Review of El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron - Xbox 360

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We often see the debate rage on about whether games are truly art or not, but rarely do we ask the question: what sort of game would an artist make? El Shaddai would be that answer. You see, the game's director, Sawaki Takeyasu, who was in charge of the game's overall development, has only worked as an artist and even art director for past games he has worked on. Two of them, Okami and Viewtiful Joe, are considered some of the most beautiful and stylistic games ever made. He was also art director for Devil May Cry. His artistic focus, as well as the entire creative teams' purposefully artful approach, is evident throughout the entire game. This game has had a somewhat polarizing effect in the press (Game Informer: 9/10, Gamepro: 4.5/5, IGN: 5/10), with reviews being either universal praise or lots of (undue) criticism. Yes, you need to know what you're getting into when you pop in El Shaddai, a masterfully crafted experience that is meant to immerse and move you.

For me personally, I can already tell you after a bit of time with the game, this game should be bought and bought new to encourage the market to make more products as breathtaking and refreshing as this. It is an exceptional masterpiece that you will never forget, a truly amazing experience. Games this unique and beautiful are extremely rare and El Shaddai ranks among the very best of artistic games. Games like Okami, Viewtiful Joe, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Odin Sphere, and a few others come to mind. The publishers and developers of El Shaddai need to be rewarded for taking such a huge business risk by putting out a piece of art very different from the 1,001 desaturated shooters that flood the market each year. Also, by buying these sorts of games new, we can show the publishers that we do love beautiful, artistic games, and maybe they'll start making games of this caliber more often than every couple of years or so. With that out of the way, here's some information to help you know what you're getting into with the game. I will keep it all spoiler free. This game is full of amazing surprises that need to be experienced first-hand.

El Shaddai is based on the ancient Hebrew text, the Book of Enoch, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Anyone who knows a bit about their Biblical history knows that Enoch was a prophet that was active some time before the fabled flood of Noah. The story of his book, and this game, is that he is sent to "cleanse" the souls of fallen angels, called "Watchers," whose job had been to watch over mankind. They however, grew obsessed with humanity, took women as their own wives, birthed monsters called Nephilim, and now lived among people, corrupting God's divine purpose. It's a fascinating story subject for a game, and the fact that it is a traditionally western scriptural text being interpreted by distinctly Eastern, Japanese sensibilities makes it even more interesting. The characters are fascinating and while the distinct quirkiness of Japanese game design are here (although I wouldn't really go as far as to call it "anime style" per say), it's all a very refreshing experience. As Enoch, you will ascend a massive tower, each floor of which is an entire world devoted to each angel, and that's where the art comes in.

You see, each Watcher became obsessed with a different aspect of mankind, and offered their own unique "gift" to mankind as well. This translates to each Watcher's floor being completely unique in its art design. They're all striking and totally unique. In this game, you will transverse entire worlds that range from ever-shifting water color paintings, a world seemingly pulled from a minimalists' abstract painting in a modern art gallery, an organically rendered world, and even a hi-tech city very reminiscent of Tron: Legacy (Cycle sequence and all). I'll stop there because I really don't want to give anything away, as this game is spectacular when you discover for the first time what it has to offer. The enemy designs all fit their respective environments, and are pretty bizarre and interesting. Actually, all of the character designs are very striking, and some are very strange. Enoch himself is shirtless prophet in designer jeans, with white armor pieces that look like porcelain attached to him to indicate his health level. Archangels wearing black skinny jeans, while talking nonsense (at first anyway) on a cell phone? Yeeeeah, El Shaddai is kind of out there on its own in the world, but that is partly what makes it so spectacular. I really cannot praise the art direction in this game enough. It is one of the most varied, unique, and downright beautifully designed games in terms of art that I have seen since Okami, and I sincerely mean that.

The music cannot go unmentioned either. Composed by Masato Koda, who also wrote the music for the Devil May Cry series, this soundtrack is awesome. This game features music from all over the spectrum, ranging from levitical choirs, to Japanese garden zen-like music with harps and other traditional Japanese instruments, to 1970's jazzy-disco, to majestic Post-Rock. It's all here, and it's all quite excellent. I love it.

The gameplay is probably the most polarizing aspect of El Shaddai, and I can understand why (rhyme unintentional). At its core, El Shaddai is a 3rd person action adventure platformer with lots of beat-em-up moments. This is very well executed. However, this game takes another artistic school of thought and applies it straight to the gameplay. That concept is minimalism. You see, there is no HUD at all in the game. The combat is much more oriented on having encounters with only a couple enemies, with a focus on flow and elegance. Even the non-combat gameplay mechanics are very simple that use few buttons, but are executed elegantly. In fact, "elegance" is the word I would use to describe the gameplay in El Shaddai. This is intentional, and it is done with a purpose. Some in the gaming press have missed that and therefore given the review some poor ratings. Some will hate the gameplay, it's to be expected when it is so deliberately focused on being artistic in its execution and flow. You need to know that going in. Personally, I found it refreshing and very enjoyable, all of it.

Really, whether you enjoy the game or not will really boil down to whether you are in the right mindset to play the game. If you understand that this game, in every single possible way conceivable, is meant to actually stand as an immersive, beautiful work of art, you will absolutely love El Shaddai with your whole soul. Chances are, if you're looking at this obscure game at all, then you will be the type to love it. It is a niche title, that will probably grow to having a very devoted underground following (I truly hope it transcends an underground, cult status though). Personally, I fall in that category, and I am so refreshed after playing El Shaddai. It is a beautiful work of art, poignant and affecting, and I really hope that we get either a direct sequel, or at least a spiritual successor, soon. I said this earlier, but I must reiterate: BUY THIS GAME AND BUY IT NEW! Buy it, immerse yourself into it, and be transported to a magical world where games truly can be masterful works of art!

*As I continue my way through the game, I'll post updates to my review if I feel there is anything important to add to what is here in this review. For now, though, I think this review pretty much sums up the game in a spoiler-free yet informative fashion. I hope it was helpful. Thank you and good day! :)

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If the idea of cavorting before a hipster guardian angel who communicates with God on a cell phone and doing battle with minions of a dreadlocked Michael Jackson-alike who vogues in front of the screen whilst you're engaged in combat isn't an immediate turnoff, then El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron might just be weird enough for you.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron takes its inspiration from the Apocryphal book of Enoch. The more devout of thee in the audience can correct me if i'm wrong, but from what i could gather Enoch is a character from the Holy Bible book of Genesis who was a man of great faith, that turned out to be the great grandfather of Noah. In the game you are Enoch, a denim jeans clad hero fighting to restore order in Heaven by purifying truant angels to prevent the great flood. According to Genesis, angels had descended to earth and were making babies, known as Nephilim, with mortal women. This act of betrayal by the angels and humans was so detestable to the Big Guy upstairs that it inspired the watery Etch-a-Sketch end of the world. Talk about a jealous lover!

It's a Biblicalish tale with a very Japanese style. Think Bayonetta and Dante's Inferno (the not-classic game, not the classic book) by way of Davey and Goliath on acid. The play style is hack and slash with platformer tendencies. It does both competently. The art style is beyond gorgeous. Any number of screenshots would make decent wall hangings in your suburban home.

The 11 levels of the game sans one take place in a colorful and diversely envisioned netherworld. The one level not like the others involves a bizarre motorbike chase with Transformers-, no, Gobot-like nemesis's (f Michael Bay in the ear for ruining my childhood memories) on your tail in a futuristic Blade Runner-esque cityscape.

Most of the rest of the game involves doing battle with the fan club of puffy pantaloons-wearing fallen angels who don All-Seeing Eye of God masks (more popular in heaven on Halloween than Guy Fawkes masks) in boss battles. It's like if the back of a one dollar bill came to life... and wanted to kill you. Illuminati take note.

And now the verdict, in which rhubarb doom angles for a coveted AGN Game Critic Award. Using a 5 point scale we have...

Gameplay 3.5: The simple control scheme is easy to learn and adequately responsive. It's not uncommon to misjudge jumps, but i'd attribute that more to being dazzled by the purty visuals more than due to crappy controls. All in all a relatively frustration-free, controller tossing-less experience.

Presentation 5: Released in 2011 alongside such visual wonders as Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Battlefield 3 and Rayman Origins, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron dazzles with stunningly beautiful graphics. The vaguely decipherable story, based on an excised chapter from the numero uno best seller of all time, is served well by the marvelous artsy fartsy style.

Sound 4: Though the clip above from the Japanese version cannot attest, the voice acting is excellent, featuring a Shakespearean actor in the lead and a guy from the Harry Potter films as your "I've got God on speed dial!" pal and convenient save station. The musical score is fitting if not somewhat unremarkable. Sound effects do their job well.

Replayability 3: There are a whole host of bonuses to be had upon completion of your first playthrough. There are cinematics, sketches, harder difficulties, and extra costumes to unlock. If you're careful to collect all six of the "Prophecies of Ishtar" entries you'll gain access to an outfit that basically makes you invincible, which is handy for repeat playthroughs to pick up any spare cheevos left hanging.

Multiplayer 0: Thankfully, Ignition Entertainment chose not to tack a pointless multiplayer mode onto this little gem. Here is a case where a zed in the ratings category is a badge of honor. No need for multiplayer here. El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a completely satisfying single player experience.

Final Score 4: El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a video game not unique by type, but by style, and for that reason alone is worth a long lingering look. It can be had brand new for under $20 here at Amazon and at that price is quite the Eighth Commandment busting steal.

This review originally published with graphics and videos at AdultGamersNetwork.com on March 6th, 2012.

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Out of all the CoD and other shooter clones that seem to invade the shelves every year, a game that's truly different stands out; enter El Shaddai. The graphics are simply breathtaking; not in a Final Fantasy way, but in an almost metaphysical way. The combat is almost deceptively simple. It consists of pressing the attack button in various different timing combinations, which set of different combo moves which change depending on the weapon, of which there are three. You can also steal weapons from the enemy, called "purifying", which must also be performed every so often as evil builds up on the weapon. Anyway, I will make my review obsolete by summarizing in one sentence. On your way home, stop by your favorite video game store and buy this immediately. That is all.

Honest reviews on El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron - Xbox 360

My son is 12 and loves the game. I have watched quite a bit of it and it is really far out. The graphics are killer and the story line is deep. The fighting is fantastic.

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Let me say that the graphics are really interesting and appealing. but they will lose their appeal quickly, the gameplay just gets more and more repetitive with no sign of any depth in the future.

There are 3 weapons, thats it. You do not level up either, so you do not really learn new skills or new ways to use those weapons. The gameplay depth is what hurts this game the most.

The story is very out there... I still do not know what they were going for, but it's by no means the worst part of the game.

The sound and music are fine...

All in all, it's a game I played for a bit and lost interest in. The graphics and artistic direction are very appealing, but the strange story and shallow gameplay really hold this game back. The whole game turns into a grind fest that occasionally impresses you flashy, trippy, and impressive settings.

The 2d sections were neat though, I enjoyed those quite a bit.

Review of Rygar

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Sadly the PS2 version of "Rygar" is nothing but a DMC clone. The original RYGAR NES was far better than the arcade game. It had depth, challenge and paved the way for action adventure/hack and slash/ RPG hybrids on consoles.

The difficulty was insane thanks to no save points. But aside from that old school flaw, the game is flat out fun and engaging. My fondest NES memories are from staying up all night as a kid beating this game

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I bought it for my husband who played the game as a child. He had never been able to beat the game then; and had been wanting to beat it for the past 20 some years. He has since beaten the game and loves playing it over and over.

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This game will really take you back if you grew up playing Nintendo. Arrived in perfect condition. Couldn't step away from it until I beat the game. Just like old times!

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This games rocks! I received it as a gift and thought that it was going to be stupid. But I decided to pop it into the NES and just play it to get the feel for the gameplay and if it indeed was a dumb game. Boy was I wrong; this game kept me occupied for hours on end. Great game to the last level. Fun gameplay. Unique idea and style of play, and one of the most unknown games on the market. I would buy it if they made it available for Gamecube.

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Circa 1987... They had just abolished my job of nearly 4 years and there I was collecting unemployment and living in a single room apartment. But I had Rygar. Oh, what a fantastic game this is and what fun to play. This game didn't offer the ability to save progress, so being unemployed was an added benefit at the time. Not wanting to lose any progress, I remember leaving the game turned on when I would run across the street to purchase some snacks at the 7/11. I think that one of the things that makes this game such a wonderful experience is the music. This was the first video game that ever caused me to fall in love with the theme music. The music in this game is OUTSTANDING!

The controls are simple and easy to learn. The adventure itself is somewhat involved, leaving you with a real sense of satisfaction when complete. The venues change throughout the game keeping it interesting. What a fantastic game this is! I thank God for wonderful games such as Rygar! Thanks God! (Spoken while pointing both index fingers toward the Heavens!)

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. Reviews

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After Prince of Persia and EndWar, this is the third major Ubisoft retail release to come out protected not by any intrusive yet ineffective DRM scheme but simply by gamers' honor. And, on top of that, it is a very good game.

There hasn't been a similar game released for some time now: simplified arcade-like action with easy controls, breath-taking cinematics and impressive graphics that will run in full even in mid-range PC systems. My advice: as with any flight combat game, using a joystick will make things so much more enjoyable and intuitive.

If you are more of an authenticity buff (and still have tons of free time to spare) I would advise going with a combat AddOn for Flight Simulator or a good old Jane's title. You will find no realistic cockpit and detailed controls in H.A.W.X. So, is this flight combat game dummied down? Well, yes. But I promise you: you will have FUN like never before!

Hammerheading over cityscapes and coming in from the Sun over the desert has never been more easy to master. The electronic aids and bare-minimum controls will let you enjoy the fights and start mastering them early on.

This is a 4star game but I decided to give it full marks just because the Canadians at UBISOFT keep walking the narrow path towards a DRM-free future. It cannot be easy to take such bold decisions during such a tight economy. They deserve our support.

RECOMMENDED!

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This is a pretty game, lots of action, lots of things to blow up, makes a lot of noise and seems to be a game aimed at kids. It is not in any way a flight sim except that it happens to take place in airplanes. And thats where any similarity to a flight sim ends.

The planes fly like they are on rails, there is no inertia whatsoever. Engines accelerate the planes with vertical climbs not making much difference to speed. You can jerk a high AOA turn and the speed stays pretty much constant. You can go inverted and pull loop a few thousand feet off the ground~ and make it. There is no speed compression, you can turn as sharp as you want at any speed. You can target enemy aircraft and ground targets about 2-3 seconds apart and fire on them from high off angles and speed at close range and still hit.

Not much of a sim, but fun as a game. EZ entry for people with no knowledge of flight sims or desire to learn all the stuff that goes with it. Its a console game adapted to a PC platform~ nuff said.

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UPDATE

I have to say that I continue to be impressed with this game as I play it more. I may have under appreciated the graphics, I find that the use of the satellite imagery to be a great thing and probably much cheaper than having designers start from scratch in a fictional world like Ace Combat series.

I think the Cape Canaveral map is cool but while playing I was reminded of an Ace Combat 4 map of basically the same thing, the Magellan Straits, Caribbean, Afghanistan, Middle East(Probably Arabia), Central African, and all of the 17 maps are really great. Another thing is that in the first mission, Juarez, Mexico, you support the Ghosts in the earlier GRAW games which is a nice tie in and I'm pretty sure you support the Rainbow Team from Rainbow Six Vegas in the Nevada map. Other noteworthy planes are the YF-23 that lost out to the F-22, the XA-20 Razorback which I've never seen anywhere else, X-29 demostrator, Harrier, EA-6B Prowler, Mig-21, A12 Wing, and other curiosities.

Something I wish was included was fully destructible environments, your missiles splash in the water but don't effect buildings or trees. Another thing that would be great would be add-on maps or a map editor in which we could use google earth imagery or some kind of expansion packs for helos, gunships or even prop planes. All in all I have to update my rating to an 8.5, since I'm a non-console player I can't compare it to the latest Ace Combat but I'm sure it more than holds it's own against it.

GENERAL THOUGHTS

Yeah this is a fun game that reminds me very much of the Ace Combat series for consoles of which I have not played since I became a PC only gamer. It's not a sim by any means but if you want that get the Microsoft flight sim or any of the other ones available on PC. I have to disagree with IGN's review of 6.7, the author clearly misses a lot of the details, such as the ability to release flares when an enemy has you locked, the changeable paint schemes and others, and has an animosity towards this game that is not called for, for me this game is between a 7.5 to 8.5 depending on how much you like the arcade modern jet combat game. I would say for me it's an 8 and that's 4/5 stars here.

The novelty of this game is really what is cool. I'm not much of a sim player and outside of that ,at least for PC gamers, there's not much in the way of cool jet fighter games. Who wouldn't want to fly one of these technological masterpieces but not have to worry about all the details that the real guys do? Not to mention the real-world locations, which is not offered in the Ace Combat series. My review is from a single player offline only POV and not really using any of the bots you can command, as it didn't really make much of a difference but I have to say I have not played this game to the end yet.

STORY

Well it's a pretty minimal story, and thanks for that I don't really follow that much in a game like this or racing games either. I still remember the silly and embarrassing Ace Combat 4 story although I did like the art style involved. This has just an ex-air force pilot(YOU) switching to a private security company that has no loyalties other than money and when it takes a contract to attack your country you rebel. That's all I'll get into as you can get a summary from the official reviews elsewhere. It takes place in 2014, standard Tom Clancy near future time setting.

GAMEPLAY

Well like I said this is an arcade game, meaning you can do about anything with your jet and as long as it doesn't hit the ground you will not be punished for it with things like flameouts or losing control. The combat is non-realistic as well, when you are under attack you can use flares and wildly maneuver your plane in any which way and it always works. Also it's a little too easy on normal difficulty, I had no trouble killing Su-27's, Apaches and various ground targets in the older FA-18 Hornet; I would expect and Su-27 to be a bigger challenge.

Also there is no need to worry about fuel as it's not even on your HUD as well as you being armed with nearly 200 missiles for every mission, even AceCombat5 had limitations that made the game a bit more strategic and challenging. Missiles can't be instantly fired in succession there's a bit of a waiting period after firing 2 to fire more. Your cannon/machinegun is unlimited as well but can't be used continuously as it get's hot and is a primarily burst weapon. The cluster bombs are awesome as well as the conventional large ground bombs with the usual HUD visualizations of trajectory and spread area.

That said it is kind of interesting to turn off the "assistance(HUD Forward View)" with left-ctrl and switch to a side view of the plane you are flying instead of the assisted normal swingman view, it's a little weird and I have not tried any missions with it on. There are no landing sequences to worry about either.

Another thing is if you hold down the missile fire button the camera will switch to the missiles view which is pretty cool. There's also something called the ERS which takes you step by step to an enemy kill, it makes it way too easy and really should be used for training purposes only.

TECHNICAL

I had no problems with the installation on Windows XP and the game picked up my Logitech Rumblepad 2 when I went into the controls settings and specified the joystick. The default settings were fine for my joypad. I have a midrange system and had no trouble getting 1680x1050 with all high. I'm using Q6600@2.4Ghz, 4GB RAM, 8800GT512.

GRAPHICS

These were standard to good, I would say nothing mind blowing but nothing too bad either. The jets all look like their real world counterparts and the real world cities look accurate since they are supposedly based on real satellite images, although they are limited in area. I wasn't hugely impressed with the Los Angeles area, being a resident of LA, I didn't see the Hollywood sign or other things other than the main downtown section. Also the Southern Nevada part is OK I suppose, mainly empty desert and what I assume to be Lake Mead, I used to live in S. Nevada and didn't really see much that was recognizable, I don't remember there being a Hoover Dam but I could be wrong.

The maps that stood out were Chicago, DC, Tokyo, and Rio. There's about 17 maps. The stars are really the planes as they should be.

I liked the water on the screen effect you get when going through rain. The explosions are standard this generation to look at but the explosions from the ground battles are pretty neat if nothing special. The way to really get a good view of the plane and surroundings, if not really all that conducive to play, is to use the assistance off setting using left-control. In summary the graphics are good this generation, that's not really a problem though since it's just cool to have a game like this finally for PC gamers.

SOUND

Pretty standard, everything sounds right from what I know. I turn off/down the music since I don't thing most fighter pilots are allowed that sort of thing in combat anyways and I don't need it to give me a better gaming experience as this is only a game. Some may like the drama enhancement you get from it but I'm not one of them. The explosions are pretty nice, you would of course never hear them like that in a jet but it's a game!

EXTRAS

One thing you should go and get from a third party is a plane and mission unlocker. There are massive amounts of real world planes here and I want access to them immediately, like the SR-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk, F16, F15,F14,all the migs, Mirage, Typhoon, A10 Warthog, F35 Joint Strike FIghter, F4, older 60's planes, awesome new looking Russian planes, experimental planes, F22 Raptor, next next generation USA planes, Jaguar, F-111, and probably others I've missed. As well as different loadouts of missiles for each planes specialties like precision bombs, ground target bombs, cluster bombs, air to air bombs or a mix of them particular to each plane and it's capabilities. I would guess there are at least 50 planes here not counting the variants of the same plane. My favorites include the F-15 Active, F-117, A10, SR-71, etc.

There are no helos,prop planes, gunships or heavy bombers here, this is all jets, but you do take down Apaches and other helos in missions. The planes also have at least one more selectable paint job, like the F-117 Nighthawk has the standard Stealth Black and also has the Camo pattern for daytime missions. Also there are multiple variants of each jet like the standard F16 and the upgraded F16c which I believe is the non-export USA edition or exported to close allies only as well as variants with different selectable paint jobs.

All of this stuff is unlockable only after finishing in the different difficulty settings or getting better ratings after missions or some online only stuff but who wants to do all that, search for the Hawx unlock on google and have a blast right away!

CLOSING

I recommend this to anyone who likes arcade flying games and doesn't want too much of a challenge. This game is great if you like jets in general and want the chance to fly them in a game with a wide variety. It's not a must have game, unless you are a lover of modern jets, but if you are looking for more variety in your game collection get this one. Of course this is not a fifty dollar game by any means so get it used when the prices come down, I'd say new in the forty dollar range. I'd say if you have the latest Burnout PC game or miss/enjoy the Ace Combat console series and seek a breather from the FPS's, RPG's, MMOG's and other dominant game types, this would fit nicely into your collection.

Honest reviews on Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.

First off, I'll admit I'm a simulation type guy. I've played in-depth games like the JANES series, Microsoft FSX, and the sort. However, even I get tired of managing all those switches all the time and I just want to dance around the sky and blow things up. If thats what you want, than HAWX is definitely worth a look.

First off, the graphics are the game's strong attribute. The landscape and the planes are beautifully modeled. The effects however, such as flak, missiles, enemy fire, and certain explosions, seem to be lacking in authenticity when compared to the graphical quality of everything else.

The flight model is obviously very simple and easy to use; I wouldn't recommend hooking up a complex control system to play this game. I tried my Saitek X52 system with rudder pedals, didn't work so well. But a Microsoft Sidewinder with a throttle slider and twist-style stick works outstanding.

The one area that will be a challenge is when the assistence mode (AKA the alpha limiters for those aviation buffs) is turned off. This will allow some very high angle-of-attack manuevering and snap turns. However, the other reason this mode is challenging is because the camera viewpoint in this mode is normally off to the side of your plane, keeping your plane and your target in the same line of sight. But when you get into these close-in tight dogfights, the camera can't seem to keep the enemy plane in view for more than a few moments, and good luck trying to engage with guns in this mode if you run out of your three dozen missiles. Luckily, gun ammo is infinite, and bursts are limited to the gun's heat build-up.

Overall, this game makes me appreciate the other flight sims out there that are extremely realistic, but works in a pinch if I need to give my brain a break and blow stuff up. The one remaining downfall of this game is it is VERY much like the Ace Combat series, its practically a twin. And the missions can get somewhat repetitive. At the time of this review, I've only played ten missions in, so we'll see what remaining missions have in store.

Bottom line, definitely a console arcade game for the PC, shallow learning curve, repetitive gameplay, but awesome graphics and fun, if unrealistic flight modeling. Head to head matches will probably be the main focus of HAWX fans...Lastly, this is just one man's opinion, so feel free to try the game and make your own conclusions.

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When you don't even pay $6 for a game like this....how can you complain. (I bought the PC Download that is less than $5.50)

Seriously though, I played a couple missions and it's a good looking and interesting fighter/flight game. It's certainly not a sim, and it takes some getting use too..but as I said before...it's worth 4 stars in my book as far as price versus content.

Wireless Force Feedback Racing Wheel for XBox 360 Review

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EDIT: JULY 30, 2013. THE UNIT BROKE, MAD CATZ DID NOT MAKE GOOD ON WARRANTY, DID NOT EVEN RESPOND TO MY EMAIL! BUYER BEWARE. ITS OVER FOR ME AND MADCATZ PRODUCTS.

NOVEMBER 5, 2013.

So I got the unit from the madcatz website for 220 because if you order directly from there they have an internet coupon code that gives you 10 percent off, which is awesome because you can have it shipped 2day xpress with the extra cash you save if you want to. Anyways, i am a 33 yr old gamer, and have always stayed away from the madcatz brand since the days during the n64. I bought alot of junk controls from them that forever made me stick with the oem brand of whatever system i owned since then. Needless to say I was extremely skeptical, but I knew I would just return it if I didnt like it so I said what the hell. Well, I think the wheel is worth what you pay for it, and im glad madcatz has finally made a quality product other than their competition fight sticks. It has alot of weight to it, almost all steel, has a nice feel with rubber grips and 270 degrees of rotaion. the included lap supports are very sturdy if you must play this way, and the secure clamp is also very ergonomically designed to secure the unit onto a desk which is probably the optimal way to set it up. The force feedback is extremely present and does a very good job of giving you a virtual sense of where your cars tires lie on the road. The noise the wheel makes is minimal however sometimes slightly noticeable. The pedal set does not feel as well crafted as the wheel, but you will not slip on the rubber grips and they are spaced very well. They provide good resistance although not as authentic as a real auto, but are very easy to get used to and learning the different vehicles in the game really lets you see just how functional they really are. The triptronic shifter really feels authentic and you can even feel the vibrations around the area where the shifter lies when you shift gears. Without a pedal set, the feel would just not be as immersive, and since they are included it just was the more affordable option. Ive been waiting for the black friday deal for 28 bucks on the forza 4 game but meanwhile i cannot put the demo of forza 4 down. It feels fantastic with the wheel and if youve ever played an arcade game that had a racing wheel attached to it like sega's old daytona usa, well, this feels better than that technology. It says on the box that it "works great with forza 4" and they are not understating that one bit. I cannot compare to a fanatec but I had to pass on that because the cheapest compatible set that is in stock available to ship is 300 plus tax n shipping and does not include a shifter or pedals. Im not saying that it's not better, the fanatec looks dope as hell, but for the price this madcatz is doing the trick.

EDIT:

DEC 6th 2011

Black frizzle came and went and i got mii hands on Forza 4 $(27) n I also picked up Midnight Club LA Complete Edition. ($15) My opinion about the wheel hasn't changed one bit. In fact I cannot put either of these games down, especially Forza 4. Every car just changes so dynamically as you feel the simulated power of torque going to the wheels as you downshift and take a corner or even the slight grooves in the pavement that can pull you to either side of the road. It feels pretty phenomenal, for me that is. This is the first time I ever considered purchasing a wheel and thanks to Turn 10 studios for making a game that simulates car driving at a level I have never witnessed or experienced. There may be better simulation racing games for other platforms, i dont know, but for the 360 using the madcatz force feedback wheel along with forza 4 is sure to bring you hours upon hours of enjoyment. (p.s.) midnight club la rocks just as hard but it's definitely an arcade racer. It supports force feedback on this wheel and although it's not utilized as accurately as forza 4, I would still give the force feedback and vibration support a 4.5 out of 5 on this game. Another game I tried out was Baja: Edge of Control which is also compatible with force feedback and vibration. You can feel the both functions in the game but it's not as present as in either forza 4 or midnight club. This game was meant to be played with a wheel and after having played this game with a controller for the past couple of years, i can honestly say i dont know what i was thinking. Anyway, i guess you can tell my enthusiasm. However, for 250 shipped and at my doorstep within 3 days from madcatz gameshark website, you cannot go wrong with this wheel. *You also get a full 2year warranty*

Edit:

Jan 6th 2012

This wheel is still going strong! Ive had it for about 2 months and Forza 4 is still taking up all of my gaming time. Ive received games like Saints Row 3, Skyrim, Metal Gear Solid HD, n' Darks Souls over the holiday period but have not even ripped open the plastic to try them out (sorry Skyrim!) It's just that the total feeling of Forza 4 is truly outstanding with all the control that you get while playing with the wheel. One thing that has improved is the wheels overall flexibility. When I first began using the wheel it had some quirky stiff points at certain positions but those seem to have now kinked themselves out through use. I play about an average of 2hours when I get a chance, and although it hasn't been daily use, its been quite frequent.

I hope they make an optional set of steel pedals as it would probably enhance the game that much more. Overall still a phenomenal experience and cant wait to see what they can do with the power of the next gen systems for driving simulators. PEACE!

Edit:

Feb 4, 2012

Almost another month has flown by and Im still pleased as punched with my racing wheel. Ive noticed a few critical negative reviews about this product and decided to lay down more information on my experience. Im still rockin' Forza Motorsport 4 every time I fire up the 360. The wheel is still sturdy, still provides great feedback from the game, and only seems to have "broken in," so to speak. I have learned the pedals "touch" and am now able to use the brake and gas more to my advantage. I recommend using some racing shoes or something with a sticky sole because the rubber padding on the pedals sticks really well to these kinds of shoes and helps with keeping you throttle and braking like a semi-pro. I have also started to use the paddle shifters more often than using the triptronic shifter and the feedback from these shifters feels closely approximated to what I feel on my real life car. Up to now, the game is still garnishing most of my 360 playtime and probably will be until the next best 360 racing game is released. Now time to go burn some mo' RSX rubber

Edit:

March 26, 2012

Da wheel is still alive n' kickin wings! Turn 10 upped the cap on the car level from 150 to 999 on the recent update and its a good thing because I have been playing the game so much that I have usurped the 150 mark already.

There is just so much content by default in this game because of the amount of cars and how different they all handle. The steering wheel wouldn't mean much if it did not interact with the game the way it does, but fortunately it has done its job and is still providing its dose of awesomeness. Everything still works just as good as the day I plugged it in.

Edit:

Friday April 27, 2012

I have the 5.1 dolb-digi sound turned up with Aphex Twin's "Richard D. James" album for driving music and the options to focus more on engine sounds enabled. The music goes perfect with Forza and pumps u up if you are into his music or something similar. The wheel is still working awesomely and have been taking turns playing Forza 4, Baja Off Road Challenge, and Midnight club L.A. I must say that the more I play Baja with the wheel, the more I think that they should sell that game with a disclaimer that says "needs force feedback wheel to even have a chance at winning" Its really tough, but its extremely fun especially since you are constantly turning the wheel, downshifting, hitting the e-brake to take a bank, clutching and revving to get a good start, and adjusting the damper on the springs while youre flying off a jump to land perfectly. It's alot of fun. Well, prolly be my last update for a while and will definitely post if anything bad should happen to it. Later.

Edit:

June 28, 2012

Recently started playing Dirt 3 Complete. The game works really well with the game but Forza 4 still makes best use of the wheel in terms of simulation. After playing Dirt 3 fer a few weeks, I had to switch back to finishing all of the event lists in Forza 4. The game still impresses me especially after being able to buy and drive the most expensive cars. The addition of the Porsche has been really great and prove extremely fun to drive with the wheel. I still agree with my 5 fun factor stars.

Edit:

September 3, 2012

I am still racking up hours on Forza 4. The wheel is still providing the same experience as when I first started using it. I also started using the "manual w/clutch" option in the Forza game menus to make the driving as simulated as possible. After switching to manual with clutch I finally realized that this unit seriously needs a pedal set with a clutch. I had to map the clutch to the "A" button on the wheel and while it works well to really enhance the simulation experience, it also shows the shortcomings of this wheel's setup.

I recently saw this wheel here on amazon advertised for $179.99 and if you can get it for that price then I feel it's a fair price. If you have to pay more then it might feel like one of those purchases you curse yourself for having to pay premium because there is no one else selling this product for less.

I still agree with my 5 fun factor stars, and if you can find this product in the 180 dollar range you might be able to justify this buy. It's still a solid wheel, and as this year has proved, has provided me with the best racing experience and the most control in game I have ever felt or witnessed. I can only imagine what the FANATEC setup would feel like and if you have extra to spend on the equipment then I would most probably recommend going with the other brand because it has so much more options when it comes to controlling what Forza 4 lets you control in its game.

Edit:

November 26, 2012.

One word. Forza Horizon. Okay so that's 2 but cmon man, the game deserves it. Cant believe it was $15 on black friday from the devil store himself: microsoftstore.com. The wheel plays as charming as ever although I am getting closer and closer to buying the Fanatec setup cuz its such a bute. Anyways, still gaming with da wheel alot and Horizon works beautifully with it. Just as fantastic as Forza 4! Probably gonna be my final post since its been 1yr with this awesome little wheel, but it has undergone extensive use, been used by ppl other than myself who were really rough with it, and I thankfully have not had any problems with it. My final thoughts are this; If you have the extra cash to spend please do yourself a favor and get the Fanatec. This is not a bad wheel by any means. This wheel is currently on *special* at gamestop online for $179.99 although currently not in stock. At that price point I would recommend taking a shot at it. Otherwise just save up a little bit more and get yourself the Fanatec. As I reflect on the year in review I can see how it can be called a great starter wheel and a great way to greatly enhance the Forza series games or most other great racers on your xbox.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The Mad Catz Wireless Force Feedback Racing Wheel for XBox 360 would be a decent wheel at a lower price point. At its MRRP of $250, I feel it's overpriced by $100. At a lower price point, I might have given it 4/5 stars. For $250, I just don't see the value or quality that I expect for that sort of money.

For starters, it's 95% made of plastic (and I feel that other 5% percentage is being very generous!). For this MRRP, I expected a lot more metal (ie: quality and durability) given the 'part metal construction' claim. The only visible metal is the center face plate (where the buttons are), the F1 paddles, and the cap on the shifter. To be fair, there may be more bits of metal lurking inside that I can't see; I sincerely hope there are! Even then, this 'metal' is die-cast, and I'm just not impressed. Sorry.

See my theme here? This wheel is way overpriced for what you get!

WHEEL: 3/5 stars

All told, the wheel does have a nice feel to its steering movement. The button placement is good so that you can reach them all with your thumbs, and the F1 paddles are within easy reach of my fingertips. The sides of the wheel have a grippier covering than the top and bottom, so you won't slip while cornering with sweaty palms in a close race. The shifter is within easy reach, and, in a nice touch, is mountable on either the left or right side of the wheel, depending on your personal preference. It is, however, just a plastic shifter within in a plastic mechanism, and a die-cast cap on the end.

I tested the Mad Catz Wireless Force Feedback Racing Wheel with "Forza 4" and "Dirt 3." The wheel has good force feedback and vibration (the strength of which can be set within the individual game), as well as a good road feel. I did, however, feel some vibration within the XBOX menus (ie: while not in a game) that was noticeable enough for me to mention it here. While not in a game, this wheel should be dead 'silent.'

It's nice to be wireless from your Xbox, however you're still tethered to the power brick (which is too short; you'll need a power extension cord if you intend to sit more than 4 feet away from your Xbox) and the wire coming up from the pedals. This wheel is power only; it does not have a battery mode like the cheaper wireless Mad Catz wheel.

PEDALS: 2/5 stars

The pedal design is great, featuring top-hinged accelerator and brake pads like a real car (no clutch). However, the construction of the pedals leaves a lot to be desired. They are constructed of 100% plastic, and not even heavyweight plastic at that. The whole pedal assembly feels lightweight and cheap. For this MRRP, there should be some metal here. After all, these are the parts that gamers will be stomping on! I predict the pedals will be the first things to break for many.

The pedal footrest folds slightly (about 90 degrees) for storage purposes, or detaches completely for mounting in a racing frame/seat.

MOUNTING: 3/5 stars

The Mad Catz Wireless Force Feedback Racing Wheel features two ways to mount--desk or lap. The lap attachments actually work better than I expected, keeping the wheel more sturdy that I would have thought. Lap mount has actually become my preferred mounting way, as well as making it easy to pack up and store it when I'm done playing. The two lap mounts screw into the bottom of the wheel, and have to be removed if you intend to use the desk mount, so really, you have to pick one way or the other, or risk stripping the plastic threads.

The desk mount attachment is (again) all plastic, with a plastic nut. It hooks into the bottom of the wheel's base and then clamps down on your desk/racing frame. It seems to me that it would be incredibly easy to over tighten this and strip the thread completely.

SETUP: 4/5 stars

The Mad Catz Wireless Force Feedback Racing Wheel easily connected with my Xbox 360 by pressing the sync buttons on the wheel and on my Xbox. The headphone jack on the back of the wheel is for the newer Xbox headsets with in-line mute. Old style Xbox headsets with the mute switch on the plug will not work.

It's nice to have a firmware upgrade option. In order to upgrade the firmware, the wheel must be connected to a PC via a USB cable (not included).

CONCLUSION:

Overall, the Mad Catz Wireless Force Feedback Racing Wheel is not a bad wheel for the Xbox 360, it's just way overpriced. Given the 'mostly plastic' construction and the other points I mentioned here, I feel there needs to be some serious adjustment in order for it to appeal to the average gamer.

On the other hand, serious racers will be expecting a lot more from the high MRRP, and the claims of 'part metal' construction, and thus (I feel) be very disappointed with what they get.

The Mad Catz Wireless Force Feedback Racing Wheel for XBox 360 gets 3/5 average stars from me.

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I just received the Mad Catz Wireless Forced Feedback Xbox 360 Wheel Nov 14th. I was very impressed with the heavy metal use and quality of this wheel. The Paddle Shifters, Wheel Spokes and the Stick Shifter are made with metal. All of the buttons have a nice tight fit with no wiggle. The wheel is rubber wrapped at the 3 and 9 o'clock grip positions. When driving all of the controls are well placed. It even has the bumper buttons hidden on back of the wheel infront of the paddles. The Pedals are firm and well placed. I tested it with my Need For Speed Hot Pursuit, I don't have Forza 4 yet. (The wheel was made with Forza 4 in mind.) The game is completely controlled from the wheel, no other controller needed. The driving was INCREDIBLE. The wheel didn't fight with you, but rolled with the track. If you were on a bank it let you know, The feel through my hands was nearly what I get when driving in my truck. You can feel cracks, bumps, curbs, dirt, paved, and any objects that happen to be infront of you. The wheel has been Future Proofed by including a Mini USB Port on the back. (It is under a screwed in panel) So no worries about spending $224 on a Wheel that will be out dated soon. The ability to update the firmware takes care of any new games down the road. Yes I did say $224. I got mine through the manufacturer Mad Catz with a 10% discount and no Shipping cost during a Halloween discount. Anyways, I HIGHLY Recomend this wheel for anyone who feels the need for speed, and wants some realism to boot. Well worth it. After driving a few runs, I felt as if I was just at the gym doing an hour of workout. So it is a good workout also. Hope this review could help you out on making a decission. Driving is alot better when you have feedback, and this wheel could be put up against a $600 Fanatech setup, and hold its own for alot less money.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program We've been using this wheel with Forza 4 for the last few weeks here, and so far it has been working great with no problems. I have it clamped to one of those little ten-dollar Ikea end tables (the clamp will handle the two-inch thickness of the table if you leave off the cap thing that normally would go on the end of the screw, but it still works just great).

The wheel is sturdy and feels good. The force feedback is substantial, though I'm sure less than you'd get on a high-end wheel. There are sufficient buttons, including the two on the back of the wheel in front of the paddle-shifters that took me rather a long time to discover. I have mostly used the paddle shifters but the left or right side attachable up/down stickshift is ok as an alternative (if at a somewhat odd angle).

The pedals are functional but nothing special. They are at least mounted with the pivot at the top. I did not find the spacing between the accelerator and break to be much of a problem. It would have been nice to have a clutch as an option, but honestly I'd probably rarely use it.

It has a surprisingly small wall-wart power supply with only about a six foot or so cord to plug into the back of the wheel (next to the RJ-45 jack the pedals plug in at), so an extension cord may well be required to get to a wall outlet.

It has adequately good looks and feel and construction quality for the price I think, and for someone wanting a force-feedback wheel experience for their XBOX in a medium price range, I think it's a good option.

G.

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Two issues:

1) Really needs a clutch pedal, for the traditional driving experience.

2) Pedals really need to be set up for heel & toe

Reviews of EA Sports Active Accessory Pack

Customer Ratings:

I purchased this package 4-1/2 months ago along with the Sports Active game. Today I noticed that the neoprene rubber backing on both of the leg bands is tearing along the seam at the end of the velcro strap. Each leg band has been used for approximately 24 workouts (equivalent to being worn for 12 hours). I contacted customer support and was told that EA's official policy was that the bands would only be replaced under warranty within 90 days of purchase, no matter how little they were used before the damage was discovered. The customer support representative commented that this has been a very common failure and that the warranty department has been absolutely inflexible on the expiration of the warranty period.

The flaw in the design is obvious. The line of stitches places holes (which concentrate stress) along the edge of where the inflexible velcro strap meets the flexible neoprene backing. That promotes formation of rips starting at those holes. EA should fix the design and replace all of the bands of the old design that fail.

The resistance band is very soft and does not provide nearly enough resistance for most adults. I purchased a 3-pack of light/medium/heavy resistance bands from sporting goods store, and even the light band was significantly stiffer than the EA Sports band.

Since this kit includes only the faulty leg band, a useless resistance band, and some uncomfortable handles, I rate it a 1.

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Since I'm not quite ready to review the actual game yet, here's my run-down on the accessories:

The leg strap that's used to hold the nun chuck for certain exercises works. It's pretty comfortable, and when set to the right tightness stays in place quite well. I'm not sure it has to do with the leg strap itself, but I find that doing alternating side lunges, the games doesn't recognize my positions well when I have to go left. To the right, no problem. Rather than over by shorts, I strap it straight to my leg it seems to stay in place better. I sweat a bit beneath it, but hey, I'm working out here so it's expected.

The elastic resistance band could have been thought out a bit better. First, you have to attach the handles to it yourself, though this isn't difficult. It seems to have good resistance and so far has been quite durable. My biggest complaint would have to be the handles they're not comfortable at all, especially since you'll be holding the remote and nun chuck in the same hands. Depending on the exercise you're doing, the position of the handle slips in your hands this is painfully obvious during tricep kickbacks. Also, it'd be better if the center of the strap was somehow marked that way when you're positioning it on the floor to step on, you could better ensure even resistances for both hands/arms. I find that I often have to readjust position and tension during the exercise which often results in those annoying reminders to 'Hold still' and 'Slow down'.

Overall these are cool accessories something more to provide resistance is a boon for any fitness title and the leg strap accomplishes its goal.

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I ordered this set to complement EA Sports Active More Workouts, which does not come with these accessories.

It was a bad choice: the resistance band broke after just three weeks of use (about eight workouts) and it's clear the leg strap is not far behind. The good news is that the EA Sports online customer service has been friendly and helpful. The bad news is that the replacement parts will be just as bad as the originals! This set might be ok if you are completely out of shape and put only minimal stress on both the strap and band.

Strongly recommend that you look at ordering a different strap there are lots of options on Amazon and your local sporting goods store. As for the leg strap, I've tried wearing tighter training shorts and rolling the controller inside the band. It's not perfect, but it seems to work.

Please read the other reviews carefully. Most of the high ratings are for the game, which is terrific. The reviews related to the quality and design of this product are generally pretty low.

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With this add-on my wife and I can work out together. Unlike some of the other one's like Wii Fit where you would have to take turns. You can workout "co-op" to to complete the exercises.

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I've owned EA Active since it came out and have loved every single minute of it. I'd workout then my roomy would workout since we only had 1 strap to use. So it made it not that much fun from a watching stand point. We just bought a 2nd leg strap and LOVE THIS workout all over again. It is so much fun working out with someone. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND buying the 2nd strap to workout with ANYONE who wants to try it with you or if you have kids that want to try it. It's a great addition. Not worth $20 (because the resistance tube is useless...you have to go and buy a better one which is more $) but just to buy the handles and the strap is worth it in the long run. The handles are uncomfortable and I'm going to try and put some foam padding on them and see if that helps any. It gets the job done after playing for about an hour. It gets me up and moving my butt each and every day along with Gold's Gym Cardio Boxing....LOVEEEEEEEEEE IT! Love burning over 1000 calories just between Active and Gold's Gym. FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

Cheap Karaoke Revolution Glee: Volume 2 Bundle - Nintendo Wii

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $26.00
Today's Bonus: 35% Off

Just got the Glee Karaoke 2 bundle, and it's SO MUCH FUN. I have volume 1, and it's great, but vol. 2 has much better songs (even though #2 only has 20 songs and #1 has almost 30).

More features have been added to the game, including a "versus" setting, where you can compete against each other, as well as new audio features and voice applications. While it's essentially the same format as Glee vol. 1, it's more refined.

HOWEVER. As you may have read from other reviews: two songs are missing--"Ice Ice Baby" and "Pink Houses." For God knows what reason, you have to unlock these songs. Luckily, a little Google magic helped me find the codes:

Unlock code for "Pink Houses": DD6C62

Unlock code for "Ice Ice Baby": A64112

Hope that helps!

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I liked the game but wheres all the Madonna songs and the journey songs ?

and I would of liked it to be like "rockband" where there is "NO Vocal" mode so you can hear YOURSELF SING no try and hear yourself with one of the glee kids.

its so dissapointing. maybe Konami will listen and make the next one with a Auto Tune and "Turn OFF The Vocals Mode" for Us GLEEKS!

i dont understand why they didnt imlement that in the first game, who wants to try and hear themself sing to Merecedes ,Finn, Kurt and Rachel? It would be nice if you could TURN IT OFF!!

grrr

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SO disappointed by this. Terrible selection of songs. There are 20 songs listed on the box 12 of them are male tunes. Now don't get me wrong, some are good songs. For example, I love "Lady Is A Tramp", but it's too low in Puck's octave, and it's too high to take it up to the next octave. Call me crazy...I doubt most of the people buying this game are tenors and basses. Where's the Madonna songs, or the Journey songs from the finale? Why are there rap songs included? Does anybody really want to do rap-karaoke? What's the point?

There's also the MAJOR PROBLEM that two of the songs listed on the box (Pink Houses & Ice Ice Baby) AREN'T EVEN IN THE GAME! There are only 18 songs to sing.

Song list:

Bad Romance

Beautiful

Beth

Boy Is Mine

Dream a Little Dream of Me

Dream On

Gives You Hell

Good Vibrations

Hello, I Love You

House Is Not A Home

Ice Ice Baby**

Jessie's Girl

Lady Is A Tramp

Like A Virgin

Over The Rainbow

Pink Houses**

Shout It Out Loud

To Sir, With Love

Total Eclipse of the Heart

U Can't Touch This

Maybe I got a defective copy or something...I'll have to watch the reviews as they come in.

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The volume bundle was as we expected and the kids love it. Friends come over for karaoke night on a regular basis.

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total hit at christmas with grandchild number 3, singing up a storm, couldn't be happier, would recommend to everyone..she was thrilled.

Self-Defense Training Camp - Xbox 360 Reviews

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List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $9.99
Today's Bonus: 75% Off

I wouldn't call Self Defense Training Camp a "game" as much as I'd call it an interactive instructional video. There are no points to rack up, no real levels to achieve. Instead, the main objective is educational: to teach you practical self-defense techniques.

Violent crime is something none of us like to think about, but it's an unfortunate reality of life. The organization RAINN says that 1 out of every 6 women will be the victim of an assault or attempted assault in her lifetime. And even more devastating, 44% of victims are under the age of 18. But as frightening as these numbers are, as the old adage goes, knowledge is power. Any woman, no matter what age or size, can disarm any attacker if she's knows the right moves to make--and will have the confidence to make them when the time comes.

That's why I really appreciate this title. I'll start off by saying it's not perfect. The instruction can be long-winded and even tedious at times. But if you stick with it you'll learn some pretty good self-defense techniques. Self Defense Training Camp doesn't replace getting real self-defense instruction from a real trainer, nor does it really pretend to (one of the many random tips it presents throughout the game is to enroll in a physical class to continue your learning). But it is definitely a good introduction to a very important skill all woman (and men) should have.

When you start up, you'll see a number of menu options in this order:

1. Cardio Workout

2. Options

3. Profile and Extras

4. Balance Practice

5. Self Defense Rehearsal

6. Reflex Training

Oddly, #1, #4, and #6 are all locked until you complete a certain number of classes in #5 (which begs the question, why didn't they make that one #1?). There are a number of user interface oddities like that.

You start with "Self Defense Rehearsal". This is a bit of a misnomer. It's not so much "rehearsal" as it is step-by-step training instruction. Specifically, this section is broken into 5 different classes.

1. Wrist Grab situations

2. Arm and Shoulder Grab situations

3. Attack from Behind situations

4. Choke Hold situations

5. Frontal Attack situations

Each of these classes are further broken down into a number of very real and practical scenarios that a would-be victim of an attack may encounter. For example, for Wrist Grab situations, it goes through six scenarios.

1. Crossed Wrist Grab (when the attacker grabs your left wrist with his right hand or vice-versa)

2. Parallel Wrist Grab (when the attacker grabs your right wrist with his right hand or vice-versa)

3. Double Wrist Grab (when the attacker grabs both your wrists)

4. Double Wrist Grab from Behind (when the attacker grabs both your wrists from behind)

5. Side Wrist Grab (when the attacker comes from the side)

6. Choking (when the attacker grabs your wrist with one hand and tries to choke your neck with the other).

The four other classes all each have 6 similarly practical scenarios. Each scenario consists of two phases: a Learning Phase and a Timed Phase.

In the Learning Phase, you start out by seeing a demonstration of the defense technique. Two animated male figures will act out the scenario, with the narrator explaining what's going on step-by-step.

One of the very first things you learn, which is repeated over and over again, is to how kick an attacker in...his most vulnerable spot. Admittedly, it's hard not to snicker the first few times you see the computerized "attacker" get kicked there over and over again. But of course, at the end of the day the point is a serious one--if you're the victim of a real attack, be prepared to use whatever you have at your disposal in any number of situations. Aside from this universal tactic, you do learn important other techniques.

After seeing the sequence played out once, it's broken down into smaller components. You'll see each component demonstrated again by the two male trainers. Then, you (as a female character) can try it yourself. To help guide you, you'll see a white silhouette of yourself in the upper left hand corner, as well as a red silhouette reminding you of the next move you need to make.

The Kinect does a mostly good job of detecting whether you're doing the moves correctly. In some cases I was pleasantly surprised at how accurately it was able to distinguish between subtle movements--for example, the correct move to disarm a wrist grab is to rotate your arm at your elbow. I tried to "trick" the system by just flailing my arm, but it wouldn't take it until I did the proper technique. Having said that, it's not perfect--there were a few cases where I was doing the right moves but the system failed to register it. Similarly, in other cases, I would just twitch and the narrator would exclaim "incredible!" But I'd say for the majority of cases the system is quite accurate.

Once you master the one component properly, the process will proceed to the next one. You'll keep going until you've mastered all five components of the entire sequence.

Then comes the Timed Phase. After you've learned the sequence, you then need to try to execute the whole thing by yourself, remembering what the moves are and in what order to do them. If you execute all the moves, you'll get five stars for the scenario. It's not challenging at all to get five stars, but again it's not supposed to be; again, this is more of a class than a game.

Overall, I found the "Self Defense Rehearsal" section to be helpful, if a little drawn out and tedious. But again, if you approach it like a class and not like a game, it's definitely helpful. And what makes it more powerful than a video is the ability to perform and practice the moves yourself. .

The "Cardio Workout" section, has ten sessions of progressively more intense aerobic fitness exercises that incorporate boxing moves. This part of the game was reminiscent of Gold's Gym Boxing Workout for the Wii. Your trainer will do boxing moves and you need to mimic the moves to a beat. Each move you have to make is both announced by the narrator and shown in timeline of icons to the left of the screen. Overall this provided a decent workout, and of course the motion detection is spot-on. What I wasn't crazy about was that the workouts were all under 4 minutes. And once again you need to "unlock" each lesson one at a time. I would much rather them have provided complete set of cardio boxing routines that each lasted a good 20-30 minutes. As it is, your heart rate is barely elevated after one or even two of these sessions.

The "Balance Practice" section of the game are essentially yoga exercises. You're taken outside the training camp to a beautifully designed garden scene with cherry blossoms, running water, and relaxing bird chirping. Your first session takes you through yoga moves with names like "young deer", "spreading the wings", "buddha pose", and "circle of chi". As with the Cardio section, you mimic an on-screen trainer's moves, while each move is announced and shown in a timeline of icons.

The "Reflex Training" section contains various reflex games where you punch and kick or you try to dodge and block punches and kicks with your virtual trainer. Again, the motion controls are adequate on these, but the exercises themselves are fairly repetitive and uninspired. It's what we've seen in many other games--do a jab, hook, or upper cut in response to instructions from the on-screen trainer, or dodge punches to the left and right.

Overall, I had the same impressions of all three of these "unlockable" sections. They're not horribly executed, but they all feel somewhat incongruous in this particular title. There doesn't seem to be any obvious connection between these activities and the self-defense training. In addition, all of these sections just felt far too short and shallow. I get the sense that the developer was trying to make this a comprehensive "martial arts instruction" title. But it falls a bit short of that. (In fact, after progressing through some rudimentary exercises, you start to earn different colored "belts", which was quite misleading).

It's hard to rate this game, because as I said it's not really a "game". From the perspective of the self-defense training content alone it's very good; in fact, I think it's material that every woman should know.

But in terms of its quality as an interactive game, I'd say there's a lot of room for improvement. For example, it would have been interesting to have a section where you can be "quizzed" where you face a virtual attacker in different scenarios and have to choose the right defensive techniques for the situation.

Something else I found a little disappointing is that your on-screen character doesn't have freedom of motion. In other words, when you go through the exercises, you don't really control the on-screen character directly. Rather, the system will show a still image of the character, and it will only respond once you perform the exercise correctly. I think the title would have been much more powerful if they used real "video game technology" (like the kind you see in fighting games) to let you control your character in a more fluid and dynamic way.

Something else I found a little disconcerting was that the developer invented yet another way of selecting items from a menu--you need to "swipe" to browse through menu options and then "punch" with your right hand to select it. Once again, it's a shame that Microsoft never enforced consistent user interface guidelines to its developers, resulting in dozens of different UI behavior.

In many ways I see this title as an early example of what I hope will eventually be whole new genre of "self help" titles. Some day I would love to see the Kinect used, for example, to let you do things like take a cooking class in a virtual kitchen, or take a ballroom dance instructional class on a virtual dance floor.

Overall, I'd give the game 3 for "It's OK". As a "video game" it's a bit disappointing and could have been so much more. But as an interactive instructional video, while it's not perfect, I do consider the content extremely useful, especially for women who have had no prior knowledge. Put in more peoples' hands, it may even help save lives, and that's certainly not a bad thing.

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99% Exercise; 1% Non-Self Defence; 100% Misleading

Before I bought this product, I had read a few reviews on Self-Defense Training Camp. What I appreciate from those reviews was that it clearly stated that this is NOT a self defence title, but could work as an exercise title. This will be where I start off -it's EXACTLY what this game is: an exercise title trying in the guise of a self defense programme. Having gotten this bit of info from the reviews, I went ahead and bought it and have been pleasantly surprised from the word go.

So let's get the most important aspect out of the way: this is not, I repeat NOT a self defense game. Yes, it does have a total section (and large part) devoted to self defense, but it's this part that kind of drags the momentum of the game down and lower its score. So why am I giving it a four? Hope my explanations below can shed some light on it.

Let me break it down like this: this game is divided into 4 sections: 1.) "Self Defense" training 2.) Reflex Training 3.) Balance Training and then 4.) Cardio Workout. In each of these areas there are different classes starting at easy and as you complete each one you will unlock a new level. (This is easily done and for those Xboxers after easy achievements, this game is a breeze on raking them in.)

SELF DEFENSE TRAINING

This is, well, not what anyone would expect. It does do what a self defense class will teach you, but there is absolutely no value in it. You do the moves, copy them, and then go to the next one. You don't learn anything, unless you force yourself to do the same class a million times for memory sake. I would not have minded this part, but what becomes increasingly annoying as you go through the classes is the amount of times you have to select (and this is by punching at the sensor) between moves to continue to the next phase. For example, in one class, they first show you the move PUNCH TO CONTINUE now break the moves down PUNCH TO CONTINUE now first part of move PUNCH TO CONTINUE next part PUNCH TO CONTINUE next part PUNCH TO CONTINUE now try the whole sequence PUNCH TO CONTINUE your score PUNCH TO CONTINUE...and 6 more punches before the class is over. The entire class itself is a mere 4~6 minutes, so punching to select menus as much as 12 times is really wearisome. Even when you know what to do next and how the training method works, they still insist on this punching/selecting process. Because of this, you do not even build up a sweat, just a residual ache in your right arm from punching.

Having said this, I still do these self defense classes diligently, because I use it as an easy warm up and cool down. The wife loves them purely because they are super easy and not taxing at all. But still, this is the biggest weakness of Self-Defense Training Camp.

...now, the 3 remaining parts in which this game does work:

CARDIO WORKOUT

This is a cardio workout with "boxing" incorporated very well. We love this. Like all programmes in Self-Defense Training Camp it starts at easy and gradually increases in difficulty. This is true in-gym boxing aerobics and a great alternative to what Your Shape Fitness Evolved offers. This part alone is worth the game, and it's a pity they had not spend more time on this section of the game to improve and broaden it.

REFLEX TRAINING

Another form of in-gym boxing, but with a twist. Wait for the cues on-screen and dodge punches or kicks, or perform them. As an old black belt in karate, I love this part, as reflexes are truly the master mind behind a good defence. At my age then it's good to have something to keep me on my toes and test my reflexes a little. The tracking is on course 85%~95% of the time (depending on whether you are doing blocks, punches or kicks), so even with the ones you miss you will still get a good score at the end.

BALANCE TRAINING

a.k.a Tai Chi. Again, a great alternative to Your Shape Fitness Evolved. I'm not saying it's better that Your Shape Fitness Evolved, but when you do suffer the infamous exercise fatigue from one game, then this is a great alternative until you get your breath back to take up the previous game again. The balancing classes work also in steps of progression, and it's truly a very good presentation of Tai Chi.

And that is the game in all its glory. To sum up:

CONS

game title utterly misleading and may create expectations on which it cannot deliver

the self defense part of the game is its weakness

selection process in the self defense classes section is tiresome and repetitive

menu selection can do with some better grouping and arrangement

all exercise sections can be extended with some additional classes

a little bit more guidance to how to perform some activities (like the kicking part in reflex training) would be welcome

NEUTRAL

= need to finish certain levels before you can open other classes; could be irritating when you want to jump into a certain exercise of balancing but you need to finish Class 3 of the self defence class first

= loading times between activities and start up feels a little longer than should be necessary

PROS

+ exercise part of the game is easily on standard with other Kinect exercise titles making this a great addition to an exercise library

+ balancing training (Tai Chi), cardio boxing and reflex training are all welcome additions and well presented

+ tracking mostly on par

+ 0% fit people can enjoy this game as it's not too demanding

+ achievements are granted reasonably and not impossible to achieve

The title may seem a little misleading, but when you interpret it to mean that this is a training camp preparing you for a fitness level to do self-defense, it makes more sense.

It's truly a pity this title has gotten off to a bad start, as the tracking is respectable and the concept for the exercise parts really competent, it's just that the title and the "self defence coaching" significantly knocks it down a few notches. Not sure whether we will see future releases of this game, but if you go into this knowing that you are buying a passable exercise title and focus only on those parts mentioned above, you may just be pleasantly pleased.

As I had not expected a fighting game, nor a self defence training game, I did not have those deceptive expectations that other reviews/buyers had from the misleading title. It's in this regard that I give the game a 4-star, mostly because I don't think it's a bad game. It should deserve a 3-star though as the content is still limited and needs more substance, but as a first release for this title I think it's actually a pretty noble effort and want to give it a little support so that we can see some improvements in patches, DLC and future releases...if any. Hopefully for the future--and again...if any--they can drop the whole self defence gimmick and focus more on cardio exercises, and incorporate even yoga and Pilates or other martial arts related exercises.

Recommendation--when you are tired of Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 (as this is the only other exercise title released this season) and need to break out of that procrastinating mood after the festivities, then Self-Defense Training Camp may just be a great alternative title.

In the end, ignore the ratings at the top, as I don't wish to score a game, but purely provide information for people who are interested in buying the game and do not know what to expect. In that regard please leave me a comment if you have any questions and I'll try and answer them.

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(((**EDIT**))) Menu

The loading is about average, it's not long, but not short. Using the menu by punching to select & swiping to the the next/previous on the list expects a real full one shoulder to the other swipe. You can also use the controller.

There are MANY real videos with the woman from the trailer (She's a black belt) about several topics of basic self defense. Quick instructions on how to make a real fist, which part of the hand for palm strikes & hammer strikes. Also, how to walk w/o looking like a victim, how to stand correctly so you don't loose your balance, etc. Unfortunately, these were buried under the Profiles/Extras menu & then again more swiping to find in that sub menu. Also you have to EARN these videos by doing the self defense, cardio, reflexes game modes first to unlock them. They are very informative & she has a good presence & isn't boring, but having them so buried & having to do sometimes 3/4 or more of the game to unlock them (though you don't have to be perfect at the attempts) is wrong. (((**END EDIT**)))

Self-Defense

It teaches you about 2-4 moves that is shown for each segment & you do the first move, then the first 2 moves & so on.

The problem here is the CAMERA angle & teaching. I'm looking over my avatar's shoulder & cannot see how EXACTLY I'm suppose to rotate my hand. Also it's not always fully explained how forceful, or what part of my arm or hand I should use & what part of theirs specifically.

There is some verbal instruction, in fact, what is said is VERY good & not watered down. Such as at first, he will say to just, "...slam down your foot on his." But as you do it, he does explain further, "...make sure you hit the tip of his toes, which are the most vulnerable & cause the most pain."

These are real karate & kung fu (more fluid arm turns rather then hard blocks which are less jarring on the body) & other martial art moves that DO work well, but it leaves me wanting more instruction to know exactly how the attacker will react more. Here, the attacker always acts like he is so shocked by a defense move, he's like a deer in headlights which is the opposite of real life.

(((**EDIT**))) Now, a lot of people make fun of this game because at first it's always "Kick the guy's nether regions" but there are many palm strikes, back fists, circling the arms to get out of holds, etc. which are great. (((**END EDIT**)))

There is enough said to get the basic idea, don't get me wrong, but those like me who like more knowledge will want more. Also, on detection, sometimes I couldn't get the move right, though rare, but other times, I'm suppose to swing an attackers arm out by swinging mine, I just did wrist circle & it counted.

Cardio

It works well, though there is some fluff of step touching (lame) & clapping (really? really?!?!?) which I wasn't happy with at all. But there are punches, elbow strikes, uppercuts, etc. There are also back kicks & side kicks which I was happy to see, but wish there was even more emphasis on it. The classes are all about 2-5 minute each is WAY too short & about 10 of them. These are easy classes, though the animation seems a bit too sped up more then real life in that you might lose form keeping up or lose balance on the unfortunately few kick portions.

(((**EDIT**))) The later classes have a lot of knee lifts & kicks & was a good workout. I actually liked the shorter workouts as you have to get near perfect on everything to score a lot of stars to get an achievement & if they seem short, you can just load more classes. (((**END EDIT**)))

Balance

To clarify, this is NOT yoga, but is Tai Chi, though it's not Short Yang style, which I know, but some other style. It IS more authentic then Your Shapes which is more half yoga, half Tai Chi in a random order. This segment really needed some commentary about the moves & how it helps the body. For people who don't want it, a simple ability to turn it off would appease all audiences. The later classes do have some small kicks (you don't have to kick high to get credit) & snake poses & was relaxing.

Reflex Training (best part)

Very extensive, takes place in a boxing ring, it has it's own levels for:

Dodging dodge right/left, never always left & right, it does random which is great & even has you lean twice in succession.

Punching basic, hooks, uppercuts

kicking side, high & others

Block punches blocking the trainers' punches to your face, side of the head & body

Blocking kicks blocking the trainers' different kicks

I like that they show your body in the corner, though I had a little issue with the arrows (diff color for left/right even when he's hitting straight to your mid line (face/body), though practice fixed that. I also love they really emphasis form, though only a few verbal reminders, but the model shows it in the first level of each type. Again, more emphasis on verbal instruction & even more levels would have made this game a definite recommendation.

(((**EDIT**))) The later levels at 8-10 really ramps up the speed like real life & since the punches are random, you really need to have reflexes/think fast to block them in time. Although I wish there were more punches & blocks to add more variety which a real first person or see through very close third person would allow. (((**END EDIT**)))

This could have been such a great title. The people they used for knowledge on martial arts is well done & the fact form & it not being watered down is refreshing. The movements you need to do are like real life & is great. But the presentation, the animation, camera choice fails. The animations for your character & trainer are terrible. The camera angles are terrible.

This would have been great if your avatar was just a shadow outline of your own body & not some made up character & even first person view with red graphics to tell you where you did it wrong.

The instruction portion would have been better with a real video & highlighting or pausing the screen at key moments during the instruction portion. Even using a video during training would have worked to feel more real life. Even the animation of the speed in the cardio section seemed a bit too fast unless you already have extensive training/practice & each class was only a few minutes long.

I hope this or another company picks up this type of non-watered down martial arts & learns from this games mistakes to make a great game. This is a pretty good game & the only one of it's kind, so it's worth it for the small content. If Dance Central can do dancing with great detection & showing feedback, martial arts can be done as well.

There are videos of gameplay from the site 123Kinect & their review & is posted on youtube as well.

Honest reviews on Self-Defense Training Camp - Xbox 360

This game helps with the basics to boxing. This game is great for beginners and for younger kids just starting out in boxing. Great exercise as well. Just needs a little help with the punching in between to get to next level

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Self-Defense Training Camp - Xbox 360

It's pretty good as long as you understand what you're getting. This isn't really a game. It's more of an instructional tool for basic self defense. It in no way takes place of a real instructor but it does show some handy techniques if you are a beginner. The cardio workout, however, is pretty cool. It will make you sweat. You have to pass the basic moves to unlock the next level, including the cardio portion but its not too difficult. If you're getting this for a child, think again. They will be bored after a few minutes. It's more for adults or kids who's parents want them to learn some basic moves. Again, this does not replace actual lessons but its a good start and a fun little workout.

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