The upcoming firmware update for the Xbox 360, dubbed the “New Xbox Experience” or “NXE,” is supposed to fix all that is wrong with the blade-based user interface the system shipped with. Microsoft isn’t just promising a refresh, but a whole new look and feel for the system—it’s almost like a relaunch of the user experience. With the cheapest Xbox 360 retailing for only $200 and an inexpensive hard drive option available, this could be just the thing to give 360 sales a kick in the pants.

And we have the NXE right now, on our systems.

The problem is we can’t talk about the update, or provide any detail beyond its existence, until October 29. Luckily, that’s not far away, and we’ll be able to give you a full report on what the update does and doesn’t do well before it launches for everyone on November 19. So, I have a simple question for you before I start my testing in-depth: what would you like to know about NXE? What didn’t you like about the blades, what do you hope is fixed, what do you hope they kept the same? What would you like me to try?

Everyone uses system-wide interfaces in different ways, and to accomplish different things, so I would love to get your feedback about what you’re concerned about or interested in. If nothing else, this will give me some guidance about what features to try that I don’t normal use.

source

Full health and armor

Number: 3625550100

Translation: DOC-555-0100

This will also repair your vehicle if you enter the cheat from a vehicle. You won’t be able to earn “Cleaned The Mean Streets”, “Finish Him”, “One Man Army”, and “Walk Free” achievements if you use this cheat.

Full health, armor, and ammunition

Number: 4825550100

Translation: GTA-555-0100

Release Date: 06/03/2008
ESRB Rating: Mature
Genre: Action
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Team Ninja

Is anyone up for a bloodbath? If so, you will find quite a bit of pleasure in Ninja Gaiden 2 for Xbox 360. The level of violence in this game is pretty damn high actually. We are talking gushing fountains of blood and people losing arms, legs, and other body parts like its some sort of murder party. If you are in to that kind of thing then this sequel will be sure to entertain you thoroughly. However, if you are like me you may find yourself a bit disappointed in the game. The combat system is still awesome and well defined, but that doesn’t take away from the game feeling like another predictable fighting game.

Ninja Gaiden 2 isn’t much different from its predecessor other than the fact that is probably 10 times for bloody. Without the combat this game would be extremely plain and most likely found in a bargain bin at Gamestop. The AI of the enemies was refreshing to see though. Instead of them sitting around waiting to be attacked…they willingly initiate combat with you and attack with everything they’ve got. You actually feel like you are defeating enemies and forget that they are just mere artificial intelligence drones walking around the game. The combat system and the feel that it gives you is really what carry’s this game. It isn’t an upgrade from the last Ninja Gaiden, but there was nothing wrong with the first system anyway.

I really wish that Team Ninja would have spent as much time as they did on the combat as they did on every other aspect of the game. If they did that we would be playing one incredible game that would live up to the hype behind the Ninja Gaiden series. Sure the game is about a freaking ninja so you are no doubt going to need a solid combat system, but is it too much to ask for better platforming and exploring? Obviously it is because neither of these aspects were treated as needed additions to the game! You start to feel like you are in a box in your surroundings which is not something I enjoy on a next-gen console. If you have played Ninja Gaiden 2 then you know what I mean. The invisible walls that block you from the backgrounds seem to be everywhere and make it somewhat awkward for you to move around. Sure, the backgrounds are pretty but when you feel trapped within them it really takes away from the game. Also, the strange boxed-in feeling you get when walking near ledges is something I would expect in the old school Ninja Gaiden games…not in one for the Xbox 360.

On top of all this you are given quite possibly the worst camera in the history of 3D gaming. Think Mario 64 camera bad (which was really awful in case you don’t know/remember). The camera really complicates things for you…especially the combat. It seems like it wants to either leave you behind or stay behind. You can fix the camera manually with the controller but who wants to deal with that in the middle of an intense battle? Sometimes I think the camera is literally drunk due to the decisions it makes.

For my last complaints I will talk about the unnecessary backtracking the game makes you do, and the story. It really makes it feel like a chore when you have to backtrack to unlock something that you only found was locked a minute ago. It just doesn’t tie it in very well with everything that is going on. The story is bleh…not bad but not great either. In fact, its really predictable and by the end you already know what is going to happen.

However, you are probably not worried so much about the things I have discussed in this review. Most fans of the series will find a way to like Ninja Gaiden 2 even if they have to make themselves do it. The combat system is truly amazing and can be a lot of fun. For everything else…I’ve seen better.

DeVOTeD 2 Gaming Rating:

DeVOTeD 2 GaminG Rating

However, this game is not completely flawless. If you aren’t a real big fan of the actual series then you may be a bit disappointed in the story. Why?…well because they don’t really do any building up of the events that are going on and what is happening. So without the knowledge of the story lines from the sagas you are basically just…fighting. This is really the only downfall to this game because it really limits its appeal to only those who are already fans. Without the opportunity to get to know the characters you simply won’t get attached to them. The game itself is made very well so it could have launched the fanbase to new heights, but instead it is only going to benefit the current fanbase only. I’m not saying that non-DBZ fans will not enjoy the game…because the mechanics behind the game are all there. I’m just saying that after you play this game you won’t find yourself wanting to watch DBZ or really care anything about the series itself. I guess this is a game though…so we should only concentrate on the game!

The moves are easy to pull off and start out with basic ones, and then move on to more advanced moves for better combo’s & tactics. Moving on to the advanced mechanics is where you will master the game and dominate your friends or random people online in combat. Strategy plays a pretty large part in Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit as with any fighting game nowadays. Speaking of strategy…you will want to use your Ki Gauge very wisely in this game. Not only can you use it for blasting out special attacks that not only look cool…they hurt like hell, but you can also use it to unleash special blocks that will counter the other players special attack. The benefit of blocking a special attack should be obvious! However, if you save up and let your Ki Gauge become completely full you have another decision on your hands. You can either transform into another form such as Super Saiyan or you can enter Aura Spark mode. Transforming can be fun, but if you go into Aura Spark mode you get increased attacks for a short duration along with ending by teleporting and using a “Blow-Away” attack that does a significant amount of damage.

Back to fighting mechanics now. The game has a pretty cool counter-attack system that relies heavily on precise timing which can give a pro player a great advantage in battle. If you jump in with a veteran gamer and start smashing every button you can…you are very likely to get your butt handed to you very quickly. Also, for those who love to hold the block button down throughout the whole battle will get acquainted with the fatigue system the hard way. Every time you block you add a bit of fatigue to the gauge. When the gauge fills completely up you will be stunned and won’t be able to move at all for a short while…but long enough for someone to tear into you for blocking all their other blows. The fatigue system isn’t as tight as I would like it to be, but it’s a great start so I hope to see it again in future DBZ fighting games as well as fighting games in general.

My final thoughts on Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit? Well…it’s a great fighting game with solid mechanics to back it up. It’s easy to pull off awesome moves, counter-attacks, transformations, and combos. And if you master the game you will be having tons of fun in the online multiplayer modes as long as both players have a good connection. If you or the person you are playing against has a crappy internet connection your gaming experience will suffer a considerable amount. The lack of variety in both characters and stages was fairly disappointing as well, and as stated earlier the missing storyline is a bit of a downer as well. This game will be completely awesome to those who are DBZ fans, and will likely appease those who aren’t for a little bit at least. I just hope the next Dragon Ball Z game keeps the mechanics of this game, and improves on the few downfalls. It gets a 4 out of 5 from me.

DeVOTeD 2 GaminG Rating

Rock Band Song List

• “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” – Jet
• “Ballroom Blitz” – Sweet
• “Black Hole Sun” – Soundgarden
• “Blitzkrieg Bop” – Ramones
• “Celebrity Skin” – Hole
• “Cherub Rock” – Smashing Pumpkins
• “Creep”* – Radiohead
• “Dani California” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
• “Dead on Arrival” – Fall Out Boy
• “Detroit Rock City” – Kiss
• “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” – Blue Öyster Cult
• “The Electric Version” – The New Pornographers
• “Enter Sandman” – Metallica
• “Epic” – Faith No More
• “Flirtin’ with Disaster” – Molly Hatchet
• “Foreplay/Long Time” – Boston
• “Gimme Shelter” – The Rolling Stones
• “Go with the Flow” – Queens of the Stone Age
• “Green Grass and High Tides” – The Outlaws
• “The Hand That Feeds” – Nine Inch Nails
• “Here It Goes Again” – OK Go
• “Highway Star” – Deep Purple
• “I Think I’m Paranoid” – Garbage
• “In Bloom” – Nirvana
• “Learn to Fly” – Foo Fighters
• “Main Offender” – The Hives
• “Maps” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• “Mississippi Queen” – Mountain
• “Next to You” – The Police
• “Orange Crush” – R.E.M.
• “Paranoid” – Black Sabbath
• “Reptilia” – The Strokes
• “Run to the Hills” – Iron Maiden
• “Sabotage”* – Beastie Boys
• “Say It Ain’t So” – Weezer
• “Should I Stay or Should I Go” – The Clash
• “Suffragette City” – David Bowie
• “Tom Sawyer” – Rush
• “Train Kept A-Rollin’” – Aerosmith
• “Vasoline” – Stone Temple Pilots
• “Wanted Dead or Alive” – Bon Jovi
• “Wave of Mutilation” – Pixies
• “Welcome Home”* – Coheed and Cambria
• “When You Were Young” – The Killers
• “Won’t Get Fooled Again” – The Who

Unlockable Songs

• “29 Fingers” – The Konks
• “Blood Doll” – Anarchy Club
• “Brainpower” – Freezepop
• “Can’t Let Go” – Death of the Cool
• “Day Late, Dollar Short” – The Acro-Brats
• “I Get By” – Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives
• “I’m So Sick” – Flyleaf
• “Nightmare” – Crooked X
• “Outside” – Tribe
• “Pleasure (Pleasure)” – Bang Camaro
• “Seven” – Vagiant
• “Time We Had” – Mother Hips
• “Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld” – Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld

Downloadable

Additional song downloads are added often so it is best to check on the Playstation 3 Network or Xbox Live store for the latest list.

Grand Theft Auto IV - PS3

Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition - PS3

Grand Theft Auto IV - Xbox 360

Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition - Xbox 360