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I have this same case for my ps2. I was so happy to see that I could get one for my ps3 as much as the ps3 costs I'm happy to have a safe way of transporting it.
Showing posts with label ps3 320. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ps3 320. Show all posts
Sony Playstation 3 Carrying Case
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I have this same case for my ps2. I was so happy to see that I could get one for my ps3 as much as the ps3 costs I'm happy to have a safe way of transporting it.
PS3 Optical Digital Cable
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $12.29
Today's Bonus: 39% Off
Short and simple: If you have a PS3 and you're using audio via digital optical input, then this is the best one for your system because it doesn't connect too loose. I used a Monster cable fiber optic cable at first, but noticed that it would wiggle out of place very easily, so I decided to purchase the actual Sony version and it fits much much better!
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I bought Sony's product because I knew it would work the way that it was meant to with my PS3 Slim. I read other reviews of cheaper products not staying put and coming loose. Sound is great. The HDMI and Optical don't interfere with each other. I don't know why I have a suspicion of that. It works great, that's all you need to know.Buy PS3 Optical Digital Cable Now
Playstation 3 Optical Audio Cable works great with my PS3. Sound qualtiy is great and setup was easy. I would recomment this to anyone wanting an optical cable.Read Best Reviews of PS3 Optical Digital Cable Here
Overall, very pleased with these cables. I was really looking for that satisfying "click" when I plugged the cables into my electronics, and was a little disappointed. Aside from the PS3, no click. I had had a cheaper optical audio cable before, though, and compared to that one, these are awesome. The cheaper one would pull out if I moved my electronics even slightly. These have a very solid connection to the machines, and the sound quality is great. They also seem very sturdy and I'm sure the quality of their construction will outlast this current technology. I have two, one for the PS3, and one for my receiver/tv. Definitely worth the extra money for higher quality cables without breaking the bank.Want PS3 Optical Digital Cable Discount?
This is a high quality product which produces excellent sound there is no need to waste money on the Monster brand name.
Monster Jam 3: Path of Destruction
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $23.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off
To put it simply, this game is a step toward what I (and a lot of people) have been craving for ages; a true monster truck simulation. I don't want my trucks to shoot rockets, I don't want my trucks flying 50 feet in the air, and I don't want my trucks doing 14 backflips in a shower of sparks while there's no noticeable damage afterward. I want them to handle like monster trucks, crush cars like monster trucks, and get destroyed like monster trucks.
I do not own this game, but I borrowed it from a friend as I've done the past few Monster Jam titles. I played it for a good while before deciding that it still isn't quite worth my money for what it is (at least not until it drops to a much lower price). I will continue to pass up buying them until they can make a game that's more sim-like. They don't have to remove the arcade features if they don't want to, but I at least want the option to have realistic physics and damage to the trucks and the things they're destroying.
It's a little sad that the best monster truck freestyle simulator to date is still Stuntman's stunt creator from all the way back in 2002, yet every subsequent Monster Jam game pumped out is the same as the one before it with updated graphics. This game is finally starting to move away from all that, and I like it. I know some people may not, but that's why I'd rather see 2 options of how you want the game to control; simulation-like or arcade-like. If they can successfully create a game that makes me feel like I'm actually driving a hulking metal monster truck and not a giant piece of plastic shaped like one, they'll have my money in their pocket on release day.
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I see a lot of people hating on Monster Jam, but honestly, this game is no AAA game title. However, this Monster Jam title is definitely better than previous games. Sure there's a few things that maybe aren't so great, but honestly, as a tester for this game I played this for months and honestly it's not even close to being a terrible game. So if you're into Monster Trucks or want easy trophies, I'd check this game out!Buy Monster Jam 3: Path of Destruction Now
All my family enjoy every time Monster Jam Show comes to our country (Costa Rica). So we decide to buy the game for my kids and they really enjoy it!!! Easy to play, nice graphics.Read Best Reviews of Monster Jam 3: Path of Destruction Here
Others write much more detailed reviews than I do, so I'll only address the one part I wish I'd known before I bought this.I have the Wii edition of the prior version, Monster Jam: Urban Assault. This one continues many of the prior game's themes, but omits the one that my kids and I liked the best: Devastator mode, where the objective is to drive around different city and industrial sites smashing as much stuff as possible. There are also no racing circuits through non-stadium sites, where the prior version had races through residential locations.
The physics model in this one appears to try and be much more realistic as well. This isn't a bad thing, but it does make it much more challenging for kids. I'm interested in whether this aspect of the difference is due to the platform change from the Wii to the PS3, or if it is common to all platforms.
It's still a fun game, but had I known that my favorite parts weren't included, I'd have waited until I found it on sale.
UPDATE:
Now that I've had this game for a week, I felt compelled to update my review and lower my rating one star.
Like the previous version, you have to make progress in the game to unlock access to additional trucks. This game makes it way too easy. There are only 20 levels, and you reach the next level after every 2-3 events, which take just a couple minutes each. So after 5 or so hours play time, I've unlocked everything. I could raise the difficulty level and do it all again, but the game just isn't interesting enough for that.
UPDATE2:
I think it's useful to know how interesting a game remains over time, so I thought it was worth adding that to this review. After unlocking all the venues, the game quickly got boring for me and my kids. In fact, the youngest asks for the previous Monster Jam game (Urban Assault) on the Wii instead. So we haven't touched the game in months, having used it only in the first couple of weeks of ownership.
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was looking forward to this game and it did not dissapoint, if u enjoy monster trucks this is a game for u.
Dragons Crown limited quantities privilege artwork book "Dragon's Crown Art Works"
List Price: $106.38
Sale Price: $75.98
Today's Bonus: 29% Off
I remember when I considered purchasing this game a while back,I had my doubts about it and sadly most of them have been realized. I thought this game,or at least I hoped this game would be fun,it's not that fun for a number of reasons. I don't want to go into all of them but I will say this much,the game is definitely not worth the $50 price tag,at least when I ordered it,it was around that price. First of all the game is too broken up,there is too much talking and not enough butt kicking going on,so it feels like the action is very fragmented. The narrator has to tell you every little thing before you move on and it gets annoying after a while. This game tries to be like an rpg a little too much but it fails,it's supposed to be a "beat em up",so I don't get it! The game is supposed to be a beat em up with rpg elements,it has both of those but I wonder if one or the other is better in the long run or overall.
The game,...*sighs*,there is nothing special about it,I mean as a guy I can appreciate the beautiful art of the voluptuous women and all of that but that shouldn't be the selling point for this game or any game,it should be something that's just added on. The game got boring for me very fast,maybe you'll have a different experience but that's my experience with the game,my intelligence is much much higher then most people's,so maybe that's a part of it but I got bored within a few days of playing this game. Remember the doubts I was telling you I had,well,that was one of them! I thought I would get bored with this game quickly and I did but I wanted it,I had heard good things about it,and so naturally I was curious,and I wanted to play something new,fun and interesting. Dragon's Crown is neither of fun nor interesting and it certainly isn't anything new. The game has you going on quests and after a certain mount of levels of quests that you complete,then and ONLY then can you unlock the online features of the game,as far as playing with others are concerned. I personally hate that,I was looking forward to playing this game with others RIGHT out the box so to speak,why do companies do that,why do they make us wait for a feature that should be available soon as we put the game on since it's advertised right on the box! I don't get it,but then again I doubt this game would end up being that much more fun with 2 other players or even 3 other players,that would just be 2 or 3 more people being bored after a while.
Most of the time you can't even tell what's going on any way,I like to have a strategy against an opponent,aka a battle plan,in this game when it's 3 people on the screen at the same time,so much is happening at the same time,you really can't even tell what's going on,you really can't even see what your character is doing and thus,it's hard to formulate a strategy against any regular baddie or boss. I tell you what,next time I have doubts about a game,I will listen to them. I bought the game used for 40 or so,and I got the art book with it,I would have probably given it 1 star if I would have paid full price for it.
PS3 AV Cable
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You're buying a first-party cable here, so expect to retain that cherished first-party feeling Sony puts into all their products. I bought this cable to hook up to my postage-stamped size TV and everything worked accordingly. The aluminum finish on the cable connectors are a beautiful touch and really make my $10 TV look amazing. My only gripe about using AV with a PS3 is that you're going to get what you paid for. The PS3's interface wasn't designed to be on a 19" SD TV actually any SD TV and those little 12pt lines of text that look gorgeous in 1080p are going to be microscopic to the point of squinting on most SD TV. It's a crime to use such an incredible machine on such a terrible piece of technology, so if you're purchasing this cable for daily use you should really think twice about what you're using your PS3 for.
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Build quality is great and it gets the job done. It did exactly what I needed it to do.This product works great. I was a little concerned that it might not work for a PS2, which is what I REALLY needed it for, not the PS3, but as soon as I plugged it in it worked. The wire itself is also really nice. Not sure what the ends are coated in, but it looks durable. Picture quality is great. On a side note, if you're considering purchasing this for a PS3, I would recommend getting an HDMI cable if your TV has the ports. It has better quality in games, and it's the only way you're gonna get the full quality on a Blu-Ray movie.Read Best Reviews of PS3 AV Cable Here
Ok, i saw this on amazon a day or two ago, and it looked interesting. I needed a new AV cable for my PS3 anyway, being as it's almost 4 years old. so i order it, $3.99 one-day shipping (Amazing). So I get it, open it, and i think to myself, "Goddamn it Sony, Damn it..." The wires are only split about 4 inches down, then it all merges into one cable... now this is a bad thing for me because i have a stereo, and i need the left and right audio wire to be at least 3 feet long, but since it's all basically one wire, i need to go to RadioShack and get some RCA couplers and more wires. If you have a stereo as well, do not do the same thing as me! make sure you buy couplers and wires with to hook up everything with first (Providing you don't have those items already). It's still a nice cable, and i intend to use it, but i wish sony would make it known to their loyal customers of what their product is.This item worked very well for me due to the fact that my previous cable was damaged and this is an OEM Sony product they are always consistant.
Wolfenstein
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $18.99
Today's Bonus: 53% Off
Pros
+ A new chapter in a classic game which many of us love. If you're a fan of Wolfenstein 3D or Return to Castle Wolfenstein, you'll LOVE this game.
+ Gripping story. Greatly evolves as you progress in the game.
+ Some very cool new twists in the story as well as the game play. Things like gravity and the Veil which is further explained in review.
Cons
Slightly dated graphics, level design, and game play
Online multiplayer can be a little dull. Mostly due to the level design and difficulty level.
Graphics: 3 1/2 out of 5
Game play: 3 out of 5
Story: 5 out of 5
Sound: 4 1/2 out of 5
Originality: 3 out of 5
Multiplayer: 2 out of 5
I am a fan of classic Wolfenstein 3D and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. This game is fun. It reminds me so much of the classic games from years ago. For what else is out right now and how far games have come, to me, this game takes a step back. It is an old game, with better graphics and some slightly new ideas. Don't get me wrong, there are new little surprises and cool additions to the game play and storyline, but all in all, this is a basic game with a simple style and classic game play/menus/control.
After playing Killzone 2, Infamous, Dead Space, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Resident Evil 5, Wolfenstein seems like a game which may have come out a few years ago, and been pretty good. With what else is out right now, and how far developers have pushed the limits of what can be done in a video game, this game does seem very dated.
The pros of this game are a pretty solid story and the little new twists in the atmosphere of the game. One new idea with the game play is the Veil. The Veil is a green blanket which covers the gaming world which you are in and transforms everything around you. It basically is a doorway between two worlds or detentions. You activate the Veil with a medallion you found. Let's say you are in the regular world walking around and come to a dead end. You activate the Veil and where there once was a wall, there now is a doorway. There is more to it as the game progresses and you can use it anytime and in more creative ways. You can collect four crystals to add to the medallion which give you different powers. Powers like the Veil, slowing down time, a shield, and intensifying your weapons. These powers drain your medallion which will then need to be recharged by standing over one of the little recharging portal peppered throughout the game. They are everywhere.
One simple yet really fun thing in the game is the anti-gravity tanks that are tossed in levels from time to time. If an enemy is near them, shot the tank and they'll go floating off. Much more fun to shoot.
This games mission design is set up a little differently. You can speak with people about mission and choose to do them in the order you wish. At times you may only have one mission. At others you may have 3 or so missions which you need to complete. And you can do them in any order you like. I wouldn't say it is a free roam game, but I think that is what they were going for.
You can upgrade all your weapons in the black market. Your medallion and Veil powers can also be upgraded. There are a lot of neat little supernatural weapons. The Particle Cannon for example is a weapon you collect from a big guy you must defeat. The Particle Cannon shoots this lightning like beam and completely disintegrates enemies.
Over-all, this is a decent game, but it is very basic game play and has been done hundreds of times before. The Veil is very interesting and carries this otherwise dull game. Yes you can shoot bad guys heads off. Yes there are these Nazi zombie skeleton dudes. But the AI kinda sux. Very basic.
I didn't hear too much about this games release and I took a chance and went out and bought it. Am I disappointed? Not to the extent where I would totally regret buying it. But I was expecting a little more. Better graphics and tighter game play. I find that the further I get into this game, the more I like it. It should keep me busy until Batman Arkham Asylum comes out next week.
I hope this review helped those of you out there wanting a basic idea of how good Wolfenstein is. Thanx.
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I don't play multiplayer very often, mostly the single player. At first the graphics were not impressive, but as you play the game and start to enter and exit "The Veil", I was starting to feel more comfortable with the graphics. The missions and bad guys are excellent. The AI is also good. The nazis don't just stand there and wait to be shot they will move around and hide behind things. And the supernatural things you have to fight are crazy. These nazi women from hell start to come out of nowhere and kick you butt! They know when you are reloading also and will try and storm you.The sound quality of the explosions and supernatural happenings are outstanding! I have a yamaha receiver with klipsch speakers throughout my living room, and the first time a grenade exploded close to me, I was amazed.
The game really doesn't seem that difficult until you put the setting on hard (bring them on).
I loved the original wolfenstein and return to castle wolfenstein, so if you enjoyed these 2 games then you will enjoy this one.
Wolfenstein is not about having the very best graphics or best sound, even though it has very good graphics and excellent sound, it is about kicking the crap out of germans! Having sueprnatural things happen to you that are the result of nazi engineering, which makes you want to kick the crap our of more germans!
I will play this game many, many times just like I have resistance fall of man, and resistance 2.
And you can carry every weapon you pick up. Not realistic, but who cares, its fun!Wolfenstein 3D was the first shooter I ever played and it holds a deep place in my heart. It not only made me interested in video games outside of platformers, it also inspired me to look at the history of World War II.
This new installment in the Wolfenstein series is a lot different from the previous games. For starters, you're not breaking out of a prison cell or out of a castle. Instead, you're in the middle of the war, helping resistance soldiers with their quest. When I first read the previews, the game seemed to be as if it were an open world, sort of like Far Cry 2. However, the reality is that while the game is pretty open, there's a lot of load times in between areas. One part of a map is the west side of town, the other is the east side. This was a bit disappointing since it is very possible to make a town that's very open world with today's gaming hardware. This is one of the let downs of the game, as in even the earliest of Wolfenstein games, the maps are really well thought out. The maps in the new Wolfenstein, while aren't terrible, just aren't as creative as you'd expect coming from the masters at id Software and Raven. One of the more disappointing things is the tribute to the secret areas by pressing your action button against walls. There are secret areas, but they're just not as fun to find since it's not a wall just pulling back to reveal a special area.
While the maps aren't as impressive, the story is very well thought out and fits perfect in this occult shooter. The architects have uncovered crystals that possess power from a Sun dimension, and now the Nazis have their hands on them. So this time, as B.J., you are on your way to uncover the secrets of these crystals and try to take down the occult once again. This story line is truly faithful to the Wolfenstein series.
One thing I've always been a fan of in these games are the weapons. They're a blend of actual WWII weapons, while mixing in a few 'what if' super weapons. The new gun, the particle gun (which instantly vaporizes enemies into dust) is one weapon that is incredible to use. Now, the weapon does feel a little cheap the first time you use it, but after you discover how limited the ammo is, it feels pretty well balanced for the game. You also sport a veil, a device that holds your power crystals for slowing time or seeing things in another dimension. All of the weapons, including the veil and the grenades, can be upgraded using gold that you find throughout the game. The upgrade system is pretty impressive. It doesn't just allow you to unlock everything you want. You have to find secret tomes and intel throughout the maps to unlock features for your upgrades. While this system is pretty fun to use, the weapons are a bit limited compared to other shooters. However, I don't think Wolfenstein was designed to be more than a typcial Doom-style shooter with an actual story to back it.
The graphics are a bit dated, but they're not bad at all. It's the Doom 3 engine. The engine still looks really good, has great lighting, and still impresses. It's not going to blow anyone away like Crysis or Killzone 2, but it does it's job at providing a smooth and sweet looking Nazi shooter. The framerates stay smooth throughout all of the action, even during switches between one dimension to another. I was pretty impressed with the sound quality. The running waterfalls when falling near your character on a surround sound system really sounds life-like. The gun sounds are most impressive, as they each hold a booming sound instead of the typcial light sound most shooters give.
Now, the multi player is where the game is a little messed up. The game is less inpiring in this area, and it really doesn't feel like they put much though into it. The maps aren't horrible but the whole system just feels a little cheap. When you come from games like Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Enemy Territory: Wolfenstein, you expect that excellent experience to carry over. The game is a typcial deathmatch style game with a few objective maps, however, they just don't feel as strong as the aged 'Return to'. It's still fun in some ways but don't expect this to take the place of many better multi player shooters out there. There's at least a ranking system, which is always better than nothing.
If you're just looking for a relaxing shooter with classic gameplay (and then some), this is the game for you. If you're not into single player adventures, I'd wait until a price drop or at least until they patch up the multi player. But for those who don't care and just want a classic Wolfenstein Nazi hunting game to go through, this game will keep you busy.
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There are just some titles you can't wait to play, aren't there? For me, Wolfenstein is one of them.id has long been one of my favorite gaming companies. In their own words, "[They] love corridors. We're not big on open worlds, but we're getting there." Wolfenstein is a title that is helping them reach this goal.
Wolfenstein is a halfway open-ended world comprised of different parts of town, sewers, and distant places which are traveled to during missions. Although the player isn't stuck on a linear path, it does become clear after a few missions that you are ultimately "forced" to go a certain direction in order to progress. Regardless, it's a blast!
The story is in-depth and kept me interested through the entirety of the game. As a player of Wolf3D (who wasn't/isn't?) and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, I have been waiting to see how BJ would continue his fight against the Nazi regime and the occult. This latest installment was a pleasant surprise to see BJ take almost guerilla-like tactics against the Nazis. Rather than simply running and gunning, the entire city is open for hiding and striking.
The ability to use some of the occult to assist yourself through the game is a nice change. The Veil, which is upgradable as the game progresses, is a great added feature allowing you to manipulate the environment, enemies, and even time. There is a slight feeling of an RPG in this game as you can upgrade the Veil, weapons, and acquire gold to purchase goods. This is nothing cumbersome and never feels like you need to go out of your way to reach these upgrades. Beware, however, that you don't have enough gold (even if you find all hidden treasures) to upgrade everything, so choose wisely.
The graphics and physics are quite good. There seems to be a slight decrease in framerate while in the Veil, which is disappointing since you use it rather frequently, but it's nothing severe.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with this game. I have since become nostalgic and went back to playing Spear of Destiny, Wolf3D, and Rise of the Triad (originally planned to be Wolfenstein 3D II) . I hope they make another Wolfenstein despite the terrible sales of this installment.Wolfenstein is one of those games that sat on my shelf unopened for a while. It came out well before I got a PS3 and was just one of those titles I'd not thought of until I bought it on sale somewhere and figured, it can't be "that bad."
About a week ago, I opened it on a whim, just to kill a bit of time when winding down.
Then I was immersed. Wolfenstein is a shooter with mystical qualities and a sense of location I haven't encountered since the first Bioshock game. There's plenty of reviewers who went into more and better detail, so I won't echo what they said. However, I did want to give this game some well-deserved props.
I haven't finished Wolfenstein yet, nor played the multiplayer, but I can say that the time I've spent with it has been great fun. If you're looking for a GREAT game to fill the summer lull in games releases (before an insane November) BUY THIS GAME NOW! You won't regret it.
I hope the developers are working on a sequel. I can tell you, I won't dismiss this title again. Or let it sit on my shelf unopened.
Demon's Souls Black Phantom Edition
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Sale Price: $209.99
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Demon's Souls is hands down my favorite game of all time. The art book/soundtrack CD are both very nice and well done. The strategy guide is very nice but it is NOT hardcover like the picture shows. The picture clearly shows a hardcover on the strategy guide and even shows the 2 edges of the cover extending slightly beyond the end of the pages but again this is very misleading. Infact the strategy guide is softcover and the 2 edges of the cover are FLUSH with all of the pages. I'm pointing this out so someone does not purchase this game based upon the picture and think that they are getting a hardcover strategy guide because this is not the case because the picture is wrong. Despite the fact that the strategy guide is softcover it is extremely well done and contains very useful information that helped me out greatly while playing this game.
Only buy this game if the price is right. Please do not pay 4 times the retail price that I paid for a new sealed copy when it was released in Europe last year (I live in the U.S. and imported it on the release date). Everything in the strategy guide PLUS much more can be found by simply visiting the demons souls wikidot website (google it).
If you are a collector and want this strategy guide then I think you should definitely buy this game at a reasonable price only. My only complaint against the strategy guide is that it provides the address to their demon's souls wikidot website on a few topics because they ran out of room (presumably they needed to keep the number of pages low enough so it can fit in the Black Phantom Edition box which includes the game case, artbook/soundtrack cd, and strategy guide).
If you can live without the hardcopy strategy guide then I recommend that you buy the normal U.S. release of Demons Souls (it is more than 1 year old now and pretty cheap) and just use the demons souls wikidot website (google it) as your strategy guide! You will thank me later when you realize how much money you saved by doing this.
PS3 White TrueFire-Fusion Rapid Fire modded Controller
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I ordered this and got it a day early and use it for all of the call of duties. I am satisfied with my purchase. The only thing is that its gonna take a while to memorize all of the mods and how to control them
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my son is in love with this mod. her says its always good to have a back up and you can turn the mods off and on.Buy PS3 White TrueFire-Fusion Rapid Fire modded Controller Now
This is a great controller it is easily compatible with Call of Duty Black ops and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.Read Best Reviews of PS3 White TrueFire-Fusion Rapid Fire modded Controller Here
Skylander's Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $30.21
Today's Bonus: 50% Off
My two kids (8 and 6) are in love with this game. It is a great two-player game.
The technology is great.
If you loved the Lego-type games but want something a "little more",
this might be it.
Fun co-op as well.
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After seeing the displays in every store I went into, i finally decided to break down and buy this game, and boy am i glad i did. This game is super simple to play with really only two buttons used (triangle and square on the PS3) and no jumping makes this game really easy to play for the younger players and i think fans of the old school platform games will really enjoy this one as well.The game comes with three characters (Gill Grunt, Spyro, and Trigger Happy) These three are a great trio to start with, (Trigger Happy is my favorite) however you will need to buy more characters to access certain parts of the game. I bought one of each elements so that i could go everywhere and do everything. This can get expensive, but it is well worth it for the quick changing that can be done via the portal of power. If you need a different Skylander, just remove the one that you are using and replace it with a different one.
The game play is simple with very little reading for the little ones that still have trouble reading, however the speech is audible and the kids can just listen.
All in all i would recommend this game to anyone who has little ones or is a fan of the platform games. The game offers a two player co-op mode so parents can play along. The game also offers a few mini games including battle mode, a football type game and grab the gems. These games are fun and a good way to test drive new characters.
One of the most amazing features is the fact that the figures are cross platform compatible. For instance, if i want to take my figures for PS3 over to a friends house who has an XBOX 360 or Wii, then its no problem all of the information is stored in the figure.
(Updated Review 28 October 2012)
Having owned the game now for about a year I have the following comments about the game now.
1) I now have 20 different Skylanders. I am one of those guys who has to get all of them. However, some of them are just no good. Wrecking Ball so far i have used the least with others i personally don't care for are Sonic Boom, Warnado, and Lighting Rod.
2) The game looses some of its play value over time. It gets to the point after you have beaten the game you find yourself replaying the levels trying to earn money and level up the Skylanders you don't use as much (The Quick Silver Vault is the best level for this you can usually gain at least two levels and earn about 1500 "dollars" in the level.)
3) I found my "dream team" when it comes to skylanders. They are as follows: Trigger Happy (This guy just throws lead everywhere), Zook (He gets super powerful by level 10), Gilgrunt (He shoots harpoons three at a time), Ghost Roaster (When he turns into a giant flaming skull he can't be stopped), Drobot and Double Trouble.
4) Finding the remaining Skylanders i need to complete the collection is the hardest thing EVER! And no way am i buying them on the secondary market. No skylander is worth 45 dollars.
Skylanders is still a really fun game. I can't wait to play Skylanders Giants.
Buy Skylander's Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack Now
After reading the solitary '1 star' review above, I had to jump in and write my own review.I bought Skylanders and sure, the initial $70 was a bit much but it was for my kid, although as my wife says 'yeah, right'. Anyway! He has so much fun with this game! He takes Spyro around everywhere with him and has Trigger Happy proudly positioned on top of my Monitor (which looks weird) and Gill Grunt is guarding the bathroom. Kids eh? But, whenever he fires the game up, there's a blur and the toys are gone.
When he plays, he collects everything and just has a lot of fun playing it. He loves when Spyro does the charge attack but when he saw Trigger Happy's mini-gun attack, I'm sure his eyes almost burst out of his head.
Anyway, if you have kids (or you want to buy it 'for your kid') then this game is a must! Its fun. In fact, i'm going to say it's GREAT fun and, after all, isn't that the important thing?
Oh, you don't need to buy any other toy to play the game but I just ordered Prism Break and Chop-Chop because, well, they look so cool! Oh, yeah, and my kid likes them too. Sigh, I wonder where Chop-Chop will end up 'guarding'.
Read Best Reviews of Skylander's Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack Here
If you're reading this you're probably already familiar with this games gimmick, but I'll explain it anyway. It comes with a "Portal of power" and three figurines that you put on the portal, and in turn, they are "transported" into the game. There are, from what I understand,30 some toys in all, which can be bought separately, or there are some three character packs available, as well as some "Adventure packs" which Include one new character, a new level, and a couple of items that can be placed on the portal to help you, such as a potion, or defensive swords that circle you. A full collection of all the toys, and the game itself, will probably run you upwards of 300 dollars. Is it worth it? That all depends on whether you like the game or not, and your fiscal state. If you are a parent you should be warned that your children will not be satisfied with the three toys that come with the game, as there are eight character elements, and you need at least one character of each element to unlock all the areas in the game.That aside they will probably want as many toys as they can get their hands on, so if you just plan on getting them a starter pack and nothing more they will probably be sorely disappointed and frustrated. It IS alot of money for a game, but really, the toys are half the fun. I admit it is a gimmick, but it is a very clever gimmick and one that appeals to me.The story in the game is pretty basic stuff, probably geared towards between 6-10.You're the chosen portal master, and it's up to you to save Skylands, or something like that.The voice acting is well done,even if what is being said is somewhat corny at times. However there is a good amount of humor in the game,and like a good family film, there are some "risque" jokes that are cleverly worded in such a way will fly over the heads,not corrupting their innocent young minds, while at the same time getting a laugh from the adults.
The game itself is admittedly fairly simplistic, walk around shooting/attacking enemies, collecting keys, and solving some basic puzzles.It's simplicity is overcome by the quality with which it is made. Controls are excellent and it is very easy and intuitive to aim your weapons.You earn cash in the game which you can then in turn use to purchase new abilities for your character, and at a certain point you can choose one of two paths, determining which ability you want to master,as well as a basic leveling up system, so there is a small, albeit well implemented RPG element to the game.Each level has a different Hat to collect, which can be worn by any skylander, aside from altering their appearance, each hat increased a particular stat in some way. If at any time you regret your decision, or if you just want to start over for the heck of it, you can reset a character at any given time.(Don't worry though, it will never happen by accident.)Despite it's ease and simple nature, it is alot of fun to play, especially in a time where the hardcore game is kind, and games seemed to be designed to test ones sanity.A welcome change of pace for those looking for something new. Each character actually feels very unique, I have about 14 of them and they all have a unique feel to them. Some of them are more suited to certain areas than others, so when that happens just switch out a toy. There are no button presses required and you pick up exactly where you left off with your last guy, in a matter of 2-3 seconds.i haven't tried the co-op mode but I imagine kids would have a blast with it.Your skylanders stats(abilities, level, hat) is saved instantly to the toy itself, so if you have a pal with the game, you can take your skylander over to his place.
The graphics, while they certainly wont be winning any awards, get the job done. They have a pleasant quality to them, my only complaint is that there is some slight screen tearing. Music, while not overly catchy,it isn't bad either, and never becomes annoying.
The toys are half the fun though, and for collection minded individuals, look no further. They are well made and sturdy with a good amount of details, and are of a rather original design and style.
Skylanders is a great game for children of the right age bracket, or for those who just want something new and refreshing.It makes no qualms about what it is meant to be, nor should it.Yes it will cost a fair bit of change if your kid(or you) goes gung ho over it, but there is something to be said for owning a physical product for your investment rather than the same old soulless DLC.
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First of all, I was very much excited about this game...especially buying the characters. They are only expensive if you try to order them. ($8 at walmart) Upon beginning the game, the intro movie bothered me a bit...even using the words "and now we have come to your planet so you can buy us."Upon playing the game once, I decided I wanted the "hex" character. I tried not to play it until I had it...and yet the stores were ALWAYS out..(as everyone else has said.) I looked for it every day for about two weeks, and eventually had to settle for a "sonic boom," because it was the first one I found. I sat down for another good playing session, and a couple hours later, the game ended. I literally played this game twice, and it was over.
THE GOOD: Very innovative. The portal is awesome, and I experienced no glitches with it...(like I thought I would.) I love the divisions of characters, and how they are different "types" like Pokemon. Also like that its a 2-player story type game.(never played one of those.)
THE BAD: Never got to use all the different characters(which is the games best aspect) due to not being able to find them, and the game being SO short. Also...EASY EASY EASY. You basically walk down a path, beat some monsters, get a key, open a door, and repeat. Also, its pricey, but you spend what you want. Very childish in its dialogue as well...(If Flynn had mentioned ladies, or if Kaos had used the word "evil" one more time, I would have lost my mind.)
THE END RESULT: I give this game three stars for its innovativeness and for its awesome characters. It loses two stars for the shortness of it, the price for what you get, and the fact that the storyline and different worlds within it are just "okay." (especially compared to the previous spyro games.
SHOULD YOU BUY THIS? If it is for a child 12 and under, YES. They will love it, and perhaps it will take them longer to beat it. If not, perhaps you should just wait a while for the cost to come down and for more characters to come out.
eForCity Deluxe USB Cooling Fan for Sony PS3
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So when i got my original fat (fully backward compatible) 60GB PS3, i was really worried about the dreaded YLOD due to overheating. So i was looking for cooling fans to help keep it cool, and i found this fan for a really good price. The fan fits the console perfectly, and goes on and off without a problem. However after using if for about 40 minutes, i heard the system's fan pick up speed, and that only happens when its getting hot. Shocked to hear the fan, (considering it was midnight and the temperature was 68 degrees) i moved it closer to my window fan. 20 mins later, i still heard the fan at the same speed, and volume. So then i got worried and i was going to stop playing, so i paused the game to take THIS cooling usb fan off of the console to put the system away... (I really take care of my PS3 considering the model) but as i was putting the usb fan back in its box, not even a minute later, i hear the fan completely slow down as if the system had just been turned on for less than a minute.
So after examining the console, i found out that the spot where the usb cooling fan is supposed to go, is another exhaust vent for the system aside from the one in the back. So what was happening was that the usb fan not only was blocking air from going out, but was also sending it back into the system. With that said, this usb fan is really not what people should buy if they want to keep their system cool. The fan at the top of the system is the only fan that keeps the system cool, and there for you should consider purchasing fans that attach to the top of the system to blow air in, or the fan that attaches to the back which pulls air out because fans that go in the fron will only restrict air ventilation. From a gamer to another, im just trying to help you keep your original FAT PS3 alive and well. =)
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This fan is really meant for launch 60gb model version PS3's or other early launch PS3 models with the vented grill profile. Other reviews stated not fitting correctly is due to using this fan on the later model PS3's. Product description should have been more clear. Product does fit on my 60gb model and works great. It is flush with the shape and is aesthetically nice. You need to understand this fan forces more air in the console and not out. So really, this assists the primary internal cooling fan to move more air in and then out of the system. All of these after market fans true contribution to cooling the system in some way either pull air out or, like this fan, push air in supplementing the primary fan. NO fan will help completely save these early model game consoles from its eminent death from heat, just help prolong the inevitable. I use the fan with my system sitting vertical. The vent being on top will assist the hot air to rise up and out of the console. Horizontal won't help evacuate the heat. A plus about the fan is that it is powered via usb and so I don't need to walk over and shut the fan off separately or fiddle with a power adapter to accommodate for. I wish it had a temperature sensor so it would keep cooling the system when powered down but this would defeat the purpose of the usb plug.If you ever get the yellow blinking hardware failure light of death because your PS3 is fried, there is a solution to fixing your PS3 on youtube but you would need to be technically savoy to repair it yourself if the warranty has expired, or pay sony the big bucks to fix it. Point is, don't throw away your PS3! They are and always will be a fantastic piece of sophisticated electronics.
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The fan installed easily and is held in place securely. There are a couple nubs on the top side that need to be placed into the air openings on the P3 case. Make the connection at the USB port then squeeze the case (top to bottom) near the nubs and push forward slightly, they will slide right into the air vents. The fan does move air fairly well, you can tell by placing your hand on the side of the unit, where the air is being blown out. This unit does draw air from the bottom side (when mounted horizontally), so I found by hanging it over the edge of my shelf it moves a little more air. I also like the fact that the unit turns itself on & off with the P3 system and if you don't want it on at all the power button is right on the front. The fans are a bit loud but what can you expect from 4 small PC fansRead Best Reviews of eForCity Deluxe USB Cooling Fan for Sony PS3 Here
Just to let everyone know, this fan is made for 60gb ps3's only. The good thing about this fan is that it fits on the front not the back or the sides. A lot of the fans out there attach to the side or the back of the ps3, but that actually does more damage than good. By having the fan on the back or the side of the ps3, it actually keeps a lot of that hot air trapped inside the ps3. This fan throws in a SMALL amount of cool air into the ps3, and it doesn't block any of the air flow. The thing I don't like about it is the fact that it doesn't blow enough air into the ps3 to really make a difference. If the fans were more powerful I would have given it 5 stars.Want eForCity Deluxe USB Cooling Fan for Sony PS3 Discount?
I did some research on what would cool down the PS3, and only be powered on while the unit is on. This Deluxe USB Cooling Fan has fit the bill perfectly. The snaps that hold it in place appeared to be too small, but with both snaps and the USB connection, I've had no issues with it. It fits perfectly in place and powers on when the unit is turned on via the gamepad....very nice and easy. The 4 PC muffin fans aren't that loud, and when watching a movie, they are not noticeable. Very good product for the money.
The Walking Dead
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I'm not a fan of "The Walking Dead" TV show (only saw it once), of zombies (seen way too many of them over the past 15 years), or horror movies (they simply don't entertain me). Yet, this game is so well done, I rate it five starsand this coming from a gamer who is fairly biased against its subject matter. Why? Because of the following:
The beauty of Telltale's episodic game is in its powerful narrative, its compelling use of emotion, and its unique (by modern standards) gameplay. In terms of the gameplay, it largely reminds me of the wonderful "point and click" adventures that I played on my computer as a child, where story was paramount. However, Telltale has refined the formula so that this "point and click" style works well even with console controllers, and there is a wonderful level of tension created at times, when you must quickly perform an action or choose how to respond to another character's inquiry.
The visual approach works wonders, creating a unique, comic book style that can quickly turn from colorful to frightening. Atmosphere is huge in this game, and the world is engrossing and it becomes "realistic" as you're drawn into the story and the perils that the characters face.
The story can at times have ludicrous elements (this is my lone criticism), such as when adults don't know how batteries work (or that portable radios run on them). But this is a minor gripe, and it is vastly overshadowed by a tremendous narrative that is coupled with moving music and some of the very best voice acting I've ever heard in a game. Rarely have I ever felt more connected to a character than the lovable Clementine, who even the coldest of gamers will grow affectionate of.
Combine this with many branches in storytelling that are available as a direct result of your decisions (oftentimes made under extreme duress with limited time), and episodes of perfect length (about two hours a piece for me), and "The Walking Dead" is a true winnerand a revival of the old PC adventure genre!
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Disclosure: Played as a PSN downloadIf you're thinking about getting this game, you're probably thinking some things like: Uh oh...a game based on a book/TV show?....That usually doesn't work. Or maybe you're thinking: Point and click?...Check please! Or maybe you didn't like some of Telltale's past titles?
And you know what, some of your concerns may even be valid; it really depends on your expectations for this awesome release, so let me try to set some of those expectations. First of all, The Walking Dead game is for and will be loved by--and loved by is a guarantee, graphic novel readers--any true fan of Robert Kirkman's source material. Anyone looking to run and gun down zombies will not get that out of this game. You certainly don't have to have read the book or seen the show to enjoy this game; just be sure that you are planning to get into and be part of a story-rich experience.
The Walking Dead game is no Burn Zombie Burn or some other bash as many zombies' brains in as possible game. This game is a lot more of an RPG than a shooter.
You start the game the day the zombie apocalypse begins concurrently from the start of the comic book series. You play as Lee, and just as in the book (and in the TV show) where the main character Rick was initially thrown into a chaotic journey by himself to find other survivors...that's you as Lee in The Walking Dead game.
There are plenty of action sequences, but your time in this game is mostly spent literally being a part of the story making some tough (and some not so tough) decisions. It's the tough decisions that will affect how the rest of the game unfolds for you, and you'll have to live with the consequences of every option you choose.
The game does give you the option of "rewinding" back to a specific checkpoint, and you can go forward from there and choose a different option that overwrites your original decision if that's your style. But I didn't do that until I completed the entire series. I tried to make the main character call "the right move" when presented with choice; but there is a time limit when decision time comes, and sometimes you may regret a hasty decision. For example, you'll have to choose one life over another twice during just the first episode, and I'm not sure that I made the "right" choice in one of those moments. But I stuck with my decisions until after playing through the entire series just to "keep it real." The game sure does get an A for replay value.
Just as in the graphic novel (and the TV show), the story is much less about zombies and more about what happens to society, its morals, laws and standards when government is lost and the planet becomes mostly uninhabitable. But this time you don't just watch it unfold on paper or on your TV screen; in this game you're part of the story...you control your integrity, your morality and ultimately your destiny. And there's real, heartfelt emotion in The Walking Dead game combined with very believable scenarios. Color me a sissy, but I actually got a little misty over one of the decisions that "I had to" make.
The Walking Dead game is excellent...especially for just a point and click. It's as gritty and graphic as the comic book, and it's very story-rich. If you read the comic as I do...you'll love it. The graphics are appropriately very comic-bookesque. I really do feel like I'm part of a different story arc in the freakin' book! Best 20 bucks I've spent all year...best game of 2012 for me. Plus anyone clamoring for a Platinum Trophy could get an easy one here; all the trophies are unmissable simply by finishing all the chapters in every episode.
The Walking Dead game is a deep, personal and emotional adventure.The Walking Dead definitely calls back to PC adventure gaming of the past; however, it cannot in my opinion be categorized as such. It is more appropriately thought of as an interactive drama, and the story is where this title really shines. The narrative is well told, the voice acting consistently great, and together the creators give the player characters you really care about and invest in. Without spoiling anything for those who can manage to remain spoiler-free, it all builds to an outstanding climax. This game has few peers in the area of story-driven experiences.
As much as I loved the game, I have to say the gameplay is its weakness. There were several occasions when I forgot I had a controller in my hand, as there was quite a bit of cutscene watching. For those who love the action of a good shooter or brawler, be aware this is much slower paced. Much of the gameplay revolves around conversations with other characters and choosing responses or actions. Sometimes this choice dynamic works incredibly well, with consequences that truly reverberate througout the rest of the story. On these occasions I felt very connected to the main character and the outcome of these choices. Other times it feels a bit like a gimmick, where it is a choice presented for its own sake with no real effect. When the action does ramp up the game definitely becomes tense, but certainly does not present the tight response of a good FPS (nor does it try to, since it is radically different). Obviously based on my rating none of this impaired my enjoyment of the game, but I thought others who are wondering what all the hype is all about might find this information helpful! To sum up:
Pros:
+ Excellent story
+ Well realized characters and voice acting
+ Very true to its comic book source
+ Much of the time, the choice system is great
Cons:
Graphic novel style can detract from the realistic effect of the awesome story
Controlled character movement is a bit stiff
Very few puzzle elements (I suppose this could be a pro for some though)
Action sequences are great for story tension, but clunky from a control perspective
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:::Introduction:::I tried to hold out for the disc-version of this game, I really did. But after hearing nothing but praise for the game as a whole, I couldn't resist entering my credit card and getting all 5 episodes in the Season Pass on the PSN (still considering the disc version somewhere down the line, just not anytime soon). I did this with Journey, even after hearing the countless term "masterpiece" slathered onto the game, I just didn't feel compelled to download it, so when the disc version came out with Flower and flOw, I snatched it up and was absolutly blown away by the games (specifically Journey, which I highly suggest to ALL gamers). But this review, it's about The Walking Dead, so here we go.
:::Prequel:::
As I've stated above, I do not own the physical copy (which to my knowledge contains the exact same content as the downloadable version). I am a big fan of the graphic novel an somewhat of an addict of the AMC TV series, I loved the fact they could craft a story about the zombie apocalypse that was more about the characters than the zombies, the zombies were more of a catalyst for the deep and intriguing morality tale. The game follows suit in terms of the graphic novels and the AMC version, only this time around we get to control certain aspects. My favorite thing about this game is the fact that (as it states before each episode) the choices you make effect the way the game plays and the story unfolds. That and Clementine, who I have deeply fallen in love with, and many times find myself thinking she is my own daughter (a foreshadow to the level of personal involvement/investment this game applies to the player). With this review, I will break it into several categories to showcase all the wonders of this game. Let's begin with...
:::Story/Plot (SPOILER FREE!):::
In this variation, you play Lee Evert, a convicted murdered being transferred to another prison when a walker appears in the middle of road causing a dramatic crash. Everything seems normal on the surface, but the outbreak has quietly just begun. Sometime later, you awake in the back of the overturned police cruiser, the driver laying dead having been ejected from the windshield. First thing is first, get these stupid handcuffs off, which leads to our first real nerve wrenching sequence of obtaining the keys. Once that is taken care of, walkers begin to appear. Seems the outbreak broke out faster than we thought. Soon Lee finds himself in the backyard of suburban house. Once inside, he finds it to be empty. Some messages are found on the answering machine, showing us how quick the outbreak happened. Soon we hear the voice of a little girl coming though a walkie-talkie. Soon we meet Clementine, an 8-year old girl intent on finding her parents in Savannah, Georgia. Lee takes her with him with almost no hesitation. She becomes a very big part of the story, Lee having never had a child of his own and somewhat taking her in as his own. And thus, our journey begins. Along the way we get to go to Hershel's farm, meet Glen, and find other sprinkles of references to Rick Grimes journey (this takes place before those events). You meet a group of survivors, each with their own story, set of skills, weaknesses and strong suits. Also you find out more about Lee & Clem as the story progresses. The storyline in the game is it's strongest selling point, and I would love to go further into it, but spoilers would be everywhere. The story itself is worth any price of admission, it's about as long as a season of the show (more in the next section).
:::Game Play:::
In this game, you get the ability to walk around freely in almost all areas. You also have a four point cursor that is controlled with the right analog stick. This cursor allows you to interact with other characters, items and objects, and move farther distances than simply walking. The game is broke into five episodes, each consisting of a little over two hours of game play each, making it an 11 hour game or so (depending on how much you do). There are times where you are presented with vocal trees, usually consisting of 3 4 choices, each with their own unique outcome. Some of these are on a timer, so you have to decide quickly while others are not timed. This adds to the tension as you have to make split-second decisions, most of which are important and change the way the plot unfolds (another selling point, TONS of replay value). In the times where you have to face walkers, either with your bare hands, a melee weapon, or a gun, you have two ways of doing so. One is with the cursor, a small dot will be placed in one of the four slots and after lining it up you can press the corresponding button to kill the walker. In more crowded situations, you are staring down the top of a gun and have to manually aim and take them out. The action level is a mixed bag. Those of you looking for loads of action, forget this game now. It's more a drama than anything else, and would feel awful if it were anything but. Some quick-time events may be frustrating, but nothing about this game is difficult. Most people should be able to immediately pick it up and have it mastered 20 minutes into the first episode. Yes, the control scheme is quite different from a lot of games I've played, but it's not aggravating and actually adds a bit of uniqueness to the game (as if it needed more). Cut-scenes dominate a vast majority of the game, which may sound like a con, but it really helps. I would say it's about 65% cut-scenes, 45% game play. Just a heads up for those who want non-stop game play. This is story game, keep that in mind.
:::Graphics:::
Now, to start this section off let me just say I am not a graphic's man. I enjoy a game regardless, I still play NES & PSOne games and have just as much fun with them as do with next-gen games. That isn't to say I can't be blown away by graphical capabilities of games. I think Heavy Rain is one of the most beautiful games ever. All this aside, let's focus on the game at hand. The Walking Dead has taken a bit more of the animated route in terms of graphics (something I think is an homage to the graphic novels). What we have here is a mixture of Cell-Shading and standard character design with a slight bit more detail. The detail in this game is incredible. The sets look amazing, and luckily there are times between action sequences where you can walk around areas and talk with people and also admire the sets and the amount of detail put into each one of them. I'm glad they went with the style they did, even though a more realistic take would have added a little more the events in the game and suck the player in slightly more, it's easier to get detached while playing for a lack of better words, cartoons.
:::Music:::
Music can make or break games like these. Luckily, the music is just as good as the story and really brings out emotion in the player. In tense moments, the music adds extra tension, in heart-breaking moments, the music helps bring tears to your eyes. All in all the music is wonderful and really adds the ambiance needed for this type of experience. Just another selling point, I'd buy the soundtrack by itself it's that good.
:::Breakdown:::
All in all, I'd give this experience (more than just a game) a 9/10. It really pulls you, and quite quickly I might add. It's addictive, engaging, emotional, tense, tragic, and so many other things. For the price of the disc, you are getting a great deal. We need more games like this on the market. In terms of comparing this game to another, it'd have to be Heavy Rain because the way it gives the player control over the progression of story based on choices and really takes the video game element away and adds a personal experience that is sure to bring about a lot of emotion, both good and bad. If you are a fan of the Walking Dead, this game NEEDS to be a part of your collection. If you are turned off by the fact there are zombies (something we have all seen WAY too much of these days), don't fret, it's not a zombie game, it's a Survival Horror/Drama. It's more cinematic than most, and has enough story to fill a small lake. If you are a casual gamer who wants something a bit off the norm, this is the game for you. If you like games that make you as big a part of the plot as the characters, again, BUY THIS GAME. If you like video games, BUY THIS GAME. It has something for everyone.
:::PRO & CON:::
PROS:
-Phenomenal story
-Great cast of characters
-Very detailed graphics
-Endless replay value
-Choices effect the plot
-Addictive game play due to plot
-11+ hours of game play
-Interesting graphics
-New take on combat system
CONS:
-At some point, the game comes to an end.
REVIEW BYASTROID ANDY
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After taking top honors at the VGA's in 2012, it is clear to many that there is something special about Telltale's "The Walking Dead." Some more jaded critics will say the game was only able to take this honor because many of the year's "AAA" titles like Assassin's Creed III, and Mass Effect 3 did not meet up to expectations. While I describe these critics as "jaded" I do think there is some merit to this notion, as one of the other common "game of the year" winners on game websites was the brief and "artistic" game "Journey." Despite "The Walking Dead" not having the stiffest competition last year, I still think the game has a lot of merit and is entirely worth playing.While the TV show based on Robert Kirkman's series of graphic novels has been gaining in popularity on AMC in recent years, the game actually appeals more to the universe of the graphic novel's more so than AMC's television adaptation. This is most apparent in the graphics, which goes for a sort of cell shaded look, with a bleak color palette befitting of the games apocalyptic setting. Visually, "The Walking Dead" is very consistent with TellTale's recent work, including their "Back to the Future" game (which I also plan to write a review for on Amazon) and their "Jurassic Park" game. That is too say it contains basic cell shading as the look, which occasional frame rate drops and other performance stutters. Fortunately, these performance issues do not hurt the experience too much, and it is worth noting that "The Walking Dead" does perform better from a technical standpoint than some of TellTale's past work. On the audio end of the presentation spectrum, the music and sound effects in the game, while not spectacular, fit the mood and atmosphere well enough. (I did really like the song that played in the end credits of the final episode of the game: It was a sort of folk song that I think was called "Take Me Back.") The voice acting on the other hand is really good. While there are some voices that just adhere to character type, the bulk of the cast does a great job of imbuing their characters with a sense of past, sadness, and a kind of depth that often evokes multiple emotions in us an audience members. Of special note are the main character Lee, and the young girl Clementine.
In the game you play as Lee, a man who recently was convicted of murder and is now being taken to prison. Fortunately (or not depending on how you look at it) the Zombie apocalypse has begun, and so when one of undead walks in front of the cop car Lee is being driven in, the car wreaks, and an escaped convict is the last thing most people are worrying about. Shortly after this, Lee comes across a young girl named Clementine whose babysitter has been turned into a zombie, and whose parents have been out of town for a few days.Lee takes Clementine under his wing and their quest to survive the zombie apocalypse begins. The narrative is without question the highlight of this game. It is filled with interesting characters and "oh crud" moments that will keep you on your feet. Yes, it can be silly sometimes just how dysfunctional the members of your party are, and the strangely high percentage of nutty people your party manages to come across, but let's face it: zombies are a nice threat but ultimately its how people deal with the zombies that makes these sorts of stories interesting. Many critics have praised the connection between Lee and Clementine, and while I did not cry at the games climax (which I won't spoil here) I did find the story to be engrossing and generally well paced. Another element of the story that is worth noting is that the player get's to make choices that influence the story. If you are expecting Mass Effect levels of interaction with the story...you won't find that here. It's often pretty easy to see how the developers manipulate the narrative to have the same general scenes despite your choices, but that's okay. The choices in this game are used more to draw the player into the game's story, rather than give players the agency to change that story. Some may consider this a cheap move at giving the game more replay, but I find that even this limited player agency increases one's connection and engagement with the narrative in a significant way.
You may have noticed that I spent a fair bit of time talking about the games story, but that is because a lot of your experience the player has with this game is via its story. The game plays like a normal "point and click" adventure game, with occasional sections where you shoot things from a stationary position. The other significant part of game play is the dialogue choices. As I said earlier, the game gives the player the ability to choose how the plot plays out (to a certain extent), and this is done by having the player choose different dialogue options. One nice feature of this dialogue system is that it works on a timer. You have to make your decisions quickly which helps reinforce the importance of paying attention to what is going on in the narrative at any given point. The game play here is rather simple, but it works to help the player interact with the story, which is clearly the game's primary concern (as is often the case with adventure games). This emphasis on the story does mean that the game is linear and its game play is very simple. If you are the sort of person who doesn't like story in games, and prefers a deep game play experience this IS NOT the game for you.
In summary, "The Walking Dead" is an engaging narrative, put inside of an adventure game that is generally well designed, and helped greatly by a good dialogue system. While it has a few technical issues, and may not be for everyone, the game does admirbly fulfill its goal of provide players with a narrative of survival in the zombie apocalypse that keeps players who like a good story hooked until the end of its eight hour run time. 4/5 stars.
Soul Calibur IV Premium Edition (Premium)
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Disclaimer and Background: I've played SC 2 and 3 at the arcades, and only have SC2 for the PS2, so obviously, SC4 was going to be substantially superior graphically. I also can't compare any games from SC4 versus SC3, since again, I've only played the arcade version of SC3.
Additionally, I'm sure a bunch of people have already reviewed the actual game, so I'll focus instead on the Premium Edition content.
You get the game (of course), the Tshirt, a code for in game material, and the "book". Oh, and some "tournament bracket card", and the metal case. Here's a breakdown of the extras:
1. Tshirt: Pretty good quality shirt, I've washed it a few times and looks good so far. The silk screen isn't very sharp, though, it's as if you're comparing a bootleg concert Tshirt to a real thing. The picture's there, but it's not high resolution. But at least it wasn't 50/50 cotton/polyester like the real crappy Tshirts. My son liked it, but since he's only 9 years old, I figured that Dad will wear it instead.
2. Code for in-game material: Very straightforward instructions for entering the code in the Playstation network (internet connection required, of course). It didn't exactly specify what was given, and I didn't bother to go through each character model to look for them, but if you're a completist and need every available costume and look, well, there you go!
3. "Art Book": As another reviewer said, this one's a negative. The picture shown in Amazon shows a hardcover book, and it's supposed to be an Art Book, according to the description, but it's only half that. The first half of the book is a short, but decent, comic, about SC, and introduces a couple new characters you'll find in the game (no, not Darth Vader). Basically, if you got a regular cheap comic (since it's black and white), and shrunk it down to the size of 7 by 5, that's the first half of this "art book". The second half does indeed have some drawings of SOME of the characters. I would have thought that they would have at least included pics of all characters, but oh, well.
4. Tournament bracket card: I've never been to a SC tournament, so I have no idea if this is a replica or if there's any significance. Just a plastic card, no use for me.
5. Metal box: Nice, everything fits into it, its closure snaps okay. You can probably use it as a candy dish or something.
Overall: Is this a good package? Yes. Is it worth the extra 20 bucks? I would say so, the Tshirt by itself is mostly worth it, the comic/art book is worth 2 bucks, and the case, additional content (costumes) and that nifty card is just extra dressing.
I'd recommend this Edition over the regular edition, especially if any of the extra items are things you'd care for. If not, you're not losing out too much by buying the regular edition. Either way, I'd get the game, though, because graphically, the game is very good. Cutscenes are also good, and the stories are okay.
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Ok, first let me say I've been waiting with bated breath for this game to arrive, and so far of nearly a week of gameplay, I haven't been too disappointed.THE GOOD:
Graphics, graphics, graphics! This game is beautiful, and I know I can't possibly appreciate it on a standard def TV but I do. I know you HD people have to be in 1080-Heaven. It's impressive look is what drew me to the original on the Sega Dreamcast (yeah I had one, and I LUV'D it:) Everytime I turn the system on, I wait through the intro screens just so marvel at it. The in-game graphics are a treat to look at as well, and I think I actually prefer the "special effects" to the Mortal Kombat-like blood and gore.
Characters! All my favs are back and some new faces as well. And the create a character feature is hilarious and fun. I'd spend hours just in this menu before any fights are even started.
Gameplay! There's just enough realism to adequately balance the absurd (see any female character) "Movements" in bringing the characters to life while they're flying across the screen trying to pummel each other. I'm also glad that many (if not all) of the moves I remember from the original game are here as well for those returning characters, along with new moves to master.
THE BAD:
Graphics! (None)
Characters! Okay, see above. The same thing that makes this game's characters interesting is exactly what has me rolling my eyes. Sometimes I don't know if I'm playing Soul Calibur or Dead or Alive 'Beach Volleyball'. Sheesh.
However, I'd rather see DD's flying across the screen than the insanity that is Star Wars characters let loose on my fav fighting game. I'm all for people making $$ off of their creations but COME ON, George. And to top it all off, Vader (PS3 version) and his apprentice seem to have an uncanny ability to slash right through all kinds of blocks and if my eyes don't deceive me, seem a little quicker than the other characters. I really wish they hadn't included this franchise in the game, but what can you do?
Gameplay! My major complaint here, is the lack of response we both experienced while trying to stop combos of the opponent. Rolling out of the way works best if you're already hit and down, but don't think you're going to go into a block once someone lands a blow. Also, I think the game modes--arcade in particular--are too short and in that case especially, don't give the player much, if any, satisfaction once it's beaten (I remember the goregous cut scenes from the original). It was just 'back to the character select screen you go'. Oh, and it's nit-picking, but it just irks me that you can actually beat someone by just kicking them in the shins. C'mon.
THE UGLY:
Amazon's "Get it on release day!" hype. I know it has nothing to do with the game itself, and no I didn't take a star for that (although I should), but to allow pre-orders even after you know you've surpassed the number of units available to ship on relase day is just plain wrong. I suffered the same disappointment as the other reviewer here, and let Amazon know that was NOT ok. I guess this shouldn't impact anyone now but shame on Amazon for poor customer service (they tried to make it up to me, but only after the fact). Oh, and where's the art book? They don't mean that little comic book, do they?? That's not what's in the pic above, either. O well...
I need to go beat up on something with a big demonic sword, so excuse me.
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awesome fighting game, insanse graphics and custumization to characters, one downside is no rumble feature on the ps3 which was a little disappointing. Online is really fun !Read Best Reviews of Soul Calibur IV Premium Edition (Premium) Here
Being that I'm new to the series, and it is at it's end the game play is good, their could have been more story for an ending game for each of the characters.The ends are very disapointing.
The graphics are amazing, even on my SD tv. This earned it a star and a half.
So far, all you get is a postar, turnament chart, pen, and T-shirt. As far as content goes, So far nothing is different in oposition to the regular purchase. But you never know, I might find something yet.
It makes me wonder if it was worth the extra cash.
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This entry into the Soul Caliber series is amazing. They really poured their heart and soul into making this version. Depending on which console you are buying for, they also threw in a special character. Do Darth Vadar or Yoda sound familiar? The PS3 version comes with Darth Vadar while the x360 version gets Yoda, but you have to buy the premium version to get these characters. What's a few extra bucks to have the chance to be Vadar? Game play is smooth and easy to pick up. Look forward to hours of fun playing as different characters, or you can design your own. I highly recommend getting this game.
CET Domain 10021603 Travel Game Carry Bag Case for SONY Playstation 3 PS3
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fits the 160gb slim good but not great......straps are useless.....you do have to tighten the zippers around to get it to close.....overall tho if your using this to transport to a friends house it will work great....this is what i got into this case
160gb slim ps3
2 controllers
usb media expansion bar
cooling fan
power cord
hdmi cord
four games cases with 2 each inside
vertical stand
camera for move
both move controllers
this was also using the outer pocket as well.
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Its good case, mey son threw the ps3 in the case and it protected fine. He's been using it alot. He goes to his cousin's house often and he uses the case to carry the console.Buy CET Domain 10021603 Travel Game Carry Bag Case for SONY Playstation 3 PS3 Now