Music Reviews

Burnout 2 is one of the best (and one of the few) racing games available on the GCN. As a pure racing game, it's good, but not great. It's certainly got nowhere near the depth and complexity of the Gran Turismo series, or even the incredible fast-paced arcade challenge of Ridge Racer.

What it does have are really cool crashes.

No, I'm not kidding. One of the most compelling features of this game is a very cool physics-based system that allows for real time deformation and destruction of all the vehicles in the game. In other words: cars go crash boom good! While this comes into play often in the racing modes (the game encourages you to partake in overly reckless driving in order to build up your turbo meter), the real gem of this title is the aptly-titled Crash Mode. This presents you with 30 extremely varied setups where you attempt to cause the maximum amount of monetary damage in a single crash. Some of them involve busy city intersections, some of them take place on winding mountain roads, and a few of them start with you going the wrong way down a busy interstate! This is best played in multiplayer, where you and up to 3 friends can compete trying to cause the most damage over a series of 3 scenarios.

Good evidence of how fun this is: my girlfriend, who normally dislikes most video games, *loves* this. So does everyone else I've showed it to. I have yet to find anyone who isn't highly entertained by causing a 10-car pileup and then watching the whole thing in slow-motion.

The game also features a full single- and multi-player racing mode, with the single-player mode unlocking various extra cars and tracks for use in the multiplayer and crash modes. It also supports Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound and Progressive Scan (480p), which makes it look and sound even better.

Drawbacks? The regular race mode could use a few more things to do -- there are regular lap races, point-to-point races, and a "pursuit" mode where you get to drive a police car and ram into a fleeing vehicle until it stops. But it's not quite as fun as it sounds, and that's about it. It would be nice if you could do things like upgrading your car, or if there were more cars (there are only about a dozen of them, and then some "upgraded" versions). Also, the crash physics are a little bit wonky at points; there have definitely been times when my car has bounced or slid off of other cars at 90+ mph instead of causing a massive collision, but the game's so fun that it really doesn't matter. Finally, while you can replay your crash, it'd be nice to have more control over the camera placement, and to be able to follow specific cars, or to run the whole thing in slow-motion, etc. The game does a decent job of automatically showing you the action, but when this is such a hugely entertaining feature, it would be nice to be able to be able to tweak it.

Highly recommended for racing fans and anyone looking for a fun diverson, Burnout 2 is a very entertaining game, especially if you can find it cheap.

I've played almost all racing/driving games out there and this one takes the cake! The game is very simple, you have your choice of cars and you race, 'nough said! But unlike other racing/driving games it has several game modes including a Crash mode and a Pursuit mode.

Crash mode is probably one of the coolest parts of this game. You pick your car and you try to rack-up as much damage as you can, i.e. start one of the largest pileups as you can. The more damage you cause, the bigger the payoff. And you can play this in either single player or multi-player.

Pursuit mode is awesome! You have your get away car and of course your pursuit car. What you try to do is hit the get away car ten times to win. Easy enough right? WRONG! It is just crazy weaving through on-coming traffic trying to chase down the other car, or weaving through traffic trying to loose the pursuit car.

And the crashes are so real it makes you cringe in pain when you go head first into a semi-truck! Get this game it's well worth the $20!

this game rocks i would pay anything for this game

There isn't anything particularly amazing about Lunar ... the graphics are amazing, but the story is just alright, the battle system is pretty much standard fare. And yet despite all the medicority of all the individual parts Lunar still manages to be a fun playing experience.

The gameplay pretty much follows a linear path ... you talk to people in town, they direct you to the next dungeon, you fight a lot of random battles, you make it to a boss, you beat him, you go back to the town to get praise and directions to the next town in distress. Pretty standard fare. There aren't any side-quests, no real item custimization (other than the normal weapon and armor sellers), and you can't even customize your party (people come and go at various points in the story).

And yet, somehow Lunar manages to still be a solid game to play. While it won't leave you awed at its greatness (like FF Tactics Advance) it still won't leave you feeling cheated either. It's not the greatest RPG out there for the GBA, but it has some intangibles that do make it a quality play.

Anyone remember the Sega CD? I do (I still have mine) and one of the best games for that Genesis add-on was Working Designs' Lunar: Silver Star. Eventually it would make its way onto the PS1, and it has now arrived on the GBA with varying results. Lunar Legend is a re-telling of sorts of the original game with varying differences; such as characters showing up in different places, cities being designed different, and parts of the plot and storyline have been changed. The full motion anime cut scenes and full orchestral score obviously couldn't make the cut onto cartridge format (the anime cut scenes have been replaced by anime cels which pop up now and then), but the overall graphics of different towns and character designs are much improved over the original. Battles are much better as well by being faster paced, better animated, and more character detail than ever before. New options have been added such as the Arts Gauge and a new card collection, and menus are easier to navigate through than before, except the shop interface can be a pain now and then. All in all, if you missed out on the Lunar phenomenon that older gamers beared witness to years ago, Lunar Legend is a good pickup. Then again, if the original Lunar was a beloved game of yours, this GBA conversion won't add anything since it's missing most of it's original charm (and the overall epic feel), but nonetheless this game is still a more than solid pick up.

If you want an RPG for your Gameboy Advance besides Golden Sun that can actually stand up to those found on the console then Lunar Legend is the RPG for you! While it isn't nearly as good as its release on the Playstation or even Sega CD it is worthwhile for a handheld.

The first thing about Lunar Legend that's cool is that for the GBA the graphics look great! The game doesn't lag much and it looks smoother than most GBA games do. It reminds of the look it had on the Playstation... only better suited for the GBA.

Lunar has a typical storyline that isn't too hard to follow but it has been reveered as a classic. What makes the story interesting is not the way it unfolds, but its characters. Without a doubt Lunar has characters that you may not like at first but over time you grow to love them. The characters are extremely well developed and you get time to know these characters.

The game features random battles and much like the console RPGs, have you going from place to place. The random battles are nice but this brings about a problem for Lunar. The game is relatively easy. Most battles won't take long but the random encounters become tedious because they don't take long and they're too easy.

In battle you can have your characters select commands such as to attack, use magic and the like. The battle system is fairly easy to learn but again the game is too easy. Even the bosses in the game are easy. For someone who played the Playstation or Sega CD version they may find the game to be dimmed down a bit too much.

The sound in Lunar isn't special really. It can be rather annoying actually. The spoken dialogue isn't too bad though and it really brings out the essence of the game. Unfortunately the story isn't dragged out by full motion anime cutscenes like before since the GBA isn't really capable of doing such a thing. The dialouge is also humorous and constructive and again shows why the story is so engrossing.

Lunar isn't really a long game though. It's rather short. In fact it can be completed in 15-18 hours. The game has extras such as an art gallery and collecing a 150 cards but nothing extreme is offered.

Overall, for the GBA this is a great RPG to play. It won't keep you busy for several hours or weeks on end but on a trip its nice to have along.

The Good
+Awesome Graphics
+Good storyline
+Loveable characters
+Easy to learn battle system

The Bad
-Can't say the same for the sound as the graphics
-Short game
-Too easy
-Not very many extras and such to keep you busy
-While the storyline is good it isn't original

This controller is great beacuse the controller practicaly melts in your hand. It has a cool design with great grip and layout. A nice feature of this controller is that it has a new "digital click" for the L and R buttons. What it does is that the L and R buttons can be used as two buttons each, if you press it halfway it will act as one button but if you press it all the way it will become another button.Well basically this controller is gonna be good.

The GameCube controller is excellent; it fits and feels perfect in almost any pair of hands. The button layout may seem slightly untraditional, but this is a good thing, believe me. Nintendo realized that there's almost always one main button in games, so they made the A button larger. The B, X and Y buttons are laid out strategically around the A button, providing quick and easy access. They also have slightly different shapes, which makes them easily distinguishable from each other (without having to look). The top two shoulder buttons (L & R buttons) are analog, so the harder you press the more they react, which proves very useful in many games. Also, the shape of the L & R buttons are terrific, they are curved inward to fit your fingers perfectly. The Z button is located in front of the R button. It makes sense that they didn't put a counterpart on the left side- since you're using the analog stick or d-pad it really would be difficult to use another shoulder button effectively on the left side. Although it probably wouldn't have hurt to include it, but there are more than enough buttons anyways.

The main complaint I have heard about the GameCube controller is the smaller D-pad. Personally, I barely noticed that it was smaller and find absolutely no difference or extra challenge in using it. In fact I think I can actually complete moves faster in Tony Hawk 3 because it's slightly smaller, so there! The analog control stick is very strong and will stay precise for many years, which is much better than the N64 analog stick (which always got very loose and became unusable) Also, the C-stick will be used mainly as a camera button or simply another analog controller when necessary, it hasn't been utilized much yet. The analog joystick and C joystick both have rubber tops that provide excellent grip. There's also the obligatory built-in rumble feature (an element that Nintendo brought to controllers first with the N64).

There is absolutely no question in my mind that this controller is much better than either the PS2 or Xbox controller (I've used them all enough to judge). Sony's controller isn't bad, but it definitely doesn't feel nearly as nice and takes longer to get accustomed to (PS2 owners may think their controller is the best, but they are just more used to it). And Microsoft's controller is awful in my opinion; it's like an inflated dreamcast controller, maybe even worse than that. I believe that the GameCube controller is really the most intuitive and most comfortable design ever! When I first saw it I thought it would be good, when I actually held it I knew it could be great, and when I finally played games with it I realized that it's the best controller ever created! It's obvious that Nintendo designs their controllers with great care, and unlike other companies they seem to have a knack for innovating, rather than just copying.

this is by far the most comfortable controller in the world. it really does make you forget that it's in your hands. the button lay out is perfect and the size and weight couldn't be better. it feels like you held putty then let it dry. it fits flawlessly in your hands, no problems. x box controllers are HUGE!!! they are about as big as the gamecube itself!! they're bulky, huge, the buttons stick out and it's just an overall ugly game pad. the gamecube controller is definately worth your money.

This is defenently one of the best games I have ever played. Its a lot of fun getting to make a character but even more fun to put them into action! This game rocked you've got to try it.

It's sad to see the Dreamcast leaving us. But it's great to know that it's leaving us in style with some of the best games. After Sega announced they would stop producing the Dreamcast, some of the best games have been released. NBA 2K2, NFL 2K2, NHL 2K2, Sonic Adventure 2, and of course Phantasy Star Online version 2.

PSO version 2 is about the Pioneer being destroyed. You use your created character to go around a planet called Ragol to research what happened and it's remains, etc. The gameplay is one area that PSO version 2 really shines. You can choose to either play online or off-line (both excellent modes). If you own PSO version 1 for Dreamcast you will be able to port you character form that game into version 2. Unlike most RPG's this game is a big-time slashing, shooting and killing game and is much more fun than many RPG's. This game also has many new quests that were not in PSO version 1 as well as several new levels such as Cave and Beach to go along with Forest 1 and Forest 2. Sonic Team has also made it easier to get more useful items throughout the game. Meseta (the money in PSO) is much more plentiful and rare items are much easier to find than in PSO version 1. Also you will find more items such as weapons that can be used by your type of character. If you would rather play online it will cost you $15 for 3 months which is not at all a bad deal. Online you can play Battle Mode vs. other players around the world, play Go-Go Soccer in the lobby or join forces with others.

If you own Phantasy Star Online version 1 and have yet to pick up version 2, you don't know what you're missing. With new quests, more rare items, and great, new levels, PSO version 2 is one of the best games on the Dreamcast. The DC definitely goes out in style.

Phantasy Star Online Version 2 is one of the last games that you will still see on the shelves. Very few stores still sell this title, because it is the successor of the huge international bestseller "Phantasy Star Online". PSOv2 is about the Pioneer being destroyed, and your customally created character must go on a planet called Ragol to research what happened to it, where are it's remains and so on. A plot taken out of the "RPG Storylines" book. It has a weak storyline, but the gameplay is incredible. This game has a online and offline game. The offline game is you can do this adventure yourself, level up your character, buy items, learn magic tricks. The online mode takes advantage of the Sega Dreamcast's build in 56k modem, or a purchasable Broadband Adapter. The modem allows you to connect to the PSO server and play with people all over the world, including Europe, Japan, South America, Africa, Australia and other places with the Internet. The second version of Phantasy Star Online has more additions to it. There is a highly wanted "Battle" mode, which lets you battle other online players. That is really cool! They also have Go-Go Soccer which lets other PSOv2 players play soccer in the lobbies. Now, the cons to PSOv2 is that I found not too much use to it. If you read the cover, you must pay a steep fee of 15 dollars for 3 months of unlimited online play, due to the new filters to eliminate Gameshark users and people who use illegal items, and the overwhelming amount of users. So you have to convert your PSOv1 file into a PSOv2 file, and there is no turning back. The only way to get free online gaming without the extras is to play with version 1. Now, I purchased a DSL modem, and I got rid of my second phone line, which I used for PSO when there was no one online. The only way my DSL modem to get online is to buy the rare, exclusive, expensive broadband modem... They discontinued it after their announcement of the ending of the Dreamcast. Now you can only buy it on [name of store] for ridiculously high prices. I found no use for it, because I refuse to pay [dollor amount] to the additional [dollar amount] for hte game. You have to pay [dollar amount]to own the game and play online for a year.

Phantasy Star Online is an excellent expierence that must be had by any Sega fan. I recommend also playing "Sega Smash Pack" which includes "Phantasy Star 2" from Sega Genesis. I would recommend Phantasy Star Online Version 1 so you can get the expierence of free online play, at a excellent affordable price. You cannot find it in stores, but you have to look around online for it.

X-Files:Resist or Serve is a fun game to play especially if you like survival horror games in the genre of Resident Evil and Silent Hill (aspects of both games appear in this one)and are an X-Files fan. Yes, the frustrating camera angle can be very annoying, and the fact that you can't change it also sucks, but it does add a bit of the "unknown" to the game since you don't always know who or what is in front of you. There are various little "Easter eggs" scattered in the game in the form of street names that relate to episode titles of the X-Files series and comments made by Mulder and Scully. I enjoyed watching the X-Files that is why I purchased the game (and I enjoy playing it). It is not necessarily on par with Resident Evil: Code Veronica X or the Silent Hill series, but the voice overs done by the original cast (and the fact that it is part of the X-Files universe) make up for it. If you are not an X-Files fan DO NOT buy this game. If you are a huge Resident Evil or Silent Hill fan, but not an X-Files fan put the $29.99 (plus tax) cost of the game toward purchasing the new Resident Evil game that is out or save it for when Silent Hill 4 hits the stores. Trust me you will not like this game.

I am really looking foward to this game. It looks like the Sierra is working really hard on making this game a success. Look at the things going for it; The game is based on a 3 episode script penned by a writer who worked on the series, It takes place during season 7 (how convienent since the DVD's are coming out in May), David and Gillian and the rest of the cast have voiced the game, You finally get to play as either Mulder or Scully, and you finally get your hands dirty and perform autopsies! HOW COOL IS THAT!
I enjoyed playing the first X-Files game on the PS one system, but once I was done with it there was no desire to play it again. It had no replay value.The developers are saying that this game will have 15-19 hours of playing time. With the ablility to play as either Mulder or Scully there will be more replay value.
I think this game will be a must have for fans and it will appeal to gamers who enjoy survival Horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. So for those X-Philers who don't have a PS2 or XBox, you should either consider getting one or make plans to confiscate your friends game systems because "The Truth" will be out there this summer!

I got this game as a gift and wasn't sure if I'd like it or not. Let's face it, licensed games are notoriously bad (need I mention Enter the Matrix?). And, while this game is no work of survival horror gaming art, like Fatal Frame or Clock Tower, it is a helluva lot of fun. If you loved the show, especially in the early years, go ahead and pick it up.

And kudos to Fox Interactive for publishing really good titles based on their licenses, such as the two Buffy games and Simpsons Hit n' Run. Just please, please, please don't make a Married with Children game. Thanks!

Having played thru all the games, I will say this one felt the most like the original. Where Soul Reaver 1 played great, the story advanced slowly, and Soul Reaver 2 ,while containing alot of story, was a bit too linear and basic in terms of gameplay. This game is still linear, but playing as both characters adds a tremendous amount of play to the game. Questions that have been brewing for years come to a climax, and there were quite a few 'oh my...' moments throughout. My only major complaint was the camera , I know they went for 'Devil May Cry' type angles ect, but it makes battles difficult, and a more traditional camera would have made exploration easier. The combat is greatly improved over previous games, combos are easy to execute, and a blast to use. The reaver elements add abilities that are fun to use, and give personality to the different blades. But it is the suspense that makes the game riveting, all the great parts of the story are here, and as with most of these titles, the story is truly what makes the game shine. Enjoy.

Defiance is an absolutely amazing addition to the Soul Reaver and Blood Omen series from Crystal Dynamics/Eidos Interactive! I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the artwork, the lush environments and the seamless special effects this game has to offer. The Cinematics are skillfully animated and I've never heard better voice overs in a game, EVER!

I also really love the way you get to play BOTH Kain and Raziel in turn as you progress through the game, keeping things even more interesting as you get to witness each character slowly decipher their intertwined destinies as the story comes to a climactic ending. Both characters are extremely fun to play too, as each of them gains special moves making the already great combat system even more fun!

I highly recommend this game to anyone, even if you haven't played any of the Soul Reaver or Blood Omen games since there is PLENTY of story to fill you in on the details as you play along!

I first became interested in the series when my brother first played "Soul Reaver." After that, we had to buy the sequel just to see what happens. So when the store started taking reservations for "Defiance," we were among the first ones in line. We could barely contain our excitement as we counted down the days till the release date. And when it was finally in our hands and in our PS2, this game did not disappoint. We were hooked after the first five minutes. The game was done after a week and a half.
I'll admit, the only con I can think of is the camera angles, which were bad, especially while fighting the villains. Still, the awesome storyline, the fantastic details, and the incredible sceneries more than made up for it.
With the storyline, it did a terrific job in answering the questions left by previous games, and leaving some new questions for us to ponder (and leaving us devoted fans to wonder when the next sequel will come out).
For the first time, you get to play both Kain and Raziel in this game. I love how the end of each chapter leaves you in suspense while you play the next character. And the powers and abilities each one gains as the game goes on are cool and unique, not to mention helpful in one way or another.
All in all, a game for the faithful fans of the series. And it may even gain some new fans as well.

Cel Damage is a very fun game. There are not any other games like it that are available for the Gamecube. The graphics are funny but a little disappointing. I know they are supposed to be cartoony, but I would have preferred 3-D graphics. The characters are flat, but their personalities more than make up for it. They say some strange and funny things that really add to the gameplay. The music is zany and. . . interesting. There are only ten people to use and you only start out with six. It is a lot of work to unlock them all. I found myself screaming at the T.V. like a lunatic, ready to pull out all my hair at how hard the enemies sometimes were. Most of the time though, they are easy. There are just not many things to unlock and some of the unlockable things are not worth the frustration. I don't play this game by myself. Without a friend, it is boring and plain not fun. If there are at least two people playing, this game is a blast. There are no rules so one can make up games. If you don't play your Gamecube much with others, you would probably regret having this game. This game is worth the money if you can find others to play with.

Have you ever wished you could have fun in a Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck cartoon world? Cel Damage lets you enjoy fun bloodless games in that world!

Cel Damage is brilliant in its simplicity. No long, drawn out quests. No sophisticated graphics with eye-popping realism. Instead, the cel-like animation really makes you feel like you're part of one of the Road Runner or Bugs Bunny cartoons. You get the fun sound effects, the simple animations, the over-the-top weapons like giant hatchets and machine guns.

There's a variety of worlds to explore, from old west to space and more. There are six main characters, plus more to unlock. There are easy to understand tasks - kill the other characters, race to checkpoints, capture the flag.

You can play single player or with friends, and it's a wild time. Sure, it's not brain surgery. But it's a great game, with fun graphics, that'll keep you going for weeks and weeks. Enjoy!

I have only played this game twice at my friend's house and now I beg everyone for it!This is the craziest, most fun game I have ever played!I'd give this game more stars if I could but, I woudn't reccomend this game for kids under 10.

I just bought the component AV cable from a 3rd party company and already has the S/video cables (3rd party too) . I've read that AV component it's much better than S video, and tha's why I bought it. But is not!. AV component seems to be a little better than standard AV cables (RCA). S video gives an extraordinary brilliance to images. Video Component looks opaque, maybe Monster cables works better. In summary:
1- S/Video
2- AV component
3- Standar Av cables (rca)

Could it be 'cause they are 3rd party.

I don't have much to add to the other reviews except this: I bought the component cables for to use with a standard (not HDTV) 14" TV not really expecting to see a difference on the order that I'd seen on my girlfriend's 34" widescreen Sony Trinitron HDTV.

Long story short, I was wrong. I'd expected the sharper image (which is great overall, although I have to confess that in some games I preferred the slightly blurry edges between polygons to the jagged ones I'm seeing now), but the richness in color was the real payoff here. I think it would be an overstatement to say, "The difference between component and composite is like the difference between VHS and DVD," but, frankly, not by much. If you can make the upgrade, by all means, do it.

One last bit of factual information: if size is an issue, he Sony component cable is 6' long, as compared to Monster's component AV cable for the PS2, which is 10'. (The Sony cable is also smaller in diameter by about 1/3 and more flexible.) I can't speak to the dimensions of other competing brands (Intec, etc.).

I recently tested both Monster's Component cables and Sony's Component Cables and kept the Sony. I have a 53" Hitachi Ditgital HDTV and the difference between the A/V Cables included with the PS2 and the Sony Component cables is night and day! Huge difference, but like the other reviews, you can only really tell on high-end HDTVs, so if you have a regular tv, I would suggest using S-Video or the A/V cables already included with the PS2. DVD's are also great for the component cables, the picture is crystal clear and fantastic compared to the A/V or S-Video connections.

As for the Sony v. Monster comparison, I saw very little difference between the two except that with the Monster Cable, you pay $20 more and GET NO SOUND connection which costs more. But if you have a great sound system set up, and can afford the Monster Cables AND the Optical Digital Audio cables, then buy the best.

Just to re-iterate another review, the quality levels are as follows:
1) Component Video Cables
2) S-Video Cables
3) A/V Cables

But remember, chances are you won't see much of a difference unless you have a High End TV with HDTV or Digital interface, otherwise stick with what you have.

One last comment, make sure you change the PS2 SET-UP (in the configuration screen, with no disc loaded, but the power on) from A/V to Component cables, otherwise you'll get no picture and no sound at all!!!

They say if it ain't broke, then don't fix it. I loved the first Spider-Man game. The graphics were crisp and detailed, the story was deep and involving, and the controls were precise and tight. Then Grand Theft Auto: Vice City came out, which completely re-wrote the video game genre. Games like True Crime and The Getaway were released that practically copied the GTA formula: Free roaming cities, mini-missions, mayhem and violence, etc. Add Spider-Man 2 to the list with mediocre results.

I admit that I was initially excited when I heard that Spider-Man could now swing freely through the city and bust bad guys on the streets below. Though the former is exhilirating and excellently implemented, the latter is dull and repititious. Like GTA, there is a mini-map of the city in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Whenever there is trouble, a green icon will appear in the location where a crime is taking place. Unfortunately, there is a lack of variety in these missions. You will either have to prevent a robber from getting away, take an injured civilian to the hospital, catch a civilian from falling to his or her death, or save people from a sinking boat. After a few of these, you'll begin wishing that the game would just get on with the story. Solving these missions contribute to your "Hero Points" which allow you to purchase moves and combos from a Spidey Store. Since when did Spidey have to buy his own moves and combos? Strange...

Unfortunately, due to the heavy reliance on memory and processing power to produce the massive scope of the game, the graphics are the first to suffer. In most instances, the game resembled a Playstation 1 game. Spidey generally looks good, but the other characters in the game look like spray-painted cardboard boxes. I would have preferred a much scaled-down city in order to boost the quality of the graphics because quite frankly, Spider-Man 2 is an ugly game.

Fans of the first game will most likely be disappointed with the sequel. Though the ability to explore the city by swinging from building to building is a treat, the gameplay and graphics truly suffer. This one is definately a rental.

this game is really amazing. from the actually seeing what you r shooting ur web at 2 the walking on the street. the graphics r awesome also.gameplay is great(i got for gamecube dont no about other systems). wut i liked the most is that u can actually go onto the street in this game. u can decide between doing the story missions or solving random street crimes(or helping a little kid get his balloon back).its awesome that u can actually web swing from a helicopter but im not sure if u can grab on to it.(...) i beat the game already.(its not short i just played for a really long time). Well anyways i definitely recommend this game spiderman fan or not

doc ock is fun to fight and the new web system makes it more like a real spider-man game. and now you can go on the ground.the villians are doc ock,rhino,mysterio,calypso,and shocker.bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Millers are sorely missed (in case you didnt know- the creative masterminds behind Myst and Riven).The game is shorter than Riven and much easier- with the possible exception of that infuriating fan room in the Voltaire Age. (It took me 15 minutes to get the knob to work in the 3 different directions) The puzzles seem seperate from the story line- bummer.The 360 rendering is way cool and the graphics are excellent but not nearly as ethereal as Rivens. I never had that true feeling of awe and fantasy I had in Riven. In Exile, the high points for me where riding in the air balloon and riding through the completed maze on Amateria. The ending lacks climax. The Edana age is needlessly tedious. There are far less, creatures and modes of transportaion than in the previous games.Saavedro, played by Brad Dourif, is mis- directed- his acting is so over the top- you just want to laugh at him instead of fear him. On a much much more admittedly shallow note- Katherine ( who we meet in Riven) and arguably the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen in computer game has been replaced by a average looking woman whose character is now boring. It isn't my attention to scare anyone away from playing this game-for if Exile is the first of this series you play you will have a great time. I highly recomend installing the enitre game to your hard rive as to not be bogged down with swapping disks. More importantly, it's essential you hook this up to your stereo or other high end audio system- the music and sound are superb and adds to the whole "experience"

I did encounter a problem with Exile screwing up my desktop every time I quit the game.(G4-500- 9.1) While applaud the Presto team for such an incredible and ambitous effort ( the hard work really shows) it simply doesn't have the enigmatic captivating magic Riven and Myst had.

...The Pro's: Great game, good gameplay, beautiful graphics, 360 degree look feature adds so much depth and immersion, I had no trouble installing or playing (as long as it was in software mode), great puzzles, very logical and integrated, never boring, constant discovery, always surprising. ..The Cons: maybe a bit short,seemingly anticlimatic ending, acting and music were a bit goofy and over the top, overall design not as clever or daring as Myst (Baroque bedrooms and rockets?), Saavedro's murals were out of place with their comic book style- should have been "primitive" like those riven drawings!, Collector's edition isn't that special... Overall, the pro's definately outweigh the cons. I had a great time playing exile and would recommend it to any myst fan. It definately belongs in the series, and i think presto did a great job. I would even go so far as to say that it has the BEST gameplay out of all 3 of the Myst games. As far as how challenging the game is, I would say it is harder than myst, but easier than Riven. Definately worth the money and time.

Well, what can I say. THis game has great acting, good graphics, emursive worlds, and overall good gameplay. The only thing I don't like about it is that the buzzles are to descrete. Its almost as if they were meant to look like they were meant to be puzzles. It can't be something like myst where the puzzles are there for a logical reason, and it can't be like Uru where the puzzles were blended in with the enviroment so the game was harmonic, and it can't be like riven where the puzzles are not puzzles, but problems you had to face that required some brain power. THese puzzles, even though they go with the suroundings, they still are too descrite. I mean, its almost like they were ment for you. THings here aren't what they used to be. The puzzles themselves are quite impresive, but the way that they blend in with the age is like sticking srawberries in orange juice. For one thing, yet another puzzle is actually a puzzle age in itself. Its all puzzle and really seems like it was meant for your presance, not like it had any real fuction outside your enjoyment. Even the plant age has that. Lense flowers that focus the sun's light on large bulbs that hold electic fish and power plant machines. Even thier idea of a balaced enviroment is even more descrete. THe lense flower couldn't've just grown there without there being a purpouse. I mean really, how deep do you want me to get.