NEW 4 Skin Case Cover for SONY PLAYSTATION 3 Controller

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Has a nice grip and feel. The silicone case is a nice addition to have with the Play Station Controller. Its nice to have some of these for extra grip and support while your trying to earn trophies.

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Virtua Tennis 3

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This is the most polished Virtua Tennis in the series.

I played the older versions in PS2 and PSP. Game play wise, VT3 actually is the same as those older versions. You get the latest and greatest tennis stars and new mini games to power up your custom player. The interesting thing is in VT3 the computer AI is quite smart. You cant cruise through the game like before. Have to use some brain. Thats the nice part.

Other than part, its pretty much the same game as the previous versions with better graphics (1080p!)

If you never play Virtua Tennis before, then I highly recommend this game to you. Its easy to learn and play. Its fun and addictive.

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I already had the previous game on PSP and I loved it. Now, this one comes out on PS3 and it is soooo gooooood. Has excellent game play, very real movements, graphics are breathtaking. There is nothing wrong I can say about this game. If you like Tennis, this is a must have.

The best tennis game out!

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VT3 is a pretty neat game. I've never played a VirtuaTennis game before. I was expecting some neat gameplay and some tournaments and that's it. However, the "World Tour" mode is very engaging. It give you a calendar with tournaments taking place around the world. You go to the minigames to hone the skills of your player so that you can win tournaments and move up the rankings. Along the way, you get new gear from sponsors and other players. It doesn't do much, but it's something. The neat part is how you have to manage your stamina to make sure you have enough when a tournament comes around. Once or twice, I was playing so many mini-games I forgot to go to the tournaments. My character "got the flu" from playing so hard without rest that he was out for 4 weeks. Kind of interesting.

The graphics are great and the motions are spot on. Once you get to more skilled players the action really heats up and gets very engaging. I was just ho hum about tennis before, but this really made it seem interesting and engaging.

If you think VirtuaTennis might be interesting, download the demo and try it. If you like the demo, you'll LOVE the game.

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I've played this game for about 30 total hours now. It's very well done and addictive. Nice graphics, good depth in developing abilities with training games. The only gripes are about difficulty, Having mastered the gameplay, Hard is too easy, yet Very Hard is a nightmare. The CPU runs down EVERYTHING, and even when lunging returns shots at impossible angles to deny hard earned points. The volleying doesn't work like it should, also denying sure points with inexplicably weak returns. These "cheating" elements have now killed the game for me. The Chasm of Difficulty between settings really hurts an otherwise great title. With a friend it could still be very fun, but there's no online option. Worth the price, but could be better.

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Virtual Tennis 3 is easier to play than Top Spin 3. Virtual Tennis 3 also has a video game mode that you can hit a ball against a colorful wall or like a bowling alley. Characters also have a nicer demeanor than Top Spin 3 which is appropriate of good sportsmanship for kids.

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Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

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First off the many graphical glitches the demo had aren't present in the game. Kingdoms of Amalur is a good game. Its art style is similar to Fable with more of a deeper RPG feel. The game has everything needed to keep players busy for many hours. There are multiple side quests, several ways to build your character from mages to warriors and rogues. The real fun of this game is the battle system and many weapon types. The combat isn't boring like some games get. The games crafting and smithing system work well once you level them up. You only get one point at a time so you have to decide what area you are going to focus on. This means you won't be both a master smith and alchemist at least not early in the game. Your level in each area determines what items you find to use so it's a bit restrictive. The dialog system is odd as sometimes you get a dialog wheel and other times you get one word to click on. It works but doesn't feel quite like you're having a conversation. The characters I've encountered have more to say so you get some background on why you are doing the quest un like Skyrim where people just said hey go get this for me. I recommend the game because its battles are fun the story has some detail and you can play how you want. The developer claims there's over 200 hours of quests and I believe them since there are quests everywhere.

Update: You can redistribute your skills and change your character build for a reasonable fee. If you no longer want to be say a mage you can switch your skill set to something else. I am finding the merchants prices on items and to be a bit high on items though. Gold isn't made so quickly like some games so you need to spend carefully. The game has many spells you can learn but you can only map 4 at a time. It would have been nice if they made a way to map more spells for use.

Update: There's a lot of side-quests lore and collectables in the game. The main story is not its strongest point as most of what's going in the world is learned by exploring new areas and doing quests. You can't really power level to max all skills nor do you need to. The weapon smithing and gem crafting are fun when fully leveled up. My only 2 gripes with the game are its inventory system is severely limited for space and the menus are clunky to scroll through. The 4 spell limit is a bummer too because it forces you to really choose what spells you like. (The way both Dragon Age games used the R2 button to double scroll the buttons would have have really helped this game out.) I do really enjoy playing this game and recommend it to anyone who enjoys Rpgs.

Pros

Many ways to play the game mages warriors or stealth rogues

Play how you want...steel, sneak and many quests allow a peaceful or combative solution.

Detailed alchemy crafting and smithing systems

Fun battle system

Many side quests

Beautiful environments with a huge world to explore

Good story and voice acting.

100+ hours of play time

Doesn't lock up my PS3

Cons

Restrictive leveling only 1 point per level to spend on skills like smithing alchemy sneaking persuasion etc. It takes several points to max an area so you'll want to focus on being either a mage rogue or warrior. This can be changed for money but you still wont be able to max all skills until at very high levels

Some of the graphics on the characters look like they needed more polish

Sometimes the camera goes off into la la land in conversations.

Load times are around 20-30 seconds when entering buildings (it varies some go fast some are slow)

Some slowdowns with graphics engine when a lot is going on.

Camera can blind you at times in combat

I encountered a nasty glitch that made the whole TV screen twitch every 10 seconds and it would not go away until a previous save was loaded. My character got stuck in a spell cast mode during a battle so I lost a half hour of play time.

Only able to use 4 spells at a time

Some minor graphical hiccups occur in some spots

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I play games for a variety of reasons. I play them to relax, to get lost in a world, to hear/play a good story, and I play them as a way to escape. This game fits the bill on all of those accounts perfectly. As a mature (read: over 30 years old) gamer, I have a different set of expectations that have grown and changes as I have gotten older.

This game first appeared on my radar as word of R.A. Salvatore being involved trickled out onto the web. I have played another game he was involved in, "Demon Stone" for the PS2. As with that iteration, this one is well writtenthe story takes the cake. Intrigue, plot twists, friends, foes, allies, and antagonists all take center stage in a tale that is fun and engaging here. The main quest is a good yarn in and of itself, but veering off the well beaten path takes you to other villages, characters, problems, and areas that you would just as easily miss if you don't look around. Superb writing, plotting, and setting. The story might seem kind of contrived and a mash up of genre staples...but Salvatore weaves it all together into something wonderful. I would have to say this game is like "playing" a very ambitious fantasy novel.

The combat is easy to master, but still presents a challenge as enemies scale to your level, the fighting can get intense, and there are several moves and tactics that unlock as you level up that make all the zipping around the screen fun and satisfying. The weapon and spell effts are nice, realized well, and graphically pleasing. Intense colors, good sound design, and a freedom of movement lends itself to combat that doesn't feel stale and challenges you to mix it up and see what happens. McFarlane's talent really shines through in the creature design and world art. From things that are creepy to sillythere a quite a few vistas, creatures, plants, and areas to look at. It is very pretty, vibrant, and busy. Other areas are appropriately dark, somber, and decayed. All in allthe game looks as good as it plays, and in may ways, the setting of Amalur is a character in and of itself.

Collectors of in-game stuff rejoice! As this game is packed with all you would come to expect from Rolstonthe mad genius behind some "Elder Scrolls" games. There are scraps of paper, books, lore stones, items, journals, lockpicks, chests, loot, and tomes to collect, read, and discover. The info is doled out well and comes at a pace that encourages exploration. There are several times (as I am not done with the game yet) where I have been distracted with a side quest just because I want to know more about what is happening in the world around me. It lends itself to a very fleshed out feeling, a world fully developed, alive, and teeming with secrets to discover. Again, this game is superb in its presentation on all of those accounts.

Getting down to the technical details, there are systems that feel familiar, yet lend their own flair to the game. Crafting, weapon/equipment repair, and reagent gathering are all things that have been done before. They are integrated well with this game and the feeling of familiarity is helpful at keeps the learning curve from getting too steep. There is not a physical manual included with the game...it is added to the disc. I don't find that I miss it, as info in pretty easy to come by and the interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Taking the best parts of past games, throwing in new ones, and whipping up a recipe for something new is a welcome addition to both the genre and the world of video games in general. I haven't experienced a single glitch, hitch, or mess-up with the game on my system. Load times are forgiveable and don't take foreverbut then again, with the amount of content and data I don't expect instant load times. The world is vast, expansive, and feels that way as well. With that, fast travel isn't a "must have" but is something that I use quite often, just to traverse the distances that soon become very apparent.

Others might say this game is too similar to "Fable" or some other megalithic MMO out there. While I see some of the similarities, I also see that 38 studios has crafted an entirely different, yet familiar feeling, monster. They have poured passion, heart, blood, sweat, and tears into this gameand it shows. Its massive, teeming with things to discover, and presented in a beautiful package. Combat, crafting, exploration, leveling, and play styles are all as fluid as you would wantthey (the devs) have really tried to make an expansive and all-inclusive gameand they have come as close to perfection as is possible at this point in my opinion.

Sobuy this game if you are looking for some amazing value for your dollars. Buy it if you want to see where I predict the next generations of RPG's will be going. Buy it if you want an awesome story, amazing playability, and some great art. Buy it if you are looking to really get into a game and not be finished in 10 hours. This is hands downone of the BEST games I have every played. Simply amazingworth every penny spent and then some.

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Background:

For those that do not know, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a new intellectual property and is the first in what is hoped to be a new line of RPG games. The game was created by 38 games/Big Huge Games and published by EA. There are quite a few properties that are out there populating the field that it wants to become part of. This game has quite an all star group that have helped to create the game and I believe it has earned its place in the gaming world. Also, for a while there, the RPG field was bare and dry especially on the XBOX and so I welcome the change to explore a new and interesting world.

Todd McFarlane, the genius behind Spawn and other adult themed comics has provided inspiration for the artwork. The storyline was written by R.A. Salvatore who has published 20+ books in the field of Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Executive Director was Ken Rolston, the lead designer of the Elder Scrolls III Morrowind and Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion.

Graphics:

The graphics on this game are beautiful and colorful. Over the past few months I have finished playing Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Dark Souls and it is refreshing wandering a world that is bright and colorful. It reminds me of some portions of World of Warcraft such as the Blood Elves on the Horde side. You can see Todd McFarlanes influence on the art department in the multitude of characters you encounter.

Combat:

The trend for RPG's have aimed for the hybrid of Action-RPG with most falling on RPG elements and action as a second thought. This game has chosen to put Action in the forefront. The combat resembles the God of War: Collection series. When you are at a certain point, a lot of button mashing is required to score the kill and extra experience that comes from it. After the extreme difficulty of Dark Souls and continuous dying, it was nice to be able to enjoy combat that I felt I had an actual fighting chance of winning.

World:

The game originally was going to be an online MMO. You can sense that in the way that the world is created and interactions with the characters. It feels like an online MMO in a way but without the interaction of other players. The world is a liner sandbox world. It resembles somewhat a game such as Fable: The Lost Chapters or some of the Final Fantasy X games. There is a lot to explore in the world around you, though, so there is plenty to keep you busy.

Other:

Communication is a lot like Mass Effect where you rotate to the conversation choice. You can have negative or positive communications but I have not really seen many that affect the outcome or interaction with my character too terribly much. I may find more later on.

There is pre-order download content. I received the game in the morning. Unfortunately, the codes for the DLC (mainly items to help you start off with) did not arrive via email until around midnight which made their use moot.

Overall Impression:

I am an old school RPG player ever since I received my first free copy of Final Fantasy 1/Dragon Warrior (Dragon Quest) with my paid subscription to Nintendo Power back in the day. The trend for RPG's has to continue to the action-RPG hybrid element which I feel it has successfully achieved. With todays world, simplicity is the key. The character creation and leveling I feel has been watered down. Not at the level that is the Fable series or other RPG's but it has been simplified. You really cannot go wrong in how you create your character and you can truly customize the character to your playing style. The bugs that were present in the demo have been cleaned up quite a bit although there are still technical issues here and there (not on the same level as the demo)

I highly recommend this game. There are simply not enough good RPG's out there even if the field seems to be filled with them. There are a lot of mediocre titles that dot the landscape in-between Elder Scroll and Final Fantasy releases. I believe this Game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a worthwhile RPG to invest ones time and energy into and is a world that truly deserves to be lost in. I wish someone would re-visit Betrayal at Krondor (Enhanced CD-ROM)

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Game's Info:

(Players): 1 offline

(Required Hard Drive Space): 4.GB

(HD Video Output): 480P, 720P

(DUALSHOCK*3)

Game's Features:

Add-On Content / Trophies

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I will now give the "PROS" and "CONS" of the game and even add a "MID" as in stuff I didn't hate but also didn't love, but you or others might feel different about it...

PROS:

A great free world to run around in

Has a lot of way you can play it as a Rogue, Warrior, Sorcerer or if you want to them all.

The game play is clean and controls well and easy get use too.

Has a lot of kinds of items, monsters, people and quests to do in the game.

you can make your own character from the ground up and fit the way you like to play him/her.

Creating items like Potions and equipment is the most fun I ever had in making items in a game.

MIDS:

The story in the game seems pretty good but nothing that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.

Graphics and sound are pretty good as well, but not jaw droping.

The game is pretty easy at first, but as you get deeper in the game it will start getting harder.

CONS:

I've had few problems with the Camera in the game here and there...

Lockpicking is WAY to "easy"

The sound in the game can sometimes can be late for when the sound was supposed to happen.

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{My Thoughts}

I'm really enjoying this game, there hasn't been a game like this to come out in a long time. If you ask me I think you should really give this game a try... it maybe not as big and pretty as a few other games that has came out, but I think this game is a gem of it's own and please reamember this is the first game that "38 studios" has ever came out with and I think they did great job and I'm looking forward to see what they will do next. :)

Thank you for reading, I hope it helped you and if you have any questions about the "Game" just ask. ^^

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Skyrim was the first "real" RPG I have played in years and the first game I have ever played over 60+ hours. I played the original Paper Mario and even Super Mario RPG on the SNES. But I usually stuck to the likes of Diablo, Dungeon Siege and Action Games. I played Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age 2 a bit but not in depth.

I have to say that I feel this game is a great mix of Skyrim, God of war and Diablo.

Skyrim For the sheer size of the world. It may not be as "open" but it is still huge.

God of War For the combat. This what I liken it to not that the combat is on the same level as GOW, but that the animations and feel is.

Diablo For the sheer amount of loot that you find.

I have found I really enjoy the games graphics. They are not as detailed and real as Skyrim but they are amazing in a different way. I really liked Todd Mcfarlane's comics back in the day and I feel that some of his style has really rubbed off here.

Being about 10 hours into the game I find myself wanting to play it while I am at work and that has always been a key indicator if I really like a game.

Is it the best RPG ever, probably not, but I am having one heck of a time trying to find games (in my palette of games) that are as fun and with the amount of loot.

I can easily see myself playing this game for 70+ hours (that is where I was at with Skyrim).

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Rayman Origins

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I'll start this review with some full disclosure: This review is long and gushing, but please, allow me to indulge my heartfelt desire to give this game the praise it deserves. Rayman Origins is, hands down, one of the biggest surprises in high quality gaming excellence I have seen in my life (much of which I have spent playing games), and definitely the biggest surprise this year. This game is special, and for so many reasons too. I've been a huge fan of Rayman for 15 years now, since his first outing on the original Playstation, to his stellar masterpiece Rayman 2 and beyond. For the past few years, however, Rayman has been on life support, barely eking out an existence through hideously lazy rereleases/ports of past glories, and as an afterthought inclusion with spotlight stealing Rabbids. Now though, the hero of light is back, this time with friends(!), by going way back to the beginning, and what a ride it is!

The story in Rayman Origin is as silly, perhaps even more, as we've ever seen from the series! You see, Rayman and his friends tend to make a lot of noise when they nap and laze around, to the point of creating snooze symphonies. This proves to be really bothersome to the old grannie who is boss of the land of the livid dead, a dark and dreary realm near the glade of dreams. Finally she has enough of her noisy neighbors and launches a full scale "darktoon" invasion of Rayman's homeland, and Rayman & co. are more than happy to oblige her desire to duke it out! Hence starts Rayman Origins' platforming euphoria.

First off, the art design in this game is outstanding. The environments are beautifully, fantastically dreamlike. Some places are majestic to the point of being downright breathtaking. Rayman has always been a series characterized by whimsy, goofiness, and imagination that is gorgeous and this game does not disappoint in the least. The character models and animation are equally charming. Watching it all reminded me so much of classical cartoon animation that feels fluid and spontaneously fun, playful, and adventurous. It also hearkens back to a time when animation followed a very important rule: the drawings must be funny. Yes, eyes pop out from the head, faces completely contort when characters are injured, enemies turn into big bubbles when defeated (and eventually pop like over-inflated whoopy cushions), the charm here is off the charts, and wholly appropriate for any age. This game is both beautiful and so very endearing, and the art design helps that immensely. I'll never get over seeing a tiny mosquito carrying the big, fat Globox who is the pellet shooter instead of the mosquito, or him flapping his arms like a chicken to stay afloat. Hilarious. Rayman and the teensies, as well as all of the supporting, non-playable characters (the nymph fairies especially, lol) are equally silly and joyous to behold.

The sound design cannot go unmentioned either. The music is both whimsical and eclectic, while still adding in that laugh-inducing humor. Little "Alvin and the chipmunk" voices lend their singing talent to the background music, and it is so very funny. You'll find little touches like these all over the game, and it's awesome. When characters speak, they speak in that immediately recognizable pig latinish "Rayman gibberish." As with the art design, humor is everywhere in the audio as well, be in it music or sound effects.

I'd say the most surprising thing about this game is how incredibly solid the platforming is. The original 2-D Rayman had a lot of charm, but the gameplay was definitely the aspect most lacking, but here? This is undoubtedly the best gameplay of any Rayman game. Rayman and his friends learn new abilities as you progress, at a perfect pace I might add, and each of these abilities adds so much dimension to the traditional run-n-jump 2-D platforming genre. The control mechanics are really tight, as good as any 2-D platformer starring a chubby Italian plumber or a famous hairy ape with a necktie, and that is high praise indeed. You'll also be breaking cages to free the poor electoons and nymphs from captivity to progress through the various worlds you visit. The level layouts are outstanding, and playing this game just feels really good. It's also deliciously challenging in parts, but not to the point where it angers or frustrates you beyond the limit. Check points are frequent and there is an unlimited amount of lives to burn through (or "bubbalize," to be more accurate), and that also alleviates a lot of frustration you feel from dying a lot. Plus, even when the game is very difficult, it's so smile-inducing you won't care about dying for the tenth time trying to get past a tough spot. It's one thing for a game to be entertaining, but at the end of the day, if the gameplay isn't good, the whimsy and imagination matters very little. Thankfully Rayman is worth its weight in gold, and then some.

I also have to add that the co-op in this game is exceptional. Its silly craziness definitely compliments everything else in the game. My wife and I have had an absolute blast playing this together, and any game that my wife and I bond over gets extra points in my book. I can't even imagine how fun and crazy 4-player co-op would be! The ability to choose who you want to play as is a nice touch too, as there are tons of unlockable skins and characters in this game as you progress.

One more thing I must touch on is the value. Most games like this get the condescending remark, "should've been a downloadable title." Well, I can honestly tell you that this game is HUGE. I played quite a bit and figured I was nearing the end of the game, fairly satisfied with the length. Then, I found out that I was only HALFWAY through the game, with much, much more challenging levels awaiting me in the second half. When you consider there are major incentives to come back and see it all for completionists, this game is well worth the money it costs.

As a series, the Rayman games have always been known for their whimsical imagination, beautiful art design, silly stories, lovely humor, and an overall saturation of pleasant FUN. Rayman Origins has all of these in spades and much, much more. I think I may have found my new favorite Rayman game here, and to take Rayman 2's place in that way is no small feat to me. I don't think there's anyone on earth with a working, functional heart that won't have it captivated in some capacity by this game. It is one of the best games of the year. In every way and at all times, this game always focuses on you having fun, and it succeeds in that endeavor. Rayman Origins isn't just the triumphant return of one of video gaming's most beloved characters, it is a celebration of the very spirit of gaming and as such, it is everything a video game should be. Buy this game, have fun, and get lost in the joyous experience Rayman Origins has to offer.

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The art, the music, the core gameplay, and the level design in this game deserve recognition and applause! Me and my friends were playing this game together and we were always laughing! We enjoyed this game so much! I originally rented this game from Gamefly now I decided to own this game just to give my contribution to the studio. I feel like I haven't enjoyed a coop game like this for a long time! This is not those split screen coop experience you have in call of duty games, instead, this game provides the pure old school fun time when you have a friend over playing a game together and laughing.

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Every year there are always good games that come out and that get swept under the rug for one reason or another. They go by being missed by gamers who will only hear about them later on down the line. Rayman Origins is one of those games. It is a game that executes everything well. It's a tightly put together package that's fun and rewarding based entirely on the merits of gameplay. For those who enjoyed the platforming games such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Brothers... Rayman Origins is a must play game. It is by far one of the most encompassing 2D side scrollers you'll ever play.

As you can imagine there's pretty much no plot to Rayman Origins. And beyond that, Origins isn't really about any origin whatsoever. Rather the "origin" refers to how Rayman used to be. A 2D Side Scrolling Platformer. In other words, Rayman gets back to its roots. There are no raving rabbids here. Just pure amazing level design. The game is incredibly simple in its mechanics and that's part of what really makes it work. Just about anyone can pick up the game and learn the basics of the mechanics. Mastering the game, however, is another story entirely.

The game begins simple. The first level is inviting. And when you first begin you'll soon earn the ability to punch before later on getting other abilities such as the ability to fly or shrink later on. The game paces itself well by holding back on most of your abilities. Only giving them to you when you rescue certain characters. And mostly making sure you utilize them well in the environment they introduce them in. The learning curve in Rayman is almost non-existent. You'll slip right into the game real easy and the game gives you ample time to practice your new abilities. There are four different characters to choose from, but choosing one over another doesn't really make much of a difference. Rather, there seem to be four mainly to bring out the multiplayer. You and three of your friends can hop on at the same time and it can be quite fun to do so... or frustrating depending on how you play. Like LittleBigPlanet and New Super Mario Bros., less is more when it comes to conquering the campaign. Your friends can easily mess you up or something, but it's actually not too menacing, given that it does allow for more risks when there are four instead of one. A character can make a sacrifice for rare items. Or you can tag in other characters when you need to.

It's a good thing that Rayman Origins doesn't punish the player when things are grim, however. The game is challenging. It begins quite simple enough, but before you know it the game ramps up in difficulty rather fast. You won't even be halfway through before you realize just what's being thrown at you in each level. And some are going to require some good pattern recognition or some trial and error to get down just right. Regardless of this, however, you rarely feel like the game is being unfair. Most enemies are easy to take out. It's not the enemies that'll be a problem, however, it'll mostly boil down to the environmental hazards mixed in with the well tuned level designs. Each failure doesn't really feel like failure either, because the game isn't out to punish you. There are a decent amount of checkpoints scattered throughout, and there isn't a limit to how many times you can fail.

This is also good because Rayman Origins has A LOT of levels to traverse. It's about as robust as a 2D platformer can get. Each level ends when you rescue a bunch critters (called Electoons) but the game demands replay because you'll be tallied up at the end of the level. Rescuing Electoons isn't just how you complete stages, it's how you unlock more. And if you manage to go through a level collecting all the "Lums" (basically coins) then you'll rescue more Electoons. There are also cages of captured Electoons hidden in every level. If you want to master Rayman Origins and explore everything it has to offer, you'll need to find them all. And this is going to require replaying some levels over and over again. Sometimes with a friend.

Perhaps the most rewarding thing about Rayman Origins is by far it's presentation. The game has an incredible sense of humor and some great tunes. The introduction is funny, and so are some of the levels (who would've thought using weenies as platforms wouldn't be such a bad idea?). But perhaps where the presentation shines most is in the graphical and aesthetic capacity. This is where Rayman truly comes alive. The graphics opt for style more so than anything. Certainly Rayman Origins fails to live up to the photorealistic quality of other games such as Uncharted 3 or Gears of War. But what makes this game so important is that it showcases that style is just as important as the actual graphical output. Rayman Origins doesn't have a lot of POWER behind it, but it has a visual flair that you just don't see too much in games these days. The aesthetics are what make Rayman Origins so easy on the eyes. The environments are just amazing looking. And this is because Rayman Origins has character. And art design that helps separate the game from everything else out there. A lot of games look pretty based on the actual power behind them, but it's nice to see a game that treats its visuals as though they were on a canvas for an artist to paint. It goes beyond being something shiny and something that actually exemplifies what gaming can do when developers try a stylistic approach rather than just an all out powerful one. Every frame of Rayman Origins is brimming with visual flair and style. It is easily one of the prettiest games I've ever seen. The fact that it plays well makes it that much more rewarding. At some point when playing through the levels the design just clicks and everything flows well.

This, of course, brings about the issue some gamers have with the game. Rayman Origins is a totally 2D side scroller. All the way down to the last pixel. The graphical power that the game DOESN'T have has caused some gamers to wonder if sixty dollars is really worth it. This is actually much more dependent on how much gameplay you want. Rayman Origins offers a surprisingly large amount of gameplay and depth. It'll take you a while to do everything the game asks of you. Primarily because in order to do it, you'll need to play through it a second time.

If anything, the quality of the game speaks volumes. The levels are incredible, it's a great looking game and it can be enjoyed with friends. It's a game that doesn't throw in too much and manages to hit a sweet spot because of how it is stylistically constructed. It's easy to think that EVERY game has to innovate in some ways, but gaming has come to a point where we no longer needs to try so hard to be good. Sometimes mastering the techniques we've learned through the years is better than coming up with a new thing that fails. It's the execution that makes the game work so well, not the standalone mechanics themselves. Rayman Origins will surely be an underplayed game... but it most certainly won't be under appreciated.

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First off, I never write reviews. This game is so awesome and so under appreciated that I feel COMPELLED to write my thoughts on this game. It's a mixture of all the best elements of 2D Super Mario Bros (small part of Sonic), mixed in with stunning HD graphics.

GAMEPLAY

It's a pretty simple concept ... Jump, Hit, and run. The first few levels are warm ups and ease you into the movements. After that the difficulty starts to ramp up quickly and you find yourself replaying spots a few times. Whenever you die, though, you don't really feel like you lost because the level replay is really high. There's also a lot of level secrets which is really fun to find and discover.

MULTIPLAYER CO-OP

Incredibly fun experience!!! First thing that happens is all your friends say "what a weird game" soon to be followed up with "I think this is my favorite game of all time" ... Very hard to put down when you have 4 people jumping and bashing through levels.

SOUND AND MUSIC

Fun, quirky, energetic, well fitting, and at times stunning! The music score is incredibly well produced and a lot of the SFX match pitch and harmony to the score (I enjoy a lot since I'm a music producer)

GRAPHICS

All the animations are super fluid. Graphics are super HD quality (vibrant, beautiful, etc). Is the game 3D? Nope. I can assuredly say that this game would not be as cool looking if it was in 3D. The 2D sprite graphics have a certain appeal that can't be replicated in 3D because all the art is hand drawn! Don't hate on the 2D!

REPLAY VALUE

Very high. Replay with friends. Replay to find secrets. It's a blast.

THE BAD

We'll have to wait another 5 years or so for another Rayman because of the attention to detail!!! :(

MY BACKGROUND

I'm in my late 20s. I play most of the genres of games. I play COD:MW3, Mortal Kombat, Halo, Resistance, Uncharted, etc and I'll play coop Rayman just as much as COD or Resistance.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Get this game. You will not be disappointed.

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What I've missed the most since the 16-bit era were enjoyable fun little games that didn't try too hard to be mature. Books and movies provide all the entertainment outlets I need for serious subjects, and they do it better as well. Video games should be pick-up-and-play and fun for all. Rayman Origins does an exemplary job in being all that's right about gaming. I won't rehash what other great reviews have already stated about this game, the bottom line is that it's a perfect platforming experience without any flaws, whatsoever. I would highly suggest this for PS3 and 360 owners who don't dabble in classic games or other downloadable games as there are very few full retail games like it on these 2 systems. I always thought that Nintendo continues to do well because they welcome the fun and whimsical themed games, but if the PS3/360 audience can likewise welcome these kinds of games, all the better.

The only note for people: This game is not easy at all, I got stuck for quite a while on just the third world, but for some reason I never felt bored on being stuck, it's a very addicting game that rewards good skills.

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Quantum Theory

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The four star rating is for a purchase of thirty dollars or less. This game is not a full price purchase.

First things first, as I said above if you can find this game for thirty dollars or less and are a fan of Gears of War you will enjoy Quantum Theory. Yes this game borrows many elements from Gears, which is no big secret however as the saying states, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. You shouldn't play this game for what it's not (i.e. Gears of War) but more for what it is, which is a pretty decent third person duck and cover action title. Being a fan of Gears myself, I find Quantum Theory to be some what of a love letter to Gears and that's ok with me because if you're going to make a game in that genre why not look to the top dog for inspiration. It's as if trying to compare an NFL team with a college team, sure they're both playing the same game and using the same equipment but obviously the pros will win out in the long run.

Quantum Theory is by no means a great game; it does have its short comings. The controls are a little off but manageable, the camera can be some what hectic at times and the graphics are mediocre at best. The story has an interesting start but never really develops into anything special; obviously they won't be winning any awards for best screen play anytime soon. In all fairness though I didn't really expect a great story with this game, nor was it the reason I bought it. You will hear a lot of cheesy 80's action movie cliché lines like "splat" after Syd kills something, which makes Syd seem like his body aged but his mind is still in middle school. Finally the AI, your companions are horrible at best, not too helpful. Try watching them; it looks as if they're square dancing on the battle field. The enemy AI isn't that bad, they will actually come and get you if you hide too long, which always makes you feel a sense of urgency and keeps you on your toes.

Now for some good news, which there is some believe it or not? The duck and cover aspect works well, with some minor flaws. The story being that you're moving along in a living tower makes for interesting landscapes and fun times when the barrier you're covering behind just disappears. I personally enjoy the fact that you can carry up to three weapons at a time and can cycle through them rather easily. Honestly once you find the two or three guns you like to use you'll probably stick with them through out the game, that's pretty much what I did. Also, when you pick up ammo packs you'll replenish ammo for all the weapons you're carrying, so you don't have to look for specific ammo types when you find and equip your weapons of choice. The lack of grenades is noticeable but having Filena to throw at enemies makes up for it, but truthfully if she's not being thrown she's not much help and the novelty of doing so does wear thin quickly. Sorry for that last line I know it sounds sexiest if read out of context LOL. I found myself taking out enemies with my weapons and using her only if absolutely necessary.

I'm not saying this game can compare to Gears but honestly few can, but for the right price it's worth picking up, especially to hold us over why we wait for Gears 3. If for what ever reason you haven't played Gears or not able to try Quantum Theory you may be pleasantly surprised.

Michael

PSN Xbox Live gamertags are MikeJMele

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Maybe I'm easily entertained, maybe I'm glutton for punishment, but I was strangely drawn to this game and found it quite enjoyable much like another supposedly 'bad' game that I like ShellShock 2. I have not played the game that is mentioned in every other review of Quantum Theory and that is Gears of War. However, after laying Quantum Theory, I went out and bought Gears of War triple pack and hope to play it in the near future.

Quantum Theory plays like a conglomeration of the old and new. Having not played GOW, elements of the game reminde me of a diverse set of games anywhere from Uncharted to Doom. Uncharted due to the often imitated cover mechanics (but lacking the sophisticated exploration mechanics) and Doom because of the demon type enemies that can take a licking before dying, as well as the pattern based AI in the larger enemies.

The beginning of the game introduces you to your future partner Filena and your combo attack with her that is one of the the most powerful attacks in the game. After this glimpse of the future you are thrown into a militia squad in a post apocalyptic earth on your way to forcibly enter and destroy a tower that is responsible for the mutation of people into evil monsters.

The story of Quantum Theory is both simplistic and confusing at the same time. It's not bad, and there is a lot of lore of the world to uncover, it is just explained in a very indirect and disjunct manner. The game goes back and forth in time in several instances in an effort try to explain the characters but it can be jarring. Also, your companion, Filena seems to come and go at times and it is not always well explained why she is with you in some parts and not with you at other times.

The controls in the game are often criticized. I did not have too much issue with them for most of the game. I had to adjust the speed of the aiming and the camera a few times during boss fights to be able to keep up with the movements of the bosses. Also, with some of the guns there is not much feedback when shooting enemies. The gun controls only really became frustrating on the second to last boss when they seemed to slow down and speed up seemingly at will. Later in the game melee combat becomes very important due to the enemies requiring a lot of bullets to take down. There are several special attacks that utilize your partner. These include the ability to throw Filena in a high damage attack, throw her in the air to stun your enemies, or combo melee attacks which require precisely timed button presses.

There are several parts of the game that require timed jumps onto and off of giant worm creatures. These can be frustrating, although I'm glad they are there. These portions provide a strong sense of atmosphere to the game that would otherwise be paint by numbers. Just be prepared to have to consult youtube or gamefaqs to get you through one or two of these parts. The other thing that stands out in Quantum Theory is the living tower aspect where the environment changes in the middle of firefights. This provided for me a significant aspect to how I would approach some of the more difficult firefights and is a huge part of my enjoyment of the game.

The graphics are behind the times for the characters but the environments are interesting and detailed in the tower sections. They certainly provide a unique vibe of heaven meets hell.

I played through the single player part of the game on normal and there were definitely some difficult sections in the second half of the game. Frustrating at points, but a sense of challenge brings with it a sense of accomplishment. It probably provided me with a good 12-15 hours of gameplay which is quite good for a game of this type.

I enjoyed playing Quantum Theory. I may try some multiplayer if I can find people online, otherwise I look forward to trying Gears of War for a comparison.

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I love this game. the concept is very different in my opinion, which is what i liked about it the most.

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I beat this game today and had a great time! I think my dad will really enjoy it too when he plays it. The whole game probably took around 15 hours, and it didn't feel too short or too long.

My absolute favorite part was the ambience. The environments are gorgeous and colorful, and range from starkly beautiful to distorted and hellish. Throughout the whole tower there's a wealth of color themes, architectural styles, room layouts and such, but it still feels very cohesive. I thought the "constantly changing" aspect of the level design would be lame or ugly or badly executed or something, but instead it transformed spaces in totally bizarre ways and made fights twistedly chaotic.

The gameplay itself is pretty fun. I'm not much for the whole sit-behind-cover-and-shoot-other-guys-behind-cover thing, but there's a lot of weapons and you're afforded a lot of playstyle flexibility. For example, there's a gun that gives your melee attack extra strength and better coverage use it and you can even take the brawler approach (I did, for a stage or two). The combo attack girl, who travels with you for about half the game, gives you a couple extra moves (melee and ranged) which, if used appropriately, are very effective. The controls are also well thought out and the character control is simple and fluid.

I know a lot of reviews complained about the platforming/climbing. There are only one or two areas in the game that I really had problems with, and I think I could do them better now. During these sequences, a "press jump" icon will appear. The icon does not mean that you should press jump, it means that you /can/ press jump. You still have to orient yourself correctly and make sure there's something to jump to. Leaps of faith do not go rewarded!

To be thorough, the story was very good too. I don't know if the dialog was excellent, but it was interesting and sometimes even darkly humorous, and the voice acting was quite suitable. The game is mostly an adventure, so there isn't much plot, but the conclusion is excellent and I thought it was very amusing. I can't get the imagery from the end out of my head.

Quantum Theory wasn't perfect, but it was outstanding in so many ways that I think it was definitely worth the preorder price. I know I'll recommend it to my friends and I look forward to more games from Team Tachyon (if they aren't dissolved first).

(I haven't played Gears of War, but please remember: even if Gears of War is better, that does not make Quantum Theory worse.)

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This game is way too hard. Man, is it hard! I even set the difficulty to easy, but it is still pretty hard. In one battle, it took me an hour+ to beat. The enemies spawn like crazy. They also take forever to take out in the first place. Many of the other battles have to be replayed again and again. There a lot of cheap deaths, like when the floor gives way with no notice.

Graphics and sound were pretty good, and the sci-fi weapons are cool. The artwork for the monsters is pretty cool. The game can be played. The shooting is hard because the reticule is small and enemies always dodge. When you do hit a target, the enemy staggers, so your next few shots miss. The AI is decent enough to make you pay if you're not careful.

I'd say this game scores 3.4 out of 5, rounded up because of others who did not try hard enough.

Quantum Theory is a rough game, and you will die often. It is satisfying when you eventually win, you just have to stick with it.

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Rinne no Lagrange: Kamogawa Days Game & OVA Hybrid Disc

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The game is only one player, and is a little like the recent Gundam/mecha games, where you have to take down the enemy mechas with your teammates. Though it is a shame that this doesn't have the online multiplayer feature, for it had so much potential. Nonetheless as a fan of the series, it was fun playing as the main characters in this game. I recommend this for any fan of the show.

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Brink

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Like many people, I wanted this game to be like Team Fortress 2 but to the next level. Unfortunately, you cannot have as much fun in Brink like TF2. Obviously the game is new and not as many people own it but there should be more servers with different mods or methods of playing. For example, games like Uncharted 2, Black Ops, Killzone 3, Socom4, and others have many different ways to play. Brink has a number of mission types but it does get repetitive. As far as I know, I have not seen a Team Deathmatch type game even though you are technically in one due to the mission.

PROS

-Very good Graphics

-Cool Customizations

-Maps are large and lots to do

-The movements of the game

CONS

-Not enough weapons

-Some glitches

-Not Enough maps

A DLC will be coming out in early July (was supposed to be June) that will include 2 new maps (only)and some new content. The DLC is free for people the first 2 weeks it (the DLC) becomes available.

This game is not horrible, but it is not great. It was hyped up no doubt and should have way more content. The content in this game is about 10% of what it should be. Solutions

1. Adding at least 5 more maps

2. Adding new weapons somewhat similar to Team Fortress 2 but more modern looking. We all know the huntsman of TF2 for the sniper. Brink should have Crossbows, flamethrowers, harpoon guns, whips, chinese stars,swords, and many other items.

Cannons would be cool instead of the stupid mg nests. This game has a lot of potential but needs a serious upgrade for the weapons. Like many have pointed out the weapons are very similar even with some of the changes you make. The sniper rifles are pretty good but need more additions.

3. Needs more gamers playing on PC and others to create new servers with new mods

Just look at Team Fortress 2. They have new additions every so often with weapons and maps. Yes it has been out for a long time, but Brink runs the risk of not getting more sales and losing current gamers. This new DLC better be very good and they need to have another update about a month or two later because Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 will surely make Brink forgettable. I know they are not the same style, but people can only play so many games at once.

Team Fortress 2 is favored over Black Ops and many other newer games by many gamers. It does not have the greatest graphics but it makes that up by having a huge amount of maps and upgrades. Brink needs to follow this lead and bring more maps and weapons. Currently there are only 8 maps (2 more with DLC) and weapons are horrible before you customize them.

To people who hate this game, it may be that they really don't like it. I hated this game the first couple days I had it until I learned how to quickly upgrade the weapons. Common sense: You must go to Challenges and complete each one. When you go to the weapons selections it tells you what challenges you must complete to get the weapons. Once I upgraded my weapons I went from a one star rating to a 3 star rating.

Bottom line: This game is not as bad as people say. However there should be more interacting when playing as a team via typing or mic and more mods and other upgrades via Bethesda as I pointed out.

Thankfully I got this game for under $30 and play on PC. As for Xbox360 and PS3 I don't think you would be disappointed spending about $30 on this game. I think the price needs to drop to $30 or less for all platforms not just PC.This game would be excellent for $20 which could happens soon if the DLC is not good. People should rent the game or buy it used if you are unsure. Also keep in mind that the DLC update coming soon will be free for 2 weeks. So you need to get the game sometime during the 2 weeks that the DLC is available.

I went on very long and was a bit repetitive cuz I hope Bethesda improves this game. I also wish more people owned this game and played it like Team Fortress 2.

***** UPDATE***** 8/11/2011

I have been playing the game mainly on PC ( I also own the PS3 version but PC version is far better, especially the graphics) Nevertheless, it is still pretty fun on PS3.

So the DLC has two new maps and a few other items added for the classes. However, Splash(Bethesda) has failed to incorporate different modes in the game such as team deathmatch, capture the flag, or other modes of play. This game will probably be next to free very soon especially since the big hits (B3 and MW3) are coming out pretty soon. Nevertheless, I would still recommend this game for PC due to the better graphics and the long and fun matches between teams on a full server. When the servers are filled with human players (not bots) the game is very fun even on PS3. The matches last a lot longer and you can see what the developers wanted this game to be like. However they failed on a number of things. I will list the following recommendations that can make this game a huge hit like TF2.

1.****************** NEEDS MORE MODES OF PLAY.*******************************

2. Addition of different items every so often such as TF2 that can be purchased and some would be free.

3. Game should be made free or for $10 maximum to attract lots of gamers.

4. More maps and weapons as stated

5 A Reason to play. ( TF2 has people playing since its fun and free. But more importantly, there is something to play for. People have new items being acquired and people can dominate others in the game) Brink needs this type of stuff to make the game REWARDING if you know what I mean.

Like I said, if this is implemented this game will be one of the biggest hits on steam and the company will make lots of money selling items and just giving the game for free and building a very strong and active Brink community.

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I have completed this game now on my main class engineer as well as taking another to 15 as medic, and after figuring out the point distribution I have high hopes for this game once it is online for my platform (ps3).The point system lets you max out only one character class, but does not totally punish you for changing jobs on the fly if needed. Not to reiterate the previous reviews I want to touch on what they did not.

I play Call of duty, Killzone 3 and many FPS since the early 90's. Many of my favorite FPS are what I would refer to as frag tag. Fast kills in an almost arena like atmosphere. This game is not of that model.

This is a splash damage game as they have always produced, taking a Wolfenstien / quake: Enemy territory approach to a comic like post apocalyptic universe.

I have scored it high because what it does it does well. I feel the low reviews are based on expectation. Expectation that does it no justice as it is being compared to games that are FPS but not of the same style.

The choke points that people complain about can be flanked or massed against. They are meant to cause a strategic showdown between two opposing teams and they deliver.

I am not a "fanboy" of this title, but I am a bit disappointed with the low reviews. To me many of them mirror a fictitious popular mechanics article trashing a car because it did not do well when they tried to take it out on the lake. Most of the anger is frag taggers beckoning to know why it took more than 2 shots to drop a foe, frustration due to overcoming a obstacle they expected to glide through. I understand, it's not the fast smash and grab/ Run and gun they are used to. It is like the difference in action RPG, and a Menu based RPG.

Here is the honest ending statement if you like a challenging first person shooter blending a similar play style to Unreal tournament/ Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.

Then you will enjoy this game. People wanting a bad company 3/ COD 5 should wait for those titles. This is not meant to be offensive to fans of these type games I am as well but hopefully this will make people more aware of what type of title this is. Some people would love a game of this style and have been dissuaded due to "It's not COD!" type reviews. My opinion is thats all the more reason to love it, it adds to my library without adding to an army of clones.

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What do you get when you try to cross MAG or Team Fortress 2 gameplay with the look and feel of Borderlands and a futuristic Mad Max? Bethesda Softworks (Fallout 3, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion) and Splash Damage (Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars) hope its the next big franchise to hit consoles. The impressive art direction in the advertising campaign originally drew me to this game, but does it translate to tengaging gameplay? Now that it has dropped in price almost universally, is it something you should pick up now? Is it even worthy of it's all CAPS moniker?

The premise in BRINK is not anything we really haven't seen before, but it centers around a man-made, eco-friendly, floating city, designated The Ark, that is on the brink (get it) of Civil War. Since the oceans of the world have begun to rise to unsafe levels, The Ark has become a sort of haven for people affiliated with its original inhabitants, as well as other displaced people looking for a better life, who have to live on the outskirts. It's basically a bunch of Haves versus Have Nots. One group wants to break free of the overpopulation and desecrating conditions for the outcasts on The Ark (called The Resistance) and leave the floating city to see what the world is like beyond its walls, while the other group wants to keep the refugees in control and living in continued squalor, while they continue to benefit in The Ark (called The Security).

Upon starting the game, you have to first select and customize a character. While the customization options are ample, they aren't exactly endless. The character design is similar to Gears of War, with overexaggerated features and bulging muscles. There are four different classes of characters: Soldier, Engineer, Medic, and Operative. Obviously each has their own strengths and weaknesses and in this game you will be switching classes a lot during each level or mission, to complete objectives.

To move around, BRINK also uses whats been classified as SMART (Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain). In this, a button can be assigned to to quickly traverse across different environmental obstacles. Think of it as parkour influenced climbing, jumping, and sliding, reminiscent of Mirror's Edge. Unfortunately, much of the time, I kind of forgot about SMART and did the regular old climbing and jumping, except for the occasional slide.

I've spent quite a bit of time with this game, beating both campaigns (a total of 16 missions, but they are long missions, which turns out to be a blessing and a curse), and utilizing both solo play, as well as completing levels online with human counterparts. I get that the online component was designed to be a major selling point for BRINK, but the online community is pretty stagnant at the moment. When starting a level online, I would say that only about 25% of the time did I have another human joining me.

Gameplay

This game is quite frenetic when you first jump in. There is a lot of action going on around you and quite a bit of chatter from your teammates (which I liked initially, but then grew to hate). Initially, only one or two classes will have an objective that are pretty basic (hack this, defend this, escort this person, etc.), but the objectives increase (both primary and secondary), as you progress through the game. Just find a (or take over an opponent controlled one) command post, and you can switch classes. There is an objective wheel that is easily accessed at any time, that highlights the objectives and classes needed, so it's not too confusing. Select an objective and it'll point you in the right direction to complete it.

That's not to say that BRINK isn't fun because at times it really is. Shooting people and is almost always fun... for a while. Having the missions broken up by each side seemed like a really interesting idea, but they basically turn out to be the same levels, but just opposite objectives of each other. If the Resistance was trying to destroy something, when you play the mission as the Security, you're trying to defend the same thing you were previously asked to destroy. This doesn't flesh out the story as much as I would have hoped for, and really didn't make me pick a side I was rooting for, as if they had added totally different levels for each side.

There is a major problem with your teammates AI in the game. They are basically worthless (but every now and then surprise you with a well-placed turret), and you constantly feel like you are the only one that is able to do anything. For instance if you have to repair something and are playing solo, without human teammates, it seems like you are the only one of the class you selected that can get anything done. You have usually around 10 minutes to complete the objective, but it usually takes all 10 minutes because your teammates don't help at all. When they do decide to help, it's like a mad rush in the final minute or two. The opponents know where to congregate to protect what's needed, but it seems as if your team gets bored rather easily and leaves their mark.

Which leads me to my next problem with the game. If you die, or I should say when you die, because your opponent's ammo tends to be much more powerful than your own, you have to respawn

There are a few "what if" missions tacked on at the end, but they seem as more of an afterthought, than a critical part of the story, and are some of the shorter missions of the whole game. I recommend playing through some of the Challenge levels early on, as by completing them, you earn some upgrades for your weapons. There are 3 different types of challenges: fulfilling objectives, moving around with SMART to certain areas in a time limit, and defending, each with three levels of progressively harder levels.

Graphics

There are two distinct setting for the missions in BRINK. One is the futuristic Ark, which kind of reminded me of something out of Mass Effect. Lot's of plexiglass, neon, etc. Once the action moved away from The Ark, to Container City, I became re-interested in the game again. It's a totally different kind of look that really made me push through to finish my first half of the Campaign. There are lots of little crevices and creative shortcuts to find.

I didn't really experience any lag, when playing online, but only really connected with one other person at a time when playing the campaign. The multiplayer was solid and much more fun than playing with bots, but by the time I tried multiplayer, I was kind of burned out by the game. Sometimes when enemies died, parts of their body would be underground, or if they were standing on something and killed, seemed to be floating in mid-air.

Sound

Throughout the game you have a Commander basically talking in your ear the whole time. He gets very frustrated when things aren't going the planned way. Considering that you feel like you are a one man show on many of the levels, it get very annoying quickly.

I did find the chatter between teammates amusing. When you give supplies to another teammate, they always respond with some form of thanks. Additionally, when you have some supplies and they are needed by someone nearby, they will let you know.

Replay Value

There is a planned DLC coming soon (free for the first two weeks), which may increase the number of people playing online. Currently, there are 8 maps available for multiplayer skirmishes. I fear, however, that most players originally interested in the game have either moved on to something else or sold/traded in their copy.

Once the campaigns are completed, there is not much incentive to return to those missions. Especially the ones where your teammates seem clueless. There are some audio logs to collect, which supposedly add more to the story (or unlock a trophy/achievement when all are collected) but I didn't have an interest to find more.

There is a cap at level 20. When I finished both campaigns, I was at level 16, so I played multiplayer and replayed missions to reach the cap. There are bonuses for completing missions online (which I didn't know until about halfway through the game)

Honestly, I really wanted to like BRINK. Blending solo, co-op, and multiplayer into one somewhat seamless experience seemed innovative and intriguing. However, in the end, it wasn't done well enough to grab my interest for extended periods. Each mission is quite long, and if you don't succeed, feels arduous instead of energizing at the challenge, that you have to relive 15-20 minutes all over again.

Rating

6.5

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another new IP, another disappointment [read: homefront].

first of all, if you plan on getting this for the single-player campaign, don't. there is no single player campaign.

brink's 'campaign' is simply offline multiplayer with bots [think about Killzone's 'skirmish' mode and you get the idea]. there are eight 'missions' in all and each mission can played from either the resistance or security persepctive.

unfortunately, these missions are convoluted, difficult to navigate, and even more difficut to complete because your wonky AI squad mates are essentially useless. most of the maps contain narrow corridors that result in chokepoints with 16 guys in a fifteen foot radius all doing the hokey pokey or break dancing. i was half expecting pop 'n taco to show up with a broken down cardboard box and do the electric bugaloo. and if you should die, well, you may have to wait as long as twenty seconds to respawn and then spend another 30 seconds running back to the action. in and of itself, it's not a bad thing, but since all the 'campaign' missions are timed, it's problematic.

another big complaint: weapon damage. sure, i can understand wanting to eliminate one-shot kills, but it literally takes an entire magazine to put someone down. so most of the time you're trying to find ammo or hoping one of your squad mates buffs you some. good luck with that.

sure, you have four quadrillion customization options, but if you're playing from a first-person perspective, who even cares? you can't see all your fancy face paint, head gear, and outfits [unless you're in the menus], so why bother?

instead of a great new shooter, you've got a great new $60 digital costume closet. congratulations.

if splash damage had spent as much time with the gameplay as they did with the customizations, they might have had something. unfortunately, as is the case with so many shooters these days, the game ships with skimpy content and we undoubtedly await the first $15 "map pack" in about a week or two.

it's getting downright insulting.

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I avoided Brink at first due to poor reviews, but as the price got a lot cheaper, I decided to give it a try. Since I've only started playing it, and am nowhere near an expert on it I'm just going to comment on what I've experienced with the game. As a first person shooter, I didn't find it very satisfying. First of all, I'm amazed at how difficult it is to actually kill the enemy. Even at point blank range, it takes what seems as too many bullets to take someone down. Then, your downed enemy often isn't dead, but will rise right back up to kill you if you don't go and finish him off. Meanwhile, the action, which is pretty much non-stop, sometimes makes it difficult to even do this. Also, the actual aiming and shooting process just isn't as much fun as many other 1st person shooters that I have played. I want to like this and have played the first few missions on it, but I just can't see myself sticking with it. However, If you like non-stop, fast paced action, it certainly does deliver on that. It's frenetic pace does sometimes lead to confusion as what to do next, or exactly what is going on at the moment. I was hoping for a little more stealth and discovery, rather than the constant run and gun action. I could deal with the run and gun action if the actual shooting was a little more rewarding. I'm just glad I didn't pay $60 for it when it came out.

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Playstation 3 Power Supply Orignal Sony Part High Quality APS-226

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This was my second order that I have placed with Endless Electronics. Both items were delivered quickly. I think this item (APS-226 power supply) is the key to maintaining cooler temps inside your Playstation 3 (PS3). I have the first generation 60GB PS3. With the outer panel removed (the one held by 1 screw), you can touch your power supply with a finger near where that screw goes. The original power supply in those model PS3 are considerably hot to the touch, like burn your finger hot after about 2 seconds. My new power supply, APS-226, is just warm to the touch after even 2 hours of use. This will definitely lower the internal PS3 temperatures a great deal and held prevent getting that yellow light of death (overheating). If I can obtain a infrared thermometer soon, I will update with actual quantifying numbers. To the touch, there is a considerable difference in temperatures though. It's also more energy efficient. While helping lower your PS3's internal temperatures, you're going green, and even saving some change off your electric bill.

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I installed this on my own as my original one died on me. So far it's working like a champ but I did notice that the fan sounds louder than previously. As long as it lasts before the PS4 comes out I'm good with this product.

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It worked great and did what I hoped it would.

The physical condition of it was not the best though.

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I got the power supply and found it to be a used item. That didn't matter to me. Refurbished items are as good as new to me...if they work. I installed the item and...nothing. PS3 still dead. For a power supply, it makes a great paper weight.

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I've got the old 60GB "Fat" PS3. This power supply saved it from being scrapped. I was a bit skeptical about it running cooler than the old power supply, but the new power supply really is a LOT cooler than the old one. It's not very difficult to replace either. Just watch a few youtube tutorials and be careful with the wires. They're very delicate.

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Cherry Sunburst Design Skin Decal Sticker for Wii and Xbox 360/ Playstation 3

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The "skin" stickers for Wii's Guitar Hero III Gibson Les Paul Guitar are just the thing to make your axe (guitar) stand-out in a competition. When you order one, it is shipped in a LARGE (15 x 18 or so) reinforced envelope that is flat, and it came by USPS, so if someone isn't home to receive it, you'll be making a trip to the post office, but that trip is worth it because the decal is a beauty.

I chose the Cherry Sunburst because I have a Les Paul with a Cherry Sunburst finish. The skin is easy to remove from its backing, and goes on easy. I put the head stock on first at the end of the fret bar, so I could get a feel for the skin. The skin is very forgiving, allowing you to remove it for replacement if it gets askewed while applying. Like most skins, you'll get a few bubbles in it, but you can smooth those out by working them out from the center to the outside.

I applied all of the skins, including the one to the control. Speaking of which, be sure to open the slits where the speaker is on the control. Those almost have to be poked-out with a round edge of a paper clip (don't use a knife unless your hand is real steady because you may accidentally cut the opening larger than it is already).

Overall, this is a great product and you can find it with several dozen designs.

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This was easy to apply and looks great. The fret dots help as well. From about 4 feet away it looks real.

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Compared to the stark, plain white look of the stock controller, this skin really pops.

The skin itself is reasonably easy to apply. I managed to get the main body skin on without any bubbles by myself, but it probably would have been easier to do with some help. The adhesive takes a little while to cure so you can peel it back and restick it many times if you get a small bubble or if the alignment is off. Speaking of which, the die cut isn't 100% precise but the vinyl is flexible enough that you can stretch or bend it without it bunching up. There's still slivers of white around the edges though, but overall you'd have to look pretty closely to tell. I didn't put the headstock decal on yet since it covers up the Gibson logo.

As far as the look goes, that's where I'm holding back the last star. It's called a "cherry" sunburst, but it's really just an orange-red radial gradient. There's no hint of wood grain in the print, which I would have liked to add that extra little touch of realism. The pick guard, pickups and even the strings that are printed on look fantastic though. Another reason I didn't put the headstock decal on is because there aren't any strings printed on it coming off the holes where the tuning pegs would be. If you get the Wii version, be sure to put the remote decal on because it'll look really weird without it.

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When you have a picture of a guitar for guitar hero, one would automatically assume that someone is selling a guitar so I didn't like the fact that it turned out to be a sticker. Sure I should have read more carefully but still.

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PlayStation Move Professional Sports Kit for Sport Champions

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this product is not worth buying the frisbe attachement is made for kids or womans hand the sword and table tennis part does not match up on game u have to turn ya controller with them attcahed to make it work right and it still hard DO NOT BUY ANY ATTACHEMENTS THEY ARE NOT WORTH THE TIME AND MONEY

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I play a lot of sports champions. Ultimate Cup level..

What this accessory set is good for is helping people overcome the "mental-concept" that they are using a Move Controller. I watch my friends try and play, and i tell them: "Dude, just forget your holding a Move and play like you would in real life" THAT is what this set or similar are good at doing. If you are a Hard-Core Sports Champions player then you may not need it for that.

The good: Disc Golf: this is 1 of my favorite games( I recommend it ) and I really liked this Frisbee attachment. It works, I am big, I am 6'2" 215 lbs. Big hands, and they fit fine. I actually think this HELPED my skills in the Disc-Golf Game Mode. Maybe the other poster is super huge with massive hands ? I don't know I don't get that. You could buy this set just for the frisbee !

My favorite game mode is Table Tennis. The table tennis paddle would be best for a very very casual gamer, or a youngster. As more on the hard-core side, I cannot use this attachment.

For the Archery set, the elastic string is a nice thought, but I just recommend cutting the string off. Then once again, you get the "Feel" of using a Bow, not a move.

there is a good review on youtube that probably shows you everything you ever wanted to know about this product if you're considering purchase:

Hope this helps, I like CTA's stuff, they have a ton of it.

~AC

Gladiator set is Decent. Nothing fancy, and helps again with perception.

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I'll keep this simple:

1) The Construction is not strong, easy to bend or break

2) The ping pong paddle (most important and fun attachment) will not ORIENTATE properly with the paddle the on-screen avatar is holding. When you hold the motion controller in the paddle attachment, you must hold it so the flat surface of the paddle faces up/down (vertically) which is NOT how you hold a paddle if you were playing in REAL life. If you try to hold the paddle the proper way (flat surface facing left/right horizontally) you will see the on-screen avatar's wrist jerk around backwards and it will not be held properly in the game. This is a major failure not on the motion controller's part but on the part of the company who makes these attachments (CTA Digital)

3)The instructions that come inside the package are extremely vague; leaving you to try and figure out how everything fits properly, especially relating to the bow and string. They provide 2 extra cirular strings for the bow in the package but don't explain what they're for (one is smaller than the other).

4)The disc golf attachment (supposed to be 2nd best of the lot) is only able to ORIENTATE for RIGHTIES! Lefties cannot hold the disc attachment with the motion controller inside. Trust me, it WILL NOT feel right.

5) The sword and shield are very cheesy and do not give the player a sense of real sword fighting. The shield is WAY too small.

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I really like this set, but b/c the things are "game" size and not full size it still didn't really help me bet lost in the experience. But it does make it a bit easier to keep a good reference point for if I'm twisting or leaning the controller when I shouldn't be.

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The only con is you have to buy two sets. Normally you play against someone, right? So, if I'd change something would be that. Overall, good grip and lots of fun.

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Nyko Core Controller for PS3

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List Price: $19.99
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A Nyko Core Playstation 3 controller is much like a Sony Playstation 3 controller. There are no extra buttons, no odd button placement, and its black. The controller is tightly sealed: no sounds appear when shaking it. And it feels durable; as if someone could toss it around the room multiple times and the it would only get scuffed.

Based on my experience with the Nyko controller for 6 days,it definitely feels new. The analog sticks are different compared to what I'm used to: it feels like something is hindering my movement for a second and then gives me full control of the stick. In an FPS, this slight resistance causes me to oftentimes overshoot my intended target, forcing me to readjust multiple times before I can get a bead on my enemy. Now I don't remember if my original ps3 controller did the same thing when first used and the resistance slowly deteriorated over time, but after using my ps3 controller and then using the Nyko Core controller the same day it just feels... weird. My solution to this would be to lower the sensitivity for any games when using this controller. At least until the analog stick resistance wanes over use -if it even does at all.

The buttons are responsive and have a nice popping feel to them. Shoulder buttons might also have more resistance compared to the face buttons, but hopefully that shouldn't deter you from purchasing this controller.

The Nyko controller is crafted from coarser material compared to the Sony controller, making it slightly easier to grip.

I believe that was everything I was able to deduce from use for 6 days. Until I have more time, I won't be able to determine if there are any design detours used that will eventually crop up and make this controller worthless. I'm hoping there aren't.

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I am feeling a little disappointed for choosing this controller, after a quick glance at the customers feedback rating for this product85% of the reviews rated this 5 to 4 stars. I was expecting good things from this controller, but I had other thoughts in mind after playing with this controller. To be honest, the only drawback for this controller is the anolog stick. The x & Y axis movement command feels very clunky. If you are playing competitive FPS games like call of duty, you are at a big disadvantage because the anolog only has like 6 movements set for the axis, making it hard to aim accurately. If you are into shooter type games that require precision aiming from anolog sticks, then this is not a very good controller. but for 15$, I wouldn't complain' i can still use this to play racing games & a lot of other games fine. A Sony sixaxis or dualshock 3 replacement? no, a backup controller, yes

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This is surprisingly one of the most usable third party controllers I've ever seen. I've used a lot of Mad Catz and Nyko-like junk since Genesis and N64, but this one actually holds up. The biggest shortcomings are the d-pad and L3/R3 buttons. The d-pad is a little stiff, but usable. Still, I wouldn't expect to play Street Fighter or anything on it. For 2D games I might suggest looking elsewhere. The L3/R3 buttons are also nearly impossible to click. It requires too much pressure.

Other than that, this controller is great. You can't see it in the pic, but the triggers are similar to Xbox 360 triggers and have a very good feel. The face and shoulder buttons have slightly bigger throws than a Dual Shock 3, but still feel solid. The analog sticks are a little stiffer than a DS3, but also completely usable.

It's also worth mentioning that this controller is bigger than a dual shock 3. It fills my hands completely, which I don't really like, but it's a matter of taste.

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I picked up this controller the other day while looking for a cheap second player solution. What I found was a controller that may be good enough to overtake the sixaxis as my main gamepad. I love the trigger style L2 and R2 buttons way more than the standard ps3 style, and the analog sticks have the correct "resistance" so that they feel just right.

There are a few slight negatives which bring this controller down however:

1.) The controller is wired.

2.) There is no sixaxis support built into the controller.

If you can look past these two oversights, you may just find that the core controller is a rare third party gamepad that provides an experience akin to the real deal.

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I love having strong force feedback in my games. Even when I use my xbox 360 controller, I often use the WIRED 360 controller so that I get the full 100% vibration, and not have to deal with weak batteries that might be in my wireless controller.

This PS3 core controller vibrates as much as my 360 controller. It feels like a mini-earthquake in the palm of my hands!

I am currently using it with Ninja Gaiden Sigma part 2 and the controller works perfectly. It does not feel awkward, all of the buttons and the analog sticks feel very comfortable. In the game, when I hold the triangle button to make Ryu charge his attack, the controller vibrates like crazy. It feels like you are actually holding the sword in your very own hands!!!

Edited: One bad thing about this controller is that it is not good for shooters. I tried the Drake's Fortune demo, and the aiming felt very stiff. I had to use my regular wireless controller where the aiming felt much better. So for 1st person shooters, or 3rd person shooters this Nyko Core controller is not so good. But for action titles like God of War / Ninja Gaiden this controller is Perfect !! I highly recomend buying it.

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Dual Charging Station for Sony PS3 Controllers

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This is one of those "you get what you pay for" products. For the price, it is worth the chance of buying. This charger does charge the controllers, and it is nice that I can use one and have the other charging without cables all over the place. There is something that rolls around the inside of the charger when you move it around, my guess it happened during shipping. The seller shipped the item in a white mail bag with no bubble wrap.... just the charger inside of a bag. Not good for electronics. Also, the promised USB cable did not come with my charger. Multiple emails have been sent without much resolution. A promise of sending another, but nothing ever showed up.

Overall, if you want to save some cash from the official Sony charger, I would certainly spend the few dollars to get this charger. It does work, but feels cheap and may not last very long. Right now mine works great and does what I need it to do... no more, no less.

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I bought this before reading the other reviews so I received it with trepidation. When I got this item, it was poorly packaged and thusly the corner was chipped off. When I brought this up with the seller, they immediately sent a new one, better packaged, and had me keep the damaged product anyway (so now I have a backup!). It was a Christmas gift for my fiancée and he's been using it ever since. So far, it's survived three months of regular (but gentle) use. For the price, it seems to be a good buy…so far. I guess I'm only giving this 4 stars due to apprehension of its longevity.

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We love this item. It's a great charger to have in a house of gamers! We've only been using it for about 2 weeks and no problems. Hope it stays that way. I say it's worth the great price!

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This product Makes it very easy & fast to charge your controlers! Has a blue led light around the center!

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got this for my boyfriend for sweetest day! Bought it for his PS3 and works like a charm... was a little hard at first to put it on but we got the hang of it.. wish they had one that went for the 360 so i could have em match

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