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  • Review count
    38
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    April 13, 2013
  • Last review
    July 22, 2016
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phoenixlau's Reviews
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Violin + dubstep
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
Take one part violin, one part dubstep, throw it in a blender, and this album is what comes out. The results are oddly satisfying, and each element complements the other well.
As an album, all the tracks are solid with no real weak links. However, if I have one complaint it is that all the songs are a bit "samey" both in the violin melodies and the dubstep flourishes, although not so much that I felt put off by the album for being too repetitive. I enjoyed this album a lot. The fatigue definitely did kick in when hearing Lindsey Stirling's new 2nd album though, which sounds pretty much exactly the same as this one.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: Interesting mashup of violin and electronic dubstep
What's not so great: Slightly repetitive
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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Shatter Me [CD]
4.9 out of 5(61)
 
 
 
Love Death Immortality [CD]
4.3 out of 5(7)
 
 
 
Ocean Avenue [CD]
5 out of 5(3)
 
 
 
 
 
-2points
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The year is 1962. JFK is President and the Cold War has the nation gripped by fear ~ but a far more powerful and insidious enemy than communism is threatening America. Known only to a select few, a top-secret government unit called The Bureau begins investigating and concealing a series of mysterious attacks by an otherworldly enemy. As special agent William Carter, call the shots, pull the trigger and lead your squad in a gripping third-person tactical shooter set within a high-stakes, covert war to protect humanity. The Bureau's mission is clear ~ survive, adapt and overcome the enemy threat to protect the citizens from the truth. The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a third-person shooter (TPS) from the developers of BioShock 2. The year is 1962. The Cold War has the nation gripped by fear ~ but a far more powerful enemy than communism is threatening America. The Bureau, a top-secret government unit, begins investigating and concealing a series of mysterious attacks. As special agent William Carter, call the shots, pull the trigger and lead your squad in a gripping third-person tactical shooter set within a high-stakes, covert war to protect humanity. Features include: an immersive 1960s America, tactical squad-based combat, brutal consequences and a government cover-up that proves we are not alone in the universe.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Micromanagement cover shooter
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
The most important thing about The Bureau is that you should not be playing it like a normal third person cover shooter. If you do that, you will have a bad time! Instead, play it like an RTS: you need to be micromanage your teammates, constantly giving them orders to make them do the bulk of the work.
This is partly out of necessity. The AI on your teammates is horrible. They are absolutely useless in a fight without direction, firing ineffectively and constantly wandering out into the open to get shot. You must tell them to take cover, and you must tell them exactly what to shoot at.
The other reason why you should micro, however, is because the special abilities of you and your teammates make it more fun and effective. You will be constantly spamming abilities like throwing up gun turrets, creating hologram diversions to draw fire, healing, calling in airstrikes strikes, etc. If combat hasn't slowed to a crawl as you spend most of your time utilizing the command wheel, you are doing it wrong. There is a very cool feeling of being in the zone that occurs when this happens, especially when the game throws stress at you with charging Mutons forcing you to move locations.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: Fun micro
What's not so great: Dumb teammate AI
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
XCOM: Enemy Within - Commander Edition - PRE-OWNED - PlayStation 3
4 out of 5(2)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned XCOM: Enemy Unknown - PlayStation 3
4 out of 5(4)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Ultimate Edition - PlayStation 3
5 out of 5(1)
 
 
 
 
 
+1point
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When archaeologists investigate an ancient pyramid in deep space, they accidentally set in motion a vicious struggle between Aliens, Predators and Colonial Marines. In Aliens vs. Predator, these three breeds of warrior collide in epically violent campaigns across a brutal battleground. Playing as one of the three factions, you must master your deadly abilities if you wish to survive. Dripping with action and intensity, you'll be thrust into scenes of death and destruction as these ultimate killing machines meet in an apocalyptic confrontation. Aliens vs. Predator features three unique single-player experiences, giving each species its own unique storyline that intertwines with the others to create a compelling cinematic narrative. The highly detailed visuals feature stunning graphics that bring alive all the first-person shooter action. Stalk your prey silently as a Predator, kill with lethal speed as an Alien or blast away with ferocious firepower as a Colonial Marine. Become the dominant species in the universe as you exterminate your enemies once and for all.
 
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3 out of 5
3
Exacly what you would expect from AVP
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
It's exactly what you would expect from an AVP game. You get 3 single player campaigns: Alien, Predator, and Marine. None of them are particularly memorable or exciting, but neither are they horrible. It's adequate. If you have some time to kill, there's worse ways to spend your time I guess.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: 3 campaigns: Alien, Predator, Marine
What's not so great: Not particularly memorable or fun
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Pre-Owned Crysis 3 - PlayStation 3
4.5 out of 5(6)
 
 
 
Crysis 2 PRE-OWNED - PlayStation 3
4.5 out of 5(16)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned The Bureau: XCOM Declassified - PlayStation 3
3.8 out of 5(4)
 
 
 
 
 
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SynopsisLong ago, a lone hero and a heavenly messenger brought peace to the warring lands and created a kingdom. The hero ruled as king for centuries while the kingdom flourished. One day a foul darkness spread over the land, swallowing the people whole and wiping out the kingdom and civilization. One hundred years later, guided by the voices of migrating birds, one young man slips past the shadow warriors into the heart of the cursed land. Silent for more than a century, the kingdom begins to wake.As the agile hero Tepeu, you must join forces with a powerful Majin to rid the land of the dark, powerful force that has taken over the land and restore Majin's lost powers. As he eats special fruit hidden throughout the kingdom, Majin becomes stronger. He can pummel enemies, open heavy doors, swallow fire, control wind and water, absorb electricity, lift heavy objects and smash through walls, making him a true powerhouse of a partner. Tepeu, on the other hand, is quick and agile, moving quickly and quietly while relying on his intellect. As a duo, the two deliver hassle-free, fast-paced, co-op combat as they race to save the kingdom.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Decent Metroidvania adventure
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
It's a buddy adventure in the Metroidvania style (new abilities grant you access to new places). There is a lot to like here. The world is large and varied, with visually distinctive regions filled with lava, ice, pirate ships, etc.
The combat is adequate, although highly repetitive. The rate of progression which you gain new abilities is much too low, and even then it doesn't really alter combat that much. Your character also moves way too slow through the environment, an annoyance when the game has you backtrack a lot.
The collectible system is both great and horrible. Great because the map tells you exactly what you got and what you missed, so you know which locations to focus on if you are trying get 100%. Horrible because many of the items are only present at night. Since there is no way to manually advance the game clock, if you want to get that collectible, you have no choice but to walk away from your controller for x minutes while the time ticks away. Needlessly irritating.
This review probably seems a bit negative, but I enjoyed my playthrough of Majin. It's not a good game, but it's worth a play if you seem interested in the concept.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: Large and colorful world
What's not so great: Repetitive combat, stupid night/day system for collectibles
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus - PRE-OWNED - PlayStation 3
3.3 out of 5(3)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned Ratchet & Clank Collection - PlayStation 3
4.7 out of 5(6)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time - PlayStation 3
4.7 out of 5(11)
 
 
 
 
 
0points
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SynopsisReturn to the horror and unspeakable evil of the Silent Hillfranchise, now for the first time on PlayStation 3. Remastered in 720p high-definition resolution, Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3 immerse you in the chilling tales of lost souls seeking answers to questions that shouldn't be asked. Will you be able to navigate the terror and make it out alive?This Silent Hill HD Collection includes Silent Hill 2, which follows James Sunderland, a widower in search of his deceased wife. When he receives a letter from his wife from beyond the grave, James discovers unseen evil and ominous characters leading him to the asylum of another world. With Red Pyramid and other living monsters within the haze of Silent Hill persecuting him, will James be able to survive the horror? The adventure continues in Silent Hill 3, where a demonic cult is trying to spread the insanity of the otherworld through Claudia, a fellow cult member. As she attempts to bring Harry Mason's daughter, Heather, into Silent Hill and create a new god, Claudia spins a web of mystery and intrigue. Get ready to experience everything you love about Silent Hill, fully remastered to be more intense, more stunning and more spine-chilling than ever before.
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Great atmosphere marred by terrible gameplay
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
You get two games in this bundle, the HD versions of Silent Hill 2 and 3. I haven't played the originals on PS2, so I cannot testify to how badly they botched the port in terms of changing textures/dialogue for no reason. They seemed adequate to me, although certainly dated looking.
The atmosphere of Silent Hill is incredible. It feels desolate, terrifying, depressing. You will definitely remember the oppressive grey fog smothering the streets, the creepy nurses lurching at you, the dark, dark storyline. Both games get a lot correct in this department, which rightfully earned the series a place as a cult favorite.
However, the gameplay is terrible viewed from a modern perspective. You constantly fight the controls as your character doesn't do what you want them to do (walking in the wrong direction as the camera angle changes#. Combat is tiresome; it is better to avoid fights altogether, but you get a lot of situations where this is impossible #particularly in SH3 with the dogs). There is waaay too much pointless backtracking through repetitive environments intended solely to make you lost. I highly recommend you use a walkthrough to guide you on your playthrough to minimize gameplay related frustrations.
There are multiple endings for each game, but I couldn't put myself through the torture of playing the actual game again just for the endings. Just look them up on Youtube.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: Haunting atmosphere
What's not so great: Terrible gameplay
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Pre-Owned Resident Evil: Revelations - PlayStation 3
4 out of 5(10)
 
 
 
Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition - PlayStation 3
 
 
 
Resident Evil 6 PRE-OWNED - PlayStation 3
3.6 out of 5(19)
 
 
 
 
 
0points
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As a young woman, Lara Croft is in search of adventure ~ and herself. She embarks on an exploratory quest when her hunt for adventure comes looking for her. Now, stranded away from civilization, and equipped with only her instincts and the ability to push herself beyond the threshold of human endurance, Lara must look inside and find what she needs to fight for her survival.Step into the role of Lara Croft in this gritty and intense narration of the origin of the famed Tomb Raider. Armed with only her raw instincts and physical abilities, you must rise from a scared young woman to a hardened survivor. Push yourself past the limits of human endurance and fight to stay alive in merciless environments. Endure physics-based gaming for an authentic gameplay experience. Pre-order Tomb Raider and receive a six-part comic book about the voyage of the Endurance, and unlock two bonus in-game features ~ the steep, exhilarating Shanty Town multiplayer map and a code for an exclusive skin for Lara. Face the heart-pounding storyline that looks deep into Lara to showcase her most defining adventure to date. Will you become a survivor?
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Semi-open world Uncharted
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
This is basically Uncharted set in a semi-open world island. I say semi-open world, in that you can choose to traverse everywhere on the island Metroidvania-style (new/upgraded equipment allows you to reach new places you couldn't before#, but to advance the plot you pretty much have to stick to the script linearly and go where the game needs you to go. The action set pieces are great, with all sorts of explosions and bodies flying to rival the Uncharted series, which Tomb Raider clearly aims to match #perhaps only fitting, seeing as how Uncharted borrowed gameplay elements liberally from the older Tomb Raider games#.
The gameplay is really good. The cover system is one of the best and most intuitive I've ever encountered, the shooting feels good #especially the hunting bow), and performing finishing moves with the QTE prompt always feels extremely satisfying. One minor complaint is that the game does a very poor job of explaining how the quick time event system works. You have to press the button when the shrinking circle goes between the two concentric rings on the screen, not before and not after.
Finally, if you own a PS4, consider getting Tomb Raider Definitive Edition on PS4 instead. It includes all the multiplayer DLC, and has upgraded 1080p graphics.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: Exciting set pieces, satisfying gameplay
What's not so great: Poor job at teaching you how to do its QTEs, better PS4 Definitive Edition
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition - PRE-OWNED - PlayStation 4
4.6 out of 5(84)
 
 
 
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception PRE-OWNED
4.4 out of 5(65)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - PlayStation 3
4.7 out of 5(18)
 
 
 
 
 
0points
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The wind blows freely down the corridor of what was once a canyon of skyscrapers populated by million-dollar businesses, employees in suits and citizens on cell phones. A constant stream of yellow taxi cabs used to flow steadily down the asphalt streets. Now, Mother Nature has reclaimed what was hers, and vegetation engulfs the massive cities in patches. A modern plague outsmarted our civilized medicine, so now our cities now lie abandoned, and what's left of the American population is forced to do whatever it takes to survive. Neighbors who were friends, now kill each other for a loaf of bread ~ or a rifle ~ whatever they can get their hands on to help them live another day. In this decimated democracy, two individuals join up to work together in order and attempt the dangerous journey across the country. Will these two be able to survive the trek ~ or will they be The Last of Us?Developed by Naughty Dog, the creators of the popular Uncharted franchise, comes The Last of Us. Carefully blending elements of survival and action, The Last of Us defines a genre by placing you in the heart of the adventure to outlast a modern plague on your journey across the decimated United States. Playing as Joel, a survivor, and Ellie, a teenage girl who is much braver and wiser than her age would suggest, you must work together to fend off dangerous foes, terrifying enemies and other survivors who will do anything to save themselves. Every minute of every hour of every day is a struggle to outlive the next person you encounter ~ do you have the mental and physical strength to make it?
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Game of the Generation
on May 15, 2014
Posted by: phoenixlau
Incredible story about two survivors in a post-apocalyptic fungus-zombie future. If you have any human emotions within you, I guarantee it will move you to tears multiple times during its meaty 15-20 hour single player. The best video game of the 7th generation by a country mile.
Unfortunately, if you buy the pre-owned version, you won't get the online pass which is required to play multiplayer mode. Also, note that Last of Us Remastered edition will be coming to PS4 in June. It has improved graphics and framerate, and includes all the multiplayer DLC as well as the single player story DLC "Left Behind", so if you own a PS4 you might consider getting that version instead.
My Best Buy number: 0563774950
What's great about it: Emotionally gripping story
What's not so great: Online pass for multiplayer, PS4 version is better
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
 
Pre-Owned The Walking Dead - PlayStation 3
5 out of 5(3)
 
 
 
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception PRE-OWNED
4.4 out of 5(65)
 
 
 
 
 
0points
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You feel the satisfying hum of power all around you as your car moves faster and faster. As you rocket down the course, the rest of the world melts away, your concentration narrowing on the track and your competitors. Victory is so close you can nearly taste the sweetness of it as you jockey for position and prepare to literally blast away the competition. Set your course for domination as you trade paint in a closely fought battle for ultimate racing supremacy.In Blur, you'll experience in-the-pack action as you race neck-and-neck with 19 other vehicles, constantly battling for position as you strive to be the first to cross the finish line. Get behind the wheel of a variety of licensed cars and push it to its limits across stunning real-world racing environments as you employ nitro speed boosts, defensive shields, land mines and more to blow your competitors away ~ sometimes literally. Watch cars smash and crash with photo-realistic intensity, and share the racing excitement with up to three friends in split-screen play or up to 19 additional players in online gameplay that will have you working together or fighting for bragging rights.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Mario Kart meets Need For Speed
on April 30, 2013
Posted by: phoenixlau
This is basically Mario Kart meets Need For Speed, with real world based cars. There are powerups that you collect that can boost your speed, attack other cars, defend, etc.
The game itself is lots of fun, especially the capability to do 4 player splitscreen local multiplayer. Compared to other racing games in this genre, however, there isn't really much of a hook to this game beyond the description above.
My Best Buy number: 563774950
What's great about it: 4 player splitscreen multiplayer
What's not so great: Doesn't have a good hook compared to other racing games
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Bonus Edition - PlayStation 3
4.5 out of 5(81)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned ModNation Racers - PlayStation 3
4 out of 5(6)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned MotorStorm Apocalypse - PlayStation 3
4.2 out of 5(10)
 
 
 
 
 
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When a u.S. Missile shoots down a commercial airliner over Eastern Europe, killing all aboard, global political tensions reach a breaking point. Insistent that it had no involvement in the attack, the u.S. government dispatches agent Michael Thornton to investigate the incident and determine who was truly responsible. Take on the role of Thornton and prepare to enter a shadowy world of danger, espionage and sheer adrenaline as you apply all your powerful skills and abilities to hunt down the culprits and bring them to justice.Alpha Protocol immerses you in a gripping world of geopolitical intrigue. In this intense Modern-day RPG, you'll take on the role of agent Michael Thornton, developing him into the spy of your choice. Cultivate powerful skills and abilities, and Make the decisions that will guide your path to ultimate success or failure. Whether you opt to pursue a Mission with firepower, technology or the power of charisma, your choices and interactions will dynamically alter the storyline, opening up a Myriad of new Missions and challenges to confront.
 
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3 out of 5
3
Amazing storytelling hurt by flawed gameplay
on April 30, 2013
Posted by: phoenixlau
In Alpha Protocol you play a black ops agent who becomes embroiled in a conspiracy of false flag operations, terrorist plots, and arms dealing.
The most interesting thing about this game is the incredibly deep dialogue branching, and how that and the actions you take during the missions effect how the plot plays out. In a lot of other games with dialogue choices, there will be a "good" and a "bad" plotline, but here it is more complicated. In Alpha Protocol, you can converse using by-the-book, aggressive, and suave options, and different characters respond differently to certain demeanors. Their view of you effects later missions and plot developments. There is lots of replayability here to check out all the different pathways..
Unfortunately, even though I enjoyed the plot on my first playthrough immensely, I am reluctant to go through it again. This is because the gunplay/combat in this game is extremely frustrating and unfun. There is an RPG element to earning skill points in weapons, but for some reason they made it so that for much of the early and middle part of the game, your aiming SUCKS. Meaning, you have to aim at a guy for like 10 seconds waiting for your reticle to shrink so that you can fire. If you move your character, if you move your gun to readjust, if you do anything at all, your reticle expands and you have to start the whole process over. This wouldn't be so bad if it only affected accuracy, but bullet damage is dependent on your reticle being small as well, which means your guns are totally worthless if you try to fire outside these strict parameters.
So playing the actual missions is a chore, but all the bits in between are amazing. If you think you can deal with the major gameplay flaws, there is definitely something here worth seeing.
My Best Buy number: 563774950
What's great about it: Great plot, incredibly deep dialogue branching
What's not so great: Janky gunplay/combat is frustrating and not fun
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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Mass Effect 3 - PlayStation 3
4.4 out of 5(47)
 
 
 
Dragon Age: Origins PRE-OWNED - PlayStation 3
4.1 out of 5(7)
 
 
 
Pre-Owned Heavy Rain - PlayStation 3
4.5 out of 5(33)
 
 
 
 
 
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5 out of 5
5
Excellent dubstep album
on April 30, 2013
Posted by: phoenixlau
Favorite tracks: My Eyes, Innocence, Reaching Out
But really, there is not a single filler track on this album. I love having the whole thing play in the car while driving, especially with some subwoofers. Fans of video games might recognize Doomsday from the Borderlands 2 trailer, or Won't You (Be There) from Need For Speed: Most Wanted.
My Best Buy number: 563774950
What's great about it: Lots of single material, no filler
What's not so great: Nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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