REVIEWS | NUMBER 138 — | 138 Sweet Tooth strikes back on PlayStation 2 " Reviewed: Driver 2, and Jet Grind Radio The system you didn' > know you really wanted апџаг 0 00000 05370“ 9 DISPLAY UNTIL JANUARY 8 йге 2 Ne Аф CA UNIVERSAL

© 2000 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ELECTRONIC Number 14.01 GAMING January 2001 By John Davison • john_davison@ziffdavis.com Www.zünet.com/egm een Бап + john_davson@zfdavi.com EDITORIAL M dean_hager@ziffdavis.com Mark M acDonald • mark macdonaldGziffdavis.com Features Editor. 2 3, ae as ЈЕ ni оуег е crispin_boyer@ziffdavis.com What S Old Is New Again rs y Johnston cris johnston@ziffdavis.com irtGziffdavis.com шама a weet Tooth growls around the environ- ments of Twisted Metal, “Black” as it's already Age ERRON cam а S ment, lets rip with a couple of missiles, affectionately referred to, is the real deal. And it's fs nathan бийк jonathan_dudlak@ziffdavis.com and huge stuff falls over with a very loud only the beginning too. It looks like we're going мету М innich e icks@ziffdavis.com bang. Very cool. Some other vehicle cruis- to see the rebirth of many series that we look DH NP if е, сот es in, lets fly with a vicious sparky, spinny wheel back on fondly and this will be the driving force gone Ethan Emo аа of death contraption, and the watching crowd behind a “looking forward by looking back” kinda Herman, Dan Leahy i Naima Таап Smith, makes cooing noises. Airliners fly over, buildings ^ vibe to the magazine for the next couple of ШАК Beat fakahashi k BEER collapse, lightning cracks, and things make loud issues. Next month, to follow on from our Twisted ETUDES XGA vis com noises as we are informed that Twisted Metal Metal story we'll have goodies on other popular MOISES cyril_wochok@ziffdavis.com experienced something of a rebirth. The crowd franchises like WipeOut and Tomb Raider. Then, А \ ы jp. cordana@eifidavis com cheers with genuine enthusiasm as more incredi- of course, there's the stuff that we're not sup- == = = Sm c eee ble effects ensue. Then, out of nowhere, a new posed to talk about because it’s “not confirmed” Jefinfer Whitesides defining moment for PS2 games occurs. Sweet (but I'll drop them in here, ’cause no one ever Pro ШЕРІ predor “ - - : Dvê McCracken „ће crowd erupts into a fit of raucous enthusiasm “Ss Vals ме that would make you think they'd just heen informed "РАНЕ ovre e па Vice President/Game Group. of the Second Coming." Me Dirac Creative Director ‘Michael Stassus * mstassus@ziffdavis.com Tooth’s ice cream truck, without slowing down or reads this page), like the possibilities of new Jet e aihy Bendo stopping, folds in on itself in a Transformers style Moto games, completely revamped sports fran- cird and pieces together as a giant robot on wheels. chises, the third installment of Syphon Filter, and Senior Ne stand Sales Manager As his demonic head pops out of the top of the [sharp intake of breath] maybe even a sequel to Don Galen contraption, the crowd erupts into a fit of raucous Warhawk. It's all exciting stuff, and we can thank SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE NUMBER: enthusiasm that would make you think they'd the power of PlayStation 2 for helping drag the just been informed of the Second Coming. Such Sony franchises out of the muck. Now if only all WEBSITE: was the first public demo of Twisted Metal: Black of us who actually want one could actually buy a PASE SEND AC SUBSCAIETIONQUE ST ONIS at a Sony press event a couple of months ago. system, everything would be fabulous, eh? Do PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE EDITORS After years of slowly and painfully deconstructing you have yours yet? Write us and let us know. REGARDING SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS perfectly good franchises by putting out crappy Finally, | just want to take this brief opportunity “sequels” every year, Sony's attitude to first- to bid farewell to Editor In Chief Joe Funk. After le Contact: party development now seems to be going years and years of service, he has chosen to through a renaissance. The new VP of product leave EGM to pursue new opportunities. We wish development, Shuhei Yoshida has done the video him the very best of luck. And now you're stuck game equivalent of “getting the band back with me again for a while...talk about looking for- together” in the formation of Incognito. Forget ward by looking back, huh? Қ рпа tes Re the trash that were the third and fourth install- John Davison 415-357-5226 s 206 fishburneGlfóavis com Account Executive Emily Olman 0, 415-357-5226 * emily_olman@ziffdavis.com = - ys SALES, PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND BAY AREA PENINSULA Regional Sales Manager lan Sinclair Account Executive Mary Gra, 4155 7-8782 • mary. raya com ial ФК ТОДУ, WASHINGTON, SAN FRANCISCO David Kushner os Mike Pri Regional Sales Manager. Marci Yamaguchi x TR 6 ce Account Executive МЕ han O'Rourke. Taking a break from Our local ninja and 42535 те ighan_orourke@ziffdavis.com his busy schedule writer extraordinaire Ыы ыш ad educating readers of put his skills to the test NICE tings philepit@zifdavis.com Rolling Stone, The this month by throwing xu LII RT Ledda New York Times, and down most of our Marketing Coordinator Annie Lipscome | А DUM а 5 415-547-8248 • annie. lipscomeGziffdavis.com Spin about digital wrestling reviews. Advertising Coordinator Tipler Ubbelohde _ 3 Xen а 2 е 415-357-4930 * tipler_ubbelohde@ziffdavis.com culture, David packed his hiking shoes and Which, funny enough, fits with his future career. Sales Assistant Kristeenlaut — а ^ RNS n "S 2 415-547-8778 * kristeen_laut@ziffdavis.com braved the wilderness of Washington to uncov- Mike is currently in training to become a star in Sales Assistant. Cheryl Carandan; the dirt on the Xbox. Is ita t " the WWF, which ists of h dut k 415: A7 Chen CD lang@ziffdavis.com er the dirt on the Xbox. Is it a true gaming e > which consists of heavy-duty smack- Advertising Production Coordinator Wen Laws machine or a PC in console's clothing? See talking lessons, script-reading seminars, and 415-357-8114 e wen_laws@ziffdavis.com what Dave found out, starting on page 154. constantly wearing spandex around the house. found ба ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY (ISSN #1058-918X) is published monthly by Ziff Davis Media Inc, 28 East 28th Street, New York, NY 10016. Periodicals Class Postage Paid at New York, NY 10016 and additional mailing offices. Single issue rates: $4.99. The one par (12 issue) sub- scription rate is $24.97 in the U.S. and $40.97 outside the U.S. Checks must be made payable in U.S. currency only to Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Electronic Gaming Monthly, Р.О. Box 55722, Boulder, CO 80322-5722. For subscrip- tion service questions, address changes, or to order, please contact us at: Web: http; /service.egmmag.com (for customer service) or http://subsctibe.egmmag.com (to order); Phone: U.S. and Canada (800) 779-1174 or (850) 682-7624, elsewhere (303) 604-7443 Mall: Electronic Gaming Monthly, P.O. Box 55722, Boulder, CO 80322-5722 (please include your malling label with any correspondence as contains information that will expedite processing); Fax: U.S. and Canada (850) 683-4094, elsewhere (G03) 604-0518; E-mail (please үре your full name and the address at which you subscribe; do not send attachments): egm@neodata.com. The editors and the publisher are not responsible for unsolicited materials. 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Printed in the USA. ns Bureau Orcs DUCATI WORLD RACING CHALLENGE When it comes to motorcycles, Ducati is simply the best. More than just phenomenal power and unparalleled performance, Ducati is a lifestyle. Now it's your turn to taste the Ducati life. DUCATI WORLD: RACING CHALLENGE brings you the high-tech and high-powered legacy of Ducati bikes in devastating, super-smooth hi-rez detail. *Dominate 8 unique tracks on over 40 past, present and classic Ducati superbikes! *Get into the Ducati lifestyle and take on the world's best in the immersive Ducati Life Mode! «Compete for your driver's license and the right to enter exclusive race circuits! DUCATIWORLD RACING CHALLENGE Screens shown were taken from the PC version of the game. T. la a c А Ж кг, г { PlayStatio ^5 km/h EVERYONE | TES РС 4 im’ сы 5 PUER jon CD-ROM Ж<ісіт inl Es [4 O а. 0 021058924905 IBIG 9М222914 ешәрья раја Вага? 50601 UOREISKE WORKIN’ THE HAMMER. WORKIN 4 - THE WALL. WORKIN” YOUR WAY .- $ Roos ME SUM “BRING IT IF YOU GOT IT TO NASCAR® | THIS CENTURY. NEXT CENTUR) " “AND THE CENTURY AFTER TH: Ауда “ augu, Sx “о 80 А № о M Olt SLICK > Inc. All rights reserved. James Bond, 007, James Bond Gun and'Iris ра aiio. James Bond related properties © 1962-2000 Danjaq. LLC, and United Artists Corporation JAMES BOND, 007. Jamas Bond Gun and Iris Logos and all other rmes Bond related trademarks ™ Danjáq. Has BMW 28. BMW Z3 апа BMW 750 are. апае of BMW AG. The ASTON MARTINO YR Т Asta e PAY ATTENTION, 007. Q-BRANCH HAS RE-ENGINEERED YOUR FAVORITE EXOTIC MOTORCARS AND EQUIPPED THEM WITH WEAPONS AND GADGETS GALORE. YOU'LL NEED THEM FOR YOUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT TO ENSURE THE STABILITY OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD. AND NEED | REMIND YOU 007, TRY TO BRING THEM BACK IN ONE PIECE. Animated Violence PlayStation.? 4 "22477 77. AOL KEYWORD: 007 RAGING epus E Ww g and ASTON MARTIN DBS trademarks and trade dress are the trademarks of Aston Martin Lagonda Limited, and are used under license. Esprit, Lotus and Lotus Round Device are registered trademarks of Group Lotus ріс, PlayStation and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 48-90-1251 and look. аз оп style) as well amazing rec tail, right down to the street signs and ind'see if you've got what it takes to maint nan image 5 = 8 Б] = 5 5 g 3 8 9 e SB PEY узды 0 20025 С аў обор cape NT SONG SOS AED Јо O SONG qt STS Бе! әк SO HETE a nue enl IR Бү айу једну лева aug јереј e SF NY Se ai] руе ра Je duse Ау jo etian PlayStation Animated Violence Animated Blood and Gore Suggestive Themes CONTENTS January 2001 Issue 138 Features 104 212 212 201,202 198,205 205 202 124 205,208 213 201,206 211 194 206 199,210 212 100,195 116,210 98 207 199 201 195 199 212 108 198 122 204 211 138 199 207 207 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker Alice in Wonderland Austin Powers Batman Beyond Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Colin McRae Rally 2.0 Cool Boarders 2001 Cool Boarders Alien Championship Motocross 2002 Cruis'n Exotica Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore DNA Dog of Bay Donald Duck Goin' Quackers Disney's Toy Story Racer Driver 2 El Dorado Gate, Volume 1 Eternal Eyes Evil Dead: Hail to the King F1 Racing Championship Fantavision FIFA 2001 Gradius III & IV Gundam Battle Assault. Getaway, The Hajime No Ippo Harvest Moon: Back to Nature Herdy Gerdy Hey You, Pikachu! Grinch, The Jet Grind Radio Jungle Book Rhythm n' Groove King's Field IV Knockout Kings 2001 Kurikuri Mix Last Blade: Final Edition Looney Tunes Space Race Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete McGrath vs. Pastrama: Freestyle Motocross MDK 2 Armageddon Metropolis Street Racer MLS Game Night. MotoGP Moto Racer World Tour NASCAR 2001 NASCAR Heat Napple Tale NBA 2Кі NCAA Final Four 2001 Next Tetris: On-Line Edition, The NFL GameDay 2001 Orphen pod: Speedzone Pokémon Gold & Silver Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue Q-Ball: Billiards Master Quake III Arena RC de Go Ready 2 Rumble Round 2 Real Pool Red Dog Red Faction Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis Samba de Amigo Sega Marine Fishing Shenmue Silent Scope Skies of Arcadia Sky Odyssey Sonic Shuffle Speedball 2100 Speed Devils Online Racing Spider-Man StarLancer Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles. Surfing H30 Surf Rocket Racer Test Drive Le Mans Test Drive Off-Road: Wide Open Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 TimeSplitters Tomb Raider Chronicles Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Torneko: The Last Hope Ultimate Fighting Championship The EGM Slick 50 For the third year in a FIRE MISSILE 21 200,207 207 212 207 204 106 201 204 142 Unreal Tournament WCW Backstage Assault WDL: Thunder Tanks Who Wants to be a Millionaire Woody Woodpecker Racing World Is Not Enough, The Worms World Party WWF No Mercy WWF SmackDown! 2 You Don't Know Jack, Mock 2 Electronic Gaming Monthly - 18 row, we pick the 50 slickest developers, games, genres, people and gadgets in the video game biz. It's 20 pages of stuff that’ll affect you and the games you love this year, and it all begins on page 160. Xbox: Console or PC-port Machine? Microsoft may be an 800-pound gorilla in the PC market, but what do these guys know about console gaming? We head to the company's HQ to investigate. Page 156 The original team behind Twisted Metal returns to restore the franchise that put car combat on the map. Twisted Metal: Black—due for the PS2 this summer— packs fully interactive levels, and a much darker look and feel. Read our exclusive cover story on page 148. - www.zdnet.com/egm Twisted Metal: Black Illustration by Kevin Llewellyn Departments @ Editorial 6 @ Letters 25 & News 48 PS2 launch comes and goes in the U.S., madness ensues, shortages in effect, crazy online auction prices emerge. A first look at Angelina Jolie's shorts....oh, and Tomb Raider: The Movie. A primer on video game soundtracks. Shock! Sega to finally do games for other systems? Gossip 68 94 Previews OM=-=2 И 9 Evil Dead: Hail to the King, Tomb Raider Chronicles, Lunar 2: Eternal Complete, Resident Evil 2 DC, Resident Evil 3 DC, El Dorado Gate Vol. 1, Gundam Battle Assault, MDK2 Armageddon, Last Blade, The Getaway. Review Crew 192 It's a damn good month for DC owners: Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia, NBA 2K1, MSR, Jet Grind Radio, Quake ІІІ Arena, Samba de Amigo. Plus Driver 2, Hey You, Pikachu!, TimeSplitters, Unreal Tournament, and a whole slew of spanky new PS2 titles. @ Tricks 220 @ The Final Word 229 The lads discuss how much fun it is to stand around in the rain like a pack of fools, camping out for PS2s on launch day. Please, sir, may | have another? SYSTEM KEY Ho T Dreamcast Nintendo 64 | | =.= PlayStation 2 | > | E ung PlayStation Game Boy Color Arcade NEWLINE CINEMA scs 4 SWEETPEA ENTERTAINMENT SILVER PICTURES rRODUCTON IN ‘SSOCATION WTH BEHAVIOUR WORLDWIDE COURTNEY SOLOMON ia “DUNGEONS & DRAGONS” JUSTIN WHALIN MARLON WAYANS THORA BIRCH TOF MCLELLAN KRISTEN WILSON LEE ARENBERG wns BRUCE PAYNE o JEREMY IRONS "ВК CE PERRIN ®"2CAROLINE ROSS 53: DOUG МОМЕ s es USTIN CAINE BURNETT °2STATION X STUDIOS LUC su STEVE RICHARDS 5: JOEL SILVER ALLAN ZEMAN NELSON LEONG ^^ TOPPER LILIEN & CARROLL CARTWRIGHT B = “КАИ ТИН IN THEATERS DECEMBER 8 ШЕШ шы Ni ол As the grumpidy Grinch, your missioh is ae To Slime, Stomp and Smash everything far and hear. With Gizmos and Gadgets, a heart that’s too small Disrupt all in Whoville, from short whos to tall. And why should your grinchity ways bring such pride? For that warm, fuzzy feeling it gives you inside. PG ІЗ e © Dreamcast. COLOR Е GD "The Grinch” interactive game © 2000 Universal Interactive Studios, Inc. Based on “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” book and characters™ & © Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LP. 1957. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing, Inc. Published and distributed by Konami Corporation. All Rights Reserved. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sega, Dreamcast and the Dreamcast logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega Enterprises, LID. Game Boy and Game Boy Color are trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. © 1989, 1998 Nintendo of America Inc. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Konami” is a registered trademark of Konami Co., LID. € 2000 Konami. Aa UNIVERSAL E UNIVERSAL INTERACTIVE STUDIOS, worw.universalstudios.com KONAMI ® $ 24 Р * "Моше opponents,see _ you as spare parts. | You see yourself m „ча as. a great warrior... ж Ж PlayStation (62000 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. 2 MATTEL] | РАЗАРОХ ин 10 menacing robots, each Devastate your opponent Learn incredible combo with its own special way with weaponry like moves that will make your to turn enemies into missiles, flame throwers competitor's head spin scrap metal. and lasers. (if it's still attached). www.rockemsockemrobots.com Rock 'Em Sock 'Em" Robots Arena gives you the power to rip off your opponent's body parts and attach them to yourself. Turn your enemy into rubbish with their own weapons. Or save the parts you collect for future victims. The more you win, the more powerful you become. You're not just competing for pride and honor, you're fighting for limbs. Dreamcast. PlayStation DO paar DIGITAL A $600, 105-DECIBEL DOLBY* DIGITAL SYSTEM FOR THE PEAY STAT ION®2 SOUNDS LIKE OVERKILL. COOL. Iby Digital 5.1 processing built in — nothing else needed ) Universal remote controls your TV, cable, and more ) Brackets included for total placement flexibility | ~ Take the PlayStation2, with its built-in DVD and CD player, add www.bostonacoustics.com the Boston DPS5.1™ 6-piece Dolby Digital speaker system, or toll-free 1-877-333-4001 plus a big-screen TV, and you've got an untouchable home entertainment system. The DPS5.1 is the best way to take advantage of every ounce of your PlayStation2’s incredible per- formance. Order it at www.bostonacoustics.com. (We only hope this awe-inspiring power doesn't fall into the wrong hands.) LETTER FACTS * References to underpants: 4 * Readers with hobbies involving pipe cleaners: 1 * Letters about В.Ј. Hill: 97 * Number of letters from prison: 6 * Readers pitching their own video game ideas: 77 Congratulations. You win an InterAct controller. You will be receiving à Barracuda (PS), an Alloy Arcade Stick (DC) ora SharkPad Pro 64? (N64). See page 233 for official rules. Letters to the Editors LETTER 0F THE MONTH PS2 Buyer Reports Feeling Extremely Underwhelmed Well, | waited in line on 10/26/00 for six hours to get my hands on the so-called "revolutionary entertainment PS2 console." | purchased SSX, Madden 2001 and Ridge Racer V. Pushing my DC aside, | booted my PS2 up and began playing. The only thing jawdropping about the games and the system is how immensely disappointing they are. PS2 is revolutionary? A DC killer? Give me a break. There was no WOW factor why when they showed demo pics of games, it was always a PC pic or FMV. Now | know why, 'cause they didn't want the public to go buy a DC. The DC lineup is looking incredible, while the PS2 is looking boring and stale. Now that the PS2 is out for all to see, gamers will realize that Sega's machine can equal the PS2 graphically, but has better games, and delivers a great online gaming experience. Sega Dreamcast will be around for quite a while. Sure, I'll buy a PS2 in about a year or so, when the price becomes reasonable, and they make fun games that make it worth the purchase. Oh yeah, | said | bought a PS2. | took it back today, preordered Shenmue, Half Life, “A DC killer? Give me a break. There was no WOW factor like | experienced in the DC launch. Soul Calibur, NFL 2K1, Sonic, Hydro Thunder WOWED the hell out of me.” like | experienced at the DC launch. Soul Calibur, NFL 2K1, Sonic, Hydro Thunder WOWED the hell out of me. PS2 offered rehash after rehash of older games, and didn't make me say WOW or SHAWEET! once. Sony hyped this thing to be so much more powerful than the DC, and clearly it's not. The DC can easily do RRV and SSX. Madden may be a touch prettier, but who cares, it's not online! Yeah, detail may be stunning on replays, but again, who cares, it doesn't increase gameplay. If the PS2 is incredibly more powerful than the DC, it hasn't shown it one bit, and | don't think it will. Sony pumped us full of hype with this thing and we gobbled it up like a Thanksgiving turkey. | always wondered You had us right up *til Kiss Psycho Circus. Seriously though, we got a lot of letters this month expressing disappointment in the PS2. No doubt much of it can be blamed on the incredible hype that built up to its launch —easily the most any console 00PS! Corrections: Last month, we forgot to thank the folks who lent us their rare peripherals for our feature on oddball game gadgets. We'd like to extend our gratitude to John NBA 2K1, Speed Devils Online, Unreal Tournament, Kiss Psycho Circus and Tony Hawk 2. Beat that Sony. Bill J Leigh sos86@juno.com 0 3824 You returned your PS2 for this? has ever experienced. Objectively, the PS2 already has solid sports, racing, fighting and first-person shooting titles. But, like any other system, it will take time before you see the real killer games that truly take advantage of the new hardware. Hardie, Al Backiel, Mike Etler and Curt Vendel. Without them, we'd never have gotten such great shots of the Mindlink, Unroller Controller, PGP-1, Nintendo's R.O.B. and the rare Jaguar VR Helmet. Thanks guys! Electronic Gaming Monthly - 25 Reader Demands Fiery Sacrifice ТАМ PHIL. | BOUGHT THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF EGM. THE COVER IS OF ZELDA, BUT THE ONLY THING IN THE WHOLE MAGAZINE ABOUT ZELDA IS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THREE SENTENCES LONG. IF | WERE YOU GUYS | WOULD This is the picture "Phil" demanded we accept. GO HOME AND SET MYSELF ON FIRE. ARE YOU CONTRIBUTING TO MY DELINQUENCY ON PURPOSE? WHY MUST YOU MOCK PHIL? NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE IS SAID TO HAVE MUCH INFO ON PS2. THIS PLEASES PHIL. DO NOT FAIL ME, OR VENGEANCE WILL BE SOUGHT. PLEASE ACCEPT PICTURES OF DOG. P.S. | AM NOT A MORON. Phil Benedetti Bloomfield Hills, MI We gladly accept “pictures of dog” Phil, and we set Jon Dudlak on fire as per your request (since he's the rookie). Your use of all caps suggests you are trying to convey a terse tone in your letter. So let us clarify things in hopes of calming your ass down: The cover you speak of was a fall preview feature covering 40+ games, Zelda being but one component. And as a loyal reader, we are sure you have seen our exhaustive coverage of the wee lad. We hope this appeases you, and will put your arsonous soul at ease. Garlic, Gauntlets and Underpants Will someone please slap Sega upside the head. Then have all the members of management stuff their underwear with garlic and onions. Then LETTERS have the hallway of the office of the man most responsible for this injustice be turned into The Gauntlet. Whoever it is, | will get to them. You see, just three issues ago, Sega commented that they are now a strictly online company. Then what's up with taking the online capabilities from Sonic Shuffle? | mean seriously, all we are left with is Mario Party with cel-shaded graphics. That's pretty much what they promised before, but before you could also play it against the sweater- wrapped rich guys at the country club, the 12-year-old freaks who haven't left their closet in a year and a half, and the hooligans in God-knows-where all at the same time. But поооооооооо. Sega had to remove it! As a VERY experienced player of Mario Party, | agree it deserved the N64 Game of the Year award you guys gave it, but it got old. Let me rephrase that, my opponents got old. They kept using the same tactics, saying the same things, and picking the same person to steal valuables from (me). And | kept winning. | want to play someone who doesn't know me. | want to find a challenge, but now | can't. Oh well, | guess it will make me almost as happy to see a Sega staffer with his underwear filled with garlic. Almost. Paul Meier headbangeró6060 yahoo.com YOUR TOP FIVE RACING GAMES We didn't stuff garlic in anyone's pants at Sega yet, but we've been conducting some experiments on Shawn Smith. See, he went back to school awhile back, and we went to “visit” him to test your procedures. Your methods are a bit unorthodox, but so far they seem mighty effective, if the screaming coeds are any indication. Then again, they may have been fleeing at the sight of Shawn in his underpants. Oh well, at least this way the stink won't bother us like it would if we tried it here on say, Sewart. We'll keep you posted on our progress. Hsu and Chan Merchandising Blitz | was visiting the Hsu and Chan site (www.ape-law.com/evilmonkey) and I Saw a question someone asked the artist, it was about him making some Hsu and Chan merchandise for sale. He said he could, but that we would have to e-mail you guys to encourage him to. So...will you? | wouldn't mind wearing a kick-ass Chernobyl shirt, or some Gila Mobster slippers, so are you gonna make him? PLEASE?!?! Cedric Carmona xxcivicsirxx@aol.com ^. what's up with taking the online capabilities from Sonic Shuffle? І mean seriously, all We are left with is Mario Party with cel-shaded graphics." 1. Sega Rally 2. Crash Team Racing 3. Test Drive: V-Rally 4. R4 - Ridge Racer Type 4 5. Need For Speed III - Hot Pursuit Steve Dybowski sdybowski@hotmail.com 1, Need for Speed 3 2. Driver 3. Crash Team Racing 4. Gran Turismo: 5. Rage Racer Mark Buckingham Primeo1010Gaol.com 1. Gran Turismo 2 2. Sega Rally 2 3. Rage Racer 4. Rally Cross 2 5. 4 Wheel Thunder Ron Johnson rj53447Gnavix.net 1. Outrun 2. F355 Challenge 3. GT2 4. NFS 3: Hot Pursuit 5. Sega Rally 2 new. userGemail.msn.com 1. Outrun 2. Need For Speed 3: High Stakes 3. Gran Turismo 2 4. Ferrari 355 Challenge 5. Sega GT Craig Gunnels craigun@yahoo.com 4. Gran Turismo 2 2. Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit 3. Rage Racer 4. Need for Speed 4: High Stakes 5. Gran Turismo Sev1718@aol.com 1, Outrun 2. Power Drift 3. Indy 500 4. Super Sprint 5. Night Driver Brandon Davis tharaveGhousemusic.com 1. Gran Turismo 2 2. Gran Turismo 2 3. Gran Turismo 2 4. Gran Turismo 2. 5. Gran Turismo 2 Jeff Mann exare_20@hotmail.com 1, Gran Turismo 2 2. NFS High Stakes 3. Outrunners 4. Cruis'n USA (Arcade) 5. Road Rash 3 Brandon VanEtten intrepid427@hotmail.com Electronic Gaming Monthly - 26 EGM@ziffdavis.com Send us your thoughts, your wishes, your innermost weirdness...or your pictures, crazy screenshots or Dhotos of bizarre game-related moments. Well, we were supposed to keep a lid on this, but certain staff members have already been field testing some Hsu and Chan merch (as we call it in the business). Avisit to our offices will reveal a certain news editor replete in pair of Chiasaur™ underoos, as well as our features editor frolicking about in an officially licensed Decapatops™ unitard. There have also been unconfirmed rumors that even our esteemed EIC has fallen victim to H&C mania, apparently sporting some sort of Scangar™ athletic supporter. Stay tuned for more details, order forms and possibly compromising photos. Polygonal “Nudity” Hey, go to www.booyaka.com, there’s a Dead or Alive 2 save you can download onto your VMU. That means you have to go online with a Dreamcast, and then when you play Dead or Alive 2 and watch the intro it shows Kasumi nude. Thought you guys might wanna know. Michael Duane Ford estrangedthoughts@hotmail.com The modified card (left) and the results (above). You call that a nude code? Check out the screen above—now that’s a nude code. It’s no picture doctoring trick either; so how’s it work? (Legal disclaimer: don’t do this.) Just remove the flash ROM from a PS2 memory card and wire in its place a Smart Media memory card you can read and write to from a PC. With the proper data you can change the texture on Kasumi to flesh color and remove her clothes. Yes, some game ever...” OPM August 2000 Еа SPIDERMAN — YOU DON'T JUST PLAY IT... YOU LIVE IT www.activision.com ? EVERYONE FED ACTIVISION B ШЕН СІ ы Violence d +" Carr, Screen shots taken from PlayStation" game console gar а n ед an Activision, Inc. Licensed by Sony Computer Entertainment America for ith the trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc, @ 1989, 1998 Nintendo of America Inc Di ion. © 2000 Core Design, Ltd. Core, Core Design, the Core logo, and Lara Croft are registered trademarks of Core Design, Ltd. Eidos, Eidos Interactive, the Eidos Interactive logo, and Tomb Raider are registered trademarks of Eidos Interactive, Inc. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sega, Dreamcast and the Dreamcast logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega Enterprises, LTD. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactivo Digital Software Association. The Prima Logo and Prima Publishing? are registered trademarks of Prima Communications, Inc. ео. Е E Ni. HER LEGACY LIVES ON, 54 Get the „| | PRIMA y | STRATEGY GUIDE! 5^ Dreamcast. ' tombraider.com MEMBER 21, 2000] “Chicken Gear Solid” - IGN.com All the action and suspense of the movie, but now you're the one running for your life. © 2000 Eidos Interactive. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sega, Dreamcast and the Dreamcast logo are Nick; ВИ тој A рат of binoculars "аар that Fatchore, Hear the voices of Chicken Run characters as you help them escape the evil farmers. Encounter tons of mini games as you play - a hilarious way to hone your escape skills. < PlayStation www.chickenrungame.com тима 2000 DreamWorks LLC, Aardman Chicken Run Li either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega Er Endless Adventure All-New Characters Animated Violence Somputer Entertainment Inc. FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE SOFT Mild Language and the SOUARESOFT logos are registered trademarks of Square Co., Ltd. COMPUTER GRAPHIC: 000 Square Co., Ltd. & Square Visualworks Co., Ltd. ILLUSTRATION: © 2000 YOSHITAKA 15. Patent No. 5390937, 5649862. for a journey of danger and discovery: for characters you'll never forget H for the most amazing adventure ever You can write EGM at: EGM Letters P.0. Box 3338 Oak Brook, IL 60522-3338 Please note: We reserve the right to edit any correspondence for space purposes. If you don't want your name, city/state or e-mail address printed, tell us so (but please include your phone number and mailing e-mail: EGM@ziffdavis.com address for Letter of the Month consideration). people have a lot of time on their hands. Speaking of which, do not send us e-mail asking us where to find the data, instructions for doing this, etc. We are still getting letters for the original Tomb Raider nude code for cryin' out loud. December magazine already?! And talking about January 2001, it's not even November yet! Why are your magazine dates so far ahead? It's getting confusing. Make the next magazine November V2.0 or something and wait for the rest of us to get into the year 2001. James Davis trobriand@erictan.tierranet.com Actually James, we are right on schedule to in fact “lap” ourselves and eventually get a full year ahead of the rest of the world. This will enable us to cover the latest developments in the gaming world before the companies even think of them. | am absolutely furious at B.J. Hill's attempt at intelligent insight on your magazine (see Letters, EGM #136). Listen buddy, if you want a catalogue, buy a catalogue, but don't sit there and try to conform a magazine to your own personal tastes. I’m sure every reader has their sections they like and dislike. If I'm not mistaken, the magazine is called Electronic Gaming Monthly, and that gives me the idea there is going to be coverage on every aspect of gaming. That includes fan art, letters from readers (uhh like yours), etc. Oh and you don't wanna hear about E3 but you want coverage on the hottest new games and which to buy. It's about time YOU cut the crap because that makes absolutely no sense. Personally, as a game developer | enjoy reading articles about game developers, how the industry is doing, and what areas of employment are LETTERS “f I'm not hot/not. I’ve never written to a gaming mistaken the magazine until | was utterly disgusted magazine is at your letter, so in response, | have a Шей few ideas for you, Mr. Air Force: са S 1. Stop thinking that your wasted Hectronic space in a magazine is gonna change Gaming a darn thing. Monthly, and 2. Admit that you are jealous of those that gives me girls Ше because they don't like 5 your Depends. the idea that 3. Stop expecting Bach and Mozart to there is going be advertised in our magazine. to he coverage л. Quit complaining that you don't have on every an ounce of artistic skill in your body. aspect of 5. Buy some friggin’ glasses so you can gaming." read red and blue, being these colors are sooooo uncommon. 6. Crawl back into your cockpit with your latest Readers Digest and leave us gamers the hell alone. Colin Payette cpayette@newwinemusic.com The letter Mr. Hill wrote us garnered more responses than any other letter has in recent history here at EGM, and possibly ever. Colin’s response is, believe it or not, fairly mild compared to the bulk of them. And while there were some who wrote in support of B.J., most Ashley Cline National City, CA It ain’t exactly a letter, but it did come in an envelope. This awesome Link made from pipecleaners takes top honors this month. Congratulations! Your prize is on the way-an ASCII Specialized Control Pad for the It features rapid-fire controls for all buttons and slow motion for those intense readers pretty much had their shorts in a knot over the “critique.” Like we said before, he made some good points and in fact may have already been brought in as a consultant. Hey, you haven’t seen any pictures of editors picking their noses or goosing each other lately have you? *Nuff said. Reader Requests Parking Lot Sim Hey guys, wouldn't it be cool to have a game called "Super Wal-Mart Parking Lot Deluxe"? You drive around in the parking lot, looking for a space to park your gigantic SUV, and you get points for parking as close as possible to the store entrance. bib_fortuna@hotmail.com Crispin’s way ahead of you on this one, partner. Hot on the heels of his runaway sensation Monster Parties, he has been flooded with cash and scripts for new projects. One of these involves the exact scenario you mentioned above, except his version features a teen center and a 74 Gran Close, but no controller Good, but not quite good enough. Derrick Louw Johannesburg, South Africa PlayStation. moments. Put your creative skills to the test by decking out a #10 EGM Letter Art envelope (the long business PO Box 3338 type) with your own unique Oak Brook, IL touch. Send your letter art to: 60522-3338 (All entries become the property of Ziff Davis Media Inc. and will not be returned!) Electronic Gaming Monthly - 34 OLEN RS Robert Cumbers Lodi, CA EROMSOETWARE | | ҒА ESRE and the From Software lo; he Ring go are tradem logo, are tr: AS A MEMBER OF A RUTHLESS GANG OF SMUGGLERS, IT'S YOUR JOB TO EVADE THE U.S. BORDER PATROL, CIA AND CUTTHROAT RIVALS TO DELIVER ILLEGAL CARGO. IT'LL TAKE COMPLETE MASTERY OF YOUR OFF-ROAD VEHICLE TO MAKE IT ACROSS UNFORGIVING TERRAIN AND STAY ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE FORCES DELIVER AT ALL COSTS OUT TO DESTROY YOU. WWW.ROCKSTARGAMES.COM/SMUGGLERSRUN PlayS tation.e "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Жж Animated Violence Interactive Digital Software Association. Angel Studios and the Angel Studios logo are trademarks of Angel Studios. Guidance Recordings and the Guidance Recordings logo are trademarks of Guidance Recordings Inc. Rockstar Games and the Rockstar Games logo are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.© 1999 All rights reserved. uidance AS "instantly intelligible, mind-bogglingly vast, and a total gas to play....makes for one helluva videogame" - Gamer's Republic, Sept 2000 "Must Buy Playstation 2 Launch Games list" - Nov 2000 EGM “driving through the spectacular terrain is a blast" - EGM October 2000 "А - ...the best display and truest testament to the processing power of the PS2 to date." - Gamers Republic October 2000 98% Platinum - "the best off-road experience you've ever had" ... "one of the must - buy launch games" - PSE2 November 2000 MUGGLCR'S RUN Levels are over 5 square miles, each with a "drive anywhere" environment filled with other smugglers and law enforcement officials. Choose from 35 different vehicles, each with unique modifications and strengths. Compete head-to-head or run "pick up and deliver" missions against Al opponents or in full multiplayer mode. Maneuver your way through arid desert, icy tundra, or rocky mountain forest. Real Time Damage Models allow you to watch the parts fly as you pay the price for punishing collisions! SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE ON GUIDANCE RECORDINGS o ROCKSTAR 575BWY 10 ROCKSTAR 575ВМУУҮ| |) jROCKSTAR 575BWY ROCKSTAR 57 ни иш н иш ш иш иш иш кщ иш ин иш шш иш ш ин ин ищ ш ищ ш ш ш ищ ищ иш ша ш m ш PA emiwivi SLE The Legend of Dragoon is а trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Playstation Di le 62000 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. 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VEZ jojnoreufiu-euozoie9 ‘sadojs ayy umop Ay pue pieoqmous 001 06 08 OL 09 05 OF 06 00 ol sequam, "UORPU Uy 550106 51529910; pue sainyesaduiay 5,Керој "Uro»'quieqmeAgsnop Ten 3noq Mee 2 - зопрд 1греәд\ 201 suonsonb INOÁ puss JnoÁ делу ¿Op 0} бшоб nof y uaJe jeym ‘sı uonsenb 19490 y [ © 01 mog JI 9 e 9 иешлошеом әш} AS Y | ¿Mous SIU} je uy op 0} Guro am әле Jeym Hoque, ANNEIYL • 0002 %2 YAEOLOO ‘AVGSANL 67TTT VA `рәпәшү YON ul “UOISHITY “SAY HUM 0071 “ANNATAL ЗМОАНЗЛЗ m ^ juonersAeid фрохем рлеод 1noÁ sy 14218 ur puo ON * "Bunuom Лер yeah в 51696 ins бшри Лер ред y :Á9] JepMod 45314 105 хова рген 105 2162 эе mous ‘Aepsaupam | | mous:Aepseupam МЕЕ 2/02 mous :Aepsany, mous :Aepsany, 22/06 MOUS 21/06 MOUS “ssamoid adid-jjeu JNOA uo x0 0} Áyumyioddo әшілі y :yoeg рен J9pMod 45214 105 yed рен 105 сите 21 mous :Aepsaupam | | wous:KepseupaM 91/82 p mous :ÁBPSINL mous :Керзапј 8/06 MOUS 2/02 MOUS 199M39Q ur 9J9YMÁJIAD PUB YNOS поп ISIM 4594 opa od Цвәл s1e9-1moÁ-03-dn Jo sjunoure ошовоме ASO :40opno Aepung удполуј Херој, e asn oj aun eyed y ермоа зәрмоа 4514 105 127174 мои :Лервәшрәл| БЛА mous :Aepsany 01/26 MOUS ІР 100199 "uexods aney aul 'epojy збиз бшрлош 0101 uoneisÁeld od desp TS “sasinoo џереј-9ј 21500 ‘n OZ Jano ul 54210 pue вод бш qIN2J6 jo yeaug ‘ule au saunyded uonou INSI е) шоч `әшбеш ued pu 10} 5$][22 1822910} 9UL 14155004 s,Buiyue он *9PIMUOHBU SOSA seppea urejunoui је onun -uoo p[nous spAo1o pioooX'"M^ous Клвәц о] әпр 19M0] Apueoyru31s од [[IM oouepuoge uinrpejs [29300] JM 1431895 pag әш 1017 оша роон "[euonejrAup A ӘШ 18 sepn лао риәјәр Koy) se зорртеа ee pue әпогшләу sIepreoq -Mous лодшеу рјпоо ISIMYNON 2утова EMA] ош ur spiezzi[g "Rep мо Jaujeam sods риәуӘӘ/Д зәрмод US8 105 хова PIEH 105 [ДЯ 62/56 mous :KepseupaM 52/06 mous :ÁepsanL 52/6 MOUS mous :KepsaupaM ША mous :Аервәп 8/02 MOUS mous :Aepsaupam, SIZE mous :ÁBPSINL 81/02 MOUS Шш лз'ноузв WVA 9 шшш HO ‘OOOH “LN "b 6 4A'NOLIVHIS 5 -901 кшшшшшшшшш Vo '30HvL 1v vuuais 2 59" оо 'Nadsv `L 5ЯПОН rc LSVT SLNQOWY TIVAMONS LSAHDIH ләрмод ysa 105 Xd рген 105 сеје mous :fepsaupaM ви mous :Kepsaupaw 21/82 mous :Aepsany 62/26 MOUS SZ/SE mous :Kepsany 2205 MOUS A ALLELE EVERYONE, ж- UNIVERSAL | NUS ENTERTANVENT SOFTWARE. UNIVERSAL INTERACTIVE STUDIOS Crash Bash” & ©2000 Universal Interactive Studios, Inc rash Bandicoot and related characters” & € 2000 Universal Interactive Studios, Inc, All rights reserved. Developed by Eurocom Developments Ltd. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer E rertainment Ine. CRASH IS READY FOR BATTLE. ARE YOU m It's time to separate the men from the scared little boys, Crash and his friends are back in a knock-down-drag-out arena-style rumble, Blow stuff up in a tank, toss TNT and engage in some good old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat. Brawl on a floating iceberg and duke it out in a jungle. Just watch out for the falling anvils. Fight solo or plugin a Multitap and embarrass your friends. Wimps need not apply. Sure, this isn't conventional warfare but, then again, Crash isn't a conventional bandicoot. A a ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE. I Чоби Sir Ferdinand I Sir Maximilian h Sir Pedro II Sir Charles V Guess which emperor needs your help? tnperorkurcoistavinga baay- it seems he's been turned into a llama. It's your job to give him a hand, or, in this case, a hoof. Travel as a llama through fantastic, ancient worlds in your quest to find the magic potion that will turn Kuzco back into an emperor. Watch out, though, because you'll get turned into a turtle, a rabbit and a frog along the way. It's jammed full of wisecracking movie clips, puzzles, races and, of course, tons of llama attitude. Remember, this is one pack animal that packs a mean punch. See the movie in theaters December 15, 2000 Comic Mischief ©Disney. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sir Napoleon Sir Kuzco (duh..it's me.) Sir Maximilian I NÉ Sir Rudolf II PlayStation o PlayStation ® EVERYONE Mild Animated Violence г: PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Grind Session isa trademark of Sony Comput Entertainment America Inc. ©2000 Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Developed by Shaba Games. Vans and the Triple Crown of Skateboarding are registered trademarks of Vans, Inc. uoixes |еецоц Aq ојоца By Chris Johnston chris johnstone7iffdavis.com The to get their hands on ho would've thought that in America, hundreds of people would line up and stand outside overnight for a video game system. In Japan, that's a common occurrence with new video game hardware— but it's never happened before in the U.S. That is, until PlayStation 2. On Oct. 26, 2000, the first 500,000 PS2s landed in the U.S. Some got their hands on it—others walked away empty-handed. The craziness began as early as two days prior, the night of the 24th when a line of gamers began forming outside the PlayStation Store at Sony's Metreon entertainment complex in San Francisco. By the time systems went on sale the morning of the 26th, there would be nearly 1,000 people in line. Most everywhere else in the country, the madness didn't begin until around six that evening, when lines began forming in earnest. Wal- Mart, Target and K-Mart stores often had many more people than there were systems in each location, so they held lotteries for the few they had. It wasn't all peace and quiet. Isolated reports invaded newswires of units getting stolen out of customers' hands and fistfights that broke out between people in line. Reports even came in of winning customers having to be escorted out of stores by security for fear they'd be attacked by the not-so-lucky. And if you weren't one of the lucky ones to come home with a PS2 on launch day, there's always a gamer's last bastion of hope —eBay. It and other online auction sites like Yahoo! Auctions had thousands of PS2 hardware Standing in line pays off—the first person out of Sony's Metreon with a PS2 system in hand lets out a victory *huzzah!" Now it's time to catch up on lost sleep, eh? Electronic Gaming Monthly - 48 Ti зі BE та f Playstation ar пашт отот listings—some reaching insane proportions (i.e., $10,000 for one system). While waiting in line, our staff found many people who were buying systems merely to turn around and auction them off—sometimes buying multiple machines. We couldn't help but think that if these would-be auctioneers were taken out of the equation, maybe everyone who really wanted a PS2 on launch day could've gotten one. But unfortunately, most of the crazy prices had been artificially propped by tricksters who had no intention of paying these outrageous amounts. “I did not receive the money from the high bidder. Like many PS2 auctions it was from a false bidder," Michael Newhouse, one of the thousands who listed his PS2 system on eBay, told us. “That was a snag, but | e-mailed some people and Babbage's to pick up their preorders. Sega had no love for Sony and its PS2 production problems. Trucks carrying this | billboard, proclaiming, “Our deepest condolences to Sony on their PS2 shipping difficulties,” were seen prowling both Sony CEA's HQ and the parking lots of major software developers. How long would you wait in line to get a PS2? Damen Donaghue, Glen Ellyn, IL Too busy playing Majora’s Mask 28% Source: Videogames.com “|The fact that it has a DVD player] helped convince my parents to pitch in a little bit—they can use it, too.” Wally Phelps, Biloxi, MS These guys hooked their PlayStation and TV up to a generator and spent the long evening playing Madden 2001. “On the day before launch, | went to Wal-Mart to stake out my position, but there was already uoixeg [eeuotW Aq ojoud sold it for $650." If you were one of the ones who bid on a PS2 on eBay and didn't get your system, you're not alone. “The person | bought the system from went down to his local shipping depot. The people working there were interested because he was shipping a new PS2,” eBay bidder Jennifer Fiocco told us. “He got it all packed, handed it over, and neither of us ever saw it again. We're guessing that someone else wanted a PS2 for Christmas." Online retailer amazon.com sold out of its allocation of units in 30 seconds. Sony projects it'll ship a total of 3 million U.S. PS2s by March 31, despite the materials shortage that halved the initial launch shipment. Since launch, new systems have trickled into stores a few at a time, and that trend will continue at the rate of 100,000 machines a week entering distribution channels until the end of the year. Will there ever be another hardware launch in the U.S. like the PS2 launch? Surely those who slept outside in cold weather or used empty areas behind stores as toilets (raise your hands, people) hope not. Next year we have two more new hardware launches to look forward to. Hopefully, by the time you read this, if you've been searching for a PS2, you've got one. Drop us a line and let us know what your experience hunting for a PS2 has been! nm The Metreon’s pyramid of PS2s...all of which were gone by the end of the day on the 26th. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 49 a line of 6o or more and they only had 24. 24!" Rebecca Pittman, Bloomingdale, IL “Better graphics, that it plays original PlayStation games and the new ones...it has USB and Firewire, DVD, y everything. It's loaded.” * hoochman16@juno.com “| waited and waited and waited for NINE HOURS but | got MY PLAYSTATION 2 and man, is it sweet. So all you all who thought it was foolish to wait, you don't have one!!!” Nico Delgadillo, Bloomingdale, IL “They did a really good job with the first system, so I'm gonna give them a second try. Plus they're coming out with some features like the DVD and better graphics and all that." chemical36@aol.com “Things got crazy and | got caught up in it. | didn’t expect to pay $860 [on eBay] for it. But now | sort of do feel that it was worth it. I'd rather not stand in line at Best Buy all night and end up getting screwed." Chris рупа, Schaumburg, IL “1 think it'll be worth owning once they get the hard drive out, the broadband going and they start emphasizing the DVD capabilities like they will with Metal Gear Solid 2..." roft Manor is under siege again, but not by the same breed of baddie that stormed Lara's crib in the finale of Tomb Raider Il. These are flesh-and-blood thugs, not polygonal people. And when they're done taking potshots at Lara's butler—an equally real dude returning fire from the second-floor balcony—swarms of workers emerge from the sidelines, reloading prop guns, collecting spent shells and vacuuming simulated rainfall dripping from smashed skylights. We're at England's Pinewood Studios, on the set of Paramount's big-budget Tomb Raider movie, which stars Angelina Jolie and is set to hit theaters in May, just in time to give the high-octane summer-flick season a suitably explosive kick-off. Pinewood —home of the Bond films—is the largest film studio in Europe, and as we're shuttled between the production's three hangar-size soundstages, we can't help but feel we've fallen into a Tomb Raider game, despite the cameras, coils of cabling and scores of ambling technicians, grips and actors. One set, a sub-Siberian tomb. called the Orrerry, houses an H.G. Wells-esque spinning model of the solar system the size of a city bus. Technicians will flood this set's floor with water—a process that takes a week. Another stage over, we find a life-size re- creation of a Cambodian Tomb, complete with hanging roots, 40-foot ledges, sunken Here it is—the first official pic of Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft. You gotta squint your eyes, though. That’s her in the center. Recognize this place? The Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, England, served as the exterior of stately Croft Manor, while the house’s interior was built and shot at Pinewood Studios. passages and dozens of carvings and sculptures. “We wanted to give layers to the sets,” production designer Kirk Petruccelli tells us. “Lara has to be able to climb, jump, leap, swing, do all these different things.” Jolie, who does many of her own stunts in the film, adds, “Just the other day, | was hanging off a cliff and nearly fell off this thing and really nearly dropped to the floor.” Sounds like the game to us. “We even have a boss—that six-armed Buddha over there,” says producer Lloyd Levin, pointing to a massive gold statue (пар be brought to computer-animated life by British effects firms Mill Film and Really Useful Companies. The movie is really Levin's baby. *Fandom came first,” he says, “then pursuit, then acquisition of the rights." But Levin's also keenly aware of the history of game-to-movie translations. Super Mario Bros. sucked. Street Fighter sucked. Fair or not, game fans fear the Tomb Raider flick will be no different. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 50 "She's like a She's like that's —Angelina Jolie, describing her character Lara Croft “That would be kinda like saying there've been a couple of crappy novel-to-movie adaptations, so let's write off novels," Levin says. “I think games are a great source of characters and stories, and we have a big responsibility here to make this turn out right, So people can see the potential." Paramount gave everyone on the set strict orders to stay mum on details of the script — which was written by director Simon West (he also did Con Air and The General's Daughter). We know Jolie's real-life poppa Jon Voight plays Lara's father, Lord Croft, and we know his character disappears early in the film. Lara will travel to Siberia and Cambodia on a quest for a time-altering artifact. She'll battle a training continued on page 58 Final Fantasy The Movie Director: Hironobu Sakaguchi Voice Talent: Steve Buscemi, Donald Sutherland, Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, Ming-na Wen, James Woods Scheduled release: 2001 Plot: As the cream of ће game movie crop, Square's been keeping the Final Fantasy movie under wraps (we'll have more details next issue), but we do know it takes place on Earth in 2065. It stars none of the characters from the games (no, not even Cid), but looking at the voice talent, you can probably draw your own conclusions about the CG players. C'mon, we don't need Disney to tell us who's in their next movie to figure out how the story's gonna end... Pre-release Buzz: It's going to be visually spectacular, but the real question is, will anyone besides game otaku and Square fans dig it? The House of the Dead Producer/Director: Jesse Dylan (yes, Bob's other son) Writer: Mark Verheiden (The Mask, Time Cop) Scheduled release: Fall Plot: The House of the Dead movie is allegedly based mildly on the game—only more of a serious horror movie with buckets of gore. College-age zombies dominate the social scene in a small town and a murder leads two heroes into the undead's abode to wreak some havoc on zombiekind. Prerelease Buzz: The serious horror movie angle and the lack of established backstory in the game leaves room for good scares. | Movies based on two popular first-person shooters, namely Duke | Nukem 3-D and Doom, were originally slated to go into production. Had | they gone forward they'd have been in theaters now. The Duke movie was rumored to have starred Dolph Lundgren in the lead role. We just | have to ask...what kind of movie would those games make? If it's anything like watching someone else play an FPS, let's hope they would've given out Dramamine doses with each admission. | Parasite Eve Japanese Release: Back in "97 US Release: 2001(?) The Lowdown: Your guess is as good as ours. Rumors and speculation have followed the live-action Parasite Eve movie around from the moment it was supposed to come to the States. The rights are supposed- ly now in the skilled hands of anime dubbers AD Vision, who were supposed to bring it to the states this past summer and then to DVD, but it's still not out. Madonna supposedly owned the rights for a U.S. remake, but we haven't heard anything on that in awhile either. The Buzz: The movie's really based on the novel, not the game, and we've heard a lot of fans have been disappointed by fan-subbed tapes making the rounds. Resident Evil Director: Paul Anderson Release Date: November 2001 Filming Locations: England, other parts of Europe Plot: The original Resident Evil movie story and script, written by the talented George Romero, sounded too good to be true. It was, and now Constantin Films has scrapped Romero's true-to-the-game version and handed the $40 million project off to Paul Anderson, of Event Horizon and Mortal Kombat fame. The new script pits six people and a team of commandos (none of them characters from any ofthe games) against a computer-run-amok as they try to escape a house full of mutated scientists. Sounds exactly like the game right? Right? Heh heh. Ewww, boy. Prerelease Buzz: Why did they ever ditch Romero's script? Looks like this one's got a one-way ticket to Sucksville. and the spe ment S.A. Unreal and the Unreal logos are trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. “PlayStation ir respective owners, mes and the Infogrames logo are trademarks of Infogrames Entertaint a registered trademark of the IDSA. All other trademarks are the property of thei es, Inc. Infogral re either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega Enterprises, LTD. The ratings logo is mes. Published by Infogrami ast logos with Digital Extre а in collaboration: es, Inc. i fered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sega, Dreamcast and the Dreamc: е regis I™ Tournament ©2000 Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Created by Epic Gam re regist "PS" Family logo ar Unreal Get up close and personal in the first-person perspective with over 10 weapons of destruction! Screenshots are from the PlayStation?2 system. 5 Go online with up to 8 players on your Sega ET Dreamcast", play 2- or 4-player split screen, ог network 2 PlayStation? 25 systems with i. LINK'*. Experience dazzling graphics and a multitude of maps and weapons — all in a frame rate so fast it's Unreal. ІН 6 LU 0 Е 0 Unreal” Tournament's fast and furious, sinele and multiplayer experience comes to life on PlayStation92 computer entertainment system and Sega Dreamcast; Lead your team of virtual teammates against the deadliest gladiators in the ealaxy. Mind-blowing realistic 3D graphics. High-octane game- play. Totally Unreal combat action. Just be sure not to lose your head. _ Em =. ES б N N PlayStation 9 Get big air and pull off sick stunts as you go for the checkered flag. Complete with real bike physics and real race strategies, you can test your riding skills in all the different disciplines of motorcycle racing. From supercross to motocross, from freestyle to traffic, Moto Racer World Tour's simulation of the bike's handling makes for the most realistic riding experience. Take turns just right, and it's like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth. Pull up lame, and the only trophy you're going home with is a bad case of road rash. All The Real Tricks. All The Real Tracks. And All The Real Wrecks. Rev up the throttle and tear it up on 18 of the world's most famous circuits, including Suzuka, the Stade de France, and Britain's Isle of Man. © 2000 Delphine Software International. All rights reserved. Moto Racer World Tour and Delphine Software International are trademarks or registered trademarks of Delphine Software International. Distributed by Infogrames, Inc. Infogrames and the Infogrames logo are trademarks of Infogrames, Inc. and its affiliates, PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered. trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. 4:02:10 Choose and even customize any of the 34 different motorcycles available. Fitted with independent front and rear suspension for the truest riding sensation, you'll get a real feel for the track, especially when you meet it face first. You have total control of the bike, even when it's airborne, so you can pull off all the nasty tricks, from can-cans to superman. And TV quality replays of the race will prove who's tame and who's insane. Once you get it in gear, compete in different championship seasons, and you'll open ир new hidden levels if you wins With such careful attention to detail, falls and collisions are painfully accurate. It's so life-like, you can practically taste the mud. Gou аы the rules. ROCKSTAR 575BWY* JUROCKSTAR 575BWY 13 JROCKSTAR 575ВМҮГ Г} ООВОСК5ТАК 575BWY | m jm ин рш jm ми mu m ш wn jm иң ыш m jn ищ m |n m m jm Um m m m mm m m ји | mum 6 mI" ES TA МОША ЕТІЛ TALES TT эшүү /02/// #7 CLUB / In secret gatherings around the world а mysterious group of urban street racers, known as the Midnight Club, race for pride, power and glory іп sleekly customized, tricked-out sports cars. Speeding through crowded streets, running red lights, terrorizing pedestrians, driving on sidewalks and nutrunning the cops are just the basics for the "Midnight Club". Racing action in two accurately modeled cities on both sides of the Atlantic - New York and London! 17 different performance enhanced cars to race - concept prototypes, foreign sports cars, muscle cars and pickup trucks, Play in a persistent world - with interactive traffic, pedestrians and law enforcement. ү "an 27 Win the pink slips of opposing players! Rise up through the ranks in the illicit world of the Midnight Club. several musthaves For | - Gamers Republi PS2 launch" a с, EB \ you'd expect Eu Hollywood big н Rather than a cons à une 2000 There are no roles. L8 B ш ROCKSTAR 575BWY 11 mm m mm m ИШ um јел ROCKSTAR 10 | us m miii ioi зол РАШИ за РАГАН 2 Winning cars аге tuned up with equipment from street-racing specialists such as Dimmer, VeilSide, Zender, Neuspeed, Wings West and more... mmuw.rockstargames.comimidnightciub Cutting edge soundtrack from some of the world's leading techno/drum and bass artists- Dom and Roland, Derrick May and Surgeon p ^N © === wee counterbalance wee ~: чш» و ا‎ "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Angel Studios and the Angel Studios logo are trademarks of Angel Studios. Rockstar Games and the Rockstar Games logo are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. © 2000 All rights reserved. 1.4 million Tomb Raider movie continued from page 50 robot in her mansion. She'll face an army of CG monkey-men warriors. She'll blast baddies from the seat of her Norton motorcycle — while wearing her pajamas, no less. And, of course, she'll perform plenty of backflips, handsprings and all that other acrobatic stuff Lara's famous for (this flick will feature loads of Matrix-style wire work). “Gamers won't be so fish out of water that they won't recognize anything about the movie apart from Lara's gorgeous physique," West tells us. “I purposefully put some things in it so if you're a gamer, you watch the film and she'll do something very sporadically that's definitely for you." Of course, the most important game ingredient here isn’t plot or location— it's Lara Croft herself. Jolie underwent three months of training for the role. *She can ride a motorbike. She can fight really well. She's physically very, very fit," stunt coordinator Simon Crane tells us. “We're trying to put her in the action as much as we can." Jolie stuck to a high-protein, mostly meat-and-fish diet to mold her bod to Lara's epic proportions. "We've altered her a bit," Jolie says. *She's still got a lot of what makes her Lara Croft, but I’m more athletic, and she's more curvy. I'm all for curves on a woman, and feeling Sexy, and not hiding from it and kind of enjoying it, and I’m hoping that everybody will enjoy it as well.” Director West says Jolie, who has signed on for two sequels, was always his first choice to play the game's globetrotting star. “She is Lara Croft. There's very little difference between the two of them." We have to agree. We watched Jolie film several scenes, and not only does she have the moves down —she's got the accent nailed, too. “[Lara's] raised a certain way,” Jolie says, “she's had a certain breeding, and she is Lady Croft. But | didn’t want her to be an unapproachable kind of snobbish aristocrat. So we had to take pieces of that accent and just make her British. Somehow, | seem very much like a lady...I’m really crass and really violent, but I’m drinking tea." Paramount has yet to release any photos of Jolie in full Croft attire, but we can tell you her look will be slightly different from the game. Gone is the shiny blue T-shirt. Instead, Oscar- winning costume designer Lindy Hemming has crafted a darker, more modern look for Lara. *Her silhouette is almost exactly the silhouette that everybody's expecting," Hemming says. "She wears a really tight black T-shirt, really tight black trousers, her gun belt has a skull-and-crossbones belt buckle, and she has a shiny...modern backpack with a plastic molded look, not like the pack from the game." Aside from the off-kilter color scheme, Jolie's costume looks dead-on— especially when we saw her whip her pistols from her hip holsters. And, as in the game's, Lara's tomb- raiding uniform ain't the duds you'll see Jolie slip in and out of. “Now she's got 13 different costumes," Hemming says, "but some of them are as little as a towel." So that's why those thugs were storming Croft Manor. «m POKÉMANIA That's the number of Pokémon Gold and Silver cartridges sold in the U.S. during its first week of release. 4X The Memory Sega will j т 1 ' " release its 4x Memory Card a week Dreamcast before the release of Phantasy Star Online in Japan on 12/14, fora retail price of 4800 yen (about $45). It’s got a total of 800 blocks of memory (four times. that of the standard VMU) divided up into four banks of 200 blocks apiece. It's missing the LCD screen and buttons of the original, so the ability to transfer files direct from VMU to VMU is gone, and unfortunately some games are incompatible with it or only allow you to use one of the banks. Of Sega's first-party games, only. Dynamite Deka 2 (Dynamite Cop 2) won't allow you to save at all. Shenmue, Sega Rally and Zombie Revenge won't allow. you to switch memory banks. A handful of third-party games suffer from the same afflictions. Speaking of Phantasy Star Online, a limited edition of the game will include a demo of Sonic Adventure 2. So if you were thinking of preordering the import version, that little nugget might make it worth it. And if you're hoping to play some SegaNet games using a broadband connection in the U.S., you'll have to wait. The broadband adapter won't be out here until Jan. 2, 2000. RandNet Suspends 6100 Sales As promising as it may have sounded when the 64DD was first released, Nintendo's RandNet *temporarily" stopped sales of the unit on Oct. 31. Whether or not this move will be permanent and mark the end of the drive's sales has yet to be determined. Existing users will still be able to access the system, which plays games like Doshin the Giant, SimCity 64 and the ultra-cool add-on F-Zero X Expansion Pack. This could mean we'll never see the DD version of Zelda, which had reportedly been completed some time ago. The 64DD was nowhere to be found at Nintendo's Space World expo just a few months ago. Nintendo has also pushed back the release of its Mobile GB Adapter by one month —from Dec. 14 to Jan. 27. Also affected by the delay is the release of Pokémon Crystal, which will be released on the same day. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 58 Want strong . bones?., ж Your bones ' grow until about age 35 У and the calcium. ¿PS in milk helps. = After that, ж it helps keep 00 AMERICA’S DAIRY. FARMERS AND А Game soundtracks are still a rarity in the U.S., with only a few of the most high-profile games receiving soundtrack support here— and then, usually only as a promotional extra for preordering the game. Recently, publishers like Mars Colony Music and Tokyopop Soundtrax have brought out U.S. versions of soundtracks to be sold in stores everywhere. Whereas in Japan, everything from Game Boy Color bleeps to Squaresoft's epic Final Fantasy scores get the soundtrack treatment, populating Japanese music stores as if they were Top 20 albums. But many gamers have already discovered the sonic goldmine of buying import soundtracks. If you know your way around, you can too. While most soundtracks simply replicate the music from the original games, others come in a variety of flavors. You've got to know the differences in order to determine what it is you're getting. An Original Soundtrack (or “OST”) often represents the music (background music, or BGM) exactly how it appears in the game, without new sound effects getting in the way. Music that isn't directly from the game but is based on it is sometimes known as the “Arranged” version. For example, Final Fantasy: Dear My Friends features music from FFV, but improved with new instruments, added effects and extra tracks. If the game has a strong enough following and the music lends itself well to orchestration, a company will authorize a *Symphonic" version, sometimes referred to as "Orchestral." This basically means the original game music is played and recorded by a full orchestra using live musicians. Hyrule Symphony is the name of such an album created using the music for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Soundtracks for Resident Evil, many of the Final Fantasy series, Chrono Trigger and Shenmue have gotten similar treatments. As if that wasn't enough to keep track of, if DJs get ahold of it, as was the case with Warp's D2 soundtrack, there may be a “Remix” soundtrack containing dance mixes of the music that sound almost nothing like the original tracks (but are still darn cool). Happy soundtrack hunting, and here's hoping more of 'em come to the U.S. = | | | | | | | | | | 5. Kefka's Domain Soundtrack 4. PaRappa the Rapper Original Soundtrack 3. Chrono Cross Original Soundtrack 2. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Original Soundtrack | 1. Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack L inal Fantasy VI Original Where to Get Your Soundtrack Fix: | You don’t have to fly to Japan to get your hands on phat game soundtracks. Just hop on the Net and check out these sources: Game Music Online (http:/ /www.gamemusic.com) offers a wide variety of old and new soundtracks, often with track listings and customer reviews for the most popular discs. CD Japan (http:/ /www.cdjapan.co.jp/) is a mail-order company located in Japan. When you order from them, you're charged the yen price (converted to dollars, of course), plus shipping. They have a good selection of more recent releases for decent prices. Tokyopop Soundtrax (http:/ /music.tokyopop.com) offers U.S. versions of soundtracks like Final Fantasy IX, Tekken Tag Direct Audio and Parasite Eve. Mars Colony Music (http: / /www.marscolonymusic.com) also has U.S. versions of game soundtracks. Its titles include Dino Crisis, Power Stone, Streets of Rage 2 and the Resident Evil Orchestra Album. oundtracks Raise Some Hell On Your “GameBoy Color. as ADAM SANDLER к | GAME BOY COLOR у | Adam Sandler is ЕМС атоо he's P © | coming to the Game Воу Ж ШЧ Ваше his E ni evil brothers, possess реб о оће 4/ t demons in this quest to save (ШӨМІШ ШІ. It's one Hell of an adventure. Ubi Soft PRESS START Warhawk (PlayStation) Released: 1995 Why it was cool: When we were wondering how 3D graphics would change the way we played games, Warhawk showed us a genre that we'd never seen before on a console. This fast- paced flight game looked complicated, but was actually quite simple for anyone to jump in and quickly be wowed by the detailed visuals. Once you saw the colorful “swarm” missiles pop from your plane's wings and converge onto a target you couldn't help but be impressed (and excited) by the hardware, and the ensuing firefights were absolutely amazing at the time. How EGM rated it: 9.0 ,9.0, 9.5 ,9.0 Comments: Not only was this considered one of the PlayStation’s early “must-have” games, it was also notorious for its full-motion-video cut- scenes. These badly acted atrocities were definitely a precursor to the B and C movie crap we would see on our games for years to come. - Kraig Kujawa WipeOut (PlayStation) Released: 1995 Why it was cool: As a part of Psygnosis’ incredible initial lineup (that also included Destruction Derby), WipeOut reminded race fans why they'd bought Sony's machine over Sega's Saturn by offering up smooth, fully 3D tracks at a blistering speed and framerate. Combat racing hadn't been done this well since Mario Kart hit the SNES, and definitely never looked this sleek. How EGM rated it: N/A—oddly enough, EGM never reviewed the original WipeOut! Comments: This game stands the test of time much better than other early PS titles. It still looks relatively good (thanks in no small part to Designers” Republic), and plays well even by today's standards. Someone once said to me this is the best game ever made...l don't really agree. WipeOut XL, for one, was better, especially since you could rub walls without coming to a complete stop. Thank god that's a play mechanic that's gone the way of the dodo. Still, WipeOut helped define a genre and spawned loads of clones—a sure sign of an innovative, quality game. -Greg Sewart “Rs absolutely ridiculous to suggest that hy limiting our audience we would successfully he pursuing our business goals." — Sony CEA VP of Marketing Andrew House, talking to Time Magazine about the PS2 shortage THE VIEW FROM JAPAN The Trouble With Online Gaming Virtually every video game genre is well-represented in Japan— from action to dating sims. But there's one genre that's missing from the Japanese market—online gaming. Some people here enjoy their Ultima Online, Diablo or Unreal Tournament, but they're not as popular as most console games. PC games have never been popular in Japan. The user base for consoles has dominated for over 10 years, and developers naturally choose to make games for console systems over PCs. Japanese gamers haven't been very interested in the PC, even after it became more affordable. A PC game that sells more than 100,000 copies is considered a huge hit here, whereas that's a small number on a console. Several companies have tried to break into online gaming on PC. Sega affiliate Nextech, responsible for Resident Evil Code: Veronica, offered up its own online RPG called Dark Eyes. But the response from gamers was far from enthusiastic. Japan System Supply offered their own RPG called Life Storm and Stone Age— which got positive reactions from gamers. Still, the company went bankrupt last October. Why is it so hard for online games to succeed in Japan? To make a good online game, it takes much more work than stand-alone games. You need to not only make EGM’: a good game, you also have to maintain a server for people to play on. You have to monitor lag and cheaters, too. Those things are probably much harder for Japanese companies to handle than making a good game, because most companies have been working only on console games for so long—they aren’t experienced with a PC environment. And even if they can pull off a good online game, no one is for sure that gamers will play it. There are no flat rate charges for phone calls in Japan like there is in the U.S., which means you have to pay more to play a game via modem, and the number of cable modem subscribers is negligible. Some companies are making online games for Dreamcast, but they also tangle with these problems to some extent. So, are all the Japanese game giants just sitting on their hands doing nothing? Of course not. Sony is working to expand cable modem service to provide PS2 games (and EverQuest). Square will release Final Fantasy XI, its first online RPG, sometime in the next couple years. Regardless of which system(s) they release it on, it’s a safe bet that will be a huge hit. And thanks to DC’s built-in modem, Sega can push the envelope hard to revitalize their console with Phantasy Star Online. According to Sonic Team’s Yuji Naka, they are planning to sell more than a half million copies of the game in Japan. If they manage to do that, it would be a huge break for online gaming here. On the other hand, Nintendo has a slightly different strategy. They will release Pokémon Crystal in January for GBC to play via cell phone. Not exactly online gaming, but it could entice people to connect. Japanese companies know online gaming is the future, now it's just a matter of figuring out how to get there. -Yutaka Ohbuchi 5 main man in Japan, Yutaka Ohbuchi. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 62 The poter of ay immortal... The soul of a faman.. ре Heart of a fer == Yea Live the film X Ammo, baby! Gothic 3-D locations Defeat vampires, zombies, cop > Eliminate evil using guns, Backdrops for battle include collaborators, and more of ‘knives, grenades, fists, feet... Chinatown, sewers and the the movie’s netherworld. ^ = and of course, swords. Gothic City Museum. = TS RANE TEON HAL MARVEL Activision. БАК A Blood and Gore — CORPORATION : КЕ) Animated Violence PlayStation s www.marvel.com www.activision.com E SRE SCORE 709000800 PLAYER LIFE бе Aw » SILENT SCOPE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PLAYSTATION 2 AND DREAMCAST, COMPLETE WITH AN ON-SCREEN TARGETING ' SYSTEM, MAGNIFIABLE SCOPE, N BRANCHING PATHS AND DET DRAWN STRAIGHT FROM THE lea b. ORIGINAL. AND YES, THE PRESIDENT 1S». 8 STILL BEING HELD HOSTAGE. YOURE ^ THE SNIPER WHO'S SENT TO SAVE НІМ.” ALL YOU'LL NEEB. O А GOOD EYE, AND АМЈРОМ S ACH. Konami®lis a registered trademark of Konami Co., Ltd. Silent Scop&is.a trademark ot Копат! @ê Ltd. PlayStation and the "PS" Ғапу logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sega, Dreamcast, and the Dreamcast logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega, Enterprises Ltd. The ratings i registered trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. ©2000 Konami of America, Inc. All rights reserved. DEVELOPER PROFILE Heavy Iron Studios Developer Profile: Heavy Iron Studios Location: Culver City, CA Website: www.heavy-iron.com HEAVY # of people: 34 Titles team members have worked on previously: Parasite Eve, Fear Effect, Crash Bandicoot and a slew of other titles. Most exciting aspect of the next- generation consoles: For the programmers, it's all about the new hardware and the possibilities they represent. For the artists, it's about working with a new, less constraining set of rules and maximizing the potential of higher poly counts, higher resolutions and more detailed environments. And for the designers, it's the challenge of making these new possibilities into a compelling game experience. Hardest thing about turning Evil Dead into a video game: First, many people were looking at this as the unofficial sequel to Army of Darkness, so we knew the story had to live up to their expectations. Second, we had to find our own approach to the survival horror genre. Easiest thing about turning Evil Dead into a video game: The level design turned out to be pretty easy. Coming up with new areas for Ash to explore was a natural extension of our love for the series. Times you must've watched the Evil Dead movies researching this game: Never... just kidding. We watched the movies about a billion times. Also, we were lucky enough to get production stills from the original movie and even one of the original Necronomicons from Army of Darkness. During late-night programming sessions, we: Let's see...once somebody brought in a Yard Gnome and bunch of modeling clay. Put these two things together with a bunch of geeks at five in the morning and you end up with...well, you can figure it out. At the time we thought it was hilarious; it really wasn't. Favorite Evil Dead movie and why: Evil Dead 2—it had just the right balance between horror and camp. Story behind our name: Heavy Iron is a reference to an old '50s term. Back in the day, they used to call huge mainframes RENAMED FOR JAPAN Angel Studios’ PS2 game Smuggler's Run is getting a new name for its release in Japan. From here on out it shall be called “Crazy Bump” in the Land of the Rising Sun. Visions of Bump n’ Jump pop in our head hearing that one. Sega Games To Appear On Other Systems? When it comes to making a successful hardware platform, it's been hit or miss with Sega in the past. It's always been a hit with the hardcore audience, but they haven't ever been able to get the attention of the mass audience in Japan, despite a library of great games. That may have fueled the company's recent decision to try to increase its percentage of the software market by offering game titles for other systems, including—as some reports from Japan state— console systems by its rivals (emphasizing that it would also continue to support Dreamcast). Plus, Sega will license out the DC technology to other platforms like cell phones, PCs and other audio-visual equipment. Their goal: to increase their market share have the *Time Reversal Cube," an from the current 4.2% to 25%; Nintendo enjoys a 19.696 share. It's hard to believe that drastic a jump in its percentage of the software market could happen without a move to support consoles, like PS2, Gamecube or Xbox. Sega of America dismissed that assertion by stating that the Japan announcement would only cover devices such as cell phones and set-top boxes, and would not include competing consoles. Already, one Sega title —Sakura Taisen—has made the jump to Game Boy Color. Not exactly a platform that's going to give Dreamcast much competition — but it is a step in the direction of multi-platform publishing. And Sega recently acquired FamilyWonder Inc., a U.S. dot com that specializes in providing family-based Web entertainment, to increase its Net presence. “We aim to win the top share of the world market in the near future by increasing the number of platforms which can operate Sega software," newly appointed Strategic Counsel Tetsu Kayama told a news conference. "Our focus on content provision is back in place. Sega aims to become a real game creator." Sega Game Already on PS2! Ifyou count this one, Sega's already got a game on PlayStation 2. In 1991, Sega brought out an arcade game called Time Traveler. Those who played it remember its obtrusively large cabinet which held a laserdisc player and something to project the holographic image onto the playfield. You starred as cowboy Marshall Gram, a hero able to travel through time to save Princess Kyi-La from the clutches of evil. Gameplay wasn't much more advanced than pushing the right buttons at the right time— but it did item which allowed you to save yourself from death if you made a wrong move. Digital Leisure, producers of the fine Dragon’s Lair, Dragon's Lair ІІ: Time Warp and Space Ace DVDs, have brought this arcade experience home on DVD. And of course it'll play on your PS2, too. It's available now at DVD and game stores everywhere. E lectronic Gaming Monthly - 66 тиопешлојш 9.JOUJ 20) LUOD*IALJLIAI MMM ЕТЕНЕ [еб 000254 SASJOMADIJ GMAJYOMANNOS ¡AUS чим ənjq зрџомј лпоА одеш - sJeyeeds [edic] 000054 .9HOAMeld eu зә) "peo әцэхйо Jo awoy зе Sujures 9[osuo» JNO оз oipne |'g епа! Каіра [eni рәдцеиоѕләа ppy gjosuoD г uopne3s/Aejd „Ачос лпод лој “ $ләўеәйс рәзи®дд ISOIN ay | Quartermann - Game Gossip & Speculation o kiddies, it's that time again...when your favorite neighborhood rumor- slinger emerges from his Cave of Wonders?" to deliver the latest n’ greatest rumors this side of the Pacific...and maybe the other side too, | dunno. So let's jump right into it... ...Square on Xbox?! Looks like Square might have more in mind for Final Fantasy XI than-we all first knew. In addition to XI coming to both PS2 and PC (in 2002), an Xbox version of the game is reportedly in the works. While Square HQ has been rapid-firing their *no comment" responses to all in the press who ask about it, the О has learned that there аге indeed Xbox dev kits at Square. And Microsoft is apparently making it very tempting for them to join Mr. Gates’ cause. Since à PC version is coming, how - much extra work would it take to convert the game? *WHOOSH* There 8065 the sound of Square being УНИ PS2. Didja, hear it? ...Remember Dragon's Lair? Wasn't that a cool “game”? Well, OK...maybejit was more a cool- looking cartoon than packed with : gamep ау, ~ Ф but it was good for the early '805, darnit! Don Bluth, the guy behind it, is tumored' to bain preproduction ona full- length Dragon's. Lair movie based on the game and its sequel tobe released in theaters in 2002. Those.of us who remember the game fondly will certainly. be at the theater ge day for that one... ... Speaking of movies, The Q alid. others will bé there for opening day. The Lord of the Rings | trilogy is going to be made into a video game if everything goes smoothly. Supposedly the bidding on the right to make said game.has been fierce, with names like Activision, THQ and Codemasters reportedly entering the fray. | But ultimately it looks like Electronic Arts will be doing the honors. That gives them Harry у Potter, Bond and Tolkien. What's up with EA getting all the movie-licensed games these days, anyway? Not that The Q is complainin' one bit—the N64 version of TWINE was phat, - baby. As long as the games are good, they can just keep churning them out... ...A new company called Conspiracy Games is entering the world of bringing Japanese games to the U.S. Its first title will be the Dreamcast RPG Record of Lodoss War, based on the mega-popular anime series...Looks like Game Arts wasn't quite satisfied with the Japanese sales of its DC RPG Grandia И. So you know what that means, don't you? That's right— it's Electronic Gaming Monthly - 68 headed to Sony country. Grandia ІІ on PlayStation 2 will feature all-new eye candy using the system's power, enough to make RPG fanboys go sterile once again (and buy it again, of course). Sproing! The Q still has a place in his heart for the DC version, though...and hey, the DC version'll be out in the U.S. way before a PS2 version sees the light in Japan. Sauce! While yours truly isn't one for the first-person shooters (though | did get to blast that darn Mark EGM guy through the roof a coupla times in-DC Quake III before ће. and friend Faust handed me-my entrails on a platter), this lil’ nugget is too interesting to ignore. American McGee (yes, a real guy whose name alone Conjures up images of mullets ‘n’ pick-up trucks) and.his game Alice will showup next year for either. PS2 or Xbox. |t's based on Alice in Wonderland айа uses the Quake III engine... hmmm.. looks like we aren't in Kansas \ anymore, Toto.. мању Wrong story... \ xd evelopment of Ninja Gaiden PS2i is stil moving forward i in Tecmo Japan’s offices (like The Q told you а few months ago—it's lookin" good). But Team Ninja is not resting on its laurels. ‘Apparently E Dead or Alive 3 is already i in the early stages of development, with à few _members of Team Ninja already beginning pre- production wofk on the game... ¡Gamecube status report +t0005, hardware done, games going full steam ahead. The new Matio/Luigi game is going to be freaking excellent: The Big М plans fo have a smorgasbord (I love that word) of titles available for both the Japanese and U.S. launches later this year. And if current reports are right, the system will be priced very competitively with both Xbox and PS2. It brings atear-to the eye of this crotchedy old newshound to see Nintendo going to be such a good time for games, it makes me shiver about Welp, that’s all the time we have this month. See ya after Election Day! sa -TheQ Y me We dí Ne UNLEASH voun met ROAD RAGE, DRIVE ON ROOFTOPS, THROUGH STORES, ACROSS PLAZAS NOTHING [S OUT OF BOUNDS OVER 30 PULSE-POUNDING LEVELS ACROSS FOUR INTERNATIONAL CITIES 27 PLAY HEAD-TO-HEAD AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS TOPGEAR. Wwv.TOP-GEAR.COM for more info. he ist classic 1 1 all 3-0 fighters: S returns! FREE POSTER!! Send in two proofs af purchase from any Virtua Fighter: The Animation videos and get a free poster by mail!! Mail your two proofs along with $3 shipping/handling in an envelope to: Virtua Give Away с/о Media Blasters Inc. 265 И. 40TH Street, Suite 700 New York, NY 10018 Www.Media-Blasters.com Original Japanese Version € SEGA • TMS. All Rights Reserved. English Design and Packaging by AnimeWorks under license 2000. BE SUNCOAST MEDIAVBLAV СЮ U Ш 1 JOM SHORE We Kinase ботев “It's really, really irresponsible. | expect better from Sega." ш | E — San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown comments on a Sega event for Jet Grind Radio called “Graffiti Is Art”—with artists creating huge designs on canvas (not city property). 2 IMPORT CALENDAR Phantasy Star Online Last-Minute Update: 300 on PS2 Here's an early look at 3DO's first PS2 games—World Destruction League: Thunder Tanks (below), Portal Runner (bottom right), Warriors of Might & Magic (top right), Army Men Sarge's Heroes 2 (top left). Import Pick of the Month: Sonic Team's epic online RPG, Phantasy Star Online. PlayStation 11/30 DDR Disney's Rave, Konami (Music) 11/30 Tales of Eternia, Namco (RPG) 12/21 Gunbalina, Namco (Shooting) Dec. Puyo Puyo Box, Compile (Puzzle) PlayStation 2 11/30 UNISON, Tecmo (Music) 12/21 Top Gear Daredevil, Kemco (Racing) 12/21 7 (Seven), Namco (RPG) Dec. Cool Boarders Alien, Uep Systems (Sports) Dec. Dark Cloud, Sony CEI (RPG) Dec. Winback, Kemco (Action) 1/25 Onimusha, Capcom (Action) [s СУДАН Г 4 | М j TEMPLE Dreamcast : | 2 11/23 Sega Tetris, Sega (Puzzle) 3 12/7 Project Justice, Capcom (Fighting) | Кез 12/12 El Dorado Gate, Vol. 2, Capcom | INTERVIEW Е PILOTS | (RPG) 3 ; ~ ¿e ооа patio ШИ ат SHEEPDAY 12/14 Samba de Amigo Ver. 2000, Sega (Music) 12/21 Phantasy Star Online, Sega (RPG) 12/21 Daytona USA 2001, Sega (Racing) | 1 ' TT RADIOSHEEP Nintendo 64 КЕ ТІПТ X. de шиш : THE M'SHEEP 12/14 Pokémon Stadium Gold/Silver/ Crystal Version, Nintendo(Action) Dec. Echo Delta, Nintendo (Strategy) Game Boy Dec. Legend of Starfi, Nintendo (Action) Jan. Legend of Zelda: Mystical Tree of Fruit, Nintendo (RPG) Jan. Pokémon Crystal, Nintendo (RPG) *Schedule subject to change. Consult your local import game store for the latest release information. 2 parody, end is for entertain die amusentént any. Duh. Compiled By Chris Johnston chris_johnston@zd.con & Jonthan Dudlal PRESS START Coming Soon - January 2001 December Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness - Namco Puzzle Dreamcast Polaris Snowcross 2001 - Vatical Entertainment Sports Deer Avenger - Berkeley Systems Misc Game Boy Color Star Wars: Battle for Naboo - LucasArts Action Gun Bird 2 - Capcom Shoote 3D Ultra Pinball - Havas Interactive Misc. Super Bowling - Tommo Sports Microsoft Links LS - Konami Sport: Army Men Arcade Blast - 3DO Action Dreamcast MS Combat Flight Simulator - Konami Simulatio: Blues Clues - Mattel Misc. Age of Empires II - Konami Strategy Mummy, The - Konami Actio! Carnivale - Vatical Entertainment Action Armada II - Metro3D Action/Strategy Phantasy Star Online - Sega RPC Championship Motocross 2001 - THQ Sports Bangai-o - Crave Entertainment Shooter Playmobil Hype - Ubi Soft Misc Championship Surfer - Mattel Sports Bang! Gunship Elite - Redstorm Action Polaris Snowcross - Vatical Entertainment Sport: Dinosaurus - Electronic Arts Adventure Dino Crisis - Capcom Adventure Project Justice - Capcom Fighting Emperor’s New Groove - Ubi Soft Misc. Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers - Ubi Soft Action Sierra Sports Game Room - Sierra Sport: Force 21 - Ubi Soft Action Evil Dead: Hail to the King - THQ Adventure Stunt GP - Infogrames Racing Harley Davidson - Infogrames Racing Grandia II - Ubi Soft RPG Stupid Invaders - Ubi Soft Action Hoyle Card - Havas Interactive Misc. Heroes of Might & Magic 3 - Ubi Soft Adv/Strategy SWAT 3D - Sierra Strategy Jimmy White's Cue Ball - Vatical Ent. Sports Max Steel - Mattel Action System Shock 2 - Vatical Entertainment Actior Kirby Tilt *n Tumble - Nintendo Misc. Peace Makers - Ubi Soft Action Lion King: Simba's Adventure - Activision Adventure Prince of Persia - Mattel Adventure Merlin - Electronic Arts Adventure Record of Lodoss War - Crave Entertainment Simulation Februar MTV Sports: Pure Ride - THQ Sports Resident Evil 2 - Capcom Adventure y MTV Sports: Ultimate BMX - THQ Sports Resident Evil 3: Nemesis - Capcom Adventure Mummy, The - Konami Action Surf Rocket Racer - Crave Entertainment Racing Action Man - THQ Actior Pokémon Puzzle Challenge - Nintendo Puzzle Worms World Party- Titus Misc. Aliens: Thanatos Encounter - THQ Actior Powerpuff Girls Paint - Bam Entertainment Misc. ESPN National Hockey Night - Konami Sport: Racin' Ratz - Mattel Racing Hercules - Titus Actior Road Champs BXS Stunt Biking - Activision Sports ] Indiana Jones - THQ Actior Robopon - Atlus RPG anuary Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX - Activision Sport: Tweety's High-Flying Adventure - Natsume Adventure Game Boy Color Monster Force - Konami Actior VR Sports: Powerboat Racing - Vatical Ent. Racing Antz Racing - Electronic Arts Racing Ronaldo V-Soccer - Infogrames Sport: Warriors of Might & Magic - 3DO Action Batman Racing - Ubi Soft Racing LUNAR Woody Woodpecker Racing - Konami Racing Croc 2 - THQ Action Batman Racing - Ubi Soft Racing WWF No Mercy - THQ Sports Dragon’s Lair - Capcom Action Deuce - Midway Adventur Frisbee Golf - Vatical Entertainment Sports Disney's Aladdin - Sony CEA Misc Big Ol’ Bass 2 - Konami Sports Legend of the River King 2 - Natsume Action Inspector Gadget - Ubi Soft Misc Burs Trick Wake Boarding - Crave Entertainment Sports Lego Racers - Lego Media Racing Gold & Glory: Road to El Dorado - Ubi Soft Adv. Lego Stunt Rally - Lego Media Misc. Ephemeral Fantasia - Konami RPC Kasparov Chess - Interplay Sports Mega Man Extreme - Capcom Action Project Eden - Eidos Adventure Lion King: Simba’s Mighty Adv. - Activision Adventure Metal Walker - Capcom RPG Seven Blades - Konami Adventure Martian Gothic - Take 2 Interactive Action Mission Bravo - Mattel Misc. Zone of the Enders - Konami Adventur Rayman 2 Back to School - Ubi Soft Misc. ^ Pocket Racers - Interplay Racing Reel Fishing Controller Combo Pack- Crave Sports Powerpuff Girls Battle Him - Bam Ent. Misc. Eternal Darkness - Nintendo Actior Sabrina Teenage Witch - Berkeley Systems Misc. Return of the Ninja - Natsume Action Paper Mario - Nintendo Action/RPC Sea Doo Hydro Cross - Vatical Entertainment Sports Supercross 2001 - EA Sports Racing Tom Clancy's Rogue Spear - Redstorm Action PlayStation 2 Army Men Air Attack 2 - 3DO Action Army Men Sarge's Heroes 2 - 3DO Action Dinosaur - Ubi Soft Action Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers - Ubi Soft Action ESPN NFL Prime Time - Konami Sports Jungle Book Rhythm n' Groove - Ubi Soft Misc. Kengo: Master of Bushido - Crave Action MDK 2 Armageddon - Interplay Action NASCAR 2001 - EA Sports Racing NBA ShootOut 2001 - 989 Sports Sports NCAA Final Four 2001 - 989 Sports Sports NCAA Game Breaker 2001 - 989 Sports Sports NHL FaceOff 2001 - 989 Sports Sports Offroad Outlaws - Interplay Racing Rayman 2: Revolution - Ubi Soft Adventure Star Wars Episode | Starfighter - LucasArts Action Stunt GP - Titus Racing Surfing H30 - Rockstar Sports Theme Park World - EA Misc. Top Gun - Titus Action Wild Wild Racing - Interplay Racing Warriors of Might and Magic - 3DO Action WDL: Thunder Tanks - 3DO Action Nintendo 64 Blues Brothers 2000 - Titus Action Carnivale - Vatical Entertainment Misc. Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers - Ubi Soft Action Hercules - Titus Action Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror, The -THQ Action Tech Deck Skateboarding - Codemasters Sports Xena - Titus Action PlayStation Army Men Arcade Blasts - 3DO Action Backyard Football - Infogrames Sports Digimon World 2 - Bandai RPG MTV Sports: TJ Lavin's Ultimate BMX - THQ Sports Scooby-Doo! - THQ Misc. Time Crisis: Project Titan - Namco Action PlayStation 2 ATV Off-Road Fury - Sony Racing Bouncer, The - Square CEA Fighting Dark Cloud - Sony CEA RPG Driving Emotion Type-S - Square EA Racing F1 Championship - Ubi Soft Racing F1 Championship Season 2K - EA Sports Racing Gran Turismo 3 - Sony CEA Sports Ground Control - Berkeley Systems Action Ico - Sony CEA Puzzle Knockout Kings 2001 - EA Sports Sports Navy Seals - Jaleco Action NBA Live 2001 - EA Sports Sports Oni - Rockstar Games Action Onimusha - Capcom Adventure Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing - LucasArts Racing Nintendo 64 Aidyn Chronicles - THQ RPG Dinosaur Planet - Nintendo Adventure Mega Man 64 - Capcom Adventure Sea Doo Hydro Cross - Vatical Entertainment VR Powerboat - Vatical Entertainment Racing Racing tronic Gaming Monthly - 74 Dreamcast 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker - Sega Racing Cannon Spike - Capcom Shoote Evil Twin - Ubi Soft Adventur Fa Championship - Ubi Soft Racing Legend of ће Blademasters - Ripcord Adventur Mars Matrix - Capcom Action M.O.U.T. 2025 - Ripcord Racing OutRigger - Sega Actior March Game Boy Color VIP - Ubi Soft Actior Sponge Bob - THQ Adventur Rocket Power - THQ Adventurt Matchbox Emergency Patrol - Mattel Racin; Alone in the - 4- — Adventurt Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX - Activision VIP - Ubi Soft PlayStation 2 Giants - Interplay Adventur Off Road Thunder - Midway Racing Shadow of Destiny - Konami RPC Conker’s Bad Fur Day - Nintendo Adventur Action Alone in the Dark 4 - Infogrames VIP - Ubi Soft ees sewed V3 RACING WHEEL 2 PlayStation 2 |. Performance #182259-2 SHADOWBLADE ARCADE STICK PlayStation 2 | Interact © е #182319-4 $9.99 Ж STORMCHASER GAMEPAD ШЕТИН PS2 CD STORAGE CASE 7% + #182256-8 А PlayStation 2 | Performance ы ne T2 + ] 82282-4 9 Performance #182254-3 FOR PLAYSTATION.2 Video Game Enhances Шаппа Beat The Game? Gaintnfeite Heath, Endiess Ammo and Extra Cho | Ші por 5492Ж NT UA GIVE GAMESHARK © T PlayStation 2. | InterAct GAMESHARK CDX E PlayStation || Internet mos #174845.8 d Game Baya Pocket” GAME SHARK PRO GameBoy | тела #149912-8 - бите Boy Interet GAME SHARK #185068-4 N64 | медо #139825-4 www.ebworld.com | call 1.800.800.0032 to place your order SE DURA Е uM x >. (372) 4 DREAMCAST CONSOLE Dreamcast a a "m? JET GRIND RADIO Dreamcast | Sega #182649-4 Dreamcast % ~ ЕР Hd | BN la] 2 AJ 25149-2 © С METROPOLIS STREET RACER ' Dreamcast | Sega = 41664648 ; SKIES OF ARCADIA 1549 Dreamcast | 5 ega Dreamcast | Sega #1834340 _ #164828-6 © Dreamcast SONIC SHUFFLE Dreamcast |; Sega 21834324 SAMBA DE AMIGO Dreamcast | Sega #186349-7 call 1.800.800.5166 for the store nearest you! $149.2 Ka i / NINTENDO 64 PIKACHU NINTENDO 64 NINTENDO 64 FUNTASTIC na po Pi URPLE Граца Nintendo 64 | Nintendo COLORS HARDWARE 41766364 ICE Nintendo 64 | Nitendo 41872639 Ман 64 | Meo 11668-0 JUNGLE GREEN #156882.3 #176700-5 FIRE 1767003 WATERMELON x qe 7 SERE THE LEGEND OF THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: ZELDA: МАЈОРА“ MAJORA'S MASK MASK OFFICIAL PLAYER У CUIDE, Strategy Guide | Ni $697? д EACH У ANO [00 Е | ВАМЈО-100) intendo 64 intendo: d OFFICIAL PLAYERS GUIDE. о | Nintendo 8 MEA 850718 A 2 $34.92 Ж POKÉMON GOLD % Game Boy Color | Nintendo 311763523 ` POKEMON GOLD & SILVER OFFICIAL PLAYERS GUIDE Nintendo 64 | Nintendo #185072-6 www.ebworld.com | call 1.800.800.0032 to place your orde саса PlayStation El | т 2 si іші ізі СЕ FINAL FANTASY ІХ CHRONO CROSS PlayStation | Squoresoft 3 ШЕТТЕН Не e » GIVE К i ree SMUGGLER'S RUN $4957 чаг? j | A THE BOUNCER SMUGGLER’S Ri PlayStation 2 [КЕТ PlayStation 2 | a. E 2 Mui uM | MIDNIGHT CLUB PlayStation 2 | рк Stor Games #182340-0 PlayStation 2 | Rock Star Games #182342-6 SURFING ЊО ч PlayStation 2 | Rock Star Games #189785-9 PlayStation e: Ё ICAA FINAL FOUR 2001 NCAA GAME ы PlayStation 2 | SCEA. PlayStation i үк, 50 #191636-0 21916345 NFL GAMEDAY 2001 PlayStation 2 | S.CEA: | #1819879 Р52 CONSOLE PlayStation 2 | SCEA. #172982-1 775 NHL FACEOFF 2001 | > от ae ВА. NS PlayStation MEAN 4191638-6 1819796 Prices valid in U.S. only. Typographical errors are not the responsibility of Electronics Boutique. Not all items may appear at our outlet locations. Prices may vary in Puerto Rico and New York City locations. At time of printing, all products are expected to be available. Some packaging and special offers may differ in Conada. Prices and availability are subject to change. Manufacturers: delays are not the responsibility of Electronics Boutique. ©2000 Electronics Boutique. www.ebworld.com | call 1.800.800.0032 to place your order NFL 2001 EA's Madden spends a second month at the top. But wait, did you notice that Pokémon is a no- show in the top 10 this month? he string is broken! Enjoy it now, the little critters are likely to be back in force next month. What do you know? A Sega Sports title cracks the top five twice in three months. It's a good month for football games, and NFL 2K1 is one of the best. Go get your Did we call it or what? The first Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 -P NEW month out the sequel to one of Activision's hottest games ever debuts at number three! Chances | are this baby'll be a mainstay in the top five for a long time to come. Surprisingly, the prequel... д - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater ..is right behind it, much like the Hawkman's double feature a month ago. Too bad Activision's N64 version didn't complete the triple crown this month. Tony's showing Pokémon- type dominance in the charts. 5- Gran Turismo 2 Looks like becoming a Greatest Hits title is all it took for Sony to sell another few boatloads of the | greatest driving simulator to date. | That makes two winners of EGM's coveted Platinum award in the top ive. You like us, you really like us! Mario Tennis Nintendo Spider-Man Activision 1 Star Wars Episode | Racer Nintendo 8 9 10 Spec Ops Take 2 Interactive NFL GameDay 2001 989 Studios Crispin ADU Che | Crispin 10 Che LAST MONTS KNEW. LAST MONTH + NEW. LOST RONTR mm LAST MONTE. LAST MONTH t2 LAST MONTH Chrono Cross Square EA Driver 1 GT Interactive 1 г LES mur ЈЕ и те + 10 | nm 1 Tekken 3 p T" Namco 5 LAST MONTI 1 8 Crash Team Racing +, Sony Computer Entertainment 1 Madden NFL 2001 шк Electronic Arts ae | NEW | LAST MONTH Source: NPD TRSTS Video Games Service. Call Kristin Barnett-von Korff at (516) 625-2481 for questions regarding this list. Top 5 game descriptions written by the EGM staff. Ultimate Fighting Championship Crave Entertainment JAPAN TOP 10 Fox ce Dragon Quest Vil Enix Fushigi na Dungeon: Furai no Shiren 2 Chun Soft Namco's PS2 games have consistently been top-sellers and that trend continues with MotoGP. Jaggies? What jaggies? Who cares about jaggies? Pop'n Music 4 Append Konami Pachinko Paradise 4 Irem Software Engineering 1 Pro Baseball At the End of the Century == Square Eternal Arcadia > O World Soccer Winning Eleven 2000 1 Koro Koro Kirby || Nintendo. Weekly Famitsu, week ending 10/15/2000 El Dorado Gate, Volume | Capcom Sega released three different versions of Eternal Arcadia. One, the regular game; another, a premium box set; and finally, an @barai version— which allows gamers to pay for a code to unlock the full version online. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 81 po HO Ho, VIDEO GAMERS! THE SNOW 15 FALLING, HOUSES ARE DECORATED, VES, ONCE AGAIN, 17 16 THE MOST WONDERFUL “IME OF THE WEAR! OMING, OF COURSE, THAT Асеке. “WONDERFUL” AS *DEVO!D оғ PARKING spaces! OF COURSE, YS NOT ALL FUN AND 1 (4 GAMES! FOR THOSE of Ub MORI A THE VIDED (reg TRY, DECEMBER 15 THE Mos: MONTA OF THE, Мека“ 1 Берн" IT'S A TIME OF HEATED COMPETITION, AS EACH GAME MANUFACTURER TRIES To, SERE THE OTHERS QUT OF THE LOVING ATTENTIONS OF YOUR HOLIDAY DOLLARS ! BIG PAYOFFS FoR Some, CRUSHING DEFEAT FoR OTHERS! 1 LONE The CHRISTMAS SEASON, CHAN! ? THE BEAUTY OF A SNoUJ-DUSTEO LANDSCAPE ! THE SOY OF WATCHING CHILDREN. STRUGGLING AGAINST THEIR NATURAL TENDENCIES AS THEY TRY To BE GOOD FoR ^ WHOLE MONTH! GOON, PASTE ONE UP THE SIDE OF THE HEAD ITH A SLUSHBALL! TUE CANT FIGHT BACK! 175 А RIOT! OH, AND MEÑESALSO THE OFFICE HOLIDAY PARTIES, THOSE CAN |бет екетту WEIRD, TOO. SANTA'S WATCHING мом, KIP! GET AWAY From MY CAR! BUSINESS ASIDE, THOUGH, THERE'S STILL А LOT OF HOLIDAY ACTIVITY To BE ENDURED, SUCH AS ENTERTAINING GUESTS! | BELIEVE SOME OF YoU MIGHT NOT vet HAVE MET... OUR SISTER HIROKO... THE TEETHING Фіӛсот № y ao our? P QUICKLY, HSU! FETCH THE LONGER! THIS HEFTY LUMP ON OUR SOFA WHICH WE ARE TOLD 15 OUR BROTHER-IN-LAW, беке... AND OUR BABY NIECE, HANAB, WHO САМ LOOK LAKE MÊ ! МАЧВЕ WE HAVE SOME ФлынірЕ CHEWS Some WHERE... HUH? THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE... CRYING ON THE HERE, THERE, LITTLE BACK PORCH! FELLOW == IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS, | OFFER You THIS WHOLESOME CAN Of CREAMED CORN! Nous GO, BE MERRY! WAIT HERE, 1 “THINK | KNOW ow 10 HANDLE Tus WELL, YOU WANT THIS MY NAME 15 BLINKY, AND I'M HERE ON A MISSION SO, WHATS THE PROBLEM WITH CHRISTMAS. = Of GRAVE IMPORTANCE -- You See, 1 AM ONE OF SANTA'S ELVES, АМОР | CANNOT FIND A SOLUTION To ouR PROBLEM SOON, CHRISTMAS MAN 66 RUINED FOR BOYS AND GIRLS ALL OVER AMÉRICA! CREAMED CORN, ANYWAY? WERE NOT GONNA eat it, THIS YEAR? BAD EGGNOG? Аы. THOSE STUPID PLASTIC LIGHT-UP LAWN STATUETTES | FINALLY DRIVEN SANTA TO THE BREAKING Point? we MIGHT EVEN ТАКЄА PAR cut! UMM. SOUNDS BAD. HAVE ЧОО TRIED PUTTING 252—4 CASINGS AROUND REGULAR DVD PLAYERS? MOST OF THE GAMES AVAILABLE FOR IT THUS FAR AREPRETTY MEDIOCRE AT BEST; IT COULO BE WEL INTO NEXT YEAR BEFORE ANYONE NOTICES THE SWITCH? wre, IMINSOLTED! SANTA'S WORKSHOE, wooLo NEVER SO Low As To TRY THe PUBLIC LIN! BESIDES, THE DVD RE, RATTLE AROUND PANES BA аде: „ше NEED TO FIND NO E REAL «Const http://www.ape-law.com/ evilmonkey [SU GAMES Се) Ж ОГ ec! ө Unlimited Game Rentals! (up to 3 games at a time!) Games delivered to your door! No Due Dates or Late Fees! Rent 2 Own Option! Free Shipping! e EJ EJ | GAMEBOY Rent ar Buy these hot titles plus many more in stock now! www.r2ogames.com Rent - Own -entz Own ©2000 R2Ogames.com, Inc. All rights reserved. R2Ogames.com and respective logo are trademarks of R2Ogames.com. Credit card required for Rental Program. "Free Shipping on first 3 games per month. 99¢ shipping each game thereafter. **N64 titles slightly extra. Playstation, Playstation 2 and the Playstation, Playstation 2 logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64 and N64 are registered trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. Dreamcast and the Dreamcast logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega Enterprises, Ltd. All other trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. Aicyn Chronicles: The first Mage © 2000 THO Inc. Aldyn Chronicios: Tho First Mago, THO and tho THQ logo are trademarks andlor rogistered trade H20 Entertainment is a trademark of H2O Entertainment Corporation. All ight ob THO H2O Entertainment Corporation. 'osorved. Nintendo 64 and WF logo are trademarks of Nintendo.of América Ine 1 America Inc. All rights reserved. His Body Exists lo The (Daodaoe World. His Spirit Resides “9080 Об à Higher Plane. lo BetWeen ls Chaos. In this, the first traditional RPG for №64, a young тап ET “og "| embarks on a seemingly impossible journey to discover his identity and fulfill his destiny. Can he stave off his enemies, overcome his obstacles and find that which he has dreamed about? Or will chaos keep Alaron from everything that may be rightfully his? * Real-time 3D environments and ӨЛІ: characters. * Unique blend of party-based adventuring and turn-based combat. * Storyline written by Chris Klug, creator of the pen-and-paper game DragonQuest. * Up to 13 characters to add to Alaron's party. TEEN ря Ецщ ESRB You CANT 5051 SIT DOWN AnD MAKE! A P52, ANYWAY- THEY'RE BUILT HMM... THERE MIGHT У ACTUALLY бє A WAY AROUND OW... WELL, WE DONT WANT You TOGET THE WRONG IDEA, OUR WoRKSHOF, WAIT A MINUTE” YOU'RE ONE OF % M оты 6$ NTA'S EA ELLA, BUT THE TRUTH IS, WE + peg ewes ORA ADS OUT of DEconSTRUCTED 95. THIS WHOLE MESS A KID Us caen UP ON |; TES USING COULDN'T POSS! м Goon. tja Ром? You New TECHNOLOGY 2 sel SRI COSTA PRESENT S ge | 60453о5т MAKE оре THAT WAS BETTER THAN соме MORE? | MEAN, WE CAN CHURN OUT ENGINEERED FROM U.F.0.5 7 А PS2, RIGHT? А ROCKING HORSE OR RUMOR HAS IT THEIR PROCESSORS 2 7 ARE ACTUALLY THE BRAINS OF GENETICALLY-ENHANCED, HUPER-INTELLIGENT LAG RATS, GROWN IN fobs FROM SuPITER, снин, You KNOW, EXPLAINS THE WHOLE SHORTAGE THING SOME KINO OF WERO, DECORATIVE KEEPSAKE THERE WERE A Bunch OF ANGRY UTTLE KIDS THAT YEAR, WENE NO TIME TO CREATE OUROWN OVERLY-HNPED, Must-HANE PRODUCT, SO INSTEAD WERE GONNA ANO VOILA! THE BEST TOY COAST ON THE RECOGNITION FACTOR OF AN \м THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD! OKAY, THAT Look, HANA8)! WASN'T QUITE WHAT WE Wet m OF HoT TOYS FROM CHRISTMAS PAST! біт IT DELIGHTFUL? GOING FOR. AMALGA! AicKLE-ME Ermo! mU CABBAGE PATCH KIDS! ) 3 Furst! " PR THE SEVERED HEAD OF A техе1968У! ENERRONE CLEAR! МАн, THESE ARE AMERICAN KIDS, THEY'D YEAR NOU APART. You'd GEST LAN LOW Tie EASTER, You THINK? | MEAN, MAYBE THIS 15 ACTUALLY A боор THING! MANGE THis 15 WHAT IT TAKES FOR PEOPLE TO WAKE UF AND REALIZE THAT CARISIMAS ISNT 5057 SOME KIND OF FAcTORY- MADE SHOPPING HOLIDAY, SOME HIGH-GLOSS, PREMANUFACTURE D CELEBRATION OF COMMERCIALS е” IT's мо USE, FELLAS. WE TRIED, WE FAILED, ym Doomed. r SORRY ABOUT THAT. WANNA GWE IT ANOTHER TRY WITH BEANIE BABIES OR ATAMAGoTCH! OR SOMETHING ? NOW HANG ON ~- 1$ (T REALLY THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD THAT А Buwch OF KIDS i GET EXACTLY WHAT MAYBE WITHOUT ALL THE THEY WANT FOR то Camemast- || потеть TRA FEY tt Hey-- YOU GUYS HEAR THAT SOUND? | —À; HEY, ANYBODY WANT SOME 52. 57 Em 15 SAVED! f HUH. WELL, VIDEO. у GOT A WHOLE TRONKFUL ! sem WHILE THe? RE... зі TERE АКЕ ENOUGH UNITS ом... noe OR QU n Cana RERA THATS HANG ON, HSU, SH! 4 7 App ENDING, NOT HANABI'S GOTIEN FRESH! You EVER FIND 50 MANY? Pao RAN AND |, HAPPY CER te "M. HOLIDARS, AND WELL SEE You NEXT YEAR! BADGIRL! Au... WE GOT us A STRICT NO-QUESTIONS- ASKED POLICY HERE, SEE --- THAT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE! GoD BLESS US, EVERY ONE! Ф Electronic Gaming Monthly - 86 “PIS IAID: 3 au IO asou nalial Ámessanau iou OD Шри # пеш Қа pnassaidxa SM: SIA QUT A DARK FUTURE.. AN UNCERTAIN PAST... Ф ПО ОПЕ LEFT TO TRUST. AN INTENSE ACTION THRILLER COMES TO EASY TO LEARN FIGHTING SYSTEM WITH LIFE WITH EXCITING ANIME STYLE COOL, LIFELIKE AMD REALISTIC MOVES. CHARACTERS AND STORYLINE. THE ARSENAL OF WEAPONS INCLUDES REVOLUTIONARY GAMEPLAY BLEND OF PISTOLS, ROCKET LAUNCHERS, ENERGY Е | HAND TO HAND AND WEAPONS COMBAT. AND PROJECTILE WEAPONS. = —RELE/ ease pate Y 2001 ` шшш! ROCKSTARGAMES. сот/опі МҮГІСІ COOROCKSTAR 575BWY O0 DOROCKSTAR 575BWY CO0 пимимии m س‎ RR m RR RR m RR UR а mm ји ји ) s "um ——1 == ig шай mam за Ши smiuwi" smit e mitt ЕЗІЛЕ ЛІЛІГІГШ, amw iT сотіпс soon: THE ап! COMIC BOOK FROM DARK HORSE COMICS m e "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Dark Horse Comics® and the Dark Horse logo are trademarks of Dark Horse TEEN Comics, Inc., registered in various categories and countries. All rights reserved. Gathering of Developers and the godgames logo are trademarks of Gathering of Developers Inc. 4 > Rockstar Games and the Rockstar Games logo are trademarks о! Take-Two Interactive Animated Violence Software, Inc. € 2000 All rights reserved. И! тота рот, 3000": You're the fishin’ technician. Poor Captain Jack. Thanks to Sega Marine Fishing, folks aren't lining up to pay top dollar to not catch fish on his tourist troller. Nope, seems all the smart fishermen are out on the Sega Sea matching wits with Sailfish, Tarpon, Blue Marlin, Tuna and Mako Shark. Any wonder things are a little slow down at the docks? Dreamcast. |... Rights Reserved. vay se rks or trademarks 01 SEGA a EVERYONE SEGR+-COM/PUAKEZARENA B30-DC_ nuTr da | еше? come one, соте ALL. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A FREE-FOR-ALL OF THIS MAGNITUDES QUAKE 111 ARENA ом SEGA DREAMCAST 15 A PRIMAL STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL WHERE THE FIT BECOME CHAMPIONS AND THE UNFIT BECOME STAINS. PRACTICING ALONE CHN ONLY TAKE YOU 50 FAR. 1F YOU'RE READY TO TRY YOUR CHARM ON OTHERS, TRY A CASUAL ONE-NIGHTER IN THE ARENA. YOU NEVER KNEW IT COULD BE LIKE THIS. maenieicarian 22=35HX E ШЕТІ Ej BECOME ONE OF OVER SO || SAVAGE GLADIATORS FROM ALL OVER THE UNIVERSE TO Bes MEET IN THE ARENA. PN, | [ \ / \ | \ ® || ға / E ` | x КА ГА g ИШШЕШГШИИШ DIAMETER? 3.14 ATOMIC No. ха DESCRIPTION? OPTIMAL HOST FOR MULTIPLAYER ACTIVITY. ACCEPT No SUASTITUTES» || ECTS зквоко: 798543 JIRECT DEVASTATING [also SEE SPLASH DAMAG : ТТ Lave (QUAKE AH ABREN RASTER PRODUCTIONS Animated Blood and Gore Animated Violence Sir nar ol Raver oven uS istered U. Sega, Dreams lago ao donar o SEGA ENTERPRISES. Li. © 2000 SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD. A Ns Reserved, affiliates, & of SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD or З Es & Es; Я [3 E Ë z & 5 3 8 5 e Animated Violence Mild Language. @ =т= iŞ Previews This Month in Previews Dreamcast 98 Sonic Shuffle 100 Skies of Arcadia 104 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker 106 Worms World Party Last Blade: Final Edition Resident Evil 3: Nemesis Resident Evil 2 108 El Dorado Gate, Volume | Napple Tale Surf Rocket Racer 114 Red Faction 16 Sky Odyssey 118 Тһе Getaway MDK 2 Armageddon 122 Test Drive Off-Road: Wide Open Championship Motocross 2002 King's Field IV 124 Cool Boarders Code Alien Herdy Gerdy 126 Кигікигі Mix DNA Hajime No Ippo Dog of Bay 130 Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete 132 Evil Dead: Hail to the King 138 Tomb Raider Chronicles 142 Gundam Battle Assault Jungle Book Rhythm n' Groove You Don't Know Jack, Mock 2 Disney's Toy Story Racer utting together previews this month, we all ended up with the same question: Where are all the upcoming N64 games? No doubt many of you who are asking yourselves the same thing. We don't have a single preview for the system this issue, and rather than run yet more Banjo-Tooie shots, we decided to put a AN WARNING: the space to better use. So why has the Ponens number of N64 games on the horizon The PS2 certainly doesn't have any marked with slowed to a trickle? shortage of great-looking titles on the international The answer, near as we can figure, is horizon-THO's incredible Red Faction for semaine that developers are running away in one. Check it out starting on page 114. released in Ше droves. Running away from the US. They are expensive and risky cart format, months still left to go before designed to running away from the notoriously Gamecube makes it to the U.S. There's run on difficult (even Nintendo admits it now) a handful of great-looking games on Japanese or N64 development environment, and the way— Paper Mario, Conker, European PAL running toward safer bets like the huge Dinosaur Planet— but notice anything Systems. PlayStation market, or starting work on else those titles have in common? Yup, қолы your next-generation platforms like Xbox, they've all been delayed. Nintendo has PS2, and yes, Gamecube. so few games left they seem to be What all this means is that it doesn't intentionally spacing them out. look like the N64 is gonna grow old Don't worry though, we aren't gonna gracefully like the PS one (which is still take this lying down. We love the N64 enjoying some of its best games ever, just like many of you and we'll be back even after its successor system has next month, looking high and low for been released). Big N cart releases are worthwhile new releases or updates. already few and far between, with 10 Here's hoping we find some. ж 1. Evil Dead: Hail to the King 2. Red Faction PlayStation, Winter PlayStation 2, March PlayStation, December Dreamcast, December Dreamcast, December 3. Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete 4. Skies of Arcadia 5. Sonic Shuffle Who Wants To Make An RPG? OK, we've had a few questions and concerns raised about our RPG Maker contest (announced right here on this page in issue #135), so here's an addendum for all you budding Sakaguchis out there. You still need to buy a copy of Agetec's RPG Maker for the PS one (which is available now) and you still need to complete your masterpiece and send it to us by Dec. 31, 2000. Those of you concerned about time limits, please remember, we're not looking for the next Final Fantasy here. All we want are creative, witty RPGs that can be completed in a relatively short period of time. Finally, we realize not everyone has access to a Dex Drive, so here's the deal. If you have a Dex Drive, e-mail us your game file at egmcontest@ziffdavis.com. However, if you don't have access to a Dex Drive you may mail your memory card to us at the address below. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and we'll do our best to БӘЛЕ the memory card back to you. EGM RPG Maker Contest Please note that we can't guarantee delivery. First Prize consists of a PlayStation 2 and copies of Armored Core Р.О. Box 3338 2, Evergrace and Eternal Ring, all courtesy of Agetec. Oak Brook, IL 60522-3338 nthly - 94 Electronic Gaming М TWO WORDS Animated Violence Mild Language Use of Tobacco and Alcohol wuwuw.sega.com/shenmue © CRI 1999-2000 Presented by АМ? of CRI. All Rights Reserved. SEGA, DREAMCAST, the Dreamcast logo, and SHENMUE are trademarks or registered trademarks of SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD or its affiliates. = © ы. а O PREVIEW Sonic Shuffle Sega Sega 1-4 Action 70% Winter www.sega.com Another Sonic game! Frequent loading Tails after Dr. Robotnik clobbers him with a 16- pound weight NO ONLINE PLAY When Sonic Shuffle was originally announced just before E3, it was heralded as one of the first games players would be able to play on Sega’s spanky new SegaNet online gaming service. Unfortunately, this option was scrapped, leaving single players with computer opponents as the sole competitive option. According to Sega, the decision was made to ensure the game would ship in time for the holidays. While it already looks like a great party game as is, we can’t help but miss what could have made Sonic Shuffle truly special. With heavy hitters like Quake III and NFL 2K1 sure bring hardcore players into the SegaNet fold, games like Sonic Shuffle could show casual gamers the meaning of online fun. Then again...if the whole family catches onto DC Net gaming, you may have to start waiting for your turn on the controller. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing after all... onsole owners have come to expect greatness from any title that has the word “Mario” on it. Nintendo’s intrepid little plumber can seem to do no wrong—whether he’s battling koopas, racing around a go-kart track or hitting golf balls, a game with his name on it guarantees fun. It also guarantees high volume sales—a truth that has not gone unnoticed by rival developers. The value of cultivating a company mascot has lead to the inception of Universal Interactive’s Crash Bandicoot and Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog, and where the plumber goes, these two follow. Crash and Sonic started life as heroes in platform adventures, just as Mario had. The success of the Mario Kart series prompted the subsequent release of Crash Team Racing on the PlayStation and Sonic R on the Saturn. And now, the popularity of Mario Party has given rise to the development of Crash Bash and Sonic Shuffle. Minigames: these don't pop up as often as you'd think, but when they do, they offer a great variety of entertaining challenges. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 98 Your mission: to secure the magical Precioustones, scattered throughout five distinct worlds. Each world has its own board, each offering hazards and shortcuts tied to the world's theme. All of the play fields provide branching paths. Choose from (left to right) the Emerald Coast, Firebird Zone, Nature Zone, the Riot Train or the Fourth Dimension. Of course, Crash Bash did not provide gamers with a board game layout; its play focused exclusively on mini-games. This ultimately led to a multiplayer experience that was less satisfying than the one Mario Party offered. Sonic Shuffle doesn't take such chances: It sticks more faithfully to the structure of Nintendo's game. As you progress toward a specific goal on one of five different game boards, you collect gold rings, which increase your score and buying power: Land on a red platform, and you lose some rings. Land on a blue platform and you gain some. Multiplayer events pop up now and then, testing your hand-eye coordination. All of this has been seen before, has worked before, and works here, too. As with most first-party Dreamcast titles, the visual presentation is really slick. A new cel-shading technique—used to such great effect in Jet Grind Radio— provides in-game characters with a hand- drawn, cartoony look. The figures are quite striking, and reinforce the game's light, fanciful tone. The five difficult stages look great too —each one presents a dreamscape threatened by the forces of Void, the game's central antagonist. This evil figure has gained control of the mystical “Precioustones” — powerful gems which have the ability to destroy dreams. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy are enlisted by Illumina, a magical sprite, to regain the Precioustones and restore order to the A lovely sprite named Illumina asks Sonic and his friends to save the world of Dreams from destruction. The story is a secondary element in a game like this, but its presence links the boards together elegantly. world of dreams. This narrative comes to life in the game's story mode, which gives you a cinema before and after every game played. Naturally, Dr. Robotnik is also on hand to keep Sonic and company from reaching their end goal. He mercilessly steals rings, reduces the value of prize spaces at inopportune moments, and periodically drops a 16-ton weight on players who dawdle. Speaking of Robotnik, boss “fights” provide for some tense moments. If you land on a battle space or attempt to procure one of the Precioustones, a monster will challenge you to what amounts to a game of roulette. If you win, you are rewarded with a valuable prize. If you lose, most of your collected rings are taken away. Instead of relying on hitting a spinning box to determine how far you can move forward on a board, Sega's game uses a card system. Every player is given a set of cards. Each card has a number, indicating how many spaces you can move on a given turn. You can use your deck in any order you Hee DC TA DE] à 2% DOS SAA У many ti have you used see fit, and when it is depleted, you'll select cards from other players (without being able to peek at their value, of course). This adds a welcome bit of strategy to the gameplay, and a deviation (if only slightly) away from Mario Party. The boards themselves are also far less linear; you get full control over the route your character takes. Plenty of shortcuts are scattered here and there, and many require a specific character to be taken advantage of. For instance: wall-climbing shortcuts can only be performed by Knuckles; paths which require flying are accessible only to Tails. Of course the minigames are important too. They don't pop up as much as Mario Party, but like that game they are all easy to learn and play. And since the board is the primary focus—not the minigames—the game is even more like *standard" board games such as Monopoly and Life, and even more friendly to non-gamers. Your kid brother, relatives, girlfriend —anyone typically put off by video games should be happy to try this one out. Big family get-togethers never have to be boring again. Some will certainly prefer Shuffle's emphasis on the board over minigames; others may be put off by the lack of action. If your buddies are used to the frantic multiplayer action of Blitz 2001 or Soul Calibur, they might not have the patience to play through this. But if you are looking for a simple, eye- catching party game, you've got one more DC title to look forward to this winter. ж In addition to the minigames, Sonic Shuffle offers (counterclockwise from left) Trivia events, one-on-one character duels, boss fights, even play-order challenges. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 99 CEL-SHADING In the early '805, gamers were taken aback by the incredible visuals of the now classic coin-op Dragon's Lair. Players couldn't actually control the hero's movement directly, but boy, did the game look great. Finally, we are now witnessing the release of fully interactive “cartoons.” This is made possible by a technique called cel shading, which is used in Sonic Shuffle, and can also be seen in Wacky Racers (above) and the phenom- enal Jet Grind Radio (below). You'll be seeing this effect used frequently in the future. PREVIEW ПЖ sega Overworks ГОЛЫЕ | Genre: RPG E 100% Available Now Chrono Cross, FFIX www.sega.com A deep story line packed with great gameplay Arcadia is a wonderful game, but why didn't they just make Phantasy Star V? Aika's angry face One cool feature found in Arcadia is a very extensive facial expression system. While there's plenty of written text, the characters themselves don't have more | thana handful of spoken words, but the emotions on their faces speak volumes. Once you charge up your spirit bar you can unleash colorful (and very powerful) special attacks. While it's true Skies of Arcadia doesn't have quite the overall visual impact found in Grandia ІІ, it still has more than a few simply amazing-looking locations. ike it or not, it's hard to deny the fact that the Saturn was a crap system for RPGs. With the sole exception of the amazing experience that was Panzer Dragoon Saga, if you were a fan of traditional role-playing games, the Saturn kind of screwed you ever. No Phantasy Star. No Lunar. No Grandia (in America anyway). Yeah, there were plenty of keen strategy RPGs, but you could count e worthwhile traditional RPGs on one finger. Yet here we are on the Dreamcast, one year in, and three major RPGs are almost upon us—and all of them smell of greatness. But, of course, if you ask any Dreamcast-owning RPG fan which game he or she is looking forward to this holiday season, you'll most likely hear *Grandia 11” or “Phantasy Star Online." There's no doubt about it, Skies of Arcadia is certainly the underdog in the small swarm of Japanese RPGs headed to our shores, but the reason for this is puzzling. Let's put it this way: Not only is this Sega's first in-house RPG since the last Panzer Dragoon game, Arcadia is headed up by freaking Reiko Kodama, a woman who's strongly responsible for the Phantasy Star The Six Degrees Yes, Panzer Dragoon developer Team Andromeda is gone. They have scattered to the winds that are the many Sega in-house teams, but their legacy lives on in games like Space Channel 5, Jet Grind Radio, Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia. And while we'll likely never see a Panzer Dragoon Saga 2, you'll be happy to hear Arcadia will give any PD fan more than a few nifty flashbacks. TEAM ANDROMEDA LIVES ON! WELL, SORT OF. of Panzer D Note the camera angle, back- ground visuals and character graphics from Panzer Saga. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 100 series—arguably one of the greatest collections of RPGs ever. Well, except for the third one. But still... Why the lack of insane enthusiasm then? It might have something to do with the fact the screenshots for Arcadia don’t exactly showcase the game favorably against Grandia ІІ, and it certainly lacks the heritage and online gameplay PSO offers. But then again, Sega was not trying to create a simply pretty game or an online adventure, instead they concentrated on crafting a deep and moving role- playing experience, something we must admit they succeeded in wonderfully (check out our Review section for more details). With Arcadia, Sega returns to the roots of what makes an RPG great—the feelings of discovery and adventure. Developer Overworks went as far as creating the world map long before the story or characters were finalized, so they could “discover” each of the new lands as they worked on the storyline. Sure, it might sound a bit silly, but it was done to provide a very believable effect of true exploration. ragoon Saga Yowza! Looks similar, eh? Albeit crisper graphics with a bit more color. Needless to say, the story line in Skies of Arcadia was the main focus in its development, and this tale features an outstanding cast of characters, tons of twists and turns, and just the right amount of humor—plus the translation is being handled by the talented team who localized Panzer Dragoon Saga. The story is based around a world made up of floating islands and a noble sky pirate named Vyse, his childhood friend Aika, and a mysterious woman named Fina who they rescue during the mid-air robbery of a Valuan ship. You're soon off on an adventure that pits you against not only a powerful enemy nation, but also evil pirates, monsters found on newly discovered lands, a giant flying whale with a dark past, and a series of ancient weapons that once nearly tore the world apart. You'll visit a handful of incredibly well-designed towns, fight in tons of puzzle-laden dungeons, and search for hidden artifacts and treasure the world over. And while you will have to do things in a certain order, The visuals in Skies of Arcadia may not be the best ever on the DC, but they certainly aren't" bad-check out the variety of locales you visit. Skies of Arcadia allows you to travel across vast areas nearly whenever you want, giving the game a very non-linear feel—in stark contrast to Grandia II. The good news is Sega is making sure the gameplay matches the caliber of the plot, infusing the battle system and spell upgrade feature with tons of strategy, and including a bunch of minigames and secret areas in many towns and other areas— giving RPG lovers incentive to explore everywhere they can. In many ways Arcadia is the next Phantasy Star, and not just because of who's on the development staff—it's also selling horribly in Japan, a performance similar to Sega's original flagship RPG series. Of course, Phantasy Star made waves here, and Sega is certainly hoping Skies will ollow suit. After playing it, so are we... ж Arrgh, You Sank Me over again. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 101 Sure, looking at those wear out the strongest of us, so thankfully Sega has included a VMU-only mini- game titled Pinta's Quest into Skies of Arcadia. This little adventure, in which you fly Pinta's small ship through different obstacles, is actually quite cool, plus you can level up this little dude by completing “quests” (such as dodging rocks) and the keen items you find can be used back in the Dreamcast game. SHIVER ME TIMBERS, AND LOAD THE CANNONS! A change of pace from the more traditional RPG battles you'll face in Skies of Arcadia, the ship-to-ship confrontations are similar to rock-paper-scissors. Before each round of attacks, you choose which commands each of your characters will perform—like attack, heal or block—and then view the outcome before it all starts Pick what you'd like each character to do for this round. Each attack uses up spirit power, so keep a close eye on that bar on the top. 128-Bit graphics all day can Ж = © т о БА pm ° 3 Attention, sinners. T ernal arcade racer ever now runs online. All the hellish tracks, tricked out cars, and shady side bets from the original Speed Devils return — plus 11 new cars, and 21 new ways to put your hard-earned cash, car, and street rep on the line. Hey, leave the "legal" sports for those cornfed boys down the street. SegaNet just got itself a red light district. LAP TIME © 02:56:89 Фог: 40:85 = 2 PREVIEW 18 Wheeler Sega of Japan AM2 1-2 Racing 100% February Crazy Taxi WWW.sega.com Another unique driving game from Sega Arcade roots give it a short shelf life Kickin' up cow-pies! SHOOTIN' GALLERY A peek at the participants of 18 Wheeler APT. Bigger payloads mean extra weight, decreasing your rig's speed and making it harder to finish; but they also mean bigger rewards if you do. Catching another rig's slipstream is a key element in coming out ahead at the goal- line. Use it well and use it often. ave you ever wondered what it would be like to live life out on the open road, with no one to answer to except Mother Nature? Sure you have, and thanks to Yu Suzuki's famed AM2 crew now you can get your rig on without the need for tricky licenses, expensive vehicles, high insurance premiums, or a crash-course in *10-4" trucker lingo. (“Cousin, you got your ears on? | got a Kojak with a Kodak, come on back" — translation: *Greetings, friend. | see a police officer with a radar gun. Did you hear what | said?") No, now you can have it all for less than 5o bucks, hotshot. Scheduled to come to the States early next spring, complete with head-to-head Internet play, 18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker is Sega's ode to the рвы ~ Electronic Gaming Monthly - 104 trucker's life. Featuring courses that take you from locations like New York to Key West (in the span of less than five minutes), your goal is to deliver cargo to your destination with as little damage as possible. Sounds straightforward, but every course has a rival you must contend with who is trying to beat you to the same destination point, and who will spare no effort in impeding your progress. Luckily there are “bonus cars” littering the highway, which you can ram to add precious seconds on the constantly ticking clock. There are also minigames in between levels that test your parking skills for premium items, such as a horn upgrade or stylin’ fuzzy dice to hang from your rear-view mirror. For added life, 18 Wheeler also features a series of driving challenges a la Crazy Taxi—perform well and you can unlock new drivers and trucks. And if you want to race a friend, there's a split-screen two- player mode. Points are the goal of these contests: While your opponent may come in ahead of you, if you've struck and comboed more bonus cars to get your final point total higher, you win. But what really has the potential to extend this arcade game's shelf life is the aforementioned Internet play. We haven't had a chance to try it yet (it's being added special for the U.S. version—how 'bout that?), but racin' all your buddies from Cleveland to Albuquerque sure sounds appealin'. Here's hoping for a lag-free experience. ж E H = ү” GET YOUR SWORD ON ~. 4% Modern-day razors think they offer a close shave, when in reality, they don't hold a candle Tm ennt Т to yesterday's skin-care equipment. For the latest in retro-modern cutlery, check out: http://www.imperialweapons.com/oriental/ PREVIEW swords.html for the boo-ya in chin-scraping GALLERY technology. You'll be glad you did. World Party Last Blade: At long last, Titus will bring out a console version of Worms that has online play this winter! Multiplayer fights are the bread-and-butter of Worms and finally console players will see what PC Worms fans have Offering over 16 characters, and known all along—this game rocks over phone lines. There are other new the rapid-fire, smoothly animated features in this game of humor, physics and weird weapons, such as a sword-slashing action the series is Mission mode, a weapon encyclopedia and a nifty Time Attack mode. known for, Last Blade: Final Edition may indeed mark SNK's final 2D foray on the Dreamcast (assuming King of Fighters 2000 never makes it over—cross your fingers). Check out all the modes: fighting, story, time attack and training, plus a demo viewer, art gallery and card collecting game. Yowza. It's out now in Japan. Evil 2 Yup, both RE2 and 3 are coming to the Dreamcast this month. What has Capcom included for part 2 besides the higher resolution? A gallery to view concept art, character and enemy models, and CG movies, plus the Arrange and Extreme Battle modes from the PlayStation Dual Shock edition. Best of all, the VMU displays not only your health status, but also how much ammo you have left in your weapon. Resident Evil 3 This DC version of the PlayStation classic should be out now, but since we haven't gotten a final from Capcom yet we had to settle for this small preview. DC Nemesis looks like the PC version —same old models, backgrounds and textures, but at a higher resolution so they look crisp. Now all the costumes and the Mercenaries” minigame are unlocked from the start, plus a health display has been added for the VMU. Cool. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 106 SPREAD THE WORD @ world» com AOL KEYWORD: EBWORLD electronics. boutique” El DORADO We know what you are thinking and no, El Dorado Gate does not take place in the city of El Dorado, Ark. It has nothing to do with it. «oss There are no historic gun battle re-enactments PREVIEW - = | every Saturday morning, and no one in the GALLERY = 4 game will ask you to “squeal like а piggy!” Volume 1 The first edition of Capcom's serial RPG (new volumes are due every other month) is out now in Japan. The graphics certainly have style: characters by Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano and nice, soft Saga Frontier 2-ish backgrounds, but the battles look rather dull. The elemental-based combat system is cool, though, and while the game may be short (about five hours or so), it's also quite cheap (about $26). It's a game for little girls. Really. Napple Tale is Sega's first action RPG for the Dreamcast, and seems aimed at younger, female players. The gameplay isn't bad (like a simplified Klonoa), but thanks to both its target audience and average visuals, the chances of seeing Napple Tale here are just about nil (it's out in Japan but SOA has already passed on it), so your younger sister is plum out of luck. Waverace 64 on Dreamcast. That's basically what Crave's new jet-ski racer is. This December DC owners will get a taste of what N64 owners were raving about years ago...well, almost. Right now SRR isn't looking or playing quite as well as Waverace. In fact, it's downright icky. The F BEST.LA similarities in the two games are almost shameful, but Crave is out to A^. 1'32''433 emulate the success of Waverace, so more power to them. 4 ^ 3 11/5Жт/һ Electronic Gaming Monthly - 108 CHAINSAWS, BOOMSTICKS, AND DEADITES, OH MY! Е SLICE АМО DICE THE UNDEAD WITH A WEAPON IN EACH HAND. [| FIGHT EVIL ACROSS THE SPANS OF TIME: FROM THE INFAMOUS CABIN TO ANCIENT DAMASCUS. [| BEST OF АЦ... BRUCE CAMPBELL AS ASH! WINDOWS mod 95/98 HEAVY STUDIOS 4 WWW.EVILDEADGAME.COM DA. Ha % Born of different worlds, voven together by fate, each shall rise j | to face their destiny. ao А lo ESRB Dreamcast. |GawrAxrs www.ubisoft.com Licensed from ESP/Game Arts by Ubi Soft Entertainment. Original game O 2000 Game Arts. English Translation O 2000 Ubi Soft Entertainment. Grandia is a trademark of Game Arts Co., Ltd. Character designs by Youshi Kanoe. World Sega, Dreamcast and the Dreamcast logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega Enterprises, LTD. All rights reserved. "The level of detail paid to every single moment, circumstance and environment is overwhelming." Official Dreamcast Magazine "undeniably the prettiest role-playing game ever to grace a console." www.dailyradar.com "this will indeed be the first epic RPG on Dreamcast." www.ign.com Grandia II is easily the most impressive next- \ generation RPG we've seen, and the first true RPG 4| ) epic for а next-generation console." E www.thegia.com = “Take a new look at what is surely the best-looking "RPG yet on a next-generation console..." Gamer's Republic Online "...веї to give sub-par developers a lesson in how їо do a DC RPG right." GameFan Magazine "Any RPG fan would be insane to miss out on this fantastic gameplay experience and it could go far in converting those who previously rode the RPG Тепсе.” GamerWeb.com "If you want your copy of Grandia 2 this holiday season, don't expect Santa's little elves to make you a special сору, pre-order it now or you may not get it until late January." www.GA-Console.com designs by Katsumi Aizaki and Masashi Hazama. Ubi Soft Entertainment and the Ubi Soft logo are registered trademarks of Ubi Soft, Inc. 4 je T % O Best Buy 2000 BestBuy.com pl] = PREVIEW Red Faction шш S6 Volition СИ 1-2 CT First-person Shooter % Done: 40% March РС www.volition-inc.com www.redfaction.com The Good: Blow apart levels on the fly The Bad: No larger multi- player modes planned The tech after a long day of testing...poor guy Kill Tech-Niques Meet the technician, fix-it guy at the Ultor Mars facility and unofficial guinea pig for the boys at Volition. This poor bastard is the guy everyone uses to test out their new weapons and effects as they are developed. Here he demos Red Faction's location-based hit animations: Ouch! Mr. Tech takes one in his left arm and recoils, but he's still on his feet... ..nope, that got him. One Shot between the eyes drops him like a bag of hammers. Doors? We don't need no stinkin' doors! Use the heat sensor on your missile launcher to find the bad guys on the other side of those walls, then blow a hole through to say hello. eo-mod system doesn't sound exciting. In fact, it sounds downright dull—like an option you'd hear "comes standard" on a car commercial. But what it represents makes Red Faction the most exciting thing to happen to first-person shooters since Quake took them online. Sure some games use bullet holes or scorch marks to show damage, but the Geo-mod (short for Geometry Modification) system in Red Faction takes that idea and runs away with it: You can actually blow real holes in the walls, floors and ceilings. And this means more than just a nifty new layer of realism—it opens up whole new avenues of gameplay, as lead designer at Volition Alan Lawrance explains: *You can blow holes through walls to form Electronic Gaming Monthly - 114 escape routes or attack unsuspecting enemies. You can collapse structures to kill enemies that might otherwise be impossible to kill. You can destroy the cover enemies are hiding behind, cause bridges to collapse, or burrow yourself a nice spot to use for protection." We've seen it in action and it's indeed impressive (see sidebar on the next page). he other thing that makes Red Faction so exciting: the physics. You're probably thinking “Physics?! That boring crap | have to sit through in third period?" Yup, that stuff. Check out all the cool stuff that Red Faction's super-physics make possible: When you shoot a window, it shatters out from the bullet hole into tiny shards that realistically fall; when you blow up a window, or a wall—or a group of bad guys, for that matter—the debris flies away from the blast, just like in real life (careful, it can hurt you too); fans and the wind outdoors effect smoke and slow-moving projectiles (like tossed grenades, for example); bullets ricochet off of metal surfaces at the angles you'd expect them to; water and lava pour and pool like real liquids; it's all very kick ass. But take away the Geo-mod and the fancy physics, and what would you be left with? Actually, Red Faction would still be shaping up as an excellent first-person shooter. Let's go down the shopping list for what makes any fps worth a damn: Cool story line: check. You play Parker, a miner on SUBMARINE Mars and employee of the Ultor corporation. Horrible working conditions and a mysterious mutation- causing disease known as “the plague” have the workers ready to revolt. As a member of the underground resistance group Red Faction, your goal is to discover what's behind the plague and bring down Ultor. You'll travel through subterranean mine shafts, over the Martian surface —even up to satellites orbiting far above the giant red planet. Scripted events a la Half-Life: check. And not only does stuff happen as you're playing in the levels to advance the plot, often times you can alter the course of the game by your actions. For example: At one point you might find a guard about to execute a fellow miner. If you don't intervene in time, he's dead meat, but if you do, he'll tell you the location of a weapon storeroom. Cool weapons: check. The bread and butter of any fps, Red Faction will have 15 weapons, each (like Find a medic to get healed, shoot holes in pipes to hit the bad guys with steam, Metal Gear 2-style, and check out the wind! —DESCENT-DENT Red Faction was actually originally designed as the latest sequel to Volition's fly-anywhere fps Descent. Sometimes (as in the fighter jet here) you can see the influence. GIANT DRILLER Check out this groovy sub, complete with torpedo launchers, and Giant Driller, which can burrow through rock and run over enemies without breaking a sweat. There'll be six vehicles you can pilot in Red Faction, plus bigger turret-mounted weapons. But be careful, bad guys like to use them too. Unreal Tournament) with two ways of firing them. Some look especially tasty, like the flamethrower: Shoot it normally to light your enemies aflame or turn off the pilot light, spray the liquid all over the hall, and ignite it when your friends walk in. Plus there's plenty of bigger weapons— machine guns and rocket turrets, as well as vehicles with mounted guns and other deadly goodies. Multiplayer: check...sort of. A two-player split- Screen game will be included, but four-player looks doubtful since, as Alan explains, *we don't want to dumb down the visuals to the point where it's playable for four." Still, being able to alter the levels of 8-10 multiplayer maps on the fly should provide enough strategic possibilities to keep you and a buddy busy for a long, long time. So while Red Faction looks like it will be an incredibly unique and innovative title, Volition knows it can't stop there. The guys behind the Descent games, who still play Unreal Tournament almost daily on the office network to blow off steam, know it's not buzzwords or innovation alone that make a game worth playing. *When it comes down to it, this is a game about action and killing guys,” says Lawrance modestly, “we're just trying to make the killing fun." Maybe not exactly fit for congressional testimony, but that's the kind of stuff we like to hear. ж Electronic Gaming Monthly - 115 GAMEPLAY “One of the goals (for Red Faction),” THQ Senior Producer Jim Boone told us, “is to have different ways of doing things. You can just bulldog your way through the levels, or, if you want, you can find more creative ways.” Here's a couple examples of what he's talking about: Sure you could try to take this heavily armored troop carrier head on, but how about destroying the bridge it's crossing with a few well- placed charges instead? Why just shoot this guy when you could blast the column behind him, redirecting white-hot lava onto his twitching body? ге pum LUTTE Activision Cross LEN: [sone Fiying 100% Available Now CEN Pilotwings 64 www.activision.com Nothing could be better than flying peacefully through the air, doing loops Stalling right before reaching a checkpoint ring (damn!) The splat you leave on the wall when you crash SSSMMMOOOKIN’! In Odyssey’s Sky Canvas mode, you practice your aerobatics while drawing pictures—connect-the-dot style—in the sky. Stages range from simple circles, squares and pentagons to more difficult artwork, like a smiley face, heart, clock and the word “GOOD!” It's tougher than it looks, but if you get all gold medals you unlock the Auto Gyro. Afterward, a Free mode lets you draw your own designs. With a hole in your gas tank, the only way to make it to your destination is to dock with a refueling train. In Target Mode, you have to blast through colored and numbered targets (in order). In harder stages, they're moving. f you look at this and think, “Pilotwings,” you’re only half right. Yeah, Sky Odyssey has the “fly through the rings “ levels, but it also has a whole slew of unique and varied missions of its own. In this new flight game from Activision, you travel between three islands, uncovering pieces of a lost map as you go. Each area requires you to complete specific objectives before landing on the other side. They get quite creative, too, including landing on an aircraft carrier in inclement weather, saving an out- of-control hot-air balloon from certain doom, rendezvousing with a refueling plane over the ocean and dumping fuel to cross a mountain pass. Of course, there'll be things to get in your way like falling boulders, geysers, water wheels and lava. 7770 4 ЕНДІРЕ УШ Electronic Gaming Monthly - 116 REAL PLANES, NO COMBAT Sky Odyssey features real planes used in World War И combat like the Swordfish Mk. 1 (shown at left), Pulse Jet “Test Type,” Bf-109 and the Me-262. Planes don't have artillery, but you can give them spiffy nicknames and put an emblem on the side. Each mission also must be completed within a time limit, and you're given a grade based on your ending score. If you consider yourself an acrobat, try some fancy flyin' for extra points. Two controller configurations make it easy for both flight sim fans and novices to enjoy. Target, Sky Canvas and Free Flight modes round out the action, plus a handy training mode. Your ultimate goal is to make your way around the three islands, eventually reaching Eden—a place where planes are free to frolic, away from the hustle and bustle of runways and control towers. Now that you know what it's all about, see what the Review Crew thought of Sky Odyssey in PS2 reviews this issue. ж Space Oddity Completing different modes unlocks new aircraft (like this UFO from Target mode). This baby takes off like a bat outta hell and makes tight turns, but is hard to see around. пуко ond ie 888.444.NYKO Blob Light and NYKO are registered trademarks of NYKO Technolégies, Inc. “GAME BOWOOLO RR GAMEBOY РА This is a NYKO product and is not endorsed, manufactured or distributed by Nini 4 Fool c PREVIEW GALLERY The Getaway Developed by SCEE's SoHo Studio in north London, The Getaway is certainly shaping up to be something that's both an impressive display of the PS2's abilities and a contentious subject for online journalists. The screens we have here certainly are gameplay. They're not touched up— this really is what it looks like. When the game is released by SCEA in the middle of next year we're assured it will look even better. MDK2 Armageddon MDK2 is heading from the DC to the PS2 this winter thanks to Interplay, and offers a few new features to justify the name extension. While the subtitle Armageddon might bring images of heavily upgraded graphics or original levels, all this *new" version offers is in-game hints to help you pass tough spots, adjustable difficulty, and more control options than the DC release. That's OK, we liked it enough as is anyway. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 118 | A s a child you visited your Grandfather's ranch when vacation plans fell | through. Return to the farm that holds fond childhood memories and rejuve- nate it's long neglected fields. Tend to your livestock and interact with over 50 characters as you struggle to make a life for yourself home on the range. Enjoy hours of Non-Linear game play. Town festivals and events like The Tomato Festival, Chicken Sumo and Horse Races. Prepare a wide variety of dishes in your own kitchen using your harvested items and the recipes you learn from the townsfolk. Serious Fun?" NATSUME’ EVERYONE A A мана NAS 'говј 19Áejd-ə/Buıs 1noÁ ш билубпеј sı ејозпш пол day 1uBiuu snf 5леило2 ay] punoıe Jamod Sy] 129 DIN 1in2Jio әшио ay] и! euoAıana pue 'Aoqpod “Bulyzou 106 әл,пол mou jeoeeg əy} axe, чәлеја әшпәшіисі əy} шолу Jund UMO} |¡euus 1uBu esneoeg jjes1noÁ әләці ш 195) `}! 104 pJOM лпо әуе; 1,uop ay] ојеледе5 ued sued лпол Buimouy - A1unoo ay] ui e19uMAUe ing 'sSyoe11 peJe/Ae|-njnuu 'елцовлајш A[sso|roJeuu xis s,pog чбполуј 'euinAue - әицио a9e1 e ој euoAue обигјјецо ирэ пол zey} MON "'S"TGNWVH NWS NOA мены JHOR 311107 W 100 S.V: ЮАН Ыы 3ATINO p: DB Es PREVIEW GALLERY Test Drive Off-Road: Wide Open Infogrames and Angel Studios are bringing the Test Drive series to the dirt-trails of the PS2. Using the Smuggler's Run engine, the wide- open environments of SR will make their way into this “go anywhere” racer, along with 16 licensed vehicles (Jeep, Dodge, Humvee, etc.) and 30 dirt-eatin' tracks. Players will be able to go all over the place in Utah, Yosemite and Hawaii. TDORWO will be available next summer. Championship MK 2002 Featuring Ricky Carmichael The THQ game with the longest title on earth is on target for a summer 20041 release. Developer Pacific Coast Power and Light Company (geesh, another long one) is hard at work—you might recall their previous effort, Road Rash for the N64, a so-so offering at best: Let's hope this one turns out better). Unfortunately, we haven't had a hands-on test but judging by these stats, it's fairly deep—28 pro riders, 20 motocross, supercross and freestyle events (12 licensed and eight fantasy) plus 16 customizable bikes. The multiplayer modes (six total) sound cool too: They include target jumping, stunt showdown and challenge race. By now this series should be pretty familiar to everyone —it had three chapters on the PS. The fourth edition of From Software's first-person RPG series is due this March in Japan, and it looks like more than just the graphics will be realistic: From Software has added a few new features, a non-linear story, the ability to move while defending, and a weight limit on the amount of equipment you can carry are all planned. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 122 7 gem orzon Jub. Animated Violence Mild Language Porions of the E Translation © Working 0 ri те happy an you. К mechs. If you're happy and you know it you can | yo n A I5.com. For a dealer пе; pl PREVIEW GALLERY Cool Boarders Code Alien Why in the world the word alien is in the same title as Cool Boarders is beyond us, but if that's what UEP Systems wants to call it, so be it. Yaggi and Inn, two charac- ters from the second CB, return along with the same blend of racing and tricks the series is known for. Several licensed snow- boards are available for use in “Board Parks” (that exist solely for you to do tricks), half-pipes, and indoor and outdoor tracks. The Japanese version of the game, due in December, features some licensed шт bands, but we’re not sure which " ones will stay or be added for the i) domestic version just yet. As we get closer to Cool Boarder's U.S. release this spring, we'll let you know. One thing's for sure—the competition in this genre is a whole lot tougher now that SSX is out. is ET Mo к m THE GAME-NAME GAME Core tossed around several potential names for Herdy Gerdy, including “The Last Acorn,” before settling on the final, oddball title. “Either you love the name or you hate the name," Core's Adrian Smith told us. “The folks in our American office hate the name, but it's our game, so nya-nya.” The guys at Core Design have been working on this genre-defying adventure/puzzle/herding game for, well...longer than they care to admit. In fact, Herdy Gerdy— due in March —was originally conceived as a Nintendo 64 project, until Core showed the concept to Sony a few years ago. “They were like, “How about doing this on PlayStation 2?”” Core Design's Adrian Smith told us. “We said, “How about giving us a dev kit апа we will.” Sony, apparently, was excited by Herdy Gerdy's novel gameplay, which has you—as a shepherd named Gerdy — herding critters who frolic in a wild kingdom of oddball animals. All the beasts interact with Gerdy and each other in a variety of ways. The game has a food chain, for instance, so if you use the bell power-up to attract the tiny animals you need to herd, you'll also attract the bigger beasts who dine on those animals. It makes for a complex ecosystem kinda like the one promised in the now Xbox-only Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee. “If Gerdy runs through a group of cows and they scatter," Smith said, “they might scatter a group of animals you need to herd and make your job harder. It's like dropping a stone into a pool and watching the ripples go out." So, long story short, Core got one of the very first PS2 dev kits, and Herdy Gerdy is one of the first games built to take advantage of the hardware. *People who complain about PS2 and say it doesn't have enough memory should come work on Gerdy,” Smith said, “because go percent of the textures seen in the world are specifically drawn for that area, so you don't see a patch of grass again and again." This mountain of texture data has forced Core to ship Herdy Gerdy on DVD instead of MD CD. “It's the closest we've seen so far to a Disney movie,” Smith said. нее? Electronic Gaming Monthly - 124 'A visual. feastYor PS2 owners...in shooter heaven. = Gamers’ Republic. j Animated Violence Mild Language nc. SILPHEED' is a regis! steréd trademark of Game lemárk of Working Designs. Inc: All rights reserved. You pd f y don have a life ра dealer near y p n n n o PREVIEW GALLERY E [е] Kurikuri MIX It's about time we had a cutesy game for the PS2 to prove not everyone (including From Software) is taking the big bad black system too seriously. Kurikuri Mix might just be the next big puzzle game, with 40 levels, bosses and lots of sweet, sweet eye candy. The story charges two rabbit-like protagonists to recover a run-away moon (man, if that idea hasn't been done to death...). It's due out in December. This new boxing game (based on an anime of the same name) is due December from ESP. The story revolves around a young man named Ippo who's dreamt of becoming a great boxer ever since he saw Tyson fight (seriously). Each of the PS2's four buttons correspond to punches—two jabs and two hooks (one right and one left), plus shoulder buttons for uppercuts and dodge and swing with the analog stick. —8 DNA Check out the art style on this one! With the look and feel of a comic book brought to life, DNA is shaping up like Metal Gear Solid with a bio- engineering twist. You can equip several bionic chips with different abilities to alter your skills as you battle through seven stages to regain your memory and identity. Hudson mixes action, shooting and puzzles into one big cel-shaded mix this winter. Dog of Bay Sure, Dog of Bay has a strange name, and the pictures don't exactly convey a normal-looking game...OK, we admit it. This game looks goofy as hell. Tam Soft (Toshinden) has gone off the deep end or something. You see, each of the human/dog/late '8os rockers you can control have a distinct personality, and during your *push the buttons to match the music beat" adventure, you'll learn about the trials and tribulations that make up each of these dog's lives. It's like the theatrical play Cats, but with dogs. We think. Anyway, the gameplay is linked to the four circles that surround the heart on the bottom of the screen, each of them represent a button on the PS2's controller, and you have to hit them with perfect timing as bubbles from the side of the screen float in front of them. Bet you just can't wait until December. = | SN - ir Electronic Gaming Monthly - 126 Oar games ga 17 2 \ But Fm just going home to make goulash. c^ Әй CIEL «e 5 Wear D E r 9 = PlayStation PREVIEW Working Designs Game Arts 1 RPG 95% December Sega CD www.workingdesigns.com Awesome story and animated sequences Dated graphics Borgan naked Just like the last game in the series, the 2 lb. Lunar 2 package comes with a ridiculous amount of cool extras, including: a sound- track, a making-of disc, Lucia's gold pendant, 1/16th character standees, a map and hard-bound instruction booklet. Plus a cool Ghaleon puppet if you preorder. СОррр ALTHE n RPG circles the term "sequel" is used very loosely. Many times the only real link between two games in a series is the title and a few obscure references thrown in here and there. Often they take place on different worlds (we assume) and feature characters and plots that have little, if anything, to do with previous installments. That's part of what makes Lunar 2 so enticing: Unlike so many other RPG sequels, Eternal Blue doesn't let the rich history created by the original game go to waste. Although it takes place 1,000 years later, Alex, Nall and friends have not been forgotten. As you travel the new land of Lunar you'll notice some familiar landmarks, come across the same towns, and even meet up with some descendants of the original heroes. Visit Ramus" shop in Meribia or the Ausa family in the Vane mansion. Go west of the fallen magic city to find Taben's Peak, which is really the overgrown ruins of the Grindery (get it? Taben being the original designer of the Grindery and all). There are even guest appearances by some of the more magical MEET THE CAST Our brave hero, named, uh...Hiro, is a young man who hopes to one day embark on an adventure worthy of his idol: Dragonmaster Alex. You can probably ~ see where this is ¥ going, right? ES Electronic Gaming Monthly - 180 By now everyone should know the drill. The story in Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete plays out through a mixture of animated cutscenes, humorous dialogue and more than enough battles. While the love story is more subtle in this new revised version, Lucia (left) is definitely more apt to showing off all her “parts” to Hiro early on. characters from Silver Star Story, but we won't give that away here. Based on how hunky-dory everything was at the end of Silver Star Story, you'd think Lunar would be a great place to live, right? Not quite. It seems the goddess' chosen (a cult that rules through fear) are running amok. The four heroes of the goddess seem odd, following orders that are far too evil to have been issued by Althena. It's in this world of turmoil that Hiro begins his quest. Just like the last game, our hero runs across other troubled souls who join his cause for reasons of their own. Of course, all of this is being brought to U.S. audiences by Working Designs, who've long been known for their ability to tell a great story through good writing and above-average voice acting. Lunar 2 is no different. Actually, in keeping with the developer's original vision of a more grown-up Lunar game, their translation features less playground humor than their localization of the Sega CD original (something we're sure will please more than a few of the RPG fans who are so vocal about "pure" scripts This wisecracking little "flying cat" doesn't pull any punches. Sound familiar? She's got an unhealthy crush on Hiro, who she's been with since before either of them can remember. The mysterious visitor from the Blue Star, some believe Lucia has been sent to destroy Lunar. She insists that's not the case. À Not surprisingly, à Hiro believes her. APPLES TO ORANGES PlayStation Submitted for your approval: a couple Sega CD Lunar 2 shots and their PlayStation counterparts. You'll notice a drastic difference between the cinemas, but even the overworld graphics have a much more organic look. Yeah, we're sure you're shocked. One of the improvements in Lunar 2 is a color-coded damage indicator. Red means you're likely to do little damage, yellow is neutral and green means you're gonna lay a hurtin' on whatever you hit. in their games). So what's the point? No matter how you slice it, this is simply a remake of an old Sega CD game, right? Well, sort of. Lunar 2 definitely hasn't undergone as many changes as the prequel did, simply because the Sega CD version of Lunar 2 was so much longer and more involved than the original Sega CD Silver Star. However, that's not to say things haven't been enhanced. In the original Sega CD Eternal Blue, sometimes you were left a little confused, positive that you'd just witnessed some important link between the first game and the second, but unsure as to what it was. With this remake, Game Arts made the connections between On the surface, Ronfar is a gambler without a care in the world. Of course, that's just a mask he wears to help him forget about his shady past and lost the two games much more obvious, mostly thanks to high-quality video sequences (some as long as seven minutes!) featuring that great art style from the last game. With the success of Silver Star Story Complete on the PS and the current level of preorders on Eternal Blue, Working Designs is predicting this title will be their best-selling piece of software to date. Not only that, but the projected U.S. sales are more than all three Japanese versions (Sega CD, Saturn and PlayStation) combined! Personally we could care less about sales numbers—that is, as long as it's enough to guarantee a part three to this fantastic series somewhere down the road. ж Jean is the best dancer Lemina is a in the history of the descendant of carnival. A girl with a Mia and the troubled past (heard Junior that one before?), D. Premier of she tries hard to E Vane. She suppress her seems more fighting ability. „interested in money than anything else. GIRLS ON FILM The Bromides (high-res pictures of the characters you can find hidden throughout the game) are back! This time collect pics of your female party members, girls from the previous game and even some images of the guys in Lunar 2 (‘cause hey, nobody wants to be labeled sexist or anything). Take a gander at a few examples below: Electronic Gaming Monthly - 181 THQ Heavy Iron Studios 1 Survival Horror 75% Winter Dreamcast www.thg.com Bruce! Fallen enemies constantly regenerate The bloody mess left by Ash spinning deadites ‘round on his chainsaw GAME STORY Evil Dead 43 This game has been produced with the blessing of director Sam Raimi, and stands as an official chapter in the Evil Dead time line. Slick character-generated cinemas pop up throughout the game, providing fans with the first new “footage” of Ash to surface since 1993. The game opens up with a cinema recounting the events chronicled in the film trilogy. It all starts with the discovery of an ancient text... Your adventure begins in familiar surroundings. Beware the things that go bump in the woods. h, the Evil Dead Trilogy. Few films in the horror genre are as quoted, imitated or revered. Fans of the franchise have been begging for a new installment since Army of Darkness hit theaters in 1993, to no avail. At this point, fellow splatter buffs, it seems that we will never bear witness to a fourth film. But fear not... Heavy Iron Studios has made certain that we have not seen the last of Ash, the series’ knucklehead warrior. This brand-new interactive chapter brings him back to the malevolent woods that set the stage for Evil Dead 1 and 2. Wanting to determine if the experiences chronicled in the films were real or elaborate dreams, Ash and his girlfriend drive to a familiar forest cabin. Once there, a sinister specter abducts our hero's gal, forcing him to load his shotgun, fuel his chain saw, and kick some ass. Then, midway through the game, a second act begins, sending our hero back through time. Just as Dark, foreboding backdrops give the game the feel of a top-flight horror film. This is definitely a game best played with all the lights turned off. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 132 in Army of Darkness, Ash enlists the aid of medieval clansmen to continue his quest. The hero's interactions with these ancient citizens makes for some hilarious dialogue, reflecting the third film's comic tone. A new series of conflicts arise: Will Ash reclaim his girlfriend from an evil incarnation of himself? Can a spinach-chinned scribe help our hero return home? Is Ash's jalopy capable of starting up after travelling through time and surviving a crash landing? Hail to the King uses the Resident Evil series as a template for presentation and control—if you have battled through any of Capcom's survival horror adventures, navigating Evil Dead should be second nature. Ash rotates on a fixed axis (no matter what direction you face, pressing up always moves your character forward). You can run by holding down a shoulder button and the backgrounds are prerendered. Axes, firearms and various saw blades are on hand to slice, smash and blast through phantoms that stand in your way. If an undead goon gets too close to Ash's chainsaw, it'll get impaled on the blade and spun around like a pinwheel. You'll want to dole out your vengeance selectively, though: Ammo is quite limited. And be choosy about what you hold and what you leave behind: Ash can't carry his entire inventory at one time, and anything that can't be held must be stored in a wooden chest. Getting caught without a key item or enough ammo Cont. on page 134 PlayStation [3] Realistic Violence Animated Blood and Gore ENTERTAINMENT www.fedstorm.com © 2000 Red Storm Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Red Storm Entertainment is a trademark of Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd. and Larry Bond. Rogue Spear is a trademark of Red Storm Entertainment, Inc. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PREVIEW “DEAD” HEADS The Evil Dead Trilogy has secured a legion of fans throughout the world. Check out the EVIL DEAD Web ring at http: //nav.web ring.org/hub?ring=evil_dead&list | Ash's penchant for sarcastic one-liners has made him a fan favorite. Heavy Iron Studios has worked this element of the film into their game by implementing a “taunt” command. Hit the triangle button at any time during play, and Bruce Campbell will blurt out one of Ash's many put-downs. Are all men from our time loud- mouthed braggarts? Nope. Just Ash, baby. Just Ash. “Good? Bad? I'm the guy wi the gun.” “Oh! You little..." ith About midway through the game, Ash is transported to medieval times. Those who regard Army of Darkness as the best film in the trilogy will take delight in messing with the townsfolk. "Primitive screwheads" indeed. is a very real danger. Sound familiar? The prerendered backgrounds are dark and atmospheric, invoking a mood that Sam Raimi himself would be proud of. Interiors are lovingly detailed to match the film sets to a tee— pop in the DVD of Evil Dead 2, compare, and come away astonished. Exterior environmental effects bring the settings to life: Trees sway subtly in the wind, day turns to night, and fire gives an orange hue to surrounding foliage. It’s clear the developers are die-hard fans of director Sam Raimi's work—they really tried to re-create both the horror and the humor of the feature films. Take the inclusion of a “taunt” button, which allows Ash to break out with some of his legendary one-liners. Thought it was cool to hear Duke Nukem shamelessly quote Evil Dead's famed protagonist? Imagine getting to hear the words come from the man himself: Bruce Campbell. The actor provides Hail to the King with all of Ash's witty verbiage. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 134 Hail to the King puts its audio to work in other areas as well. Ever gone to a horror movie and seen audience members cover their eyes before something creepy is going to happen? Audio cues can often do more to keep viewers on the edge of their seat than any amount of explicit gore can. The Resident Evil and Dino Crisis games are proof positive of that. If the pouncing chord that accompanied the mass of outstretched zombie arms in Resident Evil 2 made you jump, just wait ’til you hear the demons in Hail to the King giggling like children. Creaking doors, crackling campfires and howling winds make this game a great one to play in a room with a stereo surround setup. It all sounds good so far...so what, then, could keep this from being a *must-own" title? For starters, the characters in this preview could use some work in the animation and texture depart- ments. The control scheme can also be quite frustrating when you're being charged from all Sides by regenerating enemies. And hopefully, the instant 180° turn —now a survival horror staple— will be added. All in all Heavy Iron Studios seems to have a firm grasp on what has made the film series a cult favorite, and they've gone to great lengths to bring it home to the consoles. Now it's all up to those crucial final weeks of polish. ж The bizarre stop-motion demons of the films аге faithfully re-created here. These mischievous specters will chase Ash from screen to screen, stopping only when some buckshot knocks them back to the ethereal plane. Heavy Iron Studios has created some original nasties as well. 1 й Б 5 CORE 2 action figures will be available soon at Comic Book and Specialty stores everywhere. Call 1-888-COMIC-BOOK or go online at http://csls.diamondcomics.com to find the store nearest you. i Core'"2: action + О | ue Д figures 1 om T a, а. Py р Wield айе in - - close-quarters combat 5S ~» 7m 62 = m HM Enge a friend in 2-player # = у Replays highlight your == (q— mot aN destructive kills 5 Customize your A.C. for. ~ F A ' maximum damage EN = | FROMSOFTWARE. ма “лд “CLEC А, © 2000 From Software, Inc. All rights reserved. From Softwares and the From Software logo are trademarks of From Software, linc: Agetec and the Agetec logo are trademarks of Agetec, Inc. Armored Core is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America. 7 N *PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registeged trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment |ПС > The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association: EN | А А у y SS 4 ENT Tomb Raider Chronicles Publisher: Eidos Core Design EEN | XC Adventure 85% December CEA Dreamcast “ДЕ www.eidos.com The Good: Core's going for lots of variety and originality Yet another Tomb Raider game ШЕЙЛЕ We wish Eidos would just take this to PS2 already BODY MOVIN’ The lovely Ms. Croft is sporting a few new moves this time out. Now when she sees a set of shelves, she can actually rummage through them to find ammo and medipacks. Lara's also now apparently an accomplished tightrope walker. Walk up to any rope and hit the action button— Lara puts an arm to each side and ventures out. If she starts to sway in one direc- tion, just push the opposite way to maintain balance. It's nice to know that whenever this archaeology gig finally wears thin, she'll be able to find work in the circus. The sniper scope is more useful in the new game. Sometimes Lara will even have to shoot the locks off doors to proceed. Total Recall, anyone? It looks like Arnie's sci-fi hit left a lasting impression on Core Design. hat's that you say? You thought Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation was supposed to be the final time you'd see Lara's face on the PS one? Silly rabbit. Haven't you noticed Eidos says that every time a Tomb Raider game goes on sale? Surprise! Lara's back for one final— really final— PlayStation adventure. Really. One last one. We promise. If it makes you feel any better, this isn't exactly a sequel. Chronicles takes place at a memorial service for Lara (that's right, she's dead. Check out the sidebar on the next page). On a cold, gray afternoon at the Croft estate her closest friends gather to recount some of her more exciting adventures. So basically the entire game is made up of four elaborate flashbacks in locations like the Ruins of Rome, a German U-Boat and a high-tech high-rise. Oh, and "young Lara" makes a return appearance (pedophiles rejoice!). You have to admit the story is pretty original, and Core is adamant that the rest of the game will please Tomb fans as well. *Without a doubt, this is the best game in the series so far," says director of develop- ment Adrian Smith, *It enhances what we've done in the past—it's the consolidation of everything we've Electronic Gaming Monthly - 138 done before. It adds a little bit of backstory to Lara, and it actually ties up the loose ends for us so we can start Tomb Raider the Next Generation." What he means is that most of Chronicles plays like different games in the series' past: In the Roman Ruins, Lara's exploits are a lot like the original game: a decent balance of action and puzzle solving. The German U-Boat resembles Tomb Raider III in that Lara has to rely on her guns more than her wits. Finally, young Lara returns from Tomb IV —once again without any weapons —to trap ghostly antagonists in a spooky setting. So is this just a bunch of bits from all the old games rolled into one and slapped with a new price tag? Not quite. The real reason Eidos thinks it's worth your time to play through yet another Tomb Raider is the totally new high-rise setting. Probably the most original thing to be seen in a Tomb Raider title since the first game was released, the whole point is stealth (think Metal Gear Solid meets Perfect Dark). Rather than shooting guards and other ne'er-do- wells, Lara has the option to sneak up behind them and knock them out with chloroform. The enemy AI has been adapted to this new play mechanic as well. “Baddies are triggered by sound now. If you run through the level with guns a blazing, it's going to make the level four times as hard as if you sneak around and take baddies out selectively." says Smith. Better watch out for traps, too. They include Cont. on page 140 Talk about a star-studded cast. Death himself appears in young Lara's Halloween- inspired levels. y GAME GETS EVEN BETTER WA "THE ULTIMATE GETA psM magazine, July 200 Et "отрдр ON YOUR SEATBELT ні MFT НРІ STIG FAPERIENGE SINGE TI E " АН ALL-OUT BETTER WHEELMAN ENPERIENG 0 gamespot, August 200 4 new ст ne Hi а, Ri All-new curved road sys! New foot missions let you hit the r up with thug Chicago, epic storytelling, and the action to fife with streets and commandeer screen multi-player modes! high-quality cinematics! ultra-realism! any vehicle! E THERE'S SOMETHING GOING DOWN ov we STREETS. aw vreruxovst woo wer nas аети ТІЛІ TWO CONTINENTS i a nacos trs: m rs JUST ANOTHER DAY ar THE DEFIGE ron ove cor ONE GOP wra оне aan. DRIVER 2 STARRING TANNER. | HORSING AROUND File this under “Thank God They Didn’t Do That.” According to Adrian Smith, there was a time when Lara was going to be riding a horse in Tomb Raider. “We once toyed with the idea of putting Lara on a horse, and then we discovered she could go anywhere on the map and jump off it and jump fences. We couldn’t have that. The horse is history.” PREVIEW LARA’S DEAD? At the risk of spoiling a game you may not have finished yet: Lara Croft is dead. OK, not really, but she did appear to die at the end of Tomb Raider IV. The story goes something like this: After stealing the Amulet of Horus from the Tomb of Seth, Lara unleashed a horrible Egyptian curse upon the land. So of course, she faced the angry god and made things right again. Unfortunately, the pyramid then began to collapse around her. As she escaped, her mentor-cum-rival, Dr. Von Croy, blocked her path. Although he unexpectedly offered a helping hand to Lara, she was unsure of his motives. As the saying goes, she who hesitates is lost, and thus the pyramid fell to pieces before Lara could escape. Rest in peace (yeah, right). FOUR PLAY Tomb Raider Chronicles has roughly four different areas of play that all the levels fall under: Lara's Worl Even though the idea of Roman Ruins conjures up images of the first game, don’t get too excited. Most of these levels take place outside, or in very modern-day factories. At a few points Lara will venture back into more historical settings and deal with a variety of nefarious traps, but not that often. The German U-Boat represents everything we’ve come to dislike about past Tomb games. Far too much gunplay and not enough tomb raiding. Although things do get kind of cool when the sub starts to sink while Lara’s still in it. There are still gun-toting goons who care more about killing her than escape, though. No matter how disturbing you find young Lara, you have to admit the idea behind the third set of levels in Chronicles is pretty damn cool. No weapons, a Resident Evil-esque theme and the ability to trap ghosts ’n goblins. Core employs some nice rain effects to add atmosphere. By far the coolest idea in Chronicles, this last set of levels has Lara creeping around an office building ina sleek black cat suit. No complaints here. It’s about time this series got a shot of originality. Note to Core: If you’re gonna take Lara out of the caves, have her do stuff like this more often, and keep the catsuit. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 140 Cont. from page 138 metal detectors and lasers, not to mention a very cool X-Ray scene (big pic at the start of the preview). The one thing PS players will miss out on is the full-featured level editor being included in the PC version of Tomb Raider Chronicles. Ah well, we figure that’s the price of owning an aging console with no form of mass storage. Speaking of aging console, why isn’t Core just waiting for the PS2? Why not add new features like the level editor to the first outing on hot new hard- ware rather than showing your hand on a system who's days are numbered? Apparently they wanted to release the game in tandem with the movie (due this May), and didn’t have enough time with the PS2 development tools to do the game on the new system. The irony is that Chronicles has been finished so quickly that it should see release before the end of this year, and well before the feature film. At least with all the new play mechanics and episodic setup of the game, there’s something to be excited about this time. Chronicles is the closest we've seen to emulating the original TR concept. That in itself is worth checking out. Whether or not that makes it worth your hard-earned cash is something we'll discuss in our review next month. ж нарко : т can't bel right to sau such that absorb you into the intriguing world of Persona! E LÀ mcn total pue noon by AVAILABLE WINTER 2000 |- west асан дыны " defeat fhe minions off evil! a Anus WWW.ATLUS.COM ж ATING PENDING 7 Visit www.esrb.org or call 1-800-771-3772 ayS Sony Comp => PlayStation Interactive Digi for more info. > PREVIEW GALLERY After the oft-rumored, but never- delivered Gundam Battle Master games passed us by, the chances looked slim that Bandai would ever bring an installment of the series to the States. At last Gundam Battle Assault, the newest of the series, is set to arrive in winter 20041. Lacing the Gundam Wing story line into the game, you select from one of nine initial mechs and take it through its paces. The animation in the Battle Masters games has always been super-fluid since the robots are mu] made up of a marionette-like set of pieces that animate individually (instead of the usual Street Fighter- like cell animation). The gameplay is better-suited to button-mashing than finesse, but Gundam fans will probably be happy just seeing one of these games make it to America. ' JACK ONLINE You Don't Know Jack: 5th Dementia, the latest PC version of Sierra's hot quiz show game, now features online play. Here's hoping Sierra brings that feature to future Dreamcast and/or PlayStation 2 YDKJ games. Ubi Soft dips its toe in the water of the dancing game genre with this offering, targeted at younger players. You face jungle-dwelling characters from the movie, learning dance moves along the way. Each opponent has three “lessons” which you must complete, with rendered cutscenes in between stages in story mode. It works just like Dance! Dance! Revolution, but you can obtain special power-ups by doing extra steps in between normal moves. Music includes two tracks from the movie, a Lou Bega remix of “I Wanna Be Like You,” and Seven original songs. (We know, Lou Bega's 15 minutes of fame are long over, but hey, it's not a bad song.) It's available now, either separately or with a dance pad. Mock 2 The game where high culture and pop culture collide is making a comeback on the PlayStation this winter thanks to Sierra. This sequel, which seems loosely based on the latest PC version, contains more of the irreverent questions and cool minigames that we've come to love. The ultimate party game, up to three people can play at once. If you haven't been screwed in УОКЈ, you simply haven't lived. Condy Bar or Porn Star? Because it makes his Dady into the shape of a cross, what penalty should the football referee call to scare off the vampires? а “DeLay GF Gamer Rocki Roads” O candy bar O porn star SN 7 Say Michael Jackson filmed his “Thrill at the Arlington National Cemetery have stared as one of the a ghouls? ем FRANKLIN AMAN LINCOLN ho could med breakdancing Tees a Bit of a Nipple the Air УШ Electronic Gaming Monthly - 142 #59 SHERRY KissiNGER Disney's Here's a good one for the kiddies. Buzz, Woody and the whole Toy Story gang take part in this kart racing-inspired game from Traveler's Tales. Compete on 19 different courses set in familiar locations from both Toy Story movies. Beyond multiplayer action and a ton of challenges, there are chasing, stunt-driving, collecting and contest modes to experience. Activision will release DTSR, but not until March 2001. Score: 9 out of 10 - For a truly realistic martial arts game, this one's a knockout.” ) - ODM Dréaincast. 5 out of 5 stars - Revolutionary! - Next Generation DC UFC Ranked #1 Title at Launch’ - NPD TRST Weekly Data ‘Crave scores a knock-out: ‘Direct Hit’ Rating Easily the most realistic, and definitely one of the most fun fighting games to ever come along.” - DailyRadar.com UFC is a great game that could easily stand on it's own merits without this fantastic license.” - Game Fan ‘UFC is poised to set the next standard in the fighting genre.” - GamePro | €" i 4 Y | D | | i ~ -— Tou "die ———À A I ا کے‎ '90 out of 100: The best American-published "The ebb and flow of ground grappling makes for something "We might be looking at Fighting Game of fighting game in years." - GameFan like a brutal chess match..." - DailyRadar.com the Year here." - Gamelndustry.com www.seg.com www.cravegames.com © Dreamcast. VISUALLY | 7 | | dd o ' - Gar нан Stunning new and improved graphics— Two еріс intertwining storylines— Follow Choose your allies well. Gain experience Release the dragon within...more than high resolution, animated characters in the fates of Ryu and Fou-Lu—a classic and master the skills nce ed to survive in 200 spells to learn and master. vast 3-D worlds. RPG adventure this epic 3-D world. Afer centuries of war, the two lands bordering an impenetrable swampland have finally reached an armistice. Mysteriously, the noble princess Elena disappears somewhere near the war-ravaged front lines. Distraught, her sister Nina goes in search of the Princess alone and on her journey, meets a mysterious, young warrior named Ryu. Their destinies soon entwine. vm. The next chapter in the еріс tale of magic and mystery now unfolds. The fate of what lies ahead rests in your control. www.capcom.com Animated Violence Dreamcast pu MATURE ж M ee М = koe vus ІШЕ Dreamcast. AREE se anne pem "The true essence of all that is Spawn.” -cameweex "A —Todd McFarlane's blockbuster —Compete in the four-player -Includes the original Arcade -All your favorite characters from the comic book characters come to simultaneous Battle Royal mode Mode and tournament style Spawn series are faithfully recreated life on Sega Dreamcast Dreamcast Mode in the ultimate death match challenge \ H B | "Rush-hour traffic. Ногде of pedestrians. Real-time weather. Онга феер Electronic Gaming Monthly - 148 yf ci. X ts а simple message, but one ~ 52. developer Incognito Studios % Mec wants to drive home with all the force of a head-on collision: “Twisted Metal: Black will be a total redemption of the franchise," гу ѕауѕ Scott Campbell, Incognito * ` > ‘president and producer of TM Black, due in early summer for the PlayStation 2. ampbell knows that many gamers have become chanted with the Twisted Metal series ever efunct 989 Studios took over t duties from Singletrac in 19: nleash the less-than-spectaci TM: Black's team is comprise г 5 d on the original Twisted n half its employees are former Singletrac f = company-is once again working ча name а is restored the same гі onshiptt | Twisted Metal 1 hi Ш ell teltsu relationship bet. y Santa Monica and. ЕЯ Incognito is a collaborative sr design to test.” Dave Jaffe, who was director a lead designer of TM1 and 2, is once again ~- heading up development from Sony's end. Long ` Story short: The developers have all the pieces in »place to restore the Twisted Metal series to its f r reign as king of the car-combat junkyard. Disturbing and dark (see the sidebar to fi why), this new installment v "y Dd themes of the preg tecronic aging Moth ET FOR THE QUEEN! ООШ мамтемоое“ LJ < STOP THE INVASION! Storm through 15+ enormous missions over land, sea and space as your freedom fighters rally to drive back the droid armies. The people of Naboo are dying. You must do something quickly! > “ЕРІ: ODE Ima TM:.Black’s cats bristle with detailed moving parts, while: the draw distance rivals that of Smuggler’s Run. Heck, the whole game just looks way better than any of that disappointing launch-day stuff—and it moves at a blazing 60 frames per second. The gameplay's faster, too. Drive defensively and you'll outrün missiles. ——— d cha Ех Black doesn't even acknowledge the other games in terms of story and universe and characters and things like that,” Jaffe tells us. “We're using the same foundation. There is a character who's called Calypso, but he's incredibly different from what's come before. It's almost like if you took Twisted Metal 2 and viewed it through the eyes of a:serial killer.” About seven of the game's 10 or so initially playable characters will be new to the series. And even recurring characters have undergone reshaping in Incognito's body shop. “There are a number of characters that are clearly inspired by the earlier games," Jaffe says. “Obviously, there's a character named Sweet Tooth, and he drives an ice-cream truck, but his character and his vehicle design and his special weapon are totally different. There are three to six characters that I'd call recurring, but it's not actually the same character coming back." One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Incognito and Sony's commitment to building the ultimate car-combat experience, or “Street Fighter ІІ on wheels" as Jaffe puts it: TM Black's selection of play modes reflects that design philosophy. Don't look for novelties like Rogue Trip's drive-the-tourist mode in this game. TM: Black packs more straightforward stuff. You get a one-player story mode, in which you learn about your character and battle the occasional ronic Gaming Monthly - 152 HOME boss. Good news: Just like in TM2, you can play the story mode cooperatively with a buddy. Solo players can also jump into the instant- action Challenge mode, as well as a special Endurance mode. Here, you're dropped into the level of your choice, where you face opponents who attack one at a time. You won't find any health; your goal is to defeat as many consecutive enemies as possible until they get the better of you. But let's getto the really important stuff: the multiplayer modes. As you'd expect, TM: Black offers split-screen deathmatching (Sony has yet to confirm whether it will support four-players, but.we figure it's a safe bet). Aside from that basic kill-"em-all mode, you'll find a game called Last Man Standing, in which each player gets all 10 vehicles held in reserve, kinda.like extra lives. If an enemy blows you up, you switch to the next vehicle in your list and the battle continues—until you run out of reserve cars. The last player driving wins. Incognito and Jaffe are toying with the idea of including more game types, but chances are Deathmatch, Cooperative and Last Man Standing will be the only three multiplayer modes that’ll wind up in the game. “A lot of modes I’ve seen in these games don’t really work wellin split screen,” Jaffe says, “and they take away developers’ time to focus on the core of the game, which to us is deathmatch.” TM: Black will pack up to 11 levels forthe one- player game and as many as 18 multiplayer maps. And it's not until you take a test drive in these arenas that you see how this series is reaching its full potential on the PS2. Levels аге much more interactive. Barrel through houses in the suburbs, for example, and watch 'em explode into concrete splinters. You can drive throügh and blow up a lot more stuff than you could in the previous games but “not everything is interactive," Jaffe explains, *because if it was, suddenly your detailed levels look like wide- open fields, because you can blow everything up and there's nothing to take cóver behind." TM: Black will continue Singletrac's.tradition of so-called “set-piece” interaction. Remember toppling the Eiffel Tower in TM2? That’s what we're talking about here. In TM: Black’s carnival level, for instance, you'll find a ferris wheel you can blast off its stand and send rolling downhill to crush a suburban town—and any enemy cars who get in the way. You'll also find low-flying jet planes and helicopters you can knock from the sky and send crashing on your opponents. And each arena has its own level-specific traps and weapons too, kinda like the Lightning Bolt à power-up in TM2. The developers are designing the levels in such a way as to make it easier to find opponents and minimize what Campbell calls "separation arixiety." Levels will even expand as the battle wears on, but Sony and Incognito aren't quite ready to divulge how this process works yet. And in a throwback to the original Twisted Metal, health charge-ups are part of the level design— you'll need to find and park on health ramps to recharge your life meter. But it's not just you who interacts with the environment in TM: Black— now the arenas get all up in your face, too. “We're going to have None IM ore Black? several.levels with real-time weather," Jaffe says, "and it totally affects visibility to the point where you're actually out driving and it's like in the middle of Seattle, pouring so hard you can barely see anything. And then the sun comes out and you can play with better visibility." In some levels you'll see time-of-day transitions, and remember those pedestrians who were so fun to flatten in TM1 and 2? They're back in. TM: Black. But our favorite new addition here in terms of gameplay strategy and all-out destructive bliss is the traffic. Innocent cars, trucks and buses zip around particular parts of the levels, and you can do the obvious—and fun—thing and blast these Sunday drivers to the Stone Age. Or you can get crafty and use the traffic strategically. “бау you're racing down the freeway and an enemy shoots a missile at you," Jaffe explains. “You can pull in front of a bus, the missile:slams into the bus and you avoid it.” TM: Black’s control'and basic weapons scheme will be familiar to the series’ fans. As before, each-car has a standard machine gun and its own special weapon. Sweet Tooth’s special, for instance, transforms his vehicle into an ultra-powerful robot for a limited time. And, as you'd expect, various weapon pick-ups— homing missiles, dumb:fire rockets, etc.— litter the arenas. But that’s where the similarities between TM: Black and its PlayStation prequels end. Building on the Street Fighter-style special moves of TM2, the developers have jazzed up the weapon systems to the point where TM: Black has become a whole new—and much deeper—car-combat title. “There are really two things we've done with the weapons to give the game a lot more depth and replay value,” Jaffe says. “Onéis to create in the weapons the ability to inflict more damage based on the player's skill level, and the other is multi- functional ability with each weapon." Let's explain this potential tenfold increase in gameplay depth with an example. We'll use the gas can, one of the game's basic weapon pick- ups. It looks like a barrel of fuel that slides out Electronic Gaming Monthly - 153 Twisted Metal Sud What Went Wrong? If you avoided 989 Studios' take on the car-combat genre, you didn't miss much. The Review Crew found TM3 to be “slow, sluggish and tedious," not to mention a bitch to control, and we were just plain bored.by 4's “seriously stale” gameplay. Sales figures show you gamérs felt the same. “in Twisted Metal 3 and 4 there clearly was a lack of tuning and gameplay testing," Sony's Dave Jaffe says, “simply because they didn't have a lot of time to make those games." Jaffe also finds fault with the games* weapons, saying they brought little new to the gaméptay. “In fact; 1.don't think they were designed with gameplay in mind,” he says. “They were probably designed with the idea of ‘Hey, this sounds cool.” SCEA has learned from its mistakes..Not only is the original team back—it’s getting more time to craft Black. Work began 19 months ago, and the game has already undergone extensive tuning. (By comparison, TM3 and 4 each spent only a year in development.) Better still, TM: Black’s dark theme will give the series a fresh start on PS2. “We feel we're treading on new ground for.this genre,” says Jaffe, “which TM3 and 4 really didn’t” do. They gave you more of the same, but not as good.” TWISTED PATA Units Sold: 65,000 SOURCE: NPD TRSTS VIDEO GAMES ¡SERVICE of your trunk and hangs off the rear of your vehicle until you hit:the fire button, which lobs the can forward in.a high arc. Tap fire again and the can drops to the ground and detonates. Anyone within range of the fireball will take some damage. But if you manage to drop the can directly on.an enemy, he'll'suffer three times the damage and you'll get a special bull’s-eye bonus. “The idea is that more experienced players who really get the feel and rhythm of the game will be able to time their attacks to the point where they can really do some major damage with that weapon,” Jaffe explains. “Whereas your basic player can pick up the gas can and utilize it апа до some damage, but he won't be able to use it as well as an experienced Twisted Metal player." This added depth applies to nearly every weapon in the game, including character-specific special attacks; Take the sports-utility vehicle's special, for instance. Activate it and a guy rises out ofthe roof of your truck to man a machine- gun turret. He'll automatically track 360 degrees and fire upon any enemies who come close. So, you're sure to inflict some damage if you trigger this special when opponents are near. But if you want to unleash serious hurt, you'll need to maneuver your truck so enemies lie directly ahead of you. This way, you can cut loose with your standard front-mounted machine guns while your turret man bears down on the same target. Suddenly, you get a super version of your special. The point is, “there's more skill to the game if you want there to be," Jaffe says. Meanwhile, in the defense department, Incognito is designing the weapons so there's.à way to defend against each of them. If someone freezes you, for example, you по longer have to sit there and take your punishment. “You can release yourself quicker through a sequence of button presses," Campbell explains. All that's only half of the story. Remember— Jaffe said each weapon now has multiple functions. Let's return to TM: Black's trusty gas can for another example. Aside from its basic function as a trajectory weapon, you can drop the can behind your car and it becomes a remote bomb like the one in TM2. Drop it, hit the fire button again and —BOOM!—enemies on your six have a bad day. But—and here's the Electronic Gaming Monthly - 154 important part—if you drop the can and let it sit for more than two.seconds, a little indicator begins to flash, meaning the can will do a lot more damage when you detonate it. What's the point? *This promotes trap setting," Jaffe explains. “If | set this thing around a corner that | know you always like to come to, | can sit back, wait for the increased damage logic to kick in, then detonate this super explosion when you Show up. I can't just drop it and get lucky, because the can has to have за ћеге long enough to engage the higher damage logic. You have to plan to do these things. The game motivates you that way." If all this talk of bull's-eye bonuses and weapon logic spins your noodle, don’t worry— you can always just cut loose with the weapons” basic functions and have fun. But we figure TM: Black's added complexity is the kind of thing hardcore car-combat fans can't wait to tear into. We envision chat rooms and FAQs focusing on trap setting or the dozens of uses for the homing missile—and we haven't seen that kind of fervor around a car-combat game since the Twisted Metal series’ heyday. But. enough comparing TM: Black to its prequels. If the developers deliver everything they promise, this game will be so immersive, so deep and so dark it'll wipe away all those nasty TM3 memories for good. “Chasing an enemy through moving traffic during a violent rain storm, crashing through storefront windows while sideswiping the bad guys, blinding your opponent with your high beams while you launch a volley of homing missiles into his front windshield—all of these things we saw in our heads when we designed Twisted Metal 1 are actually becoming possible," Jaffe says, “thanks to this new technology." 4 Yee Haw! Reckon we got room in Hazzard for the whole Duke Family. Looks like them) Dukes аге getting) зе for another spectacular launch! southPeak Interactives top) 10 PlayStation® дате console title The Dukes of Hazzard 4 Racing) К for Home is comin’ for your РС and Nintendo” Game Boys Color this fall! | А5 that weren't enoughito keep) em) happy, in) Hazzard County) Daisy) figgerd out just howmuch tin them boy cousinsihad the last time so she's takina turn behing) the wheel Vin The Dukes of Hazzard! Il; Daisy Dukes ЈЕ б ой Drivin’ your way Tor PlayStation® Game’ console; For more information, please contact: Sales Department (919) 677-4499 ext. 6554 * www.southpeak.com SouthPeak Interactive * One Research Drive * Cary, NC 27513 E * Mild Animated Violence PlayStation А se of Tobacco & Alcohol = Да e E DOF AMERICA INC 0 1989, 1598 NINTENDO SOUTHPEAK* INTERACTIVE ANC Available for purchase at these and other line retailers: | Сав Спаси ЕЙ COMP ZA FORGET SONY, SEGA AND NINTENDO. MICROSOFT'S OWN PC-CENTRIC IMAGE MAY BE ITS BIGGEST FOE IN THE COMING CONSOLE SHOWDOWN. SO LET'S ANSWER, ONCE AND FOR ALL, THE BIG QUESTION ABOUT MICROSOFT'S MACHINE... XBOX: GAME CONSOLE Bv DAVID KUSHNER Electronic Gaming Monthly he carpets are rolled up. The boxes are packed. A life-size inflatable boxing doll wobbles in the hall. It's moving time for the staff behind Microsoft's upcoming video game console, the Xbox. Not long before my visit to mission control in Redmond, Wash., the team began relocating from the leafy nexus of the main Microsoft campus a few miles down the road to a nondescript office park nicknamed Area Xbox. The PR guy showing me around this crisp fall day tells me the Xboxers are being moved so they can work in better isolation. In other words: set pressure cooker to On. The coming months, of course, promise what might be the greatest showdown in the short history of home video gaming. Nintendo's Gamecube, Sony's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox are heading into the multi-billion-dollar Thunderdome. Four consoles enter! One console leaves! But while Nintendo and Sony are proven players, Microsoft, for a change of pace, is the newbie— not to mention the only American company maker in the mix. To make matters more complicated, the company is having to do a complete flip-flop—from software to hardware, personal computer to console. Talk about a makeover. In this light, the Xbox team's move takes on a heady symbolism. Microsoft is having to distance itself from the very thing that made it a powerhouse: the PC. As the company well knows, console gamers are way different from computer gamers; they're younger, fiercer, playing the games on the big fat tube. And to survive this dogged marketplace, Microsoft has to establish street cred by every means necessary: forging alliances with established console game developers (especially in Japan), building hardware for thumb-busting play, and, most of all, making really cool games. To do this, Microsoft has to answer the ultimate question, the one that's swirling inside every gamer's skull: Is the Xbox a legit console or just a low-end set-top PC? Discuss. “My response used to be a whole bunch of crap," admits Seamus Blackley, director of Xbox Advanced Technology Team, when asked the low-end PC question. “ПІ used to talk] about how we get it, how Xbox is a console, but my new response is much simpler: | don't think Konami is too confused about it being a low-end PC. I don't think Midway or Infogrames or Capcom are too confused either." Blackley is holding court in an Area Xbox conference room fresh with new carpet aroma. As a demo of impeccably engineered ping pong balls bounce across a TV screen behind him, Blackley drives home Microsoft's newest mantra: If you don't believe we're more than a PC-port machine, just look at the developers who are coming on board. Not long before I visit, the company travelled to the Tokyo Game Show and announced that Konami was committed to bring Xbox some of its juiciest titles: Crash Bandicoot X, Jurassic Park X, Silent Hill X and Metal Gear Solid X. The games would be essentially the same as those appearing on other consoles, but would be tweaked to take advantage of Xbox's particular specs. Konami's announcement capped off a run of developer deals ranging from first-party relationships with established PC houses like Bungie (creators of Halo and Oni) and Lionhead (Black and White) to third-party deals with major publishers including Activision and Namco. Even Square is hinting that it will support Microsoft's machine. Though all this developer news came nearly a half year after Bill Gates announced the Xbox at the Computer Game Developers Conference in March 1999, the Xbox execs tell me that they had been courting the all-important develop- ment community for at least a year prior. J. Allard, general manager for Xbox's platform and third parties, says the company wanted to get in at the ground level to learn what developers need. “The conversations were like, Microsoft wants to get into digital entertainment,” Allard recalls. “We think game consoles are intriguing, you've been doing this for 20 years...tell us what works, what doesn't, Electronic Gaming Monthly - 157 - www.zdnet.com/egm OR PC-PORT MACHINE? MICROSOFT'S ~. ALLARD "WE WERE CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE WOULD ASSOCIATE MICROSOPT WITH WORK, WITH NINE-TO- FIVE, WITH BUSINESS...” TALE OF THE TAPE: MORE THAN 150 COMPANIES. НАМЕ SIGNED: ON TO DELIVER XBOX GAMES—A FEW PRESS CONFERENCE. OF WHICH WE GLIMPSED ON AT MICROSOFT'S SEPTEMBI e beginning, Allard adds, he knew his company was going to be fighting against preconceptions that they were PC-centric. “We were concerned that people would associate Microsoft with work, with nine-to- five, with business,” he says, “basically, with no fun at all." As it turns out, Allard's concerns were not that off the mark. Konami, which was clearly one of the key companies to get on board to bust the PC image, admits to having had at least some skepticism. “In the beginning," explains Chris Bergstresser, Konami's vice president of strategic planning, “a lot of publishers were of the same mindset; we're like, ‘Show us that you're really serious and then we'll support you.” To prove its seriousness and lure publishers, Microsoft is deploying all guns: economic and technological. On the biz side, they're flexing the the developers and Xbox team, continues to be the technology itself. Blackley is eager to evangelize how easy the Xbox is for developers, how they can use the same kind of tools they use on a PC, how they can take advantage of the Xbox's sheer brute force: its 3D audio support, its 64MB unified memory (nearly twice PlayStation 2), its 300 MHz custom-designed GPU (ditto). The simple message, says Blackley, is “we want to give power to the artist.” That's all well and good, but there's one part of the tech package that still tightens the intestines of console gamers: the hard drive, that harbinger of all things PC. Just the thought of it conjures up ugly images of unruly defrags and crippling system crashes. No problem, Blackley promises—the Xbox won't crash. Of course, the hard drive connotes something that could grate on console gamers about as much as a reboot: game patches that have to be "YOU CAN'T JUST SLAP A PC GAME ON A CONSOLE. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SITTING SIX INCHES FROM A PC SCREEN AND SIX FEET FROM A TV SET.” JEFF BROWN, power of their all-mighty buck, including a half- billion-dollar marketing commitment. With that kind of cash, promises Ed Fries, vice president of game publishing and first-party guru, the Xbox launch is guaranteed to be, as he says, “a bigger deal than the launch of Windows 95." Publishers like that message. “Their marketing plan all but guarantees a strong position and good installed base," says Jeff Brown, spokesperson for Electronic Arts (which is likely to soon announce Xbox support). Another big biz lure for the key console developers is to standardize licensing agreements and royalty rates (the percentage of revenues that publishers must split with Microsoft on each game). Though Microsoft won't reveal the exact numbers, Allard says that one of the early complaints of publishers and developers was the uneven mix of royalty rates. To avoid, as Allard puts it, “damaging the ecosystem," Microsoft offered a fixed royalty worldwide, though exceptions could be made, Allard adds, for hot titles offered as exclusive Xbox games. ELECTRONIC ARTS downloaded and installed to fix bugs. No deal, Blackley is quick to add. “Ifa patch comes through in a game proposal,” he says, “we send out the nuclear weapons.” A no-patches declaration puts the onus more on developers who, as a result, can't rely on fixing bugs after a game's release. And actually, the hard drive lets them create games that are even more suited for a console environment. Peter Molyneux, a legend in PC game development, is on board as a first-party Microsoft developer in large part because of the Xbox's brute power. “If they get the balance right," he says, "the hard drive enables us to produce a huge amount of more visual experiences." This could manifest itself, Blackley explains, by having, say, 500 cars in a race instead of 20, or seeing the sweaty sheen on the tip of a T-Rex's nose. Between the technological muscle of the hard drive and biz strength of Microsoft's marketing and support plans, the company now has the stable of talent it needed from the start. But to allay the PC-port-machine concern, Microsoft * Electronic Gaming Monthly - 158 - www.zdnet.com/egm MICROSOFT KNOWS IT'S JAPANESE SUPPORT THAT'LL MAKE OR BREAK XBOX'S CONSOLE CRED, SO GAMES LIKE SILENT HILL X ARE KEY. must tackle two other formidable obstacles: how to ensure that publishers won't just Shovel PC ports on to the system and, more importantly, how will they guarantee that developers make enough traditional-style console games at all. Because the Xbox is so PC-friendly, developers can essentially rely on the same tools they use to develop PC games instead of having to buy a custom development kit. It's almost a no-brainer for a big publisher like Electronic Arts or Activision to simply shovel their existing titles onto this new platform. Easy money, no? “We haven't ruled out ports of existing titles," says Kathy Vrabeck, executive vice president of global brand management and worldwide publishing for Activision. Though she can't confirm specific titles in Xbox development, she suggests that sports/action-oriented blockbusters like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Shawn Palmer Snowboarding would make natural Xbox games (nudge nudge, wink wink). Other publishers also see the perks of porting current console hits. *Our priority is for ports," says EA's Brown. “When we think about content, the first thing that comes to mind is making popular titles available on Xbox. That's a good business model. Second, people who buy new consoles want to know they'll get the software that's getting the buzz." However, Brown adds, “You can't just slap a PC game on a console. There's a big difference between sitting six inches from a PC screen and six feet from a TV set." Will gamers be seeing (eek!) Who Wants to Be an Xbox Millionaire or piles of quick-and- easy PC ports? The final answer is: Don't bet on it. “Microsoft has made it crystal-clear that they're going after hardcore gamers [who want] new content," reveals Vrabeck. Or, as Kevin Bachus, director of Xbox third party, puts it simply: “There will be no PC ports." What that means is that Xbox developers are already being expected to make traditional console style games: sports, action, racing, fighting. Thing is, some ofthe most notable first-party developers, like Bungie and Lionhead, come from a traditional PC background. Sure these guys are talented, but who's to say they can churn out the kinds of games that console players crave? "It's a very, very different ball game," Molyneux admits. With PC games, he says, it's easier to expect a player to sit in front of the computer for hours and hours and hours, whereas with console games, players are more likely to spend shorter periods of time in front of the TV screen. As a result, he says, console games have to be developed in a much moré accessible and action-oriented fashion. “A game can't be abstract," he says. In the end, the games will be about quality, not quantity, the Xbox team says. The bad news is that there's no way to guarantee that even companies like Konami and Capcom will deliver the amount of games that players want. Just look at how few titles Konami produced for the Nintendo 64 after announcing it had signed on to that system. Microsoft is doing its best, though, to keep the relationships flowing. One big step is to build an arm of the team in Japan. There are no plans to, say, buy a Japanese developer outright, but there are plans to continue the pattern of relationships that have been started. And how console is that? After a long day in Area Xbox, it's hard not to feel like Microsoft's console is actually a console after all. Maybe it really doesn't matter what a company's roots are in the end. Just consider how a corporation that made stereos (read: Sony) became such a video game colossus. Ultimately, though, the real test isn't the hardware, the development kits, or the developers. It's the fun. And, for now, Microsoft is keeping a tight lid on the products it hopes will be the most fun of all. The lid is so tight, in fact, that the PR escort is quick to shut the doors of offices where actual development talk is taking place. So it goes, | figure, as | head out the lobby door. The opening ceremonies are over. Let the games begin. ж Electronic Gaming Monthly - 189 - www.zdnet.com/egm MUNCH'S XBOX ODDYSEE _ Need more proof that Xbox is a true game console? Just ask Oddworld Inhabitants, the guys behind the highly promising Munch's Oddysee for the PlayStation 2, which—surprise!— isn't really for the PS2 at all anymore. In a high-profile system shift, Oddworld Inhabitants pledged full support for Microsoft's machine in late October and abandoned PS2 development altogether. Munch's Oddysee will now be a launch title exclusively for the Xbox (Microsoft will publish the game), and the remaining installments in the series are Xbox bound, too. Now that's not really surprising, given that Oddworld head Lorne Lanning has long been the development community's most vocal critic of Sony's system (he has come right out and said the PS2 is a “bitch” to work with). But what's more interesting is what Lanning has to say about Microsoft. It's a company that's not afraid to pursue new game experiences, he says. In other words, Microsoft is willing to take risks. *In the end, we can only build as good a game as we're being supported to build,” Lanning tells us, *and Microsoft's passion for nurturing and supporting games that really push the edge is something that's extremely rare in today's industry. It's one thing to have someone paying for it, and it's another to have them really believing in it and encouraging it." The Xbox incarnation of Munch's Oddysee will offer the same novel gameplay as the PS2 game, except with richer textures and a higher degree of activity from the game's population of beasties. But, more importantly for the focus of this feature, Munch's Oddysee is most definitely a game conceived for the consoles and yet another example of the type of content Microsoft wants on Xbox. — Crispin Boyer Each year, we see a number of significant innovations that truly change the way we think about video games and the game industry. These trendsetters can involve anything from the rise in power of a particular developer or publisher, the acceptance of a new technology, the dawning of an entirely new concept or even the actions of an individual. And each year, as we look back, it's possible to pinpoint the slickest, most important events and elements in video gaming. That's where the EGM Slick 50 comes in. Now in its third year, this annual feature jumps the gun, just a little, by laying out our own set of predictions for what will be big in the vid-game community between now and the close of 2001. We figure all of the developers, gadgets, games and gameplay concepts highlighted in the next 20 pages will be significant enough to change the face of both the industry itself and how we're likely to interact with it. Of course, we could be wrong, but we have a pretty good track record so far (check out the sidebar on last year's Slick 50 and see for yourself). And even if the stuff listed here doesn't end up reshaping our gaming world, we know that, at the very least, these people, hardware, concepts and software are going to be ultra slick in 2K1. People е Hardware е Concepts е Software , England, will the handhelds. pi uta game based on the wizarding sport on flying broomsticks—is a safe ively multiplayer game set in dio is working closely with о. Eg; "10 make sure "M games stay true to her novels. They're also ; collaborating with Christopher Columbus, who’ s directing the Harry | . Potter flick due late next year. If you're not wild about Harry yet, put down your joypad : and read the de four books out now. They're only the most entertaining fantasy novels= | filled with twist endings, great good guys and really nasty bad guys— since that Tolkien dude wrote about Bilbo and his pals. And before you Know it, Potter merchandise is going to be everywhere. You won't be ) e it. You might as well join the legions of muggles who've dived into the Potter craze, especially since it ain't gonna fade for a . While—Rowling has three more books planned. “It’s definitely going to bea vety, very strong franchise," said Reyne Rice, director of the NPD group's Toys Services Division. *The books are fabulous, exciting and full of fantasy. You can just see how sequels will keep folding from this, so kids will continue to grow with it." 5 2274700 0 160 ILLUSTRATION BY KEVIN LLEWELLYN epic cames The Unreal Deal North Carolina-based developer Epic Games—the gang behind the PC hits Unreal and Unreal Tournament—have become household names among computer gamers, but why should console players care? Their less-than-perfect PlayStation 2 port of UT notwithstanding, Epic's role as a Sony middleware partner means you're going to see their logo pop up in more games than you'd expect next year. “The Unreal engine is going to have a big impact on console games,” Epic vice president Mark Reign told us. “Our licensees, including some ofthe biggest names in the game business, are also doing PS2 and Xbox titles with our technology." Epic has just announced they're a tool and middleware vendor for Xbox. And it's a safe bet that Epic will develop titles for all the consoles that matter next year, too. Give these guys a chance— they're just getting started on the consoles. Lara in the Flesh It's a safe bet that actor Bob Hoskins doesn't pop into your noggin when you think of Mario. And we doubt M. Bison conjures images of Raul Julia. But—trust иѕ you'll never picture Lara Croft as anyone but Angelina Jolie after you see this year's Tomb Raider flick. *She's the only person | ever thought could pull it off," said Simon West, the movie's director. “Anybody who knows Lara has very strong impressions of what she looks like. She's this gorgeous, voluptuous, ideal woman, so | wasn't going to go against that. But on the other hand, | wanted an intelligent personality, and she also has that slight dark side." Back when speculation first began over who would fill Lara's lycra shirt on the big screen, few folks even thought of Jolie, who often plays somber parts and recently won an Oscar for her role in Girl, Interrupted. Instead, fans tossed around names like Sandra Bullock and Elizabeth Hurley. Adrian Smith, Core Design's development director, originally envisioned Jennifer Lopez for the role. But now. that we've been to the set and seen Jolie in action—and heard her spot-on accent—her casting makes perfect sense. And not just to us. “It's funny, | thought [the role] was really, really far from what I’m used to, but it’s not," Jolie said. “The essence of her is very similar to all the other characters I’ve played—the essence of somebody who's kind of alone, is focused on justice or setting things right, is kind of a little insane." As she seemingly does with all her films, Jolie dove headfirst into this newest role— literally. She trained in gymnastics to prepare for dozens of wire-assisted stunts. Chances are when you see Lara bungee jumping or flipping or fighting in the film, that's Jolie herself doing the dirty work. *She's probably the gutsiest actress I ever worked with," said special-effects supervisor Chris Corbould, who previously worked on the last three Bond films. “She just goes for it. If it’s a wide shot, it’s not just a stunt person. You can see her face. She makes our stuff look so good, like it's right out of the game, really." Jolie freely admits that she's terrible at the Tomb Raider games (“1 kill [Lara] constantly," she said), and she also acknowledges that this big-explosion summer-movie stuff is brand-new business to her, too. But she's deep into the role now, she's signed up for two sequels, and we really can't think of a slicker actress to bring Lady Croft to life. “I kept thinking | can't do this,” Jolie said. “I'm a serious actor. And then suddenly | was in my little outfit on top of a mountain in Iceland, with some dogs pulling me in a sled, with some guns attached to me, and | thought, ‘Yeah, this is exactly who | am!” ILLUSTRATION BY SHAWN BARBER Electronic Gaming Monthly - 162 For Mature Eyes Only Finally, we're seeing mainstream acceptance of games as more than just kid's stuff. Need proof? Look at Nintendo. Who would have thought the one-time king of kiddie games is now releasing titles crammed with bloody headshots and cartoon animals who swig whiskey. A trend that kicked off with 1998's Metal Gear Solid, Mature-rated console gaming is going to be watched by everybody in 2001, when Conker's Bad Fur Day and Eidos' babelicious Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix get our juices flowing— and no doubt draw the ire of parents and politicians. But hey, games geared for us grown-ups are long overdue—and they're good business, too. “Half the market is under 18 and half is over,” said George Harrison, NINTENDO GAMECUBE Nintendo of America's president of marketing and corporate communications. “We decided that we cannot afford to compete in only half the market.” camecube More Than Just a Toy This Time Remember a time when it didn't matter if you could use your game system to get online and order a soda from a pop machine in Scandinavia? When games were games and gameplay mattered over everything? Gamecube, coming to Japan in July and the U.S. in October, looks like a game machine, not stereo equipment. Nintendo has committed itself to making this a true gamer's machine (and with Mario, Metroid and Zelda on the way, you can't go wrong, right?). Yes it'll have the modem/broadband connectivity that the other guys do, and Nintendo says the system will be flexible enough that developers will have no problem creating games. “In my experience, there have often been theoretical claims of high performance for game hardware, and although people were very impressed by the figures, the actual products haven't even delivered one- tenth of the claims," Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto said. “It is a given that the Nintendo Gamecube will offer better graphics and higher quality sound, but more importantly it will allow developers the freedom to concentrate on creativity without worrying about technical limitations." There's no question Gamecube will be impressive. But will it be impressive enough to put up a fight against Xbox, which launches around the same time this fall, not to mention the PS2 and DC? We hope so. Tony Hawk This Bird Man Made Extreme Games Fly Although they started out as a novelty (remember Sony’s ESPN Xtreme Games?), extreme-style sports games have blossomed into a full-blown genre. But it wasn’t until Tony Hawk and developer Neversoft teamed up to create the most dominant skateboarding game to date that extreme games truly gained mainstream popularity. “I am honored to be taken as an example for other sports,” said Hawk of his status as spokesperson for extreme competition. “I’m just glad to see ‘alternative/action sports’ athletes finally getting some recognition.” But now that THPS clones are everywhere and the genre is brimming with new titles, is the future bright for extreme games? “I think it'll keep getting better as the platforms improve,” Hawk said. “Skateboarding continues to progress, so the games will obviously follow the same pattern.” At the very least, we can expect to see Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 sometime (hopefully) within the next year and a half. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 163 2001 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Max Steel: The series, TM & - 2000 Adelaide Productions, Inc. Ай Rights Reserved. Under license by Sony Pictures Consumer Products. Sega, Dreamcast and the Dreamcast logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega Corporation. Game Boy” and Gamo Boy Color are trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. - 1989, 1998 Nintendo of America Inc Licensed by Nintendo. OAI screen shots are from the Sega Dreamcast game console, The terrorist group DREAD has stolen a deadly biological weapon and is planning to lay waste to the planet. But there's one major obstacle: super Agent max Steel. Infused with nano-technology and armed with an arsenal of weapons, he's got superhuman strength, blazing speed and the power to go stealth. In other words, he's the one to call when the other agents don't want to get their tuxedos dirty. PRODUCTS RANGE FROM ig Y EVERYONE ro TEEN | Q OS cutem. М RS cantare nate | SHE TREY ARCH uwu.maxsteel.com wuw.maxsteeltv.com Even Miyamoto Had to Start Somewhere Sick of the titles those fat-cat game designers are pumping out? Well, it's time to quit your bitchin' and put your controller where your mouth is: Make your own levels (as seen in Tenchu 2, Tony Hawk 2 and TimeSplitters) or even entire adventures (a la Agetec's awesome RPG Maker) with the new breed of do-it-yourself games. And with larger memory cards, zip disks and hard drives on the way for all the major systems, there will be more and more space to save your creations, or to trade with others online. Blow Up the Outside World You may notice that games that let you make your own levels are also included in this year's Slick 5o—but none like this PS2 first-person shooter from Volition, due in March. Say you'd like a door in the middle of that wall. Just whip out your rocket launcher and THOOM!—there’s your door. Or that bridge, the one with the enemy troop carrier driving slowly across it, it just doesn't match the decor of the rest of the level. BOOM! BOOM! A few well-placed explosive charges and it's gone. Using what Volition is calling the Geo-Mod system, Red Faction can realistically and permanently alter almost any surface—ceiling, wall or floor—in real time as you play. With this awesome innovation and a firm grasp on the essentials (cool weapons, scripted events a la Half-Life, drivable crafts and more), Red Faction looks like a sorely needed step forward in the evolution of the FPS genre. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 166 Keiji Inafune More Than Just Mega Man He's the father of Capcom’s blue bomber (Mega Man), his favorite movie is Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, and he can sometimes be found posing in battle gear in Japanese Guns & Ammo-style magazines. Keiji Inafune is his name, and you can add him to the list of Capcom’s ace designers (a list that includes the names Okamoto and Mikami). Aside from his involvement in the Mega Man series, Inafune’s Onimusha— one of the more promising PS2 titles we've seen— will no doubt help to quench the thirst of new PS2 owners in the first half of 2001. Originally a PS one game, it was converted to PS2 when Inafune and his team got their hands on the new hardware. “As a developer, when | get better hardware | want to develop for it right away,” he told us. Onimusha is set in a historically accurate time period of Japanese feudal lord Nobunaga, but the game overlays a fictional story on top. Add in samurai swordplay with a touch of survival horror action, and that’s what PS2 players have to look forward to. Retro studios Making Metroid in America Don’t let their moniker fool you into thinking there’s nothing state-of-the-art going on behind Retro’s doors. This Nintendo- funded development group has quietly been working ona slew of Gamecube titles for the past year. The company name references old games that used pure gameplay—not—glitz to make them fun, but Retro realizes that everyone likes a cutting-edge game as well. Right now, Retro admits they're working on a football game, a basketball game, an RPG and even Metroid. If they deliver on what they promise, Nintendo's new kid on the block could give its older sibling Rare a run for its money. The 2000 slick so For you picky readers keeping score at home, here's the Slick 50 that appeared a year ago in our January 2000 issue. Did our picks pan out? Let's have a look-see... OK, so maybe we got a little ahead of ourselves with a few of last year's Slick 5o choices— particularly our entry on Wireless Gaming. Sure, being able to download Game Boy games for your cell phone is a nifty concept, but we reckon cellular gaming is really going to hit its stride in 2001. Trust us—the idea of a handheld gaming device will take on a whole new meaning by the middle of the year, and you'll never look at your cell phone the same way again. We were jumping the gun a bit on the Final Fantasy flick, too, as well as Paper Mario and The Bouncer, since we won't be seeing these things until 2001. Movie hype and Mario delays aside, we hit the Koopa right on the shell for pretty much everything else on last year's list. You can't flip through 10 pages of our Previews section now without seeing a game that boasts cel- shaded graphics. Co-op play has become a hyped feature in blockbuster games like Perfect Dark, TimeSplitters and the upcoming Phantasy Star Online—which you'll actually need to play cooperatively to complete. Developer Neversoft proved they're much more than a one-hit wonder with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 and Spider-Man. And Visual Concepts defeated the mighty Madden with their NFL 2K1. Of course, a lot of stuff in the 2000 Slick 50 is still slick this year and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. Emulation is once again a hot-button topic, now that Bleemcast!'s launch is looming. Microsoft and Nintendo are preparing the two most exciting consoles ever (well, three if you count the Game Boy Advance). Online console gaming has finally gotten the big-bang debut it deserves, courtesy of SegaNet. Heck, we could have just taken half of last year's list and run it again this year. Maybe we should change this annual feature's name to the Slick 100. Joanna Dark Controller-Specific Games Resident Evil Code: Veronica Game Customization New Uses for Handhelds Bioware Nintendo Dolphin Visual Concepts Co-op Play Consultants The PlayStation 2 Marigul Yoshiki Okamoto Surround Sound The VMU Ryo Hazuki Treasure The Bouncer AT&T Redneck Games DVD The Final Fantasy Movie Music Games Online Gaming Namco Broad Bandwidth Cel-Shaded Visuals Enix MSR Mobile 21 Pokémon Gold and Silver Ulala Hammerhead Sonic Team Paper Mario Emulation Realism OpenGL Team Calibur Xbox Pokémon Card Game Microsoft Skies of Arcadia Sonic The Dreamcast Wireless Gaming Neversoft Yutaka Saito Erik Kraber Crazy Taxi Electronic Gaming Monthly 167 4 CAREY: B REA BARRETT “HART ћупа Rv BURYquISy RYAN MRACLE В Снт, Rick RI HART LASEK ; GAMESHARK" Performance With a combined total of 41 X Games and Gravity Games medals, you think you'd have no chance in hell of ever going bigger than this crew. That's where you're wrong and InterAct is going to help you get there. And the payoff is oh, so sweet. When you purchase InterAct, GameShark and Performance brand videogame accessories now through the end of February 2001, InterAct will give you chances to win posters, skateboards, snowboards, BMX and motorcross bikes, big ticket electronics and some killer trips. Those chances will come every day, every week, and every month through February 2001. It's simple. Buy products. Earn points. Win. What are you waiting for? A personal invite from Dave Mirra? Check out GoBigWinBig.com for official rules and instructions. came Boy Advance Nintendo's Handheld Finally Grows Up It's invaded our homes, our minivans, even our schools. Most kids love it. Most parents hate it. It's the Game Boy, and with more than 100 million units sold worldwide, it's the most successful video-game console ever. But it's also 11 years old and really starting to show its age. Finally, Nintendo has revealed its successor and the heir apparent to the huge portable market, the Game Boy Advance, due out this July. What's to love about the GBA? Let us count the ways: one, it's roughly as powerful as the Super NES, so 16-Bit classics can be ported with ease (Mario Kart and F-Zero are already on the way). Two: it's backward compatible with all Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Three: it's got a low price (about $90 based on the Japanese price), and nice pefenders of the industry Standing Up to the Man The game industry has been attacked from all sides over the past year—from litigious parents; from chain stores cracking down on the sales of M-rated games; and from the Federal Trade Commission, whose recent report claims game companies are purposely marketing M-rated products to kids. We're just happy to have a few folks who stand up for us. More specifically, we're glad that Doug Lowenstein, president of the Interactive Digital Software Association, and Sega's Peter Moore went to bat for the industry at the recent Senate Commerce Committee meetings on the FTC study. Both men pointed out obvious flaws with the FTC's report. Whether the senators paid attention remains to be seen, but at least we know we have men in Washington fighting the good fight for our favorite hobby. battery life (15 hours on two AAs). Finally, four: only one cart required for multiplayer link-up games (finally). Add all those up and it's a safe bet that you are looking at the next big thing in portable gaming. dig up hints—and even participate in online ~ . auctions for rare items. Stuck in a cave? Don't Play /nline.com. know which town to visit next? Select the „ *PlayOnline" option in the game's menu апа. you'll find all the help you need. Final Fantasy XI will be the first game in the series to offer networked play with other players, and PlayOnline will expand again to support that function. Eventually, Square wants PlayOnline to evolve into more than just a homepage, a strategy site and a hub for its online servers; it wants it to become a full-fledged entertainment site that offers downloadable tunes, news, chat rooms— plenty of stuff for gamers and non-gamers alike. PlayOnline in Japan will blossom first, but the American version of the site will follow suit shortly after. Playonline Square’s Master Plan It may be little more than a fancy homepage for Square now, but PlayOnline (www.playonline.com) will evolve into something revolutionary next year. Started last January by Square in Japan, PlayOnline is a portal site that, at first, will offer online strategies for all of Square’s games. In fact, the only place you can find an official walk-through for Final Fantasy IX in Japan is on PlayOnline. But starting with Final Fantasy X for the PlayStation 2 and PC, players will be able to log onto PlayOnline during their adventure and incognito Singletrac 2.0 *The Background of this team includes over five years of PlayStation game development experience that produced five titles," Scott Campbell, president of Salt Lake City-based developer Incognito Studios, told us, “and now we have over one year of PlayStation 2 development under our belts." Right, so how come you've never heard of these guys before? Turns out Incognito, formed in spring “99, is a reincarnation of Singletrac, the developer that brought us the first two Twisted Metal games (with SCEA's help), Warhawk, Jet Moto, Rogue Trip and other PlayStation hits. Out of Incognito's 32 employees, 19 are former Singletrac staff, and now Incognito is working on the highly anticipated fifth installment in the Twisted Metal franchise — Twisted Metal: Black—as well as a second still-secret PS2 title. “Let me say | saw [this game] last week and it's freaking amazing!" said Dave Jaffe, director and lead designer of Twisted Metal 1, 2 and Black at Sony's Santa Monica studio. “I had the same kind of ‘Wow, what a great fantasy!’ feel that | got when І played the first Twisted Metal demo back in 1994." We're hoping this secret project is a follow-up to Warhawk, but all Campbell will say is it's “in the action genre and involves combat." ctronic Gaming PlayStation.e Q-Ball BILLIARDS MISTER Master the techniques used by the pros! The most beautiful pool halls in the world! 9 modes of play, plus 3 idden pool games! "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. ©2000 Take 2 Interactive. А! rights reserved. Take 2 Interactive Software and the Take 2 logo are trademarks of Take 2 interactive Software. © 2000 ASK / Shogakukan / SHO-PRO All other trademarks and logos are properties of their respective owners. conker Franchise pefections This Squirrel’s Got Big Nuts Kiss Your Crash Goodbye Mark March 5, 2001, on your calendar, because that’s when Conker’s Gone are the days of loyal mascots and games exclusive to Bad Fur day hits stores and shatters Nintendo’s squeaky-clean image one system, apparently. The massive success of the forever. Rare, Nintendo’s crown-jewel first-party developer, really PlayStation hasn’t stopped some of its most prominent stars wanted to cut loose with an M-rated game. They chose Conker the from seeking other pastures. Two Sony icons are already squirrel to be the cursing, whiskey-swigging, flatulating, urinating star packing their bags: Spyro the Dragon, and, surprisingly in a title that promises to make South Park look like a kindergarten enough, Crash Bandicoot. Labeled as “disposable” by Sony play. And while we’re swearing like drunken sailors in anticipation, we and owned by Universal Interactive, both game franchises can’t help but wonder if clueless parents are gonna pee their pants the will be headed for Xbox, and who knows what other console first time Conker swears in front of their kids. After all, Conker’s Pocket they may pop up on next. Sony doesn’t seem concerned. “We Tales on the Game Boy was wholesome kid's stuff, and Nintendo has its never actually appointed Crash or any other character as our work cut out to give the little squirrel a 17-or-older spin. “Certainly the mascot,” said Shuhei Yoshida, vice president of product marketing outreach that we do will be heavily targeted toward people development at SCEA. “The market is becoming more and 18 and up, like we did with Perfect Dark,” said George Harrison, more diversified. We're going into a very fragmented market. Nintendo of America's president of marketing and corporate Any one game or character cannot appeal to the broad range communications. of people who play games." So what beloved character will jump ship next and head to another console? One thing's for sure: Nintendo fans need not fear. There's absolutely no chance Mario will be plumbing another game system's pipes. We can't be so sure about some of Sega's big franchises, though. ILLUSTRATION BY CHARLES AKINS. Samus Aran The Original Game Girl Returns Move over Joanna Dark— Nintendo's finally bringing its oldest heroine back into the spotlight on Gamecube. Metroid has yet to disappoint, with two phenomenal home console titles and a decent Game Boy effort in the handheld's early days. But it's been a loooong time since Samus suited up in her orange armor. Though starving for a new Metroid title on the N64, many gamers realized that the Samus hiatus was probably a blessing in disguise after playing less-than-spectacular 3D incarnations of formerly 2D classics like Konami's Castlevania and Contra. The Gamecube should give developer Retro Studios all the power they need to do the gal justice. After all, anyone who's seen the short Gamecube clip of Samus in action is probably still nursing a bruised chin from the jaw-drop. We expect to see the veteran vixen hit Nintendo's new system in the next year or so. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 172 PlayStation. > eye x ds'of Fierce Warriorsícomejalive! MI "LEM 4 2 ШІ graphics on battlefields of truly epic proportions xu TEEN| 554 b www.koeigames.com АРА ME Led Eurocom Luigi 70 Жыра From Bond to Primed to Bandicoots Finally Grab his Star Trek to Derbyshire, England —just north of developer Rare's plush offices and south of Core Design— and you'll find Eurocom, the hardest- working company in the biz. “I actually don't know exactly how many games we've developed," said Hugh Binns, company director and co-owner of Eurocom, which formed in 1988. "At a guess, it would be somewhere in the region of 4o to 50 going back to the 8-Bit NES. We've kept quite a low profile in the industry and prefer to let the games speak for themselves." Right now, the Despite debuting with equal billing to his sibling in the original Mario Bros., Luigi soon found himself relegated to secondary character status, with others such as Toad game that's speaking loudest is The World is Not Enough on Nintendo 64. and Princess Peach, Eurocom — which also just wrapped up Crash Bash on the PlayStation and is while Mario gained worldwide fame and fortune. But that working on several next-gen projects with Electronic Arts —took on a colossal may change soon. As the star of the first and longest challenge when they set about making what many saw as the real sequel to Rare's Gamecube demo Nintendo has released, speculation is GoldenEye 007. Turns out TWINE is one of the year's best N64 games and a strong that the next Mario game won't be a Mario game at all—instead, it will star a familiar green-hatted brother instead. Humble and loyal as always, Luigi himself is tightlipped on the subject. “I’m a-happy just for to work for da Nintendo," he told us. “| do a-what they like me to do, and I’m a-happy to do it." more than worthy follow-up. And we expect Eurocom's street cred is only going to rise, considering how devoted these guys are to their projects. “Even the wrap party for TWINE had everyone dressed in tuxedos enjoying Vodka Martinis," Binns said. *Shaken, not stirred, of course." really neal-rime cames Real-Time Isn't Just for Graphics Anymore Time for bed. Time for school. Time to go to work. The clock has never been the gamer's friend, always reminding us of all the unpleasant little responsibilities we should be doing instead of playing games. But with more and more games incorporating time aspects, we all better start watching the clock. After you set the time and date in Pokémon Gold and Silver, some of the little critters, plus other contests and people, can only be found at specific times. Majora's Mask plays further with the time feature introduced by the last N64 Zelda game, forcing the player to play through three days over and over, with events only happening at certain times. Seaman checks the Dreamcast's internal clock to make sure you've been feeding your virtual friend often enough, plus has tailored messages on your birthday and other special dates. Even MSR keeps track of the time of day. So if you want to continue playing the latest games, our advice is to find a nice watch and start wearing it. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 174 Dreamcast. 2 % “a Hoi any of these Capcom video games © PlayStation 2 - Street Fighter EX 3 © Dreamcast - Streetfighter 3: Double Impact * Dreamcast - Streetfighter 3: 3rd Strike. © Dreamcast - Streetfighter Alpha 3 Limit 1 coupon per customer. Limit 1 °5 discount per coupon, per fitle. No dealers, please. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. No photocopies or facsimiles accepted. See store for details. Good at Best Buy stores only. Certificate value is 1/100* of one cent. Not valid with any other coupon, discount or promotional offer. Quantities (and titles) vary by store. No roinchecks. © 2000 Best Buy. Expires 1/31/01. O Fi m CASHIER INSTRUCTIONS: Verify product qualifies. Scan UPC (if you have a tracking bor code). Highlight item. Turn n the un Press “Item Discount”. Press “Tab”. Enter “500” and press “Enter”. Place coupon in register. Өз Call 1-800-771-3772 for video game & computer software game rating information. mP3 Hits the consoles MIDWAY Thinking Outside the Box Now that MP3 has established itself as the most portable, most easily distributed digital audio format, console and peripheral developers are starting to pick up on the medium's potential for use with next-generation consoles. First up, Sega plans to release a cable in March that'll let you connect any store-bought MP3 player to your DC's controller ports. Then you can use the included software to rip tracks from CDs or download MP3s from the Net. And connecting a player will be even easier on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, since both systems have the SH ee necessary USB ports. It won’t be long before all your high-quality ay Іп а Flas! home entertainment comes in one little multimedia box. DVD on PS2 is only the beginning! Browser plug-ins like Shockwave and Flash have turned surfing software into virtual arcade machines. Whether it's the classics like Tetris or Frogger you're into, or classic console stuff like Road Rash 2 or Jungle Strike, or even some of the new home-brew titles like Desktop Whack-A-Mole, you can find a ton of games already out there for the playing. As the technology and popularity of this format grows, more and more software publishers may take a cue from Midway, who currently offers old faves like Spy Hunter and Rampage on its Web site (www.midway.com), and open some of their catalog to the millions who browse the Web each day. Electronic Arts offers an even hardier selection. Check www.eagames.com to see what all our fuss is about. THE BIRTH OF New FRANCHISES Something New... Although we're seeing many old faces brought up to date on the new systems, what's even more pleasant is the fact that developers and publishers are experimenting with new ideas again this year. Freed from the shackles of long-term series tied to the fortunes of a specific console, brand-new franchises-in-the-making are beginning to emerge. On PS2 we've already seen Midnight Club, Smuggler's Run, SSX, TimeSplitters and numerous others that have the potential to become killer series. Rare continues to innovate with Conker heading up their wave of new ideas. And over at Sega, the newly independent teams seem to be coming up with breakthrough concepts every day. Let's hope an Arcadia series evolves soon and that Jet Grind Radio doesn't end up being a one off. ILLUSTRATION BY ADRIENNE YAN Electronic Gaming Monthly - 116 The ESRB Ranting and Rating With outraged parents beating down doors in Washington for a quick-fix solution to adolescent-related ills without the hassles of actual parenting, we'll no doubt be seeing these guys around for a good while. Extending its reach most recently to online games, the board has sampled and rated several thousand games wi! one of its six age-sensitive categories since its 1994 inception. Given the growing presence and success of more controversial titles, we can expert аве ADULTS ONLY И PRODUCTS RANGE FROM ratings and g EVERYONE ro MATURE marketing restrictions to be a huge part of the upcoming * А CONTENT RATED BY year in gaming. CONTENT RATED BY nthly - 177 EVERYONE © CONTENT RATED BY ESRB MATURE g CONTENT RATED BY ESRB Piece by Piece by Piece у Astute readers will remember that we highlighted episodic content in our very first Slick 50 feature, back when Capcom was readying El Dorado Gate, an episodic game that's hitting Japanese stores one chapter at a time. But now we're focusing on a new-and-improved publishing model that some hail as the future of game distribution —and this model doesn't involve stores at all. Instead, you download and pay for games in installments. “Anyone with access to the Internet can play a game much like you watch your favorite TV program—in episodes,” said industry veteran Jim Perkins, president of Web Corp, which plans to publish episodic games for the PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox and even PDAs and cell phones. “If you like one episode, then you can download and play the next. Our try-before-you-buy model lets consumers avoid spending $40 for a game that disappoints them.” > Sounds good to us. And it's not just Web Corp—which currently has eight episodic series in production—that’s getting in on the act. Core Design wants to turn Tomb Raider into an episodic franchise, too. Although the main chapters in Lara Croft's next- gen escapades will still be sold in stores, Core plans to release side-story episodes in downloadable format. Expect episodic content to hit high gear late next year, when Xbox launches and Sony releases the PS2 hard drive. Online Ignition Now that SegaNet has finally gone live, more than 100,000 people have put their faith in online gaming and signed up for the revolutionary network. Initially populated by the hoards of NFL 2K1 fans, Quake Ill and NBA 2K: will most likely spawn an even bigger wave of enlistees. Sega reports that members log on for an average of two hours per day and, for the most part, experience good connections with few disruptions. Will the pioneering network be enough to save the Dreamcast long-term? That's a tough call, especially now that Sony has unleashed the PS2 here in the States. But if the recent crop of impressive games are any indication, it'll have a long (by system standards) and happy life. SSX Finally, a Reason to Love Canada EA Canada's reputation has been a little questionable lately, but with the release of SSX that's all changed. The developer from the Great White North literally came out of nowhere with the biggest surprise hit of the media circus that was the PlayStation 2 launch. Talk about a super way to revitalize a flagging image and a dying genre. Sure, it's not the most realistic snowboarding title, but that's what makes it great. The visual feast and over-the-top moves make SSX the perfect showpiece for your shiny new PS2. And anyone who can make us interested, much less addicted, to a snowboarding video game certainly deserves kudos. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 178 Uematsu's Best Selection Music from the FINAL FANTASY IX video game 33 Tracks Composed And Compiled by Nobuo Uematsu on a single disc. Includes bonus track not available anywhere else in the world! ALSO AVAILABLE: ongs in the higher ranks hat do their game justice E EVE I SOUNDTRACK URNAMENT omputer Graphics O 2000 Square Co., Ltd. 8: Square Visualworks Co., Ltd. © 2000 MEDIA РАСТ C. © 1994 1995 1996 1999 NAMCO LIMITED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ILLUSTRATION BY GEOFFREY ZIPOLI new Directions in system Design Consoles Get a Facelift The aesthetic design of a game system is always a tell-tale sign of how a company wants its hardware to be perceived by the public. Sony’s decision to release the original PlayStation in a slim grey casing similar to Nintendo’s most successful consoles sent the message that the PS one is not a multimedia machine (like 3DO); it’s a game system. So what does the PS2—with its vertical stand, motorized DVD tray, and jet-black shell— say to consumers? It says, “Don’t leave me in the kid’s playroom. I’m supposed to be in the den, hooked up to a big-screen television and Electronic Gami a hi-fi stereo system! I’m not just a game unit—l'm a multimedia machine!” It’s ironic then that Nintendo’s Gamecube —with its seemingly Mac-inspired square dimensions and playful colors—stands in stark contrast to the PS2. Mario’s deck is appropriate for play in either an upscale entertainment cabinet or your little brother’s play area. It even comes equipped with a handle, so you can cart it from room to room. And as for Xbox...only time will tell what this super- powered beast will look like. But it’s becoming more and more obvious that, yes, you can tell a game system by its cover. onthly - 180 on NA soon o - OWARE www.interplay.com CORP E Зе | i МОК 2 ARMAGEDDON PS2 © 2000 Interplay Entertainment Corp. Omen Engine © 2000 BioWare Corp. орен 1) ire Corp. The BioWare Pmen Engine and the BioWare logo are trademarks of BioWare Corp. МОК ШШШ related marks, Interplay, the Interplay logo and "By Gamers. For Gamers." are trademarks of Interplay. Entert: Corp. Certain characters аге O Shiny Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. All other сору At trademarks are the property of their respective owners. PlayStation and the "PS" Family logo are registered trade! BE Bowne У ooo | РЕШЕ Paysage These five things should be slick—but they're turning into fall-on-their-face failures... We should have known to expect the worst when 989 kept this game hidden until just before the PlayStation 2's launch. Instead of a worthy adversary to Madden NFL 2001, we got a pigskin game with outa-whack collision detection, awkward animations and visuals barely a step above the PlayStation version. Heck, GameDay is barely better than Acclaim's Quarterback Club 2001, and that's about the harshest criticism we can throw at this game. A once-promising script based on the game series and written by George Romero has been ditched and rewritten by writer/director Paul Anderson. The new version shares little more than the title with the RE game, so prepare to enter the world of screenwriting horror in late 2001. Right up through September, Sony claimed it would ship 1 million PS2s for the system's U.S. debut on Oct. 26. Well, we all know what happened. Sony had to cut the initial shipment in half because, it claims, of a less than bountiful yield from its chip-production plants. Talk about a bummer-— especially for hardcore folks duped into buying systems on eBay for $1K. Some believe the shortage is part of a sinister Sony plot to boost hype for the system. We don't buy that. After all, Sony doesn't make its money from hardware sales— it's game sales that fill the company's coffers. And gamers aren't going to buy games if they can't find the systems. Ah well, there's always Majora's Mask and plenty of solid Dreamcast games to keep you busy until more PS2 trucks roll into your town. When an amazing game like Jet Grind Radio doesn't sell more than 100,000 copies in its home country, something bad's going on. Lately, the vast majority of Japanese gamers seem interested in only really big titles like Final Fantasy IX and DragonQuest VII. Even the once surefire music- games genre is hitting hard times. Let's hope this trend reverses soon. This here is as much a PR disaster for Sony— whose PS2 is being seriously dissed by developer Oddworld Inhabitants—as it is for gamers who were looking forward to this revolutionary title. Sure, Oddworld is now bringing the game to the Xbox instead, but that means gamers who bought the PS2 hoping to play Munch's Oddysee will have to spring for a whole new system this fall. 2o Hironobu Sakaguchi is best known as the man behind the Final Fantasy series. If it weren't for his pioneering efforts (along with the help of Yoshitaka Amano), we probably wouldn't be playing RPGs as we know them today. But now Sakaguchi, stepping out from his usual role as game producer; the frontman for Squaresoft's most successful franchises has added the title of movie producer to his already substantial résumé. Bringing the Final Fantasy series to the big- screen was already challenge enough, but add the task of making it the most realistic CG movie ever made and the complexity of the project rises proportionately. As it often takes days just to render one second of on-screen footage, it's no wonder this top-secret project has been in the works for over two years now. Add in some of Hollywood's top acting talent to provide the voices, and you've got the makings of a critical and commercial blockbuster. Hironobu sakaguchi Hironobu Goes to Hollywood Let’s Go Away! Who doesn’t love four-player coin-op Daytona USA? Although everyone’s waiting for Daytona 2 on the DC, we’re more than happy to pass the time with this updated online (yes!) version of the classic original. Sega is promising all the old tracks will return as well as the Desert City course from the PC version and Rin Rin Rink, a completely original circuit. Of course, the really exciting part is the online play. Up to four people can hook up and race any track along with up to six CPU-controlled cars. SegaNet players already have the sports and shootin’. With Daytona USA 2001—and Phantasy Star Online—SegaNet will have all the big genres covered. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 182 SOUND TRACK COURTESY OF R 575BWY 1 ROCKSTAR 575BWY “]ROCKSTAR saw ROCKSTAR Next generation wave 6 epic waves to master 11 playable characters each Over a dozen aerial tricks can modeling physics with unique abilities be linked for unlimited combo's! WA ES E emis smtp зо ВАШИ зол РАИ зт РИШТА WWW.ROCKSTARGAMES.COM/SURFINGH30 EVERYONE aly i3 Srenserwaes ASCII Ec Vane Ske smilebit Sega's Jetsetters Responsible for the little-known “Let's Make a Professional Baseball Team" series G С in Japan, the former AM6 division, now known as Smilebit, made waves among the il bit cognoscenti when it first released screens of Jet Set Radio (Jet Grind Radio in the І e | | U.S.). Utilizing the cel-shading technique to powerful effect, Jet Grind Radio combines the wide-open levels of Crazy Taxi, the vertically minded acrobatics of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and the animation-quality graphics of Fear Effect into one big amazing gaming powerhouse. With its pumping soundtrack and some cool quirky gameplay ideas (like allowing players to download any jpeg via the Internet and spray-paint them within the game), Jet Grind Radio put Smilebit on the lips of every critic in the industry as a development team to watch. Despite an inexplicably poor showing in Japan, Jet Grind Radio will most likely turn a lot of heads here in the U.S., and it will certainly boost Smilebit's street cred here. If JGR wasn’t enough, Smilebit also has the amazing-looking Gun Valkyrie in the works, as shown at the recent ECTS. Dreamcast 5 Tetsuya mizuguchi Game Artists United by Fate Tetsuya Mizuguchi may not be a household American name, but this groovy hep-cat is the leader of Sega’s new-school. While Yu Suzuki is Sega’s sage mentor, responsible for games like Virtua Fighter and Daytona USA, Mizuguchi-san is the youthful techno-loving wunderkind behind such legendary games as the Sega Rally series, Manx TT and most recently Space Channel 5 for the Dreamcast. Aside from cooking up the sequel to Space Channel 5, Mizuguchi and his development team, United Game Artists (formerly known as R&D 9), are currently devising a completely new game that is reported to break the mold on how games are played. Unfortunately, we have no idea what this is supposed to mean, but Mizuguchi offers this tidbit: “І can't talk about the new project yet, but things are going ahead. Very new, very conceptual, very first experience. | hope this game can realize a new fantasy.” Make of that what you will, but judging from this man’s past efforts, you can almost be sure it will be something special. Hitmaker If the Name Fits... Are these guys Hitmakers? They sure as hell are. The artists formerly known as AM3 are responsible for, among other things, Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram and the sleeper-hit Virtua Tennis. While their unreleased (in America) Derby Owner’s Club isn’t likely to make anyone’s most-wanted lists here, two of Hitmaker’s other upcoming arcade games might: Confidential Mission and Crackin’ DJ. Confidential Mission hopes to pick up where Virtua Cop 2 left off, with light-gun-style action that emulates the best parts of VC, Time Crisis, House of the Dead and even Silent Scope. The graphics, as can be expected, are on point. Crackin’ DJ, on the other hand, demands attention because of its bizarre visual style. Looking like...oh, we don't know, Jet Grind Radio characters on crack, Crackin’ DJ] —which is sure to out-DJ Konami’s Beatmania—sports a wire-frame set of onscreen characters who respond to your machinations on the dashboard turntable featured on the arcade version. You can expect Confidential Mission and Crackin’ DJ— both of which are Naomi-board titles—to hit the DC sometime next year. I Can See Clearly Now, the Fog is Gone Every technological leap usually comes with a new genre of game created by it. Need.proof? Look at two of the PlayStation 2's launch games, Midnight Club and Smuggler's Run: Both take advantage of the system's power to create completely free-roaming environments for you to race in and explore. Sure, this gameplay concept has been done on ILLUSTRATION BY PAUL GILLIGAN the PC before with mixed results (Microsoft's Motocross Madness shines as a fine example), and with little success on the 32-Bit systems in games like Driver, but never like this: no pop-up, no fog and horizons that stretch out for miles and miles. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 185 xbox Bill's Excellent Adventure With 150 developers already signed on, more than 100 games in production, $500 million in advertising and arguably the most powerful console hardware Specs ever, is there any way the Xbox can fail? Well, sure— Microsoft might suddenly pull out of the video game market and invest in four-slice toaster technology, but that doesn't look likely. Not only has the big M already swooned most major American developers, many of the big-name Japanese companies are onboard as well. Konami has several nifty games in the works (including a version of Metal Gear Solid 2) and word has it Square might bring a certain large RPG series to the Xbox as well. 15 Sony worried? It should be. Are we excited? Of course. We can't wait until Microsoft unleashes the box next fall. motion-sensing control Duck, Tilt, Dance Motion-sensing controllers don't have the prettiest past: The Sega Activator. The Mattel Power Glove. The Broderbund U-Force. All failures. But the next wave of motion-sensing technology looks to have a brighter future. The Samba de Amigo maraca controller keeps track of your height so you can concentrate on acting like the Chaquita banana lady. Kirby's Tilt 'N Tumble has you actually moving your Game Boy up, down and all around to guide the little pink rolly polly around maze-like levels. And the only way to dodge bullets in a cool new Konami light-gun arcade game is by ducking in real life; the game detects your motion and adjusts your view on screen accordingly. Look for more and more ideas like these as the technology. becomes even smaller and cheaper to implement. came trailers Coming Soon to a System Near You Movie trailers have become an enjoyable (and important) part of the moviegoing experience, and many game developers and publishers have taken a cue from them and begun making trailers for games. The highest-profile case is undoubtedly Konami's drool- inducing Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty trailer, which was shown at E3 2000 and later released on DVD (with a Zone of the Enders trailer, too) in Japan for about $15. Since then, THQ included a trailer for its Evil Dead: Hail to the King game on the recent DVD special edition of Evil Dead ІІ (and on the game's Web site). As games continue to get better in the sound-effects and graphics departments, game trailers will become commonplace. Before too long you may be enjoying the trailer for the latest Resident Evil or Final Fantasy in a movie theater. metal cear solid 2 The Only Game We Want, Really In 1998, Konami released Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation. The continuing saga of Solid Snake was heralded by many as the next evolution of video games— packed with the kind of gameplay that makes die-hard gamers weak in the knees and a cinematic flair that a mass audience could appreciate. In fall 2001, director Hideo Kojima and his team hope to repeat that feeling with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty on PlayStation 2 and Xbox. “Obviously there were a lot of ideas that kept popping up while we were working on Metal Gear Solid 1, but the actual development and planning (of MGS2) didn't begin until after the original was released in Japan," Kojima told us. If the throngs of wide-eyed gamers who camped out to see the nine-minute trailer at E3 (see above) are any indication, MGS2 will be the game to get in 2001. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 186 Tiburon studios Swimming with Sharks If there's one studio that's been quietly lurking the seas, looking for the right time to strike, it's Tiburon (Spanish for “shark”) Studios. Located in Maitland, Fla., this sports-game juggernaut is off the beaten track, but they've managed to establish a studio as strong as any of its Silicon Alley competition. After producing tons of sports titles dating back to the Super Nintendo days, Electronic Arts finally nabbed this developer while they were making the move to the PlayStation 2. Their first release? Madden NFL 2001, one of the most popular and impressive games on the platform—one that no doubt puts them in the catbird seat of the PS2-centric Electronic Arts when it comes to assigning new projects. Their new backing hasn't made them too cocky, however. As the team at Tiburon put it: *If we weren't making football games, we'd be bagging groceries, playing on battle.net, or trying to make it in a band." WAP WAP It to Me It may have a funny name, but WAP is one of the most important developments in online gaming for a while. While most gaming technologies in the online arena are focusing on broadband and high-speed network play, WAP is all about giving you Internet content and gaming on the go. Short for “Wireless Application Protocol,” WAP is a technology that allows you to access the Internet, use applications, and even play games on your cell phone. It’s growing at a phenomenal rate, and has already been embraced in both Japan and Europe where the gaming side of things has been extremely influential. A number of publishers already have plans to build WAP games networks, and there are even plans afoot to see many Game Boy games converted to the system. You'll just point your cell phone at the appropriate server, download the game, and get charged for it through your cellular bill. Bleem Casts a New Sony Nightmare Those of you who enjoyed the novelty of and turbulence caused by the original Bleem! should be excited to hear that the newest version (affectionately called Bleemcast), which allows original PlayStation games to be played on the Dreamcast, is still very much on the way. “We still don’t have a street date or titles to announce,” Bleem rep Sean Kauppinen admitted, “but we’re confident people will be playing some games on the DC by the end of the year.” Bleemcast worked wonders for the games being demoed at E3, upping the resolution to 640x480 and incorporating anti-aliasing to smooth out a lot of the PS jaggies. It'll also be a heck of a lot cheaper than a PS2. the crid Quake Meets Mortal Kombat When you think of popular arcade genres, Quake-style shooters probably don’t top your list. But Midway’s latest token-cruncher, The Grid (designed by the Mortal Kombat team), has quietly introduced the genre to amusement centers everywhere, bringing the thrill of multiplayer deathmatch to a whole new audience. “I always believed the reason Quake and Sin and all those other games never worked in the arcade,” Programmer Ed Boon told us, “was because they were designed for the PC and weren’t changed for the arcade. There simply are things you can’t get away with in the arcade and we took those into account when designing The Grid.” They also moved the camera behind the player, added arcade-style super moves, and a cash-earning system that unlocks secrets and hidden characters—including some familiar MK faces. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 187 Factor s Nintendo's Rogue Squadron Nintendo 64's Rogue Squadron is thought by many to be the best Star Wars console game ever made. The title was designed by Factor 5, a development team that has been closely tied to LucasArts and Nintendo since the release of Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures on the Super NES. Factor 5 is an extremely important developer for Nintendo right now, considering the lack of third-party N64 games. By the end of 2000, we will see the release of two new Factor 5-developed N64 carts. The first— Star Wars Episode |: Battle for Naboo— will have players defending Queen Amidala's homeland from the sinister Trade Federation. The second is the highly anticipated Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, a game that will only be available for sale online and for rental at Blockbuster Video. But far more exciting is the rumor that Factor 5 might be responsible for the first Star Wars title to hit Nintendo's Gamecube. Phantasy star online This Revolution Will be Televised Sega's finally brought online play to the console masses. And in January, they'll attempt to bring another console revolution to the American living room —four-player network role-playing in the form of Sonic Team's Phantasy Star Online. We've been waiting far too long for a new Phantasy Star game, and as long as this online experience is painless (which we're sure it will be), we expect to see more RPGs that have you questing with online pals. It looks like Sega is blazing yet another trail that will likely be followed by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft within the next two years. usB connectivity Unlimited Console Peripherals Owners of the newly released PlayStation title RPG Maker have to scour resale shops if they want to pick up Sony's hard-to-find mouse peripheral. SegaNet newbies face the unpleasant possibility of having to wait weeks for toy stores to restock Dreamcast keyboards. Meanwhile, PC users can go to any electronics superstore and choose from a nearly unlimited selection of input devices. Such flexibility exists because most PCs are equipped with USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports, which provide hardware and software developers a single standard to develop for. As a convenience to consumers, Sony has equipped the PS2 with two USB ports. If you have a PS2, and you're playing a game that supports a keyboard or mouse—or perhaps, in the near future, a webcam — you can now select from the same wide array of peripherals that a PC or Mac owner can. Expect the Xbox to offer USB support, too. It's certainly a feature that game developers appreciate. “Any console creator who is putting together a system and is not including USB functionality is being shortsighted," said Cliff Bleszinski, lead designer at Epic Games. “You bring some of the great PC functionality to a stable platform without the configuration headaches that come with PCs." Electronic Gaming Monthly - 188 shuhei voshida The New Force in Sony First Party There's a new guy in charge of game development at Sony Computer Entertainment America, and he's ready to make a few changes. A 14-year veteran of the company (he served as executive producer of Gran Turismo and Ape Escape), Shuhei Yoshida has stepped in to oversee all of Sony's internal development studios, most of which were part of Kelly Flock's 989 Studios before it was absorbed back into Sony. Yoshida has made no secret that he didn't enjoy all of 989's games, and he's hoping to revitalize key Sony franchises like Twisted Metal and Syphon Filter by making sure the teams get more time to work on their games and aren't forced to crank out an installment each year. “If you spend the time to finish a game and make it a success," Yoshida told us, “that allows other teams to spend time making a good game, too. So it's a very positive spiral." Playstation a The Wait is Over. Or Not. Lines formed 24 hours in advance. Second- hand units sold for upward of $1,000. People who had no idea what it was or did stood in line to get one for their boss’ kids. Although these may sound uncannily like the events surrounding the Furby craze, they actually describe the launch of Sony's PlayStation 2 game console. With the most hype ever for a U.S. console launch, the PS2’s launch put to rest any doubts (and there were few to begin with) that Sony's new system was destined for success. Expect some awesome new incarnations of old faves in the shape of Metal Gear Solid 2, Twisted Metal Black and Silent Hill 2, plus a load of new franchises as the system takes off. That long, cold night waiting in line on Oct. 25 may have been worth it after all. clobal rankings Will the Real Frag Master Stand Up? Competitive drive. It's the x-factor that keeps people online for hours at a time, challenging all comers to the newest first-person shooters. If you're a pro, you have to be asking yourself, “How good am І, really? Is it possible that I’m... the best?" If you're new to a death-match game and can't stay alive for more than 30 seconds at a go, you might be wondering, “Are there people out there who are closer to my competitive level?" Mplayer's Global Rankings (www.globalrankings.com) is a system designed to answer these questions by tracking the skill level of all participants, whether they're playing online console or PC games. Fifteen developers — including Activision and Eidos— have announced they'll incorporate Global Rankings’ technology in their games. This will provide the hardcore with a reliable means of determining who stands as the number one player in, say, Quake III, and will also keep play more balanced for those who want to avoid taking on Arena masters. The usefulness of this stat tracker is not just limited to shooters: imagine going head to head with online gamers to determine the top team in a virtual football league! © eBay item 480736703 (Ends Nov-02-00 15:35:49 ... ipsas Aooqdons зоррон sóng p = AutoFill Print Mait home | my eBay | site map | signin mm Sell | Services | Search | Help | Community] ЕСТЕЕСРШІ LAS 1 TION 2 PS2, READY TO pm ISE Й _ Item #480736703 _ c 5: stems, Accessories First bid 5199 # of bids 6 bid history | with emails Location San Francisco, CA Country/Region ВА бал Francisco E mail this auction to a friend % watch this item Currently $630.00 (reserve met) Quantity 1 Time left 1 min, 3 secs Started Ends Seller (Rating) ‘Oct-26-00 16:35:49 PDT Nov-02-00 15:35:49 PST ve view comments in seller's Feedback Profile | view sellers other auctions | ask seller а question ve Visa/MosterCard, American Express, Personal Checks, Other, See item description for payment methods accepted Buyer pays fixed shipping charges, Will ship to United States only, See item description for shipping charges High bid Payment. Shipping Item Revised Before First pid. То review revisions made to this item by the seller, click here Seller assumes all responsibility for listing this item. You should contact the seller to resolve any questions before bidding Auction currency is U.S, dollars ($) unless otherwise noted Description Free radical Design The Name is Splitters... TimeSplitters Those fortunate enough to have come away from the PlayStation 2 launch with a system, a Multi-tap, and a copy of TimeSplitters know the true meaning of gaming nirvana. To the uninitiated: Remember the sleepless nights that followed the discovery of GoldenEye’s exquisite four-player deathmatches? TimeSplitters is the first post-Bond FPS to truly recapture that sense of awe. Sure, Perfect Dark is pretty intense, but it doesn’t touch TimeSplitters when it comes to speed, visuals or control. It may seem astonishing that TimeSplitters is Free Radical Design’s premiere title, but when you learn that this small Nottingham, England, company is comprised of ex-Rare guys with over 18 years of experience in game design, the picture becomes clearer. We know Free Radical has a TimeSplitters sequel in the works, but we're sure this won't be the only franchise spawned by this talented team. ж 189 Electronic Gaming Monthly M Е = а 8 E eel = Modes: “Championship Surfer is a surf rider's wet dream featuring a South Pacific island, 10 different beaches, and 8 world lon : ‘class surfers including Cory Lopez, Shane Beschen, and Rochelle Ballard. All you have to do is rip barrels, 360's, aerials, slashes, Rio's (more than 40 tricks in all) against the best surfers in the world — PlayStat and you can grab the Island Championship. 3 3 R Maybe you've got the cajones to be king of the waves. We'll see. Check it out this fall at a retailer near you or visit us online at = www.championshipsurfer.com. Dreamcast Choose from eight of the best Also available on Windows? 95/98 surfers in the world. ETA ШІ ІШІ О ШЩ | | PRD | LN}! п MATTE L| EVERYONE eeu (9 Dreamcast.. Dy INTERACTIVE” ES Sega, Dreamcast and the Sega Dreamcast logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sega Enterprises, Ltd. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony All screenshots are from PlayStation® game console. Computer Entertainment Inc. ©2000 Mattel Interactive, a division of Mattel, Inc. ow |. = This Month... nd you thought last month's review section A: big—looky what we have here. 74, count ’em (and we know some of you will), 74 reviews. That’s the most reviews ever in one issue of EGM, and more reviews than some small- er nations produce in an entire year. We enlisted help from freelancers and our sister magazine The Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (thanks The Crew Crispin Boyer While organizing this year’s Slick 50 fea- ture, Crispin took to calling himself “Slick Crisp” for a while. No amount of talc could cool the young Boyer down. Favorite Genres: Action, Adventure Beer, baloney and babes. The three things a growing game-editor needs. Should young Dudlak ever try to retire, we have the pictures. Oh snap! Favorite Genres: Fighting, Action Dean Hager© Deano is currently making a new Hair™! Should our managing editor cultivate an “Atomic-Mushroom Super-Holy Jimmy Walker Afro Bowl” or not? YOU DECIDE! Favorite Genre: Sports, Racing Chris Johnston After camping out overnight for a PS2 with GJ Sewart, CJ came away with a system. But not before “leaving his mark” in the alleyway behind the store. Favorite Genres: Adventure, Puzzle Kraig Kujawa So disgusted was Kraig with 989’s GameDay for PS2 that he decided he would not use the numbers 8 or 9 in any aspect of his daily life anymore. Favorite Genres: Sports, Strategy guys!), but the bulk of them kept the Review Crew busy this month —very busy. Yeah, we know—it must be tough playing video games all day. We're not complaining. But we didn't have enough time to play a few games that came in at the end of deadline for a proper review; check back next month for the final word on Lunar: Eternal Blue, Breath of Fire IV, and more. ¿E Dan Leahy “Aloha” Leahy could be heard down the hall shouting “1, Claudius! I, Claudius!” We have yet to wrest the toga from him, and aren't sure we want to. Favorite Genres: Sports, Action Ryan Lockhart Ever since Ryan got his new corporate card, he's been burdened by the posi- tion of “Official Deadline Dinner-Bell Boy." He can hardly wait to go home. Favorite Genres: Adventure, RPG Mark just noticed John Davison was accidentally not included on this month's bio page, so in John's place he says “Blimey! Football! Princess Di!” Favorite Genres: Action, Adventure Milkypop decided to throw an industry- wide party this month, to which all the honeys were invited. He's busy sweep- ing up the underpants as we speak. Favorite Genres: Fighting, RPG Greg Sewart Greg had himself surgically welded to his copy of Shenume. The stitches won't be out for three weeks, but OH! how it's 3 worth it, baby. Pity poor, Gregmue. \ Favorite Genres: Racing, Action, RPG Ethan is EGM's Senior Crappy-games-that-no- E ec to Ethan Einhorn one-else-wants-to-play E itor ^ Ex-EGM EIC Joe is gone but not forgotten. oe Be m Joe Funk He chimes in with S couple UL The Pfist of Doom can't get enough kart rac- Andrew Pfister ers—which is good, 'cause that's all he gets! Gold Awards go to Mike Pri Freelancer Mr. Price knows more about games whose average ike Price wrestling games than any of us would care to. score equals 9.0 or " is back at school and looking more and higher. Shawn Smith Flash Gordon every day. ds feller! ii Managing Editor for OPM, Gary wishes he actu- Games that average at Gary Steinman ally had enough space to say anything. least an 8.0 receive " Todd works on OPM too, where he amuses us ЭШЕН Silver Awards. Todd Zuniga all with his bad skateboarding and spiky hair. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 192 Our Philosophy П: В: 0 | EGM rates games based on how they compare with other titles on the same sys- tem. The highest score we'll give a game is a 10. When a game receives a 10, you can rest assured it's one of the best games ever made—a revolutionary title that truly stands above everything else in its genre for its time. At the other end of the spectrum sits the lowest score a game can receive: a 0.0. This is the kind of game you want to avoid at all costs. It's pure crap, as our scale (above) explains. In the middle lies the average grade, 5.0. We repeat: 5.0 IS AN AVERAGE GRADE. Simple, ain't it? Attack 0 "| 80 | Skies of Arcadia Pg.195 Since the PS version of Tony Hawk 2 got game of the month honors already, we didn't figure it was right to give it to the DC port as well —so the award goes to...Skies of Arcadia? Wow, we're as surprised as you—Sega's awesome RPG really came out of nowhere and blew us away. ж EDITORS' CURRENT FAVES Quake ||| Arena Sega 55X ‘Square EA Zelda: Majoras Mask Nintendo © =r= die Xe of Arcadia (9 O O Jet Grind Radio Sega Capcom vs. SNK Capcom TimeSplitters Eidos Shenmue Sega e Lo 6. = de Amigo © +. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2 Activision боо ~ 29 ел за со мо = S Jet Grind Radio < - ФУ ON | Publisher: Sega Developer: Smilebit Featured In: EGM #134 Players: 1 Supports: SegaNet, Jump Pack Best Feature: Cool cel-shaded graphics Worst Feature: Dragula! Web Site: www.sega.com This game was already great before it was brought here, but the fact that Sega seamlessly integrated à whole new city, and a well-designed one at that, into the U.S. version is truly impressive. Jet Grind Radio is like nothing I’ve ever played before, and it'll likely spawn more than a few clones. I’d try to draw a comparison to other games, but it's not possi- ble. Most importantly, it's fun to play. From racing your fellow “Rudies” around town to leaving your mark on every flat surface in sight, JGR always kept me coming back for more. For all you artists out there, you can even create and trade (over the Net) your own custom graffiti tags before heading out to wreak a little havoc. True, this is no Tony Hawk, since all the tricks you can pull are pretty much done automatical- ly. But concentrating on arbitrary button motions to pull off some dazzling acrobatics isn't the point any- way. Although | do have one gripe about the control, and that's how the camera's used. The camera and “tag” command share the same button, 50 you'll sometimes end up moving the camera to weird angles and screwing yourself out of finishing the level. That's the only real reason this game isn't getting a 10, other than the fact that Sega decided to use Rob Zombie's Dragula іп the game...good. Lord, haven't we been subjected to this song enough?! think it's been in every game since 1998. Nonetheless, you should buy Jet Grind Radio. Greg Metropolis Street Racer Publisher: Sega Developer: Bizarre Creations. Featured In: EGM #132 Players: 1-2 Supports: SegaNet, Jump Pack Best Feature: Superb control Worst Feature: Having to replay races over and over Web Site: www.sega.com MSR isn't just another GT ripoff. The Kudo system, where you gain points for fast, stylish driving and lose points for ramming obstacles and other cars, is really unique and a lot of fun. That is, until you find yourself playing the same race over and over again to gain one or two extra points. This would be fine if it happened late in the game, but we're talking the sec- ond chapter here. Other than that, the game is great. There are loads of cars to unlock (though you can only have three in your garage) as you progress through the myriad of different races: from simple time trials to multi-race championships. A very cool feature is how MSR uses the DC's internal clock. Whether you race in Tokyo, London or San Fran, the game figures out what time it is there and sets the track to day or night accordingly (kinda like Steep Slope Sliders on the Saturn). It's too bad the night setting is so friggin’ dark. Prepare to turn the bright- ness on your TV up quite a bit. Control-wise MSR is pretty much perfect. The cars stick to the road real- istically but will break loose if you apply too much power in a turn or try to accelerate out of a slow spin. leven like how Bizarre approached the music: You listen to a radio station on each track (complete with static breakup through tunnels), or you can choose to create a custom playlist. | want to love this game and give it a really high score, but—Argh!—the extreme difficulty prevents it. Greg Publisher: Sega Sports Developer: Visual Concepts Featured In: EGM #135 Players: 1-8 Supports: SegaNet, Jump Pack, VMU Best Feature: Online play Worst Feature: Shootin’ laggy j's Web Site: ‘www.sega.com THUD! That’s me hitting the floor after my first impressions of NBA 2K1. Last year’s title was above average, but like so many rookies in the league it mimics, it needed to concentrate more on the funda- mentals. Visual Concepts did just that and the result is astounding. It’s no longer a block n’ dunk-athon. The game packs tons of improvements, but obvious- ly online play tops the charts. Get up to eight freakin’ ballers on the court with not one CPU controlled chump in sight. The intensity of multiplayer online hoops is almost as tangible as it is on the real court. You'll scream “Dude, I’ve got Marbury...Switch!” In- game action features a much better representation of player contact than last year’s title, as guys do the bump-and-grind in the paint and defend the perime- ter properly. On the offensive side of the ball, VC has given gamers a wider spectrum of moves to employ. Guards shake and shiver by defenders, forwards swoop to the rack, and the power guys drop step their way to dunksville. This game just exudes hoop savvy. Franchise Mode is in there, as is Street ball and some other treats, but Ull be getting my Spalding-burgers online, thank you. My one gripe is that lag affects this game moreso than NFL 2K1. Shooting a precise jumper requires exact timing. Lag hampers that equation. But hey, find good connec- tions, adjust a bit (if Quake guys can do it, we can too) and move on. Look for Hossman. Dan This game is a godsend. Pioneering the cel-shading technique that will become commonplace in no time, Jet Grind Radio is the sweetest-looking game in town. Couple that with the simple but engaging gameplay and an ass-kicking soundtrack, and the package is practically unbeatable. Although there is no multiplayer or Internet-play, there's always room forthatin the sequel. For the time being, an extra city to scoot around in, and the ability to download Jpegs from the Net and tag them onto walls is more than cool enough. Why this didn't sell in Japan is beyond me, but you'd be making a mistake if you didn't pick this one up. Milkman MSR offers some unique racing locales, which look just like the actual locations they are based on. The scenery, lighting and weather conditions all reflect a serious attention to visual detail throughout the game. Although MSR is worth trying out for its ambi- ent novelty, it’s a very frustrating game to work through long-term. Earning points to advance in the game is a major battle, as you play through the same courses repeatedly to iron out a few tiny mistakes. When you hit a wall and find out you not only lose a ton oftime but also get penalized points, you'll most likely want to wing your controller across the room, so have a few extras handy. Jonathan Visual Concepts gets an A+ for this sequel. They fixed the bomb pass problem (last year the computer play- ers couldn't catch) as well as the errant throws to guys standing out of bounds. Oh yeah, the Center doesn't inbound the.ball every time either. So essentially they fixed all the crap 1 bitched about last year. Now I love it. It’s gorgeous, fluid and competitive as hell. What more could you ask for in a basketball. sim? If | could change one thing however, Га add a few more special moves. There's a decent amount but hey, we could always use more. Online play is pretty good—with a good connection it runs almost as fast as a regular game. Don't think—buy it. Dean This is one of those rare games that looks so damn good it's fun just to watch other people play. The fresh (as in original, and as in “stoopid fresh") graph- ical style is matched by technical excellence, h-u-g-e detailed levels and a silky framerate. Оһ yeah, Jet Grind:¡s a blast to. play too. Comboing grinds on everything in sight is an acquired and addictive skill, and the ability to create or import your own graffiti is icing on the cake. There are a couple annoy- ances: The camera has a tendency to wander, and the button to bring it back is unfortunately the same that works the spray paint. But overall, JGR is Sega at its finest: unique, stylish and just plain fun. Mark VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY If you're really, really patient and super meticulous you just might beat this game. Seriously, it’s one tough nut to crack. Many of the challenges require perfect runs. It’s cool though; the gameplay is tight and the cars handle well. If it were the least bit sloppy, getting through this beast would be pure hell. So if you're up for many hours of pinpoint accu- rate racing—this is the game for you. Personally | think it’s a bit too ambitious, or dare | say “challeng- ing.” In addition, | wish it were possible to access the better cars for a quick race without having to com- plete 4-5 chapters first. And some of the environ- ments are just too dark and disorienting. Dean VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Electronic Gaming Monthly - 193 МВА 2K1 is a welcome breath of fresh air because it's actually a challenging basketball game. To score and breakdown defenses you'll have to think and not just drive your way recklessly to the hoop every time, and the computers pretty crafty as well, It’s the first time Pve had to think while playing a hoops game in a while, and that’s a big compliment. Sega Sports is truly on a roll. In addition to adding online play, they’ve managed to fix most of the flaws from last year’s game. The rebounding is still sluggish and the computer isn’t good at fast:breaks, but if those are the only complaints | can muster, then you must know it’s worth getting. jii VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 9 8 9 9 Publisher: Ubi Soft Developer: Ubi Soft Featured In: ЕСМ #133 Players: 1-4 Supports: SegaNet, Jump Pack Best Feature: Internet play Worst Feature: Janky control Web Site: www.ubisoft.com Due to the nature of Psygnosis’ relationship with Sony, it was a stroke of sheer loophole-luck that WipeOut ever wound up on the Sega Saturn. Since there is little chance of that happening on Dreamcast, other publishers have scrambled to fill that void. MagForce Racing was one wretched attempt, and more successfully, Ubi Soft arrives with pod: SpeedZone. First the good news. SpeedZone provides numerous “pods” to race with, with more unlockable, ditto for the tracks. Each track contains a Beetle Adventure Racing-ish (read: tons) amount of shortcuts and secret paths. The better for racing, my dear, as well as swank Internet-play that allows up to four racers to square off against each other online. There is also a good number of weapons to derail your opponents with, a welcome factor since each pod has a damage meter, meaning you can permanently remove the opposition. On the downside, the pod designs are generally unsightly, blobbish disasters. The tracks could also use improvement. Ill-conceived obstacles and course diversions зар the flow of the races, But control is perhaps the biggest weak point as your саг feels-way-too heavy to provide-any-sense of feed- back, Instead, you careen.into walls at sharp turns. The turbo boost never quite earns its keep either. Speedzone certainly provides ample value. Pity the gameplay doesn’t follow suit. Milkman Publisher: Sega Developer: Raster/id Software Featured In: ЕСМ #135 Players: 1-4 ‘Supports: SegaNet, Keyboard, Mouse, VMU Best Feature: Online deathmatch Worst Feature: Limited to four players Web Site: www.sega.com Yeah, there are better single-player first-person shooters out there, but If you have never played mul- tiplayer online deathmatch, prepare for your whole world to change. In the transition from the PC to DC, they got almost all the big stuff right: the game looks incredible and moves smoothly, even in the split- screen modes. All the superb weapon effects and detailed otherworldly levels have been retained, making 0111 the best-looking game in the genre— outdoing even its PS2 peers. Ingenious level designs (including the new DC-exclusives) make for battles that can always be strategic, but never bor- ing. The weapons, the characters, alternate play modes (teams, tournament and capture the flag), the fully customizable controls, the number of options— all excellent. The online play is really impressive for a 56K modem a bit jumpy at times and you won't be using the lightning or rail gun really effectively, but otherwise one helluva ride. My one big problem is the four-player limit. Otherwise the complaints are minor, but numerous: You can't search by name for friends on the Net, the interface needs polish, there's no score display, and the showscores covers the whole screen, plus there's no option to simplify the graphics to up the framerate like on the PC, but the game does itautomatically in split screen. If you're at all into shooters, grab a mouse, keyboard and this game. Mark Publisher: Crave Entertainment Developer: Argonaut Featured In: ЕСМ #136 Players: 1-4 Supports: Jump Pack Best Feature: Originality Worst Feature: Sporadic difficulty Web Site: www.cravegames.com Red Dog isn't a game that immediately strikes you as unique. You drive around, you shoot things. Sounds pretty run-of-the-mill, doesn't it? Well, think again, this is one of the big sleepers of the year. The spe- cial thing about Red Dog is the amount of control and strategy in this action game. There's no run-and-gun- ning in one direction here; instead, you must swivel your turret, carefully aim and pick off baddies close and far away—often while you're on the run. The game gets hectic when you must decide when to use your lock-on missiles, power-ups and the energy from your reserves to beef up your lasers. And that's not even mentioning the best thing in the game: your grid-like reflective shield. Red Dog's enemies throw a mess of hurtful things at you, and that's when you can go on the defensive, which becomes the offen- sive, since blocking energy bolts sends them flying in other directions. Killing enemies with a great Pool- like ricochet shot is not only cool, but sometimes required. The graphic detail is impressive and makes you want to go on to the next level, which is some- times a little too tough because of some frustrating- ly hard end-level bosses. You can get a little help by completing extra challenge levels (which are also hard), but the difficulty could prove too much for all but hardcore players. The surprisingly deep multi- player modes (Deathmatch, Flag, Tag, etc.) offer something anyone can play, fortunately. Kraig To be successful, a racing game needs a sense of excitement. Whether it’s created by really high speeds, flashy graphics, tough competition or the anticipation of having a missile shoved up your tailpipe, something needs to make.your palms sweat. This game has none of that, The vehicles are weird, the power-ups suck, the tracks are boring and the тивіс-іс-різіл bad. It feels like an old PC game (for good reason). Even decent online play isn't enough to save pod from mediocrity. This may have been a fine game were it released in September '99, but with titles like Le Mans and Ubi's own Speed Devils out there, pod is best left alone. Greg As a die-hard console gamer, I'd never played 0111 before. But it makes a good console game—and a great addition to SegaNet's lineup. The one-player game's OK, but playing online will suck away hours of your life. Lag isn't unbearable and the framerate is 5014 for the most part. My only real complaint is that there's no place in the game's inter- face to meet up with friends online. You have to all know the exact server IP address and port number, and if you only have one phone line, forget about it. Using the DC pad was fine:for me (at first) —but you'll be horribly handicapped if playing against someone who has a mouse/keyboard. Lotsa fun. Chris Pm not sure what's happened to Argonaut since the days of the original Star Fox, but Croc and Buck Bumble didn't quite cut it, and neither does Red Dog. While the game is certainly attractive enough, the stilt- ed gameplay reminds me of Wild Metal. Yeah, it's cool to rumble over Mars-like landscapes and blow stuff up, but when it's delivered at a stop-start pace, then it's no darn good. The framerate stays peppy, and the controls are able enough, but strafing's a bitch, so more often than not, you're a sitting duck while you get the enemy in your crosshairs. Still, the multiplay- er action is diverting, and it will probably keep less- demanding gamers entertained. Milkman For some strange reason | kept getting Crash and Burn flashbacks while playing pod, and that's not a good sign. Perhaps the cars' sluggish feel had some- thing to do with it, or the way they don't even really seem connected to the track, | don't know. It doesn't help that the power-ups are kind of poor, and the tracks seem way too long and uninspired at times. In fact, if it wasn't for its Internet play, 1 wouldn't have played pod for half the time I actually did. This'saving grace does get tiring'after'a while though (once you're in first it's too:easy to stay there), so rac- ing fans should just rent, and save their cash for Speed Devils for online thrills. Ryan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 1 was skeptical of how much fun | would have with this relatively old PC game, but my concerns have been squashed. I’m having a blast with QIII, even though 1 pretty much suck at it. Sega has spiced the inter- face and graphics just enough to make it feel more at һоте оп a console, while still keeping everything Quake-ish enough not to upset hardcore fans. The online play only allows for four people at once, but it’s a small price to pay for the smooth online combat that makes it so great. The single-player arenas get bor- ing, but that isn’t what this game is made for. Regardless of your Quake strategy, make sure you arm yourself with a keyboard and mouse. [Kraig SOUND REPLAY VISUALS INGENUITY Electronic Gaming Monthly - 194 Anice treat for shooter and mech fans alike, Red Dog is the closest thing to a 3D Blaster Master we've yet seen. It’s consistently fun to play, and no less than top dog graphically. A wide variety of stage set- tings show. off some really rich artwork.and textures, which complement the innovative gameplay. A reflec- tive shield, for example, is often as effective against baddies as one of the many power-ups, making defense strategies equally as important as attacks. On the flipside, the game is flat-out tough at times, mostly because of the frustrating gunsight controls. The aiming takes some getting used to, but all in all, this title's sweet PS2-mediocrity relief. Jonathan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Publisher: Sega Developer: Sonic Team Featured In: ЕСМ #133 Players: 1-2 Supports: SegaNet, Maracas Controller Best Feature: Rump-shakin’ tunes Worst Feature: $80 maraca controllers Web Site: WWW.sega.com | love this game. Games like Samba and Konami's Dance Dance Revolution are bringing Japan's most popular genre—peripheral-based music games—to the U.S. And it's about damn time! A few factors will decide how fun this game's going to be for you. One: Do you tap your feet, nod your head, or like to dance to good music? Two: Are you willing to buy at least one pair of maraca controllers (at $80 a pop)? And Three: Do you have a group of friends who are not ashamed to make fools of themselves at the expense of having a good time? If the answer to all three is yes, then what are you waiting for—run to the store and buy this game. Your non-gamer friends will get into if you demonstrate it for them. A Challenge mode helps you hone your maraca-shakin' abilities and unlocks a few extra songs (such as Reel Big Fish's ska version of the A-ha classic *Take On Me"). The hardest Challenge levels are nearly impossible for all but the most skilled. You can download unlock savesfor more songs from classic Sega games through the game's Internet option. A handful of mini-games and a "Love" mode (both under the Party option) round out the game. The only major drawback to Samba is the amount of cords to deal with when you've got two.maraca setups —it requires a fairly open space to play in. A great game that'll get you a little exercise, is innovative, and more impor- tantly—fun. Chris Sega Publisher: Developer: Overworks Featured In: ЕСМ #135 Players: di Supports: SegaNet, Jump Pack, VMU Best Feature: Story line Worst Feature: Number of battles in certain areas Web Site: www.sega.com What an incredible, incredible RPG. I haven’t had this much fun playing a role-playing game in years, and Arcadia has quickly become one of my favorite Dreamcast releases. The strange thing is, at least as of a few days ago, | wasn’t even really look- ing forward to Skies of Arcadia; all that was on my mind was Grandia ІІ and Phantasy Star Online, but now I'll be very surprised if either of these games comes even close to delivering an experience as grand as the one found here. The story in Arcadia is amazing, not to mention insanely long (there's a very good reason why this game comes on two CDs, and no, it's not because of CG movies), the characters are full of life, and the graphics, while plain in some areas, are simply breathtaking in others. But the rea- son | love this game so much is because Arcadia is a real, true-to-goodness traditional RPG filled with all the classic traits that make these games great, but still featuring enough new aspects to give it a very unique feel. You'll have to use high amounts of strat- egy inthe battles (you have to balance your spirit bar to unleash special attacks) and it's cool how you have full control of which spell classes you'd like to excel in. There are a few small-problems though: Attacks come frequently. during some areas, and the story line pacing is a little slow during а couple of parts, but it doesn't diminish the fact that Arcadia is ап epic RPG, one that shouldn't be missed. Вуап Publisher: Crave Entertainment Developer: Digital Anvil/Warthog. Featured Іп: EGM #136 Players: 1-8 Supports: SegaNet, Jump Pack, Keyboard Best Feature: Awesome online play Worst Feature: Confusing button setup Web Site: www.cravegames.com Рт a big fan of the Wing Commander series (what Chris Roberts did before starting Digital Anvil), but games like this always lose something when they're ported to consoles. StarLancer's probably fared the best out of all of them, but the seemingly endless button combinations needed to perform some of the easiest tasks can grow tiresome. The other aspect missing in this port is the between-mission roaming around the ship and the FMV mission briefings. Besides that, though, StarLancer is a quality port. All the frantic dogfighting action translates well with high-quality graphics and cinematic music. Huge ships and a multitude of enemy fighters will fill your view with hostile fire and missile after missile. It's really intense. If you were into WC, you'll be into this. The best part, though, is the multiplayer game. Getting a group of eight people all within the same space, either on teams or in a free-for-all, is just awe- some. And every time we tried the online play it was lag-free. As a single-player game, though, this is just above-average. Mission after mission of space com- bat is fine on a PC, where you have a keyboard and flight stick'available to you, but on a console it won't keep any but the hardcore fans excited for long (the DC keyboard is for chat.only). Besides, | really miss the great plot's earlier titles like Wing Commander IV had. StarLancer is still a solid game and a great online experience, but not spectacular. Greg Yes, it's expensive. And yes, you look like a complete idiot when playing, but man, is it fun. And tiring. My arms are on freaking fire, but I'm smiling, and that's all that counts. Samba de Amigo is a blast, and Sega deserves a.lot. of credit for not only bringing it out, but including the maracas as well: And even though there's tons of songs already packed in, it's cool how you can unlock and download new tunes, including keen Sega themes like those from Burning Rangers and Afterburner (very, very cool). | just wish the Samba package didn’t cost:so much, it makes me wonder how many potential maraca maniacs might be passing it by thanks to the high price tag. Ryan Not since Panzer Dragoon Saga has Sega hosted such an engaging RPG on one of its platforms. Combining some of the best features from old and new game influences, SoA even outshines some of Square's best efforts.at times. Although turn-based, the battle system keeps the game's flow going with idle anima- tions for party members, and quick but gorgeous spells and special attacks. The battles are well-bal- anced, the characters are very endearing, and the story elements exciting. The diverse musical score, while not phenomenal, keeps you from wanting to kill the volume after five minutes—a big plus. SoA's truly a must-have for RPG gamers. Jonathan This game brought back good ol' memories from the Wing Commander series, right down to the “kill” score board that | always checked after each mission. There's absolutely nothing in StarLancer that has- n't been done. before in PC space games, but that doesn't mattersince very few havemadeitto a console system. The graphics are fantastic and the atmosphere of the game sucks you in, even though the co-pilot chatter gets annoying sometimes; What's most impres- sive are the intuitive controls that use various heads- up displays to make up:for-the lack of a keyboard. Crave really made this PC port one that Dreamcast owners will want to look forward to. Kraig This game is so much fun! Although the maraca con- troller is a little expensive, I think it's well worth the price. Just find a friend willing to cover the cost of a Second set and you've got a party game that can't be beat. А ће music in Samba is excellent stuff that уои Ше humming along мі particularly like "Take On Me," nice blast from the past). Sega even went the extra mile and added a few new modes to the Dreamcast version of this arcade port. The “love” game is pretty neat, where it measures how compat- ible you are by the shake:of the maraca. But it kinda worries me that С) keeps talking about becoming "Love Amigos." Buy Samba de Amigo. Greg SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS Easily the best-looking RPG yet (believe me, get to disc two), Skies of Arcadia lives up to the hype that its Phantasy Star lineage provides. A unique battle- system, a tight-knit group of characters, a wonderful story line, great spell-effects, lots of secrets to find, an epic, melodramatic quest, and the best airborne battles since Panzer Dragoon Saga, Skies of Arcadia is one of the best RPGs ever. Once you obtain your own ship, start acquiring a crew, and customize the bejeezus out of your island base, the game gets even cooler. While it's not expected for any RPG to reach the heights set by Final Fantasy, Skies is as good as any RPG you'll find. Get it. Milkman REPLAY VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY Electronic Gaming Monthly - 195 From the minds who brought you the Wing Commander series on PC, StarLancer is a different kind of console space-combat game. Much of its story unfolds within the missions rather than during FMV cinemas, and, wingmen play a.more important role. The game is nice to look at; with its detailed tex- tures and flashy effects (wait 'til you see a capital ship's shields ripple under your blasts). Missions are well-designed (you'll go against a massive asteroid fortress, for instance), but some of the more chaotic sorties get confusing: Fortunately, StarLancer lets you continue to the next mission if you flub a few objectives. Control takes getting used to. CriSpiN VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Publisher: Developer: AM2 Featured Іп: EGM #128 Players: 1 Supports: SegaNet, VMU Best Feature: Amazing graphics Worst Feature: Story lags on the third disc Web Site: www.sega.com for Yu Suzuki's baby to hit our shores. Shenmue, like so many other Sega titles, promised to push the envelope and break new ground in the adventure game genre, and it does just that. The fully realized town, com- plete with suburb, residential, shopping and harbor areas, needs to be seen to be believed. The sheer detail is astounding, not to mention the fact that it's all fully populated with pedestrians, vendors and delivery people (you'll even catch a glimpse of Santa as you approach Dec. 25). To add even more life to this virtual world, the sun rises and sets according to the game clock (which is faster than real time, of course) and the weather changes randomly from day to day. During the Christmas season it even snows, coating everything in a blanket of white that makes the landscape look particularly majestic. | t seems like we've been waiting a lifetime The toys Ryo can collect run the gamut from totally cool to downright bizarre. Sega nuts will see lots of familiar faces. So we've established that the presentation is wonderful, but how does it play? The explo- ration, Quick Time Events (think Dragon's Lair) and free battle (now think watered-down Virtua Fighter) all flow together very well to tell an engaging story that only suffers once at the start of disc three. What really makes this game, though, are all the extra things Ryo can do. Go to the arcade and play Space Harrier or Hang-On. Race a forklift (something you'll do very often), collect toys and cassette tapes, train at the Hazuki dojo, the list of extra things to do in Shenmue goes on and on. And unlike traditional RPGs, you really feel like you're living the life of young Ryo, out to avenge his father’s murder. Without even noticing it you become attached to him and his circle of friends, through the most realistic “life simulator” ever released. Was it worth the wait? Definitely. Shenmue pretty much defines a whole new genre, and will leave anyone who manages to finish the game with high expectations for the sequel. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 196 OK, so maybe it's not as insane as Dynasty Warriors 2, but there is a point in Shenmue where Ryo and a partner will take on 70 attackers at once (left), including three boss characters! With all the hype surrounding Shenmue | have to say | was skeptical it could ever live up to the lofty expec- tations. But it did. Shenmue starts out really slowly, but the jaw-dropping graphics are more than enough to keep you interested, as is the opportunity to inter- act with everyone and everything you see. Once the story really does get under way, though, it’s hard to put this game down. Some may view it as an overhyped tech demo for the Dreamcast, but Shenmue is much more. I've never played a game that integrated so many different genres so well. From the myriad of fun and challenging minigames to the pseudo-Virtua Fighter battles, you'll find yourself up late at night just to see what'll happen the next time Ryo crosses paths with the Chinese gang that killed his father. There's even a bit of a love story here, but it's very subtle —a welcome change from all the games that hit you over the head with the roman- tic entanglements of their main characters. The real beautysof Shenmue, though, cisttherincredible amount of extra things you can find and do through- out the adventure, The game featüresamiüre»replay value than any adventure title ме ever seen before. The only real concern | had with.this, game at first was thesmediocre voice acting, though it definitely got better asthe game progressed. As far as lm con- cerned, Үй Suzuki succeeded in realizing his vision for Shenmue, and here's hoping more follow. Greg With material that spanned two E3 shows and a lot of hype in between, Shenmue has a lot to live up to. Visually, it does that and more. No two of the hun- dreds of different characters are alike, and the envi- ronments.exhibit insane detail. Хоџ сап interact with just about everything in a verbal or tactile manner. On the opposite end of the spectrum lies.some pret- ty weak voice acting and translation: which could һауе ееп avoided. with mere subtitles. Because of the obviously Japanese setting keeping the native language audible wouldshave worked exceptionally. Despite Из shortcomings, Shenmue is a uniquely engaging gaming experience. Jonathan As a Dreamcast tech demo, Shenmue is totally amaz- ing. The graphics, the amount of detail, voices, vari- ety of places you can go and people to talk to—it's breathtaking. But as a game it doesn’t fare quite so well. You. spend way, way too much.time in stunt- ed conversations (especially onthe first 0156); ооК- ing for just the right person or item, and with no way to speed upytime you often have to just wait, bored off your butt (the minigames help for а bit, but get old). When you аге in the action sequences or when the story is actually progressing, there is nothing like it, but those moments are too few and far between. Impressive but | wanted more excitement. VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY таги REPLAY | E Шы | ІҢ А E Ts Ја. АДЕ Te Animated Violence % Publisher: Infogrames Developer: Infogrames Featured In: EGM #136 Players: 1-2 Supports: VMU, Jump Pack Best Feature: Sensation of speed Worst Feature: Limited adjustability Web Site: www.infogrames.com This amazing title is the very definition of a sleeper hit. Sleeper because no one (including us) expected it to be so damn good. The sensation of speed is simply astonishing. The in-car view nestles you about two feet off the rushing pavement. The road textures (skid marks, paint markers and best line paths) flow by at a fluid 6o fps, yet still maintain photo-realistic detail. The trees, houses and other stationary objects follow suit. The car models are the best l've ever seen—all 30+ GT1 and GT2 vehicles look very much like the sleek and powerful machines they represent. In addition, nuance effects— paint and window reflections, back-fires, vapor trails and glowing red brake disks—are extremely well done. Toss in the super authentic (very throaty) engine sounds and the aesthetics portion of the game is sealed up. The good vibes don't stop there. The physics and racing gameplay are the strongest part ofthe package. The cars react to the dynamics of the road just as you'd: imagine they would. You can feel the difference when going up hill or down, or when traversing a twisty set of turns on a steep grade. The only reason:l'm not giving this game a perfect score is the limited adjustability. It’s almost-like an arcade game in that regard. Two-player is great but there isn't an option to let the computer cars race at the same time. Other than that, this is the most exciting racing game I've played since Daytona USA. Dean The Next Tetris: On-Line Edition jp mex Zo Prova m [EVEnvoNE. Publisher: Crave Entertainment Developer: Blue Planet Software Featured In: EGM #137 Players: 12 Supports: SegaNet, Jump Pack Best Feature: Classic Tetris Worst Feature: No online Classic Tetris Web Site: WWW.cravegames.com Mere words can't convey how excited | was when | found out Crave was bringing Tetris to SegaNet. It's ironic, since mere words can't convey how disap- pointed lam at the plain stupid omission of the option to play Classic Tetris online. It's already in the game, why not add an online option? You can't even play Classic Tetris in two-player mode. What's the point then? As for The Next Tetris, well...it was never a great game to begin with. Basically the same as the original game, the point is to clear out some stacks of garbage blocks on each level. Or you can play the marathon mode, which is also similar to Classic Tetris, except the different colors of the falling blocks designate how they'll fall when complete lines are formed and removed. What's worse is that the online options for it are all but nonexistent. It makes for very short bouts against your Internet opponents. Not nearly enough to satiate the puzzler bug or even begin to instill the tension and suspense a close game of Tetris is supposed to provide. This. game doesn't even support the keyboard for crying out loud! OK, the presentation is nice and it has a nifty screen saver that kicks in after being paused a few moments: TNT even sports a few remixes of Classic Tetris tunes. Unfortunately, all they really do is remind you of how much you're missing. Don't even waste a thought on this game. Go buy a Game Boy and Tetris DX. At least they did it right. Greg This game blew me away! Set this baby on the hard- est difficulty level and watch your 15 competitors beat and bang for position lap after lap. They're real- ly aggressive, and have no problem putting you in the weeds.to gain a position. That combination makes this a good racing game no matter what, but there's more. Infogrames raises the bar for graphics in a racing game: These car models rival those found in TXR and F355, plus they run at a very smooth fram- erate with spectacular backgrounds: Le Mans is just plain fun for both rookies-and veteran video game drivers. Yet another reason to own a Dreamcast this holiday season. Greg Forget the online part of this game's title—multi- player (online and off) The Next Tetris is bunk. The problem with the SegaNet game isn't lag—it's that you can only play one version of Tetris, the Next Tetris, and that version sucks in multiplayer. Basically you and the other guy race to clear the bottom two lines. Yippee. It’s often over in 15 seconds, and people win | onaccident about as often as by skill. One: player The Next Tetris isn't so bad, especially in the practice (more like-puzzle) mode. Plus you can play Classic Tetris (but why not two-player?). It, needs more options for the online game, added two-player and online Classic Tetris, and better load times. Mark 1 never thought a Le Mans game could be this fun, but this one is really impressive. The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, particularly the detailed car models and environments—it's just a shame that you can’t.visually damage them. The controls аге crisp,and although,the game is realistic, it's not so technical that only the most expert drivers can play. One thing that I really enjoyed was the challenge provided by the computer intelligence. Many racing games have drones that do nothing other than serve as window dressing, but:here they really bump and grind you all over the course. Ah, there's nothing like a beautiful game that has brains too, right? Kraig VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 9 9 1 9 | love Tetris. I've logged hours upon hours of play on previous versions of it (especially on Game Boy and the Tengen NES version). Never been one for The Next Tetris—feels too much like one of those cheap knock- offs from the.’8os. If | could play two-player Classic Tetris online or against a friend: in the same room, that'd be all! need. Instead, in this pack, Classic Tetris is limited to а one-player game and is not online. Would it have been that hard to make this an ultimate Tetris package? Aside from screen names, you don't know who your online opponents are. You can't chat or trash talk and the games are unbelievably short. Don't waste your money. Chris VISUALS SOUND REPLAY INGENUITY 198 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Publisher: Activision Developer: Traveller's Tales Featured in: EGM #135 Players: 1 EVERYONE Best Feature: Looks like a cartoon Supports: Jump Pack Web Site: www.activision.com Worst Feature: Camera can't keep up with action Cross-platform games that hit the Dreamcast are always bound to make PS owners wish they owned the little white box that could. Sega's Buzz Lightyear sports a much glossier coat of paint than its PS brother. Its framerate is silky-smooth, horizons scale toward you without the distraction of heavy draw-in, and the use of cel-shading gives it the feel of a fully interactive cartoon. The game mechan- ics are identical in both revs of the game; players are provided with an entertaining mix of racing, action and platforming. This Space Ranger doesn't have the time to hang out with a wooden cowboy or traverse a child's house searching for tokens..No,.he has places to be—eight different worlds, to be exact. And things to do: 14 intergalactic bandits are on.the run, and only Buzz has what it takes to capture them. The game is not without problems—the camera will com- pel you to throw your сопітоЦег ағ times, and the ease of ¡completion makes it a questionable pur- chase fora seasoned player. But when you get into it, you'll have a hard time turning it off. Ethan SOUND REPLAY VISUALS INGENUITY Featured In: EGM #136 Players: 14 Best Feature: Superbvoice Supports: talent Jump Pack Worst Feature: Item abun- Web Site: dance detracts from racing www.infogrames.com With all the random license usages out there, partic- ularly with racing games, LTSR is one of the few that actually makes some sense and plays really well. The Warner Bros. gang is competing for a lifetime supply of ACME products, and they use a ton of different gags in each race to try to stop one another. Clever items like the "instant hole" and falling elephants are used to inhibit your opponents' progress. A dozen different outer-space tracks plus several unlockable bonus races keep things interesting, and the environ- ments have plenty of background action without hurting the framerate. Most racers ride a character- appropriate craft (Wile E. has a novelty.rocket, Bugs a flying carrot, etc.) and the dead-on voice talent keeps the witty commentary fresh. Because of the abun- dance of combative items, races usually end up a battle for a nose-length lead at the finish, as play- ers travel the course in a wolf-pack formation getting assaulted in turn. Asidesfrom a couple minor anima- tion ticks, LTSR may not be very original, but it’s good- looking fun for all ages. Jonathan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 9 9 1 8 Midway Midway ! ЕСМ #134 1-2 Unlockables No online Jump Pack play www.midway.com Pm still wondering when Midway's going to jump into the next millennium and feature online play with their DC games. Blitz, any of the Thunder series games, and Ready 2 Rumble 2 are all great candi- dates for online action, but not one of them has this option. Not that it would have made Ready 2 Rumble a great game, but it would have made it easier to enjoy what this game is all about—two-person may- hem. The CPU is a worthy opponent, but it's just so much more fun to wail on a friend with whatever silly character you choose. As you'd expect with Midway, the action is over-the-top fast and furious. Blocking and defending are not keys to success, as the engine is definitely weighted towards the offense. Learn the wide number of combos and "rumble flur- ries" to succeed. Single-player mode features a nice selection of mini-games used to train your fighter, but they grow stale pretty quickly (can you say auto- train?). All in all R2R2 isyaypretty decent romp, but | usually take it in 10 to 15 minute doses. If you liked the original, this one's a small step up. Dan REPLAY VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY Wow Entertainment EGM #137 1 SegaNet, Jump Pack, Rod Controller Gorgeous graphics Limited replay value www.sega.com This is a good translation of the arcade game. It's simple to learn and the action comes very quickly. It has a larger variety of fish and, in general, it's more exciting (and extreme) than Sega Bass Fishing. Gigantic Tuna, Sailfish, Stingrays and other exotic (and ugly) fish troll the waters. The locations, while few (far too few), dish out the excitement of deep- sea fishing well. But because it comes straight from the arcades, the game is on the easy side. It's more about immediate gratification than careful, time-con- suming fish huntin' —if you're familiar with its prede- cessor you know what to expect. Anyone can cast a line, jig.the lure.a little, and |апа-а. 100-роипа tuna... 15 that simple. It works nicely withthe rod controller as well. The graphics are wonderful, the animation very fluid—and for а while—it’s a hoot. Still, even with the minigames and endless parade of monster fish to snag, I think the average gamer will find it too limited for the long haul. On the other-hand, if they-can stomach the annoying music, fans of the series will like it a lot. Dean REPLAY VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY Konami Konami MATURE EGM #133 You ARE a super-sniper! Over before Jump Pack you know it www.konami.com | was watching John Woo's The Killer at around the same time as | was playing the Dreamcast version of Silent Scope, Konami's arcade port ofthe same game. Talk about getting you in the mood. As the PS2 ver- Sion before it, Silent Scope on the DC offers the same fast-paced, cherry-pickin' action that made the arcade-version such a runaway hit. Basically “on rails," Silent Scope leads you through a series of mis- Sion objectives (usually requiring you to rescue some sort of presidential relative), where you must sweep the area with your rifle scope and dispatch any num- ber of terrorists. These short encounters always end with ап exclamatory boss-battle, in.which it’s neces- sary to target a weak point (read: the head). The game is awesome, for as long as it lasts. That's the main drawback here, despite the inclusion of a train- ing mode and time-attack mode, the game is just too short. On the plus side, the DC version's control is better than the overlyysensitive PS2 version, and the graphics are the identical: So if you have both sys- tems, go for the DC version. Milkman VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Ubi Soft Ubi Soft EGM #136 15 All the fea- tures of the original, online! SegaNet, Jump Pack The single- player game sucks www.ubisoft.com Let's get the negative out of the way first. The offline play in Speed Devils is just a rehash of the arcade play in the original game (read: it sucks) and the new music is best turned down. OK, now let's talk online play. Speed Devils rocks! Ubi is the first third-party to get Dreamcast online racing right. You get to race against up to four other people to earn money through winning, busting radars, setting the top speed, fastest lap time or leading the most. On top of that you can set up trials that other online players can "pay"to enter, and even challenge another speed devil in a winner-takes-all duel where the prize is your ride.Earning bucks lets you upgrade your cur- rent cars and buy. new ones, plus it betters, your standing in the world rankings. There's so much to like about this game that it's a shame Ubi Soft didn't do anything to improve on the look of the title other than adding a few new tracks and cars. The bottom line is thatif you're interested in racing online, this is a must-buy. If you'd rather play with yourself, there are a lot cheaper alternatives. Greg REPLAY VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY Electronic Gaming Monthly - 199 LucasArts | LucasArts EGM #136 1-2 Stunning graphics VMU, Jump Pack Occasional software glitches www.lucasarts.com In the past year, the Dreamcast has hosted its fair share of PS ports, some good (Soul Reaver), most bad (Tomb Raider IV). Jedi Power Battles falls into the former category, providing Star Wars fans with a game that is light-years ahead of the PS original. The graphics are breathtaking: Characters animate well and are sharply detailed; environments are comprised of lush, nearly photorealistic textures. John Williams’ brilliant score sets the mood perfectly as you battle armies of droids, soldiers and gungans, either by yourself or with a friend. Armed only with a light saber, you will quickly find yourself addicted to learning _new.combos, deflecting laser-blasts, and throwing enemies across the screen with special force moves. The narrative follows the film closely, making (пе асбоп all the more engaging. A few minor flaws keep the title a stone's throw away from brilliance: some limited graphic breakup, a brief (but frustrating), vehicle level-straddled with slowdown, and slippery jumps which can lead to cheap deaths. Worth checking out. Ethan VISUALS SOUND REPLAY INGENUITY Activision Treyarch EGM #137 12 New Manual feature Jump Pack DC controller isn't as comfy as PS's www.activision.com Beyond the stuff you would expect to be different like more pros, parks and music— Neversoft has cooked up some truly innovative features for THPS2. By balancing on two wheels between tricks, the *manu- al” feature lets you link "em up like a madman—a quick up and down on the stick and you're in busi- ness. A center marked meter tells you if you need to lean forward or back to hold the trick. It's a cool idea that opens up an infinite amount of possibilities (and the huge point totals that follow). If that were the only improvement, it'd still be worth the cash, but there's more. A fairly deep create-a-skater and great 3D park editor are new.as well. The.park editor is par- ticularly useful.because it allows you to visualize the environment as you place the 3D elements. What's the differences between the PS and DC versions? The draw distance is better, certain levels (the school and Venice, for example) have much deeper and detailed backgrounds. Other than that, it's basically the same —but that's good enough. Fan of the genre or not, it's a no-brainer buy. Dean REPLAY VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers Publisher: Ubi Soft Developer: Ubi Soft Featured In: EGM #135 Players: 1 Supports: Controller Pak, Expansion Pak Best Feature: Old-fashioned platforming fun Worst Feature: Over too soon Web Site: www.ubisoft.com When it comes to platform games, Ubi Soft has yet to disappoint me (1 even enjoyed the often scoffed-at Tonic Trouble and Rocket: Robot on Wheels). At first glance, Goin' Quackers looks like any other bad action-platform game with a license stuck onto it. Gameplay is very derivative of others in the genre— especially Crash Bandicoot. All the levels you'd nor- mally find in a platformer are here: jungle, city, haunted house, tombs; but the pacing and style make it fun to play. It's not a difficult game—it only took me a few hours to go from the beginning to the end boss. It's clear this was designed for younger players, and after the first level it reminded me of the hours | spent as a youngster playing QuackShot (another Donald Duck game). Levels are well- designed and there are never any blind jumps or areas where you can't see your path—a common design flaw in the genre. Graphics have that fuzzy N64 look to them, but the Expansion Pak sharpens it up nicely without. slowing it down. The music is repetitive and lame, and some of the sound effects are oddly chosen —Donald seems to*Say, “Ouch!” when on moving platforms. | wish there were more levels and more of a connection-between them and to the end-level bosses. It's.a tad light on story, too — the in-game animation was done so well it'd have been nice to see more of it. A fun (if short), old- fashioned platformer. Chris Remember when Disney platformers were almost always magical? Castle of Illusion and QuackShot spring to mind immediately when playing this latest Donald Duck game. Ubi Soft has done an outstand- ing job here. The controls are simple,.the graphics are pretty (especially with «the Expansion Pak installed) and even the music is excellent. Plus every level has a few different goals to achieve, from a time attack to collecting toys, so there's a bit of replay value involved. That's especially good since the game is really short, the:only real problem. Kids will definitely love this one, so will old-school gamers weaned on the SNES and Genesis. Greg Ireally like 2D platformers, but the difference between a game like Klonoa and one like Donald Duck is all about style and ingenuity. There's nothing significant about Donald Duck being in this game at all—you.could.easily swap him and.the. peripheral characters out with,any other Disney staples and no one Would ђе the wiser. Why are stars and coins always the defaült collection items? How about some oyster crackers or something? He's a duck! The game is way too short, but it does have a few cool ideas and enemies іп play, so it might be a good rental for younger kids. It’s certainly not а Duck Tales (NES) for the new millennium, though. Jonathan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Hey You, Pikachu! ]t wants you to guess Ё@ Publisher: Nintendo Developer: ^ Ambrella (Marigul) Featured In: EGM #131 Players: 1 Supports: Voice Recognition Unit Best Feature: It's like having your own Pikachu Worst Feature: Very simple gameplay Web Site: www.nintendo.com Do you or someone you know squeal in glee at what- ever cute noise or action Pikachu makes? If it was humanly possible, would they want a Pikachu of their very own to do their bidding? And if that bidding included collecting fruits and berries, helping way- ward Pokémon or catching fish, would they be able to die happy? So many questions—and here's the answer. Give them this game and run very fast in the other direction. Hey You, Pikachu! has that same sickeningly cute quality that drives 20 or 30-some- thing women to Hello Kitty merchandise (not that there's anything wrong with that). It's a virtual Pikachu, but not the butt-kicking, animal-shock- ing variety. Don't expect deep and meaningful con- versations—after all, he can only respond with "Pikachu!" What you can expect are a variety of little missions, playing around with other Pokémon for points, and gaining the love of a certain yellow elec- tric mammal. Graphics are about what you'd expect— nothing spectacular, but nothing that looks out of the ordinary for an М64 title. The simple inter- face іѕ;еаѕу enough, but Pikachu likes о do things you don't want him to. Pikachu's voice recognition technology.is about.on par withSeaman (sans witty rebuttals). He had no..trouble understanding me when | said, “Good Morning,” or “Eat И” о him. Kids are gonna love it, but older Pokémon fanatics won't find much to get excited over here. Chris The great thing about the Game Boy Pokémon titles is that they really aren't just for kids. Sure the tykes love the sickeningly cute critters, but past the sugar coating adults can find fairly compelling RPGs. Unfortunately.this is not the case with. Hey You, Pikachu! The "conversations" you have with Pikachu are mostly one-word orders, and the minigames you play together are so simple they make the Mario Party contests seem like RPGs. The graphics are bland and sloppy, and the interface makes it hard to point at what you want. Most of this will matter little to children, who will love it anyway, but if your age or IQ is over 10, skip it. Mark Young Pokémon fans will go ballistic for Hey You, Pikachu! Arguably the cutest member of the Pokémon ranks, the Poke-mascot’s voice-recognition adventure will please youngins immeasurably as it gives players.a chance to get about as.close to this virtual-pet as possible. Say “goodnight!” and Pikachu will hop “т” squeal in joy and “Pika” right back "аксћаг 165 а-гидтеп(агу Seaman, with more immediate rewards, but the drawback is that it’s not only very linear, but that you’re hand-held the entire way through. What you're-required to say is revealed in red lettering, and that saps the freedom from the game. Good for the under-six crowd. Milkman VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Electronic Gaming Monthly - 200 WCW Backstage Assault Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: Kodiak Interactive Featured In: ЕСМ #136 Players: 1-2 Supports: Rumble Pak Best Feature: Hidden rewards Worst Feature: Limited gameplay Web Site: www.ea.com “Hardcore” wrestling (falls count anywhere, weapons are legal) has become increasingly popular in many a wrasslin’ title. The problem is, trying to make a full wrestling game out of a game mode did- n't work for WWF Royal Rumble, and it doesn’t work for WCW Backstage Assault. WCW BA moves the brawling out of the ring and into bathrooms, locker rooms and parking garages. The 3D environments serve up instruments of pain: Players smash each other over the heads with TV cameras, bathroom sinks and gym equipment while setting each other ablaze with fire hazards. But this gets repetitive. Because of the small moves list, too much focus is put on blunt-weapon trauma rather than bustin’ moves. | really like the “hidden rewards” system which gives players mission objectives to gain access to new costumes, wrestlers, moves and back- stage areas. The commentary is excellent—the announcers get on your case if you attempt too many cheap shots. The game plays fast enough, but the animation is sloppy and characters snap into place for motion-captured moves too often. Plus the char- acter models look downright goofy and the 5o-plus roster bears little resemblance to their real life coun- terparts (one guy looked.like Crispin.) It's too bad really, there are some good ideas that could have been better implemented into a full wrestling game. As itis, it’s about as deep as a kiddy poo. Mike WCW, as long as you don't take it too seriously, can be fun to watch. The same goes for this game. Unlike the recent WWF titles, in which “realistic” wrestling is the main feature, WCW Backstage Assault border- lines. on. silly. It’s kind of cool how.there are no rings—every single one of the fights takes place in real-world locations, which allows you to bash your opponent with urinals and the like. But it's hard to overlook the sloppy feeling control and the fact МСМ ВА seems like a niche title. By eliminating the ring entirely, it almost comes off more like some sort of secret mode їп а past WCW release rather than its own game. Silly fun, but more of a rental. Ryan This is one of those games that's aimed squarely at the heart of the masses, and ends up so middle of the road | can't recommend actually buying it. WCW fans may get a kick out of EA's having taken the action out of the ring and sticking.it..backstage, where it's *hardcore," but for anyone other than a die-hard fan, Backstage Assault is a glitchy, fugly, slowly paced unresponsive mess. It’s merely OK as far as wrestling games go, but those are never гтеа о begin with. The create-a-player mode is nice, and offers a lot of customizations, and the variety of modes makes this worthwhile for enthusiasts, but for the rest of us it’s irrelevant. ктап VISUALS REPLAY SOUND INGENUITY 9 1 6 6 Publisher: THQ Developer: Asmik/AKI Featured In: ЕСМ #136 Players: 14 Supports: Rumble Pak Best Feature: Graphics and animation Worst Feature: CPU run-ins Web Site: www.thq.com Make sure you don't pass up this little gem while waiting for a good wrestling game to come out on DC or PS2. Asmik has taken just about everything from Wrestlemania 2000 and made it better. The charac- ter models and animation are some of the best I've seen in a wrestling game, although | got sick of waiting for mo-capped moves to complete before | could interfere during multiplayer games. The improved double-team moves make pulling off a “3D” with a friend truly rewarding. The simplified control system is still intact, making the game easy to get into, although having more than two charac- ters on-screen seems to affect the control's timing a bit. Over 50 superstars are now packed into the ros- ter and the super-deep create-a-superstar mode boasts an array of options and moves to make any- thing from jobber to submission fighter. | was able to make myself, complete with "real" fighting moves, and took out powerhouses Stone Cold and the Rock before:slamming into the stone wall that is Al Snow. There is room for improvement: Backstage story lines could.be deeper, CPU run-ins are frustrating, still no play-by-play (where's JR'and the King?), and the Al in multiplayer is not the sharpest knife in the drawer (start a CPU vs. СРО game and watch the wrestlers stare at each other). Do these take away from the experience? A little, but No Mercy is still the best wrestling game on the N64. Mike Asmik/AKI’s WWF Wrestlemania 2000 was a fine game, but it hardly felt like a full-fledged sequel to their previous N64 grappler, WCW/nWo Revenge. WWF No Mercy, however, looks and plays like a prop- er follow-up..The career mode is more robust, with a heavier—although barely exciting—emphasis on story and backstage alliances. You even earn points you can spend on costumes and moves in a special shopping area. Create-A-Wrestler has been beefed up to the point where you have nearly as many face and body options as in Acclaim's games. You get all this and the same easy-to-wrangle con- trols. The Al needs help, though. Crispin I'm not a connoisseur of wrestling games, but this brawler is pretty damned cool. One of the things 1 like most about it are its merciful controls that made it easy to pick up and pull off some pretty cool moves. Within minutes, | looked like 1 was right at home iin the ring as | piledrove my opponents into the mat. There's lots of different moves,and rever- sals, but sometimes it felt like the game's collision detection was buggy and didn't register every hit. The game's minor flaws don't drag it down, however: Mercy has so many customization options and multi- player modes that there's little chance you'll get bored bashing these grown men in tights. Kraig VISUALS INGENUITY REPLAY SOUND 8 6 1 9 Batman Beyond Publisher: Ubi Soft Developer: Kemco Featured In: N/A Players: 1 Supports: None Web Site: www.ubisoft.com Best Feature: Hah, that's funny... Worst Feature: Pretty much everything, it’s just not fun Well, Batman Beyond sure is better on the N64 than on the PlayStation, but that’s not saying much. It’s still a horrible game, but at least you can get past the second level this time. The graphics are a little nicer, the difficulty has been downgraded a tad, and the control seems much less muddy, but these upgrades don’t help the fact Batman Beyond is still one of the poorest excuses for a “Final Fight-type” game ever. For one it’s incredibly boring; there’s almost no variety in gameplay—punch, kick, jump, punch, kick, jump, and repeat ad nauseum. The visuals are strict- ly mediocre, and even though the game is technical- ly 3D, you're stuck in a 2D view.going through bland room after bland room, fighting bland enemies. Bland enemies, by the way, who have insultingly bad Al—they’ll just stand there and let you hit them a few times before striking back. And keeping the keenest feature from the PS version; you can't save your game in Batman Beyond; meaning to beat it you have to sit through hours 'of pure monotonous hell. It's just an insult to fans of the show. Ryan SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue | Publisher: Developer: Mass Media eme Featured in: | N/A ial Players: 1-2 Best Feature: Two-player Supports: mech battles Controller Pak Worst Feature: Tedious Web Site: gameplay www.thq.com The thought of THQ releasing another game based on a film/television license should send chills down your spine. This new Power Rangers title appears to have been slapped together with little regard for quality or replay value. The gameplay is com- prised of Gauntlet-style seek-and-destroy missions, inexplicably limited to a single-player mode. Follow an on-screen compass to rescue innocent bystanders from hordes of mutant creatures. Obliterate glowing portals with laser shots emanating from your hands (no idea how) while being chased by endless ene- mies. This tedium is periodically broken up by poorly designed mech battle stages. A two-player Megazord Arena mode is thrown in for good measure: Face off against a buddy as a giant beast or robot in a first- person, projectile-based deathmatch. Too bad con- trol in this mode is clumsy and basic. The graphics suck throughout: Backgrounds are sparse and blurred, characters аге low-res and simply animated. Not even grade-schoolers—the game's target audi- ence— will find much to like here. Ethan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 9 5 2 2 Cruis’n Exotica Publisher: Midway Developer: Gratuitous Games ee” ere а Е Featured In: EGM #136 Players: 1-4 Best Feature: Frantic, fast- Supports: paced play Rumble Pak Worst Feature: Lots of draw- Мер Site: in www.midway.com Teens weaned on the Nintendo 64 should breeze through driver's education class. The system has been home to an astonishing number of racers in its four years; Cruis'n USA was introduced at the start of its life cycle, and Cruis'n Exotica comes in near its end. This game is third in a series that continues to improve in quality. “Exotica” defines “arcade racer": the title's play mechanics are designed to allow for an exciting, instantly accessible experience. Vehicles plow through a wild set of courses (Mars, anyone?), racing on low ground, in mountain tops, even underwater. Plenty of novelty cars are packed into the сағ, many of which have.to be unlocked. The game runs smoothly, but suffers from a tremen- dous level of draw-in. This visual hitch can.make it difficult to-navigate the road, a problem: that becomes particularly potent when racing friends in the multiplayer mode. Another concern is replay value; the first 10 minutes:or so really hook you іп, but when you get the hang of the control, the chal- lenge disappears, and so does the fun. Ethan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 2 5 2 2 Spider-Man Publisher: Activision Developer: Edge of Reality Featured In: EGM #136 Players: 1 Supports: Expansion, Rumble, Controller Pak Web Site: www.activision.com EVERYONE Best Feature: All of Spidey’s moves Worst Feature: Haphazard camera Anyone who's played the PlayStation version, let's get you out of the way first—Spider-Man N64 has its own advantages (smoother textures via the Expansion Pak) and disadvantages (way less voice and none of the FMV cutscenes), but neither amount to enough to really make this version any better or worse. So allow me to recap my review of the PS ver- sion from three months ago: The game definitely does a great job of capturing the feel of Spider-Man. You've got the super strength to pick up and hurl giant objects, you can sling webs to swing around town or tie up enemies, climb on walls—all that stuff. The graphics are sharp, and different level types and boss battles keep things interesting, The problem is when you get in enclosed areas or certain spots like the train in the screenshot above, the camera goes nuts; there's no lock-on system or way to manually adjust it, so you just have to grin and bear it. Also, Spidey has lots of movesifor combat (and you fight a lot), but'most of the time boring repeat punches are your best bet. Not classic, but worth a try. ` Mark VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 1 1 4 4 Electronic Gaming Monthly - 201 1 9 1 J Batman Beyond EVERYONE Publisher: UBI Soft Developer: Kemco Featured In: N/A Players: 1 Supports: Dual Shock Best Feature: You can turn it off Worst Feature: That it also turns on Web Site: www.ubisoft.com Not many games can be rightfully described as sim- ply horrible, but that’s one of the few descriptions fit for print that truly works for Batman Beyond. That's right, horrible. Actually, this game is more of an enig- ma. Somehow Kemco took a well-seasoned Final Fight-style combat engine (in which you punch and kick from one end of the stage to the othen), littered short stages with incredibly stupid foes, and still somehow managed to make Batman Beyond one of the most difficult games ever; just to pass the sec- ond of its 16 levels would take a combination of superhuman skill and a large dose of luck. For some reason enemies have no problem hitting you (when they're not standing still, that is), even though you can't seem to touch them. Irritating. Oh, and you can't save your game. Ever. Even though each time you run out of lives the game gives you the chance to restart over at the beginning of the current level, if you ever want to beat Batman Beyond you'll have to do it in one sitting. Not that it’s possible anyway. The worst part about Batman Beyond, even moreso than the complete lack of fun, is the fact it actually has some good ideas. You can switch between different fighting styles that enhance your offense or defense, there are some cool weapons, and damnit, this is just a keen franchise. Of course, the same could have been said about Superman, and look what happened to that. Ryan Cool Boarders 2001 FREE Publisher: Sony CEA Developer: Idol Minds Featured In: EGM #136 Players: 1-2 Supports: Dual Shock Best Feature: The half-pipes Worst Feature: Same old game Web Site: www.playstation.com Ah yes, another year another Cool Boarders. After five editions you'd think it'd be perfect. Years of expe- rience and countless hours of refinement have culti- vated in a masterpiece right? Not quite. Like so many others that are waving bye-bye to the PlayStation, Cool Boarders 2001 will probably only appeal to its most loyal fan base (maybe). For everyone else it's same ol’, same ol’. That's a jaded view, but if you haven't noticed, SSX has broken the genre wide open (it was a long time coming), so that every nor- mal snowboarding game appears to be just that-nor- mal—not to mention dated. If that doesn't bother you, keep reading. While stunning originality and jaw-dropping gameplay won't be used to describe CB 2001 (not by a long-shot), it's not all bad. The half- pipes are decent fun. Pulling off big-air maneuvers is entertaining (at least for a few minutes) but view- ing the same cookie-cutter tricks over and over gets stale fast. The longer, more intensive slalom courses only compound the problem. They require that you find trick sequences; sometimes they're obvious, other times they're super hard to find— it gets frus- trating. The dumbed-down tricks interface (they all are nowadays) works OK, especially for button mash- ers but again, the tricks aren't awe-inspiring. The final buzz-kill: The graphics are chunky and nonde- script. Hold your cash for SSX or the flashier PS2 snowboarding games to come. Dean Batman Beyond is a fantastic cartoon. The animation is fluid, the story lines are well-conceived, and the action is fast-paced. Why then, do none of these ele- ments make it into the game of the same name? This is the kind of game Acclaim used to bang out, and | thought-had been retired a long time ago. Monotonous left-to-right Final Fight-type action (that is, to say, walk, punch, kick). But the graphics look like they were done by one guy With a Yaroze. | mean, you could say the developers were trying to "keep the spirit of the animation" intact, but this largely untextured mess only exacerbates the pitiful action on display. It's so bad it's almost funny. Milkman 1 can imagine the boardroom meeting when Cool Boarders 2001 was being designed. The boss didn't have a clear vision, so everyone raised their hand and threw out ideas taken from games that were suc- cessful. Maybe even the marketing department got involved. This game tries to do everything, and it does absolutely nothing. It has a few simulation elements, it rips off Tony Hawk, it even borrows a few things from Road Rash (you can shove the competi- tion while skimming down hills). Just about every- thing is over-the-top, but doesn’t feel like it is. The only saving grace here is its soundtrack, but why not just buy the music CD. Kraig Driver 2 Infogrames Publisher: Developer: Reflections Featured Іп: EGM #135 Players: 1-2 Supports: Dual Shock Best Feature: Wonderfully scripted Worst Feature: Dramatic slowdown Web Site: www.infogrames.com Thankfully the sequel rectifies most of Driver's niggly little problems—except the slowdown, which is worse now because of the incredibly ambitious nature of the admittedly very splendid graphics. The weird, all-over-the-place mission structure has been refined into something far more linear and appropri- ate, and this has been matched with a more effective use of cutscenes for storytelling. The whole “vibe” of the game is much grittier and more aggressive than the first, and the linear nature really helps motivate you to work through the missions. Although you don't have to prove your worth this time (hands up who hated the garage scene at the beginning of D1...one, two, yep, right, that's everyone), the levels are really tough almost right from the beginning. Cops and bad guys are even more psychotic than before (if that’s possible), and | have to say that it can get really annoying when you have to retry mis- Sions over and over because some nutjob keeps smashing you offithe road. The objectives are more varied this time though, making a much more inter- esting experience; chase people, run away from oth- ers, escape from thugs who want to shoot you in the Ғасе апа tail bad guys on their way to a “drop.” It stays compelling throughout, and there are tons of extra modes (like survival, chase and even two-play- er modes) to ensure this is a high-value game (it even comes on two discs). John If this game had been on more capable hardware (Dreamcast or PS2, hello!) it might have earned a better score. It offers engaging mission objectives, a great sense of urgency, a well-crafted story line, and a lot more diversity (i.e., secret cars to use) than the first game. So what's my beef? How about a frame- rate so bogged down by the overly-ambitious con- cepts in Driver 2 that it almost seems like it's in slow motion. Curved roads are swell, but with pop- up so bad that entire buildings: appear out of nowhere, you want to:scream. The control is fine and the game is really fun, but the engine struggles so mightily you wish it a painless death. Milkman We regret that Jonathan was unable to write a review for Batman this month. Following his playing the game, he fell into a complete mental paralysis and has not yet regained consciousness. The following is an excerpt from his last waking moments, spent con- vulsing in front of a continue screen: “What the hell is happening?! Why are these jumping vacuums fir- ing laser beams at me?! What does this have to do with the cartoon?! Why can't | get past level 2?! The enemies have friendly fire, but I still.can't beat them in three lives! My eyes It-burns!!" Pessimistic about Jon's condition, doctors say his last words may have been а cryptic “one point o^ Management VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 3 3 1 1 It's getting more and more difficult to pick up and play soulless updates to games that were never that great to begin with. The Coolboarders franchise peaked with number 2, and 2001 moves me about as much as a.bowl of granola. The variety of modes is utterly predictable, and the control is definitely no Tony Hawk. Knowing that, is there any reason to slap down the.50 bucks it would cost to play this “xtreme” game? Nah. The graphics are absolutely basic, the inclusion of licensed boards and whatnot means lit- tle. Clearly a marketing-driven product that needs a kick in the ass for even showing its face on the slopes. | care not for this game. Milkman VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 5 6 2 5 Electronic Gaming Monthly - 202 Perhaps I’m just jaded these days, but with an office full of beautiful Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 games, seeing any title, even one as fun as Driver 2, plagued with slowdown and pop-up just irks me. Badly. Why wasn't this game released on the PS2? Nearly every element is great, from the physics to level design, but it's hard to forgive huge buildings mate- rializing right in front of you with no warning. If you can get over the graphics (which was hard for me), you'll find an incredibly enjoyable game underneath. It's madly challenging at times. The gameplay is still topnotch, but it just leaves me wanting a PS2 version even more. Ryan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 4 5 5 y MUHAMMAD: ALI EVANDER, HOLYFIELD. И Publisher: EA Бро! Developer: EA Sports Featured In: ЕСМ #135 = > Players: 12 Supports: Dual Shock Best Feature: Who's who of boxers Worst Feature: Sometimes stiff animation Web Site: www.easports.com Ali, Frazier, Holyfield, Lewis...but not Tyson (you'll have to play Codemasters' game to play with him). That's about the only big-name you won't see in this authentic boxing game. Licensed arenas, judges, boxers and even female fighters; if they've made a name for themselves in a rope-enclosed ring, they're in this game. EA goes beyond just sticking a name on a 3D puppet, too. Each boxer looks very similar to their real-life counterpart, and uses one of four specific boxing styles. Some boxers have their own signature moves, and all of them have strengths, weaknesses and bios. The scene seems set for strategic boxing, but somehow, the matches always seem to degenerate into a button-pounding jab fest with a few blocks and pushes thrown in-- especially when the match is played with another human opponent. The action is intense, but some- times the boxers don't punch or react to a punch the way they should. They seem a little...stiff. It just doesn't always feel like two 250 lb men are whaling at one another. Still, | like this game. There's some- thing satisfying about beating a Lightweight to a pulp with a Heavyweight and pitting famous boxers from past'and present. And | highly recommend you turn on the confrontational rap music because it real- ly puts you in the mood. Now if only EA would fix the weird-looking round card girls, this game would be stronger than Don King's hairspray. Kraig : == Publisher: 989 Sports Developer: 989 Sports Featured In: EGM #137 => Players: 1-8 Supports: Dual Shock Best Feature: Road to the Final Four Worst Feature: Generic teams Web Site: www.989sports.com Let's see...989's version of this game for the NBA (ShootOut), while not great, has better overall pro- duction value and slicker features. Need a college B- ball game? EA's March Madness is better playing and sports a more in-depth national championship mode. That leaves Final Four 2001 squarely at the bottom of the pack as far as PlayStation roundball is concerned, and leaves you with one less game to worry about buying. The visuals, even considering the PlayStation's age, are lacking in a big way. There's just no clarity, and it hampers gameplay when guys get all bunched together. | can't even tell who has the ball sometimes. Speaking of gameplay, you won't see anything new here. The patented 989 shot meter, which | hate, is back for total control shooting. This is supposed to be a more accurate system than just letting go of the button at the top of a jump shot, but | think it’s an unnecessary extra. It's also lame in the sense that it totally negates the effectiveness of a pump fake: The bar, obviously, doesn't come up on the pump fake, which tells the other player that it's a fake shot. Dumb. Finally, dur- ing repeated season action | defeated top teams with lowly ranked schools on a regular basis. | guess 989 figured every school should be pretty decent, but that's the point of college hoops—huge underdogs and long-standing powers. l'll be saving my cash for March Madness 2001. Dan Mi. A Konami Developer: Artificial Mind & Movement Featured In: EGM #134 => Players: 1 Supports: Dual Shock Best Feature: The Grinch was a great book Worst Feature: The Grinch isn't a very good game Web Site: www.konami.com Games based on movie licenses usually meet head- first with disaster. A few exceptions include Toy Story 2 and most of the Bond games, but not The Grinch. This is a very plain exploration/mission-based game that's not whimsically evil (like the book or movie on which it's based) —it's just boring. No longer is The Grinch's mission a Christmas Eve-only event. He waltzes through Whoville and the surrounding areas in broad daylight, mostly undetected, messing up the holiday in plain view. | guess merely stealing Christmas isn't enough for The Grinch in this game. You jump on and "pop" wrapped gifts instead of stealing or collecting them. The Mean One hates Christmas and the Who's celebration, but shows it by shoving beehives down their chimneys, launching rotten eggs into their windows, and defacing a stat- ue of their mayor...does that steal their Christmas? No. Gameplay is very tedious—you do the same kinds of things over and over ad nauseum. After col- lecting all the blueprints to an invention, you have to endure piecing them together (repeated a half-dozen or so times). Graphics leave a lot to be desired too— they’re very flat with a healthy dose of texture pop-in. Musicis uninspired, dull and repetitive, with cinemas that are completely devoid, of music. A few mini- games can’t Salvage what is a below-average game. Universal—stop yourself before you turn all your good movies into poor games. Chris Methodically punching and covering up until some- one finally falls down-That’s KK 2001 in a nutshell. It's not a game for the impatient, or anyone who expects a Ready 2 Rumble-style experience. As a pure sim it's somewhat better than KK 2000. They've added more punches and defensive moves but the boxers are so stiff and robotic it doesn't translate well. There's nary a hint of fluid, lifelike movement in this Rock 'em Sock 'em Robot-inspired game. Fans will like what they've done with the Career Mode and the addition of female boxers. For me it doesn't offer enough to warrant a purchase. I'm content to wait and see how the PS2 version turns out. Dean Jaded hardcore gamers who didn't give a rat's ass about sports games used to always tell me that the only difference between each year's update was the rosters. Usually | just told them that was a load of crap, but sequels like this are exactly what fuels that sort of talk. NCAA looks and feels just like last year's game-— not bad, not great. There's a few new anima- tions, a new interface, and some commentary y but the biggest adjustment is—whoopee— updated ros- ters! | know the PS one is on its last legs, but this series should have been put on hold until it could launch on the Р52. || just doesn't seem like 989 Sports has their heart in it anymore. Kraig I'll give the Grinch the kudos it deserves up front: Fine voice-acting on the part of the Grinch and the Dr. Seuss-ish narrator. OK, I'm done. What follows is a joyless movie tie-in, licensing and marketing debacle that fails to offer anything worth playing. Sorry fellas, but going through a patronizing series of “pull the switch, let the dog walk through the hole to get the key to the-one door in the room" sub-Spyro exercis- es found in the training level pretty much gives you the gist of this game. Too bad this is a title that unwit- ting parents will buy for-children who want more Grinch until the movie comes home on video. The Grinch who stole Christmas indeed. Milkman Boxing titles have been under-represented in gaming since Super Punchout, and EA has done the best job yet of resurrecting a respectable genre. But like all other boxing sims, playing KK isn't nearly as com- pelling as whacking on a good fighting game. Fighters look good and томе crisply when they're separated, but when two come together for close combat, that tactile snap just isn’t there. Aesthetically, EA has done a masterful job by includ- ing many;of the most colorful old-school champions and re-creating classiceras and venues for the bouts. KK is a series that may achieve Madden-like status in years to come, but it's not quite there yet. Joe | have the same complaint about FF 2001 as | did with ShootOut 2001—the players stand around too much. Everything is fine until the shot goes up, after that it's flat-foot city. It hinders the flow of the contest and looks cheesy. Other than that, it's the same ol' game with some slight tweaks and mods. The ball still rocks around the rim a lot, but falls in more often than not=that's nice. The skill levels are a little strange. On Freshman you can drain threes all day, yet on Senior you can hardly dribble down court without the ball getting stolen. It’s a bit cheap on the Junior level as well. Overall it’s “eh, OK” but not all that much different than the last version. Dean SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS Electronic Gaming Monthly - 203 Yikes. Well, one thing’s for sure, that whole joke about movie-to-game conversions certainly comes into play here. This game sucks. Badly. The game- play isn’t horrible but | can't help but feel I've played this basic premise a few times before (Spyro or Crash anyone?), and they all did the scavenger hunt thingy about a billion times better. And then there’s the graphics. То бау this game has first-generation visu- als would-be too kind: Pop-up and other glitches run rampant for no obvious reason. Grinch is the perfect example of a bad movie tie-in, and should be avoid- ed completely unless you’re too young to care. Hell, it should be avoided even then. Ryan SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS The World Is Not Enough 2 Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: Black Ops Featured In: EGM #136 Players: 1 Supports: Dual Shock Best Feature: Gameplay variety Worst Feature: Cheap enemy attacks Web Site: www.ea.com The World Is Not Enough on the N64 is good; TWINE on the PlayStation ain't so good. Now that's not 'cause this thing's a sloppy port. Both versions, in fact, are different games, from different developers (although both games share the same level locales and characters from the flick). TWINE on the PS was built by Black Ops, the guys behind the barely aver- age Tomorrow Never Dies. This sequel uses TMD's engine, except now it looks better and plays in first- person (to give the game a more GoldenEye feel, | reckon — you can even lean around corners with the Shoulder buttons). Trouble is, this game's engine still packs annoying quirks. | got stuck on walls and objects while strafing. Enemies spawn behind you or even right in front of you in some areas. Nothing's more annoying than taking fire from a direction you thought you just cleared of baddies. Like the N64 game, this version offers plenty of gameplay variety. You'll ski, play blackjack, rescue hostages and rely on stealth as much as steady aim. In a nod to Medal of Honor, you'll even assume another identity and show guards phony credentials. Enemy animations, such as when guards reload their guns, look phe- nomenal (Black Ops motion-captured:the stunt coor- dinator from The Matrix). But the whole game just feels sloppy, and missions quickly become stale when you're forced to repeat them because of those cheap, respawning bad guys. Crispin Tiger Wootls PGA Tour 2001 аг 4 EVERYONE Publisher: EA Sports Developer: Stormfront Featured In: EGM #135 Players: 1-4 Supports: Dual Shock, Multi-tap Best Feature: Speedy game pace Worst Feature: Little change over PGA 2000 Web Site: www.easports.com If only there were a way to build a Tiger Woods game around the awesome Camelot engine from Hot Shots and Mario Golf. I'd play the hell out of that mother. Sadly Tiger's name and image are slapped on yet another slightly above-average golf offering. Don't get me wrong— it's not terrible, but it doesn't exactly get the “ol adrenaline flowing. They toned down the goofier elements from PGA Tour 2000. The exagger- ated “homing-missile” ball-spin and rockin’ sound- track are much less prominent—thank God. The icons and meters aren't as cartoony-looking either, it's all business now. But most important, the analog swing has been replaced with a more traditional method. Thankfully they aren't forcing that awkward system down our throats this time. Beyond those changes, the game looks and plays just like PGA Tour 2000. From the way the ball runs on the greens to the sweeping camera angles that follow the tee shots, it's dejá vü time. Big surprise right? It should- n't be, remember just about every sports game released this year (from EA or otherwise) is a simple touch-up of the previous edition. It's safe to say PS2 game development has taken top priority for most companies. As for TW PGA 2001;-l'd-forgo the pur- chase, especially if you have any of the previous ver- sions: Redesigning the menus and shot interfaces is hardly enough to justify the cost. Hopefully the PS2 version will impress us more. Dean WWF SmackDown! 2 05:49; Kurt Ang Publisher: THQ Developer: Yuke's Featured In: EGM #135 Players: 1-4 Supports: Dual Shock, Multi-tap Best Feature: Ramped-up Career Mode Worst Feature: Where are J.R. & the King's voices? Web Site: www.thq.com Flipping on your tele for a Thursday-night edition of SmackDown! means you'll probably see more talking than ol'-fashioned fake ass kickings. Now, on the heels of the best PS one wrestling game ever, SmackDown! 2 returns with a similar amount of chat- ting and jibber-jabber to make the wrestling action that much more intense. While the real WWF is founded on rivalries and fickle, abandoned loyalties, the latest version of SmackDown! imitates this same soap opera-style shift in mentality with brilliance. After all the talk is finished, all the interference is run, and after a sworn enemy has belted you backstage with a chair to the solar plexus, you'll feel your blood pressure rise, a rush of adrenaline tingle, and you'll want to do some serious damage in the ring. How the emotion translates, | can't say. But this game simu- lates the energy and excitement of its real-life coun- terpart. The gameplay is razor-sharp, the collision is right-on, and the game looks fantastic. There are enough different match types (Ladder, Hell inva Cell, Coffin Match) to keep you energized through a whole season, which includes every pay-per-view in real life. The Create-A-Wrestler is ramped-up, a huge improvement over the original and if you've seen a move on TV, you're going to see it in the game. Even when the Rock spits. Overall, this is an obvious must- buy for wrestling fans. But it's perfect for parties, too. Definitely check it out. Todd Oh, | wasn't expecting this. Sure, it's a terrific improvement over the last Bond effort on PlayStation, but it's still hardly GoldenEye for the Sony box. The graphics engine is allegedly more advanced.than anything else on the system blah, blah, аһ, and it is extremely impressive through- out. So impressive that in places you can't help think that maybe Black Ops was a little ambitious with what they hoped the system could do. Some of the scripted events are great, but there's a sense of struggle as the CD drives, whirrs and chugs. Also, what's the deal with the lack of multiplayer modes? Surely that's a Bond game precedent? John Making a realistic yet enjoyable golf game without boring your audience to death is indeed a challenge, one that Stormfront rises to fairly well with this game. It's fun to play for a while, and not exceeding- ly difficult to.get used to. Graphically, well, it's a PS one game, but since it's mostly grass and guys in white shirts, there's not a whole lot to show. off any- way. | was unpleasantly surprised by technical glitch- es, however. The game locked up on me once while | was changing options, and graphics clipped fre- quently during golfers' swings. For a game with such little action, that's inexcusable. Probably not worth buying unless you're a golf nut. Jonathan This has got to be the best wrestling game on the market today. SmackDown! 2 not only re-creates the action in the ring very convincingly, but does a great job of imitating the soap opera that is the WWF when the brawlers.are out of the ring. Plus it's got all the style, intros and moves of your favorite superstar (I live to experience the People's Elbow). ОҒ course, since the WWF's plot changes radically in the space of an'hour in real life, THQ's offering is a little out of date, but who cares? The gameplay is solid, and this is a blastto play with three:friends. Whether you're a WWF fanatic or just a casual observer, there's a lot to like in SmackDown! 2. Greg This could be the best first-person shooter on the PS one. The only thing that comes close is the Medal of Honor series. It's just too bad that this isn't as good as its N64 counterpart. Why are there no multiplayer modes? Perhaps the design team had too many shak- en Martinis when they decided to leave it out, but whatever the reason, it's costing a few points in this review. Fortunately, they had their heads on when they did the rest of the game. TWINE feels like a Bond movie and has an excellent atmosphere comparable with the N64’s GoldenEye If you can ignore the omis- sion of a multiplayer game, then this game is enough, but it could have been better. Kraig VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 1 1 9 5 There's almost everything you could possibly want in a golf game here, sans Chevy Chase and mischievous gophers. Tiger sports six different PGA courses, real pro players, tons of game modes, loads of learning aids for beginners, and an endorsement from the best golf player ever. But there's just one problem— this game just isn't very fun. | felt like | never had enough control over what was going on. The swing meter is too fast, the ball went farther than the game projected, and what's with the ridiculous menu screen music and Tiger's-man-child like quips? EA has their heart in the right place, but needs to make this links game realistic and still fun. Kraig VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 6 6 6 6 Electronic Gaming Monthly - 204 Wrestling games are always a sketchy proposition, usually designed to appeal to the fans of the genre, at the expense of actual gameplay. Thankfully, WWF SmackDown! 2 is an exception. While the gameplay doesn’t quite achieve Soul Calibur standards, it’s as good as I've yet seen in a wrestling game, and this is likely the deepest wrestler yet, insofar as features and options are concerned. The create-a-player is so deep it’s almost a game unto itself, and the cre- ate-a-taunt-manager-pay-per-view and more will let WWF fans cook up just about anything. The graphics are tight, and the presentation is on point. If you must have a wrestling game, this is it. Milkman VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 9 9 1 10 Activision > Travellers Tales EGM #135 ____--=- ЦИ Fast-paced gameplay Dual Shock Lots of pop-up www.activision.com The Buzz Lightyear featured in “Star Command' is not a self-aware toy confined to a child's bedroom. No sir, this adventurer is a bona-fide Space Ranger, ded- icated to keeping the galaxy safe from the evil Emperor Zurg. Memories of last year's Toy Story 2 game will fade as this title's addictive play mechanics take hold of you. Instead of a big scavenger hunt, you get a compelling platform/racing hybrid. Every level starts with a villain shuttling desperately toward his/her hideout, hoping to keep away from Star Command's clutches. Your job is to corner these enemies and take them out in one-on-one battles. Defeating a_boss opens up additional.level objec- tives, which have to be completed in order to progress to the next stage. Gameplay is diverse; you chase your targets by foot, on hover boards, in jet bikes, and underwater. Note to teen and adult gamers: This title is clearly designed with a young audience in mind, as it'sinever tough to finish а level. It's a good gift for kids, maybe a fun weekend rental for older players. Ethan Sunsoft “> Tam Tam EGM #128 1 Solid, if unin- spired, gameplay Dual Shock If you're not an anime fan, walk away www.sunsoft.com With a look and feel similar to Final Fantasy Tactics and Vandal Hearts, Eternal Eyes is a 3D tactical RPG heavily saturated with story line elements. Which, in this case, is a good and bad thing. Even though Eternal Eyes certainly isn't horrible (far from it), this title still lacks the polish found in the similarly themed games before it —meaning tactical RPG fans weaned on FF Tactics will walk away disappointed. The graphics are solid, if a bit rough at times, the translation is good (if you don't count a few silly parts), and the gameplay is fine—even though | can't shake the feeling I've played this a million times before. Eternal. Eyes mainly lacks.any.major features to help it stick out of the crowd, unless you count its heavily anime-influenced design. It’s easy. to see what kind of audience Eternal Eyes was made for, and if you enjoy Japanese animation, you'll get a kick out of the intro. But that still leaves 05 with a good game that seems like itycould have been a lot more, if only a bit more time was put into making the game- play stand out from the pack. Ryan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Codemasters =» Codemasters EGM #127. 1-2 Excellent control Dual Shock Not everyone understands rallying www.codemasters.com Jeez. | wasn't ready for this. The original Colin McRae Rally was a pretty fantastic game and certainly relieved itself upon its competition from a great height, but nothing prepared me for how much better the sequel would turn out to be. Although funda- mentally the same structure as its predecessor (and most other rally games) it's the look and feel of CMR2.o that really makes it stand out. If your opinion of rallying has been tainted by bad experiences with V-Rally, you have to try this. Throwing a tricked-out Ford Focus into a hairpin and sliding it round, blip- ping the throttle and quickly pulling it through on opposite. lock.is a truly rewarding experience. The whine of the engine, the crack and pop of the exhaust as the power surges, the rumble.from the Dual Shock as you fight the car for control; these аге all factors that make this game truly superb. It's such a shame that rallying is such a misunderstood sport here in the U.S. If you'rerinto:cars, you owe it to your- self to play this game. It may well be one of the finest racers on the PlayStation. John INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS SOUND VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Ubi Soft > Video System N/A 1-2 Driving school mode Dual Shock Overly sensi- tive controls www.ubisoft.com Like so many other F1 games out there this is actual- ly a simulation of last year's season. So there's no Jaguar team, Schumacher is as dominant as ever and David Coulthard is still driving like a wimp. Also, as an added bonus to those that care about such things, FARC is fairly unique as it boasts the presence of young upstart Jaques Villeneuve. Previously too expensive/arrogant to be included in such trifling things as video games, his presence is now welcome thanks to the fact that he's not as great as he and his publicist think he is. Same argument applies for the game as well. Although it boasts a rather groovy dri- ving school mode which actually teaches you to drive F1 style (rather than just applying the brakes for you like all the other.F1 games) the rest of the game is по better than any other simulation of the sport. It’s worth noting that it's a rather more arcadey experi- ence than most, and as such sports some rather silly controls. The steering issway too twitchy and the brakes completely lock up every time you touch them. | still think F1 97 is tough to beat. John SOUND REPLAY VISUALS INGENUITY Electronic Gaming Monthly - 205 EA Sports ә EA Sports EVERYONE 14 Dual Shock, Multi- Improved tap artificial intelligence Choppy ani- Www.easports.com mation | don’t know why EA continues to add facial detail and other visual nonsense at the expense of frame- rate. This year’s title is actually a smarter, more in-depth soccer sim than FIFA 2000, but 2000 rules in the buttery smooth gameplay department. Beyond that, FIFA 2001 is stellar in every regard. EA nails soc- cer in terms of presentation, with remarkable play- by-play, unique stadium chants and crowd reactions, and killer on-field action. For soccer buffs who like a challenge, EA has added some sensibility to the defenders marking the pitch. Players will no longer recklessly leave their area in hopes of stealing the ball. The CPU players exhibit. restraint and intelli- gence, and they know when to counterattack. It all makes for good fun, but | can'thelp but think back to last year's excellent release (which | consider to be the best in the series on PS one). If you're a soccer maven who needs all the latest rosters, gameplay options and bells and-whistles, this one's worth a look. Otherwise, rent/buy/steal a PS2 and play FIFA the way it was meant to be played. Dan SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS Natsume A> Open-ended, non-linear gameplay Dual Shock Repetitive tasks can get boring www.natsume.com My life as a farmer started simply enough: Clear the land, buy some seeds, plant, grow, harvest. Make some money, buy a chicken, use her to hatch a coop full of new chicks, and set them to work laying eggs for profit. Sound a bit too much like real life for ya? Well, maybe it is—but that's where Harvest Moon excels. See, the game is not just a farming sim, but a whole life simulation. You won't just be working the land. You'll need to find the time to chat up ladies, manage your resources, develop your proper- ty (including rebuilding your house), and gladhand with your neighbors, all in an effort to prove you've got what it takes to be the rightful owner.of your fam- ily farm. In fact, Harvest Мооп/һа5 so many aspects to it—there’s just so much to do—that you can basi- cally customize the entire experience. Still, the game’s not for everyone. Having to do certain chores everyday can become a drag by the end of a season, and the complete lack:ofany fancy pyrotechnics lim- its its appeal. Keep in mind, too, that it’s almost the same game as last year's N64 version. Gary VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY McGrath vs. Pastrama: Freestyle Motocross Publisher: Acclaim Developer: Z-Axis Featured In: | ЕСМ #337 | Players: 1-2 Supports: Dual Shock Web Site: www.acclaim.com 2. Best Feature: Lots of shortcuts Worst Feature: Thin game- play across the board If you want an example of a good Z-Axis game, check out Dave Mirra's Freestyle BMX. Unfortunately, this effort isn't in the same league. First, the most obvi- ous flaw—the graphics. They're chunky, sparse, bland, the wrong proportions and afflicted with occasional clipping problems. All told, the appear- ance is on par with PS games released three to four years ago. Things aren't so great in the gameplay department either. Similarities to real motorcycle physics are few: Outside of a couple things (sliding and maneuverability in the air) it's strictly arcade control and handling. OK, last big gripe—the frame- rate, while fast, is not smooth. I'm not sure if it's skip- ping chunks of animation or what, but it certainly jumps around a lot. Oh yeah, the way the riders flop around after a wreck looks totally unnatural. While not a complete loss, MvP could've been a lot bet- ter. The mediocre graphics and gameplay place it near the back of the pack compared to current motocross contenders. If you're still interested, a one-night rental will quell your curiosity. Pean VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 3 4 4 4 Moto Racer World Tour SH Publisher: Infogrames Developer: Delphine Software Featured In: EGM #136 Players: 1-2 EVERYONE. 7 e Best Feature: Two compe- Supports: tent games in one Dual Shock Worst Feature: The street Web Site: bikes sound terrible www.infogrames.com It’s been a while since Delphine Software has graced us with a Moto Racer title; so this one’s a little late, yes, but the timing couldn’t be better. With a load of mundane motocross sequels on the verge of release, the call for one dominant player is greater than ever. MRWT answers the challenge by masterfully repre- senting both street and dirt racing in one game. The motocross segment is particularly strong. The bikes interact with the jumps and bumps of the tracks better than any dirt racer out there. | wouldn't say the physics are exactly real, but overall there's a good balance between arcade and simulation. The indoor dirt races are tough however (and а tad slow). You really have to pay attention to how you cut the turns and maneuver the jumps. In that. regard it's very precise—for some, maybe a little too precise. The street portion holds its own but the hideous motor noise (sounds like a whiney kitten) and the excessive draw-in (in¡two-player mode mostly) kind of sucks...you'll get used to it though. As a two- treats-in-one title, MRWT is worth a look. Bean VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 1 4 8 8 Best Feature: Sharp graphics Worst Feature: Frustrating control Publisher: Climax Development Players: Dual Shock Power Rangers Lightspeed M THO Featured in: 12 Web Site: Rescue КЕ Developer: N/A Supports: www.thq.com Fundamentally, this is the same two-player beat “em up we've been playing since Double Dragon hit arcades well over a decade ago. The only ele- ments that separate this title from that near-ancient ancestor: an awkward isometric 3D perspective, scavenger hunt objectives, and a handful of choppy video sequences. Control is imprecise, as is the colli- sion detection; if you are not standing in exactly the right spot, you won't be able to pull switches direct- ly in front of your character. Jumping is a chore, and often leads to cheap deaths. There is no skill involved in taking out the countless “Battlings” that come at you from all directions; just repeat- edly hit the kick or punch buttons until the ene- mies disappear from the screen. Enemy bosses are similarly simple to defeat. On the plus side: The graphics are bright, colorful, and vary nicely from level to level. Younger fans of the television program may have fun fighting through the game's missions, but anybody over the age of 12 will find the redun- dant gameplay a turnoff. Ethan SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 2 3 VISUALS ESPN MLS Gamenight Publisher: Konami Developer: KCET Featured In: N/A 2 EVERYONE Players: 14 Best Feature: Seamless Supports: controls Multi-tap. Worst Feature: Not as Web Site: advanced as FIFA 2001 www.konami.com It's weird to see how the fortunes of the two great soccer franchises have changed over the years. While Konami's ISS series systematically beat FIFA hands down each year, it seems now the tables have turned. The latest ISS (and the second this year, strangely) is nowhere near as good as the latest FIFA. Sure, it boasts the MLS license as well as 53 interna- tional teams, but the gameplay seems to be more arcadey than ever. When playing against the CPU, there's a distinct impression that the Al doesn't real- ly know what's going on. Passing the ball around seems to confuse the competition, and it's only real- ly the-superhuman goalies that stop you from destroying your opponent each game. As a multi- player game it's probably a less intense and “realis- tic” game than the latest FIFA. Some of you may enjoy this tremendously, but try.not.to get too angry when your players pass the ball to someone you were least expecting. If | didn't know better l'd have thought this was a game from a couple of years ago. Shame. How the mighty have fallen. John SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 10 6 8 | NASCAR Heat Publisher: Hasbro Developer: Dice Featured In: EGM #137 Players: 1-2 Best Feature: Very original Supports: challenge mode Dual Shock Worst Feature: Dull, messy Web Site: graphics www.hasbro.com Being of that rare-breed of game mag journalists who actually enjoys driving in circles for hours on end, | must say this is a refreshing change of pace from most NASCAR games. What | like the most is the “Beat the Heat” option, where you have to com- plete a series of challenges designed to hone your skills at speedway, super-speedway and short track racing (very reminiscent of F1 Beyond the Limit on ће Sega CD). Besides that, there's the regular full sea- son mode and a cool section that lets you compete against times set by NASCAR drivers on various tracks. Control-wise, Heat doesn't disappoint. It's got the best drafting model outside of NASCAR 2001 on the PS2. And the opposing cars are all very aggres- sive, keeping you alert at all times, especially while in the lead. The graphics are the only problem with Heat. They're downright ugly, even by PlayStation standards. No matter how big a racing fan you are, it's hard to look past thejagged mess on the screen. | suggest renting this one and saving your pennies for the PS2 version to be released next year. Greg VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 6 1 8 9 Electronic Gaming ! nthly - 206 Featured In: N/A Players: e БЕДИ Best Feature: Clean graph- ^ Supports: ics Dual Shock Worst Feature: Unnecessary Web Site: race timer www.acclaim.com As resident kart racing expert, | wasn't expecting RC de GO! to be anything more than a sloppy racer with a funny name and goofy Japanese influence. How wrong | was. RC de Go! is surprisingly impressive, from the simple intuitive control scheme to the clear and well-crafted graphics, you can tell Taito put a lot of effort into this title. The core of the game lies with- in the championship mode, racing for money and then upgrading your vehicle. The modification sys- tem is like Gran Turismo for R.C. cars: Upgrades can be made to tires, chassis, suspension, exhaust and more. The only baffling thing is a completely unnec- essary timerin,the Free Race mode. The.game is hard enough, and the timer only adds unwanted frustra- tion. Graphically, everything is clean: and smooth, and despite a small stuttering effect, the game looks excellent. Unfortunately there's no two-player mode, which would have added more to the replay score (but the modification system more than suffices). This is about as close to a new R.C. Pro-Am as you're going to get. Andrew VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 8 6 1 1 Empire Int. = > < The Bitmap Bros. EGM #130 1-2 It boots up. It boots up None www.empire.co.uk Most of you won’t remember this game—it came out on the Genesis without fanfare, but its heydey was when it debuted on the Amiga and Atari ST comput- ers (and I'm showing my age now) about 10 years ago, believe it or not. | thought it was a great idea to bring back this brutal game of futuristic soccer, but not like this. Speedball 2100 is one of the worst hatchet jobs I’ve seen іп a long time. They took a decade-old game, put it on better technology, and actually managed to make it play and look worse. That’s an amazing feat, accomplished by a horrible mish-mash of cruddy 2D arenas and 3D players, a ball that looks like a Planter's Cheez Ball, and light- ing effects-Worse than a broken strobe light. The “action” moves at a plodding, choppy..rate—this might be the slowest “extreme” sports game ever created, not to mention annoying. | believe this game will be sold at cut-rate prices, and don't be tempted—it's not worth:$10. Speedball used to be a great game, and still could be. They need to rethink what they've done and regroup for PS2. Kraig INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS SOUND Enix Es g Chun Soft EGM #136 1 Can get addictive Dual Shock Everything way too random www.enix.com Usually when you hear the term "dungeon crawl," it's just a figure of speech for a game where you spend lots of time wandering around dungeons. But with Torneko, | mean it literally: The whole game is a series of randomly generated mazes, filled with random monsters and random items—it's exactly like Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon 2 (also from Chun Soft) in case you're one of the eight people who ever played that. There are a few nice additions here—the town sections and humorous story are much better— but it lacks the item combining and companion sys- tem that added at least a little spark to Chocobo's Dungeon. My.main problem with these.games.is not the plain/graphics or simple gameplay, it's that they are just. too random. Whether or not уои. таке it through a dungeon has as much to do with luck as strategy. Also, reverting back to level 1 with each new dungeon kills:the feeling of accomplishment in building up your character. The straightforward game- play and decent challenge-can possess a strange, addictive lure, but only for a select few. Mark INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS SOUND Sound Don’t make Dual Shock me choose...OK, fine, the frustrating gameplay WWW.Cravegames.com Despite the fact that the PS version of UFC was developed by an entirely different company from the DC one, it exhibits the same flaws, only horribly mag- nified. Forget that the graphics are choppy as sin, the gameplay is beyond frustrating. Probably to make the matches artificially longer, punches and kicks do painfully little damage. Even if you're lucky enough to flail out at your opponent before he can slip in a submission hold (which the AI will try to do without fail in the first 15 seconds), it's near-impossible to inflict enough damage for a victory. If you thought the solo mode was tough on the DC, you best not even try it.on.the PS. The lack of variety in the play modes and some darn persistent load screens sap any further motivation to keep playing this game, unless you're into the above-average sound effects and featured song by Megadeth. Otherwise the only hope for this title is the two-player mode, which is nothing special, but it atleast levels the playing field. If you only have a PS and want to play UFC, you're still better off buying a Dreamcast. Jonathan SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS EA “> Kodiak Interactive EGM #136 1-2 rewards Dual Shock Limited gameplay www.ea.com There is little to distinguish this version of WCW Backstage Assault from the N64 version. The same gripes that I found іп the N64 review apply here, although the audio is better and the added FMV gives the PS version more flash. Otherwise the same lack of game modes and limited moves list puts a hurtin’ on this title. Goofy character models (although sharper-looking than the N64's), blocky textures and long load times give WCW BA that good ol’ first-generation look and feel about five years too late. The game is not without good ideas, though. | liked the ranking system based on points earned dur- ing matches for things like diversity of moves, num- ber of weapons used, and method of winning. Also, the “hidden rewards" are cool and add alternative objectives. But the lack of depth and repetitive gameplay kept me wanting to lay the smack down on someone in another game (guess which one). WCW BA could make it as a rental party game due to its fast gameplay and easy-to-learn controls, otherwise, save your money for SmackDown! 2. Mike SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS Electronic Gaming Monthly - 207 Syrox EGM #135 1-2 Smooth framerate Dual Shock You've played this already. Many times. www.konami.com As resident kart racing expert, | wasn't expecting WWR to be anything more than a sloppy kart racer with a weak license and absolutely no new ideas (dejá vú?). How right | was. Ignore for now that Woody Woodpecker, as a franchise, has been dor- mant for well over a decade (not to discount ol’ Woody, | grew up watching him myself), but if you're going to use a license, make sure it's one that is rel- atively recent or has a strong supporting cast. Remember Mario Kart 64 and its built-in "fairness: That's present in WWR— placing first is often a mat- ter of luck. Not helping matters is the clumsy power- sliding, which.you'll need for practically-every turn. The courses are laid out fairly well, but again, it's nothing you haven't seen before. Graphics are sim- ple, but colorful, and with a nice and steady framer- ate the game is nice to look at. But there's not much under the hood. If you must have every kart racer made (and there are people out there who do, I’m scared), this is just about average, which says more about current kart racers than WWR. Andrew INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS SOUND Amusing cin- emas Dual Shock Horrendous visuals www.3do.com Fans of 3D0’s Battle Tanx series will be disappointed by М01 lack of depth. Modes of play are limited to tournament bouts—there aren’t any campaign options to be found, which of course dramatically limits the replay value of the single-player game. That could be overlooked if the title presented an engaging multiplayer experience, but it doesn’t. When challenging human opponents, most rounds amount to little more than seeing who can hit the fire button more quickly. The tanks are slow and awk- ward to control, so attempting to dodge enemy fire is futile. The most intuitive manner of play would have been to. move. your vehicle with one-analog stick while-rotating its turret with the other, but inexplica- bly, there is no option for dual-stick control. The graphics are hideous, too— everything is muddy and pixelated, and the buildings you annihilate appear to be made of paper maché. The whole package looks and feels like. a. first-generation PlayStation game. Either wait for the more polished PS2 version, or better yet, skip the title altogether. Ethan SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS Dead or Alive 2 Hardcore Publisher: Tecmo Developer: Team Ninja Featured In: EGM #136 Le Players: 1-4 Supports: Multi-tap Best Feature: Super-fast 3D fighting Worst Feature: Cheap Al Web Site: www.tecmoinc.com Now in its fourth incarnation (the U.S. DC version, the Japanese PS2 version, and the enhanced Japanese DC version preceded it), Dead or Alive 2 finally reaches the PlayStation-loving masses in what Tecmo hopes is the definitive version of the game. The changes gamers will notice right away are the new story mode stages (the VF3-like rooftop stage and desert stage), the half-dozen tag-battle stages (the DC version has only one), and the addition of loads of extra costumes. Tengu, the boss character, becomes playable once unlocked, as does the Leon- esque Bayman, who now returns from the first game. There is a wealth of other little secrets, but the high- light is the gameplay itself. Much faster and far more visceral than Tekken Tag, DOA2 Hardcore is the fastest 3D fighter around, and the best fighter on the PS2. Team Ninja has finessed the gameplay so it is much more than the Virtua Fighter wannabe critics once labeled it. There is plenty of technique to mas- ter, especially in tag-battle, with its multi-tiered lev- els. The downside is that the Al can be incredibly cheap, having no problem pulling off the counters and reversals that human players struggle with due to sluggish timing. The control is also less responsive than the Dreamcast version, but not so much that it really changes the gameplay. The story line is also so superfluous with plenty of laughable dialogue. Still, a must-have for new PS2 owners. Milkman One of three fighting titles now available for the PS2, DOA2:HC і the platform's best. The rushed Japanese PS2 version has been cleaned up a bit, ahd the action, while similar to Tekken stylewise, is a lot smoother, The multi-level, interactive backdrops really beef up the gameplay, as do the punchy sound effects and fluid animations. One of DOA's best fea- tures is the reversal system, which lets you counter attacks with a well-timed button press and really affect the tide of battle. Hardcore adds a few extra modes and some story elements over the DC DOA2, but isn't different enough to warrant owning both versions, so buy accordingly. Jonathan | really enjoyed DOA2 on the Dreamcast so naturally | really enjoy it here too, but not quite as much. Perhaps it's just me, but DOA2 Hardcore doesn't seem to be as responsive as the DC version— sometimes | noticed a small lag in trying to counter moves or switching characters. It wasn't sluggish to the extent that it really hurt the game, but it was cer- tainly annoying for someone who was weaned on the DC release's timing. The graphics are phenomenal though, and the new modes, costumes and stages are keen, making this а must-purchase for fighting fans—and even with its small problems, there's no doubt DOA2 plays better than Tekken Tag. Ryan VISUALS REPLAY SOUND INGENUITY 8 8 1 8 EA Sports EA Sports Featured In: EGM #133 re Players: 14 Supports: Multi-tap Best Feature: Balanced gameplay Worst Feature: Numb thumb (you'll see) Web Site: www.ea.com The FIFA series doesn’t carry quite the same weight here in the good ole US of A as it does in Europe. It does, however, have a long-standing tradition of being a nice blend of sim and action (arcade, if you will) soccer. The PS2 version does nothing to tarnish that reputation and actually improves upon it. One of the most appealing aspects of FIFA, to me, has always been its ability to represent a statistically complete soccer match in a 15-min. game (two six- minute halves). You get the ebb and flow, a fair num- ber of scoring opportunities and the usual 2-1, 1-0 scores that soccer was founded on. The game’s design also fosters a sense of accomplishment for newbies, as a few button presses can have you look- ing like Pelé. It's kind of similar to being a button masher in a fighting game. You might get some wins and do some pretty things, but you really don't know how you did it. Once you hit your stride, however, your enjoyment will increase ten-fold. There are plen- ty of killer moves on offense, but they һауе іо be cleverly implemented to pose a serious threat to the defense. The goalies are no joke, either, which is the way it should be. Player models are superbly detailed and gracefully animated. All modes (inter- national, MLS) are there for the taking. FIFA is defi- nitely а solid'notch in EA's PS2 belt. If you're looking for a break from the big four (hoops, hockey, football and baseball), this is a great choice. Here's another outstan: tion to the next generation of consoles for EA Sports. There's no breakthroughs in this edition of FIFA, but that's all right, I’m satisfied with what they did here anyway. Basically, they juiced. up the graph- ics to the point that we see exactly why we bought this new system and added a few other bells and whistles. The excellent visuals come at no price to the gameplay. The players move quickly and smooth- ly (as opposed to Madden, which is somewhat slug- gish), and the controls are very responsive. It's a fun, great-looking soccer game, even though it has some lapses of realism. Kraig Look at it. Doesn't it look great? Aren't you just itch- ing to play it already? | was really torn on the score for this baby, but in the end it has to be acknowl- edged that this is one of the finest sports games around. Aside from the fabulous presentation, EA Sports has really got a lot of FIFA's problems licked now. Players no longer move in herds, defenders mark much more efficiently now (especially in their own half), and most importantly, you actually feel like you're fully in control of the Ба том. Part of this is due to the faultless animation which really helps the gameplay. Problems? There's still a tendency for the CPU player to be a bit wimpy. John VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 8 8 1 208 Gradius Ш & IV Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Featured Іп: ЕСМ #133 re Players: 1-2 Supports: None Best Feature: Worst Feature: Web Site: Old-school gameplay Doesn't include Gradius I or II www.konami.com If you started playing video games after the days of the Super NES, you won't recognize the name Gradius. But back in the day it was considered one of the most addictive (if knuckle-bitingly difficult) Shooter series around. Konami's Gradius and Parodius series are perhaps my favorite games in the shooter genre. This one PS2 title has perfectly emu- lated versions of the latest two arcade installments of the series (including slowdown). I’m not gonna say that the slowdown is bad—because it got me out of some sticky situations more than once. Gameplay is very straightforward —blast enemies through a con- stantly scrolling level (of varying speed), facing a boss at the end. Memorizing enemy attack patterns and finding the path of least resistance is the key. Of course, that's easier said than done when you acci- dentally die after being fully powered-up and have to get by on only your standard guns. Gradius IV adds 3D graphics to the equation, but thankfully remains locked to the series' side-scrolling view. The graphics in both games are old, but with some two-dimen- sional “wow” factor. But that awed stare quickly turns into a look of “oh crap!” as you realize that cool-looking plant just grabbed-and destroyed your ship. My only question. is why didn’t Konami include Gradius | and II in the U.S. release of this package? It’s the only thing holding this back from being the ultimate shooter collection. Chris | always liked the Gradius games—the different power-up options and shields offer a great amount of technique, and like all the best shooters, with practice comes mastery. Does it use the power of the PS2? C’mon, look at that screenshot above. Of course not. | can’t make any excuses for the graph- ics—they are a decade old and look it. But once | got into the games, the visuals weren't so important any- more. | was too busy loving the gameplay and curs- ing at the difficulty—these games are intense! More extras (although IV's Boss Rush Mode is cool) or all four games on one disc would have been nice. For hardcore old-school shooter fans only. Mark Yeah, yeah, nostalgia is nice, and | used to love the Gradius series, but the timing for this game to come out is just entirely wrong. This isn’t the sort of thing you want to pop into your cutting-edge technological wonder. Hell, you could have played this on the orig- inal PS when it launched in 1995, why did they wait until now? Also, why put two Gradius games on the disc with no extras? The only new thing that fans of the series will get out of this is a nicely rendered intro that is absolutely useless after it’s been viewed one or two times. This half-assed compilation smells like an obvious attempt to cash in on the mass hysteria of the PS2 launch; don’t buy it. Kraig VISUALS SOUND REPLAY INGENUITY 4 9 4 6 БЕБА Publisher: Namco Developer: Namco Featured In: EGM #135 72 =з Players: 1-2 Supports: Dual Shock 2 Best Feature: Blistering speed Worst Feature: Learning curve's a little daunting Web Site: www.namco.com True superbike racing has never been represented all that well on a home console. There have been some good arcade versions, but nothing sim fanatics could really sink their teeth into. Namco’s changed that with MotoGP. Though the learning curve is a little steep, once you get the hang of the bikes in MotoGP you'll have a hard time going back to anything else. Whether you have Sim turned on or off, you'll have to let off the throttle and allow your rider to pop-up before each turn, then ease on the gas (thanks to excellent use of the analog buttons on the DS2) and lean hard into the turn. Little graphic extras like the sparks from a peg meeting the ground in a turn to the flowing locks of some of the riders as they scream down the straights really bring the package together nicely. In fact, the graphics are the strongest point of this game. As | played it a crowd would gather to watch, which is a rarity around here (or maybe I’m just that good). Either way, Namco has yet again brought out a topnotch racer that will immediately establish itself as one of the best in the first genera- tion of PS2 software (which is growing more impres- sive by the minute). Oh, did | mention the awesome replay mode? It's hands down the best I’ve seen since | first laid eyes on Gran Turismo. With all the extra bikes and other goodies to unlock in this game (itis by Namco, after all), players can just keep com- ing back for more and more. Greg NASCAR 2001 оған. Fur ORA ET psc D Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Sports Featured In: EGM #132 Ta Players: 1-2 Supports: None Best Feature: Great car and track models Worst Feature: Feels like NASCAR Lite Web Site: www.easports.com NASCAR 2001 on the PS2 looks decent, and the physics model is probably the best EA's done yet for the series. Unfortunately, this is an arcade racer passing itself off as a sim. That's fine for the casual fan, but | wish EA would start taking this sport more seriously. This is like releasing NFL Blitz and calling it Madden 2001: Football fans would set the EA building ablaze. | want a 43-car field, not the pal- try 20 in this game. | want a pace car that actually has roof lights and dives onto pit lane on a restart, not just one that disappears when they drop the green. | want all the drivers and all the tracks, not just a collection of the top names. | want to adjust the tire pressures on my car. You get the idea. Don't get me wrong, | still have fun with this game once in a while. Especially when turning the difficulty all the way up and running for a few hundred laps on a short track. You really get the bumper-to-bumper feel. But it would be so much better if EA left the arcade setup аіопе апа concentrated on making a sim NASCAR fans everywhere would go nuts for. Outside of that, EA Sports need-only do two other things for next year's edition to be great: Get rid of the weird inter- laced slowdown—and for the love of God—commis- sion some better tunes forthe game. So | guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're looking for an arcade racer with familiar drivers and tracks, this is it. If a sim is what you want, look elsewhere. Greg NFL GameDay 2001 Publisher: 989 Sports Developer: 989 Sports Featured In: М/А A Lc Players: 1-8 Supports: Multi-tap Best Feature: Decent load times Worst Feature: That it exists Web Site: www.989sports.com The GameDay series hasn't been king of the hill (in terms of gameplay or sales) since 1998, but the announcement that it would appear on PlayStation 2 was enough to pique my interest. | mean, this was Sony's new system, right? That had to merit a quali- ty effort. Well friends, I'm sorry to report that the PS2 version of GameDay is gawdawful and horrid. Did I mention it's terrible? The prospect of опе gamer shelling out $50 for this garbage sends a shiv- er down my spine. The stadium intro sequence and a quick glance at the player models get a passing mark, but just barely. Other than that, this game is so bad it's laughable. The hurdle, dive tackle and pass- ing animations, just to name a few, are a riot. I’ve seen screen passes where the QB turns his back to the line and throws the ball, underhanded, to the sideline. Not to mention that just about every pass goes high enough to come down with icicles on it. The running game is bunk as well, with no sense of momentum or speed. Line play is truly idiotic, with huge linemen warping through each other and magi- cally appearing on the other side. Can you say colli- sion detection? GameDay 2001 is certainly comical, but not in an endearing sense. If Sony had any busi- ness sense or pride, they would not release this game (remember Madden in 1996? EA swallowed its pride). I'll close by saying that it is THE must-NOT- have PS2 game of the holiday season. Dan MGP is a cold starter but once you master the art of slicing corners and feathering the throttle, it gets highly addictive. Arcade fans will be turned off by the ultra-precise control but anyone with a shred of patience will love it. The phrase “using every inch of the track” really rings true. The best racing line takes you within inches of the grass—needless to say it’s very intense: The only thing that disappoints me is the length of the game. Finishing the main season doesn’t take too long. Opening up all the challenges does however, so in (һе епа it balances out some- what. Two-player is good, but it'd be nice if the other bikes took part. Otherwise the game is great. Dean With some sports games, you can get away with throwing a whole bunch of famous players into a title with sub-par gameplay and still sell folks on the name recognition. Sorry, EA—it doesn't work with racing. Aside from looking uncannily like a PS one game (equip the rearview mirror and the whole game falls apart graphically), there's not a lot.of driver involvement. Only on the more advanced tracks do you have to start worrying about skidding and brak- ing through turns at all. The cockpit view is a nice feature, though, and the-several optional perspec- tives should suit most any racer. But overall, you're much better off with Ridge V. Jonathan What happened to GameDay? | had a feeling there were problems, but not like this... For starters, it's not real pretty. It looks better than the PS version but not by much. It certainly isn't as impressive as Madden ог NFL 2K1 (not even close). That's not the worst offense though —the animation bugs апа spot- ty collision detection take that honor. Not since QB Club 2000 have | witnessed so many atrocious col- lision detection problems. At times a tackler will pass right through his intended target! On a positive note, there are several cool-looking hits, but they're offset by the inane stuff. GD 2001 needs about six more months in the shop. Dean | know it sounds weird, but | had to completely re- program my brain in order to think "motorcycles" while playing this. Having spent the best part of the last 15 years enjoying just about every car-racing game ever made, suddenly being faced.with the very different physics of a bike is quite a shock. And | guess, this shoot regardless of anything else, is indicative of how good MotoGP is. Bike-loons will love it, but | have a hunch that many of you will find it uncomfortable at first, especially in the ludicrously tough simulation mode: That said, like all Namco games, it's visually a very rewarding experience. Not as mainstream as RRV, but still cool. John VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY NASCAR 2001 has a few cool things going for it, but once you add up all the so-so stuff, it’s a little weak. | can’t warm up to the handling characteristics —the cars don’t feel heavy to me. The adjustments help somewhat, but overall they still feel loose, especially on the road courses. The sensation of speed isn’t the best I’ve seen either. Some of the track textures are so smooth and'non-detailed it hardly looks like you’re moving. Then there’s that strange interlacing thing as well. On the upside, the sound is very authentic and the car models are good. Other than that, I didn't have much fun with the game. Worth renting for fanatics, but few others. Dean VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 6 6 9 1 Electronic Gaming Monthly - 209 What an utterly disappointing game. In the last cou- ple of years, this franchise has been losing steam, and this is probably where it's hitting rock bottom. Basically, this looks like GameDay on the PlayStation with sharper.textures, shinier menus,.a smoother frame-rate and that's it. The gameplay, on the other hand, actually seems a little buggier. Гуе seen almost an-entire defensive team jump in unison to deflect a pass from a QB no matter where they were. The physics on the tackling are sometimes weird, and plays routinely get wide; and | mean WIDE open. Skip this game—it isn't good enough to hold Madden's jockstrap. Kraig VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 9 y 3 4 Publisher: Activision Developer: Shade Featured Іп: ЕСМ #136 Lc Players: 1 Supports: None BestFeature: Unique battle system Worst Feature: Anime-style overacting Web Site: www.activision.com Orphen isn't really a big name here in the States, but the character should be familiar to followers of the anime upon which the game is based. One of the few RPGs to hit the PS2 at launch, Orphen tries out some innovative ideas, but has a bundle of flaws that deaden the gameplay significantly. The real- time battle system fixes the camera and limits mem- bers of your party to a stationary position, which allows you to fight close to a dozen enemies at once without hindering the game's graphical backbone. This system gives you a lot more control over your fate than a turn-based one, which is good. However, the on-screen chaos that results from fighting a large group of simultaneously attacking baddies makes it very difficult to tell who is being targeted in your small party. Second, the game is far too linear for an RPG. You're specifically guided through three quests (which feel like one longer one, since they all feature the same characters), and there is very little action in each. Battle locations are scripted, and though the game purports to feature enemy encounters in the story (walking around) mode, | only encountered a small handful of opponents in the “field,” certainly not enough to mention. Since your-health resets for each scripted battle and there's little to hurt you in the story mode, non-weapon items are near-useless. There may not be many launch RPGs, but don't com- mit to Orphen until you've tried it. Jonathan Ready 2 Rumble Round 2 Y з. STRIKE Publisher: Midway Developer: Midway Featured In: EGM #136 ime Players: 1-2 Supports: None Best Feature: Hidden characters Worst Feature: Weak defensive moves Web Site: www.midway.com Ready 2 Rumble, as clichéd as it sounds, follows the usual Midway mantra of action, plus more action, plus big, in-your-face character models, equals suc- cess. It worked last year, when R2R debuted on the Dreamcast and was a surprise hit. The only problem with Midway’s thinking is that they seem to believe their once-original game ideas stay fresh indefinitely. See Blitz 1990-2010 for an example of that. Not to say that R2R2 isn’t, to steal from the proverbial press release, “loaded” with new features. You've got your new hidden characters, your new combos, your updated graphics, etc. But none of them amount toa hill of beans. What it boils down to is this...R2R2 is a goofy, button-mashing shell of a fighting/box- ing game that doesn’t aim to hold your attention span for more than 10 minutes. It’s not Knockout Kings, and it’s not Tekken. Sure, you train your boxer (try auto-training for better results) and the mini- games are worth a try or two, but it’s all just a diver- sion before you go button-ballistic for a round ог three. The game's mechanics are somewhat unre- sponsive, which:promotes the idea of punching fast and often. Trying to defend is useless, as blocking a punch doesn't give you any significant counterpunch advantage. And if you get backed into a corner, it's usually lights out. Overall, it's lighthearted fun if taken in short bursts. Extended gameplay, however, turns it into heavy-handed boredom. Dan Sky Odyssey Publisher: Activision Developer: Cross Featured In: EGM #138 re Players: 1 Supports: None Best Feature: High flyin’ arcade-style action Worst Feature: A touch Web Site: Sky Odyssey isn’t the visual tour de force you'd expect from the PS2. The graphics are often low-res, plain, patterned textures (especially along mountain trenches or inside caves/tunnels). Touches of slow- down appear (and it reverts to a lower-res mode) when the screen’s filled with effects, but that’s noth- ing but a minor annoyance. It sometimes seems as if it’s a PS one game that was given a few extra effects and brought out for PS2. Now that that’s out of the way, let me just say—I had a helluva lot of fun with this game. The aptly named Adventure mode has an air to it (scuse the pun) that makes you feel like you're not just flying around aimlessly—and it’s more realistic than Pilotwings. The sense of flight and speed is good and the control is tight. It isn’t fast- paced until later missions, but there are plenty of tense moments. It’s like a roller coaster—after a few times you know where the loops are, but you still scream your head off. You'll spend hours flying missions and upgrading your planes. Drawing in Sky Canvas mode and finishing the goals in Target mode—all of it makes you feel like you're really learning to fly. The problem is, there's not enough of it. By the time the game is over, you wish there were more missions, more skywriting, more targets; but there isn't. It’s a great game (worth buying if you're hard up for good PS2 games), but the graphics lack variety and | wish there was more todo. Chris Orphen has some insanely beautiful boss battles. That said, they are also boring. Which kind of sums up the entire zame. Orphen has areas that are just amazing-looking, but as a whole, it just reeks of mediocrity. The regular battles are chaotic, the puz- zles are trite, and the action sequences, thanks to unresponsive control, are aggravating at times. Oh, and it has the most annoying voice acting l've ever heard. Sure, I’m not a hard-core anime fan (I do enjoy them though), but if | hear that little blond chick’s soul-piercing voice again; l'm going to hurt some- thing. If you enjoy anime, you might get a kick out of Orphen. If not, it's a rental at best. Ryan There's no big surprises here, but that works well for this by-the-book sequel. Basically, there's more of everything that worked in the last game. More Characters, more moves, more modes and a little more depth, as well. The graphics.have been improved and each character 15 more over-the-top and loaded up with personality. The additions of Shaq and Michael Jackson are amusing, particularly for Pacers fans and people who just don't like musi- cal freaks. If you liked the first one, you'll love this sequel, and | suggest that if you haven't played it, maybe you should give it a try. One of the strongest PS2 launch games by far. Kraig Every system needs a Pilotwings. The N64 had PW64, the DC had Aerowings, and now the PS2 has Sky Odyssey. Something about the soothing manner in which you roll your old-school plane through the Sky is strangely enjoyable, despite the absence of any firepower. You'll find a nice variety of missions and some great music, and you can upgrade the heck out of your aircraft. Sadly, the graphics are weak (grainy and repetitious tiles). Yes, it usually pipes along at a consistent 6ofps, and there are loads of nice details (clouds, waves splashing), but the over- all look of the game is surprisingly primitive. Worth a look if you're easily pleased. Milkman Pm all for U.S. publishers localizing as many Japanese games as they can, provided the games are actually good in the first place. Featuring a sluggish, imprecise battle-system, good graphics in some places, bad in others, and possibly the most annoy- ing voice-acting (Orphen himself is a jerk) yet com- mitted to silicon, Orphen is bordering on awful. There are some redeeming features to the game, such as the impressive, epic boss battles, some interesting effects, and, um, that's it. But as we all know, it takes more than:eye-candy. When you could be playing Majora's Mask, Skies of Arcadia or FFIX, there's no reason to mess with this. Milkman VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 1 5 9 1 Depending on what you're looking for, R2R2 could be great for you...or really frustrating. If you don't give a crap about real boxing and precise defensive maneuvers, you'll like what you get. It's more about combos and.knowing when to unleash them —after that it's fists of fury. Overall, the game is very momentum-based: Once you're stunned or backed up on the ropes, it’s freakin’ hard to recover. Then you're forced to watch helplessly as your boxer takes an ass-whoopin'. On the other hand, when it's your turn to dish out the hurt;-it's fun again. If you can deal with the wacky momentum changes, you'll dig it. At the very least it’s a great party game. Dean VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY Electronic Gamir Even with graphics that borderline on laughably hor- rible at times, Sky Odyssey is one of the few PS2 games І really had a great time playing with so far. Perhaps it was the topnotch control, outstanding tunes, or the really fun, challenging missions. | don't know, but it’s a great feeling іойепјоу a game you expected to hate. Similar to Pilotwings on a basic level, Sky's story mode has you preforming tasks (while flying through rings), but the ones found here have way more depth than those in Nintendo's flight game. In fact, Sky's only downfall is its crap textures (often approaching PS one quality), but the well- designed levels make up for that. Sort of. Ryan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 6 8 8 1 Publisher: Eidos Developer: Free Radical Design Featured In: EGM #135 [Буре Players: 14 Supports: Multi-tap Best Feature: Excellent multiplayer modes Worst Feature: Story mode can be difficult Web Site: www.eidos.com Everyone's been harping on for ages about what a great game TimeSplitters is, but now that it's actual- ly here, does it live up to all that prerelease hype? Is it really that great? Is it obvious that the GoldenEye boys were behind the development? Yes, yes and yes. It's fabulous, so fabulous in fact that we've even had instances of die-hard FPS-haters picking up the joypad and having a good time with the thing. It’s that great. Part of the charm is no doubt due to the fact that deep down, TimeSplitters is one of the sim- plest games around. In one-player story mode the objective is “find an object, kill everyone and then get back to where you started." It's real, old-school, Doom-type stuff, and boy is it fun. And tough. Many players will probably only bother with the story mode when they realize it's the only way to open up the cool stuff for the real “meat and potatoes" of the game which is the multiplayer aspect. Deathmatch, teamplay and capture the flag (bag, in this case) modes are all here and in each mode you can play with/up to four of you crowded around the TV and fight it out with or without bots of varying intelli- gence. Everything in the game is customizable; you can change weapons sets, characters.and then most importantly, you can build.your own levels. The edi- tor is a joy to use and assures this is a 'game that's going to stay with you for a LONG time. An instant PS2 classic. Buy it. John Unreal Tournament Publisher: Infogrames Developer: Epic Games Featured Іп: ЕСМ #137 LE Players: 1-4 Supports: FireWire, USB Best Feature: Level design Worst Feature: Not enough multiplayer modes Web Site: www.unrealtournament.com Let's get to the big question: Is Unreal Tournament better than rival launch shooter TimeSplitters? No. TimeSplitters has many multiplayer modes. UT only has two—Deathmatch and Capture the Flag (unless you break out the FireWire, but we'll get to that later). TimeSplitters runs at a smooth, blazing framerate. UT tops out at a decent 30 frames per sec- ond, but only on certain levels, and only when the screen's clear of enemies and effects. Four-player split screen runs about as well as in Perfect Dark. But UT isn't trumped in all departments. It packs more levels, and many arenas are better designed. Just wait "til you see some of the bigger CTF maps, like Facing Worlds, where you juke past sniper fire across a quarter mile of open terrain. You also get the novel Assault mode, in which you storm enemy strong- holds and complete objectives with your squad of surprisingly clever bots. And while UT doesn't have as many modes or options, it does support more stuff namely, USB mice and keyboards. Joypad con- trol works fine (thanks to the handy auto-target but- ton), but once you play with a mouse, you'll never want to go back. Plunk down $40 for a FireWire cable and you can link two Р525 for network play— this is the only way you can play.multiplayer Domination, a mode that has your team tagging X-shaped control points. PS2 UT will disappoint fans of the PC version, but console gamers will eat this up. Crispin Sure, you can play TimeSplitters alone. The single- player game’s got no plot and packs simple fetch- the-doodad objectives, but it’s still surprisingly fun and addictive—especially the bonus challenges. More than. just cleverly designed, the arenas are downright creepy, thanks to the game’s oddball aes- thetic. But you're best off buying TimeSplitters with a multi-tap and calling over three pals. This is the fastest, smoothest fragfest on the consoles, and you get all the modes and options you'd expect from the guys who worked on-GoldenEye. You can even play the Story Mode cooperatively. Heck, the map editor itself will keep you busy for days. Grispin Unreal Tourney has some cool features: All the weapons have alternate ways of firing, and there's a ton of fun one-player modes (capture the flag, domina- tion, etc.), but overall | can't help but feel disappointed. It's got problems both in design—dull, boxy levels, cliché characters—and execution—a merely. decent framerate and average graphics. Frankly, I expect bet- ter from the PS2. A USB mouse and keyboard make for nice controls, but the fact you can’t fully customize them is frustrating. Overall, UT isn’t bad for new PS2 owners desperate for some fraggin’ action, but the lack of imagination, level design and graphical flair makes it hard to recommend strongly. Mark TimeSplitters feels like a game that | should like more, but 1 just can’t bring myself to. As a change of pace for first-person shooters, | can appreciate its speed and simplicity, but after awhile it just seems like there isn’t enough depth. | really like the amount of extras that you open up as you progress through the levels because it really makes you want to keep playing. It’s just too bad that the story and atmos- phere are/unimpressive, as is the low interactivity with the environments. The saving grace is the map creator that lets you easily make new maps for mul- tiplayer combat. It’s too bad the rest of the game isn’t as well thought-out. Kraig VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 8 1 6 8 Aside from not being able to hook up to the Net and find opponents, this is a very good translation of the PC game. | was a bit surprised at how choppy the action got though—in one-player mode it isn’t so bad, but it's considerably worse (but playable) in four-player split-screen. If you intend on getting into UT, you'll need a keyboard and mouse. That can get tedious if you play with some friends and want the controls to be fair for everyone, however. There's lots of modes, and the enemy intelligence is consider- ably better than Quake lll, or any other first-per- son shooter. If you really like this type of game, buy it, but otherwise it’s a really good renta. Kraig SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 1 6 6 6 VISUALS ПД. [| Publisher: = г == Sony CEA Developer: Sony CEJ Plays Like: Missile Command Players: 1-2 Supports: None Web Site: Www.scea.com li) 900 (266306 little thing Worst Feature: Little more than a particle showcase Yeah, it's pretty. Yeah, it's novel. But beyond some mildly entertaining PS2 eye candy, Fantavision doesn't offer nearly as much as other launch titles for the money. To clear up any misconceptions, Fantavision is played by chaining together colored flares the computer shoots toward the sky and deto- nating them before they fizzle out. Aside from saving your replays and watching them from different angles, that's all there is to the game. Technically, there's only a few controls you need to master, but I found it difficult to select a single flare from a cluster, and just as frustrating to recover if you select the wrong.one. A certain breed of people might enjoy playing the game at length to gettheir chain combos up and witness.the visually stunning particle display that follows, but it gets old fast; Because it's such a graphical showcase, a stripped-down version of Fantavision would have made a great free demo pack-in with the PS2. Butyhey, if you can charge $35 for a memory card, you'd have to be nuts to pack in a free game. Rent this one if anything. Jonathan SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY VISUALS Publisher: == Take 2 Interactive Developer: Ornith Featured In: EGM #137 Players: 1-2 Supports: None Best Feature: Forgiving Web Site: gameplay www.take2games.com Worst Feature: Clunky inter- face For a pool game, Q-Ball does a whole lot to make things exciting and keep the player from losing inter- est too quickly. By letting you select your own cue, scenery and even music, Q-Ball re-creates the pool- hall feel nicely at home. A healthy offering of games, from 8- and 9-ball to some refreshingly unconven- tional diversions like bowliards (a cross between bowling and pool), takes some of the starch out of the sport. Unfortunately, it’s not as comprehensive or realistic as Real Pool. | see what the developers were trying to do with this title, but unless you really have the physics and interface down, all the periph- eral glitz. doesn't help much. The.balls travel around the table at ridiculous speeds, encouraging sloppy play over calculated precision. Selecting the power of your shot'is unnecessarily hard, as is tweaking it for spin and direction. If it weren't for Real Pool out- shining it in a few major capacities; Q-Ball would be a more attractive орпоп бог ћозе who want some- thing besides another mech game for their PS2. Make Q-Ball a rental first. Jonathan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 8 1 1 8 Electronic Gaming Monthly - 211 Publisher: == | Infogrames Developer: Takara Co. Featured In: EGM #137 =m € Players: a 1-2 Best Feature: Realistic Supports: physics None Worst Feature: Eh, it's pool Web Site: www.infogrames.com OK, yes, we're all surprised to see two billiards games out on the PS2 so early. They're both really polished products, though, and while Q-Ball is more graphically intense, Real Pool has more realistic physics, a large library of games, and a very user- friendly interface. Putting spin on the cue ball, adjusting the power of your stroke, or simply lining up a shot can all be done with a simple, intuitive but- ton press on the well-mapped control pad. In addi- tion to every major pocket billiards game, Real Pool has three and four-ball carom (that's the kind without pockets, folks) games that are sickly addicting. Over two dozen.oddly shaped skill tables let. you test your abilities, which will likely improve in real life. after playing this game (heck, mine did). My only com- plaint: The balls seem to roll excessively after some shots, as if purposefully lining up for the next one. That's either a development intention or my own per- sonal insanity, but either way, it's not a big deal (well, to you all, anyway). Skip the pool hall this week and spend the extra cash on this game. Jonathan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 1 8 1 9 Publisher: = г == Rockstar Games Developer: ASCII Entertainment Featured In: EGM #137 Players: 1-2 Supports: {EVERYONE Best Feature: Hopeless X-Board Records soundtrack Web Site: Worst Feature: Hopeless www.rock- control stargames.com Toned down for the less-forgiving American audi- ence, the outlandish alien-ridden story line from Surfroid (H30's Japanese counterpart) has been replaced with a pretty run-of-the-mill sports compe- tition background. Unfortunately, Rockstar hasn't made the controls anymore forgiving, but rather kept the difficulty and fudged the responsiveness. Whether you use the included X-Board, which fits over the analog sticks to simulate the surfboard feel, orthe sticks alone, navigating the waves is always a huge uphill battle that takes all the fun out of the game. The levels provide very little variety, so you feel like you're playing the same scenario over and over again with a few cosmetic environmental swaps. | thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack though, featur- ing some great under-appreciated bands. like Samiam, Digger and Dillinger Four—the songs became my motivation to keep playing, and while that's fine for me, it doesn't:ssay much for the game itself. Spend a few days with H30 as a rental and try not to get board. Get it? I’m funny. Jonathan MENTE SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 6 9 5 5 Austin Powers/Dr. Evil EVERYONE Publisher: Rockstar Games Developer: Tarantula Studios Featured In: ЕСМ #134 Players: 1-2 Supports: Link Cable Best Feature: Terrific interface Worst Feature: Boring minigames Web Site: www.rockstargames.com Nine times out of 10, a Game Boy cart based on a licensed property will be a crappy, Mario-style plat- former. Is that the case here? Well..yes and no. The title has its fair share of side-scrolling action, and that element of the game is just as uninspired as you'd expect. Other modes of play include a mediocre “Pac-Man”-style maze chase and linkable games of Othello and Rock, Paper, Scissors (really). Had the whole package been comprised of these minigames alone, the title would be of little value. But what gives the cart some merit is its tremen- dously innovative interface. The game mimics Windows, complete with tool bars, faux “Internet” options, and e-mail functions (trade message with other players via infrared link-up). You get to play with screensavers, listen to countless sound bites, watch a bit of digital video, even escape to a DOS prompt. Two (soon to be four) different versions of the game are available, offering players separate desktops to choose from: Austin's; or Dr. Evil's.. Both carts are identical in construct, save for one of the minigames (Austin’s platformer takes place on foot, Dr. Evil's takes place on a motor bike). If you like “fiddling” with computer applications, this is the game for you. It's fun.to uncover all of the little extras, many of which will make you laugh out loud. All in all, a mixed bag, but a unique experience for the Game Boy Color. Ethan Here’s a game that’s not worth the cartridge it’s writ- ten on. First off, | can’t believe there are two games like this that are basically the same thing (with dif- ferent interfaces and a few different minigames and sound clips). Second, | can’t believe there are even- tually going:to be four of them! The only redeeming qualities are the scratchy sound clips. Everything feels like a bad parody of what someone who’s never played a video game thinks they're like. It’s so slapped together that there's not really a coherent game anywhere to be-found. The Mojo Maze is the only one of them | enjoyed even a little bit. It's a stinker, baby, yeah! Chris For “hardcore fans” who didn't think the movies were enough, there's always the grating Pokémon Gold & Silver-esque Austin Powers games, Oh Behave and Welcome to My Underground Lair! Two of four "games" that feature all kinds of cute Austin Powers- isms. The Pac-Man-like Mojo Maze is perhaps the best thing on offer here, but it’s flanked by a pile of other inferior time-killers. Rock, paper and scis- sors? Do we need to use a Game Boy for this? Kin Evil (as:in Evel Knievel, get it?), which has you jump chasms on a.motorcycle?-Ugh. To think Rockstar would have you buy four of these. Stick with the movies and forget these exist. Milkman VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY y 3 4 3 Electronic Gaming Monthly - 212 Alice in Wonderland Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Digital Eclipse Featured In: N/A Players: 1 Supports: Game Boy Printer Web Site: www.nintendo.com Best Feature: Variety of level types Worst Feature: Just for kids. Alice in Wonderland is what a kid's game should be. All too often, half-rate games come along that say they're for kids but they just plain suck. AW, however, is well-made and should provide hours of fun for any youngster. The movie-inspired levels are broken up between quick side-scrolling platform bits, a sort of top-down adventure style of play and other levels where you are falling and need to avoid objects (or in a bottle going down rapids in another level). Eventually, you make your way to the queen's castle and all hell breaks loose. Stages are filled with all of the characters from the film, with text dialogue to match.each.of their unique.styles.of speaking. It even has a little art program where you can use Alice in Wonderland clip art to make scenes, which in turn can be sent to the Game Boy Printer for some sticker fun. Couldiit also be for an older gamer who's a fan of Disney games? You could get away with playing it, and a couple of the levels would prove to be either mildly difficult or insanely repetitive, but overall it really is made for kids. Shawn VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 8 6 1 6 Who Wants To Be A Publisher: THQ Developer: Eurocom Featured in: EGM 1436 Supports: None Players: 1-4 Web Site: www.bvinteractive.com ®“ EVERYONE Best Feature: Captures the experience of the show Worst Feature: Only 600 questions At first glance, Who Wants to be a Millionaire would appear to be an ideal title for the Game Boy Color. Its short-term play is well-suited for lunch breaks or bus rides—sitting through a full game takes only one to 10 minutes, depending on your performance. The multiple-choice interface is perfect for the console’s limited button layout, and even the presentation is first-rate, incorporating video sequences and digi- tized speech. Unfortunately, like the PlayStation version, the game possesses one enormous flaw: There are only 600 total questions. By the second hour of play, you will notice Regis’ trivia challenges repeating themselves. In rapid time,.this drains the title of its replay value entirely—a real shame, given that the game is otherwise beautifully designed. The first time you play it, the essence of the popular tele- vision show is capably captured; by the 25th time you hit Start, well...have you ever Watched a rerun of Millionaire that.you had-already caught on its first viewing? Exactly—there’s just по point. Walk away...just walk away. Ethan VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 8 8 9 1 Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Game Freak Featured Іп: EGM #134 Players: 1 Supports: Link Cable, IR Port, Printer Best Feature: Time aspects Worst Feature: Repetitive battles Web Site: www.nintendo.com lying gameplay for Gold and Silver, but they also made enough adjustments and improvements to make them worthy follow- ups to some of the greatest-selling games of all time. Yes, you spend most of the game watching turn-based battles rage back and forth between two cute critters. Yes, you are a young scamp out to be a great Pokémon train- er, aided by a friendly professor and hated by a jealous rival. You still find wild critters in the grass and catch them in Pokéballs, still take them to the Pokémon center to get healed, still shop for items for them at Pokémarts in almost every town. So what exactly is differ- ent? First and foremost, the games add anoth- er layer of depth by keeping track of the time and date, with certain events only occurring on certain days. It's cool to be wandering around at night and see things or people that N intendo may have kept the same under- 1 epo i a] саз QUILAWA used EMBER? kRFIGHT Fkh РАСЫ RUM There are a few of these tile-sliding "puz- zles" in Gold and Silver, but still nothing very challenging. weren't there earlier in the day. Pokémon can also now equip items, which they can use to power up their attacks or heal themselves with in battle. This gets rid of you always hav- ing to waste a turn to use items yourself, and also adds another level of strategy to bat- tles—which Pokémon will you give which items to? Overall, the interface is more refined and better organized as well: You can tell what abilities HM and TMs have without using them, and all your items are separated and stored according to type so you can get at whatever you need quickly. As in the first games, all the new Pokémon have been inge- niously designed and named, each with its own interesting quirks and backstories. Other new features, like the Pokégear cell phone and radio, really make it feel like something is always going on, and the game world is always on the move and changing, just like the real world. All in all, it's pretty safe to say that anyone who liked the first game has the next 60 or 70 hours on their GBC booked. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 218 Pokémon Gold & Silver In addition to a whole new map, with new cities, dungeons and routes between, Gold and Silver include a slightly modified ver- sion of the entire first game. It's a huge quest, even if you don't “catch ‘em all.” FUCHSIA CITY POKEMON SYM If you despise all things Pokémon, | don't have the time or space here for a full argument on why you should give them a try—P'll just say they are much more than cute little kid's games. Sure there's a ton of reasons why Gold and Silver are better than the first set of Pokémon games, but admittedly they don't make enough of a difference to change anyone's mind. In other words, if you liked the first game, you'll like the sequel. If you didn't, you won't. The whole collecting—everything aspect of the game has been expanded tenfold—besides all the new creatures, there are items you get by trading Pokémon, people who only appear on certain days, Pokémon that only appear at certain times, new ways of evolving Pokémon, and enough other tiny secrets and hid- den techniques to make your head spin. Needless to say, being the kid who knows everything about Pokémon just got a lot harder. My complaints are the same | had with the first game—combat is repetitive and happens ау, оо often. Puzzles'are o DM nonexistent, and progress still relies mostly” on “ here, talk to him, and get that.” Also, ,ifl YoU рот your old Pokémon, the game is way too easy. Still, the graphics (including attack effects). are. improved and the sound is excellent, including li little Pokémon voic- esand catchyt tunes. And since the old game is includ- ed (with а few differences) after you beat the new one, it's also a great value. Mark Behind the marketing and hype that made Pikachu and friends a billion-dollar franchise, there's always been a great game. Gold and Silver take Pokémon to the next level. The thing that's different this time is that, if you.want it to—it will take over your life, 2417 45а game that's only as deep as you want it to be. If you find yourself waking up early just to catch a Ledyba, you've caught the fever. Graphics are some of the best Ме seen on the GBC—a testament to how big a difference real color makes. Even if you've never touched a Pokémomgame, Gold and Silver is a great place to start. Refined gameplay, new mon- sters, new gadgets...couldn't be better. Chris 1 liked the original Pokémon Red and Blue as much as the next guy (well, except maybe Chris Johnston, that Pokéfreak), but | gotta say | dove into my Gold and Silver review with a certain amount of dread. After all, l'd.collected a couple, hundred. Pokémon before, and doinghit all over again, going through another thousand button-mashing battles, seemed like a сћоге/ Ви! Game Freak packed Gold and Silver with $0 much new stuff—more sidequests, real-time gameplay, tons of perks for tradingiwith ot! hot Pokésex—that I camoverlook the same ol’, same ol’ drudgework. This is the only Game Boy game you’ll need for a long, long time. rispin VISUALS SOUND INGENUITY REPLAY 9 9 8 1 © Ww р. = = В Сате Publisher Dreamcast Aerowings 2 Crave Entertainment Army Men: Sarge's Heroes Midway WE Bust-A-Move 4 Acclaim Cannon Spike Capcom 02 Зеда ШШ Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of Future Sega F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa Acclaim Gunbird 2 Capcom Hidden and Dangerous Talonsoft © NFL2KI Sega Sports NFL Blitz 2001 Midway NFL Quarterback Club 2001 Acclaim WE Power Stone 2 Capcom Railroad Tycoon || Gathering of Developers Ring, The Infogrames San Francisco Rush 2049 Midway W Seaman Sega Sega GT Sega Silver Infogrames Sno-Cross Championship Racing Crave Entertainment South Park Rally Acclaim Spawn. Capcom BÀ Street Fighter Ш: Double Impact Capcom Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Capcom Sydney 2000 Eidos Interactive BE Test Drive V-Rally Infogrames BR Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2 Crave Entertainment Toy Story 2 Activision Ultimate Fighting Championship Crave Entertainment Virtua Athlete 2000 Agetec BE Virtua Tennis Sega Sports Wacky Races Infogrames WDW Magical Racing Eidos Interactive World Series Baseball 2K1 Sega Sports Best Feature You Can Shoot Stuff Now Four-Player Deathmatch Mode Addictive Gameplay Old-School Gameplay Creepy Story Line Gorgeous Graphics And Sound Amazingly Realistic Graphics Old-School Shootin’ Fun Easier Than Rainbow Six Online Play New Minigames Decent Graphics Awesome Environments Strategic Depth Online Play Detailed Environments Battle Mode Deadpan Humor, Opinions On Life Fine-Tune Every Car Story Line, Voice-Overs Smooth Graphics Graphics, Tons Of SP Characters Lots Of Unlockable Players Smooth Animation Arcade-Perfect Gameplay Good Staple Of Events Track Editor Cool Car Customization Options Standard Disney 3D Platform Game Realistic Graphics Plays Just Like DecAthlete Awesome Graphics And Animation Cel-Shaded Graphics Fanciful Music And Graphics Graphics A Platinum EGM's Last 154 Reviews From EGM #134 — 137 Worst Feature Scores You Don't Get Any Air-To-Ground Missions 4.0 Unresponsive Controls 40 Sickeningly Cute 8.0 Levels Too Short 60 65 Tedious Gameplay 555 10 Tough Learning Curve 90 95 Steep Learning Curve 15 70 Often Can't Avoid Death 10) 875 Stupid Team Al 5.5 Online Mid-Game Quitters 10 95 Too Much Loading 10 80 Crazy Al 50 50 Can Be Confusing With Four Players 90 85 Joypad A Little Too Cumbersome то Sound Or Controls, It's A Toss-Up 30 6.0 Mostly Just The Same OI’ Rush 6.0 Little Loose On Voice Recognition 85 65 Game Feels Dated 80 70 Battle System T0 60 Gameplay Feels Unbalanced 10 Pretty Much Everything Else 3.0 Camera Angles Are Problematic 8.0 No 3rd Strike 10 90 Missing Combos From Second Impact 80 70 Subpar Graphics 50 50 Some Slowdown 85 90 No Two-Player Mode 85 80 Exact Same Game From Six Months Ago 5.0 High Frustration Level 60 70 Only Seven Events 60 60 Limited Replay Value T5 80 Gets Too Hard T0 65 Too Tough For Kiddie Theme. 55 No Fielding 30 50 60 65 60 65 50 95 10 2.0 85 50 90 65 T0 8.0 85 45 15 15 10 50 95 15 25 Issue # 134 137 134 135 136 135 137 135 136 137 137 137 134 135 134 135 134 136 134 137 134 136 134 137 136 135 137 134 136 136 134 134 135 135 WWF Royal Rumble THO Nine Wrasslers On Screen At Once! Мо Enough Modes And Options 5. 40 55 135 Nintendo 64 Eun он = OOop»HH Army Men: Sarge's Heroes 2 300 Fighter Destiny 2. South Peak Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Titus Indy Racing 2000 Infogrames Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Nintendo Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Nintendo Madden NFL 2001 EA Sports Mario Tennis Nintendo Mega Man 64 Capcom Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness Namco NFL Quarterback Club 2001 Acclaim Ogre Battle 64 Atlus. Pokémon Puzzle League Nintendo Rally Challenge 2000 South Peak San Francisco Rush 2049 Midway StarCraft 64 Nintendo Variety Of Weapons, And The Music Unique Point Scoring System Greek Mythology Is Fun Fast And Fun Racing Gameplay Old-School 2D Gameplay In 3D New Transformations For Link Sharp And Smooth Graphics Doubles Action Tons Of Quests Very Deep Relive Past Super Bow! Moments Awesome Strategy RPG Action Best Versus Puzzler Ever Race Options Tons Of Shortcuts And Stuff To Collect Best RTS Console Controls Ever Electronic Gaming Monthly - 214 Touchy Control 40 Unresponsive Control 3.0 Straight-Up Zelda Rip-Off 3.5 The Graphics Are Slightly Blurry 8.0 None 9.0 Time Limits Can Become Frustrating 10 Madden/Summeral Commentary 9.0 Losing At Multiplayer 95 Control Just Doesn't Feel Right. 5.5 Requires Plenty Of Patience 8.5 Framerate 2/5 May Be Too Deep For Casual Gamers T5 Annoying And Repetitive Voices 9.0 Graphics, Especially In Multiplayer Modes 3.5 Sloppy Graphics In Spots 8.5 Slowdown 9.0 4.0 T5 10 9.0 8.0 8.5 9.0 8.0 4.0 9.0 9.5 15 135 134 136 137 134 134 Game BEP Тиок3 @ World 15 Not Enough, The PlayStation Action Bass Alien Resurrection Army Men: Air Attack 2 ATV: Quad Power Racing. Blaster Master Blasting Again Bomberman Party Edition Breakout Chrono Cross Crash Bash Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX Destruction Derby Raw ШІ Dino Crisis 2 Dragon Valor Family Feud © Final Fantasy ІХ Flintstones Bedrock Bowling. Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge Galaga Hogs of War Incredible Crisis ШІ Jarrett & Labonte Stock Car Racing Jeopardy! 2 Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000 ^^ Madden NFL 2001 Medal of Honor: Underground Mega Man Legends 2 Mike Tyson Boxing Mortal Kombat: Special Forces ШІ Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness MTV Sports: Pure Ride MTV Sports: Skate.-Andy MacDonald Muppet Monster Adventure Muppet RaceMania NASCAR 2001 NBA Live 2001 NBA ShootOut 2001 NCAA GameBreaker 2001 NFL Blitz 2001 NFL GameDay 2001 NHL 2001 NHL FaceOff 2001 Parasite Eve || Polaris SnoCross Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey RayCrisis RC Revenge Resident Evil: Survivor Samurai Shodown: Warrior's Rage Sno-Cross Championship Racing Spider-Man Publisher Acclaim Electronic Arts Take 2 Interactive Fox Interactive 300 Acclaim Sunsoft Vatical Entertainment Hasbro Interactive Square EA Sony CEA Acclaim Midway Capcom Namco Hasbro Interactive Square EA South Peak Hasbro Interactive Hasbro Interactive Infogrames Titus Codemasters Hasbro Interactive Acclaim EA Sports Electronic Arts Capcom Codemasters Midway Namco THO. THQ Midway Midway EA Sports. EA Sports 989 Sports 989 Sports Midway 989 Sports EA Sports 989 Sports Square EA Vatical Entertainment Empire Interactive Working Designs/Spaz Acclaim Capcom SNK Crave Entertainment Activision Best Feature Graphics In High Resolution Mode Classic GoldenEye-Style Gameplay It Only Costs 10 Bucks Scary As Hell Atmosphere A Decent Army Men Game For Once Great Physics Fun Like The NES Game It's Bomberman Inventive Levels Stunning Music Lots Of Crash Characters Massive Variety Of Tricks. Great Vehicle Control New Style 0f Gameplay. Good Controls Only Takes 20 Minutes of Your Life Awesome Graphics And Music The Official Voice Actors Do The Lines Improved Single-Player Gameplay Classic Galaga Music It's Like Worms In 3D. It's So Crazy! Excellent Driving Physics Great Selection Of Categories Many Tracks Madden Cards More Intense Than The Original New Lock-On Feature Nice Character Models Beat Guys Up! Lots Of Depth Smooth Rider Animation Loads Of Levels Gameplay Is Surprisingly Solid Loaded With Character Licensed Drivers & Tracks Incl. Daytona In-Game Challenges Create A Funky Dunk Keith Jackson Still Plays Like Blitz Tackles Animations Rebounds Balanced Gameplay Resident Evil-Style Gameplay The Price The Price Old-School Shooting Action A Track Editor Semi-Interesting Story You Can Turn It Off Realistic Gameplay Swinging Around As Spidey Electronic Gaming Monthly - 215 Worst Feature Short Play Length A Few Confusing Mission Goals It's Not Worth Much More Than That Frustratingly Difficult Restrictive Camera Angle Tracks Are Too Long Music High On The Cheese Factor The Throw-Away Single-Player Mode Over Too Soon The Game Ends Sleep-Inducing Minigames Sluggish Game Engine A Touch Of Slowdown A Little Too “Arcadey” At Times. Boring Levels Virtual Louie The Card Game Is Boring It's Not Bowling. Why, God, Why? Boring Multiplayer Modes Plays Nothing Like The Original Difficult To Aim Weapons In 3D Too Strange For U.S. Audiences? Totally Misleading License That Darn Text Parser Tracks Are Pretty Much The Same-All Dirt Madden Opening His Mouth Same 01” Bland Visuals Blocky Graphics Unbalanced Gameplay The Whole Game Is Half-@#Sed Requires Plenty Of Patience Sloppy Collision Detection Unresponsive Control It's Easy To See This Was Made For Kids Incredibly Sloppy Control Car Control Still Choppy Visuals Suspect Al Well, It Still Plays Like Blitz! Al Could Still Be Better Framerate No Franchise Tedious Puzzles The Monotony There's Only One Table No Two-Player Mode A Track Editor W/ Limited Memory=Worthless ..Where Should We Start? For SNK's Last U.S. Effort, It Blows Realistic Gameplay Camera In Enclosed Areas Scores 8.0 95 45 8.0 7.0 6.0 6.5 15 8.0 9.5 5.0 15 8.0 8.5 6.0 25 10 0.5 7.0 4.0 7.0 7.0 9.0 5.5 35 9.5 8.0 15 55 15 85 60 15 то 6.0 6.0 TO 45 TO 6.5 6.5 6.0 8.5 8.0 25 115) 80 40 35 2.0 5.0 8.0 8.5 8.5 65 T5 8.0 8.0 50 85 8.0 95 65 10 15 8.5 50 70 Issue # 136 137 135 136 137 137 137 187 137 134 137 137 136 136 136 137 137 135 137 137 136 136 136 137 136 135 137 137 137 135 137 137 137 137 137 136 137 137 135 137 135 137 136 135 136 135 136 136 136 135 136 135 © m == ЈЕ Game Spin Jam Spyro: Year of the Dragon Star Trek: Invasion Sydney 2000 Team Buddies Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins A Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Tyco RC Vampire Hunter D Wheel of Fortune 2 PlayStation 2 Game Boy/Game Boy Color Armored Core 2 Dynasty Warriors 2 Eternal Ring Evergrace Gungriffon Blaze Kessen Madden NFL 2001 Midnight Club. NHL 2001 Ridge Racer V Silent Scope Smuggler's Run Swing Away Golf SSX Street Fighter EX3 Summoner Tekken Tag Tournament Wild Wild Racing X-Squad 1942 All-Star Baseball 2001 Animorphs Buffy the Vampire Slayer Crystalis Dragon's Lair Dragon Warrior 1811 Frogger 2 Galaga Metal Walker Monster Rancher Explorer Perfect Dark O*Bert Road Rash San Francisco Rush 2049 Spider-Man Test Drive Cycles Test Drive Le Mans Turok 3 Wacky Races Warlocked X-Men: Mutant Academy Publisher Take 2 Interactive Sony CEA Activision Eidos Interactive Midway Activision Activision Matt Jaleco Hasbro Interactive Agetec Koei Agetec Agetec Working Designs Electronic Arts EA Sports Rockstar EA Sports Namco Konami Rockstar Games Electronic Arts EA Sports Capcom THO Namco Interplay. Electronic Arts Capcom Acclaim Ubi Soft THO Nintendo Capcom Enix Majesco Majesco Capcom Tecmo Rare Majesco Electronic Arts Midway Activision Infogrames Infogrames Acclaim Infogrames Nintendo Activision Best Feature Addicting Arcade-Like Gameplay Solid Gameplay Mission Variety Lots Of Events RTS Action On PS Day And Night Missions The New Manual Move It's Got The Actual Tyco RC Vehicles Slick Anime Styling Easy Play Mechanics Fully Customizable Robots Consistent Action Making Magic Rings Lots Of Weapons And Outfit Options Intense Gameplay Smooth And Pretty Oh, Those Wonderful Graphics Huge Playing Fields Realism Excellent Control Cool Sniping Action Huge, Open Terrain To Navigate Story Mode Great Overall Presentation Curbed Slowdown In U.S. Release Vast, Well-Designed Levels Shiny Happy Tekken 3 Detailed Car Models Cool Weapons Old-School Vertical Shootin’ Simple, Yet Still Fun True To The Kid's Books Keeps The Buffy Humor Intact Graphics Almost An Exact Port Of The Original Two RPGs For The Price Of One Classic Frogger Gameplay It's Portable Galaga Unique Battle System. Simple Gameplay Gameplay Variety Just Like Arcade Awesome Scaling Effect Its Natural RC Pro Am Style Of Play Looks Really Good For A GBC Game Pseudo Scaling Loads Of Cars, Tracks And Features Vehicle Type Of Gameplay Smooth 3D Scrolling On The GBC Those Wizards Graphics Electronic Gaming Monthly - 216 Worst Feature The Cuteness Of The Characters Still Too Freaking Cute Extreme Difficulty Crappy And Sluggish Graphics Sometimes Confusing Interface Camera, Sluggish Control Long Character-Select Load Times Bumping Into Walls Hurts Bad Frustrating Controls Waiting Forever For A Turn Frustrating Controls Repetitive Gameplay Simplistic Combat Obnoxious Load Times Not Enough Missions Rather Lengthy Battles More Sluggish Than PS1 Version A Tad Too Difficult At Times Slight Slowdown All That Fog In Multiplayer Over Too Quickly Cops Swarm You Relentlessly Goofy Caddies Little Bit Of Slowdown Where's The One-On-One Mode? Bland Characters And Gameplay. Nothing New, Really Framerate Is A Little Slow No Multiplayer Horrible, Horrible "Music" No Multiplayer Mice-Fighting Aliens Terribly Boring Levels And Battles Aggravating Play Mechanics Almost An Exact Port Of The Original Games Feel Slightly Dated Questionable Maze Design Can't See Incoming Attacks Battles Every Two Steps! Stiff Control And Boring Puzzles Idiotic Guards Controls Are A Bit Tough All Of The Tracks Look Very Similar It's Just Too Darned Short Far Too Difficult For The Youngins Simple, Sloppy Control Frustrating Control Tedious Levels The Whole Experience Is Far Too Brief Troops Get Lost Too Easily Way Way Way Too Simple Scores 8.0 9.0 8.0 4.0 10 10 10 30 40 7.0 6.0 15 60 6.5 7.0 T5 90 9.0 9.0 9.5 6.5 8.0 T5 95 65 6.0 8.0 65 65 55 6.5 5.0 25 6.5 6.5 9.5 8.0 7.0 8.0 55 55 50 8.0 7.0 T5 35 3.0 3.0 8.0 9.0 2.0 T5 8.0 T0 T5 10 45 55 65 35 55 65 9.0 8.5 95 9.0 7.0 85 8.0 9.0 15 40 10 7.5 15 8.5 55 55 8.5 А. Platinum © gold E silver Issue + 136 8.0 137 9.0 136 136 70 136 6.5 135 10 136 136 45 135 137 6.0 137 6.0 136 7.0 136 15 137 7.0 137 137 90 136 70 137 10 137 85 136 15 137 65 137 65 136 85 136 6.0 137 45 137 8.0 137 137 6.0 137 134 134 136 137 65 134 137 7.0 135 135 135 10 137 136 50 135 135 137 137 135 136 135 136 134 85 135 134 movie T p 4 Only on Newsstands! Each year, the hard-workin' editors of Electronic Gaming Monthly create special-edition magazines such as the Video Game Buyer's Guide, Pocket Games or DCM the Unofficial Dreamcast Magazine. These magazines can only be found on the news- stands or through back order. Look for a new issue of Pocket Games near Christmastime at Babbages, Software ETC., Barnes & Nobel, Wale Mart, K-Mart, Walden Books, Target, Borders, B. Dalton and many supermarkets and drugstores near you! JJ. Are You Missing Something? - Winter 99 Pocket Games - Summer ‘99 Pocket Games nu ^ We pud How;To Order: У Check Your, Mag Simply check off which magazines you want and send in the order form (photocopies accepted) along with a check made payable to: Ziff Davis Media Inc. for the amount indicated for each magazine plus shipping and handling—add $3 for U.S., $3 for Canada and $5 for foreign orders—in U.S. funds only for each magazine! Orders should be mailed to: Back Issues, P.O. Box 3338, Oak Brook, IL 60522-3338. Price and availability subject to change without notice. Og р – = В NBA Live 2001 ~ What we said: “It looks pretty much the same as last year...hang on to 2000 and save ир for the PS2...unchanged from last year.” How we rated it: 1.0 8.0 What you said: NBA Live has always been the dominant basketball game franchise and nothing could touch it. Well, nothing much has changed. The game is a solid work of programming with many improvements over previous releases. The animation is much smoother and the graphics are a bit more realistic. It includes some nifty features such as the "challenge," but for those of us who just like realism it is still the game to beat. The Al is excellent and provides a competitive game. The only thing that bothers the crap out of me is why the console version did not get a deeper franchise mode. | mean, Madden and all the other EA games have players getting older, retiring, getting better/worse, becoming free agents, a draft mode, etc. Why can't they implement these features into Live? | guess rookie faces are the problem, but couldn't they have implemented a random face generator that uses the already available feature in the game? I hate to say this, but I will give ShootOut 2001 a try (due to the draft mode) and | may switch over until Live gets its act straight. | mean, playing up to 10 seasons is great—but only if your players age/mature realistically and you can draft rookies! Also: INCREASE INJURIES GOD DAMN ITI!!! Brothers Marens dethangelz@hotmail.com 1.5 “Why can't they implement these features into Live?” NFL 251 © What we said: “The gameplay is gridiron action at its finest...the passing game is much tighter and precise...this is a must-have.” How we rated it: 10 9.5 9.5 What you said: | think NFL 2K1 is a very good game. | bought the Dreamcast for the sole purpose of NFL 2K. However, NFL 2K1 definitely did not deserve that high of a rating. Here’s why: 1.) Poor collision detection...! | have played a boat load of NFL 2K1 games and one thing that is certain in each game is the poor collision detection. It’s painful to watch a defender dive to tackle a runner and have the runner’s legs go through him on the way to a touchdown. | have seen the ball pass through shoulders, arms and hands. 2.) No intentional grounding. So many times | go to sack the QB and he throws the ball away in the pocket tight when | hit him. 3.) Butter-fingered receivers (Pro & AllPro). When | play as the Rams | can The World Is Not Enough 1# What we said: “...sure to please most every console FPS fan...definitely a worthy successor...Bond’s arsenal of kick-ass guns easily rivals Joanna Dark's... ” How we rated it: What you said: Can a Bond game be good without Rare backing it up? Absolutely. While Tomorrow Never Dies for the PlayStation was dismal at best, TWINE blows it out of the water. Is it better than GoldenEye? Well...almost. TWINE has a few flaws that are rather hard to overlook. I found several glitches in the animation, one of which not only made a terrorist run in place, but also allowed me to empty the ammo from all of my weapons into him...without doing any damage. Un- acceptable. | also noticed that the graphics weren't as clear as the other Nintendo Bond we all know and love (which isn't a huge deal, but І noticed the Review Crew gave it a “9” for visuals, which rather mystified me). Г would've also liked to be able to take away the text that pops up every time there's a conversation. On the bright side, though, the game follows the movie's plot faithfully, and the music brings you into the world of danger and intrigue that is 007. The voice acting is surprisingly good, almost on par with Rare's Perfect Dark. Lastly...it’s just fun. Yes, maybe some missions could've been less “You-have-to-see-the-movie- otherwise-you're-screwed,” but you won't mind. As for the game...it has its flaws, but nothing that detracts too much from the gameplay. So, if you're a fan of GoldenEye, you might want to rent before you buy, just to see if you like ТИМЕ style. But for first-time players, it's worth your cash. Play it with a martini shaken, not stirred. Peter Jurmu zell@gamersarmy.com a E A SIN OSE RE SUES TAC Srt Electronic Gaming Monthly - 218 Here's your chance to vent your views on recently released games. If you have something you think needs to be said about either one of our reviews or a game you've recently bought, e-mail us your thoughts at review_crewOziffdavis.com or write to us at the following address: EGM Reader Reviews, P.0. Box 3338, Oak Brook, IL 60522-3338 go 27-30 on passing. When | play as any other team | am lucky to hit 50% for completions. Part of this is due to the ball passing through the arms of the receivers and invisible barriers (see #4). 4.) Invisible wall. Sometimes the ball bounces off an invisible barrier before it gets to a receiver. 5.) Great but quirky audio. If a player gets injured then EVERY TIME a team Scores, the announcer says, “[name] was injured and we'll get a report on his condition soon" or something to that effect. When I get 4th down on the opponent's 20-30-yard line they say | should punt instead of kick a field goal. Also, | was up by three touchdowns and the other team just got the ball and the announcer says they could drive for the winning touchdown. He failed to mention that they would have to do that three times. 6.) Once-in-a-lifetime strange occurrences. This is NO JOKE. It happened only once but | thought it was funny enough to mention here. | was playing as the Rams (against the Bucs) when Kurt Warner threw an “Interception.” The Bucs’ defender caught the ball and then turned around and ran to the WRONG endzone. | was thinking, “I am going to get a safety out of this!” Once the defender reached the endzone he dropped the ball and the announcer said the pass was incomplete. These are the reasons | wish | could save instant replays. Thanks for listening. Lee Venable La Vista, NE Perfect Dark ж What we said: *This game is absolutely gorgeous... masterpiece...| was hooked.” How we rated it: 10 9.5 10 What you said: People who like first-person shooters should love Perfect Dark. | think it is the PERFECT game. Of course, it has its jaggies and all, but it is an awesome first-person shooter. The story is great, and the graphics are the best possible for the N64, considering the limitations. If the franchise was turned over to the PlayStation instead, the game would look a lot better, but the loading time would not. Even if Medal of Honor came out for the Nintendo system, it would not, and could not compare to Rare’s Perfect Dark. Even though the limitations of the Nintendo 64 are a problem, the framerate is still smooth as a “baby’s bottom.” All together, | give Perfect Dark the big 1-o! J. Campbell Address Withheld Seaman e What we said: “This is the coolest game ever made... bizarre...there's often nothing to do...” How we rated it: What you said: Нтттт...! really love games that you don't play. Hell, this isn't even a crappy "interactive experience" like MGS or FF8. Oh no, it's far worse. Imagine a Electronic Gaming Monthly - 219 “game” with no interactivity WHAT- SOEVER. It's a retarded “pet simula- tion" for losers with absolutely no taste in games or those lacking any- thing resembling a life. Mere words cannot articulate my anger toward this product (I turned in the great MvC2 and Vanguard Bandits for it...rrrr...) and | wish you could see the look on my face as | type this. This "game" is a pile that you should avoid at ANY cost. Nappa 195 nappa195Gearthlink.net Turok 3 ін What we said: “Multiplayer moves at a smoother framerate than Perfect Dark...” How we rated it: What you said: The first thing | thought when | played this game was, "Wow, awesome graphics!" This game runs smooth as Silk. Also, the levels are still as huge as Turok 2, but you now have a “save anywhere” feature (big cheer!). You can play as two different characters, with branching story lines and different abilities too. But the game is waaaayyy too short. | managed to finish it with six liculate my ct...” ІШ жан hours. That's unacceptable. In con- clusion, if you can overlook the length of this game, pick this one up. Justin Secord Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada Tricks of the Trade By Trickman Terry tricks @ziffdavis.com TRICK OF THE MONTH Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (For PlayStation) Unlock Everything From the Main Menu Screen, access Career Mode and choose to con- tinue a career or start a new one. On the Select Player Screen, choose a character and begin your game. In the middle of play, press START to pause the game and then press and hold the L1 but- ton. While holding this button, press X, X, X, Square, Triangle, Up, Down, Left, Up, Square, Triangle, X, Triangle, Circle, X, Triangle, Circle. The screen will shake when entered correctly. Select the End Run option after entering the code, and you will have access to all the cheats in the game! Mike Peresluka Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada © F855 Challenge: Passione Rossa FIVE HIDDEN TRACKS On the Main Menu Screen, access the Options. On the Options Screen, press and hold X+Y. You will see a Password option appear above Exit. Keep holding X+Y, move down and access the Password option by pressing the A button. Now you may enter any of these pass- words to unlock the courses as shown (Note: The passwords are case sensitive). Fiorano Track CinqueValvole Nurburgring Track LiebeFrauMilch Laguna-Seca Track Stars&Stripes Sepang Track KualaLumpur B Atlanta Track DaysofThunder @ Hidden 8. Dangerous TONS OF CHEATS (Important Note: You need a Dreamcast keyboard plugged into port B on the Dreamcast to make these codes work.) First, choose “Start Game” from the Main Menu Screen and when asked to enter your name, type IWILLCHEAT on the Dreamcast keyboard and press the Enter key. Next, go through the setup process by choosing your mis- sion, men, team and weapons. In the game, type in these codes on the DC keyboard for the results as shown. You will hear a click sound when a code is entered correctly. Level Skip Type in MISSIONOVER on the DC keyboard. Restore Health Type in GOODHEALTH on the DC keyboard. Invincibility Type in CANTDIE on the DC key- board (Note: Explosions and trains can still hurt or kill you). All Doors In Mission Open Type in OPENALLDOOR on the DC keyboard. Instant Death Type in KILLTHEMALL on the DC keyboard (Note: Use caution with this trick as it kills hostages as well). Player Coordinates Displayed Type in PLAYERCOORDS on the DC keyboard. E All Weapons and Items Type in ALLLOOT on the DC keyboard. Enemy View---Front Type in ENEMYF on the DC key- board. This will give you a view behind the nearest enemy. Keep typing it again and again to cycle forward through the next nearest enemies. Enemy View---Backward Type in ENEMYB on the DC key- board. This will cycle backward through the enemies. Huge Heads Type in FUNNYHEAD on the DC keyboard. Debug Frame Type in DEBUGDRAWWIRE on the DC keyboard. This puts a strange debug picture box on the screen. Fail Mission Type in GAMEFAIL on the DC keyboard. The End Type in SHOWTHEEND on the DC keyboard. This gives you the ending of the game and credits. PASSWORD: © Samba De Amigo TWO NEW MODES On the Main Menu Screen, choose either Arcade or Original. On the Mode Select Screen (with Hard, Normal and Easy difficulty), use the left maraca or the D-pad on your controller to access two new modes. Random Using the left maraca, or the D- pad, hold Down until *Random" appears in the middle of the screen. EJ] Super Hard Using the left maraca, or the D- pad, hold Up until *Super Hard" appears in the middle of the screen. © San Francisco Rush 2049 TRICKY CHEATS On the Main Menu Screen, move down and highlight “Options.” Then press the L-Trigger+R- Trigger+X+Y buttons simultane- ously. Keep doing this until you see a new option called “Cheats” appear at the bottom of the menu. Access this new option to get a list of all the cheats you can unlock with these codes as shown. (Note: The codes shown are very diffi- cult to enter. The timing is tricky, you must enter them VERY quickly and you may need to try them several times before they will appear.) Et Cars Highlight All Cars. Press A, A, Y, Y, L-Trigger, L-Trigger. Hold R- Trigger+X. Release all buttons. Hold L-Trigger+A. Random Weapons Highlight Random Weapons. Press and hold L-Trigger+A. While holding these, press X, Y. Release all buttons. Press and hold R-Trigger+A. While holding these, press X, Y. Invisible Track Highlight Invisible Track. Press R-Trigger, L-Trigger, Y, X, A, A, X, Y. Then press and hold L- Trigger+R-Trigger. While holding these, press A. Mass A. While holding this button, press X, X, Y. Release the A but- ton. Press L-Trigger, R-Trigger. Brakes Highlight Brakes. Press Y, Y, Y, then press and hold L-Trigger+R- Trigger+A+X. Demolition Battle Highlight Demolition Battle. Press and hold the L-Trigger+A. While holding these, press Y, X. Release all buttons. Press and hold R-Trigger+A. While holding these, press Y, X. All weapons in battle mode will be the battering ram. Super Tires Highlight Super Tires. Press and hold the R-Trigger. While holding this, press X, X, X. Release the R-Trigger. Press and hold the L- Trigger. While holding it, press A, A, Y. There are many more codes to unlock, so send them in! O Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles Вер POWER BATTLE MODE On the Main Menu Screen, choose New Game and start a two-player game. In the middle of play, take controller 1 and press and hold R-Trigger+X+Y+B. With these held, press A. You will turn on Jedi Power Battle, ОТУЗ, ( BUAYERII ) which allows you to do damage to your teammate. If you want to turn it off, just do the same trick again. Highlight Mass. Press and hold O Street Fighter Ш: Third Strike SWITCH RESOLUTIONS Load up the game and then press and hold the following buttons until the Capcom logo appears to get different screen resolutions. [3 De-Interlaced Mode Press and hold L-Trigger+Start button. Low Resolution Press and hold Y button«Start button. Regular Screen Press and hold X button+Start button. «NFL Blitz 2001 TODAY'S CONTEST CODES When the “Today's Contest" screen appears, enter codes with the Turbo, Jump and Pass buttons. Press the buttons the number of times shown below, and then press the D-pad in the direction indicated to complete the code. (For example, if the code is 3, 4, 5, Right, you will press Turbo three times, Jump. four times, Pass five times and then press Right on the D-pad). Infinite Turbo 5,1, 4, Up Super Blitzing 0, 4, 5, Up Super Field Goals 1, 2, 3, Left 157 QUARTER No Interceptions 3, 4, 4, Up No First Downs 2,1, 0, Up No Punting 1, 5, 1, Up Allow Stepping out of Bounds 2, 1, 1, Left Lights Out 5, 3, 4, Down Invisible 4, 3, 3, Up Big Football 0, 5, o, Right Big Head 2, 0, o, Right [3 Huge Head 0, 4, 0, Up No Head 3, 2, 1, Left Headless Team 1, 2, 3, Right Team Tiny Players 3, 1, 0, Right Team Big Heads 2,0, 3, Right No CPU Assistance (2P must agree) 0, 1, 2, Down Smart CPU Opponent (1P game only) 3,1, 4, Down Tournament Mode (2P game only) 1, 1, 1, Down Electronic Gaming Monthly - 221 - www.videogames.com Always Quarterback (2P team- mate required) 2, 2, 2, Left Always Receiver (2P teammate required) 2, 2, 2, Right Baseball Stadium 5, 0, 2, Left Old Snow Stadium 5, 0, 3, Up Grass Field 3,0, 0, Up ЕД Asphalt Field 3,0, 1, Up Dirt Field 3,0, 2, Up Astroturf Field 3,0, 3, Up Snow Field 3, 0, 4, Up Fog On о, 3, о, Down Puzzle League MORE DIFFICULTIES, TRAINERS, ETC. V-Hard and S-Hard Difficulty Levels In the Puzzle Village, choose 1P Stadium and then pick your name or guest at the Name Select Screen. On the Game TRICKS TOP 10 TRICKS The top 10 games of the last month given the full- on Trickman treatment: 1. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer Debug Trick Go to an empty game file and push the A button. This will bring you to the screen where you would normally enter your initials. While in this screen, hold down the Z but- ton and use the L-Shoulder button to type in RRTANGENT. Now scroll over to the "End" option while still holding Z and hit the L-Shoulder button once more. At this point noth- ing will happen. Now, while Still holding Z, push the B but- ton to exit the screen and then push A to bring you back into the Initials screen. Now, while holding Z and using L- Shoulder button, type in ABA- CUS. Scroll over to the “End” option and while holding Z, push L. It should say, *OK." Now begin any saved game and start a race. While in the race, pause the game. While on the *Pause" Menu push Left, Down, Right, Up. The “Game Cheats” option should appear. From this screen you should be able to toggle Invincibility, Al speed, Intelligence, Mirror Mode and Edit Vehicle Stats! ao? Cool Codes Enter the following cheat while paused during play. If you entered these correctly, the screen will shake. Blowout Trick This trick will blow open the game and give you a new character. From the menu, access Career Mode. Begin a new game and press START to pause. Press and hold the L1 button and enter Circle, Right, Up, Down, Circle, Right, Up, Square, Triangle. The screen shakes if entered correctly. Go to the Main Menu Screen. Choose to continue the Career Mode and Officer Dick, all tapes, levels, medals, stats and FMV movies will become available. Settings Screen, press and hold i5] San Francisco the Z button and then press L- Shift, L-Shift, A, B. The V-Hard difficulty level will appear under- neath the others. To get S-Hard difficulty, hold Z button and press R-Shift, L-Shift, A, B. Now you have two entirely new levels of challenge in the game! Trainer Taunts In a 2P game, the first one to select his/her character can press the A button repeatedly to keep taunting your opponent until he picks his character. E] Unlock Trainers On the "Select Trainer" screen, press and hold L-Shift+R-Shift+Z simultaneously on controllers one and two. The question marks will then go away and the characters will be revealed. Hidden Mewtwo Stage Start a 2P game. On the “Select Trainer” Screen, press and hold Z. While holding this button, press B, Up, L-Shift, B, A, Start, A, Up, R-Shift (To help you remember the code, it spells BULBASAUR). Mewtwo's stage will automatically appear. Player 1 will be Ash and Player 2 will be Mewtwo. Level 99 Speed Marathon On the Title Screen, press and hold Z. While holding this but- ton, press B, A, L-Shift, L-Shift. You will hear a sound. Choose Marathon in Puzzle Village and on the Game Settings Screen, you will see that you can set the speed level to 99! Rush 2049 SECRET CODES On the Main Menu Screen, move down and highlight “Options.” Then press the L-Shift+R- Shift+C-Up+C-Right+Z buttons simultaneously. Keep doing this until you see a new option called “Cheats” appear at the bottom of the menu. Access this new option to get a list of all the cheats you can unlock with these codes as shown. (Note: The timing is tricky, you must enter them VERY quickly and you may need to try them sever- C-Right, C-Right. Press and hold L-Shift+R-Shift and press C-Left. Press C-Left, C-Left. Press and hold L-Shift+R-Shift and press C- Right. Battle Paint Shop Highlight Battle Paint Shop. Press 2, Z, Z, C-Down, C-Down, C-Down, C-Left, C-Left, C-Left, C- Right, C-Up, C-Left, C-Down. Invisible Car Highlight Invisible Car. Press C- Up, C-Down, C-Left, C-Right, L- Shift, R-Shift, Z. There are more codes to unlock, so send them in! al times before they will appear.) J Dave Mirra All Parts Highlight All Parts. Press and hold L-Shift+R-Shift. While hold- ing these, press Z. Release all buttons. Press C-Down, C-Up, C- Left, C-Right. Press and hold L- Shift+R-Shift. While holding these, press Z. Super Tires Highlight Super Tires. Press Z, Z, Z, L-Shift, R-Shift, C-Up, C-Up, C- Left, C-Right, C-Down. Invincible Highlight Invincible. Press C- Right, L-Shift, R-Shift, R-Shift, L- Shift. Press and hold C-Left+C- Down. While holding these, press Z. E All Cars Highlight All Cars. Press C-Left, C-Left, C-Left, C-Up, C-Up, C-Up, C-Right, C-Right, C-Right, C- and hold L-Shift+R-Shift+C- Left+C-Up+C-Right+C-Down. With these held, press Z. Invisible Track Highlight Invisible Track. Press Electronic Gaming Monthly - 222 - www.videogames.com Freestyle BNIX SLIM JIM, BIKES AND MORE EJ Unlock Slim Jim On the Rider Select Screen, press Down, Down, Left, Right, Up, Up, Circle. At the end of the list of riders will be Slim Jim. Unlock All Bikes On the Bike Select Screen, press Up, Left, Up, Down, Up, Right, Left, Right, Circle. All bikes will be available for you to use. Unlock All Styles On the Style Select Screen, press Left, Up, Right, Down, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Circle. Every style will now be available. Down, C-Down, C-Down. Press 2. Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes TONS OF CHEATS From the Main Menu Screen, access the Options. Move down BAND Пру ој са NinédneinNarts Perfect circle Раратайвт Errem ductus (ЕРІ ACL Кт Stand Statio Sublinte Мата Сой тас апа 1000 serene PRODUCTS Baseball баре llegar Poseta CD'S SUGKErS Videos Wind Breakers до Тр One en Prairie, MN 55344 CONTEST 1 - VIDEO GAMES Sony Playstation 2, Sega Dreamcast, PS1, and GameCube. Get all four or trade what you don't wai or cash. Options includé plenty of gai Xbox, Gameboy Advance, ассезопе d 36" monitor. Base prize package value $1400. All this and more could be yours. In these contests everyone starts out equal, There is no luck involved. You win the prizes by outscor- ing other players in games of skill. Begin your journey by solving the puzzle below. If you stick it out till the end and have the highest score, you go on a shopping spree and we foot the bill. This first puzzle is easy but it gives you an idea of how the contests work. You will receive full information when you enter. You have been given the opportunity to live your dream. Are you up to it? For each contest you enter, you will receive by mail, four more puzzles at $2 each and a tie-breaker at $1. You have three weeks to solve each puzzle. We can not predict the number of entries for each phase. Typically 59% attain the highest score in PRIZE PUZZLE WORD LIST TOWER -P LEGAL EARTH -X EMPTY WORLD - U SPACE -W Name City CONTEST 2 - COMPUTER 700 MHz, 128 mb RAM, 27 gi hard drive,8X DVD-ROM, СО- drive, modem and 17” monitor. ns include software and accessories. Base prize package value $2600. Fill in the puzzle with the correct words going across. word's corresponding letter to the line at the end. TI the secret word going down. HINT: Read the secret word clue. ENTER ME IN THE FOLLOWING CONTESTS: П ($3) Video Game П ($3) Computer Mailing Address Area Code SEND CASH, MONEY ORDER OR CHECK TO: CONTEST 3 - HOME THEATER 60" big screen, 100 watt receive! h Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sou DVD, 200 CD changer, dual FI VCR and t include Sattelit Base prize pac phase 1, 47% in phase 2, 39% in phase 3 and 34% in phase 4. The winner will have the highest score after the tie-breaker. Each contest has its own tie-breaker. In the unlikely event that players are still tied, they will split the value of the package they are playing for. Follow the directions below to fill in the puzzle. Check the boxes on the entry form to speci- fy the contests you are entering. Add up the entry fees and send that amount with the entry form to the address below. Remember, you can't win if you don't enter. Only one entry per person. Prize totals are described below puzzle. ALL ENTRY FEES MUST BE PAID IN U.S. FUNDS ONLY. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT CANADIAN CHECKS. DIRECTIONS ransfer each Should spell П ($3) Home Theater [0 ($5) Enter All Three 102 Apartment # State Zip Phone Number WHEW риу шоч JepJO SILL dijo ҰЯ 28 SECRET WORD CLUE: What comes after yesterday but before tomorrow? -4— ОНОМ 199935 ELATION, Р.О. BOX 62126 DEPT 953, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 55344 This puzzle is void where prohibited. Employees of Elation, Inc and its suppliers are ineligible. Judges decisions are final. Where judges are in error the sponsor's liability. is limited to the amount of entry fees paid. Elation is not responsible for lost, delayed or stolen mail. Winners will be determined no later than December 01, 2001. This con- test is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. If you are under 18, you must have parents permission to play. O 2000 Elation, Inc. Value of prize packages as follows: Video Game package $1400 base prize, bonus options S2350, cash options $1250. Computer package $2600 base prize, bonus options $2850, cash options $1250. Home theater package $7475 base prize, bonus options $6375, cash options $1250. For any questions e-mail us at elatione uswest.net. or call us at 952-826-0033. TRICKS TOP 10 TRICKS ( TINUE Col (Yellow) | Easy Level Gain | switch the Pokémon you want | to train with the top Pokémon | battle, this Pokémon will appear. Switch to another battle, the beginning Pokémon and the fighting | ence points. This is especially | useful if the Pokémon you | attack in its first form. 4. Driver 2. Go to the Main Menu/Title Screen and enter the tricks as move right until you highlight the police car and then access | L2, La, R2, R2, La, R2, L2, La, , Ra, Ка, L2, L1, L1. The | 9. Pokémon To easily gain experience, | on your list. When you go into Pokémon. Once you win the Pokémon both gain experi- want to build up has no initial Invincibility shown. To activate the cheats, the Cheats Menu. Then press Invincibility option will now be unlocked in the Cheats Screen. 9. Pokémon c 1 (Red) COLOR Infinite Items WARNING: USE THIS TRICK AT YOUR OWN RISK! With this cheat, you can give yourself an unlimited supply of what- ever item you have in your sixth inventory slot. Keep in | mind that this trick only works ¡in the Red and Blue versions ofthe game. First, head to | Viridian City and talk to the | old man who instructed you | how to use Poké Balls. When | he asks you, choose to watch | his demonstration again. After |. that, immediately fly to | Cinnabar Island. Choose one | of your Pokémon who has the | Surf Ability. Ride up and down |. the east coast of the island |. (hugging the shoreline) until | you get into a battle. | | | | | | | | | | Eventually, you will encounter one of two glitchy Pokémon, either one with a name made up of scrambled boxes orthe | infamous Missingno. Whatever you do, do not | catch any Pokémon you encounter here. Repeat: Do not catch any of them. It will and access Cheats. On the screen are locked versions of most of the codes. Put in the button codes on the Cheats Screen to unlock each one. Level Select Circle, X, Square, Square, X, Square, Circle. Invincibility L1, Square, Circle, Circle, Square, L1, L2. All Weapons R2, X, L1, Square, R1, Circle, L2. Infinite Ammunition L2, Circle, R2, Square, Circle, L2, R1. Double Damage Square, Square, Square, Circle, Circle, Circle, X. Temporary Invincibility La, La, La, La, La, La, R2. Invisibility Square, X, Circle, Square, X, Circle, Square. Full Ego Ra, R1, Circle, Circle, L1, L1, R2. Full Armor La, L1, R1, R3, X, X, Circle, Circle. First-Person View L2, R1, L1, R2, Circle, X, Square. | El Big Head Duke Square, Square, X, Circle, Circle, X, Square. Small Head Duke Square, X, Circle, Circle, X, Square, Square. Big Head Enemies X, X, Ra, X, La, X. Small Head Enemies X, L1, X, R1, X, X. Wacky FMV Sequences L1, L2, R1, R2, Circle, Circle, Square, Square. Outtake FMV Sequences L1, L2, R1, R2, Square, Square, Circle, Circle. E Ending ЕМУ Sequence Circle, R2, L1, Square, L2, X, R2. Unlock Every Cheat La, L2, R2, Ra, L1, L2, R2, R1, La, L2, R2, R1, L1, L2, R2, R1, Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle, X, X, X, X, Square, Square, Square, Square, Select, Select, Select, Select. 2 MTV Sports: E] CHEAT PASSWORD On the Main Menu Screen, pick Single Player. On the next menu, enter Lifestyle. Delete the name on this screen, and put in PASWRD as your name. In Lifestyle mode, you will have access to new boards and out- fits. Choose your character and begin the game. Now pause and quit. Go back to the Main Menu and pick Single Player. On the next menu, pick Freeplay. In addition to new boards and out- fits, all the hidden skaters and parks will be unlocked! NFL Blitz 2001 TODAY’S CONTEST CODES When the “Today’s Contest” screen appears, enter codes with the Turbo, Jump and Pass buttons. Press the buttons the number of times shown below, and then press the D-pad in the direction indicated to complete the code. (For example, if the code is 3, 4, 5, Right, you will press Turbo three times, Jump four times, Pass five times and then press Right on the D-pad). El Red, White and Blue Football 3, 2, 3, Left Big Football Electronic Gaming Monthly - 224 - www.videogames.com 0, 5, 0, Right Fast Passes 2, 5, 0, Left Infinite Turbo 5,1, 4, Up Fast Turbo Running 0, 3, 2, Left Unlimited Throwing Distance 2, 2, 3, Right Power-up Offense 3,1, 2, Up Power-up Defense 4, 2,1, Up Power-up Teammates 2, 3, 3, Up Super Blitzing O, 4, 5, Up Super Field Goals 1, 2, 3, Left No Interceptions 3, 4, 4, Up No Random Fumbles 4, 2, 3, Down No First Downs 2,1, 0, Up No Punting 1, 5, 1, Up Allow Stepping Out of Bounds 2, 1, 1, Left Power-up Blockers 3, 1, 2, Left Show Field Goal Percentage 0,0,1, Down Show Punt Hang Meter 0,0,1, Right Hide Receiver Name 1, 0, 2, Right Invisible Receiver Highlight 3, 3, 3, Left Invisible 900-PRE VIEW The number to call for the 4, 3,3, Up Big Head 2, 0, O, Right Huge Head 0, 4, 0, Up Team Big Players 1, 4, 1, Right Team Big Heads 2, о, 3, Right Team Tiny Players 3, 1, 0, Right No Play Selection (2P must agree) 1, 1, 5, Left Show More Field (2P must agree) 0, 2, 1, Right No CPU Assistance (2P must agree) 0, 1, 2, Down Power-up Speed (2P must agree) 4, 0, 4, Left Hyper Blitz (2P must agree) 5, 5, 5, Up Smart CPU Opponent (1P game only) 3, 1, 4, Down Deranged Blitz Mode (1P game only) 2,1, 2, Down Ultra Hard Mode (1P game only) 3, 2, 3, Up Super Passing Mode (2P game only) 4, 2, 3, Right Super Blitz Mode (2P game only) 4, 4, 4, Up Tournament Mode (2P game only) 1, 1, 1, Down Always Quarterback (2P team- mate required) 2, 2, 2, Left Always Receiver (2P teammate required) 2, 2, 2, Right Baseball Stadium 5, 0, 2, Left Round Snow Stadium 5, 0, 3, Up Astro Turf Field 3, 0, 1, Up Ice Field 3, 0, 2, Up Snow Field 3, 0, 3, Up Blitz Grass Field 3, 0, 0, Up Dirt Field 3, 0, 4, Up Weather: Snow 5,2, 5, Down Weather: Clear 2,1, 2, Left Weather: Rain 5, 5, 5, Right 4gers Playbook 1, 5, 1, Left Bears Playbook Electronic Gaming Monthly - 225 - www.videogames.com 1, 1, O, Left Bengals Playbook 1, 1, 2, Left Bills Playbook 1, 0, 4, Left Broncos Playbook 1, 1, 5, Right Browns Playbook 1, 1, 3, Left Buccaneers Playbook 1, 5, 4, Left Cardinals Playbook 1, O, 1, Left Chargers Playbook 1, 4, 5, Left Chiefs Playbook 1, 2, 5, Left Colts Playbook 1, 2, 3, Up Cowboys Playbook 1, 1, 4, Left Dolphins Playbook 1, 3, 1, Left Eagles Playbook 1, 4, 3, Left Falcons Playbook 1, 0, 2, Left Giants Playbook 1, 3, 5, Left Jaguars Playbook 1, 2, 4, Left Jets Playbook 1, 4, 1, Left Lions Playbook 1, 2, 1, Left Packers Playbook 1, 2, 2, Left Panthers Playbook 1, O, 5, Left Patriots Playbook 1, 3, 3, Left Raiders Playbook 1, 4, 2, Left Rams Playbook 1, 5, 3, Left Ravens Playbook 1, 0, 3, Left Redskins Playbook 2, 0, 1, Left Saints Playbook 1,3, 4, Left Seahawks Playbook 1, 5, 2, Left Steelers Playbook 1, 4, 4, Left Titans Playbook 1, 5, 5, Left Vikings Playbook 1, 3, 2, Left From the Game Setup Menu, access Advanced Options. On this menu, access Rosters. On TOP 10 TRICKS (CONTINUED) ruin your saved game. Run from every battle as soon as | you get into one. After run- | ning from a battle with a | glitch Pokémon, check your inventory. Whatever item was in the sixth slot should have a strange symbol where the quantity used to be. This usu- ally means that you have well over 100 of that item. This trick can be done repeatedly, | 50 you can essentially have infinite items. Now, you can | have а ton of Master Balls ог | enough rare candy to power | | up all your Pokémon to level | | 400. Just don't power them up past that because you then | run the risk of damaging your saved game. 6. WWF 45 | | SmackDown! | | Hidden Stuff | | As you play through an entire | season in SmackDown!, you | will either unlock secret char- | acters or get extra attribute |. points for your created |. wrestler. Here is a list of what | you will unlock each year. | ast Year: Ivory | 2nd Year: Prince Albert 3rd Year: Jaqueline | 4th Year: Viscera | 5th Year: 80 points for | created wrestlers | 6th Year: Mideon | 7th Year: Gerald Brisco | 8th Year: Pat Patterson | 9th Year: 90 points for | created wrestlers | e GAMEBOY. | 1. Pokemon Color | Trading Card Card Advantage Tip 85 percent of the battles are for four prizes or less. That | means you can draw lots of | cards with trainers and draw | attacks without having to | worry about running out of | cards in your draw pile your- | self. You'll want lots of Professor Oaks and Bills in | your Deck. Some of the club | |. leaders use stall Decks | | designed to run you out of | | cards. The Gambler trainer is a good substitute for Bill and | | Oak in these situations. | | Gambler allows you to shuffle | | your hand back into your | Deck instead of discarding it. You can then flip a coin to 1 draw either one or eight | cards. This card can really | save you late in the game. | 8. Pokémon Coe (Blue) | Fight Safari Zone | Pokémon | This will allow you to fight and | catch the Safari Zone TOP 10 TRICKS (CONTINUED) Pokémon outside the Safari Zone. To begin, you must have a Pokémon with the Surf Ability. Now go to the Safari Zone and enter the area where the Pokémon you are trying to catch is found. Stay in the section until the time runs out. Go to the Seafoam Islands by surfing south of Fuchsia City. Be sure you don't encounter any enemies on the way, or the trick won't work (this does not include the Pokémon in the water on the way there). On the edge of the islands, there is a strip of the screen that is half land, and half water. Now, surf on this section and just keep. going up and down on it. When you run into an enemy, it will be the Pokémon from the Safari Zone section you just left. This time though, you will be able to fight them and use the other Balls. 9. World Series 2K1 Automatic Batting Aim This trick will work in the default Rookie Mode setting. When your man is up to bat, move the analog stick slightly in any direction. While keep- ing a hold on the analog stick, wait until the pitch, and the cursor will automatically fol- low the ball for perfect aim. 10. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Max Out Lives Go to World 3-1 and get to the end of the level where the staircase of blocks leads up to the end-level flagpole. Two turtles will come down the steps and you'll have to avoid or get rid of the first one. Now, you will have to get the second turtle shell between one of the blocks and Mario's body by jumping on it to make it bounce offthe block and Mario multiple times. Once you do this correctly, your score will increase and even- tually turn into 1-Ups! Now you can max out your lives! COLOR the next menu select Player Management. On this screen, choose Create Player. Now, enter the first and last names of the players as shown below for various results. Superstar Defense Put in Sandis for the first name and Ozolinsh for the last name, or Chris for the first name and Pronger for the last name. When it asks if you would like to cre- ate a player like him, answer "Yes." You can change this play- er's name but don't change any attributes before you save him. Superstar Forward Put in Peter for the first name and Forsberg for the last name, or Jaromir for the first name and Jagr for the last name. When it asks if you would like to create a player like him, answer "Yes." You can change this player's name but don't change any attributes before you save him. Superstar Goalie Put in Patrick for the first name and Roy for the last name, or Dominik for the first name and Hasek for the last name. When it asks if you would like to create a player like him, answer "Yes." You can change this player's name but don't change any attributes before you save him. Hammer Put in Hammer for the first name and any other name for the last name. Put him on one of the teams, and when he plays, the announcer will refer to him as “The Hammer.” Dude Put in Bruce for the first name and Willis for the last name. Put him on one of the teams, and when he plays, the announcer will refer to him as “Dude.” Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 ¿cor SECRET CODES From the Main Menu Screen, access Career Mode and choose to continue a career or start a new one. On the Select Player Screen, choose a character and begin your game. In the middle of play, press START to pause the game and then press and hold the L1 button. While hold- ing this button, enter any of these codes to unlock the fol- lowing features. The screen will shake when each of these tricks is entered correctly. Big Head Square, Circle, Up, Left, Left, Square, Right, Up, Left. Unlimited Special Meter X, Triangle, Circle, Up, Left, Triangle, Square. Fast Motion Down, Square, Triangle, Right, Up, Circle, Down, Square, Triangle, Right, Up, Circle. Full Statistics X, Triangle, Circle, Square, Triangle, Up, Down. No Blood Right, Up, Square, Triangle. Skinny Skater X, X, X, X, Square, X, X, X, X, Square, X, X, X, X, Square. Obese Skater X, X, X, X, Left, X, X, X, X, Left, X, X, X, X, Left. NeverSoft Pro Skaters On the Main Menu Screen, press and hold L1. While holding this button, press Up, Square, Square, Triangle, Right, Up, Circle, Triangle. The skate will spin around to confirm the code was entered correctly. Now access the Create Skater Mode. Choose an empty skater slot from the roster and enter any of the following names to automat- ically create members of the NeverSoft team. AARON CAMMARATA RALPH D'AMATO JOELJEWETT CONNOR JEWETT MICK WEST JOHNNY OW NOEL HINES GARY JESDANUN RYAN MCMAHON NOLAN NELSON SCOTT PEASE CHRIS RAUSCH JUNKI SAITA DARREN THORNE JASON UYEDA Driver STAGE PASSWORDS From the Main Menu Screen, highlight and choose Undercover. Choose to continue and enter these passwords. Stage 2: Hide the Evidence Tire Mark, Police Badge, Pylon, Red Light Stage 3: Boat Chase Traffic Light, Key, Key, Blue Light Stage 4: Ram Raid Race Pylon, Pylon, Pylon, Police Badge Stage 5: Superfly Drive Key, Red Light, Red Light, Traffic Light Stage 6: Bait for a Trap Key, Police Badge, Tire Mark, Blue Light Stage 7: Take Out Di Angelo Police Badge, Pylon, Police Badge, Red Light Stage 8: Steal a Cop Car Red Light, Police Badge, Key, Tire Mark Stage 9: Get Lucky to Doctor's Pylon, Blue Light, Red Light, Red Light Stage 10: Beverly Hills Getaway Police Badge, Police Badge, Traffic Light, Pylon Stage 11: Grand Central Station Blue Light, Key, Key, Key Stage 12: Trash Granger's Wheels Traffic Light, Tire Mark, Red Light, Police Badge Stage 13: Stop Granger's Gang Key, Police Badge, Police Badge, Pylon Stage 14: Chase One of Granger's Boys Red Light, Blue Light, Red Light, Blue Light. ск Spider-Man SECRET PASSWORDS From the Main Menu Screen, choose “Continue” and enter these passwords as shown. Venom Conquered GVCBF Lizard Man Conquered QVCLF El the Lab G-FGN *see page 233 for contest rules tricks cziffdavis.com We want your tricks! We want to include your hest codes and tricks in every issue, to put along with all our great tricks we pack in every issue. You can even win prizes if we pick yours as Trick of the Month! Electronic Gaming Monthly - 226 - www.videogames.com (S DREAMCAST ECCO THE DOLPHIN Enable All Levels 5DD7BFF7FFFFFFFF 803385A00000000F F355 CHALLENGE Infinite Time 58377 ВЕАоооо111Е Place 15 - Arcade 1C241A0E00000000 Enable Fiorano B9E6378A00000001 Enable Nurburgring 1FB41B9600000001 Enable Laguna-Seca 5FC77A5000000001 Enable Sepang A9035C9600000001 Enable Atlanta D7288ED800000001 NFL BLITZ 2001 Infinite Creation Pts 962802F10000002A Team 1 Start W/99 Pts 58B47C45C0705041 58В77С4500000063 Team 2 Start W/99 Pts 31Ғ22Ғ55С0705041 31F12F5500000063 I NINTENDO 64 ARMY MEN: SARGE'S HEROES 2 Infinite Health 8135C5180600 Infinite Armor 8135C5180600 All Weapons & Ammo 8115Do6Eo001 8116368E0001 TUROK 3: SHADOW OF OBLIVION Infinite Life Force 813334FC0063 Have PSG 8133395A0100 Have Blade 813339440100 Have Cerebral Bore 813339580100 Infinite Arrows 813339280064 Infinite Shotgun Ammo 813339320064 Infinite Firestorm Cannon Ammo 813339300064 Electronic Gami Have Shotgun 813339500100 Have Pistol 813339440100 Infinite Grenade Gun Ammo 813339240064 Infinite Pistol Ammo 8133392E0064 Have Grenade Launcher 813339540100 Infinite Health 813334FA6400 Have All Secrets 811659C6FFFF 811659C4FFF Æ PLAYSTATION DANGER GIRL Infinite Health 80061B402400 Infinite Pistol Ammo 800EF51803E7 Infinite Pistol Clips 800EF51A03E7 Infinite AK47 Ammo 800EF57803E7 Infinite AK47 Clips 800EF57A03E7 Infinite Sub Machinegun Ammo 800EF5D803E7 Infinite Sub Machinegun Clips 800EF5D803E7 DAVE MIRRA BMX Unlock All Hidden Characters 800B60160Co3 Extra Time in Proquest Eoo8BFA9000E 3008ВҒАдооАо All Movies Unlocked 300B6018003F 300B611C000F 300B6B44000F All Cheats Unlocked 800B601000FF Have All Gold Medals 500006010000 300B61090003 500006010000 300B620D0003 500006010000 300B63110003 500006010000 300B64150003 500006010000 300B65190003 500006010000 300866100003 500006010000 300B67210003 500006010000 Monthly - 227 - w ideogames.com 300B68250003 500006010000 300B69290003 500006010000 300B6A2D0003 500006010000 300B6B310003 500006010000 300B6C350003 DINO CRISIS 2 Unlock Characters Extra Mode SooAEACEFFFF Unlock Extra Dino Mode 800AECA80101 800AECAEo101 99 Hit Combo 800AE3700063 Max Score 800AEE10EoFF СООК GAME BOY FROGGER 2 Infinite Lives 9109DFC2 Have All Gems Collected 9100B4C2 Max Score 9199E3C2 9199E4C2 9199E5C2 LITTLE MERMAID 2: PINBALL FRENZY Infinite Balls o109A1Do Max Score 010945D6 010946D6 010947D6 010948D6 010949D6 01094AD6 01094BD6 Q*BERT Beat The Game In Arcade Mode! 91138DCD 911319C4 Max Score 9199BeCD 9199BDCD 9199BCCD Infinite Lives 91088BCD HEY, YOU; WANNA WIN FREE STUFF? If your trick is selected as Trick of the Month, you will win a free GameShark pro- vided by InterAct, and a Twin Shock, or a Нурегбд, or an Advanced Pad, or a DC carrying case from Blaze. If you are given credit for submit- ting a hot trick in this section, you will win a free game. See page 233 for rules. Note: If you send your trick by e-mail, you must include your real name and address. Send your best tricks, codes, Web sites, any- thing that can help make games more fun or inter- esting to: Tricks of the Trade P.O. Box 3338 Oak Brook IL 60522-3338 or send e-mail to: tricks@ziff i davis.com Ea گے‎ February 2001 ELECTRONIC) GAMING I MONTH LY On sale Jan. e Special eXclusive...? • More pictures and Old franchises don't die easily. In fact, they're info on Gran Turismo resurging with a vengeance on the PS2. 3 for PlayStation 2 Games such as WipeOut, Tomb Raider, Twisted A Metal, Tekken and Ridge Racer had lost some e Klonoa 2 Preview for of their luster. We're going to show you how + and why they’re making a run to regain their Playstation 1 glory. Everything old is indeed new again. e " Also, in the spirit of the elections, we urge you lunar 2: Eternal Blue to support your favorite games by picking up Complete Review for the next issue so you can get that coveted П ballot for EGM's Reader's Choice Awards. PlayStation e Grandia Il Review for Dreamcast * Capcom us. SNK Review for Dreamcast • Breath of Fire IV Review for PlayStation Namco is lifting the curtain off of Klonoa 2. Jan. 2001 On sale Dec. 19 PlayStation tan. 2001 MAGAZINE On sale Dec. 12 Demo Disc Gran Turismo 3 Pokémon Time ° vou need tor Pokémon Playables ў : Gold and Silver • Spider-Man In January, ОРМ takes a detailed Texas doesn' t have the market Ж 5 look at what just might be the cornered on big, as XG blows up * Super Shenmue guide * Driver 2: The Wheelman greatest racing game of all time, the strategy market next month. • Final maps and tips to get Is Back Gran Turismo 3. Count on them to They'll have full guides on the through Majora's Mask e The Grinch help put you behind the wheels of hottest holiday games, including e 102 Dalmations the most exotic cars from around Medal of Honor Underground, • International Feature the world. And to help all those Quake 111, NFL Blitz 2001 and T * Army Men: Air Attack procrastinators out there, their Shenmue and part two of their e Ultra-detailed Medal of Non-Playahles guide on the PS2 will put all of the Zelda coverage. Also, you may Honor Underground maps e Medal of Honor latest news, previews and reviews have heard of another little game Underground at your fingertips—no one else will called Pokémon Gold/Silver. You give you this detailed a look at want to catch all those little Sony’s mega-system. And don’t miss critters now, don’t you? Be a the latest news on the Tomb Raider good little “Readerchu” and pick flick. Add in all of OPM’s usual tricks up the January issue of Expert and strategies and you have the Gamer. You won't be makings of a major issue, and that’s disappointed! not even counting the demo disc! Gaming Monthly - 228 Electronic FINAL WORD James Mielke • james mielkeGziffllavis.com Greg Sewart • greg_sewart@ziffdavis.com Kraig Kujawa • kraig_kujawa@ziffdavis.com Mark MacDonald • mark_macdonald@ziffdavis.com The PS2 Debut: Stories From The Frontline Greg Sewart Milkman: | went to see the fancy little line they had forming at the Metreon, which by 10:30 a.m. had amounted to two San Franciscan blocks worth of wet people (it had been raining all morning). Resident Sony PR stud, Ryan B., was wearing his official PS2 poncho (read: a plastic bag with the letters “PS2” emblazoned across the back). The crowd outside was the closest thing I’ve seen to the lines a console launch usually inspires in Japan. The Metreon mercifully decided to let these people off the hook by putting the PS2s on sale at midnight. So it was an energetic scene. Then again, this is a major metropolis, so | can’t speak for what was happening in Boise, Idaho, but out here in San Fran, everywhere was sold out by morning. two of my other friends were there, which was nice because | got to see the announcer accidentally step and fall off of the register, to the concerned (and amused) “ohhhhhhhhs” of the crowd, and see a shoving match between security and rowdy raffle ticket holders. Afterward, the other 29 winners and | were escorted out by 10 armed cops and security in a scene similar to the president being pushed into a waiting car by the Secret Service. Greg: | promised myself | wouldn't stand in line for a PS2, but excitement got the better of me and | ended up standing in the local Best Buy line by 1 a.m. (Mark wussed out). After a long night followed by the lovely Best Buy managers going on a small power trip and making us stand there until 10 a.m. when the store officially opened, we “...29 winners and | were escorted out by 10 armed cops and security...” | myself said thanks but no thanks to all the chaos. I'll wait to get mine when they are plentiful, and there's less drama in obtaining one. Kraig: | went to a Super K-Mart (by Super, they mean 24 hours), where they raffled off 30 PS2s at midnight. The crowd to get their raffle tickets began around 10 p.m., and the amount of people reached over 600. The scene was pretty rowdy, some guys had coke bottles filled with liquor (you could smell it), while another guy had his baby wrapped in blankets in his shopping cart. There was also plenty of the requisite bored girlfriends waiting for their boyfriend to hurry up and get this stupid thing so they could get home. Anyhow, after waiting about 30 minutes for people to shut their mouths so that the 65-year-old guy could yell the winning numbers loud enough while standing on top of a register (they didn't bother using the intercom), the numbers were read, and | was the second one called. The PS2s were in a customer service area, and as | made my way through the throngs of PS2 suitors, | was called “a dick" by some, and patted on the back by others. When | was finally brought to the PS2 register, a CBS camera crew was there asking questions to the *winners" (the right to give K-Mart $299+). Afterward, | waited for the lottery to finish since had to endure a speech about their great two-year warranty and price protection program. Ah well, at least | got one. As for those who didn't, | don't feel too sorry for you. Go buy a Dreamcast. Its Christmas games are still loads better than anything you'll see on the PS2 before March. Mark: And why did | “wuss” out? Seeing the lineup of PS2 games the night before was a very sobering experience; here it was, the all-powerful PS2 launch lineup right before me, finally for sale, and | realized that the only game I really wanted to play (Ridge Racer V) | already owned for my import machine. | wanted to try out SSX, but wasn't totally convinced it was worth the $50, much less waiting 12 hours in line for. Still, having a U.S. DVD player would be nice, so | went home, got a couple hours sleep, and got in line at 5 a.m. Three hours later they handed out the tickets and some guy five people ahead of me got the last one (out of about 210); yes, it sucked, it sucked bad. Some ofthe lucky ticket holders even mocked us as we plodded back to our cars, heads held low. But honestly, | was relieved in a way; | wasn't going to have to sit in the rain for three more hours and | could go home, go to the bathroom, and get some sleep. | experienced the mania, met some very cool people, and got my $5 coupon. I was happy. Electronic Gaming Monthly - 229 Chairman, Chief Executive Officer. and President. James D. Dunning, Jr. Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President. Tom McGrade. Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President . President, Consumer Magazine Group. Bob Madore „James J. Spanfeller President, Business Publication Group .............d Al Perlman Executive Vice President and Editorial Director . . Michael J. Miller (Editor-in-Chief, PC Magazine) Executive Vice President and Publishing Director’. . .J. Scott Crystal (Consumer Magazine Group) Executive Vice President and Publishing Director ...... Bill Flatley (Ziff Davis SMART BUSINESS for the New Economy, Corporate Sales) Executive Vice President and Publishing Director ........ Peter Longo (Consumer Magazine Group). «Charles Nast . John Dodge Senior Vice President (Circulation) Vice President (Editor, eWEEK)... Vice President esasen у... 6. Barry Golson (Editor-in-Chief, Yahoo! Internet Life) Vice President (Production) .................. Roger Herrmann: Vice President ......................... Gordon Lee Jones Ill (Publisher, Ziff Davis Smart Business for the New Economy") Vice President «Howard Kaplan. (Marketing, Cor Vice President (Editor-in-Chief, eWEEK) ........... Eric Lundquist Vice President (Technology) .................... Bill Machrone Vice President (Marketing, Business Publication Group) Vice President (Editor-in-Chief, FamilyPC) .......... Robin Raskin Vice President (General Counsel) ........... Carolyn Schurr Levin. Vice President (Publisher, eWEEK) ............... Sloan Seymour. Vice President...) eere enero Paul Somerson. Editorial Director, Ziff Davis Development) Vice President (Game Group) . Dale Strang Vice President (Human Resources) + Vincent Stabile eTesting Labs Vice President and General Manager Mark Van Name Chief Technology Officer .... Bill Catchings Ziff Davis Media Inc. Chairman, A James 0. Dunning, Jr. Chief Executive Officer and President Chief Operating Officer ........................ Tom McGrade and Senior Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President ........ Bob Madore President, Consumer Magazine Group . „James J, Spanfeller President, Business Publication Group . А! Perlman President, Brand Development ............... Justin McCormack Vice President and General Counsel ......... Carolyn Schurr Levin Chief Information Officer ........................! Kim Hoover. Director of Communications ..................| Elizabeth Estroff Publishing Consultant ........................... Chip Block “TEKKEN TAG TOURNA- MENT' Features more than 30 characters who have appeared throughout the Tekken series since the first arcade game. Pick your favorites and join the fight as you use the unique strengths of each combatant to annihi- late your opponents. A spe- cial tag-team mode creates new combinations of attack- ing never before possible. Sophisticated and highly detailed backgrounds. PlayStation. Namco (Fighter) Release: NOW PSX2 "DEAD OR ALIVE' Drool over lush backgrounds meticulously detailed with the most advanced techniques in light- ing and texturing. Multi-tiered fighting stages let you toss your opponents through cathedral windows, over cas- cading waterfalls, and off towering rooftops to continue the fight below. E PlayStation. Tecmo (Fighter) Release:NOW, PSX2 “SUMMONER' With rings of channel- ing, you will call forth demons and golems, supernatural servants and ele- mental creatures. As a young Summoner you'll explore an incredible 3D world filled with many unique char- acters. Experience jaw dropping spell effects and amazing in-game cinemat- ics. THQ (Roleplaying) Release: NOW, PSX2 “TONY HAWK'S PRO SKATER 2’ Choose from the most comprehensive roster of pro skaters, an increased number of tricks and combinations, includ- ing new grabs, grinds, inverts and lip and nollie tricks. You'll need to learn and master these new skills as you work your way up the in the rankings. Activision (Sports) Release: NOW, PSX {= ER RE: 2 y => ғ i PlayStation ‘SPYRO 3: YEAR OF THE DRAGON’ |5 packed with tons of new features includ- ing brand new playable charaters, and new mini- MM games. There are a total of 37 huge levels to explore as you find gems, fight bad guys, and learn new moves to help on your journey. This is sure to be the best Spyro game yet! Sony (Adventure) Release: NOW, PSX “WWF SMACKDOWN! 2” Bodyslams, insane action and complelling storylines. Featuring all the top names in the business, “Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, Kane, and many more. Outstanding graph- ics and intense action with WWF Smackdown 2! THQ (Sports) Release: NOW, PSX EGM 0101 P1 PlayStation |i: E SONY PLAYSTATION 2 Tme Release Расе Tm Release PRICE Tm Release Price Tme Reuease PRICE All Star Baseball 2002 11/00 $48.95 Gradius 3 & 4 10/00 $48.95 МВА Hoopz 11/00 $4895 PSX System 2 10/00 $349.95 Armada 2 Exodus 11/00 $48.95 GranTurismo 2000 01/01 $48.95 МВА Live 2001 11/00 $48.95 — Quake ІІ Arena 04/00 $49.95 Armored Core 2 10/00 $48.95 Ground Control 01/00 $48.95 МВА Showtime NBA/NBC 11/00 $48.95 БауМап 2 11/00 $48.95 Ату Men Air Attack 2 12/00 $49.95 NCAA Final Four 2001 — 11/00 $48.95 Baldurs Gate Il 11/00 $48.95 Hidden & Dangerous 2 10/00 $48.95 NCAA Game Breaker 2001 11/00 $48.95 Ridge Racer 5 10/00 $48.95 Bloody Roar 12/00 $48.95 — Jungle Book 11/00 $48.95 NFL Game Day 2001 10/00 54895 Road to EI Dorado 11/00 $48.95 Bomberman 2001 1200 $4895 [MADDEN 2091 All the NFL teams, sta- [| Roadster Trophy 11/00 $48.95 Carrier 12/00 $4895 | diums and exclusive Coaches Club lin- MEGS 2. | Shadow of Destiny 12/00 $48.95 Dark Angel Vamp Apoc 11/00 $4895 | cenge are here, You'll see coaches on - Silent Scope 12/00 $48.95 Dark Cloud 10/00 $48.95 |the sidelines and hear them yelli Silpheed Lost Planet 10/00 $48.95 yelling Sky Odysse 11/00 $49.95 ‘ Each player is extremely detailed with ky Odyssey à Demon Warrior 2 11/00 $48.95 Smuggler's Run 11/00 $48.95 awesome animations. John Madden Dinosaur 12/00 $48.95 Snowboard Superx 10/00 $49.95 and his partner Pat Summerall call the Drakan 11/00 $4895 | action from the booth. Spy Hunter 11/00 $48.95 Driving Emotion Type S 10/00 $48.95 Star Trek New Worlds 11/00 $48.95 Dynasty Warriors 2 10/00 $48.95 Star Wars Star Fighter 11/00 $48.95 Eden 11/00 $48.95 Street Fighter ЕХЗ 10/00 $48.95 ESPN NBA Tonight 11/00 $48.95 Summoner 10/00 54855 ESPN NFL Prime Time 11/00 $48.95 ESPN X Games Snowbrd 11/00 $48.95 EA (Sporna) AU. Tecmo Super Bowl 10/00 $48.95 Eternal Blade 12/00 $4895 | PSX2 Tekken Tag Tournament 10/00 $48.95 Eternal Ring 10/00 $48.95 The Bouncer 01/01 $48.95 Evergrace 10/00 $49.95 Kendo 10/00 $48.95 NHL Hockey 2001 11/00 $4995 The Lost 12/00 $48.95 Evo Rally 11/00 $48.95 Kessen 11/00 $49.95 — Ninja Gaiden 10/00 $48.95 Theme Park World 10/00 $49.95 Extermination 11/00 $48.95 Knockout Kings 2001 11/00 $48.95 ОН Road Thunder 11/00 $48.95 — Tiger Woods 2001 10/00 $48.95 F1 Champ Season 2K 11/00 $48.95 Legacy Kain Soul Rvr2 12/00 $4895 Oni 11/00 $48.05 — Time Splitters 11/00 $48.95 Legion Legend Excalibur 12/00 $48.95 Onimusha Warlords 10/00 $48.95 Тор Gear Dare Devil 11/00 $48.95 Ferrari 360 Challenge 11/00 $48.95 Madden FB 2001 10/00 $49.95 Undying 12/00 $48.95 FIFA Soccer 2001 11/00 $49.95 МОК Armageddon 11/00 $48.05 Pirates Skull Cove 11/00 $48.95 Unreal Tournament 11/00 $48.95 Formula 1 2000 11/00 $48.95 — Metal Gear Solid 2 02/01 $48.95 — Popolocrois 3 10/00 $48.95 Warriors Might & Magic 01/01 548.95 Galerians 2 11/00 $48.95 PSX 2 Dual Shock 2 10/00 $3395 — Wild Wild Racing 10/00 $48.95 Galleon 12/00 $48.95 Mobile Suit Gundam 12/00 $48.95 PSX 2 Horizontal Stand ` 10/00 $34.95 Wipeout Fusion 11/00 $48.95 Gauntlet Dark Legacy 11/00 $48.95 Moto GP 11/00 $48.95 PSX 2 Memory Card 8M 10/00 $34.95 World Destrctn Lg Tanks 12/00 $48.95 Getaway 10/00 $48.95 — Motor Mayhem 12/00 $48.05 PSX 2 Multi Tap 10/00 $34.95 World is Not Enough 11/00 $48.95 Giants Citizen Kabuto 11/00 $4895 — NASCAR 2001 11/00 $48.95 PSX2VertcaStand 10/00 $3495 — X Squad 10/00 $49.95 PLAYSTATION Ace Combat 3 03/00 $36.95 Driver 2 11/00 $4295 NHL Hockey 2001 09/00 $39.95 Subbuteo 08/00 $39.95 Action Man 08/00 $29.95 Duke Nukem Planet Babes09/00 $39.95 Need Speed 5 03/00 $39.95 — Super Bike 2001 12/00 $39.95 Alien Resurrection 10/00 $29.95 Dukes of Hazzard 2 11/00 $39.95 Nightmare Creatures 2 05/00 $39.95 — Super Cross 2000 08/00 $44.95 Alone in the Dark 4 11/00 $39.95 ECW Anarchy Rulez 08/00 $38.95 PGA European Tour Golf 09/00 53995 Sydney 2K Olympics 08/00 $39.95 ESPN MLS Game Night 09/00 $39.95 Paper Boy 07/00 $24.95 Syphon Filter 2 03/00 $39.95 Animorphs 09/00 $29.95 ESPN X Games Snowboard 1/00 $39.95 TOCA Tour Car Champ 2 05/00 $32.95 Are the Lad Collection 01/00 $76.95 Eagle One Harrier Attk 04/00 $39.95 Persona 2 Eternal 11/00 $44.95 Tecmo Deception3 03/00 $42.95 Arena Football 06/00 $39.95 Eternal Eyes 11/00 $39.95 Polaris ЅпоСтоѕ 2000 09/00 $1995 Tenchu 2 08/00 $39.95 Armored Core Mstr Arena 03/00 $39.95 ЕУІ Dead Hail King 10/00 $38.95 АС Revenge 08/00 53295 Тепасоп 09/00 $39.95 Armorines 05/00 $29.95 РІ Champ Season 2000 10/00 53995 Рау Crisis 09/00 $29.95 Test Drive Cycles 09/00 $39.95 Army Men Air Attack 2 09/00 $39.95 — Fi World Gran Prix 2K 11/00 $36.95 ВауМап 2 09/00 $29.95 Test Drive Le Mans 06/00 53445 Army Men World War 04/00 $39.95 FIFA Soccer 2001 10/00 $39.95 — Renegade Racers 05/00 $29.95 Test Drive Rally Мег 09/00 $29.95 Army Men:Sarge's Heroes 02/00 $34.95 Fear Effect RetroHelix 10/00 $39.95 Resident Evil Survivor 09/00 $36.95 Baldur's Gate 09/00 $46.95 Final Fantasy 9 11/00 $49.95 fr › Ballistic 09/00 $39.95 — Formula 1 2000 10/00 $39.95 M » story quen Bass Landing 2 09/00 $29.95 Frogger 2 09/00 $29.95 | multiple scenarios set in a Bass Masters Clsc: TE 10/00 54495 Front Mission 3 03/00 $3695 |4 se ч world. Brand new battle Bass Rise 08/00 $39.95 Golden Tee Golf 0900 $29.95 | system allowing the player Batman Beyond 10/00 $39.95 — Grind Session 05/00 $39.95 " i a choice of fighting Batman Racing 10/00 $39.95 — GunGage 09/00 $39.95 options, who to battle and Battleship 2 10/00 $24.95 НВО Boxing 11/00 $39.95 | When & where. Takes place Battletanx 2 03/00 $39.95 Harvest Moon 10/00 $44.95 |20 fter th + years айег the events of Beast Wars 06/00 $29.95 High Heat Baseball 2001 03/00 $2495 | Chrono Tri ith igger with music Bedrock Bowling 10/00 $39.95 Hogs of War 09/00 $28.95 | о story line by the same Blade 11/00 $39.95 Ap | ROBE Blade Arts 10/00 $29.95 Hydro Thunder 09/00 $39.95 EA (Roleplaying) Blades of Steel 2000 02/00 $29.95 155 Pro Evolution 07/00 $39.95 | Release: NOW. Blaster Master 12/00 $39.95 Jackie Chan Stuntmstr 03/00 $29.95 | реу Bloodlines 08/00 $39.95 Jarrett & Labonte Racing 10/00 $38.95 Blue's Clues 10/00 $42.95 КІ Grand Prix 01/00 $39.95 Rogue Spear 11/00 $39.95 Tiger Woods 2001 11/00 $39.95 Breakout 08/00 $24.95 Knockout Kings 2001 10/00 $39.95 Tiggers Honey Hunt 09/00 $39.95 Koudelka 07/00 $39.95 Но! Cage Stage 2 10/00 $2495 — Time Crisis 2 09/00 $46.95 Brunswick Bowling 2 02/00 $34.95 Legend of Dragoon 06/00 $39.95 Romance 3 Kingdoms 6 04/00 $43.95 Tomb Raider 5 11/00 $39.95 Buffy Vampire Slayer _ 09/00 $39.95 Legend of Mana 06/00 $39.95 Roswell Conspiracies 11/00 $39.95 Топу Hawks Pro Skatr2 09/00 $39.95 Builder's Block 08/00 $29.95 Lunar 2:Eternal Blue 11/00 $62.95 Runabout 2 05/00 53995 — Tomeko The Last Hope 11/00 $44.95 Bust A Groove 2 08/00 $29.95 MLB Pennant Race 2001 03/00 $38.95 баба Frontier 2 02/00 $39.95 Tyco R/C Smash & Bash 08/00 $29.95 Buzz Lightyear 10/00 $39.95 МТУ Sports Pure Ride 09/00 $39.95 Samurai Showdown Warrior04/00$38.95 — Ultimate Fight Champ 10/00 $42.95 Carmageddon 2 09/00 $39.95 МТУ Sports Skateboard 09/00 $32.95 Sea-Doo HydroCross 10/00 $3995 Vagrant Story 05/00 $39.95 Champ Motocross 2K1 09/00 $39.95 — Macross VFX 07/00 $4295 Silent Bomber 04/00 $39.95 Valkyrie Profile 09/00 $44.95 Chrono Cross 08/00 $39.95 Madden FB 2001 08/00 53995 Silhoutte Mirage 01/00 $3995 Colin McRae Rally 2 08/00 $42.95 March Madness 2001 11/00 $39.95 біт Theme Park 03/00 $38.95 — Vanark 04/00 $29.95 Colony Wars 3 Red Sun 07/00 $39.95 Marvel Vs. Capcom 01/00 53295 Simpsons Wrestling 1000 $39.95 Vanguard Bandits 06/00 $39.95 Cool Boarders 2001 11/00 $39.95 Магу Kate Ashley Mall 10/00 $39.95 Smash & Bash 09/00 $39.95 Vanishing Point 10/00 $39.95 Countdown Vampires 08/00 $39.95 Ма! Hoffman's Pro BMX 02/00 $39.95 Sno Cross Champ Racing 08/00 $3995 Vapor TRX 11/00 $39.95 Covert Ops Nuclear Dawn 06/00 $39.95 McGrath Vs. 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GAMEBOY COLOR ][ DREAMCAST Тт RELEASE Price Tme RELEASE PRICE Tme RELEASE PRICE Тт Release Price 30 Ultra Pinball 12/00 $28.99 Donald Duck 10/00 $28.95 Looney Tunes Alert! — 09/00 $28.95 — 4x4 Evolution 10/00 $3995 Air Force Delta 09/00 $28.99 Donkey Kong Country 2 11/00 $28.99 M&M's Minies Madness 10/00 $28.95 Bang! Gunship Elite 11/00 $46.95 Aladdin 08/00 $28.99 Dragon Tales 10/00 $28.95 МТУ Sports Skateboard 08/00 $28.99 Сһи Chu Rocket 03/00 $29.95 Dragon Warrior 1&2 09/00 $28.95 Madden FB 2001 10/00 $28.95 Crazy Taxi 02/00 $4695 Alone in the Dark 4 10/00 $28.95 Dragon Warrior Monster 02/00 $28.99 02 08/00 54495 Animorphs 10/00 $28.95 Driver 05/00 $28.99 Меда Man X 11/00 $28.95 Dave Mirra Free BMX 11/00 $44.95 Armada: F/X Racers. 08/00 $28.95 Dukes of Hazzard 11/00 $28.95 Metal Gear Solid 05/00 $28.95 Dead or Alive 2 03/00 $39.95 Army Men Sarges Hero 2 11/00 $28.99 ECW Anarchy Rulez 11/00 $28.95 Mission Impossible 03/00 $28.99 Ecco the Dolphin 08/00 53995 Arthur's Fun Day 09/00 52895 ESPN МВА Tonight 11/00 52899 Monster Rancher Bttle Crd04/00 $28.99 Austin Powers 1 09/00 $28.95 РРА Soccer 2001 11/00 $28.99 NASCAR 2000 07/00 $2899 Grandia 2 12/00 $4895 Batman Beyond 10/00 $28.99 Force 21 11/00 $28.99 МВА Live 2000 08/00 $2899 Је Grind Radio 10/00 54695 Battle Tanx 03/00 $22.99 NFL Blitz 2001 09/00 $28.95 Kengo Master Bushido 12/00 $46.95 Bionic Commando 01/00 $2895 Galaga 09/00 $2495 — Perfect Dark 09/00 $28.95 King Fighters Evolution 09/00 54695 Blade 11/00 52895 Galaxian 10/00 $24.95 Pokemon Gold 10/00 $29.95 Legend of Blade Masters 01/00 $3995 Blaster Master Boy 09/00 $28.95 Gauntlet Legends 10/00 $28.99 Pokemon Pinball 07/99 $28.95 МОК 2 04/00 $3995 Ghost'n Goblins 01/00 $28.99 Pokemon Red 05/99 $27.95 МТУ Sports Skateboard 09/00 54695 Bomberman MAX Red 05/00 $2899 — Gobs of Games 09/00 $28.95 Marvel Vs. барсот2 06/00 $4295 Buffy Vampire Slayer 09/00 $28.95 Harvest Moon 2 10/00 $3299 Pokemon Yellow 10/99 $27.95 Mat Hoffmans Pro ВМХ 02/00 $4495 Bugs Bunny 4 07/00 $28.95 Heroes Might & Magic 07/00 $28.99 Polaris SnoCross 2000 09/00 $28.95 Metropolis Street Racer 11/00 $46.95 Г F} Q-Bert 09/00 $24.95 Phantasy Star Online 12/00 54995 үн а Rainbow Six 04/00 $28.99 Power Stone 2 08/00 $44.95 RPG games on one pak. | Road Champs BSX | 12/0 52805 Resident Evil Code Veron 03/00 $4495 Now they're back and better Road Rash 10/00 $28.95 — SF3 Third Strike 09/00 $44.95 than ever with enhanced | Road Runner dS à graphics, exciting game-| Робот 11/00 $34.95 Sea Man Forbidden Pet 08/00 $52.95 B play, and wonderful story- | Rure Lords 10/00 $32.99 Sega GT 08/00 $3995 D lines. Experience over 40 Rush 2049 09/00 $28.95 Sega Marine Fishing 10/00 $39.95 КАЗ hours of gamplay with ай | SF Апа Warriors Dream 04/00 52899 Saga Sports NBA 2K1 10/00 $4995 pae ow cinematics and a brand | 54-000 HydroGross 10/00 $28.95 Sega Sports NFL 2K1 09/00 $49.95 new save system. Sleeping Beauty 08/00 $28.99 беда Sports NHL 2K 02/00 $46.95 South Park Rally 08/00 52899 Shenmue 11/00 $4695 | Space Battle 06/00 $28.05 Skies of Arcadia 11/00 $46.95 Enty eed SpeedBall 2100 0900 $2895 Smash & Bash 11/00 $42.95 Gameboy] Spider-Man 09/00 52895 бөліс Shuffle 11/00 54655 Sydney 2K Olympics 09/00 $28.99 Space Channel 5 06/00 $36.95 Bust a Move Millenium 10/00 $28.95 Hot Wheels 01/00 52899 Test Drive 2001 10/00 $29.95 Spec Ops:Omega Squad 10/00 $44.95 Buzz Lightyear 11/00 $28.95 Tony Hawks Pro Skatr 2 11/00 $28.99 — Star Trek New Worlds 10/00 $46.95 Cannon Fodder 11/00 $26.95 Inspector Gadget 11/00 $28.99 Towers Lord Baniff 08/00 52899 Star Wars Jedi Pwr Batt 10/00 $42.95 Carmageddon 06/00 $28.99 Int'l Track & Field 01/00 $2899 Тоу Story 2 01/00 $28.99 Streetfighter Alpha 3 05/00 $39.95 Championship Motocross 09/00 $29.95 Jungle Book 11/00 $28.99 WCW Mayhem 05/00 $22.99 Тһе Ring:Terrors Realm 09/00 $39.95 Cinderella. 09/00 $28.95 Kirby Tilt n Tumble 01/00 $32.99 WWF No Mercy 10/00 $28.95 Croc 2 11/00 $2899 LEGO Racers 09/00 $2895 Wacky Races 09/00 $28.95 Tomb Raider 5 11/00 54455 Cruisin’ Exotica 10/00 $28.95 Legend River King 2 09/00 52859 Tony Hawks Pro Skatr 2 11/00 $44.95 Legend Zelda Fruit Tree 11/00 $32.99 — Warlocked 07/00 52899 Ultimate Fight Champ 09/00 $46.95 CyberTiger Golf 10/00 $28.95 Lemmings Revolution 08/00 $28.99 Warriors Might & Magic 11/00 $28.99 — Virtua Tennis 07/00 $38.95 Dave Mirra Free BMX — 11/00 $2899 Li'l Monster 09/00 $28.95 World is Not Enough 10/00 52899 WWF Royal Rumble 08/00 $44.95 Dino Crisis 08/00 $2899 Lion King 2 12/00 52895 Worms Armageddon 01/00 $28.09 World Series BB 2001 07/00 $48.95 Disney World Racing 11/00 52809 Little Mermaid Pinball 09/00 $32.95 Х Men Mutant Wars / 11/00 $28.95 Worldwide Soccer 2K 09/00 54495 COMPUTER GAMES & HARDWARE NINTENDO 64 American McGee's Alice 10/00 54595 Тот) Raider 5 11/00 $38.95 Indy Racing League 2K 06/00 $39.95 Anachronox 01/00 $33.95 Unreal Tournament GYE 10/00 $28.95 AllStar Baseball 2001 03/00 $49.95 — Jet Force Gemini 10/99 $45.95 Arcanum 11/00 $39.95 Wizards & Warriors 09/00 $42.95 Banjo Toole 11/00 $49.95 Kirby 64 Crystal Shards 07/00 $49.95 Baldur's Gate 2 09/00 $44.95 Zeus:Master of Olympus 11/00 $39.95 Cruisin’ Exotica 10/00 $52.95 Legend Zelda Majora Mask10/00 $59.95 C&C 2: Tiberian Sun 08/99 54295 Dragon Sword 10/00 $59.95 — Madden FB 2001 09/00 $49.95 Delta Force:LandWarrior 11/00 $39.95 СН Flight Sim Yoke USB 10/00 $99.95 Eternal Darkness 02/00 $52.95 — Mario Golf 64 08/99 $44.95 Diablo 2 02/00 $42.95 Diamond Monster MX400 02/00 $74.95 — ExciteBike 05/00 $44.95 — Mario Party 2 02/00 $49.95 Diablo II Expnsn Pek 04/00 52995 Elso Gladiac GeForce2 06/00 $279.95 РІ Championship 10/00 $39.95 Dirt Track Reg Sprnt Crs 09/00 $19.95 Everglide Lrg AtkPad 11/99 $15.95 Fighters Destiny 2 06/00 $42.95 NASCAR 2000 09/99 $30.95 Escape from Monkey Isle 11/00 53995 Dmd Monster MX400 03/00 $69.95 Gauntlet Legends 09/99 $49.95 МВА Live 2000 11/99 $39.95 EverQuest Scars of Velious01/00 $19.95 Hercules3DProphetl 64MB07/00 $399.95 Harvest Moon 12/99 $59.95 — NFL Blitz 2001 09/00 $49.95 Half Life Adrenaline Pk. 01/00 $39.95 Saitek X-36 Cont Sy USB 03/00 $99.95 — Hey You Pikachu 11/00 $82.95 — Ogre Battle 64 10/00 $56.95 Homeworld:Cataclysm 09/00 $38.95 7 > Paper Mario Story 03/00 $49.95 Icewind Dale 07/00 $42.95 S БАУЫ Perfect Dark 05/00 $59.95 Links LS 2001 09/00 54495 unravel the mystery of | Pokemon Puzzle League 09/00 $4935 Madden NFL 2001 08/00 $39.95 Majora's Mask. Link | 892 10/99 $52.95 MechWarrior 4 11/00 $44.95 | Resident Evil Zero 10/00 $52.95 | relives the same З days | _ Myst IIL:Exile 02/00 $4495 and nights, enabling him | “® Racer 03/00 $36.95 Oni 01/00 $4495 to explore his 3D world | 8^ 2049 09/00 $52.95 Pharoah Add-On:Cleopatra07/00 $19.95 and interact with charac- || Smash Brothers 05/09 $46.95 Quake 3 Arena 12/09 $33.95 ters like never before. | 5" derMen 11/00 $52.95 | Solve puzzles, find hid- Star Wars Racer 05/99 $26.95 Railroad Tycoon 2 Gld 09/99 $28.95 den treasures, fight bat- | Sort 06/00 $44.95 Reach tor Stars 10/00 $38.95 tles and discover the Tony Hawks Pro Skater 03/00 $46.95 Roller CT Loopy Landscapes09/00529.95 | Nintendo(Roleplaying) mystery of tha Mask Turok Shadow Oblivion 08/00 $49.95 Rogue Spear Platnium Pk 11/00 $39.95 | Release: NOW У WCW 2001 11/00 $49.95 Sims:Livin' Large 09/00 $29.95 | N64. 11/00 $49.95 Thief 2: The Metal Age 03/00 $28.95 Spend the specified amount on any in-stock software and choose one free IBM game from the corresponding list. Request must be made at time of order. Offer good on in-stock software only, while supplies last. Limit 2 per customer. Valid through January 17, 2001. World is Not Enough SPEND $60 CyberJudas, Spearhead, Star Trek: Omnipedia SPEND $100 Under a Killing Moon, Total Annihilation, Stonekeep SPEND $200 F-22/Red Sea Ops, Lords of Magic, Sin Visa, MC & Discover accepted. Checks held 4 weeks. Money Orders under $200 same as cash. COD $8. Price, release, availability, shipping times |& offer not guaranteed & are subject to change at any time. Hardware may require added S&H. Within 10 days defectives repaired or replaced at "POKEMON GOLD’ You've conquered Red, Blue, and Yellow, now. it's time for a new _| adventure as you try to become the greatest Pokemon Master of all lime. Begin in a new world with all kinds of new Pokemon. Featuring new Poke Balls, such as the Lure Ball that catches Water- type Pokemon. Nintendo (Adventure) Release: NOW Gameboy "POKEMON SILVER’ Release: NOW Sega@ Dreamcast. "SHENMUE' offers a living world, where characters exist on their own timelines & almost all objects can be manipulated & used. You are Ryo, in 1986 Japan, trying to solve the mystery of his father's death. Interact with hundreds of characters & solve a myri- ad of puzzles. Sega (Roleplaying) Release: NOW Dreamcast coming Soon! ROLE PLAYING BOARD GAMES AD&D 3rd Ed. DM Guide 09/00 $19.95 1864 Year of Decision 07/00 $29.95 Arab Israeli Wars 09/00 $12.95 AD&D 3rd Ed. Players 08/00 $17.95 Aberrant 11/99 51995. Bohnanza 09/00 $11.95 Alternity Player's Handbook04/98 $24.95 Combat! Stalingrad 08/00 $46.95 Call of Cthulhu 5th Ed. 07/98 $24.95 Financiers & Sharks 05/00 $29.99 Changeling 09/95 $24.95 Galacia & Tannenberg 01/00 $36.99 Cyberpunk 2020 05/95 $17.95 бег Krieg 08/00 $20.95 Deadlands Rulebook 10/97 $24.95 JoanofArc 08/98 552.99 Dragonlance Sth Age 09/96 $21.95 Lionheart 10/97 $34.99 Luftschiff 06/99 $13.99 Fading Suns 02/97 $19.95 Pacific Victory 07/00 $49.99 Hell on Earth Rulebook 12/98 $26.99 Risorgimento 1859 08/00 $59.95 Mage 2nd Ed. 02/95 $24.95 MERP 2 Softcover 10/95 $19.95 Totaler Krieg! 01/00 $69.99 Palladium Fantasy 03/98 $21.99 Ukraine 1943 08/00 $29.95 Pendragon 4th Ed. 05/95 $24.95 Union Pacific. 05/00 $34.95 Unknown Armies 09/99 $19.95 Victory 06/99 $35.95 War in Europe 10/99 $199.99 Warhammer Fantasy 06/95 $24.99 ^ Warhammer Fantasy 10/96 $69.99 Wraith 02/95 Wizard Kings 08/00 $39.95 $22.95 © Dreamcast. SEGA SPORTS: NFL 2К1” you and up to three friends L| can play against a cross- three lackies. The game is. packed with new moves, better defense, increased realism, and more modes of play, like a stiff arm shot straight to your ribcage, Sega (Sports) Release: NOW Dreamcast ‘OGRE BATTLE 64 Develop warriors, master magic spells, balance unit pj strengths & cope as you play the brave hero & savior of the people. Three scenarios in huge 3D worlds include 35 bat- tes & missions. Equip your armies, set up battle formations & build skill lour discretion. After 10 days the manufacturer's warrantee applies. All sales final. S&H calculated on a per order, per shipment, and per item basis. | |Б ANUS [The "per order" charge is charged once per order placed, the "рег item" charge Б Б М: 3 lis charged once for each item ordered and the ‘per shipment" charge is фе gru, bees Express Мар MeWon| | Atlus (Roleplaying) [charged once for each shipment we make to you. For each US order $10.00 |. orger idu Iiis Аи Мы Me LM Release: NOW will be allocated to a 12 issue subscription to Computer Games Strategy Plus. | per Shipment 5250 $250 $650 $1450 $350 5250 N64 (Call for details. Per Item 5150 550 550 $250 $250 $650 (©2000 CHIPS 8 BITS, INC, levels of your army. Save your world from the evil Lodis Empire. ЕСМ 0101 P2 Your beeper beeps. Your PDA chimes. You can make a quick call wherever you are. Yup, technology is an integral part of everyday life. That's why ZDNet has all the product reviews to help you find the latest gadget. In fact, ZDNet was named “Best Overall Online Site” by the Computer Press Association. However dd touches your life, ZDNet) Reviews Channel has something for you. Becaus tec et = www.zdnet.com ©2000 ZD Inc. ZDNet, the ZDNet logo, and Where Technology Takes You are trademarks of ZD Inc. Advertiser Index Acclaim. . www.acclaim.com Activision . www.activision.com AgeTec . www.agetec.com Atlus . www.atlus.com Best Buy www.bestbuy.co! Boston Acoustics . B www.bostonacoustics.com Capcom ..... WwWw.capcom.com Chips & Bits .. 5 www.cdmag.com/chips.html Crave Entertainment . www.cravegames.com Creative Labs... www.creative.com Eidos Interactive........ 14-15, 28-29, 30-31, 32-33 www.eidosinteractive.com Elation Inc........ www.infinz.com Electronic Агб....................... 8-9, 10-11 WWw.ea.com Electronics Вошідие.................. 75-80, 107 www.ebworld.com Несітовошсе........................... ..179 www.tokyopop.com Fluid Milk... we www.gotmilk.com Game Music Online. ....... БИКО СУЛ www.gamemusic.com Infogrames . . . www.infogrames.net Infogrames/GTI . . www.infogrames.com Interact Ассевогіев....................168-169 www.interact-acc.com Interplay . . www.interplay.com Koei. 5 à www.koeigames.com Konami... www.konami.com -7 +27, 63 35, 136-137 141 112-113 124 + 144-145, 146-147, 175 + 230-231 + 70-7, 143 . 67 Final Fantasy VIII OST (4 CD set) SSCX10028 FINA Available Now! Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack (4 CD set) SSCX-10043 LucasArts Entertainment Company. . . 22-23, 150-151 www.lucasarts.com Mars Planetary Development Corporation ...... 68 www.marsnext.com Mattel Interactive . . 190-191 www.mattel.com Mattel Toys Inc. ‚ 20-21, 164-165, www.mattelinteractive.com Media Blasters. 72 www.media-blasters.com Midway Home Entertainment . .197 www.midway.com National Basketball Association www.nba.com Natsume .. www.natsume.com New Line Cinema Theatrical www.newlinecinema.com NYKO. www.nyko.com R20games.com WWW.r20games.com Red Storm Entertainment . www.redstorm.com Sega of America 12-13, 88-89, 90-91, 92-93, 95-97, 236 www.sega.com Sony Computer Entertainment of America 2-3, 39, 40- 41, 42-43, 44-45, 46-47. - + www.sony.com Southpeak Interactive . . www.southpeak.com SpectraVideo ........................ .....135 www.logic3.com Square/EA. www.squaresoft.com Take 2 Interactive. ....... 36-37, 56-57, 87, 171, 183 www.rockstargames.com. Talonsoft. . . . www.empire-us.com THQ. wee www.thg.com Ubi Soft ..... 61, 102-103, 110-111, 120-121, 234-23” www.ubisoft.com 119 5147 +133 Universal Pictures........... а AT DUE . 45 www.universalstudios.com Working Designs. . E 123, 125, 127 www.workingdesigns.com Ся Trick of the Month 1. No Purchase Necessary: To enter, send a letter or standard size postcard with your best trick codes lor anyvideo game to "Tricks of the Trade,” P.O. Box 3338, Oak Brook, IL 60522:3338, or email us at: iridsQalfdavis com. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number. No purchase or payment of any money is necessary to enter. One елү per household. Entries must be received by Dec. 15, 2000. Al entries become exclusive property of Sponsors and will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsors assume no responsibility for lost, mutilated, late, ilegible, incomplete, postage-due, or misdirected entries, Sponsors reserve the right to cancel this contesta any time with appropriate notice. Only ‘one prize per family, organization, or household per issu, Winning entries may be printed in EGM and/or Expert Gamer, however, only one prize shall be awarded 2. Prizes: First Prize winners wil have their name and trick displayed in the magazin and will receive a vdeo game cartridge selected by Sponsor. First Prize has an approximate retail value of $60.00. The best trick submitted by the First Prize winners wil be declared the Grand Prize Winner. One Grand Prize winner wil receive ûn addition to the First Prize awards) опе () Game Shark. Grand Pre has an approximate retail value of $99 35. Winners wil be selected by a judging panel whose decisions are fina. Winners shall be selected from al valid entries received. Entries shall be judged on the following criteria: (Uniqueness (25%); 0) Novelty (59: (i Accuracy (25%; and (N) Originality 25%) Judging to be held on or about Dec. 30, 2000. All prize winners will be notified by тай. Prizes) are non transferable. No substitutions of pie) are allowed, except at the option of Sponsors should the featured prizes become unavailable. 3. Odds of Winning: The number of winers and the adds of winning wil be determined by number of valid entries received. 4, ЕВЫ Contest open to residents of United States and Canada. Void in Quebec. Non compliance with the time parameters contained herein or return of any prize/prize noíation as undeliverable will result in disqualification. Winners or teir legal guardian shall sign an afidavit of «tii release of ibility prie acceptance within five days of receipt or forfeit prize. By acceptance of prize, winner) agree to the use oftheir name and/or likeness for purposes of advertsing, trade, or promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. Employees of Zif Davis Media Inc. тед Accessories and thelr respective affiiates are not eligible. Neither Zif Davis Media Inc. Interact Accessories nor their respective affilates, subsidiaries, divisions, or related companies are responsible for any damages, taxes, or expenses that consumers might incur as a result ofthis contest or receipt of prize. Winners accepting prizes agree that all prizes are awarded on the Your search is Over... Looking for that soundtrack from your favourite game and having no luck? Look no further. We are completely dedicated to video game music. Final Fantasy VIII Orchestra SSCX10037 CHRONO св. ORIGINAL SQUNDTRAGK Xenogears OST (2 CD set) SSCX10013 Chrono Cross OST (3 CD set) SSCX10040 Final Fantasy VII OST (4 CD set) SSCX10004 The only place to hold this much game music in one place is on the Internet. So what are you waiting for? Check out our web site and find out what you have been missing! www.gamemusic.com More than 500 game/anime music titles in stock, ready to be shipped out. Don't wait for weeks before you get your CDs when you can get them in days from us! The Real Stuff from Japan All titles shown on this page are originals imported from Japan. There are retailers selling imitations with inferior quality. Before you buy from other retailers, ask if the CDs are the originals from Japan. Need Help with Games? Check out our sister site www.gamedatabase.com for extensive collection of cheats, codes, FAQs, and reviews. Dracula X Original Soundtrack KICA7760 condition tat 2f Davis Media һе. Interact Accessories and their agents, representatives, and employees й have по liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting from acceptance, possession, or use of the pres. 5. Winners st: Рога list of winners, senda Stamped, self addressed envelope identifying the month for which the winners listis requested to “Tricks of the Trade Winners list.” P.O. Box 3338, Oak Brook, Шоб 60522:3338. Requests for winners lists must be received by the th day of next month following the on-sale date of the publication. Allow four weeks for delivery of winners list 6. Restrictions: Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Al federal, state and local regulations apply. 7, Sponsors: This contest is sponsored by Ziff Davis Media inc and interact Accessories, Inc, Озосо Ziff Davis Medi Inc. АП Rights Reserved, Printed in USA. Letter of the Month x. No Purchase Necessary: To enter, send your letter to EGM Letters, P.O. Box 3338, Oak Brook, Ninais 60522-3338, or e-mail us at EGM@zifdavis.com. Make sure to include your name, adcress and phone number. No purchase or payment of any money is necessary to enter. Entries must be received by the 20th day of the month for the next available issue of EGM. Sponsors assume no responsibility for lost, mutilated, late, legible; incomplete, postage-due, or misdirected entres, Contest open to residents of United States апе Canada. Void in Quebec. 2. Prizes: One Grand Prize winner will receive one of the following prizes at Sponsor's sole option: One (1) SharkPad Pro 642 for Мба; One (6) Barracuda for PlayStation; or One () Eclipse Stick for Saturn. Grand Prize has an approximate retail value of $29.99 U.S. Winners will be selected by the Letters Editor whose decisions аге final. Winners shall be Selected from all valid entries received, Entries shall be judged on the following criteria: 0) Originality (50%); and (i) Topic (50%) Judging о be held on or about the ith day of each month, All prize winners will be noted by mail. Prize) are non-transferable, No substitutions of prize(s) are allowed, except at the option of Sponsors should the featured prizes become unavailable. The odds of Winning wil be determined by the number of valid entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state and local regulations apply. FOR AN OFFICIAL COPY OF THE RULES, SEND A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE TO: LETTER OF THE MONTH CONTEST RULES, P.O. Box 3338, Oak Brook, IL 60522-3338. FINAL PANTASY Vil Eyes On Me/Faye Wong Final Fantasy УШ - Eyes on Me Piano Sheet Music (DORE1535) we also carry video game sheet music Game Music Online www.gamemusic.com 1-800-979-9889 Monday - Friday, 9 - 5 Pacific Time ausa, sont наи У Final Fantasy VI OST (3 CD set) (Final Fantasy III in US) PSCN5001 If you don't have Internet access, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-979-9889. Outside of US, please call 1-626-575-0873. Phone hours are Monday - Friday, 9 - 5 Pacific Time. We accept Visa/MasterCard/AMEX. All trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Game Music Online - 3778 Rockwell Ave. El Monte, CA 91731 E-Mail: gmo O gamemusic.com Fax: 1-626-575-0879 Sorry, our warehouse is not opened to public. ast logo are a = = E = E = € 853 "A visual dynamo that could best be described as Monkey Island оп some weird alien crack..." IGN.com Spiraling through the Cosmos, five aliens have crashed on our fair planet Earth. Their intent? World domination? Enslave our women? Steal our bodily fluids? No, they'd just like to leave. For they are trapped between the clutches of the evil Dr. Sakarin and his deadly E hitman. You must help them fashion solutions from strange and crash landing savage surroundings. Arm them with bathroom products, used 01. 2001 undergarments, and cow dung to get them home. It's the greatest adventure you and five space idiots could possibly imagine. Dreamcast sega.com You're Vyse, a Blue Rogue pirate. And a well-known ninny. Which sucks. So sail the vast 3D sky in your killer 1. Discover unchartered floating islands. Fight evil pirates. With 70 weapons and 36 magic skills. you'll kick ass by the boatload. You'll be captain of your own ship with 22 crew members. See You'll conquer the enemy nation. Then everyone will respect you and call you A Vyse the Legend. Which rocks. Unless you don't fight. Then you're just a wuss. Dreamcast.. Mild Animated Violence i E 1 Our goal is to preserve classic video game magazines they are not lost permanently. People interested in helping out in any « please visit us af www.retromags „> No profit is made from these scans, nor do we offer 2 available from the publishers themselves. _ [f you come across anyone selling releases from this site, please do not support them and do let us know. Thank you!