Cheaper than drugs, but just as addictive

Playing this game for the first time is like awakening into a new world. The experience is like few others and the gameplay is a ton of fun if you enjoy RPG games. Sometimes having to run across the entire map to complete a small mission is tedious, but playing with a friend or group makes it all worthwhile.

I think the strongest point on this game is also its most annoying and that is the online gameplay. The entire game (for the most part) is based on playing and interacting with other folks online. This can be extremely fun or extremely painful depending on who your playing with. Regardless, it should not have an impact on the game's ranking (just like playing with noob-tubers on COD4 does not affect that game's score).

For as long as this title has been around and for all the great work they do to keep it competitive and interesting; I think this game is easily one of the greatest all time. I mean can 11+ million users/month be wrong?

Another Birdie For Tiger!!

I'll admit it right out front, I am a fanboy when it comes to Tiger Woods game. More than any other franchise I am completely and utterly loyal to this franchise. I thought this game was better than the norm, but it wasn't a hole in one, thus my "birdie" designation.

However, it is my opinion that this update, this year is well worth the $60 price tag. There are a number of updates that I really really like, and there are a few things that annoy me (as with any game).

First of all the visuals were redone and they are brilliant. The coureses in the game look amazing, especially on a 1080p HDTV. The details are second to none and are an obvious improvement from 2008.

I also really like the club features. Before the clubs you bought made you better, without consequence. Now, the more expensive clubs will still allow you to hit it farther, manuver it better and put the exact spin/loft you want. However, the "better" you make you club, the smaller the sweet spot gets. It follows the famous phrase "with great power, comes great responsibility", because the farther you can hit the ball, the more perfect you must swing in order to avoid firing it off at a 45 degree angle. It REALLY provides another level of difficulty for users who want to get longer gameplay out of the console.

My biggest beefs with this game are well, the same. There are too few courses (there may be less courses in this years game than last years). I completely understand the limitations of a console game disc, but just having more courses gives me the difficulty on longitivity that would allow me to enjoy the game for longer.

The other is the announcers. WHAT HAPPEND TO DAVID FEHERTY?? The announcers in this new game are: dry, boring, not funny, and devoid of any kind of enthusiasms. I guess Feherty and company demanded too much $$$ to do the gig and EA felt it wouldn't be cost efficient. That or he perhaps got sick of hearing himself talk (doubtful).

Another other issue, which they are improving on is the clothing/clubs in the editor. I really dislike the space suits and other weirdo stuff they put in there, but maybe that's because I'm a purest. What I think is interesting (and I will never do) is the ability to use your Xbox Live pts to pay for your clubs instead of the money you "earn" in the game. I'm sorry, that's lame of any user to that, but I can totally understand why EA would do this.

Overall, if you like the Tiger Woods franchise, or golf games in general, this is a definite buy. If you don't normally play golf games, or are new to the franchise, rent it first and find out if you like it before dropping the $60.

Great Follow Up

There are a lot of great things I like about the new Rock Band 2. First of all, the ability to transfer my current library to the new one, awesome (the $5 fee, garbage, but whatever). The cost to re-download these songs onto the new game vs. transferring them is so substantial that I'll deal with the fee.

Secondly, the character customization is almost TOO robust. I'm not the biggest fan of doing this any way, but I can dress up my character eight ways to Sunday and still have a ton of other options left over. If you CAN'T find an outfight you like, you are the world's pickiest person.

The expanded song lineup, including "Eye Of the Tiger" and "Anyway You Want It" are two of my favorite new songs, as well as finding interesting ones on there like "Lump" and "You Outta Know". The songs range from apple pie to ridiculous but the fun is definitely still there and the improved drum set (if you get it) is a LOT quietter than the original.

Only real down sides so far is that I still want more songs that I recognize ( and perhaps some country music in there as well, I think that'd be pretty popular!!

Just Plain Blow'em Up Fun

I REALLY enjoyed Mercs 1, so getting Mercs 2 wasn't a question. My only concern was a carbon copy of the first one, which I did not get. The oil rationing I think is a great way to avoid the relative ease of continuous bomb dropping int he first game.

The factions are cool and I really like the buddy system that you create with your team of hired help. I think it adds a deeper dimension to the overall gameplay, where as in the first game all you did was steal and blow stuff up, still fun, but not nearly as challenging.

My biggest annoyance with the game is that its not polished enough. I drove my character off a cliff in the middle of the map and preceeded to fall through the ground and then back into the sky where I continued to fall through the next ground and so on. I could not do anything to move, so eventually I had to Medivac myself back to the HQ.

The missions are challenging, especially on the higher difficulties and make you utilize your air strikes and other items more often.

All in all, if you're a fan of the first one, you'll be a fan of this one. If you enjoy the of Grand Theft Auto but wish you could blow more things up? You'll enjoy this game, just don't expect to have to shuttle girlfriends around!!

Another Great Addition to the Franchise

I've been playing Madden games seriously for probably the last 10 years and I have to say, this game just keeps getting better. Despite the lack of competition now that they have an exclusive deal with the NFL I really like the steady improvements that the franchise has been making.

Is this game worth buying EVERY YEAR? Maybe, but I don't, this year happened to be a year that I did and I have to say I'm impressed with all the new features.

My Favorite feature has to be the Superstar mode, I really enjoy being able to play the field as just ONE player and have the rest of the game sim'd for me.