Armored Core 4

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List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $39.85
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In general, a welcome addition to the AC series. Great graphics, the outgoing and incoming fire illuminates the surrounding (buildings, valleys..), the buildings can be damaged and in some cases destroyed an improvement to the old static ones.

The garage is different than the last ones schematics of pre-canned mechs, but they can be customized. The method is different, not good or bad, just will take some getting used to.

Primary Armor is new, electronic shielding device. I like it, you can hang in a firefight longer and it does regenerate. It doesn't make the game easier, you still get your kicked.

The controls are similar to the old ones (type A), shoulder weapons (like shotguns) are now available than can fire independently are handy for little stuff.

The story line is interesting, but I don't buy games for cut scenes.

I only have gotten to the 4th chapter of missons so far, a 4yr old that wants to play or stands in front of the TV cuts back on the quality gaming time. I also only have a standard TV using S-video, the game supports 720p.

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Armored Core 4 comes from a long line of mech action games. The simplest thing to say about Armored Core 4 is that if you liked previous Armored Core games, you will like Armored Core 4. Otherwise, the game is a mixed bag.

AC4 takes place in the distant future, placing you in the role of a lone mercenary fighting huge enemy forces with his "AC" mech the titular "Armored Cores". These mechs are humanoid in shape and carry weapons in their mechanical arms. If you've ever seen a "Gundam" episode, that's the basis they're working with think a robot that is basically just a giant person in shape.

The gameplay itself seems promising, but gets somewhat repetitive. The ACs have two weapons (one in each hand) that range from assault rifles to miniguns to rocket launchers to laser guns to laser swords. There are also shoulder-mounted weapons like missile launchers and decoy launchers to lure missiles away from you. Control uses a simple left-stick-moves right-stick-looks system, and it's fairly intuitive. The other main gameplay feature is the booster, which is basically a jetpack that can propel you upwards or rocket you forwards or sideways. The main failing of the controls is that they're not particularly balanced; things that should be connected in purpose are set far apart on the gamepad. For example, pressing L2 uses the boost, but pressing L1 switches your left-hand weapon, and pressing square fires the left-hand weapon. The controls don't seem natural even after you get used to them.

There are a variety of missions in single player mode with some decent gimmicks to set them apart, from "destroy all the enemies" to "get past the enemy's defenses and defeat their anti-air guns" to "drop into hostile territory and maneuver past anti-air guns to reach the targets on the ground". However, the difficult varies way too much from mission to mission some are just "destroy scattered enemies" with a generous time limit, while others in the same group of missions may have unreasonable time limits or throw you against entire walls of incoming fire. There are some battles against enemy ace pilots, and these are fairly interesting, but the other missions seem to boil down to "shoot all the enemies, who are shooting at you".

The other part of single player is customizing your AC with a wide variety of parts and weapons. Every single part of the frame can be upgraded with a variety of different pieces, from the head down to the legs. Each also carries different statistics, so you can build a thin, fast mech, or a bulky, heavy, high-defense mech. The numbers involved are probably enough to make most casual players shy away it's difficult to enjoy giant robot action when you have to wade through a sea of statistics to get to it. Besides parts, you can also customize your AC with a detailed set of colors almost every part can be individually colored, and there are two different methods of picking colors in addition to a pre-set palette. It's also possible to create your own emblems to apply to your mech on various locations.

The graphics in AC4 are decent, but not exceptional enough to be worth it while the game itself is fairly dated, it's still a PS3 game, and should be a little more impressive than this. Shooting things with missiles and guns feels like it should be more cinematic as it is, you're basically launching yellow ovals toward the enemy that make weak explosive impacts. The mechs are neat and there's a wide variety, but they're all basically geometric shapes that have been squashed together to make a humanoid shape. The buildings and environments are even more shapeless, with damage effects resembling something from the PS2.

The sound is even more generic than the graphics. The music is hardly worth mentioning it's just standard futuristic chimes and beeps, without any real independent merit. There's not much voice acting it's pretty much limited to your Mission Control operator and the voiceovers done for the cutscenes (which is only one guy).

As a whole, AC4 feels like it should be a lot cooler and more fun than it is. Unfortunately, the final product falls short of its ambitions, and feels kind of shallow. Online multiplayer allows for some potential fun, but since the game itself is kind of boring, it can only carry it so far. This game feels most like a 6/10 good effort, but not enough substance.

Written by James Shea

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While the ever-changing garage interface continues, which is kind of annoying, the game play and graphics are amazing (as expected). The controls have been much improved and are very smooth. The auto-targeting and auto-boost features are very useful and the "shields" do help you maintain a few extra battle minutes. Overall very good, I hope it's long enough though (haven't beaten it yet)

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The Armored Core series has long suffered gripes and complaints from most American reviewers for pretty much as long as the franchise has existed. It is, however, not a bad title. The thing about Armored Core is that it involves a lot of thinking. A large part of the game revolves around testing parts out, as you literally build a war robot out of hundreds of different parts to choose from, all of which offer varying stats, that leave it up to the pilot to figure out what suits his play style best, and what will help him out the most in missions.

Many people get turned off by the level of depth this game has, which often leads to confusion. Its not a bad title, you just have to be prepared to expect alot of trial and error. Satisfaction comes from completing the often infuriatingly difficult missions [which often turn out you were using the wrong mech setup the whole time] as well as making a very successful robot that trounces competition [other players] Despite poor reviews by those that misunderstand this game, I'll leave it to the fact that this franchise has survived 13 iterations and is still pulling strong, that this is a good franchise, just not for everyone.

Now onto Armored Core in and of itself. It is the most recent game released in America, and for those unsure about this series, this is probably the best one to get into, as by now they have addressed plenty faults from the earlier iterations. The earlier ones did indeed have troubling control layouts, but thankfully it fits just fine on the xbox controller. Anyone who has played Halo or Gears of War will have no trouble grasping the controls, just remember to map the boosting and firing controls to the triggers and not the buttons! The graphics in this game are the best so far, but are no where near as good as something like Mass Effect or Halo, suffering that typical muddy texture feel that most Japanese games seem to have. Music is rather nice in this game, it feels more epic than the techno beats of older games. Sound Effects aren't great but you'll forget them under huge amount of concentration you'll have during fights. The UI is a bit funny, but with some tinkering you'll understand it fine. As far as difficulty, this game can be maddeningly hard for newcomers, but overcome it and you can definitely say you've played a game.

In the end, this game is not for everyone, but don't bash it. Its good, you just have to have some patience and work that brain a little and have some fun, its giant robots with guns.

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It's everything you'd want from Armored Core. I certainly loved it. Parts, missions, online, and not to mention it's graphically awesome.

My one complaint is the lack of content. The game is short, though entertaining through it. However, the sequel, which is already on the way, will fix that.

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PS3 Power Cable

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List Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $8.59
Today's Bonus: 14% Off

Although this may fit older versions of the PS3, it does not fit the newer or slimline version. It's cheap enough I will probably just use it as an extra computer cable instead of returning. The new PS3 has a 2 prong molded end this one is a standard 3 prong computer connector.

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It is a power cord not much to it. It works or it doesn't. This one works. It is a good length and all plugs fit perfectly.

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Well, it powers up my ps3, and thats all I needed. So yeah. Nice length, good stregnth. Yup thats all

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When I got this, it looked like something you plug into your computer for a power cord. DO NOT order this for PS3

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on time and in good work good and i will like more to see like that think you very much

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SONY PlayStation 3 HDD 160GB Console - Classic White (Japan Model)

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-By far the coolest looking of all PS3 models currently available. Hardware wise this is the same PS3 you know and love, with only a couple differences. First this is ONLY available in Japan and Asian regions respectively. Second for those that live outside the region it may also be noted that X is O, which means you use O to confirm and X to cancel. Third DVD playback is restricted to the region from where the console is brought from, which means if you buy a Japanese model you have to use R2 DVD's for playback or R3 DVD's if you buy anywhere outside of Japan. Blu-ray however is the same as in the U.S. since its region A. (PAL users should opt for a HK model as PAL is used in the HK region.) Last but not least power usage and voltage: If you live in the U.S. buy the Japanese model since Japan use 100-110v, which will work with any American outlet. For European and Australian users, use should consider buying the Hong Kong or Korean version of the console since they are rated with 220-240v rating.

DVD Region 2 (Japan), Region 3 (Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore,etc)

Blu-ray Region A (Disappointment for EU users)

Control Scheme X is O in Japan and Asia. X=Cancel O=Confirm

Voltage Japan (100-110v) Asian (220-240v). **If your region does not match the power rating of the console you will have to buy a transformer or converter w/ the correct plug port in order to use the machine in your region.**

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eForCity USB INTERCOOLER 4 COOLING FAN + HDMI CABLE Compatible with SONY PS3

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Got my ps3 cooler about 3 weeks ago and it works pretty good for the price. It doesnt move tons of air, but enough to feel a little cooler, but what do you expect from a $10 investment. I'm not blaming it on this product, but on new years eve my ps3 froze on the start up greetings screen and has not worked since, but it was a 60gb purchased in February of 2007 so it was an older model, luckily i have a best buy warranty so i can just exchange for a new one without switching HDD. Overall great little fans, can be a bit noisy and i'm not sure whether it killed my ps3 or not! lol

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I got the item about 6 days after ordering. Plugged it in, worked fine except for that it didn't click on for me. It plugs into a usb port and then is supposed to attatch to a hole in one of the vents. I used a dab of hot glue and its fine. Its not that loud, not enough to bother. And I dont know if I was ripped off but I bought the same cord at Circut City for more than 60 bucks.

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all this product does is atract dust....it does not keep the game system cool at all....if you want a cooler spend the extra money and get one worth the money.....i threw mine away in the trash after the first use.

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After a lot of research and fixing the ps3 for the second time. I realized this is useless. To prevent overheating you need to clean it, put new artic silver and keep it away from anything for airflow. Plus put the ps3 in a cold environment. No fan or series of fans will save it from overheating. At least the free cable works.

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This didn't fit my 60GB Backwards Compatible PS3.

However it did fit my brother's non backwards compatible fat PS3.

Does not have much in the way of airflow. I got this as a precautionary measurement against FAT overheating issues.

FAT overheated with it. So don't get this if you are preventing the overheating issue.

The HDMI cable is alright, I wouldn't say it is amazing. It is only version 1.3, so don't expect amazing quality, especially in 3D. (I ended up getting a version 1.4 HDMI cable for 3D).

Overall HDMI cable is worth the price paid for the kit, so if you are in a pinch and need an HDMI cable, this is a good deal. However, don't get it thinking the fan will help you.

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Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14

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List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $39.99
Today's Bonus: 33% Off

I'm glad this year's Tiger game is moving away from the golfer himself, and not because of his image. Last year's Tiger Legacy mode faltered, so in its place Tiger 14 offers the Legends of the Majors mode that lets you play through the history of the sport itself instead of just Tiger's career. It's an effective approach, especially when coupled with a few small changes that tighten the overall experience.

I'm not a golf history buff, but Legends of the Majors mode is a fun way to earn coins that incorporates your Career mode golfer by having them face off against the sport's greats at certain intervals. The mode also uses era-specific equipment, which isn't as interesting.

This year the all-important coins, which are used to buy stat-boosting pins, are more useful since you can spend them to level up your golfer. Levels grant you attribute points and equipment for a lot less than it takes to buy a pin pack.

The expansion of the online options gives you more ways to earn coins. The Country Clubs format lets you take in more players, who can contribute to the club's status in more ways (including a variety of tourneys and leaderboards). The clubs also feature expanded voice chat, and a new Club Loyalty Bonus that gives you coins for members playing every day.

The action on the course remains largely the same from last year, except for the new swing arcs. Like changing your club tuning, fiddling with your swing arc has its advantages. This lets you change the flight characteristics of your ball, including your power, control, and how the wind affects your shot.

Even though Tiger 14 has a similar setup as Tiger 13, I had more fun with the newer game because its constituent parts mesh better. For a golfer, getting everything in synch is important.

The Edge

Like last year, if you absolutely have to have motion controls, I suggest you go with the Move. Putting in particular is harder with the Move, but it's also more accurate in general over Xbox 360's Kinect. The Kinect motion controls are dumbed down to the point where the game does a lot of the work for you. For instance, a half swing on the Kinect will often be read as a full-powered shot. This defeats the purpose of using motion controls for a more lifelike feel.

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I was eagerly waiting for this edition. I shouldn't have been so eager. While it is admittedly fun to play, it's graphics creators have really delivered a bummer. Every year this series has looked better and better. More realistic, more color saturation has been the motto. However, and this is a big however, Tiger Woods 14 looks lousy. The color saturation is gone. The realism of the courses is gone. What we are left with is a dim picture devoid of crispness. I have a large LED set to play it on and I swear I can't see the stupid ball when it lands on the fairways or the greens. BAD!!!!!!! Who was asleep during the creation of the monstrosity? Where is the color, where is the sharpness, where is the real look that has been present the last few years?

One other thing. If you thought that this was a slow game to load from one fairway to another, you ain't seen nothing yet with Tiger Woods 14 You can almost take a nap with the length of time it takes to go from one green to the next tee. Totally unforgiveable !

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Where is the 1/2 star? I have played Tiger Woods by EA Sports starting with '9'. The game improved each year until '13'. each shot was like hitting from the fairway with no penalty for being in the rough or sand. I waited anxiously for '14' and am somewhat disappointed. While the unpunished lie has been fixed, other problems were created. When playing online, your opponents ball trail cannot be turned off (EA sports said this was an enhancement). the follow cam that allowed you to see where your opponent's ball landed is positioned behind the golfer and cannot be changed. you only see where your opponent landed on the next shot. you only get to observe about half of your opponents shots you can hear all of them half of them your opponent is just standing by his ball. when your opponent putts, his ball never moves you see a ball trail that sometimes you cannot tell if the putt is made or not. the evolution of this game is going backwards. i must say the graphics are good but hard to enjoy when your frustrated. patches or options are needed for those people who play the game with 4 or less players. EA sports tech support said these enhancements where made so 10 people can hit all at the same time and you can watch all of the ball flights. I ask who would want to as you do not know who made what shot. bring back the follow cam and turn off ball trails and i might buy '15'

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The game itself is okay. Not great, but okay. Visuals and controls are great. Courses are beautiful and challenging. EA finds ways to ruin the joy at any opportunity provided. You can't play the whole tour, some courses are DLC only with ridiculously high prices. The career mode freezes repeatedly and EA is relentless in trying to get you to spend more money on $60 game it refuses to provide the value you would expect to receive in the first place.

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It is a bull...t that to pay $60 for a game and not be able to compete in all of the events on the pga tour because many courses arent included. Had I known that, I would have spent the extra money for the historic edition. Im part way through my first season and have had to skip 5 events because I dont have the course. Courses cost anywhere from $4-$7 each. I can upgrade to Historic edition in game for $19 but when I sell the game, I will only be selling the standard version and will be out the $19. The historic edition only gives you 5 extra courses. Then there are still 14 more courses that you dont have. You can buy them one at a time or buy the pack for $40. So to get all the courses, buy the historic editon for $70 then $40 for the upgrades. $110 for a fully functioning video game is the dumbest thing Ive ever heard of.

I knew the regular version didnt have all of the courses but I assumed it had all of them that I needed to play a full tour schedule.

I like the gameplay but there is very little penalty for hitting out of the sand or rough at the lower difficulty levels but I havent tried on the highest levels yet. Not very realistic though being able to hit out of the sand as easy as you can hit off of the fairway anywhere within 100 yds of the green.

I gave it 1 star to get peoples attention but I would reccomend the game, be aware of what you are missing.

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Final Fantasy 13-2 XIII-2 Limited Edition Future Shop Steelbook Only New

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It's not really like most steel cases because of the fact that it has an almost "glossy" paint finish (which appears to scratch off easily). Another kinda thing i could nitpick about is that lightning's face IS the front cover and the ff13 logo is the back which just seems kinda backwards to me but its not a big deal. However the inside of the case also has some pretty cool images.

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great looking case

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Highlander

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Some one somewhere please find a way to get this game released or leaked to the public... even a by ORDER ONLY option! Something...why sit on a finished game!? there are people out here like me who will buy this! this is art and experience that we want to enjoy....a game is like having the dream you wish you could have but never do....you get to experience an alternate reality for a while... dont deprive the world of that!

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I remember it was scheduled to come out a couple years ago and the day before it releases it just gets pulled and that's it. What happened

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I will change my rating once this game is released and I play it, but this game WILL be released, it's release is to coincide with the highlander remake being released in theaters

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It was thrown out by EIDOS themselves they did not think it would sell and also they did not have enough funds to pay for the marketing the game was finished but those are the only reasons they did not put it out. People thought the concept was pretty lame. But true Highlander fans which are not many, would have bought it. Again not many fans means very little profit in the long run EIDOS can't afford to keep throwing money away the're strugleing very badly. And are on the brink of financial collapse for their company even the Too Human title did not impress enough people to bring them revenue. They were supposed to make a sequel to Too Human but EIDOS does not have the money. They are a small company with a great history but also had a ton of flop titles. The Legacy of Kain Series, Tomb Raider these are the titles they make everything else was ehh like NINJA, Prism, Soul Bubbles, etc. there are so many flop titles they made that ther're almost gonna be closed out. EIDOS in my personal oopinion should have made this title not to mention several other Legacy of Kain games but instead they decide to ignore their fans and do what they please. They are very prideilent and don't care about their fan base what so ever. They show repeated patterns of great promises they never fulfill. A word of advice from now on when you see EIDOS as the developer making a very good title, don't get excited, instead just go ehh, we'll see if EIDOS makes that good of a title, then say after to yourself that would be the day. Until then I did reasearch on this game and supposingly it was supposed to be released alongside the new Highlander movie which is currently supposed to be in production but personal I think they might not even make that. It was supposed to be a remake of the very first movie but without Christopher Lambert as Connor McCloud. personaly I think it won't happen cause no one really remembers Highlander so unless they know it will bring them a ton of revenue or unless so company wants to blow the cash looks like we;ll have to wait a few more years for a Highlander videogame and movie if any of these happen it would be fantastic, but until then us Highlander fans must wait. Companies don't just blow money anymore just look at the Halo series they said the 3rd game was the last one now were goin on the 4th game this year plus all the sub games along side the first. So unless it makes the bucks the small things that are great to some will have to wait, so that when they do they will be perfect and not turn out like crap. Believe me as a kid whose father got me hooked on Highlander (which is how I become a fan, though my Dad) I always wanted them to make a Video Game of the series of at least a stand alone title bearing it's name where I get to chop off someones freakin head as the main way of defeating the enemies whom approach you, but alas I have come to learn that we are just fans and unless you want to find and talk to the creator of Highlander you will have to wait for a videogame to be made. If you can contact such a person, that would also be a miracle as well. Until then There Can Be Only One. Only one explanation to this attrocity, and thats money. So I feel for you and all of you I was up all not the day before it was supposed to be out and then all of a sudden it said this game is currently unavailable we dont know when it will be released. And like many I went to bed very sad and dissappointed. I really wanted a Highlander game to be made. But life is full of irony isn't it, what can we do other then move on. Thats life, we do not control the developers projects they do. So believe me I know I wish it did happen. But look at the bright side Highlander fans maybe when they decide to make a Highlander game it will be even better then it was supposed to be. Only time will tell, until then we all shall wait, hoping that what we want will come true, hoping that the developers, publishers, and producers give us what we really want, hopefully if they care. Soon, very soon there will be a Highlander game. Hell I have a great program that allows me to create videogames I might just make a Highlander game for the heck of it and ship it to the creator himself and give it to him if it comes to that. I would have to write a story but I write pretty good so thats not the problem. The problem is I would have to call up the software company that gave me my design program and ask them to make me a Owen McCloud replica which may cost me a few hundreds for them to custom make it for me. They can make me custom digital products its perfectly legal and I would have to pay for the 3d model. But yea I will proberly end up doing it myself. We'll see.

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GRID 2

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List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $30.58
Today's Bonus: 24% Off

I waited years for Grid 2. Grid 1 was my favorite racing game on any system for it's mix of excellent gameplay and physics. Grid 2 is a big letdown. It's just your typical arcade racer. The story is very limiting and boring, as are the cars.

The graphics are nice, but the physics ruin the entire experience. The in-game commentator says it all... "Try to maintain your speed round this next corner by drifting." Uggh. You literally have to do what the game suggests and defy the laws of physics and motorsports to compete with the other cars. Thus, the entire point of this racing game is destroyed and the experience is disheartening and dull.

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Just to give some background I've been playing Codemasters games since Colin McRae Dirt and have almost always enjoyed them. I don't really play their games for an in-depth simulation experience; it's usually more like I have a little time to kill and want to have some fun flogging a car around a track or through a rally course.

I thought the original GRID was really fun and have been playing it again recently while waiting for this one to come out. I've had this game pre-ordered for months and was really looking forward to playing it...when I finally got hold of it I played it for a little over an hour before getting bored and finding something else to do.

So what's wrong with it you ask? It seems like the accounting department was calling most of the shots. They cut out the cockpit view saying that nobody used it and could spend their time better elsewhere. For starters it sounds like "95% of players never use it" is a number they just pulled out of thin air, and I don't really see where all of that time "better spent elsewhere" was spent. For a sequel to a game that came out five years ago, it doesn't feel really evolved beyond the original. Actually, considering the things they cut out, it's less of a game than the original.

All in all, it's not a bad game and there's nothing about it that's a deal-killer...but it does feel like it could have been a much better game than it is if more time and effort was put into making it.

Edit: This game actually gets worse as you progress through it; the shoddy physics engine makes driving every one of the more advanced cars nearly impossible. If cars actually handled the way this game portrays them, 100% of super-car owners would be dead.

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load times are way too long. had to skip over a event because it would not load in season two. graphics are nice but not really spectacular. i did like the different types of races it had. online play is good. all in all i'd say not a bad game, but would not recommend paying full price (I bought it pre-order) it's a 20 to 30 dollar game.

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The gaming is good but if you are really into hardcore racing, don't buy this you're better off with GT5 or GT6, the handling is kinda skirmish and sometimes the cars are too hard to control, but either way it's fun and exciting!!

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5 years ago, a few of my friends talked me into getting a ps3 to race with them on Grid 1. It is still the best racing game i have ever played and needless to say, I had VERY high expectations for this game. If you cant tell by the 2 stars I'm giving it, they were not even close to being met(Also after i hit 341 races online and nearly had completed the single player, a glitch in the game turned my SAVED DATA CORRUPTED AND CODEMASTERS IS NOT EVEN ATTEMPTING TO PATCH IT YET!!! This has happened to SEVERAL people so... im begging people to wait to buy or not even bother wasting money on it.)

Positives

-Its a Codemasters game.

-Graphics are amazing.(Wrecks are insane.)

-Decent selection of cars.

-Single player experience was not too short and not too long.

The first week I had the game I thoroughly enjoyed it. Online was competitive and fun with a decent amount of cars to customize(visual and 3 types of performance upgrades.. no tuning what so ever.) and a level system that goes up to 30. The game actually has the perfect money system in place to where the better you race, the more you level up and more cars you get(even if your not that good you still can level up at a decent rate) I also thought the addition of the Live Routes game-mode was excellent, even if it had repetitive sections, you still had no idea what was coming next and it evened the field up. Track selection is also a bonus here as there is a good amount to choose from. Oh and the best part of the game is probably the graphics/damage system. You can definitely see an upgrade to it since dirt showdown

Negatives

-NO COCKPIT VIEW

-No demo derby

-"Cutting Corner" system is incredibly annoying

-You have to drift... every... corner...

-No group vote to kick players online

-To much arcade, Not enough sim(first grid was perfect combination)

-Getting stuck in the loading screen(has happened at least 10 times)

-The First corner in every online race when collisions are on.

The second week is when everything started going down hill for me. It took me 30 minutes one day to get in a race without the host kicking me out because i was one or two levels above them(Most of the time I had even been in less races than them!).

There were several occasions where I would lose connections to codemasters servers and have to back out of the game and get back in it in order to play online. The story in the single player mode gets repetitive and boring(It is a racing game though so thats to expect). Offline split screen is a pain, you cant customize the player 2 car without going back to the main screen and doing it to one of your season cars. I'll also mention there are glitches like going under the track and getting frozen in load screens but im sure those will get patched eventually. My biggest complaint though is the one aforementioned above, about how on the ps3 version when your saved data gets to 967kb.. itll become corrupt and you'll LOSE EVERYTHING. From what I've read in forums it happens often and... the most amazing part about it is codemaster isnt doing anything to fix it.

So at this point your probably asking yourself, "If this game is so terrible, why did this guy bother playing it for a month?". I have been in a bit of denial about the whole thing cause I love codemaster's games since colin mcrae rally games on the ps1, and im sure ill be purchasing dirt 4, but I really hoped they would patch it and it took having my entire game deleted to realize I wasted $60 on it.

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PlayStation 3 System Slim 120GB

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Let me start out by saying that I'm currently 56 years old and everything I know about video game consoles can fit on a fingernail clipping. A couple of years ago, my companion bought me a PS2, because she had recalled my mentioning in passing (after seeing advertisements for some pretty interesting sci-fi-themed games) that I was curious about what's going on in that medium. The game technology seemed to have progressed light years since I last paid attention, sometime in the late 80s, early 90s, which went something like this: you start out with some objective, and then the game play steadily quickens until you eventually lose against the computer. It was very dull. After she bought me the PS2, the only game I bought was Grand Tourismo 4 (she had given me with the console itself Superman Returns, but I didn't like it), with which I relaxed by racing the realistically rendered cars around some impressively detailed tracks, but never getting into the more sophisticated levels of the game. Then about four months ago, my son lent me Resident Evil 4. Of course, you gamers know this was a benchmark in game development, and can understand why I became completely immersed in it. It was truly a creepy experience. You weren't just WATCHING a horror movie; you were IN it. Here I was, at my age, suddenly finding myself lost for literally hours a day -one weekend, twenty hours straight; my body ached -then thinking about the game when I wasn't playing it, looking forward to the moment I could resume the story. After I beat it, I went through it three more times. Then I bought God of War II, quite by accident (I selected it for the price, a mere $20), unaware that this, too, was a hit game, and another benchmark. The graphics were so good, so stunning, so grand and sweeping, I played it six times. Again, hours seemed like minutes; I'd simply lose time. I was now addicted, and taking into account how good a PS2 was, I figured that the PS3 -with its Blu-ray technology -had to be out-of-this-world incredible. Four weeks ago, I bought this PS3 slim, and it has given me enjoyment that made it worth every penny, and then some.

I can't speak to the technical specifications of the PS3, or how it compares to other consoles. I'm writing instead to other middle-aged customers who might have stumbled on this page, perhaps shopping for some young relative -son or daughter; niece or nephew; or grandchild -to suggest that you should consider buying one of these babies for yourself. This is one powerful piece of entertainment technology. Not only does it exceed my expectations as a game console, it's also a BD player, and using the WiFi connection, it permits access to the PlayStation Store, for free demos and exclusive content; plus BD live material, and downloading movies and TV episodes; and you can import your CDs to the PS3's hard drive, to create playlists or just randomize the tracks for playback. It's become a virtual media center for me.

And the game play? Oh, man. The PS3 advances even further the features that make gaming so addictive. To those of you who snuff that it's a juvenile waste of time, I suggest you ask yourself, is it any different from watching sitcoms or reality TV? A video game requires you to REACT, to THINK, to ANALYZE. That is NOT overstating the stimulative benefits. While they are in fact merely games, game-play itself is a complete immersion in an experience, while requiring good hand-eye coordination and some mental agility. All the games I've played so far included puzzles as part of the story, and it's a very satisfying feeling when you finally solve a particularly challenging one.

If the middle-aged shopper I'm imagining I'm writing to is inclined to wonder if all that tapping on those buttons in specific patterns is difficult to learn, this is my honest answer: At first, yes, it is. But eventually your fingers learn what button is where, and it becomes second nature, like typing. To those even older, it's recommended by doctors that as you age, you need new stimuli to keep your acuity. You won't find a more fun way to do so than this. Ignore your previous misconception that video games are for teenagers. An article in USA TODAY from 2004 stated that ". . . the average age of game players was 29 and the average age of buyers was 36, with men making up 59% of the playing audience." So you can add about five years to those figures, making the average age of video game BUYERS about 40. I have spent untold hours on my PS3, and connected to my 47" HDTV, it's the ultimate entertainment. The graphics are sharp and clear, movement of characters is realistic, making it even easier to get totally engaged in the environments. I just finished Batman: Arkham Asylum, a great game with easily mastered moves, some tough puzzles, and a very dark, decayed ambiance.

True gamers who are reading this are probably chuckling right now, because this is all pretty much a no-duh to them. Well, let me offer a hardy THANK YOU for supporting the industry with enough of your dollars to permit it to advance as an entertainment medium in such awesome bounds. This is the next step toward the future of the ultimate video game experience. Oh, what will the technology deliver? A virtual reality, perhaps?

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Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

UPDATE (November, 2010):

Before you decide to buy this model, note that the PlayStation 3 160 GB and for fifty dollars more you can get the PlayStation 3 320 GB. You may also want to consider the PlayStation 3 320GB System with PlayStation Move Bundle

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RATING

I will begin with the rating part so that those who are already familiar with the PS3 line may save a little time.

On balance, I found the PS3 Slim or the 'PS3 120GB' to be a worthy addition to the current PS3 line. It comes with several major improvements over its predecessors and the 'trade offs' are few and, to most us, insignificant.

This how the new model compares to its predecessors:

PS3 SLIM vs. PS3 80/160GB

+ $100/200 less

+ Smaller

+ More energy efficient

+ More quiet operation

+ Cooler

+ Smaller Cell processor manufactured using a 45-nanometer manufacturing process

+ New, more advanced HDMI 1.3 chipset

+ Easier HDD upgrade

No Linux support

No on-off switch in the back

Push rather than touch 'On' and 'Eject' buttons

Not as pretty

= Unchanged game-playing experience

= Same great Blu-ray player

= Same PSP integration

= Same WiFi, Bluetooth built-in

= Same Dualshock 3 rumble, motion sensitive controller

= Same I/O options

The PS3 Slim is a superior product when compared with the PS3 80/160GB models. This relatively inexpensive, feature packed, versatile gaming machine, multimedia hub and outstanding Blu-ray player, earns back the 5th star that I granted the Classic models and I didn't feel that the PS3 80/160GB models deserved.

Granted, when compared to the PS3 Classic, the PS3 Slim lacks PS2 compatibility, has 2 fewer USB ports and and it lacks media card slots but these shortcomings are offset by the significantly lower price, energy efficiency, larger storage and an updated CPU and HDMI. And, keeping hope alive by feeding it rumors, who knows? Sony just might add PS2 software emulation once it stops manufacturing the PS2 sometime, next year.

MY TEST DRIVE IMPRESSIONS

The good news is that you can do just about everything you did with the PS3 80/160GB models and in the exact same way. During my test ride, I was able to play all the games I brought with me without a problem, the Bluetooth remote controller was recognized immediately and so was the Playstation Eye. Both a USB-dongle full-size wireless keyboard, a USB-connected wired keyboard and Sony's own Bluetooth mini-keyboard worked as expected. I was able to upload pictures, videos and music from a USB thumb drive and a USB-connected SATA 2.5" hard disk and play them in the same way I do it on my own PS3. The person who allowed me the test drive suggested that I do not sign into the PSN but I have no doubt that the Slim behaves exactly like its predecessors on the PSN, running HOME or while browsing the Net.

The Slim has the exact same ports in the back, the same buttons in front albeit 'push' buttons instead of the 'touch' buttons, the same 2 USB ports, comes with the same Dualshock 3 controller, USB cable and Composite AV cable accessories.

The older PS3s weren't particularly noisy but the Slim seems to be more quiet and, after several hours of play, it didn't get as warm as my Classic. The ONLY 2 USB ports bother me a little because I brought along the Eye, a USB-wired HDD, a USB keyboard and a dongle-based wireless keyboard. That meant that I had to do a lot of plugging and unplugging when testing. In real life, it's not so convenient to charge a controller and access more than one USB-connected peripheral. There are third party generic USB hubs (ugly) or PS3-specific port extenders and media hubs that could be used to increase the number of USB ports and bring back the media card slots.

My overall impression of the Slim is "nothing new" at least on surface. The "cooler, quieter, smaller, more energy efficient" you don't notice while playing a game or watching a movie. The really great news about the Slim is that so many more will be able to afford it and, with a larger user base, more developers will feel more strongly motivated to publish more, better games that all of us will enjoy.

THE SLIM (PS3) vs. THE 'XBOX 360 ELITE FALL 2009'

This is not meant to be a 'fan' statement. I don't own a Wii but I do own an Xbox 360 so I will be able to discuss PS3 Slim vs. Xbox 360 Elite and, hopefully, it may help a little those undecided between the two or those thinking about getting a PS3 as a second gaming console. Please be aware that, even though I own both consoles and I try to be as objective as possible, I do tend to favor the PS3.

Parity

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Storage: 120 GB on both systems

CD, DVD playback: both

Bluetooth/IR: Bluetooth included with PS3, Infrared remote for Xbox

Community: PSN/Home memberships are free, Xbox Live includes free Silver membership and one-month Gold subscription, paid thereafter

Advantage PS3 Slim

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Blu-ray: PS3 only. Blu-ray disks aren't used for HD movie playback but to deliver games as well. Since they store several times more data than a DVD disk, PS3 games can be 'bigger' and be still delivered on one disk, eliminating the need for swapping during gameplay.

WiFi: included with PS3, available as an add-on for Xbox.

HDMI 1.3a on PS3 (more vivid colors, better sound) vs. HDMI 1.2 on Xbox

Controller: wireless on both systems, rumble on both, PS3's only is motion sensitive, rechargeable batteries built into PS3's, Xbox rechargeable battery packs available for purchase.

Integration with a handheld device: PS3 integrates with the PSP, the Xbox offers Zune integration. I would call it 'advantage PS3' because the Zune integration is limited to file transfers.

Internal power supply: yes for the Slim, a large external 'brick' for the Xbox.

Ability to upgrade the Hard Disk: the PS3 could use any cheap 2.5" SATA on the market (a 500GB can be had for $90 at the time of this writing and the existing PS3 disk can be recycled to upgrade a laptop or as external storage) without voiding the warranty. I am not aware Xbox HDD upgrades beyond 120GB but, judging by the 120GB upgrade HDD for the smaller models, they are likely to be proprietary, more expensive solutions.

Slim comes with USB, Ethernet and Composite cables, Xbox has only Composite in the box.

Advantage Xbox 360 Elite Fall 2009

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Headset: not included with PS3 but any Bluetooth device will work, wired headset included with Xbox Elite.

Ethernet: PS3 supports Gigabit Ethernet, Xbox is limited to 100BASET-T.

USB ports: Xbox comes with 3, Slim has only 2.

It seems that a PS3 Slim can be brought to parity with the Xbox 360 Elite by purchasing a Bluetooth headset (possibly for less than $10 and that would make the PS3 a superior choice since the Xbox headset is wired to the controller. For the amount, the PS3 will match and surpass Xbox feature for feature if we don't factor in exclusive Xbox games or unique Xbox Live features.

To bring the Xbox 360 Elite to parity with the PS3 one would need: a WiFi adapter ($70) and rechargeable batteries ($10). I will not add the various cables to the list because, depending on setup, they may or may not be needed and PS3's Gigabit Ethernet is not likely to make a difference in anyone's gaming or movie streaming at this time. $80 would bring the Xbox closer to the PS3 but the Xbox won't support Blu-ray, does not have a motion sensitive controller, can't function without an external power supply and, Zune withstanding, it does not integrate with a hand-held gaming device. In addition, continuing the Xbox Live Gold beyond the initial month would be another $30-50 per year for the life of the Elite.

I chose not to factor in the quality of available software because it's impossible to be even remotely objective when it comes to judge Sony's exclusives vs. Xbox exclusives. My guess is that, in the end, those who must have Halo will buy a Microsoft Xbox regardless of cost or other features and those who fall in love with Little Big Planet or Uncharted have no choice but a Sony PS3. The general consensus is that, at this time, the PS3 has the superior hardware (see above) while the Xbox has an advantage in exclusive titles and some exclusive content. In addition, many multiplatform games are developed on the Xbox first and then ported to the PS3. That can make the Xbox versions appear to be superior and, more importantly, the PS3 versions do not always take full advantage of PS3s superior hardware. This seems to be less the case as developers are becoming more familiar with the PS3 platform the software gap, if there is one at this time, it is closing fast.

Update on PS3 vs Xbox 360 (July 2010)

-------------------------------------

Quite a bit has happened since I posted this review and almost all of it was good news from a user's point of view. Microsoft got 'the message' and there is a new, slimmer, quieter Xbox with a larger but still proprietary disc and with built-in Wi-Fi, plus a proprietary Kinect port. Sony, on the other hand, has launched a premium 'pay' service on the PSN featuring Hulu 'plus' and maybe other goodies to be added in the future but the 'free' PSN service is still superior to its 'free' Xbox rival, in my view.

So, revisiting the comparisons above, the PS3 still holds the advantage when it comes to Blu-ray and motion-sensitive controllers. The PS3 120GB's drive while smaller is still easily upgradeable while the Xbox is not (my 120GB Slim got its 500GB upgrade within days of purchase at almost no cost given that I was able to reuse the 120GB drive for other purposes).

ESSENTIAL ADD-ONS AND ACCESSORIES

For those who decided that the PS3 Slim is what they wanted, the list below may help them budget for the extra purchases they may want to consider. There are surprisingly few extra a PS3 REALLY needs and I listed them in order from what I view as the more to the less important or needed. Those at the top are, in my view, more 'essential' than the ones at the bottom, but with the exception of the HDMI cable which is a must have for an HD TV set, you could easily do without the rest or get them later if you really feel that you want them.

HDMI CABLE It's a must for anyone who already has an HD TV. It's not included in the box and I am not going to provide a link because there are dozens of vendors at Amazon, competing and that's a good thing because one can be had for only a few dollars. Just make sure it's HDMI 1.3. A 'High-Speed' rating is not necessarily a plus if the cable you need is only 3 ft. or 6 ft. long. All HDMI 1.3 cables should be High-Speed rated and only High-Speed cables support 1080p resolutions. At these lengths, paying a premium for 'quality' can't be justified because the odds for the digital signal to be misinterpreted are close to non-existent.

REMOTE CONTROL Unless your HD TV supports CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) which allows for the user to command and control multiple CEC-enabled boxes with one remote control and for CEC capable devices to command and control each other, Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote could make the operation of the PS3 a lot easier when you are not playing a game. It's optimized for movie viewing but XMB navigation, running slide shows and shopping at the PSN store are easier with the remote control because it does not need two hands to be operated. In fact, it can be operated with one thumb.

WIRELESS HEADSET This is the one important component that the Elite bundle includes (theirs is wired) and the PS3 does not. Any Bluetooth headset would do which is why I am not going to insert a link to Sony's product or to anyone else's.

SECOND DUALSHOCK 3 CONTROLLER Even if you play solo only, a second controller may be charging while the other is in use.

USB PORT EXTENDER Again, there are many competing offers. I would prefer one where the ports are powered. Some singing games may come with their own extenders.

PS3 EYE CAMERA This is not exactly a 'must have' but it's definitely a 'very nice to have' as the Eye is not only a camera but also a stereo microphone depending on your needs, it may eliminate the need for a headset. I obtained mine cheaply, with a used copy of Eye of Judgment. If you decide to go that route, be VERY careful and ensure that the camera is indeed included before your order.

MEDIA CARD READERS They would plug into a USB port and will allow your PS3 to read/write to Media/Multimedia/Secure Digital, Memory Stick (PRO), Compact Flash, or XD Picture cards. They can be had for anything from $1 to $20.

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Note 1: MY OWN BIAS

We own a 'Classic' 60GB PS3, currently upgraded to 320GB, DualShock 3 and complemented with various peripherals: PS3 Eye, Logitech Driving Force GT Racing Wheel, Bluetooth keyboard attachment, headset... etc. We also own an Xbox 360 Elite, 3 PSP 3000's (got 3 kids) and a second-hand DS. We used to have a PS2 but we sold it shortly after purchasing the PS3. I've helped several of my neighbors purchase, install and upgrade their own PS3's. I am posting this review because I had the opportunity to test drive a PS3 Slim for several hours a couple of nights before the official launch someone I know works at a store that sells gaming consoles.

Speaking for myself only, I tend to favor the PS3 for several reasons and here they are:

WiFi This is a major convenience for me. I hate 'wires' and the PS3 has the WiFi built in and it's VERY easy to set up.

Blu-ray I was an early adopter and I haven't bought 'new' DVDs in more than a year. Having the PS3 doubling up as a Blu-ray player is another major convenience for me.

HDD Storage upgrade I don't believe that 120GB is sufficient these days and our console has exceeded the 120GB threshold already after lots of downloaded games and movies and transferring thousands of photos and songs to it. A PS3 can be easily and inexpensively upgraded to 500GB today and this is a big plus.

Little Big Planet It's a Sony exclusive and my kids just love this game. They would probably run away and resettle with a family that has LBP if I got rid of the PS3.

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Note 2: THE SLIM'S SPECS AND FEATURES

45nm, 7-core Cell processor CPU

RSX Based on NV47 Chip (Nvidia GeForce 7800 Architecture) for graphics

Updated HDMI chipset (bitstreams hi-res DTS-HD, TrueHD)

256MB XDR Main RAM and 256MB GDDR3 VRAM memory

120GB Hard disk 2.5" SATA can be replaced with any 2.5" SATA and a compatible 500GB HDD can be had for about $90 at the time I write this review

Blu-ray 2.0 player (possibly still the best) that also plays DVDs and CDs

Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T wired networking

WiFi 802.11 b/g (from 10 Mbps up to 54 Mbps) wireless networking I couldn't live without

Bluetooth 2.0 for game controller, headsets, keyboards and so on

Video resolution up to 1080p

Audio supported: LPCM 7.1, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, AAC

Other outputs: HDMI, Optical, Composite AV

Other I/O: 2 High-speed USB 2.0 ports

Power: dual 120/240V

Power consumption: 250W

Weight: about 7 lbs.

Dimensions: about 12" x 2.5" x 12" (my measurements)

Included controller: DUALSHOCK 3

Included cables: USB and Composite AV, power chord

Additional features:

Displays JPEG stills.

Multi-featured, surprisingly good slide show functionality.

Plays MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4/h.264 videos.

Bitstreams DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD to receiver

Upconverts DVDs to 1080p over HDMI

XMB in-game access.

In-game and off-game text and voice chat (headset, keyboard or Eye are needed).

Video chat with up to six people (PlayStation Eye is required)

Can discover media servers on the home network and stream content from any DLNA-compliant device.

Web browser (still has some usability and compatibility issues) but plays YouTube well.

Google Web search.

Remote play on a PSP connected to any wireless access point play music, videos, show pics, turn on the PS3 remotely if on stand-by

Upload PSP games purchased from the PSN Store to the PSP.

Online software updates improve PS3 functionality and keep the Blu-ray player features current.

Online third party updates.

Online gameplay.

Download and play PS3 games and demos from the PSN store.

Download and play PSOne games.

Download and play movies and shows from the PSN store.

Supports HDMI Consumer Electronic Control (HDMI-CEC) control the Slim through the remote of any CEC-enabled TV such as a Bravia.

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Note 3: HDD UPGRADE

If you are on the upgrade path, less than $90 would buy you a 500GB drive. The one that I tested would be the 500GB Scorpio Blue Mobile Sata 5400RPM 8MB 2.5IN which replaced my laptop's 60GB drive and a friend's 80GB PS3 HDD. The nice thing about upgrading your disk is that you are also going to be left with a perfectly good 80GB or $160GB or 120GB drive which you can place into a cheap enclosure, and the StarTech AT2510U2 InfoSafe 2.5-Inch USB/SATA Hard Drive Enclosure worked for me. After I upgraded my own console to 320Gb, I used the free leftover drive as a backup device for family photos.

Buy PlayStation 3 System Slim 120GB Now

As a proud owner of a PS3, I was closely following developments of when the rumored (and highly-anticipated) PS3 Slim would come out. After shelling for the PS3 80GB back in 2008, I was really excited to hear that Sony not only announced a smaller version of the PS3, but also implemented a [long-overdue] $100 price cut. I immediately went out and bought the Slim as soon as possible, and am very happy with it so far. Here are my impressions:

COMPARED TO PLAYSTATION 3 "FAT"

A LOT SMALLER

I heard that it was smaller, but seeing is believing! The photos don't do the system justice, and it's not really till you see and feel the difference that you are impressed with it. If you can, go into your local game store and check it out for yourself! If you've previously owned a Playstation console, you already know the difference the slimmer version makes when compared to the original, bulky ones. What's really convenient is that the slimmer PS3 not only means your video gaming is more portable, but that you have a really convenient Blu-Ray player.

NOT A FINGERPRINT MAGNET

I love the sleek look of my PS3 Fat, but don't like how it constantly needs to be cleaned. The glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet! The matte finish on the Slim is much easier to maintain. That being said, it doesn't look as shiny and cool, but I think its convenience outweighs that.

MORE STORAGE

Storage was never an issue for me on my 80GB system, but for those who wanted more storage, you get 40GB more with this system (120GB in total). It may not seem like much, but you can hold MANY movies, pictures, and music albums with 120GB. If that's still not enough, you can always install a 2.5" hard drive yourself, or better yet, plug in an external hard drive in one of the USB ports. You can easily get a portable 500GB external hard drive for less than $100, or a bigger, bulkier one with around 1TB of storage for roughly the same. That being said, I think 120GB for $300 should be more than enough for most users, and is a significant improvement over the 80GB for $400 that people were paying just a few weeks ago!

STILL NOT BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE

This is my one major gripe with the Playstation 3. It really wouldn't have killed Sony to include this feature, as the original Playstation 3's did in fact include backwards compatibility with older Playstation 2 games. A lot of people counter by either saying (1) it doesn't make sense to buy a PS3 to play PS2 games, (2) the graphics on the PS3 are better anyway so why bother with older games, and (3) including backwards compatibility would cannibalize PS3 game sales.

While those arguments might have their merits, I'm still frustrated that my massive PS2 library can't be played on the PS3, and was really hoping that Sony would include backwards compatibility on the Slim! I loved the fact the PS2 was backwards compatible with PS1 games, and really wish that Sony would reconsider this decision.

COMPARED TO OTHER SYSTEMS:

PS3 vs. WII

I think comparing the PS3 directly to the Wii is a bit like comparing apples to oranges, since they offer such different experiences. The Wii in my opinion is more family-friendly, while the PS3 is better for more graphics-intense games geared towards different gemographics. I'm a huge fan of Nintendo, and I love their very family-oriented game offerings. I own a DS and Wii and still love Mario as much as the days back when I played the original Nintendo (NES). In addition, I think Nintendo's motion-sensitive controllers for the Wii are very innovative and fun to play with! Unfortunately however, for most gamers, the difference in game quality is noticeable when comparing the two systems. The PS3 has AMAZING graphics. On an HD Television, you notice such crisp details while playing the PS3. The Wii features only Standard Definition output, which noticeably weakens it when compared to the other next-gen consoles such as the PS3 and Xbox 360.

PS3 vs. XBOX 360

Microsoft has an impressive gaming console in their Xbox 360 and there are some amazing titles exclusive to the Xbox, but in the end you get less bang for your buck when compared to the Playstation 3:

(1) Online gameplay: You can use the Playstation Network's online features without having to pay a subscription fee like you do for the Xbox. I was never a big online gamer but now I enjoy playing against opponents online.

(2) Internet connectivity: Built-in wireless internet connectivity on the PS3 is a much better bet than having to buy a wireless network adapter for the Xbox. Of course you can simply rely on a wired Ethernet connection, but this might be inconvenient depending on your set-up.

(3) High-Def Video: The Playstation 3 doubles as a Blu-Ray player. Microsoft bet on the wrong horse when they were hoping that HD-DVD would come out the winner in the high-def format wars. If you want a Blu-Ray player/video game system combo, the PS3 is a great device.

(4) Failure rate: The Xbox 360 has an absurdly high failure rate, with estimates ranging between 30 to 50% (). I can't verify the numbers, but know from my friends who own the Xbox 360 that they've had a fair share of grief with their systems.

Microsoft does have a few edges, namely the upcoming Project Natal, unveiled at June's E3. While Natal may ultimately be one of the most amazing advances in video gaming, it unfortunately is still some time off from being implemented. That being said, the Playstation 3 is much more worth the cost than the Xbox 360 at least for now.

FINAL THOUGHTS

system that doubles as a Blu-Ray player. Keep in mind though that the bulk of money spent on the video game system will not be in the initial down payment, but the subsequent games, extra controllers (only comes bundled with one controller), and other peripherals/accessories. . Sony's refusal to incorporate backwards-compatibility for PS2 games on the PS3, however, might make your gaming library obsolete in a few years, so if you have the money, you're best off going for the PS3 Slim. You won't regret it.

Read Best Reviews of PlayStation 3 System Slim 120GB Here

I'll try to break this down for normal folks as I own both units and I had a heck of time finding any unbiased reviews. The short answer is you can't really go wrong with either, but the ps3 price drop IMHO makes it the better buy. My main reason for buying the PS3 was my xbox 360 died RROD for the fourth time and I decided to try the ps3.

OK here goes:

-Graphics: The two units are pretty close on quality here, in my case the PS3 has better graphics because my xbox had no HDMI, apples to apples I think it would be hard to pick a winner.

-Controllers: This is really a matter of preference. Some say the xbox controller being bigger makes it more comfortable, from a technical aspect I would have to give the ps3 the win here as it has both vibration and motion, the xbox lacks the latter.

-Online Community: Xbox is the winner here with some serious drawbacks to note. For one it costs $50 per year, if you use the voice chat, group chat, etc, etc... then the xbox is the winner. If you are like myself and you hop online to play games with your friends and prefer to use a phone or email to chat with them then xbox online advantage are pretty much null.

-Netflix: this is a big one for me, now both systems have netflix, the navigation is similar, both are usable however for the moment you need to insert a DVD to play netflix on the ps3. No winner here, it's a tie.

-BLU-RAY: this is a big one, the xbox hd-dvd format died leaving it without an HD disc format, this means if you want to play HD movies via a disc you need to have a blu ray player separately, obviously PS3 wins here, but is the future of HD movies in disc format or streaming?

-Fan noise: This IMO opinion gives the new PS3 the hands down win, my ps3 slim is so quiet i can barely tell it's on, my xbox sounded like a jet engine, i often had movies cranked all the way up just to hear them over the xbox, again IMO this is a HUGE asset to the PS3 Slim.

Breakdown:

Ps3 Pros:

1) Quiet

2) Motion sensitive controllers

3) You can use any Bluetooth headset, keyboard, mouse, etc....

4) Blu-ray

5) Lack of flashing lights on front of machine!

6) Built in wi-fi card

7) HDMI included

8) Free Online Community and Game Play

9) Tech support speaks english and appears to be located in America, they understood my name and my question.

10) Controllers come with built in rechargable battery and can be charged with any usb port.

11) easy to navigate menus

12) No ridiculous power brick, one cord, if you want to take your ps3 with you somewhere you only need the controller, the unit and the power cord.

Ps3 Cons:

1) No IR receiver, you can't use your regular universal remote to control the ps3 you need a bluetooth which means an extra remote.

2) Shape, this one sounds stupid, but the rounded shape of the ps3 really annoys me because you can't stack, say your wii, or even lay your remotes on top of the unit. (maybe you shouldn't do that anyhow LOL)

3) Less games, or at this point I guess the better point would be less games made for the ps3, instead of built for the xbox and ported to the ps3, this is however changing and in the future will be less of an issue.

Xbox 360 Pros:

1) Great online setup, lots of features which some may miss on the ps3, many probably will not

2) great game line up with a head start on ps3

3) Easy to navigate menus

4) Native Netflix Support

Xbox 360 Cons:

1) Noise

2) Build Quality ( i don't have enough time with my ps3 to comment on build quality, but it appears to be well made)

3) Online service is $50 per year.

4) Tech support, I have called xbox live support several times, it is impossible to get them to understand what the issue is or even my name, I even gave up once.

5) Controller Batteries, I have had several sets of the Microsoft brand batteries and I have their charger, they don't last as long as I would have hoped.

Like I said before, you can't really go wrong with either, each side has a huge lists of hates for the competition, the reality is none of them are deal breakers. With the ps3 price reduction I think the playstation is now the clear winner. it has blu ray, plenty of games, large hard drive space, HDMI. From what I understand the xbox build quality has improved, I for one had lots of issues with my xbox and my second one was supposedly one of the better ones.

Want PlayStation 3 System Slim 120GB Discount?

I was looking for a Blu Ray player and realized that if I paid just a little more, I'd also be able to play some excellent games. If you're looking for something that will play Blu Ray and Games, the purchase of a PS3 is truly a "no brainer" move. I now own the 360, Wii, and PS3. Each has its own qualities and drawbacks. What I really appreciate about the PS3 is they don't try to nickel and dime you to death.... Wi-Fi is included... as is a rechargeable controller (with the charger included)... as is online game play.

The nice thing about the Blu Ray capabilities on the PS3, if you're old, is that it really provides you nice cover for getting a game console "No, I am not a 50 year-old who plays video games, I just wanted to watch Blu Ray, and I guess I picked up some games as well."

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Wireless Move Motion and Navigation Controller for PlayStation PS3

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $28.61
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I did not look closely enough before I bought because these are off brand products. They feel cheap and not as sturdy as the Sony products and you can feel stuff moving around inside when you are using them. The navigation controller only works when plugged directly into the PlayStation. Which defeats the purpose of it being wireless and makes it difficult to move around. Also makes it impossible to use in the Move Sharpshooter, which is the main reason I got it. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is because the motion controller actually works.

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For the amount paid I could have bought another product that was original, since it is sent, and my fear is not knowing when I can take generic control that I did get.

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These accessories allow you to bring a new level to the experience of playing the games on the PS3, the whole family enjoys the progress of this technology

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PS3 Move Quad Charger

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List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $14.89
Today's Bonus: 26% Off

I was amaze at how small the box was. But overall the charger is amazing for the price. I also love that it has a ON/OFF switch on the back plus 2 extra USB to charge just about anything that uses a USB port to charge (cell phone, MP3, bluetooth,PS3 controller).Also once the controllers are fully charge the light changes blue to show that they are fully Charge. Of course the price could not better beats paying $29.99 for the charger that was release with the move which only charged 2 controllers, this one charges 4 and 2 extra USB for anything else. I would recommend this to anyone who in the market for a Move control charger.

On a note * The usb part of this product does NOT charge Apple products such as( iPod, iPhone, iPad, etc.)Since this might be a big deal for some.

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The Quad combines a sleek, small form design with a low price when compared to 'the competition' and a level of functionality that exceeded my expectations.

Briefly, this is what you get for your money:

2 Move Motion Controller chargers

2 Move Navigation Controller chargers

2 'universal' USB Type A ports

120/240V AC adapter

On/Off switch

With 'quad' standing for 'four', this is in fact more than that. Besides its ability to directly charge the Move Motion and Nav Controllers you also get 2 USB ports in the back that you could use to charge DualShock controllers, your PS3 wireless keypad, a Bluetooth headset or anything that could be charged through a USB cable (not included).

In addition, the Quad is pretty too. The red glow surrounding the base of your Motion or Nav controllers while they are charging turns to blue when the charge is complete and the black, rubberized finish allows it to integrate well within a PS/3 environment.

This is a 5 stars without any hesitation.

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I really dig the sleek, small, rubbery finish of this charger. However, my two back slots for the playstation move charging died within a month. I normally keep the charger off (it has a nice on/off swtich) and use it as a display stand when not in use and last night I attempted to recharge both move controllers and it wouldn't work. I tried to switch them back and forth and used the PS3 charging cable just to make sure they weren't broken. It's the quad dock. The front two navigation slots will still charge the navigation controller.

New one comes tomorrow, hopefully it won't break.

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I noticed on the two port Sony charger that someone had mentioned that it uses the contacts on the bottom of the Move controller (as opposed to the mini-USB ports) to charge the controller. THIS IS KEY. Seriously. I was excited about the new charger, as it came with four ports and was on sale.

However, I have kids ranging from 2-15 and already one of the USB ports on the charger "got bent." Which is to say, I had to fiddle around with needle nose pliers for an hour just to get to where the controller could sit on the charger again. Argh! Worse yet, it's easy to imagine excessive wear and tear on the Move Controller, and if anyone has been looking for them for the past two months knows, they're nearly impossible to find at regular retail price. I had to buy a bundle just to get my second controller! Be sure not to damage the ones you have!

Even so, the charger itself isn't that stable. These controllers are very top-heavy, and it seems like a stiff breeze would knock one down. When you have all four controllers in the base, it's highly subject to jostling around as the controllers far outweigh the unit itself.

I have a fantastic Nyko charger for my Wii controllers, so my next attempt will likely be the colorful Nyko version of the charging station ( http://www.amazon.com/Move-Charge-Station-Charging-Playstation-3/dp/B003RDEV8E/ref=pd_ts_vg_6?ie=UTF8&s=videogames). It also conveniently comes with an on-off switch to save electricity. It's a little bit more expensive, but the base has cradles which ensure the wands won't move while charging. I can't tell from the pictures (and will revise my review when I find out) but I believe the Nyko version doesn't use the USB, as people report it makes the same "click" sound when inserting that the original Sony version makes when attaching a wand to the charging station.

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Unlike the Useless garbage Quad Charger by CTA that I ordered first, this one actually delivers.

Features:

Small Footprint (Much smaller than the CTA model)

Dedicated On/Off switch on back

Ruberized feel

Lighted circles around controllers light blue when charge is complete.

Controllers fit well in their slots, don't flop around.

Faster charging than USB cabled from PS3 itself, and you don't have to leave the PS3 on, so it saves energy as well.

This does everything you want a Quad Charger to do, and there are 2 Bonus USB ports on back for most other USB devices (Not I Pod/ I Phone)

These charge my SAXIS controllers (2)

I have 2 Nav Controllers, 2 Move Controllers, and 2 SAXIS Controllers this charges them ALL at once.

For the price This is the best currently availableHANDS DOWN !

As far as durability time will tell. I have only had this for 2 days, but it charged all my stuff with NO ISSUES AT ALL ...

Stay AWAY from CTA ChargerGet This !

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PS3 PLAYSTATION 3 Black/Gold Modded Controller

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List Price: $179.99
Sale Price: $99.99
Today's Bonus: 44% Off

This controller is the perfect controller for gaming if you want to cheat online you will not be unhappy with the results of this controller

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It took like 1.5 2 weeks to arrive but the wait was worth it. Great colors, everything works as described and the buttons are high quality, they dont feel cheap. The controller has a very tiny on and off switch and the back of R3 and after reading the instructions book, all mods worked great with BO2. I highly recommend it! I ordered this one for me and a blue/pink for my girlfriend and she also loves hers. The black of this controller is kind of a matte finish and not the same as the original black color used by Sony. I will upload some pics.

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Im a prestiege master on black ops and I can tell you this makes a difference in gunfire rate and speed. I

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Best thing i Ever used plus all the mods and the color of the controller looks EPIC love it Thanks man keep up your good work

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Test Drive Unlimited 2

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List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $29.99
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Great game with many hours of enjoyment... Very realistic with some of the most sought after exotic cars in the world.

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Love the game, haven't played it much though. Like how you can use the convertible tops, windows, radio, turn signals, and more!

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ITS A COO GAME I JUST THINK THAT WHEN YOU UPGRADE UR CAR YOU SHOULD B ABLE TO PICK WHAT PARTS YOU WANT TO PUT ON!

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I was a big fan of TDU 1 and was really looking forward to the sequel. Unfortunately, it was not nearly as good. The cars can be very difficult to control and the licenses, which are required, can be next to impossible to get. I hope if there's a TDU 3 they make it more playable.

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Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage

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List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $28.59
Today's Bonus: 5% Off

A month before buying the game, I watched half of the first series just to gear up and understand the North Star universe. It left me very excited in wanting to try this title out. After playing it, I think this will be my last purchase of a Dynasty Warrior-esque game for a couple of reasons.

Pros:

-If you're a fan of the anime or manga series, it follows the storyline pretty closely. I was honestly surprised to see they included the young characters from the messed up world, like Bat and Lin. The translation from anime to game is perfect as well. After you perform a signature move, there's a brief pause describing the move after your character executes it, much like in the anime.

-Dynasty Warriors w/ a Twist: Plays like Dynasty Warriors but has a hardcore feel to it. I don't ever remember seeing a pirate explode in my edition of DW: Empires.

-You are already dead!

Cons:

-Boredom and Repetitiveness: After you've gotten past Chapter 6, most of the landscape begins to look like the same maze over and over. The enemies aren't any help either. If you've seen one guy with a club or axe, you bound to see 50 other clones about every 40 seconds. There are timed and sub-missions which might pop up sometimes and are quite fun. It helps you earn extras for that current mission, but even that gets old. Most of the Dynasty Warrior games I've played have always suffered from this.

Boss Battles: All of the boss battles are the same. Though there is one with a horse o.O

Overall: It's average at best. I love the concept. I love its likeness to the anime. I love the characters and English dub. I even love watching the heads of enemies blow up like a balloon until they go *pop*. But Stage 1 is no different than Stage 12. If you're a fan of the anime/manga, it's a great adaptation to check out. I wouldn't see why Dynasty Warrior fans wouldn't like this either. But honestly, it just gets boring. If you want to try a game similar to Dynasty Warriors with a hint of anime (and is way more entertaining), I recommend Sengoku Basara 3. At least that game isn't already dead....

Yes. I went there....

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I love Fist of the North Star. I remember watching the bootlegs on VHS and not understanding whats going on because it was in Japanese. I also like dynasty warriors games. After a long day at work, i like to unwind and totally destroy armies of dudes and having their head explode. This game kept me pretty entertain for the last 2 weeks. Played a level or 2 everyother day. After i beat it with Kenshiro, i kinda lost interest. Sure i can play it as Rei or Toki.... maybe i will play it again if i get bored during the winter. I didn't mind the repitative nature of the game, because even when your grinding through levels you can upgrade your character. The only thing i didn't like is how hard Roah was at the end. It took me countless tries to figure out the pattern, they also don't give you the luxery of the extra health box, then when you finally get his life down to the bottom the quick time button presses it was impossible. You have to grind his life down 2 more times just so the quick time button presses is even managable. Recommended if you are a fan of either FOTNS or Dynasty/Samurai Warriors.

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This game is very enjoyable if you are a fan of the anime or manga. It has several modes and characters to choose from, and lots of cool moves you can do. People unfamiliar with the series may not like it as much but its still a fun beat-em-up.

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Koei hasn't exactly been an innovator with its games over the years, but if you think about it for a minute, why should it? The company's games fill a distinct niche in the gaming environment so well that too drastic a change would alienate its fanbase and as a result reduce the company's survivability. With that said, the company's trademark hack n' slash formula is present in full attire, but what FOTNS does differently is slow things down drastically which results in more heft and impact behind each punch and kick. Although some may feel that combat is too slow, even when surrounded by 20+ enemies, you'll appreciate what Koei has done here, as clearing the pack in a single crushing blow is a very satisfying feat.

This slowed down style is necessary as it seems to emphasize the character's crushing power as they reel back to charge an attack and suddenly connect with a satisfying falsetto "YAHHHHH!!!!!" It also makes combos more gratifying and brutal, and it lends a fluid and natural flow to the pace of battle. Whereas Dynasty Warriors is fast, frenzied, and aesthetically pretty, FOTNS is fluid, calculated, and downright vicious.

Despite this "slowed" combat, one minor but very awesome detail here is that Kenshiro can roll cancel (think CvS2) most of his attacks, which keeps the momentum alive and also greatly opens up your options when you whiff a punch, input the wrong command, or want to shorten recovery time. I found myself roll canceling almost everything in the beginning, before I learned any of the awesome combos, since it allowed me to avoid a knockdown. Other characters don't have this ability, as their fighting styles don't permit it, but once you gain their control you won't need to do it as you'll be familiar with combat and will have access to devastating combos.

One thing you'll definitely want to do in FOTNS is purchase intrinsic skills, which are always active once learned and serve to increase attack power, defense, or what have you. It's a basic leveling system, to be sure, but it further emphasizes the series' pressure point system and also your character's development into a stronger fighter, which is a mighty cool integration of gameplay features and source material.

Speaking of source material, if you're not familiar with the FOTNS universe, don't despair. The narrative moves the story along at a sensible and easy to understand pace, meanwhile the encyclopedia fills you in succinctly (unlike Mass Effect 2) with everything else you may want to know. Anybody complaining they can't follow the story is simply too lazy to read a few sentences, and by few I really mean a short paragraph.

Just as Koei's combat systems across different series tend to be variations of the same theme the music shares similarities as well, and Koei again has done an excellent job in this department. Being a metal fan for 20+ years I was thrilled to hear chunky, speedy, thrashy, and melodic riffs wail away in the background. It's the perfect fit for the 80s vibe and general machismo of the series, and in today's age it seems rare to see such an emphasis on that one style with the exception of Guilty Gear and BlazBlue. Voice acting is excellent and present in full Japanese or English audio, and exaggerated blood splashes are always welcome when enemies explode. Little things like that go a long way in a Koei game and it's nice to see that the company knows this too and does everything it can to achieve a richer experience.

I was very satisfied with FOTNS and having recently finished Trinity: Souls of Zill O'll and Warriors: Legends of Troy, and having dabbled in DW7 a bit, I can wholeheartedly say that Koei is growing remarkably well. These four titles alone, having been published in less than a single year, is truly a presage of good things to come from Koei.

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Good fighting game with a variety of characters and moves. Unfortunately, the DLC is no longer available from PSN or anywhere else.

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