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- Review count68
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- First reviewOctober 15, 2014
- Last reviewJuly 15, 2018
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- Average rating4.7
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![Afflicted [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray] [2013]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/7159/7159011_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Original Take on Vampire Films
on September 12, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
First, this is "found footage"... Personally, something I enjoy, but disagrees with some people... Be forewarned.
Afflicted follows two young men traveling Europe after one is diagnosed with a brain issue that could kill him at any time. They decide to roam Europe, enjoy life, and film it all, posting to a travel blog along the way.
80% of Afflicted is enthralling, great, and original in many ways, while the other 20% comes off as formulaic to the point where it can affect the total enjoyment of the film- especially the final 15 minutes.
But, where the ending is perhaps the weakest of the film, much of the rest is very good, following along from the night our victim first gets bitten and through his ongoing transformation (this is perhaps the strongest part of the film). Where he originally finds his ongoing transformation incredible- becoming incredibly strong and fast, that changes as the sun begins bothering him and he can't hold down food.
There's even a pretty solid "out of nowhere" scene halfway through the film that only adds to the storytelling, but that's also the trigger that begins the decline in the overall movie, as well. From this point on, an original vampire film begins leaking in action scenes that would seem more at home in a vampiric version of Taken, and eventually running into a wall at the end. Simply, it seemed like the screenwriters had a great idea but weren't exactly sure how to end it before their pitch and deadline approached. Rather than rely on the originality they showed throughout the first half of the film, they fell back on typical action/ revenge tropes. (I will say that in the midst of one of these scenes, I did have to admire the first-person filming- some of the best I've seen).
Definitely worth checking out, especially in a genre that's been gumming its way through theaters lately, rather than sinking its teeth in.
Afflicted follows two young men traveling Europe after one is diagnosed with a brain issue that could kill him at any time. They decide to roam Europe, enjoy life, and film it all, posting to a travel blog along the way.
80% of Afflicted is enthralling, great, and original in many ways, while the other 20% comes off as formulaic to the point where it can affect the total enjoyment of the film- especially the final 15 minutes.
But, where the ending is perhaps the weakest of the film, much of the rest is very good, following along from the night our victim first gets bitten and through his ongoing transformation (this is perhaps the strongest part of the film). Where he originally finds his ongoing transformation incredible- becoming incredibly strong and fast, that changes as the sun begins bothering him and he can't hold down food.
There's even a pretty solid "out of nowhere" scene halfway through the film that only adds to the storytelling, but that's also the trigger that begins the decline in the overall movie, as well. From this point on, an original vampire film begins leaking in action scenes that would seem more at home in a vampiric version of Taken, and eventually running into a wall at the end. Simply, it seemed like the screenwriters had a great idea but weren't exactly sure how to end it before their pitch and deadline approached. Rather than rely on the originality they showed throughout the first half of the film, they fell back on typical action/ revenge tropes. (I will say that in the midst of one of these scenes, I did have to admire the first-person filming- some of the best I've seen).
Definitely worth checking out, especially in a genre that's been gumming its way through theaters lately, rather than sinking its teeth in.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![It Follows [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8110/8110184_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Intelligent Horror Bringing a Breath of Fresh Air
on September 12, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
Horror has gotten stagnant. It's either Zombies, Supernatural-House, or remakes it seems like nowadays. It Follows is the first interesting, original premise I've seen in some time. While it features a supernatural ... beast... it's an original idea that will hopefully warrant a sequel that takes as much care with its film as the original does.
"It" is, in essence, a kind of supernatural VD that plays a diabolical game of tag on down the line of "adult" partners. (While this may sound like some hormonal teenagers fan-fiction, the movie itself never revels in the idea of transmitting this creature through said situations. Mature scenes are rarely dwelled upon, and when they are on-screen are tastefully filmed, while in other cases, its only implied the deed ever happened at all).
After Jay has a one-night stand, she awakens tied to a chair by her lover, with him explaining "the rules". This demon, monster... "It" follows the last person who had slept with someone who had been "infected". It seemingly cannot be killed, so the only way to rid yourself of it is to sleep with someone else, then have them sleep with someone, and so on and so on... Because once it kills the last person in this evil "chain letter of love", it moves up the chain to the previous person. As a twist, it can look like anyone, but always remains silent.
While her friends continue to question her sanity after one incident that affected her only, they'll soon start to realize it isn't her one night stand, guilty subconscious causing her fears.
It Follows is incredibly smart, giving you information to enjoy the movie, but only ever hinting at other things that will have you looking online to find answers and have you thinking about it late into the night. There's no timeframe given- old tube TVs and typewriters live in a world with cell phones and clamshell e-readers. The director claims that every form It takes is inherently important to the people that see it- but doesn't give you a face full of information as to WHY they are important in some cases- leaving clues for you to discover for yourself.
While a sequel has been talked about, I have my own fears for any It Follows 2. Like the best early-80s slasher flicks that carried the underlying theme of promiscuity being a quick way to getting killed, only to see their sequels bypass that "message" in later films to straight exploitation at times, It Follows handles the nature of It and its ties to sleeping with others maturely, and I'd hate to see this film find itself delving into the typical routine those films found themselves relegated to in order to keep selling tickets.
Surprisingly, It Follows found itself as perhaps my favorite horror film in quite a few years- something I wasn't expecting.
"It" is, in essence, a kind of supernatural VD that plays a diabolical game of tag on down the line of "adult" partners. (While this may sound like some hormonal teenagers fan-fiction, the movie itself never revels in the idea of transmitting this creature through said situations. Mature scenes are rarely dwelled upon, and when they are on-screen are tastefully filmed, while in other cases, its only implied the deed ever happened at all).
After Jay has a one-night stand, she awakens tied to a chair by her lover, with him explaining "the rules". This demon, monster... "It" follows the last person who had slept with someone who had been "infected". It seemingly cannot be killed, so the only way to rid yourself of it is to sleep with someone else, then have them sleep with someone, and so on and so on... Because once it kills the last person in this evil "chain letter of love", it moves up the chain to the previous person. As a twist, it can look like anyone, but always remains silent.
While her friends continue to question her sanity after one incident that affected her only, they'll soon start to realize it isn't her one night stand, guilty subconscious causing her fears.
It Follows is incredibly smart, giving you information to enjoy the movie, but only ever hinting at other things that will have you looking online to find answers and have you thinking about it late into the night. There's no timeframe given- old tube TVs and typewriters live in a world with cell phones and clamshell e-readers. The director claims that every form It takes is inherently important to the people that see it- but doesn't give you a face full of information as to WHY they are important in some cases- leaving clues for you to discover for yourself.
While a sequel has been talked about, I have my own fears for any It Follows 2. Like the best early-80s slasher flicks that carried the underlying theme of promiscuity being a quick way to getting killed, only to see their sequels bypass that "message" in later films to straight exploitation at times, It Follows handles the nature of It and its ties to sleeping with others maturely, and I'd hate to see this film find itself delving into the typical routine those films found themselves relegated to in order to keep selling tickets.
Surprisingly, It Follows found itself as perhaps my favorite horror film in quite a few years- something I wasn't expecting.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Sinister [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray] [2012]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/7420/7420074_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
One of the better horror movies in the genre
on September 12, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
It's gotten quite tiresome with the mass-run of supernatural, stuck-in-a-house films over the past 15 years. (In fact, I had heard Sinister was good, but when I went to purchase, I could only think of Insidious for the first 15 minutes). In the age of Sinister, Insidious, Oculus, Conjuring, and Hauntings in... The original Sinister is quite good. It plays more on tension than actual gore (although there are a few "quick flash" scenes). It lets you form your own opinions along the way, feeding trickles of information to you on its trip to guide you to the ending, increasing your anxiousness along the way. To ensure it never gets too far out of hand, it adds one deputy who brings along some mild comedic relief- note that this comedic relief in no way detracts from the film, but rather, it's played honestly- a man using humor/ his nervousness being humorous in a very realistic manner, as a real person might do in such circumstances. While the reviews of Sinister 2 gives me little hope for the franchise, it's wonderful to see the original takes a lot of care to set itself apart from the rest of the supernatural/ house (done to death as studios attempt to limit budgets on the always risky horror genre) themed movies out there. Care was put into Sinister, not a cash-grab.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![What We Do in the Shadows [Blu-ray] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8915/8915085_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Great indie humor
on September 12, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
Was looking for some movies to keep me busy while recovering from surgery, and came across this in the new release section. Usually, being a movie nut, I tend to be aware of most movies released or being released in my favorite genres... That wasn't the case with "What We do in the Shadows". Reading all the awards, stellar reviews, and synopsis on the box left me intrigued. Taking a quick look online, where the movie sat at a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 9/10 on imdb, I took a chance, and boy, was I glad I did. WWDITS blends smart humor, wit, and base comedy together in what can only be described as excellent. In many ways, it reminds me of much of Monty Python in the way it borrows from the many aspects of humor and somehow blends it into a perfect film. The premise is simple: a film crew is making a documentary based on a household of vampires ranging in age from 8,000 years old to 400. It follows their daily routines as they still have a hard time grasping the concepts of the modern age. Ranging in dilemmas from technology, to werewolves, to how to get into clubs without expressed invitation, WWDITS is everything Dark Shadows (the movie) wished it could have been. Quite honestly, while it would seem it would have a niche fanbase (vampire lovers) the comedy is pretty universal, and everyone should give this at least one viewing.
***WARNING*** there are a couple scenes that are a bit... bloody, (although played for humor) and may be a bit much for some viewers, but even for those that are a bit squeamish, the scenes are rare and mostly brief. Best comedy I've seen in a long time.
***WARNING*** there are a couple scenes that are a bit... bloody, (although played for humor) and may be a bit much for some viewers, but even for those that are a bit squeamish, the scenes are rare and mostly brief. Best comedy I've seen in a long time.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Predator [Ultimate Hunter Edition] [2 Discs] [With Movie Money] [Blu-ray] [1987]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1001/1001255_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
3
5 star movie, 3 star dip for "Art Edition"
on July 21, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
Essentially, this is similar to my Alien review, and will attempt to attach the image of the "collector's art edition" I purchased. This review will show up on the "Ultimate Hunter's Edition" version of Predator on blu ray, because that's truly what this disc is, despite the "art" title.
Picked up this art variant for a great price at $7.99, and was pretty excited. I have a collection of Alien/ Aliens and Predator movies and memorabilia, and when I saw both Alien and Predator were given an art variant, I, like the obsessed lemming I am when it comes to these movies, ran off and grabbed them.
I understood that beyond the art, especially at the sale pricing, it was simply an art change- I wouldn't be getting anything extra from the discs themselves, and that I was fine with.
I was however, expecting a bit more care with the actual art included.
The art itself is printed on a thin piece of cardboard, then applied to the front of the regular blu ray with a dab of stickem directly in the center of the case. This stickem, in both cases, was not enough to keep the cardboard attached to the case for either movie. The cardboard itself, while nice stock, is cut in such a way that it can only be applied to the outside of the case- it cannot be inserted into the blu ray, either to replace the wraparound or even lust in front of the disc- so without the stickem holding it in place, you'll need to find another method on your own. In my case, I used a dab of super glue on each corner, which unfortunately, discolors the white parts of the cardboard, even from behind.
Now, if you don't own Predator, there's no reason not to grab this if you come across it- if you don't care about the art, you can trash it, frame it, or just hang it on a wall. But, being promoted as an art variant/ collector's version, this is being geared towards the collector like myself who probably already owns the movie, or is going to display it somehow. If this applies to you, make sure you understand that you'll need to put a touch of effort into it if you're going to be displaying it- Fox may have produced some nice art for the movies with these new covers, but they didn't properly adhere them to the cases.
It's a shame, because they did do a limited edition art variant of Alien for Comic-Con 2014 that I ordered, and for that, they took the time to actually print the new art onto a new wraparound insert for the blu ray.
Overall, the art is nice, the movie is great, it's just difficult to recommend this unless you're a die-hard or don't already own the movie. It truly feels as if Fox had a ton of extra copies of these movies already laying around that they couldn't unload to retailers, to they slapped on these pieces of cardboard with new art, then sold them to retailers under the "Collector's Art Edition" banner.
If you do grab it, just be prepared to either use the art elsewhere or find a way to stick it to the case somehow- at the sale price of $7.99 I wasn't overly dissatisfied, but if I had paid more, I may have been a little miffed.
Please also be aware that unlike the Alien art variant, Predator does NOT come with a digital HD copy of the movie.
Picked up this art variant for a great price at $7.99, and was pretty excited. I have a collection of Alien/ Aliens and Predator movies and memorabilia, and when I saw both Alien and Predator were given an art variant, I, like the obsessed lemming I am when it comes to these movies, ran off and grabbed them.
I understood that beyond the art, especially at the sale pricing, it was simply an art change- I wouldn't be getting anything extra from the discs themselves, and that I was fine with.
I was however, expecting a bit more care with the actual art included.
The art itself is printed on a thin piece of cardboard, then applied to the front of the regular blu ray with a dab of stickem directly in the center of the case. This stickem, in both cases, was not enough to keep the cardboard attached to the case for either movie. The cardboard itself, while nice stock, is cut in such a way that it can only be applied to the outside of the case- it cannot be inserted into the blu ray, either to replace the wraparound or even lust in front of the disc- so without the stickem holding it in place, you'll need to find another method on your own. In my case, I used a dab of super glue on each corner, which unfortunately, discolors the white parts of the cardboard, even from behind.
Now, if you don't own Predator, there's no reason not to grab this if you come across it- if you don't care about the art, you can trash it, frame it, or just hang it on a wall. But, being promoted as an art variant/ collector's version, this is being geared towards the collector like myself who probably already owns the movie, or is going to display it somehow. If this applies to you, make sure you understand that you'll need to put a touch of effort into it if you're going to be displaying it- Fox may have produced some nice art for the movies with these new covers, but they didn't properly adhere them to the cases.
It's a shame, because they did do a limited edition art variant of Alien for Comic-Con 2014 that I ordered, and for that, they took the time to actually print the new art onto a new wraparound insert for the blu ray.
Overall, the art is nice, the movie is great, it's just difficult to recommend this unless you're a die-hard or don't already own the movie. It truly feels as if Fox had a ton of extra copies of these movies already laying around that they couldn't unload to retailers, to they slapped on these pieces of cardboard with new art, then sold them to retailers under the "Collector's Art Edition" banner.
If you do grab it, just be prepared to either use the art elsewhere or find a way to stick it to the case somehow- at the sale price of $7.99 I wasn't overly dissatisfied, but if I had paid more, I may have been a little miffed.
Please also be aware that unlike the Alien art variant, Predator does NOT come with a digital HD copy of the movie.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Alien [Blu-ray] [1979]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8472/8472033_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
3
A 5 star movie, a 3 star dip "collector's art"
on July 21, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
To begin, the review score is based solely upon THIS version of the blu ray. It's important to note that while the review shows up for the blu ray version of Alien, (because it IS) it is NOT what was promoted.
If you're looking for a blu ray version of Alien, of course, it's recommended, but as it was promoted- both in the ad and on floor displays- a "collector's art edition", it feels lazily put together. (attempting to place an image with this review).
As a HUGE Alien fan, seeing a "Collector's Art Edition" of Alien on blu ray at $7.99, I was excited to add this to my collection of Alien/ Aliens movies and memorabilia. (Also grabbed the Predator blu ray- another movie I'm crazy about).
The fact is, both art pieces offered are actually pretty cool, and at $7.99, I didn't expect anything extra beyond the art- but in both cases, while the art was simply printed on a thin piece of cardboard, given a touch of stickem in the center, then applied to the respective movies. The stickem itself wasn't even enough to hold it to the blu ray case. The cardboard the art was printed on was too big to either slide inside the wrap around the case, or be inserted within the blu ray case to take the place of the basic "regular" art of the standard blu ray within.
So, was left with a piece of cardboard with beautiful art that wasn't in any way attached to the blu ray case whatsoever, or able to be inserted into the case. Ended up having to use a dab of super glue on each corner of the art and apply it myself- which, unfortunately, gives a stain through the white part of the cardboard (in Alien's case, the entire art is white).
Now, as a reference point to this, Fox released a Collector's Edition art variant of Alien exclusive to Comic-Con 2014, along with a small handful set aside for online ordering- a version I eagerly grabbed up, at only $20. (Included a limited edition (of #500) 11"X17" wall art of that blu ray cover, as well). In that case, the CE Variant was a completely new wrap/ insert for the blu ray case.
For some, if you're looking for Alien on blu ray, this is wonderful. You can, if you don't care about the variant cover being on a piece of cardboard that's not going to stay attached to the case- there's no reason not to own this.
But, if you're like me, (and, probably who this art variant was geared towards,) you need to be aware of this before purchasing. Perhaps consider framing the cardboard art or hanging it on a wall, but if you want it to remain a part of the actual blu ray, you're going to have to do some work on your own- and find something other than glue- as I said, it left a discoloration through the cardboard- it's not atrocious, but it was upsetting that this wasn't taken care of on the production of this to begin with- and it was encountered on both movies I purchased with the art variant.
Note: Alien DOES include a digital HD version to add to your cloud movies- Predator does not, so there was a little extra value in the Alien blu ray.
If you're looking for a blu ray version of Alien, of course, it's recommended, but as it was promoted- both in the ad and on floor displays- a "collector's art edition", it feels lazily put together. (attempting to place an image with this review).
As a HUGE Alien fan, seeing a "Collector's Art Edition" of Alien on blu ray at $7.99, I was excited to add this to my collection of Alien/ Aliens movies and memorabilia. (Also grabbed the Predator blu ray- another movie I'm crazy about).
The fact is, both art pieces offered are actually pretty cool, and at $7.99, I didn't expect anything extra beyond the art- but in both cases, while the art was simply printed on a thin piece of cardboard, given a touch of stickem in the center, then applied to the respective movies. The stickem itself wasn't even enough to hold it to the blu ray case. The cardboard the art was printed on was too big to either slide inside the wrap around the case, or be inserted within the blu ray case to take the place of the basic "regular" art of the standard blu ray within.
So, was left with a piece of cardboard with beautiful art that wasn't in any way attached to the blu ray case whatsoever, or able to be inserted into the case. Ended up having to use a dab of super glue on each corner of the art and apply it myself- which, unfortunately, gives a stain through the white part of the cardboard (in Alien's case, the entire art is white).
Now, as a reference point to this, Fox released a Collector's Edition art variant of Alien exclusive to Comic-Con 2014, along with a small handful set aside for online ordering- a version I eagerly grabbed up, at only $20. (Included a limited edition (of #500) 11"X17" wall art of that blu ray cover, as well). In that case, the CE Variant was a completely new wrap/ insert for the blu ray case.
For some, if you're looking for Alien on blu ray, this is wonderful. You can, if you don't care about the variant cover being on a piece of cardboard that's not going to stay attached to the case- there's no reason not to own this.
But, if you're like me, (and, probably who this art variant was geared towards,) you need to be aware of this before purchasing. Perhaps consider framing the cardboard art or hanging it on a wall, but if you want it to remain a part of the actual blu ray, you're going to have to do some work on your own- and find something other than glue- as I said, it left a discoloration through the cardboard- it's not atrocious, but it was upsetting that this wasn't taken care of on the production of this to begin with- and it was encountered on both movies I purchased with the art variant.
Note: Alien DOES include a digital HD version to add to your cloud movies- Predator does not, so there was a little extra value in the Alien blu ray.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-7points
2of 11voted this as helpful.
Are you a go-getting risk-taker who loves to live on the edge and reap the rewards of high-stakes gambling? Or are you a live-by-the-rules, stand-up citizen who finds value in upholding the law and protecting your fellow citizens? Regardless of your priorities, Need for Speed: Rivals has a role for you. Strap yourself in and get ready to ride as you take to the streets of Redview County. An all-out war between racers and cops greets you around every corner as you take street racing to the next level with the fastest cars, mods and technology in a gritty open-road environment. Whether you're risking it all to cross the finish line first or using an impressive array of advanced pursuit technology to bust the ne'er-do-wells of Redview County, your need for speed is sure to be satisfied.Get ready for some adrenaline-pumping, high-stakes rivalry as either a lone-wolf racer out for your own glory, or a member of the police force on the hunt to bust the law-breakers. Each side has their own unique set of cars, technology, play styles and careers. Aren't sure which side you fall on? Need for Speed: Rivals allows you to experience them both with a progression system built for each side. The new gambling scoring system lets you decide if you want to wager your speed points to shoot for a higher multiplier and greater rewards, or play it safe and bank your speed points when you return to a hideout. However, easy come, easy go — if you get busted by the cops, they take speed points as a reward. Design the car of your dreams with access to the latest performance upgrades and technology, as well as custom paint jobs, liveries, license plates, rims and decals to show off your personal style. The thrills never stop with fully loaded technology that's customized for each side of the law. Racers can choose evasion technology, such as jammers and electromagnetic pulses, while the police have access to pursuit technology, including shockwaves, roadblocks, helicopter support and more. This Complete Edition includes the game as well as six previously released downloadable content, including the Simply Jaguar Complete Pack, Ferrari Edizioni Speciali Complete Pack, Concept Lamborghini Complete Pack, The Koenigsegg Agera One, Complete Movie Pack and the Loaded Garage Pack, so you can enjoy the ultimate Need for Speed: Rivals gameplay experience. Get ready to experience the thrill of pursuit as well as the excitement of evasion in one game.
Customer Rating
5
Great game at great price
on July 21, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
I've always been a fan of the Need for Speed series, and was looking to add a racing game to my growing PS4 library. Was glad that this Complete Edition came along when it did. For $30 you get a great racing game- complete with NFS' famous police chases- with every piece of download content they've released. Controls are as tight as ever, and the graphics are gorgeous. Seeing the beads of water dripping from the cars in the garage is amazing- unbelievably realistic. The graphics are a touch less realistic once you begin playing, but that's me being honest... a TOUCH less. Once in action, the game still looks amazing; the game is nothing short of beautiful.
If you're looking for realism as far as the mechanical side of cars, that's not to be found here. NFS has always been an arcade style racer with upgrades, and that remains true in NFSRCE.
NFSRCE combines the best of NFS Most Wanted and NFS Hot Pursuit- forsaking the tracks for a large city map and adding in memorable police chases. The city in Rivals is gorgeous- you can spin through forests, alongside a mountain, over an expressway and end up outside of a beach- finding a hidden jump that lands you at your safehouse all in one race. The city you race through offers a wide array of scenery, along with its own weather patterns, to wonder at all in 1080p.
Another feature- whether you initially decide it's great or not- is that the game is set up to be "always online"> (Please note- this doesn't mean that it won't play if your internet is down- it WILL play in that case, just set you up privately.) What this means is that there will be several other real world players racing around the map with you- it doesn't turn off any form of singleplayer racing whatsoever; you're still free to enter a race with AI cars only at any given point- but does mean that you can challenge other players as you drive by them with a blink of your headlights. Now, this may not be the wisest thing when you first begin, especially if others on that map have cars they've been collecting as long time players, but there's nothing making you challenge them or accept their challenges- but it does add to the feeling that you're in a real, breathing world. This option can be turned off in settings at any point if you choose to just enjoy the game solo. (it can be frustrating when you enter a game of real drivers, only to have the host driver quit while you're racing- the game disconnects and reconnects you with one of the players being selected as the new host- having this happen in the middle of a race can be annoying and interrupt your "mojo".)
The other nice feature in the game is collecting points- whether through challenges or races, these points are applied as money towards buying upgrades and leveling your car. What makes it fun is every time you collect these points, it comes with a gamble involved. Until you return to one of your safehouses, these points remain attached to your current driving session. If you crash or get busted by the police, every point you've collected but not stored at a safehouse is then lost. The more points you have, the more they can be multiplied as you drive along. Every session out on the streets makes you ask yourself if you want to press your luck and find another race, or return and bank your points- one bad move can cost you tons of time, points, and victories... One more great race can lead to the difference in unlocking something great for your car ahead of the curve... Which will you choose?
There are two "storylines" playing as a cop or as a racer... Each with their own set of points and unlocks. While the story is just filler, it can be a lot of fun playing to avoid the police, then switching over to catch the street racers. Both sides have a set of weapons they can use to apprehend or avoid capture, each bringing a unique sense of fun rather than just trying to ram a car off the road. It should also be mentioned that you can join in the multiplayer part of the game as a cop or a racer, while others on the map may be the opposing side. You may find yourself a target of a player controlled police car, or find yourself trying to bust a player... Beware, the same rules apply for losing points you collect, even regarding player controlled cars.
This is easily a recommendable game to others. Everyone should have at least one racing game in their library, and NFSRCE is the one they should have. Its arcade nature makes it rather easy to pick up, the open world and its hidden paths and jumps makes it easy to keep playing, and with all the woes of recent racing releases- ie Driveclub and The Crew, NFS proves that the old standby from previous generations on consoles is still the best, from a team that knows its craft. At $30, and including all the DLC that would have made this game over $100 had you bought the vanilla version and each DLC separately, you just cannot beat Rivals. It controls well, includes a ton of extra content, and is eye-candy to boot, all while running buttery-smooth on the PS4.
Heck, even if you own a more recent racing game, you're missing out if you're a racing fan and don't own Rivals.
Buy it.
If you're looking for realism as far as the mechanical side of cars, that's not to be found here. NFS has always been an arcade style racer with upgrades, and that remains true in NFSRCE.
NFSRCE combines the best of NFS Most Wanted and NFS Hot Pursuit- forsaking the tracks for a large city map and adding in memorable police chases. The city in Rivals is gorgeous- you can spin through forests, alongside a mountain, over an expressway and end up outside of a beach- finding a hidden jump that lands you at your safehouse all in one race. The city you race through offers a wide array of scenery, along with its own weather patterns, to wonder at all in 1080p.
Another feature- whether you initially decide it's great or not- is that the game is set up to be "always online"> (Please note- this doesn't mean that it won't play if your internet is down- it WILL play in that case, just set you up privately.) What this means is that there will be several other real world players racing around the map with you- it doesn't turn off any form of singleplayer racing whatsoever; you're still free to enter a race with AI cars only at any given point- but does mean that you can challenge other players as you drive by them with a blink of your headlights. Now, this may not be the wisest thing when you first begin, especially if others on that map have cars they've been collecting as long time players, but there's nothing making you challenge them or accept their challenges- but it does add to the feeling that you're in a real, breathing world. This option can be turned off in settings at any point if you choose to just enjoy the game solo. (it can be frustrating when you enter a game of real drivers, only to have the host driver quit while you're racing- the game disconnects and reconnects you with one of the players being selected as the new host- having this happen in the middle of a race can be annoying and interrupt your "mojo".)
The other nice feature in the game is collecting points- whether through challenges or races, these points are applied as money towards buying upgrades and leveling your car. What makes it fun is every time you collect these points, it comes with a gamble involved. Until you return to one of your safehouses, these points remain attached to your current driving session. If you crash or get busted by the police, every point you've collected but not stored at a safehouse is then lost. The more points you have, the more they can be multiplied as you drive along. Every session out on the streets makes you ask yourself if you want to press your luck and find another race, or return and bank your points- one bad move can cost you tons of time, points, and victories... One more great race can lead to the difference in unlocking something great for your car ahead of the curve... Which will you choose?
There are two "storylines" playing as a cop or as a racer... Each with their own set of points and unlocks. While the story is just filler, it can be a lot of fun playing to avoid the police, then switching over to catch the street racers. Both sides have a set of weapons they can use to apprehend or avoid capture, each bringing a unique sense of fun rather than just trying to ram a car off the road. It should also be mentioned that you can join in the multiplayer part of the game as a cop or a racer, while others on the map may be the opposing side. You may find yourself a target of a player controlled police car, or find yourself trying to bust a player... Beware, the same rules apply for losing points you collect, even regarding player controlled cars.
This is easily a recommendable game to others. Everyone should have at least one racing game in their library, and NFSRCE is the one they should have. Its arcade nature makes it rather easy to pick up, the open world and its hidden paths and jumps makes it easy to keep playing, and with all the woes of recent racing releases- ie Driveclub and The Crew, NFS proves that the old standby from previous generations on consoles is still the best, from a team that knows its craft. At $30, and including all the DLC that would have made this game over $100 had you bought the vanilla version and each DLC separately, you just cannot beat Rivals. It controls well, includes a ton of extra content, and is eye-candy to boot, all while running buttery-smooth on the PS4.
Heck, even if you own a more recent racing game, you're missing out if you're a racing fan and don't own Rivals.
Buy it.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Around every corner waits mortal danger, behind every door lurks an ever-present deadly threat. It's been 15 years since the horrific events of Alien and Ellen Ripley's daughter Amanda is looking for answers. While each moment may consist of a desperate battle for survival, just making it through the day isn't her only mission. She's on a quest for the truth and she'll stop at nothing to unravel the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance, but to do so, she'll need every ounce of wit, every drop of courage and a healthy dose of luck. With that, she just might make it through the survival horror atmosphere of Alien: Isolation.As Amanda, you'll face unrelenting fear, personified by the truly dynamic and reactive Alien who possesses powerful senses that it uses to hunt you down. Unprepared and underpowered, you must improvise to survive, whether that means hacking systems, scavenging for vital resources, crafting items to deal with each situation or navigating through an increasingly volatile world full of panicked, desperate people. The detailed setting of Sevastopol, a decommissioned trading station on the fringes of space, immerses you in a storyline that delivers nothing but mystery, fear, mistrust and betrayal. Can you stomach the horror? Do you have what it takes to complete your mission?
Customer Rating
5
Nice change of pace for the Alien games
on October 15, 2014
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
While I'm far from finished with the game, (reviews stating this can run upwards of 20 hours,) the experience so far has been suitably intense.
Taking place between the original Ridley Scott masterpiece, and James Cameron's "This time it's war," sequel, Alien Isolation sets you in the shoes of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of the franchise's heroine, who has gone in search of her mother after some evidence is located and brought aboard the Sevastapol, a large space station that was in the midst of being decommissioned.
Unfortunately, for those aboard, it would appear that beyond just a flight recorder, the Sevastapol also managed to bring along an alien, as well.
By the time Amy arrives at the station with her crew, the Sevastapol is in ruins from the stowaway, and she manages to find herself separated from those that attempted to board via spacewalk, as well.
Unarmed and alone, Ripley must try to piece together what has happened aboard the Sevastapol, find out what happened to her mother, as well as dodge both remaining hostile crew of the station, (who have become foragers and quite leery of strangers in their fight for survival,) and the "Working Joe," androids left to wander the station.
Alien Isolation does things that haven't been attempted often in regards to the Alien itself in video games. Rather than put you in the shoes of the Colonial Marines or Predators and give you a chance to go toe to toe with the Xenomorphs, AI attempts to capture the feelings of the first movie, and so far, it has mostly succeeded.
The station creaks and groans, lighting (beautiful lighting effects,) hangs from the ceiling, dancing to and fro, people talk to each other on the other sides of doors, with dialogue letting you know it wouldn't be wise to clue them in on your presence. And all along, you're aware that the Alien is out there, listening and hunting.
Even the act of sending for a transport tram to take you from one part of the station to the next can be a nerve-wracking experience as you hear it coming down the tracks, sounding like a bull in a china shop, when all you desire is the (sometimes mistakenly,) safety that silence offers.
As an added bonus, at least 2 of the DLCs (one included in the Nostromo Edition,) available put you in the shoes of the original crew of Alien, onboard the Nostromo, reenacting famous scenes from the movie. Sigourney Weaver, (Ripley,) Tom Skerritt, (Dallas,) Ian Holm, (Ash,) Veronica Cartwright, (Lambert,) Yaphet Kotto, (Parker,) and Harry Dean Stanton, (Brett,) all return to reprise their roles as voice actors for the DLC.
Graphically, the game is gorgeous to look at, even if most of it is in the dark. They certainly got the feel of the "retro future," Alien showed us, with the green glow of CRT screens adding to the ambience created by wonderful lighting effects.
Voices and sounds are also superb, with the voice acting being top-notch, and music and sound effects pulled almost directly from the original movie. This is a great thing, as much of the original movie's suspense is hinged on sound, and it transfers wonderfully here... dramatic music began to ramp up the first time I called for a transport, and it truly put me on edge as it made me aware just how vulnerable I was sitting in the open in the waiting area.
The overall storyline, while not *EXCEPTIONAL* flows well as the story between the first two movies in the franchise. I can't say a storyline of Amanda going in search of her mother seems highly original (still no idea why this wasn't something they have tried to put on film already,) but it works. It's the feeling that this is a natural storyline, along with the strong acting involved that really keeps you from overanalyzing any weaknesses you may find.
With the exception of the first half hour of play, everything else has been one long moment of suspense. The Alien itself has no set pattern, so you're almost constantly aware that it can show up at any time, and with very little fight for you to put up, one appearance is all it takes to be sent back to a respawn point.
Creative Assembly, known mostly for their "Total War," series of strategy games, came out swinging with AI... And landed hits on every level.
Will this game fly with the FPS fans that have been given game after game of viewing the Alien as a bullet sponge? I'm not entirely sure. This is survival horror/ stealth... a genre I don't normally care for, but anything with the Alien will have my interest.
The only negative I've found with the game, (at least on my PS4 version,) is that during cutscenes, it tends to drop framerate a little. (and I'm still not sure if all these characters in the cutscenes are sweating, they all tend to have a "shiny line" appearing on their faces.) Neither the frame drop or "sweat line," really bother me at all, but truly, this is the only negatives I've had with this game so far.
One last note, as mentioned to begin this review, this is a game that supposedly can last 20 hours or so. It begs patience- something I don't always have with games, hence, why I normally avoid stealth-style games. If you aren't prepared for a VERY deliberate experience, you may not find this game to your liking.
Taking place between the original Ridley Scott masterpiece, and James Cameron's "This time it's war," sequel, Alien Isolation sets you in the shoes of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of the franchise's heroine, who has gone in search of her mother after some evidence is located and brought aboard the Sevastapol, a large space station that was in the midst of being decommissioned.
Unfortunately, for those aboard, it would appear that beyond just a flight recorder, the Sevastapol also managed to bring along an alien, as well.
By the time Amy arrives at the station with her crew, the Sevastapol is in ruins from the stowaway, and she manages to find herself separated from those that attempted to board via spacewalk, as well.
Unarmed and alone, Ripley must try to piece together what has happened aboard the Sevastapol, find out what happened to her mother, as well as dodge both remaining hostile crew of the station, (who have become foragers and quite leery of strangers in their fight for survival,) and the "Working Joe," androids left to wander the station.
Alien Isolation does things that haven't been attempted often in regards to the Alien itself in video games. Rather than put you in the shoes of the Colonial Marines or Predators and give you a chance to go toe to toe with the Xenomorphs, AI attempts to capture the feelings of the first movie, and so far, it has mostly succeeded.
The station creaks and groans, lighting (beautiful lighting effects,) hangs from the ceiling, dancing to and fro, people talk to each other on the other sides of doors, with dialogue letting you know it wouldn't be wise to clue them in on your presence. And all along, you're aware that the Alien is out there, listening and hunting.
Even the act of sending for a transport tram to take you from one part of the station to the next can be a nerve-wracking experience as you hear it coming down the tracks, sounding like a bull in a china shop, when all you desire is the (sometimes mistakenly,) safety that silence offers.
As an added bonus, at least 2 of the DLCs (one included in the Nostromo Edition,) available put you in the shoes of the original crew of Alien, onboard the Nostromo, reenacting famous scenes from the movie. Sigourney Weaver, (Ripley,) Tom Skerritt, (Dallas,) Ian Holm, (Ash,) Veronica Cartwright, (Lambert,) Yaphet Kotto, (Parker,) and Harry Dean Stanton, (Brett,) all return to reprise their roles as voice actors for the DLC.
Graphically, the game is gorgeous to look at, even if most of it is in the dark. They certainly got the feel of the "retro future," Alien showed us, with the green glow of CRT screens adding to the ambience created by wonderful lighting effects.
Voices and sounds are also superb, with the voice acting being top-notch, and music and sound effects pulled almost directly from the original movie. This is a great thing, as much of the original movie's suspense is hinged on sound, and it transfers wonderfully here... dramatic music began to ramp up the first time I called for a transport, and it truly put me on edge as it made me aware just how vulnerable I was sitting in the open in the waiting area.
The overall storyline, while not *EXCEPTIONAL* flows well as the story between the first two movies in the franchise. I can't say a storyline of Amanda going in search of her mother seems highly original (still no idea why this wasn't something they have tried to put on film already,) but it works. It's the feeling that this is a natural storyline, along with the strong acting involved that really keeps you from overanalyzing any weaknesses you may find.
With the exception of the first half hour of play, everything else has been one long moment of suspense. The Alien itself has no set pattern, so you're almost constantly aware that it can show up at any time, and with very little fight for you to put up, one appearance is all it takes to be sent back to a respawn point.
Creative Assembly, known mostly for their "Total War," series of strategy games, came out swinging with AI... And landed hits on every level.
Will this game fly with the FPS fans that have been given game after game of viewing the Alien as a bullet sponge? I'm not entirely sure. This is survival horror/ stealth... a genre I don't normally care for, but anything with the Alien will have my interest.
The only negative I've found with the game, (at least on my PS4 version,) is that during cutscenes, it tends to drop framerate a little. (and I'm still not sure if all these characters in the cutscenes are sweating, they all tend to have a "shiny line" appearing on their faces.) Neither the frame drop or "sweat line," really bother me at all, but truly, this is the only negatives I've had with this game so far.
One last note, as mentioned to begin this review, this is a game that supposedly can last 20 hours or so. It begs patience- something I don't always have with games, hence, why I normally avoid stealth-style games. If you aren't prepared for a VERY deliberate experience, you may not find this game to your liking.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
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Only at Best BuyYou love exploring new worlds. You love taking on the role of a wide range of characters and conquering villains that are the stuff of nightmares. But your favorite thing about your New 3DS XL is its portability. Make sure you keep your device safe on the go and have the necessary accessories on hand with this starter kit.This starter kit contains a portfolio case with an EVA shell, padded compartment and zipper closure to protect your New 3DS XL, 3DS XL, 3DS or 2DS against accidental damage. Listen to game audio without worrying about disrupting others with the included Hear-Safe headphones. Control gameplay with precision using the universal stylus pen. The kit also comes with a micro car adapter that allows you to recharge your device in your vehicle, so you can game for as long as you want.
Hi...My grandson is turning 6yrs old next week and he got a Nintendo 2DS for Christmas.. I wanted to know if I switch to a 2DS XL will he be able to use the old games with the new system? And is it worth the change? Thank u
All Nintendo DS games are compatible between the 2DS, 2DSXL, 3DS, and 3DSXL.
If a game is 2D however, it won't have 3D graphics on the 3DS systems. If a game is 3D, it will only show 2D graphics on a 2DS.
In my opinion, if he's upgrading from a 2DS, you'd be best served to upgrades to the 3DSXL.
The 3DSXL plays compatible 3D games in 3D without the need for glasses (which is really neat, being able to see 3D without the glasses they'd use for 3D movies) and still will play all his older games just fine.
If a game is 2D however, it won't have 3D graphics on the 3DS systems. If a game is 3D, it will only show 2D graphics on a 2DS.
In my opinion, if he's upgrading from a 2DS, you'd be best served to upgrades to the 3DSXL.
The 3DSXL plays compatible 3D games in 3D without the need for glasses (which is really neat, being able to see 3D without the glasses they'd use for 3D movies) and still will play all his older games just fine.
6 years, 1 month ago
by
doc8998
Enjoy extreme computing power and uncompromising reliability with this CybertronPC Palladium gaming desktop. Its liquid cooling system keeps its powerful 4.0GHz Intel Core i7 processor from overheating, and the included 32GB of RAM handles the most demanding games. This CybertronPC Palladium gaming desktop has a 3TB hard drive to hold entire libraries of multimedia files.
Is there any possible customizable optionss for this device. Blu-ray player, front usb drives, etc.
There are 2 front/ top USB3.0 ports (they're angled).
There was an issue with the product description, which stated 10 USB ports. Mine arrived with the 2 front facing and only 4 or 5 in back. (Don't have access to PC, out of country atm). Best Buy did rectify the situation for me after bringing this to their attention by supplying me with a USB hub. As the PC appeared to be built as ordered, I cannot claim to whether this was an error by CyberTronic or an error in product description. (And number of USB ports may not be as big an issue for you).
This PC is built as a gaming "rig" and easily handles Virtual Reality (Oculus Rift,) and can handle having an external blu ray with no issues. There's plenty of power under the hood here, and I've been beyond happy with my purchase.
That said, if you do not do much gaming, this PC may be overkill, but it will handle modern games and VR handily, as well as video creation, which can hog memory, as well. Connecting an external blu ray player should be a matter of minutes and a quick install, and it should run smooth as butter with plenty left to spare.
There was an issue with the product description, which stated 10 USB ports. Mine arrived with the 2 front facing and only 4 or 5 in back. (Don't have access to PC, out of country atm). Best Buy did rectify the situation for me after bringing this to their attention by supplying me with a USB hub. As the PC appeared to be built as ordered, I cannot claim to whether this was an error by CyberTronic or an error in product description. (And number of USB ports may not be as big an issue for you).
This PC is built as a gaming "rig" and easily handles Virtual Reality (Oculus Rift,) and can handle having an external blu ray with no issues. There's plenty of power under the hood here, and I've been beyond happy with my purchase.
That said, if you do not do much gaming, this PC may be overkill, but it will handle modern games and VR handily, as well as video creation, which can hog memory, as well. Connecting an external blu ray player should be a matter of minutes and a quick install, and it should run smooth as butter with plenty left to spare.
6 years, 8 months ago
by
doc8998