Discount Borderlands 2 Psycho Pack

Customer Ratings:

At $4.99 at the time of this review I would recommend getting Krieg. I think $4.99 is a good price for an add-on character. And if you're into melee and hacking and slashing then Krieg will be one of your favorites. I like playing as him and to get his skills are super awesome when you down to the bottom of his skill trees.

This product will activate on steam for Mac and PC just use the code you get from Amazon and go inside the steam client to Games/Activate game it works great.

Well I am off to ride the poop train!

PS when you're playing as Krieg if you listen for a softer voice in the background that tries to calm him down that is Krieg's former self trying to talk him back to the light, but of course Krieg isn't having it

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The game devs really went "opposite" with Psycho. You have to play with him near death to make best use of his abilities. And he becomes awesome at higher levels when he is breathing fire out of his mouth like a dragon. So, be very warned, it makes him a challenging character to play.

bottomline:

If you want a challenge in BL2? this is a 5 star review of Psycho. Get it. You'll enjoy the craziness of trying to keep Psycho alive when he is low level.

On the other hand -If you get tired of him dying 1 second before "second wind" kicks in (death admittedly has very little penalty in the game), this is a 2 star review. It doesnt help that you are somewhat restrained in using fire based elemental weapons since that is his greatest weapon-based perk. If the above sounds annoying, I dont think you'll like playing the Psycho character.

Best Deals for Borderlands 2 Psycho Pack

Wow... just wow. That's the best way to describe Krieg. With one of the most potentially fascinating backstories in all of the Borderlands series, Krieg is a hoot to play as well. Basically, think of any thing you're NOT supposed to do as a standard player class. Got those in mind? Good. At least one of Krieg's skill trees either involves or focuses on you doing that thing you aren't supposed to do.

There's Mania, which encourages you to be a low health and no shields as frequently as possible so you spend most of your time using your Action Skill. There's Hellborn, which encourages you to be ON FIRE (seriously, on fire, as in "fire, hot, ow"). And Bloodlust, which really doesn't care about you killing enemies so much as you using as many different things as possible to damage them, melee, gun, grenade, whatever.

I'd already picked up Krieg earlier, but when I saw it on sale here I had to grab it for my friends. The process was easy and I was able to pick up three keys without issue, which I promptly texted to my friends. They were quite happy.

Some general advise for anyone buying the DLC here: don't bother with the games downloader for this one. Krieg is just an unlock, and what's more content for BL2 has to be downloaded through Steam anyway. Just go to your games library (Account > Your Games & Software Library) and get the key that way, then enter it in the "Add a game..." option in Steam. Way easy.

Honest reviews on Borderlands 2 Psycho Pack

I really like this particular character. It adds a different spin on the Borderlands 2 characters. His special is melee based so it's "similar" to Brick (BL1) but he uses a spinning axe and can throw it. I haven't maxed him out yet but so far it's extremely satisfying to run up to enemies and melee them causing extreme damage. You can lvl him up through his skill tree in a way so you can almost use his special all the time...literally; he's almost over powered at times.

If you want a different styled character where you don't fully rely on gun power but special power, then this is definitely the pack for you. Even if you're curious about it I'd say it's pretty worth it. I got it for a discounted price and I haven't played it enough to tell if it's worth the full $10 but so far I have 0 complaints. And from what I've seen on Youtube and such he seems like a very fun and ridiculously crazy character to play at max lvl.

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that is the most fun to play character in borderlands 2. i am sure that you will not regret to buy it!

Discount Record of Agarest War Limited Edition -Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:

Record of Agarest War was a title that was on my radar for some time, mainly through seeing it in magazine ads and on websites. I'm a pretty big fan of JRPGs so I was excited to see what AKSYS would bring to the states with this release. After picking up the limited edition yesterday, I've put in a solid 6 hours or so and I'm here to let you know what the game is like in the beginning. If you are on the fence about purchasing this title, you may use this as a guide to see if it will suit your taste (since there aren't many reviews out there for the game). So, without further adieu, my impressions...

Record of Agarest War is a Japanese SRPG (Strategy Role Playing Game). What this means is that you have a team of characters strategically placed on the battlefield and one by one you move them to a position and attack. The enemy will be doing the same. With Agarest though, they treat it a little different than the big boys (namely Disgaea). For starters, turns are broken into a couple steps. You begin your turn by moving all of your characters. When you are finished moving, you and the enemy move at the same time (so where an enemy is standing when you begin moving might not be where he is when you finish). After the movement phase, comes the action phase. You are given action points to do certain things. There are no free attacks, each attack will use points, as does using potions, and items. You can chose to bank points and do nothing that turn and use them for the next round, but you can never go above your maximum point count x2. Sometimes this is a good strategy on bosses, but on small mobs you won't need to do this. Another important part of attacking is that you can link up attacks depending on where you are standing in regards to other players. So, when you move, be sure to pay attention to not only the enemies position, but also where your teammates will be positioned. This all sounds a little complicated but there are some tutorials that taught it well.

So that is the quick and dirty description of the battle system (which in my opinion is the biggest part of a SRPG game). It's not the best, I'll be the first to admit, but I feel it's adequate. Disgaea does it better with obstacles and blocks, plus the maps in Agarest are pretty boring, but for some reason I had fun playing Agarest. The battles never lasted too long and I never felt I was at the end of a cheap attack by a computer. You can upgrade your characters individually after each level they receive, which is a welcome addition to any RPG fans playing the game. The system reminds me of Mass Effect where you have a couple different options and you receive a certain number of points per level you need to sink into each level of your character. As you level up you will unlock more skills and such. It's nothing revolutionary, but it works.

The other draw of the game is the dating sim that is apparently present. I haven't encountered much of it since I'm still very early in the game. I have met on e of the girls you can woo and a decision I made to go around a fort instead of threw it made her like me a little more. I'm sure there will be more choices down the ro ad with girls who like different actions at different times. I doubt you can please them all. The story also ranges across generations. So, at the end of the first generatio n (first of five parts of the game) you will need to pick a woman to have a child with. This will then move into the next generation where new girls will be present and new characters to continue your journey. This was one of the major selling points for me in getting this game, so I'm excited to see how this works.

So, there you have it, my quick and dirty first impressions of Record of Agarest War. If you aren't a SRPG fan, avoid this game. If you are an SRPG fan and ha ven't played Disgaea 3, maybe you should start there to experience one of the best SRPG games out. This game is for the rest of us. We've played Disgaea, maybe it wasn't our thing and wanted something a little toned down, not as serious...maybe you like the dating sim aspect, whatever it is, there is a lot to like with Agarest. Unfortunately, there are also some things to not like and if you are one to be brought down by the small things, you may not like this game.

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Since the RPG "Thousand Arms" for the original Playstation first ported to the United States in 1998, the RPG world was forever changed/corrupted/made super awesome with the introduction of one of the greatest inventions to video games; dating sims. Granted it was in its early years and did not advance the game (it allowed you to forge weapons), but it did allow you to offer your date "to see a blue flame" when they asked if you would fart in front of them (no joke!). This spawned a new sub-genre of questing within the RPG world known as the "romantic interest." Games like "Knights of the Old Republic: Sith Lords" allowed players to choose and pursue their love interest and, in the case of Record of Agarest War, consummate the completion of the quest in order to advance the game.

Record of Agarest War ("ROAW") passes itself off as anything but truly serious RPG if not downright perverse. One look at the box and any potential buyer will instantly get the idea that the sole purpose of this game is to play on the greatest of sexual innuendo whilst still (somehow) maintaining the "Teen" rating. One picture on the side shows an attractive animated woman attempting to shove an over-sized sausage into her mouth playing, leaving the meaning behind the not-so subtle meta-message to the perverted imagination of nerds like myself. The name of the limited edition, "the REALLY naughty limited edition," speaks volumes as does the description on the back stating the game is a "cornucopia of debauchery." I am NOT making any of this up!

In short, this is a game is not marketed to anyone belonging to the AARP. Parents should utilize caution when purchasing this game for their teenage sons living in their basement and, if you choose to ignore said warning, don't be surprised when their minds (and hands) are NOT on their chores, studies, or global warming.

Continuing with the gratuitous level of sexual innuendo contained within ROAW, the contents enclosed in the "really naughty limited edition" are akin to something one would find in either a vending machine located in Tokyo's red-light district (don't ask how I know) or at every booth at CostCon. The first 'item' that I pulled out of the massive box of sin was the mouse pad. While the added gel pad proved comfortable for my wrist, it should be noted the picture printed on the mouse pad was one of the female characters with her... um... you know... better parts as the gel pad. This is really interesting to note since the double peaks in the gel actually proved quite helpful in preventing carpel-tunnel.

The next item on our list of enclosed suggestive trinkets is a pillow case of a "yearning" character from the game. While this is handy for anyone wishing to marry a pillow (legal in S. Korea), the pink color scheme did not bode well with my urban dark blues and blacks in my living space. That and any chick I bring home from the bar will see the pillow and wonder if they'll become my next wind chime. Still, a cool trinket.

Then there's the last item, the soundtrack CD... not much I can make fun of here so we'll move onto the next section of the review; the game itself.

OK, so the game itself is the latest in tactical RPGs, albeit with the main emphasis on overtly suggestive themes and the dating simulator. Similar to Stella Deus, it's a very simplistic tactical RPG although the environments all seem to be the same. Not to mention everyone goes in the same turn with "move" and "action" phases as opposed to one elongated battle with turns divided by who is the fastest. This is an interesting break, but it kinda negates the purpose of being fast since everyone goes once per turn.

Also, ROAW has the element of combos, something not exactly new to TRPGs but what separates ROAW from others is that you must be in specific formation in order to achieve this. Due to the weird nature and oddball formations required to combo, it almost becomes more trouble than it is worth as you then use up all your character's energy to take out one person. Combos are definitely ideal for boss fights and not regular stand-up fights.

Also, the experience system is stretched out and, in many instances, it takes bloody forever to level. Even early on in the game on the easy setting, it took me an hour to level and I was barely a few dungeons in. This makes farming a long and egregious, if not monotonous, process. It's annoying and, to make matters worse, it is required if you wish to advance in the game without worrying about your characters constantly dying.

Another interesting aspect of ROAW is the equipment and adventure guild system. While you can purchase armor as you go, you can also create/smith you own as well. Early on I was able to make fairly decent silver armor and so forth, which gave me somewhat of a competitive edge over the relatively difficult battles that ROAW offers. You also can visit the adventure guild and gain titles that render rewards that make progressing a LOT easier. Farm and develop these things early.

Lastly... the dating simulator.

I should state flat-outright that it took me forever to get there. I was three hours in before I even got to the first date. I remember having a Randall moment from Clerks II, where I would be going through yet another mundane battle and then I would yell out, "Where the (expletive deleted) is the chick!?!?!" When it finally ca-.... er... happened, I was intrigued by how you actually "woo" women; through actions in the game. However, it just got really suggestive after that. I wonder if Barry White would contribute his music to ROAW to make the moment more right.

I'm still playing through the gameplay, but I'm progressing slowly as the battles are long and monotonous and I have to take several breaks since the game really doesn't hold my attention long during farming... until I hit the wooing part, which is what we all got it for to begin with.

All in all, a B-.

Best Deals for Record of Agarest War Limited Edition -Xbox 360

Ok, this game definitely has a target demographic. For you to find this review helpful, you probably should fall into most of these categories:

-You like LONG games (50 hrs minimum)

-You like STRATEGY RPGs (moving around on squares, turn-based)

-You like JAPANESE RPGs (anime style)

-You like JAPANESE styled stories (sometimes corny, slighty perverted romance-type)

-You DONT ABSOLUTELY NEED English dialogue (its all japanese, subtitled)

-You like VARYING ENDINGS based on your decisions throughout the game

Alright. So if you satisfy 4 of those traits, you don't want to miss this game.

Before getting into the specifics of the game, I'll say that Xbox360 doesnt have enough RPGs in the first place, so if you are like me, you will feel like you HAVE to at least try it. I don't think you will be dissappointed in most cases.

GRAPHICS/AUDIO/ETC

It's all anime style drawings. The graphics aren't impressive. The audio isn't impressive. It's all gameplay focused, and looks like you are basically playing Final Fantasy Tactics on a nintendo DS. The 'cutscences' are basically just a visual novel. You have to read a bunch to get the story.

THE STORY

It is what you expect from a Japanese RPG. One defining factor, though, is that you aren't the same hero the entire game. The story spans over several generations. Each new generation present a new hero. He is NOT the same guy as the previous one. You will like some of them and you won't like others. The story is DEFINITELY good enough for most people to get over the fact that its all text instead of cutscenes.

I am the kind of guy who hates the play through a game twice. I pretty much lose enough interest to play another 40 hours if I already know the story. But there is even enough variety in this game's story for me to play again. Thats saying alot for me.

Overall, you have to like the Japanese tyle of storytelling to really get into it. As long as you aren't taking it too seriously, you will love it.

THE BATTLE SYSTEM

With enemies constantly changing from area to area, the battle system delivers the diversity necessary to play a game for 100 hours. STRATEGY is extremely important, more so than brute strength. This is a very good thing, as it eliminates the necessity to grind levels before moving on. You can grind if you want to, and end up powering through your next few enemies, but it isnt at all necessary on easy or normal difficulty. That is even more important, for reasons I will get to later.

Basically, you are on a big field of squares, where you use action points(AP) to move and attack. Each turn is divided into a movement stage and an action stage. You have to use AP to move, and to perform attack skills. The amount of AP a character has is determined by their agility, weapons, armor, *and* the location of their teammates. Each character has a unique set of "extended areas," which give them more AP if one of their teammates is located in them. It is the main reason you must strateically think out every movement you make. In addition, you can do combination attacks with the teammates that are in your extended area. These are the most important attacks, and are absolutely necessary to defeat powerful enemies. In some cases, you will have to risk recieving greater damage by turning your back on the enemy in order to link up with your teammates. All things must be considered.

Throughout the game, you will even uncover new battle formations and fields, allowing you to choose a differently-shaped 'field of squares' that best compliments your battle style.

Overall, if you appreciate the strategic elements of the battle system, and don't mind that it looks so old-school, you will never get bored with the fighting.

THE OVERALL GAME SYSTEM

Your decisions are important. Some decisions that dont seem important end up affecting you later in the game in ways you didn't expect. You can make decisions that move you between the "dark" and "light" side of the guage. Unfortunately, sometimes you cant really tell which way a decision will send you. There are even some decisions that you must make during actual battles, such as not attacking a certain person. I did not fully comprehend the consequences of alot of actions until it was too late, but that is a good sign that you have to be thinking about more than battles to get the results you want.

Your actions affect how the female characters in the game like you. This is important because at the end of every generation, you have to choose a bride to make the hero of the next generation! You will choose your bride based on her strengths and yours, and that will determin the strength of the next hero. So if you like to use physical attacks, it is better for you to do the things the more physical heroine likes. If you want a magic user, then you need to get on the good side of the more mage-like females. It is more in-depth than it seems: That bride's level of affection for you also determines how strong the next hero will be, so you can't just ride the middle fence the whole time, or your son will not be as powerful.

Each generation, you have 3 brides to choose from, leading to 3 different next-generation heroes. The bride from the 1st generation, though, also affects your options for EVERY generation after that. The variety of possible end-game heroes, therefore, is unprecedented.

Throughout the game, you collect items, weapons, armor, and even monsters that can be upgraded, augmented, and converted into new items, with which you can create more powerful ones. The amount of customization in this game is impressive.

Back to the grinding issue. Every battle and even in the story consumes "1 turn." The game keeps track of how many turns you use. If you spend a bunch of turns grinding levels, you will miss some big events, and eventually change the ending of the entire game! Getting to a certain point in the game too late may cause you to miss a new partner, or a variety of other events. If you skip too many optional battles, you will find yourself underpowered in the next boss battle, or you may miss some powerful items. You have to consider all of these things with every move you make.

The story is not presented in a very interesting way. Basically, you just move from battle to battle, with various events mixed in between.

It's a stragy game, and RPG, a great story, and partially a dating sim. None of these elements are ground-breaking in themselves. But when you combine all of them in this manner, you have something that hasn't quite been achieved before.

THE GOOD

-Strategy based battles emphasize your decision-making instead of brute strength. (no grinding required)

-Decision system makes your decisions from every generation important for the entire game

-Immersive storyline holds the player's interest for the duration, and is interesting enough to play through multiple times

-HP is restored after battles, preventing the need to use recovery items outside of battle

-Plenty of different characters to team up with, allowing you to choose how to fight your battles

THE BAD

-All japanese dialogue, and no subtitles during battles. Archaic system of story-telling that you expect more on a handheld game without cutscenes.

-Sometimes hard to figure out whether your choice is going to be considered 'dark' or 'light'

-Characters have limited amount of slots to assign skills to, causing you to use the same attacks over and over again.

-Graphics and audio quality are mediocre compared to the console games of this era

-Relatively limited selection of the most powerful move combinations in battle

CONCLUSION

This is a game that requires alot of strategic thought and patience. And there is no focus on impressive visual/audio effects. You definitely have to really commit to playing it, but if you do, you WILL NOT be dissapointed. You will be immersed, challeged, and satisfied.

Honest reviews on Record of Agarest War Limited Edition -Xbox 360

I didn't know what to expect when I purchased this game but I must say I am glad I got it. The gameplay is fun and the basics are easy to grasp. There are quick tutorials in the first few battles that give good explanations for the various options during battle so there is no confusion. The more you play the deeper the battles can become depending on how you play. New characters and formations are introduced that really allow you to decide how you want to play. Certain formations are better for defense while others excel at offense and there are other formations that can give stat boosts depending where you place your characters. Another good point is that the game offers three difficulty levels so the player can pick a difficulty that best suits there skill level. I have played with all three difficulty levels active and there is a difference that becomes more apparent as you progress further into the game. Easy mode is very good for players who don't play many tactics based RPGs and allows you to focus more on the story. Normal is good for just about anybody who enjoys tactics based RPGs and has some skill in them. Hard on the other hand starts off not to bad but gets really intense later on. So be prepared with the best tactics you can muster or you will end up being very frustrated very quickly. The story so far has been better then I expected and the ability to bond with some of the characters really adds a fun element to the game as certain choices will effect how those characters feel about you. In the end this is a fun game with lots to offer for most gamers. Oh and the mouse pad and pillow case are actually good quality as well so don't think there just going to send you some cheep freebies. The soundtrack is also rather good and is worth a listen if your a fan of game soundtracks. Have Fun!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Record of Agarest War Limited Edition -Xbox 360

I no longer buy games at Gamestop and unfortunately they carry the ones that Target and Best Buy don't carry. So I get all my games on Amazon. The arriving was timely. I thought the box was bigger but it's what in the box that counts. The pillow case and mouse pad are awesome!!! I definitely recommend this to fans out there!!!!

Buy Import Tuner Challenge - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:

To feed my Forza Motorsport 2 hunger, I decided to purchase this game. I'm a big fan of Japanese cars. All my cars are Japanese. Import Tuner focuses on...you guessed it...import cars, mainly Japanese brand carsToyota, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mazda, and Nissan. People ask..so where's Honda? Licensing issues prevented Genki developers from including Honda.

This game delivers TONS of customizations. You can basically calibrate and modify your car based on parts you buy. However, buying upgrade parts for your car isn't that easy. All upgrade parts are level-based meaning you need to beat a boss or win races against a few rival teams to get a new level of parts to purchase. Parts don't come cheap so just racing one rival after another won't get you the goods you need once you face a fully-modified car. You'll have to go back and find a rival team you already beat and race him over and over until you get enough credit points to purchase the parts.

The game requires a lot of patience since you'll be pitted against every import car. There are two ways of challenging rivals. You either hit the streets and challenge OR you can go to the parking area and challenge racers there. To beat the game, you'll have to challenge both street racers and those who hangout by the parking lot.

The tracks are based on real highways in Japan. All the the highways have been faithfully recreated in this game. Now...since this is a race along freeway, you won't be using much of your drifting skills here since you won't find any hairpin turns. Most of the turns are like the Exit ramps you take on our Interstate highways here in the US. This should give you an idea on what's in store for you. Majority of the tracks here are straightways, a few exit ramps turns will test your turning skills. Don't be fooled though. You'll be faced with traffic on the highways. There will trucks and cars driving merrily along the highway while you're speeding at 200mph. The traffic will sharpen your skills on avoidance and overtaking. The game is quite tough on errors you make. You hit a car or a railing and chances are the rival driver will be right on your tail.

There are two modes of races here: SP battles and Time Attack. SP battles are like health meters. The farther the rival is ahead of you, the faster your health meter goes down. You hit a railing or a car and that penalizes your SP meter. The object of SP battle is to run your rival's SP meter dry. That means you'll have to outrace him or punish him by trapping him on a lane where a slow moving vehicle is right in front of him and then you accelerate at high speed to leave him behind. You can use traffic to your advantage by nudging the rival car on the side and pushing him towards an embankment. I know it's bad but hey...you gotta win by any means necessary. Time attack on the other hand is simply a race to the finish line. Why it's called Time attack just boggles the mind. This game was made in Japan so expect some translation hiccups here and there. Poorly translated Japanese terms abound in this game so expect to see weird rival names like Betelguese of the Night, Mundane Omnipotent, Cornering Opera, Mundane Zeus, Astellion Flower, and my favorite... Cat X Cat.

Graphics was where I was a bit disappointed. Genki didn't use the full power of the Xbox360. Somehow it didn't look quite next-gen to me. Also, there are horrible frame rate issues. The game just grinds to a stuttering frame rate when you have three or four rivals on screen. There are a few drawing issues as well. Sometimes, while driving, you'll notice that there's just a black empty space at the end of the ramp. Fear not, the game suffers from redrawing issues. But these issues shouldn't deter you from playing this game. AI is something that's a so-so. You will find rivals who drive like Ms. Daisy or sometimes against a rival who drives like Mario Andretti, Nicki Lauda, and Colin McRae. Most of the AI seem to be afraid to take the risk of making sharp turns at full speed. They seem to brake quite a few meters too far from the turn's entry point. As a result, you can easily take advantage of this and cut in front of them.

So...what's a good gaming tip here. Like any other tuner games, there are three things you need to focus on to win in this game: SPEED, WEIGHT, AND HANDLING. That means you need to upgrade your engine, your body, and your suspension. Don't dwell too much on making your car look like Fast and Furiousque. Concentrate first on winning a few races and invest on the three main aspects of the car. ANy part that will make your car 100lbs heavier should be compensated by a body upgrade that will make it lighter. I've beaten this game by using just one car.

Here's what I did: I purchased the Nissan Fairlady (fastest among the cheapest starter cars). I raced the hell out of it and upgraded it. Then I began challenging several rivals over and over again till I was winning 500K credit points per race. Once I got to about 4 million credit points, I bought my favorite and possibly the fastest tuner car in the game: Mitsubishi Evolution IX. I then sold my Fairlady and then upgraded the engine to the highest possible level I could get. Slowly I began upgrading the three main aspects of the car. By the time I got to about 80% of game completion, I was beating every car and rival I was up against. The Mitsubishi Evolution is by far the best tuner car I have ever dealt with, be it Forza Motorsport or Import Tuner. Try the Evolution and win every race.

In closing, this game is highly recommended. It has it's own technical issues but the fun factor is definitely in the game. Go for it.

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This game is made by the same company that produced the Tokyo Extreme Racer series. The game play is exactly like TXR, expect the controls are a little bit tighter than they were in the previous installments of the game. The graphics in the game are very well done, but they are not next gen graphics. There is only about 10 or so cars in the game but hundreds of upgrades. The level of customization is unbeleiveable. You can cusotmize every thing from the height of the car to what the steering wheel look like. The reason I rated the game 5 starts is because the game is so much fun to play. There is no story line in the game; the main focus is to race and beat all of your rivals. All of the reviews that compare this game to Need for Speed: Underground are very misleading because Import tuner is totally different than NFSU. NFSU is an arcade sim aimed at the mass market where Import tuner is aimed at a small niche of racing fans.

If you have ever played any of TXR series you will love this game, if not you might want to rent it first.

Best Deals for Import Tuner Challenge - Xbox 360

This game has recieved absolutely no hype. I walked into EB a few days before the game's release to preorder, and no one there had even heard of it. Usually when that happens, a game has been rushed through development, is released prematurely, and as a result, the game blows.

That is not the case here.

Import Tuner Challenge is effectively the next in the line of Shutokou Battle or Tokyo Xtreme Racer (henceforth referred to as TXR) games. However, it's received a change of name, and was produced by Ubisoft instead of Crave. This has led to a few minor changes to the game. First off, this looks MUCH better than any of the previous TXR games. It won't blow a game like Test Drive Unlimited out of the water, but it's certainly a step up from NFS:MW or Ridge Racer 6. The streets of Tokyo are beautifully recreated here. The cars are well-rendered, all high-poly models. The lighting effects are up there with the best of the racing games. As far as sound goes, the techno racing tunes are uninspired, but work for the game. While I believe that the music was well-chosen for the game, I could wholly understand someone disliking it very much. Really, though, the highlight here is the sound of the cars. As you spend time upgrading your car's engine and exhaust, you can hear a difference with every little change you make. You start out with a quiet machine, and after just a few upgrades, you can hear the turbo whirring and the sounds of the wastegate. This is just extraordinarily cool for the real gearheads. To some people, this may mean nothing. However, I find it quite refreshing to hear a car sound similar to how it would in real life.

For those who haven't played a TXR game before, you're probably wondering HOW DOES IT PLAY? so I'll get to that now. The formula is simple: race, make money, upgrade car, race, buy new car, race, win money, race, ad nauseum. Sounds simple, right? It's a very basic game structure, but it works quite well. The way it's set up makes it very addictive. I personally logged over 28 hours of gameplay in the first 3 days I owned the game, and missed many a class. If you play this game, you WILL find yourself trying to find every minute possible to race and upgrade your car. This is because of the tuning system, which, while not quite on par with TXR 2 on Dreamcast or TXR 0 on PS2, is better than any other Xbox 360 game, bar none. This blows Need for Speed Most Wanted out of the water.

However, it's not for everyone. If you want to simply upgrade a car with the press of a button, take it out on the street, and beat every race without any trouble, buy Need for Speed Most Wanted. It's a solid game. That said, if you truly want a game that allows you to tune every aspect of your car, this is for you.

Plusses and minuses:

+Addictive gameplay

+Long game-should take at least 50 hours to beat

+Beautiful graphics

+Incredible tuning options

+amazing sense of speed

-Some may find the formulaic gameplay to get old

-For the first hour or so, it feels different from TXR

I'm sure this game won't get the respect that it deserves, but if you're looking for an in-depth tuning and racing game for the X360, this is for you.

Honest reviews on Import Tuner Challenge - Xbox 360

i like this game alot. lots of stuff can be done to the cars. and the inside the car driving view is cool.

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A decent game if you are into this type of racer.

Having played Tokyo Highway Battle PS1, Tokyo Extreme Racer 1 and 2 Dreamcast, and Tokyo Extreme Racer Zero and Tokyo Extreme Racer 3 I am a fan. It is the same people that made it. Ignore the cheesy title.

Let's talk about the bad:

Much less cars. Like about 15 (seriously). They left out a lot of cars. The series was much better when they did not have licensed cars. The selection and variety was awesome.

The graphics aren't great for what it should be. Looks more like a last generation game. This must be played on the best resolution as possible.

There is no vibration feedback for the controller at all and using a wheel there is definitely no force feedback.

Some routes are missing in this game.

The online community is pretty much dead.

Overall you can tell that these guys were lazy. It could have been much better. So much potential thrown away.

As for the good it plays just like their previous games. It is much better than TXR3 because the civilian cars have returned (the worst in the series IMO). The physics have improved. The livery editor is not good at all but better than nothing. The appearance modifications are great. There is a cockpit view. Sense of speed is good. The graphics are the best in the series. The feel and flavor is still there.

Previous fans will like this. This is a like or hate affair. I would not say love just because they got lazy and left so much out and took a step backwards.

This is probably the most real street racing you can get without being tacky like other street racing games. Although the names given and car crews and members names are funny in a good way. If you like Japanese cars and roll racing this is it.

Discount Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

Customer Ratings:

I LOVE IT!!!! Couldn't ask for a better product for the price. Was pleasantly surprised when the item came in its original box with all the cables and the universal media remote. Hook up only took a few minutes, but getting the unit to actually play a dvd and getting the remote to be recognized by my Xbox 360 took a little longer. Thank goodness for the internet and all of the great forums out there that explain everything in detail. Couldn't ask for a better unit for the price. These normally retail for over $60, this was a steal at $21! Highly recommend this item for anyone looking to add a dvd player to their XBox setup. Only con was that it took almost a week to get here. According to shipping tracking it went from CO Springs to Denver. Denver back to CO springs. CO Springs to Des Moines. Des Moines to Kansas City. Kansas City back to Des Moines and finally Des Moines to Omaha. Seems a little fishy, but I am extremely satisfied with the product.

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With the end of the HD-DVD format, I have a modest collection of HDs that I will not be able to watch if my primary player (Toshiba A2) breaks. I looked at this as a means to media shift the HDs that I legitimately own to a different medium. Like I have done with my CDs and shifted them to MP3, so too will all my movies move to MP4s.

Plugged this beauty into my Computers USB port and the drive came up with no problems. Was able to play HD movies without an issue. Now off to the real work.

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Received item in a speedy mannor form Amazon but there were some problems:

1. Box was not sealed (the MicroSoft seal on the opening end was missing).

2. The Media remote was missing.

3. Unit states for sale in Canada only and MicroSoft may not honor warranty here in the UAA.

Unit was not packaged as new units are and it was clear that unit had been used. It still works and for the price paid it is acceptable overall.

Update: 2 years later drive still works just fine with xbox 360 unit.

Honest reviews on Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

I bought this for my son for Christmas, along with many hd movies.

This hd dvd player worked for approximately 30 minutes. My son was watching a movie and stopped the movie and when he went back to continue watching the movie the player wouldn't work. I read the return policy which is that they won't accept returns, we must go through the manufacturers warranty. I could understand if the player worked for a few months, but for 30 minutes! Are they selling defective equipment? If they are maybe amazon shouldn't use this company. Now my son has movies he can't watch anywhere else. I'll think twice before ordering anything again.

Discount Jade Empire - Xbox

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $17.99
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

From the people who brought us Knights of the Old Republic comes another genre-blending game with a fabulously twisting plot. If you own an Xbox, you should own this game. It is not only the best Action RPG on the Xbox but one of the best RPGs played in recent memory.

For those who have played KOTOR, this game will be instantly familiar. At the offset, you pick a character and are thrust into a world of moralities. Unlike KOTOR, the morality system is a little more complex for the most part. Instead of focusing on good and evil, your character has the choice of being endlessly helpful, understanding and tolerant of everyone (in other words believes in the power of the human spirit) or someone who reveres strength. As an example of this strength concept, there is a decision early on about a dam that is open and has caused problems for a town because the sailors are land locked. A wine merchant wants the dam to remain open so he can make a killing off of the sailors. If you follow the Way of the Open Palm you would probably close the dam so that the town can prosper in what is should be doing. If you follow the Way of the Closed Fist, on the other hand, would decide that if the town were strong they will survive this current hurdle and that it is only that, a hurdle. It gets a little more tricky than that and does open some areas for roleplaying your character and deciding what you would really do in that situation. Bioware is also wonderful at making you think about your decision as they give you new information just as soon as you make a decision that might change how you feel about the situation.

My only complaint with the system is that while they say that the two paths are different from looking at things as good and evil, there are still some instances where there is a "good" and an "evil" way of doing things. I might have rationalized why I would be doing something that way, yet I would get points from the side I didn't want because it was clearly delineated as "good and evil choice." So, that's a bit frustrating given that their system isn't supposed to be good and evil. But, overall the system works well and really makes you think.

I didn't really care for KOTOR because of the battle system and that is probably the reason I'm enjoying Jade Empire much more. The fighting system is simple yet deep. As you progress you will learn different martial arts style that you can map to the D-pad for quick and easy access. And you will be constantly changing your styles as the techniques to defeat enemies will constantly evolve. Some monsters are immune to certain attacks so you will have to experiment and find the best ways of devastating your foes.

On the simple side, the combat is really about rock, paper scissors. You have a quick attack and a time-consuming attack (and a knock back attack that really only helps when you are surrounded and need some space). When someone blocks you use your time consuming attack, otherwise you mostly use your quick attacks to offset their own long attacks. It's pretty simple and easy to used to. However, some battles can become a button masher either way you look at it. But it's still exhilarating and fast with many ways of deciding how you want to play. Do you want to focus on using weapons, martial arts, magic, transformations? A little of the above? It's all up to you.

The game is beautiful most of the time. The art style is impeccable and really helps create a full-flesh universe. Since it's based on oriental myth, it doesn't take place in the Orient as we know it but a mythical world that incorporates themes from oriental culture. Because of this, the desiginers are free to create whatever their imagination can make. And it's beautiful. There are some places that I stood for awhile and just looked because it was so surreally beautiful and soothing. It made me wish that sometimes our world wasn't so industrialized and that we could go back to what was a more simple beauty. It was that affecting. However, sometimes, the backgrounds look painted on. Some of the hills and areas that act as blockades for where you can't go aren't that well designed. Also my character's body type makes me laugh because his pecs are super large and his abs are indented in his body that I laugh whenever I see it.

The game moves impeccably fast as well. Your character runs and I mean runs through the areas. The framerate is great. But, like KOTOR before it, the game stutters sometimes when you are running and turning the camera. When the camera pans, the game flutters sometimes as it tries to take in everything that happens. In battles, the game hardly ever stutters. And the battles can end up having a good dozen or so enemies fighting you and your partner so they can get pretty hectic and the graphics engine does a great job keeping the motion moving.

Aurally, the game is a treat. You will find some cameo voice actors that are immediately familiar (look for John Cleese in a hysterical role). The music is well done and has a wonderful oriental bent to it (of course). Also, Bioware hired a real linguist to help create the fictional language used in the game. It is very familiar to oriental language but isn't real. It was created solely for this game. And that's amazing.

Unfortunately, my problem with the dialogue in the game is the same problem I had with KOTOR. It's great and all but all too often the plot developments and dialogue becomes a "talking head" type situation where anyone who has something important to say gets a close up of their face while their lips move and the dialogue is heard. This is unfortunate for me because I get impatient sometimes and will just read the subtitles and skip through most of their dialogue. It's never "dynamic" in cutscenes like in some RPGs I've played (hands down the best use of dialogue in an RPG goes to FFX that used dialogue to move the plot but it wasn't a novel dialogue, it was like movie dialogue). The dialogue in Jade Empire is sometimes like a novel. So, for those who aren't interested in talking heads delivering dialogue this might get annoying after a time. But the dialogue is genuinely well voiced and excellent.

My only other complaint is the load times. While not as annoying constant as Fable where each and every small zone no matter how small had to be loaded for a good 5-10+ seconds, it still is a pain when you have to go through zones for a quest. For instance, in the beginning of the game you have to go through the town to the school (a load screen) to get a quest, go back to town (load screen) to talk to someone, then back to the school (load screen). And it's unfortunate because the actual quest takes maybe a minute, but a good 20 seconds of the time is spent in load screens. That's a uncharacteristic load time though as generally the areas are big and don't usually require many loads. Although another incident where it is very noticeable is in an arena combat situation where before and after each arena battle it has to load for a good 5-10 seconds. The kicker is, some of the arena battles are over in about a minute or much much less and yet you have to deal with two load screens comprising a good 10-20 seconds. So, in some areas it can be annoying and definitely pulls you out of the game when you should be pulled further in. And, it becomes especially annoying considering that games like Halo 2 are seamless after the original load.

Overall, though, this game is gold. It's perfectly plotted and paced and has Bioware's trademark in excellence stamped all over it. It ranks as one of my favorite games this year so far along with God of War and Psychonauts. I would definitely recommend buying this game. There are some problems that I have noted but you know regardless of the problems, this is an excellent game with an excellent story. And, at 22+ hours, this adventure is worth taking.

**NOTE: You should definitely pick up the Limited Edition of it if you can still find it. For the initial run they are all Limited Edition and after they are gone, you will only be able to get this, the standard game. The Limited edition has a new character and weapon style and a making of as well as some other fun things. Same price, so definitely check out the limited edition over this version if you want the game.

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I've loved most of the Bioware games over the last several years. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, the Baldur's Gate series and all the spin offs based on that same engine by Black Isle. So while I hadn't really tracked the development or feature set of Jade Empire, and I haven't been playing many games at all the last year or so I decided to pick it up.

So I got it home, tried it out, and got into the old pattern of a week-long, late-night playing spree until I reached the end.

It was good.

The characters and writing were pretty decent. The quests were pretty varied (although I got really sick of ghosts and spirits by the end). The dialog was funny at times. You had choices about whether to be good or evil throughout the game. It definitely had an Eastern flavor and philosophy throughout. There were some really original segments and nice cinematic sequences and some fairly well-done plot twists. But overall I'd say the story and characters were just decent not as good as an average novel. Not quite as good as Knights of the Old Republic. And not innovative still plagued by the same issues that have affected previous games in the genre (e.g. no real freedom to make choices to avoid big plot quests or go in your own direction, not much subtlety in the good/evil choices and rewards given for being either as good or as evil as possible, smashing barrels and boxes and urns around towns and houses to find loot without any consequences).

Where the game really shined was in combat. Your character is skilled in Kung Fu, and starts with 2 fighting "styles" that he or she can switch between at any time. Each style is relatively simple in it's own right. There's a basic attack. You can sequence 2 or 3 attacks in succession before needing to pause a second. You can block. You can "power attack" which takes a second to warm up and leaves you open to regular attack but can break through an enemy's block. And there's an area attack that knocks foes down but doesn't really hurt them. And you can roll and flip around to evade enemies. That's it. So basic strategy is "rock, paper, scissors." Block beats regular attack power attack beats block regular attack beats power attack (during warm up).

So in the beginning of the game you get used to this strategy against one opponent or a few at a time. But before long you start learning new styles. There are new "martial" styles (different forms of kung fu), there are support styles which tend to hinder opponents and set them up for finishing combinations, there are magic styles that usually let you blast enemies at range, there are weapon styles, and there are transformation styles (which let you become a big baddie of some sort for a short while to kick some butt).

Each of these styles has the same categories of moves described above... but very different versions. E.g. with the dire flame magic style, the basic attack fires a small flaming projectile at your enemy, the power attack fires a large flaming projectile that immolates the enemy for a time and makes it impossible for him to attack back, and the area attack summons a dragon to breath flame in the area.

So the core mechanic of the game stays fresh throughout, since you're continually collecting new styles, trying them out, learning their strengths and weaknesses, and investing your limited pool of points into improving the ones you like best. Then at some point you start to really experiment with the "hamonic combinations" in which you have to use a support or magic style, get someone with the slow power attack, then quickly switch to a martial style and hit them with another power attack to finish them off and produce a power up. This can be fun, and it very efficient when fighting large groups of enemies at once.

I have to admit at times I really felt like a bad-ass kung fu master during the game. Start with my "Flawless" staff style, then switch to "Spirit Thief" to suck up some of their spiritual energy, then flip over their back and use "Thousand Cuts" for some quick punches, then finally to "Stone Immortal" to encase my enemies in rock. The switching between styles is very fast and natural and before too long I became very familiar with many of the styles, and I could recognize and name the styles that foes were using against me. This really brought scenes of kung fu movies to mind such as "Ha you don't think you can beat me using "Leaping Tiger" style do you?" or "Ahh, Tempest style. You must be a master who follows the way of the closed fist and I must take care to avoid your vortex area attacks."

And in the end that's what makes a game memorable. The way it made you feel when you were playing it. This game made me feel like a Kung Fu master in a way that straight fighting games with never could.

-Mike Arcuri

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I brought this game for my sister for Christmas. I called her on her day off from work and was told "Can't talk now, I am playing." I was surprised by her reaction. She doesn't normally sit down and play a game and then finish it so quickly. So when she brought it over for me to play, I was looking forward to it. Needless to say, I was not let down. I spent all my free time immersed in a wonderful story that had me in a trance. The beauty, the story, the adventure. I highly recommend this game for all, it was a truly spectular pleasure to play.

Honest reviews on Jade Empire - Xbox

I thought this was an overall great game. Great storyline, though a bit confusing and disappointing/sad in the end. The Only thing I really criticize was the fighting and the number of styles and how they are earned. The Buttons for fighting have been seen a million times. You press one or two buttons (mostly one) and thats how you defeat everyone. The other thing is that when they said you would learn transform skills by fighting many of a creatures, I assumed you'd be fighting more than one or two before the game activates it at a planned moment. I expected to be able to into a wilderness and find many many creatures that respawn and attack again. Also, there were too few weapon styles. You end up using only 1 or 2 kinds of weapons. My last criticism is the lack of things you could buy. More armor, more weapons, less gems. I know I've made the game sound terrible by now but truely, great storyline, excellent graphics and sound, average stats system, good variety of styles and ememies, etc. If you like RPG's, buy it, you'll like it.

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Here's an example of how good this game is. I bought an xbobx for this game. Its just that worth it.

once the menu screen shows up on your screen, I promise, you will be immediatly anchanted. The music is so deep and overwhelming, sorrowful and yet noble. And the visuals, although choppy at very rare times, are heavenly.

When you start out, you will of course pick which character you want to use for your adventure. There are plenty to choose from, ranging from fast-fisted warriors to huge barbarians. This just begins one of the greates aspects of the game character customization. True, it may seem simplistic at first, but through the game you can gain so many styles and techniques that for one moment your character will be beating the heck out of his opponents with brute force, and then seamlessly meld into movments as graceful yet deadly as Crane.

Magic aspect aside, the martial arts are fairly true-to-life. For example, if you are using a longsword, the stance has you holding it above your head (note that not all styles have you doing this, just the one in Jade Empire). Now, when fighting someone with a spear, you might want to switch to either hand-to-hand or a weapon with a longer range. This is because the way that you hold your sword, its takes an extra 1/10 of a second (which in martial arts is precious time). The enemies spear can take advantage of that, and then your dead.

You start off in your martial arts school. When I saw this, i couldn't believe how beautiful it was. It was so peacful and enchanting. Even subtle details were payed attention to, such as the students going through REAL forms and excersises from Tai-Chi Chuan and the Lohan system.

The names are great. Furious Ming. Wu the Lotus Blossom. Gao the Greater (and lesser). Segacious Zu. I mean c'mon thats just classic.

And perhaps most importantly the story. Thats right people, there IS something MORE important than graphics (although Jade Empire's are phenomanal). This is an RPG after all. At first, it seems pretty formulated. I was a little dissapointed. But, don't lose heart. Very soon some amazingly creative and origional writing comes into play. The story is great.

Sadly, there is one thing that I just really do not like about this game at all. For starters, there is the Airship transportation. Its just a remake of Space invaders with a Chinese twist. Very big letdown there.

Secondly, all of the close-ups can get tiresome. I mean, with envoirnments so beautiful, I want to see more than just some warriors face, no matter how cool he/she looks.

But, despite these factors, I still give this game a 5 out of 5. And here is why.

Bad things about the game 2

Good things about the game 100+

Bottom line; If you have an XBOX, then there is no excuse not to have Jade Empire.

Reviews of 50 Cent: Bulletproof - Xbox

Customer Ratings:

This is one of the worst games ever created. It deserves zero stars. Talk about pointless. The graphics are sub-standard, the storyline is non-existent and the game is solely based on violence. Now don't get me wrong, I usually don't have a problem with violence in video games but when there is absolutely no other point to the game, don't act like it has some story line. Mowing down cops and street thugs is not a storyline and it becomes so boring so fast it will make your head spin. You'll have more fun throwing your controller across the room after about ten minutes than you'll ever get from playing this piece of junk. If this game didn't feature the name "50 Cent" it would have landed in the bargin bin immediately. It's not even worth the bag it would come in if you were fooled into buying it. Don't waste your money on this piece of garbage, not even for a rental.

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This is pretty much the worst and most over-hyped game of 2005 and made a lot of 'bottom 10' lists in many magazines last month. And it bloody deserves it.

The problems with this game begin before you even lift it off the shelf in the store. I mean take a look at the cover. It's 50 Cent, one of the few African American 'role models' around these days, in a defencive pose with a stereotypical 'angry black guy' look on his face (oh, please don't hurt me Mr. Cent!).

Now I am not a fuddy-duddy conservative who blames people like Marilyn Manson for corrupting kids or whatever because I know kids are more intelligent than adults give them credit for. But America is a very racist country and when 50 Cent misrepresents the Black Community and backs up the xenophobic myth that all Black people are evil or killers or gang-bangers in some way I can't help but get very annoyed.

Second of all is the fact that this drivel game is no more than a laughable male fantasy. Yes, I know Mr. Cent has been shot 9 times but it was all at once with low calibre bullets. It's not as if he goes out and gets shot at every day and is immune to all lead fired in the direction of his person. I know 50 Cent has had a really, REALLY, RE-EALLY tough life, that I would not wish upon anyone. But when violence and death have haunted you your whole life the LAST thing you should do is capitalise on a game that glorifies gun-play and gang warfare. That's just disgusting and perverse and if Mr. Cent truly 'kept it real' (what a ridiculous, meaningless phrase) he would treat his demons with respect. Using music as a way of working through them is fine but starring in a video game where the main enjoyment comes from blowing people away certainly is NOT. As I have said, there are few African American role models and he should set an example to those following behind him. While his innovative music may have made him a huge success this game smashes any credibility I feel he may have had.

Third? Well the story to the game is childish and stupid anyway. It's not even entertaining accidentally as it's just way too dull.

And fourth? Well don't get me started on the horrible targeting system and awful controls. It'll make you want to smash your control pad into your TV screen. What a horribly cheaply programmed game!

Fifth? Well, that would have to be the bland, graphics and tedious environments. It all adds up to a pretty (read VERY) unsatisfying experience. Mere days after being released most stores had zillions of copies traded in as those foolish enough to buy it blind quickly discovered what a rotten game it is as well as a hideously over-indulgent and grossly misjudged vanity piece. BEWARE!!!

Graphics C

Sound B-

Gameplay D-

Lasting Appeal D

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very good first person shooter. the missions SUCK after the first 5 stages are opened up..and its hard to figure out what to do in the latter levels so i just gave up. also its hard to target your guy when shooting alittle..but not alot. i just keep going through the first level in Queens getting as much money as i can to buy videos and music...but that will get old soon. rent it, its worth the experience..the exclusive music 50 did for it is good too...

iLL .

Honest reviews on 50 Cent: Bulletproof - Xbox

Okay...this is a review, not a g-unit bash commentary. Unlike some people, I have the b@lls to say that I actually do enjoy some of 50's music. Though not without his issues(you all know what I mean), he is an interesting person. This game was obviously a companion piece to his get rich or die trying movie. Universal kind of dropped the ball on this one. It's not a terrible game, but it reeks of a rushed product. In game graphics are good, but the cinemas seem kinda washed out. The music, well, it's all g-unit so you'll either hate it or love it(ha!).I personally thought that some of the game exclusive tracks were better than his released stuff. Now, the gameplay.....Have you ever been stuck in the mud with some heavy ass boots on? That is a good description of the controls. Why is 50 so slow? The targeting is not as bad as everyone says. Of course its going to be hard to get a head shot. Do you really think anyone can get off a perfect shot everytime? Surprisingly well written story. The "overkills" are by far one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. Think Dead to rights, but much more graphic. Voice acting varies from decent to hilarious. Our friend Marshall Mathers is funny as hell as the crooked cop. Anyway, yeah I bought the game, I liked it. I'm just saying that it could have been so much more. All games can't be Halo after all.

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Its a good game I've been wanting for a.while its a challenging game I play it alot I still haven't passed it but its a great gem I love 50 cent and yea its great

Review of Rock Band Triple Tree Guitar Stand

Customer Ratings:

The Rock Band Triple Guitar Stand is PERFECT for Guitar Hero and Rock Band guitars!! It doesn't take up much room, is easy to assemble and is a nice addition to the room. Instead of tripping over a guitar or knocking one over, you can easily place the guitars on the Stand, and when you want to get a different one, it will be right at your finger tips. It definitely makes a nice gift or a treat for one's personal collection. It is too small to hold full size guitars, which makes it all the more special for the Guitar Hero/Rock Band Super Star, as it was made just for them. Rock On!

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I was happy this tree could hold 3 guitars since that's how many I have now. I'm guessing it was designed this way for stability and it worked. The hooks and guitar rests are nicely padded; no worries over your guitars getting scratched. The stand also fits very nicely in tight spaces. This is a very useful product if you're looking for a way to protect your guitars from damage and get them out of the way when they're not being used.

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This stand is not huge so it doesn't take up a lot of space. It looks nice and it keeps our Rock Band guitars neat and from getting hit or kicked. Since Rock Band is set up right in our living room we needed to make our accessories look a little better when not in use.

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Purchased this guitar stand along with the Dreamcast Warbeast guitar controller. I already have two RB2 strats in my collection and adding the Warbeast made this guitar stand a necessity.

The stand itself is built well and looks to be a quality product. Good weight makes mounting 1, 2, or 3 guitars possible with no worries of tipping over. Because the height is adjustable, the Warbeast fits perfectly... so don't hesitate buying if you are worried it is too short for this full-sized replica guitar controller. I'll post pics soon!

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Wow what a difference, no more guitars leaning against the wall on top of each other. The Rock Band Triple Tree Guitar Stand can securely and safely hold up to 3 guitars without worrying about scratching or damaging them. The guitar's neck hangs off soft padded hooks and the backs are kept away from the stand by another padded bar that rests against the back of the guitar. Since the stand's height can be easily adjusted, this can be used with different gaming guitars. I personally use it for the Guitar Hero gaming system.

Made of heavy duty metal, it will securely stay in place without any worries of it tipping over. Much better "eye pleaser" to see the guitars nicely hanging on the stand than just laying around. Great buy!

Best Rayman Origins - Xbox 360 Deals

Customer Ratings:

When my friend told me about this game, I was a bit confused as to why a 2D platformer was not a downloadable XBLA title. But he was raving about the game so much that I just HAD to pick up a copy.

Needless to say, I am EXTREMELY impressed with this game. I could go on forever about it, but I won't. Instead, I will just break it down into a few components:

Gameplay: 5/5

Smooth controls, some of the best platforming I've seen in a while. Truly great level design.

Multiplayer: 4.9/5

The only reason this isn't a 5 is that it doesn't have online multiplayer. However, the experience of sitting with a couple of friends on your couch and playing together makes for a great experience. There is little-to-no frustration involved in multiplayer (unlike some other recent multiplayer platformers).

Presentation: 6/5

They get a billion thumbs WAY up! The art is phenomenal, everything is charming, and it is extremely obvious that they put a lot of time into the details that really makes the game come to life.

I recommend this game to anyone of any age. It's silly, charming and just straight up fun.

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I had heard nearly nothing about this game upon its release. Amazing word of mouth eventually made its way to me, but I didn't really know anything about Rayman (other than Rabbids). I finally found the tid-bit of info that immediately had me on my way to the game store: co-op in the fashion of New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

The co-op system used here is actually better than the one used in the Mario helmed game. At any time during the game a buddy can join in on your game. If they die, they become a bubble. It's then up to you to pop them so that they can continue playing. It improves the Mario system by making the joining of a game seamless (no menu to go to, you can do it anytime), and giving you direct control over your bubble so you can be popped more quickly (no waggling to get it to move in another player's general direction). It also does away with lives. Paired with the bubble system, not having lives makes this game great to play with someone of a disparate skill level. You can tackle harder levels together and never leave them sitting idly because they died one too many times. I was thrown off, but came to love the removal of a lives system, and welcomed improvements to the already stellar co-op and bubbling ideas. Playing through the game with a friend is an absolute blast and you're missing out on a ton of camaraderie-fueled shenanigans if you don't. I plowed through the game with my girlfriend in a matter of a few days (having to do all that I could not to play ahead without her) and we both loved every second of it.

This system is also great because it allows me to play with my young nieces (who are understandably terrible) without it losing their attention because they've died and have nothing to do. I think in time it might be to them what the original Super Mario Bros. was to me, and if that doesn't let you in on the regards I have for this game I don't know what will. That said, while they can play the first few levels with me, that's about it at the moment.

The difficulty of the main levels has a nice curve, and as others have mentioned the new abilities you get are introduced and expanded upon nicely without any need for explanation. The game cleverly pits you in areas in which you have to use your new powers to escape before you can move on, then later rewards you for using them in new ways. The game is full of clever little things like this.

And there are plenty of levels for you to tackle. I feared an extremely short game, but midway through another set of levels opens up that expands on the themes already present (forest, desert, ice/fire, sea, mechanical). On top of all that you have the fiendish treasure chest races, and the secret, brutal final level to give you more to do and a jump in difficulty. I've spent nearly a week now with the game and I'm still working to collect everything there is; you'll give up before the supply of challenges does.

I'll leave it to you to experience the gorgeous scenery and infectious melodies. I find myself gawking and constantly commenting about how pretty something in the environment looks. I'm personally not a fan of the character design though. Has a very 90s vibe to it (which is understandable), but if this were a brand new property I feel like the characters would gel more with the levels and look stunning. And good luck trying to get the music out of your brain. I constantly find myself whistling the tunes and hearing the chipmunkesque vocals in my head. You might not dig 'em at first, but they will overcome any resistance you may have.

Anyway, I can't tell you to buy this game with enough fervor (and that's coming from someone who rents the majority of the games he plays) because not only is it worth every penny and more, but it's one of those games you pick up with no expectations and then start grabbing random people in the street yelling at them to buy the game so that this work of art is appreciated and not seen as a failed experiment because it was released the same month as bunch of triple A blockbuster type games. Also, while you're buying this grab Tomba too.

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From start to finish, Rayman origins is a masterpiece. I completed every level and every bonus level, scored 32 of 36 achievements for 725 gamerscore and got almost every electoon. Graphics are excellent, gameplay is perfect and levels are all wonderfully designed. Took me about 20 hours to beat and I wish there was more because it was such a blast. If you like platformers, get this. I don't even like platformers, but this was just amazing. One of the best games I have played this year.

9.3/10

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One of the best platform games I've ever played hands down. just as fun as Mario bros or donkey kong

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Rayman Origins is triple A 2D platforming perfection at its finest. This title stands right up against the other heavy weights of this genre from past and present without breaking a sweat. I would give this one 11/10 or 6 stars if I could. Without re-writing a bunch of things that have already been said in other reviews here, I will wrap up by saying I have been gaming since the NES was a brand new console, and Rayman Origins is in my top 5 games of all time.

Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster - Xbox 360 Reviews

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Every once in a while, a game comes along that transports you to a magical destination. These types of games are full of adventure, charm, and whimsical fun. Sometimes a game can lift the burden of every day life and let you be a kid again. Sometimes a game can let your kids be the decision maker. And sometimes there are games that blend both perfectly.

If you have small kids in the house and are looking for something fun and educational, then "Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster" may be the perfect thing for them. Once upon a monster is a kid-friendly Kinect game that brings to life the same show that has been watched by kids around the globe. All the favorite characters, and even some new ones, stop by and help teach some great life lessons.

The free demo is available on the Xbox marketplace and is a fairly good representation of what the game is about. Although there is a huge market for people seeking nostalgia, adults probably will not be playing this game solo. While there are some kid themed games on the Kinect that adults may enjoy, Once Upon a Monster really comes to life with a younger audience in the room. Playing side-by-side with a younger participant can yield great rewards. This is perhaps the best game on the Kinect where the parent can play with the child at the same time. This is perhaps also the best game on the Kienct where two siblings can be playing at the same time. Having a shuffling living room is no problem, because Once Upon a Monster follows whomever is playing without any hitch. Players can jump in and out as they please, at any point in the game.

There are six chapters in this living story, with the ability to add content through possible future downloadable expansions. There are a set number of activities in this game, but they don't become boring or repetitive thanks to the changing story. Some of the activities include: posing, dress up, flying, drumming, tossing, and much more. All of the activities are fairly simple, but those trickier tasks can be aided with the help of parents. Each activity page of the chapter is given a star rating and each activity can be played over to achieve up to a 5 stars.

As chapters are unlocked, they are then made accessible for returning at any time. This game doesn't have free play areas, like some other Kinect kids games, but again all the activities can be played as many times and whenever the player desires. The story seems like it takes about 6-8 hours to complete, with a little over an hour to go through each chapter.

There are some areas that may be a little frustrating for little ones, but all is made fixable by the incredibly easy partner assist and/or tag team approach to playing. The only problem with jumping in and out of the game so easily is earning achievements. The Kinect does a really good job of spotting who is playing and who is earning the achievements, but doesn't like to give them out for playing as a family affair. In other words, if you are sitting down when your kid earns an achievement, don't expect it to show up in your profile. You have to earn it yourself.

The graphics, sounds, and presentation are all totally on par with what you would expect from a Sesame Street show. This game really feels like the show, but made more interactive. I was hoping to see more of Double Fine's fingerprint here, but Sesame Street is clearly the main theme in this game. This is actually a great design choice, because it really encourages kids to play along. I was amazed at how active my kids were in each activity. They picked it up and were carried away to a whole different world. They were literally in Sesame Street's universe.

In reviewing games, I like to look for the five f's: fitness, fun, family, functionality, and firsts. This game is not billed as a fitness game, but will definitely get your kids moving (and you too). They will be jumping, flapping, dancing and more. There is definite fun to be had by kids who are of the Sesame Street watching age. The older fans of Sesame Street may have some fun, but nothing is like playing the game with or as a child. The game is very family friendly and has a lot of great life lessons to share. As for functionality, the game is technically great. There are a couple of places young kids could get hung up on, but nothing an able-bodied parent wouldn't be able to fix. And as for firsts, this is the first story themed game for Kinect and one of the first games to absolutely nail the in and out ability of different players.

In summary, if you have kids in the house of the Sesame Street watching age, this is a true gem to add to your Kinect collection. The game is easy to pick up and lots of fun to go through. While there aren't really any free play areas, each activity and story section can be played over. Once Upon a Monster may be a bit repetitive for the older crowd playing solo, but will bring a golden smile to anyone who plays with kids.

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At its simplest core, Once Upon A Monster is an incredibly well done collection of mini-games suited for children; however, this game has both the quality and whimsical tone that many adults will find heartwarming. In the same way Pixar films can be viewed and appreciated by everyone, I believe Once Upon A Monster is very much the same. Granted, it's still something that's more geared towards kids, but many will find Double Fine's work on this title admirable regardless of age. Hey, kids deserve quality games, as well as adults, and this game is a perfect buy for those out there with kids of their own, as it's a good time for any family.

There are a bunch of different mini-games in Once Upon A Monster, all with very intuitive and well done Kinect controls. Sadly, outside of the main dish, there's no other additional game modes, which makes the package a bit slim when it comes to content. However, while it's not packed with a ton of features, what's here is good and quality gameplay, nice graphics, and some enjoyable scenes with your favorite Sesame Street characters.

Once Upon A Monster is right up there with The Gunstringer as one of the best examples of what the Kinect can do if developers take their time and make something good.

4.5/5 Docked a little because it's on the short side, but I do believe it's a very replayable game.

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Absolutely love this game for my 3 year old daughter... she can do most activities on her own but when she needs help i can just go stand next to her and it turns into a two player team activity. Love the stories music and graphics too

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The ideas here are really neat, and the kids *desperately* want to like this game. I just don't think the Kinect is designed for very young kids. My 3-year-old can play Cosmic Family on the Wii with only a little help, but getting the sensor to actually recognize her and let her play this has been an uphill battle of frustration and disappointment. Sometimes it sees her without incident, but a lot of the time it just doesn't even notice that she's there.

Like most Kinect games, some of the gestures don't get picked up right away, or are misinterpreted, but at least this is designed to be really forgiving. The animation is very well done, though, and of course she loves the familiar characters. I'd gladly give it 5 stars if it worked as well for the target audience (my daughter) as it does for me.

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After wanting to throw it in the garbage, we just gave the game another try. Can someone please explain why my 3 and 5 y/o can easily navigate Kinect "Adventures" and "Sports" but can not even open the first chapter of this game without extensive help from us? SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY! Watch the real Sesame Street and buy your kids a different game; you will spare yourself and your family frustration.

Buy Mega Man Maverick Hunter X - Sony PSP

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The Mega Man X Collection was fantastic. It was a port, of course, but not a bad port. Now for the PSP we receive Maverick Hunter X which is nothing more than a recreation of a Super Nintendo classic. However, it is a fantastic recreation!

In 1993 CAPCOM began the Mega Man X series, which was a more action packed beefed up version of the original Mega Man games. The series takes place in the year 21XX, about one-hundred years after the original series. A band of renegade reploids known as Mavericks are waging war with humans, and they're being led by an evil reploid (and former hunter) named Sigma. It is up to Mega Man X to lead the band of Maverick Hunters against these mavericks.

To the veterans of the original 1993 classic on the SNES, the gameplay is virtually the same. In some areas it feel too familiar as the level layouts and enemy placements and patterns are about the same. This isn't such a bad thing, of course, if you enjoyed the original game. Like most every other Mega Man game, you'll choose a level and work your way to the boss and then collect his weapon.

Bosses typically use the same pattern they did in the original. They might alter them a little, but not so much that they don't seem familiar.

The 3D graphics are incredible. The enemies, backgrounds, platforms, everything from the loveable SNES version is there, only completely rendered in 3D. You'll recognize all the foes and all the levels. It's beautiful and perfect for a handheld such as the PSP.

The music is a mixed bag It's remixed from the SNES version, but you'll either like it or hate it. Some tracks sound really good, others really don't. The ones that sound good you'll love, but the ones that don't will definitely show.

A few differences are in place. If you remember where the location of the capsules were, you might as well forget them. Capsules are--for those who are new to the series--what will give X his power ups for his legs, X-Buster, helmet and body armor. They're not in the same location as the SNES. The capsules are located in different levels, and some of the power ups you'll have to have.

A game like Maverick Hunter X isn't very long at all. Luckily, there are a few extras that are worthwhile. The story is now told in Anime cutscenes. After completing the game you'll be able to view a half-hour cutscene that gives lots of backstory to the series. Likewise, after completing the game you'll be able to play as Vile! Vile is known as one of X's adversaries, but you'll be able to play as him here. He's got some pretty cool things he can do being that he's got weapons everywhere.

However, there will be times upon playing this game where those who were practically in love with the original will probably want to boot up the old SNES original. I say go for it, to compare. It'll help you appreciate just how beautiful this game is.

This is a remake of a game done right. The way it's done is absolutely perfect and something any Mega Man X fan should invest in. Yes, it is worthwhile. Sometimes even better than the SNES original.

The Good

+Remake of one the greatest 2D side-scrollers of all time

+The gameplay is still remarkable

+It look gorgeous

+There is a lot more story told

+Neat extras

The Bad

-Some of the music isn't great

For Hardcore Fans... definitely!

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I LOVE MegaMan (RockMan, actually). I bought this game expecting the story from the original SNES to still be there, just with more. What I got what a bit of a mixed bag. Good, bad, and...pretty. I'll explain in detail--

The good is that 90% of the game play is still there from the first. A few bosses, such as Spark Mandrill, have a new attack(s). Maps are about 80% the same, with a few differences, such as Capsule relocations, and major overhauls, especially in the Sigma Stages. It has a few anime cut scenes (the real 30 minute movie comes after you beat the game once), and some voices, which I hear over 14 characters voiced by just 5 actors...hm. Though greatly portrayed, X's voice gets annoying after the first 10 times of using his special weapons, as he calls it out nearly EVERY time. Despite this, the voice acting QUALITY is definetely there, and I can't think of any sub-par voice work (except I really wish the same actor from X8 did Dr. Light in this one). Vile Mode is something new to me, and I've only gone over it once, but it's a nice addition. It also comes with a demo of MegaMan Powered Up!

The Bad: The story has changed from MegaMan X1!! Sure, the premise is still there, but there are a lot of little things that happen in this game that completely compromise the future X games' story. I won't go into full detail, but I suppose my recommendation is to play the game with an open mind if you're familiar with anything before MegaMan X4. The energy bar has been reworked, and seems MUCH smaller than what I'm used to. Maybe it's just me, but it seems the charge takes a little bit longer. Other little annoyances that peeved me included suddenly-discarded power ups. Yeah, that little shooting thing you just destroyed left you an energy morsel, but when it dropped 4 pixels away from the screen, it disappeared!! I consider this more like an in-game flaw, but SOMEONE at Capcom should have done something about it...

The...pretty? Graphics, of course! The characters move very fluently, with bright, exuberant colors, and are very true to their 16-bit counterparts. The maps are also very nicely drawn, and also do the atmosphere justice, OVER the SNES one. The anime seems a bit outdated, however. There are some scenes that remind me of the slight cherub-like face of classic MegaMan yesteryear. One of my main reasons for getting this game was for the music, and it hasn't disappointed me. Well, maybe alittle. Zero's speech "theme" is played, but only for a few seconds!! The music is very nicely done, similar to X7 and Command Mission, and nearly all the themes can be identified if you've got a keen ear from X1. (On a side note, unlike the original, there is no Sound Test...at least, not that I've discovered yet)

In conclusion, it's a pretty decent game. However I will always support the SNES version, since it's story was told, and comes, first. I think with this game, Capcom proved you can improve, but not beat an original.

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Capcom really did an outstanding job with this release. It features the same classic gameplay of the original and they do the original justice by enhancing the game without destroying the gameplay that makes the original such a Classic. Hardcore fans may dissaprove of the story changes but this is why in the opening sequence Capcom notes that this game is, "Based on Mega Man X" therefore they are asking the fans for permission to retell the story from the beginning and improving it with better dialog and plot developments and interplay between X and the bosses.

I played the original for a few hours from the Playstation 2's outstanding Mega Man X Collection and right after playing the original I jammed on my PSP so I could see the differences from a fresh perspective. The level changes are many and mostly minor and moving the Dr. Light capsules as well as some energy and heart tanks around made the game more challenging for those who have memorized the maps of the original. The delay in powering up the buster reported by earlier reviews was nonexistent or so minor a change I really did not notice.

As a fan of the original since the days of the SNES I was not dissapointed one bit.

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This game is great for younger children and early teens. My daughter loves to play it and she recommends to other children.

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This game is a really good remake of the very first Mega Man X game, with an extra treat Vile mode!

However, some of the armor capsules were moved to make things more interesting, and it tends to up the difficulty a little bit, which is not a bad thing. The biggest update to the game is the inclusion of Vile mode, which allows the player to take control of X's long time rival and borderline maverick, Vile (hence the name). Oddly enough, a Zero mode was not included. All in game dialogue is done with voice actors, which is a nice touch, and if you've played X8 or Command Mission, you'll recognize many of them.

X controls nearly exactly the same way he did in the first game, though it seems harder to obtain the hadouken in this version I kept hitting the birds, making me retry the section more than seemed reasonable.

Possibly my favorite part is Vile mode. At first, the difficulty feels extremely high, but by the end of the game, Vile seems overpowered (which is not a bad thing!). Vile does not receive upgrade capsules the way X does. Instead, he gets a speed upgrade and an armor upgrade by defeating two particular bosses. The difficulty level really seems to drop after the speed upgrade is acquired. Vile also must choose three weapons to take into a mission before he begins, and cannot change these until he returns to base. There are three weapon classes: Hand, Shoulder, and Knee, each of which have around fifteen variants, so you can customize Vile to your liking and play style. There's only one downside to Vile mode it's a little short. On normal difficulty, the final battle falls just short of epic, due to Vile being slightly overpowered. All the upgrades are scattered around yet some more from X mode, making it more fun and rewarding to go exploring. Vile also has his own stage music, which plays during almost every single level. It's a nice, aggressive tune, which fits Vile's personality perfectly and doesn't get old too quickly.