Just comparing this to the other games, I would have to say it does really well. Don't pick up call of duty 4.9 get this!

In the case of this book you don't get what you pay for, you get way way more than what you payed for, because you payed nothing...

Can't really fault this for what it is, short to the point description of Buddhism. If you are looking for something really in depth search elsewhere.

I think the title sums it up well "The Essence" its only a whiff, but a good whiff, can't complain!

Of course reviews are all about peoples opinions on a subject, so thats what I will offer.

I found this book at times very hard to read because of the long tangents Barry goes on that completely take away from the story. My mind drifts sometimes and I just want to get to the best bits. I don't dislike a lot of these tangents, they create a great atmosphere sometimes, however I feel that some of them are just there for the sake of nothing and take away from the story and bore you.

I did enjoy this book, I got into the characters and sympathised greatly with Wille Dunne (the protagonist). I found the book really predictable though, there was only one but when my jaw dropped in surprise. Perhaps it is meant to be predictable, perhaps that adds to the sadness of the novel. The book defiantly touched me though because it did make me very sad.

I have said I enjoyed this book but come to think of it I am not sure if I enjoyed it or was immersed in it. Because I was not satisfied when I finished it nor was I happy that I have read it.

I should mention that it has great historical flaws (to some readers) but your average Joe won't be worried about the historical accuracy of the use of mustard gas.

I don't think I could recommend this book but I see nothing wrong with it, it paints an image so bleak with no redeeming factor that it just saddens you. I defiantly think this book is overrated.

I don't read many books but i have to say this is one of the best I have ever read.
Really hard to put down and really eye opening!
Pick it up!

I have never been so disappointed at a game in my life. As a stand alone game i would say it was good, but compared to Dragon Age: Origins or either of the Mass Effect games this game is to put it plainly bad.

I will get the good points out of the way first. If you played the previous Dragon Age game you will be intrigued by the new setting outside Fereldon and understanding the different politics of the region. It expands the world of Dragon Age. Apart from that i don't really know how i can compliment the game any further. If i looked at it independently from its predecessor maybe, but Dragon Age: Origins is better than this game in almost every way.

It has a jumbled story, a graphical downgrade, an incredible strange hack and slash ideal, a removal of dialogue, uninteresting characters, less moral choices, less interesting quests, a strange difficulty curve and an absolutely terrible ending (They do vary slightly, but they share the same main point). The thing that confuses me the most is why they chose to make it a kinda hack and slash? Instead of pressing A to attack an enemy you have to repeatedly tap it? Why? Who was the genus behind that? It also takes longer to use your abilities so you won't be pressing X,Y or B very often. Also medical packs have a cool down delay? Why i really don't understand what the developers were thinking.

Honestly this is probably the biggest disappointment for me gaming wise. Bioware is still my favorite game developer but they need to understand that they will never appeal your common COD boy. Stop dumbing it down, please you are loosing fans/sales not gaining them.

I find it difficult to explain why i disliked this game so much i had to sell it.
I have bought every single halo game since the first one for the PC/Xbox and loved them all. Even halo 3 ODST, i really liked it. I think one of the main reasons i dislike this game is the crowd it attracts: Squeaky, Annoying, Common fanboys! Online is over run by them.
This game also doesn't feel Halo in a way, the story is pretty poor and so is the campaign. Its a good game, balanced multiplayer, nice graphics but it may just not take a halo fans fancy.

The Saboteur is a game set in occupied Paris during world war 2, it is incredibly atmospheric if a little silly at some times. Although the game does not seem to take itself seriously it actually feels quite tense at some times. The black and white filter in occupied area's really adds a touch of polish and class to the unknown masterpiece. Yes an unknown masterpiece this game is not popular enough for what it is worth and its worth a lot much more than the price it is being sold.

Graphics:
As i commented before really stunning visuals, the black and white filter really adds some atmosphere to the game and gives it some personality. The characters are quite detailed for such a large game in scale. But you may notice some dodgy textures occasionally but for the most part it is very good and you won't be unimpressed. No frame rate issues around as far as i am aware.

Gameplay:
This game feels like "Assassins Creed 2" impregnated "Grand Theft Auto 4" and made a beautiful baby. The mix of free climbing, hand to hand combat, shooting and driving really makes the game feel fresh and like you are the hero/heroin. The enemy AI in the game is of average intelligence although they will just sacrifice themselves sometimes but it won't effect your overall experience.

Story:

Simple as the title, the most underrated game of this generation folks.
BUY BUY BUY! You will never feel so much like you are in a story.

Halo 3 is a huge hit selling around 10 million copies to date. So i was super happy in 2008 when i heard that Halo ODST was coming out. Did it live up to the huge hype? Short answer: Yes! Read on to find out why.

STORY:

The story in this game is excellent. You are an Orbital Drop Shot Trooper on a secret mission of some sort, unfortunately you are knocked innocuous after being dropped into the city of New Mombassa and awaken after the battle has been fought, in the night. The story is told though flash backs as you discover clues from your other clue members. You eventually meet up with your squad in the end. The story takes a lot of twists and has a lot of depth. This is one of the best games stories i have played. unfortunately the game campaign only last about 5-7 hours on normal single player. But there is a lot of replay ability here because of 4 player co-op and the different difficulty levels.

GAMEPLAY:

Halo 3: ODST still holds the great halo formula; the controls are the same as the previous halo's and are solid. The only thing that has changed is that you have access to night vision when you press X. In ODST you are an elite soldier but you are not a super soldier like master chief. This means you must approach the enemies differently. It is possible to run and gun but you will die very quickly. The best approach is to hold back or you can even flank the clever AI enemies. You can even incorporate some stealth into the game. Because you are not as strong as master chief you die a lot quicker and it takes more melee hits to kill an enemy, this makes higher difficulty levels stay true to their purpose. There are also two new weapons introduced, the original Halo one silenced pistol that is one headshot kill on most enemies and the silenced SMG with larger rounds. The halo gameplay does not get old.

GRAPHICS:

The graphics are excellent, the environments, vehicles and weapons are all very detailed. There is no slow down or frame rate issues. The graphical style is colourful and slightly cartoon to a certain extent but still looks better than most gams on the 360 or PS3. The lighting is also excellent in the environments. Defiantly a beauty to look at.

MUSIC/SOUND:

The sound and music is stella. The gunfire sounds excellent and realistic. And the sound of shots hitting surfaces all sounds good. Voice acting is also good for both human and alien. Music is some of the best in video gaming, it really sounds like it belongs and it doesn't engorge the game. Truly great as were its predecessors.

MULTIPLAYER:

The second disc contains Halo 3's multiplayer complete with all the DLC and all the features from halo 3 like Forge and Custom games not to mention Theater which is an amazing replay and record feature. This really sets halo 3's multiplayer apart from other games. Some people may feel that they are re-buying the halo 3 map pacs which is a slight problem and stops this game being a perfect 10. There is also a Halo horde like mode called Firefight where you have to fight endless waves of the covenant. Very fun.

All in all this is a fantastic game and a must buy for any 360 owner.

STORY: 9/10
GAMEPLAY: 10/10
GRAPHICS: 9/10
MUSIC/SOUND: 10/10
MULTIPLAYER: 8/10

TOTAL: 9.2/10

Forza 3 is probably the best racing sim out this generation. With stunning visuals, great gameplay and strong controls. This is a must have for any 360 owner and i will explain why:

Graphics:
The graphics look really smooth and sleek. All the textures and surfaces look like the real thing. And the detail inside the cars is immaculate. Not to mention the beautiful tracks with vibrant colours, great looking shadows and nice lighting effects. The main menu looks incredible clean and sleek with one of your cars in the background on a show floor. This game surely is a sight to behold. Plus the damage models look a lot better than Forza 2.
Graphics 10/10

Gameplay:
With over 400 cars to choose from and over 100 tracks to drive through all with different twists and turns and with each car feeling and controlling differently. This will keep your thumbs busy forza long time. Having such a huge car roster really adds some personality to the experience, you can buy your own car and drive it around a track! Of course you can use your favorite car in free play or you can buy it and use it in career mode in competitions. You can also tweak your cars features to make them better or control differently. And unlike most racers you can design your own custom vinyls and put them on your car! The control scheme is like any other racer and it doesn't matter wether your 7 or 63 you will still be able to grasp the controls. Every little thing was taken in to consideration when this game was made you can even take a picture of anything at anything offline. I am just scratching the surface with gameplay here.
Gameplay: 9/10

Career:
The game has a career mode that is ongoing. You rank up your driver level and car level. Ranking up your driver level will reward you with a new car. And ranking up your cars levels will provide discounts on the manufacturer. You could plunge hours into the career, earning credits to buy new cars, vinyls, tweaks ect...
Career: 10/10

Online:
The online community on this game is amazing. There is a market place where you can buy/sell vinyls, car setups, cars, paint jobs and video clips. Of course there is a multiplayer; with up to 8 players in a dew different modes. DLC is defiantly on the horizon as well.
Online: 10/10

Music & Sound:
The music in this game fits perfectly with its surroundings, its crisp and mellow in the sleek start screen but speeds up in game. The sounds of cars crashing and crunching sounds very realistic as does all the screeching of wheels and changing of gears.
Music & Sound: 9/10

VERDICT:
A must have racer, pick up ASAP: 9.4/10