Editorial Review

For kids who want to experience the magic of growing their own garden, this kit is a fun andinventive experience. It contains everything you need to grow a small terrarium complete with an entirecommunity of tiny fantastical inhabitants. Paint the special planter with the paints (three primary colorsincluded), fill with soil, and then plant the enclosed beans and grass seeds. Then it's time to arrange the tinyfairy cottage, use the green pebbles to make a tiny path, and decorate the garden with the rocks, shells, and plastic animals that come with the kit. As the beans sprout and grow, you can cut and shape them sothey look like miniature trees--and for variety, add pepper, lemon, cantaloupe, and tomato seeds and watchjust what comes up. --John Longenbaugh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

AWESOME GARDEN!
I bought this for my 5 year old for christmas, and she had a ball painting the planter and then planting the seeds. Once it started to grow, we have had a ton of fun trimming and caring for the garden.I let her play with her polly pocket dolls on it because it belongs to her and she uses it as her "enchanted fairyland."So what if a little dirt gets on the floor, it cleans up.This is by far one of the few times I have not felt like I wasted my money.My 8 year old son even likes to be the landscaper.

garden
according to my 10 year old daughter"This little garden is a great thing to have . I love coming home from school each day and seeing how it had grown since morning. It grows so fast you almost don't have to wait. the grass comes up fast and the beans soon follow.it looks cute in the window . I love it !! "

Erin"s Jungle
I bought this for Xmas for my 6 yr. granddaughter. I wanted to have something to do while I was visting, and that she could enjoy once I went home. I let her do it herself. Grass and beans were planted wherever she decided. Of course she planted both everwhere. Within 2days the grass was up. The beans appeared the next day.My son just sent me a picture. The grass is taller than the house and the beans are everywhere. You can hardly see the house. I laughed my socks off. She doesn't want to cut the grass. Now if I could find out what grass they used,maybe I could get some to grow in my yard. Great gift. She invites her friend over to view the jungle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Pretend Play    3. Gardening    4. Arts and Crafts    5. Craft Kits   

Features

• Simple play controlled with analog sticks only; no buttons to press
• Dimensions change drastically as clumps grow; 2-player battle mode
• For 1 to 2 players
• Ball-rolling and object-collecting gameplay with quirky, infectious humor throughout
• Insanely cosmic animations; wacky musical stylings; royally contagious storyline

Reviews (90)

Very original game, if I do say so myself!
At first glance, this game doesn't seem great, but after 5 minutes, you'll find your eyes glued to the screen as you play KD.The object of this game is to build a huge ball of everyday objects to advance through levels.Sounds boring, but you'll find yourself saying otherwise.This is one of the few games that fully require analog controllers.The gameplay itself is original, and the sounds are quite nice to listen to.If you like odd-yet-original games, this one is worth buying.

One of the strangest games...ever
Katamari Damacy is far and away one of the strangest, most original games to come along in years. The gameplay concept, the visual style, the soundtrack, even the backstory are all conceived and executed with such a unique flavor that, when presented as a whole, it's difficult not to be drawn in by all the weird little idiosyncrasies. It's not a complex game, nor is it especially challenging, or long.

Using the analog sticks exclusively, you'll roll the katamari around with tanklike controls. Pushing both sticks up moves the katamari forward, pushing both sticks down moves it backward, and pushing one stick up and one stick down will cause it to turn. There are a few other tricks, such as moving both sticks up and down really fast to gain a quick boost, or pushing in on both sticks to hop on the other side of the katamari and quickly change directions--but this is basically all you'll need to know in order to control it. However, controlling it well is a more nuanced thing. The shapes of the things you collect will affect the overall shape of your katamari, thus affecting how it actually rolls. So, if you roll over a bunch of pencils or a ladder or some carrots, it can make your going a bit more challenging.

It will suprise you how fun this game truly is-
Whoever decided of developing this game, I give them my thanks. I never thought in a million years that rolling around a ball that collects junk would ever be so fun or would demand so much thinking. Then there is the fantastic quirky music and strange cinema scenes. The game is a complete package that will satisfy all ages, both boys and girls. Ironically, it was my older sister who introduced me to this game and she had never touched a PS2 before.

There are three basic type of levels. There are levels where you have to roll up your ball to a certain size before the time stops. Then there are the levels in which you collect specific items to create constellations- the first is crabs for Cancer. The last type of level is you grow the ball until you can collect the larges item of a specific constellation. Here is an example- for the constellation Taurus, you must pick up the Giant Cow to make a bright constellation. If you pick up a little cow, a cow man, a cow cone, a cow vending machine, etc. the level comes to a stop and you have to settle with what you got. These levels may seem impossible, but I have pulled them off.

When I first finished the entire game, it felt very short for me. Then I found out about how I can get falling stars and make my constellations brighter if I do a better job on the levels. I don't know how many times I have gone back and replayed the levels to get everything possible.

Don't wait any longer. This game will surprise you with how fun and funny it truly is. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    2. Playstation2 (Play station2)    3. Action    4. Adventure    5. Video Games    6. PS2 (PSX2)   

Reviews (1)

Broke within the first 5 minutes
My 8 yr old son was very excited to finally play with this toy since he got it for the holidays and was not able to use it for months.We charged it, latched it and the kids took it into the pool.Within 5 minutes it stopped working and the nosecone filled up with water.We dried it out and it still is no good.I have not contacted the manufacturer yet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Swimming Pool Toys   

Reviews (22)

It's like having a live friend
My daughter wanted to tell everyone how much she likes her Tamagotchi: I'm nine and I have two Tamagotchi. They are SO cool!! They eat, poop, play, can be praised or put in time out, get sick, have their lights turned off, and interact with each other.The best things about the interacting is that they can exchange gifts, compete in races, and get married. You will also find a friend list, that will show how much your Tamagotchi likes every other one it's met. It will hold up to 50 friends! You can have generations after generations, pick what names you want, and if it dies you can reset it. They even have a heartbeat.

One of my friends at school accidentally left hers in her pocket, and it went through the whole washing machine cycle....and STILL WORKS! Wow.

This all sound like it's going to take alot of training to work. But you only need 3 simple buttons to do all this. It also has a built in clock. They're the best!

Why do kids like this?
At first my mother is like," Why are you going to get this Tamagotchi for? Everytime we buy you a new toy you play with it the first few days and then never ever play with it again." Well i promised her that i would play with it all the time and that I would take care of it just like a real pet. Also, I told my mother that I wanted a dog pet. My mom said that if I could prove with my tamagotchi that I could take care of my pet she will buy me a dog. So I got my Tamagotchi I was so excited! weeks and weeks passed and I enjoyed it Alot. My mom said that she had never seen me like a toy so much. I responded that to me MY Tamagotchi is like a pet and that I didn't want I dog no more I just wanted my Tamagotchi! Tamagotchi is my special digital pet. I hope just like I enjoyed my Tamagotchi named cutie You will enjoy it to You'll see the fun it is to have A TAMAGOTCHI!!!

coolest toy ever!
I love my tamagotchi!they can get married,date and even have a baby!!!I named mine dylan, and he married a girl and now he has a baby boy on the screen!!!its sooooo cool!mine is dark pink with colourful swirls!I love tamagotchis!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic    2. Interactive    3. Walking    4. Talking    5. Noise-Making   

Features

• New playable characters.
• Enhanced battlefield stronghold system challenges your strategic decision-making in the midst of combat.
• More characters per screen for an added challenge.
• New fighting moves and attacks.
• Reduced fog and improved draw distance to show more detailed backgrounds.

Reviews (9)

Dynasty REPEAT
DW. 2, 3, 4, all great. But this is the same hack n' slash gameplay we've seen! I'm sick of this game! I could buy DW 4 and save some damned money!!! I'll leave it at this. It's like watching the same movie over and over and over and over and over and over and over again! The camera angles sometime get annoying. If your a DW fan, pick it up, otherwise, this game isn't going to turn you into one.

More dumb fun, but a bit hackneyed now...
CAVEAT: I love the DW series, having purchased all of them (even the original for PS1). I love this game as well, although it seems to be the most shallow of the bunch.

48(!) characters join the fray this time as you once again take control of a personality of the time of the Three Kingdoms and do battle with your nemeses. Each character has their own storyline, complete with events seen only in that character's story (this is a plus, as it was quite tedious to fight through each kingdom multiple times in order to see all the characters in DW4). Weapons no longer need to be upgraded (another plus), and orbs are now rare items found by playing on hard mode. A "chaos" mode has been added, and it is NOT for the faint of heart (the difficulty is more like Very Hard mode in DW3:XL, as opposed to DW4:XL, but no one drops any meat buns!). The graphics are much better in this installment, and True Musou is actually more valuable than Musou in this game.

However, this game suffers from the same slowdown issues as the previous games (which is really unforgivable now, as this is the same game engine that has been used for six previous installments of DW). The siege weapons are even more useless here than in DW4 (unfortunate, since I thought that this could add a bit of depth to the strategy portion of this game). The camera is incredibly frustrating (not as much as, say, Samurai Warriors, but it's still pretty bad). Character balance is rather poor, though not as bad as previous installments (Lu Bu and Zuo Ci are incredible, Zhang Jiao and Meng Huo are horrible, the rest are OK). While large battlefields are nice, the game is frustrating until you obtain a horse saddle (another rare item).

All in all, I love the game. Why 3 stars? Well, I'm trying to diminish my bias. The fact is, if you are a fan of these games, you've probably already purchased this. If you didn't like the others, you won't like this one. And if you have never played a DW game before, this is probably the best of the lot. Still, I would have enjoyed a bit more originality and variety in this one (really, it plays exactly like DW2, which is five years old).

Huge leaps and bounds, major improvements in gameplay.
I had most definitely not expected this.I had a love/hate relationship with Dynasty Warriors 4, and Dynasty Warriors 4:Empires was so bad that I popped in for two days and then sold it off.Dynasty Warriors 5, however, seems determined to correct every flaw about the two above games and the results are surprisingly impressive.

DW4:Empires was a stinker to me because of endlessly respawning enemy generals, a tiresome "stronghold" system, worthless allies, and an inability to build up your fighters since they start at Level 1 at every new game.Much to my delighted surprise, all of the above problems were fixed.

PROS:
- The gameplay is now a hybrid of DW4 and Empires where enemy generals stay dead when you kill them (thank heaven), checkpoints and supply bases can be realistically captured without having to wait at one location for 10 minutes to defend it against endless enemies.The system of taking down enemy supply bases works very well; you actually see a marked turning of the battle in your favour as you proceed.
- No more levels where you kill a dozen enemy generals only to have a single, artificially enhanced enemy reinforcement pop up next to your commander to ruin your game.Your commander is no longer a dummy that can die with a poke.Obviously, this allows you to do more fighting and less running around saving your allies' butts.
- Fighter training is back (which was impossible in Empires), though a little more difficult than before because now your weapon doesn't go up in levels at the same time the character does; you have to find these weapon items while playing the levels, and the quality of weapons you find is proportionate to the difficulty of the level.Tougher than DW4, but manageable, and the system is logical enough.
- The biggest surprise:Allied AI became far, far superior.DW4 players will remember this hyper-annoying situation where if you slaughter every one of the enemies except their commander, your allied soldiers will run towards the commander like idiots, not attacking, and pushing the commander around so much that you can't get at him.That is, happily, history.Allied generals are now almost as skillful as enemy generals, and your bodyguard (now only one, rather than a team of eight at once) is now very helpful, aggressively attacking, healing themselves and you, getting you out of jams.About time!
- Happily, they kept the control system from Empires so that now you can fully control where your combos face.This was like a breath of fresh air.Now if you miss a hit, it is indeed your own fault, and not the computer messing you up.
- Marginally better voice work.Some of the changes in voice actors were for the worse -- Zhou Yu, Cao Cao and Lu Bu had good voices in DW4; now they sound silly.And new character Xing Cai is abysmal, sounding like a six-year-old reciting bad dialogue.But the overall quality of voice work has improved, with fewer stiff deliveries.Diao Chan, Yue Ying, Sun Ce, and Lu Meng all sound far better than before, and Jiang Wei's character lost that horrible accent and is now quite nice to listen to.
- Improved graphics.Seems like they added some shadowing, and the look is now more textured, a little grittier.
- Improved map design.You still have to do some running around, but aside from the labyrinthine "Battle of Chen Cang" level, no more levels like that insufferable He Fei map from DW4, where you had to run along the length of the map six to seven times to beat the level.
- The "peons" -- enemy footsoldiers -- are more numerous and less hard to kill.The later soldiers in DW4 were so hardy they were tiresome to fight; no such problem here, at least at Normal difficulty level.

CONS:
- No more duels.I personally don't miss this feature, but I know that one of the top requests from DW4 players was the ability to challenge computer enemies to duels.Instead of refining the duel system, they've dispensed with it altogether.
- No more customized officers of your own design.This was one of the more fun aspects of Empires -- gone with the wind.
- The new Musou Mode will not be to everybody's taste.Now, instead of choosing a side and having all of the officers of that side available to you, you choose a character who has a specific story arc, and you can't swap fighters midway.There are advantages to this -- more varied storylines, deeper gameplay -- but the downside is the inability to switch characters, and now you *have* to master every single character to finish the game.
- Enemy generals do an insane amount of damage.It's just not fun in any context to face an enemy that can take half your life bar with one single combo.It's nice that enemies do less of the "block you to death" trick, but to have to pay for one mistake with half your life bar is excessive.It doesn't ruin the game, but it mars the enjoyment.
- Cao Pi, Pang De and Xing Cai are all pretty unappealing as new characters.Cao Pi's moves are pathetic, Xing Cai is slow and unremarkable (terrible voice, too), and Pang De looks like a nameless general.It's as if they ran out of character-design ideas.Ling Tong's nunchaku are neat, but why not have a character use a mace ("liang ya pang", or "wolf's tooth club"), a whip, a quarterstaff, or tri-sectioned nunchaku?
- Character balance has actually suffered.The new weapons system, where each weapon has a "weight" rating which affects how fast you attack, actually skews the game even more -- the fast, powerful characters become overwhelmingly strong (Jiang Wei is almost unstoppable with the new weapons system), while "alternate", more joke-like characters like Zhang Jiao, Xu Zhu, and Diao Chan are now nearly feeble -- the slower characters are crippled by heavy weapons, short-ranged characters get overwhelmed by the increased number of peons, and slow-moving characters will get pummeled by the insidious enemy AI.They should have given these harder characters a little something to balance the odds.

Overall, this game has successfully restored my faith in the series.It was more appealing to pick up than DW4, and leagues above Empires in design and gameplay.Highly recommended for fans of brawler games -- not perfect, but the best example of this game series I've seen and played yet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. PS2 (PSX2)    3. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    4. Playstation2 (Play station2)    5. Action    6. Adventure    7. Fighting    8. Strategy (Strategic)   

Editorial Review

Scene It? The DVD Movie Game is for the film buff what a double-fudge brownie sundae is for the chocoholic. Players take turns moving around the game board and answering challenges, which usually take the form of trivia questions--about movies, of course. Questions are culled from either a box of cards, much like Trivial Pursuit, or from onscreen prompts that follow movie clips. The included DVD is loaded with snippets from recent movies, although the occasional classic sneaks in too. Multiple questions are asked about each clip--identify the title of the movie, name actors in the scene, recall some minor detail--so that even when the clips begin to repeat, it will take some time before questions do too. (Subsequent DVDs are also said to be in the works.) The game board, which looks like a cross between an accordion and a film reel, can be folded out to accommodate longer games or closed up for shorter ones. Scene It? was definitely built to be a party game, and another advantage of the DVD is that there’s no need to explain the rules. Instead, just press play and hope that everyone simmers down enough to pay attention. Plus, the hokey music and neon "You Are a Winner" screen that ends the game is certain to send those individuals who like winning a bit too much--and you know who you are--into an absolute frenzy. --David Morel ... Read more

Reviews (58)

AWESOME AWESOME FUN
This game is a dream come true for a movie buff. It has questions from movies that r so random that only a true movie buff wud be able to answer them. If you just enjoy watching movies and see the popular/blockbuster ones that come out...you're gonna suck at the game. But if you enjoy watching movies because of the director who created the movie or the author who wrote the story ..this game is for you.
The only shortcoming is...I played this game till I pretty much exhausted all the scenes and questions so you need to pick up the sequel pack as well if you buy this game. I would highly recommend this game.

Use this Party Game Sparingly, and Have Fun
My wife and I received "Scene It" around Christmastime, and it took us quite some time to play it for the first time.When we had company over one night, we broke the game out and we had a fabulous time, even though I'm a movie fanatic and the contests do tend to be one-sided when a Film-Dork/trivia fanatic like me faces off against people who are just looking for an entertaining game.(I earned a nickname that evening that I cannot mention in public.)

The set-up for the game is quite simple.The board itself is very smart; it is basically an around-the-board first format, but when it is folded, a shorter version of the game can be played.There are two dice, one which tells you how many spaces to move, and one which tells you which category of question you will receive.Depending on your roll, you might have to answer a trivial-pursuit type question, read by an opposing player from a card (three categories of questions), or you might have to go to the DVD player to answer a special on-screen question or puzzle.You might have the question all to yourself, or you might have to play everyone else.

The on-screen DVD questions are quite creative.Some challenges will have you identify a movie from a single frame of the film... but the actor/actress has been erased from the frame.Some challenges might be Wheel-of-Fortune style puzzles where the letters slowly appear and you must be the first to answer correctly.Often, an entire clip is played from a movie, and a question is asked at the conclusion of the clip; it might be as simple as "name the movie" or "name the actor", or it might be something more like "how many times was the word 'friend' said in this clip?"

Now, right away, you will probably say to yourself, "wait!If there are only 150 (or so) clips on a DVD, then I'll learn all of those questions in no time!"What I don't think has been stated in previous reviews is that each clip has several different questions that might be asked, so this number is vastly multiplied.And with the variety of different puzzles on screen and trivia questions, there are more questions than people might first think.We've now played the game about ten times, and we do come across questions each time we play it that we know we've had in the past.

In the version I received, we have two DVDs inside, not just one, so that will include more puzzles and whatnot.But if you are considering purchasing this game, you shouldn't expect to play it like Parcheesi or Sorry with a different result every time.No matter how many different possibilities, there are only a finite number of questions.If one plays it again and again and again, you may exhaust the mystery of these questions in a fairly short amount of time.

Scene It is a game long-awaited for originality, and is an extremely fun game to be played in numbers.My advice is save it to play when friends come over... it is very worth the price for parties, but if you are looking for a game to be played on a frequent or daily basis, look for an old standard.Even though I love the game, I have to say that until Mattel comes out with several more (and much more inexpensive!) DVDs to augment the game, Scene It is really a game that should be kept for special occasions.For those special times, it is very worth it.

Part doesn't work for us
Maybe no one else has run into this, but for us part of the DVD won't work.It plays most of the categories, but every time we try to use "All play to win," the images are garbled to the point where they can't be seen.(Our DVD player is new, bought in January 2005.)We still can play the rest of the game, just have to skip that section or use another part.
... Read more

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

Features

• Own the PlateMove in the batters box to adjust to where the pitcher is working you, or keep the defense honest by laying down a drag bunt.
• Precision PitchingPaint the corners and send a message with the all-new Precision Pitch Meter, or catch runners napping with unparalleled pickoff control.
• Enhanced Big Play ControlMake user-controlled stretches and dives, and beat pickoff throws with the all new manual leadoff control.
• Build an Empire From setting ticket and concession prices to throwing promotional days, control every aspect of your organization in all-new Owner mode.
• All-New Create Ballpark FeatureBuild a pitchers paradise or a hitters dream. Will you spend your earnings to upgrade your ballpark or to sign that cherished key free agent?

Reviews (21)

My favorite diversion.
My only concern with the game is that the pitching and hitting don't seem to be of equal difficulty.At All-Star, I'm dominant (ERA around 1.50) with the Yankees' starting pitching despite losing Carl Pavano to injury for most of the season.However, my super-high-priced lineup bats about .240 (with way too many Ks) despite far too much batting practice.The net result is that most games are pitcher's duels, which is enjoyable for me- I'm frequently calling bunts, pinch runners, defensive substitutions, mound visits, pitchouts, and otherwise keeping Joe Torre very busy trying to squeeze out a one-run victory.

That said, the game comes with a bewildering array of adjustable parameters, and I'm slowly tweaking the game more towards realistic play for me.The major statistical anomalies I've noticed are that I rarely if ever walk a batter unintentionally (pitchers have exceptional control over all pitches), and pitchers fatigue very slowly and recover quickly- it's more than possible to run a three-man rotation even if they're pitching complete games roughly half the time.Outfielders are somewhat dopey in their positioning and tracking of gappers, so you see a lot of triples.

Baserunning is challenging- stolen bases require a combination of outthinking the AI, a weak catcher's arm, a fast runner, picking the right pitch to go on, and even altering your slide at the last instant based on where the throw is leading the covering infielder.It's only recently that I've broken the 50% mark there, but it's becoming a bigger part of my game.Taking extra bases on base hits is a bit easier- the computer is pretty conservative with its throws, and will often throw to second or third to halt baserunners rather than risking a hard throw to the plate.

The computer AI is a lot better than last year's, most notably in that it now tries to steal bases when prudent, and moves runners over well.As an example, with a runner on second and no outs, the computer goes well out of its way to hit to the right side of the field in order to move the runner over on a sac fly or groundout.It also makes sensible substitutions- pinch runners, hitters, and on defense.

Finally, all the little things are done well.Players have realistic motion, the announcers (usually) describe plays accurately, the parks look like their RL counterparts, and you can play at any level of detail, down to playing countless minor league games, recruiting future prospects, and (literally) adjusting the price of popcorn at your stadium.

MVP Baseball 2005
This is a great game.It is the most realistic baseball game I've ever play and I only play sports games.The pitching meter is awesome.It's like in real baseball, when the pitcher throws a bad pitch, the hitter hits it over the fence.It's the same in this game.If you are early or late, you will throw a bad pitch. I also love that you can send out the manager to argue a call.You can choose the intensity of the argument and if it gets too intense, the manager gets kicked out the game.Also, when the batter gets hit by a pitch, you can make him charge the mound.I won't say any more because the other reviews say the rest.It is an awesome game.

MVP Baseball 2005
MVP Baseball 2005 shows alot of improvment from last year's game. This year's owner mode has improved also. You can even create your own baseball field and manage your improvments. It has the upto date rosters in it. I just loved this game overall. It could be better and the price is right but ESPN 2k5 has the lower price and might make the difference between the two. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

The internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD) offers PS2 games an extended gaming world by providing a dynamic experience through expanded applications, downloadable entertainment content, and episodic play experiences. The Hard Disk Drive comes pre-installed with Square Enix's highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game Final Fantasy XI. The combination of hard drive and network adapter (sold separately) allows for the first time cross-platform play between the PlayStation 2 and a personal computer over the Internet.

The Hard Disk Drive (HDD) slides into the back of the PS2. The separately sold Network Adapter attaches to the HDD.

In Final Fantasy XI, PlayStation 2 and PC players can create communities, as well as alter-egos that can be completely customized by race, sex, nation of origin, trade skill specialties, and numerous other physical traits. These communities co-exist in the world of Vana’diel. Users can immerse themselves in an expansive, original storyline that eventually builds the world’s history. Vana’diel is made up of vast, never-ending environments with more than 100 areas to explore. It is composed of three unique nations--one of which players choose to inhabit--and once players start their adventure, they may congregate, chat and do battle with the forces of evil, creating Vana’diel’s history through these interactions. Communication tools have been incorporated into Final Fantasy XI to assist in interaction between players, including easy-to-use chat and messaging systems.

Once online, you can join parties with other PS2 players--and even players of the PC edition of the game.

• Final Fantasy XI allows gamers to live in a truly persistent world that changes and evolves every time a player logs on.
• The first truly trans-Pacific game experience online with no barriers with either platform or geography. Personal computer and console gamers can play aside each other in this new world whether they are in the U.S. or Japan.

Features and Specifications:

• 40 GB of memory storage
• 5400 RPM
• 66MB
• Pre-loaded with Final Fantasy XI, Tetra Master, and PlayOnline

Features

• Internal hard disk drive for PS2, pre-installed with Final Fantasy XI
• 40 GB hard drive allows PS2 gamers to download game expansions and modifications over the Internet
• Hard drive also allows for faster loading times
• Final Fantasy XI already installed--play online with thousands of other Final Fantasy fans
• PS2 Network Adapter (sold separately) and Internet connection required

Reviews (98)

*Getting Started
Well I am currently new at the online gaming deal & trying to get set up with this Final Fantasy X1.I have the Playstaion2 thick version & finding out that you need one accessory after another just to start. I had to buy the new Hardrive& Fantasy Game version than the Network Adapter & than found out in order to keep from rebooting you will also need a router which i went with a Linksky's but still waiting to get it to hook up.I give the game 5 stars cause I know the game will be worth it,but i give overall three stars due to the complexity of just getting started....

I called playstaion2 & they walked me through setting up the network adapter/Harddrive than got to the on screen keyboard & found out now i need to attach my computer keyboard to the USB port on the front of playstaion2. To my-luck my keyboard has a 6-pin din hook up and now it wont connect to the USb port, so now i am deciding between the keyboard adapters or just plain buying a USB keyboard cause the Adapters are as much as a keyboard.

Now i find it very frustrating to have to buy all this additional accessories & feel that Sony could of made this a little easier to get started but if you want to play, you have to pay and they know this....My only fear is that once i get my router I know i will be in for more problems getting it set up and working with my DSL/playstaion2 but I only hope I dont have to buy anymore accessories.....it would of been cheaper just to buy the new playstaion2 version & then the Final FantsyX1 PCversion which is what i should of done to begin with.To avoid all this non-sense..

All in all though I am looking forward to eventually getting started cause I am a "Final Fantasy" FAN & know it will be all worth it in the end....c-ya online soon

Humanity is so dumb sometimes
1. this game is fantastic (this comes from an avid player of all FF games and video games in general).This mmoRPG is more of an RPG than any other game in the FF series.You play the ROLE of a character and have complete freedom.

2. If you didn't know there was a monthly fee, you need to READ boxes and research items beore you buy them.

3. If 13 dollars a month is too much for you get a job...Seriously people.Even with minimum wage in this country you can make 5 dollars an hour.That's 3 hours a month and this game is payed for.You people are DISGUSTINGLY lazy!!!I don't care how old you are (I started working when i was 14).This is NOTHING in comparison to the bills you people are going to have to pay when you a. start driving b. have to pay off a mortgage or even c. pay off student loans.

4. don't complain if you haven't played the game for more than 1 month.

5. I work full-time and play in a band and i STILL have time to level my character and enjoy the game thoroughly.I have a LVL 42 PLD and a LVL 38 WHM (although i only play the PLD now and am considering deleting the WHM).

Anyways...yeah this game is incredible.I suggest it to anyone who has a sense of responsibilty and who would like to delve into the world of online gaming.

Good, but be warned.
Final Fantasy XI for PS2 is great, especially if you don't have a powerful enough computer to run Final Fantasy XI for Windows. However just a fair warning, and this isn't really stated clearly enough: YOU CANNOT USE THIS PRODUCT WITH THE NEW SLIM PS2!! Just in case you dont know or were wondering. It is not possible to hook up the HDD to the new PS2. So if you are interested in this game, it is well worth the money, but only get it if you have an older PS2 (SCPH-500XX or SCPH-390XX). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. PS2 (PSX2)    3. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    4. Playstation2 (Play station2)    5. Action    6. Adventure    7. Memory cards    8. Role Playing Games (rpg, rpgs)   

Features

• Use power-ups like Warp Whistle and Frog Suits
• Battle in the land, air and sea
• For 1-4 players with Game Link cable
• Help Mario and Luigi stop Bowser and his trouble-making kids
• Run, crush and stomp over your enemies as you conquer 8 different worlds

Reviews (149)

Excellent!
My niece got this game and some other games but i think she likes it the best. so do i. She is so shellfish that she doesn't let me play. so i told my mom to buy one for me.FUN. I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IT.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE MARIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a really good game and I strongly reccommend it for ANYBODY!!!!! I love all if the levels and they never get old!!!! This game is AWESOME!!!!

still my childhood favorite
This game is excellent!It is just like the super mario brothers games that were out when I had my first Nintendo game player.It is identical to the Super Mario Bros 3 original, but they added additional secrets and graphics that give it a more modern video game appeal. Absolutely the best game for kids, it has goals and requires strategy, which many video games today lack.This is a game I still enjoy playing as an adult. ... Read more

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

Features

• Scooter Construction: Aircraft Grade Aluminum--Structure that is extremely lightweight and durable.
• Brake Type: Fender Friction Braking System--User is able to brake by applying pressure to the back fender.
• Adjustable Handlebars--Height of handlebars adjusts to accommodate any rider.
• Wheel Size: 98 Millimeters

Reviews (19)

Good For A Scooter
This is a good scooter but scooters in general aren't great. It has low ground clearage but that's not so important.It gos pretty fast and the brakes are great. The only thing is Iwouldn't recomend it for older kids 'cause the handlebars don't go that high.

Great for the office too!
As a middle adult geek who grew up on Atari, BMX, MTV and having fun, this thing is great for the office. Why? Well if you have a non-stuffy, no 3 piece suit environment, this is for you. I work in a tech company (big surprise) and we have about 5 of these we use to scoot around the floor on. It's fun and makes going over to a desk or meeting quick. So even though all of us worry about mortgages and layoffs, have some fun and get a scooter. If you buy it for you kid, teach them to wear pads and helmets at all times!!!

Are you sure?
Who came up with this one? I have no doubt that razor scooters are fun, as I've spoken with many kids who love them. And they do look durable. There's no educational value to this toy, but then that's not a requirement of all toys (footballs, pogo sticks, skateboards, and roller skates also have no educational value). However, I have yet to meet a scooter user who doesn't have significant cuts, bruises, scrapes, and/or scars. Those little wheels and pavement breaks just don't mix. I use a wheelchair to get around, and have an excellent working knowledge of how wheels interact with surfaces.Many toys e.g.,
skateboards, bicycles) involve some risk, but scooters seem designed for risk. Just my opinion; take it for what it's worth. But don't say you weren't warned when you take your kid to the emergency room with a broken this or lacerated that! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Scooters   

Features

• Motor Type: Electric--Environmentally friendly and requires little maintenance.
• Brake Type: Rear Hand--User is able to maintain control of scooter while braking.
• Adjustable Handlebars--Height of handlebars adjusts to accommodate any rider.
• Pneumatic Wheels--
• Number of Wheels: 2

Reviews (53)

it sux
this scooter breaks easily i bought a buyer protection plan and it did nothing it sux

this scooter stinks like cheese!
i got this scooter with my money. i am riding and i brake and i stop. then i start going and it is bumpy. i look at the wheel and it broke. i barely pulled on the brake and it flattened the wheel. so it puts more strain on the engine making it go SLOW! this is a waste of money DO NOT BUY IT!

Our experience
The store told us there was no weight limit for this scooter.Luckily, my son was w/i the limit but on the high end.It didn't seem to have a lot of power withsomeone on the higher end of the range.Charge didn't last long and my son ended up having to push it if there was much of a hill. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Scooters   

Features

• Use the magic of the cap to shrink and explore the world of the Minish lying hidden just beneath your feet.
• With the help of all-new items like the Gust Jar and the Mole Mitts, shoot blasts of air or claw through dirt to reach new regions.
• Unravel the secrets of the Kinstones to solve puzzles, unlock hidden areas, and restore happiness to the people of Hyrule.

Reviews (55)

Beautiful! Miyamoto brings back more fun!
Okay, hour 1 of minish cap: It's 6:00pm and I'm still stuck on this one puzzle, the size of a piece of dust and Ezlo isn't helping me... success! I found the Jar of Gusts! I suck the spiderwebs off (You're sick if you're thinking what I think you're thinking I'm thinking you're thinking.) with the jar and get out of the extra entrances, quite frankly I'm entertained.

Drowning in puddles... teardrops and getting jumped by pieces of pollen... what's not to want or need?! Mr. Miyamoto did not fail us, the gameplay engine was solid, the graphics, good for a GBA game, sound... wonderful! I swear, playing as a super-chibbi is fun, so if you want an affordable good game... don't buy this game... buy it if you want an awesome affordable game! Go Zelda!!!

Cool Game
This is fun, even when you play it again. There is a HUGE amount of kinstone fusions to do, it will take a lot of time to come up with everything. I had to make a separate game where I don't finish the four sword, since i miss a lot of fusions from the town. Also, try making your name dude or cheesy. People start saying really weird stuff.

So Much Fun
I had a ball playing this game. It took a while to finish but it was worth it. Going to start all over again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Gameboy)    3. GBA    4. Action    5. Adventure    6. Role Playing Games (Game, RPG, RPGs, CRPG, CRPGs)   

Features

• Free-Roaming City: Explore a massive city divided into five distinct, interconnected neighborhoods, ranging from serpentine suburban hills to an intense downtown grid. A complex series of drivable freeways connect the neighborhoods together.
• Emergent Gameplay: Want to make a name for yourself in the underground? Youll need to find it first. Races can happen anywhere and at any time and as players encounter rivals on the street theyll be clued into where they can buy the hottest upgrades or enter the most elite events.
• New Gameplay Modes: Three new gameplay modes are added to last years circuit, drift and drag competitions, challenging gamers to hone their skills in a number of driving disciplines.
• Performance Tuning: Tune every aspect of your cars performance with hundreds of licensed aftermarket performance upgrades and then fine-tune everything from the gear ratio to the suspension for the ultimate ride.
• The Hottest Cars: More than thirty of the most sought-after tuner cars are available from the hottest manufacturers--from Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, and Toyota to Ford and Volkswagen, if theyre hot on the street, theyre in the game.

Reviews (78)

Such A Bored game...
YEAH2 I KNOE THE OTHER GAMER SAID THIZ GAME GREAT AND ALL THAT...BUT TO ME THIZ GAME SI BORED BECOZ THERES NO COP,NO SUN,AND THE MOST I HATE ABOUT THIZ IS...ITZ TOO EASY...

No cops?
Need for Speed: Underground 2 delves into the world of the street racer scene "The Fast and The Furious" style. There is only one thing missing from most of the previous iterations of this excellent series that made them interesting. That was the police chases.

Overall, the graphics in this game are some of the best I have seen out there. They may not be up there in the Grand Tourismo class, but they are close. The graphics and body kits available for the cars are amazing.

The controls are very intuitive, especially the placing of the shift buttons. The accelerator and brake buttons are right under your thumbs. The buttons for nitrous and the e-brake are right where you need them. You can use the e-brake easily to make quick changes in direction and the nitrous can really provide a quick boost of speed when you need it.

The range of races available is wide and varied. There are choices of Circuit, Drag, Drift, Street X, Underground, and Free Roaming. You can even challenge other drivers in Out Run races.

The only thing that would make this game better and more interesting would be police chases. Other than that, overall this is an excellent game.

It's Pretty Good.
I really think EA did it for sports/racing games last year, by releasing one of the greatest racing games ever. While I agree this game is truly awesome, there is one minor complaint I have. This new 'free roam' thing gets kind of of annoying in career mode, because driving to all those areas is annoying and it takes a toll on my hands. Also, I am done with the game and what I found out is that the story just keeps repeating itself and gets boring after like, half an hour of playing it. You got your drift, circuit, drag, sprint, street x, your underground racing league, and your special events. All you do in the game is drive to different locations where races are and you keep doing the same thing over and over and over throughout the whole game. That's why I gave the fun rating a three, not five. Now, aside from that issue, this game overall rocks. The customization in this game is unbeleivable. There are so many different types of parts and upgrades that you won't even believe your eyes. I like all the new upgrades they added in this game that they didn't have in the previous game. Stuff such as scissor doors, and suicide doors, and the ability to make your engine hood open in many different ways than one. Plus, I like that they added SUV's in the game. Another complaint I have is the lack of cars. I realize there are very few import tuner cars out there and most of them are already in the game, but what about other cars? Racing games these days have an average of close to 100 cars, this one at a low 30. Why not add in Lambos or ferarri's. And come on, only three SUV's. Hummer, Escalade, and Navigater. What about Yukon Denali or countless others? Overall, do I think you should get this game? Of course, the $50 bucks you drop for this game are definately worth it. There is more to this game than just racing. Modifying your cars, racing with your friends in multiplayer, or playing people from around the world in online racing, which is probably the coolest new addition in this game. A racing game fan must have.

-PEACE YO!
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. PS2 (PSX2)    3. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    4. Playstation2 (Play station2)    5. Action    6. Adventure    7. Racing    8. Flying   

Features

• 20 different soldier types from the Rebel Alliance, Galactic Empire, Republic Clone Army, and Separatist Battle Droids
• More than 30 weapons including blaster rifles, rocket launchers, and thermal detonators
• For 1 to 16 players online, and split screen mode for offline multiplayer play
• Action-shooter game that lets you relive your favorite Star Wars battles
• Battle in more than 12 environments across 10 diverse planets

Reviews (85)

great mulitplayer game for a firstperson shooter lover
i thought this game was great and has the best splitscreen play of any firstperson shooter i have ever played. I couldn't find any downsides to the game and all the reviews i read on it were good. For Splitscreen you choose one of the huge and detailed maps to fight agianst youre friends. on single player you can capture planets, fight lots of the battles from the movies, or just hop right into a battle on any map as the Cis, Republic, Empire, or Rebels. I wouldn't get this game if you only have one controler or don't have xbox live. The only real downside to this game was VERY minor. Jedi are impossible to kill. Also during the battles you reincarnate as a sniper, rocket launcher guy, machine gunner, pilot, or a unique charecter that varies throught the missions such as a guy with a jet pack or a wookie.You can also get in tons of different vehichles and planes that vary from map to map. Overall i would give this game two thumbs up.

P.S. (Don't buy this game if you ABSOLUTLY HATE the Star Wars theme)

best game in the world
I dont care what other people say about this game this game is the best. I rented this game at first and I begged my mom to buy it. I have this game and it has good vehicles, soldiers, turrets, ships, and i would reccomend it for any person who likes star wars. I cant wait for battlefront 2 to come out!

the coolestgameever
This game is cool and has its ups and downs. The pros are that when you die, you can come back in the game by picking another soldier or the one you just picked, use specialties for your army, fun stages, cool vehicles, and good weapons. The cons are that you can't play as a jedi or sith [can pick this for a specialty and a jedi or sith will assist you ], you can't pick up dead enemy's or allies's weapons, and you only can comand 2 soldiers [also some times they ignore your comand]. Its still fun and is still cool so get this game. If you listen to your friends when they say this is a bad game then excweese me but this game is great. The xbox live is awsome as well. If you want to make sure if its fun or not rent it. For the star wars fans, buy this as soon as possible. "Also there is a couple more than 12 stages." so listen to me man, if you don't then "what ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Star Wars (Starwars)    2. Video Games    3. Xbox (x box)    4. Microsoft    5. Action    6. Adventure    7. Racing    8. Flying   

Editorial Review

Cadoo is the funky fusion of tic-tac-toe, general knowledge, sculptingskill, and scavenger hunt designed for kids by the brainiacs who brought us theleft side/right side frenzy of Cranium. Operating solo or in combo with others,players attempt to line up four of their jack-like tokens on the groovilycolored grid board by fulfilling a myriad of tasks in an array of categoriesfamiliar to Craniacs. Whether attempting to sculpt a taco out of the includedclay or guessing which of Milky Way, Butterfinger, or Twix is longer, cadetsfind that correct answers and successful missions--can you bring back bothsomething smaller than your big toe, and something bigger than your foot, inless than a minute?--put them one-quarter of the way closer to their Cadoo. Withits elements of strategy, its elegantly funny graphics, and some downrightserious silliness, there isn't a lot of Cadon't in Cadoo. --Tony Mason ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Awesome game for everyone
My daughter received this game for her eighth birthday.We are avid game players in this house and own several cranium games.This game definately meets the cranium standard.We had a BLAST playing this game and ended up playing several time.My daughter loves the variety of activities, where I love that everything fits back in the box! This is a great family game.

The perfect kid's game...even teens will get some kicks
This is a wonderful game for kids 7-10, and even teens, like me, might enjoy it for a while. Like the original Cranium, players are encouraged to use all kinds of different skills to advance in the game. The different types of cards encourage kids to work with words, draw pictures, act things out, and even sculpt with the included clay (it's great clay, by the way, and stays moist and pliable through tons of use). The variety is what keeps it fun, as you're always wondering what you'll have to do next.

The game pieces themselves are eye-catching and colorful. The cards and playing board are nicely illustrated with cute characters (Cranium fans will recognize the star, cat, worm, and Data Head). The playing pieces have a unique, whimsical shape that not only makes them look cool, but allows them to fit together for easy storage. These touches give the game a cheerful, happy look, but never in a cheesy way.

The gameplay is forgiving, as the included timer gives you ample time, and the questions and activities are simplified for younger players. Some challenges, however (sculpting in particular) are tough even for older players. Overall, though, everything seems to be at the right level for the age group, and all the activities are educational in some way. Plus, they're so fun that kids will have a good time doing them even if they don't win the game.

All in all, Cadoo has no flaws at all, and is overflowing with creativity and variety. It's a great game for a group of kids, a family looking to spend some quality time, or just about anyone, and parents will have the satisfaction of knowing that their child is learning as they play. It's the perfect balance: more kid-friendly than classics like Monopoly and Clue, more educational than games based on TV shows, and different from just about everything out there.

Exellent, but not bad
When I got this game for my birthday, I was so happy to play it. That day I played it was so much fun. Three days later, I forgot about it. Then in March 2005, I was board and I remembered Cadoo.Then my mom accsept playing with me. Then it was so much fun!
So buy one now.Or not. ... Read more

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

Features

• New multiplayer Medley Mode, new characters, new venues, and more
• Dozens of unlockable outfits and other bonus items
• For 1 or 2 players
• Sing along to 35 brand new songs using a microphone or headset
• Vocal analyzer rates the pitch and rhythm of your vocals

Reviews (18)

This Game Is Awesome!
I think this game is really fun!!! I have Volume 3, and My cousin had volume 1 and now has volume 3, and we both think that this game is really fun. For people who love to sing like I do, This is one of the best video games ever. My friend and I play for hours. I haven't played volume 2 yet, but by looking at the list of songs that are on the game, I think it would bea lot of fun! I REALLY recommend this game!

Not As Good As Volume 3 But Still Fun
I have a few comments.First, I'm quite ticked that they have I'll Make Love To You on the disk.I would have given this disk a 5 out of 5 if it weren't for that one thing. We play this game with a 9 year old and an 11 year old.They do have it censored by saying "I'm going to take off my charm" or something instead of "off my clothes."But it helps little. (Volume 3 I have *no* complaints as far as the kids go for song choice on the disk.)

The songs to choose from for karaoke competition are as follows:
Song List (all below are "originally by"):
1) Baby One More Time (originally by Britney Spears)
2) Born to Be Wild (originally by George Thouroughgood and the Delaware Destroyers)
3) Every Breath You Take (The Police)
4) Friends in Low Places (Garth Brooks)
5) Genie In A Bottle (Christina Aguilera)
6) Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis)
7) Here Without You (3 Doors Down)
8) Hot Stuff (Donna Summer)
9) I Believe in a Thing Called Love (The Darkness)
10) I Will Survive (Gloria Naylor)
11) Irresistible (Jessica Simpson)
12) It's My Life (No Doubt covering Talk Talk's version)
13) Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield)
14) Lady Marmalade (Patti LaBelle)
15) My Girl (The Temptations)
16) Papa Don't Preach (Madonna)
17) Rock and Roll All Nite (Kiss)
18) Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)
19) Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
20) The First Cut is the Deepest (Sheryl Crow)
21) Toxic (Britney Spears)
22) Virtual Insanity (Jamiroquai)
23) We Are Family (Sister Sledge)
24) White Flag (Dido)
Those are the songs listed on the back.Also included on the disk:
25) Cry (Waterfront? Kim Marsh? I don't know)
26) Drift Away (Doobie Brothers)
27) I Hate Everything About You (Three Days Grace)
28) I'll Make Love To You (Boyz II Men)
29) I'm With You (Avril Lavigne)
30) I've Got You Under My Skin (I have no idea. So many artists have covered this.)
31) Let's Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
32) Miss You (Aaliyah or Mariah Carey??)
33) Perfect (Alanis Morissette I *think*)
34) The Joker (Steve Miller Band)
...And I think I'm missing one because the back said 35 songs. Oh well.

Sometimes we let our 9-year-old be on the Easy level, and that helps him to do just as well as we do."Adjustable difficulty levels ensures that anyone can be a karaoke star," it says on the back of the box.And it's true.

The songs were recorded as close to by the original artists as possible, and they did a great job with that. The First Cut is the Deepest is pretty much the only song that really, really doesn't sound like the original artist (Sheryl Crow). But it still sounds pretty good.You sing along and choose how loud you want your own voice versus the recorded voice to be.It works really well that way.Sometimes I wish I could hear my own voice more through the speakers, but I think that is our own setup.

I do indeed recommend this product to others.Volume 3 is the best, though!! :)

Fantastic concept, just not for me
As a big fan of the Bemani series of arcade music games (such as Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Freaks and Beatmania), I was pumped when I heard about the first installment of this game.It's basically DDR for your voice.

However, as I soon found out, my voice apparently doesn't work as well as my feet, and even though I didn't have too much trouble passing songs, hearing my own voice through TV speakers was more than a little discomfiting.

Still, when KR2 came out, I decided to give it a second chance.I was sorely disappointed at the lack of new material, though.All the songs are new, but there's not much in the way of interesting genres... only pop, a few country songs, a few oldies and a stale rock song or two.More troubling, there's only a few new venues - the rest are repeated from the first game.

The first game has an option to load an expansion disc.This game should have been made an expansion disc and we all could have saved $20.

But don't listen to me.If you love singing, you will love this game, and you'll play it all night like I play DDR.If you don't like singing - don't bother trying. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. PS2 (PSX2)    3. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    4. Playstation2 (Play station2)    5. Classics (Classic)    6. Retro   

Features

• Execute synchronized attacks coordinated with other characters to attack enemies
• Lush, fully polygonal graphics, cut scenes, and an orchestral score create a magnificent environment
• Contains all the features of the Japanese Director's Cut version
• Set in SD 772, the hero Fayt Leingod searches for his family and loved ones
• Move through fullly 3-D battlefields and control three characters simultaneously

Reviews (25)

it's official
i got a chance to play this game when i first played it in my friends house. it wasn't the best rpg ever made. but the gameplay is worth playing and the graphics are nice.

Largely Disappointing
Probably one of the biggest surprises I've ever enjoyed during my years in front of a video game console came when I first tried my hand at an unsuspecting little package dubbed Star Ocean: The Second Story. This old, overlooked two-disc pack for the PSone had been literally gathering dust on my shelf for years before I bothered to even test it out, and I suppose that complete lack of any kind of previous expectation was a big part of why I was so totally impressed and engulfed by what I found within the game itself. Unfortunately, by overwhelming me so effectively in its first American offering, my expectations for the future of the Star Ocean franchise went through the roof. In a way, it's funny; I loved the precursor because I expected nothing of it and received everything I ever could've wanted, and then subconsciously built up the sequel to the point that nothing it could muster would ever be enough to appease me.

To start with, the story is beyond terrible and the characters are even worse. When I first met Fayt and Sophia, the two leads, I couldn't help but grimace. They're so paper-thin, so incredibly dull and intelligence-insultingly bland, I initially mistook them for a heavy-handed satire of the role playing genre in general. This is, honest to god, the most uninspiring cast I've seen since console RPGs were just gaining their footing in Final Fantasy I back on the NES. They'll say and do things that'll just make you stare blankly for a few seconds and then explode into unrelenting laughter. Fayt, in particular, is the very epitome of a stereotype. He has no flaws, and as a result he makes an incredibly boring leader. The characters seem so out of touch with reality that nothing ever seems to carry the kind of magnitude you'd hope for, even when entire worlds are exploding and individual races are being completely wiped from existence. By the time the third act comes around, bringing with it the one really interesting revelation in the storyline, you're forty hours in and have cemented your opinion of the game as a whole. Before that, it's cliche after cliche, with absolutely no originality thrown in to keep things halfway interesting.

Like its predicessor, TtEoT's gameplay is its greatest triumph. The battles have remained every bit as enjoyable and strategically brilliant as I remembered, and the controls are incredibly easy to comprehend. You'll have, at most, three characters in your party at any one time (which is a major gripe I've had with the RPG genre in general for years now... why would six people stand by and watch their three buddies struggle in a fight with monsters, rather than joining in and cleaning house?) and they're all performing individual actions at the same time, to say nothing of the monsters on the other side of the battlefield. At a glance it would appear to be mildly organized chaos, but in action it's really pretty simple. Before, after and during the battle, you can set a specific attack style for the characters you won't be directly controlling, so they aren't wasting all of their strength on a meaningless enemy while a tough boss fight is just around the corner. If you want your weakest character to avoid physical confrontations and concentrate on healing, it's as easy as changing a setting. Usually, two members of your party will be following these instructions at any time, while you'll be directly in control of the third. Yet, despite the seemingly-obvious directions, the computer AI will occasionally find a way to screw up. Whether they're running headfirst into an explosion with low HP or repeatedly casting heal on a teammate who doesn't need it, your comrades will generally leave a lot to be desired. I even ran into a few instances where I'd found myself single-handedly taking on half a dozen enemies while my two teammates stood off in a corner somewhere and cheered me on.

Aside from the cutscenes, this is generally a visually uninspiring game. The characters look about as stale and unexciting as they act, and the environments and spells are nothing that hasn't already been done better by a previous title. T