Showing posts with label cheap xbox console. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheap xbox console. Show all posts
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Review of 120G Xbox 360 S Slim HDD Hard Disk Drive Replacement with AGPtek
The product I recieved I ordered it on a friday and it was delivered to my house by monday instead of the extra week it said it was going to take. It was a little big had to apply some force to put it in the memory slot but it worked perfectly just remember to format it immediately before use and you shouldn't have any problems. I ordered a gerneric one from amazon the week before and it didn't work at all. I ordered this one before its the same one you might see at selected best buy stores. My friend also bought this one months ago and he has no problems either that is why i bought this one. aDON'T BUY ANYOTHER HARD DRIVE EXCEPT THIS ONE OR THE OEM FROM MICROSOFT.Not exactly 120 gb hard drive, it was 106 gb hard drive once installed, but a very good hard drive for the money.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Red Dead Revolver - Xbox Reviews
Deliver some lead in this spaghetti western videogame!
Red is a gunner with a Clint Eastwood face (I would not be surprised if good old Clint sued Rockstar for using a skin that is a bit too close to his likeness). His parents were murdered when he was a child, his father's legendary gun, "the Scorpion Revolver," robbed. Now that he is old and skilled with all sorts of weapons, Red is on a quest to avenge his parents, get that gun and kill anything that gets into his way.
This game is an excellent western, and here are its game characteristics:
Graphics: 9 out of 10.
^^^^^^^^ Its like being at the movies, great 3D animation and wonderful graphic engine. The wild west finally revives...
Sound: 10 out of 10.
^^^^^ Music seem to come directly from the The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Sound FXs are perfect, voiceovers are well done.
Atmosphere: 9 out of 10.
^^^^^^^^^^ Story, voicovers, music, and graphics will all contribute to a perfect western experience. Gun slinging, western humour, duels... you get everything.
Gameplay: 8 out of 10.
^^^^^^^^ Yes good, but a bit too arcade "kill them all." You will have a LOT of fun though, expecially if you like things simple and entertaining. Plus, not only you command Red around the game, you will use also a cast of other 5 perfectly designed characters.
The Bottom Line:
Thus is a GOOD BUY:
1) for western movie fans.
2) for Rockstar Game fans.
3) for action oriented gamers tired of battling undead that jump out of the sewers or aliens in airshafts.
For all others, this is a possibly good game on which to spend your money, as its overall quality is undeniably great.
You're cast as Red, a bounty hunter who's seeking to avenge the murder of his parents. His quest takes him through many bizarre locations and pits him against a wide variety of murderous outlaws. It's his job to shoot first and ask questions later... then again, he doesn't really ask questions, he just shoots people and leaves it at that.
The game's levels are usually brief affairs that revolve around one particular set piece or another and are jam-packed full of people to kill. Fortunately, all that killing is mighty satisfying. There's hardly a wide variety of weapons to help you along despite the designers' best efforts to bring variety to the period setting, but the weapons that exist are cool enough to compensate. Area specific damage and gouts of blood and gore keep things visceral and compelling. Red can fire from cover if things get too hectic, but it's generally not an essential tactic even if it is a welcome option. He's also got a Max Payne-like ability called "Dead Eye," which allows him to slow time and take steady aim at his opponents.
You don't only play as Red during the course of the game. There are several other characters and storylines to delve into, and while they sometimes steer the focus of the game's story in the wrong direction, it's generally a welcome change of pace. Red's native cousin, Shadow Wolf, enjoys a particularly entertaining mission that encourages stealth and a fair aim with a bow and arrow. Some of the other character missions feel tacked on, though such as the Buffalo Soldier's wagon ride back to town.
What's a western-themed action game without the occasional duel? Drawing on opponents is handled like a sort of minigame that generally fits well into the scheme of things. Unfortunately, it's too frustrating, particularly later in the game. It's more a matter of a luck than skill, and certainly could have been handled with more flair.
It's far from perfect, but "Red Dead Revolver" should provide hours of fairly mindless but addictive fun. With the lack of competition, it easily earns its place as the best western-themed game ever released. If this kind of thing rubs you the right way, go grab a copy.
Final Score: B
There are some levels in the game which are frustrating for one reason or another. The most annoying I can think of is the Diago stage since the game is very vague about explaining what your supposed to be doing while your getting shot at with cannons which is a bad thing. The key to making the game easier is to focus on getting head shots. Focusing on head shots makes the game a lot less frustrating.
The atmosphere and music in the game was very well done a lot of the voice acting is over the top and funny in a good way. The voice acting of the main character was little to similar to Solid Snake. The music is similar to Kill Bill which I thought had a great soundtrack so its a plus here.
The graphics are good, and I like that the cut scenes were done to imitate old movie reels with scratchs and dirt. Character models are well done and the levels are well designed.
There have been a lot of complaints about the dueling system which isn't perfect but isn't impossible. The key is drawing your gun out quickly. Theres a slight pause when the game is showing Red and the enemy and then goes full screen. If you time it right you can usually get a shot off first. I didn't have a problem until the end when the time gets a lot shorter for you to shoot.
The story is your basic revenge story so while it does a good job of drawing out the outcome, the outcome is always assured. Playing as different characters throughout the game adds some variety to the levels. Also having a town as a homebase works well. Red Dead Revolver also has a fun multiplayer mode with over 20 characters.
So overall Red Dead Revolver was a fun game that had some frustrating parts that were challenging but not impossible. It does a great job with the western genre but its not that long of a game so you'd probably be better off renting it first. Just remember to focus on those head shots!
Red is a gunner with a Clint Eastwood face (I would not be surprised if good old Clint sued Rockstar for using a skin that is a bit too close to his likeness). His parents were murdered when he was a child, his father's legendary gun, "the Scorpion Revolver," robbed. Now that he is old and skilled with all sorts of weapons, Red is on a quest to avenge his parents, get that gun and kill anything that gets into his way.
This game is an excellent western, and here are its game characteristics:
Graphics: 9 out of 10.
^^^^^^^^ Its like being at the movies, great 3D animation and wonderful graphic engine. The wild west finally revives...
Sound: 10 out of 10.
^^^^^ Music seem to come directly from the The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Sound FXs are perfect, voiceovers are well done.
Atmosphere: 9 out of 10.
^^^^^^^^^^ Story, voicovers, music, and graphics will all contribute to a perfect western experience. Gun slinging, western humour, duels... you get everything.
Gameplay: 8 out of 10.
^^^^^^^^ Yes good, but a bit too arcade "kill them all." You will have a LOT of fun though, expecially if you like things simple and entertaining. Plus, not only you command Red around the game, you will use also a cast of other 5 perfectly designed characters.
The Bottom Line:
Thus is a GOOD BUY:
1) for western movie fans.
2) for Rockstar Game fans.
3) for action oriented gamers tired of battling undead that jump out of the sewers or aliens in airshafts.
For all others, this is a possibly good game on which to spend your money, as its overall quality is undeniably great.
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If you're an avid fan of the western and a gamer to boot, then "Red Dead Revolver" is the only game in town that should get a tip of your hat. Western-themed games are rare to say the least, and good ones are rarer still. This is the latter kind, and its mature themes make it even more remarkable it's as close as you'll ever get to playing through an old Clint Eastwood film.You're cast as Red, a bounty hunter who's seeking to avenge the murder of his parents. His quest takes him through many bizarre locations and pits him against a wide variety of murderous outlaws. It's his job to shoot first and ask questions later... then again, he doesn't really ask questions, he just shoots people and leaves it at that.
The game's levels are usually brief affairs that revolve around one particular set piece or another and are jam-packed full of people to kill. Fortunately, all that killing is mighty satisfying. There's hardly a wide variety of weapons to help you along despite the designers' best efforts to bring variety to the period setting, but the weapons that exist are cool enough to compensate. Area specific damage and gouts of blood and gore keep things visceral and compelling. Red can fire from cover if things get too hectic, but it's generally not an essential tactic even if it is a welcome option. He's also got a Max Payne-like ability called "Dead Eye," which allows him to slow time and take steady aim at his opponents.
You don't only play as Red during the course of the game. There are several other characters and storylines to delve into, and while they sometimes steer the focus of the game's story in the wrong direction, it's generally a welcome change of pace. Red's native cousin, Shadow Wolf, enjoys a particularly entertaining mission that encourages stealth and a fair aim with a bow and arrow. Some of the other character missions feel tacked on, though such as the Buffalo Soldier's wagon ride back to town.
What's a western-themed action game without the occasional duel? Drawing on opponents is handled like a sort of minigame that generally fits well into the scheme of things. Unfortunately, it's too frustrating, particularly later in the game. It's more a matter of a luck than skill, and certainly could have been handled with more flair.
It's far from perfect, but "Red Dead Revolver" should provide hours of fairly mindless but addictive fun. With the lack of competition, it easily earns its place as the best western-themed game ever released. If this kind of thing rubs you the right way, go grab a copy.
Final Score: B
Best Deals for Red Dead Revolver - Xbox
Good game which I enjoyed. The game is challenging in some places but not impossible. To me its more of an old school game were you might get beat a couple of times until you change you strategy and I would rather get some challenge with a game then speed through it.There are some levels in the game which are frustrating for one reason or another. The most annoying I can think of is the Diago stage since the game is very vague about explaining what your supposed to be doing while your getting shot at with cannons which is a bad thing. The key to making the game easier is to focus on getting head shots. Focusing on head shots makes the game a lot less frustrating.
The atmosphere and music in the game was very well done a lot of the voice acting is over the top and funny in a good way. The voice acting of the main character was little to similar to Solid Snake. The music is similar to Kill Bill which I thought had a great soundtrack so its a plus here.
The graphics are good, and I like that the cut scenes were done to imitate old movie reels with scratchs and dirt. Character models are well done and the levels are well designed.
There have been a lot of complaints about the dueling system which isn't perfect but isn't impossible. The key is drawing your gun out quickly. Theres a slight pause when the game is showing Red and the enemy and then goes full screen. If you time it right you can usually get a shot off first. I didn't have a problem until the end when the time gets a lot shorter for you to shoot.
The story is your basic revenge story so while it does a good job of drawing out the outcome, the outcome is always assured. Playing as different characters throughout the game adds some variety to the levels. Also having a town as a homebase works well. Red Dead Revolver also has a fun multiplayer mode with over 20 characters.
So overall Red Dead Revolver was a fun game that had some frustrating parts that were challenging but not impossible. It does a great job with the western genre but its not that long of a game so you'd probably be better off renting it first. Just remember to focus on those head shots!
Honest reviews on Red Dead Revolver - Xbox
Not since Wild Gunman on the old NES platform have I so throughly enjoyed a western game. First off, there aren't too many western games on the market to begin with but Red Dead Revolver gets it right. Rockstar Games has produced another winner. The game has sick graphics and smooth gameplay. The shootouts and levels are challenging but not frustrating. An average gamer can navigate the levels fairly easily. The weapon selection is large and varied, as are the levels. Red Dead Revolver could never be accused of being repetitive. You can change characters, ride horses and other animals, have a shootout on top of a moving train or just a simple bar fight. The targeting system is accurate and the duels are ultra cool. Rockstar even licensed some of the music from the classic Clint Eastwood westerns to give the game a complete touch. Also, the ability to take cover against rocks or walls makes the gameplay even more true to life. Overall, this is one of the best games I've played on the XBOX system and without a doubt the best western game ever made. Highly Recommended.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Red Dead Revolver - Xbox
Don't let the magazine and internet reviews by groups such as ign fool you, this game is really fun. Yes, the controls are not that great, the graphics are blocky, and unfortunately the game is short and does not offer xbox live support...but, the game is a blast to play, the theme is unique, the artistic quality is superb and the acting is attractive and well developed. Plus, it has a great story. I recommend buying or renting this game.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Rinne no Lagrange: Kamogawa Days Game & OVA Hybrid Disc Reviews
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.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Sonic and the Black Knight - Nintendo Wii Review
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $14.00
Today's Bonus: 53% Off
...but is that really saying much? Fortunately, yes.
Again, SEGA is innovating with its mascot character. Now, our brave young hedgehog has been summoned back to the realm of King Arthur, charged with saving the lands from the King's recent evil transformation and tyranny. At once we are presented with an opening cinematic that is rather well executed (the ravens are particularly good), though not quite as polished as the stunning first movie of Sonic Unleashed. Here is where Sonic is summoned by the granddaughter of Merlin----Merlina. After a brief confrontation with King Arthur, Merlina whisks Sonic and herself away to a safe location.
Here is where the player comes in. The first two levels are simple tutorials, where one learns how to control Sonic and wield the sword, traversing across a field filled with wooden targets. Right away, the player discovers the nature of the gameplay. The way Sonic travels is the same as in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Sonic can travel on only a narrow path through a three-dimensional world, generally only forward. There is no manual camera control, and if one wishes to retrace their steps, the camera does not follow Sonic's movements, forcing the player to walk into places they cannot see. This takes some getting used to, and is admittedly not my personal favorite method of gameplay. I much prefer the free-roaming three-dimensional environments of games like Sonic Unleashed and Super Mario 64. However, it is unique, and certainly acceptable once the player becomes familiar with the layout. Concerning the game's controls, they are very fluid and responsive. The swordplay is controlled by the movement of the Wii Remote, and adds a fun, interactive element to the game. Do not expect the sword to follow the Remote's movements exactly, as it only follows the direction the Remote is swung in, but this method is fun nonetheless. It is a lot funner than slamming down button combinations. Also, there are plenty of little goodies one can collect along the way. Some of these can be used to give Sonic better abilities, or forge new weapons for the other playable characters (Shadow the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, and Blaze the Cat, which are unlocked during the course of the game).
The story is quite well written, I believe. Some have said it is `too juvenile', but I wonder what they were expecting. It is a game for kids, is it not? And it is no sillier than most games, even ones that are constantly lavished with praise from the critics (Ratchet and Clank, anyone? Not that I dislike that series...). Really, the basic tale was not silly at all. I found it to have a timeless message concerning where our loyalties should lie. We are not to make idols out of mortals, obeying them even if it contradicts morality. Men are not infallible, no matter how they might have lived before. In addition, the humorous parts are actually funny, and there is not an unwanted character in the storyline. Also, as the game moves on, the story keeps getting better, with surprise twists and good messages, as well as touching moments.
How do the game environments stack up? They are masterfully done, from the graphic quality and lighting, to the incredibly minute detail (watch the thousands of individual grass blades blow in the wind). The sky is especially well done, and everything captures the feeling of a medieval world very well. When Sonic encounters the enemy knights (wispy creatures from the underworld that take the form of the armor they wear), his sword becomes very useful. It is fun to cut down these cloudy foes, but herein lies one of the game's less desirable traits. Here, the violence definitely warrants this title's E-10 rating. Though there is no blood, the way the smoke dissipates following an enemy's destruction imitates it rather well. Though it disappears quickly, this can get a little much over time.
Now we come to the music. The game's theme is good, mixing classical music with electric guitars rather well. The music in the menu screens is also well done----a good modern take on medieval music. Many of the levels themselves have very good music, with a minimum of electric guitar. But there are other levels (especially the boss battles) where the music suddenly becomes harder, and less connected with the feel of the game. This is the one major fault, in my opinion, of this game. Thankfully, hellish vocals are not constantly screaming in the background, like they are in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Even with this said, the score as a whole is excellent.
Overall, this is a very fun, enjoyable game. It is not perhaps as good as Sonic Unleashed, but it is still great. This is yet another title that shows Sonic is still running strong.
Ryan Robledo
Author of the Aelnathan:
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I don't care what the critics say, this is a great game. The graphics are good, the level design is unique, and it has great replay value. The worst you could say about the game is that Sonic having a sword is kind of a gimmick, but it's a gimmick that works and is fun. I rate this game 87/100.Best Deals for Sonic and the Black Knight - Nintendo Wii
My kids at a young age can play this game and they really enjoy it. Keep them busy for hours so if they like it I like it. It's not as complicated and yet it's entertaining.Honest reviews on Sonic and the Black Knight - Nintendo Wii
This game rocks. The story is good, the controls are good, and the graphics and soundtrack rock. Also when doing the missions the game doesnt have high expectations to get top ranking in a level like most sonic games do. If you like sonic, pic this game up for a treat.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sonic and the Black Knight - Nintendo Wii
I have not had this game for very long, but so far I am enjoying it very much. They have made vast improvements over the Sonic and the Secret Rings game, and the sword is a pretty neat addition. You can actually from side to side in this game, somewhat, unlike the last storybook sonic game.If I had to complain about anything, I would have to say mainly it seems simple. Sonic does not move as fast as he does in Sonic Unleashed, but I guess that's because this game was more focused on being able to use a sword. If you could blast past and through everything, then the sword would be just about useless. Maybe it just seems simple because I have played just about every sonic game made.
Also some may like to know that it seems Blaze, Shadow, and Knuckles are somehow involved in the story line, or maybe just characters that resemble them. I have not gotten far enough through the game to see what happens with them though. There also is multiplayer battle modes, but I have not tried them yet either.
Anyway I give this a thumbs up over Sonic and the Secret Rings and recommend giving it a shot.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Reviews of Elite Quad Charging Bay for PlayStation Move Controllers with 4 USB
List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $16.87
Today's Bonus: 32% Off
I received the charger and decided to run a test to verify what the manufacturer told me (see original post below). I connected a DualShock controller to each of the 4 USB ports and noticed that their red lights started blinking, which means they are charging. No Move controllers were connected/docked during the test since they are still in the original packages waiting for Christmas. Some of the controllers were charged (the blinking red lights turned off) in about an hour and the most discharged controller (had not been used in months) took a little over 2 hours. I also charged my generic MP3 player but my iPhone 3GS does not detect the charger.
All this means that the manufacturer's customer support was wrong, (why am I surprised... ). This little charger can take care of not only both types of Move controllers but of ANY PS3 controller and possibly blue-tooth headsets and many other USB-based charging devices, with the exception of iPhones.
I upgraded the rating to 5*. By the way, the Move receptacles charge the controllers via metal pins, not USB mini B plugs. That is a good thing since the USB mini plugs tend to break easily and are more difficult to engage.
Just a cautionary note. I ordered this charger thinking that the USB ports would charge my 4 DualShock controllers. I tried to confirm that capability on the CTA Digital website and on Google to no avail. I emailed CTA Digital but they took more than a week to reply; a couple days after I ran out of patience and ordered the charger. In their email, CTA Digital said that the charger is not capable of charging the DualShock or SixAxis controllers via the USB ports, and referred me to another of their chargers.
I took out a star for misleading advertisement (I think it's malicious to make a charger for the PS3, which charges the regular controllers via the USB, and not mention that the USB ports in the charger CANNOT charge the regular controllers) and another star for the design (does not match the PS3 design lines/appeareance).
Apparently the reviewer before me made the same assumption I made (that the USB ports could charge the SixAxis and DualShock controllers) without testing that functionality. To be frank, I haven't tried either because the charger has not arrived yet. I'm just reporting what the manufacturer itself is claiming. If I find out that the USB ports can indeed charge the regular controllers I will update this review.
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No complaints; works fine, but would have been better with an on/off switch, as you don't want to keep charging your controllers every time (better for maintaining the batteries).Best Deals for Elite Quad Charging Bay for PlayStation Move Controllers with 4 USB
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Having a separate charging base for my Move controllers and additional USB ports to charge the Sixaxis controller (or any other USB charged device) is a huge plus for keeping everything ready for action and out of the way. My controllers are charged so the device works. I don't know what else to say! The price is reasonable and while it doesn't seem very "substantial", it doesn't get much wear and tear so it should be fine.Thursday, July 3, 2014
Borderlands 2 Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition -Xbox 360 Review
This game is SO addicting! It should come with a warning label. "Say goodbye to the rest of your life and get a comfortable couch, you're not getting up for a LONG time."
I loved the original Borderlands and I love this sequel just as much. I'm super stoked to have gotten one of the Ultimate Loot Chest editions too, there's a lot of cool stuff in it! If they make a 3rd game, it's entirely possible that I will completely forget what daylight looks like altogether...
I loved the original Borderlands and I love this sequel just as much. I'm super stoked to have gotten one of the Ultimate Loot Chest editions too, there's a lot of cool stuff in it! If they make a 3rd game, it's entirely possible that I will completely forget what daylight looks like altogether...
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It looks awesome, great quality on most of the goodies, the cloth map could be better but it was a great purchase overall I would totally recommend itBest Deals for Borderlands 2 Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition -Xbox 360
Great game and love all the goodies that were included in this edition. Hope there is more good things to come from the Borderlands franchise.Honest reviews on Borderlands 2 Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition -Xbox 360
Love the multi player option. Game play is loads of fun. Great when you have lots of people gaming together be they teens or addlt gamersFind helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Borderlands 2 Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition -Xbox 360
Everything arrived perfect and intact and I couldn't be happier. Good price, fast delivery, great product! I'd you haven't tried the Borderland series, it's basically fps Diablo. A little repetitive but always interesting!Thursday, June 26, 2014
Discount Xbox 360 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Bundle
List Price: $399.99
Sale Price: $389.99
Today's Bonus: 3% Off
I recently lost my second Xbox 360 to the RROD. Unfortunately, MS would not replace it because it was no longer covered under warranty. I decided to replace it with this bundle mainly because I wanted the larger hard drive. I also wanted two of the new controllers with the "improved" d-pads. Of course, I also wanted MW3 so this bundle made a lot of sense.
These new slim models are supposed to have a better thermal design and be more reliable. Given my experiences with the RROD, I'll believe this when I have a 360 that lasts more than 1.5 years without repair. The new system does appear to vent heat better than the old ones. There's a massive fan above the processor that vents heat through a large opening in the case.
Regarding the new controllers: The new d-pad does not completely solve the issues that the old controllers had. It does improve input, but only slightly. The raised configuration provides a little more tactile feedback to the user so that they hit the up/down/left/right directions more consistently. Unfortunately, you can still accidentally input directions that are 90 degrees off in the heat of battle.
The MW3 branding is nice IMO. It's subtle and not too obnoxious. The sound effects the system makes are a nice touch, but sound a little tinny and grainy.
Amazon customer service is amazing. I had an issue with one of the controllers and they went above and beyond to resolve the issue. This is the second time they've really impressed me. Thank you Amazon.
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I just got this yesterday at midnight. And it was awesome just looking at the case. When you open it, it comes with the really cool looking console with MW3 stuff painted all over it (very cool). Also it comes with two contollers that also have MW3 stuff painted all over it (as seen on picture). The back of the controllers are just black and at first i didnt like the controllers much but then once i started playing with them it was awesome. The console itself is very cool with all the MW3 stuff on it. And it also makes this really cool robotic/techno sound when you put your finger on the power button and the open/close button. Of course this package comes with the game and also as a bonus it comes with one month free live gold card and also headphones for when you are playing live. As for the game itself. I was only able to get through part of the campaign since i just got it. But so far it is pretty awesome.Graphics are much better then the other COD games. And also there are some pretty sweet things that you get to do in this game. Like diving in the water. And the controllers vibrate to so it makes the game even more epic. The only annoying part for me was that i had to download a lot of upgrades to get the game going. (since this is a new xbox console).Personally i am very glad that i bought this package and i am very satisfied. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to upgrade their Xbox or if you dont have an xbox than this is the perfect way to start.Best Deals for Xbox 360 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Bundle
The MW3 Console:Received it yesterday (yes, it was only 11/7) took it out of the box and was totally impressed with the look. The graphics are high quality, they look painted on, not a cheap sticker. There is chrome trim around the top and bottom (on the sides when mounted horizontally) and the power button is chrome. The controllers match and also look awesome, there is a chrome D pad. I am upgrading from a 2006 360 which had the wireless adapter, the new model is smaller and much more modern looking, it also has built in wireless and HDMI which is a huge improvement. I plugged it in and turned it on and there is a cool metallic sound effect when you turn it on and when you open the tray, I really like this effect. The open/close button for the tray is not really a button, you just need to lightly touch the area and it senses your finger and opens.
The MW3 game:
Obviously I havent had a lot of time to play the game to this point but, the look and feel of the game is vastly improved over Black Ops. The graphics are clean and sharp and the movement, aiming and weapon changes feel smmoth and effortless.
Honest reviews on Xbox 360 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Bundle
This bundle is a great value. The artwork is cool, giving you a distinct difference from your regular black console and controllers. I purchased this for $350 after $50 credit from amazon. This machine is definitely quieter than my previous pro 360. I wouldn't call it "whisper quiet" unless you save the game to the hard drive and then play.Pros
Cool artwork on console & controllers
2 wireless controllers with updated D-pad & batteries
Built in wifi
Mw3 game disc with online upgrades
320gb Hard drive
Updated S console, smaller, quieter, more reliable???
Auto shutdown if overheating
Cons
Bonus sounds (eject/power) sound quality weak
No Live Gold card included (all consoles automatically are eligible for 1 free month)
Price $400 too much, $350 so-so, less than $350 a steal
My unit has already FROZEN once playing madden 2012, not a good sign
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Xbox 360 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Bundle
This Xbox is my first one that I've purchased, (I've always had a PS3 and I still do and I love it). I have some friends who play Xbox so I decided to go ahead and get one and since I like MW3, this was a no brainer. The console itself looks really cool and is much better than just the plain black glossy look. The 2 controllers that it comes with matches the console and look great. It also comes with the MW3 game. A normal Xbox 360 is either 4gb or 250gb, so getting one that has 320gb is really nice. You don't ever have to worry about maxing out your memory. The 250gb console is $299.99, an extra controller is $50-55, copy of MW3 is $60, plus it has 70 more gb's. So for $350 your getting $110 of extra stuff for free, and that's not including the extra memory. If your looking at a present for a gamer or to upgrade your old Xbox, this is the one for you.Monday, June 9, 2014
Plantronics RIG Stereo Gaming Headset with Mixer for Xbox 360 Reviews
TL;DR: The RIG headset is a tremendous value for the money and is more comfortable and better sounding than all of the competitors that I've tried in the same price range. It is versatile, and totally worth your money if you game on PC/Xbox/PS3. For best results, use the SPDIF optical audio.
I recommend it. Check my Notes/Caveat section for some clarifications on some of the features
###Aesthetics:
The RIG headset is a beautiful piece of kit. It's comfortable, uses high quality materials (that feel high quality), and is really comfortable. The headband is adjustable, and the ear cups fold flat (and have floating hinges). I got the white headset, and I'm quite smitten.
The digital receiver is nice looking and feels well put together without calling attention to itself. I like it's compact size and efficient use of space for the various knobs, dials and buttons on it.
###The Receiver:
The digital receiver is a round device (about the same size, height and shape as one of the RIG headset ear cups) with the Xbox 360 headset cable input and the RIG headset output ports on one side, and a USB connector (for power and PC/ps3 audio), 1/8 inch stereo cable and S/PDIF digital optical audio input. It has one other features that bears special mention: there is a 4 pole mobile phone/audio player input that you can use to mix the audio output from your phone (and phone conversations) into whatever else you have your RIG connected to. There's a big button in the center of the device that you can use to physically toggle the microphone output between going to your phone and the gaming device of choice.
The main volume control dominates the outside, and it has a few buttons on it. Overall it's minimalistic, and perfectly textured. It's not going to work as a desk centerpiece but it looks good without calling a lot of attention to itself.
###Audio performance:
The RIG headset itself has a fairly accurate sound reproduction profile. I'm sure it's possible to do better, but from my experience you'd have to pay many times more to get anything like a noticeable improvement.
The receiver has three EQ modes included, however. The first is "Pure" and it's just a flat EQ profile. The next is "Intensify" and this basically just boosts the bass tones of the audio. The final one is "Seismic" and it makes all the aspects of the audio sharper without being harsher. Highs and mid tones and quieter parts of the music and audio generally become more pronounced. I found it to be quite likable. I prefer flat EQ preferences, but the Seismic is probably something I'll use from time to time.
Intensify and Seismic both change the way things sound in a noticeable way, but without going too far.
###Included accessories:
The headset comes with: the ear cups themselves; a boom mic cable (no button); an in-line mic cable (with button for mobile phones); an Xbox 360 microphone cable, an RCA to 1/8 inch stereo (with RCA passthrough in case you use that for your other audio); and the digital receiver itself.
The interchangeable cables are all flat and this makes it a lot harder to tangle them, which is appreciated.
###Notes and Caveats:
Nothing is perfect, and the RIG is no exception, so let me list some things you should be aware of. I wouldn't call any of them to be a problem, but they might make it so they aren't precisely what you need, depending on your use case.
--The cables for the headset itself used to connect it to the receiver or other sources are interchangeable and can be disconnected, but the cables are not currently available for purchase separately. I imagine you could buy them if you opened a support case with Plantronics, however, I'm just guessing there. They use mostly standard connectors.
The input cables on the back of the receiver are permanently attached. If you take care of them, they are well made and probably won't fail you, but it's worth noting.
--The optical audio in accepts up to 96kHz PCM input, but only in stereo. Apparently 5.1 or 7.1 surround is not accepted. I had a problem with this on my Xbox until I changed the output from Surround to Stereo. It worked fine after that. I still had positional audio as this was handled by the Xbox's audio processing (just like it is on my PC), it just didn't have to do crazy tricks to down sample the multichannel audio for use with the headset. This is different than my Astro A40 and it's receiver, but not a problem in my eyes, since everything else about the RIG is superior to the A40 (build, audio, aesthetics, price… Everything).
--The headset has an open ear design. In most situations this won't even be something worth mentioning, but if you use the RIG in a loud environment, you'll be able to hear the outside noise.
--The cable to connect your phone to the RIG receiver should have been longer, in my opinion. It's totally usable, but only if you plan on connecting your phone for some audio purpose, and not fiddling with it until you're done with the headset.
###Final Thoughts:
The RIG is a great value. It has all the options to do everything you could want with a headset. It looks good, it has great components that give you great sound, it allows you to use it as a mobile headset while up and about, and even lets you take calls or mix in audio from your mobile device while you are playing games from your PC/Xbox/PS3.
I can definitely recommend the RIG.
(One final thing to note in the interest of full disclosure:
I got my RIG well ahead of the release because I won it in a raffle at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle. The Expo ended on September 2nd, which is the day I won the raffle. So, I did get it for free, but if I hadn't won it in the raffle, I had planned fully on pre-ordering the device based on my impressions of the device from the booth as well as comparisons I made with other headset hardware I've tried).
-----
I was in the market for a universal gaming headset that could be used with my PC, Xbox360 and PS3. I also wanted to livestream my games and be able to comment while I owned a headset, too. I also wanted something new, under $150. 2-channel stereo was all I wanted, and didn't need a surround headset or one with a 5.1 or 7.1 DSP/digital signal processor.
I actually purchased the Turtle Beach PX22 Universal Gaming Headset and put it through its paces before settling on the Plantronics Rig, so I'd like to compare the two here at various points in the review.
TL;DR the Rig is better than the PX22 in regards to sound quality by far, but I have a specific issue with the Rig's headset mic because you can hear yourself through the headset when the mic is attached and unmuted. For more details, read on :)
The Rig comes with the Headset, mixer and cables. It was kind of scary trying to get the Rig headset out of the packaging. They have it packed such that you feel like you might break the earphones while trying to get it out of the enclosure!
At it's core, the Rig is hooked up like so:
Headset --> Mixer --> USB cable & 3.5mm (aka 1.8 inch) earphone jack (male)
The Headset comes with two different cables depending on how you're using the headset. One has an inline "answer call" button and mute switch. The second cable has a headset mic for pure headset gaming on your consoles. Both cables attach from the headphones to the mixer, and of course you only plug in one depending on your use.
Sound Quality:
I'm really happy with the sound quality of these headphones. The bass is deep and warm. It's not nearly as muddy as the Turtle Beach PX 22's with the latter, maximum bass and treble settings were 'acceptable' at best. Please note, I'm biased and am used to sound coming from more expensive Sennheiser HD-280 headphones at work.
Via the Rig mixer, at the press of a button, you can switch between three sound presets: Pure, Intensify and Seismic. When you push the button on the mixer (it's a graphic of an EQ), you hear one, two or three beeps in the headset to let you know what you've chosen.
I compared sound between the headsets with some racing games, first person shooters and even a blu-ray (from the PS3). The Rig headphones sound way better than the PX22's in my opinion. The PX22 allows you to adjust bass and treble separately via an inline remote with dials, while the Rig has only three presets. I found the second preset to be pretty heavy on the bass and decent in gameplay. I've not really switched to the other presets since I've warmed up to the second (Intensify?) easily. Explosions and gunfire have the proper clarity and thumpy bass. With the PX22's, the bass wasn't very deep. When watching a blu ray (I used the opening scene of "007: Quantum of Solace" as reference), the music and sound of the car/action scene was very natural and solid with the Rig. With the PX22, the sound felt like a pile of muddy bass at the heaviest action moments.
Headset Comfort:
The earpads are cloth and soft. They naturally cup your ears. I don't feel any discomfort and it doesn't feel like they are smashing my head in or anything. The PX22's felt fine too, by the way, and I don't have a very big skull so I might be speaking for a smaller section of the gaming population :) These aren't noise-cancelling, by the way. I live in a very quiet apartment complex, so this isn't an issue for me.
Headset Mic Attachment:
The headset mic attachment is fairly stiff, unlike the PX22's mic which could be moved in any access. On my first trial run with it, I had to move the mic further away from my mouth because I was coming in too loud, according to my friends. That was easily remedied. Chat via Xbox Live was just fine and on PC it was good also. Clear and crisp.
The issue that keeps me from giving this five stars might seem petty, but it's the first thing I noticed that I didn't like. When gaming on PC or console, I can hear myself talking. Unless the mic is muted (there is a mute button toggle on the mixer), I can hear myself in the headset. I'm not used to this at all, and I wish there was some way to fix this. I don't hear myself loudly, but it's a little weird for me. The PX22's inline controls had a volume dial where I wouldn't have to hear myself. I don't see any function available on the Rig for this. It's not a total dealbreaker, but this set would have been perfect otherwise. I contacted Plantronics support in their forums, and other users noticed this a moderator confirmed that the RIG headset carries "sidetone" and that you will hear yourself talking with others.
Headset "Answer Call/Mute" Attachment:
I haven't really used this very much, however this attachment comes in handy when I don't want to use the mic, or even if I just want to use the Rig headphones when I'm on the go. The headphones look good enough for me to use away from home if I want to.
Mixer Construction:
For the side/end facing your consoles/TV, the puck-like mixer device has two built-in, wired connections on the input side with an open optical audio/TOSLINK port. The two wired connections cannot be removed: one connection features the 10-foot USB cable + 3.5mm earphone jack. The other cable is a short, 1 foott cable to connect your cel phone, tablet or mobile device.
Again, the cable length from the mixer to your PC or console (USB cable + 3.5mm earphone jack) is 10 feet if you were wondering about reaching your consoles.
The other end of the mixer (the end that faces you) has two ports for detachable cables. One is for your headset. The port next to it is for the included 2.5mm Xbox360 talkback cable. Both cables are about 5 feet in length and are included in the package. It's a far decent length for my setup.
The mixer has THREE dials of sorts. Surrounding the puck (outer ring) is the master volume dial. On the face of the mixer, there is a Mobile-VS-Game volume slide on the left, and a Game-VS-Chat volume slide on the right. The center of the mixer has a switch that lets you switch between your mobile device only or game sound/chat only. There's a lot of flexibility here. For instance, I can pump out music from my attached iPhone or iPad while I'm gaming with friends. I can then adjust how much I want to hear one over the other whenever I'd like to.... all I have to do is adjust the sliders. If I want to hear just my device music and game chat only, I can achieve this with the volume sliders.
Mixer to Mobile Device Connection:
Plantronics is pushing this feature a bit, and I honestly haven't used it very much. I hooked up my iPhone and streamed some music from it through the mixer and it worked just fine.
Mixer to Console Hookup Note:
If you connect the mixer to your console via RCA audio cables (red/white), the Rig comes with a 6-inch RCA-splitter-to-3.5mm female cable that you attaches on (Mixer cable --> RCA Splitter --> console A/V cables).
The Xbox360 has an Optical/RCA audio adapter (I recommend a third-party one by Monoprice, it's less than $3 as of this writing and doesn't have "system reset" issues that other brands have) that is sold separately. Xbox360 typically outputs to both this adapter and HDMI simultaneously.
With the PS3, the console includes composite A/V cables in addition to having an Optical port built into the console. If your PS3 is hooked to your TV or receiver via HDMI, you hook up the A/V cables (or optical cable) as well and enable "Audio Multi Out" from the console's XMB under Audio Settings. Just an extra step.
Conclusion:
When I had both the PX22's and the Rig, I immediately warmed up to the Rig for it's much-better sound quality. The "I can hear myself during chat" mic is a mild turn off, but the complete package is pretty attractive. The sound is better and that's what really matters. Gamers who multitask (!) with gaming and mobile devices will like this as well thanks to the included mixer.
P.S. Next Gen Consoles?
As of this writing.... The Xbox One will reportedly have a third-party headset adapter in "early 2014". Turtle Beach was quoted in releasing their next-gen console headsets with this adapter at that time, too. For the PS4, third party USB headsets will be supported "with a patch", but not at launch.
I recommend it. Check my Notes/Caveat section for some clarifications on some of the features
###Aesthetics:
The RIG headset is a beautiful piece of kit. It's comfortable, uses high quality materials (that feel high quality), and is really comfortable. The headband is adjustable, and the ear cups fold flat (and have floating hinges). I got the white headset, and I'm quite smitten.
The digital receiver is nice looking and feels well put together without calling attention to itself. I like it's compact size and efficient use of space for the various knobs, dials and buttons on it.
###The Receiver:
The digital receiver is a round device (about the same size, height and shape as one of the RIG headset ear cups) with the Xbox 360 headset cable input and the RIG headset output ports on one side, and a USB connector (for power and PC/ps3 audio), 1/8 inch stereo cable and S/PDIF digital optical audio input. It has one other features that bears special mention: there is a 4 pole mobile phone/audio player input that you can use to mix the audio output from your phone (and phone conversations) into whatever else you have your RIG connected to. There's a big button in the center of the device that you can use to physically toggle the microphone output between going to your phone and the gaming device of choice.
The main volume control dominates the outside, and it has a few buttons on it. Overall it's minimalistic, and perfectly textured. It's not going to work as a desk centerpiece but it looks good without calling a lot of attention to itself.
###Audio performance:
The RIG headset itself has a fairly accurate sound reproduction profile. I'm sure it's possible to do better, but from my experience you'd have to pay many times more to get anything like a noticeable improvement.
The receiver has three EQ modes included, however. The first is "Pure" and it's just a flat EQ profile. The next is "Intensify" and this basically just boosts the bass tones of the audio. The final one is "Seismic" and it makes all the aspects of the audio sharper without being harsher. Highs and mid tones and quieter parts of the music and audio generally become more pronounced. I found it to be quite likable. I prefer flat EQ preferences, but the Seismic is probably something I'll use from time to time.
Intensify and Seismic both change the way things sound in a noticeable way, but without going too far.
###Included accessories:
The headset comes with: the ear cups themselves; a boom mic cable (no button); an in-line mic cable (with button for mobile phones); an Xbox 360 microphone cable, an RCA to 1/8 inch stereo (with RCA passthrough in case you use that for your other audio); and the digital receiver itself.
The interchangeable cables are all flat and this makes it a lot harder to tangle them, which is appreciated.
###Notes and Caveats:
Nothing is perfect, and the RIG is no exception, so let me list some things you should be aware of. I wouldn't call any of them to be a problem, but they might make it so they aren't precisely what you need, depending on your use case.
--The cables for the headset itself used to connect it to the receiver or other sources are interchangeable and can be disconnected, but the cables are not currently available for purchase separately. I imagine you could buy them if you opened a support case with Plantronics, however, I'm just guessing there. They use mostly standard connectors.
The input cables on the back of the receiver are permanently attached. If you take care of them, they are well made and probably won't fail you, but it's worth noting.
--The optical audio in accepts up to 96kHz PCM input, but only in stereo. Apparently 5.1 or 7.1 surround is not accepted. I had a problem with this on my Xbox until I changed the output from Surround to Stereo. It worked fine after that. I still had positional audio as this was handled by the Xbox's audio processing (just like it is on my PC), it just didn't have to do crazy tricks to down sample the multichannel audio for use with the headset. This is different than my Astro A40 and it's receiver, but not a problem in my eyes, since everything else about the RIG is superior to the A40 (build, audio, aesthetics, price… Everything).
--The headset has an open ear design. In most situations this won't even be something worth mentioning, but if you use the RIG in a loud environment, you'll be able to hear the outside noise.
--The cable to connect your phone to the RIG receiver should have been longer, in my opinion. It's totally usable, but only if you plan on connecting your phone for some audio purpose, and not fiddling with it until you're done with the headset.
###Final Thoughts:
The RIG is a great value. It has all the options to do everything you could want with a headset. It looks good, it has great components that give you great sound, it allows you to use it as a mobile headset while up and about, and even lets you take calls or mix in audio from your mobile device while you are playing games from your PC/Xbox/PS3.
I can definitely recommend the RIG.
(One final thing to note in the interest of full disclosure:
I got my RIG well ahead of the release because I won it in a raffle at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle. The Expo ended on September 2nd, which is the day I won the raffle. So, I did get it for free, but if I hadn't won it in the raffle, I had planned fully on pre-ordering the device based on my impressions of the device from the booth as well as comparisons I made with other headset hardware I've tried).
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
[UPDATE] Over at the Plantronics forums, a moderator did confirm that the headset mic does "have sidetone", meaning you can hear yourself slightly when gaming with the headset/mic attachment! Just wanted to confirm :)-----
I was in the market for a universal gaming headset that could be used with my PC, Xbox360 and PS3. I also wanted to livestream my games and be able to comment while I owned a headset, too. I also wanted something new, under $150. 2-channel stereo was all I wanted, and didn't need a surround headset or one with a 5.1 or 7.1 DSP/digital signal processor.
I actually purchased the Turtle Beach PX22 Universal Gaming Headset and put it through its paces before settling on the Plantronics Rig, so I'd like to compare the two here at various points in the review.
TL;DR the Rig is better than the PX22 in regards to sound quality by far, but I have a specific issue with the Rig's headset mic because you can hear yourself through the headset when the mic is attached and unmuted. For more details, read on :)
The Rig comes with the Headset, mixer and cables. It was kind of scary trying to get the Rig headset out of the packaging. They have it packed such that you feel like you might break the earphones while trying to get it out of the enclosure!
At it's core, the Rig is hooked up like so:
Headset --> Mixer --> USB cable & 3.5mm (aka 1.8 inch) earphone jack (male)
The Headset comes with two different cables depending on how you're using the headset. One has an inline "answer call" button and mute switch. The second cable has a headset mic for pure headset gaming on your consoles. Both cables attach from the headphones to the mixer, and of course you only plug in one depending on your use.
Sound Quality:
I'm really happy with the sound quality of these headphones. The bass is deep and warm. It's not nearly as muddy as the Turtle Beach PX 22's with the latter, maximum bass and treble settings were 'acceptable' at best. Please note, I'm biased and am used to sound coming from more expensive Sennheiser HD-280 headphones at work.
Via the Rig mixer, at the press of a button, you can switch between three sound presets: Pure, Intensify and Seismic. When you push the button on the mixer (it's a graphic of an EQ), you hear one, two or three beeps in the headset to let you know what you've chosen.
I compared sound between the headsets with some racing games, first person shooters and even a blu-ray (from the PS3). The Rig headphones sound way better than the PX22's in my opinion. The PX22 allows you to adjust bass and treble separately via an inline remote with dials, while the Rig has only three presets. I found the second preset to be pretty heavy on the bass and decent in gameplay. I've not really switched to the other presets since I've warmed up to the second (Intensify?) easily. Explosions and gunfire have the proper clarity and thumpy bass. With the PX22's, the bass wasn't very deep. When watching a blu ray (I used the opening scene of "007: Quantum of Solace" as reference), the music and sound of the car/action scene was very natural and solid with the Rig. With the PX22, the sound felt like a pile of muddy bass at the heaviest action moments.
Headset Comfort:
The earpads are cloth and soft. They naturally cup your ears. I don't feel any discomfort and it doesn't feel like they are smashing my head in or anything. The PX22's felt fine too, by the way, and I don't have a very big skull so I might be speaking for a smaller section of the gaming population :) These aren't noise-cancelling, by the way. I live in a very quiet apartment complex, so this isn't an issue for me.
Headset Mic Attachment:
The headset mic attachment is fairly stiff, unlike the PX22's mic which could be moved in any access. On my first trial run with it, I had to move the mic further away from my mouth because I was coming in too loud, according to my friends. That was easily remedied. Chat via Xbox Live was just fine and on PC it was good also. Clear and crisp.
The issue that keeps me from giving this five stars might seem petty, but it's the first thing I noticed that I didn't like. When gaming on PC or console, I can hear myself talking. Unless the mic is muted (there is a mute button toggle on the mixer), I can hear myself in the headset. I'm not used to this at all, and I wish there was some way to fix this. I don't hear myself loudly, but it's a little weird for me. The PX22's inline controls had a volume dial where I wouldn't have to hear myself. I don't see any function available on the Rig for this. It's not a total dealbreaker, but this set would have been perfect otherwise. I contacted Plantronics support in their forums, and other users noticed this a moderator confirmed that the RIG headset carries "sidetone" and that you will hear yourself talking with others.
Headset "Answer Call/Mute" Attachment:
I haven't really used this very much, however this attachment comes in handy when I don't want to use the mic, or even if I just want to use the Rig headphones when I'm on the go. The headphones look good enough for me to use away from home if I want to.
Mixer Construction:
For the side/end facing your consoles/TV, the puck-like mixer device has two built-in, wired connections on the input side with an open optical audio/TOSLINK port. The two wired connections cannot be removed: one connection features the 10-foot USB cable + 3.5mm earphone jack. The other cable is a short, 1 foott cable to connect your cel phone, tablet or mobile device.
Again, the cable length from the mixer to your PC or console (USB cable + 3.5mm earphone jack) is 10 feet if you were wondering about reaching your consoles.
The other end of the mixer (the end that faces you) has two ports for detachable cables. One is for your headset. The port next to it is for the included 2.5mm Xbox360 talkback cable. Both cables are about 5 feet in length and are included in the package. It's a far decent length for my setup.
The mixer has THREE dials of sorts. Surrounding the puck (outer ring) is the master volume dial. On the face of the mixer, there is a Mobile-VS-Game volume slide on the left, and a Game-VS-Chat volume slide on the right. The center of the mixer has a switch that lets you switch between your mobile device only or game sound/chat only. There's a lot of flexibility here. For instance, I can pump out music from my attached iPhone or iPad while I'm gaming with friends. I can then adjust how much I want to hear one over the other whenever I'd like to.... all I have to do is adjust the sliders. If I want to hear just my device music and game chat only, I can achieve this with the volume sliders.
Mixer to Mobile Device Connection:
Plantronics is pushing this feature a bit, and I honestly haven't used it very much. I hooked up my iPhone and streamed some music from it through the mixer and it worked just fine.
Mixer to Console Hookup Note:
If you connect the mixer to your console via RCA audio cables (red/white), the Rig comes with a 6-inch RCA-splitter-to-3.5mm female cable that you attaches on (Mixer cable --> RCA Splitter --> console A/V cables).
The Xbox360 has an Optical/RCA audio adapter (I recommend a third-party one by Monoprice, it's less than $3 as of this writing and doesn't have "system reset" issues that other brands have) that is sold separately. Xbox360 typically outputs to both this adapter and HDMI simultaneously.
With the PS3, the console includes composite A/V cables in addition to having an Optical port built into the console. If your PS3 is hooked to your TV or receiver via HDMI, you hook up the A/V cables (or optical cable) as well and enable "Audio Multi Out" from the console's XMB under Audio Settings. Just an extra step.
Conclusion:
When I had both the PX22's and the Rig, I immediately warmed up to the Rig for it's much-better sound quality. The "I can hear myself during chat" mic is a mild turn off, but the complete package is pretty attractive. The sound is better and that's what really matters. Gamers who multitask (!) with gaming and mobile devices will like this as well thanks to the included mixer.
P.S. Next Gen Consoles?
As of this writing.... The Xbox One will reportedly have a third-party headset adapter in "early 2014". Turtle Beach was quoted in releasing their next-gen console headsets with this adapter at that time, too. For the PS4, third party USB headsets will be supported "with a patch", but not at launch.
Best Deals for Plantronics RIG Stereo Gaming Headset with Mixer for Xbox 360
Umm -I jsut found out I had this thing on bad settings and that's why my sound ws so bad --let me play with it for a few days and I'll do this again -ignore my prior review, my bad, so sorry for jumping the gun.Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Best Wii Hardware Bundle - Red Deals
It's been four years since the Wii first debuted but if you haven't jumped in on the bandwagon, now is a pretty good time to do so.
In the eyes of the public and industry alike, the Wii is seen as a very accessible gaming machine with games that are easy to pick up and play much like the original Nintendo Entertainment System was back in 1985. To a lot of gamers, though, they see the system as not having a lot of worthwhile titles to play. People are constantly saying their Wiis are in the closet or collecting dust. They're not lying. I have a lot of close friends who literally have their Wiis boxed up in their closets. The reasons are probably because of the Wii's lack of a unified online infrastructure or it's lowered graphically fidelity in comparison to this current gen's home consoles. But here I am, buying my second Wii.
I consider myself a hardcore but well-rounded gamer. I like playing the Call of Duty and Halo games that everyone else is playing but I love the Marios, Kirbys, Metroids, Zeldas, and just about everything else, too. The motion control of most games is tacked on and extremely gimmicky, but it can still provide for a very fun experience when done correctly. I'm also an extremely retroactive gamer. I love, love, love games of old and that's one of the biggest selling points of the Wii for me. I'm 22 years-old so a lot of these old games I play are first time experiences. The Virtual Console feature of the Wii is a very large library of old games you can download from the Wii's Shop Channel with a straightforward pay-per-title payment structure. You can download games from past Nintendo home consoles from the NES to the Nintendo 64. You can also download games from other non-Nintendo platforms such as the Sega Genesis, TurboGrafx, and even arcade. There are also Wii exclusive downloadable "Wiiware" games and a limited variety of apps such as Netflix so you can stream movies and TV if you're a subscriber to Netflix. So obviously lower quality graphics don't bother me, though, I must admit the maximum resolution that the Wii can output at 480p is rather disappointing, especially as time goes on. It won't bother a lot of people, especially kids, but I game on my PC too at super resolutions so I longingly wait for the day I can play my Nintendo games in HD. The overall reproduction of games in the Virtual Console though is mostly spot on, which is more than I can say for a lot of other retro ports of classics. The Wii can also play Gamecube games by simply inserting the games and plugging in a Gamecube controller. One thing that is a bit disappointing is that not all old games are on the Virtual Console. Nintendo tries to release more when they can but it can be hard for them at times due to licensing royalties and fees, especially when the license holding companies don't exist anymore and multiple parties own the rights.
Anyways, that's my opinion of the Wii in general. Here's some of this product's specifics:
25th Anniversary Wii Bundle
What makes this bundle different than other current Wii bundles is that the system and included remote/nunchuck are Red to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the release of the NES and Super Mario Bros. I'm guessing because Mario's clothing is mostly red but it's a unique and supposedly limited color for the Wii. The bundle also comes with two games: New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Wii Sports. The other bundles (Black or White) come with Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort. You may or may not have already played Wii Sports which has fun pick-up-and-play games such as tennis or bowling. Wii Sports Resort is in the same style but has other games that utilize 1:1 motion such as sword fighting or archery. If you end up getting this bundle I highly recommend still getting Resort as you will get an additional Wii motion Plus attachment with the game. All bundles come with either a Wii motion Plus attachment (which gives the remote more accurate 1:1 detection and is required for some games such as Resort) or has it built in the remote.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
This game is in the same "2.5D" style of New Super Mario Bros. for the DS with it's 3D rendered visuals but classic 2D platforming of older Mario games. The games look very similar but the levels are largely different with the added option of 1 to 4 players. I loved the DS version but I thought that playing it with more people would get kind of frustrating. Well, it actually is, but in that kind of crazy, fun kind of way. You can cooperate and compete. Helping each other to make that distant platform or hog all the coins to yourself while throwing your brother or sister into a pit as you make your way to the end of the stage. I asked my family if they wanted to try playing the game with me and they did. The next day I didn't think to ask them again because I was interested in something else I was playing, but they actually asked me. I said no, so they proceeded to playing the game, just three of my family members. Turns out they ended up beating the game without me that night. I was surprised but maybe I shouldn't have been. It's a really great game that recalls what made games so fun and simple 25 years ago. If you don't already have a Wii this is a good bundle simply for this game. It actually reminds of the old system bundles we used to get those years ago.
EDIT: Both Wii Sports and New Super Mario Bros. Wii come in cardboard sleeves rather than plastic casing. The bundle still comes with a New Super Mario Bros. Wii manual identical to that of a stand alone game along with identical inserts. Check out Wiiboxart.com if you're interested in printing out a case cover and keep in mind that the stand alone version has a red case.
Some Miscellaneous info:
If you're interested in purchasing games of the Wii Shop channel the pricing structure is as follows:
Commodore 64 500 points
NES 500
Sega Master System 500
TurboGrafx-16 600
TurboGrafx-CD 800
MSX 700
Sega Genesis 800
SNES 800
Neo Geo 900
Nintendo 64 1000
Arcade 500
Each point is essentially 1 cent so 1000 points is $10. You can purchase points directly online in the Shop Channel of the Wii or at retail in a pre-paid card. Just keep in mind that you can only purchase points in increments of 500 and tax is added where applicable.
Some titles I would like to recommend:
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Rated E)
Super Mario Galaxy (E)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (E)
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (T)
Wii Sports Resort (E)
Metroid Prime Trilogy (T)
Kirby's Epic Yarn (E)
Muramasa (T)
Boy and his Blob (E)
No More Heroes (M)
No More Heroes 2 (M)
Tatsunoko VS Capcom (T)
Super Smash Bros (T)
Pikmin (E)
Klonoa (E10)
Super Paper Mario (E)
Edit, games since released after review:
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Goldeneye
Epic Mickey
Sonic Colors (I love this game!)
Now the wait is over, we got the anniversary wii. I always wanted our wii to be the classic white color, but now that we have the red, I couldn't imagine it being a different color. Wii Sports is classic. I beat New Super Mario on my brother's copy, so now I have a copy of my own. Now after my back story to get this wii, time for the review.
Mario is 25 years old. To celebrate, Nintendo launched a worldwide campaign to celebrate the occasion. The campaign has a bunch of wallpapers, super play videos of the games, interviews, prizes, and of course special video game bundles. The Wii bundle comes with the red wii with a red wii remote plus which has the technology of motion plus built into a standard wii remote, a red nunchuck, all the hookups you need, and 2 games: Wii Sports and New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
The Wii, remote, and nunchuck has a red glossy red finish. It looks great, but it will leave fingerprints if you can spot them. The wii is just a plain red, no fancy decals like the anniversary DSi Xl or anything. I actually like the lack of decals because the wii more often then not will be tucked somewhere where you can't appreciate the decals, but still appreciate the shiny red finish. The wii remote and the nunchuck have the half finish, the top half is glossy and the bottom half is plastic. Smart move I think, plus you have the red jacket which looks great, and 2 free batteries to get going right away.
The wii is great just as a game console, but the wii can really shine if you give it a broadband internet connection. Doing so will give you access to weather, news, wii shop catalog, online play, Netflix (with a disc or its own channel (if you have an account)), Nintendo Channel, and a lot more. The wii can sell well on its own just for how well the online functions work.
The game that comes with any wii bundle, Wii Sports, is the game that is meant to be played first to show how the wii works and how responsive it is to the characters on the screen. Technically, it is like a beta to the Resort sequel, but it has a sense of classic to it because it is the first game for the console.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is like a sequel to the game on the DS. I think the best way to describe it is if you took all of the side scrolling Mario games plus something new to keep things fresh, you get this game. It's everything you'd expect from a Mario game and a little bit more.
There is one thing that I found was missing which annoyed me but didn't deduct points from me. In Japan, the same wii bundle would have came preloaded with Super Mario Bros. from the Virtual Console with a twist: all ? blocks replace "?" with "25". That did not make it into the bundle here, but the bundle is still a fantastic deal.
If you were to buy a white or black wii now, you would get everything mentioned before but Wii Sports Resort instead of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The bundle celebrates the 25th birthday of Mario, that is reason enough for me to consider buying one, especially if you like the color red. Any wii deserves a 5 out of 5, and this bundle is no exception.
For $200 you get the latest version of the Wii Remote with true 1-1 motion detection due to the previous Wii motion plus add on being built in for a more ergonomic and hassle free design and the standard nunchuk attachment.
You also get New Super Mario bros. Wii. If you are a old-school Mario Bros. fan then this game is a must own. It is a dream pack-in for a Nintendo console and is great for someone who isn't very interested in the gimmicky motion controls Wii sports demonstrates. Not to say Wii sports isn't tons of fun but the real gold nugget is Mario Bros. Truly a $50 value, "yours free!"
You get the console itself which is unchanged from the previous models. THIS is where my nitpicks come in. I have a 32 inch HDTV and the composite cable that comes with the wii makes anything displayed with any detail a fuzzy, blurry eye-soar. IF you own an HDTV do yourself a favor and buy a cheap component cable. It isn't mandatory but you will notice the blur if you are with-in 10 feet of a HDTV of that size. (Nintendo could have packed that in.) The console and controller has a finish that collects finger prints like crazy it's frustrating when you get it all set up to stand back and see smuges all over the surface of a brand new $200 game console. Those are really my only nitpicks and they are just minor problems that won't effect game play or fun.
I only touched on some basic things in this review but I think you get my point. If you don't have a Wii yet, don't mind the color red, are a fan of mario, and saving money, than this is as good as it gets... for now.
in all, even though the wii isn't a graphical powerhouse like the ps3/xbox360, it is still an amazing console. nintendo puts more focus into the games, rather than the graphics. they create, fun family games, and we see the occasional mature title here and there too. what this system lacks in graphics, it makes up in gameplay. for those who haven't really played a wii, and still says it's not your thing, give it a shot. pick up mario galaxy, or zelda, mario kart or donkey kong country returns, you will not be disappointed. this console is well worth the purchase!
Whats Included:
Wii Hardware (Red)
Wii Remote + Nun chuck (Red)
Grip Jacket for Wii Remote (Red)
Wii Sports + New Super Mario Bros.
In the eyes of the public and industry alike, the Wii is seen as a very accessible gaming machine with games that are easy to pick up and play much like the original Nintendo Entertainment System was back in 1985. To a lot of gamers, though, they see the system as not having a lot of worthwhile titles to play. People are constantly saying their Wiis are in the closet or collecting dust. They're not lying. I have a lot of close friends who literally have their Wiis boxed up in their closets. The reasons are probably because of the Wii's lack of a unified online infrastructure or it's lowered graphically fidelity in comparison to this current gen's home consoles. But here I am, buying my second Wii.
I consider myself a hardcore but well-rounded gamer. I like playing the Call of Duty and Halo games that everyone else is playing but I love the Marios, Kirbys, Metroids, Zeldas, and just about everything else, too. The motion control of most games is tacked on and extremely gimmicky, but it can still provide for a very fun experience when done correctly. I'm also an extremely retroactive gamer. I love, love, love games of old and that's one of the biggest selling points of the Wii for me. I'm 22 years-old so a lot of these old games I play are first time experiences. The Virtual Console feature of the Wii is a very large library of old games you can download from the Wii's Shop Channel with a straightforward pay-per-title payment structure. You can download games from past Nintendo home consoles from the NES to the Nintendo 64. You can also download games from other non-Nintendo platforms such as the Sega Genesis, TurboGrafx, and even arcade. There are also Wii exclusive downloadable "Wiiware" games and a limited variety of apps such as Netflix so you can stream movies and TV if you're a subscriber to Netflix. So obviously lower quality graphics don't bother me, though, I must admit the maximum resolution that the Wii can output at 480p is rather disappointing, especially as time goes on. It won't bother a lot of people, especially kids, but I game on my PC too at super resolutions so I longingly wait for the day I can play my Nintendo games in HD. The overall reproduction of games in the Virtual Console though is mostly spot on, which is more than I can say for a lot of other retro ports of classics. The Wii can also play Gamecube games by simply inserting the games and plugging in a Gamecube controller. One thing that is a bit disappointing is that not all old games are on the Virtual Console. Nintendo tries to release more when they can but it can be hard for them at times due to licensing royalties and fees, especially when the license holding companies don't exist anymore and multiple parties own the rights.
Anyways, that's my opinion of the Wii in general. Here's some of this product's specifics:
25th Anniversary Wii Bundle
What makes this bundle different than other current Wii bundles is that the system and included remote/nunchuck are Red to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the release of the NES and Super Mario Bros. I'm guessing because Mario's clothing is mostly red but it's a unique and supposedly limited color for the Wii. The bundle also comes with two games: New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Wii Sports. The other bundles (Black or White) come with Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort. You may or may not have already played Wii Sports which has fun pick-up-and-play games such as tennis or bowling. Wii Sports Resort is in the same style but has other games that utilize 1:1 motion such as sword fighting or archery. If you end up getting this bundle I highly recommend still getting Resort as you will get an additional Wii motion Plus attachment with the game. All bundles come with either a Wii motion Plus attachment (which gives the remote more accurate 1:1 detection and is required for some games such as Resort) or has it built in the remote.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
This game is in the same "2.5D" style of New Super Mario Bros. for the DS with it's 3D rendered visuals but classic 2D platforming of older Mario games. The games look very similar but the levels are largely different with the added option of 1 to 4 players. I loved the DS version but I thought that playing it with more people would get kind of frustrating. Well, it actually is, but in that kind of crazy, fun kind of way. You can cooperate and compete. Helping each other to make that distant platform or hog all the coins to yourself while throwing your brother or sister into a pit as you make your way to the end of the stage. I asked my family if they wanted to try playing the game with me and they did. The next day I didn't think to ask them again because I was interested in something else I was playing, but they actually asked me. I said no, so they proceeded to playing the game, just three of my family members. Turns out they ended up beating the game without me that night. I was surprised but maybe I shouldn't have been. It's a really great game that recalls what made games so fun and simple 25 years ago. If you don't already have a Wii this is a good bundle simply for this game. It actually reminds of the old system bundles we used to get those years ago.
EDIT: Both Wii Sports and New Super Mario Bros. Wii come in cardboard sleeves rather than plastic casing. The bundle still comes with a New Super Mario Bros. Wii manual identical to that of a stand alone game along with identical inserts. Check out Wiiboxart.com if you're interested in printing out a case cover and keep in mind that the stand alone version has a red case.
Some Miscellaneous info:
If you're interested in purchasing games of the Wii Shop channel the pricing structure is as follows:
Commodore 64 500 points
NES 500
Sega Master System 500
TurboGrafx-16 600
TurboGrafx-CD 800
MSX 700
Sega Genesis 800
SNES 800
Neo Geo 900
Nintendo 64 1000
Arcade 500
Each point is essentially 1 cent so 1000 points is $10. You can purchase points directly online in the Shop Channel of the Wii or at retail in a pre-paid card. Just keep in mind that you can only purchase points in increments of 500 and tax is added where applicable.
Some titles I would like to recommend:
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Rated E)
Super Mario Galaxy (E)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (E)
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (T)
Wii Sports Resort (E)
Metroid Prime Trilogy (T)
Kirby's Epic Yarn (E)
Muramasa (T)
Boy and his Blob (E)
No More Heroes (M)
No More Heroes 2 (M)
Tatsunoko VS Capcom (T)
Super Smash Bros (T)
Pikmin (E)
Klonoa (E10)
Super Paper Mario (E)
Edit, games since released after review:
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Goldeneye
Epic Mickey
Sonic Colors (I love this game!)
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I remember back in 2006 when the wii was first released, my brother got one, we were about 17. I played his and had a lot of fun. My now fiance and I have always talked about getting our own wii for our own place, but I said wait, because the price will drop. Sure enough, the price dropped, but I still said wait because Nintendo will be doing something else that's cool, which ended up being the wii remote plus.Now the wait is over, we got the anniversary wii. I always wanted our wii to be the classic white color, but now that we have the red, I couldn't imagine it being a different color. Wii Sports is classic. I beat New Super Mario on my brother's copy, so now I have a copy of my own. Now after my back story to get this wii, time for the review.
Mario is 25 years old. To celebrate, Nintendo launched a worldwide campaign to celebrate the occasion. The campaign has a bunch of wallpapers, super play videos of the games, interviews, prizes, and of course special video game bundles. The Wii bundle comes with the red wii with a red wii remote plus which has the technology of motion plus built into a standard wii remote, a red nunchuck, all the hookups you need, and 2 games: Wii Sports and New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
The Wii, remote, and nunchuck has a red glossy red finish. It looks great, but it will leave fingerprints if you can spot them. The wii is just a plain red, no fancy decals like the anniversary DSi Xl or anything. I actually like the lack of decals because the wii more often then not will be tucked somewhere where you can't appreciate the decals, but still appreciate the shiny red finish. The wii remote and the nunchuck have the half finish, the top half is glossy and the bottom half is plastic. Smart move I think, plus you have the red jacket which looks great, and 2 free batteries to get going right away.
The wii is great just as a game console, but the wii can really shine if you give it a broadband internet connection. Doing so will give you access to weather, news, wii shop catalog, online play, Netflix (with a disc or its own channel (if you have an account)), Nintendo Channel, and a lot more. The wii can sell well on its own just for how well the online functions work.
The game that comes with any wii bundle, Wii Sports, is the game that is meant to be played first to show how the wii works and how responsive it is to the characters on the screen. Technically, it is like a beta to the Resort sequel, but it has a sense of classic to it because it is the first game for the console.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is like a sequel to the game on the DS. I think the best way to describe it is if you took all of the side scrolling Mario games plus something new to keep things fresh, you get this game. It's everything you'd expect from a Mario game and a little bit more.
There is one thing that I found was missing which annoyed me but didn't deduct points from me. In Japan, the same wii bundle would have came preloaded with Super Mario Bros. from the Virtual Console with a twist: all ? blocks replace "?" with "25". That did not make it into the bundle here, but the bundle is still a fantastic deal.
If you were to buy a white or black wii now, you would get everything mentioned before but Wii Sports Resort instead of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The bundle celebrates the 25th birthday of Mario, that is reason enough for me to consider buying one, especially if you like the color red. Any wii deserves a 5 out of 5, and this bundle is no exception.
Best Deals for Wii Hardware Bundle - Red
My wife and I have wanted a Wii for awhile now and with rumors of price drops and an all powerful "Wii HD" we were holding on to our cash for the latest and greatest. With Nintendo confirming no price drop in the near future and no announcement of a new Wii in sight, this is a great deal.For $200 you get the latest version of the Wii Remote with true 1-1 motion detection due to the previous Wii motion plus add on being built in for a more ergonomic and hassle free design and the standard nunchuk attachment.
You also get New Super Mario bros. Wii. If you are a old-school Mario Bros. fan then this game is a must own. It is a dream pack-in for a Nintendo console and is great for someone who isn't very interested in the gimmicky motion controls Wii sports demonstrates. Not to say Wii sports isn't tons of fun but the real gold nugget is Mario Bros. Truly a $50 value, "yours free!"
You get the console itself which is unchanged from the previous models. THIS is where my nitpicks come in. I have a 32 inch HDTV and the composite cable that comes with the wii makes anything displayed with any detail a fuzzy, blurry eye-soar. IF you own an HDTV do yourself a favor and buy a cheap component cable. It isn't mandatory but you will notice the blur if you are with-in 10 feet of a HDTV of that size. (Nintendo could have packed that in.) The console and controller has a finish that collects finger prints like crazy it's frustrating when you get it all set up to stand back and see smuges all over the surface of a brand new $200 game console. Those are really my only nitpicks and they are just minor problems that won't effect game play or fun.
I only touched on some basic things in this review but I think you get my point. If you don't have a Wii yet, don't mind the color red, are a fan of mario, and saving money, than this is as good as it gets... for now.
Honest reviews on Wii Hardware Bundle - Red
i was one to be excited about the wii since i first heard about it. sure, i was bummed that it wouldn't be the graphic powerhouse that the xbox360 and ps3 have become, however nintendo has taken a completely different approach to this generation of consoles. nintendo has always been a company that wants to do their own thing, to set new and exciting gaming experiences, and the wii is no exception. nintendo has always been a company that revolutionizes how we play games, and after they succeed, the competition will follow suit. look at sony, coming out with the playstation move, and they ragged on nintendo about their ideas. nintendo is one of the most profitable companies in the gaming industry, they create games in their image. they take pride in their work, and it shows when we play a nintendo developed game. the red wii is a great concept, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the NES. the console looks great, and it has new super mario bros wii packaged in it. finally, a nintendo console that ships with a mario game. history is repeating itself with this release.in all, even though the wii isn't a graphical powerhouse like the ps3/xbox360, it is still an amazing console. nintendo puts more focus into the games, rather than the graphics. they create, fun family games, and we see the occasional mature title here and there too. what this system lacks in graphics, it makes up in gameplay. for those who haven't really played a wii, and still says it's not your thing, give it a shot. pick up mario galaxy, or zelda, mario kart or donkey kong country returns, you will not be disappointed. this console is well worth the purchase!
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Wii Hardware Bundle - Red
I bought this Wii bundle yesterday from a local game store. I was attracted to the bright red coloring which is apparently exclusive to this bundle. It was a decent price, $199, which i didn't see as bad given what was included. Now, I'm a pretty big gamer, and know about the Wii, but I've never actually owned one myself, or really even played one all that much; so i was a little apprehensive about buying this. If you share those feelings, don't worry, it really is worth the price tag. The system is easy to set up, and very helpful to adjust to your personal settings. The included game(s) Wii Sports and New Super Mario Bros. are very entertaining, my family and I played both for hours last night, something we haven't done in years. Overall, I give this five stars as is, and i expect it will only grow better as i buy more games.Whats Included:
Wii Hardware (Red)
Wii Remote + Nun chuck (Red)
Grip Jacket for Wii Remote (Red)
Wii Sports + New Super Mario Bros.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Best Cabelas Outdoor Adventure 2010 - Xbox 360 Deals
I had alot of fun with this game. The graphics are unbelievable! The missions are all different and defenitly give you different aspects of the game. This is a very good hunting game and the main story takes a good amount of time to complete... the fishing is ok but frustrating at times.
Good hunting game... but cabelas is not quite there yet.
Happy gaming! =)
Good hunting game... but cabelas is not quite there yet.
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Have played this game for about 5hrs its pretty fun but the guide tells you every thing to do which isn't bad but I would like to hunt on my own at times. I also Don't like the bullet cam when you kill your target by shooting him in one of the vitals. Also a jump function would have been nice to get over small logs or blades of grass that are to tall ha ha. They could have done without the fishing in the game because it is a little cheesy.But overall it is still pretty fun. Hope this helpsBest Deals for Cabelas Outdoor Adventure 2010 - Xbox 360
This is a must have game for hunting and fishing enthusiasts. It doesn't require as muck skill as other hunting games. One of the greatest parts is that you can hunt AND fish in the same game! The graphics are great. I would defiantly recommend this game!Happy gaming! =)
Honest reviews on Cabelas Outdoor Adventure 2010 - Xbox 360
this game was great it was good graphics and all that stuff and great hunts and fun. the bad thing was it to short i wish it was longer and you went to more then 3 or 4 states to hunt in, nevertheless it was a good game.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Cabelas Outdoor Adventure 2010 - Xbox 360
Good hunting game for sure, its a lot of fun compared to others i played before. Fun for my whole family.Sunday, May 4, 2014
Best Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Deals
I've played this game many, many times. But unfortunately, it's one of those games that you will either love or hate, which you can tell by the reviews here and I love it.
This game is pretty lengthly, gives you a choice of things to say in response to questions and is overall fun, especially since you get to play the entire movie. I recommend this game to die hard fans, but like I said, don't be surprised if for some reason you don't like it. Some do, some don't. Simple as that
This game is pretty lengthly, gives you a choice of things to say in response to questions and is overall fun, especially since you get to play the entire movie. I recommend this game to die hard fans, but like I said, don't be surprised if for some reason you don't like it. Some do, some don't. Simple as that
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
First thing to remember with this game is KEEP WITH IT. Once you have mastered the controls it does get better. Based on the Phantom Menace movie, you get to control the characters Obi-Wan, Queen Amidala and others. With various weapons, blasters, rocket launcher and the favourite the light saber. Background music is great, the graphics aren't so great but still playable with. The Cut scenes are your standard fare but are pretty impressive. It does get hard in places but by using the 'try, try again' method you should eventually get through it, puzzles are solvable and light-saber duels near impossible. The only major aspect of the game that I was dissapointed with was the ending you'll see what I mean when you get there.Best Deals for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
I first played this when i was 12 and absolutely loved it. i dont have a playstation anymore but im ordering it to play on my ps2. Yes, the graphics are terrible, the sound isnt good, but the actual gameplay itself is so much fun. this game has a free roaming feel to it, because you can do whatever you want. lots of random glitches happen but if you save your game every once in a while then its no big. Also, a lot of the one star reviews kept saying that when you die in a level you have to start all the way over...this is the case but what they didnt say is that you can save your game at any time down to the second. you have a huge jump to cross a gap? just save it, and if you dont make it, load your game and you'll end up right where you were. not great, but overall a fun game. the gameplay is what got this one 4 stars.Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Best Disney's Lilo & Stitch Deals
I loved this game! Some of the levels are hard to beat, but I still enjoyed it. I love the graphics, and I like being able to be Lilo and Stitch, but I liked Stitch the best! He is sooo CUTE!
to play both Lilo and Stitch has been a real adventure. the levels are very fun to play in, the enemies are easy to beat, and the plot follows the movie pretty well.
This game is one I would definatly recommend.
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I just got this Lilo & Stitch game after seeing the movie. the movie was great and the game is really fun! u get to play as both Lilo and Stitch and go though many levelsBest Deals for Disney's Lilo & Stitch
I love Disney games and the like because they appeal to both boys and girls. This game is not too difficult to play. The game lets you know what buttons to push to jump, and do "voodoo" without stopping the game to find the instruction booklet. It's all right on the screen. I had a problem saving my game though, as there aren't many times that you can save your place. Maybe I'm wrong, since the game is fairly new and I may not of discovered everything yet. I liked the movie clips that played throughout. Gives me something to watch till the movie comes out in Dec. Overall, it's fun play.Honest reviews on Disney's Lilo & Stitch
A wonderful game,fun and entertaining,but very rare to find in stores. I bought this game for my finace's birthday this year,and he loved it! Shipping was amazeing too,it was shipped on the secound day of me ordering it,and arrived in my mailbox two days later after being shipped.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Disney's Lilo & Stitch
This game is so far my only playstation one game and it is very very very fun.to play both Lilo and Stitch has been a real adventure. the levels are very fun to play in, the enemies are easy to beat, and the plot follows the movie pretty well.
This game is one I would definatly recommend.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Review of Chrome Purple buttons, D-pad, Start/Back, Thumbstick, R1/R2/L1/L2
I think they look awesome but i would have liked the buttons to have the symbols on them. Otherwise it looks pretty sweetPurple is a hard color to find when buying video game items. My wife loves the color purple. So, when I found these buttons, it was awesome. They look awesome in her new purple controller.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Cheap Donkey Kong Country Returns
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $22.48
Today's Bonus: 25% Off
I don't normally write a review before I've beaten a game but after several hours of play I've got to say Donkey Kong Country Returns is grand. I've been playing it since the midnight release. Where do I start? It's like slipping on an old glove. I didn't even have to read the manual. The graphics are gorgeous, the controls are great and for once the motion controls didn't feel like a gimmicky addition. Rare just got owned!
Many hours of my misspent youth involved playing Donkey Kong Country on the SNES, whether alone or with a friend, I remember playing that silly Mine Cart Madness level until I had it memorized. All I can say is the people at Retro Studios must've loved DKC like many of us because they just knocked it out of the park with this one. They took everything I loved about the first DKC; barrel craziness, lots of enemies, easy and accurate controls, and beautiful scenery; and magnified these things by a factor of 100. This is just the kind of sequel I've been waiting for, for years. Retro Studios didn't reinvent the wheel, they duplicated and polished the wheels and then stuck it on a Ferrari. Let's break it down shall we?
Story
Who cares it's DK! No seriously though, gone are the kremlins, now we're up against this mask thing a-la Crash Bandicoot. This mask thing steals your bananas, and now DK has to get them back... Donkey Kong Style. The classic DK humor is here, and the cut scenes have that DKC feel to them. Which are very well done by the way.
Controls
The controls are great for a platformer. I seriously had no problem slipping right in. They are tight and responsive. The motion controls are easy to learn, and actually make sense. For instance to do DK's trademark ground pound is just a matter of shaking the Wii Remote and Nunchuck up and down, in you guessed it a slapping type motion. Plus they give you multiple options for controls. (No GameCube controller though.)
Graphics
Beautiful. Seriously. Bright and vibrant background with colorful and original enemies. DK and Diddy have never looked better. The detail in the respective character animations is awesome. The Wii is definitely getting put through some paces with this game. Everything is crisp and sharp. Nothing to complain about at all.
Music/Sound
Yeah, those rocking jungle beats are back. Remixed in all of their glorious detail. I let it set on the start menu for a few minutes and just rocked out. XD The sounds also are very good. DK's deep roar and chest beating sound great, and Diddy's little squeaks and enemy deaths are clear and are recreated well.
Levels
You start out in the jungle just like the original DKC, except on steroids. You also have an over world view of the island also like DKC. But these aren't just clones. Yes the barrels are here, and the cool secrets that were scattered around all over DKC make their appearance too. Which was really cool. (That's another thing Retro Studios nailed on the head. All of the secrets.)
You have the traditional K-O-N-G letter finding, as well as puzzle pieces which unlock what seems to be some really cool stuff, coins (like DKC 2 and 3) which you can use to purchase alternative paths among other stuff, bunches of bananas. The list goes on. But it's all there for you to find on purpose or by accident. (Don't tell me that my friends and I are the only ones who used to swap secret locations around as though they were status symbols?) Oh and tons more Mine Cart levels. There's one on the first world even. Thank you Retro!
The checkpoints make their way back here too. That's right, just like in the old days. You die before the checkpoint you go back and restart the level. I smiled a little inside.
One weird thing though. I was the only one at Wally World who showed up at Midnight to get this. Surely I can't be the only one who was excited enough to drive 20+ miles to get it. It just shocked me because I really expected a long line. It was so worth it though. I'm not embarrassed to say I own a Wii now XD.
Any way, enough nostalgic gushing. If you're a DKC fan (forget that horrible N64 thing) this really is a must own. No joke. Maybe now I can finally retire my SNES cart... Nah. XD
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I always make sure I play a game all the way through before a leave a review about it since many games grow on me over time, and some games are very exciting for a week until you realize the replay value is non existent. Many of the reviews for this game and others are given on release day or the next day! Leaving a hasty assessment of the game. It was a difficult journey but I have finally completed the game and can give it a fair and honest review. To get 2 things out of the way before I start the review I want to say that this review is coming from a game developer and very looooong time fan of the Donkey Kong Country series. Needless to say I was extremely excited when I heard the announcement of this title at E3 and it became my most anticipated game of the year. I was also very pleased to hear that the game would be developed by retro studios who are held in very high regard with their Metroid prime series. But has the Return been a good one?For the most part.....Yes.
The best part of the game for me was retro studios decision to keep the same difficulty found in the original games. THE GAME IS TOUGH! Collecting every puzzle piece and KONG letters for the game is a daunting, but very enjoyable task! Is that not hard enough for you? Try and get a gold medal on every level in Time Attack! Time attack is a spped run mode that will make the most hardcore of players squeeze the controller with frustration. This will keep you coming back for more for a very long time.
It is difficult for me to determine if this game will be too hard and difficult for the younger or casual gamer, But I think its safe to say much fun can still be had here from the younger or casual gamer just trying to play through the levels.
The Graphics and art style for this game is top notch (which is to be expected from retro studios) I would say a step above New Super Mario Bros which this game takes heavy influence from. That being said I dont get the nostalgia of the original donkey kong country games when I play this game. But yet again I wasnt expecting that to happen with this game. Dont get me wrong, the graphics and aesthetic are great but when the original donkey kong country games came out the visuals were revolutionary! Still to this day nothing matches the looks of that game, and I can give this game a free pass on that topic.
The game also gets increasingly fun as you progress through the game, the level design and level interaction are great! It is also good to see a return of mine carts and even Rambi!
Now on to some of the cons of the game.
Co-op is horrible. I never expected it to be any good especially since I heard it would be very similar to New Super Mario Bros. But Kirbys Epic Yarn gave me hope since the co-op in that game works great and is fun and not aggravating. Sadly to say the co-op in this game is nothing but frustrating and pointless. Me and my wife much rather play one player and take turns everytime we die or get to a checkpoint. This is the most critical aspect of the game for me especially since the 2 player mode in the original games worked Perfectly! The ability to switch characters on demand with select allowed you to work with each others abilities. I dont mind nintendo wanting to add these new co-op modes to there games, but they should really add a CLASSIC 2 player mode as well and the player can choose for themselves. Like mentioned earlier, the only game that got this right was Kirbys Epic Yarn.
The decision to give the game motion controls without the choice of opting out of them was also a very poor decision. This has been one of the most heated debates with the game. I dont believe this totally breaks the game like some reviewers think but I also dont think it makes it better. It is MUCH easier to perform a roll with push of the button then a control waggle. Its simply not as responsive. The option to have full classic controller support would have been an easy and welcome inclusion to the game (hint hint for game sequel) And for those who fully support the waggle roll for this game, have you tried completing the time attack levels using the roll? to obtain a gold you must roll almost the entire level leaving you with very sore and awkward gameplay.
My final cons are with the bonus levels and characters. The bonus barrel levels are extremely repetitive. They cycle through the same 4 or five throughout the entire game.
Its also unfortunate that rambi is the only animal friend in the game which you can ride. One of the best things about the originals are the variety of animal friends that can help you on your way. This game only has one. And he doesnt appear very often.
Both of these flaws are obvious time restraints from the developer, if this game wasnt trying to meet a christmas release I believe most of these problems would have been taken care of, and we would have been left with a near perfect game.
Now after all that being said the game is still a FANTASTIC gaming experience. Even though the flaws are many, the pros are great as well. I am very glad for this game purchase and I will be playing it for years to come. I really hope Nintendo is planning on releasing a sequel to this game!
Best Deals for Donkey Kong Country Returns
This is a quick review without my nostalgia goggles:Pros:
+ Amazing gameplay: The controls are really smooth and although you are only limited to the "wii remote" and "with nunchuck" controls, the game plays flawlessly, specially with the nunchuck.
+ Incredible level design: Most levels are very clever, they are a step ahead of you and I always liked that, specially coming from a DK game. I really love the fact that this element was left intact.
+ Challenging: Veteran gamers of DK games will not be disappointed. The game packs a somewhat high difficulty almost similar to the originals. However, you now have to get hit twice before you die (or 4 times if you have Diddy). And even with this new "life system" the game will manage to make you lose. Casual gamers should not get scared though, the game offers a vast amount of extra lives and an item that increases the amount of hits DK can receive. One warning though, stay away from the extra levels located almost at the end of some worlds. These levels are really challenging.
+ Long levels: On average, I think every level last around 5 to 8 minutes or probably even more. It's easy lose track of time while playing this game. Prepare to lose a whole week and probably even more with this game.
+ Great sound: Old tunes are back and will put a huge smile in your face once you heard how well remixed they are. It also contains some new tunes that are alright, but not as catchy as the classic DK tunes. These new tunes also try to capture the essence and style of older DK sounds and they succeeded in doing so.
+ High replay value: Collecting simple things has been a major factor in DK games and this game is no exception to the rule (except for the 64 version which took collecting stuff to a whole new level). Anyways, any true gamer will play this game many times just to get that 101% completition. One thing I like is that they now emphasize the importance of collecting the K O N G letters. Aside from a life, you get something else which I won't spoil. In older DK games they would just give you a life and since that was their only purpose, in many levels there were left unnoticed.
Cons
DK's new ability: I wonder who thought that blowing things was a great idea... Yes, that's right, DK can now blow plants and enemies that are on fire. It's kinda lame since DK it's all about stomping and smashing. Who has time to blow stuff when you can blow up stuff?
Forced motion control: The game feels really good with the wii remote and nunchuck but I really wanted to play this game with the classic controller.
Diddy as a sidekick: Once you get him, he jumps on your back and helps you hover if you hold the jump button. However, he will always stay there, you cannot control him like you used to in the first DK. He is also very small now.
Lame Boss fights. These new bosses take the word "useless" to a whole new level.
The negative aspects of the game are easily overshadowed by the amazingness of the game. Veterans of DK as well as newcomers to the series will find a place in this game. I can easily find myself revisiting this game many times in the future, just like I revisit the DKC series on the SNES.
Now, let me put my nostalgia goggles for a second. These aspects do not interfere with the rating of the game. These are solely my opinion and how the game compares to older installments.
Pros
+ The gameplay was well translated from 2D to 3D. I was worried the game would flop because 3D often do not feel as well as their 2D counterparts.
+ Old Donkey Kong elements are back, like Rambi, coin collecting, the K O N G letters on every level, and balloon lives.
+ The remixed music of older tunes was my favorite aspect of all. Although the levels feel fresh and new, the music gives them a familiar feeling.
Cons
NO KREMLINGS. WHYYYYYYY!? I loved these guys to death and I think it was a huge mistake in taking them away. Sure, the tikis are cool and all, but beating a kremling felt better than bashing a tiki drum... Also, the kremlings had a variety of enemies while the tikis feel pretty much like the same enemy.
No King K. Rool! ALL MY RAGE! Imagine playing a Mario Bros game where Bowser is not your main enemy! BLASPHEMY!
The lack of animal friends is disgusting.
The levels do not have the same charm of the originals. I don't know why but the textures and places do not form the same ambiance that the classic games had. Not a really big factor considering how the design had to be changed.
The DK coin in every level was replaced by puzzle pieces (much like Banjo's jigies). I really liked the DK coin. At the end of the level, the pieces are put together to form a coin... of a fruit. Of all things it had to be a fruit? Really? Yes, I am complaining that this coin was not the DK coin.
Honest reviews on Donkey Kong Country Returns
Warning: This review is very big, detailed, and picky. I have an overall review of the game and then I give detailed lists of things I liked, disliked, and am neutral on in the game.When I saw the trailer for this game on E3 I just had to get it. I'm a Donkey Kong Country fan! It looked like it was going to be just like the old side-scrolling games except in 3D, but not annoying 3D like the 64. In the very beginning I didn't like the controls. Using just the Wii remote without the nunchuck is much better. I have beat the game now and still don't like the controls. This type of game should really be played with a classic controller. That is my biggest complaint about the game. Overall this is a great game and I recommend getting it especially if you are a DKC lover like me. If you liked the first three DKC games then you'll like this one too. I give three big thumbs up for Nintendo!
Like:
1. They used music from the first DKC game. I never disliked the music they came up with in the 2nd and 3rd DKC games so I wouldn't have minded all new music in this game either. The old music did give that great, old feeling of playing the first one again though. I think it's fun to guess what level the music is from on the first game. I could be remembering this next part wrong because I wasn't paying full attention but I swore the game was playing the credits music from the first DKC and then stopped it quickly to play different music. That was disappointing. :)
2. At first I thought the game was too easy. It started getting challenging in the fourth world if I remember right. That is when I started losing several lives in each level.
3. In a few different levels they put everything in the shadows and just a couple colors stand out. It looks really neat.
4. One thing I always liked about DKC was the mine cart levels. You have to think quickly and the game always throws twists at you. I believe that there were only two mine cart levels in the first game (carnage and madness). In this game there are several. In fact there is a whole world dedicated to them and there are mine cart levels outside of that world as well. That's awesome!
5. After the game is over it's not over. The challenge continues. You have to get all letters and puzzle pieces in every level. I beat the game last night so I only did this in the first world so far. When I got everything in each level, a new level appeared. It's a cool level and the challenge was that it didn't include any save points. When you beat the level you get an orb. Earning eight orbs allows you to unlock the secrets of the golden temple.
6. The game is automatically saved after each level that you beat. So you no longer have to beat several levels to save in your current world or go back to a previous world to save. That's nice.
7. In DKC 3 there was a level that I really liked because it timed you. In this game you can do a time attack in every level and get awarded bronze, silver, or gold depending on your time (kind of like Mario Kart time trials). I know the first game like the back of my hand and I really wish they had this funtionality in that game.
8. You can roll forever if Diddy is on your back. It's like riding on a metal barrel whenever you want.
9. I like the image, diorama, and music galleries. You can hear the music anytime you want for each level in the game. You can see pictures of all the bad guys in the game and some include small drawing evolutions of the bad guys, which is neat.
10. You can now bounce off of bad guys while holding a barrel. In the past you would automatically throw the barrel if you bounced off a bad guy. Now you keep a hold of it. It kills that small challenge but I like it.
11. I love all the new ideas they had for each level. It made it different a lot of fun. :)
Dislike:
1. You have to shake the controller to roll, blow, and ground pound. This motion is very slow compared to a button press. You get used to it but it's annoying to the end.
2. When you roll and jump in the air, you roll and jump really far. This isn't like the other ones and makes it inconvenient to get items with this technique. I actually avoid using this technique because of this change.
3. It's impossible to get a game over. The challenge there is gone. You can go to Cranky and buy 7 lives at a time for 15 coins and the game hands out coins like candy. Therefore lives are pointless to track.
4. In each world you have to buy a key from Cranky to unlock a path to a level. Like I mentioned before, the coins are handed out like candy so you can always afford the key. Therefore it's a pointless part of the game. This should have been implemented like Kremcoins in DKC 2.
5. What made the old games more challenging was the fact that you could only beat the level if you didn't get hurt, unless you had a monkey friend with you. In this game you have two hearts per monkey. On top of that, bosses give you hearts while you're beating them. Bosses in these types games are easy enough as it is. There was no need to make it 2-4 times easier than normal.
6. You can't use Diddy. In one player mode Diddy sits on your back and enables you to "fly" for a short time. You can't switch characters. In the first game I only used Donkey for getting items out of the ground and making small, deep rolls. This is because Diddy is more... agile (can't think of a better word at the moment). He jumps farther, normally and after a roll in the air. He moves easier. He's smaller and quicker. Diddy is still this way in this game but you can only play him in two player mode. Donkey is the same in this game as he always was. I have nothing against Donkey. He's the main character, but his movements are limited compared to Diddy and it's annoying to have to be stuck with him sometimes.
7. Cranky's shop makes the game too easy. As mentioned above coins are super easy to get. You can buy an extra heart container, a helper to find puzzle pieces, invincibility potion, and lives. His whole shop is completely unnecessary in my opinion. I only use his shop to buy the key.
8. In any DKC game you roll for a short amount of time and then stop. However if there are multiple bad guys in a row you can continue to roll through them until the bad guys aren't there anymore. That's not how it works in this game. You roll for the same amount of time whether you are rolling through bad guys or not. So if there are three bad guys in a row you will stop rolling after the second one and be hurt by the third one. That's stupid.
Neutral:
1. Blowing on flowers to reveal items is very fruity and kinda dumb. It does get better though because the types of items you blow on change and get more creative. I kind of like blowing on the fans.
2. I found it odd that you can't swim. You've always been able to swim in every DKC game. Water kills you in this one. There are no swimming levels. The game is great without them but I think people found the swimming levels challenging and I'm really surprised they weren't there. I kinda wish they had swimming levels.
3. The bosses are still easy but they are always easy in this type of game. I'm used to it.
4. Donkey makes lots of weird noises and kinda sounds like Scooby Doo sometimes. :P
5. I found it interesting that Diddy got to keep his peanut gun and rocket pack from the 64.
6. King K. Rool is not the bad guy anymore. That's weird but I don't mind who they replaced him with.
7. You get to ride this barrel in the air sometimes. It reminds me of riding the magic carpet in the Aladdin game. I thought that was fun and challenging so I'm surprised that I'm not more 'for' the barrel.
8. I'm putting these two points under Neutral instead of Dislike because it's possible that I'm just crazy. First: To duck you hold the down arrow. For some reason I hold the down arrow sometimes and it just doesn't want to duck. Second: You can either do small or big bounces off of bad guys. It has always been easy to do a big bounce. For some reason, is this game, it's hard for me to get a big bounce. I have to actually try. Either I'm crazy or it's the controller... somehow.
9. Most people won't know what I'm talking about here but the movement changes slightly in every DKC game. It changed in this one too but you get used to it.
10. I think this is just because I'm a DKC fan/lover but most of the hidden areas and bonus levels in each level are easy to spot and find.
11. The only animal you can use is Rambi, and Squawks if count him as being used. You can buy Squawks as a one time use to help you find puzzle pieces. I liked using the animals in the first game because I always found it challenging to get through the whole level still riding your animal. In this game Rambi is basically invincible which is kinda cool but it loses the challenge.
12. In the first game the challenge was to find the bonus levels, not necessarily beat them. In this game you have to beat them in order to receive a puzzle piece and you only get one try. This is like DKC 2.
13. If you move in any direction quickly Donkey slips and slides for a second.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Donkey Kong Country Returns
Ever since we bought our first Wii years ago we have been waiting for them to transfer this game into the Wii platform. When I saw that it was coming out this fall I was SO excited and hoped that I wouldn't be disappointed. Well... I'm not! This game is wonderfully versatile. It is difficult enough that my husband and I cannot beat all of the levels on the first try, and that's just beating it, not trying to collect every little puzzle piece and extra bonus.Yet, the makers of the game were smart enough to not scare away their littlest customers by adding a neat little thing called "Super Guide". When you get to mid-point it pops up this little pig looking thing that has a thought bubble that is the plus sign button on the remote. If you push that button while you are standing near the pig he puts it in super guide mode. A silver gorilla goes through and completes the entire level while you watch and see exactly how to finish it. The bonus is that once he has finished going, the level is actually complete. When finished with a level it gets a colored dot over it, red if Super Guide did it and blue if you are the one that did it. Genius! Then you can go back and do the levels that stump you without feeling stressed and stuck!
They also allow you to have several games saved at one time so each person can have their own at their own pace. It is 2 player, but like Super Mario Bros for Wii if one of the players goes too far ahead on the screen it drags the other person along and can kill them if they are in a bad area. 2 player is definitely not recommended in playing with young children because they don't pay attention to where you are at.
I think the makers of this game added just enough Wii controllability to make it new and fun but left enough of the original intact that we don't feel like it's a completely new thing. The hardest thing for me to master was the roll, having to hold the nunchuk button sideways while pounding my hands didn't feel like a natural movement to make him roll.
Overall, I highly recommend this game to anyone that loved DKC back in the 90s or just anyone that loves a new challenge on the Wii!
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