Diablo Review

Diablo Overview

Diablo Specifications

Almost all of your time with Diablo is spent underground, exploring and conquering ever-deeper levels of the gloomy dungeon. Combat is fast, brutal, and constant. Whether your weapon of choice is a sword, axe, bow, or spell, all forms of combat employ a simple two-click system, which is elegant without being simplistic.

Replayability and customizability are Diablo's strong points; the incredible number of options and possibilities--and the fun that can be had experimenting with different strategies--keeps players coming back for more. All the dungeon levels are generated anew each time you draw up a new character, and are packed with an entirely different set of textures, features, items, traps, creatures, and quests. While one game may stock the fifth subterranean level with an army of skeleton warriors, the next game may pack that level with hordes of winged gargoyles. Multiplayer options exist for two to four players, so you don't have to take on the world by yourself unless you prefer solo play.

Released in 1997, this game is far simpler than newer titles that have expanded on its original concepts; there are only three character classes and a limited number of ways to truly distinguish your character from others. But sometimes there is no beating a classic. Three years old and with a sequel due in mid-2000, the original Diablo has aged remarkably well. Many of its features will seem familiar to seasoned fantasy gamers, just because so many of them have been incorporated into later RPGs.

Players who yearn for uncluttered adventuring and those with older computers will definitely want to check this one out. --Alyx Dellamonica

Pros:

• Endless replayability
• Fun, classic dungeon hack-and-slash game play
• Cool magic items
• Cooperative or competitive multiplay

• Magic items tend to define character
• Multiplay is lousy with cheaters

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World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition Review

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition Feature

• Art of the Cataclysm art book, featuring 176 pages of never-before-seen images from the archives of the Blizzard cinematics department and the World of Warcraft development team, as well as progressive visuals from multiple stages of development.
• Exclusive in-game pet: he may not be a breaker of worlds just yet, but Lil' Deathwing will still proudly accompany heroes on their struggle to save Azeroth from his much, much larger counterpart.
• Behind-the-scenes DVD with over an hour of developer interviews and commentaries, as well as a special Warcraft retrospective examining the rich gaming history of the Warcraft universe.
• Soundtrack featuring 17 epic new tracks from Cataclysm, including exclusive bonus tracks.
• Special-edition mouse pad depicting Deathwing menacing the ravaged continents of Azeroth.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition Overview

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Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition Review

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition Overview

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Stellar Forces: Starcraft Expansion Review

Stellar Forces: Starcraft Expansion Overview

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Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising Review

Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising Feature

• Put new units for the Space Marines, Ork, Eldar, and Tyranid armies and two new last stand heroes to work for you on the battlefield.
• This expansion allows you to continue your fight against the enemies of the Emperor and use your squads? wargear, abilities, and experience to battle Chaos in 15 new missions.
• New ice planet graphics set increases visual diversity and adds 7 new multiplayer maps while six-player online multiplayer and a raised level cap of 30 allows for even more glory and devastating abilities.
• New single player mechanic allows you to equip incredibly powerful equipment that corrupts your squad and will guide the story towards or away from the corrupting influence of Chaos.
• Swear loyalty to the Chaos Gods and play as the bloodthirsty Chaos Space Marines in multiplayer battles against both Chaos Rising and Dawn of War II owners.

Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising Overview

Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising Specifications

Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising is the first standalone PC expansion to the real-time strategy (RTS) Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II franchise. Continuing the story of the Space Marines battle against a variety of factions across several planets, in Chaos Rising players must also stand against the dreaded Chaos Space Marines. The game does not require the earlier Dawn of War II game for play, and includes 15 new missions, new units and corruption mechanic, the Chaos Space Marine faction and excellent online multiplayer options. 15 new standalone single player Space Marine missions. View larger. New units, environments and a playable multiplayer faction. View larger. Challenging Dawn of War II specific unit based RTS gameplay, including coop. View larger. New unit corruption mechanic and upper level cap. View larger. Story Your Blood Raven Space Marines have saved the sector, but can they save themselves? In Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising, the sequel to the acclaimed Dawn of War II RTS franchise, you return to sub sector Aurelia where a long lost frozen ice planet has reappeared from the Warp, bringing with it new secrets to uncover and foes to face. Here you must take command of the Blood Ravens and defend the sector against the forces of the Black Legion. Purge the chaos filth and hold the chapter together as traitorous forces work from within to try bring down the Blood Ravens. New Missions, Units, Multiplayer Race and Corruption Mechanic Dawn of War II struck a new chord in the RTS genre with its focus on specific unit based strategy with limited reinforcement options and limited RPG elements, as opposed to the generally repetitive RTS tactic of resource gathering-base building-and swarming maneuvers. The Chaos Rising expansion to the franchise follows suit with 15 new single player missions centered on the players' strategic choice of units; upping the ante further by including new units for each of the returning in-game races and even introducing a new race, the traitorous Chaos Space Marines, who are a playable faction in online multiplayer action. In addition, players must navigate a new corruption mechanic built into in single player campaign, which consists of access to new and dangerous destructive powers. Designed to allow for variation in completing mission objectives, these powers also carry the possibility of drawing units closer to the influence of Chaos, which affects both the mission possibilities as the game progresses and the overall outcome of the game. Key Game Features New Single Player Missions– Continue your fight against the enemies of the Emperor and use your squads’ wargear, abilities, and experience to battle Chaos in 15 new missions. New Environment and Multiplayer Maps– New ice planet graphics set increases visual diversity and adds 7 new multiplayer maps. Six-player multiplayer support available online. Aspire to Glory– Build your existing squads up to level 30 and unlock even more devastating abilities. Chaos Corruption Mechanic– New single player mechanic allows you to equip incredibly powerful equipment that corrupts your squad and will guide the story towards or away from the corrupting influence of Chaos. New Multiplayer Faction– Swear loyalty to the Chaos Gods and play as the bloodthirsty Chaos Space Marines in multiplayer battles against both Chaos Rising and Dawn of War II owners. New Units– New units for the Space Marines, Ork, Eldar, and Tyranid armies. 2 New Last Stand Heroes– Face off against the relentless horde as either the Chaos Sorcerer or Tyranid Hive Tyrant. System Requirements Minimum Specifications: Recommended Specifications: OS: Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1 Processor: P4 3.2 GHz (single core) or any Dual Core processor AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ or any Intel Core 2 Duo RAM: 1.5GB 2+GB Disc Drive: DVD-ROM drive Hard Drive: 5.5GB or more Video Card: 128MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT / ATI X1600, or equivalent 256MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT/ ATI X1900, or equivalent Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c or 10 compatible Input Device: Mouse and keyboard Other: Internet connection required for online Games for Windows LIVE play

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Baldur's Gate 4 in 1 Boxset Review

Baldur's Gate 4 in 1 Boxset Feature

• This is the complete Baldur's Gate Compilation on four (4) DVD's. Includes: Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal.
• Baldur's Gate : Baldur's Gate takes you back to the Forgotten Realms campaign setting on a visually dazzling role-playing adventure, one that brings to life the grand tradition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game through cutting edge art and technology. Immerse yourself in this quintessential medieval fantasy world, where nations hang in the balance of your actions, dark prophecies test your resolve, and heroic dreams can be fulfilled at last.
• Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Swords Coast : Continue your travels on the Sword Coast with the next set of adventurers in the award-winning Baldur's Gate role-playing game series.
• Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn : Baldur's Gate II expands the Baldur's Gate world by bringing you a new set of adventures set in the nation of Amn. Baldur's Gate II has a large central, nonlinear plot line which is broken down into 7-8 chapters, with lots of sub quests and small adventures thrown in for variety. The number of item recovery type quests has been greatly diminished and there are be more class- and alignment-specific quests.
• Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal : Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal greatly extends the Baldur's Gate II experience, with approximately 40 hours of additional adventures. Explore the lands of Tethyr as an epic conflict wreaks devastation on a scale never before seen in the Forgotten Realms campaign world

Baldur's Gate 4 in 1 Boxset Overview

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