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Game Description: Call of Duty 2 - Big Red One - PS2
Developer: Activision, Treyarch
Genre: WW2 First Person shooter, Adventure
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
www.callofduty.com
Rating: 8 out of 10

Call of Duty 2 Big Red One is a World War 2 simulation where you start as a infantryman from the American 1St Infantry Division- the Big Red One. The movie, Big Red One is one of the classic all time WW2 War movies. There is another Call of Duty 2 but this one is different as it follows the events of this famous American 1St Infantry Division through its battles in WW2. You get to drive tanks, landing craft gunner, anti air craft guns, be the gunner in a B-24 Liberator Bomber, and Naval Ships. Lots of varied and different missions to keep you amused and excited the entire time you are playing, never a boring minute in this game. Good sound and graphics and game play, not as good as Call of Duty 3 but still great so if you love the Call of Duty series it's more of the same. Lots of variety in the vehicles but a little shorter than the other games of its series but still a fine game to play. If you are a fan of this series like me you must have this one and its on the platinum cheaper range now so well worth adding to your collection.

Game 8 out of 10

More Combat Adventure as WW2 Big Red One Infantry

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Micro Machines PS2
Developer: Codemasters, Supersonic Soft
Genre: Mini Car Racing
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
www.codemasters.com/micromachines
Rating: 7 out of 10

Micro Machines V4 to me never loses its novelty. Racing these tiny cars takes me back to when I was young playing with my Hotwheels but I play with my young son and we have a blast. I have played against other adults and we had a great time also and you can play up to 4 cars at a time so all the family can race. What you get is tiny cars like mini Micro Racers , if you have boy children, it's like the old Matchbox cars of our generation only smaller and computer generated. There are hundreds to collect in the game and you race them on pool tables, on the beach, around the museum , around the kitchen on the roof etc. its like racing in The Land of the Giants. Very neat larger than life tracks which really gives you the feel of burning around in little cars, even the little remote cars that are around these days if they actually went where you wanted them to and you had real imagination in setting up some great tracks. You can race with power ups switched on so you get little bubbles on the track that gives your car special powers. Like a giant hammer on the roof to squash you opponent, magnets to push him off the track, bombs, rockets, lasers and lots of other assorted weapons. It's great fun to just race around the many tracks but for something different a race with power-ups is always a lot of fun. I like this game very much - "just one more race" is frequently heard in my living room. Easy for younger kids say 5 and up and adults alike. So a good fun game for all the family. It also has, build your own track, 50 tracks to choose from, 750 cars to collect, single player against the compute and cheaper price tag, quick enjoyable fun with the kids.

Game 7 out of 10

Quick enjoyable fun with the Kids

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Call of Duty 3 PS2
Developer: Activision, Treyarch
Genre: WW2 first person Shooter, Adventure
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
www.callofduty.com
Rating: 9 out of 10

Call of Duty 3 is a World War 2 simulation where you start as a poor infantryman landed in Normandy and have to fight your way from the Normandy breakout through some of the Allies biggest battles of WW2. Great Sound and action packed on the edge of your seat stuff- destructive environments so you can shoot things and they explode and lots of vehicles that you can drive, like  jeeps and tanks, 16 player Multi-player online mode, great sound and cinematics and intense combat moments, startlingly life like and exciting all coming to you from a little games console. I must admit I did enjoy this series but liked playing it much better on the PC but as of yet its not available for PC only consoles so you have to learn to use the fiddley PS2 or Xbox controls to combat as best you can. You fight with other troops on your side and even the French resistance and the combat is frightening as it is exhilarating. Not just a "wander around and shoot stuff" game it leads you through many combat adventures as a soldier and vehicle driver and gunner. Liberate Paris, night-time raids, driveable vehicles, intense combat struggles and each is very exciting and far from glorifying war you get to see just how destructive war is and your squad dying around you and yourself getting wounded and killed, as most people think they are indestructible especially young males, it certainly leaves the idea that you never want to be a soldier.

 A few people complain that these are violently games and lead to War mongering but this is naive and nothing could be more wrong as games like these, while they are an exciting simulations to play you learn first hand how brutal and horrific War can be and you DO get wounded and killed. After playing these there is NO way you would be a soldier or go through what our fathers and grandfathers went through. I count myself lucky that my generation never went to War and I hope my children never have to either. So after a few games like these you believe in peace and never want what happened in Europe in both World Wars to ever happen again or to ever happen to my country Australia. So this game is definitely one worth playing and everyone who is interested in history or peace should give it a try.

Game 9 out of 10

Combat Adventure as a WW2 Soldier

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Creature from the Krusty Krab - PS2
Developer: THQ, Blitz Games
Genre: Third person Kids cartoon Adventure with Sponge Bob , 3D platform games
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
www.thq.com/games/gameinfo.php?id=1245&upc=30122
Rating: 7 out of 10

SpongeBob Squarepants is no stranger if you have kids. A cute little guy who is a sponge and has square pants who lives underwater with his mates in Bikini Bottom. This is for ten years old and younger. The games are not very difficult and it has good sound but the graphics are very plain and strange, like a cheap cartoon but as it is a cartoon you do get used to them and they are similar to the pretty poor graphics in the real cartoon. You just get spoilt by the graphics standard of some of the new games but this is a cartoon based game and the kids love it and a good game is a good fun game and good is not totally defined by graphics. My seven year old loves it and had a good time playing it. Some parts are a little difficult and need some adult help and there is a lot of reading which is not a bad thing but does limit it with small kids as an adult would need to help. They could have spoken out the text as well which would have helped make it easy for younger kids to play on their own and help them learn to read and I don't understand why they didn't do it unless they dumped it from another language and as it is a pretty strange cartoon this is very possible. Great present for a young kid as Spongebob, Patrick the Starfish, Giant Plankton and Krusty journey through 9 bizarre Worlds and have heaps of fun. Some Adult supervision and help will be required for younger kids.

Game 7 out of 10

Bikini Bottom Will Never Be The Same

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Worms 4 Mayhem PS2
Developer: Majesco Games, Team 17
Genre: Team shoot-em-up, Turn Based
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
http://www.wormsmayhem.com/
Rating: 8 out of 10

Worms 4 Mayhem is an oldie but a goody and still the most played PS2 game in my house. Worms has been around for some time and is taken from the old '70's Tank battle game on the early computers where you took turns in blasting at each other until you or your opponent was blown up. This on the other hand, is the the Hi- tech Worm version of that game where teams of Combat ready Worms take turns in using a sophisticated range of weapons from Bazookas and Air-strikes to shotguns, to Holy Hand Grenades to Exploding Sheep to eliminate the opposing teams. Great game if you have a few friends around as it is turn based so you can talk or get drinks while the others have their turn and you can have a stack of teams and pick pre-made ones or make you own with big Afros or even German helmets and you can even create your own weapons. Lots of different types of games and death-match is my favourite. Blasting your friend's Worms or even solo playing against the computer is always a barrel of laughs. If you have played the old versions on computer this 3D fully rendered one takes a bit of getting used to but is the pinnacle of Worm killing fun. No two games are ever anything alike and this is a winner at any party with lots of people taking turns at blasting each other. Lots of fun one-liners and cute Worms with a mass of bizarre and funny weapons and the battlegrounds are things like the Old West, Magical Castles and Pre-Historic Lands to name a few. It's hard to see how they could do any more. A real fun game, the AI is not perfect but what game is. Lots of fun and definitely one you can play with the kids and both enjoy and all have a Wormy good fun time

Game 8 out of 10

Definitely one you can play with the kids and both enjoy

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Flatout 2 PS2
Developer: Vevendi Games, Bugbear
Genre: Smash Derby
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
http://www.flatoutgame.com/
Rating: 8 out of 10

Mad racing with Turbo power that takes you through water drain canals and backyards to smash up derbies- this game does them all. The original Flatout was my favourite driving game of all time and this one is great too. Thousands of objects to hit, the cars show damage as you slam things until you have a smoking wreck on three wheels wobbling along. A good lesson about wearing seat belts as the drivers in this game who obviously don't wear them go smashing through their windscreens and go flying through the air. There is even a game where you see how far, after you slam a brick wall you can shoot your driver out the windscreen and through burning hoops and if you are lucky he lands in a swimming pool. The cars look good and it's a pleasure smashing them up. The circuits look good too- you can race in a city, forest, construction, water canals and more and the smash up derbies are in parking lots and service stations among others. A lot of fun if you like driving games where you smash a lot of things and a fitting successor to the original Flatout. A very good professional soundtrack with songs by The Vines and Megadeath among others. I have got to admit the I like the original Flatout the best and some of its X-factor seems to be lost in this sequel but that's usually the case in all sequels and this one is better than most and still a lot of fun and well worth the try.

Game 8 out of 10

A lot of fun if you like driving games where you smash a lot of things

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Forgotten Realms Deluxe Edition PC
Developer: Atari
Genre: RPG. Fantasy
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
http://www.atari.com.au
Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a compilation box of 5 games and 5 add-ons and a great starter if you are looking at getting into PC fantasy role playing. For the price of just one game you get: Never Winters Nights, Shadows of the Undertide, Hordes of the Underdark, Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate 2, Tales of the Sword Coast, Throne of Bhaal, Icewind Dale, Heart of Winter, Icewind Dale 2. Enough Dungeons and Dragons adventuring to keep you going for quite some time. This is one great set of games to keep those kids busy for the entire holidays so get to your local EB store and get this unbelievable good value bundle. Go and get your +1 magic sword from the garage along with your cloak of invisibility out of the closet and get into some of the best Dungeon hack and slash every made. An instant Dungeons and Dragons software games collection. Many hours of great fantasy fun.

Game 8 out of 10

               So go get your +1 magic sword out of the garage

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Star Trek: Encounters PS2
Developer: Betheseda Software and 4J Studios
Genre: Star Trek, SciFi, RTS, Space Combat
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
http://startrek.bethsoft.com/
Rating: 5 out of 10

  Star Trek Encounters gives you Combat in the Star Trek Universe. As a trek fan I like most things Start Trek, but had some trouble getting into this one. It has voice overs by William Shatner but it's not as sharp and broken like the "Old", "Captain", "that we", "used to love" , but a low lazy drone that makes you wonder is it really him? It sounds like he really couldn't be bothered to wake up to do it which is a real shame as I really like his acting and character and distinctive way he talked as Captain Kirk. They would have been better using an impersonator. Great musical score but tiny graphics and not much action in the backgrounds as compared to today's major games. The missions go across the entire range of Star Trek Universe from Enterprise to Voyager but basically you get a tiny ship on the screen and either play against the computer in skirmish or another player in multi-player mode and there is mission mode. The mission mode is OK but a little boring as they stretch out the simple missions too far and not enough happens to peak your interest, the Death Match combat modes are fun although the computer AI is suspect but it was good fun with two players flying around blasting each other. There is very confusing different levels to try to simulate depth but pushing L1 and L2 and the combat controls are very confusing and hard to master but its the split screen images that even on a big TV are too small and you own ship disappears off it so you don't know where you are. Two space ships flying around blasting each other in outer space is a galactic great idea for a game but how they could make it this ordinary is hard to believe. The controls are bizarre and they need to shove a cattle prod up Shatner's bot to get some dramatic life out of his "voice over", his sleepy drone makes what should have be an "edge of your seat", gladiatorial combat between massive intergalactic battle fleets into a cure for insomnia. Very disappointing on what was a very good concept.

Game 5 out of 10

               Klingons on the Starboard Bow

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Star Wars: The Best of PC
Developer: Lucas Arts
Genre: Compilation of Star Wars games
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
http://www.starwars.com
Rating: 8 out of 10

  Star Wars: Best of PC contains Empire at War, Battle Front, Knights of the Old Republic, Republic Commando, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, as well as a 14-day trail for Galaxies. This is a bargain especially if you don't have any of these. Some are a little old and dated graphics now but others like Republic Commando is still one of my favourites and all are still good fun to play. So you get five of the best Star Wars games plus 14 days play on their on-line Star wars Galaxy Game. Star Wars- Empire at War ground and space battles and galaxy empire building still one of my favourites, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic- A truly great RPG (role playing game) in the Star Wars universe, Star Wars Battle Front - Fight the greatest Battles of the Star Wars Universe, Star Wars Jedi Knight Jedi Outcast a legacy of Star Wars Dark Forces, Star Wars Republic Commando - squad level tactical games one of my very favourites. All these in one box at the price of just one game a true bargain. A complete Star Wars collection in one box.

Game 8 out of 10

               Complete Star Wars Collection

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Justice League Heroes:- PS2 - PSP - Xbox
Developer: Eidos Interactive, Snowblind Studios
Genre: Role Playing , RPG, sci-fi, Action, Super Heroes
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
http://justiceleagueheroes.warnerbros.com
Rating: 7 out of 10

  Choose Superman, Batman or any of the Justice League crew to battle robots and insects and other miscellaneous baddies plus a few super villains. It's like a God view "look down" on your heroes as they walk around in many nicely done "Dungeon Arenas" like city streets and train terminals etc. as they battle the bad guys and save the world. It is a bit of a hack and slash Dungeon crawl but there are a few puzzles thrown in to solve and computer screens where you have to type in a code. It has great sound from classical music to rock music and has a good feel of the DC comic Universe. During single player mode you get two heroes you play one and the other is done by the computer this gets stuck sometimes and the AI needs work. But two player has no problem and you really need to work together to win through the scenarios. I liked it and playing cooperatively with my little boy as we battled Brainiac and other bad guys was a bonding experience as we had to work close together to win through. Unlike games where you compete against each other this close cooperative play was the most fun I have had with him for some time and I really enjoyed playing with him. The game is a lot of fun especially two player and who doesn't want to play Superman or Batman for just a while. Each character has their own special abilities which you need to master and flying is very well done. A great two player co-op game.

Game 7 out of 10

               Great two player co-op game

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Star Wars Galaxies:- the complete online adventures - PC
Developer: Lucas Arts
Genre: Role Playing , RPG, Star Wars, sci-fi
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/
Rating: 7 out of 10

  The complete original online adventure plus Star Wars Galaxies an Empire Divided with three game expansions- Jump to Lightspeed, Rage of the Wookies, and Trials of Obi-Wan. Pursue your fortune in the Star Wars Galaxy as one of the nine online professions- Commando, Smuggler, Bounty Hunter, meet all your favourite characters and play with or against them. Planet top and Space missions massive galaxy to explore in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars fans will love this online world filled with Star Wars based characters and locations. This on-line only and runs on the Sony Servers so you need to pay to use them but they do have free trials so check their website. You need to run the software, login, create a character and then play in this amazing online Star Wars based adventure.

Game 7 out of 10

               An Online World full of Wookies and bounty hunters

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Medieval II - Total War- PC
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Creative Assembly
Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
www.totalwar.com
Rating: 7 out of 10

  Amazing graphics of the Battles and the individual unit types. Two hundred and fifty unit types from twenty one different ethnic looks with different combat strengths. You can zoom in close and see the action with Scotts Highlanders, French Knights, English (Norman) longbow, elephants, canon every type of Medieval troop type is covered with great graphics and battle sounds of charging men and rearing horses. It certainly looks good and people who like real time strategy (RTS) games will love it. You plot your turns with spies, diplomats and princesses,- in fact I have all the Total War series and it is a good series of games.This one is the latest and by far the greatest in its scope and visual effects although I was a little confused about the zoom as it never did exactly what I wanted it to do, or look exactly where I wanted it to. Again real time strategy is messy and I much prefer turn based and they make their Campaign Game totally turn based (which is GOOD) and then the close up Battles are messy RTS. I am the Australian Miniatures Ancients Champion and Won the Online DBA World Ancients Championship and would much rather see it turn based and then you really could fight the battles like proper ancients tabletop battles with tactics rather than grabbing the lot "Alt A" and clicking on the closest target and then the next, if it was turn based you could use real tactics like a proper battle and it would be SO much more. The graphics and sound are so good it could have been a strategic masterpiece but a let down by being an old fashioned like all the rest, sloppy old RTS. No wargamers like the RTS style so when will they ever learn. Would anyone play chess if all the pieces moved when ever they wanted as fast as you could click on them and move them , it would be a farce which is what RTS does to ancients wargaming. How about each player plots their turns and then like in the Star Wars battle games it drops into a 3D movie mode and you see they battle plays out, then it stops for your next orders to be plotted. At least then you could use some proper tactics and get to move and use all your pieces like they really moved in historical times. Company of Heroes also suffers from this, but handles it much better so it is not so ridiculous but even it would be greatly improved by proper tactical turn based movement. The overall game is good and like an advanced Risk or Civilisation but the sloppy RTS battles let the battle segment down and pretty soon you just click the "do battle automatically" because you just couldn't be bothered with the sloppy, boring mess that they are. Overall a good game with graphics to die for and worth buying but it could have been so much more, it could have been the "Ultimate Ancients Tactical Game" to rival chess but the sloppy old fashioned RTS leaves it far short of this and gives it limited appeal.
Game 7 out of 10
                Fantastic graphics needs battles to be turn based

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Guitar Hero 2 -PS2, Xbox
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Harmonics Music
Genre: Music, Family, Fun
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
www.guitarherogame.com
Rating: 8 out of 10

  This game is more of the same and one of the most awaited sequels of all time. The new cherry Red Guitar seems a little better made but maybe its just not worn out like my old one. For those of you new to Guitar Hero you put in the CD and you put on your Guitar and Notes come siding down the screen that you have to push the corresponding coloured tabs on the Guitar controller and strum at the same time to hear the Guitar soundtrack come blasting through. If you miss a note you hear no guitar rif , and sometimes the crowd even heckle you, so it really does have the feel of you really playing. Added to that the sound bender bar, obviously bends the guitar sounds coming out so you really are adding your own feel to the music being played. Is it mega fun and it is impossible to put down and just about everyone loves it. I have had it at parties where it was the Hit of the night and even though they had a DJ, he never got to play one single song as everyone just wanted to have a go of Guitar Hero. I also have friends who recently lost there Disc somehow his kids where in such pain that they where calling up Internet Videos of other people playing GH songs, they missed it so much. He had to rush out and buy GH2 as soon as it was released or there would have been a revolt in the house. There are more multiplayer modes so you can play the different sections like Lead, Rhythm and Bass. Two guitars playing together is a lot of fun BUT they have done something to make the old second party guitars not work anymore. This is very disappointing as my favourite guitar, (MONA -what better name for a guitar), a Shredder TAC guitar, no longer works. 64 new songs but in my opinion not as good as the original song list aimed much more at the young market. I am definitely sending the a list of the songs I want to see on the special Surf Report Classic Rock legends CD I want them to release.  I may be dreaming but I think there is a real market for an ACDC, Cream, Lead Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Slade rock Classics disk. Michael's favourites coming to a store new you. With over 64 songs it will certainly keep the kids busy over Xmas and is still great fun for Dad and Mum as well.
Game 8 out of 10
                More Classic Rock Tunes needed

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Never Winter Nights 2
Publisher: Atari
Developer: Obsidian
Genre: Role Playing, RPG, Dungeons and Dragons
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
www.atari.com/nwn2/
Rating: 8 out of 10

   A massive Role Playing game based on the Dungeons and Dragons rules you create your character and get your group together. Very entertaining story line and massive campaign to explore. Plus you can create your own and share them with the editor that comes with it. Good graphics, good sound, good voice, good interactive NPC's, non player characters. The closest thing to playing real Dungeons and Dragons I have seen yet. These people also gave us Baldur's Gate, it is very entertaining, a little young but still entertaining for adults who are into role playing. Good interaction with NPC's and multiple choice answers that do alter the way the game plays. If you like RPG's or D&D  then this is for you. The AI sometimes is a bit odd but heaps of treasure and Gold to find time to get out your cape and magic spells and sink into this magical World.
Game 8 out of 10
                 I Need a 5th level Wizard spell

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: SmackDown VS Raw 2007 - PS2
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yukes
Genre: Action
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:

Rating: 8 out of 10

   They are two types of people in the world, those who hate wrestling and those who love it. I am one of those who absolutely "Loves" it. I was in the front row when "Nitro" was live in Australia and Booker T high-fived my hand and they had a 20 men in the ring at once, Royal Rumble, the last one left in, was the winner. Blah to the Olympics it just doesn't get any better than that. So can they possibly make a game that has any where near the excitement and action of the real thing. Well they have had a damn good try. This is a lot of fun and they really made an effort to get all the trade mark grapples and moves right plus lots of posturing, pretty girls and big entrances. The commands are complicated but good fun and you can do so much. If you are a fan it's good. If you aren't a fan then it is not going to convert you. Triple "H" rules, but I think I could take him.  You wrestle in the ring, out of the ring even in the car park with plenty of backstage antics.  The graphics are good and the sound OK but the action is non-stop and exciting. Nothing beats being there live in the front row but this game is close and a whole lot cheaper.
Game 8 out of 10
                 Come on who's next?!

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Eye Toy Play Sports - PS2 - with Eye Toy
Publisher: Sony
Developer: London Studio
Genre: Action, Family, Eye Toy, Sports
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
 http://au.playstation.com/ps2/games/e/eyetoyps.jhtml
Rating: 7 out of 10

   Eye Toy is the ingenious device that lets you play the PS2 by just waving your hands. This crazy Sports game gives you 101 Sport and Sport related games. Bowl, Dive, drive, get goals, fly, it has lots
of action and can play up to 8 players. Great fun good for a workout. Good to see kids playing computer games that make them sweat. Good family fun. Solo play and even mini golf its got everything. Great for kids parties or even adult ones after a few drinks. The competition does get intense so a lot of refereeing is needed to keep every one calm but I had a go and of course am the house champ. The kids are after my title but "Old and mean always beats young and keen." Well... almost always
Game 7 out of 10
                 Get a good workout on your PS2

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: Marvel Ultimate Alliance - PS2 - PS3 - Xbox & 360 - PSP - GBA - Wii - PC
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Raven Software
Genre: Action, Role Playing, Platform Game
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
 www.marvelultimatealliance.com
Rating: 8 out of 10

   This is a good little game fine for kids of all ages. As Spider man, Captain America, Iron Man or any one of the dozens of Marvel Super Heroes you battle it out using your powers against the Masters of Evil led by Dr. Doom. You have 4 characters on the screen at any one time and you can switch between them at any time to use their powers. If you play two player then you have two characters each and must work together. Occasionally they get stuck and you have to re-group so you can move together again. You start on a S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-carrier which is under attack. You battle your way through the Marvel Universe and different dimensions making the world safe for the common folk like you and me. It has a Diablo look and feel, (looking down in God mode on miniature people in a third perspective environment), and it has a good story line with great comic book like graphic backgrounds in very unusual settings. If you like platform, hero or comic style games then this is the game for you. The different combat styles from each hero keeps it fresh and exciting and repayable, with online and co-operative play to a friendly diversion. The good comic story lines makes it an entertaining journey into the Marvel Universe.

  I just got a hold of the PC version from Activision and this really is something. It looks great and plays even better than the PS2 version. I then went "online" and with a group of strangers formed a budding Hero League, with me in charge as Iron Man, an old favourite from my childhood, I lead them into Atlantis to rescue Namor, prince of the deep, and put down the uprising and return him his crown. We really had a lot of fun. Playing super Heroes with a group of strangers in fabulously thought out adventures, with amazing graphics brings out the child within and was a whole new experience and feeling I hadn't felt since I was a kid watching Saturday cartoons of the Avengers and I just didn't want it to stop playing. This is a whole new dimension to this game, far different than just playing the arcade type version of the game which was pretty good anyway but nowhere near the experience of playing with a group of other unknown people on the Internet. All playing at being Super Heroes in amazing Marvel Comic Worlds, fighting evil, for Truth, Justice and to save the World. Nothing much else beats that.
Game 8 out of 10
                 Lead a squad of Super Heroes

Available from your closest EB Games store click here for a list of EB Game stores.

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Game Description: The three "Dawn of War" Games set
Publisher: Relic
Developer: THQ
Genre: Real Time Strategy, Sci-Fi, Warhammer
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
 www.dawnofwargame.com
Rating: 7 out of 10

Dawn of War one is a computer simulation of Warhammer 40,000. A game played with figures sold in the Games Workshop stores. The game is great and as a first time player I really enjoyed it. It had a good feel and I liked the combat sequences and battles as they where well thought out. It is a little blood thirsty so it is not for young children but OK for teenagers and anyone interested in table top battles in the Sci-Fi genre, this is for you. I still like turn based battles better but the computer world seems to only pump out real time strategy where everything moves at once without any time for real strategic planning or thinking about moves (but that's what they think the market wants and that's all they pump out. I don't see why they cant make them both?) Some times you want to play a chess like thinking strategy game rather than a who can move and click the mouse the fastest, anyway this is a good game and lets you battle with Space Marines, Chaos Marines, Orks and Eldar. It includes 2 to 8 player LAN or Internet. The second game in this pack of three is Winter Assault. More of the same but with added Imperial Guard and more units for all, new environments and more online goodies. The third in the set is the new Dark Crusade game which again is more of the same with The Tau Empire and Necrons joining in the battle. It includes more unique story lines and 12 new multi-player maps. The universe is well flushed out and the races have different skills and weapons that you need to master to beat the others. I liked it even though the story lines are a bit corny and childish but it does help to make up the illusion of this complete universe they are creating and taking you into. All three for the price of one is fantastic value, so get yours and defend the universe for your Emperor or die trying.
Game 7 out of 10
                 Defend the Universe for your Emperor

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Game Description: Star Wars - Empire at War- Forces of Corruption - expansion
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Petroglyph
Genre: Real Time Strategy, Sci-Fi, Star Wars
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
 www.starwars.com/gaming/videogames/
Rating: 7 out of 10

   This game wins the prize for the longest title of any game I have seen for some time. This is an expansion so you need Star Wars Empire at War. Empire at War is indeed a great game with its "click to see the Action in Movie mode", something I hope other games copy. An expansion pack had to come as most people who played Empire at War wanted more. Forces of Corruption gives you Tyber Zann criminal leader of the Consortium uses smugglers, bounty hunters to corrupt his way into taking over the entire Empire. It takes time to grasp the concept of conquering the Universe by corruption but its interesting. This gives new life and lots of new units and space ships to the game. A very interesting add on and anyone who liked the game should definitely get it as it adds a lot of interesting concepts and units. You can still play the Empire or the rebels and they also have new added units. The Star Wars "Empire at War" struggle continues. May the Force be with you.
Game 7 out of 10
                 Conquer the Universe using Crime

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Game Description: Destroy all Humans! 2
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Pandemic Studios
Genre: Sci-Fi, Third-Person, Adventure
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics: www.destroyallhumansgame.com

Rating: 6 out of 10

   For a good time nothing beats blasting those pesky Humans with your Zapomatic laser gun. Cryptos sequel adventure is pretty much the same as the first game with some more interesting weapons and better graphics. The humour is more adult and not suitable for young children. The game is based in the sixties and this is humorous but would be lost on those young'uns that where not there and the period cars and hippies are fun especially when you make a "FREE Love Attack" and make them dance. You can take over their bodies, read their minds,  and lift them in the air with your physic powers, in all do all the Alien type things of the early B-Grade Alien movies. Its still good fun doing the quests and blasting Humans. If you liked the first one, Destroy all Humans, then this is more of the same with better graphics and weapons and the KGB is chasing you. A little tedious after a while but teaming up to blast Humans in 2 player mode is a lot of fun. "Earth Girls are easy" is one of my favourite films and I love those old 50's Sci Fi movies, the game pokes fun at all of those with mindless B-Grade Alien Humour but it may not be to everyone's taste. You do visit hippy Britain and Japan and fight a titanic battle of Aliens V's Ninjas. What more can I say.
Game 6 out of 10
                    Blast a few pesky Humans

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Game Description: Dark Messiah Might and Magic -PC
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Arcane Studios
Genre: First Person Shooter - Fantasy - Adventure- Role Playing
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics: www.darkmessiahgame.com/
Rating: 7 out of 10

   Might and Magic has been around for nearly 20 years and just keeps on getting better. Its based in a fantasy Dungeons and Dragons type land with lots of Bad guys to fill full of arrows or stab with your sword. The fight scenes are exceptional and fun with different blows , parry, kick him into the fire and watch him burn. Yes not for the kids it is a bit to blood thirsty and is intended for older teens. You get points to spend on different skills so you can create completely different characters. You start as a sort of apprentice wizard and then develop your character as a wizard or fighter or thief type. You wander in dungeons and in open cities and generally adventure around. Not to many new concepts here, but beautifully done graphics and sound but check you computers specs before you buy as I have a top machine and it got choppy graphics in sections even on mine so you really need some good hardware to run it. The spells are not terribly imaginative but make sure you get the heal spell early as the "load" times for different sections of the game are long, so dying and starting again takes some time to reload. So lots of healing spells and health potions are needed trust me in this. The plot is not brilliant but the graphics keep you amazed and I liked the fights as you stab and parry, throw plates and cups and boxes, bottles of flaming oil, kick them into spikes or fires. It reminded me of the old Musketeer movie fight scenes. So if you liked those you will like this fantasy adventure. Slow loads are annoying and you need a mega machine to run it but the best yet in the Fantasy type First Person adventures. Solo and especially the multiplayer mode add some interesting innovations.

Game 7 out of 10
           Like the old Musketeer Movie fight scenes

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Game Description: 2142 Battlefield
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Dice Stockholm
Genre: First-Person-Shooter, Sci Fi, Doom-like
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:   www.ea.com/official/battlefield/2142/us/
Rating: 9 out of 10

   The future of War. This is very similar to the other Battlefield games, which is a good thing as they are still amongst my favourites but this one puts you in the near future where the World is in an Ice-Age and what people are left are fighting over the remaining resources. Its basically the EU versus the Russia/Asian countries. Very similar to Battlefield 2 except with ultra modern weapons including Giant Walkers you can get to drive and blast away the baddies. Both sides look very similar so friendly fire is a problem but the frozen Battlefields with gentle falling snow your battles have a very real feeling. Made me go and get a jumper. Great graphics and sound , if you have played Battlefield 2 its more of the same in the cold but in a good way. You can grow your character the more you use him the more skills, medals, rank and goodies he can acquire. If you haven't played Battlefield 2 then you owe it to yourself to get both. You definitely have been missing out. It took a while to get used to as it was so similar but different and different maps and equipment to get used to but it all became logical very quickly. It is still slow to load and I had a had time getting it installed and don't run the patch it needs straight away, while it is running, or you will be loading it all over again. Overall when you have a good thing you want more of it and this is more Battlefield 2 but Sci-Fi and in the cold. I don't know that I like it more than Battlefield 2 as that is still one of my all time favourites but it is different enough to be very very good on its own. If you like this type of game you definitely want to get this one.

Game 9 out of 10
             2142 Battlefield the Ultimate Cold War

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Game Description: Talk Man - PSP
Publisher: SCEI
Developer: SCEI
Genre: Translator
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:  talkmanpsp.com
Rating: 7 out of 10

   An interactive Game and Translator, it comes with a neat little Microphone which plugs onto your PSP and you just speak clearly into you PSP and let Max do the talking for you. Improve your foreign language skills, play fun filled language games, plus use it as a voice recorder, Alarm clock, and Unit converter. An amazing thing to have with you on your travels. In five languages , Italian, Spanish, English, French, German and Japanese. The games are a bit limited and the load times are a bit slow for real time conversations jet setting around the World but for Students learning these languages or in a emergency when you need to get a simple sentence across to get a drink or catch a bus or to find out what those naughty Germans are saying in Castle Wolfenstein or your favourite game this little item is indeed a unique little find. Available from your closest EB games store.

Game 7 out of 10
                    Amazing Language Translator

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Game Description: Kingdom Hearts 2 -PS2
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Genre: Kids, Roleplaying, Action Disney
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics:
www.na.square-enix.com/games/kingdomhearts/kh2/
Rating: 7 out of 10

  This is the sequel to obviously Kingdom Hearts which was very popular with the kids and again the kids love this one two. Good gift or Xmas surprise as all young kids seem to love it. The sequel has fixed up a lot of the small glitches in the original and the cameos, acting, music and voice-overs are all very well done. The game is long and very easy so keeps the kids busy for a long, long time. It continues on from where KH1 left off through a series of familiar Disney worlds where they encounter Disney movie characters. A little too slow for me with long intros and dialogue that seem to go on forever and the Japanese Anime (Final Fantasy types) adventuring thought Disney Worlds to see Mickey Mouse and Goofy, the Pirates of the Caribbean and the little Mermaid among others is to me a very strange concept. The game play goes on forever and is very easy, too easy for an adult but all that said it is a kids game and the kids love it and have no problem with the strange mix of characters which being Disney are very well done as you would expect from them. Not my cup of tea but the Kids love it and seem to understand it all. Good long game to keep the kids busy on a rainy day or during the holidays.

Game 7 out of 10
                    Family - Disney character Game

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Game Description: Joint Task Force - PC
Publisher: Vivendi Games , HD
Developer: Most Wanted Entertainment , Sierra
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics: www.jointtaskforce.com
Rating: 6 out of 10

   Modern "Age of Farming", RTS type game set in the Iraq modern time frame. With interesting troop types that slide down Helicopter ropes or are Air dropped to your forces.  The AI, (Artificial Intelligence, how the enemy pieces play), is Not as good as it could have been and the voices are a bit irritating. Nice graphics of Modern Vehicles and weapons and the helicopter assistance looks and feels great. No farming or resource gathering, (Thank God), as you capture the Airport or flat areas to get supplies dropped in and receive more cash for gaining military objectives that you can spend on equipment and reinforcements. You are a UN and G8 combined Joint Task Force and are funded by these, so spend money for a mission is pre-allocated to the task and more is given as you reach objectives but to many civilian casualties or problems and the funds dry up. The game has a great Story line and is good fun multiplayer online. But its hard to control your Units and they have bad AI as well. They drive into each other and get in each others way, shoot walls etc. and die way to easy so by the time you work out what's going on your force is half dead. I like turn based Strategy much better than RTS and this would have been much more suited to a Turn based game. It has some great ideas but gets bogged down and is not as easy flowing or as much fun as Company of Heroes, which is much better implemented but it does have some good features and great ideas, it is worth a look but one feels it could have been so much more.

Game 6 out of 10
                Modern Conflict in Today's Hotspots

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Game Description: Prey - PC
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Human Heads Studios
Genre: Sci Fi , Horror, First Person Shooter
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics: www.prey.com
Rating: 8 out of 10

   WOW, a very disturbing Game. This is really something different. I really hadn't heard much about it just that it was good. So I didn't expect anything or know anything about it really and was very surprised, if you want to be surprised STOP reading now and pal it. I started playing and was a modern Cherokee loner, in modern 2006 times. You start in a pub/casino wandering around talking to the bar girl, (your woman), and a few bikies and all seemed just like any other game except the graphics where really something from the next generation of gaming, they where very nice. Then suddenly the Aliens abducted the entire pub and sucked everything up into the mother ship and then it really became spooky. Unusual and bizarre nothing was recognisable  the weapons are organic and very alien and the ship is living and very unnerving the more I played the more it "freaked me out". There is anti-grav trails where you are are fighting and shooting upside down and round about and the bodies and damage fall up as you are walking on the roof and it is completely different to anything I have ever played and it really disturbed me the more I played, it was like a real spooky horror movie that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Rarely have I felt this spooked by a computer game, then it takes you into the Spirit World of the Cherokee, just when you think it couldn't get any weirder. I dare anybody to play it in a dark room, late at night with headphones on. I did and someone came into the room and touched me from behind and I nearly jumped out of my skin. It looks great and is hard to see how graphics could ever get better than this but this makes it all too real. Definitely for adults only. Very haunting and horrific but at the same time strangely addictive. The night after I played a few hours I had a lot of trouble sleeping. If you like horror and good Sci-Fi this will definitely be for you if you are squeamish give it a miss. The game is a bit of a push along a set trail and fixed story line, but what a story line and what a ride it takes you on, this is like nothing else and the bizarreness and totally new concepts will keep you enthralled. If you like sleepless nights this is for you. I don't know that I like this genre of game it but I am really impressed by it newness (if that's a real word), and originality. This game really plays with your mind and is worth a look.

Game 8 out of 10
         Bizarre and un-Earthly, Plays with your mind.

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Game Description: Star Wars 2 Lego - PS2 and PC
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Developer:  Travellers Tales
Genre: Sci Fi , Family , Lego Action Adventure, Kids
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics: www.lego.com/starwars/
Rating: 9 out of 10

  A family friendly great fun Game. Ideal family gift. You have to pry the PS2 controller out of my little boys hand. He hasn't stopped playing it yet and I joined in with him in two player mode and it was a lot of fun. He plays the first Star Wars Lego 1 on PC and loved it and this sequel is based on the old original (and best) three Star Wars movies and it is even better than the first Lego SW game. Better graphics, better sound, great stories and good humour. Defiantly a winner , keeps the Kids busy for hours, plus lots of fun to play with them as well on the same side so you can help them and its not to competitive. There is something bizarrely funny about Lego pieces running around dressed as Star Wars characters, it really is great fun. It follows roughly the story plots of the origin 3 movies and also has Free play. A great gift and assured that all kids and even big kids will love it and be kept busy for days. Be a Wookie and pull their little arms off, or be Darth,  master of the Dark side or mix and match with Darths Head, the Princesses middle and Wookie legs. Definitely one for Santa to keep good stocks of. Rush into your local EB Games store and get one now as they are already running low in stock. So get one now don't miss out on this one it has a lot of charm.

Game 9 out of 10
         Family funny good time for Kids, big Kids too

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Game Description: Company of Heroes PC
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Relic
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Website/Patches/Demos/Pics: www.companyofheroesgame.com
Rating: 9 out of 10

   Very interesting game. You build units and fight scenarios from D-Day onwards. I like turn based strategy better then RTS - Real Time Strategy but this game is very addictive. At first I was not sure I liked it as it looked a lot like Age of Farming or Warcraft only in a WW2 setting but it is a lot more than this, the next generation game engine of this concept. You build squads or special units or vehicles and and they operate and fight  by them selves with good AI (Artificial Intelligence) and those naughty Germans keep on attacking with equal intelligence. Great graphics, great sound and the feel really grows on you as I just could not stop playing. "Just one more mission, Oh no, its 5am and I have to go to work in a few hours." I really cant stop playing it and it has a great feel especially if you have any interest in this period of war gaming, (WW2),  which is popular at the moment. Multiplayer 2- 8 players. Online play, Tanks running over buildings and crushing obstacles, Snipers, Tigers, Mines, Flame throwers, Machine Gun nests, lots of replay ability as they use different tactics against you. Completely destructible environment and a good supply of different types of troops and lots of variable missions. You still have to find resources and build barracks and make forces like "Age of Accounting" type games but the more I played the more I liked it and haven't stopped playing yet. A real Winner, so go to your closest EB games store grab a copy and give those naughty Nazi's a pounding.

Game 9 out of 10
                    Great WW2 Real Time Strategy Game

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