Color-Changing LED Xbox 360 Modded Controller (Rapid Fire Mod) MW3 Reviews

Customer Ratings:

This modded controller was way over priced and I would not recommend it to people who just want it for the cool lights or if they don't use a Xbox that much

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

My son thought the controller was absolutely awesome and has had fun with it ever since he got it. It was also delivered very quickly. Excellent purchase.

Xbox 360 Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Precision Bass Controller Review

Customer Ratings:

This controller is a great addition to the Rock Band games! My husband had been wanting it for a long time, and I finally decided to purchase it. I couldn't be more pleased and it is worth every penny!

Upon opening the box, I was very impressed with the appearance. The body is decent size and the neck is very long, which makes it look and feel real. When compared to the small Guitar Hero controllers, it is almost twice the size.

Getting used to the double strum bar takes some time and was a bit frustrating at first, but if you enjoy playing bass on the game, it presents a new challenge. Once you get the hang of the new finger coordination, it makes bass playing easier. It keeps your fingers from getting tired as quickly. It also helps you achieve those game challenges that require bass playing with "all up-strums."

The only complaint I have, and it's minor, is that this bass lacks a whammy bar, which has been replaced with a nob. It's not as easy as the bar, and is difficult to reach in a hurry.

Overall, this was a great purchase and I recommend it to all avid Rock Band fans!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Even after reading reviews about this guitar controller I was impressed when I received it. The fit and finish are superb and the responsiveness of the fret keys and the strum bar are top notch. It pairs easily with the system, is comfortable to use and accurately reproduces the experience of using real bass. If you're serious about Rock Band -and, I admit, we are -then you can't go wrong with the Fender instruments.

Best Deals for Xbox 360 Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Precision Bass Controller

Many people have now used this bass instrument at my place. From first-timers to seasoned experts, they all say the same thing: The split strummer and small fixed block just above, where you can rest your thumb, are awesome! In fact, many of us now play the normal guitar instrument in this fashion just because it's easier (but the normal guitar doesn't have the thumb rest). The unit is light weight, cheap plastic, and smaller than an actual bass but it works great.

Honest reviews on Xbox 360 Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Precision Bass Controller

Didn't know what to expect as I have never purchased this type of thing before. But I must say, the quality and appearance of this Bass controller are excellent!

Xbox 360 Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Precision Bass Controller White

I have had it for 3 weeks now, and it has received plenty of use in that time already. (daily)

The split strumming bar make it effortless to play the more difficult bass lines in Rock Band 3, using two separate fingers. Also includes a jack to plug in a pedal that is used instead of tipping the neck up.

I like it so much, I just bought the guitar & mic stand. (don't want to leave it lying around).Universal Guitar and Mic Stand

I also intend to get another guitar from Amazon/MadKatz. Xbox 360 Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Telecaster Player's Edition Gunmetal

I definitely recommend this product!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Xbox 360 Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Precision Bass Controller

was excited to recieve guitar, but upon opening item and attempting to connect to console, was quickly disappointed. Guitar will not connect to xbox console. Spent over two hours with tech support and unable to have any remedy proposed. Guitar is simply defective. Unfortunately, the kids were too excited and threw away the packaging, so now I am stuck with a defective guitar that doesn't work and I can't return it for a refund. Very disappointed in the product.

360 Controller Thumbstick and D Pad Replacement Set White Review

Customer Ratings:

Very nice on a controller, makes it pop out nice, just make sure u wash ur hands because dirt sort of sticks to the joysticks but windex whips right off

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Discount Dynasty Warriors 3

Customer Ratings:

Basically it's like Gauntlet/Jedi Power Battles/Command and Conquer, all rolled into one. You fight epic battles where you pretty much single-handedly demolish hundreds of enemy troopsthat's why you're a heroheroes do that you know! But unlike games like Gauntlet, you can chose where on the battle map you want to concentrate your attention, fighting. For example, if one of your ally generals is about to fall, he will issue a warning, and you can either allow him to get slaughtered or you can rush to his aid. Allowing him to die results in the diminishing of the overall moral of the troops, which in term translates to a reduction in fighting ability.

Fighting is with very simple button sequences, which are pretty much the same with every character. During the course of the game you collect items that improve your character's performance.

The plot in the game is based on The Three Kingdoms (also availabe on Amazon), a well known Chinese novel. I think this is the first time a video game might actually encourage someone to read a book! (Actually Kessen is also based on the same storysurprise, Koei also makes the Kessen game!) Unfortunately whatever the story is amongst these kingdoms, it's completely incomprehnsible in the game. But that's really not important anyway, as jumping in and killing lots of people pretty much gets you through all the game campaigns.

Pros:

simple controls to master

provides light strategy that is manageable in the thick of a battle

can switch to Japanese mode so the characters speak Japanese. Sounds cooler at least.

graphics are good

Cons:

game gets a bit repetitive

major hand pain from stabbing the game controller buttons for too long. A campaign can last as long as 40 minutes!

awefully stilted English voice acting

rock sound track does not really fit with the theme of the game. Needs more of a Gladiator or Lord of the Rings soundtrack in the game.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

The Three Kingdoms era of China is brought to life in this game. I haven't heard anything about Dynasty Warriors 3 until my cousin showed me it. At first, I thought the characters and battles were made-up. However, my cousin has told me he has read about some of the men who lived back then.

In the game, you can play up to 40 different characters, each with a different weapon and so on. Most people are unlocked and you have to do something special to unlock them. Doing a "Musou Mode" usually unlocks some new people and get thier 2nd and 3rd level weapon. You also get bodyguards, starting with only 2, but you get more bodyguards as you level up.

The toughest guy in the game is Lu Bu and he is very dangerous to low-level characters. So, take the advice someone gives you: "Don't Pursue Lu Bu!"

This game is highly addictive and a lot of fun!

Best Deals for Dynasty Warriors 3

(...) I went to the local Gamestop yesterday where I like to hang out because the guys who work there are awesome. Anyhow, they just recently received DW3. I played the 2nd one a bit and thought it was a little above average. Well my friend, who played DW2 before, and I gave this game a try. He tried a little of the 1P mode. Then we tried the VS mode which was pretty cool. We weren't totally positive if there was a co-op but when I found out there was we figured out how. This game is fantastic. I personally enjoy multiplayer in any video game and this one does it very nicely. There were a few "bugs," but what can one expect from a game that is so huge and running on the limits of the PS2. "Bugs" you say? Well actually I noticed one bug and two annoyances. The one bug was the spawning and de-spawning of characters on screen basically randomly. Enemies would just appear in the middle of the screen randomly. And they would disappear just the same. One annoyance was that the game REALLY slowed down, probably 10 FPS (frames per second), when at one point there was too much going on the screen. The other annoyance was the "fog." I don't mean programmed weather fog, like rain or snow or fog. I mean the system cannot handle all the polygons, so it fills outside a small radius of the player "game fog" where one cannot see because it's just grey. Many other games experience this, especially console games. If you ever played Turok... bad fog too. Other than all that, this game is so darn awesome. It's fun running around just smashing opponents and watching them fly across the screen. The 2P "Mosou" mode is just great. Get this game now!!!

Honest reviews on Dynasty Warriors 3

Nothing quite spells relief like kicking the crud out of thousands of on screen enemies. Even better is the fact that you get to do it with a giant sword. Add to that the forty playable characters, and you have a great game with almost limitless replay value.

The instant appeal of this game is the afore mentioned beat up factor. The genre that was perfected with Final Fight is still strong with this game, due in part to the minor RPG character building elements added by Koei, and a much needed two player mode (this was greatly missing from DW 2).

There's really no way you can go wrong with a game like this. If you got a kick out of Streets of Rage, Final Fight, or any of the other hundreds of games in the same genre, you will love this game.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dynasty Warriors 3

Now that I have the game, I feel that I can review this.

I played it last night, and the first thing I noticed is that battles are different from the first game. They are no longer linear battles where you basically go through all the generals on the map and then kill the enemy commander to win. Now it's much easier to just go straight to the commander and get the kill -on some of the maps. Like the first one, I played Xiaohou Dun and Zhang Jiao (the enemy commander) was right in front of me. Finished him, and finished the map.

That said, it's actually a more difficult game than the predecessor. The AI is much smarter this time, and the enemy soldiers do attack quite a bit now. The biggest improvment in difficult is that the enemy generals now have moves that are difficult to counter -you might actually have to use the block button (gasp!) whereas in the previous game it was basically useless. The good thing is that enemy generals no longer recover health when they get knocked down, so you don't have to worry about keeping them standing while smashing away. Also, it's not as easy now to go in by yourself into a group of enemies and just kill them all -you have to be careful or you get killed very quickly. This is all on normal difficulty.

The maps are much improved, with actual terrains instead of a big, flat map like in the last game. Now you're always going up and down slopes, and the surrouding is generally more detailed that the last one. Also, there are more events in a map as far as I can tell, and there are also more varieties. I've only played on four stages so far, but they have all been fairly different, making a nice change from the last one.

There are a lot more characters now, and finally, the levels you can play with each character in the musou (story) mode actually corresponds to history. Zhao Yun, for example, no longer shows up in the Yellow Turban Rebellion map because he never fought there in history! This is a nice touch that I thought should've been fixed in the last game where people who shouldn't show up did.

I haven't gotten to the elephant yet, so no comment on that.

The items/weapon system seem to work well, although I haven't gathered too many of these so I don't know how important they might be, but I suspect they'll turn up more in the later levels and will show their usefulness. Once you get a new weapon your attack pattern might change. For example, for Zhao Yun the inital weapon is basically the same as the last game, with the same combo. But with newer weapons the combo can change to a 6-hit combo with different moves. So when playing it is important to look for these things, or else fighting might get very difficult since the enemy defense is fairly high once you get on some more advanced levels.

I have yet to see an in-level save point, and I'm not sure if they exist anymore. I have to play more to see (didn't read the manual, you see...)

Basically, a great sequel that added many of the features that were lacking. The music is still not great, but you aren't really playing this game for the music. The cinematic sequences have been greatly improved and now they actually mean something. The voice acting is great (although I use the Japanese voice acting with English subtitles). Overall, a very good game. If you liked the old one, this one is definitely a buy. If you've never played the old one, I suspect that this game will be much less repeatetive than some people found for the old one because of newer levels and weapons/items. Certainly worth a buy.

Global Game Gear GGG0024 Black Xbox Thumbsticks (4 Pack) Reviews

Customer Ratings:

I purchased these Analog Sticks to replace the ones that were chewed up by my dog. I installed them on a Halo 3 Wireless controller. You can't tell that they're not made my Microsoft. They fix snugly and have the same texture as the original sticks. They are exactly the same. Would highly recommend to anyone that needs to replace damaged Analog sticks on their controller.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Just to let you know there are 2 sticks in one package. There was another reviewer that only got 1?? Idk whats up with that, I read that and bought 2 so now I have 4 sticks...They also come with a small "allen wrench shaped (L)" Screw driver for the controller. I didn't see that in any reviews or the product description and bought a screwdriver. It was only four dollars but I still didn't have to buy it. The sticks are nice and have nice grip and shape to them. They feel just like the ones stock from MS.

Best Deals for Global Game Gear GGG0024 Black Xbox Thumbsticks (4 Pack)

I play mostly shooters, MW2, Black Ops, Halo, etc. Its a little rough on controllers and even if you get refurbs they are $30 each. These, for a couple bucks, made my sloppy worn controller feel almost like new again. I assumed the mechanism in the controller wore out but it turns out that most of the wear seems to be these joysticks, I will buy these again when they wear out again.

FYI, amazon, this is NOT a video game so why am i rating the "fun" level>?

Honest reviews on Global Game Gear GGG0024 Black Xbox Thumbsticks (4 Pack)

I got reaped off. I only got 2 thumbsticks and a L tool wrapt in plastic held togheter by tape nothing like the product shown in the picture...when i ask 4 my other 2 thumbsticks they ask me 4 a photo of the product which i send, that was about half a year ago...

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Global Game Gear GGG0024 Black Xbox Thumbsticks (4 Pack)

if you play fifa or any other games that requires you to really push those analog sticks then don't buy this!

the first time i played with it, within 3 days i had to change it because the protective rubber slipped off into my hands. The next day the new one only lasted 3 hours because the rubber also slipped off in my hands. All 4 thumbstick rubber slipped off into my hands. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone!

Reviews of Skylanders Giants Single Character Pack - Shroom Boom

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $8.95
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

Shroomboom is a life element character whose main weapon is using his slingshot to shoot mushrooms at his enemies and can also create a shield of mushrooms in a circle around him to protect him if lots of bad guys are all around. Another useful weapon is his ability to slingshot parachute looking mushrooms into the air that float down and attack his enemies from above. His attacks are slow as is he at moving around, but he's a very silly & cute character! Does not work on the original Skylanders Spyro's Adventures game, only works on the Skylanders Giants game. WORKS ON ALL SYSTEMS: Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Xbox 360, & Playstation 3.

HIS BACKGROUND STORY: Shroomboom was most unfortunate to have been born in a pizza topping garden belonging to Kaos. Growing up among his fellow fungi, he knew it was only a matter of time before a late night craving would bring about their demise. So Shroomboom took a twig and a strand of spider web and made a slingshot. One by one, he launched all of his friends over the garden fence before flinging himself over to join them. Then he guided them all to the edge of the island and leapt to freedom, using his mushroom cap to catch a friendly breeze. Now as a member of the Skylanders, Shroomboom continues to perform courageous deeds... but he can be hard to find on pizza night.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Mt kids love this game, they love all their characters. This one's power is it shoots up into the air

Best Deals for Skylanders Giants Single Character Pack - Shroom Boom

I made the "mistake" of introducing one of my best friends' son to Skylanders for the Xbox. This character was on sale for a fantastic price on Amazon and I snatched it up to add to a couple other ones I've found on sale for him for Christmas. A definite must for all Skylanders junkies!

Honest reviews on Skylanders Giants Single Character Pack - Shroom Boom

Great addition to the growing collection. One more step to completing the collection and we are moving on to the next find and possible purchase!

Sega GT 2002 - Xbox Reviews

Customer Ratings:

ok i dont know what some ppl r talking about. first of all, this game has amazing graphics. the cars, roads, barriers, and background buildings are very detailed. trees and people are terrrible. second, the sounds are phenominal. every car has a distinct engine noise (and going through tunnels sounds really cool too). The only bad thing about the sound is def. the music (which is some japenese techno crap) but u can play the music saved on your hard drive so the music shouldnt be a problem.

The selection of cars is impressive but not amazing. i was dissapointed by the lack of any bmw's. also most of the cars are biased towards japenese makers. About the customization system, its in depth enough for me. you can adjust turbo boost pressure, camber, gear ratios, suspension, brakes, tires and you can buy a few upgrades: exhaust system, intercooler, port polishing, weight rediction, tuned rom, turbochargers, tires, brakes, suspension and a few other things. this should be enough for all but the most anal players. The other modes are ok but not quite as good as the sega gt mode. you have your standard quick battle and time attack and you also have chronichle mode in which you race cars form one era (70's, 80's etc).

all in all sega gt 2002 is a good all around racing game for xbox. project gotham was way too hard towards the and and had too few cars. rallisport was an excellent game but it was rally only (thats not a complaint, i love rally). burnout is an insane arcade racer thats not 2 great at anything and wreckless is another great but its a mission based arcade game.i give sega gt 2002 a 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

What can you say about this game? The first few hours I played this game I didn't really love it. The cars in quick battle tend to understeer and the racetracks are not as beautiful as seen in Grantourismo 3 on PS2 (Seattle Circuit...). But when you're playing Sega GT2002 mode...this game is highly addictive. The first car you can buy is a Fiat, go to your first races start tuning and saving for new cars. Here the pros and cons:

+nice looking cars

+fine sound

+motivating career mode

+nice enemy AI

+pay for your mistakes

+good (tuned) car handling

+2d animated spectators

+blurring air at higher speeds

+tune your car and let your opponents breathe dust

-I'd like more tuning options

-I've seen better trees and landscapes

-I'd like more tracks

-drag races vs cpu in split screen only

-stupid replay studio

-no rain, fog...

-only one type of sport tires

-no calibration for analog controller/racing wheels

That's a lot of "-", but this one is well worth your purchase and comes with my unqualified recommendation.

Best Deals for Sega GT 2002 - Xbox

... i took some time, and gave Sega GT 2002 another try, and all right guess what? I LIKE IT!!!!!

I like it a lot!!! it has good controls, and very nice crisp graphics. That along with the addition of a custom soundtrack that the player provides. hey whats not to like?? The license tests ala Gran Turismo are very challenging, but so far have not hindered my enjoyment of the game. I have to say that this is a good game, and well worth the purchase price. XBOX hits a home run with this one!!!!! i am a true XBOX convert.

Honest reviews on Sega GT 2002 - Xbox

The first thing u think when u pop in and play SEGA GT 2002 for the Microsoft XBOX is A) How awsome the cars look and B) How hard it is.

This game doesn't have thousands of cars, or the most customizable ones. It doesn't have the greatest graphics, or the the most addicting gameplay.

What it does have is whatever u want. It's a good game, with a ton of options, and will keep you playing for many days to come.

1) The Gameplay: You start out with $13,000 dollars to buy a car. Unfortunantly, not many cars are at that price, so you'll have to start very small and build your way up. There are about 30 car companies in this game, each with 3 or 4 cars to buy. To name a few: Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Subaru, Ford, etc... Now, once u find a car that u can afford, u can buy it (first pick a color. Some cars have dozens, some only have 2 or 3 choosable colors), then you can upgrade it. Buy it a better engine, or make it less heavy. Unfortunantly, the upgrades will have to be minimal at first with the limited cash u have. So once you've selected a car, color, and upgrades, your ready to pick your race!

There are dozens and dozens of races to choose from. Each has a prize cash award (the first ones usually only 3 or 4 K). During the race, you have to watch your damage meter, because at the end, you have to pay for ithe damage u rack up. Now, once you make a few dollars and can buy a decent car, you'll realize how deep this game goes. A) You can buy 4 or 5 of the same car in different colors. Every thought of owning every color of the rainbow in Vipers in your garage? B) The never ending upgrades. Make your car cool itself better, or make it weigh less. The possibilties are endless. And with over 125 cars to buy and upgrade (and if u want, get in different colors) this game will take ages...and will be super fun in the process.

That's just the SEGA GT mode. There's also multiplayer (race against a friend or brother, NOT ONLINE), Chronicle Mode (race cars from either the 60's, 70's, 80's, or 90's and unlock NEW cars), and other modes. Each is a blast and should take a lot of time to beat.

The cars control very realisticly as well. You can't just make a sharp 360 degree turn! You often spin out, hit walls, and the whole thing is a major challenge...like really driving! This isn't some arcade racer at the mall, this is a real racing SIM. Are u ready?

2) Options: Dozens. Multiplayer, GT Mode (built a HUGE garage), buying every color of every car. Etc...this game could last u forever. But that's not all! You can also listen to some of your OWN toons while racing! Record some of your favoite music on to the MASSIVE XBOX hard disk and listen to it during gameplay! So much fun, and no offense to SEGA, the in game music isn't exactly great. A very good feature!

3) The graphics: Breathtaking! The cars shine, the backgrounds are HUGE, cameras flash from the stands. You really feel like your racing, and it brings the game (like many others now a' days) to life! Little things like 2D crowds are a bit dissapoining, but when your going 200 MPH in a Dodge Viper, your probably not going to notice. This game is massive, fun, and the graphics don't bring it down!

Overall, this is the best racing SIM out there for the XBOX. It's no Gran Turismo, but its a very good game, and should meat many people's needs. Though a few more cars would have been nice (GT3 seems to have thousands), this game has so many, it didn't really matter. Dozens of cars, companies to choose from, and colors to buy in. Customizable musicle soundtracks, and awsome mutlipler fun. SEGA GT 2002 is a great game, and a must buy for those who didn't get it with the bundle *like me*

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sega GT 2002 - Xbox

This game is sweet. It has over 125 cars from the 60's to the present. It even has awsome cars like the new Ford GT40 and the super exotic GT90. I have seen several movies of this game and it shows realistic lighting and highly detailed cars. The best part of the game is the GT mode where you buy a car and race to win money so you can upgrade your ride or buy a new ride. All I have to say is watch out Gran Turismo 3!

Discount Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition -Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:

I think most gamers are already aware of BioWare's pedigree, and they have stated that Dragon Age is the "spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate." Myself, the only thing I was worried about was EA's heavy hand in BW's back pocket, fortunately, this definitely does NOT seem to be the case.

Dragon Age: Origins is a very well thought out and then realized fantasy world. You start by making a choice... male or female and then one of five different races (there are actually only three races, but elves and dwarves come in two different varieties each), one of three different classes (warrior, mage, or rogue) that will eventually branch off into one of four different specialties. Each choice has it's "Origins" in the form of a specific story line unique to each race with each class, obviously, taking a different approach to that story. I first played the human noble origin, and am now on the elves, then I'll do the dwarves... I'll take the race that I like playing the best and that will be my main character. (Seeming as there's an achievement for each Origin, it's rewarding to take this approach as well).

The graphics are incredible and the sound is just as incredible, I'm not actually sure that there is a way to play this game and *not* get immersed, no lost, in it. I also like the controller scheme, it proved to be very intuitive once I spent a few minutes with it. There's only one action button (A) the other three are skill or talent specific with (RT) acting as a shift so you can get 2 sets of three commands (all mapable on the fly). On the other side (LT) pulls up a radial menu that lets you access most of your different commands similar to how Mass Effect used radial menu's but this one is staked, after you select from the main tree you get a second radial to pick your specific action, and just like ME the radial menu pauses the game. I will do a full review when I get done with my first playthrough.

What I wanted to comment specificaly on was the collector's edition. Is the CE worth the extra money? To me it absolutely was. It's all packaged really nice in a metal case with a map and an extra DVD with a lot of content. On the DVD besides the gratuitous "Making of..." videos, game art, and other comentaries there is also a video strategy guide --by the lead designer at BioWare-and it's really informative. Besides giving some sage advise on different character builds and play styles he also drops some hints as to where to find some of the most powerful items in the game for each class. My favorite part of the Collector's Edition, however, is the extra in-game content. For opting with the CE you get 3 special items: a book, a staff, and a helmet (all heavily enchanted, of course), and you also get the 'Blood Dragon' armor that will also be useable in Mass Effect 2 (how cool is that?) and it tops off with the 'Stone Prisoner' quest please note that this quest is available for purchase seperately as DLC on BioWare's server, but it's not cheap. All in all I am very happy with the CE and I would recommend it over the standard version any day.

**edit 11/15/2009**

I have finished every origin plot line and opted for a female human rogue for my first playthrough. I'm maybe 1/3 of the way through it, I don't have a lot of time to play right now and when I do play I'm trying to cover all ground possible before I move on. I don't want to get too specific in case of spoilers, but I will say the only thing that I can find to complain about so far is a slight lack of depth as far as tactics that are offered and too many talents available compared to how many points you get to spend on them. I will say that BioWare has a good amount of possible tactics to apply to whichever character, BUT in order to get enough slots to make it really worthwhile you have to spend your talent points on tactics.

Personally, I am currently of the mind that there are way too many skills and talents and not enough points available to even end up with 1/3 of them by the end of leveling (it appears there is a level 20 cap *3.15*>there is no cap, level 20 is considered the first mature character level* but skills and talents could still use some an update). Then they make it not just individual talents to focus on, but in trees of four this makes for some hard decisions when you level. This is a detraction for me because I'll end up micro-analyzing which skill/talent I should get instead of playing the game! Mages have it worst. They have a considerably larger spell tree than the warrior or rogue have for skill trees. Being that this is the only thing I have found thus far to have a serious gripe about I still contend that this is by far one of the better games to come along in a while.

**edited 03.15.10**

I have finished a thorough playthrough on the X360 and am about 1/3 through a PC playthrough. I maintain most of my original enthusiasm for this title. If I could revote I would make it a 4-star rating, but this is still a very solid addition to the rpg game realm. There is some definite shortcomings with the whole "tactics" style gameplay, which is almost surprising considering how much Bioware seems to have put into it but its there. Mainly, as far as tactics go there's really only one option and that's have your warriors charge in and take'em downand leave spellcasters in the rear of the battlefield. You **as in the character you're controlling** can attempt to flank, but that's about it. Sadly there's no attempt at a stealthier style of gameplay and combat. Even so, battles can stil be enjoyable but it definitely leaves a hole in the combat system. My main complaint about DA:O is that **everything** is scripted, just try to surprise attack any enemy -can-not be done. This is because combat is only initiated through the conversation options; unless its an attack on the map screen while traveling. You can't just attack somebody because you want to and this is almost unforgivable. Hopefully with the sequel to this they will change that. Currently I am waiting to play Awakenings and Return to Ostagar, I decided to wait to play RtO until Awakenings came out and I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I have enjoyed this title mostly, except for the combat hangups which I really hope they fix.

Bethesda's current stance is that they have become a publishing house and wont be making games anymore Fallout's next game has gone to another designer (Obsidian) and there is reportedly *not* going to be an Elder Scrolls 5 (I was completely floored by this). This is going to leave a huge gap in the fantasy rpg genre which Dragon Age could definitely make a grab for the gold at, but for me they really need to re-address their whole combat system to allow you to attack or not when you want to and have better control of your party and actually have some tactical options: flanking, 2nd wave, surprise attacks, etc. Without a new TES I will definitely be paying attention to what Bioware does with this title.

**edited 05.23.10**

***CHANGED 5STAR RATING TO 4STAR RATING***

^^^^Great news about the previous comment block^^^^ Pete Hines and Todd Howard were being misquoted (check out the forums at Bethsoft if you're interested), there will definitely be a TESV by Bethesda Game Studios they are just not even going to speculate on its arrival or any multi-player games.

I definitely want to see where Bioware takes Dragon-Age though what they did with Mass Effect was simply incredible and revolutionary (I am not aware of any other sequel that lets you port your previous character into it). I am thoroughly intrigued by Morrigan (voice acting by Claudia Black definitely sends it over the top) and what it seems like she's up to, in fact the whole plot of the DA story rests on her lovely shoulders now IMO.

Return to Ostagar was OK, but definitely *not* worth the wait it was originally slated for a "just in time for the holidays" late Nov./early Dec.'09 release date. It doesn't seem like enemies scale with player progression either. I blazed through Ostagar with a level 23 rogue and darkspawn were bouncing off me, I guess after defeating the arch-demon on hardest very little else will seem challenging.

I am about 1/2 way through Awakenings with mixed-emotions, not that anything about it has been bad -I just can't seem to 'get into it' as much as I did with Origins, although there's a new *play as the darkspawn* (can't remember what they named it) mod out now so maybe I can get back into it.

**edit 05.23.10** addendum to the addendum, changed star rating (was 5, now 4)

**edit 03.15.10** final review addendum

**edit 11.21.09** grammatical correction

Thanks for reading and game on....

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Deluxe edition stuff at the very end.

If you don't want to read my retarded ode to Bioware, please skip ahead to where it says, "Actual Review!".

Ah, Bioware. You're like an old girlfriend. The one who defined love for me (1). Then you hurt me (2). I still loved you, but I didn't understand; why did you have to do that?

You went your way and I went mine. Eventually I learned to forget. I met new people; sometimes I'd fall in love, but it was never quite the same (3).

We'd see each other every couple years, and we'd have a lot of fun for a night or two (4). But other times I thought to myself, "What are you doing with your life? We could be happy together! Why are you doing this? (5). After these ultimately disappointing hookups I'd always dig up our old photos and go through them (6). I'm not ashamed to say I cried a little.

You always told me you were searching for something. Learning who you were, and how to be.

Then, one day in early November, you called me. You said, "I know now; I know who I am. I know where I belong: with you." And then you came back home to me.

Then it all became so clear; you HAD been learning. It was the old you, but a new version! Everything past was prologue to this; the version of you I always knew was there. I just needed to have faith, and you'd see it too, and we could get back what we had, what we'd always known was us.

I love you Bioware. I realize now I've always loved you. Thank you for being in my life.

Answer Key!

1. Baldur's Gate I and II, the infinity engine that led to Icewind Dale, Fallout, and Planescape

2. Neverwinter Nights

3. The Elder Scrolls, Neverwinter Nights 2, FFX, FFXII

4. KOTOR, Mass Effect

5. Jade Empire, Sonic RPG

6. all those replays of BGII

ACTUAL REVIEW!

This is the best cRPG experience I've had in ten years. It becomes very clear within the first few minutes of your Origin story that you're experiencing gaming history. Not the revolutionary, innovative, awesome new mechanic kind of gaming history. This is analogous to a new album from your favorite artist that's been doing experimental side-projects for the last few years, and now comes out with a solid, deep, meaningful effort in a well-established form.

All the old ingredients are here: rich, meaningful character relationships; deep, tactically challenging combat; well written, thought-provoking dialogue trees. In short, everything you knew Bioware was capable of, but hasn't been fully present in any of their games since BGII.

Don't get me wrong; I've liked almost all of their games since then (Jade Empire and the Sonic RPG being the exceptions). It's just that none have fully satisfied me, or they've left me with the nagging feeling that something's just not quite right (re: KOTOR and Mass Effect feel slightly underdone).

This game is an instant classic, from a master of the genre. It's the kind of game that will be added to the roster of eminently replayable games (BGII, Fallout 1+2, Morrowind, Final Fantasy [pick your favorite], etc.). It's as good as or better than all of those.

Now, those of you that have NOT played Baldur's Gate, Fallout, Icewind Dale, NWN2, beware.

As evidenced by the very few negative reviews, the ad campaign for this game is not very representative of the content. This is a true western RPG, especially if you're getting it on the PC. Combat is challenging on every difficulty mode but easy.

IT IS BY NO MEANS a hack-and-slash or action RPG!!!

I still recommend it, but be prepared to open your mind to a new experience.

For those of you trying to decide on which version to get, here are some things:

If you played and loved Baldur's Gate, and got it because you bought into the "spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate" thing, get it for the PC, no question.

On the console, the camera is locked in behind the character in the style of Knights of the Old Republic or Mass Effect. This is fine for those who fell in love with Bioware since their console years began, but not if you want to play it for full tactical enjoyment.

Also, if you have a capable PC, the graphics are far superior to the consoles, which is often the case.

360 vs. PS3?

PS3 looks better, 360 moves smoother. 6 of 1.

Don't hesitate. Buy this game.

Learn it,

Live it,

Love it:

Bioware is Back.

P.S. For those of you getting the Deluxe Edition, the added content is completely worth it. You don't have to feel cheated; they did it right. Worth every last penny.

Best Deals for Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition -Xbox 360

This was a Christmas present for my dad. He and I have been huge fans of Bioware ever since Knights Of The Old Republic came out in 2003. This is one of his favorite games. He has played and beaten it at least five times, with no signs of boredom. I've also played it a bit. In my opinion, it's pretty good. I believe he is extremely happy with this purchase!

Honest reviews on Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition -Xbox 360

It was everything i could ever want in the collectors edition and this came with everything and in perfect condition.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition -Xbox 360

I'm not going to lie, I ONLY got the collectors edition on this because I knew it came with an add on for Mass Effect and yes, I'm a mass effect whore. I loved that game, and to be fair, I was really happy with this one too. I won't go on a giant rant about my hatred for the second, but just for this game, I was really enjoying it. I loved the characters (most of them), I loved the story. I LOVED the random conversations based on your party. The combat was fun, and in general there was always something pulling me to complete the game. I'm not a game critic, so I won't leave you an 8 million line post n the pros and cons of this game, yelling at the developers for this or that. I'm just going to say, it was a very enjoyable game and I did play it more than once, which is really saying something for a game nowadays.

Reviews of Elite Quad Charging Bay for PlayStation Move Controllers with 4 USB

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $16.87
Today's Bonus: 32% Off

I received the charger and decided to run a test to verify what the manufacturer told me (see original post below). I connected a DualShock controller to each of the 4 USB ports and noticed that their red lights started blinking, which means they are charging. No Move controllers were connected/docked during the test since they are still in the original packages waiting for Christmas. Some of the controllers were charged (the blinking red lights turned off) in about an hour and the most discharged controller (had not been used in months) took a little over 2 hours. I also charged my generic MP3 player but my iPhone 3GS does not detect the charger.

All this means that the manufacturer's customer support was wrong, (why am I surprised... ). This little charger can take care of not only both types of Move controllers but of ANY PS3 controller and possibly blue-tooth headsets and many other USB-based charging devices, with the exception of iPhones.

I upgraded the rating to 5*. By the way, the Move receptacles charge the controllers via metal pins, not USB mini B plugs. That is a good thing since the USB mini plugs tend to break easily and are more difficult to engage.



Just a cautionary note. I ordered this charger thinking that the USB ports would charge my 4 DualShock controllers. I tried to confirm that capability on the CTA Digital website and on Google to no avail. I emailed CTA Digital but they took more than a week to reply; a couple days after I ran out of patience and ordered the charger. In their email, CTA Digital said that the charger is not capable of charging the DualShock or SixAxis controllers via the USB ports, and referred me to another of their chargers.

I took out a star for misleading advertisement (I think it's malicious to make a charger for the PS3, which charges the regular controllers via the USB, and not mention that the USB ports in the charger CANNOT charge the regular controllers) and another star for the design (does not match the PS3 design lines/appeareance).

Apparently the reviewer before me made the same assumption I made (that the USB ports could charge the SixAxis and DualShock controllers) without testing that functionality. To be frank, I haven't tried either because the charger has not arrived yet. I'm just reporting what the manufacturer itself is claiming. If I find out that the USB ports can indeed charge the regular controllers I will update this review.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

No complaints; works fine, but would have been better with an on/off switch, as you don't want to keep charging your controllers every time (better for maintaining the batteries).

Best Deals for Elite Quad Charging Bay for PlayStation Move Controllers with 4 USB

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Having a separate charging base for my Move controllers and additional USB ports to charge the Sixaxis controller (or any other USB charged device) is a huge plus for keeping everything ready for action and out of the way. My controllers are charged so the device works. I don't know what else to say! The price is reasonable and while it doesn't seem very "substantial", it doesn't get much wear and tear so it should be fine.

Reviews of XBOX 360 Bulk Lot of 60 XBOX 360 Repair Kits 500 Low-Profile Screws

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $29.99
Today's Bonus: 70% Off

I've been fixing Xbox 360's for a few years now, and I've never seen such a good deal come across Amazon. Bought individually, this kit should cost well over what I paid for it ($39).

The "Special White Nylon Washers" look and feel like they are made out of plastic. That being said, they do their job amicably. They are exactly the same depth as the steel washers, and they don't carry electricity, both of which make them the perfect fit for Xbox 360 repairs.

It's not mentioned anywhere in this description, but my package came with about 60 small packages of thermal grease. It's not any name brand, but it'll suffice if you run out of the good/expensive stuff.

The "Complementary Deluxe Instruction Manual" mentioned in this description is nothing more than a card containing a link to their website, which I will not list here.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Great product really helps get the job done and at a excellent price! Worked great and able to fix up to 60 xboxs

Enchanted Arms With Comic -Xbox 360 Review

Customer Ratings:

First off, let me say that I'm a huge role playing game fan. I have been for as long as I can remember. One of my main gripes with Microsoft's XBox was that there was a huge lack of good RPGs. It seems with the release of Oblivion, which was an action RPG, and the release of this game, which is a turn based RPG, they are off to a good start with the 360.

The battles in this game are fun and strategic. Your characters are placed on grid-like terrain, and it's your job to move them around and position them to be able to attack the enemy. The enemy is also on the same grid, opposite of you. The positions of which your characters are placed at the start of each battle are random, so it does require strategy on your part.

Another huge part of this game is golemn collecting. Think of it as a Pokemon-like collection experience. Many of these golemns have unique powers that will be of great help to you on your journey. Golemns that you can collect are different from normal enemies in that they actually show up visibly on your map, as opposed to the random battles you will enter into to fight normal monsters.

The story is the best part of the game. It starts out slow for the first few hours, and then after a certain event that happens to you in the game, it's full steam ahead.

The main character, Atsuma, is your average meatheaded student who doesn't quite pay attention in class. Throughout the game, his learning curve doesn't seem to improve too much. He's always the last character to figure out what is exactly happening around him. His arm is what ties this story together, as it is the source of a mysterious power. Throughout the game, more backstory about his arm will be revealed to you. At first you will be joined by two characters, Toya and Makoto. Toya is more like a mentor to Atsuma and takes him under his wing at the beginning of the game. Makoto is the game's over-the-top stereotypical gay guy. He's madly in love with Toya and claims himself to be the president of Toya's fan club. Makoto is the source of much of the game's great comic relief for the first few hours of gameplay.

Later in the game, you'll be joined by Karin, Raigar, and Yuki. Karin is a headstrong woman who is part of a group called the "resistance movement". Raigar is Karin's personal bodyguard, who reveals himself to be freakishly strong. When you first meet him, he doesn't talk much, but he'll open up as the game progresses. Yuki is a selfish little girl who's main goal in life is to become the most famous golemn hunter that ever lived. She's also the source of alot of the game's funny dialog as the game goes on, because she has something to say about everything.

Speaking of the dialog, it's suprisingly fresh and natural. It never tries too hard to be funny, and in return you'll find yourself laughing aloud many times throughout the game.

I would love to reveal more of the story to you, but since it's the greatest part of the game, you'll have to get it and see it for yourself. Overall, Enchanted Arms is an enjoyable experience that has a good few fun sidequests to enjoy along with it's main storyline, which should keep you busy for many hours. I'd personally suggest this game to anyone who likes turn based-style battles or anyone who enjoys a fulfilling RPG story.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This is a very solid RPG that has a very similar gameplay and feel to Final Fantasy. IT is definitely worth playing for people who enjoy RPG's. One thing I want to make clear -if you do decide to purchase this game, give it 3 or 4 hours of gameplay before putting it down. It is slow moving at first, but starts to get interesting around the 3-hour marker and gets all the way until the end. So please enjoy.

Best Deals for Enchanted Arms With Comic -Xbox 360

Fabntastic Game Idea the videos are impressive. This game has some fans in the USA, and it deserves them. What you do is the good old solid RPG stuff talk to people, fight bad guys, become part of an epic story, etc.

The graphics are up to next gen standards and the play is fast and furious when the fighting starts!

Great RPG for the 360 I hope there's more!

Honest reviews on Enchanted Arms With Comic -Xbox 360

This game is nothing special. Its a mediocre RPG, which does nothing to stand out in an overcrowded room full of RPGs.

Ok, thats not entirely true. It does stand out in a few ways.

First, your main character may be the DUMBEST and most mentally inept main character ever. As I sat through the dialouge listening to his comments and questions, I couldnt help but wonder how he remembered to breath without someone stapling a note to his forehead reminding him to do so. His competence and observation skills can be accurately compared to a blind drunken monkey with ADHD.

Second, the VOICE ACTING. UGH. Now, the combat voice overs are just fine, as the characters yell out their various elements, attacks, or thank one another for blocking damage for them. However the voice acting for scenes and dialouge is EXCRUCIATING! Everything sounds so painfully forced. The dialouge itself is pretty aweful in that it repeats itself OVER AND OVER! For example, the game may tell you your next goal is inside that cave 30 ft away, as your camera focuses in on it. And by tell you, I mean bombard you with disasterous voice acting untill your willing to do whatever they ask if only they'll make the pain stop. Its clear where you need to go, but after walking over to it, the game will stop and play a nearly identical scene, complete with horrid voice acting, telling you that now you actually need to go INSIDE the cave. INSIDE the cave? What an idea! And here I was planning to LOITER AROUND OUTSIDE IT FOR 3 HOURS. Although, based on the dialouge thats about all your main character is smart enough to do on his own anyway, so its probably a good thing he has a slew of self-proclaimed tour guides following him around.

The combat system, while actually somewhat fun at first, is TERRIBLY unbalanced. Most of the time, battles about as evenly matched as a rabid lion in the ring with a one legged chicken. In normal fights, and about half the boss battles, your party is the rabid lion. In the other 50% of boss fights, however, you become the chicken, as the boss mercilessly and horribly violates your party before you get your first turn. And you cant resurect your party members mid-fight either. The game TRICKS you into THINKING you can, but this is a misconception. Any attempts to resurect a party member in any fight that they could concievably die during, will simply result in them being almost INSTANTLY re-ganked before they can even get a turn. This creates a vicious cycle of resurecting on your turn and your character dying on the enemies turn untill eventually you run out of VP and EP (vitality and ether/magic).

Worse still, is the grid movement system. Its as if at the begining of every fight, your enemy draws a line in the dirt and tells you, your not allowed to cross it, and your character being too mind-numbingly stupid to protest, just blindly follows this rule. Essentially the battle area looks more like a dodgeball court then a warzone, as you hurl attacks across the center line at your opponents on the other side. Did I mention your main characters good attacks are all short range, meaning both he and the target have to be standing next to the center line? And that nearly every enemy in the game after the first 30 mins or so, refuses to do anything except stand in the very back on their side of the court and hurl long range attacks at you?

How about the "rock paper scissors" sounding element system? See, in this game water beats fire, but then again fire also beats water. And every opposing element works this way, so as soon as you realize this, it suddenly stops being about strategy and starts becoming about whos rock is bigger.

And lets not forget the cover system. This is where you can place one character in front of the other, so the character behind suffers less damage from certain area attacks. It sounds great, untill you realize that in every fight where this might actually matter, the opponent COMPLETELY ignores this rule, and rapes both characters in one attack just for being close together. On the other hand, bosses can use this against YOU. Theres even a few bosses that hides in the far corner of their side of the dodgeball court, and place respawning enemies in front, meanwhile hitting your entire party for large damage every turn. Hiding in that far corner means your characters need to cluster together in the front corner of your side JUST so HALF of them can attack, meaning your tightly grouped when those respawning enemies decide to attack with their area moves.

Finally, theres comboing. Comboing is where you decide that one rabid lion isnt enough to thoroughly maul that defenseless chicken, so you call your 3 buddies over for a gang bang. This only really sees use in boss battles, and late game fights. Normal enemies CAN do combos too, but almost never get the chance. However, certain bosses can, and coincidently enough, also seem to delight in tempting you into hurling your xbox controller through the TV screen out of frustration. If you see an enemy begin a combo, you can accurately calculate your odds of survival by pausing the game and fliping a coin. Heads: your whole party dies. Tails: one party member survives long enough for you to make a futile attempt to resurect your teamates before sharing their fate.

Perhaps the only half decent element of the game could be the story itself. While hardly original (main character has a mysterious power, that he must discover more about as he progresses in the game which he will ultimately use to save the world) its not poorly done.

The characters, however, make up for the game almost havign a decent story. In short, your main characters a bumbling idiot, your other 3 permanent members are annoying, and the only decent and likable character in the game leaves your party after the first 15 mins of the game, and never rejoins. Also, and half naked homosexual follows you around for the better part of the game, and your main character cant recognize its one of his fellow students and best friends, because he wears sunglasses, a different color jacket, and changes his accent.

In conclusion, the experience of this game can be simulated by having your spleen removed while simaltaneously hitting your hand with a sledgehammer. If your a masochist with some free time and 20 dollars to spare this game is for you. For all others, do yourself a favor and buy Lost Oddesy instead.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Enchanted Arms With Comic -Xbox 360

Originally, the only reason I bought this game was for Raikoh from Otogi, I didn't really expect anything much from this than that. Once I started playing though, I soon forgot about Raikoh entirely. In my opinion, this game has a great story that gets you hooked right away. The characters all have their part in this game, you get to see into all their pasts as well as get a feel for what each character's personality is like. Yuki, although she has an annoying voice, ended up being my favorite character.

The gameplay is really enjoyable too. Though I must admit I prefer the Active Time Bar offered in Square games, this game has its own features to it that make an interesting turn base game. The game works on VP(vitality ponts), every time you start a match, as long as you have VP, you'll have full HP and EP(ether points, similar to MP, except EP is consumed for every move made). If you finish a match in the first round, no VP is drained, but the longer a match progresses, more and more VP drains, especially if you faint. Once you have no VP for any character, that character starts with 1 HP and 1 EP. So they're still usable, you just have to heal them. In combat, you work with a team of 4, which you can customize with over a hundred characters. This game works where one side attacks, then the other. Your team is on a grid, you choose one player at a time, move them to where you can, select your attack, repeat. Once you have selected your moves, all your players go, then the opponents. While your team is performing their moves, the game does neat little camera sequences that make it less boring. In longer fights you may run out of EP, no problem. Simply let that character sit off to the side and it will refill gradually, or use an item. One last thing, there is also the EX gauge the fills up and allows you to do deadly specials and an Combination gauge that when full, if you and a teammate attack the same opponent, it does severe damage.

I had gotten this at first without the manga and re-bought again for like 5 bucks in a bargain bin for the book alone. The manga is pretty good, it's a prequel to the game that actually explains a few things that happened. Now though I want them to actually make a series of mangas for this game because I bet they'd be pretty awesome, especially that they'd be able to do alot more detailed scenes of Atsuma fighting.

So for those who enjoy neat turn based games that have not only a gripping story but great characters as well, this game is for you. And anyone else who wants this game for Raikoh, I'll warn that he is at pretty well the end of the game, which is like 50 hours in by the way, and if you are strong enough to unlock him, you could easily beat the game already then. Also, even though he looks awesome, he isn't that great. His one attack that seems to be a selling point is rivaled by Yuki's sniper shot, because instead of just cutting their HP in half, it brings it down to critical and it is long range.

Discount LEGO Marvel Super Heroes - Xbox One

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $49.00
Today's Bonus: 18% Off

WOW! Really great game. I buy the lego games to play with my 5 year old. So this review is for the game being played that way. We are about 45% complete. I like the improvements over the other lego games. The hint system seems better and gives us hints where in previous games I had to look up gameplay guides. Also we loved the amount of characters before but now there are even more! Lots of content, really good variety. And of course the graphics are great. Just wanted to review on how we play and what we like since I saw there were no reviews yet.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

ZombiU - Nintendo Wii U Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $22.00
Today's Bonus: 63% Off

I have played about 3-4 hours of this game so far and I love it. It is a zombie game for those of us that miss the old-style Resident Evil games. Limited inventory, limited save spots (so far only one I know of), and shamblers as opposed to rabid fast zombies.

You play as one random survivor that is being helped by faceless voice on the radio. In the vein of Demon's Souls you die and you start again at the beginning, but unlike Demon Souls, all your progress is not lost. You wake up as another random survivor waking up in the safe house. Whatever mission you were on before you died is still active, and the world remains more or less as you left it when your previous survivor died.

There is inventory management, but unlike most games, the world doesn't stop while you riffle through your backpack, so looting gear becomes a lesson in speed-sorting. Controls for shooting/hitting are fairly easy to pick up. One of my favorite parts is that the gamepad turns into your scanner. You hold up the gamepad and move it around, physically scanning your environment and marking items that you tag with your scanner.

Now to the atmosphere. It's really nothing you haven't seen in other zombie games, but that doesn't mean it's not thoroughly enjoyable. It's more about building the paranoia and fear level. The ambiguous noise coming from another room, the movement off to your right but then when you look it's gone. All of those little things that serve to heighten the fear factor. You have doors and fallen articles to navigate while you move about the area as well, serving to make your getaway path that much harder if you have to run. It is similar to Silent Hill and other survival horror as far as atmosphere goes.

Overall, the reason I think I like it so much is my longing for an old-style Resident Evil game. This game delivers it, but adds some new elements which freshen up the gameplay. If you are looking for a zombie action shooter this game isn't for you. If you want a good survival horror this is definitely the game for you.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

When I picked up my Wii U on launch day, I was 99% positive I was going to cancel my ZombiU pre-order and just wait and see how reviews handled the game. I decided not to. I just had a feeling that I wasn't going to regret it.

I was right.

This game deserves a lot of respect. The developers definitely took some risks here. Survival horror just isn't popular anymore (unfortunately) and survival horror is exactly what this game is. Preparation is very important in ZombiU. Naturally, you can't always be prepared for every possible situation, but conserving ammo and trying to make the most of every medkit are two things that will definitely help your chances.

You die relatively easy in this game, so running and gunning isn't a smart thing to do. You'll want to scan your surroundings (using the game pad) and tag any items you might be able to pick up (you can also tag undead, so they show up on your map). You'll want to use your radar (also used via the game pad) to be aware of any possible dangers that might lurk in the darkness. And, most importantly, you'll want to keep your eyes open.

The attention to detail in this game is what truly shines (in my opinion). Menus fit the mood. Environments look demolished. The lighting is amazing. Weather adds an incredible atmosphere to the gameplay. I was thrilled to hear the deafening sound of heavy rain as it pounded the roof of the storage container I'd sought for shelter. Its little things like this that the developers did not have to spend time on, but did anyway. I even like how the voice guiding you through the game comes out of the game pad speakers and not the TV's. This makes it feel as though he's talking directly to you and not your survivor in-game.

Combat is varied, depending on how you look at it. Even I wish that melee combat had a little more variety to it. You basically just bash zombies repeatedly with your cricket bat until the option to -finish it off -pops up on screen. Guns are as they should be, however. 1-2 bullets (even from a handgun) to the head will drop most undead. There are also barrels and tanks here and there that will explode or catch fire when shot. These containers aren't flashing or glossed over with an obvious hey-you-can-shoot-me-and-I-will-do-something texture, so you really have to keep an eye out for them. The game also has plenty of sub weapons (limited in quantity, of course) to find, such as grenades, mines, and molotovs.

You can upgrade your weapons at any workbench you come across (there is a workbench in your safehouse, but you will also find others here and there). You can upgrade the power, capacity, firing speed, and spread of most of the weapons in the game. Upgrades are accomplished by bringing the required attachments (found throughout the game) back to a workbench where you simply attach them to whatever gun you wish. It's really that easy.

Inventory is limited, so get ready to manage items. You can store excess stuff at your safe-house, which you can return to at set intervals using the sewer system (i.e. the game's fast-travel system). You can assign items to the game pad for quick-swapping, but in order to actually rummage through your pack, you have to keep one eye on the TV screen as the game does not actually pause while you are messing with your items on the game pad. The same with removing barricades from doors, picking locks, and opening new manhole covers. You need to keep an eye out for any undead on the TV that might decide to attack you while you're busy interacting with the prompts on your game pad.

Survival means something in this game. When you die, you lose all the skills that your survivor had developed. You start fresh with a new survivor who has no skills. If you want the guy you've been playing as for the last 5 hours to keep his really sweet handgun skills, you'd better keep him alive. Skills are developed the more you use certain weapons. All weapons except the cricket bat have skills, I believe.

If you ask me, I think those who hate this game do so simply because you aren't drowning in ammunition and healing items at all times. Games like Resident Evil have changed (for the worse) over the years and have basically turned survival horror into action. Don't get me wrong, I still like Resident Evil, but it's great to finally get to play an actual survival horror game again!

I'm a huge fan of The Walking Dead TV series and I always enjoyed how they placed such a huge emphasis on not drawing needless attention to yourself, conserving ammo and supplies, and never leaping before you've looked. This game will treat you to a lot of the same.

Why only the four star rating?

-Unfortunately, the aiming is very float-y and takes some getting used to.

-You cannot adjust horizontal and vertical analog sensitivities separately. I HATE this as just about every single FPS makes vertical too sensitive. By the time you wrestle vertical into a comfortable position, now horizontal is way too slow. This is why we should be able to adjust both X and Y separately!!!

-The occasional bug/glitch does pop up. I've had my survivor's character model change even though I didn't die. One minute I am a man, the next I am a woman. But, if I go into my character's ID card, I'm still the man. I've even had a zombie's behavior glitch through a locked door in order to pull me down from a ladder that I had started climbing. Since the zombie itself wasn't actually glitching through the door, I couldn't kill it in order to prevent what was happening. My only option was to keep climbing the ladder over and over until I got lucky and managed to make it to the top without the glitch occuring. I never encountered a bug or glitch that broke the game, however.

-The immersion is occasionally broken up by the fact that the story barely changes at all for new survivors (when you die). The game just continues on as though your experiences were (somehow) passed on to the next survivor. I understand it would have taken forever for the developers to craft a story that accommodates for this, but it still just causes the occasional hiccup in believability. Having to kill your previous -and now infected survivor -after you die is a nice twist on the gameplay, however. It at least makes retreiving all the items you had when you died make a lot more sense.

Overall, I think most people will find that this game deserves a chance. Sure, not everyone is going to like it. Don't listen to sites like IGN and Game Informer when making your decision, though. ZombiU is not without it's flaws, but it's easily much better than those sites claim in their reviews. At the very least, try to borrow it from a friend who has purchased it. I am confident you won't be disappointed.

Best Deals for ZombiU - Nintendo Wii U

Zombi U is special. It is the only true survival horror experience I have come across in the last six years of console gaming. While other franchises like Resident Evil have gone the way of action shooters, Zombi U is truly SURVIVAL horror. The goal is not to "run and gun," popping zombie's heads with one well placed shot, and feeling invincible behind the barrel of a powerful automatic gun with an infinite supply of ammo. The goal is to survive, and surviving needs to feel very difficult--perhaps even punishing--or both "survival" and "horror" lose any real meaning in the game.

There are only two possible explanations for the host of very negative critical reviews of Zombi U: (1) failure to understand the genre of survival horror and how it is supposed to differ from an action shooter; and (2) desire to be negative toward Nintendo because they choose to rethink the game experience rather than merely feed the ridiculous obsession with better hardware specs (which obviously underlies all the concerns that the Wii U is "not next-gen enough").

Pushing those negative critics aside, here is why YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY PLAY ZOMBI U:

1. It is TRUE survival horror. Weapons, ammo, medicine, and other supplies are in sufficiently limited supply that you are forced to be strategic. You cannot run wild on a shooting spree. If you do, the penalties are severe... Death comes easily and it means starting over as an entirely new survivor, with only the cricket bat, a pistol, 6 rounds of ammo, and any supplies you were wise enough to stow away in the safehouse before an untimely demise. The high stakes of losing the supplies and skills you've built up with a particular survivor result in a palpable feeling of tension during the entire play experience--exactly as a good survival horror game should make you feel.

2. The graphics are excellent. Reading reviews, I had come to expect the graphics to be shoddy, but they are very nicely done. You feel like you're in realistic spaces. Textures, lighting, and environmental objects are sufficiently varied that each location feels distinctive and fresh, not recycled and repetitive. Everything also has a nice "gritty" style that compliments the horror mood well. Play in a dark room on a large HD screen and you really start to feel "in" the game world.

3. The gamepad mechanics are very smartly implemented, NOT gimmicky. I can't believe so many critics disparaged this game for the ways the gamepad screen is utilized. Ubisoft did a brilliant job finding ways to incorporate it in ways that enhance the experience. For one, it is wonderful that the game does not pause when you're managing your inventory. That keeps the mood tense even when you're doing mundane tasks. While some have complained about the need to watch two screens, I think it makes perfect sense. Your gamepad is your inventory, and onscreen you can see if a zombie is sneaking up to attack you. Your attention is divided deliberately because Ubisoft rightly realized that this enhances the creepy and vulnerable vibe a good survival horror game is supposed to create. The scanning feature is also awesome because you can use your pad to look for hidden items or notes, but while scanning the light can also attract nearby zombies. Again, it offers a nice blend of game-enhancing convenience (managing items and scanning are both very simple) and intimidating risk in a threatening environment (both features leave you vulnerable without pausing the gameplay). A third feature--the icing on the cake, so to speak--is the "ping" feature of your radar which allows you to detect moving zombies, but which does not reveal non-moving zombies and also returns false positives when crows or rats are nearby. So the radar helps you detect threats with advance notice, but it's brilliantly designed with some unreliability so that it keeps you guessing and prevents you from feeling confident in your safety.

4. The risks are high, and so the rewards of success are high as well. Like the game Dark Souls, death can have severe consequences. You lose everything in your inventory and you need to fight your way back to kill your previous character (now zombified) to retrieve whatever gear you had when you last died. If you die before retrieving your gear, it's all lost and you start from scratch. This makes death in the game feel like a very undesirable outcome. Unlike 99% of all other FPS-style games, you can't just reassure yourself by saying "who cares if I die; I'll just respawn." Besides contributing tension, this can also lead to massive frustration. I kept my first survivor alive for 58 minutes. Then I hit a rough patch and killed off nine more survivors in about 20 minutes as I tried to recover my gear in a zombie infested zone. Everything was lost, and then it was even harder to battle through the wave of zombies milling around. For some people, that would be a game killer, but if you really appreciate "survival horror" and the experience it is trying to deliver, you'll keep playing. Then you'll discover how rewarding it is to finally battle through a hard spot and keep your next survivor alive twice or three times as long. Yes, if you just want to feel invincible, you're likely to hate this game. If you want to feel like you're really in danger in a very bad situation with genuinely dangerous zombies, then you'll be right at home.

5. The game keeps you guessing by randomly spawning zombies on each new playthrough. UNLIKE Dark Souls, if you die in this game, the next time you pass through the same area, you will NOT be confronted by exactly the same enemies in exactly the same positions. That means you can't just memorize the layout of levels and rush through the zones you know to be safe. If you clear all the zombies in an area, those areas do tend to stay mostly clear (which is nice because it ensures that even players who die very often will still make steady progress if they keep killing a few zombies each time), but they may also occasionally respawn a zombie who will catch you off guard. Even then, when a zombie respawns, it can be in an entirely different area than before. A dead body that slowly came to life and stood up in the corner of a room might be replaced, on the next playthrough, by two zombies shuffling around in the middle of the same room and rushing at you as soon as you open the door. Very cool. This game will have great replay value not only because it is challenging, but also because it mixes up the situations enough to preserve the tension of the experience even as you back-track or play again.

6. The game is truly fresh. The greatest irony of the many critics who bashed Zombi U is that they tend to be the same folks who routinely lament the lack of creativity in gaming. How many articles have we read bemoaning the sheer number of sequels that developers now rely on for a steady stream of "new" games? How many times have we heard calls for "new franchises" and "new modes of gameplay"? Now something like that comes along, and in an extremely well-executed form for a first-showing, especially as a launch title for an entirely new game system, and yet Zombi U gets berated (apparently) for not being like every other zombie game (i.e., an action shooter). Reviewers have complained that dying is too easy, the weapons are underpowered, the supplies are too sparse, the save points are too far apart, the shortcuts are too difficult to find, the zombies are too difficult to kill, etc. Those folks need to stop whining and recognize the irony of their own position... craving something fresh, and then berating Zombi U for everything that is fresh about it. Take my word for it: This game is special and will deliver a truly unique gaming experience with a distinctive feel not quite like anything else you've played.

7. The gameplay is punishing but not impossible. Yes, dying is a big consequence, but refreshingly, Ubisoft did not load every corner of the game with a wave of zombies. WAVES of zombies are actually comparatively rare. Far more common is to bump into one, or two, or three zombies every few minutes. This keeps the creepy vibe going nicely, but also means you do not have to tediously slash or run constantly to stay alive. You're given enough "breathing room" to carefully explore nooks and crannies, and you're rewarded for your exploration with the gradual accumulation of supplies. Those supplies are limited, but if you're methodical and careful, you can load your backpack to capacity with powerful items that make it possible even to square off against one wave of zombies (assuming you play it strategic and find a place where they are forced to funnel through a narrow opening rather than attack from all sides). Again, you can't just "run and gun," but the game does allow you to build up a safety valve of gear to manage one strong stand off against a lot of zombies if the need arises. I really think the balance of power versus vulnerability is near perfect for survival horror--though obviously I swear a lot every time I die. :)

Is Zombi U perfect? No. There are a few places in which accessing a keypad (or some other significant event) will trigger a forced wave of zombies. I realize these moments are necessary to build tension, but they will be annoying if, like me, you try to play it safe and slowly take out all the zombies in an area, then suddenly discover that the area is not clear because the game automatically inserts a new wave of zombies (who were not physically present a moment earlier) the instant you try to open a door whose numeric combination is still unknown to you. But it's not a game-breaker and does contribute to the tension further. After one or two fiascos of that sort, you quickly learn to map out an "escape" route before trying a significant action (like accessing a digital combination door), and arguably, that makes for a more realistic survival horror experience anyway.

Some people will also not like the repetitive motion of the cricket bat (the most used weapon by far), but I think it's very well done because you have to time your shots carefully to take out a zombie. Ubisoft clearly didn't want the bat to feel so powerful that you would take on multiple zombies without question. In fact, it's very likely a losing proposition to try to defeat two or more zombies with the cricket bat. I can tell you that killing three at once is out of the question unless you carefully lead each zombie away from the others first. But the game actually wants you to reserve guns and explosives for killing multiple zombies (in a pinch), and to rely on the cricket bat for one-on-one encounters. I think it's a good mechanic, but it's bound to get criticized for not being more "action oriented" (i.e., more powerful and thus, easier to dispatch zombies quicker). I disagree with that critique because, if the zombies were easier to kill, the game would lose most of its compelling sense of tension.

There's a lot more I could say, but it comes down to this: If you're open to having a fresh and rewarding gaming experience, BUY THIS GAME. If you're wanting an action shooter of the typical FPS variety, however, you'll certainly be disappointed. Nonetheless, this is a brilliant game by any standard (and even more so given that it's a first entry for a brand new console with wholly new split-screen gameplay options). I am confident other developers will learn from Ubisoft's outstanding first effort, and I already hope Ubisoft will make a sequel to this game that pushes its already-superb horror experience even further.

Honest reviews on ZombiU - Nintendo Wii U

You! Yes, over there! The one who bought the WiiU and needs something to play by themselves! Something different, something that takes advantage of the Gamepad, something that scares the everliving **** out of you, right? This is it. Ignore some of the earlier reviews... This isn't CoD: Zombies or Left 4 Dead... You are not invincible... You are helpless and need supplies, ammo, and more to keep the Zombies at bay! Every run-in with a zombie can possibly mean the end of your life!

Don't expect to feel like Rambo at the end of it... Expect to feel like the many survivors you'll control during this adventure... Cold, alone, and scared... Mostly scared...

Likes:

Challenging gameplay

Unique Survivor Gameplay (Sortof like Demon's Souls... When you die, you are a new survivor and need to get back to your old self to get ALL of your loot back!)

Proper Use of the Gamepad (Maps, backpacks, picking locks, scanning areas for clues, etc)

AWESOME MULTIPLAYER! (Gamepad unleashes zombies onto the map while the second person using the WiiU Pro Controller or Wii Motion Plus + Nunchuk must fight off the zombies and take back control of the area)

Dislikes:

Few technical hiccups (Weird loading areas)

No online multiplayer

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for ZombiU - Nintendo Wii U

This game is awesome! If you want a more detailed review there are plenty of others on here. Im just stating the facts. If you have a Wii U and like "horror" games, then you need this game. And if you don't have a Wii U....get one, you're slacking!

Discount Dance Central 3

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $27.12
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

I feel that it's important for people who are more overweight to see real reviews from customers like them. For that reason, I have chosen to disclose that I am a 32 year old woman who presently weighs 270 lbs. I ask that this disclosure be respected for its intended purpose, which is to evidence a true "beginner" review.

My girlfriends know I'm on a mission to lose over 100 pounds, and they always invite me to work out with them walks, gym, Zumba classes, you name it. But the fact is that I simply cannot keep up. Until now.

Dance Central 3 is an amazingly enjoyable game, even for someone who usually falls behind. This game has easy to follow moves, an awesome rehearsal mode that can even slow moves down so you can properly learn them if needed, and infinite ways to challenge yourself. The first couple times you play it, you may feel a bit lost in some of the moves, but the tracks are kickin' and the moves are realistic, and it makes you want to keep going.

From a fitness standpoint, this game is awesome. It estimates calories burned, tracks how long you've been active during the session, and has playlists that provide continual music to help you keep going. I have terrible knees, and I am always afraid to blow one out. I just hop a little less or "fake" whatever I don't think I can do, and keep going. There are slow songs and songs that will really increase your heart rate. And the best part is that you can turn the "pictures" mode OFF. I'm so grateful that I don't have to be photographed when I'm working out!! This installment also has an option to "level up," so you unlock outfits for your characters over time another cute way to add variety.

I have always been that one that "won't work out around anyone" because I feel fat, slow, and incapable. But I play this game so often, that I now host Dance Central parties and join in with my friends. I actually now usually play a skill level above my friends because they feel left out like I once used to. I've held small gatherings of up to 10 friends, and everyone has a great time. It was a very well-spent $50 to have a killer time with my pals and on my own.

Dance Central 1 and Dance Central 2 are also awesome games, and they're importable into DC3. I now have over 100 songs to choose from, and for someone who hates repetitive exercise, that's such a blessing. With the dance central games, I'm now active a few days a week for up to two hours, and I finally have a way to be more active with my friends.

The bottom line don't be intimidated by this game. It's flexible, extremely well done, very fun, and you can keep up with this game. Close the window blinds, turn off the photograph option in the game, crank up the volume, and rock it out!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I am an out of shape, fully tattooed, death metal, dance music hating guy. I bought this for my wife. For some reason she likes dance music. BUT if she turns this game on--move the couch because I am dancing with her too! The game rocks and is suitable for all levels of skill and shape. I cannot comment on the song selection because I would never purchase any of it but it really doesn't matter once you get going. Buy it.

Best Deals for Dance Central 3

Dance Central has done it again! I have loved this game since the first one came out and this one does not disappoint. The storyline isn't my favorite and I honestly can't stand Usher as being Boomy's voice but the concept of the game and the variation in the music and choreography can't be beat!

I typically play this game alone so I can't comment much on the extras as far as party mode and dance off but if you are planning on playing this alone I can tell you that you will have a GREAT time anyway!

I also imported my songs from DC1 and DC2 without any problems. If you imported DC1 into DC2, the DC1 songs will automatically be added to your DC3 playlist. You will need 400 MS points (about $5) to import the DC2 songs (and of course the code on the back of your DC2 manual). All DLC purchased in previous versions automatically downloads. You have to be connected to the internet and on an Xbox Live account of course.

Overall this is a great game and is a workout (mind and body!) in disguise! It's got something for everyone and if you're not the most coordinated, it can even turn you into a Miss Aubrey ;)

Honest reviews on Dance Central 3

Dance Central 3 is a fantastic follow-up to the previous entries in the series, and quite possibly the best piece of software yet for Microsoft's little sensor that could. As a fan of Harmonix's Rock Band series, I purchased the Kinect solely for Dance Central and could not be happier with the purchase. Like the previous entries, the Kinect sensor is incredibly accurate in tracking dance movements, and the characters and environments in the game are both fun and charming. Your performance is rated by a number of points/stars, and multiple difficulties allow the game to be accessible to novices and veteran dancers alike. New modes like Crew Throwdown allow up to 8 players to join the action, while Party Mode allows players to come and go as they please.

The title offers an eclectic mixture of 45 songs, including tracks ranging from "In Da Club" by 50 Cent, "Y.M.C.A." by the Village People, "Macarena" by Los Del Rio, and "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5. Most of your favorite characters of the previous entries will return (although I have yet to find my beloved ninjas). The tracks are arranged by time periods (70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s). There is also a delightfully nonsensical story-line. Basically, a devilish old man wishes to destroy the power of dance. Your mission as a secret agent of Dance Central Intelligence is to go into the various time periods, learn their characteristic dance moves, and thwart his evil plans.

Of course, you will also be able to import tracks from Dance Central 1, 2, and any previous downloadable content (DLC). You will not have to pay again if you paid the fee to import tracks from Dance Central 1 to 2, nor will you pay again for any DLC. The cost of importing Dance Central 2 tracks is 400 points in Xbox funny money, otherwise known as $4.99. Dance Central 3 will also be supported regularly with DLC, and rumors indicate that one of those songs may be the ever-popular "Gangnam Style." In all, it is possible to have a library with well over 100 songs. An upcoming update will also incorporate Microsoft's Smart Glass technology, which will allow a tablet device to act as a virtual DJ.

Whether you are looking for a fun evening after work/school or a great party game, Dance Central 3 is a fantastic choice.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dance Central 3

I owned Dance Central 2, and love Dance Central 3. There are different moves and dances on DC3. The beginner and easy levels can be a bit too easy, especially if you've played DC2 previously. The story mode is fun, and there are brand new characters. It tracks calories burned and days that you exercise. There are tons of other snazzy features like new clothes for your avatar, and the ability to do crew and pair challenges among other features. Also, this is one of the Kinectfit games that let you get awards on the Xbox 360.

There are only a couple of negatives in my opinion. It still has the camera that takes pictures of you during the freestyle portion, and then shows it to you afterwards. This does allow you to see how good and sometimes how dorky your movements are. Also, if you purchase downloadable (DLC) music and dances it won't automatically incorporate it into the story or fitness portions of the game. You must create your own playlist. The ability to create your own playlist is a new and awesome feature though.

I recommend this purchase. My daughter and I dance to this video for hours without thinking about exercise. I do recommend wearing good shoes so your feet don't get sore, watch your knee movements so you don't have your feet planted and injure your knees, and tight clothing so the xbox kinect can see you.