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Resistance: Fall Of Man takes you back in time to an early 20th century that's very different from our own. Through brute force, a species of unknown origin known only as the Chimera have conquered Asia and most of Europe in mere decades. Seeing the risk of annihilation, the United States supports the British Resistance in a European counterattack. The story follows Hale, a US Ranger, as he struggles for survival and desperately seeks a means to eliminate the Chimeran blight.
Dimensions: 6.00" h x 10.00" w x 8.00" l, 2.00 pounds
Features
Gameplay elements and enemies that create a sense of unease and set an atmosphere that frightens the player
Engage in some of the largest turbulent battles ever witnessed on a console gaming system
An immersive world delivers photo-realistic characters, environments and lighting effects
Co-Op play via split screen or compete against up to 40 players via online or LAN play
Amazon.com In Resistance: Fall of Man, US and British forces band together in a last-ditch effort to save England from a horric scourge -- the Chimera. This parasitic species infects other life forms with a virus that rapidly mutates victims into new Chimera. In mere decades this race has ripped apart populations across Asia and Europe and by 1951 has landed on the shores of England. You play the part of US a Army Ranger, fighting alongside a group of British resistance soldiers to free the country from the Chimera and to halt their spread across the globe.
PLAYSTATION 3's killer app has arrived.
Wield human or Chimeran weapons. View larger.
Chimera come in a variety of terrifying shapes and sizes. View larger.
The environments are incredibly detailed and lifelike. View larger.
Enemies will flank you if you're careless about picking them off. View larger.
The Chimera wars War is everywhere and everything in Resistance. An alien race began toying with the planet just after Word War I and in mere decades, the Chimera Ð a species of unknown origin propagating a virus that converts other life forms into more Chimera Ð has overrun Russia and all of Europe. HumanityÕs hope for survival is slim, and the tide of the battle rests on the shoulders of U.S. Army Ranger, Sgt. Nathan Hale.
The Chimera didn't plan to take this protracted war lying down, however, and amassed their forces in Russia. Once Russia was captured, they quickly erected a wall around the former country, rebuking all efforts at communication or contact. While the world waited and wondered what other terrors might spill from the wall, England prepares for and falls to a major Chimera invasion in 1951.
The United States comes to aid their English allies, but all does not go as planned. The next three days will see some of the most intense fighting the war has known thus far, and it's up to you to end the Chimera threat before the plague of defeat can encircle the globe.
Next-generation gameplay and style The gameplay of Resistance is classic First Person Shooter. Insomniac Games has combined its passion for creating exotic weapons and vehicles with a proprietary physics system to create unique human and alien weaponry. Many of the weapons of the game are era-appropriate, such as pistols and grenades. Other weapons, such as the Chimeran Auger, are of alien design. Due to the differences in the ways that the various weapons handle, great care must be taken when entering an area infested with Chimera with their own weaponry. In addition to the obvious array of weapons, players can use melee attacks and jump to avoid attack.
Special game actions, called "Skill Tasks," are worth set number of points that can be spent to unlock new content in the game. A Skill Task may be something as simple as killing a number of enemies in a short period of time or as involved as locating a hidden area in the single player campaign. The mystery of the tasks, however, is that they aren't actually revealed until you have completed the task. This makes for a great reply incentive, as you will be mowing down Chimera and be suddenly rewarded with task points, often when you least expect the reward.
Obviously, presentation is one of the areas in which Resistance shines. The frame rate is silky-smooth, and never seems to get bogged down when there is a large number of Chimera or teammates on screen. Animations are believable, the locations are detailed, and the voice acting is top-notch. Explosions are especially impressive, sending shrapnel and smoke in all directions. If you're looking for a game to impress your friends with graphically, look no further. Resistance is the type of game that makes you feel confident about the future of the PLAYSTATION 3.
Track stats and more online Resistance also boasts an impressive 40 player online multiplayer mode. It's not uncommon to find large-scale battles with both intricate strategy and simple "run and gun" play styles. Created and managed jointly by Insomniac Games and Sony Computer Entertainment, MyResistance.net is the official online community destination for Resistance: Fall of Man. At MyResistance.net, players can view their multiplayer stats in near-real time, participate in forums with other fans, download unlockable content and more.
The PSP (PlayStation Portable) system is totally portable so you can play anywhere. Wireless connectivity makes for slick, no-hassles multiplayer gaming.
The dazzling widescreen LCD and incredibly vibrant and crisp graphics bring gaming to life. The PSP has a game for everyone - over 135 game titles available including Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2, NBA 07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, LocoRoco, and more! Take all your tunes to go! It's easy to play your favorite music on the PSP system with a Memory Stick Duo. Save your MP3, MP4, ATRAC3plus, ATRAC3 WAV and WMA music files to a Memory Stick Duo or download new favorites. Then play on your PSP wherever and whenever you want. Watch videos on the go. Watching videos on the PSP is easy with a Memory Stick Duo. Save your MP4 and other format videos to a Memory Stick Duo. Experience the freedom of Wi-fi functionality and communicate with other PSP® systems, download content, and compete against other players by connection to a wireless local area network (WLAN). Free yourself from wires and you'll be free to use your PSP network features anywhere, anytime. Enjoy video web feeds, weblogs, or podcasts from any of thousands of websites. Using the PSP system's RSS Channel feature, you can add link information to a channel list that will enable your PSP to link to web pages that provide RSS or podcast-distributed content. Save RSS or podcast content to your Memory Stick Duo and enjoy it on the go. It is constantly evolving! Exciting new features are added with every system software release. Get your game on with free game downloads. You can get game downloads here or directly through your PSP web browser at the official PSP website 2 great ways to play games with multiple players - Infrastructure mode to play with people online or Ad Hoc mode to play with nearby PSP systems without an internet Product Details
Amazon.com Fans of the ‘Hack and Slash’ wing of the Action genre are more than likely familiar with the single player, gothic-flavored action of Capcom’s Devil May Cry franchise. The first three games in the series are centered on the sword play and gun slinging of demon hunter and long-time hero, Dante, but in the most recent release, Devil May Cry 4, players are thrown a changeup, as doubt is cast on the once unquestionable motives and actions of Dante by a new, yet somehow familiar hero, Nero.
Supernatural action with style
Nero has all the Demon fighting tools. View larger.
Demons rightly fear his "Devil Bringer" arm. View larger.
There's bad blood between Nero and Dante. View larger.
Dante's artful skill with the new Lucifer Weapon. View larger.
Meet the New Kid in Town - Nero Nero resembles Dante and Dante’s estranged twin brother Virgil, familiar to players from earlier games in the series. This might be more than a just a coincidence--you’ll have to play through the game to find out for sure--but what is certain is that like Virgil, Nero has a serious problem with Dante; one that can only end badly for one of them.
As DMC4 opens players not only witness, but participate in Nero’s trial by fire as he is unexpectedly forced to go head-to-head with Dante. The youngest, but most promising new member of the land of Fortuna’s "Holy Knights," the military arm of the "Order of Maken," an organization pledged to destroy all demons as well as defend the memory and worship of Sparda, the historical Dark Knight who rebelled against the Dark Emperor to champion the fate of humanity, the Holy Knights highly respect Dante, who is a direct descendent of Sparda. This makes what Nero and players of the game must do all the more difficult, but no less necessary. A tutorial for learning and developing Nero’s skills as well as serving as the game’s first boss battle, playing as Nero, players must hold their own against the legendary demon hunter before they can proceed further into the game. But be prepared for Dante to return later in the game.
The World of Devil May Cry 4 Just as in previous installments in the DMC series, the world players explore in Devil May Cry 4 is lavishly gothic, feeling both ancient and modern simultaneously and is peopled by demons and demon hunters. In this dangerous world player’s weapons are sometimes all they can count on. Although you begin your journey playing in the role of newcomer Nero, players will also have the opportunity to play as Dante, Both character’s arsenals of weapons and abilities are impressive, but not too difficult to master. See the partial list of both character’s weapons and abilities below:
Nero
"Devil Bringer" Arm: Integrated into Nero’s right arm, it is a mystery even to Nero, but quickly reveals itself as a very effective weapon against demons, especially the largest among them.
Red Queen: Effective at when swung at high speeds, this sword has a motorcycle handle base that sprays flammable liquid on enemies when squeezed.
Blue Rose: Used for long range attacks, this pistol has two barrels which can be fired at once with armor piercing force.
The Exceed System: Allows Nero to charge up his sword with a throttle effect, revving up to three levels with powerful attack options.
Dante
Force Edge: Sharp and indestructible, this sword is a memento from his father Sparda, and was used to defeat the ancient enemy Mundus and seal the gateway to the underworld.
Ebony & Ivory: Dante’s twin .45 caliber companion pistols. They are Dante’s trusty companions as he battles supernatural evils.
Beowulf: Double gauntlets and greaves hold a flashing power to strike down enemies at close distances.
Active Style Change System: These allow Dante to switch between fighting styles and weapons on the fly, producing crazy combo possibilities that players will need to master.
Leveling up of both characters is done through DMC’s traditional orb collection system which can happen at any point in the game, while weapons and abilities are upgradable at the completion of levels through the new "Proud Souls" system. In addition the game’s deep combo system rewards players for ‘stylishly’ dispatching enemies by mixing and matching the weapons that they use in attacks, so it pays for players to get to know the arsenals.
New Characters and Environments Joining Nero and Dante as they battle demons and each other throughout the game’s next-generation enhanced environments are a wide array of non-player characters both old and new to the Devil May Cry series. Familiar faces from the past like Trish and Lady will be there as well as new characters like Kyrie to illustrate Nero’s side of the story in the demon-filled landscapes of Fortuna and continue the legacy of fast paced, rich action players have come to expect from the Devil May Cry universe.
Product Description Long ago the Dark Knight Sparda rebelled against the dark emperor and waged a one-man war to save humanity. Thousands of years later, a religious organization worships this renowned savior and has taken it upon themselves to rid the world of all evil. Residing in Fortuna, this organization is known as the "Order of the Sword," and is made up of an elite group of "Holy Knights." One day, a young knight named Nero witnesses Sparda's legendary son Dante slaughter his fellow warriors. Has the renowned devil hunter turned his back on mankind? What does thie encounter mean for these two individuals? In Devil May Cry 4, players control the formidable Nero who comes to grips with his newly found power as his beliefs and allegiance are tested. Continuing the legacy of fast paced action synonymous with the series, Devil May Cry 4 pushes the envelope of excellence even further with the inclusion of a new combat system that incorporates Nero's "Devil Bringer, a new feature that has players delivering overwhelming damage to enemies with non-stop combos, while gaining new power for Nero's right arm. With the PlayStation 3 system's advanced graphical capabilities, high definition visuals and intricate detail come to life as players explore new and exotic locales. Amazing visual effects and dynamic action coupled with a complex storyline, provides the very cool, slick and stylish attitude that only a Devil May Cry game can deliver. New active style change system for Dante allows him to switch styles and weapons on the fly, producing crazy combo possibilities ESRB Rated M for Mature
Last generation, Capcom's Devil May Cry helped to redefine modern action-adventure gaming with its lush 3D environments, stylish slash-n-shoot combat, and lovably cocksure antihero, Dante. With its roots firmly planted in the old-school finesse-driven gameplay tradition for which Capcom is known (Strider, Bionic Commando) and glossy, Resident Evil-inspired presentation, DMC created a rock-solid template that inspired countless imitators. Unfortunately, that stunning debut begat two mishandled sequels -- DMC2 felt like a lifeless, repetitive retread (albeit one with designer-jeans product placement) while DMC3's absurd difficulty curve made it impenetrably tough for most gamers. An apologetic "Special Edition" of DMC3 corrected its problems, but the series' history of missteps left fans wondering whether this fourth installment would arrive fully formed. The good news? In many crucial ways, Devil May Cry 4 feels like the return to form that fans so desperately desire. ... »Read more
Last generation, Capcom's Devil May Cry helped to redefine modern action-adventure gaming with its lush 3D environments, stylish slash-n-shoot combat, and lovably cocksure antihero, Dante. With its roots firmly planted in the old-school finesse-driven gameplay tradition for which Capcom is known (Strider, Bionic Commando) and glossy, Resident Evil-inspired presentation, DMC created a rock-solid template that inspired countless imitators. Unfortunately, that stunning debut begat two mishandled sequels -- DMC2 felt like a lifeless, repetitive retread (albeit one with designer-jeans product placement) while DMC3's absurd difficulty curve made it impenetrably tough for most gamers. An apologetic "Special Edition" of DMC3 corrected its problems, but the series' history of missteps left fans wondering whether this fourth installment would arrive fully formed. The good news? In many crucial ways, Devil May Cry 4 feels like the return to form that fans so desperately desire. But at the same time, an obnoxious design choice keeps it from being an unqualified success.
From the outset, DMC4 pulls some surprising punches -- benching well-liked, wisecrackin' Dante in favor of decidedly emo, hoodie-clad newcomer Nero may seem like a dumb move, but the gamble actually pays off. Nero's truly the star of this quest, and you control him through nearly two-thirds of the game as he attempts to rescue his lovely lass from a corrupt theocracy. It's a far more serious, earnest, and mature adventure than you'd expect, even if the game's female characters sport ridiculously massive mammaries and the "angels" you're fighting look more like Gundam mechs.
Nero offers a remarkably different style of play thanks to the Devil Bringer, his demonically enhanced right arm. Its various uses include tossing foes around, pulling off unique finishing moves, and grappling across chasms -- all of which mix up the otherwise predictable character-action proceedings. Devil May Cry has always rewarded pinpoint timing, and the Devil Bringer reconfirms that commitment with its brilliant "Instant Rev" mechanic that dishes out maximum damage by perfectly timing a button press during a combo. It's a seemingly insubstantial, purely optional gameplay addition that deepens combat immeasurably. Even though Nero lacks many of the skills that make Dante such a blast to control, he's far from boring.
Nero's new proclivities definitely tweak the formula, yet the fundamental DMC gameplay remains wonderfully intact. Few games boast such excellent controls -- you'll instantly find yourself pulling off impressive combos thanks to tight, responsive, and intuitive setup offered here. And you'll feel a real incentive to master combat, as the game constantly rewards stylish play with a branching tree of unlockable skills and attacks that expand your death-dealing repertoire.
While fans agree that DMC's addictive gameplay provides the primary draw, the series has a solid audiovisual legacy, as well. DMC4 looks predictably slick, with an excellent mix of hyperdetailed interiors, dense urban areas, and expansive natural environs. You'll spy a few glaring inconsistencies (the forest stage suffers from lighting problems and infrequent bouts of slowdown), but overall it's one of the most attractive current-gen efforts to date. The game's aural offerings aren't quite as compelling, though.... The same divisive industrial hard-rock nonsense (featuring torturous vocals by Shawn "Shootie HG" McPherson) that sullied DMC3 returns here, and the voice acting runs the gamut from lovably corny to embarrassingly melodramatic. Still, Dante's supremely charismatic actor deserves praise for making us love an increasingly insane devil hunter who repeatedly boasts about the prowess of his own genitalia (allegorically, of course).
Like its predecessors, DMC4 unfolds in a strictly linear fashion, with a diverse mix of combat, puzzle solving, and platforming in each of its 20 stages. Even though it's divided up into chunks, the game world stands as one interconnected, realistic realm packed with dense jungles, abandoned mines, and mammoth castles. But unlike the past games, this one takes an overly frugal approach to level design: Once you've battled through the holy empire as Nero, you get to trudge back through it all over again (including the bosses) as Dante. Sure, this crimson-clad badass controls like a dream -- his godlike strength, agility, and special attacks erupt with a fury that Nero simply can't match -- but having him merely retrace the other hero's steps feels like a missed opportunity. Also, while the initial appearance of a ponderous board-game challenge (in which Nero has to roll a die in order to move around a board riddled with potential enemy encounters) can be forgiven, the other four occurrences cannot. And just when it appears that no further corners could be cut, the game's penultimate stage parades the game's big bosses back out for an unprecedented third battle. Seriously, Capcom? They're good bosses, but not that good.
That said, you'll definitely want to play through DMC4 more than once. Burying fan-favorite Dante so deep in the game practically guarantees that you'll want to tackle the quest a second time on a tougher difficulty, if only to explore his incredibly over-the-top arsenal. Compared to the more defensive ebb and flow of Nero's gameplay, Dante's hyperkinetic tempo invites players to simultaneously experiment with a multitude of weapons and combat styles -- mastering how to switch up his attacks on the fly isn't easy, but the results are visceral and rewarding. New toys such as Lucifer (an evil backpack that lets Dante toss out an infinite number of glowing blades) and the unfathomably cool Pandora (a suitcase that transforms into everything from a spinning saw to a gyroscopic missile array depending on your controller input) bristle with creativity.
Although it dips into the recycling bin a bit too much, Devil May Cry 4 still remains a must-play title for action-adventure gamers. Its gorgeous trappings, addictive combat, and well-balanced difficulty make it the most satisfying DMC in years, and Dante's such a killer character that you'll actually want to tackle the game on a tougher difficulty in order to fully explore his amazing arsenal.
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures that enthralled audiences everywhere (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). With a unique tongue-in-cheek take on the original adventures, LEGO Indiana Jones follows Dr. Jones escapades through the jungles of South America to the mountaintops of India. Fans can build, battle and brawl their way through their favorite cinematic moments, from Indy's entanglements with snakes to his dashing boulder run.
Of course, pop culture's most iconic archaeologist will whip through all the classic moments with the help of a host of supporting characters including Marion Ravenwood and Short Round. Players can also mix and match the body parts of more than 60 playable characters to create new heroes just as they could in the best-selling LEGO Star Wars games.
Everyone's favorite fedora wearing hero returns to theaters this May in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and families can celebrate the humor and excitement of the original films with LEGO Indiana Jones.
Tongue-in-cheek humor presents The Original Adventures in a manner only LEGO can whip up, with comical reinterpretations of classic Indiana Jones scenes and elements.
Use Indy's signature whip as a multi-purpose tool to attack, disarm, swing across gaps, activate levers and interact with a world of LEGO objects and puzzles.
For the first time, LEGO Indy characters are fully immersed in their environment; swim, climb, shimmy across rock ledges and pick up and carry objects.
Use a variety of weapons from the environment to fight enemies (e.g., chairs, guns, swords, bottles).
Unlock more than 60 playable characters, including villains and supporting characters (Marion Ravenwood, Short Round, Rene Belloq, Willie Scott, Marcus Brody, Jones Senior and Mola Ram).
Character specific abilities include excavation by Satipo, an umbrella slide by Marcus Brody, and monkey access by Marion Ravenwood.
Create unique playable characters like Sallah Scott or Mola Round by mixing and matching the LEGO body parts of all playable characters.
Explore the globe and solve puzzles that encourage creative thinking through the use of teamwork and unique building situations only possible in a LEGO world.
Cooperative gameplay encourages parents to share the legacy of Indiana Jones with their children in a fun and humorous way.
Product Description Imagine being able to play with Legos without having to get all the pieces. Now you can with Lego Indiana Jones. It takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures. With a tongue-in-cheek take on these original adventures, LEGO Indiana Jones follows Dr. Jones's escapades through the jungles of South America to the mountaintops of India where you will build, battle and brawl your way through your favorite moments, from Indy's entanglements with snakes to his dashing boulder run.
Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
ASIN: B000FRU1UM
Product Dimensions: 2 pounds
Media: Video Game
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6 in Video Games
Product Description
Amazon.com What does the American Dream mean today?
For Niko Bellic, fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope he can escape his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity. As they slip into debt and are dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don’t.
Beginning with the 1997 release of the original Grand Theft Auto, the GTA series has been one of the most prolific, controversial and down right entertaining franchises in video games history. This pedigree of success guarantees that the highly anticipated eleventh game in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV, will garner at least as much attention if not more.
The Plot Grand Theft Auto IV is a brand new adventure in the GTA universe following the experiences of Nikolai "Niko" Bellic, a new immigrant from an undisclosed eastern European country whose troubled pa st and the persuasion of his cousin Roman have brought him to the fictional Liberty City. Unfortunately, Niko’s search for the American Dream and a much needed fresh start, hits an immediate snag when the rags to riches story Roman spun to pique Niko's interest is exposed as not only a complete fabrication, but a ploy to enlist Niko’s well-known skills as a tough guy against the ample list of enemies clamoring for Roman’s debt-ridden blood.
Because Roman is the only person Niko knows in Liberty City he begrudgingly accepts his role as Roman’s protector despite the deception. But as time goes on Niko comes into his own, and his experience on the wrong side of the tracks proves more valuable than he could have ever imagined as he fights for survival and later supremacy on the crime ridden streets of Liberty City.
Game Environments Based on several of the boroughs of New York City and parts of New Jersey, Liberty City, familiar to players of previous games in the series, has been entirely redesigned for GTA IV. Players can expect visible detail down to the weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalk, cars and buildings of visibly different ages and a much greater level if verticality in the buildings and bridges that they are able to explore as Niko moves through the city streets. In addition, pedestrians in GTA IV are much more realistic. No longer simply moving cardboard cutouts, these NPCs are intelligent, modern, human representations that laugh, cry, eat, drink, use cell phones and ATMs, and talking amongst themselves regardless of Niko’s interaction with them.
Gameplay Historically GTA games have focused heavily on mission-based play, requiring successful completion of fixed tasks in order for players to progress through the game, but this has changed to a great extent in GTA IV. Players will experience an entirely new and exciting emphasis centered on the blending of on-mission and off-mission play, resulting not only in an increased sense of realism, but more interesting and unrestricted gameplay.
Features Aside from the car jacking and a detailed city environment here are the new features for GTA IV:
Improved combat system - Now you can use cover and also a target lock system, which allows you to take out targets with greater ease and accuracy. Plus, you can engage in some hand-to-hand combat if you can't get your hands on a piece quick enough.
Cell phone - Not just for basic phone calls anymore. Use your in-game cell phone to receive missions via SMS, snap photos, and ZiT (tag) songs that can be downloaded exclusively on Amazon.com/mp3.
Free time - In between missions you can take advantage of "me" time. There are gentleman's clubs, comedy clubs, bowling alleys, and bars, which all house unique activities.
Take a break from the storyline - A variety of side missions allow you to help run a car service, "borrow" cop cars, assassinate targets, help solve problems for those on the street, or take to the air with stunt jumps that are scattered all over the city.
Control your own fate - Throughout the game choice moments will arrive causing you to make a decision that will affect relationships and money.
Multiplayer Give Niko a rest and create your own multiplayer "hero." GTA has added multiplayer modes allowing you to take your creation out to play online in competitive, co-op, and free form modes. Competitive mode has you fighting against the cops, jacking cars, or racing to finish odd jobs. Co-op challenges you and your friends with various tasks including Hangman's NOOSE where you are responsible for escorting a wanted kingpin to a safe extraction point. Freeform lets you and 15 others lose on Liberty City. Use this mode to hit up the bar and play virtual darts versus each other or head out to the streets and set up your own drag races. If you can dream it, you can do it in Freeform mode.
ZiT: We'll Spot The Song For You When playing Grand Theft Auto IV, if you hear a song that you are interested in buying as an MP3, all you have to do is dial ZiT-555-0100 on your in-game mobile phone and a text message will be sent to you with the name of the artist and the title of the track. The next time you log in at the Rockstar Games Social Club, you will find 30-second previews of all the songs you have ZiT'ed while playing the game. You can add them to your basket there and click to purchase at Amazon MP3, or you can find them all at www.amazon.com/gtamusic.
Niko Bellic, Grand Theft Auto IV's bruiser from the former Eastern Bloc, is a stone-cold couch potato, a desperate online dater with dead-on aim, and a chronic websurfer who could kill you in a hand-to-hand Krav Maga brawl. Fresh off the boat, he's an illegal immigrant pursuing the dual American dreams of quick money and mass multimedia consumption in the most vibrant, dynamic, and entertainment-packed playground in console videogame history: Liberty City. The civil engineers at Rockstar Games have upgraded this burg's infrastructure since we visited seven years ago in GTA3, adding basic cable (hours of programming Niko can watch on safe-house TVs), an in-game Internet rich with blogs, parody websites -- even e-mail spams -- and such star attractions as [spoiler deleted] performing stand-up comedy as well as a gentleman's club filled with G-stringed strippers who buzz your controller's vibration motors as they grind Niko's lap. ... »Read more
Niko Bellic, Grand Theft Auto IV's bruiser from the former Eastern Bloc, is a stone-cold couch potato, a desperate online dater with dead-on aim, and a chronic websurfer who could kill you in a hand-to-hand Krav Maga brawl. Fresh off the boat, he's an illegal immigrant pursuing the dual American dreams of quick money and mass multimedia consumption in the most vibrant, dynamic, and entertainment-packed playground in console videogame history: Liberty City. The civil engineers at Rockstar Games have upgraded this burg's infrastructure since we visited seven years ago in GTA3, adding basic cable (hours of programming Niko can watch on safe-house TVs), an in-game Internet rich with blogs, parody websites -- even e-mail spams -- and such star attractions as [spoiler deleted] performing stand-up comedy as well as a gentleman's club filled with G-stringed strippers who buzz your controller's vibration motors as they grind Niko's lap. (If you must wear sweatpants when you play, please don't share your joypad.)
The upshot: Liberty City is no longer just a place you explore outdoors, looking for stunt jumps or the thrill of a six-star wanted level after riling up the LCPD during missions. I spent hours of my week-long review session checking out the game's indoor attractions, parking Niko in front of his TV and PC, watching red-state-riffing shows like Republican Space Rangers while cruising personals on the game's version of Craigslist. If Niko still lived in prequel city San Andreas, where diet and exercise made a difference, he'd have weighed 400 pounds by the time I finished this game.
But Rockstar wisely toned down the character-customization elements this time and focused on a more engrossing aspect: interpersonal relationships. Roman, Niko's head-in-the-clouds cousin who lured him to America with promises of wealth and women, gives our hero an upgradeable cellphone early on. As you meet people, their contact info is added to your phone. Niko can ring them up to grab a bite, go bowling, shoot darts, get s***faced (good luck evading the fuzz while driving under the influence of the game's insane drunk-driving physics), or partake in any number of other activities. Stay on top of these relationships and they'll become friends with benefits. One nurse Niko dates, for instance, can heal him with over-the-phone medical advice. (The local prostitutes have learned a few tricks, however, and are as eager as ever to boost your health for a few bucks.)
If all of this networking sounds as much fun as helping a friend move, keep in mind that it's optional. I powered through the game avoiding much of that stuff -- and it still took me 36 hours from start to finish. All of Niko's crucial bonding moments happen during the missions anyway, which do an amazing job of integrating your contacts, their personalities, and the city's multimedia assault. One standout job, for example, has Niko posing as a homosexual lothario on an online dating site to lure a gay thug to a rendezvous. Yep, the missions pack all of the hilarious writing the series is famous for, except now they occasionally offer the option to spare the lives of characters you've hunted down in hot pursuits -- decisions that affect the overall story. They give GTA4 a new element of replayability, although I suspect players will turn quickly to the excellent multiplayer modes once they've completed the epic single-player game.
During our marathon multiplayer test session, the developers shared one of their favorite custom games (they call it "King Kong") in the make-your-own-rules Free Mode. Here, a few rocket-launcher-packing daredevils perch themselves on Rotterdam Tower (Liberty City's version of the Empire State Building) while the rest hop into choppers and try to blast them off the building. It's just one example of the limitless game types inventive players can whip up in Free Mode -- once they get over the initial, human-nature impulse to start blasting as soon as the game starts with all 16 players in a circle. But long before they resort to any DIY game design, players have plenty to keep them busy in the other modes. Even the expected deathmatch, Team DM, and race variants have that anything-can-happen GTA vibe. The objective-based Mafiya Work, Car Jack City, and Turf War modes demand teamwork and come across like an urban Battlefield 1942, with players in four-seat helicopters and cars adopting de-facto roles like navigator (continuously adjusting the GPS designator to follow objectives) or door gunner.
But my favorite modes are GTA Race, Cops 'n Crooks, and the co-op matches. GTA Race lets you make use of weapons, ditch your starting ride, and grab any vehicle around you...or just go it on foot. Fall behind early and you can adopt a scorched-earth strategy, building a roadblock and checking your ammo to make lap two a little more interesting. Cops 'n Crooks offers entertaining team-based play as a gang of crooks tries to get their boss to the extraction point before the police team takes out the head honcho. The three co-op missions stick your customizable character into standalone story-based levels complete with cinemas, massive firefights, and chases for up to four people (the other modes support 16). These missions are straightforward and enjoyable, and we expect to see more available as downloadable content for both systems in the future.
The single-player story itself delivers surprises and new gameplay quirks right up to the end (one late mission has you wrestling control of your car from an unwilling passenger -- a cool effect that at first had me thinking my controller was malfunctioning). The squirrelly driving control takes a while to master, as does the new shooting mechanic, which requires a half-pull of the left trigger for free-form aiming and is tricky in all-hell-breaks-loose shootouts. Shooting while driving is especially difficult but ultimately a rewarding system once you get the hang of it. Despite time-saving conveniences like a new in-car navigation system, post-mission retry prompts on your phone, and cab rides that skip lengthy trips, I do wish that Rockstar had added checkpoints in the multistage missions to cut down on the grunt work of frustrating retries. GTA4 also suffers from those little things that have always plagued the series, such as sudden pop-in of objects in the environment and the occasional repetition of car models in your immediate vicinity.
None of these little flaws take away from Liberty City's breathtaking vistas, incredibly varied scenery, and lived-in look (the PS3 version has the slightest visual edge, plus motion-control support -- but then it's missing Achievements and the eventual downloadable episodes exclusive to the 360 game). The city just feels alive. Mosey on foot for just a few minutes and you'll eavesdrop on the cellphone conversations of nearby pedestrians, witness cops arresting other criminals for a change, and even run into the random man on the street who will give you a mission or interact with Niko in some other special way. But more than just feeling alive, everything in this world is so integrated. Want to go on a Crazy Taxi-esque fare chase? Rather than stealing a cab and hitting a button, you borrow one of your cousin's cars and get dispatched. Or go the vigilante route by jacking a cop cruiser and accessing the police database, which clues you in to random crimes and the city's most-wanted list. Even things like stealing high-end cars and joining races happen through logical routes like e-mail and calls to the right people.
As well as factoring into missions, the game's multimedia features contribute to Liberty City's rudimentary society -- one that operates regardless of Niko's activities. Here's a for instance: While driving to an Internet café for a mission, one of my fellow reviewers heard a radio news story about a serial killer terrorizing the town. After clicking on a lawyer's webpage to set up a meeting, the reviewer got sidetracked surfing a MySpace parody site that had a banner ad for a blog-hosting service. Browsing the blogs revealed an entire history of posts from a disturbed individual who reveals himself to be the serial killer. Videogame worlds just don't get this deep.
But if I could add only one thing to this otherwise outstanding, breakthough sequel, I'd want the zanier toys from San Andreas. Maybe Rockstar thinks the series has gotten too serious for base-jumping parachutists and autoboosting nitrous oxide. But who's to say what's serious in a game where you can pick up your date in a stolen helicopter and she doesn't bat an eye? Fortunately, Rockstar seems open to adding features beyond the promised online episodes (360 version only). Something tells me this version of Liberty City, as exciting and beautiful as it is, is still under construction. Maybe Niko will get a few new shows for his American TV addiction, too.
Platform: Windows Vista / XP / 2000 | ESRB Rating:Mature
Product Description
With part 3 of the Half-Life saga in the horizon, this collection brings you from the start so you're ready to take on the third episode of this exciting trilogy. Half Life earns its popularity and reputation at being the first First Person Shooter game to use aq lifelike, realtime plot that pits you in the action as well as behind the trigger. Created by Valve Software, each episode employs advanced technologies for better, more realistic play. In Half-Life, you assume the role of Dr. Gordon Freeman, a recently graduated theoretical physicist who must fight his way out of an underground research facility whose teleportation experimentations have gone awry. The second part of the trilogy of episodic expansions for Half-Life 2, Episode Two picks up where Episode One left off?with Gordon and Alyx traveling out of City 17 and into a vast new environment. The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people people he cares about are counting on him. Intense, real-time gameplay of Half-Life 2 is made possible only by Source, Valve's new proprietary engine technology.
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
Dimensions: 2.00 pounds
Features
Characters - Advanced facial animation system delivers the most sophisticated in-game characters ever seen. With 40 distinct facial muscles, human characters convey the full array of human emotion, and respond to the player with fluidity and intelligence
Physics - From pebbles to water to 2-ton trucks respond as expected, as they obey the laws of mass, friction, gravity, and buoyancy
Graphics - Source's shader-based renderer, like the one used at Pixar to create movies such as Toy Story and Monster's, Inc., creates the most beautiful and realistic environments ever seen in a video game.
AI - Neither friends nor enemies charge blindly into the fray. They can assess threats, navigate tricky terrain, and fashion weapons from whatever is at hand.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com The Orange Box delivers five innovative games from Valve, creators of the Half-Life franchise, in one box. The Orange Box includes Half-Life 2: Episode Two, PortalTM, and Team Fortress 2 in addition to full versions of the award-winning Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One for an engrossing first-person action experience.
Features:
Five Games, One Box: The Orange Box is the ultimate collection of innovative action games for the console, and an amazing introduction to the Half-Life series for console gamers.
Epic Storyline:Half-Life 2: Episode Two takes you deeper into one of the best-known stories in gaming, following the desperate struggle of Gordon Freeman against the mysterious Combine. In this episode, you must leave the confines of City 17 for the first time and face even greater dangers beyond the city walls.
Redefining Action:Portal delivers an innovative new action gaming experience. Arming you with a portal gun that lets you create portals from one location to another with the press of a button, Portal will forever change the way that you interact with your environment.
World-Class Multiplayer:Team Fortress 2 is the sequel to granddaddy of role-based multiplayer action games. Featuring nine distinct roles Heavy, Spy, Scout, Demoman, Engineer, Medic, Sniper, Soldier, and Pyro Team Fortress 2 is one of this year's most anticipated multiplayer games for any platform.
Customer Reviews
Orange you gonna' try it? The Orange box retail item is one of the best sets I've ever purchased. As far as first person shooters go, Half life 2 ranks among the finest Jam packed with action, realistic graphics and physics that you would think would bring any respectable machine to its knees, but actually it's easy on the system resources (My machine is over a year old without any major upgrades except a memory upgrade from 2 gb to 4 gb) I didn't need to scale anything down! This game has it all, an excellent plot, storyline, even a burgeoning under-the-table love story. Weapons are diverse and realistic looking, and actual gameplay leaves nothing to be desired from bifurcating zombies with circular saw blades, to disintegration via unstable fusion cores. If Half life 2 leaves you wanting more you have 2 extra "episodes" to play with; action, graphics, physics are all the same some extra characters are introduced all-in-all the other episodes are just as good as Half life 2 albeit not as long. If you're looking for some intellectual gameplay that tests your cognitive abilities look no further than Portal, a game that takes place in a strange lab that seems like nothing more than a testing arena but slowly reveals its sinister purpose. Team fortress 2 is also an excellent multiplayer game that is based on the half life engine.
You are Commander Shepard of the starship Normandy and you are the last hope for all life in the Galaxy. Saren, a rogue member of the elite and untouchable Spectre agents, has discovered the secret to unleashing an apocalyptic force on the galaxy, and only you stand in his way. To save the lives of billions, you must do whatever it takes to stop Saren and prevent the return of an ancient force bent on the destruction of all organic life.
High resolution visuals - highly detailed textures, characters and environments Fully customizable controls - you can re-map the control scheme any way you like Run & Gun Control - You can assign biotic powers or skills to 'hot keys' allowing you to play Mass Effect with a heavier focus on action Decryption mini-game New inventory screen GUI and functionality - The enhanced inventory system makes it easier for you to equip and modify your weapons and armor
First Mature Rated MMORPG - Savage, bloody, violent and sexy; delivering the true essence of Robert E. Howard's original vision. Team up in battle formations and command others in epic multiplayer battles and massive sieges in real time.
Player vs. Player and Player vs. Environment - Crush the skulls of other players in arena fights, drunken brawls and sieges. Build cities, craft unique artifacts, explore a fantastic world, befriend others and master the use of magic, steel or bows.
True Conan Experience - Explore King Conan's amazing universe and roam in the brutal footsteps of the world's greatest fantasy hero. Battle terrifying demons and defeat devastating monsters known from 70 years of Conan lore.
Conan's World - Enter a gigantic and savage world spread across the three nations of Aquilonia, Cimmeria and Stygia. Explore jungles, deserts, mountains, valleys, dungeons and cities.
Advanced Technologies - Optimized for DirectX 10, Multi-core CPU and featuring Advanced Artificial Intelligence; Age of Conan takes advantage of the Dream World? MMO Technology, delivering extremely detailed environments and real life physics.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Based on the events and characters of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Cimmerian stories, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is a fantasy themed massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that immerses players in a dark, expansive universe filled with ground-breaking brutal combat, dangerously intoxicating magical abilities, and the social and cooperative game features that MMORPG players crave.
The MMORPG finally matures
A troubled King Conan on his throne. View larger.
Test your metal in close combat. View larger.
Straddle War Mammoths & Killer Rhinos. View larger.
Lead your guild in player vs. player battles. View larger.
Explore the pleasures & pitfalls of the Hyborian Age. View larger.
Set in the later years of Conan's life, after he has famously become king by his own hand, the game centers around the fragile state of Conan's rule in Aquilonia. Surrounded by enemies and hostile nations, Conan's rule hangs by a thread and in the end, it's up to players, either singly or backed by their guilds to turn the tide for or against the embattled king.
Massively Multiplayer Gaming for the Adult Player One of the most highly anticipated MMORPGs in recent years due to the strength and familiarity of the Conan franchise across a variety of major media, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is the first of several releases planned for the franchise, all of which are aimed at an adult audience. Firmly rooted in the savage, bloody, violent and sexy Hyborian universe, players can expect a graphically beautiful game blended with gritty gameplay that is true to both the barbarian hero from Howard's writings and the Schwarzenegger influenced version from books, movies and comics.
Available Cultures and Classes Although Age of Conan contains a wide range of peoples, its playable cultures are currently limited to Aquilonians, Cimmerians, and Stygians. Within each of these players can choose from a selection of archetypal character classes, although available classes and subsequent subclasses are not necessarily the same within each culture. For example, archetypal classes for Aquilonians and Cimmerians are Rogue, Priest and Soldier, while Stygians are represented by Rogue, Priest and Mage. Further differences exist within subclasses for each. See the basic breakdown of all three cultures below:
Aquilonians: Internally divided, but united against their barbarian neighbors, the Aquilonians live lives on the edge. Their kingdom, with its prosperous cities, enlightened culture and religious freedom, is known as the "Flower of the West." Yet for all this and despite the power of King, Conan I, it is a land where culture clashes and unrest are always a threat.
Cimmerians: As the Hyborian Age comes to an end the northern barbarian clans of the Cimmerians know that the end of their time is drawing near too. King Conan I of Aquilonia is himself a Cimmerian, though not typical of his people. Although his life has been filled with wanderlust, his Kin care nothing for what occurs outside their clan territories.
Stygians: Masters of the magical arts and ruled by their consuming worship of the serpent-god Set, the Stygians excel at occult and diabolic lore. They learned long ago that true power lies in knowledge and in pacts with dark powers. This single-mindedness has allowed them become the only culture to harness the secrets of the Mage class and power that comes with it.
Modes Singleplayer as well as Multiplayer Unlike most MMORPGs, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures includes a significant singleplayer experience as well as deep overarching multiplayer gameplay. This is an atypical MMORPG feature, but one that has a purpose. Players enter the game as a lowly galley slave with no memory of his/her past, and over the first five to 20 levels of singleplayer action build the skills necessary to survive in the game's multiplayer levels. During this time you will traverse a variety of rich environments including jungles, deserts, mountains, valleys, dungeons and cities packed with NPCs, beasts and monsters, before eventually leveling up and moving back to your chosen culture's homeland. Because the only character-related choices that players have to make at the game's opening are their looks, clothing and culture, this singleplayer mode is important in deciding what class and subclass to pursue and thus the level of impact your character will have in greater multiplayer portions of the game.
In-game levels 20 and above are strictly multiplayer. 20-40 introduce players to guilds. 40-60 deal with large scale combat. 60-80 have the player interacting with King Conan and levels 80 and up represent end-game play. Here gameplay changes as social aspects of MMORPG gameplay take over on a large scale.
Real-time Combat That Takes Queues from the FPS Traditionally MMORPGs have utilized a mix of auto and turn-based functionality in their combat systems, but Age of Conan dispenses with that, instead drawing inspiration from FPS/action games. Firmly rooted in the brutality of the Hyborian universe, game developer Funcom has devised an action-based system that not only provides the sense of actually being in the fight, but also requires the player to participate in it. That means no simple targeted attacks. Players can attack and defend from nearly any position in real-time, whether on the ground or atop a mount, while standing still or on the move. It's a recipe for carnage and one that fits right into the world of Conan.
The combat system in Age of Conan comes in three forms: drunken brawling, mini games like CTF and massive Player vs. Player battles, which lets you engage in siege combat to defend or attack a city. All are easy to learn, but difficult to master, providing hours worth of play and replay value and are the core of this new cutting edge MMORPG.
Xbox 360 | ESRB Rating: 
Windows Vista / XP / 2000 | ESRB Rating: 
