Pimp My Ride - Xbox 360 Review

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When I saw this game, I thought to myself "Dang, this game be straight trippin', yo!" but after playing it I'm of the opposite opinion. This game done pimped my life, son! Man, when I bought that 6,000 dollar pool to go in the back of this guy's 1987 Gremlin, it really spoke to me about the nature of the universe. Also, I'm pretty sure it cured my diabetes.

If you enjoy seeing Xzibit, the finest Thespian of our generation, pimpin' somebody's hooptie like it's National Pimpin' day, you need to buy this game right now! Buy it twice! Put a copy in your car next to the theater-sized projector!

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My son really loves creating new vehicles. He is 12 and finds this game very enjoyable.

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I've gotta say this game is awesome. I installed it in my car.

My favorite part is when XtotheZ says "Yo dawg!" Man, that is awesome. My other favorite thing is when he goes "I put a (insert completely rediculous object here) in your (place something like that would normally not go) and then I (something about neon tubing)"

All in all, a great game.

Honest reviews on Pimp My Ride - Xbox 360

My son loves this game. I'm very impressed with it too. He normally loses interest in games after an hour or so but certain games will keep him interested and this one is one of them. I didn't want to do a review but there was only one review so I wanted to let you all know this is a great game for kids. They get to pimp cars, drive them and even break dance! Cool.

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I bought this game because it is old and voted as one of the worst games ever. I swear that you will find something to laugh at with this game though. Few games are this bad but I don't know. If it makes me laugh is it really that bad?

Discount Brink - Playstation 3

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Like many people, I wanted this game to be like Team Fortress 2 but to the next level. Unfortunately, you cannot have as much fun in Brink like TF2. Obviously the game is new and not as many people own it but there should be more servers with different mods or methods of playing. For example, games like Uncharted 2, Black Ops, Killzone 3, Socom4, and others have many different ways to play. Brink has a number of mission types but it does get repetitive. As far as I know, I have not seen a Team Deathmatch type game even though you are technically in one due to the mission.

PROS

-Very good Graphics

-Cool Customizations

-Maps are large and lots to do

-The movements of the game

CONS

-Not enough weapons

-Some glitches

-Not Enough maps

A DLC will be coming out in early July (was supposed to be June) that will include 2 new maps (only)and some new content. The DLC is free for people the first 2 weeks it (the DLC) becomes available.

This game is not horrible, but it is not great. It was hyped up no doubt and should have way more content. The content in this game is about 10% of what it should be. Solutions

1. Adding at least 5 more maps

2. Adding new weapons somewhat similar to Team Fortress 2 but more modern looking. We all know the huntsman of TF2 for the sniper. Brink should have Crossbows, flamethrowers, harpoon guns, whips, chinese stars,swords, and many other items.

Cannons would be cool instead of the stupid mg nests. This game has a lot of potential but needs a serious upgrade for the weapons. Like many have pointed out the weapons are very similar even with some of the changes you make. The sniper rifles are pretty good but need more additions.

3. Needs more gamers playing on PC and others to create new servers with new mods

Just look at Team Fortress 2. They have new additions every so often with weapons and maps. Yes it has been out for a long time, but Brink runs the risk of not getting more sales and losing current gamers. This new DLC better be very good and they need to have another update about a month or two later because Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 will surely make Brink forgettable. I know they are not the same style, but people can only play so many games at once.

Team Fortress 2 is favored over Black Ops and many other newer games by many gamers. It does not have the greatest graphics but it makes that up by having a huge amount of maps and upgrades. Brink needs to follow this lead and bring more maps and weapons. Currently there are only 8 maps (2 more with DLC) and weapons are horrible before you customize them.

To people who hate this game, it may be that they really don't like it. I hated this game the first couple days I had it until I learned how to quickly upgrade the weapons. Common sense: You must go to Challenges and complete each one. When you go to the weapons selections it tells you what challenges you must complete to get the weapons. Once I upgraded my weapons I went from a one star rating to a 3 star rating.

Bottom line: This game is not as bad as people say. However there should be more interacting when playing as a team via typing or mic and more mods and other upgrades via Bethesda as I pointed out.

Thankfully I got this game for under $30 and play on PC. As for Xbox360 and PS3 I don't think you would be disappointed spending about $30 on this game. I think the price needs to drop to $30 or less for all platforms not just PC.This game would be excellent for $20 which could happens soon if the DLC is not good. People should rent the game or buy it used if you are unsure. Also keep in mind that the DLC update coming soon will be free for 2 weeks. So you need to get the game sometime during the 2 weeks that the DLC is available.

I went on very long and was a bit repetitive cuz I hope Bethesda improves this game. I also wish more people owned this game and played it like Team Fortress 2.

***** UPDATE***** 8/11/2011

I have been playing the game mainly on PC ( I also own the PS3 version but PC version is far better, especially the graphics) Nevertheless, it is still pretty fun on PS3.

So the DLC has two new maps and a few other items added for the classes. However, Splash(Bethesda) has failed to incorporate different modes in the game such as team deathmatch, capture the flag, or other modes of play. This game will probably be next to free very soon especially since the big hits (B3 and MW3) are coming out pretty soon. Nevertheless, I would still recommend this game for PC due to the better graphics and the long and fun matches between teams on a full server. When the servers are filled with human players (not bots) the game is very fun even on PS3. The matches last a lot longer and you can see what the developers wanted this game to be like. However they failed on a number of things. I will list the following recommendations that can make this game a huge hit like TF2.

1.****************** NEEDS MORE MODES OF PLAY.*******************************

2. Addition of different items every so often such as TF2 that can be purchased and some would be free.

3. Game should be made free or for $10 maximum to attract lots of gamers.

4. More maps and weapons as stated

5 A Reason to play. ( TF2 has people playing since its fun and free. But more importantly, there is something to play for. People have new items being acquired and people can dominate others in the game) Brink needs this type of stuff to make the game REWARDING if you know what I mean.

Like I said, if this is implemented this game will be one of the biggest hits on steam and the company will make lots of money selling items and just giving the game for free and building a very strong and active Brink community.

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I have completed this game now on my main class engineer as well as taking another to 15 as medic, and after figuring out the point distribution I have high hopes for this game once it is online for my platform (ps3).The point system lets you max out only one character class, but does not totally punish you for changing jobs on the fly if needed. Not to reiterate the previous reviews I want to touch on what they did not.

I play Call of duty, Killzone 3 and many FPS since the early 90's. Many of my favorite FPS are what I would refer to as frag tag. Fast kills in an almost arena like atmosphere. This game is not of that model.

This is a splash damage game as they have always produced, taking a Wolfenstien / quake: Enemy territory approach to a comic like post apocalyptic universe.

I have scored it high because what it does it does well. I feel the low reviews are based on expectation. Expectation that does it no justice as it is being compared to games that are FPS but not of the same style.

The choke points that people complain about can be flanked or massed against. They are meant to cause a strategic showdown between two opposing teams and they deliver.

I am not a "fanboy" of this title, but I am a bit disappointed with the low reviews. To me many of them mirror a fictitious popular mechanics article trashing a car because it did not do well when they tried to take it out on the lake. Most of the anger is frag taggers beckoning to know why it took more than 2 shots to drop a foe, frustration due to overcoming a obstacle they expected to glide through. I understand, it's not the fast smash and grab/ Run and gun they are used to. It is like the difference in action RPG, and a Menu based RPG.

Here is the honest ending statement if you like a challenging first person shooter blending a similar play style to Unreal tournament/ Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.

Then you will enjoy this game. People wanting a bad company 3/ COD 5 should wait for those titles. This is not meant to be offensive to fans of these type games I am as well but hopefully this will make people more aware of what type of title this is. Some people would love a game of this style and have been dissuaded due to "It's not COD!" type reviews. My opinion is thats all the more reason to love it, it adds to my library without adding to an army of clones.

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What do you get when you try to cross MAG or Team Fortress 2 gameplay with the look and feel of Borderlands and a futuristic Mad Max? Bethesda Softworks (Fallout 3, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion) and Splash Damage (Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars) hope its the next big franchise to hit consoles. The impressive art direction in the advertising campaign originally drew me to this game, but does it translate to tengaging gameplay? Now that it has dropped in price almost universally, is it something you should pick up now? Is it even worthy of it's all CAPS moniker?

The premise in BRINK is not anything we really haven't seen before, but it centers around a man-made, eco-friendly, floating city, designated The Ark, that is on the brink (get it) of Civil War. Since the oceans of the world have begun to rise to unsafe levels, The Ark has become a sort of haven for people affiliated with its original inhabitants, as well as other displaced people looking for a better life, who have to live on the outskirts. It's basically a bunch of Haves versus Have Nots. One group wants to break free of the overpopulation and desecrating conditions for the outcasts on The Ark (called The Resistance) and leave the floating city to see what the world is like beyond its walls, while the other group wants to keep the refugees in control and living in continued squalor, while they continue to benefit in The Ark (called The Security).

Upon starting the game, you have to first select and customize a character. While the customization options are ample, they aren't exactly endless. The character design is similar to Gears of War, with overexaggerated features and bulging muscles. There are four different classes of characters: Soldier, Engineer, Medic, and Operative. Obviously each has their own strengths and weaknesses and in this game you will be switching classes a lot during each level or mission, to complete objectives.

To move around, BRINK also uses whats been classified as SMART (Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain). In this, a button can be assigned to to quickly traverse across different environmental obstacles. Think of it as parkour influenced climbing, jumping, and sliding, reminiscent of Mirror's Edge. Unfortunately, much of the time, I kind of forgot about SMART and did the regular old climbing and jumping, except for the occasional slide.

I've spent quite a bit of time with this game, beating both campaigns (a total of 16 missions, but they are long missions, which turns out to be a blessing and a curse), and utilizing both solo play, as well as completing levels online with human counterparts. I get that the online component was designed to be a major selling point for BRINK, but the online community is pretty stagnant at the moment. When starting a level online, I would say that only about 25% of the time did I have another human joining me.

Gameplay

This game is quite frenetic when you first jump in. There is a lot of action going on around you and quite a bit of chatter from your teammates (which I liked initially, but then grew to hate). Initially, only one or two classes will have an objective that are pretty basic (hack this, defend this, escort this person, etc.), but the objectives increase (both primary and secondary), as you progress through the game. Just find a (or take over an opponent controlled one) command post, and you can switch classes. There is an objective wheel that is easily accessed at any time, that highlights the objectives and classes needed, so it's not too confusing. Select an objective and it'll point you in the right direction to complete it.

That's not to say that BRINK isn't fun because at times it really is. Shooting people and is almost always fun... for a while. Having the missions broken up by each side seemed like a really interesting idea, but they basically turn out to be the same levels, but just opposite objectives of each other. If the Resistance was trying to destroy something, when you play the mission as the Security, you're trying to defend the same thing you were previously asked to destroy. This doesn't flesh out the story as much as I would have hoped for, and really didn't make me pick a side I was rooting for, as if they had added totally different levels for each side.

There is a major problem with your teammates AI in the game. They are basically worthless (but every now and then surprise you with a well-placed turret), and you constantly feel like you are the only one that is able to do anything. For instance if you have to repair something and are playing solo, without human teammates, it seems like you are the only one of the class you selected that can get anything done. You have usually around 10 minutes to complete the objective, but it usually takes all 10 minutes because your teammates don't help at all. When they do decide to help, it's like a mad rush in the final minute or two. The opponents know where to congregate to protect what's needed, but it seems as if your team gets bored rather easily and leaves their mark.

Which leads me to my next problem with the game. If you die, or I should say when you die, because your opponent's ammo tends to be much more powerful than your own, you have to respawn

There are a few "what if" missions tacked on at the end, but they seem as more of an afterthought, than a critical part of the story, and are some of the shorter missions of the whole game. I recommend playing through some of the Challenge levels early on, as by completing them, you earn some upgrades for your weapons. There are 3 different types of challenges: fulfilling objectives, moving around with SMART to certain areas in a time limit, and defending, each with three levels of progressively harder levels.

Graphics

There are two distinct setting for the missions in BRINK. One is the futuristic Ark, which kind of reminded me of something out of Mass Effect. Lot's of plexiglass, neon, etc. Once the action moved away from The Ark, to Container City, I became re-interested in the game again. It's a totally different kind of look that really made me push through to finish my first half of the Campaign. There are lots of little crevices and creative shortcuts to find.

I didn't really experience any lag, when playing online, but only really connected with one other person at a time when playing the campaign. The multiplayer was solid and much more fun than playing with bots, but by the time I tried multiplayer, I was kind of burned out by the game. Sometimes when enemies died, parts of their body would be underground, or if they were standing on something and killed, seemed to be floating in mid-air.

Sound

Throughout the game you have a Commander basically talking in your ear the whole time. He gets very frustrated when things aren't going the planned way. Considering that you feel like you are a one man show on many of the levels, it get very annoying quickly.

I did find the chatter between teammates amusing. When you give supplies to another teammate, they always respond with some form of thanks. Additionally, when you have some supplies and they are needed by someone nearby, they will let you know.

Replay Value

There is a planned DLC coming soon (free for the first two weeks), which may increase the number of people playing online. Currently, there are 8 maps available for multiplayer skirmishes. I fear, however, that most players originally interested in the game have either moved on to something else or sold/traded in their copy.

Once the campaigns are completed, there is not much incentive to return to those missions. Especially the ones where your teammates seem clueless. There are some audio logs to collect, which supposedly add more to the story (or unlock a trophy/achievement when all are collected) but I didn't have an interest to find more.

There is a cap at level 20. When I finished both campaigns, I was at level 16, so I played multiplayer and replayed missions to reach the cap. There are bonuses for completing missions online (which I didn't know until about halfway through the game)

Honestly, I really wanted to like BRINK. Blending solo, co-op, and multiplayer into one somewhat seamless experience seemed innovative and intriguing. However, in the end, it wasn't done well enough to grab my interest for extended periods. Each mission is quite long, and if you don't succeed, feels arduous instead of energizing at the challenge, that you have to relive 15-20 minutes all over again.

Rating

6.5

Honest reviews on Brink - Playstation 3

another new IP, another disappointment [read: homefront].

first of all, if you plan on getting this for the single-player campaign, don't. there is no single player campaign.

brink's 'campaign' is simply offline multiplayer with bots [think about Killzone's 'skirmish' mode and you get the idea]. there are eight 'missions' in all and each mission can played from either the resistance or security persepctive.

unfortunately, these missions are convoluted, difficult to navigate, and even more difficut to complete because your wonky AI squad mates are essentially useless. most of the maps contain narrow corridors that result in chokepoints with 16 guys in a fifteen foot radius all doing the hokey pokey or break dancing. i was half expecting pop 'n taco to show up with a broken down cardboard box and do the electric bugaloo. and if you should die, well, you may have to wait as long as twenty seconds to respawn and then spend another 30 seconds running back to the action. in and of itself, it's not a bad thing, but since all the 'campaign' missions are timed, it's problematic.

another big complaint: weapon damage. sure, i can understand wanting to eliminate one-shot kills, but it literally takes an entire magazine to put someone down. so most of the time you're trying to find ammo or hoping one of your squad mates buffs you some. good luck with that.

sure, you have four quadrillion customization options, but if you're playing from a first-person perspective, who even cares? you can't see all your fancy face paint, head gear, and outfits [unless you're in the menus], so why bother?

instead of a great new shooter, you've got a great new $60 digital costume closet. congratulations.

if splash damage had spent as much time with the gameplay as they did with the customizations, they might have had something. unfortunately, as is the case with so many shooters these days, the game ships with skimpy content and we undoubtedly await the first $15 "map pack" in about a week or two.

it's getting downright insulting.

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I avoided Brink at first due to poor reviews, but as the price got a lot cheaper, I decided to give it a try. Since I've only started playing it, and am nowhere near an expert on it I'm just going to comment on what I've experienced with the game. As a first person shooter, I didn't find it very satisfying. First of all, I'm amazed at how difficult it is to actually kill the enemy. Even at point blank range, it takes what seems as too many bullets to take someone down. Then, your downed enemy often isn't dead, but will rise right back up to kill you if you don't go and finish him off. Meanwhile, the action, which is pretty much non-stop, sometimes makes it difficult to even do this. Also, the actual aiming and shooting process just isn't as much fun as many other 1st person shooters that I have played. I want to like this and have played the first few missions on it, but I just can't see myself sticking with it. However, If you like non-stop, fast paced action, it certainly does deliver on that. It's frenetic pace does sometimes lead to confusion as what to do next, or exactly what is going on at the moment. I was hoping for a little more stealth and discovery, rather than the constant run and gun action. I could deal with the run and gun action if the actual shooting was a little more rewarding. I'm just glad I didn't pay $60 for it when it came out.

Review of XCOM: Enemy Within

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This game was fantastic! I was a huge fan of the first game, and admittedly I was skeptical if this game would be worth the money. XCOM enemy within, adds to what was great in last year's title, and improves it by adding new strategic elements (mechs and mutants). The mech and mutant additions, are modifiers to your existent squad. The mutants and mechs add significant strategic ability to your squad, but they must be weighed against the expense in developing these classes and the downside of mechs of not being able to use cover. I was concerned that this would make your squad too strong compared to the enemy, however this game adds excellent new enemy units to help balance both sides to the encounter.

These strategic elements, make the old levels play like new while also adding a new level of strategy to consider when assembling your squad. In addition, XCOM adds new game modes that help to prevent the mini-missions from becoming too repetitive. This includes game types: (1) escorting a civilian, (2) king of the hill and (3) capture the flag. In addition to these new game types, XCOM adds a new enemy, EXALT further adding to the new layers to this game.

One of my few criticisms of the first game was that every single level played the same, and after significant play became repetitive. XCOM Enemy Within fixes this flaw, and I stress that I cannot recommend this game higher. I encourage anyone on the fence to buy this title and enjoy hours of entertainment!

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XCOM: Enemy Within has finally arrived.

The "Commander Edition" (as it's called on Consoles) includes:

the full game XCOM: Enemy Unknown (previously released on Xbox360/PC/PS3)

all previously released DLC & updates (i.e. Operation Slingshot; Elite Soldier Pack)

the new Enemy Within over-haul (See Below)

And a few unmentioned changes to the game:

Enemy AI has been greatly improved and enemies are deadlier than ever

New appearance and language options for soldiers (Russians speaking Russian!)

Can award medals to soldiers that give unique bonus attributes (e.g. Never Panic, etc)

Select "Second Wave" game-play options unlocked from the start! (very fun)

The Enemey Within part is key as much of the game has been tweaked, vamped up, and generally been improved upon. Enemy Within is absolutely PACKED with new features and more than more than make up for the purchase price (imo). So far I have had only minor issues with game play; I have encountered one glitch that forced me to fail (or reload) on one of the early EXALT missions, an NPC became stuck on a mission and I could not progress. Be very careful on Ironman mode until this is patched. Otherwise, game-play had been phenomenal just what I've been waiting for!

Notes (correct me if I am wrong):

*Does not share save files with XCOM: Enemy Unknown

*Does not share Achievements with XCOM: Enemy Unknown

*Everything is on one disk and there are no codes or vouchers for dwnld

*May cause a sever lack of sleep

---

New Additions (taken from above):

* New Weapons and Equipment: Give your operatives an extra tactical edge with new projects from your engineering team and the Foundry

* New Enemy Threats: Adopt new tactics to counter the threats from two new alien types and a deadly new organization known as EXALT.

* New Strategic Resource: A valuable new alien resource, known as Meld, has been discovered. Secure it on the battlefield and use it carefully back at base to unlock new research and upgrades.

* New Tactical Challenges and Maps: Cloak-and-dagger and intelligence operations provide new tactical challenges on over 40 new battlefields.

* New Multiplayer maps, units, and abilities: Create your custom squad from a wider array of options and dominate your opponent in intense, one-on-one, turn-based matches.

* New Soldier Abilities: Research a new alien technology to advance the capabilities of your operatives:Gene Mods: Construct the Genetics Lab to physically enhance your operatives? abilities including augmentations to the chest, brain, eyes, skin, and legs. MECs: Build the Cybernetics Lab to enable the construction of the new Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuit, or MEC. The new MEC Trooper class has specialized abilities and each suit can be upgraded with new weapons including the flamethrower and grenade launcher.

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I'm a HUGE fan of the original 1994 XCOM UFO Defense. There is still no turn-based strategy game that can touch it (save-for the graphics of course). Yes, even though it's from 1994. I highly recommended that you go play it (on steam, etc.), before or after playing this game. These games look ~20 years better but have only 1/2 of the scope, customization, replayability as the 1994 XCOM UFO Defense game.

If you were excited about (and purchased) XCOM Enemy Unknown, and loved it, then this is still worth getting to see all the new content and maps. If you look at it as purchasing a bunch of DLC at once, then it takes the sting away from needing to buy the game again. (hoping for more DLC but not holding my breath)

If you thought XCOM:EU was frustrating and complex, avoid this game. It's more complex.

But, hopefully, you somehow missed XCOM:EU, are unaware/don't care that the developers fell a little short of the original 1994 game, and really want to find a challenging turn-based-strategy game with a revolutionary console UI, excellent graphics, jump-out-of-your-seat fun moments and hours-upon-hours of replay potential. Then you can just buy this game, by itself, and be happy as a clam.

Honest reviews on XCOM: Enemy Within

I Loved the original xcom and this expansion pack made the game even more enjoyable. I high recommend this to anyone who likes strategy games.

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I'd love to give this a good review, but I can't for two reasons:

1) It's a bit unfair to release no content for an existing game as a new game instead of a DLC. I do like the new content, but it doesn't really change anything fundamental.

2) There's something buggy (perhaps it's just my disk). I've had 2 Ironman gamefiles that refuse to load due to file corruption. So frustrating and without the fun of trying to save a game for the jaws of defeat after a squad-wipe.

Best God of War III: Ultimate Edition - Playstation 3 Deals

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God of War III: Ultimate Edition

This is my video review of God of war 3 ultimate edition. I made the video to show a little more detail than what can be written.

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This review's coming from someone who doesn't flip out over everything God of War-related, or says that you should get something just because it has to do with God of War. Face itfor the price this 'ultimate' edition's going for, you probably want to be getting your money's worth, right? I hadn't played God of War 3 until I got this set just last week, and I didn't spend more than retail for it, but even then, I can't see how this is an 'ultimate' edition of God of War 3.

First up, the main selling point of this editionPandora's Box. It's a cheaply made plastic box that looks just like the one in the game. The plastic they used to make this is very soft, and you can probably snap the horns off of the sides with even a tiny bit of effort. There isn't a lot of fine detail on this, and it looks a lot like some kind of Halloween decoration you'd find at a party store in October. The bottom of the box has no detail at all either. This could make a decent box to hold candy in style, but given how it looks in-person, there's not a lot of style to it.

When you open Pandora's Box, the art book is waiting for you. This is probably the best thing about this set, aside from the game, and it's a lot better than the one that got released in the UK, which was rushed and had the same quality as your typical instruction manual. The US art book is a hardcover book, about 100 pages, and features tons of great art. Enemies, scenery, sketches, there's a lot of impressive work and if you're one of those fans that wants a GoW tattoo, this would be a good book to scout. The book isn't that big since it had to fit in Pandora's Box, but I don't have any complaints about it because you can see everything clearly.

Under the book, you'll see a black ribbon on the side of the 'bottom' of the box. Pull it up and it turns out that it was guarding a secret compartment (well, I use that term loosely) where the game is. Nope, there are no cds for the soundtracks that the box advertises, but instead, they're included as DLC, along with the Dominus skin, Exile Arena and documentary. There's a code for each bonus inside of the game case. The game features the same art as the retail version, and is identical except it doesn't have a bar code, and just says 'not for resale' in its place.

When it comes down to it, this sucker going for over a Benjamin is a rip-off. The game alone is worth around half of that, the DLC is cheap on its own (hint hint), the art book is nice but you can always find the same images online, and Pandora's Box is a joke. I know you can't expect much of a replica for the price, but they sure as heck coulda tried harder. Maybe if they included the God of War Collection like the UK version did, I'd be more forgiving since it'd be more for your buck. And if this is supposed to be the be-all edition of God of War 3, why include just one of the many skins available? Why not include all of them? But as it is, you're better off just getting the game on its own, and then getting the DLC separately.

I think Kratos would've went off about REVENGE(!) and tracked down those responsible for making it if he had seen this set.

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The advertisement showed a special offer when buying the God of War box which should come with a bonus features. However the printed promotion codes which came inside the box were valid only until 2011. I contact PlayStation customers services asking for updated codes to download the extras, but they informed is not possible to produce a new voucher or extend the expiration date of the promotion codes. I'm very desapointed.

Honest reviews on God of War III: Ultimate Edition - Playstation 3

The Good: Mass amounts of improvements, absolutely beautiful and epic on every scale, excellent boss fights, lots of extras

The Bad: Unbalanced difficulty, story takes a dive towards the end, it ends

Well here it is. After waiting 3 years we finally get the ending to one of the best video game series ever created. The biggest question that people have is if the game is enough to stand on its own out of the other next generation games. The answer is yes, so let's get down to it.

The game's story picks up right after God of War II with Kratos riding on the back of Gaia climbing Mount Olympus. The game starts out on the back of Gaia with Kratos fighting hordes of monsters (and learning the controls). The game starts out more epic than ever with an epic boss fight with Poseidon. Giant water serpents come up and try to kill Gaia, so not only do you have to kill Poseidon, but you have to protect Gaia as well. The boss fights are bigger and more epic than ever with Titans that are miles high (fighting Cronos is the most epic of all) and you really feel like your taking these beasts down with satisfying results.

I have to first talk about how the game looks. Yes, God of War III is probably the best looking game made to date and it really shows on every aspect. The sweeping camera angles, the high-resolution textures and models. The gorgeous lighting effects, and everything just feels updated and like it should on the PS3. You can see the pores and details in every characters, the animation is more fluid, the combat even feels better and more fluid, especially if you just played the God of War Collection. I can't really describe just how beautiful this game is. You can see and feel the passion and detail every artist put into the game from the creatures, levels, and even small things like blood, scrapes and nicks on metal just everything.

The combat is what has the biggest upgrades. No longer are you confined to having all your magic items come from your magic meter. There are a ton more weapons (four in total) to get, and each weapon has its own magic attack instead of collecting them separately. The Blades of Exile (yes the name has changed again) have the Spartan Army attack, the Nemean Cestus have a pounding attack, Hades Hooks that let you summon different creatures, and a whip type weapon that sends electric shocks. All the weapons are similar to the Blades of Exile, and the Blade of Olympus is now used during Rage of Sparta mode (yes it's changed and everything turns black). There is now an item meter which is used for your bow, Helios head, and Hermes shoes. All these items sound crazy, but let me explain.

The bow lets you set certain things on fire and is mainly used during the beginning of the game, but not so much later on. The Helios head is used to reveal secrets and blind enemies, and the Hermes shoes are used during wall running sections. The grapple hook still exists, but all of these changes let you use all your items and weapons all the time, and don't rely so much on just magic. Some other changes to combat were made so everything feels more fluid and you never have to stop fighting no matter where you are. You can evade in the air, there is now a grapple attack that pulls you towards your enemy in the air or on the ground. The combat system is just super fun to use now, and all the additions perfect the combat system and make a fitting end to the trilogy.

The QTE's are still in tact, but with a bit of a change. They appear on the edge of the screen according the controller layout so you can now watch what's going on. Using your peripheral vision is see these really helps keep you drawn in, so you don't have to concentrate so much on the buttons. It is a little confusing at first, but after a while you will get used to it. The QTE's are also better placed especially during boss fights. You really feel like your making the big kill this time around with a new camera angle that lets you see in a POV of the enemy your pummeling or in Kratos' view. This adds to the cinematic excitement and brutality of that game.

Another thing I need to talk about is just how much more brutal and explicit the game is. The gore is more detailed with guts hanging out, cuts being visible where you slashed an enemy, skin stretching when heads are pulled, tendons popping, veins breaking etc. All this is visible thanks to the power of the PS3 and is really makes you wince in sympathy. The game even has a more explicit sex mini-game that is about mid way through with Aphrodite. Instead of just panning over to a table with a vase you see two topless women talking about what Kratos is doing to Aphrodite and it is both hot to watch and funny.

The puzzles in the game are what you would expect from a God of War game: Clever, fun, and unique. Just like all God of War games some puzzles are an entire level with little puzzles within that, and Daedalus's labyrinth is one example. They aren't as confusing as the last two games, and are easier to figure out, but just as clever, and some puzzles are now part of the environment so timing and speed are of the essence.

While there are a lot of game changes like the combat, additional weapons, and even Icarus' Ascension (which is a flying section where you dodge falling debris), the game stays true to the series. Everything is just bigger, badder, and meaner but it does have a few slight flaws. The ending story is cut a bit short, there aren't enough epic boss fights, and the difficulty is highly unbalanced. These are really all I could find, but they aren't necessarily flaws. If the game were a bit longer, and those three issues didn't exist it would get a 10. The game is perfect except that little tic-tac sized piece that you feeling is missing and can never pin it. The game has high replay value to unlock trophies, challenges, costumes, and there are a ton of making-of videos for die-hard fans to watch.

I just can't describe the improvements of this game unless you play it yourself. It is probably the best PS3 game out there so far, and is so enjoyable and chock full of excellence that it's almost too much to contain. The amazing scale, beauty, and vast improvements make the game worth a purchase tenfold. I just wish this weren't the end of Kratos' adventures or is it...

ULTIMATE EDITION: If you pre-ordered a copy or can still find one floating around, and want to shell out an extra $40 you can get the Ultimate Edition. It includes a very detailed Pandora's Box, a code to get the God of War Trilogy OST, the Blood and Metal soundtrack, an hour length making-of video, and full color art book. The package is a bit disappointing since the box is made of hard plastic and not die-cast metal, the soundtracks were a pain to get during launch day since the site was bogged down and wouldn't load half the time. The Blood & Metal OST is pretty disappointing since it's nothing special. It has a couple of big names like Trivium and Killswitch Engage, but only three of the songs on the album were any good. I also wished the soundtracks came in physical CD format, but digital is fine. The making of video is filmed like a History Channel documentary and can be a snooze fest for hardcore fans who already know all about the game. The Trilogy OST is fantastic and is probably the best part of the whole package along with the detailed art book. Is it worth $40? Sure, if you're a hardcore fan otherwise pass.

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This is by far the best game I have ever played. The pandora's box is quite good and looks as is it was made of seel. The art book, is really sweet addition. This package is a must for every god of war fan, and all the others should at least get the game.

Nintendo Wii U Console - 32GB Black Deluxe Set Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $349.99
Sale Price: $339.99
Today's Bonus: 3% Off

Great News. Today (4/30/2013) Nintendo released an update that resolved a lot of the problems that the Wii U had. My personal favorite is that you can now download and install games in the background and fully automatically. Yes, it should have been like that since the beginning. Three cheers! I've updated my review to reflect this new information.

-----------------

Original review (edited due to improvements by Nintendo):

I remember that Nintendo came under a lot of criticism for not having an HD version of the Wii. HD was around when the first Wii came out, and a lot of people were a bit skeptical that they stuck to the lower resolution. As HD became common, Nintendo told fans that they had to do something "more" than just come out with an HD version of the Wii.

Well, thats just what Nintendo did. The Wii U is more than "just Wii HD". But Nintendo hasn't changed the Wii experience very much. You still use Wii remotes every time you play. The Wii U is not "completely different" like the Wii was when it came out. The Wii U is the Wii's younger, smarter brother. And if you liked the Wii, you'll like the Wii U.

The 3 main features of the Wii U are:

1) Its HD, which brings it (finally) up to speed with the Xbox and Playstation ... and everything else out there.

2) The Wii U has a single video controller. The video controller opens up new game experiences. Whoever is playing on the video controller sees something different than the other players. For generations people have wanted multiplayer games that didn't use a "split TV screen", and the Wii U gives you that in one console. This is a really big deal. The video controller is also a touchscreen which you use to flick something at the screen, or move things on screen. The new video controller allows for new control options ... just like the "Wii balance board" allowed Nintendo to sell yoga and ski games.

3) Videos, videos, videos. Netflix, youtube, TiVo, amazon instant video. It will keep track of the TV shows you want to watch, and when they will be on. You'll also be able to use the Wii U as a social outlet to chat about TV shows and movies. Nintendo calls this Wii TVii, and it would be a revolution in TV watching... if only all the features were available now. So you can use the Wii U as a control for all your Video experiences with your TV. The video controller will act like "PIP Picture in Picture in the palm of your hand". I use the Wii U with Amazon Video to watch movies for free, and the Wii remote lets me see information about the movie on IMDB WHILE the movie is playing. For sports, you'll be able to watch instant replays on the small screen... while the rest of your buddies continue to watch the big game on the main screen. So its going to be a remote controller on steroids. To be honest, this is going to be a really big big deal but since not all the features roll until "later" I can't give the WIi U a star for it yet. Maybe it will change your life, maybe not. Time will tell.

And that concludes the main appeal of the Wii U. We finally get HD, the video controller adds a new dimension to the usual Wii gaming, and it also serves as a "TV command center".

FAQ:::Some people have asked me about the Wii U, and the short answers are:

1) No, you don't have to own a Wii to have a Wii U.

2) You can only use ONE video controller with your Wii U. All other players use the old Wii remote.

3) 5 people can play at once, making it even more of a "game party" console than before.

4) You can't play DVDs or Blu Ray discs. Blue Ray is Sony Playstation territory, as you probably know.

5) You can surf the internet on it (why would you want to? I don't know)

6) Should I get the deluxe? Probably. You get 32gb of memory, which will become more important the longer you have the console, and the more you do with it. You get the Nintendo Land game. You get the cradle for charging the video gamepad. And until 2014 they will give you a store credit of 10% every time you make a purchase of digital content (games). If you buy digital content regularly, you might "earn back" the extra $50 you pay for the deluxe Wii U. (I tried this yesterday, read below for more info on the credit)

NintendoLAND:

Nintendo Land has a nice set of games that introduce you to life with the video controller:

1) Some of the games are a lot of fun. The most popular minigames in our house are the game where one player pretends to be a ghost and scares other players. This is accomplished by having two screens, the ghost can see everyone, but nobody else knows where the ghost is. This is always a howling good time at our house. The Mario hide and seek works the same way and is also popular with us. (update: after a month of play, the Kids now play Zelda and Metroid the most)

2) Some of the games would be worth about $1 in an "app store". (race game, balloon game, and yoshi game: I'm talking to you!)

3) Some games have more than one control scheme. The Pikmin game is enjoyed by my 4 year old because he can use a stylus to direct "Captain Olimar" instead of the joysticks/d-pads. He just points at what he wants to do. So for the first time even my youngest can join in on at least some of the action.

4) Metroid and Zelda show off what the Wii U can do for multiplayer combat/FPS. In Metroid, the player with the video controller operates a "helicopter" while everyone else are "ground troops". The two screens allow for different perspectives in battle.

NintendoLand has satisfied my kids for a whole month, but its really starting to wear off now. NintendoLand is particularly good if you have a lot of friends come over to your house. But, its just a variety game and not very deep. You'll probably want to buy another game shortly after buying the Wii U. (PS I bought Trine2 from the Nintendo eShop for $20, but, I think it was worth about $10.)

Other games: since I wrote my original review, I have bought a lot of other wii U games. However, I'm generally disappointed in the use of the video controller. In many games, the video controller either shows you a map of the area, or, shows a version of whats on the big TV screen. Party games, like the Rabbids game and Nintendo Land, make the best use of the video controller. Single player games tend to make the worst use of it. I don't have all the games for the Wii U, but, thats been my general experience.

The Wii U has a host of "lesser" features:

1) A person can play the Wii U without having the TV on. Expect a smack on your head if you want to play ZombiU while your wife watches a movie.

2) Its backwards compatible with all older Wii games (but maybe not dance pads!), which is nice if you bought Zelda Skyward Sword this summer.

3) Just as with the old Wii, you can download games from the Nintendo store. If you buy online content for your iPhone, Xbox, or PS3, you know that this is a big deal. I used to buy songs for guitar hero to add to the songs that came in the box. If you buy this DELUXE version, you get a 10% credit back for all online purchases, see more about this credit in "The Bad" below.

4) The Wii U video controller is like a universal remote. You can turn on your TV and change the volume from the gamepad which is a convenience.

5) Most of the old Wii hardware is compatible too, which is nice, EXCEPT that round "gamecube style" connector is not present on the Wii U. Games that use a mat like "outdoor challenge" and "Dance Dance Revolution" become history in your house.

6) There is a big, easy to find "download again" button for all digital content, so if your Wii U got fried by a power surge you wouldn't lose your purchases. That's always nice.

The bad:

1) The menus aren't intuitive. There are two menus... the Wii U menu and the Home menu. The Home menu is found by pressing the Home button. Note that now that downloads are automatic, the unintuitive menus aren't so bad. But they still seem redundant.

2) Transferring data from the Wii to the Wii U should be easier. In particular I didn't like that when I imported my Miis, I had to do a separate step on the Wii U before I could actually use them in the games. The day I got it the patch took way too long to download and install, and after I transferred my data from my Wii I felt like I had spent 2 hours on the whole thing. But, since then, there has been no problem.

3) Freezing. I did have a problem with NintendoLand locking up, but, that went away after one day. This will be something they fix and becomes a thing of the past. I wouldn't sweat it.

4) Long updates. I feel that the time that it takes to download stuff and install it has improved over time.

5) Installing downloaded content. I wrote a long rant about how annoying this was, but as of the most recent update you can buy items in the store and they download and install automatically, as they should.

6) Digital Content 10% back has a $50 minimum, and I feel that its high. For every $50 in digital content you get a $5 credit. If you spend $65 on digital content, then you still get $5, until you spend another $35 to get it to $100. You go to a separate website using your computer, and log in, and then copy the code onto a piece of paper. Then you go to your wii u and put in the code. I've become accustomed to the process and I've decided its not very restrictive, but I still wish that credits just "appeared" in your account 24-48 hours later. The codes are good until 2015. The codes remain on that website even after you've used them, they don't disappear. When you add the codes to the eShop there is no expiration date.

Ok now that I'm done complaining...

Your decision matrix:

1) If you still like playing on your Wii, and you have the money to spend, buy a Wii U and sell your Wii. You'll enjoy it.

2) If you are considering between an Xbox+Kinect and a Wii U, I think its a tough call. I really like the "second screen" gaming, it really opens up a lot of possibilities. But most of the wii U stuff looks really juvenile. The kid down the street told me he still wanted an Xbox because the Xbox has games for teenagers. I said "whatev."

3) As a side note, every kid who has seen and played our Wii U in the last two weeks has put this as the top item on the Christmas list. Its the "next big thing" for them and you can be sure that the little things that I complain about in this review won't matter to them. Not at all.

Games: Nintendo now has decent amount of digital content to buy online. I paid .35 for "kirby's great adventure" or something like that. Its a grainy looking old game, but it was only thirty five cents. Nintendo has started offering games at the $2, $5, and $8 price points as well. I'm VERY pleased to see this, because I want to be able to log into the shop and grab a game for cheap when I want to.

I rate this item 3 stars out of 5 because three stars means "it's ok". Nintendo has made a lot of improvements in 6 months, and while they have fixed most of the problems with the system, I find myself reluctant to raise the review to 4 stars until some more exclusive games are released. Pikmin 3 has been delayed until August, for example.

1 month UPDATE:

We've become "heavy users" of the Wii U. My wife, who always preferred the Kinect, has started to warm up to the Wii U. But I think its because my son is converting her, I sure couldn't.

Big negative: CRADLE and battery have limitations: The battery on the video controller can't hold up to extended play. I picked up one of these cables: Global Game Gear GGG0040 Deluxe Split Extension Cable for Wii U Video Controller which resolved my problems. Now its easier to keep the video controller charged. I've removed my rant about the video controller battery not lasting.

DOWNLOADS: I removed my rant about problems with downloads because its been fixed.

The Wii U is getting better. I think it may turn into my favorite console of all time, if they can just get some good exclusive games out, and improve the use of the video controller in those games. I really don't want another game where the Wii U video controller shows a map. Gimmie a break.

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If you are giving this Wii-U as a childrens' gift, PLEASE do yourself a favor and hook the system up and do the downloads/updates before you wrap it up. I am a grown man, but still grew impatient waiting for the Wii-U to become playable. A child waiting to play this is unbearable! This was a gift for my young son, although I must admit that I've played it just as much as he has.

Best Deals for Nintendo Wii U Console - 32GB Black Deluxe Set

Having been a student for many years, the Wii U is the first console that I've ever pre-ordered. Now I've got a job that has something resembling a salary. Having gotten so many years of fun and excitement out of my first-gen Wii, I decided to roll the dice on the Wii U by pre-ordering the 32 GB black deluxe set. So far, I'm glad that I did. This is a review of the Deluxe set that I've ordered specifically, however you can compare the two sets and fill in the blanks concerning what you may be missing with the basic set

What is (and isn't) included:

The black deluxe set comes with (almost) everything that you need to get started. It comes with the black console, power brick, sensor bar, HDMI cable (if you need component you'll have to pick it up separately), stand, tablet, tablet charger and dock, a plastic stand for the tablet, and the packaged-in game NintendoLand. What the game does not come with is one or more wii remotes. If you already have a Wii, you'll be able to use your current remotes. If you don't have wii motion plus enabled remotes, you will need to pick up a set of wii motion plus dongles in order to use them (at least for the game I've tried, which I will get into later).

Setup:

Set up is pretty easy, although you may have to wait a bit (at least close to release day). Setting up the tablet controller, wires, internet, etc. was a breeze. Internet setup was standard. The system recognized the HDMI connection and selected the correct resolution and aspect ratio immediately. Yes, you now have the ability to play the new Wii games in HD like the rest of the world ; ) I understand the cost reasons related to the SD choice on the Wii, but for most Nintendo fans these days I suspect that the upgrade is going to be a nice change of pace.

Before playing any games I can tell that I'm going to like the tablet a bit. Even during set-up you can tell that the tablet is well integrated with the overall use of the system. At times the tablet display mirrors the TV content, and at others you see something different on the tablet screen while you are working. The resolution, colors, and refresh rate of the tablet are all rather pleasing on the eyes. The screen is touch sensitive, allowing you to interact with the tablet and games with both a press of the screen and the press of a button. Hidden away in the back is a stylus, which is a nice touch. I like being able to keep the screen clean while I'm playing with it.

One word of warning: You may want to bring a book along (at least at first)--the initial setup required two downloads to be made over the internet. The first was for the system itself, and the second was after I inserted the first game. The tablet showed the progress bar while the initial update was downloading, and it took at least 15 minutes for me to see any real progress. I switched to another activity for a while and eventually came back when the tablet alerted me that the download was finished. This is most likely going to be an early adopter problem--I suspect since today is the release date that Nintendo's servers are getting slammed.

Once setup is complete you're greeted by the Wii U main screen. While the 3D organization is different from the Wii, you should figure out navigation fairly quickly. One of the options is a standard Wii view, which appears to give you access to the original Wii OS for navigation and applications (very cool, I look forward to figuring out how to port over my apps and data from my old Wii).

Just like the original Wii, you create Mii avatars. This time you can use the tablet controller's built-in camera to create them for you. After selecting hair and eye color, you can snap a shot of yourself. The system configures several miis for you to choose from. It automatically recognized my glasses, and gave me an option to add my full beard to my mii (making avatar selection much quicker than before).

If you choose, you can also set up the tablet as a RF remote that controls all of the other devices in your media center. This is a nice feature, and is quick to configure. I selected my TV brand (Vizio), and the first remote configuration that I tried worked right out of the box.

In order to use many of the Wii U's features you'll need to create an ID for the new Nintendo Network. This in turn requires you to configure (among other things) a unique ID (that it says you cannot change), regional info, birthdate, etc. If you are uncomfortable providing this information you may have to limit the features that you're able to use. Personally, I don't care so it isn't a problem (they don't need phone, SSN, or anything that I felt was terribly invasive).

NintendoLand & first impressions of gaming experience:

The packaged-in disc for NintendoLand seems to serve the same purpose as Wii Sports did for the original Wii--to demonstrate how to use the features of the new system and show the user how to use the system's hardware and software. While Sports was ultimately very simplistic in graphics and purpose, it ended up being a lot of fun for most Wii users. Despite its relative simplicity, NintendoLand has a very similar feel, and it may be enjoyable for some time to come.

In NintendoLand you are greeted by Monita, a floating screen with a single arm. Monita shows you around the NintendoLand system, and introduces you to the tablet's controls as well as the mini games that are available to you. Mini games include fan favorites such as Metroid, Link, Mario, Yoshi, Pikmin, and several others. Despite the fact that I've already picked up two other games (which I will review later) my wife and I have been playing NintendoLand for several hours. It is a lot of fun. The interaction with the wii plus remote and nun chuck are (not surprisingly) very similar to the predecessor system, so I'm not going to go to deep into those features here.

The tablet provides a real gem here. Various games have different requirements--at least one tablet, at least one remote, just remotes, remotes and tablet, etc. Multiplayer games that include both remote and tablet (for at least two users, of course) are a lot of fun. No longer are you restricted to just one view on the TV or a split-screened view used in previous systems. Now one user can use the TV as a primary display while the other user can use the mobile screen of the tablet as well as the larger display of their TV. Simply put, the table offers exactly what you would expect--a combination of the benefits of a handheld with the benefits of a full console experience. It is simultaneously interesting and difficult to describe without trying it.

I've got to say, NintendoLand's combination of remote and tablet make me excited for future games. I have a feeling that we're just scratching the surface of what the combo can do. Hopefully game makers use their imagination and provide a new and unique gaming experience the same way that the Wii remotes changed the way that we view console I/O in the previous generation.

As a whole, NintendoLand is a great game offering firsts person shooter, puzzles, and more.

As a media center:

One of the things that Nintendo seems to be trying to do with the new system is tie together the media center the same way that the Wii did seemingly by accident. The tablet serves as a remote for your devices, the system gives you the ability to play games, and the system also comes preloaded with the biggest streaming players: Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu. I have currently tested the Netflix application and it seems to work quite well. Otherwise, they do exactly what you would expect. As a streaming player, the Wii U works just fine and the tablet controller (again) makes for a great remote.

Overall:

If my 5 star rating doesn't speak for itself, I am definitely excited by the prospects of this new system. As far as I can tell with my initial interactions, Nintendo may have hit another home run. This last statement is worth qualifying, because as far as I can see all of the potential of the predecessor is here--it will just be a matter of Nintendo and other game makers living up to that promise. I can't wait to see what else the WIi U has in store for the future. (Especially the not-yet-deployed TVii feature.)

Honest reviews on Nintendo Wii U Console - 32GB Black Deluxe Set

At least that's what I would have called it lol. So while I'm downloading the extensive (or at least time-consuming) updates for the Wii U I thought I'd offer my first impressions and some general advice for potential buyers. I've seen a lot of complaints about early adopters annoyed that they can't play a game 5 minutes after unpacking their system, but this being Nintendo's first committed effort into things like Gamertags and full-HD current-generation downloadable content I'm willing to be very patient.

I picked the system up for exactly the MSRP on a whim at a store that got a couple as I was passing through with some friends, but I've actually played a few games already in some stores around the area so I'm not just guessing about gameplay or the tablet. Also if it matters to anyone, I've owned every Nintendo system but not since the Super Nintendo have I gotten one less than 2 years old. I own a 360/PS3 and enjoy both so no "Fanboy Bias" here.

I use a simple + and system. More +'s mean the positive is important to me, more -'s mean more negative. So 5 +'s is a major selling point to me, while one doesn't affect me much but might affect someone else.

General Hardware:

+++++ System is very stylish, quiet, and simple.

+++++ Wii Games, Wii Motion Plus and Accessories are compatible saving lots of money

+++++ Graphics are finally breathtaking on a Nintendo console

+++ 4 USB Ports, 1 SD card port for Wii games/saves and hard drive expansion up to 2TB

++ 2 AC adapters and HDMI cable for both bundles cuts Nintendo's profits but they made the right decision for consumers

---- Nintendo STILL does not include ability to play DVD/Blu-Ray 12 years after the PS2 first launched.

- System is still a shiny surface and is a fingerprint and dust magnet. Especially annoying in US Navy room inspections lol.

Moving Wii saves and game data takes several extra unnecessary steps.

Wii Points can be transferred, but only for Wii purchases, not converted to currency in the Wii U/3DS eShop.

It's getting more and more expensive to throw your controller during a tantrum.

Deluxe vs. Basic Model:

I would recommend the Deluxe model hands-down, there are too many extras that will save you money.

+++++ Nintendo Deluxe Points Rewards means you'll be saving about 10% on ALL purchases from the digital store.

+++ Cradle makes charging the tablet simple and protects it

++ Nintendo Land is really fun and shows off a lot of what the system can do

++ 32GB makes downloading multiple games possible even without a USB hard drive

+ Wii U stand is simple and fits snugly, making the system look great

- Could have included a headset or headphones for the Tablet despite it having its own mic

Tablet stand feels cheap and unnecessary, the Cradle could easily perform double-duty and had a little more invested in it

I would have liked the option of either color (or a dozen colors) for each bundle

I'd rather have a Pro Controller or Black Ops 2 than Nintendo Land and I'm guessing most core gamers from 360/PS3 feel the same way

Tablet:

+++++ For $300-$350 you get a system with 6x the processing speed of the PS3 and a freaking tablet lol

+++++ The tablet can be a game-changer for browsing the web, controlling your TV, and communicating with friends.

++++ Screen looks and feels great and is much bigger than I thought at 6.3"

++++ Buttons are smartly placed and ergonomic for many hand sizes

++ Additional features and inputs allow for growth and expansion in the device

+ Tilting the gyroscope features while playing a console video game has the same Fun-In-A-Completely-New-Way feel as the original Wii

+ Joysticks are clickable so porting over 360/PS3 games won't result in the loss of functional play.

---- There's no plan at this time for more than one tablet per Wii U to be possible. This could be due to keeping up with demand.

-- The screen is lower refresh/resolution than an iPad or 5-star tablet and takes some getting used to, I had a small headache after the first hour and rarely get them.

-- After browsing the eShop and playing Nintendo Land I realized I hadn't actually looked at my TV for about an hour. This is interesting but potentially gimmicky.

eShop

*The new eShop uses real currency instead of the Wii Points, and Wii Cards can't be converted into money like X-Box cards*

+++++ Many games are day-one digital releases. NSMB 2, ZombiU, Assassin's Creed 3, Darksiders 2 and others are available.

++++ Early Deluxe adopters will receive a 10% discount in the eShop through mid-2014 when linking a Nintendo Club account.

+++ Purchased titles can be downloaded any number of times if you're short on space.

++ Nintendo didn't demand any unnecessary information for me to create an account, demonstrating they respect privacy as much as I do.

---- Triple-A launch titles like Mass Effect 3: SE, Arkham City: Armored and CoD: Black Ops 2 are NOT available online (yet?)

---- Nintendo is notoriously slow to lower their first-party games and will not update digital prices to reflect the age of certain games.

-- In other words, expect games like Super Mario Bros. to stay above 50 dollars for several years.

Launch Titles:

+++++ New Super Mario Bros. Wii 2, Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition, Assassin's Creed 3

++++ Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Mass Effect 3: Special Edition, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Wii costumes and Mushroom Mode!)

+++ Darksiders II, ZombiU, Sonic All-Stars Racing

++ Nintendo Land, Just Dance 4, Scibblenauts, Ninja Gaiden

Sports: Madden, FIFA, NBA 2k13

Overall I'm very impressed with the device. I was skeptical when I heard the name Wii U and pictured trying to play a video game on something like an iPad, and even moreso when I saw the system looks like a longer Wii, but what's going to make me fall in love with this console is the ability to control my games anyway I want. The tablet feels fantastic, the new Pro Controller finally brings Nintendo into the fold with games like Call of Duty, and it's refreshing (and great for the environment ha) that all those Wii Motion Pluses aren't going to sit in a box and never be used again. Backward compatibility and the ability to move Wii Shop Purchases over is a bonus because without an account system I didn't think that would be possible.

I can't say enough about the implications and potential of the tablet on console gaming. Imagine a Zelda game being developed from the ground up right now (maybe an Ocarina of Time remake?) to be released around 2014 where your item screen or map is on the tablet with Link firing arrows riding Epona while you tilt the controller's gyroscope to steer and aim at targets. Or a Metal Gear game where your codec is always open. Or a Final Fantasy RPG that literally has nothing but cinema-quality action on the main screen with battle info and subtitles on the tablet.

Or planting a sentry gun in Call of Duty and being able to glance down and see what it sees in case you want to switch to gun down some enemies quickly. Or aiming a shell in Mario Kart without guessing. Or for you younger gamers, getting to a critical cut scene when your parents want to watch something else on the TV and being able to keep playing your game on the tablet with the same stellar quality and no graphical letdown.

The Wii proved that there was an interest and a new experience to be had in motion gaming, and the Wii U builds on that. There will be failures as some companies port over gimmick touchscreen features in hardly-used menus or mini-games. And there will be games that miss because they try to do too much or rely too heavily on the tablet just like the Wii Remote/Nunchuck. The tablet is a device that can be used to help engage more senses than ever before, but that doesn't mean it always needs to be the main focus or even turned on. I learned that lesson after playing Nintendo Land for twenty minutes.

A lot of people will consider the battle of the next generation of systems as each of the companies fight for position and have their own challenges. Sony has more quality exclusives than X-Box and used sheer graphical force to overpower the Wii but isn't as financially secure as they used to be. Microsoft has the least innovation but hit a homerun with X-Box Live and tailoring their entire console around internet play, friends and accessibility of entertainment and social networking. Nintendo has the most interesting ideas but still doesn't seem to understand how important online play is to the "core gamer audience" they need to bring big developers back.

Will Valve, EA, UbiSoft or Activision partner with someone? And no one can decide if Apple is going to make a move, or if Apple already made their move with the iPad and casual market and just didn't bother telling anybody. Ultimately for me, if a console delivers a new, innovative experience then it's worth checking out. How innovative that experience is and what games are available depends on my investment.

I didn't buy a Wii until late 2010 when I was sure there were at least 15-20 great games that were completely different from anything on the PS3/360. I got a Wii U as soon as I saw one available because right now I'm watching HD video and controlling it with my tablet with headphones plugged into it while downloading Super Mario for the first time in HD (although, ironically, 2D ha.)

I'm going to update and edit this review later on to clean it up and take a lot of unncessary opinion out. BTW, the Wii U comes with a Wii sensor bar so you don't need to buy that separately if you never had a Wii. For now I'll simply say if you're on the fence, I was too. I let my Wii U box sit unopened for almost a week debating whether to keep it, sell it for a profit, or sell it at cost to a family member to give as a gift to a child. Today I opened the box, and clearly if I regretted it this would have been a much shorter and angrier review ;)

By the way, it amazes me how few people had any idea the Wii U was coming or what the heck it is. Some think it's the same system in HD, some think it's literally just a tablet accessory for the Wii. Nintendo needs to hit the Super Bowl with some ads or something before their true post-launch lineup lands in spring. Finally here is some basic opinion and info about the tablet.

There's a female-adapter on the back that looks like it will be used for some sort of tripod add-on later, or to tether two tablets or even something to communicate directly with the system. There's an NFC (near-field communications) area that I've heard will be used to write and store simple data like accepting payments, applying gift cards or those ridiculous Skylander things you see everywhere but have no clue what they are.

There is a volume slider on the top with a headphone jack. The sticks aren't as firm as I'd like but they do feel durable and better than the Classic Pro Controller. There is an adapter on the bottom that will probably have something like a Super Nunchuck later on. You can use the camera to take pictures of yourself and upload it into games or let the system create a Mii similar to your features. The L/R and ZL/ZR buttons feel great. The D-Pad feels slightly too far from the left outside of the tablet and too big but this may be a good thing.

Pretty soon someone is going to have to question whether we even need D-pads anymore or if another set of 4-buttons or third joystick resembling the 8-sided Classic controller joystick is the way to go. Because the only thing I could see using a D-pad for is a fighting game and you wouldn't do that seriously on the tablet anyway. I have a Sony HDTV and the tablet found the code and started controlling it before I was even connected to the internet, very cool. There are two open tab slots on the bottom that help it seat perfectly into the cradle.

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No need to be skeptical about this console, once you get the gamepad in your hands and start playing, all your skepticism will go away. I love how the Wii U plays and feels, the gamepad is super lightweight so don't worry about it being too heavy for anyone to use. I have a 4 year old son that absolutely loves this system! Can't tear him away from it, which is the only drawback. The system also has the capability to transfer game play to the gamepad and allow the TV to be freed up, imagine that! Your kid is playing a game that just can't be turned off or he or she will lose their progress and at the same time you would like to watch TV. Your kid can simply take the gamepad to another room and continue playing the game while you watch TV. In addition the gamepad is extremely durable and seems unbreakable. My kids have dropped it, stepped on it and thrown it and not even a scratch. Absolutely Awesome system!

Most of the bad reviews out there are by so called 'hardcore' gamers who just love to put down Nintendo, so you can't listen to 99 percent of them, and the 1 percent of them, want a system that would cost you hundreds more to purchase. The Wii U is a powerhouse and a next gen Nintendo System. It also brings that fun Nintendo experience, hands down, like no other system can.

Currently Target is having an an awesome sale on the white system!

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (COD MW3) Xbox 360 Modded Controller Reviews

Customer Ratings:

i bought this controller as christmas gift for my son. He loved it. After reading the direction's he had it doing all it was designed to do and was well pleased with it.

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I got this from Gadget Customs about 1 1/2 weeks ago and been using it ever since. It works exactly as described and the instruction sheet is very easy to understand. The 4th quadrant on your controller blinks (rapidly) to indicate that the mod is on. In addition, you will know how fast it'll shoot based on how fast that 4th quadrant is blinking. I only play Modern Warfare 3 so I have mines set on Mode 10 / 25 shots/sec (that 4th quadrant blinks super fast!). They list Mode 1 for MW3 also but I find that Mode 10 is faster.

This controller allows you to shoot semi-auto pistols and rifles in full-auto with just one press of the trigger button! (you don't have to press the trigger for each shot anymore, this is esp. useful for handguns). A little heads up, once your battery starts losing its juice you'll notice the LEDs on your guide button get dimmer and dimmer to the point where you can't see them! This would be a good time to replace your batteries.

Overall, it does exactly what it's supposed to and I presonally like the look of the controller with all black buttons! I also have a MW3 controller (stock) and this one came in the exact same packaging as that one. Order with confidence! Thanks again Gadget Customs! I'm glad I got mines when it was $84!! Woohoo!!!

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It was good at the beginning but didn't last long.

After 4 months of use it started to malfunction.

When I use the rapid fire mode, I couldn't turn to the left. So it was useless having the mode. And now it turns very slow to the left even when I don't have any mode on so controller is useless.

Honest reviews on Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (COD MW3) Xbox 360 Modded Controller

A quality controller, the rapid fire option can give special-needs players with less skill or capacity an advantage. This comes in handy with weapons such as the M-14 which is normally single fire, but very powerful, and transforms them into full-auto weapons capable of inflicting tremendous damage quickly. While most players don't need such an advantage to enjoy the game, the weaker player can rack up kills they normally would not be able to earn, making it more fun for them. Although the controller cannot give an advantage in aiming, movement discipline, strategy or tactics, it can help make the game a bit more competitive for those players unable to compete on a level playing field.

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i bought this product a couple months back. it is a great controller and i love that it has the mw3 shell. at first i thought it would make my snipers full auto but once i read more i new it wouldnt but i still got it and it is worth every penny. not like those cheap 1 month mods it will work every time. there is only one downside it chews through batteries like theres no tomorrow so you better have alot.if you have batteries and you want a long term mod then get this mod it is great.

Reviews of Xbox 360 CLEAR GHOST CASE - SMOKE CASE/HDMI/BLUE LIGHTS

Customer Ratings:

The case was fairly easy to assemble once I finally figured out how to get the old case apart. There was no instructions with my case which annoyed me as I was slightly afraid to rip apart an 200 dollar investment. Once i had it apart i removed all the screws off of the metal casing which was a big mistake. You only need to remove the 5 long screws which are mostly on the corners of the case. I suggest looking up the instructions on google and before you take your dvd drive apart make sure its either Samsung or Hitachi. Mine was Phillips I believe and the dvd drive see-through top would not work so I stole parts off another drive which then really messed up my system and I had to return the drive to normal.

Pros: Black, very cool lighting, a lot lighter then original, and seems to stay cooler.(but i also bought led higher performance fans as you can find on this page)

Cons: I could not use the dvd top, make xbox feel flimsy(although i like the fact its lighter), light around power button is not focused into an ring just goes every direction(make it look dull), Instructions not included

Over all this is a very good product and very cool. I just wish they had instructions. One tool is a long piece of metal that is very convenient but without instructions you have no idea its to release clips on the back and sides of the console.

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My business deals with Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii repairs and Modifications. So I order a lot of stuff, I had a customer inquire about making his case glow, and have lights in it. So I found this product and ordered it, it was shipped very poorly first off, then when I was setting it up, the plastic was not formed correctly or warped somehow so you had to force some of the corners to get it connect. Then the side where the hard drive goes doesn't completely snap together so the hard drive will fall out.

Horrible product I would not even recommend this to a competitor of mine. And the price of it to boot?? Is a joke

Best Deals for Xbox 360 CLEAR GHOST CASE - SMOKE CASE/HDMI/BLUE LIGHTS

I just purchased this two days ago. Props to Amazon as I am a very happy Prime customer! The quality is just ok. Much thinner plastic than the stock case (probably because of it being transparent). Putting it together was a pain and very frustrating. Instructions are not included; there are instructions on the manufacturers web site but they are almost useless. My big complaint is that it doesnt line up on the back so it doesnt close completely. It does close, but not 100%, maybe 98%. No one would notice but it irritates me (this is mainly the reason for 3 stars). The LED lights are great! I am very happy about that! the power button plastic is very thin and I almost broke it during install. Other than that, its ok. Just some minor issues thats all. It does look very cool. I would buy it again and recommend it to friends, just be prepared for an irritating install and minor fit issues. If you can handle that, than do buy it because the finished product does look awesome at night when playing, probably cool enough to manage through the small issues. Plus, at the current price id say its worth a go.

Just a quick install tip, line up the led light strip on the dvd drive side before you actially stick it on. i installed the lights to close to the back and had to move them foreward as i couldnt get the dvd drive back in.

i would also recommend the lighted fans for the rear. the extra blue lighting makes a big difference.

most of all...be patient when installing and dont force it to fit :)

Honest reviews on Xbox 360 CLEAR GHOST CASE - SMOKE CASE/HDMI/BLUE LIGHTS

Where to start. Upon opening the packaging, I was very disappointed to see that the top and bottom covers were scratched by the very packaging they put in the box to protect it. These things are packed tightly in the box and wrapped in a foam sleeve. The foam sleeve leaves rub marks all over the case which take alot of polishing to get out. Simply putting a plastic protective film over these before putting them in the foam bag would have prevented all this from happening. As it was, i spent 30 minutes with my drill and headlight cleaning kit removing the scratches from this thing.

This one is VERY important and I learned it the hard way. CHECK THE FOAM TAPE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LED'S!! The power wires to the LED boards are soldered to the BOTTOM of the board and are bare and open. On mine, on one of the boards, the foam tape did not come out far enough to cover these wires and I didn't catch it. As a result, the solder joints on the wires shorted against the metal housing of the Xbox. When I powered this thing on to check it before putting the covers on, It shot a two inch flame out the back of the DVD drive and literaly burned one of the wires on the dvd power connector in half. I had to cut their cable off and splice it in to my old dvd power cable. I then removed ALL of the preinstalled foam tape, coated the back of the PCB's with a thin layer of liquid tape and attacked them using 3M mounting tape leaving a 1/4" overlap on each end of the PCB. Amazingly enough, the Benq DVD drive must be one tough beast, as it still works.

That leads me to the clear Cover for the Benq drive. Throw it in the garbage. Period. Out of the box, snapped on, lined up, looked good. Got my magnet out of the top cover put it in, fired up Xbox, and wallah.....Disc won't spin. Pull up slightly on center and disc spins. The base of the clear cover is too thick and pinches disc against it. After 45 minutes of carefully sanding the bottom of it and rechecking, I get it to spin noise free and like it should. PROFIT......not. I eject the disc put it in again, very slight rubbing sound, but disc still spins free. One last sanding and all appears well. PROFIT......not. I put the top cover on, a little flimsy, but it looks good and fits sorta ok. Snap the bottom cover on the front, move to the back and try to snap it together.....for 10 minutes....curse.....5 more minutes.....finally get all the fasteners to latch. Finish it all up pop the hard drive in, can't wait to see how it looks! Power it up, its looks good, eject the DVD to make sure it all clears, yep. Everything looks good. Pop in Black Ops 2,..............you guessed it.... disc won't spin. Lightly tap the top of the case and disc turns half a turn and stops. Tap a few more times and disc spins, but sounds like I am running it through a shredder instead of playing it. Shut it all down, try to take case apart to remove clear cover. If you thought closing it was tough, wait till you try opening it! Be VERY careful with the side the power connector is on. I now have a nice tear in mine right there. I had to pull so hard to get the tabs to release on the opposite side, the plastic is so flimsy, I literally ripped it from the bottom of the snap above the power connector, to just below the power connector, about an 1 1/4 tear.

For the price charged for this case, it should be MUCH better quality than it is. At $25 its a steal, at the $45 it is now, its stealing from you.

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Came with out the round piece that clips into the clear cover for the dvd drive, and due to the fact it didn't have instructions either, I wasted my dvd case by popping out the spinner, so now my dvd drive is useless. Thanks... Oh and the case fits so tight that the back pins are barley holding together. Also there customer service is sketchy, it's been half a month and still haven't received the missing part and all I get are excuses or no replies. DON'T BUY THIS HORRIBLE PRODUCT.

Discount Frogger Beyond

Customer Ratings:

Frogger Beyond is the next in the line of "new" Frogger games made by Konami. Konami and Hasbro have been battling it out for the contracts to create these games, Konami got the contract but this go-around, they took some careful notes from Hasbro.

First and foremost, if you like Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge, you'll love this game, period. I loved Swampy's Revenge and was apprehensive about this game because I played Frogger: The Great Quest for Playstation 2. That was by far one of the worst console games I've ever played. It was full of problems and seemed completely under-developed. The Frogger character had poor control and in a couple parts he even got stuck to the point I had to reboot my PS2 to continue. You will see nothing of the sort in this sequel.

This game has clean and crisp graphics. The cell shading technique is done so well that you'll rarely see any jagged edges except for in a few of the FMVs (full motion videos). If you've played any of the other Frogger games, this aspect is one of the first things you'll notice. Most people do not buy this genre of game for the graphics themselves, but they really do look nice (this is in reference to the XBOX version). Some of the top-down levels are a little disorienting and difficult to get used to, but this does not take longer than loosing a few lives. I think younger kids will get past this without difficulty.

I read a complaint about the sound being poor but I have to disagree. This game features full Dolby 5.1 surround and it sounds great on my Dolby system. My only complaint about the sound, is the music done for the menus is out of place and annoying. It's sort of rap music that just gets on your nerves. It's best to type fast, pick your level and start playing!

I'm a 24 year old guy and this game has a lot of replay value and challenge. My wife and I both enjoy this game even at different gaming levels. I would recommend this for any child age 7 and up. There are several wonderful features that were added to this new version of Frogger in addition to the stuff mentioned above. You now only have to push one button to perform a double-jump. In Swampy's Revenge you had to hit the button twice to do a double jump and the timing was sometimes difficult. You also have a super jump that allows you to jump straight up in the air much higher than normal to get coins. You can also buy power-ups with you coins. In Swampy's Revenge when you got 100 coins you got a free life. In Frogger Beyond you now have a shop you can visit in-between levels to purchase power-ups which can be used during game play.

Here's the bottom line, this game is worth picking up. Konami did a great job and I truly appreciate the affordable price tag for a brand new game. If you have a gamer in the house that enjoys a great adventure game, this will be a great game for people of all ages.

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Frogger is one of the most addictive games I've ever played, and the new Frogger Beyond for XBox is even better! There are virtually endless levels and the graphics are exceptional--much better than the arcade version. It's kind of fun to see what the developers have imagined for Froggy's home world over the years since the original Frogger game came out. I think any fan of that arcade classic will approve of the new and massively improved version. This is money--and time--well spent!

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This game is addictive, and so much fun. If any of you actually remember the old frogger for Atari, and liked it, this game is a must. Frogger gets a make-over, and what a great make-over it is. I love this game. It has been in my xbox since I bought it a week ago. I can't stop playing it.

Honest reviews on Frogger Beyond

I first got this game when the xbox first came out. Now I am playing it again for the first time nearly 10 years later. It is a great, challenging game.

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This modern 3-D update on the classic arcade game is very enjoyable. It is perfect for kids and even adults who aren't advanced enough for some of the faster paced technical games that are out there. There are plenty of levels so it doesn't get boring and is complicated enough to make it challenging without being overwhelming.