Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (26 September, 2000)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

It's not easy being a child of a god. Your character quickly comes tothis conclusion after being imprisoned and tortured by a wizard with anunhealthy interest in your parentage. So begins Baldur's Gate II: Shadows ofAmn, an ambitious role-playing game based on the Advanced Dungeons &Dragons game.

Shadows of Amn is not really a sequel to Baldur's Gate. Instead,Baldur's Gate was merely a prelude to Shadows of Amn. Shadows ofAmn develops the plot lines, characters, and events introduced in the firstgame into a mature, genuinely interesting fantasy tale. Players who thought theoriginal game shallow will be pleasantly surprised by Shadows of Amn'sbold story arcs. Major events are afoot, and the characters' choices have a realimpact on the Forgotten Realms.

In the same way, Baldur's Gate served as a proving ground for the refinedgame mechanics evident in Shadows of Amn. The game's artificialintelligence has been vastly improved, and players have many more choices forNPC AI scripts and party communication. Keeping with Shadows of Amn's moremature theme, the party interaction even includes possible love interests foryour character.

Those who played through the original Baldur's Gate can import theircharacter into Shadows of Amn, or can choose to create a new character.Character kits such as the Mageslayer and Swashbuckler add variety, and the gameeven includes the Monk, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Half-Orc options from the newDungeons & Dragons 3rdEdition rules. Whether you import an old character or create a new one,you'll begin the game as a fairly advanced character--unlike most RPGs, youwon't have to spend hours slaying puny critters and instead are plunged into ahigh-stakes plot against powerful foes.

A strong plot backed by strong technology makes Shadows of Amn stand outas one of the best RPGs we've ever played. Fans of AD&D will love the classicAD&D feel, and fans of the popular Forgotten Realms setting will delight in thepeople, places, and politics found in Shadows of Amn. --MichaelFehlauer

Pros:

• High-level power gaming
• Quality voice work
• Improves the already great Baldur's Gate interface
• Character kits and D&D 3rd Edition races and classes add variety
• Advances the plot begun in Baldur's Gate

Cons:

• Based on obsolete AD&D 2nd Edition rules
• Character animations are stiff
• Player's character starts out less powerful than other party members

... Read more

Reviews (231)

Incantus Pulchur Imperium!
This is easily the best game i have ever played. You can rank a game in many ways, i give this game maximum points in every single category...

Voice Acting

Probably the games strongest area was it's character development giving the game an extra dimension of realism and gravity, integral to this was the awesome voice acting which was/is the best i have ever known, this game showed that voice acting in computer games can be incredibly powerful, the actors who played the characters are real pro's. My favourite was Irenicus, he breathed a realism and a menace into the character which truly brought that villainous character to life. Also in this category is dialogue, which is equally incredible, occasionally i can still here a reedy voice in my head saying...."you should not have come to this place", unforgettable.

Graphics

For their time, these graphics were top of the range, the outdoors are particularly impressive, wether it's the temple district or the wilderness, no two trees look anything alike.

Sound/Music

The sound effects in the game were amazing, when you are in a city you here murmurings (of street traders/hawkers) which blend wonderfully into the background complementing everything. When you enter Suldanesselar you hear the frantic almost deranged chirpings of the birds which convey a sense of order-disrupted. The games musical score is absolutely gorgeous! The main theme (which kicks up when a fight starts) is rousing and exciting and a pleasure to listen to, it adds even more grandeur and scale to the game.

Gameplay

Top marks here too, there are so many ways you can play the game, so many paths you can take, the challenge level varies but overall is suitably balanced. The games replayability was awesome (i won it at least 10 times and each time i was amazed at how new the experience was). When you add to this the extraordinary value for money you get because the game is extremely long, yet it never becomes repetitive.

Overall this game showed me for the first time what the computer role playing genre was capable of, playing this game was like starring in a movie combined with reading a wonderfully gripping novel. You really feel for the characters. I had thought Planetscape Torment was good, this game introduced an entirely new experience. Easily the best game i have ever played (and i have played a lot).

How did they pack it all into five cd's?

sort of.... dreary
It is difficult to stand against the onslaught of love and respect for this game. And I'm not saying don't try this game. Too many people loved it for me to expect you to go by my experience, but I do want to share with you my different perspective.

First off, looking back, I don't hate Baldur's gate. It has it's virtues. Its just that after 20 or so hours it began to weigh on me, leaving me with a feeling heavy, bleak, and insistent.In taking up computer games as a hobby a year ago it was one of the first games I played or really got into.Fascination rolled into addiction and addiction rolled into a kind of dread and tedium.Finally I realized I didn't actually have to play this game anymore.So I didn't.This may seem like an obvious solution to you, but then you don't actually know me so well.

Enough preamble. I like to rate games based on categories that I find important to me and so I will do that below on a scale of say 1 to 10. How's that?

Story:4, I'll admit my predispositions here, and also that not actually getting more than a third of the way through this game limits me a little, but I do feel I got the main idea.My predisposition is that I long for a computer game that is story driven effectively and actually works as a good story. Story is always such a distant second to gameplay that you end up with these half hour stories built into 15 to 60 hour games.Generally they either make little sense, or fade into a weird sequel nothingness in the end (hello half life 2, beyond good and evil (good games both nevertheless)). I have tried so many, do actually like many games, but have been underwhelmed repeatedly as far as story.Baldur's had the advantage that I was new to gaming and so hadn't seen all it's conventions before, even if they were familiar.In this game you wake up in a prison cell and have a secret destiny.Yeah yeah yeah.It's actually not too bad though and the quality of some of the characters helps, but, and I think this might be the key problem, in order to create an open ended world, provide a variety of quests, and give the good/evil option as it were, the whole thing comes completely apart at the seams.The story falls apart into ridiculousness except the game pretends it hasn't and you're supposed to too. Just to start you spend hours struggling to break out of a dungeon you have no knowledge of even though a member of your party broke in to get you.Wouldn't she have some helpful information?How did she manage it in the first place? So much of this game is full of stuff like this. Its been awhile so I'm fuzzy, but could come up with quite a few more examples, like places where the sense of what is good and effective to do in the game defies the reality of your characters as actual people.In my opinion you can have a very linear game (problem is too few options as a player unless it's done perfectly), or a completely wide open, basically questless game (problem is it feels kind of pointless unless it's done perfectly and beautifully) or you can have a reality defying muddle in the middle of the two. Baldur's takes this last path I am afraid.Still, I would have sort of liked to see how it all turned out if I didn't have to slog through so very much stuff and time to get to it.

Characters: 7 or 8,very good.Love the pictures. Voices excellent. Really nicely done, though after awhile hearing them say the same phrases hundreds of times was hard to take.Also the story caused them to do things completely out of character at times.

Gameplay:5, I prefer less difficulty in games and would have appreciated a difficulty level system very much.There is a lot of fighting, managing your stuff and fighting some more and its that d and d dice rolling fighting that can look very strange (big guy with huge sword swings at weakened creature just standing there and misses wildly). It often left me feeling faintly like it wasn't working and that the game didn't do what was in the queues for my characters even though I suppose it really was.

Graphics: 6, nice general visual design and though its dated now its pretty powerful in the sense of mood it imparts (though see below). I mean it really did affect me in an almost dreamlike way for awhile.It was a bit of a letdown in terms of giving me a sense of wonder though.

Dreariness factor:1,cold, chill and frequently joyless.That's how I found it.Some of the character humor helped a little, especially the nicer characters, but so much killing and grim characters and so little relief or oasis or real rewards or lightness in comparison. Plus I felt burdened by the way the quests could just sort of pile up on you and all be emergencies.

Technical issues:I always feel this is so subjective as you never know what will be a problem with your computer, but a few small or weird glitches were really awful for me.I couldn't get downstairs in one place, something crucial disappeared in another.

Learning factor:4, had a tutorial level which maybe I wouldn't find too confusing with the experience I have now in games, but I really wish it had been more clear and specific.

Product materials:5,a nice start, decent book, but really quite incomplete.

Chore factor:2, well, you know, so many rooms of so many monster things to really get anywhere.I really did feel burdened.

Difficulty:3, kind of already discussed but I'll add that everything seemed either kind of hard to kill or quite hard to kill, it would have been nice and even appropriate if some things had been very easy too. I will repeat I might have lasted longer with an easy or moderately easy setting, but it still would've gotten to me in the end.

Game saves:7,a pretty good save anytime system only flawed by an inability to save in combat, which, if I recall, could sometimes sneak up on you and then it was too late.

Conclusion:I find when I write negative reviews of really popular and respected games (gta vice city is a good example) people tend to say its not helpful, and if I like them its very helpful,but sometimes I think they maybe already played the game and think it's some kind of contest these reviews (then of course, maybe they just think its not a very informative review).I'm just telling you my reaction here and my thoughts. A lot of people gave this classic game 5 stars. I really think this game could've been alot better.

Baldur's gate made me think maybe I don't like rpgs too much, but I am currently pretty far along in star wars knights of the old republic and very much like it.

Not verymuch changed...luckily
Baldur's Gate is a first-class game, so why change the formula in the sequal? Yea, you can fight with two weapons at a time now, but who cares? I still use only one. Graphics didn't change that much in my eyes, so it's actually the same game with another story-line. But the story - because of that I fell in love with BG - is again very good. I saw someone complaining that the bad guy (I forgot his name) is too evil..well, did you expect that the bad guy just sold illegal armor or something? I didn't really like that beginning part - there in those underground mines - but the rest is again amazing. Someone complained you don't know how strong the monsters are if you want to attack... doesn't that make it more real. It's kind of silly if you see a number above his head or something.. It's an addictive game and I wished my copy of it didn't brake (just like my copy of BG1). I love this game (maybe because it's one of the few games I'm really good at), it's perfect just like the first BG. Buy it, the game is cheap these days.. ... Read more

Asin: B00004KHB7
Subjects:  1. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)    2. Fantasy (FRPG)    3. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D)    4. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Diablo 2
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (29 June, 2000)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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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   

Final Fantasy IX
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (17 November, 2000)
list price: $39.99
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Reviews (622)

Open Mind
Hey guys.I love this game, flat out.It has great characters, a good plot, a good system, and fantastic music.A lot of people think that the game is boring, or maybe they don't like the plot, but I think that those people need to just give it a chance.This was the 7th Final Fantasy I have beaten, and now I have finished 1-9, and this game is in my top four.

There are some problems with this game, but I don't think they are very critical.Most of them affect the first couple hours, but they are nothing toreally have too big a problem with.First of all, the begining is slow.There are about 4 battles in the first hour, and you finish only about 20-50 in the first few hours.Also it takes a little getting used to to get into the gameplay.Characters gain magic and abilities based on what equipment they have on.

Anyways, I put this in my top list of games, which are in order of which is most important to play

Final Fantasy VI
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy VII
Earthbound
Final Fantasy IX
Chrono Cross
Xenogears

Play those RPG's and you will have experienced the best games ever made.

This is to the people
Look, I realize you are entitled to your opinions, as am I.So, let me get my two cents in.This is to the people who do not like FF( because only mages can use magic(like cure, fire, etc.).Stop complaining!Not only can Garnet and Eiko cure, but Amarant uses Chakra to cure, Freya uses a skill to cure, and so can Quina.This game DOES return to the roots which has only certain characters use magic.It makes it harder.Now, to those who claim this game is childish because of certain things.I am twenty-four years old, and I like this game a lot.My friends like this game.Even my twenty-eight year old brother likes this game.None of us think it is too childish.
To those who complain about the storyline, claiming a thirteen year old could do better.I've read the fan fictions people of such age write about the Final Fantasies; trust me, they ARE NOT BETTER.If you think you could do better, try it.By the RPG Maker, and DO IT!Betcha can't, though.If thirteen year olds COULD do better plots, you would think that such companies as Square Enix would hire them.Duh.

Great Game, despite all other opinions
First of all, I'd like to point out that I haven't played many other Final Fantasy Games, so I'm not going to compare them.

On to my thoughts about FFIX. It was the first real RPG Playstation game that I ever bought and it's the one that got made me love the genre.
Plot: 4/5 Great plot, however they fail to really explain some crucial details (for example: why does Zidane sees Garnet's memory?). A little more explanations would be nice for my lack of brain cells.
Characters: 5/5 You really do get attached to Zidane and Garnet, you laugh at Amarant's oblivious and cynical nature, and just want to shoot Thorn and Zorn. The point is, the characters are interesting and have a personality.
Gameplay: 4/5 At first it's hard to understand how to train the characters and use different accessories to learn attacks. However, once that is settled, the gameplay is great. Also, it took me forever to realize that pressing Select on the world screen brings up a map: VERY USEFUL! You'll get lost if you don't use it. Other than that, good gameplay.
Graphics: 6/5 :) Gotta love the grahics. Squaresoft created different cultures/architectures for each different country. Gaia is absolutely gorgeous. The FMVs are amazing. Two thumbs way way up for the graphics.

Overall: Though it required a lot of time training to beat Kuja and the final bosses, the game is really fun. The minigames range from "fun-for-two-seconds" (Jumprope Vivi) and "takes-forever-but-gotta-love-it" (Chocobo Hot and Cold) and the game itself is great, long and never boring. Five stars out of five it is, then. Great way to get yourself in the world of Final Fantasy. ... Read more

Asin: B00004Y57G
Sales Rank: 132
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)    5. Great Deals (Outlet store)   

Planescape: Torment
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (14 December, 1999)
list price: $49.95
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Editorial Review

In Planescape: Torment, you play a nameless, scarred, immortal on a quest to discover his past, his identity, and his role in the conflict over the nature of reality. The brilliant role-playing and adventure game focuses on the "Planescape" campaign setting of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, and combines the best elements of Interplay's phenomenally successful Baldur's Gate with an enthralling story line, well-written dialogue, and beautiful artwork and graphics.

In an inspired choice, Black Isle Studios, the developer of Planescape: Torment, has chosen to provide the player, at least initially, with as little details about the story as possible. After viewing a mysterious introductory movie, players guide The Nameless One on a journey through the bleak city of Sigil and its underground catacombs. The story leads from there to the bizarre realities of alternate planes of existence, where belief and thought determine the laws of physics. Through dialogue with hundreds of nonplayer characters, puzzle solving, and point-and-click combat, The Nameless One discovers clues about his identity and the circumstances surrounding his condition.

Gamers overwhelmed by detailed role-playing games will find Planescape: Torment easier to grasp; players can freely switch between three different character classes (Fighter, Mage, Thief) for The Nameless One as the game progresses, and learning the combat and magic system--with a simple point-and-click interface--takes only a few minutes. Literally hundreds of weapons, items, spells, and "tattoos" can be collected and affixed to The Nameless One or any of the several party members acquired during the course of the game. If you're a fan of role-playing or adventure games, Planescape: Torment's engrossing world creates a must-have gaming experience. --Doug Radcliffe

Pros:

• Fascinating, unique setting
• Engrossing story
• Rich graphics and spell effects
• Intriguing dialogue

Cons:

• Zoomed-in perspective tends to limit combat to close range
• Long load times

... Read more

Features

Reviews (159)

Great story, good game
This is a good game, but a few warnings:

1) The story is great but I built it up in my head a little too much after reading the reviews.It is well-written, and written with the end in mind.Unlike most games which are kind of written as they go, things will make MORE sense as the game goes on until everything does at the end.Minor complaint:There were a few things that were either continuity issues, or just explained poorly IMO.Mainly to do with what order things were done by past incarnations and when they lived.Major complaint:Without giving away too much, suffice to say that there are a few characters you meet in the first half of the game who have much more information about you than they let on initially, and EVEN after you become aware of this you will NOT get dialog choices to follow this line of questioning much further.People who would know what you did, where you went, why you did it, and you can't ask.That's just dumb and really took me out of the game, I set it aside for a few days and almost didn't finish it.I would have much preferred it if meeting such people was a difficult side-quest with a big payoff in terms of story, instead of just being there but you can't use them.

2) The game is LINEAR, it's really more of an interactive novel than anything.Your main form of interaction with the game is choosing dialogue.While the dialogue choices are generally diverse and this is a fun part of the game, it didn't make seem to make much impact on the game.Your choices affect your alignment, but as far as I could tell your alignment makes a superficial effect on the game at best, and NO difference in the ending.So it's not that big a deal.Also I suspect most people will end up being "neutral good" (and I think the game encourages that alignment), so what's the big deal.Compare this to a game like Fallout, where decisions you make are constantly affecting the ending in subtle ways and how people respond to you later in the game.

The other thing to consider is that your main quest in the game is figure out how to die.It can be hard to get into character when your goal is so weird.Personally I was far more interested in figure out WHO I was in my first life and WHY I was immortal and made the choices I did.You can't really pursue this goal by itself however.Without giving away spoilers, suffice to say by the end of the game, this is all covered at a high level, but not near what I was looking for.For me the whole payoff of the game was the story, so I was hoping for a little more meat than that and some concrete examples would have made the ending easier to accept.

3) Other than the story, the game is pretty bland.I HATED Baldur's Gate and the D&D combat system, which is basically just 1) attack 2) use healing potion/spell 3) use your best spells 4) repeat.1000 battles later, it's not fun anymore, just a nuisance.Torment uses the same battle system but more like maybe 300-400 battles, so not as bad, but still not fun.Spell effects are cool but freeze the game and take FOREVER which can be frustrating if you're playing as a mage and are playing the same battle over after dying a few times.

Overall I really enjoyed the game, but more for the story it told than the game itself.Playing the game will get you into the character and make the story more meaningful, but will also be frustrating since your actions are so limited.Overall my complaints were over implementation, this was a darn good game that could have been one of the best ever.

FUI
Thought people might like to know that this game was made for Windows 95/98 BUT plays even better on XP!It requires DirectX 6 but recognized I had DirectX 9.1 already installed.I have a 2.5 mgh processor, Pen IV, Radeon 9700 Pro video card.

Get this RPG if you love having an involving, dramatic story told to you while you play.

I miss Black Isle Studios...*sigh*

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Planescape: Torment is a rarity among computer and video games.Rather than focusing on combat, the game is largely centered on roleplaying.I suspect that many people reading this review have played the Baldur's Gate and/or Knights of the Old Republic games.I did too, several times, before playing Torment.As such, I'll gear my review to this audience.

If you're looking for white-knuckled battles and powerful magic items, don't bother.That's not the point of Torment.The RPGs you've already played will sate your cravings.On the other hand, if you want an interactive graphic novel, you'll love this game.

The story is the centerpiece, and it's all to do with The Nameless One--your character.The game is a journey of discovery as Nameless slowly learns what he is.I never found an excitingly powerful weapon or suit of armor; I only found three fights in the entire game to be somewhat memorable--and even then, only because of who they were against, not because they required any great strategy.Yet I was consumed by the story.Without giving too much away, I can say that Nameless is caught between life and death, never truly experiencing either.Each dialog presents you with a variety of moral choices, making this a great game for pure roleplaying.On the downside, character creation is pretty inflexible.You set Nameless' stats, but everything else about him is predetermined.The story kind of requires it.

Fortunately, the story is a very well-written one, and the dialogue is sharp and clever.The graphics are 2D sprite-based, not 3D, so some players may feel as if they've been thrown back into the age of Super Nintendo--but not to worry.The environments are lush and deeply detailed, the characters are well-illustrated, and animations (such as spell effects) are interesting to watch even now.The user interface is rather clumsy and irritating, but the game is so dialogue-heavy that the UI isn't your primary concern.The sound and music are adequate--no more, no less.Given the copious amount of dialogue, it's a shame Black Isle didn't see fit to record more voice acting.Fans of Fallout, Baldur's Gate, and Knights of the Old Republic will recognize a few voices--and, I suspect, wish for more audio to properly convey these characters' emotions.

It is a small cast.In all, seven characters can join Nameless in his trek (as opposed to the 25 of Baldur's Gate).However, each character has his or her own unique set of sprites and animations, special items and talents, and backstory.KotOR fans are already familiar with a cast who have all been affected by the player character in some way--in that respect, this game is much the same.

To be completely honest, I think the concept of Planescape: Torment is better suited to a novel than a game.There is a novel, in fact, but the reviews are unimpressive.So play the game!

(Oh, and one more thing--crank Nameless' Intelligence way the hell up.Trust me.) ... Read more

Asin: B00002EPZ2
Subjects:  1. Fantasy (FRPG)    2. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D)    3. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Fallout 1 / Fallout 2 Bundle (Jewel Case)
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (29 December, 2000)
list price: $49.95
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Editorial Review

The science-fiction role-playing games Fallout and Fallout 2 have been bundled together for the complete post-nuclear-war game experience. In Fallout you are dwelling in a self-sufficient fallout shelter called Vault-13, three generations removed from the apocalyptic war. When your shelter's water filter breaks down, you are sent out into the unknown wasteland to find a replacement filter or a new source of fresh water. The Fallout adventure unfolds as a gritty tale of discovery, paranoia, and survival. Mature gamers are in for a classic role-playing game that has earned a cult following just as loyal as the fans of the Mad Max movies that inspired it.

Fallout 2 takes place 80 years after the events in the original game. You are the Chosen One, a tribal ancestor of Fallout's vault dweller. Your tribe has built a modest settlement in an isolated corner of the futuristic Californian wasteland, but you must find a Garden of Eden Creation Kit to sustain the village. During your adventure, you'll encounter misfits and monsters ranging from gangsters to supermutants. Twice as many weapons are at your disposal, including the M72 Gauss Rifle, M3A1 "Grease Gun" SMG, Louisville Slugger, H&K CAWS, and the Solar Scorcher. In addition, you can give your character combat postures such as berserk, aggressive, defensive, or cowardly.

Parents should be aware that the games contain violence and some sexual situations. Though you can adjust the tone down a bit through the main control panel, developments that occur on the adult setting are integral to the story. ... Read more

Features

Reviews (92)

A classic that still manages to entertain
I picked up the bundled jewel case as a cheap diversion for a weekend away from home visiting relatives. Rather than be taken hostage on a shopping trip that never ends, I snuck off to the store, found this little gem of a game, hid away with my laptop an opened a wickedly funny universe.

Both of these games are a blast. Many might find the graphics a bit dated, but the open-endedness is unfathomable. You really can do all those stupid things you always want to do in other CRPGs - steal cars, be bad, be good, be both. The campy humor kept me going into the wee hours of the night. I haven't played a game that kept me laughing this long in nearly a decade. The content is a tad on the mature side, particularly in Fallout 2, parents you were warned. It is a small wonder that this game developed a cult following, it is a place all its own. It will stick with you long after you abandon it.

Best PC classic EVER
If you are a fan of classic games, then you MUST have heard of fallout 2. A game where the word "limited" is not in your vocabulary. Do WHATEVER you want. steel, kill, help, save, marry, marry again, become addicted to drugs, become a sex star, this mature rated game has it all. Oh, and it has a great story too. One of the best RPGs period, and its sooooo cheap!

Dryman
both these games are great and very replayable. you can be either a good guy or bad' theres always more than one way to do things and there just both the most fun games ive ever played.Thay are funny and you can do just about anything you can think of to do like get marryed and devorced, smoke jet and get loaded,become a boxer and bite the other guys ear off,become a porn star,become a made man. Its endless how much they put into this game you can play it five times and not do everything possable. ... Read more

Asin: B00004ZBSX
Subjects:  1. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

System Shock 2
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

It's the future, of course, and you're stationed aboard the spaceship Van Braun, waiting for your first soldiering assignment. Luckily, the future resembles the best of science fiction from the last 10 years--something plucked from Blade Runner with pieces from the The Fifth Element (only with an AI-enabled computer/self-proclaimed goddess running the show).

The universe is run by unbelievably huge corporations, and in one of the biggest (TriOptimum), a hacker is breaking the rules. The result is SHODAN, a supercomputer whose beautiful, eerie face glimmers from the box's cover. The engine used for Thief: The Dark Project, ensures that System Shock 2 hums along on systems with the basic requirements.

With a superior plot and engaging, Asian-inspired aesthetics, System Shock 2 is a visceral, visual treat of a first-person role-playing game. All the devices that in theory seem stale and stupid come to life in this game. It's as if you could go back to the 1970s and take a vision of what the future would look like--and make it believable and cool. All the whirs and beeps and pulsing noises sound realistic. In addition, the designers have added in all the creepy elements we never wanted to have come true--such as the voiceovers that greet you when you're at the airport--only in this case, you're visiting the training sessions held by the United National Nominate.

Suffice it to say, the future of humankind is in your hands. With an excellent supporting cast and well-realized sci-fi visuals, System Shock 2 offers insight into an amazing new world order. --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Very good but hard, very hard.
Several things make this hybred shooter / RPG hard: First there aren't large piles of ammo available and most monsters only drop one bullet, shell, etc. You'll almost always be short of ammo, needing to resort to the default weapon, a wrench, especially on the early levels. You really will need to make every shot count. Additionally unlike most low ammo shooters, this game, while having some stealth elements is not stealth game. You sneak around some but there is the occasional large firefight you can't avoid. The last hard part is the slow rate that you acquire weapons and even after you find them, you can't carry them all. It'll take a long time to find and gain the skills to use better weapons and the limited inventory space means you'll be making some hard choices.

Not just a shooter, you find 'cybernetic modules' that you use to upgrade your abilities. Upgrades include the usual statistics (strength, agility, endurance, etc), weapon skills, psonic abilities and technical skills. The technical skills are the most important, you have repair and modify your weapons, research unknown items you find and hack into computers, security systems and other items. This hacking skill is most important skill you have. You won't enough modules for all the upgrades so choose wisely.

Aside from difficulty and RPG features the game provides a good story. Your path is fairly linear and there's a bit too much key collecting there are a couple plot twists.And while the space ship interior graphics are mundane, the sound design is excellent. You'll need a good speaker setup to hear things coming up behind you or in the distance ahead.

One disappointment: most monsters re-spawn. My preference has been to clear out an area and have it stay cleared.

I had no problems running this game on Windows 2000 although switching to the desktop caused a nVidia-based blue screen of death.

Best Ever, but...
This is my favorite PC game of all time. I've been playing since it's release (yep, I've got the original packaging and all). My only negative comment is not on the game itself but that it is almost a crime that no further games in this series were ever produced. I also have SS1 but unfortunately still have not gotten it to run correctly on modern PC's (damn DOS crap!). I still have not taken the wrench challenge on the highest level, too much dancing around with robots I guess..

Folks, this is as good as it gets.
I first played this game in Spring of 2003, by which time the graphics of this game were almost primitive. I stuck through the first few minutes to see what the game was like, and it wasn't long before I was sucked in to what is probably the best game I have ever played in my life. This game will scare you to death. It really makes me wonder why more games like this aren't made. Doom 3 actually took most of its style of play from this game. Its very much like Deus Ex, and in my opinion is actually superior. It has a superb storyline played out through emails and data logs with superb voice acting. The atmosphere will really sink into your skin, and when you hear the monsters hunting you down, you'll be ready to jump out of your skin! Be advised, this game is very difficult, and it takes time to get used to. It is not like a regular FPS, you simply don't have enough ammo to go around blasting everything you see. You have to be clever. Play this game, and you will not regret it. It's true that the later levels are somewhat dissapointing, but the game is still well worth it. Five Stars for this game. Oh, and make sure to check out the System Shock 2: Rebirth modification, which replaces some of the graphics with excellent high polygon versions. It really makes the game look ten times better! Just type the name System Shock 2 Rebirth into a search engine to find it. ... Read more

Asin: B00004XRBM
Subjects:  1. Science fiction (scifi sci-fi)    2. Shooters (Shooter)    3. systemshock2    4. two (II)    5. Action    6. Computer Games    7. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)    8. First person   

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Average Customer Review:
Game Cartridge
list price: $39.99
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Editorial Review

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time may be the greatest single-player video game ever created in any genre. It's that good. Those new to Nintendo's enormously popular Zelda series will be glad to know this game stands completely on its own. Our hero, Link, starts the game as a young boy living in a magical forest village populated by elf-like children. But there is evil lurking in the world. Strange monsters are appearing, and the land is changing. It's up to Link to discover why, defeat the monsters, and stop the evil at its source.

The game world's ever-changing environment looks like a fairy tale come to life. Majestic waterfalls, towering castles, and magical forests are a feast for the eyes and ears. Rivers flow, rain falls, the sun and moon rise and set. There's even an erupting volcano! Exploring this world is half the fun of the game. Along the way, you learn musical tunes that you can play on the flute-like Ocarina, a magical device that helps you teleport, alter the weather, even control time itself.

Character interaction is important to gather clues. The fairy princesses, singing frogs, and dragons you'll meet can be cute, humorous, or somewhat terrifying. Sprinkled liberally throughout the game are hundreds of secret treasures and enjoyable minigames (one of which, the fishing game, would almost be worth buying by itself). Game controls are easy to learn. There's even an elaborate fight training course built right into the game. Controlling the hero quickly becomes instinctive, and you can concentrate on saving the world. To win the game, you'll have to use not only Link's sword, but your mind as well. This game's challenging and inventive puzzles really make you think. In fact, to keep from getting stuck, it's worth spending a few bucks on an official player's guide. With The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo has come up with an all-consuming adventure title that will provide days of engrossing gameplay. --Eric Fredrickson

Pros:

• Best single-player video game
• Freedom to explore a rich, complex world
• Helpful fairy guide gives hints
• Charming, humorous, lighthearted, yet challenging

Cons:

• Some puzzles can be frustrating
• Only one saved game per player--don't save when you're stuck!
• Much more fun with Rumble Pack

... Read more

Features

• Variety of items and secrets
• Fully 3-D rendered graphics
• Clear background music and detailed sound effects
• Highly interactive environment

Reviews (832)

What a revolutionary LoZ game
The most recent LoZ games, in my opinion, have all been fairly average.Wind Waker was the latest actually good LoZ game.But of all the LoZ games, OoT is just plain incredible.

In this game, you play as Link as he grows from a child into a young man while on his quest to defeat Ganon and save the world from ultimate, evil rule.Along the way, you meet many friends and face amazing boss battles.

The graphics (at the time) were just incredible.It really made me enjoy looking at and playing the game.Nintendo really did a great job in this department.

The gameplay is like no other.One of the few incredible games to utilize the C Buttons for vital controls, this game felt really comfortable to play, and there's tons to do in the game besides just beating it.Also, throughout the game, you are forced to travel back and forth through time and play as Young or Adult Link to complete the game, which is awe-inspiring in my opinion.Sadly, after doing little everything, there's no addictive mini-games to really play and not much else to do, but go through the game again and again.

The sound is incredible, and the music has never been better.I found myself turning the volume on the TV all the way up while playing this game, because the sound was that good!

If you're an avid gamer, yet you've never played this game, then something's really wrong with you.Pick this game up and play it 'till your fingers fall off (which I guarantee you'll do).This game is worth buying and owning for as long as you even are alive.

An epic classic! Still the greatest game to roam the Earth!!
A long time ago... in the unevolved time of 1985, a video game company emerged on the scene, known as Nintendo... And from a classic platform (genre) named Mario came a new series: The Legend of Zelda....

I love this game so much, I have to play almost all the time. This is THE greatest game to walk the planet. Or roam. Or kill the other video games. Any are true. This classic is the first 3D legend of zelda, and is still an amazing game to date.

Well, if it's such a great game, why's it so good? What makes it good? Here's a fork in the road where opinions split into multiple directions, but personally, I think the freedom of galloping on horseback on a wide, open, orange-green field, courtesy of the setting sun. This is just awesome for me. I never understood the game when I was young, but now I know all the characters, and all the dungeons. Or the whole game. Whatever. Off topic.

Another great thing is the ever-changing environment. In the night, things get noticably unsafer than in the day, just like reality. The gate to the town closes so you have to battle these skull things that rise up out of the ground. The sun sets and rises every few minutes, (which is kinda scary, in 5 minutes it becomes night), and the moon appears when it's nighttime.

Now the BESTEST thing is the interactiveness, and more importantly, the side quests. The Oot is an eploring RPG, so you don't HAVE to do what the plot tells you to do. There are TONS of mini-games to do. One, you can go fishing. Yes, you heard me correctly, F-I-S-H-I-N-G. How cool is that? There's also archery shootouts, on-horseback shootouts, and even a treasure chest game.

There are tons of things you can do in this game. One nice thing is that the game jumps for you, so it's easier to do things. You can swim and ride on a horse. Oh yes, and dive.

The plot is swirling and amazing, truly spectacular. This is THE best storyline I've ever seen in a videogame besides the Windwaker, which is as good, if not better than the Oot, but I'm preferable to the Majora's Mask. I'm not gonna tell you the story, so I don't spoil the excitement of learning what you have to do.

ALL IN ALL, I think the Oot is a must-have game for any N64 or Gamecube owner. It's the revolutionary classic. Once you play the game, that's when you'll realize. If you realize it's the greatest game you've ever played, rock on. If you think it sucks, go to hell.

Why can't there be more games like this one!?!
This is the best game I have ever played.It has very good music,grapics,and the story is great!I really love this game,but the only really big problem with this game is that it has this one(long and boring)temple that is very hard,and(please)don't take this game lightly,the bosses are hard,but the story is so good that you will want to play this game again and again!But the other Zelda games are lame!So only (if you want to)buy this game and maybe 'the legend Zelda A link to the past'. PROS:the story is great,It's a fun game,and the great fairys(Fairys that will power you up and give you new weapons) are easy to find.CONS:switching around the camera is a little bit hard,and finding the goldskull tokens(gold coin like tokens that you win from beating spider monsters)is easy at the beginning of the game but hard at the end.This is a great game,so I would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy games,I would also recommend'final fantasyI&II dawn of souls'and'The legend of zelda:the wind waker'. ... Read more

Asin: B00000DMB3
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Role Playing Games    3. Nintendo 64 (Nintendo64)    4. N64    5. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)   

Icewind Dale
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (30 June, 2000)
list price: $54.95
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Editorial Review

Icewind Dale intentionally avoids a sophisticated role-playing-game plot in favor of classic Advanced Dungeons & Dragons dungeoneering. Thegame is set in the frigid corner of the Forgotten Realms made famous by authorR.A. Salvatore's novels. Manyfantasy fans will be familiar with the popular setting, but this time you get tocreate the heroes, and the adventures are your own.

Veterans of Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment will findBioWare's Infinity game engine instantly recognizable and usable. AD&D fanswill be pleased with the interpretation of AD&D 2nd Edition rules. With afew exceptions (no kits, no Drow player characters, no two-weapon fighting), youcan assume that if it's in the rule books it's in Icewind Dale.

Players can create six characters from standard AD&D 2nd Edition races andclasses as they set off to find an ancient evil buried in the Spine of theWorld. Combat occurs in real time (no turns), but the action can be paused atany time in order to issue new orders, prepare spells, or respond to a newthreat. The designers keep combat fast by allowing players to assign anartificial-intelligence combat script to individual characters. Your party canencounter a minor monster, fire arrows as it approaches, attack it with fighterswhen it gets close, and then get healed by the cleric when the fighting is done--all without your intervention.

Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment kept players hooked with anengrossing story line and, in the case of Planescape, excellent writing.Specifically designed as a more action-oriented "hack and slash" RPG, IcewindDale relies on combat and character advancement as its own reward. While itlacks the random dungeons and incredible magic items of Diablo, the highexperience point cap and the ability to create all six of your party membersmake Icewind Dale a worthy addition to any AD&D fan's game library.--Michael Fehlauer

Pros:

• Ability to create your entire party
• Slick computer game conversion of AD&D 2nd Edition rules
• Faithful re-creation of the Icewind Dale region as detailed by TSR and R.A.Salvatore
• High experience point cap lets players wield tremendous power--and faceequally powerful foes

Cons:

• Interface takes up too much of screen
• Little replay value

... Read more

Features

Reviews (93)

TOTALLY AMAZING GAME!!!
Icewind Dale has to be one of the BEST computer RPG games of all time!It has everything one looks for in such a game; from an incredible setting, to a highly original plot, to excellent multiple roleplaying options, to outstanding graphics, to extraordinary accuracy in relation to Dungeons & Dragons, and much, much more!
There is something here for everyone as the variety of challenges is large indeed, including battles, puzzle solving, and dialogue among others.

The game is set on Toril and specifically in Faerun.It deals with a great evil that has arisen and descended upon the region bringing the people misery and despair.
The story as a whole is excellent!The plot is so incredibly well written and presented that the gamer feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense.Moreover, the game does a great job of presenting the distinct cultures and civilizations of the inhabitants/peoples of Fearun, and Icewind Dale in particular.This has, without a doubt, been achieved as a result of a great deal of research that has gone into learning and understanding the numerous and often complex characteristics of the Forgotten Realms world.

Strongly recommended along with the Baldur's Gate series and Planescape: Torment.
Trust me, you will not regret it!

Grrrrrr-eat!
This game is awesome! The battles are so realistic! And the violence...Heh heh heh! I would recommend this game to anyone! It is the greatest role-playing game I've ever played!

Descent
After playing threw the entire game, on and off, in three weeks, I can say the game is...descent. I started off with one character thinking it was like my fav Baldur's Gate. But no you don't pick up new party members. So of course I played threw half the game till I hit Chapter three (realizing I couldn't beat the boss of this chapter with only one character (a high lvl ranger). I had to start completely over and make another party and get them ready to import to that boss battle. In a shorter note it would've been nice to have computer characters join your party.

The fact that all of your decisions are useless in dialogs. Nothing really changes the story it only changes the amout of exp that it returns. Aside from my dislikes of the game. I really enjoyed some of the interesting weapons and even if you didn't like the ICewind Dale you should get it with the Heart of Winter set to start with and it will improve your game play immediately...then again...if you haven't played Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2 screw this game and get those...excellent pieces of work. Oh yes and the Hearts of Winter game definately had some sound problems that i can't get worked out (it hums very loudly when it loads up..i've no clue what's with it but it looks promising if i get it working) ... Read more

Asin: B00004KHB3
Subjects:  1. Fantasy (FRPG)    2. Advanced Dungeons Dragons (AD&D D&D)    3. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Deus Ex
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (23 June, 2000)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Deus Ex combines so many of the elements found in otheraction-adventure titles that it's almost like getting several games for the price ofone. You slip into the trench coat of J.C. Denton, an operative with the topsecret UNATCO antiterrorist organization. Denton's body and mind have beenaugmented with nanotech implants that help him fight, think, and sneak his waythrough a completely interactive world filled with intrigue, conspiracies, andencounters withother characters. The plot is ripped straight outof a bad X-Files episode, but the decent cutscenes and complex mission environmentskept us coming back for more.

Deus Ex's real achievement is that players are free to complete missionsas they see fit. As the game progresses you can upgrade your character with avariety of bioenhancements that dramatically impact gameplay. Focus on yourcombat skills and you'll be the Terminator by the end of the game. Upgrade yourcomputer know-how and you'll be the equivalent of Data from Star Trek:TNG, busting into computer and security networks with ease. We wereexpecting a game that let us role-play a little, opting for a brute-forceapproach or one that required a little more stealth, but we had no idea thedesigners would do such a fine job of pulling it off. The experiences of bothmethods are unusual enough that we found ourselves revisiting level to trydifferent tactics.

The individual components of Deus Ex--like the targeting system,inventory controls, and enemy viewing radiuses--are a little clunky when viewedindividually, but they converge into an overall game that is much greater thanthe sum of its parts. It's easy to compare the game to titles that obviouslyinfluenced it (Thief, System Shock, and RainbowSix immediately come to mind), but Deus Ex really stands on its own asa unique title that should appeal equally to action games, adventure lovers, androle-playing fanatics. It's just too bad players without a Voodoo card will havea hard time gettingplayable frame rates, since the game uses theDirect3D-unfriendly Unreal engine. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Several ways to complete each mission, and all are equally fun
• Game world is highly interactive, and exploration is rewarded
• Ability to tailor a character to match your gameplay style is a huge plus

Cons:

• Doesn't run well on non-Voodoo video cards since the game is optimized forGlide 3-D rendering
• Most of the voice acting is bad
• Enemies aren't very smart

... Read more

Reviews (184)

A Spellbinding Classic
There is nothing else quite like Deus Ex.

I have a long history with video games, but have never encountered such a detailed, immersive experience as this. The player is thrust into a palpable, decaying technological society of the near future. It's a dark world where secret conspiracies spin incredibly plausible schemes for world domination, where a plague is ravaging the populace, and where fear is cunningly manipulated to further terrifying power-grabs. Deus Ex is a classic for many reasons, but this latter point is as prophetic and well-executed as any warnings handed down to us from Orwell.

I won't recount the vast, epic storyline of this remarkable game. Suffice to say these are the points that make it a must-have, must-play, and rightly deem it a classic video game.

1. The amount of exploring that can be done throughout the awesomely-rendered settings of New York, Hong Kong, Paris, and other locales is amazing. Each is highly atmospheric and immersive... from the rotting catacombs below Paris to a futuristic Hong Kong district to an abandoned fortress once belonging to the Knights Templar.

2. Actions have consequences. This is a highly intelligent game, demanding that characters do more than shoot at everything that moves. You can play through many times and each will be different, depending on things you choose to do or say.

3. This is storytelling at its best. An ingenius hybrid of conspiracy theories, technological innovations, philosophy, political theory, and sheer imagination makes for the most rewarding video game experience I've ever encountered.

4. The sweeping cast of characters is memorable, well-acted, and unique.

5. The attention to detail is unsurpassed. Everywhere you go there are books, newspapers, datacubes, emails, and messages that can be snooped into. Sure, they can be ignored easily enough, but it is fascinating to pay attention to them because they each spin ongoing, miniature story-arcs. Again, this has little to do with the story-at-large, but as you proceed with the main tale you can keep abreast of the unfolding events of this futuristic universe, read succeeding chapters of in-game novels, learn relationship dynamics between minor (and sometimes unseen) characters.

6. A combination of many game genres is to be found here: stealth, exploration, FPS, roleplaying, etc.

My first time playing Deus Ex still burns vividly in my mind years after playing it, and it possesses an addictive quality for all the reasons listed above and many other ones that can't be articulated. I still play through it once a year, like returning to a favorite book or film.

Naysayers may point out that the game's graphics are dark and grainy. Graphics do not make a game, and I found them appropriate enough in the context of the future this game creates.

This is the kind of game that should be saved, and relished, by generations now and to come.

Four years on...and STILL at the top of it's game!
Combining aspects of both FPS and RPG (First Person Shooter and Role Playing Games), Deus Ex promises a genuine gaming experience like no other, but let's face it; the game is now outdated in practically ever technological aspect. The graphics are showing their age, the sounds don't have the quality compared to newer titles, and the engine is almost redundant. Now you might say, "Yeah, without a doubt!" - But there is something in the game that to masses changed their perspective of gaming when it was released. Some spark, some hint of ecstasy that brought the game out into the open, and inspired a generation.

No doubt many of you have played the latest and greatest of gaming technology. Titles that made you drool over the astonishing graphics, map design, physics systems...but as you sat down and glued yourself to the monitor, you began to realise that it lacked the ability to immerse you into its environment, storyline and overall game play. Very soon it became `just another game' that promised everything, but delivered nothing but poor results, and frankly, was just another mediocre game packaged into impressive visuals.

However what Deus Ex now lacks in visual `eye-candy' it more than makes up in game play. It has the undeniable ability to draw the player into its chaotic world and immerse them deep within the corruption. The fact that your actions reflected the outcome of a situation or even the entire, game allowed us to think long and hard about what we really desired to achieve; and also questioned our very own morals - AND for four years it has continuously captivated me personally.
Few games have ever had the capacity to bring about such empathy and judgment in casual and hardcore gamers alike - and is becoming clear that it's something we are lacking in the gaming industry; INSPIRATION. What Ion Storm created was nothing other than a masterpiece, pure and simple. Regretfully the studio has now collapsed, and so their work has become but cherished memories of a company striving to become something more than just `average'. They yearned for remarkable results, and hence in my opinion they have triumphed!

Deus Ex will forever be the landmark of gaming brilliance, and I so I only hope that the reader of this review not blindly take my word for it, but download the demos - experience the game for yourself! There are copies of both the original and GOTY Edition (Game Of The Year) still lingering about; I should know - I only just purchased a NEW copy the other day. So do yourself a favour; if you haven't yet experienced the genius that is Deus Ex, or are looking to rekindle the old flame, DO IT! You won't regret the decision!

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. ... Read more

Asin: B00003OPES
Subjects:  1. Science fiction (scifi sci fi)    2. Desuex    3. First Person    4. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Final Fantasy VII
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (27 March, 2000)
list price: $19.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Long recognized as role-playing games par excellence, the FinalFantasy series gets a technological makeover in this installment (and seriesdebut on the PlayStation). Shedding the two-dimensional graphics and limitedsound capabilities of its predecessors, Final Fantasy VII features lush3-D graphics, beautifully animated "movie" sequences, and soundtrack-qualitymusic. Coupled with the game's intricate storyline, endearing characters, andimmense yet highly imaginative world, these new advancements make for a quite anengrossing experience.

The story of Final Fantasy VII centers around a solider named CloudStrife, who joins forces with Avalanche, a group of resistance fighters, to takedown an evil mega-corporation known as Shinra. (The fate of the world hangs inthe balance, of course.) Truly epic in scope, this four-disc game requires aconsiderable amount of time to complete---this reviewer gladly gave up over 80hours of his life to finish it. But it's definitely a rewarding adventure thatevery PlayStation owner should consider undertaking, especially since it's nowone of the low-priced "Greatest Hits" titles. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Intricate and absorbing storyline with endearing characters
• Immense and highly imaginative game world
• Special battle system
• Beautifully animated movie sequences

Cons:

• Your friends and family may feel neglected

... Read more

Features

• Join AVALANCHE, an organization sworn to put an end to Shinra corporation's destructive practices
• Move around the world using flying vehicles, submarines, and Chocobos
• Fill the Limit gauge to perform each character's special attack
• Play 7 mini-games, from arcade-type to betting
• For 1 player

Reviews (1073)

Not as top notch as the other FF's!
To sum things up, FF VII is a good game, but I find it is overrated.When it was released in the late 1990's it set the standard for graphics not only for RPG's, but for all video games from there on out.But in terms of the game itself, it leaves some things to be desired.

The characters for example, were not as well developed as they should have been.The lead character, Cloud, got about 80% of the character development, while the others only small bits are known about them.But I will say that each character does have his or her own unique personality so this area may not bother players too much.

The music in FF VII unfortunately, was horrible in my opinion.Especially when compared to other Square titles such as Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, and even Final Fantasy IV (which is well over 10 years old).The battle music was good, but the rest was flat and uncreative, especially the music on the world map.Those of us who are familliar with the work of Square had expected much better in this department.

The game play was good.The materia system was a nice touch that added variety to the basic magic-using RPG.Basically, every character in the game can use spells, but they have to equip a materia onto their armor or weapon, and gain points through battles to learn each spell the materia has to offer.The only downside is that once the materia has been unequiped, the spell(s) go with it.But nonetheless, the materia system had breathed new life into the RPG world of magic-using.

You also have side quests, secret/hidden items and weapons, and secret characters just like most RPG's.The graphics are good, although the characters look very polygonized in their smaller forms.The CG scenes are beautiful.This is one area Square always dominates.They did a great job with those in FF VII.

It saddens me to give this game only 3 out of 5, but I must be honest.I love RPG's, especially the classics from Square, but I just don't think that FF VII deserves to be up there with CT, FF IV, and FF VI.Even the ending of FF VII was disappointing, because they did no follow-up on the characters.It's a good game overall, but it had the potential to be great.

:)
best characters and storyline iv ever played....plot twists..great character development..this game does everything right.. Cloud:the main character is a bad ass, manley man..despite the fatc it probaly takes him 3 hours in the morning to do his hair..but hes cool none the less..barret: a black guy who is also manley and has a really bad temper...tifa:huge boobies, wears short shorts and is probaly really pretty if the graphics were better..oh and shes nice and obviously wants to get into clouds pants...aeris: a good girl who probaly shouldnt stand under balconys or anything somebody can jump on top of her... cid: foulmouth badass...this game has a lot of bad asses...red XIII: plays the role of the wise old man...though hes not a man and techinically in his years hes onky a teenager

GET THIS GAME...ull love it...if u like rpgs ull love this game and follow it like a religion

"I don't care where, Cloud, Just stop it!"
I love this game. It is absolutely THE BEST vg i have ever played.

Follow the life of Cloud Strife, an ex-soldier who joins AVALANCHE, a club who is full of crime fighting agents such as Tifa, Barret and Yuffie. One time on a dangerous mission, he meets Aeris, a flower girl from the slums.they THEN set out on an adventure to defeat Shinra! ... Read more

Asin: B00000JRSB
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Role Playing Games    3. Fantasy    4. Sony Playstation (Play station)    5. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    6. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)    7. Adventure   

Ultima Collection
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The long-running Ultima series is one of the belovedfoundations of the computer game industry. You can see for yourselfjust how great the older games are with the Ultima Collection,which contains everything from the original game to Ultima 8:Pagan.

Bad as the graphics in the early games are, they are still some of themost fun role-playing titles we've ever experienced. We were shockedthat something created more than 20 years ago was still eminentlyplayable and highly addictive. Things just kept getting better as weprogressed through the later games in the series, which peaked withThe Complete Ultima 7. Origin went all out with these titles tocreate living, breathing worlds that were completely interactive. Fromhunting for food to dealing with the passage of night and day, playersalways have something to do.

What makes the Ultima games so great is that their overarchingstories never get in the way of the players' freedom to explore andplay the games the way they want to. Players can interact withpractically every object in the game universe, from monsters to fryingpans to chairs to other characters roaming the streets. There's alwaysso much to see and do that the main goal can seem like a secondaryconsideration at times, and even Ultima 1 managed to maintainour full attention from the moment we created our character. If youwant to see a terrific example of how timeless great game engines canbe, grab a copy of the Ultima Collection. It's an outrageousbargain for those who value gameplay over graphics. --T. ByrlBaker

Pros:

• 10 Ultima games in one box at a low price
• Tons of addictive gameplay if you can suffer through the primitivegraphics

Cons:

• Hard to get these games running unless you have a lot of computerexperience (lack of printed manuals doesn't help)

... Read more

Reviews (30)

Ultima is the best overall RPG series ever made.
Ultima 7 (both Black Gate and Serpent Isle) is definitely the best of the series, having the best story and the most interactive world. 4, 5, 6, and 8 are great also. You also get 1, 2, and 3 in this collection, but they're really not worth playing. If you love RPGs, and you've never played any of these games before, you're missing out!

Great historical packing of the RPG classics
I first got in to Ultima thanks to my dad buying Ultima III: Exodus for a then-newly bought Atari 800XL back in 1985. Remembering this was the 1980s, I got hooked on the game rather quickly, and in 1986, I was able get Ultima IV for the same computer and found it even more challenging. After that, I wasn't able to get any more Ultimas, mainly bacause Ultima IV was the final Ultima made available on the Atari 8-bit, and I never was able to get the first two. Far more recently (in 2004)bought the Ultima Collection CD package and I am not one bit disappointed. It's nice they included a player reference card for all the games included, so you know the commands, how to read runes, answers to questions someone might ask you on Ultima VI, VII: The Black Gate and VII: Serpent Isle, and other important tips. My complaint is they forgot to mention the abilities (like strength, dexterity, intelligence, wisdom, etc.) of the humans, fuzzies, elvies, dwarves, etc. on Ultima III like the original packaging did. They also included an Ultima atlas for all eight of the Ultimas, although Ultima II would be easiest to find things since it was set right here on Earth. There is one drawback, and that Ultima III and IV both lack music on this version (III had music for the Atari 8-bit, IV didn't, although music was featured on the Commodore C-64 version). Ultima III, if you were lucky to own the Atari 400/800/XL/XE or the Commodore 64, was the very first Ultima to introduce music, so it's a bit strange to not hear music when you play this PC collection. For those raised on PC games of the 1990s and 2000s, many will be turned off by the crude graphics. Ultima II and III particularly show their age (Ultima I included here is not the original from 1980, but the 1986 remake from Origin in which the graphics were updated to Ultima IV standards). But if you grown up in the 1980s, like myself, the graphics will come as no surprise. Ultima I and II don't take very long to win. In fact on Ultima II, it isn't even necessary to explore dungeons or towers to win, or even visit every planet (although it's nice to, because there are more towns and castles to explore, but there is one planet that is a must to visit in order to win). Dungeons on Ultima I, however, are crucial to winning the game, especially if a king from a certain castle tells you to kill a certain creature (like a liche, balron, gelatinous cube, etc.). Ultima III was the first to include a multi-player party system (up to four players), plus a maximum hit point system (where you need to go to a healer to heal), and a separate battle scene. Ultima IV featured better graphics because you don't get cyan and magenta vegetation and water, and this was the very first Ultima you don't kill an evil ruler (like Mondain, Minax, or Exodus) to win. Ultima V-VII continue to use the same Britannia, with each of the series becoming more realistic (V introducing the day and night cycle, for example, and VI and onward featuring more 16-bit Super NES style graphics). Ultima VIII had been the most reviled of the series, many named it "Super Avatar Brothers" because of needing to hop over platforms to go places. To me, the game isn't bad and the graphics are stunning, for 1994 standards. Ultima VIII was the first Ultima since II to feature only a single player. There are drawbacks to this collection. You must run any Ultima after VI through MS-DOS. Mo-Slo, which is luckily included, is needed for all the Ultimas except VIII, and depending on your system, even Mo-Slo won't work right, as it might end up being a bit choppy. Ultima II works best if you download a program to make it more Windows-friendly. Akalabeth, the 1979 precursor to Ultima is also included in this package. Luckily they made this program PC and Windows friendly, no need for Mo-Slo here. Basically Akalabeth is only a historical curiosity, there don't seem to be much here except go in dungeons and kill monsters, particularly the ones Lord British tells you to kill. Anyway, despite a few drawbacks, and if you're feeling a bit nostalgic for your childhood days of playing Ultima, or if you're an Ultima fan with a curiosity about the game's history, this is the collection to get.

There is an easy way to run Ultima VII
If you look up Exult on the internet, you will find a platform designed specifically to run Ultima VII and Serpent Isle.

I just found at sourceforge.net a way to run Ultima VIII but I haven't tried it yet.Can't wait!

I LOVE these games.They really are in depth and entertaining.I spent forever playing Ultima VI on my old 386 computer, never finishing it!!! Now I can finish it on my new Dell.=) ... Read more

Asin: B000028U20
Subjects:  1. Fantasy (FRPG)    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 I II III IV V VI VII VIII    3. Akalabeth First Age Darkness, Revenge Enchantress, Exodus    4. Quest Avatar, Warriors of Destiny, False Prophet    5. Black Gate, Serpent Isle, Pagan    6. Computer Games    7. Collections (Collections)    8. Bundle (Bundles)    9. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

EverQuest (Jewel Case)
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (08 April, 2001)
list price: $9.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Taking the standard conventions of a Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game--suchas character creation, monster combat, special abilities, and spells--and combiningthem with a persistent and always changing online virtual world, Sony Interactive'sEverQuest creates an experience like no single-player personal computer game.In fact, EverQuest features no solo or story-oriented game; EverQuestrequires, and certainly encourages, interaction with the tens of thousands of otherplayers online. (As an online-only game, EverQuest requires the use of yourInternet connection.)

Players begin by creating their EverQuest alter ego. Elements such as race(12 in all, including Dwarf, Ogre, Troll, Halfling, Gnome, Barbarian, Dark Elf, Human)and class (14 in all, including Bard, Magician, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Warrior, Wizard)determine your character's statistics and special abilities. For instance, the Warriorclass of any race is inherently strong, though the Warriors of the Troll race are muchstronger than, say, the Warriors of the Halfling race. Other races and classes favorintelligence or dexterity. Players can also customize their character's clothing,face, and name to further personalize their alter ego.

Vibrant graphics (particularly spell effects) and crisp monster and player modelsbring the EverQuest world to life. Game play consists primarily of combatagainst dozens of different creatures; defeating the varied beasts of EverQuestearns your character both coins (for the purchase of better equipment) and experiencepoints (for improving skills, abilities, and power).

There's plenty of satisfaction in watching your virtual alter ego gain experience,power, and wealth. Though it takes an enormous amount of time to improve your character,EverQuest's addictive, easy-to-learn game play makes the effort worthwhile.

EverQuest's sense of community shines in the quests and battles you'll partakewith other players. Taking on the more powerful monsters alone is suicide. But team upwith a Troll player in Chicago and a Wizard player from Seattle, and you've got amonster-stomping gang sure to earn everyone fame, fortune, and friends. It's thesense of trust and teamwork that creates EverQuest's most endearing quality--andits most stressful: you never know if that Cleric you picked up in the local tavern isa talented healer or a worthless coward until you're mixing it up with a group of Minotaurs.

Most players find EverQuest's community atmosphere its best quality. Speaking withand questing alongside the thousands of players online provides good gaming, interestingconversation, and perhaps even real friendships. Verant Interactive listens to thecommunity of gamers and constantly updates and changes the EverQuest world.Filled with monsters, dungeons, and fabulous treasure, and supported by an activedeveloper and fan community, EverQuest is sure to live up to its name. Playerswill be adventuring in this rich online world for many years to come. --Doug Radcliffe

Pros:

• Sharp 3-D graphics
• Easy-to-learn game play
• Excellent sense of community
• Well-balanced and varied mix of race and class

Cons:

• Monthly fee (approximately $10 for unlimited use)
• Improving your character requires a serious time investment

EverQuest is a multiplayer online game you play via the Internet. A stable Internet connection is required to play. Sony Online Entertainment charges a small monthly fee for this game, separate from your Internet service provider access charges. The first month of this fee is included in the purchase price of this package. You must provide a valid credit card to register and play. After your first month, you can use your credit card to buy more time.

... Read more

Reviews (37)

something they wont tell you
You can get the classic edition of EverQuest at everquest.com the only the you need to do is create an account and your on your way to the most exiteing game of them all if you like RPGs then this is the one for you.

The first of it's kind
Everquest is a name which is in every online player's vocabulary.It is a game which revolutionized online gaming, and has made an impact on many people who haved played it.The imaginary world of Norrath is full of creatures that are waiting for you.Sounds great, but it really isn't as fun as many people make it out to be.First of all, you have to start by being a "newbie", which is basically having all of the higher levels laugh at you, and they will get their laughs out of you any way they can.Another bad thing about being a newbie is that you can only kill a few animals, which gets old real fast.

Now, don't get me wrong, this is a fun game.The characters are really diverse, and the people controlling them are extremely diverse.Some people really try to play this game.Some people just run around making it a horrible exprience for other gamers.I have had experience doing both, and they are both equally fun.Another good thing about this game are the settings.No two zones look alike, and the starting points for each race are extremelly different.The halflings will start out in a forest, while the Barbarians will start out in a snowy region.

Overall, this game is fun, but it really isn't worth your ten bucks a month, and it definetly isn't worth your life.

Wow, this is awesome
I loved this game and I think that iff u have the money u should get it. It is a nice exploration, interaction, Role-Playing Game. I really liked it and still do. This has to be the best MMORPG out there. (...)I loved it. ... Read more

Asin: B000059HVQ
Subjects:  1. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)   

Chrono Cross
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Chrono Cross, the sequel to the Super Nintendo classicChrono Trigger, turns out to be well worth the wait. Taking off20 years after the first game, Chrono Cross follows a boy namedSerge across parallel worlds--both the world in which he lives and onein which he drowned 10 years earlier.

Chrono Cross will wow players with beautiful prerendered graphicsand a unique battle system. Elements replace magic and items in battle,and using the same element three times in a row will ultimately increaseyour power. In addition to using elements, the accuracy of physicalattacks is determined by probability, with easier-to-land weak attackssetting up fierce blows.

The plot, while a bit slow to develop, is full of interestingcharacters. Players will need to travel between the two worlds toadvance the plot. While many of these areas will initially appear tolook similar, you'll find them to be quite different upon closerexamination of the details. For instance, a plant that is extinct in oneworld thrives in the other.

My only qualm with Chrono Cross is that, despite the complexitiesof the battle system, veterans will have an easy time with earlybattles. Still, there's much to like about this SquareSoft epic.--Robb Guido

Pros:

• Lavish, vibrantly colored graphics
• Unique battle system involving elements and casting awayrole-playing clichés like experience and magic points

Cons:

• Easy battles due to powerful offensive and cure elements
• For hours, players will be saying, "Get to the time travel stuff"

... Read more

Reviews (293)

Chrono Cross -- On its own
When I purchased this game, I had no idea that it was a sequel, and had never played the first game, Chrono Trigger. I really can't say how well Chrono Cross stands up as a sequel, but as a game on its own, it gets 3 stars from me.

Good things about Chrono Cross are the graphics (very nice, including the movie sections), the character designs (there are dozens of characters, and each one's look has been well thought out), and the music (even the world map music is good).

The gameplay is mostly fun, though the battles drag on and on when you start the game and don't have high-leveled characters. Once you get the hang of the battle system and have some good spells and characters to use, they become far less repetitive.

There are definately some bad things about Chrono Cross as well. Having never played Chrono Trigger, the plot made absolutely no sense whatsoever to me. This made it even more difficult to figure out what I was trying to do. At times, I had to wander aimlessly because the game wasn't clear what I was trying to accomplish at that point. Another low point of the game is the number of characters (40+). I got the feeling that the point of the game was not to try to save the world, but to see how many characters you can collect. Which brings me to my last gripe. You're expected to beat the game more than once (preferably at least 3 times all the way through). There are other events that you can trigger to happen and other plots which can unfold by choosing other paths, but honestly, I didn't feel the game was worth wasting another forty hours to beat just to get all 40 characters and seeing a different ending, especially when the original ending was so weak.

Overall, if you've never played Chrono Trigger, expect to be lost a lot. It does have its moments, but for the number of hours required to beat it, you're better off looking for something else.

Chrono Cross Versus Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross is a game that you'll either love or hate.Your opinion is based largely on whether you view the game as the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which is a somewhat controversial issue as the game description states that it is while a game producer, during an interview, said that it's not.

One aspect of the game many find repulsive is that there are 40+ characters, resulting in shallow storylines and 9 or 10 lines on average per character throughout the game.The flip side is that you get to experiment and combine very different characters to form a team that you want.If you enjoyed the intimate friendly party in CT, you'll find that lost in CC.

In terms of storyline, CC does a good job of creating a story that is complex but makes sense at the same time.However, as mentioned above, if you're hoping for a continuation from Chrono Trigger, you'll once again be disappointed as none of the characters from CT are playable in CC.In fact, at least one character from CT meets a tragic end, which throws out the happy ending in CT.In terms of continuation, the plot does follow CT well minus the fact that Schala from CT looks completely different in CC (No wonder Magus couldn't find her!)

Anyway, Chrono Cross is a great game if you view it alone and avoid comparing it with the classic Chrono Trigger.The storylines take on a more complicated poetic tone and the characters system is largely different.These, however, still work in this new game.I would highly recommend Chrono Cross to those who have not overly idolized Chrono Trigger and were hoping for a Chrono Trigger clone on Playstation.

Happy gaming!

(...)

Its no Chrono Trigger...but still an amazing, beautiful game
I finally played this game recently, quite a few years after it's release. At first I had serious doubts about it, as there seemed little connection to Chrono Trigger (which I am a big fan of), and the gameplay and story just didn't seem to be nearly as good. However, once I gave it a chance I really started getting into it.
I think one of the big downfalls of this game is that it is a sequel to such a phenomenal old SNES game, and everyone wanted it to be as good or better, which would have been a hard thing to achieve. In it's own right, this is an amazing game, regardless of it being a sequel or not.
It is a true sequel, and the story does tie in directly to the events in Chrono Trigger, however, that's about it...the story. If you want to see the characters or environments of Chrono Trigger, you're out of luck, as this game has all different characters and takes place in the El Nido archipelago, in the same world as Chrono Trigger but never explored in that game.
The other thing this game has in relation to Chrono Trigger is just the over all feel of the game...you can tell the same people made it.
The graphics of the game are incredibly beautiful, and though already quite dated, they still stand up well (they are comparable to say...Final Fantasy IX). The environments range from beautiful tropical regions to complex castles and dungeons, and all areas are very well thought out, fun to explore, and interesting. I'm glad they kept the overland map the same as in Chrono Trigger, making it fast and easy to get around. The music is wonderful as well, and while I would have liked to have heard a few more Chrono Trigger classics, I really can't complain...the music is beautiful and very well done.
The story is twisting and complex, and it's actually quite hard to keep straight what's going on sometimes and what world you are in, as the game takes place in two different dimensions of the same world as opposed to different time periods. The two different dimensions are very similar and it can be hard to keep straight what world you are in. Still, the story was very good, keeps you involved, and does end up having a lot of direct and very interesting tie-ins to Chrono Trigger. There is also a plethora of characters (near 40, I think), almost all of which have there own mini-stories.
That was one aspect of the game I have mixed feelings about. On one hand it's great and interesting to have so many unique characters to be able to use, each with their own unique abilities and personalities. But on the other hand, having so many characters makes it hard to really get into them, their stories end up being rather shallow, and you can never really power all of them up. You'll likely end up with a couple favorites of every color attribute that you use most often, which really isn't bad. Overall, they did a good job with the characters, and I like the system they used.
The gameplay is very fun, and although it is in most ways straight forward RPG, they do throw in some interesting twists to combat. Overall quite enjoyable.
There is an almost infinite amount of secret tidbits to unlock, so much that it would almost be impossible to find them all without the strategy guide. The direction of the game can change depending on choices you make, and conversations are always different depending on who is in your party. The game is incredibly open ended, and has multiple endings as well. This coupled with the fact that it has a new game + feature gives it incredible replay value. I just beat it the first time and I'm already replaying it again with all of my equipment, elements, and experience from the first play through to try and get a different ending.
Overall, I give this game five stars. It has excellent story, dialogue, graphics, sound, characters, and gameplay...every thing about it is great and it is a world you'll want to get lost in again and again. Alas, it is no Chrono Trigger, and a large part of me wishes they could have tied in some of the characters and places from that game a little more, but oh well. They did a different game in the same style as Chrono Trigger, and it's great fun. There are at least some fun little nostalgic elements, like at one point when you find an enertron and you can hop into it to fully revive your party, and when you get out you find "you're still hungry", along with the stomach growling straight from Chrono Trigger. Very fun stuff. Highly recommended to fans of Chrono Trigger, or just anyone who loves a good RPG with lots of replay value. ... Read more

Asin: B00004TC6E
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)   

Final Fantasy VIII
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (22 September, 1999)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

SquareSoft has always had a sure-fire hit when releasing any of their Final Fantasy titles, and Final Fantasy VIII should be no exception. The basis of a good RPG (role-playing game) has always been the story; spectacular graphics are secondary. Final Fantasy VIII's involved and interesting story line is filled with great twists, well-developed characters, suspense, and romance. As an added bonus, the graphics are beautiful. Everything--from the low-lit jazz club to the steam-filled railroad tunnels--is gorgeous and perfectly sets the mood and tone of a scene.

The game mechanics are standard fare for an RPG: acquisition of items and spells, turn-based combat, experience points earned in combat allowing advances in levels. From exploration to battles to dialogue, Final Fantasy VIII has it all. However, Final Fantasy VIII falls to that great weakness of RPGs: random battles. While necessary for advancing in levels, the battles occur with such frequency that they can grow annoying, making for a tedious game experience.

The epic storyline spans four discs--over 40 hours of gameplay--and is based around a mercenary cadet who finds himself caught up with an underground rebel faction. He winds up in a plot to assassinate the sorceress who has just seized power from the president.

You could complain of limited replay value, but this gripe is of no consequence: the game is such a satisfying experience, it doesn't require replay. Final Fantasy VIII is easily worth both the hype and the wait. You can't buy a much better game. --John Cocking

Pros:

• A story to beat all stories
• Characters worth caring about
• Hey--it's from SquareSoft
• Stunning animations

Cons:

• Too many random battles
• Combat is, as always, turn-based and offers minimal excitement
• Weak souls might give up after two or three discs of play

... Read more

Reviews (955)

To final fantasy players.
Before I got this game I was playing Final Fantasy 7 and was use to it.When I got this game it stunned me with how many battles you have to fight, but that's ok becuase it keeps you busy.At first I did not like it, but as the game progressed I ended up getting hooked on it.All I can say is that if you do not like role playing games you should not buy them, but if you are into role playing and a Final Fantasy fan this game is for you.

Why does everyone hate this game?!!?!?
Ok. In 1999, this game was releaed. Many people were like, "OMG! thiS gam3 suck comp@ too vee eye eye!!" But I loved it. It's not as good as VII, but only by a hair.

Gameplay:10/10: A new RPG where you are in the military SeeD. You have many summons called GF's. It's a long game, about 45 hours. Lots of sidequests, too.

Ok, many have complaints aboutthe Junction system. "It's too complicated! Wahhhh!" Well, READ THE GODDAMN TUTORIAL!!!! *Is glad to get that out of my system.

Graphics:10/10: For the time, they are excellent. The FMV's kick ass!

Music:10/10: Another high point. You might be humming the great tunes!

Story:9.5/10: OK, there is a lot of bashing with it. Personally, I liked Squall and others because they act realistic. Plus, lots of plot twists.

Overall, a great game overlooked by many. So relax, and quit complaing, guys!

Terribly lame in content ...
My reviews contains spoilers.That being said, you should read it anyway.

Graphics: A+
It was pretty. Possibly brought out the PS's greatest potential.

Gamplay:B-
Wasn't terrible, but wasn't a lot of fun either.

Mini-games:A
FFVIII has a very fun card game you can opt to play.It was my favorite part of the game.

Story:F
A ridiculous love-story mixed with pubescent amnesiac orphan-soldiers fated to destroy a witch repeatedly due to a time-loop.Try to imagine all of the most horrendous story cliches thrown together.If you can't, FFVIII would be an enlightening though torturous experience for you.

The Characters:F-
Only the lead character has any amount of depth, but it never turns out to be more than: "At first I was a lonely brooder.But now that I opened my heart to friends and love, I have the strength to fight!!"Everyone else receives no true development what-so-ever.Most of them have practically identical pasts(amnesiac orphans).They're all teenage soldiers, much like the cast of power rangers.They all have distinct cookie-cutter personalities, much like the cast of power rangers.And these uninspired piles of cliche-excrement that saves the world routinely, much like the cast of power rangers.
The only explanation I could think of for this terrible, un-dynamic cast is that Square wanted to appeal to younger gamers by making a game about a soap opera about pretty high schoolers that have no parents and kick butt.

Anyway.With so few redeeming qualities, don't subject yourself to it.To be honest, I *liked* this game when it first came out.But I was also 13 at the time.Replaying it with more mature tastes, I've realized the content was terrible.There's no better way of describing it then: It's *stupid.* ... Read more

Asin: B0000296O5
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Role Playing Games    3. Sony Playstation (Play station)    4. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    5. Role Playing Games (Game, rpg, rpgs)   

Ultima Online Renaissance
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (12 April, 2000)
list price: $19.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The bestselling role-playing series of all time forges a new age of online gaming again with Ultima Online: Renaissance. Interact with thousands of players simultaneously in this breakthrough Internet fantasy world that is now easier to learn and play than ever. Get online and immerse yourself in the adventure of a lifetime. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Ultima Online:A role players review
I have played Everquest and Earth and beyond as well as a little know game called Avalon ...Online games, yet, the detail to which Ulima Online creates a world is well beyond any other game, on or off line...Example I have a character that is a tailor.He hunts animals and prepares their hides, then sews their hides into boots,shoes and leather armor to sell....That's not all...he collects cotton from plants, wool from shearing sheep, then spins it on a wheel, uses a loom and makes the thread and yarn into cloth...dyes the cloth and sews clothes to wear or sell, everything from hats to pants to kilts and dresses, includeing cloaks.He regularly rides a horse that requires feeding and needs resting on occasion.His weapons need to be repaired by interaction with Blacksmith characters.He lives in a small tower with furniture and everything.Now thats detail!He is a Paladin and lives by the code.The detailed game play of your fantacy is also enhanced by other roleplayers in the game...such things as greeting courtesies take on a whole new meaning with characters rangeing from paladins to necromancers and the latest in player designed characters.Whether you wish to design your own characters or pick from a selection, I think you will findthis game captivateing...I would, however, caution you to limit your game play...this game can be a little addicting.Enjoy!

UO is a great roleplay!
Ultima Online is a very impressive and immersive game. There are many options available in the huge, diverse online world that this game offers. I found that I was easily able to create a character and become a part of the community with little trouble. Some of the occupations are Tailor, Carpenter, Pure Mage, Animal Tamer, Blacksmith, and many more. Plus, there are thousands of real people online all the time that you can talk to. I think Ultima Online is one of the best role play games that the computer world currently has to offer.

Renaissance ruined the game
Ultima Online Renaissance ruined the original games potential to be a very good multiplayer game. Its no longer worth the time or money to play. ... Read more

Asin: B00004NHFG
Subjects:  1. Massive Massively Multiplayer    2. Fantasy (FRPG)    3. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)