Kingdom Hearts II

Kingdom Hearts II

Kingdom Hearts II is like the the gameplay of Kingdom Hearts I, there are only few changes in the gameplay of the Kingdom Hearts II. Sora can be directly controlled by the player from a third person camera angle, though first person perspective is available. The battles take place in an interconnected field maps. The story progresses with a cut scene from one story to the next.

Pressing buttons in combat in the game of Kingdom Hearts II is in real time which initiate attacks by the character. There is also a role-playing game menu, like the one in the Final Fantasy game, provides some combat options like using magic, summoning other characters like stitch, and using combo attacks or limits. A new feature is the Reaction Command, special enemy-specific attacks that are triggered when the player presses the triangle button at the correct time during battle. Reaction Commands can be used to defeat regular enemies or avoid damage and are sometimes necessary to complete a boss battle. In addition to the main character, two party members are usually present who also participate in combat. Though these characters are computer-controlled, the player is allowed to customize their behavior to a certain extent through the menu screen, such as attacking the same enemy Sora targets.

Developed by: Square Enix
Published by: Square Enix and Buena Vista Games
Can be played in: PS2
Style of playing: Action role-playing game

Game Mode: Single Player

Input methods: DualShock 2 controller

Counter-Strike: Source

Counter-Strike: Source



Counter-Strike: Source is an online game packed with action. Players who are addicted to action games can enjoy this game. This is like the previous Counter-Strike, it is only played online. There are new controls in buying guns. The graphics is better than before. Characters look realistic. It has better gameplay than the last Counter-Strike game.



There are two teams, the counter-terrorist and the terrorist. The counter-terrorists are the good guys and the terrorists are the bad guys. Players can win by either killing all the members of the other team or by completing a mission like rescuing hostages or detonating a bomb.

There is a new improved radar. Now, counter-terrorists are shown as blue circle and red circle for the terrorists. There is a white triangle pointing to where the player is facing. The hostage and rescue zones are yellow in color. Enemies that are spotted in the radar are marked on the team's radar for some time. Bombs that are dropped by a terrorist also appear on the radar. Counter-terrorists that are dead are marked as blue cross in the radar and red cross for the terrorists. Players who are on higher grounds are indicated by faded blue circle (for counter-terrorist) or a faded red circle (for terrorists). For players who are on lower grounds, the indicator is a demagnified blue circle (for counter-terrorists) and demagnified red circle (for terrorists). Those players that send radio messages are indicated by a green circle.

The pricing of the guns are realistic. Prices are like the price of guns and armors in real life. Popular guns like the M14 and Desert Eagle got more expensive. The less frequently used guns and items like the night-vision goggles and the MAC-10 submachine gun, prices have gone down.

The terrains were changed. Some of the maps were recreated like the "de_dust" map. Other maps like the "cs_assault" have been changed. The surroundings and locations were changed. The upgraded maps were attractive and looks challenging.


Developed by: Valve Corporationa and Turtle Rock Studios
Published by: Valve Corporation
Distributed by: Valve Corporation Unalis in Taiwan

Can be played in: Microsoft Windows

Nature of game: First-person shooter
Game Mode: Multiplayer

System requirements:
In Windows:
Windows XP/ME/2000/Vista
1.2 GHz CPU (2.4 GHz CPU recommended)
256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
Internet connection (broadband or better recommended)
DirectX 7 graphics card (DirectX 9 graphics card recommended)

Input methods: Mouse, Keyboard, Joystick

Gaia Online

Gaia Online

When you sign up in Gaia Online, you will receive an avatar. You can customize your avatar. You can make your self look like an anime that you like to imitate. There are different hairstyles (long hair, short hair, emo) and hair color (white, black, brown, green, etc.), different clothings such as gown, jacket, cool dude look, poor look, etc. You can modify your avatar's stance. You can move the arms, legs, make him/her sit, make him/her stand. The avatar's skin tone can be dark, light, or brown. The looks of the eye styles can make the avatar's appearance change into what you prefer. You can make him/her look like an American, European, Asian, or the classic anime eyes that's big rounded and very prominent. I like the big anime eyes because it looks cute. There are many items that you can buy for your avatar like clothes, hats, jewelries to pep up your looks. Cars are free, you have to pimp your ride yourself make it really really hot (if you want you can make it look conservative also). Your avatar can be a movable character in some various places like the Gaia Rally. You can control your avatar and make him/her go to places you want. If you have a car and you are speed addict, you can dare others to race you. For the game you can earn money. For your self you can imagine your self a real race car driver. If you cannot do it in the real world do it here. Here if you have accidents like hitting a cow you are not fined, you just have to stop for a few seconds then go racing again. It's also like an MIB setting with a touch of Dawn of the Dead with all the aliens and zombies around. Other activities include fishing, playing the slot machine, and playing cards. There is a mini game called Word Bump. In playing this mini game, you can also earn money.

Matchmaking services look out also. Players of Gaia online sometimes find their match while playing and eventually falling in love in real life!

Announcement for Gaia Enthusiasts:

Players can look forward to enjoying Gaia Online MMORPG where users will be able to battle monsters and participate in RPG style quests. There will be special rings to simulate abilities, such as throwing fireballs or for use of defence. An announcement has been made that their new MMORPG will be available to play sometime during this year of 2008. Some have said that it might be available to play closer to summer, but the release date is still pending.

From: Derek LiuLong VoJosh Gainsbrug
Website: http://www.gaiaonline.com/