Gamecube Games Best Price!

   

The Legend of Zelda - Twilight Princess (GameCube Version) (Prima Authorized Game Guide)
By David Hodgson, Stephen Stratton

When Twilight Threatens, Prima Guides the Way


Good Guide... But Very Exhaustive This review is particularly long. If you want, you can look down at the bottom where I've listed the pros and cons. When you pick up a guide and its 432 pages the first thing that instantly comes to mind is that this is a huge guide therefore it must have all the information. The thing that usually escapes our mind is where all the information is. This is a really good guide, and there's a ton of information there, but like many incredibly thick guides, the information is all over the place. However, with this guide, the information isn't all over the place in a highly disorganized fashion. The guide begins with several of the game basics. If there's anything about the gameplay you don't understand this guide can help. After that we get into all the weapons and equipment you'll be using, the characters you'll meet and the enemies you'll encounter. For the enemies they've got what's called a "threat meter" to tell you just how hard the enemy is, and they've also got tactics on taking them down. Very useful stuff. Afterwards we get into the walkthrough, and this is where the guide hits a high point as well as a low point. The walkthrough is huge. Over 300 pages of this guide are from the walkthrough alone. Is it good? You better believe its good. There's a ton of detail here. Each chapter begins with an overview of the area you're in and displays a map that looks like it was taken straight from the game. It also list the items to obtain, as well as showing you what your character should have when you get to a certain point. Along the bottom the guide details the tasks you should be doing, similar to some of BradyGames RPG guide books, only this one seems to be done a little better. How the task objectives work in this guide is simple. At the beginning of each section if you look at the bottom of the page you'll see a set of eight tasks. Usually no more and no less. For task one it might say, "Enter Ordan Villiage." Now in the main text of the walkthrough itself you'll want to find the section that says, "Enter Ordan Village." That explains the task in better detail. It's easy to use. The walkthrough also has character bios for new characters as you meet them. There's more to the walkthrough. Each section of the walkthrough has what's called "missing links" which detail optional things you can do in an area. The guide also calls out new enemies as you encounter them and there's a threat meter displayed for you as well. Also, each time you come across an item, be it for the first time or tenth, they have a description of it. Every time you get your first small key in a dungeon, the guide gives you the same explanation the game does. In addition there are call outs to new weapons, abilities, etc. It's all here. The maps look as though they're pulled straight from the game, and are only displayed at the beginning of each chapter. This is one of the guides few low points. When reading in sections it might tell you to go back to chamber five or something like that. Well, if you're a little lost, you'll have to flip all the way back to the map at the beginning of each section in order to figure out just what they're talking about when it comes to Chamber 5. This wouldn't be so bad if some of the sections for each dungeon weren't 40-50 pages. However, the good news is, the maps do indeed have a legend each and every time you come across it. The legend tells you all the rooms, all the items in the dungeon and where you'll encounter the characters. Boss strategies are pretty helpful. They tell you how to down your foes, but they also give you some handy tips for dodging some of their attacks. The walkthrough also points out the location of heart pieces as you go through the game. Up in the corner of each page is a heart meter that shows you how many hearts you're suppoed to have by the time you get to a certain point in the game. So you'll know if you missed any pieces of heart. By the time you get to the Goron Mines, for example you should have five hearts. If you don't, you know you obviously missed something. The location of the golden bugs is also revealed, as well as the Poe Souls. They each have their own specific call outs. Is there more to the walkthrough? Well, there are indeed, spoilers. If spoilers bother you, this guide has a few. Also, throughout the walkthrough there are author notes that don't really serve any purpose other than to describe the turmoil the authors went through on some of the puzzles. Some are funny, but many of them are a complete and utter waste of time. The walkthrough is definitely one you need to use as you play through the game. If you put it down for a while and go about the tasks on your own and then suddenly need it, it's a hassle to find just where you are. Especially if you do some of the tasks out of the order described. Again, these sections are LONG, so you'll be doing a bit more reading than playing. This is the huge downside to the guide. There's so much of it that it's sometimes overwhelming. If you miss something (say a heart piece or golden bug) then you'll spend of a lot of time flipping and reading through the walkthrough to find it. The walkthrough may be well done, but it's extremely exhaustive, slow going and long. A lot of the information doesn't have to be there. It probably would've been better had they organized it the way Nintendo Power organized their guide. The Nintendo Power guide is much more user friendly... but Nintendo Power is designed for the Wii version, not the Gamecube. All the information is there, but like many guides that are incredibly thick, it's all over the place. The difference here is that Prima did a much better job organizing it. It doesn't separate from the fact that there's a lot of page flipping, however. I'm not one to be bothered by page flipping, but in this guide it actually did become annoying. The legendary checklist at the back didn't detail the location of Poe Souls or Golden Bugs, which could've helped in many cases. The heart checlist is pretty good, though, telling you where to find them. The checklist also details on finding equipment and items. So it's not so bad. This is a very well done guide for Twilight Princess, it's just very big with a lot of infomration to swallow, and a lot of page flipping. It's a good guide, and helpful to anyone, but there's so much to swallow, and you'll spend of lot of time doing it. Pros +Incredibly detailed walkthrough! Tons of information to be found within these pages. Heart pieces, golden bugs, poe souls, items, puzzles solutions... it's all here! +Helpful boss strategies +Useful maps +Great strategies for taking down enemies Cons -While all the infomration is in the walkthrough its all over the place. Organized, but it still calls for a lot of page flipping to find everything. You'll more than likely be spending far more time reading the walkthrough than playing the game. There are also some spoilers found within the guide Way better than the Nintendo guide I really don't get the previous reviewer who says the Nintendo guide has more detail. I'm glad I only played for a couple of days before getting this guide because I had to backtrack to do a bunch of stuff the Nintendo guide didn't even mention. I kept flipping back and forth and rereading sections thinking I had missed things, but they just aren't there. A lot of things that are there are very vague. This Prima guide is comprehensive, and now I feel like I'm playing the whole game rather than wondering what I'm missing. raw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if you were able to get your hands on the gamecube version then get this guide!!! it is off the chains!!!! its a really nice guide and it has good info and plenty of it. well organized, it even has a checklist of all the items this is a great guide, a billion times better then the nintendo one, i should know brcuz I wasted 15 bucks on the nintendo one. neways' get this guide and you willbe happy. its worth much more than its price, one click order it now and be happy !god bless!!!!

   

The Simple Solution to Rubik's Cube
By James G. Nourse




The classic solution--but not the best This is the best-selling solution to Rubik's cube, and rightly so--the procedure is easy to understand, easy to execute, and easy to remember. It is what I used to learn to solve the cube in 1981 (I was 7 at the time), and I still know the solution now, even after many years without touching the cube. However, the focus of this book is so much on everything being easy that it is rather inefficient--it requires about 110 moves on average to solve the cube using this method. If you are looking for a faster or more efficient solution, look for Minh Thai's book "The Winning Solution" (1982), which solves the cube in about 70 moves, or you can look on the internet for solutions by Lars Petrus (60 moves), Philip Marshall ("The Ultimate Solution", 65 moves), or Dan Knights ("The Advanced Solution", 60 moves). If you are looking for the ultimate in speed-solving the cube, look at Jiri Fridrich's solution, which requires 55 moves and can be performed in under 18 seconds. Be warned that Jiri's solution requires a great deal of memorizing. Philip Marshall's solution requires the least amount of memorizing (only a handful of small processes), but it requires a significant amount of planning and maneuvering which is sure to put your spatial skills to the test. But it is certainly a simple and elegant solution. The choice is yours! Fond Memories of 20 Years Ago Sometime I guess in 1981 or 1982 I purchased this book at the Woolworth's in Janesville, Wisconsin having bought a Rubik's cube and having been completely engrossed in it. I was 12 or 13 at the time. The book was (at is) a straightforward explanation of how to take a mangled cube and get it back in shape. My personal record is one minute and nineteen seconds. I've managed to hold onto that cube and this book over the years. It has a very high geek nostalgia factor. The *best* Rubik's Cube solution book ever printed! An uncle of mine - a puzzle fanatic - bought this book, and we used to fight over who would use it, as we were both perplexed by our cubes. I've seen other solution books, but this one is by far the easiest to follow. I just acquired a new Rubik's Cube (they're being sold by a company called OddzOn Productions, in Campbell, CA), and am ordering this book again! Excellent work, Mr. Nourse!

   

Shrek Super Party
From TDK




Fun for all ages Even though I am a mature 20 year old, myself and my roommates have played this game endlessly. What makes the game so fun to play is that it is narrated by the magic mirror, which somehow manages to announce each event with the most hilarious intonation imaginable. Despite the fact that it is targeted at children, not only is it highly entertaining, but it also affords a deep level of strategy.Seriously, everyone with a sense of humour needs to play this game. Hard to learn It is a fun game, but the mini-games to give you a chance to practice, nor do they give you a reasonable explanation of the game. It game be hilarious at times, but very frustrating at others. Also, 4 players must play at a time, whether they be AI(computer controlled) or real people. The AI characters tend to be very good at the game. I haven't found a way to modify their ability so that my daughter would have a better chance.I am sure that once we do get a good hang of the game, it will be much more enjoyable. not mario party This game is awsome. I love it. It is not anything like mario party. First of all you dont have to wait for all the character to move before a mini game, you just have to make the ball land on the mini game space(which is most likely to happen. I give it a thumbs up although it only has six characters it does not matter. AWSOME !!!!!!!!!!!!(...)

   

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (w/ Master Quest)
From GameCube


Amazon Sales Rank: #2848 in Video Games Platform: GameCube

Two classic Zelda games on one little disk! To begin, I'd like to admit that I grew up on Zelda since the age of seven during the Christmas of '92 when I bought 'A Link to the Past' not too long after. I immediately became HOOKED!! When I was about nine, I gave the follow-up, 'Link's Awakening' a try (Yes, I've played BOTH the GB and GBC versions already now) and enjoyed it just as much. Finally, when 'Ocarina of Time' hit stores in '98, I was quite curious but a bit unsure if it would take away that good ol' classic feeling that I'd loved as a kid (I am a retro fan after all when it comes to gaming) so I decided to rent it for my N64. I wasn't in any way disappointed. Almost everything about the game resembled to that of the NES, SNES, & GBC originals, aside from the new and impressive 3D look. The dungeons were fun and challenging, the puzzles were well thought out, and the bosses were simply SPECTACULAR! In addition, the controls were easy to master and you could practically do more than before. (With the 64-bit graphics, how could you go wrong?) But most of all, the musical score was one of the most beautifully composed works I'd ever heard and nearly brought a tear to my eye a couple times. I'd play the game for hours on end and never get tired of it. It's possibly THE greatest Zelda of all time and creator, Shigeru Miyamoto had truly outdone himself with this one. In 2003 when 'The Windwaker' was hitting U.S. shores for Gamecube, those who pre-ordered it would receive this awesome Bonus Disk. Fortunately, I was one of the many who could get it for free, and I must say that it's splendid to see the rebirth of a classic. Despite some minor problems (e.g. the music may skip a little here and there) this is actually an excellent transfer straight from the N64 to the GC. In fact, it's almost better than what it used to be. For example, the picture quality is sharper and clearer than it once was and the graphics' animation is slightly improved over the N64 version. As a bonus, the game, 'Master Quest' is also included, which is the same story as 'Ocarina', only the dungeons are different and the overall gameplay is far more difficult than the original. (You may need to refer to a strategy guide for help on this one) Nevertheless, it's a special treat for those who are looking for an extra challenge. I HIGHLY recommend this game(s) to any and all Zelda fans that haven't gotten the chance to try it yet. For those of you who've already played through and beaten it, you can relive the adventure all over again in 'Master Quest'. Be sure to pick this one up wherever you can find it because it IS a very rare and hard-to-find lost gem. Better yet, just buy a copy here off amazon.com. You'll be happy you did! :) Awesome game, however, transfer is slightly slippery Now, let me star off by saying that I LOVE oot.It's graphics hold up quite well even for today's standards.The camera operation is real jerky and is not that great.The different catagories of the game and it's ratings will be in the gamecube's version review.Now let's talk about the gamecube version. In this package, there is a new, remixed, master-quest version of the game.It is the same game,only the dungeons are different. Now, the transfer from cartridge to disc is actually quite good, considering the technological differences, but in reality, it does have some errors. Errors: Music skips if you enter a different area with the same music. Sometimes the sharpness filter makes 2-D objects more visible. The filter they used is good and bad(sorta).It gives the game a slightly sharper look (which is good), but as said above, it makes the 2-D objects more visible.There is also a boost in resolusion which makes backgrounds and detail look alot better. Now for the pros and cons: pros: Sharper look Boost in resolution. Same Game Master quest cons: music skips 2-D objects mare visible Ratings: Gameplay: 9/10 Music 10/10 Sound effects 12/10 Voices 5/10 (because of navi) P.S. If you have a pro logic ll decoder, try the surround feature it is awesome (this was on the n64 version too, but I thought I'd mention it anyway) A wonderful blend of action and RPG Zelda I first got into Zelda in the 8th grade, when a couple of friends introduced me to Majora's Mask. Shortly after that, my brother got Majora's Mask as a birthday gift. When I started playing that, I was instantly hooked. The game was so cool! But where is my mind? I am reviewing Ocarina of Time - Master Quest, not Majora's Mask. This disc, as you already hav noticed, is two games in one. You can play the original and wonderful Ocarina of Time, emulated near-perfectly on the Gamecube, or you can take on the challenge of Master Quest, which is a revamped Ocarina of Time. Since I've already played Ocarina of Time, I'm going to review Master Quest. Master Quest is not completely different from Ocarina of Time. The story and goals are still the same: You play as the young hero Link (you actually get to name yourself with a name other than Link) and fight to save Hyrule from the grip of the evil Ganondorf (one of the coolest bad dudes in Zelda history). It is not the adventure that is harder, but the dungeons, or temples, that are more challenging. However, some of the temples are easier in Master Quest, so you won't have a completely hard time. Let me say that I mostly enjoyed all of the dungeons and temples, as they were all challenging in a good way. The gameplay was awesome, but there was one slight problem. It is a little harder to control Link with the Gamecube controller. By saying this, I mean it is harder to walk or aim properly with a 3rd person perspective weapon. This can make the game a little frustrating at times, which is why I gave the game a 4 out of 5 on the fun factor. But the game is still great. The music...WOW. Kojo Kondo (did I spell that right?) did a wonderful score for the game. Every place in the game has fitting music. I wish I could get the soundtrack for the game, just to listen to some of the music from the game. Awesome, awesome, awesome. This game has a high replayability, because not only will you want to relive the adventure, but there are so many things to do in this game that you'll just never want to stop playing. I'm addicted to it myself. All in all, a wonderful game. I would recommend this one to all Zelda fans like myself. And for anyone who wants a decent adventure, the original Ocarina of Time is worth playing.

   

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life
From Natsume, Inc.

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life gives you the ultimate role-playing challenge -- take a simple farm boy and help him build a happy, successful life!
Amazon Sales Rank: #3462 in Video Games Brand: Natsume, Inc. Model: NGSVGG 719593090014 Released on: 2004-03-17 ESRB Rating: Everyone Platform: GameCube Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .50" h x 5.25" w x 7.25" l, .25 pounds

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Game! If Animal Crossing was good, this is great!It's so nice to find a game that's human-scaled, cute and friendly. And the game arc goes on for virtual years. Compared to a Star Wars game, this is a MUCH greater value. Water your crops, feed and brush your animals. Find a wife. Raise a child. Grow prize melons, create new hybrids. This is such a unique game that you've really got to try it out for yourself. My kids (5 and 9) love the game. Some reading ability is necessary to play the game. Cool Game for All Ages I am an "old woman" according to my children (I'm 40). I have been playing Harvest Moon FOMT on my Gameboy Advance (yes, I have one of my own), and I love it! My husband always laughs at me because I play it all the time. He doesn't mind though, because he just bought the GameCube version for me a couple days ago. This new game is very intriguing. I love the graphics and the music. The cow already seems to love me, so I guess I'm on the right track. It's a little more complicated than the GBA version, so I'm still learning how to play. What I've seen so far is really cool. I think I've found a new favorite game. Up until now, I have concentrated on Animal Crossing on my GameCube. It's nice to have another fun game for my GameCube system. Big Game, More Works, Lots of Fun!! Hey,I just starting playing this game (jp version) for two weeks now. I just want to give more informations to those HM fans who are still not sure how does this game works. (+) I think the graphic is pretty good. You even can change the music by putting different "music cds" in to the music machine in your house. You now have more spaces in your farm. I think it is very convenient to have a bell in the barn where you can just press it to tell your animate (horse, cow, sheep, ect) to go in/outside. Also, you can get milk from your cow twice a day (2 or more bottles). You can sell your own stuffs in the tree next to the inn, however, sometimes it is very hard to get a customer to buy your stuffs. Most of the time, they want to buy things that you dont want to sell (ex: your farming tools). I like the way that you can order most of the items in the storage room area (by using the notebook). Also, you can carry lots of stuffs in your pocket. (-) On the other hand, you have to feed the cow twice/day, and also, you have to water your crops twice/three times a day. If it gets too dry, it will died immediately. The day is kind of short, and you get hungry easily at the beginning because the farming tools you have are at the lowest level, where you need to buy a better one later on. The life could be very difficult at the beginning... you need to earn money and also you need to date the girl you like. IF you dont get marry by the end of the 1st year, then you cannot go on to the 2nd chapter... you will stay in the FREE-PLAY mode, instead of the STORY mode.Moreover, the weather is not stable sometimes, it can rain in the morning and sunny in the afternoon. Sometimes, I leave my animate out and go on for fishing... then suddenly it rains and so I need to work all the way back to call them back. *** Overall, I think the game is worth to play. ^WORKING HARD & HAVE FUN^ are the whole concept to this game!! I'm highly recommanded you to buy the US version when it comes out in Jan 2004. It is somewhat stressful to play in the JP version.. >.< ...unless your Japanese is very good (which isn't me).

   

NFL Street 2
From Electronic Arts

Defy gravity and stretch your game to the skies with NFL Street 2. Receivers can now run off the walls, change passing lanes by running your QB up a building, and take advantage of eye-popping wall jukes and all-new hurdles. You better hold on to the ball because defenders fly across the field in ways never before seen in a football game. Players now descend on Bay City, an all-new persistent world to build their teams, their reps, and their battle plans one field at a time. Once you own the walls, you will own the city. Join pick-up games around the city and establish your reputation by recruiting talent from the neighborhoods you conquer as you begin your journey to become football's biggest street legend. The time to own the streets is now.
Amazon Sales Rank: #4471 in Video Games Brand: Electronic Arts Model: NGEAG 014633148794 Released on: 2004-12-17 ESRB Rating: Everyone Platform: GameCube Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .75" h x 5.50" w x 7.50" l, .28 pounds
Game Informer Review This series' mixture of showboating flash and primetime play is an intoxicating combo that hides its simple premise as a pick-up-and play, multiplayer-on-the-couch game. This brand of football was defined in the original NFL Street perhaps a little too well. I say that because it's sequel time and all NFL Street 2 can come up with on the field is one new move. The game has expanded in other ways, but this was mainly to diversify and get away from the grinding, boring structure of the first title. You can play through challenges with your created team (NFL Challenge), take your favorite team against all the other NFL franchises (NFL Gauntlet), or cruise the city picking up players and playing Street Event minigames (Own the City mode). When you step back and think about it, NFL Street 2 has diversified to essentially offer three different ways to play the game. I'm torn as to which way I like to play best, and it's almost a shame there isn't one ultimate way to experience the entire title. For instance, I like the feeling of building up the skills of each team member in NFL Challenge, but this is absent in Own the City. For its part, however, this mode changes things up with Street Event minigames – some of which are better than others (all are online, however). Despite the myriad ways to experience the game, at its heart, this sequel is virtually unchanged in the gameplay department. I loved the wall jump, which works really well as an evasive manuever, but the GameBreaker 2 (see below) is a big, fat egg. Apart from the lack of additions, there are problems that aren't cleaned up as well. Players' response to your commands can be sluggish, there are no hot routes, and defenses lack any kind of ball swat move. I also don't like how the impact gear isn't prevalent. This series is one that posits itself as of the pick-up-and-play variety, which is certainly true. But that doesn't leave it long enough legs to help it run away from the moniker of "mediocre."Concept:You'll love the wall moves, but the majority of the changes this year are structural Graphics: I was surprised that there didn't seem to be a lot of new tackle animations Sound:Contains the usual host of EA Trax tunes, including a clutch of exclusive songs Playability: Players' response to your controller inputs is a tad slow, but signature moves are easier to pull off Entertainment:More fun than the first, but not by much. This is the game last years' should have been Replay:Moderately High Rated: 7.5 out of 10Editor: Matthew KatoIssue: February 20052nd Opinion: Ryan Leaf comes to mind when I think of the new GameBreaker 2. All this hype and excitement, and they turn out to be the most disappointing aspect of the game. It's a major buzz kill that the computer controls these maneuvers for you. I want to play the game, not watch it from the sidelines! And why does this game make Xzibit look like the greatest talent in football? What's next? Ray Charles in NFL Street 3? On a positive note, the new wall moves are implemented nicely and really open up the running game. Own the City mode also offers up a nice variety of challenges and unlockables. At its core, this is still a hard-hitting game, but the majority of new content just doesn't sit well.Rated: 7.5 out of 10Editor: Andrew ReinerSubscribe to Game Informer
Great Game! but Xzibit cusses in his songs and so do other songs in this game. This game is the best game I have ever played! buy this game if you like to be low on rules and hard on hits. If you like style buy this game. If you don't like games with these qualites buy Madden NFL 06. Here are some new features. new features own the city mode is so cool! new street events! you can bounce off walls and pass or juke! Bad features turbo runs out after player gets tired in all this game is really good! One of the best sports games ever!!! Let me begin by saying that I'm not a big fan of sport video games, but this whole Street sport series is awesome. I haven't been able to put this game down since I started playing with it. The player development is very good, and the game becomes very challenging after a while. I have but one complaint: The fact that the player cannot review the stats for incomming players to the team until after you've chosen to add a the player to the team, and when you chose, you can't go back on your decision. Other than that, this games ROCKS!!! For Kids or Not? NFL blitz is alive and well on the PSP. Only this time it is called NFL Street 2, and it is a little fancier. First the ugly: this game takes 15 hours to load each game. Not really, but that is what it feels like when you just want to play a quick game. The other ugly thing is that it seems a bit difficult to remember what all of the buttons do. So, though it is fun to do a crazy pitch to the running back or a behind the back throw to a receiver 50 yards away, you can never remember that you now have to control the running back or the receiver with a whole new set of controls. This is seen as a positive thing by many that believe the more complex the game, the more shelf life it will have in a collection. Now, the ugly said, this game is fun enough to last forever in your game collection. Does football ever get old? Then a game that is football on steroids done pretty darn well should not either. Finally, the mini-games are worth mentioning with games of smear the queer and 500 that are just loads of fun. There are a couple of others, but the two mentioned are the only games worth much. Bottom Line: Is it fun? Get this fun football game. Will I keep it? yep. Is it for kids? Too many buttons.

   

Medal of Honor European Assault
From Electronic Arts

Europe 1942. These are desperate hours for Allied forces as the Nazi war machine rages across a devastated European landscape. You are US Army Lieutenant William Holt, hand-picked by William ?Wild Bill? Donovan to be the first field agent of the newly formed Office of Strategic Services-the OSS. Medal of Honor European Assault makes you the driving force in the struggle to liberate Europe.
Amazon Sales Rank: #11219 in Video Games Brand: Electronic Arts Model: 14633149333 Released on: 2006-09-08 ESRB Rating: Teen Platform: GameCube Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .75" h x 5.25" w x 7.50" l, .25 pounds

MEDAL OF HONOR NEVER FAILS TO SATISFY Frontline and Rising Sun were great games, and European Assault is right up there with them. The graphics are great and the gameplay is very satisfying. It's good to be fighting against the Nazi's again. This game gives you an in depth look at what the war in Europe was really like. EA has a gift to present realism to the gamer. I highly recommend this game. If your a war buff or just an average gamer, you're sure to love this in depth look into World War Two. Excellent Medal Of Honor entry.... What is the biggest improvement over the other 2 Gamecube MOH games? You can now look down your gun sights (ala Call Of Duty). No more "side shooting" enemies. The graphica are top notch and the enemy AI is very good. Sounds are as excellent as well. The German soldiers love to yell out "Americana!" or "Grenada!" and the weapons sound deadly. I would rate this just below Call Of Duty Big Red One as a MUST OWN for shooter fans. One of the best gamecube games..25yo Ive been searching for a good gamecube game now for quite a while. I realy enjoyed Medal of Honor Frontline but found Medal of Honor the Rising Sun to be very disapointing. I couldnt get into Call of Duty and was at the stores ready to buy myself an xbox when i sore this game on sale. And this game is fantastic, The game controls are much easier to master, the graphics are better, the maps are more fun, but like other reveiws say, I do find some missons quite short. I also like the fact that you can store your medical kits and use them at a later stage.

   

Tomb Raider: Legend
From Eidos Interactive

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend brings back the gaming world's sexiest and most intrepid adventurer. Follow Lara down a path of discovery as she travels the globe to remote, exotic locales in search of one of history's greatest artifacts that unleash unwelcome figures from Lara's mysterious past. Use her skills to explore vast, treacherous tombs, riddled with challenging puzzles and deadly traps. Physics, Water and Fire systems bring the perilous environments of Lara's world alive, and challenge the player to improvise solutions to obstacles. Jump into the future of adrenaline-fueled adventure.
Amazon Sales Rank: #11609 in Video Games Brand: Eidos Model: STOM7GUS00 Released on: 2006-11-14 ESRB Rating: Teen Platform: GameCube Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .50" h x 5.25" w x 7.75" l, .24 pounds

Very enjoyable. Go pick it up! Tomb Raider: Legend is the first Tomb Raider game on a Nintendo console, and happens to be the first Tomb Raider game I've ever played. I read about the game for a while, and decided to try it out now that it's (finally) come to the Gamecube. I could write a REALLY lengthy review describing all the facets of the gameplay, but for that kind of detailed info I would suggest going to IGN and watching their video review. I will say some things though. Despite not being as powerful as other consoles, TR: Legend looks great on the Gamecube. My only complaint is that the game is very dark sometimes, and for whatever reason, there is no option to adjust the brightness in this version. The music and sounds are good and fit their environments. The voice acting especially impressed me - it's really well done and helps to flesh out the characters, esp Lara. (some of the dialogue is very clever too) The story is simple, but it works. As you explore the different locals and progress in the story, you are gonna be doing a lot of running, jumping, rope/wall climbing, puzzle solving, dodging traps, shooting bad guys, etc. The acrobatic parts of the game remind me of the Prince of Persia trilogy, albeit not quite as fluid. (don't get me wrong, it all works great though) In the game you will also be treated to some interactive cut-scenes (similar to Resident Evil 4), which were very fun. The game has 3 modes of difficulty (easy, normal, and hard), so no matter how good you are at games, you will be able to enjoy this. Some of the puzzles may stump you, but not so much that you will want to give up. For the average gamer I would say the game is about 10-15 hours in length. I'm a veteran gamer and it took me about 12 hours or so to beat the main game. Even after you beat the game, there's plenty to do. You can replay the levels after you beat them, and continue searching for the bronze/silver/gold statues hidden throughout the levels that you may have missed the first time through. Finding these unlocks bonus content like artwork, character profiles, and outfits for Lara. There is also a Time Trial for each level - beating those is a greater challenge that will earn you even more extras. There is also a "bonus" level that has you searching for treasures in the Croft Mansion. Getting all the extras will easily add a few hours more to the game. Wow, I didn't really intend to write so much, but I just really enjoyed this game. At a budget price there's no reason to pass this up. Go pick up Tomb Raider: Legend on the Gamecube. Hopefully if enough people do, Eidos will continue to make Tomb Raider games for Nintendo platforms, which is what I'm hoping for. Empowering, even if it's just a game... Greetings, all. I will preface this to say I have not ever played the previous Tomb Raider games, so I do not have enough knowledge to compare the finer details of each game. That being said, I am really hooked on this game! I usually prefer easier games (if you read my other reviews you'd know this), but I guess we all have to grow up sometime. ;) I bought this as an early birthday present for myself and I have not been disappointed since - I find myself staying up til 12am trying to "save the world" or at least raid the tomb du jour. Love the scenery - the background music can get monotonous at times, but for the most part, it's well-suited. My only complaint there is that I can so hear "Who Wants to Live Forever" (Queen) in some instances (but licensing, you know...) :) This game provides quite a challenge for those of us 30-somethings who USED to be great at (our generation's equivalent of) these games. I have not yet finished the game - I am 1/2 way through. I will openly admit to seeking out a very good "walk through" on the internet because I could not figure some things out. (A little help never hurts). I gave it "4 stars" for fun because it IS quite challenging and (on my game) Lara finds herself deceased more often than not LOL. It gets frustrating, but that just makes the successes sweeter. I find this game not only a challenge, but inspiring and yeah, maybe a bit empowering to us girls out there. ;) It's rather funny but now everytime I look at the world a bit differently now - if I see something to grab onto somewhere like a ledge, I think "HEY! If I were Lara Croft, I'd climb up on that!" LOL Great Tomb Raider Game! Great Tomb Raider game!!! Anyone that's a fan of Tomb Raider will love this addition to the series!

   

Pikmin
From Nintendo

Pikmin is a little ant from space, looking to get back home as fast as possible. Help him get the parts he needs to finish his repairs! Real-time action and intuitive controls combine with gorgeous cartoony graphics for a whole new gaming experience!
Amazon Sales Rank: #4354 in Video Games Brand: Nintendo EAD Released on: 2001-12-03 ESRB Rating: Everyone Number of discs: 1 Platform: GameCube Original language: German Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .36 pounds
As stranded, miniature spaceperson Olimar, you must find the missing 30 parts your spaceship needs to get you back home. The parts are scattered across a forested area crowded with giant (when compared to our hero's size) animals and other hazards. Our hero stumbles across a race of part-animal, part-plant, all-bizarre creatures he names Pikmin. Olimar has to learn how to lead the Pikmin around the forest as he uses the abilities of the different-colored Pikmin to overcome the many obstacles in his path. Learning when and how to make the best use of your Pikmins' skills and traits is the essence of the game. You can control up to 100 Pikmin at a time while figuring out which Pikmin are best suited for a particular task. Some are better fighters, while others can survive in water or handle explosive bomb rocks. However, even the best Pikmin herder will have to sacrifice a few of the plant-headed beasts for the greater good. It's the making of new strategies to minimize losses that makes Pikmin challenging and fun. For a first-generation GameCube title, the graphics, sound, and music are fantastic and show an awesome amount of detail. Though it's no Pokémon, this game should appeal to wide-eyed younger gamers as well as seasoned vets. The controls are intuitive and feel perfect for the standard GameCube controller. However, learning to position the camera can be a tad frustrating during some of the more tense moments, as it has only a few magnification levels and needs constant adjustment. The biggest obstacle Olimar faces is time. He has only 30 days (each day is about 15 minutes in real time) in which to find the necessary parts. While this keeps the pace of the game up, some may find such limits somewhat frustrating, as it means there will be a lot of repetition and rethinking of strategy. It also means that diligent gamers may find Pikmin a rather short game. At the end of your gaming day, Pikmin is one of the best games on the GameCube. --Mark Brooks Pros: Very innovative and original Gorgeous graphics Great sound and music Amazing blend of action and strategy Cons: Time limit causes players to repeat tasks Experienced strategy gamers may find Pikmin ends too quickly Difficult to control camera during tense moments E3 Game Preview What do you get when you cross the cuddly cute characters of a game like Pokémon Gold with the do-my-bidding gameplay of a title like Black & White? You might get something like Pikmin--if you're lucky. Created by The Legend of Zelda auteur Shigeru Miyamoto, Pikmin is an action-strategy game in which you play as a Tom Thumb-sized spaceman who has crash-landed among a race of sprouts with legs (or are they flowering ants?). You'll find the sprouts friendly, helpful, and more than willing to team up to move obstacles, defend your base camp against predators, and bridge impassable gaps so that you can find the necessary materials to fix your ship and return home. The game's control interface is simple, so anyone old enough to grasp the nonlinear strategic gameplay elements can pick it up and play. People at the show were drawn to the game's colorful design (the backgrounds are based on Miyamoto's own garden), and several gathered to play the game as a group by suggesting new solutions to the game's puzzles. --Porter B. Hall See more of 's E3 game previews.
Pikmin is the one interesting and involving game for Cube! Pikmin, no relation at all to Pokemon bt the name, are little space creatures on a planet far away. In the game you are a spaceman who collided with a rocket and crash landed there and now must enlist the help of the friendlly little Pikmin to help him find the missing parts of the ship. The game takes place in days, each day there is a new challenge ranging from finding food, to fighting off huge spiders and other creepy insects and creatures. You see this amazing looking planet through the view of an ant. The graphcs are amazing in the game. Every tiny detail of the game has been perfected, when zooming out (R button) you see just how nice the world looks. I found the control setup of Pikmin with the GameCube controller to be quite good. You controll the spaceman and pull the little Pikmin from the ground, either one by one, or 50 at a time! Whereever you, the Spaceman, walk the Pikmin you have "In use" follow you around. AT any given time you can have well over 100 Pikmin active. There are also diffrent kinds who are good at diffrent things. The Pikmin are always doing something which keeps you interested as well at laughing at some movements. The sound of Pikmin is also very good, it always is active and sounds just like real life. So if you are into creative and innovative games, made by the creator of Zelda and Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, then you have to check out Pikmin only for the Nintendo GameCube. THE gamecube seller 2001! Playing the Japanese version of this game at the moment and all i can say is that i've not felt this excited about a game since playing Zelda : Ocarina of Time for the first time. This game OOZES Miyamoto - it's magical. Definitely the sleeper title of all Gamecube 2001 games, this game will sell purely by word of mouth, it really is that good. Buy it, play it, FEEL it for yourself. Don't be put off by the point and click nature of Pikmin. Nintendo have somehow successfully managed to squeeze in a lot of different gameplay ideas into a FUN game that anyone can play. This will appeal to adults in the same way they are drawn to the Harry Potter phenomenen. Trust me - buy it, you will not be disappointed. Very Original....Very Unique....and Very Entertaining! Pikmin..One of the most unique games that I have ever played. Very original. Truthfully, it doesn't sound neither appealing or interesting. Although the gameplay is incredible. Whenever I would walk into a store and play a demo of it, I would always think that it was somewhat, boring. But when I got the game, I realized that as soon as you get past the first day or two, it is extremely addictive. The whole objective is to get all 30 peices within 30 days. And its very fun getting larger quantities of pikmin so you can do more things at one time. And all the kinds of pikmin have their own unique strengths (example: yellow-throwing molten rocks & jumping higher. blue-is able to swim in water. red-is able to with-stand any fire and/or fire attacks by enemies). This is definetly a challenging game, and it isn't one that you can beat over night. It truly is a great strategic game that keeps you thinking..... I hope this review was helpful to you if you are looking for a video game. Thankyou,*Vapor*

   

Official Nintendo Power The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Player's Guide
By Nintendo Power

The ONLY official guide from the insiders at Nintendo!


"Unleash the Beast!" The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a huge game! By far the biggest one in the series, and without a doubt the most absorbing. A game as big as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess may be hard for a gamer to traverse without some help. This is where Nintendo's Official Strategy Guide comes into play. This tome is jampacked with everything you need to know about conquering the twilight. Rest assured, you're getting your money's worth with this guide. The guide begins with a short introduction to the storyline. Its more or less what you already get from the instruction manual in less detail. It spans a mere two pages, and then it goes into all the game basics stuff. Things like the controls which can easily be learned on your own, or through the games short and sweet tutorials. Still, you can never go wrong with having this information in the guide. You probably won't need these basic things, but they're there... just in case. After that is a list of all the items you'll collect throughout your adventure, and a description of them. All these things are pretty basic for a strategy guide. Most (if not, every) strategy guide has them. So if you're having trouble adjusting to the game and the manual isn't helping, this guide will with its helpful diagrams and clear high rez screenshots. The walkthrough is one of the areas where the guide shines the most. The maps, unfortunately, are pulled straight from the game. They're not extremely detailed, but can easily be used to navigate through the game, and they do point out the location of hearts and other items on them. Just don't be expecting rendered 3D maps or anything like that. The walkthrough is written in the same style as most every Nintendo Power guide. That is to say, you must use the maps along with the text. On the map you'll see numbers strewn about. These correspond to the objectives in the text. So if you see "1" on the map, it means you'll have to look for section "1" in the objectives list. As with most Nintendo Power guides this makes the walkthrough extremely organized and easy to use. Unlike most other guides where you have to read most of the walkthrough first. Nintendo Power doesn't force you to do that. It works especially well because you can easily look to the guide only when you need to. Say you've done everything and you're stuck at one specific point. Look on the map in the game, match it up with the map in the guide and then you can read your objective. It helps you spend more time actually playing the game than reading the walkthrough. The walkthrough also contains several crystal clear screenshots and special call outs to new items and events. When it calls out to events, do not be alarmed. There are no plot spoilers in this guide. You will not find any here. Boss strategies are pretty basic. They tell you how to attack a boss and open up its weakness but that's about it. Nothing much on how to dodge attacks or what to watch out for. Some of the later boss strategies get this detail, but for the most part, several of them are devoid of this stuff. Even just telling me to roll or jump to the side would've helped. So while they're helpful on offense, they do not provide a great defense. After the walkthrough we've got the appendices. Here they've listed where all the Pieces of Hearts are, Poe Souls, Golden Bugs, Howling Stones and Upgrades. With the exception of upgrades, each of these appendices provides a map of the overworld for you to find these things. The Pieces of Hearts section even has a checklist and detailed information for you. Next they give some great information on the Cave of Ordeals as well as providing you with some nifty secrets in a section they simply called "Diversions" (most of this section, however, is spent on fishing). Afterwards, we get into the Gamecube section of the guide. This is almost like a mini-instruction manual. It just goes through all the basics of the Gamecube controls, shows you all the dungeons and maps and then where all the Poe Souls and Golden Bugs. It's alright and all, and they mention there are a few differences in the maps, but there's hardly any mention of the differences in the main walkthrough itself. So far by flipping back and forth through the maps, its safe to say the main walkthrough could just as easily be used or the Gamecube version. Finally, at the very back of the guide we have a map appendix... why at the back of the guide? Convenient? Certainly. After all, it's the very last page so flipping back and forth through it is no problem if you use your finger as a bookmark, and its easy to memorize. You actually probably won't even need it. The maps are simple enough to figure out for yourself. Do I really have hardfelt complaints about the guide? No, not really. If anything its merely the boss strategies and the little detail given to the Gamecube version. And by little detail I'm referring to the maps for the dungeons but no detailed description of differences. If you've got the Gamecube version a question you might be asking is if the guide can be used for the Gamecube version. The simple answer is that it can be. The problem is that you'll have to work to use it for the Gamecube version. The good news is the puzzles and such are the same. So are the item placements. The bad news is that in the Gamecube versions mirrors the the Wii version. Link's sword is in his left hand instead of his right. Also, environments are mirrored. A path on the left in the Wii version will be on the right in the Gamecube version. The walkthrough can be used, if you're willing to do some page flipping. You could even use the main walkthrough if you remember that when the guide says "To the left" for Gamecube owners it'll be "To the right." So it can be used, although some consumers might have some difficulty doing it like that. Nonetheless, the guide is still good. It's obviously better suited for the Wii version, but for Gamecube owners, it's not obsolete. Praise +Good game basics section, diagrams are really useful +Detailed walkthrough +Well organized walkthrough +Clear Screenshots +Basic, yet helpful maps +All Heart Pieces, Poe Souls, Golden Bugs and Howl Stones Revealed +Map differences for the Gamecube and Wii versions +Play control for Gamecube version described +No Spoilers Criticisms -Boss strategies are helpful in providing you with a good offense, but not always a good defense -Maps are helpful, but pulled straight from the game so they're fairly generic -If you do have the Gamecube version you may or may not be doing some page flipping between maps and the actual walkthrough Avoid if you're using the Gamecube version This strategy guide was written specifically for the Wii. It claims covering the Gamecube version, but that is very minimal and consists of few pages at the end (mostly incomplete symmetric maps). The difference between the Gamecube and Wii versions (in addition to the controls of course) is that Link is left-handed in the GC version while being right-handed in the Wii version. To compensate for that, the designers flipped the world, so the maps in the GC are symmetric to those in the Wii. While following the walkthroughs, you have to constantly flip to the end of the guide - which is very annoying. Also, you have to translate all the "to your left" or "to your right" directions in the body text in your mind when playing the GC version (which is very confusing). Prima is planning on releasing 2 versions of their guide (one for each platform). I recommend lookig at that option if you're a Gamecube owner. Overall its great, one TINY problem (but hopefully you can live with it ^_^) Basically here is how the guide is set up. It has a holographic cover so it's "halfway" between hardback and paperback. It starts of as any normal guide would, giving you the table of contents, controls, special items in the game, and collectables. Now, the real part of purchasing the guide is the walk through section. Unlike many other guides I have purchased this one goes about walking you through the game differently. At the beginning of each section they give you a map with little numbers on it. Following the map each dot is presented with a paragraph describing what you need to do at each "numbered station." Because they include many pictures (don't get me wrong, the pictures are EXTREMELY helpful) you are never going to get one section where all the dots are explained on the same page. So naturally, page flipping is a problem. When I am playing, i constantly have to flip back, to the map to see where the next dot is, and forth, to see what you have to do at each dot, between pages which kind of slows down the process of reading the guide. In between telling which number corresponds to which paragraph, Nintendo decided to place other tid bits of information. For example, the very first "optional" information talks about how to make Epona jump over a fence (just in case you don't know). This proves to be pretty helpful through out the game. Remember the collections that I had talked about in the beginning of the guide? Well after the main walk through, Nintendo gives you walkthroughs on where you can collect each item for each collection.....the only problem is that some of the items (if you miss them) will not be available later, so CONSTANTLY check the "collection guides" to see if you can get a piece of heart etc. (so that YOU don't miss it like I did.) After the mini guides, there is a section of upgrades for your weapons/money as well as side quest walkthroughs. Following these, there is a TINY section on how to play the game for the gamecube. However, after reading everybody else's reviews: DO NOT PURCHASE THIS GUIDE FOR THE GAMECUBE. At the VERY back of the book there is a page titled "Map Key." It can be a little bit annoying to have to flip back there when you don't know what something means, but hey! they had to put it somewhere i guess.

   

INTERACT ACCESSORIES Mobile Power GameCube
From Interact Accessories


Amazon Sales Rank: #18007 in Video Games Model: I2533101Z7 Platform: GameCube

Great for Kids My 7 year old received this as a Xmas gift and we just took it out for the first time. I like the way it fits on top of the Gamecube and folds down so it doesn't take up more room. The graphics are not fabulous, I find the screen to be a bit dark and cloudy but our 7 yr and 6 yr old sons don't seem to mind. It comes with all the necessary connections including a car adaptor and a VERY short av cable. The only negative is that the av cables don't fit snuggly in the jacks. After only one use in the car the yellow cable is extremely loose and either won't stay in the jack or the cable itself is pulled loose. I can't seem to find a replacement av cable (one this short - approx 1-2 inches). I will have to result to using the one that came with the Gamecube with a 6 ft cable and wire tie the excess length. I don't think it will be a big problem but the shorter cable is a lot more convenient. Actually, GC's av cable fits much much better so this may be the only way to go. Overall, if you have kids who still want to use GC while on the road you can't beat this for the price. I may just buy another one as a backup (and for the short av cable)!!!

   

Star Fox Assault
From Nintendo

Fox McCloud and the Star Fox team return to engage a grave new threat in the air and on the ground! Roll over hostile terrain in a heavily-armored Landmaster Tank, or bring the hurt to the enemy on foot. Play solo missions or join the fight with up to three other players, or engage in four-player split screen battles
Amazon Sales Rank: #4264 in Video Games Brand: Nintendo Model: 45496962074 Released on: 2006-09-08 ESRB Rating: Everyone Platform: GameCube Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .53" h x 5.75" w x 7.75" l, .35 pounds
Fox McCloud and the Star Fox team return to engage a grave new threat in the air and on the ground! Several years after disaster was narrowly averted on Dinosaur Planet, Lylat Central Command detects a new threat spreading throughout the galaxy. The Star Fox team is sent in to eradicate this growing menace, but what begins as a standard combat mission quickly takes a dramatic turn. Legendary team members Fox McCloud, Slippy Toad, Peppy Hare, and Falco Lombardi join forces to form the most formidable team in the history of this celebrated series: the Star Fox Armada! Features Soar through space and attack an armada of strike fighters in your Arwing Roll over hostile terrain in a heavily-armored Landmaster Tank, or bring the hurt to the enemy on foot Play missions solo, join the fight with up to three other players, or engage in four-player split screen battles Play wingman to another player, riding on the wing of the Arwing or side of the Landmaster Tank, and blast enemies while the pilot controls the vehicle Powerful weapons including automatic blasters, sniper rifles, and shoulder-launched rockets Star Fox returns Fox McCloud to his space ace roots in this classic aerial shooter reminiscent of the beloved Star Fox 64. Get ready for an unforgettable romp through the galaxy.
The Return Of Fox McCloud Nintendo has always found so many creative ways to revamp a lot of their classic games to the maximum. That definitely hits the mark very well most of the time. Back in 1997, when Nintendo 64 was popular, and with so many games to take it to the limit, Star Fox 64 was the most revolutionary game not just for the system, but defined the feel of vibrations that made you feel the game, thanks to the N64 Rumble Pak. Yet, Nintendo has tried to make lightning strike twice for the Star Fox franchise for quite sometime. They've tried it a few years ago with Star Fox Adventures, fairly well, and now it is about to be done all over again. Star Fox Assault, the latest game in the Star Fox series goes through ten outrageous missions that take you on foot, in the air with the arwing, and in the tough landmaster tank. The story of the game deals with Fox McCloud and his team who try to destroy the plague of aparoids trying to destroy Corneria, Fortuna, the dinosaur planet from Star Fox Adventures Sauria, and so many other outrageous galaxies in the way. The graphics and storylines are remarkably delightful, and maintain to the game far beyond the previous Star Fox games. The gameplay is great, but there are a few downsides to the game. One of them is the control of the game, especially on foot. If you haven't played Star Fox Adventures, it might be a little tricky at first to control Fox, Slippy, Krystal and Falco on foot in versus mode, and Fox in the story mode. However, it gets a lot easier along the way. Another disadvantage is that the methods of defeating some of the bosses in the game are ways of defeating similar bosses from Star Fox 64. One example is the Pigma aparoid in Level 5: The Asteroid Belt. The method of defeating him is a similar method of defeating the Area 6 boss from Star Fox 64. So for some, it does lack a few challenges here and there. Overall, Star Fox Assault is a very delightful addition to the Nintendo Gamecube lineup, and is a joy for longtime fans of the Star Fox Series. I honestly recommend this for truly dynamic sci-fi Fox action. This is no aparoid of a lie. Graphics: A- Story: A Sound: B+ Control: B Fun & Enjoyment: B+ Overall: B+ An interesting twist This game is very fun. When you play Vs. mode, you can't help but wish that there would be a co-op mode with up to three other friends so you can set up a plan against the enemy in Story mode. I hate the music in Vs. mode, but it is still a fun game. You can even hijack an Arwing or ride on an opponents wing. Also, when in an Arwing, you can get out, and ride on top of it. In story mode, it still has the great Arwing action like in the N64. Here how I rate it: Story: A Gameplay: A Graphics: A Sound: A Controls: A- Replay: B+ Fun: A- Overall: A Vs. mode: A- Overall: A BEST GAME EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This game rocks! It's a great continuation of the StarFox 64 game. However, unlike Star Fox 64, there are fewer on-rails missions (i.e you fly the arwing on a preset path). There are 3 aspects to this game: on foot, in a landmaster, or in an arwing. The on foot is extremely fun, although you'll find that the characters move too fast for manuevering in tight spaces. There are TONS of different guns, most of which are insanely powerful. Also you can jump, and roll left and right. The landmaster is not as fun as the on-foot or Arwing missions, but still, it's useful for anti-aircraft times in multiplayer, or even single player. Instead of that weird machine laser plasma ball thing in Starfox 64, the gun on the Landmaster is a cannon, which suprisingly good against Arwings. It moves pretty slow, which isn't useful in the chaotic, fast-paced multi-player. At last. The Arwing. This HAS to be the MOST FUN aspect of the game. The Arwing looks a lot better. It still has the twin and then hyper laser upgrades, but one better thing is that you don't have to collect two one-level-up upgrades, but instead you can get a two-level-up upgrade. Very useful in single player and muliplayer. You also ride on the wings of teammates in single player, which happens to be extraordianrily fun. Single Player doesn't have a very appealing storyline, but it's still fairly well done. Basically, you go around and kill these Aparoids, bug like creatures that can take over machines (except your arwing & landmaster). The missions are pretty simplistic, but still extremely intense, even on Bronze level. Now Multiplayer is the reason to buy this game. It rivals Halo and Timesplitters. With huge maps and weapons everywhere, the multiplayer is awesome. And that's without the billions of things you can unlock (which I won't tell because they're so awesome ;p). And one of the best things is that you can ride on top of someone's arwing while they're flying it. Or, if it's just 2 vs match, then you can get out of it while it's in the air, and shoot people on the ground. Sadly, there's no capture the flag or other styles; only deathmatch and team deathmatch. So to end, the graphics of this game are average, obviously an improvement from SF64. The sound is superb. Excellent remixes of previous Sf64 songs bring nonstalgia to veterans of the Sf64 series. Remember, get this game, don't rent it.

   

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
From Lucas Arts Entertainment

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is a comical take on the Star Wars Trilogy, the movies that revolutionized pop culture forever. LEGO Star Wars II follows the Rebel Alliance's battle to dismantle the Galactic Empire and rebuild a galaxy in pieces. From Darth Vader's pursuit of Princess Leia aboard her Blockade Runner to a showdown on the reconstructed Death Star, the game includes the family-friendly LEGO action, puzzles and humor that earned the original LEGO Star Wars such popularity and acclaim. Drop-in/drop-out feature enables friends to join easily and engage in multi-player action
Amazon Sales Rank: #2218 in Video Games Brand: Lucas Arts Model: 32958 Released on: 2006-09-12 ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+ Platform: GameCube Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .53" h x 5.75" w x 7.75" l, .35 pounds

Great Gaming Fun for All Ages I loved the original Lego Star Wars game. It was incredibly fun, very replayable and had a wicked sense of humor. Lego Star Wars II is just as fun, and covers Episodes IV-VI! It's very rare to find a game that kids can play, adults can play, and everybody truly loves it. This is one of those games. I'm sure kids enjoy the game quite a lot - but pretty much every adult gamer I know loves this series as well. It's fun, it has classic scenes from the Star Wars movies done in a VERY funny style, and you can keep replaying it. You can play it with friends! You can unlock new episodes, new ships, new characters, you name it. The first thing you notice when you enter the "Cantina" is that now you can MAKE NEW CHARACTERS!!! Yes, you can mix up Darth Vader's head, Princess Leia's torso and a stormtrooper's pants. You can mix pretty much any character you find in the game, and give them personalized names! Then you can bring 2 of your creations into the game with you on free play mode. Talk about fun!! The game gets even better. Yes, you work through all the classic scenes - Luke buying the droids, the Death Star blowing up, and so on from the "first 3 movies" (in release order at least). The cut scenes are VERY funny. Being able to play along as the various characters is amazingly fun in story mode, and even better in "free play" when you can randomly switch between a variety of characters to find all the hidden items. I love the stud finding system. You want more money? Just replay a mission a few times. You can get all sorts of fun "cheats" (not cheats, really, but fun add-ons), you can buy new characters to use, and much more. It really gives you incentive to keep playing. Is a youngster in the house having trouble playing? Just have an adult pop into the game for a while to help out, then the adult can pop out again, to let the child keep playing! It is just brilliant. I love this game. The graphics are superb, as last time, with little lego movements seeming just right. Their swaggers and sliders are incredibly funny. The sound, of course, is the real movie soundtrack and is superb. You couldn't ask for anything better. Even the tiny touches are funny. If C-3PO starts getting hit, he loses an arm, then another arm, then a leg. You have him hopping along valiantly behind you, trying to remain with your team. Chewie rips off arms from stormtroopers. Now of course, there are always a few things the game designers get wrong. While Chewie's arm-ripping is quite funny, it is REALLY annoying when he does it - very slowly - in the middle of a firefight when you wanted him to be blasting away. The characters automatically switch into close combat mode if they think someone is nearby, even if you really needed to fire away at someone with the blaster. Even more annoying, if you're blasting away at "destructables" (wall items, whatever) and your friend gets near you start bashing on him! The camera is also really annoying. You get a *slight* amount of view control, but not much. When you are craning around trying to find a mini-kit on the screen and the camera keeps swooping wildly exactly where you do NOT want to look, it can get very frustrating. Still, these are minor problems in a game that is so stellar. I highly, highly recommend this game for any gamer of any age. It's incredibly fun. The Force is Strong With This One After the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in theaters we got Lego Star Wars; a game that was a lot of fun to play simply because it emulated the movies rather well with all the characters being made entirely from Legos. Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is even better for the simple fact of nostalgia. Any Star Wars fan will enjoy this. You'll begin the game in the Cantina in Mos Eisley. This is the hub, and from there you can go into any of the three episodes and play through them. At the start you'll only be able to choose A New Hope, but after completing the first chapter, you can choose The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi. As you go through the three episodes you'll some of the most memorable moments of the movies acted out entirely with legos. These moments aren't only memorable, but they're given a hilarious charm. These moments are also from the actual original versions of the movies as well. In other words, Han Solo DOES shoot first. The game is visually striking. Seeing your favorite characters from the original Star Wars films as legos is quite a treat. Not only do you get to have nostalgia with Star Wars, but with legos as well. Even better are the hilarious antics of most of the scenes. To benefit the nostalgia even more is how John Williams' classic score accompanies each and every level of the game. For a Star Wars fan this game is the ultimate nostalgia. As you play through each of the classic episodes, you'll be in control of several characters. Not all at once, but you'll end up having to switch. At times you may only have two characters, at others there may be as many as seven in your party at once. Your characters, depending on who they are, also have their own unique skills they can use. Jedi for example, can double jump and use the force. Those who wield blasters have a grappling hook that allows them to ascend to accessible platforms. The droids can open up special doors for you. Other characters, like the Jawas and Ewoks will be able to go into vents and access areas the other characters can't. In all actuality, they're really no different than their counterparts in the original Lego Star Wars. Also like the original Lego Star Wars, you'll constantly have to switch between characters in order to get through each and every area. You'll have to switch to R2-D2 to open up a door, for example. More than one person can play at a time, which is also really cool. You can also beat up your allies if you wish, and they respawn instantly. The gameplay isn't completely the same, though, there have been some small tweaks made here and there. The additions to the gameplay aren't huge, but they are welcome. As you progress through levels all your characters may be able to assemble certain materials together to form a droid to help them fight. In the original Lego Star Wars this ability was only given to the Jedi, but here everyone can do it. There are also moments when you'll have to dress up as a stormtrooper in order to gain access through certain doors. You'll also be given the chance at some point to dress up as a bounty hunter and you'll be able to use Thermal Detonators. Characters also have their own unique abilities. Chewie, for example, can rip a stormtroopers arms right out of his sockets. All of these are welcome additions, and that's not even all there is to the gameplay. From time to time you'll be in command of vehicles. Landspeeders, the Millennium Falcon, the X-Wing and more as you take on some of the more memorable moments from the film, like destroying the death star. It will probably only take you five hours at the very least to complete the story mode of all three episodes. However, Lego Star Wars II is full of extras. Each time you dispatch an enemy, whether it be in story mode or not, you'll earn money. You can also destroy certain objects and obtain money. You can use the money you gain to purchase cheats and hidden characters. Each time you get a new character they'll walk around in the hub, and you can switch to them. "Purchasing" characters isn't the only way to get them. You could easily just use one in story mode and you've got him or her. You'll also get hidden characters if you've got save data from the original Lego Star Wars. Just unlocking all the characters takes a lot of time. The importance of unlocking characters is so you can play through certain aspects of the free play mode. There are places that in story mode the default characters couldn't reach. These hidden characters might be able to reach it, though, and so you will find yourself playing through levels again. The good news is these levels are so much fun that playing through a second, third or even fourth time is no hassle at all. Free mode also offers a way for you to customize what a character looks like. You could put Yoda's head on Luke Skywalker's body, for example. This is mostly just a lot of fun to mess around with. Some combinations are just all out crazy. You could, for example, put Chewbacca's head on Leia's body from when she's wearing the slave outfit in Return of the Jedi. This really doesn't do a whole lot for the gameplay as a whole, but it is quite fun to mess around with, and the combinations are endless. The only real problem with this game that I can really think of is that there is little, if any, challenge at all. Each time you die you respawn right where you left off and you have infinite lives. There's really no such thing as a game over. If you die the only penalty is that you lose money. However, the sheer fun factor of the game is enough to do away with that, and still makes Lego Star Wars II a treat. Lego Star Wars II surpasses the original in just about everyway. It's a Star Wars game for the classic trilogy done with instant perfection. If you love the original Star Wars movies, you'll definitely want this game. On the positive side +Based off the original theatrical versions and not the special editions +Beautiful game +Addictive gameplay +Co-op mode +Several extras and hidden characters +Customizable characters +Tons of replay value On the negative side -The story mode is quite short -While not really much of a con for this game, it's got very little challenge Fun For Everyone I bought this game after playing Lego Star Wars with my two grandsons. I loved playing that one, and this one, the sequel, is even better! Best of all, it is fun for everyone in the family to play. It is not too challenging for young gamers, yet it is very entertaining for us older gamers, too. I highly recommend this game!

   

Baten Kaitos
From Namco

Baten Kaitos is a world where islands float in the air and oceans are story from the past. A world already on the edge is about to fall into chaos, when a young man named Kalas goes after revenge. Travelling with the more noble Xhela, they'll enter the ancient Moonguile Forest and seek out answers to old questions. As they go, they'll be led by a spirit that guides Kalas to his goal -- and his destiny as savior. Use Magnus Cards wisely -- foods will ripen or rot, items will rust and gain or lose value
Amazon Sales Rank: #9291 in Video Games Brand: Monolith Software (JP) Released on: 2004-11-16 ESRB Rating: Teen Platform: GameCube Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .75" h x 5.50" w x 7.50" l, .25 pounds
The world of Baten Kaitos is a world adrift in time and space. Humanity forges its existence on an archipelago of land floating in a yawning, endless sky. The earth below, and the vast oceans it once harbored, are mere legend. It is by no means a tranquil existence. A sinister conspiracy is afoot, one that threatens to tear these few remaining rafts of land from the heavens and erase forever the memory of the seas below. Act as conscience and spirit guide for young Kalas and his companion Xelha. Guide them in battle and watch their friendship bloom. Join them as they struggle to reveal the mystery of the lost sea and destroy the corruption that threatens their world. Features Embark upon an epic and emotional journey across a richly imagined world. Enjoy detailed character development and unravel an intricate plot spanning over 60 hours of gameplay. Innovative, dynamic "Magnus card" system unites all elements of gameplay. Capture the essence of items, weapons and spells in Magnus cards and use them for exploration and combat. Cards in your inventory change with the passage of time: food ripens or rots, blades rust and rare items increase in value. Baten Kaitos' unconventional card-based battle engine features over 1000 Magnus cards--each with unique artwork--that can be combined for a virtually infinite number of attacks and spell effects. Enter a landscape overflowing with graphic detail. Vivid, pre-rendered backgrounds are alive with movement and subtle, ambient animations. Enjoy gloriously rendered battle environments and astounding spell effects. Character design by renowned artist Nakaba Higurashi. Epic, stirring soundtrack
Falls short in many areas Oh, Baten Kaitos. What a fantastic game you could have been. With a little more care in your design, and a completely different voice cast, you could have been a game of the year. Instead, you're already fading from memory. GAMEPLAY: Good Potential buyers should be aware that the gameplay in Baten Kaitos will initially strike them as highly weird. Some aspects of RPG battling will be familiar: battle is turn-based, and your characters line up across a battle area from a group of baddies. At this point, though, things start to go a little strange, as you don't use mana, or technique points, or even equipment. Instead you play "Magnus Cards" that contain your spells, weapons, armor, and healing items. In a given turn you will "play" these cards from your hand, determine damage, and then "draw" new ones from your deck. You get to play cards any time you attack or defend yourself. By linking these cards together in an order determined by their "Spirit Numbers" you can play several at a time and enhance their effects. Playing certain cards in combination will create new cards entirely. Over time, some cards even change: a bamboo shoot becomes a bamboo spear, then a fishing pole. Bananas go from green, to ripe, to black and spotty. These aging events can change a healing item into an offensive one, and back again. As your characters progress, the battle turn will start to depend more on reflexes, with a timer that limits how long you can wait to choose your first card. The amount of time you have available to choose cards after the first will depend on how long the character takes to attack -- if you don't choose one in time, your turn will end. The character Savyna attacks very quickly, so you're likely to end several turns prematurely in this way if you play with her. Additionally, as you start to get cards with more than one spirit number, the c-stick will come into play as a method for choosing which you want. This card-based system allows for some astonishingly deep combat, but there is a significant problem: there is no discard feature. Most defensive cards cannot be played on an offensive turn, and unless you are supremely confident you will usually have more defensive cards in your deck than you can hold in your hand. It is therefore not uncommon to encounter a situation where a character has a hand consisting entirely of defensive cards, and no way to get rid of them except to play them one at a time as failed attempts at offense. Perversely, the game seems to sense which character is in this predicament and stop attacking him or her. A multi-card discard capability would have been most welcome, and anyone who's lost a battle because one of his characters had to sit out turn after turn would probably argue that it was essential. Attacks deal "physical" and "elemental" damage; certain enemies are weak against certain elements, so this adds another layer of strategy. However, damage dealt by opposing elements cancels out. This gets to be a major problem for spellcasters, who primarily deal elemental damage, but who will not be able to continue attack combos in most cases without drawing from opposing elements. An obvious remedy for this difficulty is to adjust the characters' decks based on the situation. This proves to be time-consuming, however, and is made more so by the fact that you cannot save a deck setup. Furthermore, some characters have tendencies to receive useless elements. Kalas, for instance, ends up with an arsenal of high-level Darkness and Chronos based weapons, but his best finishing moves are based on Light and Wind (the opposite of Chronos in Baten Kaitos), and most late enemies are strong or immune to Darkness, limiting his usefulness. As usual, characters earn experience by engaging in battle, though the characters who don't take part in a particular fight (only 3 can battle) earn *much* less. This sets up a dilemma: shuffle your characters in and out between fights so that everyone earns a moderate level of experience, or focus improvement on one or two? I ended up keeping Kalas in the party almost all the time, and rotating everyone except Savyna through the other two slots. Almost all the characters have wings, but gameplay virtually ignores this fact. Indeed, in some areas you will be forced to use blocks to bridge very narrow canals of water, or you will have to take a very roundabout route to get past a low ledge or a little gap. It's not clear why the characters don't just fly over these obstacles, but my guess is that it's because the designers spent all their creativity on the battle system and couldn't spare any to devise less pedestrian puzzles for their dungeons. With the exception of some interesting block problems in the Tower of Zosma, the puzzles in Baten Kaitos are universally lame; even the game's "labyrinth" is small and easily navigated. Ignoring the wings is a particular loss in battles. The idea of flying heroes brings to mind images of furious, kinetic aerial battles that are just as much about positioning and trajectory as they are about your choice of attacks and defenses. None of that here, though; it's just the same "line up and fight" arena that's been around since Final Fantasy I. It's a disappointment, but a survivable one. The game offers an interesting and strategically deep battle system which is sorely lacking one key feature. The few puzzles you encounter are generally boring, and often make no sense in the context of the game world. In the end, although it's definitely different, I have trouble saying that the card-based system is measurably better than any other RPG battle system, and in fact I'd have to say the real-time battle system of Tales of Symphonia (also by Namco) was superior. Even on its own terms the system here is not as good as it could or should be: aside from the discard problem, magic-users are occasionally hamstrung by the elemental system, and some characters are significantly harder to use without being any more effective in battle. Overall, good but not exceptional. STORY: Excellent The story centers around Kalas, who seems strangely uninterested in saving the world for a lead character in an RPG. He's more intent on avenging himself against the people who killed his grandfather and brother. You play a guardian spirit who advises him on his journey, though you've developed a case of amnesia. Kalas seemingly gets dragged into a quest to gather strange cards called End Magnus by a girl named Xelha, but a twist about halfway through the game will simultaneously explain almost everything and also give you quite a jolt. From there on the story is much more straightforward, though it continues to be nicely constructed. Themes of loyalty, duty, and regret are prominent, and for the most part reasonably well-played. However, there are some glaring weaknesses. Lyude in particular is poorly written; noble protector one moment, sobbing wimp the next. Giacomo's motivations are obscure, and Melodia's lines are often just awful. Some of the other characters are glossed over -- Gibari's personality is mostly unexplained, and Savyna's backstory doesn't quite fit with the timeline for anyone else. A couple of important plot points receive painfully bad explanations, and the love story is pretty weak, too. These weaknesses are often exacerbated by the bad voice acting. Overall, though, the story is entertaining and progresses believably. Game areas serve the plot, rather than vice-versa, so you never feel like the developers were suffering through story to string together dungeons. AUDIO: Poor Baten Kaitos has the worst voice acting and dialogue recording quality of any piece of media I have ever encountered in my life, and this includes the radio dramas I recorded on tape with my brother when I was ten. I cannot imagine how anyone at Namco approved this terrible, terrible audio track. The actors themselves often seem incapable of emoting through any means except growling and howling; in this regard Kalas is particularly bad. Almost every line is overplayed. Only Gibari is passable. Of course, even if the voice acting had been fantastic, the recording quality would have ruined it. There's a tinny resonant noise in every line of dialogue, as if each was recorded by having the voice actors shout into a microphone at the bottom of a coffee can. The only good thing about the dialogue is that everything the characters say is also printed on screen, so you can turn it off and lose nothing. The character voices will still be inflicted upon you in battle, however. The sound effects are forgettable, except for the "finishing move" prelude, which has a high-end whine that grates on my ears. The music is fair overall, and very good in some cases ("Imperial Dynamics" has a great violin flair at the beginning, and "Temple of Celestial Flowers" is just all-around good). A few pieces, however, seem to be recycled... "Mystery Crystal" sounds very similar to the music that plays in Exire and Heimdall in Tales of Symphonia, for instance. However, the music does not make up for the wretched voices, in my opinion. VISUALS: Excellent The game has a full 3-D intro that looks astounding, but don't get your hopes up. Nothing in the rest of the game (save for the Magnus shopkeepers) looks quite like that. Nonetheless, the character renders (which you'll only see full-sized in battle scenes) are quite good, though one or two are too cluttered. The backgrounds are layered and feature a fair amount of animation, all very well drawn. However, the scale of these environments occasionally dwarfs the onscreen character, making it difficult to track motion. The variety and bizarre beauty of these environments tends to compensate, however. Some of the special attacks look fantastic, though a few are duds. The game's repertoire of enemy creatures is actually fairly limited, falling firmly into the design category of using 10-15 models and painting them different colors so you'll think you're fighting something new. Additionally, some of these monsters move very oddly. However, the artists seem to have produced several interesting and original designs for bosses and larger monsters, including some fantastic Lovecraftian grotesquerie (the first fight against Geldoblame, for instance). The game's graphical weak point is the portraits that accompany speech boxes on screen. Flat, cartoonish, and occasionally outright ugly, they substantially detract from the look of the game. It would have been better to replace these with 3-D renders of the heads. REPLAY VALUE: Average The story doesn't really have a whole lot of variability, so the only thing to look forward to in the replay is finding new Magnus cards and fine-tuning your skills with the game's battle system. While a number of the combination Magnus are interesting to create, very few of them really do anything fantastic. And because information about which Magnus you've collected cannot be transferred from one game to another, you're not likely to know whether you've truly encountered everything unless you write that information down by hand. OVERALL: Enjoyable (74%) Despite its numerous issues, Baten Kaitos really is pretty fun to play. The card-based system is weird at first, but once you're used to it the depth of strategy will definitely appeal to you. The battle system could have used some work, and the elemental system is a little rough. And, as mentioned, the voice acting is terrible. However, the story is good and the visuals are fantastic in many places. If you enjoy RPGs you'll find this game a fun way to pass a day or three, and if you really like card-based gameplay then you should definitely give it a try. Final Fantasy on Cube? Not quite but very unique Baten Kaitos could be considered as another most anticipated RPG for Cube owners. Developed by the same minds behind Xenosaga and Chrono Cross, it could be understood why it is an anticipated title.Baten Kaitos returns to the turn base RPG but with cards. Though most card battle systems are disappointing, the card battle system in Baten Kaitos provides the player both intuitive and strategic options in the battle. Players started off with a small number of cards they card hold and wield in the battle and as they "class up" the number of both increased. However, a "class up" also change the initially infinity time limit for wielding the first card to as short as 5 seconds. That means you have to make sure you get the right cards in the decks before the battle starts, for changes are not possible once it is started. Kills are relying on combos. Pairs and same cards in no matter what order increases your chance of scoring bonus, nonetheless, it is the straight numbers, no matter ascending or descending that counts most. The numbers are written on the cards, from initially one on the right to over all four corners. A good combo can triple damage to 300% of the face values. Further different characters have different speed in finishing one move. For example Savyna is extremely fast but devastating. So if you want her to kill fast, you have to think fast for once the action of the last card is finished, the string is broken and the turn is finished. On top of that, the elemental factor plays a huge part in the game. To improve your kills, you have to have the right elements in your deck. So fire against water and vice versa. Nonetheless, in terms of defence, it is more difficult to predict for a water based enemy could cause more than one elemental damage, which mean you might need different armours to protect yourself, especially if the attacks on you are multiple.The downside of this card system is the randomness in the cards available in each round. There could be a chance that you only have attack cards in your defence round, which means if your attack cards can't act as defence cards, you would just be standing there to be hit. Of course you can forfeit certain cards to hope that defence cards will come up, but that will also mean that you are losing attack cards in the next round. Cards in the game could be purchased from shops but prices are steep. So the best will be getting them from the enemies. However, this would require players to spend huge amount of time to create their dream decks. Certain enemies drop certain cards repeatedly, so you can decide whether you would want to stay in one area for a long time just to level up your character and your cards.Levelling up is done through visiting the church. Level up, as mentioned is by experience points but class up requires certain items that you could find throughout the adventure. In terms of dungeons designs, there are areas that could be annoying especially considering your enemies will reappear if you leave one place and go back later. There are a number of dungeons requiring backtracking, which if you are not a levelling up fan you could find it annoying. Puzzles are pretty straight forward though. The graphic designs are lavishing and full of style. Different islands have different cultures and they are fully exhibited and exploited. Every bit of details that you could think about were attended to. The only downside is some of the non playable characters are quite unobvious that you can't see them. This would be annoying when you need to finish certain side quests. The opening scene is phenomenal and can rival to all current FF series.Story wise, it is in fact very cliché and there are some really annoying bits. It is very typical Japanese style and some of the chauvinistic aspect would put some people off. Nonetheless, having said that there are still a number of twists that could impress you a lot in the plot. However, it is quite linear at certain points for you won't be able to do anything but what you are asked to do. The most innovative part comes in when you are actually playing the role of a guardian spirit. Characters will ask you for your opinion and advice and a good advice could increase your tie with your character. This improves the interactivity of the game.In the department of music, the tunes are well composed but they are recycled too many times in the game. Sometimes after listening to the same tune again and again in different areas you would just want to switch the music off. The voice acting is even worse with cheeky tones connecting cheeky conversation, the best solution will be turn the voice off, though you still could not cut the voice off in battles, as you could do with Arc The Lac.In all Baten Kaitos does offer a whole lot of good game plays. The battle system is good and the side quests are interesting, though pretty standard. It is more interactive and it definitely offers a different and unique experience in game plays. However, the story itself and the voice acting taxed out quite a bit of the game. Hopefully in the remaining a year or so for the Cube before the Revolution, Nintendo would be releasing more new and good RPG titles. Probably a lot of Cubers are looking forward to Zelda, Advance Wars on GC, Fire Emblem and Golden Sun. But at the meantime, just enjoy a good game with Baten Kaitos. Another excellent RPG from Namco Baten Kaitos is an excellent inovative game that integrates many diverse RPG features with a card battling system. Though this game is based on a card battling system the game runs smoothly and is free from the many dumb rules the card battling genre seems to have been pulled into. The games starts as the hero Kalas awakens in a rural farming village though his head has been injured it is not he that has lost his memory but you his "guardian spirit" a being that has bonded with him. Throughout the game Kalas will turn right towards the screen and ask you questions and opinons. Graphics 9/10 The Graphics are stunning the pre rendered beauty of the Baten Kaitos world is bustling with life and a treat for the eye. The only thing that keeps the graphics from a 10/10 is the fact that the pre rendered graphics (the camera does not move with the character) can sometimes create funky angles though this does not hamper gameplay to badly Storyline 11/10 No that is not a typo i believe this game's storyline is perfect there are no flaws whatsoever At first you believe you are just out to get revenge but soon you find yourself caught between the power hungry empire and the you "save the world" friend Xhella (pronounced Shella) it is so intricatly woven nothing can top it Characters 9/10 The characters in this game fit perfectally with the storyline first it is just Kalas a self serving vengeful hero soon you team up with Xhella a spellcaster out to save the world. Then you run into our newest teammate Gibari a gung ho firsherman out to help u achieve your goals, after that you meet the red haired imperial ambassador Lyude who abandons his evil emperors goals for you more righteous goals. After that you meet Savyna a quiet impassive warrior who seems to want nothing more that to defeat the emperor. The final party member is the mysterious masked enigma known as Mizuti his objectives are unknown when you first meet him. Sound/Voice acting 7/10 The music in this game is superb but the voice acting is quite mediocre. Though some of the chars have great voices, the majority suffer from a strange almost hollow sound and thier voices have little emotion Overall 10/10 Baten Kaitos is an excellent RPG that is a must buy for any Rpg fan if you liked Tales of Symphonia do not hesitate to buy this game. The huge game has over 40 hours of gameplay. This game will become an RPG classic.