Red Steel was one of the most popular launch games for the Nintendo Wii back in late 2006 largely due to Nintendo's advertising for the game. The game was one of the more mature titles (rated T for Teen) of the Wii launch games. I didn't get to play Red Steel at launch because I couldn't get a Nintendo Wii until 2008. About two years ago I found this game used for $ 4.99 at a local EB games store; I figured I'd buy it since I've always wanted to give it a try. I probably would have been more impressed with Red Steel if I had played it at launch but today it still comes off as a fun launch title even though it suffers from a few flaws.

The story was based on Japanese mobs, known as Yakuza. You play as Scott Monroe and you're engaged to some girl and just about to see her father for the very first time. The meeting is ruined by the mafia, you then have to save the father, rescue the girl and so on. As far as storyline goes this is acceptable and it works. The Japanese feel of the game is something that I thought was very cool. With Red Steel being one of the launch games you obviously couldn't expect to be perfect, and it certainly wasn't. The controls are fairly simple, you push doors with the nunchuk and shoot and aim with the Wiimote basically. The camera is flawed, sometimes if you move the Wiimote slightly too fast the camera will move where you didn't want it to which can get a little frustrating. You get used to the flawed camera, it doesn't ruin the game but it's not one of the best camera responses I've ever seen. In comparison to games that came after it, Red Steel has very poor controls. You get used to the shooting easily but the swordsfighting with the katana feels awkward because the controls aren't as responsive as they should be resulting in the fights having no realistic feeling whatsoever. The swordsfights aren't fun at all because you have to block your opponent multiple times before being able to attack in most cases, plus most of the time they are just too easy to beat. The graphics were at times good and other times bad, it's not one of the Wii's best looking games let's keep it at that. Despite all this the game manages to pull you in and you're kind feeling the intensity and the stress all the way trough.

Today, more than four years after the launch of the Nintendo Wii some of the launch titles are still very good games, such as Twilight Princess and Rayman Raving Rabids. Unfortunately, Red Steel while providing good action fun is not one of those launch titles that stood the test of time very well. There was initially a lot of hype around Red Steel when it came out; it was one of Nintendo's most hyped games. For $4.99 I can't say that I'm disappointed, the game provides some fun and is entertaining but it's not one of the best Wii games. To the game's credit, it was one of the first Wii titles so it's understandable that it was basically a game that tested the Wii, it also must have been much better back then. The game is a bit dated and is not quite up to the Wii standards we've come to expect and does get a bit repetitive but it remains a fun launch title after all. I'm not all criticizing I'm being objective, so games stand the test of times better than others. If you're curious it's a game that you might want to rent before buying. Overall I rate it 3/5 stars.

It's well-known that the Nintendo Wii does not have much mature rated games, preferring to target families and social gaming instead. For the hardcore gamer who wants a game with all the violence and blood he can handle for the Wii, this might be his best bet. In 2009 Sega released Madworld for the Wii, a terrific rated M game that offers highly creative visual, black and white anime look that is very different from other Wii games. Every time you hit a character sounds effect like "blam", when you ride a motorcycle it will have "screech" and such so there is definitely a certain cartoon aspect to the game. I really like the visual aspect of the game; I feel it's one of the best parts of the game. The least I can say is that the graphics are pretty and unique; Chinatown was one of the best levels for me because it was nice to look at. It's a very distinct game which is why I like it so much.

You are Jack a tough guy who is a competitor on the show Deathwatch, your goal is simple: kill your enemies and try to survive. Nothing spectacular for a storyline but it's different and it works so no complaints. You have your fists and a chainsaw (a la Gears of Wars) to defend yourself. I like how you can also take just about any objects around you and use it as a weapon in some way; it's always fun to beat enemies with different methods. The motorcycle biking level has got to be one of my favorites The mini games provide great pleasure; you make fun of the enemies, Darts is one of my personal favorites! Boss fights are always entertaining even if they're not all that difficult. Actually the game is not that difficult until you switch difficulty, also it's not a very long game I beat it within a day after a couple hours of play. The game is a little too short but don't let that keep you from playing Madworld it's really worth it and a fun Wii experience. The controls are fairly simple and they're effective. The game is mostly punches, jumping, moving, chainsaw, combos, performing a combination of buttons will make a small sequence of a hilarious and spectacular kill. Madworld makes good use of the Wiimote and Nunchuk, the game has a first level that's a little tutorial and the controls are easy to remember, the camera is not always spot on and I have seen better controls but I also have seen worse.

Madworld is really mindless fun, the game has a crazy and mature sense of humor which will make players either love it or hate it. There are two announcers who are hilarious with their comments and they add to that humor element of the game. The mini games that you unlock at the end of each level are perfect examples of this. Once you unlock the mini games you can play them multiplayer which is fun but I wish there was more to do for multiplayer gaming. There are plenty of good things to say about this game but it also has negatives. For instance, the game is too short I would have liked it to be longer at the price I paid. Madworld can get repetitive since all you do is kill enemies, bosses and move on but the mini games, unique visuals (reminds me of Okami, another excellent game for the Wii) and the humor put into it makes it all worth it. Madworld is an excellent Wii title but I can't quite give it five stars because it's a tad too short; however it's a different game and one that is always a blast to play.I say buy with confidence, it's not one of the Wii more known title but I see as more of a great slightly obscure games. Overall, I rate it a solid 4/5 stars.

What is it with Mario sports titles that make them so enjoyable? To me it's the combination of Mario characters, sports and special moves put together makes for fun sports titles. You don't even need to be a fan of sports to enjoy Mario Strikers Charged of the Wii, much like Wii sports in a way. I played the original Mario Strikers on the Gamecube when it was released and later on Mario Strikers Charged was one of the very first Wii games I bought (and one of my reasons for buying one) and it remains one that I still enjoy today. Strikers Charged was released on Wii in 2007 and despite the few years that have gone by it remains an excellent Wii game that still looks good graphically (for a 2007 Wii game keep in mind and the 17 courses look very good)and is a blast to play. It's one Wii title that is worth trying and buying. It's a great Mario game and it's a fun sports game at the same time, a winning combination.

There are 12 captains and 8 sidekicks you can choose from, and as can be expected every player has their own special abilities. For instance Bowser can breathe fire with his special, while Mario & Luigi can become huge and crush other players with theirs; it's the same for the sidekicks. The captains can perform what are called Mega Strikes which can lead to up to 6 goals being scored at the same time (so much for the fair play of soccer huh?). The game can be very challenging; I had difficulties winning all the trophies because the game is so unpredictable. The fact that you can never predict anything for sure makes it interesting and fun but it can also be very frustrating. Some may not see the "soccer" aspect of the game, seeing only characters running around hitting each other and using special moves but it is the way of the Mario Sports games since some time now (Tennis, Baseball, Basketball). It may seem un-sports like at first but I assure that there is strategy behind this game, lots of thinking is implied such as knowing when to use which special/character at the right time and staying focused.

Strikers Charged offers an exhibition mode, cup quests, online mode and more but those three are the core of the game. The controls are fairly easy to understand and are simple enough, you need both the nunchuk and the Wiimote to play however. Interesting enough, this was the second Wii title to feature online play. Just in case you're wondering, Miis can be used also. The best part of the game is the multiplayer play, known to be a key feature of the Wii console. The Wii is primarily aimed for casual gamers and social gaming and this game justifies this (ok it may not be for every casual gamer but...), it's much more fun with friends than alone even if the game offers a good single player play.

I must admit I am not a fan of soccer at all, I don't hate the sport but I certainly never expected Strikers to be as fun as it was when it came out for the Gamecube in 2005. Strikers Charged for the Wii is no exception and with the Wii's innovative controls it makes it a better game and a more entertaining one I believe. Unfortunately, unless you often play with friends or challenge others via Wi-Fi, once you've beat the game you might find yourself playing now and then but don't expect terrific replayability. You seriously don't have to like soccer to enjoy Mario Strikers Charged but it will appeal more to some than others. 4/5.

I Love You Man covers an interesting territory: men-men friendship. Sure there are a few movies that have done this before this one but I don't think they do it quite as well as ILYM does. The movie is a little formulaic but the two main actors, Paul Rudd and Jason Segel's performances make the movie what it is, an entertaining movie on what could be called "bromance". The movie did fairly well at the box office when it was released in 2009, but I don't think it gets the acclaim it deserves.

Peter Klaven is a real estate agent who just proposed to his wife Zoey. Peter is charming and the couple loves each other but the problem is Peter never had much male friends and can't seem to find a best man for his upcoming wedding. Peter's brother and mother try to find him a guy friend with no success. Klaven eventually meets Sidney Fife, an investor, at one of his open houses and the two quickly become very good friends. Zoey is not too thrilled with Sydney and Peter decides that maybe his relationship with Sydney should be put on hold for a while. It' not a complicated movie and towards the end it gets a little predictable but I Love You Man is a highly enjoyable movie that just about everyone can enjoy. It paints a good portrait of the relationship between men in general, I must say.

This is Paul Rudd at his acting best and most honest; I can't really see anyone but Rudd playing the charming Peter Klaven. Jason Segel for his part delivers a great performance as Sidney Fife a well intentioned and free spirited friend of Peter's. What's great is that they're so different from one another; Peter is a more sensitive guy while Sydney is more of a guy's guy. Rashida Jones was great as Zoey, Peter's wife and the chemistry between the two worked well to a certain degree. The supporting cast only adds more to the movie, the actors were very good. I only have good things to say about I Love You Man, its great comedy that is well worth watching. To me this was one of the highlights of 2009 in terms of movies, an excellent comedy that's funny, touching and filled with emotional appeal that I still enjoy and watch every now and then. 5 stars for this one!

Nintendo's take on the classic board games with the Mario and co. characters has been around since the days of the N-64, with games in the series also being released for the Gamecube (4-7), the GBA (Mario Party Advance), the Wii (8) and the Nintendo DS. This one is simply and appropriately called Mario Party DS, it's not a full Mario party game like the home consoles ones but it's a portable one and a very complete shorter version of the Mario Party games. I've been a fan of the MP games since the very first one was released back in 1998 and have played every one of them except the GameBoy Advance title, so I'm kind of a hardcore fan. Mario Party DS makes great use of the Nintendo DS' capacities; the stylus and the mic make for very fun games and ads a little different something which I quite like to the Mario Party franchise. That's a plus in my book.

The storyline goes like this: there are five crystal stars falling from the sky and Mario catches one. Mario then shows it to his friends, afterward Bowser sends an invitation for a party to everyone because he feels that he's been awful towards them. It's a catch and Bowser steals the star and shrinks our friends of the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario and his friends must find all of the four remaining crystal stars...by playing all the board maps! There are 8 characters that you can play as which is reasonable for a portable version (and twice as much as the GBA version that only had Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi), they are: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toad, Yoshi, Wario & Waluigi. You still can't play as DK but that was to be expected, the ones offered are enough for me and I don't really miss any other of the past characters you could play as. Of course you can also select the difficulty for the opponents, from easy, normal and hard.

There are 5 modes to be played: Story Mode, Party Mode, Mini-game Mode, Puzzle Mode and Multiplayer, plus you can visit the galleries to view collection, records and more. The story mode is nothing really special because you basically play the four board games available and then you unlock one, however it works and that's all that counts really. I found it great that there are boss battles at the end of each board; it made the game that much more fun and it added something different to the party. Party Mode allows you to play the five boards, Mini-game mode lets you play the mini-games you've earned, puzzle mode is puzzles, and multiplayer let's you play with up to four friends using one single card (which is a great feature and it's nice to play with someone else). Multiplayer mode even has two extra games when two players are playing.

What's especially great is that the best aspect of each Mario Party, the mini-games, there are plenty of them. 74 to be more precise, and this means that there are about as many here than on any other MP game which is excellent being that this game is a portable one. The best part is that the mini-games are actually really fun. My favorites must be the ones where you blow into the mic to stop a bomb from exploding and such, the games that use the stylus are fun ones but there aren't a whole lot of them (mostly puzzle games). There are others that use the D-Pad and the A & B buttons and some use the Left and Right buttons on top of the DS, nothing complicated and the games usually aren't too hard (except the ones that require more luck than skills). The only bad aspect of the game is how the CPU controlled character can get incredibly lucky all of a sudden. They will buy a star which is a huge part of winning in MP (along with coins) and the next star will luckily get moved a few spaces from them and they will get this one also (it happened three times in a row once) in a SINGLE TURN! Luck is a huge factor of Mario Party and in this game more than ever! That aside, it's an excellent game and there isn't much negative that can be said of it.

To be honest I didn't expect a whole lot out of Mario Party DS and to some it will be boring but to me it was a nice surprise. Keep in mind that this is a portable version and that it doesn't have as good graphics as some of the home console ones and that the boards are not as big, if you buy with this in mind I'm sure you will enjoy the game. Don't let the fact that this is a portable game prevent you from buying it, it's a fun party. I'd recommend to borrow it from a friend if possible but if you're a fan of the Mario Party games or maybe even board games in general then this one is well worth it. I give this party a solid 4.5/5 stars.

Like many people who watched this movie, I saw it because of the cast it featured. I like a good comedy and Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider are well respected and talented actors in their own way. I read many negative reviews about Grown Ups but the cast still made me want to see it. I am disappointed? Well, yes and no because I knew it wasn't going to be all that great but at the same I am because those actors have starred in good movies and would have you expect something a little better. The storyline goes like this: 5 childhood friends are reunited following the death of their beloved junior high basketball coach. They then decide to spend a weekend together at a lake house together and bring their families. As the title suggest you can expect to see grown up *ahem* people enjoying their moments together, rebuilding their relationships, catching up on what's been going on all these years and be immature adults. This storyline leads to interesting and funny situations and some not-so-funny as well, it hits and misses really.

I'm not saying the movie is terrible, because it's not. But it uses too many clichés and jokes you've seen a hundred times before (farts and such); it's a little predictable as well. There are some moments that you are likely to enjoy if you are a fan of these actors, I don't get how you could like these actors and hate the movie beginning to end. If you're a fan of the cast then you might want to see it, just don't expect a great movie out of grownups. I find it funny how the highest ranked reviews for this film are all 5 stars yet many reviewers are claiming this movie is horrible, it just proves how viewers will be divided when it comes to having an opinion for this movie. As far as I'm concerned, I enjoyed it for what it was and it was an entertaining film but it was nothing exceptional. 3/5 stars.

If you owned an SNES consoles back in the 1990s chances are you'll remember the Donkey Kong Country games (1-2-3) and look back fondly on them. Skip forward to 2010 Donkey Kong Country Returns is released for the Wii. I'm quite happy to say that the game developers Retro Studios did an excellent job with this old beloved series, often when a new game of an old series comes out it is not like the classic games and fans are disappointed. This is not the case; DK Country is back in all its glory and the game is close the SNES ones and is a really fun one. Things have not changed much since the original, except this time around you play as Donkey and Diddy (Donkey Kong is stronger and Diddy is faster and can fly for a short period of time with his jet pack, Diddy can also hop on DK's back)at the same time meaning you don't tag anymore. This is likely due to success of fully multiplayer games like Super Mario Bros Wii where you play the story with multiple players. I find this co-op gameplay fun, it's a simple yet very good addition to the series and on the Wii it will be beneficial as multiplayer is possibly the Wii's strongest point.

Retro studios captured the feel of the DC series with the look and the music; it's faithful to the series. One thing I noticed is that the difficulty has increased, not necessarily a bad thing (and hardcore gamer will probably approve of this) but it's definitely noticeable. I find this one harder than 1-2-3 but it's not really a problem. I must say that I was a little disappointed that you don't get to fight King K Rool and that you now fight tikis (a la Crash Bandicoot as other reviewers have pointed out) instead of kremlings but it doesn't take away that this is a great and fun game. It's great that they kept the K-O-N-G letters, the puzzle pieces, barrels, vines, the mine cart levels (of which there are many) and more. These elements were a big part of the Donkey Kong Country series. The collectibles you earned can be exchanged for helpful items at the shop. As for the game's controls you have the option to play with the Wiimote and the nunchuk or with the Wiimote tilted on the side for classic controls. Personally I prefer the classic controls but playing with both controllers is fun too.

If you ever were a fan of the Donkey Kong Country series for the SNES then you will probably enjoy this one as well, I don't see why you wouldn't. There really isn't much to criticize about the game it was very well done and should please the fans just like it pleased me. This game could also be recommended for someone who enjoyed Super Mario Bros Wii, it's similar in the sense that it's a good 2D side scrolling adventure -except with DK of course! If you're just looking for another fun Wii game that you can enjoy with friends and family this is a great addition to a Wii library. Rating : 4.5 /5 stars.

Being the huge Motley Crue and Nikki Sixx fan that I am, I thought this book would be a good read. It surely seemed so when I was looking trough it at a bookstore. Unfortunately this is ripping off the fans, it's been said before but it really is as if the author watched the Behind The Music episode on VH1 along with a few interviews and read the dirt. That's about as far as the research for this book went. Ok there is some other information on Nikki but the average fan probably knows all of this. If you've read Motley Crue's 2001 book The Dirt then this book won't be much of an education and you're not likely to learn anything. Besides, the book is very poorly edited with its many typos and tends to repeat itself.

Here is what Nikki Sixx himself had to say about the book:

"Years ago an unauthorized biography called "An Education in Rebellion" was written about me without my approval or support. It was never endorsed. In fact, I disapproved and considered legal action because I felt fans were getting ripped off by being sold a book without my involvement. I feel fans have bought it under the assumption that I approved of it because the writers have collected interviews from people that make it seem relevant - these people who were interviewed have told me afterwards that they had no idea that their conversations were being used for an unauthorized book. I want to say that I do not, now or ever, approve of people riding the coattails of other people's hard work and personal lives - this is criminal in my opinion. This is no different than what the paparazzi does or the gossipy crap that perches like vultures on our newsstands with magazines like the National Enquirer."

"The writer and publisher are now "re-releasing" the book with updated information based on my success with Mötley Crüe, Sixx: A.M., The Heroin Diaries and other ventures I'm involved in. It's scummy at best to be honest. My attorneys have already sent them legal letters directing them to stop but they know the loop holes and how to get around them. Believe it or not, the law allows anyone to write a book about anyone else without getting proper permission which is really crazy because my fans think this was endorsed or approved by me and it's not. This is sad. These people are now partnering up with a company to sell ownership rights to the book's master rights even though they are my life rights -- again, bordering on scum. As a fan of music I do not buy anything unauthorized because I know, unless the artist signs off on it, its hearsay, gossip, and made up to pad the pockets of the writers, publishers, etc. Their website gives people the false impression that these "auctions" have the fans buying some portion of revenues that go to artists or songwriters. In my case at least, nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing comes to me or my family. It's hurtful."

"It's this kind of thing that makes me even more excited to do the Sixx Sense radio show. I look forward to shining a spotlight on issues like this one -- issues that go unnoticed and issues that may otherwise slip through the cracks."

"In the end I worry about the fans being ripped off. I cannot (nor can any of my friends in the public eye) stop these bottom feeders. If you want to know about Mötley Crüe, get The Dirt. If you want to know about band members, get their individual books, but don't support this type of behavior on this or any artists.... they say they're excited to share this with fans and that may be so, but if it's not about the money... then donate it to charity..."

Thank You,

Nikki Sixx

I don't think Nikki is angry or selfish because of this letter, he's rather committed to his fans and don't want them to fall for such a book. I strongly suggest that you take a look at the book before being because you may feel ripped-off afterward like other fans did. I say stick with the band members' books: The Dirt, Tommyland, Heroin Diaries and Tattoos and Tequilas. Those books are much better and are official, Nikki Sixx : An education in rebellion is not what a fan should be looking for. 2/5.

Creativity is an interesting topic that is often left out or forgotten. We've all heard sometime in our life of an artist waiting for this thing called "inspiration" so he/she can create. Is it possible that we can control creativity? Or is creativity overrated? In everyday situations people have to be creative, they often have to create time for this and that; they have to be creative in all sorts of situations. Maybe they don't realize it or maybe they think that they don't NEED to be a creative person. When people are pressured and in cases when their lives depend on it they have to come up with something and be creative with what they have. Creativity is about thinking outside the box, to see things in an unconventional way, with an open mind and more freedom. Creativity is about breaking the rules of normality, by adding new ingredients to a recipe to may seem too much; it's about spicing things up. The Skinny On series have an interesting yet simple way to get information to readers, they are also dedicated which also helps! The concept for these books is putting the information the reader really wants in a book that is quick, educative and fun to read of about an hour. Using stick figures to tell a story and give the facts may seem childish but simplicity never harmed anyone and I find it very effective. It's a great way to learn and be entertained at the same time.

The book points out examples of people, who became successful because they had to find a way out of misery and poverty and many of them were creative about it. Just look at Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling for instance. It's motivational to read about others who were successful when they needed to by thinking outside the box and having the confidence to show the world their ideas. I like how at they explain with puzzles, which shows that you have to think with an open mind and forget about the rules we impose ourselves with. The Skinny On series has an interesting approach to its subjects and this book on creativity follows the same successful pattern that makes the series what it is. The popularity of self help books is a relatively recent phenomenon, they've gotten quite popular and so it's hard to get all the information you need in one source. The Skinny On creativity does a good job at this by giving you information, examples and ideas.

The Skinny On creativity is another good book in the series but I find it less effective than others like Time Management and Success. If you lack creativity or perhaps know someone who does (an artist who sits around waiting for inspiration to reach him maybe?) this would make a great introduction to the vast subject that is creativity. If someone gives himself an hour of his time on this book, he or she will learn plenty that will be helpful. 4/5, another good entry in the series.

After four seasons the show remains excellent and there are many highlights in season 5. Gene's 60th Birthday is certainly one of them (it's the first time Paul is on the show!), Gene goes on Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? , the hour long 100th episode special, Shannon's Tazer party and Nick promoting his Incarnate book were all great parts of the fifth season. I never thought the show would last as long as it did and season 5 is just as good as any Family Jewels season, I find the episodes are still entertaining and fun to watch, I mean, the show is still a good one after all that time the quality has not gone down. I like Gene Simmons Family Jewels better than most reality shows and that's not just because I'm a KISS fan but mostly because those people are likable and I actually like them, they seems like nice people and their lives are interesting to a certain degree.I like that season 5 is being released on DVD, I really do, but the bad part is that there is an episode missing. The special episode on the Australia tour which aired this past summer is not included, I feel like it should be here because it was a highly interesting special and one that KISS fans would love to see again. I'm glad that I own the episodes on DVD but it would've been great to have the missing episode included. If I would've known it wasn't included I still would have bought the DVD, it's not like it ruins EVERYTHING it's just too bad it's not here. If you want to won this season, you should. Just be aware that there is an episode missing. 4/5 for the episodes and 3/5 for the DVD lacking an episode (after all it's not a "complete" season then).