Review of Painkiller - PC

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I almost think of Painkiller like two games. One of them is pure, addictive, incredible-looking, adrenaline-pumping action Nirvana. The other is a dull and sometimes frustrating game when Painkiller deviates from its formula by trying to give you something besides mindless action. Thankfully, the former is what you get to play most of the time, which is why Painkiller is such a great game.

When Painkiller is on, it is really on. This game does "mindless action" as well as any game has ever done. Picture yourself running around the edges of a room, never standing still, shooting at stuff like there's no tomorrow, trying to gun down and blow up dozens of enemies while dodging their punches, axes, swords, and bullets. A wide variety of enemies exists for you to blast into bloody chunks or stick to walls with your stake gun. The generally have simple behaviors. They rush at you, shoot stuff at you, or shoot stuff and then rush at you. There is just enough variety in the enemies though to keep you on your toes and force you to use all of the game's 5 well-balanced weapons. There are enemies that poison you, enemies that slow you down, enemies that take 3 shotgun blasts to kill, enemies that zig-zag when they rush at you, etc. You will quickly learn the hotkeys and alt-fire modes for your weapons and switch back and forth, based upon what situation you are facing at any one second.

The game only has five weapons, but don't be deceived into thinking that this is some kind of shortcoming. They are all really cool and useful, and each has a meaningful and useful alt-fire mode. Thus, the game effectively has ten weapons, all of which you will use frequently throughout the game. The game's namesake weapon, The Painkiller, is like a chainsaw on crack. The shotgun has an alt-fire mode that freezes enemies in their tracks so that you can blast them to bits with one blast. The stake gun is a powerful weapon that showcases the game's rag-doll physics by letting you impale baddies onto walls. The fourth weapon is a powerful chain gun/rocket launcher combo, and the fifth weapon can create a miniature electric storm that fries anyone who comes near it.

A couple of minor upgrades in this game make it slightly different from other run-and-gun shooters. The most notable is the collection of souls, which come from the bodies of your fallen enemies. The souls only stay on the screen for a short time, so you have to run and collect them. When you collect 66 souls, you morph into an indestructible demon for a short time. Thus, the game actually rewards you for not running backwards all day. Another feature of this game is the tarot card system. Tarot cards are basically power-ups that you can use once per level, and that you unlock by accomplishing certain tasks (like finishing a level using only one weapon).

The graphics for this game are gorgeous, and they exist across a wide variety of scenery and environments. Everyone one of the game's 24 locations looks different. All of the scenery is inspired and creative. Painkiller shows an astonishing level of polish and attention to detail that I don't think I have ever seen in a first person shooter. One little example of this is in the game's fantastic Opera House level. All over the Opera House, there are at least a couple dozen paintings on the walls. And all of those paintings are highly detailed and unique. None of them repeat. This is different from most games, where scenery such as this repeats the same five or six items. As I said, this is a minor detail, but it is one of many, many little things that prove that an enormous effort went into this game.

The game's audio is also impressive. Most of it is consistent with the bizarre afterlife setting that the game tries to convey. In most areas you can hear low-pitched moans, whispers, creaks, etc. The exception might be the game's heavy metal action soundtrack, which isn't bad, but seems a bit out of place.

That's the great part. Then there's the "other" game-the one where Painkiller tries to do other stuff, like forcing you to break open a hundred containers on every level looking for gold. Yes, that's right. The game is like Diablo when it comes to breaking open boxes and chests to find treasure. You have to do it, because you need gold to use your Tarot cards. This stuff isn't much fun in RPG's, so it is TOTALLY out of place here. To make matters worse, a lot of the gold and ammo are hidden in secret areas. These areas are insanely hard to find, and just as hard to get to once you do find them. I was able to find over 50% of the secrets in Serious Sam, but I couldn't find 10% of the secrets in Painkiller without help from the message boards. You could spend 2 hours searching a level for the secrets and only find 2 out of 4 of them. Occasionally, the levels are set up in a way that makes it hard to find an exit. Once again, this is when the game is NOT fun. Painkiller would have been better without the material that disrupts the fast-paced action.

The end boss for this game was a huge letdown. I spent a frustrating hour trying to figure out what "magic trick" I needed to beat him. Then I went to the message boards, found out the trick, and beat him in about 2 minutes.

Painkiller takes the old Quake and Serious Sam formula to a new level. While doing so, it also provides an experience that is different from those games, and in some ways, better. If you enjoy defeating swarms of enemies in fast-paced shooters, then you can't go wrong with Painkiller.

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I agree 100% that this program is everything it should be. A fierce battle to the end. Lots of levels. Over a dozen hours of gameplay (on medium difficulty) , and some excellent AI. The levels are sprawling and the 'baddies' are very eclectic. A huge assortment of very intense battles with one very powerful weapon named 'The Painkiller'. This thing could slice through solid steel. And, it leaves quite a mess behind. Especially when you pull out the blade. The weapon selection is limited to , i think, 6 weapons. But, they all have a secondary fire, and that comes in quite handy. So, there's really a dozen weapons. Yes, it's a lot like what we are to expect Doom 3 to be. Much more shallow than we expect Half-life 2 to be. And, a definite stepup from Serious Sam. A blast all the way through ,if you're someone who believes that a shooter should be just that. Only a shooter. No side-missions that have you running around doing RPG stuff. Just direct, messy, in-your-face blastin'. I love this game.

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This is pure non-stop action. You will not be left in a big boring empty level trying to figure your way out or figure out some boring time consuming puzzle. There is no "wait here for half an hour and snipe" either. The weapons are mostly short range, so for most part you get up-close and personal with gruesome looking creatures. Most monsters are armed with melee weapons too, so this makes a great close range fighting scene with bodies flying around and gut splattering action.

The graphics are incredible, and extremely detailed. The screenshots don't do justice to this game. The levels look incredibly well polished, and the monsters are just very beautiful and scary looking as they try to impale you. The special effects are very nicely done, for example when you get hit by a monster, it is the best "getting hurt" effect I've seen in a game so far.

The physics are incredible. The monsters dangle around realistically as you part your way through a sea of undead creatures.

The sounds are great, the ambient noises really add to the scary feel of the game, especially since the levels are already very dark and scary looking.

It runs very nicely with all the settings set to the highest on my computer: P4 2.8, 1GB RAM, GeForce4 Ti4600.

Honest reviews on Painkiller - PC

I bought this game to test out my new system (and graphics card) because of what I had read about the graphics. Well, the graphics are indeed well done; combined with the realistic physics engine they made me realize that I enjoy watching a well-animated mutant ninja corpse flipping through the air, ultimately being riveted to the wall by a spike impaled in its head. Since I never realized this would hold my attention for 10 or more hours, the game was well worth the $20 investment for this bit of self-awareness alone.

This game has "guilty pleasure" written all over it and it's better for you than the half-dozen Big Macs you should deprive yourself to buy it.

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I was wary to buy the game after reading several negative reviews, but thankfully I did anyway, and am fully satisfied. It is exactly what was promised, fast paced, mindless killing, That's even part of the damn story! "Kill everything you see!" It says to use CD #3 to start up, what the hell's wrong w/ that? And it runs perfectly, smooth and crisp. Just lower all the detail. A unique idea they added, which I love, is to completely customize your cross hair, minor but fun. The multiplayer is great. What else do you want for the genre? If you don't like mindless killing, go buy SOMETHING THAT ISN'T MINDLESS KILLING. There ya go, problem solved. dumasses

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

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

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

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

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

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

After 4 months of use it started to malfunction.

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

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

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

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

Discount Doom 3 BFG Edition - Xbox 360

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Doom 3: BFG Edition is a HD update of Doom 3, but also includes Resurrection of Evil, The Lost Mission, the original Doom and Doom 2. You get plenty of content for your money.

I'll briefly summarize the story: You play a marine sent to Mars for security and to find a missing scientist; unfortunately for you, a gateway to Hell is broken and the facility is overrunned by demons. It has cutscenes, and some chilling audio logs which are very well done and worth listening to.

First, the game still holds up. The graphics are even better than some modern games; obviously they can't compete with the best of this generation, but it can compete with some. The gameplay and framerate are mostly smooth, although the framerate drops briefly after an autosave or load screen. The gameplay is old-school and fun but it may not be for everyone. (I.e. No cover system, no regenerative health, no aiming down your sights) It wasn't a problem for me. Load screens are a little lengthy, by the way. The technical transition of Doom 3 was great, overall.

Doom 3 is a scary game. The intro when all hell breaks loose (literally) is amazing as you hear the chilling calls for help. Plenty of jump-out scares, as well. Even with the new mounted light, the game is still scary since the battery quickly depletes and doesn't completely light up the area. Since the monsters/demons spawn so quickly and randomly, you always have to look over your shoulder which adds to the tension. Conversely, since the monsters spawn so randomly and often, you're often involved in a lot of shooting which kills the atmosphere and tension at certain times.

Overall, I've really enjoyed Doom 3: BFG Edition; this is for the fans of story driven games with amazing atmosphere. If you haven't played Doom 3 yet, if you're a big fan of Doom, or if your just looking for something scary for the season, then I highly recommend this game. If you've been spoiled by modern shooters and just can't go back, then I'd recommend waiting for a price drop or sale.

Update 11/4/12:

I've completed the original Doom 3 campaign, the Resurrection of Evil campaign, and the Lost Mission. I did not find any significant technical issues, the campaigns are 100% playable. As for the multiplayer, the online community is not active (i.e. dead); I couldn't find any online games or players, so if you wanted to play online, this game is not for you.

Approximate Playtimes (based on saves before final boss fights) -

Doom 3: 9hrs

Resurrection of Evil: 3hrs 30 min

The Lost Mission: 2hrs

TOTAL: 14 hours and 30 minutes

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I loved all the Doom games, and Doom 3 was my biggest love/hate relationship since Robin Murphy in the 8th grade, man, she was great, she had this long brown hair and...wait, the game, oh.

I've purchased this for the Xbox 360 and I'm really glad I did. Back in the day when D3 came out I had a good gaming computer that I built, but D3 gave it a real run for it's money. The lighting was bugging out my system and I had to lower the detail to play. I was also frustrated by the infamous lack of a flashlight while aiming a gun issue...I know many "purists" deride this complaint as part of the game design when in fact, it was taken out due to technical limitations of the day. The game engine couldn't handle it.

Well now you get Doom 3, with a flashlight, and looking REALLY good on my Xbox. The graphics which were state of the art for PC in 2004, now look sweet on a modern console. These graphics are better than the original console version having been upgraded for BFG edition. I don't have a 3D setup, so I can't comment on that, but the remastered 5.1 sound is GREAT through my home theater system.

Also added was a checkpoint save system. Most of these "upgrades" have been around for awhile via PC mods and if you played Doom 3 on your PC back in the day, there is little new content. There is a brand new small expansion that looks to be a much faster pace than the drawn out main story line and the earlier expansion pack. Also included is Doom and Doom II

So, if you are like me, and you rage quit Doom 3 back in the day (I'm much better now, honest) and you have the ability to return to something you once threw away, I think this is a good but expensive buy, so maybe wait.

But if you never played Doom 3, this is the game that gave Dead Space it's ideas on horror, so you should really pick it up! It's a fantastic game and killing monsters is SO much fun with the "original" BFG...and now it's more flashlighty!

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Recently you may have picked up the re-release of Halo:CE for the 360 which not only includes a revamped look of the game with 5.1 sound, stereoscopic imagery etc but also the ability to instantly switch to the original in all it's ancient graphic glory. 343 Studios who handled the remake did a bang up job as they kept the purity of the gameplay but managed to up the graphics considerably.

Doom 3 BFG for the 360 is not in that mold. It's effectively the old PC version running on your Xbox 360. There's no real improvement in graphics over a high-end PC of the time although the inclusion of surround sound is a nice touch. Therefore do expect some muddy textures in places and low poly characters. Since there's no real increase in graphics, given the extra power of the 360, it does mean the game easily runs at 60fps which is a nice smooth thing of beauty.

The game is, as you may remember, a series of corridors with monsters that either materialize out of thin air or spring out of cupboards and shout 'boo!'. Really that's all there is. Sure there's a couple of little puzzle bits where you drop barrels into a furnace or move bridges around, but basically it's a linear trot from one area to the next with bad guys surprising you. And really that's all it needs! I'm playing through on 'Marine' difficulty and am enjoying every minute of the nostalgia the game is pouring out.

Also included are all of the update level packs and of course the original Doom 1 and 2, albeit with the latter showing a sanitized version without the satanic imagery. The earlier Dooms play as they did without the ability to jump or look up or down and it still works fine. Sound on the originals, especially the music is a little subdued but it's still the same as it was.

I do have three complaints one of which I feel is more serious than the others. Firstly you should not install the game disc if you intend to play Doom 1 or 2 as you simply cannot whilst it's installed on your HD. If you have an aging 360 then perhaps this might be a problem in terms of stress on the drive and noise, but really performance wise you don't lose anything. The second issue is in Doom 3. It autosaves at the worst possible time seemingly randomly and the action halts for about 4 seconds when it happens. There's plenty of elevators and areas with no action where the autosave would be preferable, but instead it seems to kick in when it's least appropriate. Gets quite annoying after a while. You have a manual save option at any time so a game-pausing auto save seems superfluous.

My final complaint, and it's probably the most unacceptable is the flashlight (which you can at least now have on as you fire your weapons) does not cast real-time shadows. There's lots of environmental lighting in the game, in fact there's an NPC at the beginning that you follow and his lantern casts shadows everywhere. Yet the most important light, your own, does not. Even the original Xbox version had a kludged shadow coming off the flashlight. I cannot fathom why they left this out; there's plenty of processing power left and in terms of atmosphere you lose a lot without those ominous shadows coming off your torch. A star off for that.

Other than that this is Doom 3. It's not better than Doom 3 was all those years... it's just D3 with all the trimmings on your 360 and the original 1993+ Dooms thrown in. And that's no bad thing.

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This was one of my favorite first person shooter games growing up. Had to upgrade my PC to be able to run this at that time. Played it again on my Xbox and it proved why it was so good. The scary effects and the story line were impeccable. The new expansion pack is a good addition.

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The game itself provided hours of fun and challenges as well as some additional episodes. I played this the original Doom and Doom 2 in the 90s and it was the number one reason for getting me hooked on video games. Really nice to play these two PC games on my XBOX 360. I really hope they make a 4th one because I want more!!

Reviews of Skylanders Giants Single Character Pack Core Series 2 Lightning Rod

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My son loves Skylanders. This one is mine. I found it some what blasphemous yet funny at the same time. Some of the things he says like, "I am going to smite thee" and "One strike and you are out". All in all he is fun to play. He is slow, so I trained him up in that area. Different hats help that as well. If I am moving, I put a speed hat on, If I am in an area I put on a damage only hat. He comes level 5 with 2100 points.

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My son went nuts over this. He has wanted Lightning Rod for ever and it was never in the store. Thank you for the great price and for making my son one happy camper.

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My 7 year old grandson is collecting the skylanders and was very enthralled with it. Nice collection for this age.

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Can't find anywhere in our area so very excited an got for a good price cheaper than store an son loves it

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product pkg done correctly arrived very quick item was sealed as stated grandson thrilled with purchase venders description was right on and will purchase from him again

Reviews of Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues

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I find this game incredibly frustrating. We loved the 1st game and were really excited about this one and it's SOOOO different and not intuitive.

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My kids love the lego series and have a few for the xbox now. This one is a little different in the its not a stright through play, you have to go back and do boards after you have unlocked different people. Great game, my 7 year old son and won all the levels and still plays this.

Cheap Dead or Alive Ultimate

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From the same people that brought you Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive 3 and Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball comes Dead or Alive Ultimate, packaging the original Saturn version of Dead or Alive with a completely redesigned Dead or Alive 2.

What Makes DOA Ultimate Special??

For first the first time ever on any console-gamers can enjoy 3-D fighting online! Both games are Xbox Live-enabled, giving players the chance to test their fighting skills against a vast community of highly competitive gamers across the globe.

Why should I care about the 1st DOA???

In 1997, the original Dead or Alive was released on the SEGA Saturn, pushing its processing power to the limits. The original Dead or Alive has long been considered one of the greatest masterpieces in the series, but it was never released in the North American Territory. Now, the graphics of the SEGA Saturn version, make their first appearance on the Xbox-perfectly rendered.

But I've Already Played DOA 2.

Not this DOA 2. Redesigned on a brand new engine, the new DOA 2 boasts amazing new interactive environments that are made possible by the incredible power of the Xbox. Gorgeous new graphics, hard-hitting new fighting moves, and never-before-seen costumes were added to create the "ultimate" fighting game.

What else is there???

The new Dead or Alive Ultimate features never-before-seen episodes from the characters' pasts, revealing new details about each character. These new movies feature unbelievable graphics that will you breathless. These movies will finally answer questions such as the reasons for Ayane's birth and the meaning of the flower in Kasumi's ending. Dead or Alive Ultimate also features a bunch of brand-new costumes.

I would say if you are a fighting game fan, pick this one up. And if you are not one, this could be the game to change your mind. The online feature will now add hours and hours of gameplay. I hope to see you on XBOX LIVE!!!!

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In Dead or Alive Ultimate, you get to play both Dead or Alive 1 and an improved version of Dead or Alive 2 plus online gameplay as well!

XBox fans who enjoy fighting are thrilled about this because while Dead or Alive 3 was on the XBox, until now there was no way to play the older games on this console. The Dead or Alive 1 gameplay is just like the original, bringing the classic feel and fun. On the other hand, Dead or Alive 2 is definitely updated. You get the same characters and locations, but the graphics have been revamped to take advantage of the XBox's engine.

I have to say this is GREAT because I'm a huge fan of Dead or Alive 3 and its amazing graphics. To be able to have that same level of graphic achievement with blowing leaves, footprints in the snow, and so on is just great. The costumes and characters are all quite distinctive and really let you get a feel for the personality of each individual.

The main theme is done by Aerosmith, but each level has its own music that fits well with the scenario. You get to fight in Japanese gardens, on the Great Wall of China, in a peaceful forest, and in other quite detailed spots. Not only are the three dimensional areas visually spectacular, but you can knock a character off a given section of the map and continue the fight on lower levels. It really adds to the strategy and gameplay.

There are great new scenes to help you learn more about the Dead or Alive universe. It's like reading a prequel to your favorite story suddenly the characters and their actions take on new meanings.

The online gameplay lets you take your skills and techniques online, to test against players around the world. Instead of being 'stuck' with the gameplay in the game (which can easily last for weeks), you could play 24 hours a day and never run out of new opponents to face.

If I have any complaint about this game, it's that while the guys are in really cool costumes, the women all seem to be wearing costumes that clearly show off their underwear and big breasts. Some people DO play these games who aren't obsessed with women's underwear and inflatable chests.

That being said, it is at least great that female fighters are treated with respect, and it's considered normal to have just as many female characters in a fighting game as males. It wasn't that long ago that a fighting game would be males only, with women stuck on the sidelines waving little flags.

A great fighting game in general, and a must-have for DOA fans to fill in the storyline.

4.5/5

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Because this hard hittin' renowed 2-game classic blows them out of the water.

Pros:

-Excellent Graphics(Both games got a graphical tune-up, especially DOA2)

-Superb Voice acting

-Simple, but addictive button mashing gameplay

-It has the DOA 1 that didn't make it to America(Not the modified PS1 version)

-So much to do:

--Unlocking costumes(All wemon have over 20!(DOA2) Allright!!)

--Unlocking the CGI gallery

--Unlocking short videos

--Unlocking Hitomi(Who wasn't in DOA2)

-DOAXBV don't get left out in the rain, because the valuptiunous hunnies that got this game on the map get bakinis in this. Oh Yea!!)

-New enviornments, and a opening FMV have been added to DOA2

-Stage falls are for-jorkin' hillarious(Especially when they roll down stairs. Tumble-Tumble-Tumble)

-As always the sex appeal is very high, and lookin at the wemon sometimes makes me laugh(If you know what I mean)

-The replay value is very high

-Online play is really the jam in the doughnut. It's fun and it shows the world how good, or bad you are.

-Limited edition version incluedes trading cards(Nice)

-This is the ultimate package for DOA fans, that should not be missed by any fan of fighting

Cons:

-Not much has been improved in DOA1

-You must have data from DOA3 or DOAXBV to unlock Hitomi. (I feel bad for those that don't have that)

-Story mode for both games make no sense

-Why couldn't they put FMVs for endings for DOA2

-Online play shows how bad I am.(In other words, I suck against real pros at this game)

This game is, so far the best DOA game to his the market, and the goodness of extras and online play definitly made me grab this. For those who love fighting, you must get this game. If you're a DOA fan and don't have this, then get it. This title should definitly not be missed.

peace

Honest reviews on Dead or Alive Ultimate

Dead or Alive Ultimate is a compilation of Dead or Alive 1 and Dead or Alive 2, each on its own disk. Dead or Alive 1 is an exact replica of the same game that was released on the Sega Saturn so many years ago. This is a really nice treat because this might be the first time that players get the chance to play the game that started it all for this series. Since it is an exact replica the graphics remain the same, so players will be playing with more "boxy" polygonal character models. It is amazing that even though this game has changed so much it still feels the same.

The arenas in this mode are a riot. The rings are composed of two squares, the inside one is "safe zone", so if you fall down or get knocked down to the ground, the only damage you take is from the force it took you to get down there. If you go outside of this zone, the rest of the arena is what I like to call "lava." What I mean by this is if you get knocked down on this part of the game, your life will get deducted by how much force it took to get you down there plus once you hit the ground you will be knocked upwards, like a volcano blast, and you will receive more damage. Since there are no walls to get cornered, players will always have to be aware of where they are located so they don't take additional damage. If you want to play online with Dead or Alive 1, you will be able to. All you have to do is sign on and get your "fight on."

The main focus of this compilation was placed on Dead or Alive 2, and it will become apparent when you first boot up this game and see the intro CGI movie. This game looks better then Dead or Alive 3, which became one of the benchmarks of the graphical power of the Xbox when it was released. This game truly shows the power of the Xbox. The character models look just as good as the CGI movie, which looks awesome itself. The clothes on the characters move and have their own set of physics that move realistically as clothing might be expected to if you are fighting someone.

The most noticeable thing is the arenas that the characters fight in; they are a jaw-dropping awesome sight to behold. Every level there is some interactivity involved, from things going on in the background, breaking through walls and going to new parts of the level, or little subtle things. There is always something going on in the background, in one level you will be fighting in a chained off arena, and ever so often there will be cops chasing cars throughout the level, which gives it a very surreal feeling while you are playing. Just like in Dead or Alive 3, there are many different "levels" to particular arenas. One of my favorite is on the snowy mountain. While you are fighting through the level you can make the snow move around, and if you get the person close enough to the cliff you can knock them down to an icy lake below. From there you can even knock the players into icicles and make them shatter. This is truly a sight to behold.

The subtle things throughout each level might be the hundreds of leaves or cherry blossoms that are floating around the level, get stirred up if you walk through a pile of them. While this might not seem like much, you will have to remember that each of those leaves have a polygonal count and move throughout the level while you are performing a beat down on an enemy. All of this is going on without any slowdown, how remarkable is that! It is literally amazing all of the details that went into making this game look this great, and still remain highly playable without any hint of slowdown.

The roster for this game is the exact same as it was back on the Playstation 2. You will find all of your old favorites included with the exact same fighting moves. Some might be disappointed that several moves might be missing that were in Dead or Alive 3, but you will have to remember that this is a remake. One of the biggest draws for this game is the amount of costumes unlockable for each character. Many of the girls have over fifteen completely different costumes, and I am not talking about one costume is purple while the other exact same one is red. The costumes are 100% different from one another, such as School girl outfit, bathing suits, Santa Outfits, to many other things. It will take players a long time to collect them all, but it is rewarding once you have done it.

The audio portion of Dead or Alive 2 is great, but could have been better. It features Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, which makes the fights feel more "alive," especially in certain levels such as the one where the cops are chasing cars around the block. The Japanese voiceovers are what one might expect from this game, and fit the characters really well. The only disappointing thing is that this game doesn't support custom soundtracks. While it is nice to hear all of the music from the game, I would have liked to fight with the music of my choice, especially after playing the game for many hours.

Here is the part you are waiting most for, the online portion of this game that has been talked about for months on end. Before I get into specific details, I will say that it is one of the best features of the game! As you know if you have an Xbox Live account you can fight anyone across the world and it feels just like they are sitting next to you. There are times when you might have a few fights that are "laggy" but they are few and far between. Another thing of interest is when you unlock a new costume you will be able to use it while you are online, so if you see someone using your favorite character with a costume you have not seen before, you will know that it can be unlocked and used for your character as well.

The modes that are available online are: Spectator, Winner-Stays, Tournament, Team Battle, Survival, Loser-Stays, Kumite. In spectator mode, players will be able to view the battles currently raging on. In Winner-Stay players fight a one on one match, and the winner of the match will stay and take on the next challenger. In Tournament players will advance to each round until one person is declared a winner. Team Battle, players will be able to challenge other players in Tag-Team Battles. Survival mode players fight battle after battle until their health is depleted. In Loser-Stays, is the exact opposite of winner-stays. Kumite is a non stop battle, in which win or lose a person fights all the challengers until they quit. With all of these modes available, you will not be able to get any sleep as there is so much to do!

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I have not exactly played a lot of fighting games. In fact, ever since they took the Mortal Kombat 2 machine out of the video rental place, I haven't really seen that much of the fighting game. But here goes:

I have to say this game was pretty good. There were good characters, great backgrounds, interesting moves and that colorful sheen that Team Ninja casts upon its games. The story was a bit iffy, in my opinion. Although the intro, played out to Aerosmith's "Dream On," was an excellent piece, it has absolutely nothing to do with the game! There are similarities between it and certain characters' motivations, but in the long run, it has more to do with the Dead or Alive 1 that is tacked in as a bonus feature.

The characters' motivations are clearly enough represented, even if their stories are not up front. And you will get some back-story on all the characters, but it turns in a soap operatic thingy. For example: the wrassler must face his daughter; the phrase, "haven't we met before?" is all over the place; there are some people revealed to be family members at various moments; the karate champ has lost his memory, and a ninja lady must face her evil twin.

Also, the designers put in some really neat-o moves. In doing this, they forgot that most human only have so many fingers and a pair of thumbs. The controls are workable, but workable at best. This can lead to the dreaded button mashing. On that note, I can say that this game remains true to the original. It is also fairly unforgiving.

By the way, "ultimate" means "the best, biggest, and last." This collection does not have that many extra features. Most "ultimate" games should be dripping with readily unlockable stuff. Although you can collect more outfits for the ninja babes to fight in, that's all she wrote.

However, the game is pretty good. Why? Well, for one thing, it's beautiful. The girls in skimpy outfits don't hurt. Neither does the fact that that guy from Ninja Gaiden is here. Familiarity breeds content.

Plus, the fighting, although a bit clumsy at first, will grow on you. Of course, a side effect to this might be that you cannot play any other game for a while, but for a while you won't want to.

And of course, the crowning achievement of this game is its unlockable soundtrack. I have a soft spot for those, and this on includes the previously mentioned "Dream On." So if you're a fan of battling ninjas, girls in bikinis, and classic rock, give this game a try.

Best 250G HDD Hard Disk Drive For Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim Deals

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After reading several reviews warning about buying any kind of xbox 360 slim hard drives from anyone but microsoft, I was a little concerned about getting this, but this hard drive didn't have any negative comments that concerned me, so I decided to chance it. (I don't have any regular xbox games, so I don't know about not being able to play them with this.) I'm glad I did. I received it fairly quickly and after looking up online how to install it (it was a lot easier than I expected it to be; with it lying flat, there's a little hidden door on the right side of the console for the hard drive; if it's standing up, the door would be on the top or the bottom.) I put it in, and started up my xbox 360 and it worked great. I've transferred saved games, profiles, and dlc onto it with no problems, and I've downloaded new updates and dlc onto it since then as well. So far, it's worked perfectly for me. I was even sent information about the website for the seller I got this from (jacobsparts), and they have some of the same products, for less. I will definitely use this seller again if I need anything they sell. Overall, I'm very satisfied with this hard drive.

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The absolute best upgrade for the 4GB Xbox 360 slim! For a whole lot less than Microsoft's 250Gb hard drive and does exactly the same thing! It even says Microsoft when you are looking at your memory. Yeah you can't play the old xbox games, but you can go on ebay and get an old xbox for 20 bucks .

Best Deals for 250G HDD Hard Disk Drive For Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim

For an average XBOX 360 user like myself, this product works perfect and saved me a ton of money. I haven't tried playing any original XBOX games, and don't play to, so I'm not concerned by other's claims that they won't work. Anyone looking to enjoy current XBOX 360 games with a huge hassle free hard drive should look no further.

Honest reviews on 250G HDD Hard Disk Drive For Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim

I bought and put in my xbox, but it wouldn't read it. Was like it had no harddrive in it at all.

Returning.

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But after I received the 3rd one, it was easy to install and worked right away. It's got plenty of space to store all my game data and updates or map packs or whatever else you want to shove on it. If you can find one that works, good luck and have fun!

Discount NEW XBOX Replacement Parts Power Supply 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5

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I have bought this product and was very unhappy to find that it is not powerful enough to start my Xbox. As soon as the hard drive starts to spin up, it shuts the power down. When I try a more power hungry hard drive, it does not even spin up; the green LED stays lit less than a second after I turn the Xbox on.

I do not recommend this product.

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badd product this is a cheap knock-off that does not work do not order you will only have to return it

Best Deals for NEW XBOX Replacement Parts Power Supply 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5

My xbox power supply fried but this one came with adapters so it could go to any version of the xbox and it worked great and my xbox works

Honest reviews on NEW XBOX Replacement Parts Power Supply 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5

Will not work as is with any 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, or 1.5 version Xbox as advertised since it dose not supply the required crossover cable. The power supply I recieved is for the original version 1.0 1.1 unit. This power supply has the 10 wire connector (single row plug). Versions 1.2 1.5 systems use a 20 wire connector which is double row. Although this power supply will run all the systems (with the expection of version 1.6) it does not come with the crossover cable/connector needed. I had to order the crossover from another company.

Note: Other companies that sell this item supply the crossover when it is for versions 1.2-1.5. This unit should have been $8 dollars cheaper.

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Had a power supply failure on my first Xbox, swapped out old with new and it worked great. Glad to see that they are selling more original Xbox power supplies on Amazon. A lot cheaper to replace then an entire console.

Swapped this power supply on two different consoles, one was a regular console and the second was a modified console. Both worked the way it should. My modified Xbox had an 500 gigabyte hard drive with a Xenium mod chip.

I would recommend, but just be careful of who you are buying it from. Do not buy from low rated sellers and always ask for their refund policies before buying.

Buy Skinit Hello Kitty Dancing Notes Vinyl Skin for 1 Microsoft Xbox

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my kids love these as they can tell which handle is theirs. and they come in their favorite characters. have been using these for years. haven't tried any other brand.

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Reviews of Little Big Planet 2

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I'm an adult..lets just say..well over 40, and I've seen and experienced just about everything in the computer and video game world. Of all my years of electronic playing, only two games kept my attention for years (no not days, months..years!): The RollerCoaster Tycoon series on the PC and Little Big Planet on PS3. Perhaps because I love anything which lets you use your creative skills and doesn't end via three day completion or quarter of the way boredom.

Little Big Planet 2 goes so way beyond the original to the point that, I don't think I ever want to play anything else ever (well at least until part 3 is released lol). There is so much to do that you get your money's worth in a way that no other game can provide. It's a bit overwhelming at first: Do I play the brilliant Tutorials and collect all the goods? Should I explore the millions of Community Levels, or do I begin playing the epic story devised by Media Molecule. Perhaps I should design my moon, or earth, or just queue up a bunch of recommended levels for later play. And after all is said and done, there's still the core part of the game: Create Mode!

There's no end to the types of games you can build with this insanely epic sequel. The original Little Big Planet, paved the way with games which later went beyond the general theme. The original tool set was obviously designed with side scrolling platforming in mind, but creative individuals thought out of the box, and created games that you'd never thought could be accomplished. It was quite obvious creators had to go way beyond the limits of the tool set to come with something, other than what the game was intended for. I'm sure every creator hit a wall at some point and thought.... "If only Media Molecule would have included..."

Well folks, they DID! Little Big Planet 2 has more tools than your hardware store. Plus tons of new objects, materials, stickers, special effects, and more. With the crazy new power ups, you conjure up unbelievable ideas. One major break through is definitely the "Controllernator" which actually lets you map commands to the entire PS3 control pad. This revelation lets you create games in just about ever genre. The rage has just begun, and already we're seeing sports games, RPGS, puzzle action, adventure, retro games, casual, casino, 3D shooters, even cinematic movies! Not to mention, games specifically designed for versus multi-player which are identified by a special icon. Let's put it this way many of the new creations will have you thinking you're playing a completely different game. With over 3 million levels, there is no end to this spectacle. Every day you venture into Little Big Planet 2 is a new experience. So, go ahead, jump in and choose anything your heart desires, or build your own epic arcade adventure. Rest assured, you will not be leaving this planet any time soon.

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LittleBigPlanet 2 is a continuation of the first LittleBigPlanet, in the sense that the fun still never stops. With many new features this game easily packs a punch twice as hard as the first one though. new features include cut scene creator , sound creator, you can create (with some imagination) many different variations of mini-games within your created level (for me I made a paintinator shooter to play with my roommate). What's my favorite feature? Probably that it's compatible with the Move, although to be truthful I haven't used the Move with it yet (it just sounds like a fun idea that they had).

The levels in LBP 2 are even more creative than the first one (if that's even possible), the graphics are more polished (if it matters), and load screens don't seem to take as long. The create mode is a thousand times easy than the first time (very user-friendly). Create mode is easier in the sense that all of the tutorials are right in front of you and you don't have to try everything on your popit in order to see them all. ALSO maybe my favorite improvement is that when you go to create and enemy (using the brain) they are just mindless going back and forth, they actually do what you would expect an enemy to do.

The online system is also amazing. The internet style level search bar looks like it will make finding levels you want to play a breeze (since nobody has really made any levels yet, I have not had the pleasure to use it yet).

When it comes to cons there really aren't any that I can speak of. Graphics are clean, gameplay is funner than ever, load screens are bearable, and sackboy is still cute as hell.

So overall I would give this game 10/5 stars, but since they won't let me I'll just have to give it 5. I know what I'm doing in my free time this week =]

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If you ever played Little Big Planet, you probably fell in love with sackboy and enjoyed adventuring with him. The sequel of Little Big Plant is now here and it is packed with a huge amount of new tools and features! This game exceeded my expectations and improves greatly on the previous.

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Gameplay

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LBP2 (Little Big Planet 2) has many more features than its previous and the levels are just great. If you never played the first game, in the game you play through levels and try to reach the end through many different challenges such as enemies, enviroments, etc... In LBP2 there are amazing tools that are found in these levels. Such as:

Grappling Hook: Allows you to grapple to walls and pull yourself up. (Very fun acrobatic tool!)

Power Gloves: Now you can pick up enemies, or any object and hurl it across the level.

Creatinator: Fires a preset item such as frosting and lets you fight enemies and solve puzzles.

These are just three of the many new tools LBP2 has.

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Story

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

I'll admit that LBP1's story wasn't that compelling. However now in LBP2, they fixed it very well. The story is great and it will have you laughing the entire time.

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

Create Mode

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In LBP1, we saw how great the level creator could be used. Millions of great maps were made, giving endless content. Well in LBP2, prepare for the most amazing tools you could ask for to make a map. ITS AMAZING! Practically every feature anyone could ask for is in there! You can create weapons, add intelligent characters, create awesome machines and give them custom buttons on the controller, and so much more. And to make it even better, its easier to use than the first one! Create mode is going to bring great things to this game.

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All in all, this game is terrific fun! If you remotely enjoyed the first game, you will love this. LBP2 improves all aspects of LBP1. Sackboy is back, and better than ever.

Honest reviews on Little Big Planet 2

Honestly I wasn't really a fan of the first Little Big Planet, I kind of dismissed it and wrote it off as being a game geared more towards a younger audience and women. Even though a lot of people I knew recommended it to me I just kept to my stubborn old self and kept thinking if I have the chance to play it I would but I'm not going to go out of my way to, especially when so many Helghast (Killzone 2) needed to be dealt with. This time around I wanted to see if the hype was warranted, or if it was just overrated and only liked for the cuteness factor, similar to say Beanie Babies.

Let me explain my title, which actually I have a twofold reason for. First, playing this game makes me feels as if I'm in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. I don't mean while Trolley is cruising the tracks either, this is during the time Mr. Rogers is hanging up his sweater and changing his shoes, the moment we don't normally see. Second reason is because of the creative side (make believe) to this game, not only in regard the campaign but also the user created content and side quests/mini-games. I love the new school/old school mash up style, it looks great and plays amazing.

This game is cute to say the least, you won't find any Call of Dutyesque moments in this game at all. If you're looking for or only play games with an "M" rating this may not be for you. However if you are young or in touch with your inner child try this game, you'll enjoy it. This game has a little bit of everything; by far this is probably one of the least repetitive games I've ever played. The controls are simple and very fluid, from six to sixty there is pretty much no learning curve at all. The graphics are beautiful; the Little Big Planet world truly looks like it was put together from items you would find in a child's toy box.

Bottom line is, this game is worth the money and your time! Pick it up, it's a very unique and enjoyable gaming experience that shouldn't be missed.

Michael

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Finished story mode a little while ago and I have to say that I enjoyed this a lot.

-The grapple hooks were fun to use for the handful of levels that incorporated them even though figuring out the swing mechanics to gain momentum for a good swing was a little challenging. This could be frustrating for some people.

-Story mode does feature some top down levels and side scroller levels and I found those very fun to play.

-Soundtrack of the game is very good.

-Every world section of story mode features a boss at the end which I personally thought was a good addition.

To be perfectly honest I don't think this game is better than LBP1, but that does not mean LBP2 is a bad game. Aside from a few levels the gradual difficulty in LBP2 was definitely lacking. No level in LBP2 is harder or as hard as "The Bunker" in LBP1. I haven't gone started any acing runs yet, but just based on difficulty of levels from start to finish is what I'm judging on as well as the difficulty of finding prize bubbles on first glance. After finishing story mode I really didn't feel any sense of accomplishment like I did in LBP1, but I thought there was a lot of creativity put in this game. There is also a more mature tone in LBP2 than LBP1. There's an actual story in LBP2, but it wasn't spectacular. Another letdown in this game that I noticed was that there weren't that many co-op necessary places(x2,x3,x4) in story mode like LBP1.

I know the core value in this game and series is creating and playing other people's levels, but for someone like myself who doesn't put in as many hours into that section of the game as other people I just found this game a slight letdown because of the story mode difficulty. I'm sure many great levels will be made and people are still figuring out the new create features, but that may be the perfect reason to wait for a price drop and also to wait for more top user made content out there to play.

Discount Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

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If you're a fan of horror stories, then you know that one of the founders of this genre was HP Lovecraft and his Cthulhu stories. Lovecraft was born in 1890 in Rhode Island, and his Cthulhu storyline was based in a seacoast town of Massachusetts of the 1920s. Lovecraft's own father went insane when Lovecraft was 3, and Lovecraft himself had a nervous breakdown in high school. His stories were developed from his own severe nightmares.

This game title has been in development for many years, so the graphics in the end product aren't necessarily cutting edge, especially for the XBox platform. It's important to just accept this up front. The load times are also exceedingly long. Strangely, when we played this on our XBox 360 (in backwards compatability mode of course) the loading screens were super long but the individual messages that would cycle through would not stay on the screen long enough to read. It was an odd combination.

I found it best not to think of Call of Cthulhu as a traditional horror game like Doom or Half-Life. This game isn't about constant action and harassment. It is much more like a steady epic that unfolds over time. It's not about in-your-face blood and guts, although there is plenty of both. It is more of a psychological gnawing away at you. It's a game that you need to set aside a long weekend, a bottle of wine and turn on the answering machine for. It's immersive.

So how does it play out. You are Jack Walters, a detective called in to help with a cult that has holed up in a gothic house in Massachusetts. Strangely, you have no gun. You and a few cops approach the house, and the cultists shoot your cop pals down. You try to pick up one of the downed cop's guns and the system says "Ewwww a dead body". Hmmmm. You go in and find that the cult is obsessed with you for some reason, and find a few dead cultists. You spot a trap door in one room and when you open the trap door, you mysteriously can't walk around the room any more your feet are now unable to step over the tiny ledge that lines the hallway. You go down, and see .... things go dark.

Fast forward to six years later. Now you're a PI, suffering from amnesia from that horrific event. You are sent into a small town to track down a missing "lad". The town is typical New England dark, dreary, grey, with people who speak in monosyllables. I live here, I know this type of town ;) You're now ferrying items to get clues, doing sneak-avoidance to get into areas, and solving puzzles. You don't even get a weapon for about the first third of the game.

There are interesting twists because of the "going insane" aspect of this story. If you spend too much time in a scary area, your vision goes blurry and you have other issues. You can't always trust what you see. You have to plow through trying to do the best you can, as quickly as you can.

There is a group of horror players who will probably find this game "too slow". Players who are hooked on the constant action of Halo etc. probably won't do well with the long loads and exploring sequences. On the other hand, I really recommend that they stick with this. Fast adrenaline can be a shallow thrill. A slow-building insanity can really get to you.

If I have complaints about the game, it stems from some of my commentary earlier. The game elicits laughter when obviously it wasn't meant to. It seems that 99% of the doors you encounter are mysteriously glued shut. The dialogue is repetitive and sometimes inane. You're being shot at but can't pick up a gun?

That being said, every game has its dumb idiosyncracies. The guy in Grand Theft Auto could take down hordes of drug dealers but would drown in 1" of water. You just have to accept these things as part of the game environment.

I definitely recommend this game for adventure gamers who can handle the mature rating. If you're more of a shoot-em-up, at least rent the game to see if you can get into the flow of things. You might find that you really can enjoy something that has a slower pace.

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Better than any other horror game I have played, this one succeeds at giving the player real chilling moments combined with the truest survival horror yet.

The first person perspective combined with the many lines of dialogue, the total lack of a HUD, and the effective and creepy graphics really put you into the experience of the game. Add to that the cut scenes which are seamlessly blended with the action, so that you can follow the story w/o feeling like you are watching a movie.

The game features good puzzles, which take investigation and not luck to figure out. I had to give some of the puzzles some thought time, but I never had to go looking for the solution online. The combat is brutal and realistic, featuring a great wound system. The Sanity system is very effective in that it adds to the gamers horror experience, and is not simply a gimmick. When you hear your character whisper "There's someone following me", you feel like watching your back.

Add to all this little touches like your character being afraid of heights and the possibility of becoming addicted to the Morphine used in the game and you have a very involving horror game.

The game is a bit on the difficult side at times. But this is as it should be... after all, you must feel like you are fighting to survive. The game is also very dark graphic-wise, and should be played w/ lights out for maximum effect.

If you are a fan of H.P. Lovecraft, you will love this game. Even if you are not a Lovecraft fan, chances are you will love the unique experience this game has to offer. Just wait until you are creeping along a not so sturdy wooden plank, suspended above prowling baddies far below, while you experience vertigo and hope for a quiet spot to sit and stitch up your bleeding arm...

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I've been waiting for this game for several years. I watched in dismay as what was originally going to be a multiplyer PC game shrank into a single player adventure. Finally, I thought it would never come out. That made me sad, as there have been too few Call of Cthulhu computer games (The last great one being Shadow of the Comet). Thankfully, this one was worth the wait.

The Shadow Over Innsmouth was one of HPL's more creepy and claustrophic tales and it is so wonderful to see it translated so well into a game. Seemless plot and some real pulse-pounding moments make this game a must-buy for Lovecraft fans and anyone else who likes the horror genre. Forget Silent Hill and Resident Evil, this is the real deal. Like the pen & pencil game of the same name, this one relies on brain more than brawn but doesn't present any really obtuse puzzles.

I hope this is the first of many CoC-related computer games for the 21st Century. Howard himself would be proud of the dedication that went into visualizing his creation.

Honest reviews on Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

This is a great game! It drips atmosphere, and is scary/nerve wracking as hell. While not a traditional shooter, the First Person perspective adds a significant layer to the immersive feel. There's a chase scene early on that is just amazing.

The game also stays true to the source material, sometimes directly, sometimes with little nods and winks. Readers of Lovecraft will see tidbits of various stories intertwined, thought the game is ultimately about someone who is ignorant of the mythos, and learns as he goes, so knowing the material is not needed to enjoy the game.

Much has been written about the HUDless system, sanity system, and the health system so I wont go into those, other than to say it all works together very well.

The puzzles are decent (so far), and while there are some `get A for B' puzzles, they all make sense and add to the plot. I haven't felt like I was running an errand simply for something to do. It's all part of the investigation, and is believable.

The graphics have a stylistic feel to them, which hints at the time period (scratchy, and grainy), the voice acting is very good.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

Let's admit it most modern games baby the player. Helpful hints and arrows, spotlit items, bosses sporting "shoot me here!" spots....even top-notch titles like God of War and Resident Evil 4 fall prey to these unfortunate conventions. As games have become more complex, developers have felt the need to include these hints to keep from alienating players. Understandable, sure, but something gets lost from the immersion factor as a result.

What if someone made a game that tossed all these safety features out the window -a horror title that abandons players in the literal and figurative darkness, leaving them only paltry clues to decipher? As the players slowly understand what is happening, they are given glimpses into a world-shattering truth that tears at the very fabric of reality, threatening to drive them mad with its ancient revelations! Maybe it's best to close your eyes and ignore what is happening....or perhaps you will discover something beyond your imagination.....

If this sounds good to you, your game has arrived.

Behold U.K.-based Headfirst Productions' oft-delayed, long-awaited title, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, based on the writings of H.P. Lovecraft and Chaosium's pen-&-paper role-playing game. This is not a title destined to be a Platinum Hit, nor is it one trying to cater to all comers. It is a challenging title that demands much of the player, and not surprisingly, pays off in many ways as a result. The Xbox has a disappointingly small number of horror games (and fewer Xbox-only ones), but Dark Corners fills that void with a flourish. It must be mentioned that you don't need to be familiar with H.P. Lovecraft to appreciate it, although fans will notice numerous nods to the author's influential work.

On the surface, Dark Corners is a somewhat awkward game: it's not that pretty to look at, tends to be buggy, and has clunky controls and combat. Fortunately, these technical issues don't have a major impact on the more important stuff: gameplay, story, and atmosphere. In fact, its shortcomings make the experience that much more haunting and realistic, making the player concentrate on the task at hand rather than gawking at eye-popping animation and effects.

As with most of Lovecraft's universe, the plot is essential, so I won't go into much detail here. You play as Jack Walters, a private investigator who's hired to find a missing person in the New England coastal town of Innsmouth. Things spiral out of control from there, as Jack quickly discovers there's much more to the town than its fishy appearance.

The game is played from the first-person perspective, and there's thankfully no on-screen icons to distract you from the surroundings. Dark Corners is all about living through Jack's eyes, and he quickly learns what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Unfortunately for Jack, what he faces is so unspeakable that it can actually drive him insane enough to commit suicide (a creepy thing to experience in first-person). There is a sanity system in place that is miles more effective than the superficial one used in the Gamecube's Eternal Darkness, and the player must be careful at all times.

Dark Corners is not a shooter. The game feels something like an evil combination of Shenmue and Thief, with some stealth content, a sprinkling of platforming, a few shooting sequences and Metroid-ish boss puzzles. It doesn't start slowly despite the fact you will not receive any weapons for the first third of the game. The feeling of dread and helplessness Jack feels as a result gives the game a horror aspect unlike anything Resident Evil, Silent Hill, or Fatal Frame can produce (and it's only slightly reduced once you do arm yourself). Jack must use his wits to survive, and the game excels at making the numerous situations and obstacles challenging in a realistic fashion. You'll have to pay a lot of attention to clues you find, the environment, even noises and conversations you hear. You will more than likely get stuck, possibly numerous times, but the solution is always logical and close at hand. Like the manual states, "You're a detective, not a soldier!" Paying attention pays off big time here.

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth has been a long time coming, but it's more than worth the wait. Fans of Lovecraft and horror in general will wonder why it took so long for someone to make a game with this kind of effective design. What Headfirst may lack in programming and artistic expertise, they more than make up for with cleverness, challenge, innovation, and atmosphere. The result is one of the best Xbox games of the year, and one of the best horror games ever made.

Speakercom 360 - White - Xbox 360 Reviews

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I was searching high and low to replace what must be my 6th Xbox microphone because no matter how much I take care of them, they just keep breaking. What a bargain! This product arrived right on time and so far I have no complaints. It works beautifully and the option to hear people through the speaker was a brilliant idea. I will be telling all of my friends about this product due to the cheap price and them always needing a back-up mic. 5 stars!

EDIT** Over 3 months later and still in perfect condition.

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I searched high and low for a device like this Speakercom gizmo. I use a separate pair of headphones, so I can't really use Turtle Beach units or whatever else out therewhich by the way I have tried and all I have to say iswhat is up with the 90 ft. long cables that plug into one place and another and hardly work? I can't afford wireless headsets and I cannot stand wires going all over the place. Why does every headset have a cheapo inline volume control? They always break! Anyway, all I wanted was a set of earbuds that I could slip under my Sony headphones so that I can communicate with other players AND hear the game audio. As far as I know this is the only product that will allow the setup that I need. I haven't used the speaker setting yet, seems a little silly but since I don't need it, no problemo. I can hear the chat perfectly fine. Other gamers can hear me as well. One issuewhen you raise the volume to max there is a pretty audible buzz. So I just lower the volume a hair and it's less noticeable. Not bad for $8! I'm getting at least one more pair because I know these won't last forever.

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Product came quickly and was as stated. It works great the only thing bad is the speaker isnt that loud and I bought it so I wouldnt have to use earpieces.

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As far as looks go, this might not be the best looking headset but functionality and commonsense engineering make these some of the best chat headsets I've owned to date...

The flatwire tech is a great innovation and I would love to see these implemented into alot more headsets. The only beef I have with this set is the oversized earbuds, I wish the buds were "in-ear" and interchangeable. Other than that though, the sound quality is great and I love the "hold to mute" button, ingenious. I would recommend these to anybody looking for a good chat headset...

BTW these things have a built in speaker mode that can be operated by the simple flip of a switch(no batteries necessary), I tried it but with all the ambient noises from the games I'm playing make it hard for you to really hear what anyone is saying.

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The product shipped as described, which was great seeing as how many products tend to not arrive even close to the expected date, especially when dealing with electronics. The product itself, that's a whole other story. It's a neat little device, which probably came from a great idea, but it seems no one would have thought that if you manufacture a product with the microphone extremely close to one of the speakers, it won't produce any feedback. Which this product did. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term feedback, just think of it as a loud and obnoxious base ring that the device emits. When using this product on Xbox Live, expect your friends and fellow gaming teammates to become very angry with the noise. Do not bother muting the microphone, the noise will still emit. I would have rated this product a 2 out of 5 stars, but the shipping turned out to be very reliable.

Review of Call of Duty: Black Ops - Xbox 360

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List Price: $49.99
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Great production value does not make a great game.

I'll start with the good things. COD:Black Ops graphics are on-par with any top-shelf title and it has an incredibly smooth feel. The game is reported to run at 60 frames per second and it feels very high def. The voice acting is good, and clearly the production value and marketing budgets are both very high. However, graphics, and hype do not make a good game. Gameplay and immersion do. Here's why COD:Black Ops Fails utterly.

1 AI is stupid. These shortcomings remind you constantly that your playing a game, and a poorly scripted one at that.

Enemy recognition: I've seen the AI sit 2 feet away from an enemy and not shoot at them. When they finally do, they shoot it out for 10-15 seconds to score a kill on the enemy. This is ridiculous. Your allies in the field are supposed to be top-notch soldiers just like you. Why can't they do some of the heavy lifting? Why can't they do ANY lifting?

AI Movement: Once again you are expected to lead the way no matter what. AI will lead you from one battle to another with annoying "follow me you jackass" type comments (I mean you're supposedly the "very best" soldier in the US's arsenal and your squad pampers you along like you're the greenest rookie in the armed forces, but I'll hit on this later) but once you get from one battle sequence to the next, they sit and shoot in the general direction of the enemy, but do nothing, generally, to progress the situation.

I want to ask the developers, "Have you played ANY other modern games with AI in them?" Because they do have a worthwhile influence on the outcome. Try playing Halo:Reach on legendary without the help of your squad mates you are FAR worse off. In that game, your squad shoots and accurately, and infinitely and eliminates enemies... For the really tough enemies you can time your shots with your AI squad mates to take down difficult targets with efficacy. This is entirely missing in BO.

2. Scripted non-sense battles: Once again the feel of a real battle is completely removed here. You can not move naturally through a level, but instead must figure out through countless, monotonous trial and error sessions what the best, and arguable only, (especially when playing on hardened/veteran difficulty) way through a section is. The fact that the story won't proceed to the next sequence until you trip the magic tripwire in the game is on par with 10-15yr old video games. Have the developers played anything but their own garbage in the last decade? I'm guessing no.

Nothing is worse in battles than seeing your buddies standing in the open taking zero fire, while you are ducked behind cover, and somehow getting magically lit up by enemies invisible to you. While I understand that perhaps some finger or toe might be sticking out of cover, why in all reasonableness would the enemy concentrate the entirety of their base of fire on such an impossible target when there are readily available targets standing entirely in the open? The fact that every enemy on the field seems to ignore all targets but you is very hard to get over. It's counter intuitive. If you see your friends moving with impunity, its natural to think, "I can go with them and NOT get shot at by multiple enemies, since they are in the open and not getting shot at by multiple enemies." Treyarch rewards this logic with untimely, inexplicable death, over and over again. = totally annoying

3. Infinitely spawning enemies

There are times when this is sensible, and there are times when it isn't. The fact that Treyarch rewards you for getting into a tactically superior position and eliminating enemies with unending waves of reinforcements is ridiculous. It's once again, counter-intuitive. While I understand the need to move, you are murdered over and over for sticking a toe out of cover, yet you are rewarded for being in cover with unending oppression. There needs to be a balance struck here where, IF you decide to take cover and use tactics to weaken the enemy force, you will get your chance to move. Maybe its simply the timing of the waves of enemies, but its seems that once you eliminate one enemy they are immediately replaced. This makes it pointless to eliminate enemies, and turns the game into a measured, Run-from-cover-to-cover type of battle where you simply hope to survive the onslaught and recover while in safety, only to do it again. Smoke grenades are the great balancer here, but they are in limited supply and that doesn't excuse how counter-intuitive it is to play a battle game without actually rewarding the player's skill and use of tactics with the ability to advance and succeed in a battlefield environment.

Awful

Game mechanics that are 10 15 yrs old, completely stale, and showing a complete inability to evolve

Completely lackluster AI

No rewards for player skill in a combat game

Good

Smooth, good-looking graphics

Talented voice acting

NOTE: Multiplayer is what it is, you either hate it or love it. I think its quick and addictive fun but I also greatly prefer the realism of other recent releases (MOH)

Zombies is great fun, but hardly worth a 60 pricetag.

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I had never been a fan of the franchise, preferring to do my shooting in the more Arcady Half-Life engine, Halo, Fear etc...

Then I played Modern Warfare, and loved it. You felt free to act. On veteran, the game was challenging. The worlds were large, and the enemies didn't re-spawn to infinity. This allowed you to actually be creative in your strategy, instead of tunneling. You could fall back, flank, snipe, or rush. Level design facilitated all strategies and the AI responded. Some levels set up better for different strategies, but the important thing is that it felt organic. When players died, they felt they could do something different--that they had control.

A majority of the positive reviews for this game focus on its numerous improvements over other Treyarch offerings, and hey are right to do so. The graphics, story, voice acting, and music are a step up (from COD:WaW), as well as the addition of some "cool moments," and extras like Zombies. However, there are serious problems that get brushed over. I feel like multi-player issues have been covered. So this review will tackle single player.

While game-play seems fluid on easier difficulties,fundamental problems express themselves at the more difficult settings. My play through on Veteran got boring fast largely due to the fact that Treyarch uses infinite enemy spawns to compensate for poor, predictable level design and unacceptably bad AI. Eventually you realize that besides a few "cool" roller-coaster moments type moments--fun but there's only one track, most of the game consists of a long corridor or an enclosed "box" with predictably placed pieces of cover. Even though there are things going on outside the "box" and the graphics seemingly connect them (see the trenches in the Vietnam level), you cannot interact with them. Visually its a large world; in practice it's claustrophobic. Enemies advance mindlessly in single file from the most distant cover to your position, eventually charging recklessly from the last piece of cover. To "kill" them you need to toss smoke grenades, sprint past some imaginary line, and hunker down. If you get unlucky and the RNG pops off a couple head shots, prepare to live the last 5 minutes of your life over and over again.

Lets be frank--in the early versions of COD, this was a necessity because of inherent technical limitations. The "box" existed because large interactive environments weren't possible. The endless spawns were needed because AI was terrible. It was necessary to have smoke grenades because these other compensations made certain configurations of enemies and cover frustrating. Purists might say "This is Call of Duty," but how many other games get a free pass when refusing to innovate from their predecessors?

Halo got a lot of crap for repeated area designs, but at least there were multiple ways to attack each situation. As Bungie put it, it was the same "moment of fun" over and over again. Black Ops is the same moment of predictable annoyance over and over. Instead of forcing you to critically think, death in Black-Ops feels like you just got unlucky playing the exact same interaction over and over again in the only way possible to play it. Theres nothing to do differently--just rush ahead and cross your fingers again. You are bound to get unlucky and die--even doing the right thing. When you do, unpredictable load points reward you with the with the same set of identical interactions and identical solutions. And then suddenly, when things work out, the gratification isn't there. You did nothing different. If the definition of madness is "doing the same thing and expecting a different result," then I guess I was mad the whole time I played.

Aiming is also problematic. I understand that real guns kick, but when you have an enemy completely filing my sights and the recoil from the last shot makes you miss anyway, you don't feel a sense of reward for aiming and you certainly don't feel a sense of realism; you feel a developer trying to compensate for poor difficulty balancing.

"Throw smoke and run into it" seems like a poor mechanic after a while. In the Infinity Ward games you throw smoke to get a tactical advantage, get away, or provide temporary cover to move to a new position. In Treyarch games, you do it because its the best way to stop infinite spawns. The former feels immersive, the latter feels like band-aid for poor game design.

It seems like Treyarch, in a misguided attempt to differentiate themselves from Infinity Ward and to give long time COD fans exactly what they've played over and over, actually refuses to let the series mature into a dynamic, creative, and frankly more fun experience.

Yes, it is challenging on veteran with high infinite spawn rates. It's challenging that the only solution is to press forward into oncoming fire. But it was also boring and I'd like my money back.

The bottom line is: if you want to romp through the game one lower difficulties or like the Multi-player, give it a shot. It looks good, and is entertaining. I enjoyed the voice acting and the story. If, however, you play through shooters at max difficulty and prefer to get your multi-player in MW2 or the new Halo offering, rent it or wait for better pricing.

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Ah, another year, another Call of Duty game. It seems like the annual release of the next installment in the iconic first-person shooter series should be a national holiday, given how many people attend the midnight launches for the game and no doubt skipped work or school the next day (myself included). Having hit the apex of popularity with Modern Warfare 2, the big question is how Black Ops will compare. I don't live and die by COD games as some people do, but I can say that Black Ops is one of the most satisfying and intense shooters I've ever played, with the best campaign out of all the games in the series and a multiplayer aspect that I can finally enjoy.

Perhaps I'm the odd one, but I mainly buy these games for the single-player campaign as I am not the best at online shooters. The campaign in Black Ops is easily the best out of the series, with more cohesive storytelling and a more satisfying conclusion than the previous entries. Set in the Cold War era (early to late 1960's), you fight your way through diverse terrain in Russia, Cuba, and Vietnam, among other locations. As with other games in the series, you play as two main characters and you go back and forth between their missions. Without giving too much away, the story is pretty stock, but the manner in which it's told and presented is a big step forward for the COD series, which has lately felt like a batch of multiplayer games with a brief single-player campaign tacked on. Black Ops gives players a better experience in this regard, and despite being brief (7 hours roughly), it doesn't feel too short or seem to end as abruptly as the Modern Warfare games. The difficulty settings are standard for the series, and for achievement/trophy hunters, the biggest rewards come when playing on "Veteran" difficulty.

The style of gameplay, the weapons and the linear design is all par for the course, but Treyarch has done a wonderful job at bringing this era and the surroundings to life. The cinematic quality that made Modern Warfare 2 such a hit is still intact here, and the graphics and sound are as amazing as you would expect. What I've always enjoyed about the COD games are the tight controls, and Black Ops will fit like a glove for any FPS fan. The multiplayer, undoubtedly the biggest day of Black Ops, is surprisingly accessible for people like me who typically get owned when going online. The focus is on class creating and experience points, and while I've only played a couple of hours, everything seems to run smoothly and without lag. My only fear is that the usual frustrations, such as campers and rude teenagers acting like idiots, will eventually creep in, but I'll be optimistic and see how things play out.

I don't believe in gushing over games and hailing them as the "Best Game EVAR!", so I'll avoid hyperbole and simply say that Black Ops one of the better FPS games that I've played. If I have any negative feedback, it surrounds some of the difficulty spikes and the dumb-as-bricks AI of your teammates (and some enemies), but that was the same case with Modern Warfare 2 and especially World at War. Black Ops is not a perfect game graphically and it doesn't reinvent the wheel for FPS games, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying experience that I don't regret investing the time or money into.

Honest reviews on Call of Duty: Black Ops - Xbox 360

My friend talked me into buying this game (used, from GameStop). If I had rented it first, I would not have bought it.

The problems with the campaign mode:

1) The AI is horribly stupid. Your allies have no concept of covering fire, except in the (very few) cases where it is written into the script. They will let enemies sneak up behind you or flank you without firing a single shot. They do, however, have helpful things to yell at you. For example, if you are getting shot up, they will yell "You're getting shot up!" Thanks for the heads-up on that one.

2) Special rules for NPCs. Your allies can stand fully upright in a fire fight and never get hit, but if you so much as try to peak around a barricade you die. It completely ruins what should be an immersive experience.

3) Instead of having an engaging narrative, the writers used a flashback wrapper technique to make the story seem interesting. Every battle you fight (except the very end) is a flashback. In one case, you play a flashback inside of a flashback. I'm not kidding! The writers were that lazy. So, every time you die, you stop and say "Wait a second! I know my guy survived because he is getting tortured in the future!"

4) Infinitely spawning waves of enemies too close together. I understand that you are supposed to feel like you are in an impossible situation, but it is just ridiculous when you can't move because the same 5 guys keep respawning, and by the time you've killed the fifth guy, the first guy is shooting you again (while your allies watch and yell at you).

5) Idiotic checkpoints. When you die (and you will die frequently), the game either starts you back 10 minutes earlier, or in the exact spot where you just died. Then, you either have to fight your way back all over again, or you get killed 15 times in a row until you figure out the exact combination of moves to get to safety right away.

6) Bugs! There are places in the game where you can get trapped. I once got my boat stuck and had to do a save+exit+resume trick to get it unstuck. Unfortunately, when I resumed my screen was completely white for 5 minutes, with only the waypoint indicator visible. I could move toward the waypoint, but the graphics did not recover until I hit the next checkpoint.

7) Bad level design. The SR71 mission is the single worst level of any game I have ever played. It is obvious the creators were trying to recreate the feeling of the AC130 mission from the first Modern Warfare game, but what they actually made was an epic fail.

8) Poor acting. I have read other reviews that praise the voice actors in this game. In my opinion, there is only one good actor in this cast. The rest are either hams or just seem to be bored with their lines (and I can't blame them, their lines are usually pretty lame).

The okay parts:

1) It is kind of neat that this game builds on part of the story from COD: World at War.

2) The only fun I had in this game was when I got to use the dragon's breath incendiary shotgun rounds.

3) With the flashback wrapper, at least you know your character isn't going to die half way through the game like they do in the Modern Warfare games.

4) The graphics are good, but nothing spectacular.

Final thoughts:

I play video games to have fun. The campaign mode in this game is simply not fun. Multiplayer may be fun, but you can get good multiplayer and a fun campaign with the Modern Warfare games. The zombie levels might be fun for some people, but I find them repetitive and overly difficult. If you want a zombie game, go buy Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, Left 4 Dead, Dead Rising, Resident Evil, or any of the other zombie games out there.

I'm selling this one back and letting some other sucker (who didn't read my review) suffer through it. I will rent Black Ops 2 before I even think of buying it.

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Initially, and compared to the terrible Gears Of War series, I really liked this game. It was a breath of fresh air to actually feel I had some degree of control over my on screen character, and could actually engage other players on equal terms. After playing for a while though, that illusion soon vanished. Black Ops suffers from poor hit box detection, and the usual lag issues associated with peer to peer gaming. On top of the actual issues with the game mechanics, the game suffers from a limited number of maps that soon become dull, and not sure if there is map rotation issue, but some maps seem to appear time and time again. Expect to play a lot of WMD and Array. I think it says a lot about the quality of the maps, that when presented with the two possible choices, players will always vote for a random map, anything other than the ones they have been presented with. The only maps that players do seem to vote on are Nuke Town and Firing Range. The maps are also pretty small, so the sniper class seems redundant. This is little more than a gun and run game.

Gun selection in this game is pretty much all eye candy, and really makes no difference at all. You can still shoot someone point blank with a shotgun any number of times and they will not go down, and firing on a person first is no sure guarantee that they will be killed. I particularly like the way as well that 50% of the time, enemy players can stroll past your claymore, which will then detonate well after you have been killed by said player. Oh, and watch out too for the poorly animated dog attacks. The blurb says a well timed knife attack can kill a dog, however, there are so few frames of animation on the dogs attacks, that one minute it is on the floor, the next it is on you! Oh, and speaking of knives, expect to be knifed by another player a few feet past them.

Whack Ops may be fun if you have come from an even poorer game, in my case, the Gears Of War series, but at the end of the day, get ready for BS and WTF moments aplenty.