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$46.95
101. Devil May Cry 3
$23.95
102. Xbox Controller S (Blue)
$89.89
103. QX5 Computer Microscope
$39.88
104. PSP Mercury
$7.99
105. Alkaline AA 12-Pack Batteries
$29.95
106. FIFA Soccer 2005
$29.99
107. Brother in Arms Road to Hill 30
$29.99
108. GBA Fire Emblem The Sacred Stones
$14.99
109. Baby Einstein - discover 'N play
$19.99
110. Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia
$45.95
111. XENOSAGA EPISODE II Jenseits von
$46.95
112. WWE Wrestlemania XXI
$139.95
113. GBA SP Classic Ice Climber Gift
$46.95
114. PSP NFL Street Unleashed
$89.99
115. Polar A5 Heart Rate Monitor
$46.95
116. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year
$39.99
117. DDR Extreme With Free CD
$29.99
118. Razor A2 Scooter: Blue
$23.95
119. Xbox Controller S Black
$39.88
120. Ratchet and Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal

101. Devil May Cry 3
by Capcom
CD-ROM (01 March, 2005)
-- our price: $46.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0002A6CNW
Sales Rank: 356
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • Choose your own fighting style by customizing Dante to your advantage
  • Style System allows players to select from Gunslinger, Swordmaster, Trickster, and Royal Guard type classes
  • For 1 player
  • The mysterious Dante is back in this adventure set before the first Devil May Cry
  • Tells the story of the clash between Sparda's twin sons

Reviews (44)

5-0 out of 5 stars Thank you, Capcom!
I am so suprised that after the god-awful Devil May Cry 2, Capcom was able to make this series great again! It totally gets the series back on it's feet, and I think Capcom's ready for more if they can make another sequel (this one's a prequel) that's either this good or better. Maybe not better because this one's even better than number 1! If you loved Devil May Cry 1, and you can't deny, this one will make you extremly happy.

5-0 out of 5 stars Redemption at Last!!
I loved this game.In fact it is my favorite video game.I love the "Devil May Cry" series.I even got kinda used to the second one after the initial huge dissapointment of it.

To me, this one surpasses the previous two by a long shot.It has a great in depth storyline, great characters, and is just overall a great game.

As for the difficulty, well, the first time I played it(I've played it like 4 times through already) I found some of the bosses, namely Cerebus, Nevan, and Heart of Leviathan, to be VERY frustrating, but usually beat them after about the 3rd try.The first half of the game was much more difficult than the second half and there are some easier bosses that are actually fun to beat, like Beowulf and the Vergil fights.And truth is, I really am not good at playing video games(I can't get very far in 99% of the games I play without dying or getting so frustrated I give up), so if I can beat it, it can't be THAT difficult.

Speaking of difficulty, the replayability factor is great.In fact, I found the game to be more fun the second time through than the first, because it's just not as difficult.

The characters are great, and the storyline is very detailed, with over an hour and a half of cut scenes.Dante is at his prime in this game, however, I must admit that I thought that Vergil is a cooler character.He just seems more complex, whereas Dante is just kinda a smart a** with one liners.Of course, that's why we like Dante.Arkham is the ultimate in "eww" and I think that Lady fits perfectly in the game.

The game of course has it's negatives, like, the music on the game is good, HOWEVER, it's too damn repetitive.I love the main song from the game, but after listening to it every time you fight something, it gets old very quickly.

Also, while I liked Lady, she seemed a little too superhuman for being just a human.I mean, I don't know how many people would get stabbed, shot, and beat-up and just be "tired."

And I must say there are some cutscenes that are just a bit on the ridiculous side.Like getting a killer electric guitar that calls bats REALLY made me cringe.And driving a motorcycle up a vertical building, or falling forever from the tower.

Other than that, the game is a MUST!!It is the best game out there and I highly recommend it.

5-0 out of 5 stars The Best From DMC Series
This is by far one of the greatest games for the PS2 to come in a while.
Action packed / capcom style arcade fighter, get it now. ... Read more

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


102. Xbox Controller S (Blue)
by Microsoft
Video Game
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $23.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0000C6EDL
Sales Rank: 112
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • 9.8 foot cable with inline release
  • Blue controler has 3 analog buttons with 256 levels of sensitivity
  • 2 analog pressure-point triggers
  • 2 vibration feedback motors, 2 menu navigation buttons
  • 2 expansion slots for memory cards or other accessories (sold separately)

Reviews (14)

1-0 out of 5 stars Please explain!
Please explain to me why you people believe the S-type controller is better. Now I know that I am probably a dissenting view on this, but I honestly love the old "Big and Bulky" controller. If the controller is too big for you then I guess the S-Type is a good choice, but I prefer the original. The S-Type is wierd to play with, because the black and white buttons are at the bottom of the controller instead of the top, and the layout of the analog sticks are the only thing that seem to resemble the original controller (with exception of the colors of the A B X and Y buttons).

5-0 out of 5 stars Funky color, but it's popular...
...at least, it's popular at my store. I say "funky" because the dark blue color doesn't seem to go well with the black and green XBox...but my customers don't seem to mind. It outsells the green S and almost outsells the black S at my store. Those who bought an XBox when it first came out remember the monstrously oversized controller that came with it. Fans complained, and Microsoft created the Controller S ("S" for "small") to alleviate the cramped hands and aggravation the original controller caused. (The original still has its fans, though; I get a handful of requests each month for it). The control layout may take some getting used to, as many games require the use of all of the buttons, and reaching the small black and white buttons near the bottom of the controller can be risky in heavy combat (such as switching grenade types while battling an Elite in Halo). Otherwise, this controller is great. It's just the right size for most people, although if you're buying a controller for someone with small hands (like a child, for example) then I suggest the Mad Catz MicroCon, perfectly suited for smaller hands. The Controller S is also available in green and black.

I hope this review was helpful

--Christian Wheeler

5-0 out of 5 stars The $30 is worth it
I know they have cheaper Xbox controllers out there, but most of them suck. I remember when I got a $20 controller, and shortly, it started working like crap. I know $30 is a little pricey for a controller, but I'd rather spend $30 for a good controller than spend $20 for a crappy controller. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Microsoft    2. Controllers    3. Video Games    4. Xbox (x box)   


103. QX5 Computer Microscope
by Prima Creations
Toy (18 August, 2004)
list price: $89.89 -- our price: $89.89
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0002HLKI2
Sales Rank: 1123
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • Simply connect this microscope to any PC and watch as the tiny things are magnified to incredible size -- and displayed on your monitor
  • Up to 200X magnification for seeing the tiniest particles and microbes, bigger than life
  • Requires USB port and 4 AA batteries(not incl.)

Reviews (4)

5-0 out of 5 stars My daughter loves it!
My daughter rec'd this for christmas, and LOVES it!She is 9 years old and likes to go on 'nature walks' to gather specimens to look at and take pictures of...She has a great interest in nature, expecially rocks and plants - so this is the perfect toy for her.
I wish it had come with an instruction manual, but it's simple enough to use that we were able to figure it out and get it working in less than 30 minutes.the software is easy for her to use and she can hook up and get started all on her own.She uses it less often now, as is to be expected - but it has more to do with not being able to use our (only) computer than lack of interest.overall it's one of the most entertaining toys she has and will be used for a long time.

5-0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!
My son got this for his birthday and absolutely loved it.Immediately he was making movies and magnifying everything.He loves that it comes off the base to magnify just about anything that he can get close to the computer.He asked me if he could take it to school and share it with his class.His teacher loved that they could all gather around the computer and look at the images.It is even better in the classroom becasue she can verify that they are looking at the right things, and when students ask questions they can point to it on the computer screen instead of trying to explain what they are seeing through the regular lens.This is a great item for beginning to use a microscope and helping a child learn the ropes.

5-0 out of 5 stars Fun for adults too
Must confess that I bought this for myself.I was having trouble taking macro pictures of my wife's jewelry and this puppy does the trick. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Telescope (Telescopes)    2. Astronomy    3. Star Gazing (Gaze)   


104. PSP Mercury
by IGNITION ENTERTAINMENT LTD
Video Game (04 April, 2005)
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $39.88
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0006GQN5E
Sales Rank: 446
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • Realistic liquid Mercury properties combined with unique color blending.
  • 6 fully 3D stunning graphical themed worlds full of bizarre abstract features.
  • Over 70 levels of liquid mayhem
  • Level types include Race modes, Challenge modes, Percentage, Combo modes and Boss.
  • 2 Player gaming on all 72 levels using Wi-Fi / Wireless Battle Mode and ghost mode head to head style.

Reviews (12)

4-0 out of 5 stars a definate keeper!
Metal Gear Acid was the first PSP game i bought, and thoroughly enjoyed it. So when it came time to picking up a second game for the Psp, this one was a no brainer. It's a lot like Marble Madness, but with the really fun dynamic of playing it safe with the liquid metal Mercury (which is really bad for your health in real life). You don't wanna spill it and the thrill of getting through the levels and playing it over and over again is a rush.
It actually reminds me of the same thrill i get playing through the VR missions on Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for PS2, you play each level over and over again till you're perfect at it, it becomes an obsession... people complain that the game is too short or gets hard too fast... well as far as it being hard.. practice makes perfect, the controls are very easy and tight, so the negative reviews to the gameplay being hard are really just a matter of taste.As far as the game being too short, my recommendatin is speeding through it at first, then going back through it 10 fold till you've conquered it, then play against a friend!

All in all this game is a great find for a great system. Its not a waste of money, its a definate Keeper!

4-0 out of 5 stars Mercury is mercu-rific!
So I purchased Wipe Out Pure and got blown away by an amazing racing game on the PSP. Than I purchased Metal Gear Acid and was blown away by the depth of the game play and story line. With both games conquered I needed another PSP game fix and fast! There were quite a few to choose from but the beautiful graphics and unique game play brought me to the world of Mercury.This game is like a mixture between super monkey ball and marble madness. It provides really challening but not impossible puzzles. Even when you have trouble passing a level youare determined to finish. The more you play the better you get. The lush landscapes and tight control make this a great puzzle to get your hands on and will compliment your PSP game collection quite well. Another fantastic PSP game experience making this system a very worth while purchase. I hightly recommend it.

2-0 out of 5 stars waste
Its fun at first but is way to short and you get bored of it after 2 or 3 days I highly sugjest you do not buy this but if you relly want it rent it but never buy it. ... Read more


105. Alkaline AA 12-Pack Batteries
by Rayovac
Toy
-- our price: $7.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00005BOS9
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Editorial Review

Power up your favorite toys and games with this pack of AA batteries. Includes 12 alkaline batteries in one of the most common sizes for a wide variety of electronic toys, games, and action figures. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent Batteries
I have used Ray-O-Vac Alkaline batteries for years in Toys, Radios, and Flashlights and they have always worked great, compared to low budget store bands and cheap "Heavy Duty" batteries that run out of juice quickly.

I like Ray-O-Vac because many times they are priced lower than the overhyped Duracell and Energizer batteries and work just as well.

The best thing is they are still being made in the USA, other famous brands are now making thier Aklaline batteries in Mexico, China and other countries. So support a company that still manufactures batteries here.

I guess the only "fun" you can have with these batteries by themselves is if you lick the end of a new 9-Volt! Real fun! Zapp!

3-0 out of 5 stars Batteries
Batteries rule!When I don't feel like plugging something in, I totally turn to batteries.I'm all, like, "hey, batteries, why don't you give power to this object?"And the batteries are all, like, "OK, Chris.Just put us in the right way, and we'll do our stuff."And then I'm, like, "of course I'm going to put you in the right way.What am I, some kind of idiot?"And the batteries say, "Of course not, Chris.We were just reminding you--"And then I say, "No, I know what you were doing batteries, and I don't appreciate it.You think you're the boss of me?You don't pay my bills."To which the batteries usually have no response.Ha!Stupid batteries.

5-0 out of 5 stars Great Batteries for a Great Price.
As much as I like the Engergizer Bunny, I think Rayovac is becoming my favorite brand of batteries. They last just as long as any of the other major brands (Engerizer, Duracel, etc) and are less expensive. Plus, Rayovac often has special packs you can buy giving you even more bang for your buck. In short, these are some great batteries for a great price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic   


106. FIFA Soccer 2005
by Electronic Arts
CD-ROM (12 October, 2004)
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $29.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0002I9ROK
Sales Rank: 178
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • Licensed stadiums with authentic crowd chants
  • Career mode lets you play from both the pitch and the front office
  • Single player, multiplayer, and online multiplayer modes
  • Soccer sports game
  • More than 350 official team and league licenses from around the world

Reviews (28)

1-0 out of 5 stars EA Sports ruins soccer
EA Sports should be stripped of thier rights to all the teams and KONAMI should have the ability to have The Arsenal instead of North London.If you are under 10 years old and never wathched soccer before then this might be the game for you.A real fan of the beautiful game would be better off getting Winning Eleven.EA lost the plot years ago...I think the last EA game I really enjoyed was FIFA World Cup 98.

1-0 out of 5 stars My Fifa Review
Wow, what a bad soccer game this is. There is so much to complain about about this game. First off, the foul shots. First of all, it is incredibly easy to commit a foul. As long as you do a slide tackle and get the person with the ball, its a foul. And if you are lucky enough to get a foul shot that is close to the goal, you know that circle you use to aim so you can hopefully make a goal, no matter how weak you choose to hit the ball, it goes over the goal post. (?) Then the passing. Actually the passing is not incredibly bad, but it is not good either. Then comes the cycling of players. I have no idea why they did this, are you that lazy to press X to switch to another player? Why have the computer do it for you? Let me paint you a picture here. You have the ball, your opponent steals the ball. Immediately you have another player on your team who is closer to the ball come, and try to get it. Then the opponent passes it. The person getting passed to is not that far away. So you have the same person you had just about to get the ball go and get the ball again. About halfway there, the computer decides to switch players to the person who is about 30 ft behind, therefore screwing up your plan to get the ball. Now another scenario comes up. Stealing the ball from your opponent. You no longer have to press a button to conservitively tackle your opponent, instead, you basically run into him. Which is much harder than pressing a button because the opponent can easily do a trick on you and pass you leaving you wondering what happened. And, somehow, your opponent always can run faster than you. (?) Now I am not dissing this game because I hate soccer. I love soccer and watching the fifa cup (Go Romania!). But damn it, when will EA games come out with a flawless soccer game. If they can make good football, baseball, hockey, and basketball games, why can't they make a decent soccer game? My point is, don't buy any soccer games made by EA. Just buy some other, more realistic game.

-Peace Yo!

1-0 out of 5 stars DO THESE PEOPLE PLAY SOCCER?
This game is sooo awful,im writing to complain to ea sports!
graphically good but the game play is just terrible!
you can't fairly win a ball back without giving away a free kick.
if you lose posession ,there is no way you are catching the guy running off with the ball which is absurd!
passing is very twitchy regarding direction!
gamespeed is like yawning in church!
the computer picks your defender to use(usually the one 15 yards behind) and always chooses the wrong guy so by the time you get who you want they are bearing down on you keeper!you can't switch this function off!
if you deadball kick long you will find none of your players anywhere near, no matter what formation you pick!
the shooting is either in the stand or straight at the keeper!
once every 50 times you'll score!
dont listen to these goons who write good reviews for this tripe game!!!!
idiots who never played the game in real life probably made this game.
not being funny but i used to play at a premier league club so who they took advice from is beyond me!!!!
oh and you wonder at times if it's you playing or the computer doing most of it for you(over assisted).
god i cant believe i paid $50 for this garbage!!!
... Read more

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


107. Brother in Arms Road to Hill 30
by UBI Soft
CD-ROM (22 February, 2005)
-- our price: $29.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00069BV7G
Sales Rank: 238
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • One of a Kind: Brothers in Arms is the only first-person tactical shooter set in WWII.
  • Real Military Tactics: Intuitive and easy-to-use squad controls appeal to both the hardcore and mainstream gaming audience.
  • Real Soldiers: Featuring a cast of more than 20 characters, each having a distinctly unique personality, appearance, and style.
  • Revolutionary AI System: Allies and enemies use the standard operating procedures of fire and maneuver to flank and kill their foes.
  • Unprecedented Authenticity: Historically accurate and detailed battlefields, events, and equipment recreated from Army Signal Corps photos, Aerial Reconnaissance Imagery, and eyewitness accounts.

Reviews (14)

3-0 out of 5 stars It has potential...
Brothers In Arms is, as the name suggests, a story similar to that of the series Band of Brothers. You are Sgt. Matt Baker and fight as a trooper in the 101st Airborne alongside a squad of your wartime buddies from D-day until eight days after. Good start for a story, and it does grab you at the beginning. But it let's go rather quickly.
The characters are underdeveloped. You learn a little about your character via short monologues before each mission and a little about your comrades from blurbs in the instruction book, but that's about it. Your squad is supposedly comprised of deep, multi-dimensional people who each have different struggles throughout the ordeal. But those dynamic characters are never explored. They rarely speak, and when they do it is so rushed it loses all meaning. Additionally, you have no need to get attached to them or fear their loss for if they die during a mission they magically rise again for the next mission. You only lose your men between missions, as the story dictates.
The gameplay itself is entertaining if a little repetitive. You must use your squad to outmaneuver the enemy and suppress him. For this game actual military strategy does help, but it's not necessary for victory. The game is repetitive because usually the same tactics work for every encounter. Each encounter has a different setting, number of enemies, etc., but the basic strategy rarely changes. Here is another instance where a little more depth would have added a lot. Your men are not the brightest troopers to land in Normandy and they often die frustratingly quickly. Also, you have very few commands to issue them, making it difficult to tell them exactly what you want them to.
And if you consider historical accuracy an important quality in a game, one more thing will infuriate you about this game. You are sent on some insane missions. For instance, your squad is ordered to clear out the entire industrial sector of Caen. I found myself looking for the rest of thousands of allied troops who were involved in the battle at Caen, not to mention the thousands of German soldiers who defended the city. Granted, it is just a game, but that boiling down such a massive confrontation as Caen to six allies vs. thirty Germans is a little ridiculus.
The game contains few glitches, but some are rather noticeable (like a tank firing backwards through its turret to hit you. Hmmm...).
But, despite my complaints, I did enjoy the game. The story will captivate anyone who enjoys WWII history/fiction. The game play is also entertaining and different from regular 1st person shooters. The sound, lighting, and other technical aspects are beyond comparison. They are worth whatever frustrations the rest of the game provides. So, I would recommend this game for at least a rental, definitely worth buying if you enjoy the more antiquated weaponry and tactics from the WWII-era, especially since the price has been lowered.

5-0 out of 5 stars War the Way It Ought to Be
This is an awesome game.At first I thought the idea of commanding several troops into battle would be too difficult, but the controls are relatively simple.Don't get me wrong, this is not an easy game.There's no way you and your troops will survive if you go in guns blazing.It does take careful planning.My only frustration came from my squad not going EXACTLY where I tell them to go.For instance, I'll direct them to hide behind a barrier and sometimes they'll go in front or the side and get shot up.It's important to try to keep them alive if you want to get through each mission.

Since this is an actual event, it made it even more enjoyable to take part in history.

4-0 out of 5 stars A very "different" shooter for the PS2
This game is very "diffrent" than other shooters for PS2.

The tactical part of the game is great and is a real develpment for shooters overall.The game uses the concept of suppressive fire and flanking movements.The AI also uses this stratagey when they attack you.

The weapons are great. The shooting is extremely difficult. I believe that the shooting is very realistic.As one other reviewer said, I can't believe that they missed the fact that you can't reload the M1 while there is still ammo in the rifle.

The online portion of the game was a let down for me.The most players that can be in one game is four, and it takes forever for all the screens to load to play.You can not use your mic while in the games online, only when you are in the pregame set up.Furthermore, no one plays online, and it is very difficult to find a good game.Why can't game designers copy the Socom 2 model?Have clans, good maps, decent mic communication, and good lobbies.

Overall, this game is very authentic in it's gameplay.The sterotypical diolague is kinda dumb, but I can get beyone that.The tactical elements of the game is a huge development and should set a new standard in terms of FPS tactics.However, I would recomend Call of Duty: Finest Hour or Socom 2 (for online play) before playing this game. ... Read more

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


108. GBA Fire Emblem The Sacred Stones
by Nintendo
Video Game (23 May, 2005)
-- our price: $29.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0007ZSHOY
Sales Rank: 102
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

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)    7. Strategy (Strategic)   


109. Baby Einstein - discover 'N play - Activity Toy
by Kids II
Baby Product (04 October, 2003)
-- our price: $14.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0000936LA
Sales Rank: 211
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Reviews (33)

5-0 out of 5 stars 5 toys in one
My daughter initially showed mild interest in this toy, but as she's gotten older (she's 7 months old now), she's grown to really love it.This is our "car toy" & it keeps her entertained for a long time, as it's like having 5 toys in one.One nice feature is that you can turn the music off if you don't want to hear it.Got it as a gift & highly recommend it.

5-0 out of 5 stars Favorite toy
My daughter received this toy when she was 2 mos old. She enjoyed the toy then and now at 5 mos really loves chewing on the toy and it is light enough she can easily handle it. I would definitely recommend this toy!

1-0 out of 5 stars Annoying toy
The music this toy plays is very "tinny" - I realize the speaker is quite small, but sounds very annoying.My daughter doesn't really like this toy either, just doesn't show much interest in it at all. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning   


110. Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia
by SQUARE ENIX USA INC.
CD-ROM (21 September, 2004)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0002VYS3C
Sales Rank: 78
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Reviews (3)

5-0 out of 5 stars So much has not been discovered...
CoP marks the first major expansion of the FFXI world since its release to the US. This expansion does not add any new jobs or raise the maximum level you can attain in the game (still 75), but it does add many new areas, monsters, missions, quests, NPCs, recipes and equipment. The new areas are divided into those you can enter as soon as you install the expansion, and those which you need to complete missions to get to. The ones you can freely enter include new monsters, treasure and fishing areas, but are not hugely different than the areas adjacent to them. However, one thing I've learned is that there is more than meets the eye since many changes are below the surface and take many weeks for them to be discovered.

The areas that are locked out require quite a bit of work to get to. You will need to have a character of lvl 30, with appropriate equipment in order to complete 3 missions to gain access. Since there are a few job combinations that work well, you may need to start a new job, or gain a high enough level in that job to use it. This can be a big time commitment, however many people already have a job or two that they can use around level 30 so it's not terribly difficult to participate. Each of the missions may take between 1 and 4 hours to complete, and you will need between 6 and 18 players to help you. This makes it quite a hassle just to enter the new zones, so don't expect to be able to see everything advertised as soon as you install the game.

The areas that I have been in are absolutely breathtaking and the music fits the atmosphere of that area. There is a new beastman race that you can fight called Moblin, who have their own cities, culture and history. There are new super powerful dragons that give those that are already 75 something to do. One of these dragons took 30+ level 75 characters over 5 hours to kill. There are new recipes for crafters, new spells for mages, new avatars for summoners and new weapons and armor for melee jobs.

That being said, I still give this 5 stars based more on my experiences with the current game than on what is in the new expansion. It will take many months for people to complete all the missions and gain access to all the zones included in this expansion, which is really required to write a comprehensive review. This is probably the reason why very few review are posted.

3-0 out of 5 stars Was hoping for more..
FFXI has it's flaws. Well, okay, quite a few.
I was sincerely hoping this would at least attempt to fix some of them. I have no idea what I was thinking. Not only did the customers who ordered the game as it came out have to run hours worth of upgrades to fix glitches in the expansion, most of the quests and items weren't available due to further problems. Which makes me wonder if Square-Enix just threw the game out as soon as possible, without actually putting any effort into it.
So far, there's absolutely nothing I find useful from the expansion. It HAS introduced a few new items, but most can only be used by classes that already have a nice variety of items available to them. The expansion pack also introduced new areas, one of which is a new city. Wait, no, Square isn't just going to let you go to the new town after you bought the expansion, you'll have to undertake series of horribly tedious missions to unlock the passage. The missions are exactly the same; wait around a few hours to form an alliance then try and survive a trip to a boss fight, except each area looks *slightly* different.
I will admit the new areas that can be accessed freely [...] were pretty fun to explore and introduced some fairly cool monsters, but haven't benefited me in a single way.
NO new jobs were introduced with this expansion. The J&R Music review points out you can get Dark Knight, Summoner and Ninja, but all those jobs are available without Chains of Promathia.

All in all, this expansion didn't introduce much of anything useful (with the exception of some interesting boss fights with familiar FF characters and new areas). Though, it's not horribly expensive so you might as well get it.

5-0 out of 5 stars The new world of Vana ' Deil, gets even bigger
The world of Vana ' Deil gets bigger in this new expension pack.

Chains of Promathia features new regions to explore, frightening new enimies to engage in cobat, and an mystery to confront.

See ya' ... Read more

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


111. XENOSAGA EPISODE II Jenseits von Gut und Bose
by Namco
CD-ROM (15 February, 2005)
-- our price: $45.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0002CHJAA
Sales Rank: 352
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • An extensive experience system features over 100 different skills to customize characters to the players preference.
  • A new and improved complex battle system utilizes team combination attacks, a refined boost system, double team attacks and a zone attack/break system. The turn-based battle engine requires even more strategy and provides a deeper challenge.
  • Shion, KOS-MOS and other favorite EPISODE I characters return with more mature,refined character designs and all new mechs.
  • Hours of dazzling cinematics are complemented by high quality English voice acting.Complex philosophical themes add depth to an already sophisticated, dramatic storyline that could stand on its own as an intricately woven masterpiece.

Reviews (31)

3-0 out of 5 stars Playing this game is like channeling saidin.
The story is Good.The movies are always entertaining, and the story is always interesting.It never reaches the emotional depths that the last game did.There seems to be a greater emphasis on making the whole thing more...unrealistic.The first game presented a believable future - all the technology was explained, things behaved realistically, etc.That's all thrown out in this game...it might sound strange, but it seems to be more "Japanese" than Episode 1.Characters now swordfight in a Samurai style and shout things in what sounds very similar to Japanese.They shoot lasers out of their swords (and it's never explained why).There's even a character that wears samurai-ish robes.It destroys any believability this universe had.

Also, I'm personally disappointed that the game focused so much on Jr. (couldn't stand him from the first game), and not so much on wonderful KOS-MOS, who's not even present in the first half, and barely says two words in the second.And this is a Very Good Thing, because some of the voice actor changes were not for the better.Shion's VA is improved, but KOS-MOS's was a huge downgrade.

The music is also terrible compared to last game's.Episode 1 marked the first time I ran out and bought the soundtrack to a game.The beautiful orchestra and haunting chorus from that game have been replaced by forgettable boppy tunes, with maybe one decent melody in the whole thing.

Now, one to Dark One's taint = the gameplay.The battle system is easily the worst I have ever seen in any RPG.Ever.They aren't random - the enemies are onscreen.This is the One and Only Good thing.When you do touch an enemy, it takes a strangely long time to load.Your characters appear, one-by one.Then the monsters appear, one-by one.Sometimes, you'll be surrounded by the enemy.Other times, you'll surround the enemy yourself.This is Completely Random.Even if you attack an enemy from behind, you won't start the battle at the enemy's back.Which is too bad, as Back Attacks do more damage, and every time you enter a battle, you'll be desperate to scrape up as much damage as possible.

There's no such things as Powerful Moves here.You're forced to hit an enemy in specific "zones", which you do by hitting Triangle or Circle (did I mention the moves you do have no titles?Bye-bye, Moonlight Serenade or Spell Ray).Hit Triangle/Circle in the right order, and you get what's called a Zone Break.Now, you have to Boost your other characters in so they can damage the enemy while it's in this "break" stage.You boost the other characters by having them sit there and Not Attack during their own attack phase.

You are FORCED to do this - while some enemies do have special weaknesses, they're not exactly mind-blowing helpful for the majority of enemy types.Instead, you have to do the Zone Break, or all of your moves will do about 20 damage...to a creature that has 5,000 HP.And there's still 3 other creatures in the battle, all with 10,000 HP each.

Sound fun to you?Admittedly, once you DO get an enemy's weakness down, and get a Zone Break in, then Boost all of your characters in a row to take advantage of the enemy's weakness and the zone break, you can rack up huge damage.Sometimes it's even enough to take a single enemy down - and it only took 10 minutes to build up!

So, yes, the battle system will corrode your soul.Expect every battle to last at least 5 minutes, and that's if you're quick and know what you're doing.Meaning that you've already fought this enemy before and have either memorized it's Zone Break and weaknesses, or you've taught one of your characters a Memory skill.

And here's another embarassing part of the game.Every single character can learn every single skill.This completely destroys any individuality the characters had.KOS-MOS still has a couple special skills only she can use, but they're not nearly as impressive as the classics from the first game.Instead of being awed by what your characters are capable of, you cooly assign specific skills to each character based on what attributes you want in each battle.If that sounds fun to you, it's not.Many of these skills are useless, and characters will repeat skills that are helpful.

It's possible to "unlock" new skills and Double Attacks (two characters team up to attack) by undergoing the torture that is the game's sidequests.You run around, doing good deeds for people.These good deeds are very loosely explained, and very often involve playing fetch from place to place.I didn't even attempt it.

Other things that will leave you a blackened husk inside when the game is done: The puzzles in the dungeons.Oh how I wish my mind could let me forget them so I could live again.Unfortunately I can't, and so I will always remember shooting boxes to form a bridge, shooting boxes to clear a bridge, and shooting boxes of a specific color that explode other boxes of the same color around them.To form a bridge.

In conclusion, let me just say that I hope Episode 3 is better, or I will go insane.Or the Red Ajah will come for me in the form of Final Fantasy XII.

4-0 out of 5 stars Nothing on the original game!
Xenosaga Episode I Der Wille Zur Macht, was a breakthrough in gaming!It had deep characterization, a deep storyline, innovative battle system and a soundtrack that blew you out of this world!It was a plot driven game with an intoxicating storyline.Episode II doesn't compare to the original in very many ways at all.Things have been changed that shouldn't have been changed, and in all essence, it's more like watching a season 2 of a declining TV series.

Xenosaga Episode II isn't a bad game.It's actually really good!It's just that it suffers from the sequel syndrome.The first one hit a level that was so high, and now this one has to compare.Either you'll be quite surprised by where it goes, or quite disappointed.

The game opens up with a flashback of Chaos being sent to Miltia with a realian named Canaan to see why all the Realians have gone berserk.Chaos and Canaan meet up with only one who still seems to be in control of himself.General Jin Uzuki, and to prevent spoiling more, let's just the say we rejoin our main cast from the first game in mere moments.

Where as Xenosaga Episode I put an emphasis on storyline, Episode II seems to put an emphasis on character development.It does a fairly good job too.You'll learn more about these characters, and be able to cope with them.Unfortunately, if you haven't played the first game yet, it's all mysterious to you.

A few things about the gameplay have changed.The battle system is refined just a bit.Now enemies are in "zones".Either Zone A, B, or C.Depending on the zone they're in they could take a lot of damage from your attacks.You can also knock them in the air, or down on the ground.You can also link attacks together to perform devastating combinations.Characters attack using points.If you decide to "stock" (by defending) you can attack more times in one turn.

Xenosaga Episode II is not an easy game.You can't just mash down on buttons and expect to win battles.There does need to be strategy involved.Without strategy, you'll more than likely lose.

The character raising is different.In the first game, you had Ether Points (Magic), Tech Points and skill points.In this one you only have ether points to improve your magic skills.Truthfully, that's sad since all your characters learn the same skills, and once you've learned everything (being that there are no Tech points and Skill points in this one) you'll have a bunch of Ether Points sitting around begging to be used, and they never will.

The graphics in the game have been updated from the first one.I personally didn't think this was neccessary.They tried to make the characters look more "human" and I personally thought the anime look of the first game was just fine.Some of their actions look a little strange, mostly because the dubbing of the game to English was terrible, but otherwise, the graphics are smooth and rich.KOS-MOS looks the nicest out of all the characters.

The voices, for whatever reason, have also changed.I was not too fond of this.The voices from the first game were perfect. These voices are either superb, or they're terrible.MOMO for example, has a terrible voice actor, while Chaos has a fairly good one.

The music is no where near as good as the first game.Actually, to be truthful, the music in this game is forgettable, and you won't care too much for it in the end.It's not the first one.

There aren't as many cutscenes as the first Xenosaga, and while the story is intriguing, the cutscenes don't flow quite as well.Also, it's sad to see this game isn't as long as the first one, and there aren't as many secrets.I thought the game would have more secrets than what I got.

It's also very disappointing with what you get from having a save file at the end of the first Xenosaga.Just a bunch of skills and whatnot.Nothing more.No impact on the story or anything.Really, the save file is useless.

Xenosaga Episode II does work, but it's sad that it can't live up to the first game.It had potential to live up considering how long it was in development, and what the first game gave it to go with.I just wish it could've fallen through.

If you loved the first Xenosaga game, pick this up.You won't regret it, but you probably won't remember it as well as the first game either.

4-0 out of 5 stars Well Done
I thought the first game was so-so; the 2nd much better.The combat is simpler to understand but more complicated to use - you start with all the fighting techniques you're going to get.Its up to you to figure out which characters and combinations of attacks work well in a given situation.Its a bit confusing until you get the hang of it. Bosses are a bit more complicated - you need to mix up the attacks of more than one character to be effective.There's always one major weakness to be uncovered.

As far as the series - well, the story doesn't end here - if anything, it gets more complicated.Only a few loose ends are resolved, and several new ones are added.

After the game ends, be sure to save - then continue using saved data.The game continues with a huge side quest that's not series related but has a story all its own.

Over all - there's room for improvement, bt I'd say its better than FFX2. ... Read more

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


112. WWE Wrestlemania XXI
Video Game (20 April, 2005)
-- our price: $46.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0006JMLN4
Sales Rank: 456
Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • Superstar voice-over and commentary
  • Become a Legend online via Xbox Live
  • Four-player head-to-head online play with multiple match types and voice chat support
  • New online create-a-belt feature will change the wrestling genre
  • Character Evolution Unique character-building story mode allows you to upgrade your Superstar's appearance, abilities, entrance, costumes and move-set as you attempt to win the WWE Heavyweight Championship

Reviews (27)

2-0 out of 5 stars This game is Kinda cool...
Well, I was really excited for it to come out and all, but when it finally did, it wasn't SOO exciting.... Sure, the graphics, Voice Overs, and Matches are cool, but there are things that totally suck. Like the fact that you cannot make a female wrestler, you can only get 1 voice over for your custom wrestler (male) and the overall gameplay. Get it if you think the graphics are cool and if you only want to make a guy... It was a bit dissapointing, so I don't really recommend it...

2-0 out of 5 stars Nothing Special
While the graphics are amazing on the entrances, everything else seems to be over the top. Like Raw and Raw 2, the look of the wrestlers and the entrances are the only things that seem to be concentrated on, nothing else. The wrestling is crazy and boring, and the commentary and music is almost all copied and pasted from Smackdown vs. Raw. Studio Gigante, the new developers are not impressive on their first outing but who knows, maybe they will improve over time.

1-0 out of 5 stars Why THQ, why?
WHy THQ, why? After playing this game, i have come to the conclusion that this game is probobly worse then the original Raw for Xbox. I will make this review in PRO/CON format as usual.

Pro:
1.Voice over
2.Graphics are pretty good in terms of character models
3. Blood is realistic looking

Con:
1.Tons of glitches
2.Game freezes often
3.Career mode is way to easy to beat
4. Commentators repeat themselves way to much
5. Roster is to small (Under 45 superstars)
6. Limited gametypes (NO hardcore, WHAT?!?!)
7. Put them in a submission 8 times in a row and you've won.
8. Unbalanced difficulty levels

As you can see, i would not spend 50 dollars on this game if i were you.
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Outdoors    3. Xbox (x box)    4. Microsoft    5. Video Games    6. PS2 (PSX2)    7. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    8. Playstation2 (Play station2)    9. Action    10. Adventure    11. Fighting   


113. GBA SP Classic Ice Climber Gift Pack with 4 Games, Headphones and FREE Carrying Case
by Nintendo
Video Game (07 June, 2004)
list price: $169.99 -- our price: $139.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0002C6NWK
Sales Rank: 674
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • Comes with a free carrying case from ALS
  • Just like the classic Nintendo Entertainment System
  • Features the classic games Super Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and Ice Climber
  • Comes with headphones designed exclusively for the GBA SP
  • Game Boy Advance SP Classic bundle

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


114. PSP NFL Street Unleashed
by Electronic Arts
Video Game (21 March, 2005)
-- our price: $46.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0007U0GVG
Sales Rank: 526
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • Exclusive STREET Events: You wont find STREET Events like STREET Slalom, Style Standoff, and Style Point Challenge on any other platform.
  • Wireless Head-to-Head Action: Quickly find and challenge other players to some hard-hitting Exhibition Modes and STREET Events from across the room via Wi-Fi.
  • Party Play: Up to four players use a single PSP unit to compete in game modes including 2 Minute Challenge, Jump Ball Challenge, and more.
  • Off-the-Wall Intensity: Defy gravity with off-the-wall catches, wall hurdles, and wall end zone dives, or create open throwing lanes with up-the-wall passes.
  • Show Off Your Style: Make stylin no-look one-handed grabs, or celebrate a winning score with one hand as youre pulling down a tough catch with the other.

Reviews (6)

5-0 out of 5 stars Matrix FootBall
NEVER BRORING!!!
No complicated passing, no struggiling to get open, just run up a wall or something to get open! Just hit a button above your recivers head to pass.
Great release for the PSP, this game is sure to keep you hooked throught every mode of the game.
Graphics are amazing! This may not be realistic, but it's more fun this way!

5 Stars From the_truth!

5-0 out of 5 stars Brought Back Memories!!!!!
I grew up playing footbal in the street. I wish I had this much fun. Very good game, brought back memories of my youth...just wish I could have done half the stuff that's in this game. From the jumping off walls to the very entertaining Gamebreaker 2's. If you ever played football in the street, this is a game you should get.

5-0 out of 5 stars PLEASE TELL ME THE SONGS THROUGH A REVIEW
I know this is great game I havent bought it yet please though if anyopne knows list them
... Read more


115. Polar A5 Heart Rate Monitor
by Polar
Kitchen (06 January, 2005)
list price: $99.99 -- our price: $89.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00005MEOB
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Editorial Review

Offering a step up in features from the A3, the Polar A5 heart rate monitor adds a number of valuable feedback features to help you set-up and monitor your exercise program, including a self walk test and a calorie counter. You can use the A5 monitor to conveniently view your heart rate while walking, swimming, cross-country skiing, or any other exercise without disturbing your exercise rhythm. It comes with the A5 wrist unit (which resembles a watch), a transmitter that's worn comfortably around your chest, and an elastic strap to hold the transmitter in place.

Start using the A5 with the built-in self walk test, which measures aerobic/cardiovascular fitness with a brisk 1.24-mile (2-kilometer) walk on a hard, even surface. The result of the test, the WalkIndex, predicts a person's maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). The OwnCal feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. It also allows you to set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure.

The A5's visible and audible Zone Pointer feature on the monitor's display shows your target heart rate zone and where your current heart rate is within that zone. The Fitness Bullets feature shows a bullet on the monitor's display for every 10 minutes spent exercising/training in your target heart rate zone. The Time in Target Zone feature calculates the amount of total exercise time spent in your personal target zone. You can use this feature together with the Total Exercise Time to determine the effectiveness of your exercise program.

Feature Detail:

  • Displays heart rate, exercise time, and average heart rate
  • Manual and automatic heart rate limit settings
  • Personal target heart rate zones, heart rate Zone Pointer with alarm function
  • 24 hour clock with day/week indicator and stopwatch
  • Self walk test to determine maximal oxygen uptake
  • OwnCal calorie counter shows energy expenditure during workout and enables you to set goals
  • Large easy-to-read display with backlighting and split screen
  • Water resistant to 30 meters (100 feet)

What's in the Box?
A5 heart rate monitor watch unit, wireless transmitter, elastic strap, battery (built-in CR2032 lithium cell), printed instructions

Manufacturer Warranty
2-year limited warranty

... Read more

Features

  • Self walk test; calorie counter and goal management
  • 24-hour clock with day/week indicator and stopwatch
  • Large easy-to-read, backlit display with split screen; water resistant to 30 meters
  • Displays heart rate, exercise time, and average heart rate
  • Personal target heart rate zones; heart rate Zone Pointer with alarm function

Subjects:  1. Sports   


116. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
by Nintendo
Video Game (11 October, 2004)
-- our price: $46.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0002ILS1K
Sales Rank: 248
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Features

  • Timing Action Commands help you dodge or inflict damage, and impress the crowd to give you power for super attacks.
  • Fold into a paper airplane and take to the air, turn sideways to slip through narrow passages, and roll into a tube to bounce to safety.

Reviews (121)

5-0 out of 5 stars A kiddy game that adults will actually laugh at? Wow.
Back in the Nintendo 64 days, Mario, Nintendo's mascot, was in the uber-successful Mario 64. And pretty much since then Nintendo's been trying to have it's "sequel" or successor. They did that with Mario Sunshine but it probably wasn't what we had in mind. Paper Mario was released then and it had Mario and Co. as 2D characters in 3D backgrounds so Mario was essentially paper-thin literally. We now have the "sequel" to the original and it vastly improves on the original.

Story: One would be pretty stupid to try and think the Mario storylines were deep or original. Princess Toadstool is kidnapped and Mario must save the day by beating Bowser. Well Toadstool has been kidnapped only it's not Bowser's fault. This apparently ties into a treasure map and the mysterious Thousand Year Door.

Graphics: Basically with these kind of games like Wind Waker is that they're beautiful only on a different level. Nowhere near the brightness of Mario Sunshine, the realistic ultra-detailed Resident Evil 4 or the brilliant level design of Metroid Prime but it more than captures the essence of the game.

Sound/Music: Maybe they learned that Mario Sunshine's voice acting was pretty bad so Nintendo isn't even bothering. You still get Mario's "let's-a go!" or "oh yea!" and some other voice samples but nothing full speech. The music isn't immediately catchy but it fits.

Gameplay: All games come down to this. Paper Mario's "gimmick" is that it revolves around, yes, Mario as paper form. In this form he can fold himself into a plane and fly to a far platform, squash himself and launch himself into the air or squeeze through tough spaces.

The battles in Paper Mario unfold on a stage with it's own audience. This probably one of the most unique ideas to come in a long time. Basically battles are like Paper Mario and Superstar Saga with timed presses and dodges and you get a cast of characters to be your battle buddy.

The audience however plays a key part in everything. Let's say you're not showing off your extra damage attacks or not using cool moves then the audience goes down and some members will even through rocks at you. However, if you're the fan favorite they'll throw goodies on stage. There is also stage elements like the stage can collapse or these spiky guys can randomly fall from the ceiling. This isn't a press A constantly RPG, you'll be busy.

One of the big pluses is the dialogue. The dialogue in Paper Mario 64 was downright horrible. Here, it can actually be downright funny. My ever favorite Bowser line: "Crystal Stars you say? They sound like world conquering tools, I want them!". And Luigi doesn't join you on the quest but he has his own quest to tell you about should you go chat to him.

It's sad that games like this get past over for others which is a shame cause this is one of the Gamecube's must-play titles.

5-0 out of 5 stars SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS GAME ROCKS LIKE ANYTHiNG!!! I love all of the chapters!!!! I could play this game a thousand times!!!!!

4-0 out of 5 stars The Best Mario Game Yet!
This game is a ton of fun if you are into platform games.
There are loads of partners (7 to be exact) to choose from and each partner is unique! You have to collect 7 crystal stars and a long journey has to be taken for each one!

The problem is that when you are talking to someone who is telling you what to do, it takes for ages!

You get different abilitys such as Plane, Roll etc. and they are all briliant!
I think the best bit is the battles, you have to fight bad guys when you bump into them on the field mode! Each crystal star gives you a star attack and they are all fabulous!

If you like platform games and/or fighting games then this is the game for you! ... Read more

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


117. DDR Extreme With Free CD
by Konami
CD-ROM (21 September, 2004)
-- our price: $39.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0004I1W3C
Sales Rank: 378
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Reviews (23)

5-0 out of 5 stars Nothing Beats DDR!
Part I - Dance Dance Revolution Extreme

An ultra fun video game that gives a good workout just seems too cool to be true, but there is a game that has those attributes:DDR.This great game changed my life and turned me from a lazy guy playing computer all day to becoming a true athlete, as working out is so much fun after playing DDR!

Although DDR Extreme was a big disappointment for a Dance Dance Revolution installment for DDR experts, it's easily the best one for beginners with its familiar songs, easy game engine, and Beginner mode (which debuted on DDRMAX2).

Dance Dance Revolution Extreme and all the other DDR games out there are 2-D games (Except for the dancers in the background) with one major point:Dancing with your feet.You have a dance mat (or stage) where you tap your feet on the arrows planted on the mat at the same time as the matching arrow on the screen is inside the outlined arrow.There are five (or six) ratings you can get for your accuracy:Marvelous (Not on a regular game), Perfect, Great, Good (Which should really be Average), Almost, and Boo.You want to get the first ratings I listed, and not an Almost or Boo, or else your dance gauge (Which kind of shows your health) will start to slip until it runs out and you lose a song.At the end of the song, you can receive an overall grade, depending on your overall accuracy, of either an E (Which you get for failing a song), a D (Which you get for surviving, but receiving a poor score), a C, a B, an A, a double A, or a triple A (Which you get for receiving a perfect score).Even if this sounds cheesy at first, doing this to the exciting music in the background is actually extremely fun.

Four different difficulty levels exist on DDR Extreme (and a fifth one for a few songs):Beginner, Light, Standard, and Heavy (the fifth one is called Challenge/Oni).Prior to DDRMAX2, there was no Beginner mode, and only a few songs (like "Peace Out" and "Cutie Chaser Morning Mix") were easy enough to be beaten by beginners.I therefore only recommend this or DDRMAX2 if you're a beginner.

When you first get the game, you start with 44 songs, and you can unlock 26 more songs for a grand total of 70 songs.To unlock the hidden songs, you must clear songs about 5 to 10 times.Once you do that, a new song is unlocked.The first song you can unlock is called Scorching Moon, and the last one you unlock is called The Legend of Max.You can also unlock new dancers for dancing in the background in songs without real music videos, but I never use characters (Having a character is optional).

If you play a regular game, you can, instead of simply select a song and dance; choose to play two alternate modes:Nonstop and Challenging mode.In Nonstop mode, you can play four songs in a row without stopping.Sadly, there's only a limited selection of lists of songs you can select from, but thankfully, you can choose from "Players Best", which includes the top 4 songs that you've selected the most.This mode was best in DDR Konamix because you could select which songs to be on a list.Challenging mode is hardly worth the trouble.You have four lives, and each time you get a Good or worse, you lose a life.This mode is very frustrating, and only those who can get AA's all the time will find it an attracting way to play.

The Party Mode, which is new for DDR Extreme, is a futuristic-style way to play video games, as you can dance with both hands and feet while seeing yourself dance, although you need the camera for PS2 to do so.Being able to play with both your hands and feet while watching yourself is genius, and must be extremely fun to do.The Hands and Feet Mode is likely the highlight of the Party Mode; the other games are too simple and boring (feeding an animal the right food, etc.).

Along the way, you can unlock two new modes:Mission Mode and Endless mode.In Mission Mode, you dance to different songs with an unusual task to win.Be careful about the visual tricks that are used in many of the songs in Mission Mode.In Endless Mode, you keep dancing until you fail with a randomly chosen character.The songs that you dance to are randomly selected.The problem with it is that you're forced to have a character dance in the background and might end up with one you can't stand.

The Workout Mode in the game allows you to keep track of your fitness and allows you to figure out what you should be doing to keep yourself healthy.If it's on, you'll see how healthy of a workout you got after you finish dancing to a song.Your score will be better if you play fast songs like Drop Out or either of the Paranoia remixes, so play those songs if you want to get fit quickly.

The training mode is a mode where you can't unlock anything, but you can practice the different songs in the game without being stopped by failing and without the thrilling backgrounds.Unfortunately, in DDR Extreme, you can't slow down a song if you need to be able to study something fast and confusing.Even DDR Konamix had this feature.

Finally, I'll take you to the information mode, which gives info about all of the different songs in the game.It tells you if the song you're studying is from a previous DDR game or not, what you should try to do while dancing to the song, or what kind of music it is.According to it, plenty of songs from Dance Dance Revolution Konamix have been brought back, but only three songs have returned from DDRMAX2.


But why is this 2-D game that has the same goal over and over again so great?Well, there are certainly several reasons why:

1. DDR Extreme has a total of 70 different types of songs to choose from.You can find the type of music that's best for you.From a typical energetic dance song (B4U), to a song that's easy to recognize (YMCA, Waiting For Tonight, Like A Virgin), to a jazzy song (On The Jazz, Funk Boogie), to a Japanese pop song (Firefly, Pink Rose), to a supercharged song full of energy (Drop Out, I Feel...) to a song that combines a whole bunch of styles together (JaneJana, Do Me HIGEO Mix, Make It Better), to a theme song from a movie (Never Ending Story, Enter The Dragon) to even a classic song from previous generations of DDR (.59, Drop The Bomb), there's destined to be a song that you'll enjoy.

2. The replay value to this game is incredible, since you can build up your mad skills from beginner to expert, trying to successfully receive all Perfects on songs.You won't want to stop!

3. If you like video games, but you're out of shape, this is a game that can help knock off your weight and keep you fit.I've lost six pounds playing this game since November to December.I've suddenly started to love working out ever since I started playing this game.Seriously, your life will be a lot better after you're fit.

Then again, there are some downsides to this game, but minor downsides:

1. The host of this game gets on your nerves easily.Fortunately, you can shut him off when you're dancing, but not when it's most annoying:When you fail a song.His quote, "W-w-what?" is super annoying, as when he speaks in Japanese.

2. It's hard to find a dance mat that works well.Even the Ignition 2.0 Pad broke down twice within about a couple of weeks for me.It might've been because I was tapping too hard on the arrows, but it still might break down quickly.

3. DDR Extreme for US isn't based on the arcade version, and very few DDR Extreme (arcade) songs are included on the home version ("321Stars", "A", "JaneJana", etc.).Why no "Bag", "1998", "Speed Over Beethoven", and "Paranoia Eternal" (which should've been on DDRMAX2) instead of "Paranoia Survivor"?Not even the licensed songs from the arcade like "We Will Rock You" are on.Konami should release a DDR Konamix 2, a game that should include all of those missed songs from DDR Extreme (arcade) that used DDR Extreme's (arcade) game engine and should keep the DDR experts into DDR.

Anyway, here's the song list included in DDR Extreme, as well as grades for them and comments about what they sound like:

(Songs with * are ones that must be unlocked)

1..59:A (Exciting)
2.*321Stars:B (This one is easy to hate, but I can deal with it)
3.*A:A (Seems to be pretty darn popular, probably because of its challenge and energy)
4.A Stupid Barber:A- (Strange but interesting euro pop)
5.*Absolute:A (A nice blast of typical DJ Taka sound)
6.*B4U:A- (Awesome techno song about DDR)
7.*B4U (B4 Za Beat Mix):A (A more energetic version of B4U)
8.Bad Routine:C+ (So-so house music)
9.Believe:D (Don't like licensed songs much)
10. Bizarre Love Triangle:B+ (But this is an exception)
11. *Can't Stop Falling In Love (Speed Mix):A (Feel the strength of this song!)
12. Diving:B+ (Deep euro trance music)
13. Do Me (H.I.G.E.O. Mix):B (Groovy house music)
14. Don't Clock Me:C- (Okay old skool song plagued by bad lyrics)
15. Drop Out:A++ (Awesome!Feel the energy and danger of this song!)
16. *Drop Out (Remix):A (I personally liked the original better, but this is still good)
17. *Drop The Bomb:A- (Pretty exciting techno song)
18. Ecstasy:A+ (Excellent and exciting euro trance)
19. *Ecstasy (Midnight Blue Mix):A- (Less exciting than original)
20. Firefly:A+++ (Very exciting buildup, cute singers, and great pop/techno/rock music sound!Excellent!)
21. *Frozen Ray (For Extreme):B (Gentle sound, although harsh steps)
22. *Funk Boogie:C+ (So-so jazz/funk music with very simple steps)
23. Go West:A- (A memorable cover of a Village People song)
24. Higher:B (Happy feeling, though a bit targeted toward female dancers)
25. *Higher (Next Morning Mix):B (Really nothing different except for harder steps)
26. Highs Off U (Scorcico XY Mix):F (Listen carefully - THE F-WORD IS USED TWICE IN THIS SONG!!!Very unfriendly to younger dancers)
27. I Feel...:A+ (Energy.Power soul.Techno.Awesome!)
28. I'm For Real:C (Eh, okay, but a bit sleepy)
29. JaneJana:A- (It used to be an F, but I'm no longer annoyed by it.It sounds very strange.)
30. Jet World:A (Very much fun to dance to with a rock/country combination)
31. *Keep On Movin':C (Just your typical dance song.)
32. Kick the Can:B+ (Finally, Kick the Can is on a US mix!It's pretty fun, though not quite the best.)
33. Kids in America:D (Don't like most licensed songs.)
34. *La Senorita:A (Fun Latin to dance to, although La Senorita Virtual is just weird.)
35. Ladies Night:C (Licensed songs again.)
36. Like A Virgin:D- (Another licensed song, only this time it's horrible.)
37. Love Love Sugar:D (I found this song much too targeted toward female dancers to give it a high grade.)
38. *Make It Better:B (One of the very first Konami Original songs ever.It's rather strange, but still decent.)
39. *Maximizer:A++ (Feels like you're riding a roller coaster!)
40. Miracle:D+ (What the heck is a miracle to the singers of this song?)
41. Mobo Moga:A- (Catchy French pop that's playable for me.)
42. Move Your Feet:D+ (Boring topic.Plus, this song seems like it would be on the first Dance Dance Revolution.I know it only came out just recently, but I actually thought it was from the original DDR.It debuted on this game.)
43. Music:A- (Interesting euro techno)
44. Never Ending Story:C (Eh, an okay theme song remix.)
45. *On The Jazz:B+ (Fun-to-dance-to jazz music.)
46. Only You:B- (A 50's-styled song performed by Captain Jack.I'd highly prefer Captain Jack Grandale Remix over this.)
47. Paranoia Eternal:A (Good remix of the song, though it really should've been on DDRMAX2 instead.)
48. *Paranoia Max (Dirty Mix):A+ (The feel of challenge comes in when you start dancing to this creepy, fast song.)
49. Peace Out:D (I never knew slow songs could be annoying.)
50. Pink Rose:A- (This is a nice song.Its instruments could be better, but aw well.)
51. Planet Rock:C- (More liscenced song stuff.This time, a remix of a futuristic old skool track.)
52. *Scorching Moon:B (A strange-sounding collaboration between Sho-T's Groove and DJ Spunga's Bad Routine.)
53. Simply Being Loved:C+ (Another licensed song, though older dancers might like it a lot.)
54. So In Love:C- (A disco/dance/house track with pretty bad vocals.)
55. *The Legend Of Max:B+ (Energetic, though it sounds a bit too much like a song that would play when you're fighting a final boss in a video game.)
56. The Reflex:B+ (Finally, another licensed song that's actually worth dancing to!A great arrangement of the 80's classic.)
57. Theme From Enter The Dragon:A- (An adventurous remix of a movie's theme song.)
58. There You'll Be:B+ (A fast techno remix of the Faith Hill classic.)
59. *Trip Machine:A (Another of the very first Konami Original songs ever, Trip Machine is very fun to dance to with its mechanical techno sounds.)
60. *Trip Machine Survivor:B (A confusing remix of Trip Machine with more energy.)
61. Tsugaru:A (A combination between Matsuri Japan, Exotic Ethnic, Trip Machine, and Healing Vision.The Egyptian sound of Exotic Ethnic plays through most of the song, though the combination between Matsuri Japan's clunky tribal beat, Trip Machine's stiff melody, and Healing Vision's smoothness keep the song sounding Japanese instead.)
62. *Tsugaru (Apple Mix):A (A remix of Tsugaru with more emphasis on Healing Vision and Trip Machine.)
63. *V (For Extreme):B (A dance remix of an orchestral piece from the early 18th century.)
64. Waiting For Tonight:D (I like J. Lo's version much better than this.)
65. Wild Rush:A (Sounds like a song that would play on a car commercial)
66. *Wild Rush (Remix):B (The remix sounds nothing like the original, and doesn't build up its tempo.)
67. Wonderland (UKS Mix):B+ (A fun remake of Boogie Wonderland