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  • Review count
    38
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  • First review
    April 13, 2013
  • Last review
    July 22, 2016
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phoenixlau's Reviews
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Return to the gritty, violent underworld of Japan in the latest cinematic chapter of the Yakuza series. While traveling from Okinawa to Tokyo, discover dozens of stories from a rich cast of characters while engaging in vicious street fights where only the strong survive. Immerse yourself within the dimly lit nightclubs, restaurants and the bright lights of Tokyo to uncover hidden secrets. Continue the brutal story of the Yakuza series and see if you can survive.Yakuza 3 is the latest installment in the Yakuza series that is exclusive to the PlayStation 3. More than 100 missions and mini games engage you while the storyline unfolds, and authentic, vibrant visuals immerse you in the world of Yakuza. Prepare yourself for intense brutal battles on the streets of Okinawa and Tokyo where only your devastating combos and strength ensure your survival. Take out several enemies at once or utilize objects around you to destroy the opposition. Explore and interact with the world of Yakuza like never before and see if you can survive the streets.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
GTA / Japanese gangsters / brawler
on January 20, 2015
Posted by: phoenixlau
Elevator pitch for Yakuza series is Grand Theft Auto crossed with Japanese gangster movies with an emphasis on brawler combat. You play as Kazuma Kiryu, an ex-yakuza member who keeps getting dragged back into his old gang's drama.
The first act of Yakuza 3 is an interesting change of pace for the series, as you spend much of your time wandering around Okinawa tending to the kids at the beachside orphanage Kazuma runs, as well as visiting the nearby city. Some people complain about the slow pace of this section, but I loved the contrast between the laidback feel of Okinawa with the later bustling Tokyo.
Later, the plot moves to Tokyo's Kamurocho district, full of skyscrapers, bars, stripclubs, arcades, and casinos. There is so much to do in both cities, as you can enter many of the buildings you see and play an astounding variety of minigames.
Finally, I'll talk about combat. Most of it is typical brawler style, where you unlock new hand to hand techniques for kicking and punching enemies. You can also equip weapons and gear, which you can then mod with random convenience store knick knacks or dropped loot. Due to the absurdly expensive cost to repair weapons, however, you generally want to save them for boss battles only rather than for everyday use.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Springsteen crossed with Dylan
on January 20, 2015
Posted by: phoenixlau
Reminds me a lot of that 80s classic rock vibe, like Springsteen crossed with Dylan.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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SynopsisWorld War II changed lives, changed countries and changed history. The Normandy Breakout Campaign was the most intense and dangerous action of the entire conflict, as young soldiers from America, Britain, Canada and Poland struggled with the fear and fatal force of the Nazi army. It was a time when the world held its breath as tyranny was confronted. Bravery was tested, tactical expertise meant the difference between life and death, and battle was often up close and personal. Bold heroes were needed as Europe fell under the shadow of death. Step back into that world, if you dare, and see how you would perform in this time of crisis. The Germans are marching toward world domination ~ will you step up and stop this assault against the free world? Will you answer the Call of Duty?Call of Duty 3 thrusts you into the thrilling landscape of the second World War. This latest addition to the popular Call of Duty franchise features all-new close-quarters combat, environmental physics and a host of ways for you to take down your enemies. Vivid graphics immerse you into a realistic world, where special tactics must be employed against your enemy if you expect to forge a path to victory. Intense, team-based multiplayer options offer multiple-occupancy vehicle combat, so climb aboard a tank or Jeep with your friends and team up to take down the Nazi forces once and for all.
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Does not hold up to the test of time
on January 19, 2015
Posted by: phoenixlau
Call of Duty 3 is a PS3 game that feels like it belongs in the PS2 generation. The gameplay just feels dated and not very fun, the story is clumsily delivered, and the graphics are dull.
Compare to the next game in the series, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and the difference is like night and day. COD4 stands the test of time, COD3 does not.
My Best Buy number: 056377495
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
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Having been behind bars for years, and receiving an extended sentence once already, Murphy Pendleton has become a liability during his stay at Ryall State Prison. Due to his storied past at Ryall, he is being transferred to Wayside Maximum Security Penitentiary. During his trip to his new gray-bar home, his bus is involved in a horrific accident. Once the twisted carnage of your prison transport bus comes to a stop, you are able to assess the situation. You find yourself stranded in the foggy woods near the town of Silent Hill. Knowing that this may be his one shot at freedom, Murphy sets off to explore the desolate town. Despite the town seeming vast and empty, he can't help but feel claustrophobic and that someone ~ or some thing ~ is watching him.Return to the horror and desolate town in Silent Hill: Downpour. Marking its return to next-generation consoles, Silent Hill: Downpour delivers a completely original storyline, new soundtrack and more haunting moments that are sure to make your spine tingle. Take on the role of Murphy Pendleton, who finds himself alone and lost in the woods outside the lonely town. Explore the all-new environment that is expansive while feeling claustrophobic at the same time. Experience the bone-chilling terror of Silent Hill with vivid and spectacular visuals that are powered by Unreal 3 technology, bringing the town of Silent Hill, its characters, creatures and horrific world to life. Freely roam, explore the town and venture into all-new side quests that unlock new areas, special items and bonus content. Immerse yourself in the terror with an ever-changing game world that includes a day and night Normal world and an Otherworld world that are created from your actions during the gameplay. Understand that you are never truly alone in Silent Hill.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great atmosphere marred by technical issues
on January 19, 2015
Posted by: phoenixlau
The Silent Hill series is always known for its psychological horror and ability to create a lonely and moody atmosphere. That is no exception with Silent Hill Downpour, and with the addition of semi open world exploration and a much smoother combat system, this is easily my favorite game in the series (and the only one that I enjoyed enough to endure multiple playthroughs for the platinum trophy).
There is one huge caveat, however. Technically, this game is a mess, with frequent framerate drops and screen tearing. If you can somehow look past this, though, you are in for an excellent story.
My Best Buy number: 056377495
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Nobody is more sure that Deadpool is the coolest comic book character in the universe than he, himself, but you might find it hard to disagree. His eccentric personality and the fact that he may or may not hear voices doesn't detract from his legendary fighting technique. He may be a mercenary who takes on missions for money, but he also enjoys the perk of attracting the ladies with his astounding skills. So if you like running your mouth, eating chimichangas for breakfast, beating bad guys with their own arms and, most importantly, saving humans and mutants everywhere, then Deadpool has everything you're looking for. Behold the awesome, jaw-dropping action that explodes out of your screen and take on the role of this off-the-wall comic book character as he teams up with some of the celebrated characters from the X-Men franchise. The third-person perspective gives you the perfect view to appreciate some of the changes Deadpool made, so you can see things like he sees them. Get ready to take down bad guys with Deadpool's favorite arsenal of items, including katanas, guns and duct tape ~ you never know when it'll come in handy. Whether you're laughing at his crazy antics or engaged in heart-pounding combat, you're sure to become captivated by Deadpool.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Action game with hilarious dialogue
on January 19, 2015
Posted by: phoenixlau
Deadpool is famous in the comic book world for being irreverent and fourth wall breaking. He remains true to form in the video game world, constantly cracking jokes about everything including the fact that he is in a video game. Nolan North as the voice actor captures the feel perfectly, and there are a lot of Marvel character cameos like Cable, Wolverine, Psylocke, Rogue, etc.
As for the game, it is quite serviceable as an action game. Not as in depth as better games in the genre like Devil May Cry or God of War, but still lots of fun especially as you acquire more weapons and moves throughout the game. The level design is somewhat bland and uninspired, but overall if you like Deadpool's type of humor, that is enough to carry you through the game.
My Best Buy number: 056377495
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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The money. The infamy. The satisfied greed. Crime certainly pays, especially when you have none of those pesky scruples or morals to get in the way. You know what it takes to be a successful criminal, and you exploit it to your heart's content. The original crew has joined forces once again to rain down a string of crimes that Washington D.C. won't soon forget. For you, everyday is PAYDAY.Don the masks of Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains once again in PAYDAY 2 as they descend on the nation's capital in an epic, action-packed crime spree. As your crew progresses, so do the jobs with bigger payoffs, better return and more rewarding combat. With every crime, your legend grows and you'll earn more money than ever before. Unleash your criminal creativity with the new character customization and crafting system that allows you to build and personalize your own gear and guns. You and three friends can join together in co-op shooter action that will get your adrenaline pumping and heart pounding.
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Grindy horde mode shooter feels like a F2P game
on January 19, 2015
Posted by: phoenixlau
The dream in Payday 2 is to pull off a heist silently, breaking into vaults with no alarms going off and escaping quickly. That's the dream, at least.
The reality is that every mission will immediately devolve into glorified horde mode, with wave after wave of police rushing you as you bumble through the job with drilling equipment that keeps breaking down. The moment to moment gameplay can be fun, but it doesn't take long before you realize the game is becoming repetitive.
This is because the requirements for pulling off a clean heist (silencers for your weapons, skill tree perks for your equipment) are all hidden far out of reach for the vast majority of the game. Payday 2 is super stingy with its progression and expects you to grind the same few mission types over and over again for an unreasonable amount of time.
My Best Buy number: 056377495
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
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A curious young girl. A time-telling rabbit. A tea-sipping hatter who's gone simply mad. You thought you knew the story of Alice in Wonderland — but you thought wrong. Eleven years ago a horrific fire took Alice's family from her and left her mind horrifically scarred. Afterward, she was confined to Rutledge Asylum, where she struggled to confront her demons by slipping further into her fantasy world of Wonderland. Now, after 10 years, she has finally secured her release — yet she still bears the heavy psychological burden of that tragic event. With her mind in tatters, she is unable to resolve the fear prompted by her strange memories, dreams, and visions. Perhaps she'll do better in Wonderland. She always has. She travels there, seeking what the "real" world can't provide: security, knowledge, and the truth about the past. But in her absence, Wonderland too has suffered. Something has gone horribly wrong, and now a great evil is descending upon what once was her beautiful refuge. Can Alice save Wonderland — and herself — from the madness that consumes them both? The plot has become darker. The adventure, more sinister. The action, more gripping. Maybe Wonderland isn't so wonderful, after all. Stumble back through the looking glass and into a haunting new Wonderland in Alice: Madness Returns. Visit the grim reality of Victorian London and then travel to the ghastly, yet hauntingly beautiful Wonderland to uncover the root of Alice's madness and discover the truth behind a deadly secret, kept hidden for years. Everything you thought you knew about the fantastical realm of the Queen of Hearts is about to be twisted, darkened and turned on its head when Alice's world once again collides with the original visions of American McGee. American McGee brought the fanatical characters and dark mysteries of the topsy-turvy fantasy world to life in a visionary new way in his instantly classic 2000 Alice title. Now, he's revolutionizing the way you look through the looking glass yet again and painting an even darker, more exciting environment as he teams up with Spicy Horse and Electronic Arts to re-imagine life on the other side of the rabbit hole. This time, it's survival you're fighting for as you venture along a gruesome, blood-stained trail. It just so happens today is your unbirthday — and you're invited to a twisted new tea party.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Cool world design
on January 19, 2015
Posted by: phoenixlau
Third person platforming adventure game. You play as Alice as she descends into madness, exploring worlds that she hallucinates.
The world design is fantastic in this game, with lots of memorable and beautiful levels. I also appreciate how convenient the game makes finding collectibles with chapter select and checklist, which made getting the platinum trophy relatively straightforward.
My Best Buy number: 056377495
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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Blast into a colorful quest for the world's most prized treasures in this revived classic, Ducktales: Remastered. Scrooge McDuck is at it again. He is on the hunt for the planet's Legendary Treasures ~ with the help of his three enthusiastic nephews, of course. Together, the ducks embark on an adventure across the globe, fighting off enemies, gathering coins and wealth and exploring new lands that no duck has seen before.Join Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie as they travel across the world and beyond in search of the five Legendary Treasures. Go where no duck has gone before in a quest that will have you swinging your cane, learning to pogo, and fending off enemies, such as the Beagle Boys and Magica DeSpell. Explore a weird spacecraft and battle aliens, metal-clad cyber-ducks and more. Visit the museum to track your achievements, progress and status, and cash in your coins and accumulate wealth in Scrooge's Money Bin. Enjoy both the excitement and simplicity that reflects the classic 1980s TV series in a brilliantly refined design that features original Disney character voice talent, hand-drawn animation, digitally enhanced melodies and painted backgrounds from the original series. Grab your top hat because this is one tale you do not want to miss.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Old school platformer
on January 19, 2015
Posted by: phoenixlau
This is a remake of the old NES platformer Ducktales, updated for modern day graphics. The transition is quite faithful: the music, enemies, level design, and gameplay are all recognizable when comparing the two games. Jumping on enemies with your pogo stick is quite fun.
The most important thing to know about this game, however, is that it is BRUTALLY HARD even on normal mode. Don't be afraid to play on easy mode, it incorporates modern day checkpoints.
My Best Buy number: 056377495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5 out of 5
5
Rocking electronic
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
Incredible follow up to Glitch Mob's debut album Drink The Sea. Whereas Drink The Sea (which I also liked very much) was more chilled out and slower tempo, Love Death Immortality pumps up the intensity with some truly rocking joints.
A lot of reviewers have mentioned the added dubstep influences on this album, but in addition there are all sorts of electronic elements like electro, house, glitch-hop, synth, and so forth fused together seamlessly in a very distinctive Glitch Mob sound. Even more so than Drink The Sea, Love Death Immortality is a coherent album that you can play from beginning to end and there won't be a single minute that feels out of place or like it's a weak link. I've had this CD in my car nonstop for about a month now.
Favorite tracks: Skullclub, Fly By Night Only, Carry The Sun
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: Every song is great, no filler
What's not so great: Only 10 songs
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Welcome Reality [CD]
4.8 out of 5(4)
 
 
 
The Crystal Method [CD]
4 out of 5(2)
 
 
 
Immersion [CD]
5 out of 5(2)
 
 
 
 
 
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
What would you sacrifice to stay on the cutting edge of technology? A month's pay? A lifetime's savings? Your digital privacy? What about your very identity? Welcome to Neo-Paris. The year is 2084. Big business has yielded to a new global force ~ big surveillance. Hungry for a new market, the world's innovators have pioneered a yet-untapped resource ~ our memories. Our darkest secrets, most intimate moments, the very fibers of our core are now cold commodities. They're digitized, bought, sold and traded at the whim of society's overarching authorities. But like any other product, they can also be stolen. Henceforth arose the memory hunters. These master mind hackers raid, snatch and even alter the memories of unsuspecting souls, rippling the tides of fate in unforeseen ways. But what happens when the mind of the most-wanted memory hunter is wiped? Could she steal back the pieces of her shattered past ~ or will she forever forget?Your name is Nilin ~ though you've forgotten that by now. Once a great thief of memories, you've been robbed of those of your own ~ at the hands of the omnipotent authorities who govern the mental realm. You've managed to escape from your jail cell, but now live in the prison of your clouded mind. Now, with only one last friend on whom to rely, you're faced with a choice ~ re-learn your past skills and steal back the fragments of your identity, or fall prey to the creators of a dangerous surveillance state. An original, all-too-believable vision of the future, Remember Me immerses you in a Paris transformed by memory digitization and authoritarian rule. As Nilin, you'll master the power to break into people's minds and recover clues to your own past. You become the hunted as powerful foes stalk you throughout the Neo-Paris streets, but rediscover your martial arts training, and you'll become a potent force to be reckoned with. Groundbreaking new gameplay mechanics including the Memory Remix, which gives you the unprecedented abilities to impact the future in real time. Construct combo attacks from scratch with Combo Lab, which gives you the platform to customize your fighting style, and includes all three unique pressen fighting moves, plus the exclusive dragon punch, spinning kick, and flash kick moves. The ultimate coup awaits your lead ~ if you can only Remember.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Cool sci-fi adventure through futuristic Neo Paris
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
The location design for all the levels in Remember Me are beautiful and inventive, and the background visuals of Neo Paris remain one of the lasting memories of this game.
Speaking of memories, the memory remix mechanic, where you tweak various details in someone's memory to alter their perception of what happened, is very cool. Reminds me of the movie Inception.
The combo lab is another unique aspect of combat. You can make your own combo chains to focus on different bonuses like extra power, healing, special ability power up, etc. As you progress in the game, you can build your combos into longer and more impressive actions.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: Memory remixes, combo lab, Neo Paris
What's not so great: Overly convoluted plot
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Inception (2 Disc) (W/Dvd)
4.6 out of 5(314)
 
 
 
Blade Runner: The Final Cut [Blu-ray] [2007]
4.6 out of 5(640)
 
 
 
Tron: Legacy [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2010]
4.6 out of 5(321)
 
 
 
 
 
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