Review of Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

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I bought the Play and Charge kit (which converts your wireless controller into a wired one while the battery is being charged up) when the X360 launched last year. It does the job, but it takes way too long to recharge the batteries and, while it gave the appearance of charging the batteries while the X360 was in standby mode, that didn't seem to speed the process up all that much. So, I was hyped when I saw that the Quick Charge kit was coming out and I'm glad I picked one up.

Not only can the Quick Charge kit charge up more than one battery at a time, it charges the batteries (at least ) 10 x's faster than the Play and Charge kit. I've had this kit for two weeks now and I can confirm that it does charge up a spent X360 controller battery in about 2 hours and two in about four. Most of mine have charged fast than those times, but I've never let one of the batteries totally die before switching it out (the ring of light flashing that the current battery is dying drives me nuts). The Quick Charge kit comes with one rechargeable battery, so be sure to pick up an extra if you don't already have one. With at least one extra charged battery @ all times, you should be set.

There's not really much else to say about this kit. It works and it works well. I would definitely recommend this kit over the Play and Charge kit b/c A) the Quick Charge kit is SO much faster, B) you won't have a recharging controller plugged into the front of your X360 as you would with the Play and Charge kit, and C) I've had some tech issues with the Play and Charge kit. (Sometimes it says the battery is charged, but when I use the battery and check its strength, the X360 dashboard says the battery is only 1/2 charged. Sure enough, in just a few hours, the ring of light will start to flash again, indicating that the supposedly charged battery is not so charged now. It doesn't happen every time, but often enough to be annoying. The Play and Charge kit also seems to take different lengths of time to charge the batteries. And sometimes, if I leave the controller plugged in, the recharge light will turn back to red after having been green for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Not so good.)

If you own wireless X360 controllers and game a lot, the Quick Charge kit will be worth more to you than 100,000 achievement points. Check it out! wb

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If you have an Xbox 360, and have wireless controllers, then the Quick Charge Kit will really impress you. First, it comes with another rechargable battery, so that's nice. Second, it allows you to charge the batteries without using your Xbox 360! I know many of the complaints about the first play-n-charge kit was that it used a controller port to charge! No more. This kit plugs into the wall and can charge 2 batteries at once. If you have not yet purchased a rechargable battery for the wireless controller, just get this kit which includes one battery. You will save tons on regular batteries, and it really is a great addition to the Xbox 360 family of products.

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This is an excellent option for people who own the wireless controllers. It will save you money over time. The wireless controller of the XB360 can go through a set (2) of AA batteries in about two week's time, if you play heavily.

This is a well-designed and attractive product. The color of the unit matches the color of the 360 perfectly. It is an excellent addition to your collection of accessories for your 360.

I bought one of these units and tested it. It worked as advertised. The performance of the battery pack is better than a set of rechargeable NiMH (1600 mAH) from Rayovac. However, the battery pack did not perform as well as a set of Energizer Alkalines. The Alkalines lasted slightly longer than the Microsoft battery pack.

I was not surprised that the pack lasted longer than the rechargeable AA. Microsoft even stated that rechargeable batteries should not be used in the controllers. I suspect this is due to the fact that typical nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries are 1.2 volts. Whereas disposable alkaline batteries are 1.5 volts. Even in my Logitech wireless controller, for my PS2, the rechargeables do not last nearly as long as disposable alkalines.

Should you buy this Microsoft Quick Charge kit? Would you be better off buying a set of regular AA rechargeable batteries and a good charger?

I can tell you that a typical Rayovac battery charger will recharge a set of AA batteries faster than this kit can recharge its battery pack. And if you shop around, it will also become obvious that two rechargeable AAs and a recharger will cost you slightly less than the purchase price of this Quick Charge kit. And, as C. Johnson stated in his review further down, you can use your rechargeables for other devices, like a digital camera. So, in terms of versatility and applicability to various applications, you cannot beat a set of rechargeable AAs. However, a set of NiMH AAs will not give you the same performance as this battery pack. And, if you are like me, I want to keep all of my video gaming equipment together, in one place. I prefer not to share my video game console's accessories with other devices.

I make part of my living as a computer technician. Because I own a lot of equipment that require AA batteries, I buy my alkaline batteries in bulk. And I only own one controller for my 360. I am also a solitary gamer. Because of that situation, I gave my Quick Charge kit to my best friend, who is also a technician. He has three controllers. He is also a social gamer. Therefore, he has a greater need for this product. At this point, I am back to using disposable alkalines for my controller.

I consider the Microsoft Quick Charge kit to be a luxury accessory for your XBox 360. It is not necessary, for most people. And there are cheaper ways of avoiding the cost of disposable alkalines. However, this is a very neat and tidy solution. And, if you are one of those gamers who somehow managed to break your controller's original battery holder, then this is a very, very good option for you.

I can also recommend this Quick Charge kit for parents. This will save you from having to make a trip to the convenience store on a Saturday afternoon. Picture this scenario. Your child has company over, and they are playing a game on the XBox. All of a sudden, the controllers stop responding. The next thing you know, the children are begging you to go to the store and get them some batteries. This kit, along with extra battery packs, can help prevent these inconveniences. And, because the battery pack is unique, there is no danger that another member of your household will take it and use it for their digital camera. You are guaranteed to have available a fully charged battery pack for your gaming needs.

Honest reviews on Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

I am slouched in my computer chair as I type this... bloody, winded, and defeated. A mere shadow of my former, confident self. I have long known that it is folly to wrestle with a blister pack without the benefit of scissors, but just as I always feared... they've finally built a better blister pack.

I cut the top edge. Thinking the fell packaging bested like so many that preceded it, I laid down my scissors, placed my fingers into its open wound, and pulled apart with great force, barely suppressing an animalistic victory cry...

It is a good thing I supressed that victory cry, friends, for had I not I would have looked very foolish (in addition to stressing my intercostal cartilage) when the package refused to yield, and laughed off my efforts.

"Alright", I thought. "I've some more tricks up my sleeve." I reclaimed the scissors and set to work removing the left seam of the package. An unholy snap! My scissors lay broken, and my arm (not my hand, ladies and gentlemen, but my ARM) was slowly welling up dark, rich blood in the deep gouge left, presumably, by the flying bit of brittle plastic which the package had flung at me, to protect itself against my insistent slicing.

I retreated to the bathroom, treated and dressed my wound, and crept back, warily, to the field of battle. The package lay on my bed, looking quite battered, yet smug and very self-satisfied. I live alone. Today, there will be no reinforcements. Knowing that all the hopes of my discharged Xbox 360 controller batteries depended on my efforts and my efforts alone, I crawled to the scissors on the floor, and fell back immediately to a safe distance to plan my next attack.

I decided that where guile had failed, boldness might succeed. I would cut directly down the center of the front side of the package: straight through the heart of the renegade guardian of my Quick Charge Kit. I did so, with speed and precision comparable to that of a feline ninja... or at least a fat guy with a serious grudge against a plastic shell. The gash was glorious. No fewer than 4 inches long, and terminating below the product within, so that even if the package proves unusually hardy, I will almost certainly pry the fault apart far enough to retrieve the device within. I placed one hand on the right seam, and the other near the bottom of the new gash, of which I'd made a gift to my adversary, and pull will all my strength. My ribs glow white hot, filling the room with excruciating brightness and my consciousness with a pain the likes of which I hope never to know again. I drop the package onto the bed, and stumble back to my chair, falling backward into it.

As I lay here, maybe dying, I reflect on that final sequence of mistakes... which ONE, if any, could have saved my life and sanity, had I only not made it... Was it my choice to use scissors instead of fire? Was it my hubris-fueled insistence upon opening the package with my own efforts, just because I am 25 and an adult who should be able to fend for himself, where I might have simply left it aside until I next visited my parents four states away, and then, tail tucked firmly betwixt my thights, I could have asked mommy to do it. Was it my decision to buy this product in the first place? Who can say, for certain?

My musing continues... if I recover from my injuries, how will I respond? Do I launch another assault on the dread unopenable package? Do I crown it the prince of my home, swear eternal fealty, and begin designing a new flag to represent the sheer dominance and magnificence of this mighty blister pack?

But one thing, gentle reader, is certain: you can learn from my experience. Just say no to inaccessibly-packaged consumer goods! It's not too late. *cough* *cough*

Avenge... me...

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

This item is a must have for the Xbox 360 gamer. You can charge two battery packs at the same time. You'll always have a couple charged up for when you have company come over to play games.

It's easy to use, and it's small enough to be out of the way. The battery just snaps into place, and the lights let you know if it's charging or fully charged. Even if you have a play and charge kit, this comes in handy.

It comes with one battery.

Batteries will charge in just a few hours.

Highly recommended.

Discount XBOX Mortal Kombat Klassic Fightstick

Customer Ratings:

Been playing MK since i was 5 back in 92. and I just bought back a piece of my childhood. Great feel and look to this controller.

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Right out the box. No setup needed. Feels just like the arcade from the 90's. box is heavy so it won't jerk and cause a misdirection. Recommended!

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This thing looks like a $500 piece in person. Comes with a DLC for all the games. Exact Arcade replica with all Suzo-Happ components. You can open it and everything inside is serviceable, will last forever.

Honest reviews on XBOX Mortal Kombat Klassic Fightstick

This thing is solid. It's like someone sawed off a piece of the arcade machine and gave it to you. Even though you pay for it, it still feels like someone gave it to you. And it feels exactly like the arcade. You'll never have to play with some crummy d-pad and weird button config again. It works with MK9 and the original trilogy which is included with this Klassic version of the stick. I can't vouch for it working with any other MK games, but let's face it, if you're like me and interested in the Arcade Kollection, you probably don't care about the other MK games.

While the hardware is EXCELLENT (Shang Tsung claps enthusiastically in the background) the Klassic stick unfortunately lacks the hinged opening case which was a great feature of the MK9 stick; which opens for storage and access to the inner workings for repair purposes (yes I've already had to replace one HAPP switch on my MK9 stick and opted to replace the A, B, X, and Y buttons with their respective colors to make training on Xbox a little easier to learn) so I tend to use this one less often than the MK9 stick because I want to keep it running nicely since repairs won't be quite as easy.

My only complaints are minor, and in regards to the software, so Ed Boon, if you're listening, please take note...

First of all there are a few glitches that some may try to argue were in the original game, but I am positive they were not. The awesome Goro music in MK1 cuts off after a few bars and you're left to fight the monster in anticlimactic silence. There's also some weird echoing of the fanfare on the Vs. screen in MK2. There are probably a few others, but these are the most noticeable so far...

The button config could have been a little easier to use, namely that RB should have been the "start" button because that tiny xbox start button is impossible to find in the heat of battle when Dan Forden pops out and says "toasty" on the Portal stage in MK2 and you're trying to hit start so you can fight Smoke. The RB button is in the right place for where the start button was on the arcade console, and would have been a much more natural placement for arcade fans who know by feel where the start button should be for Random Select. Clearly the software was designed with only the standard xbox controller in mind, and therefore favors people who casually dropped a mere 10 bucks for a cheap game download, and slights hardcore fans who lovingly spent $130 (original price) for the full Mortal Kombat Arcade experience. How hard would it have been to add a different control preset?

And personally, I would have loved the option to play regular MK3 and not just the George Lucasized Ultimate MK3.

Anyway, the game has some bugs but is still playable, and unfortunately since the video game industry is so screwed up, they probably will never be patched.

But obviously it's the hardware that's of interest here, and it's definitely worth getting. Xbox controllers work on PCs, so even if you don't have an Xbox, get one to play MK on your computer!

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Really great, feels great. If you're a Klassik Mortal Kombat fan or love the New Mortal Kombat as well. This is tone perfect product for you.

Buy Xbox 360 Kinect Wall Mount

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If you live in a small space, this is perfect for getting your Kinect up high and a little farther away. My TV is not wall mounted and is about a foot an a half in front of the wall. With this Kinect wall mount, I gain that additional foot an half and by putting it 6 feet up, I gain about another foot. Now I'm able to play 2 player games in my small living room.

You will need to drill 4 small holes in your wall so be prepared to do that. It's very simple to install and as long as you have a drill you are set.

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The mount is excellent for small spaces. By mounting the kinect above your TV, this adds about another foot to your living rooms space. If you play kinect in a small space and often have trouble with the kinect recognizing you, then this is a must. I had issues with the kinect telling me I was too close when the kinect was below my TV; however, with this mount those issues have seem to have gone away. The mount allow for the Kinect to tilt down or up and move freely in any way.

Even if you don't have a small room, I would recommend this just to have your Kinect out of the way. It reduces the clutter around your TV and allows you to easily hide the Kinect wires behind your TV if mounted correctly. Set up if simple with a few screws that are hidden by the mount.

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Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures!

Item is made from metal and plastic.

1st: Attach metal bracket to wall with provided drywall anchors and screws (4 of each). (suggest using a level)

2nd: Slide plastic frame over metal bracket. (friction fit, does not lock in place)

3rd: Clip Kinect Sensor onto plastic mounting clip. (locks in place)

4th: Slide plastic mounting clip onto plastic frame. (locks into place)

Item is solid and sturdy if attached to the wall as per instructions.

Actual bracket size is 2-1/8" high x 3-1/8" wide x 4-13/16" deep (not including Kinect Sensor).

Another interesting note, the sensor clip has a threaded mount on the bottom of it like a camera/camcorder does. This would allow one to use just the mount in other applications.

Kinect Sensor can be easily attached and/or removed if you wanted to take it to another room of the house.

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I noticed one of the bad reviews and to be honest i don't think he re-calibrated the sensor after moving it which is why i think he had issues with this product.

When you move your sensor you are supposed to re-calibrate it, if you notice most games you buy come with a calibration card with smiley face on it.

My original location was 2ft off the floor below my TV. After I mounted it above my 50" TV. It's now at a height about 5ft 6-7.

When i first turned on my game i notice my arms where going above the box where it shows my infra red image.

I went into the Kinect options from the XBox Dashboard and did re-calibrate.

It gave me the option to move the motor up and down to fit my entire body in. After re-calibration my entire body fits in even when my arms are fully stretched.

My games work exactly how they did before no changes.

The mount is well made/solid and comes with screws and plugs for mounting.

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The bad review is mostly for the ridiculous $50-60 price! I did not pay this price because amazon had it listed for $14.99 before and that's what I paid. I couldn't get it from amazon since I missed the preorder, however you can purchase this at some gamestops for the same $14.99 price. Like the other reviewer, my space barely had enough room for the 2 ppl region for kinect adventures. However, by using this wall mount, I was able to place the kinect around an extra foot further back and now I have plenty of space for the kinect to register two ppl. I'm not a handygirl, but it was simple enough to measure placing the mount right in the middle of my tv and drilling some holes. I love it!

Reviews of Metro: Last Light Limited Edition - Xbox 360

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What a sweet game. Never in a console game has there been such detail. The sound and quality of graphics are among it's best attributes, as well as fantastic voice overs in thick well-done accents. And the story line continues off from that of the previous game Metro 2033 seamlessly. The story is abound with great little conversations you can listen in on in the metro. All of this creates a very stunning and enveloping capture of atmosphere. The length of the story is much far beyond your normal shooter. Coming in around 12+ hours (twice of that of any AAA shooter, say Call of Duty), and adds in a factor of replayabilty with the Ranger Mode (disabling HUD elements and creates a tougher, hardened experience), and the great new enhanced stealth features which are almost PERFECTLY executed. Did I mention the stunning detail and level desgings are among some of the best games to date? The only downside to this game is no multi-player or co-op features. All around it's a fantastic experience, and one you won't want to forget. It's a definite rent. And, if you dont mind paying the MSRP for a good quality story line with all these features then a solid buy. What a great franchise this turned into, especially considering from it's humble beginnings.

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Metro: Last Light is the second game in the Metro franchise and is based off of novels written by Dmitry Glukhovsky. The premise is simple; a post-apocalyptic Russia where humanity has been forced underground to live in the metro system and forge a semblance of normal life. As one would expect, a metro system is a dark and dreary place, and living there is not for the faint of heart. When pressed to describe just what the Metro games are like, I often say they're a little bit like Fallout with a hint of Resident Evil. The first Metro game, Metro 2033, has an almost cult-like following. Some gamers have never even heard of the series before, but I believe Metro: Last Light has the potential to introduce many more people to this wonderful, vibrant, and challenging world.

Gameplay

At its core, Metro is a first person shooter with some survival/horror elements sprinkled in. It plays exactly as you would expect a FPS to handle. To be honest, the gameplay here is not groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to be. Metro is, and always will be, greater than the sum of its parts. Individually, the parts of Last Light may be average or just above average, but when they are combined they offer a visceral, engaging shooter.

Gunplay in a first person shooter, well, any shooter for that matter, can make or break a game. In this installment of the Metro franchise, 4A Games keeps it simple, and it works well. Where Metro does veer off-course is with inventory control, swapping weapons, and gadget usage. To manage your headlamp, charger, lighter, etc., you need to hold down the left bumper to bring up separate radial menus. Holding Y brings up your items, throwing knife, pipe bomb, incendiary bomb, and claymore. While I understand the layout, and how it was intended, in practice it seems like a step back and adds a level of unnecessary interface for item control.

As this is a post-apocalyptic setting, you will need to scavenge for ammo and supplies. This is one area where I truly believe Metro separates itself from other shooters. You search for the common items such as med packs, ammo, bombs, throwing knives etc., but you will also need to find gas mask filters to use when you go above ground or venture into "hot zones. You have a meter on your left wrist that shows how much time you have left on the filter you are currently using. Once it reaches zero you either have to change it or quickly or get to a safe area or you will die. It adds another dynamic to an already cruel, dark world.

I would be remiss if I didn't discuss my favorite aspect of the Metro games -ammo. During your travels you will find a variety of ammo for the different weapons you can use: assault rifle rounds, pistol rounds, shotgun shells, pneumatic rounds, etc. But, you will also find some coveted military grade rounds. The rounds, as one would expect, can be switched out in your guns to do more damage during those fights where you need a little extra firepower. However, the game forces you to make a tough decision. Military Grade ammo, while offering a nice damage boost when used, is also the only form of currency in the metro. Do you use those rounds to stave off a tough mutant attack, or do you save them to buy more of what you can use later? It's a choice that is not always an easy one to make, yet that is exactly why I love that feature.

Stealth in the metro is also a very viable solution to tackling a situation. If you are a fan of the run-and-gun style you can certainly play that way, although ammo will become scarce. Personally, I love sneaking through a tunnel, unscrewing a light bulb, and moving past my enemies so stealthily they never knew I was there. There are even achievements and trophies related to going an entire playthrough without killing anyone you don't have to. As much as I love stealth-based games, the one aspect missing from Last Light is the ability to distract someone. You can, to an extent, by shooting lights or, but the true ability to distract a guard and get them to investigate, allowing you to choke them out or simply sneak past them, could have raised this game to a whole new level.

While there are a few things I would have liked to have seen done differently, they by no means ruin the gameplay experience. Last Light is a solid shooter that offers a variety of enemies and set pieces to explore and survive. Constantly being worried about enemies and the environment adds another layer of depth and enjoyment.

Graphics

In comparing the visuals from the two Metro games, Last Light's graphics are much more crisp and not as blurry. The biggest improvement over 2033 in my opinion is the usage of shadows and lighting. In 2033 there wasn't really a gradient of shadow, it was pretty much just dark or not. In Last Light the shadows are a valuable entity that you can use to your advantage. The ability to shoot out lights to create more shadow, or even the ability to unscrew a light bulb to be able to sneak past people adds another dimension to the game.

Much like the movie Schindler's List or even Sin City; there is not a lot of color, which is to be expected in a post-apocalyptic game. It's dark, depressing and has a feeling of despair to it. However, there are segments where splashes of color are used for maximum impact, such as the use of red when you meet a faction of the game. Splashes of green amid the rubble of the destroyed city above add a glimmer of hope amid a desolate harsh world.

While the graphics in Last Light will not measure up to heavy hitters such as Crysis 3, the visuals can be equally stunning. Looking over Moscow with a cracked gas mask, wiping rain away from your mask really draws you into the moment and you realize the extent of the devastation that you are living in.

Sound

Sound in a game can either tie everything together, fully immersing the player in the world, or be so utterly jarring that it completely removes the player from the game. To be perfectly honest, I experienced both during my time of exploring Metro: Last Light. Thankfully, it was much more of the former than the latter.

In a survival/horror game ambient noise, in my opinion, is one of the most critical aspects of the game. It's those little noises that make you hesitate, look around, and peer into the dark depths of a corner hoping something doesn't come charging out at you. One memorable experience for me was finding a colony of Watchmen. I could hear them all around me, growling, moving, and even eating. Yet, I couldn't see them because they were in the walls. With the weapons and ammo that I had at the time, I became very anxious of what I was walking into. That combination ratcheted up the suspense of the entire encounter.

4A Games also took great pains to do the little things right as well -walking in a darkened tunnel and hearing a steady drip of water, being above ground and hearing the popping of bubbles, rain effects, storms, etc. All the small ambient noises add so much depth to the overall experience.

That's not to say that the audio was perfect. Most of the time when I play games, I wear a surround sound headset so I hear things a little differently. One thing that happened to me a few times was the audio I was hearing didn't always match with what was going on. For example, there were a couple of times a character would be talking to me on my left, but the audio was mostly coming from my right speaker. There were also a few instances when multiple characters would speak their dialog at the same time. While issues do exist, they don't happen frequently enough to be problematic, but occur just enough to be mildly frustrating.

Pros

Amazing atmosphere and ambiance

Extremely rich narrative

Military grade ammo = currency. Forcing the player to make some difficult choices at times.

Cons

Clunky control interface

At times audio doesn't match to what is happening

Summary

I have made no secret to friends in the past that I am a big fan of Metro 2033. I have been looking forward to Last Light for quite some time. For people who are looking for a run-and-gun, shoot everything and have big amazing set pieces like Call of Duty or Battlefield, this game may not be for you. However, for those gamers who have said at one time or another that they wish the gaming industry would try something new and fresh where endless gun fights do not define the story then this is certainly a game that should be on your radar. Few games offer such a rich setting with the epitome of suffering and survival that Metro does. It forces you to plan ahead with things like ammo and filters and not rely on brute force to pass a level. While there may be a few things that could have been done better, the beauty of Metro is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

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I already wrote a review about the first game, so with this game it's all the same. Those things that aren't different I will mention. I loved the ending, and I loved the choices to be able to make. I am again very pleased that the game is nothing like the book. In fact I am not sure if the game took a few things from the plot of the book ''metro 2034''. The game is really well-made, once again having a lot of nice atmosphere and it's just no less than incredible. I would give this game a 10 or 9 /10. I also loved the fact that there is nudity in this game. Finally! :) I will be trying out the DLC for the game with big pleasure! Basically metro Last light is just as good as the first game! Can't go wrong with this game! Get it and try it out! I am also very curious as to why are there so few reviews? It's been a long time since the game was released. Last but not least, the books: ''Metro 2033'' and ''Metro 2034'' are incredible!

Limited edition, pre-order bonus and the season pass.. are all worth it.

P.S. the games and books show just how bad it is to make a nuclear war aka. extinction event of humanity, so let's not do it! X)

Honest reviews on Metro: Last Light Limited Edition - Xbox 360

When this game arrived to my house I was so excited to play it! When I opened up the game it was all "decently" packed, but I ignored that sign. When I put the game in my Xbox the game began to load, but then an error message popped saying the game is unreadable. Upon further inspection the game was horribly scratched! I contacted the seller but nothing was resolved, no refund, or anything. It was a very disappointing purchase. The only thing I have to tell people, is, be wary of this seller.

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It was new LOL I did scare me so I liked it, good game in the dark. The o ly thing I didn't like is how the only way to get the good ending is too listen to ALL conversations

Reviews of DATEL ARCADE PRO JOYSTICK inc RAPID FIRE for PS3 Xbox360 PC

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The dual mod switch between PS3/PC & Xbox 360 does indeed work and that's why I bought this arcade stick; I tested it on multiple xboxes, ps3s, and pcs with no issues. Right out of the box, it's set to Xbox 360; just change the mode to work for PS3/PC by holding on to the turbo button (left button all the way at the top) and plugging it to any usb port to switch. It will stay on that mode forever, until you change it again by doing the same thing.

As for the performance, it's solid. I have no problems executing moves with this stick. The buttons feel a little cheap and loose, but I'm not concern since you can just easily replace them with better buttons. There is however one annoying thing I don't like about this arcade stick and that's the button setup. For most arcade sticks, the buttons (left to right) starts with X-Y-A-B (Square-Triangle-X-O on PS3) and then the right and left bumper/trigger buttons. BUT for this stick, (from left to right) it starts with the left bumper/trigger buttons 1st, then X-Y-A-B and finally the right bumper/trigger buttons. I don't like this setup and it's annoying to change/setup ALL of the buttons every time I go to my friend's house with this arcade stick.

Altogether, it's a good arcade stick for a very good price, since a lot of the dual mod sticks I see out there are around $150 $200.

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This is a really fun stick to use, though my experience is limited. For some, the fact that the buttons are not labeled will be a problem, but I'm getting used to it. It is very fun with sf iv and mk; it has a great feel and sound. Turbo works. I haven't tried it with pc/ps3 but i don't expect any problems. The metal base helps this thing feel very solid, and I expect to have it for awhile.

Reviews of Left 4 Dead - Game of the Year Edition -Xbox 360

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For starters people might turn down Left 4 Dead considering it runs on the Source Engine which is not Unreal Engine standards but the game looks great. The lighting, scenery, and blood all look very realistic and stunning. One thing that bothered me was the textures on some rocks. But you'll rarely notice them to care. The controls could be better but for most first person shooter fans, I'd say go with Config 4. The game contains 4 campaign levels each with 5 sections. These can be played in single player and over xbox live as well as offline split screen with two players. In addition to the campaign there is Versus mode and Survival mode which comes with Game of The Year. In Versus one team is the infected and the other are the survivors. In Versus you play through the campaign levels switching teams at each safe house. It offers fresh gameplay with constant suprises. Say you're in the forest and an enemy smoker grabs you and pulls you away and no one knows where you are. Lets say if that happens, your dead. Overall Left 4 Dead is a great experience and I would reccomend it to anyone who owns an Xbox 360

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First let me comment on the GoTY version. Yes, all the additional content in the GoTY title is available on xbox live for free as a DLC. The only perk to having the GoTY version is that you wont have to use up memory on your harddrive for the survival pack because its already installed on the disc. Other than that i would suggest just getting the normal game if you find it cheaper. I found the GoTY version and the normal version for the same price of $29.99 at gamestop brand new! the funny thing is, right next to it they had the used version for $44.99 still, $15 more then the brand new ones!

This isn't just a Call of Duty World at War Zombie mode revamped...even though the premises is nearly the same there is four people, and if you don't have 4 players to play the 4 survivors then the remaining survivors will be OP'd by computers. In the multiplayer mode you can be the zombies (the special zombies with super moves). The only thing that i didn't really like about this game which others may have liked is that there is no story mode at all. The weapons aren't extensive at all in this game. You can either have the pistols, shotguns, sniper rifle, or uzi. theres some health packs, pills, molotovs, and grenades. to me, this was just a renter after a week or two of playin this game just became pretty boring and repeptitive.

theres only 4 main maps that the survivors fight their way through 4 or 5 stages of the map to get to the end where they will try to be evacuated. its the same story on every map! i gave this 4 stars because 5 stars would just be overatin the game and 3 stars doesn't do it all justice, but know this i wont be buying or playing the sequel because unless they add a storymode or drastic changes all a sequel could be for this game is just a big expansion.

**Edit**

DO NOT buy this with the $59.99 price tag its cheaper at gamestop for $29.99

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LEFT 4 DEAD . of course the second one is better, but this ones worth it

its the same thing as (left 4 dead) except cheaper and better expansion

Honest reviews on Left 4 Dead - Game of the Year Edition -Xbox 360

Great game have really enjoyed playing it, on an off line. product was received when it was scheduled too be here. It was on time.

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This is one of the best games I own. The campaign can be co op and is great with your friends, and the online game modes like survival and versus are awsome. This game is also very cheapits a great deal. I have owned this game for years, and have never tired of it I also love the controls for this game, they are very easy to get used to. Would reccomend to anyone!

Motocross Maniac Reviews

Customer Ratings:

this game is so fun, you could play it all day and not get tired, even after you memorize the levels you can race against the computer and he is HARD to beat!! you think you're so far ahead and then outta nowhere there he is. it's also cool that you can choose what level you want to start on because there's no save feature so you can save in your mind what level you were on and then just go from there next time you want to play, that is innovative

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This game is all kinds of fun packed into a little package. I use to play the hell out of this game when I was a boy while riding the bus to school. I still get a kick out of it, very addictive!

Nascar Thunder 2003 Xbox Review

Customer Ratings:

I thought EA had really improved with NASCAR 2002, but this is much better. Due to that, I had to go back and edit my rating for 2002 (5 to 4 stars). This is truly the best NASCAR game ever made. EA took all that was right from the 2002 version and made it tremendously better. You still race 43 cars at a time (1 player), you still get to upgrade your equipment, you still get to work out sponsorship deals, etc. However, now you get to to do R&D, hire your own crew and builders, and build your own engine and chassis. Not only those improvements but also better physics, more realistic racing action, fantasy tracks, and the best new additionLightning Challenges. In these, you actually get to recreate exciting moments that real NASCAR drivers experienced, such as taking over for DE Jr. on the last 2 laps at Talledega.

Gameplay: 9.5

If you like NASCAR and racing games, then this is the one. Get yourself an excellent steering wheel controller and it is that much better. Career mode is the tops: sponsorsand keeping them happy, hiring your own team and keeping them motivated by finishing well, and building new cars (including the engine and chassis). Also: unlocking fantasy courses and legend drivers, getting used to the tracks through Thunder Plates, and the Lightning Challenges. Also excellent multiplayer mode as well.

Replay: 9

Once you are ensconced in career mode and you have got yourself a steering wheel, you will keep coming back for more... and more. Excellent game.

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I played last years version and was pleased with the progress it was making. This year its 2002 version times 10!

Pros: 1. NASCAR is better than ever!

2. last years tweaks are fixed

3. an improvement in graphics

4. outstanding career mode

5. so many modes, that it will keep you busy for months!

6. the ability to import songs is available

Cons: 1. physics take some time to get used to

2. first years of career mode are frustrating due to crapiness of car and crew

Final Verdict: A definite buy! as i said earlier, it will keep you busy for months

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Where to start? This is easily the best racing game I've played for the xbox. One of the primary reasons is because before this the best was NT 2002, and this easily tops that.

The game has been stepped up so much, it has a lot more replay value than NT 2002. There are "Thunder Plates" which are similar to "Madden Cards" if you play any of the newer Madden games. You may not be buying them, but they do the same thing, just attained differently. More to add, they have a Lightning Challenges where you can relive great nascar moments to earn more thunder plates. There's a Thunder License mode where you can get what is basically a practice mode. Last of the new things (that i've found so far), there's more then one song on it, and it's the first EA Sports game (that i've played) that will let you use the songs saved on your xbox.

It's still got the Quick Race, Season, Career, Create a Car modes that are the same as they were last year. Career may have newer options to change to fix your car, i havn't gotten that far yet. But there's plenty of new things that add a lot to the replayability that made people tire of NT 2002. EA fixed that and added.

To shorten it up, if you liked NT 2002, or have ever like a Nascar game in the past, or any other racing game, buy it immediatly.

Honest reviews on Nascar Thunder 2003 Xbox

"NASCAR Thunder 2003" is really an excellent game. There is a variety of modes to play and a lot of different things you can do to keep your interest piqued.

"Thunder" lets you race at every track NASCAR races on as any one of the drivers on the Winston Cup circuit. There is also a Create-A-Car mode that lets you design and build your own car to race, as well as a career mode, where you start a team from scratch and race to the top over 20 years. You have to research new technology, sign sponsors and crew members, and meet certain goals in order to make money. It's a very deep mode, and you have to go through a few frustrating years before you really start to get good.

Part of what can help you is the Thunder License mode, which allows you to race by yourself at every track with the help of the driver of your choice. Richard Petty instructs you on how to race the track and then you try and complete laps in a certain amount of time. It sounds easy, but it's really not.

Probably the best mode is the Lightning Challenge, where you take control of race cars in certain situations and try to meet certain goals. Most of these are "win the race" goals, but there's a few other interesting ones, like avoiding crashes and trying to make it through a race on a less than full tank. Each challenge has a call from the race and is introduced by a driver. If you complete these and other things throughout the game, you're awarded with Thunder license plates, which unlock extras, like the cards in other EA Sports games.

Graphically, Thunder's not the best looking game, but it's still sharp. There's sort of a grainy look to it, but the tracks and cars are very well detailed. Soundwise, there's not much. The cars sound like, well, cars and the voices over the radio say the same thing over and over again. There's no crowd noise and minimal announcing, but, in reality, you couldn't hear any of that in an actual race anyway.

The gameplay is where Thunder really shines. The controls are very simple to learn, but tough to master. If you push the brake or the steering too hard, you might spin out, although there are assists that help you when you start out. There's also other little touches that race fans will appreciate, like drafting and deciding what you need in a pit stop. You also have to qualify for the races so you get the best positions.

Overall, this is a definite buy for every race fan or just a fan of driving games. And for only [$$$], it's well worth the price, especially since it's current with the early part of the season.

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This is a great Nascar game if your are just a casual fan or a hardcore Nascar fan. The multi-player mode is a blast and the graphics are awesome. You can build your own car and hire your pit crew. The better you do, the better your crew gets, and the more money you make allows you to buy better engines and cars. I would recommend this game!

Reviews of BluWave Infrared Remote - Playstation 3

Customer Ratings:

After having used a Harmony 676 to control all my devices, I was not happy when I needed to use the PS3 controller to control Blu Ray movie watching.

This remote's dongle does the job in letting my Harmony 676 control the PS3. There was one problem that almost led me to return the remote however, and I wanted to mention the solution here.

Problem (for Harmony remotes):

On the PS3 XMB (Cross Media Bar), the directional buttons would move the selection several spots for each key press. I read several posts and tried teaching & re-teaching the Harmony. I tried teaching using the "Raw" IR learning but that would slow down the response from the PS3 to each key press.

Solution:

Within the Harmony program, go to Devices->PS3 and select "troubleshoot" under device options.

Select "Show me more problems" (last choice).

Then select the choice "PS3 doesn't appear to receive every command correctly," and the select "The device responds too much to some commands (for example, volume up increases the volume too quickly)."

In the screen with the radio buttons, select '0'.

Save & update the remote and everything the directional buttons will work perfectly.

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The Playstation 3 uses RF (bluetooth) for its wireless remotes. This is great for a game remote, but less convenient for a BluRay player remote, since it makes it incompatible with universal remotes, which communicate using infrared (IR). Sony sells a DVD-style remote, but it also works by RF. Unlike the XBox 360, which uses RF for its controllers but includes an IR port for DVD player style remotes, the PS3 has no IR sensor at all.

However, there is a workaround, because the PS3 also supports wired controllers via its USB ports (which is also how you recharge the controllers). Nyko has cleverly taken advantage of this by producing an IR remote that emulates the USB wired controller. You simply plug a USB dongle with an IR sensor into one of the USB ports, and then you can use the Nyko IR remote--or a Harmony remote, if you teach it the commands from the Nyko.

This works quite well. There are some inherent limitations, however. In particular, this approach means that the Nyko remote is only able to support the commands that you can execute with the PS3 controller, and does not provide some of the additional commands available on the PS3 bluetooth remote. So no power key, angle key, or eject key. But it does emulate all of the digital controls of the PS3 controller (i.e. everything but the analog sticks), which makes it fine for controlling the player. I don't mind the lack of a power control as I leave my PS3 on all the time anyway, since it isn't noisy like the XBox 360, and I have set it to donate unused computing power to the Folding@home scientific project. And if I'm going to eject a disk, I have to walk over to get it anyway, so I might as well push the button on the PS3.

I had good success teaching the Nyko's IR commands to a Harmony universal remote. This mostly went well, although the square command seems to be difficult to learn properly, and took a couple of dozen takes to get it right.

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If you are simply buying a remote for your PS3 to play Bluray disk do not buy this remote. Buy the authentic bluetooth remote that Sony makes and it's control is superior and flawless. This remote's advantage is you can use the USB dongle included to make your PS3 accept commands from a universal remote control such as Harmony.

So if you want a remote to control your Bluray watching, but you insist on using your universal remote for everything this is the ticket. (one remote to control everything) Just attach the USB dongle to your PS3, and then learn the commands from the Blu Wave remote to your Harmony or other universal remote and you're good to go.

Edit 09/04/2008: While I did love how the Blu Wave remote allowed me to use my universal remote it is not without its problems and limitations. It cannot turn on/off the PS3, and often it sends commands twice when browsing through the menus which can be very frustrating. I've now upgraded to the PS3IR-PRO which is a little black box that takes the IR commands from your remote and resends them out via Bluetooth exactly like the official Sony remote commands. This makes usage flawless and you also get all 51 buttons on the official Sony Bluetooth remote, I love it. It also allows you to turn on and off the PS3 with one button that can be programmed into your universal remote. It does cost approximately $100, but its a far superior product. Ultimately your choice depends on your specific needs.

Honest reviews on BluWave Infrared Remote - Playstation 3

I recently purchased this product to allow me to control my PS3 for DVD playback using my Harmony remote (model 880). Many others have also purchased the Blu-Wave for the same purpose, but it appears as most have programmed their Harmony by having it "learn" the Blu-Wave's remote codes. I found a much easier way to get the Harmony remotes programmed.

Just add a new device "Game Console (with DVD)". Select the Manufacture of Nyko and enter "Blu-Wave" as the Model (they actually give you an example of what to enter for Model and that is the model they use for their example). Complete adding the device, with no other changes. Then update or create the "Watch a DVD" activity and specify the new device as your DVD player. I found that I had to tweak some of the button settings, but most of button were set correctly.

As others have stated, I wish Nyko had provided some of the other buttons that appear on the Sony remote (Eject, Angles, ...) and at least a way to turn off the PS3 (like the PS button).

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Thanks to the following tips from other Reviewers, it works like a champ. Like many others, I am using it with a Harmony 880 and I don't care if I can't turn the power on or off. You have to get up to get the disc anyway so who cares. But the command where I ask one of my kids to please get the disk and put it away seems to not work very well:)

To Eject a disk;

Press 'Stop' to stop the movie and get back to the main menu. I think you need to press the 'O' button and then 'yes' after stopping the movie. You should be at the location where the DVD icon is highlighted. Press the triangle button and an eject disk command will appear to the right of the screen. Select this and it will eject. So you could probably get it to work by programming a macro button. But this is not a big deal to me since I want to get the disk and just press the button on the PS3.

Very Helpful Tip #1 from a previous reviewer:

Just add a new device "Game Console (with DVD)". Select the Manufacture of Nyko and enter "Blu-Wave" as the Model (they actually give you an example of what to enter for Model and that is the model they use for their example). Complete adding the device, with no other changes. Then update or create the "Watch a DVD" activity and specify the new device as your DVD player. I found that I had to tweak some of the button settings, but most of button were set correctly.

Very Helpful Tip #2 from a previous reviewer:

Problem (for Harmony remotes):

On the PS3 XMB (Cross Media Bar), the directional buttons would move the selection several spots for each key press. I read several posts and tried teaching & re-teaching the Harmony. I tried teaching using the "Raw" IR learning but that would slow down the response from the PS3 to each key press.

Solution:

Within the Harmony program, go to Devices->PS3 and select "troubleshoot" under device options.

Select "Show me more problems" (last choice).

Then select the choice "PS3 doesn't appear to receive every command correctly," and the select "The device responds too much to some commands (for example, volume up increases the volume too quickly)."

In the screen with the radio buttons, select '0'.

Save & update the remote and everything the directional buttons will work perfectly.

Both were very helpful to me. Thanks!

Review of LittleBigPlanet - Game of the Year Edition Playstation 3

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
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From all the reviews I've read before purchasing this game I was a little skeptical that it wouldn't be for me. I was wrong. Matter fact I purchased it for my 5 year old boy first, just to keep him away from some of my other games while I'm at work. And you know what? This game stays in the PS3 all day. Not only that, when I get home from work the first thing he wants to do is play Little BIG planet. Its fun for me and him. I was hoping for simplified controls like a Mario plat former with just a jump button. But he's figured out how to use the Dual Shock 3 just as good as me. With the main buttons, X to jump and R1 to grab things, it couldn't be any easier. He also knows how to change their clothes and apply stickers and so on. This game is simple, plain and easy. The only problem he may have is figuring out that the game has some physics involved. Running faster to get further jumps, holding the jump button longer, how to jump on springs like objects to get higher takes a little timing that I even have trouble with. This game has plenty of levels, I play maybe an hour a day since I bought it and still have not finished everything. You can also make your own levels, download levels that others have created online, and play with people online. This game has infinite replay if you get into the community. Also, If you want to teach a child how to be greedy with items than this game is for you. I forgot to say that this game is fun for me too. Glad purchased it and you'll be too. One if the few must own exclusives for the PS3, this is coming from a 360 lover.

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I bought this game because it looked like something my wife and I could enjoy together. The first game we'd gotten for the PS3, Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time, hadn't really appealed to her. And I wanted to get something we'd both like.

At its core, LittleBigPlanet is just another platforming game in the long line going back to the early Mario Bros. games. The gameplay is good, but nothing radically different from earlier platforming games. But there are several things that take LBP from good to great:

i) The detailed artwork and music The visuals and music on the story levels are fantastic. Each level has a recognizable look and feel that is designed to evoke a particular mood. The music is catchy and adds another level to the game.

ii) Sackboy personalization As silly as it sounds, the ability to change the sackboy's outfit, skin, and accessories makes the game a lot more fun. This ability, combined with the fact that additional personalization options open up throughout the game, means that you can spend a surprising amount of time dressing up (and re-dressing up) your sackboy.

iii) The community levels I have been absolutely amazed at some of the levels that so-called amateurs put together. While some of the community levels are poorly conceived, there are incredible gems out there. Many of these levels are just as good as the story levels. If I had the time (and the skill) it would be a lot of fun to build my own level and share with the community.

This is a great game and I highly recommend it. We've gotten hours and hours worth of fun out of it.

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BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE GOTY EDITION

Play, Create, Share that's the LBP motto and, unlike most marketing empty slogans, Little Big Planet is more than up to the promise.

The Game of the Year edition includes all the paid content made available online since the initial release and more see below:

18 user-created levels developed especially for the GOTY, good but not always up to the polish level of the professional levels

3 sticker packs some paid for these to download, include here

16 new costumes see above

the complete Metal Gear Solid set of levels that includes trophy levels and never-seen-before weapons such as the Paintinator

the key to access the online beta of ModNation Racers (after December 3, I believe)

All of this on top of what turned out to be an already incredible game that stimulates creativity, cooperation, curiosity and celebrates the players themselves, proud creators of over one million levels, published and accessible by all. I don't play the game so much but, when it comes to the kids, this is by far their number one game and they have quite a few to choose from already. They are proud of their creations and they seem to have what seems to be endless fun playing other people's levels online.

REVIEW

Since this is about the GOTY, I will not write a full review of the game itself. I understand that many are new to the Little Big Planet universe but, it turns out, great reviews of the original game have been written by others so simply click on LittleBigPlanet to get an idea of what the game is about. Suffice it to say here that LPB takes advantage of just about every feature and peripheral that the PS3 has or supports and its online interaction is simply unparalleled. For example, you can go to a friend's profile and not only play his or her levels but see what other players levels your buddy liked and get to try those out. Or, you can create some awesome weapons. You can include that weapon inside the prize bubble of a level you create and whomever plays your level can earn the object that you created and use it somewhere else the fun is endless.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Play, Create, Share and, in our case, a lot more. I am not only a (casual) LBP player but also a parent and, to my delight and unlike what 'some' claim, this game has, in fact, made better, smarter kids. And I'm talking about my two boys. They took the 'create' part quite seriously and, after staging duels with custom-made awesome weapons, they began working on their own levels and, to my surprise, they actually asked me to help them learn computer programming which we are doing now. And their grades have actually improved the reason they are getting the GOTY is because they've done well in school so far this year.

EVALUATION AND RATING

If the 'regular' edition was a 5-star in my book, then add 50% to the initial evaluation. It's a definite 'must have'.

For anyone who doesn't own the original LBP, the GOTY is without a doubt the way to go. For owners of the original edition... I don't know if everybody does this but we were able to sell our 'used' (it was in mint condition, actually) copy of LBP for about half of the original price and we used the earnings to partially finance the purchase of the GOTY.

Honest reviews on LittleBigPlanet - Game of the Year Edition Playstation 3

LittleBigPlanet is absolutely amazing. I have never seen such a creative game that has so much to offer. This was my first night playing the game and I am hooked. This game is so much fun I played it for about 6 hours straight. The levels are amazing and so full of character. You can unlock tons of upgrades to customize your sackboy or sackgirl. There are also free downloads on the Playstation network for this game from time to time. The game is exciting with so much to explore and tons of vehicles and rides like mine cars, skateboards, roller coasters, ferris wheels, bumper cars, spaceships, submarines and so much more. Your kids will love it!!! I am 29 and I love the game. Plus you can create your own levels and even host them online for others to play. It is a little complicated to create levels but the tutorials do a good job of explaining it. You can also play with and against others online and even chat with them. If you own the playstation eye you can upload your own pics and add them to the levels for a truly personalized experience. I have uploaded several screen shots so you can get a better idea what the game is like.

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It doesn't matter what type of games you play, shooters, RPGs, platformers, puzzle, etc. you will appreciate aspects of LittleBigPlanet and will enjoy what it has to offer as there is no denying this an impressive take on the traditional platformer.

GRAPHICS: Beautiful, the textures are gorgeous and the game runs as smooth as it possibly could, online or off, 4 players or 1. The best graphics I've seen in a side-scrolling platformer. The detail is great though you may not notice things like reflections in the score bubbles at first glance. Technically sound and visually impressive.

GAMEPLAY: Your mom could play this game. There are only two buttons, jump and grab, and you move left to right (or right to left). It is complicated a bit by the 2.5D setting, meaning there are 3 levels of "depth" to the layout, but you get used to it quickly. There is technically nothing "new" added to the platform genre, ie moving platforms, large jumps, and springs that shoot you up in the air, but the level design is so innovative and smart and there will be plenty of times you'll think "Wow that is really cool, they could never do that in Mario." Of course all this pales to the best feature of the gameplay, PHYSICS, which is what gives you that "Mario needs to catch up" feeling. The physics are rock solid, just a hair above realistic to let you do some fun things but when you're swinging from grapple to grapple attached to a bungee cord and your sackboy is holding on for dear life punping his legs to getthat extra inch before you jump, it always feels right. Utilizing objects in the environment is perfect and they move with realistic weight. A light tap of the X button yields a small jump while pressng harder yields a much higher jump.

The only hit to gameplay is that with 3 or 4 players the camera can struggle to keep up with the action, but while this may cause some (very) minor annoyances, it prompts groups to work together, stay close, and leave no man (or woman) behind.

CUSTOMIZATION: For a platformer, the game has an unprecedented amount of customization. Each level is packed with goodies that allow you to alter the appearance of sack boy (or girl), from the simple: changing his color or add polka dots, to the complex: adding a george washington style wig with pilgrim pants and a spear for him to carry (in case the natives attack...). Add to that the customization of your "Pod," which is like your home base, and no one will ever have two setups that are the same. You can add hundreds of decorations and even choose music from your hard drive to play while you wait in between levels. Throw in a level creator that is so detailed you could technically recreate anything that the game developers created, and the overall level of customization is unparalleled in the genre. Keep in mind though, that creating a detailed level will take a lot of time, the tool is very comprehensive but you wont be creating a level in minutes.

CO-OP: Cooperative play is where the game shines, it was built for this and is the single reason Nintendo created New Super Mario Bros. Wii to compete. Online play is a snap and people can jump in and out of your games with ease, up to 4 people on a level at once. Inviting players is easy and co-op works just as strongly offline. Certain parts of levels are only accessible with 2 or more players so there is always incentive to have a friend or 2 or 3 along for the ride.

REPLAY VALUE: The only real knock I agree with on the game is that the story mode is short. I can't disagree, but keep in mind there is a lot of content in each level, it scores you against your friends as well as the world online and will let you know how many items you missed on the level giving you plenty of reason to play through multiple times to get that 100% completed. You WILL want to achieve some of these things. Also, as of now there are tons of detailed user created levels to keep you busy, when the game first released the online community was lacking but as updates have come and users have gotten used to the level creator there are some impressive ones out there, I suggest searching by hghest rated to get solid levels. GOTY edition comes with a few downloadable packs, about 20 total additional levels and a ton of extra stickers, decorations, costumes, and clothes to increase the aforementioned customization.

This game is for EVERYONE. Men take heed, your girlfriend who has never touched a videogame and scoffs at you when you choose to play over spending time with her will be intrigued as soon as you turn this title on. The cuteness of the characters alone will make her ask "what is this?" Women, take note, this is an easy to pick up and play game you can finally share with that Call of Duty shooting, Halo alien fighting boyfriend of yours. There are only 2 buttons, so if that 43-button PS3 controller looks too intimidating compared to the 2 button NES controller you played Super Mario on when you were a kid, rest easy, you only need two buttons to jump and grab, that simple. This is one of the best titles for PS3, hands down, the critics know it, the players know it, now stop reading and go find out for yourself.

PlayStation 3 GC-2 Wireless Controller Reviews

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List Price: $39.99
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While this controller feels great in you hand, for what it's designed to do it falls short.

As a FPS controller this thing has all the right features, turbo/macro, sensitivity settings. However the right stick has way too much dead zone for anything but left and right. As a person who prefers to be a sniper in most games this is a dealbreaker.

Go ahead try to make a tiny circle with the controller in any sensitivity setting. The controller seems to only work well in 0-45-90 degree rotations and nothing in between. Making small adjustments to my aim in games was frustrating and not worth what I spent. I went right back to my DS3 and was much more satisfied.

If the team could make the analog sticks work as well as the DS3 then it would be a great controller. However for shooters this just doesn't work.

I did however kick some ass in button mashers. (IE running games, some fighters)

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This controller fits my hands so much better than Sony's Dualshock. It has almost an Xbox 360 feel to it (whose controller I prefer) and all the buttons are very responsive and work excellently. Plus, it looks sleak.

Highly recommended.. Mass Effect Trilogy is playing WAY better with it than the Dualshock..

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I like this product, and people will especially when they convert Consoles, (WII U or Xbox to PS3) Button Mapping is flawless, very fluent, and closely compacted, as well as a flawless D-Pad that's easy to maneuver. Holding it doesn't make your hands cramp, enough space to hold it w/ both hands and is a MUST have for Xbox Controller Lovers. Controller should be more expensive, it's very nice and cheap and the material feels very nice in my hand. Only Con is the back buttons and the sensitivity on the R3. Back Buttons are Stiff and the R3 Button is sensitive, but easy to get used to after you use it. Over-all rating / 8.5 (See the Review Video here: By Cronizone)

Honest reviews on PlayStation 3 GC-2 Wireless Controller

One of the things I dislike about the PS3 is the DualShock 3 controller, I love the Xbox 360 controller and this product has the best of both worlds, the battery lasts even longer than the DualShock's one and the controller itself is very comfortable.

The turbo feature is amazing too, I don't use it that much but it's very helpful when you have a very repetitive task in a game and you have to press the same button a lot of times, this aplies mostly to RPGs for me.

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.. the R1 button stopped working. No matter what I did, it wouldn't register when I pressed it. I much prefer the Xbox 360 shape of the controller, but if the buttons don't work then it's useless to me. I threw it out. I won't risk buying another. Such a shame too, because it felt so good in my hands. Very unfortunate.

Discount Assassin's Creed III with Steelbook

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Assassin's Creed III is set during the revolutionary era with much of the campaign being focused upon events surrounding the war with England. That being said, this opened up a lot of new possibilities for the Assassin's Creed franchise. Many new additions made it into the game, though the game itself feels as though it stays true to its roots. All in all, I'll break down the various elements of the game (briefly) and score them individually, ending with an overall score of the game.

Storyline: 10/10

Being as how I have been a fan of the Assassin's Creed games since the first one, I have liked all the previous storylines; and this is no exception. The story is great, many twists and turns that you may or may not be expecting, either way, there is rarely a dull moment. Furthermore, this story can be picked up by newcomers to the series (though I would recommend playing the other games before this one to get a COMPLETE sense of the story) and returning fans alike.

Gameplay: 9.5/10

The gameplay is somewhat different from the others in regards to the way you "free-run" as well as to countering attacks and disarming and the like. However, it is simple to pick up and play, but fun enough to keep you interested. Some new gameplay elements were added such as being able to captain the ocean vessel the "Aquila" and complete privateer missions as side-quests. Overall, amazing gameplay with one notable downside. That downside being horseback riding. The horseback riding mechanics in this game are horrendous. I find it odd that in this game, sometimes a horse will get stuck on a miniscule object such as a very small rock, but then can jump over quite a large one. Furthermore, the horse does not handle as well as I'd have liked. I constantly find myself stuck between two trees or rocks because the horse doesn't want to turn properly. On another note, the horse sometimes get stuck in areas where it appears to have plenty of room to maneuver. I am not sure as to why that is, but it is nonetheless, irritating.

Replayability: 8/10

This game is great from start to finish, though there is no real reason to play it all over again. The only reason I even gave it an 8/10 is because of the vast amount of time you can spend completing the various side-quests and main quests. Sometimes there does need to be a great sense of replayability in a game if there is enough content to keep you playing for a large amount of time in a single playthrough.

Multiplayer: 9/10

The multiplayer in this game is innovative (in comparison to other multiplayer titles currently available). It is not meant to be on the same level as other popular titles such as Gears of War, Battlefield, or Call of Duty. That being said, the multiplayer is nowhere near as immersive as the aforementioned games, though as I said, I don't think it was intended to be because the primary focus in Assassin's Creed has typically been the single player elements of the game. There are various online gametypes ranging from team versus, free for all, or even teaming up with a few other players to take out designated NPCs. Overall, the multiplayer likely will not keep you excited for long, though it is a nice change of pace.

Graphics: 10/10

The graphics of the game are simply stunning. The character models are great as are the environments in which you play. Occasionally you will run in to minor graphical issues or "glitches" if you will, though they typically fix themselves promptly.

Overall: 10/10

I feel that this is a fair rating primarily due to the great story line and vast amount of options you have before and after the campaign is complete (depending on how you play). "Everything looks good, feels good, plays good, and is good." "Except for the horses, they aren't so great!"

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It is an absolutely stunning setting that you are immediately dropped into. They really captured the look & feel of what it must of been like in the Colonies at the time. From the comments the citizenry make towards you, the attitudes of the soldiers instantly capture your imagination. The scenery is meticulously detailed. Ubisoft really went all out by looking at maps of the locations from the time period and built the world around them and brought them to life.

The enemy AI is very good, but not excellent...There will be times you wonder why they didn't see you, while others you will wonder how they saw you...overall however, it is very good and above standard compared to other games that are currently out. The combat system is very fluid & not sluggish and the controls in general are very easy to learn & use.

I was very skeptical about the steelbook case for Assassin's Creed III. Alex Ross, the artist, did a magnificent job capturing the setting of the game the patriotic nature just exudes from it instantly, while maintaining the mystery of the assassin. It is very sturdy & a lot better quality than I had thought it would have been. It does have a shortcoming, and that is that it only holds one disc and the game itself comes with 2 discs. It would have been fantastic had Ubisoft (the games developer) had taken this into consideration and released it was a case that could carry double discs. Aesthetically however, it is absolutely beautiful.

My initial thought was to give it 5 stars, but really the fact that the game comes with 2 discs, but the steelbook can only hold one holds back a star. Definitely worth having if you are a collector.

EDIT: A comment below asked whether or not it came with the game. There were 2 steelbook cases that were put out. One of them was by an independent company and the other was released with the game as a preorder bonus. The one that was put out by the independent company did not come with the game, and the one that was put out by the developer (UBISOFT) came with the game, but it was separate with the game coming in it's own original release case. I just wanted to take the time to point this out to anyone that comes across the review and it may help them.

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I got this game for my 14 year old grandson. He was thrilled and very appreciative. It's fun making one's grandchild that happy.

Honest reviews on Assassin's Creed III with Steelbook

If you want to run through trees, and then jump down a kill a deer with your hidden blade YOU CAN. Also you can kill people this way but the heart of the series is hunting animals to provide you with loot that you can sell or use for quests to help earn 100% synch

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Gave it to my grandson for Christmas. He has the entire series. Amazing game. They couldn't stop playing to see what was next.

Discount DreamGEAR Xbox 360 X-Talk Solo Wired Headset

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List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $13.55
Today's Bonus: 32% Off

I took a gamble and tried this cheap little headset. I wanted something with just one speaker cause I have surround sound and don't need a stereo headset. Was a little concerned about sound quality before I purchased but to my surprise this thing is great. I can hear others clearly and my friends have said they can hear me clearly as well with no feedback....better than the crappy headset that comes with the xbox. Its comfy on my head...I do have small head so if you have a huge head I can't say how great it would be. Thinking of buying one for a friend whose mic really sucks. For the price you can't beat it.

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This headset works great with the Xbox 360. I have no problem being heard or hearing others in game. I selected these so I could hear the kids, the wife, the phone, and other things I need to listen for.

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I have read a lot of poor reviews about this headset, but I have had no problems whatsoever. Mic works great, the sound in the headphone is clear. I have 3 kids that use it all the time and have put it to the test. I just ordered a 2nd one today!

Honest reviews on DreamGEAR Xbox 360 X-Talk Solo Wired Headset

The headset that came with my son's xbox 360 broke, so I got online to buy him another one. They were very expensive, especially for the quality. I found this headset, which was far less expensive. My son says it is much better than the original headset. He said that the sound is clearer, the volume has more control, and other people do not complain about an echo.

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When this thing works, its perfect. Outside of that however, there are some notable flaws (at least for the headset I received). The mute button on my headset might as well not be there. It works when engaged but turning the mic back on will only work if you take the plug out and put it back in. Something is also up with the way its connected the mute switch/plug area. Most times moving your head ever so slightly jostles the cord around and the speaker cuts out. You can usually tell when that's about to happen because of some static pop-like noise occurs a few times before cutting out entirely. The mic still works when it does this, but there's not any point in talking and not hearing anything in response. Plugging the headset back in can also be quite irksome in the middle of fairly intense games (Call of Duty/Halo Firefights/ Fastbreaks in NBA 2K, etc.)