The Big 3

The story of Desmond Miles goes out with a bang...and a nice polish to boot!

Thu, 8 Nov 2012 00:34:43 +0000

21-12-12. Merely weeks until the end of the Earth. The only soul that could possibly bring salvation is assassin Desmond Miles. This game. Just by the title screen and menus, you know this is going to be a epic conclusion. This game blows my mind in every way possible....almost. Now don't let my "almost" fool you, this game is FANTASTIC! I will get to my only complaint later.

Graphics
Now I know the story and gameplay are way more important, but I have to share my experiences with the graphics first because you notice the difference IMMEDIATELY. If you can still believe it, the game is still ran with Flash, but a new engine by the name of AnvilNext. I didn't use the 3D feature because it is a stupid gimmick, and because I don't own a compatible television.However, even without it the game still looks better than ever before. The Setting of colonial America was perfect. The people and environments look accurate and amazing as hell. Graphics aren't everything, but here the effects just add to game's universe without distracting from the gameplay, just beautiful.

Story
I was going to refresh the series and briefly explain it to newcomers, but it would take to long. Plan on the rest of the series to be reviewed at a later date. Anyways, the story picks up where Revelations left off, with Desmond getting his mind together again and waking up to Rebecca, Shaun, and his father William "Bill." Desmond tells them what they need to do and they leave for the United States. They find a room hidden away in a cave near Boston on the Mohawk tribe frontier left behind by the First Civilization. Here they set up shop and Desmond gets knocked unconscious after connection with the First Civ'.(civilization). Not wanting to break the connection, Rebecca and the others put Desmond back into the animus. There Desmond undergoes some training with the new software update (the game references the change in graphics and control), until he connects with a new ancestor. This new ancestor is a British man by the name of Haytham Kenway in 1754 London. He attends the theater to find a "precursor" artifact and must assassinate the patron there would had it. After killing his target and taking the artifact he escapes to his co-conspirators and is assigned to go to Boston to find a suspected First Civ' storehouse, then being tasked with finding new members for their order in the New World.After a long charter, he gets to Boston within seventy-two days of his departure. He meets his assistant and first recruit, Charles Lee. Charles gives him a tour and at the end of it, they arrive at a pub known as the Green Dragon Tavern where he meets fellow order member William Johnson. After some quests to track down the other recruits that were on his list he gets entangled in a mess with redcoats. During this he encounters former member of the order--now a redcoat general--Edward Braddock, along with his lackey Silas Thatcher. Kenway learned that Thatcher was in charge of a fort where they held Native American slaves. He decided it was best to free them because he needed someone who could identify the native artifact from London. They succeed in freeing the slaves and killing Thatcher. Six months after Thatcher's death, Kenway and his new recruits find a Mohawk woman they had saved that six months before. They find her and Kenway asks her assistance with the artifact. She doesn't trust him and tells him that to earn her trust and to get her help that he must first help her stop General Braddock from driving her people out of their homes so he can expand the colonies westward. He agrees and after some events, including a chase, Kenway kills Braddock and takes a ring from his finger. The woman he saved, by the name of Kaniehti:io (Zio), fulfills her end by showing Kenway the cave (Where Desmond and Co. are currently). It turns out that Kenway had the wrong type of artifact, the one needed obviously being an apple. Days later Kenway makes his recruits full fledged members of the order. After a scene with Desmond and the others (I won't spoil it), Desmond re-enters the animus as he is connected with Haytham Kenway and Kaniehti:io's son, Ratonhnhake:ton (Later known as Connor Kenway). During a hide and seek game with the other Mohawk children, Connor gets discovered by a strange white man. The man asks Connor to show him the location of his settlement but he doesn't answer. Instead Connor tells him that he will find and hunt him down. A second man knocks him out. Connor wakes up and returns to his camp to find it ablaze. He tries to frantically find his mother Zio and eventually does, but she is trapped under some debris. He tries to help but is not strong enough yet to lift it out of the way. She tells him to leave her and that she will always be watching him. He is then dragged off by another of his tribe to safety. Nine years pass after the incident. Connor goes hunting with a friend and when they get back he sees the elder. The elder shows him an apple "Piece of Eden" and tells him to leave the tribe to seek out the people who bear the mark of an assassin (she doesn't say assassin and mark being their logo). Connor then departs and finally finds a Manor (Homestead) in the woods far from his camp. There he meets an African-american man by the name of Achilles. Achilles denies to train him at first. Connor hesitant to seek answers, stays outside the house for days until finally after helping Achilles defend his home, he reluctantly agrees to train the boy. Achilles shares with him the story of the Templars and assassins, their goal, and the long war that has ensued between the two factions. He trains Connor and the boy becomes a full-fledged assassin. The game progresses as Connor fights to get revenge on the Templars that invaded and almost demolished his tribe's encampment. (I apologize for the story being so long, there was a lot to say and set up as the game finally gets to the main ancestor and his goal.)

Gameplay
Finally we get to the gameplay aspect! So how are the controls? What's new to this installment? Well first off you will see that the H.U.D. is different from previous games. Your synchronization meter is at the bottom left of the screen next to the mini-map. Yes, it is a meter this time, not bars. Your synch meter also fills back up like in the first game. Only this time, it does not refill when in battle. However when it is extremely low and you are on caution to being desynched, it will fill back up a bit to the white if you can avoid being hit for a few seconds. Also at the bottom left, it displays your currency (this time it being in British pounds sterling). At the bottom right side your weapons and tools are displayed. Like Revelations, you can equip one weapon and tool simultaneously, using X or square to use weapons and using Y or triangle to use your equipped tool. At the top left of the screen you see your current objective and optional objectives. The top right of the screen displays notifications like when you pick up a collectible. Now the controls. From the beginning when you were training when you first got in the animus, you will notice that free-running has been simplified by just holding RT/R2, instead of holding both that button and A/X at the same time. This makes running feel so much easier both in game and on your fingers. If your running all the time though and pass different objects you will climb them. So instead of the little boost of speed you got in the previous games by just holding RT/R2, its either walking or running, nothing in between except for the fast walk, which doesn't help much. Also while running, tapping either left or right on the control stick makes Connor juke a little bit and while in combat, you can dodge things like enemy fire doing this. Speaking of which, the control scheme has been updated for combat as well. You can now use B/circle to counter enemy attacks and if timed correctly and initiate a combo. You can use the A/X button to break enemy defenses. However you cannot throw enemies unless already super close to a ledge or railing. Also to make combat work correctly and to sometimes use certain weapons and tools at all, you have to manually aim at them when pushing the aim button. THERE IS NO MORE AUTO-AIM/TARGETING! You have to do everything yourself this time around. It wouldn't be so bad except that the enemy can also dodge and it is especially difficult to target enemies you are chasing. Also if you piss off a civilian, or if one just decides to attack you, just run. You cannot attack them back unless you aim at them. Even then, you can only kill them, you cannot melee attack them. Guards you can, but innocents...nope. As far as weapons go, Connor has hidden blades and his bow. You can also buy swords, hammers, and axes--and smail weapons like Connor's assassin tomahawk. Instead of a hidden pistol, you can buy actual full size pistols from the store. You can also pick up guard's rifles, but from what I'm aware of, you cannot keep them. Pistols count as in the tools section. Different tools include those pistols, bait and traps for hunting animals, rope darts that let you strangle enemies or pull them flat on their face during combat, and a horse whistle that allows you to call upon a horse wherever you are (sort of like calling Epona with your ocarina in Zelda). besides of my targeting complaint, the gameplay is pretty solid, and that one thing isn't enough to ruin the game (you get used to it).In the game there are things to collect like Ben Frankin's Almanacs that you can trade in for useful inventions during the story, like Leonardo Da Vinci with the codex pages in Assassin's Creed II. You recruit assassin's by saving the people and finding them jobs and places to stay within the homestead. In return you can recruit some of them and sell and trade for their services. Again in this installment are optional objectives to 100% synch sequences. The only problem is that there can be more than one at a time to complete, making it more difficult than ever to get that 100% synch. For a completionist like me, this can be quite the nightmare. Again this doesn't ruin the game, it just can be a little stressful.

So what do I think, what score do I think this game earns. You can easily get to the new controls and the game looks and plays beautifully. I think that they ended the story on a fantastic high note and you should definitely get this one if your a fan of the series. If your new I highly recommend the entire series and that you play from the first one in order. If you like action adventure and a bit of platforming and a great story, you will love this series. I'm going to start reviewing more on brutal honesty and less nostalgia starting with this game. Because of the lack of a targeting system and the optional objectives not being something to do rather than things like don't lose so much health, or don't be detected, I have to give this game a 4 out of 5. This means a rating of "Great" and "Finish it." You should go play this game and until next time, know that Nothing is true, and Everything is permitted! EAGLE!

Note: I have though about scoring and have come up with a new system. It is as follows...
1-Poor
2-Playable
3-Average
4-Great
5-Absolutely Fantastic

I will also recommend how you should play it...by that i mean how good it is to keep. It as follows...
"Play it": Rent the game or play it with someone you know who has it
"Finish it": Buy/Rent the game and at least finish the story and all main objectives
"Complete it": Buy the game and finish the story and main objectives, along with all the optional objectives AND with claiming all the achievements/trophies.

The Kind of game you want to cherish, but at the same time give it the birdie!

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 23:34:14 +0000

First off, to shake of the confusion, I overall still think this a great Zelda game, if not one of the best in the series. Let me say however, I was a little disappointed in the final product. It wasn't so much as it was the gameplay, as it was the other elements of the game. I did have a few problems with the motion plus (my tv is large and the sensor bar is on top of it, it could also be a faulty controller, etc.). Anyway, it was the storyline (I know it doesn't really make a difference because it doesn't have one anyway, but hear me out), and the fact that Zelda is now 25 years old, but the game loves to explain things to us like we are five. At this point nintendo should be more lenient on their tutorials. I know Nintendo wants to be family friendly, but they really need to quit dumbing down their games. There needs to be tutorials for swordplay and stamina yes, but not how to make Link walk, we all should know that by now because it is quite obvious. When I fired up the game I spent approximately an hour and thirty minutes in tutorials before anything worth noticing happened.

Now to the story. If you aren't aware yet, The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword is the first in the series chronologically. Before I give my synopsis, I just want to say how far back can they go!? This game tells the story of how Hyrule and the master sword came to be, as well as giving the full explanation about Farore, Din, and Nayru. They are instilling religion into the series by all of a sudden telling it in biblical proportions. Now I actually like this perspective, but if they are going to do this, why not paint the full picture and explain how the other games tie in? Leaving my timeline nitpicking aside, this game was beautifully crafted with a watercolor painting scheme, as well as a wonderfully fully orchestrated soundtrack. The only other complaint I can offer is how the upgrading works. You can upgrade your weapons and items in the town's bazaar. You have to find the tools mostly from enemies, and there is an extremely low drop rate. It isn't horrible, but very time consuming. Finally there is only four small areas to explore. Their is the sky and the town of Skyloft, the wooded Faron province, the fiery Eldin province, and the dry desert of Lanayru province. These three provinces are smaller and completely different from the ones with the same name in Twilight Princess. The game's story forces you to trudge through these places and their dungeons multiple times. Now lets review both the positives and negatives of this game before I giver her a score.

Pros

Great Orchestrated soundtrack
Beautifully crafted "watercolor" landscapes
Mostly solid gameplay featuring "Wii Motion Plus"
Great, detailed storyline for long fans of the series
Plenty of sidequests to keep you occupied
Replay value: Moderate

Cons

Lengthy baby-ish tutorials
Timeline confusion for fans of the series, the games individual storyline may be too difficult to grasp for younger gamers
Upgrading gear and potions might be repetitive and time consuming for some gamers
Small map and repetitive backtracking to previously explored areas

Overall, there are some annoying things about the game, but the game within itself is a real treat and outweighs these small shortcomings. My final verdict: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward sword, gets a 4 out of 5

A gaming console that's just not for me. 25%

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 23:28:28 +0000

First of all, I'd like to say that before I review why I'm not fond of the Wii, keep in mind that this is entirely subjective, and if you personally enjoy it, then more power to you.

I remember the Wii coming out back in November of 2006 and like the PS3, I thought to myself “Like I'm gonna buy that thing, that thing is a joke.” However, unlike the PS3, to this day, I still see no desire to buy one. The Wii has beaten the PS3 and the Xbox 360 in sales, mainly for its “revolutionary” motion-controls that require the players to move while playing the games.

MOTION-CONTROLS

Many people have lauded the Nintendo Wii for its motion-control interface that uses a Wii Mote and a Wii Chuck to control movement and actions of your character in the game. This isn't a new idea because Nintendo already dabbled into that concept in the mid-late 80's with the Power Glove, though while the Wii Mote is more reliable than the Power Glove, the novelty of this wears out very quickly for me.

GRAPHICS

While I'm not one to bash games or gaming consoles just because their graphics aren't breathtaking (I still play “old” games like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and the 16-bit Sonic games), for a seventh-generation console in competition with the Xbox 360 and the PS3, I expect more out of the Wii. Most of the games support graphics that would be more fitting for the PS2, and I wish most of the games wouldn't look so “cartoony.” Would it kill them to make a console with decent graphics, strong textures, and solid lighting?

GAMES

The Nintendo Wii isn't much appealing to me because of how there's virtually no fun games to play on it (from my point of view). Many of the games for the Wii are sports and fitness games, and I personally don't find much to enjoy about them because if I wanted to get exercise, I'll just go to the gym late at night (I like working out at night). Also, Nintendo isn't doing much to shed the stigma the company has gained from “true gamers” that they only make “kiddie games,” as there's tons of exclusive titles geared mainly for kids. There's some Mature titles like Mad World that are exclusive to the Wii, but Nintendo isn't putting them in the forefront to help squash this stigma, and that the games aren't all that gripping compared to titles like Dead Space or Crysis 2. All of the “flagship” titles that the Wii parades like scholarship students are pretty alienating to adult gamers like myself, mainly the newer Mario games. Back in January of 2009, my brother and his wife bought a Wii with Super Mario Galaxy, and I decided to give SMG a try, and it's like them making the games not look so sugary would make the Nintendo corporation implode upon itself. I miss the N64 days, when Nintendo wasn't afraid to have a good number of games that weren't for kids, like Goldeneye and the Turok games (those were a huge blast).

DIFFERENT AUDIENCE

I'm honestly not trying to sound elitist here, but if you consider yourself a “true” gamer, you're probably not going to find much enjoyment out of the Wii. To prove this, I remember one morning at my past job, slicing and packaging corn ears with one of my co-workers (who was a middle-aged mother of several children), and she was glowing about how “great” the Wii is, and she isn't the gamer-type at all. I even chatted with Wii owners about the console and they agree that it's a console for casual gamers and non-gamers.

FINAL WORD

If you consider yourself a casual gamer or non-gamer and want an electronic device that'll entertain your friends and family during parties, want an electronic exercising interface device, or a console that'll entertain little kids, then you may want a Wii. However, if you consider yourself a gamer, then skip this and go for an Xbox 360, PS3, or a gaming PC (preferably a PS3, or if you have the money, a gaming PC).

Certainly the finest gaming console in this current generation. 92%

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:33:35 +0000

When it comes to Sony's latest gaming console, I've had a really funny history with it. At the time the PlayStation 3 was released (November of 2006), I just got an Xbox 360 and whenever I saw commercials for the PS3, I would laugh and say “Whose gonna spend $600 on that?!!” As the months went by, I noticed many gamers weren't satisfied with the PS3, and in sales, it was last in place behind the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. However, after Sony remodeled the console so that they could sell it for a much cheaper price (remodeled as the PS3 Slim), the console has made a giant leap in sales and garnered much praise from gamers, not to mention that the PS3's library of quality exclusive games is steadily growing, making the console much more valuable. Even after buying an Alienware gaming PC last June (these computers are beasts), I found myself buying a 120 GB PS3 slim last August because it looked so great, and I don't regret buying it at all.

GRAPHICS

One of the selling points for the PS3 is the amazing graphics it supports, and as someone whose played with all three of this current generation's gaming consoles and a really beefed-up gaming PC, I can say the graphics match the hype, thanks to the console being built around the Blu-ray disk. I have my PS3 connected to a 720p TV through an HDMI cable, and even though my TV isn't “full HD,” I was still impressed by the amazing visuals generated by games like God of War 3 and Uncharted 2, as they're nearly as good as Crysis with all the graphics settings maxed out on a potent gaming PC (Crysis is a benchmark in graphical quality in videogames). Aside from excellent details in image quality, the game also supports high-resolution textures, lighting, and shading to make “realistic” games look even better. The Xbox 360 can support some great graphics, but the PS3 beats it out overall, and the Nintendo Wii doesn't even come close in this area.

GAMES

What good is a game console's robust graphics if it doesn't have any great games to play on it? Thankfully, the PS3 out of all the three current consoles, has the largest library of quality exclusive titles, and unlike Nintendo, has adult gamers like myself in mind when making games. Some of the most notable and best exclusive games are the Uncharted series, Killzone series, Resistance series, God of War series, and the Infamous series. It also has support for many fantastic multi-platform titles like the Dead Space series, Crysis 2, Alice: Madness Returns, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Red Faction: Guerrilla, Portal 2, and Borderlands. I know there's people out there who are into different types of games than this, so your opinions may change on what “great games” are available on the PS3. The only really great game that gamers who only have a PS3 will miss out on is Metro 2033, as that one is only available on the PC and the Xbox 360. There's some decent 360 games like the Halo and Gears of War that PS3 gamers may miss out on, but the exclusives the PS3 offers in return offsets this, and there's really nothing exclusive to the Wii you're missing out on if you choose to only have a PS3 (except possibly the newest Zelda and Metroid titles).

MEDIA VERSATILITY

For a console made primarily for gaming, the PS3 is the most versatile of the three as you can play PS3 games, DVDs, Blu-ray disks, MP3s, and you can store and share video and image files with your friends through the PlayStation Network (PSN). While I'm on the subject of the PSN, if you hated the fact that Microsoft charges you for Xbox Live, you'll be glad to know that PSN is free for everyone with a PSN account to use. Some people have complained that the newer PS3 Slims don't support PS2 games, I was originally irritated by this, but since some games like the first two God of War games and Shadow of the Colossus games are getting reissued for the PS3, that problem is getting partially remedied. The PS3's tagline is “It only does everything,” and the reality of the console's functionality isn't too far off the mark.

MECHANICAL RELIABILITY

As much fun as I had with the Xbox 360, I hated it whenever I'd get a “red ring” error (I thankfully never had the dreaded “Red Ring of Death,” as my console hasn't died on me to this day), where I'd have to turn off the console and turn it back on again. Sometimes I'd have to repeat this two or three times until the device decides to function properly. I've gotten some good mileage on the PS3 and I haven't gotten a single “yellow light” error as of writing, In short, from my own experience, the PS3 (the Slim model) has been working like a charm, and is a pretty quiet machine.

FINAL WORD

If you're in the market for a current generation gaming console for the most bang for your buck and don't feel like investing in a gaming PC (these can be very expensive), then the PS3 will be a purchase you won't regret.

Nintendo Wii Quick Tip by TheJohn

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 05:23:29 +0000

Nintendo's new golden child system has that ease and comfort we've come to expect from Nintendo as well as a large and exclusive library of games.

Sony Playstation 3 Quick Tip by TheJohn

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 05:22:13 +0000

May have been a bigger hit initially if not for a price point that made the old 3DO say "damn!" This is my new baby.

Platforming on steroids

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 16:37:33 +0000

When I first played this game, I frankly wasn't crazy about it. It got tired of jumping around all the time. However, the more you get into it, and the more you get used the play controls, the more addictive it becomes.

This is Mario platforming in a way that makes the original NES, SNES, and Mario 64 games look like child's play. There are dozens of galaxies and mini-galaxies to play, each one with a unique theme. With over 120 stars, there enough for even the most hardcore gamer, but even novices can probably beat it with 60 stars. Obviously, if you didn't like those games, don't play this. But if you liked those, you'll LOVE Mario Galaxy.

My one criticism is that you don't get much in terms of rewards for getting more stars. If you get all 120, you can play as Luigi, but he's basically the same as Mario. It would have been nice to unlock bonus features (new characters, photo albums, etc) every 10-15 stars or so.

Playing this again has made me excited for Super Mario Galaxy 2. I'm looking forward to getting it over Christmas.

Nintendo Wii Quick Tip by qteepie

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:19:08 +0000

Fun games for all

A New World of Physical Video Gaming

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 20:57:54 +0000

The Nintendo Wii is one of a kind. Developed in an industry that is normally dominated by intense graphics and violent game play, the Wii Fit is a bit of an anomaly. The Wii brings family fun and physical interactivity to the gaming world. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the classic style of game-play too – I've been playing games like Halo and Final Fantasy for years – but there's just something astounding about how simple yet effective the core components of Nintendo's new system are. Not since Nintendo innovated the video game industry for the first time in the early 80's has a system been so revolutionary with such basic features. It's not the graphics or hype that pulls you in, it's how you play the games, and how you operate the system that keeps you coming back for more.

It's the basic movement controls and group play that sucks you in to this incredible system. The Nintendo Wii makes it so easy to do things that you'd never have thought of before – stuff like getting off the couch and actually swinging a fantasy sword or boxing with your spouse without a visit from the police. Thanks to this wonderful system, children are becoming more active, enjoying physical activity again, people are losing weight by playing a video game, and the elderly are even finding a source of strength rehabilitation with sports like bowling or tennis.

Now, the real part of the Wii Experience is through how it’s controlled – with the Wii Remote (or Wiimote). This is the the motion sensitive remote control shaped controller that allows you to interact with the content in a game through motion, buttons, and triggers. The key to the Wiimote is that it is an interactive game controller, which works best while standing up off of the couch. Some games work well while sitting, however you even notice yourself that once you swing the Wiimote, you’ll want to be standing. Games like Wii Sports use sweeping motions and rapid movements to perform on screen actions. These games require that you have room to move around, you just can't pull it off while lounging on your sofa. Trust me, I tried – but I found that after a few minutes, you will find yourself up on your feet if you are really into the games.

There is another addition to the Wiimote that attches with a wire at the bottom called the Nunchuck. This addition to the controller is used in many games that utilize both hands. The Nunchuck is a very simple add-on to the remote that allows you to control items with an analog stick, similar to how a normal controller would operate. Additionally, it operates with motion control – allowing players to do things that require the movement of two different hands – in this case things like boxing, as I mentioned earlier. Also, the fact that the Nunchuck creates a familiar video-game like two-handed controller make it so interesting. We have all found oruselves playing video games with a normal controller, but realizing that we're so into the game that we're moving the controller left and right as we steer our car, or lifting the controller rapidly as we try and make our character jump. It's these natural reactions that make the Wii so comfortable and natural to play, since it's these motions that actually control the game.

There are a ton more add-ons to the Wii that make it so fun, but none as innovative as the Balance Board. The Wii Balance Board comes with games such as Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus. However, it's also used in a growing number of additional Wii Games that use footing and balance as the primary game control. The Wii Balance Board is is a flat board that can measure your weight and determine its distribution. The feature that makes it such a innovative piece of equipment is that it can check that weight distribution in real time, allowing it to maintain a gauge on your balance. This gague is what becomes the primary control in many games and exercises used with the Nintendo Wii.

As you can see, the Wii is a very versatile gaming system that can be used in many ways. With my experience over the last several years playing the Wii, I’ve learned that it has so many different facets of entertainment and fun that help create this unique gaming experience. Here are just some of the other great features of the Nintendo Wii:

Game Tracking – The Wii keeps a calendar of your habits and what games you’ve played. It records what games were played and for how long each day. This is an excellent way to see each day how much time you are exercising with the Wii Fit or for parents to track how much their kids are playing.

Mii – On the Wii, you can create your own avatar using the the Mii channel. This avatar, or Mii, will be a representation of you as a character in a number of games, including the Wii Fit. Creating Miis can be fun in its own way. When I first got the Wii, my friends and I spend hours just creating our Miis.

Classic Game Downloads – On the Wii, you can access the Wii Shop channel to download classic Nintendo, Super Nindendo, even Turbo Grafix and Sega games. This can be whole ton of fun in itself if you are a fan of classic games like I am. Some of the games you can download really bring you back to the good-old days of classic Nintendo such as Mike Tyson’s Punch Out, Excitebike, and the Super Mario Bros. series.

Parties – Not only is the Wii one of the best video game systems for group or party play, but it’s also one of the best forms of party entertainment. There are so many games for the Wii designed just for parties and involving friends.

Family Games – Believe it or not, you will it’s difficult to find a family member who would not like the Wii. Everyone in my family loves playing the Wii, even my parents. These days, it’s hard to get the family together, but with the Nintendo Wii, you will find more and more opportunities to bring the whole family together for some fun. Nintendo has developed so many games that are suitable and fun for all ages.

Overall, the Nintendo Wii has definetely made a huge impact in the video game industry, and the proof is obvious. The Wii has been the best selling video game console in the world since it has been released, and it's still selling incredibly well. I highly recommend that if you are a big fan of video games, espeicially games with friends, you should pick up a Nintendo Wii. You will not be dissapointed.

Super Mario Galaxy Quick Tip by devora

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 20:07:50 +0000

Aesthetically wonderous to behold & super fun to play. A nice new twist on an old classic! :)

Super Mario Galaxy Quick Tip by devora

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 18:08:23 +0000

Aesthetically wonderous to behold & super fun to play. A nice new twist on an old classic! :)

The Most Entertaining Super Mario Game Yet

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:34:51 +0000

In the 2nd time since Super Mario 64, Mario is once again placed in a brand new 3D environment. Only this time, it's not on land or in water. This chapter in the Super Mario legacy takes place in space, where Mario flies from planet to planet in a non-stop interactive thriller.

Using the Wiimote and Nunchuck, gamers control Mario throught the game where he runs, jumps, and flies 360 degrees. Personally, the controls of this game are the most intuitive yet in the Super Mario series. I felt instantly comfortable moving Mario around, and found it extremely fun to control him. Almost every aspect of the Wii's state-of-the-art peripherals are utilized in this game, and they all play an important role. From moving the joystick, to shaking the Wiimote, and even pointing the Wiimote at the screen all come into play, and this is just a small part of what makes this chapter so much fun. The gameplay as a whole is something that makes this game so spectacular, and will make it hard to put the controllers down.

Mario starts the story off in the well-known Mushroom Kingdom while everyone is celebrating a fesitval of the stars. In the begining, you have free-reign to learn a bit about the game, it's controls, and some of its features such as star-bits. Star bits add another dimension to the game, similar to what coins have given in past episodes. Soon after the game starts, your greatest enemy, Bowser, comes into action and predictibally kidnaps Pricess Toadstool. During this movie sequence, you eventually end up being wisked away to a far away land, which ends up being a giant space-shit that acts as "home" for most of the game. From here you are able to access all "worlds" and other parts of the game.

While it has a similar feel to Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy take gameplay into a whole-new dimension where Mario visits different planets instead of worlds, which is what you are used to in previous versions of this series. On these planets, gravity, or lack thereof, plays a larger role while you run around, upside down, and even floating to other planets fight enemies and bosses in each level. While the gameplay itself is amazing and can get you sucked-in quickly, the visuals are on another level. This is definetely the most visually stunning Super Mario game ever. The combinations of colors, graphics, and scenery create a very surreal experience that is definetely addicting to look at.

Overall, If you are a fan of adventure games, especially the Super Mario series, you are going to love Super Mario Galaxy. I guarantee once you start this game you will want to play it until the end. It also has great replay value as I find myself going back into the game often and playing levels. It's that much fun!

The best game system choice for younger kids, but adults will enjoy too

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The Nintendo Wii is a fantastic game system for kids especially but I think most adults will love it just as much. The Wii doesn't have nearly as good of graphics as the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 but the game selection is so much better for young kids. Many of the games on these other systems have a lot of foul language and so far I am not seeing that at all with Wii games. In addition there is a huge selection of games that kids will love. Most of the games fully utilize the motion sensing technology inside the Wii remote and will get your kids up and moving. Some of the games are even quite exhausting and I consider very good exercise. My Daughter loves playing Wii Cheer 2 which she plays almost daily. It teaches you cheer routines and you get to unlock new characters, songs and challenges. Wii Sports is fun for the whole family with a variety of sports to play. It is fun to get a group of people playing together and have competitions. The new Super Mario Bros is also very cool; it's a new and improved version of the original Super Mario Bros with great game play and improved graphics. If you enjoyed playing the original on the Nintendo Entertainment System then you have got to try this new version. I could go on and on about how many good games there are but I will leave it at that. This is certainly the best game system for the younger crowd.

Fun for adults

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

I'm not much of a game fan - don't have an Xbox nor do I game using a PC. But this is fun! I use it mainly with the Wii Fit balance board attachment for exercise, and it provides a nice variation from the usual cardio machines or strength routines.

Easy to set up and use. The graphics are not what you'd call top-notch, but are usable. All in all, I'm very pleased with it - never would have thought I'd own a game deck, but the Wii changed that!

A Perfect Gaming System for All Ages

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

We already have one DS and one DSi in our house. But when my 5 year old said she wanted one for Christmas, the question was, should we ask Santa for the DS or the newer DSi.

For a younger child, this was all she needed. She has no need to browse the internet. We have a lot of game boy games that she can play on this that she would not be able to play on the DSi.

It is a pretty pink color and just what she wanted. It is a definite improvement on her Leapster.

Chose this over the PSP for the battery life. Haven't regretted it!

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0000

I bought this in July for my then 12-year-old son so that he would have something to do on a long roadtrip with his grandparents. I wasn't sure whether to get the DSi or the PSP and choose Nintendo because the battery life was longer. It's a choice I haven't regretted.

My son plays with this system all the time. It was well worth the money. The variety of games available for the system is top notch. It's nice that it can fit into my purse or his backpack when we're traveling.

We haven't been able to get the online portion of the system working yet but I have to admit that we only tried a few times and I suspect it involves my wireless internet at home.

A fun feature on the DSi is the camera. My kids have had hours of fun making slide shows and playing with the different photo features.

We've barely tapped in what this system can do and love it. I planning on buying another DSi in the future.

Fun but way too slow

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

In terms of gameplay, graphics, originality, etc, this beats out any of the past Mario games. The graphics blew me away. It really looks like a high-quality cartoon rather than a game. The movement with the Wii remote and nunchuk feels oddly natural even after decades of playing Mario games with the classic video game controller. I also think it's pretty cool how Mario can literally run around small planets in true 3-D mode. I haven't seen another game quite like it.

Unfortunately, the game is simply too long to really rank as fun. The game designers seem to have fallen into the classic trap of believing that gamers actually care about the story. We don't. We want action and to kill bad guys. However, in Mario Galaxy, it is impossible to skip the cutscenes (which are long and many). In terms of the dialogue and cutscenes, this almost feels like a Zelda-style RPG rather than a Mario game. I played for over an hour and only saw a few Goombas and one boss (a giant piranha plant). If I could at least have avoided the cutscenes, I probably could have gotten much further in the game for that time I played. I'm just too busy right now to beat a game that will probably take days, if not weeks, to beat. That's too bad, because Mario Galaxy had the potential to be the best mario game since Mario 64.

Awesome

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Wii is awesome. I love the interactive aspect. The sports games are great, allowing you to actually take swings with the Wii controller to play the games. This is leap years above the competition.

The PSP GO.... is a "NO GO" :)

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:59:53 +0000

What's the deal with the "PSP GO" anyways? Does anybody understand the logic behind this product? It seems to me that the "negatives" greatly outweigh the "positives". What puzzles me the most is that they actually took away features (like the ability to play UMD games and movies) and then slapped on a more expensive price tag! Also, by taking away the UMD functions... Sony is actually kind of telling consumers that the "UMD" is now obsolete. It's generally not a good idea to tell the public that something you "invented" is now obsolete. Also, it's a slap in the face to previous PSP owners to basically say "if you want to get this new PSP, guess what... your old UMD games won't play on this so you'll have to buy the games again and download them at full price". So here's a question for you... what if someone steals your PSP GO with all your downloaded games/movies on it? Are you majorly screwed???

Here's what I think Sony's gameplan was: "hey, lets make a more cost effective PSP... it'll be much cheaper to make without the UMD drive. Let's add a flashy slide out screen to draw in the "mindless consumers" and then charge people much more than it costs to make the damn thing!" ... "Oh yeah, and they'll have to re-buy and download all the games they like...which will save us even more money because we won't even have to physically package the games, but we'll still charge them full-price of course! (mwah ha ha!!!)"

Well, guess what Sony... we're not as "mindless" as you think. And I think consumers at large will see the PSP GO as a "No Go". This could change if Sony offers it at a much lower price point... like $100 cheaper.

Pros:
-Slide out Screen
-16GB on-board memory
-More portable

Cons:
-No UMD drive
-Smaller Screen
-Much more expensive than other PSP models ($250) ... that's $50 less than a PS3!
-You must download all games and content
-Inability to share or sell your old games after you are bored with them.
-Risk of losing all of your games and movies if you lose your PSP Go.

Bottom Line:

I think the 'PSP GO' was made so that SONY and game makers could have a higher profit margin on their system and games sold. I don't think they really made this with the "Gamer's" interests in mind. It is a step backward... and I hope that SONY, as well as other consumers realize this.

It's a No Go...

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 04:40:03 +0000

I'm a huge gamer. And I happen to have a huge network of friends. It's how I'm able to play a lot of games early on before actually buying them. When you're in a gang of ten people (eight of whom play games regularly) usually there's someone who will get a hold of something within that group. When my friends and I saw the PSP Go for the first time, my thought was, "No one in our group is gonna get that thing." Well, I shouldn't have been surprised when someone actually DID. And yes, I do point and laugh at him. I point and laugh because he already has a PSP. And therein lies the problem with PSP Go. If you already have a PSP... one has to wonder why you would even bother to update to the PSP Go in the first place. With some systems there's usually an incentive to update. When it came from the DS to the DSi there were lots of bells and whistles... and sure, the DSi may not have been worth an upgrade either... but they never took away the reason you were buying it in the first place. And that's the big problem with the PSP Go! The DSi, one can at least argue, is worth it for those who have a DS Lite. You'll have a lot harder time trying to do that with the PSP Go.

So lets start with some of the PSP Go's strengths. The first is simple, the design is actually nice. It slides to reveal the buttons. Kind of like some of the cell phones you've no-doubt seen. Whether or not this is a good thing is hard to determine. The original PSP wasn't exactly fit for sitting down for long periods of gaming if you have big hands. Yet because of the PSP Go's size and stature some may find it's a bit more cramped. Even though the original PSP could be a pain for big hands you can say without a doubt that not everything seemed so cramped together. It's an even bigger problem if you've got big hands

It also has a lot of internal memory. About 16 gigs or so. This is great, but that memory is going to go fast. And this is where we get into one of the PSP Go's biggest problems. It's for downloads only. All the games you want and all the movies you want... must be downloaded. Full price. In shirt, the handheld console doesn't support the UMD format. Or, to put it in simpler terms... if you already own a PSP and you have games for it... you can't play them on the PSP Go. So don't get rid of your PSP--no matter what deal you find at the used Game Store. If you want to play games on your PSP Go, you have to download them... at full price. And they'll take up memory fast on that internal memory. But the problem is simple... why the hell would anyone who already owns a PSP actually WANT to buy a PSP Go? With no UMD support, no less? I understand this idea of going totally digital and all, but the PSP was already a pretty well established handheld to begin with. For a handheld to go fully digital after already establishing itself just seems like a bad idea. Especially given the PSP Go's enormous price tag (for just $50 dollars more you could buy a PS3... or you could buy an XBOX 360 for the SAME Price). It's the idea that they take out quite a bit of stuff. Any accessory you used for your previous PSP models (either 1000, 2000, or 3000... isn't it disturbing that within the past three years we're already on the FOURTH incarnation of the PSP?) you can't use anymore. That's ridiculous.

Some say that the PSP Go! is meant for something different. Other than playing UMDs... which is crazy given that Sony actually expects you to download each game you've already got. There is a way to transfer UMD data to the internal memory of the PSP Go, but for some reason they decided NOT to release that in the United States. I don't know why. Maybe we'll get it later... and if we do it better soon.

People also like to Argue that the PSP Go is for "On the go!" If so I must say (and it say with all do respect) that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. THAT'S the PSP Go Fanboy battle cry? "It's for on the Go?" Seriously? Newsflash folks... the PSP is a HANDHELD SYSTEM! It was already something you could take on the go. That's what you do with handheld gaming. It's all for on the go. This is what handheld gaming evolved into. Seriously. If you have a DS or a GBA or a PSP you've no doubt taken it with you when you have a long flight... or a long bus ride. For all anyone knows you might've played it in the Doctor's office while waiting for a check up. Handheld gaming is already about being on the go. The only thing the PSP Go actually fixes is that you won't need to carry a case for all your UMDs... because you wouldn't be able to play them anyway! So if you want that, "It's for on the go!" to be your battlecry, go right ahead... saying it more doesn't make it any less stupid.

But there's more the PSP Go gets wrong. The screen is smaller. This is because the PSP Go is smaller. I'm not sure how everyone will react to a smaller screen, but you have to know that it's there. You also can't use any of the accessories that worked on previous PSP models. Not the Memory Stick Duo... nothing. You're basically starting over. This is terrible when you consider you're paying 250 bucks, and it's a handheld that's been stripped of what it already had. The lack of UMD support is a big hit to the PSP Go, but the price is definitely a rip off.

Now let's be clear on something. Sony has NEVER been about appealing to gamers. Hell no. Their systems always survived because of excellent third party support. But Sony themselves have always marketed their systems as something other than a gaming device. They put a lot behind the original Playstation, but lately when they've released a new system, they never push it as a gaming device. When the Playstation 2 came out, Sony wasn't pushing all the awesome games coming. No. They pushed the DVD Player capabilities, hoping that would sell the system. Even when it started selling because of games, Sony didn't really push that. The Playstation 3 they pushed because it was (at the time) the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market (at $600 bucks! You can get them cheaper now). Sony is pushing their consoles more as an entertainment center than a gaming device. Granted, Microsoft does this too, but Microsoft doesn't have to be reminded that they made a gaming system. For whatever reason Sony does. Whenever we talk about good gaming systems, most of us mention the games... Sony doesn't. That's not to say the PSP is bad or anything. It actually does have good games. All I'm trying to get you to understand is that when it came to the PSP Go, thinking about their built in fanbase was not one of their priorities, and leaving out the UMD support wasn't something they thought of as a "dumb move," in the slightest. Rather they saw it as a pretty smart move. You have to understand, Sony is just doing what they do best, making sure you know all about the bells and whistles. They want you to know about everything their handheld can do and all the features you'll get with it. Almost every time Sony advertises, for example, they're advertising based on how awesome their system is. Not how awesome the games you're going to get on it are. Even Nintendo with the Wii made sure people were thinking about games when they put their system out there. Sony doesn't do that sort of thing. Again, all I want you to understand is that the lack of UMD support doesn't bother Sony and they don't see it as a problem at all.

And you just might enjoy the Digital Download thing... if you don't already own a PSP. But even if you don't own a PSP shelling out 250 bucks is asking for a lot when you could by the 3000 model for less... and get slightly more with it. If you already own a PSP, though? There's no real reason to upgrade to the PSP Go. Especially not with that enormous price and no way to transfer your UMD games to it at this point in time (at least not for US).

It feels like a giant leap backwards for Sony. Digital Download is fine and all, but with a handheld that's going strong (sort of) and soon to be entering its fifth year it might've been far better for Sony to actually wait until their next handheld device to do such a thing. Even for those who don't have a PSP and are interested in getting one it's just not worth it at this point in time.

Great for those long flights but thats about it.

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 03:05:56 +0000

After going on those long flights to china every year, I realized that I needed something to kill those long 15 hr flights since I can hardly sleep on those uncomfortable economy seats. A handheld portable gaming console was what I decided to go with and the 3 options I had were PSP, DS Lite, and the newer model, DSi.

The PSP wasn't a serious contender since I compared the battery life to the DS's, and I noticed that PSP only lasts for 5 hrs. So it came down to the DS Lite and DSi. The major differences between these 2 was that the screen on the DSi is a little bigger, DSi had more memory, and the DSi had a built in camera. Even with all these new features, I decided to go with the DS Lite because the battery life on the lowest brightness setting for both, had the DS Lite up to 19 hrs and the DSi up to 15 hrs. And at the time of my purchase, the DS Lite was 40 dollars cheaper (129.99 to 169.99). For 40 dollars more, none of those new features are something I care for since the games I'll be playing won't utilize the extra memory and camera. Only the screen size might make a little difference but I couldn't even tell the difference when looking at it.

So the next choice was the games and if you don't know by now, DS has a huge selection of games. And they are also backward compatibles with the Gameboy Advance games too. I ended up purchasing Final Fantasy Tactics A2 and Castlevania order of Ecclesia for my flight. Castlevania was a great game for the plane ride since its mostly simple jumping around and killing stuff but FF tactics didn't turn out to be a wise choice since there's a lot of reading involved and I get sick easily when reading on a car/plane.

But one warning I have for anyone who plans to buy the DS for long vacations, especially to asia, is that their charger doesn't work for most outlets overseas. The charger is listed for 120v and in Thailand and China, they range from 110v - 240v. I tried charging it on 110 and 115v outlets and it didn't work at all so my trip back to the US was without the DS. Fortunate for me, I took sleeping pills back and slept through most of the ride.

So in a nutshell, here are my pros and cons for the DS Lite.

PROS:
- Long battery life, 15 - 19hrs on lowest brightness settings
- A huge selection of games
- Very light and portable

CONS:
- Charger doesn't work for many outlets, at least in china and thailand
- Small screen is sometimes hard to see whats going on (but that can't be helped for a handheld)

A Great Console For the Most Part

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:45:48 +0000

The Playstation 2 was a huge success. Right now it stands as the bestselling console of all time. Well, for the moment, the Nintendo DS is pretty close to catching up. But on the front of all this, one thing is simple: Sony created a huge mega selling system! The Playstation 3 had high expectations. Could it live up? Well, sure. In some ways it really can. But there are two sides to Sony's history. The first is that while they make good consoles, they also often forget that video games sell consoles. By that I mean that while the Playstation 2 was an awesome system... it was the games that made it that way, despite that Sony was pushing the DVD playback more at launch. The Playstation 3 suffers in that same way.

But we're mostly here to talk about the system in and of itself. And the Playstation 3 is a pretty good system, despite that it still doesn't have the support that it really needs. But part of that may be more because of a launch that didn't prove to be successful in the long run. And by that I simply mean that while people went after it, the price kept it from selling nearly as much as it could've. In the end, the Playstation 3 certainly didn't ride the coattails of the Playstation 2's success.

Preface
I must preface this review by stating that in no way will you find partisan fanboyism in this review. If you'd like t know about the 360 or the Wii, I recommend you go check out their respective data points. Gaming has become similar to politics. People keep bickering about which system is better.... While there's nothing wrong with preference, there is something that can be said about the mentality of gamers online. I recommend staying away from gaming forums if you'd like to keep your IQ as high as it can get.

The Playstation 3
If there was one thing anyone could say about the Playstation 3 right off... it does have a distinct and stylistic look. It's black, as you might expect, but it's also slick and shiny. The system is also pretty heavy. But this is because there's a lot included in the Playstation 3. The system does quite a bit of things. The disc is loaded into the console, but the PS3 goes to show that the days of the disc tray are over. It just slides in nice and easy and loads. Rather than pressing lots of buttons to turn it on, there's simply a sensitive touch system in place. And even then, you don't have to do that. The wireless controller it comes with does just about everything. From turning the system on to booting up games and everything. The wireless controller is nothing new, but one nice thing about the PS3's controller in particular is that there's a rechargable battery inside, and it can easily be charged by plugging the controller into the console using a USB cord. If you want you can also charge it by plugging it into your PC. Another unique thing about the PS3 controller is that it CAN be used as a gamepad for your PC if you'd like (though you have to download a plugin to use it), but it's rather nice.

Graphically, the Playstation 3 has some pretty good looking and running games. However, there are quite a few games that don't look nearly as good as they do on the 360. Is it because the PS3 is in its infancy? Well, hardly. As of writing this review it's been out for three years, and games that go multiplatform still continue to look superior on the 360. Sometimes the difference is rather hard to see, but picking up games like Ghostbusters shows a huge difference between both consoles. Other times with games like Resident Evil 5 there's hardly a difference between either version. In most cases it appears to be lighting effects more than anything. The buzz is that the PS3 is much more powerful than the 360. If this is true, then most developers have yet to realize the potential. On the other hand, games that are exclusive to the PS3 tend to be some of the best looking games out there. Games like Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune are incredibly good looking games. Especially Uncharted which shows just how much detail a PS3 game can really convey. The theory for this is that when it comes to multiplatform, most developers don't want to put in that extra work to make a PS3 game the best it can be. So it does have potential to be a graphical powerhouse. The exclusive titles show that. There are no limits when it's a PS3 exclusive. The only real problem is that a lot of great PS3 exclusive titles are few and far between. And many of the system's premiere games also happen to be on the 360. What exclusives the PS3 does have are amazing, but most of the don't come quite as often as you'd like.

One of the biggest issues of PS3 is that there are just too damn many out there! Well, not really. Overall there are at least seven different PS3 consoles out there. There's the standard 20 Gig, the 40 gig, the 60 gig, two different 80 gigs (if you cound the MGS4 bundle) and a 160 gig. Most of the other "types" aren't really sold anymore. You can still find the 80 gig (the non MGS4 bundle) and 160 but they don't have the backwards compatibility with them. They still play PS1 games, at least. On the other hand, while it's cheaper to buy these versions some just aren't happy about the lack of playing PS2 games.

Yet when I say the PS3 does a lot I'm not kidding. There's a CD player in there, and it still plays DVDs. Along those lines there's also the Blu-Ray player. If you're guessing that Sony was actually pushing the video game playback of their console, you're wrong. They spent much of their time pushing Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray gives you incredible picture... but this also means that getting the most out of your Playstation 3 can be more expensive than it appears. At a minimum, the console costs 400 bucks. But it suffers from similar problems of the 360 in the regard of playback. That being that there are some games that just don't look good or can be hard to play on a Standard Definition Television. In short, to get the most out of a PS3 (or 360 for that matter) you'd be better off investing in an HDTV (at least 720p). There's almost no point in watching a Blu-Ray if it isn't in High Definition. The point is, the "video" part of video gaming is now getting a lot of emphasis. And when you do get your PS3 hooked up to an HDTV you'll be surprised at a world of difference it can make. It's just that in order to experience that it might be pricey at first.

Perhaps the only major gripe with the system, is that even with all that space on the system... it can go pretty fast. This is because some games for the PS3 have a mandatory install. What exactly is the big deal? Well, some games can take up little space. Disgaea 3, for example, barely takes up 200MB. But games like say... Resident Evil 5 and Metal Gear Solid 4 can take upwards of 5 gigabytes. This is A LOT of space if you only invested in that 20 gig model. Even worse is that the installation time can be a killer. Games can take anywhere from just a a minute or two to twenty minutes to install. The good news is that you only need to install a game once. The bad news is that if you invest in a lot of games and they're all taking up space, you might find that even 80 gigs can dwindle down quickly. Remember, you also still need to save data from your games. Not to mention downloading things also takes up space as well.

It's nice that you can hop online for free, though. All you need is to register to the Playstation Network. So you can play games online at no extra charge. But buying downloadable content is still going to cost you. But it is nice to download demos for free and it's also nice to be able to surf the internet. That's not to say you'll get bad quality. Most of the time it's pretty easy surfing and simple to use.

While this is supposed to be a review of the console... we can still talk games for just a second. A gaming console is useless if it doesn't have good games. Luckily the PS3 does have several good games. The number of exclusives aren't as miniscule as you might think, but the fact that many of the PS3's best games are also on the 360 might cause some people to hold off on a PS3 for the moment. While you won't experience Metal Gear Solid 4, Uncharted, Rachet and Clank LittleBigPlanet etc. on the PS3 (all of which are very good games) it's hard to say "get a PS3" if some of these exclusives aren't appealing and price is the only thing affecting your choice for a game console the PS3 is a hard sell.

Is it a good system? Definitely. It is definitely worthwhile for most gamers. It's just too bad it got off to such a rocky start.

Hands off kids! This is Moms DS

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Going all the way back to the Game Boy Color my kids have always had a hand held gaming system. Previous to the Nintendo DS Lite I never felt like it was acceptable for the parent to play them. (At least not in public.) So when my daughter received her Nintendo DS Lite for Christmas in 2006, I knew Nintendo had finally made the move to expand their target demographic.

This was sleek, compact and portable touch screen gaming like this was still new. Because of the price and Nintendos history of coming out with a new "improved" system quite often, I decided to wait a while...a while ended up being 2 1/2 years. My beautiful, new Nintendo DS Lite in Onyx Black was a birthday present to myself this last April.

I was questioned by my kids and others as to why I didn't go with the newly released Nintendo DSi? My simple answer was I already have a camera, a computer for internet browsing, an Mp3 player, I still have Game Boy games I'd like to play and the DS Lite has a longer battery life. Add those to the increased price and it didn't make sense not to buy this one, at least for me.

Do I love it as much as I thought I would? YES! It has been a great way to pass time at the doctors office, commute to work, plane rides, waiting to pick the kids up, etc. Sometimes I play for as little as 5 minutes and sometimes for as long as 30. I carry it around in my purse in the DS Lite Dura-Case which holds 6 games nicely and keeps my system from being damaged. A couple of games that I highly recommend if you enjoy puzzle and/or brain games are: The Quest Trio, Professor Layton and the Curious Village and Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!.

Overall this is a very user friendly game system and while it's great for kids, it's also now okay for the parents to own one too.

Your chance to be a superhero!

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 05:20:10 +0000

One of my favorite game in the last few years is Crackdown, it featured a protagonist that gradually gained power and became a superhero by the end of the game, you can jump 30 feet into the air, pick up cars and throw them at bad guys, and the whole city essentially is your playground. So when inFamous was announced, I was psyched, another game featuring an open world and a character with superpower?! Sign me up!!

So I picked up the game on its release day, and I eagerly dropped it into my PS3, the game is very fun, but if you are expecting a game exactly like crackdown, you probably will be disappointed. In Crackdown, the thing that made it fun is the jumping and the exploration, you have to figure out a way up buildings, and the "story" and quests became secondary, in inFamous, there is a much higher emphasis on the story, and you can get a array of powers as the game go on, so although, both game feature superheroes, they offer very different playing experiences, but this game does so many things so well, it is still one of the best game I played this year.

The main character, Cole, mysteriously gained a the power to control electricity after terrorists detonated an electrical "bomb". He can shoot lightening through his fingers, does a electromagnatic push, throw a electric grenade, and fire electric rockets, he can also ride on any electrified surface like a train (powerlines, train tracks), he can also scale up buildings with ease, but instead of being able to jump up high, he's more like an acrobat, moving from ledge to ledge (Similar to another game from a couple years ago, Assassin's Creed), so the world has a lot of verticality, Cole can get up to a building, ride a powerline to the next one, and then jump down onto unsuspecting bad guys, this makes you feel super powerful, however, Cole is still vulnerable to bullets, so if you just run into a group of bad guys, expect to get your ass kicked!

The game has a main "quests" and numerous side quests, each side quests you finish will clear out a section of the city of bad guys, and the main quest missions will unlock the story, which is pretty interesting, the graphics is good, although you'll notice some pop-ins here and there, and there are some noticeable aliasing, but with the huge size of the city and all the things you can do in it, these are minor complaints. If you are a fan of open world games like GTA or Crackdown, this game should definitely be a part of your game library, it's definitly one of the best action games available right now!

A Family Centered Console

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:02:32 +0000

Nintendo did well with this console.

Not only did the revolutionize the way we think about controllers, but they also approached gaming in a completely different way. With the introduction of Mii's and the new controller, gaming is MORE interactive and no longer a niche past time among the younger crowd.

I've had plenty of fights with my Uncle on who gets to play Wii Tennis.

Also, the Wii encourages multiple real world players, not just online. Party games like Smash and Mario Party invite you to bring your friends along for the fun.

This is what gaming's about. It's not about always about the best graphics or plots. Sure, those are great attributes for very successful games. The Wii just applied a new attribute to gaming: social gaming. Now your grandma can pick up a WiiMote and play with you. Games like Smash encourage you to flail around like a monkey. It's ok! It's part of the game!

An Evolutionary Step Forward for Nintendo's Prime Handheld

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:16:02 +0000

In 2004, Nintendo released the original Nintendo DS. Just two years later, the Nintendo DS Lite debuted and was better than the original by far. Since its original release, the Nintendo DS has gone on to sell more than 100 million units worldwide. With sales numbers like that, why would Nintendo need to release another revamp of their prized handheld? More than that, are the new features worth picking up if you have a DS Lite or if you still have an original DS? Well, it can be, but if you're perfectly content with your original DS or your DS Lite there's nothing wrong with that, and you don't have to buy it. That's not to say it would be a bad investment. For some it might be worth it.

Certainly if you still have the original DS, it is worth investing in this newer update. There are quite a few new things about the Nintendo DSi that can make it worth buying. One of the first changes that is obvious from the moment you see it is that it's slightly smaller and designed a little differently. The power button has been moved and now doubles as a reset button. The screen is also slightly bigger and brighter than the DS Lite. When turning it on, there is also a notable difference in the interface which has been completely reworked all together. It's been made a bit easier to use.

Perhaps the biggest and most notable difference is that the DSi no longer has a slot to play Gameboy Advance games. If you're still playing your GBA games a lot, this is probably a pretty big subtraction when it comes to the DSi, no matter how much it includes. If you're someone who hasn't used your DS for playing GBA games in a while, it's probably not a big deal, but I would've gladly taken a slightly thicker handheld just to maintain the GBA slot. There is, however, a slot for an SD card to store more data. The first of these is the wi-fi service which you can get on and download some downloadable games for the DSi. Much like the Wii, you'll spend points (100 points is equal to one dollar) to buy games. There's also the built in web browser, but this is not something to jump up and down over really, as it isn't a very good web browser.

The camera is a nice addition, allowing you to customize and mess around with the pictures you take. They don't look good on anything but the DSi screen, however, but you can store them on an SD card or the DSi's internal memory. You can take quite a bit of photos, and mess around with them in interesting ways, such as drawing on them or manipulating faces. It can be fun to mess around with.

While the new additions are nice the more expensive price is a bit much for those who are already carrying a DS Lite. There are some new features but there isn't too much done here to enhance the gaming experience itself outside of a larger screen. However, that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile. The download service in particular can be very worthwhile in the future. The games on the download service also aren't too expensive. In short, even DS Lite owners might find it worth the extra money after a while.

Another big hit to the DSi is that the battery life just isn't as long as the previous incarnations. For those wanting to use it primarily for gaming, it might surprise you that the DSi will need to be charged a lot more frequently, as the battery last five hours shorter than that of the DS Lite. It takes a bit shorter to charge as a result, but you'll find yourself charging it quite a bit, especially if you play with the screen on the brightest settings.

In the end some may wonder if the upgrade is worth it. It's a bit more expensive than the DS Lite and doesn't have a GBA slot and a shorter battery life. However, you are getting some nice extra features, and with Nintendo planning to implement them in some of their games in the future, it's at least worth consideration. DS Lite owners may not need to upgrade immediately, but in the future it might be worth considering. If you don't own a DS at all, the DSi is probably the best bet.

The Nintendo DSi is a nice step in the evolution of Nintendo's handheld. It has a lot of new features that can go a long way. Even DS Lite owners might want to consider updating at some point, but it still stands: if you're content with your DS Lite or original DS you don't have to get it. It's certainly worth considering, though.

Pros:

+Bigger and slightly brighter screen
+New interface is easy to navigate
+DSi Ware is a nice implementation
+Digital camera to take photos with
+Internal memory and SD card slot are nice for storing data
+Downloaded games are inexpensive and the service has a lot of potential

Cons:

-Photos taken on camera only really look good on the DSi screen
-Shorter battery life
-Web browser isn't the greatest
-The lack of a GBA slot means you can't play GBA games, use some of the DS Lite's accessories (such as a rumble pack) and makes some games like Guitar Hero World Tour virtually unplayable

The Console To End All Consoles

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:32:42 +0000

The PS3 was first released in November 2006, just one year after its competition, the XBOX 360. What can be said for the console since its release back on that amazing day in 2006? Well one thing is that it continues to evolve even to this day thanks to new releases with bigger hard drives and numerous software patches to be downloaded for free through the Playstation network (PSN). Sony are a company that listen to their fans and although upon first release the creators think they know what's best, they are more than willing to develop the interface and the experience through feedback from gamers.

The XBOX 360 was released 1 year earlier than the PS3 because Microsoft wanted to get the jump on Sony by releasing their console for Christmas 2005 which presented absolutely no gaming competition. Good move from a business stand point, but this only hindered the XBOX experience with the numerous hardware faults including the dreaded red ring of death. Fans were angry and frustrated and certainly a lot of them felt robbed by Microsoft's shoddy hardware blunders. The PS3 was the saving grace as although we had to wait an additional year for it to be released, the wait was worth it.

The look of the PS3 is something I want to talk about first. The external appearance is something we all notice first and it's definitely something that made me buy it. Next to hardware, the look of a console on the outside and in the interface is definitely something quite important I take into consideration when deciding a purchase. The GUI (Graphical User Interface) is again something that looks very pretty and of course presents an easy to navigate interface. The PS3 GUI is known as the XrossMediaBar or the XMB. It is split into 9 categories. Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, PSN, Network and Friends all make up an easy to find system when you're looking to perform a particular task within the operating system.

I don't know much about hardware and the technical stuff, but they've all been touched upon in other reviews so I'm going to just talk about the little add ons that really make it a worthwhile experience to buy this console. The PSN is one of its best selling points for the PS3 as although the 7th generation of gaming has taken a more positive leap to internet gaming, the fact that joining the PSN and being able to play your friends online is free wins it many fans. The wireless controllers are again another fantastic addition. This may be considered reaching for complements but it's the small things that have the biggest impact. Bluetooth and built in wireless internet capability are just immense considering if you want stuff like this, you have to buy the extras for the XBOX 360 to allow for such freedom

My favourite thing to do with the console is to be able to plug in my external hard drive and watch any film I have stored on my PS3. It seems to have the ability to play any video format on the PS3 and although that may not be the case, I'm happy and as a gamer, that's all that matters. Thanks to recent updates, Sony has now introduced the very welcome Trophy system which is a way of matching Microsoft's achievement system. Some would say it's better, others would say it doesn't matter, but to me it makes the gaming experience that bit more worth it.

The whole point of the PS3 is the gaming experience and that is the right approach to take which has worked wonders for Sony. No widespread hardware problems and no noise problems which were two of my main complaints about the PS3. It wasn't a rushed console and you can tell that from the start. It's an immense experience and just over two years on it has an impressive games catalogue that is guaranteed to get better and better. There's no doubting that even though it is just two years on, there's a PS4 at least at the discussion point of development and we probably won't see a finished article for about 4 or even 5 years.

That being said, I hope Sony learn a lot from this console and understand where they went wrong and what they did right. At this point, with all the software updates and other such changes, the PS3 is near enough the perfect console. One thing that does bug me a little is the constant new releases with larger hard drives and better add ons such as PS2 backwards compatibility. When we do see a PS4 we should get a large hard drive to begin with but if upgrades of hard drive space are made available, then we should be given an easy way to upgrade the hard drive without having to be a techno type of guy and having to take apart the console.

Just buy it, you won't regret it, I promise.

The WII may cuase injury

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:14:24 +0000

So i bought the Wii and only played it for like 2 weeks now it just sits in my room collecting dust i would have more interest if i could afford the bad ass games like call of duty and starwars but other then that the games dont look that appealing. i think its cool i have a darth vader mii and a stormtrooper and batman lmao. well the wii is cool but i should get my ass to a store and buy freaking games or at least rent them lol.

Fun For The Car And Rainy Days

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The Nintendo DS Lite was a "must have" on my daughter's Christmas list. Somehow Santa managed to get her the Metallic Rose one that she had to have. I must admit that I was quite surprised by this little gizmo's abilities. Not only does it feature two very well lit screens, it also has Wi-Fi capabilities allowing my daughter to connect with all of her friends.

Like the old GameBoy, it features traditional buttons used to play games. It also features a stylus which gets a lot of use from my daughter when she is writing notes to friends.

The DS Lite is the perfect toy to bring along on long road trips or even for long lines at school during drop-offs and pick-ups. Whenever it's raining outside, my daughter will settle in somewhere in the house and play her DS Lite games.

The nineteen hour charge claim is true. So far there have been no problems with the system losing its charge too quickly.

Overall, I was quite surprised at how much fun the Nintendo DS Lite actually was. I've always personally felt that portable gaming systems were greatly inferior to their sit-at-home counterparts. However, the DS has made a true believer out of me.

Innovative... and yet we're still only talking about "Potential"

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:17:14 +0000

The Nintendo Wii is quite revolution in its own right. With all the things it can do, it's hard to say it won't be competition for the market this year. What it boils down to is what you like. If you want a console for some gaming fun, then the Wii is definitely for you, in more ways than one. However, an increasing problem the Wii is suffering from more and more is the lack of quality games. It wouldn't surprise me if many gamers let their Wii sit collecting dust just because good, worthwhile games are so few and far between.

Setting up your Wii is pretty simple stuff. The system comes with the necessary cords a Wii remote and a Nunchuck controller right off the bat. Its a little disappointing it doesn't come with a shell controller as well for the virtual download (if you plan on using it right away), but if you've got Gamecube controllers, you don't have to worry about the shell controller, really. Also to the Nintendo Wii's credit, the Wii remote actually comes with two AA batteries.

As far as what the Wii looks like and how games play, there's a small problem here. The games, do not look nearly as good as a Playstation 3 game or an X360 game. That isn't to say games don't look good, it's just to say it's not as powerful. However, it's obvious what the Wii is made for: Gameplay. This is obvious by its fantastic control granted to it by the Wii remote and the Nunchuck. I've had good experiences so far. The graphics are a small price to pay. Though it should be noted, that a lot of games just haven't realized the potential of the Wii Remote. Some games, even, still require using the old Gamecube Controller. It's one of just many potentials the Wii has, but that isn't being taken advantage of.

First off, if you're one to think that the Wii remote means you'll have to work to play your games, nothing could be further from the truth. You do not, by any means, have to actually stand up to play a game. In fact, you can continue to sit down all you want. The system comes with a motion senser and a stand for the motion sensor. The motion sensor allows you to be up to five meters away from your television. If need be, you can always adjust the sensitivity of the Wii remote to suit what works best for you. It can be a little bit to get used to at first (particularly when you have to type stuff in), but it is surprisingly fluent. The Wii remote can also be used to turn on and off the system, or to reset the game from the system menu. It should be noted, however, that the majority of the games (nearly all of them) don't require you to stand at all. In fact most of them don't even encourage standing.

The Nunchuck attaches to the remote and can easily be removed. In most games, the Nunchuck controls where your characters on screen go. In some games however (such as some of the games on Wii Sports), you don't really need the Nunchuck attatchment. Still, it's good to have because several games actually do depend on the Nunchuck and Wii Remote heavily. The Wii remote truly does take gaming to a whole new level, simply because it makes for more than just simple button mashing. Rather, you actually ARE in control of what goes on. It's unique, and it works. Again, you don't have to work too hard. A simple flick of the wrist is all it takes to get the Wii remote to respond.

Outside of the fun you'll have with this, it's important to note just what else the Wii has going for it. First and foremost, the internet connection, which can easily be set up if you have a Wi-Fi connection (otherwise you'll have to go out and purchase a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB plug in). It works very similar to the Nintendo DS. You don't have to pay to go online, but Nintendo does use the Friend Code system which has been used constantly with Nintendo DS games, which means it's going to be a pain to communicate with people. Also, aside from that, there is a parental control setting for any parents who want to monitor their kids. I have not tinkered with this yet, but it could be useful. Any and all settings can be changed any time you wish.

What's interesting about going online, however, is all the services it provides. Although, as of launch they're not all up and running, it's still pretty interesting to take a look at them all. The first is the Virtual Console, which can be used to purchase some of your old school games from the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, and TurboGrafix 16. The best part about downloading these classics is that they're cheap, and perfectly emulated. Right now there isn't much availible, but in the coming months Nintendo has stated that there will be plenty more. This means, for any old school gamer out there, that you won't have to pay ridiculous prices for old games (such as Super Mario RPG). These games can be played using the shell controller, but you can also use the Gamecube contoller, and you can also use the Wii Remote for some games (mainly NES titles). Its a pain the system doesn't come with a shell controller though, which means you'll have to pay additional money if you plan on using the virtual download. One other thing to note, however, is that going online isn't something you'll be doing a lot. There's some cool stuff thanks to the virtual console and Wii Ware, it's about the only thing to do. The interface isn't so bad, though, but some of the organization could stand to be better, especially as more and more games are added to the virtual console.

There are also a ton of channels you can explore. First, there's the Mii Channel, which allows you to create what's called a "Mii." A Mii is a virtual character that you'll create. He or she will have the ability to pop up in some of your games, or you can use this Mii to travel to other Wii consoles and communicate with other Wii users. Its pretty interesting, but mostly to see your Mii show up in games such as Wii Sports. You can create more than one Mii which is pretty cool. You could essentially create one for all your friends and family.

Then there's the News Channel, which, of course, gives you the news. More over it gives you headlines and stories from the AP Press. It's not going to be better than the Newspapers or the internet, but it's there. There are also more channels to download as well, though most of them are actually kind of stupid and gimmicky that you won't really care for them. Especially when getting your news or weather forecast is just so much easier when you do it away from your Wii. The main Wii Menu can feel cluttered should you decide to download a lot. In terms of a menu, Nintendo would do well to take some tips from its competition.

Then there's the photo channel. You can use an SD card and upload photos to your Wii and tweak with them. This is a lot of fun to work with, and you can even send photos off to friends who have a Wii console.

There's also a message board up and running as well as a history in the calendar. The Wii will actually tell you what games you've been playing last and for how long you played them. It's really nothing special, but it's nice to see.

The Wii comes built in with a flash memory of about 512 MB. This isn't a whole lot. In fact this is extremely small. And while you can use an SD card for more space... it's actually really sad that you can't load games off the card directly. Most games don't take up that much space, but for those who might find themselves playing a lot, this isn't enough space. This is even worse if you're one who will download a lot of classic games. And as the virtual console presses on, there is a lot more that's worth downloading if your old systems are out of comission or if you missed out on classic games.

The Wii is a great system, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind. While the system isn't as expensive as the PS3, keep in mind that you'll have to buy a memory card at some point, which can be expensive. Also, Wii Remotes and the Nunchuck attachment are sold separately. So if you need to buy other Wii Remotes, you'll have to buy another Nunchuck attachment as well. Its strange that the two aren't sold together. So in the beginning, much like a lot of new gaming systems, it'll burn a whole in your pocket. Also, you'll need a game. Luckily, the first shipment comes packaged with Wii Sports, but you'll need another game besides that. So again, as with buying other systems, it does burn a whole in your financial pocket to get the most of your experience. This is essentially a problem that every video game console suffers from. The Wii suffers a little less by being less expensive, but that doesn't mean you won't be spending money to get more out of it. This differs from one gamer to another, but most might at least want to invest in a second controller.

There are a couple of other things that keep the system from being the all out fantastic experience. The Wii Remote, for starters, takes AA Batteries. A recharagble Wii Remote probably would've been much better. The system also doesn't play CDs or DVDs, but to be honest, this is hardly a problem in this day and age.

I don't like to talk too much about games in my review of video gaming systems. Games should be reviewed separately. But I will talk about the Wii's biggest problem concerning it's games. There are far too many mediocre games on the Wii. The chart to the left reflects this (it's dated in April 2008, and it hasn't changed much). In fact, it's sad to admit, but the best games on the Wii are the games which are made by Nintendo. Certainly Nintendo can design great games for their system, but third parties don't, and they're almost stealing from gamers who aren't that into gaming with an excess of mini-game compilations that are usually broken or not much fun to play. In short, the biggest issue with the Wii is that you'll have one, but you might not be spending much time playing it. It seems as though Nintendo are the only guys who can make a good game for their system. It's actually quite annoying. There's no reason third parties can't step it up, but I somehow don't think they will. It's ridiculous that the last good quality game for the Wii came out a year ago. Certainly some mini-game compilations are fun, but they're just as few and far between as good games. And there are some games that suit the Wii well, such as Resident Evil 4 and Okami... but the problem is that these are not new games and most people who wanted to play them... already have.

In short, those stories about people letting their Wii collect dust because of a lack of good games? They're true stories. The system overall is not a bad system, but it's 2009... the system was released in 2006... and we're sitting here still talking about the "potential" of what it can do. We've come to recognize the potential of the 360 and PS3, and they're still trying new things with those two systems... but for whatever reason there's no want to experiment with what they've got on their hands with the Wii. It's actually ridiculously sad. It's even sadder because it's a good system that is capable of playing great games in a new way. But where are those great games? I happen to enjoy my Wii, but the only time I ever turn it on now is when I get together with friends for a round of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. That isn't to say the other games aren't fun, it's to say that every video game console needs a variety of games to keep the gamer playing it. The Wii doesn't really do this. There are so few good games that it's quite possible you've played all the good ones already.

The Wii is a good system overall, but it's a system we're still talking about potential with. It dropped down with it's Wii Remote and Nunchuck and new way to play, but without a good library of games you won't get nearly as much fun out of it... because Nintendo and Third Parties aren't providng you with that much fun.

The Good

+Backwords compatible with all Gamecube Games, controllers and memory cards
+Virtual download allows for even more backwords compatibility and nostalgia for several gamers
+You can create a "Mii" and meet other Wii owners
+Built in memory with games that don't take up too much space
+Photos, news, weather... the Wii Channels have it all
+Its affordable
+Gamecube Controler can be used to play games on the Virtual Download Station
+You can't deny the power of its motion sensor controller, it really makes playing several games a lot more fun

The Bad

-The system is no where near as powerful as the PS3 or X360
-The Wii remote takes AA batteries, you'll probably run through them quickly, a rechargable battery could've been better
-While the console itself is affordable, it'll still cost you a pretty penny to get the maximum use out of it
-Wii Remotes and Nunchucks are sold separately
-Can't play CDs or DVDs... but is this really a problem in this day and age?
-The lack of games is a serious shot in the foot
-Several of the "channels" offered are filler space
-Severe lack of memory to save games; very bad if you're going to download a lot of virtual console games
-Three years later and we're still talking about "potential"

One of Mario's Best Adventures

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 07:24:58 +0000

Mario is a huge staple in gaming. When a Mario game comes out it can't just be "good" it has to be "great." In the past, Mario games have defined the platformers of their generation. From Super Mario Bros. over 20 years ago, to Super Mario 64 bringing platforming into 3D in a whole new light. Super Mario Sunshine, however, did not turn nearly as many heads as Super Mario 64. Understandable, seeing as how Super Mario 64 is a tough game to compare to. Super Mario Galaxy does compare, though. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it serves as an example of why Mario continues to rule the platforming genre.

Mario has never been a game to pick up for its storyline. As usual, things are peaceful in the Mushroom Kingdom. In this case, they're enjoying the star festival. As usual, Bowser comes in and decides to stir up trouble. He ends up kidnapping Princess Peach and once again its up to Mario to go rescue her. In order to reach Bowser's hideout, though, he'll have to collect power stars to do so. It borrows a lot from Super Mario 64 in the plot development, but this is hardly the same game. Like all Mario games, the story is simplistic. We've been saving Peach for over 20 years and it won't be stopping soon. You do not pick up Super Mario Galaxy for its storyline. It's all about the gameplay.

Like every Mario game, Galaxy is easy to pick up and learn but incredibly difficult to master. Through your travels you'll control Mario as you tackle the bad guys of the Galaxy. Mario's basic movies are all here. He can jump, triple jump and spin. It's very similar to Super Mario 64. The obstacles in Mario's way however range from Bowser's troopers to natural disasters like black holes. Getting every single star can be a tough task. Like the other Mario games in the past, though, it isn't necessary to get every single star in order to fight the end boss.

There are also suits for Mario can wear in his travels. There is the usual flower power and invincible star, but you'll also find new suits. There's the bee suit, which lets Mario fly. He can turn into a Boo and go through walls. He can even become a spring. Needless to say, there's a lot of variety in this gameplay.

There are several Wii games where the motion sensor controls have either been overused or they feel downright tacked on as an afterthought. In Super Mario Galaxy that's not the case. The motion sensor controls are not overused, nor are they forgotten about. From time to time you may find yourself rolling a ball around using the Wii remote like a joystick. Or you might be surfing on a manta ray. You'll shake the remote to execute Mario's spin move, and there's also a star you can control to pick up star bits and fire them off at enemies.

There's also a multiplayer aspect to Super Mario Galaxy, but it's certainly not all that engaging. Player 2 can use a separate remote to control a star and collect star bits and shoot them at enemies. Player 2 can also hold enemies still for Mario and make him jump. That's really all there is. Nothing more. It's interesting at first, but it's hard to shake the fact that player 2 just doesn't do a lot of anything.

Visually, Super Mario Galaxy is a pretty good looking game. By far the best the Wii has to offer. The detail is just incredible and the environments are gorgeous looking. There's also a great deal of attention done with the physics. It's fun to just jump up and watch Mario get pulled into the gravitational pull of another object. It's pretty cool stuff. If there was anything wrong with Super Mario Galaxy's presentation it would be that the player doesn't have complete control over the camera. The camera work isn't bad but from time to time there will be an object in your way. Luckily, this doesn't happen often enough to be a problem.

The game also sounds brilliant. Easily some of the best music the series has ever had. You'll hear remixed tunes from previous Mario adventures as well as whole lot of new stuff. It's perfectly orchestrated. There isn't a whole lot of voice acting in Super Mario Galaxy aside from Mario's shouts and screams and Bowser grunting. This probably won't bother most players as there isn't much story in the game anyway.

Super Mario Galaxy is a great game. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it has fantastic gameplay that is unmatched and unparalleled. If you're a Wii owner, this is the game to get.

Great gaming fun for three generations

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0000

There is a reason the Nintendo Wii outsells the technologically superior Sony Playstation 3 by a ratio of 4 to 1: the Wii is more fun for more people. I bouht the Playstation 3 first for my young grandchildren in the belief that I was getting a Blu-Ray player at a good price with game console almost for free. And that is kind of true, though you can now by a Wii and a good Blu-Ray player for little more than the cost of a Playstation 3.

There is no question tht the Playstation 3 is technologically superior to the Wii and vastly so. But the Playstation 3 is designed for the hardcore gamer contingent, males between the ages of 15 - 24. The games reflect this with an emphasis on violence, gore and sex.

The Nintendo Wii on the other hand is focused on the family. I get just as much fun out of the Wii as my grandchildren - and that is extremely important. I suspect that the Wii's 4 to 1 sales ratio over the Playstation 3 is largely due to this.

Hardcore gamers complain that their favorite violent games are available on the Wii or that they can't be displayed at 1080p. So what? MarioKart is no less fun because it displays at 480p. The hardcore gamers complain that there is no online play. Well, duh, when the kids are very young (or maybe have concerned parents if they are older), you don't want online play.

The Wii controllers are acts of genius. They exercise more than the thumbs.

Game selection is broad if you don't depend on a diet of mindless violence, gore and make-believe sex.

The Wii is what it says it is: a game console that provides fun for the entire family and even across generations. I love it, the grandkids love it. The Playstation 3 gathers dust, as it should. As the kids get older, I'll migrate them the Xbox, not the Sony.

But for the next few years, the Nintendo Wii is just perfect.

Jerry

Oh, my achin' agin' anteriors!!

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:53:12 +0000

Santa dropped this off at our house the other day, and I'm pretty sure he had a smile on his ruddy face when he did it. "I'll teach those bleedin' couch potatoes", he said with a laugh. "Ho Ho Ho", and off the old jelly belly flew, with his sleigh full of Wii related accoutrements for sedentary families around the world.

Having the good fortune to have a semi-geek in the house, the Wii thing was soon set up in the kid's bedroom, and after 5 hours I thought I should check on the adult kid and the little kid – just in case.

Santa had sadistically included an extra controller and nunchuk with the package, so added to the pair that comes with the set, a full scale 2 kid war was in progress, covering bragging rights for five included games – boxing (little kid leading), bowling (big kid ahead), baseball (no clear advantage – but then we don't play baseball here, because it's just not cricket), tennis (neither will see Wimbledon) and golf (Tiger's safe for now)

They had set up a Mii (avatar) for each member of the family (self included), and looking at the body shape they chose for me, I immediately remembered that I should make a New Year resolution to lose weight.

Soon enough a challenge was issued, and hours later I emerged as the household bowling champion, but threatening to sue for physical abuse for my boxing loss. (I think they made it personal)

All these games have an aerobic and physical element, and if you don't get yer lazy azz in gear, nothing much happens. Bowling for instance, requires you to swing the controller like you would a bowling ball (making sure that you secure it around your wrist first so you don't put a hole in your TV), and after hours of unaccustomed exercise, your muscles can really feel the burn. And it's not only your arm muscles. One does not bowl without the correct body language after all.

Oh the pain!!

Now they're looking at all the other doo-dads and wing-dings to further their Wii experience, and making strong birthday and father's day hints. IMHO they should drop off their requests to the fat man in the red suit, and get HIM to come over and play some games.

Off to review some Icy Hot and Radian B, and make a massage appointment.

Amanda Richards, December 28, 2008

Family Friendly Console That Gets Everybody Moving

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0000

I've been playing with the Nintendo Wii console for over a year now thanks to some friends of mine who have one. We got one for Christmas this year and finally decided to write a review of it.

Simply put, the Nintendo Wii does things that no gaming console has ever done before. It gets the entire family (and their bodies) in motion. The included "Sports" game is, as many others have stated, a very basic game, but it is very fun. Tennis, Bowling, Baseball, Boxing and Golf are all offered on the game, and each of them requires some level of mobility from the player. In tennis you actually swing the racket. In bowling you actually bowl the ball (and can put a little English on it, too). Baseball allows you to pitch and bat, and you can alter the direction of both with how you move the Wii controller (or by pressing buttons during delivery). The golf game can be just as aggravating as the real thing, and you must vary the strength of your swing to get a good shot. There are also fitness and training options on the game that can give you your "Wii" age.

The most strenuous (and most fun) game on the "Sports" disc has to be boxing. You literally have to bob, weave and juke your way around the ring in order to avoid getting hit by your opponent. As with the other games, your level of skill increases with each match you compete in, win or lose. The Sweet Science has never been much sweeter in a video game such as this one.

Setting up the console was simple. Simply follow the instructions and you'll be fine.

Once you've got the console set up, you can then begin to personalize it. You maneuver through the Wii's menu options via "channels." There's the game channel, which plays games (including GameCube games), as well as the Mii Channel, a weather, news, photo and internet channel. While I have only used the Mii and Game channel, I have had friends tell me that the other channels work very well once they are hooked to your internet connection.

The Mii channel is almost a game in itself. On this channel, you create your individual character that can be used in some Wii games. After creating your character, you are given the option to let it "mingle" in a room with other created characters. Some of these characters will show up as your ally or opponent in games, adding to the "personalization" of the game.

As stated before, having to move around makes this console that much more fun. It gives you a little bit of exercise without making you feel like you're "working out."

Highly personalized, easy to set up and very family friendly thanks to a large number of games that require multiple players to get up and move, the Wii will be a hit in any home. Highly recommended.

And then there was three.

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:16:50 +0000

I am a fan of the Nintendo DS. I never had a chance to own a Nintendo DS Lite but I always planned to upgrade when I had enough money saved for it. As soon as I was about to purchase a Lite; one of my friends told me about the new system that came out .. the Nintendo DSi.

The DSi is supposedly a tad bit smaller than the Lite, about 12%. The screens are a tad bit larger. There are two cameras on the new platform, one on the outer shell and on the hinge in the inside. The power switch has been changed into a power button; rumor had it to prevent unwanting shut off. A SD card has been placed for externail storage of media, pictures, and such. There are five brightness settings compared to the DS's four. So far, seems like a good buy.

The one huge flaw about the DSi that I found out is that the GBA cartridge slot has been removed thus you obviously can't play GBA games. This also means any accesories used for the GBA that was compatible with the prior DS platforms cannot be used as well.

The DSi is like a mini Wii, in a way. There is something like the Wii Shop Channel called the DSi Shop. The menu screens are somewhat like the Wii, too.

There are definitely pros and cons to this system. So whether or not DSi suits your fancy, I'm still in the big debate of whether I'll purchase one or not.

What a waste of money

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:02:12 +0000

I don't get what's so popular about this damn Wii. I went out of my way to get one with all the hype out there about how great and fun it is. After playing it for a few days, I got bored of it already. That motion sensor remote/nunchuck is "interesting" at best. But I don't find any of the games any fun. All the games seem to be made for 10 year olds or simpletons that are easily amused. I mean how fun can flipping your wrist to throw a bowling ball and watching it knock down 10 pins be? Yea the wii's very innovative but I could care less about innovation if the damn games are boring as hell. I thought mariokart would make up for this bad purchase. But mariokart only lasted a few weeks at best. They totally screwed up the battlemode by making it time based instead of last one standing.

So here's my summary of the wii:

Pros:

-innovative

-great for parties since most games are multiplayers

Cons:

-All the games are for kids or simpletons that are easily ammused

-Graphics suck, compared to the xbox360 or ps3

-A lot more expensive than you would originally think after you purchase all the accessories and extra controllers/remotes

Final notes: If you're a serious gamer, skip the wii for sure. You'll surely be disappointed.

GREAT PORTABLE GAME SYSTEM, LOTS OF GOOD GAMES

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

We purchased the Nintendo DS Lite for my daughter and she loves it. There are a huge amount of quality games for it. She loves the New Super Mario Bros. and Nintendogs is really cute too. It has two screens on it that show different things depending on the game. The screen is bright and has fairly good graphics for a handheld unit. The screen also utilizes touch screen technology that is used during most games. It also has a built in microphone that can be used for example to talk to your pets on Nintendogs or on PetzCatz 2. With the built in WiFi they can play against their friends or chat without connecting any wires. This unit takes about 8 hours to charge once depleted but you can play while it charges and once it is charged you can play for days without recharging it. With this system you can also play GameBoy Advance games using a port on the unit. This system can do alot and is sure to please.

We really like our Wii! Fun for the whole family!

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

The Wii is a very user-friendly, versatile, and entertaining computer gaming system. It really is much more than a game base -- there are channels so you can check the weather and the news, you can add an internet browser (for a small fee, which was disappointing at first until I realized how small the fee really was ... and since I can't post amounts in a review I'll just say it is about the same as a video rental and less than a movie ticket), and many more options are available. It comes with a very fun set of games (bowling, boxing, tennis, etc.) that make use of the very versatile controllers that are included. Additional games can be downloaded (for a fee) or purchased -- and now you can rent them (or buy them used) at most major video chains.

What I like most about the Wii is that it seems to be designed for family use. This is not just for boys who like shooting aliens. There are lots of activities that make it simple and fun for the whole family, from very young to very old. You create little "Miis" that represent (and look like) you (or not, if you prefer), and they become your character in the games -- we spent a while just creating characters for each member of the family, letting each create their own but making suggestions to each other and laughing at the various options each chose. It is a lot of fun.

With the internet compatibility -- especially if we hook it up to a USB keyboard -- this really becomes like a new household computer. You can check email, browse, buy, anything you like. (If you have a Gmail account you can even do word processing and spread sheets on their website -- so it really becomes just like a new computer.)

There were a few glitches -- we have a DSL internet connection and while we could hook up quickly when we tried to install the upgrade that the system recommended we found that it stalled about 4 times before finally completing the download and completing the upgrade. Something similar happened when we tried to download the internet "channel" (browser). Eventually we got everything working, though.

One more thing that bugs me a bit is that the Wii won't play DVDs. Apparently it is able to do so, from a hardware standpoint, but they haven't installed the software for various reasons (and there is no way to get the software through Nintendo). That is the only reason I might have preferred a Playstation -- which natively plays BluRay and DVDs. I'd like it if I didn't have to switch between my DVD player and the Wii, and could just use the Wii box for both functions. Still, this is a pretty fantastic device, that I'm sure will get a lot of use from my whole family for a very long time.

PS3 Rocks

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

I purchased two PS3's. One for myself and one for my wife. We had problems with both of them and was forced to send them back to Sony to have them fixed. One of them was dead on arrival and the other one turned off and wouldn't turn back on again. However since they fixed them we haven't had any further problems. To get the most out of this system you need a high def tv and hdmi cable. The graphics are simply amazing! When the PS3 first came out it was disappointing because there were no good games but that has changed and there are many good titles for this console. There is also a online store where you can purchase games and even try many out for free. This is great because you can get an idea what the game is like before forking over $60.00 for a game. The PS3 also has a built in Blu-Ray Player that is just as good as any other Blu-Ray player out there. A decent Blu-Ray Player will set you back about $300.00 so it is a huge plus to get this included with the PS3. You can also download movies, tv shows and more.

Wii - The right console for great fun with family and friends!

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Wii introduced me to the world of video gaming. I'd never been a video game player growing up and I even sucked at playing games on early systems like Atari. I was afraid of pitting myself against other kids at video game arcades during my teenage...as everyone always beat me hollow! I watched my friends play the XBox and the PS2 a couple of years ago but never felt confident enough to pick up the controller. Then came the Wii in 2006 and it changed my definition of a video game console.

Wii is truly innovative as it allowed people like me to play video games for the first time. Wii Sports - the game that comes with the console -makes great use of the wireless remote. All of a sudden, I can golf or box or bat away in my living room. It simulates the game really well and you feel like you're really playing the game. Of course, it's not really the same thing as playing outdoors but then how many times do I get the chance to play the real game anyway! It's really fun to play the games available for the Wii with friends and family, and share some great times together. Wii seems to have the best collection of family friendly games.

With games like Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution, Hannah Montana World Tour, Jillian's 30 day shred the Wii has become a great way to exercise. With games like Guitar Hero and Wii Music we can rock out. With Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Ski, Mario Kart we can simulate some fun sports right in our living room. And of course, there are Zelda and Metroid Prime type games available if you're into "real" gaming.

I see XBox and PS3 more as the hard core gamer consoles, especially given the choice of games available for them. On the other hand, Wii really shines as a family console which can be played by ages 5 to 99. It seems like the best console for a night with family and friends, even people like me who still suck at the hard core video games can have fun with this one.

Metallic Silver finish is very nice, DS Lite is a winner!

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0000

DS Lite has been very well reviewed so this review is just about the new metallic silver finish. I really like the metallic silver finish compared to the black/red/cobalt because it shows less finger prints and seems more scratch proof. My daughter already decorated it by creating her initial with some swarowski type crystals in pink and silver, and it looks nice.

I have to say that having played the PSP and now the DS, I prefer the DS over the PSP due to the dual screen and stylus. I bought the Brain Age 2 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!for my kid and I have been playing it as much as her, it really is a very well designed game and the Nintendo DS interface is excellent for games of this type. Nintendo has so many more learning games available over PSP that for me there is no contest between the two. Bravo Nintendo!

great game platform for kids

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 18:06:32 +0000

My 7-year-old son has one of these and he's fascinated by it (ok, addicted to it). There are lots of terrific games for kids of all types, from Nintendogs (train your dogs by speaking to them, petting them, etc.) to the amazing Pokemon games (his and his friends' favorites). Really incredible little machine, at a reasonable price (about $120), with engaging (albeit small) graphics, interaction by voice, touch, or buttons, and great games available for it.

Who Can't Love IT?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

I'm sure some of you out there are Wii haters, and that's cool. But for the rest of us average-joe mostly non-gamers this is a totally fun system.

It's easy to enjoy all the standard games with only a small level of gaming ability. Just be ready with Tiger Balm when you're done to address the strain in your shoulder joints. I seriously thought about icing mine after a strenuous game of tennis.

Also, this system travels beautifully. Pack it up and take it to the next party you go too.

I know some folks may think lowly of the Wii as it isn't as hardcore of a system (owing to its games) as the other seriously hardcore gaming systems out there, but who died and decided that a video game systems couldn't simply be mindless and fun? Geeze, isn't that how video games started out anyways?

Highly recommend this for couples, families, older folk, tennis players, those who dream of touring withe PBA or PGA and anyone else in between.

Nice!

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

I love the style and look of this DS system. It's a plus that the bottom of the unit is a matte finish so the fingers prints won't show and it will not scratch easily. The only problem I have it that my right forefinger tends to sit on the side and it is a little uncomfortable to hold. BUT no pain not gain - I will keep on playing!

Keep Your Wife from Nagging, Get Her One of These.

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Pros: Excellent graphics, sound good, light weight and inexpensive.

Cons: Will probably break if you drop it. Plus is very sensitive to heat.

The Bottom Line: This is a nice little gadget for those long road trips, I highly recommend getting one of these. You will have hours of fun with this game system.

I purchased this game system for my wife on Mother's Day. It was a total surprise she had been bugging me to get her one for quite a while. When I went to the store to pick one out I did not know that I had to make a big decision such as what color to buy for her. They had several different colors to choose from, Crimson and black, pink, white, blue, and pitch black. I chose the Crimson and black, and it was only $129 plus tax. This does not come with any kind of cartridge to get you started so you will have to spend another $20 per any one of the games. She specifically requested Brain Age. Ever since I surprised her with this game system she has been playing it nonstop. She carries it with her wherever she goes. I have tried it myself but, I seemed to struggle with it and that might be because I am not the one that wanted it. This particular game is supposed to help you build your brain power up.

Description
This particular console is Crimson color on top, and black all throughout the rest of the console. This only weighs 7.5 ounces and is approximately 5" x 3" in diameter. When you first open it up you will see two screens, one on the top half and one on the bottom half. There is also a shoe buttons, you will see for big buttons with the letters X, Y, A, B, plus there is to very small buttons. One will operate the start option and the other, you can select different options. There also is a cross button that will operate the cursor in your game. On the right side of your game system is the power switch and your stylus pen. In the back of your console you will be able to slide your game cartridge in and hook your USB cable into. In the front of your console you have your volume control and a place to plug your headset into, plus there is a little drawer where you can plug in Game Boy advance game packs. There also is two game control buttons on the lower right and left hand side of your console in the rear. These are used on selected games. You will have to check your booklet to see when to use these two controls. This also comes with an extra stylus pen.

Features
This particular console is lighter than the earlier models. It comes with stereo speakers, two LCD screens, the lower screen is a touchscreen, they recommend that you only operate this with the stylus pen made by Nintendo. Each of these screens are 3 inches in diameter and have a maximum resolution of 256 x 192. In the maximum number of colors is 260,000 different colors. The sound is in stereo, and if you use a set of headphones this will add to the illusion that you are in a world of your own. This bottom screen is very sensitive as you will soon find out. There is also a little red LED light that will tell you of your batteries life and will change from red to green when your battery is too low. It will also flash to give you some kind of warning. When your battery starts to get low if you are wondering how to tell if this is fully charged your red LED light will be orange, while the battery is being charged and will automatically turn off when it is fully charged. There is several control buttons on this console, and you will have to check your manual of each game to tell which control button will activate that game. There is a special holding spot on the bomb of your console. That way you do not get your stylus pen damaged when not in use. There also is a microphone feature on this console, but it is only available to certain games. To control the volume all you have to do is slide bar to the right or left to raise or lower the volume. There is a slot in the front that is for any game packs that you might have or accessories. They recommend that you keep this covered at all times when not using that way you will not have to worry about any dirt and dust particles falling in there and contaminate the inside of your unit. This console also has adaptability to a stereo or headphones. If you flip the console over you will see a battery cover. It takes a Phillips head screwdriver, a very small Phillips head screwdriver to remove it. There is also an external extension connector that you can plug in to get it to be recharged. When a slot in the back where you stick to cartridge for your DS game will only hold the Nintendo DS game cards. There is also a place to hook a wrist strap to but you will have to buy that separately. A couple of other features, that is nice about this unit and that is Pictochat, and you can have a wireless connection. The Pictochat will allow you to communicate with 15 other DS users. Also, the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection will allow you to play games over the Internet, and all you will need is an active Internet connection.

Battery
It does not take long to charge this battery up. It only takes three hours to become fully charged. This battery can be recharged just about 500 times, it will also last around 20 hours, plus this is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A lot has to depend on the type of game that you were playing. If you have not use this game system for a very long time, they recommend that you charged us up at least once every six months. If you do have to replace the battery, they suggest that you used model number USG003, or go to their website www.Nintendo.com. If that doesn't work, then they suggest you call customer service at 1-800-255-3700.

Experiencing DS for the First Time
When you first turn on your unit to you will see that they want you to read your health and safety precaution booklet before you start playing. Then they will ask you to touch the lower screen, and at the top screen you will have a virtual reality clock and a calendar. Once you hit the touch screen with your finger this sound is not bad, and both screens should be working properly, they will also give you a choice of different groups that you can choose to play. If you were to accidentally shut the console, such as closing the top and making a connection to the bottom. It will automatically shut down to save battery life, but if you open it back up, it will be right where you left the game off at. Once you start playing this game. There will be different levels of that the game will automatically add on to as you hit new levels. If you do not shut this off manually little green light will keep flashing until you do so. Make sure that when using your style is that you do not apply to much pressure, because you could damage the screen. If you're screen becomes dirty do not use any kind of chemicals whatsoever to clean it off. Just a damp cloth will loosen any particles and use a clean dry cloth to wipe it off. Before you start to play you also most set up your system. You will need to follow the on-screen instructions to do this. My wife and I usually do not partake in the Internet games, but we do purchase the extra game cartridges for this system. The graphics are exceptionally well for such a small unit, plus the sound does not get distorted when you turn it all the way up.

Additional Games
After purchasing our first game, I started doing a little surfing on the Internet to find out what other games there were. The place that we had purchased our game system from was limited as to how many games they had. I know that this is probably not all of the gains that are out in today's market. But here is a few (185) that I could find; The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass /DK: Jungle Climber/The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass /Brain Voyage /Master of Illusion /Guitar Hero: On Tour/Backyard Baseball 2009 /Mario Party DS /Major League Baseball 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars /Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Crosswords DS /GoPets: Vacation Island /Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword /Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day /Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day /Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol/Iron Man /The World Ends with You /Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness/Advance Wars: Days of Ruin /Myst /Teenage Zombies /Fab 5 Soccer /Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3/Professor Layton and the Curious Village /Toy Shop /Rondo of Swords/ Drone Tactics Plushees /High School Musical 2: Work This Out /Harvest Moon DS Cute /Lost in Blue 3 /Spitfire Heroes: Tales of the Royal Airforce /FIFA Street 3 /Brain Assist /Fantasy Aquarium /Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates Ninja Reflex /Insecticide /Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer /Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts /Petz: Bunnyz /Assassin's Creed Altaïr's Chronicles /Diary Girl /Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney /My Horse and Me Let's Ride: Friends Forever /Naruto: Ninja Destiny /Bratz: Super Babyz/ Zoo Tycoon 2/ Disney Friends/ Puppy Palace/ Kung Fu Panda /SEGA Superstars Tennis/Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery/ Eco Creatures: Save the Forest/ Chicken Hunter/ The Spiderwick Chronicles /Nanostray 2/ Paws and Claws Pet Resort/River King: Mystic Valley/ Build-A-Bear Workshop/Mega Brain Boost /WordJong/ My Word Coach /Rayman Raving Rabbids 2/Orcs & Elves/ The Golden Compass/ Alvin and the Chipmunks/ Brain Challenge/ Horse Life/ Barnyard Blast: Swine of the Night/ Cooking Mama 2/ Geometry Wars: Galaxies/ Pet Pals: Animal Doctor/ Miami Nights: Singles in the City/Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash/ Need for Speed ProStreet/ Contra 4/ Jackass the Game/ Draglade/ Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker/Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games/Jenga/ Pocket Pets/ Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command/Elements of Destruction/ Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings/ WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008/ Enchanted/ Ontamarama/ Dementium: The Ward/ Zoo Hospital/ Jam Sessions/Madden NFL 08/ Picross DS/7 Wonders of the Ancient World/ Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth Remix/ Naruto: Path of the Ninja/ Sonic Rush Adventure/ Code Lyoko/Planet Puzzle League/ The New York Times Crosswords/ Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare/ Bleach: The Blade of Fate/ The Cheetah Girls: Pop Star Sensations/ Shrek: Ogres and Dronkeys/ Heroes of Mana/ Ultimate Puzzle Games: Sudoku Edition/ Solitaire Overload/ Super Collapse! 3/ Bee Movie Game/ MySims/ Drawn to Life/ Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck/ Naruto: Ninja Council 3/Hannah Montana: Music Jam/ Front Mission/ Death Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom/ Phoenix Wright Trials and Tribulations/The Simpsons Game/ Magical Starsign/ Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales/ Pokémon Pearl/ Pokémon Ranger/ Cake Mania/ Diddy Kong Racing DS/ Konductra/ Children of Mana/ Mario Hoops 3-on-3/ Bomberman Land Touch!/ Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team/ Kirby Squeak Squad/Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime/Star Fox Command/ Sudoku Gridmaster/ Nintendogs - Dalmatian & Friends/ Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis/ Wario: Master of Disguise/ Pokémon Diamond/ Final Fantasy III/ Custom Robo Arena/ Hotel Dusk: Room 215/ Clubhouse Games/ MagneticaSpectrobes /Elite Beat Agents/ Yoshi's Island DS/Big Brain Academy/ Cooking Mama/ Pokémon Dash/ Metroid Prime Hunters/ Super Princess Peach/Nintendogs - Lab & Friends/ Age of Empires: The Age of Kings/ Nintendogs - Dachshund & Friends/Polarium/ True Swing Golf/ WarioWare: Touched!/ Pokémon Trozei/Bust-a-Move DS/ Mario Kart DS/ Advance Wars: Dual Strike/ Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy/ Yoshi Touch & Go/ Trace Memory/Metroid Prime Pinball/ Nintendogs - Chihuahua & Friends/ New Super Mario Bros. /Kirby: Canvas Curse/ Super Mario 64 DS/ Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time/Animal Crossing: Wild World/ Electroplankton/ Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow/ Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2/ Tetris DS/ Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood/ Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!/ Nintendogs - Best Friends Edition/ Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard/ The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian/ Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles/ Summon Night: Twin Age/Top Spin 3.

Warranty
They recommend that if you have a problem with this unit to try calling them first or using the troubleshooting guide in your manual. They have a consumer assistance hotline, which is 1-800-255-3700, if this does not help. They offer a factory express service through Nintendo, but you must contact them first before you do this. The game and accessories is only warranty for three months from the original date of purchase. The actual console itself is warranteed for 12 months from the date of purchase. If this does become deffective in the first 12 months they will replace or repair the component that is damaged for free.

Overall Conclusion
My final thoughts on this product, is excellent, it is much better then the earlier models of this and is lighter. They do offer an extended amount of accessories that you can purchase at the store or online. This is very easy to learn to use if you stick with it. It is nice that they offer so many different colors, and I really liked the dual screen. This is very easy to travel with because it is so light and small. This is excellent for those long trips, if you cannot have a DVD player in the car.

Recommended:
Yes

Great Nintendo System Although Big

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 12:00:00 +0000

Pros: Great game play experience when used with games that utilize the touch screen

Cons: Bigger than most previous Game Boys and the newer DS Lite

The Bottom Line: Great system overall, especially when it came out, but it is worth the extra money to get the newer DS Lite version to enjoy this system.

This is a great improvement from the Game Boy Advance series of systems, although it seems kind of bulky, especially in comparison to the new DS Lites. It is nice that it has backlight screens, not to mention it has two screens for the games, which adds a whole new dimension to playing with the second screen being a touch screen. The system allows you to play both DS games and GBA games, but unfortunately does not play GBC or original Game Boy game cartridges, so if you have favorites of those keep you advance or Game Boy Color to play those on. The DS allows you to connect wirelessly with other DSs to play games without using an annoying cable like with the older Game Boy systems, although most games still require you each to have the cartridge there are a few that do not. Personally I find the instant message like program that lets you communicate between two or more DS systems fun. You can either type messages using the touch screen keyboard or just handwrite message or even send pictures messages. This system is another great one by Nintendo and is a must have for any Nintendo system fan.

Recommended:
Yes

Just barely short of perfect.

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:00:00 +0000

The Wii is a truly amazing system! The controller is very responsive and the whole thing is easy to use and to hook up.
So why not perfect? Well...
Here is "My Wii Adventure".
I put a reso down on a Wii at GameCrazy back a month or so ago, so I knew I was going to get one. I don't have high speed internet at home, so I went out and got a cable modem.
Well, I get the thing home yesterday, spend entirely too long getting my modem hooked up (that's another story, but not a fun one), and was finally ready go to online with my Wii!
That's when I learned that it's wireless only.
And the LAN adapter won't be out until next year.
Nooooooooooooooo!
But I rallied. My ISP doesn't provide wireless access, but eventually I get either get a Wii adapter or buy a wireless thingy for my cable modem, so that's good.
However!
The Wii had one last nasty surprise!
I went to my local Wal-Mart and bought a Classic Controller, having been told by many that it could be used to control GameCube games, and I wanted me a GameCube game! I then went and traded in a stack of DVDs at my local GameStop (I'm not very loyal to my retailers), and...
...
...
... found out the Classic Controller can't be used to play GameCube games on the Wii... *sigh*
So I instead bought a used GameCube controller and I'll have to deal with that. I returned the Classic Controller to Wal-Mart.
Despite those minor errors, and they are REALLY minor, the system is really excellent and I highly recommend it! :D

Xbox 360 Console - The Comprehensive Review

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 12:00:00 +0000

Pros: Fantastic graphics, sound and online experience. Power like no other console

Cons: Not entirely backward compatible, games cost a bit more. But they are worth it!

The Bottom Line: If you are a gamer, this is an obvious must-have. The next generation of gaming and entertainment is here.

The Xbox 360 was the first Next-Generation console, launched in November of 2005. Unlike most other things, consoles indeed improve with age, because the game get better and more plentiful. This is definitely tru of the Xbox 360 console

•• Hardware ••
Any reviewer runs the risk of diving into technical specs when writing a review of a product as technologically complex as a game console. I will avoid that unless it is necessary. Telling you that the Xbox 360 Console is capable of 6 simultaneous threads on it's 3 CPUs does nothing to tell you if it is a good gaming machine. Telling you it has 512 MB of Ram, however should be of consequence if you are at all familiar with PC gaming.

Therefore, the Xbox 360 Console does indeed contain 512 MB of Ram and 3 PowerPC CPUs each running at 3.2 GHz. What this means is that each processor can be dedicated to different chores. OK, what this really means to you as a gamer is that the developers at Microsoft have crammed as much processing power into that little white box as possible, resulting in top notch performance, graphics and sound.

Before I go on, it's important to note that the Xbox 360 Console is sold in 2 versions: the core system, and the pro system. The CPU, RAM, and console in general are identical as is the processing and graphics power. The only differences are some accessories that can be purchased separately if desired. I'll note which of these accessories is included with the pro system when I review them.

•• Graphics ••
The Xbox 360 Console has a 500MHz graphics card made by ATI. The technology is proprietary, so you won't be seeing it on an off-the-shelf PC video card. With the latest version of DirectX and other goodies such as 2x anti-aliasing (gets rid of jaggies) and unified shader (makes more realistic lighting), the graphical ability is a thing of beauty. Games such as Kameo and project Gotham Racing 3 look splendid on normal TVs and even better on HDTV. As all games must now support at least 720p, those of you with HDTVs can sit back and enjoy the finest graphics experience. I've used the Xbox 360 Console on normal 4:3 TVs and the graphics look great. Bright vivid colors, smooth animation, nice motion blur, and soft anti-aliasing. As well, I've used it on Samsung 16:9 HDTVs and the picture is absolutely stunning. The first level of Kameo: Elements of Power with 2 ogres on a dragon is truly jaw-dropping. While most games won't support it, the Xbox 360 Console is capable of a resolution up to 1080i, the max resolution universally supported by HDTVs. This support for current and future standards is a very progressive design decision by Microsoft.

The Xbox 360 Console pro version includes a component HD AV cable. The core system does not. However, it is available for purchase separately.

•• Audio ••
The Xbox 360 Console sports strong audio, but it's probably the least talked about part of the console. For me, it is one of the most important aspects of the gaming experience. The Xbox 360 Console has more channels of audio than the previous Xbox. This means lots of layered sounds. And even in launch titles such as Kameo and Project Gotham racing 3, you can hear the different ambient sounds around you. The roar the crowd, the buzzing of insects. It's all there if the developers take advantage of it. For audiophiles, both versions of the 360 have 32 bit audio processing and 5.1 digital surround sound. This is not a huge change from the original Xbox. But this was a strong feature of that console as well. The big changes come on the developer side which I won't bore you with. As a gamer, the important thing to know is that the audio side of games is as good as it gets.

Like the previous Xbox, the Xbox 360 Console can rip music from your collection of CDs. But they've gone a step further. Custom soundtracks used to be controlled by the game. Some developers allowed custom soundtracks, others didn't. In this generation of the console, that choice has been taken from the developers and given directly to the gamer. The dashboard allows you to play any ripped playlist during any game. This might annoy some developers, but most people will play the game as it was intended with the original music. It's only during multiplayer or on subsequent replays that I wanted to play my own music. I had no interest in custom soundtracks during epic games such as Kameo, simply because Kameo has a phenomenal score. Perhaps with the competition between the game's music and the ability to play my music, developers will increase the quality of the in-game music, no?

•• Storage ••
One of the big complaints with the Xbox 360 Console is the lack of a standard hard drive. Yes, the original Xbox had one, and was priced at the same point as the core Xbox 360 system. So, the argument goes, why can't they include one in the 360? Well the answer is simple: Cost. While the original Xbox had one, it also had a Pentium 733 CPU and 64 megs of Ram. The costs of adding 3 CPUs with 8 times the Ram and keeping the price point the same, something had to give. And since very few developers used the hard drive in a meaningful way, it seemed to be the obvious choice for cutting costs. Those who don't want the drive are not forced to pay an extra $100 for something they won't use. So the core system does not include a Hard Drive. If you want storage, you can either buy the hard drive or memory unit separately.

For those who are buying the Pro version that includes the Hard Drive you will be treated to several things. First, the 20 gig hard drive snaps to the top of the console. it is rather attractive looking and only adds a half inch to the overall size of the unit. It's also detachable so you can move it to your friends console to share music (but not copy it, sorry all you pirates!), load up your gamer profiles, and play saved games. Obviously Microsoft is using a notebook hard drive to save on space. The Hard drive acts as a large storage unit and will be required for Xbox Live, saved game storage, music ripping, and backward compatibility. As well, those who buy the Pro version will be treated to the game Hexic HD preinstalled. This is an upgraded, high-definition version of the super-popular game available on Zone.com and it's as an addictive a casual game as you'll find.

As mentioned, those casual gamers who don't need a hard drive, but want to store saved games, can buy individual memory units for about $40. These little buggers come in 64 Meg units and plug into the front of the console in one of 2 memory unit slots. These can be used for save games, but not music ripping. Since a whole CD can be ripped in under 64 Meg it would have been nice. But this is not a big deal.

••Games ••
A console is only as good as the games for it. This time around, Microsoft has more clout, so more developers are making games for it. As a result, there are many games in all genres to keep gamers happy and playing for hours on end.

For First-person shooter fans, we have Quake 4, Perfect Dark Zero, Call of Duty 2, Prey, King Kong, and a slew of other titles to satisfay the trigger-finger in every gamer. And if you think First-person shooters are only good on a PC with a mouse, then you are sorely mistaken. Advances in controllers and cotnroller programming have made console players just as competitive as their mouse and keyboard counterparts.

Sports fans can relax and play all the current sports titles: Madden, NHL, NBA, and several others. Even fans of the Amped series have the Exclusive Amped 3 as well as Table Tennis and Top Spin 2.

Action gamers also have a good share of titles, though less are exclusive. Hitman: Blood Money, Tomb Raider: legend, The Outfit, Gun, and the upcoming Gears of War are all solid games for the money.

if you enjoy driving games, you have plenty to choose from. Project Gotham Racing 3 has nearly photo-realistic graphics and my personal favorite, Burnout Revenge is no port since it sports many features of Xbox live exclusive to the 360. Ridge Racer 6 is also available as it MotoGp, Need for Speed: Underground.

I've had a chance to personally play about half of the launch titles and thankfully even the multi-platform titles are not direct ports. King Kong looks fantastic and plays well. a very fun game. Perfect Dark Zero gives Halo 2 a run for it's money especially given the interesting gametypes and excellent Live support. My personal favorite of PDZ is infection - one person begins as a skeleton and everyone he kills becomes a skeleton too. soon you have a horde of skeletons on your team. It's great fun.

Kameo is my favorite of the adventure titles. Not an RPG, but more of an action-platformer, the graphics are stunning and the gameplay is top-notch. The levels are beautifully designed and laid out. The music score is magnificent. Of all the launch titles I've played, this is the most "next-gen".

•• Xbox Live! ••
One of the features of the original Xbox that set it apart from PS2 and even PC gaming was the advent of Xbox Live. For those who don't know about this service, keep reading. If you are already familiar with Xbox Live, then skip ahead to the next paragraph. The Xbox Live service launched 1 year after the original Xbox and allowed players to connect to a proprietary, dedicated service that matches you with other players for online play, friends lists, and chats. it was a hugely successful program, even at $50 per year, and attracted millions of subscribers.

The latest incarnation of Xbox Live improves on the predecessor in every possible way. First up is the Silver membership that comes with every console, core and Pro. If you have a broadband connection and an Xbox 360 Console, then you have Xbox Live with no fees. This allows you to create a gamer profile, log achievements, and keep a friends list. You can also buy items on the marketplace and download trailers and demos. The Silver membership requires a storage device, but not necessarily the hard drive. If you have an Xbox 360 memory unit, you can use that depending on the storage requirements of the content. As well, the Xbox Live service will be offering free play weekends to allow users to play their games online for 48 hours as if they had a gold membership.

The Gold membership is a paid membership and a free 1-month trial is included with the deluxe package. The Gold membership includes everything in the Silver and also allows for playing games online with other people from all over the world. This is the essential part of Xbox Live. Not only can you play against each other, but many games offer Cooperative play as well. So you can play the game side-by-side with your buddies. Ask anyone who's played multiplayer and they'll tell you that playing with your friends is better than against.

Included with the Pro version of the console is a headset. This plugs into the bottom of the controller and allows you to talk to other players online or do chat in the dashboard. The headset is white and grey and goes over the top of the head. No more behind the head and hooking on the ears like the first live headset. It is soft and comfortable for long periods of time. There's a mute switch in case your wife wants to yell at you because you've been playing too long. The sound quality is adequate considering everyone sounds like they're talking on the phone. Fidelity is not the goal here, comfort and usability are and they do just fine.

The performance of Xbox Live depends on the game, network traffic, weather conditions and everything else that affects your broadband on a day-to-day basis. The games I've tried online showed minimal signs of lag. It seems as if the Xbox Live team has improved the infrastructure to improve on an already stellar gameplay environment.

Of note is the new micropayments and marketplace. One of the drawbacks of Xbox Live in the past was the need for a credit card to get an account. That doesn't bode well for kids who don't have cards of their own and must rely on their parents who might not be so willing. So players can go to any game shop and get a prepaid Live membership. This alone is not new, but the ability to also buy Microsoft Points on a card is. Instead of using your credit card to buy things over the Live Marketplace, now players can use Microsoft Points from a prepaid card bought in a store. Want a new skin for your car? Simply shell out some Microsoft Points. Want a new game from Live Arcade? Spend some points. While there is no mechanism in place yet for player to player transactions, the online currency alone should make the marketplace a vibrant, interesting place with lots of content.

The Xbox Live Arcade is a whole other subset of live. Designed for the casual gamer, Arcade is built directly and seamlessly into the user interface. There is no "place" to go like a website. Simply pull up your Xbox dashboard and navigate a page or two over to the Arcade. You can see what games you have installed, what are available,
and your stats. Stats? Yes! The games over Live now have leader boards so if your friend got a higher score on Joust, you can stay up a little later trying to beat him. Most of the games available on the Arcade are classic, updated version of games you love. Hexic, Bejeweled, classic like Joust, Frogger, and PacMan. Again, this is designed for the casual gamer to just pick up a controller and go. My wife is not a gamer, but she loves being able to sit down and quickly start playing a game. And that's exactly what she did. She found it incredibly easy to start playing her favorite games. She loves it. And she never once touched my old Xbox. And my favorite? Geometry wars - A line-art game reminiscent of Asteroids, but so much better! Simple to learn and a blast to play with many unique achievements to accomplish (mor eon Achievements later).

Another nice improvement that will meet with parents approval is the advent of Gamer Zones. This setting is provided in the Xbox dashboard and tells the Live service what kind of gamer you are. Ranging from the recreation gamer to the Underground, each zone has a certain tolerance for trash-talking, profanity, etc. The idea is that you only play with those kinds of people you like to play with. While this may sound rather elitist, you'll be thankful that Junior doesn't get into a game of Perfect Dark Zero with a bunch of drunk college students. While these zones are not directly monitored, there is a mechanism to send feedback. Plus if enough people block that person, he won't find games and will be forced to go elsewhere, hopefully to the appropriate zone. So in a nutshell, this is a community monitored set of standards and usually they work. It's too early to tell how well the existing mechanisms will work, but they seem promising.

For anyone who's played Halo, they know that Bungie incorporated some pretty sophisticated matchmaking. That tradition continues and every game can now take advantage of either Ranked or Player matched games in something called TrueSkill matching. As you play the game online, you get a player rank based on your score, how much you win relative to those in your rank. When you get better than them, your rank goes up. In ranked games, you are always matched in the same skill set area as your opponents and guaranteed a competitive, but not overwhelming gaming experience. And for those who want a casual game with friends, you can use unranked player matches to join your friends online or just play a casual game. These matching systems are handled individually by most games, so your mileage may vary. Again, Perfect Dark Zero and Project Gotham racing 3 did these admirably with no problems joining friends or others with matching skill sets. Be warned, until you get in the higher echelons of rank, you might get schooled by a few people who are starting their ascent up the ranks. This is par for the course, really, and if they're that good, they'll be out of your league (so to speak) and on to bigger battles.

Project Gotham Racing 3 takes advantage of a great new feature, Spectator Mode. This has been available for PC gamers for a while and now it makes a splash on Live. This feature allows you to find races of people on your friends list or board leaders, and simply watch. This may not seem very exciting, but think about how many people watch NASCAR? Watching great drivers can be very exciting. I know I would enjoy seeing the top-rated first person shooters duking it out over Live. And this way I don't get my butt kicked in the process. So far spectator mode works beautifully, with no glitches or lag (again your mileage may vary) and as more people get online, there will be more races and fights to watch. This is a very exciting feature to keep an eye on.

One of my favorite features is Achievements. Available online and off, every game including casual games has different achievements. Get a black pearl in Hexic and you get an achievement. Get x amount of headshots in Perfect Dark Zero, you get an achievement. Finish Kameo, you get an achievement. All of these achievements are attached to your gamertag so you can compare your achievements to your friends or anyone else. And each game has several, if not dozens of achievements. With each achivement is a number of points that are added to your overall gamerscore. I didn't anticipate liking this feature much, but I found myself playing hard and differently trying to gain achievements. My wife played Hexic for hours trying to get the Black pearl achievement and when she did, she was quite proud of herself. Chasing the gold at the end of the rainbow makes me want to finish games that I wouldn't normally do. An innovative and insipred feature that I use more than I thought.

•• Xbox Dashboard ••
With the press of a button on your controller, your game will pause (except in multiplayer, usually) and sweeping in from left will be the Xbox Dashboard. The dashboard is broken up into pages. These pages hold your profile, achievements, Arcade content, Multiplayer options settings, etc. This dashboard is amazingly easy to navigate especially considering the amount of customizing you can do. And you simply access it by hitting the Xbox button on your controller. For those Xbox users, this is a marvel of engineering, because in the past, you actually had to get up, reboot your box, take the game disc out and then do whatever. Then pop the game back in, and wait for it to start back up.

Now I don't need to get my lazy butt of the couch.

•• Backwards Compatibility ••
One of the most decisive issues revolving around platforms is really only important for the first months of the console. I know many people will disagree, and that's fine. But this is my Epinion. Backwards compatibility is the technology that allows playing old games on newer equipment. But how often does this happen? More often toward the beginning of the life of the console until more games are released. This becomes less important as time goes on. Sure, you might break out the occasional old-school game of MechAssault, but is this really a big deal? I think not. You buy a new console to play new games. And if you want the best of both worlds and your game of choice is not backwards compatible, keep the old Xbox until it is. It won't suddenly stop working once you bring the new baby into the house.

The problem with the Xbox 360 Console is that the graphics system is totally different from the previous generation. So the console uses a software solution to make games backward compatible. But not all games. Currently, Microsoft has a list of more than 300 Xbox games that should work on the Xbox 360 Console. The caveat: This is a software solution which resides on the hard drive, so you'll need to deluxe bundle (or the core with a the hard drive) to make it work.

I tried some games that were supported and they played just fine. Some even got better with an improved framerate. None were graphically better looking, but none looked worse either. Those games not supported pop up a friendly message about it not being supported. This is much better than letting the user try and have a bad experience. Microsoft promises to add to the backward compatible list as time goes on, but the most popular favorites such as Halo 2 are on the list right now.

•• Controllers ••
Included with the core package is one Xbox Live controller. Those familiar with the Xbox controller will feel at home as the layout has not changed drastically. The controller does feel more comfortable and lighter than the previous controllers and there have been a few minor, yet important changes.

First is the Xbox button in the center of the unit. Not only does this bring up the dashboard, it also is surrounded by the ring of light. This ring is broken into 4 segments and the default behavior is an indicator of which player you are. If there are multiple controls attached, you will know which one you are. In theory, developers will be able to use this for some creative purpose, but right now, its something waiting to be tapped.

Most importantly in the inclusion of shoulder buttons. These are located right above the triggers and replace the impossible to reach black and white buttons on the Xbox controller. This is a nice improvement and accessing them in games feels much more natural. I don't need to look down at the controller to see which button to press.

If you are getting the pro version of the Xbox 360 Console you will be treated to one wireless version of the same controller. For most gamers, the thought of a wireless controller is shunned. Lag, delay unresponsiveness are the common maladies complained about. But with this controller those problems are not there. There is no perceptible lag. These are by far, the best wireless controllers I've used. With a distance of 100 feet and a frequency of 2.4GHz, these babies are the best of the best. And as an added benefit, they are light, even with the batteries in.

•• Accessories ••
The Xbox 360 Console has many more accessories available at launch than the original Xbox. But if you buy the pro bundle, you really won't need any. The only one that isn't included in the pro bundle is the media remote. For a few clams, you can use this wireless remote to control the multimedia functions of the console. It would have been nice to have this included, but again, not including it allows the the console to sell for a competitive price.

If you bought the core, you have an array of possible accessories. This is actually the beauty of the core system. Instead of one person shelling out $400 for the console, little Billy can create an Amazon wishlist for the core console for $299 and then add the other items a la carte. That way, his folks can afford to buy him the console, grandma can buy the hard drive and his sister can get him a wireless controller. There are many first and third party accessories including controlers, memory units, Live headsets, ad many others. There is no shortage of accessories for this generation of the console.

And coming soon, there will be an Xbox Camera so you can take pictures of yourself for your gamertag and play camera enabled games such as Uno. Or just sit in the dashboard and video-caht with your friends!

Coming soon, Microsoft will be releasing an HD-DVD player to play high definition movies. This will be an external drive and pricing as of this writing is unknown.

•• Multimedia features ••
A strong selling point for the Xbox 360 Console is the multimedia features. The previous version of Xbox allowed you to trip music the hard drive. As well, you can do that with this incarnation of the console, but it goes one step further. Plug your iPod or other MP3 player into one of the front USB jacks and you can stream music through the console and into your stereo system. The dashboard recognizes the device and displays tracks, playlists etc in the dash. It's as if the device was made by Microsoft for the console. Keep in mind that you can't copy music back and forth, but that's for copy protection reasons. I tried the console with a Creative Labs Zen Sleek, an iPod Mini, a generic thumb drive, and a Rio Carbon. All connected flawlessly and played music as if it was native. What was especially cool is that it shows up as another device with the proper name. The Zen Sleek is a brand new player and it recognized it and showed perfectly. I could then access my playlists on the player. My wife was playing holiday music while playing Hexic and she loved it. The only slight drawback is that the music cuts out when switching games. Once a new game is started, you have to restart the music. Not a huge deal, but could affect those who like to bounce around from game to game and don't want their music interrupted.

To go one step further, you can download a small utility to connect your XP based computer to your Xbox 360 Console wirelessly. This assumes you have a wireless network with both the PC and Xbox 360 Console connected to the network. Once that's done, you can play music from your PC wirelessly through your Xbox 360 Console without having to re-rip your collection. This works especially well with PCs running Media Center. Slideshow pictures, show movies, you name it. The Xbox 360 Console can expand your media Center PC into other rooms of the house.

If your console is going to be a DVD player as well, you're in luck, because they put in a rather good drive. Aside from supporting hi-res output, the drive is also Progressive scan. Every disk, I tried worked perfectly as expected, particularly with the Digital 5.1 sound output. This will no doubt replace my aging DVD player. It should be noted that game invites, chatting and other Xbox Live features can be done while you watch movies. Or they can suppressed if you don't want to be interrupted. You are in charge of the experience.

Oh, and did I mention the best feature? You can turn off the console with the controller! Xbox owners rejoice! Simply hold down the Xbox button and you can shut it off or turn it on. Or you can choose to shut off only the controller. This is to save batteries if you want to use the controller for DVD playback. My wife and I love this feature.

•• Conclusion ••
If you are a gamer, this is an obvious must-have. The best gaming experience and online and off. Multimedia features galore. Wonderful attention to every detail. The next generation of gaming and entertainment is here.

Recommended:
Yes

Even us Adults love the DS!

Sun, 28 Nov 2004 12:00:00 +0000

I have to admit that I was completely suprised at how much I enjoy my Nintendo DS. The advances Nintendo has made over its "GameBoy Advanced" are amazing. In fact, just the "mini" games in Super Mario 64 game has more entertainment value than almost any Gameboy Advanced Game. Another thing that is incredible is the size of the game... it is the size of a standard flash memory card, which makes Nintendo DS games about 75% smaller than those for GB Adv.

Here are a run down of a few of my points.

- The touch screen incorporates very well into the games. In fact, you start to wonder,"What did I do before a touch screen?"
- The power of the DS is very similar to the Nintendo 64 - and in my opinion- you really don't need much more. Have games really improved all that much since the 64? The graphics may be a little better with the bigger machines... but game play has stayed about the same.
- The ability to link wirelessly may be a double edged sword. While it will get rid of those burdensome wires (and allow for text/picture chatting)it may eventually get the DS banned on airplanes. The Feds are not big fans of having anything that transmits a signal on an airplane... so stay tuned.... because this may become a MAJOR drawback to the DS.
- The text and picture chatting... I guess this may be cool if you are a teenager, but I doubt if I will ever use it.

As a whole - I would completely recommend the DS for video games players of all ages! I believe that Nintendo has done a wonderful job in creating a small but powerful video game device!