Music Reviews

TimeSplitters was a popular game when it came out. It took the normal shooter game and added in changes in environment - you moved through time to persue your enemies. TimeSplitters 2 expands this with better graphics, sound, and multiplay features.

The plot isn't much to get enthusiastic about. An evil enemy race is trying to wipe out humanity, and they have a time portal. They run back through time with crystals and you have to go back into each time period to track down the crystal and do other miscellaneous tasks while you're there.

The graphics are indeed nice, from flaming torches to dreary sewers and polished marble floors. But when you compare them to the likes of Halo or Kingdom Hearts, they're a bit old looking. There aren't shadows. The backgrounds aren't very dynamic. You shoot walls and get tiny holes, unlike the deformable terrain of other current games. The textures seem flat and a bit repetitive.

They did make an attempt to have the sounds match the eras, with lovely chanting during Notre Dame and twanging during the Western era. Even so, you don't feel 'immersed' in the game. Characters don't make noise when they walk. There isn't really any ambient noise.

The weapon choices are fun and time-appropriate. In Chicago of 1932, you've got Tommy Guns. In Notre Dame you're playing with shotguns. So there's always new variety as you go from level to level.

The missions aren't very challenging compared to other games that are out. They are extremely linear and there's rarely any brainpower involved. There's side missions like "blow up file cabinets along the way" or "shoot out whiskey barrels". There's usually a rationale given but it's pretty flimsy.

There are other 'mini-games' that you can play. Do things like fight off the living dead, smash the glass and so on. Try to get the best times to get high rankings.

Where the game really shines is multiplayer. There are HUNDREDS of characters to choose from in multiplay, and tons of ways to play that you unlock as you go. There are the standards like deathmatch as well as more interesting variations. The game is savvy about game hook-ups and LANs to open the game up to as many players as possible for your system.

In addition, TimeSplitters 2 comes with a MAP EDITOR. This is something rarely seen in a console game!! You can choose from a beginner or advanced mode and design your own maps, and then have your friends play through it! Customize the tile set, bot placements, choose weapons, music, you name it. You can create your own full maps and play a new game every day!

A great game if you're into multiplayer or map creation, and a fun shooter if you're not too particular about graphics or sounds.

The Goldeneye has been the best FPS ever on any system. Maybe not in graphics but gameplay and fun. Now tell me you didn't spend 10 hours a week in multiplayer with Goldeneye. Now with Timesplitters 2 you really will spend time on multiplayer. It is a mixture between Perfect Dark and Goldeneye.

The reason it is like Perfect Dark you can play with a friend on single player.

The reason it is like Goldeneye you have over 100 charecters in multiplayer and the levels are setup the same. The guns are awsome and their is no glitches or slow freezing in big battles in multiplayer or single player. The game is so awsome in every aspect.

The ratings below are from 1 to 5

Gameplay 5.0
You will be hours on this game. Unlocking everything and finding new stuff.

Graphics 5.0
Some people give it a 4.5 but I don't see anything bad with the graphics and I own Resident Evil 0.

Fun 5.0, 5.0, 5.0
You will not get bored of this game.

I reccomend another awsome multiplayer game not as good but 2nd best. James Bond Nightfire.

I loved Time Splitters 2 and I belive it is a great multi player game.The options for multi player action are almost endless plus the mapmaker alows you to create your own multi player maps.Personaly I love multi player gaming and I loved this game.Also the game has good story mode levels and and an okay story conept.Over all I thought this was a great game.

This game is definitely the worst game I have ever played, and believe me, I've played hundreds!! This game is soooooo boring and I don't understand it at all!!!! The graphics are blocky and the music is sooo annoying!! I set this game aside as soon as I played it for five minutes!!!! This game is NOT worth the money! If you want a good game, I'd recomend "Final Fantasy X" expecially, or "Harvest Moon."

To wit, this game quite fun. Since my game play style tends towards using the analog controller whenever I can, this game seems to be custom made for myself. And of course it is. It's a pretty neat concept having the monkeys (I don't think the manual writer did a lot of research on monkeys since the book uses "baboons," "apes," and " chimps" interchangeably) escape from the zoo and having your job to chase down and capture them. Nice non violent plot really, one of the very few games that I buy and my girlfriend is willing to play.

And while the game has a nice plot, the programmers also spent a little time on the graphics in the game. Since the PSX is showing its age there is only so much any programmer can do. But the programers did a very good job. The smooth graphics, "large" worlds and a grand variety of scenes make this game a delight to explore (Never mind the obvious use of some of Sony's stock SDK files, usually evident by the "Pa Rappa" look in some areas). Throw in a huge variety of weapons and usable "tools" make this a winning formula indeed. In fact it is likely that after the PSX goes the way of the Atari 7800 that this game will be one of the reasons that die hard fans of the PSX will dust off that gray box (Or blue if they upgrade to the PSX2) and play a few levels. However, I have one major gripe.

It shocks me that many people consider the Ape Escape camera to be nice and well behaved. This camera is one of the most ill-behaved I've come across in a long time. Just what are some people comparing this camera to? Super Mario 64? If that's the case, then that's a hard judge. SM64's camera was pretty bad but at least it was aware of walls and didn't go behind them too often. Ape Escape's camera not only goes behind walls but it goes through them as well! Haven't the programmers at least heard of a "Jelly Cam"? C'Mon, there are numerous examples out there of what to do and what not to do with the camera. Ones with decent (mind you, decent, not perfect) camera's include Spyro 2, MDK 2, and Zelda 64. All of these games had cameras that were somewhat well behaved (although none show the classic "Jelly Cam," A Jelly Cam is a camera that when it goes through a wall turns the wall, or anything else, into a semitransparent entity. You know it's there but at least you can see what's going on on the other side.) AE does not fall into that category. I can't tell you how many times I've run back and forth in a level looking for a way out only to discover the camera wasn't "swinging" in an appropriate direction. Some pundits may tell you that only adds to the difficulty of the game. Someone should remind them of the difference between skilled difficulty and annoying frustration. Never, Never should any one ever lose a life because the camera wasn't doing a good job of showing what is happening around you. "How about blind spots?" Some may ask. What about them? It is very possible to design a game and camera to allow the classic "leap of fate." My gripe lies with the camera refusing to shift at appropriate times so that I can at least survive the darn jump! Or Shifting to an appropriate angle to allow a fair fight against a baddie. All to often I'm getting pummeled by a monkey with a machine gun or rockets simply because the stupid camera doesn't know enough to swing around a column. And using buttons to "fix" the camera's faults is a cheap trick. Sorry Sony, A big company like your self should know better.

This game gets three stars due the rotten camera work. If the programmers spent more time with this crucial element then the game would certainly win five stars. Too bad Sony, the frustration with the camera is simply too high. For those who think the camera works "perfect" play a few more games for comparison.

While I regard the Crash Bandicoot series the premiere platformers for the Playstation, I was pleasantly surprised with Ape Escape. Hunting down monkeys is such a hilarious concept it makes we wonder why nobody thought of it before. Overall, I found the game to be very well-designed, fun, and addictive. The graphics, while not as pretty as Crash Bandicoot or Spyro, grow on you after a short amount of time. The developers made optimal use of the Dual Shock controller, more so than any other company. Control is perfect. I also found that, compared to many other 3D games, the in-game camera caused me very few problems. To make it easier for younger players, the game levels are littered with helpful hints. While not a huge game--it can be finished in about a week--the three mini-games that are eventually opened up are a ton of fun and add longevity to the title. What I found most amazing is that each of the game's 204 monkeys has a unique name and personality. A tremendous amount of creative energy went into this title. You want to complete 100% of the game just to see every square inch of each level. If I can find any fault with the game at all, it's that you must complete the levels in a linear fashion. Other than that, it's an unusual and highly enjoyable platformer. Highly recommended.

This is by far one of the most boring RTS games I have ever played, and I have played alot of them.

Just like in most RTS games, you have to collect resources. I spent most of my time waiting for the resource collectors to bring the resource. It was so boring. The single player mission was spent over half the time waiting. Waiting for resources. Waiting for your ships to build. Waiting for researches to finish.

The graphics were ok, but given the fact this was a 1999 game, I can see where the graphics would have been pretty good though I believe Total Annihilation, Starcraft, and especially Age Of Empires (which all 3 came out before Homeworld) looked better. The ships looked cool, but if you zoomed in on them, they looked pixally. And the cutscenes were just ok. It was cool to be able to see a 360 view of every ship though.

The battles weren't anything spectacular. You couldn't really see of hear any of the fighting going on. Just the same droning music over and over (the music was cool the first few missions, but gets rather boring later). It was also impossible to follow the battles as your camera follows one of units or the other.

The best thing about this game was the story. The story goes like this: A spaceship was found buried in sand here on Earth. Using that technology and the history found on the ship, they built their own ships so that they could head to their real Homeworld. As the story unfolds and new enemies and friends are made, the story keeps this game going. At least for me, that is the only reason I continued to play this game.

I read all of the reviews on many gamesites including Gamespot and Gamespy and many of the reviews here, and maybe my expectations were high, but one review said that no has since done what homeworld has done. And I believe the reason is who would want to. The idea about completely 3D space game is good in concept, but it takes away from the gameplay too much. This is definitely nothing like the games I mentioned before, but having played over 50 RTS games, this one didn't do it for me.

Next up is Homeworld Cataclysm. I bought all 3 Homeworld games at the same time because the price was cheap. So I don't feel like I was cheated too much. Game wasn't for me, but maybe it is for you.

I have played many Real Time Strategy games which use a Real-Time 3D architecture. But this game uses it the best of all. The controls are very easy to understand. You Can move the camera around simply by holding down the righ mouse button and moving the camera around. Hold both mouse buttons or use the mouse wheel if you have one to zoom in and out. And because the action is entirely in space, you don't have a ground to block your camera movement as you do in many other RTS games that use RT3D. There are many different usits you can use. Strike craft like Scouts, interceptors and attack bombers. Corvettes like light, heavy and salvage corvettes. Frigates like ion beam, support and attack frigates. And capital ships like Destroyers, missile destroyers and heavy cruisers. I gave this game 4 stars because it does have 2 weaknesses. 1 is in the 1 players games, both sides have the same storyline to follow. And 2, because its RT3D, the game tends to slow down on some systems if more units become present in play. But all in all, this game is very good. The only other game I can recommend is the standalone expansion, Homeworld cataclysm. And check out my book on this site too ;)

When playing any other real-time combat game the main problem is the lack of depth during battles. Any player of Warcraft of Starcraft knows what I'm saying. Instead of just having a bunch of units go head-to-head on a 2D plane, this game lets you take it a step further. Ships can engage from any angle and you can even choose their formations. You can set them to evasive to dodge incoming fire, or tell them to go all out and even kamikaze if necessary. Each strikecraft and capital ships has its own strengths and weaknesses. Ion class frigates decimate fighters, but they get massacred by larger ships. A good amount of small strikecraft can also deal serious damage if used properly. The balance of combat in this game is perfect and it's a must have for anybody that enjoys RTS games. Also see the original Homeworld game. They're basically Starcraft taken to the next level.

If it were not for the addition of motorcycles to this second edition this game would be a waste of time. Midnight Club 2 does a pretty good job with the motorcycles as far as handling and what not. Another good game if you like bikes is Speed Kings, not very well known but the things you can do on the bikes in Speed Kings is too much fun, wheelies, stoppies, and numerous others. I'm not sure why this game is still half a bill but whatever...

Without a doubt, Midnight Club II is the best racing game I've ever experienced. Take the thematic elements of MC-I (it's only redeeming quality), add the graphics and highway speeds of "Extreme Tokyo Racer II", then throw in a pinch of 2-wheel action, and you've got one slick recipe for yet another Rockstar hit.

I was skeptical of buying this game at first, since I had purchased the first Midnight Club (for $20), and was wholly unimpressed. The gameplay and environments seemed so one-dimensional, and the only thing that I found to be redeeming was the fact that I didn't have to learn new controls when I switched from the GTA series. However, after looking at Rockstar's incredible flash website for the game, that skepticism was quickly banished.

I just bought MC-II yesterday, and I am thoroughly thrilled with every aspect. The graphics of the race vehicles alone are a vast improvement over the first; however, there's more. The virtual environment, in terms of realism, is leaps and bounds above most racing games I've played. Unlike MC-I, the streets aren't just long avenues adorned with solid rectangles, painted to look like buildings. You have gas stations, parking lots, and even the "Los Angeles River" (the large concrete drainage aqueduct). I can't wait to unlock Paris & Tokyo! My favorite improvement, in terms of environment, is the freeway/highway racing. This is what MC-I was missing...whereas Extreme Tokyo Racer was missing the "urban" element, and was all highways. This combines the two, and the rush you get from weaving in and out of congested urban areas, then opening up the throttle on a freeway, is mucho intense!

The AI for the pedestrians and other non-race vehicles is an improvement, but the real gem is the AI for your opponents. They never do the same thing twice, but they seem to keep an overarching racing strategy in mind, one that changes and improves as you advance further in the game.

The player controls are much better, as is the heads-up display. Nitrous Oxide tanks are unlocked after the first race; you only get one boost per race. After a few more races, SST (SlipStream Turbo) is unlocked. This allows you to draft another racer (follow closely) until you light up the SST meter and fly past him/her. Another fantastic improvement is weight transfer. In cars, this allows you to self-correct any in-air pitching or rolling. However, the real fun comes after you obtain the motorcycle. If anyone has had the pleasure of riding the PCJ's in GTA Vice City, you will be blown away by the Cohete! Using weight transfer, you can pop wheelies, slouch down to cut wind resistance, and make sharp turns without having to slow down. It takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it's very hard to go back to the old 4 wheels...what a rush!

I haven't gotten the Network Adapter...YET! I plan to very soon...but for right now, this game continues to blow my socks off. As with Vice City, I have nothing negative to say about this game. Midnight Club II is, quite simply, an exhilerating, addicting experience that, unlike the first one, does not lose its charm. And I'm sure that network play holds much more promise. Basically, this is everything I wanted from a racing title, and more. Enjoy!

In Midnight Club II you are an elite, next-generation illegal street racer, racing through the cities of Paris, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. Filled with pedestrians, vehicles backing out of driveways, benches, lights, parking meters, trash, and other municipal properties and lots more. If you have played the first midnight club you should have found it rubish.

This new midnight club is a whole new racing experience with moterbikes driving aroun living enviroments with vechiles backing out of drive ways benches parking meters and lots more. Wth shortcuts all over the place winning should be pretty easy? yes. No the opponents you have to race also take these shortcuts insane jumps and also get hit by obstacles, just like real life.

With the new story mode it makes it like toca race driver but more fun. The graphics are a hell of alot better and with the new online playng makes it that bit more fun. When on the bikes the crashes are HOt, like gta vice city your health goes down (new feature, health) but the crashes are HOt HOT HOT HOt crashes
i reccomended every one to buy it.

This game 3 times faster than SSX Tricky. The speed is more in the vein of Downhill Domination. Thank goodness! The only reason why I bought SSX Tricky was because I thought the game was as fast a Downhill D. due to user's review. Good thing I traded in SSX T for this. Graphics are a step up from SSX T. Characters look more modern. I miss the character interaction cutscenes from SSX T though. The size of the mountain is HUGE!!! Plus it has avalanches. And to think, I made myself LIKE SSX Tricky! Recommended if you like awesome speed/fan of Downhill D., xtreme sports, and if your not a fan of either, just try it. These games made me a fan of the genre (I'm into RPGs). Get or at least rent them to experience masterpieces

I don't play a lot of video games, but have always been fond of SSX and SSX Tricky. The gameplay, characters, details, and creativity impressed me (and got me excited to get out on the real mountain.

The developers of the game have taken a risk by choosing a new setting (new courses) and breaking the mold of the previous two games in several places. They've succeeded, imo, 100% in providing a different variety of game that takes the best from previous SSX games.

Still great: the characters, attention to whimsical details, consistent controls that are intuitive, room for exploration, rewards for advancement, wonderful audio

Different (and more enjoyable): less waiting around (wasn't that the very worst part of previous games?) for "cool" transitions between game modes; more audio track variety; a more organic feel to the competitions; rails a bigger part of the game

Some fun notes:
- the snow is rendered in a noticeably improved way. The shades and use of light and sound is just excellent
- rewards system offers more flexibility (no more just boosting speed and tricks and screw everything else). The first time you visit the lodge, you'll agree and start to realize they put a lot of thought into this aspect of the game

Overall: I was in love with the 1st game and Tricky was a wild sequel, but more of an interim release. SSX 3 will sneak up on you, because the gameplay probably doesn't lend itself to marketing the 'features'. It lends itself to playing and enjoying tremendously!

I played the heck out of the orginial and thought Tricky was OK, not bad but not as good at the original. Part 3 is mindblowing, I find myself wondering how the PS2 can move the graphics around so quick without slowing down. This game is one of the very few that I can honestly say is worth the $50 price tag. It has 3 giganticly huge parts of the mountain to play through each with tons of different things to do, explore and beat. The levels are HUGE! Jaw droping slopes and tricks that are more complex and fast that your mind can process. There are tons of riders and a great ammount of secret characters. It's not easy and it's not hard, it's just right. Pick up a copy and you will find it hard to hold down the reset button on your PS2. The soundtrack is the best! My type of grooves! You can also play online with other players!! Just need the modem and a ISP account...wow! It is a game that is full of sooo much replay value, there are TONS of things to beat and master...excellent work EA SPORTS!

I have to admit this is the best light for GBA. But it is way too bulky, lots of hassle, consumes expensive batteries, and is very obstrusive during gameplay. However, it does light up the screen well with minimal glare. Not that I would waste money on this but I tested it out at the store. Most people that buys this light probably can't afford the new SP so they are looking for cheap or sorry ways to modify the evil LCD. Stop the pain already! If you have bought more than 1 light before and reading this, don't let your pathetic torment contine to exist. Let me tell you something, don't waste ur [$$$] and future battery money. Save all that, trade in your GBA for ... credit and ...buy the new SP. People please stop buying and wasting money on GBA accessories, do urself a favor and just get the ... SP ok? and stop thinking about improving your GBA.

I have bought nearly every light for the GBA and without a doubt this works by far the absolute BEST!!! I think it is a small curved florescent light, what ever it is there are no dark spots or bright spots. Just sweet wonderful light to even make Castlevania playable without squinting. Warning, have lots of batteries on hand; eats them up like they were going out of style. The only thing that will come close is a new Gameboy SP or an after market device called the Afterburner which voids your warranty.

I have bought this on the same day I bought my GBA. I've had it for a long time now. It's true that it takes up a lot of batteries, but I already had a charger and some rechargable batteries so it wasn't a problem for me. I actually think having this light with my GBA is better than a GBA SP since the light can fold right over, light is brighter and my friends don't have any problems when watching me play; unlike GBA SP which is like looking at a flat screen computer monitor form the side. I just have one complaint about the battery cover. Why did they have to lock it with a screw? It's so annoying. Anyways if you have a GBA and are thinking of getting a GBA SP cause of the light and clam shell design, just get this light you'll save a lot of money.

Soul Calibur 2 is the best melee fighting game I have played. So you might be asking "Why give it 4 stars then" there are a few reasons. One being Weapon Master mode takes only about 12 hours to beat (If ur an average gamer rather than "addicted"). Another being it gets realy repetitave realy fast (although the main point is the 2 player) There are an incredible 230 weapons! Overall this is a great game and i would suggest buying it.

Soul Calibur II is awesome. It is the best next gen fighting game to date. Yes, its even better than Dead or Alive 3. The fighting system is very fun and it is also pretty deep. There are good combos. You can also do well with button mashing though... Their is a great amout of cool charectors, and there are also many awesome weapons. My favorite part of the game is the 'Weapon master' mode where you do goals. I have completed that. It was very addictive even though that mode could get a little repetetive at times. Soul Calibur II is also a great multiplayer game. You can probably play it for a few hours if you want to on multiplayer. This is also a pretty good looking game, and athough not the best looking Xbox game ever, its pretty darn good. The sound affects are good and so is the music. Go on and purchase this excellent game. There is tons of replay value too! Oh and it is the best version of Soul Calibur II out of the three console versions. The Xbox version has the best graphics, sound, control(the PS2 control is also very good too but I prefer the Xbox controller) and there is also a exclusive Xbox charector (Spawn).

I am writing this review after playing the japanese version of this game and I must say I'm impressed.I have played the original soul calibur on dreamcast.There are new characters Talim,Cassandra,Necrid,Raphael etc. and yes,Spawn(charac from another videogame).The character models are much more detailed and in high resolution and so are the stages.You can see their hair and clothes sway in the wind.Now those of you expecting a graphical feast like DOA3 might be slightly let down.But without comparing it to any other game,the graphics are still pretty solid.Sound quality is great.Sounds of blades clashing are realistic and the music fits the fighting very well.The fighting engine is much like the original SC.There is a nice intro movie as well. THE one good thing Namco has done is that it has retained most of those elements which made the original SC on dreamcast a hit(like multiple weapons and costumes,weapons master mode,museum mode,lots of unlockables).Another good thing about this game is that there are virtually no load times.All in all,a very worthy sequel.A good purchase.

everyone knows the story, for years ea has been the leader in video game sports but as years go on there starting to fall apart, there never really was a problem with madden but every other game was kind of a let down. that being said ea came out with solid releases for this years games including mvp baseball, which took the place of triple play. now myp is gonna be the best baseball sim ever this time next year. the only thing its missing is fantasy drafts and a deep franchise mode, other then that its all good.the new meters for pitching and throwing make for a more realistic experience, as well as does a better job putting you in the game, the stadiums are nice and the sounds are awesome, play the dodgers in san fran and listen to the "beat la" chants. if your up by 1 run in the top of the 9th and theres 2 outs with a man on base with two strikes the crowd acts and sounds like they do in real life. the franchise mode has cool ideas like momentum and goals, but really isnt deep at all. i recomend getting this game just for the gameplay, which is the best out of the four hardball titles and for the realism but like i said if ea has its ducks in a row and comes out with a new franchise mode, team creator, and fantasy draft in 04, it will be the best baseball game ever

MVP Baseball 2003 is a fun game. What I like most about the game is that when you pitch, you can control of how accurate your pitch is going to be. When you select a pitch, there is an accuracy meter. There is a green section and blue esction of the accuracy meter. If you hit it on the green section, your pitch will be more accurate and most likely you will throw a strike. If your pitch meter hits the blue, then your pitch will end up as a ball or an easier hit for your opponent. I really ike how you can control the accuracy of your pitch or throw. I would say to any baseball fan, this is a good game to play, so if you ever get the chance, I recommend you buy it.

fun never stops with this game.

Introduction
A very good looking driving game that focuses on Rally Racing with different game options (point-to-point rally, hill-climbing, ice-racing, cross-rally). The games have enough variety of courses and cars to keep you happy, BUT not the excitement and satisfaction like those offerred by Gran Turismo 2. Rally racing is different from street or tarmac racing games (GT series). It is NOT for everyone!

Graphics 9.5
The environment and terrains are AMAZING! I just love how the tracks are seemlessly blended into the environment. Car models are good, the effects on the vehicles are great, but it is STILL plagued by jagginess (bumpy, unsmooth linings) like in PlayStation games in a lesser degree. I replay races just to look at the beautifully rendered semi-interactive environment, and lighting, shading effects reflected so smoothly off beautiful vehicles.

Sound 8.5
Engine and environmental sounds are sampled and created very nicely. You definitely need to adjust the settings in the option screen to get an enjoyable mix of music, engine, and environmental sound. The soundtrack is negligible. The option to have your own soundtrack makes this game almost ten times more enjoyable. I have to emphasize that the option to play your own soundtrack is so great that it warrants the purchase of an XBox for me before, and it still kicking it for me.

Gameplay 8.5
It can be as shallow as you want it to be or as deep. That means you can just jump in and have some fun, or spend countless hours perfecting those power-slides.

Presentation 8
Overall, the game is enjoyable. It has every elements that make it a very good game. The menu system needs more work for sure. The unlocking and extra features could be better.

Lasting Appeal 8
Once you complete the career mode and unlock those vehicles (most of them you don't even care), it is quite hard to find any incentive to keep on playing except for the graphics and your own soundtrack. With Sega GT, Pro Racer Driver on the horizon, RSC will keep you happy and busy until then.

Closing Comment
Overall, I give this game an 8.5. It is NOT better than Gran Turismo. It IS the best racing game currently for XBox. With Pro Race Driver and Sega GT2 on the horizon, this game should keep you happy and busy. I accredit RSC as the game that inspires future XBox driving games to be made better. I do not get the same state of euphoria when I first play the jaggy Gran Turismo. My recommendation is only buy this game if you are Rally fan, rent it first if you are just a driving game fan.

Rallisport Challenge gives me all I've ever wanted in a racing game. This is the most fun I've had racing since Top Gear came out for the Super Nintendo.

I played Gran Turismo and GT2 before, but truthfully, I really never got into them as much as other people. I just wanted to race. I didn't want to have to earn a stupid license just so I could qualify to enter several races before having to earn another stupid license all over again. Here is what makes Rallisport Challenge such a joy to play:

GRAPHICS - RSC is right at the top when it comes to great graphics on the Xbox. Dead or Alive 3 and Halo are the only games that come close to Rallisport in terms of graphics. The cars, courses, people, animals ... you name it, and it looks wonderful!

SOUND - While some reviews I've read have knocked on the sound of Rallisport, I like it a lot. All the cars have different sounds for their engines, and they are sound very realistic. The British guy who informs you of upcoming obstacles has yet to get on my nerves, and the whole "him talking through the radio" concept comes across very authentically. Also, I happen to like the music that plays while you're racing, but if you don't really like it, you can always opt to play your own tunes.

GAMEPLAY - This is really where Rallisport Challenge shines. It comes across as a perfect mix between simulation and arcade. You can't go 190MPH through curves, and the "sliding" looks and feels natural. RSC captures the essence of rally racing like no other game before it. You'll swear you're watching it on ESPN. Thankfully though, it doesn't play exactly like real-life. Who would want to take a turn to sharp, wreck, and then not be able to even finish the race? I know I wouldn't. When you wreck, actual damage will show up on your car, but it won't affect how your car handles or anything like that. It even has a reset button that will place your car back on the track if you wreck. To balance out the way it deals with wrecking, you get bonus points at the end of the race if your car doesn't have much damage. These points help you unlock more cars and more tracks.

Rallisport Challenge is by far the best racing game I have ever played. In fact, it has made me become a fan of racing games once again.

I got this game for free with my Xbox when I ordered it off the Internet. I didn't plan on playing it much (I figured it would be a Gran Turismo-style simulation, and those aren't my cup of tea).

However, this isn't your typical slow rally title. It's an arcade racer at heart, along the lines of Need for Speed. It still has a focus on how you take the turns, but it somehow manages to make them fun. Your car's handling is perfect, and allows you to take turns without slowing down too much if you know what you're doing. You always have that all-important sense of speed, even when you're only going 60 mph or so. The course designs are fun, although it gets really hard towards the end. After you cross the finish line, you're awarded points based on your performance in things like car damage and finish time. Reaching certain combined point levels in the currently-available events unlocks new ones, as well as new cars. If you're into racing, I think you'll really like this game. I definitely did. Thank you, Digital Illusions!

This game is fun, but it has its pros and cons.
Pros:
1. When you are trying to hide a body, the stealth meter will flash stating the body is well hidden.
2. There is an advantage with the lock pick and optic cable. Instead of finding it in the inventory, it will say "optic cable" at the door. If the door is locked, it will also say "lock pick".
3. You can zoom in farther with your SC-20K (up to 6X).
4. You can whistle to lure a guard into your trap.
5. The lighting is much better. In the first Splinter Cell, I would often times be in a circle of light and I would have no shadow and it would say I was well hidden.
6. I guess you can say the graphics are better.
7. There are many new moves. You can shoot hanging up-side down from a horizontal beam.
8. Many places to explore. One mission is in an airport. Amother is in Jeruselum, Israel.
9. There is a new alarm (in some missions) where there are three stages. If you stay invisible, it will decrease.
10. Your pistol has a laser (by pressing the left trigger while equipped). It will come in handy when shooting at the back of someones head, but they can see it if you point it in front of them.

Cons:
1. When I did a split jump and then landed on the officer's head. I went right through him and it didn't hurt him at all.
2. Sometimes a guard will see you even if you are well hidden. (On the last mission, I hid a body in the shadow and the guy saw it and was more than 20 feet away.)
3. Voice acting: It is convincing except for the officers who never move their lips. Also, the civilians voice also sounds very weird.
4. I don't like the fact that your SC-20K is always in the rifle mode.
5. There were more checkpoints in the first Splinter Cell.

In conclusion, this is a game some people will and won't like. This is a fun game, but Ubi-Soft needs to fix these problems.

P.S. For all you people who say this game doesn't give you enough ammo, think again. Lambert said that your gun should always be your last resort. Stealth is your best weapon. You don't have to kill every guard you see. If you have too, always aim at his head. I always had never used more than 10 bullets by the end of any mission.

P.S. Look for magizines in the game that have the Prince of Persia (a game by Ubi-Soft) cover. One of them is in the Paris-Nice level. Find the place where the conductor is telling the man how he couldn't find any earplugs. Run in and knock the civilian out cold. Take your binoculars and zoom in on the magizine on the table. You have found a Prince of Persia Magizine!

The original Splinter Cell games ranks as one of my most favorite games for the XBox. However, in this one, UbiSoft moved the developer to Shanghai and thus removing the intellect and creativity of the Montreal team -- and removing the inspiration from the original game. The alarm system now mirrors the alarm system in Metal Gear Solid almost to a tee. Next, the graphics remained the same with significant clipping still of dead bodies. Third, the game has generally become too dark or too bright. Additionally, the automatic "auto" of the SC-20 (when not in scope mode) has to the incredibly stupid addition in the game. I liked the original when you could change whether to have single shot or automatic fire for the gun. Lastly, the supporting characters (e.g., guards) are so bland. I thought Ubisoft was going to include actual native-speak like in SOCOM 2.

Now to the good stuff --
There were several inspirational things in the game. First, Sam will encounter an area which he must hide in the light which is a change. Next, the train portion has to be the most enjoyable section of the entire game (although short-lived). Third, the overarching storyline involving biological weapons being deployed in the United States is particularly disturbing. Additionally, when Sam enters LAX Airport and the discussion between Lambert and Sam about LAX has to be the most freakish level in the entire game. Lastly, the inclusion of the SWAT turn has to be the best change for Sam Fisher in the game. It is invaluable.

Overall, this game should be considered as partial sequel. However, it was a disappointment overall compared to the original. Please bring the back the original Montreal team for the next one. PLEASE.

This is another standard setting game from the Splinter Cell folks. I laugh when people complain about the number of weapons he can carry, or why its so hard. He's a darn covert operative people, jeesh. This ain't and a run and gun game. The point of the game is to slink around, and accomplish your mission without being seen (most of the time)! If you end the level without ammo, you're playing the wrong game. I ALWAYS have bullets and gadgets left when I'm done playing. People who dislike this game must have a short attention span, and dislike planning their moves or something, because this game is so fulfilling to play.. Even my girlfriend played for 20 mins and said I can see how you like this game..."it's smarter than most games you play"..."you gotta be careful". Shes watched me play the later levels and said its like watching a moive.
If you like the idea of covert missions, and planning your attacks, this is the game for you. If you want to run and gun just to kill everything, please, don't buy this game. I would be willing to bet that people who don't like this game don't understand what the point is, what stealth action is. Those that do like it, get it, and will enjoy it fully. Definitely not for short attention span gamers.