Pokemon - Trading Card Game
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge (17 April, 2000)
list price: $29.99
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Editorial Review

Pokémon Trading Card Game is a Game Boy Color title basedon the popular strategy card game from Wizards of the Coast. Fans of theexisting red, blue, and yellow versions of Pokémon will find this game tobe less redundant than earlier Game Boy Pocket Monster offerings. This game ismore of a hybrid of its predecessors--mixing strategy card gameplay androle-playing game elements--with highly successful results.

The story inPokémon Trading Card Game is basically the same as that of theoriginal Pokémon titles, only with new character and feature namessubstituted. Instead of Professor Oak, players meet Dr. Mason. Gym Leaders arenamed Club Masters, battles are duels, and so forth. Learning the card game is abreeze thanks to the inclusion of comprehensive instructions and an in-depthtutorial. Although some minor changes have been made, the method of play isvirtually identical to the original card game, and just as addictive. While muchshorter than the Pokémon games, the gameplay here doesn't involve randomand repetitive battles, and follows a less linear path.

AlthoughPokémon Trading Card Game would seem to turn a social experienceinto a solitary one, it allows for and encourages interacting with other gameowners. Duels can be fought between players via a game link cable, and cards anddecks can be traded using the infrared communications port. The most interesting(although somewhat dubious) feature here is the "card pop!" option, whichgenerates one new card for each player when communicating wirelessly; the catchis that you can't "card pop!" the same person again for a while after doing so,thus limiting the feature's appeal. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Easy-to-learn and highly addictive gameplay
• Features cards exclusive to the Game Boy
• Excellent game link and infrared communication port options
• Package includes limited edition trading card

Cons:

• Relatively short game compared to Pokémon Game Boy titles
• Very limited appeal outside the Pokémaniac crowd

... Read more

Reviews (52)

A very fun game with a through-the-roof replay value!
Here is my review:
Replay value: 10/10
Difficulty: 7/10
Educational: 10/10

This...game...is...GREAT! Even with Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire out in stores, I still spend lots of time trying to complete my Pokemon Card collection on the Game Boy. The game is very fun and will quickly turn newbies to the Pokemon TCG into experts. I'm a 12-year-old girl and a dedicated Pokemon fan, and I must say...Let your Ruby/Sapphire Pokemon take a little rest so you can pick up a copy of this awesome game. (Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire is an awesome game too ^.^) The basic storyline of this game is that you are a boy with the default name of Mark, who wants to inherit the four Legendary Pokemon Cards (special GB versions of Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Dragonite). You can carry up to four (4) decks at a time, but you can save your valuable deck configurations in a Deck Save Machine. You must defeat the 8 Club Masters (as you do Gym Leaders) then defeat the four ultimate experts of the Pokemon TCG (as with the Elite Four). Although the only deck expansions included are Jungle, Fossil, and Base Set, this is all in all an excellent game. Wonder when the Ruby/Sapphire TCG version will come out for GBA?

Great card game - but this isn't a very good port of it
In 1999, the success of Nintendo's Pokemon Trading Card Game was unrivaled. So, it seemed only natural that they release the card game in video game form. It would satisfy fans of the card game, and, of course, would give Nintendo extra cash. Read on for my views on this game.

The good:

It's the Pokemon Trading Card Game on Game Boy! Now you can play card games without a second person (although you can link up if you want, to trade or to battle.) And of course, being on Game Boy makes it portable. The game has a minor storyline (get eight medals and defeat the card champions so that you can get the legendary cards,) obviously added in to make the game more appealing. There are even cards that were made up exclusively for this game! And, of course, you can obtain booster packs by winning duels, so that you can build your dream deck.

The bad:

This game uses very little common sense. Here's a few "stupid questions" that will make you realize all the flaws this game has.

-When my opponent has no Basic Pokemon in his starting hand, why doesn't the game let me draw up to two cards? I'm allowed to in the REAL card game.

-Why does the game ask me to place Pokemon on the bench when I don't have any?

-Why do the starter decks have so many different types of Pokemon in them? This makes the decks so scattershot, that you'll rarely get the type of energy you need. Accordingly, don't plan on winning a lot of duels until you customize your deck.

-Why does this game only have cards from the Base Set, Jungle, and Fossil expansions? And why does the game divide them into four sets that the actual card game never did?

-Why does the game ask me to select a prize card when I only have one left? Wouldn't it be common sense which one I wanted to take if there was only one left?

-Why does the game do unneccessary coin flips? If an attack will knock out a Pokemon and it can also paralyze the Pokemon, there is NO REASON to do a coin flip if the attack is certain to knock out the enemy.

-Why is the text speed so slow in this game?

-How can Booster Packs be sent you you via the internet?

-Why is your character's name written in a different font than everything else in the game?

-Why can you only play as a male character?

-Why is "no" the default answer to most of the game's questions?

-Why is the music different on the subscreen than on the main screen?

-Why does the computer always seem to have so much luck, and you never do?

-Why are energy cards so hard to obtain in this game?

OVERALL:

Take my advice. Don't get this game unless you're a die-hard fan of the card game, or unless you're a Pokemon fan and you find it for a good price. You may be better off waiting to see if a sequel is released for the Game Boy Advance.

A pretty nice game
This is basically a video game adaption of the card game.You can go battle, trade, and do card pop, where you and a friend use GameBoyColors infared thing to link up and get random cards.You can only do this once with each person for a set time period.(I think it might be a day.)YOu eventually go through a bunch of card clubs, defeat club leaders for medals, and in the end face off against the "Grand Masters" for a chance to beat the game and get four legendary cards.

Their is a small group of cards which only come in the game.Little custom cards, you might say.You can know this by seeing a little GB on the card information screen.(The Legendary cards are Game boy custom.)

But if you're a "newbie" to pokemon, or mabey just realizing it's existance, it only sports the basic, jungle, and fossil expansions.This is actually pretty good, considering the time it was made.(When those three sets were the only ones "on the shelves" at the time.)And unlike the YuGiOh card game games, youcan't upload cards you have into the game.You must get them by obtaining boosters which you can get by beating club members, leaders, and opening the occasional email from the professor.(There's about twenty of them throughout the game.)

So overall, if you like the card game, get this for protable pokemon tcg action.If you don't like the cards, leave it alone. ... Read more

Asin: B000046S40
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Game Boy (Gameboy)    3. Pokemon (Pokeman)   

Pokemon Pinball
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge

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Editorial Review

For those a little poky about catching onto the Pokémon craze, thisgame is a great way for the uninitiated to get their feet wet. Also, pinball fanatics shouldnot dismiss this as a kid's game, because it's a solid pinball game, regardless of thePokémon brand.

Two Pokémon-themed tables, Red and Blue, are here for players to bounce thePokéball around in hopes of catching up to 150 Pokémon monsters. Themonsters are collected by hitting targets on the pinball tables, and once collected, themonsters can be perused in the popular Pokédex format. Owners of the GameBoy printer can print their prize collections and mount their characters on the wall, if theyso desire. Unfortunately, the monsters collected in Pokémon Pinballcannot be traded with other Pokémon monsters from the Red, Blue, or Yellowgames, making this game a stand-alone product. A unique aspect of the game is that it hasa built-in rumble pack, which vibrates and shakes the Game Boy system as thePokéball bounces around the screen. --Jeff Young

Pros:

• A great way for non-Pokéheads to get into the action
• A respectable pinball game
• High replayability

Cons:

• Can't trade Pokémon with ones from the Pokémon Red, Blue, orYellow games

... Read more

Reviews (46)

3.5 stars - a good pinball game
The video games in the Pokemon franchise are very hit or miss. For every Pokemon Gold or Pokemon Silver, there's a Pokemon Snap or Hey You Pikachu to bring the series back down. In 1999, Nintendo decided to try their hand at something a little different with the Pokemon characters - a pinball game. Is this one of the hits in the series, or one of the misses? Read on for my review.

PROS:
-Perhaps the greatest thing about this game is that you don't have to be a Pokemon fan to enjoy it.
-The game contains a good deal more depth than your average pinball game.
-There is an element of Pokemon capturing, which makes this a very interesting game.
-There are two different tables, one of which has monsters not found on the other and vice versa
-There are a number of bonus events as well.

CONS:
-Let's face the facts, no pinball game can hold your attention forever.
-The rumble feature doesn't contribute anything to the game.
-There are only TWO tables - more would have been nice.
-Since this is a Pokemon game, many hardcore gamers may be reluctant to try it.

OVERALL:
Overall this is a good pinball game, and one of the hits in the Pokemon series. If you've got a Game Boy, this here is a game worth checking out. It's nothing revolutionary, but it's sure to kill some time for you.

Pokemon Pinball
Okay, I am not a pokemon fan at all, but I have to say that I love this game. You can choose from two different tables, red or blue. This game can become very addicting. If you are a pinball fan and not a pokemon fan, you can still enjoy this game. I highly recommened it.

It [DISAPPOINTED]!!
When I bought it it worked for like 10 mins. I couldnt even figer out how to work it. It came with BAD instructions. It even takes batteries. DONT GET IT!!!! ... Read more

Asin: B000031KJL
Subjects:  1. Pokemon (Pokeman)    2. Video Games    3. Nintendo Game Boy (Gameboy)    4. Classics (Classic)    5. Pinball   

Animorphs
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge (10 November, 2000)
list price: $29.99
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Features

• confront the evil Yeerks
• 16 defense modes- claw, bite, gnaw, punch, & kick
• For 1 player
• You are Earth's only chance for survival against an alien invasion
• Morph into dolphins, monkeys, mice- any animal you touch

Reviews (13)

Animorphs well the books are great
This game is okay if get past all the down sides. But bassicly its like a wannabe Pokemon game.
Pros- 1. You get to play as Jake,Cassie,Marco,and Rachel.
2. A lot of animals and Insects to aquire and its fun searching for new animals.
3. Some missions are fun.
4. You get to play as animals like dolphin, bat, mole, seal.
5. you can go around town like an animal.
6. Jakes mission is long.
Cons- 1.You have to write down a long long long code as soon as it says your proggress has been saved.
2. Cassies mission sucks.
3. You don't get to fight visser three.
4. The game can be hard.
5. You can only get seven morphs then you have to eraseone.
6. If anybody sees you morph you lose
7. You can't play as ax or tobias.
8. Most of the time you al you do is bite.
So if you find it for 5 bucks or if your a diehard Animorphs fan like me pick this one up.

The worst game I've ever played.
This is the worst game I've ever played.I am a huge fan of the Animorphs books, however, the makers of this game obviously did not bother to read any of the book series.This game is a Pokémon rip off where you collect different morphs but leaves out important features such as experience points.This game is an insult to the intelligence of Animorphs fans and K.A. Applegate's talent as a writer.

The books are great, but the game should be burned
This RPG wannabe is not worth the money you pay for it. Once again this is one of those games you're better off burning your money on than purchasing. If you've ever wondered how bad a game could possibly be, all you have to do is play this game. Because it's just not bad, it's abyssmal. The horrible RPG set up results in you either getting killed far too easy, or not knowing what you're doing. I never thought I'd see a game that I'd actually despise with every ounce of my being. But this is one of them. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SVL3
Sales Rank: 6394
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Game Boy (Gameboy)    3. Action    4. Science Fiction (Sci-fi, scifi)   

Pokemon Stadium 2
Average Customer Review:
Video Game (31 March, 2001)
list price: $59.99
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Editorial Review

What can you expect from the sequel to one of the favorite Nintendo 64 games of 2000? A lot. Pokémon Stadium 2 comes with four new tournaments, 12 new minigames, and lots of fun extras, like special Pokéquizzes to test your level of mastery. And you're sure to find your favorite monsters, because--gulp!--249 Pokémon are present in the game. As in Pokémon Stadium, you can train and battle your monsters, as well as transfer them (via the separately sold Transfer Pak) from your favorite Game Boy titles--including the newer Gold and Silver editions of the game. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

awsome
Dear readers of this review,
I have played this game and I think you should let people age 4 and up play this game. The mini games on this game are the funest things to play, the best mini game is topsy turvy.



andrew t. massy

Better than the 1st one
I love Pokemon Stadium 2. It's a great game. My favorite feature is that you can play Pokemon Crystal in the GB tower, even though the box says it's only compatible with Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold and Silver.

Pokemon stadium 2 is an excellent game for kids!!!!
Readers, if your friends tell you that pokemon stadium 2 stinks don't listen to them. This game is an excellent game for kids. You should buy this game. This game is about pokemon battling other trainers at classes, gyms, parks, and yes, stadiums. It also have mini-games like EAGER EEVEE and EGG EMERGENCY, And also my other favorits I won't tell you, you have to find out your self if you do it you will have so much fun! ... Read more

Asin: B000058BCU
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo 64 (Nintendo64)    3. N64    4. Fighting (Fights, Fight)    5. Pokemon (Pokeman)   

Pokemon - Stadium
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge (13 March, 2000)
list price: $59.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

As with just about anything brandishing the Pokémon name,Pokémon Stadium is a must-have for any Pokémaniac. But thistitle is especially geared towards owners of Pokémon Red,Pokémon Blue, or Pokémon Yellow for the Game Boy.Using the same battle system as the Game Boy games--think highly advancedrock-paper-scissors--Pokémon Stadium allows players to entertheir Pokémon in a variety of tournaments and other battle modes, allfeaturing vibrant 3-D graphics and animation, as well as enhanced sounds andannouncer commentary. Using the included Transfer Pak, players can use their ownPokémon from Game Boy Game Paks, or they can choose from a pool ofrental Pokémon.

Pokémon Stadium isn't all battles, though. The Kids Club modefeatures nine cutesy minigames that make for great multiplayer fun for all ages.Gallery mode lets players take snapshots of Pokémon (similar toPokémon Snap), which can then be printed out as stickers at yourlocal Pokémon Snap station.

While Pokémon Stadium doesn't require that you already have anyGame Boy version of Pokémon, players won't be able to access twoof the best features of the game without one. Pokémon Lab allows playersto view, store, and better organize the data on their Game Paks, as well astrade Pokémon with another player (which requires an additional TransferPak, sold separately). GB Tower allows gamers to play their Game BoyPokémon cartridge on the Nintendo 64. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Tried-and-true Pokémon battle system with enhanced graphics andsounds
• Allows you to play your Game Boy Pokémon game on the Nintendo64
• Ability to manipulate data on your Game Boy Pokémon game
• Minigames make for great multiplayer fun for all ages

Cons:

• Not likely to win over any Pokémon holdouts
• The Game Boy Pokémon games are a better starting point fornewbies to the genre

... Read more

Features

• Enter your Pokemon in arena tournaments
• Includes GB Transfer Pak which allows you to transfer pokemons from your Game Boy
• Move ahead as you fight against 8 trainers per tournament
• Enhanced graphics and sounds
• For 1 or 2 player

Reviews (160)

MY FAVORITE POKEMON GAME FOR NINTENDO 64!
I love this game because it feels like I am in a real pokemon battle. I can pick all the cute pokemon out there inculding my favorite pokemon Pikachu! This game is fun and I recomend this game for any hard core pokemon fans like me!

A great game with strange coincidences...
Pokemon Stadium is a great game that allows trainers to battle with the pokemon that they spent sooo much time training on their GameBoy pokemon red,blue,& yellow games! Note:You cannot use pokemon from the gold,silver,crystal,ruby,and sappire games,not to mention FR/LG versions of the game. I used to love playing this game back in 1999,but during the time that I used to play this game,I started to realize strange coincidences that always seemed to work in the enemy's favor! For some strange reason,moves with low accuracy,such as FISSURE,that also terminates one pokemon in a single hit! Would strike my pokemon WAY to often! Just to clarify,this is how it works,FISSURE only has a 30% chance of hitting an opponent,yet it seemed to strike my pokemon every time without fail! I have been know to refer to these coincidences as "Cheat-detectors" Because they only seem to happen if you are literally dominating your opponent! FISSURE is only an example,these "Cheat-detectors" can pop up at any time and effect any attack,you may find your attacks continueously missing you opponents pokemon for no appearent reason!!! These Cheat-detectors also exist in PokeMon Stadium 2,but Iam not sure if they exist in Pokemon Colosseum for the GameCube,but I'll bet that they are! This is not so much of a set-back as it is an annoyance,Cheat-detectors dont make the game impossible to win,but they do get in the way of winning as well as annoy you to no end. Pokemon Stadium & Pokemon Stadium 2
are worth the money and are entertaining to play! I recommend buying them,but be ready for lots of strange coincidences that effect overall game play.written by,
(Shadowmage)the game maniac

educational
this game teaches you gameing skills in pokemon, this can sometimes help you in your life!

... Read more

Asin: B00003OTI3
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Fighting    3. Nintendo 64 (Nintendo64)    4. N64    5. Fighting (Fights, Fight)    6. Pokemon (Pokeman)    7. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Shenmue
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge (10 November, 2000)
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

To say that Shenmue is an anticipated title is an understatement;the game made huge waves in Japan upon its release, and American gamers havebeen waiting since then to see what the fuss is all about. It's a game in whichthe concept itself is the selling point. What if you could portray a young heroin a fully realized Japanese city? Would you like to participate in andinfluence an over-the-top kung fu-style action-mystery flick in your livingroom? What if lots of combat, cinematic flourish, detail, and a dash of romancewere thrown in?

The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. Thecity of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series ofneighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itselfis ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero RyoHazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before hisvery eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identityof the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge thiswrongful death.

Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space--in total, it represents maybea square mile--but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearlyevery person or object that you see; 300 citizens go about their daily routines,and whom you encounter is as much determined by where you are as when you arethere.

Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges fromDragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press tododge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second ofreal time equals about a minute of game time, and Ryo has to be home by 11 p.m.each evening. The game moves at a brisk pace, and each challenge or battle feelslike a race against time. Some might say that gaming doesn't get shallower thanthis (you are essentially performing tasks and exploring, instead of gaming),but the game feels like no other and is ultimately satisfying by the time thatit all ends. In this way, Shenmue is more than a game--it's an eventthat's worth experiencing. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Compelling, well-told story
• Good action and combat
• Fantastic sound and graphics

Cons:

• Plot is familiar to fans of kung fu action films
• Task-and-exploration gameplay might seem slow to action gamers

... Read more

Reviews (300)

The realistic sphere of emotion and time
Shenmue is a graphic adventure game from 2000 exclusive to the Sega Dreamcast.The setting is Japan in 1986.You're placed in the role of Ryo Hazuki, an 18-year-old student and martial arts disciple on a winding, multi-faceted quest to uncover the mystery behind his father's murder.Along the way you'll traverse myriad locations and interact with countless non-player characters, as well as engage in side interests and attend to personal issues.

The progression of gameplay is quite open and arbitrary.There is no particular pace you have to keep in playing; you can sprint through the entirety of it, or you can devour days and days roaming around, engaging in the oddities, practicing martial arts, chatting with passersby, playing mini-games or whatever else.The hands on the clock tick away in real time in Ryo's world.The date and time of day--morning, afternoon and evening--is presented in convincing fashion by the game, and is reflected in the towns and villages and industrial areas you'll be visiting.The streets may be thronged with pedestrian traffic during mid-day, shoppers and businessmen, families and children.But after nightfall things change.After the streetlights flicker into life, the locales take on an aura of eerie stillness as the crowds thin and--in the urban and industrial areas--are replaced by members of the seedy nightlife, while in the residential districts they begin to bob their collective heads towards sleep.Many, although not all, businesses, shops and residences are open and interactive for you to explore. Time of day comes into effect here, for certain businesses and shops are only open during particular hours of the day or night.In addition to the realistic sphere of passing time, there are varying weather effects in place as well: sun, rain, and even snow as the calendar edges into the winter months.

Your home is the Hazuki Dojo in Yokosuka.Ryo's mother and father, his last living relatives, are now both gone.You live there with a former student of Ryo's father, Fuku-san, and the elderly housekeeper, Ine-san.Ine-san is a grandmotherly figure who'll fret and worry about Ryo's safety, imploring him to be careful and to let the past go.Yet she's soft spoken and demure, almost resolved to the situation.Each evening Ryo must be home by 11PM, and when he's late Ine-san seems almost hurt by it.It creates a true sense of obligation, of emotion, of connection to the characters and situation.Shenmue excels at creating a sense of strong emotional ties between the player and the characters, as evidenced by the potent flashbacks of Ryo with his father and the difficult parting with Nazomi at the end.You begin to feel the things Ryo feels, to truly take on the role of a lost, yet fiercely indomitable 18-year-old boy up against overwhelming odds to avenge the death of his father.

Every NPC is interactive and will converse with you.Many characters you meet near his hometown know Ryo by name, and some are his close friends--such as Nozomi Harasaki or the American Tom Johnson.There are actual curves of character development as the game progresses, relationships that alter in scope and nature, and a seemingly new, wary awareness of a wider, more iniquitous world by Ryo.Indeed, the villains Lan Di and unstable, tittering Chai impose heavy, bleak footprints on the narrative.Most people Ryo speaks to will have a few lines of dialogue about this or that--sometimes relevant and sometimes not, or now and then sending you off on splinter pursuits apart from your more crucial objectives--and a few will offer up clues to where you need to go next, what items you might need to acquire and to whom you need to talk.Every interaction can be important as you struggle to uncover clues.And with a continuous, moving timeline, it's all-too-possible to miss certain events as they occur when you're someplace else.While most of the gameplay involves the patient, explorative extrication of mystery upon mystery, there are also occasional action segments of martial arts brawling and QTE (quick time encounter) events calling for some speedy button pushes.

About midway through the proceedings Ryo is obligated to find employment to further fund his undertaking, and in this the game's principal setting and structure is somewhat altered.Ryo secures a job operating a forklift on the harbor docks.Here the game delves even further into the realms of realism, for every morning you must get up and report to work first thing--and then do the actual work for eight hours before recommencing with the more important tasks.And while this sometimes leads to a certain degree of monotony and tedium from the player's perspective, it does seem to work well overall within the scope of the game.

Outside the core body of gameplay are multiple minigames and collectible items that Ryo can pursue.The mingames are found mostly in the You Arcade in Dobuita, where full, authentic versions of the Sega arcade classics Hang On and Space Harrier are playable.There are also darts, billiards, slots and QTE games available.And a jukebox that plays real music.And cassette tapes of music you can buy in stores.Every sunrise before work at the harbor, Ryo can participate in a forklift race.And over 600 collectible items are available--everything from photographs to ancient Japanese mirrors to light bulbs to a package of squid legs--and they're located just about everywhere.

Visually, Shenmue is a tour de force, a world you just fall into like a pool of water and then don't want to get back out of. Stylistically and thematically, in both architecture and culture, it's a purely Japanese world.And the Japanese vibe really gets under your skin after a while.In a strange way, by the end of the game, you almost feel as if you've actually been in Japan, not just playing a game set there.It's a striking ambiance and environment they've created; time's suffocating grip has no hold here on the Dreamcast.The environments spring to life around you: trees and grass sway in the breeze, fish dart around a pond, a kitten meows by the roadside, ships dock at the harbor, pigeons startle into flight by your footsteps, people go blithely about their daily lives, the structures appear so lifelike you can almost reach out and touch them.Character animations are carved with a fine chisel; every line etched in the face a graphic relief, hair strands that divide and drift on the winds, eyes that bore holes of meaning and emotion into you.Even the detail present in Ryo's brown leather jacket is stunning.And all this on the Dreamcast, easily looking as good here as later, more advanced gaming consoles.

Shenmue breaches generations and cultures, a game people of vastly different ages and backgrounds can concurrently enjoy and become absorbed with.In the act of investigating, something is revealed, and that points you to the next stage--and from there to the next.You want to see what happens next; you care about Ryo's journey and the people around him you've come to know.The settings are pragmatic and the basic storyline is simple enough that a child can follow it, yet there is depth enough to draw anyone in.It's a universal theme, and a game that has remained wedged in the memory over the years.Regrettably, the ultimate resolution isn't found here; Ryo's tale winds on in Shenmue II on the Xbox.

Yu Suzukies Masterpiece...
Shenmue for the Sega Dreamcast may possibly be the greatest video game experience I've ever had in my gaming days(including Shenmue II for xbox).Shenmue is about a young man out for revenge to find his fathers murderer but theres WAY more too it, I won't spoil anything other then this game is flat out beautiful and should be played by gamers that won't wyn about the slow paced action..

Like the title above, this is Yu Suzukies Masterpiece, the man worked EXTREAMLY hard on this amazing game(Shenmue is also known as one of the most expensive video games ever created).Sadly Yu Suzukies hard worked game never made any good sales because of the PS2's launch, I like many others got it at the time it was first released, This game is just pure brilliance.The visuals are some of the best seen in games...This may be the longest game review I've ever done so lets get to it..

Visuals
This is one of the if not THEEEE best looking DC game ever made, everything is so detailed and the character models are great.The building, the Atmoshpere, thank you so much Suzukie.

Gameplay
ok this is probably the reason this game is the most hated/loved game ever created.IT'S EXTREAMLY SLOW PACED, and may turn off some casual gamers but if you can hold on long enough the action will start to come up.The game play is simple and easy to get use to very quickly.The game plays like a mystery novel, ask people question and clues about something and when you find some clues you go ask other people that may know BUT THIS GAME PULLS IT OFF SO WELL IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY!This game(plus Shenmue II) has THE best fighting engine ever!!!It's taken straight out of the virtura Fighter games.And the Free Battle sequences are extreamly rare yet very fun in the game.Did I mention you can do almost everything in this game?Well not everything but alot of things like getting a job, gambling and alot of the other things that can be done in real life...

Sound/music
When I say this games music is beautiful IT IS, Ten times better then MGS 1.Especially the main theme which you'll notice alot, it's amazing if theres one thing Yu Suzki did well(other then everything els) it's the music in this game, pure brilliance

Controlls
I'm really lazy to get into this but there pretty good
Lemmi just some it up right now

The Good
-Superb Visuals
-Great Controls
-Superb sound
-Amazing Inviorments
-Loads of things to do
-AWESOME FIGHTING ENGINE
-One of the most expensive games ever made
-A beautiful story about vengence but with alot to it

The bad
-action gamers will be turned off by how slow paced this game go's
-For some long, for some a SHORT game, took me about 13 hours my first time but that's because I just did all the story parts and not the side quests
-The sales for this and Shenmue II did so bad that we probably won't see a Shenmue III anytime soon
-For anyone looking for a good challenge for this and Shenmue II, look elswere, it's pretty simple an pretty straight forward..

Other then that Shenmue is an instant classic with everything on the spot, Yu Suzukie created something more then a game....This game is not just good because it feels like you're acctually in that world and living Ryu'S life.....This is good because Yu Suzukie braught us something that just feels so real, and like as if there really is a world like that....acctually there is, JAPAN, duuhh, but still no other game has hit me or motivated to the point were I HAVE TO PLAY THIS GAME more then shenmue....This game is hands down...One of the greatest video game experiences you'll ever have...... When it all comes down to this, I give Shenmue for the sega Dreamcast a

5 out of 5 stars...

Brilliant....Just...Brilliant

Totally a great game a must have for dc fans.
This is a really sweet game. Totally a butt-kicking game. I mean you go around beating people up the game lets you see in real live play beating some one up you know without the pain and nose bleeding. ... Read more

Asin: B00004S99R
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sega Dreamcast    3. Fighting    4. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)   

Soul Calibur
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (09 September, 1999)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Featuring graphics that surpass even the amazing NFL 2K, Soul Calibur is the martial arts fighting game to end all fighting games and the game to get if you're a Dreamcast owner. Based on the arcade classic of the same name, Soul Calibur lets you choose to represent one of 10 fighters in a series of battles against your peers. If you can successfully defeat all of your opponents, you will then face the fiendish Inferno in a final showdown that will determine the fate of the world. Each of the game's warriors is armed with a different deadly weapon--sword, ax, stave, nunchaku, you name it--and an assortment of special moves all tailored to that specific weapon. The warriors include men, women, and creatures from all over the globe and from various mythologies. Each is brought to life with amazing motion-capture animation, which results in incredibly lifelike and realistic duels. If you own a Dreamcast or are thinking of buying one, do yourself a favor and add Soul Calibur to your collection. --Mike Ryan

Pros:

• Exceptionally lifelike graphics and animation
• Multiple game modes--1-player, 2-player, team, computer vs. computer, martial arts demo, and more
• Secrets and extra features will keep players coming back

Cons:

• May be too violent for some parents

... Read more

Features

• Arcade-style 3-D fighting action
• All-new game modes not included in the original arcade game
• 10 characters, all with full 8-direction movement and control
• Master unique moves and uncover secrets
• For 1 or 2 players

Reviews (262)

AMAZING
This is, without exception, the BEST FIGHTING GAME EVER MADE. PERIOD

Read the other reviews, everything positive said about this game is true.I know thats a bold statment but graphics, gameplay, story, modes, music, replayabilty is all EXCELLENT.


Don't listen to any Sony fanboys that are mad that Soul Calibur was a Dreamcast exclusive - It truly does live up to the "hype" (Its not really hype when its absolutely true, utterly amazing)

I hope you have the chance to enjoy the fighting game to end all fighting games.

A Huge Dissapointment
For The Love Of God Don't Believe The Hype! This game had so many people kissing it's butt it wasn't funny. I got it and it was a huge let down. Soul Blade on psone was better then this! Sure it's all pretty, but it's basically just a virtua fighter clone with wepons and smaller backgrounds.alot of the charactors are basicly the same (Astoroth&Rock/Mina&Kilick/Lizardman&Sophitia/Inferno&Edgemaster) The backgrounds while pretty are basically just the old 2-D backdrops used on the first 3-D fighters. The "innovative" world tour mode had been done in SFA3 already so that wasn't a huge plus either. Dead or Alive 2 kicked this things butt as did the painfull to play VF3. If you have either of those forget about this.

Way ahead of its time
This is the definitive evolution in fighting games.I grew up on Street Fighter, then switched to Virtua Fighter, Tekken, Guilty Gear, Powerstone, etc... but nothing has ever captured the essence of fun as much as the Soul Calibur series has done.This is the one fighting game that strangely does not turn off those who are not into fighting games.It is accessible enough to newcomers for them to just pick up and have fun with, yet at the same time, it holds the depth that will keep veteran gamers playing this for years as long as they have access to good human competition.The characters are not completely balanced, but that won't become noticeable until you actually play against really good people for a long while.Still, none of the characters are a waste and the variety of fighting styles are extremely well thought out and fun to watch.I especially like how they have an exhibition mode where you can just watch characters performed their motion captured katas by themselves in an empty ring.This game is simply beautiful in many ways. ... Read more

Asin: B00000K125
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Fighting    3. caliber calibre    4. Sega Dreamcast   

Mario Party 2
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge (25 January, 2000)
list price: $49.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Every good game deserves a sequel, and the addictive, quirky Mario Party 2 certainlyfills the bill. This multiplayer party title combines the gameplay of a traditional dice-based board game withseveral brief action-game segments, including updated versions of 20 of the best offerings from the originalMario Party. There are also 44 entirely new mini-game challenges that pit players against eachother as they compete to collect the most stars.

Owners of the original Mario Party will be comfortable with this game from the get-go. Eachplayer rolls a virtual die to advance through various board games, including pirate land, western land, spaceland, mystery land, and horror land. Several hidden adventure boards can be unlocked as players advancethrough the game. Each player aims to gain the most stars and become a superstar at the end of the game.Various mini-game challenges and booby traps await gamers as they land on some strategically placedspaces on the board.

While Mario Party 2 can be played as a single-player game (against three computer opponents), thistitle really shines in social situations. This is the perfect game to pull out at parties--assuming you have afew extra controllers in the house. --Brett Atwood

Pros:

• Perfect party game (up to 4 players can play simultaneously)
• High replay value

Cons:

• Solo play suffers
• Multiplayer games can take a long time to complete

... Read more

Features

• Six all-new multiplayer Adventure Boards
• Special Quest Mode for players who prefer to party alone
• For up to four players
• The party continues with Mario Party 2
• 64 action-packed mini-games

Reviews (73)

My Party needs are fulfilled
After playing and completing Mario Party I needed another game to fulfil my party needs. And this was probally the best thing that I've needed ever since food. Mario Party 2 is just like the first one but with new boards, new mini-games and now there are item shops! The boards are fantastic and are very detailed, so here are the new boards to give you an idea:
Pirate Land: set on 3 islands (always fun)
Western Land: the train is for transportation (great in multiplayer)
Space Land: trigger happy Bowser (big)
Mystery Land: hard to get around (it's fun to curse your enemies)
Horror Land: day and night cycle (my personal favorite)
And there is one more secret board! But I'm not telling what it is! So if youve played the first party then this is your next step and if you haven't played the first one...well it isn't to late to start to play the series.

Another great party!
Mario Party 2 is even better than the first. Like the first, you pick a character (no new ones...) and move along the boards collecting stars. At the end of each turn, you play a minigame. There are 4 Player Minigames, 2 vs. 2 Minigames, and 1 vs. 3 Minigames. This time, there are no control stick twisting games (thank goodness!). Now you can buy items as you pass by the item shop on the board. There are a bunch of new mini-games, but some old ones. The story is that Mario and his friends are making a theme park, but they are arguing about who to name it after. So Toad suggests to play Mario Party to see who is the Superstar. Overall- a great game. I recommend it!

PAAARRRRTTTAAAYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is awesome!With some minigames its a pick-up-and-play deal, and with other minigames it takes some time to master.The game boards are very interactive.There isn't much to say about this game, it just naturally rocks. ... Read more

Asin: B000046Q7Q
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Board Games    3. Nintendo 64 (Nintendo64)    4. N64    5. Classics (Classic)    6. Retro   

Super Smash Bros
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge
list price: $49.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

All of your favorite Nintendo characters have come together to answer the question: who is king of the Nintendo hill? The format can aptly be described as Super Mario Kart meets Mortal Kombat, which makes for an odd, yet addictive game. The object is to throw, punch, smash, or blast your opponents off the edge of the beautifully rendered, themed arenas. Numerous power-ups, weapons, and surprises help or hinder the melee. Your eventual goal is to fight your way through to a bizarre final boss character. Victory in this battle rewards you with another character to play, such as the scene-stealing Pokémon, Jigglypuff.

From Star Fox's laser pistol to Link's hook shot, each character's trademark special abilities are utilized to knock one another off the screen. The game does a great job balancing the characters' widely differing powers so that no one character has an insurmountable advantage. The sound and animations are also dead-on: Donkey Kong is a huge, cartoonish ape, while Link is much more detailed and realistic. And Pikachu's famous thunder shock attack is accompanied by a fearsome yell of "PIKA!"

Unlike most fighting games, Super Smash Bros. allows you to team up with a computer partner and take on other teams in both single and multiplayer modes. But the most fun is had when four human players play in a battle royale. The game quickly becomes a scene of incredibly fun chaos: picture Mario beating up on Luigi, while Donkey Kong is chased by a scampering, sledgehammer-wielding Pikachu. It's the perfect party game. --Hugh Arnold

Pros:

• Great characters: Mario, Luigi, Pikachu, Kirby, Donkey Kong, Link, Star Fox, Yoshi, and more
• Simple gameplay
• Computer partner option
• Colorful arenas

Cons:

• Limited number of arenas

... Read more

Features

• Four-player simultaneous mode
• Variety of power-ups and weapons
• Twelve original Nintendo characters
• Dozens of levels

Reviews (327)

Okey for a while
If you love Meele, you will not enjoy this. If you have this you would say it was fun for about.... 3 weeks. 4 maybye. I think the game is excellent but it was'nt addicting at all. But Meele is still my favourite game and is fun to play. So buy it if you hate being addicted.

The best fighting game ever
If you're into pretty colors and flashy graphics, and care much less about actually having controller inputs match character actions, go ahead and get SSB:Melee instead. It's got a general "random" feel to it and skill isn't as important as luck and drooling mindlessly over the images on the screen.

However, if you prefer to buy a fighting game because...it's a fighting game, and not pathetic eye-candy, the original SSB is godly. The controls are extremely precise, and it's possible to execute combos to near perfection. Indeed, combos are key to this game, something most players seem not to understand. Melee seems to have been created to eliminate combos and reduce fighting to random hacking and button-mashing; this is perfectly suited to mentally deficient monkeys, but humans with brains might prefer something that takes a little bit of skill. The only problem with SSB is that the combos can become degenerate, and certain characters are simply not viable, but most players don't seem good enough to take advantage of this (almost no one thinks Jigglypuff is anything more than a pathetic waste of a spot, for instance) so enjoy!

The memories...
Oh my gosh, this was the greatest game ever made (besides Zelda). Anyway, you get to be alot of Nintendo charicters and...BEAT UP EACH OTHER!!!!!!!!!!! Well, not beat up, more like, nock them off of the edge. OVERALL:This game is the best. ... Read more

Asin: B00000J2W7
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo 64 (Nintendo64)    3. N64    4. Fighting (Fights, Fight)   

Pokemon Silver
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge (12 October, 2000)
list price: $34.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Featuring a new adventure that's filled with numerous enhancements andinnovations, this long-awaited sequel to Pokémon Red, Blue,and Yellow greatly improves upon the series' winning formula, and makesfor an even more insanely addictive and wholly absorbing gaming experience.

Like Pokémon Gold--which essentially is the same story, with minorgameplay variations--Pokémon Silver casts players in the familiarrole of a young Pokémon Trainer who's out to collect as many differentkinds of Pokémon as possible. As in previous games, gameplay consistsmostly of exploration (completing various quests in the process) andPokémon battles, which employ a unique battle system that's like acomplex twist on rock-paper-scissors.

But, despite the similarities, it's quite apparent that PokémonSilver is a whole new ball game from the start. The game is played out inreal time, with the current time and day of the week (recorded by an internalclock) having a direct impact on gameplay elements, such as what Pokémonyou'll find in the wild, and when certain events occur and characters appear.

While there are too many new and improved features in PokémonSilver to list here, among the highlights are 100 new Pokémon(including two new types), new evolution processes (including breeding), and amore streamlined game interface that has better-organized menus and buttonshortcuts.

Although it's easier to progress in Pokémon Silver than in theprevious games, the sheer amount of fun and game time that's involved isdaunting. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better value than this one. --JoeHon

Pros:

• Insanely addictive and wholly absorbing gaming experience
• Time and day of week impact gameplay directly
• Bevy of new features and hidden secrets
• Improved graphics and more streamlined game interface

Cons:

• Minor compatibility issues when using Game Link with previous versions

... Read more

Reviews (157)

Pokemon Silver
This game is really fun!It has a varity of objectives.There
is a lot of cool Pokemon.You even get a cellphone.There is a huge area in this game.If you like long games this game is for you.

i'm confuseddddd?!@>@
is this game like the other versions,yellow,red,and silver?+the other ones,is it the same game or not?!>@#

Answers to above reveiw.
You dont need a dragon pokemon for the 8th badge. When you beat clair, she asks you to get the dragon fang, located in the dragon cave above the gym. you need surf and whirlpool to get to it. upon grabbing it, she will give you the badge. If you want a dragon pokemon, you can either fish for it in that same cave (use super rod) or buy it from game corner like i did early on.You get a dragonite by evolving dragonair at level 50 i think, but its not worth it, it just learns the same moves and gains more weaknesses. To beat the guy in radio tower, i assume you mean the fake director, just use strong pokemon. you see lance again as the champion when you defeat the elite four. beat him and you end the game and enter the hall of fame. You mean the waterfall? easy use the hm move waterfall on it and youll climb it. If you mean Lt.Surge in vermillion city, after beating the elite four, go to professor elm after he calls youand get ss ticket, then use it to sail to kanto from olivine city. then once there use cut on the bush next to the gym and enter to fight him.7 badges is good, but try and get all 8 then beat the game and continue to kanto. This is true, but it takes days to train a pokemon that much, and by lv.50 you have to be battling the elite 4's pokemon or it will gain 1 level every couple days because it isnt getting enough exp. If your pokemon are this low by now use the duplicate cheat explained later on. Having the bike is good, but by then you should have every hm, but shouldnt be able to use waterfall until beating the 8th gym.You can win without a dragon pokemon, their just more effective. Try using gyrados's dragon rage. itll help.You dont actully need one. Clefairy can, but dont use them up. You only get a few.OK. To duplicate have the item you want to duplicate held by a pokemon, which will also get duplicated.go to any pokemon center, walk to in front of the pc, save, go to bills pc and deposit that pokemon then change the box, except when it gets to the screen saying SAVING... DONT TURN OFF. turn off the power. turn it back on and you should have the pokemon in your party and the box. Its been duplicated. If you have further questions, e-mail taylorsteele@shaw.ca. your welcome. ... Read more

Asin: B00004TCT3
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Game Boy (Gameboy)    3. Pokemon (Pokeman)   

Pokemon Gold & Silver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
by ELIZABETH HOLLINGER JAMES RATKOS Elizabeth M. Hollinger James M. Ratkos
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (11 October, 2000)
list price: $14.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (44)

A book deserving 4.25 stars
I think this is a great book. What this book contains:
A sealed section (w/ MAIJOR SPOILERS)
A thorough walkthrough.
Answers to the game's hard puzzles.
Maps of every city, route, ect.
SOME of the new pokemons' evolutions, moves, ect.
Items in the game and their purposes.
EVERY SINGLE move in the game, all of the TMs & HMs & their locations.
Help on catching Suicune, Raiku, & Entei
Trainers, their Pokemon & levels, ect.
Details on Mystery Gift.
AND MUCH MORE!

What this book DOESN'T have:
A complete Pokedex
Not TOO MANY spoilers
And all of the unnessisary details

Learn about a game before writing a book
Maybe authors should learn about a game before writing a strategy guide, that would certainly be a good idea. The people who wrote this knew nothing about the game. The section on happiness was absolutely stupid, most of the things listed there do not raise or lower happiness. They have proven they do not know anything about the mathematic values of the game, readily available through reverse engineering of a rom. The exact damage formula is not included (not that they would even know what it was), stat experience, what stat boosters REALLY do, etc.

Good but they left out something!
This guide has almost everything you need to know. It has maps of the areas, what pokemon are located on each route, what each pokemon attack does, and much more. ( They also have a great cheat section. ) The only thing they didn't do very well was put the pokemon names with their attacks under them. The pokemon weren't all in one place. They were spread around the book in not any order! This makes them hard to find. Also the didn't include all the pokemon! Still, I think you should get this guide! The game is very hard without it. Also isn't it better to have a guide that is ok than no guide at all? ( I don't think there are any other Pokemon Gold and Silver guides. ) ... Read more

Isbn: 0761530843
Sales Rank: 42135
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Games    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Entertainment & Games - General    5. Pokâemon (Game)    6. Video & Electronic - General    7. Video & Electronic - Nintendo    8. Games / Video & Electronic