Although the description was rather vague, (the communication portion is not wireless), the headset is wirelessly connected to the Xbox for sound.
There is a slight cutoff for party chat, but the game sound is not effected too much. The sound quality is great for the price!
The one qualm I had was shipping time...it took way too long to receive the order.
Showing posts with label xbox live gold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xbox live gold. Show all posts
Friday, January 23, 2015
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Reviews of Duke Nukem 3D
Duke Nukem, while nothing more than a mindless shoot'em-up, is perhaps the best of its kind. It has a very fast engine! It runs very smoothly even on my relatively old computer and using the full screen. The scenery is more realistic than the dungeons of Quake and Unreal. Instead, you're fighting in the city with grovery stores, subways, sewers, and the occassional nuclear facility.
The foul language, sexual induendo, and rude comments can be funny, but for those concerned about young minds, you can turn it off and keep it off with a password. The surround sound effects are engaging, especially if you have a good set of stereo speakers or headphones.
The game also has the capability of multi=player gaming with computer-controlled players, but they are very fast. It is supposed to be useful for testing user-created maps, but they can prevent a real challenge.
The Duke gets my endorsement, especially for the speed, sound, and real-world setting.
Duke is a fun, fun, fun way to shoot your way through the bad guys. Innovative weaponss, innovative bad guys. You get trip bombs, pipe bombs, and the usual pistol, shotgun, chain gun, RPG, etc. But how about a freeze ray, where you can freeze and then shatter them? How about using a shrink ray, and then chasing them down to stomp them?
Note: If you want to share this game with kids, but you're a believer that kids should have their violence without sexual innuendo, you may want to use the game's option settings to turn off the suggestive comments, leaving you most of the humor and all the violence without the deliciously funny sexual humor. Or, if you're an adult, enjoy! (Stick a dollar in the dancing girl's briefs...)
Have fun, and enjoy!
NOTE!! This is an old classic game -(c) 1996 -says it needs a 486, or even a Pentium computer! It wants DOS to run. It may run under Windows, but I haven't gotten it to.
On the other hand, the creators are taking FOREVER to make a first-person shooter sequal (Not done and no release date, as of end of 2002), so this is your only choice. The other Duke games out there are side-scrollers, and/or made by other companies under license. Buy this one while waiting for the next real release.
MASTER CHIEF IS NOTHING COMPARED TO DUKE NUKEM!!!
HAIL TO THE KING!
in the words of Duke Nukem
Needless to say I am out shipping costs because people falsely advertise this product.
Just a side note, I have played the game and I am able to set it up on windows 7 though with a ton of trouble. If you are interested in getting this game you should research how to set it up on a windows machine through the many blogs out there. The game is awesome to play and is tons of fun. The sarcasm, raunchyness, shooting and general mayham is beyond great!
To install on windows check out these sites
The foul language, sexual induendo, and rude comments can be funny, but for those concerned about young minds, you can turn it off and keep it off with a password. The surround sound effects are engaging, especially if you have a good set of stereo speakers or headphones.
The game also has the capability of multi=player gaming with computer-controlled players, but they are very fast. It is supposed to be useful for testing user-created maps, but they can prevent a real challenge.
The Duke gets my endorsement, especially for the speed, sound, and real-world setting.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Our man Duke is back again, confronting aliens with an array of hand-wielded weapons, fighting his way to the next level. The gratuitous violence is extremely cathartic, especially if you've had to deal with a lawyer anytime within the past 12 hours. An interesting aspect is that whenever Duke lands in one of these many scenarios, he immediately becomes a target for attack. There's an alien waiting there, simply to kill Duke, and that alien will do so if Duke does nothing. It it completely irrational, the way these aliens attack. I attempted to use the Duke character in a more tolerant way -I envisioned him asking about the aliens, "Why do they hate me?" I looked for an option wherein Duke could form a coalition involving the United Nations, and dispatch inspectors -and if that proved ineffective, give the inspectors more time. (Nothing will deter an alien from killing you like being faced with an inspector who has been given more time!) I worked with the controls to make Duke more sensitive, tolerant and diverse... but the aliens simply killed him. It turned out that Duke would always get killed if he did nothing, if he did anything other than kill the aliens first. It appears that when an alien is determined to kill you, then the only intelligent action in the world is to kill him first, and keep your own life and future intact. I bet I know who Duke Nuken votes for.Best Deals for Duke Nukem 3D
If Quake is too dark and brooding, come over to Duke and have a little fun! "Come get some!"Duke is a fun, fun, fun way to shoot your way through the bad guys. Innovative weaponss, innovative bad guys. You get trip bombs, pipe bombs, and the usual pistol, shotgun, chain gun, RPG, etc. But how about a freeze ray, where you can freeze and then shatter them? How about using a shrink ray, and then chasing them down to stomp them?
Note: If you want to share this game with kids, but you're a believer that kids should have their violence without sexual innuendo, you may want to use the game's option settings to turn off the suggestive comments, leaving you most of the humor and all the violence without the deliciously funny sexual humor. Or, if you're an adult, enjoy! (Stick a dollar in the dancing girl's briefs...)
Have fun, and enjoy!
NOTE!! This is an old classic game -(c) 1996 -says it needs a 486, or even a Pentium computer! It wants DOS to run. It may run under Windows, but I haven't gotten it to.
On the other hand, the creators are taking FOREVER to make a first-person shooter sequal (Not done and no release date, as of end of 2002), so this is your only choice. The other Duke games out there are side-scrollers, and/or made by other companies under license. Buy this one while waiting for the next real release.
Honest reviews on Duke Nukem 3D
It may have been made in 1996 but it is one of the greatest games ever made.Great graphics for the time.Exellent gameplay.MASTER CHIEF IS NOTHING COMPARED TO DUKE NUKEM!!!
HAIL TO THE KING!
in the words of Duke Nukem
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Duke Nukem 3D
Buyers beware when buying this game. The product specs claim that it is for Windows, and Linux and Mac, but in reality it is not. The game itself does not work on a windows system, and the product specs on the box clearly say that it will not work on windows being that it is a DOS game.Needless to say I am out shipping costs because people falsely advertise this product.
Just a side note, I have played the game and I am able to set it up on windows 7 though with a ton of trouble. If you are interested in getting this game you should research how to set it up on a windows machine through the many blogs out there. The game is awesome to play and is tons of fun. The sarcasm, raunchyness, shooting and general mayham is beyond great!
To install on windows check out these sites
Monday, December 22, 2014
Armored Core 4 - Xbox 360 Reviews
Armored Core 4 Circa 2007
(Special note: If you never played an Armored Core game before and don't care much for huge battling mechs with endless menus of customization drop this score down to a one star. Also if you have Xbox Live and want to try this game you can download a demo for it over XBL Marketplace)
GOOD:
Armored Core finally comes Xbox ... well Xbox 360.
Online Play with up to 8 Players online (at once) and be able to trade schematics (your mechs blue prints) online with other gamers.
The Graphics in this title are pretty good and a step above the previous generation of Armored Core titles on PS2 with most levels having sweeping vistas and energy blades looking like glowing pillars of light. Although on a bit of a sour note the landscapes are as barren as ever with most levels taking place in abandoned cities and deserts.
More of the same great Armored Core action that fans of the series have come to expect (sorry fans this title seems to not have Nine-Ball thought). Over all, like in every Armored Core title the missions are a mixed-bag with some pretty lame missions mixed in with the over the top missions (so you can never expect what will come next).
BAD:
The Story is very confusing even to long time Armored Core fans. In this title companies own countries and well after that most people will quickly get lost as well as stop caring.
The store-garage section of the game has been redesigned as well from previous Armored Core games. Now you build your mech from a pool of available parts and after equipping you have the option to buy said parts before leaving the store-garage menu and going back to the main game. In this way the Shop and garage is now one place, and the effect is that it's all pretty confusing for both Armored Core fans and people new to the franchise.
The contrast in this game was odd sometimes, now for most missions you can see clearly, but in some missions it is so dark you can't see more then a few spaces in front of you, but in other levels it was so bright that your screen will look almost completely white.
IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:
While in concept this game plays very much like Steel Battalion or Chromhounds the game play is much faster in pace.
Tons of customization options for your mech, think of this game like the Grand Turismo of mech games. For those who have never have played this series before it can be pretty overwhelming.
Paint your Mech (or any individual part/weapon) any color you want and have the option to have lots of different cameo styles too. On top of that you can even make your own patch/logo (using a bunch of clipart and such) and add this patch to any part of your mech as many times as you like (yes you can make your mech covered in logos and look like a Nascar if you wanted). Also, emblems or Patches that appeared in From Software's other mech game Chromehounds are also carried over into this game.
Have up to five different mechs in your garage as well as schematics for lots of mech you have beaten in combat (during the single player game).
With about 70 missions this Armored Core game is a bit shorted the previous ones, all missions have a normal and hard setting, unlock hard setting after you beaten the game.
This game comes with two controller options and one custom option (setting up your own custom option is most likely your best bet).
This Armored Core now has a totally redesigned HUD that has a minimalist look and takes up little space on your screen
All mech come with an energy field called Primal Armor (or PA), which is a protective energy barrier that cuts down on damage taken, Over Boosting (think nitro's for mechs) or prolonged normal boosting can and will drain the effectiveness of this energy barrier (although it can and will recharge).
The lockbox that is normally found in previous Armored Core games (which worked more like a gun sight) is now removed from the HUD all together; the game will now automatically try to lock on to enemies when in range. Holding down the lock button over an enemy (by default clicking in the Left analog) keeps the lock stuck on that target and makes a small window appear in the left corner of the screen with a zoomed up image of that target.
You can now fight on water (hover just above the water line) unlike past AC games where you would fall straight to the bottom if contact were made with the water. If the player stops boosting, they will sink into the water but they are still able to get out to the surface if they boost. The only way to sink now is to let your mech go to far (underwater) and not boost out of the water. It should also be noted that in the games options you could set you mech to auto-boost over water so you don't have to hold the button and never have to worry about sinking.
Boosting along the ground (slide boosting) no longer takes energy, now it will do the opposite and cause your energy bar to refill although more slowly the just standing still.
Stabilizers have been added, these are parts that shift the balance of your mech (in a few areas), and they also serve to add an aesthetic looks to your mech.
GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:
Armored Core (PS1)
Steel Battalion (Xbox)
Chromhounds (360)
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
This game is also on PS3
Like I stated above if you have an Xbox-360 and Xbox Live (you don't even need a gold membership a sliver membership which is free will do) and want to try this game you can download the demo for it on Xbox Live Marketplace. It's a three missions long demo.
The Moon Light Laser blade is in this title (but it's a hidden part)
In this Xbox 360 version of the game you not only get achievements for beating chapters (6 in all) but also for beating certain mission on hard mode (usually the mission where you have to fight rival mechs) and for beating simulation packs which work as this games version of the Ranker Ladder that was found in previous Armored Core games.
The customization on this game is just as good or even better than the previous titles. Lots of weapons, but not as many body parts, kind of leaves the game feeling a little small, but then again, there are no useless parts, like which are found in previous AC games. But more parts could always be added, I love having a larger variety to choose from, and to make my mech look the best it can.
Some missions are ridiculously short, while some are moderate. I really appreciate the extremely long adventurous missions found in Armored Core: Silent Line. The missions could be improved, and there could be a lot more of them. Then again, I just wanted to get through with the game so I could finish up my mech and go battle it online.
Multiplayer is great, finally true online Armored Core. It's quite fun, but at the same time, there could be a lot more stages. And a lot of people like to build their heavyweight Surius cannon AC's and be able to blast down most ACs in two shots, or use the Kojima weapons to 1 shot an apponent who is busy trying to take care of someone else. I guess they are there for that reason though, so you can't complain.
Armored Core 4 is a great next gen game, however more could still be added, especially from previous Armored Core games. Custom cockpits, and maybe night vision, or a replay for multiplayer or the simulator (and the replay save system that was on Last Raven.) AC4 is a great start for next gen armored core, and the sequel will probably be much more promising and satisfy everyones hunger for what they want.
Stop and imagine this for a while. You work for a corporation and with you mechanical warrior of doom and destruction you fight against other corporations. You can run, fly glide and the arsenal you have at your disposal. If you like blowing things up you're just gonna love this. Missiles, lasers, machine guns and even swords. Have you ever heard of a big mech being super agile? Well they are in this game and then some. Armored Core 4 delivers to the mech gaming world where all others have failed. Think of this is your last hope, if this does not satisfy you nothing will and I have every confident that this one will. Yes....... It is that good of a game. Don't miss out on this guys Armored Core 4 is ready for you. The question is....... Are you ready for Armored Core????
1. Missions are too short
Although some missions can be played in less time then it takes to load the mission, this is generally not the case. In past armored core games they had missions that would take long amounts of time to complete. This went against one of the main focuses of this game which was trial and error. Now instead of realizing half way through a 30 min. mission that you can not complete it cause you have run out of ammo, you won't have to commit 30 min. to trying the mission over again. This makes the game more approachable.
2. Bad story and Control scheme
Although the Controls are hard to master, its hard to imagine a different control setup if there were real Armored Cores scouring the planet. As for the story, it is pretty bad, but for mech games its not too bad.
3. Custimizing the Armored Cores is too complicated
For your first hour playing the game, yes it is too complicated. It won't be so baffling though that you'll give up.
4. Someone else told me that the game is too hard
TOO HARD? Not at all. I got through it with only restarting four missions over again.
Overall
The game play is amazing, the story is bad, the missions are A little too short, and the online component is fairly robust. Right now there is a lack of fast paced action games. Armored core 4 fills that gap even if it is just for the purpose of having fun and of corse blowing things up.
(Special note: If you never played an Armored Core game before and don't care much for huge battling mechs with endless menus of customization drop this score down to a one star. Also if you have Xbox Live and want to try this game you can download a demo for it over XBL Marketplace)
GOOD:
Armored Core finally comes Xbox ... well Xbox 360.
Online Play with up to 8 Players online (at once) and be able to trade schematics (your mechs blue prints) online with other gamers.
The Graphics in this title are pretty good and a step above the previous generation of Armored Core titles on PS2 with most levels having sweeping vistas and energy blades looking like glowing pillars of light. Although on a bit of a sour note the landscapes are as barren as ever with most levels taking place in abandoned cities and deserts.
More of the same great Armored Core action that fans of the series have come to expect (sorry fans this title seems to not have Nine-Ball thought). Over all, like in every Armored Core title the missions are a mixed-bag with some pretty lame missions mixed in with the over the top missions (so you can never expect what will come next).
BAD:
The Story is very confusing even to long time Armored Core fans. In this title companies own countries and well after that most people will quickly get lost as well as stop caring.
The store-garage section of the game has been redesigned as well from previous Armored Core games. Now you build your mech from a pool of available parts and after equipping you have the option to buy said parts before leaving the store-garage menu and going back to the main game. In this way the Shop and garage is now one place, and the effect is that it's all pretty confusing for both Armored Core fans and people new to the franchise.
The contrast in this game was odd sometimes, now for most missions you can see clearly, but in some missions it is so dark you can't see more then a few spaces in front of you, but in other levels it was so bright that your screen will look almost completely white.
IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:
While in concept this game plays very much like Steel Battalion or Chromhounds the game play is much faster in pace.
Tons of customization options for your mech, think of this game like the Grand Turismo of mech games. For those who have never have played this series before it can be pretty overwhelming.
Paint your Mech (or any individual part/weapon) any color you want and have the option to have lots of different cameo styles too. On top of that you can even make your own patch/logo (using a bunch of clipart and such) and add this patch to any part of your mech as many times as you like (yes you can make your mech covered in logos and look like a Nascar if you wanted). Also, emblems or Patches that appeared in From Software's other mech game Chromehounds are also carried over into this game.
Have up to five different mechs in your garage as well as schematics for lots of mech you have beaten in combat (during the single player game).
With about 70 missions this Armored Core game is a bit shorted the previous ones, all missions have a normal and hard setting, unlock hard setting after you beaten the game.
This game comes with two controller options and one custom option (setting up your own custom option is most likely your best bet).
This Armored Core now has a totally redesigned HUD that has a minimalist look and takes up little space on your screen
All mech come with an energy field called Primal Armor (or PA), which is a protective energy barrier that cuts down on damage taken, Over Boosting (think nitro's for mechs) or prolonged normal boosting can and will drain the effectiveness of this energy barrier (although it can and will recharge).
The lockbox that is normally found in previous Armored Core games (which worked more like a gun sight) is now removed from the HUD all together; the game will now automatically try to lock on to enemies when in range. Holding down the lock button over an enemy (by default clicking in the Left analog) keeps the lock stuck on that target and makes a small window appear in the left corner of the screen with a zoomed up image of that target.
You can now fight on water (hover just above the water line) unlike past AC games where you would fall straight to the bottom if contact were made with the water. If the player stops boosting, they will sink into the water but they are still able to get out to the surface if they boost. The only way to sink now is to let your mech go to far (underwater) and not boost out of the water. It should also be noted that in the games options you could set you mech to auto-boost over water so you don't have to hold the button and never have to worry about sinking.
Boosting along the ground (slide boosting) no longer takes energy, now it will do the opposite and cause your energy bar to refill although more slowly the just standing still.
Stabilizers have been added, these are parts that shift the balance of your mech (in a few areas), and they also serve to add an aesthetic looks to your mech.
GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:
Armored Core (PS1)
Steel Battalion (Xbox)
Chromhounds (360)
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
This game is also on PS3
Like I stated above if you have an Xbox-360 and Xbox Live (you don't even need a gold membership a sliver membership which is free will do) and want to try this game you can download the demo for it on Xbox Live Marketplace. It's a three missions long demo.
The Moon Light Laser blade is in this title (but it's a hidden part)
In this Xbox 360 version of the game you not only get achievements for beating chapters (6 in all) but also for beating certain mission on hard mode (usually the mission where you have to fight rival mechs) and for beating simulation packs which work as this games version of the Ranker Ladder that was found in previous Armored Core games.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
This game is beyond epic, but its hard sometimes, the sites and action on the game are so stunning and fun, it lets you design a mech, every piece, top to bottom, and even put a custom paint job any were on the mech (and yes the paintjob includes emblems that are more custom design then halo), theres even another mode were you can fight 1 on 1 mech battles! This is perfect for mech fans!Best Deals for Armored Core 4 - Xbox 360
This is probably one of the most exciting to play Armored Core game in the series. Not only does the opening just get your blood boiling with anticipation, but once you got the controls down, and you were really able to get your hands on the action yourself, it gets very exciting! No more having to boost/strafe/jump like on the past armored core games, quick boosting changes all of that and makes the game a lot quicker. For a From Software title, the graphics are quite amazing, the explosions are better, your mech looks awesome all of the time, and despite what other reviews say, the environment looks great! (especially when compared to older Armored Core titles) However, I still wish you could see your mechs reflection in the buildings windows, but at least you can shoot them and actually watch the glass break.The customization on this game is just as good or even better than the previous titles. Lots of weapons, but not as many body parts, kind of leaves the game feeling a little small, but then again, there are no useless parts, like which are found in previous AC games. But more parts could always be added, I love having a larger variety to choose from, and to make my mech look the best it can.
Some missions are ridiculously short, while some are moderate. I really appreciate the extremely long adventurous missions found in Armored Core: Silent Line. The missions could be improved, and there could be a lot more of them. Then again, I just wanted to get through with the game so I could finish up my mech and go battle it online.
Multiplayer is great, finally true online Armored Core. It's quite fun, but at the same time, there could be a lot more stages. And a lot of people like to build their heavyweight Surius cannon AC's and be able to blast down most ACs in two shots, or use the Kojima weapons to 1 shot an apponent who is busy trying to take care of someone else. I guess they are there for that reason though, so you can't complain.
Armored Core 4 is a great next gen game, however more could still be added, especially from previous Armored Core games. Custom cockpits, and maybe night vision, or a replay for multiplayer or the simulator (and the replay save system that was on Last Raven.) AC4 is a great start for next gen armored core, and the sequel will probably be much more promising and satisfy everyones hunger for what they want.
Honest reviews on Armored Core 4 - Xbox 360
Armored Core 4 the last addition to the Armored Core Series and what a game it is, what a game. Awesome job by Sega. It's out on the XBOX360 and PS3. This game and these consoles were a match made in gaming heaven. The graphics and the sound are what is gonna do it for you complimented with awesome gameplay. You just cannot go wrong with AC4.Stop and imagine this for a while. You work for a corporation and with you mechanical warrior of doom and destruction you fight against other corporations. You can run, fly glide and the arsenal you have at your disposal. If you like blowing things up you're just gonna love this. Missiles, lasers, machine guns and even swords. Have you ever heard of a big mech being super agile? Well they are in this game and then some. Armored Core 4 delivers to the mech gaming world where all others have failed. Think of this is your last hope, if this does not satisfy you nothing will and I have every confident that this one will. Yes....... It is that good of a game. Don't miss out on this guys Armored Core 4 is ready for you. The question is....... Are you ready for Armored Core????
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Armored Core 4 - Xbox 360
Most professional game reviewers have three trends in their criticism of this game.1. Missions are too short
Although some missions can be played in less time then it takes to load the mission, this is generally not the case. In past armored core games they had missions that would take long amounts of time to complete. This went against one of the main focuses of this game which was trial and error. Now instead of realizing half way through a 30 min. mission that you can not complete it cause you have run out of ammo, you won't have to commit 30 min. to trying the mission over again. This makes the game more approachable.
2. Bad story and Control scheme
Although the Controls are hard to master, its hard to imagine a different control setup if there were real Armored Cores scouring the planet. As for the story, it is pretty bad, but for mech games its not too bad.
3. Custimizing the Armored Cores is too complicated
For your first hour playing the game, yes it is too complicated. It won't be so baffling though that you'll give up.
4. Someone else told me that the game is too hard
TOO HARD? Not at all. I got through it with only restarting four missions over again.
Overall
The game play is amazing, the story is bad, the missions are A little too short, and the online component is fairly robust. Right now there is a lack of fast paced action games. Armored core 4 fills that gap even if it is just for the purpose of having fun and of corse blowing things up.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Cheap Rock Revolution - Xbox 360 (Game)
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $3.99
Today's Bonus: 80% Off
Okay so, I really really enjoy music games. The first time I played this on an older HDTV it was okay. Not the best game ever, but overall I didn't mind it much.
However when I bought a new TV and thought I would buy the game because I found it for 5 bucks things went downhill. This new TV has a high refresh rate and it caused the game to kind of "skip". I don't really know how to describe it. But I do know that after a few songs I had gotten quite a headache, and was very sick to my stomach.
Another thing to point out is that, unlike Rock Band and the Newer Guitar Hero games, there are no vocals in this game. I only point this out because my friend bought this initially and was really excited to play. She brought it over and said "I'm singing!" and I said "on that?"
"yeah why? Do the vocals suck?"
"There are no vocals"
She said she wouldn't have bought it if she had known. So I thought it is a fair warning.
I mean for a few bucks it's worth a shot if you really really like music games or you just want an easy way to boost your gamer score, but if you have a HDTV with a fast refresh rate it's going to look strange. The straight down view didn't help much either.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
This type of game is fun in general. The graphics are good and the songs are good. However, the 2D freat-board (rather than 3D like Rock Band and Guitar Hero) is hard to look at and hurts your eyes after a while. Song covers I'd rank 4 out of 5.Best Deals for Rock Revolution - Xbox 360 (Game)
The best part of this game is the awesome sound tracks. The games different with the notes coming straight down and not coming at you from perspective, like GH. But for the low price, getting to hear and play all these songs is cool. Check out the songs, and if you're a fan, buy this game.Honest reviews on Rock Revolution - Xbox 360 (Game)
Its probably fun if you play the guitar, but dont get this if your a drummer kind of guy like me. The bass pedal comes down as an extra not instead of a line like it rockband. It throws u off so bad.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Rock Revolution - Xbox 360 (Game)
This isnt the norm, but I'm a minimalist and dont want a bunch of fake plastic instruments laying around; but I like the music game genre. Played through GH2, GH3, and GH Aerosmith using the standard xbox 360 controller. Sadly, neither RB1 or RB2 will work without instruments (only vocals). Rock Revolution will work a standard controller as guitar or drums. For guitars, the controls are different than the GH scheme (triggers and bumpers). Instead, you have to press one of the colored face buttons and then 'strum' with the D-pad. Its ok, but I prefer the GH scheme. For drums, you hit a colored face button to 'hit' the drum pad, and the left bumper for the kick pad. The GH scheme of triggers and bumpers would have worked better here too, since strumming isnt involved. So i'm glad that Rock Revolution at least works with the standard xbox 360 controllers, I just wish it used a different button scheme. There wasnt an option to change the button scheme. Now i'm hoping that GH World Tour continues to support standard controllers using their legacy button scheme.Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Xbox 360 6 in 1 Bundle - Black Reviews
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $28.70
Today's Bonus: 28% Off
I cannot disagree more with the only other review listed. This starter kit has been great for me, especially for the price point we are talking about here. If you just acquired an Xbox 360 for Christmas or you have had one for years and are in need of an all in one accessory pack, this is it. You aren't going to get the sound quality of other headsets that cost over $100, but you are saving all that money, and you get the extra batteries to boot! The comfort of this headset vs the original one that comes with the system is alone worth the money. Also I blow through batteries all the time, and they aren't cheap either, so for me, this pack has worked out nicely. The HDMI and ethernet cable are of average quality, but have worked just fine. The charger is also a useful item to have if you play for hours at a time or have friends play with you. It's always good to have a battery charging as you play! Hope this helps people make a more informed decision, enjoy!
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Nice set especially for the price, but headphones stopped working after 4 days use...not good! Was going to return but other parts seem to be okay. I'm not going to say: "don't buy" because over-all with other packaged parts, it's still a good deal.Best Deals for Xbox 360 6 in 1 Bundle - Black
This bundle is a good starter pack. The batteries still hold their charge and give a solid 5 to 6 hours of play when used constantly. If we use them for short periods of time the charge will actually last about 2 days. The HMDI cable at the time in this bundle was the cheapest way to purchase one. The headset was comfortable, but you pay for what you get. The microphone worked, but if it wasn't right up against your mouth other parties had a hard time hearing you. Overall, it is a good starter pack, but there are many better quality components out there.Honest reviews on Xbox 360 6 in 1 Bundle - Black
All the accessories are okay in this bundle. The hdmi is probably the best. The headset broke after a week and the charging station holds very little charge but if you keep swapping out it works fine. I don't use any of these things anymore. Not the best bundle but okay for starters.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Xbox 360 6 in 1 Bundle - Black
After about a month the headset broke and was no longer able to be used. For the money expected moreSunday, November 16, 2014
Review of eForCity 25 Ft / 7.6 m Digital Optical Audio TosLink Cable
I ordered this cable to connect my TV to my stereo so I could have 5.1 sound for everything I watch. The cable came promptly and in good condition. The ends have protectors that you take off when you're ready to plug the cable in, you plug it in, and you have great sound.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Cheap Muchi Muchi Pork! & Pink Sweets - Region Free
Yes, this does work on North American Xbox 360.
I'm so glad that Cave decided to re-package and print these, because before this came out, it used to cost $120+ on Amazon / eBay. Now you can get the exact same game, except for slightly crappier box art but hey, you just saved enough money to buy another CAVE shmup.
How good is the game? Well, how did you even get to this product page? You probably know what it is.Great games and region free. It takes a bit of setup to get working with vertical monitors, slightly harder than Espgaluda II or Dodonpachi resurrection. Other than that, no complaints.
I'm so glad that Cave decided to re-package and print these, because before this came out, it used to cost $120+ on Amazon / eBay. Now you can get the exact same game, except for slightly crappier box art but hey, you just saved enough money to buy another CAVE shmup.
How good is the game? Well, how did you even get to this product page? You probably know what it is.Great games and region free. It takes a bit of setup to get working with vertical monitors, slightly harder than Espgaluda II or Dodonpachi resurrection. Other than that, no complaints.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Discount PC PC51U USBPOWERED ANALOG5.1 GAMING HEADSET
Summary: Exceptional microphone, accurate positioning with analog 5.1, great comfort and build quality, below-average sound quality especially in low range.
The construction of the 510s is solid and I am not worried about the headband cracking although it is plastic. The faux leather padding on the over-the-ear cups is very comfortable and the pads are easily replaceable/interchangeable (not sure about other options since I love these ones so much). The headset is pretty light, I think the longest I've worn it was 4 hours with minor neck soreness starting around the 3 hour mark. I would say that the detachable cord, while a nice feature, is a bit annoying since the remote is too close to the headset to be placed in a convenient spot on your desk. I usually put it in my lap or tuck it behind me on my chair.
Above all else, I love the microphone on this headset. I was shocked at the high sensitivity when I first plugged in--I could hear my aquarium filter in another room through my headset when monitoring mic input. Once you adjust input volume and find the sweet spot, the voice quality is very good and I've had quite a few people on mumble/teamspeak ask me what headset I use and mention the voice clarity. The mic is also removable, which is convenient, and extremely flexible. I highly encourage all of you mic-breathers to get yourself a bendable mic like this one.
Sound quality is ok, though not as good as a stereo headset of comparable price. The low range (which extends down to 20Hz) is heavy/square sounding, with pretty muffled and sometimes indistinguishable bass tones. Explosions and gunfire sound good, but I wouldn't recommend listening to anything like Young Jeezy or the Prelude from Carmen while wearing these cans. I will admit that the analog 5.1 exceeded my expectations and I find myself much more immersed in games with surround sound capability. This is a notable advantage in multiplayer FPS games.
I would highly recommend these if you are primarily looking for a gaming headset. If you are a music lover (why are you looking at 5.1 headphones?) and gaming is not your top priority, you might consider some AT AD700s ($100), M50s ($120) or Sennheiser 558s ($160). I have the AD700s and absolutely adore them.
The construction of the 510s is solid and I am not worried about the headband cracking although it is plastic. The faux leather padding on the over-the-ear cups is very comfortable and the pads are easily replaceable/interchangeable (not sure about other options since I love these ones so much). The headset is pretty light, I think the longest I've worn it was 4 hours with minor neck soreness starting around the 3 hour mark. I would say that the detachable cord, while a nice feature, is a bit annoying since the remote is too close to the headset to be placed in a convenient spot on your desk. I usually put it in my lap or tuck it behind me on my chair.
Above all else, I love the microphone on this headset. I was shocked at the high sensitivity when I first plugged in--I could hear my aquarium filter in another room through my headset when monitoring mic input. Once you adjust input volume and find the sweet spot, the voice quality is very good and I've had quite a few people on mumble/teamspeak ask me what headset I use and mention the voice clarity. The mic is also removable, which is convenient, and extremely flexible. I highly encourage all of you mic-breathers to get yourself a bendable mic like this one.
Sound quality is ok, though not as good as a stereo headset of comparable price. The low range (which extends down to 20Hz) is heavy/square sounding, with pretty muffled and sometimes indistinguishable bass tones. Explosions and gunfire sound good, but I wouldn't recommend listening to anything like Young Jeezy or the Prelude from Carmen while wearing these cans. I will admit that the analog 5.1 exceeded my expectations and I find myself much more immersed in games with surround sound capability. This is a notable advantage in multiplayer FPS games.
I would highly recommend these if you are primarily looking for a gaming headset. If you are a music lover (why are you looking at 5.1 headphones?) and gaming is not your top priority, you might consider some AT AD700s ($100), M50s ($120) or Sennheiser 558s ($160). I have the AD700s and absolutely adore them.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Review of NBA Live 10 - Xbox 360
I really don't know what happened this year. Reports claim that a lead game designer for NBA 2K left the company and is now with EA. That may or may not be true, but it doesn't matter...what matters is that EA got it right this year. NBA Live 10 is easily the best Live in the series, and I personally think the on-court gameplay is smoother and more exciting than the NBA 2K series...and this is coming from a HUGE fan of 2K's basketball mechanics.
There are so many great looking dunks, steals, fadeaway jumpers, etc, etc...the animations in this game are just awesome. The game is super-fluid and feels like it's running at 60FPS (not 100% sure though). I've witnessed a couple of awkward transition animations and some slight clipping here and there, but I can't recall one single framerate drop (and I notice those types of things immediately in most games). The tempo of the game feels just right, all the players movements are EXTEREMELY detailed and lifelike, the graphics are amazing, the sounds...WOW. I promise you haven't heard arena noise like this in a basketball game before. The crowd goes absolutely nuts during key moments, they explode during clutch moments when you hit a major shot, they chant "MVP, MVP" when your superstar is on a roll, they boo loudly if you attempt an ugly shot and miss, or when you on the receiving end of an ugly foul.
NBA 2K might have more player-specific animations, but I think Live is catching up quickly, plus Live's animations LOOK better in my opinion. The presentation is great, too. The pre-game warmups are all there, the highlights are slick and they're presented at the right times, the crowd and sideline animations are nearly as good as 2K's, the arenas are incredibly detailed, the players (for the most part) look like their real-life counterparts, and they even included the TNT Playoffs/Finals music. The game keeps you immersed the entire time and makes you feel like you're truly watching an NBA broadcast. The soundtrack is decent, just typical EA basketball stuff with some random forgettable hip-hop tracks.
The AI is actually pretty smart IMO, I see my AI teammates consistently running good plays, setting up nice picks, getting open when they need to, passing to the open man, etc on both ends of the court. That was one of my biggest problems w/ 2K basketball; many times the AI would just stand there until you actually called a specific play, instead of rotating positions and/or trying to get open. My only gripe is that CPU-controlled players will still randomly step out of bounds, but it only happens occasionally and it effects your team and the CPU, so it doesn't necessarily put you at a disadvantage. I'm also not a huge fan of Live's free throw shooting, since you have to hold down X until a meter fills and release it at the right time. It's okay, just not as cool as 2K's "signature shot" mechanics.
The typical EA modes are included, like dynasty, season, etc. There's actually a mode called Dynamic Season this year where you can literally play along w/ the real NBA season and update scores, team stats, etc. Also the Dynamic DNA is back so the individual player stats and tendencies will be updated daily throughout the season. It's basically a virtual NBA that you are controlling, and it has me pretty stoked. NBA 2K10 still has Live beat as far as game modes and options are concerned, especially since Live doesn't have a mode similar to 2K's "My Player", where you can create a new baller, enter the draft, join the pros and continue your path to greatness. I haven't tried Live 10's online yet, so I can't comment on that.
I bought NBA 2K games exclusively from 2K6 to 2K9. I haven't bought Live since Live 05, because I thought 2K nailed the look and feel of real basketball. I'm not saying 2K's game is bad at all this year, because it's still brilliantly designed and well executed. I'm just growing tired of NBA 2K in general, it's starting to become the next "Madden"...basically the same game every year w/ a few more polygons, new menus, some new animations, maybe a new career mode or season mode, etc.
This year I played both demos numerous times, and only one of them was making me jump to my feet, scream out loud, and pump my fist in excitement... in other words, this year's edition of Live had me totally immersed. It looks and feels like a brand new hoops game, and 2K10 felt like more of the same, just slightly more polished and refined. Some people will be totally fine with that, but I was looking for something different after becoming bored w/ 2K9 last year. For me, Live 10 delivered in a big way, so I bought it on release day and have no regrets. The game isn't perfect and some hardcore fans might still prefer 2K's style, but Live definitely took major steps in the right direction this year and unless 2K does something amazing with NBA 2K11, then I might have found my new basketball franchise.
However, When things evolved to the 360 and PS3, something went horribly wrong for the series, then 2K picked up the pieces and left Live in the dust. But when I thought all was lost, E.A. strutted out NBA Live 09. While NBA Live 09 didn't mesmerize me, it did one thing right,, E.A.made Live fun again. Live 09 set the stage for Live 10. And man oh man, what a year can do for a game.
Live 10 is really a sick game. IGN's review of 8.2 while good for them, is still not an accurate statement. The key for any game is fun factor, and I have not had so much fun playing basketball for a good long time. NBA Live 10 does just about everything right. Spot on presentation, incredible, and I mean incredible graphics, sick disgustingly smooth animations, realistic gameplay (when you want it to be depending on your difficulty level) and the audio dept is nearly flawless.
Graphics: Okay, the players might be shiny, but why don't we just call it sweat and quit talking about it like it's a problem? Who really notices it when you see Kobe doing a windmill dunk in Dwight Howard's face? I don't care what anyone says, the graphics on Live are monumentally better than last years. Faces are animated, and the facial mapping alone is a sight to behold, especially when you see these guys up close and on replays. But what good is awesome looking player models if they don't look right? Well never fear, the animations are bar none the best I've ever seen. Its about transition from one animation to the next, and you won't see a guy on the floor magically get up with a cheap quick animation, I can't count the new animations I've seen, but you won't be able to either. Bar none, best stadiums I've ever seen. Bright, crisp, colorful and vibrant. The fans are animated nicely, and you'll be hard to find any gripes. Cheerleaders, camera man, assistant coaches, vending guys, mascots. So much to love and so much to enjoy. Graphics are nearly flawless.
Gameplay: Now I do miss the run and gun days of Live. But ya know, we've evolved and I think E.A. finally evolved the game to a nice standard that anyone can enjoy. Live can be played on any difficulty level. If you're casual, just leave it on rookie and you can be run and gun again, but if you're a fan of just NBA in general and want a realistic game, beef up that difficulty and prepare for a difficult but enjoyable experience. NBA Live 10 plays brilliantly as it looks. The computer A.I. is truly relentless and will give the most veteran fans of the series and monumental challenge for their season. NBA Live requires some pretty smart peeps at the helm to get a big win. Play calling, continuous subbing and moving the ball around is a requirement in NBA Live 10. I noticed fatigue plays a tremendous role this year and yes, guys get tired pretty fast if you leave it a the default level. You'll be taking your big name guys like Kobe and Howard quite frequently.
I love the knew quick strike controls, it took me about 5 game in the demo to get this new contorl scheme down, but it feels wonderful once you really practice at it. And while having one shoot button seems lame on paper, it's amazing when you know how to utilize it. One button does so much, it just all depends on the situation and how you're pressing on the control stick. Putting it mildly, but shoot button can do about a million things depending where you are, where you're pressing the stick, who's guarding you, and who you're controlling.
I had the most difficult time with passing and turnovers. Icon passing seems occasionally inconsistent, I'd have icon passing activated, I'd press a button and nothing would happen. I might be doing something wrong, but icon passing might need to be patched.
Defensively, Live 10 thrives with the amazing help defense when you play guys who continue to attack the paint and hte basket. The computer lockon button is still there, but the ability how your computer A.I. defense converges on the offensive guys driving is good for guys who live and die by defense. Again though, you got to call plays in Live 10 and be on your toes, as the computer A.I. is quite amazing in Live. I actually had to lower the CPU sliders about 10% on all-star difficulty and I found a good foundation on realism and challenge. The free throws are still too easy, even on higher difficulty levels, so make sure you alter that in the sliders to make it more difficult or you'll be swishing shots with shaq at the line consistently.
Sound: Marv and Kerr still repeat alot of the same stuff from last year, but nobody can deny they still make the game feel warm and cuddly. Marv and Kerr have as lot of new stuff to say this year and I love how they mesh well with the action. At times their comments don't make sense, but overall, I think these two guys are still the best in the business.
Not much else is wrong in the audio dept. Still solid sound effects, player chatter and the P.A. announcer is great. Fans of the series will notice the classic Live announcer they've had for years is gone, go back to Live 03-09 and you'll know. But the new P.A. guy sounds more realistic, sounds like the Laker P.A. guy, but it would have been nice to have different P.A. guys depending on the venues. Incredible crowd noise, music, chants of MVP on star players and boo's for the guys they hate. Everything meshes wonderfully.
Presention: Still no ESPN implimentation and no halftime show, just the usual, player hightlights and game halftime stats. It's better, but still lacking in this dept. But ya know what, the game plays so great, they can let the halftime show stink, doesn't really bother me. Stat screens are indept and fun to check out. But man, I'm sick of the micro text, people with small Tv's and no HD will be annoyed by how hard it is to read.
Final Call: Glory days have returned, no doubt about it. If you have any doubts about NBA Live this year, forget about it, this is the most complete basketball game I've ever played and I will be playing it until probaby NBA Live 11. This game is sick and well worth your 60 bucks this year. I don't care if there is another game on the shelf, you need to play NBA Live 10 and you will be hooked from the start. Thank you E.A., i'm back to your game and plan on staying. Thanks for keeping the couch all warm and cozy for me, I"ll be here for quite some time...
Graphics 9.2
Gameplay 9.0
Sound 9.5
Presentation 7.9
Final Call 9.0 Cha Ching! Live is back baby! Who says you can't teach an old dawg new tricks?
The overall gameplay is good but there are still annoying things that will happen. When you get too close to out of bounds by the baseline. Your player will tip-toe on the line and lose the ball EVERYTIME. It really sucks. Also if you drive the lane to far inside, you will also lose the ball. It's really annoying but it can be avoided if your good enough to get inside un-avoided.
The Hangar is nothing new. It's just a place to shoot around and they'll show recent sports updates from ESPN. It is good if you need to learn timing for players shots. The Addidas Live Run is where you have 5 human players pick an NBA star and you form squads. I have only played it once but I would only play with friends seeing that you have to rely on 4 other players skills.
The Online play is very entertaining. I played alot of basketball in high school and still now, so I find myself trying to play fundamental basketball while online. IT WILL NOT WORK because people will try to cross over, run in circles or anything to get around you and get to the basket. Nobody has fundamentals and its annoying because sometimes it works for them. I have figured out how to stop it but everyone has their own things to do so. The DNA feature is also great because they update the game with real stats and tendencies of players/teams for that day. It also plays along with the DNA SEASON which you can play along with the real NBA season and play games to change the outcome to how you see fit. Its really a good feature and will probably only get better and better.
All together this is a great basketball game. Hopefully they have a patch for those quirks because there are far too many turnovers because of them. Playing this game if very fun though and NBA Live has finally gave NBA 2K solid competition. So here is my final verdict. NBA Live is fast paced and a straight to fun basketball game for anyone, but not by any means is it arcady. NBA 2K is better for basketball inthusiast's seeing that the learning curve is higher, but still great because of how realistic it is. I personally like both games but I cant speak for everyone. I bought NBA Live this year but will still purchase 2k10. Hope this review helps.
There are so many great looking dunks, steals, fadeaway jumpers, etc, etc...the animations in this game are just awesome. The game is super-fluid and feels like it's running at 60FPS (not 100% sure though). I've witnessed a couple of awkward transition animations and some slight clipping here and there, but I can't recall one single framerate drop (and I notice those types of things immediately in most games). The tempo of the game feels just right, all the players movements are EXTEREMELY detailed and lifelike, the graphics are amazing, the sounds...WOW. I promise you haven't heard arena noise like this in a basketball game before. The crowd goes absolutely nuts during key moments, they explode during clutch moments when you hit a major shot, they chant "MVP, MVP" when your superstar is on a roll, they boo loudly if you attempt an ugly shot and miss, or when you on the receiving end of an ugly foul.
NBA 2K might have more player-specific animations, but I think Live is catching up quickly, plus Live's animations LOOK better in my opinion. The presentation is great, too. The pre-game warmups are all there, the highlights are slick and they're presented at the right times, the crowd and sideline animations are nearly as good as 2K's, the arenas are incredibly detailed, the players (for the most part) look like their real-life counterparts, and they even included the TNT Playoffs/Finals music. The game keeps you immersed the entire time and makes you feel like you're truly watching an NBA broadcast. The soundtrack is decent, just typical EA basketball stuff with some random forgettable hip-hop tracks.
The AI is actually pretty smart IMO, I see my AI teammates consistently running good plays, setting up nice picks, getting open when they need to, passing to the open man, etc on both ends of the court. That was one of my biggest problems w/ 2K basketball; many times the AI would just stand there until you actually called a specific play, instead of rotating positions and/or trying to get open. My only gripe is that CPU-controlled players will still randomly step out of bounds, but it only happens occasionally and it effects your team and the CPU, so it doesn't necessarily put you at a disadvantage. I'm also not a huge fan of Live's free throw shooting, since you have to hold down X until a meter fills and release it at the right time. It's okay, just not as cool as 2K's "signature shot" mechanics.
The typical EA modes are included, like dynasty, season, etc. There's actually a mode called Dynamic Season this year where you can literally play along w/ the real NBA season and update scores, team stats, etc. Also the Dynamic DNA is back so the individual player stats and tendencies will be updated daily throughout the season. It's basically a virtual NBA that you are controlling, and it has me pretty stoked. NBA 2K10 still has Live beat as far as game modes and options are concerned, especially since Live doesn't have a mode similar to 2K's "My Player", where you can create a new baller, enter the draft, join the pros and continue your path to greatness. I haven't tried Live 10's online yet, so I can't comment on that.
I bought NBA 2K games exclusively from 2K6 to 2K9. I haven't bought Live since Live 05, because I thought 2K nailed the look and feel of real basketball. I'm not saying 2K's game is bad at all this year, because it's still brilliantly designed and well executed. I'm just growing tired of NBA 2K in general, it's starting to become the next "Madden"...basically the same game every year w/ a few more polygons, new menus, some new animations, maybe a new career mode or season mode, etc.
This year I played both demos numerous times, and only one of them was making me jump to my feet, scream out loud, and pump my fist in excitement... in other words, this year's edition of Live had me totally immersed. It looks and feels like a brand new hoops game, and 2K10 felt like more of the same, just slightly more polished and refined. Some people will be totally fine with that, but I was looking for something different after becoming bored w/ 2K9 last year. For me, Live 10 delivered in a big way, so I bought it on release day and have no regrets. The game isn't perfect and some hardcore fans might still prefer 2K's style, but Live definitely took major steps in the right direction this year and unless 2K does something amazing with NBA 2K11, then I might have found my new basketball franchise.
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Most of you maybe never got to play Live back in the glory days of the SNES and Genesis, but I was one of those guys who was with Live back in the beginning. (yeah, i'm old, lol). I started out with Lakers VS Celtics then one day, they started calling the game NBA Live then the legend was born. Live was the definition of fun and when I wanted my basketball fix, I played Live. What else was there? Shootout? NBA In the Zone? Nahh. Live all the way.However, When things evolved to the 360 and PS3, something went horribly wrong for the series, then 2K picked up the pieces and left Live in the dust. But when I thought all was lost, E.A. strutted out NBA Live 09. While NBA Live 09 didn't mesmerize me, it did one thing right,, E.A.made Live fun again. Live 09 set the stage for Live 10. And man oh man, what a year can do for a game.
Live 10 is really a sick game. IGN's review of 8.2 while good for them, is still not an accurate statement. The key for any game is fun factor, and I have not had so much fun playing basketball for a good long time. NBA Live 10 does just about everything right. Spot on presentation, incredible, and I mean incredible graphics, sick disgustingly smooth animations, realistic gameplay (when you want it to be depending on your difficulty level) and the audio dept is nearly flawless.
Graphics: Okay, the players might be shiny, but why don't we just call it sweat and quit talking about it like it's a problem? Who really notices it when you see Kobe doing a windmill dunk in Dwight Howard's face? I don't care what anyone says, the graphics on Live are monumentally better than last years. Faces are animated, and the facial mapping alone is a sight to behold, especially when you see these guys up close and on replays. But what good is awesome looking player models if they don't look right? Well never fear, the animations are bar none the best I've ever seen. Its about transition from one animation to the next, and you won't see a guy on the floor magically get up with a cheap quick animation, I can't count the new animations I've seen, but you won't be able to either. Bar none, best stadiums I've ever seen. Bright, crisp, colorful and vibrant. The fans are animated nicely, and you'll be hard to find any gripes. Cheerleaders, camera man, assistant coaches, vending guys, mascots. So much to love and so much to enjoy. Graphics are nearly flawless.
Gameplay: Now I do miss the run and gun days of Live. But ya know, we've evolved and I think E.A. finally evolved the game to a nice standard that anyone can enjoy. Live can be played on any difficulty level. If you're casual, just leave it on rookie and you can be run and gun again, but if you're a fan of just NBA in general and want a realistic game, beef up that difficulty and prepare for a difficult but enjoyable experience. NBA Live 10 plays brilliantly as it looks. The computer A.I. is truly relentless and will give the most veteran fans of the series and monumental challenge for their season. NBA Live requires some pretty smart peeps at the helm to get a big win. Play calling, continuous subbing and moving the ball around is a requirement in NBA Live 10. I noticed fatigue plays a tremendous role this year and yes, guys get tired pretty fast if you leave it a the default level. You'll be taking your big name guys like Kobe and Howard quite frequently.
I love the knew quick strike controls, it took me about 5 game in the demo to get this new contorl scheme down, but it feels wonderful once you really practice at it. And while having one shoot button seems lame on paper, it's amazing when you know how to utilize it. One button does so much, it just all depends on the situation and how you're pressing on the control stick. Putting it mildly, but shoot button can do about a million things depending where you are, where you're pressing the stick, who's guarding you, and who you're controlling.
I had the most difficult time with passing and turnovers. Icon passing seems occasionally inconsistent, I'd have icon passing activated, I'd press a button and nothing would happen. I might be doing something wrong, but icon passing might need to be patched.
Defensively, Live 10 thrives with the amazing help defense when you play guys who continue to attack the paint and hte basket. The computer lockon button is still there, but the ability how your computer A.I. defense converges on the offensive guys driving is good for guys who live and die by defense. Again though, you got to call plays in Live 10 and be on your toes, as the computer A.I. is quite amazing in Live. I actually had to lower the CPU sliders about 10% on all-star difficulty and I found a good foundation on realism and challenge. The free throws are still too easy, even on higher difficulty levels, so make sure you alter that in the sliders to make it more difficult or you'll be swishing shots with shaq at the line consistently.
Sound: Marv and Kerr still repeat alot of the same stuff from last year, but nobody can deny they still make the game feel warm and cuddly. Marv and Kerr have as lot of new stuff to say this year and I love how they mesh well with the action. At times their comments don't make sense, but overall, I think these two guys are still the best in the business.
Not much else is wrong in the audio dept. Still solid sound effects, player chatter and the P.A. announcer is great. Fans of the series will notice the classic Live announcer they've had for years is gone, go back to Live 03-09 and you'll know. But the new P.A. guy sounds more realistic, sounds like the Laker P.A. guy, but it would have been nice to have different P.A. guys depending on the venues. Incredible crowd noise, music, chants of MVP on star players and boo's for the guys they hate. Everything meshes wonderfully.
Presention: Still no ESPN implimentation and no halftime show, just the usual, player hightlights and game halftime stats. It's better, but still lacking in this dept. But ya know what, the game plays so great, they can let the halftime show stink, doesn't really bother me. Stat screens are indept and fun to check out. But man, I'm sick of the micro text, people with small Tv's and no HD will be annoyed by how hard it is to read.
Final Call: Glory days have returned, no doubt about it. If you have any doubts about NBA Live this year, forget about it, this is the most complete basketball game I've ever played and I will be playing it until probaby NBA Live 11. This game is sick and well worth your 60 bucks this year. I don't care if there is another game on the shelf, you need to play NBA Live 10 and you will be hooked from the start. Thank you E.A., i'm back to your game and plan on staying. Thanks for keeping the couch all warm and cozy for me, I"ll be here for quite some time...
Graphics 9.2
Gameplay 9.0
Sound 9.5
Presentation 7.9
Final Call 9.0 Cha Ching! Live is back baby! Who says you can't teach an old dawg new tricks?
Best Deals for NBA Live 10 - Xbox 360
First off, this is finally a great game by EA! The atmosphere drags you in. Seriously, the crowd and the players react to everytyhing. After clutch made shots your player will taunt down the court and the crowd will go CRAZY! Not to say that the feature doesnt have its down falls. I was in an online match and Dirk Nowitzki hit a shot and taunted after, His man ran down the court and scored because I could not get out of that animation. Overall though, the atmosphere is great; especially in play now matches where you can choose Season, Playoffs, or Finals atmospheres.The overall gameplay is good but there are still annoying things that will happen. When you get too close to out of bounds by the baseline. Your player will tip-toe on the line and lose the ball EVERYTIME. It really sucks. Also if you drive the lane to far inside, you will also lose the ball. It's really annoying but it can be avoided if your good enough to get inside un-avoided.
The Hangar is nothing new. It's just a place to shoot around and they'll show recent sports updates from ESPN. It is good if you need to learn timing for players shots. The Addidas Live Run is where you have 5 human players pick an NBA star and you form squads. I have only played it once but I would only play with friends seeing that you have to rely on 4 other players skills.
The Online play is very entertaining. I played alot of basketball in high school and still now, so I find myself trying to play fundamental basketball while online. IT WILL NOT WORK because people will try to cross over, run in circles or anything to get around you and get to the basket. Nobody has fundamentals and its annoying because sometimes it works for them. I have figured out how to stop it but everyone has their own things to do so. The DNA feature is also great because they update the game with real stats and tendencies of players/teams for that day. It also plays along with the DNA SEASON which you can play along with the real NBA season and play games to change the outcome to how you see fit. Its really a good feature and will probably only get better and better.
All together this is a great basketball game. Hopefully they have a patch for those quirks because there are far too many turnovers because of them. Playing this game if very fun though and NBA Live has finally gave NBA 2K solid competition. So here is my final verdict. NBA Live is fast paced and a straight to fun basketball game for anyone, but not by any means is it arcady. NBA 2K is better for basketball inthusiast's seeing that the learning curve is higher, but still great because of how realistic it is. I personally like both games but I cant speak for everyone. I bought NBA Live this year but will still purchase 2k10. Hope this review helps.
Honest reviews on NBA Live 10 - Xbox 360
I used to be a long EA sports bball fan all the way back when they used to call their games "Lakers vs Celtics and the NBA Playoffs"...up until around 2003...then I switched to the NBA 2K series and bought their games for the past few, loved it at first, then their games started to get stale...every year I download both demos and NBA 2K would get most of my attention. This year I was blown away by NBA LIVE 10, they really stepped up their game...the full game is even better! It feels like im at a real NBA game! Great NBA atmosphere!...NBA 2K10 looked and played a lot like NBA 2K9 to me and Im not much of a fan of their new features plus there players still look stiff to me, I always had an issue with that. NBA LIVE 10 is more realistic and a really fun game. The LIVE series may pass 2K by next year unless 2K step it up!Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for NBA Live 10 - Xbox 360
I just read online today that since NBA Elite has been delayed indefinitely, NBA Live 10 will be given all of the current roster updates as well as the DNA enhancements for the entire 2010-2011 season! So you get a full featured basketball game for this year for under $30! Not too shabby.Thursday, July 10, 2014
Review of Street Fighter X Tekken - Arcade FightStick PRO Tournament Edition
Very nice stick. I won mine at a tourney raffle, lucky. but for 349.99 i couldn't justify. the vlx is preeeeetty much a chain saw cutting off the official sf4 cabinets joystick. but if you have the money i guess buy this. since it's limited edition and sfxt is so hype right now its going for double its value. as time goes on expect 500 $ asking prices. at the end of the day the sfxt stick is a round 2 TE with better graphics/artwork and a sloped edge to help not hurt your wrist as much. a round 2 TE goes for 140$ on here. if art work sloped edge and exclusivety are worth an additional 150-200$ it up to you. sanwa comes in all TE sticks.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Discount Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Hardened Edition -Xbox 360
List Price: $79.99
Sale Price: $79.49
Today's Bonus: 1% Off
I wont bother reviewing the game itself as there are plenty of reivews up for it. Needless to say, it is phenomenal. The $20 credit on Amazon is awesome, and the main reason I buy games from Amazon.
For an additional $20 over the regular addition of the game, the Hardened Edition contains:
The game packaged in a Steelbook case with a very short, black and white manual
An art book
A card/token for a free download of the original Call of Duty
+The original Call of Duty was previously only available on PC. I havent seen a price for it yet, but I'm guessing it will sell for $15 on XBLA and PSN. There is a lengthy single player campaign, as well as 24 player multi-player. The value of the Hardened Edition completly depends on if you're interested in playing Call of Duty 1. I beat the game for PC years ago, and it's great. It will remind you of the old Medal of Honor games, and after playing it on my XBOX 360, it seems the graphics, sound effects, and the story have held up relatively well. I think most Call of Duty fans will enjoy the original and will be glad they played it.
+The art book is about 38 pages, and it's interesting. It actually has commentary from the developers at Infinity Ward, not just pictures. I am really enjoying Modern Warfare 2, so for me it was worth checking out the art book and getting some additional insight into the game. For example, it looks like Infinity Ward originally planned a motorcycle chase through the streets of Washington DC (or possibly Brazil), but it didnt make the final game.
+I love the steelbook. It is the coolest steelbook I have seen, possibly only rivaled by the Gears of War 2 steelbook in the limited edition. It combines colors like gunmetal and black, with a gold and green Modern Warfare 2 logo on the front. The picture on the front is of a soldier, kind of like the regular version of the game, but with cooler colors. The back of the Steelbook is a picture of the White House. If you have never seen a Steelbook before, it is about the same size as a normal XBOX 360 game case, but instead of plastic it is metal. The hinges are heavy duty, the inside is made of very nice and thick plastic, and the case closes perfectly. A Steelbook alone isn't enough to justify much of an additional cost to a game, but when combined with other items in a "special edition" is a cool and collectable item for fans of the game.
-The only thing I would have liked to see in addition to what is in the Hardened Edition is a dvd with some extra content. This could have included some documentary-style "making of..." videos detailing the development of Modern Warfare 2, in addition to some music, concept art, and so on. I think a dvd like that would have added much more value for your extra $20, but unfortunately is not included.
Thank you for reading!
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This has been the busiest gaming year in recent memory. With games such as Batman: Arkham Asylum, Halo:ODST, Fallout 3 GOTY, Borderlands it would've been a great year for many a gamer. I've picked up all of the aforementioned games and I've gotta say MW2 is the best out of all of them.I haven't been able to beat the story yet, but the first few missions are absolutly amazing. Each one was better than the last. The graphics were also revamped, and this is definitly the best looking Call of Duty game ever.
Multiplayer Lot's of new additions, including more exp for more objectives. For example you get extra exp for killing the person who last killed you(Payback), you'll also get extra exp for stopping someone from getting a killstreak (Buzzkill), and so on and so forth. The multiplayer no longer has the perks Juggernaut and Martydom, as these were the 2 most commonly hated perks in the game. Martydom is still in the game, however as a death streak. A death streak is also something new in the game, where if you die a certain amount of times in a row without obtaining a kill, you'll temporarily gain a perk until you get a kill. Martydom requires you to die 4 times in a row, and once you finally kill someone, you'll lose it...until you die 4 times in a row again. Juggernaut has been seemingly replaced with a deathstreak of it's own called painpills. Once you die 3 times in a row, you'll spawn with extra health for the first 10 seconds after you spawn. As weak as it sounds, it's saved my life and my opponents life countless times already.
In terms of gameplay online, the multiplayer is the same as before. Kill, get objectives, etc. The weapons seem more balanced, and with the new perks, deathstreaks and addition of customizable killstreaks, it's rare to have 2 people use the exact same thing. The game has definitly gotten more tactical, and is a huge plus. The maps are gorgeous, however they all have a certain familiar scenery to them. The first time I visited certain maps "Oh, this looks like _______ from CoD4", yet are completly different, it's hard to explain, but you'll understand once you play.
From what I understand there is no co-op in campaign. This is the biggest let-down in the game. However the addition of Spec-Ops partially makes up for it. I've spent already more than 5 hours in Spec-Ops and it's truly the most fun, yet challenging thing I've ever had in a Call of Duty game. Spec-ops is only 2 player (Again, another let-down. I hope they decide to 4-player DLC soon), and throw you into situations with an objective. My personal favorite, had me as a ground soldier, and my co-op partner as the gunner for a helicopter. I had to make it from Point A to Point B so that I could get rescued. While I ran around, my partner was shooting down enemies to help clear my path. It was insane. Other missions include racing on snowmobiles, running a training course, and of course defending yourself against waves of soldiers, helicopters and Jeeps!
EDIT Thought I'd just add a tiny bit about the Hardened edition. The artbook is amazing. It's amazing. Sorry for being repititous, but...it's amazing. I opened it and was in shock at how great the artwork looks. The steelbook case looks nice and for those who care about having special covers and boxes etc. this is the version for you. It also comes with Call of Duty Classic (XBL Arcade game, Pretty big too, I believe it was 1.5+Gigs).
This is the definitive game of the year. People have been saying for a while that it's overhyped and overrated. I'm sorry, but this game deserves all the credit it's due. It's amazing in every sense of the word. I give this game a 10/10. THE ONLY flaw in my opinion that this game has is that it does not have campaign co-op online. However the "replacement" Spec-Ops is so much more exciting and fun as a 2 player co-op.
Believe the hype. Buy it. Now.
Best Deals for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Hardened Edition -Xbox 360
The graphics in this game are awesome. Some of the best I have seen in a game. If you are a big online multiplayer (XBOX Live), they still have some of the same issues as they had before that make it frustrating to play. (ie. respawning near or in front of enemy units, guns that take too many shots at close range to kill, and more.) The campaing is fun. But, I think once I am finished, I'll be back to playing the multiplayer on COD:WAW.Honest reviews on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Hardened Edition -Xbox 360
I'm going to keep this review short and sweet and right away say Modern Warfare 2 is without a doubt 2009's game of the year and could arguably be the greatest shooter of all time. Although the campaign is a bit cramped at just around 4-6 hours, the high intensity action across all 3 game modes (campaign, multiplayer and the all-new spec ops) makes Modern Warfare 2 the most adrenaline pumping, heart racing shooter I have ever played. I guess you could say Infinity Ward brought out the big guns with this release, and have made this title an instant classic that you must experience for yourself. I picked up the hardened edition at midnight and although I wouldn't say the $80 price tag is worth the small amount of bonus content, I couldn't resist spoiling myself for the game I have been anticipating since I finished Modern Warfare on release day 2007.I will leave a detailed review to somebody who actually has time to write one out instead of spending the time playing this unbelievable game! For now though, go get this game if you haven't already...you absolutely will NOT be let down.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Hardened Edition -Xbox 360
Long awaited sequel to the 1st modern warfareHere's what's good:
1. intense fighting
2. real time action and shooting
3. true to life body movements and tactics
4. awesome graphics and rendering
5. the weapons are all fun..
Here's what sux:
...It's too damn short, the original took me the better part of day to finish this one I finished in less than 5 hours...what a let down!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Skinit The Lion of Judah Rasta Flag Vinyl Skin for 1 Microsoft Xbox Reviews
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $11.24
Today's Bonus: 44% Off
This skin is very nice and fits well on my controller. There's a little bit of wrinkling on the edges but that isn't enough to make it difficult to hold. overall its a very well made skin.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Reviews of HDE Wireless Xbox Receiver 360 for PC
List Price: $25.99
Sale Price: $12.99
Today's Bonus: 50% Off
"Right click on Computer
Go to Properties
Click on Device Manager
Right click on the Unidentified Device
Go to Properties
Go to the Drive tab
Click on Update Driver...
Browse my computer for driver software
Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
Microsoft Common Controller for Window Class
Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows Version: 2.1.0.1349 [8/13/2009]
Update Driver Warning
Click Yes"
*Credit goes to someone random off windows help*
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This is NOT a certified Microsoft device. As Microsoft no longer produces a receiver of this type this is probably your best bet. The price is right (especially if you are a Prime member).I'm running Win7 (x64) and there were a few hoops to jump through to get the receiver recognized, but if you follow the instructions provided by 'Win-7 64-bit' here in the reviews (which was cribbed from an answers.mircosoft post) it's a painless process.
If the disc that came with your receiver doesn't have the x64 folder (my disc was lacking it) you'd be well served to download and install the driver/software pack from Microsoft. Since links are blocked here simply search for "Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows" and click-on the page titled "Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows | Microsoft Hardware", select your system, download and install.
After installing the driver/software pack, you then need to follow the other set of instructions;
"Right click on Computer
Go to Properties
Click on Device Manager
Right click on the Unidentified Device
Go to Properties
Go to the Drive tab
Click on Update Driver...
Browse my computer for driver software
Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
Microsoft Common Controller for Window Class
Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows Version
Update Driver Warning
Click Yes"
(from cyberfoxx at answers.microsoft)
Overall this a cheap way to get an existing XBox 360 controller recognized and operating on a windows system. And for Win7 (x64) users this is the process that you have to do regardless of manufacturer of the receiver. So given the reality that Microsoft abandoned products of this type, this is next best thing and quite affordable to boot.
Best Deals for HDE Wireless Xbox Receiver 360 for PC
Alright, sure its not "genuine" or made by microsoft but for 13$... I can now play black ops on my pc like I did on the xbox.Another thing, if your on windows 7 64bit, You have to point to go in the disc itself, and copy the "USB Driver" folder over from the disc, onto your desktop for ease. Now go into windows and install the drivers manually. Point it to C:\users\$USER\Desktop\USB DRIVER\Driver_64\win7
It should install successfully. Now if your on 32bit w7, then point it to the same but instead Driver_32. Hope this helps.
Sure it might be 3rd party and doesn't say "microsoft" but who cares.. it works fine.
Honest reviews on HDE Wireless Xbox Receiver 360 for PC
I've seen reviews for other "knock-off" products saying it would not work. When the device failed to auto install, I let Windows search for a solution. It took me to the Microsoft site where I downloaded the software for the "genuine" device, which works fine with this product.Once that was loaded the controller would not connect. I opened the start menu, went to devices and printers, and clicked on the "unknown device". On the Hardware tab I hit Properties, and then clicked Change Settings in the window that popped up. In the Driver tab I hit update driver, and then "Browse My Computer for Driver Software". Then I hit Browse, and clicked on my DVD drive that had the driver disc in it. I hit next and a dialog popped up warning me the software was not from a verified source and could be harmful. I chose to install the driver anyway, and now everything connects and works properly.
Great price for a product that saves me from having to purchase a whole new controller that has a wireless receiver in it. I bought this to play Skyrim on PC since the updates will come faster and more often.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for HDE Wireless Xbox Receiver 360 for PC
I could not get this device to install using the provided driver disc. However, it is now working perfectly on Win 7 64-bit after going through these steps:-Go to Device Manager
-Right click on the Unidentified Device
-Click Properties
-Go to the Driver tab
-Click on "Update Driver"
-Click "Browse my computer for driver software"
-Click "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
-Choose "Microsoft Common Controller for Windows Class"
-Select "Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows"
-Update driver warning will pop up
-Click Yes and the driver will install successfully
I've been using this receiver for about two months now with no problems. My computer is attached to a TV in the living room and I'm sitting on the sofa about 12 feet away with Xbox 360 controller in hand.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Buy Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour Expansion Pack - PC
Although Generals added a new standard of graphics and several new and interesting departures from the original C&C game design, it was something less than revolutionary. Zero Hour goes a long way toward addressing this issue, and really turns Generals into a completely new game.
The expansion adds a new campaign for each side, with about 5 missions each. The campaign is interesting, and adds a few new elements, but is actually not the best part of the expansion. There are full motion video cutscenes (reporters talking about what's going on) to add some depth to the story, which is pretty straightforward stuff that could happen sometime in the near future (though we hope not). The missions add unique buildings and locations, all well done, as well as objectives that are pretty fun to carry out. Some of them are quite difficult, and there are a few stealth commando missions that Generals sadly lacked. There's also some campaign-only powers, such as the ability to call in battleship artillery and carrier strikes in one of the USA missions.
The real meat of the expansion starts with the new units and upgrades. Each side has new things, some of which go a long way toward filling holes in the armies' capabilities. China, for example, gets some much-needed surveillance by way of the Internet Center, and a worthwhile stealth detector in the Listening Post. Frenzy, a new general power, increases the firepower and armor of units for a brief time. China also gets added airborne firepower with the Helix and the ability to carpet bomb. The GLA gets several low-tech solutions, most of which are still geared toward outmaneuvering rather than outgunning the opposition. The Battle Bus, however, can pack quite a punch in a frontline role. Fake structures, a sometimes-useful throwback from Red Alert, can also be purchased. More interestingly, they can be upgraded into real ones, which is a nice way to play with an opponent's mind. The USA gets a powerful base defense with the Fire Base, which is garrisonable, effective against infantry, and doesn't need power to shoot. They also get a mobile anti-air unit in the Avenger, making it unnecessary for you to bring weak Missile Defender-packed Humvees along in future battles. Three new tech structures are also addedthe Repair Bay (repairs all your ground units), Artillery Platform (shoots at enemies with a howitzer), and Reinforcement Pad (produces a tank on a countdown).
The upgrades and units are standard expansion fare, but Zero Hour adds something elsenew generals, each with their own combat styles, units and powers, and personalities. There are three for each sideAir Force, Lasers, and Superweapons for the USA; Toxins, Camouflage, and Demolitions for the GLA; and Nukes, Tanks, and Infantry for China. Each of these has a doctrine that you must adhere to if you wish to use them effectively, and have weaknesses that hold you to it. For example, the US Air Force general cannot make tanks, but has aircraft cost reduced, unique and better air units, and a point defense laser on all airplanes that along with the standard countermeasures upgrade makes them practically immune to missile fire. China's tank general can build the Emperor Overlord, which is the newest and baddest vehicle on the ground. The GLA camouflage general can make literally everything invisible to the unaided eye, and turns the GLA into a real guerilla army (his Scud Storms are especially scary). All of these generals can be used in skirmish or multiplay, and there is a special 'generals challenge' campaign in which you pick one and play against all others. Your opponent is always on territory that favors their doctrine, and it can get pretty tough. This is a great way to accustom yourself to the various generals and pick your favorite, and is also quite fun since your opponents continuously taunt you during the games.
It's worth mentioning that several nice tweaks have been added to the engine. For example, fighters on an airbase will automatically attack nearby enemies, and both superweapons and scouting powers (e.g. radar van scans) appear as a sidebar icon with a number indicating how many are ready, if it's more than one. This makes it no longer necessary to separately hotkey practically every unit you have. Multiplayer options have been added, such as how much cash to start with, and no superweapons. The already excellent graphics have been improved, with even more fantastic fireballs, flotsam and jetsam, and better water effects. The result is undoubtedly the most graphically appealing RTS out there, though you might need a new video card if you want to run at max detail.
In summary, Zero Hour is for all intents and purposes a completely new game. Some have argued that it is what Generals should have been from the start, but I'm glad EA took the time to do a good job on this rather than rushing it for release. I honestly have no complaints about the expansionit's one of the best ones I've seen for any game. It's a definite must for any Generals fan, and even if you weren't overly impressed with Generals, Zero Hour might just change your opinion.
Each faction now has several different specialized generals, primarily for multi-player use, which is what the expansion pack seems geared towards anyway. The "basic" version of each faction is still available. Each general has certain advantages and disadvantages over the other generals within the same faction. There is for instance a China Tank General, which have tanks as his advantage, but don't think you're going to win just because of that other capabilities have been taken away. It's all quite carefully balanced, although the online multiplayer statistics show that most GLA generals are currently at a slight advantage. I'm sure this will be corrected in a future patch though.
PROS:
* A naval "presence" has been introduced, although you can't directly control the naval units yourself. There is a carrier and a battleship were you can do aerial bombardment and artillery bombardment respectively.
* Greatly increased variety due to multiple new units and capabilities, and new specialized generals.
* Even better online multiplayer capabilities.
* 3 new single-player campaigns (1 per faction Total of 15 new missions)
* Subtle enhancements to game engine e.g. Aircraft will automatically defend the area nearby the airbase.
* Superweapons now appear on the right side of the screen with the other general abilities, so you don't actually have to locate your superweapon to fire. If you have several superweapons ready to fire, a number inside the superweapon icon will show the number of superweapons that are ready to fire.
CONS:
* Still no real naval units. I really miss this from Red Alert 2.
* You can no longer do ladder-play or ranked play with any user-created maps. Ranked play is only possible for certain maps distributed with the game. Ranked games are clearly marked before you join though.
* Same problem with difficulty level as C&C Generals. Easy is way too easy, Normal is even easier than Generals, and Hard is too hard.
* Still not possible to skip the "cut-scenes" at the start of each mission.
I give this expansion 5 stars!!! It's a great enhancement, and if you loved C&C Generals, you'll probably love the expansion pack even more. It greatly enhances online play. This expansion pack pretty much makes it a new game.
The ability to pick different generals is awesome; each general gets certain privledges along with special units. There are 3 generals for each army that you can choose, and each requires a completely different strategy for success. While each general has access to certain unique weapons, they also in most cases have restrictions on some vehicles, including the arsenal they can choose from and how much each vehicle costs. The general-specific weapons are very cool as well; they include a souped up Aurora bomber that drops fuel bombs (my Fave), EMP patriot missles, the Emperor Overlord tank (has a scary amount of firepower), a "nuclear" mig upgrade, the classic C&C lazer turret, a carpet bombing general ability, and a nasty little chinese mini gunner (very effective in large numbers). There also are several units that have been added to each army regardless of which general you choose. I've found that using different generals can drastically change gameplay and adds quite a bit of replayability to the game.
I highly recommend picking this up if you're a C&C nut (like I am). It's not too pricy and has pretty good replayability. If you play C&C multiplayer online or through LAN's, then this X-pack is definetely right up your alley.
The new units are perfectly balanced. Each side has been given new units and structures to help turn the tide of the game. The United States finally has some decent base defenses against approaching ranks of infantry. The GLA have even more stealth abilities that make sneak attacks and sabotages more deadly. The Chinese benefit from more anti-personnel attacks and defenses, now capable of killing drivers and allowing the Chinese to steal enemy vehicles (a la Jarmen Kell with his one-shot sniping of drivers). This is accomplished via neutron technology.
I will say that you need a whale of a machine to play this game, but those who play Generals already know this. Play at the minimum requirements and you'll be sorely disappointed. I would recommend playing at least with a 1.7 ghz machine with 256 megs of memory, preferably 512.
I'm sure that in the coming days and weeks and months that EA will unleash patches that will further help balancing, though I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary yet.
One complaint that I do have: After seeing the trailers and the short clips and screenshots, I was for sure that naval units would be incorporated into the game. Sadly, this still isn't the case. Perhaps EA is going to make a second expansion (unlikely, most games don't have 2 expansions unless you're Will Wright...but I digress) that will include naval units. It just doesn't seem to be the full picture without the ability to create seafaring units.
Other than that one complaint, I am thoroughly enjoying this game and anyone who likes C&C games or strategy games in general (ha! No pun intended!) would have a blast with this installment.
Why?
To many reasons to list, but basically because Zero Hour completely refreshes Generals. If you played Generals like me (a psycho, social-life-debilitating amount), you pretty much had the game down; you knew build order, offense, counters, etc. Zero Hour completely reshuffles the deck by introducing a whole host of brand new units, as well as the ability to play as a General of a certain skill set that gives him advantages (like air/ground/nuclear, etc).
Can you say "C130 Gunship", "Heavy Chinese attack Heli", "Suicide Motorcylist"...when my buddy sent in a huge plane that dropped a bunch of leaflets on my troops to urge them not to fight, I almost came apart with laughter. Good times.
In addition to the General abilities, new maps, and new units, the games graphics have noticably improved.
I couldn't recommend this higher. For RTS fans that haven't checked Zero Hour out yet, don't hesitate to buy this Expansion Pack, this game's got a lot of life in it yet.
Enjoy,
Christian Hunter
Santa Barbara, California
The expansion adds a new campaign for each side, with about 5 missions each. The campaign is interesting, and adds a few new elements, but is actually not the best part of the expansion. There are full motion video cutscenes (reporters talking about what's going on) to add some depth to the story, which is pretty straightforward stuff that could happen sometime in the near future (though we hope not). The missions add unique buildings and locations, all well done, as well as objectives that are pretty fun to carry out. Some of them are quite difficult, and there are a few stealth commando missions that Generals sadly lacked. There's also some campaign-only powers, such as the ability to call in battleship artillery and carrier strikes in one of the USA missions.
The real meat of the expansion starts with the new units and upgrades. Each side has new things, some of which go a long way toward filling holes in the armies' capabilities. China, for example, gets some much-needed surveillance by way of the Internet Center, and a worthwhile stealth detector in the Listening Post. Frenzy, a new general power, increases the firepower and armor of units for a brief time. China also gets added airborne firepower with the Helix and the ability to carpet bomb. The GLA gets several low-tech solutions, most of which are still geared toward outmaneuvering rather than outgunning the opposition. The Battle Bus, however, can pack quite a punch in a frontline role. Fake structures, a sometimes-useful throwback from Red Alert, can also be purchased. More interestingly, they can be upgraded into real ones, which is a nice way to play with an opponent's mind. The USA gets a powerful base defense with the Fire Base, which is garrisonable, effective against infantry, and doesn't need power to shoot. They also get a mobile anti-air unit in the Avenger, making it unnecessary for you to bring weak Missile Defender-packed Humvees along in future battles. Three new tech structures are also addedthe Repair Bay (repairs all your ground units), Artillery Platform (shoots at enemies with a howitzer), and Reinforcement Pad (produces a tank on a countdown).
The upgrades and units are standard expansion fare, but Zero Hour adds something elsenew generals, each with their own combat styles, units and powers, and personalities. There are three for each sideAir Force, Lasers, and Superweapons for the USA; Toxins, Camouflage, and Demolitions for the GLA; and Nukes, Tanks, and Infantry for China. Each of these has a doctrine that you must adhere to if you wish to use them effectively, and have weaknesses that hold you to it. For example, the US Air Force general cannot make tanks, but has aircraft cost reduced, unique and better air units, and a point defense laser on all airplanes that along with the standard countermeasures upgrade makes them practically immune to missile fire. China's tank general can build the Emperor Overlord, which is the newest and baddest vehicle on the ground. The GLA camouflage general can make literally everything invisible to the unaided eye, and turns the GLA into a real guerilla army (his Scud Storms are especially scary). All of these generals can be used in skirmish or multiplay, and there is a special 'generals challenge' campaign in which you pick one and play against all others. Your opponent is always on territory that favors their doctrine, and it can get pretty tough. This is a great way to accustom yourself to the various generals and pick your favorite, and is also quite fun since your opponents continuously taunt you during the games.
It's worth mentioning that several nice tweaks have been added to the engine. For example, fighters on an airbase will automatically attack nearby enemies, and both superweapons and scouting powers (e.g. radar van scans) appear as a sidebar icon with a number indicating how many are ready, if it's more than one. This makes it no longer necessary to separately hotkey practically every unit you have. Multiplayer options have been added, such as how much cash to start with, and no superweapons. The already excellent graphics have been improved, with even more fantastic fireballs, flotsam and jetsam, and better water effects. The result is undoubtedly the most graphically appealing RTS out there, though you might need a new video card if you want to run at max detail.
In summary, Zero Hour is for all intents and purposes a completely new game. Some have argued that it is what Generals should have been from the start, but I'm glad EA took the time to do a good job on this rather than rushing it for release. I honestly have no complaints about the expansionit's one of the best ones I've seen for any game. It's a definite must for any Generals fan, and even if you weren't overly impressed with Generals, Zero Hour might just change your opinion.
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Very often expansion packs are mere repackaging of games with few novel features not so with Zero Hour. This expansion pack is jam packed with worthwhile new features.Each faction now has several different specialized generals, primarily for multi-player use, which is what the expansion pack seems geared towards anyway. The "basic" version of each faction is still available. Each general has certain advantages and disadvantages over the other generals within the same faction. There is for instance a China Tank General, which have tanks as his advantage, but don't think you're going to win just because of that other capabilities have been taken away. It's all quite carefully balanced, although the online multiplayer statistics show that most GLA generals are currently at a slight advantage. I'm sure this will be corrected in a future patch though.
PROS:
* A naval "presence" has been introduced, although you can't directly control the naval units yourself. There is a carrier and a battleship were you can do aerial bombardment and artillery bombardment respectively.
* Greatly increased variety due to multiple new units and capabilities, and new specialized generals.
* Even better online multiplayer capabilities.
* 3 new single-player campaigns (1 per faction Total of 15 new missions)
* Subtle enhancements to game engine e.g. Aircraft will automatically defend the area nearby the airbase.
* Superweapons now appear on the right side of the screen with the other general abilities, so you don't actually have to locate your superweapon to fire. If you have several superweapons ready to fire, a number inside the superweapon icon will show the number of superweapons that are ready to fire.
CONS:
* Still no real naval units. I really miss this from Red Alert 2.
* You can no longer do ladder-play or ranked play with any user-created maps. Ranked play is only possible for certain maps distributed with the game. Ranked games are clearly marked before you join though.
* Same problem with difficulty level as C&C Generals. Easy is way too easy, Normal is even easier than Generals, and Hard is too hard.
* Still not possible to skip the "cut-scenes" at the start of each mission.
I give this expansion 5 stars!!! It's a great enhancement, and if you loved C&C Generals, you'll probably love the expansion pack even more. It greatly enhances online play. This expansion pack pretty much makes it a new game.
Best Deals for Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour Expansion Pack - PC
I Just got done playing this with 3 other people at a LAN party, and I can safely say that this expansion is worth the money if you enjoy the C&C multiplayer experience. The new campaigns are ok, but Zero Hour definetely seems to have a much stronger focus on the multiplay aspect, which really is well done. It also has a nifty solo-player matchup mode called "challenge," where you're pitted against a specific general who's army has certain unique abilities.The ability to pick different generals is awesome; each general gets certain privledges along with special units. There are 3 generals for each army that you can choose, and each requires a completely different strategy for success. While each general has access to certain unique weapons, they also in most cases have restrictions on some vehicles, including the arsenal they can choose from and how much each vehicle costs. The general-specific weapons are very cool as well; they include a souped up Aurora bomber that drops fuel bombs (my Fave), EMP patriot missles, the Emperor Overlord tank (has a scary amount of firepower), a "nuclear" mig upgrade, the classic C&C lazer turret, a carpet bombing general ability, and a nasty little chinese mini gunner (very effective in large numbers). There also are several units that have been added to each army regardless of which general you choose. I've found that using different generals can drastically change gameplay and adds quite a bit of replayability to the game.
I highly recommend picking this up if you're a C&C nut (like I am). It's not too pricy and has pretty good replayability. If you play C&C multiplayer online or through LAN's, then this X-pack is definetely right up your alley.
Honest reviews on Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour Expansion Pack - PC
When you make a new C&C game, you have quite a reputation to adhere to. The expansion pack to Generals follows up a very successful game with a finely tuned and rock solid expansion.The new units are perfectly balanced. Each side has been given new units and structures to help turn the tide of the game. The United States finally has some decent base defenses against approaching ranks of infantry. The GLA have even more stealth abilities that make sneak attacks and sabotages more deadly. The Chinese benefit from more anti-personnel attacks and defenses, now capable of killing drivers and allowing the Chinese to steal enemy vehicles (a la Jarmen Kell with his one-shot sniping of drivers). This is accomplished via neutron technology.
I will say that you need a whale of a machine to play this game, but those who play Generals already know this. Play at the minimum requirements and you'll be sorely disappointed. I would recommend playing at least with a 1.7 ghz machine with 256 megs of memory, preferably 512.
I'm sure that in the coming days and weeks and months that EA will unleash patches that will further help balancing, though I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary yet.
One complaint that I do have: After seeing the trailers and the short clips and screenshots, I was for sure that naval units would be incorporated into the game. Sadly, this still isn't the case. Perhaps EA is going to make a second expansion (unlikely, most games don't have 2 expansions unless you're Will Wright...but I digress) that will include naval units. It just doesn't seem to be the full picture without the ability to create seafaring units.
Other than that one complaint, I am thoroughly enjoying this game and anyone who likes C&C games or strategy games in general (ha! No pun intended!) would have a blast with this installment.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour Expansion Pack - PC
...that may be something of an exgaggeration, but this statement isn't: If you loved Generals and haven't played Zero Hour, you have cause for celebration. At the time of this writing, Zero Hour has been out roughly 1.5 years (games live in "dog years" compared to other media), and as far as Real Time Strategy Games go, I put this at, or very near the top of my list, ahead of most every contemporary RTS.Why?
To many reasons to list, but basically because Zero Hour completely refreshes Generals. If you played Generals like me (a psycho, social-life-debilitating amount), you pretty much had the game down; you knew build order, offense, counters, etc. Zero Hour completely reshuffles the deck by introducing a whole host of brand new units, as well as the ability to play as a General of a certain skill set that gives him advantages (like air/ground/nuclear, etc).
Can you say "C130 Gunship", "Heavy Chinese attack Heli", "Suicide Motorcylist"...when my buddy sent in a huge plane that dropped a bunch of leaflets on my troops to urge them not to fight, I almost came apart with laughter. Good times.
In addition to the General abilities, new maps, and new units, the games graphics have noticably improved.
I couldn't recommend this higher. For RTS fans that haven't checked Zero Hour out yet, don't hesitate to buy this Expansion Pack, this game's got a lot of life in it yet.
Enjoy,
Christian Hunter
Santa Barbara, California
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