Discount Rock Band Wireless Fender Wooden Stratocaster Replica for Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:

I got this guitar for $59.99, no shipping and no sales tax. I didn't really need it, as my plastic RB3 guitar was holding up nicely, but for that price (even cheaper than my plastic guitar) I just couldn't pass it up. I know that this guitar has been out for a while and that when it came out it was $300. There's no way I would have paid that much for it,especially since the pro mode guitars now out aren't even that much, but if you can get a good deal on it it's definitely worth checking out if you're into guitar-based rhythm games.

First of all the appearance is stunning. The sunburst finish on this thing is absolutely gorgeous. The pictures really don't do it justice. It's actually a nicer finish than I have on my real guitar. As advertised the entire body and neck of the guitar is actual wood. The fretboard and buttons however are plastic with a rosewood appearance (much like the appearance of the standardRB2/3 guitars). This isn't the plastic you're used to from these guitars though. It has a sort of weird "softer" feeling that you really have to feel to understand.And yes, those are actual tuning keys, that do turn. Completely useless on a video game controller, but a nice touch anyway that really adds to the appearance.

Onto how this guitar actually plays. The fret buttons are almost dead silent, which is very nice and they feel very well built and high quality. I've yet to miss a note that wasn't may fault. The strumbar is does make a "clicking" sound. It's not as loud as a GH guitars strumbar, but it's definitely noticeable. I know several people like the clicking, some don't like it, it's just personal preference. I've played enough with both types of strumbars that I really don't care which type a guitar has. Despite the clicking, it still looks and feels more like an RB strumbar, though it feels a little..."stiffer." You have to use a little more force to move it. It takes a minimal amount of time to get used to, but the result is a strumbar that feels more sturdy than any other I've ever used. The back and start button are modeled after volume and tone knobs, but with "back" and "start" printed on them. Despite the appearance, the back button is a simple push button. Like on the standard RB guitars, it's in the perfect position for pressing with your pinky if you're like me and like to activate overdrive that way (though the tilt sensor on this works great too, doesn't seem to be set too low or too high).The start "button" actually does turn a little bit until a little "click" indicates that you've "pressed" it. A good way to prevent accidental pausing. The whammy bar and selected switch are there as well and work perfectly. Nothing really special to note about them other than the fact that the whammy bar is a little longer than on the standard guitars.

A couple final thing to note. First of all, it does NOT come with a strap. If you don't have an extra one laying around somewhere it's probably bes you pick one up. For lefties, there is no strap peg on the other horn of the guitar and no way to put one on it unless you want to modify the guitar a bit. I was hitting the back button on occasion when whamming at first. This required a bit of an adjustment to my play style when whamming, but it didn't take long to adjust. Finally, the headset jack is in a very odd place. There's a plastic panel on the back of the guitar. On the side of this panel closest to the end of the body and the strap peg, there it is. I looked around for it for a while to find it, and at first I was worried I might end up rubbing against the plug of my headset with it's positioning. As it turns out though, it didn't affect me at all and didn't get in the way. Still definitely worth noting as it had me wondering it this guitar even had a headset port.

Overall this definitely gets a 5 from me. If you can find a good deal and you play guitar games at all you owe it to yourself to check it out.

UPDATE 9-21-12

I'm seeing a lot of comments below saying that a strap, as well as a couple other nonessential accessories ARE included, but in a rather unnoticeable and easy to miss part of the packaging. I'm normally very thorough in checking out my packaging, but it's possible I missed it. It's been a long time since this I wrote this review though and I no longer have the box so I can't confirm if this was an error on the seller's part or my part. It SOUNDS like it was my mistake, but again, I can't confirm. Either way I'm not too worried about it, from the comments it looks like it was nothing I really needed and I have too many straps laying around anyway lol.

While I'm updating, I might as well mention that this guitar is still holding up phenomenally well. It plays and looks every bit as good as the day it arrived, and that's after a LOT of extensive use. I went through I don't know how many plastic guitars back in the day, and it still amazes me that I can go on a marathon of some of the most insane songs in Rock Band and at the end of it all the buttons are still working perfectly and the strum bar is still as precise as when I took it out of the box. As these peripherals become more and more scarce over the years, durability is an enormous factor for those who are going to want to keep rocking out long after the controllers are impossible to find. This has served me well ever since I got it and it seems like it's not going to let me down any time soon.

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I bought two of these when they went on sale, and now own four of them. They are filled with some seriously strong components.

Over time I've used the standard Gh guitars, and liked neither the clicking, nor the size and buttons. I switched to the RB pack-in and killed it off within two months, all the while feeling the strum-bar get sloppy and the whammy bar do the same as time went on. I then picked up the Mad Catz wired P Bass, (The wireless wasn't out yet). It lasted for 3 months, and then I went to a wireless P Bass which lasted 4 months. Following that I bought the Wooden Fenders and have had them for over two years now with no signs of wear even now. There's still no trace of a problem with the strum bar, the whammy bar, or the fret buttons. They hold up remarkably well and are drop dead gorgeous.

The build quality is superb and the fit and finish is better than a lot of real guitars I've seen. The fret buttons, whammy bar, tilt sensor, and other parts are all excellent and work the way I'd hoped so many other controllers I've tried over the years would. If there's a problem playing the game it's your fault and not the fault of these controllers. An all around excellent product.

An added bonus is since I'm already used to using a full size and weight controller, it made the transition to the Pro-Strat easier.

These are expensive controllers if you don't pick them up on sale. But if you get them at the right price, they're a much better bargain than anything plastic out there. And both finishes are as beautiful as a high end guitar and gleam like a mirror. They also include a Fender labeled strap in the box, as well as a set of Duracell batteries and an adapter for the stomp-box, and one for the headset. These pack-ins are in an unmarked box in the package so don't throw it away by mistake!

Buy one of these beauties and you won't regret it.

As a side note, if you don't like controllers with clicky strum switches the clicking can be eliminated easily and for less than $8.00. I have posted a vid on YT on what you need and how to do it. Check the comments to find it.

The newest versions of these have a fairly heavy feeling strumbar return spring when they are brand new, but the spring will ease off after around 3-5 hours of play. After that initial break-in period the spring tension will be lighter and will stay very consistent, and it won't loose tension like most other controllers do over time.

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The Mad Catz Xbox 360 Rock Band Wireless Fender Stratocaster Replica Sunburst is as close to authentic as video game guitar controllers get.

== Design ==

As the price suggests, no expense is spared. This is the absolute pinnacle of gaming peripheral design and construction. The neccessary plastic buttons, knobs and switches are laid over a real fender stratocaster body, neck and headstock. Even the tuning pegs on the headstock are authentic and fully functional; unfortunately, they jangle about as you move the guitar (fixed with some weak, gentle glue). The glossy sunburst finish and the heft of the wood are just great. This is just a beautiful wireless (3 AA batteries) guitar that you may want to keep out on a stand rather than tossed into the back of a closet.

A few departures from a standard stratocaster are the neck finish, a slightly oversized whammy bar, and the fret spacing. Strats usually have a solid maple neck or a maple neck with rosewood overlay. This replica has (i believe) a real maple neck but with a plastic rosewood-like finished inlay. Rosewood would have been very impressive and slightly better on the fingers. The longer whammy bar makes it easier to use. The fret spacing, similarly eases play by conforming to the rock band guitar controller's spacing. An actual strat has wider frets at the top and narrower frets at the bottom, in a gradual transition. A real strat also has several more frets on the neck. It's understandable that Mad Catz would want to stick with the video game's convention for fret layout, but I would have preferred the layout of a real strat, as I'm sure most guitar players would. It would have been very slick to be able to pop off one set of buttons and pop on the differently spaced set at will.

== Performance ==

Playing with the Fender Strat Replica is a real pleasure. It is the most accurate controller I've tried. With the size and weight of a real stratocaster, it will add realism and comfort to the whole Rock Band experience. Overdrive is activated by tilt sensors, but unlike cheaper guitars, it works exactly the way it should. The clicking strum bar is fairly stiff and requires much more force than most other guitar controllers. It takes some getting used to, but after an hour or two you'll have no problem coaxing out a quick and rapid response. This is a guitar that feels like it will work just as well in 2 years as it does today. One negative, it lacks the auto-calibration of the Rock Band 2 guitar.

== Conclusion ==

While the price is steep, you're getting the best Rock Band guitar controller on the market and a work of art. Although I will have to report back a few months from now, I doubt I'll experience any sort of wear and tear, as I have with other guitar contorllers. A warning to parents some of the positives (heft and size) could be big negatives for someone under 54" tall. If you have already taken the plunge for most of the DLC, Xbox 360 Drum Rocker,Xbox 360 Rock Band Wireless Fender Precision Bass Replica Hot Rod Red, and a mic stand, I'll easily recommend this to complete your high-end set up. For those just looking to replace a faulty or broken plastic guitar to play a couple hours a week, obviously this may be overkill.

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When I unwrapped the guitar from the box, I was immediately struck by its beauty. This is not a toy. The plastic fret keys are indistinguishable from the rest of the wooden frets on the fingerboard. The metal turn pins, tremolo and bridge are exactly like my real electric guitar, and the frets are also separated by metal. It is a hefty piece of equipment as well. I was concerned about playing for hours on end with a 7 pound guitar around my neck/shoulders, but I found it a very familiar feeling from playing real stringed instruments.

Some people have complained about the fret width, but I don't have a problem with it. I have big hands, and it was easier to play than the plastic RB Strat. I was putting a lot of pressure on the plastic guitar on the keys with opposing pressure on the back of the neck to make it work. I don't have to do that here. The pressure on the keys is all that's required. Now my thumb can simply provide support instead of pressure.

I flat out love this guitar.

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the controller is so awesome, I bought two....my best purchase of the year. makes the game so much more fun.

Reviews of The Thing

Customer Ratings:

I've reviewed a few X-Box games here, so before I continue, I ask that after reading this review, please vote as to whether or not it was helpful so I know how/if I'm helping for your game purchases. Thanks! I'm changing my reviews to give purchase/rent/buy recommendations, as well as the 5-star system.

"The Thing" is one of the more surprisingly enjoyable games I've purchased recently. For those on the fence, on my new rating system I would give this a "good buy". To give you a better understanding of this rating, I would give "Halo" a "definitely buy" rating, "GunMetal" would get a "rent only", and "Smashing Drive" would receive an "avoid" rating. With that said, let's get down to details:

Graphics: Graphics are well-done and rated about a 3.5 to 4 out of 5. The colors are well-integrated, snow/fog perception is visually well done. Texture mapping onto various "thing" creatures can be a bit redundant, but doesn't detract from game play. Conceptually, the graphics are similar to Halo. The mapping of character voices to mouth movements is a bit puppet-like, but it's understood that do so would require a much more programming effort, and again, doesn't detract from the story. There is some granularity on certain images, but the content is large, so some work is spared. Again, the graphics are fine, and do not detract from playability of this game at all. You may need to tweak your TV's video settings if you're used to watching DVD movies often because there are many dark scenes that may require a darkened room to play, or adjusted contrast/brightness (increased Gamma). Occasionally, when your character is too close to battle, the view switches from an "behind the back" third person, to a first-person. Sometimes this can be a bit jerky, or can be accompanied by video clipping (i.e., where parts of the characters seem to be "cut off" or disappear through walls), causing disorientation for the player, but again, doesn't happen enough to be a serious problem.

Sound/music: Sounds are rated 3.5 to 4 also. The sounds for certain weapons as the shotgun are superb with nice subtle additions, such as the clink of shells falling on hard floors, recocking of the gun, and the "schluck, schluk" of reloading more shells. The sounds of "things" dying is can be repetitive, and it would have been nicer to have a few more variations on this. The sound of the wind howling during outdoor missions never becomes overstated, and the repeating track works well. The background mood music is very well done. The tense sounds or sudden pizzicato play very well into the story. When I first started playing this game at night with all the lights out, the mood music started to give me the same fearful anticipation that watching a good horror movie will do. Sounds of doors shutting, computers working, electrical boxes being repaired, and circuit breakers being thrown are realistic.

Game play/controls: This category rates a solid 4. An interesting quirk of this game occurs during loading of missions, which in no way affects game play. During loading from the DVD-ROM a "loading progress" indicator graphic of a single alien cell morphing into a human cell moves with a very jerky motion from left to right, followed by the words "Assimilation Complete" typed out. This doesn't affect game play at all, but more care should have been taken to not detract from the mood between missions. Another slightly annoying thing is the fact that there is no directly accessible save function (from the start button menu). You have to find "data recorders" throughout each mission at various steps along the way to save your progress. Usually these are located in places just prior to some perilous action, however, sometimes they're placed near the end of a mission, and possibly nowhere near the initial action of a following mission. If your character is killed in a new mission, you can simply restart the mission as many times as you need, but if you exit the game, or have to shut down your X-Box, you may have to replay a bit more than you'd like of an earlier mission (from where you had saved at a data recorder location) up to where you'd actually left off in a following mission. The flow of story and action is smooth, and the addition of movie-like scenes between action is very cool, though sometimes at the end of a scene you may be placed right in the middle of critical action without enough time to assimilate your situation, and the next thing you know, you're toast. The controls are standard, however, the left thumbstick controls ALL of your movement, and the right thumbstick is only for "panning" left or right, or to lean outward left or right. This is different from Halo which uses the left thumbstick to move, and the right one to "turn your head" to view separately from movement. If you've played Halo often, it takes a little getting used to, but you'll adapt quickly. The other controls are very simple to use, and there are only a few functions so as to avoid complication. As I said above, playing this game at night with all the lights off can be creepy at first, so the anxious tension comes across very well. The game is rated "M" for Mature, mostly for occasional obscenities/language, and violence. I'm glad Black Ice (the creators) didn't hold back with language; it's probably about a "PG-13" rating, maybe pushing "R", but to have toned it down would have made the game into a parody of what it is now. The game features a great combination of problem solving with action-less action than Halo, but makes up for it with the heightened tension conveyed in playing out a Sci-Fi horror movie game.

I had no idea of what to expect when I had purchased this game, not having read any other reviews (which I usually do beforehand), but I was not let down, and I'd recommend it for purchase.

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Normally, I find games made for multiple systems to be generally weak, or only as good as the weakest platform on the market. Since the Xbox is the baddest machine on the market, even though it might not always have the baddest games to accompany it, a lot of these games seem really watered down. The Thing is a nice exception to this rule. It's not the greatest game I've ever played, but it's definitely the best Xbox game I've played since Hunter: The Reckoning.

Ok, while the use of such an old, relatively tired license might seem a bit odd for those who don't remember the eighties as clearly as old guys like me, it lends itself perfectly to the survival horror genre. "Half-Life" always sort of reminded me of "The Thing" so it's nice to see the game steal a lot of inspiration back from games and movies it inspired over the years.

The one thing the game nails right on the head is the atmosphere. Paranoia rules the day. Are your allies infected, waiting to turn on you at any minute? Do they think the same thing about you? Are you all infected? The use of NPC's to further the plot and mold the atmosphere is used to perfection. NPC's might not be infected when you start, but in the heat of battle can become infected and turn on you. Everyone is a potential enemy. The game tries to further this by creating a NPC interface that revolves around building trust and quelling suspicion. While it's not a major part of the game, it does serve the atmosphere and keep you on your toes. The sound also helps build paranoia by doling it out in small or large doses. Footsteps in the snow or something banging on the wall can be really freaky. Aside from adding to the paranoia, the sound really isn't exceptional.

The graphics are good, but not the best. You can tell the graphics have been cleaned up considerably for the Xbox, but they are still a wee bit grainy and even laggy at times. I found the lag to be a personal irritant. This is the first game I've ever played on the Xbox with any lag at all, and although its minor compared to a lot of PC games on the market, it was still a little irritating. I personally think console games have no excuse for lag. It's not like they're dealing with an aging PC or something, they already have the specifications they need to build the game. The lag isn't horrible, but it's noticeable. Most people probably won't care.

The game-play itself is quite good and is what puts the game over the top in my book. All of the monsters remain threatening no matter how small they are. The big monsters are very difficult and the AI is exceptional. I spent a lot of time sneaking around with practically no health trying to avoid monsters, and it was easier said than done. A lot of times you are forced into combat, and when you are, get ready for a lot of gun switching. You have to beat the big guys down to nothing with machine guns and shotguns and then turn the flamethrowers on them which requires you to get very close. Not easy.

My only complaint about the control is the duck feature. In the control configuration I used, the stick for movement made you duck when you pushed it. In the heat of battle while running for my life, I would suddenly find myself in a duck walk getting beat on by some nasty critter. My only other complaint has to do with the save game feature. I'm sure checkpoint saves, or in game saves that require some device, in this case a recorder, are necessary for games that require memory cards, but with the Xbox's big hard drive, it's just irritating. Please, someone out there figure this out.

Anyway, there are lots of new Xbox games coming out, many of which I've played, few of which are good. The Thing is a good, safe bet. It's not the new Halo, but it's a great single player game. It's well worth your time and money.

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This game is not perfect in design. But it is survival horror at it's best and the controls beat Resident Evil and Silent Hill. The Thing is one of the most tense games I have ever played. From the grotesque mosnters to your own squad mates commiting suicide, you never really relax. One great gameplay dynamic is that you have to dish out the ammo and food. But you have to be careful if your squadmate has turned into the thing. Fantstic game, even better if you like the movie.

Really good game. go get it.

Honest reviews on The Thing

The Thing rocks. From the very begining this game is scary. You start out as a soldier sent out looking for survivors in a destroyed science base in antarctica but find only mangled or frozen bodies, and scattered papers that describe some kind of mutating infection. Later you find a fellow soldier, cowering in a corner, surrounded by mutilated bodys and babbeling about an unknown horror. This horror, the thing, is a virus that mutates anyone infected by it into a nightmarish beast. Your fellow soldiers suspect everyone of being infected and paranoia sets in. In this game you not only have to fight the monsters, but also cope with your teammates fears. A great story, cool weapons, and managing fear make The Thing a grade A horror game. The gory content of this game also makes it scary. Finding an evecerated corpse impaled upon its own severed limb, while your men cringe nervously as they hear strange shrieks and growels coming from the shadows, really adds up to a terrify game. I love this game and all my buddys who have rented or borrowed it ended up buying it because they loved it so much too. If you enjoy horror games or are a fan of the movie than buy it because this will blow you away. (you should also see the movie if you havent already, its great)

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I'm a hardcore PC gamer and picky console gamer, so I rarely purchase console games unless it's worth it. The Thing lived up to what I expected and delivered even more in terms of graphics and sounds, not to mention the AI of "The Things" are pretty good too. Controls are decent and the story plot definitely give those who saw the original movie a feeling of sequel in action (if you didnt see this 1982 sci-fi classic movie, get it, its worth it, the special effects in there are still good to date). There are few minor flaws, such as the trust/fear system that comes in conflict with scripted story/character development, so even after bloodtest those team members who are not infected might become infected due to story development or scripted plot. It's not bad, but it sort of cancels out the fear/trust system as. One minor issue I have with the game is that ammunition tend to be so readily available that it makes the game lean towards action than a survial horror game... but the blood and gore is this game will make up for that. Conclusion is this game is a much better choice for Xbox owners that wants a true resident evil type game (Silent Hill 2 was way too slow for my taste), and with the ability to be able to control a squade, good story and challenging AI this game should warrant any Xbox owner's investment.

Cheap Xbox 360 Audio Drum Rocker Core Rock Band 2 Drum Set without

Customer Ratings:

The Ion works great! My friend owns one and I decided to purchase one for myself. In my own opinion, if you are buying the Ion, buy the Ion drum rocker core that does not come with the cymbals. The original Ion cymbals are not worth the extra $100. But the Core drum kit, and order diffrent cymbals, there are tons available online.

-Steven M.

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This set is really nice. It doesn't drop any notes as long as you hit the pads with reasonable force. Reasonable force being not a light tap. Like you've heard from other reviews, the pedal is crap. I was like you. I thought I'd be easy on it and not break it like everyone else, but I did. So really, for a set that'll last, you're looking at the cost of this plus $100 or so for the rock pedal which I'm on my way to buying. I still recommend this set because if you don't consider the pedal, it's a fantastic piece of equipment.

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This kit responds very well, provides good bounce, and is pretty quiet when struck. It's not perfect, though: it can't be raised nearly as tall as the Rock Band stock kit, the pedal just feels a little off (it still works fine, though), and the pads don't respond to very light touches. With my play style, this has been a bit of a problem, but I've adjusted. But overall, they work very well, and if you're a Rock Band addict like me, most likely worth it.

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My son loves this drum set for his Xbox 360!

He had one major problem with the kick pedal. It is solid and sturdy, but the piece that hits the receiver fell off in only a couple of days. He tried to re-attached it with super glue, but it didn't hold and fell off again the same day. I am sending it back for a replacement. I am really hoping that the next one doesn't have the same defect.

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The Ion Drum Rocker Core is an all around excellent product, the instructions can be a little plain and confusing, but I had not too much trouble putting this together in under an hour.

One problem with the kit overall is the kick pedal, for the most part it is solid and sturdy, but the piece that hits the receiver to signify a kick is very flimsy. Mine fell off in under a week (about 30-40 songs). I am hoping it can be easily reattached w/ super glue or will be replaced by the company.

Even with that small hiccup this kit is highly recommended for any hardcore Rock Band fan.

Tales of the Abyss - Nintendo 3DS Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $28.85
Today's Bonus: 28% Off

The Good:

+A very good story filled with engrossing characters

+Very well crafted dialog makes the story entertaining

+Incredibly fun battle system with a lot of depth

+A game that looks rather good on the 3DS

+The voice acting is actually very good

+A lengthy quest filled with lots of side quests and secrets

The Bad:

-The story can get bogged down in exposition

-The 3D conversion isn't very good

-There is nothing here that will convince those who invested in the Playstation 2 version to invest in this one; there are no 3DS exclusive extras here

In 2006 Tales of the Abyss was released on the Playstation 2. It's release was, unfortunately, overshadowed by Square-Enix's Final Fantasy XII. It's a shame because several gamers missed out on a considerable gem. And strangely enough, six years later the game is still just as good as it was then. It's aged well, and now those who missed out before may have a second chance to experience it.

Tales of the Abyss takes place in the fantasy world of Auldrant. A world ruled by "The Score." An enormous stone that more or less tells the fate. A fate that can't be changed. And the one who is likely to change this is Luke Von Fabre. He's a rich young man living in a manor. He was kidnapped seven years prior and when he was rescued couldn't remember anything. As a result he has been kept in the manor and sheltered during this time. When training with his mentor Van, a mysterious woman named Tear breaks into the manor and in an failed attempt to assassinate Van, is suddenly transported away with Luke. For the first time Luke is in the outside world. But why was Tear trying to assassinate Van? And what does Luke have to do with the score? It all comes together.

There are a couple of things about Tales of the Abyss's story that work on a lot of levels. The first and most stand out are the characters. It's got a fantastic ensemble cast. These are charming characters who will develop and change throughout the story. They each come with their own histories as well as their own personalities. Luke becomes more than just the "spoiled brat," for instance. And his entourage are there to fill more than just the steretypical role you first come to meet them in. The story is helped even further because it's got a lot of well orchestrated dialog. It's funny at times and heartbreaking at others. There can sometimes be too much focus on character, though. In between story segments you can view skits that let you know more about the characters and they'll sometimes discuss certain plot elements. They're usually humorous or add more to the story, or let you know more about the characters. They pop up a lot, however. You can, at times, feel drowned out in character development.

The story also tackles some heavy themes, but manages to go about it in a way that isn't preachy like so many JRPGs have a tendency to do. Despite what topical issues Tales of the Abyss brings up, you never feel like the game is lecturing, talking down to you or trying to teach you lessons all the time. It's primarily there to be entertaining and fun.

The Tales series does, from time to time, have a tendency to get a bit wordy and drowned out in exposition, however. As entertaining as the story can be you'll find moments where you'll go to a town, hear all sorts of exposition and then be directed to another town (sometimes with no dungeon or battles in between) just to be hit over the head with more exposition. In Tales of the Abyss this happens primarily because there's so much to take in. The story can feel overwhelming at times and convoluted at others. It's entertaining, but gets bogged down because of how much is thrown in. So much so that it slows down not because the pacing of the game calls for it... but because the story has to take a moment to explain things to the player.

Don't think this means Tales of the Abyss is absolutely no fun. It's a lot of fun. Particularly because the battle system is so amazing. Tales of the Abyss, like many Tales games, uses the linear motion battle system. You come into contact with the enemy and are whisked into a battle where you can move around freely on a line. Soon you'll be able to free roam all you want without being on a single line. You can attack normally or use special techniques called Artes. It works in such a way that battling is actually quite fun. But even the battle system adds layers at some point. This isn't just mindless button mashing. If you don't begin to learn some of the finer points of the battle system, Tales of the Abyss just might crush you.

There are two things that add to the battle experience. The first are the AD skills. At some point you'll get capacity cores that can grant a bonus to stats as you level up. As you get these bonuses you may also get AD skills. Get enough bonus to your strength, for instance and you'll learn an AD skill that might add to your attack string (so you have five swings to an attack instead of just four). The AD skills serve as a slight boost to your characters. They start off basic, letting you free run or recover form an attack that knocks you away. But soon you'll have longer combos, or perhaps a boost in speed during battle. Maybe even skills that will let you recover a small amount of HP as you take damage. You don't HAVE to play with these perks on either. If you feel they are making the game too easy you can turn them off.

You second thing is the field of fonons. As you cast certain elemental spells certain fields will appear. Stand in them and use an arte and some of your artes will morph and turn into different and more powerful artes corresponding to that element. It's amusing stuff.

The only issue is that it takes a while before the game actually introduces you to the AD skills. You'll learn some, but you won't get a capacity core for quite some time. Likewise, the game doesn't even bother to explain field of fonons for a LONG time (but the game doesn't have to explain it in order for you to take advantage of it). Other aspects get introduced slightly later as well. Every character has an overlimit gauge. When full and they go overlimit they take half damage and don't stumble. Until you get Mystic Artes (more or less Tales of the Abyss's form of a super attack) it seems like a useless perk.

You only control one character in combat, however. The others are controlled by AI, but they're usually quite competent. Usually they'll heal characters without question or exploit enemy weaknesses. The exception is that they sometimes will use items a little too freely. Luckily the game lets you customize some of these things. You can select for characters not to use items, for instance. Or to focus primarily on physical attacks or magic.

All these elements give Tales of the Abyss some depth to the battle system. And it's important to try and exploit them. The journey is long. It might well take you sixty hours to complete the game the first time through. However, the game has a lot of replay value as well as tons of optional content. In nearly every town you visit there is something extra to do. Small tiny quests. Some connect to an even bigger quest where the reward is a special item, a weapon for a character or perhaps even a title (which impacts a characters stats). There's a lot to explore in Tales of the Abyss. The main game itself can take around sixty hours, but do all the optional content and the game can be double that. There's also a New Game+ and you can alter the difficulty level in it.

In terms of what's changed from the PS2... there isn't very much. Although you will be impressed that they were able to port a Playstation 2 game to a handheld. The game certainly looks nicer on the 3DS as it looks a lot smoother and the presentation looks a little cleaner. The load times are also vastly improved over the Playstation 2 version. Most everything else is about the same, however. The voice acting is still very good and well delivered and it's nice that they retained it here. The music also still sounds good coming from the 3DS's speakers. What doesn't work out so well is the 3D. Like some of your favorite movies, some games just don't make the transition to 3D well. Tales of the Abyss is one of them. The 3D simply doesn't add anything to the experience. It isn't bad in battle, but Tales of the Abyss doesn't offer many other moments where the 3D is likely to enhance the experience. In most cases, you wouldn't even notice the game was in 3D at all. You're better off playing with the 3D turned off. Aside from that, the only other difference is that there is absolutely no multiplayer anymore. Even if you and a friend own the game, it's completely gone.

Aside from that, the game is virtually unchanged from the Playstation 2 version. There are no extra bosses or new sidequests thrown in exclusively for the 3DS. It's pretty much a straight port. This begs the question... is the game worth getting if you already have it on the Playstation 2? Well, that's hard to say. It's a smoother looking and running game, but the lack of any real extras doesn't really make it worth while for those who have the Playstation 2 version. Unless you really want it on the go or you just want to relive it there's no reason to pick it up if you've still got your Playstation 2 version. Those who have never played it and happen to have a 3DS, however, will definitely enjoy the game if they're looking for something to keep them busy for a while.

Tales of the Abyss is still a good game. One that has aged quite gracefully. If you haven't had the chance to experience this adventure and you're a fan of the JRPG, then this is a must own for 3DS owners who don't already have the Playstation 2 version.

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Tales of the Abyss 3DS is a more or less direct port of the PS2 version of TotA. I never had a chance to play the original, so this is my take on the game coming purely from the 3DS experience.

Story 9.5/10

First of all, the game has a fantastic, engrossing story. While many will say it is clichéd with anime tropes, I would only agree in part. However, this game has its own spin on many of those tropes and does so in such a way that captivated me unlike anything I've played since Xenosaga. The characters have real problems and address them. This game is filled with imperfect, jagged characters, and they all must band together across those imperfections to rise above what they expect from themselves. I won't go into any details, because anything would spoil the plot other than the game's brief blurb on the back of the cover. Make sure to not to read about the story because it must be experienced first hand, any spoilers will do just that--spoil the magic of this game.

Gameplay 10/10

The gameplay itself is fantastic. The Tales battle system took a big step with the addition of Free run, which allows the player to stray from the action line with the enemy, enabling you to run freely around the battlefield. The combat itself is quite engaging. It is not turn based. It is almost more like Smash Bros. in that you have two buttons to determine different attacks, which will vary depending on the direction the circle pad is pushed. Battles are engaging and only get more fun as the game continues. The difficulty is fairly low if you can wrap your head around the tactics of the combat system, but there are harder modes available (two after a new game).

Content 10/10 (if you've already played the PS2 version, this changes as there is no additional content in the game)

The game has many sidequests and the main game will probably last you anywhere between 40 and 60 hours your first time through--it is a substantial game. Some sidequests can only be completed on a second playthrough of the game which, along with multiple difficulties, is more incentive to play through the quest several times.

I don't know how the PS2 version differed in controls, but this game plays wonderfully on the 3DS. The controls are tight and effective.

Visuals 8.5/10

The visuals in this game are quite nice--thus far, this is certainly the nicest looking RPG I've ever played on a handheld. The size of the world is impressive as well, and I don't think it would be exaggerating to rank this among the biggest RPGs on a portable system. The low resolution of the 3DS screen, along with a lack of anti-aliasing, means that a lot of small details are more jagged than playing this on a large CRT television through your PS2. However, despite what people have said about the game, the 3D adds to help this a little--if you put the slider to somewhere between 30 and 40 percent, the game looks really grand. I haven't turned the 3D for more than a minute in my first playthrough simply because it is quite enjoyable and adds a nice depth to the game.

In short, if you have a 3DS and like RPGs, this is your game. If you don't have a 3DS but like RPGs, this is the time to get one. If you can find a copy of this increasingly hard-to-find game, grab it. You'll enjoy it and if you don't, you can probably sell it for little, if any, loss.

10/10

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Disclaimer: I never played the original PS2 version of this game. I've only played the 3DS verison.

I... I just love this game. After plugging 40 hours into it in the past month, I've decided that it is my favorite 3DS game to date. The story, if you haven't played it before, is wonderful. It's the first storyline in a long time that's made me emotionally invested in the characters. I feel like I know them like old friends, and the enemies and foes truly feel like my own enemies and foes. As far as story length goes, yes it's LONG. It's a very long game. An chances are, you won't get most of the secret story points on your first playthrough. I'm still not done yet, but who knows, maybe I'll play it again. :D

Now, onto the nitty-gritty: graphics and controls. The game feels very good to play, and the battles (all that's really important control-wise) are VERY fun. The shortcut feature is now implemented to the touch screen for easy access. I can say with absolute confidence that the controls feel natural and are very easy to grasp, leaving the rest of the game to perfect your skills. Lotsa fun, I can't tell ya enough.

Graphics are wonderful, and easy on the eyes. I don't use the 3D on the game much though. It's just not really needed. I mean, it's cool, but not needed, ya know? Same kind of sentiment that I had with Ocarina of Time 3Dgreat game, with 3D if you want to use it. Considering this was a PS2 game before, the visuals are WONDERFUL. I really wish they could do this kind of port with other Tales of the World games. Battle camera feels very smooth, too.

The audio in this game is where I was really taken back. Most Japanese RPGs that are translated to English have TERRIBLE voice acting, but this game... it feels like the characters really FEEL what they're saying, and they don't sound too obnoxious. Yes, there are a couple bad voices (two, tops), but how different is that from day-to-day life, huh? ;) The music is wonderful. It makes you feel the mood of the game. While there are many tracks that are used over and over, they never really feel out of place. A nice touch, I gotta say.

Overall, this game is a typical JRPG: young adults fight an evil organization to save the world, and they all grow up along the way. However, this game has left a great impression on me, and I can't wait to finish the game, and then play it again. Why not? After all, it's the best RPG on the Nintendo 3DS to date!

If you're looking for an RPG and Pokemon and Kingdom Hearts don't fit your fancy, this game will satisfy. I guarantee it. I still can't believe final fantasy xii overshadowed this gem...

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I'll keep this short. The Tales Of series has been 1 of my favorite rpg series since Tales of Destiny for PS1 & i've loved every game in the series since.. They always deliver amazing, rich worlds to explore with fun, lovable, anime style characters, engaging stories with epic plot twists, great action oriented battle systems & enough depth of rpg gameplay to satisfy most die hard rpg fans.. I was so happy when i found out they were bringing the ps2 classic to the 3ds i didnt know what to do with myself except snatch it up & try & spread the word that this is a great game that everybody who has 3ds should play.. Its worth every penny & in purhasing it hopefully it'll show Nintendo & the powers that be that we americans love not just rpgs but great games just as much as the next gamer & want more of these great games to come our way... If your looking for a great rpg for the 3ds, this is it!!!!!!

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This game, when it first came out on PS2 years ago was absolutely fantastic! The anime cut-scenes are gorgeous (yes, full-on traditionally animated), the voice acting is solid, the story is interesting, the in-game sprites are 3d modeled & have all sorts of little expressions for different emotions plus different costumes for many in-game earned "titles"

The 3DS version is basically the exact same game. There is absolutely nothing new here. The graphics on a tiny lil 3DS screen don't look very good as nobody bothered to remake them for the new media (everything was made to see on a bigger screen of a television, it really shows) and the dual-screen is severely underused

If you have access to the PS2 release go play that instead. Otherwise, play this on the XL. The graphics on smaller screens just look pathetic

Really sad the "skits" are still total silence. Yes, the original American PS2 release was silent too, but you'd think they would have dubbed at least a few for the new release (the Japanese release had a dub! Why can't we??). The icons still have animated mouths, and the music quiets down... but there's no dub! (you also can't fast-skip the text in the skit. The experience really starts to drag)

Best Afterglow AP.1 Controller for PS3 - Purple Deals

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I got this controller because I couldn't find the color I wanted around town. Yes, I ordered online, just for the color, but why not? It was cheaper online than going to the nearest Gamestop, or something. The Afterglo series has good quality products. They're unique and fun. The only thing that throws me off is that the D-pad and analog on the left side are switched, unlike a PS3 controller. However, it's still a great product and I use it everyday for my PS3 and computer games. I love it! RECOMMENDED!

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First of all, I want to say that I am a pretty hardcore gamer. I'm a level 17 on Metal Gear Online, and if you were familiar with the game, you'd know that being that level means that you're a pretty good player. I bought this controller because I was tired of wearing out the Dualshock 3 analog sticks by playing that game. Now, onto the controller.

This controller is alright. The buttons and triggers feel kind of cheap. The analog sticks don't have evenly distributed resistance in all directions, as compared to the Dualshock 3, but it's fine. When using this controller to play Metal Gear, there's a noticeable reduction in control with the analog sticks. However, with that said, I find that I enjoy using this controller. The Xbox 360 controller layout is fun to play with. There isn't any lag, as far as I can tell.

For the price, I'd say this controller is decent. I think if they improved upon the design of this controller, adding non-plastic-like buttons and making the analog sticks as responsive and resistive as the Dualshock 3, then they'd have a winner. I'd pay $50, or even more, for something like that. (I'm talking to you controller designer!)

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I bought this new from GameStop for $30. Everything worked perfectly. Then it started breaking. The vibrator only worked on one side of the controller and a piece of plastic chipped off the bottom of the controller. Now the afterglow doesn't even work any more. The controller itself still works and I use it as my second controller but beware before buying.

PS: It is a lot like an XBOX 360 controller shape wise

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I love the glow effect of this controller. Reminded me of the wireless afterglow controllers I bought for my PS2, but some games are not compatible with the wired controller, which is a downer for me. It feels good in your hands when you use it, but only being able to use it with some games is a turn-off for me.

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I got this just because it's the only purple option for dual shocks. It is wired, make no mistake about that. I normally sit 4 feet from my console, so wired is fine. The controller is actually clear, but it lights up inside with a purple light.

I like this because it's smaller than the standard dual shock. So perfect for gamers who don't have giant man-hands. And they put in these little protrusions that your fingers rest against on the back side, to prevent slippage. I wish Sony would use that idea in their proprietary controllers. Also, the triggers are extended, so no need to buy add on trigger extenders. And, it has vibration but you can choose to disable it.

I really like this controller and use it all the time.

Hidden Expedition: Titanic - PC Reviews

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List Price: $19.99
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As an adult who has purchased this game, I'm thinking one shouldn't have high expectations for things that give them hours of mindless fun. That's why I'm giving it 4 stars, instead of 3 or less. If you're looking for something that will hold your attention while you kill some time, or give your mind a bit of a rest, then this game is perfect. In fact, it can be rather addictive in that respect. I'm not one for complicated games, so personally, I love it.

I don't think a synopsis of the game is necessary (it's a game of "find the hidden object" not too many ways to elaborate on that), so I'll just say that the graphics are nice, and I like how the lists of items to be found change each time. Some objects are easy to find, others take a minute to locate. I'd prefer it if the extra "challenges" (they're really not all that challenging, especially after you've completed the game once) in between the levels changed as well, but sadly, they don't.

My biggest peeve with the game, if I can really even call it a peeve, is how it ends. While cracking that particular challenge is fun (again, in the mindless way), not only is it vague about how you actually accomplish it, it's rather anticlimactic. I won't ruin it with details, but suffice it to say that if you're playing the game for the most appropriate reasons (see above), the fact that the ending is kind of ho-hum shouldn't be a problem.

I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who'd like something that will keep them amused as they kill some time, but if you're looking for something more exciting or something that requires more a complex thought process this isn't it.

That said, my nephews (who are 4 and 9) love it! So, if you're looking for something that just about anyone in the family will enjoy, regardless of age, then my recommendation increases tenfold. I'm not an expert in childhood development, but I'm sure it doesn't do any harm to kids when developing their hunting skills on an intellectual/visual level, and it would probably do their attention spans a bit of good, too.

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I actually ordered this game from Big Fish Games several months ago, and have been playing it on & off ever since I finally finished my last "dive" tonight.

The goal of "Hidden Expedition: Titanic" is to search for lost artifacts & gems that are currently hidden within the ship-wrecked Titanic with the ultimate goal being to find the priceless crown which had once belonged to the queen. You do this by going on various dives in which you search for a list of specific items which have been embedded in the pictures of various locales.

At the start of each dive, you are given a certain amount of oxygen, as well as a time limit. You're also given the ability to ask for hints but be careful, each time you ask for a hint or guess wrong you lose a bit of time & oxygen. If you run out of time &/or oxygen, you'll have to start that particular dive again from the beginning.

Once you've found all of the items for a particular dive, you'll have to solve another type of puzzle in order to move on. These puzzles include searching for additional items that match the silhoettes given & restoring old photographs.

Overall, I found "Hidden Expedition: Titanic" to be a fun game & I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys "search & find" type games. I would also recommend the games from the Mystery Case File series, as they are of the same genre and are even more fun & addictive.

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While the game is certainly fun, it is not really fairly represented by the "Features" and "Description" used to describe it above.

Yes, you do search this game version of the Titanic (bearling little resemblance to the real thing). However there is no mystery to answer. You just search the areas and rooms of the boat and find a variety of items "hidden in plain sight" (harder than it sounds) in the huge clutter of miscellaneous junk and other 'stuff'. If you get though all of the ship, you do get to see the contents of the ship's safe (not a big deal). The version I have does not have a "Super Search Mode" though I suppose you could use your own magnifying glass (not a bad idea). The "precious treasures" you can collect are just sparkly little gem stones which are also buried/hidden in the clutter. Of much more use are the obscured air tanks that, if found, can increase your search time. The version I have does not have hard and easy "modes", but just one level of play. Yes, nice fish and bubbles do float by (and sometimes get in the way), but the music can become annoying (fortunately you can turn it off). With all that said, this game does provide an enjoyable way to spend some hours. For those wishing to try out the game before buying, go to the Pogo website and download the free trial version. It is not the whole game, but you'll get the idea.

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I play a lot of hidden object games. I had exhausted all the MCF games and thought I'd give this a try as it was highly rated. It looks really good and it was over-all ok to pass some time. It does have a little humor and some nice facts about the Titanic. My issues with it are these:

1) You are penalized for wrong clicks and for hints. Clicks chew up a little time and hints chew up A LOT of time. I prefer games that just give you a certain number of hints, instead of penalizing you for hints.

2) It sometimes has more than one object in the picture that might fit the search term, but only one is correct. I had this problem most with clocks. Combine this with the fact that wrong clicks are penalized and you get a recipe for frustration. This problem only occurred a few times though.

3) The background music can get annoying. The music loops are short and the theme is kind of intense in some places. Also, if you turn down the music, it doesn't stay that way next time you load the game.

4) Finally the game is kind of short. It is not the same value as games like Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate.

5) You have to wait for each item to float away and for its name to disappear from the item list before you can click the next item. This animation takes too long.

Overall, it's certainly not the worst hidden object game I've tried, but I won't be buying "Hidden Expedition: Everest."

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I bought this as a Christmas gift for my father, who played it online and liked it. I was happy I was able to buy a CD to give him instead of buying the game as a download so he had a gift to open. If you enjoy the I Spy CDs you'll enjoy this game too. The only thing is you have to find everything before you run out of time or oxygen. We've been enjoying it.

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Pack - Darklight Crypt Review

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I'm not sure what the other reviewers are talking about, but I have played Skylanders extensively, with and without my preschooler. The game itself is a lot of fun to play, and $20 is not a lot of money to pay for 4 collectible figures and an additional chapter inside the game that provides a new hat and soul gems for other characters. The adventure itself is not terribly difficult, but was a lot of fun with novel gameplay elements of the "living world" and the "spirit world" and the need to switch between these to change abilities of enemies, enable the collection of items, and the opening of doors. Essentially the entire chapter is a puzzle, and it was a lot of fun.

Contrary to the reviews suggesting you can just by the character seperately, you cannot, not at this time anyways. The included character, Ghost Roaster (who is not available individually at this time), is by far the most fun, and possibly overpowered character I've used so far. He is a melee undead character, and his special ability is turning into a laughing, flaming skull that plows through any emenies or breakables in his path. I use this as a primary attack since it is so good, and I also use it to move quickly around the chapters since it moves at about 3 times the speed of normal walking. After training, enemies killed will produce ghosts that also attack enemies, and can eventually be consumed by Roaster to heal damage. Great character.

Also included are the Time Twister and Healing potion. While I haven't had the need or the curiousity to use the Twister yet, the Healing potion is an invaluable tool that any serious player will want at his/her disposal. It is not an instant heal, but rather has a HoT effect, and there is a fixed duration of the HoT you can apply per chapter. I haven't depleted it or performed quantitative measure on the amount of HP it heals, but if is more than enough to save you when you are getting clobbered or need to recover before a boss fight.

The negative reviews for this item come from people complaining about the price. This is a $20 character/adventure pack. They are all $20 from ToysRUs. If you do not have a TRU near you, buy at their website if you don't like the price on Amazon. Don't rate the item 1 star because you don't like the price. This is a very good expansion with one of the best/most fun characters I've played to date, novel and fun chapter, and a healing potion. Maybe if the other reviewers had actually played the expansion, they could have given it a fair review.

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We have all collectively put over 10 hours bordering 20 into this game(and have beaten it) so i feel as though i have a good perspective on all the characters, adventure packs, etc. I would definitely recommend buying this adventure pack for your Skylander family. Ghost Roaster isn't one of our favorites but i would buy this expansion(essentially thats what it is) because it gives you an extra chapter to play in the game, and the two accessories are very handy. The elixir(on the bottom right of the packaging) gives your skylanders health over a short period of time. You can remove the elixir from the portal of power before its time is up, and use the remaining portion for a later time. You get a full elixir at the beginning of each new chapter and once its run out, you're done for that chapter. The Time Turner(on the top right) slows down time for everything in the game except for you(and your teammate). It also only lasts a short amount of time and is very useful for boss fights. Of the two, i'd saw the elixir is more useful, we use it much more often. As for the bonus level, it took us about 15 min to get through and collect all of the items. For our family, we think it was well worth the $20 since we love the game. If you're a parent buying it for your child, it isn't completely necessary to complete the game...but it makes it just that much better! Your kid will be very happy with it!

The best piece of advice i can offer if you're new to the game: GET AT LEAST ONE OF EVERY CHARACTER TYPE BEFORE YOU BEGIN!!! You need certain elements to get past gates and having all the character elements is key. This includes: Wind, life, undead, water, earth, magic, fire and tech.

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I've gotten Ghost Roaster, and he is an excellent Undead Skylander (plus it's fun to hear his psychotic cackle when he's in skull-mode). I had difficulty finding on the ruins map, at first, but once I played it, it was both fun and challenging. This level is one giant puzzle, and you have to switch between the real world and the "Ghost World" with these "day/night" platforms called Spectral Shifters.

Your mission is to find out why a plump, jolly pie baker is losing all his ghostly customers (since they actually enjoyed eating his pies over... well... eating brains. WHAT?! They're undead!). There is also a boss fight (of sorts), and though it may not be an epic fight, the music that comes with the battle IS (the music used for the Eruptor, Lightning Rod, and Cynder demos, among a few more).

Additionally, both the healing elixir and the time twister are handy (the Time Twister is good for characters with slow, close-range move characters, like Stump Smash, or Bash).

I mentioned in the Pirate Seas level (in a response) that beating that level gives you a mini-game; For Darklight Crypt... you get additional food for healing (here's a hint for the hip as to what kind of food it is: "Everybody loves *noun with three letters*")

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I have played this game a lot with my son over Christmas break and can assure you that THIS IS AN AWESOME ADVENTURE PACK! We have made it through 18 of the 22 levels with these tools on board. My son is 6 and I am not an avid gamer. Ghost Roaster is eventually one of the fastest; strongest kick butt characters out there with upgrades. He is a green, glowing skull that has an evil laugh as he attacks through everything. He was invaluable in the undead world and I don't know if we could have made it through with Hex alone (she wasn't upgraded and quickly dies in the beginning). Ghost Roaster has become a pleasant surprise, he quickly became one of our strongest characters. We have 25 out of 32 total characters of which 6 aren't released yet and Ignitor is sold in the Nintendo DS starter pack with the game. The Healing Potion keeps you from dying in a boss battle which is nice because you lose the ability to meet your objectives for that level when you die. The Time Twister we hesitated to use when we first got it because I thought it would make us redo the battle (that we were currently in) from the beginning. To my pleasant surprise this is not the case at all. The Time Twister simply makes your opponents slow way down in speed while you proceed to attack at a normal speed. It's like your character is on steroids and your opponents ate too much pasta before the battle. I have to honestly say we haven't moved through the additional level of the "Darklight Crypt" yet.. I am sort of tired of the undead eerie stuff at the moment (my son doesn't like that part much). I would gladly pay $20.00 for Ghost Roaster, Time Twister, and the Healing Elixir alone. If I had to make a choice for my #1 UNDEAD character at this point it would be Ghost Roaster!

SIDE NOTE: I got the BradyGames Strategy guide in this week and can further tell you that there are a total of 4 Adventure packs that will be released. They are Pirate Seas with Terrafin (Rock element), Darklight Crypt with Ghost Roaster (Undead element), another called Dragon's Peak with Sunburn (Fire element), and Empire of Ice with Slam Bam (Water element). These characters will only be available in the adventure packs. I hope these others are as cool as Ghost Roaster.

UPDATE:

WE HAVE BOUGHT AND PLAYED THE FOUR ADVENTURE PACKS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED; IN MY OPINION THIS ONE WAS THE BEST!

We couldn't have made it through all the levels without Ghost Roaster, the Healing Potion, Time Twister and I think that the Darklight Crypt was the most challenging bang for the buck level! It also has the best Magic Items. Dragon's Peak would be my second choice if I had to decide..but it's a close call to Pirate Seas. Dragon's Peak is challenging because of the critical hit impact of the fire etc. along the way. The winged boot gives your characters the ability to run (not fly) extremely fast for a brief period of time and ..I am embarrassed to admit.. I just discoved that you can use the extra Magic Items that come with the Advanture Packs during the Heroic Challenges.. Pirate Seas would be my third choice mainly due to how cool Terrafin is..none of the other characters can swim underground. Pirate Seas isn't that challenging from a "fighting" aspect. There are battles..don't get me wrong..but the hardest part for us was just getting through one of the areas that contains a hat and some treasure. It has some memory card games here and there but my son in kindergarten hasn't had to repeat any of them. The Ghost Swords are pretty cool too..we have used them in many final battles and they are even handy in the new iPhone app game called "Skylanders Cloud Patrol". Empire of Ice should have been released before Christmas..the "bad guys" wear SANTA HATS??? It was pretty cool but my number one complaint was that it was just too easy and quick. My Kindergarten son completed it in less than 30 min all by himself. I like Slam Bam pretty well out of our 33 Skylanders, but I would have liked to be able to just pay $9 for him alone.

"SKYLANDERS GIANTS" WILL BE RELEASED IN OCTOBER 2012!!!!!!!!!

The current figures will still work within it. SOME of the characters from the original release will be getting a re-pose!! The re-poses will work in both the original Skylanders game and the new "Giants" version. The series 2 re-poses will work in both versions of the games too, but the series 2 versions will have additional powers within the Giants version. GHOST ROASTER IS NOT GETTING A RE-POSE! It says online that the Adventure Packs will open an additional level within the "Giants" version. There won't be any new Adventure Packs, just two Battle Packs that will have an additional PVP arena in them (I'm guessing based on the fact that the first one released has an additional arena in it). BUY IT NOW!

SKYLANDERS III IN 2013! It sounds like a lot of the "phased out" figures that weren't brought back for Skylanders Giants will come back in 2013. Ghost Roaster might be one of them.. but if you can get him now I would for the simple use of his extra level for Skylanders Giants, and the two magic items. I don't have "Eye Brawl" the new giant ...but I do have the rest available at this time and Ghost Roaster and Cynder are two of my Undead Favorites still.

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For those of you, like me, that came into the Skylanders world a little late (I just started after Christmas 2012), have hope! I was very sad to see what this Adventure Pack was selling for online. I had almost convinced myself to pay the outrageous prices in order to get it, because the reviews I had read made it sound like so much fun!

However, persistence did pay off, and I can confirm that this item is NOT out of print. It's just very difficult to find, perhaps because the scalpers are buying them all up and selling them online. I went to my local Target store on MLK day a week ago (2013), and I was beside myself with excitement to see this Adventure Pack on the shelf (along with Dragon's Peak, which I picked up for my sister). It had not been there days before, so they obviously got a new shipment in, and this was in it! And it was just the normal MSRP ($19.99), same as the other Adventure Packs.

As for the game play, it's a fun level because the "twist" for this level is changing between the Ghost World and the Real World. Some bad guys are Statues in the Real World (and easy to shatter), but in Ghost World they are powerful enemies. Stone blocks are blocking your path in the Ghost World, but move in the Real World. So there's a really enjoyable puzzle-type aspect to it, where you need to take note of your surroundings and sometimes even backtrack to be able to move forward in the level.

I highly recommend this Adventure Pack, but I also recommend you try to just find it at your local stores. It may just take some time.

Best TOSLink OPTICAL AUDIO SWITCH + 4 CABLE FOR PS3 XBOX 360 Deals

Customer Ratings:

I use the switch to toggle between a Dish receiver and a DVD player (inputs) to a home theater system (output). It worked well for a while, but then the cheap plastic construction resulted in intermittent failures. I took it apart and was surprised how simple it was. Anyway, I found that the output "socket" was no longer solidly fixed in its position so that it would not align consistently with its receiving "plug". I glued it in place with a bit of MarineTex epoxy and all has been well since.

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The switching part of the device doesn't work all the time. The sound quality for the most part was decent but at times could get intermittent. So I just ended up plugging my Xbox & PS3 just directly into my surround sound to avoid the hassle. I wouldn't recommend getting this. I'm going to buy another one of a higher quality that maybe automatically detects which input there is.

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Performed as expected and I am very pleased to find this quality cables at a reasonable price. There is no difference to purchase the cable in local retailer and over Amazon. I am much more appreciated with the fast shipping and with such price.

Honest reviews on TOSLink OPTICAL AUDIO SWITCH + 4 CABLE FOR PS3 XBOX 360

This little junction switch works great, I use it to switch inputs for audio because I own to many electronics. It is simple, cheap and works great.

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as title above, the product is very easy to use, so user friendly. quality is reasonable with the price. good choice

Review of Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations

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NSUNS Generations is a good fighting game. It has a large amount of characters to choose from but after beating story mode I was left wanting more....Also, I wish the story mode was more than a really brief summary of events followed by a fight. Then repeat. I haven't played online but based on the customizable options it seems like it would be kind of cool. Though, in retrospect, I probably should've just waited for Ultimate Ninja Storm 3.

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this game was without any problems, and came as it was described. the brand name in bandai, not basndai, but the product itself was wholly satisfactory.XD

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My 13 year old son is an Anime Freak and he loves this game I have to sometime shut it off sometimes because he will not stop playing this game he also has the other Naruto games....anyway happy playing.... he loves this game.

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This was a gift for my son. He loves it. Received the item quickly! I am very happy with my purchase

Kill Switch Review

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This game is by far one of the most difficult games I have played since stuntman for ps2.If you like trying to get through a level about a thousand times then you might like this one.There is nothing really special about this game except the cover system, weak graphics and extreme difficulty prevent this one from being a five star game.

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Kill.Switch is not a bad game at all. It reminds me of the Bruce Willis platform game Apocalypse. In fact it is probably one of the best 3D Platform shoot `em ups you can get your hands on. You play Bishop, a sort of Metal Gear Solid's Solid Snake x Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher with more firepower than both combined. In fact that is what kill.switch is one big free-for-all GUNFIGHT.

The story is actually confusing and told in flashback style (some flashback shots are cinematically realistic). Bishop is an ultra-tech Soldier and who is married to Lynn Takamura a Neural Interface designer for some weapons tech firm. Bishop was supposed to execute a terrorist called Archer but failed. Archer came back to kill Lynn and to take control of Bishop's neural technology sending him about the globe committing terrorist acts of violence. Eventually Bishop finds a way out from Archer's control and goes to take Archer down himself.

Having said all of that, the gun fighting is first rate stuff simply because the enemy AI is the best seen in any game of its kind. The enemy is smart and moves accordingly. They will take you down by flanking you or sending a grenade in your direction. One or two hits are all it takes and you will go down. So you need to use the environment and this is where kill.switch scores in aces. As you hide behind something you can blind fire on the enemy with several different weapons to choose from or you can lean around the side, sight someone and shoot them. The detail in each level makes this one an essential purchase for the XBOX user. It pushes the PS2's graphics quite a bit (now and again the FPS stalls).

So kill.switch plays like you would expect it too run around various levels (there are 5 major levels divided into two parts each) shooting the enemy and diving behind boxes as you blow things up. Sounds boring or unoriginal yes, maybe but kill.switch does it all so furiously. Once you start firing and throwing grenades and dancing about the obstacle pulling off headshots with some blind fire you will see how enjoyable all of this really can be and for that kill.switch is all golden 5 stars.

However it does have some negatives. The story is simply very hard to understand and makes no sense. The zooms are not very deep on the gun scopes meaning that you do not really get to zoom around and see the awesome sights that they have designed. It could have done with better zooms. It was absolutely terrible that they did not make more objects destructible. You couldn't even shoot up things like tables and chairs. I didn't see a single wall blow out in the game.

In the end I would not really purchase this unless you like blast em ups. If blast em ups are your thing then do not even think twice about this review. Stop now and go pick up kill.switch. It is insane live fire from start to finish. You will get a bang for your buck. However if you are looking for a game that might do something other than that (forget any type of Splinter Cell objectives or Metal Gear Solid coolness) then I suggest you go look elsewhere.

Pros:

Furious action. Non-stop suppressing fire.

Amazing enemy AI. The best of any game out there.

Highly detailed graphics.

Blind-fire. A very cool option.

In terms of action this is what MGS and SC want-to-be but are not.

Cuts scenes are realistic.

Cons:

There appears to be no screen size adjustment.

Short. Really only 6 to 8 hours of start to end game play.

No environmental destruction.

Extremely limited objectives.

Story makes no sense.

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Does anyone remember the game Winback? I believe it was originally for the N64, and later was released on PS2. That is the grandpappy of Kill.Switch. Duck behind something then pop up and shoot when the enemy is not. Firstly I'll start by saying the gameplay is truly enjoyable. The only problem I found was the AI. I'm not lying when I say this, I beat this game in 1 day with the difficulty on Realistic. I read that the AI was so great that they would formulate attacks as a team, etcetera. They didn't. Maybe mine had a bug. Not to mention, when you get the SAW machine gun, you're basically unstoppable. The greatest thing about this game is that hopefully it will set the standard for future 3rd person shooters to employ taking cover, blind fire, etc. The story is not great, at all. I'm not exactly sure, but I think the main character is a machine or a virtual reality simulation or something. The FMV sequences are outstanding. Overall, it could have been harder, the story could have been better, and it needed to be longer. I forgot that. Don't be cheated by the 15 senarios. In most games a senario is the same as a campaign that has about three levels per senario. This game has 15 levels. This is the ultimate renting game, buy it if you want when it's $20.

Honest reviews on Kill Switch

Finally a Really Fun game has made its way to xbox. Here are a few pros and cons...

Pro's

~Fun game that will have you in action from start to finish.

~Great how you can hide behind a wall and heve the option to blind fire.

~Good graphics and cool how the glass breaks.

~Wide selection of weapons, as well as you can pick up enemy weapons.

Con's

~I do not like how he run's, his feet move to fast.

~You can't hold medi-kits, if you are in need of health you need to find a midi-kit.

That's about it, I'm sure I could find alot more good things about it but I just got it and I'm going to play it now... But as you can see there are more pro's than con's... so got check this game out!

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Kill.Switch redefines what the action/shooter genre is by adding new elements to the norm. It boasts unique miltary techniques, 15 levels of action, and a deep story. Does Kill.Switch deliver all of these? Keep reading to find out.

Kill.Switch does indeed redefine the action/shooter genre, but that's only because of the blindfire element they threw into this game. Other than hiding behind objects and shooting, there isn't much innovation. Plus dong blindfire over and over again get's old quickly because that's basically all you really have to do in the game.

The control of the game is perfect on XBox, it doesn't take long at all to master it. So you will be blowing up and shooting stuff in no time at all. It is interesting on how the blindfire works, you basically just go to a wall and press the shoot button while holding down the duck button. By doing blindfire you are protected by enemy fire, which means you take less, if any, damage.

I won't give any of the story away, but that's only because I didn't understand the story. Although I didn't understand it, it did keep me wanting to play the game in hopes that I could understand it by unlocking more of the story.

The voice acting, music, and sound effects are good. I can't really complain about any of those aspects. But I dislike how in the cutscenes how non of the peoples lips move when they are speaking. The sound effects of the guns, bombs, and footsteps alll sounds realistic. The music is driving and it keeps you wanting to play through the games various levels.

The in-gsme graphics are good but they could have been better, because they look a little out of date. But the CG's are great looking. The movement of the characters is smooth and fluent, unlike some of the reminicent shooters like WinBack.

Even though this game has some flaws that doesn't mean it's not worth a buy. Especially for the XBox owners because this one of the top action/shooters on it. This game isn't reccomended for the weak or new gamers because this game has a high difficulty level. All in all this is a good game and it deserves a buy if not it makes a great rental.

Hit

+ Blindfire is a nice touch

+ Good gameplay

+ Good CG's

+ Great sound, music, voice acting

Miss

_ Gameplay can get tiresome

_ Steep difficulty level for soft games

_ AI is pretty weak

Best Xbox 360 Controlle Conductive Rubber Contact Pads Buttons Fix Deals

Customer Ratings:

I purchased this item because suddenly the A button in the xbox 360 controller stop to work, I opened the controller and I found that was the rubber with a big hole in the A, I received the item and fit very well and now my controller is working amazing.

Pros: Like the original, fit amazing

Cons:The price, it will be much better to get a combo of this pieces for example 1 bag of 10, is more expensive the shipping

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Discount PlayStation 3 Wireless Sixaxis Controller

Customer Ratings:

The PlayStation 3 controller has gotten a lot of press because of its lack of vibration. However, it is wireless, extremely light, and has tilt sensors in it. This seems a great trade-off during gameplay.

First, let's get through the "bad" that many people have gotten upset about. They took out the rumble controller from the PS3 controller. This was for legal reasons a company which developed that rumble technology took issue with Sony using it. Some people feel it really affects gameplay not to have that rumbling.

I have to admit that I am VERY happy, personally, that the rumbling is gone. I always turned off the rumble in games where I could. I am on my computer pretty much 24 hours a day, and if I play a game with rumble on, it *kills* my wrists. If you're a rumble fan, this is a decision you'll have to make for yourself.

Now, to the good parts of the controller. First, they all come wireless for the PS3. I *love* love wireless. Wires cause huge clutter in our living room, with all our systems and equipment. You only have to plug the controller in to power it up. It's a regular USB power-up so you can use your iPod's plug (assuming you have an iPod) or plug it into your computer or XBox 360 or anything else with a USB on it. That is to say, you don't have to power it up from your PS3 if you don't want to for some reason.

Next, it is super light! I imagine this is because it doesn't have to hold the motors that cause rumbling. I really appreciate the lightness. You might not notice if you only play a game for an hour or two, but if you're doing marathon sessions of multiple hours, the weight of the controller really does begin to matter.

Just like the Wii controllers, this controller has a tilt sensor in it. It actually knows when you tilt and turn the controller, or shake it. Depending on the game, you can use those tilts to look around or to shake off an enemy. That really gives you much more interactivity with the game, much more than button pushing.

The general controller shape is exactly the same as the PS2 controller. You have a pair of shoulder buttons on each side, two joysticks, four buttons on the right and four directional buttons on the left. There's a PS button in the center, just like there's an XBox button in the middle of the Xbox 360 controller. Also, there are four lights on the unit, to let you know if this controller is #1, #2, #3 or #4 if you are playing multi-player games.

The center PS button lets you turn the unit on and off, which is great if your console is off in a shelf or corner of the room.

In general, I think they did a great job with the PS3 basic controllers. The main console sale both for 20 and 60 comes only with one controller so be sure to get yourself a second one!

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Here's a wireless controller that doesn't feature vibration feedback. That's a first. Both Microsoft and Nintendo have made vibration standard on there controllers. What Sony does different is add motion control. Actually the controller can sense six different movements. Although this is not a feature that really sells me. I was skeptical of this pad because of what was missing. And using the Dual Shock controller for nearly ten years I knew what to expect. Finally getting my hands on one of these I was able to tell all the differences. For one Sony has made it much easier for people to not have to get up every time they want to turn the PS3 on or off. That is what the PS button is for. Secondly they have changed the L2/R2 buttons and made them triggers. These triggers take getting used to. Generally the L2/R2 or what was referred to as shoulder buttons were rarely used. Except maybe in a shooting game. Now these triggers have a starring role in racing games. For many years I have been accoustomed to the X button representing throttle. Now it's R2 in many racing games. After using this paddle for several hours I have realized how much more I enjoy it. It's is quite light. Only a few ounces and makes it easy to use for hours at a time. I have also noticed how well the battery stays charged. Even after five days and twenty plus hours of use it still has two thirds battery power. I have used the 360 controller and the Wii mote and have found this is the most comfortable to me. Right now vibration doesn't make much of a difference for me and motion control is useless. I just enjoy the feel and really that's what's important when playing games for hours.

Best Deals for PlayStation 3 Wireless Sixaxis Controller

Sony's controller has it's good and bad. Good news first, one thing I like about it is the super light weight...by far the lightest controller I've ever owned. It also is now wireless. You can also turn on and off the console with the "PS" button in the middle. One of the best features is the new SIXAXIS motion feature. It makes game playing interesting. For example, you can literally steer your motor vehicle by moving the pad left, right, up or down in the game Motorstorm (demo). We'll see how developers will use this feature in future games...but so far so good!

There are drawbacks to the controller. For one, there is a usb cord that comes with the system and controller...what's disappointing is that the usb cord is so short maybe about only 5 feet long. I'm not sure if they include they usb cord if you buy the pad individually. However, I guess Sony expects gamers to sit right up to the tv when playing or charging the controller because of the short cord. I had to add an extension since I am about 10 feet away. But you won't use the cord so much because it charges pretty quick and battery lasts a long time before it needs charging...maybe up to 30 hours?

Another negative is that the L2 and R2 buttons feel awkward. Sony tried to make this into "triggers" but still keeping it's controller pad form, causes strains with some games. For example playing Need for Speed Carbon and holding the R2 trigger all the time, your fingers will slip when it gets moist. The least Sony could of done was make the buttons more rubbery for more grip or design the trigger so your fingers won't be slipping off the button.

Other than that, the controller is pretty simple and with the motion sensor makes it different from the past ones. I would of still preferred the "boomerang" type controller they had in mind, but the SIXAXIS isn't too bad of a deal....

Honest reviews on PlayStation 3 Wireless Sixaxis Controller

Why would Sony ever think of changing the design of this controller? It's been the best designed controller for more than a decade. Sony originally thought of changing to a new sleeker looking controller for the PS3, but thank God they changed their minds. Still great to hold.

Yes, there's no rumble. I don't care because I always turned off the vibration on the PS2 controller, so I don't miss it. I'm not sure why the PS button is red in that picture because mine does not illuminate at all. The Sixaxis is cool to have but will take some getting use to.

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This controller works great. It is lightweight, holds a charge for quite some time, and feels fantastic in the hands. I also have an Xbox and every time I pick up this controller I remember how well it fits in the hand. The lack of a rumble effect is the only thing that keeps it from getting 5 stars.