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Archive for the ‘Game Reviews’ Category

One of the places that the video game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare scores consistently well is with its graphics. Even its harshest critics have declared the visuals to be nothing short of stunning and impressively realistic. There is an impressive amount of attention to detail in the graphics and every bit of this intense game is given the same loving attention.

At times, the visuals that are provided with Call of Duty 4 are almost distractingly realistic, but this is the price to be paid for good rendering. As with the previous games, CoD4 has impressive sound effects, and the quality of being completely immersed in the setting is very strong.

As with previous Call of Duty games, there is a terrific arsenal of weapons that are available to the players. Some of the weapons that you can find or loot off of dead squad members or enemies include the P90, the MP5, the M249 and of course the ubiquitous AK-47. At the start, you begin with the M4 and the G36C.

Of course, one of the most eagerly anticipated aspects of Call of Duty 4 was the multiplayer mode, which can support up to18 players over Xbox live. There are sixteen maps that can be played on right out of the box with plenty of different game-types that can appeal to a wide variety of gamers. There is the Hardcore mode of play where one shot equals a fatality, compared to Old School mode, where there is a lot more jumping and video game physics.

Call of Duty 4 has topped the list of popular video games for years, which speaks to its impressive playability and the astounding way that its visual and emotional world engages the player at an emotional and viseral level. This game has shown itself to be a true winner.

The story of the Xbox video game Prototype starts rather murky and continues to be so for most of the game. The player sees the world through the eyes of Alex Mercer, who has somehow acquired superhuman powers and awakened to a world that seems to have gone mad.

Mercer himself discovers that he has the ability to shapeshift and to absorb powers from the people around him. His shapeshifting powers can enhance his combat abilities, his ability to defend himself and his ability to sense things and due to the multiple ways that conflicts can be overcome, it gives players different ways to attain their objectives.

The main game itself is made up of thirty-one missions that will range from your basic seek and destroy missions to infiltrations of militaristic organizations to learn more information. The game play is fairly aggressive and the response to Mercer is often instantaneous and even something as simple as running through the city (or gliding, as you can unlock later in the game) can alert the Strike Teams, who are on the lookout for Mercer. Mercer’s powers can be evolved and enhanced through the completion of side missions and new moves are a terrific incentive to keep players going through the more frustrating parts of this game.

At first glance, Mercer seems indestructible; falls don’t hurt and there is nothing that can’t be leaped over or run around. Combat is going to get more complicated, though and this has been the source of accusations of clumsy and clunky game play. With all the moves that the character can learn, remembering how to trigger certain combat combinations is not always easy. That being said, the combat in Prototype is still a great deal of fun, if only because of the variety of combat modes and shapes that Mercer can take.

Playing Prototype is something that any dedicated gamer should at least try, and as one of the more interesting sandbox style games that have hit the market recently, it has certainly made its mark.

Seiken Densetsu Legend of Mana Square Millennium Collection Japanese Import Video Game

This beautiful, limited edition release includes the game disc in case with manual, a large, oversided box with slip cover, two figures (Elazul and Pearl) from the game and a jewelery Box that plays a special melody from the game.

GAME IS IN JAPANESE AND ONLY WORKS ON A JAPANESE PS1, PS2 OR BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE PS3.

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Star Ocean The Last Hope

STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is the latest entry in the futuristic space opera RPG series, STAR OCEAN. Science fiction and fantasy meld in this long-awaited continuation of the celebrated franchise from developer tri-Ace Inc. The year is S.D. 10. In the aftermath of World War III, humanity voyages into the stars in search of a new home…and a second chance. A prequel that combines sci-fi and fantasy elements, spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the STAR OCEAN universe. Exhilarating combat expands upon the franchise?s famous real-time battle system, including the amazing graphics and visual effects only possible on the Xbox 360. Features breathtaking CG movies by Visual Works, the cutting-edge studio whose previous work includes cut scenes for the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY RPG series

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A great experience, if you accept it for what it is (A J-RPG).
I was a big fan of j-rpgs in my youth. In recent years however I have become a bit melancholy. This is not because J-rpgs have gotten worse. Put simply it is akin to loving a flavor of ice cream but getting sick of it after eating too much.

So when I say Star Ocean Last Hope is a great game and addicting to play that is a testament of quality. In truth I dreaded getting this game. I was afraid I’d get tired of it after playing it a mere 3 hours and put it on my shelf where it would hence forth collect the dusts of obscurity. Imagine my glee when this mishap did not happen!

Before I go into how great star ocean last hope is I figure I will take time to warn you of its’ shortcomings first. This game is guilty of having a blond idealistic youth as its’ main protagonist. Almost every stereotype you can think of that inhabits sci fi japanese anime settings makes an appearance. The voice acting at times is grating. Not because the voice actors/actresses are bad but because of the lines they are made to read.

If you disdain playfully rambuncious cute nekos , adorable little girls that wave magic wands, big breasted pointy eared milfs, stoic self sacrificing cyborg scientists, the typical childhood girl friend next door, naive feather winged angel babes that come along with the baggage of prophetic nightmares, long haired brooding scythe wielding bishi-boys, and the usual sibling rivalry established between two best friends avoid last hope at all costs. It is not trying to be radically different from other J-rpgs. If anything it is proud of being what it is. Still reading? Still think Last Hope holds merit? Good, because the worst it has to throw at you ends with this paragraph!

The most rewarding aspect of star ocean is its’ combat engine. When you wade into battle with enemies after charging them head first it’s go time! You will be running around the battle field, jumping, side stepping attacks, stringing together combos, and strategically taking cover so you can fire off your spells without being interrupted. The fights are very much in “real time” and to me the system is much like the Tales series. (Though fans of the Tales games claim it’s battle system is still better).

For a guy such as me tired of heroes getting in a perfect line to match their enemies on the other end of the court as if everyone is about to engage in a poetry slam fest or dance off this is a huge ray of sun shine. Combat is last hope is fast, furious, and in your face. It’s easy to switch off + take control of each character and whether you like long range attacks or up close attacks you’ll find someone that fits your style of play.

“Beats” are styles that give each protagonist different tactics and bonuses when facing their foes. You can also reconfigure everyone’s battle ai if a certain series of actions are making you come up short handed. Nothing about this is truly original but it works well and getting a varied number of “battle trophies” makes you feel a sense of accomplishment.

The story in Last Hope is engaging. It will keep you playing to see what happens next BUT also be aware it is not trying to be high-brow literature. Think about any favorite Sci Fi series you have watched. Not every episode blew your mind. Not every character stuck out as memorable. However you tolerated a few lags or annoyances knowing the series would “pick up” in season two or be handed off to a better writer. Last hope is this same roller coaster. The plummeting dips are worth tolerating to get to the exhilarating high points!

To get the most out of last hope there are a few things I’d advise.

1# When you get Bacchus immediatly go to Aeos + Lemuria to mine: Mining is essential for collecting gems and metals to make good stuff when you communicate with Welch who helps you from earth. It can be a pain to neglect this and have to back track later. It may even require switching cds. The moment I got Bacchus I re-visited Aeos and Lemuria to drill for resources.

2# Have Reimi harvest: Whenever you get a chance have Reimi harvest plants and vegetables. Whereas mining is essential to create weapons and armor “plants” are used in recipes to make awesome potions and foods that replenish magic,restore health, and cure ailments.

3# Be balanced upgrading your skills: Do not just pump your combat abilities. Occasionally put points into things such as cooking,alchemy, artistry, robotics, and smithing. These trades aid you when creating new artifacts. Sometimes what you make is better than the merchandise offered in stores.

4# Switch out characters in your idea groups: When you talk to Welch you create teams to invent. Try switching off people in each team until the ideas keep flowing.

5# Do not sleep through a whole voyage…Socialize!: Right before you go to a new planet you have “free time” on your ship. Instead of sleeping until arrival see if your friends and crew mates have interesting things to say. These events sometimes occur after you take a short nap. Depending on how you respond to people will gradually effect the story.

6# It’s a Japanese RPG….embrace it, don’t be hating!: Lymle says “kay” a lot and some angst ridden people hate her for that reason alone. I find this ridiculous considering she has a decent back story, lovable personality, and is a useful magic user. Look, even in real life our friends have little annoying habits or weird quirks. It’s true J-Rpgs capitalize on “cute” “odd” or “sexy time” at every opportunity. While these exaggerations of certain themes can be awkward also remember such things were done in our favorite J-rpgs in the past too. (Even Chrono trigger had it’s dose of perverted erotic innuendo + annoying hero habits) If you knit pick enough you’ll find “the bad” in every thing. Instead, weigh everything fairly and acknowledge the good as well.

Pros and cons

+Engaging story set after World War 3 in which mankind is forced to reach out to the stars.

+Is the prequel to the first Star Ocean. Fans of the series will get a lot of service!

+Fun exciting combat

+ Environments are interesting to explore. Area puzzles are not too hard to figure out. (For the most part)

+Crafting system is easy to understand.

+Good music

+Characters become more and more likable as you learn about them.

+Socializing is encouraged between planet jumping

+Boss fights are challenging but rarely escalate to being frustrating.

Cons

-Every anime stereotype you can imagine rears its’ head screaming. Nothing is subtle. This IS a J-RPG.

- At first many of the protagonists seem to come from cookie cutter character molds and they sometimes speak annoying dialogue.

-It’s nice to be able to “dash around” enemies the only problem is there are so many of them in certain scenarios “escape” is not always an option.

-Expect to level grind….a lot.

-If you want to make the best objects and do certain side quests back tracking and cd switching become annoying obstacles.

Pro or con?

+/- Overall the graphics look beautiful but the faces of some of the characters look as if the designers struggled between “anime” and “semi realism” to such a large degree the end results appear a bit off somehow.

+/- Edge Maverick is a bright eyed optimist towards the beginning of the story but a mishap that happens in an alternate dimension makes him mopey for awhile. At least he eventually gets the spring back in his step later on. Personally for me it was nice to see a main protagonist express a large range of emotions. Edge is definetely a cut deeper than Cloud or the typical “silent hero” types. I suppose I can forgive him for being “emo”. If I felt responsible for screwing up a whole civilization I would likely act much the same. (And hey, he does move on)

+/- Some have said “blind siding” is difficult. This is a combat manuever in which you charge up, jump towards an enemy’s weak spot, and do more damage by exploiting their vulnerability. I am actually able to do it once or twice per battle but admittedly when you are charging up it leaves you open to attacks. Perhaps this aspect of combat could have been done better but considering all variables it’s still a nice feature.

Rent/buy? This is up to you. If you love J-rpgs and don’t mind some lighthearted Saturday morning cartoon fluff mixed with a dash of melodrama and over epic cheese you should bite into this juicy morsel asap. However if you are not big on the whole “Japanese RPG” phenomenon give it a pass and conserve your cash.

3 Stars One thing or another…
It’s been a long time since I wrote a review, but after 300 hours of gameplay, I thought I would make a few points. Star Ocean is a game that, with slightly better writing and development could have been one of the best games of the decade. But it consistenly falls short.

Let’s take a bit of a look.

The game is graphically beautiful. Full appreciation is due to the artists and animators. Not just for wandering around the vast multiworld universe that is the setting for the game, but fight animation is also lovingly detailed. Everything is great except for facial expressions. The characters are usually deadpan, and Reimi has a distant stare that is positively chilling.

The story is intricate. Edge and Reimi start out on Earth’s attempt to find a colonizable world in order to save the human race from the ruin of a war torn planet. They meet a number of different alien races enlist characters (you wind up playing 4 out of a set of eight characters). Eventually they meet more villanous aliens, uncover a plot to end the universe and have to defeat an evil mastermind. Initially the game is linear, but gradually non-linear elements (such as quests) are introduced and you will do a lot of planet hopping. To some degree there’s too much story. The worst example is the infinitely long closing sequence, which is unavoidabe and unstoppable.

Interplayer relationships are interesting as the characters are all quite different. Acting, however, is spotty. The worst example here is the crisis Edge goes through when his actions result in the destruction of a planet. Not his fault, but he spends endless hours whining and beating on himself (massively overacted) before he gets back on track

Gameplay itself is the real problem. The characters are irritatingly difficult to steer, and the precise position needed to accomplish something can be quite elusive. This can get on your nerves. For all the complicated battle options most battles are repetitious and frankly, the bosses are too easy. Or so they are until suddenly they get way to0 hard.

Battle trophy hunting is an important part of character building since you need enough trophies to remove the experience cap and get more than a small handful of things to say while killing mushrooms. Some of these are a matter of pure luck(kill an opponent with exactly the right anount of damage)or really aren’t much of a challenge (run away 20 times). None of the other collectables are that hard to get, but they are easy to miss if you don’t know that some place is about to be destroyed forever. Which means you will have to play the game at least twice to get the accomplishments. And while I don’t mind playing the hack and slash endgame for hours on end, the last thing I want to do is live through Edge’s tantrums again.

I have a number of other grumbles, but no doubt you have already figured out that this is a very playable game that simply doesn’t live up to its potential. It is a pleasant pass time though so I would recommend it anyway as a good value for the money.

4 Stars skip the cutscenes and it’s good
I picked this up because I usually love Square Enix games. I quickly realized that the cutscenes and the voice acting are absolute balls. I mean it’s so bad that you can’t really watch it without wanting to gouge your eyes out and fill your ears with cement. The good thing is that these scenes can easily be skipped by pressing start, and you are given a written synopsis of what you just skipped. This is great, IMHO, and more games should implement something like it.

Other than that, the game is awesome in every way.

Oh except the camera kinda sucks. And there should be something in between walking at a snails pace and running. How about jogging? Would it be too much to have my character jog? I don’t think so.

this concludes my review.

4 Stars It has its ups and downs
Great game but a little slow to begin telling the story proper. I had a great deal of fun with this game anyway. I was a huge fan of Star Ocean 2 and the next ones have not lived up to that however. Star Ocean 4 was no exception. The gameplay is still tight as ever and you will clock in at least 40-60 hours before you finish the game depending on if you side quest a lot like me or not

4 Stars A game worthy of a second, third or even 4th round
So after finishing the game (Galaxy difficulty) here are my reactions of the game. I have to say, I haven’t played a game non-stop whenever I have free time ever since Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria. As expected of Tri-Ace, they’ve kept the usual active battle system that made it shine as a JRPG and then some.

- Graphics are superb, they’ve put a lot of detail on everything that you’ll never notice them unless you really move the camera up close. Pretty good use of the Unreal engine.

- Music is pretty much the same as every SO scores before it, I’m just glad that the battle music changes on location/event/bosses since it gets tiresome to hear the same one over and over again. You can always turn the music off and listen to your own if you want especially if you’re doing a 2nd run of the game.

- Storyline is epic where the main character and his friends are given/pushed the task of saving the Universe, not giving any spoilers LOL. So what if the story progressed slow or did it? I didn’t really noticed it that much. In my point of view, this is done just so the player gets him/herself acquianted with the characters as well as what they can do in battle. I’m saying this now because once you start Universe or even Chaos you’ll be paying more attention to them more than ever.

- Mechanics is a bit “iffy” < - LOL, you can play the game on 1080p but expect a lot of slowdowns and certain point freezes that you as a player don't want to experience especially if you're 3/4 of the way (i.e. Miga Insect Warren area) and it just stops (happened 3 times)... all those hard earned points and treasures lost... So I kept it to 720p and everything went fine after that. This takes me to save points... they're hard to come by especially if you're the "I just want to keep going and not stop to get provisions or make them before setting off" person... you'll hate this (ROFL) but this shouldn't cause you not to play this game, it just teaches you to be more prudent and make good use of the bonus board <- very important in later difficulties. I also wasn't impressed with the disc swapping taking place when visiting previous planets... they should make a patch where if you installed all three discs in your HDD you should only need DISC 1 or 3 but that is not the case..... This is the only one that really annoyed me since I had to do a lot of back tracking to gather materials for special items. I have no problems standing up and swapping discs since I'm proud to say I'm an above average fit person but when it comes to gaming, simple disturbances such as this affect the playing experience. And oh for those people complaining why their team AI is lackluster is because they dont configure their characters enough assigning them what skills they can and cannot use... so whenever the AI is assessing the situation it chooses the best options but if you gave him/her too much to choose from their reaction becomes slow... I love my healer(s) since I can just go into the fray and not worry (even the final boss)... too much.

I’m currently trying out Universe difficulty so I can unlock the Chaos challenge since this is the meat of the package and I love battles that most people call ridiculuous… Unfortunately, I heard that The Last Hope is being ported to the PS3 since this game is actually a timed exclusive… I would like to get the PS3 version if it does come out just so I can avoid the disc swapping and hopefully they include the original Japanese voice and then some. So for now I might have to take a break from Universe and see if the news are real…..

But if you’re the type who just wants to play the game just for fun then think no further and get this game for the 360 you will not be disappointed. But in the future you decide that you’d want more, then I suggest verify, if its real then wait and purchase the PS3 version just for convenience purposes LOL happy gaming!!!

Buy/More Info

Timeshift

Dr. Aiden Krone is a former professor of Applied Physics at MIT, notorious for his unrivaled brilliance and obsession with Thermodynamics, Advanced Propulsion, and Quantum Electrodynamics (QED). Despite his increasing tendencies to demand control and secrecy, he became the Founder and Lead Physicist of a classified Time Travel research program. Over a decade later, Krone’s program had successfully developed the world’s first time-traveling suit technology. However, as the program’s equally secretive decision-makers demanded this technology be adapted for military applications, Krone’s feelings of self-entitlement and anger grew. He secretly desired a new existence, a new world where his scientific endeavors could be shaped and experienced without outside interference. The combination of Krone’s mind and his suit technology gave him the ability to create and control another existence – an existence where a man of science could finally operate without restrictions and do so within a place where science itself was properly respected? regardless of the effects on humanity. It is now up to you to trace Krone’s last known appearances and stop his tyrannical rule over Alpha District. In a twisted world where scientific accomplishments reign, it’s up to you to don the Beta Suit and Master Time to Become the Ultimate Weapon.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Amazing
This is a truly amazing game. Especially if you have a big screen LCD or Plasma with surround sound. Timeshift is in my opinion one of the most underrated games of all time, hands down.

I won’t repeat the ‘cool factor’ about time shifting since many have already done it. BUT, there is one other aspect of this game that has gone mostly unmentioned. That is the weapons. (Not to mention their sound).

So many games have 1 or 2 good weapons. Moreover, 50% of these don’t make the sounds you’d expect from them. With that said, Timeshift got it right the first time. Listening to this game while you are holding one of the *Many* awesome weapons, hearing these things fire out of your speakers is an amazing experience.

The overall graphics are stunning (very comparable to Halo 3 at least on my 52″ Plasma using HDMI) and another area that has gone un-noted is the Multiplayer. Matches for multiplayer can be set up using the amazing “Low Gravity” and there is also a “High Speed” setting. There are tons of maps available and the overall experience will truly blow your mind.

Time shifting at any given moment – as well as stopping time to regain your last bit of health in messy situations – is truly rewarding. And one of the funniest aspects to the game (believe it or not, it IS actually laugh out loud funny) is the voice acting. I won’t go into it here, but you’ll see what I mean as you progress into the game.

This one is a keeper, simply for the online play. Just like Unreal Tournament 3, this is one of the most underrated titles *ever* for the XBox 360 AND XBox Live.

3 Stars unstable framerate but fun
Timeshift is an average shooter in every way but there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s a nice variety of weapons and there’s plenty of single player levels to explore. But there’s some downsides too. The framerate is a bit unstable (though it never breaks the gameplay) and the overall speed of the game is slow when you would want to be able to run around in a shooter game. Instead you’re forced to sort of amble around rather than run, because the game engine could never handle the fast redraws that running around the level would require. The environment textures are extra blurry and grainy too (unlike the PC version would looks natobaly better if your PC can handle games).

All in all this is a very average shooter but I enjoyed the single player game for the budget price. If you havent already played Half-Life 2 though, that is a better choice than this game as far as single player shooters go.

4 Stars Its worth getting.
This is a solid title. it kind of feels like Half Life, the controll is tight, the envirenments are well put together and the story stays interesting. The time manipulation is really fun to play with, there’s nothing more satisfying then stopping time, drilling ten guys with the shot gun and then starting it again to watch the chaos.

Bottom line, you can pick it up really cheap used, and its totally worth it.

4 Stars One of my favorite games for the 360
I bought Timeshift last year and played it until I beat it on hard. It’s an excellent game minutes a few drawbacks (see below).

GRAPHICS: B-

Gothic, Orwellian futuristic landscape. I like the artwork but it is lacking some detail. I’m picky about detail b/c I like to see at what level the artists/designers went to do design this game. Gears of War 2 has some of the best ‘detail’ I’ve ever seen in a game, so one could argue that is the benchmark of detail in a game; if Gears 2 is a A+, I’d give Timeshift a solid C. There is a distinct Half Life-type of feel to it, but it takes NOTHING away from the gameplay–gameplay is where this game truly, truly shines.

Sound: A

Timeshift has some of the best sound in gaming, I have no complaints at all. I think the designers put more work into the quality of the sound effects than anything else. I cannot imagine how well this would sound on a good Bose 5.1 system.

GAMEPLAY: A++

The gameplay is excellent and should be considered a benchmark of how games should be played. I could not rate this higher! The concept of the time suit really changes how you play; it’s not a simple run-n-gun type of game where you shoot and take cover. No no. You have to be tactical in how you will use your time-shifting abilities to overtake an adversary; it can be anything from a tank to a room full of enemies, and kept me entertained completely. The game has bullet-time, and gives you a lot of useful methods to use the suit (ie. walk on electrical water, through fire, etc.). I throughly enjoyed this aspect of the game.

PLOT: B

Timeshift is Orwellian to say the least, but holds its charm throughout the game. I wish they had put more into the history and sub-history of the main character. I got the feeling they had the plot written, but stopped and re-wrote it somewhere along the way b/c it doesn’t follow a nice/easy flow that most good plots do. Perhaps that is the way the designers wanted it to flow with the idea of time travel, but otherwise a good story line. Put it this way….it’s no Bioshock, but keeps your interest.

QUALITY OF GAME: A-

I gave this game an A- b/c of how good the gameplay really is. Sound is excellent, but graphics could the better. Plot is ok, but has phenomenal gameplay. One thing is for sure….there is no perfect game but Timeshift is a lot of fun to play. If I would have known how fun this game was before it came out, I would’ve paid full tilt for it. Thankfully, I found it for $20 used.

5 Stars Stop, now DIE!
Timeshift, to me looked like a VERY interesting FPS, so I waited till it was about $20 and then bought it off of Ebay for only $16.99! For that price this game ROCKS! It is soooooo cool how you can Stop, Reverse, and Slow the hands of time and destroy your enemies in a couple of seconds, but there are lots of them, so use your timeshifting abilities wisely. There is a puzzle side in this game, in where you have to figure out which time power to use, for instance, if you’re in the sewer, and you want to pass a gate, in where you have to hold the wheel or otherwise it will shut, use time stop and walk right through without the gate closing, but you better hurry, because time stop goes by VERY quickly and you can’t move as fast! Or if you are on a quad, and a bridge is about to collapse with you on it, use to slow to get you across, faster than an Eagle! If you don’t make it, don’t worry, just use time reverse and you’ll be back on the bridge with a second chance! That’s what’s sooooo cool about Timeshift! The graphics and gameplay are amazing! The storyline is what makes this game a little worse, beacuse I don’t understand it. But other than that I can’t find anything wrong. You also have the option to turn the Blood and Gore off! Why would I do that? Blood and Gore is sooooo cool! Anyway, the weapons are also very cool, even though you only have a selection of 11. The levels are long, which is good! So, if you love FPS than you’ll love this! Begin the timeshifting! NOTE TO PARENTS: When ESRB means “M” they mean it! Timeshift has non-stop violence, extreme blood and gore, and language. This game should not be played by ANYONE under the age of 13.

Buy/More Info

Ghostbusters The Video Game

When Manhattan is once again overrun by ghosts and other supernatural creatures, players will take on the role of a new recruit joining the famous Ghostbusters team.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars like playing a movie
It really is like playing a movie. The game is really fun, but pretty linear. Not to say it’s a bad thing unless you’d prefer not to play something like that. Having said that it is tremendous fun; I don’t think you’d need to be a fan to like it but it helps. I could see kids liking this game. It can be frustrating at times, but the normal mode game setting works really good challenge wise and pacing. You just hang around and follow the guys around and bust ghosts where you need to; the pke meter pretty much tells you when to use it. The various gun setting make for a lot of fun.

Great music score and voice acting. cut scenes are good as well.

Overall great game for this type of gameplay.

5 Stars A great comeback for the Ghostbusters in digital style!

Set in 1991, New York’s favorite parnormalists known as The Ghostbusters are still eliminating spirits. A new recruit joins the amazing four to help our fellow men but a new evil force is driving the city into chaos including the Sedwick hotel where the boys busted Slimer for the first time. It seems that the boys in suits including the newest member will face a bigger challenge then the last two adventures they did.

An outstanding and worthy game for the popular motion picture series is definitely stuff that delivers to fans of the movies. It reunites the actors like Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson as the Ghostbusters especially Annie Potts as Janine and William Atherthorn as Walter Peck with some new characters voiced by Brian Doyle Murray and Alyssa Milano as Peter Venkman’s new love interest. The graphics are outstanding yet realistic that really makes the GB characters look just like their movie counterparts and awesome creature designs. The Controls are very unique on how you can capture ghosts in different ways then trap them just like in the movies, the voice acting is outstanding here including the writing which the game was written by Ramis and Ackroyd. It’s a fairly simple but unique game that plays as the third movie but as a game instead of a film, you even get to meet some familar faces like Slimer with Stay Puft Marshmellow Man who is more powerful this time even with killer marshmellow minions even that librarian ghost.

Here in this game the score to the original GB is used as the soundtrack for it as it even has the famous theme song by Ray Parker Jr. and this game even expores the origins of the first two adventures even on what originally caused the river of slime in part 2. it even incorporates the same humor that made the original a masterpiece and you even can use different blaster weapons such as the slime one used in part 2.

One of the best games i’ve ever played coming for a GB fan like myself, if your a fan of the movies then you’ll have a blast that is probably the best GB game since the Sega Genesis GB game and Real Ghostbusters Arcade game, it’s even better then the horrendous NES GB 1 and 2 games.

5 Stars QUIT READING!! GO GET THIS GAME!!!!!!!
I suggest that you stop reading after this post and go immediately and get this game. If you are a Ghostbusters fan or a fan of any of the actors, you will love this game.

The Graphics are amazing. While you play you will find yourself NOT pressing the buttons vigorously to skip the cinema scenes. You will want to watch. They can be pretty funny. They did good job writing the story too. Some of the game is actually pretty creepy which was a surprise but definitely cool.

The game play is pretty simple and very addictive. What’s more there is amusing banter and dialog even during the game play (which can be distracting but who cares!!! It’s funny)

The Multiplayer is pretty neat although I haven’t played it a whole lot.

2 Stars Fun Game, But….
I’m the Dad who forked over $53 on pre-order so my kids could have this game as a reward for a good school year. And here are their gripes about the game:

1. Single Player. I couldn’t tell on pre-order whether this was 1 player or more, but since there are 4 ghostbusters we presumed it would be a multi-player game (a la “i get to be Egon” “i get to be Ray”…). But alas, the kids all get to watch one person play the game. BOOOOOO!

2. My kids are bummed that you can’t save the game. Every time they start, it’s a new game. I read on the reviews that there are checkpoints that automatically save the game…I’m sure the kids will eventually figure it out, but why wouldn’t they just allow you to save the game at the point you’re at?

Those 2 things made me bring down the rating to 2 stars. The graphics, voices, quips, etc. are all entertaining…but this is a “could have been great” video game that’s just ok.

4 Stars This is how a game based on a movie should be done!
This is a game I just knew was going to suck. It’s not that many games based on movies that do well and this licence has been sitting almost 20 years with little to no activity. However I am really surprised at how well it plays! Even when I read awhile back that this would be the definitive 3rd movie (actually now there is talk that a ‘real celluloid’ movie coming) I wondered how they would pull this off. I must say that using the writing as well as voice talents of the Ghostbusters cast makes this a great game to get into. Any company that wants to use a movie licence to make a game really should take notes on how to create an immersive story.

Moving right along, I really love the fact that there is no HUD clogging up the screen with useless info, some really tight graphics and again great banter among the cast DURING the course of the game. Any of the reviews you probably read are already spot on. This game keeps you busy. You can upograde your proton pack, scan for ghosts to get nto your Spirit guide etc.

My only complain of course is that in the game you can’t control your favorite Ghostbuster unless you play it in MP mode which also handles pretty well.

IN some places it feel repetitive because you are actually ‘killing’ some spirits as opposed to actually trapping them but part of the fun of course is some of the bigger bosses.

The set peices are also impressive and help for the immersion experience.

There are a few plotholes in the game which I won’t give away which might spoil some people’s fun but what I would recommend is watching the movies again and catch some stuff you may have missed or didn’t get which will make this game all the more enjoyable!

Pick this game up and happy Ghostbusting!

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Section 8

On the war-torn planets of tomorrow, mankind’s greatest battle is about to begin. With its frontier colonies devastated by a growing insurrection, Earth dispatches the elite 8th Armored Infantry (nicknamed “Section 8″) to repel the coming onslaught. The nickname refers to an old United States military regulation where a soldier would be dismissed from service through being mentally unfit for duty. The near-suicidal missions that this division volunteers for brands them as insane by other military units. Section 8 deploys by ‘burning in’ from their orbital drop ships tens of thousands of feet above the battlefield, utilizing the most advanced arsenal of military hardware known to man. Their mission: to scout and secure difficult objectives and smash enemy defenses in lightning-quick assaults. An intense first-person shooter, Section 8 allows players to dynamically alter the flow of combat as they see fit. Employing tactical assets and on-demand vehicle deliveries, players are given unprecedented strategic control over epic sci-fi battlefields. Get ready to burn-in trooper; the war begins in 2009.

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Call of Duty World at War

Call of Duty: World at War from Activision for the Xbox 360 completely changes the rules of engagement by redefining World War II gameplay. In this edition, players are thrust into the final, tension-filled battles against a new, ferocious enemy in the most dangerous and suspenseful action ever seen in a WWII title. Building on the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare engine, this installment promises to immerse players in gritty, chaotic combat. You’ll have to band together to survive harrowing and climactic battles that defined WWII and led to the demise of the Axis powers.

Call of Duty: World at War promises to immerse players in gritty, chaotic combat. View larger.

The potent flamethrower will set the battlefield ablaze. View larger.

From the remains of Russia and the ruins of Berlin, to the beach and jungles of the deadly Pacific Theater, Call of Duty: World at War’s campaign gameplay employs features that were only available in multiplayer gameplay in the previous installments. With this title you can take advantage of perks, rankings, and online stats in an up-to-four-player cooperative gameplay that is sure to revolutionize the way you play Call of Duty. And with new infantry and vehicle-based weapons, such as the potent flamethrower, you’ll have the tools you need to set the battlefield ablaze and defeat the enemy.

Battle against the fearless Imperial Japanese and elite German soldiers. View larger.

Engage in epic infantry, vehicle, and airborne missions across a variety of Pacific and European locations. View larger.

Advanced Enemies, New Environments, and Fearless Tactics
You’ve never encountered combat challenges like those presented in Call of Duty: World at War. Prepare yourself to face off against ruthless enemies who employ advanced tactics. Your foes will stop at nothing to defend their homelands. With swampy ambushes, tree-top snipers, and fearless Kamikaze attacks, there is no safe place to turn. As U.S. Marine and Russian conscripts, you’ll battle against the fearless Imperial Japanese and elite German soldiers in epic infantry, vehicle, and airborne missions across a variety of Pacific and European locations. On foot, behind the wheel, or in the air, you’ll have to be relentless to achieve victory.

Cutting-Edge Technology and Physics-Enabled Battlefields
Call of Duty: World at War utilizes cutting-edge technology, including highly-detailed character models, self-shadowing, environmental lighting and amazing special effects to deliver best-of-breed visuals. Depth of field, rim-lighting and texture-streaming technology bring the adrenaline-pumping combat to life. And with physics-enabled battlefields and fire that spreads realistically through environments, you’ll feel immersed in battles that are both life-like and dynamic.

Cooperative Campaign Mode
For the first time in franchise history, Call of Duty introduces cooperative campaign gameplay, bringing a breath of fresh air to “No One Fights Alone.” This gameplay mode allows up to four players to meet and play online, or a two-player local split-screen co-op. Now you can share the terrifying experience of campaign missions with your friends for greater camaraderie and improved tactical execution. Co-op mode also incorporates innovative multiplayer components, such as challenges, rankings and online stats, and even features a competitive co-op mode that will identify the best player on your team.

Improved Online Multiplayer Action
Call of Duty: World at War once again delivers sophisticated, class-based, online multiplayer action that has made the series famous. New additions include vehicle combat with tanks, and Call of Duty: World at War rounds out the multiplayer experience with improved features, such as persistent stats, player rankings, upgradeable weapons, squad-based gameplay, customized classes, enhanced perks, and more.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Repetitive and boring
As a fan of COD4 I looked forward to this game with anticipation. Unfortunately, this COD World at War fails to deliver. If you like repetition, a lot of shooting and don’t like to think too much, this game is for you. The option to have a “chase camera” type of view would be great too. Playing in the first person makes it feel like you have a neck brace and blinders on the entire time.

5 Stars Awesome
This call of duty game was very intense, unlike some other war games and some of the other call of duty games. What I really liked about this game was the Nazi Zombies game and I have something to say about it. I just wish it was more than a two player game. All of the three or four people would have a better chance of progressing further in the game session.

Overall the game was great. I did not get bored and I almost beat the game. Another thing I liked about the game was the Free For All. Although all of the previous games had a free for all…GO FIGURE… I liked the places where they held the match. They rocked. Well thank you for reading my review and I cannot wait for the next call of duty game to come out.

1 Star GAME NEVER WORKED. NO REFUND OFFERED.
THE GAME I RECEIVED NEVER WORKED. I CONTACTED THE SELLER NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED. I WILL NEVER BUY FROM THEM AGAIN AND SUGGEST YOU DONT EITHER.

5 Stars best call of duty
this is a great game. The graphics are amazing. There is a great mini game, nazi zombies, and an awesome campaign.

2 Stars Treyarch is notorious for making sub par games with sub par people.
Call of Duty: WAW should be considered more of an expansion pack as opposed to a game. It really offers nothing new and returns to the same old tired concept of WWII shooters. It has shoddy design and major flaws in its gameplay and balance. The only saving grace for this game is the Nazi Zombies mode that at least keeps you on your toes and the game at least replayable when you are bored of Fallout 3 or other 2008 greats.

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