BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Limited Edition

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $82.15
Today's Bonus:

This game has amazing sprites and backgrounds. Characters are blanced and the action is intense and fast. Its different from Guilty Gear as a whole, but after some practice aspects of the game make it feel guilty gearish. The spirits of Sol and Ky and others really do do live on this new franchise. This game is newb friendly, but unfolds as you learn the tricks of the trade and develops into a complex fighter. This is a must own!!! Its a shame because this game will not be recognized by many gamers. I say try it out and support ARKS...if you own the PS3 version i'll be there :D I main Ragna and Rachael

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

Get ready for the most technical, combo heavy fighting game in existence. But instead of playing online and wanting to throw your fist through your HD tv when you lose a match, this game will make you stare in awe at how awesome it is. No matter how many times I lost, I never got upset, and kept trying harder and harder to get better with my main character. Now on to the review.

Graphics 10/10 The best looking 2D fighter to ever grace the market, period. Everything is smooth and well rendered, and even the backgrounds and simple animations don't disappoint. You have to see this game in action at the highest resolution, period.

Sound 10/10 Both the English and Japanese dub are amazing, and the little quips that happen mid-fight between two of the story characters is also a nice little touch in immersion. Every sound in this game is amazing, and the soundtrack does not disappoint. If you've played any of the Guilty Gear series, then you know exactly what to expect with this game.

Control 10/10 Blisters. In a good way. I haven't enjoyed playing a game so much since SFA3, and the blisters were a welcome badge of honor. The controls for every character are smooth and responsive and really help to make you never feel cheated when inputing a chain, or combo.

Overrall 10/10 If you're a fighter fan, anime fan, or just love art, buy this game....now. Don't wait, don't think on it. Go down to Gamestop right now and pick this up, immediately, you will not be disappointed.

Buy BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Limited Edition Now

First let me give praise to what the developers have done here. This game offers some of the most impressive deep gameplay that you can find in a 2d fighter. The game, even though a spin-off of the Guilty Gear series may as well be a GG game. It keeps a similar art style, over the top characters, and general gameplay as its GG counterpart. With that being said I am also going to say that this game isn't for every 2d fighter fan. The extensive possibilities in the gameplay can be a turn off for some and at the same time a thank you to other players. Let me explain.

When you play through arcade mode you may find yourself winning, but once you go online and run across veteran players they will show you how you know absolutely nothing about this game and have a lot of learning to do. This is no button masher. This game requires precise planning, when it comes to combos, strategy, how to atack your opponent, when to attack your opponent, etc. On top of that this game is so fast at times that you don't have much time to think at all. Now these things can either be good news to you or bad news.

For those who are GG veterans, they will probably have a much easier time learning how to play than others. For those who are coming from let's say Street Fighter, they will find themselves in very unfamiliar territory. This is game is not your normal 2d fighter. The combos take a while to learn and master and you aren't going to get any where online unless you learn them. For those who appreciate all of these things I mentioned, you should go out and get this game; for those who are put off by the steep learning curve, well you decide.

I give the game 4 stars because I feel it deserves it. Perfect games deserve perfect ratings and this game falls short of that because it caters to the hard-core. It is not newbie friendly. The bonus tutorial disc is well appreciated, but I can't imagine how lost customers who buy the regular version in the future will be. For those who do buy the limited version, make sure you write down all the combos the tutorial disc gives you. You are gonna need them.

Read Best Reviews of BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Limited Edition Here

In various previews, honestly, BlazBlue came a bit too strong for me. High-paced fighting accompanied by flashy, in the word's truest sense, super moves only seemed... again, honestly, pretentious. After I thought I'd just burned off $65 on a mediocre, new (for me) fighting IP, I was only to be simply amazed at this astounding video game.

BlazBlue features 12 characters. 12 very different, clearly distinct stylish guys and gals and others. They are not like characters from the King of Fighters, all with different moves stemming out of same semi-/quartercircle + punch/kick commands. To get to know, to be able to play with a character means that you have invested in a fair amount of time. Doing so is necessary for not only playing against other players online but against CPUs in Versus or Arcade Mode.

BlazBlue's initial release package (the Limited Edition), along with the game, includes a bonus Blu-Ray disc and two whole discs of soundtracks. Please, if you're able to appreciate video game music and are going to get this game, don't wait until Standard Editions replace the Limited ones on the store shelf and get it now because as good as the game is, those two discs of soundtracks are a legitimate music album themselves. You want a fighting game music to be on a orchestral, up-class, and royal atmosphere (contrary to SF or KOF or any other conventional fighters before), this is as good as it gets.

Even if you didn't care much for each character's unique move-sets or even the accompanying soundtracks, I want to believe that you, at least, care for what you see. I just cannot say enough for its fantastic visuals colors are full, animations well-executed, effects notably placed. Cel-shading has never been presented at a better level and until the end of the ps3/360 cycle, it is not going to be outdone.

I want to end this short right about at this point, but I have to applaud the U.S. localization team. Well, sure the translations were smooth, but the voice actors and actresses. Watching dubbed animes these days, I guessed the U.S. performers just lost their fire or whatever, but boy was I surprised. From the objective point of view, it is definitely on par with the Japanese dub. I was pleased to be able to enjoy the game without having to toggle the sound to the original recording. Kudos.

BlazBlue is a bar-setting, near-perfect fighter that is, as complicated as it is, even beginner-friendly with its "Easy Specials" utilizing R3 on the ps3 controller. Original SF or KOF fans might feel a little uncomfortable at the characters' slightly different ranges of motion per press, but with time, that's bound to fade.

Actually, if you've been ready (for a long time) to embrace a deep, profound fighter with class and originality, BlazBlue would be the perfect game.

Want BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Limited Edition Discount?

BlazBlue, the spiritual successor to Guilty Gear. Developed by Arc Systemworks, music composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari, original creator of Guilty Gear!

PROS:

Comes with two disc official sound track

DVD containing basic info on Bread and Butter Combos for all 12 characters

HD 2D animation is gorgeous! Can't say this enough, the 2D characters with a 3D background is eye candy. The animation for for Distortion Drives are well drawn. Online mode is superb. The netcode is quite impressive. It offers replays of top players with a rank of 1500 or higher for all characters to download and watch. Playing several hundred matches, even with lag, matches don't disconnect unless your ISP service just drops. Each room supports up to six players, so you can go vs. against several friends or co-workers.

CONS:

Small roster of characters, just 12

Even though the roster isn't that big, each character is unique with their own play style and Drive. No character is a clone of another which adds variety to the cast. I bought this Limited Edition a few months back, and never regretted it once. Best Fighter and new Fighter IP of 2009. Recommend this to anyone who loves 2D fighters or grew up playing them in the arcades.

Read More >>

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $11.49
Today's Bonus: 62% Off

If you have never played a Tiger Woods game, you will enjoy 12. But if you have played other games in this series, you will be disappointed.

The addition of Augusta is worthy of a new release. However, EA has removed some of the more enjoyable features from previous versions of the game. For instance, why remove the camera flybys or change the thumbstick putting mechanism? EA could have left these features in as options at the very least.

The graphics are great, but they are no better than the previous installment. If you have played Tiger Woods 11, there is nothing to brag about here.

Using the Move controller is novel, but the accuracy is questionable at best. Unless you are playing "just for fun", you will be using the control pad.

The caddy feature is a nice addition, but it is unpolished. Shot advice from the caddy is either completely obvious or completely misguided. Leveling up your caddy's mastery of the different courses takes an eternity and provides no measurable benefit. If you are familiar with the controls, you will probably turn the caddy feature off after a couple rounds.

Putting in this game is more difficult than in real life. The controls are extremely fragile. You will soon build up a tolerance for missing 2-foot or 3-foot putts. There is nothing to practice or correct on your end it is a flip of the coin. You simply roll your eyes and move on to the next hole.

If playing at Augusta is your main concern, buy this game.

If not, get a copy of Tiger Woods 10 or 11 and save your money. You will still be dazzled by the graphics, and the gameplay will be as-good or superior.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

So, EA Sports is back with yet another edition of their long running golf franchise. There are surely two things that fans have been asking for for years in the Tiger Woods franchise. First is to play as a virtual Phil Mickelson, and the second is to play at Augusta National.

Luckily, this year one of those dreams has been fulfilled. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 comes complete with the home of the Masters, and the entire game, from the introduction, to the menus, to the special features is decked out to display the beautiful course located in northern Georgia. From the second the game turns on, it sounds like a telecast of the Masters is starting.

Along with the new course, another new feature is called Masters Moments, where you re-live some of the greatest memories from Masters lore, from Tiger Woods' miracle chip-in in 2005 to Gene Sarazen's double eagle in 1935. If you can perfectly replicate all of these moments, you'll receive an automatic bid to the Masters tournament once you reach the PGA tour in career mode.

Speaking of Career mode, it has been fleshed out and expanded wonderfully. This year's edition now includes an Amateur Tour, the Nationwide Tour, Q-School, and finally, the PGA tour. This adds a wonderful layer of depth to the game, and it really makes it feel like you're working your way up from the bottom, as opposed to just starting and winning on the PGA tour right out of the gate. In addition to the events, there are also challenge and sponsor events each week. Challenge events consist of matching you against a PGA/LPGA Tour player in one of the game's various modes, such as Match Play, Skins, or Battle Golf. If you win, you earn an enormous amount of XP. Sponsor events have you play a few holes in order to accomplish certain goals, such as minimizing your amount of putts or hitting all the greens in regulation. Doing so will unlock certain items or gear from that sponsor that you can use without having to pay for them.

Your coach from the last two years, Hank Haney, is no longer present in this version, but he is replaced by a very helpful, nameless caddie who will provide you with some advice and at least two options for each shot before you take it. You can choose to take his advice, or you can create a custom shot of your own. If you liked things better the old way, the caddie option can be turned off entirely. For the most part, the advice and shot placements you get from the caddie are rather good, but at times he can lead you astray if you automatically choose his first choice each time. Luckily, your caddie levels up as well as you gain your own XP, so his choices gradually become more reliable and his putt reads improve significantly as your career progresses.

The PS3 version of the game can be played using the Playstation Move controller, and for the most part, the actual mechanics of the golf swing are duplicated beautifully. Slight turns and twists of the motion controller can impart a slight draw or fade on the ball, whereas a strong derivation from the swing plane can result in a very errant shot. Putting in particular can take quite a while to get accustomed to, especially when the tension starts to rise and your putt meter disappears very quickly. There are times when the Move controls don't work as well as they could. For one, there must always be a wireless controller on and functioning. The Navigation controller seems to serve no purpose at all, and the wireless controller only needs to be used for switching clubs if you want to create a custom shot. Unfortunately, you aren't able to slightly alter your caddie's suggestions, either. Instead of simply moving your caddie's suggestion a few feet to the left, you have to create your own custom shot from scratch. The controls for adjusting your shot or lining up your putt can be finicky at first, but after a few rounds they become very intuitive. Though the Move controller can also be used to navigate menus, it is pretty much a disaster, as many of the menu options scroll right/left as well as up/down. It can be gotten used to, but the controls are very sensitive and you're better off using the standard controller to navigate the menus.

Using the Move controls adds a new layer of depth, and it no longer makes the game too easy. It can be a challenge to craft a consistent swing to pull off good shots, and you'll struggle to keep your rounds below par. Once you get the hang of it, however, it's a great feeling of accomplishment when you nail that approach shot within 3 feet or sink that tournament winning putt on the 18th green. To make the game a little easier, the focus system introduced last year remains in effect, allowing you to power boost, improve your accuracy, or use putt preview.

There are other facets of the game that just aren't up to what they could be. Though the commentary team is improved greatly with the addition of Jim Nantz, it is still too bland, and the entire experience feels watered as you're coming down the stretch on a crucial Sunday round. The sense of urgency isn't there, and though the controller shakes a little more and your shot assist meters start vanishing as things tighten up, you end up feeling somewhat diluted when the crowd, celebrations, and commentators all feel uninteresting. Also, for some reason EA chose not to include the Ryder cup again this year, substituting it for the President's Cup. Since the events alternate every two years in real life, it seems that EA may attempt to do the same thing, so perhaps we'll see the Ryder Cup appear again in next year's version.

Despite some disappointing presentation and omission of features from last year's game, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2012 is still the definitive golf simulation on the major consoles. This year, the addition of Augusta National, a new, expanded career mode, and highly improved motion controls are certainly enough to warrant a purchase if you own last year's edition.

Maybe next year the game will be titled: EA Sports PGA Tour 2013: Tiger vs. Phil.

Buy Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters Now

First of all this review mostly addresses the move implementation in the PS3 version, particularly in comparison to TW2011.

After a frustrating experience with TW2011, specifically the poor move implementation (documented in my review of that title), I finally decided to get rid of the game and take one more chance on tiger woods 2012. I'm very glad I did.

First of all, I'll echo the general positives about the game that others have mentioned. The new approach to building xp by playing your way up through the amateur and then nationwide tour is MUCH more fun than the approach in 2011 where you screw around with "challenges." You get right into playing real golf against reasonable competition immediately. Also, the addition of Augusta is worth the purchase price alone, and IMHO the most beautiful golf course in the world is well represented in the game. Another update that I enjoy is the ability quit and save during the middle of a round so you can pick back up where you left off. The caddie is also a nice addition, especially when I introduce friends to the game. I find that friends on their first evening (with the move controls) can play competitively against me, with them using a pro golfer, using nearly all of the caddie shots with no adjustments, and me using my (low XP) profile doing custom shots where necessary and generally being better at the game. Only general negative I have is the cheesy intro that you cannot skip until you've created a profile. I made the mistake of not creating a profile the first time I played (wanted to go straight to augusta) and then had to repeat the whole thing the next time I put the disc in.

On to the move updates. The implementation is SIGNIFICANTLY improved over 2011. The move controller doesn't tend to loose calibration during play, and if it does there is an in game calibration option. The controls are simple enough that someone unfamiliar with the game, and even unfamiliar with the move controller, can play the game relatively smoothly after only a few holes (the caddie helps as mentioned earlier). The move controller seems a little less sensitive in the normal difficulty setting than in 2011, so you aren't shanking every other shot into the woods, although a smooth and somewhat hard swing is still required to put the ball in the fairway at 100% power. Putting remains very difficult, especially until you build your grean reading skill up, but is not overly frustrating. The best way to describe it is that the move works like I expected it to in 2011, which makes this a very fun game. It works on several levels playing through the career mode on my own, or playing a casual game with some friends while working through a 12 pack, which is EXACTLY what move games should be like.

HOWEVER, I still have two major gripes with the move implementation, which knocked a star off. First of all, there are very few instructions for using the move. Even the "software" manual that is available from within the game only gives instructions for the dual shock, not the move controller. Most of the more basic controls are showed on screen during the game, but there are certain controls that simply are impossible to figure out on your own. For example, to switch clubs during a custom shot, you have to hit the trigger and x or sqaure buttons at the same time. The only way I was able to find this out was to search through the forums on ea.com, eventually finding a "sticky" post to a non-ea website where someone had taken the time to write up instructions for the move. Not even on EA's website could I find any "official" documentation. This is absolutely inexcusable.

Second, you still need a dual shock, or perhaps a navigation controller, to navigate through the game. This seems to be the norm with PS3 Move games, but it sure would be nice if, a la wii, you could play a game without having to put down the motion controller and pick up the dual shock.

Summary vastly improved game from both a general content perspective and a motion control implementation perspective from TW2011. However, the success is slightly hampered by poor documentation of the move controller functionality.

Read Best Reviews of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters Here

What a scam job EA SPORTS has pulled in producing this game. The game itself seemed relatively cheap to buy. But, the caviat is that you also have to purchase golf courses individually. They have a wide assortment of 19 courses to purchase. They aren't cheap. $4 and up. You could spend well over $200 for this game. SUCKER?? Not me!

Want Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters Discount?

Let me start off by saying this game is loads of fun, the graphics are impressive and the sound quality is great running PCM. However, these are all things customers expect from modern day titles. Where games can really shine is through the user interface, online modes and simplicity. Unfortunately EA falls flat.

It is not possible to play online with another friend who has T Woods 12 Master...Yes, I said that correctly, you can try to add a friend who owns the same game to the queue but once started the game does not allow you to play with a specific person. I don't understand how product mgmt can release a title with a flaw as outrageous as this one but hey I don't work there. It's even simpler than that, small things like creating a character. When you create a custom character the game automatically puts a hat on the player... accessories aren't until the end of the setup and hair style is step 3... I don't know what EA's quality testing and usability studies look like but I think it's time they took another approach because these grievances have us all asking one question. When will another company surface and provide us sports titles that work so we no longer have to trade our hard earned cash for titles that aren't ready.

Read More >>

The Bigs 2

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $28.89
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

This is a great game. Once you get the hang of it, it's hours of fun. Perfect balance of arcade and simulation. A great game to play with friends or online. The mini games add another element of fun. I think that this is a game that is what it is advertised to be.

Not a lot of change since the last game, but there wasn't to much more you can do to top the last one and what was lacking was added. I mean there's New & improved story mode, picking up at the end of the "Rookie Challenge" mode from The Bigs. Where you Create a player and progress your career from a Mexican league to the Majors and, eventually, the Hall of Fame. Along the way, compete in boss battles against MLB legends.

I also like the batters wheel house which show you the batters sweets spot.

This game is not too easy and not too hard if you play it long enough you appreciate it. Don't think the first time you pick it up you're going to be a pro... lol takes a few times on the sticks to get good, but once you got you got it.

And you'll soon learn that strategy is key to winning in the BIGS!!!

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

The game play is much better than the first, more exciting ways to catch a fly ball and more ways to play this game by season or becoming a legend. I guess that's a new thing they have and took out the Rookie Challenge from the first one. I highly recommend this to any baseball gaming fan.

Buy The Bigs 2 Now

AMAZING GAME OVERALL-

con: online problems connection to games on the PS3.2k suggests adding these ports

PS3 Game Room is Currently Unavailable

Unlock all the following ports (please look online at your own router for info on how to get into this manual):TCP 80, UDP 88, UDP 3074, TCP 3074, UDP 53, TCP 53, UDP 3064, TCP 1795, TCP 1745, UDP 1795, UDP 1745

Other than this online problem.

Become a Legend mode is much better and improved from the original bigs. And i read that they are already working on a Bigs 3 So i cant wait to see the improvments hopefully by then they have this online ordeal sorted out and fixed.

Because yes we didnt buy the game just to play online but it is alot of fun to do playing against people not just the computer.

Read Best Reviews of The Bigs 2 Here

The product arrived so quickly, the item was basically brand new. The packaging was nice and I was very happy with the product!

Want The Bigs 2 Discount?

I got this game for my 12 year old son and he loves it he plays it all the time I would tell everyone if u like baseball games get this one cause it a lot of fun

Read More >>

Last Rebellion

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $33.37
Today's Bonus:

If you're a fan of NIS games then you already know what you'll be getting from this game: convoluted battle and growth systems, average (to put it nicely) graphics but unique artistic style and a narrative that only anime fans will get any enjoyment out of. The game stars two characters: Nine, a sword wielding knight who focuses on physical damage and Aisha, a mage who, predictably, specializes in spells. To be sure there are some positives that make this a worthwhile game. The battle system, while somewhat complicated at first, is rewarding once the right combos for an enemy are discovered and saved. Essentially each enemy body part is listed as a potenital target and it's up to the player to hit them in the right order to trigger "bingos" and combos. Hitting the right body parts will "tatoo" that monster and make it ripe to be hit for extra spell damage. Thankfully the game allows you to save discovered combos as templates for later use, negating the need to memorize combos for a given enemy. It's worth mentioning that the game has a fun strategic wrinkle to it in the form of switching between Nine and Aisha mid-battle. Deciding who to attack with first in order to finish the battle as quick as possible is definitely a strength of the combat system as it leads you to try out different tactics even during routine level grinding battles (you'll be doing plenty of that). As far as I'm concerned any game that can make grind battles even remotely interesting isn't all that bad. If you can make it past the cliche ridden narrative (something about two warring gods and Nine wanting revenge for his murdered father), PS2-era graphics, and the truly laughable voice acting then Last Rebellion can be an enjoyable game.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

Run. Run far away.

To be blunt, Last Rebellion is the most unmemorable, tedious, frustrating, empty, shallow, and downright painful RPG I've played in quite a few years. Even for major fans of the genre or imported titles from NIS, I couldn't possibly recommend this. One bit of (somewhat) good news is that the pain will end in about 15 hours of total play, and I was done with all content and had a Platinum trophy in less than 20. The target audience for this game is typically accustomed to needing ten times that commitment (or more) to "100%" an RPG; Disgaea or GUST titles being good examples. Most of my 20 hours felt like a forced march-the plot resolution is practically handed to you only a few hours in and lacks any true surprises or twists. Battles are little more than time-consuming walls working against trying to complete the game as quickly as possible.

There are a few more positive things that show that game had some kind of potential that simply went lazily untapped. Its core story concept provides a rather clever solution and answers the proverbial gaming dilemma of "what if your main character dies in the opening scene?". The runaround is the basis for the battle system, which, as being played out on a 3D-view field (more seen in ATB battle games), is a refreshing change in a more tactical or turn-based JRPG. Graphics are finally fully rendered and no longer the well-worn (but loved) dot matrix character models. World movement is also in the style of an adventure game as is typical in most RPGs, but is again something new for the type. Personally, I found battle incredibly tedious and repetitive fairly quickly, but I can see how it could allow some creativity. I really wish I could add more into the list of "good things", I truly am sorry.

Characters are unremarkable, shallow, and number about 5 in total. The fairly attractive attempt at the 3D world is harshly contrasted by truly appalling 2D character pop-ups in dialogue scenes. Even the dialogue interface is frustrating... menus and pop-up windows are slow to load and scroll, and text seems to draw itself at snail's pace. Great patience is required, despite this sounding like a total contradiction to a 15-20hr max playtime. Sorry, but there's no specific player I could suggest play this game. Even as an avid player of NIS titles and all sorts of RPGs, I'd have preferred dental work. As I said above, at least it's an easy 100% trophy set...

Buy Last Rebellion Now

Brief Summary : Last Rebellion is a good example of a game that had a good idea, but failed in the execution. I can think of no better description than that cliche. I only recently started playing the game and am in the 2nd half after only a few hours (less than 10), but I wanted to write a review while my opinions are fresh in mind.

Good

--------

+ The illustrations / art is nice. Still, hand-drawn images are shown when characters talk (like most NIS games), and I find the style and quality to be good.

+ It's a short game. I haven't finished, but I know where I am in the overall story. This is only a good point because the game overall is not so good.

Bad

----

+ Voices-particularly the main male protagonist (Nine) and his brother, and a few other minor characters. A bit too effeminate and the fact he whines a lot compounds the issue. Aisha's (the woman on the cover) voice is fine.

+ Combat. First, I will say I am fine with turn based fighting. In fact, I prefer it over action. When reading about the system, I initially thought something like Legend of Legaia, but that isn't the case. In Last Rebellion, each monster has up to about 10 target points that you select to strike. The only EFFICIENT way to kill them is to find the correct order for hitting all these points. If I remember my math correctly, we're talking 10! (factorial) combinations (10x9x8x7...) for a 10 location monster (3.6 million combinations). Of course you're likely to figure it out in much less attempts, but it's a slog that just isn't very fun. As I mentioned in the title, I had Gamefaqs handy, and use that as my guide for getting through combat quickly, but some encounters randomize the values so you have to figure it out on your own.

In most cases for me, combat has not taken too long, thankfully. And although it's certainly DIFFERENT than most RPGs, I don't think it ADDS quality or FUN. It's also a chore that you have to "seal" every monster you take down, so they don't rise again fully healed and stronger.

Finally, your actions are limited by CP. A sort of action point system that is used up by the number of locations you strike and spells you cast, items used, etc. It's less troublesome once you've leveled a bit, but I'm still having to Heal my CP regularly to enable myself to fully act.

+ Monsters Respawn Too Fast. Doesn't take long for a monster to respawn. You can see them on the map when you move around and I've killed one, only to have it spawn behind me again and chase me down within barely a few seconds.

+ 0 XP for low monster kills. Once you're a few levels above a monster, you don't get XP for killing them. But they still attack you and make you go through the combat ritual. I leveled quickly and have not had to grind at all. In every zone, I'll end up eventually getting 0 XP for combat before I've finished with that area. Not ALL encounters, but some. Just feels like a waste of time.

+ No point allocations or skill selections. Perhaps I am old school, but I like to allocate a point or choose a new skill, or in some way effect the growth of my character. Although you level up in this game, you can't do any of that. Your HP goes up, your CP goes up, and your MP too. But that's about it. Negative point for me, but maybe not for others.

Other

-------

There are other aspects of the game that I think people will have issue with that don't bother me as much. Many comment on the graphics of the game, but I don't have a problem with that at all. To me, gameplay is the most important-if the game is fun, I can forgive just about anything else. A good story can help too, but unfortunately the story here is fairly bland and uninspiring. Nine's remarks come off as whining and annoying. He's not a likable guy. Perhaps with a better voice the sarcasm could have been portrayed better.

I'm really not sure what the point is of having so many degrees of the same spell in the same area. You can literally upgrade your magic 2-3 times in the same area (you find your spells in chests) and then apply "paper" to those spells up to max 5 to determine what MAX level you want that spell at for any point in time. You can reassign the paper as needed so if you know there is a monster weak to Axes, like the Trolls, you can raise that spell to 5 in order to cast the strongest level of that spell in combat.

Overall

--------

Everyone has different tastes. Maybe there are some gamers out there who will enjoy the game, but I think the majority will not. Or not REALLY enjoy it anyway. If you really want to try it, go for a rental or perhaps a $5 price point.

Read Best Reviews of Last Rebellion Here

This is a game that could have been a great game, but unfortunately it has some gaping flaws that keep it down.

The good things: A unique combat system that is extremely fun most of the time. A decent storyline (that you can skip through if you don't want to watch it). Nice art and production values.

The bad things: Maybe 20 hours of game time, and that's with a fair amount of level grinding (which is necessary). Absolutely zero replay value beyond that 20 hours, no post play, no reason to go through it again. And "paralysis" type status effects that effectively shut you down in combat with no possible way to recover there's a cure paralysis spell, but no way to cast it!

If you like turn based battle and JRPG storylines, definitely pick this up if its at a bargain price, or better yet rent it.

Want Last Rebellion Discount?

A lot of people don't give this game a chance. Most give up when they turn on the game because they don't like the battle system, or they hate watching the cut scenes..but if you give it a chance you'll find that it's the easiest, fastest, and overall a fun game.

(Also it short, so keep that mind. With that being said, it's super easy to get the platinum trophy.. You could even get it in a day.)

Read More >>

PS3 Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $27.47
Today's Bonus: 31% Off

I am not impressed with this game at all and isn't what I expected. I have owned every single Tony Hawk game and have loved each and every one of them, with this one being the exception. The board/controller that comes with the game is too sensitive in some aspects and not sensitive enough in others. There's no way to adjust it, for example: You use the board to navigate through the menus and I found this frustrating because the ever so slight lean towards any dirrection will cause the curser to scroll through menu after menu and select something I wasn't even trying to pick. Durning game play it seems like no matter how hard you lean to the right, left, up, or down the game is slow to register your motion. The motions you do make on the board/controller do not mimic anything of a real skateboard maneuver. Growing up on a skateboard, I expected this to be somewhat of a simulation of real skating... it is not! The most disappointing part of this game is the "levels." No more free roaming around skate spots, your character follows a predetermined path as you can't not steer in the game. Each level is a challenge of race to the finsh line, high score of tricks, and "do this _____ (ollie, grind, fliptrick)here." The Best thing I can compare this game to is the video arcade game 'Top Skater' that really sucks. I wish I hadn't wasted my time with this one... Thanks THPS for letting me down.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

Bought the game... Got it home... unboxed it, and the controller failed to sync up.

Tried all kinds of different ways to get it to sync and it never would.

Tried calling the support line, and after only 2 or 3 selections, was told by the ever helpful automated system we'd have to RMA the board and do it only on the internet. I kinda wanted to talk to a real person but this was NOT an option.

Went onto their primary support web site, into their knowledge-base, and, after following THEIR directions, was told it needed to be RMA'd (again). Tried to follow the link on their web page to RMA, and it pulled up an error (a PHP error it looked like).

I sent an e-mail to their support, and they e-mailed me the link to the bad RMA page. I mailed them back saying that I couldn't even GET to the RMA page on the web, and they said they would look into it.

Mind you, over 48 hours had elapsed by this time. My flavor for the game, controller, and manufacturer had soured and I was done. I returned the game to the original vendor and wash my hands of anything from Tony Hawk again. Looks like Skate from here on out.

Buy PS3 Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle Now

I bought this game for my son for Christmas. Despite the bad word of mouth... I mean.. my kid wanted it for Christmas... how do you say "no" to that?

I brought the game home and wouldn't sync up with the dongl... a bit of a buzzkill on Christmas morning. So, I exchanged it and the second board fired right up and we started playing.

After calibrating the board and trying a few challenges.. here's what we decided:

Pros: Um... the board looks cool. It seems well constructed.

Cons: There seems to be a tiny lag in what you're doing on the board to what you're doing on the screen. For example, when you lean slightly to turn, your character doesn't turn right away... so, you instinctively lean a little harder and suddenly your character is turning too much and going in circles! My son quickly became frustrated at this. Also.. I may not be the most graceful guy... but I know how to ride a skateboard. I find it difficult at times to balance on the thing. I played on a well worn area rug... but I think it would work best on heavy carpet. I can't imagine playing on a hard surface (they give you sticky fabric pads to stick to the bottom for this). I'm surprised I didn't see a hundred disclaimers saying that Tony Hawk isn't responsible if you fall and crack your head on a coffee table.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone... not unless there's some sort of update pushed out by Activision to correct the board's sensitivity issues.

Read Best Reviews of PS3 Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle Here

I bought this game for my nephews skateboard fanatics.

After many hours on X-mas day trying to get the thing "synched" or "calibrated", they had to give up.

It simply would not work at all.

Quite a bummer!!

To Amazon's credit, however, they make returns amazingly easy.

We'll see how long it takes for the refund.

Want PS3 Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle Discount?

I got this Game for Christmas and was really pumped to plug it in and play. I grew up with tony hawk games playing all of the original games through High School. This Game is far from what the old games used to be. when i first heard of Ride i thought to myself this is a great concept i figured it would bring an aspect of the Wii to my playstation 3 but i was Wrong. The board Sucks, the gameplay is Terrible and everything about this game is ridiculous. This is by far the worst THPS game to ever be released. Its a real shame becuse this game has alot of potential. Some of my bigest gripes with RIDE are No 2 player mode(other than online), No option to play the game without the RIDE board. Bring back some feeling of the old school tony hawks 1-3 those are still the best ones. anyways I hope this review was helpful save your $120 and buy a used Wii for $30 more you will be far more satisfied.

Read More >>

Sniper Elite V2, Silver Start Edition

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $37.49
Today's Bonus:

This game is fantastic. You truly feel like a sniper. You have to be strategic and this makes it even more fun, for example you can set traps, make stealth kills among other things. I highly recommend this game.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

after I got this I could not put it down. I just wish more of my friends had this game.

Buy Sniper Elite V2, Silver Start Edition Now

This is a really fun game to play. When you shoot the enemy you get an x-ray view of the bullet and the damage it does in slow motion. It's freaking awesome. The only complaint I have is that playing online with some buds is EXTREMELY BORING!!! You can sit in the same place for the entire game and never even see the people you're supposed to shoot! If you can get this game for $20, it's worth it. Just don't get it for the online play. IMO.

Read Best Reviews of Sniper Elite V2, Silver Start Edition Here

When I saw a preview of graphics, I had to buy. I am not dissappointed. Never boring. What I expected.

Want Sniper Elite V2, Silver Start Edition Discount?

The game worked great, although a had little problems with the vendor! All was resolved and amazon stepped in and fixed it immediately! I highly recommend it! The game is so much fun!

Read More >>

Rise of the Argonauts

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $20.21
Today's Bonus: 60% Off

[Story:]

Rise of the Argonauts takes place in Ancietn Greece, when the gods walked among humans and all manners of beasts roamed the lands. A place where the line between reality and dream seem to blur together and make anything possible. And that is, in fact, the premise of this entire game: Doing the impossible.

You play as the mythic figure, Jason. King of Iolcus and Warden of Zeus, it is Jason's task to defend his island home from all threat. But when his wife, Alceme, is assassinated by a mysterious figure, grief overwhelms him and he decides to cast his duty aside for a greater purpose: to bring his wife back from the dead.

He denies his wife her last rites, the one thing that will grant her safe passage to the sacred fields of Elysium (Ancient Greece's Heaven). After receiving the blessing of his four patron gods, (Ares, God of War; Hermes, God of Wit and Literature; Apollo, God of the Sun and Athena, Goddess of Justice and Virtue), he sets sail with his friend and son of Zeus, Hercules, aboard the Argo, a revolutionary ship made by master craftsman Argos. Through these four gods Jason draws his strength throughout the adventure.

Jason needs answers, and the one person that he can think of that deals in answers is the one and only Oracle of Delphi. After finding his way and reaching the Oracle he discovers that in order to get the Golden Fleece, he would need the blood of gods, Ares, Hermes and Athena in the mortal realm. Three islands have the mortal representatives of the gods, Mycenae (Ares), Saria (Hermes) and Kythra (Athena).

So, Jason continues the journey to the three islands and, in the meantime, discovers a plot by the dark titaness Hecate's followers, the Blacktongues, to raise their fallen queen and retake Greece back from the gods of Olympus, and Jason has to find a way to stop them, along with obtaining the Fleece.

[Combat:]

Rise of the Argonauts' combat varies. The system itself is solid. You have four weapons to use: Mace, Sword, Spear and Shield and each weapon corresponds with a certain god. Mace Ares, Sword Hermes, Spear Athena and Shield Apollo. Each weapon, excluding the Shield, has a set of both standard moves and special moves. The mace can smash the ground and create a shockwave to knock back enemies, the sword can perform a dash attack where you close the distance between an enemy instantly, and the spear can be thrown for ranged kills. Those are only an example of the special moves.

But the system's execution is somewhat flawed. It might not be as elegant as the new Prince of Persia's system, but it is in no means a button-masher. You can string together wounding attacks and execution attacks to varying effects, as well as being able to swap between weapons mid-combo for extra damage.

(Ex. You're fighting an opponent with a spear and shield. You draw your mace and begin hammering away at his shield. The shield holds for the first two attacks, then the enemy seizes the opening and attacks with his spear. You block with your shield, then bash it forward into him, knocking him back. You swing your mace once more and the shield breaks, then, with the push of a button, switch to your sword, where you take advantage of the enemy not having a shield and decapitate him with a single spinning stroke.)

It takes some time to learn to string together attacks, but once you learn, it becomes pretty fun. But, in the beginning, it is a button-masher.

[Deed System:]

The major draw of Rise of the Argonauts, aside from the new take on a classic myth and the action fighting, is the new 'Deed System.' When traveling on your journey and speaking with different people, you will be able to respond any of four ways that follow the paths of the gods that watch over you. You can respond aggressive and head-strong for Ares, sly and witty for Hermes, compassionate and caring for Apollo, and virtuous and just for Athena.

Every response directed in the gods' path give you a little more favor with them and every thing you do can be dedicated to each of the gods for different skills and powers. Let's say you kill 25 men/soldiers, you might see something to the effect of 'Manslayer II' run across the bottom left of the screen. Then, when at a shrine, you can take that deed and give it to any of the gods, no matter the type of deed, in exchange of favor for new skills and powers.

One of the good things about this system is that it doesn't restrict you to choosing one way if you only want to follow a single god. Like answering a question in the response of Ares when you try to mainly follow Hermes. The only thing that happens is that you get points for Ares instead of Hermes for that response, no harm done. I would actually encourage responding how you actually would to the situation. Back-talking mercenaries getting on your nerves? Choose Ares and punch them in the face. Or, choose against your nature and go with Apollo and try to solve the problem without hostility.

All the system wants from you is to choose, and be comforted in the fact that no choice is the wrong choice.

[Overview:]

Rise of the Argonauts, though flawed in minor ways, is still a solid and fun experience that I would recommend to anyone that loves: a)Ancient Greece and Greek Mythology, b)a good action-RPG, c)a harrowing tale of love and heroism, or d) all of the above.

Enjoy.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

Ever wonder what God of War would have been like if Nintendo made it?

You'd get something like Rise of the Argonauts. This game feels like 70 percent The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and 30 percent is a PG-13-rated version of God of War. There is some blood and dismemberment. This is not a bad thing. It is just how I perceive the overall feeling of this game.

I was very excited to play this game when screen captures started showing up in gaming magazines in the months leading up to its release. Those pics prove the art design is great. But, seeing the game in motion is another story. The game lacks a lot of polish. Animations are clunky and frequent slow downs give the game a "still in beta testing" vibe. This sucks some of the life out of what should have been a "can't miss" adventure game.

The back of the box claims the game is an RPG adventure. It would be more accurate to say it is an RPG lite adventure. You earn experience through how you react to various situations. Your reactions will earn you favor with one of four different gods to power up your character. Each area in the game is divided into combat and a bunch of RPG-style fetch quests. I found myself running around doing said fetch quests, more often than fighting off monsters. The story is interesting enough to tie it all together.

The game takes rather uncreative liberties with Greece myths. The basic framework of the myths you are familiar with is there. It is just that the designers flattened out the details to make the background myths feel bland.

None the less. If you like greek mythology, then give Rise of the Argonauts a try. It is easy to overlook the game's shortcomings. It is a great game with some sub-par production value issues. I suggest renting this game more than buying it.

Buy Rise of the Argonauts Now

Before I say anything about the game, I must warn everyone.. If you don't like a long story, and lots of reading, than this game will seem tedious to you. As for me, I thought the story and the game as a whole was extremely well done and very refreshing.

Rise of the Argonauts is based on the story of King Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece. His kingdom of Iolcus is infiltrated, and his wife is assassinated. With this, he sets out for the Golden Fleece with his friend Hercules, to try and bring his wife back from the dead. With many plot twists and choice options, I found this game to be captivating and engaging. You get to make choices, and depending on which choice you make, you are aligned with a certain God: Ares, Apollo, Hermes, and Athena. Codemasters has put in a lot of work in researchging the background story, making a few changes here and there, making it hard to put the controller down. The game itself is about 15-20 hours, and although the action is sparse, I thought it was a lot of fun.

This game is a MUST have for greek mythology lovers, but once again, if you don't like reading, because you will have to run around and talk to many villagers etc., then this game is not for you. But they usually all tie into the story so you get the whole picture, so that's the way I played it. But in the end, I gave it a 5.... out of 5.

Read Best Reviews of Rise of the Argonauts Here

The camera angle and gameplay will take some getting used to. But once you figure out how to use the maps and orient yourself, it's a highly-rewarding game. Set in Ancient Greece, the storyline of course borrows heavily from Greek mythology which is alot of fun if you have background with the source material. The combat is pretty straightforward. You have a few moves and combos that you use during fights and there's the usual determination of the enemy's weaknesses during boss battles. However, the real strength of this game is the gorgeous graphics: it's a pleasure to look at. Much of the adventuring involves meeting important characters, making key decision, and completing side quests. Slow-paced, almost like an RPG. But pretty much playable for anyone, as my wife has been playing it quite a bit in the last week. Not for you if you want a hack-and-slash God of War clone. Definitely it's own thing here, but recommended.

Want Rise of the Argonauts Discount?

I'm not an experienced gamer (to be honest, all I have played during the last 20 years I'm 35 is Chess, on the computer). Before that, between ages 11-15, I played some Battle Chess, Elite (space simulator) and Test Drive on the computer, and some of the old games of the late 80's, like the first Super Mario on Nintendo. On the previous Atari-like consoles, I never played nothing more elaborated than River Raid or Enduro. That's it! I bought my first 21st century video-game console (Playstation 3) less than a month ago, thinking more about my 5-year old son. So, my opinions and standards will probably differ from those of more experienced gamers, but I think they're legitimate too. So, here's what I think:

Last night I beat the game, after playing it over a little more than 2 weeks, almost every night. I guess now I am entitled to opine on its qualities and faults. Right away, I must say that I was hooked from the beginning, remain a fan after beating it and will certainly play it again soon. The graphics are very, very good, the reconstruction of ancient mythological times is perfect, specially temples and statues. It's a visually beautiful game. I felt like I was there! For instance, one night I was playing alone in the living-room, I was on Kythra, and at some time it actually got kind of creepy, so realistic was the combination of the desolate scenery of Kythra with the eerie background music by Tyler Bates, which, by the way, is awesome!

I've seen that many of the complaints are against the fights, which are said to be very easy and also scarce. I don't agree with that. First, if you're more of a hack-and-slash gamer, than this game is actually not for you. You have a bit of it in this game too, but you gotta remember that this is a role-playing game, a quest-game. So, the fights must make sense and fit into the storyline, not overwhelm it. After all, it's not about fighting only, which is cool, but it's about recreating a mythical adventure and atmosphere. It's about making decisions, about strategy. In that sense, the game is very smart, because it stresses on the usages and on the way of living of the characters of that mythological time. Secondly, you have three levels in the game: human (easy), hero (medium) and legend (difficult), so if you want an extra challenge, just turn to legend mode. I played the beginning of the game on the hero level up until the fight against Phaedon on Kythra (I decided to go to Kythra first, then Saria and Mycenae). But that fight was so annoying and difficult, that I had to turn to human mode, and even then, I only won after I consulted a walkthrough on the internet that provided me with the best combat strategy to beat Phaedon. After that I remained on human (easy) mode till the end of the game and am not ashamed to say that I consulted again the walkthrough for the fights against Medusa (on Kythra), Nessus (on Saria), Achilles (on Mycenae) and Pelias (on Iolcus). On Tartarus, you get to fight so much that you actually get tired, then when I saw that the fight against the spirits of Nessus and Hep'Naje (whom I had fought and defeated previously on Saria) was optional, I simply let them get away and went on my way.

I have only two complaints, which do not, in my opinion, harm the gameplay or your ability to enjoy it, though I admit are kind of a nuisance: first, the background music, despite being so beautiful and enthralling, is very loud. Many times during the game it gets a little hard to hear dialogues (or maybe I have listening problems and don't know about it!). And secondly, which I admit can be such a pain, is the fact that when you die or want to quit the game, you can only save it up until your last checkpoint. That is the only lame thing in this game, the only one! Because of that, for example, when I was trying to battle Phaedon on Kythra, and that made me die countless times(!), because for me it was a difficult fight, I always had to go back to the previous checkpoint which meant that I had to endure over and over again the time-consuming interactive debate that takes place between Jason and Phaedon before the latter bursts into anger and the fight begins. Other than these two aspects, I found no bugs or any other faults in the game.

In conclusion, it's a great game and well deserving of five stars! I also bought the official strategy guide, in order to prepare myself to play the game all over again, this time on legend mode.

Read More >>

Dead to Rights: Retribution

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $29.75
Today's Bonus:

I had not played the first Dead to Rights, so this is my review of this game as it stands by itself and not the franchise as a whole. This is a review of the game from the playability aspect and not of the story. You can safely read my whole review and not have the story ruined at all. As I write this I have played it a couple of hours and will update this after I finish the whole game.

Overview:

You play as vice cop Jack Slate. Your job is to clean up Grant City. This game is mostly its a shooter with a different twist where your pet is a vicious fighting machine.

Game mechanics:(+)

If you ever played World Of Warcraft and played a hunter class you will be familiar with playing through your pet, (Shadow). This game takes that mechanic and builds on it by allowing you to control your pet with more "nuance", the end result is that its not just about going in guns blazing. Instead you must anticipate how Shadow will respond to the environment and also the threats. Its a pretty cool mix of the ideas of combat. Of course as Jack you can do your own special moves .

Shadow's forms: (+)

The cool thing is as Shadow you can play three different modes; one being a rogue like class where Shadow actually hunkers down and walks like a ninja dog, you know, if ninja dogs existed that is. Another one of his forms is a neutral fighter mode which is like a standard fighter class. The last form is the berserker form which is like all other berserker archetypal character. You do much more damage but are significantly weaker as far as armor.

Graphics: (+)

On the PS3 this looks fantastic. The textures are really sharp and detailed. At times there are alot of shadows and it can be difficult to see certain areas, but thats where Shadow comes in. Jack is kinda clunky appearing at times, but overall the look and appearance of the game as a whole is really crisp.

Lighting: (+)

The shadows look great! Usually in PS3 games there are jaggy shadows. In this I see them but not nearly as bad as say AC2. All in all they are crisp and flow over the objects in the game very well.

Motion Capture: (+)

The motion capture in this game is REALLY smooth. Especially with regards to Shadow, the dog animation looks very lifelike. During the fight sequences there are times Jack looks a bit like a puppet, but overall the motion is smooth.

Fighting (+/-)

'Hand to hand: (+)

The hand to hand fighting in this is spot on and a real fun part of the game. At times the moves are easy to execute because the built in character AI anticipates the moves you are trying to do, just enough to not be annoying.

Shooting: (-)

I didnt like the shooting in this game. It at times seemed off and a bit difficult to aim. I am not sure if it was the lack of aim assist or too much of it. Either way it was kind of hard to shoot at times.

Shadow: (+)

He tears this game up. I almost think that I would enjoy playing solely as Shadow for the whole game and just assume he could talk to people. It really is fun playing him as a pet and also as his own character. Very cool moves and vicious attacks.

Environments: (-)

The environments are standard post-apocalyptic fare. The mobs you are fighting are eh... ok. The ai is fine but the weird thing is the story has some glaring holes in it. I wont cover them here as to keep the no spoilers aspect of my reviews correct. Suffice to say you may be wondering what or where things are coming from, from time to time.

Replayability: (-)

I have not finished this yet but I do not see me being all that interested in replaying this just for trophies like I would for Assassins Creed II or Uncharted 1/2. It looks like I may play it one more time but after that I wouldn't be interested in playing it again.

Summary: (+)

This game sofar has been a blast to play and I look forward to finishing it. While its not perfect, it does offer some great story telling and the animations for Shadow are fantastic. It looks like they used motion capture for his animation. Jack is fun to play and its overall a really enjoyable game to play. I may change my story once I finish it.

Thank you for reading my review.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

Dead to Rights 2 is immediately fun to play and one of the few 3rd person shooters I've found that also works well as a beat 'em up. Plus you get to play levels as the dog, Shadow.

+ As Jack, the action in Dead to Rights 2 is fast-paced and conducive to an aggressive, up close and personal, playing style. If you're the kind of player who likes to be methodical, stealthy and careful you're going to get frustrated fast. If you try to stay put too long or play too carefully, the AI closes in and kills you.

As Shadow, the opposite is true. You've got to be super stealthy and clear out an environment by picking off guys one by one. If you try rushing guys with guns as Shadow, you'll die fast. The result is that the diverse mechanics keep the experience diverse.

+/That being said, the levels go on longer than you might have come to expect in a shooter. When playing as Jack (most of the game), there are checkpoints, so you don't get punished too badly for dying. However as the game goes on and the bad guys just keep coming, the thought enters my mind, "Sheesh, how many more dudes could there possibly be?"

As Shadow, the challenges are much shorter (e.g. kill all the dudes in a warehouse and retrieve a card key), but there are no checkpoints. So you might have to lure and stealth kill as many as fifteen or so guys. If one of them kills you, you have to start over. If you're an impatient, run and gun kind of player (like me), you might start to get frustrated. However, playing as Shadow is still pretty fun.

+ Ultra-violence, blood and gore. I like it, but if you're squeamish, there is a gore setting to minimize this.

+ Shooting. There's no "auto-aim," but shooting is intuitive and easy. You can carry two guns at a time and toggle between them. After a few levels, Jack finds a stash of awesome weapons. Unlike some games, you don't keep your weapons once they run out of ammo. Jack throws them away. So you have to keep disarming you enemies. The disarm mechanics are fun and prove to be an easy way to kill enemies.

+ Fighting/hand-to-hand. There are some great blocks and combos and on-screen prompts take you to some gruesome finishers. It's in-depth enough not to be boring, yet simple enough not to be tedious (e.g. Mortal Kombat). There are a couple hand-to hand boss fights that can go on a while. My advice: learn to block and weave out of the way when your health gets low. Jack's health regenerates, but the boss's does not.

+ Jack has a feature called "focus" that slows down time for when the combat gets extra intense. This feature is somewhat similar to the "Dead-Eye" feature in Red Dead Redemption.

+/The camera is more like a hand-held camera during fight sequences and while running. It gives the fights a gritty, chaotic feel -like being in a rough and tumble melee. However, it does take some getting used to (about ten minutes of gameplay), as your immediate impression will be that of disorientation and losing control. (If you can't get over the fact that the camera behaves differently than in other games, you might not like this game). After a level or two, you won't even notice.

+ The controls are responsive and smooth. The on-screen prompts are clear and easy to follow. (Another reviewer complained about wonky controls. I do know that there's a patch when you first load up the game. Maybe the patch fixed this problem. Maybe the other reviewer just has crummy eye/hand coordination. Either way, the controls worked fine for me). The learning curve on the controls and mechanics was less than ten minutes of gameplay. After that, I took much delight in creatively dispatching the array of thugs the game threw at Jack and Shadow.

+ The hard-boiled cop story isn't the most original (on par with a Michael Bay flick), but it's really quite fun and never takes itself too seriously (e.g. a couple hours after an emotionally crushing event, Jack is already hitting on an attractive doctor). The overall design and tone of the game are stylized much like a graphic novel.

OVERALL:

Dead to Rights 2 breathes life into the shooter genre and I highly recommend it. You've maybe read the lukewarm IGN reviews. I have no idea what that's about. I would give this game a solid 8.2 (really good).

Comparing DTR:R to other 3rd person shooters (that I've recently played): I have had as much fun playing through Dead to Rights Retribution as I did KILLZONE 2 and more fun than RESISTANCE 2. But not as much fun as HEAVENLY SWORD or RED DEAD REDEMPTION.

I enjoyed the originality of DTR:R and the varied mechanics of shooting, melee and canine stealth attacks in the game.

Buy Dead to Rights: Retribution Now

I suppose you enjoy shooters or you wouldn't be reading the reviews on them so buy this game and you will not be disappointed. I would buy it if it only had the Shadow parts. WOW!!! what a dog. Does anyone know where I can get one of his pups?

Read Best Reviews of Dead to Rights: Retribution Here

I purchased this game with a bit of hesitation at first thinking on whether it would be plagued with awful controls. Not only the controls were allright but the gameplay is excellent, the voice acting is good and the story is intriguing.

The dog that the main character owns was probably the former pet of Mc Guyver though, but then again it's a videogame. I liked the disarming options and even though some people might complain about the "overkill" animations, they don't always appear so if you don't want to see them just don't press the buttons.

The weapons feel right, they have that "whomp" to them and overall I'm extremely satisfied with this game, it actually made me care about the character and his pet... it seems like a mix of a detective/rambo/a boy and his dog thing.

I strongly reccomend it if you are into beat 'em ups or a good story overall.

Want Dead to Rights: Retribution Discount?

This is one of the best games I have ever played. The story was interesting and I was always excited to see were the game would take me next. The only problem I found, which was minor, was there was no map which I have become accustomed to, but this never led to any problems during the game. There are no side missions, i.e. Red Dead Redemption, Just Cause 2, Grand theft auto, etc.., that we all have come accustomed to. Those are the only problems I could find, and they were not that big of a deal, because the game made up for it in the missions you played. This game is a great ride, and I cant wait to see how the makers of this game will try and top it.

Read More >>

Darksiders

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $12.56
Today's Bonus: 37% Off

In case you know nothing about the game, the basic premise is that you play as War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Seems War answered the call that the seventh seal had been broken but was then accused of starting the Apocalypse himself. In an effort to clear his name, War is permitted to return to figure out exactly what happened. You first start the game with quite a few powers but of course, you will lose them soon enough and have to start rebuilding as War works to clear discover the truth. The plot isn't exactly stellar but it's unique enough to keep your interest and at least seems to have a point.

Now onto the appearance of the game:

The graphics take advantage of the PS3 with bright colors and less of a washed out look that seems to be prevalent in many action games. The voice work is top notch and the same is true of the musical score and general sound effects. The characters look interesting and unique and you'll see everything from demons, zombies and angels. War himself looks nice and has very fluid movement. He looks heavy and sounds that way when he moves, which isn't to say that the movements are awkward or clumsy, just solid. He doesn't flit around like the Prince of Persia I mean come on, he's War.

If you're expecting a 'God of War' type game there are similarities to be sure however the mechanics of 'Darksiders' are not quite as sophisticated. You could play as a button masher though there are combos to master which will improve your score and playing experience. The finishing moves found in the 'GOW' games (you know when the circle button appears and then you press the various button or joystick combos as they appear on the screen) are primarily reduced to a circle icon and once you press the button, War mostly just handles things by himself. I don't really feel this detracts from the game to be honest.

The game controls are easy to learn and intuitive. You collect souls which can be used as currency, wrath points or health. You level up and obtain more abilities that are tied to your weapon, combo moves, health, etc. War's weapon is one big a$$ sword to be sure and he handles it like a champ. As you progress on your journey, you will achieve more and more weapon abilities and skills which really add to the game playing experience overall.

The atmosphere of the game is first rate. The developers obviously dedicated a great deal of time and attention to the details and it really paid off. Cars, buildings, creatures, all of it, look realistic (well as realistic as a freaky demon can look). The game gets better as it progresses...in fact, though you'll have fun during the first 45 60 minutes of the game, it is the weakest portion of the game overall. As you move through the game, the areas, enemies, your weapons and abilities get bigger and better. The story line keeps things moving and you want to see what comes next. There are quite a few puzzles as you move through the game, most are simple though a few can be frustrating.

I have to say I am quite pleased with it and feel it is definitely worth the purchase and is one of the better PS3 games I've played. I've yet to find any glitches or issues in the PS3 version. If you like action-adventure games with puzzle elements, you are probably going to like this one as well.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

Overview:

Graphics: A+

Gameplay: A+

Mechanics and Controls: A

Storyline: A+

Artwork / Visual Design: A

Originality: B (original story, familiar mechanics)

Fun Factor: A+

This game is gorgeous, simple as that. The developers have taken the time to create a visually stunning world and a fluid gaming experience, but that's just the beginning. The storyline is very unique and definitely keeps you interested. All of the game mechanics are well handled, with nothing feeling labored, repetitive, or unnecessary. If I have criticism, it is a minor one. This game was clearly built off of God of War's engine, with similar controls, combat styles, leveling systems, etc. At least in my opinion, however, that is a minor issue. I'm a huge God of War fan, and I see no problem with the way the build was handled.

While the game may show a large amount of mechanical similarity to God of War, that is really where the comparison ends. Darksiders drops you into a post apocalyptic nightmare of a world that is an amazingly organic blend of Heaven, Hell, and the modern world. The game contains many beautifully designed levels that have you running down city streets one moment, and fighting in a Hell spawned cesspool the next, with one flowing beautifully into the other. Character and monster design leave nothing to be desired either, with wonderfully detailed nightmares and angelic warriors coming at you from all sides. This game definitely has the eye candy taken care of.

As far as the mechanics go, as I said, think God of War and you've pretty well got the idea. You're going to collect souls in order to level up. You'll learn new skills, get new toys, and those toys will need to be leveled as well. You'll run around unique, artistic maps solving complex puzzles. Combat is largely combo based versus multiple opponents, with multiple weapons to choose from. One of the amusing additions to combat is the ability to use just about anything in the environment as an improvised weapon. Street signs, street lamps, cars, you can use them all as either projectiles or beating implements. When the boss fights come up, you'll be working to beat them down to a context specific cut scene finale. If you enjoyed the GoW's gameplay style, you'll feel right at home here. And honestly, there is something to be said for that. The familiar mechanics mean that there's no time wasted figuring out how the game works, and more time spent actually playing the game.

Finally and most importantly, the storyline. Darksiders is the story of War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. War is summoned by the start of the Apocalypse, and comes to Earth to complete his task, but finds himself the only Horseman to do so. Turns out, somebody started the party early, and War ends up taking the blame. In a bid to clear his name and earn back his power, War returns to Earth to track down those responsible. I'm a big mythology buff, and this concept really intrigued me. No one had really attempted to tackle the Four Horsemen before, despite with well known, widespread nature of the story, and it is rich with possibilities. While I won't include any spoilers here, trust me when I say that you won't be disappointed by how they handle it and what they do with the material. If you have an interest in mythology, this is a game you will want to play.

Bottom line, I really don't have any criticisms of this game. I've been looking forward to it for some time, and it has fulfilled its potential completely. I have no doubt that we can look forward to sequels down the road, and I look forward to them. This is a masterfully crafted game, beautifully designed, and a pleasure to play. Do yourself a favor and buy it.

Buy Darksiders Now

Looking for something to hold you over before God Of War 3? Look no further. This game delivers it. Straight hack/slash action with what is turning out to be a really good story that has me captivated to know what will happen next. It pretty much uses the God Of War combat style but so what. I LOVE this format. No spending hours learning how to play. Just put it in the PS3 and start playing. My kind of game. If you like God Of War and Devil May Cry type games then this game is for you. Good old fashion game play with great graphics and you can go anywhere. You will have fun going berserk with War. Is there anything better? Not to me. War screamed to the Charred Council, "I answered the call". Answer his an PLAY THIS GAME.

Update 2/6/10: Just beat this game. Story is great. War shall return along with his brothers for revenge. GREAT GAME!!!!!!!

Update 3/22/2010: Listen people this is the (God Of War) fighting format but so what. (God Of War) is the (Soul Reaver) fighting format, concepts and so on. People act like God Of War started it all. IT DIDN'T. Still great game.

Read Best Reviews of Darksiders Here

When DARKSIDERS was first released (Jan 5th, 2010) I scoured Amazon reviews for several weeks to determine whether it would be worth my time and money. The most convincing opinion of the time was that of the 2-star review stating the game was repetitive, uninspired and derivative. As a fan of Zelda and God of War I decided to rent the game with my Gamefly giftcard. Once I had finished scrubbing off the tiremarks and cigarette burns from the disc, my hour long playthrough led me to believe the review was spot-on and I returned the game without looking back. I was under the impression that time-limit combo sequences, copy-cat gameplay and formulaic environmental design was all that lay ahead. After all, those were the defining points of the 2-star review. ....BUT, just like his Apocalyptic Oppressors, I had dealt War and his allies a huge injustice. One I wish to set straight.

Fast forward to nearly 16 months later and a price drop of $40. Darksiders came highly recommended by another Amazon reviewer with high rated marks and similar genre interests. After playing for two hours I found myself ENTRANCED by this game. My initial disinterest in the title was clearly from not giving it proper time to develop into its own. The first hour serves as a tutorial for the game. However, it is embedded into gameplay in such a way as to make you unaware that you are being taught how to play while still holding the metaphorical reins. The small attention to detail, down to instructional direction, is inspiring. This game is clearly NOT made by amateurs. This game consistently provided me with challenging puzzles, a powerful narrative framework, ambitious variety and dynamic visuals.

GAMEPLAY:

War has such a HUGE arsenal of moves and artifacts that the pause menu is initially daunting. The game provides a steady stream of equipment and features a remarkable method of mapping these buttons in a manageable way. Although the game includes a selection of Link's gadgetry, Darksiders spins the angle to embrace the aesthetic and physical facets of the end of days. War doesn't have a boomerang that makes enemies spin and light red. He has a Crossblade than saws into his enemies with visceral accuracy and sadistic destruction. Darksiders' greatest achievement is in weaving innumerable gameplay elements into a cohesive package within a single atmosphere. I found myself shooting blue/orange portals to direct soul power, grappling across chasms, using a visor (mask) to see into a different realm, soaring through dilapidated cities on the wings of a griffon, blasting cannons across rickety bridges, and charging my fiery horse Ruin against tower-sized beasts. Darksiders has an UNCANNY ability to mold various properties into the mythos of Armageddon. If I had never played the games from which it borrows, I could easily have believed Darksiders pioneered the use of each and every relic.

The game took me 15 hours to complete, but would have taken me a few more to find all of the unlockable pieces of armor and upgrades. Different upgrade tokens can be assigned to different weapons and a multitude of combinations can be used to defeat enemies on your own terms. Do you want to play like Devil May Cry? Use a powerful sword uppercut to lift the enemy into the sky and reign down bullets with your gun. Do you want to play like God of War? Use your gauntlet to smash a horde of enemies and create a swirling vortex of souls with your Scythe to decimate their numbers. Start a combo by blowing the Earthcaller horn to stun some demons and club them with your home-run crushing Chaos Eater sword swing. Every combo has smooth camera work and stunning animation to augment War's abilities. You have near limitless control to play in the manner you prefer.

The Watcher (voiced by Mark Hamill) is a demon sent by the "Council" to keep War from disobeying his initial task. Holding "select" will call him forth to provide hints or direction for missions. This, in tandem with an excellent map and fast-travel Serpent Hole system, keep your progression constant while allowing you to backtrack at any point to collect new items. From the controls to the weapon and gameplay variety, everything in Darksiders is masterfully crafted and deeply engaging.

CHARACTERS:

War is a brilliant characterization of the Judeo-Christian horseman. He stands with impunity at the feet of Heaven and Hell's armies, ready to defend his honor and uphold his code despite the obstacles and cautions foretold by others. Despite drawing from religious mythos, I personally enjoy the creation of a character who can appeal to gamers from a plethora of religions and cultures. Rather than embody orthodox Christian overtones, War is an idealization of the solitary hero: resilient, adapting, discerning and powerful. War's voice acting is superb and does a phenomenal job of conveying defiance in the face of much larger enemies. To great effect, these enemies and allies also perpetuate a believable world caught in a supernatural struggle. Samael speaks with unearthly distinction and visuals that almost seem to draw ash and brimstone through your screen and into your living room. The Destroyer seethes deceptive charm like a proverbial serpent to waylay the gullible. Slitha bargains with cynical distress and convincing intonation. There are no characters within Darksiders that feel out of place or forcefully acted. Every enemy or ally speaks with sincerity and savvy. Every design is original, detailed and enigmatic.

SOUND AND VISUALS:

From Voice Acting to Music and Sound Effects, all of the sound in Darksiders is Top-Notch. The merchant Vulgrim impatiently clacks his skeletal hands for the Horseman's purchases with the same clarity as War's horse rising with gusto from the fiery ground. There are a multitude of locations which feature the same comic book style art, vividly bright visuals and bold design. From ashen deserts, crumbling highways, and lush valleys to decaying fortresses and cobwebbed dungeons, Darksiders moves beyond its subject material to visualize a colorful world typically represented with greys and reds. If you are inclined to like the stylistic nature of this game, everything is a visual treat. I had not previously been a fan of Joe Madureira, but this game easily won me over. Enemy and boss variety, environmental structures, and weapon/artifact models blend seamlessly into the surroundings.

A FEW MINOR QUIRKS:

Despite all of my glowing points,... the game has a few very small annoyances. Many of the upgradeable tokens feature similar attributes, and some will only work effectively when applied to certain weapons. A larger variety and the ability to map them to all weapons equally would have made them more appealing.

Minor weapon artifacts (Crossblade/Mercy Revolver/Earthcaller) will probably see less action in battle when exploring since you must have navigational artifacts (Portal gun/ Abyssal Grappling Chain/Mask of Shadows) assigned and selected to move about the terrain. Ultimately, this will cause you to rely more on the "true" secondary weapons (Scythe/Tremor Gauntlet) rather than constantly pausing to switch out gear in the menu. Having some artifacts automatically triggered when you aimed at certain points (Like Metroid Prime) may have been the better choice for grappling, using portals, or activating switches with the Crossblade. The grappling hook also only works in a straight line (meaning you cannot use it to reach some locations more easily once you have found the artifact).

Several sections also have reoccurring moments where enemies respawn and doors are locked, forcing you to combat them all. These are not terrible, but some seem to have been placed to extend game time in certain locations.

The flight sequence (similar to Panzer Dragoon) does not allow you to invert the cursor for shooting, which makes it difficult for people who are used to inverted controls.

These are very minor issues in relation to the final package.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, I cannot wait to play the next installment of this game. Darksiders was crafted by a team of highly skilled developers, clearly with the gamer in mind. If you judge this game based on the merits of an hour long tutorial (as I originally did), you are doing yourself a GREAT disservice. I recently replayed Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 2 and God of War 3. I can tell you this game is absolutely not a cookie-cutter representation of any one of those games. Although I enjoy playing all of them, I actually like the tone and atmosphere of this game slightly more. Moreover, the ending of this game is immensely superior to all three of those games. The last time I remember playing a game and feeling the end was worth my invested time was Uncharted 2.

DARKSIDERS is a fantastic package and comes highly recommended by a converted 2-star believer. (8.8/10)

Want Darksiders Discount?

Yes, I really mean it when I say that this game is actually better than God of War. In fact I am an avid gamer and have played hundreds of different games and completed them ever since I have been a small child. Darksiders is one of the best games that I have ever played. If you are an action adventure roleplaying fan then you will love this game that is a perfect mix of God of War, World of Warcraft, and Zelda. This title somehow flies under the radar as being one of PS3's most popular games...I don't know why. Maybe because of the subject matter...it definitely is meant for a more mature audience. Anyways, pick up this game. I guarantee you will love it. War is the man! I cannot wait for Darksiders 2! \m/

Read More >>

PS3 Quad Dock

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $18.64
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

As the previous reviewer mine died on me after less than 3 days of use. The problem is the 5VDC adapter that comes with it. It died completely and no longer puts out the 5v as checked with a multimeter. Amazon is great as usual about returns and are shipping me a new unit. About the only other solution would be to buy a 5VDC 1800mah power pack of your own to get the unit running again... Other than that the unit looks great and charges relatively fast. The led charge/full indicators are nice. The mood lighting doesn't bother me because it is down low on my entertainment center but if it was up where I could see it it would bother me since the blue led lights up the whole room when its dark and you can't turn it off.

Update:

I just received my replacement unit and it failed as soon as I plugged in the 3rd controller. Upon inspection I noticed that the power supply only provides about 40% of the required amps and pops as soon as it gets overdrawn. I actually heard it pop as I plugged in the 3rd controller. Dreamgear needs to supply the correct power supply for these units. See my picture for the proof.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

as the other two reviews before me, the power adapter was fried. For me within 5 mins of use....I walked away and then when I looked the dock was no longer illuminated and the burnt smell was even getting our cat's attention. I did not want to deal being without the charge dock, nor dealing with added waits on returning and possibly receiving ANOTHER faulty power adapter...SO i purchased a replacement at Radio Shack which cost me $32. So whatever Amazon charges for this item, add another $32 if you want it to actually work. Now with the new one from radio shack the dock works like a dream and keeps all 4 of my controllers charged. Handy when wanting to play a 4 player game with 3 friends.

Buy PS3 Quad Dock Now

Sent the first one back because it shorted right away. Got the replacement, and just like the other reviewers stated, it fried too. Crap product, I would advise to amazon to remove from their product list.

Read Best Reviews of PS3 Quad Dock Here

I bought this item as soon as I got it plugged it in it burned out I sent it back got a second the same thing happened I believe the power adapter is the wrong voltage that why it burns out

Want PS3 Quad Dock Discount?

I ordered the PS3 Quad Dock from Amazon.com. When I received it I immediately plugged it in and attached all four of my PS3 controllers which all started charging as you would expect. Not 5 minutes later I looked at the charger and noticed all of the lights were out and my controllers were not charging.

I tried different outlets, removing controllers and reattaching, all to no avail.

This is being returned for a refund which is too bad, because I have been looking for a four controller charger ever since the Nyko became unavailable.

Read More >>