Command & Conquer: Renegade
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (27 February, 2002)
list price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Command & Conquer: Renegade is a fast-paced, 3-D action game set in the gripping Command & Conquer universe. For the first time, you can experience a Command & Conquer game up close and personal as you fight it out on the ground among the structures, vehicles, and weapons made famous in the original. You assume the role of Havoc, an elite GDI commando who fights and explores from a first- or third-person viewpoint.

Battling through exotic indoor and outdoor environments, you're free to use both brute force and stealth in your mission objectives against the evil Brotherhood of Nod. No longer are you playing with just a top-down view of the battlefield. Now the action goes on around you and in full 3-D. Explore on, around, and inside all the popular structures and units from the original Command & Conquer. What's it like inside the ominous Hand of Nod? Now you'll know.

Fast, lethal, and effective, Havoc is an elite force of one who gets the job done, whatever it takes. Put yourself in the driver's seat of nearly every popular vehicle from the Command & Conquer series. Use powerful vehicles to your tactical advantage in hostile territory. If you need more firepower or horsepower, hijacking a Nod Flame Tank might be the key to mission success.Create your own tactics. How you tackle the multiple objectives within each of the 11 diverse missions is up to you. Seek out the perfect sniping spot for a stealthy assault, or drive a 75-ton tank straight through the frontlines. Use the environment for a critical edge in combat. Remember, you are a renegade. You make the rules. And show your stuff in multiplayer mode. Engage in chaotic deathmatches or cooperative team-based modes, such as C&C mode. Call up a friend to help battle through a challenging single-player mission. Prove you're the best through Westwood Online's tournaments and ladders system. ... Read more

Features

Reviews (81)

One of the best attempts at a cross-genre approach
Greetings General - It looks like this time, we're going to need to get our hands dirty.That's right, this time there's no advantage in numbers, we need you to go in solo.Command and Conquer Renegade places you into the first shooter in the C&C universe.Playing the role of Nick "Havoc" Parker in your quest to stop Nod's most evil plot to date.

Gameplay:
As far as first-person shooters go, this sits on the arcade side of the market.Everything from hit detection, weapon physics andenemy AI lacks what could be considered realistic direction. Yet, as far as arcade shooters go, this one has its merits.The enemy density is quite challenging at times, especially on the hardest settings, and their accuracy will give even a seasoned FPS gamer a run for their money.The downside is that the enemy AI reacts with more of a bot mentality than an 'intelligent' one.For those of you unfamiliar with bots, this means that regardless of the enemies using any cover or environmental awareness, they just come straight at you.Often in straight lines if you take the time to string them out.Their lack of intelligence is compensated by their inhuman accuracy.
Any of lack of polish exhibited in the game is more than covered by it's definite C&C feel.As a GDI commando, you have access to weapons and vehicles made popular in the original C&C world.Whether you're driving a flame tank, or placing beacons for your ion cannon, it definitely feels like you're playing a small, albeit important, role to take down the Brotherhood of Nod.

Graphics:
The game looks dated, even for only being from 2002, it is really blocky.The character and vehicle models have extremely low polygon counts.The FMV's between each level also use a modified version of the game engine and the eyes and mouths look completely off.However, I'm never one to downplay a game because of it's graphics unless that is all it has going for it.Just being able to walk around and inside a Hand of Nod, or being able to get inside a mammoth tank and crush the opposition is enough to satisfy anyone's visual needs.

Sound:
Renegade uses a ton of sounds familiar to any C&C vets.Even the music is highly reminiscent of the original.All this adds to the feeling of being inside the C&C universe.The only downside is that because the sounds are old, at times it feels like your weapons really lack some oomph.You can unload 100 rounds from your assault rifle into an unwitting rocket soldier and the sound can make it feel like your shooting spitballs at an over-ripe watermelon.

Overall:
This definitely has to be the best cross-genre attempt made by any gaming franchise.I was highly worried about buying this after having gone through X-COM's attempt at FPS, but I was pleasantly surprised.For the going price, this is definitely a must buy for any fan of the C&C series and barring a few bugs, the only downside to this game is the bot-style AI.Just make sure to update it ASAP and if you're looking to stretch your gaming dollar even further, be sure to try it multiplayer where you take part in a Tribes / Savage mix.

Awesome Multiplayer
This is my favorite C&C game.It has awesome graphics, great multiplayer mode, and a variety of of units to pick from.The campaign is ok, it isn't much of a challenge but is good overall.The only downside is that it lacks the skirmish mode.It has Multiplayer practice but the AI only gets soldiers that attack the harvester most of the time.Multiplayer online is the best mode of them all.You can play up to as many players as your computer can handle.The biggest server i have seen was 127 players.Anyway BUY THIS GAME!

Game rocks!
i got this game shortly 5 months ago,it rocks! the grapics would need a little updating, and on multiplayer, i don't even know where to get all those maps! but still, the game rocks... i love the hi-tech gear, i love the personal ion cannon, i mean that thing Rocks! i love to use both sides, i love Nods chemical weaponry, and in some maps i love using the apache! if command and conquer went to a new level, like online RP games using the chars from all the games, and put it into one game, like Starwars Galaxy and other games, i would play it, except the exception if they asked you to pay a big wad of money to play it, but if they do make a game like that and you don't have to pay, i'd buy it! ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7YM
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Shooters (Shooter)    4. Military (Tactics)    5. Command and Conquer (C&C)    6. Westwood   

Serious Sam: Second Encounter
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (07 February, 2002)

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Editorial Review

Sam Stone is back in an all-new adventure. Serious Sam: The Second Encounter features improved multiplayer, lush new South American locales, three new weapons, and seven new enemies, but the first-person shooter gameplay is exactly the same: madcap and intense. Once again, it's time to get serious. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

A Top Gun!!
I've played alot of video games but I can say straight off that this has been one of the best I have ever played.
Why do I say that?
Well the great graphics,sound,gameplay,intense immersion and challenge aside,this is one of the few games I own that I keep coming back to play again....and AGAIN!
Both of the incarnations of Serious Sam(1 & 2)are on the same high quality scale of the first person shooter genre and rate very high marks indeed.
Croteam the creators of the Serious Sam phenom were to release a third and final game to end the series but to date this unfortunately has not come to pass.
But I'll continue to keep my fingers crossed and on the trigger ready and waiting for that day when Mental and his minions challenge us once again to a battle to the death.
A game no true gamer should be without in his collection.

Serious Sam is serious garbage
If I had reviewed this 2 days ago, I would given a rave review. At first it has all the elements of a classic shooter, great weapons, varied enemies, funny one liners. But by about level 3 everything goes downhill in the level design department. You get bombarded from every direction by hundreds of enemies. I'm no tournement player, but geting smacked from every angle doesn't really appeal to me. The A.I. sucks, and the "Mob Rules" mentality is the only thing driving the monsters. In the end it doesn't matter if you finish it, there isn't really a story to speak of. I'm sticking with Half-Life 2 and Doom III

Great Environments - Good Gameplay
I've played a lot of first person shooters, and quite a few platform games (like tomb raider), and I find that this game takes great qualities from them both.

For FPS fans, the gameplay is fierce.Tons of weapons, lots of ammo, and billions of enemies streaming at you from all sides.However, a bit of stealth and your sniper rifle will improve your chances of surviving a walk into the open.

The environments are huge, with great detail.No, not up to the 2004 releases like Doom3 or HalfLife2, but the textures are very detailed.While the textures are a bit repetitive, this allows for very fast gameplay.Your computer won't have any trouble drawing a vast valley with four massive pyramids and with dozens of enemies (some three times your size).The view distance is amazing, with only the detailed grass having an obvious draw distance (a very nice touch that allows you to feel completely surrounded by grass without having to draw all those polygons throughout the map).

The first world you navigate through is "Mayan".I actually work in Mexico and can tell you that the textures used for those maps are amazingly authentic.Some are actual photographs of famous Maya murals that make wonderful wall textures, making you feel like you're in a Maya palace.

Finally, the little puzzles and secrets that are found throughout the game give it a kind of "platform adventure" feel to it.This may be annoying to FPS fanatics who only want to walk down corridors and shoot whatever pops up.Serious Sam Second Encounter gives you all the action, with the added desire to explore every nook and cranny of the huge maps.The puzzles are not tricky, generally fun and sometimes skill-building.

I highly recommend this for some FPS fun on the lighter side of Doom3. ... Read more

Asin: B00005ULW9
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Shooters (Shooter)   

WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (02 July, 2002)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $24.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Four different races to command including Orcs, Humans, Night Elves and Undead, each possessing unique units, magical abilities and weapons of war.
• Skeletal and skinning animation process allows infinite frames of animation resulting in true fluid movement of 3D models.
• Advanced world design tools allowing players to customize every aspect of the game including tile sets, character art, quests, mission objectives, and unit types, AI, attributes, special abilities and spells.
• Expanded multiplayer options over Battle.net including a larger number of players per game and multiple game types including team play and questing.

Reviews (437)

Warcraft 3; Upsides and downsides
I really liked Warcraft 3 alot and I would definately recommend it to anyone willing to give up about an hour of their timeevery day and have fun. You might not accomplish anything in particular but you will be awe-ispired by this game (and if you think this is cool, you should by World of warcraft). Once you buy the game you have to buy the expansion, because it makes it way cooler than it already is. The "World Editor" feature is sweet, because you get to create your own maps and dungeons (look for this feature in the annals of your comptor after installation). This game is altogether sweet and I seiriously recommend it. I also reccomend purchasing any other BLIZZARD titles that strike your fancy. Please excuse the poor typing, Sincerely, Nick

WarCraftIII + Apple + a buddy = where the time go...
Super fun - I took my powerbook over to a buddies - hooked up an ethernet cable and bam - we were having a blast.Must admit the little lady was a little bent because I lost all sense of time and was a bit late for dinner.I will say it was worth it - great maps - great connection - and Blizzard just makes the best games ever - they are all about making games fun.
I can't recomend them enough.

Good game, great fun
this game is really fun, especially the online action. join TONS of people on Battle.net and play online for hours, its addicting. the sigle player also kicks arse if i may say so. i bought this game when it first came out for 50 bucks and i still play it. its awesome. im pretty sure in a general sense that if you like ANY video games you will love this. ... Read more

Asin: B00005V9Q1
Sales Rank: 382
Subjects:  1. Historical (historic) Recreation (Recreations)    2. Military (Wargames    3. Macintosh (Machintosh)    4. Mac    5. Apple    6. Havas    7. Computer Games    8. Action    9. Adventure    10. Strategy (Strategic)    11. Fantasy   

Neverwinter Nights
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (18 June, 2002)
list price: $19.99
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Editorial Review

Neverwinter Nights isn't simply another computer game. It's aDungeons & Dragons computer game, as well as all the tools you'll need to create your own Dungeons & Dragons adventures. Neverwinter Nights is an achievement. It accomplishes what computer role-playing games set out to do when Wizardry debuted in the late '70s: re-create the social, hands-on experience of tabletop gaming.

Neverwinter Nights uses the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules in (nearly) all their complex glory. It's the first game to attempt to fully support D&D 3E's customizable features, and more significantly, it's the first game designed to re-create the experience of playing tabletop D&D. You can play BioWare's extensive campaign alone or online with your friends, or you can use the included Aurora toolset to build your own adventure module and run it for your buddies with all the control you'd have if you were running a tabletop game. The powerful Dungeon Master client lets you put words in nonplayer characters' mouths, control monsters, alter the game world, and customize your adventure on the fly. If playing is your thing, you can join other people's games and play through encounters with other gamers around the world.

Everything works as it should and the game is beautiful to behold. BioWare has used a limited 3-D engine to allow you to spin your viewpoint around your character and zoom in on the action. During combat, Mages unleash spectacular spells, Priests raise their symbols to drive undead hordes back, and Rogues tinker with locked chests, while Fighters dodge, parry, and strike ferociously at any attacking beasts. The sound is topnotch, with BioWare's typically high-quality voice acting and music from composer Jeremy Soule.

But all isn't perfect.

The game makes a great effort of implementing the full D&D 3rd Edition rules, but doesn't quite succeed. In NWN, Paladins lose their Detect Evil and Mount abilities. Druids can shape change into animals, but can't change back to human form at will. Darkvision has no noticeable in-game effect. Troublesome issues for hard-core D&D fans, but it's understandable that some changes would have to be made in order to shoehorn a freeform tabletop RPG into a computer program.

Other issues are not so easy to understand: the camera controls are simple and will not allow the user to lower to decrease the camera angle--you'll never get anything approaching a character's-eye view of the world. Moving to a new section within a building or going from an indoor to an outdoor area takes you out of the game and presents you with a (mercifully short) "Loading" screen. There is an artificial limitation on how many henchmen you can hire in the single-player game: you're limited to one hireling, and Baldur's Gate fans will miss the squabbling party from earlier games. More significant are the problems that arise from trying to re-create a social experience like D&D in a computer game. Multiplayer games with strangers are confusing and not as fun as they sound and, like the tabletop game, they're really only as fun as the players and especially the DM you're playing with. Multiplayer NWN is only worthwhile if you have a dedicated group and a DM that knows what he or she is doing. The last drawback is the documentation. The manual is large and detailed but it omits key help in module creation; you have to buy a separatestrategy guide if you want that information.

But though slightly flawed, NWN has indisputably won the holy grail of RPG gaming: getting the Dungeons & Dragons experience into a personal computer. The included campaign is fascinating and the tools are powerful enough to ensure a steady stream of module content from devoted fans. Make no mistake, Neverwinter Nights is an achievement and will likely change the way CRPGs are played from now on. It's a game no RPG fan, no D&D fan, should miss. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

• Almost perfect implementation of D&D 3E rules
• Deep single-player game
• Intriguing multiplayer game
• Powerful module creation tools

Cons:

• Not quite perfect implementation of D&D 3E rules
• "Loading" screens
• Inflexible 3-D camera
• Only one henchman
• Multiplayer is dependant on quality players and DM

... Read more

Features

Reviews (298)

Not very entertaining.
NEVERWINTER NIGHTS is a very derivative, stale game that does not live up to the standards and expectations of Bioware Studios. It has an equal amount of pros and cons, which I will address and compare.

The Pros:
-Neverwinter contains a large amount of quests and items to use, and introduces several interesting customization options.
-Neverwinter also, rather boldly, strays from the easier to use 2nd edition Dungeons and Dragons, and becomes possibly the first ever 3rd edition RPG to hit the market.
-Neverwinter also attempts to cover a lot of ground with its skills and feats. The leveling up of characters is translated into a simplified, much more rapid system.
-Neverwinter introduces the most easy to use editor in a game so far.

The Cons:
-Neverwinter does not contain nearly enough skills or feats. Far too many have been grievously oversimplified.
-The story, especially after Baldur's Gate, is a little too lukewarm.
-NPC's* are now much less competent in your party. Since you can only have one, and you can't control them or access their inventories, my NPC felt all too static. Plus, I cannot tell you how indescribably annoying it is when you die ten thousand times, when the fight would be over in two seconds if they would just cast the right spell. Also, they don't know when a battle is coming, so they can only use their magical power-ups** in the middle of combat. It's usually too late.
-The game's editor is still too difficult to use well. There has to be a better system for using scripts***.
-The game is far too short. It did not take very long too finish the game. And I play on the harder difficulties.

Overall, the game is disappointing. It attempts to block out the all-important NPC element, and over-stresses cosmetic and pointless changes in your character and NPCs. I do not recommend this to a fan of the genre. Stick with the classics, or pick up KOTOR**** instead.


*Non Player Character: A character that you do not create, usually not a protagonist.
**A spell that helps your party by temporarily making you stronger or more able.
*** Bits of code that direct characters and events. For instance, a script tells the game to make an NPC attack you if you attack him, or makes the gargoyle come alive when you pick up the statuette.
****Knights of the Old Republic. Critically acclaimed Role-Playing game made by the same company.

P.S. Do not check the box saying that the review was unhelpful unless it actually is. Please, do not mark it just because you disagree.

Typical RPG problems, disappointing toolset.
While the game itself is fairly entertaining, it still has those typical design flaws programmers just can't seem to see. Inspite of being told to stay put, characters with you magicly show up next to you as you pass through some doorways, often right into a scene best handled alone. More often, very imaginative strategies will gather fewer experience than rushing blindly into battle. "Scripted events" (where your character is magicly thrown into a new situation or plot line which he or she has the power to control, but can not) can make thinking gamers feel cheated.
The much hyped toolset is a disaster for imaginative Dungeon Masters as the vast majority of "monsters" are of the humanoid type. If as game creator, you don't mind using the same basic type of creaures over and over, the toolset will work for you. Anyone very creative however, will see that most of those fantastic creations from the Monster Manuals can not be included in their game. Professional graphic artists may (in a conciderable amount of time) be able to create unique creatures. Anyone else however, is out of luck. Even if one would be satisfied using the provided monsters, they will be bombarded with the program language "scripting" needed to make events happen within their world. NWN had the potential to be great, but falls victim to typical computer RPG problems and unproductive tools for one's own imagination.

Surprisingly mediocre single-player campaign
This review is based solely on my experience with the single-player campaign of Neverwinter Nights.Thus, I can't comment on the on-line capacity of the game.I bought this game thinking that it was the successor of Bioware's excellent Baldur's Gate series, which are among my all-time favorite video games.In a few ways it does improve upon these earlier masterpieces, but in many more ways it proved to be an inferior gaming experience.Unless you have the time and patience to explore this game's on-line side, don't bother getting it.There are many better computer roleplaying games out there (e.g., Morrowind, Baldur's Gate, Diablo 2, etc.).

Gameplay: This is a D&D-style fantasy adventure that Bioware has made a reputation for presenting well.You create a character at the beginning and build him/her up with experience points during a 70-80 hour main quest.The basic idea is similar to other such games, but the implementation here is unexciting.First, this is a single-character game in which you don't have a party.You can hire a mercenary, but for the most part you are on your own.It makes for a rather uninteresting experience, since your hired hand does not have much of a personality and specializes primarily in poor pathfinding and suicidal behavior while in combat.Unlike great games by Bioware such as Baldur's Gate and Knights of the Old Republic, you virtually have no control over your mercenary, who is often a liability.

Another problem with the game is its structure.It is largely comprised of dungeon crawl after dungeon crawl after dungeon crawl.A few of the dungeons are well done and memorable, and the game does pack in an awful lot of monsters.But the experience is rather claustrophobic insofar as your adventures are boxed into four chapters in which you simply explore a town, its countryside, and underground areas.Unlike Baldur's Gate, you can't revisit towns that were in previous chapters, and there is really no reason to since they are rather generic in feel.

The story itself is not a bad one, but is full of cliches and rather predictable.You can take the noble good-guy route or be an outright villain, but the main story will unfold in the same way.The main deficiency with the single-player campaign is the almost utter lack of connection that you feel with your character and the other NPCs you'll encounter.There is none of the banter, bickering, and cameraderie that made the characters so memorable in Baldur's Gate.Here, your mercenary has no stories to tell and even main characters like Aribeth and Aarin Gend are just there to push the story alone.

Perhaps even more distressing is how unstable this game was on my computer.I had the 1.23 patch and it crashed to desktop about every 30 minutes.The current patch (1.65) is available at Bioware's website, but it's 66MB!If you have a dial-up internet connection like me, you know what that means (hours of waiting to download).It's really a shame that Bioware has fallen into the pattern of other developers and has begun releasing games that still have technical issues (I had similar crash problems with Knights of the Old Republic, but the Baldur's Gate games were models of stability).I hope that they avoid this with Neverwinter Nights 2.

Graphics: The game looks good, but not great.Graphics are largely an evolutionary improvement over Baldur's Gate.There are a few interesting changes, such as more combat moves, spell effects, and so forth. You can zoom the camera in close to the action, but things get blocky looking.Those who do use the Aurora toolset that comes with the game should have a lot to choose from, though this game is not the best looking RPG available.

Sounds: The music was good and set the atmosphere.Voice acting was hit-and-miss, with the whiny main character, Aribeth, being the worst offender.Overall, the sounds in the game served their purpose, but didn't rescue the otherwise mediocre plot or excuse the lack of real character development.

Replay/value: Since I don't play games on-line or have an interest in downloading mods by others, Neverwinter Nights had a short shelf-life for me.Due to the ho-hum story, bland characters, and crashing, I won't be rushing out to buy Neverwinter Nights 2.If you like dungeon crawling for dungeon crawling's sake and haven't played some truly extraordinary games like Morrowind or Baldur's Gate, then this game might be worth a try (be sure to get the latest patch).Otherwise, skip this one, since it doesn't begin to measure up to the high standards previously set by Bioware. ... Read more

Asin: B00004TSXC
Subjects:  1. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)    2. Great Deals (Outlet store)    3. Fantasy (FRPG)    4. Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG)    5. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D)    6. Wizards of the Coast    7. Bioware    8. Computer Games    9. Strategy (Strategic)    10. Fantasy   

Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn's Revenge with Todd McFarlane Action Figure
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (13 February, 2002)

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Editorial Review

Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn's Revenge is the most exciting addition yet to the ever popular Ultima Online massively multiplayer online role-playing game. For this version, the Ultima Online team partnered with legendary artist Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn, to revolutionize the game with exotic, fantastical creatures. You will enter a world under siege, where evil forces have aligned their powers in an attempt to conquer and vanquish the virtuous. Lord Blackthorn returns, corrupted by his own evil ambitions, as a half-man and all-evil tyrant. Over 30 new monsters and creatures designed by McFarlane add a darker, edgier twist to the once familiar land of Britannia. A new land mass located in the center of Ilshenar is the setting for the beginning of this dark siege. Who will prevail in this legendarybattle of good versus evil? Will you come forth to protect and defend the "virtuous" of Britannia? And what frightening and evil foes will await you on your journey? ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Waste of time, money and effort
...For a few months, I enjoyed the game. I convinced some friends to play as well... we formed a guild and all was nice and happy. During this time; however, the company seemed to experience an unusual amount of server problems and crashes. (leading to character deaths) This became a nightly frustration. Pleas for help went un-noticed and several e-mails directly to the company went unanswered. Hours and hours of game time were going to waste, with no compassion from the company causing these problems.

On top of the server issues, as we advanced in the game, we were forced to deal with an usually large number of "griefers". These are people whose sole mission in the game is to make your playing experience less enjoyable. They will intentionally lead hostile monsters to your location to get you killed, attack creatures you are trying to tame, or just interfere enough in your combat sequence to make it impossible for you to win. Despite the fact that the game has a supposed strict "no harassment" policy, don't expect any help. You will get the answer that they must witness the harassment in person, which is putting the cart before the horse as the moment a GM (game master) shows up to witness the event, the harassment stops. However, if someone uses a bad word (which is kept in a journal system) they will suspend the account. Despite the fact that it seems to me that physical in game harassment is far worse than someone swearing at me, there is nothing they are willing to do to enforce their own rules.

Presuming you endure the server crashes and are willing to put up with the "griefers" you will very quickly max out your character and experience all the game has to offer.
You have the ability to create up to 5 characters on one account, which is nice, but very little separates the majority of character classes. Ultimately, all of the "craft" characters (blacksmith, tailor, alchemist, scribe, tinker, carpenter, etc..) involve a boring series of repetitive keystroking to master. (You click on the sewing kit, choose the item to make, repeat until mastered) (click on smith hammer, choose the item to make, repeat until mastered).

The last obstacle for most people is crossing into the land of Feluca (the game is divided into 3 worlds... in Trammel and Ilshenear you can only play PvM (player vs monster), but in Feluca, you can play PvP (player v player) to try and get some of the "power scrolls" which allow you to build your character a bit stronger. Unfortunately, once in Feluca you are forced to deal with a force much worse than griefers (PKers and Thieves).
These are other players who get their kicks out of killing your character and/or stealing your items. I ultimately learned that many of these players use (sometimes illegal) third party programs to gain advantages, making them nearly impossible to avoid or survive in a fight. Unless you are willing to spend more money on a legal third party program (such as UO Assist) or are willing to risk your account by cheating, you will not be able to advance in the PvP world.

In-game quests and scenarios are poorly thought out and dull. There is very little offered in the way of in-game "events" that could produce a greater community feel. Scenarios don't seem to connect in any meaningful way, making in game stories impossible to enjoy.

Ultimately, after a few months you find yourself wondering why you are still playing and paying a monthly fee for it. ...The nature of the game is such that there is no ending... no completion... no feeling of actual accomplishment. You always feel as if you are reaching for a goal, but are not sure what that goal is or why you are reaching for it.

Overall, if you are a fan of D&D and/or RPG games, this game will not keep you entertained very long and will ultimately leave you feeling as if you wasted tons of time and money.

Great Stuff, My Rock in the world of Games.
I had to write this because of the couple of poor reviews that might put you off.

Were talking about a game here that has over 200,000 people PAYING to play, ontop of buying it. It is by far the best game i have ever played, I've been playing now, for over 3 years and theres still so much i want to do, and i'm talking about playing, 8 hours a day, even now after three years.

Theres are hundreds of character types you can choose from the sensiblem to the damn right werid and Unique - meet my Sleath Miner Thief Scout character.

Bored with a character or a skill or want to try another, or even a whole new skill set, no need to delete your character, just mark your old skills as down and mark your new ones as up.

With new stuff, skills, monsters being added all the time (5-6 Major updates a year, plus lots of minor) You never run out of things to do.

The graphics are great, they do they job, they look a little outdated at first, but you will love them once you start playing, no clunkly 3D, but nicely drawn sprite and cell animation.

Sure i play less for a while when Squaresoft or Blizzard release a new game, but after a few weeks, when i've finished the game i'm back upto 8 hours a day, or what time i can spare.

The Day i lose interest in UO, i have no idea what i will do, it really is my rock, the game i keep coming back to. Just don't bother playing if you have to have a linear game or goal, there are no goals or paths in UO, other than Life.

HUGE waiste of money!!
Ok, I've been playing UO for 4 months-It was absolutely THE FUNNEST GAME EVER for the first 3! So much to do....sadly, once you hit 4 months-you realize there isnt anything to do on it anymore. It's just plain too easy to get a poweful character and can fight DRAGONS alone with no difficulty AT ALL. There is absolutely NO challenge-the new land adventuring area "Ilshenar" is awesome the first 10 times you go-then its soooo boring. It's tiny-they hardly added ANY monsters (even though they told us they were GOING to)-all you can be is human-graphics in 3d are terrible-2d gets old-the screen is tiny-hardly any equipment. The world is sooo dull and boring-all the dungeons look the same(caves) only wiht a couple different monsters. EVERYTHING about this game is dull-you'll realize it in 3 months :).So if your looking for a stupid game to waiste 10 bucks a month on for 3 months go for it. If you want to play a game which will keep you at your computer and give you the adventure and fantasy you desire. BUY EVERQUEST. DONT buy this game...trust me! ... Read more

Asin: B00005V8TU
Subjects:  1. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (23 March, 2004)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $29.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

COUNTER-STRIKE is the #1 online action game in the world. After a one-year public Beta, Counter-Strike was commercially released in Fall 2000. It has gone on to sell over 1.5 million copies worldwide, been named Game of the Year by several gaming publications, and is the headliner at competitive gaming tournaments around the world.

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Counter-Strike: Condition Zero advances this award-winning series by introducing objective based single-player action, the official CS bot, and special enhancements for online play. CS:CZ is a tactical action game that challenges you to compete with and against cunning computerized opponents in a Tour of Duty across the globe.

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As a squad leader in an elite counter-terrorist operative, use new intel and weapon skills to complete an incredible collection of single-player missions. Lead your team in increasingly challenging scenarios -- from harsh jungle environments to severe arctic terrains, unforgiving deserts to dangerous international city streets. Rescue hostages. Escort VIPs to safety. Locate and defuse bombs. A collection of entirely new objectives challenge your ability to think quickly and strategically.

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero introduces new game technologies including highly-detailed locations; atmospheric enhancements, such as snow and rain; and more dynamic special effects -- taking the #1 online action game into new territory. Also, play your favorite classic CS maps, now visually upgraded.

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Condition Zero contains never-before-seen elements to the game series, such as the official CS bot, which allows for both offline and online multiplayer simulations. In addition, CS:CZ includes an arsenal of advanced weaponry and equipment, including upgraded firepower, bulletproof riot shields, and more.

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is a co-production by Valve and Turtle Rock Studios. In the collaborative spirit of CS, Valve and Turtle Rock have tapped the creative talents of mapmakers and technology designers in the CS community. And several of the tools and technologies created in the making of CS:CZ will be released to the MOD community after launch. ... Read more

Features

Reviews (191)

More Maps, More Models, More Fun
I used to play CS:Source all the time until I got this. In my opinion, Source is a freebie with HL2 and this is the real deal. I don't care much about graphics, so no complaints here. Besides that I find the people on CZ servers to be altogether friendlier than the n00bs and haxors playing on Source. Long Live CZ, Source is just a pretender to the throne.

Ausome!
this is the best game ever! buy it!grat online play and good graphics.dont listen to what other people say!it is ausome and plus you get counterstrike with it when you type in your CD key on steam you just have to download it!dont waste your money on CS when you can buy Cs CZ for 10 bucks more.

Condition Zero review by Dave Clarke
This game is cool I have a link between my Brothers and My Computer so i get to kill him (ha ha ha ) Thsi really brought CounterStrike to life .

So you CS Lovers get here and but it

Dave ... Read more

Asin: B00005Y0IW
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Shooters (Shooter)    4. Havas   

Unreal 2: The Awakening
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (04 February, 2003)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Unreal II: The Awakening returns to the fascinating futuristic setting of Unreal, first visited in 1998. Since then we've had to content ourselves with the excellent Unreal Tournament multiplayer combat series. For this first true sequel Epic Games hired Legend Entertainment, who made a name for themselves with the Unreal: Return to Na Pali expansion pack and the woefully underrated Wheel of Time game (based on the books by Robert Jordan). The result is fun and frantic, if a bit too short-lived.

Unreal II's best feature is its lush graphics engine. It's state of the art. All the locations, which range from bizarre alien worlds to those based on the film Alien, exude dynamic realism. Human and alien characters are well-animated and rendered, but have a cartoonish exaggeration that clashes with the realism of the architecture. The designers were undoubtedly shooting for a comic-book look, which explains why the women look like blow-up dolls with bare midriffs and the men have hulking muscles. The monsters, too, ripple with strength and menace. This style will please some, but is less effective than the more realistic styles employed by similar titles--although at least the art direction is consistent throughout the game.

Unreal cast you as a prisoner who--through both good and bad luck--was freed from confinement, but marooned on an alien world. He goes on to become a sort of messiah figure to the four-armed natives, while other, scarier, natives want to kill him. It ends with a cliffhanger that this game does nothing to resolve. Now, you play as a new character who works for the Terran Colonial Authority. You're a space marshal on the ship Atlantis. You and your buxom partner, who looks more like an exotic dancer than a police woman, have to solve problems in a game only tenuously connected with the original Unreal.

Core gameplay and mission design are good, but uninspired. Legend has taken a conservative, almost minimalist approach. They've made a solid shooter that takes full advantage of Epic's state-of-the-art graphics engine, but did nothing to set the shooter apart from the crowd. One hopes that Unreal II: The Awakening awakens Epic to the fact that Unreal is a genuinely interesting franchise that deserves more. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Gorgeous graphics
• Decent gameplay

Cons:

• Amateurish if consistent art design
• Too short

... Read more

Features

• Uses an advanced, real-time dialog system for fluid communications with your ships crew and non-player characters.
• Enjoy incredibly lifelike graphics powered by the latest Unreal Engine technology from Epic, with extremely high polygon counts, skeletal animation, particle system modeling (for fire, smoke, cloth, breaking glass, hair, etc.) and more.
• Wield 15 weapons including Unreal favorites as well as brand-new instruments of mayhem.
• Battle more than 24 different enemies; the dreaded Skaarj returns from the original Unreal alongside various human and alien opponents.

Reviews (138)

A decent FPS...
This game is no Doom 3 or Half-Life, but the graphics are great, and the weapons and gameplay are decent.Buy used and have fun.

An ok title
Unreal 2 is definitely a downgrade from the original Unreal.
Besides the great scenery, great graphics and game engine there isn't much to this game. The storyline lacks depth and it fails to immerse the player. If you see this title in the bargain bin then maybe you should pick it up. Otherwise I wouldn't pay the money for it. There's a lot of other great single player fps titles out there. Unreal 2 I feel that is not worth to be the successor of the Unreal franchise.

Note to game creators.....3 WAYS TO PISS OFF FANS
#1.CHEATING YOUR FANS

As you can plainly see, Unreal 2 has nothing to do with Unreal 1.Did they just need the royalties or what?!Let's look at a previous example that attempted to toss a sharp elbow in the stomach's of fans everywhere:Check out Deus ex 1 and 2.The fans were furious; they were lured into a poor imitation of Deus ex's former self.The only people who played Deus ex 2 were the people who had previously played Deus ex 1.....which leads me to my main point....if your going to hand out a different game that does not resemble your first game - you must change the title OR the fans will have to suffer through your shoddy second attempt at cash-flow - and review your game poorly.

#2.LEVEL DESIGN..PLEASE!

The creators of Unreal 2 tried a different approach in this game.For the first two levels it worked great.Then the level design got repetitive.....ironically, the exact opposite of what Unreal 1 had to offer.This is what the fans wanted, along with just the slightest, the smallest, most insincere of efforts to mince a story together - but the creators could not pull this task off.

#3.ENEMY MUST CONFORM WITH BACKGROUND

If you look past the fact that this is not related to Unreal and that the level design is a little uninspired - this still would have made a good "scare" tactic game like Doom 3; the AI is good and so are the guns - in fact, I actually had fun fighting Skaar and the other enemies.Unfortunately, the one thing that seems to remain the same with Unreal 2 is the character animation.The enemies seem all to cartoonish and UNREAL against the background of fantastically rendered scenes.You don't plug in the same animations of Doom 2 with Doom 3 and expect good results, do you?Take a look at the "spiders" in the HELL level on Unreal 2 - pathetic.

Thanks creators, you taught me an important lesson - RESEARCH.Good luck selling Unreal 3...this time I'll check the reviews before you get off so easily. ... Read more

Asin: B00005Y4Q1
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Shooters (Shooter)   

Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (26 November, 2001)
list price: $29.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

It's been nearly 10 years since Wolfenstein 3D foreverpopularized the first-person shooter, and at long last everyone's favorite Nazikiller, B.J. Blazkowicz, is back in Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Setduring World War II, Return to Castle Wolfenstein finds the Nazisdabbling in the black arts in an effort to create an army of supersoldiers.Naturally, Blazkowicz is the only thing standing in the Nazis' way, so he's setbehind enemy lines in an effort to end the madness.

On the surface, the single-player game seems like pure gold--after all, everyoneloves killing Nazis. But the story jumps all over the place, the enemy AI isless than impressive, and most gamers will be able to finish the game in a mere10 to 15 hours. The single-player game falls short of the standards set bytitles such as Half-Life and No One Lives Forever.

In fact, the best thing about Return to Castle Wolfenstein is itsteam-based multiplayer mode. Each multiplayer adventure features Axis vs. Allies, andboth sides offer four character classes: engineer (removes obstacles), medic(heals and revives teammates), lieutenant (calls in air strikes and replenishesammo), and soldier (only class able to use sniper rifles, flamethrowers, andother unusual weapons). The game includes only eight multiplayer maps, but theyare all perfectly designed, and in order to be successful teams have to worktogether. The result is a great gaming experience that fans ofCounter-Strike or the Day of Defeat mode for Half-Life will reallyappreciate.

Graphically, Return to Castle Wolfenstein looks amazing. It uses thepowerful Quake III engine to great effect, and the character models,explosions, and lighting effects are all perfectly done. Alas, pretty graphicsand a great multiplayer game don't quite make up for an exceptionally averagesingle-player experience. --William Harms

Pros:

• Amazing graphics
• Great level design (including secret passages)
• Awesome multiplayer mode

Cons:

• Lackluster AI
• Single-player game is very short

... Read more

Reviews (226)

Guilt-free genocide
I suppose if there are two groups whom it's acceptable and almost encouraged to slaughter, it would be Nazis and zombies. It's the only time a defendant could be on the witness stand and confess to his own benefit "Your Honor, they were really asking for it." Which is what makes Return to Wolfenstein so much fun. It's a historically accurate gothic WWII supernatural FPS. One of those rare combinations you throw in a blender and it comes out all yummy.

I'll briefly echo all the other compliments here: nearly photo-realistic graphics; pinpoint control, targeting, and collision detection; silky smooth operation in XP. Voice acting is believable. Weapon and explosion sounds are appropriately metallic and jarring. And the undead are scary as hell. I've played many of the good survival horror franchises, and none except Silent Hill 1 freaked me out like the zombies in Wolfenstein. It was a rare stroke of genius to introduce the Nazi grunts as sympathic victims of the undead hordes, showing scenes of your enemy's enemies devouring them alive. This creates a real hesitation and apprehension about the player's role that exacerbates the fear. In other words: me scared, good job.

So, if it rocks so hard, why not five stars? Well, this little revelation hit me about halfway through the game: instead of being the best Castle Wolfenstein it could be, id decided to make a very good cross between Medal of Honor and Wolfenstein. Which is a very good thing, but remember what set the first Wolfensteins apart from the rest were the exploration and "secret area" goodies. RtW would have been great if every level had been more like Paderborn (the best stage of RtW): more dungeon crawling, deeper and more inventive secret areas. I'm imagining innovative and useable secret goodies that enhanced gameplay, hidden by new concepts of concealing secret doors. You know, play to your strengths rather than copy someone else.

As it is, Return to Wolfenstein is a fun, pretty, and often scary offbeat shooter that's just a hair below the best of the more traditional WWII FPS.

Compatibility problems
I have this game, it used to play on my win 98 but since I upgraded to win xp it doesnt work anymore. Does anyone know why? How can I fix it? I doesnt help changing the compatibility settings.
Thanx a lot.

Another Milestone in Gaming?
As most of you are aware, the video and PC gaming industry loves to hype games.In the last six years or so the games that got a LOT of attention prior to release include Unreal, Unreal Tournament 2003, Unreal 2, Black and White, and of course, Doom 3.As you can see from this list, not all of these games lived up to expectations.Considering the tremendous amount of hype that heralded the return of Wolfenstein, does Return to Castle Wolfenstein live up to expectations?

Mostly yes.The graphics in this game are definitely good, and they seem to approach photo-realism in some ways.It helps to run this game with a good video card, and I can tell you that although Return to Castle Wolfenstein was released in 2001, my Radeon 9800 graphics card still strains a bit if I turn all the settings up.The sound, level design, weapons, and enemy AI all are very good too.

Nevertheless, most gamers would agree that this shooter was not the milestone it was expected to be.Some complained that the single-player adventure is mediocre, but I thought it was quite good.I guess there's only so much you can do with a first-person action game, and if the previews in the PC gaming press get too exciting, one should expect a let down.

So should you buy Return to Castle Wolfenstein?If you like playing action games on your PC, then by all means get a copy.At the price, you'll get a really good value because this game is as good or better than many of the newer, more expensive shooters.Moreover, playing Return to Castle Wolfenstein can lend you an idea of how games evolve and how gamers react to them. ... Read more

Asin: B00004U55E
Subjects:  1. Supernatural (Horror)    2. First Person    3. Wolfenstien    4. world war 2    5. Computer Games    6. Action    7. Shooters (Shooter)   

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (23 January, 2002)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

EA has finally brought its Medal of Honor series (already wildly popularon the PlayStation) to the PC. Set during World War II, Medal of Honor:Allied Assault chronicles the fictional exploits of Lt. Mike Powell as hebattles his way from the shores of Africa to the shores of France to the heartof Nazi Germany. On the PSX, the Medal of Honor games were hailed asrevolutionary, and though Allied Assault never quite merits that level ofpraise, it's still a great game.

At first glance, Allied Assault seems to have a lot in common with theWorld War II-themed Return to Castle Wolfenstein, but the similaritiesare strictly superficial. Allied Assault takes a more realistic approachto the action, both in the enemies that you face (there are no zombies ormutants) and in the mission structure. The game unfolds across six real-lifetheaters of war, and the 30 playable missions vary a lot in how they play out.Just like a character in a good army movie, you'll be sabotaging tanks,destroying submarines, and sending false communications. Nearly all yourmissions are very well designed, especially the mission where you land on OmahaBeach.

The D-day mission has received a lot of attention, and for good reason--once thedoor on your Higgins boat drops, all hell breaks loose. The men in front of youdrop in a hail of bullets, a Higgins boat to your left is blown to bits, andmachine gun fire rakes the water everywhere. Getting from the boat to therelative safety of the shingles is a truly harrowing experience, although partsof it borrow a little too much from Saving Private Ryan.

Since the game is set during WWII, you'll face a wide range of enemies,including tanks, machine gun nests, and even planes. The enemy AI is better thanin Wolfenstein--enemies will duck for cover, lay down suppressing fire,and throw back grenades--but too often it's obvious that enemy actions arescripted. At times you can actually tell when you've triggered the next wave ofenemy attacks: stay still and nothing happens; silently creep a foot forward andthey all come rushing out. This kind of heavy-handed scripting is a throwback tothe days of Doom, and more than a little bit of a disappointment.

Graphically, Allied Assault looks quite sharp. It uses the QuakeIII graphics engine and the character models, vehicles, and textures arewell done, especially if you have a high-end video card. Unfortunately, thereare some glitches, such as clipping and collision detection problems. It's notuncommon to see enemies walking halfway through a door or a wall. Also, in a(successful) effort to get a "T" rating, there is absolutely no blood or gore.When you a shoot a Nazi infantryman with your captured MG-42 machine gun, hesimply falls down.

The weakest part of Allied Assault is its multiplayer component. Thereare four game types, all of which are exceptionally average, and none of them isas compelling as Wolfenstein's multiplayer. Still, it is undeniably funto wage war in bombed-out French villages and other World War II battlefields.Allied Assault offers a fun single-player game and its D-day mission willgo down as a classic gaming experience. --William Harms

Pros:

• D-day mission is incredible
• Lots of mission variety
• Nice graphics

Cons:

• There are a few graphical glitches
• Heavily scripted AI
• Multiplayer is very average

... Read more

Features

• Assault enemy units alone and as part of a crack military squad.
• Special 'disguise' mode that allows players to put on enemy uniforms to evade capture.
• Highly destructible interactive environments.
• Original orchestral score by Medal of Honor composer Michael Giacchino.
• Over 20 levels that the player must accomplish specific objectives and goals in order to succeed and advance.

Reviews (425)

Beats out many others.
I would say that this game is my favorite FPS game.I've played most of the classics, and I have many new ones, but this one sticks out.

The single player is pretty good.I would prefer some more squad control and slightly less linear gameplay, but nothing is perfect.My main complaint is that on mission 5, my game glitches and I can't open the door into the city.

The best part of this game is the multiplayer.I play only stock maps, and they are still worth it.The reason that I stick with this game is that the multiplayer requires skill.The bolt action rifles are one hit kills, while the automatic weapons are multi-hit kills.With enough balance between the weapons, skill can always win through.

Don't be discouraged, though, newbies.If you watch skilled people aim, shoot, and avoid fire, then it is relatively easy to get the hang of the game pretty quickly, but to break into the 'skilled' zone requires some practice.If you are the hoser type, then start out with playing on realism games (*shudder*).Most servers with realism will say "[blah de blah clan] CKR Realism vsomething.something".

This game beats out Halo, Unreal, Call of Duty (I can't believe this game is actually gaining popularity), and almost every other shooter game.On high, the graphics are acceptable, but sometimes people's bodies and stuff stick through walls.People can take control of some glitches, but the game is almost entirely clean.(Cheat police:w00t w00t!)

For parents worried about the content, it involves a lot of shooting and maybe some raw language, but nothing too bad.There is absolutely no blood.There is more blood in a PG movie.If you nail somebody in the head multiple times, their corpse doesn't move and no blood comes out.

If you are really interested in blood, you can get a blood mod, but those are sometimes considered cheats.

blah de blah blah

Hope to see you playing.

--|88|Mr.Barrel"Your owner for the day."

Disappointed.
The game is set during WW2, the bloodiest war in the history of mankind, yet in MOHAA you wont see a drop. Its seems like the enemy drops to the floor and plays dead when you shoot them. Not very realistic.Im not saying I need to see gallons and gallons of blood and body parts but come on, its WW2.Does EA reallybelieve that "sanitized" violence is somehow less violent.There are no civilians caught in the crossfire. No friendly fire, you dont need to practice ammo discipline because the battlefield is littered with it, you cant lean left and right in the singleplayer campaign, and overall the enemy AI is not very sharp.There are no cut-scenes either.That said, MOHAA does have some very enjoyable sections, beginning with the Omaha landing, but again, it didn't seem realistic.It was almost arcade.Keep in mind enemies are spawned as you progress through each map.For example, a guard tower may seem empty, however move forward enough, and the game will instantly spawn an enemy into it, effectively barring your ability to use stealth.You cant sneak up on something if its not there.Worst of all was the conclusion.The last map was pathetic.I felt like the game just fizzled out.Maybe I was expecting the game to end in Berin somewhere, not some ho hum chemical weapons plant. The game starts out weak builds to some very good levels, but in the end it disappoints you, it did me.Its OK but it didn't make me want to buy any of the sequels, and I probably wont.

Best FPS Ever Made!
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault may be the most exciting game I have ever played. I enjoy it way more than Half Life! And that is saying a lot!
It is imperitave that you buy this if you are into PC games. You will NOT regret it! ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7YR
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Shooters (Shooter)    4. Military (Tactics)   

Half-Life Platinum Collection
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (14 November, 2000)

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Editorial Review

Half-Life: Platinum Collection contains all the great action that earned Half-Life Game of the Year honors from over 50 publications and had Imagine Media's PC Gamer magazine calling it the "Best PC Game Ever" (November 1999). This package contains the core Half-Life game as well as both Half-Life expansion packs and the two most popular Half-Life mods: Team Fortress Classic and Counter-Strike.

In Half-Life, you play as Gordon Freeman, a research associate at the Black Mesa Federal Research Facility. An experiment blows up in your face, and suddenly aliens and a military death squad surround you. Half-Life: Opposing Force takes place during the events of Half-Life, but casts you as a lieutenant of one of the commando squads sent to kill Freeman. Half-Life: Blue Shift also takes place during the same time as Opposing Force and Half-Life, but this time you play through the Black Mesa disaster as a lowly security guard. Team Fortress Classic is an online action game featuring a wide array of WWII-themed character classes for a team warfare bonanza. Counter-Strike brings the action of Team Fortress Classic into the modern age: it's an online war of terrorists versus counterterrorists in modern team-based combat. All five award-winning programs are included in this one box. ... Read more

Features

Reviews (65)

GREATEST GAME OF ALL TIME
Couldnt get over the fact of the characters adaptation to the environment... its crazy. loved ever minute, second, hour and week i played... riveting. recomend to everyone

Dont buy this, it isn't a complete set
This compilation of 4 great Half-Life based games is a somewhat bastardized version of the superior title which was released under the same name a while later.If you buy this version, you are not getting the entire collection. The new version contains yet another expansion to Half-Life that is worth playing.

The original Platinum Collections contain:
1. Half-Life (The original, which started it all, a great game.)
2. Half-Life:Opposing force (1st official expansion to Half-Life)
3. Team Fortress Classic (A mediocre multiplayer mod from Sierra)
4. Counter-Strike (The ultimate multiplayer game. This alone is worth the entire price, although you can get it for free if you own Half-Life, which you will if you buy this collection.)

The new version contains an expansion to the original called Blue Shift.In this expansion you play as a security guard in the Black Mesa compound (the same area as the original). It is just as fun as the original, but shorter.

You can usually find the newer pack (it is grey, not platinum or silver, and says 5 games in one on the front) at any large chain retail stores such as Target, Wal-Mart,or K-Mart. Hope this review can be of some help.

If you still don't own Half-Life...
And you own a PC, shame on you!

Alright, here's what you need to do. Look up "Half-Life: Platinum Collection" and put it in your shopping basket. Check out. Here's what you get.

Half-Life: The original and although somewhat dated graphically, it is still a cracking good FPS. The game is just fun to play from soup to nuts and loaded with atmosphere. The levels are more innovative than anything before or since.

Half-Life: Opposing Force This game got a 93% courtesy of PC Gamer and that is absolutely remarkable considering this is basically just a Half-Life mod, although a bloody creative one! You'll love the boot-camp sequence and hey, R. Lee Ermey is in it! What more do you need?

And you also get...

Counter-Strike: Still the most popular online FPS.

and...

Team Fortress: Classic

WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?

Dude, buy the package. ... Read more

Asin: B00004ZBO5
Subjects:  1. Havas    2. Halflife hl    3. Science fiction (scifi sci-fi)    4. First person    5. Computer Games    6. Action    7. Shooters (Shooter)    8. Collections (Collections)    9. Bundle (Bundles)   

Half-Life:Adrenaline Pack
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (19 December, 1999)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

With Half-Life, 1998's Game of the Year; Team Fortress Classic, the incredibly popular multiplayer-only game; and Opposing Force, the most impressive expansion pack we've ever seen, Half-Life: Adrenaline Pack is a complete collection sure to alter any gamer's body chemistry.

Half-Life quietly debuted in late 1998, and the gaming community was forever changed. Instantly soaring to bestseller status, the groundbreaking title eventually earned over 50 Game of the Year awards. The combination of an intriguing, well-paced plot, smooth graphics, cunning enemy AI (artificial intelligence), brilliant level design, and revolutionary in-game scripted events make Half-Life an unforgettable gaming experience. You play as Gordon Freeman, a mild-mannered scientist assigned to handle hazardous materials in the government-funded Black Mesa Research Facility. Something goes wrong--horribly wrong--with one of the more exotic experiments, and Gordon must try to escape. Along the way, he has to try to rescue his fellow scientists, master the use of conventional and not-so-conventional weapons, avoid or kill bizarre alien monstrosities, and learn the true nature of the research at Black Mesa.

Team Fortress Classic is a multiplayer-only action game that uses the Half-Life game engine and interface. Ease of use and pulse-pounding game play have made TFC one of the most popular action games on the Net. Finding and connecting to games is a quick and painless process; once connected, any gamer will quickly feel at home. Players choose a character class from such World War II movie favorites as Scout, Pyro, Soldier, Engineer, Medic, Spy, Sniper, or Heavy Weapons Guy. The class determines your health, armor, speed, available weapons, and special ability. Special abilities range from the Medic's ability to heal comrades and poison foes to the Spy's ability to assume the guise of any other class.

It's the teamwork that makes TFC so much fun. Each player is a member of a team and must work with the other team members to accomplish the goals, of capturing the flag, base defense, or planning to kill the enemy VIP. An effective team includes a good mix of character classes and a leader of the team's efforts. The person in charge might assign a sniper to cover a large expanse of open ground or tell a team to take out an enemy bunker. The maps included with TFC emphasize team-based play, and the surprisingly productive Half-Life/TFC player community constantly produces new maps and modifications.

Opposing Force returns the player to the Black Mesa facility, but tells the tale from the perspective of Col. Adrian Shephard, one of the soldiers sent to clean up the scientists and their reality-altering mess. Just as in Half-Life, things quickly go badly for Colonel Shephard and his men. Ambushed by aliens, scattered and confused, Adrian must fight his way through the ruins of the facility in an attempt to reach a helicopter extraction point. Gameplay is similar to that of Half-Life: Adrian must collect weapons; get over, around, or through collapsed passages; fight aliens; and contend with the mysterious--and murderous--Black Ops agents.

All three games in Half-Life: Adrenaline Pack could easily stand alone on their own merits; being able to get them all in one package is a real treat. Half-Life will draw you in, Team Fortress Classic will keep you in multiplayer heaven for months, and Opposing Force will remind you just what makes the Half-Life game world so good. --Mike Fehlauer ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Adrenaline Pack
I think that this is probably the best pack out of all of them.Who care about Counter Strike.If you buy a pack that includes CS you are paying extra money for a game that you can download for free on the internet!

Any way.Half Life has a great story.You are Gordon Freeman, a scientist for the Black Mesa research facility.Then.It all goes wrong.Aliens are everywhere. If thats not enough, there are government grunt troopers coming in also.You think they are here to save you.They are not.

Now for Opposing Force.You are the grunt.You have crash landed at the black mesa facility after you chopper was shot down by an unknown .....craft.What the hell is going on?You must find your way past alien life forms so you can get out of this hell hole.At the same time your mission is to find Gordon Freeman.

There are so many mods for this game its unbeleivable.This game is a MUST BUY.If you don't own it, well......I dont know what to say.Multiplayer rocks, single player rocks, everything rocks.

Best Pack in the World!!
These games are great... great graphics, sound, and effects. I started to buy them separately... dumb thing to do this package is less expensive than buying them separately!!!!!!!!!!!!

No wonder it was game of the year!
This will keep you glued to the computer screen.There's just something about this game that keeps your interest.Perhaps it's the feeling that you run threw one, continueous world.The fact that there is actually a storyline that you can fallow threw until the end.The "what will happen next" feeling really keeps you going in this game.Unlike it's other shoot-em-up counterparts (Quake, for instance), this will keep your interest because you aren't playing levels, your playing a world. ... Read more

Asin: B00003O9KY
Subjects:  1. halflife    2. First Person    3. Science Fiction (Sci-Fi, SciFi)    4. Computer Games    5. Action    6. Shooters (Shooter)    7. Collections (Collections)    8. Bundle (Bundles)    9. Havas   

Max Payne
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (26 July, 2001)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Max Payne, the New York police detective, has had a bad time of itrecently, and it's time for payback. Three years ago, junkies high on amysterious new narcotic called Valkyr slaughtered his wife and child. Thetragedy drives him on a prolonged path of vengeance. It turns him from adetective looking for easy work to a deep undercover vice cop infiltrating theMob to a hardened vigilante. Max Payne is a film-noir-inspired gameabout revenge that is unflinching in every way possible. It's dark and moody,extremely twisted, and turns PC action gaming on its ear by featuringstate-of-the-art graphics, audio, and cinematic action.

Aside from its inspired use of photorealistic graphics and unique graphic novel(comic book) panels to further the plot, the game also features something calledBullet Time: a slow-motion toggle, usable for a limited time, that re-createsthe awe-inspiring diving maneuvers made popular by director John Woo and, ofcourse, The Matrix. At the touch of a button, Max can go into slow motionand leap forwards or back, and side to side, while pumping generous amounts oflead into his enemy's bodies. This toggle isn't just eye candy, it's a strategicdevice that evens the sometimes staggering odds the game throws at you. Theaction is made even more visceral by the interactive environments (glassshatters, plaster puffs into dust, and wood splinters) and generous amounts ofblood.

The game carries a Mature label, and this should be taken very seriously. Thegame doesn't pull a single punch, whether in flashbacks showing Max's reactionto his gunned-down spouse, or even, somewhat tastelessly, flashbacks thatinclude his slain infant daughter. And he mows down a virtual army of hackneyedJoe Pesci-style Italian mobsters or ski-mask-wearing terrorists with extremeprejudice. The plot is predictable, the script is humorously bad (intentionallyso?), but the action will definitely make a shooter fan drool. Max Payneis the übershooter, and as such, it should be kept out of the hands ofkids. But mature action fans will love it. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Fantastic graphics and unparalleled action
• The slow-motion Bullet Time is The Matrix or Hard Boiled cometo life

Cons:

• It's a little on the short side
• The script is, at times, hilariously bad

... Read more

Features

Reviews (343)

The Chinese take-out of computer gaming
There is a kind of deserved irony in mimicking a genre as silly and shallow as the graphic novel. The more authentic the caricatured pulp fiction hero is to the original formulas, the narrower the constraints of the story. And while no one denies that Max Payne is an "outsider" who "plays by his own rules" and "isn't tied down by the Man", he still walks a pretty narrow path.


Which is not to say Max Payne is a bad game. It does introduce a certain charm with a number of new innovations such as "bullet-time" and the nightmare sequences. Trouble is, about halfway through the adventure a serious feeling of "deja-Woo" sets in with the been-there killed-that repetition.


It would have helped the emotional impact of the storyboards had not the Man-Akin from those bizarre pseudo-50's "male-enhancement" commercials been chosen to play the hero. (Not Bob Dole, that other guy.) His constipated facial expressions rarely match the deadly serious dialogue, and turn parts of the story from tragedy to farce. But the schticky dialogue is largely intentional, and although often overcooked, usually works well to advance the story.

Graphically the game is a stunner. It looks like a million bucks, even on my average PC. The levels of object detail are (or were) unprecedented for shooters. Architectural design is often stunning, locations are both realistic and fantastically creative: Mafia hideouts are appropriately sleazy and opulent, a bizarre Goth-pagan nightclub thumps techno beats that become as chilling as any Resident Evil backgound noises. Object interactivity is high with lots of openable cabinets hiding powerup goodies, flushable toilets, and vending machines that drop snacks and pop!

Which runs into my next major criticism of Max Payne: control. Oh sure, it's easy and trouble free, but when you build a control scheme as simple as Max's, how can you make mistakes? Not only is there no analog stick support, there is also NO WALK FUNCTION! Max moves through his environment like Rain Man on an explosive easter egg hunt. And this highlights what I believe to be a major problem within the game devlopment hierarchies: the stratification and exclusionary attitude between different departments of game design. It's obvious that those who fleshed out the environments to the degree of a Zelda game were not on the same page with the slouches who built Max Payne's movement engine. And clearly there was little coordination concerning pacing and difficulty. Max Payne requires playing the easy level on the first go-round; it's far too easy for any experienced gamer. The result is a game best played carelessly and quickly. With liberal use of the quicksave feature, Max Payne is a breeze that can literally be run through in a few hours. Much like a filling Chinese meal, it may leave you hungry again in a few hours.

a very well done game
3 stars is pretty good for me as i have yet to give a game 5 stars and i would say max payne is maybe 3 and a half. i wont really go into the plot much of this game as its always the easiest info to come across. i'll just give you my positives and my complaints that lead to my score.

positive:
a good story!,
i find video games woefully deficient in this regard normally and when people talk about good stories at best i think it is relative. i am still waiting for a great story, but found mp to be one of the (few) reasonably solid ones. as a fan of cutscenes i thought i would miss them more than i did (the story is told through quite good graphic novel panels). the ending in particular is notably satisfying, with the gameplay integrating well and interestingly with the action itself to produce an actual, mostly reasonable, closed ending conclusion (shockingly rare in computer games!).

you can save the game anytime.

looks pretty nice for a dated game, not beautiful, but can be stylish.

good gameplay balance and feel, i liked the voice acting and characters, film noir theme worked quite well (i enjoyed the lack of monsters!) interesting progression of improved weapons, gameplay mechanics sound, self adjusting difficulty levels a little bit of an odd concept, but actually worked pretty well (the game adjusts the difficulty level according to how you're doing), i like my games a bit on the easier side of things and the level of challenge here was really pretty good for me. i had really only a couple notably frustrating times (one a run through a burning building), but i've hadworse. also, i LIKED the length of this game! it is a common complaint that it was too short, but i find very few games are actually anywhere good or interesting enough to hold my interest all the way through as they all end up as more of the same after awhile. 12 to 15 hours (a guess, i don't exactly recall) is a very good length for a shooter and seemed just right for max payne.

you might also enjoy that this game should work on even a pretty dated system today (i found the game very stable with its patch), and that you should be able to get it for dirt cheap.

negatives:

the extremely interesting bullet time feature, while cool, actually gives no advantage that i can tell. if anything it was a disadvantage mostly and you're better off just barging through or in (they fix this in max payne 2, but do worse on other accounts).

there are alot of locked doors as in "hmm this door is locked, i'll try that one, oh, i tried that already."

the gameplay is not notably diverse, shooting, navigating, a bit of light puzzle solving. the gritty urban world is okay, but not all that interesting to explore or anything.

conclusion: this is a very good meat and potatoes action adventure shooter. it will not blow you away but is pretty fun and as good as pretty much anything else in its genre (taking into account its age which probably means less than most of us "newest thing" addicts are inclined to admit). i recommend it.

Re:yeah!
to this day, this game still kicks! awesome graphics, awesome gameplay, etc. If your into games like this one, Pick this one up. a+ ... Read more

Asin: B00002SUOV
Subjects:  1. maxpayne    2. Third person    3. Computer Games    4. Action    5. Shooters (Shooter)   

Gunman Chronicles
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (22 November, 2000)
list price: $49.95
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Gunman Chronicles is quite an achievement when you consider itwas a grass-roots add-on created by a talented group of Half-Life fans.Unfortunately, we aren't used to paying for such user-created mods, and thisgame just doesn't have the legs or production values to warrant a full retailrelease.

The game's "Wild West in deep space" tone is established in the openingcinematic, which shows a rescue mission on a hostile planet gone awry. Fiveyears later you must return to the scene of the disaster and use your skillsasthe last of the vaunted Gunmen to save the galaxy from aliens, mutants, andmaybe even your brothers-in-arms.

The graphics aren't bad, and the character models look terrific, but theirquality is offset by the game's mediocre audio. The gameplay rarely risesaboveaverage. There are numerous scripted events that sometimes add to the game'stension but more often seem gratuitous. Events meant to surprise--like anenemypopping out of the darkness behind you--are usually more annoying than scary,especially when they result in a cheap hit. Your foes aren't smart at all andrely on blind rushes as their chief tactic. It is a lot of fun managing yourarsenal, however, as each weapon offers many customization options. Seesomething particularly scary up ahead? Duck behind some cover and tweak yourshotgun so it shoots eight shells at once instead of two. It adds a littlemoredepth to an otherwise derivative game, and Half-Life fans looking forsomething similar to that title's decidedly better single-player action shouldcertainly give Gunman Chronicles a go. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Customizable weapons are fun to mess with
• The many scripted events make the game surprisingly cinematic
• The game is much more impressive when you consider it wasn't created byprofessionals

Cons:

• Configurable guns and drivable vehicles don't add as much to the gameplayaspromised
• Although the production values are great for a fan-created add-on, theyarerelatively low for a full retail release

... Read more

Features

Reviews (36)

WORTH PLAYING!!!!
If you liked half life then this game is worth playing.Its pretty much a remake of the half life engine.the story is good along with the old wild west type environments and themes.the enemies,xenomes,desperados are original and that makes gunman a hyper powered half life.the best level is the last cause youfight in outer space on the surface of an alien wild west planet.my onlycon is the lack of guns although the rocket launcher is pretty cool.overall this game is worth buying......that is if you are a half life fan!!!

Gunman Chronicles by -=[PoSt@L]=-
the single player part of the game is fun, but the best part of this games is the multi-player on-line side . . . oh yea, the action is fast & in your face, the weapons need to be customized as you pick them up & the gunman world is small (that is what I like).This game you will only find 5-10 servers on-line at a time, but don't let that fool ya, there is always someone to do battle with & the full time players are some real friendly types too!One of the servers is PostalsPlace.com, it is a 10 player TEAM server hosted by the MIGHTY -=[PoSt@L]=- UNION . . . what a good bunch of guys to visit & play with, tell them I sent ya !

decent game
ok. all these reveiws say this game is infirior compared to half life. it is. i'll admit it. in many ways in fact. but the fact still remains that this game is entertaining. it will last you a couple days. when it came out i would have told you to steer clear of this game at all costs. now however you can find it in the bargin bin at alot of stores for like .99 to $5. for this price it is a good game. few bargin games are as fun as this game. so the point is. it isn't a supirior game but for .99 cents it delivers enough to keep you ocupied ... Read more

Asin: B00004ZBO4
Subjects:  1. Havas    2. Science Fiction (sci-fi scifi)    3. First person    4. Gun man Half life halflife hl    5. Computer Games    6. Action    7. Shooters (Shooter)   

Diablo Battle Chest
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $39.99 -- our price: $39.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The Diablo Battle Chest is the complete Diablo saga in one box. Itincludes Diablo, Diablo II (the fastest-selling PC game of alltime), the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction expansion pack, and theofficial Diablo II strategy guide from BradyGames. The combined retailvalue of everything in the Diablo Battle Chest is more than $70.

The Diablo Battle Chest makes the perfect gift for someone new to the action-RPGphenomenon, or for the hard-core Diablo fan that wants the complete series inone big collectible box. ... Read more

Reviews (115)

Best Adventure Game Series available.
Highly recommended.

This game is great (Diablo 2 LOD). There is a lot of variety to it and it keeps you interested for a long time. The graphics are excellent and because they are all prerendered sprites (drawn by artists), this game doesn't use polygons and can therfor be played on lower powered computers. I have Diablo LOD installed on a 400 mhz computer with a 16 meg video card and only 230 megs of ram and it plays great.

The game plays great, is highly enjoyable, and offers hours, even days, of play. Its point and click, but it was thought out so that this is adequate control. The game is about tactics more than technique. Your ability to choose so many different characters with unique abilities is great fun. You get to see characters evolve and develop different strengths and abilities. Many of the magic options are very creative.This game was thought out and executed very well.

I miss the days when games had graphics in which the characters were actually drawn by artists and not "generated polygons" shaped like people. Although many games imitate the engine of Diablo, few to none of them use this style of graphics.The graphics of Diablo LOD still stand up to graphics of current games that use polygon based sprites. Would the Mona Lisa look better if it was a generated polygon sprite and not a two dimensional representation of a three dimensional object? Of course the graphics of Diablo are on a three dimensional plane, but the sprites are prerendered art none-the-less.

My only gripe about Battle Chest is that it does not include the add-on for the original Diablo, called Hellfire. Hellfire improves the original Diablo game considerably and adds more play value to it. I don't see why Blizzard didn't just buy the rights from Sierra for the game. (Seirra, not Blizzard, designed Hellfire).

Another problem with this game is that often you get a disc that is not compatible with WindowsXP unless you install the patch. There are roughly 10 revisions of Diablo 2. I bought it and my Diablo 2 discs were version 1.0 and I flipped out when they wouldn't play. Finally, I did some research on the net and solved the problem with the patch at the Blizzard site. All of the games really should be playable right out of the box on XP without having to search for a patch.

Minor shortcomings aside, this is a great game that I highly recommend because of its playability, challenge, beautiful graphics, and low system requirments.

A+

When do we get Diablo 3?

One of the few and proud, "Best games". Ever.
Maybe I haven't experienced other RPGs, and that is the reason this one, my first RPG experience, is so relished. Maybe it is the epic proportions of the game, with massive battles raging across a unique fantasy planet. Maybe it's the appeal of a classic, good vs evil quest, and the journey that you make in the game to become a hero.

I'm not quite sure what it is, but this game is a MUST OWN.

If you haven't played this thing, and are just now reading this review, I pity you. You are really missing out on a gem! This game, I could review it for hours, but just let me say pick it up NOW. Get the battlechest, like I did, it is by far a superb deal. Even when it was $50 early on, it was a steal. And trust me, you'll get wrapped up in it too.

Sure, the story is dark, and a little creepy if you get too into the background story itself. I mean, it is called Diablo, and that right there might make some hesitate. But this isn't some dark and dank dungeon game, (at leaste Diablo 2 and the Expansion - the first Diablo was not a good game IMO) , but an epic struggle of good conquering evil. That's how I see it. And if you look at it that way, it's great.

This game has so much, it's scary. The graphics are the only downfall, but the fact that it is an areal view helps set it apart from its era and it really is pretty timeless. I'd enjoy playing it today, but my computer's pretty bogged down and the final levels start getting choppy. Put it on a system better than mine (I have a system running Windows 98) and you'd be in gaming bliss. So don't hesitate if you're thinking it's "outdated". This game is as timeless as Solitare.

As for quick highlights of the best parts of the game, all I can say is this thing is massive. Massive on quests, on land area, on character developement, and weapons...but it's all fairly easy to get into. Trust me, you get the basics down early on, and you're whipping out terms like "Druid" and "Tomes" and "Mana Recharge Shrines" just as you would make comments about your Uncle Fred, a travel map, or multivitamins. It's all really absorbing. I got into it, and I'm about as mindless for gaming knowledge as they come. My brother even got into it, once I finally persuaded him to play. This game will have you hooked.

My only complaints: 1. Graphics are slightly fuzzy, but still highly acceptable even in 2005
2. Size of game (Windows 98 users, you may want to put it on a newer system. By the time you get to the end of the game, things may get choppy). This, however, shouldn't cause problems for anyone today, as most own newer and better systems.
3. Time consumption. This game will have you hooked, yes, HOOKED. And on a bogged down, dated computer, you spend more time!
4. Saving. Waypoints are the only way to save, making you play longer than you want at times (or your previous progress means nothing). This is the biggest flaw, and takes away that much more of your free time!
5. Act III. Anyone who plays it knows: this is the puberty level of the game. It's just one of those points you gotta get through, but don't really love to look back on. This is the worst part of the game, navigating those jungles...ugh.

Hopefully my rambling is decipherable enough to help those interested in this slightly aged but timeless classic. My complaints above are only minor, and to list all the benefits here would not only prove how much they outweigh the bad but also take up waay too much space! So, with that, I'll just say quit reading these reviews NOW and BUY THE GAME!

Peace out, courtesy of Who from Home.

PS - rated Mature. Violence, dark story. 'Nuff said.

Diablo/Diablo II - best RPG ever!!!
The first time I was introduced to Diablo, somebody I knew loaned me a copy to try, along with another RPG similar to it(I forgot the name). I tried the other game. It was OK, but clumsy (you were controlling a moderate size group). I figured Diablo would be similar (OK but clumsy). It took me a bit to figure everything out, but when I did...I was hooked!! I played it on and off for years after that. I was surprised at the difficulty curve (how hard it gets on upper settings) but that's to be expected.
I hesitated at getting Diablo 2 until a friend of mine got a copy and highly recommended it. I checked out his gameplay and knew I wanted it. I finally got it and noticed that the gameplay was even better, except for one thing. I couldn't save anywhere I wanted, I had to find a marker for each level and activate it. That kind of sucks. You didn't have that in Diablo I (you just saved anywhere you wanted). However, the upside is that you can go back and clear any level you want, if you're having trouble progressing forward.
All in all, I HIGHLY recommend both Diablo (especially the Hellfire expansion) and Diablo II (again especially with LOD expansion). I normally don't care much for RPG (Role-Playing), but this one's a keeper!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00005N6K3
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Collections (Collections)    3. Bundle (Bundles)    4. Macintosh (Machintosh)    5. Mac    6. Apple    7. Collections (Collection)    8. Adventure    9. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, crpg, crpgs, rpg, rpgs)    10. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)    11. Havas