Features

• Conquer the short game with 3D Green Analyzer and Putting Assistant
• Tee it up on the world¿s great courses in one, incredibly real golf experience
• Includes 6 Championship and 20 classic courses from all over the world
• Customizable 3D players or create your own
• Play online faster; creating matches and tournaments is easy

Reviews (4)

Golf Simulation
An outstanding golf simulation with a varity of swing choices. Personally, I recommend the realtime swing as the closest simulation of an actual golf swing with all the faults found in true golf swing inconsistentcies.As is the case with any simulation, various charts can be developed which make game scores unrealistically low compared to the actual game, even when played by the finest golfers in the world.This simulation, however, does provide a skill level of play which depends more on practice and feel for particular golf shots than can be found in the more mechanical click type simulated golf swings.This skill level is not for the faint of heart and will not be mastered in a few short hours of play.

Great Golf Sim but PC Tweaks Required
I've been playing computer golf for over a decade, from "Mean 18", to all of the "Links" versions from Access (bought by Microsoft). This latest game is temperamental, and it does require some adjusting and experimenting with your PC settings to get the game running properly. You can find information at many "Links" websites, including Links Tour Forums, for tweaking your video card, etc. The game play and graphics are terrific once your system is adjusted. There are many free tournaments available each week from Microsoft "Online" Tours. You can play while online or offline (your choice), and you have a week to compete in many tournaments. This is a great non-violent game, that requires practice and patience. Many players use charts for various course conditions when chipping, putting, or driving. There are three wind conditions, and nine green conditions. Twenty courses come with the latest version of Links 2003, and many more are available as free online downloads. Get the game, get your graphics card adjusted, and have fun.

boring
this game is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo boring and inaccurate. If you want a fun golfing expeirience, get 3d Ultra Mini Golf and definetly not this game. this has to be the worst sports game ever. When I first got it, I had for about 2 hours. Than I burned it.i had wasted [...]!!!!!! I hate this game!!!!!! It is an F---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you get this game you are a moron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crash after Crash
I have not been able to play the game once without having a problem with my computer crashing.I have tried this game on 3 different computers and experienced the same problem.The versions of the operating systems varied between the computers, but it did not make any difference.

The game play was good, but the crashes eliminated any fun. ... Read more

Product Description

For newcomers, the interactive Training mode allows you to easily familiarize yourself with the sport of rugby as well as the video game itself. When youre ready bust out of Training mode and make a run for the 6 Nations and European Cup or take on teams in the Super 12. With a new look and feel, the time to master the sport of rugby is NOW. ... Read more

Features

• Visual Improvements: Rugby 2005 shares the look and feel of all EA SPORTS franchises, integrating the highest visual quality and standards. To that end Rugby 2005 features new player models, including Star Heads for the top 100 players, and new and improved full-motion videos demonstrating the big tackles, high emotions, and key plays associated with the game. These visual improvements deliver a hard-hitting experience rugby fans are accustomed to.
• Training Mode: It is important to not only learn the game controls, but the rules governing the sport as well. To help you become an expert at Rugby 2005, and to help experts become even better, several new features in Training mode have been introduced including Rugby 101 interactive training movies that outline the rules, controls, and advanced tactics. Training Pitch has also been added offering challenge-based training drills using advanced controls, as well as a "Get in the Game" tutorial
• Broadcast Presentation: New camera angles, commentators, and full-motion video, plus authentic crowd noise, in-game sound effects, and enhanced replay control all come together to help produce a game that creates a look and feel of a live TV broadcast. This immerses players in the atmosphere of the game, while seamlessly integrating the commentary into the flow of play.gh a pick up-and-play orientation.
• Updated User Control and Gameplay: Rugby 2005 features unprecedented control over every aspect of the sport, enabling casual rugby fans to pick up and play the game. The controls allow more opportunities for high-impact collisions, plus the chance to better avoid tackles and break into the open field. In an effort to provide the most realistic game on the market, Rugby 2005 introduces the ability to continue play after missed goal kicks, just like in real rugby matches.
• Enter the Creation Zone: Play in the game you have always wanted to play at the professional level with the stars of rugby at your side. The Creation Zone allows you to create players based on their own likenesses, classic players of the game, or any other characters you wish to place in Rugby 2005.

Reviews (7)

great game with no online
i bought the game assuming it had online, without looking for the little stripe that says XBOX live enabled, i only play the single player in sports games anymore to get a feel for new controls and learning to use new moves, so im not as bad as i am in MVP for example. If you buy games for online play, then this would be the game to get, if it was online enabled d: /

Watch me mates go for a try!!!!!!!
This is a fun game!!---- I was familiar with rugby to a degree before I purchased the game, but I learned some new rules to the game. The side out is very important in the game and the computer AI seems kick it every time when they start on offence, thus slowing down the general flow of the game. I know that this would be the proper gameplan but the computer opponent does it every time!! Another gripe I have is the extreme speed the players move at. This might make the gameplay exciting, but it takes practice to pass to ball and to kick. The kicking of the drop kick is especially tough, because I like to play the game with the sideline view mode on--like a tv broadcast-- You thus, have no way to aim the ball for the drop-kick.

This game is unique because it is something different from the familiar baseball, foootball-basketball video game routine we get here in the states. If you want to have any chance to win a game--- pick England or New Zealand as your team, otherwise you will get beat bad. These teams have the best rankings.

I tried the created player mode and this was fun. You can give him speed and He would sprint like jesse owens down the field and make the try. The New Zealand and Scottish broadcasters with their accents were fun to hear. The scrum feature in the game is fun, but it seems to to vary from time to time in its difficulty.

One annoying feature of the game is that every time you want to play a new game after turning the game on--you have to go through the tutorial of the game--all over again-- how to pass how to kick,etc.

P.S!!!! -pick the New Zealand All-Blacks as your team and watch the Maori war chant the team will perform before the match. This is worth the price of the game!!!

Aside from these few gripes this is a unique, fun game--Highly recommended!!!

From Someone Who Knew Nothing of Rugby
I have to admit, right off the bat, that I knew very little to nothing about rugby before buying this game. That's half the reason I bought it, really. I can't stand not knowing how to play a sport.

So I bought the game, knowing nothing about the sport, and I'm pleasantly surprised. The introduction to the game is fairly good. Being as I'm entirely a beginner, I made use of the Rugby 101, and within a few hours I understood the game. I'm sure I don't have everything down yet, but it's quite easy for a newcomer to the sport to play and enjoy this game.

The engine runs well, and the graphics are superb. Another great sports game from EA Sports.

Better than anything else out there but still....
OK so this is a major step up from the last Rugby game that was available.
Pros - All the teams are here
The game looks right and the scrums/rucks and mauls operate reasonably well.
Lots of depth to tournaments etc
Cons - Poor "real" play at times. If you are used to quick rucking you can scare off the backs by passing the ball back too fast and they will run away from the ball.(like in real life ;))Also the scrum half can pass the ball directly 40-50 yards into the endzone if the backs arent "looking". If you run sideways enough you can avoid getting tackled. In a real game thats not going to happen. Also kicking on the fly is pretty temperamental.
Also what is the bias for England and NZ being the strongest teams by 7-8 points better than everybody else. Last World Cup England only won by a drop goal at the end of OT. Since then they have lost more games than they won. There needs to be more parity among the top teams.
But all in all its not a bad game and needs improvement but for a evening in with the lads and a few beers it will definitely pass the time.

Fun Rugby Game!
I must say that I disagree with the previous poor review of this game.I have had it for a few weeks, and think it's great FUN!You can play the usual Super 12 and World League games...build your squad from scratch...edit players.The commentary is nice.The in-game music is quite nice with a decent variety of songs.The level of realism is good and the AI provides a good challenge.

Overall, this is a fun game that should satify any rugby junkies quick fix. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Shanghai: Second Dynasty extends its tile-matching puzzle and traditional Mah-Jongg game empire with 10 new and classic games. Pair up tiles as fast as lightning in Classic Shanghai, battle and build in Dynasty, and try to predict the ever-changing winds in the all-new Windstorm. Plus, enjoy four versions of the genuine, four-player game of Mah-Jongg. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Limited XP Compatibility
Obviously, this program is one of the best of the Activision Shanghai family variants available for the PC, being the most recent and offering the greatest variety of options over the other versions.Indeed, the WindStorm variant itself is so unique as to have breathed new life back into mahjongg tile games in general!
However, I find that when this program is installed into Windows XP Home or Professional on a system which has a typical built-in sound card...there seems to be no background music available!Sound effects are present as normal under Windows XP.Clicking on 'Sounds & Music' under the "Preferences" tab causes a lock-up which can be resolved using the Task Manager to end the program.It may be possible to run this program under Windows XP with full compatibility if a sound card is utilized which closely represents one which was an industry standard when the game first came out (late 90s).Using the same system, this program runs well under Windows 95/98/ME, with no problems observed with either background music or sound effects.

Not for the iMac
After installing the Shanghai software on my iMac, I was unable to get the game to play.I have no trouble with the games software I buy from the stores, so I don't know why this one wouldn't work.The software in the stores is also cheaper.I was very unhappy with this product.

Not for the G4
Shanghai has been one of my favorite games. My biggest pet peeves about this version is the lack of a tutorial and software incompatability. Buyer beware, this game has compatability issues with OS 9 and any system higher than 266 MHz. I played it on my older iMac (266MHz), and it ran great. But when I tried to play it on my brand new G4, the game froze repeatedly.
Dynasty II not only offers new games and layouts, but new tile sets as well. My favorites were the monster and the space sets. I tried out the different levels such as the Pandemonium, in which you play with three computerized players. That overwhelmed me, but some of you may enjoy this level immensely. Overall, I would recommend this game despite its touchiness.

A nice package!
This software includes several entertaining solitaire and two-player versions of various tile-matching "Shanghai" games, as well as a very playable implementation of the traditional 4-player Mah Jongg, with Chinese, Japanese, Western, and American-style scoring.(It even comes with a AMJA playing card for the year 2000.)All the games include lots of options to customize play, but one thing you cannot do is play 4-player Mah Jongg with two real people vs. two AI players.

All in all, a great value.

SHANGHAISCORESA BULLSEYE!
This video game is a winner! Having played "Shanghai: Great Moments" for years, when I recently upgraded my PC, I thought that I would upgrade the game. I put "Shanghai: Second Dynasty"on my wish list, and, sure enough, my son bought it for me for my birthday. Am I glad that he did! The difference is like night and day. The graphics are more sophisticated and there are more games and variations. There definitely have been improvements. This is a great game! It is also suitable for children, as it can be put into a kid's mode, as well, providing hours of entertainment for the entire family.

"Shanghai: Second Dynasty" containsten new and classic games, with fifty four tile sets, and one hundred and forty three layouts. Those of you who love Mah-Jonng or other tile matching games will love this one. You can play alone, against the computer, or online. You can even customize the tile sets. Let the buyer beware, however, as this game is highly addictive. Enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars 2002 lets you hurtle around the track at speeds in excess of 170 mph as you experience jaw-dropping graphics, realistic physics, and boundless white-knuckle action. You can compete on 12 real-world tracks from the World of Outlaws racing circuit and race as one of 24 official World of Outlaws drivers. The graphics are based on the award-winning Ratbag Difference Engine. Modes include single race, championship, and career. The game features spectacular collisions, damage modeling, and screaming 3-D directional sound, plus exclusive World of Outlaws driver interviews, racing footage, and DVD extras. ... Read more

Features

• Race as one of 24 drivers around 12 tracks at speeds over 170 MPH
• Choose from single race, championship, and career modes
• Enjoy screaming 3-D directional sound
• Unlock racing footage and other extras as you play
• For 1 player

Reviews (44)

DIRT TRACKIN' FOREVER!
WOW,This game is awesome. Hell with NASCAR, Dirt is where its at!
Power sliding thru the turnsand pulling wheelies down the straights makes this game the best racing one i've ever played. Can't stop playing it.Hope RATBAG makes future games with sprints or modifieds with guys like Pauch, Horton, Hearn, Brightbill, etc.....

Why I bought PS2
I am a big fan of "The World of Outlaws" and when I heard this game was coming out I went out and bought a PS2.I have yet to get tired of this game, endless fun and the best career mode to date.

The most intense racing game I've ever played!!
This was received as a Christmas gift back in December 2003, with the impression from the giver it wouldn't be received too well.Being a dirt track racing addict, having played Dirt Track Racing on Windows 98 by Ratbag, which this, in addition to Dirt Track Racing 2, must be made for a Playstation 2 (hint, hint) to keep the other dirt track addicts at bay; this game has every element a racing gamer demands.The graphics are outstanding, realistic sounds of the announcer, engine revving, crowd noises, options being numerous, and I just can't stop playing it.If your thumbs aren't calloused and numb, forgetting how to blink your eyes, and experiencing sharp pains in your palms, arms and your lower left side of your body because of the "leaning left syndrome" after a couple of hours of racing your custom sprint car, then this isn't the game for you.Racing games are supposed to be just as white knuckled induced as the real thing and this fits the bill.I can't describe how incredible this game really is. It's so good that I haven't even opened my other Playstation 2 games yet. You have to try it yourself, either by renting it first before you purchase it or buy it outright, to be a true believer as myself.So, you'd better get it now before it becomes obsolete and hard to find.

WoO Fun
I love this game its fun and easy to control the car. I own the PC version first and think of the two this is the best. the people at RatBag did a great job at this game. Real tracks, real stars, real fun.

Best game ever
Being a passionate race fan and driver of a dirt track stock car I have good experience and judgement to compare any race game too. This game is the closest to real life experience I have ever had. I literally haven't taken the game out of the machine since I bought it (8 months ago) and don't plan to until they release another Sprint Car or Dirt Stock Car game. (Hopefully with online capabilities) If you are a race fan or race participant at any level you must have this game. You will be blown away. GT3 doesn't come close. ... Read more

Product Description

MODEL- 80703VENDOR- ACTIVISION FEATURES- DreamWorks Shark TaleBehind every little fish is a great white lie. In the murky depthsof the ocean, the fate of Reef City lies in the fins of one littlefish...at least that's what he wants you think. Dive in to theurban, underwater metropolis of Shark Tale and play as Oscar, afast-talking fish whose little fib gets him into big trouble. Basedon the upcoming DreamWorks animated feature, Shark Tale features 25funky fresh missions ripped straight from the film, the hottesthip-hop tracks from your favorite artists and more exhilaratinggameplay variety than any other movie game in the reef. * Explore: Groove through Reef City with Oscar and explore locations likethe Whale Wash, the Sunken Liner and the underwater underworld hideout,Seahorse Race Track. * Race: Careen through the coral at break-fin speed on the back of afriendly taxi fish. Beat your opponent while dodging traffic and fendingoff menacing great white sharks! * Fight: Bust some serious Fish Fu in challenging fighting sequences. Flexyour fins, talk some smack and fillet your opponent with tail slaps, headbutts and dazzling combo attacks. * Dance: Get those fins up and boogie down. Win over Reef City residentsand garner the affections of your favorite ladyfish with your stylin'hip-hop dance moves. * Don't just talk big...swim big. Get in the game and prove you got what ittakes to out-fin the evil Great Whites and become Reef City's greatesthero. -- SPECIFICATIONS --------------------ESRB Rating : E for Everyone Genre/Category: Action/Adventure System: Nintendo GameBoy Advance Number of Players :Compatible Peripheral : Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theActivision 80703 - Shark Tales GBA and all other Activision Video Game Handheld Soft ... Read more

Features

• The Only Game That Lets You Relive the Shark Tale Film and Beyond: --Play as Oscar, the fish with more of "it" than any other lead character--he is a smooth talking extrovert who exudes humor and a quirky sense of confidence. --Relive story locations as well as unique environments and situations in more than 25 adventure-packed missions. --Movie inspired and licensed music.
• Shark Tale Delivers More Variety of Gameplay Than Any Other Movie-inspired Game --Adventure - Experience Reef City first hand from working at the Whale Wash, sneaking through the Sunken Liner to exploring Oscar's gritty neighborhood. --Race - Careen through a bustling underwater metropolis dodging traffic, buildings, and bridges; smashing signs, boxes, and crates as you attempt to outrace your opponent. --Fight - Never-before-seen fighting moves including smack talk, "Fish Fu", tail slaps, fin
• Experience the Hip Culture of Reef City --Captures the vibe of the movie through a combination of original and licensed R&B / hip-hop music from classic & current artists. --Game features boogie down and get funky gameplay where players must mix and match dance moves and follow a stream of fast-paced/directed commands. --Lets players interact with the urban environments of Reef City.

Reviews (5)

A Fun Fish Game
My 5 year old son Nat has the following to say about Shark Tale, "It is a great gift from my Mom to me. It is a fun toy and I like to play with it."

Oh boy....
This is what I think of the game...BLAHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that that's out of the way, I can tell you all about this video game. You get to play as Oscar, the fish and do nothing but work at the Whale Wash, swim and fight a really nice shark that has a problem with killing animals like Oscar. Oscar doesn't need the title, Shark Slayer!! Anyway I can't tell you how a story about rapping fish came to be a video game. I mean Finding Nemo the video game wasn't that bad, but they made a really bad movie into an even worse video game. That is all.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Why would this game have a cute little fishy in it? This game though is pretty good. You get to play as Oscar, the "cute little fishy" and do some hip hop YO! You dance, but ya don't prance. You also get to kick some shark butt which is pretty cool. GET THIS GAME AND DON'T LISTEN TO THE OTHER REVIEWS!

BEST MOVIE EVER!
Like oh my gosh! the movie is like so cool and so like is this game!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's about a cute little fishey swims and dances like every. Well he would like swim because he's a cute wittle fishey

Bad Movie and a Bad Game
When I saw the movie, I thought it was very bad so I almost instantly knew that this was going to be a bad game. So instead of buying it I rented it! I thought it was very boring.
DON'T BUY IT RENT THIS GAME!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Revisit the world of Myst like you've never seen it before. For the first time, the surreal world of Myst can be experienced in full 3-D. Swaying trees and independently roaming animals add life to the formerly static Myst worlds. The realMYST game includes the complete original Myst game, along with an all-new fifth age, called the Rime Age, which provides a complete ending to the original mystery.

For those unfamiliar with Myst, it is one of the primary reasons your computer has a CD-ROM drive. CD-ROM drives didn't really catch on as must-have components until Myst debuted in 1993. Since then, the game has sold more than 9 million copies and still appears on bestseller charts.

The realMYST game takes place in a beautiful, interactive virtual world. The player must solve puzzles and roam magical realms filled with archaic technology in order to solve an ancient mystery. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

BUYING TIP!!!
This game was a lot of fun but a little short compared to the other Myst games. Riven is perhaps the best of the Myst series but I have yet to play Revelation. You can buy this game new and cheaper just about anywhere. And if you still have no luck, try Ebay. This game also works for Windows XP!!! Some people have had a little trouble with it but just make sure you download the patch which can be found at ubisoft.com. I played RealMyst on XP with no trouble. Good luck and ENJOY!

Very cool game!
I think this version of Myst was awesome! The graphics rock!

realMyst
Not as good as the other two, but definitely worth playing. The Rime age is AMAZING. It makes the whole thing worth playing. The Selenetic Age is another of my favorites. I was also a little disappointed because almost nothing happens at the end, but, thank goodness, there's a sequel. VERY nice graphics.

A nice way to revisit MYST.
You can see all of the other reviews for the details. What I'll tell you is that if you didn't like MYST, there is no reason realMYST will change your mind. Despite a SERIOUS makeover, it's the same game.
realMYST is for those of us who liked the original and want to revisit the game in a new way. The original Myst runs terribly on my newer machine. So even when I feel like playing it, even if to only walk around on the islands, it becoms a pain.
This new version runs great. So if you have a machine that can handle it (by now you prob. do)and liked MYST, I would suggest you get this game .

Good, but not as good as the other 2
I started the Myst games with Exile, and worked my way down to Myst, Real Myst.
I won't tell you the story, (you've probably heard it from all the other reviews anyway) because discovering the story, and whats going on is half the fun!
But i have to tell you that i love, and i mean love Riven and Exile, and i thought that RealMyst would be awesome, but i couldn't help but be dissapointed. Its not the full 3d format, some people would call that annoying, but i don't think its that bad, but its just that the ages aren't half as incredible as in Riven and Exile, and the game in general is just not as good as the sequels. Maybe its just because i basicaly knew the storyline before i played it. But whatever it was i just didn't find it as good as the others.
And by the way to returning Myst fans, the new Rime age is a big dissapointment, its so small!
Anyway, its worth the price, but just letting you know that its not all that.
And if you haven't played a myst game DON'T READ THE STORYLINE! Discovering the story detective like is half the fun. And that goes for all myst games. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Birth of the Federation is the first PC CD-ROM strategy game based on the rich Star Trek, universe! Forged from the cultures, time lines, events, and technologies of the hit TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation, this turn-based epic emphasizes resource management, combat, and diplomacy. Control one of five major alliances: Federation, Klingon, Romulan, Ferengi, or Cardassian, each with its own set of abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Encounter over 30 exotic races. And beware, there lurks the potential for a Borg invasion--threatening all players! ... Read more

Reviews (35)

good game for trekkers
This game is very good for Star Trek fans.the multiplayer abilities make this game something special.One drawback is the micromanagement and slow speed for larger galaxies.Overall a very good strategy game.

Warning: this game is a time eater!
This game was the first turn-based strategy game I ever owned. My roomate played Master of Orion 2, but I never got into it because it seemed like it had a high learning curve and seemed kind of boring. However, as a Star Trek fan I heard of this game and somehow got a copy of it cheap from an auction site way back when (good luck doing THAT now. My original copy shattered in my CD drive and I was SHOCKED to see how much an original copy of this game is going for. Microprose would do a lot of business by re-releasing this sucker). The learning curve here was steep as well, but the tutorial and a highly-recommended walkthrough on the Internet written by Cadillace helped me to get the hang of it (if you're interested in this game, look this walkthrough up; it is better than the manual or the so-called "official" strategy guide). After that, I was hooked.

The basic plot of the game is simple. You choose one of 5 Star Trek TNG empires; the Federation, the Klingons, the Romulans, the Ferengi, or the Cardassians, and TRY TO TAKE OVER THE GALAXY! This is easier said than done, since whichever galactic power you choose, the other 4 will be there with the same aims as you. Each galactic power has its own distinct style and game display appearance, special abilities and weaknesses in both technology, intelligence, research, diplomacy and ships. The game parameters are highly variable, and no one game is the same; thus replay value is pretty high. Overall, it is a tossup between the Federation and the Romulans when it comes to picking the best empire to play as, followed by the Klingons, Cardassians and Ferengi (in that order). The Federation have some of the more powerful ships (and the greatest number of ship types to choose from) with strong shields and armor, good diplomacy with most minor races, great research capabilities and decent starting cash. Their negatives include a really liberal and cheese-eating population, so doing what you need to do to win, like subduing and bombing planetary systems, will piss them off. You'll have to be judicious in massaging their moods, and it won't be to your advantage to subjugate minor races. Also, their initial intel setup is attrocious and will need major upgrading once you meet the Cardassians and/or Romulans. However, with time and maybe a few minor races, you'll be able to hold your own with those guys. The Romulans are very good or decent in all categories, but they don't hold the top points in any. They have decent diplomacy and research but not as good as the Feds; they have very good intel but the Cardassians have a slightly better initial setup; all of their warships cloak and thus have a free attack in any fight where they are cloacked from the beginning; however their warships are also the flimsiest in the game and need that cloak in order to survive. It takes a lot of ships to attack a protected system, but at least you can choose between subjugation or diplomacy, your population doesn't care as long as you're not losing. The Klingons are warlike and have really tough ships, some of which cloak. Declare war often and win, you'll be fine. Intel, research and diplomacy are not their fine points...The Cardassians have the toughest ships with the heaviest armor which can fire from pretty much all directions; however they have the smallest set of ships to choose from and their ships are also the slowest. Don't even try to use diplomacy unless you have a whole lot of money; if you want to play as an evil empire then the Cardies are the ones to use. It may come back to haunt you though...And the Ferengi, although they have the most powerful warship in the game, are still very tricky to play and you don't get that warship until you've achieved much research. What you do have is cash, tons of it, and the sooner you learn to handle it, the sooner you can whack those who underestimate you.

Other factors influencing game play include:
A)Minor races with varying special structures that can aid your empire. You can either sweet-talk/bribe these races to join your mighty empire, or you can swoop in and force them to join your mighty empire. You can play the game without them, but it won't be as interesting. Diplomacy relates your empire to both the minor and major empires.
B) Random events. These can be turned on or off. If you're a beginner then start with them turned off, but once you've gotten the hang of the game they can add a bit more excitement to the game. These events can be sometimes good, mostly bad. Good random events include positive planet shifts say from desert to Oceanic(increasing population and allowing construction of various structures). Bad random events include (but are not limited to) negative planet shifts, earthquakes and plagues, warp anamolies, and various alien creatures wandering the galaxy and interacting negatively with your ships and planetary systems. The worst alien creature you may encounter are the dreaded Borg. A Borg cube can assimilate a system in at least 5 turns, and when a system is assimilated a new cube is formed which begins assilating elsewhere, and so on. You better have a huge fleet to blow them away Admiral...

There are two ways you can win and you choose the conditions at the game's beginning. You can either win by domination (control 60% of the galaxy by yourself, or 75% if you are in an alliance with another major power) or by vendetta (where you have to wipe out two of the major empires who are your blood enemies). Whichever you choose, strategy is quite important. Know when to fight, when to make peace, and be ready at all times. Also, when starting the game, you can choose from 5 technology levels to begin at. Level 1 is pre-warp stage with only your home planet developed and all your research tech levels at 1 (out of 10). The other extreme is level 5 where you have all your tech levels at 8 (out of 10), all your home planets developed, and 2 advanced colonies adjacent to your home system. It is best to play from level 5, it gives you the best chance to win against the computer and your aim is to end up with higher levels anyway.


Issues with the game involve memory hogging, slow and jerky motion as the game progresses, frequent crashing, and the cheating of the computer players.

This game got me interested in other turn-based strategy games, and so far I have Star Wars rebellion (a much steeper curve than this game, i still do not know how to play it), MOO2 (seems interesting, still trying to figure it out) Space Empires IV and MOO3 (haven't gotten to play them yet). So far, i still recommend BOTF. Check it out if you can find it.

Tough to get the hang of
I received this game as a second-hand gift from a friend, who told me he was having too much trouble understanding it. I was able to figure it out, but I've played Civs 2 and 3, so I'm used to this game format. Overall, it's a fun game, though I have yet to actually win. Also, some of the technilogical advancements are pretty bland, with level increases being denoted by number (automated farms 6 as opposed to automated farms 5, etc.) Ship level increases are similarly uncreative (increased with the "II" denominator). Not a bad game, but I'm told it's expensive.

Same Game Different Name
This is a good game, don't get me wrong.I think it is an entertaining game.It is just so much like Civilization, Masters Of Orion, and Star Wars Rebellion.

Slash77
In its day this was ok, but graphics are not really state of the art and in retrospect too complex with little action. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

One of two new Zelda games for the Game Boy Color, TheLegend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages is geared towards the cerebralgamer, with its heavy focus on puzzle solving. The Triforce has alertedLink to trouble in the land of Labrynna, where the evil sorceress Veranhas possessed Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. Veran travels back in time,setting up events that lead to a world where evil dominates. It's up toyou to help Link stop Veran and set things straight.

Game mechanics and menus are similar to those found inLink'sAwakening, also for the Game Boy. As in almost every Zeldagame, you have to traverse eight dungeons and find eight key items. Theharp of time is vital to your quest--it's required to manipulate eventsand stop Veran's rewriting of history.

Although this game is extremely enjoyable on its own, you'll want touse it in conjunction with its sister title:Oracle ofSeasons. After you complete one game, you'll be given apassword that lets you begin with all your items, statistics, andprogress intact in the other. Certain characters will appear only byplaying both games. By using a link cable, players can trade items.Game Boy Advance users will find a store that's exclusive to them.

While this is an excellent game, it might be too complicated foryounger gamers or those looking for mindless fun. --Raymond M.Padilla

Pros:

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

• Lots of reused sound effects from previous Zelda games
• Longtime gamers might find the story and level design contrived
• Be prepared for many puzzle-induced headaches

Reviews (103)

Best game ever
This game is awesome beyond all of the zelda series.It has a excellent story line and is perfect,.

Legend of Zelda:Oracle of Ages.......
One thing I absolutely despise about alot of Gameboy games, anymore, is how you have to buy them in twos just to be able to finish them. Such is the case with Legend of Zelda:Oracle of Ages & Oracle Seasons.Originally planned as a trilogy, this two-part adventure is exceptionally good which is why I highly recommend that you add them to your collection.
It all begins in Oracle of Ages. Veran(The Sorceress of Shadows) kidnaps Nayru(The Oracle of Ages). Because Link feels directly responsible for her kidnapping(as you find out while playing the game), he sets out to find her and save her. With the Harp of Ages, he travels between the past and present meeting familiar faces (some of which you'll recognize from Ocarina of Time)in his effort to make things right. That's when the storyline deepens and the fun truly begins. Rest assured, though, he's not alone in this one. Along the way, he enlists the help of Moosh, Dimitri, and Ricky.
Out of two games, in my opinion- this is the harder game of the two...but the most rewarding. I think Capcom did an outstanding job with their first effort in the Zelda series and I hope Nintendo continue to let them develop future installments for the Gameboy and the Gameboy Advance.
Again, I highly recommend you add these games to your collection. They're awesome.

The series just get better with every new game!!!!
I like Ages because it has lots of puzzles. I love puzzles better than fighting, so I chose this game as a favorite beacuse the storyline is really clear and has great sounds and graphics. I'm not saying Seasons is bad, though. The best part in when you link up, because you really get more out of your games. I would recommend Ages to anyone that loves puzzles.

ZELDA ROCKS
I have ALWAYS LOVED Zelda, and this is one of thebest of their games so far! I couldn't stop playing it!

Zelda almighty
It is surprising how every new Zelda game is fresh and distinct in its own ways, yet still maintains the Zelda charm. Oracle of Ages does just that. It takes the tried and true system of Link's Awakening and adds new gameplay, weapons, abilities, and increasingly clever (and often times difficult) puzzles. Come to think of it, this is probably the best Zelda on Game Boy. It's a little easier than Oracle of Seasons, which is good, and it has much more zest to it than Link's Awakening did. Of course, it has its problems AS A GAME BOY GAME, but the Zelda Game Boy series seems almost entirely separate from other consoles. And in that sense, Oracle of Ages is a must have. Ideal for those long, weary vacations. ... Read more

Product Description

NFL Street 2 ... Read more

Features

• New High-Flying FootballSky 15 feet high to make off-the-wall catches, up-the-wall passes, wall hurdles, and endzone dives, or pull off jukes like a wall-runnin football ninja.
• Seven New Game ModesNew challenges await around every corner as seven games including Crush the Carrier are unveiled for the fi rst time in any football game.
• New Own the City ModeCreate your player, master new skills, and hit the streets. Recruit the best players as you build a rep and dominate the competition. Take over new neighborhoods and defend your turf until you Own the City. Build your player to legendary status and import him into Madden NFL 2006!
• Claim Your TerritoryPerform wall moves on key areas of every fi eld to unlock new NFL legends and gain additional Style points.
• Football with an All-New StyleAdd even more style to your game by making no-look, one-handed grabs, dive tackles, button-mash ball strips, and new to any footballgame: hurdle wraps and run-specifi c defensive line moves. If you really want to rub it in, celebrate that winning score with one hand as you make a mid-air snatch with the other.

Reviews (7)

Blitz Mania
Since the 1990's, Midway has been the one surprising dominant company with fantasy football games. With the status of NFL Blitz in the arcades, it brought a whole new meaning to the terms touchdown, by bringing out outrageous fantasy stadiums, and moves you couldn't make in real football. Yet, since then many companies have tried to make fantasy football comeback to life. Well, EA Sports, the makers of the NBA Street games have done that very well with the status of bringing football to the streets. They did it quite well with the NFL Street game, and the sequel which just came out has gotten better than before.

NFL Street 2 for the Nintendo Gamecube, works just as well as the status of the previous game. The game consists of 10 crazy football courts and 2 hidden ones to unlock, where tackles are just a welcoming party. Of course, you can play regular football, or any amount of mini games like 4 on 4, sudden death touchdown, and others as well. You can also take it to the streets by perfecting your skills, and creating a wild and outrageous football team of your own. The game includes some great unlockables, as well as some excellent hidden teams like NFL Legends and others.

The graphics are amazing and the feeling of the game is just spectacular. The songs here fall into place just like the previous Street games, by featuring complements of Rap & Hip Hop as a dominant domain for music. The control is also very easy to adapt to, when you've mastered several moves, and pick-ups that teach you how to win at the game, but for those who've played the previous NFL Street game, or any other fantasy football game might feel that this is second nature.

All in all, NFL Street 2 is a spectactular football game for all pigskin players alike. This is surely a great game if you're playing with others, and fair by yourself. This is definitely a great game, and one of the best sports games for the Nintendo Gamecube.

Graphics: A

Sound: B+

Control: B 1/2+

Fun & Enjoyment: A- with a partner, B+ if you are playing solo

Overall: B+

Cool Nfl Street 2!
This is the best game in life. You should play this game.I even made a player with my last name.One more thing I can beat Crush the Carrier.YEAHH!The music is very cool!

One of the best sports games ever!!!
Let me begin by saying that I'm not a big fan of sport video games, but this whole Street sport series is awesome. I haven't been able to put this game down since I started playing with it. The player development is very good, and the game becomes very challenging after a while. I have but one complaint: The fact that the player cannot review the stats for incomming players to the team until after you've chosen to add a the player to the team, and when you chose, you can't go back on your decision. Other than that, this games ROCKS!!!

Nfl Street 2 is so COOL!
This game is so cool I made a player but I just rented the game.But I want the game for me.

not that good
I have played this game for a long time. In the own the street campaign you can do everything,but when they ask you to pick a player from the other team of a pickup game you have no idea what their stats are. So you just have to hope their good or you will be forced to get a medeorcre player for an outstanding one. This games songs are also always repeating you might play the game 4 times and hear the same song about 5 time. I give this game's graphics a 95 out of 100. I give its soundtrack a 43 out of 100. I give its gameplay 85 out of 100. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

A collection of seven games in the classic King's Quest PC game by Roberta Williams. Also includes several bonus games. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

you can get it cheaper
you canbuy kings quest 15th anniverary with games 1 through 6 much cheaper and then purchase kings quest 7 separately much cheaper

I need help playing my King's Quest on XP
I got the King's Quest Colection Series a while back, only paid 30 bucks for it so I see that I am lucky :-), anyways, I LOVE these games but I just got a new computer with XP and all that and now I can't play the games!! I read in a review below that it is possible to play them, I just have to turn my compatibilty back to Windows 95 but I looked and can not find that anywhere! Someone PLEASE help me with this because I absolutely LOVE these games and want to play them now... Please Email me at kel192004@yahoo.com with any information. Thanks everyone!

Getting Hard To Find
For those of you criticizing the prices here on Amazon for this amazing collection i find it kind of funny. Most of you (myself included) have no problem plopping down 50 bucks for a new game but when it comes to the greatest collection of games EVER released including the first 7 Kings quest games, and a remake of the first 1 - with better graphics only available in this collectionas well as a host of other classic adventure games and other bonuses to numerous to list 100 bucks or so starts to sound like a bargain - and believe me you probably wont save any money on ebay on this one - hard to find is a gross understatement. (Supply and demand)

I have my copy and i love it.

You can run games on XP
I won't bother repeating how wonderful ALL of the games are, because everyone has either said it or already knows it. I am writing this in response to the review that says you cannot run it on XP- you can. You must change the compatibility settings to windows 95. Right click, and go to properties. You will see the compatibility tab.Just change the settings to windows 95 and check all the boxes.

Great ride but not worth the price of admission
The Kings Quest collection is, in my opinion, the best adventure series ever but these prices that the people are selling them at are utterly and stupidly ridiculous! Now as far as the games are concerned, EVERY game in the series is great and awesome there really isn't a bad game in the whole series and the way each game connects from the last is done perfectly and brilliant. I think the best way to describe this series is like playing a awesome novel that always keeps ahold of your attention. Now as far as the price concerns obviously these greedy jackasses are asking for WAY too much. Mainly because these games are meant to be played on older systems, KQ 1-4 are DOS games and KQ 5-7 were designed for WIN 3.1. I have a Pentium II processor and run WIN98SE and I sometimes have problems running KQ 5-7 so I could imagine this collection wouldn't work too well if at all on more modern systems. Even if you do have an older computer and want to purchase this collection you could find it for alot cheaper on ebay (little hard to find but be patient there's usually someone selling it.) So to summarize, Awesome, kick ass, rocking games but overpriced by greedy jackasses so check Ebay. ... Read more

Product Description

Madden returns for another season of big hits, amazing plays, dramatic comebacks and in-your-face football action with Madden NFL 2005. Pick your team and begin a quest for the Super Bowl. Build the ultimate team and hold it together for many seasons to make a NFL dynasty. Develop players in training camp, pick up playmakers in free agency, or make your own stars with create-a-player. Do whatever it takes to dominate your opponents and take home a Super Bowl ring in Madden NFL 2005. Force the ... Read more

Features

• Create-a-fan feature lets you put your likeness into the stadium crowd
• New Defensive Playmaker Control lets you modify pre-snap assignments for any defensive player on the field
• Single player and multiplayer modes
• Football simulation/action sports game
• New storyline central in franchise mode gathers game events into news-story presentations

Reviews (27)

Madden is the BEST!!
Madden NFL 2005 is without a doubt the best football game of all time. It has extremely good graphics and it is very interactive. In this game they added a couple of new features such as the "Hit Stick".For Gamecube you push the c-stick downwards and watch the slam-fest begin. Probably 10% of the time you can force a fumble and recover for a touchdown, SWEET. In the remodified franchise mode you can listen to a very annoying radio show by Tony Bruno or just listen to the sound track (go with the sound track). There is all new owner mode in which you can set prices for your tickets. Another coll thing is create a fan mode. You get to create your own fans for the new three-d cut scenes. There is also new practice mode where you can practice certain plays that aren't up to standard when you play your games ( rember this is only in franchise mode)Just as I said above, Madden is the Best!!

Better than PC Version
NFL 2005 has come a long way for Madden, and certainly, the new entry deserves the kind of acclaim it is getting. It is well worth trying out for the graphics, but ultimately will only have a lengthy time span for those like American Football. I always like to play Madden, but owning Madden is a different matter because the sport itself is not exactly challenging as a game. For instance field goals are a way too easy to complete, even on Madden mode with the wind on full. The completion passes and long runs are what makes the game (including an intensive training course - the game takes time to learn, more than a day for new players to the game) but there are limits in football where games like Baseball and the more assertive and better paced Rugby win it over.

As for graphics, they are certainly very cool to watch... ON THE PC!!!, the quick rumbles, fast passes and receivers taking off down the pitch for a touchdown. When it works, or even when you are sacked, great gaming. I played it on a 9800pro card and found that even on the best settings that I dropped FPS considerably, meaning to see the graphics you need a pro 256mb card. Anything less and you will not see what the game can push in terms of pixels, and it can push a lot. Obviously, it looks a little better on the XBOX than the PS2, with the PC ruling both... however, console owners should look at this as a console game minus the PC graphics... read on why...

The animations are slick but there are obvious flaws with the non-player faces like couches, as there facial skin tones do not match the head (it is as if they are wearing a mask) but to be honest I am cribbing because these little mistakes are blown away by the animation of the game play.

I would like to have called Madden a simulation but to be honest it is more arcade than a game. I found myself just using the curser to move my player who can do very little except throw the ball to five possible players, throw ball away, pass to player who can run, put out his arms or dive. Although there are other possible moves, Madden has a terrible configuration for the PC version that takes it down a star from four to three --- Your defence and attacks have about 5 modes with a max of nine key assignments, but once you set the keys in one mode they are automatically set for the other modes meaning that S for Sprint on attack may end up as S for Dive on Defense. It is a major problem that one key alone cannot be created for a single common move between the modes. This problem leaves you sitting there wondering what move to make and if it was the S key or the D key or whatever because the S key for sprint as a receiver is now the S dive key for the defence. Believe me, this is a very big deal and just makes you not want to play it that much. SO what is the moral?...

....Madden NFL 2005 is better on the PS2 or Xbox even though the graphics are not as good.At least the controls are better. PC version is just impossible to play except in basic key bashing on rookie or pro mode. Good luck with your patients if you choose Madden NFL 2005 PC. Looks great. Controls are rubbish on PC.

Pros:
- Lush Graphics.
- Amazing Football Animations.
- For the passing completions and running touchdowns.
- Needs a PS2 or XBOX controller.

Cons
- Extremely limited controller configuration on PC version.
- Not a keeper for everybody.
- American Football is a little dull.

BETTER THEN I THOUGHT
It is very fun the best madden game yet. It has alot of plays and is worth my time.I like the way you can earn tokens and buy cards that help your team and that the cheats are very easy to get.It is good if you want a good long game to pal to burn time.For the price it is defnetly worth it.It is the best sports game Ihave played yet.

Great Game, better than before
Madden NFL 2005 is a really good game.I got it this past Christmas and it was the first game i played. I loved it. I played it when i got home from school, and after i had dinner, it is so fun.But as i play it it has a few flaws to it. I have a franchise on it, and i play every game on it. But when there is a call on the field that has to be reviewed. they almost always reverse it. Even if you look at the replay a million times and it shows the opposite of what they say. But sometimes the call is made right, that is when it is so clear that they have to make it right.
Also I make franchises on my game and i have made it to the superbowl 3 times on my game. But every time i made it to the superbowl i always play the Bucs. And i hate it. We need a new team to play in the superbowl. Both my next door neighbors have it. And i talked to one of them and he said that the rams always make it to the superbowl for him.More teams need oppurtunities.
Lastly i hate that you can't create a fan on a created team. So i have my team made up and i made a fan for my favorite team, (who else but the Defending Super bowl Champs, New England Patriots, who will crush Donovan and the eagles come super bowl night.)And i make my team replace the pats so i wouldn't have to beat my own team. And i see fans on the sidelines when i play but, none of them is my fan. I mean if they are gonna do create-a-fan then, they should make it available for each created team. They should make stuff for them to wear that have the generic logos on them. That would make the game better.
Other than thatthe graphics are great, replay is great, an i love storyline central. Its good stuff for hard core football fans. Those problems are very minor, they don't screw the game upof freeze it or anything, so i STRONGLY suggest that you get this game. It will blow you away. Trust me i play it almost every day!

Great Update of a Classic
I've always liked EA's Madden franchise. After deciding to retire the 2003 version that I'd played for a few years, I got this one and love all the improvements.

The kick system seems a bit different, but it's fairly easy to master once you've missed an extra point and found out where you went wrong. The playbooks are excellent, and you can even make your own plays. As with MVP Baseball you can make players and modify current ones.

The players without 2003 values are pretty well done. Ben Roethlisberger, for example, is nearly perfect.

As I said in my review of MVP Baseball, you have to appreciate sports to appreciate this game--something a lot of video game geeks don't do. I've played football, watched football, and backed the Steelers since I was really little and appreciate everything in this game.

Having John Madden and Al Michaels announce is just another big bonus of this game. In my opinion, they're the best duo announcing football today. ... Read more

Product Description

There’s trouble in Bikini Bottom! Someone has stolen King Neptune’s crown and it appears as though Mr. Krabs is the culprit. Despite being passed over for a promotion by Mt. Krabs, SpongeBob and his faithful but dimwitted friend Patrick volunteer to make the perilous journey to Shell City (a place no one has ever returned from) to retrieve the crown and save Mr. Krabs’ life. Join our heroes on an epic and comedic quest to unexplored territory and see SpongeBob and Patrick as you’ve never seen them before.

• Play as SpongeBob or Patrick, each with their own set of unique maneuvers, who must work together to save Mr. Krabs and all of Bikini Bottom
• Interact with all your favorite characters from the movie featuring authentic voice talent (English) and special cameo appearances
• Earn manliness points to get the coolest power-ups ever like the CartWheel Attack, Electric-Guided Sonic Wave Guitar and the Macho Bowl
• Take the wheel of the Patty Wagon with SpongeBob and Patrick for a whole new driving experience
• 6 huge, movie inspired 3D environments to explore, including bonus levels, hidden items and other secret awards

Features

• Play as SpongeBob or Patrick, each with their own set of unique manuevers, who must work together to save Mr. Krabs and all of Bikini Bottom
• Interact with all your favorite characters from the movie featuring authentic voice talent and special cameo appearances
• Earn manliness points to get the coolest power-ups ever like the CartWheel Attack, Electric Guided Sonic Wave Guitar and the Macho Bowl
• Take the wheel of the Patty Wagon with SpongeBob and Patrick for a whole new driving experience
• 6 huge, movie inspired 3D environments to explore, including bonus levels, hidden items and other secret rewards

Reviews (10)

great game
i think that spongebob the movie may be the most funny, charming, addictive, and kid friendly game of the year. i am also having alot of fun with it, and i am 9. this game is very entertaining, and has levels that younger kids will love playing over again. however, there can be some frustirating levels that even i have difficulty with. overall, i think that this is a great game for kids young and old.

Only for one player
My kid loves this game, but the bad part is that only allows one player and it's not really fun for him because he can't play and enjoy when his friends are around. The other thing is that Game Cube games scratch easily. How do you keep a Four old from doing that?

Too Frustrating.
The brutal difficulty level on the final boss battle in this game just ruined it for me. Who in the world do they think is playing a game like this? Hardcore Halo fans? If you don't care about finishing a game I guess it doesn't matter. Otherwise expect your little one to be in tears over this.

SpongeBob"s best game
This game rockes! If people like SpongeBob, then this is your game to play. So play this great game.

Fun Filled Action
My son who is 5 loves this game. It is entertaining on his level, I'd compare it to the Cat in the Hat game which he also loves very much. It is difficult to find fun games that are easy enough for a 5yr old and this one is definitly a good one. He hasn't stopped playing it yet : ) ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

In the annals of computer adventure gaming, LucasArts' epic The Secret of Monkey Island remains as engrossing today--despite its obviously dated visuals and sound effects--as when it was first released. With its timeless story line and humor, The Secret of Monkey Island shaped adventure games for many years to come.

To the relief of longtime fans, LucasArts finally released the third game in the trilogy: The Curse of Monkey Island. Thankfully, its technical superiority to its predecessors doesn't come at the expense of a delightful and hilarious story line--The Curse of Monkey Island is every bit as good as its prequels.

Players once again assume the role of Guybrush Threepwood, an aspiring pirate who lacks the coordination and muscle tone to succeed as a swashbuckler. After unknowingly slipping a cursed diamond ring on the finger of his longtime love, Elaine Marley, Guybrush finds himself--and the player along with him--again battling wits with the nefarious (and very dead) pirate, LeChuck.

Utilizing a simple point-and-click interface, players guide Guybrush through hundreds of beautifully rendered scenes, meeting unique characters, collecting dozens of objects, and solving puzzles. Interacting with the eccentric inhabitants of LucasArt's comic Caribbean is one of the adventure's highlights; the excellent writing and dialogue make each new encounter even better than the last. The Curse of Monkey Island, with its Saturday-morning-like animated graphics, is suitable for all ages, though the tricky puzzle solutions may be a tad obscure for younger gamers. --Doug Radcliffe

Pros:

• Delightful story line and excellent dialogue
• Colorful, animated graphics
• Simple, easy-to-use interface
• Suitable for all ages

• Some puzzles might be a bit obscure

Reviews (55)

COTI--A new classic
Another step in the succesful Tower Island series,though this misses
the charm of SOTI and TI2KJR,it is still a classic.Ever since the invention of Guybrush and his Magnon Croboys adventures he has been regarded as a computer-game saint.Now comes the next puzzly Nachitov
Croboys chapter.

Great jumping Monkeys! This game still rocks!
The Curse of Monkey Island is the 3rd game in Lucasarts' highly acclaimed graphic adventure series, and finds our hero Guybrush Threepwood tasked with removing a cursed ring that has turned his girlfriend into a gold statue.

My siblings and I dug this game out over the holidays, and (having memorized all the solutions to all the puzzles) went through it in one straight session. This game holds up surprisingly well for being close to a decade old. The graphics look like they were pulled straight from a cartoon, and only the pixelation in the cutscenes will hint at the game's true age. The voice acting is spot-on perfect (Alan Young, voice of Scrooge McDuck, has a hilarious role), with lots of clever dialogue and delivery and occasional references to Star Wars and other Lucasarts games. Puzzles are reasonably challenging without being too obscure, and most gamers should be able to find their way to the end without consulting a walkthrough too much, if at all.

The major strike against this game is that if you're not familiar with the Monkey Island series, a portion of the story and background will leave you scratching your head (such as why Guybrush starts the game floating in a bumper car in the middle of the ocean). The first two installments in the game were DOS-based, and they were old even when Curse of Monkey Island was new. There's actually a huge portion of the game at the end dedicated to sorting out all the various plot threads of the series, and new players might find this a little drawn out. Still, the basic premise of the game is simple enough to follow.

There's no guarantee this game will work on WindowsXP, but I've had no problems running it, so it's worth giving it a shot (a group of fans also developed programs to make the game run smoother, for those having difficulty with it). The Curse of Monkey Island is a classic game in a genre that has been criminally neglected in today's gaming industry.

best ever
easily one of the best point and click adventure games. end of story....

Monkey Island! A review for the obsessed...
I own all four of the Monkey Island games. Of course, they are all very good, but this remains my favorite. Unless you hate funny, puzzling games with good graphics, pirates and ex-cannibals, this is a game you must play. I have to admit that some problems are hard to solve without the cheat sheets (which you can get at cheatcc.com) but if you use them, use them as a guide the first time. After one or two plays you should be able to go through the whole game with no problems. And it is one of those games you play more than once, you have to. I don't know exactly what it is, but this game is the best , I couldn't reccomend better. Gubrush, LeChuck, Lemonhead, and of course the demonic skull Murray keep you in your seat until your done, and then you want to start all over again. It has a good plot, good graphics, and it's not a hard game to understand just one you have to figure out. For those of you that aren't beginners, but obsessed fans, you should know all this, so my message to you is buy them all if you haven't already and keep being a Monkey Island fan!

"YOU FIGHT LIKE A COW!"
Sorry for the title.I figured it was a good attention grabber plus Guybrush says this many a time juring this game...

This is an excellent game!The cartoon graphics are cute, and they work quite well surprisingly.The characters themselves are well drawn and are have very individual, uniquepersonalities.
I love the wit in this game.I found myself laughing out loud sometimes inspite of myself.
This is a very original and clever game, and it is far superior to many I have played.

(P.S. If you like this game, try playing "Escape from Monkey Island"- which isn't quite as good as this one though but still good- and "Grim Fandango" which I highly recommend!). ... Read more

Features

• Dance Dance to the rhythm and steps
• New game modes
• Includes dance mat controller
• Xbox LIVE enabled with online content and competition
• For 1 or more players over Xbox LIVE

Reviews (15)

I LOVE DDR!!!!!
I love DDR. I am still dancing away all night long. Its so fun. so many songs, online support, what more could u want

Pros:
-Lots of different songs
-online support
-not good....but cool graphics
-highly addicting

Cons:
-Too addicting....sometimes

This game rocks!
This is my favorite video game by far.
Its fun and a workout at the same time. It even keeps teack of how many calories you burn. If you have xbox live then you can battle people from all around.Thanks Konami for this great video game! What are u waiting for go out and buy it!

Amazing
this game is amazing! i have never had so much fun playing a video game until i played this game. it's outstanding. i absolutly love it

Great Addition to the DDR series, but not the best
I have played DDR: Konamix, DDRMAX, DDRMAX2, and now DDR ULTRAMIX. All of these were lots of fun to play and had plenty of replay value, but this one doesn't hit the spot just right. However, considering it's price, the game is well worth the buy for the xbox.

The graphics are very smooth with no slowdown. The backround dancers are cell-shaded, and they look very smooth as well. The menus are all very colorful and very responsive.

The sound quality is great, everything makes great noise. The only problem I found here is the announcer's voice being a bit too loud at times, and this could not be adjusted, but could be turned off.

The song list is a great deal smaller then it's predecessors, (this one: 50 songs, DDRMAX2: 72) and it combines a bunch of fun songs. However, it would have been nice to see some other 10 footers besides MAX 300.

So what gives this game the slightly below perfect score? The fact that it feels like a watered down version of DDRMAX2. It does not include non-stop mode, the challenges feel rushed, and the step edit mode is very hard to follow. It could have been fixed, but they decided not to.

The fact that you can buy more songs for a reasonable price is nice, but the problem is, some people don't have xbox live. There are currently 3 song packs available, all very nice, with something for everyone. DDR ULTRAMIX is definately worth it's budget price.

Too Much Fun!!! and a good workout to boot!
OK lets start by saying this game is not just for teenagers. I am just out of law school and LOVE IT! I love to do the workout mode where the game counts your calories for you. I set it for an hour and always end up going over. Who can say that for the stairmonster? The best part is you have a smile on your face the entire time and stress is just erased. This game is reason enough to go out and buy an xbox! The added bonus of being live enabled is great. (If you don't know, Xbox live is a subscription service that lets you go online and download additional features for games, like new songs, and play against people from all over)

A couple of bits of advice...

*Read the little book that comes with the game... I know, who wants to read instruction but it is helpful as the interface is not exactly intuitive at first glance.

*Don't get discouraged...
a)use the training mode to slow things down, choose the light setting for easier step patterns, this game has a ton of features to help you, take advantage of them.
b)the game only counts off if you miss a step not if you add some so, have fun, be creative, try to position yourself for the next step, and don't go back to center everytime.

Remember! It is a game, not an exam and you don't have to compete with anyone if you don't want to...just get up there and shake your groove thing.

I am planing to buy three extra pads to use at my next party...I am sure it will be a big hit, I am a little worried that no one will want to go home though.

Also, I don't have children but...I can imagine that this would make a great alternative to all the wack monsters with swords, shoot things, and beat things up games that are so popular (don't get me wrong I love those games too) with the added bonus of getting the little ones off the sofa and moving around.

All and all I could not be more pleased...an Xbox must have... ... Read more