Finally! I've been waiting for this game ever since it was announced - Rock Band was just released yesterday and it was well worth the wait. This will be a lengthy review so. Don't kill yourself. Yet.
What is Rock Band? In case you've been living under a rock, or... in a coma for the past year, in Rock Band you can play guitar, drums, bass, or take the mike in your own virtual band with friends over your house or across the country - you can also play solo.
Graphics: 4.75/5 Extremely underrated graphics. At first glance, Rock Band seems to just be an average looking 360 game, but after you play awhile, you will discover a lot of things. The audience looks very good, the movements your bandmates do look fantastic, and the venues and colors and just everything going on at once looks great. It's like a music video. There is only one real flaw, and that's that the background seems to always lag. I'm not sure if it's actually lagging at all, or I'm just having seizures from the flashing lights, but it is kind of weird looking.
Sound: 5/5 Although there are some "meh" tracks, you have to think about the other instruments. While some songs may be terrible on drums for instance, but is a lot of fun on guitar. The littlest thing is probably what makes the sound get a 5/5. The fact that the fans sing along when you're playing really well is just really cool and adds to the experience. While Rock Band may not have the best soundtrack out of all of Harmonix's games when playing solo, when you're playing with a group of friends this is byfar the best.
Control: 5/5 It's kind of confusing to rate a game like this's controls. You can't really rate the control of the mike. You sing... it's based on how accurate you are. But as for the drums and guitar, that's a lot different. The guitar basically controls the same ( See review of the Stratocaster below ) it's just that the note window ( the time you can hit the notes ) is reduced. While Harmonix says it's harder to hit notes in this game than in Guitar Hero II, I'm not too sure. It seems about the same. The drums on the other hand are fantastic. ( See review of the drums below ) Any difficulty you play on, it feels like you're playing drums.
Fun: 4.75/5 Rock Band is just about near perfect. You can play career on guitar, vocals, or drums. ( Sorry bass players. ) While those three things are a lot of fun, after you play them, replay value is a concern. Sure, there is a total of ( I believe ) 60 songs, but some of them you just won't want to play unless you're with (a) friend(s). Beating all the careers will take you either a long time, or only a few days, depending on how often you play. Rock Band is essentially endless if you think about it. There's a TON of character customization to say the least, and there is downloadable content, which is supposed to be released every week. Multiplayer with friends ( Ahem. Band World Tour. ) is fun, but there is just one terribly annoying thing about it, and that is the fact that you will find yourself playing the same songs several times over, as it takes what seems like forever to actually play some new songs. When you first start off it's really not that bad, but after you do play, say, "In Bloom" 5 times in an hour, it does get rather annoying. I think Harmonix actually did this on purpose so that people would immedietely buy downloadable content, to be honest with you. Overall, it's hard to give Rock Band a 5/5 rating. It's basically 3 games in one - Drum Hero, Guitar Hero, and Karaoke Revolution. But like I said, the songs will likely get old fast, and unless you buy downloadable content, you may be getting a little bored of this game. Is it worth the $170? It's hard to say. If you have a lot of parties, definitely, if you tend to play alone, maybe not, unless you really want to play the drums. ( Which I already stated are addicting. )
4.75/5
Stratocaster: 4/5 It's about time. All I read up about this guitar is that it was pretty much mediocre. It's not MEDIOCRE, but it isn't fantastic. There are a lot of things that make this different than the Guitar Hero II or even the Guitar Hero III controller. Out of the three, the Stratocaster easily looks the most realistic. It has a longer neck, a gloss finish ( Basically the same as the Les Paul GHIII controller. ) and a "wooden" neck. Instead of having 5 buttons on the fretboard, there are 10. Five in the normal spots on top of the neck, and an additional 5 and the base, which are there for solos, apparently. While it's a really neat idea, you likely won't ever use the new fret buttons unless you're going for the "end bonus" on a song. About the frets, they look much different than past controllers. While others have the frets sticking out of the neck, the ones on the Stratocaster are in the neck to make it more "realistic", says Harmonix. While it does look cool, it feels weird, and it's hard to jump back and forth with chords and the like, and even do some solos, because you can't feel the button you're on. That reminds me - the first, third, and fifth buttons all have dots on them that you can faintly see and feel while playing. There really is no need for them, as you can barely feel them, but they're there, so get used to it. The Stratocaster has a whammy bar, of course, but this time around it's a bit longer. The most useless thing about this guitar is the effects switch. With it, you can change the sound of notes in-game - or can you? While I can change the sound... the sound doesn't change, making the effects switch completely useless, and aggrivating. I found myself hitting it with my pinky several times while playing. This brings me to the final part of the Strat review - the strum bar. The worst thing about the guitar. It makes it feel broken. Instead of being a triangle shape like on the GHII and GHIII controllers, this one is concave, with a little lip at the top. It felt weird at first, and still feels weird now. My fingers constantly slip off of this thing, and the fact that the strumbar doesn't click when you strum, is aggrivating, probably only because I was used to it with past controllers - new comers may not have a problem with it. And FINALLY, the guitar bundled with the game is wired. Okay! So that's it for the review of the guitar..
Drums: 5/5 An obvious 5/5. The drums have 4 different "drums" to hit, and there is a foot pedal to make them feel more like real drums. The drums look kind of cheap, but don't at all. The drums are easy to assemble, too. While there are said to be problems with the kick pedal breaking, I've yet to experience any problems with it, besides the fact that it's extremely sensitive. The only thing I'm not sure of about these drums is how durable they are. Sure they can take a beating now, but how about a year from now?
Microphone: 5/5 It has to be a 5/5 for this thing... it's just a microphone. A cool looking one though. It's black with a chrome head. It also says Rock Band on it. What do you do with this microphone?! You sing into it, and bang it on something during certain parts of songs. Not really my thing, but if you're a singer, you'll like it.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Game Review ( skate. - 360 )
Graphics: 4/5 Nothing too special here. The cutscenes don't look much better than the game itself, and the graphics aren't going to blow your mind. They look good, pretty decently next gen, and the levels are pretty big. One thing that really drags this game are the constant load times. When you fail an event, it has to reload, and while it doesn't take a long time, they are pretty frequent.
Sound: 5/5 EA does it again. The songs in this game are for the most part perfect for the game, although some songs have been in past Tony Hawk games. "Express Yourself" was bad enough in Tony Hawk. Blah. The voice overs are pretty good, and the skateboard sounds are excellent.
Control: 4.25/5 The "flick-it" feature is what makes this game so much different than the Tony Hawk series. With flick-it, you need to use the right stick to do all of the flip tricks in the game. It takes awhile to get used to, but once you learn the controls really well, nailing combos is really satisfying - and fun.
Fun: 4.5/5 I can see why this game got mixed reviews. I like it though. I didn't play too much online, but I played enough to see that there is a LOT of lag. You can upload videos and pictures to skate. TV, which is cool. There are a ton of cool levels in this game, too. skate. is a love it or hate it game if you ask me. This is a good step away from Tony Hawk's insanely unrealistic games. While the ability to edit your videos is cool, there aren't really enough options to get an angle you would probably want. We can only wait for a sequel - which could probably only be better than this.
4.5/5
Sound: 5/5 EA does it again. The songs in this game are for the most part perfect for the game, although some songs have been in past Tony Hawk games. "Express Yourself" was bad enough in Tony Hawk. Blah. The voice overs are pretty good, and the skateboard sounds are excellent.
Control: 4.25/5 The "flick-it" feature is what makes this game so much different than the Tony Hawk series. With flick-it, you need to use the right stick to do all of the flip tricks in the game. It takes awhile to get used to, but once you learn the controls really well, nailing combos is really satisfying - and fun.
Fun: 4.5/5 I can see why this game got mixed reviews. I like it though. I didn't play too much online, but I played enough to see that there is a LOT of lag. You can upload videos and pictures to skate. TV, which is cool. There are a ton of cool levels in this game, too. skate. is a love it or hate it game if you ask me. This is a good step away from Tony Hawk's insanely unrealistic games. While the ability to edit your videos is cool, there aren't really enough options to get an angle you would probably want. We can only wait for a sequel - which could probably only be better than this.
4.5/5
Sunday, November 11, 2007
DVD Review ( Seinfeld: Volume 8 )
Seinfeld: Volume 8 is of course the final Seinfeld DVD, and it was released fairly recently on November 6th. Here's my review
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[*] Indicates an "Epicsode"
[*]The Buttershave: 5/5 Kramer starts using butter to shave, and Newman acts semi-cannibalistic towards him; George is thought of as disabled at his new job.
[*]The Voice: 5/5 George's employeer finds out he's not actually disabled; Jerry makes a voice in reference to his girlfriend's stomach; Kramer hires an intern.
The Serenity Now: 4.25/5 Kramer installs a new screen door to his apartment; Elaine is kissed by Mr. Lippman's son.
[*]The Blood: 4.75/5 George combines sex, food, an TV in one; Jerry gets a little bit of Kramer.
The Junk Mail: 4/5 Kramer protests mail; Elaine meets a dream man while she's with Puddy; George's parents set him loose.
[*]The Merv Griffin Show: 5/5 Kramer sets up the Merv Griffen Show set in his apartment; George's girlfriend gets mad at him for running over pigeons; Jerry drugs his girlfriend to play with her Dad's classic toys.
The Slicer: 3.75/5 Kramer gets a new meat slicer which Elaine dings; Jerry tries to break up with his girlfriend; George tries to get taken out of a picture.
[*]The Betrayal: 4.5/5 Kramer tries to reverse a "drop dead" curse; Elaine flies to India for Sue Ellen's wedding.
The Apology: 4/5 George expects an apology; Jerry's girlfriend likes to walk around naked and Jerry gets sick of it; Kramer changes his daily routine.
[*]The Strike: 4.5/5 Kramer returns to his bagel job that he went on strike at 12 years earlier; Kramer gets interested in Festivus; Jerry, Elaine, and George go to a Chanukah party.
[*]The Dealership: 5/5 Jerry tries to get a car at a dealership via Puddy; Kramer and a salesman see how far they can drive a car on a single tank of gas; George gets mad at a meschanic for stealing his Twix bar.
[*]The Reverse Peephole: 4.5/5 Kramer and Newman reverse peepholes an apartment doors; Jerry goes without a wallet; George has to pay for a chair alone.
The Cartoon: 4.25/5 Elaine obsesses over a cartoon; Jerry is at odds with Susan's former roommate, Elaine and Kramer believe George's girlfriend looks like Jerry.
The Strong Box: 4/5 Jerry buys Jerry Lewis's cufflinks; Kramer gets a strongbox; George can't break up with his girlfriend.
[*]The Wizard: 4.5/5 Kramer runs for condo president in Florida; Elaine tries to find out her boyfriend's race; George lies to the Ross's about a house he has in Hampton.
The Burning: 4/5 Kramer gets ghonorreia; Elaine finds out Puddy is religious.
[*]The Bookstore: 4.5/5 George can't return a book he brought into the bathroom; Jerry covers for Uncle Leo after he steals a book from the bookstore.
[*]The Frogger: 4.5/5 George attempts to buy a Frogger machine; Elaine calls in sick to work to miss birthdays.
The Maid: 4.25/5 George tries to get a new nickname; Elaine gets messages from Kramer's fax.
[*]The Puerto Rican Day: 4.5/5 The gang leaves a Mets game early to beat traffic but get stuck in a parade.
[*]The Clip Show: 4.75/5 A clipshow reliving some of Seinfeld's greatest moments. A very well done clipshow.
The Finale: 4.25/5 I found the final episode a little disappointing. The gang ends up in jail after being convicted from not following a new good samaritan law in Massachusetts. They go to jail for a year. Not a bad episode, but it seems that a lot of characters were just thrown in the episode for little reason. Basically a clipshow, but with an actual meaning. Not a terrible ending, but a little bizarre.
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Well that's it. Seinfeld's over and done with. I think Seinfeld Season 9, though, was actually one of the, if not, the best seasons in its run. There were fantastic episodes all the way through. Sure, there were some super bizarre ones in there, but that may just be what made this season so fantastic. Any sitcom fan should pick this season up along with all the others. A pretty solid ending to a fantastic television series.
4.75/5
-----
[*] Indicates an "Epicsode"
[*]The Buttershave: 5/5 Kramer starts using butter to shave, and Newman acts semi-cannibalistic towards him; George is thought of as disabled at his new job.
[*]The Voice: 5/5 George's employeer finds out he's not actually disabled; Jerry makes a voice in reference to his girlfriend's stomach; Kramer hires an intern.
The Serenity Now: 4.25/5 Kramer installs a new screen door to his apartment; Elaine is kissed by Mr. Lippman's son.
[*]The Blood: 4.75/5 George combines sex, food, an TV in one; Jerry gets a little bit of Kramer.
The Junk Mail: 4/5 Kramer protests mail; Elaine meets a dream man while she's with Puddy; George's parents set him loose.
[*]The Merv Griffin Show: 5/5 Kramer sets up the Merv Griffen Show set in his apartment; George's girlfriend gets mad at him for running over pigeons; Jerry drugs his girlfriend to play with her Dad's classic toys.
The Slicer: 3.75/5 Kramer gets a new meat slicer which Elaine dings; Jerry tries to break up with his girlfriend; George tries to get taken out of a picture.
[*]The Betrayal: 4.5/5 Kramer tries to reverse a "drop dead" curse; Elaine flies to India for Sue Ellen's wedding.
The Apology: 4/5 George expects an apology; Jerry's girlfriend likes to walk around naked and Jerry gets sick of it; Kramer changes his daily routine.
[*]The Strike: 4.5/5 Kramer returns to his bagel job that he went on strike at 12 years earlier; Kramer gets interested in Festivus; Jerry, Elaine, and George go to a Chanukah party.
[*]The Dealership: 5/5 Jerry tries to get a car at a dealership via Puddy; Kramer and a salesman see how far they can drive a car on a single tank of gas; George gets mad at a meschanic for stealing his Twix bar.
[*]The Reverse Peephole: 4.5/5 Kramer and Newman reverse peepholes an apartment doors; Jerry goes without a wallet; George has to pay for a chair alone.
The Cartoon: 4.25/5 Elaine obsesses over a cartoon; Jerry is at odds with Susan's former roommate, Elaine and Kramer believe George's girlfriend looks like Jerry.
The Strong Box: 4/5 Jerry buys Jerry Lewis's cufflinks; Kramer gets a strongbox; George can't break up with his girlfriend.
[*]The Wizard: 4.5/5 Kramer runs for condo president in Florida; Elaine tries to find out her boyfriend's race; George lies to the Ross's about a house he has in Hampton.
The Burning: 4/5 Kramer gets ghonorreia; Elaine finds out Puddy is religious.
[*]The Bookstore: 4.5/5 George can't return a book he brought into the bathroom; Jerry covers for Uncle Leo after he steals a book from the bookstore.
[*]The Frogger: 4.5/5 George attempts to buy a Frogger machine; Elaine calls in sick to work to miss birthdays.
The Maid: 4.25/5 George tries to get a new nickname; Elaine gets messages from Kramer's fax.
[*]The Puerto Rican Day: 4.5/5 The gang leaves a Mets game early to beat traffic but get stuck in a parade.
[*]The Clip Show: 4.75/5 A clipshow reliving some of Seinfeld's greatest moments. A very well done clipshow.
The Finale: 4.25/5 I found the final episode a little disappointing. The gang ends up in jail after being convicted from not following a new good samaritan law in Massachusetts. They go to jail for a year. Not a bad episode, but it seems that a lot of characters were just thrown in the episode for little reason. Basically a clipshow, but with an actual meaning. Not a terrible ending, but a little bizarre.
-----
Well that's it. Seinfeld's over and done with. I think Seinfeld Season 9, though, was actually one of the, if not, the best seasons in its run. There were fantastic episodes all the way through. Sure, there were some super bizarre ones in there, but that may just be what made this season so fantastic. Any sitcom fan should pick this season up along with all the others. A pretty solid ending to a fantastic television series.
4.75/5
Saturday, November 10, 2007
DVD Review ( Seinfeld: Volume 7 )
I thought I made this review a long time ago, apparently I didn't. Here it is - Seinfeld: Volume 7.
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[*] Indicates a "Season Great"
The Foundation: 3.75/5 George tries to forget about Susan's death; Kramer becomes a martial arts "expert"; Jerry goes back out with Mulva, A.K.A. Dolores.
The Soul Mate: 3.75/5 Kramer falls for Jerry's girlfriend and asks Newman for advice; Elaine decides she doesn't want a baby after her friends tell her to.
[*]The Bizzaro Jerry: 5/5 Elaine hangs out with a group of people that are the exact opposite of Jerry, Kramer, and George; Jerry dates a woman with "man hands".
The Little Kicks: 4.25/5 Elaine loses respect from co-workers for her bizarre dance moves; Kramer and Jerry go to the movies with a bootlegger.
The Package: 4/5 Jerry refuses to take a package from the mailman that has no return address on it.
The Fatigues: 4/5 Jerry finds out his girlfriend has a mentor; Elaine is in charge of firing a worker, but instead promotes him.
[*]The Checks: 4.75/5 Elaine realizes her boyfriend is obsessive; Kramer tells George carpet cleaners are part of a religious cult.
[*]The Chicken Roaster: 5/5 Kramer becomes addicted to Kenny Roger's Chicken, and hides it from Jerry; George tries to cheaply get a second date.
[*]The Abstinence: 4.5/5 Kramer takes up smoking; George's girlfriend can't have sex for six weeks;.
The Andrea Doria: 3.25/5 George looks forward to moving into an apartment, but an Andrea Doria survivor gets it; Kramer and Jerry use Newman's mail storage thingy mabobber.
[*]The Little Jerry: 5/5 Kramer gets a rooster and calls him "Little Jerry"; Elaine wants her boyfriend to grow out his hair; A store owner exposes Jerry's bounced check.
The Money: 3.75/5 Jerry's parents sell their Cadillac; George's parents say they're going to move to Florida, which the Seinfeld's object.
[*]The Comeback: 5/5 Elaine and Kramer discuss Employee's Choices at the video store; George tries to think of a comeback; Jerry buys a tennis racket he thinks was used by a pro.
The Van Buren Boys: 4.25/5 Everyone seems to have problems with Jerry's girlfriend; Kramer has a run-in with "The Van Buren Boys".
The Susie: 4/5 Elaine creates an alter-ego that people believe is real.
[*]The Pothole: 4.75/5 Jerry suffers realizing he's dating a girl that uses a tooth brush that has been in the toilet; Kramer adopts a highway.
The English Patient: 4/5 Elaine hates a movie everyone seems to love.
[*]The Nap: 5/5 George constructs a desk so that he can sleep at work; Jerry gets his kitchen redone; Kramer swims in the East River.
[*]The Yada Yada: 4.5/5 Jerry wonders why his Jewish dentist makes Jewish jokes; George's girlfriend constantly uses the phrase "Yada, Yada, Yada".
The Millenium: 4.25/5 Kramer prepares early for the new millennium; Elaine changes stores to shop at; Jerry learns his girlfriend's importance of speed-dial.
[*]The Muffin Tops: 4.5/5 Mr. Lippman steals Elaine's idea of a muffin top store; Jerry shaves his chest hair; George pretends to be a tourist.
The Summer of George: 4/5 Jerry and Kramer go to the Tony awards; George takes the summer off from work.
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Overall, I really disliked this season. I haven't watched the episodes for awhile, but a lot of them are very forgettable. My scores will likely change when I rewatch the season. This is probably one of the worst Seinfeld seasons ever, although it has some absolute classics, 10 of them to be exact. ( As far as "Season Greats" ) While there are quite a few slow/uninteresting episodes, there are some great episodes to spice the season up. Seinfel: Volume 7 is actually a disappointing DVD, but well worth buying to say the least.
4.25/5
-----
[*] Indicates a "Season Great"
The Foundation: 3.75/5 George tries to forget about Susan's death; Kramer becomes a martial arts "expert"; Jerry goes back out with Mulva, A.K.A. Dolores.
The Soul Mate: 3.75/5 Kramer falls for Jerry's girlfriend and asks Newman for advice; Elaine decides she doesn't want a baby after her friends tell her to.
[*]The Bizzaro Jerry: 5/5 Elaine hangs out with a group of people that are the exact opposite of Jerry, Kramer, and George; Jerry dates a woman with "man hands".
The Little Kicks: 4.25/5 Elaine loses respect from co-workers for her bizarre dance moves; Kramer and Jerry go to the movies with a bootlegger.
The Package: 4/5 Jerry refuses to take a package from the mailman that has no return address on it.
The Fatigues: 4/5 Jerry finds out his girlfriend has a mentor; Elaine is in charge of firing a worker, but instead promotes him.
[*]The Checks: 4.75/5 Elaine realizes her boyfriend is obsessive; Kramer tells George carpet cleaners are part of a religious cult.
[*]The Chicken Roaster: 5/5 Kramer becomes addicted to Kenny Roger's Chicken, and hides it from Jerry; George tries to cheaply get a second date.
[*]The Abstinence: 4.5/5 Kramer takes up smoking; George's girlfriend can't have sex for six weeks;.
The Andrea Doria: 3.25/5 George looks forward to moving into an apartment, but an Andrea Doria survivor gets it; Kramer and Jerry use Newman's mail storage thingy mabobber.
[*]The Little Jerry: 5/5 Kramer gets a rooster and calls him "Little Jerry"; Elaine wants her boyfriend to grow out his hair; A store owner exposes Jerry's bounced check.
The Money: 3.75/5 Jerry's parents sell their Cadillac; George's parents say they're going to move to Florida, which the Seinfeld's object.
[*]The Comeback: 5/5 Elaine and Kramer discuss Employee's Choices at the video store; George tries to think of a comeback; Jerry buys a tennis racket he thinks was used by a pro.
The Van Buren Boys: 4.25/5 Everyone seems to have problems with Jerry's girlfriend; Kramer has a run-in with "The Van Buren Boys".
The Susie: 4/5 Elaine creates an alter-ego that people believe is real.
[*]The Pothole: 4.75/5 Jerry suffers realizing he's dating a girl that uses a tooth brush that has been in the toilet; Kramer adopts a highway.
The English Patient: 4/5 Elaine hates a movie everyone seems to love.
[*]The Nap: 5/5 George constructs a desk so that he can sleep at work; Jerry gets his kitchen redone; Kramer swims in the East River.
[*]The Yada Yada: 4.5/5 Jerry wonders why his Jewish dentist makes Jewish jokes; George's girlfriend constantly uses the phrase "Yada, Yada, Yada".
The Millenium: 4.25/5 Kramer prepares early for the new millennium; Elaine changes stores to shop at; Jerry learns his girlfriend's importance of speed-dial.
[*]The Muffin Tops: 4.5/5 Mr. Lippman steals Elaine's idea of a muffin top store; Jerry shaves his chest hair; George pretends to be a tourist.
The Summer of George: 4/5 Jerry and Kramer go to the Tony awards; George takes the summer off from work.
-----
Overall, I really disliked this season. I haven't watched the episodes for awhile, but a lot of them are very forgettable. My scores will likely change when I rewatch the season. This is probably one of the worst Seinfeld seasons ever, although it has some absolute classics, 10 of them to be exact. ( As far as "Season Greats" ) While there are quite a few slow/uninteresting episodes, there are some great episodes to spice the season up. Seinfel: Volume 7 is actually a disappointing DVD, but well worth buying to say the least.
4.25/5
Sunday, October 28, 2007
300th Post! Game Review ( Guitar Hero III - 360 )
Finally! Here at last, is Guitar Hero III. This review might be a little long, but you'll survive. I've yet to play every single song, but I've played the core of the game, and I'll give a "full" review when I get the game in a few days.
Graphics: 4.25/5 They really aren't impressive, I almost think the Guitar Hero II look is better. The character models in Guitar Hero III look pretty awesome, and the venues look pretty decent, but when compared to little things, like the fans, or the set on the venue, it just looks funky. It doesn't even matter though - who cares about graphics in Guitar Hero? Certainly not me.
Sound: 5/5 Has to be a five out of five. 46 songs in the game, mostly of which are master tracks. Even the covers, such as "Paranoid", sound almost exactly like the real thing. The soundtrack isn't the greatest thing in the world. There are a few boring songs in the mix, but for the most part, this is one fantastic soundtrack.
Control: 5/5 Most people will notice the "hit window" for the notes has changed - it's bigger, so it's easier to hit notes. It's not real big, but there's definitey a difference. With the new Les Paul controller, Guitar Hero III feels really good. [See bottom of page for Les Paul review.] Besides the bigger hit window, this game controls almost exactly the same as Guitar Hero II did.
Fun: 5/5 Awesome game. The one thing I don't care about is a small thing, but I don't like the leaderboards. They are more in depth, but there's a reason I don't like them. It shows your wins for certain modes in online play, but not your losses. You could be the worst player in the world and play a million songs a day and be on top of the leaderboard - higher than someone that's amazing at the game but rarely plays. Still, Guitar Hero III is nearly flawless. Sure, there are less songs than Guitar Hero II, but you'll live. The Co-Op career is fun, although there are some bass sections on songs that are quite lame. Some songs are also quite challenging on expert, including the "One" solo, and, as everyone knows by now, "Through the Fire and Flames" - but who doesn't like a challenge? Guitar Hero III is a lot of fun to say the very least, and with online play, and the new Guitar Hero Community at GuitarHero.com, Guitar Hero III will be played well into '08 and probably even '09 by many, I'm sure.
5/5
-Les Paul-
4.75/5 When I saw the pictures on the computer, I was hardly impressed. I thought the controller looked pretty stupid, honestly, but in person, it's great. It has a glossy black covering, and it just looks much better built than the Xplorer that came with Guitar Hero II, in comparison - there is no comparison. The Les Paul looks much better and realistic than the Xplorer. I'm not too crazy about the buttons on the controller, though. The strum bar is wider than the Xplorer, which is definitely a good thing, and it's quite a bit quieter when you strum, which is really good - but the fret buttons almost feel broken. They are a bit harder to push down, and they make less noise. I'm just not liking that feeling. You can also purchase faceplates for your Les Paul at the price of probably $20-$40 - I'm not sure. All-in-all, the Les Paul is almost perfect, although a little expensive. It's also wireless, which may or may not be a good thing. Sure, there is obviously no wire, but if you play for a long time, you will be using a lot of batteries up, so make sure to have rechargable ones - or use the Xplorer if you have that one from Guitar Hero II.
Graphics: 4.25/5 They really aren't impressive, I almost think the Guitar Hero II look is better. The character models in Guitar Hero III look pretty awesome, and the venues look pretty decent, but when compared to little things, like the fans, or the set on the venue, it just looks funky. It doesn't even matter though - who cares about graphics in Guitar Hero? Certainly not me.
Sound: 5/5 Has to be a five out of five. 46 songs in the game, mostly of which are master tracks. Even the covers, such as "Paranoid", sound almost exactly like the real thing. The soundtrack isn't the greatest thing in the world. There are a few boring songs in the mix, but for the most part, this is one fantastic soundtrack.
Control: 5/5 Most people will notice the "hit window" for the notes has changed - it's bigger, so it's easier to hit notes. It's not real big, but there's definitey a difference. With the new Les Paul controller, Guitar Hero III feels really good. [See bottom of page for Les Paul review.] Besides the bigger hit window, this game controls almost exactly the same as Guitar Hero II did.
Fun: 5/5 Awesome game. The one thing I don't care about is a small thing, but I don't like the leaderboards. They are more in depth, but there's a reason I don't like them. It shows your wins for certain modes in online play, but not your losses. You could be the worst player in the world and play a million songs a day and be on top of the leaderboard - higher than someone that's amazing at the game but rarely plays. Still, Guitar Hero III is nearly flawless. Sure, there are less songs than Guitar Hero II, but you'll live. The Co-Op career is fun, although there are some bass sections on songs that are quite lame. Some songs are also quite challenging on expert, including the "One" solo, and, as everyone knows by now, "Through the Fire and Flames" - but who doesn't like a challenge? Guitar Hero III is a lot of fun to say the very least, and with online play, and the new Guitar Hero Community at GuitarHero.com, Guitar Hero III will be played well into '08 and probably even '09 by many, I'm sure.
5/5
-Les Paul-
4.75/5 When I saw the pictures on the computer, I was hardly impressed. I thought the controller looked pretty stupid, honestly, but in person, it's great. It has a glossy black covering, and it just looks much better built than the Xplorer that came with Guitar Hero II, in comparison - there is no comparison. The Les Paul looks much better and realistic than the Xplorer. I'm not too crazy about the buttons on the controller, though. The strum bar is wider than the Xplorer, which is definitely a good thing, and it's quite a bit quieter when you strum, which is really good - but the fret buttons almost feel broken. They are a bit harder to push down, and they make less noise. I'm just not liking that feeling. You can also purchase faceplates for your Les Paul at the price of probably $20-$40 - I'm not sure. All-in-all, the Les Paul is almost perfect, although a little expensive. It's also wireless, which may or may not be a good thing. Sure, there is obviously no wire, but if you play for a long time, you will be using a lot of batteries up, so make sure to have rechargable ones - or use the Xplorer if you have that one from Guitar Hero II.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Game Review ( skate. DEMO - 360 )
Graphics: 4.25/5 I'd probably get criticized for rating the graphics so low if someone met me on the street, but they aren't that great - they're deceiving. The character models look quite good, the levels look pretty decent, and the far away environments look pretty bad for the most part. Especially the weird looking trees.
Sound: 4/5 Hard to hear much besides faint music in the background and the skateboard rolling and grinding. Give it a 4 for averageness.
Control: 4.5/5 Of course, this is what makes skate. drastically different than the Tony Hawk games. In skate., virtually everything you do is controlled by the right analog stick. The ollies, the flip tricks, all board movement. The controls definitely take getting used to - I still found myself trying to use A to jump, when that button in skate. simple makes you skate.
Fun: 4.25/5 I couldn't get much out of the demo, it's only a demo - it's only one small level. Still, I see myself playing the full version eventually, just maybe not too soon, with Guitar Hero III, Call of Duty 4, and Rock Band coming out. I'm sure the full version of skate. is a lot of fun. I'll probably review it within the next month or two.
4.25/5
Sound: 4/5 Hard to hear much besides faint music in the background and the skateboard rolling and grinding. Give it a 4 for averageness.
Control: 4.5/5 Of course, this is what makes skate. drastically different than the Tony Hawk games. In skate., virtually everything you do is controlled by the right analog stick. The ollies, the flip tricks, all board movement. The controls definitely take getting used to - I still found myself trying to use A to jump, when that button in skate. simple makes you skate.
Fun: 4.25/5 I couldn't get much out of the demo, it's only a demo - it's only one small level. Still, I see myself playing the full version eventually, just maybe not too soon, with Guitar Hero III, Call of Duty 4, and Rock Band coming out. I'm sure the full version of skate. is a lot of fun. I'll probably review it within the next month or two.
4.25/5
Game Review ( Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Xbox )
Graphics: 4.5/5 I don't know exactly what qualified as amazing back in '03 when this game was released, but I do know that for an Xbox game, especially one that came out in '03, this is a pretty good looking game. In old reviews from websites, they stated this was one of the best games ever. Of course now, it's not so. The game lags quite a bit, even when there isn't much going on on screen, which is pretty annoying, but like I said, I don't know what was expected four years ago.
Sound: 5/5 One of the best games with voice overs. This game must have THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of lines read by actors. There is very little you actually need to read. The sound effects are also top notch, and the music is Star Wars music, of course. The game sounds great.
Control: 4.5/5 Not too difficult. At first, you may have some trouble doing a few things, but after about thirty minutes, you should settle in. It basically controls like most RPG games. Controls quite well.
Fun: 4.75/5 I'm only about an hour into this game - I've done virtually nothing yet. Still, I know what to be expecting. This game is considered by many the best Star Wars game ever - and it's an RPG. Think of it as Star Wars Galaxies for the PC, but on a console and with single player. It'd be great to see in the future another KotOR, but with online play. If you haven't played this game yet, you need to play it now. You'll find it for about $20 new and even cheaper used.
4.75/5
Sound: 5/5 One of the best games with voice overs. This game must have THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of lines read by actors. There is very little you actually need to read. The sound effects are also top notch, and the music is Star Wars music, of course. The game sounds great.
Control: 4.5/5 Not too difficult. At first, you may have some trouble doing a few things, but after about thirty minutes, you should settle in. It basically controls like most RPG games. Controls quite well.
Fun: 4.75/5 I'm only about an hour into this game - I've done virtually nothing yet. Still, I know what to be expecting. This game is considered by many the best Star Wars game ever - and it's an RPG. Think of it as Star Wars Galaxies for the PC, but on a console and with single player. It'd be great to see in the future another KotOR, but with online play. If you haven't played this game yet, you need to play it now. You'll find it for about $20 new and even cheaper used.
4.75/5
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Game Review ( Guitar Hero 3 DEMO - 360 )
The GHIII demo was released today (10-23) on Xbox Live and features five songs: "Lay Down", "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", "Even Flow", "Rock You Like A Hurricane", and "The Metal". I'll just review each song, one-by-one. [Note: I play on Expert, so my review's based on that difficulty.]
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"Lay Down"/"Hit Me With Your Best Shot": 3.5/5 I'll just review these two songs together. While they're both somewhat catchy, they aren't too fun to play on Guitar Hero. They're quite repetitive, and very easy.
"Even Flow": 4.5/5 While it has a somewhat repetitive main riff, Pearl Jam is a great band, and this is one of their best songs in my opinion. While not strenuously difficult, in anyway, it's fun to play.
"Rock You Like A Hurricane": 4.75/5 Difficult, and a lot of fun to play. For the most part, the song is very easy, but the whole guitar solo in the song are far from easy. Getting the first star power sequence your first time trying the song won't be likely. One of the best, if not the best, songs in the demo.
"The Metal": 4.75/5 A pretty short and fun song. The main riff is a lot of fun to play, and the song has some hard to get chords, but you'll get it eventually. Not the hardest song ever to be in Guitar Hero, but it's definitely fun.
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The Guitar Hero 3 DEMO isn't really fantastic, but isn't bad at all. There are three very fun songs, but two songs that are really boring and easy to play. Hopefully, Neversoft has less of the bad, and more of the good in the final game. We'll just have to see on the 28th.
4.25/5
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"Lay Down"/"Hit Me With Your Best Shot": 3.5/5 I'll just review these two songs together. While they're both somewhat catchy, they aren't too fun to play on Guitar Hero. They're quite repetitive, and very easy.
"Even Flow": 4.5/5 While it has a somewhat repetitive main riff, Pearl Jam is a great band, and this is one of their best songs in my opinion. While not strenuously difficult, in anyway, it's fun to play.
"Rock You Like A Hurricane": 4.75/5 Difficult, and a lot of fun to play. For the most part, the song is very easy, but the whole guitar solo in the song are far from easy. Getting the first star power sequence your first time trying the song won't be likely. One of the best, if not the best, songs in the demo.
"The Metal": 4.75/5 A pretty short and fun song. The main riff is a lot of fun to play, and the song has some hard to get chords, but you'll get it eventually. Not the hardest song ever to be in Guitar Hero, but it's definitely fun.
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The Guitar Hero 3 DEMO isn't really fantastic, but isn't bad at all. There are three very fun songs, but two songs that are really boring and easy to play. Hopefully, Neversoft has less of the bad, and more of the good in the final game. We'll just have to see on the 28th.
4.25/5
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Game Review ( KartRider - PC )
KartRider is a game that apparently is extremely popular in South Korea. According to Wikipedia, 15,000,000 South Koreans have played the game, meaning 25% of all South Korean's have played the game at least once. KartRider is essentially Mario Kart, but to me, it feels like it has Diddy Kong Racing in the mix there too. Here is my review on KartRider.
Graphics: 4/5 Not amazing, but still look great. Even on 256MB-512MB of RAM, the game will run perfectly smooth. There is some lag around, but that's expected for a game like this. The maps look good, the characters and karts do as well, very well done.
Sound: 3.75/5 It's kind of lacking. The music in the menu and in-game is pretty catchy, I must say, but the music on the snow levels sounds strikingly similar to the songs in the game Diddy Kong Racing. There are also little things. When in game lobby's, you can do face combinations, such as: >.< , <3 , TT, LOL, and more, and your character will do the action, which is pretty cool.
Control: 4/5 The game controls fine, it's just that the amount of money it costs to buy a go-kart isn't even worth it, as the karts seem to run the same speed, and control the same way. The only difference is the look of them. Very simplistic controls, but the drift is pretty much useless in most situations, and there's no point of it, at least in Item races.
Fun: 4.75/5 KartRider is just SURPRISINGLY deep. There are maybe 12 tracks, ( Not too sure ) but there is great variety. Some of them look similar to those of Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing tracks, but that's not at all a bad thing. KartRider is basically a Go-Kart RPG, and it's a lot of fun. It's not perfect, but it's a lot of fun. And the BEST thing about it? It works on some older computers quite easily, AND it's absolutely free.
4.75/5
[Mainly because of the $0 pricetag, and addictiveness.]
Graphics: 4/5 Not amazing, but still look great. Even on 256MB-512MB of RAM, the game will run perfectly smooth. There is some lag around, but that's expected for a game like this. The maps look good, the characters and karts do as well, very well done.
Sound: 3.75/5 It's kind of lacking. The music in the menu and in-game is pretty catchy, I must say, but the music on the snow levels sounds strikingly similar to the songs in the game Diddy Kong Racing. There are also little things. When in game lobby's, you can do face combinations, such as: >.< , <3 , TT, LOL, and more, and your character will do the action, which is pretty cool.
Control: 4/5 The game controls fine, it's just that the amount of money it costs to buy a go-kart isn't even worth it, as the karts seem to run the same speed, and control the same way. The only difference is the look of them. Very simplistic controls, but the drift is pretty much useless in most situations, and there's no point of it, at least in Item races.
Fun: 4.75/5 KartRider is just SURPRISINGLY deep. There are maybe 12 tracks, ( Not too sure ) but there is great variety. Some of them look similar to those of Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing tracks, but that's not at all a bad thing. KartRider is basically a Go-Kart RPG, and it's a lot of fun. It's not perfect, but it's a lot of fun. And the BEST thing about it? It works on some older computers quite easily, AND it's absolutely free.
4.75/5
[Mainly because of the $0 pricetag, and addictiveness.]
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Hardware Review ( Skullcandy Earbuds )
Today I had to buy new headphones for my iPod, since the stock ones broke, as well as my old PSP ones. I decided to buy these ones. They were comewhat pricy at $31, but they looked cool, and I heard good things about them.
Appearance: 5/5 From what I saw at Best Buy, they only have black and white headphones. I got the white ones since my iPod is already black. Anyway, they look pretty cool for earbuds. They are shaped nicely, and appear to be well made. The 'phones come with a few extra rubber ear piece things, for people with bigger or smaller ears.
Performance: 5/5 Can't ask for much more. The cord is plenty long enough, actually almost too long at I believe 1.2 meters. These are pretty unique ear buds. Instead of being placed inside the ear and nesting there, these ones have a rubber doo-hicky at the end, and you shove them in your ear so they don't fall out. Your ears may pop, but it's worth it - it basically works like an ear plug, with only the music going into your ear, which is really cool. They are very comfortable as well. Another thing some people may be happy about is that there is a volume slider switch in the middle of the wire, so you can turn up and down your music as you please without having to reach into your pocket and adjust it from there. ( It looks like you're doing something else when you do that, anyway. ;] ) Better yet, your iPod can be on "hold", and you can still adjust the volume with the headphones. You can absolutely blast music LOUD out of these things.
Overall: 5/5 Virtually perfect headphones/earbuds, but it's either a love them or hate them situation. Some people may really hate the fact they go so far into your ear, and others may really like it. I think you know what my opinion is. You'll hear your music better than ever, they look cool, they come with a few extra supplies, including a case to put your headphones/earbuds away at anytime if neccessary as well. I don't think people that don't use Q-Tips would want to use these, as they can pick up some earwax when you take them out, and/or oil. Thankfully, I do use Q-Tips. The 'phones are about $31, so they aren't cheap, but I think they're worth it. If you need new 'phones, try and get these ones.
5/5
Highly Recommended.
Appearance: 5/5 From what I saw at Best Buy, they only have black and white headphones. I got the white ones since my iPod is already black. Anyway, they look pretty cool for earbuds. They are shaped nicely, and appear to be well made. The 'phones come with a few extra rubber ear piece things, for people with bigger or smaller ears.
Performance: 5/5 Can't ask for much more. The cord is plenty long enough, actually almost too long at I believe 1.2 meters. These are pretty unique ear buds. Instead of being placed inside the ear and nesting there, these ones have a rubber doo-hicky at the end, and you shove them in your ear so they don't fall out. Your ears may pop, but it's worth it - it basically works like an ear plug, with only the music going into your ear, which is really cool. They are very comfortable as well. Another thing some people may be happy about is that there is a volume slider switch in the middle of the wire, so you can turn up and down your music as you please without having to reach into your pocket and adjust it from there. ( It looks like you're doing something else when you do that, anyway. ;] ) Better yet, your iPod can be on "hold", and you can still adjust the volume with the headphones. You can absolutely blast music LOUD out of these things.
Overall: 5/5 Virtually perfect headphones/earbuds, but it's either a love them or hate them situation. Some people may really hate the fact they go so far into your ear, and others may really like it. I think you know what my opinion is. You'll hear your music better than ever, they look cool, they come with a few extra supplies, including a case to put your headphones/earbuds away at anytime if neccessary as well. I don't think people that don't use Q-Tips would want to use these, as they can pick up some earwax when you take them out, and/or oil. Thankfully, I do use Q-Tips. The 'phones are about $31, so they aren't cheap, but I think they're worth it. If you need new 'phones, try and get these ones.
5/5
Highly Recommended.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Game Review ( The Simpsons Road Rage - Xbox )
Graphics: 4/5 For a 2001 Xbox game, it looks very good for the most part. The characters look good, the vehicles you drive in look great, and the environments look okay. It really varies. A bigger problem in this game is the framerate. You can definitely tell when there are a lot of cars on screen. But like I said, for an early Xbox game, this game looks mostly fantastic.
Sound: 4/5 If you play Road Rage a lot, you'll realize that there are a LOT of repeated lines between characters. Still though, it's great to hear new bits of audio from characters from the show, as well as stuff from episodes in the show. Really, there's nothing to hate here. Besides repetitive dialogue here and there, the cars all sound different. Everything is above average.
Control: 3.75/5 Very simple controls with two different schemes. I prefer the RT to drive, LT to brake/reverse. Cool enough, each character's car controls differently, and pretty realistically. Otto's bus has slow acceleration and turns terribly, while a car like Bart's Honor Roller goes really fast and has wicked tight turns. It's just that some cars surpass others and are much better. Basically, the cars are unbalanced. You'll find yourself playing with the same car over and over again after a few plays.
Fun: 4/5 This score may seem high, but since the game has (for quite awhile) fallen to $20, or even less if you find it on sale, and just makes it all the more worth getting. This isn't necessarily a game to play for a long period of time straight, but more for 30-60 minutes of play at a time - it just gets a repetitive. This is just a great game. Better than the game it "ripped-off", Crazy Taxi. That's all it is, just with Simpsons characters, and it's a lot of fun, especially since there are a lot of different locations that you drop and pick characters off at that are in the show. The "Missions" are pure jokes, though. There are only ten of them, and you get nothing for completing them, and they should only take 30 minutes or so to beat them all. When you play the "Road Rage" mode, you get money that you can use to buy cars and starting locations, which adds to the playability. There is also a mode where you can drive around by yourself and explore, which is pretty cool, and you can also play head-to-head with a friend. For $20, and if you're a Simpsons fan, this is just a must buy - moreso because it can be played on the Xbox 360.
4/5
Sound: 4/5 If you play Road Rage a lot, you'll realize that there are a LOT of repeated lines between characters. Still though, it's great to hear new bits of audio from characters from the show, as well as stuff from episodes in the show. Really, there's nothing to hate here. Besides repetitive dialogue here and there, the cars all sound different. Everything is above average.
Control: 3.75/5 Very simple controls with two different schemes. I prefer the RT to drive, LT to brake/reverse. Cool enough, each character's car controls differently, and pretty realistically. Otto's bus has slow acceleration and turns terribly, while a car like Bart's Honor Roller goes really fast and has wicked tight turns. It's just that some cars surpass others and are much better. Basically, the cars are unbalanced. You'll find yourself playing with the same car over and over again after a few plays.
Fun: 4/5 This score may seem high, but since the game has (for quite awhile) fallen to $20, or even less if you find it on sale, and just makes it all the more worth getting. This isn't necessarily a game to play for a long period of time straight, but more for 30-60 minutes of play at a time - it just gets a repetitive. This is just a great game. Better than the game it "ripped-off", Crazy Taxi. That's all it is, just with Simpsons characters, and it's a lot of fun, especially since there are a lot of different locations that you drop and pick characters off at that are in the show. The "Missions" are pure jokes, though. There are only ten of them, and you get nothing for completing them, and they should only take 30 minutes or so to beat them all. When you play the "Road Rage" mode, you get money that you can use to buy cars and starting locations, which adds to the playability. There is also a mode where you can drive around by yourself and explore, which is pretty cool, and you can also play head-to-head with a friend. For $20, and if you're a Simpsons fan, this is just a must buy - moreso because it can be played on the Xbox 360.
4/5
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Game Review ( Guitar Hero 2 Indie Label Pack - 360 Arcade )
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Indie Label Pack:
"Detonation" - Trivium
"Ex's And Oh's" - Atreyu
"Bury The Hatchet" - Protest The Hero
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The newest GH2 pack available for download is a very good one to say the least. This pack was released pretty recently, ( September 28th ) but I just got it. I had only heard of the band Atreyu in this pack, and didn't, and still don't, know who Trivium or Protest The Hero are. These songs are pretty difficult, and at first was disappointed in myself for buying it. After learning how to play the songs, GASP. I liked it more! Hah. Here's le review, as the French would say.
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"Detonation": 5/5 Amazingly catchy song, and a very nice challenge. This song has it all. It was very difficult at first, but it's easy to learn if you're a good Guitar Hero player. I can't say much else. I didn't care for this song at all the first time I played it, but the second time, and each time I play it, I liked it more. One of the best songs in the game.
"Ex's And Oh's": 4.75/5 A fairly easy song to play but AWESOME fun to play. There are a lot of chords, which gets repetitive, but the solo is of perfect difficulty. Not too hard to ace, but a lot of fun to play. Atreyu in Guitar Hero. It has finally happened!
"Bury The Hatchet": 5/5 Amazingly catchy song like the other two. Nothing to say about this song. Just one of the best songs to play on Guitar Hero, and the song sounds great to.
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Some people may not like this pack because of the genre. It's basically a pack of Metal songs, but it contains three of the best songs in the entire game, if not the best songs. A better pack than the MCR one in every single way. Without hesitating, you should buy this pack. It costs 500 MSP like the other packs, but this pack is worth it more than any of the others.
5/5
Indie Label Pack:
"Detonation" - Trivium
"Ex's And Oh's" - Atreyu
"Bury The Hatchet" - Protest The Hero
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The newest GH2 pack available for download is a very good one to say the least. This pack was released pretty recently, ( September 28th ) but I just got it. I had only heard of the band Atreyu in this pack, and didn't, and still don't, know who Trivium or Protest The Hero are. These songs are pretty difficult, and at first was disappointed in myself for buying it. After learning how to play the songs, GASP. I liked it more! Hah. Here's le review, as the French would say.
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"Detonation": 5/5 Amazingly catchy song, and a very nice challenge. This song has it all. It was very difficult at first, but it's easy to learn if you're a good Guitar Hero player. I can't say much else. I didn't care for this song at all the first time I played it, but the second time, and each time I play it, I liked it more. One of the best songs in the game.
"Ex's And Oh's": 4.75/5 A fairly easy song to play but AWESOME fun to play. There are a lot of chords, which gets repetitive, but the solo is of perfect difficulty. Not too hard to ace, but a lot of fun to play. Atreyu in Guitar Hero. It has finally happened!
"Bury The Hatchet": 5/5 Amazingly catchy song like the other two. Nothing to say about this song. Just one of the best songs to play on Guitar Hero, and the song sounds great to.
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Some people may not like this pack because of the genre. It's basically a pack of Metal songs, but it contains three of the best songs in the entire game, if not the best songs. A better pack than the MCR one in every single way. Without hesitating, you should buy this pack. It costs 500 MSP like the other packs, but this pack is worth it more than any of the others.
5/5
Game Review ( Guitar Hero 2 My Chemical Romance Pack - 360 Arcade )
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My Chemical Romance Pack
"Famous Last Words" - My Chemical Romance
"Teenagers" - My Chemical Romance
"This Is How I Disapeer" - My Chemical Romance
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The My Chemical Romance Pack was released August 14th at the familiar price of 500 MSP, and just over a month after the fourth track pack was released for download. This is the first pack released on Xbox Live that doesn't feature Guitar Hero songs. I was pretty stunned to see that they were My Chemical Romance songs. One, because I was, like others, expecting Guitar Hero I songs, and second, I don't particularily care for My Chemical Romance. Here's my review. Sorry if it's hella long.
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"Famous Last Words": 4.5/5 I might be rating this a little high, but it's a good song. The song is very catchy, but it's a song that isn't very Guitar Hero-esque. It's mainly constant chords, with a pretty easy guitar solo. It's also pretty long, clocking in at over 5 minutes, and it's repetitive. A lot of surprising fun in this song though.
"Teenagers": 4.25/5 A very easy song. "Teenagers" has a few hoppy chords and what-not, but it's an easy song that a beginner to Guitar Hero's Expert mode could probably beat. It's a good song though with lyrics that will probably be stuck in your head one time or another.
"This Is How I Disappear": 4/5 Good song, but strains the hands of many down strummers, like myself. It's not necessarily difficult, but your strumming hand will likely be sore by the end of the song. It is much like "Famous Last Words", in that it is mostly chords.
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So what do I think of this pack? It's worth the 500 points. There could have been better songs available for download besides these, but these songs are different, and they are pretty catchy and fun to play for the most part. Still, if you have a computer, and the Xplorer guitar for the 360, you should download Frets on Fire. It's Guitar Hero for the computer, and you can download these songs and play them for free. Although it's just not as much fun. No leaderboards, and you can't downstrum at all. But like I said, worth the points, definitely should be bought. MCR fan or not, download it if you haven't already.
4.25/5
My Chemical Romance Pack
"Famous Last Words" - My Chemical Romance
"Teenagers" - My Chemical Romance
"This Is How I Disapeer" - My Chemical Romance
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The My Chemical Romance Pack was released August 14th at the familiar price of 500 MSP, and just over a month after the fourth track pack was released for download. This is the first pack released on Xbox Live that doesn't feature Guitar Hero songs. I was pretty stunned to see that they were My Chemical Romance songs. One, because I was, like others, expecting Guitar Hero I songs, and second, I don't particularily care for My Chemical Romance. Here's my review. Sorry if it's hella long.
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"Famous Last Words": 4.5/5 I might be rating this a little high, but it's a good song. The song is very catchy, but it's a song that isn't very Guitar Hero-esque. It's mainly constant chords, with a pretty easy guitar solo. It's also pretty long, clocking in at over 5 minutes, and it's repetitive. A lot of surprising fun in this song though.
"Teenagers": 4.25/5 A very easy song. "Teenagers" has a few hoppy chords and what-not, but it's an easy song that a beginner to Guitar Hero's Expert mode could probably beat. It's a good song though with lyrics that will probably be stuck in your head one time or another.
"This Is How I Disappear": 4/5 Good song, but strains the hands of many down strummers, like myself. It's not necessarily difficult, but your strumming hand will likely be sore by the end of the song. It is much like "Famous Last Words", in that it is mostly chords.
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So what do I think of this pack? It's worth the 500 points. There could have been better songs available for download besides these, but these songs are different, and they are pretty catchy and fun to play for the most part. Still, if you have a computer, and the Xplorer guitar for the 360, you should download Frets on Fire. It's Guitar Hero for the computer, and you can download these songs and play them for free. Although it's just not as much fun. No leaderboards, and you can't downstrum at all. But like I said, worth the points, definitely should be bought. MCR fan or not, download it if you haven't already.
4.25/5
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Game Review ( The Simpsons Game DEMO - 360 )
Graphics: 5/5 Your style or not, these graphics are cel-shaded, and the best The Simpsons can look on the 360. Sure, some edges might be sharpened, but this is the best it gets. The animation and everything is good, too.
Sound: 5/5 In the demo, Harry Shearer, Nancy Cartwright, and Dan Caselenetta, do a great job with the voices. Some lines you can hear are right from the show, and you'll know if you watch it a lot.
Control: 3.5/5 I'm being generous with a 3.5. The controls are actually quite terrible. The camera wobbles sometimes for no reason, running around corners is sometimes a pain, and walking on little ledges is difficult because you can easil fall off. The camera angles aren't the only thing that suck. The auto-aim system does too. If you look at something and try to auto-aim with LT, you won't necessary lock-on to the thing you're aiming at, which is really frustrating.
Fun: 3.5/5 I expect much better come release. The game looks and sounds fantastic, but the controls almost ruin it. Being a huge Simpsons fan, I'd hate to see The Simpsons next-gen first appearence be a far less than impressive one.
3.5/5
Sound: 5/5 In the demo, Harry Shearer, Nancy Cartwright, and Dan Caselenetta, do a great job with the voices. Some lines you can hear are right from the show, and you'll know if you watch it a lot.
Control: 3.5/5 I'm being generous with a 3.5. The controls are actually quite terrible. The camera wobbles sometimes for no reason, running around corners is sometimes a pain, and walking on little ledges is difficult because you can easil fall off. The camera angles aren't the only thing that suck. The auto-aim system does too. If you look at something and try to auto-aim with LT, you won't necessary lock-on to the thing you're aiming at, which is really frustrating.
Fun: 3.5/5 I expect much better come release. The game looks and sounds fantastic, but the controls almost ruin it. Being a huge Simpsons fan, I'd hate to see The Simpsons next-gen first appearence be a far less than impressive one.
3.5/5
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Game Review ( Bomberman LIVE: Bomb-Up Pack #2 - 360 )
The second Bomberman pack was released a few weeks ago now, but I just decided to buy it because... what the hell, it was only 200 MSP. Anyway, this pack is much like the first. It adds some more clothes, two new arenas, and one new mode. I personally think the clothes included in this pack are much better than the first, and you can now make better looking combinations of clothes. For instance, an old man ballerina, or a pimp. The two new arenas aren't what they say in the description. Instead of the maps being Speed Racer and Dreamland, they are Full Tilt and Medieval Times. Both maps are quite interesting. Medieval Times is much like High Stakes from BUP #1 because it can have anything played in it. This pack also includes what are called Bomb Shelters, which sound like they'd be a cool addition, but instead, really aren't. Actually, they're stupid and pointless. Bomb Shelters can be included on any map, (excluding Plundering Isles ) and I don't know what they are used for. They don't protect you from bombs or do anything to save you. The only thing I think they do is make it harder for players to see where you're at, which is completely useless in 1-on-1 games. One final thing I have to point out is that Hudson glitched this pack. In order to use the new costumes in this pack, you have to have downloaded the first one, too, which is a bummer for people that didn't do that. Bomberman LIVE BUP #2 isn't quite as good as the first, but it's cheaper, and has better costumes. It's just quite a shame that very few people even still play Bomberman LIVE, otherwise this pack would be more worth getting. But at 200 MSP, it isn't like you're throwing money away. You're only paying a little over two dollars here. The pack isn't spectacular, as you are only getting two new arenas, useless Bomb Shelters and some new clothes, but It's hard to not recommend, especially for Bomberman fans.
4.25/5
Recommended.
4.25/5
Recommended.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Game Review ( Halo 3 - 360 ) -Review #2-
It's now been a week since I've had Halo 3... it was definitely a quick week. Now that I've beaten campaign and played well over 100 matches on Xbox Live, this is my final opinion on Halo 3 for the 360.
Graphics: 4.5/5 Far from what they could be. Halo 3 shines in some areas, but in others, it just looks like an average 360 title. The character models look very well done, and the lighting is really amazing, but some of the textures are a little off, and just don't look quite as good as other games on the system, such as the nearly year old Gears of War. Still, the game lags very little to none in most matches online, no matter how much chaos is going on. That is definitely a solid plus. Many people complained about the graphics big time saying they looked "too much like Halo 2"... what game are they playing? Halo 3 looks much better and sharper than Halo 2. There is virtually no comparison.
Sound: 5/5 Just as good as Halo 2, actually, maybe a bit better. Some of the guns, such as the SMG, sounded different in Halo 2, but everything sounds super good. The explosions, rest of the guns, the music... everything about it. Simply adds to the experience.
Control: 4.75/5 A little switched up for the 360 to play better on the 360 controller. At first, I kept pressing X to reload, and I drained some health, dropped random bubble shields and whatnot for quite awhile. But after a little while, I got really used to the controls, and they work quite naturally really. I still think I prefer Halo 2's controls, though.
Fun: 5/5 This 5/5 may be awfully generous, for several reasons. First of all, the campaign won't last you long at all. Even on Legendary, it should only take you 7 or so hours on average if you play with a few friends. Also, the matchmaking is severely flawed. You'll be seeing yourself playing a LOT of Shotty/Snipers and the same maps over and over again. It's actually an amazing feeling when you play a map that you don't normally see in matchmaking just because you do usually play the same 4 or 5 maps constantly. Still, this game is Halo. It will keep most players playing for a very long time. Although the maps after awhile do get old (the ones you play a bajillion times a day) you can always play a custom match, or fool around on Forge, in which you can have you and a few friends fiddle with stuff on maps. If you mess around enough, you may find out you can actually play Mario Kart Double Dash Halo 3 style on Mongooses, as well as baseball. Halo 3 is just an epic game that everyone knows about, gamer or not, and even though it might have been overhyped, it was worth the wait. Halo 3 is a very well done game.
4.75/5
PROS:
Online co-op.
Forge.
It's Halo 3.
CONS:
Some may be unimpressed with the graphics.
Relatively short campaign.
Matchmaking needs to get fixed by Bungie.
Only 11 maps, some of which are recycled from Halo 2, just spiffied up to look different.
Graphics: 4.5/5 Far from what they could be. Halo 3 shines in some areas, but in others, it just looks like an average 360 title. The character models look very well done, and the lighting is really amazing, but some of the textures are a little off, and just don't look quite as good as other games on the system, such as the nearly year old Gears of War. Still, the game lags very little to none in most matches online, no matter how much chaos is going on. That is definitely a solid plus. Many people complained about the graphics big time saying they looked "too much like Halo 2"... what game are they playing? Halo 3 looks much better and sharper than Halo 2. There is virtually no comparison.
Sound: 5/5 Just as good as Halo 2, actually, maybe a bit better. Some of the guns, such as the SMG, sounded different in Halo 2, but everything sounds super good. The explosions, rest of the guns, the music... everything about it. Simply adds to the experience.
Control: 4.75/5 A little switched up for the 360 to play better on the 360 controller. At first, I kept pressing X to reload, and I drained some health, dropped random bubble shields and whatnot for quite awhile. But after a little while, I got really used to the controls, and they work quite naturally really. I still think I prefer Halo 2's controls, though.
Fun: 5/5 This 5/5 may be awfully generous, for several reasons. First of all, the campaign won't last you long at all. Even on Legendary, it should only take you 7 or so hours on average if you play with a few friends. Also, the matchmaking is severely flawed. You'll be seeing yourself playing a LOT of Shotty/Snipers and the same maps over and over again. It's actually an amazing feeling when you play a map that you don't normally see in matchmaking just because you do usually play the same 4 or 5 maps constantly. Still, this game is Halo. It will keep most players playing for a very long time. Although the maps after awhile do get old (the ones you play a bajillion times a day) you can always play a custom match, or fool around on Forge, in which you can have you and a few friends fiddle with stuff on maps. If you mess around enough, you may find out you can actually play Mario Kart Double Dash Halo 3 style on Mongooses, as well as baseball. Halo 3 is just an epic game that everyone knows about, gamer or not, and even though it might have been overhyped, it was worth the wait. Halo 3 is a very well done game.
4.75/5
PROS:
Online co-op.
Forge.
It's Halo 3.
CONS:
Some may be unimpressed with the graphics.
Relatively short campaign.
Matchmaking needs to get fixed by Bungie.
Only 11 maps, some of which are recycled from Halo 2, just spiffied up to look different.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Ten ways to get good at Halo 3. Now.
There are well over a million people that already have played Halo 3, and there were billions of games logged into Halo 2. But if you didn't play Halo 2 much, or just got Halo 3, I have a few tips that should probably have you being a better player. Some tips may seem obvious, but others may not. Some ideas may be ideas a "pro" would tell you, and some would be what a "n00b" would tell you.
1.) First things first, try beating the campaign on Heroic and/or Legendary. If you can't do it alone, ( Not many can. ) try doing it with only one other person. It will teach you how to learn strategies, and just overall get better at the game.
2.) This is an obvious one, but learn what gun combinations work best, and at what range. It should be pretty easy to figure out, and it shouldn't take you more than a few games.
3.) MELEE! - Meleeing is surprisingly overpowered in Halo and it should be used to your advantage. Learn to use it when you're up close to someone rather than shooting... unless you have a shotgun.
4.) Try to somehow stay in at least groups of two with someone, so in case one of your shields go down, the other one with full health can start firing on the other team while his/your shield replenishes.
5.) Crouch behind corners after running away from someone. You won't be picked up on their radar, and they will almost always run past you, giving you a free kill most of the time.
6.) Play Social matches when you first get online... Ranked matches are just for more experienced players, and it's harder to do well in.
7.) While using a gun other than the sniper, try to aim for the body rather than the head. The head may cause more damage, but it's a much smaller target, and it's just easier to shoot the torso. With the sniper, it definitely is better to go for the head, as it takes one shot to kill someone, rather than two it takes to shoot someone twice anywhere else on their body.
8.) Throw grenades! You might not feel natural doing it or something, but give a good strong throw, even at random times, and you may score yourself a kill. If not, you'll likely deplete an opponents shield, making it super easy for him to die.
9.) Get in a vehicle... this is one noobish tip, but it will score you a lot of kills, most of the time, if you're a good driver. Getting into a Banshee on Valhalla off the start won't do anything for you but kill you if you don't exit the cockpit soon enough, but if you're in a Ghost or on the turret of a Warthog, be ready to be getting quite a few kills... as long as you can avoid grenades and people hijacking you.
10.) The obvious, practice. Practice makes better, and if you practice a lot at the game, you'll naturally learn how to do well... unless you're flat out bad at videogames, then you're hopeless.
I doubt this will help much, but it's something.
1.) First things first, try beating the campaign on Heroic and/or Legendary. If you can't do it alone, ( Not many can. ) try doing it with only one other person. It will teach you how to learn strategies, and just overall get better at the game.
2.) This is an obvious one, but learn what gun combinations work best, and at what range. It should be pretty easy to figure out, and it shouldn't take you more than a few games.
3.) MELEE! - Meleeing is surprisingly overpowered in Halo and it should be used to your advantage. Learn to use it when you're up close to someone rather than shooting... unless you have a shotgun.
4.) Try to somehow stay in at least groups of two with someone, so in case one of your shields go down, the other one with full health can start firing on the other team while his/your shield replenishes.
5.) Crouch behind corners after running away from someone. You won't be picked up on their radar, and they will almost always run past you, giving you a free kill most of the time.
6.) Play Social matches when you first get online... Ranked matches are just for more experienced players, and it's harder to do well in.
7.) While using a gun other than the sniper, try to aim for the body rather than the head. The head may cause more damage, but it's a much smaller target, and it's just easier to shoot the torso. With the sniper, it definitely is better to go for the head, as it takes one shot to kill someone, rather than two it takes to shoot someone twice anywhere else on their body.
8.) Throw grenades! You might not feel natural doing it or something, but give a good strong throw, even at random times, and you may score yourself a kill. If not, you'll likely deplete an opponents shield, making it super easy for him to die.
9.) Get in a vehicle... this is one noobish tip, but it will score you a lot of kills, most of the time, if you're a good driver. Getting into a Banshee on Valhalla off the start won't do anything for you but kill you if you don't exit the cockpit soon enough, but if you're in a Ghost or on the turret of a Warthog, be ready to be getting quite a few kills... as long as you can avoid grenades and people hijacking you.
10.) The obvious, practice. Practice makes better, and if you practice a lot at the game, you'll naturally learn how to do well... unless you're flat out bad at videogames, then you're hopeless.
I doubt this will help much, but it's something.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Halo 3 is B.S.
First and second day: I'm doing good,owning people left and right. I'm on a good team that knows what their doing.
Last two days: I'm doing terrible, and it's all because my teams have always been SUCKING yesterday. I don't know how the f*ck my teammates can even be so bad at this game. Every time I'm on the losing team, I'm in first on that team.
Also, I've experienced some sh*tty hit-detection. For example, a grenade at a guy, I see his shield deplete, I shoot him a few times, and I die. WTF is that? Whatever. Maybe I just need to not play for a couple hours. Still, this is absolute garbage.
Last two days: I'm doing terrible, and it's all because my teams have always been SUCKING yesterday. I don't know how the f*ck my teammates can even be so bad at this game. Every time I'm on the losing team, I'm in first on that team.
Also, I've experienced some sh*tty hit-detection. For example, a grenade at a guy, I see his shield deplete, I shoot him a few times, and I die. WTF is that? Whatever. Maybe I just need to not play for a couple hours. Still, this is absolute garbage.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Game Review ( Halo 3 Maps - 360 )
I'm bored. But I'm obsessed with Halo 3 pretty much, so I've decided to review each and every map in the game... here goes.
Construct: 4.5/5 The first map I played in Halo 3. Construct is a map that I think would feel right at home in a Metroid Prime game. It's pretty small, has a few levels, and is sure to be a grenade throwing/tagging fest. This is one of many maps in the game that make me wonder "Am I playing Star Wars Battlefront or Halo 3?". Definitely was pleased with this map.
Epitaph: [Not yet played.]
Guardian: 4.5/5 I'm sure you probably played Halo 2. If so, this is JUST LIKE the map "Lockout", but instead of being in snowy conditions, it's in what seems to be a jungle. It's almost identical. Except I like this version more. Definitely a lot of fun to play.
High Ground: 4.75/5 Another fantastic map in the game. High Ground looks great first off, and the layout is very well done. The only problem I have with this map are the spawn points, which seem a little faulty. My team's spawn will switch with the other team's spawn quite quickly, and before I know it, they spawn and kill me immedietely in the back. Regardless, High Ground is a lot of fun most of the times.
Isolation: 4.75/5 One of the best maps in Halo 3. This map looks like it's in a jungle, or something, with a few bunkers and underground caves. The map looks amazing, and is a LOT of fun to play on.
Last Resort: 4/5 The remake of the ever-so-popular map Zanzibar from Halo 2. Last Resort is very similar to Zanzibar, just with some different colors, and bigger... and that's not much of a good thing. While I liked Zanzibar, I always thought it was overrated. This map, even with 10 people, seems under-populated, and is pretty boring. I actually prefer Zanzibar to Last Resort, but that's just me.
Narrows: 4.25/5 This is another map that could easily fit in to a Metroid Prime game. Narrows to me is a lot like Construct, except that it's... well, narrow. The map has two levels, allowing teams to flank. A good map, but there's nothing real special about it. There is what I call a "booster" you can use to fly from one side to the other, but that's the only thing unique on it. A pretty average map that's surprisingly fun to play - especially with team rockets.
Sandtrap: 4.5/5 At first, this map didn't appeal to me much at all. But after learning the map, and driving a few vehicles around and gunning some guys and vehicles down, it's actually a lot of fun. Sandtrap is one of the few maps in Halo 3 with a lot of vehicles in it, and it's super fun. This map reminds me a lot of the map Dune Sea in Star Wars Battlefront on Tatooine. That's not a bad thing at all. It actually makes me like it more... this map is definitely under-rated.
Snowbound: 5/5 Yeah. This map REALLY reminds me of a Star Wars Battlefront map. Hoth. If you've played Star Wars Battlefront, you'll know what I'm talking about. This map has bunkers just like that one did, but instead of this map being HUGE like Hoth, it's quite similar, but very small in size, which is actually a good thing. Snowbound has proved to be one of, if not, my favorite map in Halo 3. A lot of fun.
The Pit: 4/5 An average warehouse map... it just looks like you're in a giant Costco or something... most games have a map that looks similar to this one, and it's usually "filler". I must say, this definitely is a filler map. It's only kind of fun to play on because it's a Halo 3 map.
Valhalla: 5/5 Another fantastic map. Valhalla is one of the very few maps in Halo 3 with air-flight vehicles, and it's an awesome one. I can't honestly describe this map, besides that it's a LOT of fun. It kind of, no, it REALLY sucks when you're stranded in the middle of the map without a vehicle or a team-mate, but after you learn where you're supposed to be and at what times, you'll likely enjoy Valhalla a lot too.
-----
The Halo 3 Maps are just unbelievable. As of now, I haven't played them all, but from what I have played, just about all of them are spectacular. That's about it - I'm gonna go play some more Halo!
4.75/5
Construct: 4.5/5 The first map I played in Halo 3. Construct is a map that I think would feel right at home in a Metroid Prime game. It's pretty small, has a few levels, and is sure to be a grenade throwing/tagging fest. This is one of many maps in the game that make me wonder "Am I playing Star Wars Battlefront or Halo 3?". Definitely was pleased with this map.
Epitaph: [Not yet played.]
Guardian: 4.5/5 I'm sure you probably played Halo 2. If so, this is JUST LIKE the map "Lockout", but instead of being in snowy conditions, it's in what seems to be a jungle. It's almost identical. Except I like this version more. Definitely a lot of fun to play.
High Ground: 4.75/5 Another fantastic map in the game. High Ground looks great first off, and the layout is very well done. The only problem I have with this map are the spawn points, which seem a little faulty. My team's spawn will switch with the other team's spawn quite quickly, and before I know it, they spawn and kill me immedietely in the back. Regardless, High Ground is a lot of fun most of the times.
Isolation: 4.75/5 One of the best maps in Halo 3. This map looks like it's in a jungle, or something, with a few bunkers and underground caves. The map looks amazing, and is a LOT of fun to play on.
Last Resort: 4/5 The remake of the ever-so-popular map Zanzibar from Halo 2. Last Resort is very similar to Zanzibar, just with some different colors, and bigger... and that's not much of a good thing. While I liked Zanzibar, I always thought it was overrated. This map, even with 10 people, seems under-populated, and is pretty boring. I actually prefer Zanzibar to Last Resort, but that's just me.
Narrows: 4.25/5 This is another map that could easily fit in to a Metroid Prime game. Narrows to me is a lot like Construct, except that it's... well, narrow. The map has two levels, allowing teams to flank. A good map, but there's nothing real special about it. There is what I call a "booster" you can use to fly from one side to the other, but that's the only thing unique on it. A pretty average map that's surprisingly fun to play - especially with team rockets.
Sandtrap: 4.5/5 At first, this map didn't appeal to me much at all. But after learning the map, and driving a few vehicles around and gunning some guys and vehicles down, it's actually a lot of fun. Sandtrap is one of the few maps in Halo 3 with a lot of vehicles in it, and it's super fun. This map reminds me a lot of the map Dune Sea in Star Wars Battlefront on Tatooine. That's not a bad thing at all. It actually makes me like it more... this map is definitely under-rated.
Snowbound: 5/5 Yeah. This map REALLY reminds me of a Star Wars Battlefront map. Hoth. If you've played Star Wars Battlefront, you'll know what I'm talking about. This map has bunkers just like that one did, but instead of this map being HUGE like Hoth, it's quite similar, but very small in size, which is actually a good thing. Snowbound has proved to be one of, if not, my favorite map in Halo 3. A lot of fun.
The Pit: 4/5 An average warehouse map... it just looks like you're in a giant Costco or something... most games have a map that looks similar to this one, and it's usually "filler". I must say, this definitely is a filler map. It's only kind of fun to play on because it's a Halo 3 map.
Valhalla: 5/5 Another fantastic map. Valhalla is one of the very few maps in Halo 3 with air-flight vehicles, and it's an awesome one. I can't honestly describe this map, besides that it's a LOT of fun. It kind of, no, it REALLY sucks when you're stranded in the middle of the map without a vehicle or a team-mate, but after you learn where you're supposed to be and at what times, you'll likely enjoy Valhalla a lot too.
-----
The Halo 3 Maps are just unbelievable. As of now, I haven't played them all, but from what I have played, just about all of them are spectacular. That's about it - I'm gonna go play some more Halo!
4.75/5
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Game Review ( Halo 3 - 360 )
Here's my review on what is one of, if not the, biggest game and what some say the most overrated game, of all-time. I've only played it for about 6 hours, so I will probably be editing this review. This is my first impression. ( Note: I didn't play the beta. )
Graphics: 4.5/5 Look quite good, but don't really blow you away. The character models for the most part look phenomenal, and the environments do as well. Still, it's not the most impressive looking game out there right now. Hell, to all the whiners, I'd rather have an okay looking game that runs smoothly than a fantastic looking game that lags a lot.
Sound: 5/5 Top notch. The talking throughout your men in campaign is really well done. The voice acting in the cut scenes are also great. You will likely never hear the same thing twice in battle. The explosions and guns still sound fantastic too. Everything Halo 2 sounded like, but better.
Control: 4.5/5 Not quite perfect. In my opinion, Halo 2 had better controls for a 360 controller. Still, Halo 3 doesn't control bad, but it does take some getting used to. Such as you having to learn how to use the RB button to get in vehicles and pick up guns and what-not, as well as reload, instead of using the X button used in Halo 2. Still controls very well though.
Fun: 5/5 I must say, this game left a great first impression. I started with Campaign first, and was less than surprised at the start, mainly because the game kept on lagging. But once the game started going, the Campaign got pretty fun. And, in case you don't already know, you can have four person co-op, which makes Legendary quite a bit easier to play through. ( Still not a sinch in any stretch of the imagination though. ) I could review this game all day. The single player, co-op, Forge, multiplayer, all the maps, how the guns hold up, the AI, the ability to record your games, and what not. All I really need to say though, is it's worth it. There aren't many maps currently available to play on Halo 3, but just about all of them are a lot of fun. If you don't think they are at first, go ahead and play them a few times. The game looks good, controls great, and sounds fantastic. Almost everything about this game that I've seen so far is top notch.
5/5
Graphics: 4.5/5 Look quite good, but don't really blow you away. The character models for the most part look phenomenal, and the environments do as well. Still, it's not the most impressive looking game out there right now. Hell, to all the whiners, I'd rather have an okay looking game that runs smoothly than a fantastic looking game that lags a lot.
Sound: 5/5 Top notch. The talking throughout your men in campaign is really well done. The voice acting in the cut scenes are also great. You will likely never hear the same thing twice in battle. The explosions and guns still sound fantastic too. Everything Halo 2 sounded like, but better.
Control: 4.5/5 Not quite perfect. In my opinion, Halo 2 had better controls for a 360 controller. Still, Halo 3 doesn't control bad, but it does take some getting used to. Such as you having to learn how to use the RB button to get in vehicles and pick up guns and what-not, as well as reload, instead of using the X button used in Halo 2. Still controls very well though.
Fun: 5/5 I must say, this game left a great first impression. I started with Campaign first, and was less than surprised at the start, mainly because the game kept on lagging. But once the game started going, the Campaign got pretty fun. And, in case you don't already know, you can have four person co-op, which makes Legendary quite a bit easier to play through. ( Still not a sinch in any stretch of the imagination though. ) I could review this game all day. The single player, co-op, Forge, multiplayer, all the maps, how the guns hold up, the AI, the ability to record your games, and what not. All I really need to say though, is it's worth it. There aren't many maps currently available to play on Halo 3, but just about all of them are a lot of fun. If you don't think they are at first, go ahead and play them a few times. The game looks good, controls great, and sounds fantastic. Almost everything about this game that I've seen so far is top notch.
5/5
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