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April 2nd, 2007, 06:27 Posted By: bandit
After a week long cruise vacation, I am finally back! It was great and relaxing but now, its time to get things back in order and to catch up on things.
Thanks to the staff for keeping things maintained and to the users for submitting reviews and replies!
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March 30th, 2007, 23:24 Posted By: gdf
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Genre: Sports
Players: 1
Reviewed on Xbox 360 by gdf
Where to start? Where on Earth can you begin a review concerning one of the most vast, ludicrously freeform games of all time? Well, you start by rambling on like this, then saying how absolutely immense it is. Yeah, that should do, because Oblivion is something of a phenomenon. Out on 360 and PC for just over a year now, with a PS3 version due soon, developer Bethesda Softworks has tried to reach as many people as possible with their game. This may seem at first like a ploy for more cash, but with such a masterpiece, it most definitely excusable and very correct of them to do so.
So what makes it so good? Well, for starters, it is the biggest game ever created, bar none. The sheer size is enough to give anyone a headache and to call this "Sandbox" or even "Free Roaming" is an insult to the game. It laughs in the face of even the mighty GTA, and though Oblivion has been surpassed in terms of square miles of game area, the games that have done this were much shorter (Oblivion is at least 100 hours if you stick at it) and usually had some kind of transport faster than a horse. Yes, Oblivion is very much a traditional text based adventure at heart, but is brought to life with great vibrancy. The Medieval esque world draws unashamedly from these ancient games, but can also give credit to LOTR and D&D. Hardcore beards will feel right at home, and will positively savour ludicrous character creation options such as "Nose Bridge Depth".
The level of freedom is astonishing. It is entirely possible to do whatever the hell you want, whenever the hell you want. I tend to go for the more murderous, thieving side of things, rather than the goody two shoes complete-every-quest-to-a-tee approach, and who can blame me; being a badass is fun! The game is deeper than the ocean and once the (slightly unconvincing) training level is finished you are thrown out into it. With nothing to keep you afloat. Carrying a dead albatross. Naked. The game really starts there and you can pursue the main quest, indulge in a spot of crime, chat with the locals or just run off into the wilderness. The locations are very well made and the vistas are nothing short of breathtaking. The draw distance is HUGE. On a clear day, you can see for miles and can sometimes spot several villages from one viewpoint. It is these times that the "Go anywhere" element truly comes into play. It is a joy to just pick a spot in the distance and head off for it, unsure of whom or what you will discover or what great treasures you will stumble across. Sometimes stalking a random stranger whets the appetite; Like the look of that guy's dagger? Follow him then stab him in the face when nobody's looking!
There are a few guilds to join that each have their own quest line. You try to go up the rankings by doing ever more risky missions until you are the guild master. Some will enjoy the Arena Battles or the Fighters Guild knight style missions, others will prefer to complete tasks for the Mages Guild, but for me it has to be the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood. As I said, I'm a sneaky, murderous kind of guy. Anyhow, completing the guild missions is fun, but I wouldn't recommend breaking the rules... (Anyone fancy collecting 20 Dragon Tongue to get back in the Mages Guild?). You can get missions from the public as well, through either talking directly to people or overhearing conversations. These all go in your quest log and can be picked up any time, great for when you get bored of another quest or just wandering about all the time.
Throughout the game there a few little minigames. The lock picking in particular is entertaining, with convincing (or bribing) people to like you worth an honourable mention. Even in the simplest task there are numerous skills and factors which affect your performance. Buying goods (even though stealing is better) can turn into a guessing game of haggling and bribing in order to get the best deal. As with all RPGs, the devil is in the detail.
The in game character menu seems daunting at first. It has four sections, each with several sub-sections which are filled with stats or items. After you get used to it, managing your character is a cinch and you can actually enjoy trawling through the list, deciding which items you should drop so you can carry that shiny blade over there. The weapons are a great part of the game. You have to maintain them yourself for maximum performance, but when you are wielding a fully magically charged Glass Warhammer of the Dynamo, that Faded Wraith round the corner doesn't seem nearly as much of a badass. The combat itself is fun and feels much more direct and enjoyable than most other RPGs. The game is a first person adventure, so it really puts a whole new spin on the genre.
Graphically the game is up to scratch and looks surprisingly good considering the size of the world. The music can be a bit ill fitting at times but is never intrusive, whereas speech is well done and battle sounds are perfect. The loading times can be lengthy, but you never actually notice and out in the open world the framerate stutters every twenty seconds or so. To be honest these shortcomings were unavoidable and prove that the game might even be a bit too ambitious for even the shiny next generation consoles. Bearded enthusiasts will all know that the real juice is all in the slowly improving and levelling up. This is true and one of the most entertaining elements of the experience is watching your puny-ass weed turn into a giant, fortress-like monster eater. Improving your skills is easy as the more you practice, the better you become, truly letting you mould your character into what you want.
Oblivion will keep you going for ages. There are so many more things I would have mentioned but either forgot to write or couldn't include. Ah yes! I forgot to mention the realism. Despite being set in a fictitious medieval style magic world, the developers have tried to make it as close to real life as possible without letting you urinate on doors at 2am after a night on the razz. You can even contract diseases for crying out loud! (Let's jump back to the conclusion.) So Oblivion is a great game. In my opinion it is a "Gamers' Game", one of those landmark titles that defines the genre and pushes the boundaries of what is possible to breaking point. It is the kind of game I have been looking for since I started playing almost a decade ago on the humble SNES (when you are six years old Christmas is great). There really is nothing like it. Buy this game.
Replay Value 3/5 Freaking MASSIVE. Surely the biggest videogame of all time.
Sound 4/5 A mixed bag but in the main it does the job.
Graphics 4/5 Very impressive especially for such a vast game
Gameplay 4.5/5 Unbelievable, too good to be true.
Score:
A true masterpiece, I can't say more than that.
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March 24th, 2007, 18:34 Posted By: bandit
Nextronics Wii Wireless Sensor Bar
Manufacturer: Nextronics
Site: Buy from Nextronics
Price: $19.00
Overview : Talk about a great range! The Nextronics wireless sensor bar has been reviewed by IGN, and found to have a range of up to 30 ft! This small and stylish sensor bar is only 9 inches long, and 1/2 inch tall which makes it even smaller than Nintendo's own sensor bar. Nextronics sensor bar needs no connection to the Wii, and includes an AC adapter, and battery pack for multiple power options.
30 ft range should be considered maximum possible range, adjust sensitivity settings in Wii menu to optimize range.
Quality/Usability : With the release of the Nintendo Wii, there have been a lot of requests for accessories such as controller gloves, rechargeable battery packs and even wireless sensor bars.
The first wireless sensor bar to released was wirelesssensorbar.com's Wireless Sensor Bar, followed by Nyko's Wireless Sensor Bar, and now Nextronics' Wireless Sensor Bar. Sure you can use IR ports from your TV remotes, candles or Christmas lights, but its not the same.
People have complained of the original sensor bar that came with the Wii being way too long and that is why companies are jumping on the bandwagon of wireless sensor bars.
There is no packaging for the Nextronics Wireless Sensor Bar. It came wrapped in bubble wrap. Its like a hybrid of the garage built wirelesssensorbar.com's and Nyko's put into one. In the package was the wireless sensor bar, battery pack and AC adapter.
You read that right, you can either use AC adapter or 3 AA batteries! The sensor bar is slightly shorter then the official Nintendo sensor bar. There is double sided sticky tape placed on the bottom of the sensor bar. Does anyone even use the double sided sticky tape?
Unlike the other wireless sensor bars, Nextronics is the first to use an AC adapter to power the wireless sensor bar. With the included AC adapter, you wont have to worry about the sensor bar dying out on you while you're playing an intense game. In addition to the AC adapter, as mentioned above, you can also use 3 AA batteries via battery pack. There is a screw on the battery pack to keep the cover closed. The battery pack is then connected to the cable that is attached to the sensor bar. The cable on the sensor bar is approximately 6 inches long as well as on the battery pack.
During testing, running on the sensor bar on batteries were pretty strong. It tracked every movement accurately and even during gameplay up to 20 feet (may have gone further). Since there is no warning of when the batteries are dying on the sensor bar, you'll have to go by the hand cursor or during gameplay. You'll either have no control or the hand cursor will start to flicker.
Battery life is pretty decent lasting about 15-20 hours or so on 3 AA batteries. I suggest using rechargeable batteries but is kind of awkward only having to use 3 batteries. Why couldnt it have been 2 or 4 batteries? Some rechargeable kits require 2 batteries at the same time to charge so having to charge 3rd battery wont be possible. Luckily, the battery pack has an ON/OFF switch.
Conclusion : Overall, the Nextronics Wii Wireless Sensor Bar is a pretty good product. The ability to either use 3 AA batteries or AC adapter is a great thing to have. Although it doesnt look professionally built from a manufacturer, it looks close enough. Only drawback is no way of telling if the battery is near dead and if you have an LCD or plasma TV, using the battery can be trouble some. There is no place to put it on top of the monitor unless you put it at the bottom. The weight of the battery pack will just drag the sensor bar with it. They could of also left out the screw but it looks as if someone built this out of their garage by purchasing the required parts and building it themselves. But it damn looks good and works as well!
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March 24th, 2007, 00:40 Posted By: bandit
WaterField Designs DS Lite Case
Manufacturer: WaterField Designs
Site: Buy from WaterField Designs
Price: $39.00
Overview : As recommended by Mario and Zelda to revolutionize your DS Lite. From Yoshi's Island to Castlevania, our compact and protective Nintendo DS Case holds it all.
The slim DS Lite Case is constructed from ballistic nylon, with a double layer leather flap and a scratch free interior liner. The back of the case has a self-locking zippered pocket to hold your games and ear-buds. On the exterior of the flap, choose between our standard black or our patterned design. On the underside of the flap, choose between black, kiwi and pink leather.
Features :- Ballistic Nylon exterior.
- Double layer leather flap.
- Super soft lining to keep the DS Lite scratch free.
- Storage for 6 DS Games.
- Stylus holder.
- Rear back pocket w/ Self Locking Zipper.
- Pull strap (to ease removing your unit from the case).
- Nintendo DS Lite Case / 5.75" x 3.5" x 1.25" / 3 oz.
Quality/Usability : Its hard to find a decent case these days. Theres so many on the market but only a few really satisfy your needs and your eyes. WaterField is one of those companies aiming to satisfy your needs and to make you oogle over their products. The DS Lite case is made of smooth, soft nylon with a leather flap. WaterField offers three different colors to choose from: black, kiwi, or pink. Being able to choose the color of your choice, you also get a choice as to what pattern you want on the front of the case. You can choose either a non pattern leather flap or one with the cut out that resembles the DS' directional pad and buttons. With this cut out, you can see the leather of the inside.
WaterField tried to incorporate everything you would need or want into this case. On the back of the case, there is a zippered compartment. You can use this compartment to store your games and or headphones.
On the bottom of the case, you'll notice a loop hole. This is actually a pull tab. When you're taking out your DS, you would hold onto this tab.
The DS Lite is fit snuggly into the case and is well protected with scratch-free padded lining all around. In front of the DS are three little leather pouches. These pouches can let you slip 6 DS games (2 in each). I must say though, doing this is a very tight fit. Removing games is very simple. The leather pouch has a small cut-out at the bottom to allow you to push the cartridges out for easy grabbing.
Below the leather pouch is a stylus holder. If you have an extra stylus that you might need in case you loose one or just want to use it to hold your stylus, this is where it would go.
The leather flap is closed using two buttons (one on each side of the case). When the leather flap is closed, its very tight and thats a good thing. That means you wont have to worry about your games or DS falling out.
Conclusion : Overall, the WaterField Designs DS Lite Case is probably the best case I have used to this date. Its nice looking, does everything that I want it to do and is easily portable. Maybe it would of been best to leave out the stylus holder..but then again, I personally dont use it. Also, maybe instead of two buttons, maybe one down the middle or with a flap that extends to the back. The price of $39.00 is a little pricey for a case but is well worth it.
    
    
  
(click on color to view pouch)
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March 23rd, 2007, 13:11 Posted By: bandit
Penguin United Remote Charging Dock + Rechargeable Battery
Manufacturer: Penguin United
Site: Buy from Penguin United (dock + battery) / Buy from Penguin United (dock + 2x battery) / Buy from Penguin United (battery only) / Buy from Penguin United (2x docks + 4x batteries)
Price: $19.99 (dock + battery) / $24.99 (dock + 2x battery) / $7.99 (battery only) / $44.99 (2x docks + 4x batteries)
Overview : The included rechargable battery will provide you with 38 hours of game playing time and tons of $$ saved on batteries. To recharge your Wii Remote, simply place your Wii Remote on the charging dock. Your Wii remote will be charged from USB cable using modified battery cover provided.
Includes : (dock + battery)- Wii Remote Chargin Dock
- USB Connection Cable
- Rechargeable battery pack lasting 38 hours
- Recharge enabled battery cover
Includes : (dock + 2x battery)- 1X Wii Remote Charging Dock
- 1X USB Connection Cable
- 2X Rechargeable battery pack lasting 38 hours
- 2X Recharge enabled battery cover
Includes : (battery only)- Rechargeable battery pack lasting 38 hours
- Recharge enabled battery cover
- Requires dock
Includes : (2x docks + 4x batteries)- 2X Wii Remote Charging Dock
- 2X USB Connection Cable
- 4X Rechargeable battery pack lasting 38 hours
- 4X Recharge enabled battery cover
Quality/Usability : Ever since the release of the Nintendo Wii whether it be in Asia, Europe or North America, 3rd party manufacturers have been releasing rechargeable battery packs. Why? Because everyone wanted rechargeable battery packs to save money rather then spend it on regular alkaline batteries. The Wii Remote would eat through batteries like no tomorrow and would need to be replaced as if it was a handheld system.
With the need of rechargeable battery packs, Penguin United has jumped in to help fellow gamers. Penguin United released their Remote Charging Dock and Rechargeable Battery. PU originally offered only the dock and battery but due to demand, they are offering different bundles. You can pick up either a dock and battery, dock and two batteries, batteries only or two docks and 4 batteries, at relatively cheap prices!
Upon opening up the box (dock + battery), you'll find a USB cable, dock, rechargeable battery, battery cover and instructions. Setting up the dock is easy. Just plug one end of the USB cable into either your computer or the Wii and the other end into the dock. Thats it.
Putting the battery into the remote isnt as easy. It takes a bit of trial and error but once you know what to do, it shouldnt be a problem. To insert the battery into the remote you would need to hold the remote right-side up and hold the battery with the (+) and (-) sign facing the bottom. While holding the battery at an angle, place the (+) and (-) into position and then push down. At the same time, push the top of the battery into place. The battery should now be inserted into the remote.
In order to charge the batteries, you must use the included battery cover as it has a custom connection that will work with the dock. The battery cover though is a bit darker then the Wii remote itself. But if you have a glove or case on the Wii remote, you wont notice it. Speaking of glove, you will either have to remove the glove or lift it up enough so that the remote can fit into the dock. When the remote is placed into the dock, there is a blue LED. A steady blue means it is charging and if the LED is blinking, it means it is done charging.
In the instructions that were included, they suggested that the battery require 12 hours of charging before use. The battery were done charging within 2 hours or so and the dock started to blink.
Once the battery was fully charged, I took it for a test (7 straight days of playing). After the first couple hours of WarioWare, Wii Sports and Zelda, the Wii remote still showed 3 battery bars. Played a couple more hours the next couple of days and it still showed 3 bars. Probably by the 4th or 5th day, the battery dropped a bar. By the 7th day, it was still at 2 bars. Had I played longer, it would of probably lasted me almost 2 weeks on one full charge! Thats insane.
Conclusion : Overall, the Penguin United Remote Charging Dock + Rechargeable Battery exceeds my expectations. The battery life is long lasting. Only minor complaints is the non-matching color of their battery cover to the Wii remote and the dock not stop charging if it is fully charged. If you're looking for a rechargeable battery pack, I suggest checking out PU's Remote Charging Dock + Rechargeable Battery. Interested International buyers can purchase this through their eBay store. PU will be releasing a dual charger sometime in April. But it would be nice to see a charger only for the battery rather then a dock.
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March 23rd, 2007, 04:29 Posted By: bandit
Retractable Metallic Touch Pen Stylus
Manufacturer: DragonPlus
Site: Buy from Goldenshop / Buy from DealExtreme
Price: $6.00
Overview : Retractable stylus to be used as spare or replacement for comfort and easy use.
Features :- High quality 3rd party product.
- Replacement of original stylus pen.
- Comes with 4pcs Retractable Metal Touch Pen - black, enamel navy, ice blue and white.
Quality/Usability : Having previously owned the original DS (phat), I wasnt too fond of the stylus. The stylus was too thin and too small for my big grubby hands.
Now that I have a DS Lite, the improved stylus is llonger and thicker which is great, but I wanted something a little longer. I wanted something that was a little longer without my fingers going over the top of the stylus. Thats where the Retractable Metallic Touch Pen Stylus came in handy.
The Retractable Metallic Touch Pen Stylus comes in four colors, white, enamel blue, ice blue and black. What happened to pink?! Even though the stylus is made of metallic copper, the weight feels the same as the plastic stylus that comes with the DS Lite.
The stylus is the same as the original stylus but when you extend it, it adds about an extra 3/4". The stylus fits flush with the DS Lite. The top end of the stylus has grooves which allows you to easily grip stylus to pull out of the DS Lite.
Conclusion : Overall, the Retractable Metallic Touch Pen Stylus is a good substitution to the original stylus. If the original stylus is a little small for your hands, I suggest checking out the retractable stylus.
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March 23rd, 2007, 03:57 Posted By: bandit
XCMLive has put up a few pictures of their XCM I-Case Black Knight for the Wii. The Black Knight has a matte type finish. XCM also noted that all cases come with a free stand and screwdriver.
XCM also revealed their Chrome version as well...
Now the Wii can look fun as well as play fun! XCM are back and bring their years of replacement case development to the mighty popular Wii. I-Case is a complete, high quality and colourful replacement shell for the Wii console. It’s perfect for those gamers who want to inject their Wii with further healthy does of fun and make their console stand out from the rest. Boasting a simple installation procedure, virtually anyone from young gamers to your Gran could install the I-Case! Initial colours available include Chrome, Crystal Blue and Black.
You can pre-order the Black Knight case from Divineo China for $34.95. There is no current pre-order for the Chrome I-Case.
Source: XCMLive
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March 23rd, 2007, 02:01 Posted By: bandit
As of Saturday, March 24, 2007, I will be on a cruise vacation to the Caribbeans. So dont be alarmed if there arent any reviews or updates from me during that week but if you have some reviews you would like to contribute, feel free to.
I will have little to no online access as the cruise ship charges an arm and a leg for every minute you use their internet. So I probably wont be able to check emails or the site until April 2nd. Till then, bye!
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March 23rd, 2007, 01:43 Posted By: bandit
Ewin DS Lite Rumble Pack
Manufacturer: Ewin
Site: Buy from Brando
Price: $12.00
Overview : This NDS Lite Rumble Pak (3rd Party) deliver smooth rumble experience to you. Make you have better experiences when you play the game that support Rumble.
Features :- Built-in RUMBLE system
- Deliver smooth rumble experience
- 2 colors available, Black or White
- This is not an official Nintendo Product
Quality/Usability : The Rumble Pak was first introduced on the GameBoy Advance (GBA). Since then, Nintendo has released it for the Nintendo DS as well. The first game to receive this was Metroid Prime Pinball for the DS. With the release of the DS Lite which features a smaller design and brighter screen, Nintendo released a new updated Rumble Pak that is more flush with the DS Lite rather then a protruding cart.
Unfortunately, Nintendo only released the Rumble Pak in Japan. Seeing as Nintendo failed to provide a Rumble Pak for other countries gamers outside of Japan were left high and dry. Thats where Ewin steps in. They are well known for their flash carts and their quality of products.
Ewin Rumble Pak's are available in white and black. The Rumble Pak fits flush with the system and does not protrude out of the DS Lite. Its technically the same size as the Slot-2 dust cover that came with the DS Lite. The Rumble Pak does not require any batteries to power it. This however, will not fit on the original DS (phat).
Inserting and removing the Rumble Pak doesnt require much force. As mentioned above, the Rumble Pak doesnt any extra batteries or any special attention. Just insert into Slot-2 of the DS Lite and load a game that supports the rumble feature.
At the time of this review, this is the list of games that are compatible with the Rumble Pak:- 42 All-Time Classics (aka Clubhouse Games)
- Diddy Kong Racing DS
- Elite Beat Agents
- Hotel Dusk: Room 215
- The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning
- Magnetica
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- Metroid Prime Pinball
- Metroid Prime: Hunters
- Picross DS
- Star Fox Command
- Star Trek: Tactical Assault
- Super Princess Peach
I have tested the Rumble Pak with majority of the games listed and they all work perfectly. With each hit or move, you can feel the vibration of the Rumble Pak. Although not as strong as what you would find on console controllers, you'll still feel the vibration. As it vibrates, you'll hear the sound of the motor but the sound it produces isnt loud at all. If you're in a quite area with the sound turned off, you'll notice it. But if you're in a noisy area or with the sound on, you wont hear it at all.
During the test of the Rumble Pak, I didnt notice much of a battery drain on my DS Lite. Mind you, I didnt play with my DS Lite in consecutive hours nor did I have a timer. This was going by my estimation of time.
Conclusion : Overall, the Ewin DS Lite Rumble Pak is a well built product. There arent a lot of games that utilizes the rumble feature. Those who use flash carts that uses Slot-2, will not be able to use this. Is it needed for gameplay? Not really but for the price of $12, thats really cheap. Hopefully there will be more games that will support rumble such as Mario Hoops 3-on-3. I would of like the rumble of each swipe of the ball I take or each dunk I make! I guess I can only dream for now.
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