Saturday, January 26, 2008

Review Mass Effect


Features Mass Effect

* Science-fiction RPG

* Explore uncharted worlds and uncover mystery

* Real-time, squad-based combat

* Character customization with a deep role-playing systems

* Credible digital actors

Details Mass Effect

* Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.

* Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches ; 2 pounds

* Media: Video Game

* Release Date: November 20, 2007

Description Mass Effect
Amazon.com
A Spectacular New Vision of the Future

The galaxy is trapped in an endless cycle of extinction. Every 50,000 years, an ancient machine race invades the galaxy. With ruthless efficiency, the machines wipe out all advanced organic civilization. They leave behind only the scattered ruins of technology, destroying all evidence of their own existence. Few believe this ancient legend. You, however, know it to be true. The fight to stop this extinction event has become the most important mission in the galaxy.
"You must act without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law." It is your mission. As Commander Shepard of the SS Normandy, you will take your elite recon squad across a galaxy in turmoil, in a desperate race to stop the return of an enemy without mercy. To stop this enemy, you must act without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law. Your only imperative is to preserve the safety of civilized life in the galaxy - at any cost. You must become the tip of the spear of humanity, for you alone know the full extent of what is at stake if you should fail. Science-fiction Role-playing: Perfected Mass Effect allows you to create your own customizable version of Commander Shepard (or jump in and use the pre-created character) and plunge yourself into the center of an epic science-fiction story. Choose your squad-mates, your weapons, skills and abilities, and customize your vehicles, armor and appearance - you are in complete control over your experience.In the course of your mission to stop the machine invasion, you may choose to follow the path of the soldier, the tech-specialist, or the biotics-specialist…each of which brings an arsenal of unique yet equally powerful abilities to use against the enemy. Wield a multitude of weapon types with precision accuracy…utilize your technical skill to turn enemy war machines against their creators…or unleash the full power of Dark Energy against your foe with devastating effects. As you progress throughout the game you will improve your character's skills, abilities, and equipment (including weapons, armor, biotic implants and more) to ensure that you have the means to face the growing threat before you. The role you choose to play in Mass Effect will have tremendous consequences on the galaxy around you. You will face moral dilemmas in which the decision you ultimately make will significantly alter the fate of civilized life in the galaxy. The Vastness of Space Beckons Your mission will take you into the deepest reaches of known space - and beyond. Aboard your ship, the Normandy, you will choose which planets to investigate, and where to take your team. In addition to the major worlds of the main story arc, you will have the freedom to visit a wide array of uncharted planets and other locations such as asteroids and abandoned space freighters adrift in space. On many worlds, take your team planet side in the MAKO in order to explore and find alien life, ancient artifacts and ruins, rogue trader colonies and a host of other amazing discoveries. Lose Yourself in a Living Galaxy Mass Effect combines astonishing photo-realistic graphics with innovative new dialog systems to create a cast of living characters to interact with. Engage these characters in real-time conversations that allow you to immerse yourself in dramatically charged situations. Characters communicate with full voice-acting and amazing animation that displays their emotions right down to subtle nuances in their facial expressions. Every wrinkled brow and slight twist of the mouth is captured to infuse every interaction with a feeling of realism. Lead Your Squad in Intense, Real-Time Combat Lead Your Squad in Intense, Real-Time CombatThe struggle to stop the return of the machines will ultimately be a violent one. You will assume responsibility for the lives of your squad as you lead them into often uncharted, hostile alien environments. Each decision you make could mean the difference between victory and disaster. Although combat will take place in real-time, you will have the ability to pause combat and issue commands to your squad which they will then execute with the precision of a highly trained elite force. Upgrading certain skills and abilities as you level up your character will also allow you to increase your ballistic skill - this can ultimately lead to easier aiming, more damaging use of weapons, and biotic effects with the power to turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Description Mass Effect
Set 200 years in the future in an epic universe, Mass Effect places gamers in a vast galactic community in danger of being conquered by a legendary agent gone rogue. A spectacular new vision from legendary developers BioWare, Mass Effect challenges players to lead a squad of freedom fighters as they struggle against threatening armies to restore peace in the land. Mass Effect is the first in a trilogy of games with an overarching story, where the real conflict between organic beings and artificial intelligence comes to life in startling clarity. Intense, in-depth story where the fate of life as you know it depends on you Features six character classes, along with six more unlockable ones - each class contains several talents As each talent is leveled, the character either gains stats (extra health, stamina, etc) or unlocks new abilities. Players can fully customize their appearance, gender, abilities and even military background. Four classes of conventional weapons ESRB Rated M for Mature
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Deep story unfolds in early going, very immersive experience
By Shann Yu "BIOE major" (Rice University)

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First off, I've been waiting for this game since the previews came out late last year (2006). So far, Bioware has done a great job of pimping out this game. And deliver it does...

STORY: A+
The 'cutscenes' are really not cutscenes at all. The conversations you have are pretty dynamic and integration of the choices of stuff to say is so seamless it seems almost natural. Early on, you get a sense of this when choices of stuff to do in the field enable you to remake your character as a mission-oriented commander or more of a compassionate search-for-survivors kind of guy, among some. The story picks up pretty much where the prequel book left off, and immerses you in the experience. You keep on wanting to learn more. You definitely feel like a part of this epic and that will keep you coming back. Unlike Halo 3 and Gears of War which launch you into an ongoing war, Mass Effect sends you into a very deep, very complex world to explore. Imagine yourself as a hypothetical CIA agent before the war begins. Expect to see yourself running around the world, talking to people and gaining intel on people, and then having fight scenes from time to time. When you get sent on a mission to track someone down and there are lots of enemies between you and the destination, then you begin to see more of the combat-intensive aspects of the game.

GAMEPLAY: A
Expect to see a third-person shooter with a heavy RPG influence. While out in the field, it's like a Gears of War experience with a basic tactical system. Run. Take cover. Take some guys down. Order your friendlies to flank the enemy or to fall back. Outside of this, the RPG system comes into
play when leveling up, when you get to choose abilities to level up, weapons to equip (ie, if you have 3 types of sniper rifles in inventory, which one will you equip?. I will cover this in more detail below). The controls were overall slightly different from control schemes used in comparable third
-person shooters. It didn't take me long to get used to the system used here in Mass Effect. You can pretty much figure it all out in the first level.I had the mistaken view that only snipers and pistols can be trained into an over-the-shoulder Gears of War camera angle when aiming (holding down the left trigger). Apparently, this is because I started off as an Infiltrator class. Different character classes can train different weapons. The soldier class can train all weapons. Sniping took some getting used to. When you first start off, Shepard is very shaky and thus it is very difficult to snipe. Adding points to level up your sniping ability seems to limit this shakiness greatly.The tactical system is very very bare bones. You can order people to fall back, take on a specific target, regroup, or storm the area. Nothing much to it. Therefore, players can fight with their AI teammates as much of a unit (though I feel the AI tends to die a lot).You also get to drive vehicles. Much of you have seen the trailers and saw that tank drop out from the Normandy. That tank handles like a Warthog from Halo 3, except with rocket boosters and a repair function. A heads up - repairing means you can't move or fire any of the tank's weapons. Therefore, make sure you're in cover when repairing. I love the rocket boosters as it gives you an extra method of dodging rockets and charged shots from the geth. The big disadvantage is that you have to drive and shoot at the same time. This makes for some very frustrating vehicle fight sequences. I am a big fan of how the game feels thus far. Having RPG elements yields a lot of control over how your character plays on the field. The shooting system is pretty good, but not flawless. My biggest complaint early on was the many loading pauses you have to go through, but the deeper I went into the game, the less it affected gameplay. Loading pauses don't happen in the middle of the heat of battle, but it definitely wouldn't hurt to possibly fix this up in future patches.Finally, a decent portion of the game involves going out and doing side missions. This means jumping in the tank and driving from the landing zone to various points on the map. I think driving around like this is the most painful experience of the game. There's almost always nothing but an occasionally frustrating 5-minute drive between the LZ and the destination, and once you get there, after doing a few of the side missions, you realize that the site layout is a recurring theme. Therefore, if anything else, the side missions are a great way to practice and to level up. There's some more of that RPG stuff working for you.

RPG Elements: A
For weapons and armor, the feel is similar to something like Diablo II, where you pick up random equipment as you go along. Each equipment has a certain class: armor, assault rifles, pistols, sniper rifles, shotguns, etc (I haven't seen the other classes!). Depending on the character class you chose at the beginning, you have different combinations of these classes available to you. For example, my character class may allow me to equip an assault rifle and armor only. This means that I can equip only 1 assault rifle at a time and 1 armor. But since I pick up a lot of these in the field, I must choose which assault rifle I want to use and which armor to equip. The equipment select screen where you actually do this shows a lot of equipment data, ie damage of a weapon, 'clip size', so on.Upgrades for each weapon can also be picked up and installed, including different rounds (ie, shredder rounds that add bonus damage when fighting organics, vs. armor piercing rounds against synthetics) and a wide range of add-ons (ie, heat sinks to decrease gun overheating).Another big thing is that you gain experience out in the field as you fight more stuff. You earn points this way that you can spend upgrading, say, your ability to snipe or your armor's damage reduction settings. There are definitely a variety of choices to look through while you decide what to level up.

CHARACTERS: A+
I enjoy interacting with the characters to see what's going on in their heads. The characters are all very multidimensional and very well thought up and implemented in the game. Voice acting and video synchronization was flawless.

REPLAYABILITY: A
I have played through the story at least 3x by now, amassing more than 60 hours of gameplay. Having 6 character classes to pick from and 6 squad members to choose from, including the ability to choose whether to build your reputation as a ruthless military man or a compassionate and humane leader (or somewhere in between) definitely keeps you coming back to see how you
can change the way things play. The different character classes really play differently so have fun with them.To sum up, some of you may be looking at Mass Effect and wondering whether or not it's worth the $60. And I say it is.

PROS: Deep and immersive storyline that captivates from the beginning, well-made characters, seamless incorporation of dynamic cutscenes, unique integration of 3PS with RPG. This game plays very differently from anything you've tried before. It's no Halo 3 nor Bioshock. It's a very well-made original game.

CONS: Minimap is not intuitive at first, plays too much like a movie at times, driving between points on a map in the Mako can be excruciatingly boring, a lot of recurring layouts with the sites of side missions.

FINAL VERDICT: A+. Very well-made game, well worth that whole wait from June till now. I've been anticipating this game for a while and it delivers an epic storyline of gigantic portions in a way that no others have done. This is definitely for people who want to experience being in an all-new sci-fi epic and building up an altogether new and unique hero.
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Epic would be insignificant in comparison.
By trashcanman (Hanford, CA United States)

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"Mass Effect" is not a video game. Football is a game, checkers is a game, ping pong is a game,"Pac-man" is a game, and yes "Halo" is a game. But this is nothing less than pure, cinematic, interactive fiction containing all of the depth, detail, lore, discovery, and character of the greatest science fiction epics of all time. "Star Wars", "Star Trek", "Battlestar Galactica", "Blade Runner"; this is a story that nearly dwarfs them all in sheer size, scope, andenjoyment while paying homage to them along the way. " Mass Effect " is not an action-based game but a massive story that you help write as you go along based on your personal choices. Sure, there is plenty of very satisfying gunplay along the way, but it is mostly a means to an end rather than the primary focus. The story of " Mass Effect " is quite possibly the most amazing ever written for a video game, recalling many of the best elements from some of the greatest works of the sci-fi genre and putting you in an almost "Oblivion"-like level of control over the world. You could spend dozens of hours simply exploring unknown worlds and building your fortune that way while shirking the main story altogether if you choose. But if you don't have all the time in the universe to enjoy this one, the main story is not too long. In fact, I honestly wish it were much longer, but that was the sacrifice made for the open-ended freedom of exploration the player is given. One will most likely spend upwards of 50 hours just exploring the galaxies and discovering all of the tiny stories within the story that really flesh this universe out. Plus, there are many different ways to play the game which will command you to replay it over again just to see all of the what-if's and enjoy mastering all of the various class skills. " Mass Effect " also revels in making you face the tough decisions, forcing you to use you own personal morality to make choices that will effect the way characters in the game will look at you. And the many races of the intergalactic Council are watching you closely as a representative of humanity adn this will impact the game. What are the ethics behind genocide of a species that may, in time, become a real threat to civilized life? You decide. How about murder for revenge? Taking bribes? The safety of the intergalactic community against human lives? These are just a few of the issues you may face and have to think about before you press that button and possibly change the universe forever. Gameplay could not be better. The combat is real-time and apes the realistic feel "Gears of War" while retaining the skill system used in Bioware's previous classic "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic". Speaking of KOTOR, this game plays very closely to that previously untouchable work. All of the familiar gameplay and story elements are present, but almost all are improved, especially the combat. The real time shooting is a little hectic at first, but as you and your character gain experience, you will soon have the skills and savvy to utilize the system and dominate rooms full of enemies. The superhuman abilities include biotics, which are sort of like The Force, and tech skills which can include hacking an enemy's AI to attack it's teammates or overheating an opponent's weapon or shields. The implementation of these skills can be key since many of the enemies are quite resourceful and strong. Shall you use biotics to lift a foe from behind his cover so you can ventilate him at your leisure or just create a vortex to suck them all up into one whirling shooting gallery? Maybe I'll just terrorize the lot of them with my one-shot-one-kill sniping skills while my teammates provide cover. The options are only as limited as your imagination. The only complaints from me is that your squadmates can't be controlled individually (you can't send your heavy gunner forward while keeping your tech expert behind cover; both respond to the same command) and the grenades (while awesome and upgradable) are kind of clunky to use. The characters of KOTOR and Bioware's last game "Jade Empire" also had a lot more charm and humor to them and a lot more to say in between missions, it seems. I guess that's the price to pay for a less linear game. But then again, there is a lot of random dialogue between all of the combinations of characters here that help make up for it. For example, while your party waits in an elevator they will often have brief but personal conversations with one another. The dialogue for cutscenes and missions also changes based on who you brought along. This is a very nice touch.
Exploring planets in your Mako ATV is also a blast, reminiscent of driving a Warthog in "Halo" but with much rougher terrain and jet boosters that can send you flying. Awesome. I could go on and on about the hundreds of things that make this "game" the greatest of it's kind. It's nearly as large but more accessible than "Oblivion", more action-packed than "Knights of the
Old Republic", and has an even better story than "Halo" and stands on it's own not as a game but as a definitive sci-fi experience. In my book, that makes this the best next-gen single-player game here is and one of the greatest things I've ever played. The best part? It's the first of a trilogy. The
mind boggles at the possibilities. Buy it. Now.
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Massive, November 20, 2007
By Sean A. Rhodes (Aurora, Colorado)

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
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Mass Effect comes from BioWare. The creators of Knights of the Old Republic. Because of that, it goes without saying that Mass Effect feels very similar in its RPG like approach. This is no clone of Knights of the Old Republic, though. Mass Effect is its own game and it's a very fantastic game at that. This review is pretty long. If need be, you can look to the bottom for a list of pros and cons.You're John Shepard. The game takes place in the year 2183, and humanity has come to explore the Galaxy like never before. You'll discover a series of races throughout the galaxy and there's a sense of injustice afoot. Tensions between races are also high. You'll come across people who hardly trust a certain character because of their race. Just the same, a Turian (one of the many races in the game) named Saran has betrayed the Galactic council and its up to you to stop him and bring justice to the Galaxy. Mass Effect has a pretty intriguing storyline that grips you from the moment you begin. It's also well written with some fairly interesting characters.The storyline is told through fantastic cut scenes and some fantastic voice acting. The quality of these scenes is movie like in its execution. The game also looks fantastic. Some of the character models look almost lifelike. In terms of eye candy, Mass Effect is sure to delight. It also sounds really good. There's a lot of great music here. Again, it sounds movie like. Hardly any game sounds better. The music always manages to fit the mood and situation at hand.You begin by making a character. Much like Knights of the Old Republic, you're allowed to customize what he looks like and here you're also able to give your character a back story. As the game goes on, you'll participate in several conversations. These conversations have a direct impact on the storyline as well as shaping your character. Most times they'll also have an effect on the outcome of certain situations. Not always, but often they do. There's also a light and dark attribute going on much like Knights of the Old Republic.In terms of Gameplay, Mass Effect is a pretty complex game. It plays a lot like a third person Shooter, but at its core it is definitely an RPG. As you traverse the field you'll have a squad at your command. You control Shepard and can give orders to your troops. Either you can send them ahead to attack, rally them or tell them to keep their distance. You can give these kinds of commands any time you want. Just because it plays like a third person shooter, though doesn't mean you treat the game as such. Mass Effect is not a very easy game. It is important to add strategy to a situation rather than go in with guns blazing. Your enemies have some attacks that can take off a lot of health at any given time. The AI of your characters is sometimes questionable, though. For the most part, they help in battle, but sometimes you'll feel like a one man army.Throughout the adventure you'll also gather Medi-gels and Omni-gels. Medi-gels heal you while Omni-gels are for using decryption or electronics on devices like locked doors or containers. Speaking of locked doors, you'll come across some of those too. As well as locked containers and other things you'll need to override. You'll do it by entering a series of button presses. This is actually a pretty annoying mini-game. Screw up even once and you lose your chance to override and you'll have to result to using Omni-gels. There is also a lot of customization to take in. All characters have certain talents. Whenever you level up you can increase a characters rank in a talent. In time they'll be able to do things like open locked doors with ease or be able to better handle certain weapons easier. You can also customize weapons and armor or turn them into Omni-gels. If you turn a weapon into an Omni-gel, though, it's gone forever. For the most part, the game is pretty free in terms of what you can do.Mass Effect has a couple of glaring problems when it comes to gameplay. As you traverse, for one thing, the game sometimes slows down. So it doesn't always run smoothly. While you have control over the camera, you can't automatically position it behind you. You always have to swivel it around. It's not a huge problem, but it is one that can get you killed when you're surrounded by several enemies at once. It also doesn't help that the camera doesn't swivel fast. Also, much like Knights of the Old Republic, there are a couple of bugs that hinder gameplay. At some points you'll even have to reload or something because of them. There was even an instance where the game froze entirely. In short, the game is good, but there are a lot of little nit-picky technical things that keep it from being as good as it could be. Technical glitches that shouldn't be in the game in the first place. Mass Effect is a strong game. It's got all the qualities that really make a game good. It's just too bad that it has a few problems in the technical department that keep it from being an overall fantastic game.

Pros:
+Strong storyline
+Excellent voice acting and script
+Very interactive story
+Fantastic looking visuals
+Good strong soundtrack
+Simplistic, yet strategic combat
+Deep customization

Cons:
-A couple of camera issues
-Sometimes there's a slowdown in frame rate
-A few technical bugs and glitches; sometimes these will make you have to reload your game... very annoying
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Simply brilliant, November 27, 2007
By N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA)

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
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Anyone who experienced Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the original XBox has been eagerly anticipating Mass Effect. Developed by KOTOR creators BioWare, Mass Effect may get off to a bit of a bumpy start, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be in for a real treat with this action/RPG. Playing as Commander Shepard, you are in the middle of interstellar and political turmoil in what turns out to be one of the most engrossing and intelligent stories to grace a video game, well, maybe ever. Without giving too much away, you'll meet tons of imaginitive alien races
in an even more imaginitive universe that is brilliantly realized to say the least. The RPG elements are where Mass Effect really shines brightest, as you customize Shepard and decide your actions. Here you just don't pick from a list of replies or orders like usual in the RPG world, but when you do pick, your character actually thinks them out. Little touches and elements like this are what sets Mass Effect apart from other RPG's to hit the XBox 360. Where the game also shines is with it's visuals and effects, not to mention the incredibly good voice acting and dialogue. The production values are incredibly high as well, and there's just a feeling of freshness to be found here that usually isn't in most games of Mass Effect's ilk. However, Mass Effect isn't without it's flaws. There are some moments of graphical slowdown that while not overly apparent, can still be noticable. Also, the enemy AI isn't particularly good, and the game's action elements are nowhere near as polished as the RPG elements. Those flaws aside, Mass Effect is still an incredible game that is a simply brilliant sight to behold. The story alone is enough to suck you in, and you will be playing for quite some time. Even if you're not an RPG fan, you should still give Mass Effect a look, you will not regret it
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Unexpectedly awesome, January 5, 2008
By Alexis Coxon (Holt, MI, USA)

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
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I'm very surprised to be reviewing this game -- let alone giving it five stars. When my husband received " Mass Effect " for Christmas, I thought I'd be spending a lot of time rolling my eyes and reading a book while he was shooting stuff, not fighting him for the Xbox controller! So, I'm not a hardcore gamer, and I'm not going to review this game pretending I'm one. I'm writing this from the perspective of a 31-year-old wife and mom whose interest in Xbox games has mostly been limited to "Oblivion" and "Guitar Hero" until now.The graphics in " Mass Effect " are unbelievable, even better than "Oblivion," I think -- particularly when it comes to the characters. One thing I didn't like about "Oblivion" was that it was nearly impossible to make a female character who didn't look like a man. Maybe that seems like a minor thing to other people, but when I spend a lot of time playing a game (about 30 hours in this case), I want to be happy with the way my character looks. My " Mass Effect " character came out pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself! (One of my husband's friends was over once when I was playing and said, "Whoa! Who's she? I haven't met that character!") In addition, the alien worlds that you visit look great. There are tons of them, and there's a lot of things to explore on each one (including stuff that doesn't show up on your map.)The controls were easy for me to use. Normally, I hate "shooting games" because it's too hard for me to aim (I'd just rather hack away at something with a sword), but after a little practice, I was doing pretty good. By the end (with upgraded weapons), I found I was actually taking out guys with one shot. Sweet!The way the weapons and armor were displayed also made it easy for me to figure out which was the best choice for my character or other team member. In some games, particularly "Neverwinter Nights" for the PC, I've had to ask my husband to help me figure out which one will do the most damage. Not a problem here. One small complaint: In the screen where you switch which weapon you're armed with, it'd be nice to have them labeled with the TYPE of weapon (pistol, assault rifle, etc.) -- I'm not gun-savvy enough to figure out which is which based on the little sketch. I really liked the RPG aspects of the game. At times, it was a little talky, but I really liked that the focus wasn't 100 percent on combat. I also liked the option of incorporating romance into the game. (So sue me, I'm a chick!) The plot -- about a rogue Spectre (sort of a special agent) who's trying to bring an ancient power back to the galaxy -- kept me interested, too. I guess it's just a variation on the standard RPG plot of "cult tries to take over the world," but it's done well.The end does seem to leave the game wide-open for a sequel -- and I think that's a good thing. I'll definitely be fighting my husband to play that one, too.
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Unexpectedly awesome, January 5, 2008
By Alexis Coxon (Holt, MI, USA)

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
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I'm very surprised to be reviewing this game -- let alone giving it five stars. When my husband received "Mass Effect" for Christmas, I thought I'd be spending a lot of time rolling my eyes and reading a book while he was shooting stuff, not fighting him for the Xbox controller! So, I'm not a hardcore gamer, and I'm not going to review this game pretending I'm one. I'm writing this from the perspective of a 31-year-old wife and mom whose interest in Xbox games has mostly been limited to "Oblivion" and "Guitar Hero" until now. The graphics in " Mass Effect " are unbelievable, even better than "Oblivion," I think -- particularly when it comes to the characters. One thing I didn't like about "Oblivion" was that it was nearly impossible to make a female characterwho didn't look like a man. Maybe that seems like a minor thing to other people, but when I spend a lot of time playing a game (about 30 hours in this case), I want to be happy with the way my character looks. My " Mass Effect " character came out pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself! (One of my husband's friends was over once when I was playing and said, "Whoa! Who's she? I haven't met that character!")In addition, the alien worlds that you visit look great. There are tons of them, and there's a lot of things to explore on each one (including stuff that doesn't show up on your map.)The controls were easy for me to use. Normally, I hate "shooting games" because it's too hard for me to aim (I'd just rather hack away at something with a sword), but after a little practice, I was doing pretty good. By the end (with upgraded weapons), I found I was actually taking out guys with one shot. Sweet!
The way the weapons and armor were displayed also made it easy for me to figure out which was the best choice for my character or other team member. In some games, particularly "Neverwinter Nights" for the PC, I've had to ask my husband to help me figure out which one will do the most damage. Not a problem here. One small complaint: In the screen where you switch which weapon you're armed with, it'd be nice to have them labeled with the TYPE of weapon (pistol, assault rifle, etc.) -- I'm not gun-savvy enough to figure out which is which based on the little sketch.I really liked the RPG aspects of the game. At times, it was a little talky, but I really liked that the focus wasn't 100 percent on combat. I also liked the option of incorporating romance into the game. (So sue me, I'm a chick!)The plot -- about a rogue Spectre (sort of a special agent) who's trying to bring an ancient power back to the galaxy -- kept me interested, too. I guess it's just a variation on the standard RPG plot of "cult tries to take over the world," but it's done well.The end does seem to leave the game wide-open for a sequel -- and I think that's a good thing. I'll definitely be fighting my husband to play that one, too.
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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Review New Super Mario Bros


Features New Super Mario Bros

* Run, jump, and stomp your way through raging volcanoes, tropical islands, snowcapped peaks, and unimaginable challenges!

* Grab a Mega Mushroom and grow to incredible proportions, or smash through your foes in a blue Koopa shell!

* There are two multiplayer modes in New Super Mario Bros. -- Mario vs. Luigi and Minigames. In Mario vs. Luigi mode, it's brother vs. brother in a race for Stars.

* New Power Ups! You'll find classic power-ups like the Super Mushroom and the Fire Flower in the game, and there are some all-new power-ups that let Mario explore the Mushroom Kingdom like never before.

* New Moves! New Super Mario Bros. expands Mario's arsenal of moves to include some very powerful advanced techniques. If you want to uncover every secret in the game, you'll have to master them all.

Details New Super Mario Bros

* Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.

* Weight: 1 pounds

* Media: Video Game

* Release Date: May 15, 2006

Description New Super Mario Bros
New Super Mario Bros
. for the DS lets you play an updated version of the classic Super Mario Bros. world, with all-new moves taken from other hit Mario games. When Mario andPrincess Peach are taking a walk, a bolt of lightning hits Mushroom Castle. Mario goes off to investigate, but he returns Bowser has kidnapped Peach! He'll track down Bowser on the classic, original Super Mario Bros. map with all the moves he's picked up in the other games. Throw turtle shells, butt-stomp to crack open floors -- you can even use the tanooki suit from Super Mario Bros. 3. Use the DS dual screen to see where you are on a map&play fun minigames. Also includes a two-player mode where Mario and Luigi race and compete for coins.


A Classic Plumber Really Reborn, May 16, 2006
By Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner" (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.)

There are sometimes where you look at classic video games, and how much they've impacting the gaming industry. While there are great games out there that have been well-receieved like Halo, Doom, Madden '06, and others that've really shown a great depth of universal appeal. That has definitely also been the case with Mario. Since 1981, as Jumpman in Donkey Kong, Mario has been the most universal of all the video game characters and personas ever, and continues to develop with the times. That also has been shown with the Nintendo DS as well. The breakout success of Nintendo's latest handheld system has really been a great transition to how we play video games on hand with the stylus, and appeal of the dual screen action. Now, Mario is set to have that classic feeling all over again.New Super Mario Brothers for the Nintendo DS brings a updated appeal to Mario, loosely based on the classic 2-D games he has been widely known for from Super Mario Brothers 1, 2, 3. and Super Mario World from the Super NES era. The object is just like the object from before, as you play Mario or Luigi, and try to go after Bowser and Bowser Jr. from stealing Princess Toadstool a.k.a. Peach. The game features over 80 different levels of exciting, and enjoyable gameplay. The game includes the classic moves from previous titles like the ground pounding (Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine), and the carrying turtle shells to defeat Koopa Troopas and Goombas (Super Mario Brothers), as well as new features like the mega mushroom which can turn Mario into a King Kong size, to really pound and knockout your competition. The graphics and the gameplay are just absolutely breathtaking and amazing, and really delivers what had been done from the early Mario titles before, while the sound is just purely classic. The control also is percise and in tune to each movement of Mario and company.

All in all, this is the second full length Mario adventure title to really deliver well for the Nintendo DS. Like what happened with Super Mario 64 DS did to showcase the brilliance of the DS, New Super Mario Brothers delivers the fun and appeal of a classic game, to a whole new generation of gamers. I definitely think this is one of the most definitive titles available for the Nintendo DS, and I really definitely think it should be a standard to your Nintendo DS library.

Graphics: A

Sound: A-

Control: A+

Fun & Enjoyment: A+

Overall: A 1/2+


Fun for kids and adults alike!, May 25, 2006
By Charles Evans (Monroe, North Carolina)

I need to warn everyone that my wife and I are both old enough to have been fans of the orginal Mario... but we are still young to love the newest version in the series.

Sometimes you just have to get back to the basics - and that is exactly what happens with this newest Mario installment. Nintendo has taken the best features of the first three Super Marios (with some new features too!) and blended them into one great game.

Pros-

- All new version of an great favorite

- Interesting twists

- nice graphics for a hand held game

- Decent game length

- very fun mini games

Cons-

- Game isn't too challenging for your average gamer

- Most of the mini games are repeats

As a whole - the game is well worth the $35 and will supply many hours of great game play.


Great Enhanced Remix of Classic Games, July 1, 2006
By Lisa Shea "LisaShea.com"

Super Mario Brothers was one of my favorite games when it first came out. With New Super Mario Bros DS, you get the game fun gameplay - enhanced - in a nice portable system.

This isn't just a remake - it is sort of like how the Wizard of Oz starts out in black and white in a gritty, quiet town and then turns into multi-color, sparkling larger than life song-filled splendour. You get the NES versions of the game with similar - but not exactly the same - levels that have been updated from 2D to 3D. You get extra features like ground pounds, and mushrooms that make you SUPER large - you don't have to jump to break blocks any more, you can just walk and crash into them. Other mushrooms make you incredibly tiny, to reach places you could not before.The combination of old style classic gameplay and updated graphic, sounds, and features is really quite good. These games were stellar in the first place, with their addictive levels that were just the right balance of challenging and fun. Add in the easy to carry with you DS gameplay, the new features and hidden things to look for, and I really found this just about perfect for an arcade game.Yes, you could complain that you can zap through the game in a full day of gameplaying. However, this game series wasn't ever meant to be a "month long role playing complex adventure". It was always meant to be short, easily playable sessions that you could fit in while you waited for dinner to be ready. You could save and exit when you had to run to school, and then pick up again when you had time the next day without having to review 8 pages of storyline notes.

This makes the game PERFECT for carrying around in your DS. If you end up waiting in line for 20 minutes, you get through another section. If your bus gets stuck in traffic, that's another level you can get through.Plus, there is replayability here, while you try to track down the hidden items and coins.I enjoyed the minigames as well. Certainly you wouldn't buy this game FOR the minigames, but heck, if they're going to throw them in for free, you might as well enjoy them! I'm not usually one for DS multiplayer games, but it's nice that they did include that as well for those who want to play with a friend.In general I was quite impressed with this, and recommend it heartily!


Same Old Mario, January 10, 2007
By N. Burt "nikkles" (Wisconsin)

This is a standard mario game. The DS double screens allow for some fun extra features like back up items and a scale of how far through a level you are. The game only takes about 8 hours to beat, but it is still very fun. If you love Mario you'll love this. If you want a game thats hard to beat you maybe disappointed.


The best action game for the DS right now, July 31, 2006
By N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA)

You can't go wrong with any of the original Super Mario Bros. games, and New Super Mario Bros. is a prime example. The only thing that's relatively "new" to the classic Mario side scrolling formula here is that the graphics have been revamped using 3-D models, and it looks glorious. The gameplay is the simple yet addictive kind of fun that those of us who grew up with the original 8-bit Nintendo know and love, as you can play as Mario and Luigi and travel through 8 worlds to save the Princess from Bowser. There's some new power ups here worth mentioning, including a turtle shell which gives you some extra strength, and the giant mushroom which makes you so big you take up the whole screen as you trample through the level stomping everything in your path. The game makes decent use of the touch screen, particularly in the mini-games featured here, all of which help make New Super Mario Bros. the best action game for the DS right now. All in all, as if DS owners don't already know, New Super Mario Bros. is a must own, and it's one of those games that you just can't go wrong with.


Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Review Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games


Features Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

* Mario and Sonic, 2 of the most beloved icons in the world, join forces for the first time, at the Olympic games

* Play as or against a range of familiar characters including Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, Tails, and more

* Select favorite playing style with 4 player types to choose from--all-around, technical, speed, and power

* Compete in stylized Olympic venues; choose from track and field, archery, skeet shooting, table tennis, gymnastics, and more

* Single Match, Circuit, and Mission modes; unlockable stages; up to 4 players can play together on the Wii


Details Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

* Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.

* Weight: 3 pounds

* Media: Video Game

* Release Date: November 6, 2007

Description Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Two of the most beloved icons in the world, Mario and Sonic, are joining forces to star in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Developed exclusively for the Wii video game system and the Nintendo DS system, this momentous agreement marks the first time these two renowned stars have appeared together in a game.

Featuring an all-star cast of characters from the amazing worlds of both Mario and Sonic, players will be able to compete as or against a range of familiar characters including Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, Tails, and more. Innovative usage of the Wii and DS control systems to maneuver your favorite character will allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, leap over the high jump, or churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought-after Olympic gold medal. With up to four players on the Wii and on the DS, the stage is set to catch the fever this holiday with Mario and Sonic.


Features:

* Compete in stylized Olympic venues with authentic sports and events to choose from including track and field, archery, skeet shooting, table tennis, gymnastics, and more.

* Select your favorite playing style from the all-star cast of Mario and Sonic characters with four player types to choose from: all-around, technical, speed, and power. Examples: Mario (All-around), Peach (Technical), Yoshi (Speed), Bowser (Power), Sonic (Speed), Knuckles (Power), Tails (Technical), Amy (All-around).

* Game Modes: Try out each event individually with Single Match mode, compete for the highest overall score in a series of events in Circuit mode, or take on challenges created specifically for each character in the Mission mode. Up to four players can play together on the Wii. DS allows up to four players to compete via wireless connection.

* Unlockable stages where familiar items from the worlds of Mario and Sonic enhance the challenge of each unique event.


Lots of fun for the family., January 18, 2008
By John Mossaad "Tehcnology Guru" (Bear, DE, USA)

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was a Christmas gift to my wife. As with all of the group based Wii games, we found ourselves instantly addicted. She beat me at every game we played, but I had a ton of fun playing.

Been in the Olympics? Play this and you will...., January 17, 2008
By Victoria Tarrani "writer, editor, artist, des... (Betwist FL and CA, USA)

You will at least feel as if you had participated in some of the winter sports.
My hand to eye coordination is off, but even I have fun playing. I love watching the family play.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was
is great to bond families. Want to talk to your kids -- here is a starting place.Everything is electronic, and this game (as well as other Wii) games keep you up-to-date; even if you're 83.This game is loaded with mini-games inside, and it is really fun for the family.
Victoria Tarrani


AWESOME CARDIO WORKOUT, January 16, 2008
By Eric D. Edelman "EZBNME" (GEORGIA)

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was is a truly fun game. It will work your arms to death with the running and swimming events. Not difficult to learn how to play each game. Controls are all basically easy. Hardest games are pole vault relay races. Do not get discouraged at first. I know a couple of people who gave up very early on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Gameswas saying it was too difficult. Once you get the hang of the games none of them are devastatingly difficult. Only draw back was having to win all of the circuits to unlock all the different games. However, this also helped me to get the hang of the games better as it gets increasingly more difficult.


The Inside Scoop of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (by Laura), January 15, 2008
By Female Spy

Introduction:
If you read my other reviews, you'll know I'm actually a huge Sonic fan. I'm also a little bit of a Mario fan (although the characters there seem significantly stranger). So, being a fan of both, it makes sense to look forward to and get a hold of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. I got it for Christmas, and I have to say, I'm nowhere near disappointed! You might want to know, however, that there is no option for left handed people; so it might be harder for those who are left handed. I played this game hard over the holidays, and I've unlocked a lot of cool stuff; so, here's the inside scoop.

Features:
Basically, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games came out in celebration of the Beijing (hopefully, I spelled that right) Olympics. It has at least most of the classic sports: track (many versions, including hurdles), swimming, table tennis, trampoline, high jump, long jump, triple jump, hammer throw, javelin, pole vault, single skulls (a rowing competition), springboard, fencing, skeet (a shooting competition. Don't worry, nothing alive; just clay discs), Archery (again, just targets), and even a sky diving competition (I'm not sure if that one is traditional)! You can play as sixteen characters (eight Sonic and eight Mario) classified into four groups as follows:

Power type: Knuckles, Bowser, Vector, and Wario.
All around type: Mario, Amy, Luigi, and Blaze.
Speed type: Sonic, Daisy, Shadow, and Yoshi.
Skill type: Peach, Tails, Waluigi, and Dr. Eggman.
This selection is only the in game characters, as you can also select a Mii you've created. A Mii's type isn't explained, but play as him/her a while to figure it out (I think mine is a speed type).
The Menu:

Single Match Mode: Play with one to four players in one event at a time. the specified fields are Athletics, Shooting, Gymnastics, Dream Events, Rowing, Aquatics, and Fencing. A couple of events need teams of four; if you are playing alone, you can choose how many you can control, or be COMs (Computer controlled). Please note that some events need to be unlocked; like the Dream Events. You can unlock events by getting gold medals, the easiest way being to find sports you're good at and win with all of the characters (that's sixteen medals per sport). The Dream Events are fun, and include: Dream Race, Dream Fencing, Dream Table Tennis, and Dream Platform (the skydiving one). You'll want to unlock these events, as Dream versions of Fencing and Table Tennis, is a lot more fun than the original versions.

Circuit Mode: Earn trophies by competing in three to six events in a row for overall first place. You have to win gold medals in Single Match Mode to unlock the circuits. I've only beaten the Beginner ciruits.

Mission Mode: Play various missions as the characters. These missions can be anything from placing in a certain place, beating a rival, or scoring a certain amount of points. I'm almost certain you earn something if you complete all of one character's missions (completed missions are shown with yellow stars); but I haven't been able to do this yet. Also, note that some missions require you to be in events you need to unlock in Single Match Mode.

Gallery: A great place to take a break from the major olympic games. Play the simple mini games: Voice Memory, Card games (like matching and memory), Whack a mole, Count Master, and Bound Ball. If you accomplish getting a certain score in these games, you'll learn very interesting things about the Olympics like: how to participate, who Beijings mascots are and what they stand for, Olympic history, and more! Did you know they didn't always give gold medals to the Olympic winners? How about that one person won track bare footed? Unlock all of the information in a section to get cool museum background music from the Sonic and Mario games. This is easily the most educational place in the game.

Collection Mode: View medals, trophies, emblems and world records. Good if you don't quite remember what you already won.

Options: Configure a couple of things. I don't remember what 'cause I hardly ever go there. For left handed people, I'm sorry to say you can't access a configuration for left handed control, even here. I'm right handed, so this isn't a problem for me; but I understand how it can be a problem.

Other interesting things: If you're a fan of Mario and/or Sonic, knowing these little details may make the game further appeal to you. Even if you're new to both, these things may still interest you.

1. Heavy Sonic fans will know that Sonic can't swim. So, in every event that deals with water (Swimming, Rowing, and even Dream Platform), he wears a life jacket. This is kind of funny and cute.

2. Although the sixteen characters I mentioned are the only Sonic/Mario characters that are playable, others make appearances. Espio, Charmy, Shy Guy, and Lakitu all take part in events like Javelin to calculate things like how far you threw. They also follow you around in events like swimming (look at the background on the pool's side). Cream the Rabbit also fires a starting gun in events like track.

3. The audience is interesting. One time, I took a glance behind a character who had already performed, and I noticed the only people watching what I do are Toads and Chao. For those not acquainted, Toads are characters from the Mario series; they're characterized by their mushroom-like hats and simple apparel. Chao are from the Sonic series; theyre the cute blue bubbly things, with the small yellow balls floating over their heads.

Conclusion: So there you have it; the inside scoop. Some other comments before I close: If you want a good workout, then participate in a lot of aquatics; it's exhausting. Don't play Voice Memory too much, unless you enjoy being annoyed. You're not going to pick up on every event right away, so just keep practicing. Always go for the gold!


Not Wii-like, more like button mashing, January 15, 2008
By Pray For Wind "Jim" (Austin, TX USA)

Yes, you do use the motion-sensitive aspects of the Wii controller, but in often in a non-intuitive way. Unlike Wii Sports, where you feel like you're playing the sport, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games feels like games on other platforms where you mash buttons really fast or in a certain order or timing to get ahead. For example, the trampoline event did require you to wave the controller up and down to jump higher, but then to do tricks you had to do a series of button presses/controller twists. In fencing you do push the controller forward to lunge, but parrying requires pressing the A button in addition to a sideways wave, feinting requires B button instead of a feint with controller. Other events just require moving the controller/nunchuk up and down really fast.This isn't a bad game, it's just that it is much like all the other Olympic games that have come out for PS/2, GameCube, etc., and just doesn't feel Wii-like.