Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Review

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(More customer reviews)I have never played a Castlevania game before, so I was hesitant to buy this at first. However, each trailer I saw for this game looked great and when I played the demo, it kinda reminded me of God of War 2 (one my most favorite games of all time), so I had to give this one a shot. After I finished it once, here is what I thought.
PROS.
SOLID AND FLAWLESS ACTION: The combat system in this game is just perfect. Last time I enjoyed punishing enemies was in Devil May Cry games. Everything works just as you want to. Controls respond very well. Tactical use of dark and light magic adds whole new dimension to the combat. Once you master the different moves, the joy you get punishing the enemies using them, is just indescribable.
SPECTACULAR SUSPENSEFUL STORY: It has been a while since I have experienced a story in the game that makes me go wow. While the game does starts out a bit abruptly, things will make sense in the end. Don't want to spoil much.
UNANITICIPATED AFTER CREDIT ENDING: If you are familiar with character names than you may see this after the credits ending I am talking about, but I sure as hell did not see it coming. I was very surprised by it and quite frankly could not get this ending (LONG VIDEO) out of my head for days. Don't want to spoil much, but please FINISH THE GAME, trust me, after the credits will make it worth your while.
BEAUTIFUL GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION: This game will make you go through jungles, valley, barren towers, huge castles etc. etc. Frankly, they are very nicely designed and the game looks great in 720p.
GREAT VARIETY IN ENEMY: It has been a while I have seen SO MANY different types of enemies in the same game. Different types of werewolves, vampires, goblins, deads and other creatures I can't remember names of. All of these gothically designed. I am telling you artwork in this game is just magnificent.
RIDING HUGE ENEMIES GAMEPLAY: I personally loved it. Once you weaken huge enemies such as big warewolves, spiders etc, YOU CAN RIDE THEM. Use them to unleash devastating attacks, solve puzzle etc. etc. Truly remarkable.
TONS OF CHALLENGING BOSSES: Slaughtering hordes and hordes of enemies and moving forward in the game will reward you with some really compelling boss battles. Just like levels and small fry enemies, these bosses are also very aesthetically animated. To me boss battle was the third strongest aspect of the game (after story and art). As soon as I defeated a boss, I look forward to the next one. Such anticipation and mysterious story really drives you forward in this game.
ACROBATIC GAMEPLAY AND PUZZLES: If you like puzzles there are tons and tons of them in this game. If you don't like puzzles no worries. Spend your experience points and you don't have to solve them. HOW WONDERFUL IS THAT? I salute this game for providing that option. Genius! The acrobatic gameplay, which would be hanging from cliff, then jumping from cliff to cliff, is pretty good. Kind of like Prince of Persia: Sands of Time games. What I particularly found interesting was use of the chain to do acrobats. There points in the game you can jump off of cliffs, use chains to hang somewhere, use the momentum of chain to break through weak structures etc. You have to play it to get a feel for what I am saying.
UPGRADABLES AND HIDDEN ITEMS: In this game you can buy new combat moves and upgrade them by trading your experience. While most of the moves can be purchased through the first gameplay (assuming you don't trade experience for solving puzzles), to get all moves and all hidden items, you will have to play different chapters in the game over again.
TREMENDOUS REPLAYABILITY: The game itself is long enough. If you want to go for 100% of the items, it will even take longer since you will have to revisit chapters and use your upgrades. In addition it comes with 4 different difficulty levels and a minigame. This will keep you engage for a long while.
OH DID I MENTION FREE CASTLEVANIA SOT GAME WITH THIS GAME?
CONS.
MINOR ISSUES WITH PUZZLES: Honestly the only con I found in this game was I was too used to God of War 2 controls. Because of that I was stuck in puzzles such as clocktower puzzle. Fortunately I figured out the difference in controls and was able to solve the puzzle. An example: In clocktower puzzle, ever time I tried to raise a platform, it would rise halfway and then fall as my character would let go of the lever contrary to the fact that I was holding the button. THE KEY IS TO LET GO OF R2(or L2 whichever is to hold the lever) once you hold the lever. The character will hold it himself without you having to hold the button. Other than this I think some puzzles are a bit too challenging. But again every one of them is solvable and if not, YOU CAN ALWAYS SOLVE THEM BY TRADING EXPERIENCE.
CONCLUSION:
I frankly am quite impressed by this game. As listed above, Pros. easily outweighs Cons. My score for this game would be 9.5/10. God of War, Prince of Persia and Devil May Cry fans, THIS IS A MUST BUY. Only thing I recommend is play it on the hardest mode possible for those of who are veteran to God of War type of games.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a single player Action-Adventure game developed as a reimagining of the classic Castlevania mythology. An entirely modern action console game, Lords of Shadow combines fast-paced weapons and magic based combat against otherworldly enemies, with platforming and puzzle-solving gameplay, to create a fresh gameplay experience that will thrill both fans of the original game series and gamers more rooted in modern action games.

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Resident Evil 5 Review

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(More customer reviews)I just beat Resident Evil 5 for the Xbox 360, so I decided to post a review of the game. Here are ten important things you need to know:
1. Graphics - RE5's graphics are amazing, and they are some of the best you'll find on a console. They are sharp, the characters are highly detailed, and the lighting makes the environments really stand out and feel real. The cut scenes appear to ramp up the contrast and brightness more than necessary, but that's no big deal.
2. Controls - I embraced RE4's control scheme, but the same scheme today feels a bit outdated. You still cannot walk with your gun or knife ready. The developers say it is more realistic this way, but even in cut scenes Chris walks with his gun pointed forward. And now that I think about it, why can't I simply walk up and punch or kick someone? Why must I wait for them to be stunned?
3. Sound - A lot of the sounds including the music are very similar to RE4, which is a good thing. It helps make the game keep familiar. I noticed nothing about the sound to complain about, except that it often wasn't creepy enough.
4. Co-op - Some of the best fun I had with RE4 was getting together with friends and watching each other play through parts of the game. With RE5, we can now play together. Awesome! One problem with co-op is the fact you can't give weapons to your partner. That doesn't make any sense at all. Also, watch out when using an AI partner for Sheva. She sometimes wastes ammo, refuses to use her powerful weapons, heals you unnecessarily, and dashes off. Surprisingly though, she isn't bad enough to ruin the game.
5. Items - All items have been needlessly streamlined. The weapons are less complex, there are no more combinable treasures, and yellow herbs are nowhere to be found. Also, you can buy items anytime between chapters. I liked the merchant in RE4, but he's gone this time around. So who are you buying items from? Apparently, just a menu system. Also, RE5 redesigned the item management system in order to make it more realistic than RE4. I like how it no longer takes me out of the game, but sometimes it is hard to use. The fast equip feature via the D-pad is greatly appreciated, but it doesn't make up for the fact that the process of trading and stacking items can be cumbersome and illogical.
6. Horror - RE5's biggest issue is the fact it continues the series' trend of removing all aspects of "horror" from the survival horror genre. In fact, I would just call RE5 an action game with elements of adventure. There is rarely any suspense, the action is almost nonstop, and many of the potentially scary settings occur in daylight. The slogan for this game is "Fear you can't forget." It's more like "Fear you'll never notice."
7. Bosses - Simply put, the boss fights in this game are not as original or exciting as RE4's boss fights. Most are easy, unvaried, and unnoteworthy. Some of the boss fights don't even feel like fights, but mere struggles instead.
8. Puzzles - Unfortunately, RE5 offers virtually zero puzzles. There's not even the task of combining treasure. If you're ever confused about anything, Sheva will tell you what to do. The only thing remotely close to a puzzle is finding the blue BSAA emblems. Shooting them is a cool way to unlock bonus features. It makes you pay much more attention to your surroundings and get immersed in the environment.
9. Saving - I like being able to save my game at various points, and I like being able to start a brand new game, but these features are gone. RE5 keeps track of all items and money you have so that to play previous chapters, you always bring your latest gear. It almost makes it too easy. I miss the typewriters.
10. Charm - RE5 lacks a lot of the charm found in RE4. Chris is almost emotionless, whereas Leon was witty and classy. The quick time events in RE5 are overdone and predictable, whereas in RE4 they were fun and surprising. The only character with real "character" in RE5 is Irving. It seemed the whole cast of RE4 stood out.
Conclusion
Resident Evil 5 is a short, fun action game, but it lacks a lot of what made its predecessor so great. The only improvements are the graphics and the addition of multiplayer. The rest of the changes negatively impact the overall fun of the game. Still, it is a fun game, and I recommend it for any Resident Evil fan or those who are looking for a good action game.

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Experience the thrill and terror all over again with Resident Evil 5 for Xbox 360. Featuring Chris Redfield of the original Resident Evil and Sheva Alomar, a West African agent of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), this sci-fi survival game is staged in a remote desert colony packed with hordes of fast-moving, quick-thinking enemies that represent a whole new breed of evil.
Meet Two Fierce, Playable Main Characters Back from the original title and Resident Evil: Code Veronica, former S.T.A.R.S. special forces team member Redfield is a battle-tested, founding member of the BSAA. With a reputation for superior marksmanship and phenomenal hand-to-hand combat abilities, he's on the ground and up against a new strain of evil.
You'll call his shots from the same over-the-shoulder third person viewpoint that distinguished Resident Evil 4, except this time you'll also have the option of playing as his teammate, the fierce, local Alomar. Whoever you play as, updates to the earlier version's third-person control scheme offer more options and promise intuitive interactions.
Learn to Work Together The new cooperative game play element focuses on the realities of a dual-agent mission, highlighting the ways in which Redfield and Alomar must work together to survive the unexpected, while still allowing them to split up and work alone. To help you maximize the potential of this setup, two-player online and offline co-op modes ensure that you have options when picking a partner.
Steel yourself Against the Harsh Reality of Kijuju An advanced version of Capcom's proprietary MT Framework game engine brings groundbreaking graphics and effects to Kijuju, the highly-developed environment where this game's action takes place. New, lifelike lighting schemes highlight the differences between harsh sunlight and extreme darkness, and when you move from one to the other, you'll have to wait for your character's eyes to adjust before you can see clearly, adding to the suspense and challenge of navigating this game's environs.
Face the Next Generation of Evil You'll face new enemies with faster reflexes and improved AI, designed to be as dangerous alone as they are in groups and to keep even Resident Evil masters on their toes. Thankfully, they're not the only ones who have evolved. This game also offers access to powerful new weapons variations that extend your destructive capabilities.
And the updated, quick-select inventory system allows for real-time inventory management, as well as allowing characters to trade items and allowing you to place an item on the directional pad for instant access. Add all this to a detailed storyline the touches on what the past ten years have meant for Redfield and a Hollywood-caliber soundtrack, and it's clear that the latest installment in this series really does showcase all the elements at the heart of horror gaming.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Review

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(More customer reviews)Alright, I'm a serious COD fan and I logged almost a month on Modern Warfare 2, and a little over a half a month on all the other COD titles. You all know what the prestige edition comes with, as it is all listed above, but is it truly worth the extra money?
It's hard to say. It certainly cool and I waited outside of my local Best Buy at 9pm before the midnight release to get in line to make sure I got a copy. The ONLY thing that comes with the prestige edition that is not included in the hardened edition is the RC-XD killstreak remote controlled car. That being the only thing different-I'll go over it a bit.
--It feels cheap and very light (not complaining, exactly what I would expect-I didn't expect a serious quality RC car).
--It takes 12 AA batteries, 6 in the remote and 6 in the car, which drain pretty fast. (especially if the camera is on)
--The car zips around pretty well but won't do well in the grass at all.
--I've played with RC cars all my life and this one is a little difficult to handle. The turns are crazy sharp with the steering dial on the right of the remote, it takes a very steady hand to carefully steer the car.
--The camera (as expected, not complaining) is very low quality and it is impossible to drive while just looking at the screen on the remote. The lens is faced upward and if you're driving it on the street or in the house you cannot see the ground to see where you're going, you see the top 2/3 of a level of a house.
--The microphone is pretty sensetive so if it is on, you'll constantly hear the gears and mechanisms from inside the car and will come through on your remote and it sounds like a cheap $5 toy car engine sound.
As far as gameplay goes, it varies, and truly, it's all depending on what COD games you like the most. I've read other reviews and I do agree with others that it feels a lot like World at War with some minor additions. The online play is not as smooth as IW's Modern Warfare 2 or even COD4.
ONLINE GAMEPLAY
I think the online gameplay takes some adjusting to after playing MW2 because MW2 was so fast paced and sometimes predictable. The spawnpoints on Black Ops from my experience have been all over the place. I very regularly find myself spawning behind people and saying "man I'd be pissed if I was that guy" and many times I AM that guy. The refresh rate is not that of MW2 and the graphics in multiplayer really suffer. I thought that with the popularity of the COD franchise that they would only stride to make each addition better than the last, but truly I think this one falls short. You buy all of your attachments with bets (or contracts) wagered, and that's actually pretty fun. It's like the same thing as challanges, but it puts a little more pressure on you because you have a time limit. Stopping power and danger close are gone, as is one man army. But because there aren't really noobtubes with one man army or people using stopping power and trailblazing, I find that there are MANY MORE campers in here, sitting back trying to achieve their higher killstreaks. Killstreaks do not count toward other killstreaks, so if I get my RC-XD remote controlled explosive car, and get 2 kills..that still doesn't mean I get my carepackage--I still have to shoot/knife/grenade someone myself. This was apparently a complaint of "the rich get richer/poor gets poorer." I personally think if people are having troubles with a game they shouldn't cry about it on blogs and complain to creators because they cannot personally do well in a video game-that's your own fault. Multiplayer in conclusion, not what I expected. I'm getting used to it, but I'm going to miss the pace of MW2 and the way you unlock attachments for weapons instead of having to buy them.
CAMPAIGN
The compaign mode is great. The graphics are MUCH better and I really wish they would have focused on making their graphics better for online play instead of stupid things like putting your clan tag on your gun and things that most people could do without. One thing I loved about World at War was the super satisfying shotgun to the legs during campaign where they blow off, and there's plenty of that here. A great assortment of weapons and plenty to do, including the use of vehicles. I really have no complaints about the campaign, it's very fun and you'll absorb it right away.
ZOMBIES
Of course zombies are great! I think they focused harder on zombies than they did multiplayer also, atleast as far as graphics go. Automated turrets and all kinds of fun stuff to do! Plus, with the prestige or hardened edition, you get the 4 original maps-which is a great value considering what I spent on WAW mappacks in the past. It's fun playing the old maps with the additions of the new guns. I loved playing on Nacht der Untoten and going upstairs and cornering myself in and lining up headshots with the new guns. Of course everyone will like nazi zombies. I personally think Treyarch should be responsible for COD-Nazi Zombies and release a Nazi Zombie based game with a campaign and everything.
Well, that's my review. conclusion- Campaign is great, multiplayer lacks in my personal opinion, zombies are great=4/5. If you're a serious collector, go for the prestige and get your RC-XD like I did and let me know what you think of it. I really hope it was helpful to somoene, please vote and let me know whether is helped you out and leave any comments or questions and I'd be happy to promptly respond. Thanks everyone!

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On November 9, 2010, the newest installment in the biggest action series of all-time and follow-up to last year's Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2, Call of Duty®: Black Ops, will insert players behind enemy lines during the most dangerous time period mankind has ever known. Filled with heart-racing action, Call of Duty: Black Ops puts players in the boots of elite special forces units engaged in covert warfare, deniable operations, and explosive conflicts around the globe. The Call of Duty: Black Ops Hardened Edition includes: Limited edition Black Ops Collector's Medal w/display case 4 extra playable co-op maps not in the standard edition Exclusive Black Ops Xbox® Live® avatar outfit Premium, special-edition SteelBook™ case Call of Duty: Black Ops full game
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Dead Rising 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)QUICK NOTES:
First off, Let me say that I give this game a solid 4.5 stars, or 9/10. It'd be great if Amazon would come up with a more precise rating system.
If you're somebody who's never played Dead Rising, I think you may still find this review helpful in deciding whether to buy Dead Rising 2. If nothing else, check out sections 8 and 9.
If you've played the original Dead Rising and don't want to read a review this long, you should scroll down to parts 3, 8 and 9. Tabel of Contents
1. Introduction & Background
2. Overview & Story
3. The Save System
4. General Gameplay
5. Enemies, Weapons, & Combat
6. Graphics
7. Sound
8. Summary
9. Who Should Buy This Game? 1. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND:It's been over four years since the original Dead Rising was released exclusively for Microsoft's then-less-than-year-old Xbox 360. It featured a wildly fun blend of improvised using, a vast and varied game world to explore, dozens of original characters, and plenty of over-the-top Japanese humor. Oh, and Zombies. Lots and lots of old school, dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks, slower-than-Rosie-O'Donnel-after-a-big-meal Zombies. And we found them as fun to kill as they found us delicious to eat.
All of these things served to make Dead Rising stand out from the pack, not just of games in general, but also the survival horror genre itself. I mean, what kind of game allows you to use a machine gun on your enemies one second, and the next, if you so choose, throw a giant stuffed teddy bear at them? What kind of game pits you against not only the undead, but enemies such as an opera singing clown, who twirls around with two chainsaws, or a 300 pound police woman, or a Rambo wannabe who runs a camping store? No doubt about it, Dead Rising is truly a modern classic. Unfortunately, for all of it's virtues, it had several very obvious and frustrating flaws.
Seeing as how many of the people reading this will be familiar with the original Dead Rising, I will make reference to it throughout this review, comparing the two games along the way, noting improvements and, in some cases, setbacks. 2. OVERVIEW & STORY.
I'm not a big fan of reviews that go deep into plots (they usually just end up spoiling the game, don't they?), so I'll only make a few remarks in that direction.
You don't have to look any further than the game's package to realize that you no longer play as photographer Frank West. Instead, you play as former Motocross champ Chuck Greene. It's been 5 years since the outbreak at Willamette, and the hordes of undead have been either killed or captured. But before the zombies were contained, Chuck's wife was killed, and his daughter, Katey, bitten. Fortunately, there exists a drug, Zombrex, that prevents a bitten person from turning into a zombie. Thing is, it's gotta be administered every 24 hours, or the transformation will take place.
As if Chuck didn't have enough to worry about, shortly after the opening of the game, a horde of zombies is intentionally released, and Chuck is framed for it. After the outbreak, our hero manages to get to a safe room (which plays the role the security room did in the first game), along with his daughter and a handful of other survivors. From there, Chuck must venture out into the mall in search of Zombrex for Katey, other survivors, and the person who framed him.

3. THE SAVE SYSTEM:
Let's get this question out of the way right off the bat. Anyone one who played the original Dead Rising knows what a joke its save system was. First of all, you were only allowed one save slot per storage device, so multiple games, safety saves, and experimentation were out of the picture. As if that weren't bad enough, you had to either go to the security room, or else find a bathroom in order to save your game. Problem was, bathrooms were few and far between. That's a pretty big deal when you're playing a game that runs on a sensitive and strict time limit. You'd very often find yourself doing the math on whether or not you had time to go save your game. I mean, let's say you take 10 minutes to find a save point, that could very well have meant that when you loaded up your game next, you found yourself with too little time to complete an objective, because finding the save point took too long. And if it happened to be a main story objective that you didn't have time to coplete, well then it sucked to be you, because that meant you had to start the game all over again if you wanted to finish the story. Or let's say you came across an unexpected boss battle on the way to a save point, and you got yourself killed -- that could mean hours and hours of gameplay lost. What a headache! Now, I have no objection to challenging games per se', but if a game is challenging, it should be by design, not by design *flaw*. But at the end of the day, having to deal with such an awful save system inside of such an awesome game was a little like being married to a beautiful woman -- only she sounded like Barry White. But I digress...
So, did Capcom fix this? I'd say yes, and no. Mostly Yes. You now have 3 save slots, and bathrooms are much, much more plentiful, generally being located in each area. This allows the kind of breathing room that makes this a more enjoyable game, without the kind of hangups that would turn off otherwise interested gamers. I'd prefer a save-anywhere system (and you probably would, too), but what Dead Rising 2 offers is definitely reasonable, not taking away from the game in any significant way. If the save system was you problem with Dead Rising, I think most reasonable gamers will be satisfied with the leeway given in this sequel.
(Just as an aside, remember what game saving used to be like? Remember the original Nintendo? Remember the fat neighbor kid getting up from the couch to get another Pepsi, and his walking across the living room being enough to send vibrations through floor that would freeze the game you just spent all Saturday on? Well, I do. And looking back, I'm pretty grateful for today's save systems in general!) 4. GENERAL GAMEPLAY:
Instead of reinventing the wheel with Dead Rising 2, Capcom took what they did right, and tried to fix what they did wrong. This would be annoying in some cases, but this game's formula is so original, fun, and addicting, that the similarities feel more like smart design choices than they do lazy cop outs. While the core of the game, location type, time-limited gameplay, and enemies are essentially the same, this a true sequel. So, what's the same and what's different?
First and most obvious, the location is brand new. Willamette is miles away. DR2 takes place in Fortune City, Nevada -- a Gambling mecca that was built over what used to be Las Vegas. The particular place you find yourself in is in fact another shopping center. Even though it's the same type of setting, it has a very different vibe to than Willamette, because of the different stores, objects, surrounding, and even music. In other words, it's no re-hash.
The objectives in Dead Rising 2 are very similar to original's. You have a person informing you of the locations of survivors in the shopping center, and you track them down and bring them back to the safe room. This is a much smoother process in this sequel. For one thing, in the first game, if you didn't have an HDTV, you were probably out of luck when it came to reading the text that informed you of mission updates and details. Capcom has fixed this; the text in DR2 is much larger, and contrasted against a much better background. Also, when it comes to actually escorting survivors, they are much more alert and competent when navigating through zombies and defending themselves. And, as for actually getting them into the safe room, instead of having to clear out an elevator full of zombies, get the survivors to enter the elevator, and then take them too a roof where they may or may not feel like jumping up to the platform where the duct was, you simply take them down a hall and down some stairs into a room where the duct is located. Much, much simpler.
Also, while action packed and often intense, this game is refreshing in that it doesn't take itself too seriously. For example, one of the unique things about the game world is that you can wear almost any clothing you find in the mall. Let me tell you, it's add a whole new dynamic to cutscenes when your guy is wearing short shorts and a teddy bear head!

5. ENEMIES, WEAPONS, & COMBAT:
Zombies.
The undead are obviously the most common enemy. They act and move like the idiots they are. One zombie is no threat, but face large numbers of them, and you've got your work cut out for ya.
Bosses.
In addition to zombies, Dead Rising 2 has some fantastic bosses, just as the first game did. I have to say, this is one of my favorite things to find in a game. I happen to be a huge fan of the Metal Gear Solid franchise, and I know at least part of that has to do with its varied and over the top boss battles. But whereas those bosses are usually very eccentric in a dramatic way, Dead Rising 2's bosses are very eccentric in a funny and silly way. When you beat them, the toughness of the fight isn't was sticks out in your mind, instead you find yourself thinking, "Man, that guy was CRAZY!" Anyway, if you have an eye for odd and strange details, I think you'll get a kick out of them, because they'll probably remind you of at...Read more›

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Same comic zombie-killing action.View larger.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Review

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(More customer reviews)Check out my video review to see what you get in the limited edition with your own two eyes!

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a single player Action-Adventure game developed as a reimagining of the classic Castlevania mythology. An entirely modern action console game, Lords of Shadow combines fast-paced weapons and magic based combat against otherworldly enemies, with platforming and puzzle-solving gameplay, to create a fresh gameplay experience that will thrill both fans of the original game series and gamers more rooted in modern action games. In addition to the game disc, this special Limited Edition contains a variety of extras. See a list of the complete contents below.

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WILEY XBox 360 for Dummies Review

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(More customer reviews)If this guide is something you honestly need, there is a good chance you are mentally handicapped.

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Left 4 Dead Review

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(More customer reviews)Plain and simple, this is the best zombie game to date!
The AI "Director" as it's called creates a different play experience each and every time. Doesn't matter if it's the same level, they'll throw different amounts of the "infected" (zombies) at you, from different directions, at different times, which completely changes the games replay value. And it not only controls the zombies, it also controls music, weapon placement (so certain weapons aren't in the same place each and every time you play), and so on.
And you never know how deformable the terrain is until the Director throws a Tank at you (a really HUGE musclebound zombie that will rip you to shreds). For example I had a Tank come bombing at me, rip a whole in a subway car and just destroy everything around me, including myself...
Now one of the main reasons you should buy the game, the split screen and system link play. You can play split screen with a friend, then hookup online with another friend. Then to take it to a whole-nother-level, 8 player versus mode. Up to four players take control of the Survivors and up to four players take control of the unique zombies (such as Tanks and Smokers) along side of the AI controlled zombies.
The other unique feature the game has are voice commands between the survivors, some are even automatic like when you are reloading, so that the other survivors don't reload at the same time just in case zombies start coming at you. A nice feature that really prevents everyone from reloading at once and getting swarmed.
I would consider this the "must have game of the season" bar none!
Pros:
A completely different gaming experience every time you play.
Play with friends on the same system via split screen, online, or both!
Very tense and suspenseful music and spooky sounds give you the creeps.
TONS of replay value.
Amazing zombie death animations (physics based).
AI survivors will actually heal themselves, heal eachother, heal you, and exchange items!
Never knowing when something really bad is about to come down on you.
Cons:
AI survivors sometimes just stand in the way or don't help you when you are in trouble.


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Set in a modern day survival-horror universe, the co-operative gameplay of Left 4 Dead (L4D) casts four "Survivors" in an epic struggle against hordes of swarming zombies and terrifying "Boss Infected" mutants. Developed by Turtle Rock Studios and Valve, creators of the Counter-Strike and Half-Life games, the latest AI technology allows for multiplayer games of one to eight players.A new and highly virulent strain of the rabies virus emerges and spreads through the human population with frightening speed. The pandemic's victims become grotesquely disfigured widely violent psychopaths, attacking the uninfected on sight. As one of the "lucky" few apparently immune to the sickness, you, unfortunately, are also trapped in a city crawling with thousands of the bloodthirsty Infected. Alone, you're dead. But together with a handful of fellow survivors, you might just fight your way to safety.Players can play as a Survivor or as one of four types of Boss Infected, each of whom possess a unique mutant ability, such as a 50-foot tongue lasso or a giant belly full of explosive methane gas. The gameplay of L4D is set across four massive campaigns. The zombie population of each mission is choreographed by an AI Director that monitors the human players' actions and creates a unique and dramatic experience for them on the fly.

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Left 4 Dead Review

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(More customer reviews)First let me comment on the GoTY version. Yes, all the additional content in the GoTY title is available on xbox live for free as a DLC. The only perk to having the GoTY version is that you wont have to use up memory on your harddrive for the survival pack because its already installed on the disc. Other than that i would suggest just getting the normal game if you find it cheaper. I found the GoTY version and the normal version for the same price of $29.99 at gamestop brand new! the funny thing is, right next to it they had the used version for $44.99 still, $15 more then the brand new ones!
This isn't just a Call of Duty World at War Zombie mode revamped...even though the premises is nearly the same there is four people, and if you don't have 4 players to play the 4 survivors then the remaining survivors will be OP'd by computers. In the multiplayer mode you can be the zombies (the special zombies with super moves). The only thing that i didn't really like about this game which others may have liked is that there is no story mode at all. The weapons aren't extensive at all in this game. You can either have the pistols, shotguns, sniper rifle, or uzi. theres some health packs, pills, molotovs, and grenades. to me, this was just a renter after a week or two of playin this game just became pretty boring and repeptitive.
theres only 4 main maps that the survivors fight their way through 4 or 5 stages of the map to get to the end where they will try to be evacuated. its the same story on every map! i gave this 4 stars because 5 stars would just be overatin the game and 3 stars doesn't do it all justice, but know this i wont be buying or playing the sequel because unless they add a storymode or drastic changes all a sequel could be for this game is just a big expansion.
**Edit**
DO NOT buy this with the $59.99 price tag its cheaper at gamestop for $29.99

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Left 4 Dead: Game of the Year Edition for X360 offers all the content of the original, plus all the content coming in the "L4D Survival Pack." The Left 4 Dead Survival Pack is a collection of new content for 2008's Multiplayer Game of the Year. Headlining the pack is the new 1 to 4 person game mode, Survival, that challenges players and teams to "survive" unremitting swarms of zombies on over 10 maps. Rounds are scored by length of survival, and times will be uploaded to leader boards. Also included in the Survival Pack are two additional Versus campaigns. Each campaign features 5 maps for additional play of the four-on-four multiplayer game that allows players to compete as Boss zombies Versus the human Survivors.Left 4 Dead is a survival action game from Valve that blends the social entertainment experience of multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress with the dramatic, narrative experience made popular in single player action game classics such as the Half-Life series of games. Set in the immediate aftermath of the long-awaited zombie apocalypse, L4D's single player and co-op game modes are played out across four sprawling "Movies" set in a variety of urban and rural environments. Each "Movie" has an over-riding team objective, is comprised of five large maps, and may be played by 1 to 4 human players. New technology dubbed "the AI Director" is used to procedurally generate a different experience each time the game is played. Just as in Hollywood films, the Director calls for new monsters, sounds, and action as it tailors the gameplay experience based upon the team's performance. In Left 4 Dead's Vs. Mode players may play as a Survivor or as one of four types of "Boss Infected." Each of the "Boss Infected" possesses an exceptional mutant ability - such as a 50-foot tongue lasso (Smoker) or a giant belly full of explosive methane gas (Boomer) - instead of traditional firearms.

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Plants Vs. Zombies Review

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(More customer reviews)For the uninitiated, let me say that Plants vs. Zombies is an amazing game. It's fun/funny, and something that can be played in short bursts, or for hours (if you lose track of time...). The general idea is that of a tower defense strategy game. You gather sunshine so you can grow plants that have either offensive or defensive purposes, so you can protect yourself from the onslought of zombies. It's real-time, meaning that as you are planting the zombies are attacking.
Really the question here shouldn't be, "should I buy Plants vs Zombies?". You should, but do you want this particular package? On the xbox 360 they have Plants vs. Zombies available as a downloadable arcade game for 1200 Microsoft Points (the equivalent of $15). It's the same game as what's offered on this disc. However, this disc includes the additional games "Zuma" and the amazing "Peggle" (a $5 and $10 value, respectively). Definately something to consider if you haven't already purchased either of those games.
My one caveat would be that you can't install the games individually to your xbox, nor can you install the entire disc to the hard drive (this allows for shorter load times and for the system to run quietly. If you were to download the game it would automatically work this way). However, this has nothing to do with the actual game, just the package itself.


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Get ready to soil your plants... with multiplayer action! A mob of fun-loving zombies is about to invade your home. Defend yourself with an arsenal of home-guardin' plants to mulchify zombies before they reach your front door. Enjoy all the fun-dead action of the original hit game, plus lively new features. Get twice the zombie-zapping action with 2-player Versus and Co-op modes. Upgrade and decorate your house in the interactive leaderboard, and check out your friends' houses, too. Plants vs. Zombies for XBLA is loaded with seven game modes, new rabble-rousing features, and unlimited replayable action... so the fun never dies!

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Left 4 Dead 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved the first Left 4 Dead (L4D) game. I discovered it about 6 months later than the rest of the world, but I was hooked. The fast-paced co-op gameplay has provided me some of my favorite and most memorable multi-player moments. Left 4 Dead 2 is basically more of the same with incremental improvements, a few new features, and a generally improved experience. Since I never liked the competitive modes on the first L4D game and doubt that I'll play the competitive modes on L4D2, I'll keep my review focused on the single-player and co-op campaign modes.
PROS:
+++ Fast-paced gameplay
+++ Intense and frantic battles that can feel overwhelming
+++ Huge emphasis on co-op
+++ Five campaigns
+++ Dynamic enemy placement switches the action up so you get a slightly different experience each time you play the different campaigns.
CONS:
--- Computer controlled AI teammates are about as sharp as a bag of wet hammers.
--- The XBox 360 offers only 4 types of control scheme, but none of them seem to offer me the flexibility I desire.
NOTABLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN L4D and L4D2:
+++ Added new melee weapons
+++ Added a new variety of weapons, including fun toys like grenade launchers.
+++ Added several new special infected such as the Charger, Spitter, and Jockey
+++ Common infected are much more colorful and diverse in design
+++ Dismemberment and more detailed death animations result in more gore and chunks than the original game.
+++ Improved sense of character development and story
+++ Mission objectives have been more fleshed out, going beyond the first game's "Get to the extraction point and wait" concept.
+++ Daytime levels
--- Fewer lull moments. There is almost ALWAYS an attack imminent, which kind of kills the suspense.GAMEPLAY: The basic premise is that you play one of four different survivors attempting to fight their way to safety during the zombie apocalypse. Essentially you blast thousands of zombies into ever-loving bits as you fight and run for your life. The new game brings some new mission objectives, which adds a subtle but noticeable bit of depth to the game. Instead of waiting for a helicopter or boat to come pick you up after 5 or 6 intense minutes of fighting for your life, you might be expected to find a bunch of gas cans to fill up a car. No matter what you do, success will require teamwork.
The new special infected are a nice addition to the mix. Jockeys that jump on you and ride you around, Chargers that pin you against walls or the ground and beat you to a bloody pulp, and Spitters that spray acid and explode into nasty bubbling pools of acid force you to adapt your strategies more quickly. Tanks and Witches are still tough, and the Smokers, Boomers, and Hunters are still around to make life hell as well. The common infected are more diverse and interesting. My favorite are the hazmat suit infected, which make a cool little depressurizing noise when killed which makes me smile every time.
GRAPHICS: For the most part, the graphics are very similar but improved in many subtle ways. Shadows seem to be smoother and more accurate, levels have more color, and there is generally more detail to seen. Enemy death animations have been noticeably improved with more dismemberment and more detailed models. For example, shoot a zombie in the chest with a high powered rifle or magnum handgun and the creature will have a neat little hole you can look through. Subtle, but still noteworthy.
PRESENTATION: With only a few (very minor) exceptions, I would argue the presentation for L4D2 is much improved over the original. The environments feel more diverse, taking you from bright and colorful New Orleans outdoor scenes to dank and ominous indoor settings.Many of the dark indoor settings are much more open, which is much spookier since your flashlight isn't as effective in large, open areas. The characters are far more interesting and have some interesting and humorous pre-scripted conversations. The redneck character, Ellis, is definitely my favorite since he says some really funny stuff followed closely by Coach. All in all, a step forward.
SINGLE-PLAYER: Single-player mode is ok, but you'll be dealing with the game's biggest flaw: frustratingly stupid AI teammates. Do you feel like sniping zombies from a distance? Have fun with that because at least one of your teammates will invariably park themselves right in front of you so they can absorb your bullets. They heal you when you don't want healed and constantly give you pills, which suddenly means your gun isn't in your hands. They fall off ledges and have trouble keeping up in general, especially if you go up some stairs. Apparently they forgot that Rule #1 is Cardio. If I were stuck in a real zombie apocalypse and these were the only living people I ran across, I'd leave them for dead.
CO-OP MULTI-PLAYER: As far as I'm concerned, cooperative multi-player is where it is at. I love it. Three or four players working together with good strategy can be a devastating zombie grinding machine. This is where the game truly shines and where I spend almost all of my time with the game.
COMPETITIVE MULTI-PLAYER: I never really liked the competitive modes in the original and I really don't expect to spend any time playing them in L4D2. It isn't a judgment against the game itself, but more representative of the fact that I prefer co-op games so much more.Whether or not you should buy the game depends on several factors:
- If you never played the first game but enjoy co-op FPS games, I highly recommend the game.
- If you enjoyed the first game and couldn't get enough of it and crave some more, this is a must buy.
- If you played the first game to death and are bored of it now, you might consider renting L4D2 first because it is essentially more of the same with a fresh coat of paint and a few new features.
Overall, this is an enjoyable game that improves on the original in many ways as long as you have other people to play it with. As far as sequels go, the changes are evolutionary instead of revolutionary. None of the changes are all that major, but they are noticeable. In fact, I look back on the original and now realize how much was missing in the original design.

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Left 4 Dead 2 is the sequel to the best-selling and critically-acclaimed co-op multiplayer smash from Valve, creators of the Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress and Counter-Strike game properties. With multiple multiplayer options both on and offline, extensive AI custom functionality, four character options, new melee weapons and more, Left 4 Dead 2 promises to become one of 2009's best games on the Xbox 360 platform and set a new benchmark for co-op centric action games.

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Xbox 360 Resident Evil Controller Faceplate Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to disagree a little with the previous review in regards to this snap-on controller faceplate. First and foremost the graphics for this product are right here on the page, nice blown up screen shots of what this looks like. So if you are unimpressed with the graphics that you see, why buy it? I will agree that the faceplate snaps on perfectly. A little bit of a draw back to it being a faceplate, is that it causes the buttons to be inlaid, only slightly though;I don't feel that it interferes with the functionality of the controller.
As far as going to Novasonic Mods, I went to check out the website. If you don't speak or read Spanish, then you will need to translate the page. There are some nice looking examples on there of custom mods, but no pricing list? You have to contact the guy directly by email and discuss what kind of mod you want. Who knows how much this will cost!! and it looks like you would have to disassemble your controller, or at least mail it to the guy so he can do the modification!!?? There is a link to Z Mart Games, where there are supposed to be some mods for sale, problem is, it is all in Spanish!
In concluding my review, this product is great if you are a Resident Evil fan and like what you see.It fits great and is also priced reasonably.I highly recommend this product.

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Mad Catz' limited edition ‘Resident Evil 5' Controller Faceplate for Xbox 360 is officially licensed by Capcom and has been designed to fit perfectly and securely on your Xbox 360 controllers for improved protection against daily wear and tear. Effortlessly clip the Controller Faceplate onto your controller to give it an unmistakable Resident Evil complexion without compromising gameplay.

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Blood Drive Review

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(More customer reviews)Fun and fresh this game brings many of the older gun car games to the new consoles with a nice zombie lite effect. I'm both pleased and surprised, this game was low on my expectations. Similar to Cramageddon,Twisted metal 4 physics and v8 graphics. It has shooting, point to point racing, capture and keep the skull, crash derby,and more besides, fun games with lots of gore lite. The physics for the driving are slightly akward and a bit klunky at times, but the area's built to play in are big and full of nooks and crannies to explore and find power-ups. Same announcer voice from crackdown2 this guy is the Bob Costas of Zombies. I like it cause there are no games like it on the current console's. More games like this would be welcome, but for now I feel Like I can scratch that itch.

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It's the entertainment sport for a twisted new age: contestants in weaponized cars battle the undead and each other in an orgy of ultra violence. Shuan of the Dead meets Mad Max in Death Race, set amongst the sinful and greedy fallout aftermath of a zombie-infested Vegas-like city. You have stepped into the bloodiest sports arena on the planet. Can you drive, shoot and mutilate your way to the top?

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Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Review

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(More customer reviews)This does NOT CONTAIN Red Dead Redemption's single player campaign. Undead Nightmare is its own single player campaign (along with the multiplayer bits outlined below when you buy the disc version of Undead Nightmare)
For those wondering, if you already have any or all of the Red Dead Redemption DLC, this probably isn't the most cost effective way to collect the rest (assuming you pay MSRP; currently Amazon is running it for $20 (Nov 29, 2010)).
Here's what you receive in this set, including current price on Xbox Live:
Undead Nightmare $10 (800 points)
Liars and Cheats $10 (800 points)
Legends and Killers $10 (800 points)
Outlaws to the End FREE and NOT INCLUDED in this set; I'm not sure if you can download this and use it w/ UN, though I don't believe you can
Xbox Live Total price: $30 (2400 points)
One option that is ALSO available on Xbox Live is the Undead Nightmare Pack for $20 (1600 points). The only reason this isn't the best option is under 2 circumstances: you've already bought ANY of the DLC ($10 each) OR if the MSRP of this stand alone edition is $20 (which, as of Nov 29, 2010, it is on the 360). Except for those circumstances, $20 is always cheaper than $30.
Another reason to buy this set is if you don't own the original RDR and JUST want to play multiplayer RDR, as this game contains the same multiplayer community as the original RDR and can be played with those that have just UN OR those that have RDR only. DLC restrictions not withstanding of course. This being said, however, I don't feel the multiplayer tight enough to justify buying this just to play multiplayer. And given the UN piece is single player (with exception to the horde style mode), and you won't necessarily know the characters (there is little to no character development as Rockstar assumes you already know the RDR cast), buying UN as anything but DLC doesn't make a ton of sense to me personally; this review is for those that decide to go this route anyway.
The final reason you should pick this up as a standalone release is if you don't have the hard drive space for the DLC. That makes perfect sense. Of course, the other option is to buy the DLC and buy a USB hard drive or USB memory device fast enough to install content to, which would allow you to use UN AND other DLC you may wish to own and your hard drive is full.Now for the review of the content proper.
Undead Nightmare. In an interview with a Rockstar employee, the statement was made that Undead Nightmare (UN) should be taken like this:
The cast of Red Dead Redemption (RDR) has evenings off but has access to the set, makeup and cameras. Being bored and having nothing else to do, they get together in the evenings and create a new production with the same characters and a twist on the RDR story and that is what UN is all about.
This description seems to make you think it isn't RDR canon then. It is. And that's the cool part. It plays right into the whole RDR game perfectly; well almost. RDR, for the most part, is believable. UN, well, we know zombies or the walking dead don't exist (plausible deniability here on my part!), but with the way it starts, and ends, it fits in the world almost seamlessly. If you take out the fact that zombies don't exist (plausible deniability again).
You take over John Marston's character once again. Without giving away too much of the plot, John feels tasked to finding a cure for the undead walking because of an issue that, once again, hits VERY close to home.
They've almost nailed this DLC to perfection. They bring back many of the characters you know and love from RDR and give you extra quests with them. Some "return" if you know what I mean, which is cool too. The music takes the RDR music and turns it on its head. Given the sickness present in the world, which infects people and animal alike, it is only right that the music is also infected!
What I don't like is the repetitive nature of the DLC. The quests are all well and good, but having to save towns constantly from zombie hordes is a bit tiring. Ammo is supposed to be kind of scarce, but given killing zombies isn't all that difficult, ammo tends to be quite plentiful, especially if you free all the towns whenever they are being over run. The other part I despise is the challenges. You think some of the challenges on the RDR are repetitive, mindless and don't fit well within the world? These are about the same. Sure, one can argue that the challenges help you and fit in the world by granting you more ammo and weapons, but really, it just feels like something added to be able to put the "20-30 hours more content!" bullet point on the box. If you ignore the challenges and only do the quests, you're probably looking at about 10-15 hours total, max, for UN.Legends and Killers Pack- adds areas to the multiplayer map, characters and the tomahawk weapon. The tomahawk adds challenges to the single player game, but nothing more for single player. My comment above on the challenges not really adding much stands for this content. IMO this one isn't worth $10 on its own.Liars and Cheats Pack- Adds new multiplayer mode (stronghold) where you defend a place or attack it on teams/posses, horse races in multiplayer, multiplayer Liars Dice and Poker (no Blackjack loving here), more characters, new map locations in multiplayer (plus hunting grounds) and the Explosive Rifle weapon (along with corresponding multiplayer and single player challenges; My comment above on the challenges not really adding much stands for this content.) Of all of the multiplayer focused DLC, this is the best of the set IMO given how much it adds.Over all UN is a fun game that continues in the spirit of RDR. I'm just not sure it's worth the price of standalone admission given how much you miss out on having not played RDR.Why 4 stars? The single player and multiplayer games are FUN. Even without playing RDR you can have fun w/ either, though I believe having played RDR gives you a better appreciation of the UN game, which is why I gave it only 4 stars instead of 5. As far as buying UN on its own, it really only makes sense if you meet any of the criteria outlined above. If you own RDR and have the drive space for DLC, buy the UN collection pack and get all of this without needing to wait for the disc. For those that own RDR, this is probably a 3 star release.

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The Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Collection is a collection of three downloadable content (DLC) releases for the open world third-party shooter, Red Dead Redemption on a single Xbox 360 disc. A stand-alone release, meaning that the original Red Dead Redemption game is not necessary for play, the three DLC bundled here include: the Undead Nightmare Pack, the Liars and Cheats Pack and the Legends and Killers Pack. Together these three contain a new single player adventure featuring John Marston in a zombie-stomping storyline, hours of new gameplay, new multiplayer maps and play modes, new characters, mounts, hunting opportunities and weapons.

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Resident Evil 5 for Xbox 360 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have all of the Resident evil games and this is by far the best. The only problem I had was the woman using all my ammo until I took all weapons except the knife away from her. Definitely 5 stars plus.

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From the ashes of old conflicts, a new terror arises. The Umbrella Corporation and its crop of lethal viruses have been destroyed and contained. But a new, more dangerous threat has emerged. Years after surviving the events in Raccoon City, Chris Redfield has been fighting the scourge of bio-organic weapons all over the world. Now a member of the Bio-terrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSSA), Chris is sent to Africa to investigate a biological agent that is transforming the populace into aggressive and disturbing creatures. Joined by another local BSSA agent, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to solve the truth behind the disturbing turn of events. Featuring a revolutionary new co-op mode of gameplay, Resident Evil 5 will let players experience fear together as terror moves out of the shadows and into the light of day.# Two Playable Characters - Chris Redfield, protagonist of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Code Veronica, returns and is joined by new playable character Sheva Alomar, an African BSAA agent tasked with investigating the epidemic.* Two Player Online Co-op - New cooperatively-focused gameplay revolutionizes the way that Resident Evil is played. Chris and Sheva must work together to survive new challenges and fight dangerous hordes of enemies.* Next Generation of Fear - Features groundbreaking graphics that utilize an advanced version of Capcoms proprietary game engine, MT Framework, which powered the hit titles Devil May Cry 4, Lost Planet and Dead Rising.* New Enemies Bring New Challenges - Enemies boast increased speed and intelligence, making them as dangerous alone as they are in groups.* Fear Light as much as Shadow - Lighting effects provide a new level of suspense as players attempt to survive in both harsh sunlight and extreme darkness.By: CapcomRated M for Mature

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Xbox 360 Console 2009 Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all, the important details for people wanting the tech specs:
(1) Yes, this is Jasper, which is a lower power (energy usage, not processing power) revision of Xbox 360 that was released late last year for Arcade models. This seems to be the first Elite range with the new, more efficient chips.
(2) It does NOT appear to have the 256MB on-board Flash Ram. Many theorized that MS would include this on Jasper Elites (and Pros) so that they wouldn't have to have two different motherboards. This does not appear to be the case though. This has little effect on the usage of the system though... in fact, I prefer it as I have no need for the extra storage device to always show up when downloading and copying (I use two external memory units as is for profile portability, which wouldn't be provided by internal flash RAM anyway).
This is IMO the best way to go for an Xbox 360 right now, especially if you have any interest in Resident Evil 5 (a full copy of which is included with this system, including the game case). It also comes with a free downloadable copy of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, which is a great game (though I already own a copy of it). Capcom is the best!
The system and controller are a nice shade of red. The original photos made it look a bit bright and gaudy, but the actual unit seems much more subdued and a bit darker shade. I don't have the previously released red controller, but this looks like the same shade of red to me.
Runs cooler and quieter than any of my other three Xboxes (2 Zephyrs and 1 Falcon, FYI only 1 RROD so far for me and it was the Falcon!).
I highly recommend the Elite because the 120GB drive is big enough that you can fully install all of your games rather than playing them off the discs. This is much quieter while playing (360s spin the DVD drive so fast that it gets quite loud) and a bit faster, too.
The Arcade is a great value, but I guarantee once you try installing games to HD you will wish you could do it for them all.

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With the launch of Resident Evil 5 comes the Xbox 360 Resident Evil Limited Edition Console. The Resident Evil 5 console features the standards for the Elite Xbox 360 plus an exclusive red finish bundled with a matching red wireless controller, Resident Evil 5 standard edition video game, a 120GB hard drive, a token card including Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix and an exclusive Resident Evil Premium Theme (available via Xbox LIVE download).

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Dead Rising Review

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(More customer reviews)Although I prefer FPS (first person shooters) to the 3rd person adventure games, I loved the latest installments of the Lara Croft and the Hitman series games. As of this writing, I have completed Dead Rising in the 72 hour mode and am now replaying the game to try to earn all of the achievements.
Dead Rising is a brand-new genre for the Xbox 360. It's closest cousin is Condemned, a first person horror adventure game but Dead Rising has a number of unique features that set it apart. First off, you can pick up just about anything in the area and use it as a weapon. Potted plants, lawnmowers and even an electric guitar are all at your disposal. There are easily hundreds of potential weapons in this game and part of the fun is discovering new ways to fight off zombies with what you have available at hand.
Adding to the distinct style of Dead Rising is the ability to customize your character. As you make your way through the mall, you can try on new clothing available from the various shops. Cool suits, fashionable glasses and, yes, even women's and children's apparel is fair game to put on. Besides wearing it as you battle the zombies, your character will also appear as you have dressed him during the video cut-scenes, which is a nice extra touch I was delighted to see. Food has also been given special "abilities" in the game. For example, you might find a frozen or raw food somewhere in the mall. If you eat it, you earn one or two points of health. But pop it into an oven before you eat it, and it will completely fill your health meter. Likewise, you can mix certain fluids in a blender can make an extra powerful energy drink!
If you can't tell by everything I've already mentioned, this game is deep. I've only touched the surface to avoid revealing any spoilers, but trust me when I say you can get totally wrapped up in this game. The plot, the game and every little thing (be sure to check out the bookstore!) in the vast mall has been developed with so much detail that you'll find yourself enthralled by it.
However, when undertaking such an ambitious project, there have to be some downfalls. The absolutely worst is the save game methodology. The developers have decided that you must find a restroom or a couch to save. While this seemed cute and clever at first, it quickly became frustrating and enraging (when you couldn't find one right before you got forced into a boss fight). Every player on the planet will find this feature problematic, I guarantee.
One thing that other reviewers haven't mentioned is that some of the level bosses (called "Psychopaths") are redundant or unfairly matched. For example, often you'll be faced with enemies with devastating long-range weapons when all you have is a knife or 2x4 to try and knock out your opponent with. In another boss attack, I literally started at a save point and had to go through two full levels to face a boss who would inevitably defeat me and then I'd have to start all over again. These opponents often have a move that will completely incapacitate you in a single swipe, even when you have full health. This, combined with the fact that you will often have to run halfway across the map (where your last game save was) to repeat the battle, makes the game incredibly annoying. If you could ammo up, then save right before the boss battle, the game would be considerably more enjoyable.
Another item, although mentioned by others in a different light, is the text-based mission objectives. Many reviewers have stated that the text is almost unreadable on smaller, standard definition televisions. However, my biggest complaint in this area is that the text is used at all. This game, by its very nature, is immersive. When you're trapped in a mall and having to fight zillions of zombies, you shouldn't have to stop to read the text of another character. I honestly wish Capcom had spent a little extra time and money to change all of the text interactions to spoken instructions. Not only would this have solved their biggest technical problem with the game, it would have also helped keep the suspense.
Finally, there's a lot of "load-screen-itis" in this game. And by that, I mean that you'll be seeing a lot of the loading screen. Granted, the mall is a huge environment, and the load times are a snappy 5-6 seconds, but it gets annoying when you walk into an elevator and wait, walk down a hallway and wait, turn left and wait... You get the picture.
There is no online component to allow multiplayer (which would be awesome!) but Dead Rising does have downloadable content from Xbox Live. It was available just days after the game released and consists of eight "keys" which unlock several new outfits for the main character, available at no charge. As you'd expect, the game also supports Xbox Achievements, with 50 of them to earn, each worth 20 Gamerscore points. You'll have to spend hundreds (if not thousands!) of hours in this game trying to obtain all of these objectives and I don't consider many of them a "walk in the park."
Honestly, it seems like I'm spending a lot of time picking on the problems of this game, but they will plague you as you try to play through the levels. But when it comes right down to it, this game has all 5 "Es" that make it a powerhouse: Exciting plot, Engaging environments, Enlightening characters, 360 Exclusivity and Encredible customization! (OK, that last one wasn't an "E" but you'll have to forgive me, just like you'll have to forgive certain flaws in this game!) In short, you should definitely pick this game up, but love it for everything it accomplishes while forgiving it for the technical problems that it has. I give it a solid 5 stars for fun, but a 3 star rating for the inherent problems.

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Dead Rising follows the harrowing tale of Frank West, a freelance photojournalist after the scoop of a lifetime. In a small suburban town that's overrun by zombies, he escapes to the local shopping mall, thinking it will be safe. Now it's a standoff, with zombies unable to get Frank, but him unable to get out & escape. Fortunately, he's got an entire mall at his disposal. Utilize everything you can find to fight off the flesh-hungry mob and search for the truth behind the horrendous epidemic.

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