roleplayer2004's GameSpot Friend's Reviews roleplayer2004's GameSpot Friend's Reviews roleplayer2004's GameSpot Friend's Reviews en-us Copyright (c)1995-2013 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved. http://www.gamespot.com 20 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:55:22 -0700 GameSpot roleplayer2004's GameSpot Friend's Reviews http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/shared/promos/misc/gs_logo.gif http://www.gamespot.com 135 40 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:53:47 -0700 mariokart64fan reviewed Need for Speed: Most Wanted U for the Wii U... http://www.gamespot.com/need-for-speed-most-wanted-a-criterion-game/user-reviews/809070/platform/wii-u/ ...and gave it a 9.5!

the graphics are astonishingly better then last yrs original , whether on the gamepad or on tv , it really proves how much more power wiiu can p ull in its early stages ,

the gameplay at its core is the same fun fantastic gameplay found in nfsmw and other similar nfs games, with a criterion twist ,

the replay value of this game is great in fact it includes the speed pack which had to be purchased seperately on 360ps3 , which adds to the already extensive library of cars , and 30 more challlenges to complete as well as 70 more milestones to achieve ,

for 15 bucks more then what the 360 ps3 cost , you get more , just think about it it cost 800 mspoints for the speed pack , thats an extra 10 bucks already so its a better package ,

the sound is pretty mu ch the same as it was in 2012 , not much i can say here ,

it does have online up to 8 , and exclusive wiiu features include
co driver mode , make instant changes change it to what ever time of day you want traffic on or off and you can even mess up the cops and the full game is entirely playable on the gamepads touch screen

if you just want traditional controls the game is compatibile with wiiu pro controller , as well as wiis classic controllers , /ccpros and wii mote nunchuck combos, so what ever you want to use its up to you , ,


with all the extra features and updated textures better draw distance ai ,

this one is the best console version of an already excellent game

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]]> http://www.gamespot.com/need-for-speed-most-wanted-a-criterion-game/user-reviews/809070/platform/wii-u/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:45:17 -0700 Kerry12424 reviewed NASCAR 2011: The Game for the PlayStation 3... http://www.gamespot.com/nascar-2011-the-game/user-reviews/760433/platform/ps3/ ...and gave it a 8.5.

Ok, lets be sure to understand people... I'm writing this review on opening day. This is just so people can get a gamer's story of the game, and not just some one-liners like "Stupid" or "Awesome".

NTG11 is a game worth buying and worth playing. Is it a game worth keeping? We'll wait for the DLC to say. At the moment, it's got hours of fun and then you can trade it in. I believe good things are to come. The DLC looks like a good improvement, plus patches are coming to fix the bugs.

First thing's first. Gameplay. I find the gameplay quite thrilling. Could use a rearview mirror, but the radar is sound. The visuals are pretty darn good-looking. The AI is sometimes easy, but I've been playing on Hard (second hardest difficulty) and I find myself just downright slow at times. Qualifying is too too easy, but the race itself is not a gimme. I've only won one offline race (at California. Took the lead and said goodbye). The drafting is good. Car's don't get ticked at you for bump-drafting and you also will not lose control the second competition occurs and you have to push hard. I find damage affects the car greatly. I played an elimination round (I'll explain later) and found the more I hit the wall, the worse my handling got. Wasn't so sure about top speed, but the handling surely got worse. Excellent racing.

Career Mode. I have to say, I am a little disappointed. I had expected something along the lines of NASCAR Thunder days where we had our own teams and had to work hard to make a decent car. This is simple. You have predetermined sponsors. They have goals to achieve in the season (NOT a few races. That is a great improvement). These goals look to be optional. They look like they just give some bonuses, like NXP (experience points) percentage bonuses. You have the option to practice before each race, and I highly recommend you do to set up your car. Then you qualify. Then you race. There are points standings, but money is not a factor in the game. You have a car. You can damage the car. Your car will be repaired after the race for free. It is capable of running wherever you want it. There is no progression in performance. You can race as either your own "created" driver, or a driver in the series, making it more like Season Mode rather than Career Mode. I have not played an entire season (it remains only my first day of playing), but the career mode seems a little dry.

There are invitationals you can be invited to. These are fun little challenges you can use to unlock things in the game. Your driver earns experience points that also unlock things in the game, such as paint schemes for your favorite driver.

Split-screen is in the game, and I look forward to trying it, although I have not had the chance yet.

Online gameplay looks like it's all there, but there are too many bugs to fix to make it worth playing. My PS3 has frozen countless times from online play, if the race would even start at all. The loading seems unbearable, so drivers quit. I find myself racing one other person most times. If there were no bugs, the gameplay looks fun online. you get to show off your created cars if you wish.

Creating a car is very unique and time consuming, and it has so much potential, but there are some key factors missing that are said to be in the DLC that will come out later. There are no manufacture decals so your car looks bland. There are so few sponsors available. There is no way to mirror what you put on the car, so you gotta eyeball it a second time. I would like those little sponsors on the front of the car so as to look more official (you could attempt to put them on your car yourself, but that would take forever, and there's not enough sponsors anyway). In time, with the DLC, and maybe some patches (if they wanna put it in patches), designing a car will be a beauty.

I wish you could legitimately create a driver.

So, gameplay is certainly enough to buy the game, and there is enough to do to keep you busy for some time. The DLC should greatly improve the value of the game, and some patches to come will make the game more playable. I enjoy the game very much. IT IS A GAME! It has been a long time since I could say that for NASCAR. I am very thankful. It is better than EA Sports in a number of ways. The series is new and will improve in time.

I hope this helps for those looking for a detailed review.

Get the full article at GameSpot

"Kerry12424 reviewed NASCAR 2011: The Game for the PlayStation 3..." was posted by Kerry12424 on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:45:17 -0700
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/nascar-2011-the-game/user-reviews/760433/platform/ps3/ Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:50:27 -0800 jstarzyk reviewed Dragon Age: Origins - The Stone Prisoner for the Xbox 360... http://www.gamespot.com/dragon-age-origins-the-stone-prisoner/user-reviews/754535/platform/xbox360/ ...and gave it a 6.0.

The Stone Prisoner expansion to Dragon Age is good, but in the scope of the full game and other DLC that is available, I'm not sure it is a necessary part of the Dragon Age package. I got it as part of the Ultimate Edition package, but I would not recommend spending 1200 MSP to anyone but the most die hard Dragon Age fans. I am playing on easy, but I completed the entire set of quests in under 2 hours.

The story pulls heavily on Caridin and the Anvil of the Void, so if you enjoyed those stories, there may be something here for you. Otherwise, it is pretty much the same old Dragon Age action without many great rewards. You do get a cool, new party member out of it, and from what I can tell, he's rather sturdy!

I wish I could give it a higher grade, but the bang for your buck simply is not there.

Get the full article at GameSpot

]]> http://www.gamespot.com/dragon-age-origins-the-stone-prisoner/user-reviews/754535/platform/xbox360/ Sun, 26 Dec 2010 13:32:13 -0800 HallowBastion reviewed TRON: Evolution for the PlayStation 3... http://www.gamespot.com/tron-evolution/user-reviews/749751/platform/ps3/ ...and gave it a 8.0.

The most recent TRON film, Legacy is a return to the world of the Grid after 28 years. However, while the movie does answer some of the questions about what happens during the time between the original and the new, there are still some story elements missing between the downfall of the MCP and the rise of Clu-2, like the influence of the ISOs, how Quarra was saved, and how the Abraxas virus was ended...


Enter TRON: Evolution, the prequel to TRON: Legacy (and a sequel to the other TRON prequel, Betrayal). The player is placed in the role of Anon, a System Monitor programmed by Kevin Flynn to investigate a conspiracy in the Grid as a result of the murder of Jalen, one of the ISO leaders. Soon, the virus Abraxas comes into the picture, at the forefront of something much darker and the story takes off from there. I will not reveal what happens from there, but by the end, the story ties right into TRON: Legacy. Personally, I found the story to be engaging, and kept me going during some of the more difficult parts of the game.


As for gameplay, Evolution considered to be an action-adventure much in the vein of Assassin's Creed and Mirror's Edge: heavily influenced by parkour movement, but with a TRON influence. Visually, it is stunning to see Anon free-running through the grid. In terms of control, without any previous experience in video-gaming parkour, one may have a steep learning curve. However, once you get into it, it literally becomes second nature...which is good, because you will need to master it to finish some of the harder platforming later in the game (the entire End of the Line level, for example). Still the controls are fairly fluid, but there are times that you will find yourself trying to do one motion, only for Anon to do another, leading to a frustrating Derezz (which happens a lot). Still, once you get the hang of it, moving through the fairly impossible levels becomes a pleasure (and frequent checkpoints help...because you'll be dying a lot).


Free running is not the only method of platforming in this game, as it would not really be a TRON game without the Light Cycles. There are plenty of occasions where the story progresses with some Light Cycle action. These sections are incredibly fun, and somewhat frustrating all at the same time. You will be driving at fast speeds through the Grid, with Regulators shooting at you, and debris everywhere more often than not, however this also leads to easy deresolution; the faster you go, the easier it is the crash...however, the slower you go, the easier it is to be bombed by a Regulator. Finding a balance (and the correct route) happens through trial and error, which again, can be frustrating, however frequent checkpoints are a lifesaver.
There are also times in which Anon takes control of a Light Tank. These guys are harder to control, and moving can be a pain. Still, there are fewer of these sections, and they do not last long.


The sound in the game is fantastic. A few of the excellent Legacy tracks (composed by Daft Punk) find their way into the game, but the rest of the BGM is just as good. The voice acting is incredible as well. Most of the characters reprise their roles (with Jeff Bridges and Michael Sheen being the notable exceptions who do not lend their voices to the game), and the newer characters are really well done, with the character of Gibson being a standout.


I have not had much experience with multiplayer, but there are a few modes availible, and it is generally well done.


There are negatives:
The game is too short. There are seven story chapters, and an experienced gamer can run through all of them in about 7 to 8 hours. The game's stroy mode length can be extended a bit if one hunts all of the Tron files and Abraxas shards. Plus, once you finish story mode, there is a chapter select option from the main menu, however, there is little motivation unless you want 100 percent completion.

The camera can be a problem as well. There are times during the platforming or combat aspects where the camera won't adjust, or does not adjust fast enough which leads to an easy deresolution.

Other than that, TRON: Evolution is a fun (but short) adventure through the Grid, with some very good multiplayer thrown in to extend the game's life cycle. It is a great game, worthy of both the TRON name, and your time, User.

Get the full article at GameSpot

"HallowBastion reviewed TRON: Evolution for the PlayStation 3..." was posted by HallowBastion on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 13:32:13 -0800
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/tron-evolution/user-reviews/749751/platform/ps3/ Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:15:48 -0800 jediknight52501 reviewed Super Street Fighter IV for the Xbox 360... http://www.gamespot.com/super-street-fighter-iv/user-reviews/746624/platform/xbox360/ ...and gave it a 9.5!

Street Fighter is back with the Super Street Fighter IV. not only are all the characters from Street Fighter IV back, but new characters are aslo in this game.
favorites like T-Hawk, Dee-Jay, Guy, Cody and others from Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III and Super Street Fighter II Turbo are in the game along with two brand new never before seen characters. Hakan and Juki.
what is nice is that Super Street Fighter IV does not feel like an add-on like some games and the new modes are nice, some things like the ability ot watch eneding movies are missing but Capcom always seem to make sure that if one thing is missing, they make sure to add a ton more to the Street Fighter games.
also characters now have 2 new Ultra Moves instead of one. they still have one Super Move still. the moves can be easy to hard depending on character your using. also online modes are new and improved, Ranked Matches are back and the new modes like Endless Battle and Team Battle add excitement to an already flawless game.
the game does a nice job of allowing all the outfits fron Street Fighter IV to work with the game and new costumes keep coming out for the game adding to already awesome set of colors and outfits that are already out.
all in all Super Street Fighter IV is worth the money and fun to play.
the review says i gave it a 5.0 but that is not correct, i give this game a 9.5.

Get the full article at GameSpot

]]> http://www.gamespot.com/super-street-fighter-iv/user-reviews/746624/platform/xbox360/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:30:48 -0800 shabulia reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops for the Wii... http://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-black-ops/user-reviews/744656/platform/wii/ ...and gave it a 9.0!

With all of the hype surrounding it, high expectations have been set for Call of Duty: Black Ops. Saying that Modern Warfare 2 is a tough act to follow is beyond an understatement. So does Black Ops meet expectations? The answer is a resounding yes. Call of Duty: Black Ops is a great title that stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the Call of Duty series. While the multi-player is what most people are surely going to focus on there is also a lot to be said for the single player campaign. This review covers all three home console versions of the game (see below for version comparisons).

Call of Duty: Black Ops packs a powerful punch in its story, drama, and action. For most of the game you play through the game as Alex Mason; a covert operations soldier who is being interrogated by certain mystery men throughout the storyline. As he is questioned, flashback sequences lead to specific memories covering the span of the Cold War. Through Mason's eyes, you play out these missions in the standard Call of Duty style. Every so often, during missions and in between them, the action is interrupted and brought back to the interrogation scene to help flesh out the story. It is a good way to remind the player Mason is only in the present during these scenes and the action is kept in his past though the constant interruption can feel like an intrusion in the game in order to promote a more dramatic storyline. At times it can feel like this story telling device caters to an Attention Deficit Disorder crowd but it works and the story is exciting enough to keep you playing. Since the game covers a span of about twenty years, the player is introduced to many characters in Mason's past. Some are as famous as John F. Kennedy Jr. while others are former covert ops personnel, enemies, and other soldiers. Despite the fact that the story can be rather jumpy from time to time between the interrogation scenes and the action, it is quite good and will keep the player glued to his/her controller until the climactic end. Like Call of Duty games of the past, the story can seem disjointed but unlike many of the past titles, all questions are answered and everything comes together very well in the end.

For those worried about Treyarch being at the helm rather than Infinity Ward, your concerns can both be put to rest and still justified. Like World at War, this is definitely a Treyarch title. It still feels like Call of Duty but there are some things missing that lack that Infinity Ward touch. For instance, the game does not have a "training course" for you to get familiar with the controls. From the get go it seems like the developers already assume you know how to play the game and why wouldn't they? The Call of Duty series is the best selling series of this current generation, right? Still, being thrown right in to the action does set this title apart from the Modern Warfare set. Also, while the story is well told and dramatic, don't expect any levels to be as shocking as the "No Russian" level from MW2. Infinity Ward remains the masters at shock and awe in a war-game setting. One last missing piece are the little facts and quotes that are displayed when you die. Such an inclusion in the Infinity Ward games added a touch of realism and would have been nice to see here. But rest assured, this game is of very high quality and is loaded with production value. It is clear that the developers took CoD:BO very seriously in making it as exciting as Hollywood's top action flicks. The beginning level does set the mood for this title which has a high emphasis on "run and gun" game play. Don't expect many silent stealth and sniping missions here. In Black Ops the bullets are flying all around you constantly and explosions will have you on your toes from start to finish.

To make the storyline as gripping as it is and to help fill the action with drama, Treyarch invited some of Hollywood's top talent for this title. It is safe to say that Black Ops features some of the best actors in all of gaming history. Mason is voiced by Sam Worthington of Avatar and Terminator Salvation fame, while other roles are filled by Topher Grace, Ice Cube, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, and a whole slew of others. Even the actor voicing JFK sounds like a spot on match. It really is something to hear such a brilliant cast brought together for a video game. Activision and Treyarch should be commended for sparing no expense as it pays off heavily for the gamer. The story and characters are full of elements that you truly care about while playing and this is largely because of the talent involved. All of these factors will immerse you fully and add to the drama and intrigue until the thrilling end.

There are only a few complaints about the single player game which should at least be mentioned. As already stated, the interruptions between levels and check points with the interrogation scenes can be a bit of a distraction. Also, someone at Treyarch apparently likes the movies "Se7en" and "The Manchurian Candidate" because there is a lot of trick photography and strange editing that jumps around to make you feel some level of psychological torture that is executed upon Mason's interrogation. It gets the point across but it seems a bit overused. If you choose to play the game with the subtitles, for some reason when swear words are used they are sometimes spelled out while at other times they have the requisite "@#$%" symbols in place even though the dialogue will simply say the word for you to hear. This seems to be a minor oversight but is strange to come across in a game where everything is so polished. Last but not least, like every other Call of Duty game, the story is just too darn short. On the standard difficulty most should be able to complete the campaign between six and seven hours. When viewed like a movie (which this game does feel very much like) that is pretty long. But as a first person shooter it would be nice to play it a bit longer. None of these gripes are, however, strong enough to keep anyone interested in playing such a strong shooter away. Even if you are one who is playing strictly for the multi-player, you definitely owe it to yourself to play the single player game to the end. If you don't then you are really missing out on something special.

The multi-player experience; where to begin? To put it plainly, Call of Duty: Black Ops just plain rocks! There are so many options here that it is unreal. While some have sworn by the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare or Modern Warfare 2 formula, Black Ops ups the ante on nearly every level. The level system returns as experience points (XP) are delved out for killing streaks, special tasks, and other achievements. But one thing that sets this game apart from its predecessors is the new monetary system. Basically, money is now included in performance. You earn money during matches based on your performance. That currency (COD points) is then used to purchase a number of items to make you stronger in further matches. With COD points you purchase perks that allow your character to have an upper hand in matches, new weapons like sniper rifles, and much more. It is an excellent way to flesh out your multi-player experience. You have to be careful with how your money is spent because if you waste it on a weapon you do not want or a perk you do not use, then you are stuck with it until you earn more money. The good news about it is that you can still earn more money to correct your mistake or misjudgement. You will just have to work at it. This is an excellent way to power up your player and to keep the game fresh and competitive.

Multi-player options reach beyond mere customization. Standard Player Matches allow you to progress and play online with anyone or locally via old school split screen action. Private Matches allow you to customize settings and play a closed match with only people you choose. This is a good way to avoid getting mowed down by someone who lives on the game while you might be new to it. There are maps and modes aplenty so everyone is sure to find something enjoyable. Wager Matches are an exciting addition because you actually gamble your COD points against others you play. This is a good way to win big bucks but it is also a good way to lose big bucks, so be careful. Zombies Mode makes a triumphant return from Call of Duty: World at War in a funny and campy way. At one point, you can choose from a set of four specific characters to protect your locale from hordes of Nazi zombies. The difference between this and normal Zombie Modes is that you play as Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy Jr., Robert McNamara, or Fidel Castro while fighting in the Pentagon. Why on Earth are the Nazi zombies storming the Pentagon during the 60's while one of your allies is Castro? Who cares? It does not make a lick of sense but it sure is a blast to play. Finally, Combat Training is a great way to train up on maps and weapons before taking the fight online. Here, you fight against AI controlled bots with an adjustable difficulty level. You can either play Combat Training with friends against these bots to get some multi-player action going or go solo. This mode is a fantastic way to get your feet wet and is a very welcome addition to an already incredible multi-playing experience.

As for the different versions of the game all of the single player content for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii are identical. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are virtually indistinguishable. Both run at a very solid sixty frames per second most of the time. The only time the frame rate drops is where there are massive amounts of explosions in major firefights and particle effects are pushing their limits. Even when the frame rate drops it is not that bad; most of the time the player will hardly even notice.The game is a gorgeous sight to behold. Details in combat like whizzing bullets and explosions keep the action on the screen going yet neither system has a problem handling all of the detail. Facial expressions and blood splatters are all in here for gory goodness just like last year's hit CoD game. It is incredible how beautiful the game looks even amidst all of the violent chaos that is constantly surrounding you, especially in one stage set in the jungles of Vietnam. The level of detail here is enough to drop your jaw to the ground. If you have the choice between these two systems, the Xbox 360 version is recommended. The only reason it comes out ahead of the PS3 version is due to the multi-player. Both games have the same content and theyfunction wonderfully online. The Xbox 360 just has a larger installed base of players over the PS3. Because there are more players to fight against, the Xbox 360 is the system of choice for this game.

The Wii version of the game is (are you ready for this?) fantastic! How Treyarch did it is a mystery but Call of Duty: Black Ops on the Wii has nearly everything that the Xbox 360 and PS3 have. All of the content is here from the unedited single player campaign to multi-player modes and Zombies. Players take the fight online with no noticeable lag. Sadly there is no splitscreen local multi-player available for the Wii version. Other than that, it is the same. All of the same customization options are present and the Wii has the advantage of multiple control schemes. CoD:BO can be played with the Classic controller for those more comfortable with a dual analog format but the real strength lies in the use of the Nunchuck and Wii Remote. For the first time since Metroid Prime Trilogy a company has nailed the perfect set up with this control scheme. Using the Nunchuck/Wii Remote allows for the first person shooter precision that people dreamed of when the Wii was first introduced. There are a number of default button layouts present but if none of the defaults appeal to you then you have the option to customize the layout completely to your liking. Other developers should pay close attention to Call of Duty: Black Ops because this is how a first person shooter should be done on the Wii. The only control option absent is one for the Gamecube controller. It really is not missed because the other available options are superior anyway. Where the Wii version does take a hit from its other console cousins is in the looks department. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 offer the game at sixty frames per second with a higher polygon count, more particle effects, and in 1080p HD, the Wii just can't compare graphically. The cut scenes are all Full Motion Video in order to save space. Where most of the scenes were produced with in-game graphics for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, the Wii uses recorded, pre-rendered FMV in order to save space. The data compression is noticeable and can look a bit grainy when comparing it to the HD systems. However, the Wii version still looks fantastic and holds at a solid thirty frames per second most of the time. Viewing Black Ops on the Wii is likely to surprise in just how good everything looks. This game pushes the limits of the Wii and shows that Nintendo's little system is capable of some quality graphic power. Don't come in expecting a Gamecube game. Call of Duty: Black Ops is an amazing experience on the Wii and can stand toe to toe with the other systems. The controls options are certainly superior and, with everything included it is sure to amaze even the most dedicated of Microsoft and Sony fanboys.

Call of Duty: Black Ops is a phenomenal title and deserves to be in any shooter fan's library. The many good qualities far outweigh the very few short comings. There is no such thing as a perfect game but the developers at Treyarch sure gave it their best effort. Even if this game does not prove better than Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 it is every bit its equal. Without question, Call of Duty: Black Ops is an amazing experience no matter what system you play it on; whether playing the single player game, against friends, strangers, or zombies, Call of Duty: Black Ops has something for all to enjoy.

Get the full article at GameSpot

"shabulia reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops for the Wii..." was posted by shabulia on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:30:48 -0800
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-black-ops/user-reviews/744656/platform/wii/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:29:16 -0800 shabulia reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops for the Xbox 360... http://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-black-ops/user-reviews/744655/platform/xbox360/ ...and gave it a 9.0!

With all of the hype surrounding it, high expectations have been set for Call of Duty: Black Ops. Saying that Modern Warfare 2 is a tough act to follow is beyond an understatement. So does Black Ops meet expectations? The answer is a resounding yes. Call of Duty: Black Ops is a great title that stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the Call of Duty series. While the multi-player is what most people are surely going to focus on there is also a lot to be said for the single player campaign. This review covers all three home console versions of the game (see below for version comparisons).

Call of Duty: Black Ops packs a powerful punch in its story, drama, and action. For most of the game you play through the game as Alex Mason; a covert operations soldier who is being interrogated by certain mystery men throughout the storyline. As he is questioned, flashback sequences lead to specific memories covering the span of the Cold War. Through Mason's eyes, you play out these missions in the standard Call of Duty style. Every so often, during missions and in between them, the action is interrupted and brought back to the interrogation scene to help flesh out the story. It is a good way to remind the player Mason is only in the present during these scenes and the action is kept in his past though the constant interruption can feel like an intrusion in the game in order to promote a more dramatic storyline. At times it can feel like this story telling device caters to an Attention Deficit Disorder crowd but it works and the story is exciting enough to keep you playing. Since the game covers a span of about twenty years, the player is introduced to many characters in Mason's past. Some are as famous as John F. Kennedy Jr. while others are former covert ops personnel, enemies, and other soldiers. Despite the fact that the story can be rather jumpy from time to time between the interrogation scenes and the action, it is quite good and will keep the player glued to his/her controller until the climactic end. Like Call of Duty games of the past, the story can seem disjointed but unlike many of the past titles, all questions are answered and everything comes together very well in the end.

For those worried about Treyarch being at the helm rather than Infinity Ward, your concerns can both be put to rest and still justified. Like World at War, this is definitely a Treyarch title. It still feels like Call of Duty but there are some things missing that lack that Infinity Ward touch. For instance, the game does not have a "training course" for you to get familiar with the controls. From the get go it seems like the developers already assume you know how to play the game and why wouldn't they? The Call of Duty series is the best selling series of this current generation, right? Still, being thrown right in to the action does set this title apart from the Modern Warfare set. Also, while the story is well told and dramatic, don't expect any levels to be as shocking as the "No Russian" level from MW2. Infinity Ward remains the masters at shock and awe in a war-game setting. One last missing piece are the little facts and quotes that are displayed when you die. Such an inclusion in the Infinity Ward games added a touch of realism and would have been nice to see here. But rest assured, this game is of very high quality and is loaded with production value. It is clear that the developers took CoD:BO very seriously in making it as exciting as Hollywood's top action flicks. The beginning level does set the mood for this title which has a high emphasis on "run and gun" game play. Don't expect many silent stealth and sniping missions here. In Black Ops the bullets are flying all around you constantly and explosions will have you on your toes from start to finish.

To make the storyline as gripping as it is and to help fill the action with drama, Treyarch invited some of Hollywood's top talent for this title. It is safe to say that Black Ops features some of the best actors in all of gaming history. Mason is voiced by Sam Worthington of Avatar and Terminator Salvation fame, while other roles are filled by Topher Grace, Ice Cube, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, and a whole slew of others. Even the actor voicing JFK sounds like a spot on match. It really is something to hear such a brilliant cast brought together for a video game. Activision and Treyarch should be commended for sparing no expense as it pays off heavily for the gamer. The story and characters are full of elements that you truly care about while playing and this is largely because of the talent involved. All of these factors will immerse you fully and add to the drama and intrigue until the thrilling end.

There are only a few complaints about the single player game which should at least be mentioned. As already stated, the interruptions between levels and check points with the interrogation scenes can be a bit of a distraction. Also, someone at Treyarch apparently likes the movies "Se7en" and "The Manchurian Candidate" because there is a lot of trick photography and strange editing that jumps around to make you feel some level of psychological torture that is executed upon Mason's interrogation. It gets the point across but it seems a bit overused. If you choose to play the game with the subtitles, for some reason when swear words are used they are sometimes spelled out while at other times they have the requisite "@#$%" symbols in place even though the dialogue will simply say the word for you to hear. This seems to be a minor oversight but is strange to come across in a game where everything is so polished. Last but not least, like every other Call of Duty game, the story is just too darn short. On the standard difficulty most should be able to complete the campaign between six and seven hours. When viewed like a movie (which this game does feel very much like) that is pretty long. But as a first person shooter it would be nice to play it a bit longer. None of these gripes are, however, strong enough to keep anyone interested in playing such a strong shooter away. Even if you are one who is playing strictly for the multi-player, you definitely owe it to yourself to play the single player game to the end. If you don't then you are really missing out on something special.

The multi-player experience; where to begin? To put it plainly, Call of Duty: Black Ops just plain rocks! There are so many options here that it is unreal. While some have sworn by the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare or Modern Warfare 2 formula, Black Ops ups the ante on nearly every level. The level system returns as experience points (XP) are delved out for killing streaks, special tasks, and other achievements. But one thing that sets this game apart from its predecessors is the new monetary system. Basically, money is now included in performance. You earn money during matches based on your performance. That currency (COD points) is then used to purchase a number of items to make you stronger in further matches. With COD points you purchase perks that allow your character to have an upper hand in matches, new weapons like sniper rifles, and much more. It is an excellent way to flesh out your multi-player experience. You have to be careful with how your money is spent because if you waste it on a weapon you do not want or a perk you do not use, then you are stuck with it until you earn more money. The good news about it is that you can still earn more money to correct your mistake or misjudgement. You will just have to work at it. This is an excellent way to power up your player and to keep the game fresh and competitive.

Multi-player options reach beyond mere customization. Standard Player Matches allow you to progress and play online with anyone or locally via old school split screen action. Private Matches allow you to customize settings and play a closed match with only people you choose. This is a good way to avoid getting mowed down by someone who lives on the game while you might be new to it. There are maps and modes aplenty so everyone is sure to find something enjoyable. Wager Matches are an exciting addition because you actually gamble your COD points against others you play. This is a good way to win big bucks but it is also a good way to lose big bucks, so be careful. Zombies Mode makes a triumphant return from Call of Duty: World at War in a funny and campy way. At one point, you can choose from a set of four specific characters to protect your locale from hordes of Nazi zombies. The difference between this and normal Zombie Modes is that you play as Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy Jr., Robert McNamara, or Fidel Castro while fighting in the Pentagon. Why on Earth are the Nazi zombies storming the Pentagon during the 60's while one of your allies is Castro? Who cares? It does not make a lick of sense but it sure is a blast to play. Finally, Combat Training is a great way to train up on maps and weapons before taking the fight online. Here, you fight against AI controlled bots with an adjustable difficulty level. You can either play Combat Training with friends against these bots to get some multi-player action going or go solo. This mode is a fantastic way to get your feet wet and is a very welcome addition to an already incredible multi-playing experience.

As for the different versions of the game all of the single player content for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii are identical. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are virtually indistinguishable. Both run at a very solid sixty frames per second most of the time. The only time the frame rate drops is where there are massive amounts of explosions in major firefights and particle effects are pushing their limits. Even when the frame rate drops it is not that bad; most of the time the player will hardly even notice.The game is a gorgeous sight to behold. Details in combat like whizzing bullets and explosions keep the action on the screen going yet neither system has a problem handling all of the detail. Facial expressions and blood splatters are all in here for gory goodness just like last year's hit CoD game. It is incredible how beautiful the game looks even amidst all of the violent chaos that is constantly surrounding you, especially in one stage set in the jungles of Vietnam. The level of detail here is enough to drop your jaw to the ground. If you have the choice between these two systems, the Xbox 360 version is recommended. The only reason it comes out ahead of the PS3 version is due to the multi-player. Both games have the same content and theyfunction wonderfully online. The Xbox 360 just has a larger installed base of players over the PS3. Because there are more players to fight against, the Xbox 360 is the system of choice for this game.

The Wii version of the game is (are you ready for this?) fantastic! How Treyarch did it is a mystery but Call of Duty: Black Ops on the Wii has nearly everything that the Xbox 360 and PS3 have. All of the content is here from the unedited single player campaign to multi-player modes and Zombies. Players take the fight online with no noticeable lag. Sadly there is no splitscreen local multi-player available for the Wii version. Other than that, it is the same. All of the same customization options are present and the Wii has the advantage of multiple control schemes. CoD:BO can be played with the Classic controller for those more comfortable with a dual analog format but the real strength lies in the use of the Nunchuck and Wii Remote. For the first time since Metroid Prime Trilogy a company has nailed the perfect set up with this control scheme. Using the Nunchuck/Wii Remote allows for the first person shooter precision that people dreamed of when the Wii was first introduced. There are a number of default button layouts present but if none of the defaults appeal to you then you have the option to customize the layout completely to your liking. Other developers should pay close attention to Call of Duty: Black Ops because this is how a first person shooter should be done on the Wii. The only control option absent is one for the Gamecube controller. It really is not missed because the other available options are superior anyway. Where the Wii version does take a hit from its other console cousins is in the looks department. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 offer the game at sixty frames per second with a higher polygon count, more particle effects, and in 1080p HD, the Wii just can't compare graphically. The cut scenes are all Full Motion Video in order to save space. Where most of the scenes were produced with in-game graphics for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, the Wii uses recorded, pre-rendered FMV in order to save space. The data compression is noticeable and can look a bit grainy when comparing it to the HD systems. However, the Wii version still looks fantastic and holds at a solid thirty frames per second most of the time. Viewing Black Ops on the Wii is likely to surprise in just how good everything looks. This game pushes the limits of the Wii and shows that Nintendo's little system is capable of some quality graphic power. Don't come in expecting a Gamecube game. Call of Duty: Black Ops is an amazing experience on the Wii and can stand toe to toe with the other systems. The controls options are certainly superior and, with everything included it is sure to amaze even the most dedicated of Microsoft and Sony fanboys.

Call of Duty: Black Ops is a phenomenal title and deserves to be in any shooter fan's library. The many good qualities far outweigh the very few short comings. There is no such thing as a perfect game but the developers at Treyarch sure gave it their best effort. Even if this game does not prove better than Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 it is every bit its equal. Without question, Call of Duty: Black Ops is an amazing experience no matter what system you play it on; whether playing the single player game, against friends, strangers, or zombies, Call of Duty: Black Ops has something for all to enjoy.

Get the full article at GameSpot

"shabulia reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops for the Xbox 360..." was posted by shabulia on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:29:16 -0800
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-black-ops/user-reviews/744655/platform/xbox360/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:27:09 -0800 shabulia reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops for the PlayStation 3... http://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-black-ops/user-reviews/744653/platform/ps3/ ...and gave it a 9.0!

With all of the hype surrounding it, high expectations have been set for Call of Duty: Black Ops. Saying that Modern Warfare 2 is a tough act to follow is beyond an understatement. So does Black Ops meet expectations? The answer is a resounding yes. Call of Duty: Black Ops is a great title that stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the Call of Duty series. While the multi-player is what most people are surely going to focus on there is also a lot to be said for the single player campaign. This review covers all three home console versions of the game (see below for version comparisons).

Call of Duty: Black Ops packs a powerful punch in its story, drama, and action. For most of the game you play through the game as Alex Mason; a covert operations soldier who is being interrogated by certain mystery men throughout the storyline. As he is questioned, flashback sequences lead to specific memories covering the span of the Cold War. Through Mason's eyes, you play out these missions in the standard Call of Duty style. Every so often, during missions and in between them, the action is interrupted and brought back to the interrogation scene to help flesh out the story. It is a good way to remind the player Mason is only in the present during these scenes and the action is kept in his past though the constant interruption can feel like an intrusion in the game in order to promote a more dramatic storyline. At times it can feel like this story telling device caters to an Attention Deficit Disorder crowd but it works and the story is exciting enough to keep you playing. Since the game covers a span of about twenty years, the player is introduced to many characters in Mason's past. Some are as famous as John F. Kennedy Jr. while others are former covert ops personnel, enemies, and other soldiers. Despite the fact that the story can be rather jumpy from time to time between the interrogation scenes and the action, it is quite good and will keep the player glued to his/her controller until the climactic end. Like Call of Duty games of the past, the story can seem disjointed but unlike many of the past titles, all questions are answered and everything comes together very well in the end.

For those worried about Treyarch being at the helm rather than Infinity Ward, your concerns can both be put to rest and still justified. Like World at War, this is definitely a Treyarch title. It still feels like Call of Duty but there are some things missing that lack that Infinity Ward touch. For instance, the game does not have a "training course" for you to get familiar with the controls. From the get go it seems like the developers already assume you know how to play the game and why wouldn't they? The Call of Duty series is the best selling series of this current generation, right? Still, being thrown right in to the action does set this title apart from the Modern Warfare set. Also, while the story is well told and dramatic, don't expect any levels to be as shocking as the "No Russian" level from MW2. Infinity Ward remains the masters at shock and awe in a war-game setting. One last missing piece are the little facts and quotes that are displayed when you die. Such an inclusion in the Infinity Ward games added a touch of realism and would have been nice to see here. But rest assured, this game is of very high quality and is loaded with production value. It is clear that the developers took CoD:BO very seriously in making it as exciting as Hollywood's top action flicks. The beginning level does set the mood for this title which has a high emphasis on "run and gun" game play. Don't expect many silent stealth and sniping missions here. In Black Ops the bullets are flying all around you constantly and explosions will have you on your toes from start to finish.

To make the storyline as gripping as it is and to help fill the action with drama, Treyarch invited some of Hollywood's top talent for this title. It is safe to say that Black Ops features some of the best actors in all of gaming history. Mason is voiced by Sam Worthington of Avatar and Terminator Salvation fame, while other roles are filled by Topher Grace, Ice Cube, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, and a whole slew of others. Even the actor voicing JFK sounds like a spot on match. It really is something to hear such a brilliant cast brought together for a video game. Activision and Treyarch should be commended for sparing no expense as it pays off heavily for the gamer. The story and characters are full of elements that you truly care about while playing and this is largely because of the talent involved. All of these factors will immerse you fully and add to the drama and intrigue until the thrilling end.

There are only a few complaints about the single player game which should at least be mentioned. As already stated, the interruptions between levels and check points with the interrogation scenes can be a bit of a distraction. Also, someone at Treyarch apparently likes the movies "Se7en" and "The Manchurian Candidate" because there is a lot of trick photography and strange editing that jumps around to make you feel some level of psychological torture that is executed upon Mason's interrogation. It gets the point across but it seems a bit overused. If you choose to play the game with the subtitles, for some reason when swear words are used they are sometimes spelled out while at other times they have the requisite "@#$%" symbols in place even though the dialogue will simply say the word for you to hear. This seems to be a minor oversight but is strange to come across in a game where everything is so polished. Last but not least, like every other Call of Duty game, the story is just too darn short. On the standard difficulty most should be able to complete the campaign between six and seven hours. When viewed like a movie (which this game does feel very much like) that is pretty long. But as a first person shooter it would be nice to play it a bit longer. None of these gripes are, however, strong enough to keep anyone interested in playing such a strong shooter away. Even if you are one who is playing strictly for the multi-player, you definitely owe it to yourself to play the single player game to the end. If you don't then you are really missing out on something special.

The multi-player experience; where to begin? To put it plainly, Call of Duty: Black Ops just plain rocks! There are so many options here that it is unreal. While some have sworn by the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare or Modern Warfare 2 formula, Black Ops ups the ante on nearly every level. The level system returns as experience points (XP) are delved out for killing streaks, special tasks, and other achievements. But one thing that sets this game apart from its predecessors is the new monetary system. Basically, money is now included in performance. You earn money during matches based on your performance. That currency (COD points) is then used to purchase a number of items to make you stronger in further matches. With COD points you purchase perks that allow your character to have an upper hand in matches, new weapons like sniper rifles, and much more. It is an excellent way to flesh out your multi-player experience. You have to be careful with how your money is spent because if you waste it on a weapon you do not want or a perk you do not use, then you are stuck with it until you earn more money. The good news about it is that you can still earn more money to correct your mistake or misjudgement. You will just have to work at it. This is an excellent way to power up your player and to keep the game fresh and competitive.

Multi-player options reach beyond mere customization. Standard Player Matches allow you to progress and play online with anyone or locally via old school split screen action. Private Matches allow you to customize settings and play a closed match with only people you choose. This is a good way to avoid getting mowed down by someone who lives on the game while you might be new to it. There are maps and modes aplenty so everyone is sure to find something enjoyable. Wager Matches are an exciting addition because you actually gamble your COD points against others you play. This is a good way to win big bucks but it is also a good way to lose big bucks, so be careful. Zombies Mode makes a triumphant return from Call of Duty: World at War in a funny and campy way. At one point, you can choose from a set of four specific characters to protect your locale from hordes of Nazi zombies. The difference between this and normal Zombie Modes is that you play as Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy Jr., Robert McNamara, or Fidel Castro while fighting in the Pentagon. Why on Earth are the Nazi zombies storming the Pentagon during the 60's while one of your allies is Castro? Who cares? It does not make a lick of sense but it sure is a blast to play. Finally, Combat Training is a great way to train up on maps and weapons before taking the fight online. Here, you fight against AI controlled bots with an adjustable difficulty level. You can either play Combat Training with friends against these bots to get some multi-player action going or go solo. This mode is a fantastic way to get your feet wet and is a very welcome addition to an already incredible multi-playing experience.

As for the different versions of the game all of the single player content for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii are identical. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are virtually indistinguishable. Both run at a very solid sixty frames per second most of the time. The only time the frame rate drops is where there are massive amounts of explosions in major firefights and particle effects are pushing their limits. Even when the frame rate drops it is not that bad; most of the time the player will hardly even notice.The game is a gorgeous sight to behold. Details in combat like whizzing bullets and explosions keep the action on the screen going yet neither system has a problem handling all of the detail. Facial expressions and blood splatters are all in here for gory goodness just like last year's hit CoD game. It is incredible how beautiful the game looks even amidst all of the violent chaos that is constantly surrounding you, especially in one stage set in the jungles of Vietnam. The level of detail here is enough to drop your jaw to the ground. If you have the choice between these two systems, the Xbox 360 version is recommended. The only reason it comes out ahead of the PS3 version is due to the multi-player. Both games have the same content and theyfunction wonderfully online. The Xbox 360 just has a larger installed base of players over the PS3. Because there are more players to fight against, the Xbox 360 is the system of choice for this game.

The Wii version of the game is (are you ready for this?) fantastic! How Treyarch did it is a mystery but Call of Duty: Black Ops on the Wii has nearly everything that the Xbox 360 and PS3 have. All of the content is here from the unedited single player campaign to multi-player modes and Zombies. Players take the fight online with no noticeable lag. Sadly there is no splitscreen local multi-player available for the Wii version. Other than that, it is the same. All of the same customization options are present and the Wii has the advantage of multiple control schemes. CoD:BO can be played with the Classic controller for those more comfortable with a dual analog format but the real strength lies in the use of the Nunchuck and Wii Remote. For the first time since Metroid Prime Trilogy a company has nailed the perfect set up with this control scheme. Using the Nunchuck/Wii Remote allows for the first person shooter precision that people dreamed of when the Wii was first introduced. There are a number of default button layouts present but if none of the defaults appeal to you then you have the option to customize the layout completely to your liking. Other developers should pay close attention to Call of Duty: Black Ops because this is how a first person shooter should be done on the Wii. The only control option absent is one for the Gamecube controller. It really is not missed because the other available options are superior anyway. Where the Wii version does take a hit from its other console cousins is in the looks department. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 offer the game at sixty frames per second with a higher polygon count, more particle effects, and in 1080p HD, the Wii just can't compare graphically. The cut scenes are all Full Motion Video in order to save space. Where most of the scenes were produced with in-game graphics for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, the Wii uses recorded, pre-rendered FMV in order to save space. The data compression is noticeable and can look a bit grainy when comparing it to the HD systems. However, the Wii version still looks fantastic and holds at a solid thirty frames per second most of the time. Viewing Black Ops on the Wii is likely to surprise in just how good everything looks. This game pushes the limits of the Wii and shows that Nintendo's little system is capable of some quality graphic power. Don't come in expecting a Gamecube game. Call of Duty: Black Ops is an amazing experience on the Wii and can stand toe to toe with the other systems. The controls options are certainly superior and, with everything included it is sure to amaze even the most dedicated of Microsoft and Sony fanboys.

Call of Duty: Black Ops is a phenomenal title and deserves to be in any shooter fan's library. The many good qualities far outweigh the very few short comings. There is no such thing as a perfect game but the developers at Treyarch sure gave it their best effort. Even if this game does not prove better than Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 it is every bit its equal. Without question, Call of Duty: Black Ops is an amazing experience no matter what system you play it on; whether playing the single player game, against friends, strangers, or zombies, Call of Duty: Black Ops has something for all to enjoy.

Get the full article at GameSpot

"shabulia reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops for the PlayStation 3..." was posted by shabulia on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:27:09 -0800
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-black-ops/user-reviews/744653/platform/ps3/ Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:10:59 -0700 mariokart64fan reviewed GoldenEye 007 for the Wii... http://www.gamespot.com/goldeneye-007/user-reviews/743515/platform/wii/ ...and gave it a 10.0!!!

the missions are bigger expanded and more fun to play first off to all who compare this to mw2 and other cod games, good luck , because this is one of a kind
there is no comparision
the gameplay is similar to cod on easier level but its more harder , and for old time goldeneye fans of the original 007 c mode is ideal

old style hud is in the 007 c mode

the sound is what id expect it to be the guns sound real the voice overs need a tad work but their doing their job as planned

the overall presentation is nearly identical to qos 360 ,, much better visuals then qos wii

and the online portion is great addition to the already fun to play split screen

overall id say this is alot better then the n64 version and it truley plays like the movie which the n64 kinda ditched

only a few disappointments here and there no biggy
just minor ones such as -bunker is only in sp they replaced that with surface for multiplayer

Get the full article at GameSpot

"mariokart64fan reviewed GoldenEye 007 for the Wii..." was posted by mariokart64fan on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:10:59 -0700
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/goldeneye-007/user-reviews/743515/platform/wii/ Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:42:21 -0700 Kerry12424 reviewed Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II for the PlayStation 3... http://www.gamespot.com/star-wars-the-force-unleashed-ii/user-reviews/743258/platform/ps3/ ...and gave it a 8.5.

Now lets get this straight. Yes, the game is far too short. Ok?

However, with that said, let's look at the positives. The story line is quite exciting, primarily if you've played the first game. It is a little one-way but I my constant predictions were proven wrong nearly every time.The cut scenes are simply "wow!" I couldn't look away. The design showed truly what PS3 is capable of, and it's simply amazing.

The combat is intense. Some people complained the game was too hard. I highly disagree. I began on Hard (Second to hardest difficulty) and I had plenty of deaths to keep me frustrated. The only complaints I have about the combat are the repetitiveness of the grapples and the final boss battle (the final boss battle was quite boring and easy, but the ending made up for it if only to make my feelings toward the final battle neutral rather than negative).

The re-playability of this game is greater than the first I believe. The challenges can keep you busy and the story line (perhaps because it is short) makes you want to play it at least one more time.

If you have the first game, I recommend playing that one first and then the second. Force Unleashed II will make much more sense, and the two of them together make for a great game.

Get the full article at GameSpot

]]> http://www.gamespot.com/star-wars-the-force-unleashed-ii/user-reviews/743258/platform/ps3/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:09:01 -0700 mariokart64fan reviewed No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle for the Wii... http://www.gamespot.com/no-more-heroes-2-desperate-struggle/user-reviews/736214/platform/wii/ ...and gave it a 9.0!

the awsome boss fights and the awsome sword play not to mention the support for classic controls help this even more so that my arms do not hurt

there is a few draw backs such as not able to drive around like in the original but this game still picks it up where it left off

the game deserves a sequal if not 2 more because the game was well designed and well thought out ,
it is for those looking for a zelda like game with a twist

this game will be worth your penny if you dont already have it
go ahead get it for what ever you find it for

there is hardly any music to go with the action but when you having fun there doesnt need to be music ,
other draw backs-no mp
it would have been nice to have a sward dual
but never mind that its still a decent sequal to a under rated game

the effects /blood is awsome , it was like mortalk ombat re invented

Get the full article at GameSpot

]]> http://www.gamespot.com/no-more-heroes-2-desperate-struggle/user-reviews/736214/platform/wii/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:02:58 -0700 mariokart64fan reviewed Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project for the Xbox 360... http://www.gamespot.com/duke-nukem-manhattan-project/user-reviews/736213/platform/xbox360/ ...and gave it a 6.5.

i found this game to be very difficult even in stage 2 , the boss would kill me and such
the graphics were ok , but there wasnt enough polish for this game

it was a good design but it would have been alot better if it had more detailed levels
and not so hard bosses in the begining of the game lack of options as far as blood and brightness etc

it does not progress well theres hardly any achievable acheivments
the online community of this game is basically dead as a door nail
which doesnt make this ne more fun

then its sp counter part which was well designed and such but to hard for me to play thro ug h

it is good for what its worth

but todays standards really hold this thing back

of course if you like the series in 2d this IS for you
but if you like 3d this is not for you 6.5 out of ten

Get the full article at GameSpot

]]> http://www.gamespot.com/duke-nukem-manhattan-project/user-reviews/736213/platform/xbox360/ Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:17:07 -0700 NightStein reviewed Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty for the PlayStation 2... http://www.gamespot.com/metal-gear-solid-2-sons-of-liberty/user-reviews/724722/platform/ps2/ ...and gave it a 9.0!

As used i'm gonna review this game like it was made on the days of the release, so anything regarded to graphics, sound or gameplay won't be compared to these days standards, because that will affect the rating, and of course it's not fair. Though i have to say that i played it on the past weeks and it doesn't look any dated at all.

After some years i can finally put my hands on the first MGS sequel, i barely remember some of it's story but there are still on my mind a lot of great memories about it, it was so special and one of the first good stealth games on the market, so it was just matter of time til i could play the sequel, which lives up to the first one name, and helped by the last generation potential, added many innovations while keeping the old style on it.

This time you'll control Snake with the cooperation via codec of Otacon and Campbell on the first portion of the game (and the shorter) but after that the "real game" starts introducing a new playable character called Raiden (he can't throw lightening thru his hands though...) which will receive help from his girlfriend Rosemary and again the colonel Campbell, they are not as nearly as good as Snake-Otacon but a change for a while won't hurt anyone and you'll even start to like them on their own way, the good part is that Snake and Otacon will appear again later on.

The story itself is a typical action-espionage hollywood movie story mixed with some japanese robots here and there and an interesting misterious plot that has some references from the first MGS, there are many plot twists, most of them are great and well done, but at the end of the game everything goes strange and the story really declines, it's a shame cause if that was fixed the game could be even better... as it is it's an awesome title however, in fact that's almost the only thing that should be fixed...

The PS2 graphics managed to conceive on of the best looking titles of it's time, it's not really varied on locations, you only get to play on 2, and they have some similarities as both happen on the sea, and both look quite the same and also look like the first MGS with the proper improvements of course, like the weather on the tanker (there's a heavy rain) which is pretty well done, and the water effects when you have to dive on it, i can't forget the blood stains when you receive many shoots as well as the animations that look fluid though not great they are good enough to be mentioned. Cg's are done with the game engine like in the first but still they are interesting and use some nice camera angles, and movement effects, and by the game's length you have a good number of cgs.

I think however that the sound effects are a little better than what i mentioned before, specially the voice acting which took most of it's first game voices, Snake smooth but strong voice fits him perfectly, and who can forget Otacon's call when you die? it's a classic. Campbell's and Ocelot's voices are back as well, and they are as good as ever, though the sound quality has improved with years obviously, new voices like Raiden's and Rose's are also good and fit the characters but not that good like the others. The effects are great, and keep the level of the voices, shots, alarm sounds, explosions, steps and even the rain or the birds are awesome and just to name a few, music rythms follow the atmosphere of the game and if you are running on a quiet (or cleared) zone there will be a regular rythm or even no music at all at times, but on tense situations, like when the enemy spot you or in boss fights there will be a faster and louder one, and help to keep you sucked on it, trying to avoid it, well you can't avoid boss fights of course...

But you won't like to do that, because those fights are awesome and each one will be totally different from the others, though they are quite intuitive and a little easier compared to the first MGS, at least on the normal difficulty, however the villains this time aren't better at all they make a good group of freak bosses that seem to take the best of hollywood villains... Fighting regular soldiers is fun as well, at the start of the game you won't have many weapons and choices but to put to sleep them or knock them with your bare hands, but for your pleasure you do get many more weapons as you progress which includes explosives, sniper rifles, grenade launchers and many more... which ends on plenty ways to beat the soldiers, including the always recommended stealth to keep your ammo & life. Controls are a little difficult to get used to (specialy passing through 3rd person mode to 1st and then using it, which it's a new feature and a great one but a little weird to use on the first attempts) but are really good most of the times.

You'll probably spend between 15-20 hours over the first playthrough, i beated it on 17:28 and that makes it a long game for the typical 8-12 hours the genre takes, plus if you can get many dog tags you can unlock some stuff for your second playthrough, it's not that easy but there are a lot of this things to get in all the difficulty levels so you'll have to play through all of them if you're a completionist. So there's a good replay value, and at different difficulty levels the guards react different or they do another vigilance routes, and they'll have sharpen eyes and ears as well, that's another reason to try the hardest modes.

It may not be perfect, or as good as GS says, but still it's a great game that i won't hesitate to recommend, stealth and action packed with a good story full of surprises awaits you on this classic sequel, if you didn't played it what are you waiting for? and if you did maybe you could try to beat your own record.

_____________________
The Good:
- Boss Fights remain intact and awesome as the last game.
- It's a long one, and there are many things to unlock.
- Varied ways to pass over enemies and weapons to use.
- Some plot twists are great.
- Graphics, sound and cg are just gorgeous.

_____________________
The Bad:
- Last hours of the story.
- Raiden is not as good as Snake...
- Environments tend to be repetitive.

-----------------
Graphics: 9
Sound: 9.5
Story: 8.5
Characters: 9

Gameplay: 10
Duration: 9
Charm: 9
===========
Overall: 9.1 > 9.0
===========

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]]> http://www.gamespot.com/metal-gear-solid-2-sons-of-liberty/user-reviews/724722/platform/ps2/ Tue, 11 May 2010 16:28:35 -0700 NightStein reviewed Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy for the PlayStation 2... http://www.gamespot.com/jak-and-daxter-the-precursor-legacy/user-reviews/720100/platform/ps2/ ...and gave it a 8.0.

To be honest when i took this game from the store i was thinking in Crash Bandicoot and his successful appearances on psx... i was wondering if this new franchise on Naughty Dog would be as good as the old one, and decided to give it a chance, even when i'm not that much on plataformers or adventure games Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was a completely fun and addictive game, totally hilarious at moments, and those are the moments when Daxter takes on the main role of course, unfortunately Jak it's not that charismatic and doesn't even speak one word on the whole adventure (mainly because it's always getting interrupted by Daxter and the rest of the cast) but he compensates it by doing the hard job: running, jumping and punching the enemies to death.

The story begins when Daxter and Jak, the first a problematic, curious and ugly elf-like creature, and then Jak, he's also an elf-like guy but he's better looking, not that curious but a determinated warrior (and that's all what we need) they both start on a boat and Daxter has the baddest idea on his life: he wanted to go to a forbidden island just to take a look, but when they reach there they see lots of monsters gathered there and the evil plains of a villain... At that place Daxter accidentally stumbled and felt into a pool containing an obscure substance called dark echo, that's when the ugliest of the two become the funny Daxter we all know, trying to find a cure for his best friend Jak aids Daxter and that's when the journey begins...


Technically J&D looks pretty nice, i was kinda surprised by the great voice work and pretty nice graphics for a game that old, definately better than Crash on both, by far really. Mention apart for the animations, absolutely gorgeous, everything moves so smoothly and Daxter's movements are full of grace and are completely fun to watch. There's a great world to travel across, with your typical places: jungles, mountains, volcanos, and so on... though they are very interesting and variated, there you'll have to wonder for the precursor's artifacts if you wanna complete at 100% the game (and you'll have an indicator of the % you made, which it's a nice feature).

The game sounds a little better than it looks, with appropiated music on each different area you visit and filled with crazy funny sounds. As for the voice acting, since Jak doesn't talk you'll be hearing Daxter doing all the talk with the rest of the characters (which it's not much however) the good is that Daxter's voice it's very funny and makes for the atmosphere of the whole title, there are a couple of nice actings out there too, and others that may annoy you, but the general work it's excellent, and they sound better than they look, there's not a huge cast of characters, mainly the group who wants to help Daxter while they try to save their homeland and the rest that are local residents who seek for your help in exchange of batteries which are needed for the end.

There ins't much story through here, only the beggining, after that there are a few story driven scenes but are too few and too separated from each other, they are too short and doesn't tell many interesting things, as usual i won't spoil anything regarded to this but don't expect that much, though it's a good improvement on Crash's storylines and at the end it's just an adventure game and the most important here it's the gameplay.

Gameplay which is great and pretty addictive from start to the end, it never gets old and while you don't have any weapons to use Jak can obtain for short periods of time different kind of echoes, each one with a different ability and colour, you'll have speed up echoes, attack echoes and so on. Most of the areas bring something new and you have to prove being good enough to get the perfect game, sometimes riding a kind of flying cycle (that it's no other than pure fun, and sometimes becomes frustrating) but most of times on your own foots, well on Jak's foots in fact but that doesn't mean you'll be boring, there are a few issues with the camera on some particular situations but those are totally forgivable.



The worst thing of J&D is that it eventually ends, and too soon, when i finished it i wanted to keep at it for many more hours, but there's no motivation at all to replay it unless you want to revive the same good moments, or if you didn't on the first playthrough go for the 100%. My clock stoped at around 10 hours getting everything but i would loved to play it for at least 10 more hours.



In the end, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy it's a great title, the first to start one of the best adventure franchises of the latest time and a very enjoyable game, though it felt short, and a little easy, the story it's not that bad but it could have been more and you can't control Daxter neither. However it's a fine platformer game on 3D with a nice world to cover and a totally fun experience.

_____________________
The Good:
- Looks and sounds nice
- Daxter's appearances
- Great control adds to the fun gameplay.
- There's actually 3 games after this one.
_____________________
The Bad:
- A little short
- Lacks a deeper and longer story
- Mute main character
- Easy bosses

-----------------
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 9
Story: 6.5
Characters: 8.5
Gameplay: 9
Duration: 7
Charm: 9
===========
Overall: 8.2 > 8.0
===========

Get the full article at GameSpot

]]> http://www.gamespot.com/jak-and-daxter-the-precursor-legacy/user-reviews/720100/platform/ps2/ Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:24:12 -0700 shabulia reviewed Super Street Fighter IV for the Xbox 360... http://www.gamespot.com/super-street-fighter-iv/user-reviews/718587/platform/xbox360/ ...and gave it a 9.5!

For those of you who have been on the fence about buying Street Fighter IV, now is the time to do it. At only $39.99 MSRP, Super Street Fighter IV is an incredible value. It bumps the roster up from 25 to 35 playable characters, the gameplay has been tweaked since last year, and the online components have been further fleshed out to make this a no-brainer addition to your collection. For those same reasons, if you purchased the game already, then this is definately a worthwhile purchase.



Everything about this game screams fan service. Capcom tested the waters with Street Fighter IV; asking fans what they wanted to see in a modern Street Fighter. While they listened, there were things that were left out much to many fan's dismay, such as certain chararcters. Even though the game was incredible, there was room for improvement as there always is. Enter Super Street Fighter IV. The developers used the online community to get a feel for what needed to be improved and they have heard the cries of the hardcore fans. This year's update re-balances tiers (thank you Capcom for knocking Sagat down a tad) and allows people to actually compete with their favorite characters. While there certainly are more dominant characters than others, things are a bit more even in the playing field so that all can enjoy the fight. New characters still have to be fully discovered to maximize their full potential and that is something that the online community will certainly delve into. Time will tell how balanced the new additions are. So far, they all have something to offer and are a lot of fun to use. While Capcom has added two completely new characters to this game, the other eight new fighters are returning characters from past Street Fighter titles. Capcom asked fans who they wanted to see and added characters according to fan request.

The new roster includes many favorites. With the addition of T. Hawk and Dee Jay, all of the Super Street Fighter II: Turbo characters are here. Ibuki, Makoto, and Dudley introduce characters from the Street Fighter III series. Adon from the original Street Fighter is here as well. Cody and Guy of Final Fight are also here in theier updated Street Fighter Alpha 2 forms. Not only that, but the

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"shabulia reviewed Super Street Fighter IV for the Xbox 360..." was posted by shabulia on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:24:12 -0700
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/super-street-fighter-iv/user-reviews/718587/platform/xbox360/ Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:12:58 -0700 madman683 reviewed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for the PC... http://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2/user-reviews/716413/platform/pc/ ...and gave it a 8.0.

Here's my review. Hope you like it.

Modern Warfare 2 is a great game. It lived up to the hype as one of the biggest sequel in FPS genre history. The graphics is good but a bit dated for me compared to Bad Company 2 whereas the environment is fully destructible unlike the ones here in Modern Warfare 2. One thing that stands out would be the action sequences especially the climax part where you'll be riding a rubber boat. The action and drama around it is like watching a movie scene. The sigle campaign I might say though is too short. As GameSpot said, the single campaign was like a flash. I finished it like 5-6 hours or less. Overall game is good. From the graphics and special effects to the great voice acting and a respectable story, Modern Warfare 2 will satisfy your hunger for another FPS.

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"madman683 reviewed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for the PC..." was posted by madman683 on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:12:58 -0700
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2/user-reviews/716413/platform/pc/ Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:57:47 -0700 madman683 reviewed Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for the PC... http://www.gamespot.com/battlefield-bad-company-2/user-reviews/715633/platform/pc/ ...and gave it a 9.0!


Good day everyone. Here's my own perspective about this highly praised game from DICE.

FPS fans will definitely appreciate Bad Company 2. It's action-packed and fast paced scenes will draw even those who are not fan of the genre.

First of is the graphics/effects. By far, the graphics in this game are the best I've seen. From the cut scenes, explosions up to the destructible environments, this game surely satisfied and delivered what my expectations are from a fist-person shooter game. They made great use of the technology that almost all that you can see on the environment can be fired and get destroyed you just can't take cover in one place for a long time because if you do, you might end up dead in a matter of seconds.

Sound quality is fantastic. You can hear birds chirping and the dialogues among the characters were great. Pretty much voice acting for this game is very good from the way the make hilarious jokes and pick on Haggard to Serge's voice which commands respect and yes it means you ought to obey whatever he says.

Lastly is the story, right from the start of the campaign you'll simply be drawn to it. From the WWII era to the exciting end, it will simply ask the developers for more (I for one will definitely look forward for the 3rd part in this series). You'll be having missions in different parts of the world. You'll definitely deal with lots of bad guys. A sudden twist in the story near the end of the game will shock some but it's quite obvious that someone will betray our protagonists. One sad part here is when Flynn who's flying the chopper got killed.

As I've said voice acting is fantastic added with great effects and a good story equals satisfaction!

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"madman683 reviewed Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for the PC..." was posted by madman683 on Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:57:47 -0700
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/battlefield-bad-company-2/user-reviews/715633/platform/pc/ Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:03:07 -0700 mariokart64fan reviewed Red Steel 2 for the Wii... http://www.gamespot.com/red-steel-2/user-reviews/715090/platform/wii/ ...and gave it a 9.5!

well ill start off with the art style used ,, it is different then most shooters today ,,
and it is fresh , it is on par with most first party games , , for the most part which is somthing to be glad about

the gameplay is similar to no more heroes but it mixes that in with red steel environments

there is well from what ive played so far enough content to actually make you tired after play, there arent alot of enemies on screen but when theres like 5 -7 believe me you will be emersed and wanting more

theres a bit of training in between missions , that will annoy you but they serve their purpose as to what your gonna have to do in the next one ,

the music well there isnt much to say about music other then it fits the game when enemies are around it goes fast , when theres none theres no music

the sounds of swords and bullets are just as good as the original if not better

overall the game is a much improved version of red steel what 1 should have been
theres only a few problems i had with this game

so far ,
the break down
the good-
emerse gameplay battles/fights
training missions are a breeze
enemies are more optimised to give you a challenge, but not to much
great art style/graphics
good gps to help you along the way
the bad
well there is no multiplayer online or off ,, thats one of the things i wished theyd never took out but still good game overall ,
not much different in music then the original ,

some times the remote can go in circles ,, but not many times as in the first,
much improved controls thanks to ubisoft not well you know
and the motion plus is really helping , this game

overall compared to the likes of metroid prime and medal of honor heroes -of the fpses ive played so far , this has to be the best one available ,
for the said console ,

the only major problem with this game really lies in which the part wear some times you go in circle it could be because im close to the sensor or what not , im not sure but this isj ust somthing to throw in ,

but yes a solid game in deed much better then red steel 1 ,
it would be almost perfect if multiplayer was intact , right now if i used the old rating system i would give the game a 9,6 but this new rating makes me go to 9,5 ,

i suggest those who dont have red steel 2 , , and a wii motion plus go ahead and grab the 59.99 $ bundle that includes the motion plus or if you just need a extra one ,
if you dont want to get a motionplus version cause you already have enough ,
then just grab the standard version either way you wont go wrong ,

it works like it was intended to , , minor problems here and there but -like i said overall a pretty decent sequal to an ok launch title ,.

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"mariokart64fan reviewed Red Steel 2 for the Wii..." was posted by mariokart64fan on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:03:07 -0700
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/red-steel-2/user-reviews/715090/platform/wii/ Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:31:06 -0700 NightStein reviewed Suikoden III for the PlayStation 2... http://www.gamespot.com/suikoden-iii/user-reviews/714762/platform/ps2/ ...and gave it a 8.5.

Not many games can manage to have such a great cast like this one, with plenty of charismatic characters, everyone with their own style and personality, with their own story and of course with their own secrets... There are 108 to choose from, some come along the main story but you'll have to recruit many of them. Though the real star on Suikoden III is it's story: you'll have to play the first part of the game from 3 different points of view, with 3 different main characters: you'll be in the shoes of Hugo a tipic tribe child, Chris, Captain of a division of knights she's pretty famous and good with the sword, and Geddoe the most misterious and older of the 3, and after that it converges into one whole story for some more hours of fun.

While the story remains fresh at any time the fact that you don't have many places to move on ends up on too much backtracking, a little it's ok but this game gets really boring about in the middle because of that, specially if you choose to get all the 108 stars and improve the equipment of everyone.

Suikoden III visuals are ok for it's time, there wasn't many rpgs on ps2 back then, but are definately old by now, still there a couple of things that are quite good like the expressions, some of the rune summonings and powerful "magics" are ok too. Character's designs are nicely performed by the graphics also.

The game music it's a little repetitive but it's also ok, the opening it's the better song you'll listen in Suikoden III but in-game the music gets tedious at times, though the few songs are nice to listen and suit well the situations presented, too bad the game doesn't have voice acting neither, i know, there's a lot of characters but at least the main story should have some spoken dialogs...

But if you think that the visuals and sound are pretty much the most important thing in a game you're sure wrong, the game main essence is it's story, the motivation to keep playing among with the gameplay, if a game is senseless or not fun it just doesn't work, and Suikoden III story it's one of the best on any JRPG matching some of the Final Fantasy's and WRPG's (though you won't find many on consoles). And it's not what it's told what it's great, but the way it is told it's simply amazing and original... As i said on the intro you'll play from 3 different point of views, that are even confronted one with another, so you'll think as one group as the "bad guy" but when you play with him/her you realize that his intentions wasn't bad at all, and so on... The story keeps getting better and better with the time and even when you'll be tired of fighting the same enemies on the same locations after 60 hours, you'll still want to keep going thanks to it. To discover the secrets behind the plot and what will be of them after the last fight (yes you'll see a little of everyone at the end).

The main characters are only a few, the three heros and their groups that goes from 3 to 5 more allies, but as you've heard there are 108 to control in the end, and they are pretty diverse, there are knights, ninjas, dragons, hand made machines, bow and long range users, mages, storekeepers, and many more, it's an incredible group with plenty of professions trust me, i didn't play the previous Suikodens but it's a nice change to the regular 3-10 characters seen in most rpgs (PSOne Chrono Cross aside) and it manages to show pretty well the feelings and personalities of each one, some are cold, shy, others are funny, a pain in the back, mature, these and many other facets are shown by the group of fighters. Of course there's also variation on their equipments, but there are too many that just use the sword as weapon of choice. But, not all it's great, you'll end up the game with many questions about most of the characters, cause the game explains, but just a little bit of everyone... And there's also one of the main problems here: the enemies, there aren't too many, they are boring, and use a variation of the colours to make other similar monsters, there may be like 15-20 original types and the others are just "cousins" of them. Thankfully bosses have some exceptions but even on them it rules this problem, shame on Konami.

Battling them it's fun, you fight with a group up to six characters but on three pairs, each pair has a unique command, so you'll have to give only 3 orders, though everyone acts on the battlefield. You can equip different runes on each one that will give different advantages, like more offensive power, or just magic spells, some characters have 1 slots while others have 3 rune slots, depending on what kind of ability has each one (mages mostly have 3 slots and knights 1 or 2). Combats are random but they don't happen that much, at least not to the point that could bother you, and when the enemy is weaker you can release them at the start of the battle, saving lot of wasted time, that it's a nice feature, really. Boss fights on the other hand are challenging and fun, specially on the start when you're still on the learning curve, and the last battle it's one of the thoughtest i have found on RPG's even when i was prepared.

It's a long game, expect at least 60-70 hours, there were 86:08 for me but i did enjoy recruiting everyone and watching some of them on the castle, it's pretty fun to look how Budehuc will be growing with the time, you can even decore some things (put statues, plants or paints on the walls) and level as many characters as you want on the march, and discover their combined attacks. If you want you can try to play the last hours with another main character as the leader (i won't spoil much) but it's up to you, i don't think it's worth the effort.

This game has some flaws, but it has a lot of heart into it, and there's nothing compared to it when you talk about it's story, seriously other JRPG's should learn a few things of Suikoden III, you'll enjoy recruiting everyone and talking with them, but you won't enjoy much the fights after the first chapters, with some better enemies and less backtracking this game could have earned a higher note.

-----------------
Graphics: 8
Sound: 8
Story: 9.5
Characters: 8.5
Gameplay: 8.5
Duration: 8
Charm: 9
===========
Overall: 8.4 > 8.5
===========

Get the full article at GameSpot

"NightStein reviewed Suikoden III for the PlayStation 2..." was posted by NightStein on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:31:06 -0700
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/suikoden-iii/user-reviews/714762/platform/ps2/ Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:46:51 -0700 madman683 reviewed NBA 2K10 for the PC... http://www.gamespot.com/nba-2k10/user-reviews/713722/platform/pc/ ...and gave it a 8.5.

There are several game modes here in 2K10. The two modes that I've tried so far are My Player mode and the Association Mode.

My Player Mode is a great addition to the series. This mode will allow you to create and develop your own player. It's somewhat of an RPG 'coz you will be gaining new skills and improve the skills you already have through playing in D-League and eventually called up to play for an NBA Team.

There are lot's of addition for the Association Mode. 2KSports added NBA D-League to this mode. Association Mode now includes RFA and real time practices. You can also connect online to have an updated roster and the latest news and stats right from the Association.

Graphics is good. There were lots of improvement in terms of stadium representation. The crowd movement also improve as well as referee movements. To me the most notable improvement would be the player's jersey movement. I dunno how to describe it but in 2K9, the jersey stays static when a player moves but for this edition, the jersey actually moves and sways when the player makes his moves.

Overall, game is great, By far the best basketball sim game I've played since NBA Shootout '98.

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"madman683 reviewed NBA 2K10 for the PC..." was posted by madman683 on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:46:51 -0700
]]> http://www.gamespot.com/nba-2k10/user-reviews/713722/platform/pc/