Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock Review

Although this works as a standalone Rock Band game, you shouldn't get any of these track packs as a replacement for the main games. They have a quarter of the songs and half the features. You won't be able to play online or make your own characters. Furthermore, all of the songs on this pack can be bought individually on the Rock Band online store through the main game in either part 1 or part 2, so you won't be missing out on anything to pass this by.

The #1 selling point and the reason I am giving this 5 stars, though, is because this game is supplied with a code on a piece of paper that anyone can use one time to allow them to download all 20 songs for free. That means you can buy this pack and then e-mail the code off to a friend. You can still keep the disc for yourself, too! The code makes a great gift for anyone you know who's too cheap to buy songs for themselves. Maybe you're never going to get your buddy to decide on which songs to buy, and even if you give them points they "save" them "just in case". This code will force them to finally expand their library so you're not always playing the same tired songs when you visit or play together online. As for the quality of the tracklist, these songs are, for the most part, some of the better downloadable classic rock songs. Harmonix have a vast library of songs for Rock Band, so they have an easy time assembling 20 good ones.

You don't need a paid subscription to XBox Live to download and play the songs with the code. You just need an ethernet connection, which I'm sure 99% of gamers do have at this point.

As a less important point of interest, these track pack discs all have 250 points of achievements tied to them, for those of you who just can't get enough of the gamerscore.

Although this disc is not going to appeal to the vast majority of people, for those who want to surprise a friend with 20 songs, it serves its purpose.

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Product Description:
Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock is a standalone software product that allows owners of Rock Band and Rock Band 2, as well as those new to the Rock Band universe to start and keep the party going with an additional 20 seminal hits from the heyday of classic rock and beyond that have been hand-picked for players with care by game developer, Harmonix. This track pack is also compatible with most Guitar Hero and other instrument controllers.

A 20-track standalone game.
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Multiplayer & co-op play options.
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Import tracks into Rock Band.
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Standalone Game - Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock is a standalone game, meaning that players do not need to own a standard copy of a Rock Band game to play it.
Full-Featured - Rock Band Track Pack Classic Rock contains all the great features of Rock Band, including: Solo and Band Tour Mode, Quickplay, Tug of War, Score Dual, and song unlock progression.
The Best Around - Bust out the flannel with 20 of the most rockin', guitar-driven, pulse-pounding classic rock tracks in Rock Band history distilled to perfection on one disc, all utilizing the original master recordings.
Go Beyond the Disc - Rock Band Track Pack Classic Rock for Xbox 360 ships with download codes to import all of these tracks for use directly in Rock Band and Rock Band 2 via Xbox LIVE.
Xbox LIVE Support - As with standard Rock Band games Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock features Xbox LIVE support including achievements and friends lists.

The Set List:
Boston – "Peace of Mind" Boston – "Rock and Roll Band" Dead Kennedys – "California Uber Alles" Dead Kennedys – "Holiday in Cambodia" Free – "All Right Now" George Thorogood – "Bad to the Bone" James Gang – "Funk #49" Jethro Tull – "Hymn 43" Lenny Kravitz – "Let Love Rule" Pat Benatar – "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" The Police – "Can't Stand Losing You" The Police – "Truth Hits Everybody" Rush – "Closer to the Heart" Rush – "Red Barchetta" Siouxie & the Banshees – "Kiss Them For Me" Steve Miller Band – "Take the Money & Run" Steve Miller Band – "The Joker" Stone Roses – "Love Spreads" The Who – "Baba O'Riley" The Who – "Behind Blue Eyes"

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NHL 2K10 Review

pretty good, very realistic looking when paired with my 46" tv, would definately reccomend to anyone looking for a great hockey game

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Product Description:
2K Sports NHL 2K10 redefinesthe sports gaming experience with a new emphasis on social gaming.Whether you're a die-hard NHL fan or a casual player, NHL 2K10'scombination of pick-up-and-play controls ensuring accessibility, thegame's true-to-life professional hockey authenticity and its varietyof on and off-line multiplayer modes promise hours of entertainmentfor every gamer, regardless of experience level.

Face off in a whole new game.
Viewlarger. Key Game Features

Rewritten AI, enhanced defensive controls and stick lifts, stumble shots, a new defensive skating model and new incidental contact and small animation systems.
Rink intros for each arena, improved goal celebrations, enhanced visuals, and greatly improved, true-to-life character models, with San Jose Sharks commentators Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda returning with new broadcast commentary.
NHL 2K10 features a contract/free agency system, improved roster management, an updated financial model, dynamic player progression, and fantasy drafts.
Play a franchise season game with or against a friend on- or off-line,or play a traditional game against the CPU.
Publish your franchise stats and standings, and upload game highlights and screenshots to your personal page at 2KSports.com.
Online integration connects players in Team Up games, tracks your progress with My Player Card, and offers full league, leaderboard, tournament and 2K Share support.
Create a persistent team with friends by designing your uniforms,developing a unique team identity, and then competing againstother created teams online, off-line and in Franchise Mode.
Online game support and additional features via PlayStation Network.

Additional Screenshots:

Online support.
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Falling Stars Review

Let me tell you, I am not afraid to play a "children's" game.Some automatically avoid certain RPGs because they look "kid-ish" but that isn't me.I realize that sometimes a child-friendly game can still be enjoyable even if it is simpler.So, I give such games a chance.However, game companies also seem to realize that calling something a "child's game" can be an excuse to get lazy and cut corners.I've played great so-called children's games, but unfortunately, Falling Stars falls into the latter category.It's just so obvious that the creators got lazy.

Graphics (score 7/10): Now, this is the high point of the review.The graphics are bright and colorful, though not quite up to what the PS2 is really capable of.The character models, while adequate, are a bit basic; the faces especially are lacking in detail.The whole world in Falling Stars, though, is vibrant and beautiful; possessing a bit of a whimsical quality.

Music (score 4/10): This game gets a "4/10" merely for possessing music.The music itself is the very definition of generic bland RPG music.I feel like they bought some cd called "Generic RPG tunes" and selected a couple tracks off of it to use.I mean it's just that boring.None of the tracks are irritating or grating on the ears, but there are only about 5 or 6 tracks in the entire game, and it gets repetitive.I actually muted my TV while playing, put on my headphones, and listened to some of my own mp3s.A game should never have music so boring it forces me to do this.There is no voice acting, which is good, since it would probably suck as much as the music.

Characters (score 2/10): The characters are pretty shallow.This is due in part to poor dialogue.There is no subtlety in this game.For example, I take Luna (main character) and talk to a girl who's got a rather bad attitude.Instead of making me feel that she doesn't like my character through dialogue hints, she come right out and says she doesn't like me because she doesn't like my outfit!Instead of saying "because I don't like your outfit" she should've said something snippy like "because some people have no fashion sense".The latter may not be the best dialogue, but it's still a bit better than the original.Anyway, Luna herself doesn't seem to have much personality other than being a goody-goody helpful person.Beyond that, nothing.Even the villain (Uncle Matt; this isn't a spoiler it says so on the back of the box) is rather one-dimensional.

Story (score 2/10): This is one of the most embarrassing storylines I've ever seen.A spirit was sent down to reside in and control the body of a young girl (Luna) in order to put an end to her evil Uncle Matt's schemes for power and save the town of Dazzleon.It wouldn't have been so bad except for the unbelievable parts.For example, there is actually a point in which Luna has to ask her uncle Matt for PERMISSION to train her monster to beat his.If he was so evil, and the goal is to stop him, then why would you need to ask his permission to beat him?!Apparently, familial respect trumps saving the town of Dazzleon from certain doom.That made no sense to me at all.Furthermore, the game never instills a sense of danger in the player.You don't really feel that Matt's actions are dangerous, and thus you don't feel any real need to stop him to save the town.

Battle System (score 1/10): Laughably bad.I can't think of a better way to describe this.You control a little monster in battle called Komi.Luna does no direct fighting herself, but can heal Komi by using a potion when her time bar is full, which you can fill by rotating the right analog stick clockwise.The battle system itself works somewhat like rock/paper/scissors.There are three colored attacks: yellow, red, and white, which vary in strength.If you go first, you must guess which color the enemy is defending against, and use a different color.If the enemy goes first, you need to guess which attack they will use, and then defend against that color.Although enemies tend to have attack/defense patterns, this all really just amounts to a guessing game.This really isn't a fun, satisfying battle mechanic.I felt myself pining for a standard menu with "attack", "defend", "magic" and "item" commands.

Gameplay (score 4/10): This is a bit of a catch-all category for me.Let's see, the game itself is very easy, that's what kept me playing.At least it's easy, so you can coast through.Unfortunately, the big kicker here is the load times.There's a load screen before everything!30 second load screens before each battle, before entering new areas, and before playing minigames are all abundant.It kind of made me want to tear my hair out.Another thing I'd like to mention is the stupidity of the menu system.You can't even see the name of an item unless you let your cursor rest idly over the item's picture for about 10 seconds.This was a needless frustration.Another point to note is that the entire game takes place in Dazzleon--there is no RPG-esque traveling from town to town with wilderness in between.So, that's kind of dull.One more complaint is that Luna walks very slowly.You can run by holding down R2, but only until you're stamina meter runs down.Then you have to walk until it refills over time (or there are potions you can use to refill it).This is really an unnecessary hindrance considering this is a playstation 2 game.Game developers have already abandoned this archaic movement mechanic in favor of either having your character move quickly all the time, or having an option of changing the default from walk to run in the menu.There's no reason Falling Stars couldn't have allowed Luna to "run" all the time.I suspect this decision was a cheap way to increase the playing time of the game.

Overall (score 4/10): NOTE this score is not an average, it's my subjective overall score.You might be wondering why this game gets a "4" instead of a "1" overall.It's because I actually garnered some enjoyment out of it for some reason.I couldn't precisely tell you why, but I was mildly interested while playing.Go figure.Objectively though, this game stinks.If you're looking for a good RPG that's lighthearted and kid-friendly, I can easily recommend Guardian's Crusade over this game.If Falling Stars hadn't had such insane loading times, it might have been a fairly enjoyable, albeit simplistic, RPG.It's really too bad that the developers didn't put more time and effort into this game.It's really games like this that dissuade children from enjoying RPGs rather than encouraging it.


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Product Description:
In Falling Stars, players take on the role of Luna, a young girl living in Dazzleon, who longs to be something more. One day, her uncle, Matt visits and discovers a mine that seems to possess odd powers. He becomes so intrigued that he decides to stay in Dazzleon and investigate. Soon, to the horror of Luna and her neighbors, he becomes obsessed with the mine as it starts to possess him. He begins to experiment on his pets and eventually turns them into evil monsters. Because it is her uncle, Luna feels responsible for his actions and desperately looks for a solution. She comes across one when she finds and adopts her uncles lost (non-evil) pet. She decides to train her pet in order to challenge her uncle to the ultimate battle to restore Dazzleon back to its original, peaceful village. In Falling Stars, players will be able to help Lunas neighbors by completing quests, playing mini games, training and battling Lunas pet, and delving deeper into the mystery that surrounds Dazzleon.

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Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Review

I didn't really know what to expect when firing up Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the first time. After playing the game, though, I think I have an idea of what Bioware's pitch to Sega was in the initial meetings, "it'll be exactly like Mario RPG only with Elite Beat Agent mechanics thrown in at odd intervals, and a story told through the rich canon of the Sonic universe." That may sound like I'm not too into the game, but I am. It has flaws, but the basic description I listed above made a prett good game.

The game is a solid take on Sonic in an RPG forum, everything works and Bioware finds a place for all of Sonic's odd lore. The main problems, polish and pace, aren't enough to damage enjoyment of the entire experience.

My biggest complaint with the game is that it just feels and looks cheap. The game looks great while standing still. The backgrounds are crisp and the characters are distinctive for a DS game, but in motion everything falls apart. The characters do animate well, but you can't appreciate it, because the screen shakes when trying to track a character that is in motion. The backgrounds that looked detailed standing still look like something out of a flash game in motion and it all becomes a murky, janky mess that isn't pleasent to look at. You can work past this, but it does bring down the overall mood of the game.

Sonic is controlled in the same way as Link in Phantom Hourglass and this system works fine, but it is a little frustrating that you have to use the stylus. During battles when you just want to tap A and get through them quickly, you can't, you have to click attack and then select the target. It isn't a huge problem, but it is just a bit frustrating.

The biggest frustration beyond the cheapness is the pacing. The game throws you a bunch of fetch quests with little backstory or incentive. The quests aren't hard, but they are just filler and rarely pay off anything more than health or powerups. During the fetch quests you'll have to deal with on-map enemies that will attack you (or you them) and this will send you to the battle screen.

The battles are turn-based and basic. You have Attack, Defend, POW moves, Items, and Flee. These options are pretty much the same as other RPGs and identical to Mario RPG. The only mix up in all of these is the POW moves. Your POW moves are your magic, when you perform a POW move on-screen cues will pop up, that you'll have to perform in order to get the maximum power and accuracy out of your attacks. These cues are the bits that resemble "Elite Beat Agents" you'll have to tap on-screen buttons on rhythm, tap them so many times in a set number of seconds, or follow a button as it moves on screen. It is a fun, interactive way to keep the players involved in the battles. These on-screen cues only appear in the POW moves and when defending from enemies POW moves, it is the best part of the battle system, and I wish it would have been integrated in the normal attacks as well.

Finally, a lot of attacks "missed" which is a huge pet-peeve, it is really bad at the beginning of the game, but it does seem to calm down about halfway through.

Another thing that is identical to Mario RPG is the equipment and items. You can equip amulets, gloves, pants, etc. to increase your characters stats. You can also find and raise Chao that can provide special types of upgrades, these can be traded with friends. Again, it is still fun even if it is an obvious clone of Mario RPG.

It may sound like there is a lot wrong with this game, but honestly it rises above all these complaints to provie a good portable RPG that makes the best of a crusty old character that still has a lot of good will with a core group of gamers.

Bioware fans are going to be disappointed with the license and the Easterness of the design. Sonic fans, though, should be ecstatic for this game. The pacing does pick up a bit after a couple of hours and the battles are less repetitive then some RPGs and if you have good will towards any of these characters you are going to get sucked in. The story is nothing special, but it doesn't get bogged down in seriousness, even if Sonic's BADITUDE is on full display.

Sonic RPG is a lot of fun, it doesn't take itself too seriously which is why it is so easy to forgive it for not being very original, and at this point in Sonic's life I'd rather have a solid ripoff, then another mediocre (or worse) attempt to recapture old glories. As a portable RPG that is going to be played in short spurts it is a very good game, that may have a bright future in sequels yet to come. As for this time around though? It is a really good time.

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Product Description:
Sonic and his friends have banded together with leading RPG developer BioWare to create a stylish blend of strategy and speed for Sonic's first RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Exclusively for the Nintendo DS, Sonic Chronicles mixes a rich story, hand-painted visuals, fast-paced team combat, and wireless collectible trading into a uniquely compelling adventure.Rhythmically tapping and dragging with the stylus in Sonic-style battles, players can level up and use Rings to buy new special attacks as they progress through 20 different and beautifully hand-drawn areas including new and classic Sonic locales. With an engaging storyline, lightning fast attacks, high production values, and impeccable visuals, Sonic Chronicles allows gamers to experience Sonic in a whole new way.Online Trading and Collecting: Collect several types of artificial Chao lifeforms, each with varying power-ups and abilities that help in combat and elsewhere. Players can exchange their Chao with friends via local wireless play.New Party System Gameplay: Sonic Chronicles introduces the "party system" for diverse team tactics using each of the 11 playable character's unique and customizable skills and powers.

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BUZZ: The Hollywood Quiz Review

This game is a lot of fun but also a lot harder than the Buzz Mega Quiz game. If you know movies inside and out down to all the credits on some of the most obscure movies ever made this game is for you.

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Product Description:
Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz is the star-studded installment of the new social gaming series that delivers the worlds greatest Hollywood trivia event live in your living room! The Buzz! buzzers are so easy to use that you and 8 of your family and friends will have fun competing as a contestant on this new interactive game show. Fans of tinsel town pop culture will be challenged to test their trivia knowledge on over 5000 questions spanning a number of topicsincluding Hollywood's greatest box office hits, hot celebrity insight and the lifestyle of Hollywood's most glamorous stars.

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Rapala Tournament Fishing Review

Rapala Tournament Fishing for your Wii lets you fish in a variety of locations - New York, Minnesota, Florida, the Amazon and many other places.

The game is standard-screen only (no widescreen option) and lets you choose from a number of character models - male and female, various skin tones. You start with only the most basic of equipment, but as you win tournaments you begin to unlock more advanced options.

It's best to start out in free play mode where you can learn how to fish. A lot of this is intuitive. If you've played Zelda or any other game that has a fishing mode you probably understand what to do here. You cast out the line. You slowly reel it in. If you get a nibble, you have to set the hook in the mouth - and then the fun begins. You try to reel in the line (by actually reeling your left nunchuck hand) while moving the line left and right, and watching the tension so you don't either lose the fish or snap the line.

If you're skilled enough to get the fish near the boat, you get a net view where you have to point the remote at the fish, and then press the buttons indicated to draw it in.

Not all of this is well explained in the instructions. If you haven't fished before, then the notion of line drag affecting how you bring in a fish, or having to let out the line when the fish runs so it doesn't just snap the line in half, might seem a bit confusing. There are instructions both in the game and in the manual but I realize many people don't like to read :)Really, a little bit of practice should make it clear.

There are tournament modes, free play modes, and other modes to help you test your skills. During the loading menu it gives you random Rapela trivia questions. You can of course ignore these, or play them to kill time until the load is complete. As you win more of the levels, you get access to some neat equipment.

I was impressed with some of the fish models, but less impressed with the movements. The fish would change 90 degree angles in a flash. I realize the Wii does not have excellent graphics, and is better at cartooney visuals than "realistic" visuals. So, that being said, they might have done better here deliberately aiming for a more cartooney look and feel to this. In general on the Wii when you play cartooney games (Ray Man, Monkey Ball etc) they look crisp, but the more realistic games (Call of Duty etc) always look a bit kludgy.

I don't know how you could rate sound on a fishing game. There's no sound! Your helper makes random comments but really it comes down to you and the fish. Man vs pisces. It's like worrying about how your caddy talks in a golf game :) That being said, the helper is usually pretty helpful so that you can focus on fighting the fish - not watching all the on-screen alerts - and still know when to pull right, or left, or let the line out, or so on.

I like the little details - the deer wandering the side of the river in Alaska, the loon flying overhead in Minnesota. It really is quiet and peaceful while you boat around, seeking out the perfect spot - and then it gets quite complex when you've hooked that fish and are trying to balance all the forces just right to get him into the boat.

I realize this game might be challenging if you're not a fisherman. My advise is to start with one type of location, one type of fish, and spend the time to read the material on that combination. Just like a real fisherman would do. A real fisherman would learn what the fish is like, what the region is like, what lures are used.Then they fish for a while and discover through trial and effort what combinations work best for them. The same is true here, and heck, unlike Zelda or other games, the skills you learn here are actually useful in the real world. If you end up on vacation in one of these locations, grab a rod and reel and go out for an afternoon. You might be amazed at how much fun the real sport of fishing can be, when you leave the comfort of your couch.

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Product Description:
Rapala Tournament Fishing Wii Rapala Trophies brings you authentic fishing action. Grab your tackle box, launch the Bass boat and let's go! Time to set the hook and land the trophy of a lifetime!
Realistic fish detail with advanced AI
Fish in over 500,000 specially-selected acres of the world's finest trophy waters.
Guided trips led by Rapala's Pro Staff
Catch bass, pike, walleye, salmon, catfish, muskie, trout and more!

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Wii Review

The Nintendo Wii is the most inexpensive of the current generation of gaming consoles. It provides motion sensing controllers and 480p graphics. We tested the Wii before its launch day (I'm a game reviewer), and we had our own unit in our home the morning of launch day. Here are our findings.

The Wii is designed around a menu of "channels". There is of course the game-playing channel, where the Wii will play any Wii or GameCube game. Simply load the disc in and go. There is a Mii channel where you set up a profile and avatar to connect to all your game playing. The Photos channel lets you look at photos on your TV. Other channels for news, weather, and online shopping require an interent connection; the news and weather were not actually working at launch time.

The system does NOT have a regular network cable port, which both the PS3 and XBox 360 have. Instead, it works with built in wireless or with a USB network adapter. I am a firm proponent of wireless - less clutter! So I am thrilled that they offer wireless automatically. With the PS3, you have to pay extra for the 60 gig unit to get this built in. The XBox 360 requires extra hardware as well.

It's hard to generalize gameplay on any console - it really depends on what games you buy. That being said, the comes-with-it software of Sports is really quite fun and is about as basic as you can get. You swing at baseballs, lob tennis balls, bowl, box and play golf. A "fitness" mode puts you through a variety of tasks and then calculates your fitness age, sort of like how Brain Age keeps track of your mental age. If you did both every day, you could aim to be as fit mentally and physically as possible!

In a world where video games = couch potato, it really is quite amazing to have a game where it natively expects you to move and be active. You don't lounge back and gain pounds here while playing games. Boxing can be quite strenuous, jabbing, blocking and weaving in real life. Tennis involves quick reflexes and strong arm movements. Bowling might be the most relaxed of the sports, but even there you are standing, moving, swinging. You get your heart going at least a little, and get some exercise. My boyfriend had a sore arm after playing for a number of hours, in a good way, as he would from exercising.

The 480p resolution is certainly not high def 1080p like the other two systems. It's something you accept when you're paying such a low price for the console. But really, it's not that big a deal. I still play the old Zeldas and love them for their gameplay, even though you can't see the pores in Link's face. If they are going for the cartooney characters and environments, 480p is DVD quality and is quite good. If you really, really crave high definition super realism in your games, then the Wii might not be the best choice for you. However, if you're fine with playing games with a more impressionist / cartooney look to them, the 480p can show that quite nicely. For example, there aren't fans in the stands for baseball - there are colored blocks.

Nintendo has always been known as a "Kid's Console" - but I really do think with the Wii that they have become a "Family Console". It's not just kids who will enjoy this. Seniors can have fun bowling without knowing anything "Tricky" about how to use a video game unit. It's very intuitive. Moms can easily play with their kids, each with their own Wii profile. Adults having parties can have fun passing the controllers around. Family groups can share slideshows on the big screen while hanging out and drinking wine. Every person who has come over - from 8 to adult - has instantly understood and enjoyed the Wii, without much explanation at all.

With the price tag being so low, a gaming household that "needs" a higher end system can easily save up their money to get that XBox 360 or PS3 - and still be able to justify to get a Wii for the fun, casual gaming stuff to share with their non-gaming friends.

Well recommended! Since I own all three systems, and am playing all three wirelessly, feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

================

Update: One year later, and the Wii is still going strong! It's really funny how many people said the Wii would bomb because it wasn't as good as the PS3 or 360 - and here we are a year later and the Wii is still the system that people are really wanting to get. Hospitals are getting Wiis for their patients to play with. Senior centers are getting Wiis for their residents to play games together with. I was just on a cruise ship and they had Wii tournaments going on every day! This is a fantastically fun system that we really enjoy playing with and that literally the whole family can have fun with. There are great games for kids, great games for teenagers, great games for adults. I am really very pleased with how the Wii has held up and the game set available for it.

Update 2: 2 years later! Our Wii is still adored in our household, used just as much as the PS3 and XBox 360. I was just at a bar and they had two Wiis set up for people to play with, and everybody loved them. This really is an "every person's gaming system".

I'm running out of space here, but my nintendo.bellaonline.com site has full articles on exactly what you get in this box, and what else you should buy so you have a full system to play with.

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Imagine Fashion Designer New York Review

Shame on the UBISoft for failing to describe ALL of the features of this game! And, for recommending it for ages as young as 5 years old.My 8-year old daughter LOVES this game.I thought "Great!She has another outlet for her creativity."Then, she invited me to watch the action as she completed tasks . . . The tasks ARE fun.I was enjoying watching until "Mark" started telling my daughter's character - "Emma" - that he was in love with her and wanted to be her boyfriend."Emma" then had to decide whether to take on a boyfried at this time in her career, or stay focused.Next, a male "Director of Development" asked "Emma" if she was having "any problems" implying that she could confide in him and he would help.(I have to admit this creeped me out!)In my opinion, these scenarios/decisions are WAY TOO GROWN-UP for those under dating age!My daughter is very perceptive and I found myself having to explain office politics/pitfalls that she shouldn't have to think about for a long time.

Bottom line:The manufacturer's description and rating imply one type of game.The actual game is far more "mature".Parents, think carefully about whether these scenarios are appropriate for your child if they're not dating yet.Try to preview the game if you can.

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Product Description:
In Imagine Fashion Designer New York players take on the role of a novice fashion designer given the chance to make her mark in the fashion capital of the world, New York, New York. Your goal is become the ultimate fashionista as quickly as possible, as you express your creativity in sophisticated design workshops and live in the glamorous world of fashion.

Gameplay
Holding the DS like a book and using the stylus to tap out your choices, players choose the young fashion designer they will play as, give her a name and start her on conquest of the fashion world. On the way up players will participate in exercises in designing outfits, matching accessories, selecting models, taking photos and more. The game includes access to fashion card, exchangeable over a Nintendo Wi-Fi connection and an eight song soundtrack that sets the mood as players illustrate their creativity from the drawing board to the catwalk.

Key Game Features:

Accomplish fashionista missions and learn the basic fashion concepts to perform new tasks.
Interact with fashion specialists, like senior designers, photographers, journalists, and models.Set the trends and send your designs straight to the runway.
Receive new missions and unlock new design options as you succeed in tasks (new clothes, colors, accessories, and backgrounds for photoshoots)
Collect fashion cards and exchange them with your friends via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
8 song pop soundtrack to serve as a backdrop for player's rise to the top of the fashion world.

Screenshots:

Make a splash in NYC.
Viewlarger.

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Army Men Sarges War Review

I love this game, my kids (ages 10,11,16) love this game, and we play it often. Even though it is several years older than others that have come out since, it is a fallback of joy, laughter, thrills, and excitement. The you vs. game component isn't bad and you have three levels to work with to get yourself to the end. But it's the journey, my friends. Plastic army men on household and back yard battlefields was like having the games you used to play as a kid with these toys come to life!
The Capture the Flag and Death Match parts are the best, especially Death Match, which is four player and usually what the kids and I play. You will have to adjust your brightness in the options section as it is pretty dark, but the adjustment makes it fine. Hurl grenades, find the flamethrowers or HMG for maximum firepower, and find the protective gear and you're set for a great time. It is easy to master thanks to the automatic targeting aim, so even the lamest novice can do well. Making it that much cooler from a parent's point of view, this isn't bloody at all - they're plastic!! It's kind of funny to watch these giant holes get blasted in the plastic guys and yet they still run around! Imagine the character from T2 as a plastic army man!
I could ramble on and on but let me just say that I believe you will really enjoy this. Unless your child (or you) need some blood drenched game to enjoy, this game is a blast!

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Product Description:
On the verge of a long-awaited peace between the Green and the Tan, rogue elements of the Tan Army draw Sarge and his men out into the field. Out in the field, Sarge discovers a new and diabolical enemyâ''Colonel Malice--equipped with weapons that threaten the very existence of the Green Nation. With his squad destroyed, Sarge becomes a one-man army out to stop Colonel Malice at all costs.

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Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal Review

My son (age 7) and I were looking forward to this game because we both love the characters, and the concept of the game was very promising. Unfortunately, we only played through the first two levels of the game before giving up.

We loved the characters (primarily Bugs and Marvin) and the comments they made while playing, plus the occasional taunts by the villain. We also liked fighting the robots.

However, the Controls were the reasons we ended up sending back early. The nunchuck has to be twisted along it's axis in order to make the characters do a spinning attack, and several of the enemies are only vulnerable to that attack. Also, it's the only way to jump across several key gaps. The castle level has several of these longer jumps, and falling will take you back to the beginning of the series of four to five gaps.

Also, we were playing on a 36" standard TV. We tried splitting the screen both horizontally and vertically (horizontal ended up working best for us), but the Castle section was too dark and the characters too small to keep track of where we were. Several times, we were separated and had a LOT of difficulty finding one another. It was also easy to lose track of each other during the fights.

Honestly, I hope it does well enough to get a sequel, because it is a great idea for a game. However, this one just doesn't do it for us.

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Product Description:
Tag-team with the Tunes in the fight for their lives! Wield a major arsenal of ACME weapons as the tunes team-up to hunt down the mad scientist, chasing him through exotic locals from the past, present and future. Unite Bugs, Taz, Daffy, Marvin and more in a co-operative "whack-and-smash" romp through time - including online play! Melee and projectile weapons: Each character's weapon/melee skills can power up three times on the fly as you go. Vehicle Based Action: Race a jet scooter across an alien environment or wage battle on top of a giant flying Pterodactyl...the possibilities are endless! Travel to various locations such as Camelot, Ancient Egypt, Mars, the Wild West and more! Top-notch voice talent provides the characters with their classic voices and an authentic Looney Tunes slapstick adventure, while giving their look an updated, next-generation, modern edge.

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Xbox 360 Nyko Intercooler EX Version Review

The intercooler can, and in my case did, damage my 360. It sucks current that otherwise would go to the 360, which caused component failure. The worst part? As it's not an approved accessory for the 360, any damage it causes will void your warranty and you'll have to buy a new 360 out of pocket.

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Product Description:
NYKO focuses on bringing to market innovative products with a broad appeal for major entertainment systems including Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy and Game Boy Advance.PRODUCT FEATURES:Snap-on assembly for easy installation;Increases air flow and reduces heat throughout the Xbox 360;Improved protection for internal circuitry;Enhanced performance for your Xbox 360;Cooler temperatures mean extended life and reliability.

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Lego Rock Band Review

We love Rock Band in our house but, by our own admission, we aren't great musicians. Well okay, one of my kids is, but it's a drag when there's only one and you can't simply 'play along' as the game advances because the songs get that much more difficult.

But with this version - you can play along not only without a penalty for choosing 'easy', you can even choose a super easy/no fail mode so you simply can't mess up and still have fun playing. If you don't do anything you won't get the stars you need but if you do a minimal amount (i.e. hit ANY drum pad when the note needs to be played or 'strum' the guitar/bass at the right time - no need to press a button - or simply speak in time to the microphone) you'll be fine.

Lots of the same fun things as in Rock Band - make your own people, buy cool outfits & things for them. In addition this version has challenges which you can play and fun lego scenes occur as you 'rock' the house (typically you earn these as you successfully play songs in venues). The first one (and on a trailer so I'm not giving much away) is playing loud enough (getting enough stars) to knock down a building. And yes, we have successfully completed these challenges with two out of the three on the no fail mode.

This version is clearly geared for a slightly younger set - both in terms of the no-fail option and in terms of avoiding excessive profanity/explicit content in songs. Makes us no never mind - we're enjoying it immensely!

edited to add:
The review who said this does not have online support is right. For those familiar with Rockband, this version is like a hybrid track pack. You get new people, scenarios and venues to work your way through, but the songs are the songs which are included and you cannot buy new songs to play (I can't see that this'd change with this version - going to the online store to buy new tracks is not even shown as an option).

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Product Description:
LEGO Rock Band merges two of the most popular video game franchises to deliver a unique family-friendly music experience that will take tweens, teens, families and gamers of all ages on a wild journey to rock stardom in order to "Build a Band and Rock the Universe." Combining the authentic multiplayer music experience of Rock Band with the accessibility, customization and humor of LEGO games, LEGO Rock Band allows players to create their own unique rock star style and customize their own avatars, band members, roadies, and managers.

Gameplay
Action in LEGO Rock Band is nearly identical to the familiarflow of Rock Band gameplay, only with a LEGO twist. Your goalis to run through a succession rock tinged family friendly song trackswith your band, consisting in multiplayer modes of up to four avatarsin LEGO form controlled with guitar, bass guitar, microphone and drumcontrollers. The game features compatibility with most existing RockBand and Guitar Hero instrument controllers for the appropriateplatform. One of the fun LEGO influences is in the tablature flowingacross the screen that directs your play. This is in the form of LEGOblocks color coded for each controller. As players successfully completesongs and rock challenges, they can collect LEGO 'studs,' with whichthey can customize their avatar and other in-game goodies in trueLEGO Snap-On fashion. In addition, players can unlock additional contentand collect amazing vehicles, which can transport their band fromlocal gigs at rock clubs to epic stadium shows and even fantasy settingson Earth and beyond. The game contains a variety of play modes includingQuickplay and Challenge, and will feature music both supplied on thegame disc as well as downloadable content.

The Song List
LEGO Rock Band allows players to rock along to both current hits and classic favorites that the whole family will enjoy. These include:

All American Rejects - "Swing, Swing"
The Automatic - "Monster"
Blink-182 - "Aliens Exist"
Blur - "Song 2"
Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name"
Boys like Girls - "Thunder"
Bryan Adams - "Summer of 69"
Carl Douglas - "Kung Fu Fighting"
The Coral - "Dreaming of You"
Counting Crows - "Accidentally in Love"
David Bowie - "Let's Dance"
Elton John - "Crocodile Rock"
Europe - "The Final Countdown"
Everlife - "Real Wild Child"
Foo Fighters - "Breakout"
Good Charlotte - "Girls & Boys"
The Hives - "Tick Tick Boom!"
Iggy Pop - "The Passenger"
Incubus - "Dig"
Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back"
Jimi Hendrix - "Fire"
Kaiser Chiefs - "Ruby"
Katrina & The Waves - "Walking on Sunshine"

The Kooks - "Naïve"
KoRn - "Word Up!"
KT Tunstall - "Suddenly I See"
Lostprophets - "Rooftops"
P!NK - "So What"
The Police - "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
The Primitives - "Crash"
Queen - "We Are The Champions"
Queen - "We Will Rock You"
Rascal Flatts - "Life is a Highway"
Ray Parker Jr. - "Ghostbusters"
Razorlight - "Stumble and Fall"
Spin Doctors - "Two Princes"
Spinal Tap - "Short & Sweet"
Steve Harly - "Make Me Smile"
Sum 41 - "In Too Deep"
Supergrass - "Grace"
Tom Petty - "Free Fallin"
T-Rex - "Ride a White Swan"
Vampire Weekend - "A-Punk"
We the Kings - "Check Yes Juliet"
The Zutons - "Valerie"

Key Game Features

Use the LEGO character customizer to create and personalize your band, instrument controllers and entourage.
A rock tinged, yet family-friendly song list provided both on the game disc and as downloadable content.
Pull off killer riffs in LEGO themed Rock Power Challenges to perform amazing feats such as defeating a giant octopus, summoning a storm or demolishing a skyscraper.
Build fame LEGO style by completing songs to collect LEGO studs – unlock cool vehicles, progress to new venues and unlock new characters and instruments.
Express yourself with a personalized LEGO Rock Den that can be accessorized and decorated to perfectly suit your rock style.

Screenshots:

Rock Band attitude.
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World Championship Cards Review

I was excited to find such a good price for this game, however I did not get the game I ordered but a different one. I would suggest you be careful. It would cost me more to send this back so I will just keep the game they sent, but I will not order anything else.

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Product Description:
From the publishers of the best selling poker video game brand "World Championship Poker".World Championship Cards will offer fun variety of card games to challenge all your friends! Over 30 different card games to choose from, including Bridge, Gin Rummy, Spades, Hearts and more!

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Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection Review

Just to give some history of myself, I belong to a pinball league and we currently have over 40 titles the games include makers from Williams, Bally, Stern and Data East.I never expect a video game to replace the actual thing but for $14 bucks; The Williams Collection is the most realistic video Pinball ever!Two hours of playing this title and I couldent stop playing it.The designers did amazing work; from the artwork to the sound to the light shows.... from what I can tell everything is spot on.The ball physics are as real as real could get without being in front of the real thing.I own an Attack From Mars, like all pinball machines they need lots of care and maintenance.The beauty of a title like this is the pinball machines will never break, no lights to replace, no weak flippers and no playfield ware.I could buy 278 copies of this game for what I paid for my AFM.This is a no brainier; if you love pinball this is the game to get.I hope Crave keeps the ball rolling and brings out a Bally or Data East Collection; Stern would be nice but they are still making pinballs so I doubt that is even an option.


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Product Description:
8 Classic Williams pinball tables from the 70's, 80's and 90's for the Playstation 2. Gorgar, Pinbot, Funhouse, Black Knight, Space Shuttle, Whirlwind, Firepower & Taxi.

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Sonic the Hedgehog Review

Everyone else has said it and I'll say it too.Horrible camera angles and extremely awkward controls.Load times are bad too.You'll find yourself waiting 30 seconds or more just to load a cheesy 3 second video clip followed by 30 seconds or more just to load the next stage.There are too many points in the game where you aren't really playing at all but simply pressing the jump button at crucial times and the springs and dash panels do all the rest.The game is a "learn as you go" style of play wherein the learning is not intuitive and you must figure it out by losing a life or two.This game is a disgrace to the Sonic franchise.

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Product Description:
PENDING

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Pool Hall Pro Review

Just received it today.My initial reaction is that the post shot action is too extended, and cue ball seems to jump into the pocket if it gets close.I had several shots with the cue bouncing off 6 or more rails - a pretty good trick on a real table coming off a struck ball.

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Product Description:
The game features one of the widest arrays of pool and snooker in the world, including everything from basic pocket billiards to U.S. 8 ball and 6 ball snooker, there are up to 11 different varieties to be precise! You can also access six modes of game play, including arcade, tournament, multiplayer and more. Compete against the pros in single player mode, or make a name for yourself as travel the world earning cash and unlocking collectables in world tour mode. Up to four AI difficulty levels - Rookie, Amateur, Pro, Champion
Rise to stardom as you take on the Pool halls toughest opponents. Select and play a vast collection of different styles of Pool, Snooker and Billiards!Battle your way through tournaments set in exotic locations! Play your favorite game in Arcade, Tournament or Exhibition mode. Take on a AI character or battle it out with a friend in multiplayer mode! Customize your character and unlock collectables to pimp your own crib! Have you got what it takes to be a Pool Hall Pro?Unique accessible and deep control scheme 4 AI difficulty levels -Rookie, Amateur, Pro, Champion Play your game at several exotic locations

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Hail to the Chimp Review

Hail To The Chimp

FINALLY a good party game to play with my kids/family!

Easy to pick up and play with very simple controls (my wife could actually play it) - bright vibrant colors (kids love it) it's a great party game with easy to understand gameplay and easily the funniest game I've played in years.

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Product Description:
Since the dawn of time, Man has wondered who would win if a polar bear and jellyfish teamed up to fight an armadillo and yak. Do you have what it takes to learn the shocking truth?When the King of the Animals is forced to resign in disgrace, a motley group of candidates turns out for a bare-knuckle campaign to win the Crown. From Ptolemy, the mighty hippo, to Crackers, the devious monkey, each of the ten candidates has distinct strengths and strategies, but the same hunger for political power.Hail to the Chimp is a party game that delivers exciting gameplay, lush interactive environments, and a comic look at politics. Players use the game's unique team-up mechanic, mixing cooperation with competition, to claw their way to victory.Whether played by four friends on one TV, online against distant challengers or single-player against advanced AI, Hail to the Chimp offers endlessly replayable party fun for gamers of all stripes.

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Need for Speed: Shift Review

I am predominantly a simracer rather than an arcade racer, so I am reviewing this from the biased perspective of someone who typically likes Forza2, RacePro and Gran Turismo. I have never played any of the NFS games. But I have played and enjoyed the Burnout games. So I DO like arcade racers now and then too.

Pros:
- The presentation is hip and energetic with pulsing sound effects and visuals.
- The audio is cranked all the way up by default. So if you are using a driving seat with some kind of vibration system like an Aura Bass Shaker or Buttkicker, you will need to turn it down. Mine started getting pretty hot in a matter of a few minutes compared to games like Forza 2 and Race Pro- which would barely warm the units up.
- Cockpit view feels less claustrophobic than GT Prologue. Not sure why.
- Camera shake does definitely add to the realism and excitement.
- Money is earned pretty quickly so you can buy new cars- a lot less grinding compared to GTP. Also when you buy a car, you can later turn around and sell it for the same price as you bought it.
- The beginning of the game puts you through a trial race from which it provides you with a recommendation of the gameplay settings. This is a nice touch- especially for introducing newbies to the genre.Cons:
- Although the presentation is more "hip" it is also much more cluttered. There is often too much graphics and too many statistics presented to you both in the HUD and after the race.
- Program is not entirely bug free. It froze on me twice. And on another occasion I was able to start racing BEFORE the green light!
- Load times are pretty long so I recommend installing it on your harddrive- which helps a little.
- Even in Pro mode (i.e. no traction control, stability, and abs) it felt easier to control than Forza 2, and definitely easier than Race Pro.
- The force feedback on the wheel appears weaker than Forza 2. I was surprised it was already set at 10/10 by default.
- Cars do not appear to be visually as pleasing as Forza 2 or as accurate as GT Prologue. For example, the rear airfoil in the Audi TT does not raise automatically at greater than 75mph- which it does in GTP.
- Quick Race mode gives you a limited set of cars to start with. Although you earn cash pretty quickly and you can buy them.
- Cars are pretty aggressive on occasion, forcing you off the track on purpose. But at the same time, sometimes you see it do some really weird turns (that are not a result of a spinout) and decelerations that seem to indicate the AI decided to revert to following its rail.

On the whole NFS is simracing from a NFS perspective. It's a good effort for the NFS franchise. They presumably want to try and keep their existing customers (who tend to prefer a more arcade-style experience) but at the same time take a small nibble at the simracing piece of the pie currently dominated by Forza, Gran Turismo, and others.

Hardcore Simracers will probably be better off sticking to the Forza and Gran Turismo series.Forza3's new ability to wind back time so you can redo a portion of the race will likely be the top feature in the game- allowing you to practice a corner over and over.

I think casual games will still find this game enjoyable for the excitement-drenched visual and audio experience. I find that even though I am a semi-hardcore simracer,this title does grow on you after a while.

Addendum:
I recently played the demo version of Forza 3. Here's a quick comparison against NFSS:

F3's driving physics definitely does feel more accurate. E.g. on the Audi R8 about 70% of the power is supposed to be in the rear wheels and 30% in the front. In F3, it feels right. If you do too sharp a turn and hit the gas too hard, you will oversteer. In NFSS however, the R8 feels like a front wheel drive vehicle- in a hard corner, I can usually turn the wheel in the direction I want to go and just floor the gas, and eventually the car will straighten out. Your car almost never oversteers. I do admit though that NFSS' version of the R8 physics does make it more fun sometimes- you can whip your wheel around on a hard corner and just floor the gas- gives you a heroic feeling when taking an insane corner- which admittedly is not a good way to drive on a real race track.

The steering vibration in F3 is much stronger, and it really adds to the illusion of weight of the car. So if you through a serious of left/right turns quickly, the wheel will pull very hard in both directions and it really gives you the sensation that your car's weight is being flung from side to side.

NFSS' gas pedal feels a lot less "analog" than F3. NFSS' response tends to feel like it's a 1 or 0. F3 feels about right. You step on the gas gradually and you can feel and hear the gradual build up of power.

F3's cockpit is closer in view so you can see the dials more clearly. However the rendering of the cockpit is not as detailed as NFSS- and certainly much less detailed than Gran Turismo Prologue. Also with the closer cockpit view in F3, half of the rear-view mirror is truncated.

Even though I tend to prefer realistic racing sims, I find I really missed the camera shake in NFSS. It really does add a lot to the experience. When I play F3, it just feels rather tranquil by comparison.

NFSS' replay camera view is incredibly weak- there is really only 1 view. F3 has brilliant camera views. Just about every conceivable camera view is included. I have never seen so many views in a racing game. This is particular important if you are serious about analyzing your driving. And just as in Forza 2, you can toggle on/off detailed telemetry about your car.

However, still,the one feature that makes F3 the hands down winner, is the ability to rewind time so you can retake a corner. I found myself using this quite often and really appreciating it the more I use it- especially so that I don't have to restart the race just because I spun out toward the end of the last lap. However, I can see that this can be such a powerful crutch that people will over use it... perhaps forgetting that in real life there are no undos when it comes to real car racing... But for now I am thankful the feature is there. It is such a great learning tool.

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Product Description:
Get ready to Shift your game into high gear! Designed to deliver a true driver's experience that reflects contemporary motorsports, Need for Speed: Shift is built by racers for racers. Need for Speed: Shift delivers an authentic and immersive driving experience, replicating the true feeling of racing high-end performance cars like never before. Players are thrust into the heart of the action with immersive and exciting features including a stunningly realistic first-person cockpit view camera and an all-new crash mechanic, providing an unrivaled sensation of the speed and feeling of racing a car onthe extreme edge of control.

A true high-end racing experience.
Viewlarger. Imagine the experience of being a race driver. The adrenaline rush of driving at breakneck speeds, the pressure of fierce competition, the fear of losingcontrol, the intense concentration and athleticism needed to harness the power of speeding chrome and steel. This is the true driver's experience of Need for Speed: Shift. Through the combination of perception-based G-forces, an ultra-realistic first-person cockpit view, an accurate, accessiblephysics-based model and the all-new, brutally disorienting crash dynamic, you'll be thrust into the driver's seat amid the chaotic noise, intensity, andphysical and emotional demands of the race. Imagine the emotions race drivers go through. The thrill of driving incredibly fast, the pressure of the competition, the fear of losing control, the intense concentration and effort needed to harness the power of a racing car. The all-new driver profile is the ultimate extension of the true driver's experience. This system gives each player a unique persona based on a player's driving skill and style - aggressive or precise. Driver profile impacts how a player unlocks cars, overall career progression and online matchmaking. In Need for Speed: Shift, how you drive is who you are behind the wheel.

For Racers By Racers
In Need for Speed: Shift, EA has brought together some of the world's best racing game talent and real race drivers. Developed in a unique collaboration between Slightly Mad Studios--developers and designers of the critically acclaimed GT Legends and GTR2 games--Michael Mann (executive producer at Black Box) and Patrick Soderlund, senior Vice President of EA Games and part of a racing team that recently competed in the fourth edition of the TOYO Tires 24H Dubai 2009, the result is an authentic driving experience unmatched on any game system.
Additional Screenshots:

Varied event types.
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Where's Waldo? Review

I've never took the time to write a reviw before but thought this game desered a warrning for others. I'm a big fan of Hidden Object Games for the DS and I am always on th look out for new games to purchase. Needless to say I was excited when I read that this new game was being developed and released. I purchased the game on Tuesday and I will be darn that by Friday this game was over. I didn't give this a game 1 star because maybe this game is not for adult's DS players but children. If you are looking for a challenge like you find with some of the Hidden Object games do not purchase this you will be mad.

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Product Description:
Based on the famousfranchise and the children's book of the same name, Where's Waldo?:The Fantastic Journey is an original interactive puzzle-solvingadventure for the whole family, that has players searching for theone and only Waldo and his cast of friends. The game contains a widevariety of challenges unlocked as the game progresses, a storylinetrue to the Where's Waldo?: The Fantastic Journey book andinteractive map functionality that brings the Where's Waldo universealive like never before.

Gameplay
Just as in the Where's Waldo books, the focus of Where's Waldo?:The Fantastic Journey is finding Waldo, along with other charactersor items hidden throughout the game. Hints are available throughWaldo's pet dog Woof who is always willing to help out with puzzle-solving.As players traverse the game's many levels they will cross pathwith a variety of characters, most friends but also Waldo's nemesisand polar opposite Odlaw, who is intent on misleading Waldo at themost inopportune times.

Characters
The world of Where's Waldo?: The Fantastic Journey is packedfull of seemingly randon images and oddities, but there are faces that players willsoon get to know. Reoccurring characters in the game include:

Waldo - The world famous globe-trotter in stripes is back on the road and inviting you along for the ride! Join Waldo as he embarks on a quest to find twelve ancient scrolls hidden throughout twelve fantastic worlds.
Wizard Whitebeard - As Waldo's magical mentor, there is much to be learned from Wizard Whitebeard, so look to him for guidance on your journey. One piece of advice, though: don't mind the wizard's funny side –he's known for his quirky sense of humor.
Wenda - A fellow travel addict, Wenda is never far behind Waldo on his adventures. In addition to her uncanny fashion sense, Wenda has a keen eye for photography and is always carrying – and losing her camera.
Woof - Waldo's four-legged friend, Woof, is there to help you during the search (but only if you have a bone). He's a very clever dog with a penchant for puzzles, so don't be surprised if he wants to play a game or two with you along the way.
Odlaw - Watch out for this fellow. His dastardly plans to trick Waldo include unleashing a mess of Swamp Creatures that wreak havoc and overrun each location. Be sure to keep an eye out for Odlaw's signature black and yellow stripes, because you're the only one who can stop him.

Key Game Features

True-to-the original book concept where player find Waldo and other characters and items across the game's interactive maps.
In-game challenges that are both assigned as part of the gameplay and unlockable with success throughout the game.
A built-in hint system that ensures that no puzzle is ever too hard to solve.
Twelve interactive game levels filled with fantastically odd content appropriate for players of any age.
A cast of familiar characters from the Where's Waldo universe including:Waldo, Woof, Wizard Whitebeard, Wenda and Odlaw.

Screenshots:

All your fav characters.
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Star Wars the Clone Wars: Republic Heroes Review

This game is fun. It's not awful but it's not great either. I think kids would enjoy this game. I enjoyed that it has many of the characters from the show with strong performances from all the voice actors. I also liked that it captures the same humor that makes the tv show good family fun. My biggest disappointment was with the graphics which make a PS3 game look like something made for the wii. Far too often the camera view is too far from the action. This game would be so much better if you could be real close to the action. Another disappointment was that the game was too short. The game play is very similar to the Lego Star Wars game but with less content. If you're going to get the PS3 version I would recommend renting instead of buying or wait until the price drops below $30. Or get the PC version instead.

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Product Description:
Anchored by the characters and eventsof the "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" animated series, Star Wars The CloneWars: Republic Heroes reveals a new and exciting chapter of the StarWars saga. Containing the series' unique graphical style, a story conceivedby the writers of the television series, multiple playable characters acrosstwo classes and co-op gameplay it is a must-have title sure to enthrallboth new and more seasoned fans alike.

Close quarters Jedi combat.
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Clone based firepower.
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Jedi droidhacking.
Viewlarger. Story
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes lets Star Wars fans youngand old live out the sweeping galactic adventures of the Clone Wars. Forthe first time ever, players can fight as their favorite Jedi and clonetroopers from the preeminent animated television series – from familiarfaces like Anakin Skywalker to new heroes like Clone Captain Rex. A brand-newstoryline, which bridges the gap between season one and two, takes the playeron a multifaceted adventure to stop a mysterious techno assassin's destructiveplot. Built around two-player cooperative action, the accessible controlsand family-friendly gameplay bring Star Wars fans across generations togetherlike never before to fight the evil Separatists and restore peace to thegalaxy.

Gameplay
Gameplay in Star Wars the Clone Wars: Republic Heroes is mission-based.Players can choose to approach the action as either a Jedi or a cloneclass character. Playing as a Jedi you have access to eight playable characters,and as a clone you play as one of a group of clones. The game was developedwith co-op play in mind, which means players can more or less count onnever fighting alone, which is a good thing considering the hordes ofbattle droids and other enemies you will face. The game also featuresa puzzle-solving gameplay component, as well as an upgrade system basedon the collection of "Force Orbs" scattered throughout the game environment.

Weapons and Combat
Keeping with the games' user friendly approach, the control scheme hasbeen designed with Jedi character's lightsaber and force powers, as wellas clone characters firing trigger accessible from a single input source.Because of the difference in the character classes weapons, combat differsdepending on the class chosen. Due to their reliance on the their lightsabers,Jedi will mostly engage enemies at close range, although force power attackscan allow for more distance from targets. In addition, utilizing Jedipowers at point blank range players are able to engage in "droidjacking,"which allows a Jedi to take control of a droid's weapons system and otherabilities. On the other hand, clone character combat relies more on firepower,utilizing a variety of blaster type weapons and thermal grenades, althoughclones are able to acquire heavier weapons, such as miniguns and rocketlaunchers as the game progresses. Because of the projectile nature ofthese weapons clone character combat can be fought as a variety of distances.

Key Game Features

Experience an all-new and exciting Clone Wars storyline that bridges the gap between season one and two of the TV series as you learn more about the mysterious bounty hunter Cad Bane and hunt down the all-new Skakoan super villain Kul Teska.
Play as your favorite Jedi heroes including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Mace Windu, and Kit Fisto.
Slice and dice your way through Separatist droids with your lightsaber and Force powers and use your agility to perform amazing leaps and navigate levels filled with interactivity.
Turn your enemies into weapons as you commandeer droids and use their unique abilities to blast enemies and solve puzzles as a Jedi.
Be part of an elite clone trooper squad with unique gameplay that puts firepower at your fingertips. Blast droids and unleash devastation with heavy weapons like rocket launchers and thermal detonators as Commander Cody, Captain Rex and all of your favorite clone troopers.
Compete against a friend with in-level challenges for rewards and points to be spent to upgrade your character and unlock bonus items.

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Gungrave Overdose Review

Its a good game if you are a fan of run and gun type games.However if you are the type that wants your games to have good graphics then you should stay away from it.Regardless, compare to the first Gungrave, the graphics were toned down but the game play has been improved along with the length of the game and they even added two extra playable chars. If you enjoyed the first Gungrave then you will enjoy this one even better.One improvement is that you can charge up your weapons to do combo shots and you can now deflect missiles with your coffin along with blocking with it and using it in combos.There are 9 demolition shots now and you can even do an explosive taunt just to look cool after causing massive genocide.If you are a fan of the original Gungrave or is into run and guns or beat em ups and if you are the type of person that is about story and gameplay over graphics, or if you love destruction and blowing up countless objects in the environment besides your foes, then it is the game for you.For those that only care about graphics, go play something thta suits your standards.

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Product Description:
Want to be an unruly and undead gun-toter? A blind, foul-mouthed and prepetually angry swordsmen? How about a red-leather-wearing rock star armed with a lethal electric guitar? Choose your character and mode of attack wisely and let the destruction begin. Just make sure you show up rested. Because once the bodies start dropping, there's no turning back.

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Assassin's Creed Review

I was a little skeptical this game would live up to the hype. Then some diminished reviews came around and I was already feeling a let down. Where could they go wrong? Was my thoughts. Well that didn't stop me from purchasing this game. After 30 minutes I was blown away. All skepticism was gone and I was in Gamer Heaven.

Let me start off from the beginning. Yes there is a plot twist and it's pretty bizarre. Just think that your watching a Michael Crichton movie and it will make sense. Playing in the Middle East several hundred years ago is a different idea. It's hard to say what you could expect with this concept.

So what makes this game amazing. Lets start off with the landscape. It's brilliant and beautiful...Really majestic. You don't understand the scope of this game until you start playing. The world is surrounded by several small villages and three large cities. The only way to travese this open terrain with a horse. Fortunately they are about as easy to find as a car in todays society.

What also sets this game apart is the ability to do what you want when you want. There is no clock on you and your not stuck going into a mission. Everything is open based. The character is amazingly fun to control you can scale tall buildings and make amazing leaps of faith. Climbing up a building that is several stories and then leaping to certain doom is breathtaking excitement. This is what games should be about.

Beyond that is a mission based game. Similiar to Grand Theft Auto in style. You can accept simple missions like pickpocketing and protecting citizens to the more main based assasin missions. You can battle soldiers if you want as you have many enemies but it's not really advised. Following the assasin missions can be complex and involve several steps that make the story very intresting. Obviously a lot of time was put into making this top notch.

For anyone who likes open based games with large environments then Assassins Creed is for you. From the majestic peaks to the clustered cities. This is trully a next gen experience. The storyline and incentive program will keep you playing for many hours. Definately a worthwhile gameplay experience. If you want something to keep you busy that doesn't involve guns go out and get Assasins Creed.

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Wii Play with Wii Remote Review

This rating is based on the theory that this is a 10$ game bundled with a remote.Only worth buying because it comes with remote, other than that, it should be in the 15$ bin.I give this a 5 star fun rating because for 10$ (10$ game +40$ remote), you really get your money worth with multiplayer.I am going to review each mini game and then the game as a whole.

The games:
Shooting:Easily could have just turned this into duckhunt instead of releasing a real duckhunt game later this year.This game is a fun shooter, however the targets (once you played each level a few times) generally appear in the same locations as the previous time you played the level.This game is slightly more fun for a single player competiting for a high score.Playing against a human opponent is more of a battle of who can shoot the targets first, which if you are playing against a new player or some one who is slow with the remote, it's not fun for them.But overall a fun shooter for a single player or 2 skilled players.

Find Mii:This is a really fun game, but only if you have a few miis created on your console.As you progress through the levels it can be very challenging and even though there are only a few objectives, the variety of levels makes the game worth playing.It can be fun for 2 people as well, however you should gain time instead of points in multiplayer.(Single player you gain time instead points)Where you can get to very high levels in single player, (the game only appears to end when you run out of time, I'm not sure if there is a level limit) you can't in multiplayer because you don't gain time.Overall a fun, brain-teasing game.

Pose Mii:The worst game on here.Very boring, repetative, and for the most part: pointless.There are only 3 poses and until higher levels, the Miis are generally standing straight up or slightly angled, so there is not much to do other than move the remote back and forth while bubbles pop.Very boring.It's about the same fun for single and multi.

Ping Pong:This lacks substance but still a decent challenge.I was hoping that you would actually swing the wii mote like a paddle to play this game, but you basically just move it back and forth, it swings for you.As for single player, you just see how many times you can rally against the computer.(no points awarded)Multiplayer is more fun, as you play for points, and can be fun to see how many times you can rally it with eachother as the ball builds speed.Overall fun, but they could have allowed you to actually swing the paddle.

Laser Hockey:This is easily one of the best games on the disc.I prefer the round paddle for added realism and better control.(hold A + B before the start countdown ends)This is a very challenging game and is very fun for multiplayer tournaments.Single player is pretty fun as well but the AI is pretty bad when the puck gets stuck in a corner.Overall a great mutliplayer game, however the puck doesn't move very fast when you "thrust it," instead the puck seems to build speed the more it's rallied off the wall and the opponents paddle.

Cow race:Some what humorous game, but overall not much replayability.Not really a point to playing single player, but can be fun against a human player.Only one course makes this game boring after a few runs, but every once in a while you can have fun with it.The controls are creative and fun when you have a group of people playing.

Fishing:Fun for both single player and multiplayer.Much like the shooting game, fishing for a high score in single player is what holds this game's fun.As for multiplayer, much like shooting again, both players should be evenly skilled, otherwise one player catches all of the fish while the other player gets angry or discouraged.The controls are alright, they could have added some extra features and made it a bit like zelda fishing with the nunchuk reel and what not, but this game is too basic I think to incorperate that.All you really do is hold your rod in a pool of paper fish, and yank to catch when they bite.Overall a fun competition if you have 2 players of equal skill.

Tanks:This is one of the best games on the disc.Single player and multiplayer each hold their own challenge.The levels are the same for both modes, but single player you have lives, and every 5 levels completed, you gain a life.Mutiplayer you work as a team to beat each level while also competing for points by destroying the enemy tanks.(Multiplayer would be way more fun if you got lives like in single player, as the levels are tough and only having one chance before having to start back at level one when you both die at level 17 is very annoying)There are 20 levels to start and then more are unlocked the 2nd time through.(I've heard there are 100 levels)Use the nunchuk to steer if you have serious intentions, as the d-pad only works so long before your thumb feels awkward.Controls are decent and the game overall is extremely fun and challenging for 1 or 2 players.

Billiards:Wii play is worth owning just for this game alone.The physics are quite realistic and the gameplay is nice.Standard 9 ball rules, however to win you are awarded points per ball minus fouls.It would have been better to have whoever sinks the 9 ball legally win, but you can choose to play that way mentally before you start a game and ignore the points in multiplayer.The only problem I have is that I would like to be able to see the ball numbers on the overhead view, instead of having to scroll to each ball to see what ball it is.If you know the standard pool ball colors, I guess it wouldn't matter.Overall very fun competition for multiplayer.It seems like they could have easily included an 8-ball variant as well with this.Oh well.

The game overall:
Before you critique this game harshly, understand that its sole purpose is to demonstrate the wii mote, like wii sports.That is why it's a ten dollar game bundled with a 40 dollar wii mote.This game will probably never be sold without the remote, and if it is, expect it to be much cheaper.I give it 4 stars, becuase for what it actually is, it has a lot of multiplayer fun packed in it, especially with 9 ball, tanks, and air hockey.If it was 50 dollars and did not come with a wii mote, it would be a 2 star game, or nintendo would have included more mini games and more depth.This game has longevity with multiplayer as air hockey tournaments and billiards never get old, much like real life.As for improvements, I feel that this could easily support 4 players like wii sports.Also, many of the single player elements should have been included in multi, like getting extra lives in tanks, gaining time in find mii, etc.Billiards should have included 9-ball and 8-ball.

Pros+
Most of the games are decent
Fun multiplayer with longevity
In reality, it's only 10$
Easy but fun controls
Realistic physics in billiards and air hockey
Challenging games

Cons-
Pose Mii is awful
All games could have supported 4 players
Shooting, fishing, and cow race lack depth
Billiards should have 8-ball as well
Multiplayer modes should have the single player rewards like more lives and time

Conclusion:
This is a great buy if you need another remote, and want to have some multiplayer games in your library.If you already have 4 remotes, I would wait until this game is sold without the remote in the cheap bin before you pick it up.This has multiplayer longevity, but you probably won't find yourself playing this game alone.

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Product Description:
Wii Play collects nine quick and addictive games that are easy to pick up and play and hard to put away. Thanks to the intuitive controls of the Wii Remote, even the most inexperienced gamers will have no trouble mastering the controls.
Wii Play features nine separate mini-games, including the following:
Shooting Range, a point-and-fire game of target practice in the Duck Hunt tradition.
Billiards, a simplified variation of nine-ball with stunningly realistic physics that uses your Wii Remote as your pool cue.
Find Mii, in which you scan the crowds to find the right Mii-and Miis you and your friends created make an appearance.
Tanks!, in which you command a toy tank on a miniature battlefield in a gauntlet of 100 missions.
Other games include Pose Mii, Table Tennis, Fishing, Charge!, and Laser Hockey.
Every game features a multiplayer mode, so you and your friends can compete for the high score or go head to head to see who's the best.Wii Play comes with a white Wii Remote so that your friends can join in the action. (Nunchuk not included.)

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ExciteBots: Trick Racing Review

There is no question about the appeal of racing games on the Nintendo Wii. After the massive success of Mario Kart Wii last year, it has honestly been very difficult to see that if Nintendo can actually top itself again. Well, Nintendo has shown that eagerness again. When the Wii got launched in 2006, one of the introduction titles was Excite Truck. the game did a good job at showing the need for speed onto the Wii. But the game was sadly overlooked in place of other titles like Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and the dynamic Wii Sports, which of course came with the system. Well, Nintendo is going to try the racing series yet again, and this time it is a bit stranger than before.

Excitebots: Trick Racing for the Nintendo Wii, brings in the wild, and honestly a bit weird into the gaming, as you race not cars or trucks, but robotic animals. Yes, robotic animals like Bats, Grasshoppers and Beatles. It might seem akward, but it does bring in a new twist in racing. The gameplay does work as it did before with Excite Truck, the way to score and unlock new races, is to perform outrageous stunts like Ring Jumps, perform tricks, and smash your opponents. The graphics look good, but the gameplay is also interesting. You can control the game like you did before with Excite Truck, by steering the controler like it is a wheel, or you can also use the Wii Wheel, which comes with this package, or if you've bought Mario Kart Wii.

There are a few new things here that make the game a bit strange. One of the things includes the extra bonuses you get during the race, are from racing stunts like throwing and scoring in darts, from trying to score a bowling strike, to tossing a pie in the clowns' face. You can also score stars by performing twirls on hanging bars. This requires a lot of control and especially tight timing. The other new feature is the use to play against other racers online through the Wi-Fi. It makes the games a bit interesting, as you score your way first to the finish line, as you and as many as 5 other racers make your way through tracks around the world from Asia, Africa, and Europe.

While there are a lot of new things here, there sadly is a few faults with the game. The first big disadvantage is the control. It can be very tricky at first, but it takes awhile to get used to. Also, unlike Mario Kart Wii, you cannot use the Gamecube or Wii Classic Controllers either. The game mainly uses the Wii-mote. The second disadvantage is the online gaming. While you can race against other Excitebots online, they could've allowed it to allow more than just 6 racers for a match.

You can buy Excitebots: Trick Racing with, or without the Wii Wheel definitely. But, if you haven't bought Mario Kart Wii, you might want to get the expanded version with the Wii Wheel, for a bit more extreme gameplay. Nevertheless, despite a few faults, Excitebots: Trick Racing definitely brings in a bit of weirdness into gameplay that is sure to knock you off your rockers. If you haven't yet played Excite Truck, than you'll definitely want a new spin on what makes the Wii extreme with Excitebots: Trick Racing.

Graphics: B

Sound: B

Control: B 1/2-

Fun & Enjoyment: B- for solo; B 1/2- for multiplayer

Overall: B-

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Product Description:
The fourth game in the Excitebike series, and the second on the Wii platform, ExciteBots: Trick Racing is an evolution in the racing genre. Featuring big-air thrills, pick-up-and-play controls, exciting multiplayer action and a dozen funky bot racers in the form of mechanical insects, amphibians, and mammals that transform throughout the race, it isn't like any other racing game you have played. Jump into the driver's seat and see the world in ExciteBots: Trick Racing.

A wide variety of animal-based bots.
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Nonstop break neck action.
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Multiple modes all over the world.
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2 player local support and 6 online.
Viewlarger. Gameplay
In ExciteBots: Trick Racing players race around internationally located tracks in the form of their favorite insect, amphibian or mammal themed bot. Each bot has its own special abilities which will serve players well when they find themselves on the right terrain to take advantage of these. As with pretty much any racing game, a major goal is to complete the course at the highest speed possible, but players are also tasked with performing stunts and participating in mini-games. Players win bonus stars for crossing the finish line sooner, but stunts, style and these mini-games are as important as speed. For example: have you ever wished that you could play poker while racing? Think you can toss a dart or roll a bowling ball while leaving the competition in the dust? ExciteBots provides you with your chance. Stars can be traded for a variety of goodies, like new vehicles, tracks, icons and statues.

Control Schemes
The control scheme of ExciteBots is easy and fun. The game canbe played with just a Wii Remote or via the combinationof a Wii Remote and a Nintendo Wheel accessory/any third party wheel.The 2 Button on the Wii Remote controller is the gas. The + control padgives drivers a speed boost. Players turn the Wii Wheel accessory leftor right to steer, tilt the Wii Wheel in midair to glide or to adjustpitch for perfect landings, swing the Wii Wheel in circular motions aroundboost bars to build up speed and press the A Button to activate itemsor to cash in hands in Poker Mode.

Key Features

Special ExciteBots: Trick Racing bundle features included Nintendo Wii Wheel.
The game takes the big-air thrills and simple pick-up-and-play controls of ExciteTruck and ramps up the fun with a constant barrage of funky challenges and mini-games performed at blinding speed. Players shoot goals, throw pies and even play poker in the middle of rowdy races around off-road tracks.
Having your vehicles drive, walk or fly around the track quickly is one thing, but it's more important to go around in style. Players earn stars for huge jumps, cool tricks and daring feats at high speed.
Six players can race online* via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in both Excite Race and Poker Race modes. If friends can't join online, players can exchange ghost data via WiiConnect24 and challenge their friends to outdo their most daring tricks.
2-player multiplayer versus mode featuring split screen display is also available for local play.

Special Moves
Just as in ExciteTruck, drivers can hit blocks that morph the terrain before their eyes and create ramps from which players can launch mega-jumps. Players can aim for and swing around boost bars or open presents that unleash a variety of wild items, such as bottle rocket boosts or clacker mouths that chomp on other racers to slow them down.

Mini-Games
Now what about those mini-games. Do you know of any other game that features high-speed robotic racers combined with bowling, poker, clown faces and sandwich making? Didn't think so, but how do these game work?

Soccer: Drive into the soccer ball and attempt to hit it into the goal.
Bowling: Drive through the pins and attempt to get a strike.
Darts: Line up your bot and let the dart fly. Try to hit bull's-eye in the distance.
Clowns: Hit the clown in the face with a pie by throwing it at just the right angle and speed.
Sandwiches: Drive through the ingredients in the proper order to make a delicious sandwich.

*Note that broadband access is required for online play.

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