BioShock Ultimate Rapture Edition - Playstation 3 Reviews

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List Price: $29.99
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If you are like me and mad late catching up with series, download the Bioshock demo off of PSN first to see if this your cup of tea. I usually avoid first person shooters like the plague. I have no interest in Call Of Duty, Battlefield or any other war crap. Yet, I was very impressed by what I played in the Bioshock demo. I was very close to purchasing Bioshock until I saw this great package was about to be released.

Take heed to the 'Mature' rating before purchasing this for little Billy or Suzie. These games may be extremely graphic, violent, bloody, and bizarre for those who do not have an open mind or the patience to understand what is going on. The rest of you will love it! A mix of survival horror, rpg elements and a fast paced shooter all blended together to make a classic series.

A perfect deal for only $30 plus tax. 1 disc, and 3 Bioshock Infinite promo stickers are included. Best to have disc auto start turned off before inserting these combo pack discs to avoid a game from automatically loading up like Assassin's Creed Revelations does with the Ezio Trilogy disc. You can disable disc auto start by navigating to Settings > [System Settings] in the XMB menu.

With disc auto start turned off, when you first insert the disc, 2 icons will appear. 1 icon to install Bioshock 1. A 2nd icon to install Bioshock 2 plus all DLC's for both Bioshock 1 and 2 which you can install separately from the disc anytime you choose. In other words, if you only want to install Bioshock 2 and then decide to install Minerva's Den, you can do so at anytime you choose.

Install times are nowhere near as long as the Ezio Trilogy pack. In fact, when you install Bioshock, you are treated to a musical loading screen playing 1950's music with interesting in game ads while the games install.

Graphics still look great and stand the test of time. The voice acting is very convincing and sets the tone for an eerie, creepy world to explore filled with various sinister, psychotic characters all with their own evil, twisted agenda. A lot of time and thought went into creating the story and the very believable city of Rapture. If you are not a first person shooter fan, give this a shot.

Here are a list of DLC's included:

Bioshock: DLC's Plasmids Pack, Challenge Rooms Pack, Bonus Museum Level

Bioshock 2: DLC's Minerva's Den, Sinclair Solutions Tester, Rapture Metro, Kill Em Kindly, The Protector Trials

SUBTITLES FOR BIOSHOCK 1:

Minor spoiler for Bioshock 1. To access the subtitles, start a game of Bioshock. After the opening plane crash scene, you will assume control of Jack who surfaces from underwater. Pause the game, select 'options' and you will see an option to turn on subtitles.

HOW TO FIX 'CONTINUE' / LOAD GAME ERRORS:

There was a common issue with Bioshock 1 and 2 where loading up a saved game by selecting 'Contnue' or 'Load Game' would result in a freeze error where your saves never load up. Unfortunately this issue still carries over to the Ultimate Rapture Edition. This happened to me recently and luckily there is an easy fix for this.

On your PS3 in the XMB menu, simply navigate to your 'Game Data' folder under the Games menu and delete all Bioshock files.

DO NOT DELETE ANY SAVED GAME DATA WHICH IS LOCATED IN A DIFFERENT FOLDER, SAVED GAME DATA FOLDER.

Once you delete all Bioshock game data files, simply reinstall Bioshock and your saves should load just fine.

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Welcome to the Circus of Values! The first two BioShock games are two of the best games this console generation has seen and now we have the opportunity to get both of them, complete with all their downloadable content, here in one package.

There really isn't anything new I can say about these two games that hasn't already been said when the games were originally released. Both are amazing story-driven FPSs that showcase some of the best imagination and creativity in video games. The graphics were great for their time and still hold up well today but will show their age when compared to some of the more recent game releases. Since so many reviews have already been released about the original games I am going to instead focus on the extra content that is included. If you are on the fence about the games themselves, I would encourage you to view the reviews on the original product pages to get a better understanding of the games.

!WARNING! These games have great stories and it would be a shame to have them spoiled for those of you new to the series. A few inconsiderate reviewers will contain details that will spoil the story for you, so proceed with caution!

Bioshock

Bioshock 2

Now on to the added content!

The DLC is included on the disc which means no codes to enter and nothing to download. The case says 22 GB are required to install all the content but its not one huge install; you can pick and choose which pieces of DLC to install and each has to be installed separately.

The first BioShock comes with the Plasmids Pack, the Challenge Rooms Pack, and the Bonus Museum Level. All content is single-player; there was no multiplayer in the first game. While all the DLC from the second game is installed separately, the DLC for the first is installed in one package. This isn't that big of a deal since most of the DLC included is for the second game anyhow.

The Plasmids Pack isn't really worth mentioning; this was a free update that anyone with an internet hookup had access to. This patch/DLC brought in a handful of new Plasmid powers and added new trophies/achievements. While this update was free of charge, its convenient to have it on disk and not have to download it.

The Challenge Rooms pack were three independent levels that were separate from the game's story and originally only available on the PS3 and now 360 owners get to enjoy them for the first time. The name says it all; they are rooms with a challenge. Sometimes puzzle-driven, sometimes combat. They aren't really a necessity to fully enjoy BioShock; they're a nice bonus but easily done without. The Challenge Rooms originally released for $9.99 and come with their own set of trophies. Unclear at this time if the trophies were translated to achievements for this edition but I would assume so.

The Bonus Museum Level is a great addition for the big BioShock fans out there. Unfortunately, there's not much to it. It consists of one medium-sized room with several "exhibits" and concept art lining the walls. Here we get to see the different ideas that were played around with and ultimately scrapped before the game was finalized. Walking up to each piece provides a small description in paragraph form. Its nice to see actual detailed 3D models of these ideas, but without any movement or sound they're simply lifeless statues that you will quickly get bored with. Even the biggest BioShock fans will spend a limited amount of time in here; I consider myself one of these fans and I was out after 20 minutes. Very interesting and a nice bonus, but I doubt I'll go back anytime soon.

The added content for BioShock 2 are the Sinclair Solutions Tester pack, Rapture Metro map pack, Kill'em Kindly mode, The Protector Trials, Minerva's Den, and a Character Pack (apparently not mentioned on the case). Assuming that you're interested in the multiplayer aspect of the game at least somewhat, there's a lot of value here. Being that the game is nearing its 4-year anniversary, its understandable that the multiplayer has fallen off quite a bit from where it was. Many of the modes are simply impossible to find games for without setting them up yourself with invites to friends and the "players met" list. Most of the action takes place in the Civil War mode, which is simply Team Deathmatch. Getting into a Civil War match is fairly easy, but there are times when it will take a few minutes to find one. Also, without dedicated servers you're left at the mercy of the host. That means if they have a horrible connection you might see some lag and if they leave the game you're forced to return to the lobby to restart the match. I don't see lag too much, but be prepared for a host leaving every so often. Still a lot of fun and there's always hope that new players will emerge with the release of the Ultimate Rapture edition. Time will tell, but for now be warned; while playable, the multiplayer is far from thriving.

!NOTE! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PLATINUMING THIS GAME, PLAYING MULTIPLAYER TO LEVEL 40 IS REQUIRED. This isn't impossible but will require about 15-30 hours depending on your skill level. I'm a fairly decent player and it took me around 22 hours.

The Sinclair Solutions Tester pack added a level cap increase to the multiplayer from level 40 to 50. Two new playable characters and 5 masks were added along with a third upgrade option to all weapons. The pack released for $4.99.

The Rapture Metro map pack features six new maps that you will likely never play. Seriously... if one person enters the lobby without this map pack then these maps are excluded from the rotation. Finding a lobby full of people with this map pack is next to impossible. The best way to ensure you see these maps (other than setting up a private match by yourself and roaming around) is to set up sessions on gaming forums. There are trophies tied to this pack, but as with all DLC trophies, they aren't required for the Platinum. This pack also included the option to "rebirth" at level 50, allowing you to start over at level 1 (like prestige in COD). The map pack released for $9.99 and had three new trophies/achievements.

The Kill'em Kindly mode is simply a melee only game mode for multiplayer. This was offered free of charge to anyone with an internet connection so again, this was mentioned only because its now included on disc without the hassle of downloading. Remember when I said most of the action took place in Civil War? Guess which game mode you won't be playing much of...

The Character Pack is the last multiplayer content and it wasn't mentioned on the case. It includes two playable characters that were originally only available for those that pre-ordered the game. The pack eventually released for $1.99. (And just to be clear, when I say "playable characters" I mean skins. There is no difference in stats or weapons available from one character to the next and choosing one from another is purely for cosmetics, though they each have their own set of one-liners that they spout off during the match.)

The Protector Trials is a single-player horde mode that contains somewhat of a side story. In each level you must protect the harvesting little sister from a wave of splicers. You are graded on your performance on each level and, much like the Challenge Rooms from the first game, your arsenal is pre-selected making you strategize accordingly. It released for $4.99 and had seven new trophies/achievements.

Minerva's Den is more of a traditional single-player side-story offering that is probably the best content included in this package. I don't want to go into too much detail for the sake of spoilers. It will probably take you anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on how your playstyle is. It released for $9.99 and had eight new trophies/achievements.

CONCLUSION

Now, after all that you can see that this Ultimate Rapture edition is a great value but more for new players that have never experienced the BioShock series or for huge BioShock fans. If you've played the games before but don't consider yourself a big fan then its safe to pass. For those of you getting pumped over the new BioShock: Infinite that's releasing soon, an exclusive pack of 3 collectible stickers are included. As mentioned by other reviewers a HUGE chunk of hard drive space (22GB) is required to install all of the content, HOWEVER... you are not required to install everything all at once. Meaning that if you are limited on hard drive space you can always install one game and play it, then delete it before installing the second one. This will cut that 22GB size down substantially(When checking my folders it seems BioShock measures in at just over 6GB including the DLC. BioShock 2 is 9.3GB for the game and just over 4GB for all of the DLC. Even if you include save data we don't reach the 22GB listed on the case, but its close enough).

Also, if you like the BioShock games and enjoy reading, be sure to check out John Shirley's prequel to the series. A great read if you're a fan!

Best Deals for BioShock Ultimate Rapture Edition - Playstation 3

First off, these games are amazing, and with all the DLC included (on disc, no codes included), this bundle is a steal.

Now, both games and the DLC are all on one disc ( a dual layered Blu-ray disc to be precise). Once you insert the disc, two icons will appear, one for "Bioshock" and one for "Bioshock and Bioshock 2 Additional Content". When you start Bioshock 1, the only thing you have to install is game data, which is about 5GB. When you choose the "Bioshock and Bioshock 2 Additional Content" icon, Bioshock 2 and all the DLC for both games will be listed. Unlike Bioshock 1, Bioshock 2 (the entire game) has to be completely installed, which amounts to 9.4 GB of space. The DLC has to be installed as well, which is about 5.6GB all together.

Adding all three totals together, it's really 20GB instead of 22GB, but it's still a lot.

Despite all that, this is a great bundle, and at $30, it's one that should not be missed

Honest reviews on BioShock Ultimate Rapture Edition - Playstation 3

There's not much to say about Bioshock that hasn't been said before: it's an awesome franchise (so far) and the story is VERY good (among the best I've seen); it's one of my top recommendations for video games. Still, it may not be for everyone: its a survival horror (think Silent Hill or the first Resident evil) in first-person view, but with a much more immersive story well sewn into the gameplay.

True Story's user review recommends downloading the demo before buying and I agree completely, because the game compels you to think stategically: in normal difficulty you'd be mostly fine just taking cover and shooting, but in the higher difficulties (or when aiming for the platinum torphy) you'll be slaughtered if you don't use every part of the environment to your advantage (and I do mean EVERY PART, as the game is designed for this)... Unless you play in the easy but not-so-enjoyable difficulty.

If you don't care much for serious storytelling, scarce resources, startegic thinking over bullets flying, and sensitive moral questioning, you'll not enjoy Bioshock to its fullest.

Anyroad, is this Ultimate Rapture edition (URE) worth it? Maybe: some factors may strongly influence the decision depending on what you're looking for. One thing, though: only Bioshock 1 comes in disc version; Bioshock 2 MUST be completely installed in the HDD, so if you're the kind of user who downloads most of your games into you PS3, think well about available room in your PS3 (about 20 Gb) before buying this bundle.

One kind of gamer I picture buying this is someone that hasn't played Bioshock before but is interested in it or has played it (either through a lent copy or through the demo) and liked it. They should actually get this edition, for Bioshock 1 will most likely absorb them so much they'll crave the sequel (and probably the prequel in book format: BioShock: Rapture) AND the DLC, because Minerva's den gives more story background, so why not get it all in one shot? Probably the continue glitch (see below) won't apply to you (just install the DLC for Bioshock 1 before beginning your playthrough).

Other kind of gamer I picture is the collector of all things Bioshock. This one has the collectors edition of the three Bioshocks, so, who are you kidding? You need this to complete your collection regardless of the very few new things it will give you (the stickers and the Museum).

But maybe you only have Bioshock 1. Then this could still be for you, as it inlcudes almost all the DLC (see below) available. Even if you've played both games (either finished them or not) but not own them and think this is a good deal to get them, you're probably right, though only the first game comes in disc format. Bioshock 2 is a digital version of the game (like the ones you donwload from the PlayStation Store). If this is your case, keep in mind there's an issue with the PS3 URE where the load screen freezes when you choose to continue or load a save file. Delete the game data (not saved game data, mind you) from your PS3 and install the game again to arguably fix this. It works, but when you install the DLC again, the problem will be back. This stems from the fact that the DLC for Bioshock 1 seems to conflict with pre-DLC save files (I don't know if the same happens with PS Store-downloaded DLC), so deleting game data and installing again reverts the game to a pre-DLC status, thus allowing you to use your save files albeit without DLC, which means that if you want to keep your save files, your URE DLC won't work. Looks like the "real" solution consists of starting a new game after installing URE DLC because, somehow, the save files don't conflict with downloaded content if you created the save file AFTER installing DLC (?). I did it and worked fine, but I only played the first level, so I can't say it's a permanent solution. I had already finished the game (platinum trophy included), so it's no big nuisance, but consider this if you haven't finished it and were thinking to do it on URE from a previous save file: either finish first and install DLC later or begin anew after installing DLC. This seems to be only a problem for Bioshock 1 (I checked for Bioshock 2 and everything works fine).

If you already own Bioshock 2 but not Bioshock 1 nor any DLC, this is a good buy. If you own Bioshock 2 and the DLC, better get the first game and Challenge rooms separately (unless you're willing to cough up $30.00 for one game and three stickers).

IF YOU HAVE BOTH GAMES BUT NO DLC, DON'T BUY THIS (unless you're a hardcore collector of Bioshock). It's better to buy the DLC directly from the PlayStation Store, as I will now explain.

The Plasmid pack will likely be irrelevant for PS3 because it was always there and it was made for Xbox 360 users, who didn't get it when the game came out (NOTE: this is just my memory speaking and I haven't been able to confirm this with online research). The Museum isn't a real playable level: it's just an in-game big room with 3D renderings of some of the content from the "Bioshock: breaking the mold" art book with new captions. The DLC for Bioshock 1 includes the New Game Plus feature (use your overpowered character from the beginning of a new game) for unlock when finishing the game (use wisely, as no trophies are awarded in NGP and, again, if you already finished the game, beware of the continue glitch, as deleting game data will wipe the memory of you having finished already).

That said, here's the total cost of the DLC from the PlayStation Store:

Challenge rooms: $9.99

The Protector trials: $4.99

Minerva's den: $9.99

Sinclair Solutions tester: $4.99

Rapture Metro & Kill 'em kindly: $9.99

Total: $39.95, which still makes "Over $40 of add-on content" an overstatement (would be true with base DLC prices plus the characters pack; see below).

If you think this is a good deal for the DLC and stickers alone, you'd be right, were it not for another option available: the $24.99 Bioshock 2 DLC bundle from the PlayStation Store that includes all of the above (save the Challenge rooms, which are Bioshock 1 DLC) AND the Exclusive character pack (two additional characters for multiplayer; $1.99 if bought separately). If you throw in the Challenge rooms pack ($9.99), you'd be spending $34.98 for the same DLC as in URE and getting two extra MP characters not included in URE. If you're looking to net the DLC alone, URE is only $4.98 cheaper with the Museum and the three Infinite stickers, but no characters pack (or a mere $2.99 if you buy the characters separately), so in my opinion you'll be better off with the $34.98 PlayStation Store option.

And then, there's me... I got this because I physically hate my Greatest Hits versions of both games (the red case doesn't appeal to me), because of the DLC, and because of the stickers, but there's something weird: for some reason, if you already own Bioshock 1 and want to play from the URE disc, you'll have to install the game all over again (if you use your regular version you'll only face a short install for the Challenge rooms). I thought this was because of some sort of "specific-disc-linked data", but the first time I played Bioshock 1 was on a disc a friend lent me and when I got mine (the Greatest Hits edition, :S ) I didn't have to install again, so I'm clueless as to why this happens with the URE... And there's the continue glitch, but still, for me, those are no biggies.

In all, if you don't own any Bioshocks and want to, this is for you (four stars). If you're a hardcore collector of Bioshock, this is for you (nevermind ratings). If you only own the first (or second) Bioshock AND no DLC, this is still for you (three stars because of the continue glitch). If you own both games but no DLC, this isn't for you.

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there are comprehensive reviews for both games elsewhere, so i will limit this review to this edition and its contents.

but that being said, both bioshock 1 and 2 are truly amazing gaming experiences.

this edition is a stellar value, no question. some of the dlc was previously available, some was not, but one thing that is totally new is the addition of STICKERS!

first off, all dlc is ON DISC. this is great news for those folks who are not fans of psn codes.

here is what is included:

bioshock1

plasmid pack

challenge room pack

bonus museum level

bioshock2

sinclair solutions tester

rapture metro

kill 'em kindly

the protector trials

minerva's den

3 stickers from the upcoming bioshock infinite

the stickers are a little lackluster, to be honest. i was really hoping for some of the vigors (murder of crows, anyone?) or even the beautiful concept art, however what we get are three stickers (about three inches by four inches) showcasing the following:

monument island

the first lady's aerodome

hall of heroes memorial giftshop

the real silliness involved in this set is the amount of time it takes to install. if both games and all dlc's can fit on one disk, i mistakenly thought install for everything would be a one-step snap. WRONG. just about every item must be installed separately, with some things taking an inordinate amount of time to do so. bioshock one took about twenty minutes (not a huge deal), however bioshock two took nearly an HOUR. this is easily the longest install i've ever seen...which is odd, because i already owned both games, and neither took so long to originally install. that being said, i recently upgraded to the 500gb ps3, so i know it isn't the system.

the box says the game/s require 4997mb of space...however looking at my ps3 i am more than a little confused. bioshock 2 installed to my ps3 game folder, and that game alone states 9343mb. and if bioshock2 installed directly to my hard drive, then why didn't bioshock1? color me confused on this one for sure.

all technical installation nonsense aside, i am super pleased to have the new content, and i will certainly be playing through both games again to experience as much as i can. bioshock1 holds the honor as my personal favorite gaming experience of all time.

i will update my review after i have seen how all the new dlc plays out. be warned: some of the dlc is multiplayer only. my only experience with the multiplayer aspect was not such a fun experience. i guess i was late to the multiplayer experience and was killed literally seconds after entering the game by other folks. that happened three times in a row before i decided that maybe it wasn't for me. i will probably give it another try in hopes that the online community has gotten less kill happy with the newcomers.

you really can't go wrong with this set. i would pay full price for bioshock1 all over again, let alone to get all this new dlc, PLUS the second game and the new dlc available with that. if you are on the fence at all, i'd encourage you to sieze this opportunity.

Discount Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Xbox

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Great product, this game is so comforting and such a huge nostalgia high. I would highly recommend, definitely worth every penny.

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I got bored and bought all the hRRY POTTEER games and turned out I liked plying them wasn't bad dand good time waster! went along with the book and not really the movie on some but for most part fun to play

Best Deals for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Xbox

This is the first in what I hope proves to be a great series of XBox/XBox360 games. I really enjoyed playing the first, can't wait to continue the series!

Honest reviews on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Xbox

It's a pretty fun game and you can see how they built the future games off of it and improved it.

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I was disappointed in this game. There were some improvements over the first game but not many and the bugs in this one really cancel the improvements out. I really enjoyed playing the first game. With this one I found Harry harder to control and this made some of the challenges very frustrating because it was difficult to get Harry to move the way I wanted him to and for my spells to go the direction I wanted them to (Even with targeting). The graphics disappear in many places. This game really feels like the makers rushed to get it out and did not do a lot of quality control before releasing it.

Discount Wii Black Console with New Super Mario Brothers Wii and Music CD

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**Please note this particular console is not backward compatible with Gamecube. It only plays Wii games. For me this is a deal breaker. If you want a backward compatible console buy the Mario Kart Wii bundle, which is backward compatible and cheaper. Deciding between the Mario Kart Wii bundle and this bundle is a no-brainer in my opinion. Why pay more for this particular Wii that does less? UPDATE 11/7/2011 It appears Amazon is discontinuing sales of the Wii Mario bundle. It looks like Amazon will only directly sell the Wii console with Super Mario Bros. If you want the Wii Mario bundle you will have to buy from an authorized Amazon reseller and pay more money or you can go to another major retailer that is still stocking the Wii Mario bundle.**

The recent bundle releases are the Wii Console with Mario Kart Wii Bundle Black and the Console Black With New Super Mario Bros. The question you need to ask yourself is which of these bundles best fits you. I'll discuss what you get in each bundle and the differences/similarities below.

Included with the Mario Kart bundle for $146.98 (price fluctuates): a Wii console, Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel, nunchuk controller and Wii remote plus (black or white depending on the bundle you pick).

Included with the New Super Mario Bros bundle for $149.99: a Black Wii console, Black Wii remote plus, Black nunchuck, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and the Super Mario Galaxy 2 soundtrack

SIMILARITIES:

Each bundle contains a Wii console, nunchuk controller and remote plus.

KEY DIFFERENCES:

The Super Mario Bros. Wii CANNOT play Gamecube games. The New Super Mario Bros. bundle only comes in black. The Mario Kart bundle comes in black OR white.

The Mario Kart bundle includes Mario Kart and a wheel ($45.52 if bought separately), whereas the New Super Mario Bros. bundle includes the New Super Mario Bros. game ($43.99 if bought separately).

CONCLUSION: The prices are similar enough, $146.98 (fluctuates and sometimes goes to the low $140s) vs. $149.99, that it is silly to pay the same amount for a console that doesn't offer backward compatibility. Buy the Mario Kart Wii console. I'd recommend picking up the Super Mario Bros. game separately. This game is incredible. A blast from the past with 2-d scrolling and multiplayer. One of my favorites and a perennial best-seller on Amazon.

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Warning! This wii console is not backwards compatible with game cube games, it has no port for the dance revolution pad, and you can not stand it upright. The Super Mario Bros game comes in a cheap paper sleave instead the usual plastic jewel case. So your game is more likely to be scratched and has no trade in value without the jewel case. Do yourself a big favor and buy the wii bundle that comes with Mario Kart. This is still backwards compatible with the game cube games. It costs a little more but its well worth it!

Best Deals for Wii Black Console with New Super Mario Brothers Wii and Music CD

I've read a lot of less than five-star reviews for this new Wii package but I have a different perspective on it.

I bought this for a family member who has never owned a Nintendo Wii and doesn't care for the game Mario Kart but loves Super Mario Bros. So this was a win-win product solution for me. It just depends on who the product package is for and their likes/dislikes. I'm concerned the negative reviews are going to make first-time buyers think there are other issues with the gaming console. If I bought the bundle that included Mario Kart, I would have had to buy Super Mario Bros separately, adding about $50 more to the cost. And not everyone cares about playing Nintendo GameCube titles, it's just a preference.

If anyone is a hardcore Wii user, I can't imagine they would consider this product anyhow, just wait for the next version of Nintendo Wii to be released in the near future.

Game On!

Honest reviews on Wii Black Console with New Super Mario Brothers Wii and Music CD

First, let me just say I love the Wii and love LOVE New Super Mario Brothers Wii. In fact, that game is the reason I bought a Wii. So my 3 star rating is not an indictment on the system or game, but rather the value of this bundle compared to the Mario Kart bundle. As a previous reviewer mentioned, this does not feature compatibility with Gamecube games and/or accessories. Obviously, that is a big negative. You'll be missing out on a vast library of games that include Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime, and many other greats. Many of these games could be purchased rather cheap on here, eBay, or Gamestop.

Then there's another "feature" they removed that I don't think was mentioned yet. And that is that this system is not meant to be set up in the vertical position. This Wii is designed a little differently and is a bit smaller, what with all the Gamecube "guts" taken out. It is not designed to be placed vertically, only down like the picture on the box indicates. Consequently, it does not come with a stand. Obviously, a lot of people enjoy the vertical positioning of their Wii, whether it be for aesthetic reasons or space saving necessity.

And then, of course, you have the price. I think 149.99 is worth it for the Wii and this great game. Not, however, when there is much better value out there. Even at the MSRP of 149.99, the Mario Kart bundle is a better deal because of the Gamecube compatibility and vertical placement option. However, as some of you may be aware, Target and Walmart have permanently dropped the price of their Mario Kart bundles to $134. So you are paying 16 dollars less for a system that features Gamecube BC and a vertical stand and vertical placement option. It seems like a no brainer. In fact, when I heard that this bundle without these features was getting released, I figured it would be priced at about 100-120 dollars. I was surprised that this inferior bundle would be priced the same or in some cases like I mentioned, higher) as the superior Mario Kart bundles. The good news is that this bundle is not replacing the Mario Kart bundles. They will still be manufactured and available, this is just an alternative.

So in conclusion, I just don't think this is a good buy against the Mario Kart bundles. I love the Wii and the Mario game and urge everyone reading to buy one... just not this particular one. At least not until there is a price drop or you find a great deal that makes it worth not having the removed features. You can always buy the New Mario Bros game separately. And the advantage of doing that is that you get the game in a nice full sized red Wii case. With this bundle, you are getting it in a cheaper paper sleeve case, like Wii Sports in the past, which leaves the discs more prone to scratching and also lowers it's potential resell value, if you ever decide on selling it back for whatever reason. Hopefully this helps you make a better decision on which Wii Bundle to buy or not buy

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Let me clarify that my rating isn't about the Wii in general; that deserves a 5-star. Nor is this about the bundled games, which may be worth more or less depending on the person. My review is about this particular console package, which is definitely inferior to this one: Wii Console with Mario Kart Wii Bundle Black.

Both this bundle and the other come with the standard accessories, one game, and the console itself. There are also some small items in each one (the SMG 2 soundtrack and the Wii Wheel, respectively), but I'm largely ignoring those. As both bundles sell for about $150, the significant differences are simply these:

This console is not backward compatible. The other bundle's console is.

This console can only be placed horizontally. The other one can be placed horizontally or vertically.

And that's really about it. If this bundle was selling for $100 or so, I could see buying it. But it's directly competing with a different console package that provides more. Happy hunting!

PS As a point of comparison, Japan is also getting a new Wii bundle next month. It retains the same price, backward compatibility, and vertical placement; but it also has an extra Wiimote.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist - Xbox 360 Reviews

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List Price: $59.99
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I have no problem saying that this is the best Splinter Cell game to date. Customization and (except for some forced sequences) the choice to tackle a problem however you want is refreshing when compared to most games out there in circulation right now. The only issue I had with the customization was that it requires you to purchase weapons and equipment in order instead of picking and purchasing what is available.

That being said, my only true problem has nothing to do with game play mechanics but with the voice acting. This is the first Splinter Cell where Micheal Ironside does not voice the protagonist Sam Fisher. Eric Johnson does a fine job on his own but his voice is nowhere near that of Ironside's. The whole time I couldn't shake the feeling that I was playing as someone else besides the Sam Fisher fan's of the series know and love and even when listening to the game I still tried my best to imagine Ironside's voice instead.

Great game, I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the stealth/action genre of gaming.

Next time Ubisoft bring back Ironside for the voice (let someone else motion capture, technology can do it) and you'll have absolutely one of the best games of the year.

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Splinter Cell: Blacklist is the latest installment in the beloved series. With Splinter Cell Conviction, Ubisoft decided to make the game less about stealth and more about brute force. Sure, there was the option at times of using stealth but I never felt the need to use it. With Blacklist however, stealth plays a much bigger role. Gone are the days when it was ok to charge headlong into a room emptying clip after clip on enemies. While I enjoyed Conviction, Blacklist takes all the good parts of Conviction and adds so much more to it.

For a game bearing Tom Clancy's name, the plot line is exactly what you would expect. Terrorists are threatening to destroy something and an elite group of soldiers have been given carte blanch to stop them. In this case, terrorists are threatening to destroy the United States by systematically taking out high value targets, or what they call the Blacklist -things like energy, food; basically the backbones of the country. Sam Fisher of the elite 4th Echelon is tasked by the President to do anything necessary to stop the attacks. While the plot isn't spectacular, it serves it purposes to facilitate the missions and lead you towards the final encounter.

From the first mission it's evident that there is an enhanced fluidity to movement. It's easy to slip into the shadows, mantle over cover, climb up a pipe and drop down onto an unsuspecting enemy. There is a certain satisfaction in sitting in one spot for several minutes studying enemy movements to really plan out a route that will either let you slip by completely undetected, or to divide and conquer without raising any alarms. Each mission allows you to complete it any number of ways; some force you to remain undetected while others encourage it by sending in swarms of reinforcements. It proves beneficial to not start large scale gun battles.

One complaint I had with Splinter Cell Conviction was, while stealth was a game mechanic, there was very little true need to use it. That has completely changed with Blacklist. Sam Fisher can only take limited damage and when multiple enemies are attacking it can end very quickly. Planning before the mission is just as important. Deciding what gadgets and gear to equip before you put boots on the ground is imperative to making the mission go as smoothly as possible. There is a wide array of gadgets you can purchase with money earned during the mission such as smoke bombs, EMP grenades, sticky cameras, sleep gas grenades, etc. Depending on your play style, there is certain to be gear you will quickly fall in love with.

Graphically the game looks good. On Xbox there is an optional HD Texture pack that can be installed from disc 2. It's approximately 3 GBs of data; honestly if you have the space just download it for the full effect of the game. Lighting and shadows are well done. The lights on Sam's suit flare when you are under cover of darkness. They provide a nice indicator so you are not left guessing if you are in the shadows or not. Likewise, the sound track and effects are pretty good as well. They won't win any awards here, but they don't detract from the game either, but with one exception. I have a surround sound headset which is perfect for a stealth game like this. However, on more than one occasion the enemies footsteps did not mesh with where the enemy was on screen. This created some frustrating moments when I needed to go off enemy positions purely based on sound.

On top of the single player campaign there are two multiplayer offering as well. The first is the fan favorite Spies vs Mercs mode. Spies are elite, agile stealth-based characters who need to hack certain terminals, all done in third-person perspective. The Mercs and heavily armed, first-person based characters whose job is to stops the Spies from hacking or to kill the spy responsible for the hack before it completes. Playing as the Merc, there is always a sense of tension as you search for the spies, knowing at any moment you may be taken down by a lithe assailant. Conversely, as a Spy you know if you are caught in the open the fight will end quickly. There are a couple different modes within the Spies vs Mercs umbrella. Classic 2 vs 2, 4 vs 4, and then Uplink where there is a combination of Spies and Mercs on the same team. All three are high tension modes, but when you succeed luring an enemy into a kill spot and execute it to perfection, there are not many video game moments that can live up to it.

The other multiplayer mode is 14 Co-op based missions. These appear as side missions during the campaign, and all but 4 can technically be done solo. Yet, playing through these missions with a partner adds an entirely new level of strategy, planning, and tension. Executing double kills, having a partner distract a guard so the other can sneak up behind them and eliminate them is so rewarding. I have never hid the fact that I love co-op games, missions, or stories. While Conviction had a Co-op mode, it was a self-contained story and felt more like an add-on. The co-op in Blacklist feels and plays so well. Enemies rarely do the same thing no matter how many times you play a mission, so repeating the missions with different play styles, or partners, still offers an engaging experience.

I haven't enjoyed a Splinter Cell game this much since Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. Blacklist went back to the roots of what made it an outstanding game and added more variety and appealing gameplay. I have always been a fan of stealth-based games, a few games claim to be stealth-based but quickly become run and gun games where the only stealth is hiding when you are waiting for your health to regenerate. Blacklist is not one of those games. It's a game that forces you to plan ahead, and rewards you for good choices, and punishes you for rash decisions.

Pros

Stealth, that actually works and is beneficial

Amazing Co-op and MP modes

Fluid movement

Cons

At times audio is out of sync with events on screen, most notable enemy footsteps

At times the control scheme gets in the way of the game

Splinter Cell Blacklist is the stealth game that Conviction promised it would be. With solid gameplay, and fantastic level design, it delivers many memorable moments while not sacrificing its true vision. Allowing the player to play anyway they want through almost each mission, and still feel as though it was the way the developers intended it, is a testament to how much Ubisoft wanted to get this right. Blacklist is a deeply rewarding game for those who take their time, plan, and execute a strategy. If you are looking for a fast paced, run and gun shooter you can play like that. If you are looking for a game where you can sneak past virtually every enemy leaving nothing but a shadow behind, you can play like that. If you want something in between those you, you can do that as well. While Conviction was a decent game, Blacklist excels as a stealth -based game with loads of replayability. This is one game I will be trying to convince as many friends as I can to pick up. This one is simply too good to ignore.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program We were very lucky to get an advance copy of Blacklist for the 360 and have been playing it pretty relentlessly for the past couple of days. If you are a fan of stealth genre games in general (especially latter Splinter Cell games) and the bombastic ridiculous set pieces of Call of Duty/Uncharted then you will have a blast playing Blacklist.

The plot makes sense in some sort of alternate universe, but frankly it's just a vehicle for a globe-trotting backdrop and creative level design. Thankfully "Mark and Execute" make a welcome return from Conviction allowing for lots of RTS-lite entertainment. Deaths were frequent but the fun-factor high enough so that they were never a barrier to try and try again.

One of my personal issues that I have is that Michael Ironside is no longer the voice actor for Sam Fisher. Having played the series from its inception, this was more than a little irksome. The elephant in the room (Eric Johnson is the new voice and also provides the motion-capture for Sam) becomes immediately apparent when climbing into character. Fortunately, I'm happy to report that ultimately you will probably come to be comfortable if not pleased with Eric's voice talent (which he does in fact possess) before the end of the game as I did. He's still not Sam in my personal opinion, but I admit that he's growing on me. If Ubisoft can't commit to bring Michael back to the series, then sticking with Eric is a tolerable second option.

We haven't spent a bunch of time playing co-op -which isn't exactly a harkening back to Chaos Theory -but provides for plenty of fun for two people to kill and kill time. We spent most of our time plowing through waves of enemies in any way we could. The best part was that can be on the same screen as well as online! Hurray for couch co-op!!! Spies vs. Mercs is also back. However since we kept getting our butts handed to us we opted to spend the majority of our time swapping playing the single player which is both globe-hopping and fun, and most importantly doesn't ever feel like you're repeating yourself.

Running and gunning is only good for about the first third to half of the game, so you may want to brush up on your stealth skills on occasion in the early missions since you'll need to employ at least some of your gadgets from time to time to advance. A couple of missions are utterly dependent on them. That isn't to say that the game isn't merciful enough to allow for lots of trial and error, but even when you die that old Splinter Cell feeling comes back enticing you to try new angles and tactics.

And that's the bottom line. If you're invested in Splinter Cell you'll be pleased to invest in Blacklist which is in our opinion is the best stealth game in this generation on the 360 (for reference Deus Ex was a close second).

Honest reviews on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist - Xbox 360

I haven't got too far in the game only a level or 2. This installment is more similar to the first 3 than Conviction and Double Agent. I thought DA was OK and wasn't a huge fan of conviction. There are a few upgrades in Conviction that worked, and they are in this game. You can move from cover to cover with ease, it still has the shadow of you're last known position. A door says open on it (in small letters, there isn't writing all over the screen.) But the best part, the missions, are more like the first 3 original XBOX games.

The weapon systems are like COD, not as may but earn as you go. Before you go to a mission, you put together a loadout with whatever gear you want to use. You can also upgrade his suit, gloves, boots, etc. It seems like you can also climb and hide behind everything. The shooting is really good, but it takes a while to adapt to. The buttons are different than COD and changing weapons is different. You can't take out 10 guys by yourself but I guess that's more realistic. You also have to shoot the bad guys several times, at least with the initial weapons.

This game probably resembles Chaos Theory the most, except better missions and better graphics. The A.I. is good, typical SC where 2 guys are bitchin about their boss and you come up behind him and take him out. You're always on "the paladin" where you pick your mission and gear. The campaign missions can be played in different order to a point. The 3 or 4 people on the ship also have Ops for you to go to earn extra points for more gear.

The campaign starts in places like Benghazi, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Cons:

1 No Michael Ironside. The guy does a good job though.

2 Sam is 35 now. He should be in his 40's or 50's.

3 Multiplayer doesn't seem appealing yet.

4 No interrogations. You knock out a guy or terminate.

5 No saves. The checkpoints are few and far between.

My consensus is buy it if you liked the first 3. For the hardcore SC fan this one picked up where the last one dropped the ball. I'll go out on a limb and say probably best SC ever.

Re-edit as of 9/20

Made it to dic 2 and it keeps getting better. I highly recommend playing it at perfectionist setting, it last longer and is more challenging. No shadow of where you were seen, so xray vision, and more realistic.

My only qualm is the new character. The voice over does a good job but totally different persona. He used to be an older seasoned bad a**, now he is like a character from "Strike Back". He's younger, kind of a prick, and almost douchey, always mad-dogging the camera.

The gameplay however is excellent. I'm generally pretty harsh on reviews, but I can't imagine anyone not giving it 5 stars.

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Love this game, reminds a lot of my favorite one in the series which was Chaos Theory. Great single player campaign that you can play again and again. But the multiplayer is where it's at, Spies vs Mercs nuff said. My only complaint is that I wish there was more multiplayer maps. Maybe they will release some in the form of DLC.

Review of The X-Files

Customer Ratings:

If you're a true X-Files fan then you will probably enjoy this game, die-hard adventure and RPG gamers need not bother with it as they will find it too linear and simple. I got about half-way through the game (which is on 4 CD's) before I ran into a section that had me stumped (I'm an X-Files fan but not too good at adventure-type games!) I managed to track down a walk-through for the game which helped me out, and it also mentioned lots of silly things you can do in the game that result in interesing outcomes.

Once you've completed the game you probably won't play again, unless you're looking for easter eggs.

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Review of Xbox 360 20GB Hard Drive

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I used to have a xbox pro with a 60 gb hard drive that came with it. my stuff was stolen last year. all i had left was one game and a controller. i had decided to start playing that darn thing again and needed a cheap hard drive. it came within 4 days and it works great!

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This is awesome I mean it's

Lik any other harddrive but worked perfectly wen I got it but they glitched the order I guess and gave me a 60GB!!!!! Maybe the same will

Happen to you....

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I needed a replacement hard drive for an xbox 360 I acquired from a friend. This product came through fairly quickly and works very well. I'm sure there are bigger HDs available that'll be cheaper / GB however I don't tend to save a lot of data like music and movies on my console, so this is good enough for me.

Honest reviews on Xbox 360 20GB Hard Drive

Ordered this for my xbox 360 and it works great. I have had no problems with it at all. Well worth the price I payed for it, and it was a lot cheaper than any other similar product I've looked at

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Needed it as I got an xbox 360 with no drive, and wanted to play original xbox games as well. You need a drive to do this. It came quickly and works flawlessly so far.

Discount Wanted: Weapons of Fate - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
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As others have said, this game is very, very short, very simple, and has little replay value. The only challenge to this game is in learning the controls for the first time. After about thirty minutes or less you have those down and then you are left with one of the easiest games ever produced. This game does have some fun moments initially, but after experiencing them for the 50th time, it gets old. What is really sad is that this game had huge potential, it was based on an amazing movie, the ability to curve bullets provides a good chance for innovative gaming, and the few slow-time scenes were fun, if scripted. The problem is, the game does not have any of the wit of the movie. Every line of dialog is forced, sounding like it was written by a third-grader who just liked the swearing in the movie (this must be why Wesley apparently developed a bad case of Torette's) and the storyline starts off well but quickly dies a horrid death due to (again) forced twists and conflicting scenes. This would have been better more as a Hitman-type game, where you had targets that you had to take out, but had to use your skills such as bullet curving and slow-time to do it, not as the third-person shooter it was.

The bullet curving could have been the best thing about this game, creating a unique fighting style, however it is so formulaic, it becomes boring quickly (lock, angle, shoot, done). There are several scenes where your adrenaline kicks in and you go into a slow-time mode where you can shoot bullets out of the air and take out the baddies, this is fun but is very scripted each time, would have been better if you could have used this ability during the normal game and could use your bullet-curving power with it.

The NPC's are horrible as well. There are basically three types of bad-guys, once you figure them out the game might as well be over. The first is the thug, usually one hit take-down, the second is the slightly stronger thug, takes multiple bullets, but just bullet curve, then shoot when he stumbles. The third is the elite hitman, he can doge your rounds to an extent, but still is easy to take down (the melee attacks take down anything with one hit anyway). There are also a few snipers and shield troops, but they are just variants of the above. All enemies appear in a set manner, so if you do happen to die once, you will know where they are the second time. The bosses are a joke. All have a set pattern and are ridiculously easy, even the last boss.

Finally, the weapons, or lack thereof I should say. There is no variety here and I'm not sure why they even bothered with ammo limits, as I never found myself low on ammo or having to scrounge. The sniping scope was lame, hard to aim and a one shot-one kill, no matter where you hit. The fixed MG was bad, but with this one, once you figured out where to put your gun as you hid behind it, you could get the sights on pretty quickly when you pop up to aim. A cool thing would have been to be able to set up a sniper shot like in the movie, set a trap for your target, pick a sniping location, and calculate the path of the bullet (or maybe even control the round in the air). Again, more like Hitman, would at least make you think for a second.

Pros:

-Decent Graphics (not Great).

-Innovative Game-Play in Places.

-Easy Achievements (A pro for some...I'm just trying to be nice, lol).

Cons:

-Wasted Potential for a Great Game.

-Extreme Lack of Variety (guns, baddies, overall game-play).

-Horrible Script and Confused, Forced Story.

-Short (less than 4 hours for most).

-Lack of Replay-Value (even with the additional modes).

-Lack of Online Gaming.

This game is good for a rental when you are bored and have absolutely nothing else to do for a few hours, otherwise, stay away. Play the demo, if you don't mind doing anything but that over and over again, maybe you will like it.

My 2¢

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Beat it in three hours. Easy breezy. Great for the xbox achievements but fun factor was minimal.

The levels I was looking forward to were button cut scenes. So that was a let down.Fun to play through once. But nothing else to keep you playing again.

You play on medium and you get the achievement after beatin the level plus the achievement for EASY too. Whats the point? Its cool. Just not great.

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I hardly knew anything about the comic wanted this is base off of but when i saw the movie i loved it instantly i am a very big fan of guns and action so when i herd there wast a game about this movie i wanted to check it out there is a lot of mixed reviews and opinions about this game but i liked it and the story is also nice and awesome and its very much what you would aspect from the movie blood and gore like the movie. The game Wanted Weapons of fate takes place right after the movie and it about Westley trying to find out what happed to his mom or something and this game is awesome what i liked about is that you play as Westley and his father cross and do really cool missions like trying to escape a plane to fighting enemies and a wide selection of levels. this game is more like gears of war were you go cover to cover and pop out of hiding and shoot enemies and in this game it feels like it but at a faster rate which makes it cool and gives you more easy to take down enemies

IF you see the movie or read the comics this is what you may like

-curving bullet to kill enemies

-slow motion parts were you have to shoot down bullets and enemies before they hit you

-go up to enemies and do killer finishing moves

-get Westley's and cross's costumes found in the comic books

-And sorta different types of other guns that can be used

-unlock comic covers and different playable characters found in game and more

So if you like wanted i would defiantly would recommend this game its cheap and good well worth paying for it i would look up gameplay first to see if this game is for you.

Honest reviews on Wanted: Weapons of Fate - Xbox 360

Extremely short campaighn, with a low production value to boot. But it's got one thing going for it. Curving bullets never gets old, and that one gimmick is what makes this game worth while. It's one of the better games in the bargain bin, but you're not missing much if you pass it up. If you do go for it though, have fun curving them bullets. You will love it. The demo is free in the X-box marketplace. And as it turns out that demo is like ten percent of the game, seriously. But the demo gives you a real good feel for how the whole game is.

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Curving bullets is really cool. Easy game for achievment hunting. I recommend playing this game. I had a blast playing it.

Reviews of Score International: BAJA 1000 - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:

I bought this game because I didnt think that SCORE would endorse garbage...But they did. This game is filled with logical hang ups that ruin any amount of fun you might otherwise have. The tracks are almost identical and the AI is so aggressive it hurts. I am more of a Sim-Racer type and this is one of the worst overall games I have ever seen for the 360! Look closely at Baja-Edge of Control, It is what you should expect for a Baja Experience!

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I didn't really like this game as it is too simplified and very animated, slow vehicles, etc, for my age. This would be an excellent game for those of age 13 and under as they would really like this.

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Not too hard for "old" gamers, but still a lot of fun for younger ones. We play this game as a family, and truly enjoy it!

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my five year old son and myself just got our 360, and I was looking at several racing games. I chose this one. I was impressed! The graphics are very good, and the controls are for the most part good. We have had fun trying to unlock the other cars and levels. I have not played a ton of racing games, but well...I recommend this one!

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I searched around the internet looking for the best deal on this game for a couple of days. Im happy to say the best deal was RIGHT HERE ON AMAZON! This saved me alot of money. The game was 39.99+tax at best buy and can you believe it? Ebay was HIGHER than amazon. The best thing about it is it was BRAND NEW on here and it was used on ebay.

Buy The Godfather: The Game

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Though most of the game concept was lifted from GTA, it still manages to come up with some original flavor into it, thanks to the unforgettable characters that made The Godfather a classic. Amazingly, the game isn't just a drive around and do missions. It actually leaves you free to walk around and do things that will affect your business as a "made-man" with the Corleone family. Yes, you have to do the missions to keep the story moving but at the same time, you can ignore the missions and just go about doing other things to increase your "business" and contribute to the Corleone family. Take for example what I did in the game. I did about 50% of the missions and I decided to just clean-up Little Italy (where the Corleone family is based) from the Tattaglias; taking over these businesses, their warehouses.

One interesting mode in the game is the "Mob War" mode. This happens when you hit a crime family too much, they eventually declare a mob war with the Corleone family. Only to win a mob war is to either bomb one of their properties or pay an FBI agent to come down hard on the rival family. It's good fun really, and quite different. I usually bomb a place and then head to my apartment and let things calm down a bit. These fresh concepts make this game quite unique in its way.

Speaking of families, you need to wrestle control of NY from all the other rival families. The biggest rival that you'll be pitted against is the Barzini family who owns Manhattan. By the way, the game recreates an almost perfect replica of New York, even the streets are accurate. I know because I'm from NYC. One trick I did to test the accuracy was fifth avenue and madison ave. Fifth avenue is just across Madision ave, which is correct in the game. Canal St. and Mott St. are real streets in NY, with Canal St. being Chinatown today.

Going back to what I am doing now with the game, I've basically knocked out Tattaglia from NY. Only thing left is go to and overrun his family compound. One important tip if you're planning to buy this game. The moment you get about $16,000 in the game, buy yourself the most expensive shoes, suits, hat, and glasses. These accessories give Bonus Respect points on your character. Very important if you want to get that extra boost of respect points to get to the top.

So is this game worth it? Yes definitely. If you are into mobster-themed games, look no further. This is almost almost real-life. By the way, prepare to die a lot in this game. This game is not easy. Be patient and keep buying those safehouses all over NY. This is where you can save your progress and start off in case you get "ICED".

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This is a great game. Violent as all get out but hey, that's life in the family. Definitely NOT for kids though.

The graphics of the game are very good. The characters look fairly close to the actual actors (with the very notable exception of Michael Corleone) and even the stock characters, while not much in the line of variation, look decent as well. Voice work is excellent and original actors in most cases again with the exception of Michael. Controls are extremely easy to master and the story line draws you in immediately.

You don't have to be a fan of the movie or to have even seen it to follow the game but it certainly helps because you will gain further appreciation for the devotion of the developers. It's obvious that they were huge fans of the film and many of the best remembered scenes show up in the game (the infamous horse head scene, the hospital scene, Sonny getting gunned down at the toll booth, etc.)which really makes the game feel more genuine.

The game is non-linear and you have a huge area to wander around in, taking over businesses and just causing trouble in general. There are specific tasks assigned and hits to carry out but you can really approach the game in any way you choose...be a top negotiator or just gun everyone down within a 2 mile radius. There are film reels scattered about which unlock film clips but they aren't really part of the game, just extras to pick up if you want. The film clips are either actual clips from the movie or from the game itself, some of which contain hints for objectives. You can interact with everyone in the game but only those with the Godfather Puppeteer above their head are the ones with the real value. This makes a big difference in the gameplay as well so you don't waste time searching for the character you need.

I have determined however, that I am one wicked driver. I've plowed down more pedestrians and signposts than I care to admit not to mention the countless cars I've crashed. Hey, I'm the Don so get out of my way.

The only negatives I can think of for the game are as follows:

1) Graphics can be a bit glitchy at times and while the game loads very quickly sometimes it takes the background graphics a while to catch up. Not a huge issue though.

2) Virtually no variation in the rival family compounds. I can live with the bad guys and general public all looking the same but I think they could have at least made some of the compounds look a little different. Some are even identical to the Corleone compound. The stores are all about the same as well. Again, not a huge issue.

3) The font used in the game is so tiny that unless you are literally right on top of the screen you can barely read it. Using a scrolling feature and larger type would have made it more user-friendly. Of course, maybe I'm just going blind or something.

4) A lot of driving around. Drive here, now drive over there. Oops you got gunned down, drive over there again. Maybe if I didn't smash into everything in my path at top speed, it wouldn't be such a pain. Maybe I AM going blind. The Don of NY has apparently turned into Miss Daisy and is in need of a chauffeur.

Well, that about wraps it up. Great game. Definitely a must-have for any fans of the film but non-fans will enjoy it as well. Very violent and even some f-bombs being dropped here and there so certainly not for kids. Rent to try it out because it is a bit pricey but you'll get hooked so you'll end up buying.

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Yes Finally the gaming world has made a good game from a movie

This compares to the gameplay of the Grand Theft Auto games

You basically reenact the entire movie going through all of the classic moments

From the horse head in the bed to Micheal coming out of the bathroom and blasting away

You play as your own character in the game not Micheal you build up your rank in the family such as Capo , Underboss, then eventually to the Don of NY

Some missions are timed like in the GTA series but they are not impossible to beat

This game also kind of compares to the freedom fighters game when you are in action shooting at other mobsters

You also can take opposite family businesss in this game shooting your way in the restarunt of barber shop then you need to shake down or beat down the peron running the shop

Also in this game you can bribe police or people gaurding spots you wish to get into you give them some cash they turn there back on the situation

This game is a must for a Godfather fan and if you like ganster games of the GTA games you will love this game this is highly recomended

I was unsure if I should get this game when I asked the guy and he told me its GTA but Iam sure glad I bought it it is well worth $40

Go out and get it what r u waiting for?

Honest reviews on The Godfather: The Game

First of all, when this game says "Rated M for Mature... 17 and up" they mean it. People getting shot in the face, people talking like sailors, etc.

The fact that Sonny, Fredo, Tom Hagan, and the Don all look like and sound like James Cann, John Cazale, Robert Duval, and Brando just adds to the amazingness of the game. The fact that Micheal does NOT look or sound like Pacino is almost jarring after the appearance of the other actors. I guess Pacino is too cool to be in a video game. It's especailly distracting as it kinda wrecks the possibilities of GF II or III games.

Well, everything else I would say has been said by others.

Oh! I almost forgot! Luca Brasi is in the game and played by Lenny Montana!!!! He is your mentor and teaches you how to play!

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I bought this game the first day it came out and haven stopped playing it, only to eat, sleep a little, shower, and to of course write this review. This is a great game and is to me addicting. It is like Grand Theft Auto games too. And the music in the game gets old too.

This game is a great game for anyone who can take some gore and violence.

Croc: Legend of the Gobbos Reviews

Customer Ratings:

This game is way better than Croc 2! It has comfortable camera

angles and really cool sounds and graphics! I'm hardly through

the first level but I really like it! Every level has alot of

variety and different bad guys in it. Controls are easy to learn

and easy to use, but the Playstation game pad isn't very comfortable for this game so you should get another one for better controls. In this game Croc can do alot of cool different

things like swimming under water jumping on enemies and riding

hot air ballons just to name a few. This game has lots of cool

things in it. The graphics are totally jawdropping compared to

the graphics in Croc 2. Croc makes his debut on Game Boy Color,

Plastation, and not on Computer. My only complaint about this

super-cool game is that Croc can only kill enemies with his body

by jumping on them. And can't tail-whip them like he can in Croc

2. Even if that move is disabled from Croc, this game is an

excellent classic. If you're at a store and you're trying to

decide which game to by, if you have a Playstation by this cool

game, if you don't by this game for Game Boy Color, and if you

don't have one you're really unlucky, and you shoudn't buy it for

Computer even though you have one...

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I think this game is more than most of the review make it out to be. This game is SUPPOSED to be challenging, and it is not as frustrating as most think. It's actually really adorable, and has a good setting with cute characters. The camera mode you do have to fiddle with though. But you do get used to it. I was definately hooked on this game, cute, challenging, and fun. 5 stars all the way!

Best Deals for Croc: Legend of the Gobbos

Though the game is very appealing in regards to its visual style, the controls are abyssmal. In level 1-3 at the end of the level, you are required to perform a "whack-a-mole" type game in order to get the last gobbo. Since the controls (or uncontrols) are glitchy at best and unplayable at worst, the game begins to not be a game and more of a nuisance. The analog versus digital controls have no bearing to eachother and you find yourself toggling back and forth just so you can have some margin of control. A game to avoid by any standard.

Honest reviews on Croc: Legend of the Gobbos

I missed the old 90's platformers so I got this used for $5.00. No complaints as far as the game's entertainment value or condition. However I have gotten rather spoiled from today's platformers like the LBP series. Man I started playing and got instantly pissed off at having to turn Croc in the direction he was going before moving him forward. As mentioned in previous comments the most annoying part is having to dodge enemies or having to time your jumps almost perfectly in a few of the mini games with these old digital controls. You better practice shifting from left to right in mid-air if you want to find all those gobbos.

To be a bit more specific about the controls you can move the camera using the R2 and L2 buttons. You can't see all around you but it helps a lot sometimes when you need a better view of what's ahead. If you want to make a perfect 180 degree turn just hit the circle button. Use L1 and R1 for small side steps left and right.

(SPOILER BELOW)

Lol I guess you can say I cheated a bit. One reviewer mentioned the wac-a-sheep challenge being annoying. Well annoying it may be but it's nothing compared to the cauldron challenge in the "Dungeon of Defright" level. Ugh just thinking of that level makes me want to throw that black pot in a pit of lava. Basically it's a lot like the sheep challenge only jewels are falling from the sky and you need to catch them in the cauldron. You have to catch a total of 38 items including 2 hearts and a gobbo. If you miss even one you have to move on to the next part of the dungeon without rescuing the gobbo. I had succeeded in this once and only ONCE, only for me to fail the wac-a-reaper challenge (which I could pass easily) and still be stuck with only 5 mf gobbos. Can you say Irony? Well I don't have the kind of time I did as a kid. Fortunately I accidently found a way around this.

The first challenge in the level is one where you have three boxes and you have to guess which box the gobbo is under after they get switched around. Here's what you do: be sure to have stocked up on lives before starting the level. Guess the correct box, grab the gobbo, and let the dantini kill you. When you reaper the lil fuzzball will be right in front of you, box free. Grab it again and keep letting the dantini kill you until you're sure you'll have at least six by the end of the level. Complete the level and viola, you can save as many gobbos as you want and you'll be allowed to get the jigsaw piece from the first secret level of Dante's castle.

Overall I enjoyed the game a lot. I never finished it as a kid so 12 years later here I am. It felt good to finally rescue all the lonely gobbos and finally give poor cute lil Croc a breather. Getting to 100 percent wasn't terribly difficult, and the bosses were RIDICULOUSLY easy. I guess that was they're way of making up for the annoying controls. Don't worry though. If we could do this when we were kids we can do it 2 diplomas and several much more difficult games later.

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This is completely for you this game consists of many things that make it an awesome classic

Lots to collect

5 stars on this

#1. This is a platform game so theres much to collect such as white crystals they are like your health bar get hit once lose them all but you get about 5-7 seconds to pick them up again after that poof their gone gobbos their hidden all over every level theres 6 in total 5 in the main area and 1 in the secret challange area to get to this you have to collect 5 color crystals to unlock a special door theres also keys in some levels small silver keys are usually to unlock a small cage contaning a button to open a door or a gobbo jumping around speaking its snout off but in some cases theres no switch for this look for a large gold key that will usually open a door with a gold keylock on it the key will dissapear after use.

#2

4 stars on this

the controlls are quite comfortable exept this difficulty that haunts me through the whole game is the camera angels it dosent let you adjust it appently it ajusts itself in a in a pretty dumb way which makes it hard to jump from platform to platform making it frustrating to repeat over and over but that can be overlooked with the awesome gameplay

#3 5 stars on this I love the bosses from some that chase and tackle you to some that shoot fire and ice bolts at you some that jump at you from the water not to mention the obstacles like when jumping little fire balls with faces running around a platform or flame or ice blotches jumping up from the ice river or lava river so be carefull when jumping

#4 characters are really cute not much violence in this game but dont be fooled its a pretty tough game itl take a while to beat 100% so this isnt only for kids

#5 this game is just so well put together i love the music its so calming and relaxing the story is deep without having many cutsceens and the graphics are pretty nice has a few difficulty not as seamless as they say but it still has pretty clear graphics

#6 its just plain awesome oh wait your waiting for cons right THERE ARE NONE! just the whole camera angle thing but its not much value on the scale of awesomeness so go out get this it will last very long months of entertainment if you want 100% oh and not to spoil anything but theres special jigsaw puzzle peices that unlock a secret!........ well i cant say read the manual and see where it takes you enjoy this great classic!

Cheap PlayStation 3 250GB System

Customer Ratings:

NOTE: (Nov. 9, 2010) The PlayStation 3 320 GB with a larger disc is now available for the same price. Another option is PlayStation 3 320GB System with PlayStation Move Bundle which would make sense if the Move was something you wanted with your PS3.

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< BEGIN REVIEW >

Briefly, the PS3-250 is the exact original PS3 'Slim' with a twice as large hard disk.

I had the opportunity to actually see and use a PS3-250 on the Sunday prior to its launch. As I expected, the only difference between the ps3-250 and the PS3-120 is the larger disk with everything else the same. Many reviews of the PS3-120 are HERE.

< END OF REVIEW >

Once the decision was made to get a PS3, 2 important questions might be:

Which model to buy? PS3-120 or PS3-250?

To upgrade or not to upgrade to a 500/640GB PS3?

Based on personal experience and the experience of other PS3 owners that I know, the options are the following remember, these are my views:

PS3-120, no upgrade

---------------------

Buy a PS3-120 and do not upgrade if you use it mainly to play movies and you rarely download games from the PSN store. It will take you very far and it should have sufficient room for storing thousands of pictures and a lot of music besides it playing Blu-ray content and CDs.

I found that 120GB would not be enough for me. After a couple of years of use, with a few downloaded games, many more demos, lots of pictures and songs and some videos the kids made with the PS3 Eye we've breached the 120GB threshold. I would not worry about that if all I wanted was one of the better Blu-ray players. In addition, anybody comfortable with backing up/restoring the PS3 and upgrading the disk can postpone the upgrade step for later.

PS3-250, no upgrade

---------------------

Buy a PS3-250 and do not upgrade if you do plan to download a few movies and games but not a lot of them AND/or you don't feel comfortable with upgrading your PS3 yourself.

Anyone who is not an almost-exclusive movie viewer and doesn't want to mess with screws and OEM disks should buy the PS3-250. It should have enough capacity to last for quite a few years with good disk space management (delete the demos and downloads you no longer need).

PS3-120 upgrade to 500/640GB

------------------------------

Buy a PS3-120 and upgrade it to 500/640GB IF you don't mind swapping the PS3's disk. You get to upgrade your PS3-120 to quadruple capacity for very little expense and probably for less than a PS3-250 would cost you (see next paragraph). This should buy you peace of mind for the rest of your PS3's lifespan.

Keep in mind that a 500GB HDD such as the 500GB Scorpio Blue Mobile Sata 5400RPM 8MB 2.5IN or the Western Digital 640 GB SATA OEM Notebook Hard Drive WD6400BEVT (Scorpio Blue) if you don't mind the extra expense can be had for about 90 dollars at the time I am writing this. That would make a 500GB upgraded PS3-120 appear a little more expensive than the PS3-250 BUT you are left with a brand-new 120GB HDD (the drive originally in the PS3) when you are done and you can either sell it or use it as an external USB-powered backup drive or maybe to upgrade your laptop's drive. This would effectively set the price of the 500GB upgraded console to match that of the PS3-250.

There are many online guides that detail the process. I will post a couple URL's in a comment to this review.

PS3-250 upgrade to 500/640GB (not recommended)

------------------------------------------------

Do NOT buy a PS3-250 if you are planning to upgrade it to 500/640GB unless you really need a spare 250GB external HDD instead of a spare 120GB HDD and think that the price difference is worth the larger spare drive.

EVALUATION

The PS3-250 while not for everyone, deserves its 5 stars. In my view, there is enough value added by doubling the storage capacity to justify the price difference over the PS3-120.

______________________________________

NOTE: If you want to upgrade you are better off if you upgrade immediately.

This way you avoid the backup/restore hassles and therefore greatly simplify the process. I would include the upgrade HDD on the same order with the new PS3 and maybe add a HDD enclosure if planning to use the drive I removed from the PS3 as an external drive.

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I had no idea which unit to buy, the 120 or the 250 GB Playstation 3. I ended up with the 250 out of fear that the 120 would leave me desiring more space later. If you don't know anything, here is what I see so far. On the Playstation network, you can download game demos and marketing videos for games free. I haven't found myself doing this a lot yet. Of course, you can also delete them easily after you watch them.

Most playable games even old ones cost to download so I have decided to just buy a couple of the popular ones and am hooked on those and the stunning DVD and Blu Ray movie quality for now. You are not going to be able to download games like Modern Warefare 2 to your hard drive from the PS network that I can see. WHen you buy a game at the store or here on amazon in disc format, you have to install it first. This may take some hard drive space. So far, one game I have takes nearly 3 GB and another takes up less than 1 GB but the games also called for an update download which I don't know how much space that took. At this rate, you could install maybe 100 store bought disc format games.

Playing movies on disc doesn't seem to take hard drive space. You can download movies from the Playstation network. If you do much of this, I image you'll need more space but the movies I was interested in cost the same amount to buy from amazon or wal-mart as to download so if you can wait to go to the store or recieve a package, you don't need to download it. You can rent movies also. I imagine this is a download that is disabled after a time period or after it is viewed or something. You can also download TV shows like "The Office" for $2 an eposode. If you want to do a lot of that, maybe the bigger HD is a good idea.

I am thinking you would do well with just the 120GB unless you know you are going to make a collection of movies and TV shows and low priced downloadable games on your Playstation.

You can also save photos on the Playstation as well as video. If this is part of your plan, well again more space may help. The PS3 has USB ports where I believe you could load photos and home movies from to view on your TV.

You can also access your applications on the www like facebook.

Bare in mind that there are a lot of folkes out there with older PS3's that have only 40 and 80 GB drives who love their playstation and don't feel the need for the 250 GB drive.

I don't feel upset that I spent the extra $50 to get the larger drive because it might be useful later, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have been comfortable buying the 120 for my purposes which is playing a small number of games (not a small amount of time, just a small number of games because they cost a lot) and watching some Blu Ray movies.

If you still find it hard to make a decision, ask yourself if you want to spend more money because both models are the same except the HD size which you can upgrade later. By the time you buy the unit, HD cable, a game, maybe another controller and remote control for Blu Ray, you'll be in deep on the expense and maybe another $50 isn't acceptable.

It is a very good and fun product. After I spent all the money on what I needed, I debated on hooking it up or sending it back because it was a lot of money; I'm very glad I hooked it up and delt with the expense. It is everything I hoped.

Best Deals for PlayStation 3 250GB System

Prior to getting the PS3, we had a Sony BluRay player, an Apple TV and a PC hooked up to our Sony Bravia LCD TV. PC was used for Netflix and backing up the Apple TV, Apple TV was used to rent and buy movies, and the Sony BluRay Player simply played BluRay DVDs. After learning about the functionality of the PS3, I was sold.

We've had it for about 2 weeks now and I am ever impressed with it's capabilities and quality. Keep in mind, this is the first type of gaming system like this we've owned (we do have a Wii but I put this in a different class). Here's my take on the various functions and their quality, smoothness and quickness of processing/playing.

Gaming Amazing quality with no hesitations at all (playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2) and I've been playing quite a bit since we first got it. Like the Wii, you can download old games like Mortal Kombat II and new ones for PS3 and the PSP. Initially, I didn't think I was going to play that much but the graphics and the games have been really cool. Not much of an online player at the moment but it seems that most have this option available. Even Mortal Kombat II. You can create user profiles on the PS3 which automatically link to saved game data. Automatic and very nice. Create additional users so they can advance at their own pace.

BluRay Discs load quicker than the Sony BluRay player we bought about 9-12 months ago. Thoroughly impressed with the quality of the picture. You can also play older discs and they'll work just fine.

Netflix You'll need to get a disc from Netflix to be able to do this. We've watched Instant Watch movies via PC/Internet on our TV and the quality wasn't too bad. I say acceptable and sometimes the movie would freeze for a few seconds. On average about two freezes per movie. We were expecting the same thing via the PS3 but were dead wrong. The quality is AMAZING and there has not been one hiccup in the video. This really impressed us...and I'm a picky so don't take that compliment lightly. :)

Renting/Buying Movies/Shows via PlayStation Store Lots of shows available for viewing, including the current season of whatever season you're into. We don't rent these but it's nice to know we can in case the DVR gets goofed up for some reason. As for movies, the files are larger compared to Apple TV/iTunes downloads but with this the quailty is much better. HD movies are available but they're pretty big, about 6 GB! If you're buying movies then it's worth the wait and the extra 5 dollars. SD movies are still good quality for basic rentals. However, if you have a good cable connection you may want to rely on your On Demand Rentals to bypass waiting for long HD downloads. Again, PS Store is good for purchases and I encourage it to save on materials/resources...go green where you can. :) Only downfall with buying/renting movies this way is that the files don't have chapter markers so you can advance through sections of the movie like you can with a DVD. Hopefully they change this.

Internet If you need to access the web you can but you'll probably want to pick up the Logitech keyboard to do this. The speed of browsing isn't too fast and the viewing area isn't the largest. I'll walk over to my computer to do a search rather than use the PS3.

Photos/Music Depending on your computer setup (Mac or PC) you may need to get some additional software in order to turn your computer into a media server. Then, through your wireless network you can access the music and play it through the PS3. Same goes for photos...or you can load the photos onto the PS3 directly, same goes for the music. Really amazing features but take a little research on what file formats are compatible, etc.

PS3 Backup With an external drive attached, you can back up the PS3, which is great.

Overall, I say go for the 250GB if you're into being green like me and wish to download games, movies and load photos and music. This device is truly an all-in-one and like I said, I'm picky. Not to mention I understand technology pretty well. If, after taking a realistic inventory, you will use all or the majority of the services, grab one of these suckers. I'd also recommend going Sony for your TV and surround sound. They all work really well together.

Enjoy!

Honest reviews on PlayStation 3 250GB System

Hi there,

Let me give you some background:

I purchased a PS3 60 GB model at launch back in November 2006. I have loved everything about it ever since. I even upgraded the hard drive to a 250 GB hard drive about a year and a half ago.

Why did I choose to purchase this new, slim, 250 GB model?

Honestly, it's a great deal for what you get. It's cooler (temperature wise), more energy efficient, and it takes up MUCH less space than my previous model. (Not to mention the much nicer, matte black finish as opposed to the older piano black finish which is a scratch/fingerprint magnet.)

Thinking about the new 120 GB vs. this 250 GB model? Maybe this will help:

Originally, I had planned to buy the 120 GB model and upgrade to a 250 GB or 320 GB hard drive myself. However, at the $349.99 price point, there's no need to perform the upgrade myself. For a quality Western Digital or Seagate 250 GB hard drive, you'll be spending anywhere from $50 to $70 plus shipping and/or tax, and for a 320 GB hard drive you'll be spending upwards of $75. Honestly, there really isn't any reason for that with this model. Why go through the hassle when Sony offers a great package at the perfect price point?

I for one am happy with my purchase which I received today from Amazon and am happily inagurating it with the GI Joe: Rise of Cobra blu-ray. For almost anyone that I can think of, the 250 GB hard drive will be more than enough space. However, should the need arise in a year or two (or three), a 500 GB hard drive will be dirt cheap and easy enough to install.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for PlayStation 3 250GB System

By now, the PS3 has been extensively reviewed and this latest iteration (the "slim") has been out in the 120gb format for 2 months now (since September 1st, 2009).

To summarize the benefits:

Slimmer, lighter, and more energy efficient than the prior "fat" PS3

Blu-ray player built-in

Netflix streaming (yay!)

Free online service (vs. subscription based X-box live)

The negatives:

No backwards compatibility with PS2 games

Bluetooth remote only (and not included, so need to purchase a remote to use as a dvd/blu-ray player, no IR (but a number of bluetooth-to-IR solutions like Logitech Harmony Adapter or Infra-red to Bluetooth Adapter)

No more Linux support

With Blu-ray player prices now dropping to the $100-$150 range, the PS3 makes for an expensive option as a Blu-ray player only. As a home media center player/HTPC device, it really shines and is a great deal (you can't build a HTPC with a blu-ray player for less). It IS somewhat limited, however, as a HTPC as its browser is not up to par. Too bad Sony dropped linux support for the PS3. The addition of Netflix streaming (currently requiring a disc but supposedly becoming native in a future firmware update) just ices this cake.

edit to address the HD upgrade issue:

Yes, you can buy the 120gb for $50 less and, yes, you can install whatever capacity 2.5" hard drive you'd like fairly easily as long as you're willing to pay for a new hard drive. BUT, considering that (1.) you'd still have to spend extra money (more than the $50 difference), (2.) spend time and effort to upgrade and (3.) you'd then have an extra 120gb hard drive afterwards to go through the hassle of ebaying (unless you turn it into another usb/backup drive--I've got too many as it is). I find that it is just not worth it. Spend the extra $50, get the 250gb installed by Sony and warrantied by Sony.