Amazon.com Review

Praised for brilliant scripts and open-ended gameplay, vilified for unapologetic violence and mature themes, Grand Theft Auto has deservedly become one of the most popular game franchises in history. This double pack contains the full versions of both Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto III: Vice City, enhanced for Xbox. Xbox gamers can rejoice that the grand king of video games--The Sopranos with a gamepad--is finally available on the big black box.

Grand Theft Auto
With Grand Theft Auto III Rockstar proves that not all developers are concerned with toning down the violence in their games. This sequel is even more bloody, violent, and sadistic than its popular predecessors, offering up an enormous 3-D city in which nearly any criminal act is possible. Players are free to steal cars, beat up the local population for their money (or weapons), make time with prostitutes, or simply roam to their heart's content. Those seeking more structure can embark on dozens of missions driven by a genuinely interesting crime-story plot or steal cars that let them play minigames. Nab a cop car and you can go on vigilante missions. Grab a cab and you can play a deadly version of Crazy Taxi. Take a fire truck and you can earn money putting out fires. The minigames are a good way to unwind after a particularly difficult mission. With so much to do, the game just never gets boring.

As you'd expect, there are consequences for criminality. As your random acts of mayhem mount up the police start hounding you, eventually calling in SWAT trucks, the FBI, and even the army if you continue down the path of destruction. Shaking these pursuers is easily the most fun part of the game, especially when a bunch of friends are packed in the room to witness your narrow escapes.

Grand Theft Auto III is fine-tuned to near perfection in every category. All the vehicles, from slick sports cars to lumbering dump trucks, handle exactly as you'd expect and smash apart realistically when abused. The three islands in the game are rendered in terrific detail considering their size, and are packed with traffic, pedestrians, and hidden jumps. The audio is equally amazing. Pedestrians talk, cops scream at you, and you can tune in nine different radio stations whenever you are in a car. It all adds up to a monumental achievement: the rare console game for adults that manages to get everything right.--T. Byrl Baker

Grand Theft Auto III: Vice City
How big is this game? Even publicists for other games end up talking about Vice City when they call our office, babbling in the same helplessly intoxicated way that afflicts everyone who plays it. The achievement of Vice City (which, as everyone knows by now, is set in the 1980s and offers an all-new, Miami Vice-inspired story) is not only that it manages to live up to an absurd level of expectation, but that it takes the game places that fans of its predecessor Grand Theft Auto III never dreamed of, and that it achieves this astonishing level of innovation without losing anything that made GTA3 the bestselling PS2 game of all time.

After a brilliant homage to the era of the Commodore 64 in the opening credits, the first thing you'll notice is the improved graphics, which are smoother and more detailed, and--with effects like neon lights reflected on rain-slick streets, and intense Florida sunlight--have a lush, tropical look that immediately gives you a strong sense of place. The architecture is more fabulous by tenfold, with art deco buildings, high-rise hotels, and believably seedy back alleys. The control scheme is essentially the same as in GTA3, but the cars handle much better, and in pedestrian mode there is a new crouch move. You will have access to fast, great-handling cars right away, as opposed to GTA3 which made you unlock the second island before you could get your hands on any respectable wheels. This game has such riches to offer that there is no need to be chintzy with the vehicles.

Cops are more vigilant this time--minor offenses like whacking innocent bystanders will more often than not get you a two-star wanted level--and are harder to elude (though they still can't seem to climb stairs or negotiate sharp turns). So while free-roaming exploration is as fun as ever, there is more incentive to perform the missions instead of randomly raising hell. Not that that's a bad thing: even lazy criminals like myself (in GTA3, I would rather toss hand grenades into traffic than follow orders from some rude Mafia boss) will be quickly caught up in the vivid characters and hilarious, fascinating story, in which you play an acid-washed-jeans-wearing thug named Tommy Vercetti. Where in GTA3 missions were blocky, schematic affairs only nominally connected to the story, this time tasks move the story briskly along and deftly blend cinematics and game action. For example, there is a scene of a character throwing Tommy a gun, at which point you are suddenly thrown back into the action and must make an instant decision about whom to trust and what to do.

There are more, and more detailed, indoor environments, including a hotel, police station, and mall (a slight downside to this is that some of the more elaborate indoor environments require load times). The layout of the city, with tons of backyards, narrow alleys, and fire escapes, encourages creativity when eluding pursuit, as does greater access to rooftops. Get your motorcycle up the fire escape and a whole new world of action is possible, including... well, use your imagination.

This overview barely scratches the surface of the Vice City experience, its colorful explosion of music, clothes, combat, and brilliant voice acting, not to mention the plot twist midway through the game that changes the very nature of the game itself. Though it was the outrageous, amoral violence that got all the press, the essential genius of GTA3 was its intoxicating blend of script and open-ended action. In Vice City this is--to use a cliché that is for once apropos--taken to a whole new level.--David Stoesz

Pros:

• Open-ended gameplay; player can chose to be relatively law-abiding or engage in wanton virtual destruction
• Varied missions
• Brilliant scripts with Hollywood voice acting
• Rocking sound track (also available in our Music store)
• Xbox-enhanced graphics

• As the The Sopranos of games, GTA 3 draws unwanted attention from overzealous legislators
• No multiplayer

Features

• Get two classics in one package: Grand Theft Auto--Vice City and Grand Theft Auto 3
• Speed around in high-performance cars, motorbikes, powerboats, and more
• Interact with a cast of hundreds in a highly realistic, fully realized 3D city
• Hunt down your enemies using everything from baseball bats to rocket launchers to Molotov cocktails
• For 1 player

Reviews (125)

Two Great Games In One!
If you haven't had a chance to play the Grand Theft Auto phenomenon yet, you're missing out! The games may be about pimping, killing and breaking laws, but darnit, they're fun! And now you can buy both GTA's for the price of one. GTA3 is about your "hero" elevating himself through the ranks of various crime organizations such as the Mafia, Yakuza, Bloods, etc. GTA Vice City is about your "hero" elevating himself through the ranks of a mid-80's Miami Vice world. If you've played the PS2 version, the only difference on an Xbox is better graphics and the ability to listen to your own custom MP3's on the car radio while you drive. The second game, GTA Vice City, comes included with a lot of great hits from the 80's but trust me, you'll enjoy having the MP3 option in the other game, GTA3, because the custom music in that game can quickly get old! If you've played the PC versions, the XBox versions are basically the same game. The GTA3/ViceCity series is one of the best games ever for any platform and you're missing out if you don't play it.

GOING, GOING, GONE TO BUY THE GTA DOUBLE PACK FOR XBOX! LOL
Its overall much better than PS2. The most noticable improvements I've noted are: Project Gotham Racing graphics on the cars(in other words the cars look awesome), one of my favorite new features is the ability to listen to your copied songs during the game on your own little radio station, also if you busted open the hood on the cars you would notice the engine is highly detailed which is pretty cool. When I first got the game I was uneasy about adapting to the new controls since I was so used to the PS2 controls, but XBOX doesn't dissapoint. You are able to choose standard controls for the game or classic controls, which I chose. If you're not a gamer, get these games, you'll become a regular gamer. This is unlike any ...video games you have played before (I would just like to note that GTA Vice City is based on Scarface with Al Pacino and if youlike the movie you'll like the game). I would just like to say if you don't have XBOX, GET IT! If you don't have this game, GET IT! YOU WON'T BE SORRY!

worth every penney
all I have to say is that it's awsome one of the best games I've every played go out and buy it right now

OoOoOoOo! GTA
I recently bought an Xbox. Mainly for Doom3 and Half-Life 2 but I jsut had to get the GTA double pack, after playing it for PS2 at a friends house. After finding out i could use the music i downloaded onto my Xbox on GTA i had to check it out So i rented it. Then after weeking with it on Vice City i found it at Target for a decent price of 27.98 or something like that. How could i refuse?! Fabulous Graphics, Great Story, and Your OWN MUSIC! it's a fabulous game for anyone.

Disappointing
I'm going to offer a dissenting opinion here and say that Grand Theft Auto (or at least this version of it for the Xbox) is not quite as wonderful as some of its fans would have you believe. I picked up the Double Pack after hearing friends who had PS2's rave about these games for years. I also read a few reviews that said even though the graphics may be a little out of date, the gameplay remained very compelling. Well, GTA may have been groundbreaking in its day, but I was less than impressed after making several attemps to wade into these two games. The graphics, even though they may have been updated a little more for the Xbox, are bad. Distractingly bad. The cars look okay, but the buildings in the distance (when you can see them) remind me of the background of a Sega Genesis game. I am not kidding. You'll see the same three or four characters repeated over and over again on the street, saying the same things. The way the people move is also very cartoonish and off-putting. The control scheme is frustratingly awkward as well. Whoever translated them over from the PS2 controller to the Xbox's did a horrible job. The combat system is poorly designed, and the way in which you target and fire guns leaves much to be desired. Finally, within my first fifteen or twenty minutes of playing the game I noticed two glaring bugs, the first of which was a loss of sound and the second a slowing down of the framerate to a glacial pace. Both of these occurred in Vice City, for what it's worth. If you're an Xbox owner and have not played GTA before, I would recommend just renting these games to see if they're for you instead of just buying them on the basis of word of mouth. The dialogue in the game is pretty funny and driving around the city is fun, but the missions are fairly repetitious and get to be more of a chore than anything else. Ultimately I found the booklets that came with each game more entertaining than the game itself. ... Read more

Features

• 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
• 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

Reviews (48)

Day late and a dollar short of greatness
Over the years Star Wars fans have forgiven alot in the video games that Lucasarts has produced. Not that most of the games are bad its just that Star Wars is such a beloved franchise that the LA knows that fans will forgive things like the ommission of the balance, polish and tweaking that makes great games in order to fly in an X-wing or hear the hum of a lightsaber under their control.

Unfortunatley Jedi Academy suffers from this neglect. Granted the graphics are good, the sound is crisp and the controls are responsive once you get used to them. All that aside the game just doesn't deliver on several key aspects.

First of all you really don't create your own character. You get to choose from six very similar models and then you can pick out a shirt and a pair of pants. Things like race or hair color are all covered under the "head" option of which there are three for each model. So if you wanted to create a Jedi in your own image or a saber wieldin' wookie you are out of luck.

The game is also fairly predictable and very linear. If you have played Obi Wan or Jedi Outcast then you already know what to expect from most of the levels. Basically you get dropped into the front of a level and you have to fight your way to the back through hordes of inept enemies to flip a switch or fight a slightly less inept boss. This is disappointing because this is the third installment and I was hoping for some variety.

My biggest gripe is that the game is not very well balanced. I don't know why the developers at LA bothered to put in other weapons because you really only need your lightsaber to beat the game. Most of these other weapons are holdovers from the original Darkforces and are ineffective or unnecessary.

The balance of the AI is also a little off. All non-saber wielding foes are very easy and stand still waiting for their turn to be cut down. Dark force users seem difficult at first but once you figure out their pattern of attack they too are easy to dispatch. Clearly lightsaber combat is the focus and attraction of the game but even this key element is unbalanced because the the staff and dual sabers are so vastly superior to the single blade.

Even with all these faults JA is a solid game and anyone who is a fan of the Star Wars franchise will enjoy it. I just wish that the people at Lucasarts would quit banking of the loyalty of their fans and instead start relying on the quality of their products.

It's all about the lightsaber
I don't really consider myself a gamer, but I do consider myself a major Star Wars geek. One day I spotted "Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy" in a list of upcoming games. That was it -- no detail, just the name of the game, but I *knew* I had to have it.

This game was a good buy -- I'm very happy with JA. Players can customize their character, build their own lightsaber (and later decide between dual sabers or a saber staff), choose their Force powers, and take on numerous enemies on different worlds. The early levels are easy, but the last tier of missions gets harder. All those Sith groupies get pretty hard to take down! (Force Grip works really nice, though -- just drop 'em off a nice, high ledge. *evil grin*)
I do have a few quibbles with the game -- for instance....
*spoiler space* (not sure if I need this or not)
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The Force powers you choose don't actually have an impact on if you choose the light side or dark side. As far as I know, you can go all dark powers and still choose the light side, and vice versa. I prefer a sampling of all powers, except Drain and Rage.
Also, I'm annoyed by a certain bounty hunter's invulnerability. I blasted away at him with rockets and lightning and he *would not* die. I even tested this by putting on cheat codes (and there are some fun codes, btw), pulling out the heavy guns, and blasting him until his health bar went completely down, and he still didn't die. Fair warning, y'all. Use Force speed or something.
In addition, let me just say that the story line is pretty lame, and some of the voice acting is awful. But hey, it's Star Wars...remember that acting isn't what it's all about. You're nodding your head -- yeah, you know what I'm talking about.

It's all about the lightsaber. The color, the hum, the screams of the enemy as the blade slashes through them...most satisfying, indeed. Although I beat JA soon after I got it, I still play the game. If you call yourself a SW nerd, you must get Jedi Academy. My quibbles are minor; my enjoyment is off the chart.

Love that 'saber.

A Good Star Wars Game
I hadn't really heard a lot about this game before I purchased it but I usually like Star Wars games just based on the universe that it is set in. Most of the games have flaws but you play them for the experience of being one of the characters from the movies. This game was very fun and decently long. I liked how you progressed through the game with force powers and you can eventually choose dual lightsabers or a staff. The beginning of the game is very tedious and boring because your force powers aren't really advanced yet and your only enemies are storm troopers that do nothing but shoot and miss you and then you swing your lightsaber at them once and they are dead. But later on you get to fight a lot of other jedis and this is when the game gets really fun. You have to figure out different ways to kill these jedi because you can't always beat them just swinging your lightsaber(s). I liked to force grip them in the air and throw my lightsaber at them. The graphics are a little choppy and aren't the best for xbox and the gameplay is a little repetitive but if you like Star Wars games then you should give this one a try. It is worth buying because it's a little long and you can try the light and dark paths. Plus if you have xbox live there are good multiplayer games.

awesome game if you dig SW. read on and i'll explain
this game has awesome graphics and even better gameplay. it has tons of multiplayer combinations including, free for all, capture the flag, one on one, and more. it is also online enabled for Live. play single player and you are a student at the acadamy to train and become a jedi master. you can pick your species for your character, human male or female, rodian and 2 or 3 more but i forgot. sorry. also you can pick its face, style of shirt, style of pants, and color of its outfit.

pick from multiple combinations of your lightsaber: color of the blade, hilt style (handle), and later on in the game you can choose from a double lightsaber like darth maul's in the movie Star wars I phantom menace. or you can wield 2 standard lightsabers in both hands. lots of missions and excitement. you feel like and actual jedi because you can controll about 20 different force powers including speed, jump, heal, lightning, rage, sense, and protect to name a few. you also have a choice of weapons to choose from. including a mini-portable rocket system, an imperial repeater, and a fletcher weapon, and a wookie bocaster to name a couple. also choose 1 of 3 explosives: trip mines, hand gernade, and detanation packs. and when you run out of weapons and explosives, there are lots of pickups during the game.

fight imperials, robots, sith lords, rancors and many other enimies. this game is moderately chalenging. nothing too hard or easy. a very enjoyable game. if you like the star wars movies or just really dig the games, this is a perfect game to add to your collection.

Jedi Academy
My opinion about this game is that it is fun. The reason this game is cool is because you can choose sides and sabers. Hideouts get you out of trouble. The level I think is hardest is Castle of the Dark Lord. The best feature of the game is riding hover bikes with guns on them. Riding hover bikes is fun. I recommend this game to fans of Star Wars. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

More often than not, when a game is in development for more than threeyears, it does not live up to the hype. Bungie's Halo is the exception.Not only does it meet expectations, it greatly exceeds them. This sci-fifirst-person shooter is a nearly perfect blend of gameplay, graphics, and sound.

The story revolves around the conflict between humans and an alien race known asthe Covenant. The aliens have discovered a powerful artifact--on the ring-shapedplanet called Halo--that will shift the balance of power, and it's up to theplayer to stop them. In addition to several first-person-shooter levels, thegame offers numerous opportunities to engage in vehicular combat. Both the enemyand allied artificial intelligence are extremely impressive. Enemies will usethe terrain and layout to put you in tight spots. Allies will know when to coverand aid you. For instance, if you hop into a jeep, an ally will know to jump inand man the turret on the back of it.

The graphics are exquisitely detailed, but only move at 30 frames per secondrather than 60. The sound effects and voice acting are superb. The level designis among the best ever; most of the game is engaging and challenging withoutbeing frustrating. There's also high replay value thanks to the built-insingle-player, cooperative, and deathmatch modes.

Much like the outstanding GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64, Haloraises the bar for console first-person shooters. All console action games willbe measured against Halo for years to come. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Outstanding game design
• High replay value
• Impressive AI

• Several maps are used multiple times
• Save functions could have been better implemented
• Graphics move at 30 frames per second, not 60

Reviews (1473)

Halo X-treme!!
Halo is the ULTIMATE game of the year. Like Harry Potter, you read some pages, you just continue reading. You can't stop! It takes you away completly.
Here's a heads-up on future Halo 1 buyers(There is 10 levels):

Pillar Of Autumn: This is the first level of the game. Use caution on Covenent. They're not fun to play with.

Halo: This is one of the longest levels in the game. Just follow Cortana's directions and you'll find it quite fun.

Truth and Reconciliation: Board the ship and find Captain Keyes. If you're playing on Legendary, good luck with the sword elites.

The Silent Cartographer: Use skill, strategies and a quick finger for blasting.

Assault on the Control Room: There is practicly one rule for this level; please try not to kill any Troops with the Scorpian or the Rocket Launcher or you'll die a very uneasy death.

343 Guilty Spark: Be prepared for Flood(Small guys who like eating Troops), Flood warriors(my guess is Mutated Troops who think you're the Covenent) and Flood Carriers(carries more flood on his back).

The Library: Nothing to look at except flood and huge rooms. Just finish the level in one piece.

Two Betrayals: All I can say is Assault on the Control Room backwards. This time, the chaos has incresed because the Flood is on the loose.

Keyes: Even though Captain Keyes will die, try and find him(you'll have help with Nav Points).

The Maw: The final level. You're back on the Pillar of Autumn. Escape on a jeep and you're home free.

I hope that helped. Get more information at halo.bungie.net .

Halo- The ULTIMATE 1st Person Shooting Game...period
Halo was the best Xbox game I could ever buy. The graphics are awesome and the sound-effects, well they're just as good. The only person I wouldn't recomend this to is little babies who can't handle the guns and explosions and dieing. The levels are great, they put just the right amount of suspense and action that it will keep you up playing untill you are red eyed (self control is advised). You get a large array of weapons and vehicles that are perfectly balanced so that if you get a certain weapon, you aren't unstopable (unlike the "golden gun" on James Bond). The landscape is superb so that you don't feel boxed in like some games. There are places that you can hide and be a sniper, and open places for face to face war. They literally put the game in your hands. And for some people who don't like solid fighting, humor is in this to, your fellow marines and small aliens called "grunts" scream funny things like "They're Everyhere!" and "Whe're All Gonna Die!".
The only game better than Halo will be Halo 2 baby! Ya!

Bungie Inc knew exactly what they were doing when they created this game.

THE REVIEW OF ALL REVIEWS
Halo is a great game. Parents it is rated M but should not be. If you are thinking of giting it is should be for kids 13 and up. It has great grafics and missions. I think it is one of the top 3 games made.

Halo ROCKS
This game is by far the BEST first person shooter that ive played. Besides killing aliens you get to defend your troops along with being able to drive some awesome vehicles! Cant wait til Halo 2 comes out, that game will rock just like this one did!

Halo, the one and only!
Halo Online mutiplayer is great for an amazing single player 1st person shooter. The multiplayer capabilities are amazing too. With the release of Halo custom Edition from Bungie.com you can take the modding capability of games to a brand new level. This by far is one the best best games ever. And to all those who says it's too easy try to beat it on legendary difficulty in 5 days. Simply a MUST HAVE! Raven ... Read more

Features

• Popular Dungeons and Dragons fantasy RPG
• Five unique characters to play
• More than 40 levels in four Acts
• Tons of cool secret areas and items
• For 1 or 2 players

Reviews (19)

It was about time - and worth the wait
Well it took just short of forever for the sequel to the first blockbuster hack and slash but it forgive the wait. I have read the other reviews and with exception to one - the rest were crybabies. Wipe the tears - you still played the game all the way through and probably more than once. To be completely honest this game was just as fun and the first one and possibly more because of the new characters. Yes to beat it the first time will only burn up 9 or so hours, but the story was good and the graphics were very good. Maybe not as good as everyone expected but above average. People expected alot out of this game and I think it met most expectations. Remember people the more versatile and deep a game gets the shorter it is. Still there are 4 different difficulty levels to play on although you will probably only play hard or normal then you will play extreme. I haven't beat extreme yet but the game was very intense. A very good RPG. If you are expecting to burn 24 or so hours and never see anything new this won't make you happy. But if you like the first and would have bought that one again go ahead you won't be sorry. There were 4 different acts to beat and I thought the story line was very well done. There should be another as they left the door wide open just like the first one. If the next was the same as these two were I would still buy it and smile all the way to my XBox in anticipation. Don't set the bar too high you guys or no one will make you happy - after all it is just a game. Got to get back to the blood and gore - got a vamp to slay -

Big disappointment
I'm a die hard PC RPG fan. Perhaps that's the source of my disappointment. I bought an XBOX while deployed to Iraq and got star wars KOTOR (Most awsome game) and Dark Alliance 2. I've played Baldur's gate. This is not Baldur's gate. This is Diablo 3. BG is turn based combat from an angle down view. This thing's camera angle is like running around and staring at your feet and trying to find your way around. I havn't gotten to far into it yet. I will try to give it another shot if I can keep away from KOTOR long enough. Perhaps I can learn to like it if I don't try to compare it to Baldur's gate. I hate it when someone takes liberities with a well known title just to make money and destroys it. That's like putting up a taco bell but not serving any Tex/Mex food only tofu! I didn't like Diablo and I don't like this pseudo Baldur's Gate!

great! absolutly great! loved the action!
I loved B gate2. the action is awsome and the characters are extrordinary. I enjoy playing it even after I have betten it. Though I used a cheat code from time to time, I still love it! the characters are each skilled in different things. now in the second game, there are five charaqcters to choose from and, more locked characters to open.

Worse than gauntlet dark legacy
I never played baldur's gate 1. I was looking for a hack & slash game like gauntlet dark legacy which I played a lot. After reading lots of good reviews, looking at screen shots, and waiting for 3 months, I bought baldur's gate 2.

This game is super BORING and lame, let me explain why. The design is bad and the gameplay is worse.

There are no combos! Every attack is just ONE slash. You can't do successive attack chains like dynasty warrior and gauntlet dark legacy. So boring! There is a lack of auto-targeting option, so you have to face the enemies in order to kill them. The projectile weapons are dumb, when you use them you can't block, theres some auto-targeting here. You can equip 3 types of weapon at one time. The control is horrible for this game. You have to switch weapons with a button, which is lame. It should be 1 individual button for each weapon. In the heat of battle, switching makes you vulnerable, really horrible design here. The skill level and fun factor is very low. The gameplay is based on hack and block. There isn't much evading, charging, running, etc... like gauntlet dark legacy. The RPG design is pathetic! You dont really gain new abilities, you just upgrade them with math, like +2 added on, I can't believe how lame this game is.

The shop for buy/sell/modify weapons is lame! There is no shop, just some dude on the street and you have to imagine where the shop is and how it looks like, at this point this game is almost laughable. Even more pathetic, there is only 1 shop in 1 town the whole game! The shop sells only junk weapons and armors, only useful thing is the workshop for building custom weapons and potions. ALL good weapons/armors have to be found or built. The CG movies are bad, the quality is horrible. The voice acting is bad, every character sounds like they are reading lines. The story is dumb, they try to make up bunch of stuff and talk bunch of junk. The story is to kill mordac with bunch of convoluted lines. The boss battles are lame especially the last 2 boss. The ending is very very bad.

The graphic is definately better than gauntlet dark legacy which had terrible graphics. The music is boring and lots of no music during game. The worst thing about this game is the GAMEPLAY.

Overall baldur's gate 2 is a very very boring game. Gauntlet dark legacy is WAY better. I never played dungeons and dragons but I bet its better than baldur's gate. I can't believe how a game like this can be so popular, this game is so lame that I will never be interested in part 1 and all future baldur's gate games, the designs are just all wacked.

What a Game
This game is great! It takes a long time to completely beat the game, since theirs 5 characters to choose from. It has great graphics, great plotline, and it's not the same game as the prequel with a new plot. It lets you really explore and have fun, and you don't need to do all the quests, only the main story. The first one your character was level 12-14 when you beat for the first time, but i was at level 21 when i beat it for the first time. I like all the new feats and skills, and really enjoyed the different classes and theyre special abilities. You also get new abilities unlocked when you complete your characters personal quests. You can also use Drizzt after beating it, earlier if you use codes (gamewinners.com is great) and theres a new one too, Artemis. You also get to male your own magic Weapons and rings/ amulets

The only cons are the ending, it ends really quick. They left the ending hanging though, so they better make a third one.

The creators did a great job making it realistic. If people are badmouthing it, it may be because they either are tring to cover up how bad they are at the game, or are just tring to draw attention or just to be a rebel ... Read more

Features

• Game of the Year edition of the award winning Morrowind RPG
• Includes content from Elder Scrolls III, Tribunal and Bloodmoon
• Take existing Morrowind characters and saved games and continue the adventure
• Adds up to 80 hours of new gameplay and quests for current Morrowind players
• For 1 player

Reviews (56)

Simply Amazing
One warning slash complaint: DO NOT BUY THIS GAME IF YOU HAVE A LIFE. It is best if your a loser like me who doesn't do anything except play his xbox. The reason I say this is because the game seriously starts taking over your life because you can't stop playing it.

Okay with that cleared up, here's the skinny.

Your a bum who just got realsed from prison and was brought to the land of Morrowind. Your on a continent sized island called Vanderfall. You pick your name, your class, your race and the sign you were born under. Choose well! What you pick will determine the way the game will unfold for you. Once you finish your business, your a free man...that means free...as in there are no set guide lines about what you should do... AS IN YOU CAN DO WHATEVER THE HECK YOU WANT. The thought of it kinds of goes to my head.......

Seriously though, there is a main quest, which is to...never mind, I won't spoil it. Okay a short list of stuff you can do. Join guilds. Guilds like fighters, thieves or mages. You can become members of factions like certain temples or healing groups. You can join people's houses. Pick a side in multiple types of feuds. You may choose to become a free ranging hero, helping people in need. Or you may fall to the lure of the
"dark side" (I'm a big star wars fan) and turn to theivery. Whatever you want, the game lets you do it.

The exploring aspect is big. Like I said, the island is about the size of Australlia, and lots of times you'll have to travel in the beast ridled wilderness to get to places. Sometimes, if you're along the coast, you can ride in a boat, which is instintaneous transportation to a new location. If your not along the coast, you can ride huge bugs called silt striders. Same concept of boats, except across land.

People complain about the loading times, but there not really that bad. When you first load your game, it will take a while. But once you get going and are on your way, the loading never takes more than a couple seconds. And when you leave a building, you automatically can leave it with NO loading time what so ever.

The level of customization is amazing. There is no limit on the types of armor you will find. (from iron plated to troll bone) The weapons are awesome, especially the magic ones. Oh yeah, you can find people (or do it yourself) that will actually create new spells from old ones. You choose all of the features about it, even its name! I myself have a "super big fireball" spell in my arsenal. You can also enchant your armor, weapons, rings and amulets using souls you've captured in soul gems.

Along the lines of weapons is the magic. Magic is an aspect where many games seem to stumble. Either the magic is too strong, too week, too corny, not enough, too hard to regain, too easy to regain........The list goes on. Morrowind is the first game I've seen that gets it just right. The spells that hurt others are not all powerful, but they are not wimpy, either. There are plenty of spells that enhance your abilities, as well as spells that unlock doors, paralyze, make you invisible, and a host of others. Magic is one of my favorite parts of Morrowind.

Interaction with the environment is virtually limitless. The world boasts and entire ecosytem of vegetation, all which you can pick and use in potions. You can pick up ANYTHING you find lying about, even in peoples homes. They lock a chest on you? No problem. Just bust out the old lock pick out and (if you have a high enough security skill) you can break into a wide variety of different locked things.

The cities are breath taking. No, not the junky little town you start in, but the bigger ones like Balmoro are sweet. And Vivec is amazing. It is the capital of the island. It is divided into nine sections, each one floating on enormous platoons on the water. Very realistic and cool.

The game is supposed to be like living someone's life. And it is. Things like fewer people on the streets at night, prices that vary depending on how much the people like you and small stuff like that really make the game. The one thing I was very impressed with was the legal system. The dudes who made the game came up with a very original (if simple) system of law and order. If your crime is reported, you must pay a fine or go to jail and serve some hard labor. If you steel something, the stolen goods are returned and the fine is small. If you kill someone, the fine is huge. There are guards a plenty to uphold the law. The bigger the town, the more there are, and the powerful they are. The guards in Balmoro where this totally awesome armor and have spiked swords and shields. Small towns and villages only will have the basic guards, who look wimpy but are really strong. And the largest towns have dementors, who are probably some of the toughest fighters in the game.

That's all I'll say. The rest is up to you to find out. So get out of here and onto the road.

Good adventuring!!!

This is the best...for now
Seriously, the only thing I found negative about Morrowind was the fact that the graphics weren't all that magical. But everything else is fantastic! The amount of freedom in this game gives me wood. It is a great feeling to immerse oneself into an entirely different world. I haven't even finished 1/3 of the game and I've done so much. I really like the fact that I got my own house built for me. I can arrange all my cool weapons there and lock precious stuff in chests. Its the best. And now there is going to be an extra 80 hours or so added to this amazing game!! And this is my first time round!! I haven't even become a vampire yet. Now they are giving the option of becoming a werewolf. This game will last me until Fable comes out, and even then I will still be playing it. Guaranteed. And I do have a girlfriend. And she is hot. Hotter than you.

A World of Possibilities
Right off the bat let me tell you one thing: Morrowind III is a great game. The animation might not be great, but don't let that trick you into thinking that is a crappy out-dated game, because you would be dead wrong. Morrowind is a great RPG for XBOX (one of the few). You have limitless possibilities for what you can do. You dont even have to follow the main quest if you don't want to. You can join any of the various guilds, houses, etc. and rising through the ranks will take a considerable amount of time. This is not a game you can finish in a few hours. This is not even a game you can finish in a few days. With so much to do and see this makes for a great game. It is totally customizable (name, race, class, etc.) right down to how much the NPCs like you. Using an endless array of magic, weapons, armor, and items, you can choose any path you want. This is my second favorite RPG for XBOX (my favorite is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic which, if you haven't already, you have to go out and buy because it is awesome). All in all, a very good game. (A little advice: get the Platinum Hits version of the game. Its the same game but its 10+ dollars cheaper.)

Awesome
The Elder Scrolls III series is an amazing, wide and beautiful world. Dont listen to the other reviewers that tell you that the graphics suck. The truth is, it doesn't matter. The world is so large and beautiful that you don;t even notice. Sure, there are bugs such as that if you add soultrap on target to ANY spell it stays forever. Character creation and development is awsome, with many classes. If you are one of the beast races, people may make rude comments on your posture and societal standing.

Overall, a wonderful experience that will provide a long and entertaing journey through Vvardenfell(yes, i spelled that right).

For the smart people
Hmmm... The guy near the bottom is an complete idiot for saying this game sucked... Maybe because he dosent know how to play different game other than lord of the rings (attack and kill... point of game. Thats it.) So dont listen to people like that guys. If youre a smart person, youll be able to actually play a game that isnt only based on one button. You can do what ever you want in this game, you dont HAVE to go on the main quest, really. Do what you want, when you want, how you want- As they say. By the way, im 14. =P ... Read more

Features

• Arcade style air combat game
• Pilot ten warplanes, armed to the teeth with detonator cannons, tesla guns, and more
• Gamers command the air with ease, in the true spirit of combat flying
• Intense dogfights via Xbox Live
• For 1 or more players

Reviews (55)

The Best New XBOX Live Game Around
I preordered this game and received it the day it was released. Let me say this - WOW. I have been playing flight games since the days of the old Apple II, and I am a former Navy Pilot myself. This game far exceeded my expectations and the live play is astounding. If there is a clipping problem, you won't notice it whatsoever. The live play is seamless and faster-paced than MechAssault. The flight controls do not have as steep a learning curve as some have previously said. My 8 year old daughter was up and running in minutes.
The game's true appeal is variety. Even if you don't have Xbox Live, this game still holds virtually infinite replayability. The premise is simple: you're an air pirate in a post-depression world. (use your imagination) The controls are very responsive and the flight-dynamics are extremely well done. While it is true that the programmers have eliminated low-velocity stall, any pilot can tell you that stall is nothing you want in an entertaining game anyway. Stall sucks, simply put.
If you have Xbox live, this is the game to have. More players are allowed to enter each game than you were allowed in MechAssault, and this makes for a more chaotic battle. I have to give this game 5 stars for its overall graphic detail and as I mentioned earlier, the infinite replayability.

Awesome Game!
Let me just say that Crimson Skies:High Road to Revenge is a great game.It's up there with Halo,and others.It's one of my top five favorite games.

SINGLE PLAYER:
You are Nathan Zachary,a pilot for the infamous Fortune Hunters.You are out to get revenge on someone.I am being blunt to keep from spoiling the plotline.
It might actually be worth it to go out and buy the original Crimson Skies,so you know what's going on in the storyline.Especially since the original is only about $10.00 here on Amazon.
SCORE:8/10
________________________________________________________________
MULTIPLAYER:
Split-screen is okay,but for some real action,go on Xbox Live.It is a lot of fun (on Live).Without Live,it's still an good game,though.
You can play Dogfight, (Deathmatch) Team Dogfight,(Team Deathmatch) Wild Chicken,(try to keep the Chicken and return it to the base) and others.
The game is developed by Day:1:Studios,so if you play MechAssault,you'll feel right at home with Crimson Skies.
By the way,my Gamertag is TurboCircuits...
SCORE:10/10
________________________________________________________________
GRAPHICS:
Truly amazing.The water in the game is very realistic,and if you fly low to (the water) it'll splash on the camera lens.
The graphics are very detailed.It's hard to explain,you'll have to see it for yourself.
SCORE:11/10
________________________________________________________________
CONTROLS:
The controls are very simple.If you have played MechAssault,you'll catch on pretty quick.
The controls are like this:
Right Trigger:Fire main weapon
Left Trigger:Fire secondary weapon
SCORE:9.5/10
________________________________________________________________
SOUND:Very good.The explosions are realistic,along with the gunfire sound effects.Very realistic.
SCORE:10/10
________________________________________________________________
FUN FACTOR:
This game is a lot more fun on Xbox Live than it is offline.Just think:
Your plane is on fire and another player is on your tail.You see a plane depot up ahead,and fly in.You exchange your old,beat up plane for a new one with full health.The other persone is eating your dust.
You just into a gun turret,fire a missile,and direct it straight into an enemy's face.This is one of the hundreds of things that can happen of Live.
SCORE:10/10
________________________________________________________________
Buy Crimson Skies:High Road to Revenge.You won't regret it.
TOTAL SCORE:10/10

Gamertag:TurboCircuits

Great air-combat game! Bad melee game
My family bought an Xbox and picked out this $30 game. (they aren't cheap) We read the manual and started multiplayer in the mood for action, rambo, and violence. Wishfull thinking. we went back to the store and returned it for Halo. One of the greatest games in the world. (see my review on Halo)It makes a great air combat game with the option to hijack (is that how you spell it) planes, get in AA (anti-aircraft) guns and gun down the enemy, pick up power-ups ect. But it does not make a great melee game. If your in the mood for high speed air-combat it's great! Some of the airplanes include fast speed and low gun power planes, slow but heavy gun power planes, and somewhere in the middle. The downsides of the game for my family was that your airplane emblem consists of four tarot cards, (some families may have "issues" with this, some may not)you are a air "pirate," (once again some families may have "issues" with this, some may not) and it MAY (we didn't get that far so it MIGHT have it)have language and inmodist dressing in the films (once again some families may have "issues" with this, some may not)so it all depends on your family, but, as far as air-combat goes, it is GREAT!

Beautiful!!
This game is amazing. The visuals are stunning, the controls are great, the story is interesting and the characters actually have character. One complaint, it's too short. I finished the game in about three hours. I was hoping for more. However, it was an amazing three hours.
The multi player is great as well, although you can't fly everywhere, it brings you back in once you go to far. It's endless fun flying through the city of Chicago while trying to avoid getting shot down. I haven't played any other flight game that comes close to being this fun. A definite buy.

the ultimate xbox game
this game has everything you want.the good thing is about it is xbox live you can play up to 16 people at a time.i have beaten it 7 times and it never gets boring.once you start playing you just can't put it down. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Great blasting fun - especially live!
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is out for all console platforms, and lets you roam the Episode II world as Mace Windu, Obi-Wan and of course Anakin.

You start out near the end of Episode II, racing your way to the arena and then fighting off the enemy troops after the arena battle. The game continues onward, letting you control hover-tanks, Republic gun-ship, speeders, and more. In addition there are ground combat situations where you're wielding your light-saber against various enemies.

Much like the various other Star Wars games, there are a series of loosely-connected missions with main and bonus objectives on each one. You have to take out the enemy units. Escort the convoy. Destroy the main guns. The convoy shape and enemy units of the day change, but the basic tasks are the same.

That's not to say it isn't fun! Pod Racer just involved racing a pod on various tracks, and we loved that. I'm a big fan of flying combat so the variety of vehicles and situations was quite enjoyable. The graphics are quite good, with plasma bursts having a series of green rings, fire-blasts looking quite realistic and dust clouds obscuring your vision. On the vehicles you drive the guns move, the antennae sway, the wing-trails dance behind you.

Even better for XBox fans, this game goes LIVE! All of the fun you have in single-player mode is merely a training session for true live combat. Team up with friends and coordinate attacks on the enemy. You can even download new maps!

Not a complex game requiring a lot of thought, but a fun way to blast through a weekend.

Good enough to rent, but not to buy
The game Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (SWAC) picks up where Star Wars Episode 2 left off - A massive battle filled with droids and clones and jedi. The story goes on from there to tell of the unearthing of a Sith artifact that could destroy the Republic.

In the game, you play as Obi Wan, Anikin, or Mace (Samuel Jackson). There are a variety of vehicles to pilot: hover tanks, land-walkers, droid tanks, speeders, and assault ships. And while all of that may sound like a lot - the game actually feels pretty constricted. Through most of the game, you're doing the same three things: straffing, firing missles, and occasionally zooming in on targets. (The exception being on 2 missions where the emphasis is on racing in your speeder, which is pretty cool).

Although the cutscenes are pretty nice, the rest of the graphics are sub-par. The sound is pretty much straight from the movie, but you'll get annoyed at hearing blasters all the time.

This game is a fun little distraction. I beat it in about two days on the medium setting - which is not a long time at all. So if you're a big Star Wars fan, check out this game at your videostore and save your money for a better game.

Clone Wars beats KOTOR anyday!!
All of you who say this game sucks should shut the hell up!! I don't care if this doesn't require strategy or thought. This game rules, you get a variety of vehicles and you obliterate Count Dooku's Seperatist army. Your vehicles include: a hover-tank, a gunship, a speederbike, a reptilian creature called a Maru, and an armed walker tank. I was a little dissappointed of the fact that you can't use the AT-TE (the giant walker with six legs) in combat or the Jedi Starfighter. The motive of the game is simple, destroy all enemies!! I'm the type of person who loves these type of games, I hate RPGs. This game beats Knights of the Old Republic anyday of the week!! I don't care if KOTOR requires patience and strategy, that's what chess is for. Great job LucasArts!!

Good Star Wars game!
THis is a good star wars game. Fans should buy it, but people who don't like s-wars should rent first. THe single player is good and the multiplayer is awsome! My favorite multiplayer is conquest, where you must take over factories, build an army, and destroy the opponent's base. There is also duel and many others. The graphics are superb, and the sounds are awsome.

Pros:

1. good music
2. superb graphics
3. great sound
4. very good gameplay
5. multiplayer is very very fun
6. no slowdown

Cons:

1. people who don't know alot about star wars should rent or stay away

Although the multiplayer is fantastic, i heard x-box live is better. i don't have live yet, but if multiplayer is this good, then this must be one of the best live games. Anyone who likes star wars should buy this game.

Great Game with a few faults
This was the first game I bough for X-box, and my first ever video game. So I played it a lot when I got it,and I know what I'm talking about, so trust me on this review.

The gameplay is great. You start off in what looks like a desert, and learn the basic controls. You get to shoot about 20 different kinds of ships and get to control about ten, and you get to run around as a person. There are four worlds throughout the game, all varying very differently. Missions include following people to get places, find ships, and destroy certain boos ships. There are also mini goals for you to achieve like destroying all of a certain type of ship, or not getting any damage. You can also command ships in a fleet by simply using the lower directional pad. You can also find ship health and ammo. You can also get human health, but no ammo because your only weapons are a lightsaber.

The graphics are great, espicially on the cutscens. The ships look phenomonal abd you wonder how they got to be so detailed. The only problem is that the game freezes temporarily because it cannot process the graphics quickly. It only freezes for about three to five seconds and about once every ten minutes.

The controls are very good. The controls are the same for every ship that you control. The lower directional pad controls some other ships (only in certain missions). The A button is simple fire, which gives you unlimited ammo and not that sufficient for the strong ships. The X button gives you powerful ammo that can destroy many powerful ships instantly. The triggers let you move from left to right, and the Y button lets you zoom in. The B button is special move. The moves vary throughout ships. Like one ship is extra speed, one ship is special ammo. Special moves are limited in time. There are even different specials for different people that you control.

This game is the best shooter ever. I gave it four stars because I'm not that into shooters. I only got it because I love Star Wars. You should rent this first because I've seen bad reviews for it. ... Read more

Features

• Based on the movie, you guide Shrek and pals through this action adventure
• Explore Far Far Away and all-new areas like the Spooky Forest and Dwarven Mines
• Choose to play as one of ten different characters, including Donkey and Puss in Boots
• Use each character's special abilities to solve puzzles and accomplish objectives
• For 1 to 4 players

Reviews (3)

This is my Favorite Game
This game is so much fun I really couldn't get enough of it, If you haven't played it and you're a little nervous then go rent it and try it out. You will really like it!!

This Game is Really Great!
My Children Really loved it! I have 3 Children and I am very picky on what my kids play. This Title was very safe and they loved it so much I had to play it with them. Which was very fun! We Really are having alot of fun with this one. I recomend it to any parent!

very good
5/10/04
I just got this game today and loved it.It is just another imatation of sonic herous.Dont get me wrong this is a good game but I wouldnt recomend it if you arent a true shrek fan.Also if you didnt like sonic herous dont get this.Also if you hated shrek 1 your in luck this is like 10 x s better. ... Read more

Features

• Become Riddick and break out of the galaxy's most deadly prison in this 1st person action experience
• Fight with fists or knives or use stealth to defeat your enemies
• featuress the likeness and voice-over talent of Vin Diesel as Riddick
• Explore over 30 levels, 20 enemy types, and 15 different weapons
• For 1 player

Reviews (46)

A good way to spend time waiting for Halo 2
Okay, let me first say I can't stand Vin Diesel. He's only good for one character type and he over-played it a few movies ago. So when I heard that they were making a game surrounding the character Riddick from Pitch Black I thought it would be just another poorly done movie tie-in that would come and go. I was dead wrong.

From start to finish COR is a blast. I still can't believe that a game based on a mediocre film franchise could be this good. I just wish Shiney studies could have done half this good with Enter the Matrix.

GAMEPLAY: It didn't take to long to get used to the controls. The only problem I had was using hand to hand combat, but it didn't take long to get the hang of it.

GRAPHICS: One word:WOW! Some of the best lighting effects I've ever seen. At some points I forgot I was playing A game, that's how good it looked.

OVERALL: For anybody who is still upset that HALO 2 is still four months away, pick this game up, you won't be disappointed.

A movie-worthy plot and a world surpassing the actual films!
I really enjoyed this game, and if you are at all a fan of the films (Pitch Black or the Chronicles of Riddick), then you will love this game. In fact, it is absolutely necessary that you play it. I would, however, recommend that you rent it, because you can beat it in about 10 hours (which is a short 1-2 days adventure).

The game is (one of?) the first to employ a new graphics technique called normal mapping, which is surprisingly sweet, and I promise that no screenshot you've ever seen does the game justice. The true glory of the graphics comes in the real-time lighting. The characters are very realistic (all of them, even the NPC's), and the only downside is the glitchy nature of the models during the cutscenes.

As a special note to parents and those who care, THIS GAME IS RATED M FOR A REASON! Cussing (spoken and written) and other prison-like qualities are prevalent in the game, and the game is very dark. Gore can be turned off, but that doesn't really help since you spend most of the game snapping necks.

The plot is completely unique and completely addicting, with several twists along the way. The intro is beautiful, and you can't help but get sucked into this game. You are Riddick, and the dark is definitely afraid of you!

This game is what gamers have been waiting for
This is my type of game: a massive, self-contained structure featuring a convoluted, expansive system of ventilation shafts, tunnels, corridors and elevators, where there are realistic-looking plumbing and electrical conduits running above every ceiling, where every room contains hidden gratings and shafts to crawl through and crates to climb and reach higher levels, a gritty and highly detailed prison complex clearly rendered by people who have actual knowledge of building construction.

What I liked most about this game is its uncanny resemblence to the Marathon series of games (a mac-only FPS predating and surpassing Quake and its minions, and the forerunner to HALO.) Everything, from the gritty wall panels and industrial-style texturing in the prison to the rock walls of the mine, smacks of Bungie level design. If they ever remade the Marathon series, and they should, they'd be well off using the engine of 'Butcher Bay.'

The gameplay is fun, rarely frustrating, and there are always many multiple ways around any given problem. You will find yourself exploring around, talking to people, just looking for hidden areas and noteworthy items. It is a thinking man's shooter.

WHAT!
THIS GAME IS AWESOME I DON'T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE BUT BUY IT.

Fun and Engaging
After seeing "Chronicles of Riddick" and a "Making Of" about the game, I thought I'd buy it. The visuals are good, controls are easy to learn, plot is easy to follow, it ties in well with Pitch Black (set after this game), and incorporates many of the elements from the new movie.

I finished the game after about 8-10 hours of play, but that was a good thing. This was the first game that I have finished in YEARS! I didn't complete all of the side-quests, nor did I collect all of the cigarettes which give you access to bonus material about the game and new movie, so there are probably a few more hours I could have squeezed out of it.

The graphics are amazing. There are problems with "jaggies", especially in bright areas and the cutscenes, but playing in the dark is the most fun anyway. The developers did a great job with the "eyeshine" effect. Character animations are also wonderful. Snapping necks from behind, and turning enemy weapons on themselves is alot of fun. Sneaking and hiding is also alot of fun. Definately not for youngsters, but fun for us adults who don't like alot of "fluff". ... Read more

Features

• Challenge your driving skills in high-performance vehicles
• You are rewarded for driving fast, skillfully, and keeping car damage to a minimum
• Listen to hot radio station style music as you race
• Highly detailed game environments
• For 1 or multiplayer with Xbox live or System Link cable

Reviews (55)

It's not Gran Tourismo, but it's not bad
I have to say, PGR 2 really took my breath away in a way I was not at all expecting. It is far better than the first PGR and finally gives the Xbox something (almost) comparable to Gran Tourismo. Gran Tourismo still touts PGR 2 for realism, but PGR offers online play and beautiful graphics, as well as the added fun factor of Kudos. For any racing fan who owns an xbox, do not hesitate to buy this game. While it doesn't offer any of the vehicle customization options as found in the GT series, it still showcases a wide variety of cars that are a blast to drive, all with their own feel and sound. The sounds in PGR 2 are a true treasure, every car and every type of terrain (from cobble stones to grass) has a perfect and unique sound. At a price of 30 bucks, this game is a must have.

Great Racing Game
This is one awesome racing game for the Xbox. The graphics are amazing. The car detail is great and the buildings and things on the side of the road are also highly detailed, not boxy like other racing games. The cars take on a little damage like a cracked windshield, bent bumper, or your licence plate falling off, but nothing to impressive.
The gameplay is also very good. There are 102 cars to choose from after you have unlocked all of them and over 100 tracks to race. Some of the courses are similar because they use parts of other courses different times. There are 5 different difficulty levels and 5 metals earned with each level (novice-steel metal, easy-bronze metal, medium-silver metal, hard-gold metal, and expert-platinum metal). The hard and expert settings can be insanely difficult at some times, which is good because it will make the game longer and keep you working on the game for a longer time. There are several different kinds of races you can do which include things like street races, cone courses, one on one's, speed camera races, timed runs, and a few more. The Kudos system is also a great feature. I, at first, thought I wouldn't like the Kudos but I played the game and found out how neat it really is. The Kudos World Series is the main part of the game that has several different classes of cars. You start at the lower level classes like the Sport Utility class and eventually advance to the high classes which have cars like the Enzo Ferrari. Along the way you get access to new cars. Several of the races require you getting a high amount of Kudos points to complete the race.
Another thing I like is the Show Room. You can actually walk around in the building going into different rooms checking out the many different cars. The Show Room has all of the cars in the game and you can test drive every car except for a few "special" ones.
The only thing that I don't like about the game is that I think that it gets a little repetitive. There are 102 cars and over 100 tracks but you do the same thing over and over again especially in the Kudos World Series. But this is only what I think and it wasn't enough for me to give this game any less than 5 stars.

Best Real-Physics Racing Game Ever
If you have an Xbox, you really have to concider getting this this. Some say it has bad controls, but that is not true. It uses real physics, so on most turns you need to do a "power slide". Once you learn the physics of them, which doesn't take very long, it is simple, easy, and fun. You can do many other things like draft other cars, and it has a realistic damage program. Even liscense plates can fly off! It also has an HUGE variety of cars of different classes that u can buy through playing the fairly simple but fun single player mode. It also has one of the best Xbox Live experiences I have ever seen. People have also thought of some interesting games other than just racing to throw some extra playing hours into it. If you don't have it and have Xbox Live, you REALLY need to get Project Gotham Racing 2.

this game could have better controls!
this game has terrable controls. it would be a lot better if it had better controls.u try and turn going like 10mph on a tight corner and see what happens u probably will hit the wall and then ur going so slow the other AI racers pass u like nothing and then u have to catch up with them again. but on the bright side there r ferrari's hehehehehehehhehehhehhehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehhehehehheheheheheheheh.my fav. and one other thing u need a steering wheel if u want to actully have good controls. buy the universal one that works for gamecube.xbox.ps2 and i think the computer i said i think.

Close but no cigar
This game is awesome. When you first start out the cars are slow, but as you gain skill and kudos, you can purchase better and faster cars. The developers helped to keep it from being monotonous by mixing up the challenges, and it works for the most part. There is however, one major flaw. As you work your way up you can't keep your car to race in the next series. You also can't customize your car. It would be a waste though, since the series goes by so quick. Love the graphics, but you can't total your car. Realistic braking and acceleration, fun to spin people out. Way better than all of the gran tourismo games. ... Read more

Features

• Race on tracks in Australia, the frozen Nordic, and the Pacific Northwest, and drive in rain, snow, and fog
• Updated graphics engine with realistic vehicle physics
• featuress five unique rally sports, including the new Crossover duel
• Set up leagues and tournaments using XSNsports.com
• For 1 to 16 players online

Reviews (6)

Wow...
Well, as I was reading the reviews here, I thought I didn't need to say a single word as a result of most of you reviewing the game quite fairly...fairly being giving the game absolutely no less than a 4. But then I came across one review...yikes. Skipping ahead, it all started off as a normal day, me on the computer, sittin' back, looking for Rallisport 1 codes. I came across a little link at IGN.com on the Xbox channel that said "Rallisport Challenge 2" Instantly, I clicked on the link and then...BOOM! Like magic I was transferred to the page. All I could say was "Oh man, I am getting Rallisport Challenge 2." (Hands shaky and palms sweaty, of course!) But then comes today. I haven't gotten the game yet, but I have the Exhibition demo version. Got it at Wal-Mart. (Sorry Toysrus, I just live closer to Wal-Mart, otherwise I would've shopped at your store, trust me..you have a much better selection of everything videogames!) I played the game, and instantly I was floored. I was mauled by the beautiful graphics...reflections of puddles in the mud from the rain, leaves flying up in the air as I drive through piles of them, pounds of dust kicking into the air as I slide through a turn on the track...which, of course, happens to be very well designed, and does not seem repetitive in any part whatsoever. Wow, the reflection of the cars' lights shimmering on the icy asphault, the sun realistically reflecting off of the ripples in the pond nearby...and the damage effects...completely awesome..there's no technical term to describe it...none but awesome. The track designs are, by far, perfect. Not too hard to tell where you are going, not so easy it seems fake, and nothing makes you feel like you've "seen that area before" during any of the races. But the damage thing actually leads me to the games physics engine. In the first game, the cars felt pretty weightless, and they just kind of slid around on the tracks, but in RSC 2, the cars have a perfect feeling of weight to them, and they hug the track just perfectly. Well, that is, if you are up to that. The fact being that it's a challenging game leads to the perk of a damage engine. The damages are very realistic, and I was very surprised when I found that my Subaru was suddenly not handling like the very expensive car it is (or was). The bumper was hanging off, sides that I actually rolled on were realistically caved in, lights that I smashed on wall sides were suddenly not shining anymore..oh yes, and as I looked down at the ever-so-bent front end of my car, I realized that my car was veering off to the right...and, as time (and more smashings to the frontal left side of mu Subaru) went by, I realized that it was getting progressively harder to turn left..wow. Very cool, if not innovative..."innovative?!", you ask? Well, yeah, this game gives new meaning to good graphics, good level design, good mechanics, good physics, good fun, good effected-performance-whilst-getting-your-car-smashed, good everything! If you're a fan of the series, the genre, or just videogames..ah, heck, if you're a fan of living then please, do yourself a favor and go get an Xbox, go get Rallisport Challenge 2, pick up a can of Pepsi, take a sip, and pop the game in..go ahead, you desrve it. Everyone does.

They tried too hard, and lost a fan.
So, Rallisport 1 was the best game on the X-box. Still is. While many other racing games touted realism, Ralli touted fun. And FUN it was....cars with clear difficulty differences, bright, airy tracks, great sounds and wonderful falls. This was a forgiving game for the novice and a challenging game for the expert. Words cannot express how much I was lookin forward to this new game.....

...and unfortunately I am quite disappointed.

Yeah the graphics are better...the sound is a little bit better, but the gameplay really kinda sucks. The original game was challenging and had your palms sweating when you were racing for the title, and of course I swore at the screen many times, but it was all in fun and I really loved to repeat a course to beat it. In the new game I am swearing for other reasons....

1) Landscape - oftentimes it is impossible to tell where the track ends and where the outer bits begin. That is cute at first, but it just sucks after a while.

2) Collisions - things that I hit, that should be glancing blows, just simply STOP the car. You cannot use tactics where you bounce off a wall, or a small tree or something. There are no times where you flip over a rock and go WOO! Nope. You just...stop. It is horribly annoying.

3) This "ghost" thing. In the original game it was really fun to bang into other cars, especially when you re-appear after an accident. In 2, you have this "ghost" factor where for the first few moments after you appear, you are essentially not there, so people drive through you. It throws your timing off...it should be a tactic to bounce off other cars, etc. In this, you drive through a car, and hit a rock, and STOP.

4) There was a cute English voice yelling at you in the first game...apparently some people did not like it, so now there is a generic video game voice giving you directions.

5) Damage. Yeah it sounds whiny, but in the first game you could beat the snot out of yer car and still roll along happily. In this game, if the wheel comes off, you cripple the car. You know what? I don't care about realism...there are enough realistic games out there.

In short, the fun-ness of the game is severely sacrificed for the sake of "better" graphics and sound. Yeah there are cool parts where you can really customize your replies, etc...but after a race I never find myself caring enough to watch.

So, the way I see it, I have another bazillion hours of fun left on Ralli. I don't have to play Ralli 2 at all, so I'll just put it on the shelf. Boy howdy I hope Halo 2 does not follow the same dark path.

I give this game 2 stars because they should have known better. They HAD the formula. If they made longer tracks, more cars from which to choose, and a couple more races, I would have been psyched, just like Doom/Doom 2.

Why mess with a winning formula?????????? Sadly it happens all too often.

Rallisport Challenge 2
Overall / Summary: Easily much better than the original. Better graphics, better sound effects, better hadling, better everything (except music). This one even has EXCELLENT 16 player XBox Live support! Compared to Project Gotham Racing; RalliSport Challenge, 2 has better graphics, better environments, better lighting, equal Live support, but even though the two games are totally different in terms of game play, PGR2 comes in first when it comes to \"ease of play.\" Both PGR2 and RSC2 are the best racers on XBox, and both shouldn\'t be missed!

Gameplay: The career mode is fun, but a little easy at the start (naturally). As you progress it\'ll get harder, and most of the tracks become hard enough to challenge any skilled racer. The physics are much better than the original RalliSport. The cars don\'t seem to be so light any more, they actually hug the ground this time around. And the y interact with the environment a lot better too. So if you flip your car and it\'s going to roll around...it really IS going to roll around, and doors, bumpers, hoods, tires and just about everything but the driver flys off as the car tubles down the hill. One complaint is that on the ice tracks or a track were there could be little traction, your car my uncontrollably spin out and it\'s very hard to counter. But whatever. XBox Live support is AWESOME. Playing with 16 players is really fun. You get to see them fly around the track, and mess up just as well :D It really is a great experiance. 40 cars to choose from, and something like 90 tracks (some variances of others).

Visual: Top notch! The trees look totally realistic, and everything is MUCH better than the original game. The environments are much more interesting, and there\'s a lot more to look at and enjoy. The cars look better too. The sky textures have been improved from the original, and so has the overall texture quality.

Sound: Now comes the good and the bad area. The bad: the music sucks pretty bad, but luckily there are custom sound tracks. The good: the cars sound good, and that\'s all that matters when you have Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround.

Good. Could've been better
The graphics are jaw-dropping beautiful. The level design is top-notch! Like big jumps? Some of the jumps in this game will have you seriously airborne. Like hairpin turns? They're here in bounty. Like ice racing? You'll be sliding all over the track!

The new in-car camera is a wonderful addition. When it is raining, you'll see the windshield wipers going back and forth and even streaking! Top-notch!

The sound is decent, but not great. Before the races begin, all the cars sound exactly the same, however. Meh. Custom soundtracks are supported, as usual.

The single-player campaign is a lot of fun with plenty of tracks and new cars to unlock.

Now, the biggie: online!

This was the deciding factor for me in getting this game. Online is where it's at with racers. I was really excited to throw this in and give it a spin online.

BUT! Not so fast (no pun intended)...

When racing with 5 or more people, you can only talk to the person in front and behind you. Um, excuse me? WHAT?! This is ridiculous! The game supports up to 12 (I think) people racing at the same time. With that many racing at once, sure, limit who you can talk to, but 5? Come on!

Then you have the horrendously bright wireframe cars that you get when you turn collisions off online. The wireframe cars (your opponents online) are so bright that I have to hang back abit so they'll get on down the road where I can see what's going on in front of me. Once again: WHAT?!

But overall, it is still a pleasant experience both on and offline, because it is what it is: an excellent and beautiful rally racer.

All the joy and agony of real racing!
While I am not a racing purist, I enjoyed both Project Gotham games and enjoy playing all arcade racing games on my Xbox and PS2. In RalliSport Challenge 2, I've completed Amateur, Pro and Champion levels with more than 100 races in the game finished.

First off, you should know that this is a racing simulator, not an arcade-style racer, but even given that, DICE has still worked to make the game enjoyable for all skill levels. Unlockables like new cars and tracks for example, are awarded just by playing the game -- you do not have to finish in first place to get them. This alone, makes the game far more enjoyable. Also, simply by driving a car and "putting mileage on it" you'll unlock custom paintjobs for each vehicle. That is until you reach the final stage, SuperRally, where you must place 3rd or better to progress.

STRENGTHS:

The first thing you're going to love about RalliSport Challenge 2 is the graphics. The predecessor (RalliSport Challenge) created the standard for a new level of amazing graphics, but this game improves on that with dynamic graphics, like dirt trails that cloud the view of the people behind you and leaves that kick up from under your tires. Birds resting in your path will take flight as you approach and the scenery can be described as nothing less than picturesque.

The race levels are well designed and well thought out. Each has their own interesting twists and turns and elevation changes have been added so that you can suddenly lose control on a jump or bottom out after a wicked turn. Also, tracks have interesting combinations of sand, mud, dirt and tarmac which all perform differently as you slide through them. Although I may not know from personal experience how it feels to go out of control on snow at 100 MPH, this game gives me a realistic feeling of how bad it would be.

Speaking of which, the damage system works well so that you can't simply play "crash 'em derby" through the races to take out opponents and drive through obstacles, but also doesn't hamper the gameplay by making you drive too cautiously through every turn. You can lose a tire in the game, and believe it or not you can finish by driving on the rims, but your track times will certainly suffer. The game keeps you informed of problems with a damage indicator that is extremely easy to read even at high speeds. In addition, your car will "deteriorate" as you take damage, including blowing out the windows, bumpers dragging behind you and even the hood flying over your head! (Yes, I've instinctively ducked a few times.)

Soundwise, the game is top-notch. The car sounds, special effects and other elements of the game all add to the realism. Although many have complained about the music included on the game, I've enjoyed the thumping tracks as I make my way through the levels and, since the game supports custom soundtracks, you can add your own music anyways.

WEAKNESSES:

Alas, the worst part of playing this game is the off-track camera angles. Because of the elevation changes and other 3D elements of the game, you almost have to play this game in third person view (where your point of view is directly behind the car). Sadly, once you drive too far off track, the camera angle rotates and makes it almost absolutely impossible to get back on track without hitting obstacles and bringing the car to a dead stop. This is worsened when your co-pilot tells you "easy left" and it turns out to be a hairpin turn. You realize that your partner and the game appear to be cheating to work against you.

In addition to the camera angles, the display also can be the cause of a crash. In the RallyCross and Ice Racing competitions, your course map is on the bottom of the screen. As you hit checkpoints, the display changes from the map to show your position in the current race. Obviously, this can be deadly if there's a hairpin turn approaching and you were just glancing down at the map to see how far away you were. In addition, there are a few instances where DICE has placed a "dead end" turn immediately prior to the one you're supposed to take, or a second turn that is sharper than the one your supposed to take. These little "tricks" seem like an additional unfair challenge that the computer cars will not fall for, but also add to the excitement when you outsmart their level designers.

Finally, your opponents do not seem to be affected by darkness or some of the inclement weather conditions. This will certainly frustrate you if you're the kind of player that has to be first in every race.

SUMMARY:

In short, I would recommend this game as a "must have" for anyone who enjoys a true on-road/off-road racing simulation. It should be considered by most a "best of class" game for the Xbox console, despite some of the frustrating shortcomings of the game. ... Read more

Features

• Join a secret squad of fighter pilots in this WWII shooter/flight simulation game
• Intense flight action
• Over 20 realistic aircrafts to fly
• Over 30 action-packed missions in air and air to ground combat
• For 1 player

Reviews (25)

A Good Trainer, Not Great as a Game
Secret Weapons Over Normandy is a combination of flight simulator and historical recreation of WW2. I had high hopes for this game, but it seems a bit outdated.

You start out with some simple target practice - balloons, bombers and barrels. Soon you're moving against a variety of targets in the air, land and sea. There are 30 missions in all, plus the option for multiplayer combat.

I've always been a huge fan of flight simulators and space combat simulators. So I was all ready for this fresh release to have great graphics and gameplay. I just wasn't impressed at all in either case. Yes, I suppose if you compare the graphics against the early flight simulators, it's amazing how far we've come. The plane has the details of the flaps and wing segments, the landscape has trees and roads. The radar display sweeps around. But nothing is up to the standards of current day productions.

The same is true for the planes themselves, how they fly and how the AI flies against you. Your plane's controls are extremely simplistic. Yes, you stall if you fly straight up, as you would expect to! And yes if you plow head-first into a structure you crash. But there are many other cases where the game plays more like an arcade version set on "very easy" than a modern day WW2 combat game.

This might be a good game for someone who has never played flight simulators before and who wants a very simple entry into that area before dealing with something more complex. But any advanced gamer, or a gamer who has played any style of airplane / spacecraft flying game, will want to rent this one first to see how they personally enjoy what it offers.

SWON = Underrated
I don't know WHY this game only rates three stars. No, it's not a straight-on flight sim. No, the graphics aren't the best on XBox. Graphics should take a backseat to gameplay at any rate, and SWON has fantastic gameplay. Easily the best arcade flyer LucasArts has come up with, outstripping the Rogue Squadron series. The vast collection of planes you earn should send any WWII historian and aviation buff into ecstasy (no Corsair, though, sigh).

The plane models are extremely detailed, no problems there. The landscape is a bit bland at times, but specific locations (i.e., the Cliffs of Dover) are instantly recognizable. Other details (explosions, ground vehicles) are simple, but you'll be too busy (and moving too fast) to notice.

The gameplay, as before, is great. Again, it's not a flight sim, so don't judge it as such. Although it is a bit embarrassing to plow into the ground when you're trying to whip around to take out an enemy fighter (whoops). The game's most interesting feature is the time control. You can slow or speed up the flow of time to gain the advantage in a dogfight or to cut down on travel time between target areas. The targeting system helps you lead shots properly, though that can be turned off to see if you're as good as the guys that did this for a living.

The sound and dialogue are all way above par. Every plane has a distinct engine sound, which was actually recorded at an air museum in California. The voice acting is lively but not melodramatic, and helps immerse you in the game. Where the sound really shines, though, is the phenomenal music. I rarely buy game soundtracks, but when I saw SWON's was available, I snatched it up.

The game feels a bit short, though 36 stages is still impressive, and there are several two-player scenarios. (Live subscribers can get even more planes and missions.) The difficulty is above average, also a plus for us older gamers. The replay value is a bit low, but there are always hidden objectives in any given mission. Still, you'll pick it up again after a while because it's just that good. LucasArts and Totally Games, keep up the good work, and hopefully give us another Secret Weapons game sometime soon!

a ship without a rudder is like a ship without a rudder.
This game could be a whole lot better with rudder controls. If this game wishes to capture WWII combat it needs the barrel rolls and arial stunts, as it is the planes all the planes fly like rockets, not like hawks. Despite this major flaw, I like the target system, and the lanscapes are not bad. However for all around game play SWON should seek some advice from her bueatiful cousin Crimson Skies. Better dogfighting next time, secret weopons of the cold war? I'd love to fly a spyplane.

Secret Weapons Over Normandy
If you love crimson skies you will love this game.Your name is Chase and your fighting Germany Nemisis and Japan fighters during world war 2.In this game you are fighting against the enemys with your allies Russia,France and Britain.If you like a hard video game this is one.Your not only fighting against planes but also gun turrents,tanks,patrol boats,u2 boats,destroyers and others.On a few missions you get to shoot the planes from the ground in a destroyer or turrent but these are few and far between it's mostly fighting from the air.In between different levels you also have challenges.You unfortuanly must play all challenges,all primary,secondary and bonus missions to get the xwing and tie fighter from star wars.It's not always so easy to get to the bonus missions but you can always go into history and play it later and if you beat it you still get the prize and requisitions to upgrade your planes.There are different planes in this game.My favorite is the JU 262 Jet which you will get to fly in level 12 it is incredibly fast.With requistions you can upgrade your planes armor,enjine,amount of ammo etc.Your armor can be upgraded to 4 the same for the other upgrades.As you go thru the game you get different secondary weapons and on some you can choose which one you use on several missions.You get Missiles which can easily take out ground and air targets from a distance,different types of bombs,torpedoes for navel enemies,cannons and other secondary weapons my favorite is the medium missiles.Also you can choose between 1st person view and 3rd from the menu.1st is much harder because you can't see your plane.As with a comparison between crimson skies and normandy crimson is easy I've beat it over 6 times this one is hard because some of the planes fly high over you and you can't reach them or you will stall.Also it is easy to crash in this game if your going for ground targets.I love the explosions they look good when planes,tanks,boats,hangers,anti aircraft guns and others explode.If you plane takes a lot of damage you can fly to the parmoson airfield for repair and get your weapons replintished but landing is tricky and sometimes you can crash or even get shot down while your on the ground rolling to the airfield.Also friendly fire happens.You can accidently shoot down your allies if your not careful althougth the enemies and allies are labled sometimes it is still possible because of so many planes in the sky.Some missions involve you protecting your allies while there taking out targets,etc and some involve specific targets you must knock out.There is all kind of enviroments hear.You get to fight at night with the stars and moon in the background,There is snow cover in the russian missions,mountains,oceans etc.The gunfire sounds pretty relistic.Also you open up mini video movies from the history channel in between missions that tell you what actually happen in WWII with actual footage.Also get the Prima Guide to go with this game it is pretty helful.If you like current jet fighter air games get ace combat 4 which is even better than this one.It even has actual jet sounds and cockpit view.It is the reason I have a Ps2 because it isn't on xbox so I have both consoles.Here is some strong and weak points of this game.

Strenths
Choice between 1st and 3rd person view.
A large variety of planes and secondary weapons.
Nice enviroments.
When you finish you get the xwing and tie fighter from starwars to play in challenge mode.

Requisitions to upgrade your plane are easy to get.
Explosions look good and weapons sound relistic especially bullits.
Training missions to show you how to fly,dogfight,drop bombs etc.
You can call on wingmen to help defend you if you need too.

Weakness
No cockpit view
Planes stall too easily
The game is hard get ready to see your plane shot down many times.
Some secondary and bonus missions are hard to complete

If you like this game also pick up crimson skies.Normandy is very addicting you will love it if you love air combat or war games.

Forget naysayers, this game is fun
Ok, look, so the game isn't 100% realistic in every aspect. But how many of us are pilots? There are all the major indicators, airspeed, altitude, horizon, etc. etc. just the amount of gauges you need to fly without really knowing how to fly for real.
In any case, this game is fun. It has hard but doable missions that both pose a challenge, and offer a good sense of accomplishment when you finish them.
This game is fun. I liked Crimson Skies a lot, and this is very similar in its mechanics. The historical tie in makes it that much better though. Check this game out, it's worth it. ... Read more

Features

• Fishing simulation game
• 4 photorealistic lakes with day and night cycles
• More than 100 pieces of tackle, including rods, lines, reels, and lures
• Supports Naki's Bass Champion X controller
• For 1 to 8 players

Amazon.com Product Description

An epic gladiatorial saga comes to life in this combat/role-playing game with a sweeping narrative, stunning environments, and insanely detailed graphics. In the fantasy world of the game, the darkness of the Great War has passed and the lands of Gladius are peaceful once more. Now combat takes place only in the gladiator arenas, where schools from around the world compete for the title of Imperial Champions. You follow the grand saga of two young heroes, Ursula and Valens, as they recruit and train a team of warriors and compete in the gladiator games. Battle with deadly weapons and powerful magic as you learn vital combat tactics while you enhance and customize your own characters. Strategic possibilities are nearly endless, with 16 character classes and over 100 unique character types from which to choose. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Cool turn based gladiator team battles!
After playing the 3 Level demo featured on the Official XBOX Magazine, this game shows some excellent promise for a genre in need of a massive infusion. I really enjoy turn based RPG's and Gladius is blending that with some real-time elements that create a fresh sense of combat strategy. The player gets to pick a custom team of Gladiators with a mass of different abilities from weapons, to melee, to magic skills. As with any turn based RPG, strategy and planning is of the utmost importance which can take the brain power of a chess player to master.

Hopefully, the final game will be well balanced to accomodate players who aren't that skillful and still step up the challenge to give the most mindful player a run for their money. This game so far is fun, engrossing and could very well take many days of your life....

Disappointing
When I heard that the folks who put out KOTOR were doing a turn-based strategy, I was ecstatic. Unfortunately, Gladius falls way short.

There really isn't much to the strategy aspect. There are 3 classes of player size, and 4 classes of magic that apply to weapons and armor. You use these in deathmatch, king of the hill, capture the flag, and damage contests.

Game play during combat is just like every other game where you swing something. Watch the little bar at the bottom of the screen and try to hit the button at the right time.

Other than that, the graphics are good, but the music is repetitive. That's about all I can say.

I gave it 3 stars because I did get about 7 hours play out of this, but most of that time was spent hoping it would get more interesting. Wish I had rented it first.

Gladius? Blah
This game started out great. During the first half of the game I thought I was playing one of the best turned based strategy games ever made. The character classes were unique, interesting, and fun. Unfortunately, that did not last. The last half of the game is an exercise in boredom. The caster classes enter the game during the last half and proceed to use the same abilities over and over. Wonderful animations such as "steal affinity" or "summon power" were used so many times the sounds and animations have been etched in to my brain. Surely, the developers and play testers found this to be rather mind number and annoying too, this would have been an easy problem to squash, and really detracts from the game. The casters are bad, but they are not the worst part of Gladius.

The absolute worst part of Gladius is the totems on the arena floor. These wonderful objects get one turn per round and do the same thing each and every round. Very bad and very boring. The later tournaments have as many as 8 totems on the arena floor. You will spend more than half of your playtime watching a totem spin and spit out some form of magic. It is painfully boring and completely pointless. After playing a series of 2 vs 2 gladiator battles with 8 totems on the arena floor I completely lost interest in this horrid and extremely boring game.

I would sooner scratch my own eyes out than finish this game.

Doesn't recieve the credit it deserves...
I rented Gladius by chance the first time I played it. The day I had to return it, I went and bought it.

Gladius is first and foremost a strategy game, and the way it is put together -- every type of fighter can best another type (sort of Rock Paper Scissors) -- makes it challenging. The graphics, the settings, and the player depth are all wonderful. There is a great number of types of fighters, all of whose appearances and skills are customizeable. The game is very addictive, and most aspects of the game deserve thumbs up. Great game all-around.

I would have liked to have seen more animation cut-scenes with more action (the character poses were always the same) and less text -- not that I'm against reading, it just takes away from the game.

I do suggest that if you purchase Gladius, you also get the strategy guide... unless this is only game you own. It will take quite a while to complete even with the strategy guide. Also, the strategy guide may clue you in on things you might have otherwise missed.

I can dig it
Fun. Great RPG. Cool graphics, finished both storylines. ... Read more

Features

• Delivers all the intensity of professional tennis
• Try difficult shots to "get into the zone," and use that momentum to improve your play
• Personalize your player's look, style, and personality, then build a career
• Climb worldwide ladders, play tournaments, and take on all challengers in singles matches with Xbox Live
• For 1 or more players

Reviews (31)

A very good tennis game, but could have been better...
First off, there's not much that I can say that hasn't already been covered by the other reviewers. This is a very good tennis game, but certainly not without it's flaws.

First, the pros. The graphics are amazing and very life-like. I loved the player animations, and the real-life men in the game look uncannily similar to the players they represent. Unfortunately, the women aren't quite as well done. The various courts and stadiums are well-rendered and beautiful. Also excellent is the sound, as all the effects are excellent and sound just the way they should. The career mode is a lot of fun, but entirely too short and easy. I'll cover that in my cons. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the gameplay, because overall it rivals Virtua Tennis as being one of the best out there.

And now, for the cons. As mentioned numerous times before, the inability to save your game while in the midst of playing a tournament is beyond frustrating. Most people don't have the time to sit and play the game for an hour or more, but if you start a tournament that's exactly what you'll have to do. The game makers attempt to remedy this by making the sets only 3 games long, but this only serves to weaken the credibility of the game. An easy way to fix this would have been to allow for the saving of tournaments in between matches, as well as including an option of 3 or 6-game sets. That way those who have the time and prefer the realism of 6 games aren't disappointed. Seems simple enough to me, why didn't MS think of this? Also, the career mode is very short and entirely too easy to achieve the coveted number one ranking. I'm no video game master by any means, but by the second day of playing I had achieved the number one ranking and "Legend" status. Piece of cake, and once finished there really is no reason to go back and keep playing. One last gripe is the numerous cut-scenes during matches. For starters, there should have been an option to turn these off entirely. After seeing the same thing countless times, it gets frustrating to have to push a button two or three times just to get to the next point. The novelty of the excitement/frustration buttons wears off after the first match, and adds virtually nothing to the game.

With all this being said, the game is not bad. Even with all the cons I listed, it's a very enjoyable experience. Definitely the best tennis the Xbox has to offer. And with the price having now dropped quite a bit, it's certainly worthy of a purchase.

Very Addictive
I have never played tennis before. On the video game or real life. But, I must say I wish I had. I never imagined that I would have so much fun playing tennis. My boyfriend is a fan of tennis and video games. He purchased Top Spin and I couldn't get him from in front of the television. He played for hours hollering and yelling at the game. I wondered what was the big deal. Then I played. I was in for a surprise. I instantly became addicted. At first it took me sometime to get use to the control buttons and understanding the whole game of tennis (My boyfriend acts like my coach when I play.) Top Spin has an awesome gameplay. There are different modes to play. The graphics are good. You can build your player, purchase cloths and tennis equipment. In the career mode, you can become sponsored by Reebok, Yonex, Addidas etc... The sound of the game gives you a feeling that you are at a tennis match. Eventhough this game is very fun, it is also very challenging. As you rank higher and enter different tournaments you play harder and more experienced players. All I have to say is go out and get the game. You will hours of fun. i guarantee you will be holloring and yelling at the television like me.

Almost there
I am a huge virtua tennis fan and was really excited to get Topspin. Much of what has been said i agree with. The biggest problem is with the career mode like mentioned earlier it comes to an end. You get to #1 quickly and then win all the tournaments. If you continue in that career you can play the tournaments again but they don't go into your trophy case and don't show up as a headline. This can be fixed by following a calendar. Make it realistic. Every month there are tournaments and you can decide to compete if you qualify.

The other problem is with the AI and the drop shots. You can't slug it out from the baseline with any of the pros for two long without them hitting a drop shot which is easy to read. Serves are also way too easy. Also Pete Sampras never serves less than 100mph let alone 69?!

Good but with flaws
Excellent graphics and gaming experience overall. The different surfaces really have an impact on how the ball bounces.

However, there are a few things that Top Spin 2 should improve:

- Stamina. If you run the other guy from side to side for a whole match, it has no impact on his stamina.
- Replays. You have to press the button to skip replays after each point. It gets annoying after the first hour.
- Slices: In real life, the shot is used to slow down the pace. But not here, you can hit winners with slices from all over the court.
- The safe shot should be the top spin shot, which aims high over the net.
- Hard top spun shots sometimes bounce over the opponent's head. Completely unrealistic.
- You can't miss. Over a three month period, I've hit maybe five shots long and three wide.
- Slice serves. Looks like something out of a Harry Potter book.
- Stupid AI. Serve to the outside of the box, run to the net and hit a volley to the other side. Never fails.
- Risk shots are the only way to win on a high level, but are nearly impossible to pull off.
- Volleys are to easy to hit, even from close to the baseline you can hit drive volleys that always goes over.

Top Spin is best played with a human opponent, which makes for a great time. It wears out a bit if you play against the computer.

Pretty good game
Top Spin is an extremely good game in that the graphics are brilliant. The players look very realistic and even the movement and strokes are excellent. It was a very good idea to add something where u can actually create your own player and make him/her play with greats such as Sampras , because once you beat them, you know you have mastered the game...
The only problem i would say with this game are that there is a lack of players.. I think its ridiculous to leave out players such as the Williams sisters , Roddick etc.. ... Read more

Features

• 11 species of highly detailed fish with realistic AI
• 2 game play modes: Freedom Fishing and Tournament
• 20 unique tournaments to enter in Tournament mode for realistic trophy fish action
• Tournaments include unlockable Amazon and Danube Delta levels
• Over 750 authentic Rapala lures and you actually controls the rod for increased realism

Features

• A cutting edge rally racing game for Xbox
• Actions on and off track are crucial, affecting team morale and dedication
• Car reparations made against the clock in the service area affect the race ahead
• Drivers have to face their manager after the race
• For 1 or 2 players

Reviews (2)

Terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the worst racing game I have ever played! graphic is poor; it is extremely hard to control and it is not realistic; it is more like the $.99 PC game I used to play when I was a kid.
Avoid.................

Very Good
Having played many different Rally games this is one of the best. Not as good as RallySport, but very close. Great Graphics, nice car models and great game play. This is a must have if you like the sport of Rally, and even if you just like driving games.

Good Job! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

For much of the 90’s the 2-D realm consisted of a battle between Capcom’s stars and the 2-D fighters from rival SNK. Fans mourned when SNK went out of business a couple years ago, but Capcom has resurrected its enemies for yet another battle in Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO.

The game offers a remarkable assortment of fighters, fighting styles, and variety of play. Forty characters--each with their own special powers, attacks, timing issues, personalities, and sound bites--get magnified three-fold by three separate "-isms" which alter their powers, and three "grooves," which mix them up yet again. There’s a lot to learn and it ensures that playing a foe of equal skill is never dull because you can never be sure what character he’s going to pick and how that character will fight.

The graphics are generally decent, though some of these fighters look like they haven’t been spiffed up for today’s console systems. The older Street Fighter guys look just plain bad next to newly added characters from the SNK stable. But the animation is smooth, the backgrounds have been significantly redone and feature new, often startling animations, and the special effects are just plain awesome. The audio is pretty much the same old themes that Capcom has been using for the better part of a decade now.

All told there’s very little reason for PS2 or GameCube gamers to own this game, other than the SNK characters. The Xbox version is playable over Xbox Live (sold separately), which is a big advantage--everyone knows that these games, born of arcade coin-ops, are meant to be played competitively. The service does nothing to match players of equal skill, but that’s pretty similar to the experience in an arcade. The ability to start up a relatively lag free game at a moment’s notice and trade trash talk with another gamer from around the world is just priceless, and a welcome addition to the series. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Forty fighters from two video game stables
• Xbox Live play is smooth and mostly lag free

• Dated graphics
• Inadequate manual

Reviews (12)

It's the first XBOX Live fighting game!!!!!!
Even if CvS2:EO wasn't the only fighting game available for Xbox Live, it would still be one of the best. Some lag issues and controller prefrences are the only strikesagainst it. CvS has not changed much since it's debut 2 yrs ago in the arcades, and it's subsequent journeys to various home consoles. The recent GC version added the "EO" mode to make things easier for newcomers; now the XBOX gets all that PLUS online network support. CvS still
plays well, although your milage will vary depending on which XBOX controller you have. The "S" has a better directional pad, but the button layout of the "big" controlleris far superior. third-party joysticks like the X-Arcade work perfectly. While upgraded graphics and sound would have been great, what's there gets the job done. Characters retain a pixelized look that is really starting to show it's age, but the audio portion is still sweet. The good news about XBOX Live support is that it actually works. The bad news is that even with broadband only support, there is a fair amount of lag. Despite some annoyances, EO is a no-brainer for XBOX Live fighting fans.

Classic 2D fighting - now online!!
Capcom and SNK have made some of the best classic fighting games of all time. Now, this game is a culmination of all of them with over 40 characters to choose from and fight it out. The best part about this game (exclusive to Xbox only) is the ability to play online against anyone in the world! The built-in support for voice chat via Xbox Live will add a whole new level to this game, not seen since the age old days of the arcade!

capcom vs snk
i love capcom vs snk 2 because of many charecters all being so good, also with the lighting effect ,and the one hit super combos. i look forward of getting the new vesion capcom vs snk 2eo.

I LOVE THIS GAME FOR ONLINE! BUT CHARACTERS ARE....
im a big fan of street fighter and fatal fury for the sega gen, and this game is a ... load more upgraded than those versions, i think is awsome mainly becasue of xbox live. the characters tho dissapoint me. i like almost all the chars but they didnt add in a few of the really good characters they had in the other games. they dont have andy which makes no sense since hes a big character in the game. they dont have guy either. chars not in this that are in street fighter alph 3: cory, fei long, birdie, R mika, guy, DJ,Karin, juli and juni, sodom, adon, t hawk, gen, and rose. those are some of the chars for capcom not in the game. some snk chars not in the game are: andy, moe, robert, clark and ralf, leona, kensou, bao, richard, micheal, duck king, tung fu, BILLY, Axel, Lawrence blood, big bear, jubie, cheng.
alot of these are good characters but not included in the game.
im not telling u not to buy it, they have the main chars and the best bhars in the game, its fun and challenging online.

This game rocks!
This is an very addictive arcade style fighting game. The graphics keep true to normal games of this type. Making new characters through their costumes and name changing is a great idea and fun to show off on X-box live. Overall this is such a good game that I can't wait until another one or anygame like this comes out next. Capcom and SNK both rock! ... Read more