Video: Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow for Xbox Review

Following on from the popularity of my last Xbox review (Red Dead Revolver) which is currently sitting at around 13,500 views (which is a lot more than I usually get) I thought I would give the system another look.
My Xbox collection is fairly untouched, and even though it's debatable if it's retro or not I'm going to use my YouTube channel to play it regardless. The channel is good for that - it actually gets me play a game more comprehensively which is hard to do when you're buying 5+ titles at a time.

Today, I'm checking out Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow - basically only because I hadn't before and I wanted to. It's as simple as that.
Pandora Tomorrow is the second game released in the Splinter Cell series, which is known for its stealth gameplay and might even rival the mighty Metal Gear series in playability.

Fear & Loathing in Geraldton [Part II]

Ah Christmas. A time of giving, spending time with family but most importantly, buying cheap Xbox's.
It wasn't that long ago that I went to Geraldton for Easter, but in Australia it was another month, so it was time for another public holiday. This time it was for Christmas, where in-between eating cray fish and then throwing it up over the side of a boat (there comes a time in life where you truly become a man, and other times where you learn you can get sea-sick) I managed to make it to one of my favourite op-shops in the state.

The Cogman Recycling facility hasn't changed too much since last April. Just check the image in the above linked post; I'm sure that funky 80's oven is still there, but sadly the great wall of VHS's and mid 2000's DVD players has diminished somewhat. What hasn't changed however, are the bargains. Last time I visited I scored a semi-working PS2, two PS2 games and an Xbox controller for the partly sum of $12. Hoping to match that absolutely ridiculous deal, I somewhat beat it by purchasing two Xbox's for $5 each, and a couple of PC games for $1 each. Later on, my cousin gave me an additional Halo Edition Xbox. They're fun to stack.

Still cheaper than Lego

The question on everyone's lips might be: how well does a $5 Xbox work? The answer turns out to be "quite well", actually. One of them works flawlessly, with not a problem in sight. It even has all the previous owners crappy music still on it.
The other Xbox boots up, and appears to have a fully functioning hard drive but the disk drive is a bit dicky. It wouldn't open-up on its own (it did try to though, I'll give it that) so I cracked it open and chucked a disk inside to find that the laser is still thankfully functional. The weird thing though, is that the disk drive would then function (and open) once the disk was inside, but would no longer open once the disk was removed. The disk seems to set something in place to get it working, but a lot of staring later on my behalf and it's still a mystery.

The Halo edition, or most of what I have of one, is a special case. As you can see in the photo, its missing its disk drive, but also the HDD. The cool thing about this unit though (apart from the exterior case) is that the motherboard and PSU are still alive and kicking, but the MOBO has a modchip soldered to it. I can confirm that the unit boots up, so sometime in the future I'm thinking of transplanting the HDD and disk drive from my usual unit and have the Halo Edition plus its modchip as my daily driver. Spare time is at a premium lately though, so expect it done sometime during my retirement (where I'll also probably finally play Skyrim).  

An op-shop visit wouldn't be complete without myself purchasing a rally game however, and this trip was no different. Also bought was Microsoft World of Flight. On purchase I assumed it was a plane game, maybe similar to the recently reviewed Wings 2: Aces High. But nope, it's an educational thingy. Eugh. Learning.
From what I can gather, Microsoft brought out a few like these varying in subject, and this ones all about planes. In a Windows 95 world, the internet as we know it was still in its infancy and apparently lacking in websites about planes. This was the disk to fix that temporary problem.
No doubt I'll still review it one day though.

Video: Red Dead Revolver for Xbox Review

We're back into the Xbox today, checking out the spiritual predecessor to Red Dead Redemption.
This game has its similarities to Redemption, but on the whole stands out as a completely different game. This is by all means a good thing too, which makes Revolver quite an easy game to recommend.

Shenmue II

Previously I posted about the original Shenmue, so I guess it's apt to post that I bought the sequel. Did I pay $80 for it this time though? Hell no! I'm no longer a dweeb... I'm more of a fiend these days more than anything.
It's amazing how it's always the least conspicuous places that have the most fantastic finds. This was bought from an op-shop that I'd only been to two times before (one time in pyjama pants, fun day), which is weird in a way considering how close it is to me. All the op-shops and pawn stores close to me have been picked clean by yours truly over my three year collecting career, so it's weird that I hardly go to this shop.

It's an independent like all great op-shops, so the prices are lower than onions. I bought Shenmue II on Xbox, including the DVD and the instruction manual for $3. I also bought a few others for the same price (which I'll get to in a minute) but hot damn, what a bargain. This is a game I've seriously been contemplating buying from eBay for a while now, just because I wanted to play it so much. I'm not a huge fan of buying games on eBay as long as op-shops still keep stocking them, but I very nearly did. It's been a couple of years since I played the original, so the want has been building. It isn't that expensive online, ranging from $20 to $30, but it feels like a victory none the less.

I would of very much liked the sequel on Dreamcast since that's what I played the original on (of course), but hey, I'm not complaining. I have the game now. I've even set my Xbox up in my bedroom hooked up to my widescreen away from the games room so I can accomplish the complete lazing around in my underwear experience this game deserves. It's a big game after all, the type you play until three in the morning.
I've been squeezing in about five hours a week so far, which is a lot less than it deserves, but unfortunately life has to continue smoothly no matter how great a game is. So far, I'm up to Kowloon so I am getting there, although I'm a bit afraid of finishing it. This game famously never had a third title, and the game has been left in limbo ever since. I guess once I do though, I can start being angry about it like the rest of the internet.

While I'm talking about games I've bought, I mind as well talk about games I've bought. And yes, I know; that last sentence is amazing writing on my behalf.
This is all I've claimed since the last time I touched on the topic:

Both those Xbox games were bought from the same op-shop, both three dollars each also. Red Dead Revolver has been a game I've been after for a while in particular too since I've sunk so much of my life into Red Dead Redemption.
The rest is a mixed bag; there are a few games that I bought just because they looked amazingly shit but a few actually look great.
Shit games are great, I've bought so many recently that it's almost getting embarrassing to look at my collection in general. I don't care though, they're fun to make videos about. Those nuggets of turd include Truck Racing on the PSone ($3) and Hot Wheel Extreme Racing also on the PSone ($5) which has alarmingly good graphics and sound design. Although Truck Racing is a whole different ball game; the menus look like they were made in Power Point.
Soviet Strike and V-Rally both on PSone were particularly awesome acquisitions since I didn't pay a penny for those, my awesome as shit girlfriend bought me those while out and about. Not only are they great games, they feel even greater because they're free. She paid five dollars each for those.
I paid more than usual for Syphon Filter 2 coming in at $10 but it was there, complete, and I just couldn't resist. I've been feeling like that sort of game recently, I played the demo heaps when I was a youngin.
Also in there is Actua Tennis for PSone for $5. I don't know why, but I just really love tennis games; I can't explain it. As a general rule, I dislike sports games quite a lot.
Lastly, I bought the original GTA on PC for $3, because... why not? I do own it on PSone also, but for that price I just couldn't resist.  

Video: Colin Mcrae Rally 04 for Xbox

My first Xbox review, which is probably the newest game I've review yet... I guess.

Cheap & Glorious Mega Drive Games

Gumtree has stricken my wallet and I again, as last week I actually managed to find some Mega Drive games that weren't more expensive than a six pack of booze.
In fact, I've only managed to add a couple of MD games to my collection since I picked up an actual Mega Drive months and months ago. I don't know why they're so hard to find, but when I do come across them the prices aren't right.
The other week I found a copy of PGA Tour Golf II in an op-shop for $4 boxed, and bought it just because I wanted something else to play on the MD. Do I like golf games? Absolutely not. I was just getting desperate.
I should of held my breath a little bit longer though as only a few days later I was browsing Gumtree, and came across this chap selling a whole bunch of MD games for $5 each. Perfect.
I selected the four I wanted out of his list, but I got chatting to him over SMS. Out of chance I asked him if he was also selling Road Rash (a game I've been after for a while on the MD) and he said he had a copy. He wasn't planning on selling it originally but would sell it to me for $5 regardless. Awesome.
All the games worked first try, so expect a lot of MD reviews in the coming months. It's a fantastic console that I haven't given much loving yet, but that's about to change.

I have also been out and about buying other games too quite a bit, but haven't been posting about them. I've been buying too many, and it would just be too much to post about. Over that, I wouldn't consider it particularly enthralling reading, but none the less here are some games I've picked up just over the last two days.

The only game I bought out of that lot yesterday was Jungle Strike on the... you guessed it, the Mega Drive! "The sequel to Desert Strike". 

Out of nowhere my MD collection is booming, which is by all means a fantastic thing. That cost nearly $8, because I'm super suave and saved myself seventy whole cents. How did I do that? Well, I just said: It was my super suaveness. 

I went into a local pawn store which, let's just say, I'm not that much a fan of. Why do I keep going back? Well, curiosity I guess. I have had some hits previously, but they're far apart. The shop is on a road I travel regularly you see, so sometimes I just can't resist the urge to check it out. The shop has a great selection, but everything is so damn overpriced. The stock doesn't seem to move either, every now and again I pick up something reasonably priced but otherwise the stock there always stays the same.

Anyway, this is one of those classy joints that has a $10 Eftpos minimum. I'm not a cash guy at heart, so when I come across that it makes my cringe. Sure I can see it being feasible if it's a small store, but this place is huge. The only reason they would have an Eftpos minimum is because they want you to spend more money, that's plain and clear. Anyway (again), I'm getting off track. I only had $7 and 30 cents on me in cash, and there was absolutely nothing else in that store which was at a price I was comfortable with paying ($130 N64's anyone?). Since I know the gaming stock in there isn't moving that much anyway, I thought they would have no problem marking a game down a measly seventy cents.
Well, turns out they did, so I had to put on the best poor student face that I could as to not buy something else and bring the transaction over $10. Cheap bastards.
So yeah, my opinion of that places lowers every time I go there. Why the hell do I go there though? Who knows, collectors urge I guess.

Today I had a bit more luck and checked out a few places near to my college which I hadn't been to before.

First off, I went to the local friendly Cash Converters and picked up Top Spin on the Xbox and Wave Race on the N64 for $5 each. Is $5 too much to pay for an Xbox game in this day and age? You'll have to read this post to find out. ;) 

Wave Race is a game that's interested me for a while, so I was happy to find that for $5. 

Just down the road were both a Salvo's and a Good Sammy's right next to each other, which was cool because they were both larger format stores. The Salvo's was mostly full of furniture and clothes though, no games, but I had a bit more luck in the Good Sammy's next door. 

Again, mostly larger items but I came across those three PSone games you see in the photo for $4 each. You might be squinting and wondering what Station 7 is. I was too, and strangely couldn't find anything about it on my phone at the time so I bought it out of pure curiosity. Turns out it's a demo disk.

I paid actual real life money for a demo disk. Oh well.

There really isn't much of note to write about the other two games apart from the fact that A Bugs Life has no scratches on it whatsoever. I've never seen that on a pre-owned kids game before, and will likely never again. 

Fear & Loathing in Geraldton

I headed up north this Long Easter Weekend to see relatives, drink fine beer and check out op shops and pawn shops. Hunting around was a little bit harder than usual considering it was a holiday period, but I managed to filtrate a few op-shops in town on the Saturday before they closed up at mid-day.

The first place I checked out was a Red Cross, where everything was half price. Unfortunately there wasn't a whole lot gaming wise to make use of the discount, but I did pick up a Zoo Tycoon pack (including three titles from the series) for a dollar. It was suppose to be 50 cents because of the sale, but I'm not a monster. I paid the whole dollar.  

After that I went to a Good Sammy's that was also pretty devoid of gaming related items except for a Finding Nemo PC game for $3. It was developed by Disney Interactive who developed some games I loved in my childhood, so I thought I would give it a shot. All the text on the case is in a middle eastern language though, so it's up for debate whether the game is actually in English or not. I know the story well though, so eh. I'm sure I'll manage. 

The real bargain of the day though, is this:

I went to an Op Shop that is actually at the local tip. Instead of throwing items away, you can instead leave them at the Op-Shop. Great idea really, not like anyone actually wants to trawl through a tip looking for treasure.

The only real downer is how everything is arranged, as in, it's not. Everything is crammed into this shed and it really takes a while to sort through things. Although, this wall of DVD and VHS players was fairly groovy:

Not a 3DO in sight

After fending off flies for a good twenty minutes, I came to the counter with a fat PS2, two PS2 games (WRC 2 and Enter the Matrix) and finally another Xbox controller (including the break off bit). Grand total? $12. No, that is not a typo. The nice lady even let me turn it on before purchasing. 

Hardly anything is labelled, so she just looked at all this 'junk' I had brought up to counter and presumably made a price up on the spot. That, is something I've very okay with.

The PS2 does boot up, yes, and controllers seem to work with it. I haven't been able to play anything yet though as the drive is quite temperamental. It's currently stuck open, so it will need some TLC and the consoles case needs a bit of a clean-up in general. I'll get onto it later though, hopefully the laser is still functional.

After I hopefully get it working to full potential, I might do something naughty like install HD Loader. I also feel it would be cool to use in a LAN since I have my slimline too. 

Is $4 Too Much For An Xbox Game?

My PS2 collection is getting absolutely ridiculous.
A year ago the then 20 or so PS2 games sat in a neat little row. They shared a section of the bookcase next to my consoles with all my handheld games. Everything was sunshine, happiness and pearls.
Fast forward twelve months and it's all developed into chaos; my PS2 collection has more than doubled to 48 games. All the handheld games (which have in their own right grown in size) have been moved to a different section of the bookcase that use to be full of, you know, books.
The only other platform that squeezes into that section of games are from the original Xbox. My rational for that is because they're from the same generation, and the game cases are the same size. It's all a bit in vane though, my Xbox collection only consists of six titles.

The reason for that? The price difference. I've mentioned the subject a few times on this blog before but PS2 games are laughably cheap right now. I don't know if it has to do with the PS3 dropping in price or the release of the PS4 placing the humble PS2 now two generations behind, but it's not out of the ordinary to pay $2 or $3 per game, even a single dollar if it's a shitty sports game.
This has boomed that collection, but the prices of the Xbox are not consistent at all. I've actually been having a really hard time finding them decently priced, with most places charging $7 or $8 per title.
Yesterday I was in a pawn shop and all Xbox games were $4 each, which is better but still made me groan a bit. This is the absolute best of the best at the moment, why aren't they the same price as the PS2 games? They are in the same generation after all.

It would appear the root of the problem simply comes from availability. The PS2 was both released before and discontinued after the Xbox. The Xbox sold over 24 million units, which is nothing to poke a stick at, but it's nothing but dwarfed by the PS2 sales figure, over 155 million. And no, that is not a typo. One hundred and fifty five million for all you cheque writers out there.
My mouth actually dropped a little when I read that, and I think a fly flew in. I knew it was the best selling console of all time, but shit, that just blows my mind a wee-little bit.

No shit there is no more PS2 games out there and at better prices, the reason they're cheap is because there is so damn many of them.
Is $4 too much for an Xbox game? Some might argue that's too much for any retro game, and sometimes I agree, but next time I'm out hunting for Xbox, I know for one that I will be considering the prices a little bit more.

And We Welcome an Xbox into the Retro Game On Family

Missing cables, sticky controllers, not breaking a 50 to buy a console; those are just some of the joys that op-shopping as to offer.

Generally speaking, I don't have much luck when it comes to buying consoles from op-shops. Usually you only find a handful of CD based 90's games among $2 jackets and 50 cent plates, but there is a particular Good Sammy's I know where I bought this Xbox for $30. This is actually the same Good Sammy's where I bought my Nintendo 64 from, so at the moment my opinion on that particular storefront is quite high.

$30 bought me the console, two controllers and a power cable. Sadly, one of the controllers is after market, and the legitimately branded one is missing the part of the cable that is suppose to stop cable breaks. Good idea in theory, but I guess those end bits are easy to loose.
Unfortunately the after market controller I can plug in is quite sticky. It doesn't seem to be anything sickly (Coke maybe?) but it's still putting me off playing on the console for an extended amount of time until I can find a replacement for the end of that cable.
I have played it long enough to know it works though, and I bought Project Gotham Racing from a thrift store for $4 (which seems quite fun from the little I've played). As for the missing audio/video cable, I'm currently borrowing one off a friend. There is an after market replacement coming in the mail though.  

While I don't think I can class the original Xbox as 'retro' yet, it is now in that period of time where the hardware and software is insanely cheap. Considering the Xbox One has just been announced, it's nearly two generations behind now; so it's well on its way.
I should have a five to ten year gap where I can enjoy these prices (which I'm also doing with the PS2 at the moment) so there are fun, cheap times ahead.