Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth Review

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(More customer reviews)This game has a lot of good ideas, and implements a number of them surprisingly well. In fact, almost everything innovative that this game tries, it succeeds at. Going insane feels like you're going insane, bolting doors and shoving bookcases in front of them to stop pursuers is adrenaline-pumping, having to treat the proper injuries that result from different ways of taking damage makes sense within the game, and the creepy atmosphere is so pervasive that you're practically suffocating on it throughout the entire game.
Where it goes wrong is the most trivial, inane, annoying details.
Checkpoint's frequently come only before extensive cutscenes (upwards of several minutes), or before long walks or tough obstacles, so if you make one mistake, not only have you lost all the progress since the last save, but you frequently have to repeat the same lengthy cutscene or retread the exact same long hallways over and over.
Frequent hard-to-see insta-kill traps often leave me wondering exactly why I died, which compounds the problems of the last point.
The game frequently mistakes an intent to bolt a door as an intent to open a door; trying to close a door behind you, oftentimes the door will catch you and push you into whatever is chasing you; for the game to register your attempt to close the door, you have to be standing just so, which can be very hard to do when you're trying to protect someone that's following you.
Then there's the glitches: if you run the game on Vista, a certain segment involving the artillery guns of a naval ship won't work right, and you'll have to download a save game just beyond that point. Also, the final segment in the game is almost literally impossible without some extremely precise bunny-hopping, and I ended up having to cheat to beat it.
In short: this is a very, very good game, much better than I expected, but you have to be able to stomach more questionable design decisions, poor scripting, and buggy interfaces than it's reasonable to expect of any player. A supermodel with headlice, right next to Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines.

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Deus Ex Review

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(More customer reviews)Most of the time when you think of a first-person shooter, you picture fast-paced slaughter and mayhem like in the legendary Quake and Unreal line. Deus Ex, however, adds an unprecedented level of intelligence to a genre previously devoid of any thought other than "if it moves, kill it".
Deus Ex follows Agent JC Denton on his first assignment for UNATCO - an anti-terrorist group with wide-reaching jurisdiction. JC is a special nanotech-augmented cyborg with a wide range of superhuman abilities. You are able to customize your character throughout the game in an RPG-esque style. Want to go in with guns blazing? Increase training in heavy arms and pistols. Want to take out the bad guys from a distance? Focus on Rifle training. Want to hack into the security system and have it eliminate the bad guys for you? Train heavily on electronics and computers. Want to be able to heal yourself instantly? Train up on Medicine. Depending on how you train your character, the gameplay changes significantly. This not only adds tremendous amounts of depth, but also increases the replay value. As if that wasn't enough, the storyline is very intricate and boasts some superb twists. You will end up not knowing who to trust as the game goes on. The plotline culminates in three possible endings, depending on whose side you choose.
Highest possible recommendation.

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It's the new millennium. Civilization is near collapse. The world economy is in chaos. The middle class no longer exists. Deadly viruses have ravaged the earth's population. Terrorism runs rampant. From this maelstrom of violence and suffering an ancient conspiracy bent on world domination emerges from the shadows of legend. The conspirators' greatest strength? No one believes they exist. No one but you.
In Deus Ex, immerse yourself in an intricate web of betrayal and intrigue as you attempt to uncover power struggles, hidden agendas, and the dark conspiracy behind it all. Travel the globe building a network of allies and create an alternate identity to aid you in your search for the truth. There is no one path to success. It is achieved through various means; employ stealth, strategy, or force--the choice is yours. But remember, trust no one. Even those who you keep as allies may be more than they seem. Question everything.
This game incorporates role-playing, action, adventure, and first-person shooter genres into a chaotic blend of real-world conspiracies, cliffhangers, and plot twists. Explore a richly simulated world of unparalleled interactivity, engineered to react logically to your every action. The Game of the Year Edition now includes DX Multiplayer, DeathMatch, and Team DeathMatch, plus five new multiplayer maps and a built-in search engine for multiplayer servers. The bonus soundtrack CD contains 30 tracks remixed for higher audio quality. With the included software development kit, you can create standalone Deus Ex missions, build 3-D maps from scratch, or modify existing Deus Ex maps; you can also create new conversationsbetween game characters with ConEdit. The package includes a Deus Ex Windows desktop theme.

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Myst Trilogy (Myst Masterpiece, Riven, Myst III - Exile) Review

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(More customer reviews)Like a complete nincompoop, I bought this thing without visiting UBI Soft's website first. DO NOT try to run Myst Masterpiece Edition on a Windows XP machine. It will make things very unstable. At least, it did for me. Fortunately, I was able to reboot using the last known good configuration, then uninstalled the miscreant software and performed a System Restore. My machine appears to be fine now.
A visit to the FAQ page on UBI Soft's support site informed me that they do not support Windows 2000 or XP for their "classic" games, nor do they have plans to do so. So why are they selling a brand new boxed set of the most popular game trilogy in the history of the world without a warning? When they say "For Windows 95 or 98", they mean ONLY Windows 95 or 98. They didn't even mention Millennium Edition, that I could see!
Practically all new computers sold in the past six months have come with Windows XP, so I'm guessing there are going to be lots of very unhappy campers, if my experience is any guide.
Need I say more?

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With more than 10 million copies sold throughout the world, the Myst series has become the benchmark for all adventures to come. Now, for the first time, the three volumes of this mythic saga are assembled in one astounding collection. Gather your cunning and summon your imagination--for every enigma you unravel binds you closer to the unforgettable realm of Myst. Myst Trilogy includes Myst Masterpiece, Riven, and Myst III: Exile.
Myst Trilogy includes: Myst Masterpiece The remastered version of Myst. In this acclaimed first adventure, embark on an intrepid journey into a strange world and its mysteries--a world wracked by intrigue, betrayal, and inexplicable distortions of time and space. Join Atrus as you discover the secrets of the D'ni civilization, where books are portals into other worlds, and lessons of the past shape your future. Riven: The Sequel to Myst Riven plunges you deeper into a world cursed by bewildering rifts in time. Every shadow hides a secret, and appearances are never what they seem. Atrus needs you once again; help him free his wife, Catherine, and untangle the daunting mysteries of Riven. Myst III: Exile A decade has transpired since Riven. Now Atrus and Catherine's efforts to rebuild the D'ni civilization are jeopardized by a new enemy. Saavedro, bent on avenging his ruined existence, has emerged from exile to claim vengeance upon Atrus's two sons.

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Dragon Age: Origins Awakening Review

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(More customer reviews)This is not a standalone game. You must have the original Dragon Age Origins installed. Luckly, it was on sale too. The game itself is great! The best way I could put it is your watching a movie and get to chose what they are going to do and say.
Download and instalation was very easy.

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Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the best game I've played in a long time. I just happened to find it on Steam and can't believe i've never heard of it. Its like a cross of fable and the witcher, but more fun than either, and you can switch between dragon and human form at the touch of a button! The voice acting is very good, the quests are fun, its Long, Im 25 hours in and just got my dragon form wich makes it almost like a new game now that i can also fly. You can make potions, enchant and charm all your gear and weps, wich there are plenty of. Many different sets to aquire, but dont worry you can still get your stats up piecing random gear together. Its not open world, but more sandbox style with different zones that are pretty good sized. Like fable when you spend skill points theres a little video clip and explanation of what you gain from that skill. At the start you need to choose from mele, ranged, or mage, but you can mix and match skills how ever you want. That leads to one of my few gripes, only 8 hotkey slots. Not enough room to fit special attacks And all the pots u want, but you can pause and drink one from inventory so not a huge deal. One of my favorite thing is there is no fall damage. I guess they figured since you get to morph into a dragon there was no point to it. Thats fun too, jump off tall tower and freefall for a bit, then poof, your a dragon. Only problem is you cant attack ground units in dragon form, but if you could youd have way to big an edge and the game wouldnt be as fun. Theres 4 difficulty settings, from casual to nightmare, im playing at level 2 and am finding combat a little easy, but i still die once in a while. The mindread talent is a new and fun skill. For the price of some xp u can mindread someone and see if they are hiding something, or gain skill points from their knowledge. This though requires some patience because lets say you aquire a password to someones hidden treasure, that doesnt mean said treasure is anywhere near the person it belongs to. Ok i could ramble on more but lets just say there are way more things to like than dislike about this game. If you like fantasy rpgs then you do not want to miss this one. When i started playing i thought this was gonna be another Risen, wich i didnt really enjoy, but Divinity 2 is everything risen wasnt. Hope this helps if your on the fence about buying it.

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Steambot Chronicles Review

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(More customer reviews)"Steambot Chronicles" (known in Japan as "Bumpy Trot") is a hard game to classify. It's equal parts adventure, Bemani rhythm game, and mech combat. There are RPG elements but it's not a true RPG, as there are no experience points, no levelling up, and the only fighting is done atop battlemechs (known here as Trotmobiles). It's set in a version of the Industrial Revolution in which the first World War seems never to have happened. All with anime-style characters. The back of the box mentions a comparison to Miyazaki's films, and that's actually pretty accurate.
Vanilla -- that's you -- starts out by salvaging an old Trotmobile, which can be upgraded with different parts at garages, to suit your needs. The Trot controls utilize both analog sticks, much like driving a forklift... or a Katamari. Although it starts out on one of the worst RPG cliches ever (lead female finds hero, and he has amnesia), "Steambot Chronicles" quickly became one of the most unique and endearing PS2 games I've come across. I felt a real attachment to the characters, even though there's not a lot of depth to most of them. You're given the choice of how to play the main character -- nice guy, a jerk, or a money-grubbing moocher.
In fact you can pretty much play the entire game however you choose. There's a story weaved through it, with a significant plot branch about 2/3 of the way through, but most of the time you're free to wander around and do whatever you want. There are some randomly-generated dungeons to explore, and arenas for battling other Trotmobile pilots. You can dig up fossils, transport people or raw materials, or play one of several instruments in a band -- that's where the rhythm game aspect comes in. The songs (translations of the original Japanese lyrics) had a nice timeless folk quality to them, although the timing almost always felt a little off to me.
Graphics get the job done. The Trots themselves look fine, but the textures and character models aren't very detailed, and I'm sorry to say a lot of the game looks a little bland. Sometimes when you're moving through a city your Trotmobile will pass right through pedestrians and other vehicles. Same with environmental objects in the countryside. It's doesn't affect gameplay at all, but it just doesn't look good. Another problem is that sometimes when there's a lot of activity onscreen, particularly during a massive desert battle scene, the framerate drags and the game becomes very sluggish and difficult to control.
There are multiple story paths leading to different endings, and a ton of optional side quests, most of which can be gone back to after you complete the main story. Unfortunately, I found travel between all the different places just too tedious to complete most of them. In order to get from one city to another, you need to pick either an exit gate or the train station as your destination, then sit back and wait while your Trotmobile moves through the streets to get there. (You can speed it up with L1 but it can still take over a minute with the load screens.) Then, depending on where you're going, you may also have to navigate through multiple outdoor areas, all the while fighting off the exact same enemies who reappear every time you come through. This was tolerable for the story phase of the game, which isn't terribly long, but I just didn't have the patience for it during the free-roaming sandbox mode that comes after. If only there were an unlockable "instant travel" feature to skip all that, it would have encouraged additional exploration so much more.
Overall though, the game is a real treat. The world of Steambot Chronicles is one you'll want to immerse yourself in, and visit again and again. If you're one of those people who likes to thoroughly explore and find every hidden secret in their games, you will be entertained for months. This is one of those games that people will always have fond memories of. It saw a relatively low production run (typical of Atlus fringe titles) so it'll likely become highly sought-after and collectible once the PS2 fades and the next-gen fully takes over. Pick it up now while you still can.


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Myst 3: Exile Review

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(More customer reviews)I realize Ubisoft, not Cyan, made the third Myst game, but they really pulled off an excellent experience for us Myst fans. I got the collector's edition two days after it came out, and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first two, Myst and Riven.
Graphically, the freedom and playability are top-quality. You can actually move around while videos play, and turn 360 degrees plus full up and down at every location. The puzzles easily integrate into the story. Sound and music are superb, and in my opinion, the music tends to make the Myst games a top seller. They put a lot of work into that part of these games.
As for story, without any spoilers, they are utterly faithful to the D'ni history. You face a new (old?) adversary of Atrus, and he brings a new depth to the story. If this has been a concern, rest easy. Exile continues and expands the familiar issues of Atrus and his ages.
I have two small criticisms of the game, but I will only give one so the game won't be spoiled for you. It was way too easy, too fast. This could be because I finally understand how these people think, and nearly walked through most of the game. I don't know for sure. Myst and Riven took me over 9 months with the hint book. Exile took me three weeks without the hint book. Don't be discouraged, that could just be "ME" finally "getting it!"
Overall, Exile is a fine addition to the D'ni universe, and I hope to see future episodes of this amazing world. The puzzles, music, characters, and ease of game play will keep you spellbound right to the end.
I should add that people who were let down by the ending to Myst (including me), and grateful for a much improved ending to Riven, will be in for a great surprise at the end of Exile! The finale makes you feel like a real winner, and certainly leaves the door open for future Myst games. Highly Recommended!

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Building on the surreal style of Myst and Riven Myst III: Exile features newfantastic environments that made its' predecessors immersive mysterious andbeautiful. Exile features five entirely new ages for players to explore andhours of new mysteries to uncover. Myst 3 Exile has new panoramic navigationtechnology to bring the world alive without losing any of the artistic beauty orinteractivity of previous Myst games.Developed by Presto Studios Myst III: Exile features five entirely new agesfor players to explore and hours of new mysteries to uncover. Myst III: Exileuses new navigation technology to bring the world alive without losing any ofthe artistic beauty or interactivity of the previous Myst games. Fans will findmore of what they love about Myst and Riven and a few surprises. By drawing onthe history of the series and new technology Myst III: Exile is a trueevolution of the seriesnot just a continuation.Myst III: Exile introduces a new villain a bitter man whose home world wasruined by Sirrus and Achenar and returns to take revenge against Atrus and hisfamily at their most vulnerable time. Trapped in a mysterious age you mustexplore the environment and navigate the puzzles of the age to gradually uncoverthe mystery of this new adversary.Product FeaturesFree-look movement system allows players to pan a full 360 degrees at anylocation fully immersing them in the world.Five entirely new ages to explore each with their own distinctive visualstyle.Dramatic storyline extends the Myst mythology by focusing on a pivotal newcharacter.Puzzles gradually reveal mystery and intrigue as they are solved.Original soundtrack.Supports optional 3D hardwareSystem RequirementsMyst 3 Exile is a Hybrid Mac/PC CD-ROMWindows 95/98/Me or MAC OS 8.0; Pentium 300 MHz or PowerPC 200 MHz; SVGAGraphics Card; 150 MB; 4X or Faster; 32 MB

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Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days Review

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(More customer reviews)Kane & Lynch was a game with a lot of style and a good story but lacking gameplay... Kane & Lynch 2 delivers more polished gameplay with the same style, making for a more robust experience. While the cover mechanics and shooting in the original felt rough and old, they feel pretty much perfect in the sequel. There's an actual cover button now, which works great, and the shooting is more precise and fun. Cover does not make you invincible, which some professional reviewers disliked, but I like that... if your arm is sticking out, it makes sense they can shoot your arm.
The campaign uses the same gritty Michael Mann style to great effect. You'll fight your way through back alleys, apartment complexes, restaurants and other real-world locations while Kane and Lynch spout off some very well-written Resevoir Dogs-style dialogue. It's not for everyone, just like the first game wasn't, but if you're a fan of this style then you will like the way this game handles story and immersion. The graphics are surprisingly well done considering the original game lacked in this area. The environments all look detailed and real while the characters mostly look unique and move well. There is a grimy YouTube video style filter on the game to make it look even grittier, but on PC you can disable this if you like... go back and forth and see what you prefer. Also turn on the "steadycam" option if you have motion sickness issues.
The main problem with the campaign is it's only about 5 hours long and that's playing on hard mode. I tested normal mode and it was even faster-paced and more "run n' gun" so maybe it would take even less time to complete. To round out the package though there is multiplayer and "arcade mode" for singleplayer offline play of the same basic multiplayer game. The basic premise with both is you play a random criminal who works with a team to infiltrate a place, take some money or equipment, then get out to a getaway van. In arcade mode you do this with AI partners against AI cops, trying to get as much money as you can with three lives to get high on the leaderboards. In multiplayer the other crooks and cops are actual players, looking to help or stop you as the case may be. Other criminals in multiplayer can stab you in the back and take your money, which in the games I played ends up being annoying as every player feels the need to do this. In arcade mode the AI will not turn on you unless you repeatedly fail to get any money, making it a better experience overall for people who are not hardcore multiplayer competitors. Arcade mode is something I will likely play here and there over time, which adds some length to the game. The campaign mode is also rather replayable, which can boost the value.
Still, at the end of the day Kane & Lynch 2 feels like it should be cheaper than $50. I tetered on the edge of giving the game 3 or 4 stars, but I went with 4 based on how fun the campaign is and how unique the overall tone and style still is. However with a 4-5 hour campaign and an arcade mode that is fun but nothing amazing, along with multiplayer I found more annoying than fun and that is hardly populated, I'm not sure there is $50 worth of value here. Your mileage may vary and I personally plan to replay the campaign and set some high scores in arcade mode, but most people will play the campaign and quit and they should wait for a sale. If you really enjoyed the tone and style of the original game though and wished it was more solid in the gameplay area, Kane & Lynch 2 granted your wish. I urge you to grab the game when the price reaches what you find acceptable for what the game offers.
DRM Alert: Kane & Lynch 2 uses Steamworks DRM, meaning every copy is a Steam copy. This requires online activation for install and ties the game to an account preventing resale, but it also gives you achievements, DLC support and Steamworks multiplayer features. Make up your own mind on how this effects you, it is not used in scoring.

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Experience 48 hours of hell with two of gaming's most notorious criminals. In Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, Kane and Lynch face the consequences when a simple job gone wrong sets off a desperate and frantic struggle to escape the entire Shanghai underworld. Experience intense action in Single Player, online and offline Co-op, Fragile Alliance multiplayer and Arcade modes. Ground-breaking art direction, relentless action gameplay, and innovative multiplayer re-define the action-shooter experience and position this product from IO Interactive as the stand-out shooter of 2010.

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Amnesia Review

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(More customer reviews)Amnesia provides a much-needed break from today's omnipresent first-person shooters (Halo, Call of Duty, etc.). Not only is Daniel, the unfortunate dude that you as a player get to control, unable to go trigger-happy with an assault rifle, he is incapable of defending himself altogether. This creates an entirely new type of game, one which I find just as, if not more, entertaining.
Amnesia's most redeeming quality is its atmosphere. This is without a doubt the scariest video game I have ever played. A few years ago I bought Doom 3 in hopes of being legitimately scared while gaming. Doom was slightly nerve-racking at times, but I always found myself comforted by the fact that if anything came at me, I could fill it with lead, plasma, or the teeth of a chainsaw. Amnesia provides no such comfort, which is what makes it so fantastic. Another difference is the way in which the game affects you. Doom 3 achieves its scariness via dismembered corpses, splattered viscera and gore, flickering lights, evil laughs, and enemies that spawn right in front of your face. Amnesia has a much more psychological effect, one that fills you with a cold, palpable sense of dread that makes it difficult to reach for the next door handle.
Playing this game in a dark room with earphones and a real desire to be filled with terror and apprehension (as twisted as that may seem) will immerse you in a world unlike any you have experienced. Within the first 15 minutes of playing this, I found myself clenching my teeth in fear, inhaling deeply before entering each new room. Unlike during a horror movie, you are in control, and you must react to the sudden breathing from around the corner, the horrified shrieks of an unnamed woman, or the shadowy menace smashing through your makeshift barricade.
To cut to the chase, I love everything about this game. All of its components, the limited oil for your only lantern, for example, make it one of the most amazing PC games in a while. The product itself is flawless also. It comes in a typical DVD case with a cover, and installed on my computer within minutes without a hitch. If you are in for a highly entertaining scare, I strongly recommend that you purchase this game.

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.hack: G.U., Vol.3: Redemption Review

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(More customer reviews)With seven games to this series, and an inexhaustible supple of anime, film, toys, etc., the Dot Hack series has reached the heights of longevity shared by very few RPG's. Final Fantasy is the undeniable owner of the title, both in terms of number of episodes and sheer quality, but Dot Hack will always be a contender. And more to the point, a lot of fun as well. The premise of these games is that a multi-player online fantasy game can become larger than life and that threats within the game can endanger the real world. The first 4 games in this series were based on Kite, a young player who finds himself caught up in the game beneath the game. This set of games established the basic pattern - basically a dungeon game with a number of sidequests,
This second series - 'G.U.' - continues this pattern, this time centered on a new set of characters led by Haseo. Haseo, seeking vengeance for the loss of his girlfriend as become an avid killer of player killers whose nickname is 'The Terror of Death.' One of the things that make the three 'G.U.' an improvement over the original games is the strong element of character depth and development. Haseo starts out unlikable and, as the conflict with the viral AIDA develops, becomes more the responsible leader and hero and less the bitter killer. By the end of the game there are some twenty characters that Haseo can team with, oppose AIDA with, or even propose to.
Along with the quality of character the storyline has become more detailed and logical. And the character enemies have become more interesting as well. This last stanza carefully ties many of the threads together. The game uses the interactions in the game, in addition to resources in the computer interface such as emails and discussion groups, to drive the plot forward. In fact, one of the most noticeable flaws in the game is that faithfully reading your emails will drive the story forward faster than you want to go. Of course, this is one of the few games that will let you play all the sidequests after the main story completes but I found this a bit unsatisfactory. But there is a lot of gameplay here in any case.
The game offers a considerable number of sidequests and internal games to keep anyone happy. There's a fight card game where you can go on quests for special cards and challenge other players. There's motorcycle races and arena fights. All of this in addition to the find every one thing or another quests. There is a enough game time here to play until you are senseless. Since this is the last in a long series most of you know what to expect and I promise you that that is exactly what you will get. If you are new to the series I suggest you track down at least the previous two games if you want to understand the plot and the characters.
Now, what should I do until .hack starts up once again?

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Dewy's Adventure Review

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(More customer reviews)Dewy's Adventure bombed (sales wise) in Japan, and Konami is quietly releasing it here a week early with absolutely no advertising. Reviews have just begun to trinkle in, a week after the release, and word of mouth is next to none. I went to five different stores for this game, and finally came across it after a two day search. I also got a Dewy plush toy with it, although I don't care much for it.
The main thing that surprises me about this is how surprisingly good this platformer is. It can be summed up in just a few words: Super Mario 64 + Super Monkey Ball. That's it. Of course, the controls are not as tight as either title, and as such it's a bit frustrating at certain points, but this is easily one of the year's finest platformers. At least until Super Mario Galaxy comes out.
In this game, you control Dewy, a droplet of water. He's beyond adorable, and to be quite honest, a bit beyond someone like myself -- I don't really care for the baby-ish persona of this character, although I'm sure there are many others who will (not to mention little kids). The story, while simple and absolutely standard, is augmented with rather nice illustrations and storybook sequences, reminiscent of Elebits. It would be pretty easy to already be put off by the whimsical nature this title presents, but wait until you start playing this thing.
You hold the Wiimote like a NES controller, and tilt it to move the stage in which Dewy inhabits. Press the D-Pad up to raise the temperature, down to lower the temperature. Doing so results in Dewy's multiple forms: the standard, water-like one, where he can jump the best and control easily; warmer for the mist form, in which he becomes a cloud and is able to strike down any nearby enemies with lightning; and colder for the ice form, in which he can slide across pools of now frozen water and do some awesome attacks.
The main complaint about this game thus far is how "average" it is. I honestly can not agree -- while it is basically a simple platformer game, the ability to modify your surroundings via temperature is a stroke of utter genius. In the ice world, you can lower and raise water levels, for example, and this creates obstacles within obstacles. The controls do take some use getting to, and they are never really quite as tight as they should be, but they work overall.
Besides that, the presentation is fantastic. The graphics in this game are some of Wii's best yet... absolutely beautiful at certain points. The music is just fine, and the level design is both clever and fun.
On top of all that, the game will last you a long time. There are many levels, and each level takes about 10-30 minutes to beat.. and that is not including doing the levels perfectly, as you are graded based on your performance. As you can imagine, the re-play factor is quite high.
I haven't even gotten to the solid multiplayer yet, not to mention the option to design your own multiplayer levels and send them to anyone with Nintendo's WiiConnect24 service.
I highly recommend this game for a couple reasons -- firstly, it's a great third-party effort (which Nintendo can always use) that oozes innovation and originality but also happens to be excellent. Second, although I'm not certain, you can count on this game being out of print within a year or less. There seems to be not many copies to begin with, and the fact that absolutely no one is talking about it a week after its release is a bit sad. I have a feeling this will be one of those forgotten classics, that sometime in the near future people will be profiled by some magazine as one of the best games you've never played.
So if you're a platformer junkie and love a good challenge, pick Dewy's Adventure up right away.

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Assassin's Creed Review

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(More customer reviews)This is on of the most anticipated games to be ported to PCs. For this, the Director's Cut edition was produced, adding some content over the console versions (mostly rooftop action missions), and care was taken to make the gamepad to keyboard/mouse-transition as seamless as possible. For the most part it was successful.
This is a TREMENDOUSLY BEAUTIFULLY GAME. The first thing that grabs you is how REAL the city environments feel. The graphics are just OUT OF THIS WORLD! You will need a very good PC to enjoy their full potential (minimum requirements provided below), but real skies, dynamic shadows, facial expressions and realistically flowing robes are only beginning to describe it! Run on a roof and the other citizens will gather around and comment on your crazy behavior! Throw someone on a vendor's cart and he will come after you complaining about his ruined produce! And the city is alive well beyond your character. If only BIOWARE could take some lessons for its next BALDUR's GATE...
Adding to this is the wonderful sound! From the crowd murmurs and the NTCs cries for help, to the whistling of the wind and the well-chosen background music, a good sound-card and speakers set is recommended to truly enjoy this game. If you have a 5.1 speaker system (I do not) I can imagine the experience to become even more immersing.
As to the gameplay, you control Altaïr ibn La-Ahad ("The Flying One, Son of None"). He is a member of the Assassin Brotherhood that sides, well, with both...sides, during the 3rd Crusade. In a story twist, he is also your ancestor, the game being your/his flashback memories. This is a twist I could do without, but I would guess it lays groundwork for the sequels.
The Third person perspective works beautifully and will never loose your interest. Most missions require sneaking and murdering in the shadows. Others will have you eavesdropping for passwords or pickpocketing documents to gain access into target buildings. Some will have you sharpen those sword skills. Still, the game does not avoid its share of stupid "keep this...suicidal character from getting killed" missions. Keep in mind though that ASSASSIN's CREED is rather a strategically thinking action TPS, not a hack&slash fast-paced one.
Controlling your character with a keyboard/mouse takes a lot of getting used to as you have to manage running, climbing, fighting as well as modifying your actions from low to high visibility. The keys are remapable but their complexity will never let you forget you are playing a game. Now for some bad news.
These are the official MINIMUM Requirements:
* Pentium D 2.6GHz (YES, Dual Core!) (or AMD equivalent)
* 1GB RAM (WinXP) or 2GB (WinVISTA) (3GB RECOMMENDED!)
* nVidia 6800 (or Shader Model 3.0 compliant or ATI equivalent)
* Dual-Layer DVD-ROM (or BluRay disc)
* 12GB HDD Space (although my install folder was no larger than 7GB)
As one can see, this is worse than CRYSIS! What I cannot get is how on earth ASSASSIN works on only 512MB of RAM of the XBox, yet it is recommended to have...3GB of RAM on a PC! Sure, the extra content is nice but who did the porting, unpaid interns? Has ANY PC optimization been attempted at all?
Keep also in mind that (as with CRYSIS) in order to fully enjoy the game, barely meeting the minimum requirements means you will barely experience the game. I refuse to deal with WinVISTA so, obviously, this review pertains to DirectX-9. The game is also DirectX-10 compatible, something I cannot comment on though. And now for some good news.
UBISOFT has been recently hit with a $5million class-action suit for hardware (OK, "allegedly") damaged by StarForce bundled with its games. Since, they have announced to be abandoning its StarForce partnership - so let's all rejoice: unlike other UBISOFT games, ASSASSIN's CREED does NOT sport StarForce! Instead, a much milder SafeDisc is used.
It is a pity it took litigation to finally listen to their own customers (suing StarForce would make much more sense, but try finding them in Russia!), but let's count our blessings.
So, overall, this is a well made and beautiful, immersing (although quite short) game that needed more work in PC optimization (where it looses 1 star Overall) and character control (where it looses 1 star for Fun).
As Altair himself would have put it: "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted."
Well, not everything - and certainly NOT StarForce.

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Rift Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the version you should get.
If you are looking to buy this game, I recommend getting this Digital Collector's edition for $60.
Unlike what is said in the description, the in game mounts has no levels restriction. You can ride one as soon as you can get one. An extra $10 will get you a mount right off the bat for all new characters that you make. The cheapest mount you can get is about 2.5 plat. I didn't get 2.5 plat until about level 20 from a normal play. I created 3 characters to level 20, and it's pretty much the same pace. Having the mount as soon as you can get to the mailbox is awesome.
Now to the game review...
Coming from someone who has been playing all type of MMORPG games from MUD to WoW and all that are in between. RIFT is a great game by its own rights. It's been a long time since the MMO community has a very successful launch. I'm not going to compare features between this game and that game, but here are the good and the bad from my playing experience.
Default UI is a great. Although many of the goodies are turned off by default, you can easily turn them on through the interface setting. No need to go to addon website to install extra stuff. Things like target of target, AoE auto loot, auto sell gray items, etc. The UI layout editor is very easy to use. I'm actually really happy with it out of the box. It's not perfect, but a great starting point.
Public groups. I thought it was dumb when I first saw it, but there's a plus sign above everyone's avatar. You can click this and invite yourself to create an auto-group with the person. This is great when you see someone doing the quest you're looking to do, you can just auto group and you both and help each other. When you're done, just leave and be on your way. You can turn this feature off if you don't like a random stranger joining you. This also works for Public Group when taking down world events, such as RIFTs and Invasions. If there are multiple public groups, it merges them in to one.
Warfronts. Essentially, it's instance battlegrounds. The queues are very quick since its cross-servers. You need to be at least level 10 to do your first Warfront. There are brackets from 10-19, 20-29, and so on. It's pretty much the same old same old here, so nothing exciting about it. The experience gain is enough that you could level from just playing the warfronts if you choose to. I don't recommend it though, it gets boring pretty fast if playing it back to back... to back. Plus, you'll be pretty weak because you can't get gear efficiently if this is all you're doing.
Rifts and Invasions are pretty cool at first. After awhile it's just a zerg fest. I don't mind doing this, but again, in moderation. The blue and purple tokens you get from it are zone specific, so spend those to get yourself stronger. Not a lot of experience from invasions, so you can't level off of it like you can from warfronts. If you farm the invasion currencies you can buy items to make yourself stronger.
Quests are pretty much a straight shot. What is great about them is that you get pretty decent gears from following quests line. It will continually upgrade your gear as you go along. So this is the most effective way to get decent gear if you're playing by yourself or with a friend.
Dungeons are also pretty much like other games, but a lot prettier! It's hard to describe in words. The first instance is the Realm of the Fae, and the winter top mountain is pretty amazing, a must see! I won't spoil it.
This brings me to another point. The graphic and game effects in this game look very nice. Warrior's cleave bring up dust from the ground looks amazing. If your computer can handle ultra setting, the game is very pretty. I enjoy the graphic a lot. The last game I play that I thought was pretty was LotRO, this beats it.
Sound effects is pretty good, nothing that stands out. The script events and voice over is a nice touch, but nothing special. I turn music off when playing so I can't comment on that.
The loot is pretty also straight forward. The nice touch here is that all souls in the class use the same stat no matter what you're doing. For example, all clerics will use WIS gear. So I won't have to haul STR/DEX gear when tanking, WIS when healing, and INT/DEX when trying to DPS. All cleric uses WIS as the main attribute and that gets converted depending on the souls. If I'm tanking as Cleric Justica my WIS converts to STR for tanking. All I have to worry about is if I want to tank with 2H weapon or 1H and shield. Pretty awesome!
The Classes and Souls system is also nice, because it's very flexible. You can also purchase new roles to swap out from Tank to Healer on the fly. Since you're using pretty much the same gear from one role to another, it's painless.
In my opinion, this game doesn't bring anything new or innovative. It takes all the things other games done well and implement them in a nice package. There are a lot of improvements to be made. Like I said, it's not perfect, but it's a great start.

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Rift is the complete and full-featured MMO experience you've been waiting for! Adventure in the world of Telara as either a noble Guardian or techno-magical Defiant and enter a dynamic fantasy where 8 primal forces battle for control and the landscape is ever-changing. Build your own class using the Ascended Soul system and embark on challenging quests to take your RPG experience to new heights of achievement and excitement! the special edition includes the following exclusive items in addition to the game client DVD: Exclusive in-game digital items: Ancient Tartagon Mount: Available at level 20, this turtle mount increases player speed by 60%. Collector's Satchel: Increases the size of your primary backpack to 24 slots. Bogling Wastrel: This unique pet sets you apart from the other Ascended.

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Darksiders Review

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(More customer reviews)Action-adventure games are nearly nonexistent on the PC and while researching the subject some months ago I came across a forum thread filled with hopeful wishes of a Darksiders port. Despite plenty of skepticism, over 8 months later PC gamers finally have a chance to play this great game.
This review is intended for those who are interested in this game and are curious as to how it translated to PC. Those who are interested in this title know who they are and are probably already familiar with what it's all about from a gameplay perspective. Just in case, though, I have read it described simply as Zelda meets God of War and find it hard to disagree with that evaluation, but the developers took inspiration from many different titles, as all developers do, and created a very good game in the process.
First of all, you will need a Steam account. There are clear pros and cons to digital distribution that I won't get into. Downloading took a little over an hour and additional installation another 5-10 minutes or so. The download came with a Darksiders .pdf comic as well as the soundtrack. Secondly, if you play a lot of ports you may have found that owning an Xbox controller for Windows is in your best interests, and playing this game with one is the recommended method. Again, standardization also brings about its own set of pros and cons. The game was up and running immediately after taking a moment to adjust video options, which brings me to the only major issue I found with this port.
Aforementioned video options are essentially nothing. You get resolution & v-sync and that's it. There is no anti-aliasing (and using the built in AA from my graphics card panel didn't work). This isn't as much of an issue at resolutions such as 1920x1080, but if you don't have a computer capable of running games at higher resolutions you may find the graphics to be an issue, so be advised if you aren't confident in your system's capabilities. I did notice some minor choppiness here and there, but overall the game runs very well despite the lack of options and is technically sound.
I will update my review if future patches bring about any major changes. In the meantime, I recommend this game to those who are on the fence. If you like this sort of game, it is a rare opportunity to play one on a platform that has so few like it. Despite the issues I mentioned above, I can only hope that more games like Darksiders become available on the PC. I am thankful that it was released at all, but there is some room for improvement.

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The Story Deceived by the forces of evil into prematurely bringing about the end of the world, War - the first Horseman of the Apocalypse - stands accused of breaking the sacred law by inciting a war between heaven and hell. Dishonored and stripped of his powers, War must return to Earth to search for the truth and punish those responsible. But there is no clear definition of good and evil in this tale. Hunted by a vengeful group of angels, War must take on the forces of Hell, forge uneasy alliances with the very demons he hunts, and journey across the ravaged remains of the Earth on his quest for vindication. But the answers he seeks will reveal a deep conspiracy in which War will find, and have to resign himself to the reality that although once the hand of God, he is just a pawn in the eternal battle between heaven and hell. Gameplay A mix of exploration and fast-paced action gameplay, Darksiders is based on nonlinear play situations. That means that as War slowly regains his previous powers of destruction and carnage in order to continue his search for the origins and reasons for his betrayal, players will be able to backtrack to areas and scenarios that they may have left unexplored upon first discovery. Almost all areas of the game can be explored and some of the things players will find as they do so are treasure chests, health chests, and bonus life points, etc. The ability to go back and explore areas is important, especially as the game progresses and War finds himself up against enemies whose defeat require special skills and/or weaponry. As for combat gameplay, Darksiders features a variety of weapons--including blades and firearms--that can be used in combo moves or in single strikes. Some of these can be charged up for quick, but devastating attacks on enemies and all can be arranged on your controller's D-pad for easy and preferred access. Additional gameplay elements include the ability/necessity to fight from the back of your mount, Ruin, and the collection of the souls in the form of glowing orbs that fall to the ground as enemies are dispatched. The latter can be used to level up War with new items and abilities. Varied Characters and Environments Although players take on the imposing role or War, Darksiders alsocontains a wide variety of equally intriguing and sometimes frighteningcharacters. These include: an assortment of vengeful angels; demons, suchas "the Jailer" whose body is made up of the remains of countless cadavers;a bestiary of wicked and vile creatures created to bolster the armiesof hell on Earth; and Ruin, the trusty steed of War. Gameplay environmentsplayers will experience are equally varied, and include areas both undergroundand on the surface, that call to mind both familiar, if ruined modernurban environments, as well as ones seemingly pulled from the nightmarishscenes of the biblical apocalypse. Key Features
Apocalyptic Power of War - Unleash the wrath of War, combining brutal attacks and supernatural abilities to decimate all who stand in your way.
Extreme Arsenal - Wield a devastating arsenal of angelic, demonic, and Earthly weapons, and blaze a trail of destruction atop Ruin, War's fiery phantom steed.
Epic Quest - Battle across the wastelands and demon-infested dungeons of the decimated Earth in your quest for vengeance and redemption.
Character Progression - Uncover powerful ancient relics, upgrade your weapons, unlock new abilities, and customize your gameplay style.
Battle Heaven and Hell - Battle against all who stand in your way—from war-weary angelic forces to hell's hideous demon hordes.
Weapons and Gear - Darksiders features an extensive arsenal and inventory of weapons and gear.
Varied Play Environments - Players will fight through varied environments, including those above and underground, and modern andnightmarishly mythical in design.

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Magicka Review

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(More customer reviews)This game is worth $9.99. It's sort of like Diablo/Nox/Torchlight, but with a combinatorial magic system.
I just spent the past five hours playing this game through single-player with my friend and we could not stop laughing at how ridiculous this game is (while having tons of fun!). It does not take itself seriously at all. A hilarious storyline with multiple references to movies, games, and pop culture that grows more and more absurd as the game progresses.
There's no leveling in the single player mode and no real inventory system. You do get different wands/staffs and swords in the game. They have their own properties that help supplement the magic system mentioned below. If you're playing co-op and you die, you drop all of your equipment. Your friends can revive you with a spell, but they probably won't until they take your nice shiny equipment!
The magic system is beautifully done. You're given eight selectable elements (fire, water, cold, arcane, earth, lightning, shield, life) that can combine with each other, unless they're opposite of each other -- they cancel each other out. You're able to combine up to six of any element to create a spell (some element combos create new elements!) and they all have various forms. You get a different form from casting it on yourself, your sword, on an area, or just aiming it for a ranged attack. This leads to a lot of different combinations and possibilities with the magic system.
It also leads to a lot of WHOOPS I JUST KILLED MYSELF BY SUMMONING A FIREY METEOR BUT I JUST WANTED TO HEAL MYSELF moments. This is awesome when it is your friend who does this. It is also awesome to freeze your friend and kill him because he just picked up that wicked staff that deflects ranged attacks. There will be a lot of random hilarious moments because of the wacky magic system.
I did experience some bugs in playing this game. I received a few crash to desktops when I started the game, but none while playing through the single-player mode. We also experienced some weird parts like being able to skip several sections of a level because we accidentally blew each other up onto other areas. I'm not sure if that was intended by the developers. It looks like the developers are patching every day currently, but I haven't touched online multiplayer yet so I'm assuming that's where most of the bugs exist.

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