Cheap Modsticks Pro Xbox 360 Controller Analog Sticks (Orange)

Customer Ratings:

These weer just what i was looking for. They are made of high quality aluminum and feel absolutely amazing, The controls are so more responsive. The only thing i wish was that the controller thumb rest had a rounded rubberized tip like the PS3 controllers. all the tips the manufacturer stocks are sad comparisons to the feel of a stock thumb stick tip.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I recently put together 3 custom controllers using chrome shells, short button throws, and modsticks. I used these grabber orange sticks on green chrome shells. Totally hot.

Review of PlayStation Vita 3G/Wi-Fi Bundle

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $212.80
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

Other people have written great reviews on what comes in the box, etc, etc so I don't need to add to that; however the following info has been left out so far.

I just got this bundle at the house for my son and overall we are VERY happy with the bundle and the extras...EXCEPT for the "free Data Plan". This is a little misleading but it is not Amazon's fault, it is Playstation's (or maybe AT&T). The plan is more of a "buy one get one free" instead of being a free plan overall. You FIRST need to pay for one full month's service of an ATT plan and you will THEN get a "coupon code" to be used for another months service, yet there is still a small catch the free service is only for the cheapest and smallest data plan, the 250MB plan. You also must use the coupon within 90 days of first activating the service. So this means you have to use it within the 2nd or 3rd month of service.

Also the "free downloadable game" is only if you sign up for an AT&T plan and even then you have to wait 30days AFTER signing up before you even get the code to use in the first place.

Much of this can be lost in the description. Orginially I was going to get my son the WiFi only model but I thought that this would be better with the 3g model and all the free stuff, man what a disappointment. HOWEVER, I was thinking of giving the data plans a try ANYWAY so this still turned out to be a good bundle.

It is also important to note that there IS a AC adaptor INSIDE the box, no need to order an addional one (unless of course you think you need it). I found this a nice little surprise since most PS items want you to use an USB connection to charge it against your PS3 or PC. The adaptor is a little bit of a pain given that you use a "USB type" cable (it is properitary) to the VITA which has a USB connection on the other end. You connect THAT end to a little "box like" convertor which then plugs into another cable that you plug into the wall. So three different pieces to plug your VITA into the wall.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

With the 3G launch, get ready for overwhelming ATT website access issues! Here's the problems and their fixes:

1. When you first power up, the getting started screens will take you through the normal language, location, time etc. stuff. DO NOT sign up for ATT 3G in this initial setup! Decline and click "sign up later." If you don't, you'll go to the overwhelmed ATT website, and suddenly your input will start delaying, then, the screen will freeze with black or blue death.

Fix: The blue-glowing playstation button is a combined escape and control-alt-delete. If it doesn't clear the freeze, hold the power button for 5 seconds, wait a second or two, then hold it again for 5 seconds and you'll get the setup screen again. This time DON'T sign up for ATT OR the PS3 network. Finish the setup, DO NOT opt into the PS3 network at this stage (Sony has now changed the name of this network to SEN for smart TV's, but Vita still calls it both) until setup is complete. Once you complete setup, you can go back and opt into ATT (at 14 bucks a month for 250 m) AND sign up for SEN/ PS3 online.

2. Once you get ATT, beware of unplugging wifi.

Fix: Even if you acquired and activated wifi at setup, once you activate ATT, Vita will default to 3G even if you're hot on wifi, kicking your setup wifi off. You have to go back into settings and reacquire wifi. DO THIS right away or you'll be charged by ATT even for setting up PS3 SEN!

3. Missing handshake numbers (IMEI and ICCID).

Fix: If you blow the first attempt to activate on ATT's overwhelmed website, try it a 3am on a weekday, not 11 am on a Saturday! Also, if you blow the first attempt, on the second, the auto fill for your device sometimes won't work, and ATT won't recognize the device because the two long ID's will be missing. In the background, ATT actually checks your location and assigns you a ghost phone number. That's right, your Vita will get it's own number, but until Verizon gets into the act, I doubt that we'll be able to do any phone activities other than on Skype! ATT WILL email the heck out of you, including giving you the ghost number you can't use.

Did you save the box? Numbers not there! Don't despair! Go to settings, system, then system information. The last two numbers (IMEI and ICCID) are stored in your device. These are the two numbers you need to activate the service on ATTs website.

4. PS3 Net.

Just like Facebook, SEN won't accept email addresses that aren't common extensions. So, if your email is Contact@JaneDoe.com, they will first accept it, then kick you off at the end of the tedious number by number input on the little Vita screen. Too bad ATT/Sony didn't include a direct web signup for your PC, but because of device recognition, you have to do it initially through the Vita, unless you already have a PS3 account from another Sony device.

Fix: Just get JaneDoe@gmail.com (or Yahoo, your cable, etc.). Mac users: Sony WILL accept me.com addresses.

That's it for now. I don't have to tell you this is an incredible machine, I own them all to develop elearning products for every platform, and this smokes any other handheld, including the ipad and galaxy 10.1 in real arcade like action. BTW, are there any arcades left, or am I dating myself???

;=) Please vote this helpful if you liked, if not, let me know how we can improve. Also, ask a question and we'll post an answer if you have any other difficulties, and see the first launch bundle for other answers in our review and discussions there.

Best Deals for PlayStation Vita 3G/Wi-Fi Bundle

The Vita itself is a great system but the 3g version is a ripoff. The reason to buy this bundle would to be get a memory stick, a free game, and the ability to access 3g when and if you ever wanted. The problem with the bundle is that to get your "free" game you have to sign up for a month of 3g. Well no problem you say, sony is generously giving me a free month of it so I can use that to download the game. Wrong, sony gives you your 2nd month free you have to pay at least 15.00 for the first month. Then at the end of the 30 days they will email you a voucher for Super Stardust Delta.( The game is a 208mb download so if youre going to download it with 3g save your data) you end up spending $15 for a $10 game. So make sure you and add $15 to that $50 value.

Well thats fine with me you might say I plan on getting 3g to play all the awesome online games. That's fine as long as youre playing turn based games. No online shooters or fighting for you. Sony and ATT are only alowing psn messaging, web browing, and asynchronous multiplayer (turn based) on 3g. Everything else wifi only. The system is great but do yourself a favor buy the wifi version and spend the extra 50 on an overpriced memory stick.

Honest reviews on PlayStation Vita 3G/Wi-Fi Bundle

This review will address the AT&T bonus bundle which includes one 8GB memory card ($30), a DD code for Super Stardust ($10 PSN game) and a 250MB 3G network data packet ($15), which should be available through the end of this month. The review on the actual PSV hardware itself will follow.

As many have already mentioned, the promo items (PSN game and data packet) are only redeemable AFTER paying for the initial data packet, so anyone who thinks they're getting their first month free and will be downloading Super Stardust shortly after charging up their PSV for the first time will probably be upset, and not unreasonably so as the conditions for redeeming the promo items are not mentioned on the box itself. It's also a little underhanded to make users wait a month after using their first month of 3G service before they receive their game download code, but free is free I suppose and it is only a $10 DD game to begin with.

On the flip side, if anyone is actually buying a 3G model with the intention of NEVER paying for even one month/data packet, one almost has to question the intelligence of buying this model when the WiFi model is $50 less. At any rate, $15 isn't much for a two month (limited given the 250MB data cap) trial run of the service.

As for the 3G service itself, after one week of using it, about the only function it currently serves is for Near updates (PSV social app that shows who's playing what on the PSV in your proximity) and web browsing on the PSV's browser when outside of a WiFi network. It is very limited as of this writing and subjectively not worth subscribing to with the assumption that the PSV owner already has a smartphone with a data plan. If the PSV is your only way of accessing a 3G network when cut off from WiFi, it still beats running around for a WiFi hotspot.

Lastly, the bundle comes with a 8GB memory card that currently retails for $30. It is easily the best added value component of the bundle and even if one were to ignore the data packet/PSN game, it's only $20 over the cost of a $250 WiFi PSV when purchased with a $30 memory card. Seeing as how very little information has been put out regarding future uses for 3G and the PSV, $20 is nothing to add that feature on the chance that the service becomes worth renewing down the road. There are no service contracts.

As for the PSV itself, after two weeks of initial impressions, it is easily the most enjoyable handheld gaming device I have used running all the back to the original Gameboy and before with Nintendo Game and Watch games and Mattel Electronic Sports games, etc. The last two handhelds I've used extensively have been the PSP and the 3DS for recent comparisons.

The 5" OLED display is the first noticeable feature, with its ink like blacks, high contrast, relatively tight pixel density and even light distribution due to the self illuminating OLED pixels.

Build, fit and finish feels balanced and substantial. Face buttons and D-pad have a very satisfying click feedback that feels precise and responsive. The D-pad in particular, as the first deviation from the familiar Playstation 4 arrow button cross design is the best feeling D-pad I can remember using. The face buttons are smaller than those of the PSP and slightly larger than those of the 3DS. The X button proximity to the right analog stick has been mentioned as a potential issue, presumably for those who press with the heel of the thumb ("rolling") rather than the tip of the thumb (precise).

Following the OLED display, the second most prominent feature is the twin analog sticks, a first for handhelds. Unlike the sliding disk design used by the PSP and again by the 3DS, the PSV uses actual mini analog sticks with the same single axis rocking action everyone who has used an analog stick controller is familiar with. The feedback is a bit tighter than that of the DS3 with less travel due to the short throw axis which basically means more precise input is both possible and required for games without aim assist or loose controls. The size will probably take some getting used to for most, but for anyone who managed to adapt to the barely usable slider disk of the PSP, the analog sticks should be a snap to use.

The size of the PSV is another oft noted design issue, which is partially to accomodate the 5" screen in addition to the real estate taken by the face buttons, analog sticks and D-pad. Yes, the bezel could be thinner, but the controls themselves really can't be spaced much closer without causing more issues than solving. "Not pocket-sized" is another oft made comment regarding the size although it will easily slip into the back jeans pocket of just about any pair of jeans with at least a 30" inseam that aren't cut or worn like jeggings. I just don't know who would actually want to carry something like the PSV in their back pocket without some sort of case, slip cover, etc. to prevent scratches or other damage.

On the plus side, the PSV should fit average to large size hands very comfortably compared to the DS/DSl/3DS, PSP/PSP Go, etc. It's the first handheld I've used that didn't give me "crab claw hand" after 30 minutes of use. The position of the analog sticks are a comfortable distance away from the trigger buttons on the top of the PSV and the rounded shape with shallow contours moulded into the rear make it the most comfortable handheld I've used to date.

Sound volume from the built in speakers is adequate for a device of its size. Louder than the PSP or 3DS at max volume. Sound quality should fall in line with expectations for a portable device of its size. Naturally, the best sound output will be from a pair of quality headphones or a line out jack to a stereo system.

Battery life is adequate compared to the 3DS and PSP and realistically provides about 3-4 hours of gaming (PSV games) with more for PSP games, video, music, etc. Without the swappable battery design used in the PSP, there is no option to buy extra batteries for long trips away from a charger socket. SCE will be selling a $50 portable charger pack in the near future which while far from ideal, is better than no solution at all.

Users of iOS devices will feel right at home with the front and rear touch panels. Multi-touch, capacitive type interface that is more sensitive than the iPad to the degree that it is possible to trigger touch input without actually touching the display (if a bioelectric source, ie. finger, is about 1mm away).

That about covers the hardware itself without delving into the PSV games or any of the software functionality built into the PSV OS, which can and will be updated via firmware updates as more features are added and refined.

Overall, couldn't be more impressed with the hardware, barring a few annoyances like the lack of any onboard memory (the 3DS has 2GB internal memory, in addition to a 2GB SD card shipped with every handheld), the overpriced proprietary memory cards (deja vu Memory Stick) which serve the twofold purpose of slowing the tide of software piracy as well as provide hardware revenue to recoup potential losses Sony is taking on every PSV sold and the essentially useless VGA resolution cameras that are only useful for in-game use including the free augmented reality games available in the PSN Store for download.

The hardware is solid, the only issue from here on out will be the steady release of diverse, quality titles that will either make or break the platform.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for PlayStation Vita 3G/Wi-Fi Bundle

So I managed to get my hands on a Vita (3G/WiFi version) shortly after launch, and I also got a 16GB memory card along with Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Wipeout 2048 (Thank you Sony, I love you too).

So what do I think after a week of ownership? Well quite honestly, I couldn't be happier with this marvel of portable gaming.

So why, oh why, do I love my Vita so much?

Well let's break it down a little so I can explain how I feel about this wonderful machine.

*I have not activated any 3G services yet (I just haven't had the need). I just wanted to put that out there before I get started.

Hardware.

The Vita is much lighter than I expected but still feels very robust. It fits comfortably in the hands with a couple of matte grip areas on the back to rest your fingertips on. A quad-core processor and quad-core graphics processor power the impressive graphics, which show up wonderfully on the 5-inch display, which is the best looking handheld gaming display I've ever seen. Everything looks good on the Vita, games, movies (streamed from Netflix), and photos. Even the operating system is amazing to look at. There are left and right shoulder buttons, a PlayStation button, and Start and Select buttons. The Start and Select buttons are really small and not particularly easy to hit, but as you rarely use them whilst playing, I don't think it's going to be an issue. On top of the Vita are the power and volume buttons, along with the slot for game cards and a proprietary port of some sort (can't find any info on what this is for). The bottom of the Vita houses the headphone socket, a microphone, USB charging and communication connection, and a slot for the memory card. The memory cards are proprietary to Sony but look a lot like micro SD cards. There are two cameras built into the Vita, one front and one rear facing. They work great for the augmented reality games and some of the other game demos I've tried, but they're not going to take the place of your digital camera or even your smartphone camera anytime soon.

Controls.

First thing that you'll notice is that it looks just like any other piece of Sony gaming hardware. The screen is flanked by two analog thumb sticks, then above those are the classic PlayStation buttons on the right and a D-pad on the left. Both the buttons and D-pad feel smaller than the ones I remember on the PSP. The most impressive thing of course is that finally someone has made a portable system with dual analog sticks, hooray! Next be prepared to be blown away, not only is the gorgeous display a touch screen, but the back of the handheld is a touchpad too.

When I first got the Vita my initial reaction was that the analog controls where a little 'twitchy' but I have to say that after a week, I've gotten used to them. Both the placement and responsiveness took me a few days to get the hang of, but also remember I haven't had a portable system for the last 6 months since my first generation PSP went kaput recently.

The touch screen is ultra responsive and my only complaint is that it suffers from the same thing all touch screens do . . . . oily fingerprint smears.

Display.

I really haven't paid too much attention to OLED screens in general. I'm more than happy with my LED TV so didn't really pursue OLEDS very much. I know they're supposed to be better than LCD with greater clarity and brighter colors. Well all I can say is that 'they' are not wrong, the 5" OLED screen is amazing with awesome depth and color. It's definitely the most vivid screen I've seen, and I've yet to see any problems with screen tearing or pixilation when watching movies or playing games.

Graphics.

Gorgeous is the first word that comes to mind. I really can't tell you what the resolution is, because I haven't bothered to look it up, but I can tell you it looks just like my PlayStation 3, just on a smaller scale. I dare you to look at the screen and not be impressed!

Extras.

Playstation Vita does more than just play games. Here are some of the highlights included in the operating system:

Google Maps is included in the operating system, which works exactly as you'd expect if you've ever used it on a smartphone or tablet. The GPS seemed pretty accurate, but I don't see this being used much. I just can't imagine too many scenarios where it would be easier to pull out your Vita than your smartphone, maybe it would useful for people without smartphones though?

Web Browser. Yes there's a web browser, yes it's better than the PlayStation 3 one, but you're only likely to use it for quickly looking something up as it's still pretty mediocre by today's standards.

Apps. There are currently apps for Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, and Netflix. More apps have been promised in the future. Netflix works flawlessly and has a very similar interface to the PlayStation 3 app. I'm hoping for a Skype app next.

Near is the app which adds a social aspect to the device by showing you nearby Vita users, what they're playing and what trophies they've won etc. There's also a way to share "Game Goods" using this app, but for the life of me, I'm still not 100% sure how this all works. Quite frankly I found the app confusing.

Content manager is built into the operating system, and allows you to transfer information between the Vita and a PlayStation 3 or computer. The content manager is really easy to use, and even contains it's own installation files for your PC which organizes a database on your PC for transferring between your PC and the Vita. My only complaint would be that whilst your Vita is transferring to or from your PlayStation 3, it's not possible to use your PlayStation 3 for anything else. Background transfers are on my wish list for future firmware updates..

Remote Play is a feature which was poorly implemented on the PSP in my opinion. So I'm really pleased to say that setting up and using remote play on the Vita has been a dream and completely without problems. I've tried it from several different locations and it has performed flawlessly every time. My only wish is that more PS3 games use the full potential of this feature, as it seems that right now, only minis and PSOne games are playable via remote play. Let's hope this changes soon.

Party is the app used to create a party so you can chat and play games etc over the PlayStation network. Currently I can't get this working unless it's with other Vita users, but you're supposed to be able to cross game chat with people on the PS3 also. I'll post an update when this feature starts working.

PlayStation store is slightly revamped and clearly structured specifically for the Vita. It's easy to navigate and also recognizes the fact that I'm a PlayStation Plus member. One downside we have discovered is that my son can't log into the Vita using his own PSN account as apparently the Vita only wants to use one account (namely mine). This is a shame as we would dearly love to be able to earn trophies and save games under our own accounts. This is another item on my wishlist.

Operating system.

Probably the one thing about the operating system that impressed me the most was how intuitive it is. I handed the Vita to my wife, who is less than technically savvy with such things, and she was able to start navigating immediately. Granted she got lost in the menus and eventually tossed it back to me, but I was still impressed that she was able to use it with no instruction from me.

Sliding between screens and switching between apps happens at lightning fast speeds, even when switching out of a game and into google maps is almost seamless.

Managing home screens, moving icons around, customizing backgrounds etc is easy and similar to the way most smartphones handle it. In fact the whole interface reminds you of a smartphone in many ways (which is probably why my wife picked it up so quickly).

So enough about hardware I hear you say, what about the games?

Games.

Games are either downloaded digitally from the PlayStation store or you can purchase them on Game Cards, which basically look like SD cards (but they're actually a format that's proprietary to Sony). From what I can tell, you get around a $5 discount for getting them digitally (I compared prices at Gamestop). Remember that if you plan on doing the digital download, you're going to need a bunch of memory cards, which are not cheap.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

First of all if you own a Vita (or are planning on getting one), you NEED to own this game. This game alone could sell a million Vita's. Along with the usual amazing story telling and graphics, Golden Abyss makes full use of all the extra interfaces you get with a Vita. The touchscreen and rear touchpad are extremely well implemented and playing quickly becomes very intuitive. I refuse to post any game spoilers, but apparently (and I read it on the internet so it must be true), this game is longer than Uncharted 3, and critics claim it's better than Uncharted 3. I can tell you from personal experience it's exactly what you'd expect from an Uncharted game, and then some!

Wipeout 2048.

No real surprises here. Wipeout is a great racing franchise and this game is no exception. The graphics are lightning fast and really show off the capabilities of the OLED display. This game also offers what Sony are calling "Cross-Play" (still sounds dirty to me, LOL), which basically means that it will inter connect with Wipeout HD on the PlayStation 3. Exactly how this all works I can't really say as it's not been implemented yet, so rest assured as soon as it's working, I'll update my review.

I have to admit that as good as Golden Abyss is, I still find myself popping Wipeout 2048 into the Vita for those "I've got 20 minutes to spare" moments. I can't wait until they get cross-play working.

I have managed to copy some of my Mini's to the Vita and they play great, with no issues.

There are three free games available in the PlayStation Store for the Vita. Cliff Diver, Fireworks, and Table Soccer. All of these titles use the augmented reality cards (supplied with the Vita) to turn your everyday environment into the play are for your game. They're simple games that are well-designed to work with the Vita.

The Vita's battery life is really the only downside that I see at this stage. Sony quote battery life at 5 hours. I will use my Vita mostly whilst traveling, so I'm going to struggle with such a short battery life. Especially flying across country as I often do. I guess it's just something I'll have to live with, at least until I find the nearest USB power supply!

Overall I'm extremely pleased, and pleasantly impressed with the Vita. Honestly I think Sony have a great portable gaming system, I just hope they fully implement all the possibilities that this system can offer. I would love to play my PS3 games remotely from my Vita, I'm getting tired of dragging my PlayStation 3 all around the worlds airports.

MartB64 member of [....]

Best Q-bert - PC Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.95
Sale Price: $16.99
Today's Bonus: 43% Off

After much anticipation I recieved this game, and it's the bestversion of Q*bert since his arcade release. The graphics are justamazing, the game play stays true to the original. If you buy one classic this year make it Q*bert for pc, or Playstation. You won't be sorry.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Clearly, this is a dated video game. If you aren't old enough to vividly remember hearing that President Reagan had been shot by a would-be assassin, you are not going to appreciate this game. It is simplistic and the graphics are crude by contemporary standards. However, in its day, this game was novel and refreshingly fun. It is an old style arcade video game which is essentially a challenging moving puzzle, not a more modern ultra-realistic killing simulation. I spent many hours in my misguided and misspent youth feeding quarters into the Q*bert machine at my local pub. It is a nostalgic treat to be able to waste a few hours in my misguided and misspent middle-age playing Q*bert on my home computer. The fact that the game costs less than one or two nights of quarters in the arcade machine just improves the experience by appealing to my frugal nature. This game isn't slick and it isn't sophisticated. However, it is still fun. They have added a few new features, but I prefer the classic version. They have certainly captured the fun of the original version. Now, if they could only find that cute little co-ed from the dorm next to mine who used to watch me play, it would be like my college days all over again......Recommended without reservations to all baby boomers with receding hairlines. There seems to be a minor glitch with my system, Windows XP Pro. Every once in a while, the sound will stop abruptly until you close the game and restart. It does not happen often and I can be forgiving of this flaw in an old friend, particularly when the game isn't marketed as XP-compatible. However, I did withhold one star and only ranked it with four stars because this game is so simplistic compared to modern games. It hasn't aged well, but how many of us have?

Best Deals for Q-bert - PC

I had as much fun now as I did years a go when I first played it. I would recomend it to anyone who use to play it.

Reviews of Dance Dance Revolution Multi-Platform Super Sensors Energy Deluxe

Customer Ratings:

I did quite a bit of research on dance pads and although there were no reviews of this item on Amazon, I bought this pad for my son for Christmas because the reviews at other sites about its durability, responsiveness, and quality of play even on carpeting were positive. We have been very happy with it for the most part. It is indeed very responsive. The padding is thicker than many pads and seems tough and durable. The sensor panels are raised and easy to hit. Our only complaint is that the vinyl along the edges of the raised sensor panels tore immediately. We thought about returning it but decided that this tearing was going to be an inherent problem with the raised pad design and figured that a little duct tape would take care of the problem. We haven't had to resort to the duct tape, however, because the pad has not torn further beyond the first problem. My only remaining question about this pad is how long it will last. It has only been three weeks; if we get a year out of it at this quality of play, I will be very happy with this product.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Worked flawlessly with my PC out of the box. No joystick-axis problem! WinXP recognized a "USB Dance Pad".

After 5 days of continuous heavy use by myself and young daughters, the pad began to malfunction. The left button would not always respond and would sometimes stick. When the problem started affecting my performance, I returned it.

I'm buying a metal pad instead.

Best Deals for Dance Dance Revolution Multi-Platform Super Sensors Energy Deluxe

The kids had great fun with this. The mat took a lot of abuse and never seemed to miss a step. Setup was really easy, plug in and go.

The extra thick foam made it comfortable and the top seems extremely durable. The mat does not slide around at all.

Putting it togerther I managed to tear the rubbery material on the underside of the mat which is not particularly strong. However with a little less impatience it should have been fine.

Honest reviews on Dance Dance Revolution Multi-Platform Super Sensors Energy Deluxe

I had been looking to get back into DDR/Stepmania but needed a new dance pad after my sturdy Red Octane pad bit the dust a while back.

The first day, everything worked great and I felt good about my decision. I plugged it into my computer, the pad was recognized immediately by my Windows 7 x64 computer and I was dancing away with Stepmania having tons of fun.

And on the second day, things broke down. The left arrow button started acting up by not reacting to my steps all the time, as well as registering when I didn't even press it. On a beginner mode this may be tolerable, but when you do 4-7 Step difficulty like I do, this results in numerous failed combos and general frustration. This will be going back to Amazon for a refund.

Speaking of, whenever you buy one of these pads, always check the manufacturers' warranty and the return policy of your store. With Amazon doing the selling this isn't much of an issue, but since many of these pads are sold via third party vendors, you need to make sure that you don't get screwed over since these pads are very mixed in terms of quality. Some pads will last for years while others will last for days. I have had experience with both. YMMV with this and other models, but just know that the risk of a dud is very high.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dance Dance Revolution Multi-Platform Super Sensors Energy Deluxe

My 8-year-old son uses this mat with the freeware program Stepmania on our home PC. I wanted to avoid bringing a game system into the house.

The mat worked great right out of the box. I just plugged it into a USB port on the PC, and we've had no problems with it. My son's only complaint was that it doesn't have arrows printed on the diagonal buttons as some other mats do. At first, he also complained that the foam was too firm, again, compared to other mats he has used. This complaint went away after several hours of use. The plastic on the top of the mat is shiny, a little bit crinkly and wrinkly, and will smell of unpleasant chemicals for several days after it's unpacked. It stays in place well and doesn't slip even when subjected to enthusiastic hoofing.

My only complaint is that the product description suggested that the mat came with DDR software. I was extremely annoyed when the package arrived with no game software included. I've since discovered that Stepmania is an excellent alternative to DDR. It will run many DDR themes and songs, both legal and illicit, that are available on the web.

The seller was very sympathetic and accommodating, but strangely, they told me that Amazon would not let them modify the inaccurate listing. This doesn't reflect very well on Amazon.

Discount Rise of the Argonauts - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $15.00
Today's Bonus: 70% Off

Rise of the Argonauts is a strange game. The idea of creating a game around the saga of Jason and the Argonauts is a great one, and has lots of potential. The idea of creating a Mass Effect type game set in ancient Greece is a great one, with lots of potential. RPG-type power up system mixed with hack and slash gaming is a great idea too

The problems come in on the "but..." end of things. Great idea to use the Argonauts myth, BUT they basically wrecked that by making the game have absolutely zero to do with Greek mythology. All the character names are the same, but none of the characters are doing anything that they're supposed to be doing. The Argo is full of all new people, ie, NOT the actual Argonauts, and the quest for the golden fleece is still the same in name but they want it for a completely different purpose

None of the character relationships are the same either. People who are half-brothers in Greek myth are uncle and nephew in this game. People who are married in Greek myth are vague acquaintances in this game. People who live in completely different eras are united in the same time and place. No idea why they would do this, its completely unexplainable

One might as well have a Bible game that has Noah, Moses and Jesus wandering through the desert for 40 years together with the Jews, and at the end of it they fight the battle of Armageddon. That's the kind of hodgepodge you're faced with here

The dialogue trees are a good idea it seems, at first, until you realize that absolutely nothing you say makes any difference. Regardless of your choice, the people you're talking to will give you the same item or response. Occasionally you will talk to them and they will just repeat themselves over and over til you get to the part of the quest that causes them to change to a new set of selections

Tons of bugs too. Occasionally you'll talk to people who aren't there. People will appear and disappear for no reason. You select certain "god powers" which are basically just power up attacks from the D pad, and when you push down it gives you the power that's on the right, or you push up and get the down power. Just totally unexplainable things like that

Don't get me wrong, none of that makes the game unplayable. Its a pretty decent game, fun to play if a little unchallenging. I'm maybe 15 hours into it and plan on beating it before I put it down. Its by no means a 5 star game though, not another Mass Effect like some people here are claiming. Not a 1 star game either, like some people are saying

Basically if you want a game with lots of sword fighting and not much chance of actually dying, this is it. A game with lots of choices but no consequences if you make a bad one, this is it. A game that plays out like a movie, but not a movie you'd really want to see twice. Here it is

Hope that helps you make a decision on whether or not to give it a try

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I agree, I don't understand how gaming review sites and magazines can condemn games so quickly, seemingly without being able to point out specific flaws. They tend to fall in step with each other in fear of writing a disagreeable review. This game should be a lot of fun and great for anyone with an inkling of Greek mythology. It provides a lot of new fun little features like using achievements or combat feats instead of experience points to boost abilities that set it apart, despite being too "streamlined in both action and RPG elements" for the boys over at IGN.

Best Deals for Rise of the Argonauts - Xbox 360

If you are in the mood for an RPG that changes the rules of Action RPG's then this is your game.

I've played the game for about 10 hours now, and I must say it has thrilled me and lured me in as much as Mass Effect did from last year.

This RPG comes highly recommended if you like great dialog, character relationships, story, simple yet elegant fighting systems, and logical game direction!

You will see some reviews giving this game a low score based on the fact that they think conservations are boring and that they think the pacing is too slow. You'll also see reviewers note that this game has too many technical flaws.

Both those claims are rubbish, there are frame rate issues, but what game doesn't have them, reviewers are spoiled and it shows when they dog on a terrifically neat title with no hype, such as this one.

Please give this one a try, I promise it is a hidden gem amongst the holiday crowd of guns and blood.

Thank for reading,

Mika'il

Honest reviews on Rise of the Argonauts - Xbox 360

I thought this game was great. I am not the type for RPG games typically, as I usually lose interest too soon before finishing it. But for some reason I really got hooked on this one. The story line was fantastic, and game play was fun. Some say it is repetitive, but I don't see it that way. It WAS an easy game, and definitely NOT challenging. However, in the overall context of the game I think making some of the action scenes too difficult would drag the game on too long. I would guess it took about 12 hours or more to finish the game. (Not being a RPG gamer that is a long game for me).

Great story, great graphics, strong gameplay.

A big downfall of the game is it seems nearly impossible to level up your character in one pass-through of the game. In the game the leveling up is done by pleasing the gods and uncovering stars in constellations. I didn't see anyway to go back and replay areas to finish these side projects.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Rise of the Argonauts - Xbox 360

I spent a solid few hours playing this game and enjoyed every second of it. When I read the various reviews for it, I couldn't quite understand all the hate it was receiving. It seemed like people were judging it more for what they wanted it to be than what it was.

The story borrows liberally from the actual myth of Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece and throws in a rather who's who of Greek mythology. It threw me off at first but I went with it, because I honestly felt that knowing what each twist and turn held in store by following the original source material verbatim would have been boring. I rather enjoyed having some of the big names from mythology on my side, rather than adhering strictly to the (incredibly long) list of actual argonauts. I'll take Achilles and Pan over Talaus and Zetes pretty much any day of the week. It made things feel a bit more epic, if slightly deviating from what the title might suggest.

The combat was by no means inadequate, it just wasn't anything particularly groundbreaking. Hack and slash from the moment you pull your weapon to the moment you put it away. I felt it was very reminiscent of the game Jade Empire in that you had multiple ways of approaching an opponent, some more effective on a given opponent than others, and ways to evade what they threw at you. Simple and effective, but by no means innovative.

The voice acting was suspect at times, particularly among the civilian extras. It didn't detract from the overall story though, and I think the story was actually very intriguing once you put aside the fact this wasn't the tale of the Golden Fleece you were immediately familiar with. I found some of it formulaic, but other bits did actually give me moments of surprise.

For those who felt there was far too much dialog, I can see your point to a limited degree but it IS a role playing game after all, what exactly did you expect? If all you want is to butcher things in a pseudo Greek mythological world with the occasional bit of story added in, the God of War series is that way -->.

Also to those of you who want to negatively hold this up to Mass Effect (one of my own personal favorite games of all time), I'd say you need to take a closer look at what Mass Effect really did that was incredibly innovative. And to that I would say: Not much. Mass Effect just did it better than others had before it. If you want to call quality "innovative", then that says more about the state of gaming than anything else.

To run the list:

1) Neither game had a particularly awesome combat setup. FPS was hardly something ME did first, nor best. Just like hack and slash melee wasn't a new trick RotA was attempting. Don't tell me that pointing targeting reticule at target was in anyway different than the other FPS games that came before. The biotics with the guns was no different than using a blaster and Force powers in Jedi Academy.

2) The visuals in both were less than stellar. ME made up for ridiculous looking humans with more well-done aliens, but I also though that Pan was particularly well done in RotA. Backgrounds and such I'll give the nod to Mass Effect.

3) As far as story, ME's was very enjoyable and I think THIS particular area was where RotA showed its flaws. Very little of what you say has any major impact in the outcome of the story. You can periodically choose to kill or not kill someone, to take or not take an item, but at the end of the day the destination remains the same whether you chose all Ares answers or all Apollo answers, and I think it could have been a lot better with more open choices, rather than 4 ways of saying the same thing to achieve the same outcome. ME beats it here, but I also thought the Knights of the Old Republic game did this better than even ME unfortunately. Both had lengthy dialog parts, the difference is that ME was (if you did the optional quests) just plain a longer game, so the talking seems more broken up.

I did like the fact that you had to actually remember (or properly guess) things said to you in order to make some of the dialog scenes go more smoothly. (The debate of the Golden Fleece, specifically) It gave everything a bit more cerebral tone than just having the right and wrong answers colored in blue and red. Gave you reason to pay attention to the dialog anyway.

Rise of the Argonauts is more like Jade Empire than it is Mass Effect. If you enjoyed Jade Empire, give this a look. You'll find a lot of it very familiar and it's a good way to kill a few evenings of casual play or 1-2 days at most of power-gaming through it.

Despite its faults, I found it to be an enjoyable game to sit through and it gave a unique new spin to material that had been beaten into the ground repeatedly by books, films and other games. A fun twist on classical material.

Reviews of Power Rangers Samurai - Nintendo Wii

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $19.94
Today's Bonus: $0.05 Off

This game is awesome and fun for everyone its very enjoyable. Drawing your symbols out with the wii remote is cool and gameplay is simple but fun. My only two complaints is that it is very short ending after only 10 missions and that the megazord sequence coulda been better but other than that this game is fun for the whole family

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I like the Golden Ranger because he's really fast. I like the Red Ranger because he has the fire smasher. The Green one has the water spitter because he has to fight strong enemies to win the game.

One thing I don't like is that one time on the tenth mission it will not let you get the Golden Ranger.

I like the game because the Golden Ranger has the phone and you have to listen and see to get it right because you have to type in the password and try to get it really good.

I like the Golden Ranger because he has Barracuda Blade and he jumps up and uses his spin sword.

It's kind of different from the TV show because it doesn't show you all the Power Rangers Samurai. It doesn't have the Golden Ranger. **I tell him but Golden Ranger is in the game.** Yea, I'm talking about the cover, see.

I love it.

Best Deals for Power Rangers Samurai - Nintendo Wii

It's simple enough for my young kids to play. I've found quite a bit of "kids" games that are too hard for them.

Honest reviews on Power Rangers Samurai - Nintendo Wii

My son is a big fan of the show, and when he saw the game it was impossible not to get it for him. The gameplay is fairly simple. The cut-scenes and Ranger transformations are fun to watch. There are two stages to the boss fights, one in "regular size" and then following that, the enemy grows into Megazord size. The Megazord fights are time-based and call for the player to shake the proper controller to either "block" or "hit" their opponent. The look and feel of the game reminds me a lot of the Batman Brave and the Bold game that came out a couple of years ago. All in all, if you're a fan of the show then you'll probably like this game.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Power Rangers Samurai - Nintendo Wii

This game is fun and dynamic. So fun and dynamic that even I played it (before I let the kids play it). And, I don't even like the Power Rangers (even though my kids do). You get to choose different rangers to play, you get to make power symbols motions in the air, you get challenging boss characters that aren't impossible. Easy control moves to learn. Very likeable.

Discount XBOX Mortal Kombat Scorpion Fatality Kontroller

Customer Ratings:

These Fatality Kontrollers from the widely popular MK:Deception Video game are a great collectable, and handle prety well as a controller! they come in 3 fan favorites(scorpion,sub zero, and baraka) each doing one of their 2 fatalities from Deception. The buttons are written in the MK script, making it even better!!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Reviews of Batman: Arkham Asylum - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $20.45
Today's Bonus: 32% Off

Video games haven't been too kind to Batman. Often times when we think of a Batman game, the first thing that comes to mind is that the game just isn't going to be all that spectacular. What is it about the Batman that hasn't always worked in the past? It's hard to point out. What we can point out, however, is that Batman Arkham Asylum doesn't fall into that category. In fact, it is easily one of the best Batman games to be released. From its humble beginnings, the game is fine tuned video game that does most of what it does incredibly well.

Let's begin with the production values. This is by far one of Arkham Asylum's strong points. The game begins with the Joker being caught and taken to Arkham Asylum, but he seems to be pretty non-chalant about it, and Batman doesn't like that one bit. And it turns out he was right to be suspicious. The Joker springs a trap and Batman is caught in the middle. Now he's trapped inside the Asylum with the Joker controlling things, as well as several other adversaries.

One of the nice things about Arkham Asylum is that it presents its story very well. The art style feels comic book like, but it doesn't skimp on the overall visual presentation either. There's a lot of artistic flair and technical goodness to behold with the graphics. Most of the environments look fascinating and will really draw you into the game. The tone is perfect. The other good aspect is the voice acting. If you remember that Batman: The Animated Television series you'll be surprised to see its the same voices. Kevin Conroy is Batman and Mark Hamill is the Joker. And the voices are done very well. The production values of the game are absolutely stellar.

Of course, a game just isn't much if it only goes off of visual flair alone. In the past gameplay seems to be one of the areas in which Batman games often stumble. In the past the games have had a hard time crafting together good gameplay elements or sometimes being unreasonably clunky. This is mostly Batman's past. The games sometimes felt rushed. This isn't the case with Arkham. In fact, the game mostly keeps things pretty simple. The combat is really easy to pick up on, having you string together simple combos. But the game hardly devolves into button mashing. This is because your enemies will take advantage of the situation, and the game makes sure you can't rush head on into things. First and foremost, most of your foes are willing to take advantage of their surroundings. Second, you can't go head to head with several enemies all toting guns at once. This is definitely not a beat 'em up kind of game. In fact, in some areas, caution and stealth are required.

There has rarely been a Batman game where you actually feel like Batman. In some places you'll be able to swoop down and leave your enemies hanging from gargoyles... or perform a glide kick or use some of Batman's gadgets to get the job done. For such simple gameplay concepts, there are actually quite a few ways to implement them into the game. The game also lets you upgrade and improve on your techniques as you progress. So there actually happens to be quite a bit of variety.

At the same time, though, the game is accessible to just about everyone. You can also enter what's called "Detective Mode" if you so choose. Within this mode, Batman can see certain things he otherwise couldn't. You can tell where your enemies are easier and find some hidden goodies. You'll no doubt be playing a large portion of the game in this mode, but it's very worth it to do so. Choosing not to means missing out on some of Arkham Asylum's secrets, and there are a lot of secrets. The most prominent of which is that you can find riddles scattered all over that will unlock lots of different things for you to do. You'll also be able to unlock small character bios and audio samples about certain characters. These are other things that really make the game come alive in its own way. And in the midst of all this, the game doesn't appear too challenging or intimidating.

That's not to say you won't be challenged. You will. Particularly when you reach something new. It's nice to know, however, that the game isn't overly difficult. It's just to say that when trumping through it at least doesn't feel easy. When helping you get acquainted to things, Arkham Asylum is pretty easy going. But once the game takes away the training wheels you may find yourself hitting a few snags every now and then.

The visual look of the game isn't all that adds to the game's atmosphere. So does the music and so do some of the animations when you're fighting. Sometimes it's fun to battle just to look at some of the animations as they take place. Other times exploring can be absorbing because the music really knows how to set the tone. Arkham Asylum has a lot of strength, but the game seems well aware of just what those strengths are.

There's really not much that keeps Arkham Asylum down. In many ways it's exciting to play a Batman game that's good. After getting several Batman games that felt like a throwaway of the license, Batman Arkham Asylum feels like a breath of fresh air. Most of its gameplay conventions have been done before, but it's mostly how the game mixes them together that works well, and the absorbing atmosphere it emits in the process. Batman fans might find themselves pleased by this one. It's a simple game to play, but there is definitely a lot in it that could keep you busy for some time, and a lot to explore. It's great to see a Batman game come to fruition, and to do it so smoothly.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I was skeptical about Batman. I've never been the hugest fan of Batman, but have seen all the movies, and played most of his games. The games have always been mediocre at best, so one could imagine why I would be skeptical to dish out $60 for what has always been a mediocre gaming franchise.

Boy, was I wrong. I kept hearing how good the game was, that it was Game of the year potential. I didn't believe it. I waited for more trailers. Loved what I saw, decided to get it the day it came out. I fell in love with the game, not even 10 minutes in.

There's almost nothing negative I can say about this game. The only thing that I wish it would have, is some type of multiplayer but due to the way the game is, it's understandable why they decided to not include multiplayer. The story is amazing, and even if you're not a Batman fan, this is still a must-play game.

Owning more than 85 Xbox360 games, one thing I hate is collectables. Batman has 240 collectables known as "riddles". As much as I hate them, I've gotten all 240 and they were the most fun I had getting collectables. Then there's challenges, and you can literally spend hours here, trying to master combos, counters, and earning your medals.

As I said, the only negative is this game is the lack of multiplayer. This game was a blast both times I ran thru it. The story is amazing, the achievements are not easy, yet not too hard, and you can easily spend all day playing this game without getting bored. Batman:AA is near perfection and was a great way to open the gaming season this year.

Best Deals for Batman: Arkham Asylum - Xbox 360

I cannot begin to express how wonderful this game is! I've purchased several comic games in the past (all of which have ended up on ebay) hoping that one might capture the magic of how it would feel to websling or fly or shred an enemy to bits with Wolverine's claws. But game after game, I have always come away thoroughly disappointed. I mean, is it really so hard to approach a comic game with the same level of production as Gears of War or Fallout 3 or Mass Effect? I suppose many publishers just assume a comic game will sell no matter what the product value, and therefore they rush it to store shelves.

But Arkham Asylum is different, and is everything I have ever wanted in a Batman video game.

First off, you actually feel like Batman. By the end of the game, you have all his gadgets and all of them are actually useful. I found the detective vision, the grappling hook, and the exploding jelly (great for setting traps) to be the best, but the others are almost equally great.

If you've seen the in-game pictures then you know what to expect from the graphics. Arkham Asylum is an extremely gritty place that is displayed in surprising detail. There were several pictures I saw before the game's release that I swore were cut-scenes (the one where Batman is standing on a cliff ledge overlooking Arkham Island comes to mind). But, quite surprisingly, nearly all of them were still-frames of actual in-game footage (the cliff ledge included). Even in the beginning when you first deliver the Joker to the island, you are in full control of Batman.

Other reviews I've seen on Amazon have explained the storyline, so I won't delve into detail. By now, you probably know the premise. Just know the story is intriguing and well thought out.

Another aspect of the game that surprised me was the Joker. The voice acting by Mark Hamill was superb, which is expected, but he is actually funny. Sometimes in the Animated Series I found the Joker to be a little too campy, but they've certainly given him more of an edge in the game and have allowed him to be more risqué. Every time I sit down to play, he blurts out something over the loud speaker that makes me laugh out loud. The Riddler's audio recordings are also pretty funny, with a punch-line at the end of each of them. Great stuff!

Also, every scene involving the Scarecrow is worth the price of admission alone. Many of them are the spookiest things I've seen in a video game in quite some time! Don't worry, I won't ruin it. Just make sure when you hear Dr. Crane's name mentioned or you see gas fumes hanging in the air you have the lights out and the sound way up. Chills!

The only gripe I have is that the faces and mouths are stiffer than they should be, not quite matching the vocal inflection. However, the outstanding voice acting and wonderful look/feel of the rest of the game makes this quibble seem tiny and forgivable.

I really could go on and on about how cool it is to sneak around in the shadows, striking fear in your enemies, or how great the combat feels -all the moves are tight and powerful, just like in Chris Nolan's movies. Please, do yourself a favor and pick this game up. If you're even mildly interested in Batman you'll LOVE it. I for one can't wait for the sequel! A+

Honest reviews on Batman: Arkham Asylum - Xbox 360

After countless unremarkable or even terrible Batman games, few had hope that the venerable character would ever become anything more than a blemish in video game history. But, with Batman: Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady, an up and coming developer that has only put out one other title, might have single handedly reversed that perception.

From the beginning, there is no doubt that this is a game which has been given the utmost thought and polish. Much like Half-Life games or Bioshock, there aren't lengthy cutscenes that may make you want to skip over vital information. After a brief clip of Batman transporting the Joker to the Asylum, the introduction becomes interactive. Throughout the game too, the story is mostly told through audio logs and in-game communication between Batman and the Joker, various guards, or Oracle, Batman's sidekick who provides him with useful intelligence. The story is a basic plot about a science experiment that goes wrong, but the in-game method of storytelling has moments of brilliance, using some interesting plot devices to keep things exciting. Voice acting is on the money, with a few voice actors from the Batman: The Animated Series reprising their classic roles. The Joker is definitely in his element, often referring to his diabolical plan as a "party" and making gags seem like life or death situations.

The music isn't overbearing, but it is appropriate and memorable when it is there. Several major Batman villains make appearances, and plenty of those that don't are given awesome allusions, often involving puzzles planted by the Riddler.

Technically, the game is quite impressive as well, with detailed character models and environments. Batman's cape flaps as he runs through Arkham Island, and his costume even accumulates tears and rips that remain as you progress further in the game. Notably, there is very little loading in the game, and when there is, it is cleverly masked as in the Metroid Prime games.

Where Arkham Asylum really shines though, is in its gameplay. This isn't only a stealth game, an action game, or an adventure game. It's all three genres fused into something even greater than the sum of its parts. As you stalk enemies and whittle them down, they'll grow increasingly terrified and eventually, they'll jump at any noise they hear. The Joker seems to find just as much pleasure in trying to kill Batman as he does in frightening and denigrating his own crew, as you'll notice that he mocks them rather frequently.

Also, taking these enemies down is just as much fun as watching them squirm in fear. There's a variety of ways you can knock out your enemies, and in keeping with Batman tradition, like the rest of the game, these methods will never kill, but only temporarily incapacitate. Among the best is the inverted takedown, which lets you hang a thug upside down from a gargoyle. After, you could wait for more thugs to come underneath the gargoyle, and cut the victim down with a batarang, knocking out even more henchmen. These moments are priceless, and evoke a feeling that this is the quintessential Batman game.

When you aren't skulking around oblivious enemies, you'll be using gadgets to explore the massive island. Like in any Metroid game, some areas can only be accessed with an upgraded arsenal. Otherwise, you can search for Riddle Trophies, Riddle Challenges, destroy chattering Joker Teeth, or try to find Spirit of Arkham entries. Regardless of what you're doing though, you're likely to find the overall experience seamless and very addictive. The campaign can likely be finished in around 10 hours or so, but it is so entertaining while it lasts, that it's still worth the price.

One of the few minor issues I have with the game is that it has a severely impaired saving system. Rather than simply allowing players to save whenever they want, the game will only save automatically each time you enter or exit any area. Consequentially, if you unwittingly turn off the console power while the game saves, your save file will be corrupted. Also, without custom saves, you can't replay your favorite sections of the game whenever you want, which is unfortunat for a game with such entertaining sequences.

I have found that the aforementioned saving problem, and the "boss fights" are really the only snags in this excellent game. The encounters with humongous Titan-fueled enemies, especially the very last battle, really doesn't seem to fit the gameplay at all. I found them more frustrating than amusing. Yet, the rest of the game is so ahead of most others that it doesn't bother me much. I don't care much for the bonus challenge stages, but they are there too for added replay value, in case you found the main campaign too short.

Overall, this is a game that can't be missed. It is one of the enthralling video games you can play, with enough mind blowing moments and engaging gameplay to even surpass games like Bioshock.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Batman: Arkham Asylum - Xbox 360

First things first, forget the demo. It's bad and doesn't even come close to conveying the feel of this game, in-fact it's misleading. Do not even play it if you haven't already. Just buy this game, it deserves a spot in your collection, trust me.

This game is dark and gritty, similar to BioShock, a tone which is set at the beginning of the game. A cutscene shows Batman en route to deliver the Joker back to the Asylum. Upon arrival, the cutscene ends and you control a perturbed Batman as he simply walks alongside the Joker, who is strapped into an upright gurney and towed into the depths of Arkham by the asylum's guards. This walking alongside him is probably a good five minutes, all the while the Joker heckles you and the guards. Finally, the Joker manages to break free just before he's put into lockdown and gets away, sealing Batman inside--his elaborate plan just beginning to unfold. Arkham Asylum, with loose papers, broken wheelchairs, and dead bodies throughout every corridor, exudes a similar feeling to that of Rapture of BioShock; this place is scary, it's a mental institution that houses the most dangerous people in the world, and they run amuck while the craziest of them controls everything.

The voice acting is perhaps the best I've heard in a videogame; Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) is hauntingly brilliant as this incarnation of the Joker, equally as good or better than his animated series protrayal, while Kevin Conroy and Arleen Sorkin continue to be THE voices of Batman and Harley Quinn, respectively. It's more than notable that even the voice acting of the guards is spot-on and you may hear familiar voices if you've played Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic or seen Ratatouille.

The story so far (i'm only 3-4 hours in) is surprisingly pretty unpredictable and could easily be translated into of one the better Batman graphic novels. I refuse to spoil any plot points, as you should enjoy them for yourself but I will say the boss fights are cool, particularly the run-ins with Scarecrow. Note that if you are Batman fan, as in one who reads the comic books, there will be a lot here for you. Interview tapes, as they're called, are recordings of therapy sessions with a doctor of the asylum and an inmate. From what I can tell, it appears that each of the famous super-criminals (joker, harley, killer croc, etc.) all have 5 interview tapes each strewn about the several buildings that make up Arkham Asylum. This brings me to the Riddler challenges, which sometimes include the finding of and collecting interview tapes. These challenges are a more fun re-imagining of the challenges you'll find in games like the Spiderman series, Prototype, Infamous, etc. There are 240 of them, and although some are just the flinging of your batarangs at wind-up chattering teeth, which can occasionally be found lying on the floor, or finding hidden trophies, some are riddles, which are rewarding for you yourself when you manage to solve them, but also, like all of Riddler's challenges, award valuable experience.

Finally, this game has the best combat system I've ever played in a video game. I've enjoyed all types, but at this point button-mashing combat systems have become so very trite to me. At first glance, Arkham Asylum's combat system might sound like it's a button-masher, as X button is attack, Y is counter, B is stun, and A is used to flip over enemies, while other moves include the simultaneous pressing of X and B, A and X, or RT and Y. However, in truth, the combat has so much more depth. Rocksteady has dubbed the system FreeFlow; your goal is to attack a group of enemies, sometimes as many as a dozen at once, using one continuous and fluid combo of punches and kicks and flips all the while dodging and countering the thugs' persistent attempts at hitting you, often with pipes or knives or stun batons. Every move has to be calculated quickly and on the fly, but with the occasional slow-motion hit to help you keep your bearings. This can be quite a challenge, but it's so much fun. I can burn away hours easily just fighting in challenge mode, another mode of gameplay apart from story mode. During story mode these large run-ins are not rare per-se but they aren't frequent either. The other combat mechanic involves hiding above the rafters and one-by-one incapacitating an oft-large number of gun-toting foes. Swinging from the rafters and using detective vision, which allows you to see enemies through walls and other obstructions, as well as detect heart rates and therefore deduce emotional response, and watching chaos ensue as everyone runs around, shooting at random things, close to tears, REALLY makes you feel like Batman. Doing this well, which entails being quick and silent, is so much fun.

I have but two qualms about the entire game: the fact that it's too tempting to just leave detective vision on all the time, which is akin to reading a beautifully colored comic book in black and white, and the fact that enemies apparently do not have peripheral vision.

All in all, this game is as close to perfect as games get, with extraordinary attention to detail and brilliant and fun gameplay, and is a must own for everyone over the age of 13.

P.S. I've never written a review before, for anything. so any tips or criticisms are welcome

Cheap DJ Hero 2 Turntable Bundle -Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $49.98
Today's Bonus: 17% Off

Being a lifelong game player who started out on the old pong style games on a black & white tv I've played a wide assortment of platforms and games and the latest that I'm into are the various music games. Yes they can seem to be pretty much all the same after awhile (push this button, strum that button, hit drum pad) but the way I look at them is as an extension of the listening pleasure of the music with the ability to interact with what I'm listening to.

Since the first DJ Hero I have been wondering if I should take the step and after playing an online demo I decided to give it a go and purchased the DJ Hero 2 turntable bundle and am very happy I did. Although the general styles of music are not what I primarily listen to, the mixes in this game are very fun to listen to and as I am playing currently on medium, this game is a very nice challenge and loads of fun to play. Control is kinda intimidating at first but once you play the tutorial and get your timing down you get the hang of it rather quickly.

So I highly recommend this for anyone that wants a different challenge over the various guitar/drum/vocal games but if you can't stand dance/rap style music then nothing that anyone writes or says will convince you to pick up this very fun game.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

First, though I've not played Rock Band (drums or keyboard) I have spent a lot of time on the 360's guitars. They're great, but DJ Hero 2 is the best music game I've yet played. First of all the track listing is MUCH better than in the other music games, which typically rely heavily on old music I frankly hate. I am not a kid but seriously I have no interest at all in playing classic rock on a guitar. Not now, or ever. I love the genre of music in this game, heavy house/techno/dance mashups/remixes. Really, Mo' Money Mo' Problems, how can you go wrong? And a track by Prodigy (another downloadable), with the toughest in the game being Chemical Brothers' Galvanize. Plus several pop songs that hit the charts this year (2010).

Music aside, the game itself is pretty cool. The music is actually customizable on the fly; instead of simply hitting notes and having maybe a whammy bar that very occasionally changes the sound you can motivate it here with fading, among other things. Granted, you're mostly following what is in place but you do have some control that is lacking in other games.

Easily worth the money, especially at the current discount price for the table and game.

Best Deals for DJ Hero 2 Turntable Bundle -Xbox 360

This Game is so Awesome it really blows part 1 out of the water with Wicked new Enhancements You MUST Play ASAP :)

Honest reviews on DJ Hero 2 Turntable Bundle -Xbox 360

Bought for my 12 year old because he is really into the mixing and dub step music. He loves this game and really

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for DJ Hero 2 Turntable Bundle -Xbox 360

The game is fun for all and my kids love it. We only had a problem keeping the turntable and the controller locked together.

Cheap Action Replay with 8MB Memory Card

Customer Ratings:

Make sure your PC is 32 bit!

It won't work on anything 64 bit because the drivers aren't made for it.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Used it for My xbox. Works like I had hoped for. wooooo! I can now play some of these older games like I have always wanted to.

Best Deals for Action Replay with 8MB Memory Card

If you have an XBOX, you need this device! Just remember, 32-bit only! Windows 7 32-bit works flawlessly, 64-bit fails every time.

Honest reviews on Action Replay with 8MB Memory Card

This is a ever harder to find gizmo needed to root the old X-Box and make it into a dvr

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Action Replay with 8MB Memory Card

used it to mod a pair of old xboxes. It worked, but I don't really use it anymore, it was a one time thing.

Reviews of Nickelodeon Fit

Customer Ratings:

With all the Wii exercise games out there, it seems that there's been a paucity of active fitness titles suitable for younger members of the family. The two attempts to reach this market have been D3's Family Party Fitness Fun and Knowledge Adventure's Jumpstart Get Moving. But both of these games have been dreadfully disappointing.

And so I'll admit I was a little wary when I first tried Nickelodeon Fit. But after spending a few hours with it, I'm happy to report that finally, we have a kid-friendly fitness game that is a lot of fun and does provide some decent exercise value. And it's a bonus that our familiar friends Dora, Diego, Kai-lan, and the Backyardigans are part of it.

Each of the four friends has seven activities you can choose from (as with most Wii games, they have to be unlocked as you go). There are also two activities that involve all of the characters for a total of 30 overall.

Some of the activities are simple (thrusting the Wii remote up to jump rope, moving it in a circle to hula hoop, etc.). Others are impressively interactive and fun. In one game, you help the Backyardigans roll a big ball up a cliff, and then once it starts rolling you steer it towards a giant set of bowling pins. There's a similar game involving Dora and a bicycle. There's another fun game that involves Rintoo throwing a football into a set of tires on a tree. A lot of the games are just good fun, and even more so when competing against someone else.

One thing I love are the little details in the game. There's a game involving Dora on a bicycle where you'll feel a rumble in the Wii remote as she rolls over rocks. You can have her ring her bell by pressing one of the buttons. And of course, the whole time she'll be shouting out exclamations like "fantástico!" and "excellente!"

The animation is impressive and true to the actual cartoons. The Backyardigans are rendered in 3D, just like on TV, while Dora, Diego, and Kai-lan are all their familiar selves. The background animation is beautiful, very much like on TV.

Happily, the controls are never too difficult for youngsters to learn. They mostly involve moving the Wii remote up, down, left, right, and in circles to control the on-screen character. Before each activity, Tyrone the Moose will explain exactly how to use the controls. And during the game there's a stick figure in a box at all times that shows exactly what movement to make.

One thing I also like is that each game gives an "MVPA Rating". It took me a while to figure out what this was, but it turns out it stands for "Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity". While few of the activities would be considered very vigorous for adults, chances are kids will get a pretty good workout from them, especially if they're motivated by competing against their siblings (or parents!). Like the cartoon, I'd say the game is most suited for kids from 4-7. For older kids, I'd recommend the excellent Active Life: Explorer With Mat.

There's a whole section for parents where they can view statistics (including BMI and MVPA) in any date range for up to 5 different profiles, and even create different custom exercise routines for their kids by stringing together different activities.

If there's a pet peeve I have about this game, it's that navigating the menus is not very intuitive. You have to hold the Wii remote horizontally, and then use the 1 button (instead of B) to go back or the 2 button (instead of A) to select.

Overall, I was impressed with what Nickelodeon did. It's not perfect, but it's certainly a solid title that's better than the others out there. As I always tell parents, the best kind of exercise with kids is always outside with a ball or a bicycle. But on those days when the weather is bad, Nickelodeon Fit is a great way to ensure that the kids stay in shape.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

We purchased a Wii for our kids as a way to help them get physical activity when outdoor play is unfeasible. Therefore, I did a lot of research and purchased two games, Nickelodeon Fit and Active Life Explorer, as each seemed to require significant physical movement, while also being age-appropriate for my 3 and 5 year olds. After observing(and on many occasions, joining in on the fun)for about 2 weeks, I began considering which was the ultimate success based on a variety of factors.

Activity Level:

Nickelodeon Fit: All games require some physical activity, though not super strenuous. This makes it ideal for very young children who are still developing their coordination and might get more frustrated with fast-paced games. However, an older child (6+) will probably not find it as exciting and may quickly become bored with the simplicity of the activities.

Active Life Explorer:

The majority of the games are very fast paced and most require quick footwork, to include running, jumping, ducking, etc. My 3 year old and 5 year old both love participating in the high energy games and get an unparalleled amount of exercise in the process. Furthermore, because the mat is required for all games, it is not possible to fake the movements by simply holding a Wii remote and flicking your wrist.

Simplicity of Instructions:

Nickelodeon Fit: Moose provides verbal instructions before each game, and visual prompts are available throughout. Aside from the requirement to hold the remote sideways and use the 2 button instead of A, the instructions are fairly intuitive. My kids learned and remembered the instuctions very quickly.

Active Life Explorer: Written instructions are provided before each game, in addition to visual prompts during gameplay. The instructions are straightforward and my kids were able to remember and begin predicting the necessary actions following a couple of attempts.

Fun Factor:

Nickelodeon Fit: Although some of the games put a unique spin on traditional games (i.e. in bowling, the Backyardigans must push a giant ball up a hill and then steer it down toward the pins while avoiding obstacles), a lot of them feel more like exercise games--much like it's big brother, Wii Fit. However, the fun and well-recognized characters keep it from feeling too much like a workout game.

Active Life Explorer: Every game on this title has an exciting adventure theme that keeps kids completely oblivious to the fact that they are exercising. Furthermore, kids can use their miis to become further immersed in the games. Instead of the traditional jumping rope exercise, kids are avoiding hungry sharks, stomping on crocodiles' heads, riding on horseback to catch a bandit, jumping broken tracks in a collapsing mine, swinging from vine to vine, and repelling down steep cliffs. Rather than running down the street in a marathon, "explorers" are running at top speed to bust through doors and swim through the water into a sunken ship.

Play Modes:

Nickelodeon Fit: While the game allows for more than one player, it is striclty on a one player at a time basis. Therefore, activity level is halted while waiting for the other player to complete tasks. However, this is a good way to help preschoolers develop patience and foster turn-taking behaviors. Although there are no alternate modes of play, players are able to unlock increasingly difficult activities upon mastering introductory levels.

Active Life Explorer: Most games allow for 2 players at a time, and a few even allow 4 players simultaneously. Increasing difficulty levels are unlocked upon completion of tasks in the easy mode. In addition, there are 3 play modes. Free play allows the player to select any game and difficulty level at will. The Treasure Adventure option requires players to solve clues and use a treasure map to navigate through various worlds. As games are successfully completed, players earn keys to unlock more areas of the map. Finally, there is a party mode. This randomly selects games that are good for multiple players. Games that only allow one at a time play are alternated with games that allow multiple players to compete simultaneously.

In conclusion, both games are an excellent way to introduce physical activity to the indoors. While Nickelodeon Fit may appeal to the younger crowd (3+) due to familiar characters and less intense gameplay, Active Life Explorer provides a greater level of activity and can be enjoyed by a wider range of age groups. For both games, movements are simple and intutive, and instructions are prominantly displayed. Although I feel that Active Life Explorer has an edge on Wii Fit in nearly all categories, I highly recommend both for families with young children.

Best Deals for Nickelodeon Fit

I bought this game as a Christmas present..then decided to dig it out early to help the kids get some of that energy out of their systems during this school break!

It began with a quick and easy set up very simple to create a profile for your kids: name, age, a picture they want to represent them such as a ball or bike (might have been nicer to have their Wii Characters, but the pictures made set up easy and no need for endless screens to chose hair color, outfits etc). It also asks their height and weight.

Then its a quick start, kids can chose single or multiplayer and games are quick and easy! One thing I REALLY liked about this compared to many Wii games on the market, this responds well and accurately to the Wii remote as an adult it gets rather frustrating when the game and remote do not work well together, but for kids this can be even more challenging but no such worries here as they move, it quickly picks up their actions and responds

There are some great games a little exercise routine which really does get the kids moving in a fun way so they are not even noticing how much they are exercising. Then some great interactive games such as bowling and skipping with their favorite Nick characters! There is also an option to customize games / workouts which might be a great option for slightly older kids!

I would say this is a great game for a younger audience as many of the characters resonate with the Pre school crowd, I would day a great choice for 3-8 year olds, with the older end of that spectrum enjoying the game for playability as opposed to being interested in the characters!

It really does provide some good exercise for kids, in a simple, fun and interactive way! I loved this game..and my kids found it a great deal of fun!

Honest reviews on Nickelodeon Fit

I bought this game for my 4.5 y.o. daughter and it is just a bit 'over her head' at this point she gets frustrated with it after playing a couple games and then loses interest. I'm guessing it is best for kids at least 6. y.o.

however as an adult i play it and i like it better than wii fit, in terms of both exercise effectiveness and fun. Some of the games really get you moving and they arent as involved or picky as the adult wii fitness games.

I went shopping for a kid fitness wii game about 1 month ago and it seems they were described as boring and mediocre so i held out for this one and am glad i did i definately wouldn't describe it as either.

For each game you can choose whether you want to use the wii balance board and the controller or just the controller. I haven't tried it w/ the bb yet but the controller by itself seems to work just fine.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Nickelodeon Fit

I bought this game for my 6 year old daughter. She is not a "gamer" and has limited frustration tolerance so I have been searching for a game that would be good for her. She always wants to play the wii because she sees her older sisters play it, but when she can't play the games correctly she gets upset. This is the first game that she has really liked and has been able to play well. The games are simple and they provide instructions for each one before they start. They also give you hints of what you need to do in the corner of the screen if you aren't doing well. You get a silver or gold medal after each game and if you do it perfectly, you get a gold ribbon (although only the first time, much to my daughters dismay!). The games are really fun and my daughter likes each one. I would give the game 5 stars if it weren't for one thing navigating is very difficult. The games are about 2 minutes long and of course, the kids want to play them again right after. But there is no easy way to "play again" you have to go through several menus to select the game again (including re-calibrating the wii fit board if you are using it). This means that I have to sit there with my daughter because even at 6, its hard to navigate through several menus to find the game you want. I wish it was a little easier so kids could play more independently.

The Sims 3 Supernatural Review

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

The Sims 3 Supernatural expansion pack is filled with a ton of new fun content. No longer do you simply chose between being a male or female, young or old. Now your Sims 3 world gets rocked by the introduction of witches, vampires, werewolves, fairies and random attacking zombies. Be sure to follow the phases of the moon, because when the full moon comes out, so do all the "supernaturals".

*** Please Note, that this is an expansion pack for the main game. You will need to have the The Sims 3 game installed on your computer first to play this, since this is an add-on for the main game. ***

Creating your sims:

Your Create a Sim page now has new added options. A limitless color pallet has been added for skin tone options. Now your sims can be bright pink, pale blue, vivid green or even spray-on-tan orange. What ever skin color you want, now your sims can have it. But that's just the beginning. For those looking forward to the sim fairies, you can customize the wings as well. There is an array of wing types for you to choose from, and even more color options. The fairies wing colors also have an addition feature of how they sparkle depending on their color. Lighter colors glitter like a sparkler, with a memorizing brilliance which far exceeded my expectations. Darker color wings sparkle with black accents, giving your sim fairy a darker, more "evil" appearance. When creating a werewolf, there is a new button where you can see what it looks like both as a human and transformed.

Once you've chosen your sims "supernatural" type, then it's on to the new cloths, hair and makeup. The new content in these areas is really nice. There are some great hair styles for both genders and they've finally added some really neat, unique clothing in bright colors. It's not just clothing for your supernaturals, but for your human sims as well. There are makeup styles added to make your witches ugly and your vampires pale and gaunt. Lots of new content to brows through and customize your sims in a whole new way.

After finishing with your sims looks, you'll find new selections available in the traits and lifetime wishes. Now your sims will be working towards new life goals like "Magic Makeover" and "Leader of the Pack", while sporting new traits like Gatherer and Supernatural Fan. You'll find in every area of customizing your sims, there's something new to try out.

Playing the game:

The first time you play, the game will give you an option to place the new lots that came with this pack, if you're playing a previously made town. There is a new town included in this pack called Moonlight Falls, which already has the new lots. These lots are the Elixir Consignment Store, a shop where you can buy elixirs and brand new items that you can also collect, and the Supernatural Hangout, a lounge with new games for your sims that supernaturals tend to flock to. After placing the new lots or beginning in the new town, you'll then find that next to your sims photo and their needs bars, there is also now the status of the current phase of the moon. You can change how often the moon is full in your Sims 3 options menu. When the moon is full, all the lights everywhere glow green, and the supernaturals come out. Zombie sims will sneak up on you and try and chew on you for a bit. Fortunately, they are fairly easy to outrun. Kids can now check under their beds for monsters....and sometimes they find them!

While you're out at community lots like the Supernatural Hangout, you'll find new items like the Moondia Horoscope which can tell your future, and the Magic Mirror, that you can have a chat with, or even ask it to give you a brand new kind of makeover. Spooky pictures hang on the walls and the new fun games like Smack a Gnome are there to play. The skeleton maid Bonehilda is back, and ready to emerge from her coffin to clean your sims home. You can travel between locations with a teleporting phone booth looking object called the LLAMA, or buy yourself a flying broom to travel on. There are even new kinds of music to play from radios, like the Dark Wave station and you'll find a huge array of new interactions available for your sims to socialize with. There's even a bee hive to collect honey from and a jelly bean bush to eat candies off of.

Vampires can't stay outside in the sun for too long without problems. They can spend a few sim hours outside, but will eventually begin to smolder a bit from the sunlight burning them, then eventually they pass out. If they stay exposed to the light, they eventually die. They have a thirst bar instead of a hunger bar, and have to spend a decent amount of time trying to track down dinner. Fortunately, the refrigerators now come equipped with food to satisfy the supernaturals needs. Vampires can also offer to turn other sims into vampires, as well as using them as a snack. Fairies fly long distances instead of walking. They have a fairy dust bar in their needs section that tells how much fairy dust they have on hand. They can give their dust to other sims who ask for it and they can play tricks on sims and turn into tiny little flying balls of light, looking like large fireflies. There are fairy houses, about the size of kids toy doll houses that they can rest and entertain in. You can turn your sim into a werewolf on command, and work on getting other werewolves into your pack. Witches can pull out their magic wand and play with magic, learning new spells and upgrading to new wands with better spell accuracy. Your witches magic powder and your fairies dust can deplete as you use them, but with each full moon, they refill.

There are so many new things to explore and new items to try out, it could take months to discover and complete everything. This expansion pack is definitely worth getting. One of the best expansion packs in the past was the old Makin' Magic pack from the original Sims, and the Sims 3 Supernatural pack has certainly done its predecessor justice.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I absolutely LOVE this expansion pack. I was practically stalking the mailman waiting for my Saturday delivery. I purchased the Sims3 and most of the expansion packs/stuff packs on sale, but I wanted this one as soon as I saw it advertised. I created a vampire sim and went to the graveyard at night. The zombies, werewolves, vampires and fairies showed up. Haven't seen a witch yet. Cannot wait to explore all of the lots and venues. I love the new content added such as the additional vampire slumber altar, jelly bean tree, Bonehilda (the live in skeletal maid) and the magic mirror.

Vampires can become immortal, which is a great feature. Ghosts are much improved. How the sims "dies" affects the appearance of their ghost: drowning victims appear as cool blue spirits, starvation victims return as little purple spirits, electrocution victims have coursing currents and of course sims dying of old age return as ghostly white phantoms. These are just a few.

The zombies and wolves are more realistic than in the Sims2 as they climb out of the ground. I've seen several sims flying around town on brooms, which is really cool. Sims can travel around town via the LLAMA system free of charge, which is similar to subway system.

I am excited for the Seasons expansion pack. But until then I have a lot to keep me busy!! I've also purchased the Official Game Guide, but I have not had a chance to browse through it. Looks very helpful.

Best Deals for The Sims 3 Supernatural

I really love this EP. If you love playing Sims 3, you will love this EP. If you love supernatural things, then you'll love the sims 3 and this EP. The witches, werewolves, and fairies are all really cool and really well done. Unlike in Sims 2, you have a lot more control over how your supernatural creature will look, traits, and interactions. Harry Potter fans will be happy to see that the witches are VERY much like Harry Potter witches and wizards. The fairies are a bit link Tinkerbell, but there are a lot of new interactions for them. The werewolves seem very realistic, and you can customize their wolf form. I wish you could make them an actual wolf, but alas not. Even if you have late night, there are additions to vampires. I thought the improvements might be lame and not worth it, but I'm excited about the new vampire interactions. All in all, the supernatural content of this game is really great.

What I really wanted to say, though, is that even if you aren't a huge supernatural creature fan, this is still a good EP to get. There are lots of new objects that aren't supernatural related. For instances, there's a rocking chair you can finally rock your baby or toddler in! There are games like whack-a-gnome and a claw arcade style game. There's a miniature train set! There's finally a collection case for insects. There's a new collections system that makes it really easy to see what you're missing. There are tons of new harvestables for gardeners and new cooking recipies. This EP just adds a lot to overall gameplay.

The new world, Moonlight Falls, is 'okay' in my books. The mountains backdrop and small town feel are nice. They did a good job of making sure that all of your other EP content is also installed in this world. A few changes to the bars, and they're just like nightlife bars. The Ambitions lots install in good places. There are tons of cute references to pop culture like "La Shove Beach" or 3 witch sisters living in a Victorian house together. I'm a bit disappointed in the appearance of the sims, though. Some world have better premades than this one, but it's still pretty good overall. I still prefer Sunset Valley and Hidden Springs, but this world is a decent one.

All in all, this is a great EP to purchase. Sims fans should get tons of play time out of this.

Honest reviews on The Sims 3 Supernatural

I have been playing this expansion pack since it has been released and have played a Vampire, Fairy, Witch and Ghost. As far as the actual game having glitchesI am running mine on a Mac and I had no install issues and have only needed to rest a sim one time in two weeks, not bad for EA and their Mac issues.

The pros. There are lots of new hair styles and clothing options. The create a sim has a ton of new options to control your sims looks from skin, to eyes, to ears. The list of customizing your sims physical looks goes on and on. The style of the town is beautiful old victorian with several new lots types (new consignment store, fairy park, and fortunetellers wagon.) There is also a bunch of new fun furniture and rabbit-holes providing three new whoo spots. The portable fairy houses are awesome. You can put one in your inventory and use it any where in the game to fill your sleep and eating needsyou can also throw fairy parties in them and fulfill your fun meter. There are several new plants for those who love gardening and you can also keep bees and harvest honey and bees wax. EA has also added frogs, and shining salamanders for those fishers. This expansion offers alchemy as a profession and it puts all those harvestable to use. You can also buy a gem cutter and cut your own gems now, or you can cut them at the consignment store. One of my favorite additions this expansion pack offers is the LLAMA transit booths. They look like British phone booths and they form a network that allows you to travel all over town. You can add them to your house or to any location in the wold editor, and they are much faster than driving in your car. I have a teleporter and when my sims needs are met I usually opt to travel via LLAMA because they are so fast. Boohilda is back and I personally think she is hilariousshe watches my hot fairy husband shower and kicks my garden gnome every chance she gets. However, she is kind of creepy once you have a babyIf you have a sim that needs to develop their handiness skill you may want to dismiss her because she fixes all your broken appliances in addition to cleaning your lot.

The Cons....Zombies!!! They are so annoying and the town is teaming with them. I thought that it would be a full-moon type of thing, ohhh no all the time at night which is basically all the time because its starts to get dark at 5:30 pm-ish. Even during the day time it is rarely sunny outkind of depressing. I have a screen shot that has seventeen-not joking or exaggerating locked out side my front yard gate. If you don't have fenced yard and lock your gate they come in your yard kill your garden and won't get off your lot. In the town they pop up all over every time you exit a building prompting zombie attacks. EA has population settings to control the supernatural population in your town for all types of supernaturals except zombies. It is soo stupid and annoyingthey are the cockroaches of the sims 3. I am considering uninstalling this expansion pack just because of how annoying the zombies are. Another issue I have is that venues still close after hours making it hard for vampires who can't be out in the sun without burning. The game touts stay up all night but the business and some venues are closed during the night...whats the point? The next feature I don't really love is that EA lumped many of the community lots into one building. City Hall, Military, and the Science Lab are all one building. The movie theater is now also the bad guy hang out. The diner and grocery store share a building on the same lot with the spa and the bookstore in one building. It's like they just started lumping stuff together so they had to come up with fewer buildings.The ghosts are nothing new, most people who have been playing sims for a while already had a playable ghost. To me the werwolfs look silly and tear up your house. I wish they would have added more insects to collect and animals to interact with the whole fairies and where-wolf concepts.

Conclusionsbuy it if you are really into the whole vampire urban fantasy thing. In past expansion packs gamers have felt EA was to light with adding new content. I feel like supernatural has tons of new content and some new different game play options. The zombies really are so annoying and I hate how its dark and dreary it is all the time. I have moved all the new community lots that I liked from Moonlight Falls to Hidden Springs and put a bunch of LLAMA booths up all over town and that has made play somewhat better. I wish I could take all the new itemsfurniture, plants, LLAMA transit system, and leave all the supernatural behindits more annoying than interesting. Maybe Seasons will be a better fit for my game play.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Sims 3 Supernatural

With "Supernatural," the Sims 3 franchise hits a stunning high point in its development. I can't say enough good things about it. Not only does it add a variety of supernatural races to the Sims mix (fairies, vampires, witches, zombies, werewolves), but it develops and adds plenty of supernatural and fairy-tale stuff for those races to do. Humans won't feel left out either, though--they can pursue a couple of new occult careers like Fortune Teller and Alchemist (which is a bit like nectar brewing).

Fairies have wings and can fly, make plants bloom, cast cute spells, rig a variety of objects for pranks, and generate auras that make other Sims happy or learn skills faster. They can be either normal-sized or teeny-tiny firefly sized so they can ride model trains (amid much adorable squealing and cackling with glee) and creep into little tiny fairy houses to throw little tiny house parties for other fairies. Witches can cast spells, obviously. Werewolves get really hairy and howl and run around doing werewolf stuff. We already had vampires with Late Night, but they get a much-expanded repertoire of abilities (including an XP buff that lets them go out during the day). There are a couple new ghost colors (which means of course that there are even more ways for your Sims to meet their ends). Zombies, of course, spawn and lurch around, especially during full moons.

Did I mention that the Sims now has a lunar cycle? The closer your town is to the full moon, the weirder things are going to get. You can't turn it off entirely if it drives you crazy, but you can set the game to always be a particular phase to keep the weirdness level where you like. And that's not all.

Ratings:

Create-A-Sim: CAS is greatly expanded--you can pick any color in the rainbow for skin color and you can set an occult type in CAS. The hairstyles and clothes are just astounding--very thematic, with good color channels. There are hairs and clothes for each race plus humans; the sheer number of options here is staggering. 5/5.

Town: SHOCKINGLY gorgeous. Thematic, well-realized, and easy to get around in. There's not a lot of spare room for venues and other stuff, but considering how much stuff there is to do here, I didn't really care. The new specialty lots are simply beautiful--an elixir consignment shop, a few new hangouts, a broomstick riding course, an arboretum with a beautiful white domed greenhouse, and more. The homes are knockouts--some are mansions, some are shacks, some are fairy bungalows. The rabbitholes are amazing--hands down some of EA's most beautiful work. 5/5.

Objects: WOW. Just WOW. EA presents several "sets"--a woodsy Faire set, a steampunk/gothic set, and a really Old World feeling set. Recolors are awesome here. Oh, and they give you the full set of stencils, so one painting might have several variations with entirely different pictures. The special objects, like the alchemist table and the gem-cutting station, are so steampunk they bleed bronze. 5/5.

New gameplay options: Confess to your dream girl/guy that you secretly watch them sleep. Play rock-paper-scissors with your friends. Rig a sink to explode in someone's face. "Get drawn in" to a lamp as a fairy and get electrocuted. Kiss under a full moon. Tell fortunes for money at the new gypsy caravan wagon. Throw elixirs you've made at people and watch them get blissed out (or maybe something way less pleasant). Eat a Death Jelly Bean by accident from the "Every Flavor" jelly-bean bush. Enjoy a synchronized group dance like from "Thriller." Make porcini mushroom risotto. Go for a stunt ride on your broomstick. Teleport somewhere with the LLAMA transporter. Seriously, it's amazing. 5/5.

LE content: Lacking. A pea-shooter and a few zombie outfits. The pea shooter is neat and you can play catch with it or "attack" it, but even as a zombie deterrent it's got some very serious limitations. If you're not passionately into zombie outfits or the pea shooter, I don't know that you have to spend extra money on this. 1/5.

If you're the type who thinks the occult is evil or who doesn't want to play a game with fanciful or supernatural elements, then you probably won't like this game at all. Otherwise, if you like that kind of play, you'll probably like this a lot.

If I could only get one expansion for the Sims, it'd be this one. It's absolutely everything I want out of a Sims 3 game: it's hilarious, it's awesomely fun, it's got surprises around every corner, it's got a lot to do, it's gorgeous to look at, and it gives me the tools to make my game look like what I want to play. I hear EA brought Maxis back for this title, and it completely shows.

(Note: This is an EXPANSION, which means you have to have the Sims 3 base game already.)