Lucasarts, a pearl in the tri-fold crown of Temperence
937237
I just want to add. Don't listen to these clowns that say theres no B25s, you just gotta play til they become unlocked. Nowadays you can just type in a cheat code and skip to the end well keep in mind that such a thing did not exist on the old DOS machines.
You get a manual, a quick reference guide and 2 CD-ROMs containing a total of 3 titles: "Normandy in Flames", "Japs Ahoy" and "Tri-plane: Flight School" (a demo of an improved title). At one point a minature farting Jabba the Hut comes out and Dances a jig. Now, will somebody tell me what I did to activate that???
4632383
It's currently March 2004, and this game shows its age a bit - not that it could do anything else.  I played it this past week using Windows XP and it ran equally with and without dropping it into 95/98 compatability mode.  Sometimes the pauses between steps/movements got to be irritating; by today's standards, it needs polish. Motion is guided and limited, the progression leans heavily toward the linear, and there's a fair amount of disk-swapping.
That being said, the brilliant dialogue and characterization this game has won't be bested for years to come, if ever.  On top of that, the graphics are wonderful, and the music (both beautiful and appropriate), has a definate part in the role play.  These advantages more than make up for the limitations of the mechanics.
My hat is off to the writers and voices -  an extended conversation with the Mayan bat is a treat not to be missed, the entire Chinese section is undertoned and hillarious, and the Irish birdman is perfection.
I bought the jewel case version used for under $4.  I'd happily pay the current game rate of $50 if that's what it would take to replace it.
The ending I did not care for.  For that, I deducted one star - the story quality took a definate nose dive right at the end - and even the fantastic artwork couldn't save the last two cut-scenes.
But they aren't part of the game.
Buy it soon, folks.  They aren't making this one anymore.
2335882
First let's talk about how it runs. You don't need STEAM to activate it. What this means
is that you can add it to your library under the label of a Non-Steam game, nor are
you required to have a Windows Live account. You buy it, set it up, and enjoy.

I haven't tried to access leaderboards online. I can't get any patch, or
the downloadable costumes, or the Vergil campaign. In my honest opinion, at least
2/3 of these concerns are inconsequential. DmC has problems beyond what a patch can do.

Regardless of the details mentioned above, the game will work. No SecURom, just needs to
burn and load on your computer. You can even play without the disc inside once loaded
to your desktop. DmC also carries controller support. A wired Xbox 360 remote will do.

This is a disc version that ran incredible cheap compared to current prices on
the console iteration. This puts buying the PS3, 360 copies to shame.

The PC port is the definitive experience to immerse in and here is why.

The game runs fast, at 60 frames per second, although the foreground doesn't look
as crisp clear as the Echidna battle with Dante from his adventures in finding Nero.
Depending on your graphics card, and settings, the motion with the character movements
appear incredibly lifelike and less animated. In other words, an outside company (QLOC,
a Polish studio) took the garbage that Ninja Theory produced and modified it to play like an
actual videogame. Yes, that's right, the secondary developer made the superior version.

There are also internal settings within the games HUD. Play with it to see how you do.
If you're hardware is on a budget, you may have to do some toning down.

What this port doesn't fix

- The storyline composing of juvenille dialogue, and references aimed at shock value
- Holding down the use of PropShredder, or the Axe strike, or stabs to jump from D to SSS.
- Excessive swears used to amatureishly reinforce the narrative at "dark" and "serious"
- Color coded enemies targeted only by the use of specific weapons
- Delayed inputs between weapon swtiching either in mid air or the ground
- The lack of different fighting styles to practice creatively
- Scripted events moved into boss battles which interrupts the flow of combo gameplay

Overall it's not as creative or classy as the Devil May Cry 3 and 4, but for $10
used, it will aid those looking to get an understanding of this game without
funds going into a sequel. If this games sales succeed, than the original timeline
and innovation may likely never be revisited.

Luckly Amazon allows for used games sales with any worry on any shoulders.
If quantites have run out and anyone is interested in purchasing my copy, write to me.

I did have some fun, which is more than what I can say for the console counterparts.
1564486
I have played this game since first using it on Win 98.  There are a plethora of individuals that have made MSI's, OPT's & other improvements to bring this game to a modern operating system like Win 7.1.  Thanks to You all: George Lucas, Lucas Arts, Totally Games, Markus Egger, Tony Denton, xwaupgrade site & others for the tireless effort.
4392003
You can't say that any other game plays like this but Metroid, and that could be the finest testament to this game's faithfulness to its roots.  Where else is the whole world one big "level," that you don't just play through or beat but EXPLORE?  Where else do you adventure solo like this on an alien world, relying on your own abilities to interpret and solve problems?  Where else do you get the intangible joy of facing an insurmountable puzzle, only to leave it and come back to it later, properly equipped to solve it?  No where my friends, and that such a unique experience can be so masterfully created and sold as a mainstream title only attests to the quality of the work Nintendo and Retro have done.  It's all the same, yet it's new, fresh, and innovative.  It's the proper evolution of classic gaming, and is already a classic in its own right.  Saying that, I will leave you with a question: Have you ever put down the forays into 3D that were Mario 64 and Orcarnia of Time?  If your answer is no, and it almost certainly is, then I strongly encourage you take another look at this modern gaming gem.
2090422
elegant destruction of all who oppose you, that is what the gameplay appears to be, great for bloodthirsty gamers
2277295
Lego Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures is a good, solid game. It comes from a lineage of good stock by the developer Traveler's Tales, who previously created the sublime franchise of Lego Star Wars, the game begins just as the Raiders of the Lost Ark did, with Indy trekking it through a dense jungle, but that's where things depart from the movie, his friends all taken away through their own foolishness and tribal hijinks until the sole survivor of Indy's posse is the character played by Alfred Molina in the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

This is how the rest of game plays out, the original story is there, but with minor details changed for storytelling purposes, mind you this is an "E" rated game. The characters do not speak, but their expressions and noises make up for the lack of voices. The story line is just as the trilogy went, with Raiders, Temple of Doom, and finally Last Crusade, hopefully they won't make a Kingdom of the Crystal Skull sequel.

The game plays surprisingly smooth and fighting seemed very natural, the controls were intuitive enough so that I did not have to use the manual, just the beginning tutorial was sufficient. There were some gameplay difficulties in one area and that was the fighting. Enemies seemed to have an unfair advantage by being able to use guns which knocked a whole heart off every time you were hit, but other than that the game plays wonderfully. To advance in the game one must collect Lego pieces and puzzles that use various other Lego pieces from you surroundings. Unlike the Lego Star Wars games, Lego Indiana Jones' puzzles are much simpler and are fun to complete and rarely escalate to tedium.

The graphics are superb, I own a 40" Samsung LCD television capable of running the game at its highest 1080p. All the edges are crisp, the colors vibrant, and the sounds sharp. The one major issue here is that there is quite a bit of screen tearing, if that is an issue for you (screen tearing is when the game appears to "break" from the whole and usually occurs in scenes with a lot of motions). Although the sounds sounded good, they were kept to a bare minimum, meaning that they were few and it seemed as if TT could have added in quite a bit more depth into the game's soundscape.

Overall, this is one solid performer whose weaknesses are made up for in the stupendous game play and the terrific story telling. Any Indy fan and or Traveler's Tales fan should be able to find this game a hilarious romp through the Indiana Jones universe (as well as any kids who can appreciate an excellent game) and a very respectable game to boot.

Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures: B+
436521
I must say, Star Wars on modern consoles is becoming more and more realistic. If you've seen the graphics in this latest release, you know what I'm talking about--they're drop-dead gorgeous. Every location is beautifully rendered without any slowdown, and the total-immersion feel of the Star Wars universe is reached perfectly.
Factor 5 did their homework on this one, and improved on its Rogue Squadron forebears. Coming complete with multiple space- and planet-based missions, as well as an excellent two-player version of every level from Rogue Squadron II (with a bit of an increase in difficutly) and some DVD-like extras, this is the complete package for the Star Wars-d.
One issue which comes up between the interesting music choices is the fact that missions based on the ground have difficult-to-control aspects like firing lasers which removes some of the fun. Granted, this is really not too bad in my experience, it could have been worked on a little more. The space battles, however, are better than ever, and following the Rebels more closely to the Trilogy scripts is a bonus for some fans (like myself). Besides, who doesn't like a little Star Wars Arcade circa 1989, eh?
Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. It's a sleeper hit, and despite some whining, (and a less-than-gigantic single player mode) this space-flight-and-third-person-shooter is bound to become a favorite for a quick fix of Star Warsiness.
2749993
Not a bad game, and very well done as most older style Lucasarts games were (such as Day of the Tentacle, and Sam & Max).  I really enjoyed playing it, if just for the adventure.  A lot of the other character voices used were pretty well on, but the Duckman voice actor was definately not Jason Alexander.  Still worth a play, and a fun piece of memorabilia from the show if you can find it.
385333
Blood, Sweat and Pixels, by Jason Schreier is a look at the process of creating video games in a way that most people don't really think about. From the legally unavoidable piracy issues in Poland leading to CD Projekt Red's formation to the lackluster release of Vanilla destiny, Jason tells us the behind the scenes stories of not only what happened to some of the video games released in an unexpected state, but why.

The writing is charming and well-paced. Reading it feels like listening to the story the developer would tell about the formation of their game, rather than the bland timeline of a game's development. At just under 300 pages, and containing ten chapters, no individual story wears out its welcome.

Someone asked me who the target audience of this book was. I think that if you're a fan of our show, you're definitely in that demographic. In general, if you're interested in getting into game development, if you've ever been baffled a features' lack of inclusion in the game, or wondered why a broken game was shipped in that state, this book will definitely answer a lot of questions you've had. One thing that's made clear is that nobody is more aware of a game's shortcomings than its makers. They ship games in that state because they feel they have no choice. Also, if you've ever used the phrase "lazy game devs" unironically, karma dictates that you have to purchase and read this book.

He also covers a wide variety of stories within game development. Uncharted 4 had a team of over 300, while Shovel Knight was created by a team of five individuals. While Dragon Age: Inquisition's story ends essentially at launch, Diablo III's story begins with the story of its console port, about a year before the launch of the main game and mostly discusses the post-launch support of that title. Halo Wars and Pillars of Eternity didn't make sense to a lot of people, but the teams believed there was an unseen audience that were desperate for the games they were creating... And they were right.

Stardew Valley showed the pitfalls of what happens when a developer has no external guidance, as Eric Barone meanders through a five year process with a very inconsistent momentum. On the opposing end of the spectrum, the final chapter covers Lucasarts' Star Wars 1313. As the only cancelled game in the book, it shines a light on the outside forces and business politics that can doom even potentially the best, and most lucrative game programs.

One of the most memorable quotes in the book that will stick with me is one developer telling Schreier, "It's a miracle that any game is made." If nothing else, this book will make you grateful and perhaps a little bit more forgiving of the people who make our hobby possible through their tireless effort. I highly recommend it, and think if you choose to pick it up, it will enhance your enjoyment and appreciation of video games.

-Kevin, for TWIOCH
1381394
You have the magazine with the review, that automatically makes you an authority on games? Sure, the Quake III engine is far from perfect, but when did games become only about the graphics? It's all about story, characters and GAMEPLAY!!! Graphics are secondary, they should only be used to enhance gameplay.
I, for one am looking forward to the release of Jedi Outcast. I hope it's as good as Jedi Knight. If it is, we've got another hit on our hands.
4281541
I play the Star Wars: The Old Republic. It is an awesome game.
740884
What struck me the most about this game was the attention given to detail. I don't mean visual detail (although the graphics are good), I mean the details that make any game good.
This is a combination turn-based and  real-time, role-playing and strategy game, and it takes the best elements  from all worlds.
All player attributes (health, strength, HP, wisdom,  etc.) are used and monitored. Players have their own abilities,  personalities, likes, and dislikes, and gameplay is affected by them.  Abilities increase with use and experience, but can decrease due to injury.  Each player has it's own morale, and performance will vary with morale  level.
Combat is intense. There is a suprisingly wide array of weapons,  explosives, accessories, and other items that can be used, and each behaves  in a unique fashion. Various parts of enemies can be targeted.
Gameplay  is non-linear. You are able to go anywhere in the game at will (although it  may not always be advisable to do so).
I've played this game three times,  and I'm still not tired of it. I never buy games right when they come out  -- but I bought this one. Download the demo and take a look!
2377803
"Jedi Outcast" is the third installment in the outstanding "Dark Forces" series.  Sadly, it is also the first misfire.  "Dark Forces" and "Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight" were superb games both in terms of graphics, gameplay, and story arc.  Admittedly, the graphics are good for "Jedi Outcast", but it fails miserably with gameplay.  The keyboard plays a singularly important role in any PC-based video game.  With that being fact, it's imperative that actions that keyboards performs be smooth and fluid.  It was with the two previous installments in this series, but the control is nothing short of totally aggravating.  The movement is 'herky-jerky', almost like it regressed to earlier technology.  Aiming the weapons at the targets is nearly impossible because the targets move too fast to acquire with the current setup.  Also, trying to pan the player's view up and down and from left to right is very shaky.  The gameplay is so awful that I have been forced to stop playing the game because I do not have the patience to deal with it.  I suspect the game, itself, may actually get quite good.  Unfortunately, I cannot give a rating based on how good I think the game could be if only the gameplay were better.  The fact that the game is too aggravating to continue to play dooms "Jedi Outcast" to the lowest score possible.  Perhaps the versions ported for actual gaming systems perform much better.  If they do, I will review this game much more favorably for that platform.
4713206
Fallout 3 is one of those rare games that will redefine gaming as we know it. It has artfully combined the game types of shooter and RPG, with more of a lean towards shooter. First and foremost understand that the game is not meant, nor designed, to be played like a standard first person shooter. Similar to old school "dice" based rpg's, each attack will have a success/failure percentage. Depending on your range, weapon, and skill will determine the ratio of success/failure. When you engage in combat you utilize what the game calls the V.A.T.S system, this literally "stops time" while you target a portion of their body (arms, legs, torso, head, weapon), each body part will display your percentage for a successful hit if you should choose to attack. Now rest assured that this combat system does not make for  "slow" rpg/turnbased style combat, the action is dizzingly fast. The manner in which you engage/defend against an enemy is extremely strategic, this is what I feel truly makes this a great game, the combat system balances action/strategy in a "new" and entertainingly "fast" way. The leveling system works nicely where you can improve your characters attributes based on your prefered playing style (mainly stealth v. combat strength).  Furthermore the game has excellent graphics, and a well thought out, well executed story that kept me very interested from begining to end. The main quest took me about 25+ hours to complete, and I look forward to performing the side quests. The reason why I have docked .5 a star is because as catchy/mood enhancing the music is, there are only about 20 tracks which do get a bit repetitive for such a lengthy game. Overall this is an excellent game, that has taken risks to create a "new" gaming experiences, with nearly flawless results. I have a XBOX 360 arcade (bought in Oct of 08) and only had the game freeze once in the 25+ hours of play, I have experienced zero of the bugs that the one star reviews reflect, which logically points to the hardware rather than the software as the reason behind all that. If you enjoy action games and rpg's the purchase of this game is an absolute no brainer. Furthermore I look forward to "Fallout 3 DLC", which are downloadable expansions exlcusive to XBOX 360.
2369243
I only recently discovered FTL through Steam and a large part of what makes the game is the mood set by the soundtrack.  It is nicely nuanced and atmospheric and complements the simple style of the game design perfectly.  Two thumbs up!
3080604
Regardless of the unfortunate DRM, this game is amazing. If you're a sci-fi fan, especially a space opera or sci-fi adventure fan, you're going to flip for this game. The third-person shooter / RPG hybrid works well.

I suggest you get used to the two radial menus, one for weapons and the other for biotic powers. Holding the associated bumper button on your controller will pause the game while you select. Pick quickly for close to real-time action or hold the bumper to analyze the situation and plan your team's strategy.

I went gaga for this game. Mass Effect 2 is both better and worse. Its combat system is much better, but there are questionable choices in the story that weaken the best part about the first game. Still, you can play both games back to back with the same character, and the story will reflect your choices from the first game.

Come on Mass Effect 3, due holiday 2011!!