My friend and I were looking for a game to play during the Christmas Holidays, and decided on Splinter Cell: Choas Theory.  Mainly because of the Co-Op feature (via system link) and its 9.9 rating from Xbox magazine.

So we go to my house, hook our Xboxes together and begin playing.  We play on normal mode and thought that 2 player mode and single player mode were the same thing, except of course on single player, you can only control one character at a time, but it would be something similiar to the war games such as Vietcong.   Boy, were we wrong.  Their was only 5 levels and it was over, and thats if you count the first level which is a tuturial..

I mean the levels were long, unlike Shadow Ops, 2-player co-op campaign which was just a bunch of short levels not related to the story, which is what lead to me believe that we were enjoying the game the way it was meant to be played, but with a friend.  Oh well..

Being that said, I don't really like to play Splinter Cell games along as I just can't get into it for some reason (not even the one I do own).  So I can only comment on the Multiplayer part of this game.

It is the most interactive co-op game I have ever played.  You will find team work to be a neccessity in every level in order to complete it and it just gets more dependent on team work through the 5 levels.    You  can play co-op by split screen, system link, or Xbox live, with a communicator for the last 2 if you choose to do so.  If this would be the first time your going through this co-op campaign, you may want to do it offline with a friend first to get to know the area, as things can be frustrating to explain with just words, such as the area you are currently in, or how you want to approach a particular situation (as in your about to enter a room of 6 guards and want to take as many out without sounding the alarm, failing the secondary objective, etc.)  The challenge isn't so much in solving things once you figured everything out, but how you are going to infiltrate.  Of course you can make this more challenging and fun (to a degree) by changing the difficulty level, but with only 5 levels (including the tuturial) it can get pretty old fast still :(

After I beat the "Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga", I opened my copy of "Mario & Luigi Partners in Time" the night I beat it so that I could get past the boring stuff (tuturials, etc.)

This game "babied" you all the way through the entire RPG.  All Puzzles were rediculously easy, and then Nintendo even added posters to explain how to do each puzzle.. 

If you played the first one and beat it with ease, then you will have no trouble with this one.  As you are given most of the same moves and puzzle-types as before, and you are given a full tuturial on every move you learn..even if it just requires you hitting the "R" button, it will go into tuturial mode when it comes time to learn a new combo.   It it kinda annoying as you can't skip it.

The Bros. Points system has been taken out and replaced with Bros. Items.  You can do Bros. type of moves in a sense (not like the link combos from before), but like things such as kicking shells by pushing the button of the character the shell is going to at that moment.  These Bros. Items are exactly that though.  Items, so they can be consumed.  The items aren't really that expensive, and at most points in the game you can return to the Castle (your base in a sense) to restock, heal, etc.

I beat the game at level 30 something.  Vs my Level 40 something on the Superstar Saga, despite the fact that "Mario & Luigi Partners in Time" is longer .  I don't know if level 50 is max, or they don't expect anyone to get to level 99-100.  I mean I found myself strong enough to beat the boss in this game fairly easy at level 30 something.  So I guess if you couldn't beat the boss, or do not dodge well then you could level up in a sense to the point it don't matter anymore whether you dodge the attacks or not.  I mean the main boss I was fighting, didn't hit higher then a 9 on me... out of 142hp Lugi had and 131hp Mario had.  Not to mention all the items you are given throughout your journey.  You have plenty of Max Mushrooms (heals you completly), and Ultra Drops (heals whole party 60hp) and even if for some strange reason you used your 30+ of these items you could always buy them at the store for a pretty cheap price for such a good item.  You also have Super 1-up mushrooms like in the old game where you can revive you at 100%HP.

Unlike Superstar Saga, when you die on this game, you don't lose that characters turn, which is good, but adds to the already easy RPG system.  Their is no Magic in this game (just like the last game), unless you count the Bros. Items.

I don't know, but an RPG just isn't the same without Magic in my opinion.

Overall, even though its not the best RPG, it is the only RPG out for the DS that matters at this point as Lunar: Dragon Song looked promising to start with, but as most of know...it bombed out.  You should read the review of that game...losing HP while running...not being able to choose what NPC you wish to attack, etc.

If you compare "Mario & Luigi Partners in Time" to that game, then this game is awesome..but compared to other RPG's..heck for the SNES, this game isn't as good.

If you just NEED a RPG for the DS, are a Mario Fanboy, loved superstar Saga, or just laugh very easy.  Then this game is for you I guess.

I haven't made a post about my RuneScape character yet.  And I kind of want to, before I die.  Since it is an MMORPG that can't be technically beat, I can only list what I have accomplished.  Keep in Mind that the max level in all skills in RS is 99 and the XP to reach that mark is 13,034,???xp.

This is mainly to make me feel like my time and effort wasn't wasted, especially since I started playing in RS1.

Character: Super Majin

Attack Level: 99

Defense Level: 99

Strength Level: 99

Hitpoints Level: 99

Questpoints: 190 (Max at the time of this post)

Combat Level: 122 (Max is 126).

--------

My Pure Account (from years back) is a Pure Plate.  Which is something that can't be done anymore.

 

Both have Bunny Ears, Sytches, and all holiday drops which are non-tradeable so far.  (Except my pure missed the Zombie Head drop).

I stopped playing the game when RS2 was launched as I did not like it.  Too much had changed, and those that started playing, mostly did it for the graphics more then anything else and seemed very immature about many things and didn't realize how much easier skills were to level up, compared to how hard they were in RS1.

 

-------------------------

A player once told me, that all RPG's and things in life can be accomplished if you keep at it.  Many people look at those who have achieved those skills and say "it is only because you have played longer".  While this isn't always the case as you can level up by playing "smarter and not harder" as their are certain spots are more logical for XP then others, yet others don't take the time to do their homework and just hack-slash everything they see thinking all XP is the same. 

But, what is most rewarding about playing RuneScape for so long and having a good character shows that even though their have been rude people.  Unfair things, updates, and events that have happened that may have set you back.  You didn't give up.  Maybe taking a break now and then, but never giving up on yourself or the desire to reach that long term goal.  While many will never understand what it means, there are those few who do.  And that will have to suffice and as long as you know the reason it doesn't matter. 

 Sure it is just a game, it is just data.  But to some it is the legacy of the effort they put into their character.  The time put into it, the people they have met and had unforgettable experiences with on the other side of the world, they would have never met otherwise.  Perhaps, the sacrifices you made in real life is what got so far in the game, which could have led to a sad state in life, but a "god-like" status in the game.  Life is about balance and sacrifice, so whatever your decision it is up to you if it was worth it or not, but either way you go..you deserve what you get.  Maybe your character is a symbol for those who had to stop playing for personal reasons.  Maybe their are one of a kind people you have met in the game that truely deserved more then they got, yet they couldn't continue playing because of an illness or financial reasons, and the people of the game will never realize what type of person they guy was, but you.  And you play for them, for what they stood for, believed in.

 It may be just a sign of the fact that goals are possible no matter how far they are as long as you are determined.  The day you start playing and are level with 3 with no money and all your stats are level 1 except HP, you wonder what it would be like to be the strongest.  If you kept at it, would it be worth it.  It is such a far away goal, when all you have is a bronze long and the only thing you can do is fight Goblins for GP.

I am sleepy and think I am done.  This way, if I die tomorrow.  Super Majin will not be an account never thought of again.  Remember, that it was a person who leveled those stats and not a bot.  It was years of off and on work that got him that far and often with some sacrifice (sleep, school, a life :P) 

Now I can rest with my head on Angel Wings.

I was sort of in a hurry to beat this game, because I wanted to play the "Mario & Luigi Partners in Time" game.  I had bought the game and I placed it unopened with my other games, but I had read a review saying that it is sort of the sequel of the "Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga".  So I bought that game and beat it.

I think the game lasted around 20 hours.  It wasn't the best RPG for the Gameboy Advance, and had nothing on the SNES "Seven Star RPG".  Their was some funny tidbits in the game, but nothing that really could bring me to burst out laughing.  I didn't like it all that much since you played through the game with only 2 party members, even though it was an action-real time rpg in a way.

I mean, it was sort of like the "Seven Star RPG" with how if you timed your button presses right, you could do extra damage with an attack, dodge attacks, and in some cases counter attacks.  While it was enough to keep slightly interested in the battle you were in, it wasn't enough keep you addicted.

Maybe, I am too uptight, but there were some scenes that were so wacky, that it didn't make sense and I didn't like that.  I am more of a traditional RPG player I guess.  I mean instead of Magic, they had "Bro Points" where as long as you had enough points and both bros weren't unconscious or stunned, you could initiate a combo type move with the brothers together, which involved a series of well-timed button presses for more damage then you could do alone in one turn. 

However, overtime you will master it quite well and realize it is the best way to defeat enemies and it will get quite old..

I also didn't like the "bonus xp" where a roulette appeared everytime you leveled up and depending on how much points you had in certain skills, would determine the range in number on the wheel.  For instance, if you choose to use the bonus XP for Power (strength) a roulette bar will pop up and start spinning.  Sometimes with the number 1-5.  Naturally everyone wants 5, but its often the times you get 1-2 that you feel kinda scammed out of your points, even though it is just luck.  If you were real stingy about it, you could save before you level up and keep trying till you always go the max number. 

However, it the enemies aren't tough, so having the best XP probably would make the game slightly too easy, but the battles seem to drag on later on, probably because you have to pay attention to battles you already know how to win, but you have to let the battle sequences take place so you can dodge and counter every single battle, no matter how small.

It isn't a terrible RPG, and if you are a Mario Fan, like simple (linear) RPG's, and laugh easy.  Then this is the game for you.

Well, I beat Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for the Nintendo DS.

I dare say, that this is probably the best single player game out for the DS at the time I am typing this.  I really wanted an RPG, but after hearing about Lunar: Dragon Song and not really careing about another Mario-type RPG (which aren't really as fun as real RPG's).  I decided on Castlevania which was action/adventure with RPG stats as you gained XP from defeating the enemies and could also shop for equipment with the money you earned from kills (although only potions are worth buying).

What makes this game unique is the replayability features it offers (btw I beat Julius Mode) and the fact you have the potential of gaining the soul of enemy you defeat in the game and gaining that NPC's ability.  You will always get bosses soul's as they usually posses an ability that allows you access to the next part of the castle.  Also, the whole game is takes place in a castle-like place so if you miss something you can always go back for it, or take the transporters for quick access to certain parts of the castle.

This game is awesome. Better then the first in nearly all aspects. Unlike most people, I don't really care for the duel wielding feature, but oh well. The pistol isn't as cool as before, but it was overpowered in the first one. I don't like the fact that all the vehicles can explode now instead of bouncing around. Okay, enough about the bad things. This game has also fantastic graphics for xbox and the online gaming feature has a leveling system and can match you up with people your level to get the most challenge out of it. I haven't completed this game, because legendary mode is hard for me. Unlike the first game, this legendary mode depends on cheap shots, rather then smarter AI to make the game more difficult, but oh well. Great game and highly recommended.</

I beat the game getting the Sword of Aeons and without getting it also. I did all the quest except 2 I believe. The game was easy and I don't see why it was such a hyped up game. Sure the NPC's were a little interactive with you, but thats it. The game was short and anyone that spends hours gettings hair cuts, tatoos, and flirting with NPC's needs serious help. It would be just a little bit different if it was an MMORPG where the emotions were real, but no..this was just sad.

Not as good as the first. You had awesome moves in this one, but the game was cheap. Every enemy could be defeated with the same tactic over and over. Also they were incredibly easy, no challenge.

I started playing this game and after the first level I quit after seeing the graphics, controls, main character didn't seem that cool a character, and the game even with crappy graphics, actually slowed down quite often when too much was going on at once. Their AI isn't too smart either, enemies travel the same path and hide in the same places over and over. Your AI teamates can stand right next to the enemy and not fire at them. I guess after playing Halo, Halo 2 I had too high of expectations, even though I don't believe I expected that much. I mean to this day I enjoy Goldeneye for the N64 and its not even close to Halo's quality. Oh well. I beat the game. 25 Missions.

I could have completed this game, by beating it on Hard Mode, but no. This game wasn't worth it. Read my review here. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox/review/R86542.html