Showing posts with label xbox 360 package. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xbox 360 package. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Black 250GB 250 GB Hard Drive Disk HDD for Xbox 360 SLIM Review

Black 250GB 250 GB Hard Drive Disk HDD for Xbox 360 SLIM
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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Received my 250GB hard drive yesterday, it took about 30 seconds to install. and works great so far! I would like to note that amazon suggests buying the xbox360 transfer kit with this item. Which is NOT needed. You just have to go to the storage section on your xbox Dashboard and transfer your saved items from internal memory to your new Hard drive. I had 3.1GB of data to transfer and it only took about 5 minutes.

Also, in some cases you may not be able to use some of your DLC, all you have to do to fix this is go into your account page on the Xbox Dashboard and go to the "Transfer Licenses" option, then transfer the licenses from your INTERNAL MEMORY to your HARD DRIVE. I haven't had to do this yet, but it was brought to my attention that it may happen.

This product works in Xbox360 Slims ONLY. not the old models.

UPDATE: Forgot to mention that even though it says that this hard drive is 250GB, You really only have about 228GB of space to use. This is the case with most Hard drives. 228GB should still be plenty of space for most people.

Example: Installing Forza Motorsport 4 (disc 1) to my Hard drive took up 7.6GB of space (This took about 10 mins). Skyrim took up 3.8GB of space (less than 5 mins).

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This is not the original xbox 360 Hard drive but it works exactly the same way. I've had it for many months now and so far no problems. Very satisfied with this product and would definitely recommend for anyone that wants to save some money.

Best Deals for Black 250GB 250 GB Hard Drive Disk HDD for Xbox 360 SLIM

So I was a bit skeptical about this hard drive. I took a chance, good thing I did since my 4GB Xbox 360 S from Walmart did not contain a hard drive. I installed it and to my surprise it worked. It fit really tight and caused some slight cosmetic damage to the drive upon insertion and removal. I had to apply ample amounts of pressure to install and uninstall the drive. Upon removal there was several scratches on the drive and pieces of plastic shaved off of the drive due to the tight fit. I removed any excess material and blew out the hard drive slot and it worked fine. A little scary when it did not want to fit, but it is working fine.

ProsMuch cheaper than the MS version and it works.

ConsThis hard drive fit a little tight. I had to apply a good amount of force to install it and even more to remove it. Upon removal there was scrapes on the drive due to the hard fit. I took and removed any loose plastic that was damaged and reinstalled it.

11/30/2012 UPDATE

I have had this hard drive for several months now and it is still working great. So glad I made this purchase.

Honest reviews on Black 250GB 250 GB Hard Drive Disk HDD for Xbox 360 SLIM

My son loves his hard drive. He liked how fast it took to get here. He will recommend it to his friends.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Black 250GB 250 GB Hard Drive Disk HDD for Xbox 360 SLIM

I bought this Hard Drive about a month ago, but it is starting to act up. My xbox loads a little slower, and I've gotten the Red Dot once in a while, but it hasn't flat out crashed. I recently bought an xbox original game online, and found out the hard way that this was not a Microsoft certified hard drive. If you don't intend to play any xbox original games, then go ahead and buy this for the price, but it sucks when you can't play classics such as Knights of the Old Republic, Battlefront, or Halo. I'm going to return this before it completely crashes and just buy the actual Microsoft Hard Drive.

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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Review of Rock Band Bass Pedal Reinforcement - Pedal Metal

Rock Band Bass Pedal Reinforcement - Pedal Metal
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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No way this product has 5 stars on 28 reviews. The writing tone for a lot of those other reviews is very similar.

After playing 2 songs on expert drums, I can say that unless you play with tennis shoes on, the fact that the screws aren't flush means you'll feel every kick. Specifically the two screws on the left.

Plus your pedal is completely torn up by the mounting screws. If something actually goes wrong with your pedal after installing this, you have to unscrew it and send it back to EA with 6 jagged holes in it definitely wear above and beyond normal.

PASS.

Gave it three stars since it works as advertised, but it's pretty ghetto. I'd buy a real pedal or just keep sending broken ones in. EA turns them around in like a week and it took 5 months for my first one to break.

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This is an excellent addition (reinforcement) to your flimsly Rock Band plastic drum pedal. Easy to install and very durable. Pedal Metal shipped very quickly. For the most part, a great buy!

I only gave 4 stars instead of 5 because:

1) the screws aren't flush with the surface

2) this may not work depending on how badly your pedal is damaged. The description doesn't really say it's a fix for a broken pedal as much as it's a preventative... but it also makes one think it will fix a broken pedal, but then installation could be tricky (or impossible) depending on how your plastic is broken

3) after receiving it, I'm not sure the product itself is worth $15.00, but it does prevent (or maybe solves) a big problem with minimal effort and that in itself is worth $15.00. Better than paying $60.00 for a whole new kit.

And one more note, having nothing to do with this product, but the Rock Band drum pads have sensors which do wear out over time. I'm only including this here to save you the same frustration I went though.

You can buy ones online that work very well. Getting the pad open is a little tricky (closing it is even harder), but once open replacing the sensor is a snap and you're rockin' again. In fact, I think the replacement sensor is even better than the original, it's a little more sensitive and picks up quick successive hits better. I got mine from

Have you seen the kit for Guitar Hero World Tour? Can't wait... :)

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My 17 year old attached it in less then 15 minutes.

We took the pedal apart and he was able to line up

and then use the self boring screws to attach the pedal plate.

He's back enjoying his Rock drums again. Wonderful fix.

Honest reviews on Rock Band Bass Pedal Reinforcement - Pedal Metal

Im not too great at this review thing, but i wanted to do one for this product because it is such a wonderful little add on, i couldnt imagine my rock band set up without it. Me and my friends go all out with this rock band thing, we play in position and we rock as hard as we can with the toy peripherals, so naturally things have broken or bent badly with the group. I drum alot since its fun and i am a large guy, so my foot stresses that pedal like no other. It bent badly one day and i thought my drumiming days were over till i found this product. It came super fast, almost 4 days before it was estimated to be here, and the instructions were super easy. The added weight and texture are perfect and it really helps to know that when the pedal kicks get crazy that the pedal can hold up to it. Ive been stomping this thing for a few days now and it hasnt so much as hinted at any damage. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!

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This is a simply awesome product. Solid, lightweight, and very cool looking. Easy to install and one of the fastest transactions I have had on Amazon.

Thanks man... you rock!

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Reviews of Protector Skin Decal Sticker for Xbox 360 Slim (1 piece for

Protector Skin Decal Sticker for Xbox 360 Slim
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
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This product is great and something I'm going to keep but, and this is a huge but to those who are thinking of buying skins, this skin was not adjusted right the two sides were off and it doesn't fit the slim as good as it should. Pretty much what I'm saying is, do a better job with your products.

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Thursday, August 21, 2014

Buy Mad Catz Control Pad Pro for Xbox 360 (Colors May Vary)

Mad Catz Control Pad Pro for Xbox 360
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
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I don't have many complaints when it comes to my XBox 360, but the standard controller was one of the few exceptions. The X, Y, A, and B buttons were way too stiff. The shoulder buttons weren't as good as they should have been, and at one point one of them fell off from being used too much, and worst of all, the D-Pad was beyond horrible.

Well no more. The D-Pad on this controller is much more reliable. Especially for games that requires you to use the D-Pad often. For example, I play Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 often, and before the other controller's D-Pad would make me do moves that I didn't want to. This one, however, doesn't give me that problem.

The one downside is the microphone interference. Whenever your using your microphone over live, other players your talking to may here static and such. It's not horrible static, but I'm told it's there. Just be warned that if you're the type of gamer who plays online with other people alot and want crystal clear communication with other players, this controller may not be for you. Otherwise, buy this controller.

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I was looking for a wired 360 controller for use with an xbox 360 as well as a Mac and Windows. The store ran out of original controllers (which cost $40) and only had these for $25. It was well worth it!

It obviously worked right away for the xbox 360. For the computer, it was perfectly recognized as a MadCatz GamePad and worked with the XBOX 360 drivers for Windows and for Mac OS X. (Had to download both from different websites).

Controller wise, this thing is great. The triggers are much more concave than the original Microsoft controllers, which is how a trigger should feel. Also, the bumper buttons actually FEEL like buttons. They never really felt like anything other than a few clickers on the original controllers, but the MadCatz one makes them big and provides a satisfying click.

The D-Pad is also vastly superior to the original controllers. You can actually click the diagonal with ease. Of course, any D-Pad is probably better than the original 360 ones. But these are extremely good, it's definitely a big plus sign so you can hit the buttons.

My only complaint with it would be that the bumpers and the triggers are too far apart. I would of preferred if the distance were more close, similar to the original 360 controller. This isn't really much of a problem, except it made playing Castle Crashers slightly annoying since the triggers and the bumpers are both used and switched off quickly. However, it does allow the two buttons to be more defined and less prone to accidently hitting the wrong button.

I have not tried the headset input, so I can't comment on that.

Best Deals for Mad Catz Control Pad Pro for Xbox 360 (Colors May Vary)

Pro:

Cheap Price

Standard Design

Reliable and Consistant Performance

Corded Controller (faster than wireless)

LONG Cord

Light

Do not Need Batteries

Cons:

Location of start and select keys are in non-standard locations

Right Trigger Squeaks after hundreds of hours of use

I've used this for a couple hundred hours at least, and it is very, very consistent. Unlike every other controller I've used, the thumbsticks don't eventually "get loose" and get that wiggly feeling that you hate.

I only play during weekends so I've had to plug and unplug this at least dozens of times and so far the USB connection is tight and firm, no sign of anything wearing down so far.

The only possible bad thing is that the right trigger squeaks when I press it now. It's very minute and soft, the only reason I heard it was because I was trying to wrap up a campaign at like 2 in the morning and the tv was on mute. I'm going to order another one of these as a backup in case the squeak turns into anything else, but again, this lasted way longer than any other one I've had.

Honest reviews on Mad Catz Control Pad Pro for Xbox 360 (Colors May Vary)

The controller is cheaply made but hey, that's why I bought it. Overall it isn't bad for the price but the button layout is a little poorly thought of. The start and back buttons were moved from where they are on a normal controller to next to the guide button. They are not the most used buttons, but it is still poor placement.

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I tried it as a computer controller and amazingly enough it works just find, but you have to go to the manufacturer website to download the driver.

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Monday, July 28, 2014

Review of Lollipop Chainsaw Premium Edition

Lollipop Chainsaw Premium Edition
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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This Japan import will not work in a US. XBOX 360. I guess I should have done my homework. Who would of thought!

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Fun game to have, if you like killing zombies, this a game to get, it a great game to have.

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I love this game! so nice it has different costumes! plus a ranking mode! definitely a buy worthy game! Go get it now!

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Saturday, June 28, 2014

Cheap Phantasy Star Online, Episode I & II

Phantasy Star Online, Episode I & II
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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Hunting down Game Cube's only online title may be a chore that some people may not be interested in, while hunting down the broadband adapter is even worse... thankfully I found both, and had a credit card handy that day, and boy am I glad I did.

I was a fan of he Dreamcast original, and so when Episode 1&2 was announced for GameCube I was very happy. Regardless of what anybody has said about graphical enhancements in the past I cannot stress enough that there has been drastic enhancements to the graphics, to the camera, and best of all to the controller sensitivity, defending you character is so much easier because the game is a lot more responsive than its previous incarnations.

There are more character types to choose from, new strengths, new weaknesses, a few new monsters, etc, and it is plenty fun on its own without going online.

Sega also included the option for four-player action offline, which is also a blast.

There is one complaint I have for this game, and only one, the lack of a keyboard, or headset for communication. Despite the addition of hotkeys, conversation online is a big pain because typing through the control pad is too slow, and by the time I finish my sentence my comrades have already left the lobby. Nintendo needs to release a keyboard for the GameCube, even if it's only for PSO.

Be aware that this game is not out of print, its just that demand is extremely high, and during the next few months it may be difficult to find, but not impossible. Some websites are reporting that the product is discontinued, but this is not the case. The game is a lot of fun, and if you don't mind doing a little hunting for it it's well worth the price of admission. Hopefully this means Nintendo will get its act together with online games and start getting serious about an online plan.

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Phantasy Star Online is one of the most addictive games I have ever played. Not only is PSO well planned and thought out, but it offers more modes of play than the original Dreamcast release.

I was very pleased to find that there are now four modes of play with PSO. There is Single player, Multiplayer Co-op, Multiplayer Challenge, and Multiplayer Online.

In single player, you can take jobs and progress through an actual story. The story is set after an apocalyptic event. You are a hunter, who travels to the planet's surface on missions. As your missions progress, you learn more about what happened to the planet. As time progresses, you become stronger, and can learn more skills. Single player mode offers the most interaction with Non-Player Characters (NPCs).

There are only slight differences between the multiplayer modes. Multiplayer Online and Multiplayer Co-op are the exact same. You go out and fight on the planet's surface, for no other reason, than to gain levels. This may not seem like much, but you have to play multiplayer to gain access to some items. Different character classes gain different items during standard play. For instance, a FOMARL (Male/Human/Force) will gain access to an Ice Saber +3, but must trade the saber with a HUMAR for a Draw Cane +1. You may also exchange money in Multiplayer modes(Except Challenge).

Challenge mode varies from the other Multiplayer modes. Challenge allows you to fight other players (online or offline) for the heck of it. You can even wager items or money in the events.

Game play takes some getting used to, but it is not difficult to learn. Movement is performed with the left analog stick. This is not the problem. The problem comes in planning ahead. In battle, you only have 6 actions that can be accessed quickly. You set these up in the customization menu. You can set attacks, items, or techniques in these slots. Often times, you'll find yourself fighting a slew of enemies, each weak to a different element, so you will equip yourself with all 3 elemental attacks. Yet, when you have more useful techniques, like raising your attack power, you quickly find yourself in need of a quick fix. PSO has no pause feature, so as soon as you hit start, you need to make sure you are moving around, while using the right analog stick to navigate through menus. This can be cumbersome for those who are not accustomed to the Mouse and Keyboard play method or have trouble multitasking. The trouble with being in the menu screen, is that you can not realign your sight. You must rely on your ability to maneuver blindly. Once you are out of the menu screen, you can use the L trigger to realign your field of vision.

I can not say I was completely impressed with the PSO's environments. They seem a little lacking. Forests are just open fields surrounded by trees. This fails to provide an accurate feeling of actually being hunted or hunting the beasts that roam the land. The creature roster is rather impressive and imaginative. Designs range from small chicken like animals to huge ogres and worse. Sonic Team really had their work cut out for them.

Character growth is presented rather well in PSO. Instead of just leveling every time you kill something, like in Final Fantasy and most other RPGs, it takes hours before you even start to grow. The downside of this is that it takes forever to learn new techniques (which is necessary if you play as a Force user). The upside is that the game remains fun and does not become too easy too quickly. Not only does your character grow, but you also have a creature that travels with you called a MAG. MAGs can be equipped. Once equipped, a MAG will increase your stats. You need to feed them items every so often. Feeding your MAG regularly will cause it to gain levels. The more levels it gains, the stronger of an ally it will be. Feeding MAGs can be anything from recovery items to revival items. MAGs also allow your character to perform overdrive attacks. The manner in which you raise your MAG, determines what overdrives your MAG will have.

PSO has an excellent character creation system. First you choose what type you want your character to be (Hunter, Ranger or Force). Then you choose the gender and species. Once this is done, you can begin to design your character. Your character is customizable in the following areas: face, hair, skin tone, outfit, and proportion. Proportioning means that you select how tall/short and skinny/fat your character will be. Androids are the only let down. With Androids, you can only choose from a few preset body and head combinations. Androids also can not use techniques, which comes as a disadvantage. But they do get interesting weapons, such as chainsaws and reapers.

PSO wasn't entirely a great game. I was disappointed that you could not go on quests in multiplayer modes. It was also a draw back that characters are hard to level. For beginners to the RPG world, this can be very frustrating.

Overall, I found PSO to be a great game. It did not require an entire Memory Card like most Game Cube games. Despite the minor problems with this title, I would give it a 9.9. I highly recommend this to other Game Cube owners. Online or Offline, this is a must own.

Best Deals for Phantasy Star Online, Episode I & II

When the Dreamcast first hit the shelves, many of us stared longingly for several moments at that phone jack on the back of the system. It took time, but that little port has finally seen action via the Web browser, "Chu Chu Rocket," "Quake 3," "Starlancer," and Visual Concepts' 2001 sports titles. The capstone to Sega's initial online multiplayer lineup, however, is a little SonicTeam gem called "Phantasy Star Online."

Although it incorporates many elements from the "Phantasy Star" series, "PSO" is a side story at best. The events in the game take place approximately 1,000 years after the end of "Phantasy Star 2." Seven years ago, the interstellar transport ship Pioneer 1 landed on the planet of Ragol to begin colonization. Pioneer 2 arrives to bring more colonists to the settlement, but as communication is established between Pioneer 2 and the planet's surface, a huge explosion rocks Ragol. The Central Dome of the colony is ground zero. Taking the role of an adventurer from Pioneer 2, your job is to figure out what happened on Ragol that fateful day. This premise is simply an excuse for "PSO" to exist; you don't get much more narrative than that.



Luckily, the lack of story doesn't detract from the fun of the game. Much as in "Diablo," Gameplay consists of heading into mazelike environments, clearing areas of numerous monsters, snatching up any items they may drop, and selling said items for cash back in town. As you gain experience from kills, you become stronger, progress further, and find better weapons and armor. Eventually, you can defeat the boss of the area and move on to the next area.

"PSO" differs from "Diablo" in that the game is fully 3D, with the perspective being third-person over-the-shoulder. The basic gameplay is solid, outside of some occasional camera troubles, although the battle system is a bit simplistic. Fighting boils down to "point and shoot." Strategy comes into play only when attackers swarm over your character in the higher difficulty levels. Because of this, the game can become repetitive, particularly when a character is powerful enough to make it through an area, but not quite strong enough to take on the area boss. Leveling up is tedious, but can be made relatively painless if you have online teammates with whom you enjoy playing.

You create characters by choosing one of nine character types, and then customizing the appearance of your selection to suit your taste. A variety of heads, faces, colors, and outfits are available for each type, and a proportion editor lets you use a sliding scale to change the height and weight as you please. Characters can be used exclusively online, exclusively off-line, or in a combination of both.

Of course, the heart of the game is the online multiplay, and "PSO" excels in this area. When you log on, you find yourself in a lobby area, which serves as both a chat lounge and a gateway to the actual game. From the lobby you can link up with up to three other players and jump into a quest. "PSO" uses an innovative Symbol Chat system that lets you communicate with player-designed face icons. You can also construct chat sentences from preset phrase menus. Any phrase you chose from a preset menu will automatically be translated for the other players. Japanese players will see your message in Japanese; French players will see it in French. In practice, most communication is done through old-fashioned typing, but Sega's bold attempt to break down language barriers is worthy of note.

Lag is almost non-existent. Where it does crop up, the game hides it exceedingly well. The most prominent display of lag is a delay in picking up an item or a teammate slashing at thin air but still hitting an enemy. This does not affect gameplay, and not once was lag anything more than an occasionally amusing quirk throughout the 60 or so hours I spent online with "PSO."

Indeed, the online play is so smooth that sometimes it doesn't feel like the game is being played online. The environments you hack, blast, and cast your way through are packed with gorgeous detail. The Forest where you begin the quest is one of the most visually stunning pieces of work on a console to date. Animation is excellent, and the Forest's dragon boss gives the impression of a truly fearsome creature. Yet somehow SonicTeam managed to make all of this run buttery smooth for four players on 56-Kbps modems.

Sound is less stellar than are graphics. While the music is excellent, incorporating some of the old "Phantasy Star" themes into new compositions, sound effects tend to fall flat. Granted, there can only be so much variety in sword slashes and bullet hits, but more distinct sounds would have been nice. Additionally, a number of monster sounds are taken from existing Dreamcast sound libraries. They're fine sounds for monsters to make, but it did seem a bit odd to hear the Poison Lilies laugh at me with the voice of the first boss from "House of the Dead 2."

If you are looking for an online RPG in the same vein as "Ultima Online" or "EverQuest," or if you are a "Phantasy Star" fan expecting an in-depth continuation of the classic RPG saga, then you will be sorely disappointed. "PSO" is not massively multiplayer, and the story is scant, handed out in tiny parcels in the form of a breadcrumb trail of data storage devices. Sharp-eyed "Phantasy Star" veterans will spot a number of connections and references to the previous games, though.

None of the aforementioned shortcomings ruin the game by any means. "PSO" is an attempt to move console gaming further into the realm of online play, and it has succeeded in what it was designed to do. In the process, SonicTeam created an undeniably addictive game in the great tradition of multiplayer dungeon crawling. "Gauntlet" and "Diablo" fans will feel right at home, and anyone who has a craving for hacking up Locustas with a few friends will undoubtedly find a few dozen hours of enjoyment in "Phantasy Star Online." This title is a solid gaming experience, a tremendous technical feat that overcomes the limitations of a dial-up connection, and a welcome return to a Sega franchise that has been gathering dust for far too long.

Honest reviews on Phantasy Star Online, Episode I & II

I first played PSO way back when in the golden days of the Dreamcast. I was hooked after 2 minutes of play! Here I am, some 500 hours and Version 2 later (hey, I DO have a social life, but PSO almost claimed it) and I find myself ignoring it just because I know if I pick up the controller, even for a minute, I can say farewell to the rest of my day! With a wide range of equipment and various special abilities as well as extremely rare items and treats for the virtual pet like Mag, treasure hunting in RPGs has never been so exciting! This game is long, challenging, easy to play, and addictive. All of these are what RPG makers strive to acheive, and Sonic Team has finally done it! The game is nearly flawless, and with gorgeous graphics that were so good it took a year for me to find something comparable, how can anyone possibly go wrong with any Phantasy Star Online version for any system! Oh, did I mention players can join up with other players online to fight harder battles and test their skills using a wide variety of specialized multiplayer challenges like Deathmatch and Soccer? This is a MUST HAVE for RPG fans and anyone with a Dreamcast, Gamecube or XBox! I bought a new system just so I could have the next version! Buy it. Period.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Phantasy Star Online, Episode I & II

When the Dreamcast first hit the shelves, many of us stared longingly for several moments at that phone jack on the back of the system. It took time, but that little port has finally seen action via the Web browser, "Chu Chu Rocket," "Quake 3," "Starlancer," and Visual Concepts' 2001 sports titles. The capstone to Sega's initial online multiplayer lineup, however, is a little SonicTeam gem called "Phantasy Star Online."

Although it incorporates many elements from the "Phantasy Star" series, "PSO" is a side story at best. The events in the game take place approximately 1,000 years after the end of "Phantasy Star 2." Seven years ago, the interstellar transport ship Pioneer 1 landed on the planet of Ragol to begin colonization. Pioneer 2 arrives to bring more colonists to the settlement, but as communication is established between Pioneer 2 and the planet's surface, a huge explosion rocks Ragol. The Central Dome of the colony is ground zero. Taking the role of an adventurer from Pioneer 2, your job is to figure out what happened on Ragol that fateful day. This premise is simply an excuse for "PSO" to exist; you don't get much more narrative than that.



Luckily, the lack of story doesn't detract from the fun of the game. Much as in "Diablo," Gameplay consists of heading into mazelike environments, clearing areas of numerous monsters, snatching up any items they may drop, and selling said items for cash back in town. As you gain experience from kills, you become stronger, progress further, and find better weapons and armor. Eventually, you can defeat the boss of the area and move on to the next area.

"PSO" differs from "Diablo" in that the game is fully 3D, with the perspective being third-person over-the-shoulder. The basic gameplay is solid, outside of some occasional camera troubles, although the battle system is a bit simplistic. Fighting boils down to "point and shoot." Strategy comes into play only when attackers swarm over your character in the higher difficulty levels. Because of this, the game can become repetitive, particularly when a character is powerful enough to make it through an area, but not quite strong enough to take on the area boss. Leveling up is tedious, but can be made relatively painless if you have online teammates with whom you enjoy playing.

You create characters by choosing one of nine character types, and then customizing the appearance of your selection to suit your taste. A variety of heads, faces, colors, and outfits are available for each type, and a proportion editor lets you use a sliding scale to change the height and weight as you please. Characters can be used exclusively online, exclusively off-line, or in a combination of both.

Of course, the heart of the game is the online multiplay, and "PSO" excels in this area. When you log on, you find yourself in a lobby area, which serves as both a chat lounge and a gateway to the actual game. From the lobby you can link up with up to three other players and jump into a quest. "PSO" uses an innovative Symbol Chat system that lets you communicate with player-designed face icons. You can also construct chat sentences from preset phrase menus. Any phrase you chose from a preset menu will automatically be translated for the other players. Japanese players will see your message in Japanese; French players will see it in French. In practice, most communication is done through old-fashioned typing, but Sega's bold attempt to break down language barriers is worthy of note.

Lag is almost non-existent. Where it does crop up, the game hides it exceedingly well. The most prominent display of lag is a delay in picking up an item or a teammate slashing at thin air but still hitting an enemy. This does not affect gameplay, and not once was lag anything more than an occasionally amusing quirk throughout the 60 or so hours I spent online with "PSO."

Indeed, the online play is so smooth that sometimes it doesn't feel like the game is being played online. The environments you hack, blast, and cast your way through are packed with gorgeous detail. The Forest where you begin the quest is one of the most visually stunning pieces of work on a console to date. Animation is excellent, and the Forest's dragon boss gives the impression of a truly fearsome creature. Yet somehow SonicTeam managed to make all of this run buttery smooth for four players on 56-Kbps modems.

Sound is less stellar than are graphics. While the music is excellent, incorporating some of the old "Phantasy Star" themes into new compositions, sound effects tend to fall flat. Granted, there can only be so much variety in sword slashes and bullet hits, but more distinct sounds would have been nice. Additionally, a number of monster sounds are taken from existing Dreamcast sound libraries. They're fine sounds for monsters to make, but it did seem a bit odd to hear the Poison Lilies laugh at me with the voice of the first boss from "House of the Dead 2."

If you are looking for an online RPG in the same vein as "Ultima Online" or "EverQuest," or if you are a "Phantasy Star" fan expecting an in-depth continuation of the classic RPG saga, then you will be sorely disappointed. "PSO" is not massively multiplayer, and the story is scant, handed out in tiny parcels in the form of a breadcrumb trail of data storage devices. Sharp-eyed "Phantasy Star" veterans will spot a number of connections and references to the previous games, though.

None of the aforementioned shortcomings ruin the game by any means. "PSO" is an attempt to move console gaming further into the realm of online play, and it has succeeded in what it was designed to do. In the process, SonicTeam created an undeniably addictive game in the great tradition of multiplayer dungeon crawling. "Gauntlet" and "Diablo" fans will feel right at home, and anyone who has a craving for hacking up Locustas with a few friends will undoubtedly find a few dozen hours of enjoyment in "Phantasy Star Online." This title is a solid gaming experience, a tremendous technical feat that overcomes the limitations of a dial-up connection, and a welcome return to a Sega franchise that has been gathering dust for far too long.

Buy Fom Amazon Now

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Discount Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks - PlayStation 2

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks - PlayStation 2
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $8.68
Today's Bonus: 57% Off
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Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is hands down the best "Mythologies" title in the MK Universe. After having two rather poor spin offs (Sub-Zero and MK: Special Forces), it seemed as if MK could only do well in it's core series... until now.

MK: Shaolin Monks is a re-telling of Mortal Kombat 2, through the eyes of Kung Lao and Liu Kang. The game starts at the end of MK 1 and runs all the way up to the climatic finish where you battle the great Shao Kahn. Along the way you will utilize the game's somewhat unique combat engine, which is basically a hybrid of a platformer like Devil May Cry and the MK "Kombat" engine. What is so great about it though is that it is not stiff like the "Kombat" engine, and allows pretty much free movement. You still have "kombos" and special moves, but they are all easy to execute and chain together, giving even a novice player an easy chance to get in the game and start kicking butt. You also have the ability to pull off fatalities on just about every enemy (even bosses, when you beat them!)

The game also features an "RPG" like experience point system, which you can manipulate heavily depending on how good you get at killing enemies and keeping your combos going without getting knocked down. As long as you keep hitting enemies and killing them, your combo will increase. With each kill or 10 hits, you receive a multiplier point. After your combo ends, the points you earned depending on a number of factors, including your combo and kills, are multiplied. You then receive experience points based on that multiplication. The experience points then can be used to purchase new moves and combos in the status screen. The only downside to this though is the fact that the game has only so many combos and moves to purchase. You will easily have purchased every move available well before the game is over (for me, it was half way before the game was complete!)

The graphics for MK: Shaolin Monks are kind of bad in places (especially in the cinematic cut scenes everyone pretty much has the same face!) The in-game graphics are good though for the most part, although they seem gritty and un-finished in places. The dynamic lighting and the blood makes up for it though... if you like your violence red.

Sound-wise, MK: Shaolin Monks is like any other MK game. The soundtrack is not at all that impressive, but it fits the atmosphere of the game, especially in the areas that are straight out of MK 2. The only qualms with the game's sound are probably with it's voice acting... but we'll get into that further in a bit.

The story telling of MK:Shaolin Monks is another hamper on the game. While the game features some great MK action and appearances from just about everyone's favorite characters, the way they appear (or die) is somewhat non-sensual at times. Also, with the way certain things happen in the game, you will be left with your head scratching, wondering if you recall things being that way in MKII's story. To top it off, the game has some really BAD voice acting (best example is Shao Kahn... instead of using the MK announcer voice, they used some other random voice.)

Despite the shoddy voice acting and rather butchered storyline, MK:Shaolin Monks is still the best MK spin-off game to date. It features a combat engine that is arguably better than the regular MK fighting engine, and it gives the gamer more things to do (tons of stage kills and environmental manipulations.) You also have a couple secret characters to unlock, as well as plenty of extra "kontent" to find along the way (including a hidden port of the arcade version of Mortal Kombat II!) MK: Shoalin Monks is highly recommended for any MK fan or just about any action/platformer fan.

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Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Circa 2005

GOOD:

Lots of combat in a Devil May Cry style, which is challenging but not too easy or too difficult (for most video gamers)

Two players Co-op, now you and a friend can beat the game together (actually it's more fun that way)

Cool combos and fighting moves help make sure the game doesn't get stale (beat the snot out of enemies and even use weapons as well the environment to defeat enemies)

This game even has a versus mode (which plays sort of like power stone)

Plenty of unlockables

BAD:

Graphics are sub-par, but okay (similar to Blood Owen 2)

Some parts of the game can be annoying (like some puzzles or cheap enemies)

When you unlock other characters in the game (like Sub-Zero and Scorpion) and play as them, you still get the same story (involving Lu Kang and Kung Lao)

Some unlockable content is really difficult to get

Might be too Bloody or violent for some people

IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:

This game (like all Mortal Kombat games) is pretty bloody and gory, so I would suggest it's not for small kids or people sentient to that sort of stuff

Simple combos strikes and small puzzles like Devil May Cry or God of War make up most of the combat, but unlike God of War or Devil May Cry these combos can be teamed up with a second player (on Co-Op mode) to take the damage to another level

You have to unlock most of the game through hidden secrets hidden in each stage

A must play for die-hard Mortal Kombat fans

GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:

God of War

Devil May Cry

Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero

Final Fight

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

There are some nice unlockables in this game including a full version of the classic Mortal Kombat 2

This Story fills the gap from Mortal Kmobat to Mortal Kmobat II

This is the third Action/Adventure game set in the Mortal Kmobat universe, the first was Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, the second was Mortal Kombat: Special Forces (staring Jax)

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I gave this game to a friend and so I had to get myself another because it was so much fun.

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Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, is the new MK game on store shelves. I myself usually purchase MK merch when it drops, so I thought i'd give this game a try without even bothering to rent it first. And in a small way, i'm relieved that it didn't disappoint too much.

MKSM is by far probably the goriest Mortal Kombat in the series, to date. So if you're looking for a game full of blood and guts, this game is right up your alleyway. It also strays away from the norm, of the MK genre. It isn't a fighting game. It's an action/adventure game, with somewhat of a comparison to God of War, and Devil May Cry. Though gorier than DMC, it isn't quite as fun as DMC. As per God of War...it beats both of these games, hands down.

Anyways...yeah. This is a game full of violence, bloodshed, fatalities (ten per character), multalities (fatalities that kill multiple enemies on screen), and ofcourse, brutalities. Brutalities are basically the same as multalities, but the screen doesn't fade during brutalities, and you're actually able to control your character while doing them.

The storyline of MKSM is pretty much that of MK2, but...the events that lead up to it, and a few events DURING it. Such as the final boss fight (wont give anything away).

Like all games though, MKSM comes with a few (minor, and at times major) flaws.

-The battleing is pretty...repetative and at times, aggrovating and boring.

-The game itself is extremely short, clocking in at about 10 hours of gameplay (maximum), if you're experienced enough.

-Some of the puzzles in the game will annoy the living crap out of you.

-Fatality and multality sequences all happen in the same position (infront of the enemy), and never with the actual stage scenery in the background (the screen just turns black and that move is done...just like in the past 2 PS2 MK games).

-The game secrets (such as unlocking the MK2 fighting game) are at times, really hard to get, and MOST require ko-op gameplay to obtain.

-The characters at times can look really choppy (not alot, but you can really notice it, after comparing the Tarkatan warriors to other character models such as Kitana. Kitana looks better, whereas the Tarkatan warriors look like crap.)

-And to top it all off...the voice acting in the cutscenes is horrible. Cheesy as all hell. Even some of the dialogue itself is pretty stupid and pointless.

But despite all these flaws, I found Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, to be a pretty enjoyable game. It sure isn't the BEST beat em up action/adventure game on the market (I leave that title to God of War), but it's still a pretty enjoyable game nonetheless, if you're a fan of the MK series.

In the end, i'd only suggest this as a buy, to dedicated MK fans that have to have everything MKwise. Otherwise, only rent this to see if it suits your tastes.

By the way, this game is TEN TIMES better than the 2 absolutely disgraceful action/adventure MK titles that came before it, "Mytholigies: Sub-Zero", and "Special Forces." Those sucked, and weren't enjoyable in the least. Whereas "Shaolin Monks" proves enjoyable.

Give it a try...judge it for yourself.

I give MKSM 4/5 stars, due to the flaws the game contained that didn't seem to really effect the fun factor of the game at all. If the fun factor would've been effected, i'd have only given this game 3/5 stars.

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Pretty good game, its really fun and it has a pretty awesome story. The graphics are pretty good for the ps2.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Cheap NCAA Football 13 - Xbox 360

NCAA Football 13 - Xbox 360
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $18.80
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To whom it may concern:

Here's a hard truth that EA Sports needs to not only hear, but truly understand. What was once a truly great sports game developer that brought fun and entertainment to millions is now quite frankly a complete joke.

I've purchased the NCAA football series religiously since '92 and have looked forward to it every year ever since. This has always been the one game that I've always spent considerable time playing and I don't know how I could have been more loyal to the franchise. Last year's game certainly had its share of issues, so much to the point that I even stopped playing it.

Surely this season would be different.

Then NCAA 13 is released.

I just can't make myself come up with any logical reason the company would release the game in this condition. Surely a company of this size has the resources to do at least some testing before putting it out on the market. I just have to think that if anyone tested the game, they would have been aware of the well documented fact of, "Hey, this thing locks up about once an hour."

Since I know this absolutely isn't the case and the company obviously tests its games prior to release, I am lead to a much more disturbing realization: EA is intentionally ripping off its consumers.

The company has exclusive licensing with the NCAA, so why release a flawed, actually let's call a duck a duck, completely broken game in Early July?? Surely they realize that the season doesn't even start until September right?

The business ethics demonstrated by Electronic Arts are borderline reprehensible. With this level of service to their core consumer, I just can't see the once loyal fans, myself included, standing for much more of this. I will be returning the game. Unfortunately I have no doubt it will be repackaged and sold to some other poor sucker.

I doubt this message will make it past the unfortunate guy who gets paid little to nothing to read these emails as the people who have the power to impact change quite honestly don't give a damn.

But understand this. There's not a soul on this planet who spent their hard earned money on this vast disappointment who does not realize that Electronic Arts just screwed its customer base. I would use the game as a coaster on my coffee table, but the hole in the middle makes it useless for even that.

Sincerely,

John

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Do NOT buy this game if you plan on playing in the dynasty mode. Played the game for two hours and it already froze on me FOUR TIMES! To verify my claim, google "NCAA football 13 freezing issues". In ALL, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME UNTIL THEY COME OUT WITH AN UPDATE. It's official, EA's monopoly of the college football game market is causing them to come out with shottier and shottier games each year because they know people will buy it. Don't join the club!

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I encountered the same freezing errors that the previous posters have found. So frustrating to have your dynasty stalled because EA SPORTS made a serious mistake in programming. Wish they could offer a fix or a refund/replace for those who have had this problem.

Honest reviews on NCAA Football 13 - Xbox 360

It is not possible to play a complete season on the XBOX360 in Dynasty Mode. At some point, the game will freeze loading your dynasty or during coaching tips as it loads a game. For me Dynasty Mode is what makes the game interesting.

What's worse is, EA Sports is completely unresponsive if the first suggestion (which doesn't work by the way) isn't successful. All your emails will go unanswered after that. It is a complete waste of 60 dollars.

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Dynasty mode is what drives this franchise, and it simply doesn't work in NCAA Football 13. After a few hours, it freezes on the load screen to a game, usually mid-season. I have played multiple dynasties with multiple schools, and the freezing issue comes up each time and makes the Dynasty non-functional. The only recourse is to shut the Xbox off with the main power button.

Truly a waste of money. Shame on you, EA. Shame on you.

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Indianapolis 500 Evolution - Xbox 360 Review

Indianapolis 500 Evolution - Xbox 360
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
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Indianapolis 500 Evolution, published by Destineer, and developed by acclaimed racing developer Brain in a Jar, is a game that covers Indycar racing from 1961-1971. I am sure that some people will dismiss this game based on its budget pricing and lack of cutting-edge graphics. However, this game is a tremendous accomplishment in terms of bringing an exciting era of Indycar racing to the Xbox 360.

First off, this game is not for people who only want a simplistic arcade-style experience. The handling here is realistic and requires a steady hand and knowledge of how to draft and race in close quarters. There are three difficulty levels. Even on the medium level it is not easy to simply go out and qualify first every race and then win. The hardest difficulty level is very tough, as any mistakes will result in a loss. That is the way Indycar racing should be, though.

Users can do a quick race from any of the eleven years between 1961-1971, using one of the actual drivers, in their actual car. There are a ton of drivers included. Andretti, Dallenbach, Brabham, Ward, Foyt, and Unser are but a few of the racing greats in this game. There is also a career mode that covers all eleven seasons. Credits are earned throughout the career to upgrade equipment. There is even the ability to mix and match chassis, gearboxes, and engines from different years. Each season includes the Indy 500 race, with the correct unique qualifying process of the Indy 500 (Bump Day included). Season scoring is tracked to determine the champ each season. One other cool thing about career mode is each opponent develops a respect rating for the user. The CPU cars will give you more room if you race clean and do not make them mad, however they will be very aggressive when you are near them if you race dirty against them. The length of races can be adjusted in either quick race or career mode. The shortest race setting is ten laps, with the longest race setting being the number of laps of a real race. At the shortest setting there will be no need to make pit stops, however the longer race settings call for pit stops to be made. There is a complete tire degradation model at work for each tire, a full damage model, and correct modeling of fuel load impacting car performance.

The other mode of play worth mentioning is the mission mode. This mode offers various challenges each year based on real-world scenarios of Indycar racing. Credits are awarded to the user for beating each mission. These credits can be used in the career mode. Also, in mission mode there are movies and photographs that can be viewed. This multimedia angle is really neat because it allows gamers to see actual narrated footage from each year between 1961-1971. People interested in the history of Indycar racing will delight in watching the movies and looking at the photos of past Indy 500s.

Graphically, Evolution is not going to knock anyone's socks off. The graphics serve their purpose and run smoothly. There are a ton of cars to choose from, and users can upgrade the chassis, gearbox, and engine over the course of the career. The actual cars from each of the eleven years are represented in the game. The cars look good. The tracks in the game are based on the real tracks from this era of racing. Obviously the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the main attraction. It is faithfully recreated from that time period, and even changes appearance as the years move on. Other tracks include the Milwaukee Mile, Langhorne, Trenton, Hanford, and Riverside. They all have the unique characteristics that made them famous.

Overall, I am rating this game based on fun factor, racing experience, and accuracy in representing the period of racing on which it focuses. I should mention that I take racing games very seriously, so I am fairly critical when it comes to games of this genre. Indianapolis 500 Evolution will not appeal to everyone due to its somewhat realistic physics model and difficulty level, its lack of flashy graphics, and its focus on such a narrow segment of auto racing history. However, it is a great success for what it gets right -exciting wheel-to-wheel racing in one of the most compelling eras of Indycar racing. I would gladly pay the typical 59.99 for this game, so it is a steal at half that price.

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Good points:

This one is beautiful to look at, the cars are rendered nicely, The tracks are also rendered well.

Historically accurate, just about every car from '61-'71 is included.

Fun to play, the other drivers shake their fists at you if you bump into them.

Gripes:

The play action leaves a lot to be desired. I know the cars handled like crap back then, but the steering is too jerky.

There's no option in the workshop to actually tune the cars.

Too many racetracks are missing, like Phoenix, Atlanta , IRP, and all the dirt tracks.

I'm a lifelong Indy 500 fan, and I've played every Indycar console game. This is the best looking one yet, graphics-wise.

But the driving physics are unrealistic and there's not enough tracks.

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This Game is Great fun and a wonderful nostalgia trip as well. It's not for people who are into arcade type sims Like Grid but if you would like to get taste of what it was like to race back in the days of Sachs, Jones and Ward this will certainly satisfy you. Graphics are not stunning but very good and it is a huge kick to view and drive all of those great open cockpit roadsters from the sixties.

I should also mention there is a lot of great vintage film footage to view from each progressive year of racing so you can really experience the evolution and development the sport through the sixties. Worth every penny for any racing buff.

Honest reviews on Indianapolis 500 Evolution - Xbox 360

First off, it's a bargain title, so don't comein expecting Gran Turismo 5 or Forza 3. That being said, this is a fairly good racing title. It's fun to run the old tracks (including my favorite and old home track, Riverside!) with the old USAC cars. Indy Roadsters, Gurney Eagles, Lolas, Mclarens, Granatelli Turbines, Lotus', etc. It's a nice history lesson, trying to drive around tracks that modern indycars can take at full throttle and realizing that there's no down force and the tires aren't as wide or sticky as modern tires.

Overall, it's a great game. The graphics are decent. Not stellar. But the gameplay is good if you're patient!

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How cool is this game, i really enjoy it, one thing that is not mentioned above is the online multiplayer races. I love them and i am really addicted, the missions are all achieveable and are all ranked in classifications from Easy, Normal and Hard deplicted by 3,2 or 1 star. The price is a snip for what you get back in content. Will be playing this for some time yet.

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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tritton Detonator Stereo Headset for Xbox 360 Review

Tritton Detonator Stereo Headset for Xbox 360
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $79.95
Sale Price: $79.00
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First off I should mention that I'm using my mother's amazon account (go Amazon Prime) so this is from a 18 year old power gamer. (seriously...) anyway, I have a pair of Astro A40s, that I absolutely adore. That is, the headset. personally, I found that I used my surround sound system more then the astros when gaming, simply for a comfort factor. Onto the item that we're looking at however.

Pros:

Cheap. Cannot stress this enough. For the build quality, the overall look, and the sound quality, you'd be hardpressed to find a better deal. I got mine at another store for $30 (thanks after christmas specials) but it's the same product, and I've never really had an issue with amazon.

Sturdy Build

Quality Sound (I won't say that these beat the astros overall; those are just a step above. however, I gave that whole set to my father for christmas, as he is a gamer and just had another kid, so being able to game without a loud TV set whilst she sleeps is a must have)

Extras: this comes with the HDMI adapter that is normally anywhere from 5 (offbrand) to 15 (official Xbox). That is a HUGE plus, and something that didn't come with my Turtle Beach X31s.

I've never been a fan of Tritton after my first ax pros broke; then the second and third. (power gamer, remember?) but I've been brutal with these the last two or three days (usage times of 5+ hours, throwing them onto my desk for dinner-not forcefully, but not gently placing anyway, more like underhand tossing them from 6 inches above the desk) and these have taken the slight abuse like a champ.

Cons:

Stereo sound. this isn't really a complaint, but more an observation. coming from a 5.1 to this is rather obvious, but it still is very good.

Slightly tight. I get a headache after extended wear, but this might be because I have a rather large noggin (I generally need to buy XXL hats, so ya)but i'm sure the rigidity will go away with more extended use. If not, I'll find a way around it and update this.

The microphone is not removable, which isn't a huge deal, but it was nice to be able to use my Astros like normal headphones. (you can with these, but there is a microphone sticking out of the side. If that doesn't bother you, more power to ya)

Overall?

If you are thinking of getting Turtle Beach X31s or lower, but have the room to get a wired set, get these. Not having to constantly switch batteries is a huge plus, and the sound quality is the same. Plus, they look a bit less goofy.

TL:DR?

If you're spending less than $100 on a headset, buy these. Doubt you'll be disappointed.

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I have owned this product for 6 months.

I'm extremely tough on my xbox headsets, and usually have to replace them after a year. I've moved my setup into my computer room, so I've been using stereo headsets for both sound and communication on Xbox live.

I started with wireless Turtle Beaches, but the battery replacement always happened at the most inopportune time. Then I switched to the Tritton Ax720s, but the detachable mic stopped working 6 months in, and I had a heck of a time getting the replacement to work.

When I heard that Tritton was getting into the market with a new inexpensive stereo headest, I thought I would give them a shot. So far, they're my favorite.

They are On-Ear, which means that they will not envelope your whole ears like the 720s. Regardless, they are very good at noise canceling. As always, extended use does tend to warm the ears, but the headset is comfortable for me to wear 3-4 hours at a time. The adjustable mic is very nice: The boom stays put, and people have not had cause to complain about my volume.

The control module is close enough to the headset to make it easy to reach, and the graduation of the volume sliders for both gamechat and game sound are fine. Every once in a while they'll catch on something--like my shirt--and I'll have to re-adjust them, but they don't really change on their own.

The absolute best part of this setup is the included "adaptor" for old-model Xboxes. As you may know, the HDMI port contradicts the use of the older style component cables. Either you would have to buy an adaptor, or you would "mod" your cable by hacking off the plastic casing (something I had to do for my AX720s).

Instead, Tritton included a matt black stereo rca audio adaptor for those of us who play through HDMI. It's thin and light and does not interfere with the HDMI port. The adaptor included with the Triggers does not include optical audio but there isn't a need for such a port, considering the headset uses RCA (RED/WHITE) connections. The RCA ports on the headset itself are MALE/FEMALE terminated, therefore allowing extension cable use.

Now for the only negative so far: Using this with a wired controller.

I have no idea if this is just the controller acting weirdly or not, but when the headset is connected to a wired controller, a high pitch whine can be heard if the gamechat volume is on at all. If I turn down the gamechat volume, the noise goes away. If I unplug the chat cord, the volume goes away. It seems to be connected to the notification ring on the controller, because whenever that flashes, the noise goes in and out. During gameplay, it's hard to notice, but in-between matches, it's annoyingly present. It's distracting, and not present when connected to a wireless controller.

Overall I enjoy this headset the most per-dollar. If you use a wireless controller and are looking to get into a full headset, I'd recommend these over pretty much anything else. The headband is extra durable, the ear cups are comfortable, it sets itself up smoothly, and the volume is clear and loud.

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Hello, this is D-Day1944, and today I will be reviewing the Tritton Warhead. I know many of you have been waiting for this one, so let us not dwandle and begin the review. :)

For years, the gamers of Xbox have wanted a "Truly Wireless Headset." Many attempts at this proved to be a failure, and while the Turtle Beach XP500 uses a Wireless Dongle, it still was not "True Wireless" to many. Many thought that "True Wireless" just was not possible and could never be achieved. Last year at E3, everything changed. Tritton announced its newest headset in "the Warhead", as well as working together with Microsoft to create a "Truly Wireless" solution. It has been a year, and you can now buy the Warhead from the offical store of MadCatz. However, the Warhead now has some competition from ASTRO Gaming (their arch-nemises), and Turtle Beach, the former having released the Astro A50, and the latter having released the XP500. Has Tritton's year gamble paid off, or was it a year too late? Find out soon! :)

Out of the Box and Appearance:

From looking at the box itself, I cannot say I was impressed. Yes, the picture logo is good, but is standard fare. This is a bit of a letdown for a $300 Headset, but definitley not a dealbreaker. In the box, there is RCA Cables if you go "Old Skool," an Audio Adapter if you have an old Xbox, an A/C Wall Adapter for powering the Base Station, the Base Station itself with a rest for the Warhead, an Optical Cable for Surround Sound, two Rechargeable Batteries (One for the Headset and one for the Base Station), the Warhead itself and a Detachable Microphone For how the system overall looks, its appearance is reminisent to that of a Sci-Fi Movie. The Base Station looks like a futuristic Rocket Launcher, and the Warhead itself has a "New Gen" appearance, with curvy lines, embosed "Tritton" Logo, and Glossy finish. There is a magnetic faceplate on both the Base Station and the Warhead for the batteries as well. On the Headset you will various buttons. On the left side, you have a Stereo to Optical button, a Volume Switch for Voice Chat, and your Selectable Voice Monitoring Button. On the right side, you have a EQ Option to four pre-set Options (None, Game, Music, Movies), a Volume Switch for Game Volume, a pairing button on the left side and a power button on the right side.

All in all, everything worked properly and there were little to no problems. The only complaints I do have is the Optical Cable being a bit flimsy, the Warhead's finish a fingerprint magnet, and while the button's are tactile and responsive, they do feel cheap.

Setup and Layout:

The Warhead is easily the most simple headset I have ever used. Just simply plug your A/C adapter and Optical Cable (or RCA Cable) in, put in those rechargeable batteries (one in the Warhead, and the other in the Base Station), turn on your Xbox, pair your controller, and you are good to go. This Setup took me about 1 minute, 10 Seconds, and for setup, that's fast. As stated above, all of your controls are at your fingertips, so changing various settings on the fly is simple. The Base Station also has an indicator telling you how many Warheads are hooked up. If your friends have a Warhead, then it can be paired up with your own Base Station, and up to four are allowed. As for the Layout, it saves space. No Cables running out to me, and no tethered cord, which works very welk with the Warhead. Even better, those two Rechargable Batteries are 3.7V, 1,800 mAh. Let me repeat that, two 3.7V, 1800 mAh batteries. Now the manual says 12 hours, but I got up to 18. This beats both the A50 and XP500 hands down, the former getting 9-10 hours, and the latter getting 9 on the dot.

Overall, very pleased with the setup. No issues here, pretty much everything worked fine. The battery life, though, is just icing on the cake, and it is something ASTRO Gaming and Turtle Beach should pay close attention to.

Comfort:

The Warhead does not feature Memory-Foam Padding, but there is a great amount of plush in the earcup. The Earcups themselves are removable, but no secondary padding was included. The stock faux leather padding was more breatheable than in the older AX Models, and your ears will not get as sweaty, keyword being "as." I had gotten on average 3-5 hours, which is not bad, but is not great either. To give a comparison, the XP500 and A50 had much better padding materials. Continuing on with the Warhead, the Earcups do swivel for breaks, and the Earcups can contour with larger or smaller heads. The headrail is also adjustable for larger and smaller heads. The Flexibilty of the Warhead is good, but not great. It does feel stiff compared to the Astro A50 or Turtle Beach XP500, but it can get the job done. Inside of the earpads though, is no padding at all, so those of you who have bigger ears, all I can say is "OUCH!"

In the end though, the Warhead is good to wear for long sessions, but there is somewhat of an anomaly. The Warhead is so comfy, but is comfy enough that I noticed the Warhead being there, which is not a bad thing, but not a great one either.

Sound Performance:

Well, it is all what you have been waiting for, the Audio Performance. The Warhead solves the usual wireless problem by going up to a 5.8Ghz wireless frequency. By doing so, 2.4Ghz devices, such as Wireless Routers, will not interfere with the Headset. In my testing, I did not experience any static or hiss, unlike the XP500, which, in my case, is appearent. For the Stereo Setting, the sound was surprisingly underscored. The sound was good, but for the $300 Pricetag, its underwhelming and a bit dissapointing. The low end was good but it lacked some definition, the mids were warm but vocals could not be heard clearly or blended in too much in music, and the high end was clear, but dark and mildy squashed at times. Listening to songs like "I am all of Me" by Crush 40 or "Higher Ground" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers shows off how good the Warheads are for music Overall, for stereo, it is good, but not as good as the A50, and to an extent, the XP500. Thankfully, you have Dolby Digital options so here are the results, but before we get into that, let me explain how Dolby Digital works:

Science of Dolby Digital:

In order to recreate a 5.1 Surround Sound Setup, Dolby Headphone is mixed with Dolby Digital. Dolby Digital then uses 5.1 Channels of audio in a Surround Sound Setup, then uses various DSP's (Digital Sound Processors) to Simulate 5.1 Channels of audio to the Headset. For 7.1, Dolby Pro Logic IIx is added in as two rear filler channels with the 5.1 signal to get Dolby Digital 7.1. One important note though. Although the Warhead says "7.1", the Xbox only Outputs 5.1. The EQ Settings change the Dynamic Range and Compression of Audio

Now that you know how exactly the Warhead works, take a look at the results:

Music:

Definitely the worst of the three EQ settings. The low end does get kicked up a notch, and even though it (thankfully) did not drown out the mids and highs, in games like Call of Duty: Black Ops, it can be a problem. Footsteps were easier to track, but gunfire did not give me a realistic feel. Other games, like Hydro Thunder Hurricane, or Split Second, did have a more natural feel. Overall, though, this option is not what I recommend. The highs and mids are great, but amplifying bass can be a bit of a problem.

Game:

This option tones down the bass so that mids and highs have a little more breathing room. This can be good for games like Black Ops and Halo Reach, but the bass does not suffer as much as one would think. Still, this is a solid option. While playing Black Ops or Reach is fun, you might wanna play something else, and that is were game falls a bit short. Unlike a bit too much bass for the Music EQ, Game EQ does have good bass, but not enough for me to hear the roar of the engine or hear footsteps. Overall, the Game EQ setting is solid. Not having enough bass just could not cope with me, and sometimes, the highs were a bit too bright.

Movie:

*Hallelujah, Hallelujah, HALLE-LUU-JAH*

As you can see, you can guess which one was my personal favorite. Movie EQ lowers the mids but highs and lows stay the same. Madden 13's Demo definitley showcased how well the sound was. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms were clearer, audibles could be heard more easily, and crowd's did feel more expansive. Other games like Call of Duty and Hydro Thunder sounded better overall. Footsteps were easier to hear, and the roar of the engines were more smooth. Overall, Movie EQ was fun to listen too, and my recommended setting for the Warhead.

Overall, the Sound Quality is deserving of the $300 Price Tag, but the A50 definitely is a superior choice, and, to an extent, the XP500 (Emphasis on "extent").

As for the Microphone, it performed well. My teamates could always hear me and there was little to no static during playback or testing. When using the Selectable Voice Monitoring, hearing myself saved me from shouting into the mic, but it does pick up some background noise. Thankfully though, it was not appearent to my teamates or me. Although SVM does not have a volume ruler for it, it is not much of a deal breaker.

Ratings:

So, with all of these categories done, it is time for the ratings.

Out-of-the-Box and Look

Result: 3.5/5

The Warhead feels like $300, but certain elements, along with standard fare packaging, keeps this Headset from earning anything higher, but the look of the Base Station and Headset definitley is its saving grace.

Setup and Layout

Result: 4.5/5

I did enjoy myself with the Warhead's setup. It is the best Wireless Headsets to setup, and boasts the best battery life. Nothing even comes close.

Sound

Result: 4/5

While it does haven some quibbles here and there, the Warhead's 50mm provide a very spacious feeling. Not as good as the A50's, but usually better than the XP500. Mic quality is the same story, although it is better than the XP500. (Again, High Emphasis on "usually").

Closing Comments:

Is it safe to say Tritton has finally done it? After so many backfires on the old AX Series, the Warhead just might be Tritton's long, lost answer to their enemy, ASTRO Gaming. While it does not have Cross-Compatibilty like the A50 or XP500, it is the World's First "Truly Wireless" Headset, and major headphone companies better take notice quick, as Tritton has a commanding lead. If you only game on the Xbox 360, and in dire need of a headset, Tritton's Warhead will make sure you are satisfied.

Overall, I am giving the Warhead a four out of five stars rating.

Well, this has been D-Day1944, and thank you for reading. I hope you join me next time were we will take a look at the Astro A40 Gaming Wired System. Personally, I think this review is long overdue.

Again, this is D-Day1944, signing off.

Honest reviews on Tritton Detonator Stereo Headset for Xbox 360

I really like this head set..a lot.. i mostly play Black Ops with them but have found that i want to use it with every game i play...not to mention with netflix and hulu plus ...not having a huge surround sound system or anything of the sort this really fills that void... and also if you have a girlfriend that does not particularly want to hear the sound of gun fire all night while she is surfing the web or reading a book this is perfect.. but i can also still hear if someone is talking to me in the room if it is at a lower volume.. and still hear if someone is creeping up behind me in Black Ops(i'm a casual gamer and it has helped me gain more kills per round).. you still have to be wired to the controller to chat with people.. but no biggy there..i don't usually have it wired up my self.. the separate volume for the chat and gameplay sounds respectively is an awesome feature( its so nice to just turn some people off and not listen to some of the crap that comes out).... on comfort... it wasn't immediate for me( kinda along the lines of the dude with the big ears complaint) but once i adjusted them and played a few rounds i never looked back.. plus i already had the habit of taking of the old head set and setting down the controller between matches anyway... but i'm finding more and more that i don't really notice them there and keep them on for a couple of hours at a time now... and now for sound... this is what really sold me on it... besides the stuff that i've already mentioned.. i really wanted to go wireless .. my controller is wireless so why should i be wired to my xbox with my head set?? that was just out of the question for me.. this is 5.8 ghz compared to the 2.nothin' ghz of the turtle beach... i have experienced 0 static or interference .. i even walk into the kitchen between matches to get a brew( way beyond the distance specified) and i could still hear everything crystal clear.. the head set is powered as well with 2 AA batteries.. i have been using the same set for over 2weeks and still have not had to change them.. also.. one of the coolest things, i think anyway, is that the sound comes right out of the xbox .. so you can have the TV tuned all the way down as to not annoy your significant other.. or turn it up so that your friends that don't have the head set can hear everything as well... and as i mentioned before, you can adjust them where you can hear your buddy just fine as well as the gameplay sounds... i have read another complaint about static.. which prompted me to write this review... no static for me..not sure if there batteries where going dead.. or had some wires crossed ... i'm using the newest xbox 360;; so i don't know if that makes a difference ... i'm not saying there are not better ones out there(like the ones with Dolby surround sound) this set seems very "surround sound" to me.. i can always hear what side someone is coming up on or firing from.. which is pretty cool... i just don't see how it could get much better than this.. everything else kinda seems like a waste of money to go Dolby.. it is like they're charging you another 50 bucks for a name.. i hope this is helpful to some people .... i did not want people to buy a product just cause it has MW3 or what ever on it, and that's what you "must" use.. most importantly shop around try on what your friends are using ask people at game stores and remember you can always return something that doesn't work for you .. never settle... as for me i have found my set.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I recently tried out the Tritton's after using Ear Force X41 (XBOX LIVE Chat + Wireless Digital RF Game Audio with Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound) for the past few months. Both are similar in sound quality, but they each have their benefits over the other.

The first BIG thing, Trittons WORKED with my WIRELESS INTERNET. The Ear Force X41 (XBOX LIVE Chat + Wireless Digital RF Game Audio with Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound) caused interferance with my wireless network, forcing me to plug my xBox into my network via cable instead of wirelessly. The Trittons showed no sign of this problem, allowing me to put the xBox on whichever TV I wanted to, instead of the one closest to the internet router.

The other difference was comfort. This is going to be personall preference for everyone, but in my case I found the Ear Force X41 (XBOX LIVE Chat + Wireless Digital RF Game Audio with Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound) much more comfortable. The ear cups on the Tritton sit on top of my ears, while the Ear Force X41 (XBOX LIVE Chat + Wireless Digital RF Game Audio with Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound) ear cups fit over my ears.

The sound quality on both units is excellent. I do prefer the Tritton on how it attaches to the controller, the Turtle Beach's connection is weaker and has a tendancy to fall out or get loose over time. Many Turtle Beach users claim it actually stop working after a while, but I have not had that problem. This makes me want to point out...THEY ARE BOTH WIRELESS FROM YOUR GAMING SYSTEM, BUT BOTH NEED TO BE PLUGGED INTO THE CONTROLLER FOR CHAT OR PARTY USE. Both seem misleading in their descriptions on that point.

The controlls, volume, on/off, game volume, chat volume, are easier and more logically placed on the Tritton's as well.

Overall, I would say either would be a great choice. If you use a wireless network for your internet connection, I would say the Tritton has the Turtle Beach beat. Add to it that the Tritton's are slighly less expensive, and I would say Turtle Beach has some real competition now.

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

Reviews of Konami Classics Arcade Hits - Nintendo DS

Konami Classics Arcade Hits - Nintendo DS
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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I'm a big fan of classic game collections and have purchased several. This collection from Konami is one of the better I've seen, both because of the selection of games and the quality of the emulations. These games, at least the ones I remember playing at the arcade, play just like the originals--to the extent that a handheld game can play like an arcade game in a cabinet, that is. The sound and graphics quality are as I remember them, and these are faithful renditions of these arcade classics.

The Games: the following games are included in this collection:

-Scramble

-Horror Maze

-Pooyan

-Time Pilot

-Roc'n Rope

-Track & Field

-Circus Charlie

-Basketball

-Road Fighter

-Yie Ar Kung-Fu

-Rainbow Bell

-Shao-Lin's Road

-Gradius

-Rush N' Attack

-Contra

I suspect many people are drawn to collections like these by one or two games they remember. For me the game was Contra, one of my favorite games ever. I have fond memories of Rush N' Attack and Gradius as well, and was glad to find faithful renditions of these games as well. All 3 of these games are excellently represented here, and have stood the test of time well (Rush N' Attack maybe less so than the others).

Most of the other games here are pretty good as well, and some (like Time Pilot) were surprisingly fun for someone like myself who is just discovering them for the first time. Despite a few duds (Basketball was pretty weak, for example), this collection is pretty strong and should provide some pleasant surprises for anyone buying the collection because of one or two specific games.

Cons: The screen size is the biggest limitation to this game. Even though the graphics were faithfully preserved in these ports the DS's small screen doesn't do them justice, though this is a limitation I can live with and obviously knew existed before I bought the game. Also, while I understand Konami's intent here was to port the ARCADE versions of these games, I can't help but wish I had the NES version of Contra (complete with Konami code) and the extra events from the Gameboy's version of Track and Field. Still, these are pretty minor qualms because, again, this is a collection of games exactly as they appeared in arcades.

Extras: There are some extras here. The game features a well done animated timeline of when all of these games came out, which I found very entertaining the first couple times. It starts when the game boots up but, thankfully, can be skipped if you're tired of it. The game also features a 'replay' option, allowing you to record your games and even trade them wirelessly with other gamers. There's also a jukebox type feature, which features many musical tracks from each of the games. Each game features instructions and a few tips, as well as a short introduction to the game. It also features a gallery section where you can see original leaflets from the game and also an image of the game's board. The game menus are a little strange and it takes some messing around with the menus to figure out where all this stuff is, but after a few minutes it becomes pretty straightforward.

Multiplayer: This game includes an option for both single card 2 player mode and multi card 2 player mode. Many of the games will allow you to play 2 players cooperatively with just one cartridge. It's great to see this feature included--I love being able to play 2 player Contra without having to track down another copy of the game.

Overall: This is a great collection. I'm thrilled to be able to play some of my old favorites again (and discover some great games I missed the first time around), and the fact that I can do so on my portable DS makes it that much better. 20 years ago the ability to play all these games on a handheld system for what I sometimes dropped in a day at the arcade was beyond my wildest dreams, but now Konami has made it a reality. And, I must say, I'm quite pleased with the result.

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Konami Classics: Arcade Hits features 15 of Konami's arcade games that were all over the place in the 80's, and it's a pretty solid vintage game collection in it's own right. If you've played any of these games back in their heyday, you'll notice that the emulation here is actually pretty good for all the games, which range from classics like the original Contra and Gradius, to games that were never really that good in the first place like Road Fighter, to the downright dreadful like Basketball. That alone is this collection's biggest flaw: the selection of games. Not to mention that a majority of the games don't look quite right thanks to getting squeezed down on the DS' small screen. That aside though, Time Pilot, Track & Field, Yie Ar King Fu, and Horror Maze are great games, and Contra and Gradius are worth checking this out for alone. All in all, if you're looking for a pretty decent nostalgia trip and own a DS, Konami Classics: Arcade Hits is about as good as it gets for now.

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Bought this game for a friend of mine. We used to play video games in the arcades in the 70s and 80s. The draw of this game was "Tutankham" called "Horror Maze" in this version.

Honest reviews on Konami Classics Arcade Hits - Nintendo DS

If you are a retro gamer, or are too young to remember these games the first time round, then buy it. A bag load of classic arcade games from one of the best developers, Konami.

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These are very accurate representations of the arcade games from the 80's. I am a big fan of Yie Ar Kung-Fu and it plays exactly like the original. Track & Field has 6 events like the original arcade as well. There are 15 games total so it has a lot to offer.

The screen can be a little small at times but that is to be expected. A couple of games I wish they had included would have been Gyruss and Amidar. Other than that it is hard to find fault with this particular release. I would recommend this to anybody that appreciates classic arcade games.

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Sunday, January 19, 2014

Reviews of PC Wireless Gaming Receiver For XBOX 360

PC Wireless Gaming Receiver For XBOX 360
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
List Price: $16.95
Sale Price: $8.67
Today's Bonus: 49% Off
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this Co took my money and until now they didn't refound my money. and i didn't recevied the wireless

very very bad

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Installed the disc. Do not quite remember if I had to do any other fixes but it works perfect! Running it on Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Review of Street Fighter Protector Skin Decal Sticker for Xbox 360 Slim

Street Fighter Protector Skin Decal Sticker for Xbox 360 Slim
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
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i bought it for my friend and he just love it ..............fast shipping this is just lovely will buy again

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Don't waste your money on this vinyl decal because of the cheap adhesive they use it will start pealing off with in hours and doesn't matter how many times you stick it back on it will lift off, especially by the top air vent. On the controllers the color will start coming off as well. So If you want to waste 1 month to get it and $16 plus something that looks cheap on your console go for it! I took mine off after 3 weeks of installing it. It does peal off good like they say but also doesn't stick on good as well!

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