Changed the game entirely
350450
My MacBook Flies now.  I never would have imagined that it would perform as fast as it is performing very easy to install so easy a caveman could  do it.
1484127
I was initially skeptical about NHL 08.  I was a 2K Sports player for years as EA never seemed to get what hockey was really about.  To put it simply, the 2K series tended to be hockey simulators while the EA games tended to be arcade games.  That all changed with NHL 08.

The biggest change, and the biggest positive, in the game compared to its compatriots (regardless of brand) is the notion of positioning being important.  Just like in its real-life counterpart, since obstruction is being enforced, defensive positioning is paramount.  In NHL 08, you'll actually be called for tripping or holding.  You'll actually be called for interference, and even elbowing.  All of this means that you'll be acutely aware of where your defenders are in relation to the puck carrier and possible passing lanes.

Perhaps even more compelling is that the opponent AI understands these factors as well.  Trust me when I say you will be beat by Ovechkin on a backdoor play.  You will be beat by a tip-in of a cross-crease pass because a defender is out of position.  You will be beat by the opposing defense using your own defenders as a screen for their slapshots.

Graphically, the game is solid.  Skaters kick up snow when they stop suddenly.  The goalie's water bottle gets shot to the end glass if you roof one by him.  Hats are thrown when there's a hat trick.  The uniforms are all legit, and look good.

The audio is generally good.  Gary Thorne and Bill Clement are great announcers, but, like with all sports games, have a limited amount of dialogue.  The crowd seems pretty lifelike, even starting chants for a certain player, or if your team is mouting a comeback.

Two things hold this game from reaching five stars:

1. The controls take a while to get used to.  This is especially true if you come from 2K Sports.  They're very simple once you get used to them, but there is a learning curve.

2. Fighting seems to be an afterthought.  While you can fight against an opposing player (which is instigated by, of all things, slashing them), the controls are a bit of a mystery.  Unfortunately, the manual doesn't help because there are no fighting instructions in it.  From what I can tell, the right stick controls the punching (somewhat like EA's Fight Night games) and the face buttons control other actions, but it's all a bit of a crapshoot.  Thankfully, fighting is pretty rare in the game.

Overall, NHL 08 is just about perfect.  If you enjoy hockey games, I recommend picking it up.
2188462
After playing the Classic Risk for many many years growing up, I was pleasantly surprised by this updated version when some friends come over.  You see, I hesitated to play this because I was sooo tired of Risk.  Every game seemed to devolve into the same routine: players would consolidate continents (North America, South America, Africa or Australia pretty much won the game), building up armies on the borders along with token "card battles" fought in Europe and Asia, and then the blitzkriegs at the end as cards got turned in.

What made this unique and fun was the variety of ways to win.  Instead of all-out elimination one could plot ways to exploit partial takeovers, ill placed capitals, calculated cross-border excursions, and something other than the massive border wars that Classic Risk devolved into.

I would recommend this to either first timers or grizzled veterans such as myself looking for a fresh update to a classic game.
3545322
The wrap this game gets is that it is nothing more than a re-packaged version of the previous year's game. I was actually contemplating not getting this game until much later, as I didn't want to drop much money on something that was basically the same as last year's version.

I was pleasantly surprised!!!!

New physics engine, much brighter and better graphics, easier navigation menus, and lots and lots of "little things" that make a huge difference.

This is not just a re-packaging of last year's game. You can tell that the creative team really did some work on this one, and it makes for the most authentic, and enjoyable college football experience on a console yet.

-Mike
John 3:16
983641
I pretty much play only sports games on my Playstation 2, and this rates up there with Madden 2004 and ESPN NBA Basketball as the best sports games I have played this year.  This game is so good it will actually make you want to watch soccer, and when you do you will realize how this game almost eerily recreates the atmosphere and gameplay of real soccer.  It truly makes FIFA 2004 seem laughable--and FIFA 2004 is a pretty good game by sports games' standards.  Warning: this game is fairly complex, with a 50+ page instruction booklet, and can cause a little frustration, but once you get into it you will be completely absorbed and probably push aside all your other games for at least a month.  Here are some suggestions to help you out if you have never played before: 1. Start with the basic controls on the two star level (three stars is the default, and is really tough on beginners). 2.  Go to training mode, click on Challenge Training, and prepare to have fun and learn a whole lot about how to play this game. These are much like the Madden drills, and teach you skills such as passing, shooting, dribbling, defending, and free kicks.  3.  Play in Cup Mode with an international power such as Brazil or England.  You should be able to pull out a good finish.  4. Check a website like [...] or db.gamefaqs.com and go to Edit Mode and rename the club teams.  Most of the players already have their correct names, but it is nice to know when you are playing Manchester United.  4. Now you are ready for Master League, the greatest franchise mode in any sports game.  You will start with a mediocre team, so when negotiations come up grab an unlocked player or a player without a club.  It is okay to go in the red as long as you are not under 10,000, and have money when the next season begins. 5.  Go to options and play around with the language of the announcers.  Even if you don't understand a word of French, Spanish, German, or Italian, these announcers make the game a lot more fun!  Gooooooaaaaaaaaalllllll!  If you have a reasonable amount of time to dedicate to a soccer game, this is the one to get.  It is so great it actually will make you a fan of this incredibly popular international sport!
2353092
I have been playing Civilization since I owned my first Mac in college. I have loved every single version even more than the last.

This new Civ4 ROCKS!!!

It has improved everything I didn't like about the last version in ways I didn't think possible.

It developed the interactions between Nations in the most amazing ways. From trading resources to Religious differences to outright declaration of WAR!!!

I did play this Game first on my older Pentium 3 computer and while it played, it was very slow. However, I soon bought a new computer anyway and now the game flies.

Thank you Sid Meier!!!
2507389
By far the best 2k yet. The gameplay is just as smooth as past years but much more realistic. Defense actually exists. I can't tell you how many jaw dropping blocks I see every game and each one is unique. No more dunking over a defender whose arm swipped right through the ball yet didn't affect the shot.

I also can't say enough about the myplayer mode. I have always been a myplayer fan but what they did with this year's version is a vast improvement. Rather than countless repetative games with mediocre skill points awarded, this years version includes what feels like a story mode. Instead of the same old post-game interviews, you face real life situations on and off the court and each decision affects how you are viewed by teammates, fans and the league as a whole. There is a rival that you square off with throughout your career which adds a whole new level of excitement. It has a certain "Magic-Bird" feel to it.

I highly recommend this game to anyone who even moderately enjoys basketball.
1157528
The book is an absolute must for every serious poker players library. Once I finished reading this book my game changed forever. I am making money instead of being a leaking chips as a friend of mine used to say.
4378702
Even though I've never wanted to become a serious chess player, I enjoy the game and I always wanted to be a decent player.
Over the years, I had bought a number of books - e.g a classic by John Nunn, one about openings, a couple on strategy and theory, another "compilation" of grand master games). I had spent many an hour reading, thinking, and playing through the games in these books.
Somehow I was stuck essentially at being just a "beginner". I knew the "rhetoric" of the game, but somehow I didn't understand things - I couldn't "see" the board!
Whatever is published as "beginner" material is limited to the hopelessly trivial stuff. And, then all of a sudden there is a myriad of overwhelming material on openings, end-games, strategy, etc. It's like trying to read about advanced physics with your high school knowledge!
Finally one fine day last summer I decided to face my frustration! So I embarked on a mission to find a "teacher"! It took some time before I came across Siegbert Tarrasch's book, but I knew I had found the book I was looking for!
He uses an absolutely inspired and uniquely brilliant (and common sense, when you come right down to it!) approach. He starts by what he calls the "elements" of the game - only a few pieces at a time - i.e. the end game!
Next, he teaches the building blocks of the middle game. This is where he carries you over the chasm that lies between a beginner and an intermediate player! Even some intermediate players are likely to learn something. The last part of the book, as he himself points out, is really just to send you off towards the more advanced material on openings and strategy.
Finally, most remarkable of all, his passion for the game of chess and his knack for "teaching" it comes across each and every page!
4206572
This is probably one of the most underrated dlc for CK2. The amount of changes intruduced here deserved whole new version of the game. I can't imagine playing this game again without all these jewish loans, holy orders, earlier crusades and many other special events (like demonic spawns or pilgrimages).  All of them made playing abrahamic religions much funnier and faster, comparable to playing norse in ToG. They even expanded most of the catholic heresies, and introduced college of cardinals, with ability to win elections, and even install Pope from own dynasty, Borgia style.
Returning from this to the base game mechanic is a real chore. Add Legacy of Rome on top of this (Retinues) and you are set.
And if you are looking for a good challenge, try survivng as Jewish Khazaria surrounded with Tengri tribals.
My favourite expansion next to the Old Gods.
1113342
I'm a huge fan of cyclades, but it seems after a while to lose some replayability with my friends. I tried the hades expansion and that added some spice, but the game mechanics remained relatively the same. Titans, however, is a complete revamp of the game.

The first big change is the addition of a completely new playing board.  This board has two large islands with lots of territories, aimed at making land battles more prevalent since some players are next to you instead of across a sea (normally would need poseidon AND Aries to traverse). There is now a new color, purples, for up to 6 players. They say 6 players should only be played in teams of 2's or 3's. There is also a ton of cornucopia all around you adding for a large early game gold income establishment.

Throw in a new God, Kronos, which allows you to buy and move titans (and troops) that are equal to normal troops (so it's like playing with two aries) and you have yourself a very fast paced and aggressive game that adds remarkably more fun (in my opinion).

At the beginning of the game, one of each building is randomly placed in 4 predetermined territories that have no cornucopia. There are no starting locations. That is determined through the first round of God betting. The top positioned God gets to pick locations for 2 troops and 2 fleets in two adjacent land territories and two adjacent sea spaces; then the next God and so on. You also get a bonus of one free item (philosopher, priest,  troop, fleet, titan, prosperity marker) and one free building dependant on what God you have. It is not possible to pick two adjacent territories and sea spaces and not have 2 cornucopia so it is fair.

There are two out of five special metropolis' that are randomly chosen at the beginning of the game. The first two people to get metropolis' get to pick one. Each one has a special power that is related to one of the gods (+3 defense land, +3 defense sea,  - 2GP for monsters, +2GP/round, need only 3 instead of 4 philosophers for next metropolis). This is to encourage people to not be as scared to get the first metropolis.

There are 5 artifacts that are shuffled into the monster deck that allow various territory perks (ex. Prosperity markers on that space get 2GP/round, troops on that space can move across the map to another territory, if a player bumps you in betting they pay you 1GP, etc). If you collect all 5 you instantly win the game.

They recommend you not use the hades expansion in conjunction with this one, but I'm going to try it anyway and let you know how it is. All-in-all the games seem to go a lot faster with people being able to get metropolis' faster and the ability for lots of attacking and power struggles. I personally feel as though the strategies are more balanced than before. One thing is for sure though, gold is as important as ever, so it is smart to establish good gold income early game and try to prevent others from getting it. People will snowball if they are left alone a few rounds after scoring a bunch of neighboring cornucopia.  Buy this game, it is essential to own!  Rush for the gold, rush to kill each other, and have fun!
4951785
The first few times I played this on the Wii, I was having trouble straightening out my swing (and putting) and it irritated me to the point of ALMOST not enjoying the game. I stuck it out and played through it and now I'm a full-blown TW08 addict! The Wii version smokes every version preceding it -and those are among the greatest sports games in video gaming history. Get this game and if you struggle at first, keep fighting through it -like you did with every other version of this game...it will be worth it.
1322739
Ok so first here's all the new stuff the game comes with;

~3 new teams from a division called the Putrid Players.
~The teams are Nurgle, Chaos Dwarves and Goblins!
~ An extra Score Board  (to add a 5th Player)
~Stadiums (which add rules to each match)
~penalty cheating tokens and pnealty cards
~new ability called fouling
~ and a Referee
~ a few more team upgrades for the original teams.
~new match ups and tournaments

All in all the stuff that this expansion adds is awesome without gettting too complex.
I think this expansion is worth it just for the new teams, (love the goblins) and the extra player.
The new skill; fouling, lets you foul your opponents; which means you can look at a card in your opponent's hand and choose whether or not the opponent will discard it.

  Now you also run the risk of getting penalties, which are negative effects after the matchups have been resolved.

  The stadiums add restrictions to the matchups now. Here's a taste of the type of restrictions you'll encounter;  no cheating or no one above 2 star power in that particular matchup. You can choose to break these rules at the cost of a penalty card, which i think gives you interesting choices.

  The Ref. goes around handing out cheating tokens so it adds a little randomness to the game or you can use it to your advantage and or push your luck a little.
  You can easily choose which parts of the expansion you want to add to the game.

The goblins are by far my favorite. There is a little bias because I love goblins. They're a little silly and have pogo sticks, chainsaws, and little Davinci style helicopters! THey're a little hard to play with but they don't feel unbalanced

If you already have the other expansion it might be too much for some people to add all the components. I personally don't think it's too much to track.
This game is awesome and the expansions don't disappoint!
2694518
All of the reviews above and below are 100% we all have our doubts when it comes to buying books like these but trust me this book has opened my mind to a whole new level , I've had the game wrong/twisted this whole time and this book exposed that and forced me to fix the problems I faced.
3761980
This book changed my whole approach to logic games.  I seemed to hit a brick wall with my logic games section and after I got this book that totally changed.  This book gives you multiple approaches to the games section that is often not taught by other books and prep companies.  This will change your score for the better.
3195940
I am a huge soccer fan as well as an intently involved athlete in the game. FIFA is for Real. If you have ever seen a Pro Soccer match on TV this is almost exactly like one except you control it. I have become basically a master of this game crushing all oppenants as well as the computer on some of the hardest settings. I recently sold my PS1 in order to gain money for the purchase of a PS2,I sold quite a few PS1 games but this is one that I couldn't let go of. Really an excellent game.
2242155
Use this and you will be playing a totally different game. Every serious player that wants to win will be glad to own the book.