have been a gamer / collector for about 16 years.
Big fan of the final fantasy series.
been designing for a couple of years, if you need something making send me a pm.
can find me on gamespot under the username _Mana_
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With Final fantasy VI, Chrono trigger, Super mario RPG and other famous role playing games staying exclusivly in japan and america it was more than deserved that Squaresoft (now square-enix) realesed a worldwide game for RPG fans all over to enjoy.
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God of war is a fantasy action adventure game, its not just one of the best in its genre but one of the best on the ps2, not only does it look great but has a superb story, characters and battle system.
you take the role of Kratos, a spartan warrior from greece, the game is explained by a narrator explaining kratos's story, the cut-scenes are great and each explain abit about what is to come for the spartan or about his past. Kratos wields two blades attached by metal chains to either arm similar to a weapon in prince of persia warrior within, the battle system as a whole reminded me of warrior within. You will be forced into many battles and some of them quite time consuming, even the lenghty battles are still highly enjoyable and in no way repetitive. Kraots has a good selection of moves at his disposal and each one needs to be used in different situations. most of the battles can be ended with a button combination prompted on screen, for example the combination circle, triangle, square will appear on screen, preforming it correctly will result in a special move from kratos, different combinations are required like rotating the analog stick, it is all similar to the cut-scenes in lara croft : tomb raider legend. the voice acting, music and sound effects are all very good, Terrence C. Carson does a fantastic job on the voice acting for kratos and definitely fits the part. sound effects are also good and dont seem out of place. Greek mythology is used very well in the game and battle against recognisable foes such as the minotaur, sirens and the medusa are all great, all of the greek gods are used in the game including zeus, hades, Poseidon and of course the god of war, ares. Titans, oracles and pandoras box are all tied into the game aswell. the game isnt very long and could be argued as one of its few downfalls. It will take about 10 hours to finish the game. Upon completion you will unlock a few extras including god mode ( hardest mode ), 10 optional challenges, videos on the making of the game and how it became the finished product from one initial idea. In conclusion God of war is a well polished games that you will not regret buying, if you have a ps2, get God of War.
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Assassin's Creed is a third-person stealth game.The primary goal of the game is to complete nine assassinations which can be completed by a number of ways, before any assassination becomes available you need to preform different tasks like speaking to informers, eavesdropping, interrogation and pickpocketing. you also have the chance to help citizens that are being threatened or harassed by city guards, these certain tasks only become available however once you have climbed a high point to map out the city. killing templars and collecting flags are also some of the side quests available. The combat is more of a button mash at first but the further you progress through the game the more moves you unlock, the best and most useful being counter attack. the fights are enjoyable but can be frustrating when reinforcements appear very quickly forcing you into battle. you can throw guards into nearby wooden structures to send them collapsing and taking out everyone close to it or hit them from long range with a throwing knife, throwing guards of buildings of stabbing them from behind with your hidden blade is also available. Blending will become very important after killing certain targets or when your trying to escape from guards. hiding in the rooftop canapes, sitting down on a bench or blending in with scholars are all possible and effective ways. The story behind assassins creed is a little loose and doesn't provide much closure at the end of the game. the constant talking in the game is one of its downfalls along with the repetitiveness of each assassination, the main objective of each mission is always the same and is only forgiven because of the vast citys which are different for each assassination. if you have a 360 your missing out not having this in your collection, it will get repetitive in the later parts of the game but all the good points more than out weigh that. if you haven't played it, you really should.
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Kingdom hearts is one of the most overrated games on the ps2, its not that its a bad game but it doesnt stand anywhere upto the massive hype that surrounds the game. As far as rpg's go this was pretty average and as far as games in general go, this was pretty average.
The battle system is horrible, maybe fun for about the first half hour but it then just becomes a button mash, repeatedly tapping the X button to try and string together combos. healing is also poorly executed, you can have three of you magics set to a shortcut which is fine as you can heal rather fast but as soon as your MP is gone and you want to access a potion or ether you have to scroll down with the analog stick or the d-pad and select each item individually, this is time consuming and a battle can turn from fine to game over in a matter of seconds, death is a frustrating and inconsistent factor in the game. Upon defeating any opponent you must collect the small balls they drop to increase your HP, MP or money, this seems like a chore, having to run around the battlefield collecting the balls before they disappear when all you really want to do is continue the fight. the battles do have some perks like the ability to summon, string together some nice combos, even if they do get repetitive and in latter battles the ability to fly makes for something interesting. Kingdom hearts has a strong cast of characters as you can imagine, alot of well known characters from both the disney films and square games play a part. It is mostly the disney characters with the final fantasy characters making more of a guest appearance throughout the game, the name disney the game would have been a fitting title. voice acting is good especially from the disney characters who all resemble the voices from the films. The story wasnt bad but it wasnt anything special, you can tell almost instantly the game is aimed at a young audience and i think this would be a great place for them to start playing rpg's. For more of an adult gamer or someone experienced with rpg's i dont think this would be such a great title to pick up. Flying around from world to world is very boring and must be done at least once, each time you want to access a new world. you have control of a block like ship called a gumi ship and have to shoot your way past other square like ships or blocks, it looks really bad especially compared to the graphics in the rest of the game. Graphics are quite nice in kingdom hearts and you can tell from the opening cut-scene that square have an involvement. There didnt seems to be alot of cinematics but they are a nice treat any time you had the privilege of seeing one, alot of normal scenes are used in the game to show off the different disney characters and to explain the story, this is fine and is always a nice break unless it is before a boss battle. There is no way to skip through the normal scenes and getting stuck on a boss becomes very frustrating as you have to watch a certain scene over and over. So do i recommend kingdom hearts ? well that depends on what sort of gamer you are, if you are part of a younger audience, someone who loves the disney films or looking to start playing rpg's then yes this game is well worth looking into. If you are a final fantasy fan hoping to become involved with your favourite characters again, more of an adult gamer or someone experienced with rpg's then i would probably say no. the game is well worth a look by all but dont be disappointed if its not for you.
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Goldeneye is probably the best first-person-shooter ever made. not only is the game one of the best on the N64 but its also one of the best multiplayers available.
20 levels, 3 difficulty settings, lots of replay value. you really can spend alot of time on this game, especially if you have a few friends round playing the multiplayer. if you have a 64 this game needs to be in your collection, its one of those games worth buying the console for. you will have alot of fun with it, i know i have. I cant think of a better example of a good first-person-shooter. the graphics, sound and gameplay are all good. the characters in the game do look square especially in the faces but apart from that all seems good. the controls are also easy to master, everything in this game just seems to fit into place. if you have a 64 then go and get this game, the multiplayer alone will make it a great buy.
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i have to start by saying wrath of heaven is a good game, it can be frustrating at times but deffinatly addictive. it can prove to be quite difficult at times especially near the begining of the game for first time players but even then its still fun. i found myself playing the first level a few times after dying near the end of the level, this is one of the annoying points, not the fact you can die but some levels could be upto 40mins long and there is no way to save your progress. some levels have bosses at the end aswell but none seemed to be too dificult. there is also pits you can fall into and you know what they say about pits ? no me neither, but even being a ninja you die if you fall in. the story through me at parts but this is the first tenchu game i played, some strong characters return in this game along with some new ones. you can play as rikimaru and ayame who have appeared in other tenchu games and an unlockable character aswell. the three characters each have there own objectives and missions but you will play through the same levels with each of the characters, even though the setup will be different this is still annoying. the replay value of the game is quite good as you can play each mission 3 times with a different layout so the AI wont be in the same place and neither will helpfull items like cimson blades (throwing knives). the gameplay is also good, you can preform stelth kills by sneaking up on your target and killing him/her before they notice, this is always fun and is the main idea of the game. head to head combat is alot more frustrating, the enemy will block alot and counter by knocking you over it also becomes alot harder when 2 or 3 of them team up on you. the game is deffinatly worth playing but wont be loved by everyone. this is a different type of stelth game and it might be that something different missing from your collection. if you can get it for a low price then i recommend.
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Star ocean started with a great opening cut scene but then things started to get worse, the most annoying thing seemed to be the little amount of time you actually get to play the game after being constantly interrupted by really slow and unnecessary dialogue, the in game graphics seemed ok but nothing special and everything seemed to be playing out inside a space station or ship with all gloomy, grey walled rooms. however the more i started to play, the more i started to really enjoy it. the graphics got brighter and the game allowed you to explore more colourful maps, the story started to get deeper and more interesting with some great characters being thrown in aswell. The battle system seemed hard and confusing at first but does become quite enjoyable when you get used to it. one of the annoying things about it though is the fact that when your MP hits 0 so does your HP. this can become really frustrating as some monsters or bosses will use a type of sap attack that takes chunks off your MP, Of course this does work both ways though so you can take down certain fiends quicker than normal. The cut scenes in this game really are great and go well with the story, characters, and the locations open for you to explore. if you are a fan of role playing games then star ocean : till the end of time should be in your collection. there are multiple endings which adds to the great replay value of the game and there is plenty to do if you were ever to 100% this massive game.
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if you are looking for another squaresoft masterpiece then this game is not right for you. its too short and only has the play time boosted up by constant interruptions of dialogue, although the cut scenes and cinimatics are definitely enjoyable they are put on screen almost every 5 minutes. the games story line will probably take around 1hour to finish and about half that if you skip through the scenes.
the general gameplay is repetitive, but you can string some nice combos and becomes quite enjoyable once you get the hang of it. there isnt many moves at your disposal to start with but you can spend bouncer points which is the games version of experiance points to buy new moves or to improve your stats ( power, defence and HP ). this does help towards the games replay value, there are three characters to play with and to max out all characters and buy the best moves will take several playthroughs, although this may seem boring, with the short story and ability to start the game from the beginning with your maxed characters it can actually become quite addictive and you might find yourself replaying this game as soon as you finish it. overall the game is ok, the good graphics / great cinimatics are deffinatly worth a look and the story holds up quite well but unfortunately the lack of gameplay and combat ability bring this title down. i would recommend picking up this game if you can find it for a low price.
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Metal Gear Solid 2 carries the super title of "Tactical Espionage Action" indeed most of the game involves sneaking around without being seen by the enemies, using intelligence and swift response from the player. but there is a much wider range of skills offered to the player rather than just sneak and shoot. The new first-person aiming mode allows players to target specific things with there gun, (like an enemies head) greatly expanding tactical options. guards could be blinded by steam by shooting pipes, or hit in key weak spots, such as radios which disables the enemy from requesting "back-up" and the head; which would result in an instant death or the soldier being put to sleep immediately, depending on whether the player was using a gun or a tranquilizer. Players can now walk slowly, allowing them to sneak over noisy flooring without making a sound, or hang off ledges to slip past below guards' feet. The corner-press move from the original title, which allowed players a sneak-peak around the next bend, was expanded to allow players to fire around edges from cover. In the newest installment, the antagonist guards were given more advanced AI "to prevent an imbalance of power", and unlike the original Metal Gear Solid, work in squads. This amounts to them calling on their radios for a strike team upon seeing your character, then attempting to flank him and cut off his escape while avoiding the player's attacks. Often strike teams will carry body armor and riot shields, making them an even greater threat to the player. Even if the player escapes to some hiding place like a locker or vent, a Clearing team will sweep in to check the area, often blowing the player's cover and causing another dangerous chase to safety. This all makes for an extremely enjoyable experiance and opens a window for gamers to either sneak through the game trying to stay undetected, using tranquilizer guns and silencers for your weapons, hiding bodies in lockers and yourself in boxes. You can also go all guns blazing and blast your way through parts of the game bringing out assult rifiles, rocket launchers and sniper rifels. Its deffinatly worth playing and has recieved good response from most gamers around the world. some feel the lengthy dialogue disrupted the gameplay and slowed it down to much but still made the game a great addition to the playstation universe.
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A game unlike any other i have played, great story, characters, backgrounds and so much more.
You play the role of Ico, a young boy born with a pair of horns. Ico is to be sacrificed and so sent to a mysterious castle. locked away in a stone like tomb he manages to escape and upon doing so finds a cage with a girl locked inside, the girl is named yorda and together they must escape. The game in total is rather short but every minute seems enjoyable, the cut scenes are short and few but again are enjoyable and well timed. the game allows you to make your own mind up on alot of issues which fits this game well, i think the lack of scenes and dialogue are the reason for this. the battle system isnt big or complex, there are about 4-5 types of shadow like creatures who try to capture yorda, carry her away and take her down a portal. your goal is simply to stop them. using either a plank of wood, a sword or a mace. its not very complex and seems to have been put in there as a break from the puzzles, i think it works really well. the puzzles can be quite confusing, the basic idea is to get ico and yorda through the castle but yorda is not as strong or flexible as ico, this meaning you have to find other ways to support her. Catching her when jumping over gaps, making a platform for her to walk across or simply holding her hand are all used techniques. Music in the game doesnt really exist, some short bursts come into play during the scenes or fights but its normally background noises like birds or the wind, this is another feature i think fits the game well. Replay value is maybe a little lagging but the great story and enjoyable gameplay will keep you coming back for more. This game really is a different kind of gaming experience and should be played by more gamers. If you have a ps2 then pick up ICO, you wont regret it.
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Guides
on Aug. 3, 2008
on July 30, 2008