Discount Zapper: One Wicked Cricket!

Customer Ratings:

I had high hopes for Zapper. I was a frogger fan, and zapper promised to raise the frogger fun to a new level. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite true.

Available for most platforms, Zapper is a cricket that can only hop in four directions, just like frogger. You practice your timing to hop around enemies, work through mazes and grab special items.

It's sort of cute at first. The graphics are nice, and the cut scenes are funny. And yes, it's frogger like, with the timing of your hops and the simple gameplay. While frogger just wanted to "get to the other side", Zapper is out to save his baby brother, who was stolen by Maggie, the Magpie Queen.

But I'm sorry to say that it gets wearying pretty quickly. Just like frogger, when you get hit you die but were frogger was a single board to restart, zapper has long, drawn out mazes. You can checkpoint along the way, but it can still be frustrating. It comes down to memorizing the paths of the monsters and executing the matching sequence.

And while frogger was about a frog getting to his destination, and the 'blind world' not even noticing him and squashing him in its own race to get somewhere, Zapper loses some of that as well. Frogger was about the struggle you put out to get through a world that goes on with or without you. The logs weren't hostile, the cars weren't aiming for you. They were just doing what they were doing and you had to understand that and work with them. Dodging traffic is something we can all understand and relate to. But the travails of Zapper just didn't strike me in the same fashion.

Perhaps good for kids, or for people who do enjoy avoidance-games

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We bought this game for our 4-year old thinking it would be a fun game for mom, dad and kidlet to play together. It's visually interesting with cute sounds, but that's about it. Game handling isn't at all intuitive, and movements are jerky. You make a jump and are constantly hitting the wrong button. At first I chalked it up to my lack of motor skills (HA!), but we put even the most experienced gamer behind the controls, and he threw his hands up in frustration. We felt less like morons when our friend's 8-year old son came over and said, "You got ZAPPER? Haahhaaahaa! This game bites!"

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This is a wonderful, fun game. Not as boring or as hard as Frogger. It is great for kids, my 4 year old loves it, and I enjoy playing it too.

Review of HDE® Xbox 360 To Playstation PS3 Controller Adapter

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List Price: $18.99
Sale Price: $16.95
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

Works great with any wired Xbox controller. I also used my Razer Sabertooth and it maintain full function and programmability.

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I got the cross adapter because I kept on breaking my PS3 Controller and I could not afford to get a replacement but I have a Xbox 360 my brother has and I prefer the 360 controller so I went on amazon searching for cross battle adapters I took a risk getting this one because there was no reviews on it so instead of buying the XMC ADAPTER WITH RUMBLE I got this one and it had a vibration funtion ! I did'nt expect it to have it and its a plus because it has turbo perfect for FPS'S I dont know why everyone is wasting there money on the expensive ones when there is a afforable one that does everything the other ones do

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This thing works great! I got it because I have never been able to get used to the PS3 controller when playing shooters like Uncharted and I am happy to report that it works perfectly. I do not feel any lag and the rumble works great as well! The turbo works just fine although I don't see myself using it.

If you have been wanting a cheap way to use your wired 360 controller on your PS3 then look no further!

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Plug and Play.., Only one draw back, at least for me, is the trigger on the ps3 controller, is the bumper on the xbox controller..

This isn't a deal breaker, but I wished it had an option to reverse the trigger / bumper.. It would then be using the Xbox

controller, as it was intended to be used... :)

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Shipping took less than 5 days though I ordered it on a Friday and it came on a Tuesday night so I was very pleased with how fast it delivered. Overall I'd rate this as an okay product to casual gamers or for gamers who want the feel of an Xbox Controller on a PS3 game. Although there was no setup required and it was just plug-n-play, this adapter is not 100% calibrated for the PS3. It has a slightly noticeable button/input delay compared to using an X360 controller on the X360. The only reason why I bought this converter was so I could play Tekken Tag 2 on the PS3 so perfect timing is necessary. It's a good worthwhile investment for people who have a PS3 and want to play shooters or any game really. For the low cost, I'd say it was a good buy even though I can't make much use of it.

Replacement PC Wireless Gaming Reveiver For XBOX 360 Console Review

Customer Ratings:

The driver installation for this device is unorthodox. Even though this is technically a Microsoft product, you will have to find the correct divers on the microsoft website, and do some adjustments in the device manager in order to get Windows to recognize it.

after all that trouble, it works like a dream.

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The title says it, doesn't work on PC? I have one from Microsoft now and it works fine. Two more

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Could swear I already wrote a review for this, but whatever. I've had this for just shy of a year now, and it works perfectly. My roommate and I have used it to play far too many hours of Skyrim on the PC and never had any problems, so if you're looking for an inexpensive Xbox Controller receiver this is something I would highly recommend.

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it arrived very fast, before the estimated date of arrival. So far my son says it works perfect for him.

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Don't buy this, it keeps on disconnecting on me and won't sync with the new xbox controllers (ones with the turnable d-pad) BUYERS BEWARE!

Review of Skylanders Wired Portal of Power for XBOX 360

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It works great! The cord is really long so it can reach to be set on a table if needed too.

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The kids love the games. Portal works great for the xbox 360 skylander game very reliable. Gets used for hours at a time.

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I like switchin characters during a fight. This pad make it easier to get characters to level up at different times.

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This portal works better than another one I purchased. My son loves this game. He cannot stop playing.portals were poorly constructed.

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I bought this portal for my son...when he received it, it didn't work...it wasn't wrapped up or had anything to protect it....

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction Deluxe Reviews

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List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $12.99
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I was disappointed that Splinter Cell Conviction did not have as many gadgets as Splinter Cell Double Agent. I think that for the next Splinter Cell, it should incorporate the stealth features of the previous versions as well as upgrades. Overall, it was a good play.

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I just want to say that this game is THE best espionage action game I ever played. Despite minor inconveniences, such as buggy xbox 360 controller support on windows 7, the game is indeed solid. The studios at UBISOFT Montreal really have outdone themselves. The graphics are stellar, even though the game uses DirectX 9.0c and not 10 or even 11. I like the way the story is told to the player and the way the developers just envelop you, the player, in a very exciting and interesting world. The learning curve is not too bad and actually maybe easier for players who think "outside the box". Finally, the game's difficulty is augmented by the excellent AI portrayed by enemy combatants and excellent level design that encourages creative solutions and problem solving for the player to manuever through.

As I have stated initially, the only gripe that can truly be found about this game is the issues of usage with an xbox 360 controller with the game and maybe the fact that you need a permenant internet connection to play the game. Basically, when playing this game on I believe only windows 7, the buttons on the controller are not mapped properly. To remedy this, I use a Logitech F310 gamepad that can switch between xinput and logitech's own driver set, the latter being the appropriate mode for the game to play beautifully. Just have Logitech's profiler point to the game's executable, run the executable, and enjoy.

If you enjoy being a hero with untold precision and menacing military tactics at his disposal, you will indeed love playing this game. You can make Sam Fisher be a real killing machine once you get a hang of the game.

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The graphics are the most lifelike I have seen. No glitches so far, playing off and on for a few days. This was definately worth the money! Story line ok, using keyboard and mouse now, works fine but have controler on the way.

Windows 7 64 bit

GTX 275 x 2 SLI

Intel Q6600 quad

8 G Crucial

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Love the splinter cell series and this was a great deal I couldn't pass up! Wish it was a steam code but i'll settle for this as well!

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A good single-player experience, but be warned that there is ZERO SUPPORT for multiplayer. Use your best discretion... and probably don't buy this.

Review of Star Wars Battlefront II

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List Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $7.89
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

I dug out SW:BF1 the week before SW:BF2 released and played it for a day or so just to remind myself of the general gameplay. Others have already listed pros, cons, and recommendations; let me add to their lists rather than duplicate them:

PROS:

-You get to (a) dogfight in space and (b) play as a Jedi or other 'hero' character (e.g., Boba Fett), all within the context of a given mission.

-The "Rise of the Empire" campaign is well thought out, if a bit dark (e.g., you get to assassinate the Queen of Naboo; I'm just grateful you don't have to kill the 'younglings' in the Jedi Temple).

-The overall gameplay is great, with larger and more complex environments.

CONS (all relatively minor):

--The Options/Controls panel is a pain to use (as when setting up a joystick). Someone needs to improve the UI design and general behavior on this; it strikes me as being somewhat 'quick and dirty.'

--The shift to story/objective mode moves SW:BF2 towards the classic problems of a 'railroad' game, namely, you have to figure out how the designers intended you to complete the objectives and in what order. For example, in the Kashyyyk: First Line of Defense mission, I tried to destroy the CIS cruiser heavy turrets before I destroyed the enemy frigates, but SW:BF2 wouldn't let me.

--Each mission has a number of sub-objectives, and there is no way to save a game within a mission. In other words, if you get to the very last mission task and die, you have to start the entire mission all over again.

--There are a few glitches here and there. For example, in that same mission, SW:BF2 seemed to have a hard time figuring out when the other clone troopers should follow me over to the CIS cruiser.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

-First, get a joystick. It's a lot easier to do the space combat with one, though you'll have to take some time to set up the controls (under Options).

-Second, if you don't have a lot of spare time, get the strategy guide. It doesn't have all the answers, but it does give you a heads up as to the overall flow of the mission.

-Third, experiment. I've been able to solve specific objectives more than one way.

As of this writing [Nov 9], I'm about 2/3rds of the way through the Rise of the Empire campaign (I've completed 11 of 18 missions). I'll update my review once I've finished it and have had time to play in Galactic Conquest mode as well. ..bruce..

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Following up the smash success of Star Wars Battlefront was no easy task. When you are the best selling Star Wars themed game in history, the bar is set very high as fan expectations for part 2 were lofty. Thankfully the designers at Pandemic Studios were more than up to the task. The game is Star Wars Battlefront II and like the original as well as Battlefield, 2 Battlefield 1942 and Battlefield Vietnam, players take on the role of soldiers who must battle on various maps for control of strategic points in order to obtain total victory. Unlike the previously mentioned games, Battlefront thankfully does not have many of the issues of the previous Battlefield games such as excessively long load times, difficult controls, and numerous bugs and instabilities directly out of the box.

In solo play mode; players can take on campaigns from the classic as well as the prequel series as they battle a myriad of A.I. opponents while the work with an A.I. teammates. There is a great campaign mode where players play as a member of the Elite 501st Squadron of Clone troopers as you battle in the deciding conflicts of the Clone Wars. The multiplay campaigns offers new maps from Prequel locales ranging from the opening space battle above Coruscant to Jabba's palace. Fans will rejoice in the detail level of the game from the Rancor in the palace down to the frozen Han Solo on the wall in the previously mentioned palace. There is also a map of the Tantive IV which allows players to play in Princess Leia's ship from the first Star Wars film and recreate the opening of the film in a grand scale.

As before, players not only attempt to eliminate enemy players, but they attempt to defend and seize key command points situated throughout the map. What is a nice plus is that by earning Hero Point for good play, players can play as Han Solo, Obi Wan Kenobi, Dath Maul, Darth Vader, and many more. When playing as a hero, players move faster, can withstand more damage, and can dish out quite a bit as well. Unlike tradition shooters, Battlefront 2 can be played in either first or third person perspective and immerses you into the action in a unique perspective. Unlike the previous game, Space battles have been added to the mix and it is a very welcome addition. In the original game, I could fly X-wing and T.I.E. fighters in support of ground based battle. In Battlefront 2, I was able to play as part of a squadron in battles against other fighters and capitol ships. The twist is that each capitol ship has hard point targets such as weapons or communication arrays which have to be destroyed as part of the mission. Players can also land their fighters in the hangers of enemy capitol ships and battle on foot to destroy strategic segment of the enemy ship from within. If flying is not your strong point, you can man a gun turret on the fighter or capitol ship, or skip flying altogether and be a ground defender. It is such variety that really makes this game enjoyable as the options as well as the variety of ships to fly makes this a real treat. As in the original, players select a side such as Rebel, Republic, Imperial, or Separatist, and then from a class within. For example, there are various types of Clone troopers each with their own unique weapons and abilities. When you die in a mission, players are able to select from a different class to find one that is best suited to the changing missions and player preferences. It is also interesting to note that local and NPC characters such as Jawas, Gamoreans, and others inhabit the map.

Multiplay fans will be delighted with the abundant number of servers that are available to play and I noted that the players were not only very friendly, but were willing to help new players learn the ropes such as how to get around the maps and watching your back. Logging in, I was able to find numerous games all with varying styles and maps. The connection times were very good and lag was not much of an issue in the games I played to prepare this article.

The vast variety of weapons, units, and character classes ensures that Star Wars Battlefront 2 will have great replay value. Multiplay mode allows players not only to pick their unit but also to take up arms for either side be it Rebel or Imperial, Separatist or Republic depending on the map being played. The menu and controls of the game are very easy to navigate and use and I have been unable to find any real issues with the game other than a need for a better save system for the solo play missions.

Graphically the game is very impressive as the rich landscapes from the films are well rendered and the detail level is amazing. What really made the game for me was the sound effects that were taken directly from the films as staring down an opposing tank is one thing but to hear the trademark whine of the laser fire is a Star Wars fan come true even if it is the last thing your players hears before hitting the ground with a loud thud. A true classic and one that will provide endless hours of casual and diehard fans alike, Battlefront 2 is a winner and one of the nicest surprises of the year.

5 stars out of 5

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Short, sweet, simple: Battlefront II is a BLAST!

Battlefront I is and always will be a classic for it's day, but at times the gamer would fly vehicles around on ground-based maps, with one eye on the ground, and their other eye, heart and mind on what lies beyond the atmosphere. In Battlefront I, you may have noticed the lack of a good plot or story, as the basic scheme concerned battle after battle for fun and points. How could Pandemic and LucasArts make Battlefront II any better, but to go above and beyond the call of duty to make the sequel worthy of attention?

Simple. You flesh out, increase, rebuild, glorify, enhance, expand, re-imagine, recondition, and make land & space reachable.

The second installment for the Star Wars: Battlefront series is absolutely beautiful. If you purchase one Star Wars game along with your DVD copy of Episode III, this is a must have!

Live the chaotic and blaster infested army battles you dream of conquering, leap into the air in a dazzling somersault only to finish off your landing with a Force push to the enemy and lightsaber slash to the chest, jump into the cockpit of a Tie-Bomber and scream from the belly of an Imperial Destroyer...land in a Rebel Frigate and take the battle to the belly of the beast, maneuver your A-wing in a twisting corkscrew-reverse maneuver to break enemy lock and return fire down your enemies throat, and live moments as characters from the Star Wars Galaxy like Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Jango Fett, Yoda...and the list goes on. Battlefront 2 is AWESOME!

The good:

1) Galactic space battles & dogfights

2) New worlds to explore

3) New characters & the ability to play classic characters

4) Incredible supply of vehicles to operate

5) Beautiful graphics and design, almost movie quality

6) Play in 1st or 3rd person

7) Online play for up to 64 players

8) This list could go on and on...

The bad:

1) Not much!

2) Lack of a "cockpit" view for spaceships

3) Prone position is no longer available for crawling

4) Difficult to find partners or buddies in battle

*The PC version is amazing. Expect further patches and upgrades to make this the ULTIMATE experience.

THIS COULD & SHOULD BE THE GAME OF THE YEAR FOR 2005!

Honest reviews on Star Wars Battlefront II

A fun game with hours of playtime, 2 different single player games, and several different online games, this game does have its pros and cons...

Pros: Slightly better graphics than Battlefront 1. Better cut scenes and a better stroy line.

You get to control Jedi's.

Space battles, you can fly almost every space cruiser you've seen on the movies.

Cons: One level, Yavin 4 is timed and is near impossible to pass. There are no cheats for the PC version as there are for other consoles, so a trainer program may be needed to help out.

Jedi control... After playing Star Wars Jedi Academy, I'm really disappointed. Many of the Jedi's are 'handicapped' and move slow. You're extremely limited in Jedi Powers, and you just don't get the moves that Jedi Academy gives.

Overall: The game is worth your money... several options, and several games. If you're into Jedi action, look into Jedi Academy.

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this was truly a great game! it was one of the best games I have ever played, and was THE BEST shooter I have ever played. It's gameplay was easy and it is one of those games you can just pick up and learn to play in a few minutes, though it takes a couple of rounds to become familiar with the game, and space battles can be just a bit tricky.

PROS)

This game is compatible on probably any computer with windows. I have a 3 year old dell dimension 4600 that is even a bit slow on empire earth, and this game ran fine. In fact, it ran more than fine, loading a battle took about 8 seconds, which is VERY fast for my computer. So, you don't have to have a gaming computer for this game to work well

I like shooters, but first person (you can set it to third or first) shooters usually have missions where you're on your own, or with a few dumb marines, defeating waves of enemies (most of the time they're aliens)... BUT this game's missions were basically conquest modes (where you must take over enemy spawn points) where you had to destroy specific things and capture certain things (you also have like 32 people on your team)

The jedi were fun, with tons of different abilities, the other heroes who weren't jedi were good too

The space battles were very fun, with different classes of ships and frigates and central systems to bomb

There were tons of maps, each unique. For example, kashyyyk (that's right three y's) is much bigger than tantive IV. Each map also had unique features, such as the death star's bridge consoles you had to repair, and kashyyyk's wooden barricade. Teaser: The general favorites are hoth, geonosis, and mos eisley.

There were tons of vechicles, probably over 20, a few of them unique to a certain map. For instance, the ATTE is only found on geonosis and the ATAT and snowspeeders are only found on hoth. (I might add that the ATAT is extremely fun, who wouldn't enjoy driving an 100 foot tall behemoth that shoots huge lasers and bombs that send rebels flying)

I really like the feature of being able to repair things with your fusion cutter. When you are an engineer, you can repair any of your vechicles, health and ammo droids, and other various repairable features on the map, such as turrets and consoles that retract bridges or pull up gates(for example)Hint: you can also use your fusion cutter to slice into vechicles

CONS) please note that these are very small "bugs" and barely effect the GREATNESS of this game

The AI set on easy are too easy (they'll stop shooting at you and look at their surroundings when you're 3 feet away armed with a rocket launcher), and when you are on hard the AI in the area seem to aim precisely for you. I think there should've been a medium setting where the AI are smart, but act like normal soldiers and hit the easiest targets. This may seem like a big con, but until you beat the campaign you probably need the easy, and when you're experienced and are looking for a challenge, the hard setting is great

The story mode isn't very much of a story (while it is very fun) you can do almost the same exact things in instant action. There's no taking 5 smart clones and taking over a command point, its just a conquest battle, but you have certain objectives, like "take out those turrets soldier!" The campaign is still fun thoug, and you should play it to get to know the game and most of the maps

The graphics are very good, but not what I'd call amazing, which is fine with me, but for the more "hard core" gamer, they might not be enough. BUT!!! their is a HUGE PRO in this, this game will work easily on computers that arent very advanced or new, and it loads fast!

OVERALL:

This is a great game, and I am only a bit bored with it, after having played it probably 5/7 days a week for thes past 5 months. Playing online almost never gets old, but I suggest you beat the campaign and play on most of the instant action levels before you make those seem bad by playing with real people.

YOU SHOULD GET THIS GAME IF:

-you are a first person shooter (or just shooter) game fan, you will almost definitely like this

-you are a star wars fan you'll probably like it, and you'll like doing missions and fighting battles from the movies

-you are a videogame fan, and have played a few shooters and liked them, you'll probably like this

-you are a shooter fan, but are looking for a game with a good story and unique missions, you probably shouldn't get this game because the campaign isn't great

-you are a shooter fan (halo fans welcome) and like star wars (this is me) TWO WORDS-GET IT

Buy Mad Catz Offically Licensed Major League Gaming Pro Circuit MLG

Customer Ratings:

***DISCLAIMER*** This review was not written by a tournament going pro gamer (like the controller is marketed to) but by a hardcore gamer that enjoys and has access to all the consoles and a gaming capable PC. Thus, I had different expectations for it.

I purchased this controller after watching the MadCatz spokesperson demonstrate it during CES. What grabbed my interest was the modular nature of the controller (swap in different joystick/d-pad types at different positions depending on what style you like to use) and the "Reverse Trigger mode". Most shooters on PS3 map their Aiming/Shooting functions to the shoulder buttons instead of the analog triggers because the Dual Shock 3's triggers are crap for shooting games. This controller mode swaps L1 & L2, R1 & R2. Madcatz has really gone out of their way to change their image as a budget controller maker with their recent fighting game joystick products (I own 2 of them), so I felt pretty confident in giving them another shot.

Overall, I'm extremely happy with my purchase, but there is definitely room for improvement:

***PROS***

JOYSTICK AND D-PAD MODULES WORK AS ADVERTISED

The controller comes with (2) Playstation 3-style joysticks (convex, with same style of rubber on top), (2) Xbox 360 joysticks (concave, with the little rubber nubs on the edges of the joystick top), (1) PS3 style D-pad and (1) Xbox 360 style D-pad. The only limitation you have is that you cannot put D-pads in the right joystick position. You're free to customize it any way you like after that though. I currently use the Xbox 360 gamepad layout, subbing in a PS3 joystick for the left stick, and a PS3 d-pad in the d-pad slot. What I also REALLY liked was that the FUNCTIONS of the controller are tied to the module. Let me explain. When I swap D-pad and joystick positions on this controller to play Uncharted, that doesn't mean that I'm controlling Drake with a D-pad and selecting weapons with a joystick. The controller intelligently maps the functions to exactly what I was expecting: Top-Left Joystick position controls movement, Bottom-Left D-pad controls weapon switching. It works beautifully.

REVERSE TRIGGER MODE WORKS AS ADVERTISED

This, along with the control modules, was the big one for me. When I saw that CES demo, visions of playing the Uncharted games or Killzone 3 with a controller setup that I got used to playing Halo, Gears of War and Call of Duty on danced through my head. I just prefer the feel of the Xbox 360 controller for this generation of consoles, ESPECIALLY for first person and third person shooters. This controller came through in fulfilling my vision. I caught myself playing 3 hours of Uncharted 3 when I meant to only test games 20 minutes apiece because everything just felt so "right" to me now. Killzone 3 also was a highlight; I'm going to definitely go back to that game now.

FACE BUTTONS ARE WELL MADE

The iconic Sony Square, X, Triangle, Circle face buttons feel great; not too mushy, not too firm, and not "clicky". They don't feel cheap, which was a major concern of mine. Most third party controllers don't make the extra effort to make the face buttons feel good like console manufacturers do: This one does.

CONTROLLER FEELS SOLID, GOOD BUILD QUALITY

This is just one of those things that you "feel". It definitely feels like a quality piece of hardware and has some heft. The nice thing is that it actually has modular magnetic weights, in case you want your controller to feel a little heavier or lighter. The detachable controller cord is also very heavy duty, with a mesh sleeve and a heavy-duty screw-on connector.

MAGNETIC CUSTOMIZABLE FACE PLATE

If you're into that sorta thing. It's neat, but not one of the driving forces for my purchase.

***CONS***

D-PAD QUALITY NOT UP TO PAR

Ugh, really? This is probably my biggest disappointment with this controller. If there's one thing that has majorly annoyed me about this console generation, it's that the D-pad quality (ESPECIALLY on the Xbox 360!) is awful. Unfortunately, these d-pad modules follow suit. The PS3 d-pad that comes with this controller is DEFINITELY not as good as the Dual Shock 3's, while the 360-style d-pad is slightly better than Microsoft's stock d-pad. Sadly, this leaves you in a bit of a lurch when it comes to most fighting games and other sidescrolling games (like platformers and other indie games on PSN). I tried playing Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition and it was awful. I had the 2 d-pads set up side by side on the left so I could directly compare them. The 360 one was just as bad as ever (seriously, why even put this one in the box) while the PS3-style d-pad was "Ok". But I'd much rather use a real dual shock (or better yet, a FightStick) to play Street Fighter with. At least Mortal Kombat played pretty well, but that's because I think that fighting game is very "tappy". Maybe Tekken would have been good too. I don't know, I'm not a Tekken fan. Yeah, yeah, you should get a joystick if you're going to seriously play fighters, but you know what? When you spend $100 on a gamepad controller, I think it should do everything well. Maybe this problem can be corrected with better D-pad modules? I don't know. I hope so.

CORD LENGTH

Maybe on average 13 feet will be enough for people. Unfortunately, it was about 3 feet shy for me. I had to use a USB extension cord. Madcatz has said they will offer longer cords, but that's going to be more money on top of a $100 controller. Just get a USB extension cable if you came up short, like I did.

SHOULDER BUTTONS FEEL CHEAP

It stands out in stark contrast to the rest of the controller's build, but the shoulder buttons are VERY "clicky" and don't feel very solid. The right bumper got a little better (had to break it in?) after about 7-8 hours of game testing.

FACE BUTTON ANALOG WONKINESS

As good as those face buttons feel, I can't tell if they have analog functionality like the Dual Shock 3s. If they do, they're overly sensitive or something. The easiest game to test this on is Metal Gear Solid 3 (now conveniently repackaged in a PS3 HD collection!). When you are aiming a gun in MGS3, you can slowly release the button to release lower the weapon without firing. If you have an enemy solider in a chokehold, you can also either firmly press the button to slit their throat or you can slowly let the button go to safely release them. I could not replicate either of these actions on this controller. So, buyer beware if some of your favorite games use the analog nature of the face buttons.

***OTHER NOTES***

These aren't deal breakers to me, but they might be to some people, so I thought I would list them.

-The controller's shape is clearly modelled more after an Xbox 360 controller. People who are in love with the shape of Sony's Dual Shocks might be disappointed.

-The controller has no vibration functionality.

-The controller has no motion control Sixaxis functionality.

-The controller is not wireless. MLG and Madcatz stated that they wanted to eliminate lag for competitive reasons. It doesn't bother me, but it might for some people.

-You can't turn the system on by pressing the home button, even when it's plugged in. Probably because it's not wireless? I'm not sure.

There may be more cons than pros, but the pros are HUGE in my opinion. I no longer have to worry about using a controller I don't like to play PS3 shooters, or opt for the 360 version of a game just because of a controller preference. However, $100 is a LOT of money for a controller. When you're spending that much money, it's justified to demand perfection. So this controller isn't for everyone. I will definitely keep on using it though, especially for action & shooting games. The things I would like to see improved are a GREAT D-pad module so you can play fighting games and other old school games on it, and maybe a way to customize/swap out the face buttons. Other than that, this is a great start for Madcatz and they continue to impress me with their new approach to controller manufacturing.

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Best Deals for Mad Catz Offically Licensed Major League Gaming Pro Circuit MLG

I really want to like this controller. Build quality is much better than I expected, even at the premium price. The thing just feels solid. I play on both consoles, but more so on the PS3, so the feel of the controller isn't as awkward to me (although a dual shock user may feel differently). Being able to change the layout to my preference is a pretty nice feature (I currently have it in a PS3 layout with a mix of analogue sticks). Buttons feel like OEM, triggers are good, bumpers are clicky (kinda loud actually). The texture on the rear is nice and grippy. And the weight system just adds to the solidness. As others have stated, the PS3 style d-pad is not as responsive as the 360 style d-pad (not a big deal in most fps), hopefully they'll address this in future add ons.

Now, my only real issue so far...

The analogue sticks. This is the main reason this controller peaked my interest. Having gone through countless dualshocks (about 5 in 3 years), it was always the same issue. Too much sprinting in COD created a groove on the shaft of the left joystick which eventually lead to sticky movement and eventual failure of the L3 button. I've tried to replace them with another product called modsticks which are really great as they are machined from aluminium, however they really start to hurt your thumb after long gaming sessions. So now I have this controller. The analogue movement feels good and the click response is solid. It doesn't seem like it will have the same issue with the shaft, and if it does wear down it can be replaced. My only issue so far is adjusting to the sensitivity. Maybe they just need to be broken in, but they're not as loose as a stock ds3 controller, so it has somewhat affected my accuracy. I can't seem to compensate for it through the sensitivity settings in game either (usually play at 5, dropped down to 3-4 but it's still throwing off my game). I'll keep playing for now and see how it goes, I know I can adjust, but the process is frustrating.

For all those who are hating on Madcatz for their reputation, this controller does not apply. If you've had a chance to play with a tournament edition fight stick, you'll know that they are capable of producing quality.

Honest reviews on Mad Catz Offically Licensed Major League Gaming Pro Circuit MLG

The design of this controller is very good, however I have a few issues with the controller to date:

1) The D-Pad has issues with mispresses. I can sometimes be pressing up and it accidentally presses up + left or up + right. Happens with the PS3 and Xbox style gamepad components. It has caused me to lose battles in BF3 because this can switch you to your secondary slots by mistake.

2) My R shoulder button broke after a week of use (mushy instead of clicky when pressed). This is key to using the PS3 pad, as that is my main fire button. Unfortunately, I have had to send it back to Mad Catz to be fixed under warranty.

Otherwise, the controller feel and precision is great. I do find that there is an improvement over the standard PS3 pad once you get used to it, but these nagging problems with the controller (d-pad and broken buttons) force me to give a detrimental score to it.

Beware Mad Catz has not worked the bugs out of this controller yet. And I am going on a month and a half now of waiting for my repaired controller to be sent back to me. I will certainly come back and revise my review if Mad Catz fixes the issues with this device. I am also surprised that MLG would put its name on a controller when clearly it isn't up to MLG high standards.

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This controller is amazing! I have an xbox 360 and a PS3 and I prefer the 360 controller by far. It's nice to be able to configure the PS3 controller to the 360 setup. One of the most annoying things about the PS3 controller (other than the placement of the analog sticks) is having to aim and shoot with the bumpers instead of the triggers. The MLG controller fixes that in a very user friendly fashion. You only have to hold down the select and start buttons for a couple seconds and it switches the aim and shoot mechanic from the bumpers to the triggers. I can't tell you how much I love that! I play with my PS3 much more now because I have this controller. It feels substantial in your hands as well due to the weights it comes with. The fact that it's wired isn't an issue either. All I did was bought a USB extension and it extended the length of the wire for me. I have an 82' mitsubishi TV and my game/theater room is rather large (by most standards), so I need to sit pretty far away from the TV (about 12 or 13 feet). The USB extension extends it enough, so that there's plenty of slack between the PS3 and where I sit. Once again, I love it and I can't praise it enough. If you're on the fence, give it a shot and establish your own opinion. I was a little if-fy about whether I wanted to purchase it or not because of some of the reviews on this website, but I'm glad I tried it for myself. I would have missed out on an awesome peripheral otherwise.

Best Xbox 360 Headset Adapter Deals

Customer Ratings:

It would have cost Microsoft another 5 cents to make their headset adapter (which contains a volume and mute control) compatible with third-party headsets. But they didn't, so if you like having your volume and mute controls on the controller while using a third-party headset, then you probably need to get this adapter.

This adapter lets you use any standard 2.5mm headset with the Xbox 360, and you still get volume and mute controls (even if your headset doesn't provide that).

The bonus "two-way adapter" that's inclded is just a standard 2.5mm stereo audio splitter that you can get at Radio Shack for a few cents. I haven't tried it, but I think the purpose is to allow two players with two controllers to listen and talk on Xbox Live. Usually, when you have a "guest" player sitting next to you and playing on Xbox Live with a "guest" account (i.e. not his own Xbox Live account), he can't use a headset plugged into his controller. So he would plug his headset into your controller via this splitter.

On a side note, the company that makes this product, Intec, is sometimes known as Datel, so don't get confused by the product image.

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The Xbox Controller S communicator system was more robust and far superior to the Xbox 360 communicator system. It had a nice, heavy-duty communicator module (with great mute button/light and volume wheel) that was able to accept third-party headsets. Along comes the 360 and puts the communicator module on the end of the headset cable. That means you can't use your favorite Xbox headset with the 360 instant obsolescence. I guess Microsoft expected that would boost sales of their new 360-only headsets. Well forget that this adapter solves that problem by giving you the freedom to use any standard Xbox headset of your choosing. Since there are a lot more types on the market, and since most gamers already have an Xbox headset, this device can save you money as well as make your gaming more comfortable.

I bought two; the price is very reasonable compared to a new 360 headset. Some have complained that the fit in the controller slot is a bit loose. That was true for one of the two I bought. One time it backed out of the controller halfway. When I went to flip the mute switch, the audio plug broke off from the pressure required to move the switch. The audio plug is very small and weak (thanks for making the jack so tiny Microsoft), so if the adpater is not inserted fully into the controller, you do risk breaking off the audio plug.

The volume wheel is fine, a little stiff, but oddly the volume doesn't go down 100%. You can still hear the others players speaking even when it's turned all the way down.

Even though one unit broke, I would still buy another because the device is so versatile. I love using my favorite Xbox headset instead of any of the expensive and uncomfortable 360 sets that are on the market.

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I expected more from this adapter. Technically it does exactly what is advertised but there are some design flaws with it. It doesn't fit as tight to the controller as the original 360 headset connector. It feels loose when inserted into the controller. The volume wheel is tight just like someone else said. I also think the components might be low quality but I can't prove it. It could use some more engineering but shows good potential.

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This little device is just what I was looking for. Microsoft lack of quality on the original 360 headsets caused many gamers to go to third party headsets. The only problem with third party headsets is the location of the mute and volume switches. Almost every headset has the mute and volume controls on the cord. Even the new Microsoft headsets have the controls on the cord. This sucks! Who wants to fumble around looking for the controls on the cord while you are saving the universe or smashing the enemies scull under your feet. And if your family is anything like mine with a lot of talking and distractions in the background you probably need to use your mute switch quite often to keep from annoying fellow gamers. I was going to make my own adapter but stumbled upon this little gem. I was a bit concerned about quality due to some of the other reviews but found it be of decent quality for the price. The mute switch moves smoothly and locks into position as it should. The volume control is firm enough to hold it's position but not too hard to adjust. I normally don't have to mess with the volume much but there is always the gamer that thinks he/she needs to add their own soundtrack or music to the game. You won't have to fumble around looking for a volume dial while you turn them down long enough to find them on the players list and mute them permanently. The adapter itself fits nicely into the 360 controller although it does appear to have a small gap even when fully inserted. This may have been done on purpose due to patent laws. I have been using this for over 2 weeks solid and haven't had a bit of problem with it. My Plantronics headset works perfectly with this and keeps online gaming enjoyable. I would recommend this little gadget to anyone who is fed up with cord mounted controls. It's definitely worth the $10! You couldn't build one this cheap.

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Please be aware that this adapter does not work for PC headsets. After I received this product and discovered that it was not compatible, I had to look very hard in the description to find out why. PC headsets apparently do not qualify as "any headset" like many of the glowing reviews seem to indicate, and the splitter does nothing to help with the PC headset. I wish someone had been much more clear about this before I purchased this product.

Review of eForCity 25 Ft / 7.6 m Digital Optical Audio TosLink Cable

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I ordered this cable to connect my TV to my stereo so I could have 5.1 sound for everything I watch. The cable came promptly and in good condition. The ends have protectors that you take off when you're ready to plug the cable in, you plug it in, and you have great sound.

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Review of Xbox 360 Official NFL Miami Dolphins Controller Faceplate

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This cover is very nice and fits the controller perfectly. My son is very pleased and would like to order another for his other controller.

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I ordered this to put in my husband's stocking for Christmas. He seems to like it, he just wishes I bought two so both of his controllers would have one on.

Cheap IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey - Playstation 3

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I have been a casual fan of flight simulator programs for over 20 years. Not a hard-core simmer, by any means. But I usually buy the latest iteration of MS Flight Simulator and Combat Flight Simulator and have logged more hours than I care to admit in the PC cockpit.

So I was very excited when the PS3 came out. At last, a console with the innards to handle flight simulation! Powerful CPU? Check. Great graphics chip? Check. High definition? Check. High capacity Blu-ray game discs to handle mountains of terrain data? Check.

Imagine my disappointment when, upon purchasing the PS3 two years ago, I found the flight-sim category to be virtually non-existent. The last two years have been slow to fill the gap. I got "Blazing Angels 2" and it was a joke. The irritating bravado of the characters, the silly missions, and the unrealistic physics--you could fly a plane straight up, indefinitely, until you hit a magical glass ceiling that defined the boundaries of the game--made it more like a cartoon than a simulator. HAWX was not much better.

Il-2 is different. This is an extremely well-done combat flight SIMULATOR. It is easy to learn, fun to play, and nearly impossible to master. It is the PS3 game that I have been waiting for--a combat flight simulator for grown-ups.

For starters, the whole tone of this game is different from the other PS3 combat flight sims. The presentation is understated and respectful of the historical events it recreates. There are black-and-white news-reel clips that introduce each of the "chapters," which are excellent. The "encyclopedia" gives the historical background of the events. And at the end of each of the missions is a journal entry of the character you are playing. All of this is very well done. The sober good taste does not detract from the fun of the game. It enhances it.

The graphics, too, are top-notch. There are a million tiny details that the developers got right, creating an extremely realistic landscape to fly though. The fields and hedgerows of southeast England have a believable patchwork irregularity to them. The habitations are realistic, too--with the cities organically fading into suburbs and then into farmland. Topographic features like the cliffs of Dover are convincingly rendered. And the sea and sky, what beauty! Seeing the streaked reflections of mid-summer cumulous clouds in the English Channel, a sunset reflected in the Volga near Stalingrad, or a frosty morning over Bayonne is alone worth the price of the admission. Unlike "Blazing Angels," you feel like you are flying through a real world that extends indefinitely in all directions, not a movie set.

As a bonus, the night skies are rendered accurately, too. On one night mission, I saw a familiar "V" in the sky, which I suspected was the Hyades in Taurus. Sure enough, it was. Close by were the Pleiades, Orion, and Gemini. And I soon located the Big and Little Dipper. I spent a whole mission stargazing--to the consternation, no doubt, of the bomber flight for which I was supposed to act as fighter cover.

Although the game is playable on the standard PS3 Sixaxis controller, it really cries out for a joystick. I got the $30 Thrustmaster stick and have been pleased. I would really like a force-feedback stick--to get a better feel for the control surfaces and get a jolt when hit by enemy rounds--but I am not sure the game supports force-feedback.

The game has two main single-player modes: "campaign" and "single mission." They both progress through different chapters--i.e., theaters of war. So you start out with "Battle of Britain," which has four campaign missions and a dozen or so single missions. Then you proceed through the Battle of Stalingrad, Sicily, Korsun Gap, Battle of the Bulge, and Battle of Berlin

There is a good mix of scenarios. Not every mission is a dogfight. Some involve ground attack with a fighter-bomber using rockets and bombs. Others involve providing top cover for a bomber flight. Some missions don't involve any fighting at all, but just require you to navigate to and land at different airfields. And there is just about every permutation of day/night, sunny/cloudy, summer/winter, urban/rural that you can think of. If those variations are not enough, you can create your own missions with the "training" option, where you can choose your plane, time, weather, theater, enemy planes, enemy skill, etc. The various "trophies" encourage you to explore the different possibilities that the game affords.

The developers have done an excellent job at making Il-2 playable for novices, while still retaining the feel of a simulator. The "arcade" mode gives your plane very forgiving aerodynamics (you do not get into a spin if you pull back too hard on the stick), unrealistic performance (your Spitfire can, with "War Emergency Power," exceed 500 mph--way beyond actual performance), and over-the-top lethality (a single short burst is often all it takes to down a Stuka). But it still feels real. You still have to maneuver into firing position and "lead" your target--a targeting aid helps you with that, too, though. The game is easy enough to learn that my 8-year-old son has completed several of the missions already.

If you are experienced at PC or console flight sims, it probably will not take too long to get through the missions on "arcade" mode. But that's where the fun begins. Once you move to "realistic" mode, the game takes on a different character entirely. Suddenly, your plane isn't Superplane--it's just an ordinary fighter. It takes more bullets to down an enemy, and you have to calculate the lead yourself. Your plane also becomes aerodynamically unforgiving. Pulling back too hard on the stick will stall your plane and, more often than not, send you into a vicious spin. And with just an ordinary engine, it takes some skill to get into firing position with an enemy fighter. I have just completed the Battle of Britain on realistic mode, and it was tough.

If that weren't enough, the game has "simulator" mode, where ALL computer aids are turned off. You no longer have on-screen labels or a "tactical map" showing where the enemy is. You have to use your own eyes. I haven't even been able to complete the tutorial for simulator (I keep losing my instructor and the Bf 109 I am supposed to shoot down) so it likely will be many more flying hours before I can step up to that. The game really is as difficult as you want it to be.

I suppose that any review has to include some "cons." But there are not many with this gem of a game. First, the voices in the game are repetitive, which is annoying. Not a big deal, though. Second, there is no two-player mode. I would like to go head-to-head with my son but, alas, the only multiplayer mode is online. Third, you cannot tweak the realism settings. There are only three options, Arcade, Realistic, and Simulator. Small, Medium, and Large. I would have liked an option to have retained all the aspects of Realistic mode, except for the diabolical tendency to enter into spins. Though I understand and respect the decision to simplify the interface for the general console-playing public. And I am getting better at avoiding and coming out of spins, so no big deal.

Overall, though, this was Christmas in September for me. I have annoyed my wife by staying up `til the wee hours on many nights fighting off Messerschmitts and Stukas. And the game has prompted my 8 year old to say the three magic words that every father longs to hear from his son: "Awesome kill, Dad!"

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This review might be tailored for the more hardcore sim gamers. Also this is specifically and only for the PS3 version, not the PC or XB360 versions.

Just a few words to everyone else: Simulator mode is, by design, very frustrating. An actual simulation is not as much "fun" as an arcade flight game. A real WWII Era aircraft has the following characteristics: No Radar (except for dedicated night fighters and specialty aircraft, but then certainly not as luxurious as the Arcade radar!), Machine guns and cannon with a relatively short range. Only a handful of real pilots could score hits and kills at long range. Far fewer still at a maneuvering target. It takes a long time to develop a USABLE sense of lead and deflection. There were some computing gunsights that require significant training to use. The lead computer in arcade mode removes the need to train. WWII Era fighters ALL required some 'work' to fly. A major design characteristic of most of the excellent fighters was that they required less "work" trimming, fuel mix, charger settings, even compensation for high speed flight characteristics like buffeting, torque roll, some even had a complex radio I can't recall them all but this just gives you an idea. WWII fighter excellence depends on many, many skills. Aircraft development over the last 65 years has compensated to a limited extent.

Situational awareness is of primary importance. Without going overboard, situational awareness means "Where am I? Where is the Enemy? Am I threatened? Is it safe to attack? Am I losing speed? Gaining speed? Am I in a safe position? Do I have enough fuel/ammo?" This was all done with basic guages (horizon, altitude, airspeed) and the Mark I Eyeball. In 'Simulator' mode, you do not have a radar. You have to use your eyes. Your eyes are stuck in your head, and they can only look in one direction at a time. You must be comfortable with looking around constantly to maintain your awareness of your situation. You must become skilled at looking for clues in the enemy aircraft is he closing? what rate? can I maneuver? will I get a worthy shot?

You have limited ammo. A few short bursts, then done. You have one or two bombs. 6 or 8 rockets. Yes. Reality IS frustrating. If it were totally realistic, you would play for years and only get a handful of kills. Richard Bong is the top scoring American Ace of all time. He got 40 kills in World War II, all in the Pacific. Erich Hartmann is the top scoring Ace of all time with 352 claimed kills. He flew 1,404 missions. The ratio is 1 kill every 4 missions [In Hartmann's case, he had several "multiple kill" missions which means that you may fly 10 or 12 with no kills and still be on 'Ace of aces' progress...]. Understand that many pilots never got even one kill. Accept it If you are ONLY excited by kills, then a true simulator will not make you happy. Most funseekers do not want a realistic simulator. Perfectly understandable why that is.

In this case, even the 'simulator mode' is a wee bit Arcadey.

The 4 stars is because this is a fantastic console game. It still does not enter the realm of computer-realistic-flight-sim. If you have never played a realistic flight sim on a computer in realistic/simulator mode, then you will not probably fully understand my comment. No offense is intended, it is a great game, and it is a ton of fun, and it does a very good job of presenting all of the MOST FUN aspects of WWII aerial combat while minimizing the frustrating parts in Arcade and Realistic mode. It truly is an excellent balance. I think it is much more fun with a joystick, but it still isn't quite a simulator. A true simulator takes a really long time to master, and then only if you are training in a way that allows you to improve your skills.

Also, I might have given it 5 stars if it had a Kursk scenario. Kursk was not only a triumph for the Red Army, but also the Red Airforce. The Russians took much higher losses but they had more planes to spare, and they used different tactics because they realized that in general they had inferior equipment and basic ability. The PS3 game does not convey that feeling. Compare the number of Russian Aces to the number of Russian air combat casualties to undertand what I mean.

So: Great arcade action! Awesome graphics! Good feel for realism and 'simulatey' stuff graphically -4 stars!

But: Kursk? and Not Quite a sim! (again BUT Unless you are a purist you DON'T WANT A TRUE SIM)

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This game far surpasses any existing flying experience previously found on any console system. It IS as close to a perfect gaming experience as I've seen. My wife yelled at me for 3 nights running because I didn't come to bed until almost dawn as I was up playing all night long.

The campaign is robust and as more players get the game the online experience will be a blast. The airfiled capture is great fun.

Flight dynamics are real enough that you'll want a stick to go with it (I bought the Hotas for $37). Even with the sixaxis/dualshock it is a hoot to play. One thing is for sure, you must get this game.

Honest reviews on IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey - Playstation 3

Sturmovik is a solid WWII game from 505 Games and worth a look if you like flight games.

Story The story behind this game is basically the retelling of personal experiences from a variety of pilots across the European theater of WWII. I wouldn't say the story is particularly compelling and the narrator has a bit of an accent which can make it difficult to understand. I assume most people don't look for a strong story in their WWII aerial shooters so no big deal.

Visuals & Sound Players should be quite content with the sights and sounds of this game. The world is bright and colorful with plenty of detail. I am pretty confident in saying that this game looks better than Ace Combat 6 and Blazing Angels. The sound is excellent with all of the exciting engine sounds and explosion effects. I noticed quite a bit of screen tearing in the cockpit view and am not sure if this is primarily a PS3 issue. There were some frame-rate issues during the more epic battles.

Controls The controls are pretty terrible and will take you quite a while to get used to. Clicking the stick to look around is awkward. Could have used customizable controls.

Gameplay This game is fun but can be slow and difficult at times. You are not flying a jet so it takes a while to get around the enormous maps. I would advise sticking to the arcade difficulty unless you really prefer more of a simulation level experience. The realistic and simulation difficulty levels are quite a challenge and you will spend a great deal of time trying to shoot down enemies.

Multiplayer Didn't try it out.

Overall this is a solid, well made game but it isn't for everyone. If you like flying games I would highly recommend this title. If you prefer more fast paced shooters like COD4 or Halo then it probably isn't for you. .

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Overall this game is entertaining if you enjoy the genre. Even if you don't im sure there is plenty of fun within. The single-player aspects are extensive. Fairly large campaign with 3 different difficulties/realisms. Arcade mode makes it easy to just hop in and fly around dogfighting fairly easily. Simulation for the hardcore enthusiasts, and realistic for the in-between. Something for everyone. I find the realistic to be the perfect blend of difficult flying and adrenaline fueled fun. It really feels like im flying these planes. Cranking the throttle up and pulling some barrel rolls, stalling engines and pulling out of spirals at the last moment. I went with the recommended T-Hotas flightstick for thirty some bucks. Works pretty good. Brings me that much closer to the PC realism. All the single player missions and planes unlock as you progress. Nice training section. Huge list of trophies to strive for with a large number geared for online bragging rights I guess. Graphics and sound are as good as you currently get on the PS3 I suppose. Not 1080P I dont think, but you know what I mean. lol

I havent hit the online play yet but will this week. Probably incredibly fun dogfighting other players. The realism here will allow for legit piloting skills to prevail and dominate. There will be some people becoming feared aces in these skies. After a tough decision between this and the other recent WW2 fighter sim, I decided on this because I had actually played this company's similar title on the PC in my past. With the release of the PS3 I've decided to convert back to a dedicated console gamer. Even though consoles still havent caught up completely to PCs, it's getting fairly close. The low cost and ease of play, not to mention being able to lay back on the couch in front of a 52" HD monitor while gaming.

I give it 4 stars because in order to be a 5, it needs to blow me away. For this price, the game is well worth it and should provide a lot of enjoyment.

Review of Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Black Ops II X-RAY Wireless Dolby

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $199.99
Sale Price: $112.07
Today's Bonus: 44% Off

The XRAY is spec for spec identical to the XP400. It's an excellent headset just like the XP400. The minor changes are all cosmetic. Besides the COD branding the LED's on the receiver are orange along with the power LED on the headset. They look pretty nice actually, and are a pleasant change from the typical blue. The mic features a polished stainless steel guard on the end along with pleather ear pads and a stitched pleather headband. Small touches that surprisingly make it appear more upscale. Shiny orange plastic bands accent the ear cups instead of green. That's it. The rest of my review can be applied to either the XRAY or the XP400.

Fit: The headset is relatively lightweight for a wireless type, and is comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The ear pads provide excellent noise cancellation. However, I prefer the mesh foam used on their other headsets. These tend to stick to your skin if you're a hot head. 4/5

Setup: The receiver plugs into a USB slot on your 360 along with a fiber optical cable for Dolby Digital sound. A digital out is provided to daisy chain to your receiver in case you're not using HDMI. It also has an analog (mini plug) line-in if you want to listen to music wirelessly through the headset. The headset is charged (about 2 hrs) via an extra long USB cable, and can be used while the unit is on for uninterrupted gaming. The headset is pre-paired with the receiver from the factory, so once your connections are made all you have to do is power on your 360 and the headset and its ready to go. Pretty painless. 4/5

Sound: This is where it matters most, and the XRAY does not disappoint. The Dolby Digital processing is excellent with great positioning and wide separation. For a headset with only one large driver per ear it sounds pretty darn good. I can hear everything the sound designers intended you to hear in a virtual 3D space. Some Dolby Digital games I've tested these with are BF3, Dead Space 3, and COD Black Ops II of course. All sound incredible.

The headset features 4 EQ presets that sound strangely similar to one another. Flat, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, Bass and Treble Boost. I prefer setting 4. A common question is "Can these things bump?". I'll say the bass response is great. Grenades in BF3 or COD will rattle your ear drums thanks in part to the large 50mm drivers.

A big issue in the past with 2.4Ghz wireless headphones was interference. This led to annoying pops, clicks, and outright disconnection. This has finally been resolved with the dual 2.4/5Ghz receiver. After hours of gaming I've heard no interference, and I'm in a household dense with wifi use.

There are several surround angle presets that can selected depending on the 3D environment you prefer. Generally this is only found on the expensive flagship models that are programmable, so its nice to have some control on the positioning. Overall sound, 5/5

Additional Features:

Turtle Beach claims 15 hrs of play time with these, and I can attest that their claim is accurate. I rarely find myself charging these. Lithium Polymer FTW!

The Blast Limiter feature I see as kind of a gimmick. It has multiple settings for its intensity, but I can't hear much of a difference. Maybe its just me, but it hasn't saved my ears from loud explosions.

The mic monitor allows you to hear yourself and is adjustable. It works. There's also an independent chat volume, so you can balance it accordingly with game audio.

The built-in Bluetooth is dual pairing, and works like the old ear pieces you hardly see anymore. This was primarily designed to be used with the XBA bluetooth adapter to allow wireless chat from the 360 controller. Unfortunately, its not included in this edition. Ya, really. You'll have to spend another $30 for the adapter. Although I have used it with the XP400, and it works great. A true all wireless solution.

Overall, this is an excellent wireless surround headset, and if you can score a deal because of the COD branding I highly recommend it. Otherwise, go with the XP400, which is roughly the same price and includes the bluetooth adapter.

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i was aprehensive at first to get these after my first turtle beach headset failed (xp400). But have to say that i am very happy with these

sound quality is great.

no annoying clicks or interference

rechargeable battery lasts a very long time

only rated 4 stars because they are slightly uncomfortable

Best Deals for Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Black Ops II X-RAY Wireless Dolby

This headset is great. Great sound, built well, good mic, easy install. I got these when my tritons broke. And I am so much happier. For one no cords stretching from my tv, and two the mic on the tritons sucked, I always play with friends and when they miss things I say it drives me insane. No problems with the TB, they hear everything I say. The sound quality is great but so were the tritons so I can't say they are better in that area, I feel like they are but it all comes down to personal preference. The only thing about these TB is the headband, it is huge, I have a lg head, L, XL hat size and I have the headband on the smallest setting and they just fit my fat head, if I wear a hat to play they are perfect, if I don't then they become uncomfortable after about an hr of playing. But otherwise I have found nothing wrong with them. I play with the, every night for about 5-6 hrs for about 4 months now. I hope this was helpful to you guys.

Honest reviews on Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Black Ops II X-RAY Wireless Dolby

The headset was ok to set up, but the microphone is already not working. Contacted customer support Saturday, and still no response on Monday evening. My son is not happy with this purchase, and he used his own money to buy these.

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This headset is very good for the money.

The wireless works fine and it can be used in many ways.

It has a 3.5mm input for anything you want and then a opt. input.

You can however use the headset in Bluetooth mode only and listen in that way, although the sound is not great.

I am using these for my ps3 xbox 360 and Bluetooth on my laptop to not bother the wife when in bed.

Also the part that goes over your head is great because it is a little forward on your head.

That makes lying in bed with these on perfect.

Good product over all 5 stars

Review of Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus

Customer Ratings:

Phantasy Star Universe had a few flaring flaws in the original title: a lackluster storyline, heavy loss-rates for items and repetitive hack-and-slash gameplay. But they made up for it.

PSU AoI introduces several new features, mainly nostalgia relating back to Phantasy Star Online. The addition of PSO based clothing, areas, and timed-hits bring back what made PSO fun, and expands on it. Unfortunately, they did not fix the ratty ally AI, nor did they make it any less cheap with traps or enemies that seem just a tad faster. But the game is still fun, and the flexibility in weapons, clothing and hairstyles they have added make your Guardian completely customizable. I recommend only buying this if you play online, since that is part of the charm of the series.

Offline play does have its merits, even though the story is a carbon copy of Online's Episode 2. Also, it would've been more fun to be able to remodel your room and add more objects like in online play, but it is still solid.

Overall, I enjoyed it, and it is worth checking out, especially online.

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If you enjoyed Phantasy Star Online for Gamecube/PC/Dreamcast you'll enjoy this game as well. The only issue is that the servers are no longer around, so the game is rather short. Since you can transfer your character data from the first game, this expansion adds a couple more hours of play time and a lot of new items and quests to do and you can start out from where you left off in the previous game.

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The game is great but I noticed sumthing right after I beat it. The ps2 doesn't have the 2nd part of the story in it but alas still is a good game

Honest reviews on Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus

Great game!! Very fun to play when there is free time!! And the game works great no problems!!

Thanks you

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I originally started playing PSO with my brother on Nintendo Gamecube and I'm amazed at the similarities. I have heard that in PSU the user was unable to modify their character for story mode, which I've always really enjoyed, and I'm glad to this game does. In addition, the game is great and addicting :O) I'm glad I purchased this from Amazon and I couldn't ask for a better result at a great price!

Thanks!!