Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (09 May, 2001)
list price: $19.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

It's the new millennium. Civilization is near collapse. The world economy is in chaos. The middle class no longer exists. Deadly viruses have ravaged the earth's population. Terrorism runs rampant. From this maelstrom of violence and suffering an ancient conspiracy bent on world domination emerges from the shadows of legend. The conspirators' greatest strength? No one believes they exist. No one but you.

In Deus Ex, immerse yourself in an intricate web of betrayal and intrigue as you attempt to uncover power struggles, hidden agendas, and the dark conspiracy behind it all. Travel the globe building a network of allies and create an alternate identity to aid you in your search for the truth. There is no one path to success. It is achieved through various means; employ stealth, strategy, or force--the choice is yours. But remember, trust no one. Even those who you keep as allies may be more than they seem. Question everything.

This game incorporates role-playing, action, adventure, and first-person shooter genres into a chaotic blend of real-world conspiracies, cliffhangers, and plot twists. Explore a richly simulated world of unparalleled interactivity, engineered to react logically to your every action. The Game of the Year Edition now includes DX Multiplayer, DeathMatch, and Team DeathMatch, plus five new multiplayer maps and a built-in search engine for multiplayer servers. The bonus soundtrack CD contains 30 tracks remixed for higher audio quality. With the included software development kit, you can create standalone Deus Ex missions, build 3-D maps from scratch, or modify existing Deus Ex maps; you can also create new conversationsbetween game characters with ConEdit. The package includes a Deus Ex Windows desktop theme. ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Eeeexcelent
The style of this game is by far one of the best I think I have ever played. I am a big fan of Half-Life, and Half-Life 2, but they don't have the choices that you can make in this game. In HL you go through and shoot anybody and everybody. In HL2, you have to shoot most people, and only on occasion do you not. In Deus Ex, you pick and chose. If you don't like the way that guy is looking at you, how about just knock him out? If you were supposed to kill him, go back and say you did. You can chose to act and do whatever you want. I have only played the demo, and for 2005, the graphics are extremely out-dated, but that is okay, because the game style makes up for it. Should the graphics be shaped up some, and the AI finally figures out where it is going for most of the time, then this would be the perfect game, and I could literally play this, and only this game, forever.

PRO's:
Free Reign Over Actions.
Excelent Modification Form. (closes in on the D20 system)
Excelent Story Line.
Easy-To-Accept Premises.

CON's:
Graphics make it hard to tell what is happening always.
AI doesn't know what it is doing sometimes.
Long Wait for Shooting. (could be sped up just slightly)
* Apparently the ending is a letdown, but I don't know.

Best.Game.Ever.
It all happened about an hour ago...

Liberty Island, New York City. The near future, 2055. A fatal wasting disease called the Gray Death is decimating the world. About an hour ago, terrorists highjacked a shipment of the only known treatment for the ailment, a substance known as Ambrosia. The terrorists are part of a group known as the National Secessionist Force, or simply NSF, a group who have long been rebelling against the U.S. government, a government that has begun to stray from the core of the U.S. Constitution, eliminating personal freedoms and reshaping society in the name of safety and security. Faced with a swelling tide of worldwide terror, American President Phillip Mead supported a charter to create a worldwide police force to combat terrorism, a force that knows no geographical boundaries, that answers to no one but itself, a force called the United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition, or UNATCO. UNATCO's worldwide central headquarters is located on Liberty Island, on ground donated by the United States, fittingly situated in the shadow of a shattered monument to freedom: the headless, crumbling Statue of Liberty, victim of a previous terror strike. It is a time of widening arcs between classes, a time of ambiguity and of teetering on the brink of societal collapse, where the gap between the haves and the have-nots is becoming unbreachable. Even as technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs make the wonders of far-flung science fiction a reality for the chosen few, the common man sinks lower and lower into poverty and obscurity as the middle classes are systematically eliminated. Six million American citizens are on an undesirable list and due to be rounded up and put into "reeducation" camps. Many more Americans are already there. Nonconformists and those who question the motives and actions of the government are summarily arrested and sometimes just disappear. Citizens are encouraged to spy on their neighbors and report any behavior that could possibly be deemed questionable or sympathetic to the terror cause, such as visiting national monuments, spending time on the internet, debating politics or speaking with a foreign accent. Big business-spearheaded by the likes of renown entrepreneur Bob Page and his Page Industries-has a stranglehold on the world, even inching its fingers onto the control pads of world government. There exists the worldwide mining and profiling of all communications. And behind it all, like omniscient, invisible puppetmasters pulling strings from dark alcoves, are the whispers of grandiose conspiracies and shadow organizations and ancient secret societies that are finally making a grab for world domination: Majestic 12, the Illuminati, the Templars. And combating these forces, aware or not of how deeply the strands run, is the NSF and its allies around the world, such as the Silhouette faction in France; dismissed as common terrorists by UNATCO, they see themselves as freedom fighters fighting governments grown corrupt and diseased on an incomprehensible scale.

You are a newly appointed, nano-augmented UNATCO agent named J.C. Denton. You arrive on the Liberty Island docks via a New York City Police boat, tasked with the removal of the NSF forces who have taken refuge inside the Statue of Liberty. Nano-augmentation is a new science-you are only the second augmented agent-and its implementation consists of the placement of microscopic machines inside the body that can enhance certain elements of an individual's natural senses-vision, strength, lung capacity, healing abilities-or create altogether unique, distinctively unnatural abilities far beyond what a non-augmented person could imagine. Nano-augmented individuals have a slightly altered appearance from regular people, with a telltale glowing of the eyes and strains of raised bluish-silver lines crosshatching parts of their skin. Previous UNATCO experiments with enhancing field agents before nano-augmentation evolved bore a more archaic signature: removing natural body parts-such as arms, legs, or even parts of the skull-and replacing them with purely mechanical, robotic, metallic pieces that enhanced abilities, yet sometimes were uncomfortable and rendered the subject something of an outcast by appearance.

Via InfoLink-a communications device implanted inside your head-your liaison inside UNATCO HQ, Alex Jacobson, informs you to hook up with your brother, Paul Denton, who happens to be the first UNATCO agent to have been nano-augmented. Paul is nearby on the dock. With him, you're able to ascertain the background and tactical situation of the terrorists at Liberty Island and the missing shipments of Ambrosia. You briefly sidestep into some detailed personal reminiscing about your parents and upbringing centering around the shared fact of the augmentations, then bid Paul a transient farewell as you begin to formulate a plan of action. The charcoal night sky is teeming with ominous, cold, grayish-white clouds in steady, unrelenting motion. The moon, the remote vault of stars, the wind, the fluttering seagulls-all are indifferent observers to the folly of men. Live or die, succeed or fail, it's all the same to them; the world will still roll on regardless of the outcome. Harbor waves lap at the dock moorings, a surprisingly delicate sound. Across the water, on either side, the distant brilliance of the New York City night skyline twinkles on the periphery. There are people there in those buildings, you know there are, real people going about real tasks in their real lives-working, eating, sleeping, loving, dying from the Gray Death, hoping for a better tomorrow-and even as they are unknowing of you and your current dilemma, you must carry on just the same. As a UNATCO agent, it's your job. To protect them from the forces of terror and evil in the world, to protect them from threats they don't even realize exist.

And really, after maybe 15 hours of playing, this is just the beginning. Deus Ex launches from here into its prolongation of winding, protracted, expansive gameplay, a springboard into theretofore uncharted realms of the interactive medium; a living and breathing gaming universe that mirrors our own in so many ways, so compelling and immersing that the experience can become ingrained in your very psyche. You spend the rest of the game unraveling a complex and multifaceted storyline woven together with a deft conspirator's touch, globetrotting repeatedly to various world locations-New York, France, Hong Kong, the American southwest-in an effort to bring down the machines trying to twist and mold the world to their own purposes. At the top, in the end, sits billionaire Bob Page, yet he is representative of only one of three distinct factions vying for world control by the end of the game. And you must choose amongst them.

The game itself is a hybrid of genres: part first-person shooter, part role playing game, part adventure game. To that end, gameplay itself reflects a given player's personal choice of progression, anything from dawning the guise of a pitiless killing machine to morphing into an invisible shade on the wall who employs surreptitiousness and cunning and eradicates nobody-or anything in between. Level designs are ingenious and inspired, offering the player the illusion of nearly limitless strategic and tactical options to approach the completion of each objective. And they're calculated in such a way that they make you feel clever for discovering some new way of doing something; no betraying neon arrows are in place pointing you in any particular direction. Worlds turn within worlds in this game, large orbiting story arcs-as great as the world itself with Tracer Tong, Bob Page, Morgan Everett, Nicolette DuClare and Helios, the construct AI revealed late in the proceedings-supporting smaller and smaller story arcs turning within, as exemplified by the reoccurring minor characters of Harley Filban, Joe Greene, Sandra Renton, Maggie Chow, Max Chen, Juan Lebedev, Jock and Smuggler. Conversation trees appear during key NPC interactions, and in the choosing you're able to directly affect NPC loyalties and sometimes the chronological order of unfolding events. I've played the game to completion at least six times over five years on two different platforms, and I've never gotten tired of the experience. Indeed, even today, I'm still discovering new things here and there I'd somehow missed all the times before. The graphics, state of the art in 2000, are understandably beginning to show their age now, five years later. But they're still darkly striking and engrossing at 1280x1024x32 and offer some of the longest view distances and largest wide open levels ever seen in gaming. Deus Ex continues to astonish and boggle me at every turn. I don't just play this game; I'm captivated by it.

Skill points are acquired at measured intervals as rewards for achieving certain objectives or discovering new areas. These skill points are used to enhance regions of a player's profile: a particular type of weapon (heavy weapons, melee weapons, rifles, explosives and so on), lockpicking skill, computer hacking skill, swimming ability, and much more. Each area of expertise can be upgraded through four tiers of enrichment. But there are only a limited amount of points distributed throughout the game, so the choosing of which area of performance to upgrade becomes a fundamental part of the experience, effectively conferring upon the player the ability to create their own strengths and weaknesses. Working hand-in-hand with these skill point upgrades are your nano-augmentations, physiologically altering enhancements to various portions of the body: Arms: Combat Strength or Microfibral Muscle, Legs: Speed Enhancement or Run Silent, Subdermal (1): EMP Shield or Ballistic Protection, Subdermal (2): Cloak or Radar Transparency, Torso (1): Aqualung or Environmental Resistance, Torso (2): Regeneration or Energy Resistance, Torso (3): Synthetic Heart or Power, Recirculator, Cranium: Aggressive Defense System or Spy Drone, Optics: Targeting or Vision Enhancement. Only one upgrade in each category can be chosen, and once upgraded the process is irreversible. Used in combination with skill point upgrading, you have complete control as to the nature of your character and-by extension-which particular pathways through the intricate webs of each mission scenario are best suited to your abilities. The audio potion is itself a further star; the ambient music behind the scenes alternatively bounces with irresistible futuristic techno rhythms or lays low and refracts the atmospheric surroundings. Sometimes, as in the main Hong Kong market theme, the music itself is worth just stopping and listening to it. During conversation cut-scenes, the background music alters to appropriately intriguing themes that underscore the mood and implications of the dialogue.

Deus Ex was released by developer Ion Storm in the summer of 2000 for PC and later ported to the PlayStation 2 under the revised title of Deus Ex: The Conspiracy. The world prophesized by this game, evidenced before you, on the monitor right in front of you, didn't exist in 2000. Yet after 9/11/2001, it has begun to exist: the terror, the paranoia, the American government that chooses to lead its people with hollow slogans and the perpetuation of fear, that implores you to give up personal freedoms-the cornerstones the country was founded on-in the name of security in this, the bravest of new worlds. Throughout the game, you see it time and again; what were futuristic science fiction dream concepts in 2000 are hard realities in 2005, are indeed torn from the headlines of tomorrow's newspapers. And the game plays out in real-world locations, places that exist today, places with their own inherent sense of reality. It makes Deus Ex more than a game world, it makes it a real world, three dimensional, tangible, a place you can step into and become lost inside of. There has never been a game like it before, and there may never be one like it again. Without question, my favorite game experience ever, a place where I can go time and again, year after year, and become something more than I am, a real character created within the realms of real world, a place capable of supplanting other realities.

Great Game!
This is simpy one of the best games out there, ranking right up alongside Half-Life and other notable games. I found myself actually caring if an important NPC would make it or not, which is rare in many FPS. What makes this game great is the quality of gameplay and storyline, not the eye candy. The graphics are a dated (it's an old game) but the excellent and engrossing plot line overshadows that fact. This is hands down one of my favorite games, because it is strictly a PC game. Too many PC games today are also being made to run on the console, and so in my opinion the quality of these games goes down. Not in graphics but in gameplay overall; they make something that looks great but lacks soul. DE may look dated, but it has more soul than any other eye-candy game on the market will ever have. ... Read more

Asin: B00005B44D
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Adventure    3. Action    4. Shooters (Shooter)    5. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

ONLY ONLINEHALF LIFE:GAME OF T YR
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Your gun had better be loaded if you're playing Half-Life: Game of the Year Edition, the smartest, shootingest, bloodiest game ever to hit the PC. Take control of a scientist charged with destroying the alien invasion force that arrived, courtesy of government experiments gone wrong. Of course, in the post-X-Files world, there's additional bad guys in the form of federal "cleaners" who want you just as dead as the monsters.

Power up your environmental suit and plunge through level after level of increasingly difficult and creepy challenges, rescuing your fellow scientists and ultimately clearing out the whole complex--if you're lucky. Game play is smooth and simple, after the obligatory false starts and botched maneuvers common to learning every new game. Persistence pays off, though: Half-Life rewards tenacity with increasing power and understanding of the virtual world.

Play on a network and cooperate or compete with folks across the world or in the next cubicle. For those who've mastered the intricacies of Half-Life , the Game of the Year Edition includes Worldcraft 2.0, which the designers used to build every detail of the base. Make your own levels and snicker at other players' pathetic attempts to evade your deathtraps. It's easy to see why Half-Life won Game of the Year from dozens of publications; try it and see for yourself--if you're not too squeamish. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Features

• Enemy AI: Half-Life's monsters are also remarkably--even terrifyingly--intelligent. Our proprietary AI has them running in packs, assessing threats and showing a marked distaste for suicide runs. You'd better think as fast as they do.
• Rendering Technologies: So you don't want to have to buy a special hardware accelerator just to get 16-bit color, colored lighting, blurring, translucency or other cool visual effects? Then don't. Half-Life has developed all these features in software so now they're an integral part of the gameplay, not just eye-candy. Of course, if you do have Open-GL, Direct 3D or MMX hardware, things will look mind-bogglingly cool.
• Skeletal Animation System: Our new animation system lets us create monsters that are more spectacularly menacing than ever before. Half-Life's monsters have the highest polygon count, and the most fluid and complex motion ever seen in an action game.
• Multiplayer: Joining a multiplayer game is now fast and easy, thanks
• to Half-Life's powerful interface. Find your friends, choose the type of game you prefer and let our master server do the rest. Choose from a variety of multiplayer gameplay scenarios, and use our decal technology to mark your territory with a personal or clan logo. Other Features:

Reviews (246)

Sierra Games
This game is really great. I own the following Sierra games:

Half-life (game of the year edition)
Blue Shift
Opposing Force
Half-life 2

All I can say is that in September of 2003, Half-life 2 was suppost to be released, but they delayed it many times. So finally it was released sometime around the middle-end of 2004, and in November 2004, I picked up the game. I wasn't too dissapointed, although it's not as hard/fun as the original Half-life game. I like Opposing Force and Blue Shift, except the only problem with Blue Shift is that it dissapointed me with it being way too short. There is not even a final monster like Opposing Force and Half-life. Still, Blue Shift is fun.

The Best Game Ever
When Half-Life first came out in 1999 I was about 11 years old, and I really wasn't into video games. But come late 2004, Half-Life 2 came out, and when I read the PC Gamer review(98%) and saw some screenshots, I went to GameStop to get it. The guy at the counter asked me if I had played Half-Life. I told him no. He then said, since I was under 17 he had no obligation to sell me the M rated game Half-Life 2, until I had bought, played and beaten Half-Life. So I bought Half-Life, went home, loaded it, and started playing. Imediatly I was suprised at how good the graphics were, especially for a game from 1999. The graphics in Half-Life could easily compete with many of the games in the 2000's. Also, the sound extremely good, hearing the slightest of noises. The story is pretty basic, but good enough to keep you interested in that area. You are Gordon Freeman, researcher at Black Mesa Labs. Your expirement has gone very wrong, releasing a bunch of aliens into the labs. The government has sent soldiers in to "clean things up" and you are faced with fighting for your life against aliens and human soldiers. The gameplay is awesome, and the weapons are very good. Online play is fabulous, especially if you have Counter-Strike. So, despite Call of Duty, Doom 3, the Battlefield series, WarCraft 3, Neverwinter Nights, or any other game that is mind-blowing, Half-Life is the best game I have ever played, and in my opinion, the best game ever.

Half-Life kicks ass
Half-Life is one of those games that you have to play and not read a stratedgy guide. I was reading some of the other reviews and people kept on reporting that their weren't good stratedgy guides and such. Well, here's a tip. Play the game!! You have to buy a stratedgy guide seperately and it's like that for most video games/etc.. The game has good graphics, good music, and excellent characters. The game is really realistic, one of the most realistic games out their that i've seen. On my computer it takes a while to load up but once it loads up it works pretty good. And of course you get the interloads afterwards. My advice before you get this game is check the requirements. I think the only reason some people rated this game at a low level is because 1) they didn't play it because it didn't come with a stratedgy guide, 2)they didn't look at the requirements needed before they baught the game. Their's a reason why video games require different settings for your computer. But that's beside the point. Half-Life has one of the best plots i've seen, and has a lot of action. So for those who like first person shooters, killing aliens and people, and love great graphics, this is the game for you. For those who don't like realism and don't like to play video games like these stick to your spongebob squarepants video games. Oh and for those of you who hate video games coming without a stratedgy guide here's another tip in half-life. Half-Life explains the game as you play along. Their's Hazard Courses you play to learn more about the game. You make your own controlls and etc. This is a must have for any video gamer who loves games like half-life. ... Read more

Asin: B00001KUII
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Shooters (Shooter)    4. Havas   

Thief: The Dark Project
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $19.99
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Editorial Review

As Garrett, a cynical and world-weary master thief, you must make use of stealth and intellect to complete your missions. You live in an ancient city of a fictional past, where magic and primitive technology coexist uneasily. Your victims are the city's corrupt and privileged nobility, whose wealth is at your disposal as long as their guards don't see you, at least not until it is too late.

Your dark heroics earn you the attention of a mysterious patron who offers you a fortune if you can retrieve an enormous gemstone with a notorious reputation. But it soon becomes clear that more is at stake than a comfortable retirement. Your efforts trigger a conflict between veiled powers who compete to pull your strings. You'll need all your strength and wits to discover the truth and escape from the web of intrigue and deception spun around you. Garrett's adventures will take you through moonlit city streets, guarded mansions, secure prisons, blazing factories, haunted cathedrals, abandoned ruins, grim catacombs, subterranean lost cities, and even into strange, distant realms where the laws of this earth no longer apply. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

A Masterpiece of the Late 90's
The first thing I noticed playing this game was the shadow system that allows the player to determine quickly and easily how well they are hidden.The innovation of it preoccupied me to no end.Truly one of the great ideas ever to come to computer game designers.I was also impressed by the forethought in causing different types of flooring to make more noise than others.I have not to date encountered better AI in a first person game.When guards see or hear you even for just an instant, they don't give up until they spend what seems like two or three minutes searching everywhere around them.Discovery of dead or unconscious bodies will cause them to search indefinitely and they sometimes become suspicious of opened doors, blood stains, or if they notice something has been stolen.As if all this wasn't enough, I also fell in love with the selection of thieving equipment.If the player prepares properly, there are many options and strategies that can be implemented in a given situation.The loot taken from each mission becomes the budget for equipment in the next.There's no hoarding of riches for later.The economics of the game, which could have become needlessly complex were kept streamlined and simple.I can think of no weakness in the system of game play.It is well balanced, challenging, outstandingly original, and mentally engaging.It is one of the finest crafted gems of late 90s computer gaming.

The plot is a potential downfall for a game about stealing; the player is best hooked when they can take delight in what they do.In this regard, the Thief creators were most ingenious.The story to my surprise was absorbing and I found myself becoming Garret, the master thief with a delightfully cynical voice. Missions take place everywhere from the manors of the rich and corrupt to a lost underground city.The music is very sparse, but even this is wise.One often must concentrate while playing and a minimum of distractions and background noise is desirable.

The graphics are primitive by the current standards, but they arecrafted in a way that pleases my eye even so.The ambience, the lighting, the detail.I could scarce have asked for better.Technology is superceded by the imagination of the creators in this case.I can imagine myself beneath the soaring cieling of a Hammerite temple with grey urban light filtering through stained glass or in the hallways of Constantine's mansion with its garishly tiger-striped carpeting.I was there.

Thief easily ranks among my best gaming experiences of all time.Clean, pure, unblemished.It went down entirely too smooth.

How ambivalent!
Thief: The Dark Project, in my opinion, was pretty tedious compared to the fast-moving sequel. It started out fine, but it got really dull and annoying when I reached the zombie-infested parts of the game which include levels like Down in the Bonehoard and The Haunted Cathedral. I loved it at first, seeing new types of opponent apart from the usual guards, but the fun dies out pretty quickly because of the level structure. This is'll be a complete nuisance if the difficulty's set on Expert. The objectives of levels which have zombies and burricks are pretty demanding and they're all not located in convenient places. It requires a lot of going back and forth, which means that sometimes you face the enemies all over again as it's impossible to kill more than 1 especially since they move around in groups, so a quick glance, dart and hide is done mostly throughout the game.

The other levels are pretty "civilized", which involve reasonable objectives, and most of these are taken place in the City where it's mostly guaranteed you won't see mythical monsters like the zombies and the burricks.

The reason why this game mainly revolves around these monsters is because of the storyline. Garrett, the thief you play, finds himself being involved with dark Pagan rituals, people who worship the forces of nature and live in woods.

The graphics and lighting are amazing, and really set the atmosphere. I recommend this game, but a getting a lot from it is not to be expected.

a absolute masterpiece
Though the sneaking can get a little old after the AI becomes more predictable and after you've played both games many times over (like myself), there can be no denying that this game is an absolute masterpiece, more so than Thief 2 and probably more so than the new Thief Deadly Shadows, which so far has been getting a mixed bag of reviews, probably deservedly so since they seem to have watered the series down to appear to XBOX fans (my reaction to this is like one of the Thief 2 guard's reactions to seeing the body of a fallen comrade:"WHO'S DONE THIS??!!"

Gameplay: LEVELS:
-Lord Bafford's Manor: 9/10Perfect for beginners and challenging (slightly) enough for experienced taffers, this mission is classic
-Cragscleft Prison: 10/10 What good was the Bafford job if your fence is locked up in prison?The crying and moaning in the prison areas is haunting, and this level features some of the most phenomenal shadow effects of all three games.
-Down in the Bonehoard:9/10 Everyone seems to hate this mission because of the zombies and because there are no guards.But why?Garrett takes a break from larcenous burglary and opts for a more Indiana-Jones-style tomb raiding job, which is excellent in my opinion.In addition, this mission features your terrifying first encounter with a haunt (which many consider to be the most terrifying enemy ever implement in a game) and the haunting music of the Horn of Quintus
-Assassins: 10/10 Upon seeing the title "Assassins" for a mission which was originally supposed to send you into a Hammer Temple robbery, you know there is going to be some sort of twist.Someone murders a shopkeeper thinking it was you, and you have to trace the killers back to find out who hired them.Turns out to be a crime boss bent on eliminating some competition.Now he'll have to pay, in CASH! Probably the best robbery mission of the whole game, and the final mission before the plot kicks in (you can also see how truly cowardly the crime boss is if you sneak up on him in the dark)
-The Sword: 10/10 What a weird level.A jungle in the middle of the house?With all the marble floors and booby traps, this mission is hard as crap too.
-The Haunted Cathedral: 7/10 Easily the worst mission of the game (even though it's still good), due to the fact that much of completing the mission, on Expert at least, is going on a wild goose chase for scattered pieces of loot.The only redeeming factors are the haunting visuals, including the desolate abandoned manor where you find the serpentile torc, not to mention the unfriendly undead denizens who creep around inside
-The Lost City: 7/10Nothing really special, just an ugly underground city.Find the tablets, do a little scouting, and leave.
-Return to the Cathedral:10/10 Scariest mission in the game?More than likely, and its also the most haunting.Hearing the words of the first hammerite you put to rest in the grave is haunting as he says his final goodbye and thanks before he ascended to Heaven.The ambient music is phenomenal in this mission, eerie, haunting, epic, every positive thing you could call it.But if you don't want to get locked in the cathedral early on, you can simply prop the door open with the skull outside.I couldn't believe the game designers didn't notice this (or maybe they did, for those who want an easy way out)
-Undercover:10/10 Here's a fun one, the only recommendation I can give you is to not steal anything until you're ready to break your cover, this is the rare mission where guards will notice stolen goods
-Escape:10/10 Awesome.It's hard as hell to sneak completely unnoticed through this mission, so you'll do your fair share of slaughtering the Trickster's minions (they're easy to kill though)
-Strange Bedfellows:10/10 More of the same.Awesome
-Maw of Chaos:10/10: Payback time.This is the perfect closing mission for a perfect game, it's also a fitting way you kill the boss, the trickster in this mission for an "FPS" that focuses on stealth instead of slaughter, you kill him by simply sabotaging his ritual, not in a one-on-one deathmatch.This one is actually fairly easy too, unlike the insanely difficult final mission of Thief 2 (which was by far the most horrendous mission of the series)

GAMEPLAY: 9/10 Fun, but it can get old after you've heard all the taunts a hundred times and when the AI gets predictable
MUSIC:100/10 Never has there been a more haunting plethora of ambient tunes implemented in a game, I guarantee you if you love creepy, dark music, you'll get goosebumps from the music, especially in Down in the Bonehoard, Return to the Cathedral, and Lord Bafford's Mansion.(also the Eavesdropping mission from Thief II, but for the most part Thief 2's soundtrack is unworthy of its predecessor's).Also, the music for the closing cutscene is chillingly beautiful, in combination with the scene of Garrett trudging through the beautiful falling snow in the dark of night.It gives a true sense of closure to the game.
SOUND100/10Unlike most games where you can play them muted, you have to listen to what's going on with the phenomenal directional sound or you'll be slaughtered.It's almost as important, if not more, than the screen visuals.The actual sounds are phenomenally realistic.
GUARD VOICES10/10 Very good, scarier, but not as funny as Thief II's guards, who would often react to your sword striking a metal post with a resounding "WHAT THE HELL???!!!"The archers had much funnier, more sadistic lines in Thief II, like "LET'S SEE IF AN ARROW SOFTENS YOU UP!", "WHY DON'T YOU TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE!," and my personal favorite:"HUHUHUHERE YA GO!!!" This one's particularly funny because he says all his H words on one breath.If you've never heard it, and have Thief 2, go up to the guard who talks to the worker "Dante", near the back entrance to Building A (i believe) and fire an arrow into the metal door.It's funny as hell.
CUTSCENES: 100/10 The greatest cutscenes ever...seriously, these are worthy of real movies, and I'm royally p*ssed to hear they've been removed from Thief Deadly Shadows.More watering down for the console crowd.

All in all this game is phenomenal.Please get this and Thief 2, you won't be dissappointed.Also, keep dropping reviews on Thief Deadly Shadows, I need all the feedback I can get, cause it looks like I won't be able to give it a dance until my system is thoroughly pimped up. ... Read more

Asin: B00001YVIB
Subjects:  1. Fantasy    2. First Person    3. theif    4. Computer Games    5. Action   

Civilization 3
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (31 October, 2001)
list price: $19.99
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Editorial Review

Sid Meier's name is synonymous with outstanding games, particularlyturn-based strategy games. From the original Civilization toColonization to Alpha Centauri, Meier has been behind some of thebest games ever made. Now we can add Civilization III to the list. Thethird installment in Meier's signature series offers all the outstandinggameplay featured in the first two games while including new features andrefinements that keep the series fresh and engaging.

Civilization III offers 16 playable civilizations, and each has its ownstrengths and bonuses. The game begins in the year 4000 B.C., when yourcivilization is nothing more than a primitive tribe, and each turn progressesthe game forward in time. You manage growth, military production, citydevelopment, diplomacy, and scientific research as your civilization grows froma single village to several towns to a continent-spanning metropolitan sprawl.The fun is in deciding whether to research writing or the wheel, whether tobuild a musketeer to take out an encroaching enemy pikeman or direct your cityto work on the culturally significant Sistine Chapel. There are five ways to winthe game, ranging from wiping out the other civilizations with military power todefeating them through cultural dominance, which is one of several new victoryconditions.

Fans of Meier's other turn-based games will find the same addictive gameplaypresent in Civilization III. Building off the gameplay are several newadditions, specifically the new cultural rating and the new resource managementoptions. Every turn, each civilization earns culture points based upon how manywonders and other culturally significant structures are built within its cities.The higher the culture rating, the faster your civilization's borders grow. Ifyour border extends to an enemy city, it's possible to capture that city withoutshedding any blood; the city's citizens will be attracted by your culture andwillingly rebel.

The other big change is that you must collect raw materials in order to buildcertain units. For example, oil and rubber are required to build modern units,and if those resources aren't within your territory, you'll need to negotiatewith other civilizations for them. And because the game's negotiation process isvery deep and involved, you may find yourself cut off from key raw materials ifyou're at odds with other civilizations, which, in turn, will weaken youmilitarily.

The AI powering rival civilizations is quite good, and is capable of negotiatingcomplex arrangements with both your civilization and other civilizations. Thesenegotiations run from simple trade agreements to complex mutual protectionpacts, and it's not uncommon to find an enemy civilization taking steps toisolate you from the rest of the world.

There are a few minor issues with the game, most notably with unit imbalancesand the tedious endgame, which can drag on forever. These are minor problems,however, and don't detract from the overall experience. Fans of Sid Meier'sother games, or anyone looking for a fun and challenging gaming experience, oweit to themselves to pick up Civilization III. --P. Meyer

Pros:

• Enemy AI is very impressive
• New additions really add to the experience
• Very addictive gameplay

Cons:

• Some unit imbalances
• Endgame is a little long-winded

... Read more

Features

Reviews (511)

I'll Make this short and sweet.
Get Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, the true heir to Civ 2 instead.
It's a game which trumphs this one in all respects except the trivial ones(like graphics).

Painful
Here in Amazon it says "Used and new for 2.50". Well, you get what you pay for. You're better off buying a chocolate or giving that money to a homeless person, trust me. I got this game for Chrismas if I remember well, and I have played it only a couple of times. Why? Because it's way too frustrating, tedious, hard. Just painful.

1)I've never managed to finish this game, even in the easisest difficulty setting. The game ends before I can even start the modern ages, and I had lots of scientists and dedicated 100% to science. I don't get it. It's like a race you can't win.

2) The AI cheats! And they don't hide it. I once attacked one civilization, but some moments later every other civ in the world teamed up with that civ and I soon find myself defending my last city against every other nation of the world. Now way. It's you vs. the computer, not you vs. different civs. Besides, you'll discover that the AI has infinite amounts of money and can build anything in a matter of 3 turns.

3) No videos for wonders. Call to power had small videos for each time you built a wonder.

4) You can't attack with more than 1 unit at a time. In Call to Power you could team up 9 units and use them as an army. It even showed the bigger battles with a video.

5) You need to expand your country like crazy to make sure your rivals can't attack you, but the bigger your country is, the more gold you lose by corruption? That's crazy.

6) Spies are completely worthless. They cost WAY too much, and fail 98% of the time.

7) No cheats. I had to download programs to be able to edit my save games. Call to power had a "Cheat" button right in the menu.

It's way too frustrating. The only time I managed to have fun was when I attacked a opposing civ (Which was already weak) and the campaign was very fluid. I took city after city, while I could see that their armies fled across their country when I took a very important spot.

If you are looking for a strategy game, get Hearts of Iron II. Civ III is pure frustration.

Not As Good as Civ II
Civilization I, Civilization II, and Civilization III are all outstanding games to various degrees. But on the "curve" with its two predecessors, Civ III comes up short.

Part of the "problem" is that most of the major weaknesses of Civ I were remedied in Civ II, which means that any improvements would likely only be incremental. For instance, the diplomacy function took a quantum leap in Civ II, which means that the Civ III improvement took place only at the margin. (I like the idea of being able to trade away a far-flung city to an ally to keep it out of the hands of a hostile third party.)

One interesting, if unfortunate, new feature of Civ III is what I call "nationalism." This is reflected in the fact that some civilizations are made more religious, and others are more industrious, or scientific, or commercial or militaristic, in line with their historical experience. Each civilization also gets one new military unit that is better than other civilizations' counterparts, which also reflects history. Finally, captured cities are less productive than home grown ones, because of "slackers" who pine for the old regime.

In other respects, however, the game designers "crippled" Civ III by taking discretion away from the human player. For instance, caravans are worth only about half of what they were in Civ II, because they can no longer be used to rush the building of wonders. The function instead, is the province of "leaders," usually heroes on the battlefield. While this feature accurately reflects Europe in the Dark Ages, it provides an unfortunate example for modern times. It breaks the link between the (human) ruler and the "common people" (computer-controlled population units in the cities) who get a permanent wonder in exchange for sacrificing temporary benefits from trade goods. And it puts too much power in the hands of elites who are wrongly believed to have a monopoly on the power to make things happen. (This is the main rationale for excessive CEO pay.) It also creates an incentive to go to war in order to solve internal problems, another dilemma that America has been facing in real life in places like Iraq.

The "spy" (diplomat) function is similarly hobbled, with spies being able to operate (and only rarely) in capitals, instead of out in the field, where they belong. In Civ II, this function did give a slight advantage to the human player (I would occasionally raise cash by selling all my improvements to make a "strategic" acquisition, something the AI wouldn't do), but the AI used diplomats competently, and had the advantage of being able to bribe my units without a diplomat.

Apparently, the designers tried to create a game that helps the AI enough to crush human players hubristic enough to play at the Deity level. In this regard, they succeeded, but they also made the game less playable at lower levels; "King" no longer gives an "evenly matched" game with one's peers. In so doing, they also set an unrealistic hurdle. The AI is still "less smart" than the best human players, but at least as smart as the average actual ruler in history. Thus, the challenge is for the human player to beat such "historical" rulers. In real life, America was founded because its leaders were much smarter than an "average" king like George III; it's possible that the American Revolution would never have succeeded against Elizabeth I.

For all its faults, Civ III is a fascinating game, just not up to the standards of Civ II or an appreciable improvement over Civ I. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JC8D
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Strategy (Strategic)    3. Historical (historic) Recreation (Recreations)    4. Military (Wargames    5. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (26 November, 2001)
list price: $29.99
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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)   

LucasArts Archive Series: The Monkey Island Archives
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (30 April, 2001)

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Editorial Review

The LucasArts Archive Series lets you follow hero Guybrush Threepwood through his first three adventures on Monkey Island: The Secret of Monkey Island, LeChuck's Revenge: Monkey Island 2, and Curse of Monkey Island.

In this highly anticipated third installment to LucasArts's popular Monkey Island series of graphic adventures, Guybrush Threepwood once again takes up dull blade and rapier wit against the nefarious demon pirate LeChuck. In Curse, Guybrush must save his one true love, Elaine Marley, from turning into the evil pirate's zombie bride. However, hoping to marry Elaine himself, Guybrush unknowingly slips a cursed ring onto her finger, transforming her into a gold statue. He must then find a way to change Elaine back to her beautiful self and stop LeChuck from carrying out his sinister plans. Aye, 'tis a rollicking adventure that is sure to challenge the mind and shiver a few timbers. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

A must-buy for all TI fans!
This is a truly wonderful pack o' games.Who wouldn't like to see the
humorous exploits of Guybrush as he falls in love with a governor,
meets his father,visits an outhouse cleaner's business,raises his great-great-grandfather from the dead,messes up a diorama,and defeats his main enemies,Kim and Gil.Lots o' humor and puzzles.A must-have!
"Hey,this isn't the men's room"
---TI2

Amazing
Im a major MI fan (i spent a lot of time tracking down all the games- had no idea it was on amazon :() Anyway, i'll review one at a time:

1: My first video game. It is witty, charming, and kid appropriate. After playing, i couldnt WAIT to see if they would release other games, and maybe even a movie!

2: A very nice sequel, and while it relates to number one, its ok to play without playing the first.

3: By far my favorite, this is the funniest. The grapics have really evolved, and insult swordfighting is back (you fight like a cow!)

By far one of the best game series ever. I'll go rate 4 now...

p.s GET THIS FOR YOUR KIDS FOR CHRISTMAS!

Sorry they discontinued
These were the best games I've ever played!All three were hilarious with their jokes and puns.I'm only sorry that this item is no longer sold so that other people can't see how Guybrush Threepwood first started. ... Read more

Asin: B00005B441
Subjects:  1. Humor (humorous humour humourous)    2. Computer Games    3. Adventure    4. Action    5. Shooters (Shooter)   

Gran Turismo 2
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (27 December, 1999)
list price: $19.99
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Features

• Platform: PlayStation
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Ages 6 and up

Reviews (227)

Top of the wall!!!!!!!!!!!! a must buy for all GT fans!
This game is better and the cars are badder than ever! More tracks to race, new cars to drive, and better chances to make SOME HARD CASH!! As you upgrade your car it becomes faster and better that what the shop sold you, and there is also a chance of having race paint on your car. In GT you beat even the world champions, got the best cars, ruled the tracks, and made more than a million. Well it's time to challenge more cars, conquer more tracks, and new champs to beat! If you don't buy this game, you're missing out on some racing of a life time, Well what are you waiting for? Bump all cars in your chance of victory money! This is a racing madness. It's catching hold of you. Buy this game and rule the tracks!

Best GT title out.
It edges GT3 by a bit. Though the graphics arn't exactly PS2 quality (obviously), it's the most addicting game I've every played on PSOne.
The graphics are great (for a PSOne game realesed in 1999). The sounds, car SFX and soundtrack, are pretty cool. The gameplay is fun, yet manages to be realistic. A perfect balance.
I highly recommend GT2 to anyone with a PSOne or PS2.

Be a good driver....
...or just get the 2,000,000cr Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak car and you're good to go. Well...I guess you have to be one to get the other. But then again, there's always good old-fashioned patience. Because frankly, Gran Turismo 2 is not going to hand you anything in a hand basket...especially not the aforementioned (best in the game) vehicle. In this game, you have to work for any car worth having. GT2 isn't playing, folks. There are no super cheats or codes (yes, I looked for them) to earn you free credits, skipped races, or magic cars. The best tricks of the game are tips to tune a car properly, which car to use when, and how to avoid spinning out. Yeah, sounds fun, doesn't it?

Well, if you LOVE cars and get off on racing them, this game will be tons of fun for you. Vastly expanded from the original Gran Turismo, GT2 employs practically any car you can think of---from throwback muscle to tuned-out super cars, if you want to drive it, they've got it waiting for you. And not only do they look just as good as if you were seeing them for real, but they sound and FEEL like real cars. Each car has it's own unique driving style and sound, so you'll never be bored...maybe surprised, but never bored. You can customize your own car from the ground up (GT2 lets you customize your wheels this time...yay!) or if you can hold out long enough, you can buy the "special" models from the car distributors.

However, I do have some issues with this game. First of all, the load times can be a bit irritating and it doesn't help when you have to move to so many different screens to get around in the game. Going from a race to another race or back to your garage seem to take forever after saying no to a dozen replays and the save/do not save question that pops up after all races.

Also, I don't take well to formalities in video games. Like the original, GT2 has those wonderful licenses you must obtain in order to race in different competitions. It's like, am I going to be putting lives in danger by playing this game? Why do I need to be tested on everything from braking distance/time to my S-curve technique? I'm not going to listen to the rules anyway, so why put me through it? When it comes down to it, I am awful at those individual trials. Put me in the thick of the action and I can dominate. I just don't get it.

Finally, I wish that the races weren't so predictable and repetitive. Once you get to the point where you know that you are going to win the race before you even leave the starting line, the game gets a little lackluster. All of the other cars follow the same imaginary line (like the license tests make you follow for "optimal performance") every single time out, so I know where they are going before they get there. Why can't cars spin out for no apparent reason (damnit, I do it!) or give me a little competition? Because let's face it, once you get ahead you stay ahead...that is if you have a reasonably suitable car or you don't spin out stupidly at the final turn, of course.

Ah, but I get over the pain of constant winning quickly. I love this game. I wouldn't complain about it so much if I didn't... I wouldn't still be playing it.

P.S. While doing the long, grueling endurance races I recommend turning the sound off and listening to your own music (or nothing, if you prefer) because as much as this game is hailed for its soundtrack choices, they will drive you mad after you hear the same song fifty times in one race. ... Read more

Asin: B000034DC7
Sales Rank: 1399
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Racing    3. Cars    4. Sony Playstation (Play station)    5. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    6. Ground race racer racing car auto automobile    7. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Grim Fandango (Jewel Case)
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Join Manny, the undead travel agent, and uncover a conspiracy to keep new additions to the underworld from buying a safe passage through purgatory. Grim Fandango combines a unique story line and complicated puzzles to create an adventure different from any you have experienced before. Follow Manny through four years of mystery on his quest for true love and eternal salvation.

The game opens to find Manny in search of the perfect client, one with the means to place them both on the fast track out of purgatory and into eternal paradise. Enter Mercedes Colomar, the client who has it all--beauty, brains, and enough money to buy them each tickets on the exclusive No. 9 train. Following the film-noir formula, Mercedes promptly vanishes, leaving Manny to solve the mystery behind her disappearance and her connection with the Department of Death.

With fantastic graphics--stylishly rendered in the film-noir style--and art from the Mayan, Aztec, and Mexican traditions, Grim Fandango is imaginative and appealing. The challenging puzzles call for attentive play and serious exploration of the Land of the Dead--not an unappealing job when surrounded by such beautiful animation. Include the original story line and humorous characters and you won't want to stop playing--we didn't!

... Read more

Reviews (120)

Soar like eagles on pogo sticks!
In the vein of Monkey Island and Space Quest, we have Grim Fandango, one of the funniest yet emotionally poignant video games ever released.

Manny Calavera is a Grim Reaper/travel agent who guides the recently deceased to the town of El Marrow to begin their four year journey of the soul in the Land of the Dead.He sells them packages to aid in their journey that vary depending on how well the "clients" has lived their lives.At the top of the line for the most righteous, they can qualify for a ticket on the "Number Nine express", a speedy train that will take them to paradise in four minutes rather than four years.If they've been somewhat less that good, they qualify for little more than a walking stick (though the compass in the handle will surely come in handy!) or being packed in a crate with foam.For reasons unxplained, Manny is forced to work in his dead-end sales job for a certain amount of time before he can even begin his own four year journey.In an act of desperation, he steals a competitors saintly client, Mercedes Colomar, to boost his sales and is shocked to find he can't qualify for anything more than the lowliest packages.Devastated, Mercedes runs away in tears leaving Manny wondering if someone is defrauding the system...

The game that follows is filled with great characters, a wonderful plot that pays homage to classic film noirs like Casablanca, the Maltese Falcon, and the Fat Man, and logical environmental puzzles that make sense to the context of the game.Though the game didn't sell well and we will most likely never see a sequel, own a piece of gaming history that you will treasure and quote with your friends for many years to come.

With bony hands I hold my partner
On soulless feet we cross the floor
The music stops as if to answer
An empty knocking at the door
It seems his skin was sweet as mango
When last I held him to my breast
But now we dance this grim fandango
And will four years until we rest.

Casablanca With An Art Deco Aztec Twist
Grim Fandango has a very retro feel, sort of like Casablanca with an Art Deco Aztec twist. The game centers around Manny Calavera who is attempting to stay honest and make sense out of a Hispanic day of the dead afterlife which has been corrupted by those who control that afterlife for their own gain. All while Manny pursues the love of his afterlife! Confused? Trust me, it will all make sense once you start playing and the dialog and graphics will impress you and keep you hooked. I've tried a lot of the adventure games and they all have their flaws. But Grim Fandango comes as close to perfect as any game ever will. The controls are a little irritating but not as much as some newer games. This is the best adventure game out there and I strongly recommend that you try it.

I Must Be Missing Something
I picked this up in a bargain bin because I had heard great things about Grim Fandango, now an admittedly older title.I had also played a demo of one of the Monkey Island games and found it hilarious.I greedily slapped down my ten bucks and looked forward to some fun.

The game is fun to listen to and watch.Filled with yucks aplenty, Grim Fandango is like participating directly in a wacky animated film.For this alone, Fandango earns high praise.As with the Monkey Island games, the voice acting and humor is top notch.

Sadly, gameplay suffers.If you read through enough reviews here at Amazon, you'll find that people like Fandango simply for its humor and style; most customers admit that they needed walkthroughts to get past the game's frustrating puzzles.I'm a puzzle fan, and I like a challenge, but there were simply too many moments in Fandango where the puzzles felt arbitrary. Logic rarely led to a solution; only trial and error did!For me, this weighed heavily--and I mean heavily--against the game.Humor and style, huge plusses no doubt, should still be secondary to gameplay (or at least equal).With Fandango, gameplay seems to be a less important means towards creative and hilarious ends.You'll need to decide if this is okay with you. For me, it wasn't.

For music reviews, visit http://unpaidrockcritic.typepad.com
... Read more

Asin: B00004WGW1
Subjects:  1. Humor (Humorous humour humourous)    2. Supernatural (Horror)    3. Computer Games    4. Adventure    5. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Red Storm Entertainment and creator Tom Clancy's genre-busting game Rainbow Six combined elements of first-person shooters and tactical strategy games and grabbed numerous game-of-the-year awards. With those credentials, it was virtually inevitable that the gaming community would be graced with a brand new--and much improved--sequel. Rogue Spear, the 1999 follow-up to Red Storm's Rainbow Six follows the old adage that if something isn't significantly flawed, don't attempt repair. Though Rainbow Six featured some minor bugs and game-play concerns, Red Storm keeps the proven game play intact, but improves the 3-D engine and implements fan requests, such as increasing sniper support and adding a "peer around walls" key, to create a near-flawless follow-up.

In Rogue Spear,,players once again assume command of an elite counter-terrorist group known as RAINBOW and guide them through a dynamic campaign filled with nerve-wracking missions, such as rescuing hostages from a museum and infiltrating a hijacked airliner. Like its predecessor, Rogue Spear uses an elaborate premission planning screen to assign routes and duties to each team member. During the mission, the intensity level and graphical splendor rise exponentially. Rogue Spear eschews typical first-person shooter elements like health packs and armor power-ups; the real-world weapons ensure that one whizzing bullet could be the last thing you see. Tense, strategic missions, various multiplayer options, and a mission editor create one of the most engrossing game experiences around. --Doug Radcliffe ... Read more

Reviews (100)

Realistic Without Sacrificing Gameplay or Fun
This was the first first person shooter I ever played that used a mouse to aim, needless to say, it got me hooked to the genre.

My favorite thing about this game is how realistic it is.It's definately probaby the most realistic first person shooter I've ever played (next to Day of Defeat.)But not only that, it was achieved WITHOUT sacrificing gameplay or limiting fun.It's hard to do, yet it was achieved in this game.

The graphics are also very nice, my older computer (I don't know the specs) was able to run the game quite well when it had problems with most other games.

I can't really think of anything negative to say about this game.

It deserves a chance.

Rogue Spear a great sequel to Rainbow Six
This game has done something very few games have been able to do , it has become better than its original maker. Many game companies in a hurry to make a profit,don't put as much effort or creativity into their sequels of their games, but Red Storm Entertainment isn't one of them!!!!

Reasons why this is hands down better than the original and quite possibly the best game of the 90's: Challenging missions that combine not only action but strategy. Rainbow Six was the first game where you could actually plan out youre mission and execute it just like a top secret military team would in real life. The graphics and sound in Rogue Spear (if you can believe it) are better than the original:
Team members talk more during tense situations ("It's ok you're safe"), their movements are very lifelike, they can blink and breathe just like a real person. You see them enter a room carefully for any danger, then they follow their plan. Before you begin a level you are treated to a musical score to get you pumped up for the action!!! It is simply inspiring.

The levels are breathtaking, in the First level you go inside a Museum taking by Middle Eastern Terrorists, in the Second level you are on ship and must not only prevent a bomb from being detonated, but rescue the hostages in the ship!!

Replay Mode for every mission. This is my favorite part of the game where you can look at how well or bad you completed a mission. My only complaint of the original Rainbow Six is that after you completed a mission there wasn't anything more to look at. With the replay mode, you can watch youre completed mission over and over again. Get some popcorn ready. :-)

The challenge would give even the most experienced game player , hours and hours to try to beat even a single level. (Try playing on Elite/Veteran)

Oh yes and there is network support for it too over the net. Multiplayer options include saving youre team captain from the enemy, wiping out youre opponents team, and a whole bunch of stuff.

You will need a 3d accelerator card, like the Voodoo 3000, otherwise the game wont look 3d and the maps and characters wont look crisply textured.

Finally, there are several mission packs for Rogue Spear.
This is what 3d gaming is all about!!!
If you're looking for an action packed game with a challenge, you're search is over. Haha.

Best Game That Is Out There!
Rogue Spear is the most packed action PC game that I played yet. It takes you misson by misson, saving the hostages and killing the terrorists. I have to explain how awesome it is!

There are new places you get to travel around, at the airport, in buildings etc! See, its much better when you play online to tell you the truth. Meet new people and even play with your friends. Go one on one with each other or teams. Get to pick out your own weapons and gender and even vote which level to go to. This is pretty much like Socom on PS2.

Im a girl and I think its still cool even if im not a guy. This is NOT waste of your money. ... Read more

Asin: B00002STNQ
Subjects:  1. Squads (Team, Teams)    2. Rainbow6 (rainbowsix 6)    3. Rouge    4. Computer Games    5. Adventure    6. Action    7. Shooters (Shooter)    8. Military (Tactics)   

Diablo 2
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (29 June, 2000)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Everything that made the original Diablo great--nonstop action, wicked monsters, dark gothic atmosphere, and fantastic magic items--has returned. But new enhancements such as the class skill system and cheater-proof multiplayer competition make Diablo II even better than the original.

The millions of gamers who fought their way through the horror of Tristram'scatacombs in the original Diablo realized that all was not well aftertheir hero destroyed the demon's physical body. Diablo II opens with avivid animated vision of that mad, doomed hero, who unwittingly spreads chaos ashe moves toward a fate of Diablo's choosing. With the original character classesgone, players choose from a new cadre of champions: the Barbarian (can wield twotwo-handed swords at once, one in each hand), the Necromancer (raises the deadto fight his battles), the Amazon (master of bow and spear), Paladin (holycrusader), and Sorceress (wielder of elemental magic). These warriors follow adiabolical plot through four acts, and each act is roughly as big as theoriginal Diablo.

Diablo II looks and behaves very much like Diablo. Players areassigned quests by nonplayer characters and adventure through dark catacombs andcrypts. Hordes of vile monsters assail the hero, who survives by force of arms,powerful spells, and through the use of varied and exotic magic items. Randomlygenerated dungeons guarantee fresh adventure each time a new game is started.But unlike the original game, characters must fight their way through the above-ground wilderness before entering a dungeon. Fortunately, some of thefrustrations of adventuring have been lessened in Diablo II, thanks to thenew ability to run and the clever implementation of "waypoints" that let yourcharacter quickly travel to and from the safety of town.

Along with the new character classes comes a new character skill system. As inthe original game, players improve their character's ability scores as they killmonsters and gain experience. But unlike the original game, players get to addspecific skills, spells, and powers each time they advance. For example, aftergaining a level you could choose between taking a skill that improves yourattack speed or a skill that allows you to scatter your foes with a mightyshout. With this customizedadvancement system it is unlikely that two high-levelcharacters, even characters of the same class, will be alike. Instead ofprogressing along a set path, you can choose skills and powers that complementyour own particular playing style. Interestingly, this new customizable classsystem closelyparallels the changes made in the new editionof Dungeons & Dragons.

Other enhancements include a method for creating and customizing magicitems, 3-D accelerated spell effects, anticheat multiplayer code, and a place to safelystore excess money and equipment. But even without these tweaks, even withoutthe sophisticated story line and all the cool new features, Diablo II isjust a great game. The sound, music, and graphics combine to create atantalizingly eerie setting. Players will willingly let their game-playing hoursslip well past reasonable bedtimes, suffering bleary-eyed classes and meetingsin exchange for "just one more" magic item, dungeon level, or characterskill.

Diablo is back. Say hello to the game that will once again dominate gamers'computers, and say good-bye to your free time. --Michael Fehlauer.

Pros:

• Diabolical, engrossing story line told through brilliant cutscenes
• All five of the new classes are distinct and fun
• Fantastic music and sound effects
• Random dungeons allow unlimited replayability
• Millions of magic items, including rare items and sets of unique magicalequipment

Cons:

• Addictive gameplay may cause loss of sleep, significant other, job
• Virtually no improvement in graphics

... Read more

Features

• Five all-new character classes with unique attributes and abilities.
• Four different, fully populated towns complete with wilderness areas.
• Multiple dungeons, caverns and crypts in every town for players to explore.
• Expanded world filled with all-new quests, weapons, spells, armor, monsters and non-player characters.

Reviews (533)

Best of the Genre
Diablo II is a helluva lotta fun.I'm not so much a single player person, but a multiplayer person.The gameplay is well thought-out and engaging.The plot is corny, but, then again, this is an RPG.

The graphics are kinda mediocre, but the gameplay makes up for it.The expansion is a must.Playing online is incredibly addictive, which I don't like, but I get a kick out of it.What makes this game is the interaction in multiplayer.

(...) is easy to use.They catch a fair few cheaters.

My main complaint is that there are many lamers.There is a group of people that buys duplicated items of the internet at like 10 dollars a piece.This is what I don't like.There are other people that hack accounts and steal characters and equipment, and that is just lame.Thankfully, this has not happened to me, although my brother got hacked a long time ago.

Even so, the fact that your account might get hijacked just adds to the reality that it is, after all, just a game.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

The single player is a lot like the multiplayer.It is a good way to learn how to start out independently.In fact, the multiplayer is like single player, but just with more people.(surprise)

There aren't many glitches, and there is skill involved, up to a point.

Buy this game.It's worth your money.So is the expansion.

Great game!
Diablo 1 players. Yes, I know you have suffered, but Diablo 2 fixed all their problems and this game is 700 times better! Get it!

Learned some lessons from DIABLO, but quests more restricted
DIABLO 2 can be summarized as "like DIABLO, but more so." DIABLO 2 has more locales, more varied scenery, more (and more elaborate) AIs, more control over developing your character's skills, more types of characters to play, better play balance, and so on.

Like the original, DIABLO 2's settings are (mostly) randomly generated, so that with the exception of some set-piece areas (like the Skeleton King's lair in the original), no two games follow exactly the same map. DIABLO 2 has four acts covering 5 locales (including Tristram, the setting of DIABLO). Each act has very different climate/geography and monsters differing accordingly.

You're following the trail of the Wanderer (the hero of the first game) as he locates the other Prime Evils, Diablo's brothers, before leading you into Hell and the final confrontation with Diablo himself. The settings in general have much greater variety and eye candy, and include outdoor segments as well as dungeon crawls.

Act I is a generic-Europe setting, with a lesser-demon Level Boss rather than a Prime Evil. Act I most closely resembles the earlier stages of the original DIABLO, and contains references back to the original, as the player's task is to help the Sisters of the Sightless Eye. (The Rogue from DIABLO was a member of the order; your closest-equivalent player character in DIABLO 2 is the Amazon, who has a different backstory.)

Act II is a desert scenario, with a sort of Egyptian flavor to the tombs, and a different, more formidable type of undead. Act III, by contrast, is a rainforest, emphasis on poisonous insects, water monsters, and fast-moving little AIs with blowpipe attacks. Act IV's revamped version of Hell is much more larger and elaborate than that in the original, with an assortment of demons and new attacks. The succubae weren't retained, but as a tradeoff Act I has hordes of renegade Rogues.

Many of the AIs have been revamped to make them tougher and to give them more distinctive appearances. While the distinct colour schemes were retained, the details are more elaborate and they're tougher opponents. The carver-type AIs now include shamans, who in addition to their own magical attacks can raise the fallen. Animated skeletons on higher difficulty levels may now have mages as well as archers with them.

That's one of the biggest changes from the original. Monsters not only regenerate after you've cleaned out a level (even lesser "unique" monsters, though not Level Bosses that have to be killed to end an Act), but many monster types can raise the dead or harvest energy from corpses. There are also delayed-action attacks, as poisons and antidotes have been added.

Other changes from original:
- Multiplayer and single player now use the same limited set of quests, rather than single player having a random selection of a larger set of quests.
- Play balance on character abilities now includes active and passive skills, differing by character type. Not just any character can learn spells.
- In addition to mana and life, player has stamina. While you don't have to eat or sleep as in, e.g. DARKSTONE, you either have to pace your character, stock up on stamina potions, or be content to move slowly.
- In addition to Town Portal spells, each Act contains a set of fixed waypoints, and the player can return to earlier Acts if desired.
- Towns are more elaborate. Apothecaries selling potions are now separate from magic sellers, and at least one NPC per Act can "gamble" with you. You can hire and equip NPCs who will follow you and fight what you fight. If they're with you, your experience points are divided with them, but they level up and become more formidable over time.

Some lessons learned by the designers:
- Local smiths can upgrade weapons, e.g. installing runes or gems in them. Partway through Act II, a quest item allows you to combine multiple gems of the same type to get a single gem of a better grade, so strategy is a factor.
- In town/camp you have a chest in addition to the inventory on your character's person. Items in the chest are safe, but if you're killed and resurrected, anything you were carrying has to be retrieved from the body. Since you're fined a large amount of your total gold when you're resurrected, you're motivated to scavenge your own body anyway just to get some of it back.
- Partway through Act I, you revisit Tristram and rescue Deckard Cain, who now has enough gratitude to identify items for free instead of gouging you.
- Some unique items now come in sets (e.g. helmet, breastplate, gauntlets) that are stronger together than apart, and mostly effective for specific character types (e.g. bonuses apply only to a paladin). Strategy comes into play: is it worth saving an item in the hopes of acquiring the rest of the set?

In summary: the thing I miss most from the original is the randomized quest mix on single player. The active/passive skill system is interesting enough to make up for restricting the player's ability to create super-powerful spell-casting Rogues and the like.

As in the original, even in single-player a game can't be saved in multiple states; you can only have multiple characters working through different scenarios. In multi-player, items can be transferred between characters by drop-and-switch, but that's about it.
... Read more

Asin: B00002CF9M
Subjects:  1. Diablo2 (Two, II) Dialbo    2. Fantasy (FRPG)    3. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)    4. Havas   

No One Lives Forever: Game of the Year Edition
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (01 October, 2001)
list price: $19.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

No One Lives Forever is an outstanding action-adventure gamethatcombines the campy 1960s-style spy-spoof story lines of the Austin Powers movies with thebest single-player gameplay we've experienced since Half-Life. Clever, funny, andstylish aren't words normally associated with first-person shooters, butNOLF is anything but normal.

Assuming the role of sexy UNITY operative Cate Archer, you must complete 15enormous and distinct missions to keep the world safe from H.A.R.M., anefariousorganization rife with colorful arch-villains. In true Hollywood style, thegameis laced with cutscenes that set the stage for your missions and advance theplot by showing H.A.R.M. higher-ups boasting about their evil plans. Thedialogue in both the cutscenes and the in-game action sequences is witty andgenuinely funny, and the voice acting is excellent. We found ourselves hidingindark corners just so we could eavesdrop on the bad guys.

The comic antics end abruptly when enemies catch wind of your presence.Whetherthey stumble across a body you carelessly left in your wake, hear you creepingabout, respond to a tripped alarm, or simply see you, these foes are allbusiness. They will stalk you, duck behind cover, and call for reinforcements.All the action is straight from a spy movie: shoot a guy on a balcony, andhe'lltumble over the rail and fall to the ground. Fire a gun underwater, and you'llsee the spiral trail of the bullet.

Most missions can be approached in a variety of ways, and althoughfull-frontalassaults are possible, stealthy progression is usually better for your health.Being a superspy, you'll have plenty of gadgets to help you along the way,froma lock-pick barrette to a robotic poodle capable of turning even the mostferocious attack dog into man's best friend. Players who like to send a moredirect message will enjoy playing with the game's full assortment of firearms,including Bond-worthy silencer pistols and briefcase rocket launchers.

The quality of AI and inventiveness of the single-player missions arefortunatebecause the multiplayer component doesn't compare to Unreal Tournament or Counter-Strike. Regardless,No One Lives Forever should be on the short list of any fan offirst-person shooters looking for an unbeatable solo experience. --T. ByrlBaker

Pros:

• Multiple approaches to nearly every level add to the replay value
• Loads of atmosphere
• Contains some of the most unorthodox and enjoyable missions we've everplayed
• Amazing detail
• Smart and funny

Cons:

• Not the prettiest 3-D engine on the market

... Read more

Reviews (53)

Simply Awesome
This remains my favorite game ever, even if other games had better graphics even when it came out.

Not only do you play an interesting character and you have a great story, the enemy aren't complete idiots. Best of all, the game makes you laugh. I can't count the times, I stopped to listen to a side conversation and was laughing to hard to avoid getting shot.

Valve updated the graphics for Half-Life; I wish Sierra would do the same for No One Lives Forever.

Awesome!
I'm a newbie in software games and this my first game and I must say its awesome! The game is funny it made me laughing in stitches and yet so exciting and fun I played like I was in the role itself! I'm glad I got the Original retail box version bcoz as a newbie, it gave a better description. I was quite slow but eventually I got the hang of it. I didn't regret trying out this game.

NoOne Lives Forever. But youll play it till the day you die!
I decided to buy this game after hearing some good reviews for it, and seeing as how I could get it for 15 bucks as a game of the year edition.I played this game nonstop for about 5 days till I finally beat it.This game would only have been a 3 - 4 without its humor though... humor, not a challenge for killing the oafs of HARM makes this game great.Thats not to say that using a silenced parabellum and sneaking into an area giving large unsuspecting quantities of HARM agents head shots isnt a blast.I believe that this game wouldnt be near as fun if you just played it like Quake or Doom, getting your baddest weapon out and mowing down hoards of them. I think that my goals of maybe getting detected once made the game much more enjoyable.

Buy this game while it lasts, the Game of the Year Edition truly is worth it, the extra level was a blast and among the most humorous of levels. ... Read more

Asin: B00005QX48
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Adventure    3. Action    4. Shooters (Shooter)    5. Havas   

Command & Conquer Arsenal Pack
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (05 September, 2000)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (12)

BE WARE!
I bought The Arsenal pack for 10 bucks.I loved playing the red alert games and i always loved the original.But when i went to install I was disapointed that it would not work on my XP operating system. I thought Xp was pretty compatable with everything but i guess not this game.This is the first time i ever said this.But make sure ur OS (operating system) is below windows 98!

Unbelievable; 'nuff said
Could this be the most addictive game of all time?It certainly feels like it, and it has that office space feel to it that really sets the atmosphere for such an epic game.
Command & Conquer 1 was a revolutionary game, and this game continues the legacy.Red Alert's story is engrossing in and of itself (start playing and find out), but the strategy and various battle mechanisms that really make this game a treat.
In Red Alert, you are playing against an enemy but against the clock.The game is a frenetic quest to build up your units before the other side decides to attack, and the multiplayer mode only increases the the urgency.
The Arsenal Pack is well-designed in and of itself - it includes the regular game plus an additional mission disc called The Aftermath, which also gives you 150 additional multiplayer maps.I strongly suggest the Arsenal Pack now that The Domination Pack (which also included the Counterstrike mission disc) is no longer in stock.

It's a classic
This game is a classic. Myself I spent hours behind the computer triyng new strategies.m If a spy infiltrates your base and you don't have the ferocious Russian attack dogs... ... Read more

Asin: B00004XRBK
Sales Rank: 3758
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Strategy (Strategic)    3. Historical (historic) Recreation (Recreations)    4. Military (Wargames    5. Command and Conquer (C&C)    6. Westwood