Review of Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion - Xbox 360

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I mean, honestly. This game is so huge and vast that if someone were to sit down, play it, "beat it," and then go, gee I should review it, it would be time for the next one to come out. Instead, I'll write a review that I will hopefully update as I progress incase my opinion on the game changes. I've logged a few hours into it so far and right off the bat I know I'll like it.

To break it down succinctly before I ramble, if you've played Morrowind and enjoyed it, even a little, you are doing yourself a great disservice by not picking this up right now. If you were disappointed at Morrowind because it was too big that you felt listless and didn't know what to do, pick this game up. If you loved how open and free Morrowind was, pick it up right now. If you've never played Morrowind, well, read on.

Right away, most of the complaints of Morrowind are addressed. After spending a couple hours in the first dungeon/jail escape, you finally see the light of day and let me tell you, from then on, awe and excitement are around every corner. But, unlike Morrowind, in controlled and, if you want them to be, small pieces. Generally, there were two camps of people who played Morrowind: they loved it because it was so open/free that they could do anything they wanted; or, they hated it because they didn't know what to do because it was so open/free.

Oblivion takes the best of Morrowind (the openness) and makes it more accessible. If you want to focus on the main quest, right as soon as you leave the dungeon there's a red flag on your compass and on your map showing where you need to go. In fact, you can click on that town and instantly warp there, should you want to. In Morrowind, it took a bit for the main story to actually appear. In Oblivion you are thrust into the main story right from the beginning. And, if you want, the story can be started right away and has some pretty exciting moments right away.

If you want to, instead, explore the world a bit, well go right ahead. I did the second option, exploring a nearby fort that had catacombs filled with traps, skeletons and a ghost. Tried my hand at pick-pocketing sleeping guards with unfortunate success. Stumbled upon a bandit camp that didn't like me interrupting their probably nefarious deeds.

It's setup so that if you want to, you can very easily pursue the main quest, never get lost and know what you're doing. However, you can also just set out on your own, kingdom be damned and spend the next 100 hours seeing the sights, exploring the 200+ dungeons, and scaling all 17 or so square miles of the land. As an example, one of my friends immediately began the main quest. He's now a good chunk of quests ahead of me in the quests. I took the explorer route and spent the time looking around, finding the ruins and dungeons, joining the guilds etc. Two totally different approaches, both easy to get into and fun to mess around with.

Character creation is similar to Morrowind. There are a ton of races to choose from, about 21 classes (or you can create your own), 21 skill categories and a large handful of astral signs that give you bonuses. For those who've played Morrowind, there's not much difference here. Its all about choice. How do you want to play. Also included is a fantastic character editor where you can change different facets of your character to fit your desire. Really cool.

Choosing your "class" is important in that it will define how you want to play your character. You have 7 major skills that you can assign any of the 21 skills to. Each "kind" of character (melee, stealth, magic) have 7 skills to choose from. Whatever you put in your major skills determines your "class" and how you level, while the remaining 14 become minor skills that can be leveled up (at a slower rate) and don't contribute to your leveling. Races give bonuses to skills and attributes as does the sign you end up choosing.

As you can tell, the game is about openness. Do you want, be what you want. To a lesser extent, Fable tried this with mixed results. But not until this game have I seen so much openness and ability to do practically what you want.

NPCs are on a 24/7 clock. Each one of the 1,000 NPCs in the game have varying levels of needs, desires and goals. They will carry these out without regard to you. Guards will catch NPC criminals, people will go out and hunt. I've seen a guard attack a wolf that was bothering a passerby. It all feels natural and as realistic as any game right now. Mostly. There are some sore spots. The combat AI for any partners you have can be a joke. Sometimes, they will just barrel forward without regard for the other monsters around you. That can lead to very difficult situations as the AI guards round up more than they can handle, die, and then you have a messy situation on your hands.

Other sore spots include guards with ESP. Apparently, if a person wakes up while being killed or isn't killed in one hit, the guard seemingly knows that murder is being committed. And will rush right to where you are. This has caused me a lot of consternation when I'm trying to finish a quest with guards who know not only that I'm a murderer but also exactly where I am. And will continue to chase you forever.

The interface has been retooled. The journal and your inventory is now much much more user-friendly. Quests show up in a log and you can easily select which quest you want as your active quest. Doing so immediately pops up a red marker where you need to go. You won't get lost. I will say its sometimes a little disappointing when an arrow appears over a ruin that the quest says you need to find. Instead of following general directions, I know exactly where to find it. That's a bit disappointing in that it takes away from the exploring portion of it. Minor gripe, though.

The graphics also help promote this world. Terrific, they really make Oblivion come to life. From the trees in the background, to the tall weeds you pass through, everything is animated and created painstakingly beautifully. Its a real world come to life in virtual form. The physics are pretty decent. I've caused skeletons to explode, people flying backwards with a well cast fireball, rolling down hills. Sometimes, the close-ups of people are a little jarring because they don't look so realistic when you get up close and a lot of them look like they have uber-wrinkles or a skin problem. Aliasing is practically non-existent. When you get a horse, the very very very brief pauses in between loading the outworld area becomes a bit more noticeable because it seems to happen a bit more often. Its still not in anyway shape or form to the detriment of the game and is completely understandable given that the world is so huge, but its there and noticeable.

The sound is also terrific. The voice actors are pretty decent, the sound effects awesome and the music really well done. Traveling through a thunderstorm really makes you feel like its raining, lightning and thundering. The clash of steel on steel is exciting, sparks fly.

The game does stutter at times. In the first dungeon, when I brought out a torch, the game paused briefly as it changed the light levels. Not a huge problem by any means. Placing spells on your directional pad hotkey can become a pain as you ready each spell. Though, I love the fact I can wield a sword and a torch/shield AND cast spells at the same time. Love it. I guess there's some framerate issues, but I have barely noticed them at all. There are some pop-ups with the shrubs etc in the distance but really when the game is generating all of this on the fly, I can forgive some very very very minor quibbles.

Overall, if you are a fan of RPGs, I don't know why you wouldn't like this game. Whatever you bring to the table, it will match you. Whether you want to get lost in a virtual world, discover catacombs that really feel like they've never been found before, just go after the main quest, buy and sell houses, try and become a mercantile genius or even become a vampire, everything is up to you. You can do it all, or none of it.

I will say it's hard to be objective with a game that was seemingly crafted just for me. I am usually willing to overlook minor faults etc when the end product is amazing. Such is the case with Oblivion. Everything about it are things I love. I love the openness that is controlled in that I will never get lost. I can't think of many games that give you so much freedom, but in such a way that you won't lose your way. Absolutely terrific, there's nothing here that makes me not recommend it fully-heartedly for RPGers.

NOTE: I hesitate to even bring this up, but the game has been re-rated by the ESRB as of 3 May 2006. For some reason, they have decided the amount of blood in the game is more fitting of a rated "M for Mature (17+)" game. There is talk of a mod that will strip away the female character's top portion of the clothes. Please know that this does not affect the Xbox 360 version of the game. The mod is downloadable for the PC version, but not for the 360.

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Well, to begin with this game is simply fantastic. I purchased an Xbox simply for this game. It was well worth it. Now I am a big fan of well made RPG's and the Elderscrolls titles are among the best out there. I'm not the quickest with learning the controls but once I do I find that I can fly through any menu with ease. I had heard many a review that had complained that the Xbox controls were a bit too 'touchy'. Well...yeah they are...but let's be smart shall we?....check the Options menu....oooo...look... a slider that controls vertical and horizontal sensitivity. (The default is well over to the over sensitive side) So...a little sliding down here and the problem is eliminated.

The other common complaint I have heard about this game is that the world levels with you. I can fix that too. Now some may be purists and not want to mess with it. But others (like myself) get a bit tired of wolves kicking my highly armored tush all around Tamriel. In the options menu there is another slider under gameplay. It's a Difficulty slider. Yeah...I admit it...I slid the thing down a few notches...but the difference was well worth it. Now, I face enemies EQUAL to my level...instead of two levels above. When I used to walk outside and face a pair of brown bears...I now find a couple of black bears. Still a good fight but one I can at least have a fair shot at winning. And one would imagine the loot would degrade as a result of my slippery slider....well it did change...it just got a little better.

So, I have found that making these two minor slides in the controls and difficulty settings have made this game a thousand times more enjoyable. And keep in mind that it only takes a little tweaking...you don't have to go all the way down to easy...just nudge it a bit that way and the difference is palpable. And I don't always keep it there...when I find that things are feeling too easy I nudge it back up to give me an extra challenge.

So give it a shot and see if it doesn't make all the difference in the world....Go ahead....I won't tell.

One other note on the AI.

I have a very interesting story about it. I was sneaking about in one of the many ruined forts littered about the land. The one I was currently in had a bandit infestation. I am a stealth player mostly so I snuck around the top tier until I could peer down to a large opening below that had 5 Bad Guys hanging about. Well from my dark and hidden perch far above I decided to see if I could take out a baddie or two before being spotted. I chose my mark..(the guy in robes, gotta get those casters first) and shot. I hit with the first arrow, and before I could get off another shot the injured mage started yelling and running about and began attacking his own men (he attacked the two archer bandits...he must have thought one of them shot him) This of course led to the other bandits joining in the fray until everyone was dead....except oddly enough the mage I began with. I then jumped down from my perch and took him out with my blade. But to watch the whole fight happen from above....that was priceless.

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Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionCirca 2006

GOOD:

This game literally has a huge world (and you can explore every inch of it), it rivals that of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA: SA's entire world not just one city). For Example, if you went into the woods in the game and did not use a map you world get just as lost as you would in a real-world forest with no map.

Hundreds of quests (really big and really small) to perform you can skip any you want or do them all, plus you deicide the outcome weather it be good or bad.

Interact with NPC's, there are literally hundreds of them and they are all voiced acted and display emotions on there faces.

A very life like world in which Police chase thieves, wives nag husbands and wolves prowl the woods looking for prey.

Do just about anything you can think of like steal (anything), save people form gangs, fight in arena's, hunt animals, sail ships, become a vampire (pretty cool) or just hang back and do almost nothing the choice is yours.

BAD:

This game may be way to hard for most casual gamers.

The loading in this game is can get annoying, this game will load often and some loads (not all) take a long time. The hard drive cuts down on some loading, but it's still a pain.

Some of the character animations especially those of your character are a little sloppy (but in 1st person you cannot see your own animations so it's not so much a problem)

The Hit Detection (or hit boxes) sometimes doesn't work well.

While the world is huge it's also mostly wooded forest area, which can be a little bland after a while.

Morality seem to play little in the game in terms of your characters development, you can do evil/good act but will not really be considered evil/good in the same way that you see in Fable or Jade Empire. In the end it's more realistic but a little underwhelming.

IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:

A first person Swords and Sorcery RPG (Click in the left thumb stick to toggle third person mode).

The games theme is very much close to that of the Lord of the Rings books or movie trilogy, by Peter Jackson, other similarities are found in the tabletop RPG Dungeons and Dragons.

This is a do as you please type of RPG (like Fable or Jade Empire), this not anything like Final Fantasy, you pick and you choose the outcome, that said there is little to no character identity outside of your deeds and don't expect a party of other characters who tag a long like in most other RPG's (like Final Fantasy).

GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:

Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Fable: The Lost Chapters

Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain

Thief III: Deadly Shadow

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

There is downloadable content missions/quests and areas for this game out on PC and Xbox-Live. Examples being horse Armor, Spell Tomes, The Wizard's Tower, The Thieves Den, Vile Lair, The Knights of the Nine, and The Shivering Isles just to name a few.

The Special Limited Edition (Xbox-360) comes with a bonus disc, which has a lengthy behind the scenes documentary, also on the disc you can view concept art work for the game, plus the limited edition comes with a small book on the history and people of the Elder Scrolls world and you get a real-to-life coin from this games world.

The world in the game if measured in real-world miles would be about 16 miles not including underground areas like caves, crypts, basements, and bunkers, also most areas in the alternate-dimension of Oblivion are immeasurable due to the fact that they are randomly generated and huge.

All Elder Scrolls games are first Person (the other Elder Scrolls games besides Elder Scrolls III where on the PC).

In the game (at the main city) you will see a poster for a gladiator type of fighting arena called Arena, the poster is the same picture found on the box art for Elder Scrolls first game called Elder Scrolls: Arena.

More lots more information go to this link

Honest reviews on Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion - Xbox 360

If you want an overview of the game, look in one of the other reviews, i'll just highlight the good and bad.

Graphics: Best i've seen so far. You can see the trees in the mountains far in the distance, you've got weather, great landscapes, and everything you'd expect from the game.

Gameplay: Very fun. Although i've heard of a few people on forums having trouble with the game freezing (perhaps PC only?), I've had no problems on 360. Players of morrowind will recognize the system, with improvements for quick switching between weapons and spells.

One key change: As you level up your major skills, you gain levels. So do the enemies, so as you level up, the game always stays hard. This means you can complete the main quest at only level 8, or you can be level 30 and have the same (if not more) difficulty wherever you go. This prevents you from leveling to make the end-game easier or make yourself overpowered above anyone in the game. Good thing about this: It keeps you focused on your quest.

Replayability: Very high. Once you beat the game, you can easily create another character that is entirely different, making the game feel completely new.

Overall: Very fun game, and a must-have for any 360 library. Bethesda did not disappoint.

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I bought Oblivion a few days after I got my Xbox 360 and I was blown away. Im kinda disappointed I bought the game as early as I did because now it shames the graphics and storylines of all the other games I own.

The minute I got into the game, after I finshed making my own unique character, I was already astounded by the graphics, The details of the jail cell you are in when you start the game are very precise. I loved the way the chain swung when you used the left bumper to pick the cuff up. After you meet the Emperor you must navigate a large dungen filled with amazing creatures and features.

After you complete the introduction you are thrown into a world where you can do practically anything you want. If you want to fight, go to the Imperial Arena or venture out into the wilderness. If you want to explore, there are an appreciable number of dungens, mines, caverns and ruins to explore, though after exploring a few their layouts start to repeat.

So far I have put in atleast 150 hours and I have still not fully explored the world of oblivion, nor have I completed every side quest. There are atleast 100 side quests that let you do all kinds of things. From fighting elves in the Imperial Arena, to stealing an Elder Scroll from the heart of the Imperial Tower, this awesome game is bound to amaze both serious gamer and nongamer alike. You really get what you paid for, and this is the best RPG of all time.

Discount Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker

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If this game was called Metal Gear Solid 5: Peace Walker, I would not hesitate to call it that. This game is astounding. It's a technical marvel. A feat on portable platforms. There was not a single time where I said I wanted this game to be on a console. In fact, if this was on a console and cost $60, I would buy it in a heartbeat. From the gameplay, to the graphics, to the sound, to the length of the story, this is a huge console adventure, right in the palm of your hand. It's absolutely amazing that so much could be crammed into a little disc. I still can't get over it.

Unlike Portable Ops, the controls did not hinder the gameplay. Apparently, the developers learned from their mistake and made the controls work. Not once did I wish for a second analog stick. It works. It's Metal Gear Solid on a handheld. No exceptions. Do you remember the ability to recruit soldiers and use them in Portable OPs? Well, that's now more streamlined, it's improved, and overall more enjoyable. Knock out a soldier, hook a Fulton Recovery System balloon onto him, and continue your mission. No more dragging across the map anymore. Just pop on on there and continue your mission. When you go back to your Mother Base (GEE I WONDER IF THIS COULD BE THE START OF OUTER HEAVEN) you can put them in different units (such as combat and engineering) to have them do missions or build weapons or do other things of great wonder. However, you mainly want to build up your engineering (called R&D) sections. This is highly improved, because instead of getting random weapons ever so often like in Portable Ops, you choose which weapons to develop, and you can upgrade them. You can even upgrade your items, like your sonar system and Fulton Recovery System. It's awesome, useful, and you actually want to spend the time to upgrade it. And not only do you have this wildly improved Portable Ops system, but you have the main story missions, which are on-par with the likes of any of the console predecessors, and you have side-missions as well, which you can complete at any time. Let's just say this game will last for a long, long time.

The graphics are without a doubt amazing. I honestly kept forgetting I was playing a handheld. There is a ruddy texture or two, but let's cut the PSP some slack, eh? The graphic novel cutscenes are not only well done, but they fit the game. They don't feel out of place. Also, there are quicktime events inside the graphic novel cutscenes, which are beautifully animated. Also, did I mention the quicktime events don't suck?They're (shock and awe) fairly exciting, and do not seem forced at all.

The sound is also wonderfully done. Usually, I hardly ever pay attention to the sound when playing handhelds, because it usually ranges from 'alright' to 'mediocre'. Or maybe I don't even notice it at all. Well, I did this time. Do yourself a favor, play this with headphones. You won't regret it.

Storyline is your typical Metal Gear Solid fare: unmanned robots, nuclear weapons, Snake grunting in agreement, remembering the basics of CQC, etc. For those of you who have played Metal Gear Solid from the beginning will enjoy many plot points that tie in various people and objects from different games. Overall, very enjoyable, but I presume many will prefer the story lines from the console brethren.

I have only one gripe with this game: co-op. Now, usually, I would be extremely happy with having co-op for the game, but the developers put so much emphasis on co-op that some missions nearly require it, even if they don't say so. This can lead to frustration, but it is not impossible. Prepare for some difficult times, but most of the time, you will be having a blast.

Buy this game. It's only $40. $40 for one of the best video games you can get your hands on. Do it.

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"Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker" may very well be the best handheld video game I've played in my life. After ten

straight hours of complete immersion in Hideo Kojima's world of sci-fi political espionage, there is nothing that

can convince me any other game on a handheld system has presented such an epic scope, heart-wrenching story and

tight gameplay as the latest entry in the venerable "Metal Gear" franchise.

Taking place a decade after "MGS 3: Snake Eater", "Peace Walker" finds Snake, aka "Big Boss", a shell of his former

self. Sure, he's still strong, deadly and ruthless, but he's an emotional trainwreck after being forced to kill

the woman whom he loved and was trained by. Ten years still can't wipe away the pain he feels, and even distracting

himself with the private mercenary organization he's founded can't make him forget. But one fateful day, a mysterious

man and young girl come forth with a mission that involves restoring peace to Cuba. Snake initially refuses, but

when the man presents an audio tape which suggests that the woman he thought dead to still be living, he rushes headlong

into the mission, unaware of the consequences which await him. On the surface, it may seem like a simple "stop the

bad guys from nuking the world" type of plot, but fans of the series will realize that it's much more; this game is

a spiritual journey for our tortured protagonist, filled with twists and turns every step of the way.

The gameplay has gotten an overhaul from previous PSP entries of MGS, and I have to admit: it's really for the better.

Close-quarters combat (CQC) has been streamlined and assigned to one button, making it incredibly easy to dispatch

whole mobs of foes with nothing more than your fists and a quick trigger finger. Also more simple this time around

is the gunplay; no longer do you have to stand in an awkward position to get off a good shot on your enemies. Kojima

took the fast-paced gun battles of "MGS 4: Guns of the Patriots" and put them onto the PSP with no complications

whatsoever, and without anything being lost in the process.

Speaking of "MGS 4", the very thing I liked about that entry in the series is prevalent in this one as well: options.

You don't HAVE to stealthily dispatch hostiles; you can walk in with guns a'blazing, and easily get through each

section, and vice versa. There is no wrong way to play "Peace Walker", in the sense that how it's played is

completely dependent on your own playing style. I prefer the "sneak in undetected" approach, but my friend operates

by the "might makes right" strategy. We both get through each level with our respective plans, albeit with some

complications exclusive to those plans (sneaking around often involves hiding in awkward places that you can

easily get trapped in if detected; taking the forceful approach can often leave room for unseen enemies to sneak up from

behind and take you out without any warning.) But that's the beauty of this game, really: learning from your mistakes,

taking what you've learned and then applying it to the next level. Very few games have rules that are as broadly-defined

as these.

Another key strategy that will differ from player to player is the vast recruitment system. Much less convoluted than

the previous PSP entries, getting soldiers on your side is as simple as knocking them out, then strapping a

balloon harness (yes, a balloon harness) on them to be sent straight to your Mother Base, which is incidentally a

prototype for the pivotal Outer Heaven base seen later in the series. The soldiers can then be assigned to their

respective units, such as Combat or R&D, or even Mess Hall. As the game progresses, the more soldiers you have,

the more weapons and resources you'll gain. You can even play side-missions with your recruits to unlock more

weapons to aid Snake in the main story missions. Catching and training new blood adds an addictive "Pokemon"-like

aspect to "Peace Walker", one which I found myself spending a vast amount of time with.

Now, on to minor matters (sort of): graphics and sound. And folks, these are just two more of this game's good points.

How the developers got a game this beautiful and rich in detail to fit onto a UMD, I'll never know. I won't question

their magic, though, because I'm just too blown away to even consider doing anything of the sort. The quality

and effort bleeds from each micro-pixel, putting other PSP graphics darlings such as "God of War: Chains of

Olympus" to shame. Not a single time did I feel the game was constricted because of the PSP's graphical limitations.

Kojima Productions has created the single most immersing world ever rendered on a handheld.

The music is great (as per usual for the series), and the voice acting, featuring the likes of Steve Blum and Tara

Strong, is absolutely phenomenal (again, as per usual for the series). Sound effects are also great, complimenting

the graphics to form the aforementioned immersing world. After playing this game for a few hours, it's hard

to go outside and not think of the game. It's that mind-altering.

In the end, there is no reason any PSP owner shouldn't own this, unless of course you haven't played any previous

entries in the series. In that case, go back and play "MGS 3: Snake Eater" before playing. But for veterans of the

series, buy this without delay. As a longtime fan, I can firmly say this may be one of the franchise's high points,

easily topping "Snake Eater", which was previously my favorite entry until this came along. It's also the

largest in terms of content and replay value. All subsequent entries will be greatly affected by "Peace Walker", and

thus you owe it to yourself to play it.

Then again, I won't be surprised if all PSP games are greatly affected by "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker." It reminds

me of how good the PSP can be, to be sure, but more importantly: it reminds me of just how good a video game can

truly be.

Story: A+ (Jaw-dropping, tearjerking, and pulsepounding; there's never a dull moment.)

Gameplay: A+ (As tight as the series has ever been; nothing is lost on the PSP.)

Graphics: A+ (The very best the system has to offer.)

Sound: A+ (Great music, great voice acting... Just great in general.)

Overall: A+ (One of the rare examples of a perfect game; Easily the best I've played all year.)

NOTE: I apologize for not being able to review the multiplayer; my friend lives in another state,

and this game only supports local Ad-Hoc play. I have no other PSP-owning friends (they all have

DS's, which I have one of as well), and thus can't give a review on the multiplayer. Again,

I apologize.

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The stealth genre is an odd duck, as it is too slow paced to appeal to most action fans and too linear to appeal to most WRPG fans. There's only 3 or 4 major stealth franchises, which stop by every other year to remind us that the genre still thrives despite its niche appeal. We here in Massachusetts we have our local-favorite, the THIEF series, whose fantasy-based stealth sets it apart from fellow genre entries, and Canada brought us SPLINTER CELL, marked by the militarist protagonist Sam Fisher. Both are terrific series, but neither invoke the near-universal appeal of Japan's METAL GEAR saga, which has been re-birthing itself again and again since its debut on the MSX over 20 years ago.

Though I make an effort to remain objective, I can't seem to control myself around METAL GEAR. There's something about the series' unique combination of over-the-top political sci-fi, pitch-perfect stealth, and quirky comedy that just keeps tugging at my heartstrings (and my limited finances). I was young when I picked up METAL GEAR SOLID 2, and it was love at first sneak. I've been following the series ever since, picking up every damned release and re-release like Gibson to Salinger in "Conspiracy Theory". It is, in my opinion, the fillet of the genre.

And, with one notable exception (where my GHOST BABEL fans at?), the series' quality has floundered on the handheld. Desperate to adapt to the PSP's limitations, entries like AC!D and PORTABLE OPS did their best to shrink SOLID's pedigree to pocket-size through heavy redesign. Though the result was usually overall good, these games weren't fit to wipe the shoes of the canon console entries. Enter METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER.

PEACE WALKER succeeds not only as a canon entry to the saga's lore, but as the best of sequels do: by completely reworking the franchise. The sneaking mechanic the true heart of the game is largely unchanged (but say goodbye to "crawl"), though just about everything else has been tuned to fit portable gaming. Rather than having a continuous narrative, gameplay is broken up into chapters which are then broken up into missions. Missions vary in length usually the side missions take about 5 minutes, while story entries can take upwards of a half hour. Almost every one of these missions can be played either by yourself or with up to 3 friends. I haven't touched AD-HOC multiplayer, but it's quite clear that certain missions have been programmed with multiplayer in mind. The boss fights in particular are absolutely brutal. Much like my experience with MONSTER HUNTER, taking down these mammoth mechanical beasts took me many attempts, each swing taking around 20 minutes. It can be pretty frustrating; the boss battles are an impressive spectacle, and yet still the low-point of the game. Outside of the missions, there's a lot of micro-management to do. As Big Boss, you are charged with running MSF, and from forming and sending out small strike squads to managing your food supply, constructing your army is a significant portion of PEACE WALKER's gameplay offerings. Much like GRAND THEFT AUTO: CHINATOWN WARS' drug-running feature, managing MSF is tremendously satisfying and productive while lending itself to short-bursts of portable gaming.

I'd be happy to yammer on about how this is the best game on the PSP, the best METAL GEAR game since SNAKE EATER, and a serious candidate for GOTY, but I'd hate to risk credibility with hyperbole. Gaming-on-the-go can be a trying experience, but with PEACE WALKER, you're in good hands.

Honest reviews on Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker

A sequel to the PSP's earlier "Portable Ops", MGS: Peace Walker is a surprising technical improvement when compared against earlier games. Focusing on the management of a larger mercenary organization, "Peace Walker" still has its share of stealth-based tactical action.

Peace Walker returns to the world of Big Boss, rather than the series' usual protagonist, Solid Snake. In the period between Portable Ops and now, Big Boss has left the US government and assembled his own mercenary team, the MSF. Peace Walker centers around managing the MSF by carrying out missions, recruiting new members, developing new technologies, and building up the off-shore platform used as the MSF's main base.

Gameplay is divided into story missions (main ops) and side missions (extra ops). The main ops constitute normal gameplay, broken up into segments. The extra ops are closer to the VR missions from MGS2 short, timed scenarios with some twist or quirk to them, like "rescue the hostage" or "find the mines". Mission maps are wider and more detailed than in Portable Ops, and many missions take place in an area consisting of several connected maps, which makes the world seem larger. There are a lot of areas that are wooded or swampy, which calls back to MGS3 and its more natural environments. Another MGS3-like feature is the lack of a "standard" radar items like sonar must be equipped in the item slot and have limited battery life, making players more reliant on their own senses to spot enemies.

Managing the MSF is one of the game's major features. New recruits can be captured in the field either by subduing enemies or rescuing hostages. These recruits have a diverse set of stats, and can be assigned to different units, like combat, R&D, or intelligence in a manner similar to Portable Ops. Unlike Portable Ops, every recruit wears the basic MSF uniforms; there's no difference between capturing a guard or a sniper. Characters are instead distinguished by portraits and codenames, both of which are randomly assigned. This allows for some level of identification, although it unfortunately doesn't carry over to actual gameplay. Every character is now represented by a generic masked figure (male or female) except for Snake himself. However, there are different costumes and camouflage uniforms (all of which have masks), and the uniforms have different stealth values and inventory slots. This allows for different types of gameplay depending on the uniform selected.

Bosses come in two main types: vehicles and mechs. Vehicles consist of things like tanks and helicopters. Vehicle fights often involve supporting troops if they're out of the way, the vehicle's commander can be incapacitated or killed and the vehicle can be captured for MSF's usage. Mech fights are more traditional MGS boss fare; instead of capturing them, however, it's possible to salvage parts and AI cores to build your own mech. Both vehicles and mechs can be sent off (along with troops) to missions in other parts of the world. These "Outer Ops" are automatically resolved, but provide a way for the majority of your combat forces to get experience (since only one person can sneak at a time).

Peace Walker focuses a lot on multiplayer, as well. There's a fairly standard versus mode, but the main attraction of multiplayer is a cooperative mode. This allows for players to attempt missions, or even fight bosses, in groups of up to four. However, multiplayer is limited to nearby PSPs there's no online match-making mode or anything of the sort, despite the presence of pre-written communication (which should only really be useful if you can't talk to the person in real life). The relative rarity of the PSP means that this feature will most likely go unused.

Overall, Peace Walker does a lot of things right that Metal Gear should do right. The bosses are fun, the environments are detailed, and the controls are tight enough to not be a problem. It's not quite the second coming of MGS3, detail-wise, but it's definitely a worthy successor, considering its handheld status. The management aspect is fun and addictive, though the actual logistics of the whole thing could have used some fleshing out. Peace Walker is a solid game both for fans of the series and for those who aren't usually interested in it.

Rating: 9/10.

Game purchased through Playstation Network.

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I have always loved the metal gear solid universe. I have immense respect for Mr Kojima out of all the game designers directors producers he is on top of the list he really shows that he care's for his game there's so much quality that all game developers should look at him for inspiration i did have my reservations about this one even thou i really loved the story of portable ops the gameplay i must admit just felt crap there was for me at least to much compromise with the control that it felt awkward! But Hideo has mastered the controls in this game by adding all the best bits from all the previous installments. Storyline wise it's just as good as the rest very engaging and big boss is always a pleasure to play his such a badass overall this game is a must have for any fans of the series

Best Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures and Gunstringer Token Code Deals

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List Price: $149.99
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Today's Bonus: 11% Off

First off, I'd like to say that I'm a motion gaming addict. Microsoft offers this package, which is their best package to date. If you plan on just buying this package, and a couple other Microsoft games, I'd say go for it. Gunstringer, in my opinion, shows off what the Kinect can do, as well as Fruit Ninja Kinect. Most people who have played Kinect Adventures get bored after a week, although when I first played it, it was fascinating.

In Gunstringer, you raise your left arm out and navigate your character. Your right arm is your trigger arm, and when you roll over characters, you raise your arm to shoot. It's a lot of fun, as I have to say that it's a good choice for this package, although there is an adult theme that one must be aware of. Fruit Ninja Kinect is a downloadable title, and has high replayability value. It's lots of fun to swipe your arm across the picture to chop fruits in half.

Now, for my gripes. I've always thought that boxing and tennis would be the hottest selling games, and games that wouldn't require much space. Exercise games are awesome also, but until the Kinect can allow you to play in a smaller space, there is a problem a lot of people will have. Many users claim you only need 6 feet, but I find this untrue. 6 feet only will work with a lot of games(the games in this package work great with only 6 feet), but I've found that when other developers games all of a sudden require me to step back, the whole formula doesn't work.

Most of the other developers games are by Ubisoft and THQ. Ubisoft is better of the two, but in my opinion, neither can compete with a game developed by Microsoft, which really takes limited space into account.

Kinect is still based off of hope for the future:

A year ago, many high reviews based this off of HOPE. A year later, and I'd say there are only a handful Microsoft exclusives, and a lot is still based off of hope. I'd say the best of the bunch are the Kinect Sports 1 and 2, but I'd prefer to see each sport focused on more, in a stand alone title like a Grand Slam Tennis, for instance. Star Wars Kinect seems to be promising, but as of today the release date is December 31. 2012.

In conclusion, I feel this is a generous deal by Microsoft for the 2011 holiday season, and is a bargain with the included games worth fifty dollars. Who knows? In a few months, you may end up like me, always checking to see if there are any new releases for the Kinect. Have a good one. Peace out!

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I bought a Kinect mostly so I could play the dance games for a little extra exercise to hopefully rid me of my slightly chunky thighs. I ended up buying several games for it along with the three it came with. So far it has worked almost perfectly with each game. I think it's great that it can track my movement so I can be interactive with the games rather than just sitting their pressing buttons on a controller while drooling down the front of my shirt. I also like that I can select options by a swipe of my hand through the air so I don't have to be attached to a controller while playing. I only have one complaint. While playing Just Dance 3 and other games, I noticed that the Kinect seemed to have a mind of its own and was selecting songs and options even when I wasn't moving. I realized after moving out of the screen altogether that it was picking up my cat sleeping on the couch behind me, even though my cat wasn't moving other than breathing. It sometimes counts my sleeping cat as another player and turns what should have been a solo dance into a partner dance, in which, obviously, my cat does not score well. Now, if my cat could get up and dance with me, I would be very happy and have lots of funny videos to post on the internet, but it can't, so I don't like that the Kinect picks it up as a player, especially when it's just sleeping behind me. Why can't its sensors just pick up things that are human-shaped? Now, I try to keep my cats out of the way, but that's not always easy because they have these four little things called legs. Sometimes I notice when no one (not even my cat) is in the screen with me, the Kinect will still seem to have a mind of its own and select things while I'm not moving. Sometimes it scrolls up and down jerkily through the song selection when I'm standing still or even out of the screen completely. I discovered it was picking up a throw blanket that was behind me (moving it out of the way made the Kinect stop scrolling on its own), a foot stool, and another time it picked up the corner of a computer chair. I don't know why it does this when the items are not moving or even remotely human. This messes up my game play at times and it's very annoying. I think maybe it's too sensitive and acting like a drama queen. That said, I still love my Kinect and I'm happy to have it. It has made playing video games more fun for me. I usually only played Left 4 Dead 2, Halo: Reach, and Borderlands, but now I play more of a variety of games and don't get fat doing it. Sometimes it feels good to take a break from shooting things and stand up and do the Carlton instead.

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Once my wife saw the dancing games for the Kinect, she just had to have it. We have the wii and that is always good fun, but not having to hold a motion controller in your hand with the Kinect seems like a great idea. It takes a little time to get use to, and overall it's not bad but it's not perfect. I find navigating the xbox menu using the Kinect is a great idea but it's a bit troubling. It doesn't always pick up your movements and sometime it will pick up your movements half way through. So far we have only played Dance Central 2, Just Dance 3 and the games that game with it. Fruit Ninja is great fun and Gunstringer is OK but awkward to play, Kinect Adventures is also OK but more for the kids. Overall I think it's fun to play at parties and I can't wait to try the new Star Wars game coming with force powers. I hope lives up to the hype.

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I had the Kinect for a little over a year and we used it about once a week for an hour. Not a ton of use. A week ago it stopped working and gave an error message and a red light. When I contacted Microsoft they essentially told me that i should have bought the extended warranty and fixing it will cost as much as buying a new one. Junk,

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I must admit, I was a little worried about how the add-on Kinect system would work with an existing XBOX 360 Console.

I am very happy to say it works great. The movements were tracked very well and the kids loved it.

I would recommend this as an add-on.

X360 Gamepad Pro Micro Controller - White Review

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I purchased this controller specifically for my girlfriend who has made complaints about thumb cramping when using a standard sized controller, so covering the size reduction first it really is quite a bit smaller. When you read 15% you may think that isn't much, but you'll see in the pictures it's quite a difference! She says it's alleviated the strain, so as far as that goes, better than expected results. The ergonomics and button placement (note the much flatter bumpers and triggers, and position of Back and Start being above the Guide button) are different from a normal layout, but feel nature after a single 30 minute play session.

All of the buttons articulate well, with the face buttons not feeling as "squishy" as a first party controller, and the triggers having a shorter travel range yet still feeling tactile despite that. The joysticks have excellent unobstructed and uniform feedback in their movement, and the joystick button (clicking the sticks down, L3 and R3) always work as intended regardless of the stick positioning. This is perhaps due to the complete absence of a dust-cover, as you'll see in my pictures... which is cause for concern when thinking about the longevity of this device... but no way to know about that for now.

The finish is a nice flat powder finish, contrary to the high-gloss seen in the manufacturer photos was very happy to find this out. The little rubber grips added to the side, and the texture on the rear are nice touches for ergonomics and grip. Definitely noticeable in the feel of the unit in hand, not just superficial.

The turbo functionality seems to work as intended.... excluding the input you are most likely to want it for, the triggers. I was able to get the turbo function to apply to the bumpers and face buttons with no problems, but no such luck for the triggers no matter what I tried despite the fact that the included manual states you should be able. Not a major concern, as I wasn't even aware of this feature when I made the purchase, but good to know info. (MadCatz, was this a purposeful revision made to the device and the manual wasn't updated to reflect this or is my unit not working as intended?)

Overall, very pleased with this controller. Build quality easily surpassed expectations just be mindful of the uncovered joystick bases. Would definitely suggest this to anyone looking for a smaller form of 360 controller.

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Good controler for smaller hands. my granny(75) had a hard time running when play call of duty or mw3 now she can run like the younger folks.now she gets 6 or 7 kills in a game then here regular 2 in a game she no longer on the bottom of the board.

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I am an adult and like the feel of this controller. The size is a preference thing, but I do have "smaller" adult hands. Younger players (kids under 10) I have given this to find the controller easy enough to handle. The rubberized portions also help the grip on the controller compared to a standard XBox controller. I also like the "triggers" on this a bit more than the regular one. What I feel to be the "extra curve" on them seems to help get more precision in the throttling of various racing games.

I was disappointed when the left thumbstick popped straight off the metal rod that it was sitting on within the first 48 hours of ownership. I suppose I could super glue it on, but I'm sure it was just a factory mistake.

Overall, I would recommend this controller to someone else who either feels the standard XBox controller is "a touch too bulky" or someone buying a controller for young players. I personally prefer this sized controller over the standard sized controller.

________________________________________________________

UPDATE after three months of ownership:

* After a few weeks of use the right thumb stick "broke"...the connecting portion under the thumb contact pad actually cracked during use. I have since super glued BOTH thumb sticks on carefully while not upsidedown in order to not let the super glue go down into the controller. I wish someone would have told me right off the bat to use a little super glue to seal the thumbsticks right when I received the controller. I recommend doing this!

* Also the "A" button is starting to stick a little. If I'm using it repeatedly, sometimes it doesn't come back up and drags against the hole it goes down into. Which causes problems during gaming.

...so, I dropped the stars from Four to Three. I hope this controller does not continue to degrade over the next few weeks. It only gets used an average of about two hours a week anyways.

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It is a perfect joystick for little hands like for kids!

It's really annoying that it's not sell in France.

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I'm a gamer in my mid 20's and am very specific about my console accessories. For a while, I have used the official wired XBOX 360 controller and the Air Flo controller for the 360. While they were ok, they certainly felt a little too big for my hands (especially the Microsoft wired controller). It was clear I ought to be looking for a smaller 360 controller.

As far as I know, there are only 2 controllers officially licensed by Microsoft: this controller and the Power A Mini Pro Ex. I have owned the Power A Mini Pro Ex at one point and while it was an amazing controller for its size, my main gripes were that the bumpers were way too hard to press than what I'm accustomed to as were the main XYAB buttons (although not as hard as the bumpers).

The MadCatz controller feels a tad smaller than the Power A controller (even for me, I'm surprised this was advertised as 15% because this feels like way more than 15%) and has flat bumpers (which aren't too hard to press and feel great) as well as comfortable buttons with a nice rubbery grip on the top half of the controller. The sticks feel responsive but time will tell if they last long. The joysticks remind me of the N64 joystick where it's a long thin stem into the controller.

My biggest complaint about the MadCatz controller is the exposed motherboard as some other reviews will mention and which you'll find a picture of. Fortunately, I'm careful when it comes to dust and dirt but I still can't help but feel paranoid about stuff getting in there.

My takeaway is that if you're looking for a mini controller for the 360, both the Power A and MadCatz controllers are good choices to consider. However, the softer buttons on the MadCatz and the rubbery grip has won me over.

UPDATE 8-30-12: I forgot to tack on one other important issue. Whenever you have to fully pull the left and right triggers, sometimes the ends of the triggers may touch your other fingers tht are holding the controller. I believe this is because the actual distance they used to pull the triggers but for some people this may not be a problem.

RalliSport Challenge 2 Review

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While I am not a racing purist, I enjoyed both Project Gotham games and enjoy playing all arcade racing games on my Xbox and PS2. In RalliSport Challenge 2, I've completed Amateur, Pro and Champion levels with more than 100 races in the game finished.

First off, you should know that this is a racing simulator, not an arcade-style racer, but even given that, DICE has still worked to make the game enjoyable for all skill levels. Unlockables like new cars and tracks for example, are awarded just by playing the game -you do not have to finish in first place to get them. This alone, makes the game far more enjoyable. Also, simply by driving a car and "putting mileage on it" you'll unlock custom paintjobs for each vehicle. That is until you reach the final stage, SuperRally, where you must place 3rd or better to progress.

STRENGTHS:

The first thing you're going to love about RalliSport Challenge 2 is the graphics. The predecessor (RalliSport Challenge) created the standard for a new level of amazing graphics, but this game improves on that with dynamic graphics, like dirt trails that cloud the view of the people behind you and leaves that kick up from under your tires. Birds resting in your path will take flight as you approach and the scenery can be described as nothing less than picturesque.

The race levels are well designed and well thought out. Each has their own interesting twists and turns and elevation changes have been added so that you can suddenly lose control on a jump or bottom out after a wicked turn. Also, tracks have interesting combinations of sand, mud, dirt and tarmac which all perform differently as you slide through them. Although I may not know from personal experience how it feels to go out of control on snow at 100 MPH, this game gives me a realistic feeling of how bad it would be.

Speaking of which, the damage system works well so that you can't simply play "crash 'em derby" through the races to take out opponents and drive through obstacles, but also doesn't hamper the gameplay by making you drive too cautiously through every turn. You can lose a tire in the game, and believe it or not you can finish by driving on the rims, but your track times will certainly suffer. The game keeps you informed of problems with a damage indicator that is extremely easy to read even at high speeds. In addition, your car will "deteriorate" as you take damage, including blowing out the windows, bumpers dragging behind you and even the hood flying over your head! (Yes, I've instinctively ducked a few times.)

Soundwise, the game is top-notch. The car sounds, special effects and other elements of the game all add to the realism. Although many have complained about the music included on the game, I've enjoyed the thumping tracks as I make my way through the levels and, since the game supports custom soundtracks, you can add your own music anyways.

WEAKNESSES:

Alas, the worst part of playing this game is the off-track camera angles. Because of the elevation changes and other 3D elements of the game, you almost have to play this game in third person view (where your point of view is directly behind the car). Sadly, once you drive too far off track, the camera angle rotates and makes it almost absolutely impossible to get back on track without hitting obstacles and bringing the car to a dead stop. This is worsened when your co-pilot tells you "easy left" and it turns out to be a hairpin turn. You realize that your partner and the game appear to be cheating to work against you.

In addition to the camera angles, the display also can be the cause of a crash. In the RallyCross and Ice Racing competitions, your course map is on the bottom of the screen. As you hit checkpoints, the display changes from the map to show your position in the current race. Obviously, this can be deadly if there's a hairpin turn approaching and you were just glancing down at the map to see how far away you were. In addition, there are a few instances where DICE has placed a "dead end" turn immediately prior to the one you're supposed to take, or a second turn that is sharper than the one your supposed to take. These little "tricks" seem like an additional unfair challenge that the computer cars will not fall for, but also add to the excitement when you outsmart their level designers.

Finally, your opponents do not seem to be affected by darkness or some of the inclement weather conditions. This will certainly frustrate you if you're the kind of player that has to be first in every race.

SUMMARY:

In short, I would recommend this game as a "must have" for anyone who enjoys a true on-road/off-road racing simulation. It should be considered by most a "best of class" game for the Xbox console, despite some of the frustrating shortcomings of the game.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Make you own music video! -

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

Australian dirt, Swedish snow, British leaves, French cobblestone streets...

Get This Game!

Honest reviews on RalliSport Challenge 2

The detail and realism in Rallisport Challenge 2 is amazing.

From rain and mud on your windshield to the wheelspin and suspension on each racecar, no detail is left to chance.

Numerous race courses, race formats, and realistic tuning options mean you will never run out of fun.

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

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This game is the only reason I still own an original xbox. Shame it's not backward compatible with the 360.

Review of Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Xbox 360

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I knew what I was in for when I bought this game because it was a movie game. It's a game that is not finished and lacking depth in terms of modes and campaign length. However, I also knew that this is a game by the team that made Transformers War for Cybertron. So I knew I would get, solid gameplay mechanics and a multiplayer that was hectic and fun. This game is basically a mod of Transformers WFC. There are some changes made to the multiplayer such as unique abilities as well as unique guns for each character. There are also powerups scattered throughout the maps which adds depth to the gameplay. Besides the fact the multiplayer is lacking in some areas such as not enough characters or map packs(hopefully free dlc), I really enjoyed it.

If you liked Transformers WFC then I would recommend this game. Just don't expect a sequel to WFC, just think of it as a spinoff.

Pros

+ Unique Characters for online play

+ Unique Weapons for each character

+ No double jumping which means no more bunny hopping for scouts

+ Fun and Hectic Multiplayer

+ Decent Campaign

+ Multiplayer seems a little more balanced then WFC

+ Same great sound from WFC

Cons

Campaign is short

No co-op in campaign mode

Needs more maps and characters in multiplayer(this can be addressed)

Some graphical glitches

Control issues with hunters in jet mode

No escalation mode

Took away development time from Transformers WFC 2

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I got it for a grandchild 1400 miles away. I never played it, but this program made me rate the "fun" of the game to go on. He told me that he loved it. Fast delivery and in good condition.

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the game is very fun and the controls are exactly the same as war for cybertron which is overall a better choice than dark of the moon. My main complaint is how short the game is : 7 missions which on easy or medium should take 5-6 hours to complete the game. All of the achievements are easy to get besides two. don't worry about spoilers because it is a prequel and takes place days from the movie's events. The multiplayer is good but the autobots are overpowered because of warpath bumblebee and ironhide. I can't say you should pick it up immediately because of how short the game is but, you have to rent it you will most likely beat it while renting it.

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First it came earlier than it was supposed to. Then my son wont put the game down, we just received it today and it is a great price and the games plays great. The game had reset his xbox 360 which only made it play better. Thank you for quality and timely merchandise. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

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Dictated by 10 year old Noah:

If you want to play a game for the storyline fun, don't pick this game. If you don't care about storyline and play for gameplay/action this is fine.

Fun Parts:

Fighting Shockwaves "Beast"

Playing as Megatron

Getting to play as Autobots or Deceptacons

Play as Starscream [my favorite level]

Bad Parts:

Ending

Finished in a few days

Not a lot of strategy needed

Don't get me wrong, it was a fun game, but don't you pay or let your kids pay full price with their Christmas money.

Buy Intelligent Qube - PlayStation

Customer Ratings:

Intelligent Qube is one of those rare gems for the Playstation, and it is interesting to know that one can find humble and challenging games among the giants of flashy graphics.

The game is one big and bad puzzle floor where crushing cubes come falling your way and you need to avoid them by making use of explosives you place in the floor. The more cubes you destroy, the more points you get, and as you advance further the speed the cubes come your way increases by dangerous margins.

I do not know if this game can still be found, I really doubt it, but if you come to find it, by all means buy it!!

M.I.

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I have been looking for this game since I got the demo with my Playstation almost 10 years ago. When I finally spotted it sitting behind the glass at a local game store, I screamed like a little girl and pounced on it the way a falcon catches a hare. I had to have it.

What's different from the demo? There's music now, which seems a little bit out of place but has its own cathartic kind of quality. There are eight increasingly ridiculous stages and then the Final Stage, which consists of four devious puzzles. My chops were still fairly fresh, and I was able to beat the game in one sitting, but it took 3 hours and I had to continue twelve times, and I wound up with a final IQ of 12 since the game resets your score when you continue. I plan on replaying it nonstop until I beat it without continuing.

This game is still every bit as much fun as the demo was in 1997. The controls remain responsive, the puzzles are still fresh, and the game is still unlike anything before or since (including the rather lousy PQ). This game is my most prized possession.

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This was the first (and only) puzzle game I've ever bought for a video game console, and it hooked me from the first five minutes of starting it up.

The concept here is really simiple. You're a tiny guy (or gal) on a big platform of blocks suspended in a world of darkness. You're sitting there, minding your own buisness, when suddenly huge smashy blocks appear at the end of the platform, coming right towards you. There's nowhere to hide, nowhere to run to. Your only chance is to set explosive devices and destroy the blocks before they reach you. If you fail...well, lets just say it won't be pretty.

So you run around, frantically destroying the blocks before they reach and crush you. It's very simple gameplay, but add in the fact that things go faster and faster, and the challenge gets harder and harder as the game goes on, and you've got a challenging game that's easy to learn, almost impossible to master.

So we've got fun and challenging gameplay, but absoloutly terrible graphics. By todays standards, Intelligent Qube is a visual mess. The charachters are terrilbly ugly and everything has a first generation playstation look to it. The game also gets impossibly hard as it goes on. I never got past the fourth level, which says a lot about how hard this puzzle is.

But the graphics and difficulty can be easily forgiven, considering how addictive and compelling the gameplay is. In it's finest form, Intelligent Qube is a perfect example of superior gameplay over superior graphics. This is one puzzler that stands the test of time quite well.

Honest reviews on Intelligent Qube - PlayStation

This game has its origins in the Japanese game market. It was produced only for 6 months for the us market by Sony. Why for only 6 months i don't know. It is easier to find in the NTSC/J format along with it's sequil. The premis of this game is a fast paced puzzle environment. It really tests your wits. In a way it could be described as a scrolling rubix cube game for your playstation. It even gives your mock I.Q. at the end. Hence the name Intelligent *Q*ube not Cube. Look for this game on Amazon zshops or auctions and be prepared to pay at least some money. You won't want to let this game go once you have a copy.

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It was a great game because it was so addicting and challenging --yet simplistic and in the realm of its own in terms of the game world.

However, please. I was looking at the prices listed for this product and if one is hunting for a good deal, the ones you'll find on Amazon is your best bet because there are some interesting sellers on E-Bay that really think you'll pay nearly 100.00 for a PS-1 game. I mean really folks. A PS-1 game? The PS-1 system doesn't even sell as much as this game is trying to be sold for! Yeah... I mean...true it was a good game but then so is Monopoly and Battleship but you don't see people shelling out 80.00 to 100.00 for em!

Wow. Talk about gouging.

Review of Silver-Plated HDTV High-Definition TV Component Cable for Xbox

Customer Ratings:

First, the quality of this cable really is superb. The contacts all look gold-plated and the construction is solid. There are only two problems which prevented this from getting 5 stars:

1) The shrink tubing that is supposed to keep the audio cables separated from the video cable was not heated and shrunk. This can be fixed if you have a heat gun but come on pretty sad it was missed. This might have been an isolated incident, however.

2) More important: This cable is NOT designed to fit into a first-generation Xbox. I have two different Xboxes, one a first-release and the other a later version. The later revision model's AV port has a plastic top and a metal bar along the bottom and this cable fits and works fine. The earlier model's AV port is entirely plastic and this cable is a VERY tight fit. It took some (very careful) effort to plug it in, and once in it does not go all the way into the slot. However, if you manage to plug it in, it does work and the quality is fine. (Note I am not talking about the original Xbox versus the Xbox 360. I am talking about release versions of the original Xbox.)

Going from composite video (just the yellow cable) to this component cable really is a huge jump in quality. The image is sharper and there is none of that annoying dot-crawl so common with composite video. As should be obvious from the picture, the sound is NOT HD, but just the standard left/right audio. I've noticed no problems with noise or lines as other reviews have claimed to have.

Overall it's a great cable when considering the price. Just be careful if you have an older Xbox when plugging the cable in. You may have to wiggle it in and out several times before getting it in place.

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I am very pleased with the product I bought. I looked into this a week ago and saw that some people had one experience and others had another. Maybe it has something to do with which store your item comes from, but I don't know. I ordered the one from Classic Game Source for about $7. It was the one people are talking about that has both the regular composite (yellow) output as well as the hd component (r,b,g). It also has an optional optical hookup for a higher quality audio, although the regular (red and white) cables work great. I didn't have any lines in the picture or anything. On my 32" 720p tv it makes a huge difference. Now bear in mind that you have to go to the video settings on your xbox (found in the msdashboard) and change your settings to widescreen and enable each of the HD resolutions that your tv supports. And even then few of the games are up to 1080i, although there are a good number that are 720p and even the ones that are just standard STILL look a lot better through this cable. Not every game is made for widescreen so you'll have to switch your tv between 16:9 and 4:3 for whichever game your playing but even then the picture is still great. So maybe some of the other buyers just plugged it in and didn't realize you have to change your settings. I don't know about them, but I am very happy with mine.

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What needs to be said? These are component cables for the xbox 1/ original xbox (not the xbox 360). They allow your system to be viewed accurately on an HDTV. They are cheap, and they work great! No complaints here!

Honest reviews on Silver-Plated HDTV High-Definition TV Component Cable for Xbox

After buying a more expensive XBOX HDTV kit with horrible results, I was very relieve that this cheap cable produce an incredible image on a HDTV.

My other XBOX HDTV kit has 5.1 sound, but this cable does not. I don't use 5.1 sound, especially for games, to even notice.

This cable produces a great image in high defination. It is a huge improvement over the composite cable included with the XBOX.

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I found that this cord will show diagonal lines that move. They aren't extremely visible, but on a larger hdtv can be distracting especially if you are watching a movie.

the lines appear in 480p, 720p, and 1080i mode

Cheap Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 game Vinyl Decal Skin Protector Cover

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $18.14
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The skin fit perfectly and has protected my Xbox for some time now. It was very easy to install and hasn't peeled at any of the corners like most other skins do. I would recommend it.

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Reviews of Ear Force PX3 Programmable Wireless Gaming Headset

Customer Ratings:

Got this headset because I am up at night a lot and don't want to wake up others in the house with my surround sound system. I considered the PX5's and x41's but ultimately went with the PX3's because they're rechargeable (unlike the PX5's) and appeared to be made much better than the x41's.

I've had them for a few days now and so far I'm extremely happy with them. They're super comfortable and sound great. I know they don't have "true" surround sound, but when I'm playing shooters I can locate sounds instantly. It makes me wonder what it would be like with the DSS add-on. Playing COD I noticed that even when I get flashed, I'm still able to quickly turn to the correct direction most times and get a decent chance at taking the guy down, which is something that was difficult even with my surround sound system. Also, the way the RCA cord is designed allows you to run any other sound systems you might have straight through the headphones' red-white audio cord. This was one of the things I was apprehensive about prior to buying as I was not looking forward to switching the cords out all the time, but I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box to find such a well-designed cord.

The only reason I'm not giving this a five-star rating is because at times the sound can get a little bit digitized (the way that poorly compressed videos sometimes sound), but it's nothing distracting and it's not even present in most games. I've only noticed it in Dragon Age where there's a lot of quiet scenes with talking, and even then it only seems to happen with certain voices.

Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these to anyone. Useful for FPS players as well as just people like me who don't want to disturb those around them. Even as a bit of an audiophile myself, I'm very happy with these headphones.

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***** THIS IS STRICTLY A PC REVIEW *******

I must say, I was very skeptical of wireless heaphones when researching for the pair I wanted. Playing WOW can require calling out events in a timely manner and there are so many bad reviews for just about every make and model, so it makes it hard to ultimately deside to go wireless. I wasn't sure if the small amount of negative reviews for the PX3's were because of the very little overall reviews in general or the quality of the headset, until I got them hooked up. This review is after one week of use:

INSTALLATION:

Installation is extremely painless. Completely plug and play. You will probably need to set the Turtle Beach headphones (Listed as Speakers in your Sound Control Panel) to Default, as well as the microphone. All you really need to do is go to "Sound" in your control panel, enable and set default for both.

SOUND:

Even though they are just a stereo headset when used on your PC, they still sound great. Apparently, you can add a device that will turn this headset into full surround sound, but it costs around $80. These are already expensive enough. You may as well just buy the PX5's at that point. The volume control is on the headset making it very convenient. There is also a volume bar on that appears in the bottom right corner of your display when adjusting volume, lettign you know your level and minimum / maximum levels. I really feel that surround and 5.1 should have been incorporated for the price they are charging, but my gaming does not require it so oh well. My understanding is that you get these capabilities with XBOX and PS3, so no worries for your first person shooters. You also loose the audio presets when using with PC or MAC.

TRANSMISSION:

I keep reading complaints about crackling and popping with wireless headsets. I am lucky enough to have my PC and the transmitter close to the center of my house, but the furthest point is still about 25-30', and I have crystal clear audio in all areas of my home. I even tested outside at about 40-45' through walls and couldn't get an issue. Considering I will never go further than that, I did not want to continue to push it because, knowing my luck, I might never get it working perfectly again.

MICROPHONE:

Surprisingly, everyone I chat with, using Ventrilo, says that I have never been so clear. Some say I sound different, even from my real voice, but much more clear. My biggest complaint is the lack of a programmable talk button. One button to program as any key would have been huge here. It is nice to move around the house without missing the conversation, but it gets frustrating when you can't respond. My way around this is to remove Push-to-Talk and mute my mic when not talking. Since the headset at least has the mic mute on it, this is not a bad way around it, I just hate contantly changing settings, muting, and un-muting.

BATTERY:

Uses a Lithium Ion Battery so I am getting the specified 10 hours, sometimes a bit more, so can't complain. Best part is, you can use while charging, so you do not have to worry about downtime for charging. The charging cable is USB Mini to USB-A and it is about 15' long, so you have plenty of length no matter where your PC is.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with this headset and very happy to no longer be tethered to my PC. I gave four stars for the lack of a programmable talk button, the loss of audio presets when used with PC, and the loss of surround sound with PC. The cost may be up there, but after the pile of poor wireless headset reviews I have read, I decided to spend the extra cash to make sure I got it right the first time, and with this headset, I really feel that I did.

** As a side note, this headset can be used as wired to your PC, but does not come with the data transmission cable to do so. this means, you will need to purchase a separate USB Mini to USB-A 5-Pin cable. The included cable are only 3-Pin for power. So be sure to double check the specifications to ensure that the cable is 5-pin to support power, along with transmit and receive data transmission. You can always maintain the wireless connection while keeping the power cord plugge in. Eventually though, the battery will no longer hold a charge so you will need a data cable. Hopefully this will not be an issue for quite a long time being a Lithium Ion battery.

*** UPDATE ***

So far, the headphones still work great. I have noticed an issue when my PC is idle for long periods of time. I never put my PC to sleep or log off, but I do lock when away. When I come back, I typically need to disconnect and reconnect the USB in order to get the mic working again. Kind of a pain, but nothing too horrible. One thing that is supposed to resolve this, although for some reason it does not for me, is turning the USB Sleep mode off in your Advanced Power Settings. I have also pulled all nighters which run the battery down. After the 10-11 hours, if I let the battery get too low, it will not function while charging. I am trying to find a 5-pin USB cable to then make this a wired headset, but so far, I am not finding anything that allows my computer to recognize the headset at all. Will update if I do.

Best Deals for Ear Force PX3 Programmable Wireless Gaming Headset

When I first got this head, I was thinking to myself, alright! A really good headset that I can use for xbox and pc. Well, I was partially right. You can use this headset on xbox perfectly, VERY good volume, but the pc is a different story. For PC users, the volume is VERY good as well, but the microphone doesn't work for a lot of things. It shows up, but it can only be used for skype, ventrillo, team chat. For users that record videos for youtube and use programs to do voice over, it will not work. For myself, the mic didn't work for Fraps or Sony vegas. Thanks guys, this is my first review and I felt people just had to know...

Honest reviews on Ear Force PX3 Programmable Wireless Gaming Headset

[edit 3]

65 days after I got them, the left side broke all the way at the hinge. Can't fix them with tape, I might be able to fix them with some epoxy. Right now they are unusable. 140 bucks for 65 days of use is more than 2 dollars a day..

[edit 2]

After about a month of use, the left side broke, and the left headphone was hanging out, supported only by the wires. I used some tape and now they work fine, but at 140 bucks this is outrageous. I had headphones that were twice as cheap and broke after a year. Giving them 1 star again.

[edit]

The original review was for using them with Windows XP 32b, and I gave them a star for that. Since then, I tried them on Windows 7 64b and added two stars, because some of the problems got fixed due to the USB drivers and audio stack being improved in Windows 7 64.

The following problems were fixed:

1. When the headset loses connection, the sound will resume after the connection is reestablished, and the program playing the audio doesn't have to be restarted. Because of this, there is no need to put them in PS3 mode.

2. The volume wheel changes the volume only a bit at once, rather than going from no audio to full volume in a few clicks. The wheel is still loose though, and you can accidentally change the volume when putting them on or taking them off, but the effect is not as bad as before. Games also don't crash anymore.

Nevertheless, the poor range and nagging power saving shut off and beeps are still there, and I can't give them more than 3 stars.

------------original Windows XP review-------------------

Before I begin, I want to say that I had two other wireless headsets, a Travelite HS-1000W USB Wireless Headset and a Logitech ClearChat Wireless USB Headset.

Both broke after about a year, and I thought that if I pay more I will have a higher quality product.

The item reviewed here works on PCs, PS3 and Xbox 360. I only used them on a PC (WinXP), so this review will only reflect the use with a PC, but some of the problems will be the same on all the supported platforms.

Let's see the pros:

1. Good construction, quite a bit heavier than my other headphones, but not a problem.

2. Very good sound quality for music and video games (but read the cons too).

3. Long USB power cable, but it can get in the way sometimes.

4. Won't hurt my ears, as the other two headsets did.

5. The customer support people respond fast, although they can't help much.

And now the cons:

1. The headphones will go to sleep after 5 minutes of inactivity. If the microphone is on, they won't go to sleep so long as it picks up loud noises. The sleep behavior can't be changed or disabled.

2. A minute or two before going to sleep, they will make a moderately loud beep every 15 seconds, driving you crazy.

3. The range is worse than the other two, cheaper headsets that I had. The Asus one had the best range.

4. They pick up lots of interference from stuff like microwave ovens. The other two headsets did that too, but not nearly as bad as this pair. The PX3 will pick up my microwave oven from another room, about 15ft away.

5. Sometimes (quite often) if you briefly go out of range while playing music, watching videos, etc. the program that was playing the sound will stop playing sound, until you restart it (which is extremely annoying). The other two headsets did this as well, but not nearly as often.

6. If you switch them to PS3 mode while connected to a PC, you can use your PC sound card, rather than the built in USB one. This is a good thing, and helps with the previous problem, BUT if the sound volume drops under a certain threshold, the headphones will mute the sound briefly. If you turn on the volume controls all the way up, this is usually not a problem with most things EXCEPT for talk shows that have no background music or sounds. When the person makes a slight pause, such as in between words, the sound is cut off completely during that pause, and this gets very, very annoying, although it is hard to describe the effect in words.

7. The volume wheel is very loose, and I accidentally muted the volume or turned it all the way up while taking the headphones off or putting them on.

8. While I had the headphones in PC mode, some games, such as Fallout 3 crashed because of an error in Direct Input, due to the control buttons on the headset. Not sure if this is a problem on my system or it happens to others too, but the solution is to either switch them to PS3 mode or disable the HID devices associated with it in control panel.

And now some real examples where they will work well in PC mode:

1. If you watch a video or play a game, and you won't move away from the computer for the duration of the video or game.

2. If you listen to music or podcasts while working and don't plan to stop the audio for more than 3 minutes, and you don't move away from the computer with the headphones on.

On the other hand, if you like to use them while moving away from the computer, you can run into the situation described above, where they briefly lose the connection and the program playing the sound will stop until restarted. So let's say you are watching a 30 minutes news video, then decide to go get some coffee without taking off your headphones. If your headset loses the connection, you will need to restart the whole browser, then start the video again, and manually go to the place you left off.

If you want to do what I mentioned above without having to restart the browser, you can switch them to PS3 mode and set your default sound card as the one your computer came with. You will need to connect a special cable between the computer sound card to the PX3 transmitter. That cable does not come with it, btw.

This solution works pretty well, except for talk shows that have no background music.

One more thing: If you like to listen to music or podcasts, while doing some work on your computer, then you want to pause whatever you are listening to do concentrate on some other task, after a few minutes the headphones will start beeping in your ears every 15 seconds (unless if the microphone is on and there is quite a bit of noise in the room).

TLDR;

If you buy them for games or music, they should be fine. If you buy them for anything else, read the full review.

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This was my first turtle beach, and it is just wonderful. The other guy says that no presets have been released, he didn't really look that hard. You have to download the turtle beach presets manager ( Create an account at turtle beach first), hook up your transmitter to your computer, and download them to your device (They come in bundles, are free, and there is a ton of them). The PX3s are not fully programmable like the PX5s or the XP500s because all the presets are uneditable, but the PX3s are also cheaper. Also, the sound is great to me, the PX5s are probably better, but I wouldn't know. True, they do not have surround sound, but you can still tell from which direction footsteps are coming or you're getting shot at. But i guess if you've had a set of turtle beaches without surround sound before (I haven't, like I said this is my first set) then you would probably want to buy the PX5s, but if you've never owned turtle beaches, I would highly recommend getting a set of these. Also, if you have the PX3s or any other stereo headset without surround sound, you could always upgrade to surround sound by getting the Ear Force DSS 7.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound Processor