The Xbox 360 Kinect Review

Kinect? Great! I have read countless reviews on the Xbox 360 Kinect. And the more I read, the closer I was getting to my pre-order. Most of the reviews complained about delays, or space requirement, or that the games were just regurgitated Wii games, and how each of name of the game was never developed.

After reading some of the preliminary assessments, I was intrigued enough that I pre-ordered almost immediately. Being a gadget geek, I ordered this set, despite already a Xbox360. I wanted a bigger hard drive, silence in the new console (!!!!!), and integrated wireless. The new design is pretty sweet too. Overall a great console. I recommend the upgrade.

Unplugged the old Xbox360, plugged in the power supply to the new 360, plugged in the HDMI cable (no more adapter required), plugged in the digital audio cable set the Kinect under my tv, plugged it into the Xbox, turned it on and it's go time. A few minutes of setup was all it took, setting up the wireless connection, entering your Xbox Live info, and a few download updates.

I was playing an adventure game that comes in the box. Wii-like? Yes. Fun? Much! It can track your movements - hands, head, arms, legs, hips, everything - is just incredible. Can detect when a driver moves from side to side or front to back, or crouching or jumping while moving the arm itself.

Many commentators have complained about the delays, which means it takes a bit of time to detect their movements and put them on the screen. Is there a delay? Yes, as measured in fractions of a second. Is it sensible? Yes, but only if specifically focusing on it. But it is not apparent during the actual game, since we are concentrating on the game And as with the Wii, quickly learn to compensate for that split second difference. It is totally irrelevant!

There is an infrared replication of yourself on the screen. The shape of my body was accurate (unfortunately) and has even taken the logo on the shirt I was wearing. There are many exercises you can do and you follow with an instructor. You need to be synchronized with instructor to earn points and advance to higher levels and KINECT did an excellent job following your every move and compare it with the instructor. Not spreading your feet far enough apart? He will tell you. Do not keep the pace? He will tell you. It's so much more intense than anything I played on the Wii and I can now see how your form instead of going to the gym. It is really amazing. KINECT is the future of games.

Mark Orman is known as "The Game Guy." Here you will learn the latest that Xbox has to offer and the best offers on Amazon.

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LEGO Pirates Of The Caribbean Review

Oh come on now, why are you here? What's the point in me writing any of this down, it's about a LEGO game. You know you're going to like it, it's in your veins. Ever since the dawn of mankind, our DNA has been harboured to hunt, mate and slay Sticklebrick aficionados. Traveller's Tales have been using this instinct for years now, developing plastic based parodies that are as bright and addictive as Starburst cocaine. Still, it's a format that keeps many excited at the prospects of what favourite film franchise could be coated in chokeable hazards, and this time, it's the turn of LEGO Pirates Of The Caribbean.

LEGO Pirates Of The Caribbean suitably focuses on all four films in the franchise and recreates them in blocky detail, and is possibly the most true representation of a franchise to date. In some cases, cut scenes replicate the films' shot for shot with their own cheeky charm to boot. The parody is ripe throughout and is sure to tickle the funny bone of young and old alike with slapstick charm and clever wit. Traveller's Tales melds the two together very well, helpful seeing as the humour of both franchises practically go together hand in hand like they were meant for each other, albeit all the rum's gone and been replaced by tea.

Nothing much has truly changed. The simplicity of all the LEGO games that enticed kids and adults alike remains ever present throughout, and the basic platforming and puzzle solving mechanics are as enjoyable as ever. However, if feels as though there have been missed opportunities with the swashbuckling topping. Combat still only relies on bashing one button, and not a lot else. Could there not have been some form of dueling mini-game in keeping with the theme? The constant square bashing is heavily shielded by the laurels of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it', but after so many LEGO games making the creative team 21st Century experts in platforming, it surely can't hurt to spice up the formula of combat a bit.

Your allies are equipped with different means to fight off treasure hunters, but it all relies on the same button bashing formula. Thankfully, should you be playing alone (and if you only play online, then you'll have no choice), the ally A.I. has been improved to near perfection to aid you in co-operative puzzles and dare not hinder your progress. Some slight issues kick in, however, with swapping to different members of your crew. Your party can now extend from the traditional two, but attempting to quickly swap between the cast in your roster often results in selecting the wrong character. You can halt and select from a character wheel to be more specific, but do this within mid-battle and you will die and lose some of your hard earned treasure. With infinite lives, this is only a small complaint, but slightly frustrating nonetheless.

Still ridiculously addictive, brilliantly fun and unexpectedly laugh out loud funny on occasions

Each level is littered with collectibles and treasure to unearth from demolishing the property of the innocent. Tons of hidden prizes nestling away in the oddest nooks and crannies have practically as much of a staple of the series as the light hearted parody and cutesy presentation, yet there's a stronger emphasis on treasure this time around, and rightly so. Jack Sparrow roams the levels with his trusty compass, opening up a mini-game that spans across levels in order for you to search for buried treasure...and trash. Uncovering LEGO fragments to build can lead to you gaining even more in the way of 'Studs' the game currency, or more importantly pieces of Minikits, allowing you to build several ships in bottles for a lovely decorative effect in your port.

Your port is a reflection of your success in pillaging, and acts as your main HUB throughout the films. Should scavenging through means of aesthetic pleasure not be to your tastes, the main reasons for completing quests and hoarding figurines is for gold bricks, the key to unlocking more levels, more characters and more sections of the port to explore. Everywhere you turn, you're being graciously awarded for simply playing, and once you begin unlocking things, it can become incredibly hard to stop.

It's pretty clear that Disney have shoved their influence in by their wallet with the improved graphics. Everything has been given a cinematic filter and there's a heavier emphasis on the character animations to truly outline their unique traits. Jack Sparrow's nigh on drunken flailing never fails to amuse whilst darting around levels and the slapstick animations never fail to amuse. Even the slight grunts from Sparrow and Will seem to replicate that of Depp and Bloom's eerily well. Alongside the pitch perfect soundtrack throughout the game, and you've got more of a remake than a parody.

So, although it employs basically the same tactics as every other LEGO parody under the sun, LEGO Pirates Of The Caribbean is still ridiculously addictive, brilliantly fun and unexpectedly laugh out loud funny on occasions. There are mild frustrations which kick in every so often, but in no way hinder any enjoyment and the cons that have been mentioned in so many LEGO games before hand such as poor A.I. have finally been fixed. Experts in the field of LEGO platforming will probably find this a short voyage and manage to blitz through the Gold Bricks it has to offer, but enjoyable nonetheless. Whether you'd be a fan of the films or fan of the games as a whole, this is a greater video game spin-off than any of the actual fleshy cash-ins.

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Game Review of Papa's Pizzeria

Papa's Pizzeria is yet another time management game, but here instead of managing farms or hotels like countless other games, you get to run a pizzeria. It's basically the same format, but in a different setting. You take orders from customers, and then top, cook, and cut pizza based on the order specifications. You do this by clicking on the various pizza stations.

You start off at the order station where you can see the customers and take their orders. Every order has the topping ingredients, cooking time, and cutting style the customer prefers.

Once you receive the order, you go on to the topping station and start topping the pizza. Since the controls in this game are all mouse based, you top by clicking and dragging ingredients on to the pizza. You can rearrange the ingredients even after they are on the pizza, so rearrange if you think the ingredients look messy. How well they are arranged will affect the final score.

Next, the pizza will travel to the baking station to be baked. On some orders where longer baking times are specified, the game can get boring while you wait for the pizza to finish baking. However, this is only really a problem earlier on in the game when there aren't that many customers, and later on when more start coming and waiting, longer baking times can be helpful, since they give you more time to deal with them.

When the pizza is done baking, it goes on to the cutting station to get sliced. Insure an order ticket appears on the right before you proceed, since if there is no ticket you won't be able to finish the order, and your only option would be to throw away the pizza. That would be bad, and can unfortunately happen.If there is no ticket on the right, you need to drag the appropriate order ticket (from the stack of tickets at the top of the game) to the right and then you will be able to finish the order by clicking the "finish order" button.

Once the pizza is done and presented to the customer, the game will grade how well you followed the order. If the toppings are sloppy or the pizza was cut haphazardly, you will be penalized and will receive a lower tip.

Throughout the game you continue taking orders and try to please customers. If costumers are pleased, they become repeat customers and will help you get more tips.

As mentioned, all the controls in this game are mouse based. While the controls work for the most part, a better interface for managing order tickets would of been helpful. Many times in the game it gets difficult to see and manage multiple order tickets. As a result, many times a pizza can mistakenly be sent with the wrong order.

That's basically the game play. However, the game gets more difficult and challenging as it progresses. The difficulty is ramped up by having you manage multiple customers that demand elaborate pizzas that have many toppings and weird slices. While the game gets harder, it unfortunately can sometimes start feeling a bit repetitive since your essentially doing the same thing over and over again.

Papas Pizzeria is one of many free really fun games available online

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Super Mario 64 DS Review

Description
If you loved playing Mario 64 back in the day, you are really going to love it now. A new generation is being exposed to this classic game, thanks to its availability for Nintendo DS. New features in Super Mario 64 DS include multiple unlockable mini-games. Regular play begins as Yoshi and doors are unlocked so you can become Luigi, Wario, and Mario. Each of these characters possesses special abilities and all will be needed to find the 150 Power Stars hidden in the castle grounds. The touch screen and the stylus allow you to control all characters in Adventure mode. If you want to play with one to three other friends, switch to Wireless Versus mode and heat up the competition.

Details
Dimensions of the box containing Super Mario 64 DS are 5.0 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches and the box weighs 3.2 ounces. The game features an E for Everyone rating.
Super Mario 64 DS includes:
‧ Classic game for Nintendo 64 contains new features for enhanced play on Nintendo DS system
‧ Play as Mario, Luigi, Wario, or Yoshi
‧ Each character possesses different abilities
‧ 150 Power Stars contained in castle grounds for players to discover
‧ In Adventure mode, use stylus and touch screen to control all characters
‧ Compete with up to three other players in Wireless Versus mode using just one game card
‧ As play continues, you can win touch-sensitive mini-games

Pros
‧ Mario 64 reinvented in a great way
‧ Helpful map on the bottom screen
‧ Makes good use of the touch screen
‧ Great graphics
‧ Mini-games

Cons
‧ Frustrating camera control
‧ Controller scheme is sometimes difficult

Features
Super Mario 64 DS is here, once again allowing you to play the much-loved Mario game on a handheld device. This is not just the classic game on a different platform, it has totally been overhauled. You begin playing as Yoshi but your skills allow you to become Mario, Wario, and Luigi when you unlock doors. Explore the castle grounds to find the 150 Power Stars waiting for you to unlock them. During play, multiple mini-games may be unlocked, adding to the value of this purchase.

When you are ready to play against your friends, enter Wireless Versus mode. You can use a single game card to wirelessly compete with as many as three friends. This game makes excellent use of the Nintendo DS touch screen and stylus. Previous buyers rate it as a must-have for Nintendo DS because it contains great features, is challenging, and of course, so much fun!

If you enjoy Mario games, you are going to love TheHottestToysOnline.com. We features non-biased reviews of all the latest Super Mario games, Sonic games, dolls, action figures, and just about everything else your child will want for a birthday or Christmas present. Check it out today!

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Gran Turismo 5 Review

Gran Turismo 5 or GT5, is one of the most anticipated games of the year but did it really live up to this expectation?

Personally, I think it has lived up to its name and more, with mouth-watering graphics and immense driving simulation that could make you pass your driving test, it is a speed freaks dream. From bombing down a 3 mile road at 250 mph to hurling yourself round acute turns in a lightweight go-kart, every age group is catered for. Saying that, the exhilaration of each race might just tip an eighty year old over the edge or even make a two year old want to do a few laps around the living room.

Gameplay

Lets get started on the gameplay. Whether you are getting your MOT at your local garage, or changing your oil in your latest Bugatti Veyron, you can do everything you can do in a real garage on GT5. With detailed animations of garage workers mending your car and with the option to browse and buy a massive selection of second hand cars for bargain prices, every spendable point you earn will feel as rewarding as the last. For example, in the dealership you can buy a brand new Audi A4 for around ￡50,000 but in the second hand dealership you can buy the same car for around ￡20,000. The only difference is the mileage and maybe the chipped paint, but you will find yourself taking advantage of the reduced prices far more than the high first hand ones.

There is far more to the game than buying cars, with a-spec and b-spec options this game will take a long time to complete. A-spec mode is the traditional dog eat dog lap race in which you have full control. However, a highly controversial feature is the b-spec mode, where you control a CPU controlled driver, giving orders and commands, but ultimately you sit back and watch an unrealistically bad driver ruin your perfect 100% win record. Although you can rank up the brainless driver, he never compares to the human holding the controller. The majority of the features I have mentioned are predominately in the GT mode which is not all you can do on the near perfect game.

Game Modes

The game modes include GT mode, arcade, online and 2 player. Although you might play with your friends in 2 player or online modes, I am convinced that a large bulk of your time on the game will be spent trying to get the best cars and drivers in GT mode. There is not much else to be said about the other game modes as they are pretty self explanatory.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, I feel that Gran Turismo 5 satisfies every element that is required for a driving game of this stature. In comparison to Need For Speed, its main competitor, GT5 exceeds it in nearly every way. For example, the graphics are far more realistic than those of NFS as they express every curve and every mark,scratch or dent of each individual car. As for the environment, I think that NFS and GT5 are on par together which doesn't have a great impact as you do not really buy a racing game for the blurred environment surrounding the cars as you whiz past at 200 mph. In NFS, it is clear that EA have put more effort into a storyline rather than GT5's emphasis on the aspect of real life that they have incorporated.

My Rating

GT5's quality makes it very easy for me to rate it, from graphics to gameplay to the immense re-playability factor it deserves a 10/10.

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Ridge Racer 3D Game Review

Sometimes I wonder if Namco, in its own strange way, doesn't follow Herbert Hoover's old political slogan of "a chicken in every pot and a car in every backyard." After all, doesn't it seem like a given that at this point, with only a few exceptions, new hardware isn't new hardware unless there's a Ridge Racer to play on it? Which brings us to Ridge Racer 3D.

For over 15 years, Namco's familiar formula of drifts, powerslides, and big boosts has proven to be a mostly winning combo. And Ridge Racer 3D does little to deviate from that well-trodden path. Yes, it adds a new dynamic, but doesn't explore the new medium for much beyond the same sort of gimmickry that you often see film critics decry in 3D Hollywood fare.

At its core is a sound Ridge Racer game that feels roughly on par with 2005's PSP launch title. It's not quite as magical as that game, but it evokes the same the same streamlined and well-adapted spirit. And adaptation is really the operative term. RR3D carries certain strategic gameplay elements seen in RR titles that have come since RR PSP, such as RR7's reliance on slipstreaming to gain a lead on opposing cars.

Mechanically, the 3DS analog slider complements gameplay better than the PSP's tiny nub. It's bigger and more ergonomically sound for this style of game. But RR3D's namesake feature, while sometimes helpful, is mostly gimmicky. Most of the 3D effects are much less about providing a new spin on familiar gameplay and more for show and presentation (i.e. confetti-like paint chips flying off as you collide, dust kicking up during drifts, leaves hitting the screen). Other effects, such as shadows, feel super-pronounced. A little 3D goes a long way though. If you go through the game with the slider fully cranked, you will probably have to take a minute and stop racing so that your eyes don't strain too much.

RR3D falls short when it comes to multiplayer. There are no online features to speak of, and even the StreetPass feature merely allows you to collect other players' ghost data and rank them on your personal leaderboard. It's a blown chance to really show off what 3DS could do for a game like this, especially for a series which has had some sound online content in its more recent console iterations.

At its best, Ridge Racer 3D conjures up fond memories of 2005-era drifting and powersliding through exotic locales. At its worst, it squanders opportunities to really provide more than a few flying paint chips and ghost data races. Still, while it could have added up to a greater sum, its parts are still reasonably sound.

There are plenty of reasons for kids to keep playing Star Wars games online, with a plethora of characters, special Lego Star Wars games pieces and extra features to unlock. Lego and Star Wars is definitely a match made in marketing heaven.

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Mystery Trackers - Raincliff Review

A game by Elephant Games, Mystery Trackers - Raincliff is the second installment of the Mystery Trackers franchise of adventure hidden object games. You still play the detective set to solve a mystery or a crime or whatever you may call it. But what can you do if the culprit may be outside of the physical realm? Set to stop you on your tracks and may even put you out of commission if you're not careful enough.

The story of the game takes place at Raincliff, an old and abandoned town some ten years ago. Due to its abandonment, it is already considered a ghost town, famed to be infested with spirits and other strange occurrences. This is the place where a university bus was last seen and so becomes the setting for a large scale investigation care of the Mystery Trackers. Find the missing passengers of the bus and get them out of the town before you or your lifeless body get stuck in there with them.

Mystery Trackers - Raincliff is mostly adventure with a couple of hidden object games integrated into the game play. The main task as I wrote is to find the missing passengers of the university bus, but it's not as straightforward as that as you may think. The whole town is a labyrinth of puzzles and other tasks you must do in the hopes of them leading you to the missing persons. Not really a new thing for adventure games but it's too enjoyable to brand as cliche.

Hidden object scenes are triggered whenever you need to search for useable items to continue your adventure. Useable items may be used to unlock areas, interact with the environment in order to get new useable items or used to complete puzzles so that you can get into solving them and continue the storyline. Of course, hints are also given for your use during these scenes, the instance of which varies depending on the difficulty you set at the start of the game.

Now that I mentioned puzzles, I must say that the puzzles in this game are mostly simple but in the above average state of challenge. As I hinted on the paragraph above, almost all of the puzzles are incomplete in their initial state and you'll have to find an object in order to complete the puzzle and then proceed into solving it and move on. And if in case you're having trouble solving the puzzle, there's always the skip button ready after some time of waiting. I suggest skipping the skip button though because the puzzles are fairly average with just a bit of common sense.

Cinematic in Mystery Trackers - Raincliff is performed by real life actors and actresses. It's amazing how they get integrated into the game space but I guess it's no surprise as I have seen this trend in most of the best adventure games. What's important is the great acting, making you feel really involved into the whole adventure and sometimes can even surprise you out of your wits. Timing is perfect on those times that you need to be scared and overall, I really enjoyed it a lot.

Mystery Trackers - Raincliff is really one of the best adventure games and as such currently still stands atop our adventure game list. The Collector's Edition includes bonus game play, screen savers and other surprises so it's best you consider trying the CE version.

Mystery Trackers - Raincliff is one of the top adventure games in the market today and thus found its way into being reviewed in our blog. Check out the original source of this article at http://blog.bestadventuregames.org/mystery-trackers-raincliff-review/ and explore the site for more reviews and previews of the best adventure games.

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Dragon Keeper Game Review

Seek the help of powerful dragons in order to defeat an evil witch and save your kingdom in Dragon Keeper! Help the dragons raise their young in order to earn their trust and obtain powerful magical items from them. Care for the drakes, feed them and protect them from nasty adventurers. Efficiently manage the dragon gems and create a well-defended money-generating den in this fun time management game!

Dragon Keeper is a time management game in the style of farm/garden management games such as The Fifth Gate. However, instead of running a farm full of corn, ducks and pigs, you get to manage a dragon's den! And it's not nasty fire-breathing evil-looking dragons either. You'll be taking care of cute little baby dragons and watching them grow as you protect them from the nasty adventurers who come invading and searching for treasure.

You are a dashing prince, and the game begins as you are about to get married to your beloved princess. However, an evil witch gatecrashes the wedding and casts a curse. Your princess gets turned into stone, the party-goers get trapped in the castle, and you are banished from the realm. Desperate for help, you head to the mountains to search for the powerful dragons, hoping that they will be able to provide you with magical weapons to fight the witch. They agree, but there's a catch: you have to take care of their kids!

The way the game levels work is slightly different from other time management games. Rather than having quests for each day/level, Dragon Keeper has a whole set of quests for each chapter, and you can take as many days as you want to achieve those goals. However, you need to complete them in a specific time in order to achieve the Expert level. In this sense, the game is also more freeform, allowing you to choose how you want to play; whether to spend the first few days creating a strong economy before attempting to complete the quests.

You start with a baby red dragon (which you hatch by pounding the egg with a hammer), and must feed it when it gets hungry. When it is happy and well-fed, it produces gems (which is weird, but definitely better than other types of bodily waste!) These gems form the basis of the game's economy, and when collected will be used to generate cash which in turn is used to buy more dragons, other creatures and various other upgrades. The dragons are separated into different colors, with each color being able to produce 3 different quality gems as the dragons age. So a red dragon will be able to produce 3 different cuts of rubies.

At the end of each day, the gems you collect can then be converted into jewelry. The jewelry screen will let you convert gems into various rings, necklaces and crowns, each of which require a different combination of gems. The jewelry can then be sold for more than what you would get if you had sold the gems individually. A fun addition is that each day may have a special "daily deal", such as bonus cash for each necklace you make, or bonus cash for each emerald you use.

You can't just collect gems waiting for a well-paying jewelry combination though. There is the running cost of replenishing your food supply. Your gem chest also has limited space, and you won't be able to collect more gems once it is full. Thankfully, you can buy more chests using the money you earn. You can also buy more dragon eggs and more meat racks to feed your growing menagerie. Space is limited however, and you will also need to hire imps to clear the debris to make more space.

There is also the problem of intruders. Adventurers will randomly appear to try and steal your gems or attack your baby dragons. You can simply attack them yourself, or hire trolls to help whack these annoying intruders. Defeating these adventurers will provide you with loot that you can sell, as well as a special essence. If used during the day, these essences can be used to zap other adventurers. If you collect them instead, they can be used to upgrade your den, creating more efficient imps, more nourishing food and other effects that increase your efficiency.

The game is refreshingly more open-ended than normal, letting you choose how to play the game. If you are good at clicking things fast (ie. collecting gems, feeding dragons and fighting adventurers), you could fill your den with lots of dragon nests and imps to create more space. If however you prefer a slower and more strategic style, you can hire more trolls to do the fighting for you and invest in better food that requires less feeding time. It's all up to you, as long as you eventually complete the quests.

Dragon Keeper is a game that's high on cuteness factor and fun gameplay. You will spend many hours enjoying taking care of the dragonlings, collecting gems and making jewelry (especially if you are one of those who likes shinies!) You will love the Dragon Keeper PC game if you liked similar farm/garden management games such as The Fifth Gate or medieval-themed games like the My Kingdom for the Princess series. Get the Mac version here.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

You can read more about Dragon Keeper and try the game at http://gamepudding.com/r/dragon-keeper.html

Steven maintains the time management game review website at http://gamepudding.com/ - a website devoted to strategy, simulation and time management games for the PC and Mac. You can read game reviews, download games and play them online.

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