El Matador - PC

Graphics are great, game play is great, story line is great. Just a super fun game. Definitely not for children though. The game is difficult. And to my knowledge, the first of it's kind.

Actually gamers with skill do not like to use cheats but sometimes games have flaws, unfixable flaws and some games are unwinnable or have a poorly made ending. El matador was great accept for a small flaw. I loved the the adventure and action. I look at gaming as electronic paintball.

So much fun.

Bored with too much time on my hands and not seeing many good games out there lately, I thought I'd try another AMAZON downloadable, game where the fun is ALWAYS non-refundable and all sales are final. I mean, you don't EVEN have the satisfaction of being able to break a DVD in half or throw it in the fireplace. Anyway...The pattern here in downloadable games that are cheap is that they must have failed in the open market. I mean, check out the IRONCLADs game that I reviewed. I am the ONLY one who bought it. I reviewed it and shot it down. Now, it's listed on this site still but not for sale? Crikey.The Positive: Rather timely story line if I DO say so myself. Drug Kingpins running the ops out basically in the open with little/no fear of the law? Sounds like the NEWS to me. NICE selection of firearms and lots of cheats that work that keep you ALIVE and fully loaded while you shoot away.The Negative: The 'missions' in this game are TIMED. INSANELY timed at that. You can't even get past the TUTORIAL because the live fire course they have is time. No matter WHAT firearm[s] I used, certain targets would require multiple hits and I was always told that I was "TOO SLOW,' and the tutorial would recue for another try.So, I restarted the game and SKIPPED the tutorial and tried the first mission but it's the same thing. The mission is TIMED and there's no real direction of which pathway to go. I mean, it's like a combination of MYST & Jeopardy more than a shoot'em-up. I mean, it has the potential. It'd be tolerable if ONLY it weren't timed. I don't know @ you, but I don't enjoy running through a mission 30x until I have where all the bad guys are memorized JUST to complete it...ON TIME.Maybe the game is just TOO challenging for me? Maybe I'M CHALLENGED. Well, they got my money and I have no fun to show for it.Just for fun, I downloaded Necrovision: Lost Company. Maybe THAT game will have some redeeming qualities? Don't hold your breath, kids.

El Matador is a hard-core 3rd person shooter with bullet time, high-octant action, and non-stop gunplay. In it you play a DEA agent set on taking down a cartel as you hunt from rain soaked streets in Tijuana and its night clubs, to shipping docks, haciendas and lush jungles, all the while meandering through a decent storyline with a few twists and double-crosses. It's certainly not Max Payne, but its actually not too bad. The graphics are really pretty sharp - nothing outlandish, but the attention to detail and level design is impressive (like how there are more than just a desk and a chair in the office - its full with computers, phones, papers - looks believable - not empty). I think the folks are mad, and I would be to, cause they shelled out a Grant ($50) for the game. However, now that the price is $20, it's much more reasonable.Yes there are some moments where the guys shoot through walls, and they NEVER miss you. But I played the game on easy and while I died a couple times, the game was not too easy or too difficult. It forces you to be tactical. I was able to get shot about 5 or 6 times before dying, which wasn't bad. My only complain was that there was some delay with the keyboard interaction and my player. Maybe a half second from a stop and go point. But I had no issues in the game play ( P4 2.6 Ghz, 1 Gig RAM, GeForce 6200 256 RAM) other than that. I recommend you down the demo and try it for yourself. Again, totally not worth $50, but for $20, a mindless shooter that isn't boring as the scenery and graphics are not repetitive, even though the gameplay is. If you are expecting F.E.A.R. like graphics and storyline, then stay away from this one.

I just wanted a game to tide me over until Christmas, something that wouldn't be too hard but that would be great for relaxing while killing tons of people who deserve it. For that purpose, El Matador delivers.The graphics are excellent, sound is good, voice acting is beyond horrible, as is the writing. Really, I mean just terrible. And if it's a good story you're after, or interesting level design, well, forget it.But still, for primitive excitement in third person firefights, it's an enjoyable time-waster. I find myself playing it a lot, actually - a very good stress reducer.Basically, it's a poor man's - no, a HOMELESS man's - version of Max Payne. You have the bullet time thing, little health vials lying around, lots of dilapidated buidings and warehouses to shoot through, ability to fire two guns at once, lots of bad language, etc.So, if you're looking for an immersive, intelligent, story-driven experience, pass on this. If you're just looking for some exciting firefights with drug-dealing scum, pick it up. As long as you can get it for $20 or less.

Listen to me. Don't buy this game. If someone wants to give it you, refuse it. Seriously, I paid $49 for this pathetic excuse for a third person shooter. I was bored after the first 30 minutes. No real storyline, just the repetitive action of shooting bad guys who somehow can shoot YOU while you are standing behind walls. Also, grenades can damage you even if you're nowhere near the explosion. The graphics weren't bad, expecially the jungle scenes. That's why I rated this game with 2 stars instead of one. I like third person shooters, and was hoping this would be one of those games like Rogue Trooper, which was very good.Save your money, but if you feel the need to blow 50 bucks, then take the money and flush it down the toilet. You'll get just as much satisfaction.