タイトル『 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within by Unknown. LAMINATED. 11.00 inches width by 15.54 inches height. Highest Quality Art Poster Print >
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price：$59.20
OnlineWall Art and Framing
『Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within by Unknown.Total Size : 11.00 inches width by 17.00 inches height.This is the Highest Quality Art Print Reproduction of the Original Work. Fully Authorized by the Artist.Laminating Protects your poster from Fading, Dirt, Moisture, It Prolongs the life of the print and is easier to clean, any glass cleaner or water will do. A roll laminator is used, into which the flattened poster is fed. The machine heats the laminate to melt the glue prior to the laminate touching the poster so there is no direct heat in contact with the poster.. OnlineWall is the worlds best quality art print, poster and framing store with over 25 years custom framing experience our quality of art prints cannot be beat .』 タイトル『 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within by Unknown. PLAQUE MOUNTED. 11.00 inches width by 15.54 inches height. Highest Quality Art Poster Print >
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price：$104.00
OnlineWall Art and Framing
『Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within by Unknown.Total Size : 11.00 inches width by 17.00 inches height.This is the Highest Quality Art Print Reproduction of the Original Work. Fully Authorized by the Artist.Standard plaque mounts are 3/8 inches deep and have a 1/8 inches bevel. All plaque mounts are available in both black and white finishes.Plaque mounts lend art prints and posters a clean and contemporary style with a least-cost ready-to- hang art presentation. This treatment is a great upsell that can be applied to all subject matter as well as photography. Plaques are also durable, easy to clean and easy to hang. Plaques are also perfect for hospitality and other institutional locations.. OnlineWall is the worlds best quality art print, poster and framing store with over 25 years custom framing experience our quality of art prints cannot be beat .』 タイトル『 FINAL FANTASY GUN BLADE SWORD >
『 FINAL FANTASY GUN BLADE SWORD >
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Final Fantasy IX: Uematsu's Best Selection) 『Final Fantasy IX is my all time favorite video game. I used to have the 4 cd soundtrack to this game and loved it. It got lost in a move and I just couldn't justify putting out a lot of money for the soundtrack again. I bought this best selection cd and couldn't be happier with it. It has my favorite tracks for the other cds and it is wonderful to listen to.』
(Absolutely Worth It) 『Some people simply don't have the money to invest in the comprehensive, 4-disc soundtrack of a game like this (some of them can run you up to $50), and that's where "best-of" selections come into play. FFIX contains some of the most infectious and listenable tunes of the entire series (all performed in high-end MIDI), and this particular collection of some of its key songs is deserving of a high-rating.
Though this soundtrack doesn't have some of my own personal favorites from the game (namely the Hilda Garde theme and town-exploring songs like that of Burmecia and Cleyra), but one thing included on here that is not in the original soundtrack is the English version of the ending credits song "Melodies of Life", which is actually much more interesting and rewarding in English (though some native Japanese speakers may disagree) with catchier lyrics. Also, one standout track from the game that is mysteriously absent in this selection is Kuja's final battle theme "The Dark Messenger", which is a wonderfully-written piece and is essential to the game. It also gives newcomers to the Nobuo Uematsu clan a good taste of his wide range of influences, to the folky ocarina-driven opening theme "A Place to Call Home" to the electronica/techno vibe of "The Final Battle".
While this "best-of" is a good alternative to the high price of the full-length version, there are just too many excellent tracks missing to consider this a more sound investment. But in case you cannot afford the original or simply do not want to set yourself back as substantially as it might, then I would recommend picking this up.
7.5/10』
(It's a Pretty Good CD) 『I made this review a few years ago under a different account (my username now, but it has quotes around it. Have no idea how that works.)
It's a good CD, but since I haven't listened to the whole thing more than a few times because I still don't own the game even after two or three years. I don't really feel the connection to it because of that, unlike FFVII where I own the game and know the story behind the music.
I do recommend this CD, though, because I also own FF S Generation and the composition is basically the same. Track 30 is the same as Track 15 on FF S Gen. The main reason that I got this CD was because it had "Prelude" and the English version of "Memories of Life". I only had one problem with each of them, though, but trust me when I say that doesn't ruin the experience. "Prelude" is too short, but the sound is excellent with the harp/crystal music. If they had added another minute or two it would've been perfect. As for "Memories of Life", the singing is beautiful, as is the music. As a matter of fact, it sounds like all they did was switch singers (and you can see what I mean if you listen to the Japanese version of it on FF S Gen.). The only problem is there are some places that you can't understand what she's saying. Even if you're listening real closely, you can barely understand because she doesn't enunciate real well. That's only in a couple of spots, though, so it only ruins the mood when you try to sing along with it and you can't get the words down right because they don't make sense. Also, because there are so many tracks, you can guarantee that some won't be longer than 30 seconds long. It's kind of a bummer in a way because they could've used that time to spice up some of the other songs, but it doesn't detract that much from the actual CD.
Overall this is a good CD and I recommend you buy FF S Generation along with it. You won't regret it.』
(Very good) 『I haven't listened to the whole thing more than once because I don't own the game. I do recommend this CD because I also own FF S Generation and the composition is basically the same. Track 30 is the same as Track 15 on FF S Gen. The main reason that I got this CD was because it had"Prelude"and the English version of"Memories of Life". I only had one problem with each of them, though, but trust me when I say that doesn't ruin the experience."Prelude"is too short, but the sound is excellent with the harp/crystal music. If they had added another minute or two it would've been perfect. As for"Memories of Life", the singing is beautiful, as is the music. As a matter of fact, it sounds like all they did was switch singers (and you can see what I mean if you listen to the Japanese version of it on FF S Gen.). The only problem is there are some places that you can't understand what she's saying. Even if you're listening real closely, you can barely understand because she doesn't enunciate real well. That's only in a couple of spots, though, so it only ruins the mood when you try to sing along with it and you can't get the words down right because they don't make sense. Overall this is a good CD and I recommend you buy FF S Generation along with it. You won't regret it.』
(A Great Buy!) 『I actually do not own this soundtrack, and do not plan on buying it anytime soon. But there is a very simple reason for that....I already own the four disc original soundtrack for this game. And altough people who this may also have the 4 disc version, I don't have the money to buy this, along with the other iten's I want.
This cd may not including all of my favorites, it does have some wonderful tracks on it."You're Not Alone"is one of my favorites, if not my favorite, and is on this collection. Other greats include,"Vamo' Alla Flamenco","Bran Bal","Behind that door"and"Sky of Alexanderia"are not to be missed. I think that"Black Mage Village"shouldn't beon this cd, but it is a fun track.
If you own the 4 disc soundtrack, you may want to order this, so you can have must of your favorite songs on one disc. For those who don't own the 4 disc soundtrack I suggest you get this to truly sample FFIX's amazing collection. And then you may want to like into the original version. Either way, this is a collection worth getting.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Oh, the nostalgia!) 『If there was ever a great Final Fantasy arrange album that stood out amongst all the rest, then in my opinion Final Fantasy Symphonic Suite would definitely have to be it. Fortunately we have many great arrange albums in the series to choose from, but this is the one that truly must receive my highest accolade. The arrangements stay close enough to the originals, but have enough additions in orchestration for wonderful fully orchestral quality. I particularly like the added chorus in the first and last tracks, but really don't care for the synth beat in track two. The arrangements may be a bit too simplistic for some, but they probably couldn't be beefed up any more without losing the taste of the originals. Some may not care for the way the different melodies from the originals have been placed together in extended tracks, but this is probably the result of the wish to keep a `symphonic' mentality about the album (disregarding the fact that symphonies usually have four movements as opposed to seven).
Like most American fans of the series, I've never played Final Fantasy II, but I was still quite impressed with the melodies that I heard and have grown quite fond of them since my first listen to the album. The melodies that I was at first personally knowledgeable about appeared when track three rolled around. I appreciated the addition of the series' main theme, but I just couldn't believe the nostalgia I felt when I heard the town theme from the original Final Fantasy playing in wonderful orchestral glory. It took me back to 1991 in grade school when I played the game for the first time. I was equally impressed when the town theme segued into Matoya's theme and the track ended with a last statement of the main theme. Fortunately the nostalgia didn't stop there, as other melodies from the original were included. Included are the music from the Temple of Fiends, the overworld, and the cave theme, all of which are played in the later tracks. I'm sure that those who have played the second Final Fantasy will feel just as much nostalgia over the themes from that game, which are technically just as good in every way.
As with all albums pertaining to the earlier games in Final Fantasy series, the Prelude is included, but as Nobuo's own arrangement for that track had not been written until two years later, the arrangers had written their own melody to compliment the already familiar arpeggios. I'm personally used to Nobuo's own melody, so I really had some trouble listening to this particular segment at first. I kept expecting the more familiar melody from the later games in the series to show up. It should be noted however, that the melody that *is* used is not bad at all, and may grow on you if you just listen to it for a bit.
As with most arrange albums, Final Fantasy Symphonic Suite may be wonderful, but it's far from perfect. Although the tracks are quite lengthy, the disc as a whole is unfortunately rather short, clocking in at just under forty minutes, making the listener hungry for more. It really is a shame that there isn't any more. There were so many great songs in the original game that it really makes me wonder why there weren't any more included. It may be that the arrangers had an agreement to do just a certain amount, or that a typical concert is only forty minutes long; I'm really not sure.
Not being familiar with Japanese orchestras, I was not sure just how good the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra is, but I'd be willing to bet that it's one of the best orchestras, if not the best, in Japan. Unfortunately, the performance and sound quality are not as great as they could be. I would contribute this to the fact that this is a live concert instead of a studio recording. Despite this fact, the orchestra still gives an excellent performance with little difficulty, as the music itself is quite simplistic.
Aside from the petty complaints about length, sound quality, and the somewhat annoying synth in the second track, this is probably my favorite Final Fantasy arrange album thus far, and it really does belong in the CD collections of all fans of game music, especially fans of Final Fantasy and/or traditional orchestra. The Hattoris have done a fine job with Nobuo Uematsu's original melodies and I commend them. If you want to purchase any one arrange album in the Final Fantasy series, then I say Final Fantasy Symphonic Suite all the way!
』
(Astoundingly arranged) 『This is by far my favorite Uematsu album. His arrangements are simply superb though, like other viewers, Scene II is a little odd sounding. The other tracks more than make up for this minor fault, and the album all in all is beauitful collection. A definite buy if you like Final Fantasy or if you love great full orchestra arrangements.』
(Great Soundtrack - except for track II) 『As I listen to this soundtrack, I am astounded how someone can take a silly little jingle from old nintendo games and turn them into such ear pleasing sounds. Most of the tracks are good, with V easily being the standout and the odd tracks usually being better than the even ones. I agree with some of the other reviewers when they state that III sounds a little like graduation music. Overall, I really like this album, but I have a few problems with it. Track II!!!! What is this doing in here? I know it is important to the game, but it seems incredibly out of place! Also, I believe the Tokyo Symphony plays this piece. The ensemble playing is a little shaky in section - especially the trumpets, and is altogether a little weary sounding. I would expect more from the Tokyo Symphony. That said, I have listened to much of Uematsu's other work, and it is interesting that his early works are much more mature sounding and inspiring than his later works.』
(Symphonic Suite and Piano) 『For all true Final Fantasy fans, the best collections to own is the symphonic suite and the piano collections They are so distinctive and different from all I've heard so far!!!!
』
(Great music, poor sound quality) 『I love this soundtrack, the music is just great.. If you're a hardcore final fantasy fan you'll love it too. The only thing I dislike about this album is the poor sound quality (it is a live recording). If you're converting to mp3 or .ogg you'll probably have to increase the dB level too (it's recorded at a low volume). If you're short on cash get final fantasy grande finale or fithos lusec wecos vinosec instead , they are recorded at much better quality..』
price：$26.98
Chesky Records
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Optime!) 『buon cd con selezione accurata dei brani e di sicura qualità per l'ascolto. Una gradevole panoramica nel mondo della musica non chiassosa con un buon spessore』
(SO MUCH WONDERFUL MUSIC) 『Top notch performers, diverse musical genres, expertly engineered recordings...a definate must buy!!』
price：$1.50
Dimension
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Final Uselessness) 『Dean Cain made a pretty cool Superman in Lois&Clark, and he did okay in an episode of Smallville. In general this movie reminded me of "Red Dawn" in the rebellion stages and so forth, "Red Dawn" was much better. It was really hard to believe that this story took place in a galaxy far away and all that, every scene outside looked Canadian or northern US. I will probably avoid any more Dean Cain movies after seeing this one. Seemed like a lot of bit part semi-stars that I see in a lot movies and TV shows, but it really lost me. It was really cheap and used and I forced myself and my brother to sit through it to the end. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone who really enjoys sience fiction.』
(One of the best movies I've seen in a LONG time!) 『I loved Starship Troopers and many other movies that have no notariety at all, and now I'll be adding this movie to that list. If you like "b" sci-fi movies, then this one will be right down your alley! Sure the acting isn't top par, but the sets and CGI make up for any of that. Worth a watch if you like these kind of movies, but if all you like are the multimillion dollar movies such as the StarWars franchise, then pass on it.』
(For fans of 'Lois and Clark') 『I liked this movie, but truthfully I think what I liked the best was seeing Jimmy Olson and Clark Kent from an alternate universe. NOT that I am saying that this is what the movie is about, but I think for fans of 'Lois and Clark' that is what you might be thinking in the back of your mind.』
(rubbish) 『possibly the worst film i have ever seen. do not buy it it is rubbish. looks like it has been filmed by a bunch of 10 year olds.』
(This movie. My Soul Bleeds.) 『... The grotesque dialogue and meandering plotline offer nothing to the viewer more than possible gastro-intestinal problems. This is not even a film that could entice fans of "quality" B-flicks for the sake of amusement. I, personally, enjoyed the Evil Dead series, Killer Klownz from Outer Space and eagerly anticipate watching Sgt. Kabuki-man, NYPD. I'm not certain I could watch this movie again even if shown as part of an Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode (which I enjoy also). ...
That said, it's a sci-fi flick without any coherant plot wherein even the slightly well-known actors display acting skills on par with the last elementary-school play you've been to. I sincerely believe that any actor of any standing in this movie was blackmailed to appear in it. If you want comparatively quality movie-watching, watch USA-network movies, the series VIP or any porno you can think of....』
『Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 05/03/2005 Run time: 100 minutes Rating: R』
price：$9.95
Sony Pictures
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Grossly misunderstood and mis-marketed allegory) 『This is a modern, sharp, and extraordinarily imaginative update on the eternal stories of making that life journey that ends in enlightenment, the Grail, wisdom... etc. In ways it's a retelling of works like Siddhartha and The Inferno. Unfortunately, some knowledge of myths and legends is required to fully understand a lot of the details and references. Since its release it's been sent to inappropriate audiences to unsuccessfully fend for itself. People seem to hate it or like it for what I sense are all the wrong reasons.
The information on the packaging is COMPLETELY misleading. Re-marketed and set in front of the right viewers I think this would be judged a minor classic. It's a lost movie that needs some help. A Criterion release of this film might place it in the right hands, as incredible as that may sound to detractors.
Four stars because it's not perfect, but it's still in my top 50.
PS: I'm finding this movie in $3 bargain bins. I'm worried it's about to go out of print.』
(An odd film, but entertaining.) 『The idea is bizarre, a child driving around the countryside trying to win a game by collecting cards with letters on them while filling his gastank. (If they gave cards out for every dollar you spent these days, we'd all be winners in a week!) Needless to say, he went through some odd moments to get all of his cards gathered...it's a quirky film, but holds your attention, because of it's oddities.』
(My take on this hard to understand film...) 『First of all, this is not a children's film. Just because you see a kid on the cover doesn't make it a children's film. The cover has nothing to do with the film. Now on to the review...
The best way to view this film is not linear; when you do that you are just watching the journey without understanding it. Yes, 10-year-old Gus (Jordan Christopher Michael) is on a journey. He makes an adult decision to escape the abusive situation at home and from that point the director allows Gus to continue to make adult decisions (although he looks like a kid)... and like real life where we do not always make the best decisions for ourselves, neither does Gus. He steals a car (Mustang convertible) and rides off into a surreal America playing "Motorama," a game sponsored by Chimera Gas Company. But he doesn't go far and he finds a lonely gas station attendant in a small filling station in the middle of no-where who needs some help. This is a pivotal point in the story. Gus is about to make either the right, or the wrong, decision and he makes the wrong one, driving off to pursue his selfish game, his fortune, without any idea of the cost to himself or others. The consequence is a hard troubled journey that cost him not only his eye, but also his youth. In the end when he eventually reaches the Chimera Gas Company with the winning ticket he finds they are not playing by the rules of the game. And neither is life... It's a hard lesson for a young boy to learn. But Gus gets another chance and miraculously he finds himself back at the small filling station in the middle of no-where. The attendant still needs help, and this time Gus makes the right decision and stays. A fascinating film that can be viewed on many levels. I highly recommend it! 』
(Chaos dimension!) 『Totally crazy! The tematic is completly new, reaching all aspects of fantasy! The best is that movie is not a silly film, but have a adult tematic and a particular world that we fall inside it. Extremly and intense... Claps for Jordan C Michael...His performance is great!』
(Different yet Hollywood ruined it) 『I am kind of in the middle of the other reviewers. It DID have a "different" and unpredictable story line. i took it that he was dreaming, since the state names and money werent real. the kid was great. the problem, as usual, is Hollywood ruined it...what could have been a great movie my kids could watch, they throw in a sex scene in the kid's car back seat while he is sitting next to the car, and then of course they have to have the kid throw in a couple of "F" words. And of course Hollywood doesnt let us who object to that buy a version that has that edited, or permit DVD players that allow you to skip those parts. if it wasnt for the trash above, i would give it 4 stars for its uniqueness. If you are morale and have children, you dont want this movie.』 『In order to escape his abusive household a 10 year old boy steals a car hits the road&embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 08/31/2004 Starring: Drew Barrymore Flea Run time: 93 minutes Rating: R Director: Barry Shils』
price：$1.45
Sony Pictures
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (An enjoyable guilty pleasure.) 『I really do not know how to rate this movie. At first I really did not care for the movie but recently it has begun to grow on me and it has become a guilty pleasure to enjoy. Therefore, I can see both sides of the issue of whether this was either a spectacular and extravagant way to end the Godzilla series or was it a catastrophic dud and cinematic train wreck?
This is basically a remake of the late 60s Godzilla classic "Destroy All Monsters" with hyped up special effects and nods to such modern day popular movies as The Matrix and X-Men. This movie has the flavor of the late 60s Godzilla movies which tended to be campy and way over the top while still being enjoyable. This tone marks a departure from the manner in which more recent Godzilla movies were made which tended to have the level of camp toned down to at least a digestible level.
This movie does play like a Saturday morning episode of Power Rangers hyped up on cough syrup with Godzilla and all of his friends thrown into the mix along with Law of Physics defying Ninja mutants and Matrix style aliens all vying to destroy the world and each other. So if that sounds like an enjoyable way to spend 2 hours then you may like this movie. If that doesn't sound like fun, then I suggest staying away.
Yes, this movie is silly, over the top with pretty good special effects, bad acting and cheesy corny dialog with an implausible story and many monsters fighting and trying to out maneuver one another with professional wrestling tactics which would make Hulk Hogan proud. As I said this movie has grown on me and falls under the category that it is "so bad it is good." This movie appeals to my inner nerdiness and I can accept it for what it is: a 50th Anniversary all-star campy Godzilla extravaganza. 』
(Oh, No! They say he's got to go, go, go - Godzilla!) 『This is one of the best Godzilla movies of all-time, in my opinion. It's got everything including a surprise visit from GINO (Godzilla In Name Only), the American version of Godzilla. It also has Kung-Fu Fighting aliens, Super-Powered Mutant Humans, Star Wars inspired space battles, Giant Monsters galore, and even a cute little baby Godzilla. Any movie that packs all of that into one package is okay in my book. This movie is just one big zany, fun-filled, action-packed giant monster slug-fest perfect for a Saturday Night monster movie marathon! 』
(Godzilla Evolutions) 『I write this review as warning and because I spent two hours of my life viewing a film that I hoped would improve.
It evolved from Godzilla into the fifth unofficial Matrix sequel. Someone should have reminded the director of exactly what he was directing.
So, who's mocking who? Apparently, the U.S. was mocking Japan's revered creature with their weak-fest, CGI version starring Mathew Broderick and some terrified giant iguana. Now, supposedly, Japan has ended their cash cow with this sporadic mess, in which the director was possibly seeking revenge by mocking the Matrix? We'll do to Neo what you did to Godzilla? I don't think this is the case. I would say the director reveres The Matrix series and sought to outdo the Wachowski Bros. with a lesser budget of course.
All of the essential, aesthetic ingredients are here: black attire, emotionless acting and gravity-defying martial arts. Instead of the Japanese Neo stopping primitive bullets, the director had him freeze lazers in mid-air... I was waiting for him to grasp one and stare at it dumbfounded. These things make up about an hour and a half of "Godzilla Evolutions", and it is done ineffectively. The remaining 30 minutes is spent on what we paid for: monsters. The cameos they have are rushed and comical to the point of cringing. The only highlight being the climactic end battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah, the scenes that the director probably did grudgingly.
Every once in awhile I enjoy a good campy Godzilla flick, watching model buildings being destroyed and people running around frantically is good quality entertainment... unfortunately this movie isn't it.』
(Wasted opprotunity) 『Ryûhei Kitamura (Versus (Director's Cut)) drops the ball with this, the 50th anniversary Godzilla film. First - and I hate to say this because I love a good monster mash as much as the next monster geek - there are way too many monsters in this film. With so many creatures battling for screen time,things get cluttered very quickly. It reminded me of the "monster rally" films that Universal made at the end of their monster series. While I loved seeing Hedorah for the 3.1 seconds that he was onscreen, I have to question whether he even needed to be there in the first place (Yes, I know thatI am in the minority for my love of Godzilla Vs Hedorah but that's another story!). I also have to question why Ebirah (Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster) gets a big scene when he was never a big player in the Godzilla universe. Also, Kitamura works hard to "update" the Godzilla formula by adding slickHollywood-style visuals and employing MTV-ish editing that just doesn't work. While the Godzilla films have taken elements from American films in the past (Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla&Mothra: The Battle for Earth), they seem a bit more prevalent here and, as such, are all the more irritating. The story also lifts elements from numerous Japanese sci-fi films of the past (Gorath, Destroy All Monsters&Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero)to name a few) but adds virtually nothing new to the mix. The music is also sub-par. I am a big fan of Keith Emerson's soundtrack work (see Inferno) but his style does not mesh with the kaiju eiga (monster film) genre at all. I am not familiar with the other composers but the same goes for their contributions to this soundtrack. The Sum 41 song that plays over the battle with the American G&the Japanese one seems out of place as well. The acting&dialogue are nothing to write home about (the whole Matrix-y "chosen one" thing is wearing a bit thin). This includes Akira Takarada (Gojira / Godzilla Deluxe Collector's Edition (Gojira/Godzilla [1954] / Godzilla, King of the Monsters [1956])) and Kumi Mizuno (Frankenstein Conquers the World / Frankenstein Vs. Baragon). On the plus side, Godzilla looks good as does Monster X. The new Ghidorah at the end of the film is decent but not as impressive as his past incarnations. Some of the all-too-brief battle scenes are staged well but having Godzilla beat the enemy monsters in a matter of minutes gets tiresome after a while. All in all, this is a wasted opportunity&a sad goodbye for an old friend. In my own opinion, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah - Giant Monsters All-Out Attack would have made an infinitely better 50th anniversary G film. Note: the two stars that I gave this film include a half of a star for the scene of the American G getting pummelled by the real thing.』
(It's OK for what it is) 『This movie is OK for what it is. If you want action packed popcorn entertainment and some monster fights get it. Personally, I would have liked to see the movie take itself a little bit more seriously, but really, the only serious godzilla movie I've seen in the first. It is true there could have been more monster fighting, but I think part of the problem if the movie length. If we had the same amount of monster fighting in a 90 minute movie I don't think there would so much complaining, but this film is 2 hours. Another issue is that the movie rips off the Matrix and Star Wars, and is full of cliche...(if they took that out and made it more dramatic). Don Frye is as badass as as anyone could be, otherwise the other characters didn't interest me too much...they were too cliche. Look, it's a fun action movie, if you are going to enjoy it on that level you'll be happy.』 『Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 05/22/2007 Run time: 125 minutes Rating: Pg13』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A nice suprise) 『Fiancee is a big Final Fantasy fan, got this for toy for her as a surprise. She loved it and has it up over her entertainment center. Would buy it again if i had to.』 『A SquareEnix Japanese import! Produced by the SHINRA Motor Company for use by the SOLDIER division, the HARDY DAYTONA is the ultimate vehicle from the Final Fantasy universe! This deluxe box set includes the CLOUD STRIFE PLAY ARTS Action Figure in addition to the motorcycle itself. Developed with the full cooperation of original character designer Tetsuya Nomura, the Daytona is an incredible work of engineering, as no detail is missing from the bike ??"rotating tires, movable steering and forks, and even working shocks! The cycle measures approximately a foot long, and is perfectly in scale with the Cloud action figure (8 tall). Youve waited for this set for ten years, and now it is finally a reality!Cloud Strife: The game's primary protagonist, a selfproclaimed exSOLDIER turned mercenary employed by AVALANCHE. Initially, Cloud is confused and conflicted with an occasionally arrogant attitude and a cool disposition, until a traumatic experience in the Lifestream helps him discover lost memories of his true self. He wears a purple/blue SOLDIER uniform and is distinguished by his glowing green eyes (a sign of having been exposed to a large amount of mako). He has spiky blond hair, a trait that is meant to clearly separate him from the game's primary antagonist, Sephiroth.』
price：$6.12
Diamond Comic Distributors - Dropship
Usually ships in 24 hours 『Imported from Japan! Soar into the sky with Sierra! The Sierra is the regal and ornately designed airship utilized by the heroes of the upcoming DVD release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Measuring 9.5" in length, The Sierra comes with a display base and features awesome detailing and paint. Sculpted for Kotobukiya by Takayuki Takeya. Window box packaging.』
price：$5.50
Thunder's mouth press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (disappointing) 『I did not finish reading the first book in this compilation or any further, I did not wish to waste any more time on what seemed to be books written mostly for shock value in the '60's. I would give this zero stars if I could. However, most of Moorcock's other work is fantastic fantasy that is quite enjoyable.』
(Eternal Champion a-Go-Go) 『Between the EC's earliest incarnations as Corum, Urlich or Elric of Melnibone, and the final, totally insane finished product dancing with the Iron Orchid at the end of time, Jerry Cornelius reveals the most contemporary, most adolescent facet of the same, singular character. That character seems to be, to all observers of social evolution, a Mod; some product of the nineteen-sixties between Beatnicks and Hippies, although the scene is undeniably post-apocalyptic. Mad Max in Londontown sums it up pretty well.
Anemia and albinism take many guises, different and unique from one timeslip to the next throughout the multiverse - which, by the way, is not a Moorcock invention, but goes back to Heinlein's works from the late fifties and early sixties. Moorcock uses the concept of the Multiverse better than anyone else since Heinlein, though, and pays the Grand Master further homage in tiny, needlegun-like ways. The only other similarity between the two that I will mention is that Heinlein was nearly pure sci-fi, with only "Glory Road" being wholly sword-and-sorcery unto itself; The Cornelius Chronicles do the reverse for Moorcock, taking the sword-and-sorcery of the EC deeper into pure sci-fi than many S&S fans are able to delve. I digress; whether or not Una Person is the Iron 0rchid or the Honorable Jaggedd is Mick Jagger, Jerry is most certainly both Elrik and the Demented Carnelian.
Any more-than-casual reader of Moorcock can tell you that there will be an Eternal Champion until the end of time. That's what "eternal" means. Duh! The earliest kingdoms of pre-humanity knew him; the decadant remnants of civilization will know him; and somewhere in the middle, in the not-too-distant-future, where the best of sci-fi lives, and closest to our own epoch than any other of the EC's accounts penned by Moorcock, there is Jerry Conrelius.』
(A little imagination helps) 『So if a little imagination helps, consider what it's like when your imagination is unreined. No reason to let a little reality stand in your way. And when the forms are constrained, it only somehow heightens the free play. Reinvention of self has rarely gone so far. Jerry's or yours.
Moorcock wrote about these stories: "Part of my original intention with the Jerry Cornelius stories was to 'liberate' the narrative; to leave it open to the reader's interpretation as much as possible - to involve the reader in such a way as to bring their own imagination into play."
These chronicles are among my favorite literary works. Each is a different literary experiment. Transform the mundane, don't let it run you down. How cool can you be? How important can you be? How intriguing can the folks you hang out with? Only Jerry seems to know. Let him show the way. Profound? Well, it's at least great, incredibly well-written fun.
Read "Dancers at the End of Time" if you want to see how well Moorcock can construct a "traditional" story. But if you want to see Moorcock's talent unleashed, give The Cornelius Quartet a try.』
(Moorcock's fabulous sf) 『This is Moorcock's most ambitious work. Certainly his most honest. There are a million and one experiments in literature here, not all of which come off. But according to Schopenhauer the errors of geniuses are worth a hundred truths of lesser mortals. (Or something like that.) The fact that Moorcock provides the most visceral experiences in the sort of fabulous sf universe his brain inhabits means that even when he's mistaken his point is well taken. (For a similar world, see Zelazny's stuff.) The characters of this book will live forever. Even though he's not a household word like Tolkien or Rowling he certainly will be some day. Keep your chin up Mike, the zombies will get the point eventually.』
(Here we go again) 『It's been argued that these books were an angry/funny response to the Vietnam War and certainly the second story A Cure For Cancer refers a lot to Vietnam. What is particularly interesting about it, however, is how it refers to the PRESENT situation. The Administration's rationales for going into Vietnam and the military's rationales for staying there are here transported to Europe. And that's no doubt what makes the books so relevant to the immediate situation we have at the moment with Europe refusing America's rationales for going to war and the Administration reacting with an aggressive, bullying tone. The ways in which imperial adventuring are cloaked in the language of 'saving the natives' are clearly shown here. Moorcock takes the experience of British imperialism and equates it with American imperialism. He does it all, of course, with irony and black humor which gets more and more sophisticated as the series continue. The Final Program is the weakest of the books, though it parodies 60s slang rather than parroting it, and has subtleties rarely found in US fiction of the day. These books were of their time and half a century AHEAD of their time and the way in which Moorcock reveals the underbelly of his society as well as the postures of his main character are brilliant. Unquestionably, some of the very best experimental and influential fiction of our time! Recommended at every level -- fun, funny, fantastic and literary. I would also recommend Moorcock's very latest Cornelius novella, Firing the Cathedral, with its introduction by Alan Moore.』 『Jerry Cornelius is an English assassin, physicist, rock star, and messiah to the Age of Science. Written between 1965 and 1967, this sequence of four novels relating Corneliuss adventures has been credited with inspiring dozens of writers and artists to rethink the genre of science fiction. Acclaimed British author Michael Moorcocks time-tripping antihero is one of the great achievements in modern fantastic literature. This is the first U.S. publication of one of themost influential sagas in postmodern sci-fi.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Excellent purchase) 『The strategy guide is very thorough and the maps are excellent. A must have for the game!』 『
FORGE THE FATE OF TWO POWERFUL TWINS!
Complete the Legend Follow our strategies to progress through this exciting storyline and discover every item drop for multiple playthroughs. Area maps illustrate items, chests, special tiles, and other treasures that can be found.
Bestiary Statistics and item drop data for every beast and rare monster in the game.
Weapon and Item Lists Complete statistics for every weapon, piece of armor and item in the game. Plus, the location of scrolls and a list of the items needed to create new weapons and armor!
Extras, Multiplay Coverage, and More! Learn about the Blazin’ Caravans Redux game, Moogle Stamps, and other Story Mode Extras!
price：$3.73
Westminster John Knox Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (An Excellent History of Science Fiction's Take on all Things Religious) 『Gabriel McKee sets out to explore how science fiction views theological issues, such as the nature of God, creation, souls, sin, and the afterlife, through how these have been portrayed in science fiction novels, television and film. Through the book the author uses his depth of science fiction knowledge to illustrate the connections that he has found between science fiction and religion. McKee uses illustrations from mainstream science fiction, like Battlestar Galactica (2003), Star Trek, Star Wars, the Matrix and the Twilight Zone, as well as science fiction that hardcore students of the genre will appreciate, like, Bova, Bradbury, Dick, Herbert, Heinlein, Silverberg and Vonnegut.
From the moment that I started reading McKee had me hooked. Admittedly, I am a big science fiction fan. Not just film either. My good friend Alvaro Zinos-Amaro made certain of this by providing a gift of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929-1964, which opened my eyes to the progress that science fiction has made through the years and also to the way that science fiction speaks to the zeitgeist.
Today, we are inundated by science fiction focused on the end of the world because we are worried about it. I am convinced that a student of history could read the science fiction of the day and get a better understanding of the concerns of the generation that they study than by using university history texts.
In the same way that science fiction is focused on the same things that all people are, it is only natural that we find science fiction to be preoccupied with religion. What more important question can there be than, "Is there a God?" Followed closely behind by, "If so what or who is it?" These are the starting points of any human's quest to find purpose. "Why am I here?" "How do I live?" or even, "Am I real?"
McKee's book is an enjoyable lesson in the history of science fiction that deals with religion. Fans of science fiction and people of faith will undoubtably enjoy this book immensly as I did.』
(Enthralling Theological Treatise) 『I thoroughly enjoyed this book. McKee seems to have taken all of his theology training, as well as thousands of hours of reading and viewing SciFi, to come up with a magnum opus. I kept on expecting him to leave out some major or theologically significant minor work of science fiction, but he always came through. McKee helpfully breaks down science fiction into various theological categories, from the nature of God to the afterlife to the presence of a soul, and looks through many examples in-depth to gain an understanding of how the genre as a whole treats theology. This is not a simple, dry list, but rather McKee integrates each movie and book into the discussion, weighing the treatment of the theology as well as the new ideas that the work bring to the table.
Though he obviously comes from a Christian standpoint, he is very balanced in his treatment, looking positively at pro-theistic and anti-theistic standpoints, as well as works embracing Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu perspectives. You will never again be able to look at the science fiction genre as anti-religious, or even irreligious. (One juicy tidbit is McKee's very convincing revelation that science fiction is simply the modern aspect of the ancient apocalyptic religious genre.) The primary drawback of this book is that I now have a whole host of new books to read, even though I decided to peruse only about 5% of the books mentioned.』
(A Rare Reflection on Spiritual Connections within Science Fiction) 『Writing this review in 2009, when it's clear that science fiction dominates American popular culture, I'm surprised we haven't had more solid book-length explorations of the genre from a biblical perspective. To be sure, Gabriel McKee's reflection isn't a traditional "Bible study" format. There have been a number of very popular books and entire sets of multimedia educational materials that go back and forth from video to specific biblical lessons. This is not that book.
But as the "Star Trek" origins movie opened this year, I searched far and wide for a good spiritual analysis of the series that, as a journalist, I could share with my own readers. I wound up turning to Gabriel's book and even interviewing Gabriel for our "Star Trek" coverage. If you're specifically a Trekkie, though, I should stress-this is a book about the whole genre and the TV series is only one thread that runs through the book.
The volume is very helpful in lifting up specific examples out of a wide variety of sci-fi works, then weaving together the themes into provocative back-and-forth discussions of spiritual principles. I recommend it highly. And partly I'm saying this because Gabriel McKee's analysis here is rare in its scope. You'll find yourself wanting to go back and see a lot of movies, watch some old TV and re-read a bunch of good sci-fi novels.』
(Interesting, insightful, and well-researched) 『A groundbreaking and illuminating book. McKee's main thesis is that science fiction is inherently religious in nature, because it deals with the big-picture issues of human existence: What does it mean to be human? What is the nature of the universe? Where did we come from and where are we going? SF at its core is speculative; it speculates about possible futures, whether in the form of dystopias for us to avoid, utopias for us to strive for, or bizarre worlds that drive us to contemplate the deep issues of existence. At the same time, these visions of the future serve as commentaries and warnings about where we seem to be heading.
McKee basically sets up his thesis that SF deals with religious themes and then spends the majority of the book doing brief summaries of various novels, short stories, and films, tracing the answers each story offers to the big questions. The book is helpfully structured around systematic theological categories: God, Creation, the Soul, Free Will, Evil, Salvation, etc. Most of it is analysis of SF stories, with (mercifully) a minimal amount of McKee's own theological views, which tend toward the theologically liberal. The analysis is usually insightful, though his conclusion that with the help of SF we can "forge the faith of the future" betrays a naive view of faith as something we create. Overall, a fascinating read that helps one understand and appreciate more deeply a genre that is at the forefront of our culture's grappling with the big philosophical and spiritual issues.』
(Short review but I enjoyed this book) 『As both an author and reader of fiction I was impressed with (the Gospel According to Science Fiction). I guess I have always enjoyed books that could hold my attention and make me think at the same time. I recommend this book. Tommy Taylor Author - The Second Virgin Birth』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Oldie but goodie.) 『The game is still going on. Its a fun time sink. People get serious about the game, their money, their armor.
What I've found is a lot of ex-con's hang out in this game (not joking). I have no idea what the attraction is. Maybe it is all the crude language, or the ability to con others out of their stuff and sell it to others. Yes, there are college kids playing and a few casual players, but mostly the gamers here and unemployed, unmotivated and predatorial.
You have to go online to play and could play alone online, but to get the most out of what the game offers you need the help of others.
Children should not be allowed to play this game.』
(Words Of Warning) 『No one seems to be mentioning the major problem I have with this game. So I guess I will.
I bought this game when it first came out two or three years ago. Spent 50 bucks on it at EbGames. I was so excited, I started downloading right away. After 4 or 5 solid hours (at least), I finally got to start playing.
It's a good game, don't get me wrong, but being only 15 and not wanting to plunk down a week of my allowance a month for a game I could only play for an hour or so at a time (it was on the family computer, plus I had school work). I thought, "Well I'll probably play it again someday." So I deleted my account, so my mom's card wouldn't be charged anymore and I wouldn't have to fork over the money to play each month.
Fast forward 2 years. I have my own computer and my own credit card, so I break the game out again. I have more time, I'm out of school, not yet in college. So what the hell? I'll give it another shot. But first, I read the first few pages of the hefty 144 page instruction booklet.
On page 11, I believe, these words are written under the section "CAUTION! About Your Member Information": "Your member information is retained on the server for three months after your access to PlayOnline is disabled. ... After this three-month period has elapsed, you can no longer use your previous account information. You must create a new account to use PlayOnline again. Please note that this means you must purchase A NEW COPY of the software from a retailer and reregister for PlayOnline".
Maybe you skimmed over that part, so I'll say it again. "YOU MUST PURCHASE A NEW COPY OF THE SOFTWARE FROM A RETAILER".
This means that if you, for any reason, have to unsubscribe from PlayOnline for a while (say you're not playing the game and you don't want to pay for something you're not going to use for a while), you have to shell out the bucks to buy the game again!
I read this and I thought, "Huh. What a bunch of BS." I tried installing it anyway, and wouldn't you know it? My registration codes that worked 2 or 3 years ago do not work now. I can't sell it, the registration codes don't work and I don't want to pawn off my bogus copy. (ANOTHER WARNING: Nobody buy this game used! It might not work for this exact reason!). I paid fifty dollars for the game and those registration code and now the only thing the game is good for now is as a paper weight. And you know how useless those are.
If I were to buy this game again, I'd have to pay about half the price I paid for a game that I already did buy AND I have to play at least every three months. I don't know about anybody else, but I got through game phases. I play a lot of games for a few months, then I stop for a while, then I get back into it.
For me, I'm not sure if I want to waste anymore money and time on this one. Which is a shame, because it's not a bad game.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE COMMITMENT TO BUY THIS. Weigh the PROs and CONs before purchasing. Make sure it's worth it.
If you can handle it, more power to you.』
(Bag... of ...) 『I had, unfortunately, very high expectations of this game. I mean, Final Fantasy... MMORPG? Whoa! The best of two worlds collide!
Unfortunately, the result of the collision is a horrid mess. Square smashed this game out of the park graphically, and the sounds effects and music are decent too. Unfortunately as well, that's where the positives stop.
- The UI is awful and unintuitive. - Play control is ruthlessly cumbersome. - Players are (mostly) unhelpful to new players. - Race/Class combination is pretty boring. Each race has a "best" class and most people go that route. - Did I mention play control is horrible? - The combat system is, also, unintuitive. I *highly* recommend playing a melee character as a first. Any casting class will be killed over, and over, and over. And apparently this is just blindly accepted. - The chat system is pesky. - Oh yeah... the play control? Don't even get me started on it.
Now, the reason I weighed Play Control so heavily is because, in ANY MMORPG, you're going to spend a LOT of time traveling around. A *lot*. That, mixed with the horrible UI and combat system just make for a very frustrating experience. If you want a game with any sort of substance? Do yourself a favor and check out World of Warcraft. Or even Dark Age of Camelot.』
(short and sweet...don't waste your money) 『I can't begin to describe how boring this game was. After sitting at home for 3 hours for all the install and updates I finally was able to play. I couldn't believe how dumb the controls were on the XBOX controller. We have microphones...and if you play games like call of duty 2 you can talk to different people, but not in this game. You have to scroll through a picture of a keyboard on the screen...it takes 1 minute to write your name. Just don't get it if you are not into games that have a really really deep storyline...100's of foreign names for everything, lots of walking and way too many controls. I played FF9 and absolutely loved it. Can't say that about this one. I am pretty bitter about spending the money on this game. Hope this review was helpful. I read a lot of positive reviews on this site and I am assuming those ones are from people who really are into intense, never-ending role playing games.』
(BEST GAME EVER) 『I love this game! I play for about 12 hours a day. I play 18 hours on days I have off. Thank you god. I have now found my true calling in life.』 『Final Fantasy XI takes you into the aftermath of a great war, as you answer a desperate call to defend your people. In this first ever cross-platform massive multiplayer online game, you'll unite with other warriors as they save their world from utter destruction. With the PlayOnline Viewer, players will connect with other adventurers, to chat and share information - with PC and PS2 users Designed for Online Internet play ONLY - A monthly subscription fee may be charged』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A good guide for a good game!) 『It is well-known that Final Fantasy IV is one of the more difficult games to reach the DS. For those who don't already know, the game chronicles the adventure of Cecil and his party of stalwart friends in their quest to save the world by retrieving the crystals from the clutches of the evil nemesis, Golbez.
This BradyGames Guide is very useful for those who need anything from simple tips and strategies to a complete walkthrough of the game. It is packed with detailed information on the game including a very thorough bestiary, detailed stats on weapons, armor and other items, a description of spells and augments as well as data on all the playable characters in the game.
The Guide also contains complete maps of all the areas in the game (i.e. dungeons, towns, castles etc) and highlights where hidden treasures can be located. It also points out what items are available from the various shops within each town and makes suggestions as to what weapons, armor etc should be bought.
As a walkthrough, the Guide is very comprehensive. It provides concise instructions on what to do at each stage of the game without giving away the plot twists (and there are many plot twists in the game). The Guide also does a great job of identifying the major battles at each stage of the game and provides detailed information about each boss' stats and instructions on how best to defeat the boss. While the player is free to use a different attack strategy, the Guide does serve as a fallback if all else fails.
Lastly, the Guide also contains information on the secrets within the game itself such as secret boss battles, hidden areas and strategies on how to improve your Whyt (and earn extra costumes in the process).
In summary:
Pros + A thorough guide, packed with heaps of information and useful data. + Provides a clear walkthrough of the game without giving away the story and surprises in the plot. + The information is presented in a easy to read and understand format. + Contains maps, screen shots etc in full color making it easier for the player to relate the Guide to the game itself. + Identifies the secrets within the game which players may not be aware of.
Cons - The font sizes of some of the text may be a little small, but it's manageable nonetheless. - There may be too much information to pick up though not all of it is relevant for the game. - There are a few errors within the Guide but nothing too significant. One I feel I should point out (without giving away too much) is to simply this: if you lose the Lustful Lali-Ho, it can be replaced with the Ninja Sutra :)
Overall, I feel that this Guide is a great companion to the game. It gives the player a lot of useful information and leaves it to him/her to decide how much help he/she wants. In short, it's an ideal resource for those who are new as well as veterans of this game and the series. 』
(Great Book, Quick Delivery) 『Good shape, loved the fast delivery. Not To mention it was at a good price, too!』
(actually 4 and 1/2 stars) 『Basically it's a good guide with detailed maps, lovely pictures of all characters, and clear tipps. But there are 2 fights in the game where I had to look in a userforum for help. Overall I would buy it anyway. 』
(Good, easy to use guide) 『This a a fun, easy-to-use guide. The maps are nice and the monster descriptions are very helpful. Definitely recommended for someone who has not played the earlier version of this game.』
(A Good Companion) 『Final Fantasy IV is a relatively simple game. It's even simplar if you've been through it before. But for those who haven't, this strategy guide can get you through much of the game with ease.
It begins by jumping right into the basics of the game. Final Fantasy IV is by no means a hard game to understand. So long as this isn't your first Final Fantasy, there's nothing here you probably don't already know. At least it's there, but much of its tips and basic explanations have been hammered into your head before. At least it doesn't spend too much time here as it goes into the characters. Each character has a bio and tells you about their starting stats. It'll also show you coverage of their abilities. Afterwards it talks about all the magic you can use as well as all the items, equipment, and armor. After all this preliminary stuff, we get to the walkthrough.
In the past, BradyGAMES has often used a step by step walkthrough, while explaining some of the more complicated stuff. The Final Fantasy IV guide doesn't do this (but at least it has a World Map which BradyGAMES is notorious for neglecting). There's nothing too complicated about the walkthrough. There are no story spoilers and each section begins by telling you what items you can find in an area as well as showing you all the maps for an area. If it's a dungeon it'll show you all the enemies encountered. All the items are pointed out on the maps, and it'll also show you on each map what you get for uncovering 100% of the map.
The walkthrough has an easy presentation and is easy to follow. Some of the boss strategies are not the best, however. Most of them are pretty good about offense. Telling you what to use to attack certain bosses, and their weaknesses. BradyGAMES still doesn't do a good job of preparing you with a good defense. It's hard to blame the guide for this as you'll probably be alright just knowing what to attack with.
Once all that is said and done, we get into the Bestiary. Which highlights all the stats of every enemy in the game. Telling you their weakness and what they'll drop and even the rate at which they drop it. The Bestiary doesn't present itself in alphabetical order. Rather it goes based on the enemy's assigned number. Which is basically the order in which you see them.
Afterwards there's an entire section dedicated to Whyt and teaching him abilities. There are also secrets, though it's only a page long. Much of what Final Fantasy IV has to offer is actually covered in the walkthrough. Many of the optional things you can do are noted in the walkthrough as they come up in the quest.
There's really no big reason to buy a guide for Final Fantasy IV. That doesn't make the guide bad. Or even useless. If this is your first time through Final Fantasy IV and you're confused on where to go or what to do next, this guide is pretty helpful. If you mastered Final Fantasy IV inside out beforehand, then picking up the guide for all the new content probably isn't worth your while.』 『 The Final Fantasy IV book contains 192 fully colored pages.
Earn All Augments:
Grant certain abilities to any character in your party, a new feature in Final Fantasy IV!
All-Inclusive Bestiary:
Complete statistical breakdown of every foe and boss in the game. Learn each foes strengths, weaknesses, and much more.
Area Maps:
Maneuver through each area with ease and plunder every treasure chest.
Find Every Side Quest:
Locate the ever elusive Namingway and acquire the games special Summons, like Leviathan and Bahamut!
Obtain Rare Items:
Learn what it takes to attain the difficult-to-find Onion equipment and Rainbow Pudding item. 』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (best thing to come out of Final Fantasy 7 since forever.) 『
Love it or hate it, it's hard to deny that Final Fantasy VII at least moved the long loved series forward on the technical level. Today the blocky 3D figures of Cloud, Tifa and company might not be the easiest on the eyes, but back when it originally released in 1997 it was a sight to behold. From there on out, each subsequent Final Fantasy game managed to push the limits of the hardware for whatever console it was released on, and with Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, that statement still holds true. Not only is Crisis Core one of the best looking PSP games on the market today, but it also marks the best spin-off Final Fantasy title that has come out of Square's big Final Fantasy VII Compilation effort, easily blowing away such dredge as Dirge of Cerberus. I'd even say this marks the best non-main Final Fantasy title to date, so the big fans of the series shouldn't be disappointed in the least.
For those of you that haven't been madly anticipating the title, Crisis Core revolves around the tale of Zack, a character only mentioned thru back-story in Final Fantasy VII. Friend of Cloud, fellow Soldier member, and love interest for Aerith, Crisis Core focuses strictly on Zack. There is no stone left uncovered when it comes to his history with Shinra, Sephiroth, and others.
Fans will be happy to see plenty of cameo appearances by other recognizable faces, but Square Enix does a great job of reigning themselves in, and they manage to not contradict the events in later titles, as any good prequel should. Instead they manage to fill in the small holes from what little we already know about Zack, and expand upon that story without being overly heavy handed in both dialogue and plot, a problem that many had with the CGI film Advent Children.
There is some beautiful CGI featured in Crisis Core as well, but it manages to actually take a backseat to the story, and outside of a couple scenes Square Enix manages to keep the action as realistic as possible (as real as magic and what not can get). This helps to ground this tragic tale into the hearts of fans that have had an emotional investment in these characters for nearly 10 years.
However, while plot and story make up the substance of any good Final Fantasy title, how does the game actually play? Taking away the standard turn based RPG mechanics of most Final Fantasy titles, Crisis Core uses a real time action style similar to the Kingdom Hearts titles by Square Enix. However, while many lament that you can simply "button mash" your way thru most of KH, that tactic will get you killed quickly in Crisis Core. Along with your basic attack button you also have a dodge and block (Square and Triangle), and the real trick to most fights is anticipating an attack by watching for a telltale attack animation and dodging at the right time. When it's successful you can even end up behind your opponent, which will allow you to land critical hits until the enemy reorients themselves to face you.
Along with your basic attacks you can also equip materia, small stones that played heavily into the magic system of the original title, that allow you access to various spells. All of the standard spells appear here, and you can level up each materia to a maximum of 4 levels. Later in the game you'll gain the ability to create new materia by fusing stones together, and eventually you'll gain the ability to toss items into the mix. On top of this, some materia will contain various bonuses, such as a percentage added to HP or MP along with just the standard magic attack, so you'll want to experiment with as many combinations as possible.
You're also given two equipment slots (later expandable to four), and with these you can add on items found throughout the game that can either enhance your HP, MP, and AP, or even block or lessen certain status effects. All together, you can pretty much customize Zack however you see fit, but I found that as I advanced towards the end that I felt a bit overpowered, especially considering how easy it is to hit your HP cap early on using items and materia.
The L and R buttons handle cycling thru magic on the battlefield, and while certain fights can feel a bit frantic, you shouldn't have any trouble getting the hang of things. Simply run away from your opponents if you feel you need more time, since most magic attacks have a limited range. The biggest hassle has to be clicking on items and then cycling thru the list of available items just to find a much needed remedy or elixir. However, as you get the hang of combat you should find yourself adapting to everything with ease.
All battles are random, and at times a bit too frequent for my tastes. Also, simply running away from a battle is a difficult since you have to look for the exit, especially in side mission areas where everything tends to look the same. Enemies aren't particularly smart or challenging, but if you're not paying attention they can gang up on you quickly, and you'll take quite a beating for it. If you opt to complete some of the harder side missions later in the game you'll come across the cheapness of the spell Death, which always hits you unless you manage to interrupt the spell by attacking the caster. Otherwise, be sure to have plenty of Phoenix Downs on hand, which you need to cast on yourself prior to being killed.
The main storyline isn't particularly long (or challenging) but at every save point you're able to access a ton of side missions, laid out in groups depending on the "story" involved. There isn't actually a lot of story involved in the quests, and certainly nothing that impacts the main storyline, but they provide bite sized sections of combat perfect for players wanting something quick to run thru on their way to work or while on a lunch break. There are over 300 side quests to make your way thru, and they end up being the best way to gain summons, equipment, and rare materia throughout. At 20 hours on my final play, I had only thirty-eight percent of the side quests finished, so needless to say these missions can keep you busy for quite some time. For the most part they're also fun to play thru, but a bit repetitive. It's not until you run into the "very hard" section of quests that you'll find some cheap enemy tactics that might be a bit hard to stomach for most casual players.
The soundtrack of Crisis Core is also worth noting. While many can argue the merits of Final Fantasy VII's original tunes by Uematsu until they're blue in the face, it's hard to deny that most of the tracks featured in Crisis Core are solid, if not spectacular. A few of them end up being remixes from the Final Fantasy VII, but they're just as good, if not better, than the originals. In particular the opening theme at the title screen is fantastic, and the remixed melody of Aerith's theme is outstanding as well. Kudos to Takeharu Ishimoto for not simply rehashing that stuff we've heard over and over again, and really breathing new life into some fond memories of these familiar themes, along with introducing some fantastic new tunes.
Along with the musical score, Crisis Core's voice over work is pretty well done. I never felt that any one particular voice stood out as something incredible, such as Balthier from Final Fantasy 12, but on the other side of things there wasn't a bad apple in the group. Something to note is that Aerith finally receives a decent voice actor (not Suvari or Moore), and it finally manages to fit her character quite well.
I had a few other minor issues with the game that don't fall into any particular category, but here they are. While you can skip the FMV animations for summons, you can't skip them for the limit break attacks, which are nearly as long and far more frequent than your summoning spells. Also, the slot reel system needs a far better explanation, and having it tied into your leveling system is pretty confusing.
Basically, the reels are always spinning while in combat, with certain number combos granting you status bonuses, such as no casting cost, limited invincibility, and so on. However, when the faces on the left and right reels match, the slot reel (or DMW) will take over the screen, usually ending up with the middle reel matching the left and right, which will take you into a limit break depending on which character is showing. These can also lead into a separate reel that contains your summons, and if you manage to match faces on that reel you'll perform a summoning attack instead. Along with this, when you manage to hit all 7's on the reels during a limit break / summon situation, Zack will level up. Also, if you manage to hit the same two numbers side by side, you'll level up an equipped materia depending on the order you have them equipped. For instance, if you hit a 5 in the left and middle reel, then you'll level up whatever materia you have equipped in the fifth slot of your inventory.
Confused yet? It's actually pretty simple, but the mechanics of getting the DMW to pop up are a pretty big mystery. Above the slot reel you'll have a colored meter that represents your current limit break state. Most of the time this meter will stay normal, however certain events (and even a limit break) can cause it to change, all the way up to Heavenly. At this point you'll encounter more matching faces on the reel, which in turn will cause you to perform more limit breaks or summons. Once you enter that full screen DMW mode, the current level that your limit break meter is at will decrease, and it will eventually fall back to normal. On top of all this is the SP meter, which rests above both of these things. The best I could figure is that SP is basically experience points. Each enemy you kill will give you a certain amount of SP, and I figure this is the way the system keeps track of when you SHOULD be leveling up. There's nothing in the game that tells you when you'll level, but the pace is pretty spot on for the story, so leveling isn't nearly as random as it seems.
So outside of my issues with the DMW system, and some minor things like the unskippable animations for limit breaks, Crisis Core stands out as not only a fantastic Final Fantasy title, but one of the best games on the PSP to date. That's saying something in light in the pretty stellar year the system saw in '07, so hopefully you system owners out there will take my word for it and pick this one up. Great action in small bursts, and a fairly level headed storyline that won't leave you scratching your head. Even if your memory of Final Fantasy VII isn't as fond as others, Crisis Core still manages to be a fantastic game worthy of your attention. 』
(This is the best game) 『This is the best game that I ever enjoy it. They never make the second part with cloud in it for PSP. the story to be continue and never finish it and i want to know what happen to the ending.』
(Good Game) 『I like this Game because all those questions you have with Final Fantasy VII were answered. Fight System was easy but i liked it.. Game to easy to beat its not like you can just go from town to town like the other final fantasy games, its pretty much guided. I think Im going to have to Order Final Fantasy VII and play it again』
(.... must have) 『I now not all psp gamers are into rpg's but let me tell ya that this game got a lot of action, and the story line OMG, it is really a must have, it takes the psp to the next level. If you like a good story and awsome grafics go for it』
(I want it to be better, WHY SQUARESOFT WHY!!!) 『I love final fantasy and couldnt wait for this game to come out. I played alot when I first got it, but played less and less as I found how repetative it is. I know how all Final Fantasy games are repetative, but this was insane. You run through extra mission after extra mission to power up, but its always the exact same mission. Plus leveling up is random!!! what kinda bull is that? You could play for an hour and level up 5 times, then die and do the same exact thing yet only level up once. The game was gorgeous though. Movies looked like they were out of Advent Children. The story was a spin-off of one of the best video games ever and delivered. I rated the game a 3 because it was such a tease. You want to reveal the story and finish it, but in order to do so you have to complete hours and hours of boring crap. The burden of playing outweighed the desire for the story. In conclusion, the game had amazing potential but failed on the most basic of values.』 『MODEL- 90722 VENDOR- SQUARE ENIX FEATURES- Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII PSP Seven years prior to the events of FINAL FANTASY VII -- The Shinra Company is rapidly increasing its influence through its monopoly on mako energy and military might. With the burgeoning city of Midgar as its base and symbol of prosperity Shinra is on the verge of establishing absolute dominance over the world. SOLDIER is a group of skilled combat operatives within Shinra. The elite within the group -- those strong enough to be deemed SOLDIER 1st Class -- are respected and idolized by the citizenry. Zack is a young SOLDIER 2nd Class who aspires to become a 1st. He spends his days carrying out assignments under the guidance of his 1st Class mentor Angeal. During an operation in Wutai a large number of SOLDIER members led by 1st Class operative Genesis go missing. The severity of the situation prompts Shinra executives to deploy even more SOLDIER operatives in hopes of bringing an end to the war with Wutai--and conducting an investigation into the mass desertion. The ones assigned to the mission are Zack Angeal and the 1st Class hero who is known the world over as Sephiroth.. What truths lie behind Genesiss disappearance? What secrets bind the three SOLDIER 1st Class operatives? For Zack a cruel and fateful struggle awaits.. * Complete the FINAL FANTASY VII experience and reunite with the most recognized RPG characters created by world-renowned character designer Tetsuya Nomura.* Witness stunning graphics inspiring visuals and gorgeous CG cut scenes coupled with top-notch voice acting in a 16:9 widescreen presentation made possible by the PSP system hardware.* Innovative D.M.W (Digital Mind Wave) system enhances the action-packed engaging real-time battle system allowing players to unleash special attacks or call upon iconic FINAL FANTASY summons.* Take on challenges with the all-new Hard Mode developed exclusively for the North American audiences.* Acquire unique...』
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getting to know the technique of motorbike expensive sale -- Ta -- if -- -
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