Editorial Review

Video game makers have been experimenting with live-action video in games since the early 1980s but EyeToy (a digital camera for PlayStation2) marks the first time it's been done right. The device magically superimposes video-game graphics onto a player's image and translates his or her movements into controlling elements of the game. It is the best improvement of video game controls since the joystick.

The EyeToy camera plugs into your PS2

EyeToy has two components: a digital camera that plugs into one of the USB ports in the front of the PS2 and a disc of party games. In the EyeToy games--there are 12 on the disc, but some of them are little more than variations on the same theme--your image is at the center of the action. The game is totally controlled by moving your body in front of the camera. For example, in one game where the object is to beat back invading hordes of kung-fu fighters who come at you from the four corners of the screen, you must move your hands (or elbows, head, hips, whatever) to connect with the fighters onscreen and slap them away. Unlike most contemporary video games, EyeToy is so intuitive that most users will be able to play in a matter of seconds--even toddlers and senior citizens. Watching someone play EyeToy is fun: onscreen, the games are like the fanciful mix of live action and animation á la Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and off-screen, the player's movements are almost as goofy as those playing Dance Dance Revolution.

EyeToy is best enjoyed by groups

Setting up EyeToy is simple--just plug in the camera and drop in the disc--but fine-tuning it for your game environment takes a little effort. First, you'll need to have adequate, well-balanced lighting. We found that a bare 60-watt light bulb positioned behind the EyeToy camera worked pretty well. Next, you should clear away as many objects as possible between you and the EyeToy camera. Not only can extra objects impede the camera's function, they can present hazard when playing the game. A uniform background helps, too; we found that a light-colored wall worked better than a dark background. Before you drag the couch out on the lawn and pull pictures off the wall, try out the camera in different positions to see if you can find something that works without redecorating. The recommended placement of your EyeToy camera is right on top of your TV, but if your PS2 is situated farther than the 72-inch attached camera cord, you will have to get creative. We tried pointing the camera up at us from a coffee table and it worked fine.

The EyeToy games, while fun, are too simple to keep solo gamers interested for long periods of time. EyeToy is best as a party game played with groups of friends, or as a way to show off your PS2. And as a peripheral for future games EyeToy holds a lot of promise. Let's hope that Tony Hawk and John Madden find a use for this little camera. --Porter B. Hall

Pros:

• Totally unique approach to video game design
• Great for groups
• So intuitive that anyone will be able to play it immediately

• Only the pathologically vain will find lasting fun in this as a solo game

Features

• Comes with twelve mini-games, including: Wish-Washi, Beat Freak, Kung Fu, Soccer Craze, Boxing Chump
• Can also be used to instantly create personalized video messages
• Funky Playroom feature (visual effects) and multiplayer options make EyeToy the perfect party peripheral
• USB digital camera makes the player the "star" of the game; camera unit is 2.25" tall by 2.25" wide by 3.5" deep
• Motion-tracking technology instantly translates body movement into on-screen interaction

Reviews (144)

Decent fun..
This ' game ' is decent fun. It's VERY innovative and capable. ( I've heard of it soon being able to hook up online and you'll be able to chat with people. ) This game is just repetetive. And a workout! There are times when at the end of the day when I played this when my arm was about to fall off. Buy this though if you want a strange, original, yet obvious idea, ' game ' . You most likely will not be too dissapointed in your first few outings with it.

A Priceless Treasure for the PlayStation 2
EyeToy: Play is really fun game for the PlayStation 2. It's one of the top ten reasons why the PlayStation 2 is the BEST gaming system in the whole world (at least in our opinion). It allows you to play a variety of old school arcade-style minigames while being able to see yourself on your very own television set and create your own backgrounds through the USB camera. It does this via a motion-sensor detector, which means that no controllers are required. The minigames are broken down into 3 levels of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard. They allow you to choose from a variety of characters, and they never get old. Some of my personal favorites include "Boxing Chump", in which you box a robot-like opponent for points; "Rocket Rumble", in which you blow up as many rockets as possible turning them into fireworks before they exit the screen, "Soccer Craze", in which you are given three chances to keep a soccer ball in the air with your head or hands; "Wishi Washi", which consists of you cleaning windows; "Beat Freak", in which you catch floating CDs by beating them into a four-sided speaker sytem; "Mirror Time", in which you mimic the actions presented in a series of mirror directions; and "Ghost Eliminator", in which you play a ghostbuster in charge of exterminating ghosts simply by waving your hand over them. Additionally, each game comes with a training guide, so as to eschew confusion on how each game is played. There's also a playroom, which allows you to do things like swim under water with different colors of fish, pop bubbles, play with falling snowflakes, perform crazy actions while the computer mimics them, or see the background environment with no effect. In each of the games, it is possible to obtain a high score (as with most other old school arcade-style games). In doing so, it can take your picture by having you pose for a photo.

EyeToy: Play is also an ideal choice for a fun way to exercise. You can blow off steam in "Boxing Chump" (makes good anger management), or practice some dance moves in "Disco Stars." It offers some very pleasant music at the selection menu and in each of the games (which kinda sounds like the Agent 9 levels in Spyro 3) and combines this with a solid gameplay experience. In short, this is just one product that no self-respecting PlayStation 2 owner should be without (this is PS2 exclusive by the way). Now, if only they'd release EyeToy Play 2...

The KAB ratings -

Fun Factor: 10
Replay Value: 10
Graphics: 10
Sound: 10
Gameplay: 10

Overall Evaluation: 10 Perfect!

Reviewer: Baron

Interesting idea, but poor quality for the money.
The Eyetoy is an interesting idea in videogames... a camera that actually maps your movement onto the screen. I love the idea, and I love that the technology now exists. However...

For the amount of money involved, Sony could have invested in a higher quality camera. The image is too fuzzy to be satisfying, the unit detects light and dark spaces poorly, and adjustment is a pain. Though the camera is a fun toy, it need stweaking before I can take it seriously as a lasting accessory. ... Read more

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

Reviews (2)

Great Product!
Bought this for my 6 year old gaming/tv freak, very sturdy construction with no worries of tipping the 27 inch tv. Currently we have a DVD/VCR combo on the second shelf and a GameCube on the bottom. The only problem we have had is the spacing slats that hold the DVD's in place don't hold them tightly enough and they sometimes fall off of the stand. Easy to put together and even easier to keep clean.

way way better than the first 2!
this video game center is way better than the first 2 video centers from step2, this one fits all my ps2 and gamecube games perfectly and neat, the other two are more old fashioned and don't fit ps2, gamcube, and dvds like this one does.this game center is real strong the other 2 are'nt. my 27 inch tv fits good and looks nice on the game center. and the other bad thing bout the other two video game centers is you can only fit 19 inch or smaller tvs on them and if your a real gamer you would want a bigger tv cause your games look alot better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Cases    5. Storage    6. Gamecube (Game Cube, Game-cube)    7. Protectors   

Editorial Review

PlayStation owners no longer need to borrow their friend's Nintendo 64 inorder to have a rollicking good old time racing virtual turbo-charged go-karts throughoutlandish environments. Crash Team Racing does an excellent job of re-creatingthat same thrill on the PlayStation.

Crash Team Racing has all the marks of the kart-racing genre, includingbig-headed characters driving diminutive go-karts, power-ups to increase speed and slowdown opponents, and thematic tracks with multiple paths for exploration. WhatCTR adds to the mix is fairness: tighter-turning cars are rewarded for precisiondriving, skillful jumping, and strategic placement of booby traps. Sure, the playing fieldis level, but the better the driver, the better chance he or she has of winning consistentlywithout any annoying "catch-up code."

The one-player game is wonderfully presented as an exploratory adventure, while themultiplayer mode is a split-screen must-play for anyone with a PlayStation (and, ofcourse, friends). Twenty-five tracks, 12 characters, and responsive control makeCTR the gotta-have racing game. --Jeff Young

Pros:

• Excellent kart control, including power slides, hops, and wheelies
• Wide tracks encourage passing
• High replayability, especially in multiplayer mode

• Characters aren't as cute as those in Mario Kart

Reviews (137)

Great Game!
A great game for all ages.My 5-year old sister likes it, my 41-year-old uncle likes it.When you race, don't concentrate on trying to get all the weapons to shoot people in front of you, just try to race and butt in front of people.Eventually, you will collect weapons and defence mechanisms.Those are in the Question Mark box.The life points are in the blank box.And always chose a good guy.The bad guys are hard to steer.The god guys are easier to steer but slower.If you can steer good, you'll win (it doesn't matter how fast you are really).I reccomend this game to everyone, especially thrill seekers and video game freaks who just want to master every game.

Fun to play
Fun to play especially if you have a young child. You'll enjoy playing this with your kids and they'll love playing it too.

COOL!
This game is asome because its a racing game and i LOVE racing games this game you can pick up to 5 places but thats not all because it just isn't.If you beat all 5 or 7 i'm not sear you can go on to MORE places. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Action and Adventure    3. Cars    4. Racing    5. CTR    6. Sony Playstation (Play station)    7. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    8. Ground race racer racing car auto automobile    9. Race racer racing kart    10. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Editorial Review

Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, the first PlayStation2 installment in the Crash Bandicoot series, delivers the same mix of intuitive gameplay and elaborate adventure that fans have come to expect, offering many enhancements and all-new environments and missions. Neo Cortex is back, and he means to rid himself of Crash once and for all. To energize his most diabolical creation to date, Cortex channels the power of the Elementals, a group of renegade masks with the destructive power of air, earth, water, and fire. To stop the Elementals and Cortex's new weapon, Crash or Coco (a fully playable character for the first time) will face five game hubs, 25 dynamic levels, and five unique bosses, as well as a new character that will rock the Crash world.

You can complete specific levels of the game to play as Crash's fiery sister. Coco will have a wide variety of moves and animations tailored to fit her personality. New free-roam sections will be implemented within certain levels of the game. These sections feature puzzles and hidden areas never before seen in a Crash game. New bosses and minibosses offer up a Noah's Ark-sized list of new creatures. The game also has an all-new graphics engine that brings vivid life to environments and characters like never before. ... Read more

Features

• The biggest adventure ever: 30 new action-filled levels in jam-packed environments.
• Multiple modes of vehicular mayhem: Control 8 different vehicles - from a Crash Glider to a giant robot suit.
• You go girl: For the first time, Crash's tough-as-nails sister, Coco, is fully playable.
• Positively eyeball popping: The most dazzling special effects ever seen in a Crash game.

Reviews (194)

Load Loadicoot: The Load of Loading
Crash Bandicoot on PSone was perfect. But after CTR, Naughty Naughty Dog sold Crash. Then came out a Non-Naughty Dog Crash Release: Crash Bash and it was great. But now: Konami has created a monster: Load Loadicoot. He and his loading sister Loado Loadicoot must load through lots of loading times in order to load out Dr. Loadex and his evil new loading Loadunch Loadicoot. About 30 loading times to watch. That was a description of 99.9% of this so-called GAME! 0.1% is playing as Crash and Coco while beating up Crunch and running through fun levels with excellent graphics, great SFX and music, terrific voices but slooooooooooowness...

Pros:
Crash and Coco both on hand.
30 levels.
Hard bosses.
Tons of vehicles.

Cons:
CANT... STAND... MORE... LOADING...
Crash and Coco are both slooooooooooooow...
Too hard bosses.
I mentioned the loading times are bugging?
135441368412 billion years of loading.
Loading.
More loading.
I mentiones there is lots of loading.
(un)sweet load. (Un)sweet loadiot...
Load... load... load...
Loading Times are everywhere.
Loading.
Loading.
More loading.
Loading madness.
ZZZZZZZ...loading...ZZZZZZZ...
Load that loading!!!
You want loading with that?
More loading.
Loading, anyone?
Load 'ala loading.
Loading...
Loading...
Livin la vida loading

Game part:
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 9.5
Gameplay: 6.4
Replay Value: 9.5
Fun: 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Loading part:
Graphics: 3.5
Sound: 2.5
Longlasting: 10
Rewatch Value: 1.5
Fun: 0
Overall: -10

Final Verdict: RENT, Dont buy.

Good game, but bad loading
Crash is back, and even though not made by the original Crash Bandicoot creators, Naughty Dog, its still a pretty good game.

Graphics: 9/10
Graphics are pretty good.

Sound 7/10
Some sounds are just ripped from the original Crash games, which is cheap and junky. But, oh well.

Fun Factor: 8/10
The loading times STINK! So if your not patient, maybe you shouldn't get this game. But there is fun in this game. Trust me.

Overall: 8/10
A good game with bad loading, and feels like the original.
Some levels can get boring and you only face one boss, Crunch.
Its a good first game to get.

ANOTHER GREAT GAME OUT THE SERIES.
As all, these seem to carry on from the last! I thought the psone version was excellent and still i could just keep on completing it now and again and get it done within an hour. Now i have a ps2, i normally get the ps2 version that come out. Crash bandicoot on psone is the only game now i can buy on psone becuse it's so much fun and the graphics are amazin. I recently bought twinsanity, that is brill and if you are looking for an adventure type, thats definitely your game. That isn't through doors like the others, its on an island in the open so its changed on the last one. After enjoying each and every one of the crash bandicoot games, there was defintely a reason for buying this because i am a huge fan of these games. I heard so many good reviews aswell on this game so i got so dying to buy it. Still through doors, not in the open but brill graphics, and great levels. Although the games have not improved as they go along, all are worth buying as you get hours of fun out of these. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. PS2 (PSX2)    5. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    6. Playstation2 (Play station2)    7. Action    8. Adventure    9. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Features

• For Xbox™, PlayStation® 2, PS and other game discs
• Radial resurfacing action removes or reduces the severity of harmful abrasions, scratches and other surface imperfections
• Patented radial polishing process
• Restores discs to optimum performance
• Includes drying cloth, felt buffing square and resurfacing liquid

Reviews (68)

A gamer's must
I used the non-electronic Game-dr. for a year and had to buy the electronic one. If your a gamer and want to resurface your old scatched cds I highly recommend it. Most of the pople who gave this bad reviews probably resurfaced it too much or didnt buy a new resurfacing disk. All my games and Cds that didnt work work excellent now.

The Real Deal
I did a lot of research on this product before deciding to purchase it, but with all the negative reviews posted i was real hesitant.I finally decided to throw caution to the wind and buy it.I needed something to repair my X-Box games that were deeply scratched and would not even boot up.After getting the game doctor i choose a game that i did not cared about loseing.I followed the directions to the letter and put my game in the system and turned it on, and just like magic it booted flawlessly!!I would recomend this product to any one with the same delema.

Lame Doctor This Sucks
I agree with all the other bad reviews. Spent the money on the doctor and it made 2 discs worse. Followed instructions to the letter. I'm gonna sue for malpractice!! ... 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. Sega Dreamcast    9. PS2 (PSX2)    10. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    11. Playstation2 (Play station2)    12. Great Deals (Outlet store)    13. Cases    14. Storage    15. Gamecube (Game Cube, Game-cube)    16. Protectors    17. Xbox (x box)    18. Microsoft   

Features

• Beginning learning skills for toddlers in Winnie the Pooh Preschool
• Full of all your favorite Disney characters
• For 1 player
• Kids experiment with food and fun kitchen gadgets in My Disney Kitchen
• 6 unique learning activities in Winnie the Pooh Kindergarten

Reviews (1)

Great for Kids!!!!!
This bundle is great. I bought a PS ONE for my 6 year old god daughter and got her this bundle. She loved the games. Especially Mickey's kitchen game. She loves creating food and it is very simple to follow. Her cousin was playing "Need for speed" and a couple of minutes later was hooked cooking cakes. The Animation is very cute and there is a lot of interactivity. The other two games are from Winnie the Pooh. Though very educational they are very fun as well. Disney has made a great product. My only suggestion would be that the third game should have been from another character. Great for young KIDS! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)   

Editorial Review

The history of video games is littered with translations of films--mostof them bad. This game, while decidedly based on the feature film'svisualization of the Harry Potter story, is actually very good in its own rightdespite being too easy for most experienced gamers. It's a fun, colorfulexperience even for the few of us on the planet who have neither read the book nor watched the movie.

Electronic Arts thankfully bestowed a lot of production value on this releaserather than trying to cash in on a quick buck. Aside from the occasional pop-upproblem that makes walls vanish quite unmagically, the graphics are beautifuland fun. Chocolate frogs (an appropriate health power-up) and other elements andcharacters from the book and film are wonderfully animated. The sound effectsand, particularly, the voice acting are top-drawer, which helps suck the playerinto the Potter experience. Also, the gameplay is nicely varied throughout.Players go from learning a new spell in class to retrieving fire seeds forHagrid to participating in magic fights against the Slytherin bully Draco Malfoyto riding the broom--which is especially fun. There's even a Quidditch levelearly on, but there's little to do and it's over very quickly.

On the downside, the game suffers from some really odd controls. Like manyadventure games, jumping is really important, as many levels require you toclear obstacles or reach out-of-the-way items. But, unlike in nearly every othergame in the genre, there's no jump button. Instead, players automatically jumpfrom the edge of a platform from either a full stop or while running. It takes alot of getting used to; if you're not at full run or full stop, it's easy tojust walk right off the edge and fall. And, like too many other games, you canonly save your progress at predetermined locations.

Another fault of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is its lack ofchallenge for experienced gamers. It's nice that the developers are trying tomake it accessible to the entire cross-section of PlayStation-owning HarryPotter fans, but without varying levels of difficulty, it's less of a game thana tour through Potter's magical world. Still, it is an interesting world, andeven though it's easy, the action is still varied enough to be fun. --PorterB. Hall

Pros:

• Good use of characters and plot elements from the story
• Varied gameplay
• Great production value
• Broom riding is really fun

• Very little challenge
• Odd control scheme
• Lethargic camera movement makes it sometimes hard to see what you're doing

Reviews (125)

HP1
This game gets boring if you play it for a while. The further that you get, the more repetitve and boring it becomes. Graphics stink, but what can you expect from a PS1 game?

Great For All Ages
Ok, I'll cut to the chase. I've never read any of the Harry Potter books but love playing these games. They stick pretty close to the storyline (from what I've seen in the movies,) and although not incredibly difficult, are extremely fun to play. I'm a teenager, yet still enjoy casting spells and collecting the chocolate frogs. The game has good gameplay and dialogue with plenty of variety. Still, it has a few downfalls: 1) Jumping and doing special maneuvers can be difficult with the controls. 2) Save Points: You kind of have to play for a while to be able to save. This can be frustrating if you're really far and die or really have to turn off the game but haven't gotten a chance to save. *Otherwise the game is awesome. I highly recommend all 2, soon to be 3 games in the series.

ernie
this game is terribly illmanered it passes gas i love this game ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Action Fantasy    5. Adventure    6. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Editorial Review

Spyro is a cute purple dragon in a bit of a pickle. Each of Spyro's dragon friends has fallen victim to the nefarious Gnasty Gnorc, who has turned them into crystals. Accompanied by Sparx the dragonfly, Spyro sets out to free his buddies, while collecting gems and dragon eggs. Sparx also serves as Spyro's health-o-meter, glowing gold when Spyro is healthy and turning dusky green as he tires. To boost his energy, Spryo can blast docile creatures with fire, turning them into butterflies, which Sparx transforms into much-needed fuel.

This title has bright graphics in six well-developed worlds, each with several subworlds, including bogs, deserts, and ice worlds. Unlike some action games, in Spyro the Dragon the enemies are more fun than frightening. In the Peace Keepers world, for example, Spyro must burn down the monster soldiers' tent, sending one of the minions running out, quaking with fear or, if you're lucky, dropping his drawers and shooting a moon.

Spyro's movements (fire breathing, gliding, jumping, and climbing) require entry-level gaming skills. For this reason, Spyro the Dragon is an excellent title for youngsters or less experienced players, who want to play without having to master complex movement combinations. --Kasty Thomas

Pros:

• Large worlds provide hours of game playing
• Variety of scenarios
• Engaging graphics

• Low game skill requirements may prove less challenging for expert players

Reviews (128)

i played it with kasty thomas in arizona and had a ball.
it is easily contrloed and i am inexperienced ,lol.but i played it and thought it was funny.i miss kasty too.

This game rocks!!!
spyro is a cool little dragon off to defeat nasty nork and save the dragon relms while reclaiming the gems nork stole on the way. Explore the different worlds and defeat bosses which range from a giant robot to a sheep on stilts!

Great Game!
This game is really good, but not the best of all my games.The best is Spyro, Year of the Dragon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exploration    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Action Fantasy    5. Video Games    6. Action and Adventure   

Editorial Review

The feisty little adolescent dragon is back in a sequel that is far superior to theoriginal. Both Spyro fans and those who didn't play the first game will revel in theexploratory greatness that is Spyro: Ripto's Rage. Gone are the impossible tasks,unbeatable enemies, and fragmented game flow. This game sports superior controls, morecolorful and faster graphics, a tighter story, achievable goals, and plenty of gameplayvariety.

Don't be fooled by Spyro's cuteness--this isn't a kid's-only game. With multiple goalsand side quests, a fantastic soundtrack by ex-Police band member Stewart Copeland, anda veneer of understated humor, Spyro: Ripto's Rage is highly addictive. Theplayfulness of the main character comes through in the exploration of the otherworldlylevels using the new moves, including super high jumps, rapid underwater swimming,and extended flight and hovering maneuvers.

Determined explorers are always rewarded--sometimes with an ice hockey match or othersub-game, sometimes with riches enough to learn a new move or uncover a new area.Simply put, Spyro: Ripto's Rageis one of the best action/adventure games for thesystem. Despite the fact that this game is a sequel, it manages to bring a fresh new lookand feel to PlayStation gaming. --Jeff Young

Pros:

• Massive, fun levels are completely navigable
• Cute and quirky sense of humor will appeal to all ages
• Responsive controls are an extension of Spyro's upbeat and exacting personality

• Camera angles can be problematic, but are completely adjustable

Reviews (137)

SPYRO ROCKS!
I have all the Spyro PS1 games and they rock! The best PS1 games you can buy.
I have Gateway To Glimmer instead of Ripto's Rage though, but they are exactly the same but with diff names and covers.
All the worlds rock, and it's nice to see more friends to help Spyro on his way to beat Ripto- and when you finally beat him, the game still isn't over! How cool? There are many skill points to earn,a amazing new level- the cool Dragon Shores, and a permanent fireball!!
If you have a PS1, you have to play this game!

Spyro!
Spyro fun aholoic sweet game!!! Very fun but not hard, it can be very very easy but it is alot of tottaly wicked fun!

Great, but not Insomniac's Best
I was a little bit disappointed with this Spyro.Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome game, but Insomniac could've put a little more effort into it.With only three worlds and about twenty-one levels, this game may only be for true Spyro fans, but, I strongly encourage you to buy this game. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Action and Adventure    3. Exploration    4. Fantasy    5. Sony Playstation (Play station)    6. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    7. Action Fantasy    8. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Editorial Review

Spyro is back for his third PlayStation adventure. Jump down the rabbithole to recover all the eggs stolen from Dragon World by the evil sorceressand her henchmen. The cartoonish look, the goofy sounds, and thescavenger-hunt gameplay will be familiar to anyone who has adventured withSpyro before. New to the series is the ability to play as Sheila, thekangaroo; Sergeant Byrd, the flying penguin; Bentley, the Yeti; and Agent 9,the space monkey. In Year of the Dragon, Spyro still has all of hissignature moves--as well as the special moves he learned in Spyro theDragon 2--and can control such vehicles as tanks, submarines, andspeedboats. There are over 30 levels in which to recover 150 eggs andseveral minigames that complement the standard gameplay, includingboxing and skateboarding. ... Read more

Reviews (137)

Gr8!
I playd this game at a friends house and it is brill. Try it for yourself!

awesome!
spyro is sooooooooooooooo cool anyone anywhere should get it.i play it everyday and my brothers are obsessed with it.its all they ever talk about.

Go Spyro
My son and I have beaten both Spyro 1 & 2 and got 3 this Christmas. We love it. Spyro can do more things and the "areas" are great. We haven't tried Spyro 4 yet and after reading many reviews I am tempted to not try it at all. This game was worth waiting for the price to drop. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Action Fantasy    5. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Reviews (5)

Not bad for PS1
For what it is, a PS1 game it's about as good as it gets on the ageing system. Player models are blocky but the game play is fluid and smooth.

The batting / Pitching interface is incredible. Very pinpoit.

Only gripe I had was pitching. It is really easy to strike batters out ( I mean ridiculously easy ) and starters can go 12 inning before they start to lose something off their pitches.

Other than that, if you keep in mind this is a playstation one game, it should deliver the baseball fix you need if you're still using your original playstation with the LCD screen like I am.

>:(
Rosters aren't that great, and it is impossible to hit homeruns with guys that normally hit around 10-15 in real life.It's completely bogus, go for mvp baseball.Barry Bonds is also not in mine, and A-rod is still a Ranger.

The Reason
That Barry Bonds is not in is because he is no longer liscensing his likeness through MLBPA.Sort of like Michael Jordan did and Lavar Arrington of the redskins is doing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Sports Baseball    5. Sports Basketball    6. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Features

• Goal-oriented, learning-through-fun play
• Designed especially for preschoolers
• For 1 player
• Elmo and his Sesame Street pals take preschoolers on a 3-D learning adventure
• Kids learn about letters and numbers

Reviews (3)

Not For 2 year olds
When I bought the Elmo games (4 yrs ago) for my 1st son when he was 2 year old, I thought he'd love it Since he was always asking to play my games and knew who Elmo was. I sat down with him in my lap and try to help him move Elmo around (which was hard for him) and within minutes he'd got bored and walk away & I thought it was how the game worked as to why he'd lose interest in it. Now that he is older and I have 3 sons (ages 6yr, 3yr & 2 yrs old) I realize it's not the game but the *****AGE*****.

2 yr old attention spans is short, even when their absolutely favorite character is on the tv. When my son turn 4 years old I pulled the Elmo games back out and he master the controls with in minutes(with zero help from me) and would play the game for hours!!! When he started preschool the teacher told me what a wonderful job I did teacher him his ABC & numbers. I told her I never did flash card with him, he learn it all from his Elmo games. Now that he is 6 yr old and in 1st grade he doesn't play Elmo anymore but from learning how to work the controls he can play madden 2005 football.

And now my 3 1/2 yr old plays the Elmo games and he too can play them all on his OWN (with zero help form me I don't have to sit there and be bored by the game) and he plays it for hours and because of the game he now can recognize & say all his letters of the alphabet at the age of 3!!!! Most children can't accomplish their ABC till age 4 or 5.

My 2 yr will sit & watch his 3 year old brother play Elmo and if I give my 2 yr old the controls he needs help often with moving Elmo and pushing the right buttons and gives up on the game within minutes. This really is not a game for 2 yr old even some 3 yrs olds, you need good hand & eye coordination and understand of Letter & number. To a 2 yr old what is so fun about finding the number 4 when he has no idea what a 4 is!!! I definitely recommend this game for 4 yrs old it will start them out on the right path for preschool.

DON'T BOTHER TO BUY!!!
If you are expecting a fun Elmo game for your child, THINK AGAIN! This is the MOST boring game in the history of PS games! Well, that's what I think at least. Let me give you a lineup of reasons why not to buy this game. 1. It has the SLLOOOOOOOOWEST character (Elmo) who goes so slow you'd think his legs were made of rubber! You'll fall asleep before he takes 3 steps! 2. The game character(s) ask your child sometimes to press this button, or that button, or press restart on the Ps1. You'll have to help your child about 1,000 times to get to the second (bonus perhaps) level(s) after the first level. The only reason I even rate this one star is because most young children adore Elmo and his friends on Sesame street, the second levels in numbers I have to admit is sort of cool, the space exploring level in letters is sorta cool, and it helps kids in Pre-K to Kindergarden or in their speech. 3. Elmo talks on, and on, and on, and on, until you do what he asks you to press or do. Leave the game on an hour and don't mess with it, and Elmo will still be talking! It bores you till you want to get an exterminator, give him an axe, jump into a coffin and let him obliterate you! Take my advice or if you can put up a risk to keep the terrible game, you do it. I'm warning you though. Every time your child wants to play it, you will be TORTURED the whole time!

Possibly THE single most boring 'game' - EVER!
Please read all of the reviews for each of the two 'games'. When I say 'games', what I really mean is 'excercises in boredom'...

My daughter is 2 and a half, and purely out of her love of Elmo she requests these games every so often. Within about 3 to 5 minutes she is bored silly, and we're packing them away again.

The gameplay is just soooo painfully slow, and there is no way to speed through the 'game interludes' (read 'excruciating delays').

Movement is restricted to forward, back, and sidestep - basically, you just push the controller forward the whole time and Elmo automatically follows the path - in his own sweet time. I admit that the controls are nice and easy for a youngster, but the speed of response (or lack of it) is the killer here.

Beyond recognizing letters/numbers, there is no real challenge or 'point' to the game. My daughter can count in both English and Spanish, and already knows her alphabet. She can even spell her name! She needs more of a challenge than this! And the reward for completing each level (if you can stay awake long enough to get that far) is a 'bonus game' that puts the final nail in the coffin!

And there's more variety in a small box of chocolates! It is sooo repetitive... It is sooo repetitive... It is sooo repetitive... It is sooo repetitive... Enough already! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)   

Features

• Play With The Best: More than 500 official licenses, including 18 leagues, 500 teams and 10,000 players are available.
• In-game Management: Prove your tactical genius on the fly, by making adjustments mid-game and calling plays in real time via D-pad.
• For 1 to 4 players
• Groundbreaking Gameplay: FIFA 2004 offers a fine-tuned game engine, and new animations dramatically enhance the smoothness in player movement through organic motion
• Off the Ball Control: Take command of players not in possession of the ball. Call in tackles, jostle for space, lose your marker, and send players on runs at the touch of a button

Reviews (2)

???????????
How can you still have a ps1 or buy a ps1 game! Buy a gamecube for $100, man how can you live with just a ps1. I have every new system and all that costed me was about $720.

STUPID AND USE LESS GAME!
Buying this game for the PlayStation-1 was a complete waste of money. There was no career mode in this version plus no OFF THE BALL CONTROL! The graphics were pathetic, there were no new internationl teams or no new leagues or division. It looked like FIFA 98 for The PC. I strongly advise You that you do not buy or rent this game as you will be throwing away your money. The only reason why I have given it one star is because the PC version is quite good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Sports Soccer   

Reviews (1)

Arcade version, not a sim
If you want to play football without much control depth then choose this over the European "Pro Evolution Soccer 4" (title is "Winning 11" in the US) and if you have heard the buzz surrounding that game then you should know that it is in the top three sports simulations of all time.

Winning 11 however is not an out-of-box game, taking days to learn, weeks to master and then improve on with other players. FIFA works straight out of box, is easy, but its limits become all too obvious in light on Winning 11, a game has been in development since the Nintendo 64 and is easily the best soccer engine out there.

The bottom line is that if you want a soccer game that works out of box, that you can play almost right away with anybody, then FIFA has it. If you want a real soccer sim that takes longer to get into but is far better, then choose Winning 11. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Sports Soccer   

Features

• Only Cat in the Hat game for the original PlayStation
• Requires memory card for save games
• For 1 player
• The Cat in the Hat, Thing One, and Thing Two are ransacking your house
• You, Sally, and her brother have to use a red clean-up machine to cover the evidence of that Cat's chaos

Reviews (2)

Poor everything
There is no voice for the "Cat in the Hat" or any other game figure. Just this annoying music. I found it hard for me to complete the first level. I would recommend no earlier than 10 yrs. old.

Awesome game
Santa brought this game for my 4 yo for Christmas.It has been his favorite ever since.The graphics are incredible, and it is tons of fun.There are some areas where my son requires adult help, but hey...he is only 4.I highly recommend this game for hours of fun! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Action Fantasy   

Editorial Review

With Crash Bash, the PlayStation finally has received itsofficial party game in the vein of Mario Party and Sonic Shuffle.Up to four players can engage in 30 minigames, provided that one of thoseplayers owns a Multitapaccessory.

The games are almost as simple as the minigames that are found in Combatfor the old Atari. There's Crash Ball, a four-way game of pong, and Desert Fox,in which the game characters go after each other in tanks. Adventure mode evenincludes boss battles in minigame form.

The beauty of Crash Bash is that anyone--and I mean anyone--can pick itup and play it, with virtually no instruction. On the other hand, playingagainst computer opponents is pointless. Without friends to liven things up, thepremise gets old in no time.

The graphics and sounds share the same cartoonish quality of the previousCrash games, with playable bad guys. There's some graphical choppiness inmultiplayer mode, but looks aren't the point of this one, anyway. --RobbGuido

Pros:

• Easy to pick up and play
• Thirty different minigames, most of which are fun when played with oragainst friends

• Hard to enjoy without a Multitap and four players

Reviews (70)

The Best Game since MK!
Crash Bash is a fun game for everyone!Origanal characters from the series.Here is what I think. Pros: blend of characters, many games, multiplayer,and excellent adventure mode.
Cons:none

Crash's party game is better then all other party games!
Crash finally gets a party game to make his already perfect fame even higher!But Rilla Roo hasn't been seen again, and that should change.

Eurocom isn't a REAL game developer, compared to Naughty Dog
I guess you know what I will say. This Game is terrible. I am a HUGE Crash fan, but this is not acceptable. I don't even call this a Crash game. First of all, the new character, Rilla Roo. Besides being the evil version of Dingodile, this character was completely pointless. He had NOTHING to do with Crash. In the instruction book, they said he escaped from a circus train. WHAT?!? Besides the fact Cortex's family were circus clowns, this has NOTHING to do with the Crash series. I am SO glad this guy has never been used in later Crash games. That was a wise decision, Traveller's Tales/Vicarious Visions! Ok, I'm finished talking about this stupid character. Second of all, the sound. The sound is downright TERRIBLE! Papu Papu, who is an indian, is supposed to talk like an indian. Here, he sounds like a crazed idiot. None of the original voice actors are here. Eurocom didn't bother to get the voice actors. So Aku Aku sounds terrible, and even pronounces Papu Papu's name wrong! Last of all, the game isn't fun. So even if you love Crash, stay away from this!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)   

Editorial Review

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater from Activision became a megahit lastfall. Since then, dozens of companies have tried to bring fringe sports likesurfing, sky diving, and other "me, too" extreme sports titles to market, andall of them looking to cash in on the craze. Up until now, none have matched thequality or replayability of Tony Hawk, and only a small few have comeclose, including this month's challenger, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX fromAcclaim.

Instead of using a skateboard to race against the clock and perform dangerousmidair stunts for points and prestige, this game is all about daredevil BMX bikeriding, so that players can aim to pull off a "Superman," "Icepick," "Tailwhip,"or "Toothpick." In total, there are over a dozen unique environments, such asCamp Woodward's backbreaking "Lot 8" or the San Jose Ramp Club, to name two.

First, players must select their rider of choice, be it repeated World Championbiker Dave Mirra, 1999 Dirt Circuit Champion Ryan Nyquist, or eight other starsof the sport. Each of the riders enjoys his own signature moves, plus even moreriders can be unlocked over time. However, there is no create-a-player feature,as there is with a few other games of this kind.

Fortunately, controlling the rider is a cinch to learn for younger or novicegamers, and there's enough substance here to keep players pedaling long afterthe goals are met. In fact, along with the "Free Ride" mode, the timed "Session"mode, and the challenging, career-based "Proquest" mode, there are 10 differenttwo-player games, including our favorite, dubbed "B-M-X", in which the secondplayer has to mimic the first rider's moves (remember basketball's H-O-R-S-Evariant?).

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX's visuals are only satisfactory, with nothingreally to kick heels about. The 3-D engine brings a few annoying screen"pop-ups" (objects and backgrounds awkwardly disappear on occasion, as ridersmove in relation to the "camera") and "clipping" problems (in which the ridergets stuck mysteriously) that probably could've been ironed out with a few moreweeks in development. And, while the midair stunts and crashes look painfullyreal, the game also seems to lack a convincing sensation of speed.

But, even with its shortcomings, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX is a rad BMXarcade sim that proves that the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series, whilestill the king, is not the only game in town. --Todd Mowatt

Pros:

• Controls are easy to learn
• Great two-player games

• Annoying "pop-up" and "clipping" problems
• No create-a-player feature

Reviews (39)

cool
This is the best game EVER. Get it or be square
j-nf

A good game
Ok so here is the deal. I bought this game on amazon, took it out of the box, and started to play. I noticed the graphics were very bad but the game is pretty neat. Over all, this game is worth every penny you pay.

Mediocre title
It's common for game developers to borrow ideas from other popular games - in hopes that their own game receives the same kind of widespread success. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX represents Acclaim's attempt to cash in on the extreme sports phenomenon started by Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and, as a result, the basic game mechanics should seem very familiar to fans of the skateboarding game. To its credit, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX introduces some new elements to the extreme sports subgenre. Unfortunately, the game has a number of both major and minor flaws. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX's options are typical of an extreme sports game. The proquest mode is essentially a career mode that lets you select from a lineup of the world's best BMX freestylists to play as. It also lets you earn new sponsored clothing, new levels, and new bikes. Each track has a series of objectives that start at an amateur difficulty level and then steadily increase in difficulty after you complete them. In fact, the default bike just isn't good enough for accomplishing some of the later, more difficult objectives, so there is substantial incentive for obtaining faster and more maneuverable bikes. Even so, the proquest mode may be a little too easy for extreme sports veterans, since the game visibly highlights the obstacles associated with objectives you need to complete. However, this should be a welcome feature for those who are new to the genre. The game's two remaining modes - freeride and session - are practice modes in which you can race around on a track, with or without a time limit. Unfortunately, these modes are mostly worthless for practicing in, since some tracks - particularly the backyard pools area - constantly change as new areas open up and as you complete more objectives. The gameplay in Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX is solid, if perhaps lacking in originality. Just as in Tony Hawk, pressing a series of button combinations makes you perform tricks on your bike. The more complicated your combination is, the more points you receive. Unfortunately, even executing the simplest trick isn't as easy as it should be. The first problem is that when you're facing the camera, you have to press "up" to turn your bike around. In theory, it's the ideal way to address camera problems, but in practice, the sluggish controls really prevent this maneuver from being useful. Another minor problem is the game's collision detection. Most of the time, it's easy to judge your distance from the ground or from an obstacle, which makes trick execution ideal. However, there are times when your bike seems to clearly miss an obstacle, but you'll still crash as though you ran right into it. The inconsistent collision detection also becomes a problem when you attempt to perform grinds - sometimes your bike can connect with an obstacle from an unrealistic distance, and other times, you need to be very precise and land right on the object you want to grind. Visually, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX is on par with other multiplatform ports of extreme sports games. A few impressive textures appear here and there, like on the various riders' helmets, but the rest of them are fairly bland and pixelated. The bike rider models are not incredibly detailed, but there are enough subtle differences to help you recognize the differences among each of the riders. Oddly enough, even though the various environments and the character models are essentially taken straight from the PlayStation version of the game, slowdown and drops in frame rate can still be a major problem in areas with numerous objects. The slowdown usually dissipates after a second or two, but it can affect gameplay, especially if you want to perform a complicated trick in a detailed area during the last seconds of the round. The game has plenty of other small visual problems as well, like the crash animations. Since there are no pre-scripted crash animations, your rider will just go flying like a limp rag doll whenever you hit something. It's humorous at times; however, it's generally very awkward and unrealistic.
Other than the proquest mode, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX doesn't have much else to offer. There are no multiplayer modes, which is unfortunate since most of the latest extreme sports games have found ways to incorporate different types of multiplayer modes, either online or on a single computer. In the end, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX can be fun, but the occasional problems with the graphics and collision detection can quickly become a source of unnecessary frustration. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Ground race racer racing bike cycle    5. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Editorial Review

This is a special pack of three PlayStation racing games: Sled Storm, Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit, and NASCAR Rumble.

Hot Pursuit gets its name from one mode of gameplay in which players try to exceed the reach of the long arm of the law by greatly exceeding the speed limit. The ultimate goal is to beat your opponent to the finish line, but usually it's hard enough just dodging oncoming traffic, swerving around police roadblocks (complete with spike strips), and trying to keep pursuit vehicles from slamming you off the road.

Sled Storm is a snowmobile racing title that lets players control their riders' turns by leaning them right or left to take sharp corners without flipping over the mechanized beasts. The game does a fantastic job of depicting the weight of these vehicles as they careen off jumps and plummet like boulders.

NASCAR Rumble lets you race 18 different courses in six locations from Daytona Beach to the Gold Country as you tear your way to the finish line. Even if you manage to find yourself in first place during the race, there is no guarantee that you're going to maintain your lead when you hit the finish line. Drivers can pick up crazy power-ups such as twisters and sonic booms, which send cars in front of them flipping off the track at the most inopportune times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Ground race racer racing car auto automobile   

Reviews (11)

I am 12, and I love it!
My Disney Kitchen is great! It lets you interact with a lot of things...even the color of the walls! Awesome!

Very Fun Game
This game is the bomb i'm 13 n i love it.It's great how u get to create different kinds of treats for mickey n minnie this game is awesome!I hope they come out with more mickey n minnie games that involve cooking i just wish that when we make foods we can give to mickey and minnie besides breakfast andmaking cakes.Why can't we make dinner?

5 Year Old Daughters Like It
My twin 5 yr. old girls like this one.While it's not the coolest software on earth, they enjoy the fun of cooking in Mickey's kitchen. It is bright, cheerful, and engaging.It's not a must have, but it was a gift to us, and they do like it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Action    5. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Features

• Learn new spells, undertake new quests, make new friends, and challenge new adversaries
• Also available for PC, Playstation2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color
• For 1 player
• Be Harry Potter in his second year in Chamber of Secrets
• Dare to Return to Hogwarts for more magic, friendship, and danger

Reviews (13)

Good...but not great.
This game was fun, but I didn't like the loads(they took WAY too long.)Also,the camera was a little strange.I did like all the secrets and passages.Overall, it was good, but not great.

Jump from platform to platform to platform to platform . . .
If you have the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets DVD and watched the preview of the video game on the extras disk, THIS IS NOT IT; that's the Playstation 2 (or "better") game you're seeing. This one is a pale imitation. You mostly run around Hogwarts, shoot little balls of light out of your wand, and face sequential challenges, all of which seem to revolve around precision-jumping from one platform to another.

It's not a BAD game; it has it's moments. But it shows that even the irrepressible Harry Potter can't escape the Curse of the Movie-Spinoff Video Game.

Yes, It's Fun the First Time...
When I drove home with the game, I searched the instructions at the beginning, noticing exciting changes like the increase in the size of Hogwarts. Now that I think about it? Big whoop.

To be frank, I cannot see for the life of me why, if you have a better gaming platform, you get a better game. I played my friend's version for Playstation 2 and there is SO much more to do. Hogwarts seems to be based off the movie version, as it is huge and has things you would actually see. In the PSX version, you are in corridors that do not follow Hogwarts standard (maze-like) The worst part, in my opinion, is the Gryffindor Common Room. One would just love to have a look around, right? Hah. In this game you have very little to do.

I guess I'm more or less a stic