Review of The Testament of Sherlock Holmes - Xbox 360

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Add a star if you like slow, methodical mysteries with little action.

I love a good mystery game, but I hate point-and-click games, so there's not much out there for me. In the past few years, the best mystery games I can cite as meeting my sort of parameters I can cite are Heavy Rain and LA Noire. So I was excited when I found out that a new Sherlock Holmes video game was coming out.

Wee bit of background: I had not played the Sherlock Holmes / Jack the Ripper game that came out a few years ago (frankly, I didn't even know it existed), nor did I play any of the strictly PC Holmes games, so I can't provide any basis of comparison there. The last Holmes game I played were the two FMV games that came out for the Turbografix and Sega CD way back around 1990.

In The Testament of Sherlock Holmes (TToSH), you basically have an overarching mystery in which Holmes appears to have been set up for the theft of a necklace after having solved the mystery of where the necklace was. As the evidence mounts against him, even Watson doubts Holmes' innocence. During this time, you have the opportunity to play both Holmes and Watson, as the perspective switches between the two characters. In addition, there are several smaller mysteries that you must solve, such as the murder of a bishop.

So far I dig TToSH but I also get that it won't be for most players. On the one hand, I love the whole process of picking up clues and trying to put them together till you reach a conclusion. There is a really fantastic and unique system called the deduction board in which you see all of the facts listed in Holmes' notepad and then link those facts in order to reach a particular conclusion. I liked that a lot, as finally I feel like I am actively involved in solving a mystery and not merely pointing a character in a direction or clicking a mouse on disparate items (although there is some of that as well).

There are some problems with the game though. I'd say the biggest problem is that you can't really proceed from clue-finding mode until you pick up all of the clues which is stupid because sometimes the only clue you've missed is irrelevant. So, for instance, when I was in the bishop's chambers at the scene of his murder, the one fact I missed was that the steamer was full of water, which really didn't add any relevance to the other clues. One thing I liked about LA Noire was how you could miss some clues, and the game could proceed without them, even if it meant you ended up not solving the mystery properly. And other issue is the puzzles, which are occasionally tricky, and not in a way that is always intentional. It's one thing to not be able to solve a puzzle because the puzzle itself is hard; it's another thing to not be able to solve it because you're not sure what the game is expecting you to do. With TToSH, it's fairly easy to hit a brick wall if the player is not particularly clever.

I would also note that the description of the game in many sources, such as IGN, Wikipedia, Gamespot, etc., refers to the game as an "open world adventure". It's not. There is no sandbox. You are given a map with various disparate locations that you can visit. You don't get to explore Victorian London. I'm frankly quite a bit disappointed by that since I was excited by the notion of getting to just stroll around the city. I haven't finished the game yet, but I'm four hours into it and there has been little or no exploration so far.

Bottom line: As a Holmes fan, I love this game. I love the mysteries, I love the detail. No, the graphics are not up to par, and the stiff character faces require some getting used to, and the game could stand to be a bit more atmospheric in terms of shading and music. But it's great having a Victorian era mystery again, as I haven't played a good one since Dracula Unleashed back in the early 90's.

If you require frequent action, then this game really isn't for you. If you don't mind a slow, measured pace, then you could like this a lot, as I do.

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Really could have been awesome, like LA Noire. However, you must solve each case exactly the way the game wants, there is a use for each and every item in the game, there is no free roam, you spend a lot of time walking around trying to look at everything to find what you missed. In short, you end up trying to make the game happy. Plus there is a glitch that prevents you from walking through doors or walking away for about five seconds after they open. There are a lot of doors, so this adds up to like ten minutes waiting at open doors spinning in circles. Should have been way cooler.

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The characters, story line, settings and artwork are all very well done. But navigating the characters around the crime scenes and obtaining the active item indicator are a pain. They are very awkward.

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My son and I had a good time playing this game. The movement of the characters is a little strange at times but it has a good plot.

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Before writing this review, I'd like to note that I did not purchase the previous Sherlock Holmes Vs Jack the ripper game, therefore, I can't compare the two. With that said, here's my review-

Graphics-

While I actually like this game a lot; the graphics are not good at all. The graphics aren't even average to be honest, but there are some parts of the game that look a lot better than the majority of the game.

The in game characters look fine as far as the main characters are concerned, but then there are characters that either look identical to another in a different outfit, or, the lesser know characters just don't look good at all. Most of the backgrounds aren't much to yelp about either, and although they're not bad looking, there are certain aspects about the backgrounds that ruin the experience for me. Namely and for example, sometimes grass or plants look too green and at times there's a good amount of screen tearing or graphical bugs.

Speaking of bugs, one of the worst graphical bugs would be getting stuck in front of an open door which happened to me at least 6-8 times. Other bugs included Watson blocking my path one too many times.

Some of the backgrounds looked good such as the Cemetery in Whitechapel or the cobblestone path of the Whitechapel district and of course, Sherlock Holmes office which has a fine amount of detail. I often wondered why the rest of the game didn't look like this. The graphics had potential, but I feel it wasn't given enough of anything to make it more than a below average looking game for the 360.

Sound-

I love the sound of this game. The background music is suitable for games like this, but the voice acting is excellent. At times, the dialogue can be funny with Sherlock and Watson wisecracking one another, but if there was one thing that got on my nerves in this game would be the sound of the footsteps. The footstep sound effects are loud, and I mean extremely loud. Luckily, you can turn down the sound effects.

Gameplay-

Here's where the review becomes a mixed review. I like this game, however, I don't particularly care for most of the puzzle elements.

The Testament of Sherlock is somewhat like L.A Noire, except without fighting or gunplay. Instead, you progress the game based on pure wit. The small number of action sequences are few and far between if any to be honest. With that said, the game is very engaging and easily sucks up a few hours per play.

Sherlock has the ability to use all detective abilities including the help of his partner Watson and his dog, Toby. I have to admit that it felt fun to actually wonder where or who the villain was and every time I got close to figuring out who the killer was or what situation I'd analyze, the trail went cold or the villain was that much craftier.

The best part about this game would be the fact that you weren't given the L.A Noire style interrogation by questioning. L.A noire seemed never to have a good answer or a useful answer, with this game, it's a much different ball game.

This is what I liked about the game. Now, onto my gripes-

With so much mystery and puzzles packed in this game, I'd have to say that the puzzles or clue gathering could be very frustrating most of the time. Not because it isn't supposed to be hard, but because something is hidden somewhere right under your nose and you've little to no clue about how to find it or what to do next.

The puzzles themselves are very hard at times. But luckily, the game gives you an option to skip puzzles based on how close you are to completing them or how long you're puzzled. (No pun intended) I caught myself often saying "WTF, I already looked there/WTF, I already tried that and it didn't work but now it does...really?".

Then, there's Sherlock Holmes Deduction pad in which you'll have to piece together facts in order to conclude this or that...these parts were easily some of the most frustrating parts of the entire game and I didn't care for them at all. Often, I found that solving these parts seemed as if I solved them prior or at least something eerily similar.

With all that said, this game is pretty good. Unfortunately, in this day and age there are so few of these game types.

This is also a pretty long game. Solving anything takes a good chunk of time. This is not a short game.

Reviews of Warriors: Legends of Troy - Playstation 3

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Graphics: 3.5

Nothing spectacular, but serviceable. It doesn't break any new ground graphically, but it's what you would expect from the Warriors franchise.

Sound: 3.5

The Music was appropriate, and did not detract or distract. The voice acting was good, but not overly memorable. The only distraction to me was the pronunciations. The in-game characters would often pronounce a name one way, and the cutscene voiceover would pronounce it another, and not what I have come to expect from the name pronunciations (at least from films and such). Otherwise not much to comment on.

Story: 4

The storyline progressed nicely as you switched sides, playing heroes from both Sparta and Troy, following much of the legend. Perhaps it's just me, but I kept remembering the film Troy while playing. Thankfully, the story goes into further depth than the film, and you get a broader historical reference, albeit creative licenses obviosly taken.

Gameplay: 4

It's exactly what I expected, especially from KOEI Warriors. It's hack and slash. A rewarding skill up system with currency you spend to increase your stats, buy better combos, and enhance your characters. The items you purchase transfer from one hero to another as you play through the different stages, therefore you aren't specifically levelling one hero or another. The maps are well designed, and the objectives clearly laid out and suffice to move the story along. My only complaint is that some of the secondary objectives aren't well explained and are easily overlooked if you aren't paying attention, but that lends toward replayability I suppose. I will definitely be replaying to try to pick up some of the objectives I missed first time through.

Overall: 4

The game lived up to my expectations, and is very enjoyable. It's nice to play something different for a change. There's only so many times you can re-live the Three Kingdoms era, and this is a welcome change of pace. As another reviewer commented, a multiplayer or at least a co-op mode would have made this game significantly better, especially given the scope of the battle. Even so, it's a game that will provide many hours of fun for any fan of the genre.

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I pre-ordered this game form Amazon and it arrived yesterday. I have been playing it for about 10 hours now and had to pry myself away to write this review. The first thing any video game should be is fun, and Warriors Legend of Troy is fun to play. Is it ground breaking? Not really, although from the Warriors perspective I think I can safely say it is at least trying some new things.

First, unlike the Dynasty games, the story here unfolds in an interesting way, you play through missions as different characters as the war unfolds before you. The characters don't level, but you earn Kleos (basically currency) for completing missions and completing sub-goals within them. You spend this on upgrades that can be applied to whichever character you are playing. At first I was unsure of this, but after an hour or two the idea grew on me, it is an interesting approach. I also like how different each of the characters are from each other, they play differently. And, as a surprise, this button masher does require you to apply some strategy as you battle different types of enemies, and use different combo's and different approaches to them. Also, while many of the enemy soldiers are just basic cannon fodder, there are somewhere between 6 to 10 different models, so they don't all look like you are fighting clones, although there are not enough different models to say that anything to unique is going on.

The production value is very good, and the cut-scenes that tell the story are of a very high quality. I think the voice acting is serviceable, but honestly not really very good overall.

However, going back to my original point, this game is fun to play. The maps are terrific, the objectives very clear and they make sense and also advance the story in a meaningful way. The rewards system is intriguing and keeps you coming back. There are other mini-game options outside of the main story, and as you complete levels you can revisit them.

Honestly, this game exceeded my expectations (which were admittedly pretty low). If you like the Dynasty games this is a fresh take with some rudimentary innovations. Finally, part of what makes it fresh is to get into some western mythos and out of the three-kingdoms! Thankfully I did not have to put down the yellow turban rebellion for the one-millionth time here!

Worth getting if you like either the movie Troy, Greek mythos, or haven't played a Dynasty game in a little while and want to see where they are going.

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Warriors: Legends of Troy is a surprising game. I honestly didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but its seemingly simple guise quickly revealed a much deeper and richer experience I had anticipated. It might seem to be a simple hack and slash but if your first playthrough (roughly 20hrs) is set to Hard, then you will be richly rewarded with a similar sense of accomplishment you may have experienced in Demon's Souls.

Having said that, the combat system is based on timing your attacks and knowing your enemies' attack patterns. Most peon enemies will be easily obliterated through your standard light and heavy attacks (which combine into various brutal combos) but larger bosses and sub-bosses will be a challenge (and sub-bosses are frequent). If you don't take the time to memorize enemy attack patterns and to formulate your own strategy you can be quickly mowed down in as few as three attacks. Boss fights are especially notorious for this and get progressively harder as each stage of the fight unfolds. You will die, and die often, until you learn the fight inside and out. For this reason, your victories are very gratifying and saving afterwards is usually accompanied by a sigh of relief.

When you beat one stage you play the next stage as another character. The story of the Trojan War is told through the eyes of roughly eight characters, each from Troy, Greece, and even an Amazon. Before each stage begins you have the option to equip items, which serves as the game's way of "leveling up," so to speak, since in theory there really is no way to level up like in traditional Koei games. Instead, each item has different properties and is better suited for different characters and during different boss fights so it's a good idea to experiment until you reach a good balance. In fact, this is an integral part of the game's learning process, and it creates a very dynamic and mercurial experience even towards the game's conclusion.

As you progress through the story you'll be treated to another highlight of the game: the narrative. Normally, Koei's narratives aren't as exciting as its cutscenes but here the narrator seems passionate about the source material and the Greek art style is simply gorgeous to watch. The combined effect, although minimal since it is after all a narrative, is still a lovely experience.

Even when the end credits roll, the game has plenty of replay value. Some of the trophies are actually great challenges on their own, and the additional modes outside of the story are excellent ways to challenge yourself further and to earn more Kleos, which by the way, transfer to story mode just in case you need to purchase a certain item for a stage you're struggling with.

Now that I think about it, WLOT is perhaps the most polished and streamlined of Koei's games to date. Combat is not as slow as Fist of the North Star and the ability to use combos comprised solely of heavy attacks goes a really long way to make the fluff between boss fights fresh and fun. Fury Mode, which slows down time and overpowers your character, is also fun and speeds things along as well.

With all that said, one truly feels a sense of progression with Koei, which is definitely saying something for a company that hasn't evolved tremendously over its lifetime. With such a resounding success as WLOT I dare not doubt the next Koei game. Bring it on!

Honest reviews on Warriors: Legends of Troy - Playstation 3

For me this is the third success Koei has pulled off in the past twelve months.

I got the Fist of the North Star one in Nov, then Trinity in March.

They have come a long way since DW2 on the PS2.

The game does have the same basic system, but for lack of a better term it seems a bit more realistic than the DW games. Combat is much more brutal, you are much more vulnerable. And the boss fights will put you to a real challenge. The look of characters fits. (No hot little warrior girls, the amazons are amazons, they are tall, and could almost pass for men with their build.)

The change of setting is something else they have needed since running the three kingdoms plot through six times has been done.

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"Warriors: Legends of Troy" is not a bad game. While I personally think the gameplay should be likened to Final Fight rather than Dynasty Warriors, all in all, it is a satisfying beat-em-up that takes the player through tales of Homer, Sophocles, Vergil, and many others.

The presentation of this game is fantastic. The vignettes leading into each stage are produced and written well, and the voices (from narrator to each character) are great. The developers have clearly taken the time to read up on their classics here, and draw from many sources (as insinuated above, I was particularly happy at the inclusion of Sophocles telling of the death of Ajax).

But we don't play a game to read the classics. Thankfully, gameplay is solid. Combat is somewhat slower paced than a typical Dynasty Warriors game, but much more complex. Enemies can kill an adventurer who is underprepared, or isn't paying attention, even on easy level. Challenges add to the fun (e.g. you might have to beat a boss in under 4 minutes, etc. etc.). One of the best things here is that the camera FINALLY works. I don't feel sick when the game swings around.

There are some issues with game, however. The first is that there are only 8 playable characters in the game. This is unacceptable. The Trojan war had numerous heroes, many of whom appear in this game, but are unplayable. Why can't I play as Deiphobus, or Diomedes? Why is Patroclus the exact same as Achilles? In general, other characters play differently, but all in all, this game should have three times this number of characters, at least.

Far worse than the above is the fact that there are only 22 playable stages, and no free mode! I beat the game in about 6 hours. Yes, there are difficulty settings, challenges, and what have you, but come on. By comparison, it took me a full day to beat the story mode of a single kingdom in Dynasty Warriors 7. In W:LoT, you play each stage with one chosen character, and when you are finished, that's it. All that's left is mostly pointless grinding. There are some challenge modes, but this is hardly the selling point of a game like this.

All in all, I think this is an OK game. If I had gotten it for $20, it would have been great. I strongly urge people to wait for a price drop here.

Cheap Battlefield Bad Company 2 - Platinum Hits -Xbox 360

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I wasn't sure about this game, I bought it because it was cheap, but it has become one of my favorite games. You can blow your way through the levels, and don't have to take a specific path. It is hard to run out of ammo and the weapons and explosives are awesome. I would definitely recommend

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Game is wonderuful. Seller was an excellent seller. Great condition, and also, a great game.

If you buy this as a Platinum Hit game, you will have to buy a VIP Code on the Xbox 360 Marketplace to be able to play it online though, only downfall. Great game, and great seller otherwise.

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this game is awesome, fun single player campaign. there is also a coop mode available on xbox live. Multiplayer is very fun lots of maps..But you have to purchase a "VIP" code to unlock all of the maps and game modes off of XBL if you purchase the Platinum Edition anyways.. Im not sure about other editions that are bought new..

Honest reviews on Battlefield Bad Company 2 - Platinum Hits -Xbox 360

This game was better than anticipated and is a great alternative COD. Will definitely be buying the other games to move forward with the serious.

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Fun game ive been playing for a day now full servers cant beat the original battlefield dont be skeptical get this game also fast shipping

Best Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Wrecking Ball Deals

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Don't get me wrong, Wrecking Ball can be either a potent battler (using Force Field energy, like a bowling ball), or something to reach things others Skylanders can't (tongue attacks), but he comes with a few hitches: Firstly, if you make him an "Ultimate Spinner" (leaning towards powering up his Force Field), whatever passage that is smaller than his force field will not allow him to pass until you disrupt it (also, it may also awkwardly bounce Wrecking Ball off of background items, such as lamps and other objects hanging off of walls or ceilings).

Secondly making him "Total Tongue" (leaning on making his tongue attacks faster and reach further), will leave him with weak attacks, overall.

Wrecking Ball is ok, but I think I'll keep with Spyro or Voodood as my go-to Magic-type Skylanders.

Still, the only OTHER reason I still play as him in the game, is... strangely, it's like playing a hyperactive reptilian puppy-dog (i.e. he's strangely cute).

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If you buy Wrecking Ball you must have patience... I got him in the 3 character pack with Stealth Elf and Sonic Boom really needed those 2 but he was a pleasant addition. In the beginning he's not that impressive... but I would put him out there with his crazy out of control spinning and little long reaching TOUNGE and bust up a few things.. Eventually got to an upgrade or two and WHAMMO!!! He's great to put in the beginning of a battle. He turns into a crazy spinning blue ball with a FORCE FIELD that destroys anything in his path. Those powers are followed up with a BURP attack! Who else can do this??? Be sure to press and hold the burp attack for an even bigger result! For instance; you can build it up outside of a door and wait until you get inside to release the "BURP" whenever you want... Talk about control! He adds a little humor and craziness to the game and is great for wiping out a wide amount of opponents.

STUCK IN A GAME GLITCH?????

SWITCH YOUR CHARACTER ON THE PORTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMMEDIATE FIX!!!!

DON'T BACK OUT THE GAME/SHUT SYSTEM OFF...YOU WILL LOSE YOUR PROGRESS..STAY CALM..TRADE CHARACTERS (or PICK UP THE SAME STUCK CHARACTER) ON THE PORTAL AND SWITCH RIGHT BACK..

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This was a birthday gift for my son and he loves it! Plays with it all the time even when not playing the game.

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Its cool the kids loved to enhance their collection with this tongue slapping creature the help fight evil c

Kaos

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Love this little dude...prefer him to the newer version of Wreck'n Ball...new/old either character works great in the game. Creates lots of laughs from the kiddos young/old with his crazy antics. Works in both skylander games Spyro and Giants.

Best Xbox Controller S-Black Deals

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...at least, it's popular at my store. I say "funky" because the dark blue color doesn't seem to go well with the black and green XBox...but my customers don't seem to mind. It outsells the green S and almost outsells the black S at my store. Those who bought an XBox when it first came out remember the monstrously oversized controller that came with it. Fans complained, and Microsoft created the Controller S ("S" for "small") to alleviate the cramped hands and aggravation the original controller caused. (The original still has its fans, though; I get a handful of requests each month for it). The control layout may take some getting used to, as many games require the use of all of the buttons, and reaching the small black and white buttons near the bottom of the controller can be risky in heavy combat (such as switching grenade types while battling an Elite in Halo). Otherwise, this controller is great. It's just the right size for most people, although if you're buying a controller for someone with small hands (like a child, for example) then I suggest the Mad Catz MicroCon, perfectly suited for smaller hands. The Controller S is also available in green and black.

I hope this review was helpful

--Christian Wheeler

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The original controller that Microsoft released with the XBox was like the system itself, big and bulky. Those of you who remember how your hands felt after playing hours of Halo with those big bulky controllers will truly apreciate the new "S" type controllers. They are much more comfortable on your hands and make game play much better. Your hands are not crampy and in pain like before. The most notable difference will be in the white and black buttons. I remember how annoying it was to have to reach all the way to the top of the controller in an odd fashion to hit one of those buttons. They are now on the bottom of the controller, and it takes geting used to, but you will find they are much easier to reach and work way better in the new spot. All the buttons on the controller are more accessible and the control sitcks are easier to use. The blue color on this one is just cool and since it is the same price why not go for it?

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Those who bought an XBox when it first came out remember the monstrously oversized controller that came with it. Fans complained, and Microsoft created the Controller S ("S" for "small") to alleviate the cramped hands and aggravation the original controller caused. The control layout may take some getting used to, as many games require the use of all of the buttons, and reaching the small black and white buttons near the bottom of the controller can be risky in heavy combat (such as switching grenade types while battling an Elite in Halo). Otherwise, this controller is great. It's just the right size for most people, although if you're buying a controller for someone with small hands (like a child, for example) then I suggest the Mad Catz MicroCon, perfectly suited for smaller hands. The Controller S is also available in green and blue.

I hope this review was helpful

--Christian Wheeler

Honest reviews on Xbox Controller S-Black

Those who bought an XBox when it first came out remember the monstrously oversized controller that came with it. Fans complained, and Microsoft created the Controller S ("S" for "small") to alleviate the cramped hands and aggravation the original controller caused. The control layout may take some getting used to, as many games require the use of all of the buttons, and reaching the small black and white buttons near the bottom of the controller can be risky in heavy combat (such as switching grenade types while battling an Elite in Halo). Otherwise, this controller is great. It's just the right size for most people, although if you're buying a controller for someone with small hands (like a child, for example) then I suggest the Mad Catz MicroCon, perfectly suited for smaller hands. This semi-tranparent green controller goes well with the black and green Xbox. The Controller S is also available in black and blue.

I hope this review was helpful

--Christian Wheeler

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I know they have cheaper Xbox controllers out there, but most of them suck. I remember when I got a $20 controller, and shortly, it started working like crap. I know $30 is a little pricey for a controller, but I'd rather spend $30 for a good controller than spend $20 for a crappy controller.

Discount The King of Fighters XIII - Xbox 360

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So a little backround on me. I have been playing fighters since I could grab an arcade stick, been playing tournament level players for 12 years, and currently play Super Street Fighter 4 AE ver 2012 and plenty of old school games to include Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo.

That being said this is not a review by a random person who casually plays games.

First and foremost is the content. SNKP packed so much in this game that it feels like a actual game unlike KOF 12 which was a huge disappointment. The story mode is full of hand drawn moton comic type scenes with plenty of story. Arcade mode is included which is standard in any fighter. There are trial modes which give you some of the best combos for each character similar to what Street Fighter 4 introduced and well as a basic tutorial explaining the basic system.

You can unlock Billy Kane and the boss character through playing the game as well as download Iori and Kyo alternate versions. Mr. Karate DLC should be coming in the near future. There is a color edit mode similar to Capcom vs Snk 2. This allows you to color any character the way you want, being able to save up to 5 custom edits per characters. You unlock more colors by playing story mode.

The game itself looks beautiful. The characters are fluid and backrounds are gorgeous. Much improvement over KoF 12. No longer does the game zoom in like in the last installment as well. The overall menu design and presentation is done well.

The actual gameplay is a blast. King of Fighters is a more offensive based game than Street Fighter. Everything compliment offense. There are rolls, low jump, hyper low jumps, hyper jumps, guard bar, special cancels, super cancels, neo max cancels, and custom combos. You can pull off crazy combos in this game. The overall combo system in the game is fantastic. Unlike SSF4, you cannot cancel a special move unless it's hitting. So no one can uppercut then cancel to safety, you will get punished for your mistakes. Of course the staple in KoF games, you can combo grabs, which is something I find very unique.

Online play I have done research on through Shoryuken.com. 4 bar connections are amazing (like they are at your house), 3 bar connections are playable, 2 bars is bad, 1 bar is roflomgnowhy. Mostly there are 2/3 bar connections depending on distance. That being said don't let that deter you from buying this amazing game. SNKP and Atlus have announced that they are patching the game to vastly improve online performance. This game seems to be as good currently online as Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3.

With over a roster of 30 highly enjoyable characters (such as Kyo, Iori, Mai, K, Terry, as well as other fan favorites), a complex deep yet easy to grasp combo system, standard KoF mechanics, good online play, as well as a vast amount of content this game get 5/5. SNKP out did themselves, but the fans deserve no less. This game is what KoF 12 should have been. If you been waiting for a good KoF game to get into THIS is it.

Edit: This game comes with a 4 CD soundtrack of all KoF games which is a plus. Also this game was rebalanced from the original arcade version (making it better).

Gameplay 5/5

Sound 5/5

Content 5/5

Roster 5/5

Replayability 5/5

Tutorials 5/5

Online play 3.5/5 (Note this is getting patched to vastly improve and it good most the time, but bad connections are bad)

Written by Shoryuken.com member RagingStormX (Capcom fanboy)

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I consider myself a fighting game enthusiast. I spend probably way too much time on forums and sites like Shoryuken, Eventhubs, and Dream Cancel. I own an expensive arcade stick that my level of play probably doesn't justify me purchasing. I've been playing fighters seriously since Street Fighter Alpha 2. I'd only dabbled in KOF during those days, mainly the classic KOF '98. I've heard tons of great things about KOF XIII and decided to take the dive myself. I own and have sunk lots of time into all the big fighters of this generation: SSF4: AE 2012, Blazblue: CS (please note I haven't played EXTEND and don't really plan on getting it), UMVC3, and SF x Tk. In my opinion, KOF XIII is the single BEST fighting game of this generation, and I hope I can make a great case for you to check out this fantastic game.

First off, this game looks absolutely stunning. The "baboon hand" art style of the new Street Fighter games has always been divisive, and some people can get turned off by Blazblue's heavy anime feel (though that's a beautiful game as well objectively). The style of UMVC3, which is semi-borrowed from Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom, is pretty stunning as well, but if you're a fan of detailed 2-D, hand-drawn animation with TONS of character and personality, your eyes will feast on the amazing visuals in KOF XIII. There are over 30 characters here, all of whom represent different countries, styles, fighting styles, and body types. These SNK designs have stood the test of time, as characters like Kyo, K', and Iori seem, if anything, cooler and more stylish than ever. The backgrounds are generally great too, like a crowded London street with onlookers on double decker buses and a street market backdrop with massive 3-D elephants that blend in with the 2-D perfectly. There are SOME questionable ethnic stereotypes at play here, but that's a discussion for another day. As well, some of the onlookers get way too "animated," as the game speeds their fist pumps and claps up way too much to the point that it's sometimes distracting.

The most important thing about the visuals gameplay-wise is that powerful moves shake the screen and really look like they hurt. You FEEL the blows in this game, which is a credit to its presentation.

The music, which comes to you in a 4-disc soundtrack if you pre-ordered, is amazing as well, and endearingly old-school. You'll hear the same mix of crunchy guitar riffs and catchy synthesizers that have been the hallmark of this series for years. Note: I ordered the Xbox 360 version a few months after the game originally came out and STILL got the soundtrack, however I can't guarantee that if you buy the game now you'll still get it. I think your chances are better on 360 because it sold less on that platform.

The game has a variety of modes, including a Blazblue-ish "visual novel" story mode if you care about that kind of thing. Given that the "Ash Crimson Saga" was last touched upon in KOF XI on the Playstation 2, you might have already forgotten all about the whole "Ash is a very pretty man who is an enigmatic protagonist and can be good or evil" thing, so story mode is for hardcore KOF nerds more than a general audience. If you're just a fighting game nut, though, there are TONS of modes here, such as an Arcade mode with light story elements (all the characters have intros with each other), a Versus mode, a pretty robust practice mode with a variety of options, a variety of challenge modes like time attack and survival, color edit mode that unlocks more options as you play the game, a gallery that unlocks pictures and other things as you play, and what is my opinion the star of the show: the insanely hard Trials mode. Seriously guys, these trials, where you perform set combos with all characters that ramp up in difficulty, are freakin' brutal, the HARDEST of any fighter out right now. This segues right into my passion for this game: the trials are difficult but SO rewarding once you pull them off.

In my opinion, being a top-level player in any fighter is a difficult task that takes tons of muscle memory, practice, and skill. Where the rewarding difficulty lies in KOF is that timing and inputs have to be EXACT. The basic idea for combos is that, once you have meter, you cancel moves into each other. The way that works is that I can cancel a special move into a super move, but I input the super as soon as the first move hits. Seeing as how KOF has motions that aren't common in other games, such as two half circles back or combinations of diagonals and quarter circles, this is, in a word, freakin' hard.

Also, it feels damn awesome when you start to pull them off.

There are two meters in KOF XIII, one for canceling special moves and another for supers and EX moves, so meter management is huge in this game. Since you fight with a team of three, you can develop great strategies like using your first character as a "battery" to build meter, and pick your "anchor" character so that your last guy can take full advantage of meter. You can also enter a "custom combo" state once the HD meter, or "special move cancel meter," is full, and this allows you to pull off devastating combos by linking special move cancels for as long as the draining bar has meter left. Pulling these combos off is the meat of the game. I enter Hyper Drive mode, chain a combination of specials and normals together, and assuming I have super meter, I end the state by unleashing a super at the end. If I have lots of meter, I can even cancel a regular super into a level 3 "Neo Max" super. When you look at matches online with high-level players, you might think that the game is "broken" since you can effectively pull off close to 100% damage combos. However, I can assure you that you truly EARN all the damage you dish out in KOF. Nothing comes easy and that's a great thing for hardcore fighting fans.

KOF is a very fast-paced game and incredibly strategic. Matches are default at 60 seconds and most end way before that. You can dash, roll, jump, super jump, hop, and hyper hop in this game, which opens up tons of options in terms of spacing. You can also pull off guard counters that take up meter if you're getting pressured and have access to a "blowback" move that comes out sort of like a Focus Attack in SFIV. There's also a guard crush system so you can't just block all day.

Netplay is pretty decent, but not as smooth as something like Blazblue. As long as there's decent connections on both ends though, it won't be that much of a problem. There are absolutely NO game-breaking issues like SF x Tk's awful online though. Take note that there is also not a spectator mode, which is a bummer.

The last thing I'll say about KOF XIII is that, although there are still tiers in a sense, like for example Benimaru being a beast, the game is set up so that all characters give and receive the same damage. A big grappler like Daimon does the same damage to the schoolgirl Athena as he does to another big dude like Clark, and takes the same damage from Clark as Athena would. More than any other game right now, KOF XIII comes down to skill. I'll be honest, I still fairly suck at this game. But I put in the work everyday because it's the most fast-paced and rewarding fighter out there right now. For $40, you can't go wrong if you're a fighting game fan.

Note: In my opinion, because of the unorthodox inputs, this game is almost impossible to get the most out of with anything but a stick. That's just my personal opinion so if you're a diehard pad person, by all means give it a try and see if you can hang.

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If you really are a true KOF fan, then this new installment won't disappoint. Crisp graphics, Awesome soundtracks, it's also got a story mode. and many many more. As for online, I haven't experienced any lag issue or input delay. This is a must buy.

Honest reviews on The King of Fighters XIII - Xbox 360

This is a huge step up from the disappointingly 12th installment. Everything from the mechanics, presentation, and characters, it just fits very well and it feels like a finished product. I will say, however, this is not the best starting point for fighting game noobies; this is very much a hardcore fighting game. It does have a tutorial mode that tells you the basics, but it does give an in depth analysis on the more advanced mechanics. Net play has been improved as well; fights are smoother and more stable, given that you have a solid internet connect.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most complex, deep, and balanced fighting games of this generation. Well worth your time and money.

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Bought this after realising I needed a fighting game. I have way too many games of the same genre(Action, Adventure, Racing). Wanted to mix it up a bit. The game has a lot of content to begin with. Over 30+ characters and several fighting modes. Not recommended for the average fighting novice, because combos are complicated to input. Overall great game. Fun to play and kill some time with.

Best Afterglow Universal Wireless Headset - Blue - Xbox 360 Deals

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List Price: $89.99
Sale Price: $69.99
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While I neither own, nor play, any of the modern game systems that this device is targeted for, I do have quite a lot of experience with headphones and with consumer electronics. I looked at the sonic qualities of them in use as a traditional headset and I did not evaluate the microphone at all. If you are looking for a review from a gameplayer, this is not it, but if the same level of quality went into the design and implementation of the microphone as it did the sonic quality of the headsets, I think it will be perfect for even the most finicky gamer.

FIT AND FINISH

Physically the headsets have a bit of a Tron-like look to them, which may not be perfectly suited for the average 30+ year old. Thankfully the designers provided several different illumination settings for the headsets. I promptly set the illumination to be disabled -no need to waste precious battery life.

The overall fit of the headset wasn't perfect. Having it be adjustable would be a very welcome feature for those of us that have a bit bigger noggin. The ear cups didn't sit flat because they were a bit on the tight side. I ended up rotating the headband toward the back of my head and thankfully the cups can be rotated to fit your ear angle. This provided a mostly comfortable fit, but still no where near as comfortable as it could be if even slight adjustment was possible.

SETUP

Getting the headsets set up was fairly straightforward. Plug in the USB dongle to the back of your computer or game console, connect the audio output using the 1/8" mini-plug or one of the adapters provided, power on the headsets and let the dongle and headsets pair up. Instant wireless audio. The quick setup documentation left a lot to be desired, but there is a much more thorough user's manual that outlines several key troubleshooting steps as well as how to setup more complex home theater systems should you run into issues.

MUSIC PLAYBACK

THE SETUP: I sat down with a very eclectic selection of music ranging from Classical Mozart (Symphony Number 40 if you'd like to know) all the way through Journey, Dave Matthews Band, Nirvana Unplugged and Disturbed (needed something with some overdriven guitar). I've listened to several wireless speakers and headsets and I was definitely impressed by the quality of sound being generated by this sub-$100 WIRELESS headset. I was listening to uncompressed digital versions of the songs from the original retail CDs and in all cases the Bass was tight and highs were sharp, just the way I like them.

Every now and then with the more "layered" pieces, things got a little muddy with the woofer overtaking the rest of the mix and causing some sharp drops in the mid range. For example during the Dave Matthews Band song "Tripping Billies" the intro has a heavy bass drum hit over the top of the sax and violin, there was a noticeable reduction in the amplitude of the mid/higher end range of the sax/violin to accommodate the very loud output from the woofer. Wanting to investigate this more, I hard wired the headsets into the source directly and that eliminated this problem. It appears that it may be a result of some compression needed to provide enough bandwidth for the wireless connection but only the manufacturers can really confirm that. What I was noticing was something that is commonplace when listening to compressed audio and for most consumers it is a non-issue. I just wanted to indicate here (for those that care about such things) that there are some subtle differences when listening wirelessly compared to listening with a wire but it is very minimal and for casual use won't be a problem.

LITTLE THINGS

The volume adjustment on the headset was a welcome addition as there are times when you do want to adjust that output just a bit and don't want to have to grab a remote or wake your computer to do it.

With regard to the alternate modes that are available on this headset, all of my comparative tests were conducted using the "Pure Audio" setting. There are two other options which the manufacturers title as "Bass Boost" and "Immersive". When Bass Boost was enabled, the bass was sharp and generally undistorted, but overly heavy for music. This might be a desired effect for those who have a particular affinity for bass in their music, but for my tastes the "bass boost" is just too much. As PDP is a gaming centric company, I could see its use in gaming, or movies, but not for music. It is for people that have a need (or just a desire) for heavy bass and don't care about much else. The Immersive option, like the bass boost, would seemingly work better for movie/game play use, not for music. It is intended to create a psycho-acoustic virtual surround sound effect, but again, in my tests, the quality of sound output by the speakers is far better than anything that a circuit can emulate and in Pure Audio mode the headset did a very good job emulating the spatial effects created naturally during recording and intended by the audio mixers of the content. But some users may enjoy it. Thankfully, the manufacturers provided an easy color-coded system indicated on the microphone to tell which mode you are in and made it very easy to switch between them. Try them all and figure out which one works for the content you are enjoying.

WHAT ABOUT FOR JUST WATCHING TV?

For those of you that were hoping to use these headsets for casual television watching, you will really enjoy the volume adjustment so that you can listen at a louder level than your partner might enjoy. Being a closed ear design, you can even be in the same room as your partner and they could be sleeping or reading and you won't be disturbing each other. Of course you can use these headsets with a wire and that will provide the simplest form of connectivity. Unfortunately, the wire that comes with the headset is fairly short (as it is intended to be used with portable gaming consoles or Ultrabooks that may lack a USB port). If you are looking to use them as a wired headset, you will need to get a longer cable. Thankfully, the port that the manufacturer used on the headsets is a standard 1/8" Mini plug available at most local electronics stores. If your TV or amplifier doesn't have a "headphone" out plug then you will need to use the included RCA plug to 1/8" stereo plug which the manufacturer includes.

NOTE: You can only use the "pure audio" mode when using these headsets with a wire.

BUT WHAT ABOUT WIRELESS TV WATCHING?

Wireless from the TV is potentially a bit more challenging. If your TV has a USB port (many newer models do), you may be able to plug the USB dongle into that and then use the included RCA to 1/8" stereo plug (sorry no optical input available) that the manufacturer includes to hookup the audio. Our test TV is an older LCD that doesn't have any kind of USB plug available. In my tests, I discovered one could use a powered USB hub (for example this: ) to plug in the USB dongle and then hook the audio cable up to whatever audio out is available on your TV. The hub doesn't get connected to a computer, the included AC adapter provides the power for the wireless connection and then you can use these headsets without the burden of the wire following you around everywhere. As an added bonus, while using the wireless mode you then regain the ability to use the alternate Bass Boost and Immersive modes (which were not available with the wire) should you be interested in doing so.

A COMMENT ABOUT WIRELESS RANGE

The wireless range of these headsets is quite good. In very non-official and non-quantitative tests I was able to walk out of our suite of offices (about 2000 square feet) and down the hall 20-30 feet before I lost connectivity. This is obviously dependent on location of the source and devices/construction materials between the headset and the source. But in a typical residential environment a user should be able to walk around a 1,000-2,000 square foot house if the source is centrally located without loosing connection to the source.

FINAL SUMMARY

Overall these are a great set of headphones for consumption of multimedia content. Whether it is to be used with a portable device like an iPad or other game platform, or with a home theater so you don't disturb those around you, most users will find the sound delivered by these headphones to be light years beyond what they are accustomed to. Physically, the overall design (a little on the "bright" side for my traditional tastes) and the lack of size adjustment makes them difficult for me to wear comfortably both privately or in a public setting. The alternative modes may work for your particular listening needs, give them all a try and choose what works for you. But all in all, at this price point, it would be difficult to find a better sounding headset that offers all of the features and options this unit includes.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I previously had reviewed the Turtle Beach Ear Force X42 Wireless Dolby Surround Sound Gaming Headset. For a headset that normally goes for a $160, I was expecting a lot from the Turtle Beach...and it did fairly well. I was pretty disappointed by the lackluster bass performance, however.

The mic on this headset performs about as well as the Turtle Beach does. Range is also quite excellent I'm able to walk to the other side of my house and still hear what's going on without interference which is impressive given that I do have a dual-band router plus an assortment of electronics throughout the house.

Where this headset excels over the Turtle Beach, however, is in bass reproduction. For a headset that retails for $90 less than Turtle Beach's X42, it puts it to shame. It's not going to be a contender for a Beats or a Bose headset, mind you, but it really puts the Turtle Beach to shame. Playing Borderlands, I hear the satisfying low roar of a rocket launcher firing and the thud of a far off explosion which sounds puny on the Turtle Beach. The Immersive Audio mode is by far my favorite audio mode for playing games and it sounds great.

And can the X42 work on the PC? Or the Playstation? Or with a mobile phone? I think not this Afterglow actually is compatible with ALL of these devices at a fraction of the price.

Battery life promises 10 hours I have used it for 9 thus far and not a glimmer/hint of the headset's battery life waning. The lithium ion battery appears to work as advertised thus far.

As for build, this headset doesn't feel like it's going to break like the X42 does. It's pretty solid and actually withstands some deformation without breaking (don't push it though the intent is to protect damage from "casual" use, not so you can show your friends how it bends like a reed). The ear pads also feel like they are better quality with a nice comfortable leather feel. The headset does feel a bit on the small side for me, but then size 8 hats feel almost uncomfortably snug on me so I'm sure that it will feel pretty comfortable on the average head.

A brief note on the mic I like the fact that it's retractable. Having the swivel mic on the Turtle Beach set was occasionally annoying; having the ability to tuck away the mic when I'm not using it gets a big thumbs up from me.

This headset will never replace my audiophile headsets, but for gameplay, this set really puts Turtle Beach on notice...Turtle Beach is NOT the company that I remember anymore.

Highly recommended!

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This is honestly the perfect headset for me. I have used it for gaming, skype calls, and listening to music and it works great for all of those things. I love how I can walk around my house or sit on my balcony while talking on Skype, the range is great as well. The only time it ever cut out on me is when I tried walking out to my car with them on. They don't have a whole lot of adjustability, but they fit my head just fine. Not to mention that they look better than any other headset available. I got the one day shipping for three dollars with Prime and it arrived in about 12 hours which is quite impressive if you ask me. They seem to be made of quality material, so they should hold up just fine.

Honest reviews on Afterglow Universal Wireless Headset - Blue - Xbox 360

People have had different views of PDP Afterglow's products. I'm not quite an expert though because this is my first product I've bought from them. Might buy a controller later on but anyway;

Sound This Headset sounds great for its cost. The three different audios are clear, The Bass Boost really does add a nice oomph of impact depending on what game/music your listening to. On PC, I use a Equalizer to increase the effect further when I really feel like having my head rattled so much the headset technically shakes itself(though long term usage-wise..it might not be advised to abuse it.)-Another NoteThe've done well to add the Bass Boost without really distorting the Highs of the sound, though you can still notice the difference in contrast though.. The Virtual Surround Sound mode is probably what you will use with everything you listen to. It isn't no 7.1 but it does do a pretty good job of opening the "field of sound" from just your ears to your whole head to give a overall nice richness of sound.. The VSS mode, as it has on the box, will be able to obtain the highest high's out of all 3 modes and it can still capture a nice low to an extent. Technically, it's the Jack of all Trade mode. Then the Pure Audio is pretty much the normal default mode. It will always be set to it when you turn the headphones on.

Value About power usage, well, They certainly told the truth about how long they last. I haven't really ran into a loss of power problem since I've got them. Of course, I don't quite have the time to fully play them for 10-12 straight hours and if you use them in a mobile device, they don't really use power unless you manually turn the lighting effect on(because it's not automatic unless they're used on console or PC)The glow effect is awesome, of course. Some people I show them off to always ask do they sound as good as the look. All I do is let them have a test and they shut right on up lol.

Design The only thing I have a problem with is that the ear cups are quite bulky. Being 50mm drivers though, they do envelop your whole ear. And it will take a little time to get use to the feel. You can rotate the padding though until they feel right to you....and depending on the person, they may slightly squeeze your head when you first put the on. you just have to stretch them out a bit and "break them in" before they start feeling comfortable enough. Until then, you might have to take them off after a little while to give your head a rest.

Overall They sound great, they look great, they're wireless with a nice range to them. -Side NoteThe wireless transmitor has a 3.5mm jack that can go into a mobile device as well, so if you have a AC wall unit with a usb, then you can pretty much turn your mobile device into wireless as well, as sort of an alternative to bluetooth. Anyway, all I can say is that they'll have to survive the test of time of course( months to years) without messing up in some way. The Golden Rule still applies: Take care of your things. Other than that, what more can you ask of in headphones. These are all-around nice.

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After over five months of using the Afterglow Universal Wireless Headset, it's time to find something else.

I purchased these after the battery in my Logitech Wireless Headset H600 Over-The-Head Design (981-000341) stopped holding a charge. The initial reviews, feature set, and reasonable price appeared to be a fine choice. It's also a relatively new offering where the choices that already existed in the category all failed in one way or another.

The good:

Insanely verstile: The headset itself is both wired and wireless. You can plug an audio source and an Xbox 360 controller directly into the headset with wires if that's what you need. It also functions as a wireless headset with its USB transmitter. The transmitter even has a stereo audio cable hanging off of it which can be used simultaneously with the USB audio adapter. In my case, I could plug it into my Mac for game audio and microphone input to TeamSpeak while having the transmitter's 3.5mm connector on my iPhone to listen to podcasts. The headset has a fade control to tweak the mixing of the two audio sources. It does all of these things very well, which is wonderful.

Great sound quality that comes through sufficiently loud: This really says it all. The quality of wireless and wired audio is perfect for gaming, listening to music, or anything else. Other wireless USB headsets I've tested were too quiet to be useful in many situations, but this headset does not have the same problem.

Excellent battery life: I easily got through two nights of hardcore gaming on a single charge. When the battery does eventually run out, you can keep it going by plugging in a mini USB cable to a source of power. You can even use the headset while it's charging. Some USB wireless headsets cannot do this.

Great wireless range: I had no trouble roaming my house while listening on this headset. It's nice.

The bad:

Bright LED lights everywhere: The wireless transmitter has a super-bright LED in it which is always on when connected and blinking when disconnected. I had to cover it up a bit with electrical tape to tone it down. The headset itself is also a beacon of blue light. Look closely at the photo of the item. Anything blue there is a bright light, including the headband.

Ugly: I won't sugar-coat this detail. You will look like an absolute jackass wearing this thing. It's a monstrous blue plastic demon with no fashion sense. It looks worse than basketball shoes. The clear plastic band sits over an inch above your head, and the remaining bulky plastic enclosure lets the world know that you only venture outside of the house when your parents yell at you to go find a job. Believe it or not, I have seen someone out in public wearing these. He did not make the headset look any better than I do.

The horrible:

The controls are digital: The volume and chat/game fade controls are non-stepping dials, but they are not analog or fine. Both jump to different volume levels as the dial is smoothly turned. It would have been better to just make them up/down buttons like an iPhone's volume controls.

The controls are buggy: Have you had your headset powered up for too long? The volume and chat/game fade controls will both stop working. Every once in a while you've gotta turn the headset off and on or you're stuck. This wouldn't be such a big deal if not for the fact that...

The mute button is also the power button: You have to hold the mute button down for two seconds to power the headset off. This is dumb. It should be a switch, or possibly the very bottom of an analog volume dial.

Uncomfortable: The clear plastic band does such a good job of holding the device on your head that it feels like a vice. The design is quite unfriendly to folks, like myself, who wear eyeglasses as it presses the frames into your skill with such force it leaves a mark afterwards. I've had to adjust the headset's position frequently to keep my head from feeling like it was going to be smashed in. As a result, I've discovered...

The clear plastic headband is not shatterproof: The clear band has developed some ominous cracks. I don't think this thing can last for a full year of regular use.

I really wish this headset were more comfortable and with better controls, because it is so perfectly versatile and has such great sound and microphone quality. Alas, it is not so. I only recommend this headset to homebound folks who have very small heads and don't wear glasses. Otherwise, you might want to reconsider your decision to try out a wireless USB headset. There are really no good options out here.

Reviews of Test Drive Eve of Destruction

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Test Drive Eve of Destruction is a strange title for a game all about 'contact racing' (demolition derby, figure-8 racing, etc).

There are 3 modes of gameplay: Action, Career, and Dare. All three modes accumulate points to unlock goodies.

Action mode has most of the cars unlocked and a handful of tracks and lets you jump right in and drive whatever car you want in whatever event you want. Pick the school bus, head to the trailer races, and you'll be a school bus with trailer racing a bunch of cars with trailers (how fun is that?).

In dare mode you race in a set of races with a predefined car. You must to finish first in each race to move on to the next 'dare'. There are multiple dare levels with 5 races per level.

Career mode is what you'd expect. You start out with the worst car, little cash, and no reputation. Within career mode you have different ways to race as well. You can race at the various tracks, go to the diner to race the local boys for money, and run time trials at places like the local gravel pit. There is also a junkyard where you can buy new cars, and a garage where you can purchase upgrades and paint your car.

Painting your car is pretty funny. When you paint, it's with spray paint and it looks real...and real bad...just like real spray-painted cars at the derby.

Any given race night is called an 'eve' and there are a number of events per eve. The events are fairly comprehensive and include: Figure-8 Jump (where the cars have to cross an intersection with jumps at high speed), trailer races (trailers attached to the cars), chain races (cars chained togethor), king of the hill, car soccer, flag-pole races (circle a flagpole while racing), the gauntlet (you drive a hearse and try to elude the chase cars), and of course the demolition derby. There are quite a few more race types besides these.

As far as gameplay goes, it's fun but this isn't a driving sim. It isn't PGR2. It's an Atari title and they don't seem to be putting out the top-shelf games these days. The various cars do handle differently and the upgrades to make the cars better. You just have to get the hang of how each car drives and not unlike PG2, the action mode is the way to get used to the various cars.

This is also one of those games that is super fun to play with your friends. You better have a big TV screen though since there's no Live and no system link. The game does support 480p video and Dolby 5.1 audio.

To parents, the only reason I can figure that this title got a T (teen) ESRB rating is because of two fairly common four-letter words (one starts with an H and the other starts with a D) that you certainly don't want your little kids repeating. That inclusion is unfortunate because the announcer is so lame that you tend to ignore him anyway and the context in which those two words are used doesn't add much to the game.

All in all this game is really fun and does a pretty good job at recreating the fun and spectacle of race night at your local full contact speedway. If you've never been (shame on you, you're missing out) the in-game video clips will give you a taste of what you are missing.

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This game is the most entertaining original xbox game that I've ever played. (I own around 135 original xbox games.) Up to 4 players can play at a time on the same console and the game is backwards-compatible on the xbox 360. The only improvements that could have been made are better graphics and more realistic physics. The soundtrack is great, though there are only ten or so songs. There are many, many gameplay modes, tracks, cars, unlockables, etc. This game is a blast! MUST BUY!!!! Also, tremendous replay value. I originally beat the game on the first xbox and then beat it on each of my 3 xbox 360 consoles. Great multiplayer game for friends and family.

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I got this game after my husband and son played it at a friend's house. They play this almost every night. You can play 2 players at a time, so they are able to go against each other. There are many different races you can play. A lot of fun for them to play together and fun for just one as well.

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The game is what the description says full of variety of races like figure eights, forward and backward, last man standing and more. One of the better if not the best racing game for the Xbox. Graphics are fairly good for the game and it works just fine for an Xbox 360. There is a career mode where you can race against other drivers, compete in night eves, customize your car with upgrades and spray paint jobs, and the salvage yard where you can buy and trade in your cars for better ones. Career mode is full of 25 events that you can play or skip but you must take first in each eve to advance. The dare mode is full of challenges that in order to unlock the next you have to beat the previous one. Multi-player is a lot of fun where you can play up to four people. You are able to reset your vehicle at almost anytime in the game in case you flip over or are stuck. The game can be saved throughout the game and anyone who enjoys racing or action games should definitely buy this. It's one of those games where you're able to play for hours and hours and still have a hard time putting the controller down

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I was looking for this game for a while. I remember playing it when I was younger. There's nothing better then mashing your car into another and putting them into the wall. Its a great game to kill time or to get some stress out. If you have an orignal xbox or a PS2, I recommened this game in your library

Discount Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway - Xbox 360

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List Price: $29.99
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I have been waiting a long time for Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway to come out. There have been numerous delays and the game was supposed to come out sometime last year. Well it finally came out and I picked up the game yesterday from my local Game Retailer.

The game follows up the first two Brothers in Arms games that came out earlier. You play the role of Sergeant Matt Baker who leads squads of men through Holland during Operation Market Garden in September 1944 during World War II. Operation Market Garden was the last German victory in Europe during the war.

I think the game has a great story line. The game in my opinion is very well done and acted out. It really shows what I think every soldier has to endure and go through during wartime. It is very emotional and gripping. You find out that soldiers have to make life or death decisions that can effect them the rest of their lives. This game shows not only soldiers struggling through this conflict, but also Dutch civilians who were caught in the crossfire between the Allies and the Germans.

If you are looking for a game where you make tactical decisions about how to fight battles during Operation Market Garden, this is it. Your decisions can decide the life's of your soldiers under your command.

The AI is very good in this game. I read some game reviews from other gaming websites where the game reviewers were complaining about German Soldiers who were just standing around when you shoot at them. First of all, you can now sneak up on German Soldiers to plan an attack without them knowing your there. In other words, you can set up an ambush. You set up you and your squads where you want them to fight the Germans. Of course the Germans are going to stand around if they don't know that you are there hiding. Second you can now set up you and your men where the Germans are caught in a cross fire when you fire at them with your weapons. The Germans get confused because there is no where to run and hide. So of course a lot of them are going to stand around because of the crossfire. That happens in real life too.

The graphics are real good in this game. I understand the developers of this game went to actual locations around Holland and took thousands of pictures to make the game looked like Holland during World War II. That is very impressive.

I think the game has a lot of replay value to it because the Germans react differently every time you play the game again. Each time you try to figure out how you will fight different battles throughout the game. I recommend buying this game especially if you like playing World War II games like me.

October 5, 2008

UPDATE: I just finished playing Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway and I noticed a couple of things I wanted to update about this game. I'm a true gamer who likes to give honest opinions about the games I play. The above opinions were given when I was only half way through the game. Here are the updates.

1. The graphics are great at the beginning of the game and toward the middle, but not at the end. It seems like the game developer got into a big hurry to finish this game and just threw in graphics from the "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood" game into the end of this game. The trees and buildings at the end of game just look dull and not very detailed like at the beginning and the middle of the game. The game was already a year behind schedule and I'm sure the game developer got pressured into finishing the game as soon as possible. I was wondering why I never saw any game trailers that show any missions that were at the end of this game. Now I know why.

2. None of the mission maps you play through are very big throughout the game. You play a little way through a mission and then you get a cut scene. That scenario plays over and over again throughout the game. Too many cut scenes and not enough playing time. If you want a comparison in map sizes, try playing Battlefield: Bad Company and you'll see what I'm talking about as far as map sizes go. Battlefield: Bad Company maps are a lot bigger with less cut scenes.

3. Operation Market Garden was all about the Allies taking and holding major road bridges along Hell's Highway throughout Holland during World War II before the Germans could blow up any of the bridges. Well in the game I didn't see one major bridge shown in any missions. There is one small bridge in the game that goes over a small canal but I don't count that. I'm talking about big huge bridges over major rivers. I didn't see any at all. I was really disappointed. Why were there no major road bridges shown in the game? That is what Operation Market Garden was all about.

4. There were lots of different vehicles used during Operation Market Garden by both the Allies and the Germans. In the game, I only saw one kind of Allied tank (Sherman Firefly) used in the game and one kind of German tank (Panzer IV) used. I didn't see any German Panther tanks, Tiger tanks, German Halftracks, German Volkswagen Kubelwagen, etc. I also didn't see any other American tanks or any British tanks of any kind. What is up with that?

5. Not every mission in this game has you play with squads of men. In fact in some of the missions, you fight alone against the Germans. And in some missions you don't fight at all. Running through a building that is on fire is one of them. There is no shooting at all. I thought in every mission I would control squads of men.

This game reminds me a lot of Medal of Honor: Airborne. That game could of been awesome too if it had of been done right. I remember that game went through a lot of delays just like Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway did and it came out about a year later than it was suppose to. Medal of Honor: Airborne was great the first few missions and then it went downhill the last couple of missions. This game is the same way. After playing the game, I'll have to change my rating from 5 stars to 3 stars. Sorry. I just feel this game could of been made better.

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If you are looking for another Call of Duty 4, this is NOT it. Sure its an FPS with shooting and explosions, but there is so much more to this game. Don't get me wrong, COD 4 is awesome in its own right, filled with fast paced action, great graphics, explosions and Hollywood moments; the Golden Standard for any new FPS to come out. So, with that in mind, if you play Hell's Highway with this mindset, you might disappoint yourself, which is too bad because Brothers in Arms is a great game in a category all of it's own.

If you have ever seen the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, that same look and feel from the series is obvious within the first 15 minutes of the game. The opening of the game is presented in a style similar to a Hollywood picture, with great camera angles, music score, and just overall presentation. If you enjoy playing games with a good story and enjoy seeing what is happening behind the scenes of all the shooting and gameplay, then you will certainly enjoy the ride as the folks at Gearbox went to painstaking efforts to portray a grand story filled with emotion and presentation.

Now on to the bread and butter, gameplay. If you enjoyed the previous installments of the Brothers in Arms games you will be pleased to know that the formula has remained the same, albeit with some minor changes. You can now hug the walls similar to Rainbow Six: Vegas for added cover, as well as issue orders to a machine gun team for fire suppression, and a bazooka team to battle entrenched enemies and tanks. Now, if you want a challenge from the simple run and gun gameplay of most shooters, then you will love employing your own strategies to tackle every single mission. There are multiple ways to tackle every single firefight, from setting up a base of fire and flanking left or right, using grenades, or just throwing caution to the wind going head-on and hoping for the best (which doesn't bode well at all). I remember one instance when two big groups of Germans were walking towards me in formation and I had about 5 seconds to set up an ambush or risk being slaughtered since I was out in the open. Naturally, it took several tries, but when I got it right the feeling of victory was SWEET!! It is times like this when you feel your adrenaline pump because while you have to accomplish your missions, you still have to take out the Germans while issuing orders to your teams with loads of bullets whizzing all around you. This sort of action gets your brain going this way and that, and though it may be hard to concentrate and keep your focus, you begin to understand how hard and stressful war really can be, and not just another Hollywood-sized Call of Duty 4 spectacle.

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I'm getting a little tired of WWII games. Well, that's what I said before I played Hell's Highway. This game has reassured me that there are aspects that even the terribly whored out WWII genre has yet to touch. But with that aside, everyone's asking the same question, "Should I get this over Call of Duty: World at War?" Well...no. This is Call of Duty we're talking about! But Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway is just too good to pass up.

Hell's Highway follows the mission of Operation Market Garden, and if you know your history you would know that the mission wasn't necessarily the Allies' finest hour. You assume the roll of Sgt. Matt Baker, and you're tasked with leading your squad through war ravaged Holland in order to push through the heavily fortified, tank ridden, and infamous route known as "Hell's Highway".

In many ways, Brothers in Arms is a black sheep when compared to other conventional WWII shooters. Hell's Highway is no exception. One of the biggest differences is it's emphasis on it's story and narrative. The game plays out kind of like your average high-budget war drama, like Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan. We've seen these kinds of stories in movies and TV shows, but you'll probably never find a WWII game this side of Call of Duty with this kind of dark and complex narrative that just sucks you in. You'll find a plethora of truly cinematic cut scenes and A plus dialog through out the game that all advance the story. That's right, it has a story. A good story as a matter of fact. The characters all look and sound like real people in a real life-or-death situation. In some ways, you start to care about some of them, and sometimes you'll hope that they'll make it out of this alive. To be frank, the story is not a pleasant one. Not only is Hell's Highway trying to focus on the horrors war, but also on the major loss of the mission the game is based off of. So when you do beat the game, you probably won't be feeling too good.

Besides focusing on it's story and narrative, Brothers in Arms also plays unlike any other WWII shooter. While most games like Call of Duty or Medal of Honor have you running into the battle and tell you to start shooting anything that speaks German, Brothers in Arms is the total opposite. The game is more strategy than a straight shoot-em-up. If you try to tackle the game like a run 'n' gun FPS, you're not going to last very long. Hell's Highway tries to focus on what it calls "The Four 'F's." "Find him. Fix him. Flank him. Finish him." This mechanic is presented virtually flawlessly with the command controls and suppression meters. Giving commands is easy and practically impossible to unlearn once you learn it. You select the team you want use with either the D-Pad or the B button, and you issue commands by holding down the left trigger. Depending on where you point the curser, the team will go to that destination selected, or start suppressing the enemy you selected. This brings up the art of suppression. Your enemies all have red circles hovering over their heads called suppression meters. They might look like the enemy's health meter, but they aren't, so don't get confused. When the suppression meter is red, it means the enemy isn't suppressed and the moment they see your movement, they'll open fire on you and your squad and probably kill you in the process. To counter this, your squad must open fire on the enemy to make the suppression meter turn gray. This will mean that the enemy is now suppressed, and this is the perfect time for you or one of your teams to go around and flank the enemy and finish them off from behind. Yes, the meters sort of make the game a bit easy. So if you want a little more challenge, just turn them off. But this whole suppression thing wouldn't work if the game didn't have good friendly and enemy AI, and boy, do they have good AI!

Brothers in Arms also tries to focus on realism. Not just in it's story, but in the battle field as well. Yes, the cover system can be used on virtually any kind of wall or barrier, but depending on what it is (like say a picket fence or wooden barrels) they can be destroyed with a few well placed shots. Even sand bags can be demolished with a well placed rocket or grenade. Hell's Highway also implements an incredibly brutal gore system. Depending on what kind of stopping power the weapon you used has, heads and limbs can be blown off and even entire bodies can be blown apart. Right when something like this happens, the game will slow down and zoom in on the, ahem, action. So if you're a fan of gratuitous blood and guts, you might find a liking here.

But probably one main thing that sets Hell's Highway apart from all other WWII shooters (that I've played at least) is that it has one thing most of them don't have, color. When ever I play Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, heck, even Wolfenstein, the main color I see is grey. Lots, and lots of boring, uninteresting grey. Grey buildings, roads, skies, everything is just so... grey! That's not the case with Hell's Highway. Blue skies, different colored buildings, sharp green foliage, red orange fires, and of course, dark scarlet blood.

I think you get the jest of my review. If you're one of those gamers that believe that WWII shooters have all but lost their touch, you NEED to play Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. Just, don't start playing it like you would with Call of Duty or something similar. In order to really appreciate this game, you need to play it using your squad and not your trigger finger. This is one highway you should really consider going through!

Honest reviews on Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway - Xbox 360

The Good: Engaging story, great audio/visual package, squad based gameplay keeps it separated from the rest, decent length

The Bad: Still WWII..., relies too much on knowing other BiA games, pointless slow-mo cams, must...be...patient...

I never really liked BiA back when they first came out because 1. I didn't have a PC that could run it or an Xbox. 2. I preferred the run & gun aspect like in Medal of Honor and Call of Duty, and 3. I was too impatient back then for the tactical gameplay. I have changed since then and am not an impatient little teenager with raging testosterone. I have picked up Hell's Highway expecting a bit of a mix and thankfully there was. BiA has been known for it's tactical squad command gameplay with great AI, a great non-fictional story around the fictional WWII setting, and that's here, but it's even better.

The story goes a little something like this: You are Baker who goes through an emotional roller coaster ride with his squad mates and you really feel what the soldiers are feeling...and even tear jerking at the end. The only problem is that you have to have played previous BiA games to fully understand the story from the beginning. The story does one of those looping plot twists where it starts out at the end and goes 3 days back, then goes forward after that. The plot holes are jerking when they are filled and you really get pulled into the story. As far as I know this is the only WWII story like this. I guess you can say this is my favorite WWII game story wise and it makes me want to pick up the other two original Xbox games.

What really counts though is the game play in one of these types of games right? Well the impatient should steer clear because you CAN NOT, I repeat, CAN NOT run out and go Rambo and their Kraut @$$es. You WILL be shot down almost instantly, and this is not good if you want to restart constantly (and experience the almost too long long time). You have to position your squad mates around the various cover on the battlefield and slowly have them pin the enemies down so you can go around and flank them with...whatever you want, no you can't melee in the game so that's out...sorry only Call of Duty 3 lets you do that. Each batch of enemies has a red circle above them and when it's red they can blow your beehiney apart if you run out, but if you command your squad mates to suppress them with fire it will turn gray and you can run out...for a few seconds. The game gives you plenty of ammo so don't worry about wasting shots. I mainly used single shot rifles since head shots were mostly needed due to enemies taking cover. That's what also makes the AI so great, so say for instance you run up to the cover the enemy is behind they'll run away and hide somewhere else. Throw a grenade and they'll boogy on out of there even if their on a Flak 88!

Now you can command four types of squads: Bazooka, Base Fire, Assault, and MG. Go figure on what those all do, but they are all essential to keep you alive. Another thing that makes you REALLY think is that if you send your squad out in open fire they'll die to (but only until the next cut scene because they are all main characters...) so you have to have one squad pin the enemy down while that squad runs, so it's a leap frog type thing. This is really great and keeps things from being boring since you have to think...psh yeah who woulda thunk that a WWII shooter would make you think! Of course you have grenades, but you get a grenade ring and it's basically an auto-lock thing so just hold RB and the grenade will fly over to the enemy on it's own.

Speaking of all of that something new here is the "action cam" thing. It's kinda cool since BiA is the only game that seems to realize there was actually blood and guts in war...they don't try to purty it up for kids. Sometimes when you make a cool headshot you get a cut-a-way cam of the guys head getting all bloodied up and his helmet falling off. The same goes for explosions so you'll see guts go everywhere (get a clue EA and Activision!!! Stop being sissies!!)

If you've been wondering about the audio/visual experience this whole time it's because its good or I would have said something! The game uses the UT3 engine (you know the same one in BioShock and Gears of War?) Its nice and all yet still seems like the game came out last year. Maybe that's because the game was delayed almost a year (yet I have NO idea why). The game has great lighting effects, explosions, fire, concrete, rebar that blocks your view sometimes in the 3rd person cover...it's good but not amazing. The voice acting is really great and the whole game feels like WWII (you probably wouldn't give a damn at this point though...)

If you want to know about multiplayer don't come here because I never bothered playing it since it was a rental. I'm sure it's great and has all the multiplayer goodness that most WWII shooters have. I highly recommend this game since it has a pretty long campaign (takes about 8 hours to beat) and really concentrates on Operation Market Garden instead of the whole damn war!!! So, you really get a good idea of what that battle felt like. Don't spend $60 on this though just rent it or wait for a price drop...please...get Fallout 3!!!

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First off, let me start by saying that this game is definately NOT for those who love the Call of Duty WW2 games where you're pretty much a one man army. This game has to be one of the most intense shooters I've ever played, mainly because it's so realistic and graphic. BIA is very similar to Rainbow Six Vegas (1 & 2), so if you liked those games, then you'll probably like this one. This game is a squad game, where you take the place of the man barking out commands, and your guys listen to you (most of the time). Issuing commands is VERY simple: you pick your squad (sometimes you have more than onne) then pick your target, and issue your command to attack where to go. The enemy AI is good, they fire at you and give you a good challenge, sometimes to good of a challenge. our friendly AI is fairly decent, but sometimes they do get a little mixed up. For example, they may stop firing at an enemy, they ight be on the wrong side of cover, or even get lost...but they're still decent enough.

The gameplay is pretty solid, intense, and fairly realistic. The guns are good, each has good stopping power and a good feel. The sound is AMAZING! Bullets whiz all around you, explosions leave your ears ringing, etc, etc.

All in all, this game is good. I didn't play the online mode, only the single player, but I still recommend the game to anyone seeking an intense, graphic, and fun World War 2 shooter.