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

Product Description

FROM THE CREATORS OF UNREAL comes a spiralling plunge into destruction, despair and disease.Hunted by the most vicious killing machines known and severely outnumbered with Nowhere to Turn. No one to Trust. How far will you go to survive? ... Read more

Features

• The Ultimate Arsenal of upgradeable weapons to suit your gaming style. Use the Weapon Energy Core feature to fully upgrade each of your 7 weapons for a strategic, unique gaming experience. Your already deadly rocket launcher becomes a quad-warhead multi-targeting heat-seeking shoulder mounted nuke!
• Roar through the vast wastelands of Earth crushing enemies under the treads of your armored and heavily equipped vehicles.
• Create Unlimited Battlegrounds with the exclusive M.A.P. Editor and share them with your friends and the world via system link, memory cartridge or Xbox Live! Build and remove terrain, change the weather, adjust lighting and fully tailor the landscapes i.e. rocks, trees, Battle Stations and Turrets.
• New twist on classic multi-player action in the all new exclusive Front Line Assault mode plus Capture-the-Flag, Death Match and Team Death Match for up to 8 players.
• Ultra realistic, fast paced gameplay - unique combination of action and stealth create an unprecedented gaming experience in 18 single-player levels and 13 multi-player levels.

Reviews (8)

priority radar ALERT!!!!!!!!!!
ok, for one, im not sure why everyone is so hard on this game!!!
its a fun FPS,(more fun than the legendary halo 2), well, so you cant dual wield but would you rather dual wield... Or shoot four heatseaking missiles which yes can be fired at 4 different targets. Overall good storyline. if you get tired of mission mode, REEK HELL in multiplayer against bots!!very fun game, dont get why every body gives such a hard time. i'll admit, i was unsure at first about 'PARIAH', just cause' it was'nt on my top priority list at the moment, but the mapmaker tempted me, sorta' like someone saying, touch me and you DIE!!!,i was curious ;)
mapmaker is fun and more or less easy to do,
dont let this slip off your priority radar please, good game!!!!
thanks for taking the time to read this review,
_________
sighning off
:)

"Pariah"
Let's face it, the press has been kind of hard on "Pariah," an Unreal-powered shooter that admittedly lurks in the shadow of games like "Halo" and "Far Cry." That said, in reality there are more reasons to recommend the game to first-person shootists than there are reasons to condemn it, as it's quite a worthy sci-fi effort once you get past its laundry list of problems.

"Pariah" starts out with promise aplenty. A mysterious ship transporting a cryogenically frozen woman crash lands on Earth, which as a planet is now the refuge of criminals and mercenaries. Shot down by unknown attackers, Dr. Jack Mason and said token femme seem to be the only survivors, but as luck would have it she's infected with some kind of super-virus that could be all kinds of trouble in the wrong hands. And, as is par for the course with these things, the wrong hands are certainly trying to claim her so that they can harness the power she possesses. It's seemingly up to Jack to forego his Hippocratic oath and thwart these evil ambitions by killing lots and lots of bad guys. After that, the story gets quite muddled and certainly wouldn't be one of the game's stronger points except for an ambitious twist at the end that breathes fresh life into something that seemed virtually D.O.A.

In terms of gameplay, "Pariah" flirts with a few innovations that truly are interesting. First, the hero character's medical background makes him adept at healing himself. The tool he uses for this task is located in Jack's inventory alongside his weapons, and is in fact used like a weapon, complete with ammunition that must be gathered to make it of any further use. When selected a quick pull of the trigger initiates the healing process. The fact that this item is used much like a weapon and cannot merely be summoned with the press of a button for an instant resurgence of health adds a strategic element to the game's firefights. Run in with guns blazing and you'll die almost every time because using the medical tool is a deliberate and time-sensitive process. Not only does this fit in extremely well with the hero character's profession, it's a unique spin on health recovery in the FPS genre that I hope to see again in other games. It promotes an attack and retreat philosophy similar to the regenerating shields in "Halo" (which is no doubt the source of inspiration).

Second and perhaps even more importantly, "Pariah" offers several satisfying weapons, each one with no less than three available upgrades (apart from the useless melee weapon and an energy canon found late in the single player game). Upgrading these weapons further adds a dose of strategy, pure coolness notwithstanding. But because you never accrue enough points to enhance each weapon in your arsenal, there is the aforementioned strategic concern. Do you upgrade your shotgun to deal maximum damage to your opponents in close quarters, or do you enhance your more well-rounded assault rifle instead?The choice is yours, and these upgrades really do make a discernable impact on how punishing said weapon becomes as you near the end of the game. Again, this is a feature more shooters should pay rapt attention to.

Apart from these innovations, however, "Pariah" is fairly derivative in its structure, owing a tremendous debt to the aforementioned FPS hits "Halo" and "Far Cry." The game's drivable vehicles are testament to this fact, but add little to the experience thanks to their poor implementation and less than stellar driving mechanics. On top of that, many of the game's levels are boilerplate science fiction and offer little in the way of originality. That said, a few of the missions do stand out as particularly enjoyable - primarily two later ones which take place on board a speeding train and a flying carrier ship respectively. It's just that the art direction, which envelops the enemies as well as the landscapes, is just so bloody trite.

Clichés aside, the game sure is pretty. It takes the aging "Unreal II" engine to the max, and despite a few polygonal jags here and there, it ultimately provides some pretty sumptuous eye candy on the Xbox console. The sound effects are equally excellent for the most part. Weapons discharges in particular really enhance the sense of power each weapon emits.

Unfortunately, "Pariah" is chock full of bugs. On at least three occasions I slipped through the very floor and fell to my death. In no way shape or form is this acceptable in a supposedly finished product. Another grating issue is collision detection, which is spotty at best. Sometimes you can shoot a baddie three times and drop him dead where he stands, while other times your enemies seem to absorb your attacks and keep on coming without regard. Their herky-jerky movements, a holdover from "Unreal II," compound the issue, making them more difficult to drop than they should actually be.

Another negative feature on loan from its big brother is the overblown rag doll physics present in "Pariah." When reacting to explosions, the aerial death spins of your opponents can be quite satisfying, but when merely shooting them to death they drop to the ground, bending at angles so awkward you know there's nothing even remotely resembling a skeleton anywhere inside of them. It's as if they've all been stuffed with rice.Add into the mix an automatic weapon switch that can put a rocket launcher in your hands at close range when you just used up the ammo for your assault rifle, an insanely unpredictable check point system, and vague mission objectives such as "disable the turret," and you certainly can't order "Pariah" without its fair share of lemons.

In the end, though, "Pariah" softens its hard edges with a few key features that really should become the fashion in shooters, as well as decent production values, slick, responsive controls, and a story that redeems itself with a ballsy conclusion. As far as FPS games go, "Pariah" is far from king of the hill, but just as far from the bottom of the junk heap. If science fiction shoot `em ups are your bread and butter, you'll feel right at home here.

A game with many problems
I read about this game in Game Informer and it sounded interesting. Unfortunatly this game falls short on many levels.The graphics look good but they are not great, the gameplay is choppy and very sticky.Initially I thought I had spilled some soda or juice on my controller but that's not the problem, the game is just choppy. And this gets irritating really quick.
Nothing really special or outstanding about the game, but with a little more fine tuning it could have been great.

A Weak First Person Shooter.
When I first started playing this game I was like maybe this will be a kool game ,because it kinda reminds me of halo but I quickly learned its a weak copy of HALO2.Pariah tries to play like Halo2 but comes up way short. The controls are somewhat standard FPS controls,but they operate a little sticky.When you walk over enemies dropped riot shields ,your player will have a hard time of walking over it&there's just a general sense of stickiness to the walking in certain parts.Also when you brush up against a wall it seems like there's glue on them. Its not a very smooth game.You can upgrade your weapons by finding certain upgrade thingys and you can upgrade your weapon about 6 slots .I didnt notice a huge difference after upgrading them.By the end of the game I upgraded all of them except the last weapon titans fist which is not upgradable.The enemies all sidestep throughout the game ,It may be alittle harder then other FPS but you'll soon easily be taking them out.I beat the game in about 3 days on the third highest difficulty. The vehicles are very simular to Halo2's ,even the way you mount them is simular .But they just dont feel smooth as HALO2'S .The weapon on the jeep type vehicle( I forgot the name of it) ,its the one that shoots out what looks like two small exploding cannon balls,is seriously weak.It fires horribly and the enemy scooter type vehicles seem to take it out almost too easily.When your vehicle is on fire and about to explode ,instead of jumping out ,your player gets out very slowly like an old lady goin to church.Also when your player reloads the weapon it seems to take forever,its almost like he relishes in reloading ,all the while bullets are flyin over your head. La La La Imgonna watch myself reload .I shot an enemy while he was in a scooter jet ski type thingy vehicle in the head about 5 times with the sniper zoomed in but he didnt even fall off,so I guess you cant take out the enemy and save the vehicle for yourself,you have to take himout by destroying the vehicle.There is a bug in this game that for some reason you instantly die for no apparent reason .I noticed that it happened when I just touched or walked by a regular barrel & even flammable barrels that have long since spawned out after exploding from being shot.The way the bullets come at you from the airship turret towards the end of the game(the ship you have to jump on) look like mid 1970's quality graphics.Its kinda weird seeing modern graphics with 1970's bullet fire.The music tries to copy HALO2.The way the open areas are designed try to copy halo2 .I was very bored with this game it just doesnt play like a solid FPS.I only compare this game to HALO2 because its very obvious the developers where trying to copy HALO2.Everything from the music,the vehicles,the open type spaces and even the HUD are simular.Also when youget shot your health will regenerate if it is not below a certain level just like HALO2 does.There are some good things about this game like the map editor.But I never bothered with it I was just happy to be done with the game after I rented it.Not a great FPS game.Pariah just plays like a rushed game ,the graphics are ok ,the gameplay is sticky and unpolished.I cant say I'd recommend this game at all,except for maybe the online & the map editor,but if they play anything like the game forget it.Rent First.

There's got to be a game here
Pariah's a title that a few people have been waiting for. In the end it's probably better if we waited longer. The game doesnt really break any molds or even really try.

The graphics are good enough from a distance but look cheap and thrown together at closer distances. It's obvious the Unreal engine needs to be put to rest once and for all. Havoc adds a little level of fun but what good is it really when the enemies vanish practically before they hit the ground? Weapon and player character animations are smoothly done but nothing really awe inspiring.

Although the first "song" you hear is quasi entertaining, it gets old fast after looping for an hour over and over. The worse offense in the sound department has to be the enemy "barks" The programmers gave enemies about three phrases for the entire game and it is etirely common to hear ten enemies say the same exact quote as you kill them in succession. " Doe Rae Me Fa So long sucka!" is corny the first time you hear it and just as bad the millionth (per level)In essence it feels like you're gunning down the same zig zagging target over and over. Ambient noises, weapons and voice acting pull the experience together. The weapons genuinly sound lethal and vehicles do sound powerful.

One of the games selling points is the AI. Every interview from creators claim that the AI is among the best on the market. It's more like the most dissapointingly mediocre. Enemies ignore walls in front of their faces and fire missiles trying to kill you. They also don't co-ordinate like in other games. Between mediocre enemy AI and poorly designed levels, I found myself accomplishing half of the game and wishing at some point it would start becoming enjoyable.

Finally, I've read a lot of bravado about how Hollywood screen writers are collaborating to create a compelling story for Pariah. Ok...where's the evidence? half way through the game you know as much as you did just reading the back of the box. Cutscenes don't really tell you what's going on and most of your objectives are to find Karina.

In all, Pariah leaves a bad after taste and the sense of being scammed for $50 that could have better been invested in another game. If this was a game three years in the making, the Pariah team must have spent two of those years fooling around. The verdict: bland graphics, average soundtrack, inexcusable AI and no real plot. look for it in the bargain bin in a week or two before spending the full 50. ... Read more

Product Description

A 60 day pre-paid game card. The Matrix Online, co-published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and SEGA, is an MMOG where tens of thousands of players will jack into the Matrix world to take an active role in continuing the saga of The Matrix movie trilogy. Developed by Monolith Productions in conjunction with the Wachowski Brothers, creators of The Matrix trilogy, the game will be a re-creation of the virtual world of the Matrix, employing cutting edge 3-D graphics, networking and serve ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Best Racing Game Ever by far
This is the only game that I have that I can play over and over and not get bored. The graphics alone blow any other racing game away. Even the sound is good. But, the greatest feature of this game is that you customize everything to your liking. You want to race 1 lap? Done. You want a 20 lap race? Done. You want your own music in the background? Go for it. I could go on.
This game is so realistic that it makes you wonder why all racing games can't be like this. I will admit, this game is hard when you first begin playing. But once you get the hang of
it, there is no racing game on this planet that can touch it. You can do burnouts, wheelies, endos, and more. Do you need more
proof? Look at the price of this game. FIFTY DOLLARS! What game this old is still that high? Enough said.

excellent!
super jeu de moto. bons graphiques , bonne musique , jouable multijoueur sur xbox live. je le recommande fortement pour tout amateur de course.

You're missing a lot if you have the PS2/Namco
I've only owned the PS2, as Gran Turismo is the family video game since the PS1. Being a moto nut, I got Namco's MotoGP2 and 3, and while they're better than nothing, I kept wishing they could've been more like SBK2001 for PC.

I was aware that Moto GP for the Xbox had gotten rave reviews, but there was no way I was going to spend $300 for another console, so I tried to ignore its existence. I couldn't help read the reviews anyway, but they're pretty generic and avoid comparisons between the Xbox and PS2 games (don't want to bite the hands that feed). The few remarks I could find on the net that directly compare the games were brief, and sounded like the usual console partisanship. Anyway, my curiosity (and the $179 price) got the better of me and I finally got an Xbox just for Moto Gp 2.

I realize now why the comparisons are so brief: there's no comparison.

All the best stuff from SBK2001 is there, with better graphics, sound and control. The common thread between Moto GP 2 and SBK2001: Climax developers (THQ is the publisher). There seem to be some serious moto fans in the company, and the result is a real joy to anyone who has any interest in bikes (or an appreciation for apexes). You really have to hand it to Climax--they've managed to create a game that is true to the sport and is also very accessible to the unfamiliar.

At first, I was reluctant to learn a new controller setup for the Xbox game, but I can't imagine playing Namco's game ever again. At identical prices, the Xbox is a steal compared to the PS2, if Climax's Moto GP 2 is any indication of the quality of Xbox titles.

One of the best racing games I've played
That says a lot since I am not really into motorcycle games.The graphics on this game are absolutely breathtaking and if you are an Xbox apologist then you need to shown this game to all those PS2 philes who think that their console is superior.The fluidity of the graphics and gameplay is really impressive in this game.Try playing this game in the rain and you can see raindrops on the screen that look so real and the water on the track has such a realistic reflection.This game is a winner.

Perhaps TOO realistic
Very realistic recreation of 500cc GP racing. The drawback, perhaps the ONLY drawback, is the steep learning curve for the gamer. It takes a LOT of practice to master riding these bikes competitively. While acknowledging that this is true in real life as well, I found that my real-life motorcycling skills were relatively useless in learning to keep the bike on the virtual track.

I might have found it easier had I had a motorcycle controller, the way some racing gamers have steering wheels and pedals, but I haven't seen those and likely wouldn't invest in them just for one game. Also, they'd have to incorporate 'countersteering' to make it truly realistic. That would be a challenge -- then again, everything else about this game is truly realistic.

The level of visual, audio and tactile realism that the programmers have put into this game is astounding. I can't imagine a more realistic recreation of those aspects of GP racing. If you can overcome the steep learning curve of controlling the bikes, you will love this game. ... Read more

Product Description

This game is playable on the Xbox Live Online System. For a full list of Xbox Live products, click here! RalliSport Challenge 2 is the highly anticipated second installment in the critically acclaimed RalliSport Challenge franchise and its the first racing title in the XSN Sports lineup! After s ... Read more

Features

• featuress five unique rally sports, including the new Crossover duel
• Set up leagues and tournaments using XSNsports.com
• For 1 to 16 players online
• Race on tracks in Australia, the frozen Nordic, and the Pacific Northwest, and drive in rain, snow, and fog
• Updated graphics engine with realistic vehicle physics

Reviews (14)

The best Rally game out there...
I had to write a review entirely because the spotlight review was written by someone who hadn't 'got' this game or taken the time to explore the settings.

Actually, I see reviews all the time claim this game is an 'arcade' rally game, indicating that perhaps the game lacks depth, maybe has unrealistic physics, or even simple fake graphics.

All of these points are wrong. Completely false. The cars handle extremely realistically, and most folks who play this agree this is the BEST looking racer available. Better than Forza? Not sure, but better than PGR2 by a hundred - double the frame rate for start. You see, not least of which is the 60fps you get with a HD TV, but add to that the amazing reflections, muddy splashes, infinite distance view (with a tiny amount of inconsequential pop-up trees) and you have a showcase game. I've had more than one PS2 owner go out and buy an XBOX for this game after playing it in my house - testament indeed to the incredible realism this Rally racer offers.

Previously, the 'easy left' that you co-pi states was mentioned as a fault... When your rally co-pilot claims 'Easy left' or 'hard right' then you have the game on arcade setting.

A simple click in the settings would result in '3 left opens to 4' or '1 right, opens to 3. Bump onto straight through tunnel. Hairpin right' offering a much more useful, accurate indication of the upcoming road conditions.

Ultimately - this game is stunning. Worth every penny of the budget price it's currently at - if you're hesitant due to lax reviews, don't be. I've put in hundreds of hours on this amazing game and it's a real as the Xbox can get.

Superb!
I'm not a big gamer. I've had my XBOX for over a year and it's mostly collected dust.I love driving simulation games and I think rally is the most fun of the various forms of driving so I picked up RalliSport Challenge 2 based on a day and a half long online search for a good rally game.All of the reviews said that RSC2 had the best combination of realism, fun and graphics.

They were right!The phisics model is incredible and the damage is very realistic.When you start an event, your car is shiny and new - but when you get to the end, you may be missing a few body parts, have a few broken windows and you're coverd in dust, mud, etc.Now THAT's RALLY!

Above all though is the scenery!The graphics are so good that one of my favorite things to do is to just watch the replay of the latest run!

Make you own music video! -
The folks who made this game really added a cool feature with the replay options - you have full controll over the playback speed and camera selection.Because you can load your own music to the XBOX hard drive, when the replay starts you hear your favorite music playing along with the game sounds and video of your last run.As you control the playback, you can adjust the replay speed from ultra fast to super slow motion with the trigger levers - basically making a live music video out of the replay footage!Very sweet!

Australian dirt, Swedish snow, British leaves, French cobblestone streets...
Get This Game!

Amazing game!
The detail and realism in Rallisport Challenge 2 is amazing.
From rain and mud on your windshield to the wheelspin and suspension on each racecar,no detail is left to chance.
Numerous race courses, race formats, and realistic tuning options mean you will never run out of fun.

Hands down, this is the best racing game I have seen on Xbox.

RallySport1 better than RallySport2
The driving and scenes are more realistic on RalliSport2, but it's not as much fun as RalliSport1. RalliSport1 gives you better courses and better cars to begin with. It also seems like RalliSport2 takes a long time to download...more so than RalliSport1.

sweet
I think this game is awesome not only graphic-wise(which they are awesome), but your profile name also becomes your xbox name, and I think that is awesome!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Emperor returns gamers to Dune, land of sand, home of the spice and the first real-time strategy title. This all-new game presents the Dune universe in full 3-D. As in the classic Dune 2, players can command three unique political houses: noble Attreides, evil Harkonnen, and insidious Ordos. Five powerful subgroups add to the volatile political climate. There are four game worlds to battle on, and players can choose large-scale strategic advances or ground-level tactics. Gamers can wage war online both head-to-head and cooperatively. ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Dune Junkie approves!
Ever since I bought Dune: The Machine Crusade at a book sale for three bucks, I've been absolutely obssessed with everything Dune. I found Emperor on a Wal-Mart shelf and decided to give the game a go. I expected another lousy 3D generic RTS. I was DEAD wrong! I found myself addicted to Emperor: Battle for Dune. I spent hours upon hours, coordinating raid on spice harvesters, sending out patrols, fortifying my bases, annihilating enemy forces, bulging the front line on Dune, oh I could go on for hours. Setting up attacks also have to involve avoiding sandworms which appear at random and can easily destroy half an army in one attack. Sandworms can really turn the tide for either side of battle. Another thing, I really L00VE that you managing your economy is super simple. Just build a refinery, add a few docking pads, and replace spice harvesters occasionally if one gets destroyed by and sandworm. The sheer destruction one could inflict was mouth-watering. I loved setting infantry on fire with the Harkonnen flame tank and hearing there screams. It really made me feel like a true Harkonnen. I usually build bunch of turrets around my base for an automated defense so I don't have too much about small raid and so I can focus on building overwhelming forces. The graphics cannot be praised in futile words. Enough said. I DID have a few beefs with Emperor: Battle for Dune. The AI is just plain dumb. I managed to destroy an entire base with just a flame tank and an assault tank. However, I really only play my friends on LAN or online. So its not a big deal. The acting in the cutscenes was a bit cheesy but to be expected in all Westwood games. The sketchy story was understandable because it was hard to place in the Dune timeline.

Overall, this game makes it to my top 5 best games ever! I wish they make another one but stupid EA bought Westwood and now they are only focusing on C&C which needs to seriously be put down peacefully.

One of the best RTS's I have ever played,
This game is stunning with its 3D graphics.I have an old piece of junk called a computer that can run this game pretty well considering the system requierments. The units are very well done from Harkonnen Missle tanks to Ordos Chemical troopers.


The campaigns are presented on a map which is equally divided into thirds. Depending on the house you choose you must attack,hold,and attack from enemy territories to reach their capitol.


The game is also littered with entertaining cut-scenes between missions.
The building and producing mechanics are very easy----no running around collecting units of food and wood like AOE-----------just build a refinery and the game collects the money for you. You may have to replace a harvester every so often ,but other than that it runs itself.


The game is alot quicker and action oriented than other games like AOE(Age of Empires I or II). Instead of building up a town and collecting a ton of resources. Emperor is able to do that faster. The game's missions are shorter, though much more fun.

Overall this game definately deserves 5 stars and will keep you playing for a long while.

WESTWOOD GOES OUT WITH A BANG!
I loved the original story (even the franchised series been ghostwritten as you are reading this). The graphics are a bit dated today yet can still keep up. Not the best strategy yet well balanced and not worse than Generals.
I bought the game some years back but still take it out once in a while.

The Emperor of RTS games
This is a truly awesome game! I have been playing this game since it came out and I wrote this review in 2004! There is so much replayability you can't count how many hours you can play it. Be warned though, this game has the potential to take over your life with it's beautiful graphics, truly awesome music, and great balance between the three houses. The music is good enough for you to buy the game alone, the music is even better than Starcraft music and the game is better than it too! If you enjoy a game that lets you choose where to attack and defend you will love this game. Also, there are several different kinds of missions like defending a subhouse defend against another subhouse or attacking an enemy convoy heading out of the map. Although the difficulty level is very high during the end of the game with the computer opponents simply pouring out high level infantry and heavy artillery and such it is still beatable and you really feel as if you accomplished something. Overall, this is a really good game that any gamer SHOULD NOT MISS!! That is the directive!(I have spent over 500 hours playing this game and am still going!)

Not the best Dune game out there, but still not the worst
Emperor Battle For Dune is a mixed bag of a game.As a RTS its formula has been oftenly used and abused many times in other titles (especially the Dune II or Dune 2000 series), and the leap to 3D isn't entirely that spectacular.

But considering the production value, this game is quite worth mentioning.There's a top actor Michael Dorn (of Star Trek's Lt Worf fame) playing the Atreides duke, and the costumes and props are all used from the 1984 David Lynch movie.

Of course the storyline is a bit absurd... supposely to take place centuries before the main Dune storyline during the 'War of the Assassins'... serious Dune fans might have difficulty understanding it.

The dynamics aren't too heavy... and most missions are pre-scripted and the campaign unfolds the same ways no matter what.

But this game is quite worth playing (if you can find the hours the spare for it). ... Read more

Product Description

Play this award winning gaming phenomenon of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II with all-new modes and exclusive content. Play with the new split-screen feature allowing 4 friends to battle it out at the same time. Witness all-new character classes, weapons, items, enemies, quests and more. Episode II features an exclusive new full-length adventure. ... Read more

Reviews (129)

BEST GAME EVER
This is the best game ever made. Ive been playing it for about two years now and its still soooo exiting. The online play is excellent as is offline. There are endless amounts of weapons, clothing, characters, levels and tons of servers for online play.

It is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BEST.....GAME.....EVER!!!!!
I think this game is awesome.If you don't like it you're insane.I never played the dreamcast version of this (waaah)but i did get to play gamecube (YAY!!!)hunters are the coolest.Without a doubt, this is the best MMORPG ever created.

my rating

Graphics 4.5
they could use just a bit of improvement...

Control 5
i like cept you can't really pause

Sound 5
the music is really cool

Overall 5
this game rocks! i especially like the offline feature you can use to level up your char

Excellent!
I played this to DEATH on my Dreamcast. Now it has both games from the dreamcast days and Episode 2! Its a phenomenal game that is ALMOST perfect! the ONLY two things I must say stink are the "NON" targeting mode and not being able to rotate the camera. Even amidst these two issues the game still shines BRILLIANTLY! With camera rotation and option for lock on this game could have been the best game EVER made! It shines online the most but is JUST as much fun with two or more players offline. Customization is done very well etc also.

BUY THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ive played this game before and anyone that dosnt have it needs 2 get it!!!Its the best game ever id have 2 say its the funnest game ive ever played in my life!!!!!!!!

99%goodness,1% Badness
My friend showed me how fun this game was. And the only thing bad about is on the boss Dragon the camera is tilted and you can't see very well.
I haven't played online or episode 2.
But if I get the game, my username is going to be Vash the Stampede.

GET THE GAME! (But don't say it's bad.) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

It's a collision of the world's two most-powerful fighting universes. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is an insane tag-team fighting game with an unprecedented 56 playable characters, three-on-three tag-team battles, tight controls, and hyper-fast animation. Pick a fight with your favorite legendary Capcom characters and superheroes from the Marvel universe and watch the super combos fly. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A GREAT GAME
i love this game its awesome. it has great charecters and
a tun of action.ThE rougE ismy favorite charecter.even though
pepole love wolverine,spidermanandthe hulk.this game also has
great super moves.the first team i formed when i played this
game was rouge,stormand captainruby!cyclops and captainamerica
are also avery great team!i HATE THE CHARECTER MARROW she is
a very anoying friske backtalking fighter!beacuase shes just
plain weird shes put in the team with magnetoandblackheart!
IWWWWWWWWWW!!! i also lovemost of the XMEN the gratest marvel team of all time to bad jeangreys not in this game! akuma and ryu make a very weak team trust me!spiral is also a cool charecter but chun-lis just a prettyface.i cannotstand.storm
is a very handy charecter when your team does their supermoves!
charecters like spiderman,cammy,ice-man,rouge,cyclops, and captianamerica and thehulkare good at fighting the final bosses!

The ultimate fighting game - period
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 - New Age Of Heroes (2000.) The fourth game in the "Marvel characters versus Capcom characters" series.

Over the years, there have been a ton of fighting games, but as the years progressed, it became evident that one company was the supreme mastermind of the genre - Capcom. When they released Street Fighter II in 1991, it revolutionized fighting games and was frequently ripped off. Capcom used the excellent mechanics behind that ever-so-successful series to launch spin-offs like Street Fighter Alpha, as well as other fighting series, including Darkstalkers. The corporation even made a fighting game featuring Marvel comics characters which was well-received. And then, Capcom did one of the smartest things of their entire career - put Marvel and Capcom characters together in the same fighting game! This started with the classic X-Men Vs. Street Fighter, which was followed up my Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter, which greatly expanded the Marvel roster. And then came Marvel Vs. Capcom, which greatly expanded the number of Capcom characters available. The fourth game in this Marvel and Capcom series, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 - New Age Of Heroes, arrived in 2000. Read on for my review (and sorry about the long introduction.)

We'll start off with what this game does good. The absolute best part of this game is the sheer magnitude of characters you can play as. Once they're all unlocked, you'll have over fifty characters! And you've got the all-stars from both universes. Capcom serves up classic Street Fighter characters like Ryu and Ken, along with Darkstalkers favorites Felicia and Morrigan, and even Mega Man! Capcom's got a ton of their most popular characters too, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and pretty much all of the X-Men. The game even features new characters from both franchises. Unlike the first Marvel Vs. Capcom, which played pretty crappy with console controllers, this time around the scheme was done AROUND the controller, so it plays WAY better than its predecessor. The 128-bit backgrounds look GREAT. The soundtrack's catchy, too, even if some beg to differ. The system used for unlocking characters/stages/outfits/etc. is also well-done. You earn points every time you play, and these can be used to buy the bonus features. For the most part, the game takes everything from the original Marvel Vs. Capcom, and improves it. There is very little wrong with this game. If you liked the original, you're probably going to like this one even more.

As much as I like this game, I do have a few complaints. The one that seems to get the most attention is the characters being drawn at a low resolution. Why did Capcom do this? The backgrounds are simply stunning, so I really think a little more work could have gone into the character models. Likewise, too many characters have been altered too much - Chun Li, Sakura, and M. Bison have been altered so much that they aren't even fun to play as. Likewise, many of the characters are just weak when compared to others - Roll is just pathetic and essentially comes off seeming like a "poor man's version of Mega Man." The new characters were unnecessary. Though cool, their omission would have allowed for other great Marvel and Capcom characters to be in the game - I'm sure plenty of other gamers would have liked to have been able to play as Daredevil, Dr. Octopus, The Punisher, Bass, and Proto Man. My biggest complaint is that the game is no longer in production - they don't make Dreamcasts anymore, and for reasons only god knows, the Playstation 2 and XBOX versions were produced in limited quantities. Still, these flaws can ultimately be neglected. For everything this game does wrong, there are about ten things it does right.

My final verdict is simple. If you like Capcom's fighting games, this is a must-buy. It's my favorite fighting game of all time, and you'd be a fool not to buy it if you're into the genre. Capcom knows good fighting games, and this is as good as they come. It's tough to find due to the poor distribution, but trust me - it's worth hunting down.

Yeah this is a great fighting game but...
I guess I'll get the bad out of the way right now. This is the -exact same- game that was released on the Dreamcast back in 2000. There are no graphical enhancements, no sprite upgrades, no added effects, nothing at all. So if anyone says that this is "the best looking 2D fighting game", they're either somehow stuck in 1998-2000, or are just lying to themselves. So if you already have it on the DC, there's no point in getting it on the Xbox or even the ps2. But of course, we all know that graphics don't make the game, fun does. Is Marvel vs Capcom 2 fun? You bet your muppet-ass it is. I'll say that this is my third favorite 2D fighter I've ever played- right behind Capcom vs SNK 2 EO and Guilty Gear X2 #Reload. Marvel vs Capcom 2 (I'll just use MvsC2) is the standard by which all 2D fighting games should be presented as.

You don't have to be a fighting game fan to enjoy MvsC2. The gameplay is so simple while having depth, that you can master a character in notime. You start out by selecting 3 characters of your choice to make a team. During fights you can have them assist you at pratically any time with the trigger buttons to do some damage. What's friggin' awesome is when you have all 3 members help out and do a super move at the same time, dealing heavy damage and maybe even taking the opponent out. Watching Chun-Li, Wolverine and Cable take down Spider-Man when swinging at me with his web is classic. He didn't know what hit 'em. But don't think the computer won't do the same to you. Even on the easy setting with the game difficulty all the way down (you can pick easy while selecting characters, and tone the difficulty on the options menu), the AI will have fun with you here and there. That's the basic premise though. There aren't tons of different combat settings like in CvsS2EO, you just pick your guys and go fight through 7 rounds and then the final boss and that's it. Of course, the majority of fun will be found in the 2 player mode. I may not do online gaming, but it is a shame that Marvel did away with the Live gameplay. This game would probably be the top fighter for that reason alone since it's basically the most popular fighter of the past few years. People still play it at arcade tournaments today in America. Oh well, you'll still have fun with it on your own or against a friend.

For some added replay, you earn points through the main game and even practice that can be used in the game's shop. Here you can buy characters (as wrong as that sounds), different colored costumes for them and a few pictures for the art gallery too. It's a nice little addition, but the art gallery isn't on the same page as say Soul Calibur's. You'll have to get tons of points if you want to have all 56 characters in the game though. Definately pick up whoever you know best from previous games first. Except maybe Chun-Li. Capcom decided to change her moves. She no longer has the Spinning Bird Kick for some reason, which was about 1/3 of her use. You'll just have to adjust and figure out new combos with her. Hey, it'll make you better at future SF games. Not all the SF guys are here though. Who really should've been included was Blanka. He would've fit in perfectly. The only problem with this feature is that the chance of getting different characters is very slim. I had to play through Arcade mode at least 20 times before IronMan showed up. M. Bison, Dhalsim and Charlie seemed to want to be bought first. And even after buying them, I had "sold out" in the character slot for a long time before anyone new showed up. Needless to say, this got annoying. I guess Capcom wants you to buy more than just characters. So go ahead and buy the alternate colors and stages after every character or two to even it out a little.

Like I already stated above, this game isn't anything special graphically. Sure the sprites are animated well, but they really could've used an upgrade. They're not as badly pixelated as those in CvsS2EO, but they're missing some details here and there. A lot of time was went into the animation moves and supers. Then again, after finally seeing Thanos in action, I laughed for minutes just looking at him walk. His head stays in the same place while walking. Like, the rest of his body has movement, but his head slides along with it without any animation of its own. That's just lazy programming. Some of the 3D effects for moves look a little weird. Cyclops' Otpic Blasts don't fit in very well unless they're being used as a super move. You won't notice it that much unless you're nit-picking like me. It's still a good looking game for when it was released. You can tell the developers were having fun when making this (ie- Amingo's throws). Backgrounds are beautifully done for a 2D game and nothing looks bad. I particularily like the backgrounds found in the last boss fight.

Unfortunately, the music is terrible. Well, for a fighting game that is. I don't know what they were thinking here, and I agree with a previous reviewer, claiming that this has "Charlie Brown music". A lot of it sounds like that, and some of it sounds like lounge jazz. This is not the soundtrack a fighting game, especially of this caliber, deserves. Where are some of the Marvel cartoon tracks? Where are some of the old SF tracks? Not here, that's for sure. You're probably better off just turing the game music all the way down and playing your stereo at medium/low volume while the voices and sound effects play over it. MvsC2 really could've used a custom soundtrack option. At least the voices are good. Each character's voice fits them perfectly, and the voice actors did a good job. Captain America sounds proud and bold while announcing his special moves or encouraging his team mates. Wolverine sounds just like he did in the X-Men animated series. And the SF characters have the usual voices you hear in the recent SF installments. Oh and if you're wondering, yes, MegaMan still sounds like a girl. I guess he's in a rut at this point. At least he has Rush at his side to make up for that.

All in all, MvsC2 is a fantastic fighting game. But in today's world of Guilty Gears, it just isn't as pretty as it used to be. I'm only taking one star off of the overall rating because it's a straight port of the DC version. I chose this over the ps2 version for one big reason- better controls. If you don't use arcade sticks, you'll know that the Xbox's controller is bettter for fighting games because the d-pad doesn't have seperate directional buttons. This makes fireball motions much easier. And that's a huge factor because a lot of the fighters have that motion for their special moves. If you can find this today, pick it up. But don't pay the insane prices here on the Used & New section. You can easily find it for about 2/3 of that at any game store in the used section. I know because that's where I got mine just yesterday. ZING.

One of the best games ever!
This game is SO Awesome!!!!!!! There are 56 characters to unlock, possibly the highest amount so far, and each of them has two super moves. In order 2 unlock extra characters and stages, you have to go to Arcade mode and beat it (or quit) or go into training mode, cause the longer you leave your video game system on training mode, the more points you get. A good trick would be to leave your VGS (video game system) on training mode overnight with the TV off, then when you wake up the next morning, quit and you will have TONS of points.
Anyway, if you have a PS2, an Xbox, or a Dreamcast, GET THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!

mvc2 review
this game is the best game i have ever played,dude! It's got rad controls and stuff! I do not have many words to say about this game because it really rocks! ... Read more

Features

• Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds - Clone Campaign takes you into an all-new strategy adventure that closely parallels the events of Episode II!
• This Expansion pack adds a whole level of strategy to the game, with new features like team bonuses -- team up two civilizations to gain specific new strengths
• Existing civilizations have been updated - The Naboo get new bonuses, the Rebels get a new air unit, the Empire gets a new assault mech and more
• Follow two generals, Echuu Shen-Jon and Sev'Rance Tann as they struggle with(or against) two new civilizations - the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems
• Visit amazing new worlds like the lava planet of Sarapin

Reviews (1)

Great expansion pack for a one of my favorite games
...Clone Campaigns is a neat expansion pack for Galactic Battlegrounds. It updates Galactic Battlegrounds to Epsiode II, with the Republic and Confederacy. Also, several changes are made to the game itself, so even if you play one of the old civilizations, it will be new and fun. The most major are:
* Air cruisers- Cannons in the air. Verrrry sllllooooowww recharge rate.
* Anti-air is more powerful/Fighters are less powerful against Anti-air.
* Jedi/Sith upgrades cheaper
* Turrents are more expensive
I would recommend that you get this if you have Galactic Battlegrounds. If you don't have Galactic Battlegrounds, it's an RTS (real time strategy) game based on the Age of Empires II engine where you can become your favorite civ (Royal Naboo, Wookies, Rebel Alliance, Republic, Gungans Empire, Trade Federation, Confederacy) and fight with other civs for control of a world. ... Read more

Product Description

Colin McRae Rally 2005 is the next revolution of the series that has defined virtual reality. The core of the game is going to be the new multi-discipline career challenge - in which youll start out in the lower leagues of club rallying learn your craft inover 20 different classes of rally events including Challenges Cups SuperCups Shields and Championships. With 300 stages of competition and a huge variety of car classes including 2-Wheel Drive super 2WD 4-Wheel-Drive 4WD Classics and more itll be the most complete rally experience ever offered.As well as the Career challenge youll be able to jump staight into a 4WD championship take on a single rally or individual stage and then take on the world in online rallies with up to 8 players. The all-new stages feature interactive scenery so if you push too hard and hit a tree (or when to be more accurate) youll see it shudder from the impact and drop leaves from the branches. Collisions will also result in a dazed effect where your vision will be blurred for a very short period from impact. On thesubject of vision bonnet cam is back for all those who like to gaze down on a pristine engine cover (if things are going well)or the painstakingly detailed under-bonnet engine models (if they arent).The acclaimed Colin McRae Rally damage engine has been updated so even light touches can scratch the paintwork - and as usual panels and components can be deformed and removed in a realistic manner showing the mechanical components of the car in extreme detail. * The 1 rally game evolves as Colin McRae Rally 2005 takes the seriesonline for up to 8 players on Xbox with more cars more stages and newchallenges. * Drive the most diverse selection of cars through new non-linear CareerChallenge with over 20 individual rally events and over 300+ stages. * 30+ featured cars include the Volkswagen Golf MK5 Toyota Celica GT- FOUR Lancia Stratos Alfa Romeo 147 GTA Alfetta GTV TurbodeltaMitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII Peugeot 206 205 T1... ... Read more

Features

• The #1 rally game evolves as Colin McRae Rally 2005 takes the series online for up to 8 players on Xbox with more cars, more stages and new challenges.
• Drive the most diverse selection of cars through new, non-linear Career Challenge with over 20 individual rally events and over 300+ stages.
• 30+ featured cars include the Volkswagen Golf MK5, Toyota Celica GT-FOUR, Lancia Stratos, Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, Alfetta GTV Turbodelta, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII, Peugeot 206, 205 T16 Evo2 and the distinctive VW Beetle RSi!
• 9 international locations (new German rally joins events through UK, Sweden, USA, Finland, Australia, Spain, Greece, and Japan), in Rally game mode, each with 8 stages. Large, animated spectator crowds cheer you on through the stages.
• Incredible detail: An individual damage model for each car - right down to paintwork scrapes and a dazed visual effect as you recover from a crash!

Reviews (4)

a couple of improvements needed
I love this game. Graphics are great, physics fantastic etc.

There are a few improvements that I want to suggest, but don't change whats good with the game now - I would hate to see this become an arcade racer!
1) The controller customization gives you just about every option you could imagine except one - you can't use the right thumbstick to change gears - please put this option in.
2) ability to save favourite runs for replaying later (watching a run can be almost as fun a driving it - especially a few of the big offs)
3) choice of camera angle for replay (inside, outside, helicpoter, as well as the tv style that the game currently uses for replay)
4) movie controls on the replay so you can watch a certain section over again (perhaps from a different camera angle)
5) a few more options in car setup (perhaps more precise tire compound control)
6) a couple of very long courses up to 10-12 minutes (most are under 4 minutes)
7) improved graphics (alhough this is well below my gameplay/replay wants)

Total Disappointment!
I don't care how much "Fun" and "Realistic" is the pitch from the marketing. This game is BAD! Pretty cars in the select menu, that's it for the cool graphics! In game visuals are lame! The Replay mode is just.. well I have not seen such a low quality since my Dreamcast!

And the controls and "realistic" driving? Where? I'm a race game junkie, so my skill is pretty decent. I can hardly believe that a race car needs 10 second to get to 30mph and fly out of control on slightest turns. Yes visually it feels you are still at 5mph. I returned the game after first 30 minutes of play.

Rally Sport Challenge 2 is 1000 times better! Collin McRae's game.... is just wrong...

Plain and simple...the best rally gameever period!!!
I've been a follower of the colin mcrae rally series since CMR 2 and they all have been great, but this one beats them all. The graphics are top notch and the physics are really good. You'll find yourself moving your arms and legs with the car in front of your TV, breathing hard in order to catch the ghost car in front of you or trying to beat the leader by seconds in the championship mode. Yes it is true that going downhill it is hard to see where you're going and you have to pay a lot of attention to you co-driver, but that's what rally is all about. the detail in terrain and in the cars are great!!. trust me , you won't be sorry to buy this game if you really like rally sims. Good Luck!!

Could have been a 5 star classic...
I'm sure most people will compare this game to Rallisport Challenge 1 and 2, so I'll go ahead and jump on that bandwagon. The way I see it, RSC has more of an arcade feel to it, while Colin2005 has more of a simulation feel to it. RSC might be more
fun for the casual video game player because it is easier to master. But for my money I want the real-deal simulation. Anyone
who has watched rally racing on TV will agree that this game is as close to reality as it gets. Need proof? If you chose the in car camera view, you can hear your turbo spool up, the blow-off valve, and rocks/gravel pinging off of the undercarriage. If you chose the outside camera view (depending on which car you pick) you can see inside the car. What you'll see is: driver, co-driver, spare tire, fuel cell, and you might be able to see your driver shift gears and pull the e-brake.Want more? Drive crazy enough and you can knock off doors, rear hatch, hood, wheels, windows, and you can lose gears just like in real life.
Lower your car too much and your exhaust will scrape the ground
and sparks will fly. You still need more? Choose the in car view
and knock off your hood. When you rev up the engine you'll see
it shake. This game is a true simulation.

Okay, I won't BS you its not all good. Colin2005 could have easily been a 5 star game. First, the graphics cant touch RSC.
They don't suck, they're just not as good. But, in this game's defense once you start racing you won't notice. Second, the sound could be better. If you go with the outside camera view, the engine sound is alot lower. The sounds are accurate, but not as good as RSC. Third, the outside camera view will screw you over when you go downhill. You won't be able to see the road very well because the view is too low. Lastly, if you don't
listen to your co-driver you will smash the heck out of your car.Like I said this game is a true sim and it might be too real. If you like rally racing games you NEED this one. If you are a casual gamer, I say rent first, but be warned this game is long and there is no way you'll finish it in a week. ... Read more

Product Description

Chat, exchange items and information, and go into battle with players from all over the world. With Phantasy Star Online, RPG gaming has no boundaries. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Requirements: Xbox Live

Reviews (33)

I am soooo angry
I love this game.I played it on dreamcast and gamecube, and although you CAN go online with those, you don't have to, and you surely didn't have to pay if you just wanted to play offline.I bought this at a gamestop because I loved the earlier versions, I put it in my xbox, and all of a sudden, I realize that I couldn't play it.I'm really mad.However, if you don't mind paying more every month, go for it, it's an amazing game.

You need this game, honestly.
Before I purchased this game less then a month ago I took the time to read all of these reviews. The ones ranting about how awesome and exciting this game is, are right. Gameplay is fun and exciting and with all the wheeling and dealing I do to get rare items trading online I feel like a used car salesmen. Like I said Ive only had this game a month, and Im level 117. Thats how addicting this game is! if your dedicated gaining levels and getting stronger is easy, I promise. Once you are happy with your level, explore the Battle and Challenge modes. I just earned my first challenge rank yesterday, woo! This game is worth everything you must pay or do to get it. And by the way you dont have to PAY to play offline, you simply must have xbox live. The first 2 online months are free anyway, give it a try! Once your online feel free to look me up, my legitness will guide you on your way through the PSO world. BUY THIS GAME!!!

Was nice but
I liked it but I was pissed to find out you had to pay, after I found that out I took it back to the store. And only a few people on a server also sucks.

PSO Rules
I just bought this game and it is awesome.Playing with people online is so sweet.I highly recommend this game.

WHAT!?
I am really mad now.WHY WOULD ONE HAVE TO PAY FOR XBOX LIVE TO PLAY OFFLINE.Boy i have some really nasty comments to say to the creators.Ya its a great game but paying to play offline is...not a good idea.eight dollars a month for a few years does not add up in your favor.and i almost bought it...jeesh ... Read more

Product Description

A series of attempts to kidnap telemetry and rocket scientists pulls Team Rainbow into a spider web of international intrigue. An international cabal of renegade military officers is trying to create a war in the oil-rich regions around the Black Sea, giving them an excuse to swoop in and seize control. Team Rainbow must stop the terrorists from developing weapons of mass destruction and prevent them from starting a devastating war.

• New Single-player Campaign with new, diversified and challenging objectives; new weapons and equipment; and beautiful Mediterranean and Eastern European level environments.
• Improved, Smarter AI Terrorists: Watch the bad guys call for backup when they are outnumbered or use hostages as human shields.
• Objective-Based Game Modes
  • Capture the Point: Teams battle to capture and hold designated points on the map.
  • Capture the Flag: Teams must race to the center to take possession of a specific item and defend it as they carry it back to their compound.
• Black Arrow will be one of the first games to offer the new Xbox Live™ features, such as:
  • User-created tournaments;
  • Messaging; and
  • Clan statistics.
• Tactics for Online Multiplayer: Black Arrow will offer new private team lobbies where players can use a planning interface to develop strategies before online matches begin.
• Split-screen mode for offline two-player collaboration: Tackle each single-player mission with a buddy - and two AI teammates.

Features

• New Single Player Campaign:Complete diversified and challengingobjectives, use new weapons and equipment, and enjoy beautiful Mediterraneanand Eastern European level environments.
• Improved, Smarter AI Terrorists: Watch the bad guys call for backup whenthey are out-numbered or use hostages as human shields.
• New Objective-Based Game Modes:- Conquest: Teams battle to capture and hold designated points on the map.- Capture the Flag: Teams must race to the center to take possession of the flag, and defend it as they carry it back to their compound.
• Black Arrow will be one of the first games to offer the new Xbox Live 3.0 features:- User-created tournaments- Messenging- Clan statistics
• Direct AI Teammates in Co-op Multiplayer: Command Team Rainbow AIsquad-mates during co-operative gameplay and see how you compare with newstatistics for both co-op and single player.

Reviews (13)

Good Game
I love to play first person shooters and this is a goodie.It is not much different from the last installment....I do miss the .50 cal sniper rifle.This one has a 2 player option for the campaign missions...very nice addition.The baddies are the mostly the same spots, but if you restart a level...it does change terrorist positions...which increases the frustration level but it also increases the replay level immensely.Halo and other fps makers...take note please try to increase the replay value of your shooters....possibly a random placement of troops when a level is replayed or restarted.A very nice game all in all.

Black Arrow continues in the vein of Rainbow Six 3
If you like first person shooter (FPS) games, then you should appreciate this one.Black Arrow is simply another chapter of Rainbow Six 3, and uses the same mechanics and even the same characters like Ding Chavez, Eddie Price, and so on.The graphics and sounds are really good, and the weapons are realistic too.The game is challenging, and enemies must be killed with head shots (or chest shots, at least).

My biggest complaint with the mechaics of the game is its sluggish feel.Sometimes, it feels as if your character is running in sand, especially when the enemies are firing on you.You can walk off ledges and "jump down", usually at the expense of a life bar, but you still cannot leap up onto anything.I would like to see this aspect added to later versions of the Rainbow Six 3 line since this is possible in many other FPS games.Additionally, your character often gets hung-up on objects in the environment.That means that you can get stuck on a chair that you are trying to walk past, or your gun barrel can block you from passing through a doorway.Also, it takes too long to throw a grenade as you must stop, select it from a weapon menu, and then throw it.All these steps are too tedious and clunky in the heat of battle.

However, this game shines on XBOX Live.I admit that I am a complete addict and have spent far too many hours online gaming into the wee hours of the morning.The maturity level of many of the players online leaves something to be desired, and I have been more than irritated at the occasional foul-mouthed junior high kid talking trash to anyone within earshot, but one quickly learns to build up a thick skin to these minor detractions.The XBOX Live version is so fun because it is challenging and exciting.The game keeps score and posts the results of the match in the "lobbby" at the end.It is very competitive and entertaining to see how one did when the dust settles.It even tracks players' cumulative statistics and ranks them.I honed my skills on Sharpshooter, a free-for-all where everyone is against everyone else.It took a while for me to realize that a head shot is the best way to eliminate a target; speed is important but does not always determine who wins.I then learned to appreciate the other matches such as Total Conquest and Retrieval.You can even create your own team, or clan or crew, as it is sometimes referred to as, and you can design a logo, motto, and brief description.A player's crew is designated by a four letter word or group of symbols in front of the name, and you can set up and challenge other clans by going to a website called "TeamCompete.com" or by just inviting another crew to a match.

In short, while not perfect mechanically, this game rocks!It is extremely challenging, and is a blast to play on XBOX Live.Go out and buy or rent a copy today; you won't be disappointed.

"Not as Good As The Originals"
"Rainbow Six 3:Black Arrow" is just a bigger version of the original. But the Online Multiplayer has bigger maps and a new gun. The story isn't bad, considering that it's a First-Person Shooter. The A.I. is a little bit smarter, but thats not saying much, plus there's only ONE new gun. And whats the point in having Retrievel in a Squad Based Tactical game. It gets really stupid, and there really is no point in making this game. Say what you want, "Black Arrow" isn't that great to me. I realized that it's just like the original, just bigger. "Halo 2" may have the same problem, but people want "Halo 2" to be alot like "Halo", just a little bit bigger.

Counter-terror at it's finest.
As a MUST-BUY for Xbox Live, this game could hardly get better. Xbox Live 3.0 support works perfectly for the game. Clans (known as "Squads" in Black Arrow) improve the quality of the game greatly on their own, even more-so when you kill multiple enemies of opposing squads by yourself. Singleplayer may not be worth buying the game (to me, mainly because I focus on Xbox Live play), but multiplayer is what it's all about. As a side note, RS3: BA is the #1 Xbox Live game right now (as according to xbox.com).

Better levels, but cheaper enemies and even dumber teammates
I bought this game because I was relatively satisfied with the first rainbow six 3 game on XBOX.This one for the most part does not disappoint, however there are a few flaws that make this game not worthy of a 5 star rating.

Black Arrow plays almost exactly like the first RS3 on XBOX.Even the characters are the same guys, you are Ding Chavez and your teammates are Dieter Weber, Eddie Price and Louis Louiselle.All of the weapons are the same except there is no .50 caliber sniper riffle, it has been replaced with a sniper rifle that uses 7.62mm shells which still gets the job done, but just doesn't have the powerful sound as the .50 cal.The first thing you will notice different about this game are the levels.Each level has been beautifully done complete with better lighting, graphics and attention to detail.Just imagine playing the levels in Splinter Cell 2 as a FPS.The storyline while a bit better than the first seems to jump around a lot, still lacks depth.The enemies are much smarter and will constantly throw grenades at you, call for backup and even rush you when they know you are reloading.This makes the game challenging and fun however the fine line between challenging and frustrating is often crossed in this game.

One thing you will immediately notice is that RS6:BA still uses the painfully annoying limited save system which I wish they get rid of.If you are playing veteran difficulty you are only allotted 2 saves per mission (you were given 3 in the previous game).You will often have to complete 2 tasks before your first save to help spread your saves out.This results in restarting levels over and over and over and over and over and over again, and I am not exaggerating one bit.Be prepared to restart levels anywhere from 20 - 25 times before you are familiar with the layout and cheap enemies hiding in impossible places and literally coming out of nowhere.While terrorists are smarter they are also very cheesy, I have noticed that the CPU randomly places enemies in different spots when you are not looking.I have actually seen a terrorists drop out of the sky on a balcony to try to get a cheesy kill on you.I have also noticed that if you have your team with you more terrorists will randomly appear than if you're by yourself.Levels are also filled with "trigger points" meaning that a room can be totally clear at one moment but if you cross a certain point, the room is filled with enemies magically appearing behind crates and coming out of doors and windows.The fun factor of this game is hurt greatly because of this.You spend entire missions creeping through trying to guess where the next enemy will randomly appear and trying to set off the trigger point and run for cover before you are shot up. Another thing I found very frustrating about this game is that certain terrorists never seem to die no matter how many times yo