Editorial Review

This award-winning globe could help children become A+ geographystudents. The Explorer Globe II is jam-packed with hundreds of facts, trivia,and useful scholastic information about every aspect of the geographical world.It electronically verbalizes everything from area population, capitolcity/country, state/province, large bodies of water, currencies, high points,distance, and more. Other remarkable features make the Explorer an even moreuseful reference tool. It has a world clock that, once set from your home area,will tell the time in every other part of the world. And any country can beselected to hear a sample its national music (yes, Tahiti does have a nationalanthem). The globe sits on a sturdy base, which features a dashboard full ofinteractive functions and an attached soft-tipped stylus. This stylus is the keyinstrument: use it to touch virtually any point on the surface of the globe toretrieve information. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Problem Stylus?!!
Got it as a birthday gift for our daughter - great product to teach kids about "the world around" and she adores it.

The product lacks precision and accuracy. At the beginning the problems started with identification of smaller state/country and later ended up in total chaos. Manufacturer suggested replacing the stylus (FYI - Leap Frog identifies this as a generic complaint and will replace 2 styluses free of cost), but the problem continues to exist. Leap Frog once again suggesting the stylus replacement!?

Just wondering if I could get a total replacement and the product remain worry free for a while!

great
this is a great globe bout it for my daughter for her communion she loves it thanks

Not builtto last
My kids who are 11 and 8 got this globe for Christmas.They had it for about two weeks when it suddenly died.I thought maybe it was the batteries so I changed them and it still did not work.They never really got any use out of this.In the brief time that I did work it always acted as if it were "shorting out" or something.This toy is NOT worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Geography    4. Activity   

Reviews (10)

Gotta Have It!
We should have bought this stroller many months ago.My 5 month old loves this stroller.It is so lightweight and portable.It is great for traveling, becasue it takes up little space.It is worth the money to have this Combi at hand.It is easy to maneuver and seems to be comfy for the baby as well.The only drawback is there the storage basket inderneath.You cannot fit much into it, but this a minor concern.You just gotta have this stroller!!!

What a relief!
Okay folks. Be prepared to be scared! I just purchased this stroller because the travel system that I've been using for my 4 month old has just been recalled for the very unsafe car seat. (yes, the most important part of the travel system.Imagine that!)The shoulder straps keep coming loose from the back of the unit, leaving babies with too much slack, or no harness at all!I found out the hard way!After parking, I almost died after seeing my angel had slipped down so her head was where her booty should be!The Lord was watching out for her, cause she didn't get injured in this potentially fatal situation!Since I had to give back the entire travel system, this gave me an opportunity to get this wonderful combi!I love it so far.It is so compact, easy to open and close, and maneuvers nicely in tight spots. Yippee! Yippee!By the way, the recalled system is the Eddie Bauer Glacier!Tell your friends who my have this system.Very scary!

Great compact Stroller
I bought this stroller after testing many out by actually putting my son in and taking a strole around the store.I LOVED this one and it handled great in the store.:)The basket is small but I wanted this mainly for walking anyway.It folds great and fits in the trunk or back seat of my shadow and I can still fit groceries and other goodies!Very easy to throw in someone elses car also.My son looks very cozy in it!

There is nothing to absorb the shock when walking over sidewalks so it is better for mall walking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gear    2. Strollers    3. Lightweight Strollers   

Features

• 2-in-1 sand and water activity table
• Includes 8-pc. accessory kit
• Subtle faux wood-crafted finish
• Secure lid with elastic tie-downs
• Detachable legs for use at ground level

Reviews (43)

Sagging Center
I haven't read all 42 reviews so this may be a repeat.We have found it necessary to shore up the middle of this wonderfully entertaining toy.We've had it on our patio since early spring of 2004 and it has had a lot of use but the center started to sag.We found a large flower pot that measured the exact height and just pushed it under the center.Works like a charm and we should get many more years of fun.

Where can you buy??
Can someone please tell me WHERE they bought theirs??I am in in Chicagoland area and have checked TRUand meijer's with no luck.
Thanks

We Love this !!!
I bought this for my 3 1/2 year old son and he loves it . Actually we all love it ! My 10 , 8 and 5 and 3 year olds had more fun with this than I think anything we have ever bought . This is much better than a typical sandbox which they love but can't all play in at the same time. All four of my kids pulled up a chair around the table and had a blast and plenty of room !They played for at least 2 hours and didn't even want to come in then . It was a bit messy but what can you expect . Anything can be put in here to spark imagination .You don't have to just use sand and water .The possibilities are endless ! This is going to be a life saver this summer . This was money well spent . I would recommend this to anyone .
It was easy to put together and I feel the legs were very sturdy . I didn't even put the screws in it because I like the idea of being able to take them out to store it over the winter unless we bring it in for the winter.I just made sure I pushed them all the way in. Ialready cleaned it out and tipped it over to rinse it and had no trouble with the legs coming loose or out or anything . I am saving the screws just in case I need them later !
This is an awseome , awesome table !! We love it !!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Toddler    3. Activity   

Reviews (9)

Worth every penny!
My daughter got this when she was three yrs old. She's 5 and half now and still has a ball playing in it with her girlfriends. They play house and sit at the table and eat lunch or play with Play Doh and just generally have a great time with it. We've had it over 2 yrs and it's holding up beautifully. We love the fact that we can see in and watch what the kids are doing and that it has a floor. I'd buy one again if I ever had a need for another playhouse.

Still waiting for my son to like this.....
We bought the cottage for my son for Christmas, he was 20 months at the time. I thought he would just love it, but we are still waiting for him to catch on. The only thing he will do with it even now is go inside a play "peek" through the windows. My son tends to be a bit of a climber, and this is definitely not a climbing toy! I guess we will know better next year! One great point about this cottage is the floor! Most cottage/house toys don't have a floor and this one does, which makes it real nice to have on any type of surface without worrying about your little one's feet.

My toddler can play all day in the cottage
We purchased the cottage for my daughter's first birthday and she loved it!While her uncle was assembling it she sat on the chair and played with the phone.She's now 17 months and plays in it until she has to come in the house.Its very durable, safe and just the right size for her.She and my 5 year old nice play for hours inside together.I would recommend this item. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Pretend Play    3. Furniture   

Editorial Review

What's the No. 1 group dance for the pre-school set? Hint: it's not the "Electric Slide" or "Cotton-Eyed Joe." You guessed it, and so did Elmo: the "Hokey Pokey." Though Elmo doing the "Slide" would be a sight to see, he masters the Pokey quite convincingly, to the probable delight of his toddling fans. After loading his foot with four "AA" batteries, press his hand and he performs the popular jig. He sticks out both his right hand and foot, shakes his body all about, then smoothly spins in place, thanks to a rotating platform under one foot. Elmo even spices up the beat, and sporadically speeds up the action; both innovations crank up the fun factor. The only downside: he was de-plushed, presumably because of all the mechanisms needed to help him dance and maintain balance. The result, still, is an impressive performance. He's just not very cuddly. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (98)

oh my gosh!!!
Can we say neverstop!! - she ran this thing into the ground!! played with it alllll the time and still does - highly recommend

My todler loves it!
I bought this for my son about two months ago. And I believe I must have gotten the most durable one. My 20 month old son was only dancing with him the first two weeks, until he discover that it's more fun to squeeze him, while he shakes, then throw him against the floor or wall. So far it has been over a month, and the Elmo is still singing, dancing, and saying oops or thank you. I would recomend this toy to any one.

Good times for kids
My 2 year old has this and loves it. He's already a huge fan of Elmo, so I'm sure that helps. The toy itself is rather neat since it pretty much does the hokey pokey. Elmo puts in his hand in, his leg in and he shakes all about, then he turns around in a circle. Doesn't work so good on carpet, better on smooth surfaces. The sound it good and lucky for us parents, the song doesn't last too long. If you tip him upside down he says "whoopsie!", and something about needing to be turned back upright. Cute toy. My son thinks Elmo is dancing with him. ... Read more

Subjects:  

Reviews (16)

Good, but not great!
I bought this stroller because of the buggy feature, color (there were few black strollers at the time), and high quality brand.I was generally happy with it, but I had a few issues:
1.It is not as easy to close as the American models
2.The fabric boot cannot be removed to be washed
3.The wheels are not as large as some similar models for better shock
4.There is no tray for cups, keys, etc. (there is a cup holder, but it is not as handy)

I did love the fact that you could move the handle either way so you could look at your baby or they could look out.

The best stroller-worth the money
This is by far the best stroller made. The ride is smooth. The fabric is classy--love the Italian fabric.I haven't had problems with the wheels--people who have, might need to change the wheel settings. The basket is a little hard to get to when using the infant car seat; however other strollers have similar problems when using the infant car seat. I also love that the handle moves, which allows me to see my precious cargo.This stroller is the Mercedes of all strollers.

My favorite stroller!!!!
I own 2 strollers.I've been searching for the perfect stroller since my daughter was born and I've finally found it!I started with the P3 (also a Peg Perego) because it is lighter than the Venezia and folds smaller.I figured that with the carseat I could create the same effect as the reversible handle.Boy was I wrong!My baby hates her carseat.And she did not like the P3 either because she couldn't see me.So I bought the Venezia.It is fantastic.My baby is happy because she can see me.And I'm happy because it is a plush, gorgeous stroller.

The wheels are not huge, but it handles fine on city sidewalks.This is not a stroller for grass and gravel, but few strollers are.That's where joggers come in handy.The wheels are bigger than they used to be - starting in 2004 Peg Perego increased the wheel size - they are now the same size as the wheels on my P3.I'm sure that has helped the handling.When you read reviews, pay attention to the age of the stroller because Peg Perego has improved it.

The boot is fantastic.It is so cozy.And you can unzip it, creating a bassinet effect which will also prevent toys (or your baby!) from falling out.The fabric is plush - it's so cozy and soft!

I find the handling to be great.Just remember to lock the wheels closest to the handle whichever way the handle is facing.What's great about this reversible stroller is that it has four sets of swivel wheels, so it handles great no matter which way the handle is facing.

The fold does take some getting used to.But it folds up (rather than towards the pavement) and stands when folded.I always keep one set of wheels locked (the ones closest to the handle in reverse mode).You can also fold it with things in the basket (like your raincover) which you can't do with the P3.It isn't terribly heavy.The 2004 and later models have handles to help you lift the stroller up steps while it is open or out of the trunk when closed.It takes up more space in my trunk than the P3, but I can fit both the Venezia and the P3 in the trunk at the same time.

The basket is HUGE!My P3 basket was ok, not really great.I found it hard to get things in and out.This basket is sooo roomy.Since 2004 the basket can be pushed down for easy access.

That said, there is 1 thing I don't like.The cupholder is a total joke!Nothing fits in it except a can of soda or the tiniest of water bottles.You can't even try to cram anything in there because it'll flip upside down.I clip a diaper bag (Kecci Mommybag) to the loops on the handlebar or hang my Skip Hop and stick my water bottle in the outside bottle pocket.

Also, I am keeping my P3 as a travel stroller.The Venezia doesn't strike me as great for airports since the fold is more complicated.But it is so wonderful that if I could do it all over again, I'd buy the Venezia now and maybe something like the Maclaren Triumph or Chicco Tuscany for toddlerhood. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gear    2. Strollers    3. Full-Size Strollers   

Features

• 16 Futuristic, anti-gravity racing tracks
• 5 Different speed classes
• Single Race, Tournament, Time Trial, Free Play, and Zone Mode (single-player only)
• Fresh downloadable content that can be saved to a Memory Stick Duo, such as new tracks, ships, skins and music

Reviews (22)

Great game!
Awesome laucnh title - love it!!The look and feel of the Wipeout series has been perfectly captured on the new platform. Difficulty ramps up nicely after you mosey around the tracks on the starter levels and unlock the faster levels.Free-practice lets you learn a track inside and out until you're ready to take on a real race.
And once you're sick of playing against the AI it's dead-simple to challenge your mates head-on or merge their best lap-times with yours to beat on the tube.

There is however a gripe: you have to go through about 6 screens before you get to the main menu.. so switching from listening to music to playing Wipeout Pure takes quite a while.There should be a 'quick-launch' option - straight into the main menu with your save game auto-loaded.

A truly impressive game.....at first
WipEout Pure has proven to be one of the most visually stunning games I have ever seen on a portable handheld. The gameplay is mad-fun, sound and special effects are unparalled, and the music is pretty neat too.

However, this game does have its serious flaws that cripple the fun-factor only a short time after playing this game for the first time; when playing against the AI in tournament mode, its a real fun challege- a game wouldnt really be fun at all if there was no challenge involved, but if the difficulty level is ludicrously high, winning and passing a race would become nearly impossible. This is highly evident as you ascend through the tournament, and namely, one or two race-maps in "Ascension" mode, while playing it in "Flash" difficulty. This is especially true for people who are new to the WipEout Pure series, like myself. I honestly hate this game only 5 days afterbuying it, and now regret spending those lousy 40 bucks on a game that could have been so great. That's what makes me have a serious grudge against some game developers- they can never learn from their previous mistakes, and will always recreate games with very few innovative features, which suffer from some sort of fatal gameplay-imbalancement. Why is this still happening to a game whose series has been around for nearly a decade now?

In addition, there are some minor framerate issues- but I'm not surprised about that due to the amazing graphics quality in this game. Music length and selection is quite poor, but what they already have (electronic-dance) is great, and fits very nicely with the gameplay.

I highly recommend this game for everyone - whether or not you're a beginner - but if you want to go ahead and buy it, don't be surprised if you get extremely frustrated with some racing events.

Hope this review helps.

Free psp !!!! No Joke!!!!
Wipeout pure is just as good as the rest, but in many ways better, smoother faster, and just funner! (...)! ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Best thing if there is more than one player
My self, my wife, and the the two boyz we have are all playing with the PS2. Each has his/her own game and savings. This is a must if you have more than one player using the game. Each has his memory card (stick) and has his/her own game levels saved on it. Never had any trouble with any of them, nor did it ever hang on me. I am truely satisfied with the product.

Great cards
There really isn't any flaws with these memory cards and buying two instead of one is alot better than buying 2 seperately and it'll save you some bucks. The only thing is that if you have 3 or more games that use 2000+K memory space you might wand to consider the 32MB memory card that codejunkies makes.

Must Have For A Playstation2 Owner
I am a frequent playstation2 player and this is a neccessity. I have been getting games since the PS2 came out, and I have over 50 videogames so I have a total of 5 memory cards and they are all full. If you play videogames you are going to need at least one, but it is much cheaper to buy this pack and they come in cool red and blue colors. Some videogames take up ALOT of space on the memory card such as the Jak series and Madden NFL Football series. I reccomend this product to ANY PS2 owner and I suggest buying two of these because in the long run you are going to need them. If you are going to buy someone a PS2 you need to buy them this and an extra controller because if you don't they will very dissapointed. You can't go wrong with this product and I do not reccomend buying ANY non-Sony produuct including memory cards. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Controller    5. Rumble Packs (Paks)    6. Cables (Cable)    7. Adapters (Adapter)    8. PS2 (PSX2)    9. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    10. Playstation2 (Play station2)    11. Memory cards    12. Great Deals (Outlet store)    13. Cases    14. Storage   

Editorial Review

The wait is over. After five years of development, Lead Programmer John Carmack and the id Software team have put together a revolutionary visual experience. If your PC has the juice to set this game loose and you have a thirst for first-person shooter action, you're in for a treat. Although Doom 3 is not perfect, the 3D graphics engine upon which it is built sets a new, jaw-dropping standard that makes this game a must-have.

Hell on Mars
Your character is a low-ranking Marine on a routine rotation to the Mars Research Facility of the United Aerospace Corporation (UAC). That's pretty much all the backstory you need. Doom 3 is a bit skimpy in the storyline department, but rich plotting and character development have never been the focus of the Doom franchise. Action is the name of the game here, and we found plenty. After a few minutes of wandering through the facility, listening to rumors about impending catastrophe from the staff (remember Half-Life?), it was time to start shooting. We fought our way through dark, lavishly detailed environments until finally doing battle with pure evil in the depths of hell. Although the game offers no opportunities to explore the Martian setting apart from the linear corridors of the research facility, good level design and well-crafted sound effects succeeded at scaring the living heck out of us all the way through.

Fearsome monsters. Dimly lit environments. The perfect recipe for horror.

Creature Discomforts
Groaning zombies and the sudden leaping attack of an eleven-eyed Imp are just the beginning of the horror and anxiety in Doom 3. Floating Cacodemons attack from above with a mouthful of teeth... ethereal Revenants fire flesh-seeking missiles with deadly accuracy... a swarm of spider-like Trites skitter down the corridor, hungry for blood. Although the enemy AI in Doom 3 is less crafty than we would have liked, the incredible variety of enemies--each with a unique style of attack--outweighs this shortcoming somewhat.

Guns, Guns, Guns
While there are many powerful weapons in the game, they are designed to force players to anticipate and plan for firefights. For instance, we liked wielding the chaingun to shred enemies at longer ranges, but the weapon devours ammo and using it on close-range targets was a waste of bullets. We quickly learned to switch to the shotgun or the chainsaw to dispatch foes at close range.

One piece of hardware, the flashlight, was a point of both salvation and frustration for us. Doom 3 is a dark game and many enemies know how to take advantage of it. You'll often find yourself switching back and forth between your weapons and your flashlight just to see what's lurking ahead. This problem might easily be solved by duct-taping the flashlight to your equipped weapon, but, alas, we found no duct tape on Mars.

Looking Good
Doom 3 looks incredible. Every room is exquisitely detailed, from the shimmer of the air near a heat source to the texture of a hamburger sitting on the counter of the company mess hall. Id obviously went all out designing every creature in the game and their realism makes them all the more horrifying. The eye candy does come at a price, though, and we were forced to play at fairly low resolution even on a Pentium IV 2.8 GHz and an ATI Radeon 9500. Even so, gameplay was smooth as silk. For higher resolutions (1024 x 768 and above) the latest generation of ATI or Nvidia cards is suggested. --Joshua Gunn

Pros

• Stunning display of graphics technology
• Strong level design with lots of spookiness
• Rich variety of enemies
• Plenty of hours of single-player gameplay

• Thin storyline
• Stiff system requirements
• No headlamps or gun-mounted lighting in the 22nd century
• Fairly basic multiplayer options

Features

• Struggle with shock and fear as you fight your way, in an epic clash against pure evil
• Incredible, advanced 3D graphics and physics, with surround sound and real-time dynamic lighting
• Compete in vicious multiplayer action where you'll use light, shadows, and a totally dynamic world to your advantage
• The most intensely realistic and visually stunning game yet -- with the look and feel of a computer-rendered animated movie

Reviews (44)

Wha? What? Was that a woman crying?!?
Single Player*:

Doom 3 is avant garde in the sound and lighting department. The strange sounds you hear bouncing along the piped walls seem to get more frequent the more time you take. You have no idea if they are in the distance, if they are right in front hiding in some unlit place. Hell, you hear them. A rattling corpes falls , dangling from the ceiling, it was this the rattling noise, nothing more, nothing less. Next noise and you might not be so lucky, cause the service lights of the complex just went out. Should you hold your favorite artillery in the dark or hold your flashlight to see your way through? Balance it out, perhaps, switching mindlessly between light source and twitching trigger finger.

This is Doom 3 and it's a perfect upgrade of what I'd expect the Doom 2 classic to be today. The graphics and mood are built with as much realism I've ever seen in a game. Things pop out from dark corners and lunge through opened doors, making you jump back more than once.

The controls in the game utilize the XBox R-type controller perfectly. The D-pad allows you to assign direction (^V<>) to your favorite lead/plasma/rocket/soul stocked wrist cronies. This allows for quick access. The concept of quick access is driven further with the incessant need to switch flashlight/artillery.

The single player story is told through dead people's PDAs. Pick em up (they're not using 'em anymore) and find access codes and tales of their experiences in their UAC Depts. It's an interesting way of telling a story that's been told before. I enjoyed this medium.

Online Co-Op*:

This is a great addition to the game, one that any XBliver will be very happy to have. Grab a buddy and go through the game together. I haven't solved the game in this mode, but the levels for Online Co-Op seem to be a little fewer and/or peared down from the single player game. It's a fun experience especially with a friend.


In closing, Doom 3 is a great dark masterpiece. It's very reminiscent of the old Doom games you remember from PC, seeing upgrades of your enemies and all that. You'll also remember that the enemies will come right at you, head-on, in a rather dumb sort of fashion, meaning they lack state of the art AI. That's a reason I chainsawed a star away from being a 5 star title. Don't expect flanking or running and hiding on the vermin's part. They come right at you. Many times this makes you jump back.

*The reason I structured this way is because I found the Single Player game the best experience of Doom 3. Don't cheat. Single Player meaning no spectators in the room and lights out. Stereo sound if you have it. The game is less atmospheric if you are talking to someone in the room or joking with your XBox live buddy at how fat his ex-girfriend is.

It's Doom, For Better and For Worse
I make it a habit of renting games before buying them. If the game's truly worth it, I'll gladly pay the "extra" fee due to renting it first. I rented Doom3 for the Xbox, and here's my spin on it.

Pros:
- graphics are superb and very atmospheric. It's downright creepy at times.
- Excellent, atmospheric sound, and perhaps some of the best sound in any current console game.
- Good overall translation from the PC to the Xbox. Considering what the original PC specs for the game are/were, this says a *LOT*.
- FPS gameplay translates well to the console controller. Very responsive and intuitive.
- Cooperative play adds a fantastic dimension to the game. It's nice to go Demon hunting with someone else tagging along blasting bad guys as needed.
- Collector's Edition comes with Doom I and Doom II. It's worth the extra $10 for those alone, as getting those games to run on Win XP is almost impossible at times.
- A nod to id for trying to put some sort of story to it this time. A weak story, mind you, but a decent effort nonetheless. I especially like that it's the guy's first few days at the place, meaning he's none too sure of what goes where yet. The PDA feature is nice, as it eliminates the days of yore where you wandered around pulling levers for no reason.
- It's the same ol' Doom, atmosphere, zombies, demons, extremely tough boss battles, and all.

Cons:
- It's the same ol' Doom where monsters pop out of boxes in the wall...behind you...in the dark. Why can't the monsters enter the area in some manner other than a "secret" panel, say morph through the wall somehow and maintain some level of invincibility during said morphing? And the monster-behind-you-in-the-dark paradigm is a bit stale for today's games. I know it's part of the atmosphere, but it seems to be an afterthought in design to me. Maybe I'm just jaded after playing Halo/Halo2, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, SW: Republic Commando, and others.
- Repetitive gameplay: Despite the attempt at a story, it's still go through level, monster pops out behind you, blast monster, find code or whatnot, exit level. The technology exists to do oh so much more, demonstrated by those games mentioned above.
- Equipment Usage: In the future we can travel with regularity to Mars, where we have colonies established. We have harnessed the power of plasma into weaponry, and have put supercomputers into projectile launchers. But, either due to bad supply chain management or ineptitude, we can't find any duct tape to tie a flashlight to a weapon. Nor do we have Night Vision Devices (NVDs). It's a research station where excavation takes place, and yet *no one* has mining helmets? We failed to carry forward any personal system for producing light other than the flashlight that can't be tied to anything. Missed opportunity to address this, or even add a touch of humor here. Other elements are explained in the PDAs, why not this? It seems like another afterthought to me, and more work could have been in other areas to maintain the creepiness. I understand completely the emphasis on "atmosphere" for the game, but that atmosphere could be just as easily imparted by other elements. Having to recharge a pair of NVD's for example, would lend just as much atmosphere to the game. I suppose so much horsepower went into the graphics that there was little room left to do anything else.
- Underutilized story elements: The PDA is great and all, but it's underutilized. It would be interesting if you got a certain amount of info and are then given a choice; manipulate building functions through the PDA to get out faster, albeit without as many weapons or whatnot, or go through the building popping monsters, risking much more harm, but getting better weapons at the end. Why doesn't it have a comprehensive *map* of the place on it?? It can download video and security clearances no problem, but it doesn't have a map???
- Linear gameplay: To be totally fair, this is a problem with a lot of games now, so maybe I shouldn't be too harsh. One of the endearing things about Halo2 was the ability to play as members of both sides of the conflict. I think the Doom series could benefit from some fresh thinking in that regard; letting you play as various characters who eventually meet up at the end, (or not, depending on character played), then you're given a choice as to which character to play to go after the bad guy, for example. Randomization of the levels and the like, a la Diablo and Diablo II, would breathe some modern life into the series as well...and add to that creep factor every time you played.
- (Xbox version) Paltry cheat codes: Yeah I like using them and will freely admit it. I especially like unlimited ammo cheat codes, because, well, they're fun to use *after beating the game*. If I *wanted* a real life shooting experience with limited ammo, I'd *join SOCOMM*. The PC version has an unlimited ammo code, but the Xbox version doesn't. It does however, have invincibility, the single most boring cheat code ever invented. WHY?!?!?!

So color me so-so about Doom 3. Will I buy it? Good question. Doom fanatics already have the PC and Xbox versions, love both equally much, have the board game already, several action figures around the desk, and really don't care what I have to write about it. The Collector's Edition is intriguing; knowing that I could simply insert the disk into the Xbox and play Doom and Doom II all over again without having to write some batch file on my PC to manage virtual memory or whatnot is a value added benefit. I may wait until it goes down in price, say closer to the end of the year or whatnot.

A big disappointment
When i was but a lad, this kind of thing would have been a great game to play. But now as an older wiser gamer i can see through that kind of thing. By that kind of thing, i mean cheap thrills, which this game has plenty of and will use often. After playing this game for about an hour or two, you will begin to see that if you see a dark corner or hear a "SSSSSS" something is there or coming. And odds are you will shoot in the direction of the sound or darkness and almost 99.9% of the time, there is something there that you will have just killed. That's how i went through this game, and in the end i just didn't get enjoyment out of it. After finishing the final level, i really felt like i wasted my time playing it because the challenge just wasn't there. If you must play this game, do it for the graphics and rent it. Save your money. ... Read more

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

Reviews (1)

EXCELLENT!!!
We have an original version for my 3 year old son, his 6 year old sister fell in love with his and they were "sharing" the one - it was a well thought out decision to buy a second, only I was concerned with making sure which belonged to whom.The pink version was the perfect solution!Great addition to this family of super star toys! ... Read more

Features

• Toy bar features 2 hanging toys, 1 with a chime and 1 with beads
• Lights up when toy is pulled
• Plays up to 8 soothing songs
• Calming vibrations
• Parents can also activate the lights and music for longer-lasting entertainment

Reviews (6)

Not that great
We just received this bouncer as a shower gift. Although I registered for this based on the reviews,I am not impressed. It is very cute to look at, however the vibration feature is loud. It actually vibrates the little bird and makes a loud noise. I do not care for the music it plays either. With out using the toy bar I am sure this would be a fine seat but, I am willing to bet there are better ones out there.

GREAT SEAT FOR THE MONEY
We received this seat as a gift 1 month ago when our daugher Sophia was 1 month old. She loved it right away.One thing I found was she cries sometimes when I put the music on. But this being my 3rd daughter reminded me that sometimes they look away from their toys and get overstimulated and can't handle too much noise or too much to look at.I learned that the hard way with my middle daughter. So when she cries I take off the toy part and she quickly falls asleep.This is our first Fisher Price seat and the least expensive seat we have ever had but the best performance wise and it is so cute to look at! I just bought it for a friend's first baby.

Great Bouncer To Have
I received this as a shower gift and I am ever so grateful that I did. My 2 week old daughter loves it. I have been putting her in it since she came home from the hosptial and the only problem I have had with it was that her head sometimes falls over to the side so I use a head support and its fine. She loves the vibration and I have no problems at all getting her to sit in it. She will fall asleep faster in her bouncer than she will in her crib with the mobile going. I dont think she old enough yet to care that there is music and rattles attached even though I can sit her in it and she will listen to the sounds and music she is not interested in the rattles or birdy just yet. She has not seemed to have a problem with the vibration being too much for a newborn and I dont think the motor is all that loud. I feel this is a wonderful item and would highly recommed it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Bouncer Seats   

Reviews (17)

Great JOG stroller - Not for WALKERS.
If you jog, this stroller is fine. As a jogger, I would not want a stroller with a swiveling front wheel. It would be too difficult to control. It is important that the front wheel be stationary for jogging/running. For walking outside or somewhere with lots of bends and turns, you should consider a regular stroller with larger all-terrain wheels. Great stroller. I just wish it were lighter in weight. I am small and it is large and heavy for me.It is a bit difficult to turn lifting the front with two kids, but it gets easier - and makes your upper body stronger.

HATE IT -terrible.
Veres to the left - I can't get it to go straight.Wrists are sore from having to lift up every two seconds to navigate.Kids sink toward the middle of the stroller.Doesn't fit anywhere, even some theme park stroller gates!

They claim it folds compactly - it is still HUGE when it's folded and terribly heavy.I have to remove everything from my trunk and remove the front wheel in order to fit it in my car.A big mistake - I'm returning it.

Great Stroller For the Price
I personally love this stroller for the Price!I didn't want to spend over $300 dollars and I test drove alot before buying this one. I have a very tall!! 2 year old and a Heavy 5 month old and I like the fact that the baby is able to lay down and nap while the toddler can set up. It folds and unfolds easily.It fits well in my SUV, and the best part is because of the size difference in the 2 children they can set side by side and see the same thing, I tried those tamden strollers and my 2 year old was to tall for the canopy and could not recline after a long trip at the zoo. This wil continue to hold the children up to a combined weight of 100 lbs.Also it was easy to assemble. The front tire does not swivel but you quick learn to pop and pivet on turns.And for the oversized tires, I have gone trough all kinds of terrain(off road) without a problem, and through the jungle of the malls.
I have one complaint/wish to have a little larger sunshade and a snack tray but for that price I might be able to search and find a add on accessory.
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gear    2. Strollers    3. Jogging Strollers   

Editorial Review

Over 10 feet long from end to end--with portholes, doors,ladders, slides, nooks, and crannies galore--this molded-plasticplayground promises years, if not decades, of entertainment before allof its possibilities can be exhausted. A 2-foot-long climb-throughtunnel connects two separate, open-topped towers (one is 4.5 feet tall,the other 5.5). The shorter tower has a swinging door and windows, thelarger one has two separate levels and two smooth-plastic slides (one is 3feet long, the other 4). It's the perfect investment for bigger andsmaller kids to play with together. But best of all, the playground canbe disassembled and rebuilt into eight different configurationswhenever the current setup loses its charm. With Little Tikes' typicalrock-solid, kid-friendly construction, you can bet this sturdyplayground will be around long enough for that to happen.--Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (107)

Note for Husbands
OK, here is a review from a guy who bought this thing for his daughter and nephew, and I think I ought to just make a quick comment to those husbands out there looking at this.On a side note, the one they sent me is not nearly as colorful as the picture in Amazon.com, no hot pinks or anything like that, mostly blue, dark green and tan.Fine, but not the color explosion it appeared to be.As far as assembly - crud.Give yourself 2 hours, have a hammer or rubber mallet and you would be best off with at least two good sized friends.This thing is just hollow injection-molded plastic pieces and the parts barely fit together.You basically need to press and bend the plastic pieces into one another while forcing them together to make the thing work.That seems to be what then keeps the thing "durable". I ended up having to literally stand on and jump up and down on some of the pieces to get them to fit into one another.Even then, one or two minor parts just do not fit tightly. On a pain in the butt scale, I give it a 7.5, maybe an 8.Be warned.

Not in wasp/yellow jacket territory!
We got one of these when we bought our new home.It came with the house.We love it as do my boys (4 and 16 months) but unfortunately, the wasps love it too.The bright colours attract them and the gaps left where the pieces join together are apparently considered prime real estate for wasps to build their nests.I'm allergic to bees so I am in fear whenever we go in our backyard.I do a walk-around the structure every day, but between morning and nap there have been industrious wasps and so we can't play outside till my husband comes home and gets the nest down and sprays the living daylights out of the wasps or whatever these nasty things are.We are looking into getting either a metal structure or a wooden one...something not as bright and cheerful looking and something without all those little holes.

Adjustable, but not easy to adjust
For the most part, it was easy to assemble though there are quality control issues with some of the plastic seams.I had to shave off some of the xtra plastic on two of the panels connecting 'locks' when they snap together. But most of it was pretty to assemble withone person. DO follow the directions when it comes to attaching the'tunnel' because it is a VERY tight fit, for safety reasons. The reconfiguring of the slides is very easy to unmount, but the 'tunnel' is a different story, you pretty much have to disassemble the panel from one of the towers to get it off.One other thing that that you can do with this playground is that you can just keep it separate, it is very stable, and have 2 towers and one slide on each one without the tunnel attached in which they could have marketed it as a 10-in-1.I actually had only one of the towers assembled with the slide attached in the livingroom for my 2-yrs daughter to play with since it rained all weekend and we couldn't set it up outside. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Outdoor Play    3. Tunnels    4. Playhouses    5. Toddler    6. Pretend Play    7. Gadgets   

Features

• Career Mode: Create a golfer and build his skills and Compete against the pros from past and present in match play events, tournaments and challenge modes, proving youve got what it takes to become a legend of the game.
• Take on the All-Time Greats: Compete against the pros from past and present including Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer.
• 12 Highly Detailed Courses: Tee off the links of Sherwood Country Club, Pebble Beach, Harbor Town, Paradise Cove, and more.
• Wireless Head-to-Head Gameplay: Challenge your friends to five game modes including the all new Bingo Bango Bongo.
• Party Play: Four players compete in different game modes using one PSP unit.

Reviews (6)

Probably the best handheld golf game
If you want a portable golf game that is very close to matching the console versions, then look no further. This is a great game that is a lot of fun to play and take with you on the PSP. This version still has the feature where you create your own golfer with lots of customizable options. You can also upgrade their skill points after earning some cash on the green. Its true that the load times are pretty long. Easily the longest I have seen when compared to the other PSP games I have. However, don't let that scare you off from playing a great game. The controls are very well done although its not quite as easy as on the consoles. Also, this game is much better on the PSP than it is on the GBA or DS. Anyways, this game is worth getting if your a golf fan and want a new game for your PSP.

Horrible load times
This game is very fun and has great game physics. It's definitely worth a buy but keep 2 things in mind. The graphics are good but just ok. I also have Ridge Racer and after seeing it, I know Tiger Woods could have looked better.

The second, more pressing issue is load times which are TERRIBLE. After ever screen choice the game loads and after ever hole the game loads. These aren't short, ready in a sec. load times either. It's about 30 seconds from hole to hole, 45 sec. to 1min between setting up a game and the worst is starting a new game from start up which literally takes 3 to 5 minutes. This is the reason I only put the device in sleep mode and don't completely power off because the load time is unacceptable.

Tee Time!!!
I love playing this game. This was one of the first titles I bought for my PSP when it was released. Granted some of the load times are a bit long, but if you have some time to spend you should definitely give this game a shot. The graphics are great for a handheld game. No other game even comes close to matching it. The real fun for me is the challenge of creating a golfer from scratch and improving upon his attributes until he's able to compete with Tiger or Vijay. I play as Tiger and win as much money as I can so that I can improve my created golfer. That's the quickest way to earn lots of money so that your golfer can be competitive in a short amount of time. I highly recommend this game. I think it's well worth the $50.00 you'll spend to get it. I hope this review was helpful... ... Read more

Features

• Play games without tying up family TV
• Allows portable video game and DVD play of your Xbox
• Color monitor provides better game graphics than TV
• Built-in stereo speakers
• High-quality independent RCA jacks compatible with most game systems, DVD players, VCRs, TV, etc.

Reviews (24)

You Can Use A Portable DVD Player!!!
I have a 7" portable DVD player and I have it hooked up in my truck. The key to buying a portable DVD player is that you must buy one that has the option to accept video input. Then you goto Walmart or Radio Shack and buy three female-to-female RCA connectors. BANG... you have a portable DVD player and a Screen. You can now hook up anything that has RCA connectors: Sat., Cable, VCR, Gamecube, PS2, etc...

lisen to everyone else
i wish they made stars of 0 cause this i verry poor. even with a car amplilifire it's worse than playing halo on cell phone.

sucks

Just plain bad
Take a look at the reviews for this one. All of them.

Those that are good are most involve necessity, and a willingness to accept subpar quality.

This is not a good product -- maybe worth $50, but not more. The resolution is nothing short of horrible. The sound is fine, especially through the headphone jack, but i could not distinguish the walls from the floor when i tested this with Morrowind. I am not just talking about details here, i am talking about major graphical display haze and fuzz.

Really, you are betting off buying a small TV monitor. The sound may not be as good, but at least you can see the game.

Caveat emptor! (let the buyer beware, especially if you can't return it) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Xbox (x box)    3. Microsoft    4. Consoles    5. Controllers    6. Microsoft Xbox (X-box, X Box)    7. Memory    8. Accessories (Accessory)   

Reviews (5)

Worth every penny.
Bought this for my 3 year old daughter who gets a new toy just about every other day.As a result, she is really spoiled and will typically discard her old toys for the latest present.Not so with the Leappad.She loves it!It really is neat.The books that come with it are great -- one asks you questions, like your name, favorite food, favorite color, etc.; you talk into the microphone; and then it uses your responses throughout the story.The other book is about a frog (the Leapfrog?) and it has a story and games -- like rhyming games -- and helps out with your letters (something she is very into right now).She also has a PowerTouch system, and while she will tote that out from time to time to play a song from Blues Clues or Elmo, she never had much interest.I have a feeling this is something that she's not going to lose interest in or outgrow too quickly.A steal for $20!

leap frog microphone is AWESOME HERE!
This is a DEFINATE MUST HAVE!My kids LOVE the fact that they can hear their voices reading what is written.... I have bought like 3 additional microphone abled books. They are a BIG HIT in this house hold.We buy lots of leap frog products, and this one is my children's favorite.They could play and play and play.... I love the fact that they like this item so much!It is suppose to help with fluency and it does, my daughter absolutely loves reading and is doing wonderfully with this item.... To give you an idea what products we have from leap frog: My first leap pad, original leap pad, leap pad with microphone, and quantum, and the leap pad plus writing, turbo twist, spelling and a brain twist one, 2 leapsters which my kids love too! 40 some leap frog books......imagination desk, leap frog princess computer....This one is my families FAVORITE other than the leapster!Hope they come out with more microphone type books...A+++ leap frog! Keep up the AWESOME job!!!! :)

BEST TOY MONEY CAN BUY!
This is by far the BEST toy I purchased for my children this Christmas.I actually purchased it in exchange for the InteracTV that I was very disappointed in.Boy am I glad I did.All four of my children, ages 2, 3, 8, and 11, have fun playing with this Leap Pad. And I love that it will last them for years, and is also compatible with the Quantum books.
I bought my 11 year old his first Leap Pad when he was 5, and paid over $50 for it, but he used it for years.The Leapfrog company even sent me a new stylus when the original no longer worked. Unfortunately, after years of being banged around, our old leap pad now doesn't read cartridges, and I decided to purchase a new one.This particular Leap Pad with Microphone is worth every penny!When your child points to a red dot, it asks a question like, "What is your name?""What is your favorite food?""how old are you?", etc etc... and incorporates your child voice into the story.Easy enough for my 2 year old, but fun enough for even me!I'm so glad I returned the InteracTV and bought this instead.(Same price at my local Toys R Us!) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Math    3. Reading    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Alphabet    7. Preschool    8. Counting   

Editorial Review

It may not feature any loop-de-loops or terrifying hairpin turns, butpreschoolers will likely find this 10-foot-long roller coaster every bit asthrilling as grownups find the amusement park version. Molded in brightlycolored plastic, it's built for years of wear in either the backyard or theplayroom. The set's components fit together to form a downhill ride with anothersmaller hill about halfway through. What we loved most about this set is thefact that the individual parts are just as much fun as the fully assembled kit.The car, bright yellow with a sturdy handle, could just as easily be used aroundthe house if the child is too young for the coaster. And the ramp system isplenty of fun to roll cars, balls, or anything else. Perhaps our tiny toy testersaid it best: "Wheee!" --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (74)

This is a toy that grows with your child
We bought the roller coaster for our grandson when he was just over a year old. He's now three and a half and still loves it.

It has been out in the backyard for all this time; it is somewhat faded but otherwise still going strong.

Hours of Fun
My 20-month old absolutely loves this toy. It took me only 3 minutes to assemble and then he was riding down the ramp.After helping him push the Coaster car back up the ramp twice, I taught him how to do it himself.My son pushs the car up backwards then runs down the ramp and around to go up the step to get on.Then he rides down the roller coaster and starts all over.He played for hours and hours the first day and it is the first thing he does every morning now.He also uses it to roll balls down, play with his cars and trucks, etc.He loves it.The toy is true Step 2 quality and will last for years.

Big Smile
My son received this Up and Down roller Coaster for his 2nd Birthday. He LOVES it! I think the age they recommend is spot on (although we've had 7 year olds play on it as well, but at that age their legs get a little to long for it). My son can use this toy all by himself, once he was shown the proper procedure. It does take up a lot of space, but is very easy to assemble and take down. My son ask's to play with it fairly often "Ride Coaster Mommy". I'll leave it up for the day and he'll play with it on and off all day long. Be prepared for the HUGE smile your child will give when they ride it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Preschool   

Features

• Entirely new Metal Gear game and story developed for the PSP
• Use over 200 strategic battle cards to accomplish the mission, including weapon, action and character cards
• Purchase new cards to enhance your infiltration strategy and discover new cards as you play
• Different card decks give you new abilities and actions unique to the theme of the deck
• Experience a deeper level of tactical espionage using a turn-based strategy system

Reviews (31)

I'd stay away from this one
OK, I played Metal Gear YEARS ago when it first came out on Nintendo. i played a few times with newer games, but I have not been a big game player since my early teen years. Now, at 27, Ithought this system looked great, so I bought it and Metal Gear at the same time, since I thought it would be like the older ones from years ago.Boy was I wrong.I like a game you can just start and go, but this is not that kind of game. This has a card system that you have to use to move and do everything with.Too confusing for an old school gamer like me!

NO SIR!I DON'T LIKE IT
Metal Gear is not, i repeat NOT made to be a card game.What were they thinking.

The Don

Just doesn't add up for me
I really think that a card-based strategy game just doesn't work out for Metal Gear. The cut scenes are long, and you're mostly just staring at the same image for fifteen minutes.
When it comes to gameplay, I was baffled. I first tried to sneak around everyone, like you should in a Metal Gear game, but that never worked out. Then, I'd try to just kill anyone that was too close to me, but that didn't work because I never got the cards I needed. Then, once I was finished with the missions, I'd always get a D or lower, because they mark you down if you kill someone, are seen, or take to long, which I always did.

Buy this game at your own risk, because it's frustrating and takes some patience. ... Read more

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

Reviews (25)

Great multipurpose walker
This walker is helping our 8 month old twin boys to learn to walk. Its very safe and very cute...
* It only goes straight, perfect for a beginner
* Large basket, we use it to hold peek-a-blocks usually, or it can hold my twins!
* Small and low to the ground, wont tip over
* Very durable, nothings breaking this wagon!
* The wooden slats come off so my kids can ride in it
* It wont tip over
* If its on hardwood, it doesnt ruin the floors
* Rolls well on carpet too

Its just a cute and great walker for those first few steps, my twins love this one just as much as the Gobble n' go hippo, great toy...

The best!Well worth the $$$$
We bought and returned several "walker" toys before I found this one. We bought it when our son was about 10mos old and just beginning to venture out on his own.It is very stable when many of the others would fall over when he tried to walk behind them.The handle is also very wide compared to other push toys. Because of the clickers it takes a little effort to push, which I like because the others would fly away from him.

I agree that initially it was hard to steer but give it a time ...our son is now a pro. Plus many of the other push toys would just fall over when he tried to turn them. He can take this wagon around the tighest corners with no problem. We also had to replace our clickers.I called radio flyer and they sent them out ASAP and they were a snap to replace.

Even with those two issues,I would buy this wagon again.We are going on 8 months of use now and it is still the favorite.I am a super picky toy buyer and this wagon is at the top of my must have list!!!

Cute to look at but NOT DURABLE!!
We purchased this wagon for our 18 month old son for Christmas.After my husband nearly pulled out his hair putting it together, our son was ready to walk with his new wagon.Unfortunately, in three short months of use, one of the side wood panels has broken leaving a nail exposed (thankfully, that piece is removable and I could throw it away), several of the lugnuts have come off, and my son managed to take the pushbar off.I called Radio Flyer directly about this and they apologized and told me the side panel should not have broken like it did and that the push bar should have never come off.Those are the least of my concerns.I caught my son a few days ago right as he was going to put one of the lugnuts that have come loose again, in his mouth.That was the last straw for the wagon.I grew up with a Radio Flyer and I will give them another chance but not until my son is older and next time maybe we will buy a good old fashioned wagon.I do not recommend this wagon for any toddler. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Push and Pull Toys    3. Ride-Ons    4. Outdoor Play    5. Wagons