Buy/More Info

Buy/More Info

Includes game and L4D Survival Pack

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Gamer
Left 4 Dead is a great game. Made for online multiplayer action to enjoy with your friends. Perfect!

5 Stars I don’t buy many games, this is a must-have
I hesitated to but this because I thought it would be a redundant shoot-em-up type that gets old (short of killing zombies). Instead I found it to be a challenging evolving game as the designers keep action from being systematic. Whether its the locations of weapons or how many/where do zombies appear, each playthrough is different.

I do have to admit the xbox gold/live membership makes the game even more fun in versus mode. I mean, killing zombies is fun, but BEING a zombie killing humans is pretty great too.

2 Stars Over-Hyped and Not-That-Great.
Try before you buy. Don’t just read the hype.

First, let me say that I have the xbox Game of the Year Edition, I have downloaded everything I could find for the game from xbox Live, I have played the game a few times (but I play many many hours at a time), and I’ve already got over 3/4 of the Achievements available for the Survivors.

Whether or not you will like this game depends on the style of play you like in your games. Some people might like this type of play, but I didn’t. I’ve enjoyed playing everything from the Evil Dead games and Dead Rising to Resident Evil 1 & 4 and a bunch of other “zombie” type games. The issue I have is that Left 4 Dead doesn’t play like how it feels like it should play – or it feels one way but plays another way. Left 4 Dead feels like it should play like a tight strategy game of team tactics and smart game play – hardcore Zombie Apocalypse survivors: The smart & the dead, … but it isn’t, it just isn’t. I’ll get back to the game play in a minute.

A lot of the game looks OK at first (maybe “Good”, but nothing “Great”). The graphics break-down badly when you are getting stomped on by zeds (any time you are on the ground, or when zeds are too close to you) and when you get dragged by Smoker zeds it gets really glitchy. And the fire effect (i.e. from molotov cocktails) is awful. But, for as flawed as some of these things are, I wouldn’t necessarily say that they detract too much from the game play.

The areas/maps aren’t very open; there is a definite “tunnel” feel to the game. Which, given the nature of the objectives, is probably unavoidable. Yet some of the tight tunnel areas, like the ones that are outside, do provide an illusion of openness, which is nice. But, what this all means is that, game play is relatively linear; the route to a destination is pretty tight, and your style of game play will be pretty much forced upon you. So all that turn-off-your-lights and sneak-around-the-witch dialogue is garbage – she’s either in your way or she isn’t – anyhow, just shoot her.

And, now speaking of that game play, it’s just an ammo-burner game. You have limited ammo for your “special” weapon of choice (shotgun, assault rifle, Uzi, whatever), but unlimited ammo for your pistol(s) – and you go through a lot of it really fast. Forget about S.W.A.T. play, forget about being a ninja, forget about sniping to clear a path ahead; just forget about stealth and efficiency.

You shoot, you run and shoot, and you shoot and run some more. Lingering around areas, being cautious and thorough, will only get you more encounters with randomly generated zeds. There is not a general fixed number of zeds in an area, the game will spawn more zeds (crap-loads more) when conditions are triggered. This is a game of “whatever” (like “get from Point A to Point B”, or “stand on a rooftop/Lighthouse”) that is punctuated by random “Special Zed” appearances and waves of rushing zed hoards. Pointless wave after random wave of rushing zed hoards. A Run-n-Gun (or a Stand-n-Gun).

So the best tactic is to just run through an area until you hit a Special Zed, or a good vantage point, and then turn around and deal with everything in a hail of blazing lead (or a pipe bomb – they’re magical zed magnets). Seriously, it works best that way; you’ll save ammo, and time, and deal with less crap. Because, when you trigger a zed rush, they will spawn and come running at you from all directions: from the empty rooms you just swept clear, from the dead-end halls you just swept clear, from anywhere and everywhere they will magically appear to come charging at you. So forget your Spec-Ops mentality; it’s pointless. And there is no meaningful stealth action. So just forget about “INTELLIGENT” game play, unless your idea of strategy is to back yourself into a closet and fire outwards.

Now, maybe everything I have complaints about is just the way the game is supposed to be? Maybe I’m whining about would’a, should’a, could’a, and crying about stuff that I want to have that just shouldn’t be a part of the game? I keep wondering about that myself. But then the heavy-handed teamwork elements keep running up to me and smacking me in the face.

This is a total “buddy system” game. You aren’t going to get anywhere without someone else there to pick you up-off the ground. It is FORCED upon you through the games mechanics. There is no running ahead and going solo because everyone else is cramping your style. This is a game about teamwork, team tactics, teammate support and assists. It is a key element in the game – there are several Achievements based off of this. It’s good and it’s bad; I’m still on the fence about how I feel about it. In some ways I do like it, and in other ways I think it totally hamstrings game play.

You are the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” lady. If you are grabbed: you are helpless until someone else assists you. If you are on the ground, no matter how much health you have: you are stuck on the ground until someone assists you. If your whole team gets knocked down, no matter how much health everyone has, or how many health packs everyone has: it is Game Over because no one is left standing to assist anyone else back up. And Survivors WILL get knocked-down and dragged-around (and probably bitten and mauled) a lot.

With this sort of forced and required team-play element, the game feels like it should be more at a level of SOCOM, Call of Duty, Ghost Recon, Halo, or even Splinter Cell or Tenchu; demanding a higher level of tactical style and strategic “cover your, and your teammates, butts” type of game play – but it’s not. It’s a sloppy trigger-happy fire-fest. This is not a game of clean shots and efficient kills, there is no “Go ahead, I’ve got you covered” stuff; Spec-Ops style tactics (or any thoughtful or cautious efforts) just don’t have any credit here.

Fast zombies or slow zombies, infected or undead; I don’t really have a preference, but I thought the “Special” zombie types in this game were kinda lame. Puker/Exploder fat thing stereotype. `Roid-Rage Tank stereotype thing. Leaper/Pouncer zed. Sniper-Tongue smoke-exploding (?!?) zed. “I just want to cry and I hate the light” emo Witch zed. I just don’t think any of them are really cool or inspiring.

I can only rate this game a 2 or 3 stars. The only recommendation I can make is: Try before you buy. Don’t just read the hype.

5 Stars I can’t wait to play it on my 65″ plasma I’m getting soon.
This game rocks! If you always wanted to blast away zombies in single or co-op with your buddies at home or online then you are the person this game had in mind. I’m not going to rehash what you already read from others since you can read about it from youtube and gaming sites.

4 Stars Left 4 Dead
First let me comment on the GoTY version. Yes, all the additional content in the GoTY title is available on xbox live for free as a DLC. The only perk to having the GoTY version is that you wont have to use up memory on your harddrive for the survival pack because its already installed on the disc. Other than that i would suggest just getting the normal game if you find it cheaper. I found the GoTY version and the normal version for the same price of $29.99 at gamestop brand new! the funny thing is, right next to it they had the used version for $44.99 still, $15 more then the brand new ones!

This isn’t just a Call of Duty World at War Zombie mode revamped…even though the premises is nearly the same there is four people, and if you don’t have 4 players to play the 4 survivors then the remaining survivors will be OP’d by computers. In the multiplayer mode you can be the zombies (the special zombies with super moves). The only thing that i didn’t really like about this game which others may have liked is that there is no story mode at all. The weapons aren’t extensive at all in this game. You can either have the pistols, shotguns, sniper rifle, or uzi. theres some health packs, pills, molotovs, and grenades. to me, this was just a renter after a week or two of playin this game just became pretty boring and repeptitive.

theres only 4 main maps that the survivors fight their way through 4 or 5 stages of the map to get to the end where they will try to be evacuated. its the same story on every map! i gave this 4 stars because 5 stars would just be overatin the game and 3 stars doesn’t do it all justice, but know this i wont be buying or playing the sequel because unless they add a storymode or drastic changes all a sequel could be for this game is just a big expansion.

**Edit**

DO NOT buy this with the $59.99 price tag its cheaper at gamestop for $29.99

Buy/More Info

Living room legends will rock any way they want in Guitar Hero 5. The entire set list is at your finger tips from the start, featuring genre-defining hits from some of the biggest rock artists and bands of all time, including The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Santana and Vampire Weekend. You will take complete control as Guitar Hero 5 allows you to personalize and customize how you experience music by being able to play with any in-game instrument combination – multiple vocalists, guitarists, bassists and drummers, in any game mode. With the game’s all-new Party Play Mode, getting the band back together has never been easier. You can now jump in or drop out of gameplay seamlessly, without interrupting their jam session. Elevating the Guitar Hero series to new heights with unmatched social gameplay, an enhanced style, new in-game artists and more rock legends, Guitar Hero 5 features new surprises and challenges that will fire-up long-time fret board fanatics and create a new generation of addicts. The Band that Plays Together – Bands can earn bonus multipliers by hitting new special note streams in unison. Make and Share Music – Produce hits in the redesigned Music Studio with improved editing tools for easy use, new guitar samples and mix patterns and share them online with GHTunes to create what could be the next breakout hit. Check Out My New Axe – The redesigned and re-skinned guitar controller with interchangeable faceplates and improved slider bar functionality offers Guitar Hero fanatics and music enthusiasts even more personalization options and enhanced in-game effects.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Be careful buying this game…..
Received my copy on Tuesday September 8th and was able to play it for all of about 10 minutes then got “disc unreadable” error.

Quick search on internet tells me this is known issue and many other people are experiencing same problem. So I had to pack everything back up in the box to try & exchange for better copy from Amazon.

Also worth noting as other person here has mentioned that Amazon didn’t include a receipt for this purchase with this box which makes it difficult at best to send in for free GH: Van Halen game.

Want my advice? don’t buy this game from Amazon… buy it from local store where you can (a) easily exchange it if you get a bad copy & (b) get a receipt!

Best of luck to those buying this product here. Caveat Emptor!

3 Stars junk guitar
i had this preorderd for a very long time and when it came i wanted to send for the van halen game right away but they make you jump through so many hoops . plus i did not get my receipt from amazon, and on top of that the piece of s##t guitar does not work , none of the buttons on the neck work at all . so i have a game and a guitar that i cant use . im so disapointed. first three drum sets and now this. i hope you all have better luck then i do .

5 Stars great addition to the series
First off, try not to read other reviews that only refer to not getting receipts and manufacturer’s defects. If you have played a Guitar Hero or Rock Band game, this is just a given that some of us are going to have to return an item or two. It happened to me on Gears of War, it happens to everyone.

That being said, this game should be reviewed on the game itself with a little thrown in about the quality of the guitar.

The game is excellent, and getting 4.5 out of 5 and 9 or 10 out of 10 from all the game reviewers. You can use your xbox live avatar, you can create rockers just like before, all your favorite rockers are back, there are a load of fun and new achievements, the ability to jump into songs midstream, and the run on sentence goes on and on. As many series have done, they are constantly coming up with new feature and taking out old features.

In guitar hero I think they have done better than World Tour and improved on some of the complaints with the game and the guitar. I was hesitant to buy a guitar with the new slider neck, but having tried it a few times now my only compaint is that is hard to switch back and forth, which is caused by inexperience only and will get better. The new design is cool looking, works well, and combines nicely with the game. And getting free Van Halen coming my way in 6 weeks is a nice feature as well.

There will be future reviews with more depth, but for now a week after this came out there needs to be at least one review that isn’t just a receipt complaint. I am positive you can print receipts from amazon, so not even sure how that is an issue.

Buy/More Info

In the remote and deadly Wild West, the outlaw McCall brothers are on a quest for the legendary Gold of Juarez. In their journey across a vast landscape, these lawless gunslingers will stop at nothing to achieve their goal — and woe to any man who tries to stand in their way. Arm yourself with pistols, cannons, machine guns and more as you strike out on a mission with two fearless compatriots whose bonds of blood are only strengthened by the blood they spill together. Ray and Thomas McCall View larger. Roam the Wild West View larger. The ultimate gunslingers View larger. Synopsis In Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, you’ll join Ray and Thomas McCall on a quest for the Gold of Juarez. Become a true gunslinger, increasing your powers of concentration with each accurate shot until you are able to unleash a variety of deadly shooting modes. Play as either Ray or Thomas, using each brother’s distinctive skills to help you overcome amoral outlaw opponents like a renegade Apache chief, a greedy Mexican bandit and a vindictive colonel. Then take the fight online for intense multiplayer action with unique modes, numerous maps and a variety of classes designed to provide a thrilling Wild West experience. Key Game Features: Roam the Wild West in search of a legendary treasure Unleash the firepower of pistols, heavy-caliber cannons, machine guns and other weapons to kill anyone who dares to stand in your way Increase your powers of concentration with each accurate shot so you can unleash deadly shooting modes when outnumbered, or even deadlier ones when the brothers work together Play as either Ray or Thomas and rely on each brother’s gameplay style, specific abilities and arsenal of weapons to triumph in any fight Explore the untamed West on horses, in canoes or in wagons Take the gunslinging action online to explore modes, maps and classes designed to heighten the Wild West excitement Never Before Seen Western Experience Experience iconic settings full of outlaws in the West before it was tamed. The McCall brothers face a renegade Apache Chief, a greedy Mexican bandit, a vindictive colonel – just a few of the underhanded villains standing in the brothers’ way. Explore the vast natural landscapes of the mythical Wild West and its legendary period on horseback and in wagons and canoes.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Dead Man’s Quick Draw
I am a fan of western video games, but this one has a number of flaws or limitations that make the game more annoying than fun to play. Men and horses that can’t jump. Attacking enemy that cannot be killed though the indicator is red. Poor character interaction. I mean you expect at least a thank you for saving someone’s life. But the biggest flaw of all is the quick draw episodes. You have to used the right directional stick to draw your gun, but there is no rhyme or reason to how you do it. In other words, it is a matter of luck whether you get your gun out of the holster. It has nothing to do with skill. So you may end up drawing on some bad guy twenty times before you get lucky enough to pull your gun from your holster. This is so annoying that it spoils the game. In fact, the first time I wrote this review I was so angry that I gave the game one star. And I will probably be again once I have to get shot 20 times to kill the bad guy. Why the right directional stick was used instead of the more precise buttons, I’ll never know. To be fair there are some fun and challenging shootouts, the natural settings are great if you like the virtual outdoors, and the story-game interaction is okay. But I’m not sure they are worth putting up with the quick draw frustration. But since I own the game I’m stuck with it. If you have nothing else to play, then Call of Juarez will do. A better option might be to replay Red Dead Revolver or Gun or, better yet, Red Faction until something new comes out.

4 Stars Great Shooter, Western Style
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the game features a decent storyline, good graphics, and a real western shooter (not common in games today). Among all the titles out there, this is definitely worth the purchase and play.

4 Stars A decent western game
For starters its the best western game I have played in a while. Not since these days of red dead revolver had I played a decent western. It has a good campaign, it may be a little short but it offers you the alternative to play with Ray or Thomas. So I suggest to play thru with one (when you can, sometime you are limited to one) then play thru again with the other person. Also you get to buy weapons to fit your style. So if you like to pump out the lead you can buy quickshooters. You also can break out the double barrel shotty and lay some guys to waste when they get up close. As for the multi player its quite fun. Its nice to blast people with six shooters instead of machine guns for a change. After all is said and done, if you are looking for a decent different FPS game to pass the time its worth the money.

5 Stars A Terrific Game! A Must Have For Western Fans
I’ll keep this simple and to the point. I’m an adult gamer who enjoys Western movies. I absolutely LOVE this game. I’m not an advanced player, and still found the game great fun with just the right amount of challenge. Plenty of save points and a Huge number of unique chapters! Stage coaches, chases on horseback, Indians, riverboats, trains, quick draws, it has it all! You’ll be playing for hours and since you have the ability to play as two different main characters, there’s Huge replay value. I’ve played for over 4 days and am only on chapter 4 of 15! I feel like I’m in my own Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western. If I never played another game, I’d be happy with just this one! Interested? Get it now and start having fun!!!

3 Stars Very solid shooter with some minor issues
Call of Juarez: BiB is a great game for anyone who enjoys single-player first person shooters on the 360. It took me about eight hours to play through this game.

The environments looks fantastic and, if not anything else, are a great change of pace from most current FPS games. Most of the voice acting and dialog is pretty good (except for some from the Native American characters and a few lines of laugh-out-loud sexually-oriented dialog). The story is interesting and the McCall brothers are well developed characters (for a video game). Using some of the placed weaponry (canons, Gatling guns) is a lot of fun.

As someone who games quite a bit, I noticed that there are a couple of minor things that hold the game back a bit..

The quick-draw mechanic can be infuriating. Basically, your character stands on-screen for what seems like an eternity while you wait for a bell to ring, at which point you flick the right analog stick and fire, hoping to hit your opponent before he hits you. The main problem with this is that if you screw up, you reload the fight and end up standing there again for what seems like another eternity as you wait for the bell to ring. Another problem (which could easily just be me) is that by the time I got to the second quick-draw, I couldn’t remember what controls to use because I’d been through a good 1.5 hours of additional regular FPS shooting and the game didn’t bother to remind me in any way after I’d managed to lose the draw about ten times in a row.

Another issue is that auto-aim and sticky-aim can be turned on/off, but cannot be set to a specific sensitivity. Further, these settings seem to behave quite differently depending on which playable character is being controlled. I personally prefer to have little or no auto-aim, but it does help on some console shooters. This game either has it on full blast or not at all.

Lastly (and this is an issue in Call of Duty too), the computer players have better throwing AI than the NFL quarterbacks in Madden because they can practically throw dynamite into your lap from twenty to forty yards away without much trouble.

So, I would recommend that you buy this game for PC (if you are a hard-core gamer who prefers no auto-aim), or buy it for 360 once the price comes down to about $35. I have no comments on the multiplayer because I did not try it out and don’t plan to do so with so many high profile FPS games coming out in the next two months.

Buy/More Info

Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes you to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes you to the depths of Arkham Asylum – Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. You will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst your enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains who have taken over the asylum.

Using a wide range of Batman’s gadgets and abilities, you will become the invisible predator and attempt to foil The Joker’s demented scheme.

Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story penned exclusively for the game by famous Batman author and five-time Emmy award winner Paul Dini, whose credits include Lost season one and Batman: The Animated Series. Explore every inch of Arkham Asylum and roam freely on the infamous island, presented for the first time ever in its gritty and realistic entirety Experience what it’s like to be Batman using Batarangs, explosive gel aerosol, The Batclaw, sonar resonator and the line launcher Unlock more secrets by completing hidden challenges in the world and develop and customize equipment by earning experience points Move through the environment with the use of Batman’s grapnel gun to get to out-of-reach places, and jump from any height to glide in any direction Bonus items include – Waynetech Batarang Storage Box 14 In-Game Design Batarang (stand attached) Dr. Young’s Journal (50 page full color character encyclopedia) 2 Sleeve DIGI-Pack Including; game, Behind the scenes 5 chapter series DVD, interviews with Mark Hammil and Kevin Conroy Exclusive Collector’s Edition Challenge Map DLC Manual

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Finally a TRUE Batman game that gets it right!!
I have waited for a long time for a GOOD batman game to come out for years. Most batman games were just made to be simple beat em ups in the past but they never truly captured the essence of what Batman is. This game nails it in many areas like gadgets, environments, enemies, and combat system. The combat system at first takes a little time to get used to because you are going to just want to mash your way through. It won’t be long before you realize how it works and you will be pulling off some amazing combos. The environments in this game are something to just truly sit there and look at. Everything is gorgeous, dark, and mysterious. The environments in this game are very close to what you read in the comics or remember from the show Batman: The animated series. The voice acting in this video game is SUPERB!!!

Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill simply are amazing and make the experience that much better. The overall gameplay gives you many options on how to approach every scenario. You can sneak up on the enemies and take them down traditional batman style or you can go in with a direct approach. Granted that won’t work every time but you can make it work but it all depends on you. There is nothing about this game for me that I can give a negative too. The only minor thing that I would make better in the sequel would be the camera. The camera at times can seem just a tad flimsy but overall you probably won’t notice a thing. This is just a simple nitpick that you probably won’t even notice.

The music and score used in this game are top notch. You feel like you are watching a batman and the game overall makes you feel like batman. That is the biggest plus of this game is that it immerses you into the game. Overall the game is outstanding and if you are any kind of batman fan, you should definitely get this game. Even if you are not a big batman fan you should still check it out. I hope you all enjoy this game as much as I am right now.

Thanks

5 Stars Truely AWESOME Game!!
Truely. Awesome. Period. Great Graphics, Sounds, Details, and Gameplay. This game pays true tribute to the Batman franchise. I mean using Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamil as the voices of Batman and the Joker, it doesn’t get any better than that! Thank you to the company for actually delivering a great game, and not an overly hyped piece of trash for once!!

1 Star Collectors Edition, With not DLC codes Inside!
I Bought my Batman Arkham Asylum CE with Amazon release date delivery, but my big surprise was the box already opened with no DLC codes inside!, I received only the especial book exclusive for pre-orders inside, anybody had the same problem with amazon? the game is great!, what I have to do to recover those codes?

5 Stars 4.5 stars nearly perfect
Amazing game with an awesome story that fits nicely in Batman lore. Graphics are unbelievabely detailed right down to damage to the bat suit as you progress through the game. The slight collection side quest of Riddler trophies actually adds to the game rather than being frustrating like the collection sides in games like GTA.

I haven’t even finished this game yet and am already looking forward to the next Batman game from Eidos. Just simply an amazing game.

My only very minor gripe is that there is a fair bit of back-tracking in the game, but unlike other games with a back-tracking issue this one fills the areas where you have already been witn new and sometimes tougher enemies. Still I’d rather continue on a different path to get to the next area than going back through the same rooms/paths I’ve already been on.

That is a seriously minor gripe though and like I said because the areas are repopulated with enemies it really isn’t much of an issue at all.

All in all I was considering this as a rental because I’d heard it was pretty short, but got tired of finding the empty shelf at Blockbuster and went ahead and bought it and I’m really glad I did. Outstanding game worth every penny

3 Stars Great game… but awful box set.
The game is fantastic. I love the Batman movies and comics. The details and game play fall under the high standards of Edios. If you like Assassins Creed and/or Splinter cell then this can be put into the same category.

Now, this box set is somewhat weird. The box itself is something like 2 feet, but the Batarang thing is only something like 8 inches. It’s made of some type of wood and it doesn’t have decals or imprints of anything. I could have done without this special edition.

Overall the game is 5 stars.

This box set is 2 stars. It did come with something, so I cannot really say it’s 1 star.

Buy/More Info

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars GTA IV
Great game, filled with hours of fun. Contains everything that you can expect from a GTA game.

4 Stars Grand theft auto IV
The Game was in excellent condition an Ship Very quickly We’re Very Satisfied. Thank you

4 Stars Great Game.
The only real flaw with this GTA is GTA San Andreas. Part 4 certainly looks better, but San Andreas was better. Rockstar tried to go a different route with this one instead of just adding on to the sequel. That is understandable when you’ve already made about 5 games. If you could just customize the character like you could previously and if you could finally be able to play this game with a good combat system, I think most reviews would be 5/5. The city may be less diverse, but they are immensely more detailed. You really have to get out of the car and walk to notice just how much so. Its incredible. The only true gripe I have is the cover system in combat. It as annoying as it is useful. On a side note, I love the addition of the tv programs. Those are very funny.

5 Stars Love it!
We bought this before it came out and my son still plays it. That is an indicator to me that it’s a good game. He enjoys finding the game glitches. It has extensive foul language that I would rather not have but then again, it is rated M so I knew what I was getting into with the purchase. So if you don’t mind that there are as many “F bombs” as there are bullets…. Have fun

3 Stars Sadly, the answer is no
Why Rockstar? Why? You took a glorious franchise and dragged it down into mediocrity. The innovation and freedom that was San Andreas has been stripped away. In previous titles, any question I had about what you could do was answered yes! Can I take a hairpin turn at 80mph using the e-brake? YES! Can I base jump off skyscrapers? YES! Can I ride BMX bikes, dune buggies, go karts, and jetpacks? YES! Can I wander the map at will without distraction? Can I steal a harrier jet and take out cars on the freeway? Can I customize my character? Can I steal a harvest combine and run people over with it? Can I buy houses and property? YES YES YES!!!! The fun of the GTA franchise was it’s audaciousness, freedom and the ability to create and participate in over-the-top mayhem. Things like rolling down the Vegas Strip in a tank taking out everything you see. Sadly, this is no more.

This time around Rockstar went with realism. While it is a very polished title it’s just not as fun as the previous installments. In their attempts to create realism they made gameplay a cumbersome chore. First of all, you move too slow. And I mean really freakin’ slow. They did create the most detailed and beautiful urban setting in video game history but exploring it on foot is completely out of the question. you wouldn’t make it two blocks before your cell phone rang and sent you off to do some chore of a date anyway. They must have spent a year or more designing Liberty City. It’s truly amazing. I think they slowed everything down so you would notice the city but it had the opposite effect for me. Free roaming is no longer fun if I have to do it at a snails pace. You can’t explore it at high speeds in a car either because high speeds equals a quick death. You ran the risk of dying during high speed driving in the previous games but it happens here a lot more often which adds frustration without adding fun. Flying through the windshield was funny the first time but it became a nuisance after that.

Gone are the wacky, over-the-top missions. No breaking into military installations to steal a jetpack. No planting explosives on an airborne jetliner then parachuting to safety. Wanna torch a field of weed with a flamethrower before the cops show up? Forget about it. Nothing here matches the innovation of the previous titles. This game is another “next-gen” casualty. All style and no substance. It’s an OK game but I don’t feel it lives up to the GTA name. While trying to make a realistic experience they removed the most important thing a game can have: fun. They created an amazing city but they made it a chore to explore. Personally, I’ll take fun over great graphics any day. I hope we can have both someday. This game didn’t make me lose faith in the franchise though. It’s worth playing once and I have high hopes for the next installment. Visually it’s great but when it comes to content this one is a big step backwards.

Edit: The story. Yes it’s good. I’ll give them that. It’s a cut and dry revenge tale though and the suggestions that it compares to ‘Goodfellas’ or ‘The Godfather’ are ridiculous. Comparing this story to the masterworks of Coppola and Scorsese is like comparing Dr. Seuss to Shakespeare. Get real already.

Buy/More Info

Simple. Intuitive. Easy to use. Connect the Wii MotionPlus accessory to your Wii Remote controller to increase accuracy and enhance play control on compatible games. Look on the back of Wii Game Disc packaging to see which games are specially designed for use with Wii MotionPlus. Wii MotionPlus contains additional sensors that make the Wii Remote respond to the slightest movement, motion, or twist of the wrist. Wii MotionPlus must be used with a Wii Remote, which is sold separately. When used with specially designed games, Wii MotionPlus tracks players’ movements in finer detail and with greater accuracy than ever before, building upon the innovative wireless function of the motion-sensing Wii Remote controller. Even the slightest twist of the wrist or turn of the body is replicated exactly on the TV screen, allowing users to become even more immersed in Wii game play. Designed for easy attachment to the Wii Remote controller which is sold separately.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Makes the Wii even more fun
I’ve only been using it for a few days, but it seems to be working just fine. I got one with the Wii Sports Resort game, and I grabbed another from Amazon for 2-person play. I also use it with the Tiger Woods 10 game. It seems to make the 3-dimensional movement of the Wii controller a lot more accurate (not including the IR-based pointing actions). It’s easy to hook up, and it doesn’t require its own batteries. I don’t know why Nintendo didn’t just design the original Wii controller better to begin with.

It’s only an inch or two long, but the added length on the Wii remote makes it easier to hold with 2 hands for games like Swordplay or Golf. It is also possible to connect the MotionPlus and the Wii Nunchuck together for games that use both. Once connected, there’s really no reason to remove the MotionPlus. Now that I think about it, though, I bet it would interfere with something like an automatic battery charging cradle. But it’s easy enough to connect and disconnect as needed.

If you don’t have any games that specifically require the MotionPlus accessory, then I wouldn’t worry about purchasing it. But, for the games that have been designed for it, I think it results in much more accurate and fun gameplay.

3 Stars Motion Plus?
This product works and I have not had any issues. However, I am not sure if you really need this product for certain games. It seems as if it would work just fine without it. I am not sure if the game will let you proceed without it though.

1 Star With or Without it?
The Wii MotionPlus is so new that the only review I have is for the Wii Sports Resorts. I really didn’t notice much of a difference with or without the control. Evidentally, it’s suppose to be more sensitive with the motions you make while playing the game. I can’t tell you one way or the other since you can’t play sports resort without it. So, I’ll have to wait for other games for this control before I really make a decision.

5 Stars Get in motion!
How do you take a great planform and make it even better? MotionPlus! I hope more games take advantage of this advance for the Wii.

4 Stars Its definetely better motion tracking.. but not exactly mirrored
thats why nintendo called it.. a motion “plus”..

its just addition.. not really revolution!

Buy/More Info

In the world of Professor Layton, puzzles hide in every corner. When the professor’s mentor is mysteriously murdered, a cursed artifact called the Elysian Box appears to be behind it. With a ticket to the Molentary Express as their only lead, Professor Layton and Luke embark on an adventure that will test their wits and work their brains. Calling all brainteaser fans! With tons of in-game puzzles of different types and difficulties, there’s something for everyone from kids to adults. As Professor Layton, you’ll open doors with sliding puzzles, uncover clues with logic puzzles, and find answers by solving riddles. A cinematic experience! This large-scale sequel to Professor Layton and the Curious Village features three times the voiced dialogue and movies of its predecessor. The fully voiced movies, hand-drawn art style, and cast of eccentric characters bring the story to life and are sure to charm puzzle fans young and old.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars a slice of heaven
As with the first Professor Layton title, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is sheer perfection, a must-play title. Play for a few minutes and you’ll likely get sucked in and want to finish the whole game. It’s also a great game to show off the power and sophistication of the DS platform to your friends.

This game is a fusion of two very different forms of entertainment: a collection of puzzles woven together into an intriguing mystery story. Not every video game fusion attempt succeeds; this one is flawless. The story is engaging and nicely complements the available puzzles (even though most of the puzzles are irrelevant to the storyline). Graphics and audio — both music and voice acting — are superb. I enjoy the audio on Professor Layton titles more than any other DS games, particularly the mysterious, atmospheric, and vaguely European soundtrack.

The game has an astonishing degree of polish and finishing touches. Once you’ve encountered a puzzle in the main game, you can also access it via a master puzzle index. Here, you can tag your favorites for easier recall later. You don’t have to worry about missing hidden puzzles, though, as they are made available to you later if you miss them during the story mode. Another example of polish is the fact that the game gives you 1 screen’s worth of “scratch paper” for each puzzle; that’s a bit cramped, but it sure beats switching back and forth between the DS and a pad of paper. Also of note are the many interesting side games and unlockables, which keep the game fresh and compelling.

This game easily earns a full five-star rating, but alas, nothing is perfect. I called this game a “slice of heaven” to draw attention to its primary drawback: it’s short. Hard-core puzzlers such as myself can solve this game and all side content in a weekend. The game designers attempted to address this limitation by providing the ability to download extra puzzles from the internet, but the reality is that you’ll move on to another game rather than be fully entertained by the slow pace of new puzzles online. On a related, if you’re looking for brain-busting puzzles, look elsewhere; the puzzles included in this collection are very approachable to young adults and casual puzzlers. (For example, the most complex puzzles are reduced down to multiple choice, probably to make it easier to check for a correct answer.)

Still, I strongly recommend this product to all players, with one exception. If you haven’t yet played the 1st game, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, play them in the right sequence to avoid having this 2nd game spoil some of the secrets of the 1st game. There’s one big spoiler at the beginning of game 2 in particular, so if you plan to play both games, don’t even start the 2nd one until you’ve finished the 1st.

5 Stars i hope they make more!!
seriously i love this game and the first one.. the puzzles really get you thinking and are so much fun. once i heard there was going to be a second game i was like waiting for it to be released and then my husband bought it for me and man do i love it.. if you like brainteasers buy the game!! you wont be dissapointed

5 Stars Prof Layton rules!
It was a very eager wait for Prof Layton and the Diabolical Box. The Curious Village had spoiled me and I just could not find another puzzle game that was good enough. So Diabolical Box had a mark in my calendar.

And it was so worth the wait! The Diabolical Box does not disappoint! The puzzles are just as absorbing, and are significantly different from the ones on the Curious Village. So there is no feeling of “Oh, I’ve done that one before”. The story line is just as refreshing. It was a nice touch to bring back some of the original characters and their idiosyncrasies.

The story is well distributed across locations as well, so you’re not thinking “Where do I go now?” So whether you’re on the Molentary Express or the village of Dropstone or the Castle, there are always places to explore and puzzles to solve.

The minigames are also a lot of fun. Keeping that hamster fit is not as easy as it looks. And who knew brewing tea was such an art form?!

All in all, a wonderfully engaging game and a must have for the puzzle aficionado.

So make friends with Prof Layton and Luke and join them on their quest to solve the mystery of the Elysian box. Meet fun, quirky characters along the way, and know that the game is not over when it’s over. Just like with the Curious Village, you still have weekly puzzles that you can continue to solve after.

In case I wasn’t clear, I LOVED the game! Can’t wait for part 3.

5 Stars Even Better than the First One
While I enjoyed Professor Layton and the Curious Village, it went by too quickly.

The Diabolical Box is like Curious Village but so much better.

* This game lasts so much longer that Curious Village, keeps you captivated longer and offers a lot more challenges. Without doing any of the “Bonus” games, this was twice the play time as Curious Village.

* The graphics are just as good if not a little better. There are cutaways of movie-like scenes as well as the traditional dialogue scenes, some with voice overs, some without.

* The puzzles offer a variety of simple to very challenging. There is a terrific selection of puzzle styles, sure to please all ages.

* Hint coins are still readily available with the option of buying up to three hints per puzzle.

* Puzzles are everywhere and seem to be just the right mix of puzzle to story/dialogue ratio.

* There is a huge improvement to the puzzles with the addition of a MEMO mode. Memo mode allows you to see the puzzle (slightly faded back) and have a scratch pad to make notes or work through the puzzles. This mode holds your notes as you go back and forth from the puzzle to memo again so your notes stay intact.

* The storyline is much more enjoyable and the scenery changes often enough (multiple villages, trains, etc.) so you are not traveling back and forth to the same spots over and over.

* The introduction of puzzles into the dialogue is a little more natural whereas in Curious Village when you needed to do a puzzle, the character intros to give you the puzzle were much more forced.

* The mini games include exercising a hamster (amusing), rebuilding a camera (interesting), brewing tea with different ingredients, as well as the old trunk standbys of a journal, mysteries list, and puzzle index. There is also a ‘locked’ diary.

* The music is fine and doesn’t seem to get annoying but the fake English accents are still pretty bad.

* The story ends and after credits, allows you to go back to a previous scene to finish playing any puzzles you may have missed.

* There is a bonus section that you can get into when starting the game that includes the “Weekly download Puzzle”, the puzzle index (the same as in the Professor’s Trunk), Layton’s Challenges which include some more difficult puzzles that progressively unlock the more you complete. There is also the Top Secret section including character profiles, art, music, and additional sections that unlock with clues found in the game.

The only problem I have with a couple of the puzzles is that they are based on noticing details in “photos” and looking at them on a DS screen is difficult since the resolution isn’t so hot.

I would highly recommend this game for ages 8 and up.

5 Stars Even Better Than The Last Professor Layton Game
The Diabolical Box’s puzzles are certainly diabolical! The brain teasers are even better than the ones in the previous Professor Layton game.

I LOVE playing these games — although being an over 60 senior, it offends me that the game is recommended for anyone 10 or above — as it sometimes takes me a couple of hours to figure out the answer to some of the harder puzzles!

The game is very brain stimulating and fun. The scenario of the diabolical box mystery is OK, the short video clips in the game never cease to amaze me — but the real joy of the game to me are the puzzles/brain teasers.

I recommend this game to anyone who wants to exercise their little gray cells while having fun.

Buy/More Info

Whether a diehard fan of the Grand Old Game, or someone who has never even seen a ball, bat or glove in your life, Mario Super Sluggers turns your living room into a rocking, socking baseball extravaganza. Staring the ever-lovable Mario and over 40 of his friends from the Nintendo universe, Mario Super Sluggers builds on the social-gaming fun and movements millions have learned from playing Wii Sports and turns even newcomers to gaming or sports titles into full-fledged baseball fanatics in a matter of minutes.

A whole new ball game

Come to bat as a captain Mario. View larger.

Go ape in the outfield. View larger.

Be ready to bring the heat. View larger.

Prepare for fielding challenges. View larger.

Gameplay
Set in the diverse environments of ‘Baseball Kingdom,’ this is a game that is easy to learn and compulsively addictive, but that also can be made to be as challenging as you want it to be. When you are a rookie go on the offensive by swinging the Wii Remote to smack singles, doubles, triples or even home runs; while when playing defense simulating a pitching motion to toss the ball over the plate. As you grow more confident in your skills, you can choose to attach a nunchuck controller while playing defense to control outfielders for an extra challenge. And regardless at what level you play at always remember that Mario Super Sluggers‘ nine mini-games are always an option. So, when you need a break from organized play, just grab a few friends and take the mound in a pitching challenge or swing for the fences in the home run derby.

In addition, since Mario Super Sluggers supports up to four players, with enough controllers, you can go two on two in epic battles. As you traverse the Baseball Kingdom, put together your “all star” team made up of your favorite Nintendo characters including the games five captains. Each of these has different abilities and temperament making them as valuable as they are difficult in the right or wrong situation. The result is a take on the American Pastime that you and your family will have a hard time putting down.

Multiple Game Modes
Baseball should be a social game, so whether you are by yourself or surrounded by friends, there’s a Mario Super Sluggers game for every occasion.

• Challenge: Trek across Baseball Kingdom in this singleplayer. mode. Defeat characters in a variety of baseball-related challenges to persuade them to join your team. Once you’ve assembled an all-star team for the ages, throw down with the baddest baseballer in town: Bowser! The singleplayer. Challenge Mode is a sports fan’s dream.

• Explore the rich and varied landscape of Baseball Kingdom as you gather teammates for your fight against Bowser. From lush tropical jungles to modern urban landscapes, each area of the kingdom is a new experience.
• Like high-powered free agents, the characters in Mario Super Sluggers won’t join just any old team-they want to play for a winner. When you find a new character, he or she will test your skills on the field. Only by besting them in hitting, pitching and fielding contests can you get them to join your side.
• In Challenge Mode, you can control one of five captains, each with personal special powers. Yoshi can jump through manholes, Wario has the power of magnetism and Donkey Kong can climb vines and shatter barrels.

Special Powers, Weapons, Moves & Features
Mario Super Sluggers isn’t your typical baseball game. From special moves to obstacle-filled stadiums, there’s always something new around the corner for players on the field to deal with. Just a few of the goodies you’ll find out on it’s fields of play are:

• Special Moves: All of the captains have unique Star Skills that allow them to perform special moves while pitching or batting. Mario can turn his fastball into a fireball, Daisy can create a flower garden in the outfield and Luigi can turn infield hits into a raging tornado. Non-captains can also use Star Skills to put a little extra mustard on hits or pitches.
• Chemistry: Just as in real sports, certain characters in Mario Super Sluggers have a special connection on the field. Known as chemistry, this connection allows players to make spectacular leaping catches, gun down speedy base runners and use items to interfere with fielders.
• Stadiums: There are nine unique stadiums in the game, everything from an ice-filled castle to an urban cityscape. Many stadiums can be accessed at both day and night, allowing you to play a doubleheader under the lights.
• Wii Nunchuk: Experienced gamers can also attach the Nunchuk controller for a more advanced gaming experience.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Love it!
It was the best game in the world. I really liked it. I still like it a lot. It takes pretty long to beat it, so it makes it more fun. It is simple and easy to figure out. – Reviewed by an 8 yr old

5 Stars Love this game.
This game is really fun, I have only played the challenge part and it was great, it reminds me of mario party, you have to play opponents to continue and unlock other parks, my son loved it also, it got him to get off his PSP and play the wii that has been ignored for a couple of months. [...].

3 Stars The original Mario Baseball was better
This game is still good, the original was just better. In this game, too many things are automatic, like the player’s running and stuff. Many of these automatic things were controlable in the original Mario Baseball. This game is more fun with 2 players, also. The game does make good use of the Wii Remote for various actions, like pitching and batting. I rate this game 72.5/100.

5 Stars Wii Game Mario Super Sluggers
I bought this for my 6 year old son. It arrived a few days later and in perfect condition. He loves it!

5 Stars Kids love it
When we got our Wii, this game was bundled along with it. I really didn’t expect the kids to like it much, as they have never expressed any interest in baseball. However, it quickly became their favorite game. Easy to play, especially on the easy settings. The kids would whack home run after home run and laugh and laugh. Lots of fun for the kids. Adults, probably not so much.

Buy/More Info