Review of 2006 FIFA World Cup - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $14.99
Today's Bonus: 50% Off

Obviously, some people writing these reviews have not actually played this new installment of the FIFA series. The newest FIFA is probably the best ever. Road to the World Cup had many flaws that were corrected in this game. 2006 FIFA World Cup has many fun game modes and very good online play with very little lag. This is probably one of my favorite games out on the 360 and is definitely worth your money.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I respectfully disagree with the previous comments saying this game is similar to RTWC. For me RTWC was not finished and had to go out in order to not loose the momentum of the Xbox 360 launch. This version is probably the RTWC, but ready for the market. It has the Fifa 06 (for Xbox) gameplay, and more !!! It also has all the nice graphics that we had in RTWC. For me this is the best soccer game ever in terms of quality and gameplay. For sure there are some basic mistakes, as any other Fifa game, i.e.: you can't see the overall rate of each player without manually going to every single player's bio (x button); you can't create a tournament for 2 people and use the cpu teams to play against your friend, you can only play with one of the 2 teams you've marked as user teams; the goalkeeper may still jump to catch the ball and fall down inside the goal, while the referee doesn't flag that as a score; and some others that the Fifa consumers are already used to (unfortunately). I also agree the price is extremely high ... but it is worth it. If you like Fifa and was upset with RTWC, I do recommend this game.

Best Deals for 2006 FIFA World Cup - Xbox 360

I'm an American who played soccer when he was a kid but really doesn't watch much on TV aside from when the World Cup rolls around every 4 years, so take my review w/ a grain of salt. However, that said, I think FIFA World Cup 2006 on the Xbox 360 is a VERY fun soccer game. I'm told that the Winning Eleven series (which unfortunately doesn't have an Xbox 360 version yet) is a more accurate soccer simulation, but I never felt like FIFA WC 2006 was too arcadey. I think it does a good job of emulating real soccer. The animations are very good, the details in the players and stadiums are great on the 360 in high-definition, and the announcing and other sounds are very well-done (when I was playing a game, my wife thought I was watching a real World Cup match).

Honest reviews on 2006 FIFA World Cup - Xbox 360

I recently borrowed FIFA World Cup 2006 from my friend and was amazed at how great it was. This is by far the best soccer game I have ever played. The graphics are excellent and are the best I have seen in any soccer game. FIFA World Cup 2006 certainly provides you with the ultimate world cup experience! Overall this is a great game and worth buying!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for 2006 FIFA World Cup - Xbox 360

Now that the world cup has come and gone, I still continue to love this game. I had never played a soccer game before in my life, but I tried this one out and it definitely hooked me in. The controls are easy to learn, and it's fun to get to learn the rosters of different teams since the graphics are so good you can easily learn what players look like.

Cheap Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist Deluxe Edition

Customer Ratings:

If you liked any of the Splinter Cells, you will like this game. If you like action games, you will probably like this game.

[Good]

Level Design: Much better than the old Splinter Cells. There's a lot more choice as to how you want to complete the missions. You can either take everyone on, avoid everyone, or take them out when they're not looking. In fire fights there's good emphasis on flanking. Even the final boss fight was really awesome. It just looks great and plays great.

Replayabilty: Since you have a lot of choices for completing the mission, the game has challenges for specific play styles as well as different sets of weapons and gadgets. The changes in difficulty and the semi-randomness of how enemies are placed and how they behave is nice as well.

Multiplayer: Co-op missions are awesome assuming you can find someone to join you.

Story: This is the best Splinter Cell story so far.

Weaker: Even with good armor, Sam can't take too many shots. This is good.

Performance: I only have a mid-range PC with a mid-range video card, but even with all the settings maxed out, the game still ran pretty smoothly.

[Bad]

Uplay: I really don't see any value with this. It's just another separate login that doesn't really offer anything, aside from locking up parts of my game. This should be removed. Ubisoft I'm never going to buy games from either your online store or EA's store. Just stop this and stop annoying me with Uplay.

Bugs: A lot of people are reporting bugs i.e. Game won't start or multiplayer doesn't work. My guess is the source of these bugs is Uplay. It needs to be removed.

Steam Family Share: Because of the extra DRM from Uplay, this game doesn't support Steam's Family Share feature.

Multiplayer: Maybe this will change with time, but there's no one online for PC. This is probably due to Uplay. See a pattern? I like single player better anyways so I can quit playing anytime.

Story: Like all Splinter Cell games, the story isn't very good. This time however, it's not as ridiculous and horrible as the older Splinter Cells. It's just super vague about everything. There is still some really unrealistic and ridiculous stuff in the game, but you don't play Splinter Cell games for the story. On the bright side, the story is better and makes more sense than anything from Metal Gear. Hint: to make the story better, Sam Fisher and his organization can't be the good guys all the time. Those stories are for children and yet this game is for adults. A lot of adults enjoyed the Sopranos and Breaking Bad. Why can't this type of maturity in storylines cross over to video games? One more thing. In the field during an operation, professionals use call signs instead of their real names. This franchise sorely needs a story reboot with either better script writers and advisors and / or less constraints given by Ubisoft execs for the story. Maybe Ubisoft should hire a former spook to consult?

Choice: The game does give players some choices, but I don't feel that they actually affected anything. It would have been nice if they actually changed the game or even the ending.

FPS view: I didn't like the small solo missions with FPS view. Splinter Cell to me is meant to be played in 3rd person view.

Not the best deal: Paying ten bucks more, gets you weapons you probably won't use, much better suits, and two new missions. The two new missions are nice but I didn't care much for the weapons. As for the suit, you may like if you want the game to be easier. I'd just get the normal edition and wait for the DLC to get cheaper. I just bought them all because I wanted to have them right now.

[Misc]

Not a full reboot: When you do something drastic as changing Sam's voice to someone younger sounding, you really need to change the story. A 30 year old with a college aged daughter doesnt make too much sense.

I am really thankful that Ubisoft removed their always on DRM, but they need to get rid of UPlay.

If you don't like Steam, you probably won't like this download.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

It's been awhile since I last went to bed at 3 AM because of a game. This game takes some getting used to and figuring out, but once you learn the ropes, leave all hope. I have only been through several main missions and a few side missions (those are difficult) but it is already safe to say Awesome!!! Have some patience before you master the controls and user interface, and you won't regret it...

OK, after initial infatuation I have to take one star off and here's why:

1. First, the game is rather short. It has 13 main missions (two more than Conviction) and 10 side missions (solo play, 4 more than Conviction), and all of the missions are short. I feel like I make a couple of moves and I'm done. That is not much given that this is 20 GB installation. It's true, it has many more coop and multiplayer missions and if you play those as well, you may find the length of the game satisfying, but the main story ends quickly.

2. There are considerable parts of mission maps where you just pass through, they include no hostiles, they can't be used for any action, and you cannot return there.

3. There are bunch of weapons and equipment to buy, but you only need a few of them, and money making makes no sense after you get all the plane upgrades and equipment you need (this kind of undermines replayability). Once you get a good sniper rifle and full equipment, the game gets pretty easy on normal difficulty. I will try the 'perfectionist' for replay and see if it makes a difference.

4. Overall, the story was not that interesting and it is forced a bit, it moves too quickly, and you miss most of it. They have to make the threat bigger and bigger each time.

I must say, I kind of liked the Conviction better

Best Deals for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist Deluxe Edition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pros

Stealth, that actually works and is beneficial

Amazing Co-op and MP modes

Fluid movement

Cons

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

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

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

Honest reviews on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist Deluxe Edition

Will have additional updates in the future. Having a great time with my first night playing the game. Only played for about 90 minutes total. I was quite angry when the activation code did not work, but it started working after a few hours. I don't see any deniable ops which was the most enjoyable part of Splinter Cell Conviction, but I don't know everything about this game yet so there may be other features that are just as cool (or maybe better). Using XBOX 360 controller on my PC and it all controls seem to work fine, but still getting the hang of the controls. Experience? I have played every Splinter Cell game, it is the only game I like.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist Deluxe Edition

Off the bat, I took away 2 stars for being forced to use Uplay. It doesn't add any value. I'm forced to create another user account for another service that I don't want.

The game is pretty. There is great potential there. The environments and the character models are quite polished. My PC allows me to run the game on the "Ultra" setting without hearing the fans kick in. It's great to be able to see a game how the developers meant for it to be seen. Unfortunately, the game is full of glitches that make the game unplayable. Whenever I kill an enemy, the body flies around the environment, shattering windows, alerting other enemies , etc. Tech support, if it were only a graphics glitch then it should not affect the environment or the AIs in it. It completely prevents me from being stealthy so I get gunned down quickly, or have a random dog fly through a wall and chew my arm until I die. Why are the dogs so deadly in this game?

Also, why do I have to pay to upgrade my gear? It doesn't make any sense. The government wants me to track down and stop the terrorists. Why would the government not give me the tools to perform that duty for free? Do you want equipment that's going to keep you alive? Well, you have to buy it. You buy them with in-game currency that you receive for completing missions, which doesn't make sense either. I'm guessing Ubisoft intended to sell in-game items and upgrades for real money, but I didn't explore the upgrade system deep enough to see if it was a "pay to win" model.

If I hadn't received this game free with my GTX 760, I would ask for a refund. It's not worth the aggravation.

Review of Jonah: A Veggie Tales Game

Customer Ratings:

My boys (ages 2, 4, & 5) all loved this game! Very cute and funny even us parents enjoyed watching them play it!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Great game. My boys have so much fun. They laugh and laugh over this. And sometimes they just watch the story. They have learned so much of the Bible thru Veggie Tales. My kids are 3 & 5 and they have no problem playing this one.

Best SteelSeries Siberia V2 Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for Xbox 360 Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $119.99
Sale Price: $105.38
Today's Bonus: 12% Off

I got this headset to replace a cheap Plantronics Gamecom headset that broke because it was made of cheap plastic. Since it works for PC also, and it's $30 cheaper than the regular ones, I bought the PS3-labeled ones.

The first thing to say about these are that they are VERY comfortable. Just as I expected. With a cheap $10 headset, your ears will hurt, but with these, you get comfort. There is no need for resizing as there is a retractable strap that "conforms" to your head.

As for sound quality, also very stellar. Definitely better than the iPod earbuds I was using as a backup after my old headset broke, haha. Music sounds fantastic, I get a crisp sound even when blaring metal at maximum volume. (Probably not good for my ears... hmm...) For games it's a definite upgrade. A game like BF3 sounds very phenomenal.

The mic is retractable and bendable, doesn't get in the way. For the sound quality, I'd say "decent." It sounds good when actively I'm talking but it does pick up background noise. It DOES pick up much less background noise then my old headset, but there's only so much you can cancel out without a little fuzzy thing on the end. I just took the fuzzy thing from my 360 mic and it fits fine on that, works like a charm. But, most games use push-to-talk anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Also, the headset comes with an RCA audio converter... thing... should you choose to use it for your console. Also a 2.5mm cord to use for 360, and a USB in-line volume control.

Now, to talk about my main problem with the headset the cord length. It is rather short, and I have to plug it into the front panel of my computer instead of the back. Even then, I don't have freedom to move in my seat I can barely tilt my head right. Now, you CAN use the included USB in-line cord (which is used for the consoles, I'm assuming). Plug in the 3.5mm jacks into it, then the USB into the computer. It's frickin' long, so I can plug it into the back of the computer and be comfortable. One thing, though, audio coming into and out of it while using the in-line sounds horrible. There is a constant static-y buzz and it makes the mic sound like trash. So, I'm stuck with the real short cord. I angled my monitor and scooted my chair over a bit, and it's okay, but... meh. I was thinking about moving my tower, but, seems like a huge hassle for one headset, right?

It sucks because the one thing I really liked about the Plantronics Gamecom was the in-line volume control, and how long the cord was.

So, overall, fantastic sound quality and comfort, but short cable.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program My gaming world just improved tremendously. I absolutely love this gaming headset. I had no idea what I was missing until I started using it. I use it for the PS3 and the sound effects are incredible.

I play multiplayer shooting games online and this headset helps out immensely. I can hear people when they are close to me. I can hear people climbing ladders or opening doors from quite a far distance. Grenades and gunfire sound so realistic.

I normally just use an ordinary (one-ear) Bluetooth headset and I've never really had a problem with it but switching to this was absolutely worth it. It makes a world of difference. People sound much clearer to me and people tell me I sound really good as well.

I love the fact that you can manually adjust the game and voice volumes separately. This is a very useful feature and the mute button is handy as well. I'm so glad that a mic is built into the headset as well and with it being retractable, that's a nice feature as well. The headset itself is pretty comfortable as well. I would've liked a bit of adjust-ability to make it a bit looser but even without that it's still manageable for several hours at a time.

The only feature that hasn't done anything for me is the "LiveMix". I've tried all 4 setting and I don't hear a difference. There are supposed to be 4 different options: Off, Low which reduces the game sound by 5db when your teammates are talking, Medium which reduce the game sound by 15db and High which reduces the games sound by 25db. This technology is supposed to help you control how much of the game sound you want to hear balanced over the voice communication. I just don't hear any difference but I'm perfectly happy with any setting since I'm able to adjust the voice and game sounds as I see fit.

Of course some people would prefer a wireless headset but the cord is plenty long enough for me. My PS3 sits on one wall and I can set on the opposite side of the room and still have plenty of room. Not having to charge a headset is a plus for me because most of my Bluetooth headsets would need recharged before I was done for the night. I no longer have that problem.

I would highly recommend this gaming headset.

Best Deals for SteelSeries Siberia V2 Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for Xbox 360

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Having used my reliable Sony MDR-V600s for years and years, I was somewhat reluctant to try anything else. Having tried the Siberia v2 now for every game from Call of Duty to Dead Space, I have to say my Sony headphones no longer cut it.

The Siberia's best feature is a built-in microphone. This microphone made my voice sound a lot clearer and sharper when using voice chat or playing voice-commanded games such as EndWar. It worked far better than the bluetooth headset I was using. Better yet is the ability to position the microphone away from your mouth if necessary. Being retractable was another plus. One less thing to keep track of.

These headphones offer separate volume controls for both the game and the voice chat, so it is easy to balance the two in order to hear both. Fortunately the Siberia does not lack for sound quality. Explosions and other deep bass effects are conveyed without drowning out other sounds. The treble is crisp without being too sharp. This is a welcome effect when playing first-person shooters, where there is often a concentration of both.

Overall, I was really impressed with the comfort and quality of the Siberia v2. Offering both a quality microphone and excellent sound reproduction has made these headphones a must have whenever I play.

Honest reviews on SteelSeries Siberia V2 Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for Xbox 360

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program A competitive gamer will have the advantage for total focus and quick responce

with this just released 2011 gaming headset from SteelSeries/Sony.

This is an excellent choice for high quality at a reasonable price.

This headset is compatible with; PlayStation 3 and PSN chat service -Xbox 360

-Mac -and personel computers.

This professional gaming gear has awesome sound with independent voice and audio controls

that nicely support multi-platform gamers with versatility.

There are four levels of SteelSeries LiveMix on all the platforms.

That function helps provide better control of the game and chat volumes and improves the audio balance.

The levels range from:

Off which is an unaltered in-game and voice sound.

Low which is a game sound reduced by 5db.

Medium which is reduced by 15 db.

High which is reduced by 25 db.

The Siberia v2 is a lightweight suspension over-the-head style

that we found stays comfortable even through hours of play.

This full-size head-set has super soft leather earcups that feel like kid-skin leather.

The set has 50 mm driver speaker units that provide excellent sound.

On the left is a pull-out, retractable unidirectional (bends where you need it to be) microphone.

The headset is mostly made of heavy plastic but has some metal parts in key places for added durability.

The over-the-head suspension is metal strips covered with rubber tubing.

Under that is a soft padded floating layer that is against the top of the head.

The outer speaker screens are a strong metal mess for protection.

All jacks have gold coating for optimal contact and there-fore the best delivery possible.

The USB end is standard as well as the RCA audio splitter cable that is included.

This is a very nice headset, it's well made and should last a long time.

This headset was designed in Denmark by SteelSeries in association with the following

world champion gaming teams; SK Gaming Fnatic Team Evil Geniuses and Natus Vincere.

But made in China.

Footnote: Added for convenience of comparison the specifications are:

Frequency, 20 20,000 hertz

Impedance, 32 ohm

SPL@ 1khz, 1v rms, 108 db

Cable lenght headset, 1m 3 ft

Cable lenght audioMixer, 4m 13 ft

Cable lenght Xbox chat, 0.75m 2 1/2 ft

Jack, 3 1/2 mm

Microphone frequency, 100 10,000 hertz

Sensitivity, -44db

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for SteelSeries Siberia V2 Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for Xbox 360

Honestly, I have not played with them on a lot as they do a great job of blocking out external noise. I usually am playing with others in the house so I need to hear in case of an alarm, etc. Great quality but a little expensive.

Best NFL Street 3 - PlayStation 2 Deals

Customer Ratings:

As an owner and player of the first two games, I had high hopes for the third installment of NFL Street. The good news was that the graphics and rosters had been updated. The bad news is that after playing the game for at least an hour with a friend, glitches were evident. I do not remember all of them, but there is a terrible glitch as the line of scrimmage. Before the ball is snapped, the defensive linemen can pretty much jump over the offensive line and sack the quarterback whenever they want. The game loses all appeal when you can't get any positive yardage. If you do not use this glitch, I can see the game being fun with a new list of moves and a new way to use gamebreakers. Overall, I give this game 2 stars out of 5.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

The NFL Street series are my favorite games out of them all. I prefer the Street series even over the Madden series. To me, it is just more fun to play and there are more things to do... climbing on and running along walls, jumping off objects to hurdle players, pitching the ball whenever, multiple tips on almost every incomplete pass makes for exciting football.

IMO this is as good if not better than the first two street games. There are more features... more players... new cities to play in and more game features. One new feature that I think is neat is you can collect footballs during games and after you collect them you can use them as the game football. There are all 32 team footballs (each having it's own unique design) and then other footballs that have different objects on them. There are like 50 different footballs you can collect in all.

Best Deals for NFL Street 3 - PlayStation 2

When I first purchased NFL Street 3 I was somewhat dissapointed; however, after learning the controls completly I found that this maybe the best NFL Street yet. The graphics are much improved and the ablity to jump is a nice feature. Also the gamebreakers are much improved so when you use one, you are not guranteed to score unlike in the past 2 games. Although I have read in other reviews that Respect The Street mode is a negative part to the game, I would have to disagree. This new mode made the game addictive to me because I always wanted to keep getting farther and farther into it.

In my opinion there are not many negative factors to the game other that the fact that it would be nice if the folks at EA Big made the controls more similar to Madden 07. I confuse the controls sometimes

Honest reviews on NFL Street 3 - PlayStation 2

This is an okay game. This game gets old pretty fast and redundant. It's okay for kids but if you're looking for a game with physics, this isn't the game for you.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for NFL Street 3 - PlayStation 2

It was hard for me to give this a 2 because I am a big fan of EA Big games but this is a sheer disappointment... Every drive ends or begins with a fumble on offense and if not that your picked off a lot or 4 and outs constantly... It is almost impossible to get a completion. The other night I threw four picks and 1 touch... NFL Challenge is no more either. This game lags and is just saddening...

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 - Xbox 360 Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $14.99
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

This game is a lot of fun to play and by far my favorite Lego game of the series, and I've played quite a few. However, I would wait until they have released a update/patch for the game as there are some major glitches.

The worst one in my opinion happens if you quit a level the first time playing it. If you get stuck in a level and want to retry or if you experience another glitch in a level and quit the level the game will then continue on in the story mode and skip the level altogether. The level doesn't even show up on the storyboard with the other levels that you can replay, it's just gone. So to complete the game you need to start over completely.

To me this makes the game unplayable right now as I don't want to restart and this is not the only glitch in the game.

Again, this is an awesome game, but if you're considering buying it, you should wait until they release a patch to fix the issues.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I love Harry Potter and the Lego games, so this was a must have! We have played both Star Wars Lego games and Lego Batman, and have had a lot of fun. Lego Harry Potter was by far my favorite! We played this game almost every evening for an hour or so, and beat the game in about a month. I am not a serious gamer, but I love the co-operative play of the Lego games, and all of the different "hidden" objects you have to find.

We recently purchased the newest Lego Harry Potter Game, years 5-7. For some reason the graphics were a lot nicer on the newer game. And there were not as many glitches as in the 1-4 game (getting to a point in the level where your character is stuck and cannot get out, or repeatedly falls off the edge and you can't do anything, etc). For that reason I would recommend it over this game, if you had to choose. But I say don't choose and play both!

After beating the game we have not played again, but I think if I can convince my husband I will try to play both Lego Harry Potter games again in the future--they are just too much fun! But if I could only play one over I would choose the 5-7 version.

Best Deals for LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 - Xbox 360

I love all kinds of video games, and I've always liked the LEGO server because you just play them. They don't require a ton of thought, but they definitely have their own challenges that everyone from adults to kids can still have fun playing. If you've played any of the other LEGO games, this one follows the same formula and uses the same techniques collecting lego bits for "money", gold bricks for those who try to complete everything, red bricks to enhance your gameplay, the ability to play a level in a "free roam" style after playing it though during the campaign, and so forth. It's still variation on a theme, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

But if you're a "completionist" like me, you might find this game frustrating. I've already run into several bugs that have prevented me from getting all of the gold bricks and, based on a few quick searches, I'm not alone. Apparently, many people have run into instances where the triggers to make a gold brick appear are missing or all of the triggers are activated but the bricks never appear.

It's still a nice change from fast-paces shooters, senseless button-mashers, or immersive RPGs; but those who love to get full trophies/achievements might end up being frustrated in the end.

Honest reviews on LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 - Xbox 360

My husband and I rented this game to play during a span of cold, rainy weather a couple of weeks ago. We are in our 30's with no children. We had so much fun playing the co-op mode that we played each night we had it for hours and hours, not even realizing how much time had passed. When the time came for us to return the game, I went and purchased it. If you or your gamer is a fan of the Harry Potter movies, this is suprisingly fun. Goes well with the movie plots for years 1-4. If you've ever played a Lego video game before, you know what to expect. Great fun, good challenge, and loads of laughs. I don't think you would be disappointed!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 - Xbox 360

I've got an 8 year old daughter. I'm an avid gamer and the two of us love playing this one together.

I only see my daughter every other weekend and so I try and find things that we can both enjoy doing together and this game is just a perfect example of how parents and their kids can mix their hobbies and generally have fun together.

Before this I had to play Barbie with her so it was a major step up for a parent.

The game requires co-operation and communication to work together. You'll feel like a team and have a lovely experience. I recommend this game to anyone who has a son or a daughter aged 6+

Years 5-7 even improve on this formula but I still recommend finishing this one at least once before going for the second one (plus the second one is more expensive since it's newer).

This is one of those cases where a computer game has a positive influence on a kid, go out there and buy a copy of this game. I find it very unlikely that anyone would be disappointed.

Discount Assassins Creed III GameStop Edition

Customer Ratings:

Got a used product but works great and is in like new condition like mentioned. Only thing is it didn't come with the steelbook but it was a good thing I didn't mind because I was actually trying to find one for this price just didn't really think I wanted the steelbook but it ended up not coming with one. so if you think you do want the steelbook I not sure this is the legit one to get that unless it was unused.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This was a fun game we got it in a timly matter. And once we passed it we kept playing it is a very fun game

NFL 2K2 (Xbox) Reviews

Customer Ratings:

For those who have been afraid of buying the NFL 2K2 after being disappointed by the Dreamcast version, fear not! It seems that Sega Sports listened to the complaining fans and forced Visual Concepts to actually _improve_ the passing game, blocking, sound quality, etc.

The original NFL 2K2 on the Dreamcast had the best pass coverage AI ever seen a football video game. Cornerbacks, linebackers, and safeties all intelligently reacted to passes thrown their way. They were good at zone, man, and 'bump & run' coverage.

The XBox version continues this tradition, actually improving upon the original's already magnificent AI. Players in coverage are much more likely to tip passes than before. The only problem on the defenseive side of the ball is that Visual Concepts removed the 3 man fronts almost entirely.

The running game is the best out there. Hands down. All the moves are effective, from the juke or spin to the stiff arm or shoulder charge. The blocking creates good holes to run through. The defense actually reacts realistically, making counters, cutbacks, draws, and reverses valid choices. Perhaps the best part of the running game are the 'get skinny' moves that ball carriers _automatically_ perform. This means that there is no longer the annoyance of getting stuck on your own blocker, feet churning yet going nowhere.

The only problem with the original NFL 2K2 was the horrendous passing game (and ball security, but that's tied in). While VC had improved the animations over NFL 2K1, there were several problems with the passing and catching system that made the game almost unplayable for pass oriented teams:

1) The offensive linemen were incapable of holding blocks for longer than .0025 seconds with consistency.

2) Top tier receivers very often dropped passes.

3) Anyone but a top receiver did not have a preayer of making a catch.

4) Even after you finally were able to thread the ball through defenders' hands and your receiver was lucky enough to grab the ball, if he got hit within a full second after the catch you would see the ball lying on the turf.

Thankfully, Visual Concepts has fixed this problem. Pocket passers can thrive behind a good offensive line, completing passes without thought, until the defense gets in the way. Low-rated receivers, such as tight ends, are much more likely to make completions, and the high-rated are just like they are in reality: hard for defenses to handle. Not too hard, though, due to the insanely good defenive AI. After intensive playtesting (Heh, I always wanted to say that.) I have found the only true problems with the passing game in 2K2, and VC should have little difficulty fixing them. I hope that Visual Concepts have already noted these problems themselves, and if they haven't...

1) Receivers jog their routes. Either this is true or defenders can backpedal faster than Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, and Co. can run their routes.

2) Quarterbacks do not lead their targets correctly, even when a receiver is _standing still_. For example, the Rams have a play where all 4 WRs go out 8 yards, stop and turn around. If you attempt to throw to them while they are standing still, Kurt will throw the ball about 3 feet over their heads. The WR will then dive for the ball. Yes, dive. As in towards the ground.

3)The receiver logic is absolutely horrendous. Receivers like MARSHALL FAULK will, when they see the ball coming in a perfect spiral right towards their shoulders, dive off to the side to avoid coming in contact with the ball. It seems that the only functional routes are the straight line ones.

People will respond to this game with cries of "But Madden has momentum based movement! It's more realistic." Momentum based movement is realistic when it is implemented in a way that creates a modicum of realism. In Madden (and in Fever) it simly gets in the way, making reaction times slower and control more imprecise.

"But Madden has a better Franchise system!" You know what? They're right. The Franchise mode in the Madden games is MUCH bettter than in NFL 2K2. But which is more important: stat-tracking and resource management, or gameplay? Most would probably reply that gameplay is the most important part of any sports game, while all the rest are just extras.

"But Madden is more of a football sim!" I simply do not understand this 'argument'. The only way in which Madden is more of a football sim is in the franchise mode. True, there is no 3-4 set anymore, but look at how much the offensive side of the ball has been improved: the Rams have TWENTY-EIGHT (28) different formations to tear other teams apart with, not counting special teams, of course.

Overall, the XBox version of NFL 2K2 is the game that we Dreamcast owners were hoping for when we first bought the original version except for some parts of the passing game. Simply put, it is the best playing football game on the market. Better than Fever and better than Madden. However, I would recommend waiting for NFL 2K3, giving VC time to fix the only thing that needs fixing: the passing game.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

The first game I ever demoed on the Xbox was NFL Fever at one of those kiosks in Best Buy. I thought NFL Fever was pretty cool but it didn't make me want to buy it that instant. For months after Xbox was released, I read reviews, watched videos and looked at screenshots of Madden & NFL Fever, trying desperately to decide between the two. Meanwhile, a third football game comes on the market. They did a decent job with 2K1, the videos looked tremendous, and people were pretty optimistic about 2K2. This long time fan of EA Sports (NHL, FIFA, & Triple Play) decided to abandon Madden and give Sega a try.

I am still blown away each time I play this game. I am so glad I decided to wait. I can't speak for Madden, but every aspect of 2K2 seems to be slightly to much better than NFL Fever. The graphics are lifelike, commentary is colorful and insightful, and the gameplay is the best. You can actually have a decent running game in NFL2K2, which has historically been tough to do in football games. How about an example that illustrates just how awesome this game is? I fumbled on the 20 yard line, picked up the fumble, and my running back takes it in to the end zone for a TD. The announcers actually made JOKES about how this could have been a designed play. I got a delay of game on the extra point because I sat there with my mouth agape. Even the instant replays are better than any other game I've seen. They swivel 360 degrees on catches and sometimes clip together several segments from different angles.

I also wanted to take a sec to respond to a few of the negative reviews about this game. Someone commented that it is a strange menu interface. Different yes, strange no. It isn't that hard to get used to. It doesn't take any longer to cycle through menus than other games. Regarding the other review listing a number of negative things... I question this person's authenticity, as they wrote their review well before the release date of this game. Perhaps they are reviewing 2K1? It is simply not true that there aren't big hit replays, but they must be on a big play (sacks, 4th down stops). Players DO grip the ball well, the best I've seen to date. And as far as the comment regarding no helmet popping hits... perhaps you need to learn where the turbo and tackle buttons are, because my controller rattles non-stop when I'm on D.

Get this, and prepare to be blown away. Now, my season calls...

Best Deals for NFL 2K2 (Xbox)

Madden vs. 2K2, which is better? In my opinion NFL 2k2 is better based on these facts. First of all, in 2k2 you offensive linemen actually make blocks that create a hole for your RB to run through, whereas in Madden that does not happen very often... In fact most of the time in Madden you usually end up going to the outside because there is no hole to run through. Also in 2k2 the running game is very realistic, as far as breaking tackles and juking defensive players. For example, a small running back rarely breaks a tackle from a 270 lb. linebacker who hits him square on, unless you can avoid the head on hit. However in Madden, any RB including small ones can break tackles regardless of the defensive mans size, it just looks fake because the defensive man will hit the RB and then just dive like he hit a brick wall and then slide to the ground. However in 2k2, if a tackle is missed by defensive man, he is thrown to the ground just like in real life. He'll hit the RB, fall and roll on the ground just like any real life missed tackle. Now as far as the passing game goes, once again 2k2 is better. First of all the catches look more realistic. The receiver actually looks at the ball and most of the time makes a real looking 2 handed catch. But in Madden, the ball just hits the receive and somehow it ends up in his hands. Finally, the Defensive AI is way better in 2k2. Linebackers actually read plays, they will stand their ground until they see will the play is going then attempt to prevent to play. For example if you do a dive between the Center and guard, a lineback will notice this and try to plug the hole.. unless he is blocked by your fullback. So overall, in my opinion 2k2 is better. Madden has a better interface and more options. But 2k2 gameplay is way better.

Honest reviews on NFL 2K2 (Xbox)

After the surprise success of NFL 2K2 on PS2, the Xbox version should not disappoint. Madden was just more of the same great football that we've seen so many times before, and the beautiful looking NFL Fever came up a little short in its attempt to duplicate Sega's balance of arcade and simulation, so there is room for a fully upgraded 2K2 on the system.

Fully licensed by the NFL and NFL Player's Association

Animated sidelines with chain gang, teams and camera crews

Natural lighting effects

Advanced playbooks and play calling system

Realistic TV presentation with improved commentary, replays and telestrator usage thanks to FOX

Players with faces and facial animations

New quarterback behavior system

Revamped passing system

What more could you ask for? Forget Madden, get SEGA!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for NFL 2K2 (Xbox)

I've personally played NFL2K1 on my own dreamcast. It was nice, a little bit choppy, but over all pretty fun. Some of the moves couldve been better, but over all a good game.

Then Sega hits the market with NFL2K2, I bought it for the dreamcast. This game is awesome, great graphics, amazing gameplay, the replay value is through the roof.

The graphics in the game literally enhance the intire systems graphics while playing. Its incredible.

Realistic moves is the biggest plus. You really look like your playing in a stadium. Players spin away from tackles, break them.

And one of the best things in this version You can break away for the endzone.

One of the bigger problems on the running game with NFL2K1 was if you had a big running play, you still would never break unless playing on a low level. In NFL2K2, its completely changed, you can break away with good blocking.

Incredible game, good job Sega.

Review of Gallop Racer

Customer Ratings:

It's simply the best. My Dad and I have seen the sun come up a many mornings playing Gallop Racer. All of my other games are just collecting dust since we've been running horses. I'm 12 years old, my dad's been taking me to the race track since I was a baby. We race a couple horses every year. The only diffences between the game and real racing is you don't win real money and you don't have to go out to feed and train. I would rate this game 100 stars. The horses look real they run like real horses, the jocks look and ride like the Hall of Famers. You start a career create your very own jockey (male or female) in your silks, buy a horse or two and start winning races. You can run in regular stakes or graded stakes, where the big boys run. It's just so real the better he is on the track, the better he is in the breeding barn. Breed that tripple crown winner and get your horse and jockey into the Hall of Fame and other great awards. If your husband enjoy horse racing or you want him and your son to spend some quality time together get them this game. Gotta go now, got one about to run in the Louisiana Derby.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This is a must have game! You get to choose from over 100 horses, you get to own,breed,race,and retire your horse. You are the jockey. You can choose from male/female,the uniform and colors you wear. You can own up to 10 horses. You can save your season game. You can choose where and when you race depending on the horses age and where it runs best at. You can also name your breeded horse' offspring! If you are in to horses and racing, this is the game for you! Everyone I know loves this game!

Best Deals for Gallop Racer

This is one game you can't miss. If you like horses and/or racing, then this is the one. Challenge a friend, race the field in practice while you learn the ropes, or try your hand at raising a winning barn. It's got it all! Loads of fun that I still haven't tired of or already beaten. So, if you want a great game, then "Gallop Racer" is for you!

Honest reviews on Gallop Racer

Gallop Racer is a great game. The horses all have different personalities and running styles. They also come in a wide range of colors and markings. In Season Mode, you buy your own stable of horses with the money that you are given and the money that you earn from races. The graphics are really cool too. Races can even be run in the rain and snow! But, it takes awhile to become a good jockey. In order to become good, you have got to practice all the time! But in the end it pays off. When you start to win more races, better horses, bigger races, and new racetracks are unlocked. My favorite beginner race horses are Lively Beat, Sexy Sunrise,Welsh Chapel, and Single Night. My favorite advanced horses are All You Can, Frugal Lark, Courtly Lark, Gothic Value, Gray Sky, Solar Blond, Utmost Mover, Honest Bird, Hell Billy, White Stage, and Warm Star.

This game makes me feel like I am really riding and racing my own horses. Gallop Racer is my all-time favorite PS1 game.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Gallop Racer

My daughter was always renting this game from the video store and loved it so much that I decided to give it a try. I'm not much of a video game player, but I've got to tell you that this really is an awesome game, especially if you enjoy horses. It has so many different aspects to it that you never get bored! There's a lot to consider and I wish that the manual was just a tad more detailed in a couple of areas. That would be helpful when you are first starting out, but my 9 year old daughter was able to pick right up on the jest of the game, and with some help from me, she is really understanding and learning about the actual training and breeding end of horse-racing. She can race against the computer or against me, or just bet on races when she gets tired of that... The graphics are terrific and you can adjust the weather, the views and pick any number of horses and race tracks. It's so much fun that we don't want to stop playing it to take it back to the video store, so that is why we are buying our own copy... It's fun for ALL!

Discount HDE Crystal Blue Replacement Xbox 360 Controller Shell Cover Kit

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $6.95
Today's Bonus: 65% Off

it's made out of a cheap plastic. i put it all together with my old controller parts and i can't get it to work, it made no sense to me because the controller worked in any other shell i had but this one. i turn on the controller and the light just flashes. i tried syncing it with my xbox but still wouldn't work. i wouldn't waste the money on buying it.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

After 2 years of having the same white xbox 360 controller I felt like i needed to change color. I bought this shell in order to not buy a new one that might cost a lot more than this, and I found this item. When i got it I didn't really think it would work. I was too lazy to install the whole thing so i decided to keep the white shell and put the blue triggers, bumpers, joysticks, and d-pad. When i got to the bumpers I had a little problem...the holes in which you need to set them in were to small so i got a pair of safety scissors and carved the holes a little bigger and fit just fine. After i was done it looked very cool. In other words everything fit in just fine. When i put the whole shell on it fit just fine and had no problems.... I totally forgot, if you want to do what i did( white shell and blue buttons,triggers, etc. when putting on the d-pad just use the original screws.

Best Deals for HDE Crystal Blue Replacement Xbox 360 Controller Shell Cover Kit

Must have for the gaming son. He likes it a lot. He has been using it every day since it arrived.

Personal Trainer Walking Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $6.85
Today's Bonus: 86% Off

This game is a neat idea, and it has been encouraging me to walk more. For me having something that tracks my activity is a motivator. When you haven't completed the 3000 steps a day (user adjustable at any time, 3k is default, but if you continually surpass the daily goal the game will suggest raising it) the pedometer blinks red, making me feel like I need to get out there and walk. Yesterday I went for a walk when I never would have before. So the game is nice if that sort of thing can motivate you. I would think if you have someone in your family to compete with it would be an even bigger motivator.

The little games are ok. Walking 10K steps gets you a picture. As you walk more the picture slowly fills in like a connect the dots kind of thing. It gives you hints as the picture fills in, and some of them are very hard to guess, obscure things. You can also see your daily activity in graphs, but it would be a lot more interesting if the pedometers worked better. Since the meters only register activity of at least 10 seconds, it doesn't count all those quick walks across the house or office that can add up.

The pedometers seem to be well built and tough. 4.5cm x 3.75cm and about 1 cm thick. A little light flashes red when you haven't met your target and green when you have. It shuts off by itself and the manual says the battery will last about 6 months with normal use. There is a large button on it used to sync it with the DS. Syncing is usually very quick and easy, you press the button for one second and it's done. I occasionally get an error and have to try again though. Never an issue though.

After syncing it runs through your day making little comments like "This is the earliest you have started this month" or "This is the longest walk you have ever gone on." It then compares your walking to an animal which usually seems pretty inaccurate. I went on an hour long walk in the day, but had a lot of short walks around the office in the evening. The game said I was very active in the evening although I had a huge block of aerobic steps in the day (aerobic=activity over 10 minutes).

The game also gives you a mini goal for the next day like do some stretching or cut fats out of your diet. When you sync the following day and tell it you are done for the day it asks if you completed your mini goal. Nothing happens if you do or don't, I guess it's just an encouragement to think about what you do and eat.

Each pedometer comes with a clip for attaching to your pocket. You need a small screwdriver to attach the clip. I have not yet used the clip myself and not sure if I will since putting the meter in my pocket is easier. Seems to work well loose in a pocket. It also has a place to attach a lanyard, although I have read that if it can swing on a lanyard you will not get accurate results.

At first I thought most of my steps weren't registering due to walking barefoot, something the manual warns against. But after further reading, as I said above, it only registers activity of over 10 seconds. I was seeing great lengths of inactivity, that were inaccurate because I was moving, but it was inconsistent movement so it didn't register. The game was saying I didn't move for 2 hours, which wasn't true. Stop and go stuff won't register. It did seem to log jogging even though the manual said it may not be accurate. I am not sure if it was accurate or not (It did not give me an error message as another reviewer has stated, I will try again at a greater duration and see what happens and change this review if necessary). I also ran in place for a few minutes and it logged that fine.

For walking outside on the road at a steady pace I found it to be quite accurate. I walked at the same pace for 20 minutes and the graph for those 20 minutes was even for the whole duration. No spikes or drops. I walk at a fairly brisk pace also, and the game had no problems with it.

A major drawback for me is that there is no off button on the pedometers. I cycle to work sometimes and with a pedometer in my pocket all the shaking it gets from the road registered thousands of steps. If the pedometer is lying horizontal (for instance in a bag on the bike's rack) it isn't supposed to register as well, but it still does register some. Not as much when it's my pocket though. So unless I have a place to lay it somewhere flat on the bike, it greatly skews the number of steps I supposedly took for the day.

Also the game does not measure miles walked. A minor drawback but at least you don't have to calibrate the pedometer because of it.

Overall I am happy with it. I just really wish it had an off button so I could better results when biking to work. For me the game is helping me get more exercise, even if it's just walking.

Update: I have to say I have enjoyed seeing my walking patterns everyday and I am walking just to make sure I reach my goal in the game. I still have not had any errors after almost a weeks use due to jogging or fast movements.

I looked into getting a real pedometer today, specifically this one: Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer with Advanced Omron Health Management Software. It seems to be a full featured pedometer that you can upload your daily stats to a PC. I read the reviews and read the manual for it. The Omron has much of the same warnings of inaccuracies as the games pedometers (may not be accurate with high impact, jogging, etc). You can't switch it off, but you can read your daily steps on the unit unlike the game's meters that just blink a light. The Omron resets at 12 AM the games at 3AM. The Omron's included software looks to be far better than the DS's though, but much more straight forward. The Omron is cheaper, but the DS game gives you two meters and is meant more as a family fun game that might interested kids over a real pedometer.

After looking at a few pedometers, the game's included ones seem pretty typical except for not being able to read you exact steps on the unit. They all have their inaccuracies. When I grow sick of PT: Walking, I just pay pick up a fancier meter.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I've only had the game for two days, but I am quite pleased I got it. One of the things I like is that the pedometer is so small and can easily and discreetly clip to my waistband (or on other clothing). You can set a goal for the number of steps you take each day and the flashing light goes from red to green once you achieve your goal (the faint light only flashes while you are walking). When you upload your steps, you can see your activity by the hour for each day (there are also other graphs so you can see your information in a few different ways you can see your weekly activity patterns, monthly activity patterns, average steps, etc.). The game also has 100 images that you unlock by achieving a certain amount of steps. For example, after you walk 10,000 steps, you unlock the first picture, and 10,000 more steps unlocks the second picture (I haven't unlocked this one yet). You can also compare your steps and records with other family members or use wi-fi to see how your records compare with those of other people. You can import a mii from the wii or else create one in the game. Aside from seeing your records in various ways, unlocking images, and editing your mii, there isn't much to do with the software. However, the fact that the pedometer is so easy to carry around and that you have little goals to meet definitely motivates me to walk more. I would highly recommend it if you don't already use a pedometer regularly. However, if you already use one, I doubt this game would really increase your motivation.

Best Deals for Personal Trainer Walking

I've had this Trainer since it came out and it told me 2 days ago that its known me 10 days now and enjoyed everyone of them! I have to say I have really like it too! I just started working at home and wanted to make sure I got the proper exercise each day. I've had a pedometer before, but just noting that my steps were up to 5000 did nothing to get me to increase my walks. This little gadget let me import my Mi and now I have a familiar look as I hear about my day. Some people have mentioned that they had trouble getting an accurate count with socks or bare feet...I did not. I like being able to quickly look at the trainer during the day and seeing red or green. When I see green early in the day; I get a big smile. I now always make sure I make the goal for the day. At night when I check in I'm told what kind of an animal my walking resembled that day...deer, ant, and others; plus it gives you little reminder tips for the day (eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, stand straight when you walk etc.. I like to look at my calendar and see my walking graph rising, never less for me! The data I submit is saved for 5 years. I like the way it encourages me to up my goal when I met mine for some. I would not be this interested with a simple pedometer. I am a retired adult. When the software communicates it gives a squeaky sound for the voice, that I could do without. I have had an error message a few times when I tried to load my data; but I know that's because I wasn't holding it dead on. When I went back one step and tried again it worked smoothly. I am sold on this product and would recommend it to anyone who likes this type of trainer. I paid $45.00 for it and feel it was worth it.

Honest reviews on Personal Trainer Walking

So I've used this game/ds cartridge/activity meter/whatever you want to call it for a few days now. I really love it. I purchased this to enhance my DSi experience, not because I expected to lose weight. I love all these gadgets that make our life better while we fool around on the DS. I didn't expect some high tech pedometer--just a fun little thing to play with for a while.

I walk around barefoot all the time. I work at home. I never wear shoes, unless I absolutely have to. The activity meter registered my steps just fine. It also registered my steps when I ran as well. Overall, it worked well despite the warnings.

Miis For the first activity meter, I imported my mii from the wii. I wish there was more interaction back and forth, because my mii on the wii is getting a little porky due to my wii fit activity! However, my mii on the ds is getting a bit healthier looking. Super easy to connect. For the second activity meter, I created a mii, which was also pretty easy and fun. Being the first DS game to use mii's, I was quite impressed. Like I said, I wish they were more connected to the wii.

DogI am waiting for my third activity meter to arrive so I can clip it to my dog. You can't really leave it on a dog while you aren't home, but it's an added little feature that makes the overall experience of Personal Training:Walking fun. Soon, one of pugs will be helping to illuminate the house and joining in on the space walk, with his own little mii to represent him!

Mini-Games These are like little goals. Keep the house lit and walk the world. Space Walk is a combined game with people from all over the world. While these may not be super fun for children, I enjoy plugging records in to see how far my household and I have progressed. I'm also trying to win some trophies before the other in my household do.

View Worldwide Rankings Using wi-fi, you can compare and compete with people from all over the world. Seriously, you can despite the other reviews saying you can't. This could be a huge motivator for some people. It's also just plain fun to see how you rank globally.

Activity Meter It's charts and graphs mostly, but you can rate your day and leave notes. This is helpful if you had a particularly lazy or eventful day. The DS has yet to call me fat, which my wii fit has several times when I don't weigh in every day. "Why have you gained 5 pounds, is it because you haven't exercised? huh, huh?" Okay, maybe it's not quite that bad, but you get my drift. I was called a koala on a particularly lazy day. It's really fun to go back and see when you were active. Oh that is when I walked to the car. That is when I walked the dog, etc...

Compared to Pedometer I busted out my old pedometer, which has the same inaccuracy warnings as the nintendo activity meter about being barefoot and running. I compared the results over the course of a day, and they were pretty close, about 60 steps apart. That is a normal day, with some running after dogs, walking, etc... Nintendo does not bill this as a pedometer and it really isn't...I would not buy one of these instead of a pedometer if you are trying to start a fitness routine. I use my nike+ for that. It allows for calibration and has all sorts of features. The nintendo activity meter is for fun! It just has a natural side benefit of promoting good health and exercise. (Of course, I didn't give up my yoga routine when I got the wii fit either, to each his own, i suppose.)

Overall, I'm super happy with this game and the activity meter.

EDIT: My partner just checked his first rhythm and was super excited, as he was able to see exactly when he did what by the activity chart. It was obvious when he walked the dog at 7 a.m., when he walked from his desk to the car around 8 p.m., etc... He is also way too excited that he reached his step goal before me today. He's not so excited that we only generate enough power for a flashlight. Perhaps, if we set our step goal higher, we'll be motivated to walk more and power something stronger.

Overall, it's a ton of fun to see how your activity changes through the day. We'll be working on not being so lazy during the day perhaps...

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Personal Trainer Walking

I was excited that something "new" in the pedometer world was entering the picture. As someone who coaches others to "get moving more" as a weight loss instructor, I was excited to get to try this out even if it motivates to move just a little. First, I should state it's not a "fitness game" as some, in discussions elsewhere about this new item, have thought because of Nintendo being the maker. It is a pedometer used to "chart your life's rhythm". according to Nintendo although it has some electronic features to it. I clipped it on my shoelace but it's easily placed anywhere...That said, the Nintendo aspect of it is that you can view charts showing you when you were most active during the day and which days you were most active.

Also, you can unlock pictures but not in a game-play kind of way. It'll just show you a picture after you met your step goal and you get to see more of it the next time you walk. You can sync up to compare how far you walked with other walkers who are on the same game cartridge.

If you wish to know how many steps your dog took while at work you (seriously; it has this) create an aniimal for your mii and put it on his or her collar and it will chart them too. I am not sure why I would need to chart this, but I thought I'd throw out that part of the instructions for those who are curious of Rover's goings on..I guess it could be handy if they jumped the fence while you were at work and you wondered how far they walked before coming home???? :-)

That said, it does have some glitches that I think would steer me to simply recommend a regular pedometer that counts all your steps for over the price of this. And what are the glitches?

First, it only counts your steps in ten second intervals. So that step accuracy is lower than my currently cheaper old school pedometer. My basic cheap pedometer reacts to movcment rather than amount of time within the movement so, when I compared the two and counted my steps, my ten dollar pedometer caught ever step and this one missed several.However, if I walk slowly this one worked pefectly so I do think this could fit the bill for being different and being accurate for many but if you speed up your steps know that you may actually be taking many more steps than will register according to the manual and my own count vs. what showed up.

This from the product manual noting when your reading will most likely be inaccurate:

Walking in a crowd or other situation where you stop and start repeatedly.

If the meter is loose inside a bag or held or attached loosely by a strap.

If the movement is different from walking, like jogging, running or other vigorous activity. (THIS IS THE ONE THAT GETS ME MOST; IT WILL SHOW YOU AN ERROR MESSAGE IF YOU MOVE TOO QUICKLY; IT IS MY GOAL TO GET PEOPLE TO INCREASE THEIR INTENSITY AS THEY WALK IN ORDER TO BURN MORE CALORIES...THIS MAKES INCREASING INTENSITY A "NEGATIVE"...IT WONT COUNT UNLESS YOU WALK SLOWLY!)

If the movement is softened by shuffling, walking barefoot or wearing slippers or sandals. (TAKE IT OFF WHILE IN THE HOUSE? HOW DOES THAT HELP YOU COUNT STEPS ALL DAY LONG?)

If the meter is horizontal.

If the meter is used in a very humid environment. (IF YOU LIVE IN HOUSTON, RUN AWAY! HE HE HE)

Let's face it, if seeing a chart comparing how far you walked each day motivates you then it's worth the extra cost, no matter what the cost...Anything that motivates someone is worth it as you cant put a price on health...but it's got some glitches that something of this price could possibly be improved on. Ideally, one that benefits both walking and running since this will only work for walking.

What do I love about it? If you reach your number of steps goal for the day, it signals you with a green light. And, it did for my own reading, show accuracy although I only used it for one day and didn't venture to humid climates or run.

CONCLUSION: From discussions it seems many are saying the Omron pedometer which was out before this one offers more software and accuracy. I plan to try that one next. As for this one, I could live without the step goals lighting up for the extra cost when I can still read my current basic ten buck pedometer and see if I've reached my goals...so...I gotta pass on the recommendation for the current pricepoint in my opinion. I do like that it signals you when you've reached your step goals. It is my hope that there will soon be a pedometer in the works that truly makes a game of it in order for you to increase your steps with motivation, but it would need to be one that also counts steps if you have to run after your child or dash down a hallway or take the steps at work, or walk at a fast pace rather than cancelling them out when you walk fast as this one did for me.

Xbox Live Arcade - Compilation Disc Review

Customer Ratings:

I was never very good at video games in younger years (I'm 43 now), so needless to say, still not.

I have only had my xBox 360 for about a month now. Holy cow have games changed. I had a ball with this and, it helped me learn the controller functions (all over again at that). I can definately see where it can be fun for all ages. The price was right, cool/cute graphics and fun for all.

Now, your Black Ops pro type gamers may not get anything out of something like this, but I love it. My 43 yr. old girlfriend enjoys it too. For me its's almost like a training mission of sorts to get me ready for the "Pro-Gamers" type games.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This set has some nice, relaxing game play for those times when you've just come home from work, and need to unwind. You can play all of the games solo, with someone sitting next to you, or on-line. If you're really lucky, you can find the set in a two disc re-release that has Sega Superstars Tennis for under $3.

These games won't give you the intense, adrenaline pumping experience that so many people want these days. But you'll have fun, and can even play the games with your kids if you want.

Best Deals for Xbox Live Arcade - Compilation Disc

I ordered this disc for the Luxor 2 game, but everyone in the family has enjoyed all the other games that were included. Turned out to be a great purchase.....Who doesn't love PacMan.

Honest reviews on Xbox Live Arcade - Compilation Disc

I bought this game for the very small price of 4 dollars along with other items to get free super saver shipping, and I am confident that this is the single greatest deal on a video game I have EVER made. To put it into prospective almost all 5 arcade games cost 400 microsoft points separately which is=$5 for each one, so you save money over buying one game of the marketplace. And the only game I wanted from this disc was uno and it too was 5 dollars on the market, I also bought this in conjunction with Xbox Arcade Unplugged which was also 4 dollars and saved 4400 microsoft points over both games (11 arcade games at 400 points)($55 worth for $8). I recommend this game to anyone.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Xbox Live Arcade - Compilation Disc

It's great! It's an old classic from when they first released the system. It has five of the funnest games from the 80s and 90s. It's just great! Boom Boom Rocket rocks!

Reviews of Of Orcs And Men

Customer Ratings:

I've never been one to give long reviews, so I don't plan on starting here. To begin I would like to say while this game is obviously a little rough, with combat that isn't amazing (I would liken it to Dragon Age: Origins)a story that isn't completely ground breaking, it still has a great atmosphere that makes you wan't to see the game to it's end.

The game starts you off as an Elite Orc warrior named Arkail, who is given a task by an elite Orc group he's a part of (sorry no spoilers.) So you begin the adventure, and meet up with a Goblin named Styx, who is essentially the "comic relief" of the game, who chimes in to add his quirky two cents often.

The Pros:

-A nice atmosphere that makes you really push for the usual "Bad guy" in fantasy series. (Honestly I've always been a fan of Orcs)

-The chance to be a giant Orc warrior makes you feel powerful, and throughout the game you really get a sense of pride for the people you fight for.

-Combat isn't amazing, but it is compelling in the sense that you really have to watch what's going on, otherwise you could end up dead really fast.

-A story that drives you forward, with a nice couple of twists and turns that you don't expect, or are rather intrigued by how they implemented certain things.

-Dialogue options make you feel in charge of what's going on for the most part.

-The graphics aren't ground breaking, but they are pretty good by my standards.

The Cons:

-Bad voice acting can ruin immersion at times, the two main characters are well voiced, but lackluster acting by most non-important npc's makes you feel like everyone is rather boring.

-All Orcs besides Arkail have retarded voices, they needed to have a gritty, deep tone, instead many have these silly voices that sound like an old woman with a dry throat.

-Combat isn't amazing, and hopefully this game gathers enough support so that the company can fit together a better combat engine.

Overall the game took me about 15 hours to complete, which is better than what many game companies spew forth. While it isn't the Elder Scrolls with a possible 400 hours worth of game play, it is definitely worth playing and makes you feel proud to say that you beat it.

-Expect a sequel, considering the game hinted at one.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I was afraid to pick this one up after Game of Thrones, since they are both from the same studio, but I really enjoyed this game. The story was interesting with several twists and turns, the two main characters were really fun to carry throughout the game. The banter and relationship between them is quite unique. The gameplay, while not the deepest, is strategic and fun. The level design is somewhat, well, completely linear. This didn't detract from anything for me since there are plenty of open-world rpgs out there. One gripe I had was that when you assassinated someone, their corpse didn't set off any alarms to the surviving patrols. they would simply walk right over them as if they weren't there. Aside from that, I had a blast playing Of Orcs and Men, and would recommend it to anyone interested in a good story driven rpg that has you playing a character you normally wouldn't in such a setting.

Best Deals for Of Orcs And Men

Cyanide et.al. has several games with the same engine now. These games are all mostly story telling games when the focus is story, and tactics using skills during battle. At first I was not sure I would like this new subgenre of game but it is turning out reasonably good. Something different from a dungeon crawl anyway.

the key to these games is

1. good story

2. good interface

3. several varied options to fighting style

These games tend to offer all in reasonable proportions and OOAM does too. Overall it was a good game, especially when had on sale.

Steam tells me my total game play was 14 hours. A bit short. Its not like I skipped any of the side quests as there are not that many. Nothing is perfect. Some of the plot twists were a bit predictable and shallow. But the voice acting was very good which means a lot to such a game. I think the industry has finally developed a reservoir of good voice talent to draw upon. Serious actors providing believability to the action.

One thing people might miss is inventory variability. There simply is not much happening in this game by way of inventory. There are a few good pieces and once you find them you keep them. I ended up with 18 inventory points left over at the end of the game so there might have been more that could be done there. But it is not integral to the game play so I guess this is why that part of it is minimal.

Like I said a good play. Hope these guys have more of their style games coming soon. Remember cyanide, choose a good story with interesting plot twists and side plots, get good voice actors, make sure there is some interesting potential combos during fighting, especially where the two characters can co-operation. Love the time slowdown feature.

Hail Flavius!

Honest reviews on Of Orcs And Men

Although this game is far from perfect, I decided it deserves 5 stars for being the sort of video game that I most enjoy. Its redeemable qualities include:

1. A unique, engaging storyline The story could be adapted, almost without variation, into a movie or novel. The plot is fun and resolves with moderate twists into a satisfying conclusion. The world itself isn't super developed. Don't expect long histories or codex entries in the vein of Dragon Age, but there's enough background to convey a sense of realism. It's also extremely linear. No open world. There are fixed maps and few choices. (There's a few, but they don't affect the outcome that much.) I actually don't consider this a bad thing. I enjoy feeling like I've explored all the content, and I'd rather the game developers focused on giving me (at least) one good story rather than a handful of short, boring, or inconsequential ones.

2. Strong characters The game features two well developed heroes, who diverge from the average protagonist types (although they do fit into their own stereotypes). The orc and the goblin play off each other wonderfully, and the dialogue between them is fun to watch. Side characters aren't too shabby either, with a few exceptions. Even the villains, if a trifle cliche, are interesting.

3. Turn-based combat I'm likely in the minority in my love of slow turn-based tactics. So don't despair, you can play the game with all the action packed, reflex-based button pouncing you desire. But optionally, if you press the space bar, time is suspended and you can make your attack choices at your leisure. I really enjoyed the combat set-up. I thought I would miss not playing a magic user (despite magic existing in-game, you don't actually have access to it), but the tank and damage dealer combo was ultimately satisfying. And challenging too!

As for drawbacks, the characters have very little customization. Skill options are somewhat limited. New gear is hard to come by. The graphics are good to average. (That's not a drawback, I suppose. But there were no scenes that took my breath away, such as, for example, every single shot of Witcher 2.)

All in all, Of Orcs and Men does not stand up in scope to some of the other phenomenal games in its genre. But it is a solid good game. If I could find 10 more like it, I would buy them all.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Of Orcs And Men

I like Orcs, and a friend knowing my fascination with Orcs recommended to me Of Orcs and Men, so the other day I picked it up from Amazon. I tried playing it last night, and was so frustrated, I quit not very far in.

1) It starts out with a tutorial, which is great, but in the tutorial, it stops the action and tells you how to do something, like pull up the combat action screen. Here is what the tutorial says: "Press to bring up the combat actions to change your action and to slow down the fight so you can pick different actions" (not exact wording). Yep, doesn't tell you WHAT to press. Nope. So I decide because there is no back or replay button on the tutorial that I will quit the game, and start again, maybe thinking I missed something....

2) The game so far has almost non-stop conversations: You can not quit during these conversations, so I kept trying to speed through them to get to a place that allowed me to quit the game, no such luck...

3) The game would not allow me to bring up the menu screen at all at any time that I could see I tried ESC and the F1, which is what the tutorial told me would bring up the menu screen. So, the only way I could actually quit the game was to either force it to close by rebooting my computer or going in through the task manager...

4) Guess what? The task manager is pushed to the background so even if you open it, it wouldn't allow me to get to it. The game kept popping up in front. I finally finageled (used the windows key) it so I could get to the task manager.

5) It annoys me intensely when I can't choose the gender of my character and must accept what they give me, which is basically a male Orc. Great, I get the Orc part, but it is inherent bias in game designers to make one only able to pick male. Hello Game Designers: Women also play video games. I know, hard to believe, but we do. Consider that when making your game environment because it doesn't make sense to alienate a good portion of your audience.

6) It also mildly irritates me that I can't pick how my character looks, not that big of a deal, but still.

7) The Orc's look odd in that their skin texture looks weird, like a beat-up suite case died green. Also, surprisingly the graphics are pretty basic in this game: pretty cartoonish and rough. I guess Skyrim and Dragon Age spoiled me with beautiful graphics.

8) As the other reviewer states, the voice acting could be much better.

9) The download from Amazon was incredibly slooooooooowww It said it would take about 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. It actually took more almost 12 hours. Granted our DSL internet is not the best, but still, it was very slow.

I will probably try the game again, afterall, I did spend $40 on it, but so far, not even 10 minutes into the game, and it has frustrated me beyond belief.