One of the great values in videogames
598807
I heard great things about previous versions of this collection, and decided to finally break down and get it on the 360 since its supposed to be the same thing, just in hi-def and with additional tables. This was a good move, as it's tremendously polished, accurate, and a great deal of fun. The only negative I can levy against it is that it's very difficult to accomplish the achievements, and the William Challenge (a great concept!) is also extremely difficult, but it doesn't stop me from try, trying again. Even my wife enjoys playing it with me. Great stuff, and for the price, one of the top values in videogames.
4208366
This is one of the best video games ever created. There is a steady skill curve that seems to be infinite, but at it's core it's really just an evolved version of pong that will keep you hooked for hours. There are no leveling gimmicks or loot grinding to play at a high level. You can literally install the game and have equipment just as competitive on day one as it will be on day 100. The items you unlock and the DLC in this game are purely cosmetic, the game is so good it needs no grinding gimmicks to keep you playing.
3329484
Koei has outdone themselves with this classic.

The legends and myths surrounding the fall of the Han dynasty in second century China are entirely enchanting and Koei has brought to life and even now made into a more historically accurate strategy and conquest videogame.

I don't think it defeats the purpose that the player has the capacity to lay waste to entire armies and opponents because, being a hack-n-slash, the game adds a sort of vintage "kung-fu feature film" effect that is, I'm sure, entirely enjoyable for the average gamer.

Five stars. No question.
2176950
Killzone 2 sets the standard of graphics in a video game very high. This is one of the most beautiful games ever created, outstanding particle effects, great lighting and impressive character models. The controls are good, they take some time to get used to but for me they are fine (and I have played a lot of FPS). The replay value is very high since the online game (Warzone) of Killzone is where this game shines even more delivering outstanding gameplay, great customization and lag-free gaming. The only flaw to me is that the game suffers sometimes of slowdown when it's loading the map in the single player campaign and sometimes this can get a bit annoying. Other than that the game is great and it deserves every good review it has received.
1815437
Beyond Good and Evil is one of those highly underrated games like Iko that that no one is playing. The excellent game play, art direction, and storyline developed by Michel Ansel really makes me wonder why Ubisoft didn't choose to promote this game as much as they did with Prince of Persia.

This game features game play that uses a mixture of stealth, platform, adventure along with some minor rpg elements. There are also alot of interactive features from use of an ingame email system and mdisks to acquire information on what to do next on your missions and further elaboration on various storyline elements. Also this game isn't with out it's side quests and minigames, but isn't over saturated with them to the point where it feels like doing them all is a chore.

I think one of the best features of this game is the taking pictures and cataloguing of all the animal species that you find in the world Hillys that the game takes place. This really allows you to experience the world fully this game takes place in and appreciate what went into making this game.

This game also has another element that I think is essential to a good video game. A difficult last boss! I think alot of video games as of late have been lacking that. It also has a fair amount of replay value if you missed any pearls, animals, or mdisks your first time through.

Whilst being short, this  game is definitely worth buying considering how much fun it is and the price it is going for.
469843
The amount of love and dedication that went into the creation of this world is really apparent.  The atmosphere is amazing.  You really get the feeling that you're walking around in a gloomy world that is devoid of almost all hope.  You know, until you step in.

Mosts quests are a lot of fun and you can actually talk yourself out of quite a few of them as opposed to blasting your way out of all your trouble.  Although, that option is still available.  There are a good variety of weapons and armor along with a variety of places you can visit.  Sometimes I'll just make sure I'm fully stocked, pick a direction on my compass, and keep going until I find something interesting.  It hasn't failed me yet.  The world is so diverse with a plentiful number of things to see and do.  The graphics are top notch as well.

The only downsides would probably be the character models and AI.  The character models can be downright ugly and jarring at times.  Sometimes the AI isn't too smart in how it fights or acts.  But, these concerns hardly detract from the game.

As for the collector's edition, you get a cool bobble head and a pretty rad looking lunch box.  You could use it to actually store your lunch, although I prefer to sit it on my shelf and admire it.

Overall, this is a great game I would highly recommend.
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.
131221
In a crowded genre it takes a special kind of game to stand up and be counted. Timesplitters 2, though over a year old, nevertheless remains one of the finest console FP shooters ever devised, marrying a sturdy, smooth and frantic single player mode with a literal ton of multiplayer options. You should own this game. Especially if you are a monkey.
Fans of the original game will recall the basic format. The eponymous Timesplitters, a bunch of drooling alien villains, are attempting to subvert human history by invading various historically iconic eras and buggering them up. In an effort to prevent the downfall of mankind, two plucky space marines have infiltrated the Timesplitter's space-station HQ, hopped into a time portal, and set off to set history to rights, via (of course) the medium of massive shooty weapons.
This sequel essentially ups the single-player ante with a much needed injection of plot, and even more guns, babes, mission objectives and the like, and wraps it all up in gloriously smooth cartoon graphics. The character models and level textures aren't really much to write home about these days, but throw in a near ceaseless barrage of explosions, glowing tracer fire, whooping aliens and ricocheting blaster fire, and you've got one very polished visual stunner to play with.
Aurally, TS2 is just as punchy, with plenty of excellent weapon effects, and some wonderfully cartoonish vocals, such as the individual grunts or screams of the 150+ playable characters. Perhaps 'characters' is a touch strong for describing all of these misfit personas - they don't have their own backstory as such, but they are for the most part colorful and shapely (sometimes in a pervy 'lady-sprite' kinda way...) and make for great variety in the multiplayer mode, which is for the most part, where this game is at.
There are several multiplayer modes to unlock in TS2, inlcluding the usual deathmatch and bag-tag options, but also such variables as Vampire (suck you opponents health with each hit) or Monkey Assistant, which provides the lowest scoring player with a monkey bodyguard, until they catch up. Its terrific fun to pit such eclectic characters together with such imaginative game modes, and with a good supply of willing friends, stimulants and time you have at your command the ultimate console party game.
TS2 also includes a robust level editor for all the budding designers out there. New in this edition is the ability to add event triggers and enemy spawns, allowing to some extent the creation of simple single player levels. The editor is simple to use which is the main thing, and you can have a great deal of satisfying fun in conjuring your own deathmatch catacombs.
Also worth mentioning is the ability to play the single play story mode cooperatively with a friend, opening up a new world of possibilities. Indeed, rather than just porting the basic game to a split screen mode, the designers have actually added new enemies and objectives in this mode, meaning that it really is a totally original experience from the single player. Oh, and then there's all the mini challenges and sub games to tackle in order to open up new playable characters and levels for the arcade mode. Talk about value for money!
So, in deciding whether or not to add this game to your collection, you really just need to ask yourself one thing - can I afford it? If the answer is yes, then there's no good reason to waste time in not buying it. This is an instantly classic action game with literally hundreds of hours of top quality fun. Highly recommended.
2613849
In my opinion, the best video game ever!
This game is a treasure and one you return to many times.
4534642
First, let me say that I'm an adult in my 30's and I enjoy gaming without letting it rule my life. If you like a story you'll get a great one; brilliant depth, returning characters from older titles, and a complex story. If you want to explore, enjoy free movement non-linear gameplay, MGS4 delivers. If you don't like story but demand a great shooter with authentic weapons, you shall have it! The game has real weapons, with their real names, modeled after the actual devices, that sound like, reload like, and demonstrate stopping power like the real deal.

  What is great about this game is that you are not limited in your approach to completing stages. If you wish to sneak by the game you'll have that option with 90% of the stages. If you wanna see what the weapons do you can expend the entirety of your arsenal and eliminate everyone . And if you want to challenge yourself you can endeavor for the awards at games end.

 Like other games in the series the replay value is through the rafters! On the first replay I realized I left areas unexplored. The choices you make to fight with the rebels impacts the availability of the stages afterward. Those that didn't fire a shot at the power station know what I mean. What's brilliant is that the camoflage method changes just a bit with each title, I should say, improves a bit with each title. You can use the suit and hide in shadows, hide in the cardboard box, or dress like locas; giving you a pass so long as you don't attack the locas. With each replay the game is as different as you want it to be.

  Online is a new experience. Some of the stages you pass in the game are here. Midtown Maelstrom (approach to advent palace), <Virtuous Vista (power station) requires expansion pack @ $9.99>, can't think of others right now. The games are not typical capture the flag, though that's there too. You've got TDM, basic eliminate opponents to zero, and base capture games. Flat out, the best shooter, best tactical, best online, and best story that I've played on PS3. Also a better online experience than I've played on my brothers xbox with modern warfare.

 Buy it, if you don't wanna fork out 25-30 bucks for a game you'll likely never sell I don't know what to tell you.
241451
I bought the "Collector's Edition" through Amazon. I'm posting another review here, however, as a way to counteract the low ratings and criticisms some people have been putting into their reviews.

This game is fantastic. It easily deserves five stars when you consider the vast majority of games that are out there. It has great single player, great multiplayer, enough functionality to play the game with friends, and the kind of depth that should keep players entertained for years to come. Blizzard has made another classic.

Does the game lack simple [...] features that blizzard pioneered 13 years ago (and should have had)? Yes. Does the game lack LAN support (when it should have included it)? Yes. But, even without those features, the rest of what this game has to offer makes it amazing.

(People need to weigh the value of a game on the basis of everything it provides and not get overly focused on one particular issue that has small effect on everything else. If something like LAN is truly the only thing a person wants, fine, but then that person should be brave enough to admit that he or she is ignoring everything else the game's about. In fact, I'd even suggest that these people stick to playing games that do have LAN support, like the original StarCraft, since that's apparently all that's important to them. They'd be happier.)
2546026
The physical box of this product is nothing more than a DVD holder and a single sheet which contains the serial number that one needs to register the product, but the value that one receives in the product far exceeds having a glossy multi-page explanation of the game(s) within. This particular package is a veritable plethora of incredible game play, and to me - a person who has very little time to play video games - it is very important that not only quality is top notch, but each dollar sunk into a video game gives me that "ohh" factor.

For the people who have no time, but need a video game - this is your save. Half-Life 2, Episode 1, Episode 2 and Portal can be played in small portions without worrying about whether you have to keep up with the story line. I usually have maybe 1 to 2 hours of time to play video games per week, and I can enjoy that time by playing an area, saving and coming back next week. This is especially effective in Portal and Half-Life Ep2 (which seems to be designed for people like me). Each of the areas in Half-Life 2, Ep1 and Ep2 pack a severe wallop and are often hard to stop playing, but it doesn't feel lagged if one were to play one area and save on the road to another - it feels like you're playing mini-episodes. If you have not experienced the Half-Life universe, this is a must for anyone who even remotely likes video games.

An aside: Portal is a revolution in video game mechanics, and if you are a puzzle game fan, this is the first time that a First Person Shooter has had the ability to cater to your (my) needs. If you do not buy "The Orange Box" then do yourself a favor and go to steam and download Portal - before someone at work shows you how to solve all the puzzles.
It's funny, sad, it pulls your heart strings, it bends your brain and its got Mike Patton as "the anger ball" (you'll know it when you find it). Buy it , play it, imbibe it - become drunk from it. It is unparalleled in today's market.

For the person with all the time in the world I would say that Team Fortress 2 is the game in which you will find yourself for the next few months. In a past life I had all the time in the world and was even part of a Team Fortress Clan - Circa Quake 1 times, I even helped them tweak the game itself. Team Fortress has been a joke in the industry for a while - that it was never coming out... that if you were on a project that was running late it might be "TF'd" (shelved and reserved for later) But the guys who made Team Fortress 2 must be commended, while it's not  the game that makes up for 8+ years of waiting (I think) it is the game that looks like it was designed for that many years of game play. It's beautiful, incredibly inventive, easy to use, hard to master - play it. If I had all the time in the world, I would dive in.

In short:
This is like your favorite record, you like every song, there are no bad ones - only ones that you like in different ways. Buy it.
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!
3176503
This game was created for the hardcore gamer geek, like me. When you learn to master the extremely tight controls, you will realize the unleashing of the highest quality a$$-kicking of any game ever made. This epic title may be the greatest video game ever produced.

Graphics - On XBOX - second to none. The fluid frame rates never stutter. Load times are short, despite the elaborate level designs. Level design is so important in a game and NGB excels with levels that contain incredible variety and top quality & creative designs. The character movements of Ryu Hyabusa and the bosses have to be experienced to be believed. No other video game hero comes close. Cut scenes are also awesome on par with Metal Gear Solid 3 for PS2.

Gameplay - The tightest controls ever. When you die in this game, (and you will die often), it won't be because the controls suck, it will be because you suck. When you defeat the game you will graduate to a whole new level of video game geekdom as all other games will be defenseless against your skills. Half way through the game, as you realize the full potential of a$$-kickery that Ryu Hyabusa can deliver, you are left in awe of the physical prowess of the character and the plethora of weapons of mass destruction at his disposal. For those who have a PS2 and played God of War, you know that game was awesome in it's own right and can be fairly compared to NGB. However, Kratos-GoW's hero, can't hold a candle to Ryu Hyabusa. This game is just so fun and satisfying to play.

Sound - Great ambient and special effects sounds that take full advantage of a good surround sound system with Dolby Digital capability. Musical score is A- Grade, although it is second to God of War's amazing musical score. Cut scenes shine, as well, in this department.

Overall - For those of you who don't fear a challenge and are ready to take on a truly epic title - then you must own and play Ninja Gaiden Black.
21532
This game is a classic, and one of the greatest rpgs out there. Lots of replay value. I highly recommend it. Most will quickly get over the dated look due to how immersive this rpg is.
3841409
This truly is one of the greatest games of this generation. The dialogue is fantastic, the story is compelling, it's a visual masterpiece, and the controls have been optimized for the PC. Simply put this is a must-own game. The synthetic soundtrack is awesome. That's the adjective I keep coming back to when I think of this game, awesome. Most of the gripes I had about the 360 version have been repaired for the PC version. Most notably the texture pop, which is almost non-existant now. Assuming you have a current PC, this is a game you should not go another day without.

The game does have minor stability issues, however, but those can be patched. It's rediculous to see its average review as low as it is, because the game is technically superior to the 360 version in every way.

Amazon should remove the BS reviews complaining about DRM, which is NO PROBLEM. It disgusts me to see how there's a mini-movement against EA and Mass Effect, particularly when many of these people are probably avid pirates of one form or another. It isn't the best anti-piracy measures by any means, but they are entitles to try to protect what's theirs any way they can.
2755455
I picked up this game quite late. Nearly two years after it's initial launch. And that is, according to me, the best time to pick up great games at a bargain and when all the kinks and bugs have been worked out and when the best recommended video card is available quite economically. On a Radeon X1300 video card this game looks amazing. I do not have a typical gaming rig but the performance of this game is simply amazing. The kind of textures, ambience, foliage, particle physics this game has to offer is stunning to say the least. Realism is what true gaming is all about and this game delivers. For example the scope on a sniper rifle, on full magnification of the target, shows the natural movement of the hand holding the rifle. This is the kind of stuff you can appreciate if you've used a telescope and looked at a distant object. This is a game that sets the bar for future games and two years later I see that FarCry is still world class. Perhaps the XBOX edition released recently could be a natural step up. This game should be a part of every game collection.