Although the description was rather vague, (the communication portion is not wireless), the headset is wirelessly connected to the Xbox for sound.
There is a slight cutoff for party chat, but the game sound is not effected too much. The sound quality is great for the price!
The one qualm I had was shipping time...it took way too long to receive the order.
Showing posts with label xbox 360 with kinect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xbox 360 with kinect. Show all posts
Friday, January 23, 2015
Monday, January 12, 2015
Buy Shawn Johnson Gymnastics - Nintendo Wii
I am 33 and I love this game. I have always loved gymnastics and this game has everything. I get exercise, I get to watch gymnastics and play a game all at the same time. I find it easier to play with the balance board and great execrcise. I was using muscles I don't normally use and it was alot of standing/getting on and off the balance board to calibrate. You can compete in championships, create your own routines, play against Shawn and you can learn facts about gymnastics.
I can see this game being great for kids. Because there was nothing out like this when I was a kid I play it now :) I can see how it would be good for kids to play each other and you can unlock new hairstyles and leotards as incentive. I love this game! My favorite Wii game so far.
The moves are authentic, the graphics are about as good as Wii can get, and after reading some interviews Shawn did, I love that she was part of the process of making this game. A lot of the time, you expect that these celebrities have nothing to do with their branded products, but she actually had a lot of input on how this game together which makes me like this game even more. My little sister is now insisting on gymnastics lessons. :) If there's anyone who can inspire young girls, it's Shawn Johnson. Thanks for putting out such a great representation of a sport that means so much to me.
Great game, not too difficult to get the hang of, but challenging as you want it to be. A real winner and great price.
I can see this game being great for kids. Because there was nothing out like this when I was a kid I play it now :) I can see how it would be good for kids to play each other and you can unlock new hairstyles and leotards as incentive. I love this game! My favorite Wii game so far.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
OK, so I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant when I bought this game for my little sister; as an ex-gymnast, the quality of gymnastics video games out there is abysmal, but I adore Shawn Johnson and decided to give it a try. I was very pleasantly surprised.The moves are authentic, the graphics are about as good as Wii can get, and after reading some interviews Shawn did, I love that she was part of the process of making this game. A lot of the time, you expect that these celebrities have nothing to do with their branded products, but she actually had a lot of input on how this game together which makes me like this game even more. My little sister is now insisting on gymnastics lessons. :) If there's anyone who can inspire young girls, it's Shawn Johnson. Thanks for putting out such a great representation of a sport that means so much to me.
Best Deals for Shawn Johnson Gymnastics - Nintendo Wii
Was thinking of buying for thanksgiving fun time, but once I brought it home I thought what the heck. The kids can compete against each other and have not stopped playing since I brought it home.Great game, not too difficult to get the hang of, but challenging as you want it to be. A real winner and great price.
Honest reviews on Shawn Johnson Gymnastics - Nintendo Wii
I love this game. I am 26 and I play it all day long ( well when I am not working). It is great for exercise and so much fun to play. I love earning new leos! I am huge gymnastics fan, so it is about time they came out with something this awesome! I love Shawn Johnson!Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Shawn Johnson Gymnastics - Nintendo Wii
My 10 year old daughter got this game for Christmas. Her favorite parts about the game are the uneven bar routines, being able to make her own routines, and unlocking new leotards when earning enough points. The graphics are pretty close to real. She was in gymnastics for 4 years, but she quit about 3 years ago. It was easy for her to learn to play the game but not so easy that she got bored with it. She doesn't have any other gymnastics games for comparison. She has fun playing,though, and said she thinks if you like gymnastics, you will like this game.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Review of Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $23.95
Today's Bonus: 40% Off
The reason that I ended up buying the VGA cable was due to the fact that the component signal (both 720p and 1080i) is subject to overscan. This means that the screen "zooms in" slighty so that you are sure to see a complete picture with no black or static edges. This is a problem though with the Xbox 360 because it ends up cropping the image. For example, the HUD in GRAW is cutoff on the corners when using the component cables. This really bothered me so I gave the VGA a try and viola!
I can now go into the dashboard settings and specify 1360 x 768 which closely matches my LCD's native resolution of 1368 x 768. Thus, I am able to see the whole screen without any overscan/cropping. The only downside is that the overall image gets "washed out" when using the VGA cable. However, this is not really a big deal because most of the newer games (GRAW, Oblivion) have an in-game setting for brightness which you can turn down to eliminate the washed out look.
I highly recommend that you at least give the VGA cables a try. Depending on your TV, you may or may not like them. No big deal though because you can just return them. However, you may find that you really like them and will be glad that you tried them out! Check out my VGA vs Component pictures at http://spaces.msn.com/theshepherdsbag/photos/ and read about my detailed testing on my blog at http://spaces.msn.com/theshepherdsbag/blog/ and you can check out this xbox forum thread for further insights at http://forums.xbox.com/2885313/ShowPost.aspx
Lastly, I have the Samsung LNR238W and there is NO ghosting issues when using the VGA cable.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I read all sorts of reviews about this cable providing a "washed out" image compared to component. This has nothing at all to do with the cable but everything to do with the display being used.If you examine the XBOX 360 output, you'll find that the same RGB pins are used to create component or VGA outputs. VGA adds the HSYNC and VSYNC pins already present in RGB signal for component.
So why do people complain about the "washed out" effect? That's because they haven't calibrated the display properly or their display can't be calibrated properly using the VGA input (my display and probably most displays have different calibration settings and processing hardware for each input). My display only allows me to set contrast, brightness, sharpness and color temperature on the VGA input, however, the hue and saturation are almost spot on from the factory so the VGA cable is the best for me since I can make use of the DVD upconversion and the XBOX 360 seems to do a better job of scaling 720p/1080i to the 1360x768 resolution of my display than the display itself using component.
If Microsoft allowed brightness, contrast, saturation, hue and temperature adjustments from the 360, this cable would truly be the best to get the highest quality output from the 360 for everyone with a VGA capable HD display.
Do yourself a favor and purchase/rent the Avia Guide to Home Theater DVD or Digital Video Essentials DVD and use this to calibrate your display for the best results using any cable.
Best Deals for Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable
I, too, am a college student (seems to be a trend, eh?) and don't have a 50-inch X brand HD whatever. I got this cable to hook up to my flat-panel computer monitor which is of course better than my TV. My monitor isn't big, mind you, but the improvement is definitely noticable. I can harness my XBox 360's potential much more than with standard AV cables.Also, as far as sound is concerned, if you're hooking this up to your computer system: the cable comes with a Y adapter that can be plugged into your standard audio card (the green, blue, and pink colored slots in the back). I have awesome speakers on my comp (not Dolby surround but a 200-watt 2.1 system) and had to look everywhere on the internet to see if this cable would be able to connect to them. I finally found it somewhere. In short, yes you can hook the audio adapter into your computer for sound (your computer has to be on to do so). My comp speakers plug into the green slot then the VGA cable (via the adapter) plugs into the blue one. Bingo, seat-rattling explosions and gunfire.
Even if you're not like some of the Richie Riches that are using this cable for their $2,000 TV and want to hook it up to your computer system, then you absolutely MUST buy this cable. You're really cheating yourself out of the full gaming experience if you stick with standard AV.
Honest reviews on Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable
I bought this in order to play my 360 games on my 17" CRT flatscreen monitor. It was really fast to hook up and worked without any problems whatsoever.Please note that the cable comes with a RCA to 3.5mm jack and a VGA f/f gender changer.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable
I purchased these cables because, along with the new Xbox Live update, you can view games and movies in 1080p (1920 x 1080 resolution). Your system will give you the option to turn on 1080p with the new update, but it won't work. These cables are the only cables that will allow you to view 1080p on your 360. And with the HD-DVD drive add on... wow. High Def movies in 1080p will make you quiet and teary-eyed.Beware of a few things though to make your experience less of a hassle:
1) You have to have access to Xbox Live and a 1080p television or monitor that can display 1920x1080. Otherwise you're only looking at a minimal upgrade in quality most times that doesn't justify the cost over the component cables that came with your 360.
2) Check your TV or monitor's vga audio inputs. This cable comes with a red and white set of audio wires but a lot of monitors and TV's, especially a lot of the new full 1080p TV's, require an optical audio cable. You can get these everywhere and cheap ones are just as good as expensive ones. Best Buy has one specifically for the Xbox 360 for $8. One end hooks into the base connection on the VGA cables. Not only is the audio quality increased 10x, but it's no hassle or mess at all unless you didn't know you needed it.
3) Some TV's don't allow you to adjust as many picture options on their VGA component channels because they assume you're connecting a PC, which usually has it's own visual adjustment controls. I found little problem here after a few changes in the visual settings available to me but video-philes may be disappointed depending on their individual TV's or displays. For me, in particular, I had no color issues or washed out picture problems unless I dropped into lower resolutions... which is pointless to do if you're buying these for the 1080p compatibility.
Do some research and avoid all of these possible headaches and you're in for a treat.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
NFL® New England Patriots Vinyl Skin for Microsoft Xbox 360 Review
List Price: $34.99
Sale Price: $22.49
Today's Bonus: 36% Off
Absolutely love this Xbox skin! It was easy to put on (as long as you do a section at a time, keeping the backing on the part you're not working on). It fits perfectly and my son's friends keep asking him where he got the 'custom Patriots' Xbox! It really looks sharp.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Reviews of Call of Duty 2: Collector's Edition
This is one great game. While I dont think its better then the first, anyone who likes FPS, or WWII games should definetly pick this one up.
Let me talk about the graphics first. Overall this is a very tight looking package. Textures, normal mapping, the works. It ranks up there with the F.E.A.R.'s and Half Life 2's of the world. The only problem is that the game slows down (on pc, no slowdown on Xbox 360 version) when alot of smoke is on screen. But when your in the smoke, you dont notice much because you cant see that well. A great looking game all around.
The sound in the game is good as well. There are a couple of problems, but for now Ill stick to the good. The voiceovers are top notch. They are done by many actors from the Band of Brothers series. Its funny, you can notice that its Malarky, Garneir, Pencala, and others voices in the game. Adds a good feel to the sound. The battle sounds are great also. Guns sound great for the most part, and explosions and what not all sound great. Music is great as well. There are a couple of problems with the sound though. One, the battle chatter system always sounds like your fellow soldiers are no more then 2 feet away, when, like on the Pointe du Hoc level, your 100 feet ubove them. This takes away from the realisim of the game for me. Also, the Thompson and M1Garand sounds arent that good. Thompson sounds week, unlike the powerful .45 cal ACP round it fires. The M1 sounds to crackly also, where the actual gun sounds more popish, in terms of gun sounds.
One good thing about the game is that all the levels are intense, from start to finish. It never lets up. The only thing is the health system. It is very reminesent of the Halo 2 health system, but without the Sci-Fi setting. The realisim was undercut here as well. I was kind of dissapointed they went with more of an arcade like feel with the health. I think they should have made a medic that you could get health from as well as the health packs. This would have also kept the pace of the game up, without the backtracking for health like in the first.
If you arent sick of FPS, or WWII games, go pick this one up. If you like arcade feeling WWII games, this is the game for you. If you want realisim, this probably isnt the best choice for you. Get the first Brothers in Arms if you want realisim. If you like intense, frantic, out of controll squad based combat, pick this one up as soon as you can. The Collectors Edition, in my opinion, is worth a little extra chedder.
Presintation. 8.5The game is presented well, some slowdown hurts though.
Graphics. 9.5One of the better looking games out there right now, Especially if you have a good computer.
Sound. 9.0Sounds great, some design problems and lackluster gun sounds for Thompson and M1, but otherwise great.
Gameplay. 9.5Incredibly intense and lots of fun. Very arcadeic, and not realistic, buts lots of fun.
Lasting Appeal. 9.5Single player has lots of replay, Multiplayer is a blast also.
Overall. 9.2
Before I played the full version of Call of Duty 2, I played the Single Player Call of Duty 2 Demo (You played one of the British soldiers against the Germans during the North African campaign in November 1942). I was disappointed in the demo. You can't jump over walls or enter most buildings in the demo. You can't fire the German 88mm guns (4 German artillery guns) in the demo. The Call of Duty 2 demo is linear. I thought the full version of Call of Duty 2 would be the same. Boy, was I wrong. Do not judge the full version of Call of Duty 2 by what is on the demo or how it is played. First of all, most of the Single Player missions in the full version of Call of Duty 2 are non-linear. Second, you can jump over walls and enter most buildings in the full version. Third, you can take over and fire the German 88mm guns in the full version. You can take different approaches to accomplish different objectives in different missions throughout the full version game. This makes the game very replayable so you can play different missions over and over again and try different approaches to win missions.
The Single Player Missions are divided up so that you play the Russian campaign first (1941-1943), the British campaign next (1942-1944), and the American campaign last (1944-1945). All the Single Player missions take place in either Europe or North Africa during World War II.
I am really impressed with this game. I just love the new damage/health system. No more looking for medical kits throughout the game. I always thought that in "First Person Shooters" games it was really stupid to waste time looking for a medical kit to try to stay alive. In real war, you don't find medical kits laying all over the ground.
The graphics are really good and the amount of detail in the missions are unbelievable. For example, the amount of detail put on the German tanks and the German halftracks are the best I have ever seen in a PC World War II game. The uniforms and weapons for both the Allied and German troops are very detailed. I have never seen more realistic fires burning from vehicles and buildings than in this game. This game has got the most realistic smoke I have ever seen.
Okay, you want realism. Check out all the dead animals (Especially all the dead cows and horses laying around on the ground with flies buzzing around the corpses) and all the dead German and Allied soldiers laying all over the ground.
The sounds in the game are great. The weapons sound real good and so does the voice acting. You can hear the sound of distant gunfire constantly throughout the whole game.
The AI is really good in this game. The German soldiers hide, attack, and retreat when they need to and so do the Allied soldiers. I remember when I threw a grenade at some German soldiers and one of the German soldiers actually picked up the grenade and tossed it back at me. I couldn't believe it.
I read a lot of books about all the actual missions that took place during World War II and guess what? The Single Player Missions in the game are the same as the missions that actually took place during World War II. The game developer (Infinity Ward) did a very good job recreating the actual missions from World War II. After playing Call of Duty 2, I would have to say this game deserves the "PC Game of the Year" award. This game shows what real war is about. World War II Veterans would be impressed with this game.
I can't wait until the Call of Duty 2 Expansion Pack or Call of Duty 3 comes out. I can honestly understand now why Call of Duty 2 is one of the main titles to come out for the Xbox 360. Call of Duty 2 is a totally awesome game which I would highly recommend to everyone to go out and buy. You won't regret it.
Pros:
Cinematic gaming.
Best new war game and a worthy 1st person shooter.
Awesome war atmosphere.
Smoky explosions.
Cons:
Needs a high spec system to run on full settings.
But its not just the friendly AI that are intelligent, the enemy AI are also intelligent too. As Nazi's dive for cover, call for re-inforcements, run away from genades, throw grenades back at you with tremendous accuracy, run towards you shooting if cornered, hide behind walls or vehicles if fired at and even hit you with their guns if your close enough. The enemy AI in this game are truely terrifying. If its not their dangerous accuracy and speed, then its their running towards you screaming German harse language that will terrify you. The enemy AI are just as quick and as accurate at shooting as you are so quick reflexes and thinking are needed to survive. This is where Call of Duty 2's action comes in. With horrific speed and thundering noise, this game oozes action as soldiers beside you get violently blown away by German machine guns, a soldier in front of you gets thrown into the air by an enemy grenade, helmets flying off heads, tanks bursing through walls and fighter planes flying overhead. Along with the excellent action, this game also has its terrifying moments. For example; in one level you have to crawl through a small pipe over German defences, when all of a sudden your Russian team mates in front of you get shot to pieces by the Germans below causing the light from the bullet holes to brighten up the dark tunnel that your in. Another example is when a smoke bomb is thrown to blind the Germans of your location when suddenly, Germans come running through the smoke filled area screaming and firing blindly. Moments like these and many more cause panic and terror. Eventhough some levels seem impossible and the player starts to panic and possibly die, all hope is not lost as the game or level doesn't end when you die. Unlike Medal of Honor in order to survive you have to find health, in Call of Duty 2 there is no health bar. When you get hit or damaged, a red mist decends around the screen as a warning that your hurt and your health replenishes when your not being pounded by bullits. Also, if do happen to die you don't have to re-play the whole level again as the game saves automatically as you advance forward. When you die, you simply go back to the last moment in where the game was saved. Automatically and without confusion, this adds to the games gameplay.
With each level a different experience with different objectives and missions, Call of Duty 2 is by far repetetive. The X-Box 360 version is also very good but it is flawed in terms of speed as it seems slower than the PC version. Better than Medal of Honor: Frontline and Big Red One, Call of Duty 2 is by far the best FPS I have played since Quake 4, Halo 1 and 2. Call of Duty 2's incredible graphics (showing off its light, shadow and smoke effects) are perfectly juxtaposed with its booming loud sound effects. Gameplay with a keyboard and mouse is also excellent and is actually quite easer to use than the X-Box 360's control pad.
Call of Duty 2 is an incredible first person shooter and an incredible experience that is not to be missed. I would recommend Call of Duty 2 Collector's Edition on the PC to anyone interested in high voltage action, superb sound , realistic graphics and frightfully addictive gameplay.
In my opinion, this is one of the best first person shooters out there that will surely brown your pants.
So basically you are pretty much focused on the game itself, it's like an arcade style, somepeople don't like that, but for myself...it keeps the game running faster, alot faster than you would expect.
The AI is awesome, they aren't stupid anymore, your allies are smart and they know what they are doing.
Another thing is there is not much of training before the game starts, just after learning the basics...your allies walk you through a REAL LIVE training with axis where you get to put what you know to the test...and figure out some stuff on the way too.
I didn't finish more than 2 levels yet, but it's real good.
Oh and for those who say you should abide by the recommended settings. I have a workstation Ati fireGL V7100, it recommneded 640x480, so I boost that to 1024x768...and there wasn't a bit of difference, but I had to drop the AA from the equation, that video card is a bit shy with AA you know.
The DVD version is very nice, actually I compared the price of this to the CD version in stores...same, not only you get to know how hard that D-day was from one of the vets and how realistic the game is to how it was in real life...incredible...
The smoke effects are also real, that's how they used to run around in real wars too...I didn't know that....
This DVD game is worth every penny spent, I do recommned it to everyone.
Let me talk about the graphics first. Overall this is a very tight looking package. Textures, normal mapping, the works. It ranks up there with the F.E.A.R.'s and Half Life 2's of the world. The only problem is that the game slows down (on pc, no slowdown on Xbox 360 version) when alot of smoke is on screen. But when your in the smoke, you dont notice much because you cant see that well. A great looking game all around.
The sound in the game is good as well. There are a couple of problems, but for now Ill stick to the good. The voiceovers are top notch. They are done by many actors from the Band of Brothers series. Its funny, you can notice that its Malarky, Garneir, Pencala, and others voices in the game. Adds a good feel to the sound. The battle sounds are great also. Guns sound great for the most part, and explosions and what not all sound great. Music is great as well. There are a couple of problems with the sound though. One, the battle chatter system always sounds like your fellow soldiers are no more then 2 feet away, when, like on the Pointe du Hoc level, your 100 feet ubove them. This takes away from the realisim of the game for me. Also, the Thompson and M1Garand sounds arent that good. Thompson sounds week, unlike the powerful .45 cal ACP round it fires. The M1 sounds to crackly also, where the actual gun sounds more popish, in terms of gun sounds.
One good thing about the game is that all the levels are intense, from start to finish. It never lets up. The only thing is the health system. It is very reminesent of the Halo 2 health system, but without the Sci-Fi setting. The realisim was undercut here as well. I was kind of dissapointed they went with more of an arcade like feel with the health. I think they should have made a medic that you could get health from as well as the health packs. This would have also kept the pace of the game up, without the backtracking for health like in the first.
If you arent sick of FPS, or WWII games, go pick this one up. If you like arcade feeling WWII games, this is the game for you. If you want realisim, this probably isnt the best choice for you. Get the first Brothers in Arms if you want realisim. If you like intense, frantic, out of controll squad based combat, pick this one up as soon as you can. The Collectors Edition, in my opinion, is worth a little extra chedder.
Presintation. 8.5The game is presented well, some slowdown hurts though.
Graphics. 9.5One of the better looking games out there right now, Especially if you have a good computer.
Sound. 9.0Sounds great, some design problems and lackluster gun sounds for Thompson and M1, but otherwise great.
Gameplay. 9.5Incredibly intense and lots of fun. Very arcadeic, and not realistic, buts lots of fun.
Lasting Appeal. 9.5Single player has lots of replay, Multiplayer is a blast also.
Overall. 9.2
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
First off, this review is based only on the Single Player version of Call of Duty 2. I only play Single Player. I don't play Multiplayer. I have played all the Single Player Missions in Call of Duty 2 all the way through. So what do I think after playing Calling of Duty 2? Only this is by far the best "First Person PC Shooter" game out there.Before I played the full version of Call of Duty 2, I played the Single Player Call of Duty 2 Demo (You played one of the British soldiers against the Germans during the North African campaign in November 1942). I was disappointed in the demo. You can't jump over walls or enter most buildings in the demo. You can't fire the German 88mm guns (4 German artillery guns) in the demo. The Call of Duty 2 demo is linear. I thought the full version of Call of Duty 2 would be the same. Boy, was I wrong. Do not judge the full version of Call of Duty 2 by what is on the demo or how it is played. First of all, most of the Single Player missions in the full version of Call of Duty 2 are non-linear. Second, you can jump over walls and enter most buildings in the full version. Third, you can take over and fire the German 88mm guns in the full version. You can take different approaches to accomplish different objectives in different missions throughout the full version game. This makes the game very replayable so you can play different missions over and over again and try different approaches to win missions.
The Single Player Missions are divided up so that you play the Russian campaign first (1941-1943), the British campaign next (1942-1944), and the American campaign last (1944-1945). All the Single Player missions take place in either Europe or North Africa during World War II.
I am really impressed with this game. I just love the new damage/health system. No more looking for medical kits throughout the game. I always thought that in "First Person Shooters" games it was really stupid to waste time looking for a medical kit to try to stay alive. In real war, you don't find medical kits laying all over the ground.
The graphics are really good and the amount of detail in the missions are unbelievable. For example, the amount of detail put on the German tanks and the German halftracks are the best I have ever seen in a PC World War II game. The uniforms and weapons for both the Allied and German troops are very detailed. I have never seen more realistic fires burning from vehicles and buildings than in this game. This game has got the most realistic smoke I have ever seen.
Okay, you want realism. Check out all the dead animals (Especially all the dead cows and horses laying around on the ground with flies buzzing around the corpses) and all the dead German and Allied soldiers laying all over the ground.
The sounds in the game are great. The weapons sound real good and so does the voice acting. You can hear the sound of distant gunfire constantly throughout the whole game.
The AI is really good in this game. The German soldiers hide, attack, and retreat when they need to and so do the Allied soldiers. I remember when I threw a grenade at some German soldiers and one of the German soldiers actually picked up the grenade and tossed it back at me. I couldn't believe it.
I read a lot of books about all the actual missions that took place during World War II and guess what? The Single Player Missions in the game are the same as the missions that actually took place during World War II. The game developer (Infinity Ward) did a very good job recreating the actual missions from World War II. After playing Call of Duty 2, I would have to say this game deserves the "PC Game of the Year" award. This game shows what real war is about. World War II Veterans would be impressed with this game.
I can't wait until the Call of Duty 2 Expansion Pack or Call of Duty 3 comes out. I can honestly understand now why Call of Duty 2 is one of the main titles to come out for the Xbox 360. Call of Duty 2 is a totally awesome game which I would highly recommend to everyone to go out and buy. You won't regret it.
Best Deals for Call of Duty 2: Collector's Edition
"Call of Duty" lovers will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of another "United Offensive" Expansion pack after finishing this stunning WWII fps. In 2004 the next best single player shooter to "Half-Life 2" was "Call of Duty 1". Needless to say COD2 brings us yet another damn fine sequel effort to rival anything else on the shelf. COD has firmly taken over where "Medal of Honour: Allied Assault" first got our attention in trying to recreate the "Saving Private Ryan" experience for us all. The COD series is built on the same concept as MOH except there is more action, more high-octane moments and a very different type of enemy AI. COD2 has upgraded the enemy and platoon squad AI from COD1 so that your comrades can identify the enemy and instead of scripting each action sequence as in COD1, COD2 depends on AI so that a rerun of any level will play differently although the situations remain the same. COD2 also has a lot more going on in terms of what you can pilot and drive although not freely but as part of the storyline. COD2 retains all the cinematic intensity that its predecessor successfully claimed and even expands on each of the earlier episodes over the course of a four year WWII period to give us Moscow 1941 Red Army Training, Demolition, Stalingrad 1942 Repairing the Wire, The Pipeline, Stalingrad 1943 Downtown Assault, City Hall, Comrade Sniper, El Alamein 1942 The Diversionary Raid, Hold the Line, Operation Supercharge, El Daba 1942 The End of the Beginning, Libya 1943 Crusader Charge, 88 Ridge, Tunisia 1943 Outnumbered and Outgunned, Retaking Lost Ground, Assault on Matmata, D-Day 1944 The Battle of Pointe du Hoc, Retreat? We're Advancing in Another Direction, The Silo, Caen 1944 Prisoners of War, The Crossroads, The Tiger, The Brigade Box, Hill 400 1944 Approaching Hill 400, Rangers Lead the Way, The Battle for Hill 400 and Germany 1945 Crossing the Rhine, where you get to play as either a Soviet or a Brit or as a member of the US forces. Missions range from basic training, defending against attacks, counterattacks, planting explosives, repairing cut field wires, contacting HQ via the field phone, disabling Panzer II tanks, crawling through pipelines, taking out enemy snipers, destroying fuel barrel supplies with some of the best explosion effects seen in any game to date, destroying ammo depot supplies, gathering enemy documents, defending lower lines by using close-range weapons and artillery support, clearing out bunkers, radioing in for artillery bombardments, taking a Mosque, driving tanks, holding out for 5 minutes till support arrives, clearing the buildings in the town, sniping the artillery crews from a Silo tower, finding wounded Americans, transporting the wounded, taking a farmhouse and barn, taking out mortar crews and if that is not enough... securing a hill from a German advance. The smoke effects are absolutely photorealistic and have set a new benchmark for graphics quality. The textures might let the game down a small bit, including very blocky building designs or similar house interiors that are repeated at several points in the game but the environments and maps are genuinely war like all the way through and can not be faulted. The enemy AI and your own team AI are much more realistic than COD1 and your team is reliable. If you get too close to the enemy you will engage him in close quarter combat. Although Call of Duty was never meant to be a war simulation, but more of a 1st person war adventure, to be honest, does exactly what it says on the tin. So apart from the staged element, which actually ads to the game, it is more of an experience than a game you will turn to time and time again, however it is worth it for the experience of the single player mission alone. It is also much longer than COD1 and OU, where COD1 had a 1.5 day game span and UO had 3, COD2 will last you for well over a week if you play one mission a day. The pandemonium of war is all here in a spectacular fashion because the story is a winner as you play a mini version of BAND OF BROTHERS and ENEMY AT THE GATES. Like COD1 you even feel loss at the end but for some reason the connection to your comrades in COD1 was a lot stronger because it was more scripted. The AI detracts from that connection a little bit, but I am only cribbing. Although Directx 9 is the standard for all the cutting edge new first person pc shooters, COD2 has been designed around Directx 7 technology. Only the new Geforce 7800 GT cards can seem to handle DX9 quality. If you don't have a very high end machine then selecting DX7 may prove to be the best result and funny enough is probably how COD2 should be played. Test it out to see. If you are looking for a war multiplayer then go for "Battlefield 2" (it is the war simulation that everyone plays for multiplayer) but do not miss COD2 single player! COD has always been a contender for game of the year and COD2 is no exception.Pros:
Cinematic gaming.
Best new war game and a worthy 1st person shooter.
Awesome war atmosphere.
Smoky explosions.
Cons:
Needs a high spec system to run on full settings.
Honest reviews on Call of Duty 2: Collector's Edition
Call of Duty 2 is a truely brilliant game. Is has all of the main ingredients to produce a great game. Gameplay, Graphics, Sound, Intelligent AI, Level Design and Lifspan. Similar to Medal of Honor: Frontline on the PS2, Call of Duty 2 is set in World War 2 during the Nazi invasion. Unlike MOH, you play the Americans, Russians and even the British. Your also not alone in COD2, in MOH your on your own in most of the game as you try to kill every single Nazi by yourself with no one around to help you at times. However, in Call of Duty 2 your aided constantly by your own troops (friendly AI) who cover your back, fire upon Germans while you reload, tell you where to go and even give you hints to where the next enemy or sniper is. And when your fellow American, Russian or British troops tell you which window the sniper is in, it actually helps. Example: one soldier shouts out "SNIPER ON THE LEFT, SECOND FLOOR", you then instantly know where the sniper is and take your shot. This is an example to the games engine. Intelligent AI that can enhance your gaming throughout playing.But its not just the friendly AI that are intelligent, the enemy AI are also intelligent too. As Nazi's dive for cover, call for re-inforcements, run away from genades, throw grenades back at you with tremendous accuracy, run towards you shooting if cornered, hide behind walls or vehicles if fired at and even hit you with their guns if your close enough. The enemy AI in this game are truely terrifying. If its not their dangerous accuracy and speed, then its their running towards you screaming German harse language that will terrify you. The enemy AI are just as quick and as accurate at shooting as you are so quick reflexes and thinking are needed to survive. This is where Call of Duty 2's action comes in. With horrific speed and thundering noise, this game oozes action as soldiers beside you get violently blown away by German machine guns, a soldier in front of you gets thrown into the air by an enemy grenade, helmets flying off heads, tanks bursing through walls and fighter planes flying overhead. Along with the excellent action, this game also has its terrifying moments. For example; in one level you have to crawl through a small pipe over German defences, when all of a sudden your Russian team mates in front of you get shot to pieces by the Germans below causing the light from the bullet holes to brighten up the dark tunnel that your in. Another example is when a smoke bomb is thrown to blind the Germans of your location when suddenly, Germans come running through the smoke filled area screaming and firing blindly. Moments like these and many more cause panic and terror. Eventhough some levels seem impossible and the player starts to panic and possibly die, all hope is not lost as the game or level doesn't end when you die. Unlike Medal of Honor in order to survive you have to find health, in Call of Duty 2 there is no health bar. When you get hit or damaged, a red mist decends around the screen as a warning that your hurt and your health replenishes when your not being pounded by bullits. Also, if do happen to die you don't have to re-play the whole level again as the game saves automatically as you advance forward. When you die, you simply go back to the last moment in where the game was saved. Automatically and without confusion, this adds to the games gameplay.
With each level a different experience with different objectives and missions, Call of Duty 2 is by far repetetive. The X-Box 360 version is also very good but it is flawed in terms of speed as it seems slower than the PC version. Better than Medal of Honor: Frontline and Big Red One, Call of Duty 2 is by far the best FPS I have played since Quake 4, Halo 1 and 2. Call of Duty 2's incredible graphics (showing off its light, shadow and smoke effects) are perfectly juxtaposed with its booming loud sound effects. Gameplay with a keyboard and mouse is also excellent and is actually quite easer to use than the X-Box 360's control pad.
Call of Duty 2 is an incredible first person shooter and an incredible experience that is not to be missed. I would recommend Call of Duty 2 Collector's Edition on the PC to anyone interested in high voltage action, superb sound , realistic graphics and frightfully addictive gameplay.
In my opinion, this is one of the best first person shooters out there that will surely brown your pants.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Call of Duty 2: Collector's Edition
This game is so...so...good, you don't have to use cheats anymore, I used to be a hardcore first person shooter, but then all the games are the same, run for medpacks, collect ammunition, stuff like that, well it's all gone here. Health: well just be careful not getting hit too much in sequence and you'll be fine, so that eases off the worry of...oh I got health of 5, I'd better call a medic and stay low...well that's history, your worry is not getting killed (better than saving your health of having an armor...they make other games too complex).So basically you are pretty much focused on the game itself, it's like an arcade style, somepeople don't like that, but for myself...it keeps the game running faster, alot faster than you would expect.
The AI is awesome, they aren't stupid anymore, your allies are smart and they know what they are doing.
Another thing is there is not much of training before the game starts, just after learning the basics...your allies walk you through a REAL LIVE training with axis where you get to put what you know to the test...and figure out some stuff on the way too.
I didn't finish more than 2 levels yet, but it's real good.
Oh and for those who say you should abide by the recommended settings. I have a workstation Ati fireGL V7100, it recommneded 640x480, so I boost that to 1024x768...and there wasn't a bit of difference, but I had to drop the AA from the equation, that video card is a bit shy with AA you know.
The DVD version is very nice, actually I compared the price of this to the CD version in stores...same, not only you get to know how hard that D-day was from one of the vets and how realistic the game is to how it was in real life...incredible...
The smoke effects are also real, that's how they used to run around in real wars too...I didn't know that....
This DVD game is worth every penny spent, I do recommned it to everyone.
Buy eForCity 6ft Premium High Speed HDM Cable (Version 1.3b) 1080p M
Ive been sold for the greater picture quality every sence my first lcd tv bke in 09 now I cant have my led/lcd/hd/3d ready/wifi ready/smart remote and, smart remote devices be seen with out a HDMI CABLE no way that's like having your fav bowl of corn flakes an no milk so what do you do go and put water on it nooi u go an buy the milk right? Right so please if u don't have your milk go and get sum.I am very glad i bought this one! It's a good deal, and i am very happy with this buy
Monday, November 10, 2014
Saints Row IV Review
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $47.09
Today's Bonus: 22% Off
This is a single player critical review for people that are fans of the Saints Row series of games. I know the game is called Saints Row IV but I will call it Saints Row 3.5 since it does not feel like a whole new game.
A quick little bit of info here... Saints Row IV started off as DLC before THQ shut down, it was originally meant to be the final big DLC add-on (us older gamers would call it an "Expansion" pack) to Saints Row 3. THQ went bankrupt and Volition was bought up by Deep Silver. They took the final DLC, the core game, and stretched it out into a full game. I also wish I could give it a score of 3.5 but it feels good enough to go with 4 out of 5 for the moment.
So to be clear, this game is still Saints Row 3. Same city, same vehicles (less of them though), same graphics, same game engine. Just certain things added or taken away.
This game is absurdly fun and funny. So let me break it down as spoiler free as possible:
Game engine: The exact same as Saints Row 3.
Graphics and Models: Deep Silver took some vehicles and assets from the previous games and reworked them to the wonderful level of detail seen in the First Saints Row game, mainly the vehicles. They have a much higher level of fit and finish than even Saints Row 2 had. BUT, there are fewer vehicles in this game than in any of the other games. Boats are completely gone, so waterways are absolutely empty. Only 2-3 Airplanes remain and there is no civilian air traffic, though once you see the plot, it kind of makes sense to be that way as opposed to the same lack of boat and air traffic from SR3. The animation and characters are much nicer looking and seem to have had a once over by Quality Control. So all round the models are much nicer.
Sound and Music: The sound effects are pretty much the same from SR3. The music on the other hand is absolutely great, they have just about everything, and lots of big name songs. The voice acting is wonderful, even Nolan North (of Drake, Deadpool and seemingly every male video game character ever made, fame) lends his voice to the player character list, along with quite a few name brand voice and film actors as other characters... The roster is rather impressive and makes the game all the more fun.
Story: The story in this game is much more fun and involving than SR3 was. You will need to play all the previous Saints Row games to understand the back stories, banter, and in-jokes of many of the characters in this game. Plenty of "OMG!" moments, and lots of laughs. There is some great character development and banter that was sorely missing from SR3. Though at times it feels the game/writers spent too much time watching cyberpunk and action movies from the 90s and early 2000s instead of creating something entirely new. It was great fun, and worth seeing all the parodies of other games and movies, but at times the parodies feel more like blatant rip-offs. Also, the Choice/RPG style options are pretty much entirely gone after the first few minutes of the game and are there for comical reasons instead of giving you any rewards or boosts of any type. Example: In SR3 you could choose to destroy a building for a respect boost or keep the building for a cash boost, save someone or let someone die, and so on.
Player Customization: The level of visual player customization is the same as SR3 and nowhere near as amazing as the player character customization from SR2. Though carried over from SR3 is the selectable player upgrades/leveling system.
Vehicle Customization: The same as SR3 but with quite a few more parts and accessories for some vehicles, though you still cannot customize "special" vehicles, planes, helicopters, and VOTLs. Though for a game with cars and car customization it severely lacks in vehicle based missions compared to previous games as most of the time you are running, jumping, shooting, and fighting with super powers, instead of driving or riding shotgun like previous games.
Weapon Customization: Weapons have non-visual upgrades now instead of the visual upgrades like from SR3 (when you upgrade a weapon, it does not change its base appearance with things likes scopes or suppressors and such that SR3 had). Though you can change the "skin" of the weapon to look like other types of weapons and most have 1-3 selectable paint jobs, but you cannot add or remove parts of a weapon.
Other Customizations: Cribs/player bases are completely gone so absolutely none there. Gang customization is the same as SR3.
Game World: Still in Steelport, or a simulation of so to speak, exact same map size and most every location remains the same as SR3 just add some cyber bits here and there. Also, during the game it is perpetually Night/dawn/dusk/dark and there is no day cycle until you completely beat the game. The city doesn't really feel as "alive" as SR2 did, but when you figure out the plot it makes a bit more sense to be that way.
Super Powers: While they are fun, and have lots of upgrades, it ends up feeling too much like the game "Prototype" and not enough like Saints Row. Most of the game vehicles become pretty much pointless when you can leap, climb, fly, and run better than nearly any vehicle in the game rather early on.
Controls: It controls nicely and has the exact same layout as SR3, though with the super powers, some buttons now have secondary functions when you hold them or tap them.
Game play: You will go everywhere from space, to text adventures, to 2D fighters, to top down pixel battles, to platforming, robot fights, and more. The variation keeps things interesting, at least on a first play through. There is even a massive list of cheat codes built into the game as well to make the game even more fun, crazy, hard, or easy. So it works if you are a casual gamer or one of the hardcore challenging types of players. There are optional side missions that are basically just activity completions and rewards. There are no activities left over after doing the character "side quests" so at that point the end game just becomes a run around and collect random stuff/points you missed kind of thing. You can replay activities for money or better medals, but There is still no main mission or special character mission replay options... We had it in SR2 why can't it be in SR3.5?
Re-play Value: As with most the Saints Row and open world games, it is pretty high in the re-play department. With the amount of character and vehicle customization, as well as upgrades, it is worth revisiting to see what can be changed or done differently on another play-through. Not to mention the amount of in-jokes, Easter eggs, and other things that you may have missed.
Overall Opinion: This game is much more fun than SR3 was, but still not as much fun and time consuming as SR2 is for me. It has more polish than SR3 did, and I hope the future of Saints Row gets much bigger than Steelport or Stilwater combined as the map just feels small compared to many other games out there, especially when you have super powers. My biggest gripe is that it needs more side activities and player customization. In SR2 most side activities had 6-12 levels to them, whereas SR 3.5 has about 2-4 levels or so to each activity (seriously, we want more Genki and mayhem levels!). They still have not added back in the optional service vehicle activities and rewards (taxi cab, tow truck, ambulance, fire truck, police car, police helicopter, and so on that SR2 had). Still no "Fuzz", "Septic Avenger", "Demo Derby" and so on. There is a distinct lack of vehicle races as well. If you are going to give us all these customizable vehicles; give us something to do with them.
---------------------------------
BOTTOM LINE:
---------------------------------
It is a stupidly fun game, but many times felt too much like the game "Prototype" and not enough like Saints Row. The absurdity has been turned up to 11.5 and had the knob broken off, so don't buy this game thinking it will have an award winning plot or basis in reality in any way what-so-ever. (And that can be a good thing as games are meant to be fun to play. That is why they are called games and not movies.) The vehicles and player models seem much more polished over SR3 with the wonderful detail that was put into the first Saints Row game. The voice acting makes it worth replaying, as the different player character voices have different things to say throughout each play-through. Goofing around and being a completionist and rabid customizer will take around 20-30+ hours depending on how much of a "collector" you are. Throw in Co-op craziness and extend that time quite a bit more. (playing Telekinesis catch with a car or baddie, racing, cat and mouse, Vs, and so on.) It is just a fun and silly sand-box game and not for people that take things too seriously, and if you have a twisted sense of humor, make sure this game ends up in your collection.
I say wait till it is more "expansion pack" priced, under $35 before getting it as I just could not get over the feeling it was an expansion and not a whole new game, since super powers were already introduced in SR3 add on content. Plus with the amount of DLC planned for this game, even if you get it cheap, you will likely end up paying full price or more anyway once Deep Silver finishes nickel-and-diming people for DLC for the rest of this game.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
After the amazing spectacle that was Saints Row The Third, I was incredibly excited to see Volition take the series a step further into the purely ludicrous. Unfortunately, Saints Row IV simply can't shake the fact that it started as a DLC add-on to its predecessor and as a result fails to deliver a memorable experience of its own.As the story begins, the Saints are now in the White House with your titular main character taking the role of Commander in Chief. Not soon thereafter aliens invade and place the Saints in a Matrix-style computer simulation where most of the game takes place. This simulation is a virtual recreation of Steelport from SR3, and IV disappointingly brings nothing new to the table by way of setting. Not only is it the exact same layout from before, the entirety of the game takes place at night. Steelport didn't have a ton of personality to begin with, and shrouding the city in darkness certainly doesn't help that fact.
One of the primary selling points for Saints Row IV is the superpowers that you incrementally learn through the course of the game. It doesn't take long at all before you're sprinting faster than a race car, scaling buildings in a single bound, and shooting fireballs from your fingertips. The whole thing feels ripped right out of Prototype and Crackdown (complete with orbs scattered throughout the city to improve your abilities), and it's appropriately fun to fling yourself through the Steelport skyline at 100mph. However, the superpowers quickly become a double-edged sword.
As soon as you get your increased mobility, there is absolutely no reason to drive a car again. In fact, there's hardly a reason to touch the ground again. The entire bottom-half of the world is forgotten as you bound from one objective to the other. So on top of the uninteresting setting shrouded in darkness, the game actively encourages you to only traverse the even less interesting building tops throughout your travels.
It seems like Volition realized this, so the game is peppered with constant and arbitrary reasons for you to lose your superpowers. These seem forced (because they are), and it's unfortunate that better reasons couldn't be found to keep your feet on the ground.
After all the powers run their course, however, Saints Row IV doesn't have much else to say. The story is needlessly stretched to full game length by repetitive missions and an over-emphasis on side-mission activities. What story there is doesn't hold water, either. I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh often while playing SR IV, but it chooses to focus far too heavily on waxing nostalgic over providing a satisfying narrative. Everything follows a predictable path, and what should have been an epic clash to send off the series with a bang ends up being a redundant slog that presents its finale with a whimper.
The humor in Saints Row has always been one of its strongest suits, but even here things have taken a downturn. It seems like Volition has forgotten the difference between parody and reference, and as a result falls into the Matt Hazard trap of simply recreating tired video game tropes and then calling them out. It's the developers wanting to have their cake and eat it too, exploiting lazy design shortcuts (an overabundance of fetch quests comes to mind) and hoping to get away with it by pointing out how bad it is. This problem is pushed to its derivative limits through your spaceship and crew, which is a shameless rip off of the entire structure of Mass Effect 2 without even trying to be funny about it.
This is all irritating on its own, but the myriad of bugs and glitches were enough to send me over the edge. Throughout my playthrough, I encountered no less than 4 game breaking bugs which caused be to restart from a checkpoint or reboot the console entirely. From scripted events not triggering to NPC characters getting stuck in the game world to full on crashes, the entire experience felt sloppy and unstable. And no, the fact that it's set in a computer simulation is not an adequate excuse.
In the end, I feel that Saints Row IV would have been better staying as the DLC pack "Enter the Dominatrix" for a budget price. The recycled content, lackluster story and half-hearted execution make it impossible to recommend at the full $60 price point, even for die hard Saints Row fans.
Best Deals for Saints Row IV
First of all, I'd like to point out that I have played all the games in the Saints Row series. It started off as a copy cat to GTA. Then, it became less serious than GTA and added more humor. This fourth one moves away from the regular gang versus gang type of story and adds a twist by adding amazing superhero abilities. Before I purchased this, I told myself not to judge it immediately and to give it a try since I knew the game had superhero abilities and more silly stuff.After playing it for a few hours, I was having tons of fun. There are a lot of things to do, and now that you have superhero abilities, you can do whatever you feel like doing. Use telekinesis, race around running at super speed, jump from a skyscraper and bring wrath to your enemies with a "death from above" nuclear explosion. I enjoyed the storyline. Everything about it made sense. It wasn't like they came up with ridiculously crazy stuff and did not have an explanation for it. I also enjoyed hanging out with your homies and the option to romance them(LOL). Got a thing for Shaundi or Gat? Go for it. Hahaha. It was fun to chat with your homies and bring the fight to your enemies with superpowers or funky weapons. Believe...there are plenty of FUNKY weapons. I won't spoil too much, but you'll definitely have tons of fun with them.
Moreover, if you enjoy games that have references from music, movies, or video games...this is definitely for you. I could not help but laugh at all the funny video game references throughout the game. As with the other games, you're still able to customize your character and your crew. I wish they had added something to customize your ship, but since you're at war, I guess there is no time for that. The graphics are an improvement from the past games, and the soundtrack is great.
I have no regrets in purchasing this. If you want a serious game about gang versus gang type of story, this may not be for you. But, if you enjoy sarcasm, other types of humor, and twists, this is your game. My only real pet peeve is that some of the side quests get a bit repetitive, not all of them, but some. I wish there had been more diversity with the side quests.
Honest reviews on Saints Row IV
This game is fun as hell I'm not gonna lie. The bad part about it is that there are not a whole lot of main missions, but there are a lot of side missions. These side missions though just have you going around and doing the same things over and over again though which is where it just gets boring and tedious. Also this just feels like a very expensive DLC for saints row three with them using the same map. The super powers are a nice touch and fun to mess with though. I would wait til the price goes down before buying it.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Saints Row IV
As any Saints game there are flaws, glitches, and so on but it doesn't matter at all. It's not very often I find myself laughing out loud and at a game but Saints Row IV as all other Saints games delivers the laughs. Leaping over buildings, sprinting super sonic speeds down the streets, freezing enemies and shattering them, the over all package is very enjoyable. I must admit a lot of the game seems to be rehashed from Saints 3. Cars, customization options, map, and so on are more of the same. Again, none of this matters. Everything is so over the top and fun you won't notice the flaws. At least I didn't. I recommend Saints Row 4 for fans of GTA, Crackdown, Prototype, and the lot, flaws aside.Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Cheap Sharkoon X-Tatic SR Gaming Headset with Dolby Headphone Technology
List Price: $139.99
Sale Price: $129.99
Today's Bonus: 7% Off
I went ahead and took a chance on these headphones as I was looking for a viable replacement to the Tritton AX720's I had previously owned and given away. As with most gaming headsets, I was going to expect something bulky, yet sturdy since that's kind of the status quo with gaming headsets in general. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of both the headset and the SCU (sound control unit). I was surprised in the sense that the headphones were light, compact, yet appear to be sturdy (no I will not "drop test" them). The SCU likewise is compact, so if spacing is an issue for you, trust me it will not take up much space.
Now to sum up the acoustic quality? It's simply ravishing. I am using this with an Xbox 360, and tested it with games such as Battlefield Bad Company 2 and Medal of Honor. Audio plays a big part in the multi-player gaming experience, since in both games, I was able to hear others try to flank me and I was able get the drop on them first with my team. The sound is crisp and realistic, and supports all the current Dolby platforms, with the exception of Dolby 7.1. Gaming chat is good, if not better than with the standard headset that came with the console. The mic is detachable, flexible, and appears to be quite durable.
Setup of the headphones was really easy, since all the connectivity goes directly to the console. I was also pleased with the fact that it is USB powered, so no need for an additional AC adapter. Thank goodness since all of the outlets on my powerstrip are all occupied.
In conclusion, this headset has got the essentials to meet and even exceed most gamers expectations. It's got a sophisticated/streamlined look and feel, the acoustics are impressive, the setup was a snap, and the overall experience with them thus far is a great one.
Give it a shot sports fans, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I really love this headset so far. Purchased and received last week.I have been using a pair of Sennheiser HD555's with a 1/4" f to 1/8" m headphone adaptor and plugged into my speakers (setup via stereo). Mic solution: wrapped the standard XBox mic around my neck. Good sound, chat worked after adjusting in-game volumes. Basically it worked and sounded good enough, but the transition to a proper, solid gaming headset is night and day.
PROs:
-The first thing I noticed is how lightweight this headset is. It doesn't bear down on you and the cups don't press on your ears too hard. The cups also do a good job of encompassing your ears.
-Fantastic sound. After a few adjustments (in-line volume lower, SCU volume up), I managed to get this to an appropriate sound level. I did a few Wager Matches in Black Ops to break them in and further configure them. Worked great. Tried Bad Company 2. Wow. Just awesome. Crisp sounds and the bass booms when it needs to. This set has also proven that I will never be able to go back to regular stereo sound, either. Digital is phenomenal.
Side note: I found that turning off the "3D Sound Expander" makes it sound muuuuch better, in my opinion. Perhaps I'm using it wrong, but it was disorienting at times and seemed to create unnecessary echo. Might be better for movies perhaps.
-Configurable to any set up. Has a nice set of manuals for anything you may want to connect the headset to. Plenty of adaptors and the main cables are plenty long to connect with most setups.
-Sturdy design. Even though it's light, it doesn't feel cheap. Mic is tough and flexible as well.
CONS
-Lots of cables. My setup right now has three cables coming out of the SCU and three out of the in-line box (one connecting to the XBox controller for voice). This is probably a product of being so configurable.
Side note: This is actually still a pro for me because I don't want to deal with wireless shenanigans (mainly staying on top of rechargable batteries)
-Mic sensitivity. I haven't done any in-game chatting yet, but I have tested it out in party chat to see when it picks up. I noticed that I had to have the mic pretty close to my mouth for it to register. Again, this may bug people, but personally I do not find it bothersome.
-Also, be sure to know that if you want to use Digital, you will need some sort of Optical output on your Xbox. I was lucky enough to already have the VGA adaptor to game on my PC monitor and that has an optical output.
Just love this headset thus far.
Best Deals for Sharkoon X-Tatic SR Gaming Headset with Dolby Headphone Technology
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I ave actually had several different gaming headsets. I have played on or owned the following headsets.Tritton TRIAX-180 AX 180 Universal Gaming Headset, Tritton TRIAX-720 AX 720 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, Turtle Beach, EarForce X31 Wireless Chat+Gam (Catalog Category: Videogame Accessories / Headsets & Speakers), Ear Force X41 (XBOX LIVE Chat + Wireless Digital RF Game Audio with Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound), and Ear Force PX5 Programmable Wireless 7.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound Headset with Bluetooth. So I have a little background on gaming headsets.The first thing that struck me about this headset when pulling it out of the box was the sheer volume of the number of chords included in the packet. Granted, this headset is billed as being versatile and usable on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC but I would have hoped for a much more streamlined set-up across all devices.
In regards to connecting to an Xbox 360. If you have the original 360 design you will need one of two things. Either the AV cable that has a built in Digital Audio Optical Out port or if you are using HDMI you will need a RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim. If you are using the new Xbox 360 Slim model this won't be an issue as there is now one built into it.
Now, that all that information is out of the way, what do I think about the headset? I actually used it on my 360 and my PC to see if there was any difference.
While using the headset it I noticed right away it was light, but the ear cups seemed just a tad on the small side and didn't allow a lot of breathing room. Sound quality was good but it didn't blow me away. Chat quality on the Xbox seemed to be lacking a little bit. You need the mic very close to your mouth so your friends can hear you. One complaint I have is when game volume goes up (think explosions and such) chat volume does not compensate for it making you need to ask friends to repeat what they said or wait for the game volume to go back down.
At the end of the day you're reading this review to influence one way or another on purchasing this headset or another. So'll I'll give my opinion on that.
If you are looking around this price point for a gaming headset (at the time of writing this review it's over one hundred dollars) then I would like to recommend either the Turtle Beach X41 or the Tritton 720. They both are a stronger quality headset and offer a better gaming headset.
The Sharkoon's have potential to be a decent option but when they are the same price as other headsets that do more and are easier to hook up it doesn't make much sense. If you want to splurge then really take a look at the Turtle Beach PX5. They are programmable and have blue tooth support. It's my current headset and I love it.
This one is just average across the board. It doesn't really disappoint, but it never wowed me either.
Honest reviews on Sharkoon X-Tatic SR Gaming Headset with Dolby Headphone Technology
SCROLL DOWN FOR JUST FACTS IF NOT READ THE FOLLING ALSO.well for those who compare them to other headsets such as trittons and then complain about wires, well makes me wonder if you have ever owned trittons because they also have wires "everywhere" so i must discredit any review when i see any kind of review which is tainted by an issue which is also apparent w/ headsets that same reviewer is praising. fact is that these actually come with one less wire, the external power supply, and it just bothers me when someone can rate someones review as helpful when it starts off with discreditting info,
HERE ARE THE FACTS AOUT THESE HEADSETS. for the money they are the best. i have been around a long time, i must say that if i were to pit these against higher end heatsets then the score would suffer a bit but those headsets are more of a "competitive lass" and also range from 250to 600 plus so with that said im basing these on the item itself as well as items in the price range (109 bks for these right now). well to start off i must also say that if i had an extra few bucks i would get the tritton ax pro's which are not insanely priced but also have good speaker config as well as power, but they break.. alot.
when im mgaming at home i use the tritton ax pro's, anything else i will bring my astro's w/me or the "howza's" and funny thing is how i discovered the sharkoons, was gaming at home and yes the trittons pulled a man down, so much that i have a pair of chepo's laying around. but when i got these my first impression was "wow they freakin copied trittons look in every way!!" the 5.1 box was almost identical save color, and the hook up was almost identical.. well i noticed one wore thing which was almost identical, the sound. keep in mind im an old school gamer who likes his comfort zone and his certain products so these were intended to just back up my trittons, but i have found myself using them more the the pros.. not the ax 720's the ax pro's black ops edition. which at the time set me back just a bit over 200.
comparison to all in this class, well ive tried the turtle beach alpha, bravo's and charlies which are just make overs / special editions for the px5 being alpha and the delta's being the "starters", well you got the idea. anyways they blow the sony set's out the water and keep in mind that turtle beaches are marketed and designed for the xbox 360, and then they made other set's which were compat with both, well these can be used on p.c as well. in my honest opinion they are better than the px5's and heres why, wireless sucks when it comes to 3 main items of gaming, mice, keyboards and HEADSETS. the freq unfortunately will interfere with the sound, meaning the sound will drop/cut out here and there, and gamers law is they usually do when its at crucial points of a game, lol.. but seriously i would have to sit directly in front of my 50 in to min the drops, so the whole idea of the headset being bluetooth and it being on different channels etc, bull crap. the box it connects with is the problem. and yes the sound was good, and it does come with a way to download and create presets but many being useless i.e superman hearing and if you are willing to spend 250 then get the astro's.. 30's or 40's will do the job.
the sharkoon is a headset which is in the mid range of headsets, and as much as my midrange must haves/own are the ax pro's these have been a delight to own and use, and yes they have wires. go to a lan party and see how many "pro gamers" are using wireless. anything wireless will have the game lose precision, control, have delay (even if its mili seconds for mouse type devices, it is everything when playing against a person with no delay) so try and stick with wired, console controllers are something else entirely and i enjoy using frags. i will not have it any other way, wired or the highway. yes ive used some very high end devices which do in fact work well, but prepare to pay extra.
the design is nice w/ these, they are not bulky and do not give you red ears of death, game for bout 6 to 8 and your good. the sound quality is not the best ive heard, but again there are crap end, lower end, midrange,high end, higher end and money is no object end. well these fall into lower to mid end as far as the price as it is today, and as far as im concerned they are better or as good as any headset in the under 200 class. but it has flaws, one being with xbox 360 and a mic issue, which has been resolved by investigation aka googling. so everall these are not true dolby 5.1 they are simulated, but they do make a 5.1 and i like these better. the ax pro's also are true 5.1 having 4 speakers in each ear. but i have always been one to say "7.1 simulated? bullcrap" well that was when the 7.1 was a newer breed but i have heard some 7.1 simulated which gave my ears a soundwhoring bomer. bottom line is do the headsets sound good, are they worth the money and are they sturdy and comfy? yes yes and yes. also they are not very heavy and ive used them w/ p.c. and they work well there too. i have used them w/ ps3 and 360. but more or less more with the ps3, but they work well with any gaming device i mention as well as a music player, and they look pretty cool..
for the money these can be argued to be the best or almost or just as good as some which cost more and better than some which cost more..
so what does that say for these?
BOSTONJOHN32 PSN, STEAM bostonjohn617 and 32, company of heroes bostonjohn32, xbox live H4LOG0D 9this one may be in banned state)
happy new year to all
didnt check my spelling, yes it does suck, thats why i dont review spell hecking software or e-readers. trolls would be all over me, lol
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sharkoon X-Tatic SR Gaming Headset with Dolby Headphone Technology
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Just received these headphones, had them hooked up to the TV in the den (wife reading book close to me). I will say the sound was awesome like surround all around, great base etc.....great! Next chapter, the grandson comes over with his Xbox, I think that thing is welded to his hip, hooks it up to play for awhile. He spots the Sharkoon headset, as you might expect he conned me into letting him use it, Grrr. He, being a lot younger than I and has much better hearing, was totally impressed with the sound. He thought I would let him borrow it----wrong! I later hooked it up to my wife's laptop, did a little conversation with a friend----no comparison to what I was using. Tried music, oh yes, terrific! I will have to say with my very limited knowledge of electronics and components these are wonderful. I have tried using his Xbox but feel like a total dork, so I will not play with any kid around (I would be the entertainment).If you are looking for a higher end headset I would absolutely recommend the X-Tatic. I really would like to be a little more technical in this review, but feel that is beyond my scope. I just cannot see how anyone would be disappointed as these are beyond anything I have previously put on my old ears. Tonight I plan to watch a movie in the front room after my wife goes to bed and enjoy not having to hear that the TV is too loud.
LATER:
Watched the movie, unbelievable sound, so much better than the TV---It was like I was right in the middle, hearing sound all around me. Added tremendously to the movie. I enjoyed every minute!
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Review of Dead or Alive 5
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $13.72
Today's Bonus: 54% Off
Dead or Alive is one of those series that hasn't been taken seriously because of the beach volleyball spin off and its boob-physics. Looking beyond that however it is a quality fighting game that is simple to pickup and improve at.
The good:
-Easy learning curve. You punch, you kick, you throw (grapple), you block, and you hold (counter). Most of the combos are really simple; a series of punches and kicks, sometimes with directional movement but otherwise it's very straight forward. Combos are short (under 15 hits) and do not require hours of grinding to master. The fighting modes for DoA5 are arcade, time attack, and survival and there are 7 difficulties ranging from very easy to normal to champ to master, Tecmo kept the bar low to introduce players into the franchise while at the same time keeping the seasoned DoA players challenged.
-The fighting. Tecmo's rock, paper, scissors method to fighting as always been prevalent in the DoA series but this time its a selling point (ignoring the sexualized female characters). Punches/kicks will beat throws, throws will beat blocking and counter holds, and blocking and counter holds will beat punches. There is always a risk to each action you take and there isn't a sure way to win like other fighting game series (Marvel vs Capcom 3, Street Fighter 4). Tecmo makes the risk really prevalent with this rock, paper, and scissors design because a misread will lead to more damage. For example, a throw that is used on a block will deal x amount of damage but a throw used on a counter hold will deal 1.5x damage. Dead or Alive 5 does not have any unblockable/inescapable setups that other games find as a key to win a fight. I haven't lost a fight in the DoA series thinking "Wow that move was rigged" or "That character needs nerfing" it was a matter of the mistakes I made in that fight or the other player's mastery of the game. The question in this game is how safe will your next move be and how effective will it be, rather than how well can I trap and how well can I execute my combos? Dead or Alive 5 is all about reading out your opponents next move or creating an unpredictable offense. Players can still counter a move while they're being struck, this forces a variety of high, medium, or low punches/kicks. If that defensive player misreads a counter then the offensive player can extend his/her combo. This style of fighting leaves the game play to be more exciting, each fight is different rather than watching a replay of the same setup and the repeat same combos.
-The fighters. Most fighter's skill set is a representation of a real-life fighting style. Brad Wong Drunken Fist. Christie Snake Fist. Bayman Russian Martial Arts. Hitomi Karate. Rig Tae Kwon Do. Tina Wrestling. Each fighter is built for a purpose that will suit a particular play style. I'm not too sure if the ninjutsu style of fighting is real but a part from that I feel like Dead or Alive is a documentary of fighting techniques of the world. I haven't found a character that is completely useless but rather their style just doesn't suit me. The grappling characters may be sluggish in their punches and kicks, but their high damage on throws and holds make up the difference. The characters that rely on their unpredictability have lower damage in comparison to others. I've always been a lover of the special tag-throws given between certain characters. Two fighters having similar fighting styles or a close relationship in the story will give a pair of characters a special tag throw that'll deal bonus damage. [You can see these special tag throws by youtube DoA5 Tag Throws.] This addition brings that connection between characters and fighting styles, it is very entertaining to see team work to destroy your enemy. All the fighters are given unlockable costumes and Tecmo even threw in a free DLC costume pack instead of charging for character skins. People like free DLC, I hope you're paying attention Capcom.
-The online, it's not the best because it's still in its infancy. An option is open for a player to challenge you while you're playing a single player game so it's like a real arcade-fighting game experience. I'm playing on a high bandwith connection so I'm not facing any problems at the moment. It doesn't outshine any other fighting game's online play.
-The visuals. Characters are more life-like than ever: each character is now less cartoony and have their own distinct features both in their beauty and their nationality. Tecmo even went to the length of throwing in sweat and dirt into the game for a more realistic feel. I'm sure everyone can pick a favorite in how each character looks. The stages are detailed, interactive and alive, the environment will hurt you (electrified walls, being kicked off of a ledge etc.)and it is changing. Being kicked off of a ledge is not the death of the character like in Mortal Kombat or Soul Calibur, if the character still has health then the just fight goes on and the stage changes.
-The training. Training mode is one of the easiest I've seen, some moves are tricky but far from impossible. There is a video preview of what the combo should look like. The timing of each combo is more lenient than other fighting games. The combo's input is always on display, your inputs are always on display, and the direction of the arrows will change whenever your character has changed direction. Depending on your inputs, it will show the possible combos that can still be done. For example, inputting a forward punch combo will only bring up combos that start with a forward punch. It really comes in handy when designing possible initiation sequences. In addition, there are frame data that can be analyzed to see the risk of a strike if it is blocked or how long an opponent is vulnerable when a strike lands. The difference in a seasoned player and a newbie would come from the familiarity of all the character's combos and knowing this frame data.
The bad:
-The storyline. It's a mess of cutscenes, 1.5 hours of it. Rather than keeping the individual story line and ending for each character like in DoA3, 4. DoA5 created a massive timeline that connected most, but not all, of the characters into a single story. The result is a confused mess because you start with a character, play him/her in 3 fights, then jump to another one. You're left wandering into what happened to the rest of the characters that weren't a part of the ending. You can't pick your favorite character to end the game with. It forces you to sample all the characters that are involved in the story line but at the same time left out a few other characters. I don't recall playing as Christie in the story line even though you fight her with a few characters. Tecmo tried to be all-inclusive with the story line but ended up excluding a majority of characters from the ending. Tecmo built a tutorial within the story line and there's no way to go around it. The game starts off on very easy and ends with a normal difficulty fight. The ending "boss" fight is not really a boss more like a combination of 4 characters. The end result is a story that was ambitious in its attempt to include 20 characters into 1 big cutscene-driven story line but ended up having a very ambiguous ending with many character's stories either not including or ended prematurely.
-Game has an unfinished game menu. Every time you start the game it asks to 'choose storage device' and it'll show an empty menu but will allow you to continue. It'll also repeatedly remind you to not shut the game off when it's saving. It'll also forget the language options that are set and will automatically default to Voice Acting and Menu Language as English. This wouldn't be a problem with the English wasn't as good as the Japanese ones. (This problem is now fixed, patch it)
-The Virtua Fighter audio. They really sound out of place, the recordings sound like they were just copied and pasted from Virtua Fighter and I'm sure they were.
Conclusion:
Don't let the bad story line discourage you from playing the game. If you appreciate martial arts and seek an alternative fighting game DoA5 is a good choice. It's easy to pick up and to me it is how a realistic fighting game is meant to be set up.
New May 8, 2013/July 22, 2013
Team Ninja has announced 'Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate' to be released in Fall 2013 with Momoiji (from Ninja Gaiden 3) as a playable character and other content released for the Vita. They've essentially 'pulled a Capcom' which explains the price drop for DoA5. Unless it can't be helped, wait for DoA5 Ultimate.
May 22, 2013
From what I've seen from preview screenshots and etc here are the new characters for DoA5 Ultimate:
-Momoiji (Ninja Gaiden Series)
-Rachel (Ninja Gaiden Series)
-Leon
-Ein
-Jacky Bryant from Virtua Fighter
FYI:
The DLC costumes for DoA5 will be carried over to DoA5 Ultimate.
DoA5 Ultimate will be for 39.99 and can be preordered on Amazon among other places.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
The good:The graphics are really nicely done.
The JPN voice actors sound fabulous.
There's a nice long difficulty ramp for all players (Rookie to Legend)
Counters are toned down a bit, so Bass can't kill you in 3 shots now.
Most of my issues have been covered, so I'll just say a few things. As a longtime fan (from DOA2 onward), here are my issues:
-Story mode is not individual characters anymore, but a giant piecemeal map where you have to play certain characters at certain times. Nothing worse than having to face Alpha with one of my worst characters.
They tried to balance out the characters, but Rig is tooled pretty high (some of his counters are worse than Bass') and Pai is tooled pretty low (death by 1000 cuts, if she lasts that long)
They messed with the counter system window again. I have no problems getting counters with any of the new characters (perfect ones with Rig right off the bat and Sarah, too), but the older ones give me a few issues (even Lei Fang). Not sure what's up with that and if it's linked to some frame change.
The AI for the difficulty levels seems to occasionally forget what level they are supposed to be. I had almost no issues with "True Champ", but Hard kicked my butt for a bit. Though, the computer certainly remembers when you pick, "did you touch a button? Counter! Juggle! Downstrike!" Whoops, I mean, "Legendary".
No Ein!
I like the game, but had I known beforehand how much of it had changed and how many of the small changes were annoying, I'd have probably waited until it dropped to about $35 before picking it up.
Best Deals for Dead or Alive 5
I bought the PS3 version when this game came out, I was not impressed with the control scheme and fluidness of the character controls. I decided to give another try and the Xbox version does not disappoint, plus it is much cheaper in price now, I paid $19.99 opposed to the whopping $ 59.99 when it first came out. This review is solely based upon which version is better. The graphics for the Xbox are about the same as the PS3.Honest reviews on Dead or Alive 5
I am making a short review.. I LOVE the DOA series as a whole. It's great that there's still a non weapon based combat game. Rarer to find a straight up fighting game.The graphics are incredible.. the stories are still silly.. But as with Ninja Gaiden 3 this game feels rushed and missing the steady hand of series godfather Itagaki.
The new story mode, similar to Soul Calibur V and Mortal Kombat you play several missions as varying characters tying a larger story together.
Honestly I much would have preferred more clear cut individual stories/campaigns for each character. I will say though DOA is still one of the best pick'em up and play fighting games.. the graphics are great, and the fx are really good. And even though they do emphasize too much on the "boob physics" if you really want to dig into all of the counters, and reversals the game can get pretty dense and strategic, while at the same time its a good casual button mashing fighting game. There's no big customization ala Soul Calibur V. But its still a fun time..
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dead or Alive 5
I pre ordered this and have been playing almost every day. I like how they made 5 an "open to most" type of fighting game and not a "hard core" fighter game like 4 was. I think 4 is good if you want the feel of a game that makes you push yourself for every win in the game. But I like the idea of being able to tell people about DOA that may not have ever played any of the games before and have them try this one out. And know they aren't going to get thrashed in arcade mode and feel like they went against pro players. I have nothing against hard leveled fighting games but it's good to have the option to tone it down a bit to welcome in new players and let them crank up the difficulty when they're ready. For myself, I've taken arcade mode to max level with Ayane. (a few continues used.) But I like to be able to fun play without having to think about how to out play tough A.I. I think this game is easy enough for beginners but can be a good fight for pros. Most have pointed out that there is no boss battle here. You do get one with Alpha, but only at the end of Story mode. Other modes just end with a final match with a random fighter out of the regulars. As for unlocks, you get: 3 fighters from Virtua Fighter (Akira, Sarah, and Pai), 2 extras from DOA: (Gen and Alpha), and 1 extra stage. You also get the chance to unlock extra outfits through play for each fighter just like with the other DOA's. Also, you can flip from English to Japanese for voices. Everything in the fights flowed great, tag handled great to. As for online I don't play too much there, but from what I did see all seems to work well. To wrap up, if you want to play a fun fighter with some bite, this game is great. And if you have been wanting to try a DOA game this is the perfect one to try.Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles - Nintendo DS Review
A prequel to Assassin's Creed, "Altair's Chronicles" explores the titular assassin's life before the events detailed in Assassin's creed. It also makes the rather clumsy transition from the PS3 and Xbox 360 to the Nintendo DS.
The story is much more simple in this game than in the original, possibly because if the events of this game were particularly ground-breaking the events of the original would not make as much sense. Altair is attempting to find the Chalice a powerful artifact said to be able to unite many groups under a single banner by the order of his superiors. If the Crusaders or Saracens should find it, they would use it to end the Crusades and dominate the holy land. Notably absent is the "modern day" setting present in Assassin's Creed showing the use of the Animus machine to re-live past events and so on (though the main menu is meant to be the Animus' display).
The gameplay is meant to be similar to Assassin's Creed, but isn't quite as advanced. Altair runs, jumps, and climbs like he does in the original, though with slightly less grace. Attacking has been reduced to attacking, blocking, and countering, with a lot less of the subtlety that made it so fun in Assassin's Creed. The top screen usually displays gameplay, while the bottom screen holds a map showing where all the people in the area are. Certain activities, like interrogation and pickpocketing, have been turned into touch-screen minigames. The former relies on a timed sequence of point-pressing to simulate pressure points, while the latter involves dragging an item through a bag without touching the bag's other contents. Instead of the old system of getting upgrades after completing missions, Altair must now collect "blue orbs" slightly out of place in the otherwise fairly realistic setting to upgrade his health and weaponry.
The graphics didn't survive the transition to the DS very well. The attempt at 3d is grainy and blocky, with little of the detail shown in Assassin's Creed. The level design is especially artificial, contrasted with the occasionally improbable but still acceptable cities in the original. In Altair's Chronicles, the buildings seem much less sensibly constructed, with one village containing giant stone arches and pillars that seemed out of place amidst its otherwise low-level construction (of course, you have to follow the path up and across the pillars the continue). As a whole, they seem fairly obviously like an attempt to compress cutting-edge graphics into a portable system (see also the GBA Splinter Cell games). The sound is similarly disappointing, being barely noteworthy in any sense of the word.
As a whole, the game fails to live up to the original Assassin's Creed. Even on its own, it's not a very good game. Despite an attempt to use the dual screen function, it seems more like a gimmick than an actual gameplay point. This game just doesn't have anything that the original did; everything, from story to gameplay to technical things, is eclipsed by the original.
4/10.
Side scroller with Prince of Persia / Tomb Raider type of gameplay. Good level design and good graphics.
The bad:
Controls are just horrible. Altair hardly ever does what you want him to do. Jumping from the wall-rope anywhere is an exercise in frustration.
Wasted opportunity. Yes, this is DS, it does not have the graphics power of a console, but still... Is this the best they could do with this license?
Game is very short. Took us around 8 hours, but it can probably be finished even faster.
The ugly:
This game fails the #1 design rule: don't let the player move to a different area if the player did not complete all objectives! There are at least 2 moments in the game, where a big green arrow shows you to move forward, when instead you have to do something else where you are. If you move forward, you will get stuck and have to reload the level.
An example of this stupid design decision is Level 10.1, where you have to blow up a column, before you should be moving forward. If you do not do this, you will reach a place with 3 pressure plates. An unsolvable puzzle, if you missed the 'unmarked', no-Green-Arrow objective.
Overall: Buy this only if you must ... I love the XBox 360 Assassin's Creed, but this DS game has nothing to do with that.
I would recommend not to buy this game.
Came with case and booklet, my parents allowed me to try this game out on the DS to make sure that the handheld worked. It was very fun despite the fact that they gave me 5 minutes to try it. I have watched youtube videos on it and I personally really like it. I do recommend this game for your DS.
The story is much more simple in this game than in the original, possibly because if the events of this game were particularly ground-breaking the events of the original would not make as much sense. Altair is attempting to find the Chalice a powerful artifact said to be able to unite many groups under a single banner by the order of his superiors. If the Crusaders or Saracens should find it, they would use it to end the Crusades and dominate the holy land. Notably absent is the "modern day" setting present in Assassin's Creed showing the use of the Animus machine to re-live past events and so on (though the main menu is meant to be the Animus' display).
The gameplay is meant to be similar to Assassin's Creed, but isn't quite as advanced. Altair runs, jumps, and climbs like he does in the original, though with slightly less grace. Attacking has been reduced to attacking, blocking, and countering, with a lot less of the subtlety that made it so fun in Assassin's Creed. The top screen usually displays gameplay, while the bottom screen holds a map showing where all the people in the area are. Certain activities, like interrogation and pickpocketing, have been turned into touch-screen minigames. The former relies on a timed sequence of point-pressing to simulate pressure points, while the latter involves dragging an item through a bag without touching the bag's other contents. Instead of the old system of getting upgrades after completing missions, Altair must now collect "blue orbs" slightly out of place in the otherwise fairly realistic setting to upgrade his health and weaponry.
The graphics didn't survive the transition to the DS very well. The attempt at 3d is grainy and blocky, with little of the detail shown in Assassin's Creed. The level design is especially artificial, contrasted with the occasionally improbable but still acceptable cities in the original. In Altair's Chronicles, the buildings seem much less sensibly constructed, with one village containing giant stone arches and pillars that seemed out of place amidst its otherwise low-level construction (of course, you have to follow the path up and across the pillars the continue). As a whole, they seem fairly obviously like an attempt to compress cutting-edge graphics into a portable system (see also the GBA Splinter Cell games). The sound is similarly disappointing, being barely noteworthy in any sense of the word.
As a whole, the game fails to live up to the original Assassin's Creed. Even on its own, it's not a very good game. Despite an attempt to use the dual screen function, it seems more like a gimmick than an actual gameplay point. This game just doesn't have anything that the original did; everything, from story to gameplay to technical things, is eclipsed by the original.
4/10.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Truly an amazing game from a production viewpoint. Not many games that were taken this seriously on the NDS. I'm sure it was meant for DS gamers wanting a more "mature" game. If curiosity of whether the DS version is superior to iPod version brought you here, it is a matter of taste. NDS version has rougher graphics, but a physical game pad. The iPod version has much smoother graphics and even voice acting(DS game doesn't), so it has higher production values. However, I preferred the DS game because (opinion) it plays better. Lengthy game for casuals, maybe short for gamers. Fun game, considering it's portable, overall.Best Deals for Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles - Nintendo DS
The good:Side scroller with Prince of Persia / Tomb Raider type of gameplay. Good level design and good graphics.
The bad:
Controls are just horrible. Altair hardly ever does what you want him to do. Jumping from the wall-rope anywhere is an exercise in frustration.
Wasted opportunity. Yes, this is DS, it does not have the graphics power of a console, but still... Is this the best they could do with this license?
Game is very short. Took us around 8 hours, but it can probably be finished even faster.
The ugly:
This game fails the #1 design rule: don't let the player move to a different area if the player did not complete all objectives! There are at least 2 moments in the game, where a big green arrow shows you to move forward, when instead you have to do something else where you are. If you move forward, you will get stuck and have to reload the level.
An example of this stupid design decision is Level 10.1, where you have to blow up a column, before you should be moving forward. If you do not do this, you will reach a place with 3 pressure plates. An unsolvable puzzle, if you missed the 'unmarked', no-Green-Arrow objective.
Overall: Buy this only if you must ... I love the XBox 360 Assassin's Creed, but this DS game has nothing to do with that.
I would recommend not to buy this game.
Honest reviews on Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles - Nintendo DS
From 14 year old.Came with case and booklet, my parents allowed me to try this game out on the DS to make sure that the handheld worked. It was very fun despite the fact that they gave me 5 minutes to try it. I have watched youtube videos on it and I personally really like it. I do recommend this game for your DS.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles - Nintendo DS
of course this is a DS game so the graphics are really horrible and the gameplay was ok but not the best other than that the game was cool the story was cool as well it took me about a day and a half to beat it but finding stuff also helps with the games short story and stuff lolFriday, August 8, 2014
Review of Microsoft (X-Box) Xbox LIVE
Hi,
I started out as a beta tester. I was concerned about the connection quality, since I live in Alaska. We have lower than recommended broadband upload speeds (128K), plus I share the connection through a router/switch. Anyway, all of my online games (NBA 2K3, NFL 2K3, Mech Assult, Moto GP, and NFL Fever 2003) play great online. People are amazed they are playing someone from Alaska. Human opponents add a truly new dimenson to the games. The unpredictably and challenge that a human opponent offers is great, plus the ability of talking to them is even better. I've learned all types of great gaming tips this way. The XBox Live system allows you to keep your team rosters up to date, download extra levels, characters, and equipment depending upon the game. The startup is very easy and I have never had to use any tech support to start playing games online. I'm concerned that the people who give the poor reviews are diehard PS2 lovers. XBox Live is really what sets apart the XBox from the PS2 and the Gamecube. Sure the other systems have online capability, but at added cost and without a standardized connection process and security. I hope this helps and my apologizies for the long review.
XBOX live allows game players to use their XBOX to play with other games all around the world. We have spent countless hours enjoying our system, and I would like to put to rest any fear you may have concerning this product.
In order to set up the system, you must enter a credit card. This card number may be used to purchase additional levels to a game, or better cars and equipment. However, there is a parental control option which will prevent children from purchasing anything without your permission.
Since the headset allows kids to speak with their game playing buddies, it also allows them to mask their voice, so they don't sound the same. Example: a younger child can mask his voice to sound like a grown man or a cartoon character.
So far, most of the people I have encountered have been cordial and great fun. However, if I encounter a player that rubs me the wrong way for some reason, I just mute him, and can no longer hear anything he/she says.
Any players that I enjoy playing with, I just add to my friends list. The more I play, the more friends I find, and the games become more enjoyable. Now when I play a game, I can choose from people I already know that I enjoy.
One of my favorite parts is being able to enjoy the game as a guest of my son, while he is playing. It allows up some great together time.
As a conscientious parent, please let me say that I have found the XBOX to be an enjoyable extension to the XBOX gaming machine.
Once you get setup, fire up your favorite XBox Live enabled game and enjoy a relatively lag-free online gaming experience. I've primarily played Unreal Championship and have had no major lag issues and always had a great time playing. Talking to other players really adds a new dimension to gaming. People aren't too chatty just yet, but I've had generally good experiences talking to other gamers online. Interestingly, even though you can opt to mask your voice, most people don't.
One final note. The XBox Live site doesn't advise using a wireless network (technically, they aren't supported). I've been using a wireless network exclusively and have had no problems, even while running Unreal servers hosting 5 or 6 players.
So, if you want to take your XBox gaming to the next level, sign up for broadband service, grab the starter kit and enjoy!
The setup is easy and the price is right ...with the disc and headset. I have experienced very few problems with the service. There is the occasional lag, but that is to be expected with online gaming.
If there is a warning to be given, it has to do with interacting with others online. Anyone who has ever played online computer games or even used a chat room knows that the anonymity of the internet allows people to act however they wish. And certain people tend to act like jerks. The majority of the people you'll deal with will be polite and friendly, but then there's others. Those who'll drop out of a game as soon as they start to lose and some will harass other players just for fun.
This doesn't come close to ruining the service, but it's something to be kept in mind.
Xbox live works nearly perfectly. I have MechAssault, Splinter Cell, and various other Live games, and it's of incredible value. MechAssault is VERY fun online, although don't use the headset if you're easily offended. There are a lot of stupid kids on Live!, so their language reflects their maturity.
At any rate, I have a connection (shared T1) that maxes out at around 120k/s. This is typically slower than most cable and DSL connections, but I've experienced no lag whatsoever.
The voice communications is really great, and is probably the aspect of Live! that makes it stand out among the competition. That, and the fact that all Live! games are hosted on Microsoft's servers, and will therefore be uniform in their speed and security. (Unlike PS2 or Gamecube, which will be painful to play because of lag, or, even worse, cheaters.)
If you have an Xbox... GET XBOX LIVE. 50 bucks for a year is pretty darn cheap, especially since you get the headset with your starter kit.
I started out as a beta tester. I was concerned about the connection quality, since I live in Alaska. We have lower than recommended broadband upload speeds (128K), plus I share the connection through a router/switch. Anyway, all of my online games (NBA 2K3, NFL 2K3, Mech Assult, Moto GP, and NFL Fever 2003) play great online. People are amazed they are playing someone from Alaska. Human opponents add a truly new dimenson to the games. The unpredictably and challenge that a human opponent offers is great, plus the ability of talking to them is even better. I've learned all types of great gaming tips this way. The XBox Live system allows you to keep your team rosters up to date, download extra levels, characters, and equipment depending upon the game. The startup is very easy and I have never had to use any tech support to start playing games online. I'm concerned that the people who give the poor reviews are diehard PS2 lovers. XBox Live is really what sets apart the XBox from the PS2 and the Gamecube. Sure the other systems have online capability, but at added cost and without a standardized connection process and security. I hope this helps and my apologizies for the long review.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I would like to address the issues that Parents might have heard concerning this product.XBOX live allows game players to use their XBOX to play with other games all around the world. We have spent countless hours enjoying our system, and I would like to put to rest any fear you may have concerning this product.
In order to set up the system, you must enter a credit card. This card number may be used to purchase additional levels to a game, or better cars and equipment. However, there is a parental control option which will prevent children from purchasing anything without your permission.
Since the headset allows kids to speak with their game playing buddies, it also allows them to mask their voice, so they don't sound the same. Example: a younger child can mask his voice to sound like a grown man or a cartoon character.
So far, most of the people I have encountered have been cordial and great fun. However, if I encounter a player that rubs me the wrong way for some reason, I just mute him, and can no longer hear anything he/she says.
Any players that I enjoy playing with, I just add to my friends list. The more I play, the more friends I find, and the games become more enjoyable. Now when I play a game, I can choose from people I already know that I enjoy.
One of my favorite parts is being able to enjoy the game as a guest of my son, while he is playing. It allows up some great together time.
As a conscientious parent, please let me say that I have found the XBOX to be an enjoyable extension to the XBOX gaming machine.
Best Deals for Microsoft (X-Box) Xbox LIVE
So far it looks like Microsoft has done a very good job with XBox Live. The starter kit gets you a disc that updates your XBox with Live capability and includes a couple of demo games. Frankly, the demo games aren't very exciting. I recommend picking up a new game (such as Unreal Championship or Mech Assault) when you purchase the starter kit. The kit also includes a headset for talking with other players (more on this later). Finally, your [money] gets you all this and a one year subscription to the service. After this, there is a monthly fee. Conveniently (ok, very annoyingly), when you go through the setup process, you enter your credt card information and accept an agreement that will auto-bill your credit card once the initial year passes. I would have preferred to have the option to automatically terminate the service, but why give the consumer what they might want? :)Once you get setup, fire up your favorite XBox Live enabled game and enjoy a relatively lag-free online gaming experience. I've primarily played Unreal Championship and have had no major lag issues and always had a great time playing. Talking to other players really adds a new dimension to gaming. People aren't too chatty just yet, but I've had generally good experiences talking to other gamers online. Interestingly, even though you can opt to mask your voice, most people don't.
One final note. The XBox Live site doesn't advise using a wireless network (technically, they aren't supported). I've been using a wireless network exclusively and have had no problems, even while running Unreal servers hosting 5 or 6 players.
So, if you want to take your XBox gaming to the next level, sign up for broadband service, grab the starter kit and enjoy!
Honest reviews on Microsoft (X-Box) Xbox LIVE
Well I owned my Xbox for a couple of months before I bought Live and it has increased my enjoyment of the system a lot. While Xbox has great graphics and is very fast, the choice of games can be a bit lacking. The real advantage of Xbox has proven to be the Live service.The setup is easy and the price is right ...with the disc and headset. I have experienced very few problems with the service. There is the occasional lag, but that is to be expected with online gaming.
If there is a warning to be given, it has to do with interacting with others online. Anyone who has ever played online computer games or even used a chat room knows that the anonymity of the internet allows people to act however they wish. And certain people tend to act like jerks. The majority of the people you'll deal with will be polite and friendly, but then there's others. Those who'll drop out of a game as soon as they start to lose and some will harass other players just for fun.
This doesn't come close to ruining the service, but it's something to be kept in mind.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Microsoft (X-Box) Xbox LIVE
After reading some of the reviews of Xbox Live (like the guy who thinks the Xbox has a modem it's an ethernet adapter and the guy who is mad because he can't connect at HIS college, even though all he has to do is spoof a registered computer's MAC address) I felt it necessary to chime in.Xbox live works nearly perfectly. I have MechAssault, Splinter Cell, and various other Live games, and it's of incredible value. MechAssault is VERY fun online, although don't use the headset if you're easily offended. There are a lot of stupid kids on Live!, so their language reflects their maturity.
At any rate, I have a connection (shared T1) that maxes out at around 120k/s. This is typically slower than most cable and DSL connections, but I've experienced no lag whatsoever.
The voice communications is really great, and is probably the aspect of Live! that makes it stand out among the competition. That, and the fact that all Live! games are hosted on Microsoft's servers, and will therefore be uniform in their speed and security. (Unlike PS2 or Gamecube, which will be painful to play because of lag, or, even worse, cheaters.)
If you have an Xbox... GET XBOX LIVE. 50 bucks for a year is pretty darn cheap, especially since you get the headset with your starter kit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)