Features

• Replace your standard GameCube corded controllers and experience wireless technology
• RF technology lets you play your GameCube from anywhere in the room
• Play with up to four friends using four wireless controllers
• Looks great with your Platinum Edition GameCube system
• Play up to 100 hours on two AA batteries

Reviews (55)

tv remote control interference? please....
the guy who says "when it interacts with other wireless producs like remote controls for the television. It sometimes gets caught up when somebody changes the channel toward a similar beam of radio waves" is either dumb or pulling some legs... remote controls for tv's use INFRARED which requires line of sight while the wavebird uses RADIO FREQUENCIES, which do not. there is no way IR and RF can influence each other. he probably ran low on batteries...

Very good
I am a hardcore gamer. I have had many systems, and gamecube is my favorite. But I have tried wireless controllers for Sega Saturn, Playstation, and Playstation 2. None work as well as the Wavebird for Gamecube.

Durability- 10/10 The durability of this thing is awesome. I have extremely large dogs (an English Mastiff and a Chocolate Lab) and they have stepped on, slobbered on, and knocked this thing off of a four foot table, but this thing works fine!!! It has taken quite a beating.

Precision- 10/10 The precision is just as good as a first party controller. Since the Wavebird is from Nintendo, I'm not suprised. I have bought (along with the Wavebird) Resident Evil 4, where bad aim is your downfall. The controller hasn't failed me yet.

Battery Life- 10/10 This pad lasts 100 hours on a single charge (2 AA batteries included). To preserve battery life, Nintendo took the Rumble feature off. You won't notice it's gone, and if you do, you need a more exciting game.

Price- 7/10 The controller is THIRTY dollars. That's expensive. I bought this thing new at a local GameXchange, and I was suprised by how much it cost. But if you have large dogs or small children in your house, then it is worth it.

This controller is excellent, and Nintendo made it well. But if you don't live in an enviroment where spending $30 for a wireless controller makes life easier, I recommend buying an extension cable.

THE BEST CONTROLLER EVER!!
This Controller is the greatest thing ever invented. The product says that you can use it 20 feet away but when I tried it, I could move it from the other side of the house. This thing is awesome. I worship it. (In a healthy way) If you don't have one already, drop whatever you're doing and buy one. You won't regret it. THANK YOU SO MUCH NINTENDO. GO WAVEBIRD!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Gamecube (Game Cube)    3. Controllers    4. Accessories (Accessory)   

Features

• The Trick Stick gives you complete control of the rock -- take your dunka nd slams further, and make up your own crazy moves
• Show off your style with over 1,000 different custom options - hairstyles, gear and accessories are yours to play with
• Build and customize your home court from the ground up -Create a home court advantage with new court surface, net, and backboard styles
• Play on 12 authentic courts around the world, from Rucker Park in NYC to Venice Beach, California -- even courts in Europe
• Go wild with the Gamebreakers - turn combos into a 3-man aerial dunk assault

Reviews (10)

Weak ass game!
I like this game but, the slam dumk contest kindna weak. Street vol.2 is the best one.

Addictive Gameplay
When I purchased this game for X-Box, my decision was based on the enjoyment that I got out of NBA Street 2 for PS2.I figured that the 3rd installment would be at least as good as the 2nd. Believe me, it's better.The graphics are very unique, much more three-dimensional than the previous version.I know that there are a lot of people that are disappointed that Michael Jordan is not included as a bonus player, but there are many bonus players, courts, items, etc. that keep the game fresh and as unique and original as possible.So if you're in the market for a fun game that isn't too difficult to get the hang of, then this game is a great choice.It only takes a few pick-up games to get the hang of the controls, and the game just gets better and better after that.The only drawback that I have found with this game is the lack of camera angles.The available angles are either too close or too far away for my tastes, but I have gotten used to.

If I Could I Would Give It 10 Stars.
I love all the NBA Streets series. Missing Michael Jordan but who cares this game is still fun as hell. The graphics are beautiful. I'm the King of this game, I rule this game. The best thing about is the slam dunk contest. So everybody get this game and don't try to challenge cause I will defeat you 21 (Me) to Zip (U). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Xbox (x box)    3. Microsoft    4. Action    5. Adventure    6. Sports    7. Outdoors   

Reviews (2)

You can wait til May 19...
...or you could get this now and see tons of footage from Return of the Sith [sic] a few weeks early. That's really the only reason I bought it, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. Many questions are in the form of a movie clip, and there are quite a few questions on Episode 3. And none of it is from the 11/04 teaser trailer or regular trailer that's been out for months. Though if you really want to see these clips, you're best off just playing the DVDs, rather than actually playing round after round of TP with them...

Okay, so I couldn't possibly have played it yet.But C'MON!
Sure, it's not even out yet and I'm rating the holy hell out of it.But C'MON!Imagine if the original Star Wars Trivial Pursuit and the game Scene It had a kid together...There's no way it wouldn't be great!


Again, I argue...C'MON! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Trivia   

Reviews (1)

Tooting in the Tub
My 6 and 9 year old boys both love this toy. They usually take showers now because they're big boys but the first day we had the flutes they both spent about 2 hours in the tub. The song book pages are laminated so they won't fall apart if they fall in the water. I even heard my husband trying them out, so they were a big hit in the house. I'm going to get the water drums for them for Christmas. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Music    4. Musical Instruments    5. Wacky    6. Activity    7. Preschool    8. Bath Toys   

Reviews (5)

Tie'd for the best of the re-releases
Being that I didn't get into the Star Wars Lego line until early 2003, I missed out on a huge number of sets. Now, I am not a big fan of re-releases--mainly because I was able to get about 85% of all the Star Wars sets I wanted thanks to [...] anyway, and also because the originals then become sort of obsolete. But the #7146 TIE Fighter was one I failed to obtain (at first; I have it now), and I was glad to see Lego changed almost nothing from the original. And what they did change was for the better (although they did get rid of the Stormtrooper).

The sleek look of the TIE Fighter is exactly the same as before, the colors are all identical, and they enhanced the Vader minifig by giving him an illustrious light-up lightsabre. I believe this was the first set to include that detail. And while they replaced my favorite minifig, the Stormtrooper, with a TIE Pilot, they also did away with that ridiculously unsteady stand thing (the main reason there's 10 fewer pieces on this set). Had they included that again, the durability would've been about a two, at best. The TIE stands better on its own anyway, although it is still a bit unstable. Oh well. Putting this set together took no longer than a half-hour, which is pretty average for a piece count of 159. It was a very easy set to assemble, with most of the building time going into the two (identical) wings.

The TIE Fighter is one of the most recognizable ships in the Star Wars universe, since it appeared in episodes IV-VI and is set to appear yet again in Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. Although I don't consider this set to be part of the Episode III line, it was released at about the same time and compliments a Lego collection very nicely either way. If you already own the original TIE Fighter from back in 2000, ask yourself whether or not a light-up lightsabre is worth the price of an almost-identical set. Otherwise, pick this up before you miss out on it. Again.

Awesome Toy
This TIE Fighter is the best toy I've ever had. At first some of it kept falling apart. But then I tightened it the best I could. So now, I can play with it as tight as can be.

Nice Set
I really like the Tie Fighter in this set. I don't really like the Darth Vader light-up light saber. It's one of the strongest sets I've ever built. This set has a great form and also can be a link to Death Star II or the Imperial Star Destroyer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets    3. Movies   

Reviews (9)

DISAPPOINTED!! CHEAPLY MADE
I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS PATICULAR MODEL OF SCRABBLE. THE PICTURE ON THE BOX MISREPRESENTS THE ACTUAL GAME YOU WILL RECEIVE FOR AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF $29.99 + TAX, YOU RECEIVE A SCRABBLE GAME CONSISTING OF PLASTIC, CARDBOARD AND STICKERS. WHAT A JOKE. I WOULD'VE PAID $50.00 IF IT WAS A DECENT SET, MAYBE MADE OF WOOD OR METAL, LIKE THE PICTURE ON THE BOX "MISREPRESENTS". NEEDLESS TO SAY I RETURNED IT, & WE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR A "ACTUAL" DELUXE SET. HECK THE TRAVEL SCRABBLE SET LOOKED BETTER THAN THIS DID. C-H-E-A-P-L-Y M-A-D-E!!

Lotsa' fun with Super Scrabble
Great Scrabble game ... especially if playing with other couples or several friends.Played it all night at a hurricane party in Florida and had so much fun we forgot the weather outside.

Excellent for the Steady-Handed
Yes, this is a great expansion of the classic Scrabble game, so if you like Scrabble and you have a lot more time to spend on a game (or more than 2 players) this is completely worth getting.

That said, if you don't have a steady playing surface and hand, the tiles will easily get messed up, which is my only complaint, particularly since I am used to the Deluxe and Travel editions of the classic game, which keep played tiles in place.

If this game came in a Deluxe version, this would be a 5-star review. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games   

Reviews (81)

Cool cows
This bike is a cool cow!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so much fun to ride. i would recomend it if you are athletic because it take a bit o' effort to ride. sometimes you are just riding along and out of no where a big chimichanga pops up, but this bike can handle it. (...)

Trouble with brakes
We are experience problems with the rear brake on my son's 20" stingray. Also, it appears the rear wheel is not 'true'. I heard other customers are experiencing this same problem. We're trying to get it fixed, but it appears the problem is inferior product and workmanship. My son is heart broken.He just loves the bike.

nice bike
i just got this bike today it is soo cool it can go fast but is a little bit heavy is just good ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I Hate this toy!!!
This is the worst 23 dollars I've ever spent!! When I tried to set the date, it always said, May 33rd! I can't beleive they actually try to sell this. The company who made this thing probably will go out of business. Whatever you do, don't buy this toy. All you're going to do is return it. Just avoid it completely from the start!

worst toy ever
This toy is a waste of money. I bought it for my 7 year old. The voice is with an english accent and you can't understand half of what she says. When we finnally managed to get the password to accept, after closing the journal we couldn't get back in because it didn't recognize the password. We are from South Carolina so it couldn't understand what we were telling it to do. Very frustrating! Forget about setting the time and date. What a rip off!

Older brother can't open it
I bought the journal for my seven year old grand daughter. She loves it.She found that using her name as the password, saying it very firmly worked best, it only opens to her voice. My daughter will be buying this journal to give as gifts.How about a boy's version? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Reading   

Features

• Play as Cinderella, Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Snow White, Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Jasmine (Aladdin), and Sleeping Beauty.
• Visit Snow White's enchanted forest, save Belle's magical castle, fly on Aladdin's magic carpet and more.
• Interact with tons of other classic Disney characters, including the seven dwarfs, Genie, and a host of Disney villains.
• Bonus stage featuring a team-up of all of the Princesses.
• Each of the six Princess story worlds has 3 levels, resulting in over 18 levels of fun.

Reviews (12)

WOW- But sorta hard
Man this is so cool! I don't even HAVE it, my friend brought it when she came for a sleepover and we practically played it all night! It is sorta hard, especially the Jasmine part, and Belle is the easiest, however I like Cinderella. You play as all six of the princesses so it's like 6 games in one.
Game controls (Note these are for Chapter 1, and you can press start to pause and you can open chests by going in front of them and pressing A):
Belle: B to throw snow ball, left and right to move, A to jump, down to make a new snowball.
Cinderella: A to bonk Lucifer on the head, B to clean the floor, Left and right to move.
Ariel: Up down left and right to move, B to blast with the trident.
Aurora: A to turn butterflys into fairies, B to put the guys to sleep, left and right to move.
Snow White: A to jump, B to sing and put the wicked trees to sleep, Left and Right to move.
Jasmine: Up down left and right to move. Go over a switch to activate it.

Varying levels of difficulty
This game was my 5 year old daughter's first for her new GBA SP.She was able to play Cinderella right away, and worked her way up to Sleeping beauty and Snow White, completing all the chapters for each.She found the 2nd chapter for Belle easier than the first, simply because she didn't know that Belle could make more snowballs (we figured this out by accident).Ariel and Jasmine are still a bit too complicated for her to get through (I found them difficult the first couple of times), but it is a challenge she looks forward to.I believe this range in difficulty is a plus for the game as any child can begin it and work their way up.

A Disney Classic
I'm an adult and I love video games. I chose Disney Princess because I'm an avid Disney fan. This game only took me a few hours to complete but was highly entertaining along the way. The single-player game is somewhat halting, with not a lot of room to move around (fixed paths to move in, you go where they tell you to go) in the game play but for any girls, ages reading level and up, it is fabulous. The colors are vivid and there are many levels with items you have to find while keeping your life up. I recommend this game for any Disney fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Gameboy)    3. GBA    4. Action    5. Adventure    6. Strategy (Strategic)   

Features

• Bring the Pokémon you catch into Pokémon Ruby, Saphire, and Colosseum
• Comes with a free Wireless Adaptor
• For 1 to 4 players in the Direct Corner, or up to 40 in the Union Room
• Return to Kanto to experience the original duo's plot
• Prove yourself in the region's Pokémon League, bring down Team Rocket, and pursue new storylines

Reviews (52)

Basically a rental title
I rented this once at gamefly(like netflix, only you rent games), and when I rented this title, I thought I was in for a surprise. But all it is is a remake of blue and red. Although I played a decent amount of hours, the new islands of new pokemon give the game a little better replay value.

its just like...
Its cool and all but its just like the old one only with another name and on GBSP.

Well...
This game is a awesome replay of pokémon blue, red and yellow but this game seems slightly easier than the last lot. I enjoyed the old pokémon games but once Ruby and Sapphire came out I got bored of them and this is just another games with pikachu and charizard in it instead mudkip and torchic. And there is a new pokémon game coming out soon. Emerald. Go buy that one instead of this one. It's pretty good but not good enough. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adventure    2. Video Games    3. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Gameboy)    4. GBA    5. Action   

Features

• Lets you play all your Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games on your TV through the GameCube
• Player fits snugly to the bottom of the GCN for easy set up
• Plays over 1200 games, so bring out your old favorites or see games like Castlevania on the big screen
• Take your pick of a regular GCN controller or go wireless with the WaveBird
• Connect to other Game Boy systems with the appropriate cable using the External Extension Conner for multiplayer fun

Reviews (115)

Can't See It?Take it to the Big Screen!
The Game Boy Player can be a great piece of hardware.There are a lot of games out there that, while designed for the small screen, require a lot of time and attention to detail, which can become a pain when playing on such a tiny screen.The Game Boy Player solves that problem, letting you convert any game from the countless library of Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles to a bigger screen.The graphics obviously aren't going to improve (they usually look the same as on the GBA), but the bigger image saves the trouble of straining your eyes to make sure you didn't miss anything.

Of course, this is the only real advantage in having a Game Boy Player.It's really not an essential piece of equipment in the gaming experience; if you have no real interest in playing Game Boy games on a bigger screen, the money would be better used on something else.

Saves on Batteries
I don't consider myself a gamer but I do play more than I should. With that said I am very happy with this purchase. It has brought new life to my older games.

I'm glad I bought it.
I was a little concerned when reading the reviews of this product before i bought it. I read that there was an annoying box surrounding the game on the tv set. This was the biggest issue for me before purchasing. I wasn't sure how bothered I'd be by this, but i decided to buy it anyway. I have a gameboy advance sp to play while i'm at work but I find myself not playing it as often as I thought I would. Since I have a lot of my favorite games on GBA (Mario 3, Final Fantasy, classic Zelda, Minish Cap, etc.) I thougth it would be cool to be able to play them at home. Playing Mario 3 on my TV is so great, like being in junior high again! And I don't even find myself bothered by the surrounding box. You can put it on a full screen mode, but there are still bars at the top and bottom, probably due to the gameboy advance having a wider screen ratio than standard televisions. My only complaint is that you have to have another gameboy and cable for mulitplayer, which means I can't use GBA games for Monday video game night with friends. But that's minor. I was telling myself as I was buying it that I probably shouldn't be spending the money on it right now, but I am really glad I did. Especially after spending all morning playing the first Final Fantasy that was recently released on GBA. Classic! Oh and one more thing, if you are a kid in high school, you might not appreciate playing old school looking games on the big screen as much. But for us older folk, it's like revisiting those after school afternoons at your friend's house! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Nintendo Gamecube (Game Cube)    2. Cables    3. Adapters    4. Controllers    5. Video Games    6. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Gameboy)    7. GBA    8. Cables (Cable)    9. Adapters (Adapter)    10. Gamecube (Game Cube, Game-cube)    11. Cases    12. Protectors    13. Accessories (Accessory)   

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Deal Shopper Dad
I feel this is a very good product whick keeps my kids occupied, even during those long car trips.The color screen is a definite plus and a winner. Although the basic games that come with it are the same as the original pixter,color certainly adds to it.And with the adjuster cartridge connector, the kids are able to use even the old pixter cartridges.

I first had the Original Pixter, then got the color pixter for my 7 yr old and now I'm thinking of getting another one for my 3 yr old. The price is a little high and it would be nice if it came down or atleast,if they could add one or 2 cartridges with the starter pack.

But when the kids are sitting quietly playing with the color pixter and when u get the 'much needed quiet time after a long day', I would say its well worth it.

The batteries last a while too.And,there is a undo feature...Where u click for home, under the 'save to,open file' images,there is an undo arrow. Hope this helps.

Get a Leapster instead
I was very disapointed in the Pixter. We returned ours and got a Leapster. The graphics are so much better on the Leapster and the games are much more fun and educational. Also the Leapster is much more intuitive, a child can pick up a Leapster and figure everything out - there is even a "hint" button if the child gets stuck. A child that gets stuck with the Pixter can only look at the grainy screen and wonder where they went wrong. This toy is not worth the money.

Keeps them busy
My son is almost 4 and this has been one of his favorite toys of all time.He plays with his Pixter during most of his play time.It also keeps him entertained during those times when he is bored at a restaurant.We have several games but Hot Wheels is his favorite. I don't know why, it looks boring to me but to a 4 year old it must be wonderful. He loves to draw and use the stamps on his Pixter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Wacky    2. Activity    3. Electronic   

Reviews (2)

The Greatest Toy Ever!!!
if they didn't only limit me with only five stars, i would have given it an infinity stars.this toy is great and i should know because i am a very picky kid.this toy is so great that all my 20 friends and some others bought this toy.i bought this in Paris, France with my allowance ( i have about 2 million dollars in my bank account right now and still more to come) for about 80.00 but i'm not mad because this toy eanr the money.this is the gretest thing ever!!!this toy is also great as a gift to anyone!(even seniors)a infinity star toy!!!!

greeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
I bought this toy for my daughter for her birthday. She reqused it.It was a good set. Some of the trick were a little to advance for her, but i taught them to her.Overall it is a great set. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pretend Play    2. Magic    3. Activity    4. Learning   

Features

• Gulp down enemies scattered throughout each course to copy their abilities
• Unlock and master 15 Air Ride Machines, each with different features and distintive control styles
• For 1-4 players
• Prepare for fast and furious racing action as Kirby hits Warpstar speed
• Air Ride, Top Ride, and City Trial modes each deliver a unique approach to intense action

Reviews (83)

Kirby's Ready to Ride!
This game is extremely fun and easy to play but it is limited.There are 3 modes but no story mode. The modes are City Trial, Air Ride, and Top Ride.City Trial: You fly around a city trying to upgrade your ship.Air Ride:Basic Racing.Top Ride:You race on a small course.You see everything from above.Its like a mini arcade game.I like it.

Kirby Air Ride
Kirby arrives on Nintendo GameCube at warp speed in his first-ever racing game. Based on the same principles as games like Super Smash Brothers and past Kirby titles, Kirby Air Ride offers an entirely new approach to the racing genre. The ultra-easy controls give Kirby Air Ride instant playability no matter how skilled the players may be. You control Kirby with the analog stick and the A button -- that's it. The stick steers the character left and right (he accelerates perpetually) and the A button when pressed slows him down and when released delivers a temporary speed boost. The idea is to hold the button down around corners, drift them, and then shoot out with a burst of speed. The game features a four-player split-screen mode and LAN support for link-up play.

It's one thing to make a game simple so that anybody can enjoy it. Just look at Mario Kart, for instance. It's another thing entirely to make it so simple and so devoid of depth or challenge that most will dislike it -- will, in fact, be utterly bored with it. This is Kirby Air Ride.

HAL's decision to use only one control button means that several important processes of racing have all been assigned to it, including drifting and using weapons, and this severely limits the options and maneuverability of both. Any way you slice it -- for kids or for adults -- that's simply bad design. This is simple stuff, yes, but I wouldn't call it intuitive.

There's a lot to do and see in Kirby. It's a fast, friendly racer. And sure enough very young players may be mesmerized by it -- they won't have to try very hard to succeed, that's for sure. But anybody expecting a challenge or Tetris-style depth -- the kind you don't initially recognize but which hides under the surface -- will unfortunately find nothing at all hiding here.

Air Ride could have scored a lot higher, but instead Kirby will have to settle for average score. This racer only comes recommended as a potential buy to parents who are shopping for their under-nine son or daughter. Everybody else would be wise to buy Mario Kart Double Dash.

No thanks
Let me start off by saying I'm NOT one to completely bash a game/band/movie to death and then walk away, I do try to find at least one thing positive to point out. This game was pretty terrible though in my opinion. It managed to keep me somewhat entertained for about a week. The mini games were the only kinda fun part of this game, and the courses were pretty cool, but the game got boring after a week. There's just not much to do, but hey, that's why I hate almost all racing games. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Gamecube (Game Cube, Game-cube)    3. Action    4. Adventure   

Editorial Review

The standard Razor scooter has stuck around long enough to safely move out of the realm of fad status. This slick model, constructed of aircraft grade aluminum, sports 98 mm urethane wheels with ABEC 5 bearings and a rear fender brake. To afford greater portability, it sports collapsible handlebars and folds neatly. Some might choose to own the Razor as a transportation option since it makes for a neat commuting supplement to public transportation or the school bus. But it's also just a neat little thing to have around the house for the occasional spin down the sidewalk or out to the local park. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Features

• Scooter Construction: Aircraft Grade Aluminum--Structure that is extremely lightweight and durable.
• Brake Type: Rear Wheel Friction Brake--Allows you to stop the scooter smoothly by applying pressure to the back fender.
• Adjustable Handlebars--Height of handlebars adjusts to accommodate any rider.
• Wheel Size: 98 Millimeters

Reviews (1)

great scooter
This scooter is the best I rode. The ride is ssooo smooth. My old scooter was the sunkyest scooter. If you are buying a new scooter I recommod this. I give two thumbs up and 5 stars!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Scooters   

Editorial Review

This electronic handheld version of Scrabble, the classic word game, will help long train commutes or plane journeys pass more quickly. With four games to choose from (two that accommodate two players) and the ability to determine the computer's intelligence, the same game isn't likely to happen twice. Bad: when you raise the computer's IQ level, it uses words like "padri" and "Varna." Good: it accepts words like "vibrio" and "bize." Sound can be turned off, and, if not in use for more than a minute, the game goes to sleep to conserve the three AA batteries (included). --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Rather limited in scope, but can be fun.
The game works well and has never malfunctioned, so physically it is very good. However, the letters in racks given are unrealistically skewed towards high-scoring letters like Q and X. Vowels are fewer than real games. The board is very small so naturally the probability of high scoring plays is small, but any good player could do well despite the size of board. I would not recommend this for adults who are advanced players as this device may be too limited in options to satisfy skilled players. However, very good for amateurs and occasional players, and has the added bonus of having a built-in dictionary so that one can be sure that all words employed are real words.

Scramble
This game is perfect for the summer.if you miss school then you can play this game to learn how to spell.If you just want to have fun this would be good too.ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

addictive but flawed
The Scrabble Express is a lot of fun in a little bit of time but can also eat up a lot of time because it's so addictive.
The main problem I experienced was when the computer played a phony word and I couldn't challenge it off the board. "RU" is no good. Later, I tried playing the same word IN THE SAME GAME and it wasn't allowed. This bothered me. Playing phonies IS part of strategic Scrabble, so there should be a challenge feature built in, or at least as a feature to toggle on and off. Bottom line, the computer shouldn't be playing phonies unless you opt to have that included as part of your decision-making.
Another flaw is that many playable words are not acceptable because the built-in dictionary is the OSPD, which omits many words deemed offensive for school play. So, short words suited for the 9 by 9 grid, such as LEZ, won't fly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Electronic    3. Handheld    4. Brain Games    5. Trivia   

Features

• Roll up into a ball to negotiate tight spots
• New suit and weapons upgrades
• For 1 to 4 players
• First-person shooter
• Explore the light and dark worlds of a doomed planet

Reviews (104)

Worthy, if lesser, successor to the original
In 2002, Nintendo unveiled a game of such vision, complexity, and stunning visual detail that it shook the gaming world to its core.In a time when Xbox and Playstation 2 games were running away with the market and widely considered to be far superior to anything Nintendo put out, this game rose above it all to become one of the most popular console games of the past decade and even achieving the coveted title of GameSpot Magazine's 2002 "Game of the Year" honor (for ALL platforms, not just Nintendo).That revolutionary game was "METROID PRIME".
Two years later, the time has come for the much-anticipated sequel to that seminal video game.Just this past November, "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes" hit the market just in time to quell the hunger of Samus Aran fans nationwide who had their appetites hopelessly whetted by its predecessor.With all this pressure of having to live up to the standard set by "Metroid Prime", the burning question becomes, "How well does `...Echoes' stand up?"While not being quite mold-breaker of the original, "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes" holds up quite well.
The story, in brief, leads Samus, our intrepid bounty hunter, to the planet, Aether.Initially in pursuit of a quarry, Samus ends up involved in a much deeper and far more dangerous struggle as Aether struggles with a rift torn in time that has torn the planet between two dimensions, light and dark.It is up to Samus to travel between the two dimensions to recover the stolen energies that caused the rift and to close the rift for good.All the while, she is followed and mocked by an adversary who looks very familiar.
The true strength of "...Echoes" is in its stunning graphics, which even surpass the incredible visuals of "Metroid Prime".The attention to detail is so great and realism so present that the player feels more like a part of this game than in any that have come before.The concept of traveling between the Light and Dark Aether worlds, while initially difficult to adjust to, proves to be a tremendous asset because is forces the player to adopt different strategies based on which realm Samus is in (i.e. the atmosphere on Dark Aether is poisonous and Samus can only seek shelter within small fields of light crystals).The degree of challenge is right up there with the previous game and conclusion of the final battle leaves one feeling quite satisfied. The addition of light and dark crystal weapons, while not very practical, are also a nice touch.
Alas, there are some weaknesses to "...Echoes" that leave it a step below the original.One of the most glaring is how it seems that some missions are just plain tedious and take forever to accomplish, despite not involving a high degree of challenge.The beauty of "Metroid Prime" was that even random explorations of the various aspects of Chozo provided a visual treat that created a very robust gaming experience."...Echoes" has more of a bare-bones feel to it that leaves the player just wanting to rush from one mission to the next to finish the game as quickly as possible, instead of taking in the full experience.This pattern continues with a number of the enemies and bosses that are faced.Defeating them seems more like a chore than a challenge.
The overall structure of the game feels a bit more out of focus than in the original.The maps overlap and confuse much more than they help (a marked difference from the first when the maps were an tremendous help).In addition, the dearth of save stations through the game proves exceptionally frustrating when a player has to go way out of their way to save the game or risk losing all their progress by forgoing it and losing a life in a tedious manner later on.
This quibbles aside, "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes" still stands strong next to its older brethren and more than leaves the diehard Samus Aran fan's appetite whetted for future installments.

What will wars be waged over in the future? Energy
For all the obvious talent and effort present in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, a Metroid Prime it is not.Sure, it looks the same, plays the same, is made by the same company, is about the same length gameplay--wise; but what it isn't is an innovative and all-encompassing experience that the original was.This is simply an issue of the Law of Diminishing Returns; if you run the same basic game formula through the assembly line--same engine, gameplay elements, sound effects, visual standards--it will ultimately and inevitably return a product with little innovation and feels very similar.This isn't always a bad thing; conversely and obviously, this isn't always a good thing.To me, a well-oiled machine is the Mega Man X series.I never get tired of those games, but I do recognize the series' diminishing returns.In the case of Metroid Prime 2, I believe the franchise can afford and should be afforded one sequel like this.And I believe that's all we're going to get out of the current game engine since the next-generation of gaming fast approaches.

The best and most accurate comparison Echoes has to another video game is The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask--a much tonally darker, slightly more difficult derivative of the legendary Ocarina of Time.The same applies to Echoes relationship to its predecessor.My initial reaction to Majora's Mask was rather muted.I played the game consistently until I beat it, but it's nothing I got too excited about.As for Echoes, I enjoyed it more my first time through than I did MM.However, upon a subsequent play-through of MM, I found the game quaintly poetic and whimsical at parts.I have yet to begin a second adventure through the conflicted world of Aether in Prime 2, but maybe I'll have a slightly (and I emphasize slightly) improved outlook on the game, since I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time through.As it stands now, Prime 2 is still an impressively constructed game.

It's a funny time to be a FPS.I consider Echoes a FPS not in the classical sense, but in the modern sense, as most or all FPS now stress platforming, intricate puzzle-solving involving more than just flipping switches, third-person gameplay mechanics, and a couple other commonalities besides all-out run and gun battles.Besides Echoes, how many more FPS power-houses are there out in the market as of late?Quite a few, and we're talking absolute power-houses: Doom 3, Half-Life 2, and Halo 2 are the main contenders.

Graphically, Echoes is no match technically to those previously mentioned games, especially the PC FPSs (Doom 3 looks ungodly good).Technical graphics isn't a vehemence, however, for Echoes--most of it is in the artistic presentation--but don't discredit the technical wizardry this game displays on Nintendo's little old Gamecube.Artistically and functionally though, the direction follows in yet another Zelda game's pioneering footsteps, that of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, concerning the whole "Light/Dark World" mechanic.

The planet of Aether, stricken by a meteor plagued with destructive forces, is dimensionally cast in-two by the impact, leaving a Light and Dark Aether, traversable only through rifts in the local spacetime.Traveling back and forth between these worlds is much like doing so in A Link to the Past: a tonal shift occurs through the lighting, color schemes, music, sfx, enemies, and level design in the specific version of Aether.In Dark Aether, everything succumbs to blacks and purples, resonant and haunting sounds comprise a sparse sound track, and the level design is a corrupted variation of what exists on the light side.The Ing reside in this dimension, caustic, wraith-like entities of black, amorphous substance that pop up here and there, along with those that the Ing have possessed to further enhance their forces.On the Lighter side of things is a world that sort of resembles the locales of Metroid Prime, but without the variety or the effortless melding of the organic and mechanic.

Concerning the gameplay mechanics, traversing worlds is required to accomplish certain tasks.An example would be activating a bridge that is experiencing interdimensional flux (placing most of its atomic components in the other dimension, believe it or not).Unlike ALttP, however,you are not afforded the ability to teleport on-the-fly between light and dark worlds, as that is reserved only for the rifts.It would have probably been a nightmare for the designers to implement a feature like this (since it is a 3-dimensional game), but in this regard and in retrospect, props goes to ALttP.Besides the topographical changes that affect how you approach your objectives, there's the fact that the very atmosphere of Dark Aether is corrosive to Samus, which factors into how easily you can navigate the areas you explore.Light Crystals are scattered about the landscape that, when activated, expel a temporary light barrier, effectively shielding Samus from the harmful atmosphere.Some crystals are permanent fixtures that were installed by members of the Luminoth, tall, spindly inhabitants of the Light portion of Aether-a relic of their ongoing war of control over the planet's energy.The way the light/dark world mechanic affects gameplay is not limited to what I just mentioned, but it's a taste of what to expect.

As mentioned earlier, a lot of sound effects are rehashed for Samus' new adventure.Understandable.The music is not, however.Unfortunately, the musical quality found in the original Prime is not to be found in Echoes, either.That's not to say that it sucks--no, pretty far from that--but it feels uninspired at times.The outstanding melodic excellence of Prime's soundtrack is truly something to behold, and I wanted more of that this time, too.The same thing happened with the two Zelda games I have been comparing the Prime games to: Ocarina of Time had so many memorable tracks and melodies that I could hum and drum to them all day, but not Majora's Mask.While I was disappointed then as I am now, I can understand that a tonal shift and a more direct focus on the offshoot direction both derivative games have taken resulted in the change in musical direction as well.Still, that perceived realization doesn't soothe the expectations any better.

During her journey, Samus of course loses all she has gained near the beginning, works on getting it back, fights massive and impressive bosses (one of the great things about this game), and finishes the mission.Her main objective is to repossess the energy (stored in large energy controllers) that the Ing have stolen from the Luminoth.Mix in human Space Marines, Space Pirates, and a foe hard-core Prime fanatics will recognize along the way, and you have, well, Echoes.Fans of the original will be happy to know that all these factions don't exactly make their presence known and turn the solitary, hypnotic exploratory adventure into some kind of cut-scene driven circus.But I have to comment on the quality of the logs that Samus can scan for.The detailed and observant writing has been depreciated a bit from what was found in Prime.Also, remember the flashes of self-deprecating humor from the Space Pirates in the original?Yeah, well, it seems that the Space Pirates have been dragged into full-blown self-parody, as much of their logs indicate when you read them.Good for a laugh, though.

Ultimately, the Law of Derivative Game Design implicates that the potential gaming experience grows exponentially less with each derivation.It's as if the system continuously loses more and more energy due to friction because the efficiency declines with each iteration, thus the potential gaming experience of the system shrinks.The solution?A new system for the new elements to do their work in.That's semi-putting it in physics terms, but you get the point... I guess.In any case, I eagerly await the Metroid series' next incarnation in the upcoming generation of gaming.

Metriod Prime 2: a metriod fanatic's first look
Before i start my review let me just say i have not gotten far in this game, i just want to give you a persepictive a person who has played many metriod games (only ones i haven't played is Metriod 2: return of samus and super metriod) and has just gotten to play metriod prime two.WHen i first turned on the game i took one look at the menu system and though "this is going to be hell" and if you try use for the first few times, you will probabley agree with me.YOu have to move the control stick and then all the options move.Let me just say one thing DO NOT move the menu at the beginning.It will be at single player when you start out so don't move it. it took me a long time to get it back to single player so don't share my fate.SO then i played the first 5 minutes of the game and i have to say it does not seem like metriod prime sequel.somebody from Zelda a link to the past help make this and after you beat the first temple you will agree when i say that is is very zelda-like.It is a very good game and i can't understand why some people say it is hard ( i can't understand why people said that about the first metriod prime either) but be warned, if you want to buy this game because you want something exactly like metriod prime you might be looking in the wrong place. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Gamecube (Game Cube, Game-cube)    3. Action    4. Adventure   

Editorial Review

This lightweight but sturdy set of two ramps, with a connecting flat piece, can be easily set up to form your own mini-skate park. It’s not just skateboarding though, the ramps also let you catch air if you’re on rollerblades, a BMX bike, or a scooter. The manufacturer, Compass Outdoors, makes other ramp and rail components that can be combined with this one to expand and arrange your ramps into many possible configurations. Assembly is required, but the instructions are easy to follow and all the necessary parts are included. --David Stoesz ... Read more

Features

• 2: Ten Eighty launch ramps
• 1: Table Top connecting module
• Specially formulated hi-impact materials
• Fully Assembled Dimensions: L 8.5 feet; H 12 inches; W 2 feet
• Non-slip rubber pads

Reviews (5)

Fun stuff
I am a Downhill MTBiker and i bought this so i could use the 2 jumps-not the table top.IM not saying its bad its just i jump 10 feet so i amde a 10 foot double out of this-for those of you who dont know a double is a jump with a gap and then you land on a another jump/landing thing...anyways i used it and it works great! Its very durable so i could go fast enough on it without it breaking to do whips of the jump 5 starts its so cool!

Fun stuff
I am a Downhill MTBiker and i bought this so i could use the 2 jumps-not the table top.IM not saying its bad its just i jump 10 feet so i amde a 10 foot double out of this-for those of you who dont know a double is a jump with a gap and then you land on a another jump/landing thing...anyways i used it and it works great! Its very durable so i could go fast enough on it without it breaking to do whips of the jump 5 starts its so cool!

aawesome
This ramp is tight you will skate it all day long. Only problem would have to be the ramp sliding.Besides that it is aawesome! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bicycle Accessories   

Editorial Review

Horses hold a magical appeal for children. This colorfully designed board game provides an exciting fantasy environment for two to six horse lovers. In the first game, players pretend to be wild mustang stallions galloping through mountains and valleys, gathering a herd to protect while facing such obstacles as cougars and bad weather. The first player to round up a herd wins. In two other games, players are ranchers rounding up strays and competing to fill out their herds. Players are sure to enjoy the in-depth educational information about horses and horse breeds that is included. This is a great game to saddle up when it's rainy on the ranch, providing enough challenge to play with parents as well as with friends. --Lee Strucker ... Read more

Reviews (33)

THE BEST HORSE GAME!
It is fun and educational my friend and i spend hours playing it!

Horsey Games
I've had this game for a long time. It is a great game because it has 3 different games. It is also very educational because it has facts about the different horses. My brother also likes it. Younger kids might choke on the small peices though. I love to look at all the different horses too. one was even named after me! Overall this is a fantastic game and a must have for horse lovers world wide!

Tons of fun for horse lovers of all ages!!
This has been my favorite game since i was about five years old. Being a horse lover, i very much enjoy playing this game over and over again. It provides family fun for all ages, even my 19 year old brother likes playing. You also learn about the different roles certain horses play in a wild herd. . . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Animals    4. Horses    5. Learning