Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters - Sony PSP Review

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Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is an absolutely outstanding game that truly represents the pinnacle of platforming titles. Having been a fan of the genre since the original Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis, I've seen more than my share of titles. The rankings break out for Ratchet and Clank as such (all scores are out of five):

Graphics: 5

For the PSP, the developers did an excellent job of pushing the PSP to its graphical limit. The use of character models, animations, and textures are simply phenomenal. This is just shy of looking just like its PS2 cousin.

Sound: 5

The biggest boon for this game is the use of actual voice acting combined with clearly distinct sounds for each of the weapons. Everything sounds like it just fits and all in all ties together to create a believable atmosphere.

Value: 5

One of the best parts of this game is that you can continue to play it well after you beat the final boss. Not only this, but you can do so keeping all the weapons you've already bought and have the opportunity to buy even better ones! It just adds that extra little bit that seems to be missing in many games today.

Story: 4

A tad weak and unfocused at times, all in all it's still good. You really dive into the story of the Technomites and there's quite a bit of humor along the way.

Overall: 5

This is a great game that all PSP owners should buy. I've dropped a good 15 hours into it myself (which is quite a bit for a platformer) and am still playing. The best part is that it really is a fun game that both kids and adults can enjoy.

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So before I left for Iraq a month ago, my roommate bought a PS3. Along with it he picked up Tools of Destruction along with some other games. I loved watching him play the game. And it was so fun to watch him upgade new weapons and buy new weapons and find new armor. After he beat it, there was even MORE to do now. And I loved it! So I tried the game for maybe an hour from the beginning. Sadly it was the night before I left to come to the sandbox. Because I was HOOKED.

Really wanting to play the game now, I started to look on amazon to see if there was a Ratchet game for the PSP. YES! There was! So, now, I had to buy a PSP also. I went ahead and bought thePSP Daxter Entertainment Pack Ice Silver and a few games, Burnout, Infected, and of course SIZE MATTERS!!

When the PSP came in (which was only about a week), it arrived with Burnout. I was loving it! Then two days later Ratchet shows up and I couldnt put it down for about a week straight (even though I beat it in about 7 or 8 playing hours...and I was taking my time looking for stuff and completing all the mini games). Right now a friend of mine wont let me play the game because he's basically stolen it and now he's addicted.

I ABSOLUTELY love this game.

PROS:

-The graphics are amazing for such a tiny machine.

-The gameplay is highly addictive (especially if you've never played a Ratchet game before)

-I was scared that the upgrading of weapons would be only in the console versions, but nope..its' here also. LOTS of weapons also.

-Controls are great. I actually switched them around to where the analog stick was mainly for strafing. Also I never really had camera problems. Just use the L and R shoulder buttons and everything will be ok...just like older PSP FPS games.

-Once beaten, you can play it over in Challenge mode to upgrade your weapons even farther, find new armor, and get a new weapons (for 9,999,000 bolts..heh).

Cons:

-To easy. I think I could flown through the game in a couple of hours if I had really wanted to. In Challenge mode, it's still easy, but the bosses seem a LITTLE bit harder.

-The game freezes up...BUT..it's only happend 3 times. Twice on the same boss.

All in all...I absolutely recommend this game if you have a PSP. I'm still new to the PSP, but I can already tell that this is DEFINITELY one of the top games for this system. Do yourself a favor and buy this game.

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This is one game, where no matter your age you will have a lot of fun going through all the different levels and defeating bad guys. There is no dangerous violence nor is there any gore. I really like this game, there is a lot to do in the story, also there are multiplayer mini games and many other ways to have fun.

Honest reviews on Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters - Sony PSP

I loved Ratchet Deadlocked on the PS2, so I figured I'd give this game I try. Surely enough, I loved it too. The replay value, just like the console versions, is just as high. Anyone who loves the Ratchet & Clank series will love this game as well. :)

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Excellent condition and only came in 2 days even when I chose standard shipping. The game is really fun!

Best Xbox 360 Officially licensed F.P.S. Pro Wired GamePad Deals

Customer Ratings:

I have always regretted goung with a aftermarket controller ad they are usually cheap feeling and rarely eork as well as the original 360 controller. I gave it one more try with this controller and I am really glad I did!

The reasons I tried it were bc of the remappable buttons in back and quick response triggers and each were up to par. The triggers feels so much more responsive than the 360 controller, which is awesome since its the button for shooting in Halo. The remappable 'combat buttons'

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The FPS pro for Xbox 360 is a good sturdy product. The plastic rubber on the sides has a good feel, and provides extra traction, especially if you are playing a game for an extended period of time. The basic shape is the same as the traditional Xbox 360 control, and all of the controls are in the same basic place so there is no high adjustment time.

The layout of the control is the same as the normal control, with the added feature that you can adjust gameplay wit the combat buttons on the bottom of the control. These buttons add the extra ability to change combat mode in gameplay, which is great for serious players. There is also a port on the control that allows you to use the control on your PC for PC gaming. This is a great advantage if you are playing on a PC, because you can use an Xbox controller on your PC.

Overall a good controller for serious gamers, and those who are planning on playing for an extended period of time.

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Very fast over wireless like the way it fits in my hands I like the 10 ft cord I have tride others but none are like this

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The Combat buttons are to far up! They are useless! If this is the reason you are going to get this controller don't buy it!

That's it played a few more games it is going back, went back to my Power A controller, what a huge diffrence!

LED does not remember what color you chose, it resets to green when you turn off the console, and you have to change the LEDS back to the color of your choice!!!!! More not to like about this product!!!!

I really thought this was going to be a great product, again don't waste your time and money!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Xbox 360 Officially licensed F.P.S. Pro Wired GamePad

It is as good as it says it is in the description, all of the features are there, it is comfortable, and precise. It is also designed with FPS games in mind, and the features reflect that. I would HIGHLY recommend this over the standard Xbox wired controller if you want a wired controller. The form factor is about the same as a standard controller as well is the price.

Pros:

Everything in the description.

Wired; so no batteries and faster response times.

Multi-Function buttons on back are a nice touch.

It lights up, because why not?

Cons:

Multi-Function buttons on the back are a bit to high to use comfortably, but one can get used to their position.

There isn't a wireless Xbox version for people that don't like wires all over their room.

ESPN NBA Basketball Review

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A couple of months ago, I was sitting in my room playing NBA Live 2003, perfectly happy with the game that I had. It was simple, the graphics were pretty, and the game was generally fun. Then I met up with ESPN NBA Basketball. I was shocked at how much better it was than NBA Live 2003 or 2004. The sound was incredible, the gameplay was awesome, and the graphics were indescribably terrific! New this year is 24/7 mode, which will keep you busy well, 24/7. It lets you make a player, and then you go face to face with pros in all sorts of events, from normal 1-on-1, to Bomb Ball. You start out as a playground hotshot, and you build until you are the best streetball player out there! Trust me, this thing is a whole game in itself. What's even cooler is that it's run by your PS2's clock. At night, the courts and events change, and at night, you can play historic game, where you go up against legends like Larry Bird or Clyde Drexler. The streetball courts are awesome, and I think that this is better than the amazing NBA Street game by EA. Also, I was happy that all the rosters were updated, because I am a huge Denver Nuggets fan, and this year they have new uniforms and about halfof their team is new, including Carmelo Anthony and Andre Miller. The graphics and sound are the best ever in a sports game, and this is hands-down the best sports game ever made!

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ESPN the world wide leader in sports.I love espn2K4 and now that it's july I still find myself playing through a franchise.The crossover moves are only difficult when you have a poor ballhandler.Live 2004 freestyle is in my opinion just about the same.You can get pass by using the crossover button instead of the right analog.The camera angles could've had a zoom though.

The only problem is the easy competition I go 82-0 in a season that's almost impossible.I've had close calls but that's about it the 24/7 is great once you have earned enogh points your stats will stay the same if you don't play.24/7 can be difficult but practice makes perfect and going head to head with a legend can be tough if your attributes are crap.Overall this game is better than NBA live to me and I'm waiting for 2K5. I really hope ESPN add another difficulty level I need the opponents to bring their A+ game!!!!!!!!

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Well let me start off by saying this is by far the best overall basketball game I have ever played. It took last years game which in my opinion was the best game on the market at the time and made it even better. The game was virtually unmatched by any of the other 2004 basketball games when it came to extra modes such as 24/7 and street mode, and was really just in a league of it's own when it came to graphics, But there is always room for improvement and that's why I had to give this game a four because the game could have been better. First of all how can you have a game with Kareem Abdul-Jabar and not have any shot that even resembled a hook. Second how can you have a NBA Superstars team with no Michael Jordan I mean I know he's expensive but trust me he's worth every penny. The other things I would change are real small, for instance why not add in a few more dunks you can have the most realistic looking dunks but if the game repeats the same three dunks over and over again who ever is playing will eventually get board. Another real small thing is being able to edit players a little more. At least is my case I like to do a lot of trades to keep up with the updated NBA rosters and from time to time I'll trade for a guy and his number is already in use, so he'll end up with sum odd number like 63, I'd like to be able to just go in a pick a better number. But overall great game just keep on improving... Oh but wait there was just one more thing bothering me you couldn't find a single player better than Drazen Petrovic to be on the 90's east team? come on!

Buy Wii Sniper Rifle Gun

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List Price: $39.99
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Other reviews mention that the nun-chuck doesnt fit well in the housing. it is crucial to run that cord through the channel in the housing compartment for the intended fit.

i've found that more complicated Fist Person Shooters like Splinter Cell, which isnt a really 'gun heavy' game, may be a little more difficult as reaching the top of the wii remote can be a stretch, and switching between the 'C' and 'Z' (on the mag) to the 'a', '+', '-', 1 or 2 takes some practice/coordination. Resident Evil, which has very little control, would be great. the slide on this scale goes pretty far up before getting too complicated. i played Splinter Cell, Quantum Solace and just for fun, Wii Fit. Fit obviously didnt go so well and Splinter Cell was definitely fun and playable, but because the objectives often call for secretive silence, the 'Perfect Shot' may be better. ( i have both and the dexterity of two independent hands is better) Quantum Solace...AWESOME! i can only guess that Resident Evil games would be even better.

i found that this thing is pretty close to the size of a real gun like this. the barrel is obviously not as long as a real 'sniper rifle' but any longer and it would impede the view of the sensor bar. i actually leave it off for a more MP5 look and feel. those with small hands might have trouble wrapping em around the nun-chuck housing and retain the dexterity with the joystick, but my girlfriend has smaller hands for an adult and she really liked itA HUGE FIRST.

hope this helps. sorry so long. there were some specific points i wish some one had spelled out before i bought it. i've nothing bad to say. however, get some rubber bands. the top door will hold better if you wrap a rubber band at the front and back. not ness, and Quick ties may be more difficult if this is not a dedicated set of remotes.

i'd buy another in a heart beat.

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Nice set-up for the money. Feels well balanced when playing " call of duty-modern warfare" and is the closest simulation of the 'real thing'. The biggest problem is the grip thoughthe hand and finger starts hurting after about 10mins into the game and I'm forced to take a break... Like previously stated: a major design flaw.

Would not recommend until the company fixes this!

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Demonstration of CTA Digital's Sniper Rifle Gun for Wii under optimum conditions (which applies to any gun-type accessory for Wii).

Objective: Approximate 1:1 accuracy via simple line-of-sight aiming.

Requirements:

Minimum 10 feet between the Wii Remote and the Wii's sensor bar (maximum about 15 feet). TV, sensor bar, and player should be centered precisely. Don't step away from this centered firing position.

Remove any accessory/extensions from the rifle that may obstruct the Wii Remote's view of the sensor bar. There shouldn't be any unusual problems with existing Wii Pointer tracking in the first place.

`Ghost Squad` and `The House of the Dead 2&3 Return` are the ONLY two shooting games on Wii that calibrate properly, easily, and reliably. You will not get good results in other games due to their limited design, options, and/or their technical shortcomings.

Be calm and aim carefully. Wii knows how much you twitch, and there's always a slight delay between your movement and the final shot/cursor location.

Quick review?

4/5 stars because the handle is poorly designed, difficult to grasp, and makes the Nunchuk harder to reach (I thought the Sure Shot Rifle had a good handle, but a poor trigger mechanism), and the thinner diameter in the middle of the scope reduces direct visibility. The trigger works much better than the previous Sure Shot Rifle and Buzz Shotgun designs, and the C/Z buttons have better placement. In the end, the product is a strong match with Ghost Squad's weapon selection, but clearly has room for improvement. On the software side, the applications for any "good" Wii gun accessory are very limited -for now, "arcade gameplay" is their rightful place. Frankly, gun accessories shouldn't be used with FPS's (and similar action games) until the games are properly designed to take advantage of the accessories. As many users have pointed out, they've tried it and wasted their time/money.

My workaround for the handle is: I don't use it -my thumb rests on the side while my middle finger supports the ring under the trigger. Holding the foregrip, which holds the rifle against my shoulder, actually does most of the hard work. For practical purposes, the rear "lens" of the scope should've included some kind of printed sight posts to aid sighting in conjunction with the front crosshair (I just used a marker to paint a dot in the center of my lens).

For more information, search "Wii Sniper Rifle Gameplay Montage" on YouTube/Google.

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First of all this will NOT work with Resident Evil 4 as the trigger in the RE 4 is the A button and not the B button. The button layout can not be changed in Resident Evil 4.

Far worse is the size of the handle of the gun. It way too thick. I do not have huge hands, but not small ones either and I can not see being able to reasonably have my thumb on the nunchuck's analog stick and a finger on the trigger. It is a very poor design. Also, in games like Call of Duty, where you have to access the A,-,+, and the D pads to have the Wii remote so far forward in the gun makes it impossible to access the buttons with any resonable speed and still have your fingers on the C, and Z buttons from the nunchuck.

I would definately go with the zapper. There is a nice one that has a front and back handle. It is similar in design to this gun but is smaller and easier to handle. It does not have all the attachments that this does but why do you need a fake scope that you do not use or a bi-pod that is also just for show.

Overall this things is horrible.

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Love the sniper gun, makes the game much more fun and gives it a feel of reality.

Only one small issue I found is the legs, when I don't use them when shooting while I am standing but you can take it off. But overall I must say a great add on.

Review of The X-Files

Customer Ratings:

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

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

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Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick Review

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Those were the first words that came through my mind after playing this game for the first 5 minutes!Wow!!I've played alot of action games,but this is definatly one of the best if not THE best.Being a huge fan of zombie horror,this game never let's down my expectations!There is blood splatter and flying body parts galore.You really have to play Evil Dead to understand how cool this all is.Let me tell you that from the first time you impale a zombie with your roaring chainsaw,you will be hooked!

Also this is definatly NOT a Resident Evil type game.By that I mean you don't just kill a few zombies and then the area is "safe".No,in Evil Dead the zombies keep coming back and you never know when or where they will pop out!Attacks are not just pre-determined;alot of the times they are sadisticaly random with a vengenance.While this may not appeal to some gamers,I thought it was alot more exciting.Another way to look at your countless legions of enemies,is a never ending supply of health,

magic,and most importantly AMMO!The fact that you get rewarded so to speak for killing the undead is a nice touch.

It's not all just killing and violence,(you can do that after you unlock arcade mode!)there is some puzzle solving but it's never really tedious or boring.It really adds to the story,like finding silver to close the diffrent vortexes or rescuing someone before they become a zombie's lunch.The only thing that I didn't like about this however,is that unlike Silent Hill,there

is no map to check point important areas in the game.This ultimatly leads to running around in circles and wasting ammo on zombies you wouldn't have to fight if you just knew were to go!

I did this many times just trying to find the police station, university,last vortex etc. etc.It's better to save your game after you get familiar with the surroundings.

Voice acting was great with Bruce,and his humor is definatly welcome when you are in the middle of a small zombie army.It's hysterical when you hear Ash messing up a magic incantation...

"nortious alumi.... ah crap!"There is also alot of "duke nukem" material with plenty of strip bars and well endowed women(the redhead talk show host!).Also nothing is funnier than fighting a zombie prostitute wearing garters!On a side note,the graphics are

very good and the frame rate is extremely smooth.

What's best about this game is that you can buy it brand new for a VERY REASONABLE price.I was actually kind of shocked!I can't see why anyone wouldn't like this game.Hopefully in the future there will be some god mode cheat codes available;that would make it even better!Now stop reading this and go butcher some zombies!!

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I'm not the biggest Evil Dead fan (The only one I can even remember is "Army of Darkness"), but I'd say this is a good game for fans of the series and for fans of horror games in general. In fact, I'd say it's much better than most other horror games.

The controls are pretty easy to use and you'll get the hang of them very quickly. The sound, both in the dialogue and score, is top-notch. Most people don't notice, but some of the background themes (like in Level 4) sound great and add to the visuals. Bruce Campbell is back to do the voice of Ash, and believe me, he does the best job anyone could possibly do. He's always there with hilarious one-liners that keep the game entertaining at all times.

The gameplay is pretty standard. You go through six levels (you even get to go back in time for two of them) solving puzzles and killing deadites. The large selection of weapons was also a nice touch. I won't spoil the story for you, but it's pretty good...good enough to be made into a movie in my opinion. The graphics aren't the best or anything, but they weren't that bad either.

But no game can be without flaws, so it's now time for the bad. The biggest complaint I have is that there's no map or any other kind of indicator to point you in the right direction. It's easy to get lost and it can sometimes take you up to 15 minutes to finally find the place where you're supposed to be. Not only that, but this is one of those games that's impossible to beat without using some kind of guide. The game gives you virtually no hints on how to solve the various puzzles or how to get access to certain areas. This last thing could either be considered good or bad, but the game is also very easy. I'm usally terrible at every game I play, but I was able to beat this in one day (it's not as short as I make it sound...I played it for the majority of the day and for at least six hours). When I fianlly beat the game, I had 6 health packs and 16 save tokens left, that's how easy it is. Although those searching for a bigger challenge might like Arcade mode, which is incredibly hard. Overall, if I liked it, I'm sure this would be an Evil Dead fan's dream.

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All I can say is the Bruce Campbell voice overs are worth the price. The graphics are ok....the story is fun but short. The way it links to the films is awesome,instead of using an old story line. But all in all the price can't be beat,I'm still trying to figure that one out. Add this to your collection if your an Evil Dead/Bruce Campbell fan like me. The guy at the store that I bought it from said he hoped it was good...cause of the price. I said I didn't care.....he said thats what everyone else said who bought one, lol......I got the last one.

Honest reviews on Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick

Its difficult to know how to start this review, as i imagine that you'll have to be an Evil Dead fan to really 'get' this game. If you buy this game as, say, a fan of the horror genre of gaming and with no knowledge of the movie series then you'll probably wind up disappointed.

On the other hand, if you are a fan of the movies then you'll more than likely be absolutely delighted in the latest attempt to bring the old movie classic to the console. Unlike its predecessor 'Hail To The King', this game presents VERY different, almost comic-like characters and settings which i was initially apprehensive about, but the game manages to pull it off. The deadites move in a very exaggerated way, their blood spills as if it was a cartoon, and the cops trying to deal with all hell being let loose are complete retards. But in the end, its all these factors that help the game along. It doesnt ever try to be something its not a quick read about its 'explore in between killing the undead' nature might lead you to think it was a Resident Evil clone but after 2 minutes of play you'll see it for what it is. Its nothing groundbreaking and nothing original, but it certainly holds its own.

One thing i particularly enjoyed about this release and an improvement on the previous game was that the chainsaw no longer needs fuel to work. Once you find it pretty early on in the game you can slice and dice deadites 24/7, and you'll always have atleast 2 weapons at your disposal thanks to the excellent 'two handed' combat system. Aswell as the now trademark 'quip' button (and lets face it this wouldnt be an Evil Dead game without the ability to make fun of your enemies), there are some trademark moves such as the trusty boomstick-over-the-shoulder move.

Unfortunatly the game does have some bad points. You'll constantly be surrounded by buildings and doors but you'll very rarely be able to go inside without blasting a hole in the wall or finding a keycard (just so you can go kill the billion deadites that are waiting for you inside). And the game has some flaws in the logic department, too. For example, on one level you have to get inside a building via a big glass door and you can smash the glass yet you cant go through it unless you actually open the door with the key card, despite the fact theres a massive gaping hole you could easily step through. And also, i imagine Ash to be the type of guy who likes to keep clean so why has he been wearing the same outfit for 3 movies and 2 video games? And, more to the point, why was it ripped in all the exact same places BEFORE he even goes into battle? And why hasnt he had a replacement hand yet? The producers seem determined to stick to the 'movie' ash in term of design but, considering the comical humour of the game, i guess it can be forgiven.

Overall, its tiny flaws aside, this is a game that any Evil Dead fan will love (despite what several website reviews might say) so long as you dont mind the 'serious horror' of the original movie being chucked out of the window for the slapstick style of its sequels. 5 stars.

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This game is freakin' sweet. That's all there really is to say about this game.

The story picks up with Ash (voiced by Bruce Campbell!)Watching a show on the Occult, with a Proffesor Embridge discussing the Book of the Dead, which summons the evil spirits seen in the movie trilogy. On TV he plays the infamous tape of Proffesor Knowby which contains incantations from the Book of the Dead. The Deadtites show up, and its up to Ash to find a way to send them back. He enlists Embridge's help, but unfortunetly he has some alterior motives.

The game play on this is fairly tight. Combat with Deadites isn't very hard to learn and the weapons are interesting to say the least. The chainsaw arm is back. Boomsticks galore. Exploding shells add for some interesting effects when hitting a Deadite. The game employs a right hand / left hand combat system and rather good targeting. The camera generally gives good angles though there is the odd occasion where your vision is going to be obscured by the camera taking a weird position.

Level layouts are pretty good, though they require lots of backtracking to pick up items or finding a character. And make sure that the brightness is up on your screen, or you will get lost. Level four in the forest, would be impossible since the setting is so dark that you cannot see the path to the village.

This game is a bit of a guilty pleasure. With all the games out there that contain the same amount of violence, yet take themselves seriously, Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick is a welcome change. It encoperates all the campy fun from the trilogy, and is more fun than creepy, though it can have its moments. Adding Bruce Campbell into the mix makes it all the better. Don't miss a chance to play this game, it's worth the time.

Buy Halo 3: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)

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There isn't so much complexity, nor are there really a handful of secrets in Halo 3 which require you to actually use a guide. That shouldn't suggest a guide is bad, though. It's a great guide, just not one you'll find yourself in dire need of. However, for what you get you'll more than likely be pleased. It's a very well designed guide and is very well organized. There's a lot of content to swallow but at least the guide is organized and easy to use. Just don't be surprised if you spend a bit more time reading it instead of playing the game.

This guide actually begins with a foreward that explains what you'll find in the guide. Noting that it won't spend a lot of time on the basics and that they really did want to design a good guide. They succeed... almost too well because this is certainly an exhaustive guide. Don't let the size fool you, this is far more detailed than any guide I've ever seen.

Halo 3 doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel. In fact, it plays almost exactly like Halo 2 did. For that the basics section of this guide spends a little too much time reiterating what Halo fans already know. At least it doesn't spend too much time here and if you are new to Halo it'll get you acquainted with the game. In the basics it'll go over basic controls and how to control vehicles and such. Again, nothing veterans will need, but it is good for beginners to take a look here.

The Campaign is where this guide gets interesting. Many strategy guides out there simply focus on one difficulty level: Normal. That's not the case with Piggyback Interactive's guide. This walkthrough has been designed for all difficulty levels. The way they organized it is how it succeeds in doing this. Each section begins with a map. These maps are basically from a birds eye view of the level. They point out weapons, enemy packs etc. for you.

However, the layout is what's interesting. On the map they point out what you should do at each spot. It's brief and to the point. These call outs on the maps are for those going through Easy and Normal. On the facing page is where they give you a ton of detail for what to do on Legendary. Things to do on Legendary are also called out on the map but in the A, B, C format established in other guides. So if you see "A" on the map, look on the facing page at what to do. The walkthrough is designed to help with all the difficulty levels but written with the assumption that you'll be playing through Legendary. Needless to say you can easily use the Legendary tips for the lower difficult levels.

For the gamer who fears spoilers, the walkthrough in all its detailed glory is spoiler free. There's a lot of reading, but it makes sure not to tell you about the story. It also will debrief you after each chapter of the campaign.

The extras chapter is a different story. It doesn't spoil anything, but it is meant to be read only after you've completed the campaign. Here it'll tell you more about Legendary Mode and give you tips. It also talks about the skulls. However, Bungie would not let the authors of the guide reveal the location of the skulls. You know which mission it can be found in but not where in the mission. That doesn't stop them from revealing the effects of the skulls.

There's also a bestiary, info on vehicles and most useful of all, talking about the Score System and the list of achievements. For the score system they also provide great tips to reach the score needed to net yourself achievements.

There is then a huge section of the guide dedicated to multiplayer. Most of this is just showing you maps of the area and providing tips, but they talk briefly about co-op here and they also talk about all the different modes and all the weapons you can get as well. The last thing they mention here is about Forging. It's another section that is generally brief, only helping you to get the basic feel of it.

It's an exhaustive guide, but a good one. You might find yourself a little exhausted with information at times, but at least you know its all there.

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This is very helpful for game play.I would greatly encourage the xbox live gamer to get it because it tells the respawn times for the weapons on each multiplayer map.

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Very detailed strategy guide. The artwork is awesome and the level of explanation from the writers is incredible. A must have for any Halo fan.

Honest reviews on Halo 3: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)

This guide is well written and put together in a fairly logical order. But allot of the higher end details that made the HALO 2 guide great are not included this time around. Bungie (I.E. Microsoft) told/gave prima only the material they wanted exposed. So for the whole story you may need to look else wheres. But for great maps and detailed level layouts that will keep you up to speed until the downloadable content comes out, then look no further.

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Artwork is fantastic and although the game does not require the guide, this is a must-have for any Halo fan.

USB Microphone for RockBand or Guitar Hero (PS3, Wii, Xbox360) Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $14.36
Today's Bonus: 64% Off

I bought this microphone to further enhance my Rock Band experience. I was not disappointed. It kept in tune well (which was a problem I saw with other microphones) and was light enough to not be a burden of any kind. I don't mind that it is not wireless, since I wouldn't move around much anyways. Also, the fact that it doesn't have buttons didn't bother me, mainly because I don't mind using a controller to navigate. I do think it could have been packaged better, but I don't fault the microphone for it. Overall, a very simplistic, yet functional, design that works well.

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I bought the microphone with the cord after two (2) wireless microphone purchases. There is no lag time with the wired microphone.

Best Deals for USB Microphone for RockBand or Guitar Hero (PS3, Wii, Xbox360)

I got this microphone after my microphone that came with Rock Band fell apart (the wire became loose at the microphone). I like it better than the original. It is a little more sensitive so you don't have to have it right next to your mouth and easier to handle as it is shorter. I am really surprised that it cost so little and works so well.

Honest reviews on USB Microphone for RockBand or Guitar Hero (PS3, Wii, Xbox360)

I got this microphone for an extra singer on Beatles Rock Band wii. It works just as good as the original and it's fairly cheap. It arrived quickly and it definitely enhances my Beatle Rock Band experience. Thank you!

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The microphones that I ordered look just like the ones that came with the Rock Band 2 game. I bought 2 extra microphones because I bought the Beatles Rock Band game and to do the 2 part harmony you need 3 microphones. What I am a little annoyed with is the fact that you need an adapter to plug in the 3rd microphone which I don't have and now have to go buy. Otherwise they work just fine. We are happy with it so far...

Cheap The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Legendary Edition - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $54.84
Today's Bonus: 9% Off

I traded in my old Skyrim for the new Legendary Edition. I prefer to have the game with the latest patches along with all of the released DLCs on disc just in case my Xbox 360 crashes. It took me only about 10 minutes to install all 3 DLCs, much faster than downloading and installing them. The game does not come with a manual but a link to download it is provided. A large foldable paper map of Skyrim and a button layout pamphlet is included. I highly recommend the Legendary Edition especially if you have limited or no internet access and do not have the expansions already.

This version of Skyrim can be played on a 4GB Xbox 360 console but you will not be able to play the expansions because those require a hard drive to install to.

This game does have a higher than average glitch rate but it is also one of the most ambitious games ever made. I have not noticed any difference in the frequency or severity of the glitches compared to the regular version (with patches). I have played for about 300 hours so far since I purchased the Legendary Edition on June 4th and I have not had any quest breaking or game stopping glitches. I got an occasional freeze (only 3 in the 300 hours I played), some graphical glitches such as flying creatures and floating furniture, and some minor miscellaneous glitches such as voices not matching mouth movement or various weapons not making contact with enemies. None of these issues bothered me too much and in fact some were quite hilarious. I was still able to enjoy every minute of playtime except for the incredibly long load times, which can't be helped due to console limitations.

The expansions add many hours of entertainment. I completed Dawnguard (all quests) in about 20 hours or so and Dragonborn (most quests) took over 25 hours to finish. If you are an achievement hunter you will spend even more time with the expansions.

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Got this about a month ago, and I've been playing it every free moment. I'm probably a little over halfway done with it.

The stories are interesting. The amount of backstory to the skyrim universe is astounding. You can spend forever just chasing down inconsequential details.

Combat and exploration is a blast, and only rarely do you feel that you need to look for hints on how to get past something. The online map and notebook helps immensely.

Only complaints are: This is a true sandbox game, thus it never really ends, just sort of peters out. I like both sandbox and real endings, so I'm OK with this, but don't look for a moment where the credits roll. Secondly, once you start playing your family may forget what you look like.

Best Deals for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Legendary Edition - Xbox 360

While I DO love Skyrim (the first release got me through a bad break up), there were, of course, glitch problems. While the Legendary Edition has added a wealth of new quests and I almost feel like I'm playing it again for the first time, the radiant quest system is still a bit of a bother.

MINI SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER PLAYED.....

For example, I get a Thieves Guild quest to loot a house in Whiterun that was destroyed in the Siege of Whiterun. There are still quests that glitch if you pick up an item before you get the quest. (Roggveir's Amulet of Talos, being one)

I also experienced a glitch in the Peryite quest which never happened in the first edition.

Lastly, there are still frequent incidences of the game freezing up.

All in all, it's still a terrific game and I'm not writing this to suggest anyone not buy it. I just wish Bethesda had done a little more to fix these items since I paid $60 for Skyrim back in 2012 and just spent another $60 for the Legendary Edition. (With $15 or so off for the trade in of the original game)

Honest reviews on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Legendary Edition - Xbox 360

This Game is like being drawn in to a book it is exceptionally well done, This game will take you to medieval times where you will fine magic dungeons and dragons you will wander around endlessly in this open map game, you can do and be what you want ,if you don't want to Rome the big country of Skyrim you can even buy a house or build one, Yes a GREAT BUY! "enjoy"

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It's everything you could want from the game ever. It has it all, you'll enjoy if you like any of the Elder Scrolls series. A must buy.

Review of Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $27.70
Today's Bonus: 8% Off

This product does well, what I need. It quickly charges my battery pack, and lasts a long time.

Also the fact it's black finally matches my black controller, so I'm happy.

Anyways this is a great product and came in 24 hours with amazon prime, thanks Amazon.

Item Includes: 1 Black Rechargeable Battery Pack & Charger Itself.

If you want a Video review post in comments thanks.

-

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The extra battery makes this product worth it in itself but I'll write about my other opinions too. For starters, I HATE blister packaging and this product comes neatly in a box. Which is a huge plus. Did I also mention it comes with an extra battery? The charger itself has a small footprint which can easily be hidden behind other things. The main idea for something like this is to prevent you from having to use the dreaded play/charge kit and this is where it delivers. Dead battery? No problem, just swap in a new one and keep on going. Only issue comes around when you have more than one person playing and need more batteries, but those are available as well. It's an authentic Microsoft product so you'll be getting a high quality item while padding Mr. Gates' pockets nicely. The rapid charge function works well and it does manage to charge the battery in about 20 minutes. I usually keep the charger unplugged most of the time because it has quite a bit of vampire draw with nothing plugged in, which is the reason for my 4 star rating.

Overall, this is a good product that's well made and worth your money. I would recommend it any day.

Best Deals for Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

This is the real Microsoft black quick charge that I have looked everywhere for. I just got it today and it looks great with my new xbox! Works just like the old white one. Awesome product.

Honest reviews on Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

if there is no battery pack in it, it makes this live electricity noise (like the fence from jurassic park). it sounds dangerous and i've had 2 of them with the same problem. also if u leave a battery pack in for a week it will die and wont be able to charge again.

what i do is, unplug the ac adapter when i'm not using it. but its sort of inconvenient because sometimes i'm too lazy to plug it in so i'm left with an uncharged controller.

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This is an excellent product which charges 2-XBox 360 controller Rechargeable Battery Packs at a time. It comes with 1 battery pack, the charging unit and the power cord. We purchased 1 additional battery pack for our second controller. I love this type of charging unit as it allows the user to install the regular battery packs in the controller to continue play, while the chargeable battery packs are recharging in the Charger. We actually have two of these units for times when all four controllers are in heavy use. I highly recommend this product as being reliable and a good value. The Amazon pricing and service was excellent.

Review of Drop shot, Auto-aim, Jitter Xbox 360 Modded Controller COD MW3

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $179.99
Sale Price: $99.99
Today's Bonus: 44% Off

I had a couple issues programming this controller. I contacted the seller and they walked me through it. I should have read the user guide. Everything feels to be of really good quality. Make sure you read the USER GUIDE.

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the controller i ordered works amazing easy to turn on and change modes i have friends with other mods and one of them actualy went to buy one just like this one

Best Deals for Drop shot, Auto-aim, Jitter Xbox 360 Modded Controller COD MW3

This controller was shipped in 2 days and was in perfect condition. The day i got it, it was shiny and had that new smell to it. I played with the remote and found it just perfect. It was easy to switch the mods and easy to use. The only thing thats wrong with the remote is that sometimes it glicthes with the modes. Overall this controller is a five star product and i recommend this company and the remote to anyone who loves first person shooters. :)

Honest reviews on Drop shot, Auto-aim, Jitter Xbox 360 Modded Controller COD MW3

I really loved the controller other than the auto aim isn't online only zombies and campaign but other than that the controller was a great price and a well working controller

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This controller is one of the best controllers I have ever bought! It's a little confusing at first but it comes with easy to follow instructions. For some reason when you use it it will turn off and on out of nowhere but is easy to get used to.

Buy NHL 14 - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $56.82
Today's Bonus: 5% Off

Overall it is a fun game, but it does have some frustrating setbacks.

Pros

-3 game modes let you easily set your style of play without using tons of menu sliders (though they are available(

-1 touch juke and spin moves are very easy and natural.

-graphics look good overall, though some player faces are way off

Cons

-I've played every nhl game for the past 7 years or so and the face offs in this years release seem downright impossible. I have literally played games where I won no face off. Wtf!

-defensive AI is terrible and battles along the boards almost always go to the computer.

-the game often tries to keep things even, meaning that if I score a goal the computer often come right back and scores. It just doesn't feel realistic.

AND THE ABSOLUTE WORST CON IS...

-fighting. The fight controls have improved from last year, but the frequency of fights is infuriating at times. There should not be 4 fights in every period of play. It's rediculous. I turned the fight slider all the way down thinking it would eliminate fights, but there are still 3 or 4 a game. EVERY HOCKEY MATCH DOES NOT HAVE 3 or 4 FIGHTS EA! Additionally, the timing of fights is pretty random and unrealistic. With 50 seconds left I'm down by 1 and driving to the net and my player decides to start a fight? Wouldn't happen! Now I get to lose another impossible face off and try and steal the puck back once again.

Do you see the point I'm trying to make here? The base of this game is still the fun nhl platform we've enjoyed for years. But, the irritating quirks often completely ruin the experience.

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I'm a big fan of the NHL series and I've played all of them since '94. This game is amazing graphically and it is one of the greatest hockey games ever. What a nice way to end the NHL on the 360 and PS3 to get ready for next gen! This is great!

PROS:

It has a ton of game modes like Quick Game, Ultimate Team, '94 Anniverary Mode, Be A Pro Mode, Playoffs mode, and many many more!

The '94 controls are back! That means that you can change to these controls and have an even simpler and better experience.

The fights now have Fight Night mechanics which make the fighting experience in the game even better as I was a huge fan of Fight Night Champion and boxing in general so I'm happy to have it there.

The crowd! Oh my gosh what a crowd, "Did I just see John McEnroe at the Rangers game in NHL 14?" I just don't know but the way that the crowd explodes when a goal is scored or when a fight breaks out or clutch moments, it's purely amazing! I can see their disappointment and frustration when Ovechkin scores the game winning goal in OT at Madison Square Garden when I was playing as the Rangers.

Extremely smooth gameplay, the players don't get sucked in animations and it has the feel of a real hockey game.

I also like the screen at the end of each period where it shows the coaching adjustments and the success of each team.

I like the pre-game things that the game does and the introductions of each team as well.

CONS:

-The game lacks a large amount of realism. The game has fights happening like 2-5 times a game. Every time that I get a big hit on my opponent, his little friends shove their gloves in my players face and then take them off and a brawl starts. You can win a fight by only pushing the right stick up or down without using any defense at all! That's just disappointing to see this in a game like NHL 14. Don't you need at least some skill to win a fight?

Cheese. It's my good ol' friend cheese. I've seen cheese in so many games, I don't get it. There is a difference between the AI just getting in a rhythm and just cheese. I playing Playoff mode with my hometown Rangers and we made it to Game 7 of the conference finals vs. the Washington Capitals. It was 2-2 at the start of the 3rd period, one of my players got a penalty for elbowing. So the power play starts. In the first 12 seconds of powerplay we give up a close range goal. I just say, "Okay, we'll come back, it's all good." Apparently it was not all good as we lose the faceoff with 2:48 left on the power play and it's 3-2 and we give up a long range goal this time 4 seconds later. It's 4-2 now and we lose another faceoff and they score another goal in 9 more seconds. By this time, I'm raging. It is now 5-2 and we lose ANOTHER faceoff and we give up ANOTHER goal in 23 more seconds. I don't get it! 6-2, what of a game is this now? We FINALLY win a faceoff but we miss our shot at a goal and they go coast to coast for, you know, another goal!!! I finally can't take any more of this and I quit and it simulates to the end of the game...... Yup! We lose 9-2! Cheese at it's finest. Hopefully, THAT won't come again.

IN CONCLUSION:

This game is a great game for any hockey fan out there and certainly any old timer who have NHL '94 like me back in the di-zzay! This game is amazing graphically and I highly recommend buying this game!

Best Deals for NHL 14 - Xbox 360

So first off let me say, i have NOT played an NHL hockey game since they went on strike in '99 or 2000 (can't remember exactly which year, sorry). So therefore i cannot judge from the past 12 years of their games.

With that said, this game however is FUN, right now i am playing live the life, where i am the pro. I enjoy it because i only need to focus on MY character, not the whole team, however on that same note, it annoys me because the team will make random passes or clear the puck way too often, when i am open or they could make a break for it. Sometimes i wish i could just take the puck handler and get it down ice for the score, i've lost quite a few games because my guy would be on the bench waiting for his next shift and the other team scores, then i will get on the ice, get something going, only to get called back to the bench in a few seconds and i have to wait again. However the overall of that feature is awesome, winning and losing does matter, but not as much as your person putting up good points (assits or goals) to impress the scouts and move you up to a better team.

I haven't played GM yet, so i can't comment on it. However just playing the games, are a blast. The hard hits, fights, presentation is just awesome!

Now for my negatives and why i gave it 4 out of 5. As much fun as it is, it can be frustrating, since i am back to being new at this game, i am not on the easiest setting, but one step up, i read others have had similar issues, where your team really don't know what they are doing and won't chase the loose puck, in fact i've passed a puck to a team mate, it bouced off an opponent, but still got to him, only to have him turn around as if he was going to the bench or to be on D so the puck just hit the wall and the opponent grabbed it. Really?! Come on EA, real life they WATCH the puck before they just leave the area to see where it goes. Anyhoo, also, on the lower level difficulty, the rubber banding is annoying as crap, i will score 3 to 6 goals in a game, feeling good, once im up by at least 2 or 3, they will immediately score 2 or 3 back to back to catch up. I've had so many shutouts and i suck at those so far, and then they usually win. I was up 6 to 2 one time, 3 period they tied me and won in overtime, seriously? So yeah be prepared for that.

Finally, my biggest gripe and probably don't matter any many, the menus are nice and options are alright, but clunky. I went to EA's music hub, turned off the songs i disliked the most, and would go to my be a pro season. For whatever reason, all the songs play, even the ones i turned off. In the main menu and normal game, its just the songs i want, but in live the life its like they forgot to propogate those settings over there, wouldn't that have been seen in testing? I guess i would of checked it out first, but thats just me.

Anyhoo, overall, besides my minor gripes, its a fun amazing game. Kills time, when you need time killed ;) And feels great to plow into that guy on the wall, hurt him, then start and win a fight against his buddy ;) 5 minutes well worth it lol.

Honest reviews on NHL 14 - Xbox 360

So far, I've played ~160 games (I had the early release) in EASHL with most being in club play, but a handful of OTP games as well. The good things I've seen so far are that hitting generally works, skating seems reasonably fluid once you have enough stats on your player, goalies aren't making saves they shouldn't and aren't letting in too many weak goals, the new EASHL seasons makes things a bit more exciting, stick lifting now seems to work well enough and not give constant penalties, and that the AI seems to be improving on the offensive side.

On the other hand, it also has a few areas for improvement. AI on D during a rush is almost useless and gives up the toe drag wrist shots from the high slot as it has in the last 5 years or so. On top of that, these seem to be going in at an alarming rate for players who likely are well below having their legend card yet. Larger players seem to have a big balance boost, which makes it nearly impossible to knock down a player more than 4 inches taller than you. Poke checking seems inconsistent. Forcing passes through defenders works too often, and offense seems to be much more able to pick up loose pucks than on defense.

While at first fighting seemed like an improvement over the old system, after getting into a few dozen fights the majority of online players just seem to mash the punch button and manage to win more often than not. There doesn't seem to be much of a way around this either. Using R2 to dodge and counter is somewhat difficult to do, and if they manage to connect with a hit, you might as well just let them win. At least the old system gave you a ton more control as far as dodging went.

More disappointing is that face-off spamming (continuously trying to win the draw before it is dropped, making your character twitch) still works in the game despite countless complaints and EA promising to fix it. As a top 50 center right now with 60% wins, I still manage to have games against these guys where I go 30% while they are clearly exploiting the system. Its been going on for a few years now, and should have been fixed long ago.

Finally a more minor issue is that low speed skating that you would do defensively to get into position and face the puck is more difficult than it should be, and results in too many cases where I'm out of position because the game decided I wanted to do a big spin rather than just turn my hips.

It will be interesting to see how future tuners change this, as EA doesn't seem to have much of a rhyme or reason for many of the changes they end up making, so we could be looking at a much different reaction in 3 months or so.

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Someone really needs to open up a shop to compete against these guys across franchises (NHL, FIFA, NFL, etc.). Back in the 90s EA Sports was a fresh and innovative game maker, now they are innovating for the sake of innovating and their "game improvements" are mostly just gimmicks. This game is pretty much the same as NHL 12 so there isn't really anything better about it, or new, or fresh that the older franchises don't have. You are basically paying $60 for new rosters (this is the case with almost all EA franchises these days).

Funny thing is, they don't even fix the bugs from the old game. In NHL 12 there was a bug that would happen where all the buttons would shut down and your guy would just randomly start skating backward in the middle of the game. You used to be able to disconnect the controller or pause the game and reset the controller configuration to fix it. In NHL 14 this bug is even worse, it happened to me while playing an online tournament against the machine. Luckily the issue disappeared with the end of the period, but it just shows how little attention EA pays to their product development I'm sure others have experienced this and requested a fix. It's two versions down the road and the same bug occurs worse hilarious!

The other hallmark of EA games (both FIFA and NHL) is poor server support. Last night the servers were down randomly for about an hour in the evening and then this morning I got booted from the servers while going into a second tournament game (thanks EA for wasting all my players contract game and giving me a loss I didn't earn for nothing oh and no coin). If you have ever played FIFA 13 you know exactly what I am talking about that was probably the worst sports game I ever played in terms of the glitches. EA Sports is a disaster as an organization and the only way they are going to get the message is for people to stop buying their sub par products year after year like lemmings.

This game's HUT is also sucky compared to FIFAs, the packs don't always download correctly once you purchase them, and the whole interface pales in comparison to FIFA. Now, I get that this isn't soccer, but the whole interface on FIFA works better and is more efficient than the NHL version and the games are made by the SAME DEVELOPER! For instance, it's ridiculous how you have to go through a bunch of different menus to find out who the hell your backup goalie is you don't have to do this for any other position and its absurd. I didn't even know who the hell the guy was until his contract was up. Again, this is still something that EA hasn't fixed from the NHL 12 version (and probably versions that predate that). Basically I can hit Y and see all my lines in one easy interface except for my goalie position. For that one position, I have to highlight the goalie and hit Y, then to replace the goalie I have to stand up dance in a circle, hit X or Y and some other buttons and finally I can replace him horrendous interface and there is nothing on the screen that tells you how or what to do I found out simply by messing around.

Oh and I agree with the other reviewer who wrote that the AI is crappy for lower experience levels. It has been for years. The engineers seems to believe that the only way to make the game harder is to make the machine score on less shots. So basically, as you increase the skill level in this game, all that happens is that the machine scores more quickly, no matter how bad the shot opportunity and he can move the puck easily with none of your defenders being effective at all. It sucks and is definitely the worst of the EA franchises. But worse, I played an online tournament on Amateur on HUT and clearly they didn't match me up with the people of my skill level I got shelled 6-0 by a guy/girl who was clearly on another level. Good job EA, that makes me want to keep playing! The HUT seasons are admittedly a bit better at matching the skill levels of the players. However, the overall gameplay is pretty poor when you aren't playing a friend or the HUT seasons.

Bottom line is that if you want to pay $60 for new rosters and a better fighting experience (NHL 12's was absurd) then have at it. But if you were expecting EA to spend substantial time and effort improving the game experience, forget it just keep playing your older version.

Best Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $39.85
Today's Bonus: $0.14 Off

**This is an edited version of my review for the Limited Edition version (which you can check and see is a verified Amazon purchase of mine). Small side note, usually Amazon combines reviews of products with various editions, yet it seems for this particular game, that is not the case. That being said, I figured I'd just put my review of the product on here as well (as it's basically the same thing, just the limited edition comes with an artbook that I won't cover here). My purpose of doing this is not for ratings, I simply just want to help YOU, the customer, make an informed decision and if that means I have to put up my review twice, then so be it. **

The games included in this product have each been out now for several years on other systems. Rather than review the gameplay and ramble on about my thoughts on the stories, I have decided to simply do a brief Q&A on just what you should expect to find with this particular product itself to try and help you, as a customer, be properly informed. That being said, I hope you find these answers helpful in your decision making process.

Q. What games are included that I can actually play through?

A. There are two games included with your purchase that you can play in full. The first is the original Kingdom Hearts (however this is the Final Mix edition (which, long story short, is a tweaked and slightly renovated version of the original classic that was originally exclusively released only in Japan). The second game included is Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Both of these have been beautifully remastered in High Definition for this release and truly look stunning and also feature enhanced gameplay mechanics. In addition, both games come with their own set of trophies (and yes, two platinums).

Q. Wait...Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories? What about Kingdom Hearts II?

A. Kingdom Hearts II (released in 2006) is NOT included in this product.

Q. What about Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days?

A. You cannot play Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days with this purchase. HOWEVER, there is a "Theater Mode" which will allow you to view roughly 2 hours and 50 minutes of remastered HD footage (in the form of cinematics) from the game (as well as some new additional scenes). Believe it or not, there is trophy support available for this.

Q. How many discs are included inside the box?

A. Both games (included the cinematics for "358/2 Days") are all bundled up into one solitary disc.

Q. Tell me more. What kind of trophy support can I expect from this release.

A. As stated earlier, both Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories will have their own set of trophies that each have their own platinum. To be more specific, Kingdom Hearts will have 56 trophies, and Chain of Memories will have 48 trophies that can be earned. In addition, the cinematics for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days will also have a total of 6 trophies that can be earned (none of which are platinum).

Q. Is this a good value? Should I purchase this? Can it be purchased on PSN digitally?

A. As far as I know, for the time being of this review (9/10/13), neither as a whole or individually can this game and its contents be purchased digitally through PSN. To my knowledge, and upon further research, there are no plans for now to release these titles digitally (though that could easily change). Is the price of $39.99 a good value for what is involved? Absolutely! Whether or not you should purchase this is purely up to you. If by some chance you haven't played any of these titles, don't worry, I'm not going to sit here and type up a bunch of spoilers for you; I'll let you figure that out yourself. If that's the case, all the information I'll provide you with is that if you like Disney, and if you like RPGs, and if you're familiar with the Final Fantasy franchise, then you'll definitely find this to be highly entertaining. Personally I only played the first game before I headed out to college. For me, this is a great opportunity to not only relive the original classic, but also to experience something new in the sequel. Regardless of my own personal experiences, you'll be treated to both games (and the cinematics for a "358/2 Days") being presented in spectacular and eye-popping HD. Plus, and as mentioned countless times before, if you're a trophy-buff like me, you'll find plenty of those to be unlocked here.

So for now, these are just a few simple questions answered that you may have wondered or were curious to know prior to purchasing. By all means, please feel free to leave any further questions in the comments. I'll gladly answer them (if they are to my knowledge) as soon as I get the chance.

I hope that you find this review helpful in your decision making and whether I am asked questions or not, I will certainly update this review as I have more time to play the game itself.

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Kingdom Hearts was originally released in 2002, and at the time of its release I don't think anyone thought the series was going to be as huge as it was. Originally a lot of people weren't excited for Kingdom Hearts. With so many various Disney characters thrown into the mix there was many a cry of how "kiddy" the game was going to be. Yet in the end it not only turned out to be a success, but also one of Square-Enix's biggest properties. With so many HD Collections coming out recently it's a wonder why it took so long to get a Kingdom Hearts one out there in the first place. It's not entirely what I had expected, but it's still a solid remaster.

There's not much need to go into the story of Kingdom Hearts. Let's just say that of all the games in the series, the first one is by far the simplest as the plot hasn't had too many revelations yet. You'll play as Sora who ends up coming into possession of the keyblade to fight the heartless and uncover the secrets behind them. You'll do this by traveling to various worlds populated by Disney characters. All of these things are remastered in HD and it looks really gorgeous to see some of your favorite characters and worlds. It's also a pretty noticeable and the presentation is really good.

Of all the HD reissues there are few that have the kind of care taken as Kingdom Hearts. The entire presentation has been reworked for a 16:9 aspect ratio and is displayed in wonderful 1080p. Other HD remakes tend to not touch things such as pre-rendered backgrounds, but in Kingdom Hearts even the pre-rendered stuff is displayed in gorgeous HD. You'll hardly spot any blemishes or muddy textures. It all looks brilliant. The fonts are easier to read as well.

It's also nice to know that there have been a couple of changes made to the gameplay to suit some of the features. Originally the camera was a nightmare to deal with in the original game, but now it's relegated to the analog stick and easier to deal with. You may still have a couple of camera issues, but with the camera no longer being set to the shoulder buttons, it's easier to deal with. Likewise, much like Kingdom Hearts II, there are some moments where instead of selecting it in the menu you can just press the Triangle button during a context sensitive moment and perform certain actions. These little tweaks help Kingdom Hearts out a lot. Especially being able to press triangle to do simple things like open doors as opposed to having to select it in the action menu. Likewise, the ability to pause and skip cutscenes is especially nice as this wasn't an option in the original release at all. On subsequent playthroughs you'd have no choice but to watch every cutscene again. Here you can just as easily bypass all that stuff. It's overall not just a good HD upgrade, but also controls better.

Other than that, combat is pretty much the same as you remember. You'll roam around areas, enemies will pop up and you'll have to dispatch them quickly to earn experience points and level up skills. This take on combat is still pretty cool stuff today. Though it lacks some of the refinements of Kingdom Hearts II, it's still fun and simple to play. But most important, the combat doesn't bog things down by constantly having you transition into a battle and then out of a battle so that the story can progress.

There are some things that have not aged quite as well in Kingdom Hearts, however. Chief among them are the gummi ship segments. For the most part many of them are simply long, repetitive and slow paced. Flying to a new world just doesn't really provide a whole lot of fun. It feels counter to the fast paced action of the rest of the game. Some of the platforming segments are also a little off at times. Jumping from one platform to another can sometimes feel like a hassle, especially before you get the abilities that help simplify it. These things aren't really "bad," mind you. At the time of the games original release, it probably didn't matter much but now it stands out a little more. Thankfully, though, Kingdom Hearts is still a blast to play. All the characters, the story and the gameplay is just as fun as it ever was.

Unfortunately, the original Kingdom Hearts is all that's really worthwhile in the collection. While Chain of Memories has a good story (actually a rather great one) the fact that it still has a pretty toned down card based battle system is urksome. The combat simply isn't that much fun. The fact that it also must transition into a battle as opposed to being right there in the action like it is in the first game is also a drag. Granted this is a game that was remade from a GBA title, which certainly plays a part in that, but just the same it's a shame that while some enhancements were made to the original game to make the experience better, this particular game doesn't really have any that do. Chain of Memories is also well known for just not letting you explore a ton or anything of the sort. The story, however, is essential to understanding the overall plot of the Kingdom Hearts series. It links to the second game and actually enhances the experience of that game. It's worth playing through Chain of Memories just for the story alone, but the gameplay isn't all that exciting.

The last bit is Kingdom Hearts 358/2. The game was originally released on the DS. You are NOT actually getting that game, though. All you really get is the cutscenes from that game--enhanced and reworked. They look gorgeous but it's not really all that exciting. Granted, it probably would've been a bit much to remake the entire game in the same manner as Chain of Memories, but what you realize is that much of the cutscenes in 358/2 are quite dull. It's worth watching for the sake of the story at least once. And they're fully voiced and acted, but it's nothing too exciting. For the most part much of it is rather dull.

Even though the Kingdom Hearts HD Remix isn't as good as other collections out there, the price for just the original Kingdom Hearts alone is pretty worthwhile, as the game itself is amazing. Even though there are some aspects that haven't aged that well, the game still looks and plays incredibly well even by todays standards. If you haven't experienced the original Kingdom Hearts or you want to experience it again, this collection is for you.

Best Deals for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix

At last it is here, the Kingdom Hearts has finally arrived on the PS3 and it brought with it all the enjoyment from the past. It comes with Kingdom Hearts Final mix (was only in Japan), Chain of Memories, and the cinematics for 365/2 from the DS which tells the story between chain of memories and KH2. All three have been redone for HD with Kingdom Hearts being completely redone as they originally lost the source code for the game, so they had to do the whole game from scratch with the original soundtrack, voicetrack, and script. This has an extra boss fight and other Keyblades that was not in the original US edition. I have only played the first hour of the first game, and i already have enjoyed it. Controls are the same so no new learning, just have to remember how things work since it has been so long since I played this. So get this classic set and start playing and remember why you enjoyed this series while we wait for 2.5 remix and of course KINGDOM HEARTS 3!!!!!

Honest reviews on Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix

**Before I start my review, I'd like to note that I have not played Re:Chain of Memories yet or watched the 358/2 Days cutscenes. My review so far is based on what I've experienced in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.**

It's been a few years since I played the original Kingdom Hearts on my now broken PS2, so I was over the moon when I heard the original Kingdom Hearts was going to be re-released for PS3. I'll admit, though, I was afraid the game was going to be a flop. I had heard a lot of people saying the remastering was superficial at best and that Square Enix was simply throwing this together to keep its base of fans from totally losing hope in one of Square Enix's best-selling franchises. However, I am happy to say that I have not been disappointed yet.

The graphics are really good. The characters and game design are sharp and crisp, yet do not stray far from the look and feel of the original version. The addition of the Final Mix cut-scenes also work seamlessly with the game and show crucial scenes foreshadowing KH2.

The switch from L2/R2 camera control to right analog control makes exploring the map much more intuitive, and the special command feature (triangle button) really helps predicting the right moment to use moves like arcanum and strike.

The gummi ship has also been updated into a more prominent feature. The gummi menu and ship designing are more or less the same, but traveling between worlds on normal drive now involves missions. It's essentially KH meets KH2. You get points for shooting heartless gummi ships and for collecting items like blueprints and gummi blocks. There are three missions for each world. To complete all of them, you have to earn a certain amount of points or attach certain blocks to your ship and run the gauntlet without taking damage. New gummi blocks are also available for greater customization.

The diversity of heartless is also really impressive. You'll run into all of the original foes like "shadow", "soldier" and "large body", but you'll also encounter some new ones that originally appeared in the Japanese KH Final Mix. (SPOILER ALERT) One of the new ones is simply an enlarged version of "shadow", but it's a lot creepier having one of them bearing down on you. (ANOTHER SPOILER ALERT) There is another heartless that is a spin-off of the "bouncywild" called the sniperwild. It's name is pretty self-explanatory, but it's one of the more interesting new heartless that I've seen so far.

The list of items you can find is longer now. Stones are now available to us in item synthesizing. They can only be collected by defeating the new enemy types. The only other new synthesis item is dark matter, which is only found by opening chests, winning mini-games and, ironically, item synthesizing. There are two new keyblades you can obtain in KHFM. You must defeat certain Coliseum enemies to unlock them. (I have not unlocked them yet.)

The number of cool new features is pretty long, and I have not listed all of them, but I feel like Kingdom Hearts Final Mix has lived up to the original game's standards. The graphics are clean, the controls and in-game menu are easy to follow, and the amount of new features and items is enough to satisfy the desires of people who grew up on the original game. If you have not played any of the Kingdom Hearts games before or if you wish to relive the experience, I recommend you buy this game. Kingdom Hearts 2.5 will also be hitting the store shelves sometime in future, so keep an eye out for it. Check up on my review from time to time. I will continue to make updates as I make my way through the game.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix

It's either a near-perfect game or a big headache...

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix HD:

Pluses:

+ Unknown Boss and 11 new enemies.

+ HD Models and Gameplay.

+ Skipable Cinematics and new cutscenes!

+ No Missing Red Trinity Marks this time around!

+ More synthesis items to forge.

+ New moves to learn with all characters.

+ Two games to play!

+ Gummy Ship Missions and new Gummies.

Cons:

More synthesis grind...

Not-so-HD cutscenes...

Not a trilogy disc, though it was never advertised as such to begin with...

Party Support Command (Triangle) gets in the way of defeating Pink Agaricus with 100 hits.

Still suffers from bad camera angles in some rooms using either Auto or Manual. (Doesn't matter.)

Various Glitches. None of which are game-breaking, well, except for one...

Cannot change voices to Japanese. Only comes in English.

Subtitles are grainy/tacky and have pixel damage that contrasts terribly against the HD look and feel of these remastered games.

Difficulty trophies do not stack. Who cares about trophies though. Really. Three playthroughs.

*

Sometimes one of the three mushrooms required to summon Pink Agaricus is missing. (Glitch no.1)

To top it off, the new triangle mapping for teammate support triggers your party to attack the Pink Agaricus, resulting in a lower hit score than 100. For completionists, this is annoyingand really bad. Honestly, teammates aren't needed anyways for other than summoning. You literally have to glitch Donald and Goofy out with the Bambi summon near the ladder to get the 100 hits on Agaricus, that's something you never had to do in Final Mix and the glitch doesn't always work, which means gathering Serenity Power is a tad more annoying than it ever was before.

---

Re: Chain of Memories: HD

Pluses:

+ Theater mode after you beat the game lets you view all the 'HD' cutscenes, in their full blurry glory.

+ You can play as Riku after you beat the game. His story is one of its own, and also has its own cutscenes.

+ There are pretty awesome sleights in the game, it's unfortunate that most bosses can interrupt or break most of them.

+ A few challenging boss fights, if only because they break most of your sleights no matter the total value.

+ Larxene was my favorite boss fight. She looks and acts like Angelica from the Rugrats, and has fewer weaknesses than the other bosses you'll fight. She's a tough cookie on Proud mode, still easy to kill with a cheesefighting Firaga-heavy deck fitted with Red Nocturne Enemy cards.

Negtrain Incoming:

Probably the biggest gripe is the breakable Item Cards.

Halfway-HD character models. (Messy eye, mouth textures, blurry HD cutscenes.)

Annoying battle system with counter-intuitive controls.

Weak and Useless: Most Enemy Cards are rare to find. Useless by the time you begin collecting Org. XIII cards.

Same story with tiny differences, same worlds-Until you get to Floor 11.

Only a few new regular heartless.

You can 'Cheesesleight' (Cloud decks, Firaga decks) through the game even on Proud mode.

* BUT if you attempt to make a real deck that makes the game more of a game, then prepare to lose.

Severe lack of cutscenes/voice cameos in the majority of the World Cards.

Never premium your whole deck! You will regret it. Only premium the first card of a sleight.

You can't premium Item Cards. How lame.

Difficulty trophies don't stack. Two characters = six playthroughs.

Probably the worst Kingdom Hearts game, still not that bad if you cheesesleight your way through it.

All in all, I've platinum'd the game. Now I can give a real review of it. First off, I don't use guides for games too often. If I keep getting stomped, I'll look online, but this doesn't happen too often... until this game, of course! Why? I was making decks that resembled the playing style of Kingdom Hearts 1. I wasn't using sleights as much as I should had been, and honestly, I was turning all my 9 cards into premium cards because I didn't know any better. I no sooner get to Larxene and she murders me over and over again.

The solution? Make a deck full of fire cards and one attack card and a bunch of Ether cards and two Cure cards with a value of 6 or higher, one in the middle of the deck and one at the end right before the Ethers. It works! If you've got a Red Nocturne enemy card that helps too! You can beat every single boss with this strategy with the exception of Axel, which you would use Ice for instead. Yes, you can even beat Marluxia with this strategy, even his final form. You can even beat most normal fights with this strategy.

It's ten times quicker than actually playing the game, you can shred through the game this way. It seems that they developed this game to cater towards Cloud Strife fans and cheesefighting players alike. You can gather a bunch of high level Cloud cards and just spam Omnislash. Let's get to the really bad part of the game, which is most of it-You will spend most your time playing through worlds that were in Kingdom Hearts 1, that this time around have no cutscenes, this time around they also have nearly the same context as well with slight differences. Until Floor 11, you will not be playing Chain of Memories. In my opinion, from Floor 11 and onward into Riku's story, the game actually starts at the end!

It's more fun to play as Riku, so it may be worth it to you to beat the game as Sora at least once--

358/2 Days HD Cutscene Footage:

Pluses:

+ Makes you want to play 358/2 Days...

+ More HD than the cutscenes of Re: Chain of Memories.

+ Tells the story of Organization XIII.

+ A better story than Chain of Memories.

Negatives:

Makes you wish you'd played this instead of Chain of Memories.

Only cutscenes, no game to play here.

You can fit more than a PS2 game, a GBA game, and a NDS game's cutscenes on a Blu-ray disc.

Honestly, 'Take my money plz' is getting old. There's no excuse for why we couldn't had played all three on this Blu-ray disc.

* Need proof? Take a look at Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection or God of War Origins Collection.

There's no reason a big rockstar like SquareEnix can't pull it off. They better not cut corners like this on the PS4 with Kingdom Hearts III.

Conclusive, you could say that 358/2 days was 215 MB. Chain of Memories was 16 MB. Kingdom Hearts was roughly 3 GB.

Let's fabricate and make some numbers up now, since I haven't dissected my game disc yet.

Assuming that the HD remakes are way bigger:

Kingdom Hearts 6 GB..or 12..

Chain of Memories 6 GB... or 12...

358/2 days Cinematics 3 GB.. or 6..

That's still only 15 GB! Or 30 GB if you double that.

A single layer Blu-ray disc can hold over 25 GBs of data on it.

A dual layer Blu-ray disc can hold over 50 GBs of data on it.

*~ Regardless of that, I recommend that you play the games on the disc in this order:

Kingdom Hearts 1 -> 358/2 Days -> Chain of Memories

(Or skip Chain of Memories unless you want to know how the first 3 members of Organization XIII are eliminated.)

Take from this review what you will, but know that I listed the best things and the worst things to give the possible buyer some insight of what to expect, and there are more things to like about the game than there are things to dislike about it, even if the camera controls suck. People here have reported Audio glitches, but you will be delighted to know that I encountered none so far.

Upcoming Kingdom Hearts games:

Next year for PS3: Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix.

Next year for PS4 and XBOX One: Kingdom Hearts III.