Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Review

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(More customer reviews)Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles, an action title based on the Episode 1 movie, may not live up to the greatness that you may expect from LucasArts, but it certainly offers the best lightsaber combat of any Star Wars console title (perhaps even greater than the hit PC game Jedi Knight). Jedi Power Battles is devoted to Jedi and lightsabers, and the creators did a commendable job of creating a fighting system centered around Force powers and sword combat. Jedi Power Battles' graphics are below that of many current PSX games, but certainly adequate; the great droid and Jedi animations help redeem the visual effects. The Graphics rate a 6/10. The gameplay is by far JPB's strongest aspect (this is what really counts, isn't it? ). You get a choice of five different Jedi warriors (plus a few extra characters including the mysterious Darth Maul) who all require alternate strategies to use them successfully. All the Jedi and unlockable characters possess different Force powers, combos, special items, and abilities, making the game's replay value virtually limitless. In addition, the Dual Shock controller vibrates every time you take damage, telling you when your block timing is off. But perhaps the best feature of JPB and new to the Star Wars gaming world, is the Jedi co-op mode in which you can battle alongside a friend, and progress through the levels, to beat the game together. The Gameplay rates a 9/10. The difficulty level is where this game falters. The difficulty settings on this game are "Jedi" and "Easy", but sadly there is little difference between them. Some reviewers complain that the controls are overly hard to use, but I found that they are simple and intuitive, and can be mastered with practice. The learning curve is about an hour, but once you've mastered the basics you'll find yourself spinning to thrust your saber through the chest of a battle droid, reflecting a deadly laser bolt back to its owner, diving around a third droid to unleash a devastating combo into his undefended back, then hurling your Jedi weapon toward another approaching enemy, all in the space of a few heart beats. While the combat becomes second nature and can leave your fingers twitching and reacting to imaginary battles long after you've set the controller down, the platform-style jumping is rarely conquered and definitely the game's greatest drawback. Due to poor background shading and a virtual lack of depth perception, it is VERY difficult to perform all those impossible leaps over bottomless chasms. More often than not you'll find yourself staring at the screen in disbelief after what you thought was an accurate hop, but turned out to be twice as far as the situation called for, resulting in your instant demise. These jumping areas are the most aggravating and exasperating aspects of the game and may discourage some players. Patience is necessary at first, and I suggest you purchase the Prima strategy guide. It provides helpful melee tips that greatly enhance your gaming experience, facts about the various enemies, and strategies and combos for all the Jedi and hidden characters. This game's difficulty is medium/hard.Finally, the game's "atmosphere", which is described as the feel of the game: the sounds, music, lighting, and level design. The sound is high quality and straight from the movie, setting that wonderful Star Wars mood. The same may be said about the music, which is rich and varied. The lighting is average and the level design is engaging and diverse (though a tad too restrictive in areas). The atmosphere rates an 8/10. Over all, Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles is an absolute MUST for any Star Wars fan. The completely lightsaber and Force based combat is what every Star Wars lover has been waiting for since the opening of "A New Hope" in 1979. This game is less about reliving the movie than it is about slicing things in half with a lightsaber, and lets the player know what it is like to fight like a Jedi, think like a Jedi...to be a Jedi.

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Take back the Theed Royal Palace in this fast and furious lightsaberaction game. You will have the power of the Force and your trusty Jedi saber tohelp you ward off legions of battle droids, destroyer droids, assassins, andother creatures from the Star Wars: Episode I worlds. Your connection tothe Force grows with each battle, which adds much-needed power boosts, newmoves, and enhanced Jedi abilities for your journeys within the various worlds.Choose to fight as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, or Jedi Council members MaceWindu, Plo Koon, or Adi Gallia.

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Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Review

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(More customer reviews)This latest Star Wars game for the Playstation, for several reasons, lives up to all of its hype. The two greatest aspects of The Phantom Menace are its gameplay and atmosphere. When you wield your lightsaber as Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon, you imagine yourself grasping the Jedi weapon; the dual shock controller rattles and vibrates with every precise slash, and jarring parry. You see as well as feel all the damage you inflict on your enemies. Also, the stunning music score by John Williams added to the high-quality sound effects and talented voice acting makes this game an unrivaled console experience for any Star Wars fan.Another factor that makes this game great is the combat (the analog joystick gives you fabulous control of your character). It is challenging and satisfying. You cannot simply hold down the attack button and watch your foes whither before you. You must carefully plan your means of approach and engagement (this gives the game extensive replayabilily). And yet the combat isn't too hard as to be frustrating. The rolling dodge is a simple and useful maneuver, and force push is very handy in a melee as well. Blasters are tricky at maximum range, but once you master them you'll be much more effective. Lightsabers can be used to dissect near by enemies or deflect unfriendly fire back to its source (you perform this blocking yourself and timing can be difficult, but it's well worth the effort). Another praise-worthy feature of this movie-based masterpiece is its color and design. The levels (especially the "Gardens of Theed" mission) are breathtaking. The expertly crafted vegetation and architecture greatly add to the beauty and enjoyment of this game. As with all games, TPM has its own set of shortcomings. The camera view is too high, and being directly above the character disallows the player a glimpse of up-coming challenges (this can be somewhat countered by jumping). Also, the idea of playing as non-Jedi characters was a poor one. As a Star Wars fan I purchased this game strictly for the lightsabers and Jedi, and if I want something different I can buy James Bond or Syphon Filter.Despite these few faults, The Phantom Menace is a riveting and enjoyable game that I highly recommend buying . If you are a Star Wars fan and love Jedi and lightsabers, then this game will hold you captive for hours on end.

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LIVE the SAGA in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace for PlayStation. You will participate in the dramatic events from the Star Wars Episode I story--and beyond. The action in The Phantom Menace will pick up where the movie begins--as two heroic Jedi Knights dock on the Trade Federation Battleship above the planet Naboo. The journey takes you to such locations as Naboo, Tatooine, and all the way to the Galactic capital world of Coruscant as you confront imposing threats to freedom in the midst of a galaxy in crisis.

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Mega Man Legends Review

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(More customer reviews)In the age of console progression from 2D graphics to a 3D world, so many developers and game series had trouble adapting to the drastic changes that took place - scenery required more in-depth thought than simple textures and scrolling backgrounds, and on a metaphorical level the character that a player controlled was no longer as detached emotionally; with the advent of 3D movement came a closer "bond" between the gamer and his character, a feeling that you weren't just controlling a protagonist, but working WITH him to accomplish what was done. In that respect, few companies truly managed to capture that essence in the games that graced consoles such as the Playstation (although many, such as Final Fantasy, more than proved their worth in storyline alone).
Not so with Megaman Legends.
Normally one would be worried about the substantial track that Legends takes off the main path compared to the other series - Megaman "Rock" Volnutt's origins are far from related to the events of the original series, he doesn't ever obtain the ability to copy an enemy's powers (although this is made up for with a large list of Special Weapons), and even "Wily" is reduced to an octogenarian boat shop owner. Yet it is precisely this fact that makes the game so enjoyable to both veterans and new players; the former will find within the game's content the same "Blue Boy" persona they've known, albeit with even more backstory and characterization, and the latter can jump into this game without needing to worry about prior knowledge or information.
The story, although relatively quick and straightforward, is still consistent enough in its endeavors that it's hard to find a reason to be bored - when you're not chasing down henchmen of the pirates as they storm the city's center, you're likely to be facing off against some giant Reaverbot or even simply exploring the eerie, isolated Sub-Ruins that dominate the island. And, oh, does the scenery attribute to this - no matter where you happen to go the environment and its sound effects are sure to match your situation beautifully. In the city, peppy uptown music jingles as polygonal cars drive the streets; in the underground ruins, the music changes to a solemn and eerily 'lacking' tune with only the occasional clank or grind, allowing you to focus entirely on the soft sounds of Reaverbot movements coming from all directions - it is the little details like this that help make the experience so memorable (if you don't believe me, try exploring the Clozer Woods Ruins alone in a dark room at night).
Megaman's primary weapon is of course his famous Buster gun, but the game goes about improving it in a rather interesting manner: Buster Parts. Rather than simply obtaining permanent upgrades over the course of the game, Megaman can instead collect a large variety of different attachments that increase the power of his shots, how rapidly he fires them, how far they can reach, or how many he can shoot before he must "pause" briefly to recharge, or any combination of the four. Thus, the player is invited to create and edit their own "build" to suit their needs based on the situation. Is the enemy close up but taking too long to defeat? Sacrifice some range to buff up your attack. Or perhaps they're just out of reach? Take away a little bit of your firing capacity to stretch out the range that little bit farther. The fact that there's no combination that provides a max-out of every stat (save for a particular item on Easy Mode) means that the necessity for these kind of choices is always apparent, and this further encourages experimentation and practice in a game that already involves the player so much.
However, Megaman also has some support in his efforts against the Reaverbots, in the form of Special Weapons. Ranging from explosive mines to homing missiles (and even a laser!), the options our blue-clad hero has to choose from to accompany him on his adventures remain as variable as ever. However, there is an important catch - he has to find them first. Each of the Special Weapons must either be obtained through a storyline event or by combining several different pieces together, most of which are found only through exploring the extensive caverns of the Sub-Ruins. Yet even after finally acquiring these instruments of power, there's still more that can be done - each Special Weapon has its own set of areas that can be powered up (such as attack power, ammo amount, or even a special ability). While these improvements can range from cheap to wholly expensive in cost (and thus might illicit in some a feeling of boredom from repetition of money farming), these improvements are entirely optional and absolutely none of them are required in order to finish the story, meaning the amount of time spent on them is left completely up to the player.
Perhaps what is by far the most appreciated aspect of this game, and most certainly appreciated by myself, however, is the voice acting. In a time where very few console games provided a substantial amount of voiceover work and even fewer did so WELL, Megaman Legends stands as a huge testament to just how much a great performance can enhance a character or the game experience overall. I can guarantee you any person who has played Megaman Legends beyond the first hour of gameplay will recall one or more lines spoken by the infamous Bonne family, from Tiesel's "I TOLD you....CLOSE the HATCH!!!" to Tron's infamous "It's a dog!" scene, or even just the adorable piping voices of the many Servbots. This is not limited to antagonists, however; Megaman himself is graced with one of the most fitting voices I have ever heard for his personality, and the Casket family themselves are far from monotonous. Yet despite all this character, the actual vocal performance is so spot-on that it's hard to not find yourself growing attached to both good and bad guy alike; lines are so well delivered and emotion so well conveyed, and both occur so often, that the game jumps to life long before the timeline of events becomes intense, and the clearer audio quality provided by the Playstation version of the game (which was lowered down for the port to the Nintendo 64) means that you get to hear these conversations in strikingly clear fashion.
If you are simply looking to kill some time and relax, this game can provide that - videos and evidence exist of players breezing through the game's story in anywhere from 1 to 3 hours (depending on difficulty level), and Easy mode, once unlocked, is literally the definition of "an absolute blast" for those who aren't looking to work too hard. If you want to spend longer, however, the Legends can provide that too - between the numerous sidequests and the SUBSTANTIAL number of upgrades one can make to the Special Weapons (only after you find the parts to make them, of course!), one could quite possibly spend more time on the sub-events than they do on the actual story - and yet, it is all still so immersive.
If you are already the owner of this unique and memorable installment in the Megaman timeline, I hope that you continue to enjoy its nuances even if it's a been a long time since you played it. If you're new to the series or haven't played this game, however, I honestly implore you to pick up a controller and give this a try. Though one can fully admit there are games out there with more intense fights and gameplay than what Legends presents, few can match the sheer memorability and ingenuity that surrounds so many aspects of this work from Capcom. Whether a Christmas present for a nostalgic or a blast from the past for yourself, Megaman Legends can really do nothing but good for the individual who allows the island of Kattelox to come into their life; though the light from Volnutt's Buster wasn't around for very long, it continues to shine in the hearts of so many still today.

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It is a world covered by endless water. Only small patches of land still exist above the water and the people of Earth cling to these patches eking out a meager existence. They rely on an ancient power source driven by Quantum Refractors-a technology constantly sought out by explorers called diggers.

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LEGO Racers Review

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(More customer reviews)Lego Racers takes the logical controls and smooth play from other racing games (especially those on the PLayStation) with the added bonus of building your own cars. Though I don't think the bricks affect aerodynamics (the manual claims that they only affect weight and balance), you'll still find yourself tweaking and fiddling with your custom car, looking for that perfect blend of fast and speedy. Decidedly low-violence, and lots of fun for Lego maniacs.

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As a kid, I often imagined myself strapped inside my LEGO creations, dodging family pets and chair legs at breakneck speeds. These days, virtual racing fans can simply load up LEGO Racers, build a virtual car from the signature block parts, and compete with computer opponents or a friend around tracks with such exotic names as Dark Forest Dash and Tribal Island Trail.
Players choose a driver based on preferred driving style, and then snap together their dream machine in the LEGO garage. Real-world physics comes into play here: adding a "wedge" brick to the tail improves aerodynamics, and placing a few extra bricks over the wheels adjusts the traction (prior LEGO building experience may come in handy). Each themed track offers unique racing adventures, such as dangerous lava geysers in the Magma Moon Marathon, with power-ups supplying special abilities such as oil slick deployment and turbo boosts. Beat a champion racer and you'll earn the right to pick over his or her machine for the best parts--just like my older brother's unwritten rule during our childhood LEGO playtimes. --Eric Twelker

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The Mummy Review

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(More customer reviews)I don't play a lot of video games; we bought a Game Cube last year and we have a few games, then we "inherited" my nephew's PS1game and "The Mummy" along with it. My nephew, like most teens, is very prolific at these games, but he got stuck on the 3rd level(caverns of the Nile) when he could'nt make it down the river on the log. I'm in my late 40's with a degree in US History, so I'm drawn to anything even remotely historical. I LOVE this game! Yes, some of the graphics are a little outdated, but games have come a long way on the past 5 years. The weapons,fights, and various settings are very well done, and the music and the many booby traps keep you on the edge of your seat.I have made it through all 16 levels, in just a few months; pretty good for someone with NO game experience at all. If I had more time, I would play it 2 hours a day, every day- but I don't. And for those "reviewers" who complained about it being unrealistic ("I'm sure Egyptologists are killing everyone"), well HELLO! This, like 99% of video games is FICTION! Anyway,if you want a game with a simple premise, lots of action and progressively harder challenges, give "The Mummy" a try. My only regret is that I won't get a chance to try "The Mummy Returns", as it is a PS2 game. If I had a chance to purchase a less-used copy of "The Mummy" I would, as mine is starting to wear out!PS. The 4 or 5 chase scenerios and the 2 trips downriver on logs are an absolute challenge, and a BLAST!

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Star Wars Dark Forces Review

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(More customer reviews)As a first-person shooter enthusiast, I had high hopes for Dark Forces when I hear about it for the first time.
And as it may be a sin to compare it to Doom, because honestly and truthfully, this game is hardly what Doom is, I must say one thing....take Doom, send it through a meat grinder, out pops Dark Forces.
Everything in this game is ho-hum....half or less than half of what Doom gives the Playstation gamer.
It's not THAT disappointing....it's still very fun to play....but the whole game seems rushed. People forgot to add more than 3 colors to walls and background images, and the pixelization is unsurpassed. Stormtroopers and items laying about look like primitive Lego models. The soundtrack isn't all that bad, but could be better....the voices are really done well though.
The levels in the game are ok....I found myself getting lost on some of them though due to the fact everything looks the same because of the limited color palette....and even some areas I'm guessing are supposed to be covered in "shadows" are in all actuality, just black spaces with no graphics at all.
The weapons are typical Star Wars guns....nothing entirely special, but it is a fun selection.
If you're a Star Wars fan, and can get this game for 5 bucks or less, by all means, add it to your collection.
But if you're a first-person shooter junkie, look elsewhere for a top-quality shooter.
Overall, an average game, 5 out of 10, possibly 5.5.

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Star Wars: Dark Forces is a Sci-Fi First-Person Shooter game, developed and published by LucasArts, which was released in 1996.

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Lego Star Wars Review

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(More customer reviews)Now, a lot of gamers wont pick up this game because they believe it to be too kiddy or childish. Granted, it is geared towards children somewhat, and isn't overtly difficult or mature. However, this is a really entertaining game with a lot to do.
You play through key points in Star Wars episodes I through III, so you get to play some of the third installment before it's even out in theatres (if you get the game before then, that is). The translation between the films to the game (LEGO style) is spot on, and you'll remember and enjoy playing through all the key events.
There's a lot of variety in this game. TONS, and I mean TONS, of extras, unlockables, characters, and different styles of play in different levels. There's even podracing! Each level just feels right and is fun to play. As you gain and unlock characters you can go back to a level and get items you couldn't reach before, because of the new character's abilities. Not only that, but there's a Free Play mode where you can just scour the level for currency and the like, or just to enjoy it again at your leisure.
Also, there's an extremely awesome co-op mode. At any time another player can jump in and start playing right along with you, either as one of the characters in the current story (in Story mode) or just about anyone in Free Play mode. This really adds to the fun factor and never gets old. I love that they included this.
Visual presentation is stellar. Everything is authentic Star Wars, yet authentic LEGO. It's really cool how well they did everything. On a technical standpoint, the game definitely isn't bleeding-edge or anything, but it isn't trying to be, and it looks really great anyway. There are some nice effects (lightsabers, explosions, floor reflections) too. Audio is PERFECT Star Wars.
All in all, this is a surprisingly fun game. With all the unlockables the replay value of this game is outstanding, and everything is a breeze to play. Not overtly kiddy, simplistic, or easy, people of all ages and tastes (even if you don't like LEGO or Star Wars) will get enjoyment out of this game. Don't be put out by its demeanor: you'll have a great time with this.
I definitely recommend LEGO Star Wars as a buy for the PS2 or Xbox. The PC version has kind of clunky controls, and the co-op isn't as good. I haven't played the GBA version. The < $40 price tag is nice as well.
Go get LEGO Star Wars!

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LEGO Star Wars blends the unique world of LEGO with the adventure of Star Wars,for unforgettable action and fun. Live the most popular moments from The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Episodes I to III come to life -- and you can become a part of the story!

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PlayStation 2 Limited Edition LEGO Batman Bundle Review

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(More customer reviews)Excellent value for this bundle, You get the Batman Legoe game plus a movie to watch. So you are entertain nonstop. Best of all its size is like a book. Doesn't take up much space. A must buy afforable too.

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Limited Edition LEGO Batman PlayStation 2 Bundle Bundle Pack includes a black PS2 system, LEGO Batman: The Video Game and the Justice League: The New Frontier DVD video.INCLUDES:LEGO Batman: The Video GameThe fun of LEGO, the drama of Batman and the uniqueness of the combination make for a comical and exciting adventure to save Gotham City. Fight the mayhem as superheroes Batman and Robin, or spread anarchy as one of the city's many supervillians…all in LEGO form. Build and use new gadgets and weapons and take control of classic Batman vehicles as you battle your way through Gotham.Justice League: The New Frontier (DVD video)Saving Humanity for the Very First Time! Based on Darwyn Cooke's award-winning graphic novel this thrilling adventure reveals the origin of the Justice League. With Cold War paranoia putting Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman under government suspicion only the gravest threat imaginable can force these heroes - along with an army of newcomers including The Flash, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter - to unite in a spectacular showdown to save the world. Running Time: 75 min.

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