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
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© 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-
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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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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
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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
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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
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FINAL FANTASY ІХ CHRONO CROSS
PlayStation | Squoresoft 3
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SMUGGLER'S RUN
$4957 чаг?
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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, |
[ \ /
\ |
\
®
||
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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
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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
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pm
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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
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=
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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
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%
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
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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;
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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
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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
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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
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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 :
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right to sau such
that absorb you into
the intriguing world of Persona!
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ayS
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>
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
|
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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)
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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.
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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
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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!
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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
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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
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2000 CHIPS 8 BITS, INC.
GAMEBOY COLOR ][ DREAMCAST
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Spend the specified amount on any in-stock software and choose one
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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
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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
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"POKEMON GOLD’
You've conquered Red,
Blue, and Yellow, now.
it's time for a new
_| adventure as you try to
become the greatest
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lime. Begin in a new
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Nintendo
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ROLE PLAYING BOARD GAMES
AD&D 3rd Ed. DM Guide 09/00 $19.95 1864 Year of Decision 07/00 $29.95
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© 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,
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Sega (Sports)
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Dreamcast
‘OGRE BATTLE 64
Develop warriors, master
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Three scenarios in huge
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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
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Advertiser Index
Acclaim. .
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Activision .
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AgeTec .
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Best Buy
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Boston Acoustics . B
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Chips & Bits .. 5
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Crave Entertainment .
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Creative Labs...
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Eidos Interactive........ 14-15, 28-29, 30-31, 32-33
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Elation Inc........
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Electronic Агб....................... 8-9, 10-11
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Electronics Вошідие.................. 75-80, 107
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Несітовошсе........................... ..179
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Interplay . .
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Koei. 5 à
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Konami...
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+27, 63
35, 136-137
141
112-113
124
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Final Fantasy VIII OST (4 CD set)
SSCX10028
FINA
Available Now! Final Fantasy IX
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LucasArts Entertainment Company. . . 22-23, 150-151
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Mars Planetary Development Corporation ...... 68
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Mattel Interactive . . 190-191
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Mattel Toys Inc. ‚ 20-21, 164-165,
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Media Blasters. 72
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Midway Home Entertainment . .197
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National Basketball Association
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NYKO.
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Sega of America 12-13, 88-89, 90-91, 92-93, 95-97, 236
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Sony Computer Entertainment of America 2-3, 39, 40-
41, 42-43, 44-45, 46-47. - + www.sony.com
Southpeak Interactive . .
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Square/EA.
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THQ. wee
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Ubi Soft ..... 61, 102-103, 110-111, 120-121, 234-23”
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119
5147
+133
Universal Pictures........... а AT DUE . 45
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Working Designs. . E 123, 125, 127
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Ся
Trick of the Month
1. No Purchase Necessary: To enter, send a letter or
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Final Fantasy VIII Orchestra
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Dracula X Original Soundtrack
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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.
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"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.
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A Vyse the Legend. Which rocks. Unless you don't fight. Then you're just a wuss. Dreamcast..
Mild Animated Violence
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