Features

• Execute hundreds of special attacks, spells, and combos
• Dozens of mini-games and side quests
• For 1 to 4 players
• Command real time battles in a 3-D battle system with full control over the characters
• Fully customizable character growth system to suit your fighting style

Reviews (110)

Good things come to those who wait
some people have said the story is too cliched. I'm writing this review to say that good things come to those who wait. To those that said the game isn't 80 hours, I am so hooked on this game that I am on playthrough 2 at 83 hours. This game has such good replayabiity. I'll leave details to other guides, but don't let people complaining of a cliched storyline. The enemies get better too. I found myself on the verge of tears a few times. Just remember, you will experience one of the best gaming experiances ever 1/4 into the game.

Great game
Awesome game! Tons of characters, moves, and weapons. the storyline is long enough, but through in hundreds of sidequests, and you have yourself over 80 hours of gameplay. Myself I only did a couple sidequests, so it took me 44 hours! I would recommend this game to anyone who loves RPGs. Especially long ones with a great storyline!

Wow
I didn't purchase this game until a few months after it came out cause I didn't think it would be a whole lot of fun.However, I decided to purchase it and this game blew me away.It took me a while of figuring out how to play it and even starting it a 2nd time, I still find new stuff.This game has become a gem in my video game collection.

The bosses are fun and intresting, the character and thier design are phenominal (they have to be since they were done by the creator of Oh! My Goddess), the story has so many twists and turns that it left me speechless at times, and the dubbing is superb which is a weak area in most dubbed games.As well, the battle set-up is intresting and different, the character technqiues are superb, and the weapons in the games are some of the best i have ever seen.

A most awesome game. ... Read more

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

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)

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.

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.

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)   

Editorial Review

Six years. Six long years we’ve had to wait for a new Mario game, and finally it’s here. And even considering the ridiculously unfair expectations, Super Mario Sunshine is almost entirely as good as you’d hope and expect.

The premise of the game is that Mario’s tropical holiday is ruined when he’s stitched up by an evil look-alike for daubing graffiti all over the island. Rather conveniently, there’s a water pump waiting for him to use, which not only washes away the mess but also doubles as a handy jet pack. The jet pack aspect means that whenever you fall off something you have the chance to immediately recover. This built-in safety net means the game can afford to be far more ambitious in its level design than ever before, with massive levels filled with trampolines, tightropes, water-powered windmills, huge coral reefs, and mountains and mountains of platforms.

The whole thing looks amazing, too, with the most realistic water ever seen in a video game, and a near-infinite draw distance. On top of all this are rideable, fruit-juice-spewing Yoshis, extra water nozzles, super-hardcore platform levels where Shadow Mario nicks your jet pack, and goop-generating bosses who seem to live to make Princess Peach’s laundry a nightmare.

After the sweet but rather short pleasures of Luigi’s Mansion and Pikmin, you need have no fear that Mario Sunshine is of a similarly brief nature. There are a total of 120 shines to collect--the same number of stars as in Super Mario 64--and the game world is at least as large and far more interactive. This is without question the best game on the GameCube yet. That may be no more than you'd expect from a Mario game, but it's certainly more than most of us mere mortals deserve. --David Jenkins ... Read more

Features

• Discover the first Mario title for NINTENDO GAMECUBE, developed by a team under the supervision of Mario's celebrated creator Shigeru Miyamoto.
• Explore the game's colorful 3-D world, filled with expansive environments.
• Restore the power of Shine to keep the island clean.
• Wash away island mess to restore the community to its pristine condition using Mario's new water pump device.

Reviews (552)

Good.
This is a fun game. I enjoy going to all the different levels and SPRAYING PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! WOOOO!!!!!!!!
This is a fun game.

:(
i don't like this game.cleaning up the island is so dumb!
pianta village is too hard!
yoshi melts too much!>:(
also,saving peach gets boring after the millionth time you do it!!!!(she has to get bodyguards...)

don't buy!!

Starfishie"Star"^_~

HOURS OF PLAY!!!!!!
I love this game (i am not completly finished yet but i am getting there)its one of the best games i ever played the animation rocks and you get hours of play!If you get this you won't be sorry and its worth the$$$$$$$$money!Have fun playing! ... Read more

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

Features

• Compete as or against 15 different PGA golfers; GameFaceII lets you create a new golfer from the ground up
• Create a PGA career by attracting sponsors and competing over 10 seasons
• For 1 player
• Golf sports game
• 14 courses; 8 of them new this year

Reviews (28)

No DSL support, are you kidding me?
Yeah so maybe DSL doesn't compare to cable but I am not the only person in the world who has it.The fact that this game works fine with cable AND dial-up but not DSL is mind boggling.Worse, it doesn't even state the incompatibility on the back of the game or anywhere in the manual.After spending an hour trying to get it to work I finally spent a few bucks and called the tech support line only to find out it DSL is not supported.How come DSL works fine in Tiger Woods 2004 and not 2005?Ah, screw it, I'm done ?#@?! about it.My final answer is, "Boycott this game and save your money".

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
Tiger-Proof your favorite course and change the way the game is played. Using the revolutionary course-altering system, you can create that intensely challenging course you've always dreamed about. Put yourself in the game with GameFace II and take on the legends of golf including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Ben Hogan and become a legend yourself. Tiger Woods 2005 features eight new licensed courses and two new fantasy courses, including Coeur d'Alene, Colonial Country Club, Sherwood Country Club, Fancourt Golf Club Estate and Troon North - Monument Course. Compete as or against 15 different PGA TOUR players including Tiger Woods, John Daly, Vijay Singh, Charles Howell III, Notah Begay III, and Jesper Parnevik, among others. New putting and chipping systems allow for more control on the green or when you leave an approach shot short.

Plainly, it's best said that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 is a polished, yet expected, upgrade to last year's version. It's got some awesome new features that go a really long way -- like GameFace II and TigerProofing -- and there's just ton of other options like a logo editor for TigerProofing, a Hall of Legends, and so much more that you should just find out about for yourself.

I was especially pleased to see Tour Mode difficulty added in, as it was a specific hope of mine last year. It's still not too simulation-heavy (like last year's PC version), meaning the analog swing is still fairly forgiving if you're careful with it, but it does provide a better challenge and you'll get extra cash rewards for playing in the difficulty.

All that laid out, I can highly recommend Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005, whether you've played last year's version or not. There's a lot here for everyone and I know I couldn't do without having all these great new additions to last me until the next version.

Basically a Repeat of 2004
Tiger Woods 2004 is a very fun game, and although 2005 is just as fun, it is really just more-of-the-same. The golfing interface is almost identical to 2004, with only 1 improvement among the continuing set of flaws, and that 1 improvement may not even really be an improvement. I get the impression (and it may be this way with many of the game manufacturers) that they are just biding their time until next year when the PS3 comes out, and they are not wasting their energy to improve PS2 games. I'll think seriously about buying any more games this year at all, if this is going to be one of the best of the bunch for PS2.

PROS:

* Game play interface (analog swing, etc) is the same, and still good. In fact the best of all golf games.

* Online play is fun with friends or strangers.

CONS:

* Graphics/textures lacking. The clothes LOOK TERRIBLE in this game. Half of the pants look "soiled" unless they're a solid color, like black. It's obvious they didn't put much effort intoimproving the way this game looks, regarding grass, shadows, etc. The clothing designers should be embarrassed. The clothes look "frozen" in place like video games from a few years ago.

* Game Face II is tedious and annoying. It took me forever to make my first character because there is screen after screen after screen of options. Half of them you can't figure out what they're doing either, because there are no prompts telling you what's happening. It's a nice idea but the execution leaves much to be desired. The skin tone system is completely un-intuitive. First you pick some sort of "base tone" that looks like no human skin you've ever seen before, then "modify" it with TWO different sliders?This makes no sense -- you think you're making a caucasian and the guy comes out with gray alien skin. What's up with that?

* Finding items/clothing in pro-shop is SLOW, TEDIOUS and ANNOYING. The interface is WORSE than TW 2004. It honestly takes a full 2-3 seconds to scroll from item to item down a list that could have 50 items in it. Item sorting mechanism sucks, and for some reason when you go to the Pro Shop there are "Featured" items that are for some reason NEVER worth buying. Why is this even in the game? I suspect it has to do with how much money sponsors are paying to get products in the game.

* Game is still one giant golf equipment commercial. True, equipment is important in golf and it is a brilliant way to tie in product placements and make money for EA SPORTS. But still, I shouldn't have to feel like I'm prostituting myself just for selecting NIKE golf balls when I'm playing a game -- for no other reason than they have a higher spin rating. I honestly wish there were an option to TURN OFF THE BRAND NAMES. I'm certain this will never happen though.

* Leveling-up system gets old. It's the same video-game pattern as always. Win a game, get money, spend money on Attribute points. Rinse. Repeat. Until you get to Tiger who is like 99 on everything. By the time you've done that you're a good golfer and you can win. Yay.

* Chipping interface STILL SUCKS BAD!!!!!What's up with that square thing with the crawler dots?This is the worst part of the playing interface, and it makes no sense why they left it that way when the rest of the game is so good. ?????

* The course designer-thing is lame. Why can't I design a course from start to finish they way I want? Why do I have to pick a hole from this course, pick a hole from that course... I actually know why, it's because that would be a lot of work to build a level-creation engine into the game itself, but you play all the courses so dang many times you get tired of looking at them.

I'll be waiting until a major update for Playstation 3 to come out before I buy any more Tiger Woods golf games. ... Read more

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

Features

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

Reviews (85)

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

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

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

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

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

Features

• Dynasty mode lets you manage a franchise over 25 seasons
• Games announced by Marv Albert and Mike Fratello
• Single-player, multiplayer, and online multiplayer modes
• Basketball sports game
• All-new dunks, alley-oops, and mid-air jump shots

Reviews (58)

Impressive
I got to say, this is very impressive, becuase it has its very own Three-Point Shootout and its very own Dunk Contest. It would have been even better if it had the skills challenge and the RadioShack Shooting Stars (well, at leatst the Skills Challenge), because there was this game I played on NBA.com that had asome kind of game like the Skills Challenge, but overall, this video game is very impressive.

Best B-ball game this year.
This is a great basketball game for all you hardcore basketball fans. This is the only b-ball game that has the all-star weekend that includes: Rookies vs Sophmores, 3-point contest, Slam Dunk contest, and the All-Star Game. The 3-point contest is the best of all because it is challening with most of the players get into the low 20's or the high 20's and even some competitors get 30. Now to the gameplay. It is great with the computer challenging you almost everytime and shots aren't easy to get when you face a man like Ben Wallace and Shaq. And in All-Star you have to watch out for being blocked a lot so you should set a lot of screens so you can get open shots. The Free-throw shooting is way easier on NBA Live than ESPN. You only have to look at the backboard and you will have a rectangle on top of the square in the of the backboard where you want to get it in the rectangle to make the free-throw. On ESPN you have to put the basketballs together and it is really difficult.
The only gripe I have about this game is when you are wide open you will miss at least 30% of the time, but on ESPN when you are wide open you will make it about 95% of the time.
Overall I think this is better than any other basketball game this year.

TOO "ARCADEY"!!!!!!
Once again, EA sports had found a winning formula for a quality game title only to take a step back in the following year's version.Last year's NBA Live 2004 was a lot of fun and had pretty realistic gameplay.But this year's version is much too arcadey and gets boring real, real fast!As the obvious focus on the developer's minds was to add the dunk contest, they sacrificed other key areas of the gameplay in the process.For example, the collision detection is horrible.You'll drive to the basket through an open lane only to have your player contort his body and throw up a bad shot even when there didn't seem to be any defenders around!Also, they took away certain key gameplay features that have become a necessity in Hoops games.For example, when you choose a play from the coach's playbook, you no longer have a diagram that shows how the play is supposed to run....all you can do is GUESS! Also, when viewing your player's stats, you no longer have the ability to sort your players in terms of who had the least vs who had the most in that particulary stat column.Finally, and arguably the biggest gripe, is that running fast breaks has become very difficult.Unfortunately, it's not due to good defens as much as it is due to bad offensive AI.On fast breaks, wide open players almost NEVER run to the basket!Instead, they often run to a corner or simply stop near the top of the key to take a 3 pointer even if they are a big man!!!!!
I've been playing sports games for years and unfortunately, EA Sports has developed a pattern.After a year or two of releasing a quality sports title, they'll eventually release a version that takes the series a few steps in the wrong direction.ESPN NBA 2K5 is better this year but not much. ... 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   

Editorial Review

After the smash success of the arcade version of Area-51, Midway Entertainment has answered the calls for a console version of the game. With a cool, sci-fi storyline that includes terrifying aliens and mutants, and the sickest arsenal of human and alien weaponry imaginable, Area-51 is a gory, first-person shooter loaded with action.

Area-51, also known as Groom Lake, is a secret military facility about 90 miles north of Las Vegas. The name refers to a large, six-by-ten mile block of land that contains a covert, U.S.-military air base. The government refuses to comment on the nature of this air base, and since the 1950s, Area-51 has been a hotbed of UFO conspiracies and rumors of governmental cover-up. Now, because of a catastrophic viral outbreak, all the secrets are about to be blown wide open and only you -- Ethan Cole, HAZMAT Specialist -- can control the chaos, contain the outbreak, and save planet earth.

The research facility at Area-51 has been shut down because of a viral outbreak. The distress signal received by the U.S. Army has activated the automatic quarantine procedures, locking all scientific and military personnel inside. It will be your mission to dive into five massive levels within the secret confines of the mysterious Area-51 to try to keep the virus contained.

Stacked with an arsenal of human and alien weapons, you will battle scientists and military personnel who have been infected by the outbreak, as well as an ancient colony of aliens buried deep beneath the facility. Along the way, you will also unearth chilling conspiracies, such as the infamous extraterrestrial crash at Roswell and the faked lunar landing.

Once you've mastered the weaponry and completed your mission, you can take your skills to the global level and compete with others HAZMAT Specialists online with your PlayStation2. With cool guns, fast-paced action, and fun gameplay modes, Area-51 delivers awesome single-player and multi-player action. ... Read more

Features

• For 1 player
• First-person shooter
• Explore five levels set in the U.S. government's most secretive and secure military facility
• Play as HAZMAT specialist Ethan Cole investigating a viral outbreak
• Use both human and alien weapons to control the chaos and contain the outbreak

Reviews (6)

Area 51 is creepy, fun and addicting
This is one of the best FPS games I've ever played (Halo was the best). The only thing I don't like is that the game is kind of short. It's pretty long, but still short, I love games that take a long time to complete so it mught be just me.

The one thing i love is that the blood stays the whole time and doesn't disapear, it's so much more realistic. The gore is great. It's not overload, but when you hit something blood comes out, so it's just perfect, not too much, not too little.

THe people who do the voices are great. David duchovny sounds exactly like he would if he were actually the guy in the game, and Marilyn Mason is the creepy voice that Edgar has.

This game is also creepy. There's a lot of dark places, so you use your flashlight often. The only bad thing is when you reload in a dark place, your flashlight is hidden by your arm and you cant see if youre in a big battle. the scariest thing is when you walk around a dark corner and an enemy jumps down from the ceiling.

THis is one of the funnest games ive ever played and the storyline is creative and is intriging.
BOTTOM LINE: BUY THIS GAME!

Great concept, good game
I have long anticipated this titles release, and i wasnt dissapointed that i paid about 50 dollars for it before i even rented it. For the playstation version, which i have, it has great graphics, especially in the campaign mode. There are a few problems, some of which can be easily fixed. You are started with an inverted view, meaning you move up when you press to go down, which is easily changed in options. Next, it takes the longest time to get online because you have to go through multiple downloads and sign-ons. When you get online, there is relatively no lag, but there is an odd points system that makes little or no sense at all. There are some really interesting game modes, my favorite being the last human mode where you try not to be mutated by the "chosen one" and his victims.

The campaign however, is the best part. It isn't short by any means because i can normally beat them in most games in a few weeks. Even at easy, it is fairly challenging. It has a well thought out plot line, very well thought out. It has very well placed check points and easy combat interface. The campaign will stretch your mind and poke at your problem solving abilities as there are many places that need further examination to pass on.

There are a good diverse group of enemies, each type being harder and appearing at specific levels in the game.

My ratings

Combat interface
9/10

Storyline
10/10

Multiplayer (up to 8 players)
6/10

Music and graphics
9/10

overall
8/10

A must for FPS fans
Well where do I start?Just like the game there are so many fun twists and turns that it's hard to pick out a good spot to start talking about this game.Anyway the storyline is your HazMat Specialist Ethan Cole, who is with HazMat Team Bravo, sent into the treacherous Area 51 compound to find out what exactly happened and why did HazMat Team Delta go missing.Once you step into the base things go from bad, to worse, then to just downright ugly and hellish.

I am a huge FPS and shooter fan, and have played the original Area 51 and Area 51: Site 4 arcade machines.When I heard Midway was coming out with a FPS Area 51 game I couldn't wait.As soon as I got it and popped it into my PS2, I was immersed from the start.The graphics are jaw-dropping and the fluidity of the character movements were just downright smooth as hell.The action is far from lax too.From the get go you're thrusted into the mayhem that the mutated inbatitants of the base throw at you.Mutants, leapers,and later on in the game Cloned Human Spec Op soldiers, come at you out of nowhere at the most unexpected moments of the game, thus making you stay on your toes and making your finger hover over the R1 button at all times.Bottom line:You just never know when something will come at you from around the corner of a hallway.

The plot and the story of the game itself is great also.Conspiracy theories, plot twists, and sudden changes in the game that will shock you will keep any gamer from putting down that controller, yes it is THAT good.I can't say much about it because I don't want to spoil anything, but I can surely say that you will always be surprised at what occurs during the game as you make your way down through the base.In Area 51 you'll always want to find out what happens next.

Of course, no FPS is complete without a set of AI controlled teammates.But sometimes those teammates hamper you more than help you.In Area 51, these teammates actually give you cover fire, shout at you where enemies are coming from, and actually shoot to kill and not just weaken enemies for you.

What about controls?Controls are a snap to learn and easy to use.Nothing too complicated here.

The voice acting is an excellent point too.David Duchovny plays the role of Ethan Cole real well, giving the gamer the impression that yes Cole may seem like a soft-spoken HazMat specialists, but can sure prove his worth during battle.And Marylin Manson compliments Edgar real well.I feel that Manson does the job right by voicing the creepy looking Edgar and giving the game a chilling feel everytime his character speaks in the game.

Overall I love this game and the action is second-to-none and I feel that this is 50 bucks well spent.If you're a FPS fan or a fan of the Area 51 series, I highly suggest you buy this game.You won't be sorry, and chances you won't leave your PS2 until you finally complete the game.

... Read more

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

Features

• Create their own characters by defining various characteristics, such as species, gender, clothing and physical attributes
• Construct your own lightsaber from handle to blade color
• For 1 player; multiplayer modes available online
• Take on the role of a student eager to learn the ways of the Force from Master Luke Skywalker
• Interact with famous classic Star Wars locations and characters

Reviews (58)

awsome
This game is great. You can play online with most kills or capture the flag. You can also play with your friend on most kills or capture the flag. Play on Career mode where you start as a young padwan to a jedi master. YOu can pick between dark or light which one will you pick.
This game is affordable and you will not get bored of it.
Buy it

My Favorite game is Star Wars Jedi Knight Jedi Academy
I love this game because I a huge fan of Star Wars and I like this game because it is so fun to play by myself and I like the sound effects and the graphics and the lightsabers too. I will recomend this game for any hard core Star Wars fan!!!

Better than Outcast, not as good asJedi Knight
What I liked about this game was the speed and 3rd person view controls (for the most part). The Xbox controller handled things pretty well under the default settings. My biggest problems with it was ducking (plunging the right stick) and the limited space available for Jedi force powers. Four assignable buttons were not really enough for all the available forces. I was always short one force power and reassigning forces in the middle of a fight was out of the question. Effects in 1st person view are lacking (not just in the resolution dept.) when compared with the PC version. For example weapons animation was nada. The story was OK. It wasn't ground breaking or anything, but it was interesting enough. My biggest complaint here was Jaden's (your character) speed of advancement. It made Kyle look like a slow learner.
Every other incarnation of the Jedi Knight series started you with conventional weapons and slowly devoloped the light sabre skills. Yes, you could use the light sabre early on in them as well, but your character (Kyle) was downright inept at it. That system forced you to get comfortable with all the conventional weapons first and then eventually had you convert over to Jedi fighting. Thats what helped make Jedi Knight so good. In this game you start off by knowing the most powerful forces (sabre throw and sabre defence) and can use them straight away. Because of this using conventional weapons in Jedi Academy became almost an afterthought really early on (eg. oh there's an enemy way off in the distance....I think i'll sniper that one). An oppprtunity to go into more training scenarios was also missed. One introductory level goes into basic training and that is it. Considering all of the acrobatics in this one I would of welcomed more than just,"Oh, you're level 3 now, move on to the next set of missions and familierize yourself as you go".

Jedi academy is a pretty good take on Dark Forces but I have played much better. Also, eventhough the Xbox release is quite good I think it would be better played on a decent PC. Although, its possible that a keyboard/mouse combo would not stack up to the contoller S specifically when in Lightsaber combat. There will be pros and cons to both versions I guess. ... Read more

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

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 ExciteBike
• Comes with headphones designed exclusively for the GBA SP
• Game Boy Advance SP Classic bundle

Reviews (3)

Gameboy advanced sp
this toy is really fun and I don't know what durable means but this toy is awsome

WOW
This kit really makes me wish I would have waited to get my SP...The classic NES design on the SP is outstanding and the games that come included are some of the best games that I have ever played...Overall this is a great package :)

Animaniacs Jammer
I think the game boy Advance sp-platinum is a great progranmed for allto play. my two boys love playing all the game on there have. Iam think about geting the game boy advavce sp flame. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance took co-operative action role-playing to new heights on the Playstation 2 console. Alone, or with a friend, you could tackle giant rats, undead monsters, dark elves, and even a white dragon, as you uncovered a plot against the good city of Baldur's Gate. But the ending indicated there was more adventure to come. Fans were worried that the sequel wouldn't live up to original's promise when the original design team jumped ship to work on Sony's Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest. They need not have worried; Dark Alliance 2 is a worthy successor, retaining the weapons, monsters, Dungeons and Dragons action and rules, sharp graphics, responsive controls, and high adventure of its predecessor.

The plot is a bit darker this time, but you're given a wider range of character classes to help face the elevated threats. There's the mighty barbarian, a dwarf rogue, a cleric, the monk (a martial artist), and a necromancer. The quest is huge and there are character-class specific side quests you can embark on--an extra incentive to play again as a different character. The level design tends to be a little too maze-like, and there's lots of boring backtracking, but the annoying jumping puzzles from the first game are gone.

The biggest problem with Dark Alliance 2 is that it doesn't measure up to the competition. It's a 2-player game, while Dungeons & Dragons Heroes (on the Xbox) and Champions of Norrath (on the PS2 and Xbox) allow four-player play. Then again if you plan to play solo, or with a single friend, that shouldn't keep you from coming to the city of Baldur's Gate's aid once again. --Andrew Bub ... Read more

Features

• 3 character types, each with unique skills and abilities
• Explosive spell effects and amazingly detailed environments
• For 1 or 2 players
• Action/adventure game based on the Dungeons & Dragons campaign Forgotton Realms
• Faithful to the 3rd edition Dungeons and Dragons rules

Reviews (72)

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2
I really enjoyed this game.I have it for the Xbox and the graphics are well above average.This installment was much harder than the first and longer too.There are 5 characters to choose from ranging from the necromancer to the barbarian.The adventure is fairly long ranging from 7-12 hours depending on if you get everything.Another great feature is that each character has his or her own side quest which you can complete which will help rack up the experience points.I think the best adition to this game is the ablility to create and customize your equipment with magical gems you find.They gems all give you special ablilites and you can tweak it to fit your character perfectly.You can also play with a friend witch adds great replay value to the game.Overall it is a solid RPG that isn't hard to get into but may dissapoint hardcore RPG fans. I give it 4 out of 5.

dark aliance
dark aliance was awosme!! it had awsopme graphic mostly at the cript those zombies look like they were real i mean some have no heads come after ya or no arms and no head or be cut in have and still chase you any way it just sum people i bet who are reading this are saying a kid says this he dosent know whats good well listen, if you dont beleave me whatever but you people out there who do rent i tell ya me ansd my friend stayed up all last night playin the game we couldnt stop and u have mutliple choice on wepons and amour it likesomthing so advice you could on dream of it. words cant really descripe the awsomeness!! of the game the only way is to play it! imean i just wish everyone new how greatthis game is i mean i search the web all the time llokin for the game like this i've been search for 4 years but fially sumthin pops up . this , this is like so cool so awsome so changelling but not hard or boring its so fun to beat the living crap out of the monster you just feel , you feel like your fighting itwhen your only one player or with a friend you just feel like your there kickin' butt! it so much fun eveyr body who dosen't like middle ages games or fighting it like nothing u ever experniced you just get so , so in to it you fighting and then a enmey hiding and pops out at you your like oh my god! then you fight it and the. and getting your tea mmate after he/she dies is easy and the things each certain people get out of them is so awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its a huge envirtoment but not too huge you can interact with most people. i just hope everyone can get an chance to this play this awsome thing you you i cant explain it its just so awsome and so.. awsome... i cant just stop and its not too addciting but its adicting

Return to Baldur's Gate.
DARK ALLIANCE: BALDUR'S GATE 2 has a plot that begins fairly soon after the end of the original BALDUR'S GATE video game. At the end of the original BALDUR'S GATE the three heroes found themselves surrounded by giant black creatures after jumping through the "last" remaining gateway portal. The game begins with your character on the outskirts of a village being asked to help a group of travelers who were attacked by orcs. The first stage of the game is more of a prologue and it takes a little while before actually reaching the city of Baldur's Gate. Visiting an inn (one different from the first game), your character is able to talk to some people and begin going on certain quests. Ultimately, your character is to rescue the three adventurers from the first game and defeat the vampire lord.

I really enjoyed playing DARK ALLIANCE. I like action-adventure type of games and tend to play them more because of the story rather than their difficulty. I found DARK ALLIANCE to be a bit more difficult than BALDUR'S GATE. There are a couple of really tough bosses (especially the octopus-face lady in the caves beneath the one castle) which require some critical thinking and strategy to defeat.

There are a few changes in DARK ALLIANCE from BALDUR'S GATE. The player has 5 characters to choose from instead of 3. Though the game is pretty much the same no matter which character you choose, there are side quests that only each character can partake. There are also some characters in the game who won't talk to certain characters.Like the first game, each of the five characters has their own special skills and talents. Personally I liked the dwarf rogue the best because he's able to carry the most loot and has this nifty ability of being able to automatically able to disarm all traps. Another change in the game is the ability to modify weapons into special magical weapons, but it costs a lot of money and jewels to make anything really worthwhile.Another difference is that characters who shoot arrows don't have to constantly buy those arrows; once you have a bow, it remains armed all the time. This saves on both money and the amount of weight being carried around. Some of the levels are the same as in BALDUR'S GATE, but there are many more new ones. The game also takes much longer to beat. Once beating the game, an extreme mode opens up in which you can take your character from the end of your first game and start over at the beginning of the game, but with everything being extremely difficult to kill. If you choose to play extreme mode, your character keeps his experience and levels, but looses all possessions. It's fun to try, but very hard to beat some of the bosses in this mode.

Overall, I found DARK ALLIANCE to be a fun game and a good sequel to BALDUR'S GATE. Expert gamers will be bored by it, but most anyone else who likes action-adventure/role play games will probably enjoy it. ... Read more

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

Features

• Personalized Training Programs: Maya, the Yourself!Fitness personal trainer, will create a customized health and fitness program focused on your unique needs and individual goals.
• Dynamic fitness routines: To assure that no two workouts will ever be the same, each day Maya will build your personalized routine based on your progress and commitment level.
• Over 500 unique exercises: Maya will coach you through training sessions featuring Yoga, Pilates, Cardio Fitness, Strength Training, Flexibility Exercises and Targeted Weight Loss routines.
• Equipment Integration: Maya will integrate the fitness equipment you already own into your workout experience.
• Customized meal planning: As part of the Yourself!Fitness program, Maya offers nutritional advice with over 4,500 recipes, preparation instructions and shopping lists to make eating right an easy part of any lifestyle

Reviews (30)

Pretty Good Game
I purchased Yourself Fitness this January after my son got an x-box for Christmas.Overall a good fitness video game, but I do have a few problems with it.The trainer asks you what home equipment you have - and I don't have a step - but her cardio routines seem to be suited for the step.I do find most of her cardio warmups somewhat repetative and boring.She should work in some kickboxing type moves to get your heart rate up, but instead it is a lot of marching and side stepping.

The second issue is the whole rewards thing.I use this video to supplement my routine- it is not my regular thing.I have done many, many workouts, but because I don't schedule them I have never gotten a new workout space or new music.It would have been nice if you could have chosen a way to earn your rewards.So a good game if you use the whole package, not so great if you are looking for a supplemental video.

Meet Maya your personal Trainer!!
I've been using this game for almost four months now and have completed 60 workouts.(...)

As I'm always looking for something to inspire me to exercise it didn't take me long to come across this little gem. Yourself!Fitness is an Xbox "game" geared towards physical fitness. You are introduced to Maya who will be your personal trainer.

Maya starts you off by having you do a physical assessment where you are taken through a series of exercises and your resting and elevated heart rates are measured. You put in your height, weight and sex and from there Maya will customize a workout plan for you. Based on what your results are Maya will recommend a goal for you such as Weight Loss, cardio and other selections.

If you own hand weights, a balance ball or stepper, Maya can also incorporate those into your workout as well but you don't need to have those things to do it.

Y!F lets you set up a calendar to record when you want to exercise and for how long each session. For your initial fitness evaluation, Maya will recommend to you a weekly schedule but you can customize that for yourself. For instance, Maya recommended weight loss for me and had me scheduled every other day for 15 minutes to start. I am very overweight and I think "she" didn't want me to overdo it in the beginning. But I thought I could handle more and I adjusted the calendar to add in some 30 minute workouts. I'm entering my third week of workouts and have been doing five to six workouts a week at 30 minutes each.

Each time you go to workout, you are greeted by Maya. Maya will ask you how you are feeling. You are giving three options for an answer. Paraphrasing here but here is an example: A. Nothing can stop me, B. Feeling okay today and C. You're lucky I'm here!

Now, based on your answer, Maya will set the intensity of the workout before you even start. As you are working out, Maya will again ask you how you are doing. You can than chose if you think the workout has been too hard or too easy and Maya will then adjust accordingly.

This is so much better than a dvd or video just for the above mentioned customization but there is also some more neat things. Like you can zoom the camera in and out and pan all around Maya to get a better look at how she is doing the exercises. There is also a tutorial that you can exit out of the workout and you get more detailed instructions on how to do the workout. When you are ready you can rejoin Maya! There are different work out settings and music to chose from so less chance of getting bored.

Each day, when you start your program, Maya will suggest a daily focus - Weight loss, Cardio, Upper body, Lower Body and Flexibility. She varies these so you aren't doing the same thing over and over again. Weight loss is my main goal but I do the other workouts too and they are geared more to help me lose weight. You have a warming up period in the beginning and then you do the targeted workout for the day and a few minutes of stretching near the end.

Y!F also has a "Meditation Garden". This is a "place" to go and do yoga exercises. I haven't tried this part out yet but others have really enjoyed it.

There is also a reward system. After you've completed three scheduled workouts, Maya will reward you with some bronze dumbbells, a new location and a new music choice. There are two more sets of dumbbells to earn after this and more locations and music to unlock.

The workouts use Yoga, Pilates, Cardio, Strength training, and flexibility exercises.

After a set amount of workouts, Maya will have you do another Physical Assessment to see how far you've progressed.

There is also a great support system at the Yourself!Fitness website where you can keep an open journal where other members can encourage you and you encourage them.

There isn't much negative I can say about this except maybe a better selection of music or music you can download into it would be nice.

The graphics for Maya are excellent! She looks almost like a real person and moves pretty realistically too. Sometimes her arms look a little funny or she seems to be floating a bit but other than that, she looks great. The background graphics could be a little better but maybe the next version will address that.

I own a ton of exercise videos, dvds and very expensive exercise equipment that I just don't use. I'm starting my third week with this and I feel almost addicted to the program. There's something about being greeted and asked how you are doing or being told you're doing a great job meeting your commitments. It also keeps you on your toes not knowing exactly what to expect because each workout is different. There are over 500 exercises and Maya usually adds one to two each workout.

There is also a meal plan for those who are looking for that sort of help. I haven't done the meal plan but folks on the Y!F website who have really like it. You can download recipes from the website that you will find on the game.

This also comes in a PC version and a Playstation 2 version as well.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a home fitness routine.


Recommended
Yes

lmao
sorry but in my opinion just the idea of this is stupid....go work out for real, you dont need a game to tell you how to lift a dumb bell,or how to roll you flabby self on a stupid ball....sheesh what will they think of next....oh wait yourself eating!!! that be great you can eat all you want in a virtual world..lol ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

The Legend of Zelda series practically defined adventure gaming for an entire generation. Link, the hero of the adventure games, delighted millions by starring in games for each Nintendo console from the NES and Super NES to the Nintendo 64. Link brings this beloved franchise to the Nintendo GameCube in The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and he's more animated than ever.

The first thing you'll notice about The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker is that it looks completely different from any previous title in the franchise. Nintendo has opted to use cel-shading technology on Wind Waker; the result is that the game looks like a cartoon. Die-hard Zelda purists initially howled at this change, arguing that the game skews too young. I think it's fantastic. The cartoon animation style allows for better expression of the characters, and several of the animations--like Link trying to pick up an object that's too heavy--are so cute that you can't help but laugh a little.

The second thing you’ll notice is a focus on wind. Instead of trotting around on foot, Link travels from island to island on a talking boat, but he doesn't get far without the wind blowing in right direction. Luckily, you'll learn how to change the direction of the wind early in the game, and you'll do so frequently--not only to power your boat but also to solve puzzles. Clever use of wind makes Wind Waker stand out from more conventional adventure games.

The third thing you’ll notice is that the game is just plain fun. Puzzles are innovative and refreshing, and despite some tricky puzzles, I never felt too frustrated to keep playing. The locales you'll visit are invariably exotic and fun to explore, and the host of bizarre creatures you'll encounter (friendly and otherwise) are always a kick in the pants. Moreover, though the look is radically different, Wind Waker feels like a classic Zelda game. Veterans of the early games in the franchise will experience more than a bit of nostalgia while playing it.

The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker is everything you've come to expect from a Zelda game, and it's one of the best adventure games to date. This is a must-have title for any GameCube owner. --Jon "Safety Monkey" Grover

Pros:

• New cel-shaded animation looks great
• Puzzles and characters are a lot of fun
• There's a special place in the heart of any gamer who's ever owned a Nintendo console, and that place is shaped like a Triforce

Cons:

• Some Zelda purists may be turned off by the cartoon look

Features

• Dive into an all-new Legend of Zelda! It expands on the revolutionary game play of The Ocarina of Time and features a unique new animation style.
• See characters' expressions change as they laugh and cry or show anger and surprise with a wider variety of actions and livelier, more expressive characters.
• Addictive gameplay that will keep you glued to your Game Cube until the adventure is done.

Reviews (741)

BEST ZELDA GAME YET!!!
oh first of all im not under 13.Anyway Link is back for another adventure...this one is the best adventure yet.The cell shaded graphics are awesome,some say they they suck,but i think they are pretty cool.The gameplay is really fun you can do all sorts of stuff...but the bad thing is when you get your little boat that talks(i forgot the name)it just takes forever to go around the great sea on it.The audio is similar to the old zelda games some is new though.Now the game starts off when its links 12th birthday his sister wakes him up when he is asleep on the villages tower thingy,she tells him to go talk to his grandma and she gives him his green tunic.After that you will see find your sister she gives you a present...i dont want to tell what...but anyway i dont want to tell anymore secrets.You will have to find them out yourself.i reccomend this game to people who enjoyed any Zelda game before....or if you hated them,give this one a shot.Or if you havent even played one this one will make you want to keep playing.

Hours and hours of fun!
Firstly let me state that I have never before played another Zelda game. I just never got into them; I was a Mario girl.

That said, ZELDA AND THE WIND WAKER is phenomenal. My younger sister got it as a present and she let me play when she wasn't playing it. As soon as I got up and left for college I needed my own.

Link is adorable. His facial expressions are entertaining. All the characters are great; there's such a variety that you'll just keep on Ooohing and Aaahing at the screen, impressed at the creativity.

The fighting/action is difficult but not too much so. I've played games before that I would get so mad at that I would have to leave and come back to them... much, much later. Zelda provided no such frustration, but as I said before, it wasn't so easy that I zipped straight through it and was not challenged.

The storyline is interesting. The sailing, contrary to what some other people may have said, is not tedious. In fact, I did quite a bit of exploring just for fun while I was on my way to other places.

My sister and I spent hours and hours playing this game. In fact, I would even pick it up and play it all over again from the beginning if I had the time.

Good, but below the bar set by Ocarina of Time
The Wind Waker was a risk for Nintendo.Besides the obvious difference in graphics due to new cel-shading techniques, they mostly scrapped the core storyline of previous Zelda games and added a different, lighthearted feel to the classic series.

Did it work?Mostly.But the flaws in the game come not from the decision to use cartoon graphics or to move away from the old Zelda storyline, but in the game's execution as a whole.First, however, we must look at the most obvious change: the cel-shaded graphics.Though the decision to use cel-shading created outrage among hardcore Zelda fans, it was actually done quite well; the animation compliments the light nature of the plot.Though a disappointment for some, these cel-shaded graphics are technically very good and certainly show off the capabilities of the Gamecube.

The plot, too, is very different from the previous games, most of which (including the amazing N64 installment, Ocarina of Time) were set in Hyrule.In Wind Waker, the setting is on various islands in the Great Sea hundreds of years in the future... though as the story progresses, it turns out that the story is not as detached from previous games as one is initially led to believe.The shift was a bold move, but was well done as a whole because of the strong ties to games such as Ocarina of Time, which created a sense of nostalgia for longtime Zelda fans.Just as important are the new gamers who will find the plot of Wind Waker to be independent enough to enjoy without any prior Zelda knowledge.

That said, the major problem with this game lies in the gameplay itself.Though various innovations were successfully added to the user interface and controls (the slick counter-attack move, for example), one can't help but notice that many of the tasks given to Link are trivial at best and downright boring at worst.Take, for example, sailing, which is Link's primary method of transportation between islands.It takes forever and requires little interaction; I frequently would set the sail's direction and leave the controller on the ground to go get a snack.Beastly sea-monsters are not all that common, and only serve as a nuisance instead of a challenge while sailing.Additionally, Link is required to go on a kind of fishing expedition at the end of the game that is seriously tedious, frightfully boring, and takes lots of time with no challenge at all.Finally, combat is smooth but easy; death by combat is quite rare for all but the most novice of players.

The Wind Waker was a brave attempt at a new direction for the Zelda series, and the new direction works, for the most part.However, flaws in the gameplay itself seriously distract from the intricate plots that define the Zelda series and make The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker a less-than-stellar addition to the classic Nintendo series.

... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Nintendo's winning streak of rehashing and enhancing classic SuperNintendo games for the tiny GBA screen continues with this surprisinglyaddictive arcade racer. For those new to the Mario Kart game series, Nintendomascots (Mario, Donkey Kong, Luigi, etc.) race go-carts along fantastic tracksthat feature various offensive and defensive power-ups (banana peels andmushroom boosts, to name two). Accumulate enough points and you'll win circuittrophies.

Each mascot has a ride that handles and accelerates differently, yetthe controls for each racer feel very tight and precise. The highly detailed,cartoony locales of Mario Kart Super Circuit show visuals that are bothvery sharp and fluidly animated. Though not nearly as fast, Mario Kart SuperCircuit looks better and can be more intense than the vaunted F-Zerolaunch title.

If you perform well enough and collect enough coins in atournament, you can unlock a plethora of bonus tracks--some of which are fromolder console Mario Kart titles. The fun multiplayer options includehead-to-head racing and a balloon battle mode, in which you blast other racerswith power-ups in a huge arena until there's only one driver left. --MarkBrooks

Pros:

• Bright graphics that are both fast and fluid
• Multiplayer battle mode is loads of fun
• Many, many tracks!

• May be too cute for some

Features

• 20 all-new tracks.
• Fast-paced driving action.
• Pick from many characters out of the Nintendo World.
• Up to 4 players can race with the Link Cable.

Reviews (255)

"Mario Kart" for the Game Boy Advance
The game is very simple.You choose which mode you want to play, with your options being one-player, multi-player, and something called a "Ghost Exchange" that I've never tried but would guess is similar to the "Pok'emon Crystal Version" thing where you can press yours and your friend's Game Boys together and each get a gift from each other.In one-player mode, you can choose from the mode where you race the computer, a mode where you race yourself to see how fast you can get your time, and a mode that I believe is the older set-up of "Mario Kart" (without the coins and points).Then you choose the level of diffuculty, and pick your character (Mario, Luigi, Peach, and you know the rest.)Afterwards, you battle it out on interesting, colorful tracks, trying to rank high and (except in the timed mode) win a trophy.Like I said, it's simple, but it's also very addicting, and the graphics are fantastic!

The best game ever.
If you want a game thats challenging and fun,well you picked the right game.This game is so cool and the graphics are awsome.There are many tracks to choose from also you can pick the track that you love the most and race your own ghost.

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS.

Can't save!
I bought this game used and it is as awesome as mario kart on the big nintendo systems. But I give it 4 stars because it will not save anything! I don't know if this is just a problem with my game or if it's a manufacturing defect in a lot of games, but it's very dissapointing. I can't save any track times, or gp championships. So ever time I turn the ame on, I'm starting all over again so I have to play the entire thing to open up the secret tracks!! but as I said, other than that, this is a very good game if you're into mario kart. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jet (Jets)    2. Sports (Sport)    3. Outdoors (Out Doors)    4. Racing    5. Flying    6. Video Games    7. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Gameboy)    8. GBA    9. Racing (Race, Races)    10. Flying (Fly)    11. Car (Cars)    12. Auto (Autos)    13. Plane (Planes)