luster and gets old pretty fast.

I haven't played this version of SimCity, but have played other versions.I always got a kick out of playing it but once again it gets old pretty fast.A lot of the time after you've played it for a while, I at least, started making disasters happen just for some excitement.Again, I haven't played this version and the newest version (not this one) looks really great, with better graphics and all, even expansions to the game.

Overall, I'd say that if you know that you really want SimCity or Sim Theme Park and you are inserested in seeing what the sims is and not wanting to really expand it that much and you don't want to just wait for the Sims 2 release then by all means get this.Don't buy it for Sims Online unless you are willing to pay the money every month for the ability to play it.

Overall I think for $40 this ain't that bad, the games are on the old side now but are generally still fun, excluding Sims Online (though I've heard that's all in what you make of it, but you still have to pay to play).

Since you can get the updated versions of these game now for like this price my final word is that if you are getting this because you like one of the games then forego getting this and get the better newer version of that game.But if you want to try them out then go ahead.

I hope this helps someone decide on whether to buy this bundle. ^_^

***UPDATED 04-17-2004:Well I've come back and looked at this again recently and see that they've lowered the price.For $20 I guess that makes it a little better.It's seems bargain basement compared to the $40 it was at.I still say that if you are just getting this for one of the games then get the updated versions, but if you just want to try these all out then go for it.$20 is hard to pass up for 4 games.Though you still have to remember you have to pay $10 a month to play sims online.*** ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The first version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire was the third bestselling game of 1999 and continues to fly off store shelves, so a sequel was inevitable. Who Wants To Be a Millionaire: 2nd Edition gives fans 600 more questions and brilliantly captures the feel of the TV show. The only thing missing is the cash.

The game was developed by Jellyvision, famous for its irreverent You Don't Know Jack series of trivia games. Although the designers didn't have much to work with considering how Spartan the set of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire is, they did a masterful job of simulating both the mechanics and the drama of the television show, wrapping everything up in a slick interface that is immediately recognizable.

It seems impossible that players could feel any tension playing Who Wants To Be a Millionaire: 2nd Edition when no real money is at stake, but the game's perfect pacing did a nice job of at least making us think we were playing for cash. That's because it doesn't deliver an immediate response when a question is answered. Just as in the game show, if you answer a question quickly host Regis Philbin will confirm or reject your answer quickly. As the game progresses and the questions get tougher there is more of a pause between your answer and the confirmation. Regis will make some comments, sometimes offering you the chance to change your mind by asking the now grating "Is that your final answer?" as the show's music and a drum roll build tension in the background. The delays were surprisingly unnerving, making us constantly second-guess our answers.

Should a question prove too tough you can always fall back on your three lifelines. The designers polled 50 random people to provide data for the "Ask the Audience" lifeline, and The Reege's friends dispense audio advice for the "Phone a Friend" option. Of course, the 50/50 lifeline is also available.

All these elements coalesce to form a surprisingly fun trivia game, and one of the few available that is more fun to play solo than with a group of friends (although playing cooperatively with a few buddies can be fun). Games rarely take more than 20 minutes, so it's perfect for a quick trivia fix--we just wish it came with more questions. Guess we'll have to wait for the flood of sequels that is sure to follow. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Atmosphere provides some tension
• Near-perfect simulation of the hit TV show
• Lifelines are implemented well

• Questions quickly run out
• Doesn't come with a million dollars

Reviews (51)

Excellent! Out of all 4 editions, the 2nd is the best!
I just recently recieved my copy of Millionaire 2nd Edition which I ordered a few days ago and it is the best one in my opinion!

I had the 1st, 3rd, and Sports edition but I never had the 2nd edition.All are good games but my favorite is the 2nd one.My second favorite is the 3rd edition.

The second edition comes with LOTS of challenging questions and will actually make you think!The others, you don't find to hard.Also, in some of the other games, especially the 3rd edition, they don't have a lot of the sounds and music that they do on the show.The second edition comes with every single sound and piece of music and brings the show together.

If you don't have a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? computer game series collection, I suggest you start with the 2nd edition.

Awful!
The questions are IMPOSSIBLE to answer - especially with the stupid time limit (which, correct me if I'm wrong, ISN'T on the show) -- The first $100 question I was asked was which popular singer is referred to as the Chairman of the Board...

Silly questions - WAY to hard to answer... stupid game. And Regis Philbin is the most annoying man alive!

Great Experience -- Content Lacking
This game does as well as it can to replicate the TV experience. Regis' voice and videos, lifelines just as on the show, the whole works. But you'd better enjoy it, because the "replay value" is minimal. There are only about 600 questions here, and that means that after about 20 games, you will be seeing a lot of repeat questions, enough to really spoil the fun.

On a CD there should be room for many thousands of questions. But the use of audio files for the "phone-a-friend" lifeline likely eats up a lot of the available space. If they were all authentic, some people might judge it worthwhile. But most of them seem to be the silly "psychic hotline" responses, and these are definitely not worth it.

At ..., it still makes sense for fans of the show to give this a shot -- just be aware that you'll only get a week or two of enjoyment out of it. If you want a larger database of questions, consider the board game at ..., which *does* have several thousand questions.

Good Game
This is a fairly good game. Some of the graphics get a little distorted at times, but they are pretty good. Some of the questions take a lot of time to think about it, but there is a 30 second time limit, so you have to think fast! The questions do start to repeat after you have played it for a while, but usually the questions don't repeat too often. I have three HP computers and this game works on all of them so the compatibilty shouldn't be an issue. Overall, this is a good game if you are looking for some entertainment, but you still want to learn something when playing the game!

won't run on windows xp
i was very disapointed to not be able to install and run this game i just wanted to let anyone else out there who was thinking about getting this game to know .....there is nothing on box to let you know and if there is its so small i still haven't found it ...... ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Move over Lara Croft, there's a new cybergirl in town. She's tough,she's mean, and she can make a grown adult cry in seconds. She's Anne Robinson,appearing in all her black-hearted glory in the new interactive PC game TheWeakest Link. Up to seven players can play at once with any combination ofhuman or computer-controlled players. Anne Robinson, as host, will quicklyexpose players' weaknesses, and all the others can delight as the weakest linktakes the walk of shame. With a supply of more than 100,000 trivia questions,you'll never play the same game twice. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Greatest TV Game Ever!
This is the best TV-game-show PC game there is!It is generally faithful to the TV show, although there are 7 players rather than 8 (or 6 on syndicated Link), and the multiple-choice format is not used on TV (on TV, a contestant will be asked "What(first letter) is...?). Otherwise, the PC version plays pretty much the same as on TV. I also think there should be a way for one to play as himself, rather than as one of the characters. I would still consider the game to be excellent, though; especially if you love the TV show.
The game requires a fairly powerful computer with high quality video, more than most other TV-gameshow type PC games. If your system is not powerful enough, the game will tend to stop in the middle of play. It will work on high-end PC's, but a low or mid-level machine may not be sufficient.

BETTER THAN MILLIONAIRE
I bought Weakest Link after I was so disappointed with the Who wants to be a millionaire cdrom series when I first heard that The Weakest Link was going to be released in a cdrom I just had to have it.Weakest Link is my favorite show in the world next to Who wants to be a Millionaire and I had found the game a lot of fun to play.My favorite part is the beginning intro video that since I got it I've mouthed the entire intro a thousand times.I actually got to the finals but I was the weakest player and got voted off and so far no problems with it. Even my cousins liked it when I played the multiplayer version with them{By the way is a little confusing} My only suggestion would be a face maker like on the Hasbro Games so you can create your likeness. So don't delay buy this game,
Regis
{TIP} If you want an easy way to win and not get voted off.Play the junior mode}

Fans of Anne will love this game
THE WEAKEST LINK is an immensely fun gameshow on NBC. Activision takes it and turns it into a well-presented, educational, and fun computer game. If you enjoy trivia games, computer games, and competition this game is for you. Beware, Anne is there in full swing and full of insults and shes not afraid to dish it. So buy this game, sit back and enjoy the insults because YOU are the weakest link.

When playing this game, you must be one of the various players. This is not always fun because it doesn't allow you to be yourself when you play, but it's a small price to pay. As you play, it's important to be quick and answer lots of questions. If not, you will be voted off and take the Walk of Shame, not fun. This game allows you to increase your knowledge and compete for the prize money and it is well presented. I suggest you buy this great game today!

Very Realistic
Wow, agree after having read all the other reviews.Being a fan of the TV show, I had to get this game.Definitely worth it, and plays well.My wife actually made it past 3 or 4 rounds against all computer players.If you want to make it to the final round, pick all humans, come in at the 4th or 5th round, and bank early and often.Especially after you read the question.Keep all your fingers on the right keys.With the upcoming demise of the TV show, and if you are a fan, run out and get this game [$]well spent.

Technical glitches;Once I cursored across the contestant selection, I couldn't back track.Anyone else have this problem?

My other suggestion is a face-maker like in the Hoyle games so you can be yourself.Otherwise fabulous.

Great game...very realistic
This game is very much like the show. I would highly advise, though, that you install the maximum on your computer. If you install the minimum and have it run off the CD-ROM, it really slows down the game (and is _really_ annoying).

The people are rather square (pixelated), but Anne is great and the questions are decent (it takes a bit to get the same question twice).It's also not a game that "lets" you win (get to the final round).

I would recommend this game to fans of the show. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Schizm: Mysterious Journey is a thrilling first-person 3-D adventure game that will appeal to everyone from the novice to the experienced adventure gamer. A compelling, nonviolent story line, highly nonlinear gameplay, and incredible graphics combine with a mix of puzzles of varied type, including mechanical, logical, sound, and inventory based.

A fascinating adventure awaits players of Schizm: Mysterious Journey. It is the year 2083. Ten months ago, the first humans landed on Argilus. They found cities, towns, and industrial installations--all deserted. Doors unlocked, meals unfinished, strange machinery still operational... but no people. Scientists were brought in, research bases set up. Four months later, your supply ship has been sent to check on these bases. But when you hail them from orbit, there's no answer. The scientists, too, seem to have vanished. Now your systems are failing and you and your crewmate have no choice but to abandon ship. But where can you go? In Schism: Mysterious Journey, players explore the fascinating landscape in this unfolding story of an alien world filled with mystery and intrigue. ... Read more

Features

• PC from DreamCatcher
• ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
• Role playing game

Reviews (52)

save your money unless you're a masochist
Like many before me, I give mixed reviews because this is both good and bad.The bad outweighs the good overall because the bad is so, well, BAD!I thought the music and graphics were gorgeous.I found the cursor was difficult to use.It took me two or three tries and reinstalls to realise the problem was you needed to swing the cursor left and right to get a response.Bizarre.I found the puzzles had no relation to the environment, and that really put me off.I spent a few hours and solved the first two puzzles by guesswork.That is not what I want the game for; I want to use the old noodle, but not merely guess.It almost seemed random, but since I didn't go through it all, I cannot say for certain if that were the case or not.Overall, any of the Myst games would be preferable.

I HATED THIS GAME
I bought this game from the "bargain bin" not realizing that there was a DVD version of the game - in the long run it probably would not have made a difference. With the CD-ROM details are fuzzy. I'm sure this game is beautiful with the DVD version since there are some spectacular colors even on the CD-ROM. In any case, this does not take away from the fact that I loathed this game.

In Schizm there are two characters - Sam and Hannah. At times you play Sam, other times Hannah. One of the difficulties is knowing who to play when. As we all know, there is a lot of running around in adventure games. That's just the nature of the genre and true to form, there's a lot of back and forth to various locations. That's OK but sometimes you have to do this with both characters - the exact same locations, essentially repeating all that running around. But that wasn't what did me in.

What did me in were the puzzles. I'm not big on puzzles that don't seem to have any relation to the story. In other words, finding clues, putting them together and solving the puzzle. No - some of these were random puzzles. Just keep on plugging in numbers over and over again until you come up with the right combination. The puzzle that truly tried my sanity was a maze-type puzzle - basically finding a route from one place to another while the game blocks your moves eventually cutting you off from reaching the end. The puzzle is random so it's a new route everytime. It's not as easy as it sounds. I probably attempted this puzzle 30-40 times until I got it right. But guess what...you don't have to do this one time, but twice and you have to get it right two times in a row. One walkthrough (I had to use three different ones) stated that if you kept track of your moves on the first successful attempt all you had to do was repeat the results on the second try - nope. Oh but guess what??? Once you are successful with this puzzle, you get to go to another location and do the exact same puzzle again. Sorry - not me. That's when I quit. I was able to finished 3/4 of this horrible game but I just couldn't go on.

I would only recommend this game if you are some kind of masochist.

Very difficult game, but rewarding in the end
I bought Schizm: Mysterious Journey just solely on the graphics I saw on the package and this was one game I do not regret buying. I only have the CD-ROM version, but I understand it is only made better if you get the DVD-ROM. Even if the graphics on the CD-ROM isn't the sharpest, I was still very impressed with many of the surrealistic landscapes. Also, it's much better to have all five discs installed, as it would avoid you the hassle of having to swipe discs as you travel new places. It took me an hour to give all five discs installed on my system, but then you don't have to worry about that again, and it makes things so much easier never having to changes discs. This game originated in Poland, but for us North American users, was translated to English. As it turns out the comparisons to the MYST series can't be avoided. You have to solve many puzzles to get places, just as you do MYST. Some puzzles are random (like getting the fish-like balloon craft inflated and ready for flight). Yes, many of these puzzles are very difficult, and unless you're a rocket scientist, you're probably going to need a walkthrough. Be sure to write things down on paper as you go along. This game is not for novices, but for those wanting a challenge, go for Schizm.

Don'tbother! Just throw your money away instead!
I purchased thsi game in the discount section of a local retailer thinking I would have a good alternative to the usual first person shooter clones that are flooding the market.

After starting up the game and watching the two main characters do their thing It became quickly apparent that no matter what I tried to do the curser indicated that no action was possible for me.

I guesss the game consists of installing it, watching the intro, and then uninstalling it.Not as I expected at all.

Moreover the game is unsupported.My copy is in the trash now!

I Wish I had the money I spent on it instead!

In my opinion a genuine Rip Off!

Schizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzm
This game is of minor interest only if you've ever spent any time staring at a Yes album cover by Roger Dean and thought: "what would it be like to walk around in there?"But then the meandering gets very tedious, the puzzles get more and more convlouted, the crappy graphics start to lose thier luster, etc etc.Someone PLEASE tell me that MYST is better than this(?) ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the perfect game forPotter fans who've read the books, seen the movie, and still want more of J.K.Rowling's amazing world. As would-be wizard Harry Potter, you can run amuck in avirtual Hogwarts, learn to cast spells, play Quidditch, eat chocolate frogs,talk with teachers and classmates, and, of course, try to defeatYou-Know-Who.

This is one of those rare games that both very young kids and their parents willbe able to enjoy. You don't need the hair-trigger reflexes of a 13-year-oldNintendo ninja to explore the complex and mysterious world of Hogwarts School ofWitchcraft and Wizardry. In fact, exploring the school is half the fun. Thereare secret passages, shifting staircases, and dangerous shrubbery wherever youlook. The ultimate battle at the end is suitably challenging, but overall, thegame is fairly forgiving. And you don't have to discover every single nook andcranny in order to pass to the next level.

Interacting with one's fellow students is also fun, and a real treat for seriousPotter fans. As in the books, some schoolmates are helpful, some are rude, andsome are simply awestruck when they meet you, the famous Harry Potter. Nearlyall the characters from the book can be found in the game, including Potter palsHermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Some characters are even more fully realizedthan they were in the movie: Fred and George Weasley, for instance, are alwayspopping up in unexpected places via elaborate secret doors. Thanks to excellentvoice work and diligent artistry from the game developers, the characters in thegame look and sound like the characters from the film.

It's hard not to lose yourself in the lush graphics and delightfulconversations, but as Professor McGonagall might say, Harry is at Hogwarts tolearn, not to socialize! The way you learn and perform spells is clever: youmust trace a specific onscreen pattern with the mouse. Accuracy and speed inyour lessons wins house points for Gryffindor. Aside from your schoolwork, youmust win Quidditch matches, solve mysteries, and eventually confrontYou-Know-Who.

The game is charming, but it is unfortunately obvious that a few corners werecut. For instance, sometimes solid walls can go semitransparent from certainangles, and the edges of the oval-shaped Quidditch Pitch look blocky andamateurish. The game also has a few bugs here and there. And finally,disappointingly, the pictures don't move. Still, the fun of this game is not inthe playing of the game itself. The main fun lies in progressing through andinteracting with J.K. Rowling's unforgettable universe. On that point, the gameis a huge success. --Eric Fredrickson

Pros:

• Talking with the characters from the book/movie
• Sneaking around Hogwarts under the Invisibility Cloak
• Quidditch
• Easy navigation

• Obvious that a few corners were cut in making the game
• Relatively primitive 3-D graphics
• Hogwarts pictures don't move

Reviews (253)

good game beter than expected
This game was preaty cool.for it's time it had good graphics but now you can find better graphics.Other than that this game is a must have if you like harry potter stuff.

Fun but can get boring....
I have had this game since it came out and I am still stuck on teh Quidditch match.I think it has something to do with my computer because everytime I am close I end up dying.So up until that time this game is fun but once I get there I think I spent 5 months on it and finally gave up!My nephew plays it now and he just like to play for fun.He is actually good at the begining of the game for a 5 year old.If you are thinking of this game is is definately worth the money it is now.I think you will have fun playing it.

Great Game!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer`s Stone is a great game. It enables you to walk around as Harry Potter, attend classes, and much more. It is very fun so please buy this today!

Pretty Good...
I got HP 1 a couple of years ago, and I guess I like it quite a bit. For one thing, it runs on my slow computer which is a definite plus for me and the graphics are fun and I love playing it when I get the chance. The things that dissapoint me are that sometimes walls get in Harry's way and it's hard to get into the correct perspective again and the Argus Filch chapter is very tricky for me. So okay, I admit that I use cheat codes to get into further levels and stuff like that, but it was 1 year after I got the game that I got the codes, and already I'd gone pretty far. It also keeps to the storyline except for the spell challenges (but they have to add something in, right?) unlike Azkaban for GBA, even though that's a good game too.
Overall this is a really fun, good game, and I'd reccommend it to kids 7+.

Fun...
This game is very fun. I like the part where you have to sneak past Filch.

Pros:
1. Very interactive
2. Difficult at times and easy at times
3. Cheats make the game fun (go to gamewinners.com for cheats)

Con:

1. you can only follow one path. You can barely explore.
2. wizard cards are easy to find. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

LucasArts' Monkey Island adventure game series has been missedoflate. It has been too long since we've visited the anachronistic Tri-Islandareain a Monkey game stuffed with vivid characters, zany plot twists, andliberal use of awful and awfully funny puns. Thank goodness that the clumsy,bumbling, and utterly charming pirate hero Guybrush Threepwood returns inEscape from Monkey Island. Luckily for him so does his bride, ElaineMarley Threepwood; unluckily, it looks like the stubborn ghost pirate LeChuckmay be back as well. Or is he? We'd tell you but that would give away too muchof the vibrant and hilarious story line.

This is adventure gaming at its very best: sharp graphics, excellent voiceacting and writing, and solid puzzles throughout. LucasArts even included awalk-through that'll get any new players into the right mindset to solve thebizarre, convoluted, and convulsively funny pun-ridden puzzles in the game.Butplayers who rely on it are missing out. Sometimes it's much funnier to dothingsthe wrong way, because the sharp-minded developers probably already thought ofit and are ready to reward you with a humorous comment or action. Completelyhilarious, drop-dead gorgeous, and always innovative LucasArts proves once andfor all there is ample life left in the adventure genre. --Andrew S.Bub

Pros:

• Excellent voice acting and writing
• Very funny
• Challenging for players of all skill levels

• The controls could be a little more streamlined

Amazon.com Product Description

EverQuest: Trilogy is an anthology that includes the original EverQuest game and its two expansion packs. It offers prospective EverQuest fans one of the largest online fantasy worlds in a single, all-encompassing package. EverQuest is a 3-D, massively multiplayer, fantasy role-playing game. An enormous virtual environment, it offers an entire world with its own diverse species, economic systems, alliances, and politics. Choose from a variety of races and classes, and begin your quest in any number of cities or villages throughout several continents. From there, equip yourself for adventure, seek allies and knowledge, and head out into a rich world of dungeons, towers, crypts, and evil abbeys. Learn skills, earn experience, acquire treasure and equipment, meet friends, and encounter enemies. A multitude of quests and adventures await; where you choose your role, you define your destiny.

The trilogy gives players five enormous continents, 13 races, and more than 400 supporting characters, allowing for unlimited hours of gameplay.

EverQuest: Trilogy features:

• EverQuest game
• EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark expansion pack
• EverQuest: The Scars of Velious expansion pack
• Collectible map of Norrath

EverQuest is a multiplayer online game you play via the Internet. A stable Internet connection is required to play. Sony Online Entertainment charges a small monthly fee for this game, separate from your Internet service provider access charges. The first month of this fee is included in the purchase price of this package. You must provide a valid credit card to register and play. After your first month, you can use your credit card to buy more time.

Reviews (80)

Oh gosh, were back to gay stuff.
This game is really annoying and can remind you of not the cool fantasy with adventure, but the little pink fairy magic that you see in the forest. Gosh, why do people like this game so much?

Im not even giving a review, because If you get it, youll cancel the subscription the next month like I did.Look at screenshots and itll tell you.

The pictures lie, its a trick, dont listen to them!If you want adventure like that, youll have to be playing till your an old man.Get Final fantasy XI, or Dark age of camelot or something.

Not that worth it :<
Yeah, this game is fun.Sure its fun when you start out.You think its a whole new world ahead of you...but its not.I cancelled the subscription to this game after about a month.You can have up to 8 characters, and they can be any class and race you wish.There are ogres, humans, elves, etc. And their classes are things like wizards, warriors, rogues, and that.It will really remind you of mythology because of their spells and stuff.

Its what people always do, they train and gain a few levels and get some cash from their enemy. Then they go buy some new weapons/armour/potions.They train till a certain level so they know they will be good enough to go out far through the everquest world.Sure, they are strong enough but they expected more.Tons of cool abilities and/or spells and items that makes it look cool like you see on trailers.But they dont get it.They train and train and accomplish nothing just like some other people are saying.Thats why I got rid of it.

If you want a good fun, action/adventure online RPG that is way more fun, then I'd suggest // Dark Age of Camelot \\I have that game and it is what I expected.Its what I call *fun* ._.

Not what I thought it would be :-(
READ THIS REVIEW IT IS VERY HELPFUL

My friend got this game and he was saying stuff "you gotta get it, its so cool"I was so exited to get EQ trilogy. Finally I saved up enough money to pay for it for a few months.By the way thats a badthing, you have to pay $13 a monthly fee to play.Finally I started to play it and that weeks I played it every day.day 1, awesome.. day 2, awesome.. day 3, awesome, day 4 5 and 6, awesome... day 7, SUCKED!after a few days of playing it, not only it gets old, but you learn your way around the game and figure out that its really dissapointing.The graphics are pretty good.but thats about the only good part.its impossible to gain levels, it takes so long.After 5 days of gameplay, 3 hours each of nothing but fighting, training, fighting, training I was level 4.I didnt take one break, not a lunch break, NOTHING.Thats how hard it is.I didnt die once either.It is hard to find your way around.the 7th day before I got rid of it, it took me an hour to find the magic shop where you buy new spells to use. it is hard to use some spells, like hide.it never works. not many people are friendly.I only joined a group 1 time and that was with a friend my friend who I knew in real life.Even in the daytime, it seems kind of like it is still dark.It just barely lightens up.It is still about the same.You need a torch which doesnt help much.you can turn up your gamma and it will be easy to see but it will be like that the whole time even at night so it takes away the fun.It takes forever to get enough money to buy stuff unless you do a trade skill which is hard.It is nothing like the commercials, they say you go on challenging quests, fight dragons and other monsters, go on an adventure of a lifetime!YOUR KIDDING RIGHT? For crying out loud You have to stay in the same town until you are like level 20 which takes about a year, if youll leave in half a minute some monster will kill you.I can go on and on but I am getting tired.

SO......DO NOT BUY THIS GAME IT IS HORRIBLE!!!!! WAIST OF MONEY!!!!!!!WAIST OF TIME!!!!!!

Dont buy it!
I warn you. If you get addicted easily do not buy this game. I played for over a year and I was never happy with the game but I kept playing? Why you ask? well you work so hard to get better, but once you get better you feel like you've accomplished nothing, so you keep working hard to get better but you keep getting no where. This game is terribly addicting, you'll find yourself playing for hours and hours every day. You'll probly get on right when you get off of work and wont get off unless you absolutely have to, its that bad. I've heard of people killing themselves because they somehow lose all their equipment. They even have addiction groups to join (think AA but for EQ) to try and stop playing. How sad is that? I knew this game was consuming my life so I deleted my Characters, my account and I havent ever played since. Save yourself the trouble, enjor your life (your own, not your characters) and dont get this game.

Pros & Cons & Loss
Yes, I will admit it, this is a good game. I played it for eight months and eventually lost interest.

Reasons for goin' frigid?
1) I remember one of the first times I was playing this guy shouted - or whatever the exact term is, I can't remember - over the entire area that he had just leveled to 60 and was feeling very depressed. The reason is that when you invest time and energy into something something virtual that energy can't be used for something that's real. It's like preteen girls wasting their time on infatuation because it's the closest they are to true love. Except --- Most people have the option of leaving EQ and actually living their own lives.

2) I know a guy who was kicked out of college for never going to class and using the T1 line for EQ. He is now living in Texas and has a job solely to support his addiction.

3) Not impressed with the artwork/graphics/extreme polygons. (Although the textures were great)

4) I don't want to live there.

5) Neverwinter Nights. Pure friggin' ecstasy. ... Read more

Features

• 3-D board game based on popular family game
• Same colorful characters and setting
• Adjustable challenge levels
• Play with or without computerized dice
• For 1 to 6 players

Amazon.com Product Description

For the first time ever, the hit TV series Survivor has come to your PC. Play as any of the actual 32 Pulau Tiga and Australian Outback cast members or create your own character. Now you can put your skills to the test and see if you have what it takes to become the ultimate survivor.

Determine your role in the tribe by choosing from 10 essential survivor skills, such as field craft, fishing, and cooking. Form alliances and develop relationships with fellow tribe members, or choose to vote off competitors at the tribal council.

Learn the ins and outs of self-preservation from the interactive Survivor bush guide while you compete in 24 reward and immunity challenges. Play through a full-, half-, or short-season game. And once you're up to the challenge, compete against friends via LAN or the Internet. ... Read more

Reviews (92)

Wow! Crappy
My husband bought me this game because i love survivor. The darn thing won't run at all on the computer no matter what you do. In the end, i threw it in the garbage, where it seemed to belong. Don't waste your money on this!

must get
it's so real you will actually think you are watching survivor and not playing it!!

Just a heads up for anyone looking at this game..
It never worked for me on the 4 computers I tried it on. (Windows 98, ME, XP, and XP) even when my computer lived up to all the specs on the box. A definite do not buy!

Awesome Game! Made me feel like I was there!
This game is a welcomed addition to any Survivor fan's collection! It makes you feel like your part of the Survivor Series! Music and video from the show gives you the feel of being a survivor!

This game is bogus
I couldn't get it loaded on my old machine as it wasn't fast enough.My new machine is certainly fast enough, has more than enough RAM, exceeds all requirements, but this game won't load if you run Windows xp.I had tried it a few times on my husband's computer before he upgraded to xp, and it was hard to understand how to use the characters.I have watched every episode of "Survivor" ever televised, I bought this game after Australian Outback, and there were supposed to be upgrades that don't exist - the website referred to doesn't exist. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Powerful
The most powerful chess program for the best price.It can beat 99.9999 percent of the human race.It will improve you defensive skills. ... Read more