TQ-Desz

Developed by Realtime Worlds, Crackdown 2 is what Crackdown fans have been waiting for over 3 years, with more orb hunting, climbing on buildings, shooting the enemy, killing bosses….oh wait, killing bosses is not part of the sequel. But did I mention orb hunting?

Replay Value/Story: One of the things that really made the original Crackdown such a great game, were the missions, the satisfaction of getting to the main boss of a gang and punching the lights out of him with your high level fighting skills. In Crackdown 2, you can forget about fighting bosses, the main goal in the sequel is to protect beacons from Mutants…Yes, you read right. While collecting orbs, shooting the enemy and causing massive explosions is still very addicting and satisfying, the game as a whole, feels less active as the first.

Your main goal is to clean-up the same city from the first game that has gone through a massive and unexplained downgrade involving mutants over the past 10 years. You can still ride on vehicles, throw vehicles, upgrade your abilities, and move around town through roofs much like the first game, but now there are tons of mutants walking around the city, waiting for you to enter their sights. The mutant part of the game is a bit confusing, and almost misleading. The game tries to help you understand the story by having scattered audio files with random notes around the city much like we have seen in other games. The problem is, the notes don’t really give you much. There is almost no purpose why mutants should be roaming the streets. The lack of story has you guessing whether it’s a good decision or not to kill them.

Co-op Gameplay: Here is where the fun really elevates. One of the cool things they have added this time around is a four player co-op mode. You can go through the whole game with 3 other friends. Whether it’s for; orb hunting, missions, or just climbing building, playing with 3 other friends is the way to enjoy Crackdown 2. In addition to the 4 player co-op, Crackdown 2 offers what is called “Xbox Live Orbs” that can only be captured by having 2 players in a game at once. These orbs may have some secret rewards from Microsoft.

Controls: Crackdown 2’s control system is very good with the exception of one control flaw. Shooting, fighting, reloading, driving, jumping and running all feel accurate and smooth, until you try to hang on to a window ledge. In Crackdown 2 you have to depend on many ledges when climbing buildings, and let’s just say that not all ledges are created equal. There will be times when you won’t be able to find one ledge to grab on to, even after you just grabbed the same type of ledge on a different building.

Graphics: Crackdown’s 2’s graphics are nothing less of top-notch, the cell-shading style was very inviting the first time around, and a bit of an upgrade is what you will get with Crackdown 2. The Agent’s suite and weapons looked a bit more polished this time around; with a bit more player close ups when moving in different directions.

Sound: Explosions!! Yes indeed, the game has some great and loud explosion sound effects, along with crisp reloading and shooting sound effects. The game’s sound complements the graphics to perfection, making the game feel intense, motivating, and satisfying when unleashing a clip on fuel barrels right next to the enemy line. Gaming headsets or a robust surround sound system is recommended for Crackdown 2.

Wishes or Changes: Although Crackdown 2 felt familiar at times and continues to be an addicting open world game, thanks to its orbs, upgrades, satisfying kills, and now 4 player co-op mode. Crackdown 2 didn’t introduce anything unique and revolutionary to the game. Audio logs and mutants/zombie likes have been seen is so many games recently, but Crackdown 2 missed the actual twist to a confusing and empty story. The lack of boss battles had you eager to finish the game and not the missions. Hopefully, the franchise unfolds with Crackdown 3.
TQ score: 3 out of 5

TQ-Denoch

What formula do you use when you create a really good and then have to make a sequel at a equal or greater value? Its simple, you just “copy and paste” your previous work with little modifications. The game is crackdown 2, an open world GTA-esque, where you play an agent cleaning the streets of Mutants and a Rebellious terrorist group.

First thing you will notice is that the graphics are slightly better and now have a more cell shaded feel to it, it blends very well with the quirky violence and the unnatural high jumps but nothing that we haven’t seen. The gaming mechanics still feel the same as the previous installment, there doesn’t seem to be a significant improvements(if any) on the driving or shooting controls. Although it is still addicting to collect orbs, it can be very difficult and frustrating when you climb on certain windows of the taller buildings and your agent doesn’t hold on or when your character is on the roof walking and you accidentally fall from the building and doesn’t automatically hold on to the ledge, this subtle issues are still present and weren’t fixed.

The game is very short and repetitive if you only play the main story line, there are nine beacons you have to find and twenty seven terrorist areas that you have to clear. Find three signals through out the map and then find the beacon, protect the beacon till it charges, beacon kills Mutants, then repeat the objective nine more times. The same repetition works when you clean areas that are occupied by the rebels. The story line in the game is not present, a terrorist group makes sense but the zombie-mutants seem out of place, with no indications how this creatures were created, although there are audio files scattered around the city that fail to fully explain their presence. The intention of the terrorist or the rebellion faction to overthrow and appose the agency is only natural after the ending of original crackdown but there is little back story and not enough character development for the faction or leader called Catalina. There is very little information on both of the antagonist to keep the story rich and fresh.

Where the game truly shines is on the four player co-op, 3 of your friends can join your campaign and help you with your missions, the only disadvantage to that is any story progression stays only with the host but any orbs or level ups you obtain can be save into your profile. Jumping around, completing repetitive objectives, collecting orbs and driving in a helicopter with all your buddies becomes very fun and you forget about it’s flaws.

In the end it comes down to whether or not you liked the first crackdown because depending on your answer Crackdown 2 offers much of the same.

This cracking title gets a 3 of 5 Michelas.

Average Final TQ Score

The Xbox 360 250GB Super Elite was introduced as a limited edition bundle console in late 2009 with Modern Warfare 2. It later came with other bundle options, such as Final Fantasy XIII (in white finish) and Splinter Cell: Conviction. The console has a sexy flat black finish with; HDMI, Ethernet, USB ports, standard video port, with 2 black controllers, one black Xbox live headset, one Ethernet cable, a set of composite cables (no High Def cables included), and the bundled game, in this case; Splinter Cell: Conviction.

The console’s noise levels are much lower than those of the original Xbox 360. When initially turning the console on, I noticed that the power-up noise was no longer present like the older 360 models. The console sounds smoother and quite when idled. The disc drive still produces some noise, but that is where the 250GB hard drive comes in to play. Installing 360 games directly to the hard drive will increase load times, and reduce disc drive noise while playing.

I purchased the Xbox 360 Super Elite Splinter Cell: Conviction Bundle from Newegg for $249.99 with free shipping.
Final Verdict: 4 out of 5

I was recently given the opportunity to review the new Flip Slide HD by Cisco. And let me tell you I was both impressed and unimpressed by the device in more ways than one.

So lets start with the look and feel of the camera first. The camera comes in a nice looking package. And when you open the box all you see is the 3” screen that is the new feature for the Slide. The screen itself is very sleek but when taking it out of the box you notice that this camera is basically all plastic casing. Looks more like a toy than an actual camera.

This video camera is really simple to use. Once you hit the power button on the side of the camera , your controls show up on the 3“camera. The controls are the same as they are on the Ultra and the Mino. Nothing has changed except that there are no buttons and everything is touch screen. I found the touch screen to be easy to use. To record you touch the record button and also to stop it. Then to view you touch the arrow and scroll till you find the video you want to watch and hit the play button. Nothing to it. This is where things get a little tricky. When deleting footage you have to select the one you want to delete and then touch the trash can icon. That’s when the camera asks you if you want to delete the file but instead of just being able to touch yes to highlight it you still have to touch the arrow button highlight the yes and then hit the play button. Really inconvenient when having a touch screen where you can just highlight the yes which is what you want to do every time you delete a file.

Now it’s time for the new and improved part of the Flip Slide which is the 3” screen. The screen is able to slide out (hence where they got the name Slide from) so that it sits at a 45 degree angle for viewing. This allows it to sit on any level surface in order to view what you have recorded. Once you slide the screen open the images come up and you can scroll through them by touching the screen which is extra sensitive so you may end up picking footage you don’t want. Or you can use the scroll bar to navigate though your files. This however is a little tricky because it zooms too fast and at times pass the footage you want to see. Once you have finally picked the video all you have to do is tap on the screen and it automatically starts playing to stop the video just tap the screen again or just slide the screen back into position.

Well now that we are done with the functionality of the device. Let me get into the quality of the video. The Flip SlideHD shoots video at 720p just like the MinoHD and UltraHD cams. The only difference is the 16GB of internal memory which is good for up to 4 hours of footage. As far as the quality well if you shoot video outside where there is plenty of light you should have no problem with quality. The picture is very crisp and the colors very bright. When shooting in low light it may be a good idea to carry extra lighting… but who want to carry around extra light when your on the go right? The quality of the picture becomes a little washed out in low light. But the detail is still pretty good for a pocket cam. When shooting indoors you may also want to turn on as many lights as possible.

As far as the sound quality I was really impressed. I tested the sound quality by recording someone playing an electric guitar. The Slide does not pick up any static and the sound coming from the Amp is as clear as day maybe even better than it is live. Usually when using any other kind of device to record sound it picks up the electrical static. There is no better way to test the sound quality than with the sound of an electric guitar.

Action shots are really what this camera is all about right? Being able to whip it out and take a quick shot of people laughing or kids running around being silly. Here is where we get into the camera being unstable which combined with motion blur makes it really hard to get a perfect picture. If you have it on a tripod or sitting on a stable place it works great. Once you have it in your hands the screen is a bit shaky and if you move to fast from point A to point B everything seems to blur together. Also fast movements like someone running or jumping also give off a little motion blur. Which is ok because sometimes you can’t even really see it. There are some mini tripods that you can buy to help with stability, some as low as $10.

The SlideHD runs for about 279.99, while the MinoHD is 229.99 and the UltraHD is 199.99. Now is it really worth the price? I think if the Slide actually came with the accessories that are sold separately at ridiculous prices. For example, if the camera came with the HDMI cable and maybe even the power adapter it may be a better deal. At $280 you can go to a hand held HD camcorder and get better footage with image stabilization. Another thing that Flip could have incorporated to the Slide is some sort of still mode. Some new features to the device would have been nice but they stayed with the same functions as the UltraHD and MinoHD. I believe that Flip could have tried to implement this screen in a thinner device. The device is about 30% thicker than the MinoHD and a bit heavier. I understand that by adding the slide out screen they had to make it thicker but maybe the design could have been taken to another level so that it wouldn’t be that much thicker and still be able to carry it in your pocket comfortably.

One thing that I liked were the touch screen controls. An advantage that I saw with this is that with button controls they tend to stick or get sand, dirt or liquids and eventually won’t work correctly. They will start to stick or even break. With the touch screen buttons there is no possibilities of that happening and the device should last longer this way. At first the touch controls are a little tricky but nothing you can’t get used to.

All in all, the SlideHD is a really nice camera, even though there are a few things Cisco could have done to make it better. I believe that anyone that has never used a Flip camera will be impressed by this little devise but for those of us that are spoiled by the high quality look and feel of the MinoHD this camera will not seem as slick. I would really like to see what the next step for Cisco’s Flip lineup will be. Hopefully something with a little more style and better software than just the same old software they have used.

Pros:
3” touch screen for viewing
Clear sound quality
16GB of internal memory
Sharp 720p video
Easy to use controls
FlipShare software

Cons:
Does not shoot 1080p video
Much larger than the MinoHD or other pocket cams
The price is not comparable to other pocket cams
Does not include a HDMI cable
No new features like still mode or electronic stabilization
No SD card slot
Motion blur

3 out of 5 Michelas

Sequels are always scrutinized because the general opinion is…well they usually suck. Prepare to abandon that thought because Iron Man 2 kills it.

Tony Stark’s creation of the Iron Man prototypes were indeed amazing but in the second installment of the series, we once again find out what’s too good to be true usually is. Tony Stark faces his problem with his usual bravado and lone wolf tactics until he’s forced to rethink his approach by Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), the United States government, and even his own allies.

What sets this apart from most sequels is that we find out just enough about Tony Stark’s past to truly understand his personality and at the same time learn more about his new nemesis’ motivation for retribution. However, this new information and all the branches of the story feel like a natural progression of the first movie. Iron Man 2 does not suffer from having too much story or plot holes that take away from the action either.

The fight scenes are incredibly entertaining and even more important Stark’s personality shines through when dressed as Iron Man. The same could be said of his friend Lt. Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) who does an outstanding of counter-acting Tony’s futuristic weaponry with military tactics and good old-fashion firepower as War Machine.  Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) also brings the pain much to everyone’s delight in the theater. While her moments in combat are brief, she leaves a lasting impression on both the audience and several of the actors in the movie.

The acting in Iron Man 2 is about as good as it gets. Every character is believable and most are true to their nature. Out of all the newcomers, Don Cheadle was the biggest surprise. His demeanor allowed him to accommodate the military role needed and also added some serious punch behind his one liners.The casting for the movie was surprisingly spot on as all the newcomers add star power without sacrificing the plausibility of the Iron Man universe.

The visuals and audio were of course top notch but something I feel really can’t be judged properly in a theater as too many variables are involved. Let’s just say I liked what I saw and what I heard. It was an impressive display that put a smile on my face and even my wife’s who could not believe she enjoyed the movie so much.

Iron Man 2 is definitely on par with the first movie and abolishes any notions of “sequelitis.” This is a must see movie and definitely on my pre-order list for purchase on Blu-Ray. Iron Man 2 gets 5 out of 5 michelas.

Game: Blue Toad Murder Files
System: PlayStation 3
Genre: Puzzle
Publisher: Relentless Software
Released: March 25, 2010

Review by: Kosamus

Welcome to Little Riddle, a “quintessentially quaint” countryside village with only one pub that isn’t even operational. (Say it ain’t so!). Not long after the Blue Toad detective agency arrived for a much needed rest, a MURDER happens right before there eyes. This is were you come along. You alone or up to three other players will take the role of each detective and attempt to solve this grueling murder.

Presentation and Story
The game features a stereotypical English cast all voiced by one man. From the narrator all the way to the old ladies which makes for a very humorous experience. The story is told in a very linear fashion with the player traveling from destination to destination interrogating witness and suspects. While at each destination, the player will come across puzzles that the cast of characters lay on you before you can retrieve any information from them. Puzzles involve anagrams, word searches and math. Or they might involve rearranging maze pieces or sequence steps. You’ll also need to have a keen attention span on random details that you’ll be quizzed on too. Each of the 3 episodes is comprised of 12 puzzles, 3 cross-examinations and a final Whodunnit to test your detective skills.

Graphics
While the graphics may not be trying to break any boundaries or even attempting to push the PS3 hardware, it’s still a very good looking game. The world is full of bright vibrant colors with plenty of small animations going on which help bring the world to life. The character design is very stereotypically English from their large ears all the the way their facial gestures. Come to mention it, no one in this game actually has hands, but you won’t really notice because of the attention to detail of their facial animations. The designs come close to early Pixar standards which is a very good thing. If you have children around, they will immediately be sucked in to Blue Toad.

Gameplay
The game plays out very much like a game show intertwined with a murder mystery. As you progress through unskippable story scenes, you will enter into a puzzle section that each player will take turns attempting to solve. After each player has attempted the puzzle, a result screen will appear to breakdown the time each player took and the number of wrong answers submitted. With those results displayed, each player will receive a gold, silver or bronze medal or none at all if the player decided to give up. After 3 or 4 puzzles, a review section will come up and ask the players if they were paying attention to details. From what color the train you rode into the village was or something a witness said. You will need to get every question right or you will be considered a loser for the quiz. At the end of every episode, the players will have to take a guess as to who was the culprit of that chapter. As the story unfolds, the players are invited to tag along for the ride regardless if every riddle and puzzle is solved incorrectly, you will continue to progress through the story.

Sound
The sound is a reminisce of those radio mystery dramas from the first half of the 20th century. As I said before, this game is stereotypically English. If you don’t mind such lingo as “sharpish” and “m’um”, then the character dialogue is remarkably superb. The narrator is present through the entire story and has a very passionate voice that really sucks you into the adventure. An interesting design choice is that every character, man or woman is voiced by a single man, Tom Dussek, without any of the characters sounding the same is truly an amazing feat.

Wishes or Changes
The puzzles and riddles will always keep you on your feet, especially in episode: 2 were the difficulty take a huge spike upward. I wouldn’t want easy challenges as that could get boring, but the puzzles could have had better description in some parts. The biggest change I would make is multiple versions of the same puzzle. This game really suffers from re-playability because the puzzles and riddles never change. Making a second play through insignificant because the answers will always be the same in the exact order every time.

TQ-Bottom Line
Blue Toad Murder Files is fantastic experience if you have siblings, family or loved ones around that want to play a multiplayer game that doesn’t require an itchy trigger finger. The thing is, I felt like I was studying for the ACT while playing this game. It takes a good understanding of problem solving and math to have an enjoyable time. If your math skills are sub par, then prepare to be frustrated. Even with my education background, I still found myself giving up on some of the puzzles. Blue Toad SHOULD be played with others because after awhile, you will stop caring if you get the puzzles right or not if playing through solo. I recommend downloading this game only as the 3 episode bundle because having only episode: 1 really defeats the purpose of this episodic adventure.

Blue Toad Murder Files: The Mysteries of Little Riddle features:
* Six separate episodes
* A thrilling cliff hanger at the end of every episode
* Over 90 puzzles, Whodunnits and cross-examinations
* Opportunity to play as one of four unique characters
* 1 – 4 co-operative multiplayer gameplay
* A story of mystery and intrigue

Michela Rating
3 of 5 Michelas

Pros: Interesting play through, 5 possible endings, Madison Paige never gets old
Cons: Annoying controls, repetitive voice acting, unacceptable glitches.

Final Average Rating:

If you thought FIFA 10 was loaded already, surprise! Make room for yet another huge helping of soccer as this year’s Ultimate Team mode is a lot to take in. The words “big things come in small packages” have never been more true. The file size comes in at around 670 MB but once you starting constructing your dream team, you will think this is a full game.

For return users, EA Sports rewards you with 2 free Gold Packs and a special designation as a FUT (FIFA Ultimate Team) Founder to lord over all the newcomers. In 2009, Ultimate Team set new standards for micro managing in a soccer game, but 2010 takes the house that EA Sports built to a level which may be hard for even them to top next year.

You assemble a squad of players by purchasing Bronze, Silver, and Gold player cards using a coin system. Coins are awarded to you for victories in single player and online competitions. With coins, you gain the ability to purchase better assets from the PlayStation Store or the Xbox Live Marketplace in the form of cards packs. In FIFA Ultimate Team 2010, Premium card packs have been introduced which contain 12 cards and 3 rare cards. If you’re looking for a bargain price or rare card, you can still search the Trading section for players, managers, team upgrades, or tactical adjustment cards as well.

To succeed, you have to pay attention to detail as both the overall team rating and chemistry affect the way your team plays. You are also responsible for keeping up player morale and making sure players stay fit. One of the most important improvements allows you to activate cards acquired in your Club book instead of losing access to them. With the added ability of managing several squads, you can use a lot of the cards you buy or earn to compete in tournaments which may have requirements or limitations on player level to participate.

The number of competitions have grown tremendously. In fact, there are several tournaments only available for a limited time so keeping your teams primed and ready is absolutely crucial. Limited time specials also extend to special player cards. EA Sports will reintroduce special player cards for real world soccer players dominating in their respective leagues. Now players from leagues like the Dutch Eredivisie and K-League can be added to your arsenal as well.

There’s so much in the mode, it can’t really be justified by a review and keep in mind, this is just Downloadable Content folks! If you’re looking for a complete football experience, there’s nothing that touches FIFA 2010 on the market and with the addition of Ultimate Team, this is without a doubt the best soccer game released to date.

The only thing missing from the Ultimate Team mode is individual player attitudes, distractions, and personalities. But if the improvements made in this year’s version are any indication, EA Sports is probably already on it. You won’t find a better soccer game mode period…that’s why FIFA 2010’s Ultimate Team Mode gets 5 out of 5 Michelas.

Quantic Dreams and Director David Cage have much to say with this dark story of loss and pain. Taking a big risk on minimal game play for more of a character driven adventure. Even after the first hour, you have already established a connection with each of the 4 playable characters. Heavy Rain will touch your heart, your fears and most importantly self sacrifice unlike any game before it. Especially to those that have built a family, raised kids or ever experienced a loss to unforeseen circumstances.

As much as I love to praise the branching story paths and nail biting situations. I still found myself fighting with the controller quite often, but not enough to distract from the narrative. Whether it be the tank controls, struggling to hold the controller during play, QTE’s not registering button pushes or six axis movement. More than once had I contemplated replaying a section because the game didn’t recognize my controller command, even if I executed it on time. Regardless of the control situation, I still found myself constantly sucked into the universe.

Every gamer should try to experience Heavy Rain once and probably only once so as not to cheapen the adventure by looking behind the decision path curtain. I’m sure the director would love the player to remember the game as it was played the first time, but I am sure trophy enthusiasts will still attempt to water down the experience by seeing all there’s to see in Heavy Rain. 4 out of 5 Michelas.

TQ-Litigator

During the modern age of media, there’s not often that a particular storyline draws audiences in especially when considering video games. Though enriching, the ties between characters and especially their emotions are barely noticeable. That’s where Heavy Rain comes in. It changes the scope of gaming altogether and introduces a genre that is more than welcome in the face of an overly saturated shooter market.

Everything from the enigmatic characters to the drops of rain pelting everything outdoors is carefully crafted into this game. When your character gets nervous, their thoughts become erratic and you feel it when you have trouble picking out the right choice or your next action. You’re faced with making decisions you thought only could happen in movies and in discerning your actions, you find out a lot about yourself. Perhaps you’re jumpier than you thought and accidentally do something you did not mean. Or maybe you’re cool under pressure…but you can’t talk your way out of a paper sack.

Heavy Rain is indeed more than a game…it is the true definition of art. It is gorgeous, inspiring, and complex. Even after playing through the game with acute eye, you’re still left with questions as the game gives you just enough to answer the most important point of interest. Heavy Rain is unique and so good that it makes you forget about the small problems it has and because of that it gets 5 out of 5 michelas from me.

TQ-Desz

In a time of first person shooter video games, and PlayStation HOME rendezvous–Heavy Rain steps in and cleans house, by making every other current game out, feel worn out.  Heavy Rain is a fresh, unique, and unforgettable interactive video game, that takes ownership of your thoughts and heart for a good 8 hours.

But exactly how does Heavy Rain deliver an unforgettable and unique experience? This is how: Top notch graphics, that are arguably the best to date; everything from facial expressions, wrinkles and pores, all have incredible detail. The story is one of the most believable and easy to follow stories, that is built to hit you where it hurts–your heart. Everything you do in the game has a purpose; the decisions you choose, affect the outcome of the game, and the outcomes are not always good. Although, there have been complaints regarding Heavy Rain’s control system, I had no problems at anytime during the game; the game is easy to pick up, and control. Quick decisions is a major part in Heavy Rain; think fast or suffer slow. With the good out of the way, it is time to cover the part of the game that affected the score. “The Ending”. (Without spoiling the game), Heavy Rain deserved a giant ending to match the rest of the game. The ending was simply uncalled-for and weak.

Despite my personal thoughts on the game’s ending, Heavy Rain is an unforgettable and unique experience; it allows the non-gamers a chance to experience a video game made simple, interactive and touching, while giving the everyday gamers, a true, fresh and desirable experience that cannot be found in any other game. Final Michela rating: 4 out of 5.

TQ-JUiCE

As we enter the fourth month of the year, the PlayStation 3 continues to dominate the video game world with heavy hitting, exclusive titles. Heavy Rain is a PS3 exclusive title that caught everyone by surprise and caught everyone’s attention with its unique, interactive, and dramatic gameplay as well as the gorgeous graphics. Quantic Dreams set out to change the way gamers play video games and sure enough, they delivered. The ability to play as four different protagonists and each with different events going on that somehow ties them all together is something that has not been seen in a game as of late. The story that ties all of these four characters is unique, dramatic, touching, and addicting. Each scene that passes by is filled with excitement and keeps you at the edge of your seat wanting to find out what’s next. In my opinion, every game with a great and unique story line like Heavy Rain, must be accompanied by great graphics to receive the seal of approval from the players. Heavy Rain is a gorgeous looking game that will definitely not disappoint, with it’s detailed characters and atmosphere, Heavy Rain stands out as a game with some of the best graphics!

Just like a lady, Heavy Rain needs attention; although that can be arguable, you will find yourself spending a lot of time with this game once you start it. Heavy Rain is truly a piece of art with its touchy and addicting story line and the great visuals, Heavy Rain is a must play! Final Michela Rating: 4 out of 5.

TQ-Denoch

Quantic Dream’s third developed title is Heavy Rain, a interactive drama that is a vacuum of pure intense scenarios that you need to accomplish. It is hard for me to called it a traditional game, since you are not hacking and slashing, or role playing but rather playing a interactive movie. I wouldn’t say that it’s purely a interactive movie because the story is not too linear, there are multiple ways that you can finish the game, good or bad with different variations.

Each scene will pull you in and test you morally, leaving you breathless until you finish it. Although the acting is very poor, along with the dialogue between the characters, this wont stop it from having a rich storyline, the emotion that David Cage emphasizes on the characters themselves to engage you and care for them is superb. You care for every character you play with and try not to get them killed no matter what, when i made a mistake during the action sequences or dialogue i asked myself if there was a better choice.

Games are meant to be fun, with other games violence is done without question, but with Heavy Rain those acts of violence wont be as easy to do. You will think about the right choice and regret it if you picked the wrong one. The engagement factor for Heavy Rain is 5 Michelas out of 5.

TQcast Final Average Review Score

Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Released: February 16, 2010

Review by: Kosamus Chino (TQstaff)

When you think of Dynasty Warriors, what immediately comes to mind? The massive battles of course! Something that doesn’t come to mind is online co-op. The one long overdue addition that has kept the franchise from really expanding or evolving is finally available to home console owners. Last year PlayStation Portable owners had the chance to team up online with three other warriors to visit the “Three Kingdoms” era in Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce. Now PlayStation 3 owners finally get a home console port of Strikeforce and an opportunity to claim the land of China with three friends online to get their FURY on. So now that “DW” includes online co-op, does it hold up? And what other additions do home console owners get with the latest “DW”? Read our review below to see our take on Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce for PS3 and see if it’s right for you.

Presentation and Story
The course of this adventure centers loosely around the history of the “Three Kingdoms” era of China. It begins by having you choose one of the three kingdoms – Wei, Wu or Shu. Each kingdom has their own set of warriors for you to chose from and over time you will be able to play as many of them as they become unlocked or traded to other players for. Primarily your ultimate goal is to control the land of China but plenty of side quests are also available to prove your worth. Their are six chapters of missions that carry the story forward with a cinematic before and after each chapter to keep you interested.

Even though the Dynasty Warriors games have always been centered around the series’ trademark of huge battlefields, Strikeforce steers a bit away from that by having multiple focused sections during missions that you must clear to progress. Some of the sections include large castles with plenty of artillery and giant animal beasts that cover a majority of the screen. The casual infantry enemies are now more aggressive and varied in abilities and will not go easy on you by taking turns. The real threats may be the super powerful Generals that wait for you at the end of levels, but don’t expect the Commanders that guard the gates for each section to be push overs either. The fact is, the Generals and Commanders are just as powerful or not more than you. So just when you think your unstoppable one minute, you will get slaughtered relentlessly the next.

The biggest inclusion to Strikeforce is the HUB village or city. This is were many of the newly included RPG elements come into play. The player will spend their time making purchases at the market, leveling up weapons at the blacksmith, purchasing orb powers for characters four appendages, training at the academy, storing goods and building your single and online party. You will also find Officers periodically in the village that give cards which can be equipped to level up your village during missions. Example- The higher your blacksmith level, the more powerful weapons and upgrades will become available.

Graphics
Dynasty Warriors has always suffered from the last generation look of the PS2 and Xbox when making the transitions over to current generation. Strikeforce is no different. The graphics just can’t hold up to the mark of other game being released. It’s not the worst looking game, but I find myself constantly unimpressed by the visuals. Sure the cinematic look good, but I think the modern gamer on the PS3 has been spoiled by other great looking titles. Strikeforce still manages impress on other levels such as the large beasts and enemies that cover the screen as your character evolved into its’ FURY mode. Which is a transformation into a much more powerful and sparkly version of yourself (Think Dragon Ball Z). The bland backgrounds and many enemies do tend to get repetitive as you progress through the story. I also found their to be quite a bit of slowdown and clipping when in the large multi-leveled battleground, most commonly found at the end of a chapter. Omega should have made that a focus to keep the gameplay smooth after so many Dynasty Warrior games.

Gameplay
The gameplay is were Strikeforce truly shines because of the unique customization of your characters. The Orbs purchased in the village can drastically alter your playing style by adapting them to your appendages. The Orbs can increase your dashes, jump counts, healing, damage, enemy stuns and others attributes that affect your entire party. Whether it be online or off, you will rarely see anyone with all the same powers. The six weapon categories have now been given the ability to upgrade to your play style. Your character has made the biggest leap in the series. The ability to fly, float and dash around the battlefield to keep the opposition on its’ toes has become a big part of the game play. FURY MODE is probably what saves this game from just being another hack n’ slash. Now each character has his or her own transformation into a SUPER POWERED version of themselves. In FURY, you are chaos on two feet and nothing can stand in your way as long as you use the series staple strategy of SQUARE, SQUARE, SQUARE, SQUARE, TRIANGLE, TRIANGLE SQUARE. Which honestly still can get a bit repetitive and boring.

During combat in single player, you have to power to give orders to your three-AI controlled teammates with just a pull of the trigger and a button push. The AI are actually quite smart and will not need much baby sitting. But I did find the game to be extremely difficult in single player even with the great AI. That is why I recommend playing completely online because you will need the help of high leveled human players just to get through Chapter 2. Be careful because the Generals can be ridiculously cheap because they can have the same upgrades as you. I found myself constantly being juggled in the corner for an excruciating period of time before I was able to dash to safety before it started all over again.

Sound
The audio isn’t much to brag about but their are no real complaints either. The sound department could have added some battle chants for enemies to make me feel like I’m in an epic battle. The special attacks and transformation effects are very pleasing as you battle hordes of enemies.

Wishes or Changes
THE CAMERA! It is too sensitive and those with motion sickness will not be happy warriors. I found myself using a bigger strategy to control the camera more than fighting enemies. (That is a big problem) The game does feature an auto lock, but I would only recommend using it on Boss character because on normal enemies it will constantly lock on to enemies you already killed for longer than needed. You will notice the problem the first time you reach a multi-leveled battle and your camera can’t be controlled fluidly enough to have precise control of your actions. You will be dashing around to find an enemy for him to be just a meter above you before you get caught in his 30 second juggle combo. Adding some sort of camera options so I could pan out farther would really help Strikeforce to become a game I would want to play without screaming obscenities.

Another problem is at the end of an online mission at the Victory or Defeat screen. It will sometimes freeze and lock up your system, and their is no auto-save! I had finished the same Chapter 2 end mission five times before it finally let me return to the city so i could save. A patch could probably fix this.

TQ Bottom Line
With 10 playable character for each faction and 41 playable in all. Their is much to come back to with every play. Strikeforce is definitely a leap in the Dynasty Warriors universe because of the addition of the RPG system and the online co-op. Their is no split-screen, but it won’t be missed. If you love your hack n’ slash games or Dynasty Warriors, you will not be disappointed. The online is were the true fun is had. If you and your friends love massive battle, this is the game to get if you need a break from your guns.

Final Score
3 michelas out of 5

Game: Jane’s Hotel
Platform: iPhone, iPod Touch
Developer: Realore Studios
Price: $2.99, or FREE to try.
Website: http://www.realore.com/games/janeshotel
Reviewed by : JUiCE Hernandez

Pros: Pick up and go game, Easy to understand, Addicting, Attention to detail, Great graphics, 40 levels.

Cons: Repetitive continuous music.

Game: Fret Nice
Platform: Xbox Live, PlayStation Network
Developer: Tecmo
Price: $14.99
Website: http://www.fretnicegame.com
Reviewed by : JUiCE Hernandez

Pros: Great soundtrack, visuals are beautiful, customizable characters, Unique gameplay.

Cons: Sluggish controls, repetitive, confusing.

Tequila: Tequila Don Eduardo Reposado
Imported By: Tequila Casa Orendain Jalisco, Mexico
Price: Aprox. $59.00
Website: doneduardo.com
Review by Olivia Martha

Tequila Don Eduardo Reposado is a 100% Weber Blue Agave tequila which is carefully hand selected for better quality. This tequila is rested for six months in 100-year-old White American oak vats to give it a naturally mellowed expression. Don Eduardo Reposado is a wonderfully crafted brand of tequila which was given the name of the companies founder, Don Eduardo Orendain Gonzalez. Due to the use of 100% blue agave sugars during the fermentation process, it becomes very fresh and easy on the nose and palate. Not only was I impressed by the rich smoothness of this tequila but also by its unique flavor.

Don Eduardo Reposado has a very inviting smell which makes your mouth water. When you first open the bottle the scent is floral and softly herbal. There is a bit of a peppery sting to the nose but only enough for you to enjoy its aroma. The aroma is only the opener to the luscious flavor of Don Eduardo Reposado.

Once this tequila hits your lips there is an explosion of flavor. It starts with a structured palate entry then erupts into featured flavors of chocolate, honey and sweet floral tastes. The finish is what really impressed me because it is long sweet, spicy and peppery. There is a bit of a sting but not the kind of sting that makes you sick. It’s the kind of burn that is enjoyed while drinking well produced tequila.

Overall, Don Eduardo Reposado is a complex and unique tequila. It’s creation is very well thought out and stands up to the pride and history of tequila. The only downfall of this tequila is the price. It is not too expansive but enough to make you think twice before buying it. I do recommend this tequila for a special occasion. It’s the kind of tequila that will brighten the mood.

Tequila Recap

Aroma: Smooth, sweet and fresh.

Taste: A light fruity, floral beginning with a spicy kick at the end.

After Taste: Has a lingering sweet and spicy finish.

Buzz feel: Mellow and maybe a bit frisky.

Similar TQ: Patron Reposado

Final verdict: 3 out of 5 TQshots (price played a big part in this one)

Drink Tip

Don Eduardo with Sangrita

1 1/2 oz. Don Eduardo Reposado

3 oz. Sangrita (recipe follows)

Serve both chilled, in shot glasses, side by side.

Sangrita

2 cups tomato juice

1 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lime juice

2 teaspoons hot sauce

2 teaspoons minced onion

2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce

Cracked pepper, celery salt and seasoned salt to taste. Shake very well and refrigerate. Serve in a shot glass next to tequila.

The Flower Dynamic Theme is available on the PlayStation Network for a low price of , $2.99. Make sure to also check out the review on Flower, here!

Game: Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time Review
Genre: 3D Platformer
System: PS3
Review by: Desz Martinez

Introduction

Being a virgin to the Ratchet and Clank franchise, my first impressions of the game were that Ratchet and Clank appeared to be a pair of Saturday morning kid’s cartoon characters, that at the same time appeared to pack on the ammo and take nobodies shit. After playing the game–the ammo part is accurate, the Saturday morning cartoon thing, would be an insult to one of the best if not the best pair of characters I have ever controlled in a video game.

Gameplay and Story

The game starts off a bit slow, but quickly picks up with action. You are controlling 2 characters “Ratchet and Clank”, one being a “Lombat” played by Ratchet, and the other a small “Robot” played by Clank. Throughout the game you mostly play with Ratchet, who is the destroyer, the infantry man, the Rambo character that gets in to battles almost every time he sets foot on land or enters space. Playing with Clank, will require a bit more of smart tactics–Clank can slow time, hover through the air, and record, play back, and use virtual doubles of himself to solve puzzles. Throughout the game Ratchet is doing all he can can to reunite with his buddy old pal Clank, while going about it, he meets interesting characters, including one who might know more about Ratchet than Ratchet himself.

Controls are some of the most accurate in any game I have played, shooting is accurate and satisfying. You have tons of weapons, armor and upgrades to choose from once you have gain enough credits (bolts). Picking up bolts much like orbs, or coins like in other games is very addicting and satisfying and there are plenty of them when destroying enemies, completing levels, or breaking boxes sitting throughout each level. The game breaks away form the standard land wars, by putting you out in space as well; you not only use space to travel, but space levels require you to fight your way through the next missions and worlds by completing small side missions in moons and small planets. The space levels are the best space levels I have ever played in any video game.

Graphics
One of the first things you might noticed is the incredible quality of the cut scenes, they look simply amazing. The worlds are huge, colorful, and each one is very unique. the movements of each character are smooth, and always graphically impressive. Explosions really feel and look satisfying, while space levels are some of the best looking in any video game.

Sound
Being picky about the sound would be stupid. The sound is great, synced perfect with voices, weapons and explosions. The voice acting is superb. Music is intense and motivating and fit right in with each level or situation. Like always, recommended playing with a pair of gaming headsets for the best audio quality possible.

Wishes or Changes
Some of the rail riding could be a bit annoying especially towards the end of the game. The story could be a bit confusing at the beginning for new Ratchet and Clank gamers. Clank’s puzzles require some thinking, might not be suitable for the younger crowds or intoxicated fam.

TQ bottom line
Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time is everything I didn’t expected it to be. Having avoided this franchise for a while now, I’m now proud to brag that I have played a “A Crack in Time” as it holds itself quite well in these times of incredible video game releases. Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time should be played by every PS3 owner for 2 reasons, non-stop smart action, and for the incredible ending, that I can honestly say is one of the best endings in any video game I have ever played, including Uncharted 2.

FINAL SCORE: 4 out of 5 Michelas!

Tequila: Dos Lunas Tequila Reposado and Silver
Imported By: Tequilas del Senor in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Price: Aprox. $39.99 (Reposado) 34.99 (Silver)
Website: Doslunas.com
Review by Desz Martinez

Now a day, there are tons of Tequilas being put out on a daily basis–some being well marketed, while most of them, have never been heard of. While Tequila has a reputation of being the alcohol most people avoid at a party, the speculation may come from the un-educated crowd, that buy the cheapest tequila money can buy–in essence not quality, not 100% Agave. As time changes, well marketed tequilas had started educating the younger crowd by simply marketing what they preach, good tequila equals great time, while not giving you that pounding head ache the following morning.

One of these good 100% Blue Agave tequilas, goes by the name of Dos Lunas. Dos Lunas Tequila launched both their Silver and Reposdao tequilas in 2006. Ever since 2006 Dos Lunas has being producing quality tequilas, and even adding more tequila to their family such as the Dos Lunas Anejo Tequila, and the mighty Dos Lunas Grand Reserve tequila. From the mineral rich fields of Jalisco, Mexico, Dos Lunas uses only the best Blue Agave plants for their Tequilas.

Let’s get started with the Dos Lunas Silver Tequila: Dos Lunas Silver Tequila’s aroma is elegant, smooth, and hints of citrus. The taste is a very zesty, rich and smooth taste that could be taken strait, over ice. Most Silver tequilas work well with shot taking, and although Dos Lunas Silver Tequila works perfect for that, Dos Lunas Silver is surprisingly so smooth that it could be sipped. The After Taste; again– is smooth, hints of citrus zest, very earthy, and last but not least it leaves you with a very rich after taste, that is rare for silver tequilas.

Tequila Recap (Dos Lunas Silver)

• Aroma: Hint of Citrus, Smooth, Elegant.
• Taste: Citrus, Zesty, Smooth.
• After Taste: Citrus Zest is huge with the after taste, very Earthy/Plant taste, smooth, very Rich.
• Buzz feel: Mellow, Eager for more.
• Similar TQ: None I have tasted, very unique flavor.
Final verdict: 4 out of 5 TQshots


Drink Tip
Piña Agave Cocktail
3/8 · Lemon
2 · Chunks of Pineapple
2 · Wheels English Cucumber
1/2 oz · Agave Nectar
1 1/2 oz · Dos Lunas Silver Tequila
1/2 oz · Sprite / Club Soda
Garnishwith a slice of English cucumber
Muddle the first four ingredients then add the Tequila, soda, ice, shake and pour into a high ball glass.

Dos Lunas Reposado Tequila: Dos Lunas Reposado tequila rested for nine months in a combination of new American oak barrels and used bourbon barrels. The aroma has a fresh citrus, vanilla, wood, and smooth scent that leave your nostrils feeling rich. The taste has a very zesty, spicy, hint of vanilla silky finish to it. I had a few shots to get the full taste and it is very consistent with the flavors, it goes down smooth, yet the kick is spicy. The after taste was very unique, like nothing I have tasted in a TQ before; Dos Lunas Reposado Tequila has a very earthy mineral after taste that leaves you craving for more.




Tequila Recap (Dos Lunas Reposado)
Aroma: Citrus, Vanilla, Wood, Smooth
Taste: Citrus, Zesty, Spicy, Vanilla, Silky
After Taste: Very Earthy Mineral after taste.
Buzz feel: Smooth and relaxed
Similar TQ: Corralejo Reposado (only with taste)

Final verdict: 4 out of 5 TQshots


Drink Tip
Caliente
3 chunk(s) Pineapple
2 slice(s) Ginger
1 1/2 oz. Dos Lunas Reposado Tequila
1/2 oz. Cactus Juice
1/2 oz. Ginger Ale
1/6 piece(s) Lime
Instructions

Muddle the first four ingredients, add the Dos Lunas Reposado tequila, shake and serve on the rocks. Top off with the ginger ale. Garnish with a crystalized ginger.

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2010/02/15/tequila-review-dos-lunas-tequila/feed/ 6 http://www.tqcast.com/2010/02/05/beats-by-dr-dre-video-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2010/02/05/beats-by-dr-dre-video-review/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:24:37 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=4340

Product: Monster Beats by Dr.Dre
Category: Audio, Music, Sound Systems.
Price: $349.99 at Site or $237.00 from TQShop Amazon
Review by: Desz Martinez

Pros:
- Incredible Sound, crisp, clear, and bass never gets distorted.
- Comfortable
- Great Battery Life
- Look and fit perfect
- Cleaning Cloth included

Cons:
- Short Audio cables included in package
- Audio Hissing when plugged in to a stereo receiver.
- Price

Desz’s Additional notes or tips** Lower the volume on anything you are initially hooking your Beats by Dre to. The Beats by Dre are louder than most headsets at same volume setting, and could destroy your ear drums.



]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2010/02/05/beats-by-dr-dre-video-review/feed/ 2 http://www.tqcast.com/2010/02/03/tequila-review-tequila-casco-viejo/ http://www.tqcast.com/2010/02/03/tequila-review-tequila-casco-viejo/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:31:36 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=4313

Tequila: Tequila Casco Viejo Reposado
Imported By: Casa Tequilera Casco Viejo Jalisco, Mexico
Price: Aprox. $38.00

Review by Olivia Martha

Tequila Casco Viejo Reposado is a 100% agave tequila that really lives up to the visionary style of Don Agustin Camarena. Not only was I impressed by the rich aroma and smoothness of this tequila but also by the environmentally safe production of all tequilas by Casa Tequilera Casco Viejo. This tequila absolutely made a good impression on me.

Tequila Casco Viejo Reposado is a tease to the senses with a very alluring color and smell. This tequila has a rich golden color with a wonderful agave aroma, notes of light oak and fresh spices. The true experience of Casco Viejo is in its rich agave flavor with a hint of fresh herbs and earthy cloves. It is the kind of tequila that makes you want to keep taking shots, even if your not a tequila drinker. It is also great for mixing because of the smooth taste created by its double distillation process.

Casa Tequilera Casco Viejo combines the old and well-kept tequila process with the most innovative technology. Being among the top 4 producers of agave plants and 3rd largest tequila seller in Mexico, Casco Viejo developed one of the most modern devices for recycling everything that is discarded throughout the production of tequila called the ZERO-D. Their concern for the environment and the future production of their product was a big plus in my book. Just another reason to choose their products over others.

I recommend this tequila to anyone with an appetite for great tasting tequilas with unique richness in aroma, body and flavor. There is nothing better than a tequila that carries the Mexican heritage and pride.

“In Casa Tequilera Casco Viejo, we are committed to give our best by improving our production process…We firmly believe that an improvement can be done, not only in the production of Tequila, but also in other areas such as water recycling, energy production, etc.”

All in all Tequila Casco Viejo is an intricate work of art which honors tradition, pride and history in an unparalleled experience.

Tequila Recap

Aroma: Aromas of oak with a hint of spice that tickles your senses.

Taste: A warm agave oak flavor which goes down smooth.

After Taste: A spicy after taste with a little bite .

Buzz feel: I had enough to feel mellow and content.

Similar TQ: Don Agustin Reposado

Final verdict: 4 out of 5 TQshots

Drink Tip

Paloma
Ingredients: 2 shots of Tequila Casco Viejo, Grapefruit (Toronja) soda, a dash of salt, a splash of lemon juice and ice
Directions: Add ice into a salt rimmed glass and pour in Tequila Casco Viejo. Fill with grapefruit soda and add a splash of lemon juice to taste. Stir and enjoy!

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2010/02/03/tequila-review-tequila-casco-viejo/feed/ 7 http://www.tqcast.com/2010/01/27/zen-pinball-ninja-gaiden-sigma-2-table-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2010/01/27/zen-pinball-ninja-gaiden-sigma-2-table-review/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:40:37 +0000 Kosamus http://www.tqcast.com/?p=4237
Game – Zen Pinball [Downloadable Content]
Genre – Arcade
System - PlayStation 3
Price – $2.49 USD and $1.99 EURO

Review by Kosamus Chino
TQcast Staff

Just when you thought Ryu from Ninja Gaiden had taken a permanent vacation from the arcade. Zen Studios has released a Tokyo cityscape pinball table around Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. So not only does Zen Pinball offer some of the most realistic physics in a pinball game, but now a ninja battle to the death. What more could you ask for?



Well everything you asked for is in this table. Ryu Hayabusa and one of the Four Greater Fiends the Ruler of Lightning, Alexei makes up the focal point of this table. The Greater Fiend doesn’t make it easy in this lighting quick table of electric charged ramps, hidden traps, multi-leveled platforms, tricky jumps and spider ninjas at every turn. You can defeat Alexei by accepting missions through activating story mode and finishing him for good. But, don’t forget to stop by Muramasas’ shop to pick up a weapon for a boost in scoring power. Not only do the weapon give you improved scoring attributes, but they actually appear on Ryu’s in game avatar during gameplay.



The tabletop also features all of your favorite heroines such as Ayame, Rachel and Momiji harnessing their um…attributes. Just don’t get distracted because this is one beautiful table. I’m not just talking about the ladies either. The small details and animations in this table are pretty amazing. From the carvings on the checkpoint statue to the ball slcing and sword blurs of Ryu’s special moves are worth checking out.



If you have Zen Pinball or just love Ninja Gaiden. This expansion is a must play. Never before have I been addicted to a pinball table of this magnitude.
Verdict – Must Buy for Zen Pinball or Ninja Gaiden fans.

5 out of 5 Michelas!


]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2010/01/27/zen-pinball-ninja-gaiden-sigma-2-table-review/feed/ 5 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/12/19/heavenly-sword-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/12/19/heavenly-sword-review/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:09:11 +0000 V8SuperCars http://www.tqcast.com/?p=3750

Well TQ’s I thought it might be a neat idea to post up a retro review. With today’s economic crises and cost of living, picking up new games at full price is not an option for many, however picking up a game in the pre-owned or $10 wheely bin is an option for most.

NOTE: My retro reviews is based on value for money on top of how the game plays, this will effect my review score.

Gamplay
Gameplay in Heavenly Sword is very nice, you control the character movements with the left thumb stick while the right thumb stick controls rolls and evades. Square and triangle are pressed to do a standard attack. Holding down the R1 or L1 and hitting square or triangle, changes the sword hits from light to heavy attacks and in the heat of battle this work flawlessly. There are a ton of combos to learn and some are complex, some very easy, but performing combos is complete eye candy, as the detail that is shown on screen is much like watching a Japanese Kung-Fu movie.



The story uses 2 characters. One of the characters is a joy to play with, she uses a bow n arrow. While using the bow n arrow, holding down the action button causes the screen to go in super slow motion. This part of the game was entertaining from start to finish and something that was greatly enjoyed. It was just awesome shooting and arrow and guiding it across the map for a head shot or the very entertaining groin shot in which the enemy grabbed its crotch in pain while in super slow mo.

The game moves into real time sequences at points and you have to press the corresponding button to perform a move, something an old Dreamcast game Shenmue had and it’s used very well in Heavenly Sword. You cannot control the camera angle in this game, it’s preset, but it works great! I am one to have full freedom of the camera, but this much like God of War 2, is set out with a good angle of the levels and it’s set in such angles that you appreciate just how good the game looks.



Graphics
This game has graphics to drool, it’s ultra sharp, ultra smooth, the art direction on the game is superb, amazing waterfalls, huge backdrops that draw miles into the distance and of course plenty of characters on screen at once. At points in the game you will fight over 1000 enemies on screen, and the game engine handles it with ease. Textures are super high and it’s easy to just sit there and stare at how beautiful this game looks, it’s on another level for graphics, and the fact this game came out almost 3 years ago says a lot. Character models are at higher resolution than anything I have ever seen for its time. The game does have more of a bright vivid look to it, the characters are so life like and move just as realistic as they look. The game does suffer from some slowdown, but only during cut scenes. This slow down may be caused by level loading. However it’s far a few and does not happen while in game play.



Sound
This game has an earth shaking effect, the game has 10GB of sound files all uncompressed audio and it shows it in a big way. Just to give you an idea of this, a full blown Xbox 360 game, fmv, sound, extra content, texture etc, fit on a dual layer DVD of 9GB, the sound on this game alone would not be possible on anything other than a PS3. The voice acting is top notch and really adds a great feel to the story.

Overall
Overall, Heavenly Sword is a super solid game. While the game is short, it’s as sweet as they come. The old saying is so true “short and sweet”. There are great boss fights, interesting characters to control, awesome story and great level designs. Finishing the game, unlocks a hard mode that will allow you to progress through the game again with tougher enemies. This would have been a 5 Michelas game for me if it had trophy support and a longer story mode, but regardless of this, it offers great value for money. Heavenly Sword is a must have game that’s a joy to finish and like myself, you will be playing it again in the new unlocked mode.

Final Verdict:



]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/12/19/heavenly-sword-review/feed/ 6 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/12/01/nba-2k10-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/12/01/nba-2k10-review/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:27:59 +0000 Patpreezy http://www.tqcast.com/?p=3589

NBA 2K10 is a great progression from the previous iterations of the series. From the outset, it is apparent that 2K Sports have set out to make the most accurate simulation of the sport of basketball.

Graphics:

The graphics of the 2K series have been one of the high points of basketball video games for the last 5 years, and this year is no exception. Player models are the closest to their true NBA counterparts as I have seen in all of my gaming years. Are they perfect? No…But they are damn close. I have found that it is best to judge player models but by looking at the players that often get overlooked by developers of most basketball games the white and Asian players….I have to say, that 2K doesn’t disappoint. Take a look at Luke Walton (Lakers) or Mike Miller (Wizards) and it is easy to see that 2K spent effort in creating their character models to best reflect the entire of the NBA family of players. Also, they have finally addressed one of the legacy issues that have been around for several years. That is spacing. In previous games, it felt as though the players just took up too much space on the court. This year, 2K Sports has made the players more accurately scaled on the court…so that space is readily available for some of the best on-court action.



New Intros

I’ll start from the beginning: the game introductions. The high level idea behind the intros was to catch the conclusion of real life player introductions and to show some of the final preparations the players go through before the game starts. The first thing you’ll notice after the game loads is that most of the time (more on this later) you will arrive in a darkened arena. Each team has its own lighting effects package, from the purple and gold roving spotlights in Staples Center (Lakers) to the greened out hardwood in Boston. We even captured signature jumbotron animations (think KG & Paul Pierce screaming or the EKG animation in Cleveland).

Oh, and there’s fire … I guess I shouldn’t leave out fire. Some teams do the pyro thing as a climax to their introduction and we were able to capture that as well.

Pre Game Rituals

I knew going in that I couldn’t just do LeBron’s powder ritual and call it a day. While it’s no doubt the most recognizable signature introduction out there, it’s definitely not the only one you’d see when going to an NBA game. Seeing that I am a big NBA fan… I was able to see a couple dozen rituals that were added to the game. D-Wade will do his pull up on the rim (with net physics, of course). Garnett will hit his head on the basket support. The Cavaliers as a team, do a few different things, including posing for photos. And Tim Duncan will … inspect the game ball. There are many others, adding up to 24 in total. LeBron will blow into his hands after tossing powder and Garnett will scream at the crowd to hype them up. One thing to note, these rituals do not happen every game. It’s not authentic to see the Cavs hitting homeruns every game so we set a frequency on each intro to be more realistic and provide more randomness.



If is doing a pre-game ritual we must point the camera at that player 100% of the time”. Because of how NBA Today works, if Shaq happens to be on a roll the last few games in real life, he will be the focus of the pre-game presentation in NBA 2K10. What’s even more interesting is seeing LeBron in the background doing his chalk toss even though he’s not the focus. No cut scenes in NBA 2K10. The living world is always doing its thing even if we’re not throwing a camera at it.

The addition of these rituals brings more life to NBA 2K10 and provides yet another signature facet to the game.

Bench Animations and Behaviors
A couple of days ago I saw players from the opposing bench attempt to distract me as I was trying to shoot a corner 3 in a close game. I completely forgot that this behavior was in there because it’s not something you see often. The game has to be at a certain intensity level and you have to have a player who’s actually an outside shooting threat in order to provoke the bench into reacting in that manner.

Next time you make an on the fly substitution, you might notice the coach pull the substituting player to the side to give him a message before he checks in, or notice how your bench guys stand up and look nervous in a close game or how they react to a big dunk. My favorite of all the bench behavior additions this year is where bench players on certain teams will remain standing at the beginning of the game until their team scores. It’s fun to dig in on defense to see how long you can hold those teams scoreless just to keep the bench guys standing up. You may also notice that in certain arenas **No spoiler**, the entire crowd remains standing until the home team scores.

Speaking of on-court, this is where NBA 2K10 really shines. For those who love the sport of basketball, we all know that there are two types of games…the run and gun and high speed transition, and the half-court and play focused styles. The great thing about this game is its inherent ability to provide BOTH styles. However, you have got to pick the right team. Players and teams really play like the teams that they represent in reality. The Lakers play an up-tempo style, all the while keeping the triangle intact for those half-court situations. The Cavs will run a LOT of point forward half-court situations with Lebron calling the shots and coming off screens. Player statistics are kept realistic by the NBA Today, which tracks games from day to day and keeps players in tune with their real world performance. Plus, it gives the days matchup’s right at the load up screen.
This brings me to my next point.

This years game menus have been tweaked. If you played the NBA Combine DLC or demo, then you know what to expect. It is a much more intuitive system then what was done in the past and it makes it easier to navigate the menu options. Speaking of options, there are tons. You can have the NBA Today games, each already preselected and playable alone or with the find a friend online option. You can go to the practice arena for a scrimmage game, to practice plays, go it alone with Freestyle, or practice Free Throws. You can go to the playground and do the 3 Point competition, Slam Dunk competition, or have a pick up game with the current NBA players or the Greats from all ages. (which includes 1-5 player matchups and 21) The final option is the My Player mode.



My Player mode:

This mode casts you as an NBA upstart. You create a player, go to the NBA Combine to hone your skills, and take a run at the NBA. This mode is fun, but frustrating. It is fun because you are playing the essence of basketball. Because your player is NOT a superstar, you will not start out as a high flying, 3 point dropping juggernaut of a player. In fact, you will probably more accurately represent the Average Joe that you truly are. However, with some work on your skills (with Skill training), and a few matches under your belt. You will start to take form as a true NBA player. The frustration comes with the fact that you will be nit picked to death for mistakes. One bad pass, one bad call for the ball, or one bad shot could cost you in the grading system that determines those upgrade points that will make you the NBA player that you are striving to be.

Pressbook
One of my favorite features this year, Pressbook, employs a virtual photographer to take pictures of the action during the game. I use it to reflect on some of the moments in the game I just played. Flip through the Pressbook photos and you’ll see shots of pre game rituals, championship celebrations and all of the in-game action in between. There’s nothing better than playing with your buddy and after the game reminding him of how you put your balls in his face while dunking on him with J.R. Smith in the first quarter. This actually happened in a game between me and one TQFAM*cough*GURU-007*cough*, but I’ll withhold the pic to protect the innocent.

You select Pressbook from the Game Wrap Up menu after the completion of the game. The photos are presented in a slide show fashion from various camera angles. Each photo will be on the screen for a few seconds before automatically advancing to the next photo. You can use the triggers to quickly advance through the pics or pause the slideshow at anytime if you want to admire a specific pic. Cool feature if, like me, you like to pour salt in the wounds of your competitors. If you’d like, you can upload the entire slideshow to your 2KShare to show off to everybody.



My final point about NBA 2K10’s greatness will be spent talking about the presentation. This is some of the slickest, broadcast style presentation to date. The broadcast team is GREAT. In fact, this sounds like some of the most natural commentary that I have ever heard. You would be hard pressed to recognize that it is scripted for a video game. Not only do they comment on the things that are happening in the game, but they also talk about the league in general. They even include promo teasers for upcoming games in the schedule. While the broadcast team adds to the overall feel, the crowd chants and stadium noises seem to have been ramped up to. Random screams for players, free throw taunts, even dynamic changes when the shot clock runs down give the player that immersive feel of being on the court.

Okay….so by now you can tell that NBA 2K10 is a great game from a great franchise right? So, is it perfect? NOPE!!! The problems with 2K10 are mostly legacy issues. The out of bounds dive is still almost useless. The alley-oops are too easy to do. There are still problems with players shooting from the baseline and near the basket or even going behind the basket for no reason (though not as much as the past). Refs can glitch and keep passing the ball back and forth to inbounding players *FIXED IN PATCH 1.0*. Dumb computer AI will sometimes take the ball back court or out of bounds for no reason. It doesn’t really affect YOU, but it DOES affect the overall realism.

IN SUMMATION: NBA 2K 10 is NBA basketball….it is beautiful, fluid, consistently Great, but is DOES have its flaws.


]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/12/01/nba-2k10-review/feed/ 1 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/30/nba-live-2010-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/30/nba-live-2010-review/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:26:45 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=3392
The Basketball season is here, and the greatest gaming experience one could have with a sports game, is to reenact a game that you just watched on TV, and giving it your own outcome. But if that’s not enough, how about creating a Dynasty, and manage your players, trades, games, and much more. NBA Live 2010 brings all of this to the table, plus tons of added features, that will satisfy anyone from casual to stat guru. (The review does not cover the 5 on 5 game play due to scheduling, and lack of active games during the time of review)

Controls: NBA Live 2010’s control schemes are much like previous years. Whether you are an old school NBA live gamer, or a new comer to the series, the control scheme is simple, and comfortable.

The speed of the game is by far one of the biggest improvements; the game reacts and moves fast and accurate for the most part. When I say “for the most part” I will hit the game on a very obvious fault, and non-reality feel to the game. When controlling the ball with any player and attempt to drive towards either corner of the court, you will 90% of the time get thrown out of bounce by some sort of invisible player, or zone. This could be very frustrating especially on down to the wire games. It’s almost as if the game loses accurate ball handling once you get close the out of bounce line near the basket. (Update: This has been improved with NBA LIVE 2010 PS3 update 1.10)

Passing, rebounds, blocking, shooting, defense, it all feels right. Being a point guard in the game, feels like it should; smooth, precise, and in control.



Graphics: Everything from the crowd, mascots, floor, and players look great! All player animations look natural, and as close to real as it can get for now. The players for the most part have a shine to them caused by both sweat and lighting and it does not look bad at all. Some may complain that it makes the player models look like plastic, but it feel as if the creators understand the game, and realized that the lighting and sweat create a thick shine.

While shooting free throws, you will get a close up look at how good the player models really looks. The face features are accurate to that of the real players, and everything else from the shoulders, to the shooting form look natural and realistic.

The AI really shines in Live. Let’s just say when you have the ball, you head for a layup or you drive the lane, and get fouled or at least you think you got fouled, your player grabs his head or eye for a minute as to pretend that he indeed got hurt, but there was no foul call. Eventually the player will act normal when he realizes that he will not get the call. Much like Vlade Divac reacted to every bump or tiny shove back in the day. These small details really make the game feel that much more important, and genuine.

Sound: Presentation to a game is key if you want to impress or even create that neck breaker/eye candy affect. NBA Live 2010 has the sound to make you feel like you are at the game. The fans chanting the teams’ name, the intensity of the crowd noise when playing a very important and close game with 2 minutes left in the 4th, shoes rubbing the polished floor – yes NBA Live’s sound delivers in this area. There are several crowd noise levels you can actually configure your game to play by. Normal, Playoffs, and Finals. Playing an online game, or even a quick solo game with Finals noise levels, doesn’t get any better- you will NOT hear the ball bounce!



When a game delivers such a great overall sound, it is easier to hear the flaws, and NBA Live does have several flaws in the sound department. The commentary, although decent, has some minor flaws that may or may not be a big deal to most, but because I did find it unpolished I figured I mentioned it. There was missing commentary on several plays during the games played both on and offline. For instance, one commentator will start a topic while the game is going; the other commentator will stay quiet, in what appears that the sound doesn’t respond at all due to the games movement. So, we can go several highlighted plays without a comment.

Also, the commentary tracks are at times easy to hear when they got added, cropped in, or mixed in. This gives it a very robotic and unnatural sound.

Replay Value/Story: NBA LIVE 2010 has every reason to be revisited often. Complete franchises, real time stats, and attributes, community style 5 vs. 5 games, top notch online support, and not to mention the DNA game mode that allows you to replay games the same day a real game takes place, with all current player stats. One final thing that seems to get a bit overlooked. easportsworld.com. I mean how cool is uploading your highlights and images to easportsworld.com to share with your friends, and the rest of the world! Simply amazing feature that puts NBA Live 2010 in the direction we all hoped EA would take this franchise.



Wishes or Changes: Update Patch 1.10 fixed and added many of the wishes and changes we asked for beside the choppy commentating crew. Also, the 5 vs. 5 Adidas live run is a good addition, but it could be a bit tedious to set up. Not to mention the lack of games found at the time you really want to play. And of course custom slam dunk contests with easportsworld upload support, and last but not least the ability to play classic and present games with hall of fame players, so we can finally find out who is the best, MJ or Kobe.

TQ bottom line: NBA LIVE 2010 Reinvents itself in all the right places, while keeping it simple, easy to pick up and play, yet has every aspect of the basketball sport covered for all the hardcore basketball fans.

TQRating



All Review Images were taken within game replay, and uploaded to easportsworld.com, racked up 51% of all possible PS3 trophies while reviewing the game.



]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/30/nba-live-2010-review/feed/ 2 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/15/ps3-wireless-headset-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/15/ps3-wireless-headset-review/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:18:39 +0000 V8SuperCars http://www.tqcast.com/?p=3359

I picked up an Official PS3 wireless headset on its launch day. The headset itself is made in the same theme as the console and all other PS3 accessories, in that nice Matt Black finish, with a very sexy looking headset dock included, its also made in the highest of quality, making it head and shoulders a better built than other of cheaper or even more expensive headsets.


Set-up
Connection to the console was very simple; there are 2 options for setup. Each option has its pros and cons, but I will explain this for each options.

Option1- Connect the supplied USB cable into the top of the headset(not the dock) and the headset is connected and linked. Doing it this way allows HQ mode(high Quality) audio setting to be turned on and off and also allows headset to charge on the dock while still using it(this can be done on option 2, but does not work as well. When the headset is docked, the audio from the headset speaker gets sent to your tvs/home theater output and boosts the audio of the mic so you can be sitting away from the mic and others can still hear you clear.

When the headset is synced this way it also displays onscreen the headset status such as Battery level, mute/un-mute, speaker level and what quality audio is on (HQ or standard) a simple press and release of the power button will flash up all this status on the top right of the screen, the same sort of box that displays your controller status or if someone signs in etc. The downside to this setup is that you cannot turn the mic level up or down its pre-set to level 3 or off and its meant to do this automatically from my understanding, turning HQ quality off will allow you to set the echo control(from the accessories menu hit triangle when on the headset option, then settings and calibrate echo control) this setting will make sure others cannot hear your TV and others around the room once calibrated.

Option 2- Manual sync, the same way you would with any blue-tooth headset to pair 2 devices, Press and hold down the power button until it starts flashing and the red ring around the big Mute button lights up, then on the PS3 go to Settings tab, head to Accessories setting, go to Manage Blue tooth devises then click “register new devices” enter the pass code for the handset (0000) and its connected. Doing it this way allows for adjustment of mic levels from 1 to 5 and echo control settings, the down side is it does not show up the headset status, HQ quality mode is gone and when docked you manually have to go into the menu and change the audio output to the TV if you need to use it while charging, there is also a little conflict when its docked and the console is on causing it to not connect sometimes, having to go into the menu of the PS3 and manually connect the headset.

It was a breeze to set up and use both ways, the headset comes with 2 size ear fittings that just clip on and off the headset, so it will fit small to large size heads/ears without any trouble.



Sound Quality
The sound on the headset is far more clear than any headset I have use (Motorolla, Jabbra) its far more crisp and voices don’t sound as muffled.The noise canceling works ok, but voices can be heard around the room when HQ(High Quality) is turned on, as this does not allow you to adjust the sound level of the mic. The headset range is also good, I have been able to walk around the house and continue a voice conversation over PSN without no trouble.

Use
There are 4 buttons on the headset
-Power button: Holding the power in for a about 2 sec will turn the headset on a further 5 sec or more will turn the headset off(docking the headset will also turn it off instantly)
-Mute: (big button on the face of the headset) Pressing this button will mute and un-mute the Headset, the great thing with this is that when you mute the headset it will display it on the screen with a audio beep in your ear every few secs to indicate you are on mute.
-Vol+ and Vol – Buttons are located on the edge of the headset and just adjust the volume up and down of the ear piece. The earpiece is also light weight and comfortable to use for hrs on end, I have never had a case of it hurting my ear or having to swap from one ear to the next, it just sits on the ear and you don’t know its their until you have to take it off.




Battery life
Battery life on the headset if excellent, im not 100% sure on how long the headset lasts for? Sony claims 8Hrs on the box, but I can use it for days and days before it needs a recharge, the included dock makes charging not a hassle looking for cables to plug into the power to charge it like other headset, its as simple as docking it and its done. The PS3 also has a battery level indicator on it for the headset making it easy to check when it may need a recharge.




Final word
Another great PS3 product to hit the shelves, I have been waiting to get my hands on a dedicated wireless headset ever since the PS3 launched and the wait was worth it.

While not a ground breaking product, it does what it needs to well, with the addition of HQ quality for gaming, built in settings to the hardware, displaying status onscreen, and the inclusion of a Dock for easy re-charging, and even using while its charging, for those days you forget to put it on the charger. This headset can also be used on your mobile phone if needed.

Its well worth the money, works great, what are you waiting for? Grab it and enjoy your time on PSN with friends.

Total Score- 4/5 Michelas.


]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/15/ps3-wireless-headset-review/feed/ 3 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/11/turtle-beach-ear-force-x31-video-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/11/turtle-beach-ear-force-x31-video-review/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:13:19 +0000 Filty http://www.tqcast.com/?p=3318


Pros: Wireless, Audio quality is great, Sound Effects, Separately adjustable chat and game audio, Comfortable, Flexible Mic.

Cons:Bulky, Only stereo audio.



Turtle Beach Website
Buy at Amazon

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/11/11/turtle-beach-ear-force-x31-video-review/feed/ 2 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/10/20/tritton-ax720-video-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/10/20/tritton-ax720-video-review/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:52:32 +0000 JUiCE http://www.tqcast.com/?p=3026



Pros: Crystal clear sound that puts you in the game, 5.1/Pro Logic II/Stereo mode, dedicated game and voice volume controls, easy to set up, supports PS3/Xbox360/PC/Mac, removable microphone, reasonable price.

Cons: 12ft headset cable, 3ftOptical cable, USB cable, bass could get distorted when you have it playing loud.

TQ Bottom line: If you are a gamer who owns a PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac, these are outstanding headsets. Priced at $129.99, the Tritton AX720 deliver an amazing sound.






Tritton AX720 Website

Buy the Tritton AX720 Headsets!

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/10/20/tritton-ax720-video-review/feed/ 14 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/10/04/zombie-apocalypse-ps3-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/10/04/zombie-apocalypse-ps3-tq-review/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:43:19 +0000 JUiCE http://www.tqcast.com/?p=2790
Zombie Apocalypse is a classic zombie arcade game, filled with machine guns, chainsaws, fireworks, intense action and a teddy bear!

As the day turns into night, the vomiting zombies arise from the ground and start their attack. Choosing the right character to battle the zombies is in your hands. With up to four different characters to choose from and with different backgrounds, Harlan, Natalie, Jimmy, and Ed, put up a great fight with the right tools on their side. Readily equipped with a machine gun, chainsaw and 1 zombie attracting exploding teddy bear bait, these guys will give it their all, day by day whether you play solo, online, or side by side with your buddies.






Controls: The controls are very straightforward; they are really only four buttons you will use: L1, L2, Left Stick, Right stick. R1 and R2 will do the same as the Left buttons. After finishing day one on Zombie Apocalypse, you will quickly realize that the controls are easy to get used to and are very comfortable. This makes the game enjoyable when you are in the mood for shooting, exploding, or chopping zombies up with the chainsaw.

Graphics: Do not expect to be blown away by this game when it comes to graphics, after all, it is an arcade game. The zombies look horribly good, and the environment is very impressive. This game will definitely be easy on the eye and will keep you entertained with no complaints. I must say that the different environments are very well displayed with great details.



Sound: Although I did not get a chance to play this on 5.1 surround or any gaming headphones, I did play it right off my HDTV. Zombie Apocalypse delivers in the audio department. While playing the game, the suspenseful music and the sound of vomiting zombies will add that extra touch to keep you playing this game. With Halloween right around the corner, this is the game to be playing to get you ready.

Replay Value/Story: It is my opinion that all zombie games can be repetitive, and that’s just the truth; Zombie Apocalypse falls in that same category as many other zombie games. Often compared to Left 4 Dead on the Xbox 360, Zombie Apocalypse also reminds me of another PSN zombie game, Burn Zombie Burn, but with better graphics, sound, and entertaining value. The game starts with 4 different characters to choose from, all equipped with the standard machine gun, chainsaw, and a “bait teddy bear” which attracts zombies and eventually blows all of them up. It is your mission to make it up to day 55 by battling many different zombies that come rushing at you. As the days progress, you are given an assortment of power up weapons such as shotguns and double hand Uzi’s which do have an ammunition limit and are more powerful then the standard weapons. The teddy bear is your key weapon as the zombies get faster and stronger, you must use it wisely as you do not acquire them easily. Now this game isn’t all about shooting zombies, you also have to rescue and defend people who also rise from the ground to be later rescued by a magic ladder that appears from the sky. If you are a true zombie lover this game is for you, if you are searching for trophies, this game is also for you. Just in the first 30 minutes of playing this game, I achieved about 7 trophies. As a quick tip, do not play this game too much, you will start to think it is too repetitive and will most likely hesitate coming back to it. Also, it is better played when you have friends around to play with you.



Wishes or Changes: As stated before, the game can be very repetitive. I would like to see more then seven different types of zombies with different abilities to keep me entertained. I would also like to see different modes while playing online other then the regular killing zombies co-op.

TQ Bottom Line Michela Rating: With 55 days to complete, this game is a must have not only for zombie lovers, but also for those gamers who like pick up and go games. Within a couple of minutes you are rushed into the game and fighting off all the zombies. Zombie Apocalypse can be repetitive but definitely fun when you have friends to play with you. Priced at $9.99 on the PSN Store, this game delivers when you need to change it up from your regular shooters. One of the best PSN zombie games with easy trophies!

TQRating:


]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/10/04/zombie-apocalypse-ps3-tq-review/feed/ 5 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/09/21/turtle-beach-ear-force-p21-video-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/09/21/turtle-beach-ear-force-p21-video-review/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:21:13 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=2584


Pros: Finally, an answer to late night PS3 gaming, Comfortable, lightweight, extra long 16ft cable, crisp and clear sound, volume controls, best bang for the buck, supports PS3, PC/Mac support, and they look good on you.

Cons: Distorted Bass if raised to high, mic is very sensitive, picks up breathing, outputs hissing, the lack of 5.1 support, low performance with bass music or soundtracks.

TQ Bottom line: Look no further if you have been looking for the perfect PS3 headsets that support both game and chat in one, while feeling extra comfortable and sounding crisp and clean. The Ear Force P21’s from Turtle Beach, are the answer to late night PS3 gaming.



Turtle Beach Site

Buy it at Amazon

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/09/21/turtle-beach-ear-force-p21-video-review/feed/ 3 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/04/hannspree-23-hf237-lcd-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/04/hannspree-23-hf237-lcd-review/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:50:45 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=1759 10) Input [...]]]>

Best Buy has it right now for $169.99 (price good till Saturday August 8 2009)

Display Size 23.0″ Wide Color Active Matrix TFT (16:9)
Resolution 1920 × 1200
Display Colors 16.7M Colors
Brightness 300 cd/m² (Typical)
Contrast Ratio 1000:1 (Typical)；15,000:1 (X-contrast)
Response Time 5 ms (GTG)
Viewing Angle 170° (H) / 160° (V) (CR>10)
Input VGA, HDMI 1.3, PC Audio
Audio Built-in 1W × 2 Speakers
VESA Mounting Yes. (100 × 100mm)
Power Consumption On: 41W (Typical)；Standby/Off: < 1W
Certificates RoHS, CE, CB, NEMKO/Bau-Mark, GOST, BSMI, FCC, UL/CUL, Energy Star, PSB, KCC, MPRII, 3C, VCCI, Vista Premium
Net Dimensions 553.1(W) × 411.8(D) × 178.7(H) mm
Net Weight 4.5 kg
Tilt -5° ~ 15°
Swivel No.
Height Adjustable Arm No.
Remarks Selections and specifications may vary by country.

This item has been given the TQ "OK" mO DeAl. At $169.99 being a good value. Do not pay more than $169.99. Keep in mind that final price could be up to $200 in California, due to $16 recycling fees, and tax.

Hannspree.com

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/04/hannspree-23-hf237-lcd-review/feed/ 5 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/06/26/infamous-ps3-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/06/26/infamous-ps3-tq-review/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:04:58 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=1333
An addicting new IP game that delivers in more ways than one, by using known video game ideas that worked, and mixing it up with new ones to make it a completely enjoyable PS3 exclusive game.

So before we get in to the TQ details, who is Cole? Cole is an everyday day guy that one day was delivering a package, but little did he know that the package was a ticking timed bomb ready to blow. Cole survives the explosion, but half of the city is now destroyed, people are getting sick from a plague, gangs are ruling the city, and Cole is now a totally different man, a man with unusual electrical powers. But what do you do with those powers? And why Cole?

Controls: Think of a human spider, yes Spiderman! You will be climbing many buildings, using electrical wires, trains, and railroad tracks as transportation. So, how does all this work? The games’ controls are fairly easy, and somewhat auto-adjusted for easier grabs, and jumps to buildings, or electrical wires, which can get annoying when you are trying to jump from one building to another and the jump goes no where, but the same place you started from. The game uses all PS3 controller buttons which has become unusual now a day. The button placements are perfect and easy to remember. Cole’s agility is superb, he can do flips sideways, backwards, forward, which give you full control of his movements and make it easier to counter attacks.



Graphics: The city is easily one of the best looking cities in a game to date, and the choice of colors, buildings, and structural material really shows off how an open world video game should be design. Climbing the very top of a high skyscraper and looking down at the city is a total natural high, literally. Character designs are just on point as the environments. You can easily distinguish the enemies from the normal everyday people around the city, and the main character Cole is detailed even when the camera moves to a close 3rd person view. Character movements and attacks look natural. Explosions, Fires, collisions, and Cole’s powers all look great. The game’s cut scenes are delivered via comic style clips that mix a dark Robert Rodriguez look to it. Although the game looks very good, there are several camera flaws and graphical issues that shouldn’t really affect the game play at all, but could get annoying some what. The enemies when killed and thrown in to the water seem to just be lying above the water, instead of floating. Some of the characters get stuck running in to buildings. Cole gets stuck between pillars or buildings at times.

Sound: Play this game on at least a 5.1 surround sound system, or some good 5.1 headsets, you will not be disappointed. All sounds in the game have very crisp sounds. The music is place perfectly in the game. When the game is just about to get in to a twist or big mission, the music really plays a huge role in building the suspense, not only because it is expected, but because it is some of the best suspense music ever heard in a game. The character voices are top notch. You can really picture the type of person the character really is, by the tone of voice and style that is spoken. Ride a moving train and hear the wind blow right by you.



Replay Value/Story: So Cole has these electrical powers, and his mission is to power the city back up after all electricity has been shutdown, and essentially clean up the city from street gangs that are obviously working for a head boss. You are equipped with a karma state meter, which plays a huge role, since your actions, and decisions affect you karma state and ultimately the deciding factor for the outcome of your destiny. Evil actions such as hurting pedestrians, or stealing give u evil Karma (red) good actions such as saving lives, and helping the police give you a good karma (blue). Will you be a good guy or a bad guy? Which ever side you take, Cole is searching for answers, and the biggest differences with evil or good choices are the type of powers you unlock. One of the best things about the game is the fact that it slowly teaches you it slowly introduces the new abilities and the powers through out the game which has you playing with anticipation to discover the next power. The game’s story builds up nicely, the further you get in the game, the thicker the story and the emotions get. With no multiplayer, does this game have any replay value. Yes! Like mentioned, you can either be a good guy or bad guy, so essentially you can play the game twice, once as a good guy, and another as an evil heartless monster. Of course a second or even third time visit to the game is a must to unlock all possible PSN trophies. From shards, healing, or eating energy, you will have plenty of ways to earn the very addicting PSN trophies. A quick tip: Take your time with the game, don’t try to rush through it, or you will easily get worn out. Playing for about 1 hour to 2 hours per sit-down will make this game much better, and the anticipation to play it the next day will be greater.



Wishes or Changes: A hovering device for Cole. Although there are many forms of transportation in the game, such as train rails, trains and electrical cables, a hovering device that would get Cole from point A to point B much would have been a great addition. Of course it might have defeated the purpose of climbing buildings.

TQ bottom line Michela Rating: An addicting experience that will remind of you of a game called crackdown, but on steroids. Great graphics, Electrifying powers, non-stop ambushes, a true connection to the character, incredible story, and best of all, the beginning to what could very well be a one of the best recognized franchises in gaming.

TQRating



Check out some of the inFamous videos on our video section.

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/06/26/infamous-ps3-tq-review/feed/ 0 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/03/16/flip-video-mino-hd-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/03/16/flip-video-mino-hd-tq-review/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:39:16 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=455
• The world’s smallest HD camcorder, weighing only 3.3 ounces
• Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare software
• Built-in memory for up to 60 minutes of high-quality video
• Rechargeable lithium ion battery— charges via your USB port. Approximately 2 hours of recording per charge.
• *Start recording within 3 seconds of power-up
• Advanced playback, pause, fast forward/rewind features
• *Records high-quality H.264 videos that work with iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto
• “Child Safe” mode to prevent accidental deletions of clips
• Fast lens – great low or bright light results, 2x digital zoom
• 1.5” color high-brightness (transflective) display for easy recording and super-clear viewing in bright sunlight
• Silent mode for recording in sensitive situations
• TV connector cable included to watch videos on television
• Tripod mount fits any standard tripod
• Video: 16:9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second progressive scan

Check out the many designs and customizations at Theflip.com

If you have a Costco membership, jump on this deal asap.



]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/03/16/flip-video-mino-hd-tq-review/feed/ 10 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/02/03/metal-gear-solid-4-ps3-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/02/03/metal-gear-solid-4-ps3-tq-review/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:37:23 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=377

Metal Gear Solid 4 not only makes owning a PS3 a glorious thing, but it will make you propose to your PS3 without alcohol or demented Vegas influences. All love baby!

Controls:Top Notch, third person controls with precise aim and movement. Satisfying shooting feels very realistic. The most precise Dual Shock 3 vibrations ever experienced.

Graphics: Stunning! Explosions, weapons, characters, cut-scenes are just… beautiful! The most beautiful women models in any game.

Sound: Superb sound, best if played on surround sound. Music and voices are a strict soundtrack masterpiece. Sound affects are top notch, explosions, and weapons sound realistic and on point with the situation.

Replay Value/Story: You got hot babes I mean purposely hot, you have break dancers (Raiden). Awesome fight scenes. The story keeps you hooked and you don’t feel the length of the cut scenes. It truly has it all.

MGS4 Feels like the 08 version MGS1 plus more.  Most importantly the game takes the gamers that have played MGS1 for the PS1 to a familiar place that is shocking and satisfying.

Any Negatives TQ? Cut scene lengths can be an issue to some gamers. The story can get a bit confusing. No trophy support.

Wishes or Changes: TQ wants to know how Sunny got rescued..MGS5 perhaps?? And where is the trophy patch???

TQ bottom line: MGS4 is Epic, a must own, a must experience, an attempt of gaming/cinematic experience that actually worked! Although some gamers might not ever get hip to MGS games, the rep speaks for itself. Metacritic average score is 94 while Testfreaks.com has it at average 8.7 with more than half of the scores coming at 100 or 10’s.

Final Verdict: 5 michelas out of 5!

Listen to the Audio version of the review





]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/02/03/metal-gear-solid-4-ps3-tq-review/feed/ 4 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/01/14/uncharted-drakes-fortune-ps3-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/01/14/uncharted-drakes-fortune-ps3-tq-review/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:54:42 +0000 admin http://www.tqcast.com/?p=354

When playing. Uncharted: Drakes Fortune you will quickly see and be reminded of Tomb Raider the male version. This game in every way is better, more entertaining, and drop dead better looking than any Tomb Raider game.

Controls: The controls are very easy to get used to, just like almost every game, there is an on screen display of the controls when needed. It is very easy to adapt to the controls.

Graphics: Even at 720p, Uncharted is definitely one of the best looking games on the PS3. Cut scenes look beautiful. But the highlight in this game is the beautiful/crystal clear/”I wanna drink it right now” WATER.

Sound: Sound is great, did not get a chance to play with 5.1 surround but definitely did not disappoint. Intense music playing during battles with enemies, made the gun fight/fist fight even more intense and entertaining.

Replay Value/Story:The story is based on the search for “El Dorado” also known as a big golden statue. There are also many quizzes and puzzles that you need to figure out in order to get to another level, which made me want to play the game even more. This game is a MUST own. All PS3 owners should own a copy or at least play the whole game once. The campaign is about 8 hours of action packed,non-stop fire,puzzle, crazy plot twist, that gets better and better the further you get in to it. With the recent update of trophies, you now have a bigger reason to look for the hidden treasures and use deadly combos while playing one of the most entertaining games on the PS3

Wishes or Changes: Make jumps a little more realistic, some jumps seemed really fake when compared to others in the game. AI needs some improvements. Enemies appear to be a bit dumb at times.

TQ bottom line Michela Rating: Reminds me of tomb raider the guy version, but better… way better with awesome graphics and an awesome story line.

5 out 5 Michelas

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/01/14/uncharted-drakes-fortune-ps3-tq-review/feed/ 0 http://www.tqcast.com/2008/12/05/dead-space-ps3-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2008/12/05/dead-space-ps3-tq-review/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:21:08 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=310
Dead Space has many similarities to games like Doom 3 And Bioshock.  Some very noticeable similarities are: the deserted audio recordings from deceased people scattered around bloody industrial rooms, and the creepy creatures roaming around the hallways and rooms that come at you when you least expected.

Controls: The controls are third person controls, very easy to get used to. Has a great objective GPS guide. Pressing down R3 gives you a highlighted light on the ground directing your objective destination. Initial feel while in zero gravity can be frustrating.

Graphics: Some of the best looking environments on the PS3. Explosions and the Vacuum room simply make this game shine. Some of the enemy models could of been better.

Sound: Simply top notch. Incredible violin suspense music introduced at perfect points in the game. Sound affects are crisp and clear.

Replay Value/Story: With only a single player campaign and with a tag of $59.99, the game is a rental.  The campaign is roughly 12 hours. The game does unlock some extras after finishing the game, but nothing that might get you to replay the story once again, unless you are after all or most of the trophies. The game  gets very repetitive, there is tons of back tracking. The game delivers in originality on only several parts of the game like (zero gravity, vacuum), not all. The story is nothing epic, “stranded on a ship in space must get out”.

Wishes or Changes: Introduce more of the unique things like the gravity and vacuum rooms. Less repetitiveness.


TQ bottom line Michela Rating: Think of Doom3/Bioshock mixed with the Potato Sack head mask from Resident Evil 4, but in space. Oh and did I mention 49 PS3 Trophies? Yes 49 possible trophies.

4 out 5 Michelas

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2008/12/05/dead-space-ps3-tq-review/feed/ 5 http://www.tqcast.com/2008/10/05/buzz-quiz-tv-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2008/10/05/buzz-quiz-tv-tq-review/#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:00:32 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=271

Buzz! Quiz TV for the PlayStation 3 could quite possibly be the best trivia video game ever created.

Platform: PlayStation 3
Trophy Supported: Yes
Players: 1-8, (1-4 online)
Price: $59.99


Controls: Included in the game box, are 4 Buzz wireless controllers. The controllers do require a wireless usb adapter that connects to the PS3 (also included in the game box). Batteries are not included (each buzz controller requires 2 AA batteries). The buzz controllers, feel just right, buttons are nice and large, making it easy to choose the correct button for your answer.



Graphics: Buzz Quiz TV is colorful. The game has a unique style of colorful, cartoon style, crisp graphics that are very satisfying. From clean-sparkling animated floors, to the humorous well detailed characters, the game delivers and makes you feel like part of the action.
Sound: The sound in Buzz is top notch. You will really feel like you are in a game show. Sound affects are very unique; like the “tequila” sound affect that makes a mariachi sound that could be used as a buzzer tone for your character. Recommended to play in 5.1 for optimal experience.



Replay Value/Story: Buzz Quiz TV: $59.99 Is it worth it? Let me cover the single player: As a single player game, the game is fun if you are playing online, don’t try to play this game alone, the game will get old. The game is meant to be played in a party with friends for the best experience. The online mode allows you to play a sofa vs sofa game against 3 other players online. The bad part about the online sofa vs sofa is the fact that you can only have one person represent your sofa team. The way to play this game is without a doubt as local multiplayer.  The local multiplayer has 7 modes that include:

• Points Builder
• Short Fuse
• Fastest Finger
• Points Stealer
• Pie Fight
• High Stakes
• Final Countdown

Playing up to 8 players in your living room is lots of fun, 7 modes is more than enough to make every game you play in multiplayer exciting and satisfying.

Buzz Features over 5,000 questions divided into five different genre channels (Music, Movies & TV, Sports, Brainiac and Lifestyle) and now available as well are downloadable category packs for $5.99 from the PSN.

A very unique feature in this game is the MyBuzz feature. With MyBuzz you can play user-created quizzes and even create your own at mybuzzquiz.com. People that play your self create quiz, will be able to rate them.

Wishes or Changes: Wish the Sofa vs Sofa mode allowed my group of 4 to play against another group of 4 online. Some Sony batteries for the Buzz controllers would of been nice.


TQ bottom line Michela Rating: Buzz Quiz TV is quite possibly the best trivia videogame ever created. With the ability to download category packs and create your own quizzes with mybuzz, the game will be the perfect party videogame for a long time to come. The game really shines with its multiplayer mode if played with atleast 4 players. If Buzz Quiz TV would of supported 4 players vs 4 players with its sofa vs sofa online game mode, this game would of been getting some extra michelas, never the less Buzz is still that party game that will please the crowd.

Final Verdict 8 Michelas out 10.

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2008/10/05/buzz-quiz-tv-tq-review/feed/ 11 http://www.tqcast.com/2008/09/08/resistance-fall-of-man-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2008/09/08/resistance-fall-of-man-tq-review/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:38:11 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=239

Resistance PS3 Review: Eyes on Resistance 2. Yes a Greatest Hits Game makes it to TQ. Putting new PS3 owners on Game, on a must play Game.



Controls: Controls are on point, no crazy camera issues or movement. They feel really smooth.

Graphics: The graphics for being a first gen PS3 game, are solid , up to par to most games that are out now. Very nice explosions, environments, character models.

Sound: The Sound is really good, great sound affects, incredible music soundtrack, and the game is a must on 5.1.

Replay Value/Story:Price PS3 Greatest Hits $29.99 (Nice Price) A Great Hit for sure!
When you complete the game, you do unlock some new weapons. Would I play it again (I say yes, because the story was fun, and has good time on the campaign, not too long, and not too short. The game has online, and its very active and fun on the PSN. The game feels very familiar. I felt like some of the levels looked a lot like Halo 3 (especially the bubbly things in caves). The overall story is a good strait forward military story mixed with some crazy chemical created creatures, but nothing very Original. After the game has been completed, I recommend to wait, till the credits finish rolling…

Wishes or Changes: A deeper story with some crazy twist.


TQ bottom line Michela Rating: Although a great game, I recommend to play this game after you have had a break from shooters. It feels familiar, I will sort of say that the game looks like Halo 3 on certain levels. Nevertheless, a PS3 must at purchase. The graphics are on point, character models even look good up close, and the environments are easily some of the most beautiful on the PS3. The attention to details on what is going around you certainly make the environments that much more believable. The gameplay is smooth, very smooth, very precise. Switching weapons, butstocking, and reloading worked to perfection . The music and sounds are top notch as well. The music was placed properly for every scenario. The story is good, but nothing epic, nothing that I was like whoa!!!!! If this story would of had some deep twist or bigger surprises, it would of made this game so much better. The Online part of the game boosted up the score a bit.

Final Verdict 8 Michelas out 10.

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2008/09/08/resistance-fall-of-man-tq-review/feed/ 0 http://www.tqcast.com/2008/07/26/tq-dark-night-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2008/07/26/tq-dark-night-review/#comments Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:07:35 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=203

If you don’t know about TQcast, you are about to feel the way we handle reviews.

Batman The Dark Knight Movie review.

First things first, leave the kids at home. I had both my 8 and 5 year old with me and they were hating life. I saw several kids at the theater of the age of around 10 and under and they also seem restless. The movie is freaking 2 1/2 hours long, not bad for me, but bad for kids. Anyways, the movie was good, very good, the Joker played by the late Heath Ledger was the highlight of the movie. There was some great action scenes, but nothing that was like wow!!!! There was lots of talking, to explain the movie, which was good to follow the comic story. I kept hearing that it would be the shortest 2 1/2 hours ever, but I got to say, that it wasn’t.  They could of done without some scenes, like the Gordon family dilemma. The Joker controls the movie, Heath is perfect for the part, and makes the movie really feel dark. I felt that the new Mrs.Cruise was Terrible, and wish that Katie would of played the part once again. Overall solid and a great follow up to he first.

(FYI: Although the kids were restless, they seem to enjoy the Joker’s jokes and overall character)

TQ 8 out of 10 Michelas.

]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2008/07/26/tq-dark-night-review/feed/ 0 http://www.tqcast.com/2008/03/02/akai-42-1080p-lcd-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2008/03/02/akai-42-1080p-lcd-review/#comments Sun, 02 Mar 2008 08:23:00 +0000 Desz http://techquila.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=312819#
AKAI 42" 1080p LCD LCT42Z6TMB

• General Features:
• Black cabinet
• 42-inch Widescreen LCD
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 1920 x 1080 resolution for Full HD 1080P performance
• Supports 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p resolutions
• HDTV compatible through HDMI and Component inputs
• Built-in 10W x 2 speakers
• Acoustic Cinema Enhancement (ACE) audio circuitry
• 8 ms response time 
• 800:1 contrast ratio
• 500 cd/m2 brightness
• 176-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angle 
• On Screen Display (OSD)
• Wall mountable
  
  
  
• Connectors:
• HDMI input
• 15-pin VGA, L/R Audio input
• Component 1 Y/Pb/Pr, L/R audio input 
• Component 2 Y/Pb/Pr, L/R audio input
• Video/Audio L/R input 
• S-Video/Audio L/R input
• Audio out L/R
  
  Cheapest prices online:
• Geeks.com has it for $879.99 plus shipping (Geeks is one of my top spots for ordering stuff)
• Secondact has it for $799.99 but I really don't know much about their service.
•  Like I mentioned in the video, I got it for $695.00 at Frys' electronics, so go check them out. There is a Fry's online, but I don't think they will have it online.
  
• Lastly I've been hearing that many Sam's clubs are selling these specific models for $600.00, so check them out.
 Let me know if you get your hands on one.
Posted by: Desz
]]>
AKAI 42" 1080p LCD LCT42Z6TMB

• General Features:
• Black cabinet
• 42-inch Widescreen LCD
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 1920 x 1080 resolution for Full HD 1080P performance
• Supports 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p resolutions
• HDTV compatible through HDMI and Component inputs
• Built-in 10W x 2 speakers
• Acoustic Cinema Enhancement (ACE) audio circuitry
• 8 ms response time 
• 800:1 contrast ratio
• 500 cd/m2 brightness
• 176-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angle 
• On Screen Display (OSD)
• Wall mountable
  
  
  
• Connectors:
• HDMI input
• 15-pin VGA, L/R Audio input
• Component 1 Y/Pb/Pr, L/R audio input 
• Component 2 Y/Pb/Pr, L/R audio input
• Video/Audio L/R input 
• S-Video/Audio L/R input
• Audio out L/R
  
  Cheapest prices online:
• Geeks.com has it for $879.99 plus shipping (Geeks is one of my top spots for ordering stuff)
• Secondact has it for $799.99 but I really don't know much about their service.
•  Like I mentioned in the video, I got it for $695.00 at Frys' electronics, so go check them out. There is a Fry's online, but I don't think they will have it online.
  
• Lastly I've been hearing that many Sam's clubs are selling these specific models for $600.00, so check them out.
 Let me know if you get your hands on one.
Posted by: Desz
]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2008/03/02/akai-42-1080p-lcd-review/feed/ 0 http://www.tqcast.com/2008/01/05/fight-night-round-3-360-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2008/01/05/fight-night-round-3-360-tq-review/#comments Sat, 05 Jan 2008 08:28:00 +0000 Desz http://techquila.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=293611#
TQ is strait to the point, so I'm not going to spend hours writing this review. I'm going to cover the pros and cons, a conclusion and give it
TQ review.

Fight Night Round 3 (360) was released on 02/21/06 , but I just recently started playing this game. The game is so 06 that it became a platinum hit and the price is only $29.99.

Pros:
Graphics
For being an 06 game, the graphics are up to par for today's
standards.
                 
Career Mode
(paced career, fights and training) You start as a young
boxer with a weight class of your desire and move your
self up by training, winning fights, and being quick on the
analog sticks. By the time you retire you could be really
old..
Presentation  
Although I would of liked the entrance to the ring a bit
better, the presentation overall is on point. (highlight) On the career menu, their is a screen that hypes up the upcoming fights and informs you who is looking to fight you.
Soundtrack   
Great tracks in this game
Online Play 
Who doesn't want to fight online against their best friend or enemy.
Price For only $29.99 you can't go wrong

Cons:
Reactions It tends to stutter or react slow after you throw a combination of punches, even with your speed attribute at 100%.
Boxer Creation Huge lack of facial and hair style customization features. My Mii looks more like Mii.
Stats Lack of stats. It would of been nice to have a page where you can reference the current top rank fighters during your career, and maybe even a pound for pound list.

Conclusion: Overall this is a very good game that should appeal to most gamers. If you are a boxing fan this game is a must, the career mode alone makes this game worth it. I'm hoping that the next game fixes or adds some of the features that were missing in this game.

TQ Review: 8.5  
 ]]>
TQ is strait to the point, so I'm not going to spend hours writing this review. I'm going to cover the pros and cons, a conclusion and give it
TQ review.

Fight Night Round 3 (360) was released on 02/21/06 , but I just recently started playing this game. The game is so 06 that it became a platinum hit and the price is only $29.99.

Pros:
Graphics
For being an 06 game, the graphics are up to par for today's
standards.
                 
Career Mode
(paced career, fights and training) You start as a young
boxer with a weight class of your desire and move your
self up by training, winning fights, and being quick on the
analog sticks. By the time you retire you could be really
old..
Presentation  
Although I would of liked the entrance to the ring a bit
better, the presentation overall is on point. (highlight) On the career menu, their is a screen that hypes up the upcoming fights and informs you who is looking to fight you.
Soundtrack   
Great tracks in this game
Online Play 
Who doesn't want to fight online against their best friend or enemy.
Price For only $29.99 you can't go wrong

Cons:
Reactions It tends to stutter or react slow after you throw a combination of punches, even with your speed attribute at 100%.
Boxer Creation Huge lack of facial and hair style customization features. My Mii looks more like Mii.
Stats Lack of stats. It would of been nice to have a page where you can reference the current top rank fighters during your career, and maybe even a pound for pound list.

Conclusion: Overall this is a very good game that should appeal to most gamers. If you are a boxing fan this game is a must, the career mode alone makes this game worth it. I'm hoping that the next game fixes or adds some of the features that were missing in this game.

TQ Review: 8.5  
 ]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2008/01/05/fight-night-round-3-360-tq-review/feed/ 0