Product Description

You're Jak, a quiet hero in the making. Jak and sidekick Daxter are playing on Misty Island a wee bit close to a pit of Dark Eco. Daxter falls in and crawls out looking like a fused otter and weasel. The two visit the village's local wise man, the Green Sage, to transform him back. But the Magical Ports from one island to the other have shut down, and the only way to reach the more knowledgeable wise men that could help him is to embark on an adventure, of course. In every region there is a strange conspiracy around the concept of Eco that adds another layer to the game. Dark Eco is deadly, or at the very least, mystical and strange. Jak and Daxter's world is filled with all kinds of the mysterious element known as Eco. Green Eco gives life, and it's contained in chests and containers all across the many environments the pair encounters. Blue Eco provides energy, speed and opens doors, and Red and Yellow Eco provide energy and the ability to cast fireballs, too. Races, a collection of minigames, enemy chases and timed events are all part of the gameplay. ... Read more

Features

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

Reviews (289)

jak and daxter
that was a good game but please go back to makeing crash games.

Pretty good...
Ok, I thought this game was pretty good. But hey, I was only eight when I got it. I've seen alot of people saying it stinks. Most of these people are allowed to Ratchet and Clank. I've never played it. I'll put it in specific terms: if you aren't allowed to play alot of T games, this game rocks.
Pros: Awesome graphics
Cons: Too short

Boredom beyond our deepest nightmares...
...also known as Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legasy. This game is all about running around a silly free roaming 3D world while beating up repeative enemies you have seen 15646 billion times earlier and collecting tons of crap. I got this game a loooooong time ago. It was fun at first, but then came the titles that could exterminate this game: Ratchet & Clank, Ratchet2, Ratchet3, Jak II, Jak3, Sly Cooper, Sly2, The Urbz, Sonic Heroes... the list is long. Now lets talk about the game's features:

Pros.
Okay graphics.
Cool scenery.
Free-roaming action adventure.

Cons.
Crap voices.
Insanely boring missions.
Veeeryy repeative combat.
Only 3, count them THREE bosses!!!
Soon gets annoying and frustrating.
Sooooo easy.
Very short.
Zilch replay value.
Jak is a MUTE!
Doesnt even compare to Crash Bandicoot.
Stupid music.
Almost every mission involves some Eco boredom.
Zoomer missions are frustrating.

Now see: 3 pros and... about... 13 cons.
That means this game is just a smelly good-for-nothing excuse of an game. I dont play this game anymore, it just collects dust while I entertain myself with REAL titles. They are too many to count so I wont count them.

Graphics: 6.5
Sound: 3.0
Gameplay: 4.7
Replay Value: 1.5
Fun: 2.0
Overall: 1.0

Final Verdict:
THIS GAME SUCKS!
Avoid it, run away from it, stay away from it, whatever, just do not, I repeat: DO NOT BUY IT!!!

all about jak an daxter
I praise the good lord that I only rented this game for 7 nights. To be honest it didn't 4 nights. The game is toooo easy and simple. On top of that it is tooooo short. However it was fun for the short 4 nights that I had it. Naughty dog used to the good games like Crash Team Racing and Crash 2 my favorite out of the first three. But this junk errr game or game wanabee is just the example of how good companies can screw up BIG time. The one time I about it is the hoverbike but that is about it. So go out and get a real game like Spyro the dragon:Year of the Dragon which should be cheaper and better than this junk.

Boring
This.. game... STUNK!!!!!!!! Do not play. The storyline is absolutely stupid. The missions arent even fun. Just dont play it. It's just a waste of time and money. ... Read more

Product Description

The object of Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland is to successfully save the village from being turned into a resort. Construction begins in a year, so you must find a way to save your homeland before that. Unlike previous Harvest Moon titles, Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland will offer nine unique ways in which to complete your task. Thus offering nine different endings to the game!Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland focuses more att ... Read more

Features

• Make friends with over twenty characters.
• Nine endings and plenty of events make every day on the farm anything but routine!
• Cook up new meals using recipes or invent tasty homegrown concoctions in your kitchen!
• Explore an innovative not-linear game system with a bushel of subplots and entertaining story lines!!

Reviews (92)

Just one year
I have played other Harvest Moon games and I like them all, and I like this one too. The only problem is that you only get one year. In the other games, you can form lasting relationships, get married, even have kids, get divorced, remarry, etc. year after year. This one starts you from scratch after a year (you lose) or you manage to save the homeland (you win). You get to keep your stuff, but all the relationships start over. It's cool that there are different endings, but I lost interest after the second one- and that's only because I was putting up a brave face since the kids got it for me for Christmas and I didn't want them to feel bad! I was pretty disgusted the minute I realized I'd lost all the ground I'd gained just cause I beat the game.

This was particularly disappointing because I thought surely the PS2 version would have all kinds of extra side quests and fun stuff to do after the first year.

What the...!?
This game has a great concept, lots of things to do, and a cute look. Why the low score? Well, the in-game time system is, in a word, wack. I would barely get outside and get my bearings, and it would be mid-afternoon already! Then, one time, I got lost trying to find a path in the "morning", and by the time I found it (a few real-world minutes later), it was "night"!! How am I ever supposed to build a farm and save the homeland if all the stores are closed by the time I get to them!? This game could have been Animal-Crossing caliber, but instead it's just confusing and weird. Too bad. I was really looking forward to it.

An Entertaining Game
Ok, the mission to this game is to save the Homeland from being... turned into an amusement park.
You meet many characters, and experience the life of a farmer. Farmer style. You can buy chickens and cows, adopt a stray dog, and earn a trusty steed from doing great work at Bob Brownie's Part-Time job.
I recommend this game to everybody.

Huh?
This is a weird addition of Harvest Moon. It's kind of weird, but it gets away from your farm and to your homelands. There multiple endings for this game, but here's my review.

Concept- Harvest Moon on PS2 = Weird

Graphics- am I playing Dark Cloud Or Harvest Moon?

Sound- The Catchy music makes this one the Harvest Moon gamewith the best score

Playability- Easy as pie

Entertainment- Enjoyable from begining to end, but it feels a little Wierd

Replay- Moderate-High

Alex- 8.25/10

I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!
this game is so fun!!!! i love the new look of your house and animals!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Rez, the action shooter brought to you by Tetsuya Mizuguchi (the talent behind Space Channel 5 and Sega Rally), is a fast-moving, wire-frame adventure backed by industrial beats. The story of Rez takes you deep into the world's computer network, which has recently been updated to handle the overload of information brought by the rapid expansion of the information age. The core of the new network is known as Eden, an extremely advanced artificial intelligence.

But problems begin when Eden becomes self-aware and suffers a breakdown. You must take control of the network while you manically search for Eden to bring it back online. The network was built to keep intruders out at all costs, so you'll have to fight off enemies from all sides. To reach the system's core, you'll need to shoot your way through each area and take out its specific firewall (boss) to wipe out that part of the system. By hacking the system, you'll alter the visual output and even take over the music, creating your own rhythms and eye candy as you dig deeper into the dreamlike cyberworld. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Synesthesia
Rez is a game based on the concept of synesthesia originally penned by painter, philosopher and drug addict Kandinsky.Synesthesia is when you experience one of the five senses through multiple senses simultaneously, such as seeing and feeling music, or hearing and feeling color.

Although it's an odd starting place for a video game it works brilliantly.Rez is a "stuck on rails" shooter (your character flies on a pre-determined path while you shoot things) that incorporates this concept very well.As you lock on to and shoot enemies, their explosions add to the music playing in the background and create visualizer-style effects on the screen.All the while, the controller and environment are pulsating to the rhythm of the game.

I have introduced this game to several friends of mine and they are typically overwhelmed by the experience.Couple that with the existentialist science fiction story line of the game and Rez rises to the level of art.

While the graphics are mostly simple wireframes, the integration of the audio and visual aspects of the game are beyond anything you can find in any video game.Although it's on the short side, there are a ton of extras to unlock that add lots of replay value.My brother and I already treat it like a classic, and I'm sure we'll still hook up the PS2 years from now to play it.

One of the greatest games on the Playstation
Theres always that game that comes along that just amazes you so much that you want to keep on playing it. Rez is an amazing game thatmakes other shooters boring and dull.
Rez is much more than just a simple shooter,. It delivers an experience that few games deliver. Rez will stay with you long after you put down the controller, and you will look forward to your next chance at playing it. The visuals are as amazing as the audio, there is a whole lot of replay value in this game.Rez is only for a single player, but sometimes the best games concentrate on only one. It's the kind of game that can't be defined by a single genre, but ends up being a unique title that every gamer should experience.
It stands as an example of human creativity, merging with technology to produce a world that's nothing less thaamazing

Save Her, Who Is Still Trapped In The System
I wrote a review previoiusly for this game, giving 5 STARS despite of its relatively short length, simply because I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has been few years, and I felt like playing it again after midnight; and it's 2:20 right now.Gosh, I just can't help but to come back here again to tell you how incredible, overwhelming, nostalgic, wonderful,... I don't think any of these adjectives does justice for this needless-to-say masterpiece. I consider only two games in my life as something almost divine; Ico and Rez.

The main reason I'm writing this review AGAIN is to warn those who finished game with only first 4 areas.Yes, it's true that you can finish this game and get the ending with 4 areas.However, if you are putting this game away after that, then you are making a big mistake here. I did exactly same thing, putting it away after finishing first 4 areas, which was nevertheless exhilarating experience.

MAKE SURE TO UNLOCK THE LAST AREA, WHICH HAS TO BE THE MOST AWE-INSPIRING PART OF THE GAME, PERIOD.

I know that this game costs alot these days, however, it's worth your money especially for those who want to 'experience', not just to play video games (Dreamcast version is also available). I get soaked with this strange feeling (after finishing all 5 areas straight), which I get time to time when it triggers the human's basic intrinsic questioning of its existence; who am I? where did I come from? Why am I here? Seriously, this is no video game; its existence is beyond that.You can't help but to be immersed into the world of Rez, the world of synesthesia.

save her, who is still trapped in the system.

please.

Proof that video games can be art
Even as a fan of games and a former employee of a video game company, I have seldom seen games that can conclusively be considered works of art.

This game is one of them. Don't even bother calling this game a ' on rail shooter' or what have you, this game is what it is.

What starts off as a simple shooter grows in depth the more you play. At first the game seems only to provide five levels of play, but this game awards advancement in appreciative and subtle ways. Even years after buying this game, it continues to surprise me. Numerous endings, a surprising story that at first is far to interfused to notice, new options, new modes and an intellegence that directly varies to your abilities are the great highlights.

And of course, the look.
And of course, the music.

A Landmark in Games and Computer Science
When has a game been this imaginative in terms of creativity? Only Sega dares to make artsy, experimental, avant titles like this, and they succeed with flying colors. Not only is the soundtrack phenomenal, the graphics are arguably the best and most complicated on the PS2 to date. The backgrounds are basically giant oscilloscopes that subtly respond to, move and cycle effects and colors according to music and player interaction. It works so well that you don't notice it while you are playing. It's no wonder why this game was code named "The Kandinsky Project" from it's inception. Try playing it while high or intoxicated for a real good time. And try to find that "trance vibrator," (a plastic toy that plugs into the console and vibrates with the game) while you're at it.

From a computer science standpoint, this is all amazing because it is generated on the fly in real time. The graphics and effects are so complicated that the game actually ran very slowly on the original Dreamcast edition of this game. ... Read more

Features

• Experience the bone-chilling shoot 'em up action of Vampire Night
• Take on the role of the vampire hunter and blast away evil vampires
• Includes a special training mode to practice your skills
• Explore the adventure mode and other hidden features
• Designed for use with Guncon 2

Reviews (14)

cool game
this game is better than time crisis that all i can say.

Don't waste your time or money
Boy am I glad that this was only a hire!When you've cracked a game after playing it for less than three hours you really would have to be pi$$ed off if you paid full price for it.Okay it may look pretty and it may be a decent replication of games like House of the Dead and Time Crisis but really once you've gone through and beaten the big boss what else is there to do.

Apart from the lack of longevity I have a few other complaints about the game.Firstly the shop systems, basically the point is to collect ingots of silver hidden in boxes and crates throughout the game and use them to by things like weapon upgrades extra credits and stuff.My friend finished the game and still didn't manage to collect enough silver to buy a single item!What's the point of having these things here if you don't need them or never use them?

Secondly I was a little disappointed with the graphic quality.The colours and polygons don't really seem to make use of the PS2s enhanced capability when compared to games like Smackdown of FFX.The final story sequence after you have clocked the game is particularly poor.

Overall definitely not a game you should go and buy.Your thumbs will probably never forgive you for the endless, frantic, button tapping firing off endless rounds of ammunition. Really if you want to play a game like this go to your local arcade and drop a few bucks in House of the Dead.

Love this game
Although short(is there really a "long" Guncom game?),this game is loads of fun and beautifully done.Worth every penny.

More Gothic Gun horror
Vampire Night seems like the PS2 owner's consolation prize for not being able to play "House Of The Dead 2", but don't worry it's just as good as that masterpiece...well almost.
First of all, the graphics are fantastic, better than arcade contemporaries "Ninja Assault" and "Confidential Mission", which also have console conversions. The style is best showcased in the first chapter with some superb depictionsof winter sunlight on a frozen lake. Luckily, even players who [stink] at the game can get to see this! But the impressive visual style carries on all the way to the end, which is refreshing, as in some gun games, the levels seem to get less interesting. Maybe the designers feel that most players will never get any further than the first stage when playing in the arcade, so they don't feel it's worth the extra effort!! The enemies and townsfolk are also realistic and well animated, and the design of the Vampire's castle is fantastic, full of grandiose chambers, giant towers and lofty walkways, all depicted in elaborate detail.
So, what about gameplay? Well, its all pretty standard, and if anything, its an easier game than HOTD2, so you could be facing the final showdown after not too many attempts. But the boss battles are better, because they display an "attack bar" as well as a life bar for the boss, so you can see how close you are to being lamped, and can blast accordingly. Some of the bosses, especially the first, come in more than one stage, often morphing into a different shape during the fight. The first boss is a particulary impressive encounter, with three entirely seperate phases to play through - a great idea. On the downside, there are fewer alternate routes through the game, which is a pity. Of course, the extra modes are usually what makes a lightgun game live or die in the console market, and I quite enjoyed those on offer here. The training sesion is, as seems to be the standard now, horrendously difficult, much harder than the game itself, so plenty of challenge there. And the Mission mode gives you a special objective to look out for each time you play through the story, such as finding lost treaure, or opening secret doors that do not appear in Arcade mode, so that can be fun too, as there are around 20 different missions to complete. Plus,you trade the special items forund in this mode at a shop, and can buy power ups and attachments with money earned. There's even a gallery of artwork and character biographies to browse through.
To sum up, "Vampire Night" is a slick and polished lightgun game that lives up to it's expectations, and a good alterantive to "House of the Dead 2", so fans of the genre will be very happy with it. It's just a shame that only Dreamcast owners can enjoy the very best of the lot

topgun
I like this game because, you shoot the undead. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Originally released for the Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64, StarWars: Episode I, Racer was a decent title with its share of flaws--mostnotably its control and graphics. The game's PlayStation2 sequel, Star Wars:Racer Revenge, addresses many of the original's shortcomings and is a vastlysuperior product. Rainbow Studios--known for its strong racers such as ATVOffroad Fury and Motocross Madness--developed this game, unlike theoriginal. The developer's prowess at creating racing games is evident, as thistitle features much better controls and more compelling races. Furthermore, itreceives a nice graphics upgrade that showcases the capabilities of the PS2.This game is superior in every respect to its predecessor.

Game modes include practice, single play, tournament, time trials, and versus.Tournament mode is the bulk of the game. Players can beat it in fewer than threehours and it isn't particularly difficult. Replay value is added by requiringyou to beat the tournament mode several times so you can unlock all the game'ssecrets. Oddly enough, the game's sound--usually LucasArts's forte--is hamperedby an unusual effect: at times you'll hear the full Star Wars treatment,as John Williams's score and cool sound effects totally capture the feel of themovies, but other times you'll hear only the sound of your engine. Theenvironmental audio is an interesting choice that wasn't executed very well.Audio and brevity issues aside, this game is one of the strongest StarWars titles released for a console. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Much better gameplay than the original
• Excellent graphics
• Tight controls

• Extremely short
• Not very challenging
• Music fade-ins and -outs are weird

Reviews (34)

HARD!!!(...)
WHY IS EVERYONE SAYING THIS GAME IS EASY???!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
THIS IS THE MOST FRUSTRATING HARDEST GAME I HAVE EVER PLAYED! (...)IT MIGHT BE ALITTLE FUN AND EASY IN THE BEGINNING BUT THEN IT GETS IMPOSSIBLE!!!(...)DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!! IT IS SO(...)FRUSTRATING!!(...) AAAAAAAHHH(...)

star wars racer revenge
I would like to know when this game will come out.

Best Sci-Fi Racing Game Ever!!!
I've had this racing game since it was released and I still think it is the best racing game I have ever played.Lucasarts should make a sequal for the next set of consoles.

Easy to win straight, but....
This is an incredible game. I just bought it the other day and I love it. But I'm still not finished. Sure, I've beaten a few tourniments, but there is more.

See, the reason I'm writing this is because I've been reading a lot of reviews saying that it's just too easy. What they fail to mention is that even though Tournament mode is very very short, you have to play it with all your racers in order to make everything equal. In addition, there are secret characters that are unbelieveably hard to get. These are:

Episode 1 Sebulba: Win first place in all races on regular Sebulba's career.

Episode 1 Anakin: Beat the best lap time for each race (it seems easy at first, but those last two races make it almost impossible).

Watto: Beat the best 3-lap race time for each track (see above parentathis).

Darth Maul: Beat the best KO number in each race (oddly enough, it's the first race of the game that gives me the most trouble)

Darth Vader: Unlock EP1 Anakin, Watto, and Maul, then (and only then) win the tourniment with one of those three.

How difficult are these characters to get? Well, let me put it this way: I've been playing almost nonstop for a week and the only onje of the above characters I have is EP1 Sebulba (though I'm close to getting Maul).

So if you want praise for this incredible game, read some of the other reviews. However, read this one after to dispell the "too easy" myth. Sure, winning the tourniment mode with one character is wicked easy (I did it in a matter of hours). But try winning it with 18 and unlocking 5 more.

Dos neek ta tunk bantha poodoo.

Fun racing game
First off, I love racing games.They are fun, you need to think quickly at times, you can play with more than one player (usually), and those "winner by a nose" finishes make it all worth it.

I get this all from this game.I've really enjoyed playing this game and building up my character while trying to unlock other characters to play with.Each course is imaginative and has its own sets of challenges.

My only problem is that it can get easy really quickly.I wish there were a way to download courses off the Internet or an ability to create your own.

But in the end, if you like racing games I would highly recommend this one!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Originally released in 1998, the PC version ofHalf-Life changedfirst-person shooters forever by proving that a compelling story can be told withinthe genre. Prior to the game's release, first-person shooters were mindlessaction games. Half-Life, while containing its fair share of action, alsocontained plenty of exploration, puzzle, and story elements. Now released as aPlayStation2 game, Half-Life has never looked or played better. Thisversion contains the outstanding single-player story mode, as well as a few newones. While the new additions aren't so great, the story mode is one of the bestescapades available on the PS2.

The game follows the adventures of Gordon Freeman, a young research associate atthe Black Mesa Federal Research Facility. A typical day at the office goescompletely awry as numerous alien life forms invade the facility. The fate ofthe facility, and quite possibly the world, is in the hands of an unlikely hero.

The graphics here trump the original's (understandable, as more than three yearshave passed). The character models have four times as many polygons, as well assmoother textures and animations. The sound is also very good, with some of thefunniest voice acting yet heard in a game. Of course, the single-player gameplayis excellent, thanks to some very well-developed enemy artificial intelligence.

Unfortunately, the new modes aren't nearly as brilliant. Decay, the newcooperative mode, seems like an afterthought and pales in comparison to thecooperative modes in Perfect Dark and Halo. Deathmatches onlysupport two players, which is incredibly lame considering many PS2 first-personshooters support four. Despite these flawed modes, the single-player story is sosuperb that it totally warrants a purchase. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Greatly improved graphics from the original
• Excellent storytelling, especially for the genre
• Strong enemy artificial intelligence

• Cooperative mode is dull
• Deathmatch only supports 2 players

Reviews (78)

Dont buy games with steam activation!
The hype gets to everyone, then you just go with the status

quo and not dare post a realistic review so that your friends

or the herd of human sheep look at you like you are a moron.

The game is fun, I have to say. Some of the gameplay though at

times is repetitive, but most of it is innovative/entertaining.

The graphics are NOT the best. Painkiller and Doom 3

deserve that title.

The price is not too hefty for the collectors, you are getting

the old half life, half life 2 and counter strike as well as a

useless booklet and a lame tshirt which I threw away after

the steam activation nightmare.

Those are the good points.

Here are the bad:

The steam activation process is one of the most frustrating

experiences encountered in my life.

It makes microsoft and symantec product activation literally

walks on the beach with your woman compared to the

nightmare that the Steam process is.

You need to be online in order to activate and download

unknown files off their server in order to authenticate.

This can, if you are lucky be done in 30-60 minutes and up to

several hours or days depending on their server.

I can understand Valve's concern over illegal copying, and all

the crackers, hackers, and other useless swine are to blame

for our misery.

I do not copy games or any software

but still must pay for the crimes of others.

I want to put a game in my computer and play it not having to

go through a frustrating activation and endless

verification downloads that do not always work.

This is my first and last game with the steam activation that

I buy. I dont care how good of a game it is, it is not worth it

if you cant play it.

Excellent
As stated before this game is dated by a few years and huge years in game development. I took that into consideration while thinking of how many stars this game should get. The graphics while not great (by todays standards) are really very good and the intensity factor is huge. The controls are very sensitive and if you loose your cool under pressure you may find yourself missing your target due to over or under aiming, but hey its better than sloppy inconsistent controls. All in all i would rate this game right up there with the much loved Halo. The graphics arnt as good but the story and gameplay is and as a sci-fi fan i find this game very hard to put down. Lots of mutants and monsters to kill and if your low on ammo you might even wack a guard and steal his.....just a thought. Enjoy.

The great game of Half Life
The game half life is about a person who has a job in a lab and somehow makes a tunnel that lets aliens come to earth. When your playing, you jump. You laugh. And in certain parts your even stunned. The game is in my top ten list for best shooting games. It's really fun. I mean who doesn't like killing an alein with a crowbar? Or blowing one up? If I was you this would be one game to buy. Along with the second one too. It's got killing, sneaking, strategy, and you can even ambush people. If you like sci-fi games and like to kill this is certainly for you.

If you like half-life
If you tried half-life for PS2 and liked it, you should also get a PC and try the other great mods from the game! they are linked with the same story, but a different point of view from other characters you meet in the half-life game.
oppossing force:
You kno half-life and gordon freeman being the main character? and how aliens and U.S. marine troops are out to get him? We'll in this game, you get to be one of the marine troops, and somehow gets lost from your squad, and in your own adventure! ( in some cases, you see gordoon freeman himself doing the things like you've done in half-life)
blueshift:
become one of the security gaurds in black mesa!

Let me say something about the bad reviews
everyone has an own opinion, but i feel like i should counter some things, so use this as a guidline of buying this game.

+The most creative and best storyline i have ever seen. The leve designs are amazing, and the story is ingenius, you will never find a game as great as this one in year. The level designs for examples, have many obstacles like "hmmm, what do i do now, how would i pass this without getting killed.." and many booby-traps i must add. (the booby traps are very surprising and frightening, ex. your walking in a room and suddenly the lights turn off, and you passout, and finding yourself after dumped in a garbage dump which is about to crush you) note: read the other reviews to see a brief summary of the plot.

+A exceptionally hard game! I played on the PC version (i find using the mouse easier) and I put on Easy Mode, and i thought, w/e it will be a piece of cake. well, as you go farthur, there will be more enemies, alien, or human. If your looking for a challenge, here it is! (although maybe they made it easier on the PS2 version)

Things that you must consider:

+THIS GAME IS about 6 years old! (1998) So don't expect shiny new graphics like Halo or Max Payne. In my opinion, a game is not great/fun by the looks of the cover, graphics, and how many weapons you have, a game is fun because of a great story and gameplay! (like the old mario games, its fun, but old.) Don't expect fancy animations, or anything, although i must add that the sound (not soundtrack) in this game is good. Ive heard that this game influenced many of the *new shiny games with intense graphics* out there today.

If you want to try it out, you can rent it first, but you definetely won't beat it before the due date :) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

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

Reviews (24)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com Review

The publishers of Grand Theft Auto III are back with another gamegeared towards a mature audience. But fans of GTA III should note thatwhile State of Emergency contains adult themes and extremely violentgameplay, that's pretty much where the similarities end. Whereas GTA IIIwas about creating a deep experience unlike any other video game, SOE isa throwback to arcade beat-'em-ups like Smash TV and DoubleDragon. However, the game takes the genre to a new level with mind-blowinggraphics.

In State of Emergency, you play as one of five selectable charactersthat's going up against the Corporation--a tyrannical group that has the city inan iron grip. The city is in a state of disarray and the citizens are rebelling.Amazingly, up to 250 characters can riot onscreen at once. It's shocking thatthe developers were able to render so many moving characters while keeping asmooth frame rate. Basic gameplay consists of picking up numerous weapons andobjects to cause as much damage as humanly possible. Providing context to themindless violence are the revolution and chaos modes. The former is the game'sstory mode and features more than 175 missions, while the latter is asingle-session mode with a few variations.

For the most part, the game is an enjoyable cacophony of senseless violence, butthere are some flaws. Although the revolution mode boasts an impressive numberof missions, they do get repetitive. The game screams for a multiplayer mode,but it's strictly one player. In spite of these flaws, the game remainsaddictive and fun. It bears repeating that gamers looking for another GTAIII will not find it here: this game provides an arcadelike experiencethat's excellent, but in a very different way. Parents should note that thisgame carries a Mature rating for its blood, violence, and gore. --Raymond M.Padilla

Pros:

• Amazing number of characters onscreen simultaneously
• Simple beat-'em-up gameplay
• A vast arsenal with which to inflict damage

• Missions get repetitive
• No multiplayer mode
• Bland soundtrack

Reviews (294)

Extremely Repetitive
State of Emergency was released the spring after Grand Theft Auto III became a national obsession.Published by the same company (Rockstar - but developed by now out-of-business developer VIS) the game successfully cashed-in on Grand Theft Auto's success.Featuring similar ultra-violent, mission based gameplay, State of Emergency actually plays nothing like GTA.
The game takes place during massive riots, (the game's claim to fame being the more than one hundred characters on screen at once), and you play as one of a number of characters rebelling against The Corporation.There are three levels each featuring about fifty missions to complete amidst the chaos.Trouble is, the missions are all mindless and repetitive, and are virtually all just a slight variation on a basic formula: you'll either be sent to kill a target, sent to protect a target and/or escort him or her somewhere else, or you'll be sent to destroy a building, car, or area.The missions are fun for a short while, but once you realize you're just performing the same task over and over again, it quickly grows tired.
Some of the minigames are fun, however, and rather than being mission based, they are generally based on time and points - you'll kill people or destroy property while collecting extra time from downed enemies while racing against the clock, and you'll keep coming back for more trying to beat your best score.
The gameplay, however, is still simple and boring; just a 3-D beat-em-up, with a few attack buttons and a handful of weapons to wield (though the ability to pick up some smaller objects floating around each level, like benches, is a welcome feature).And yes, it is an ultraviolent game, despite the cartoonish visuals.Blood sprays realistically as you fire in to crowds, taking down innocent civilians; pink blobs (guts) pop out when people are shot, limbs and heads come off (you can wield them as weapons, in fact)...it's all mindless and gimmicky.
Sure, it's really cheap these days, and if you're really interetsed I'd say go for it, but it really isn't even worth a rental.

Here is the goriest games ever
Manhunt, State Of Emergency, GTA series, Resident Evil, Bloodrayne.

Rockstar Does it Again!
This is a cool game.The only bad part is,NO MULTIPLAYER.Still, ya need ta get dis game mon. Peace.

State of Enjoyment
I think that Rockstar is the best and most honest game publisher out there.I'm sorry, but if you've had a long day and are angry at everyone, than playing a game like Grand Theft Auto (III, Vice City, and San Andreas), Manhunt, or State of Emergency will ease your pain.State of Emergency can have something like 250 people at the max on screen at one time, which helps create the extreme sence of dread caused by the intense riots taking place.Of course this many people on screen at once mean alot of carnage in Chaos mode.Sure you can kill thousands of people, but there's usually a civillian casualty penalty which drains points, making it more challenging.The Revolution missions are pretty challenging, they really push you to your limit.Close minded adults think it's right to outlaw these types of games and take away the free enterprise that Rockstar deserves and has earned.Another thing: people often think that if you kill someone in a Rockstar game like GTA or State of Emergency that you'll be praised and glorified, WRONG.The GTA atmosphere is realistic.If you ruthlessly kill someone in public you will be punished by law enforecment foreces.Likewise in State of Emergency if you do decide to gun down thousands of people than special enforcment SWAT type soldiers will come afteryou, surround you, and beat the living **** out of you.Enjoy!

gets old fast
While I love the idea of the game- taking part in a modern day revolution- the game gets old real fast. All you do is go around killing all of the police that you come by, and doing small tasks for those who tell you what to do. You can shoot the innocent bystanders if you really want to (but in a real revolution why would you want to do that anyway?).

The point is that in shooter games like Doom, Red Faction, etc. at least other people are attacking you as well. In military strategy games such as SOCOM II and the type, you have to strategize. Killing EVERYBODY you feel like in an extremely overpacked mall (such as level 1) is just kind of childish. So if playing games that have absolutely no real point to them is your gig, have fun kiddies. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The original Klonoa for the PlayStation was a criticallyacclaimed 2-D platform game, but it was mostly ignored by consumers. Gamerspassed on it partially because of its unfamiliar and unusual lead character,Klonoa, a furry critter with a giant pair of ears tipped with extremities.Hopefully PlayStation2 owners will not suffer from a similar aural phobiabecause they'll be missing a fine game in the sequel. Klonoa 2: Lunatea'sVeil takes the excellent gameplay of its predecessor and puts it in a 3-Dworld. The game offers a nice mix of graphics, gameplay, and sound--albeit for arelatively short time.

Fans of games such as Sonic Adventure and Crash Bandicoot willlove this title. It plays similarly to those games, but with superior cameracontrol. Although the graphics are technically impressive--excellent use oflighting effects, particle effects, and cel shading--it's the style that reallystands out. The bright and playful graphics give off a feel-good vibe withoutbeing puerile. Unfortunately, all these lovely aspects are found in a game thatmost players will finish in fewer than 10 hours. Sure, there are some secretsand puzzles, but nothing that's truly challenging. It's a brief experience, butone of the best on the PlayStation2. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Beautiful graphics
• Classic platform gameplay
• Lovely soundtrack

• Very short
• Very easy
• Text boxes scroll slowly

Reviews (65)

Klonoa, your very best Friend.
This Game is your kind of game that has almost everything you want except the gibberish whackness I didn't have the game yet BUT I'm gonna bother my mom to get this for me.Nuff said.

Kaze No Klonoa 2 (Klonoa 2)
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil brings back the flying cat (yes, he's a cat. Namco confirmed it) from the PSX game, "Klonoa: Door to Phantomile". Personally, I was a HUGE fan of the original, so the second was a wonderful happening. The nonsense language from the first game has returned! It's good to hear a language that's not standard English or Japanese- it takes you away from reality, and since Klonoa travels through dreams, it's perfect. Klonoa has new garb, and a whole new adventure ahead of him, helping a priestess in training named Lolo, her companion Popka, and a world in turmoil. The feeling of the game is cute and bouncy, and the animation is lovely. I don't know what it is about this game, but I keep playing it over and over. RUPURUDU! (let's go!) ^_^

An insanely fun game
Klonoa 2 is the best PS2 game that I've ever played. It is not a "kiddie game". It is really fun!

Gameplay: 10/10
It plays like a 2-D game, except for some of the hoverboard levels. Some of the puzzles are hard, but other than that, it's an insanely fun game.

Music: 10/10
It doesn't get in the way, like it does in most games. The background sounds stay in the background. There's even a sound test!

Graphics: 10/10
The graphics are probably the best in any PS2 game! It almost looks like a cartoon, but better.

Story: 8/10
Well... it's kinda confusing, and there are too many cutscenes, but you'll get used to it. At least the story is original and not as predictable as the Sonic or Mario games.

Replay Value: 10/10
If you think that the game ends after you beat the final boss, you are wrong! This game has lots of unlockables and fun extras like Time Attack and two terrific bonus levels.

Overall: 9.6/10
If you have a PS2 and you don't have this game, then you're missing out on a lot. It's worth the money. If you like other Namco games, you'll like this.

OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOOO[...]VE THIS GAME IT IS AWESOME.The music,colors,gameplay oh its all so good.Its like a storybook that even eleven-year-old kids would LOVE to read.I PLAY IT AND FINISH IT EVERY DAY!!!!You guys have to get it!Im SOOOOOOOOOOOOO wowed!Its AMAZING!UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAVE EVER PLAYED!IF YOUR A BIG FAN OF NAMCO,you should try it.DONT JUST STAND THERE DUPIDA DE!DUPIDA DE!(LETS GO!) (LETS GO!)BUY THIS!!!![...]

THIS GAME IS THE BEST GAME IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think this game is wonderful.this game is pretty easy but at the last boss it can get a bit hard.I just finished it.klonoa is my FAVORITE character.The end was sad,and I cried.The music is great.Unlike the game boy one,the music changes with every level and sets the mood of each one.The controls are very easy to remember(since it only uses two).The graphics are colorful.
I rented this game and I searched for it for a year.I got It for christmas and I couldnt stop playing it.My parents barely ever saw me.My mom wondered if I was still allive.please people if you read this buy this game.You wont regret it.enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

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

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

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

Pros:

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

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

Reviews (41)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

... Read more

Amazon.com Review

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

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

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

Pros:

• Incredible graphics
• Deep gameplay
• Strong replay value

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

Reviews (264)

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

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

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

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

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

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

here is a taste of the gameplay:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com Product Description

Compete as a tournament jockey, master breeder, or betting spectator in Gallop Racer 2001, a horseracing simulator game. This release features an all-new gambling mode, so you can wager on the outcome of your races. You can also build a stable of thoroughbreds and test their mettle in a variety of races to take this virtual equine racing world by storm.

With realistic, 3-D horse models and track renderings, you'll bet you were at the track. You also ride against real-time weather effects such as rain and snow. Best of all, Gallop Racer 2001's two-person race play lets you go head-to-head against a friend. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Highly addictive
I got this game for Christmas and couldn't put it down for four hours. I love it the highest place I've gotten though is only 2nd. It is very challenging even on easy mode. Once you start playing it you can't stop untill it says GAME OVER. The only thing I don't like about it is how frustrating it is. but that's my problem so I find this game fun and highly addictive.

coool
This game was so fun . you can race your horses and breed them. I only gave this game four stars because you cant feed or train your horses. Everything depends on stragedy you have to save your horses energy till the end. I think this game was awesome. I recomend it to all ages. I think this game is worth the money. Even if your not horse crazy youll still love this game. Me and my friend play against each other. Ofcourse I always win. LOL. If you are horse crazy then you would defintly like this game. If you like this game you'll also lik G1 Jockey 3, Gallop Racer,Gallop Racer 2001, and Gallop Racer 2003. have fun!(...)

awesome
This game is fun. I would recomend it to any horse crazy person. I think this game deserves four stars because you cant feed or train your horses. Id say that being the jockey is the funnest part. It really is a great game that anyone would love. It really is worth the money. My brother,sister,and I play against each other it really is fun. If you like this game you should try Gallop Racer 2003 and G1 Jockey.

Addicting
Gallop Racer 2001 is a great gam that is very addicting.It's a game where u can buy it and have fun all day long right from the start.A very fun game for those who enjoy trying new games and dont mind intersting challenges.With different levels, a variety of horses,and the ability to breed ur horses,the game keeps going.Try it and also buy Gallop Racer 2003. Both games are worth it.

Major improvement from the first , PS1, entry
Just a note on my reviews.I reserve 5 stars for only perfect games.This one is close.The first entry of this series which used the PS1 as the platform was certainly enjoyable.One aspect of the first Gallop Racer that was certainly friendly but curious, as it defied the laws of physics, was that no matter how wide you took your thoroughbred on the turns, you would never lose ground.This is not the case with Gallop Racer 2001; how wide you take the turns can turn a win into a place or show.Of course with the PS2 platform the graphics are massively improved.The audio is great; if you're in heavy traffic your controller starts to shake from all the hooves beating the ground around you. The replay function gives you the opportunity to watch your greatest victories from the stands.The breeding option in the game lets you develop the next thoroughbred legend.The Triple Crown series is not at first on the schedule of available races, but the three jewels can be unlocked by winning a certain race in the winter session. There are other enjoyable aspects of the game that I didn't mention, but the above list are the main good points.
Of course I did not give this game five stars, so there are some criticisms.The main criticism has to do with the shops where you purchase new thoroughbreds for your stable.There are about ten different shops that you gradually unlock as you win more and more races, but once unlock a new shop, only a small fraction of the shops offering is available each month.And if there is a certain horse you know you want, you could wait awhile before it comes back.I really wish there was some sort of auction function for purchase of new throroughbreds, but that may be just over the horizon.One other bit of unrealism to note; the jockeys are glued to the horses backs.No amount of jostling or bumping will result in a tumble.Just another aspect that can be found in more recent horse racing offerings.
These small criticisms do not change the fact that this game is worth the money and has hours of replay value.Thoroughbred fans will love it.Thoroughbred neophytes just might become fans after playing it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

In the ancient, decaying world of Drakan, the immortal Spirit Dragons are being held captive. Rynn, a brave female warrior, and Arohk, a fearless dragon, are called upon to save these spiritual leaders, as well as the last remnants of mankind. Embarking on an enchanted journey through eight vast, foreign environments, Rynn and Arohk use magical spells, resourcefulness, and more than 50 powerful weapons in their quest to save civilization. With an immersive story line, stunning graphics, and intense battles, Drakan: The Ancients' Gates places you within a world of magical creatures, mysterious lands, and courageous conquests.

You will journey across five vast worlds, each a free-roaming, 3-D environment, including an arctic tundra, swamplands, and a forgotten, decaying city. You will use more than 50 hand-to-hand weapons and five dragon weapons and cast 12 devastating spells as you battle your way to save humanity. Overcome obstacles and adversaries to gain skills as a fighter, archer, or mage. Tasks you will face range from logic puzzles to air-to-ground combat, all providing enormous depth of gameplay. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Go ahead and buy it !
This game is a a joy to play.I played this not long after I finished Rune because it looked similar and I was pleased to discover that it was even better!All video games should be this well-produced and presented.Controls are intuitive, fighting is satisfying, bloodshed isn't overdone, and the voice acting and sound effects are outstanding ( set fire to the half-man/half-boar creature and I dare you not to laugh! ).
The most fun to be had however, is in piloting your fierce ( and talkative! ) dragon through the beautiful and expansive worlds seeking lucrative side-quests, attacking enemy dragons, and obliterating ground forces with an awesome amount of fire-breating power.This is what makes the game thrilling as well as the interesting non-player characters and the overall sense of humor and all of the thought that obviously went into this title.
I recommend this game to everyone and since the price is so low there is no reason you shouldn't give it a try.Enjoy!

sweet
This is a pretty decent Action/RPG for PS2, It's kinda more of a rental in my opinion, though. The graphics suck, the controls are a little weird, and it takes up 1,499kb of space on the memory card!! Holy crap!! Drakan is still worth a try, though.

Not as good as the first, but still good.
The first Drakan game was delicious (it was a PC game). The graphics were all dark and rather depressing, but then, so was the game itself. The armor and swords were beautiful, as was the Dragon (and Rynn), although Rynn reminded me a little too much of Lara Croft. The second Drakan game had gameplay that was as good as the first, but the graphics weren't as good. They looked a little too... fake. Some of the armor Rynn donns in the second one is hideous, and if you like aesthetically-pleasing armor, you end up going with less-powerful armor just because you hate looking like a walking snot ball. The dialogue was good, although they randomly decided to make everyone in the sequel have British accents, when they didn't in the first. In the first one, Rynn sounded like a rebelious teenager who wanted to save her brother; in the second one, she sounds like an aristocrat-turned-warrior who is over thirty, even though the second takes place directly after the first. The ending was far too open-ended and frustrating; there was no resolution.

There are sidequests you can take during the game, and that helps a lot. You can explore all over the worlds; you don't have to just follow one single path like in some games. The weapons are a little over-done in TAG, and the Dragon doesn't look as "cool" as he did in the first Drakan. It's real-time combat, which is a must for me. You can do different moves with your sword, which makes it more entertaining. You can also cast magic spells, which is fun, and is even crucial in one part of the game. It is difficult enough to be challenging, but not so difficult as to leave you pulling your hair out and screaming at the television screen that you "hate it and would kick it if it hadn't cost you so much!"

My biggest two problems with this game were:
(a) It was not as realistic as the first one. In the first Drakan, if you executed the right slash in the right spot, you could do things like chop off the arms of orcs, or legs, or heads. In TAG, you can't. It's just a hack-till-they-die thing.
(b) I keep comparing all my other games to it, and they don't add up!

One of my favorite things was the flying. It was easy to control, easy to get used to, and fun as well. You could do donuts and spirals, and it wasn't irritating at all. Arohk was fun (and funny at times, as well), although it was frustrating when you lost him, or when he "couldn't land here!" and you had to run away from lots of orcs and wartoks because Arokh was being stupid. Sometimes, he would get stuck on a rock face, and not be able to come to you. He would just be left there, flying in the sky, not coming down, and you'd have to restart the game from your last save point.

I also liked how you could target things. You could target one enemy, and dance around and get behind him and kill him faster. It was especially conveniant in the sky, where it is hard to keep up with the dragons who circle around you and rise and dive and twist around. The targeting made it so that you could keep track of them easily.

All in all, I think it is a great game, and definitely worth the money.

Fantastic PSGame
Kids love it I have a nephew 7 yrs old. And my own 11, 13 & 18yr old love it too, and they play it all the time.

When Good Games go bad
This game starts off under the guise of and innovative and entertaining fantasy based adventure/rpg. Having never played the original, I was a little in the dark about the story, but the history is fairly intersting even though the main plot is kind of thin. The gameplay is fluid and you definately get a good assortment of moves to dispatch your enemies with. The level progression system is definatively Diablo inspired. Now for what's wrong with the game. For starters, your max level is 9. Which for any adventure/rpg title is very disappointing on more than one count. Case in point, you cannot max out all of your stats at level 9, which means you must allocate points to only the skills you want to really beef up. Which wouldn't be terrible if A) You were actually aware that you had to do this, and B) If the game didn't force you to use all of your potential skills. So what you end up having instead of a customizable character whom you can choose to make a fighter or a spellcaster, etc. you are forced to have a little of everything, creating an overall mediocre character. My second complaint, although not as bad as the first, is that the difficulty of the game only increases in the number of monsters you must kill later on. So instead of throwing some engrossing puzzles at you, you end up just hacking your way through the last few levels of the game. If they ever make another sequel, I hope they improve on these flaws, because the game does have a solid foundation, but in the end, I was disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Frequency allows you to mix and remix songs through each of eight different instrument types. If you remix correctly, you can freestyle and create your own music. The game has six unique game modes, top hits from major bands in a variety of genres, 3-D graphics, band video sequences, and online play. Genres include hip-hop, alternative, rock, electronica, house, and rap metal. Play through 21 diverse levels, each consisting of one musical composition, as well as music videos and other visual stimuli. Six unique play modes include solo game, net remix, and multiplayer remix modes. You can create your own awesome freestyle music using techniques and instruments such as scratching, guitar, and synth. You can also capture a variety of power-ups to add to your music juice. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

MUCH better than it looks
First off, let me say that initially I didn't like this game - I'm not particularly fond of this kind of music, and when I watched the guy across the hall play it, I just thought it was ... stupid.
But then he made ME play it, and I was hooked.
Gameplay is fast and exciting, and it has enormous replay value - getting your score just a bit higher to access the bonus levels is just as fun (if not more so) than trying to beat the initial levels. While the lower two difficulty levels can get kind of boring, they ARE supposed to be easy, and the highest still provides a nice challenge even after a LOT of play.
I have seen reviews which said that the backgrounds were bad, and that it was better without them. While I was originally of this impression, I tried playing with the blank background, and it just wasn't as fun. The backgrounds actually contribute to the game by providing more of a challenge for you as you go along, and some of them can be quite impressive (if chaotic).
All in all, a great game, even for those who don't particularly like beat games (like me) and don't like this kind of music (also like me). Don't form your opinion of this game watching other people play it - you actually have to try it yourself.

NO POINT
I HAD MORE FUN GOING TO THE BATHROOM.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY LIKE I DID.

Mom flunked
I bought this for my 12 and 15 yr olds based on the positive reviews. Both kids think it stinks and can't believe I wasted my money!

All u need to know about this game
I have to come out an say it. This is the most addicting music video game ever made. I got the demo, and was just enthralled with it. I couldnt put it down. I bought the full version days later for 20$ at kb. It was the last copy an they wanted to rid of it. Play online for more fun. A must buy for anyone who likes a hip beat.

Great fun with great music
This great PS2 game combines great music with finger-tapping fun. It might seem easy at first, but soon you're caught up in the musical action!

There are other games out there that make you 'dance to the beat' or hit buttons in rhythm. Frequency takes this to a new level by breaking up real songs into their components - guitar, drum, synth, etc - and letting you play along with ANY of the parts.

Get strings of hits done properly to gain points, and tag special sequences to get multipliers or other bonusses. Advance through levels to unlock secrets, and increase the difficulty level on any song to challenge yourself further.

These aren't 'generic beats' you're playing along with. You get to choose from No Doubt, Fear Factory, Orbital, Paul Oakenfold, Curve, The Crystal Method, and many more. So not only is the gameplay great, but the music you get to listen to is great, too!

Design your own mixes of the songs, or even better, play the game with friends! The game truly shines when you take it into multiplayer. You can do that with extra controllers, or the best way to play is on line with the PS2 Online setup. Get three other players from around the globe to join you, and together you can really get a song to shine. It's amazingly fun to go from your own simple bassline and to hear the other players chime in with their parts. It's an on line jam session!

Highly recommended for any music fan, and even those not heavily into music but who enjoy games like tetris and bubbles will find it quite addicting. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

See if this story line sounds familiar. You're part of an outcastmercenary class that upstanding folk don't want around until there's trouble.You're sent on a mission alongside an innocent, idealistic woman with whom youdon't immediately get along. Forces of darkness, safely contained untilrecently, have escaped and are threatening a world-ending clash with the forcesof light unless you successfully intercede. This is one of the safest templatesfor console role-playing games, and it pretty much covers the story inGrandia II.

Thankfully, everything else in the game is fresh and provides hours upon hoursof fun. The backdrops and character designs are colorful without being flashy,the game has a great pace (for an RPG), and players never have to stand aroundtoo long looking for the next thing to do. Even the writing, within itscookie-cutter plot, is smart, well translated, and occasionally funny.

The game's strongest element, however, is its battle system. Taking the best ofturn-based and real-time battle engines, Grandia II forces you to chooseyour moves carefully with respect to timing and position. The battles are verysimple in the beginning, but grow increasingly complex as you fight largernumbers of monsters with a growing party of allies. How you meet yourencounters--whether you initiate the fight, are ambushed, or meet headon--affects both the timing of the blows and the positions of the contestants.Battles emphasize counterattacks and combination blows, but you'll soon findthat movement and defense keep you alive against the tougher enemies. Elementalmagic, items, and skill books are just icing on the cake. Even if the battles dogrow old, the random fights are fairly easy to avoid, and a versatile AI optionlets you use cruise control through the rest.

Grandia II may be just the traditional role-playing game for whichDreamcast owners have been waiting. The question of whether it's too traditionaldoesn't matter, as it offers a better experience than most that have comebefore. --Porter B. Hall

Note: This review refers to the Dreamcast version of the game.

Pros:

• Battle system creates interesting, complex fights
• Solid, traditional role-playing game for a system with few others in thegenre

• Predictable plot and characters

Features

• Beautiful real-time 3D graphics and over 20 minutes of high-resolution CG graphics.
• Innovative, highly customizable combat system - part real-time, part turn-based.
• Fully 3D world with hundreds upon hundreds of people to interact with.
• Includes additional CD of Grandia II music as selected by composer Noriyuki Iwadare.

Amazon.com Review

As one of the first turn-based strategy/war games for the PlayStation2, Ring of Red is surprisingly rewarding for wannabe armchair generals looking to spend time in the heat of battle. You'll find that the war over an alternate-history Japan is surprisingly engrossing and very, very different from most PS2 titles.

Ring of Red's scenario is this: Japan didn't surrender to end World War II, and instead finds itself fighting a civil war that divides the country by pitting Soviet- and American-backed troops against each other. By the '60s, gas-powered Armored Fighting Walkers (read: giant mechs) do much of the damage across the country. You, as ahalf-Japanese, half-German pilot named Masami Weizegger, have the task of leading your American-backed squad into a long, explosive campaign that brings with it a gripping story.

Combat is split between maps for moving and placing mechs on the battleground and a real-time mode for actual fighting. Though the game is deep, with many commands to learn, Ring of Red feels just right for the Dual Shock 2 controller. The tense, swift battles are enough to make even hardened gamers sweat, and once you learn to survive them, you're rewarded with a sense of accomplishment.

Aesthetically, Ring of Red is a great-looking (and sounding) game that makes mech combat look real. Despite its somewhat boring dialogue and repetitive battle cutscenes, most gamers will play this title for a good long while. It won't make a lot of new converts to strategy gaming, but for many patient gamers, it's a great title that is different from the pack. Just be prepared for a long--yet fun--war over the future of Japan. --Mark Brooks

Pros:

• Very good graphics and sound bring atmosphere to the battles
• Easy-to-use control scheme
• Deep yet fun strategy gameplay

Cons:

• Very long battles will turn off gamers looking for a quick fix
• Repetitive in-battle cutscenes cannot be skipped
• Sloppy script makes most characters seem somewhat dull

Reviews (28)

A game for people who prefer play over graphics
If there was a contest for ugliest PS2 game ever made, Ring of Red would probably take the cake.

Visual prowess, however, is not everything. Ring of Red is probably the most challenging game I have ever set my sights upon. It's a turn-based stratgey in the vein of Front Mission 3 or Mechwarrior. The only difference is intead of just exchanging blows on an attack, you engage in a rather elaborate battle, any of which could turn easily turn surprisingly sucsessful or incredibly sour.

This game is very very long, and that's either good or bad depending on your opinions. You are able to save mid-battle and pick up later where you left off, (though keep in mind the game deletes the save file when you load it) but if you die you need to start the while round over. One round averages me about 3 or 4 hours, a lot of that time being attributed to the repetative animations of soldiers' actions, which is my only complaint about this game.

If you're looking for an armchair strategy you can rent a few times and put under your belt, this isn't for you. If you feel like spending 30 bucks on a game that's going to take you a while to get through, go for it. Don't use a gameshark, don't save the mid-battle files to a second memory card so you can cheat if you screw up. Beat this game legitamately, (as time consuming and frustrating as it might get) and when those end credits roll, it will be that much more satisfying.

Try it first.
This is not your typical game but very appealing.You might want to borrow or rent it before you purchase it.I have had many friends love it and some hate it.It's up to you but it would be wise to try it first!The gameplay can be very slow and time consuming in parts but for the most part it keeps a o.k. pace.

Weak
This is an awful game.The gameplay is really weak.I was hoping that this might be a great strategy game for the PS2, but it was a very lame action game that tries to throw in some strategy aspects and fails at both attempts.You control a group of mecs and the strategy lies in moving them around a "chess board" type landscape.The action part of the game involves you deciding when you want to shoot the other mec.Basically, a timer starts ticking, and as the seconds pass, your accuracy rating increases.If you shoot too early, you will probably miss the other mec.If you wait too long, the other mecc will hit you first and throw you off guard, resetting the accuracy gague.That's it.Finally, you top that off with the fact that there are truly awful cutscenes after every move and there is no way to bypass them.This game is a big thumbs down.

Finished feeling empty...
Ring of Red is an incredible strategy game by Konami (makers of everything from Contra on the NES to Metal Gear Solid 2 for the PS2.)This game will take well over 30-40 hours to play for you marathon gamers.I was rather unhappy with the ending for it ended abruptly.I hope Ring of Red II will come out soon to tie up the loose ends in this one.A couple things that would benefit this game would be some sort of voice dialouge, the ability to forward through the intermissions quicker, and more special abilities.All in all this was a fun game to play and an excellent strategy for the PS2.

Mechs, Military Might, and Me
Personally, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't like this game. It has everything a person needs from their interactive entertainment. This includes:
1) Nice effects that, contrary to some reviews, do manage to keep your attention. These range from the mechanized tanks themselves moving through their attack patterns, seasonal change-ups, support troops that have their own moves, and some nice looking backgrounds to accent your battles.
2) A degree of simplification in the basic controls that let the beginner play, plus the addition of higher degrees of strategy that don't allow you to bore too easily. Your vehicles, an ever increasing number of oddities meshing robots with tanks, all have specialized maneuvers such as Dodging and Punching other mechs, plus an optimum strike area. The troops further accent this, letting you add in different tactical approaches (do I want to have men equipped with homing missiles, or do I need someone to cut those lines ensnaring my legs?), thereby customizing your approach. Some even allow you to use different types of shells with your mech, allowing degrees of damage to either the enemy robots or the accompanying troops.
3) The enemies do become better as the game moves on. They start to display the ability to think somewhat, plus they develop specialized moves of their own. This is something that can be a bit of a burden, too, with combat taking lots of those 90 second slots.
Anyhow, this is only a little of what the game has to offer, and leaves out much of the story plotting, plus the nice take on post World War 2 worldwide events. If you like Mechs and military showings, this is for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Based on the original Gundam TV series, Gundam: Zeonic Front allows the player to experience the One Year War from the perspective of the Principality of Zeon. It's the year 0079, and the Zeons must fight to regain control of Earth as the Earth Federation, with its superior resources, begins taking Zeon-controlled territory one battle at a time. The player becomes the commander of a famed mobile suit company, and leads his troops in a fight for the Principality of Zeon's independence from the Earth Federation. The player commands up to three platoons in every mission, and devises his own strategy for accomplishing each objective. The abundant variety of missions, engaging story lines, and realistic battlefields make this real-time strategy game highly replayable. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

not as hard as everyone makes it seem
great game with lots of hidden levels/characters. great gameplay and lots of action. its only hard until you realize how everything works. once you do its just tons of fun. and for all of those people out there that like the federation forces...well you can unlock almost all of them including some pretty awesome gundams...any gundam fan should buy this. TONS of special features.

so so hard but very very fun
This game is one of the most difficultest game that i have but it a pretty cool and fun game!

A Bit Too Hard
I've had this game for about a year and I LOVE it! It's fun,challenging, and long. But it's a bit too hard. Like on mission 6. One hit from that mobile suit's beam rifle and BOOM! How are you supposed to fight something like that? I FINALLY got past it after about 13 tries. It's a great game, but I would have liked it more if it was a bit easier.

The Best Yet !!!
I love this game 10 out of 5 stars but I dont recomend renting this one because its a long one. Dont underestimate it if you cant get past the 6th level (THE GUNDAM one) because the real fun doesnt start until you've come across a dom. It's graphics are mind boggleing along with some tight game play, and a bitter taste of stratagy makes this one a real challenge even for a true gundam geek. I've had it for over 6 months (not includeing the 6 game rentals)and havent beaten it until a little while ago, and I think that shows you what a challenge it is learn how to set up routes or know what support is best for each specific mission. The enenmies in this one are equal to you in all aspects of the game like fire power or armor and the farther you go the the more relient your allies are of you with your skills. There are some really cool new machines like the Gundam Mudrock or the GM S-armor. So, with all of these traites I think this is the best one out there (compared to FED. vs ZEON or Journey to Jaburo.)

Mechanized, squad-based action at its best!
My little cousin gave me this game since he didn't really play it that much at all. I tried the first few levels and I was hooked. Basically, you experience the One Year War through the perspective of the Principality of Zeon. So, instead of piloting a Gundam, Guntank, or Guncannon you get to pilot the Zeon mobile suits: Zaku I, Zaku II, Gouf, and Dom. This game is kind of like "Rainbow Six", but with giant robots, so fans of that game should get this one. Anyway, you play each mission with 2 or 3 groups and each group could have up to three mobile suits, numbering up to 9 mobile suits at once! However, the safety in numbers routine won't always help, because sometimes the enemy (Earth Federation) outnumbers your team by a long-shot!

There are 13 missions in this game and almost as many training/simulation missions. Sometimes, the simulations can be more difficult than the real missions! Three of the simulations are almost impossible to beat: the first is when you must destroy the Gundam piloted by Amuro Ray. The Gundam is far too powerful to face head-on, so the best way to beat him is to make all the team members surround the Gundam or attack it all at the same time, get behind it while it faces your teammates, and take him out with a well placed bazooka shot or heat hawk slash.(Make sure that all your team leaders aren't killed in missions or you'll fail). The second hard simulation is when you have to destroy the Gouf piloted by Lieutenant Ramba Ral who is guarded by countless Zakus, Magellas, and missile turrets. The third one is when you have to destroy The Black Tri-stars piloting their Doms (which are practically unstoppable.) This game follows the Gundam series and you see how certain incidents in the series affect Zeon and your team, like the death of Captain Garma Zabi, the battles against the Trojan Horse, and the invasion of Jaburo. The gameplay is great and controlling giant mechs is certainly outstanding, so go ahead and buy this game whether you're a Gundam freak, giant robot fan, or cooperative game player. Although some missions are almost impossible, don't give up: if I can do it, you... might be able to do it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Experience the thrill of true-to-life 500cc motorcycle racing. Officially licensed from Dorna Promocion del Deporte, S.A., the sports marketing company behind the FIM World Motorcycle Championship, MotoGP 2 includes real riders, circuits, and motorcycles. With five game modes, 32 authentic bikes, and actual courses, the game captures the intensity of racing straight up against the best riders in the world. You can also take on a friend in head-to-head mode. New features include 10 tracks, updated season stats, new weather conditions, tire options, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

This game is the "Bomb""Bomb"!!!!!!
Okay....For starters I know pretty much nothing about Super-Bike racing titles,or the actual real racing season.I am pretty much a GT1/GT2/GT3/& Project Gothem fan!The only reason why I purchased Mopto GP2,was on the account of a friend of mind talked so highly of it!So..now thats out of the way, on to the review! When I recieved Moto GP2 I was totally surprised at the graphics! They were outstanding for the amount time that went from Moto GP1 to Moto GP2.The game play is simple,and has a very short learning curve(except in simulation mode,which is a lot more realalistic).There arent many options that you will find different from Moto GP1,but there are more tracks,and a cool photo display area!So,in a nut shell, this game has GT3 graphics,whith a cycle racing edge!The only reason why I gave it 4-stars instead of 5,was because of the limited diferences between the first release,and the sequeal(Moto GP2)!

This game is the Best!!
Okay....For starters I know pretty much nothing about Super-Bike racing titles,or the actual real racing season.I am pretty much a GT1/GT2/GT3/& Project Gothem fan!The only reason why I purchased Mopto GP2,was on the account of a friend of mind talked so highly of it!So..now thats out of the way, on to the review! When I recieved Moto GP2 I was totally surprised at the graphics! They were outstanding for the amount time that went from Moto GP1 to Moto GP2.The game play is simple,and has a very short learning curve(except in simulation mode,which is a lot more realalistic).There arent many options that you will find different from Moto GP1,but there are more tracks,and a cool photo display area!So,in a nut shell, this game has GT3 graphics,whith a cycle racing edge!The only reason why I gave it 4-stars instead of 5,was because of the limited diferences between the first release,and the sequeal(Moto GP2)!

The only game in town for realistic motorcycle racing on PS2
Being an avid motorcyclist (CBR600F4i) and also enjoying some casual gaming with my PS2, I perused the list of realistically-themed motorcycle racing games available for the platform and came up with a list comprised of two titles: MotoGP and MotoGP2. While there are some PSOne games available, the graphics offered just aren't up to PS2 standards; besides, I didn't buy a PS2 to play PSOne games!

That said, I think MotoGP2 is great, although it does have some shortcomings. Visually, the graphics are probably 80-85% of what Gran Tursimo 3 is, although the rain streaking on your visor in 1st-person "Wet" mode is pretty impressive. The sound effects aren't great, but they do help to indicate when you're starting to slide your tires excessively, or if another rider is right on your tail. As for the music, I personally like the techno soundtrack and don't find it anywhere near as annoying as many reviewers seem to. The Replay mode is nice, although the inability to dynamically change camera angles is inexcusable--when I'm wheelie-ing down the front straightaway, I don't want to see the onboard camera view of the sky, I want to see me and my bike in show-off glory!

As far as gameplay goes, I found it to be pretty good, although like with GT3, I find that the analog buttons of the DualShock controller are not up to the task of duplicating a smooth throttle roll-on or progressive brake squeeze, making acceleration and braking a somewhat "blippy" affair. Each of the 39 bikes available is rated based upon Top Speed, Handling, Braking, and Acceleration, but to be honest I found that they all ride identically. Similarily, when adjusting the five different settings available (Acceleration, Transmission, Wheel Size, Handling, Braking), I found no really meaningful effect.

While riding, there is no "Look back" feature to check out who's behind you, so you basically have to rely the sounds that bikes right on your tail make, or hope that your rider decides to perform a head check animation during a straightaway--these are the only indications of a pursuer that's "hot on your tail". Neither help you to perform much in the way of defending your lead, so you have to rely on pure speed and clean lines--not a bad thing, I guess, but somewhat disappointing.

I did like that you can hold down the "Action" (R2) button in conjuction with the throttle and/or brakes to perform burnouts, wheelies and stoppies--while not very useful, it's a cool touch. Also, I like that the gameplay difficulty can be tailored much better than in Gran Turismo 3. If you turn "Sim" mode on, for example, and choose Manual Transmission, it becomes quite challenging. Conversely, turn "Sim" mode off and get an Automatic Transmission, and you'll be powersliding out of turns and basically having a blast--it may not be very realistic, but it's a lot of fun, and much more rewarding (for me) than the authoritarian demands for constant precision made by GT3. After all, when I want the most realistic motorcycling experience possible, I just go ride my bike!

All in all, while I wish it were a Superbikes-themed game, I really like MotoGP2. It's just difficult enough, and has enough depth, to be entertaining and have good replay value, but it's not so difficult that you have to make a huge commitment of time to start having fun with it. And if you're a fan of motorcycle racing, or a motorcyclist, it's about as good as you're going to do with a PS2.

outstanding
This is a great game if you know a thing or two about how motorcycles function and how they can be optimized for use in a race. I find it amazingly challenging, and more than a little bit exhilarating.I also own motoGP 1, and they are very similar but two has more tracks , wet weather conditions if desired, and better depiction of gradient changes which cause the bikes to accelerate or decelerate according to whether or not the gradient increases or decreases...plus the sounds are more pronounced and the graphics are cleaner...a great game for the racing enthusiast who likes to bring the race home with him or her.

Fun but several flaws
I have to disagree with the person who wrote this is the best motorcycle game out there.That compliment belongs to EA Sport's SBK2001, no contest.However, my PC is an endless source of irritation, and having purchased the PS2 for DVDs and GT3, I decided to give Moto GP 2 a try.

One thing this game has over SBK2001 is the ability to release your inner McCoy/Haga: the game models rear-wheel steering, and the track is soon full of the blackies that result.Also, I found analog throttle control adequate; while it's a bit touchy, it's not on/off and you can fantasize it reflects the peaky torque of a 2-stroke 500. This doesn't quite make up for the rotten modeling of leaning: a slight change in direction is followed by an extreme and implausible lean angle that's so cartoony it looks spring-loaded. This is less irritating when playing in 1st-person view, but suspension of disbelief is impossible during the much-hyped replay feature.

Lowsides are pretty easy to commit, but highsides don't happen frequently enough, and when crashes happen, the physics aren't modeled well. The bike flops down and the rider falls uniformly; contrast this in SBK2001 where both bike and rider are thrown spectacularly and believably, almost as a consolation prize to the player who dumps it. Maybe because the game's bike physics are so basic, you can't bump other riders into the gravel. Again, in SBK2001, this was a great feature both for winnowing the competition and also as punishment by the other riders were you to slow down abruptly or take a bad line.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can't get a decent launch from the line in the game; everyone gets a gap on me before the first turn. In the challenge mode, I have a feeling my times are being brought down by bogged-down RPMs; still, it's more of a challenge than the license tests in GT3.

The game's sound is slightly better than an old Atari console, but not up to PS1 standard, let alone PS2. Especially annoying are the transitions: when you pass another rider, there's no gradual decay in their engine noise, it just disappears.

As I look over all my gripes, I wonder whether my 4 stars have more to do with how much I like bikes than how much I like this game. I suppose virtual apex-carving is still more satisfying on GT3, but you just can't "high-side" on the last turn of Trial Mountain (though I've come close). ... Read more

Reviews (63)

If you like movies...
If you want to star in a movie about stopping your own death, play this game.It is as if you are the star of the film.But that also means that there are many cut-scenes.These cut-scenes are very well done with great graphics, excellent music, and very dramtic.But there are those of you out there that don't liek cut-scenes at all.If this is the case for you reader, don't buy this game.

If you do love movies, and enjoy watching cut-scenes, you can't go wrong with this game.

I have played the entire game and let me tell you, it is a steal at any price.It is that good...if you like cut-scenes.

Time travel RPG
This was a good game that keeps you thinking. The story line is that something terrible has happened and you end up being able to go back in time to change events and therefore change the outcome. You get to go back to different era's such as the horse and buggy era and back to modern day. There are several endings as well depending on what you've done. You end up playing it through several times to experience the different endings. The plot of the story is good and the game has a good pace because time is an issue. So you feel like you got to stay on your toes!

A Satisfying Romp Through Time
The game Shadow of Destiny is not your typical game.This is probably the reason it is undeerrated.If you try the game you will be in for a treat.The story will pull you in as you try to figure out who your killer is and how to stop him.I had no idea who the killer was until the end and the peices came together.I also quite enjoyed how each time period had it's own "color".The color of each time is similar to looking at a picture that was taken then.

My only problems with this game is that the main character's voice is way phoney and the character models are plasticy and stiff{compared to modern standards).

The reason most people overlook this game is probably due to it being more like a choose your own adventure movie then an adventure or action game.

This Game is not for people looking for a high action blow stuff up game.To enjoy this game you must be patient with it's frequently long cinematics and pay attention to them.You will learn to love this high quality game.

Hilarious!
This game is hands down the worst I have ever played.Yet it's incredibly amusing in the same way watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 is so hilarious. The gameplay is made up of essentially watching a scene, then going to find where the next scene will occur.The dialogue in these scenes appears to be written by a fifth grader.I really can't believe something with such low quality ever got released.Still, it's funny as hell to watch, so I recommend it.

i loved it
I thought traveling back in time and saving myself as well as others was fun. I liked finding out that Homunculus was just using me and how later I found out that Eike was Margeret and Hugo's father.I liked how I had to figure out why I was getting killed. when I played it the second time I payed real close attention to who was trying to kill me. When I traveled back in time to the day before the fire started at the restaurant I found out that Hugo had started the fire with a cigarette and a peice of paper. But the first time I played it I was wondering what was happening because the fire didn't go out until later. The same thing happened with the tree and the flowers. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Jade Cocoon 2 takes place a few hundred years after the original, with a new hero named Cafu. Cafu's mind has been plagued by karma, which is driving him to insanity. Setting off with the minion he raised, he must find the four orbs that can take away his karma. Playing as Cafu, you will command over a hundred minions, and will experience a huge number of events in this 3-D adventure. The monster raising and breeding elements, which are based on the experience points that are accrued during battles, add great depth and interest to gameplay. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

This is actually Jade Cocoon 2
I love playing this game. Its consuming me. But I'm renting it and I want to own it! And by the way, its Kahu (kaw-hoo). And I did find in Game FAQs lots of info on all the levels for this game so I'm not even close to being half way.

Fun..Easy...Complex
The fact that you can have so different combinations with this game makes it playable over and over again.Name your beasts, watch them grow. Fight with them and watch them evolve. Care for them and merge them.You have four different elements to play with. Easy to learn.The menus are easy to use.Overall the game is easy to learn.But with how many different beasts you can use and how you merge them makes gives the game more depth. There also numerous side quests.

Enjoy!

Light hearted RPG with some flaws
Jade Cocoon 2 is a refreshing RPG because it does not take itself too serious.Where most RPGs are about saving the world or something else that is very serious, Jade Cocoon 2 is just fun.There are plenty of strange and humorous characters that you will meet up with.From the Sweet Knights to a professor and his little wild man, there is plenty of people to interact with.The dialogue is among the funniest that I have seen in a game, which is both good and bad.I found myself laughing out loud at creatures as they made silly threats at you when you prepared for battle.

There is a wide selection of creatures to find in the game, with some being very unique in design.They also change in appearance as they go up levels.A creature can go change twice for a total of three different looks.This is very helpful as some of their early designs are pretty silly (one is an egg with legs).One bad thing about the game is that when you merge creatures, their appearance does not change.Bummer.

The game does get a bit repetitive as most of the levels look identical and there is too many random battles.The side quests do add some value and the arena is a nice touch, but you soon grow tired of wandering around the same levels, fighting again and again.

Overall, this is a fun game that could have been much better.I like the humor and I think the characters are entertaining.The dialogue is silly, but enjoyable.I just wish there was more put into level design and more control over your creatures.Now that the game has come down in price, I think it is a good purchase.

As they say, the sequel is never as good....
The short version: Pokemon [take-off].

The detailed version:
The original Jade Coccoon is one of my favorite console games ever, along with Final Fantasy 6. When I saw an ad for JC2, I was aglow with delight. I read the reviews, I downloaded the previews and comercials, etc.

I bought the game.

I started complaining.

This is a rather sad sequel to what was a very good game. I think it's very revealing that this game was *only* released in the US, and *not* Japan, where the first was more popular. This game was designed to sell to young American kids who think Pokemon is fun, and it makes this very obvious.

The game play is OK. In JC2, Divine Beast breading is more like an industry. Some elements of the original carry over, which is neat. The portrayal of Levant a thousand years after Mahbu died is very interresting. Ra, Mu, and Kikinak are also back. I also have to ashamedly admit, I like the sassy fairy. The graphics are quite good, and the music is good.

The plot is almost non-existant. The first game delt with issues like "why does man suffer?" and the fall from grace of both Man and Spirits. The sequel deals with such thought-provoking issues as "Kahu likes girls, but they think he's a dweeb". Late in the game, there are a few points where the plot gets interresting, and there is some very good dialogue. Then, it's as if the writers thought, "Oh, no! Too much thought! We'll loose the interest of sponge-brained American children! New scene! New scene!"

For light entertainment, this game is OK. If you think Pokemon is cool, you'll probably like this game. If you want something as good as the original, the total selling-out to the Pokemon mentality will sorely dissapoint you. I was waiting throughout the game for any of the characters to use the prase, "Gotta Catch 'em All!" (Thankfully, they didn't, but I would hear it in my head every time I'd play.)

Disappointing, monotonous, not like original Jade Cocoon
I am sorry to have to say this, but this sequel to the highly entertaining and original Jade Cocoon is not only totally unlike its predecessor, but it is without doubt the single worst RPG that I have ever played. (And I did finish the game, because I didn't have the heart to stop playing the sequel to one of my favorite games without really giving it a chance.)

Why?First of all, all of the features that made Jade Cocoon fun and interesting, such as catching monsters and breeding them and coming up with totally new monsters, breeding monsters to have a variety of available attacks within one elemental power, and upgrading armor and weapons of the player character as the game progresses are TOTALLY ABSENT FROM THIS GAME.Instead of catching monsters and then breeding the monsters you catch to come up with a wide variety of different results, you have certain "Divine Beasts" (not "minions" anymore) that you hatch from eggs, and then you go and defeat a limited number of certain kalma (evil divine beasts) to get cocoons that you then PAY a FEE to merge with the beasts that you hatched from the eggs.This does not seem to affect the look of the beast or what it turns into at all.Furthermore, a beast can only have one ability in any one elemental area at a time--it cannot have more than one different earth special attack, for example.

Also--and this really bothers me--the battle system is totally different from the battle system in the original Jade Cocoon.You cannot select which enemies your beasts attack when you are fighting, if there are multiple enemies; and your beasts can only use the type of elemental attack that they are aligned with on your beast amulet.If a beast is currently on the fire side of the amulet, it can only do fire attacks--and it can only have ONE fire attack.As if having tremendously frustrating battles weren't enough, these battles are constant.You are constantly getting into stupid, very rarely avoidable little fights with the annoying little beasts that are roaming about everywhere.It is very repetetive, monotonous, and unsatisfying.Also, any battles that are supposed to be difficult are merely a matter of waiting until your enemy's MP is totally drained--then, even the bosses are ridiculously simple to beat.

Finally, there are two other major problems with this game.1. The localization is not that great.Characters say things that sound unnatural.For example, they often say, "Yow" or "Yeow" to express surprise when a more natural translation would be "Yikes" or "Wow."(This happens a lot in translating from Japanese to English, with this particular word, as you will notice if you read any mangas.Don't ask me why.)2. There is practically no plot.It is a common problem in current RPG's to have too many cutscenes, but this game goes to the opposite extreme--there are practically none.What little plot there is is simply uninteresting.

So, if you're looking for a good monster-breeding RPG, play the original Jade Cocoon.I regret to say that I would not recommend this game to anyone, especially fans of the original game. ... Read more