Reviews of DiRT Showdown - Xbox 360

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I know a lot of players are looking beyond DiRT Showdown and not really interested in it as it moves further away from the days of Colin McRae and more X-Games. This game isn't a rally game though, instead it is more like Destruction Derby and while it has the DiRT name it is a spin off for the franchise and not a true sequel to DiRT3.

Positives

Graphically it looks like DiRT 3 and even shares some of the same courses. So the game runs smoothly and you'll likely know some of the tracks already

Multiplayer is where most fun can be had although the rounds feel pretty short at times.

The addition of Racenet adds an extra level of interaction with the game and is a welcome addition.

Negatives

The game uses a rubber banding system so you can never get too far ahead which is find in normal racing games but when the game involves crashing into your opponent like this it can result in some race loses that feel "cheap" as they catch you on the last lap and spin you out.

The connection has some hiccups and you'll fail to connect to Racenet or will drop from a multiplayer session

The distribution in North America was 2 weeks after Europe. This meant European players played and moved on which can sometimes leave the Multiplayer rooms a little bit empty at certain times of the day.

They made some achievements only possible if people on your friends list buy the game too, so if you are an achievement hunter be sure to buy two copies, one for you and one for a friend.

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Let me start off by saying I am a HUGE fan of the DiRT series, and also, an achievement hunter. I have 1000/1000 in the first and second DiRT, and the full 1250 in DiRT 3. I like achievements, and I enjoyed playing the games. In short, DiRT Show Down just sucks. But rather than be a negative nancy, I'll list the positives first -

-Great graphics

-Great refined graphics and game play. It's a well polished series that works well.

The down sides

-Rubber band racing. If you don't know what this is, it's when the CPU adjusts its speed according to you. Say for example in a race, a "beginner" lap time would be 1:30, "intermediate" would be 1:15, and "expert" would be 1:00. If you have the difficulty set on beginner, you can run 1:00 lap times and the CPU will still be right on your tail. Why is this just a HUGE downside? Well, it's annoying. Two, here's a way you always, always win. Just sand bag the race until the last lap, then just use the boost on the last lap in the last couple of corners and pass everybody and win the race. Seriously? Why would you try to achieve the best lap times if the CPU will be right on your tail anyways?

-The game was made for kids with ADD. Seriously. I'm surprised I've never had a seizure yet from the explosions in the game. This game would make the movie series "The Expendables" blush. There's fireworks, exhaust flames, and random stuff exploding... ALL the time. I haven't driven more than 15 seconds without seeing some kind of flames or explosions. Cute for about the first two minutes, then just extremely irritating.

-No in dash camera view. Seriously?

85% of the maps are from Dirt 3. Again...seriously? can't even create new ones? How lazy have they gotten?

-They spelled "synchronizing" wrong in the loading menu when you play multi-player. I noticed this the very first time. How in the heck did this go unseen? Well, I'm really not that surprised.

-No option for manual transmission. Again, seriously? I LOVED DiRT 3's multiplayer "hardcore" mode, where it was fixed interior view only, manual transmission, no driving aids, etc.

-No option for map view.

-Zero skill needed for races. Just hold down RT (Throttle) and go.

-Random freezes. My xbox won't lock up all the way, but it will freeze every 15 minutes or so for about 15 seconds, then suddenly will resume game play like normal like nothing happened. Never had this issue in the previous DiRT series.

-All cars now sound the same. There was very distinct differences between the Subaru's, Mitsubishi's, etc. Not anymore. All bland. All sound the same. And, of course, all shoot ginormous flames. There's one car that shoots these ungodly bright white flames every time it shifts. Extremely irritating...kind of like the rest of the game.

If you think I'm too hard on this game, I challenge you to try to find a multiplayer game, then compare it to DiRT 2 or DiRT 3. There's more people playing the older games...what does that tell you?

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This is NOT rally racing and it's nothing like the previous Dirt games. That being said, it's not a bad thing! There is awesome variety to this game. Most of the game involves balls-out, no holds barred full contact automotive competition. No, there is no simple Destruction Derby here. There is more to it than that. There is circuit track racing where you try to win at all costs, using whatever tactics you can muster. There is "8 ball" a variation of figure eight racing where the track might have several intersections to cross paths with other racers. There are demo derby type games, one where you must simply survive the onslaught of other cars all trying to take you out. The longer you survive, the better your ranking. There is also demo derby types that involve scoring points depending on how hard and where you hit your opponents. Another one that involves a "sumo" type platform where you can only score points while demo'ing on the platform. Another competition is "eliminator" where every 15 seconds, the last place car on the track gets eliminated from the race. Very challenging in that it requires you to stay out of last place for as long as possible and the eliminated cars simply stall out on the track, creating an additional obstacle and challenge. Towards the end of the race, you have to dodge 5 or 6 busted cars parked on the track. Then it takes a different tact by throwing in some gymkhana style competitions that require more precision and finesse (and a steeper learning curve). You can also try a "joy ride" mode where you can simply drive around an area filled with jumps and other obstacles while scoring and performing certain tricks to gain access to additional areas. While this is not a sequel to Dirt 3, it is a great new game and getting it here on Amazon saved me more than half the cost of buying it anywhere else. After playing this game for one evening, I am very happy with my purchase. If your a rally purist, maybe you won't like this. But I am an all-around racing game fan and this is a great one.

Honest reviews on DiRT Showdown - Xbox 360

Bought this about the time I was getting past Dirt 3, and into Forza 4. Held my interest for about a day. Not as good as Dirt 2 or 3, lots of smash-'em-up rallycross and demo derbies. Like Burnout on an enclosed track. Could have been an add-on to any rally game. Typical of Codemasters' M.O.: "According to Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens, future games could be sold incomplete at retail, with mandatory downloadable content required to get the remainder of your newly purchased title.". That was 2010, and this was released years later--you do the math. A shame. One of racing games' brightest stars dimmed by crass commercialism and greed. Everything before this: GRID, Dirt 1, 2, 3, F1 2010 and 2011: all brilliant. But Dirt 3 really started to show signs of this new "incomplete" business. Good luck to you Codies, I'll have no truck with you or your wares now.

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This game is fun for those who enjoy a good ol fashion car beat down. Love the derbies but the rest is a bit monotonous.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13: The Masters Collector's Edition - Xbox 360 Reviews

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I don't have much to compare PGA Tour 13 to as I haven't played a game since 04 back on PS2 and don't remember a whole lot about it. Regardless, as a golfer I can say, the game is some serious fun! I tried the demo back a few weeks ago and was turned off, everything seemed off and unbalanced. Luckily the final game turned out better than I expected.

This review is mainly for the Kinect version of the game, as that is all I have used to play and is the main reason for me finally diving into another Tiger Woods game. There are 3 sides to Kinect controlling: The actual fairway and green play, the menu system between these shots and the voice controls. First off, one of my favorite aspects of most Kinect games is the voice control abilities. Just saying "change club...4 iron" is so fluid and intuitive, it seems almost slow to choose with a controller. This is also the preferred method of doing things as whoever designed the hand-controlled Kinect menus must have been sleeping most of the work day as they are atrocious. Trying to select a menu item is pulling teeth using motions, always use voice controls until they patch this.

As far as actual gameplay once setting up your shot, the Kinect shines bright. You face your TV and swing parallel to it so that Kinect can read your full swing instead of limit side view by the device. This is the first use of Kinect by the PGA Tour team and there are some subtle movements I do as a golfer that it will not pick up on, twisting your wrists to change club-head angle does not seem to have any effect and occasionally Kinect will stutter a bit when trying to recognize what you are intending to do with your hands, as well as stutters in your avatars actions when you swing. However, you won't notice those much if you keep your head down and eyes on the imaginary ball at your feet as the game replicates what you are doing with your swing very well. It takes some getting used to, ghosting golf swings, but I found a stick to hold that gave me a better feel of really holding a club, which translated into more confident shots.

Aiming is something that takes practice and can be daunting for some at first. You raise your right hand out and make a fist that you can then move left, right, up, or down to dictate direction and depth, then clasp your hands together and the game will instantly recognize you want to hit the ball. One final aspect I will touch on is the Online Country Clubs. You join a group of other people (random or friends) and start a team that can garner you extra bonuses for you and your teammates based on how well you and they play. It also makes setting up Xbox Live matches with teammates pretty easy and adds to the overall feeling of being on Tour.

Overall, I am impressed with the Kinect controls. I have wanted a true Golf simulation using Kinect, and this is a great first entry into the PGA series for the device. The immersion offered is almost as good as being on the links (except no cart fees!). The online features are pretty good, and Xbox Live play is a mostly lag-free experience. Also of note; I am from and live in Augusta, GA. The Masters is seriously big time around here. Getting to virtually play on the Augusta National is a thrilling thing for me. I think every golf fan alive wants to take 18 holes on that course!

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I skipped Tiger 12 so this review is in comparison of Tiger 11. First off, the game is much more challenging right off the bat. The new "Swing Tempo" kicked my butt in the first round I played. On the first hole I exceeded my shot limit and shot a 50 on the front nine! I was cursing EA and telling myself I was going to immediately sell the game. Things got better on the back nine with a 34. On my second round I shot a 27 on the back nine ... so it appears that maybe I will have a chance to succeed and get used to the new swing system.

As others have noted, putting is much more difficult to gauge but the hardest thing for me is the chipping. I think once I get used to the tempo things will go better. The setup is really nice and the overall physics seem to be much improved over Tiger 11. The graphics are much improved over Tiger 11 and were much better then I anticipated. And not having Scott Van Pelt as an announcer was worth the price of the game itself.

EA is getting docked a star for taking outright greed to the next level. In fact, it's quite impressive on how they have decided to blatantly gouge us. I went with the Master's edition because the five "extra" courses for $10 was cheaper then paying around $7 each on DLC. The fact that EA dangles the DLC courses during your career by making them events is downright shameful. At least you can earn coins to temporarily unlock them, but I'm sure they are making millions off those that don't have the time.

In the end, I went against my morals and bought the game knowing full-well how greedy EA is mainly because they finally decided to break the mold and introduce a new swing system and game style. However, this will be the last Tiger Woods game I will buy until they give us all the courses from years past and only charge for "new" DLC courses. I've already abandoned the Madden series due to EA's push for greed instead of innovation. I really hope the NHL series does not fall prey to the greed. Imagine only getting the Western conference and having to pay for DLC to unlock the Eastern conference ... oh, crap ... I hope EA isn't reading this review as I may have given them a new idea!!!

Pros:

* Graphics

* Sound

* New swing style

* A better golf sim then years past

Cons:

* Putting system

* EA greed

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If you notice the people giving this game bad reviews are the ones that want this game to be easy and much more "arcade" like, if that is what you are looking for then this game isn't for you and maybe EA should have included an "arcade mode." But they did not so it is a golf simulation game and as a golfer of 20 years, this game is great. It is as close to real golf as you can get. Playing on "TOUR Pro" difficulty, which means no putt preview or adding spin, puts you into a real golf simulation. You have to actually plot your way around the golf course, execute different shots and use some strategy to succeed. To me that is great, I get no joy out of the old version of this game where shooting 50 for 18 holes is standard, I enjoy playing a tough round and grinding out a 70 after paying for some bad drives and scrambling for some bad decisions to attack tough pins, makes for a rewarding experience. That is what makes this game great because you have to play the golf course and every situation it hands you, not just take dead aim from everywhere. The swing mechanic is great because you can't load up at the top and get your swing right, you must have tempo to hit good shots. If you want to hit it further, you must swing the club faster by moving the stick faster all why maintaining the proper swing plane. Mechanics can be difficult to grasp but with a little practice at the Augusta Practice Facility in the Collectors' Edition, you will be hitting the shots you want in no time. It's also great to have to create shots by changing ball position and the strike on the ball rather than pushing the x-button like past years. The putting mechanics can be difficult to grasp as well and was the and still is the weakest part of my game but I am improving by putting in time at the Augusta Practice Facility as well. So if you are truly an avid golfer this is a game you will absolutely enjoy as it tests your strategy and skill and hard work practicing will pay off with a very enjoyable simulation of real golf, if you are looking for an "arcade game" to try and shoot an obscenely low number go play Tiger Woods 10.

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I bought this game for my son and he loves it apparently it has extra courses on the special edition which he loves.

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Been playing this game regularly for about a month. The longer I play it, the more enjoyable it is. Moreover, it is looking as though the new swing methodology is cramping the style of those who have the modified controllers. there are not as many scores more than 30 under par.

About the only thing that is less than great is that it is often hard to see the top of the swing meter due to background coloring. There have been some "freezing issues", but not so many that it is a problem.

I'm likin it.

Cheap Battery Pack and Chargeable Cable for Xbox 360 Controller

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This play and charge cord was great I don't have to stop in the middle of call of duty or halo to get up and charge the damn batteries. I'm so glad I bought it it's a life saver

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The charger works just fine but that battery can't hold a charge for more than 20 minutes .youre better off just buying the regular Microsoft battery

Buy Battlefield Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition

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I've gotten burned out on the Call of Duty series, so a co-worker recommended I pick up Battlefield: Bad Company 2. I must say, this game has exceeded my expectations in almost every way: the team play is rock solid, the "new" game style (new for me) is refreshing, and the vehicles, in my opinion, are quite possibly one of the best parts of the game (though I REALLY DO wish the developers would add some kind of portable, self-guided AA weapon, like a Stinger or Javalin missile). This has to be one of the most realistic military shooters I've played in a while. I especially like how the bullets drop due to gravity (which makes sniping a bit more challenging, yet *a lot* more gratifying when you can get that long distance head shot). There are, however, a couple of things I dislike about the game, so let me get those out of the way first, before I state some of the reasons why BF:BC2 is one of *the most* entertaining shooters of this year.

First off, I have no idea why the developers didn't add the ability to go prone. In real life, if someone is shooting at you, you're first reactions are probably going to be to drop to the ground to make your silhouette as small as possible. I understand how this might make "camping" a bigger issue, but there are so many things in the game that seem to discourage it (including the fact that the maps are so large), that I feel it shouldn't have been an issue. Another thing I found odd, is that unlike most games, there is no button or "action" to climb through windows. Not a huge problem, but definitely inconvenient at times (one work-around is to jump on the window sill, and then crouch to go through it, but it's tricky and takes a little practice). Finally, I wish that you could "take cover" and peek around corners (much like you can in Gears of War), though I guess that's just one of those "niceties" that are a personal preference. Anyways, on to the good parts.

Right off the bat, I think one of the many things I find appealing about BC2 (especially when compared to CoD: MW2) is how they quasi-limit what each class can equip, which I feel like prevents people from creating "super troopers" that can dominate the entire game. Speaking of which, something that used to *drive me nuts* is how it seemed like one person could win the entire match for their team (which has never made sense to me). In Battlefield BC2, it relies on, and fairly generously rewards especially in reguards to your own squad, the team players (as in those players who perform actions that benefit the team), which is much more realistic than everyone trying to go in like some kind of Rambo/Bourne "Army of One" (just ask anyone in the military and they'll tell you that is they first thing they train you not to do). Although it requires a different mindset from most First Person Shooters (and just FYI, it definitely helps if you have a squad full of friends you can talk to, instead of some random PUG), I've seen it work on many occasions, and in my opinion, creates a much more interactive and interesting game. Secondly, the destructible buildings are a HUGE win. Although it can suck when you're trying to take cover in a building that all of a sudden comes crashing down on you, it adds another layer of realism to an already immersive environment. Finally, I *really* like how intuitive and easy they made the game for linking up with your friends in multiplayer. I would have to argue that it's one of the best interfaces I've seen lately, making it very easy to start a squad with your friends and then connect to a game together, or you can just pick up in the middle of whatever game/squad they're already in (assuming, of course, there's room).

All in all, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has definitely changed the way I think about and view what a FPS (and for that matter, a military-styled FPS) should be. I think this game has raised the bar, and hopefully set the standard, as to what is possible in a vast, multifaceted, interactive world where you almost feel like you're in the middle of a real war. I was very tempted to give this game 5 stars, but I'm pretty selective/picky when it comes to giving out "perfect scores", and feel that there were enough (very) minor issues to prevent me from doing so; however, if I could give it a 4.9, I would. If you're looking for an alternative to the repetative "run & gun" shooters that a lot of companies seem to be trying to emulate and/or imitate, I *highly* recommend you pick up Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and give it a try.

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I've been playing this game for a little over 2 months now and so far it still delivers every single day. I play mainly on line with other people through the Rush and Conquest modes. Even though the maps do repeat on a daily basis, there are now about a dozen maps to play, and because they are so big, and because every player uses different tactics, the game is never the same twice.

The graphics are still IMHO better than the on line version of CoD Black Ops and the play is still more realistic as far as I am concerned. Buildings crumble or can be demolished. A huge assortment of weapons keeps gameplay very entertaining and I often find myself going back to some of the earliest weapons available in play just so I can get more points killing. (there is an objective to this game in multiplayer other than just killing for points)

A new map pack 7 was just released with 4 new great maps and the Vietnam expansion is coming on December 21st. I simply can't wait and will probably spend my entire Christmas weekend playing on my xBox.

For those that don't know, the on line experience can be played with as little as one or two people a team, though the game allows up to 12 people per side. Each "team" can be broken up into groups of 4 called squads. Squad members can chat with each other and spawn off each other in the game. if the squad is a good one, they will typically have one of each type of character. (Recon, Medic, Assault, and Engineer) Having a multitude of characters enables the best fighting IMHO because people can more easily "cover your back" As an example:

Medic the medic typically carries a machine gun that holds a very large capacity of bullets. This is exceptional for clearing out large numbers of enemies who may be spawning off each other. When other guns are used, one sometimes has to stop to reload and gets killed. the medic also carries a defib device and can revive teammates who have gotten killed. (or kill enemies with it)

Engineer, the engineer can carry around anti vehicle weapons and plant tracer darts so other team members can more easily shoot down choppers and identify enemy vehicles. the engineer can also plant anti tank mines, which work great for destroying heavy armor. The engineer can also use his repair tool to effectively repair vehicles in battle.

Assault, The assault person generally carries a machine gun and a pile of grenades, though depending on the weapon chosen, the assault person can carry large amounts of C4 which is great for blowing up anything and everything including building, vehicles, A and B objectives, or even people. The assault person can also drop ammo packs which re-supply the others on your team and in your unit.

Recon, this is the last of 4 and in no way is this charater any less important. The recon person has a huge choice of weapons available and uses stealth to move around. One weapon might be a long range sniper rifle with scope, or if involved in urban combat, maybe even a shotgun. the recon person can also carry C4 explosives or call in a mortar strike wich is deadly against virtually anything and over time can even destroy buildings. Because of the nature ofthe recon person, this person also often spots enemies for others in the group and "saves" others by sniping enemies who lie in wait to get your teammates.

So there you have it, a brief summary of the play and available characters in the game. At the cuirrent price, it is one heck of a deal and well worthy of getting someone for a gift if they do not yet have this game. Good luck and have fun!

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Okay game it self is fun but let me tell you about the things it comes with. I got the game used little did i know all the stuff is a one time use code that Expires August 31,2011 i thought it was all on the disc. Now if you want to buy BFBC2 that's fine just don't buy Ultimate Edition.

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This game gives you alot for its price.

+ battlefield 1943

+ onslaught mode

Battlefield takes a new depth into the fps. it makes your gameplay change depending on the guns you use. though i can't really say one gun class dominates multiplayer because the maps make it so that you have the options of sniping, running and gunning, hide and shoot, and blow stuff up.

+ the games online play is unique in a sense that it is more real than mw2

+ the campaign is pretty sick

+ onslaught mode basically prepares you for multiplayer against the very competitive xbox live community

+ the rankings don't reflect on your k-d of games as much as mw2.

the only negative i can think of for this game would have to be that the servers may kick you out every now and then. otherwise this game blows out mw2 in the strategy department of online play. for instance you can't expect to flank the other team and kill everyone unless you have a sniper and find great clearing. It makes you work more as a team than lone wolf play.

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This game IMO is better than Battlefield 3. This game beats MW2, MW3, This game is for hardcore players (ONLY) no running around knifing people like Rambo. Your skills will be put to the test. Also for the ones saying the codes expire August 31, 2011 you are all wrong! The codes still work, learn to try before you cry. To those of you who want a realistic modern day shooter than go with BC2 you won't regret it.

Buy CSI: Deadly Intent - Xbox 360

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I played through Hard Evidence I have a review up about that and when I saw this came out, I had to play it. Mostly for the achievements, but I also enjoy the whodunit type of games. (A side note, little factoid: This game is actually longer than Halo:ODST and Modern Warfare 2's single campaigns combined!)

Anyway, if you didn't play the first CSI you will be at a distinct disadvantage in this game. They don't even try to train you on what you need to know to case a scene. There are hints and tips, plus the occasional email from your partner to guide you. But in the first game, every time you needed to use a tool, it told you exactly what that tool was and what it did, so you knew without the game having to tell you what it was for. This time around it throws you in the thick of things with little warning about it. Just be aware that it seems tailor made for those who played Hard Evidence. If you did, you'll immediately recognize just about all of the various tools from before. One small difference is that you can only pick from four tools when ever you find a piece of evidence it's always one of the four, but you can't just pick random tools like hard Evidence. You also don't have to worry about the tweezers; they're done automatically.

My main complaint about Hard Evidence was that the cases revealed anything but "hard evidence", instead resorting to what was essentially bullying the suspect into confessing and then making an arrest based on the confession rather than proving beyond any reasonable doubt that the person was guilty of the crime. The irony is that Deadly Intent has actually fixed this quite well. This time, you'll be working so much on the evidence that there will never be doubt about who's the guilty party. In fact, when you interrogate them, you'll be presenting said evidence to them at that time. You also are required to submit evidence at the time you ask for a warrant ( they still require you to go all the way back to Brass for a warrant, unfortunately ). In short, you'll never feel as though you did a plain Jane job, and every loose end will feel quite solidly tied up.

Deadly Intent attempts to spice things up by adding little variations in the gameplay. These run the gamut from the occasional colleague asking you for assistance reviewing evidence on other cases (which you get rewarded for), to different ratings for Cunning, Skill, and Thoroughness. Depending on how you interrogate and question suspects and witnesses, you'll score high or low in each ranking. In my experience it seems to be nearly impossible to score 100% in every category on one case for some reason; maybe there's something I'm missing, but I've tried everything and just cannot seem to do it. It's frustrating, because while I can always get 100% Thoroughness (which was difficult on Hard Evidence), I can never get a high Skill rating even though I can crack DNA or fingerprints or whatever with quite good accuracy. No way to tell what they're using to measure these.

That's not to say the game doesn't have issues. First, I could swear these graphics are actually worse than Hard Evidence. I don't still have HE otherwise I would verify that, but feet in particular look absolutely horrid. Second, again, no CSI theme song. It boggles my mind why this is not being put in the game. Third, no Grissom meaning no more bug collecting for bonuses. But disregarding all of that there is one constant irritant in the game the controls. Oh my, the controls. I know there's something funky with the 360 controller analogs, because in FPSs I frequently find the reticule moving in one direction even though I'm not pressing anything. But it's subtle and easily stopped. I also never have a time when my actual character is moving in a given direction without my controlling them. IN Deadly Intent it's like it's hypersensitive to the analogs; the arrow moves at even the slightest twitch, plus the right analog controls left and right direction just like the left analog and the D-pad. If the left analog is being triggered (not by you, just randomly), and you try to move the right, the camera goes haywire and you feel out of control. Same with the left analog vs. the D-pad normally the D-pad would let you navigate from button to button, but it gets overridden by the left and right analogs. Also, there are times when you need to analyze a piece of evidence so small that you really need to move slowly and carefully across the surface and cannot, because you can't slow down the arrow tracking. A setting to slow the arrow down would have been helpful, as well as one to enable or disable certain buttons so that you didn't get these issues. There is one case in particular where you have to scan one small region of a large surface and trust me it was ABSOLUTELY frustrating.

So...do I recommend it? I do if (and ONLY if):

You played the first and liked it, and want to do more of the same;

You want essentially easy Achievement points;

You like the show and the characters; and/or

You've got nothing better to play.

That's not to say it's a terrible game. For the price it's decent. But it fixed a lot of things from Hard Evidence and made other things worse. Keep that in mind as you make your decision. You could probably beat it in a rental period.

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This one's actually worse than the last game, "Hard Evidence". Of course, the show got worse with age, why not the game. Seriously, this can be fun, but it is more like a budget game rather than one based on a very popular tv show.

Great idea, poorly executed.

Moving the courser in the delicate manner required is next to impossible. It's jumpy and sometimes takes off on it's own. Sucky control.

The video is terrible in the sense that it is always way too dark. My settings are turned as bright as I can get and still there is way too many dark corners in the game where you can't see the clues. You have to just move the courser over the dark areas waiting to see the toolbox pop up Very poor graphics!

Great idea and fun that you can play with others. But so very poorly executed.

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This game is a lot of fun, and it has good replay value to try to get a perfect score! The only thing I didn't really care for was the pixel hunting involved on getting evidence on some of the pieces. Other than that, lots of CSI-based mystery!CSI: Deadly Intent

Honest reviews on CSI: Deadly Intent - Xbox 360

Its alot better than the previous game, not as many glitches, easier to find things etc.

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I wasn't really into CSI until I played this game. now I love the show. best game ever I highly recommend this game

Review of Sonic Heroes - Xbox

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Sonic heroes is a graceful and excellent attempt at combining adventure, speed, exploration, and it cleverly destroys repetition in the process.

The game's base is simple. You can take control of 4 teams, team sonic, team dark, team rose, and team chaotix. This is where the game truly shines, the 4 different teams give sonic heroes a sense of replayability unlike any game before it. Games like jak and Daxter, Super mario sunshine, and voodoo vince really don't have anything on this game in terms of replayabality.

However, instead of stopping there, sonic team decided to make the levels truly brilliant. The levels are different, vigrant and alive. THe fact that this is a non stop thrill ride through picure perfect levels completely rocks.

It is sad, though, that the minor problems from this game garnered bad reviews from bigger magazines and .coms. For instance, falling through levels is a bad glitch in the game. It will piss you off, the targeting system also goes wacko alot of the time. 90% of the time this isn't a problem but be noted, this isn't a perfect bugless title.

Anything else that sucks? Ya, the voices, nolstalgia for kids and fans of the show but another degrading element.

DO the bugs and the voices make this a bad game? No, the multiple gameplay styles and awesome experience shouldn't be left out. If you buy one game this year it should be this one, it really hits gold.

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I don't know what this game is like for the other two platforms, but on Xbox, it's a tad confusing. The game gets away with this by giving you control of three characters at once and dividing the characters up into four different teams--Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose, and Team Chaotix. Each team member has his or her own strengths, and your abilities as a team change depending on which character you have set as the team leader. The inclusion of the four different teams, however, seems a bit pointless since the game is virtually identical for all four of the teams, save for some different story elements in between levels. To be blunt, no one cares about these peripheral characters that Sonic Team seems hell-bent on pushing on gamers. People play Sonic games to play as Sonic the Hedgehog.

Unfortunately, the game suffers from a problematic, finicky camera, occasionally spastic controls, and some bad clipping. The level designs are pretty straightforward, though you'll occasionally find portions that aren't entirely intuitive. Moreover, it's likely that you'll find yourself plummeting into a bottomless nothing without any idea of what you did wrong more than once. This is a rental, for sure.

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This is excactly how i wanted this game to be like. Super speed, super sound, super graphics, gameplay, super heros! A bunch of levels. There are four teams to choose from, each team with their own difficulty level and missions. THere are about 10-12 missions for each team, and each team has their own special team move, (Team sonics is my favorite.) PLus! the missions aren't that hard, and arent that easy, so it will take u a fare amount of time to beat them, but it isn't overly frustrating, like most games are now a days. Dispose of all of the lousy reviews of this game, their just being fussy, this is the real review for this game. Go Sonic!

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this is not what I was hoping for. I have played several other sonic games and this one didn't measure up. not the seller's fault, just a clash withj me.

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My kids really love this game. The game was in great shape. They were really excited that it worked in the XBOX 360 even though it was an older game.

Review of Halo 3 Limited Edition -Xbox 360

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List Price: $39.99
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I purchased the Limited Edition version of Halo 3 that comes with a bonus disc of video, metal case with slip cover and small hard cover book with additional information on the game and its elements.

I would like to clarify that I did not have the original Xbox or get into Halo: Combat Evolved or Halo 2. I purchased an Xbox 360 as I believe to be the best choice for me for a gaming console, and I jumped right into the excitement over Halo 3. I rented Halos 1 and 2 to see if I would like them. I enjoyed both games, despite not finishing them completely prior to Halo 3's release. I even purchased both of those games. I completed about 75% of the first game and about 20% of the second. I just couldn't wait to solve both of them before playing the "next-gen" version. That being said, I am not as familiar with the Halo story or universe. I don't think this made too much of a difference in getting into Halo 3. I think one could get Halo 3 having never played the other games...granted you would wonder a little about the back story, but the game play would suck you in and forget about that until you finished the game. Now I am going back to play the first two games to completion. I know it's a little late, but now I am into the Halo thing...

I have played the game completely through on Normal. I did not think it was too short. I thought that I had solved the game twice, when in fact there were more levels and more story. I felt satisfied with the campaign aspect of the game (even compared to BioShock, Lost Planet, Prey and Gears of War). Now, I am going back through the game to collect the skulls for extra features and achievement points. The campaign was a little challenge for me on the normal difficulty...it wasn't too easy and not too hard. I was stuck in about 3 places that took a day to move on through by myself versus co-op play. Now if I try to play on Heroic or Legendary difficulty, I will have to call in a friend for support via co-op such as I did with Gears of War on Insane.

Graphically, this game is impressive. While the screen layout and the weapons are similar to the previous versions and seem very familiar, they are better graphically. The designers didn't completely overhaul the Halo gaming experience...just gave it a renovation similar to what one might see on a TV show about flipping a house...excuse the analogy, but I think it is a good way to describe the difference. The Halo universe is prettier and even more colorful with sharper lines and details. This game has wonderful scenery like the jungles in the beginning to the futuristic interior of bases and spaceships, or later in the game from the desert with sand dunes to snow covered mountains.

The online play is where this game really shines. The online matchmaking system is wonderful. You aren't thrown into a game with a group of die hard Halo fans where you get completely slaughtered...you are matched by your abilities in the game with players of similar attributes for a fun and even handed match. There are a number of game modes where you can play death match type free for alls or team based games such as capturing the enemy's territory. With the Forge aspect of the game the online play is editable and customizable to give this game a great deal of replay value for the online players out there.

I gave this Limited Edition 5 stars for fun, and I do believe it lives up to the hype. This is a solid game that one can play over and over and enjoy it as much if not more as time goes on. However, I gave it 4 stars for the game overall as the extra stuff that comes with this version is not high quality or quantity. The bonus disc really only features one making of documentary if you play all of the segments as one movie. It is fun to see all the time and effort that went into making this game, but after watching it I thought that's it? There should be some added features like maybe including some features from making the older two games, or some more footage as to where they are thinking they will go in the future with other games or characters. I was also hoping for some exclusive content like gamer pics, themes, etc. The metal case is very nice, but as with many others who have reported...my second bonus disc was scratched! The disc comes loose inside the case very easily. The plastic center holder does not fit snug enough on the disc to anchor it in a way that eliminates damage during shipment. Be careful when buying it...gently shake the box before checking out to see if there are loose discs. Make sure you grab one that does not sound like a box of Legos! I didn't have an option as I preordered mine. The disc was loose and it was scratched, but it played just fine.

Buy with confidence...this is a good solid first person shooter game that lives up to the hype of the "next-gen" console war. I would add that if you don't always watch the extra making of features or documentaries, you may want to just buy the regular version with the game disc only. If you are a huge Halo fan, then you probably already have the Legendary Edition with the helmet...or if you are still debating on which one to buy get the one with the helmet and all the goodies...they are in a better box that anchors the discs better...plus Master Chief's helmet sitting in your game room just looks impressive!

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Since the days of Halo 1 & 2 on the original Xbox, I have found the Halo series slightly over hyped and somewhat boring. Especially when compared to other online FPS's such as Counter-Strike / Quake / Unreal. So you can rest assured, this review was not written by a Halo "fanboy" or fanatic.

Now in 2007, Halo 3 is finally upon us and all I can say is I now do "believe" this is the best in the Halo series and will live up to its hype.

Pros:

I think the absolute number one feature for Halo 3 is the online play A SOLID 10/10. It is incredibly stable, easy to use and it just plain works! Within 10 minutes of inserting the game disc, my buddy and I were squaring off in battle over XBOX live along with nearly half a million other players! Voice over IP is loud and clear with an occasional echo, no lagging or stalling even on release day! The interface is absolutely beautiful. I'm sure things will be even further improved over time by online patches and updates.

The graphics are a 9/10. I have seen better effects & textures (BioShock, BF 2142, etc.) but all in all, I am very pleased. (Note: I am running an Xbox 360 elite w/ HDMI on a LG 32" 1080i display)

I give the sounds effects and music a 8/10, nothing really mindblowing.

Fun factor is a perfect 10/10! It really is addicting.

Single player story mode works great too. Although it is not the true "focus" of the game, single player mode will provide great entertainment when you're seeking a change of pace. It's somewhat short, but has excellent replay value. And YES you can play to story mode online with friends!

Cons:

I honestly haven't yet found many flaws in the GAME itself. If I were to be picky, I would say the graphics and sound effects "could" be improved further. Also, due to numerous reports of scratched discs in the Limited Editions, Microsoft was careless in its packaging method. I would say 95% of all the LE versions have loose discs and are scratched. (my copy was perfect though because I purchased it locally at Be$t buy and gently shook all the cases to listen for loose discs.)

Halo 3 is a true winner for noobies and veterans of the Halo series period. I think this game will offer endless entertainment for quite some time and the Limited Edition is $70 well spent. You get quite a few extra goodies with the LE, such as a metal case, mini-hard cover book, and lots of extras on the bonus disc. For a mere $10 additional dollars, it is well worth it.

Just remember, you may want to purchase the Limited Edition in a retail store so you can listen for loose discs. With some careful searching, you can find one that does Not contain scratched discs.

Goodluck everyone and game on!

5 stars!

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After loving the original Halo, and being somewhat disappointed with Halo 2, I did not know what to expect with Halo 3. I still, being a fan of the series decided that this game would be on my must have list regardless. I wasn't "dying" for the game to come out and in fact I actually missed the release date and ended up picking it up the day afterwards. After playing the game for a while I must say that I am very impressed with the game overall.

First things first, if you get the Limited Edition, then know that you run a HIGH chance of having damaged game CD's due to the poor case design. Luckily in my case, the only CD that was damaged was the "Essentials CD", but still with me paying $70 for a game I would have liked to have both CD's in new condition. In any case Microsoft realized the issue and decided to replace all damaged Halo 3 CD's free of charge for the next few months.

With that out of the way let's get to the actual game.

When I first started playing the game, I thought it was going to be another disappointment like Halo 2 was, and ended up finding another great game, Bio Shock more fun to play. However after progressing further in the game, I am finding Halo 3 to be nearly as fun as the original. One reason of this is because of the new weapons, and vehicles. In addition you, Master Chief, no longer have to be driving a vehicle (with the exception of the scorpion). So if you want to man the turret on the warthog, while your computer controlled teammates drive, you can do it, same hold true for most every vehicle in the game. This makes things very interesting and fun. One of my favorite new vehicles in the game is the Hornet. My first air battle with this machine was an absolute blast. I enjoyed flying over beautiful scenery shooting down banshees while two of my squad mates sit outside on jump seats supporting me with fire of their own. I was having such a good time just admiring the scenery, I decided to fly the hornet high in the air and jump out mid flight into the sparkling ocean below. It was a looooong way down and needless to say I died, but boy it sure was fun.

Flying the Hornet allowed me to appreciate the incredible detail of the graphics on this game. In HD, the graphics are stunning. Whether it's walking through the jungles, flying through the air or scaling snow covered mountains, everything looks amazingly real. Aside from the detailed scenery, the characters themselves are also done very well. Characters move, attack and even die realistically. Its things like this that separate the average FPS's from the great ones.

I also am very pleased with the audio. This game boasts true surround sound and if you already haven't then I highly suggest getting an optical sound cable to experience the movie like experience from you're A/V receiver. Many gun sounds have that "punch" that I was missing in Halo 2. The grunts usually are the first ones to die, and for a little comic relief, many times you'll hear them saying things like "He killed my friend", or "How will I go on with him?" In addition to the exceptional in game sound, the soundtrack itself is very well done. Very often, after I finish playing for the night, I often leave the game on the main screen just so I can hear the music on the title screen.

The controls in Halo 3 are still quite intuitive with only a small complaint; in many other FPS games, the reload button is often the X button, but not in Halo 3. In Halo 3, the X button is the "Equipment" button. So whenever you pick up items like auto turrets, bubble shields or radar jammers, if you are not careful you may accidentally use them instead of doing what you really wanted to do. In Halo 3, LB and RB reload the weapon, and I suppose this was done to accommodate dual wielding, which is back in this game. In addition to the two standard grenades from the previous installments, Halo 3 has a couple of more grenades types; one is called the Spike Grenade, and the other...well I'll leave that up to you to find out; it wasn't in the manual so I was quite surprised when I picked one up during campaign mode. In addition to the equipment I already mentioned, there are lots of others.

As good as the single player is I must say that I am quite impressed with the multiplayer mode. If you know me I am not a big fan of playing online, but one night I decided to try my luck at Halo 3 on XBOX Live....and let's just say, I didn't get to bed until 5 in the morning. First off this game runs very smoothly online with no noticeable degradation in the graphics or performance and I haven't once encountered a laggy game. Best of all the game is very playable online, and not the chaotic mindless shoot fest that I experienced with Unreal Tournament. This was my first time playing online in a long time and I even ended up winning a Slayer match. One thing that makes this game playable online is that nearly every weapon either has a weakness or a counter thanks to the additional of the new equipment items. Sure the insanely good players will mop up the floor with people like me, but its still very fun playing just because it just seems fair. Games like Capture the Flag which proves to be nothing but a disaster in Unreal Tournament, is a true pleasure to play in Halo 3. And hey, if this game is good enough to allow ME to enjoy online games, then it must be pretty darn good.

In my opinion Halo 3 does not disappoint one bit. It was a slow starter, but now that I am finally somewhat deep into the game, I must say that I am enjoying this game VERY much. It's a blast to play both in campaign mode and in addition the online play will be sure to keep me playing this game long after I have beaten campaign mode multiple times. Other than the small issue with the controls, I can't find anything else really wrong with this game. On a 10 point scale, I'll give this a 9.7. While Bio Shock (another 5 star game IMO) is definitely more original and just as fun, Halo 3 is the best of the breed when it comes to your "typical" shooter, and the added fun one can have playing it online make it 5 stars in the fun category. This is a great game across the board.

Honest reviews on Halo 3 Limited Edition -Xbox 360

This game truly re-captured the spirit of the first game's campaign mode. If you were let down by Halo 2's campaign, fear not, HALO 3 makes up for it in spades! Playing campaign with 3 friends is also amazing. Also, if you're in it for the multi-player, you won't be disappointed. The new maps are great, and the weapons are well balanced and it seems like they might have a new solution for laggers with a "new host select" option when it starts to lag a bit. So far it's been great! Okay, off to collect more skulls and finish it in Legendary mode.

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I still play this from time to time online.

This game has no flaws it's perfect 10.

Lego Batman - Nintendo Wii Reviews

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If you liked LEGO Star Wars and LEGO INDY, then LEGO BATMAN is already in your Wii....'nuff said. If you didn't like them...you won't like BATMAN...if you didn't try them, you should.

The LEGO games are fun for the whole family, young and old, the animated LEGO movie links to the gaming threads are wild & wicked and worth the purchase on their merits alone. The format for Batman is much like the Lucasfilm game sets, just not directly connected to any particular movies...although (thankfully) the Danny Elfman music (circa 1989) runs throughout the game, the style is generic Batman via LEGO LAND. The villains have teamed up to escape Arkham Asylum and the Dynamic Duo must stop them...each villain has a story arc to unlock, before free play is possible in the related locations...so like the previous installments, replay value is high, you can return to the story setting later as several optional characters including the villians themselves in order to find hidden "trophies" to build in Wayne Manor (part of the Batcave hub, where menus, story progress and unlockables lie). This way the same tales have many variations for players to explore, collecting the coin-like "studs" as currency for upgrades and unlockables. There's roughly about 30 separate levels to play, 15 in the hero chapters and 15 levels i the villain chapters.

LEGO BATMAN characters have individual moves, Batman for example can put baddies in a choke hold and throw them. An exciting addition to LEGO combat is the BATARANG, which will lock on targets for distance attacks. Introduced also, are special suits for Batman and Robin, these make certain combinations of characters a necessity for passing stages or solving puzzles...For example, in true comic book fashion,Robin can get a Magnetized-suit to scale metal walls, I can't explain the pleasure that came from watching Robin lumbering and buzzing up surfaces (sound fx here are classic) Other moves are standard for the LEGO games: grappling hooks for platforms and punching and kicking.

The character design is great and Gotham looks good...there are lest characters to be unlocked here than in any other LEGO game so far and lest upgrades as well. But as for the characters there are so good choices from the Batman Universe....Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face, Poison IVY, Mr. Freeze, Riddler, Killer Croc, Scarecrow, The Mad Hatter, even Bane.Like the heroes, each villain has their own special weapons and moves...I bet you can guess Banes.

Another LEGO staple is the mix and match at the hub, where you can customize a character for free play by swapping the pieces around.

No major complaints, it just seems smaller than previous efforts, maybe because no direct movie-tie-in was done...like the Trilogy format.

I do miss the "character quirks" introduced for LEGO INDY, like the fear of snakes and rats, effecting character behavior. Admittedly it doesn't work well with the superhero genre. Also, since this is a Traveler's Tales project with Warner Bros. and not Lucasfilm, don't expect to find any hidden Star Wars characters this time....sorry.

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My kids love this game and play it constantly. There is so much to do and you never get bored with the same old thing like in half the games I own. I would recommend this game to anyone with little kids or older kids alike. It really engages my son to problem solve, which he had a hard time doing before. Great game highly recommended!

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This is the third TT lego project, after star wars and indiana jones. If you have gotten to batman, you have probably played one or both of the two. You can expect a lot of the same. The game definitely appeals to the completists, those who are trying to find all of the pieces to the various kits, which, once you get through the game on the initial run, is pretty much what's left. So if you like hunting for those pieces, this game will entertain you for hours and hours it's pretty long, much longer than indy at 30 episodes, and some are quite long. I do have to say that this game is a little easier than previous lego efforts on piece hunting (some of the red bricks are downright easy to find!) This time around, you get mostly the same two characters with suit changes/upgrades, which is a nice twist, but makes it a little crazy with free play flipping through your options.

The lack of direct movie tie-in is both disappointing and charming if you are familiar enough with the batman legacy, you will recognize chunks from previous shows and movies rather than, say indiana jones which basically follows the movies. It lacks a real story, but seeing the various chunk smashed together in one video game is entertaining for me.

The controls are not that interesting. I find the wii batarang a little annoying to game play.

After playing all three lego video games, I would recommend the star wars first, this second, and indy third, mostly due to length.

Honest reviews on Lego Batman - Nintendo Wii

We just bought our Wii system as our family Christmas present. We have not had a game system before of our own so we have been learning the ins and outs. Our 5-year old son had to have this game. It is a great kid's game. He has played often with my husband or myself and now he even plays by himself. We did cheat a little though...we were frustrated with a level so I googled it on the computer and ended up finding a complete walkthrough for the game for both Hero and Villain levels for story and free-play. I realize they intentionally make the instructions that come with the game vague to make it more challenging but when you are just starting out it makes it worse than challenging...it makes it throw it out the window frustrating! For instance, it would have been nice to know/understand you just can't get everything in story mode, getting super hero level in story is easier than in free play mode and a must do, you need those villains in free play mode to get to all the canisters, etc. We also used a few cheats and again, that gave us a jump start. Now that we are getting it down, we are over 70% complete, we try not to use the walkthrough unless all three of us are just completely stumped! Our next game will be Indianna Jones and we are going to try not to cheat at all on that one! Ha Ha! But I'll tell you what, the walkthrough may not be the purist way, but it is sure helping us to relax and have fun with it. I am amazed at how much our son has picked up now that he is not so frustrated, he works hard to work it out on his own, loves playing with his dad or I, if we are stumped, we put all our heads together and then as a last resort we can read the walkthrough and laugh at ourselves. But then we remember the next time...for example, when any body of water is sparkling freeze it! If you are frustrated with this game...google for a walkthrough and download it. Save your sanity and have some fun! Great for parents who weren't gamers in a previous life...it's fun for us too!

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This game mixes puzzles and action. You can't go ahead just by bashing all the bricks and enemies, you must also solve puzzles which usually means using the unique abilities of each character in machines, levers and so on.

After you finish the level, you unlock the free play, when you can go back with a ensemble of characters (villains and heroes) to search for red bricks (which unlock upgrades for batman's suits) and lego kits (former bacta tanks in lego starwars and treasure chests in Indiana Jones), which otherwise would not be reachable.

The game includes 15 levels as the good guys and 15 levels as villains. As an owner of the other lego games let me briefly compare Batman to them:

Compared to Lego StarWars, it is easier to collect all the lego kits and find the red bricks once you are in the free play, but the story mode is harder, you have to be more skilled in battle. You get much more action than the Star Wars one, and less stud retrieving (that even bored me a little in the SW one). You also have more breakable furniture and items than the SW offered.

Compared to Indiana Jones, this game is pretty much even in the difficulty of the battles, but finding the red bricks and the lego kits is easier.

Pros:

lots of action;

pretty much everything is breakable into studs, which I find fun to do after a frustrating day;

the great sense of humor unique to the Lego series; (some might disagree, but I like it)

No game over screens, if you die you show up again, just looses studs, although the hardcore gamer might not like it, casual games like me do; (ok ok I'm a FPS hardcore gamer in the PC, but not on the Wii)

Cons:

in the 2 players mode, the camera needs to find a compromise between focusing on player one or two, which most of the times lead to being bad for both.

I don't know how this problem can be fixed and it doesn't bother me that much, therefore I didn't deduct any stars.

Discount Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

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I had the pleasure of play-testing this game in its final weeks of development.

For starters, the game is based on the book and not on the New Line movie. As a consequence, you will find a number of story elements in the game that were not in the movie, such as the Old Forest, Tom Bombadil, and the Barrow Downs. The novel has been expertly translated into a 3rd-person action adventure, and there is a lot more action in the game than actually occurs in the book.

In this game, Middle Earth has been faithfully rendered (under the watchful eye of Tolkien's estate) by the talented 3D modelers, graphic designers, animators, game designers, and developers at The Whole Experience. The first thing that really struck me was the sheer beauty of the game -the score, the environmental details (run through a pile of leaves just for fun), the textures, the fluid character animation. Some of the more interesting elements of the book also shine in the game. For example, the sense of foreboding, fear, and deadly seriousness constrasted with the light-hearted nature of the hobbits. The Black Riders are quite intimidating, especially at first. And there are climactic moments in the Barrow Downs that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The One Ring, of course, plays a large role in the game. When used, the world changes, becoming shadowy and revealing secret areas of the game. The tension between the advantages and cost of using the ring creates interesting tradeoffs.

The gameplay is 3rd-person, similar to the Tomb Raider series. When you are targeting something with a ranged weapon (like a rock or a bow and arrow), it switches temporarily to first person. In each section of the game, you play as either Frodo, Aragorn, or Gandolf. The three characters are substantially different in their capabilities. Frodo is presented as an agile hobbit with plenty of jumping, leaping, climbing, etc. He's not great in melee combat, but excels at thrown projectiles. Aragorn is an impressive warrior, as well he should be. Playing Aragorn is empowering, with a thrilling and deadly sequence of sword strokes that makes him the best at melee combat. Gandolf can also fight well with a sword, but his primary weapon is magic, and he's got a cool set of spells he can cast to vanquish his enemies.

Of course, the game is not only (or even primarily) combat. In addition to general exploration and adversaries, there are a number of well-designed puzzles to be solved. Some of them are potential stumpers, I suspect.

In short, there is nothing earth-shatteringly new from a gameplay perspective. Nevertheless, the game excels as a wonderful and emotive adaptation of a much beloved book.

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JRR Tolkiens "Lord of the Rings Book 1 'The Fellowship of the Ring' storyline is closely followed in this Xbox adaptation (allows some Xbox magic with great sound track, music & above average graphics). The animation sequences between scenario runs are delightful with audio dialogue. The whimsical artwork used was nice, aimed at the younger audiences to reduce the blood/gore, slash/gash & the frightening darken minions of the Dark Lord.

That ends this great attempt to make a great game from the greatest fantasy trilogy of all time. Peter Jackson's movie trio lives up to JRR Tolkiens work with a few film adaptations to make each film a stand alone art form.

Summary; This game is best reviewed in the PROS vs CONS format to best describe the game players expectations of this XBOX game.

PROS The background music is awesome. The animation sequences of the characters is quite good (great transition between scenarios). The characters voices & dialoque are very effective to the story being told. The games storyline is true to the author. You can SAVE OFTEN (and you must!!!!).

CONS LONG & FREQUENT Game BOOT (loading) between scenarios. NO Middle Earth Maps to be used. NO mapping or auto mapping features (as in MORROWIND) (you must memorize quickly or die). This means NO REFERENCING for location. NO GOING BACK or EXPLORING. Limited Inventory features. THIS IS ONLY A CONTINUOUS SLASH/GASH GAME. You only play FRODO, STRIDER & GANDALF at specific check points (NO OPTIONS). (for example; Frodo from start to BREE. STRIDER from BREE to RIVENDELL etc. no other choices) LIMITED path advance (NO ROAMING as in MORROWIND). ONLY FRODO USES STEALTH. STRIDER & GANDALF MUST FIGHT or RUN or be KILL by EVERYONE (this is NON-STOP). Almost everything is resolved by killing, destroying or dying. (again only FRODO can use stealth). You must move quickly or die!! You must CONSTANTLY search for food, health & magic potions (this distracts the game player from reaching specific scenario goals). VERY FEW rest points to enjoy the game. CANNOT STOP or GO BACK AND EXPLORE MIDDLE EARTH!!

These are only the most frequent perks & annoyances while playing this game. It is to bad so much effort went in, the basic game is there, but the features are to limited to make this a [current price] must have Xbox library game. If you want detail, free roaming, the ability to be cunning, a great investment would be "MORROWIND".

I am truly disappointed in this Xbox games attempt to tell the "CLASSIC" JRR Tolkien "Fellowship of the Ring" story. See the movie, skip or rent the game. ENJOY.

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To begin, this game is not for those who cannot problemsolve, by themselves. This is not a puzzle game, but you do need to explore in order to get to the next level. Unlike the second two movie-like games, this isn't a rambo style 'kill'em all game' but a true hobbit's game.

If you can get to this point in the review, you will probably like this game. It sticks to through the original chapters of the story, such as the Old forest, Tom Bombadil, Barrow Wights, and many othe small intricasies of the original Tolkien novel.

The warning, I say once again, is you need to figure things out on your own. Watch out for the shadow of the black riders!

Honest reviews on Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

This is the most miserable excuse for a video game I have ever played in my life. If you expect it to be anything like the movie your going to be let down terribly. Saying it follows the movie at all is a bit of a stretch. I beat the game in about 6 hours time. The loading time is too long and too frequent the only thing I found even slightly entertaining about this game was plugging a bad adaptation of the Cave Troll with arrows. The graphics were acceptable but with so many great games out it's not about the graphics as much anymore. The game play is slow and the character control is clumsy and annoying. There are no cool features or great weapons just a ton of mushrooms (life restoration) that you don't even need. I read some of the other reviews on this game and I swear those people must be getting paid hype it up because I laughed through there reviews. This is truely a testament to why you should always rent a game before buying it... I'm out to try Two Towers next but anything would be better than this game.

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I recently had a chance to see the Xbox version of this game next to the PS2 and PC versions. All I can say is -the Xbox Fellowship of the Ring blows the other ones away. The environments are huge and on the Xbox there is no fog to prevent you from seeing all the way to the horizon. The graphics are sharper, the effects are more dazzling, even the in-game sound effects work in full Dolby Digital surround sound.

As for the gameplay, the Xbox version seems to have all the action of the PS2 and PC versions, but also adds some additional quest and puzzle-solving elements. This breaks up the gameplay and really fits the mood of the books.

For example, as Gandalf you will go from blasting Orcs with your powerful spells to deciphering a clever puzzle involving beams of light and rotating crystals.

Frodo can also fight, but has more of a platform style of gameplay -you can jump, push, pull, lift, carry, hang, shimmy, etc. Playing Frodo feels a lot like the Zelda games on the Nintendo 64.

And of course, with Aragorn it's all about kicking ... His devastating sword attacks combined with ranged bow attacks (with multiple arrow types -even flaming arrows!) make him the most satisfying character to play.

Definitely a good purchase for fans of the original books, as this version of the game has material that is not in the movie-licensed game from EA, including several levels in the Old Forest that include Old Man Willow and Tom Bombadil!

Review of PDP 360 Energizer Charger with Battery - Xbox 360

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List Price: $34.99
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I cannot tell you how many times my hubby or son went to play a game and the controller was dead. Three cords we went through.... I am sooo glad I found this! It works great. So simple to use, keeps them charged, and doesn't overcharge them either! This has been the best investment yet! The best part, you can put it anywhere because it does not use any xbox ports to charge!!

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My son absolutely love these chargers because he doesn't have to hook up the cables to the consoles to charge them any more. I love them because I don't have cables all over the floor when he's done playing.

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Nice addition to my xbox set up. Organizes the controllers so they are not just laying around and charges them at a good rate too. batteries dye a bit faster than the original xbox 360 ones though but no big deal if you always put the controller back up. If you do this and it stills dies on you, then you have most likely been playing xbox too long haha

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Great product but I wish the charger was powered via usb and not wall plug. if anyone knows where i can get one please let me know. Cheers

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excelent product, the led green tell when is full of charge and have 2 battery foe your xbox 360 controller.

I highly recommend this product to everyone.

Skylanders Giants Single Character Pack Core Series 2 Drobot Reviews

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It is an awesome skylander to play with because he is very fast and very very strong with his laser eyes

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Drobot is really easy to use character, he is also very hard to find and amazon saves you the trouble of hunting him down its a great buy if you are able to get it from amazon

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If your child is a Spyro's Skylanders lover / fan. Then they will love this character. Has awesome powers to battle the bad guys in the video game.

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My son loved it and it was one of the last skylanders giants that he needed for the whole collection

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With this skylander, my collection is nearly complete.

I like the opportunity to order the missing figurines in the us.

Buy The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

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The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker...It was in development for 3 long years and it basically maxes out Gamecube's hardware capabilities (cel-shading is an extremely difficult effect for processors/graphic engines to handle).

AWARDS + REVIEWS

Zelda: The Wind Waker came out in Japan in December and is considered one of the greatest games of all time there. Famitsu magazine in Japan (the most reliable gaming magazine in the world..and every game is reviewed by 4 different critics) gave Zelda: The Wind Waker a perfect 40/40. Only three other games have ever gotten a score that high (Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Vagrant Story, and Soul Calibur). Famitsu says "Any pangs of anxiety you may have with the cartoon-shading look will instantly vanish once you play the game." Two of the reviewers actually said the game was so good that they cried in delight. In fact, Zelda has recieved only one non-perfect review in Japan and that was by Dengeki magazine (it got a 9.5/10) ..and Dengeki scores games so harshly that Zelda: The Wind Waker became the first game in over 3 months to get above an 8/10. In the US, PlanetGamecube imported the Japanese version and gave it a 10/10. Zelda: The Wind Waker also won Best Console Game of E3 (Gamespot and the Official Awards).

THE "NEW" ZELDA

The main difference between this Zelda and past Zelda's is that Miyamoto is no longer designing/directing it, and thus, the new director is giving it a much more epic feel. Everyone who has played the Japanese version has said that it definatly has the deepest story out of any of the Zelda's ever made in fact, it is the first Zelda to have a true emphasis on plotline. Not only this, but this is also the first Zelda to have multiple continents and islands that you can sail to with a ship. The world is so huge that on a quick ship it can take as much as 15 minutes to sail from one location to the other (in Final Fantasy for comparison sailing from one end of the world to the other only takes about 2 minutes).

LENGTH

PlanetGamecube themselves gave the game a 10/10 and said the only problem the game had was that the world was TOO huge. This game will take you 40 hours to complete (if you are very fast and direct) but is filled with well over 100 hours of sidequests and other things to do. In fact, this game is probably packed with more sidequests than any game ever made.

CEL SHADING

Anyone who shys away from this game because of the graphics are definatly missing out. Those graphics are actually more difficult for a console to render and more difficult for developers to make than the great polygonal graphics we are all used to. Not only this, but I, having witnessed the game myself at a Nintendo Cube Club, have noticed that up close this game is beautiful. Do not be fooled by screenshots, they do not do the game justice. The animation in this game is amazing and at the Cube Club (a club containing over 20 gamecube games), Zelda definatly stood out as the one with the most impressive and flawless art design and graphics.

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay itself is very similar to Zelda: Ocarina of Time although with many enhancements and improvisations. Plenty of fighting, exploring, and puzzle solving. This time, however, the gimmick is wind rather than time (in Ocarina of times case). Wind is constantly blowing at a specific velocity and direction at any moment in the game. It effects everything from how your boat sails and in what direction to which way Link's cap swings in the air. Many puzzles will also use the wind and there are items to manipulate it.

MUSIC

And then there is the music..the music of the new Zelda definatly makes one of the greatest gaming soundtracks in history. Classical Zelda tunes remade in orchestral glory and plenty of new songs as well. The music is completly orchestrated and if you have a surround sound setup..drools.

IMMERSIVE WORLD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Perhaps the number 1 thing that people who have played the new Zelda comment on is that it is perhaps the most immersive game ever made. Link has about 20 facial expressions which all convey what he is feeling at any given time. All characters in towns have artificial intelligence (they dont just stand there or run around in circles like in most Zelda/RPG's)..rather..they have minds of their owns. If you (Link) walk around town with a sword..some little kids will follow you. If you go into a house and break pots the owner will get angry and chase after you. If you do something silly in front of people, they will laugh at you. And if you draw attention, people will look at you. Even the enemies have AI that makes the world immersive. Take out a bomb in front of a Moblin and they will run away it makes you feel like the world is real. Seagulls follow your boat as it travels betweens islands. Zelda: The Wind Waker is the definative reason to own a Gamecube.

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(NOTE: I imported and currently own the Japanese version of the game and have played through it).

Words fail me to describe just how wonderful this game is.

As a continuation of Nintendo's most polished series, you know without even the slightest bit of doubt that they've done the visuals and audio right; the graphics really have to be seen in action to be appreciated. It's like controlling your own little cartoon world. The facial expressions and the way the characters can interact with the environment is superb. The soundtrack is phenomenal as well, with plenty of new music and a return of some classic tunes (including the one we all know from the original Zelda).

Graphics and sound are important, but they alone don't make a game fun; what really sets this game apart from anything else I've ever played is the gameplay. From the intro to the last battle, every moment of Wind Waker shines of quality. The overworld is bigger than you can imagine, and each creatively designed dungeon gets progressively better and more challenging than the last. The camera is very similar to that found in Super Mario Sunshineyou have full control, and it goes where you tell it to go.

Though the game doesn't come out in the US for another 3 months, I guarantee you that it'll be worth the wait. This game is perfectI can't think of a single thing that I would change.

And the fact that I can't read a word of Japanese absolutely blows my mind.

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In some ways, a classic video game series is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, developers are carrying on a tradition, a legacy. They've earned thousands (dare I say millions?) of devoted fans, and their names will almost assuredly be carved deep into the halls of video game history. Their work will go out into a remarkable number of homes, almost immediately after release. But, by that same token, each individual follow-up title is met with ridiculous scrutiny and astronomical expectations. No longer are these developers and programmers merely entertaining the public, they're toying with electronic mythology. It's all black and white, they're either delivering "the best title since.." or they're raping their own legacy. Rarely will a highly anticipated sequel be met by a lukewarm response from fans of the series, they'll either love it or they'll hate it. And, for the most part, a major change to the status quo is viewed as a bad thing.

So it should come as no surprise that many long time fans of the series were immediately turned off when early screens of Link on the GameCube, digitally rendered in all his glory, were replaced by a childlike, cartoony new appearance. When Miyamoto and the rest of the team trashed those old renders and went in an entirely new direction, fans felt alienated. Betrayed. I should know, I counted myself among them.

Within the first three minutes, my worries were washed aside. Graphically, this is as much of a leap forward from "The Ocarina of Time" and "Majora's Mask" as those revolutionary titles were from "A Link to the Past." It's still filled with the same great gameplay experience you grew to love on the NES, SNES and N64, yet it's pleasantly a beast unto itself. Truly, this was the right step for the masters behind the Zelda series to have taken.

The gameplay is a near-flawless translation of the system broken in by the N64 titles, at the same time benefiting from the modifications made to the GameCube's controller. Where the N64 controller offered four directional "C" buttons (which were used to activate items in your inventory), the GameCube offers a second analog stick, labeled the "C stick", which is used to control the camera angle. Items are now activated through the use of the X, Y and Z buttons, a layout which requires some minor adjustment due to the "Z" button's location, away from the other two. Assaults are performed with the "B" button, and various actions are all done with "A". Players may lock onto enemies with "L", and the "R" buttons gets Link down on his belly and enables him to parry attacks with his shield.

Though the system remains magnificent, there remain two fairly glaring problems with this layout. For one, the player still cannot control if and when Link jumps or climbs. This particular flaw becomes critical when navigating small ledges or attempting to scale relatively short walls, as the little man on the screen will occasionally choose to plummet to his doom without a moment's notice. I've nearly lost my mind, standing in front of a three foot wall that my character simply refused to climb. The second problem I had was with the camera control. In "The Wind Waker," pulling back the camera also lifts it skyward. So, if I want a wider view of my surroundings, I also lose a lot of my range of vision and must maneuver Link from above. Needless to say, this is not ideal.

My largest gripe with this new Zelda lies in its sound. As a next-gen system running custom DVDs, the GameCube has more than enough room to allow for high quality, dolby-style audio tracks. This system should be pumping out better sounding tracks than your average CD, as evidenced by the tight ambient soundtrack of Metroid Prime. Instead, Zelda falls back on the same old MIDI-sounding synth score we endured on the N64. Many of the songs are exactly the same as heard on "Ocarina", with only a few slight tweaks and modifications, which is an undeniable no-no for a title of this magnitude. Imagine if the Ocarina of Time had shipped with the same screeches and dings heard on the NES original.

As far as graphics are concerned... I've seen cel shading done well in the past, but absolutely nothing can hold a torch to what's been accomplished with "The Wind Waker." Everything has been accounted for, from the big picture to the tiny details. Afterthoughts such as the water bursting off the front of your boat and tiny clouds of dust kicking up beneath your feet on a beach are attended to with uncanny attention to detail. When your character climbs from the water, he'll drip dry for the next few minutes. A monstrous enemy resembling a warthog marches through several dungeons on his hind legs. His lower lip juts out, flapping in the wind, and individual bits of saliva sail through the air with his every move. It's incredible. There are more frames of animation in that enemy's lip than in all of the original Zelda. Taking this game in is more than just an experience. It's a revelation.

As one package, this is an unbelievable game. If it weren't for the mild, yet necessary tweaks required of the controls and the sore lack of acceptable music and audio, I might be tempted to call this perfect. As is, the remainder of the game is good enough to account for the inexcusable audio and then some. The storyline is utterly enveloping, while the gameplay is everything you'd expect. The Wind Waker is a tremendous step for the GameCube, reaffirming Nintendo's place in the industry and capturing the imaginations of anyone willing to give it a chance. Don't let your preconceived notions about the shift in visual style fool you, this belongs in your collection right alongside the other titles in the legendary series.

Honest reviews on The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

(Import Review-Spoiler Free)

I've been a long time fan of the series; ever since the beginning, when they release the original Zelda on the NES. The Legend of Zelda is one of the most enjoyable game series of all time, and is easily my favorite by Nintendo. A Link to the Past has always been my favorite, with Ocarina of Time coming in second. Wind Waker is better than both of these in my opinion, although not by much because the other two were such amazing games.

Gameplay: 10/10

It takes the exellent gameplay of the N64 games, and makes it almost flawless; the control is tighter and more responsive than ever. Attack is assigned to B, while A does the lock-on jumping sword attack, rolling, and many other uses. Y, X, and Z work exactly the same as the C-Buttons on the N64 controller did, which assigns items to those buttons.

The camera is really good in this game as well; it uses the Manual Camera found in Super Mario Sunshine, which works exellent for those who want full control of the camera(like me), and it has the traditional camera where it follows Link around by itself; it works really well too.

The Dungeons are great! We've seen some awesome work done by Nintendo in the past, but the ones in this game are just flat-out amazing. The puzzles, the level design, it's all just very nicely done. It uses the same formula from past games; find Keys, open Treasure Chests, obtain a new Weapon, and defeat the boss. Speaking of bosses, they are just as creative, and cool as they were in past games. As for the weapons, there's a couple of new ones, and some of the previous are used in new ways. For example the Boomerange has a lock-on device;(lock on upto 5 targets)it locks onto all of them, and hits them in the exact order you locked onto them in. It's much improved. I won't go into this area too much, but the weapons are a lot of fun to use, and never fail to impress. As for the new main item; the Wand. You use this to change the direction of the wind and many other cool things. It works exactly like the Ocarina, it's just that you use a Wand instead. The last thing I will touch on is one of the biggest changes in the game; instead of the normal land, this world is mostly water. You get around by sailing on a boat. The sailing gets a little tedious at some points, but that only lasts for a while because you get a device that makes traveling much quicker pretty early on in the game. The seas are full of nasty enemies, and some awesome weather which changes from thunder-storms, to hot and sunny skies while you sail around. Overall, I prefer land, but the water is definitly a nice change of pace and will not disappoint anyone.

Graphics: 10/10

This game might not impress people who prefer the realistic look, but if you like a good artistic style(like me), then you will be wowed big time through out the game. The weather effects, the boss', the dungeons, the character designs, it's all amazing. It's definitly good to see something different from the normal look.

Sound: 10/10

What do you expect from Nintendo? Every Zelda game they make has top-notch music and it's no different this time around. From happy music, to serious tunes; it's all here, and it never fails to impress.

Overall: 10/10 or 5 stars

This is not only the best game released on the Gamecube, but it is the best Zelda game of all time. It may not have the new feel that Ocarina of Time did, but it improves on the Zelda64 formula big time and will be a non-stop thrill ride for all who buy this game.

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Is it the best Zelda franchise ever?

Yes, if you take the challenge size, the variety of actions Link can perform, and of course, the biggest quality made possible by Nintendo Game Cube console.

No, if you look for an original feeling. That original feeling in Zelda series happen in Ocarina of Time, and will be hard to occur again.

I've heard that it uses a cartoon graphic style. Isn't it terrible?

No. In fact, Link expressions are much better now. He is wiser, his look help you solving some puzzles, and i am sure Myamoto's option in graphics matches perfectly with game playability. I think some players will like it at first sight, while others will get used and will like it after some minutes playing.

Is it hard?

Yes, if you think about new tricks avaiable now. New puzzles, new challenges at the sea (sailing a boat, seeking sunked treasure chests, looking for sea chart)

No, if you are used to Zelda Games. The way of solving the puzzles is almost the same as in Ocarina and Majora's. Look carefully to each dungeon, light some fire, use the hook, grab/push some blocks, aim for enemie's eye and you will going far.

How much time I need to finish the game?

If you are a great gamer, 2 weekends are enough to end it, giving attention only to main quest. Solving all side quests may take you 2 or 3 more weekends. (There are a lot of side quests)

Will I get bored quickly with this game?

Every Zelda franchise combine unique RPG challenge with amazing moments of adventure and battle, so, you just get bored with it if your don't like this style. The big variety of scenarios and things to do will put you with a big glass of water and some cookies at the sofa.

Which items can I use?

The same as in last games: sword, bottles, grappling hook, boomerang.

Plus: sail, telescope, wind waker and deku leaf (which make you fly if you drop from high places)

What about the story? What is the core concept of this game?

Long time after last adventure (100 years, the creators say), Link is living at Outset Island, with Aryll, his little sister, and his grandma. After a long-living period of peace, a wind of evil is being spreaded again in the world. A big bird is flying over the islands and capturing girls with long ears. Link's sister, Aryll (check by yourself her ears) is surrounded by that bird, and stay prisioned at Forsaken Fortress, where Ganon (Big Boss in every Zelda) takes place now. When Aryll is caught, some pirates, who were at Outset Island, give a hide and a big help to Link start the adventure. Later he will find a sailing boat, that will help him a lot.

So, I must buy it?

Yes. I would define Wind Waker as the Ocarina of Time at the sea.

With the same fun and challenge of speaking to different people, get lost in dungeons, be frightned at first sight with big bosses, etc. etc. etc.

Plus, you can control the wind with your Wind Waker (it has the same mechanic as the ocarina, playing tunes), you sail a boat, and other great factor: the characters who interact with you are smarter. The dialogue has some sorts of jokes with a bit of irony.

I am truly a Zelda fan, and I think this is still the best way to spend money if you have a Nintendo Game Cube.

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