4.5/5
Real WWII KG12 Grip Replica
Sturdy Internal Structure for Long Use
Changeable Springs and Cams
Ergonomic Grip Angle
Next-Gen All-Metal Gimbal
$234
This evaluation is for amateur gladiators.Pros: * The action is precise, light, and very smooth (the stick feels fantastic, really); * The ergonomics are excellent (for me, at least); * The hall-effect sensor on the twist axis is significant for those who want precision aim with twist-yaw; * I like that you can flip the trigger up like a safety to prevent access to the fire buttons when you're flying in friendly airspace (or spacespace); * The buttons are tactile, not rubbery mush; and * ButCons: *The non-pro stick has a little amount of y-axis movement that is not detected by the sensors (this can be eliminated with an easy mod; see below)*At this time, US clients are not eligible for customer support (Stratojet is gone)*This stick doesn't have a lot of buttons (I hesitate to label this a "negative"; see below)To start, in a space or flight sim, your right stick doubles as your pointing and shooting stick. I think a simple right stick is a GOOD thing whether you're using HOTAS or HOSAS. There is a pinky shift that allows you to quickly reach 12 buttons without taking your hand off the stick. Between that left-hand device and this stick, you ought to have rapid access to all the buttons you actually need. However, I'd advise you to search elsewhere if you want to use this stick ALONE (in something other than War Thunder).Yes, there is true "slop" on the y-axis that is not detected by the hall-effect sensors with regard to the play in the y-axis. No, it wasn't done on purpose. I correctly calibrated the stick with the Wizzo program, set a deadzone to zero, and upgraded to the most recent firmware from the Russian VKB site. However, I noticed a sizable "gap" in the sensor readings near the middle of the y-axis (which, after much research, appears to be common to all non-pro Gladiators according to people who actually test for this). I investigated the problem by opening the joystick, and I discovered that it was mechanical rather than digital.In essence, the y-axis sensor movement is produced by a square peg on the bottom of the joystick that slides freely side to side yet presses up against the armature when pitched forward and back. The square peg is actually a little loose in that slot, which is why we're seeing this "play" and a physical deadzone. I corrected this by carefully sizing the square peg with teflon tape until it could move freely from side to side WITHOUT play in the pitch direction. Now that the y-axis sensor detects even a small amount of pressure, play is diminished—but not completely gone.Since there are actually three sources of play—the aforementioned gap between the peg and its slot, the fact that this stick has a twist axis and is therefore actually a 2-piece stick, and the fact that there is some play between the lower part of the stick and the axle holding it in place—play is reduced but not eliminated by this modification. The attached image shows that axle as well as the y-axis "slot" above.Obviously, this problem results from rather sloppy production tolerances, but given the pricing and gimbal design, I'm not sure it could be prevented. As I previously stated, if you choose to open up your stick and give it the personalized treatment, you will be rewarded with a very smooth and precise stick that is free of sensor play. The minuscule amount of tactile play left in a twist rudder stick is unavoidable and honestly barely visible during actually playing (even to an extremely picky person like myself.)So, would I suggest this stick? Yes, I do, but only in certain situations:If you have a left-handed device (throttle or second stick) AND you can make a relatively simple modification to close the sensor gap in the y-axis OR if you don't care about accuracy and can set a software deadzone of 5% or higher to cancel out the effects of physical play, then you will adore this stick.ELSEAVOID BUYING IT.
4.2/5
Includes: Borderlands 2 Main Game, Captain Scarlett and her Pirate’s Booty, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage, Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, Creature Slaughter Dome
Krieg, the Psycho Character Class, Collector’s Edition Heads and Skins, Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 1
Premiere Club Content: Gaige, the Mechromancer Character Class, Gearbox Gun Pack, Golden Key, Vault Hunter's Relic
$234
This game is really great. This RPG-style game works perfectly as a first-person shooter, and I adore games with cell shading aesthetics. With the majority of the characters, I played all the way through to level 5 before I couldn't stand Claptrap's voice any more. However, even though I haven't yet played co-op or multiplayer, the characters' skills really distinguish their classes. It should be enjoyable to play with others. For all of its advantages, I'm happy I purchased the Game of the Year edition. Additionally, it's exciting to have two ways to level up your character (Badass points and talents), in addition to the typical RPG leveling up and item limitations. Despite the fact that I already possess COD and Max Payne, the story is more appealing because it is cohesive and somewhat non-linear.
4.1/5
New World Congress diplomacy mechanic
Must have original Civilization V game to play
Will add the Polish Empire as a new civilization
Also includes eight new wonders, new trade systems, two new scenarios, and new paths to a Cultural victory
$234
They certainly took too long, to be honest. The original version of Civ V was glitchy and unreliable, and after the first or second patch, the fold-out paper tech tree was no longer useful. Additionally, the online multiplayer was excruciatingly slow—when it even functioned. Gods
4/5
New Strategic Resource: A valuable new alien resource, known as Meld, has been discovered. Secure it on the battlefield and use it carefully back at base to unlock new research and upgrades
New Soldier Abilities: Research a new alien technology to advance the capabilities of your operatives: Gene Mods: Construct the Genetics Lab to physically enhance your operatives’ abilities including augmentations to the chest, brain, eyes, skin, and legs
New Enemy Threats: Adopt new tactics to counter the threats from two new alien types and a deadly new organization known as EXALT
New Weapons and Equipment: Give your operatives an extra tactical edge with new projects from your engineering team and the Foundry
New Multiplayer maps, units, and abilities: Create your custom squad from a wider array of options and dominate your opponent in intense, one-on-one, turn-based matches
New Tactical Challenges and Maps: Cloak-and-dagger and intelligence operations provide new tactical challenges on over 40 new battlefields
$234
I rank games based on a variety of factors, so for ease of reading, I'll break each category down and discuss it separately. For comparison's sake, this rating is (in a sense) for both Enemy Within and Enemy Unknown.One of those rare treasures is XCOM Enemy Unknown, which not only has sophisticated gameplay and a tech tree but can also be excruciatingly challenging if you want it to be. The Ironman Impossible level can be painful to play on a number of occasions, but it feels even more incredible great when you succeed. Games this challenging are typically found on platforms that are available for free play or download, not in games like XCOM. Enemy Within improves on the previous game's gameplay and story features to earn a flawless 5-star rating!XCOM:EU Rating XCOM:EW ScoresStory/Believable 3/5 —> 5/5 overall for game play - Graphics/Map Design: 5/5 4/5 —> 5/5sSound/Music 5/5 —> 5/5 Capability to replay 4/5 - 5/5Overall, 4.2 out of 5 —>Complete 5!Believable story:This is the aspect of the game that XCOM:EU lacked. The game's overarching plot pits humans against aliens in an invasion of Earth, which is already incredibly cliché. Although I do not offer a low score for a tale that has been told many times, I do have issues with how XCOM:EU delivers the plot. I didn't feel like humanity was in any danger or that the Earth was in complete chaos very much when playing XCOM:EU (yes, even on Ironman Impossible). When all the abductions started happening, UFOs started showing up, and Council Missions started, there was a little amount, but it didn't feel like enough. With the exception of a few times on the battlefield, I never experienced overwhelm while participating in base activity or scanning. Additionally, XCOM HQ has never been attacked in any fashion. You'd think that given the technologies the aliens have access to, they could at least find it once.By introducing a new threat that can be harmful if ignored, XCOM:EW modifies this. Now I am aware that the idea of fighting humans makes some people dislike the Exalt version of the faction. But in my opinion, from the perspective of the tale, Exalt's edition makes perfect sense to me, and even though they don't pose much of a threat in combat (more on that later), they fill a gap in the narrative that needed to be filled. I really like the addition since I think there would definitely be a covert human attempt to use alien technology to take over the globe in the event of an extraterrestrial invasion. And while you're in base, you start to worry about this because they kind of attack XCOM indirectly (slow down research, steal money, etc.)! Plus, XCOM:EW now features a base defense against aliens, which I adore! Do I need to say more? =DXCOM:EU We also had this moral problem discussion about moving forward with the XCOM project between Dr. Shen and Dr. Vahlen (definitely should be spelled Wahlen if she's meant to be German), out of concern for "treading the same road as the aliens." The developments achieved by the Psionics Lab, however, are the only scientific advancement that is dubious (from a moral standpoint) in Enemy Unknown. However, that doesn't occur until the final stanza of the game. I don't see any problems with the remaining research, which is either focused on weapons, armor, or goods. The Genetics and Cybernetics Laboratories, two of XCOM:most EW's eagerly anticipated innovations, significantly alter this moral conundrum topic. I don't know about you, but I believe that genetically altering people and amputating limbs and replacing them with mechanical ones to create the ultimate killing machines for warriors raises some moral concerns (literally). This part of the narrative was considerably improved.Playability: XCOM:EU already has excellent playability. The turn-based squad moving technique is straightforward but efficient. Although the movement in the game and the thoughtfully designed maps make flanking an endeavor of its own, the cover system is also straightforward, low and hard cover with flanking angles being adjacent is easy to learn. However, having the RPG leveling style for soldiers unlocking abilities that can slightly alter the way these "turns" can be used is brilliantly utilized with the mechanics of the game.The employment of MECs and Gene troops, as well as the buffs they can employ, are the main differences in the gameplay of the battlefield in XCOM:EW. Fortunately, none of these changes make the game less enjoyable or captivating than it already was.Illustration / Map DesignThe graphics in this game aren't exactly what I'd call realistic or even outstanding, but they fit the game's theme perfectly. They have a slightly "comicy" appearance but have some lovely shaders, and the effects are fantastic! I think the graphics are similar to those in fantastic games like Gears of War, with the same sort of cartoon-like figures (humans/aliens), good coloring, and incredible effects. Although there are many more possibilities for soldier customization in XCOM:EW than in EU, the original game is still playable.The map design is where XCOM:EU loses a point here; it's less about the design than the quantity, but there are undoubtedly some problems. The maps for the XCOM:EU UFO missions, which were all in forests or rural areas, weren't particularly intriguing. Additionally, there aren't enough maps available on XCOM:EU for other missions like terror or kidnapping. This had an impact on the game's replay value because you could quite quickly start to memorize all the maps. This problem is addressed in XCOM:EW by adding farms, UFO crash sites, urban crash sites, and additional maps overall for all map types. The inclusion of the Meld canisters is another another fantastic aspect of the map design! This detracts from the advantages of memorization and precise maneuvering, which, in my opinion, is a good thing because it prevents the difficulty from lowering too much and permits multiple plays of the game. Enemy Within is a fantastic expansion with a wide range of maps.Sound / Music: I adore the music in this game, and for some reason, the music that plays before a mission always gets me amped.The pre-battle music is menacing enough to remind you to be wary and the in-battle music helps to enhance circumstances, but music is normally a matter of taste, so I won't spend too much time on it.It can make you dread certain missions when you hear the hissing of the "ever so loved" (*cough*... so OP *cough*) thin man in the first few abduction missions or the moment when you hear the first "clanking sound" and realize you're about to fight your first sectopod of the campaign, w. I love the use of sounds to identify enemies on the battlefield before you see them (during the alien activity turn, when you can't see any aliens The alien taunts are all exactly where they should be, and the weapon sound effects are fantastic!The nice thing about games as severe as XCOM is that they're a struggle no matter how many times you play it owing to the dice rolling play style. XCOM:EU has a lot of multiple play-throughs due to the difficulty of the game. Even still, playing this game repeatedly did get a little boring due to the small number of maps. With the maps and the inclusion of Meld, XCOM:EW effectively tackles this issue. There was no need to hurry, which is one of the reasons why EU might have seemed monotonous, whereas EW's Meld mechanic makes the level a little trickier. Consequently, replaying the game becomes more exciting.Enemy Within improves upon its predecessor, giving XCOM a great game with endless replay potential. The most amazing thing is how such an excellent game can be created by the simple joy of outsmarting aliens and then mercilessly slaughtering them. A challenge-seeking strategy gamer or hardcore gamer should try this.
3.9/5
In this sequel to Microsoft’s award-winning strategy game, Rise of Nations, you will guide a young inventor's struggle to unravel his world's ancient past and unite its people against an unimaginable threat.
Multiplayer carnage reigns supreme when you take the war online.
Command mystic creatures and impossible machines as you enter a world unlike any you’ve ever seen – a world of heroes, monsters, loyalty and betrayal.
$234
This was remarked about this game a few years ago, and I believe it sums it up perfectly. Look at everyone who gives this a terrible review; their main gripe is that it isn't a successor to Rise of Nations, which is accurate. This game, sadly, suffered from poor marketing.It is quite unfortunate that this game is so underappreciated because so much work went into it. The graphics, soldiers, buildings, spells, and soundtrack are all incredibly detailed and distinctive. I would recommend this to any fan of science fiction or fantasy games. It's unfortunate that so many people appear unable to evaluate a game on its own merits rather than whining that it is not the sequel to another game.
3.6/5
EXPLORE THE WORLD MAP: It's up to you whether you want to avoid roaming orc armies or confront them as soon as possible. Of course, an early confrontation also means a more difficult fight.
CROWD COMBAT: If a dwarf lands a mighty blow with a heavy war hammer, struck orcs are thrown back, and some of them might even be pushed into an abyss!
COMPELLING STORY: Turgidly the dwarf grew up around humans. His knowledge about dwarves is limited to what he read in books. His epic journey through „Girdle Gard“ forms the story of the game.
TACTICAL REAL-TIME BATTLES: In the battles your few heroes will often fight against hundreds of enemies simultaneously. “Helm's Deep†sends its regards!
DISCOVER THE WORLD: Trigger different events, for example side quests, dialogs with NPCs, or dialogs between party members.
$234
(Note: I rounded the score up to 4 stars even though I would have rated the game a 3.5.)Around Christmas, I impulsively purchased this game with a gift card, and it wasn't until lately that I actually played it. I had never heard of the game or seen anything about it, but I was familiar with the book series it was based on, even if I hadn't read any of them. Since the game was reasonably priced, I figured why not, and I gave it a try. In the end, I'm glad I did.Though it didn't initially come across well in my opinion, the game starts with a sudden and brief cinematic sequence that provides a very brief bit of exposition on the world and the role of the dwarves in it (as well as serving as a prologue for the game's story, though it doesn't return to it until much later in the game), before the player is thrust into combat. It's a lesson on the game's battle system (more on that in a moment), and both the narrative it's setting up and the combat it offers feel a little... haphazard and unclear, I guess I'd say. I wasn't sure what was going on myself, so I could understand how it may turn off some players, but if they stick with it for the brief time it lasts, they'll find themselves beginning a fun fantasy frolic.The story and world of the game are well-developed and presented for the remainder of the voyage. The tale is exciting and compelling enough that I was interested in seeing how it developed, and although while the universe is a conventional high fantasy setting, there are some surprises to be revealed along the road. The main character of Tungdil is, once again, a typical fantasy goody-goody hero (although a dwarf, which isn't all that typical for a main character in fantasy), but he or she is likeable in character and voice; the rest of the cast is equally entertaining and interesting, each with their own personalities and characterizations, and when they do interact, they do so amicably. The designs are adorable, and they are all wonderfully voiced.Although not the most extravagant graphics ever, I would describe the game's graphics as overall pleasing and having a storybook-like aspect to the designs. The cinematics, however, occasionally exhibit janky animation. With the exception of the rock song that plays over the end credits, the music is — once again — standard fare that one would anticipate hearing in a game with a high fantasy setting. While the music as a whole may not be particularly memorable, it is appropriate for the game and sounds great.The game is played in an isometric perspective in some towns and other locations on the world map; the camera can be moved around and zoomed in or out to get a sense of the area; these areas are typically denoted by being a combat area, though occasionally it permits the player to wander around and explore. Though occasionally a character would be in a corner and there wouldn't be a spot for the camera to be moved in order to obtain a good view, it generally works effectively. The global map is a terrain with nodes that the player selects by sliding the cursor over it. A large portion of the game and the party interactions—or interactions with NPCs—take place via text boxes with portraits overlayed on top of it.It gives the game a more narrative presentation, in my opinion, and while there are undoubtedly some instances where a conversation or plot point would have been better served to have been presented in either a cinematic or even just the isometric view, I still thought it worked well and didn't think it took away significantly from the game's ability to present an engaging plot or compelling characters. It's made even more effective by some excellent voice acting that reads over the text, mostly provided by the narrator and main cast; some of the smaller NPC characters have slightly more unsteady sounding voices, but for the most part it's very well done, especially for a game that obviously isn't and doesn't present itself as a bigtime triple-A RPG.The game uses real-time fighting with pause, similar to the earlier BioWare/Black Isle games, with unique talents assigned as hot keys to the directional pad for the combat, which is a crucial component of every RPG. Overall, I thought the mechanical operation was sound and the visual appeal was strong, albeit perhaps the basic assaults lacked a little weight. Overall, I thought the battle was mostly entertaining and diverse enough; as one would anticipate from most RPGs, each character has a unique skill set and set of strengths (one is strong in attack power, one in defense, one uses magic, etc.). Combat can also be difficult and irritating for a lot of the time.The difficulty of the fight, in contrast, seemed to stem less from a strategic or tactical aspect and more from the sheer number of foes rushing your heroes and the resulting sense of pandemonium. The game offers suggestions on the loading screens on how to exploit the terrain tactically, but I frequently felt that I would be engulfed by enemy hordes far too rapidly to take use of any suggested environmental advantages. I started the game on 'Medium' difficulty, but not too long into it, in a combat where I was surrounded by foes yet needed to kill just one orc to win, I had to swallow a little of my pride and lower the difficulty to 'Easy'. After that, the game's combat did get a little bit easier, but it was still simple to quickly overwhelm myself if I wasn't paying attention to every member of my party because if a character is totally surrounded, their health will go in a matter of seconds.Additionally, the player must constantly flip between each member of the party while engaged in combat to monitor their safety as well as the characters' real actions. The majority of the time, it wasn't much of a problem; if an adversary is around, the character will attack it. The party member(s) left behind, however, often merely stay put and do nothing if all of the aforementioned local foes have been eliminated and if the remainder of the party has continued the battle farther along the map. It can occasionally be a benefit because the characters will regain health if they are not under attack, but there have been times when I've switched to another character when one was becoming overpowered only to discover that the new character(s) was/were just loitering on the opposite side of the map. Additionally, I'm not sure if any of the characters employ their special abilities—which, of course, are much more beneficial than simple attacks—when I don't command them to. There may have been a mechanism in the game that I overlooked, but I was unable to direct the tactics of my party members while they were not under my direct control. To be fair though, aside from the early difficulty of being surrounded by hundreds of enemies, I didn't often have to replay a combat because of any of the aforementioned problems.The game is brief, especially for a contemporary RPG; I doubt it was longer than ten hours from start to finish, if even that. I'm not sure exactly how many hours I spent playing it because I'm not sure how to get that information on my PS4. Truth be told, the shorter playtime made the game's rhythm flow well and move quickly, and I didn't mind it all that much because it was great to settle in for an RPG that wouldn't take more than 100 hours to complete. It's similar to how 1000 page fantasy novels can be enjoyable to read, but every so often I'd rather read something that's only about 300 pages long.Having said that, the game's story and character growth did seem to suffer a little from its brief length. There are a few characters with pretty intriguing setups — a forced companion who doesn't like you, another with powerful abilities — but since there can't have been much time spent on developing these plot-lines in such a short amount of time, there doesn't feel to be much meat to their stories or characters. One can't help but feel that a little more length could've served these things better. What's there is done well and interestingly enough, and I never got the impression or feeling that the game was rushing through plot or characters (those two characters specifically mentioned do have complete arcs).Along the way, I also noticed some strange bugs or simple errors, such misspelled words or voice acting that didn't match the text that was displayed on-screen (one time a character spoke a line that was clearly said by another character in the text). A character might occasionally vanish into a wall or stumble up stairs, but I didn't come across these occurrences very frequently, and none of them were ever catastrophic in any way. The game runs on PS4 reasonably well; there are a few visual issues, like screen tearing, and load times can take up to 20 seconds or longer (which I have never found annoying), but it has never frozen on me or required me to reload a save due to any performance issues.Additionally, this game's trophies are quite simple to obtain for trophy collectors; a platinum for the main game may certainly be obtained with just one gameplay. Although I personally have never given much thought to awards, for those who do, there is that.While The Dwarves didn't last very long, it was generally a good game and RPG, and I had a lot of fun playing it. I'd rate it a strong 3.5 out of 5 and suggest it to anyone who like high fantasy role-playing games and is looking for a shorter adventure to indulge in between those hundreds of hours behemoths that the genre seems to produce. It's a terrific investment for about twenty dollars.
3.4/5
Biggest revamp in Civilization's history improves everything from graphics to artificial intelligence, with a game that's easier to play than ever
All-new battle system makes combat quicker and more tactical than ever before. Cities can now attack units directly and weight of numbers is no longer guarantee of victory
Major interface changes make a more believable game world and easier game to navigate, with hex-based movement and naturally growing city borders
$234
This PC game makes me incredibly happy. If you are planning to dominate the globe, your time is most definitely not wasted. It gives historical figures three dimensions. You study the various issues that world leaders must handle, including commerce, the military, social, cultural, and technological facets. You balance your needs for food, energy, and money. All this while the periods change. Beginning in the very beginning of time, you create advancements that will help you expand your sphere of influence and land holdings as time goes on. Both my child and I are overjoyed that he spends time engaging in this "game." It has imparted knowledge that schools cannot.
2.5/5
City simulation game for Linux
For one player
Captures the look and feel of SimCity 3000 perfectly
Multiple play modes
Great extended gameplay
$234
People have ritualistically bought the following two editions ever since the initial simulator was released decades ago (I remember squandering countless hours on it on my Commodore 128). Both have been fantastic upgrades. Even though Sim City 2000's basic structure has been maintained, many specifics have changed. Sim City 3000's graphics are far more crisp and detailed than those of its predecessor. You also have the ability to negotiate contracts for the sale and purchase of waste, power, and water with your neighbors. Garbage, that's right. To maintain your city clean in Sim City 3000, you must also oversee landfills and power plants that burn garbage. Ordinances are also considerably more under your control.The game is substantially more bug-free this time around. It should be simpler for you to construct the road where you want it. The arcologies, a revolting feature of Sim City 2000, have also been eliminated. The issue with this is that if you convert your old cities into Sim City 3000 using the "import" option, they simply disappear. So be it. Manage the upkeep of a real city.Overall, a fantastic game. The enhancements aren't immediately apparent, but after you start playing, you'll realize how much more fun it is while yet keeping its vintage feel.
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